Friday Free for All

• I’ve decided that it is time for a skincare regimen. This was prompted by my most recent dermatologist appointment for a never-ending acne flare up. Her: what do you use on your face? Me: Dove soap. Her: Twice a day? Me: … Her: any lotions, creams, moisturizers or anything? Me: Nothing. Her: ALARMED look on her face. I’ve sort of known it was time for a while now, and what better time than when I was put on an oral antibiotic plus a retin cream to clear up my face. I am required to wash my face, and use a moisturizer with SPF. So I might as well make this a whole routine now, I suppose. This is where I ask you, wise internets, what do you use? I want to know day night and in between. I have oily acne prone skin. So, GO! Recommend some things please.
• Also at the dermatologists office, I was asked what sort of contraception I am using. When I told her I had an app, she nearly spit her teeth out. I don’t know what she was picturing me doing with my phone, but I do have a cycle tracking app and I am also very in tune with my cycle. So that is what we do. This caught me by surprise, because I am used to usually, getting the lecture from my OB GYN, for all intents and purposes, the “you know we don’t support this…” line of crapola, and look. I know. I do. It has taken me 3 years to get back to really paying attention to my body, but please listen to me when I tell you that I know my cycle. I know my body. I KNOW. And if something happens, it does and it will be fine. I’m not an idiot. So leave me alone, Pimple Popper; MD.
• This is the same dermatologist who screwed up Hub’s back, by the way. I never reported how that went. He had the revision with the plastic surgeon in September, and it was smooth sailing. He was barely sore, and the scar looks great. 100 times better than before. And Hub was not a jerk or a baby after the surgery. Actually, he took me to lunch and then we bought a dishwasher. He surprised me. And other than the pain of changing his dressing, there were no ill effects. Saly for the win.
• I really really liked Swistle’s post the other day, and I am also fond of the comment I left her. I don’t always comment on everyone’s blog. And I apply my own logic to why people don’t always comment on my blog. And I am ok with it…so ok! I don’t think I have it in me to be a power-blogger anyway. Anyway, here is what I wrote over at Swistle’s:

“I am guilty if having referred to "all 4 of you" in a couple of posts. I am ok with it, and I am ok with the number of comments, that I get, whether it is 1 or 25.

Here is my line of thought: I subscribe to something like 40 blogs in my reader. I am going to click out of my reader to comment for 1 or 2 reasons:

1. you are one of my blogging bffs (and I feel like I have a couple of those), and my commenting is my way of checking in and saying "Hey, what's up."
2. Something you wrote resonated with me, and I feel compelled to comment.

If I apply the same logic to my own blog, and the comments I get, it matches up. Certain people will always comment, and that is because we are buddies. Others will only comment when I am not writing crap.”
• I’ve been toying with the idea of starting a new blog that is all about coffee. I make coffee my life’s mission anyway, so I might as well share what I am up to. I don’t know if I would have enough content to make it any sort of successful blog though, so that’s my dilemma. So, maybe coming soon. Maybe not.
• Those of you who asked for photos of the girls’ new beds: coming soon. They are sharing our master bedroom, and it is not overly girly. BUT when Lucy’s bedding comes, AND when Hub fixes the light (that Liv broke upon discovering that she could reach it from the top bunk), I will post a picture.
• I’m trying to do NaBloPoMo again this year. I’ve only made it all the way through once. We shall see what happens.

Friday Free for All--Kid (and cat) Stuff

• Every time someone tells me that Lucy looks just like me or is my “mini-me”, my heart kind of skips a beat. I don’t know why; it just makes my heart swell. (I don’t see it at all, btw)
• Likewise, every time someone asks me where in the world Liv got her blonde hair from, I want to ballpunch them. Are you implying that perhaps she has a different daddy? No, really. What exactly are you implying? And I feel compelled to explain to people that Hub is the only brown-haired person in his family. His father, sister, aunt and cousins are all red-heads! There are definitely genetics at play. The whole dominant and recessive gene crap. So let’s shut up, ok. Nevermind that she has her brother’s exact face. (as a note, I don’t mind hearing “she so blonde!” or about Lucy “her hair is so shiny and dark!!” it’s the questioning that bugs me)
• Liv is constantly asking questions now. Like full questions as in “can I put my packpack right there?” “Can I have more mulk please?” It’s crazy how she has become a little person all of the sudden.
• Twice this week, Bud’s friend and his mother stopped by and ended up staying for hours. The first was impromptu—they were on a bike ride and saw Bud outside an stopped, so we ended up talking to the mom while the kids played. Last night, the boy called to see if Eddie could play, and I talked with the mom who said she would ride with him and he would come over. And the mom stayed the whole time. I don’t mind that she came and stayed at all, but I did kind of feel bad that she was just standing and then sitting there. And she felt bad because she thought we felt like we needed to entertain her. It was just kind of a weird awkward type of situation. But we did have a nice time talking to an adult while the kids were entertained.
• A few weeks ago, we cleaned out our previously closed off attic. Prior to closing it off, it was the cats’ room—they had litter boxes and toys and all that jazz up there. Since cleaning it out, (Hub cleaned the carpets and everything), the cats (or at least one of them) have been sneaking up there to pee and poop. Where there is no longer a litter box. A few days ago, we found a huge puddle of pee on the basement floor. It was odd—we couldn’t figure out what would possess them to pee right in the middle of the basement floor. Today though, Hub found out what actually happened—they are pissing in the floor vent in the attic—the one that was open to the basement as a vehicle to get heat up there—and it is trickling down to the basement. What the bloody hell? So obviously, we are sealing off the attic again (and cleaning that duct out). But also, we are going to buy 2 jumbo litter boxes since the TEH INTERNETS told me to. If that doesn’t fix it, I don’t know what we’ll do. Sebastian has been known to pee and poop in our bed when something is wrong (like when he is sick or the time my SIL brought fleas in to our house) so I don’t think that’s the issue. Hopefully it is just that they remembered that the upstairs used to be the poop room. If they don’t cut it out though, I’m gonna cut them!! (ok, not really)

Friday Free for All- Vacations, and Birthdays and Gardening (oh my!!)

• I think we finally have this vacation situation figured out. Not that we’ve booked anything, but we’re looking at 2.5 days in Ocean City, MD, a day in Hershey PA and then home. With drive time, we’ll be gone 4 days; the true picture of a whirlwind vacation. But Hub will be able to work some before the holiday weekend, and all will be good.
• He wants to take a weekend at some point, just me and him as well. Maybe in mid-September, for our anniversary. We’ve talked about going to Toronto, Cleveland or The Poconos. The Poconos sound like the best bet to me. Think he’ll let us stay HERE? The champagne hot tub is something of a legend in these parts. Even if we had unlimited money though, I don’t think Hub is ever spending over $400 on a night in a hotel.
• For the first time since I can remember, we have no plans this weekend. None. Maybe I can actually get some sleep. I’ve become something of an insomniac lately. I can fall asleep with no issues, but I can’t stay asleep for the life of me. I am up at all hours of the night and can never fall back to sleep. It sucks.
• As I’ve mentioned, the baby will be 2 next week. TWO! And I am beside myself about it. While she is my baby, she’s not what anyone else would consider a baby. She’s a bona fide toddler. With opinions. And personality. She sleeps in a big girl bed, and pees and poops on the potty exclusively. And well, I just don’t know if I can cope with that. She’ll be off to college before we even know it. And I will be left with nothing.
• I think that maybe I’d like to get my hair cut and colored this weekend. I’ve been putting it off for like, 6 months now. Maybe that’s a good thing to do when we have nothing else going on. Speaking of haircuts, the garden needs one too. Add that to my weekend list.
• And speaking of the garden, I picked 26 green beans the other night! Then I steamed them up, and Liv and I ate them with pasta in a white cheddar sauce. They were delicious!! The big kids wouldn’t go near them, but Liv and I enjoyed them greatly. My eggplant and tomatoes are growing well, and my cucumbers are REALLY multiplying. I even have one ear of corn growing. I never in a million years thought that gardening would be so much fun, but it is! It really is!!

Friday Free For All-Random Bullets

• I need to do something with my hair. I don’t know what. It’s longish right now, and has a weird kind of texture. Once completely straight, it is wavy to the point where there was a remarkable difference when I blew it out for a wedding last week. Seriously, WTF. As if I don’t have enough things to worry about. So I’m debating whether or not it is a good idea to cut it in to a layered bob, per usual, on account of the wavy texture issue, or if I should have it trimmed and shaped and just keep it long. I need to take in to consideration that I will never ever style it or even dry it before work. There is no time. So I think I’m leaning toward longer; it’s probably the easier option.
• Hub has We’ve decided to not go to Disney this year. Hub thinks We think it would be better to save some money and plan it for next year. Instead we are looking in to Sesame Place for a few days and then maybe Atlantic City for a day or two. It’s markedly cheaper, obviously. And Sesame Place is a place we’ve wanted to go that has a limited shelf life with Bud approaching 7. So I think we’re going to do it.
• As if Kindergarten Graduation wasn’t emotional enough, Lucy has pre-school graduation tonight. I think we are leaving Liv at home with FIL because getting her to sit still in any situation, much less in a crowded non-air conditioned auditorium has proved to be impossible lately.
• We’ve registered the big kids for 6 weeks of summer camp this year (only 2 days a week). It happens at the daycare which is nice, since I am dropping Liv off anyway. We get to pick and choose the weeks though and it works out really well. They are off for the next 2 weeks. Mind you they’ve been ff together for the last 2 DAYS and are already at each other’s throat. It’s going to be a fun summer.
• I am on vacation the week of the 5th. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m not chomping at the bit as I have been for previous vacations. I guess I like my job now.
• Speaking of the job though, I haven’t had to travel yet and I am a bit disappointed. Originally, I was to be in NC next week and Dallas in July. Then it was NC this week (around the graduations, kind of whirlwind) and Dallas next week. Now I’m not doing anything, and will probably be somewhere in August. What do you want to bet that I will either come home the day before, or leave the day after the girls’ combined birthday party? That’s what I’m betting on.
• I feel like there was more I wanted to say…I’ll leave you with the “nice photo” I tried to get of all 3 kids after Bud’s graduation. IMPOSSIBLE!

Friday Free for All--All over the place...

• Thanks to everyone for all the Disney advice and whatnots. I feel like I should clarify that the week we are going (if we go), while beginning in August, is actually the 1st week in September. Our school district starts the day after Labor Day, while the rest of the country has typically already gone back to school. I think we’ll be good crowd-wise. I know it will be hot. We’ll live. (I hope) I did go ahead and buy the book that Misty recommended. I’m excited to start devouring it.
• Is it just me, or are little girl’s clothes made significantly smaller than they need to be? Bud, who will be 7 in January, is wearing a size 6. Lucy, who will be 5 in August, is also wearing a size 6. She is more than a full head shorter than Bud, and weighs significantly less. So, um, WTF?
• We are moving Liv in to a toddler bed. In fact, last night was her first full night in it, and she did great. When she did wake up, because lets face it, she will never sleep through the night—EVER, she called to me to come and get her. I don’t think it even occurred to her to get up on her own. She looks so big! What happened to my baby? In 2 months, she will be 2. (those are Lucy’s Bieber posters. OMG)



• I wrote an entire post about my fitness and weight loss and the things that are controllable vs. those that are non-controllable. Then my computer ate the whole thing. The gist? I don’t weigh myself because it is too disappointing, but my pants are definitely looser. I can’t control the fact that I have Hashimoto’s Disease. I can control stuffing junk in my pie hole, and not slacking at the gym. Eye-opening stuff, huh?
• I need to say this without giving you any context: If you have a history of alcoholism, the kind that has brought you near death, it is not ok to drink socially. I don’t care if you are on the trip of a lifetime. I don’t blame you because I know it is a sickness and you were probably just looking for an excuse, but I totally blame the people you were with, who knew. And I can not and will not get over it. Ever.
• The baby has bronchitis and is on the Zpak. She’s been in a surprisingly good mood though.
• Tomorrow, I am taking all 3 kids to a party 1.5 hours away, alone. Hub has to work. It will be fine. It will be fine. It will be fine.

Friday Free for All- Random Schtuff

• I have pneumonia. Very fun times around here, let me tell you. I did (finally—after almost 2 weeks) go to the doctor yesterday and got myself some antibiotics, an inhaler and a chest x-ray. I already feel 100 times better.
• We are making our annual outing to Letchworth State Park tomorrow, one week earlier than normal, and meeting up with some family for a picnic. I am excited for family fun, but also to go and take our Annual Autumn Photo. I hope that the weather holds out for us.
• I had to overcome serious Nervous Tummy last week to tell a strange lady that she was walking in to the men’s room. In addition to NT, I have a crazy fear of walking in to the men’s bathroom by mistake. So that won out and I averted a crisis for this poor lady.
• Bud had an altercation with a boy on the bus. The boy stuck his finger in his face and told him that he was not his friend. Bud bit his finger. When we talked to him about it, he told us that his feelings were hurt that the boy did not want to be his friend; a new feeling for him because is daycare and preschool, he was the kid everybody wanted to be friends with. I was torn between being pissed that Bud would bite anyone, and having my own feelings hurt because his feelings were hurt. Hub made him go across the street and apologize and the bus driver agreed not to report it to the school—otherwise, he would be kicked off the bus. It is so hard to be a parent in this type of situation. Most of me is like “It serves the little shit right for being a piss pot!!” But as a parent, I need to send the right message to Bud that this sort of behavior is unacceptable.
• I have been shopping for children’s clothes on Ebay lately and for Lucy, it has worked out so well! For a total of $40 (2 different auctions—including shipping) I got her 10 full outfits, a few sweatshirts and 4 pair of jeans. Stuff that looks brand new. I am pleased. And also ready to start selling some of my own stuff on there. I think I can make a killing! We’ll see, I suppose.

Friday Free For All- Here in my car

• I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 18. Not because I didn’t want it, but because I wasn’t allowed to. My parents used the excuse that it was because the car my dad was driving at the time was in my Gram’s name.
• To this day, I believe it was because my mother doesn’t drive, and even if she never said it, did not want me to drive either.
• I got my permit when I was 17 and my mother-in-law taught me how to drive.
• Somehow though, I took my road test in my father’s car. I passed, even though I backed in to a snow bank.
• I went for a drive to visit Hub at his job just after I passed my road test. When I got home, I undershot the turn in to my parent’s driveway, and ended up wedging my dad’s car on top of a huge landscaping rock on the front lawn. Yeah.
• I have a lot of misdirected resentment because my middle brother was given a car when he got his license.
• Up until this past December, I had never owned a used car. Coincidentally, the truck I drive now is probably my favorite vehicle EVER.
• I have only leased/owned Ford vehicles: 3 Ford Rangers, a Ford Escape, a Ford Freestar minivan (Hub’s car) and an F150 (my car)
• I was a horrible driver and did not care about it until I got pregnant the 1st time.
• In those 6 or so years of driving, I was in a lot of accidents, nearly totaling 2 of my trucks. My last Ranger spent so much time in the shop that we were able to drive it to New Hampshire and back on our honeymoon without even putting it close to going over on mileage.
• When Hub and I go places together, he usually drives.
• Not because I hate driving (which I do) but because he gets car sick really easily.
• I love rocking out while I’m driving.
• My kids do not love it as much.
• I always text while I am driving.
• I talk on the phone without a headset too; I like to live on the edge.
• True Story: once I was driving and talking on the phone to Hub. I drove right past a cop, and saw that he saw me. I started to put the phone down, but didn’t want to worry Hub so I told him why I was hanging up, and then put the phone down. The officer asked me why I had continued to talk, even after I saw him. I told him that I knew he’d seen me, so I figured I would finish what I had to say. He let me go with a warning because he appreciated my honesty.

Friday (un) Free-For-All

This whole week has been a free-for-all. And when the hell was the last time I posted 3 times in a week? WOW!

Last night turned out to be a great night, despite my misgivings on my SIL arriving so early. I really love my SIL. If I had a sister myself, I would want it to be her. She is a hippie, essentially, patchouli and all. She doesn’t care what other people think; she is free and loose and generally awesome. I wish she lived here instead of Florida.

Anyhoo, she got to our place around 6:30 and we all went to Friendly’s for dinner. The kids stayed up late showing off for somebody new, and then she, Hub and I stayed up talking until after midnight. I’m looking forward to more of the same this weekend.

In other news, we think we have found a place for MIL to live; less than 5 minutes down the road from us. This will mean a lot in that we’ll be able to check in on her on our way home, grocery shop for/with her and so on. I’m hoping that the security deposit is reasonable and that we can get her in there soon.

Does anyone have any experience with selling on Ebay? I want to start selling off our baby clothes etc and I wonder if Ebay is the way to go. Craig’s List freaks me out, the whole meeting up in a dark alley to exchange goods for cash aspect of it, but, is Ebay out? Do people go there anymore? I wonder.

Want to know something else I hate? When people brush their teeth in a public bathroom. I mean, sure I REALLY admire your hygiene, but I’m not interested in seeing you spit all over the sink. And also, the minty minty toothpaste smell, mixed with bathroom smells, totally makes me nauseous.

There, I feel better. Happy Weekend!

Friday Free For All- Things that are bugging me...

1. Ok, I’m just going to say it and maybe I’ll catch some heat for it—DMB. I don’t get the obsession with him or his band. Sure, the music is ok though I do find every song to be ridiculously long. But srsly—I don’t get it.
2. Adding to the list of things I have found in the baby’s mouth recently: a cat’s discarded toe nail. I can not stop gagging when I’m thinking about it.
3. Despite having a day off next week, I have to work tomorrow, training some new hires. It’s supposed to be a beautiful day, and we have plans (CRASH-A-RAMA Demolition Derby!!) in the evening, so it’s going to be a long day for me.
4. My skin. I mentioned during my pregnancy how bad it was, and it has not gotten any better. I guess I’m going to have to see a dermatologist because I’ve tried every lotion, potion and supposed miracle to no avail. I look worse than I did as a teenager. It’s really frustrating. Ugh, my hair too. It’s a stringy, disgusting mess.
5. Speaking of frustrating—my job in general. LE Sigh. I’ve decided that I want to work in the city, so I’m watching for opportunity there.
6. Also, because it is webmail, GMAIL has been blocked here citing a security risk, so I can only check my mail via phone. But I can still get in to Facebook and Twitter.
7. My mother in law is moving to Alaska for 3 months….oh, wait….that is NOT bothering me one bit.

Friday Free for All- Things You Probably Don’t Care About

• When I got home last night, I could smell a delicious fried oniony smell as I walked up the driveway. I thought to myself how I wished it was our dinner but that it surely wasn’t since Hub hates onions. To my surprise, it was our dinner though. Hub fried pierogies and made mashed potatoes and broccoli. It was good; he is a good husband.
• I brought the leftovers for lunch today, and I can barely stop myself from eating lunch RIGHT NOW!
• We are doing something completely impractical with our tax refund—buying the kids a swing set. We could totally pay down bills and just take them to the park. But we really want them to have it. It will last for years, right?
• We are planning a trip to the indoor water park at the end of the month too. I’m excited; I really need a vacation.
• Hub knows someone who will have beagle puppies in a few weeks. Hub and the kids want a puppy—me, not so much. But, I did have a beagle once and loved her. So……maybe. We’ll see.
• Hub has all 3 kids out for a walk right now; it’s a gorgeous day. I wish I was home.
• I can’t remember being this glad it was Friday in a really long time.

Friday Free For All--25

Well, If Tess can reinstate Fun Fact Friday, I can also reinstate my Friday Free For All, at least in limited form since my blogging has been sporadic at best lately. I’m going to further copy her though by giving you my own 25 Random Things list. And, this will be a different list than what is on Facebook……So if you are my friend there, you get a 2 for one. LUCKY YOU!!!

1. I am thinking of selling off all of my baby stuff.
2. I don’t necessarily think that I want another baby.
3. I think the idea of another baby is more appealing than actually having and caring for another baby.
4. And you know, doing all the baby stuff again.
5. I was thinking of Craig’s List but I don’t like the idea of meeting in a dark alley or some shit to exchange my goods for cash.
6. Plus, if I change my mind later, I can buy new stuff.
7. I found the Bumbo to be completely unusable and stupid.
8. It kind of terrifies me that I feel like I don’t want any more kids, especially because the desire was strongly there, even right after Liv was born.
9. I feel minorly bad too, because Bud really wants a brother.
10. Secretly, I don’t mind that Lucy finds her way in to our bed on most nights.
11. We’re thinking about getting a puppy.
12. I am not a dog person. Seriously. At all. Hate them.
13. I think this has a lot to do with having to get rid of many pets when I was a kid on account of moving etc.
14. Plus, I hate wet dog smell.
15. I feel uncomfortable drinking socially because of my mother, which is a shame because I really do enjoy a good glass of wine. I’m afraid of enjoying it too much though.
16. I am in a rut in re: my appearance. I am not happy with my body right now and I don’t care to dress it in anything other than jeans.
17. For whatever reason though, I can’t stay motivated to eat well or exercise.
18. I don’t know what is wrong with me. Depressed? Lazy? Who knows?
19. I am a huge procrastinator.
20. I hate it when people my age dress like teenagers.
21. I think I hate it more that I am old enough to say “people my age”
22. I am starting to feel the effects of not taking a vacation last year. And no, my maternity leave doesn’t count. I need to go somewhere.
23. I get bent out of shape when hub implies that the kids are any sort of nuisance.
24. It’s totally ok if I imply it though.
25. I think that maybe I’d like to be a Midwife or a Doula

Friday Free for All- A Tale of Two Memes

Yes, I am doing Memes today to take my mind off the crap and the stress a la Sarah. I did have a really nice relaxing night last night though which included all children sleeping before 9, hot chocolate and whipped cream, and being in bed in time to watch Seinfeld at 10.

Favorite Christmas Carol: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings mix by BNL and Sarah McLachlan
Favorite Christmas Cookie: peanut butter blossoms
Favorite Christmas Movie: A Christmas Story—We watch it through Christmas Eve at Hub’s cousin’s house and keep it on at home too.
Favorite Christmas Tradition: Selecting “the perfect ornament” with the kiddos each year (we are going tonight!), our annual Christmas morning Brunch where my parents and Hub’s parents come to eat and exchange gifts
Christmas Dinner: Usually ham, My Aunt Lisa makes an excellent Christmas Dinner every year
Best Childhood Christmas Present: Definitely the original Nintendo. There was one gift left under the tree and it was marked for my mom. She asked my brother and I to open it for her. It.Was.Awesome,
What do you do with Christmas Cards? Up until this year, I put them in this card tree we had, but they always fell out. So I threw it out. I have no idea what I am doing with thme now.
Sitting on Santa's lap: fun or scary? Scary!!!
What is the best gift you've given? Hmmm, I got Hub a TiVo and if that isn’t the gift that keeps on giving, I don’t know what is.
What is your favorite Christmas book? I can’t even think of a Christmas book…..
When did you find out the truth about Santa? I was about 8 and my 5-year-old brother told me. Naïve much?
Where is your favorite place to celebrate Christmas? I like what we do, which is Hub’s family on Christmas Eve, home with the kiddos in the morning, then family brunch, and then my Uncle’s house on Christmas night. I also enjoy “fake Christmas” with my mom’s side of the family.


And now for something completely different……

I saw this over at Pocklock’s Blog and thought it was really interesting. Basically, you ask the Meme poster to assign you a letter, and you write about 10 things you love that begin with that letter. And so I commented, and she assigned me “S”. That being said, if you would like to do this one, leave me a comment, and I will assign you a letter.

So, here I go, 10 things I LOVE that begin with the letter “S”.

1. I love Seinfeld. Seriously, if I had $200 to drop, I would buy the complete series on DVD. My life is peppered with quotes and actions from the series. There are many photos from my wedding of me dancing as Elaine. Oh yes, Seinfeld. I love you. (I would love to receive “Scene It—The Seinfeld Edition” for Christmas)



2. Stern. I love you, Howard Stern.


3. And on the same token, I love my Sirius Satellite Radio. The 90’s alternative station always takes me back to high school.
4. Sebastian, my crazy old cat. He has kept me entertained for the last 8 years. And I love him even though I have to keep my toes tucked in tight under my blanket all night long, for fear that he will think we are playing some sort of crazy, toe biting, night time game. (I love you too, Oswald)
5. Starbucks. There is not a day that could not be made better by a fancy Starbucks drink. My current favorite?? The Peppermint Mocha Twist. Yum.



6. Samantha, my sweet niece.
7. Soup, especially this time of the year. For the record, one of my favorite meals is canned chicken noodle soup and a bologna sandwich on white bread with mayo. The sandwich is, or course, dunked in the soup.
8. Sisters. I don’t actually have a sister, but those that I consider to be my sisters, I loves you muchly.
9. Sleep. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways… (I miss you………)
10. Shot glasses. We have close to 150 in out collection


So there you have it…and wouldn’t you know, I DO feel better. Happy Weekend!!

Friday Free For All

1. Hub has been doing a lot of housework—laundry, dishes, general straightening—on the days that he is home. I feel like maybe I should be motivated to do more when I am home, but I am not. I get home between 6 and 6:30 and try to spend time with each of the kids. And yes, part of the problem is that I let Liv sleep on my chest for a good hour before I put her down, but I can’t help it. By the time I get organized, feed the cats, make bottles and get my pump ready, it’s like 11PM. I’m not about to clean the bathroom that late.
2. Speaking of my pump, I am making more milk. I think that my supply goes down when I have my period but then picks back up again when it’s gone. The proof is in the poop, which was good old breast milk poop this morning. I never thought I’d be so excited about poop. So yes, there is some formula, but not as much as I’d thought. YAY!
3. Of course I will only be able to pump once today because we have an “Appropriate Associate Conduct” seminar (a la The Office) from 3-5 today.
4. For those of you who supported me as I vented elsewhere this week, thank you. I feel a million times better.
5. My aunt is in town from Georgia this weekend and we are all getting together on Sunday for the football game. Everyone is bringing snacks and dips. They will have to roll me out of there. I’m making Hot Pepper Dip, which is oh so yum. I think I’m going to dig out Bud’s Bills shirt for Liv to wear. Even though The Bills have been sucking it up hardcore lately.
6. I’m kind of jealous of Kristin… who is meeting up with some fellow bloggers this weekend and is calling it Blogvention 2008. I want to have my own Blogvention! Some of us live pretty close to each other actually. Some of us live a little farther out, but still within hours. Why couldn’t we have a blogvention? Just putting it out there.
7. Ending with a few Halloween Pictures:

Friday Free For All- MEME

I was not tagged for this one, but STOLE it for something to do.

10 years ago I was:
1. 20 years old
2. living in our basement apartment
3. going to community college
4. working 3 jobs
5. having an all around great time


5 things on today’s to-do list:
1. Work. I have a ton to do.
2. Figure out some banking information
3. Get something for lunch
4. Clean up my desk.
5. Pizza night with Hub and the kids


5 snacks I enjoy:
1. chips and Bison dip
2. Oreos dunked in coffee
3. green peppers in my mom’s cheese dip
4. fresh baked brownies
5. peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire (or billionaire):
1. Get the best education for my kids that was available
2. travel the world
3. buy a great house with a super kitchen
4. quit my job and have more kids
5. (then) get my boobs lifted and tummy tucked


5 places I have lived:
1. Buffalo, NY with my Parents
2. Lockport, NY with my Parents
3. Lockport, NY with Hub
4. Where we live now
5. n/a


5 jobs I have had:
1. Trainer-Boston Market
2. Manager-Blockbuster Video
3. Sales Associate-Frederick’s of Hollywood (oooh laaa laaa!!)
4. Escalations Manager
5. Mommy

Friday Free for All---Twitter MEME

Well, Sarah over at No Whey, Mama tagged me for this Twitter meme, though I am not sure how it’s a Twitter meme anymore. The object is to share 6 things that people don’t know about you. I thought it would make great fodder for my Friday Free for All. I’m pretty open over here, but I’m sure I can think of a few things.

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to chew gum. Love it. Even more though, I love crack my gum. Oh yeah, I’m obnoxious,
2. I have recently become obsessed with the Ford Flex . It’s so retro and cool. I want this car in one of those crazy metallic colors.
3. I majored in voice and music through high school and college (before I switched to business). Although it is speaking, I attribute my recording work here to what I learned in my studies. And though I don’t in any formal capacity any more, I really love to sing.
4. When I was a kid, I would constantly think about what I wished my name was. Top contenders were: Juana, Andra, and Constance. I’m ok with Sara now though.
5. My BFF and I probably spent 18 hours a week at the mall when we were in middle and high school. We were constantly getting guy’s #’s. It makes me sick to my stomach to think of my girls behaving that way. Positively sick.
6. We are planning on going to Disney this spring and I am more excited than a little kid about it. Hub and I have never been and we can’t wait to take the kids. So excited that if I think about it, I can’t sleep at night.

The rules are to tag 6 people and blah blah, but I’m not going to. If you haven’t done this, consider yourself tagged!!

Friday Free For All!

This whole week has pretty much been a free-for-all, huh? Maybe I’ll be more structured next week.

• It is probably a good thing that there were no video cameras at daycare when Bud was a baby. I would most definitely be a SAHM. I am obsessed with what they are (or aren’t as the case may be) doing with Liv. I had a long talk with the center director on Wednesday about what I expect. I don’t feel like my baby should be more important to them than any other baby, but I feel like since she is incredible laid back and happy (easy) they’ll leave her in the swing for 3 hours. She’s not complaining, right? Well I am. I was screaming at my computer screen the other morning “ENGAGE HER FOR CHRISSAKES!!!” I’m close to just pulling her out of there. The big kids need to be there to learn. She does not. And I’m not even saying anything bad about the daycare per se, because they really are great. I just don’t know.
• I was thinking that I feel more attached to Liv than I did with the other kids; that I have a harder time leaving her. But then I remembered coming home after Bud was born, and just holding him and sobbing for weeks on end before I finally felt better about leaving him. It wasn’t like that with Lucy. Maybe because her babyhood was so close to Bud’s? In any case, I miss this baby so fiercely throughout the day that it physically hurts sometimes. And when I finally get her, whether it’s a daycare day or a day she’s home with Hub, I just hold and snuggle her, and fight back the hysterical feelings.
• I think the term full time mom irritates me. Like someone said recently “I work here part time, because I’m a full time mom.” Guess what A-wipe? I’m still a mom while I’m at my desk. We are all full time moms.
• I mentioned a while ago that breastfeeding wasn’t going well this time. We worked through it and are still going strong. I’m glad.
• I feel like I need to clarify that Lucy’s favorite name “Loveline” is pronounced “Luv-a-leen”, not like Dr. Drew’s show. And we are not naming our dog that.
• The rotavirus vaccine causes the worst smelling baby poop and gas that I have ever encountered.
• I can’t stop saying “Joe Sixpack” and “Hockey Mom” in my very best Sarah Palin voice.
• I still hate my hair.
• I’m glad it’s autumn.

Friday Free For All

• I didn’t post yesterday, maybe because I was working, maybe because I didn’t have anything good to say or maybe (just maybe) I was too busy obsessing about how my torso in this photo is about the size of one of my thighs today. I don’t know……
• I’m making a conscious effort to not consume so much crap over these next few weeks as the baby puts on weight. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, my diet has contributed to the hypoglycemia of the other 2 children at birth. This doesn’t mean that I’m not roasting 10 marshmallows in the oven and eating them with a spoon (oh, because I TOTALLY am), but it means that I’m not doing it twice or 3 times in the same day. I’m also eating breakfast and making coffee at home rather than buying donuts and pastries, which has to be helping.
• At this point though, I’ve kind of lost interest in food. But I’m looking forward to eating hospital food. Because I’m a f-r-e-a-k. I love hospital food.
• I made 24 banana muffins on Wednesday night and as of this morning they are gone. Bud consumed 10 of them. 10 muffins. They are on the side of small cupcakes in size, but 10 muffins!! OMG.
• I have a few small objectives at work that are not work related. They are: sneaking in wearing my flip-flops which is a huge no-no, getting up as few times as possible while maintaining a constant supply of water, and walking without appearing to have something lodged in between my legs. So far I have done well with the first 2, not so much with the last. I’m also wearing jeans every day because all of my other clothes are stupid and uncomfortable. I’m having a love affair with Hub’s sweat shorts right now; they are a constant part of my at-home wardrobe.
• My desk thermometer reads 77 degrees, which solidifies my belief that I am being tortured.
• Despite having slept really well for the last 3 nights, I can not shake the feeling of exhaustion. Something tells me it won’t be going away any time soon.
• There will be contests-a-plenty next week. HOW FUN!!

Friday Free For All

• I feel compelled to tell you that my parents aren’t actually bad people. They’re not even bad grandparents (when they are around). My kids love them and talk to at least my mother on the phone once a week. My mother has even offered to stay with me while Hub is in California for a week in September. They’re just well, absent. And you were all so right—not much I can do about it.
• I mentioned in casual conversation how I had given most of Lucy’s newborn clothes away, and one of the girls who works for me brought in about 30 sleepers size 0-3. I use them even in the summer because we sleep with the AC and the fan on. YAY!
• I’ve decided to work at least another week for a variety of reasons. One is having a huge project offered to me that I don’t trust anyone else to do, the second is the opportunity to do some pretty cool recording outside of my line of business, and the third is that if I work for even one day in July, I still get my monthly bonus. Dedicated? I am, but also money hungry.
• I have been very itchy the last few days, especially my palms and the soles of my feet. Yesterday I googled “itchy hands and feet in pregnancy” and approximately 24,568 links came up to say that it was normal. But I zeroed in on the one that said that my liver was probably failing, and promptly freaked the hell out. I took a benedryl last night (and had the best sleep I’ve had in a while) and used Lucy’s calming lotion this morning and I am doing a lot better.
• I have an apple sized zit right on the end of my nose. Pregnancy skin be damned.
• I ordered my Wii today!!!!
• I think that I am going to try and get my entries from my old blog on to this one. It will be a pain due to having to edit pseudonyms. But I’d like a valid accounting of the last few years. I was reading my first few from 2006, when Bud was 2.5 and Lucy wasn’t even 1, and I wonder what ever happened to that girl? Incidentally, it has been 8 years since I officially started blogging

Friday Free For All-The Baby Gear/Getting Ready Edition

1. Did I ever tell you that I get a 10% discount at Target.com through work? They have free shipping on baby gear right now, so I ordered the 2 big ticket items I needed today. LOOK!!!



AND



This is a huge weight off of my shoulders.

2. Did I ever mention the awesome sling that Shelly Overlook sent me, like way back in February? I still owe her for that one. I mean, look at it!! It is very luxurious.




3. In the grand scheme of things, I don’t have a whole lot left to buy. I saved Lucy’s bottles and still have a crapload of inserts, so I need nipples. I will buy a few binkies, but my kids don’t want them. I need new valves for my breast pump, which seriously cost like 38 cents and collection bottles because my BIL’s stupid girlfriend lost them all. How, I don’t know, because she used the pump for a week. I guess I need to make sure it still works too. A few more onseies and sleepers, nursing pads and bags, butt cream, diapers, some baby soap, a sleep positioner and I think I’m pretty much done? I’d like to get a Bumbo, but Hub thinks they are stooooopid.

4. Does it seem like I’m missing any newborn necessities? Even with all the stuff I already have, I feel like I’m forgetting something.

5. I’m cleaning out our room this weekend and we’ll move the bassinette in within the next few weeks. I need to wash the linens but will save that for last; or at least I won’t put them in for a while because the cats will think I’ve set up their bed. Until it smells like the baby, they’ve always camped in there, causing me to rewash EVERYTHING. They are jerks.

6. I need to wash the pad for the carseat/carrier.

7. And hose off the stroller and let it sit outside in the sun to dry. It’s GRODY.

8. I’m trying to refrain from buying any more clothes, despite the Monster Sale at TCP. I may cave and buy the overalls for $4.99. I’m actually probably going to drive out to the Outlet in Niagara Falls this weekend to see what I can get. She probably has like, 30 outfits though—and really, where is she going?

9. My bag is mostly packed—I do need some new nursing bras. Does anybody have any suggestions? I have the sport type ones for around the house, but I definitely need something more supportive (but with no wires because they cause my ducts to clog, YAY) for leaving the house. I also need to buy something to wear at the hospital. I’m so mad at Old Navy for discontinuing the matching outfits I was buying for baby and me. You know, these:



10. When I type it all out, it really doesn’t seem like a whole lot. Is there something obvious that I am forgetting here?

Friday Free For All

• I have been leaning more and more toward Lynne for a middle name for this baby. Lynne is my middle name and I think it flows well with what we have chosen. Hub, per usual, has concerns. Bud shares Hub’s name. Lucy is just Lucy, and this baby will have part of my name. He feels as if in the future Lucy could feel wounded. My argument is that Lucy was given the girl’s name that I had pined for since I was in 9th grade. Doesn’t that count for something? Does anyone else feel like Hub thrives on conflict???? Ok that might be the heat talking, but jeeze!
• Speaking of the heat Hub did not get the AC on yesterday. It was a miserable night—to the point where he offered to at least take care of the bedroom (where up until last night I have not slept in for 3 weeks but that’s where the ceiling fan was) when he got home at 3am. I am not going to be a happy girl if it is not taken care of when I get home today.
• I took a trip to Chez Target on my lunch yesterday, looking for comfy, nursing appropriate hospital wear, and ended up leaving with 2 swimsuits for Lucy, 2 swim trunks for Bud, croc-style water shoes for each of them (which I swore I would NEVER buy, but they were $5.99 and very cute), sunglasses for me, and a cloth hobo-style bag that I converted in to a purse (it’s blue with teeny butterflies on it). No hospital clothes though. I liked nothing.
• I like how a lot of you picked up that I actually am a child hater in my last post. Some of those kids at daycare are just plain ANNOYING! I’m just not a fan of Bud telling people that I hate someone specific. (Speaking of my last post, I think I actually got a spam comment for Japanese porn.)
• I could have punched this lady out at daycare this morning, by the way. There are 2 PC’s where you sign your kids in and there she is holding her child (younger than Lucy, 18-mos or so), and having him touch the screen and look for letters and their name. I appreciate her trying to educate her baby, but the time and place for it is NOT when I am trying to get my already late ass to work. I kid you not, 5 other parents used the other computer while she used the one. And I, the poor planner, stood behind her thinking she’d be done any second while these other parents used the other one. Finally, when it was free, I stormed to the other one in a huff and shot daggers at this woman as I pounded my information in to the screen.
• Bud and Hub are going to Crash-O-Rama!! tomorrow and Lucy and I are doing something with my parents. Dinner will be involved but for the life of me I can not pick a place. Nothing sounds good—I’m tired of the American bar and grill experience. I just want something different and delicious.
• I’ve felt pretty good at work this week—I’m not sure if I’ve felt good enough to tell the doctor I can make it for another 2 when I see her on Monday, but in all, I’ve felt good. I kind of feel obligated to stay for a bit, since my boss was just dealt a huge personal blow and may be off of work for a bit. She’s taking things day by day and so am I.