Tuesday afternoon Jacelyn had a triangle-shaped blank banner (pink, of course) in her folder, with instructions to use it to make a banner about family. You could use pictures, stickers, markers, whatever. I promptly forgot about it until last night. After I got home from work I put it in front of her and instructed her to start drawing about her family. She promptly drew a frog. I pointed out that she did not have a frog in her family, and then she decided it was a dog. I pointed out again that she doesn't have a dog, and she sighed. "Well, you can just do this, then". No, that's not how it works. "It's a bird, then." she said. I told her wearily that she doesn't have a bird, and then she pointed to Brian's mother's bird (whose cage was immediately behind us, duh me). So she wrote "BIRD" and then "DANNY" in large letters. "I'm done!" she announced. No. Sigh.
I drew a small Bernardo family tree of those family members she is surrounded by the most (including her father, even though she sees him less than anyone else, ha). She was very surly. "Well what do I do now?" she grumped. I told her to think of fun things she does with people in her family, and draw pictures about that. We started with Maw-Maw. "What do you do with Maw-Maw?" She thought about that for a second and then her face lit up. "How do you spell Wal-Mart?" she asked. I snickered and told her, so for her Maw-Maw she made a Wal-Mart sign. For Paw-Paw she had me draw music notes, since they listen to music together. For Michelle she drew a house, since she loves to play at Auntie's house.For Uncle Joe she drew a planetarium, since he goes to school by the planetarium. For daddy, it got tough for some reason. So she just wrote "I LOVE DADDY". I had deliberately saved myself for last, and was all a-flutter wondering what she would draw. A book, since we read together? A pot or a pan, since we cook together? Something about painting? She instructed me not to look while she drew what reminds her of me. I waited anxiously, and she finally said I could look, and I looked down and there was.....a car. "Because we ride in the car so much together!" she explained. Oh. Huh. I mean, we do ride in the car a lot together, to and from school and whatnot, but I've never particularly thought of that as fun. Usually in the mornings we are grumpy and disgruntled with each other, and in the afternoons we are hot and I have to tell her that she can't do any of the things she wants to do and she gets grumpy again and I am usually miserably hot and feeling yucky and not the best company. Oh well.
She also amused me Tuesday afternoon. She was leaning against my belly and felt the baby kick. "what was that?" she asked. "That was Bun-Bun, kicking". "Really?" she asked, amazed. I told her if she held still she could probably feel it again, and she did. Then she leapt up and jumped onto the sofa beside me. "Open your mouth!" she ordered urgently. "Why?" I asked. "Just open your mouth!" So I did, and she leans forward and shouts into my open mouth, "BUN-BUN!" in a most urgent manner, almost like someone shouting down a mineshaft. It was very funny.
I guess that's enough 'funny stuff my kid said and/or did' for one day. I'm just looking forward to the weekend, where I will have Sunday and Monday off. Two days off consecutively! What's that like? I plan on spending some down time with Jacelyn (and not in the car), and then doing some packing. You can never be too ready! And if Brian has to live surrounded by boxes, maybe he will be in more of a hurry to leave his mother's house. I do not plan on that being an easy month for him, at all. Because I am evil and cunning. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
It's in the vault
Last night, after her shower, as Jacelyn was putting on her pajamas, she asked if she could stay up. I regretfully told her she could not, she had to get to bed. Next, in our little natural order of bedtime events, came tooth-brushing and hair drying. She saw the hair dryer on the counter and looked slightly panicked, and then hopped up into my lap. "I love school, mama" she cooed, hugging me. I was amused and decided to roll with it. "Oh really? What do you love about school?" And then she sang like a bird. She gave up information I have been asking about since the first day of school. She told me about why she doesn't play with some of her best friends from last year anymore, she told me she really, really loves her teacher, she counted to 50 by 5's (something she actually played dumb about when I asked her if she could do the other day), she told me what day it was and gave me the correct calender date. I was flabbergasted.
This is the same child who, in the car after school, can only offer up her morning trip to the bathroom that required some wiping assistance as the day's big event. "What else happened at school?" I will ask her. "Nothing." she will reply, shrugging and looking out the window. "What did you learn about?" I will continue, stubbornly. "Nothing" she responds again. "Who did you play with?" I will ask, chagrined. "My friends" she will answer, as though this should have been obvious. "Which friends?" I ask, a little desperately now. "You know, my friends." "But which one?" I will persist. "Madison" she answers, each time. Having heard this answer EVERY DAY since school started, I recently commented to Madison's mother on how much the two girls play together. Madison's mother said, "Really? Madison never says that she plays with Jacelyn. I even asked her the other day, and she said they don't see each other that often". I am getting the brush-off answer from my five year old! Ack!
That's OK, though. She needs her space, and her time, and things that stay hers. If she wants to keep information to herself, she can. I'll just remember to hit her up before bedtime every now and then so I can keep up.
This is the same child who, in the car after school, can only offer up her morning trip to the bathroom that required some wiping assistance as the day's big event. "What else happened at school?" I will ask her. "Nothing." she will reply, shrugging and looking out the window. "What did you learn about?" I will continue, stubbornly. "Nothing" she responds again. "Who did you play with?" I will ask, chagrined. "My friends" she will answer, as though this should have been obvious. "Which friends?" I ask, a little desperately now. "You know, my friends." "But which one?" I will persist. "Madison" she answers, each time. Having heard this answer EVERY DAY since school started, I recently commented to Madison's mother on how much the two girls play together. Madison's mother said, "Really? Madison never says that she plays with Jacelyn. I even asked her the other day, and she said they don't see each other that often". I am getting the brush-off answer from my five year old! Ack!
That's OK, though. She needs her space, and her time, and things that stay hers. If she wants to keep information to herself, she can. I'll just remember to hit her up before bedtime every now and then so I can keep up.
Lust for power: slaked (for now)
So. Tired. Not as tired as I was yesterday, but still pretty damn tired.
Yesterday was our first girl scout meeting. We combined the brownies and the daisies into one group and they all met together. This wasn't an official meeting, this was just a get together so the old girls could reunite and any new faces could get a taste of girl scouting and decide if they want to try it out.
I am leading the Daisy troop, with Michelle helping me. What started out as an itty bitty group of girls has now blossomed into 10 (only eight were there yesterday, though). At one point in the meeting, I looked down and there were eight little faces looking expectantly up at me, and the thought occurred to me: I have minions! Sweet! I have blue-smocked flying monkeys to do my evil bidding! It was only a temporary, amusing thought, but it made me laugh for the rest of the day.
In all seriousness, it went really well. It's a good group of girls who get along well and behave well and I think it's going to be a good year. Here's hoping.
Yesterday was our first girl scout meeting. We combined the brownies and the daisies into one group and they all met together. This wasn't an official meeting, this was just a get together so the old girls could reunite and any new faces could get a taste of girl scouting and decide if they want to try it out.
I am leading the Daisy troop, with Michelle helping me. What started out as an itty bitty group of girls has now blossomed into 10 (only eight were there yesterday, though). At one point in the meeting, I looked down and there were eight little faces looking expectantly up at me, and the thought occurred to me: I have minions! Sweet! I have blue-smocked flying monkeys to do my evil bidding! It was only a temporary, amusing thought, but it made me laugh for the rest of the day.
In all seriousness, it went really well. It's a good group of girls who get along well and behave well and I think it's going to be a good year. Here's hoping.
Monday, August 27, 2007
How do you spell relief? H-A-N-D-G-U-N
So much going on, my gracious, and I am stressed out. My blood pressure was a bit high at my last OB appointment, and he brought that up, and I said, "Well....." and then gave him the short version of my life right now. He was briefly speechless.
Brian is coming back. That's right, ladies and gentleman, Brian is making his triumphant return to home, hearth and family. Well, family, at least, there is no home. The end of September, around the 29th, is when he starts work. This is good, in many ways. This also will be a little bad, but mostly good. He wants to stay with his mother for one more month (just one more!) to get some extra money put back, which makes me want to throw a temper tantrum. I want to jump, and scream, and pull at my clothes and hair and say "NO NO NO NO NO I have done this for this long and you want me to do it longer, and with you around? NONONONONO". But, I won't do that. I have done it for this long; what is one more month? One more long, agonizing, month of no privacy, of arguments and and petty annoyances and the little things that, although small, make you want to scream and murder someone. One more month of my MIL making sure that I really did set the coffeepot for the next morning. One more month of her waiting until I go to bed and then adding things to Jacelyn's lunch that Jacelyn is not allowed to have at school (cookies, candy, sweets, etc). Just one more month. What's one more month? Sigh. Just a little more of the precious little sanity I have left. But that's OK - with kids and family, it helps to be crazy, and I am fortunate enough to live in the south, where we love our crazy people. It will be OK. Because it has to be.
I saw the OB on August 22nd. Weight is fine, the blood pressure a little high. Bun got stressed out trying to avoid the doppler and his/her heart rate increased while we were listening, which was rather cute and funny. My next appointment and my sonogram will be September 19th. That's a big day! Hopefully Bun will cooperate and we will be able to find out what we're having - boy, girl, banana, whatever. I want to know.
That's all for now. I'll get to Jen's tag when I can get to it - she's going to be too busy anyway, so she'll never notice.
Brian is coming back. That's right, ladies and gentleman, Brian is making his triumphant return to home, hearth and family. Well, family, at least, there is no home. The end of September, around the 29th, is when he starts work. This is good, in many ways. This also will be a little bad, but mostly good. He wants to stay with his mother for one more month (just one more!) to get some extra money put back, which makes me want to throw a temper tantrum. I want to jump, and scream, and pull at my clothes and hair and say "NO NO NO NO NO I have done this for this long and you want me to do it longer, and with you around? NONONONONO". But, I won't do that. I have done it for this long; what is one more month? One more long, agonizing, month of no privacy, of arguments and and petty annoyances and the little things that, although small, make you want to scream and murder someone. One more month of my MIL making sure that I really did set the coffeepot for the next morning. One more month of her waiting until I go to bed and then adding things to Jacelyn's lunch that Jacelyn is not allowed to have at school (cookies, candy, sweets, etc). Just one more month. What's one more month? Sigh. Just a little more of the precious little sanity I have left. But that's OK - with kids and family, it helps to be crazy, and I am fortunate enough to live in the south, where we love our crazy people. It will be OK. Because it has to be.
I saw the OB on August 22nd. Weight is fine, the blood pressure a little high. Bun got stressed out trying to avoid the doppler and his/her heart rate increased while we were listening, which was rather cute and funny. My next appointment and my sonogram will be September 19th. That's a big day! Hopefully Bun will cooperate and we will be able to find out what we're having - boy, girl, banana, whatever. I want to know.
That's all for now. I'll get to Jen's tag when I can get to it - she's going to be too busy anyway, so she'll never notice.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Looks like we made it
Well, the first day of school has come and gone. Jacelyn was a trooper this morning; she was actually somewhat horrified that I insisted on walking her up to her class. "Well, I see Savannah, I'm going to walk with her" she informed me, almost leaping out of the car before I had stopped it completely and running to meet her friend. So I stood and watched. She was on her best behavior and made me quite proud. She entered her new class with a little wave (that included a bit of a 'Shoo!' gesture that I chose to ignore) and there she was, my kindergartner, starting her first day.
Pickup went a LOT less smoothly. A bunch of the new parents crowded around the classroom door with videocameras and whatnot, waiting for their little genuises to emerge. This panicked the priest (who has a slight obsession with following proper pickup procedure), who called for Sister, who literally ran up to the classrooms and took over the proceedings. Father doesn't like it when we get out of our cars. Especially once the bell has rung. He is very clear on that, and will glower at you until you meekly return, thoroughly chastened, to the safety of your vehicle. The ensuing mayhem caused the kids to get out a little later than usual, with the first little ones being shepherded out fifteen minutes late. And the presence of Father and Sister made people think twice about their usual mad dash out of the parking lot. Father was yelling at people: "Stop! Where are you going, are you trying to kill someone?", and then in his next breath would screech, "Go! Go! You're holding up the line!". Everyone was confused, hot, and disgruntled, except the kids, who just wanted to go home and maybe have some lunch. Proving that children are basically OK until parents and administrators get overly involved, and we just make things difficult.
Jacelyn said K5 is fun. And then she gave me a very sly little "Guess who I sit by, mommy?" I asked "Who?". "I sit by a booooooy. And guess who sits in front of me?". "Who?" I ask, expecting maybe one of the Emily's or Jackie. "Another booooooooy". Oh, Lord. But she enjoyed herself and wants to go back tomorrow, so that's a good sign. Whew.
Pickup went a LOT less smoothly. A bunch of the new parents crowded around the classroom door with videocameras and whatnot, waiting for their little genuises to emerge. This panicked the priest (who has a slight obsession with following proper pickup procedure), who called for Sister, who literally ran up to the classrooms and took over the proceedings. Father doesn't like it when we get out of our cars. Especially once the bell has rung. He is very clear on that, and will glower at you until you meekly return, thoroughly chastened, to the safety of your vehicle. The ensuing mayhem caused the kids to get out a little later than usual, with the first little ones being shepherded out fifteen minutes late. And the presence of Father and Sister made people think twice about their usual mad dash out of the parking lot. Father was yelling at people: "Stop! Where are you going, are you trying to kill someone?", and then in his next breath would screech, "Go! Go! You're holding up the line!". Everyone was confused, hot, and disgruntled, except the kids, who just wanted to go home and maybe have some lunch. Proving that children are basically OK until parents and administrators get overly involved, and we just make things difficult.
Jacelyn said K5 is fun. And then she gave me a very sly little "Guess who I sit by, mommy?" I asked "Who?". "I sit by a booooooy. And guess who sits in front of me?". "Who?" I ask, expecting maybe one of the Emily's or Jackie. "Another booooooooy". Oh, Lord. But she enjoyed herself and wants to go back tomorrow, so that's a good sign. Whew.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Bla bla bla yakkity-yakkity
You know, the ticker on the right over here seemed like a cute idea at first, and it's nice to be able to come here and remind myself of exactly how far along I am and whatnot, but now it's starting to creep me out. That, and one time I stopped by and there was no baby in the circle, making me panic slightly before realizing how ridiculous it would be to panic over something that. Anyway, I may or may not remove it, but I do apologize for it being annoying/irritating/creepy/weird.
Back-to-school preparations for Jacelyn are progressing smoothly. There were some bumps in the road that have now smoothed out and we both anxiously await her return to class. I am not signing up for any volunteer work through the school this year - room mom or anything similar. Either you don't get called, or you get called for everything, and then you get volunteered for most activities anyway, so it doesn't matter if you don't sign up. And I'm not signing up for substitute lunch duty again, because I only got called late Sunday or even early Monday morning, and couldn't do it that day. I figure between girl scouts and having another child I'm going to be busy enough. I'll help where I can, but I would rather people have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised when I can do something, rather than always expect me to help and be disappointed when I can't. Low expectations are the key to happiness, people. I'm telling you. In some cases, I should say.
I'm a wreck right now. I have the normal pregnancy stuff going on, and then there's this whole Brian-may-not-be-able-to-come-back-before-the-baby-is-born thing happening that may OR may not cause Jacelyn and I to have to move there at the end of the year. New school, new doctor, new area, new stress, new everything. Not to mention new baby! Ack! I get palpitations just thinking about it. We're going to sort that out REAL soon, I'll tell you that. Moving a household of crap at eight months is NOT my idea of a fun time. I can't talk about it anymore, it's killing me.
I'm starting to feel the scribble-scrabble of fetal movement. Mostly in the car, but yesterday I had some pants on that had a waistline that dear little Bun apparently found uncomfortable and felt the need to jab at every time I sat down. That's really the coolest part of pregnancy, feeling the little boogar move around. Until they (and correspondingly, you) get all huge and then it can be uncomfortable. Or make you pee on yourself. Or talk out loud to your unborn child out of desperation: "OK, OK, I'll stand, I'll sit, I'll lie down, whatever, just please stop hitting me!". And despite the fact that in the third trimester it can feel more like abuse than activity, you still miss that sensation once the little one triumphantly emerges. This one seems to be a jabber, though. Jacelyn was more of a flutterer, but this one seems to prefer a good right hook or spinning kick to the gymnastics that Jacelyn seemed to enjoy while in utero.
My sonogram is coming up in mid-September - and I'm excited. I don't have an appointment yet, so I don't have an exact date - I'll set that up at my next appointment, which is sometime at the end of this month. I want to know. Everyone else wants to know. The Bernardos are DYING to know. Jacelyn doesn't really seem to care but says it would be nice to know so she could buy stuff (which means she will pick out items for Maw-Maw to buy). Of course, sonograms are no guarantee, I know that. With Jacelyn, I had a regular appointment four days before my sonogram and my doctor did an ultrasound then and announced her gender: "Oh, my, that's certainly a girl". Then, four days later at the big, official sonogram, Jacelyn was sleeping and not cooperative in the slightest, and they wouldn't say for certain what sex they thought she might be. If I hadn't had the earlier sonogram we wouldn't have known. So I know that there are no guarantees, but I'm hoping that we will be able to find out. For a while there I was having girl feelings, very strong girl feelings, but now I am not as sure. I'm not having boy feelings, either, so I can't call this one. The heartbeat has been fast every time it's been recorded, but that's more of an old wives tale than any kind of scientific fact - supposedly, faster heartbeat=boy, slower heartbeat=girl. And I can't remember Jacelyn's heartbeat - I think it was just average, but I can't recall for certain, so I really have no basis for comparison.
That's about it for me - that's it and that is enough.
Back-to-school preparations for Jacelyn are progressing smoothly. There were some bumps in the road that have now smoothed out and we both anxiously await her return to class. I am not signing up for any volunteer work through the school this year - room mom or anything similar. Either you don't get called, or you get called for everything, and then you get volunteered for most activities anyway, so it doesn't matter if you don't sign up. And I'm not signing up for substitute lunch duty again, because I only got called late Sunday or even early Monday morning, and couldn't do it that day. I figure between girl scouts and having another child I'm going to be busy enough. I'll help where I can, but I would rather people have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised when I can do something, rather than always expect me to help and be disappointed when I can't. Low expectations are the key to happiness, people. I'm telling you. In some cases, I should say.
I'm a wreck right now. I have the normal pregnancy stuff going on, and then there's this whole Brian-may-not-be-able-to-come-back-before-the-baby-is-born thing happening that may OR may not cause Jacelyn and I to have to move there at the end of the year. New school, new doctor, new area, new stress, new everything. Not to mention new baby! Ack! I get palpitations just thinking about it. We're going to sort that out REAL soon, I'll tell you that. Moving a household of crap at eight months is NOT my idea of a fun time. I can't talk about it anymore, it's killing me.
I'm starting to feel the scribble-scrabble of fetal movement. Mostly in the car, but yesterday I had some pants on that had a waistline that dear little Bun apparently found uncomfortable and felt the need to jab at every time I sat down. That's really the coolest part of pregnancy, feeling the little boogar move around. Until they (and correspondingly, you) get all huge and then it can be uncomfortable. Or make you pee on yourself. Or talk out loud to your unborn child out of desperation: "OK, OK, I'll stand, I'll sit, I'll lie down, whatever, just please stop hitting me!". And despite the fact that in the third trimester it can feel more like abuse than activity, you still miss that sensation once the little one triumphantly emerges. This one seems to be a jabber, though. Jacelyn was more of a flutterer, but this one seems to prefer a good right hook or spinning kick to the gymnastics that Jacelyn seemed to enjoy while in utero.
My sonogram is coming up in mid-September - and I'm excited. I don't have an appointment yet, so I don't have an exact date - I'll set that up at my next appointment, which is sometime at the end of this month. I want to know. Everyone else wants to know. The Bernardos are DYING to know. Jacelyn doesn't really seem to care but says it would be nice to know so she could buy stuff (which means she will pick out items for Maw-Maw to buy). Of course, sonograms are no guarantee, I know that. With Jacelyn, I had a regular appointment four days before my sonogram and my doctor did an ultrasound then and announced her gender: "Oh, my, that's certainly a girl". Then, four days later at the big, official sonogram, Jacelyn was sleeping and not cooperative in the slightest, and they wouldn't say for certain what sex they thought she might be. If I hadn't had the earlier sonogram we wouldn't have known. So I know that there are no guarantees, but I'm hoping that we will be able to find out. For a while there I was having girl feelings, very strong girl feelings, but now I am not as sure. I'm not having boy feelings, either, so I can't call this one. The heartbeat has been fast every time it's been recorded, but that's more of an old wives tale than any kind of scientific fact - supposedly, faster heartbeat=boy, slower heartbeat=girl. And I can't remember Jacelyn's heartbeat - I think it was just average, but I can't recall for certain, so I really have no basis for comparison.
That's about it for me - that's it and that is enough.
Friday, July 27, 2007
We're alright
I have been pleasantly surprised at every doctor visit. Every time I hear, "You're fine, the baby is fine, everything looks really good" I am amazed. Wha? I think this might be common among people who have miscarried previously. A friend of mine told me once that she didn't feel like things would be OK until she hit 38 weeks (two weeks before your due date).
I saw the doctor today, and Brian came, too. Yes! Brian Bernardo! I know! I didn't believe it until he showed up (later than we had agreed and almost making me late), but there he was, with Jacelyn in tow. We got to hear Bun's heartbeat. My doctor listened to it for a minute and told Jacelyn, "That's a pretty fast heartbeat, this could be a little boy!", to which Jacelyn promptly responded, "You don't know yet". I, completely aghast, said "Jacelyn!" and my doctor said, "Well, she's right, I don't". After I sent Brian and Jacelyn out of the room he proclaimed Jacelyn to be cute yet precocious.
So that's it. Everything is going fine. Woo-hoo!
I saw the doctor today, and Brian came, too. Yes! Brian Bernardo! I know! I didn't believe it until he showed up (later than we had agreed and almost making me late), but there he was, with Jacelyn in tow. We got to hear Bun's heartbeat. My doctor listened to it for a minute and told Jacelyn, "That's a pretty fast heartbeat, this could be a little boy!", to which Jacelyn promptly responded, "You don't know yet". I, completely aghast, said "Jacelyn!" and my doctor said, "Well, she's right, I don't". After I sent Brian and Jacelyn out of the room he proclaimed Jacelyn to be cute yet precocious.
So that's it. Everything is going fine. Woo-hoo!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Hey, man, you told her to
Brian arrived in town last night. Jacelyn and I were sitting on the sofa waiting for him to arrive. He sat down and she was showing him the booty she received from the girl scouts for her cookie sales. Among said booty was a fold up brush-mirror combination thingy. She said she was going to brush his hair and promptly climbed up on the back of the sofa and sat behind his head.
After a few moments Brian looked up and noted out loud: "You have a big booger in your nose, you need to blow it". Jacelyn immediately did what she was told and exhaled strongly through her nose, causing two streams of snot to rocket out of her nostrils and rain down upon Brian's head. I did what any mature mother would do: I laughed, very very hard. Like, stomach clutching hard, like almost peeing on myself hard. Jacelyn sat on the sofa, grinning, two shiny rivulets of snot shimmering on her upper lip. Brian was sitting on the sofa with his hands held up in such a way that you could tell he wanted to touch his snot-encrusted head, but then he didn't dare. I was still laughing.
Eventually, after ordering Jacelyn to go wipe her face, he laughed, too. Even after we laid down for the night I still found myself chuckling. "You wouldn't be laughing if your head was all snotty" Brian remarked. Wouldn't I? I was still caught up in the legalities of it all: "You told her to blow her nose, so she blew her nose". There was no mention of tissue. Common sense would dictate using a tissue, but hey. She's five, and snot is funny when you're five. Heck, I'm almost thirty, and I was terribly amused. See, I would have specified the need for tissue. Maybe I'm just around her more and know her a little better, but a tissue would have been the first thing I said: "Jacelyn, go get a tissue and blow your nose". I know my child, and she needs direction. She does not work well unsupervised. She needs specifics, otherwise you never know what might happen. Hey, wait a minute, I could be talking about myself. Hmmm.
Hey, what if people talked about their babies the way recording artists talked about their albums? I want a t-shirt that says, "Yo, my baby drops 1/26/08". That would be AWESOME.
That's all for now, and was probably more than enough. Later!
After a few moments Brian looked up and noted out loud: "You have a big booger in your nose, you need to blow it". Jacelyn immediately did what she was told and exhaled strongly through her nose, causing two streams of snot to rocket out of her nostrils and rain down upon Brian's head. I did what any mature mother would do: I laughed, very very hard. Like, stomach clutching hard, like almost peeing on myself hard. Jacelyn sat on the sofa, grinning, two shiny rivulets of snot shimmering on her upper lip. Brian was sitting on the sofa with his hands held up in such a way that you could tell he wanted to touch his snot-encrusted head, but then he didn't dare. I was still laughing.
Eventually, after ordering Jacelyn to go wipe her face, he laughed, too. Even after we laid down for the night I still found myself chuckling. "You wouldn't be laughing if your head was all snotty" Brian remarked. Wouldn't I? I was still caught up in the legalities of it all: "You told her to blow her nose, so she blew her nose". There was no mention of tissue. Common sense would dictate using a tissue, but hey. She's five, and snot is funny when you're five. Heck, I'm almost thirty, and I was terribly amused. See, I would have specified the need for tissue. Maybe I'm just around her more and know her a little better, but a tissue would have been the first thing I said: "Jacelyn, go get a tissue and blow your nose". I know my child, and she needs direction. She does not work well unsupervised. She needs specifics, otherwise you never know what might happen. Hey, wait a minute, I could be talking about myself. Hmmm.
Hey, what if people talked about their babies the way recording artists talked about their albums? I want a t-shirt that says, "Yo, my baby drops 1/26/08". That would be AWESOME.
That's all for now, and was probably more than enough. Later!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
They know
I told my family here in town. The reactions:
Dad: "That's real good, that's real good. Isn't it?"
Aunt Rachel: "Good, that's good. Your baby stuff is in my storage unit."
Grandma Morton: "I'm glad I found out from you and not from someone else. Or before you came over here big as a barrel".
Ah, family.
Dad: "That's real good, that's real good. Isn't it?"
Aunt Rachel: "Good, that's good. Your baby stuff is in my storage unit."
Grandma Morton: "I'm glad I found out from you and not from someone else. Or before you came over here big as a barrel".
Ah, family.
As you can see......
I'm pregnant! It was a surprise (I am always surprised, it seems), but nothing I can't live with.
We found out when I was about four weeks along. I tried to call my former OB's office to ask some questions and get some information, understandably being a little gunshy since the miscarraige a few years ago, and they were very rude and not helpful in the least. Thus wounded, I went to my family doctor and asked him for a referral to an OB. I am THRILLED with my new OB. He is wonderful. On my first visit we actually sat at his desk, in his office, and talked for a good fifteen minutes, before we even got down to the exam. I was atonished.
I have seen baby twice via ultrasound (the transvaginal variety, oh joy). The first time I was only five weeks, so there wasn't much to see. The second time I was just shy of 11 weeks, and you could see the fluttery heartbeat, which was amazing. Then I got to hear the heartbeat, which was also amazing and tear inducing. A very lazy child, though. The first time I saw Jacelyn on ultrasound I was nine weeks pregnant and she was doing acrobatics, so that was what I had to go on. Not this child. This child was lazing around, moving only an occassional shoulder or kicking a leg. It seemed more like we were disturbing it than anything else.
Brian is trying his best (he says) to get home. I have already told him that I will not bring this baby home to his mother's house, nor will I be trying to move and unpack in the midst of my third trimester, so his window is narrowing. We shall see. If he can't get home soon I think we're going to have to find a place anyway and he'll just have to deal with it.
Like I said before, I'm surprised, but happy. What else could I be? I'm 12 weeks today, so I'm "safe" or at least safer. I'm a nervous wreck, that's for sure. But I'm getting by. Anyway, now you know. And I haven't told my dad or family yet, so if you are family or you know my family, don't say anything until I can.
We have told Jacelyn (in the last couple of days). She is thrilled and says that she is pretty certain it's a girl, but, it could be a boy, maybe a little bit, but it's probably a girl. Just between you, me, and the internet, I'm having pretty strong girl feelings myself.
That's about it. The general overall ickiness of the first trimester is starting to subside, slowly, but starting to go. Whew. I'm still tired, but I think that's just how things are going to be. Peeing a lot, hungry every couple of hours. I can't fit into half my clothes - you really do show sooner with your second, that is totally true. I'm not wearing maternity yet, though. Ok, around the house as pajamas, I am, but not out - I refuse to right now. And my bra size? Holy bazongas, Batman, the girls are enormous. ENORMOUS. My hips and thighs have expanded somewhat, which is frustrating, but I have to remind myself that 1. it's for a good cause, 2. it's mostly fluid, not fat, and 3. I lost it once, I can lose it again. My weight gain is fine, so that's going well. Right in line with where its' supposed to be. All my bloodwork came back fine. Everything is going just fine, suspiciously fine, which of course makes me think that doomsday is right around the corner. I'm such an optimist.
I'll keep everyone updated. Later!
We found out when I was about four weeks along. I tried to call my former OB's office to ask some questions and get some information, understandably being a little gunshy since the miscarraige a few years ago, and they were very rude and not helpful in the least. Thus wounded, I went to my family doctor and asked him for a referral to an OB. I am THRILLED with my new OB. He is wonderful. On my first visit we actually sat at his desk, in his office, and talked for a good fifteen minutes, before we even got down to the exam. I was atonished.
I have seen baby twice via ultrasound (the transvaginal variety, oh joy). The first time I was only five weeks, so there wasn't much to see. The second time I was just shy of 11 weeks, and you could see the fluttery heartbeat, which was amazing. Then I got to hear the heartbeat, which was also amazing and tear inducing. A very lazy child, though. The first time I saw Jacelyn on ultrasound I was nine weeks pregnant and she was doing acrobatics, so that was what I had to go on. Not this child. This child was lazing around, moving only an occassional shoulder or kicking a leg. It seemed more like we were disturbing it than anything else.
Brian is trying his best (he says) to get home. I have already told him that I will not bring this baby home to his mother's house, nor will I be trying to move and unpack in the midst of my third trimester, so his window is narrowing. We shall see. If he can't get home soon I think we're going to have to find a place anyway and he'll just have to deal with it.
Like I said before, I'm surprised, but happy. What else could I be? I'm 12 weeks today, so I'm "safe" or at least safer. I'm a nervous wreck, that's for sure. But I'm getting by. Anyway, now you know. And I haven't told my dad or family yet, so if you are family or you know my family, don't say anything until I can.
We have told Jacelyn (in the last couple of days). She is thrilled and says that she is pretty certain it's a girl, but, it could be a boy, maybe a little bit, but it's probably a girl. Just between you, me, and the internet, I'm having pretty strong girl feelings myself.
That's about it. The general overall ickiness of the first trimester is starting to subside, slowly, but starting to go. Whew. I'm still tired, but I think that's just how things are going to be. Peeing a lot, hungry every couple of hours. I can't fit into half my clothes - you really do show sooner with your second, that is totally true. I'm not wearing maternity yet, though. Ok, around the house as pajamas, I am, but not out - I refuse to right now. And my bra size? Holy bazongas, Batman, the girls are enormous. ENORMOUS. My hips and thighs have expanded somewhat, which is frustrating, but I have to remind myself that 1. it's for a good cause, 2. it's mostly fluid, not fat, and 3. I lost it once, I can lose it again. My weight gain is fine, so that's going well. Right in line with where its' supposed to be. All my bloodwork came back fine. Everything is going just fine, suspiciously fine, which of course makes me think that doomsday is right around the corner. I'm such an optimist.
I'll keep everyone updated. Later!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Good Morning
I'm in a better mood today than I have been for the past week. Why, you ask? Or maybe you don't ask why, but I shall tell you anyway: I have my car again! Woo-hoo! I am a free spirit, and follow my bliss wherever and whenever it may tug me somewhere. Wal-Mart at 11:30 for milk? Sure! Gas station at 10pm? Why not! Sometimes, once Jacelyn is safely ensconced in her bed, I feel the urge to drive. I've said before how driving is therapy for me. And there's always something that needs to be done. If I'm feeling overwhelmed by the in-laws, I just head out. I have not had that option for the past week, and it has been driving me buggy.
My dear friend Mike made a good point the other day. I was complaining about my lack of ride, and he pointed out that the only alone time I have is in the car. At home, I am surrounded by people. At work, same thing (although the people can be more enjoyable, the exception to that of course being my daughter). The car is the only time I have to be alone, and I missed that sorely this week.
Friday morning was the pinnacle of annoyance for me. The reason I didn't have a car in the first place was because Brian broke something when fixing what was wrong previously, and then he announced I couldn't drive it and promptly left town. My in-laws were very nice about letting me use their vehicles, and about making sure I got to work and such, and I truly appreciate that. Brian was in town Thursday and Friday morning, and took me to work both days. Friday morning, after I emerged from the shower, I went into our room and poked him. "I need to leave" I told him. "Bye" he mumbled, snuggling further into the covers. "No, I need to go to work" I explained further, getting more and more grumpy. "See you later" he replied, rolling over. "NO, I need YOU to take ME to WORK" I explained, emphasizing the key words in my phrase with a hearty poke. "Oh". I went into the living room and waited impatiently by the front door. He limped into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, standing there, scratching his belly and squinting into the fridge. I followed him and glowered pointedly at him. He finally noticed me and said, "Well, did you need to leave now?". No, I just like watching you scratch yourself.
But - the part came in yesterday and Brian's father installed it, and I am happily mobile again. Woo-hoo!
Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on. We're still waiting to hear if Brian got the job in Gulf Breeze. I have to schedule a physical for Jacelyn for school and start gearing up for that. Girl Scouts start just after school does, and I have done NO planning for that. Sigh. I need to get on the ball.
Brian's mother is going to visit with her family in Louisiana for a month. They are leaving Sunday morning, bright and early. His mother, father, sister, and Jacelyn are going. I cannot go because they are staying Sunday night and leaving sometime Monday afternoon to return here. This means.......I will be home alone! At least from 7am to 12pm while Joe is at work. After that Joe and I will be hanging out. I'm looking forward to the few hours of alone time, though. That will be nice. Or I will make it be nice, since I have it so rarely.
My dear friend Mike made a good point the other day. I was complaining about my lack of ride, and he pointed out that the only alone time I have is in the car. At home, I am surrounded by people. At work, same thing (although the people can be more enjoyable, the exception to that of course being my daughter). The car is the only time I have to be alone, and I missed that sorely this week.
Friday morning was the pinnacle of annoyance for me. The reason I didn't have a car in the first place was because Brian broke something when fixing what was wrong previously, and then he announced I couldn't drive it and promptly left town. My in-laws were very nice about letting me use their vehicles, and about making sure I got to work and such, and I truly appreciate that. Brian was in town Thursday and Friday morning, and took me to work both days. Friday morning, after I emerged from the shower, I went into our room and poked him. "I need to leave" I told him. "Bye" he mumbled, snuggling further into the covers. "No, I need to go to work" I explained further, getting more and more grumpy. "See you later" he replied, rolling over. "NO, I need YOU to take ME to WORK" I explained, emphasizing the key words in my phrase with a hearty poke. "Oh". I went into the living room and waited impatiently by the front door. He limped into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, standing there, scratching his belly and squinting into the fridge. I followed him and glowered pointedly at him. He finally noticed me and said, "Well, did you need to leave now?". No, I just like watching you scratch yourself.
But - the part came in yesterday and Brian's father installed it, and I am happily mobile again. Woo-hoo!
Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on. We're still waiting to hear if Brian got the job in Gulf Breeze. I have to schedule a physical for Jacelyn for school and start gearing up for that. Girl Scouts start just after school does, and I have done NO planning for that. Sigh. I need to get on the ball.
Brian's mother is going to visit with her family in Louisiana for a month. They are leaving Sunday morning, bright and early. His mother, father, sister, and Jacelyn are going. I cannot go because they are staying Sunday night and leaving sometime Monday afternoon to return here. This means.......I will be home alone! At least from 7am to 12pm while Joe is at work. After that Joe and I will be hanging out. I'm looking forward to the few hours of alone time, though. That will be nice. Or I will make it be nice, since I have it so rarely.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
reCAPTCHA
I first heard about this on NPR the other day. It's about those word verifiers on websites to prove that you are a real person, and how they are being used to correct scanner errors in books that are being digitized. Commenting on Teresa's blog reminded me of this, and I thought I would share. It's quite interesting, at least to me, although I am a HUGE nerd. Here is the NPR story, and here is the reCAPTCHA website.
Random Mind Droppings
The above title is slightly disgusting yet conveys the mindlessness of my blogging this morning. Very random, unimportant, trivial stuff. Maybe if I bullet point it I won't be so wordy? Let us see:
- The Sopranos finale: I was/am an avid Sopranos fan, although I haven't seen past season 4. I did, however, manage to catch the last scene of the final episode online, and I think I liked it. Everything seemed fraught with meaning, or had the potential to have meaning. Even though I was watching online, and already knew what was going to happen thanks to all the spoilers, I was still anxious while I was watching it. I think David Chase is a smart guy. Not always the best screenwriter, but a smart guy. I think far too much is being made of it - what do people think they are going to do, force HBO to go back and shoot a more satisfactory ending? IT'S FREAKING TV, PEOPLE. If it's that upsetting, perhaps you should find a hobby.
- Brian has been in town since last Saturday. OMG, we are used to each other in far smaller doses than this and are driving each other crazy. I have been taking advantage of his presence in order to go to bed earlier than usual, and I've been reading more. And speaking of reading:
- Someone told me Jane Austen was their favorite author and highly recommended her books to me, when I offered up that I had never read her. The other day at the mall I found a hardcover collection - I believe four of her novels in one book - for $7.99. Bonus! I have muddled my way through Sense and Sensibility and am now in the thick of Pride and Prejudice. I like them. I find them a bit soap opera-ish, but that is neither here nor there. I am starting to think I have poor taste in books. I forced myself to finish an Ayn Rand book recently (the title of which escapes me at this moment) and hated every minute I was reading it. I have yet to finish The Great Gatsby - I got halfway through and have not been able to force myself back into it. I did manage to complete The Catcher in the Rye, but didn't enjoy it all that much. I was much overjoyed the other day to find A Wrinkle In Time at Wal-Mart for less than $5, which I quickly bought, took home, and read cover to cover in one night. I read that for English class in middle school and was in love with it. That and The Hobbit, I read both of those in middle school and was smitten with them.
- Back to Brian - he recently had a phone interview with a manager at the Gulf Breeze store that he says went very well. And then promptly came here for vacation, where he won't be able to find anything out. Hopefully we will hear something soon. And then we can find a place to live and get settled, which we need to do. There are two jobs open - one of them is overnight, which he said he wouldn't mind doing for the experience. I am torn on the thought of him working overnights. Pro: He will be gone, all night. Con: He will be home, all day. And trying to sleep, in the thick of daytime activity. And grumping around the house at the slightest noise. When he's good and asleep, nothing wakes him. But in weird time between sleeping and waking, the slightest noise troubles him. And he will dramatically stomp to wherever the noise is coming from, and ask sarcastically about the necessity of the task producing said noise: "Do you really think that all that dusting is necessary? It's keeping me awake and I need my sleep". That literally happened once, when he was working overnights years and years ago. Maddening. BUT - if he gets his butt back here, I'll gladly deal with whatever for the sake of having my own home.
- Jacelyn is going to be a NIGHTMARE next week. She usually goes through a rough patch, behaviorally, after Brian leaves from a day long visit. This go round, he has been here for a week, and has been with her the whole time. They have been staying up WAAAAAAAY too late, watching movies and playing video games. Tomorrow morning he goes home, and I'm going to have to tread lightly because 1.) she will be missing her daddy, and 2.) she is so far off her schedule that I feel guilty. It's bad. I've been going to bed early, but her and Brian have been staying up past midnight every night. And then waking up around 11am the next day. Trouble. It's going to be a long recovery period. But, I will be with her tomorrow, so that will be OK. She'll have Monday to do whatever, and then on Tuesday, she has a playdate. I'm just going to keep her busy, try and get her back on a schedule, and hope for the best.
That's about it. That's enough, isn't it? I need to get some work done. I need to call my dad and see what he's up to tomorrow and when I can get up with him to give him his father's day gift. Jacelyn picked it out for him. She is a firm believer in the power of pajamas, so that was her gift selection for fathers this year. She got her daddy pajama shorts and a matching shirt, and she picked out the same thing for her Daddoo. He got Larry the Cable Guy pajama shorts and a matching red t-shirt. And we threw a box of Brownies in, too, to sweeten the deal a bit.
Well, I'm out. Hope all is well for everyone!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Geez
It's been a while since I posted. I didn't realize. I'm a blogger slacker.
Jacelyn is out of school, and somewhat enjoying her summer. She misses school, and she misses her friends, and I haven't yet arranged any time to spend with another child, so she's been surrounded by grown-ups, with the exception of a family birthday party last week. I think she's slightly depressed about it. Her routine is out the window - no bedtime, no set getting up time. She's a mess, and it's affecting her in a noticeable way. I think she needs to get back on a routine, and I think I need to get up with some school or girl scout moms about a playdate. She literally seems depressed. Poor thing.
I'm thinking about cutting my hair. I'm very torn about it - I want to, but then I don't. I like the idea of a new cut and actually having a hair style, but I'm concerned about the maintenance. I'm afraid the cut I want will not look good on me. And what I'm looking at is short. I would be going from long hair that falls to my lower back to hair above my ears. Big, big change. I'm terribly nervous. I don't know if I'm feminine enough to pull off a short haircut. I don't know if I'm confident enough to pull off a short haircut. I mean, all I ever do now is clip my long hair up in a bun for work or back in a ponytail at home, so it's not like my face isn't front and center now. But I'm very freaked out. My long hair is super low maintenance - wash it, pull it back, go. Zero primp time. However, that shows, too. Isn't it about time, as I'm knocking on thirty, that I spent a little time on my appearance? I suppose I can't go through my entire life counting on my sparkling personality to win people over. I have less than stellar skin, however, and a mouthful of charmingly crooked teeth (that I am very superstitious about in regards to my trumpet playing, BTW), and wouldn't short hair just highlight my considerable facial flaws? My big nose with the smeary freckle. The fact that I am, as my sister delights in pointing out, covered in moles. My uneven eyes. But again, since I always wear my hair pulled tightly back, all those are already on display. I want a funky haircut. Something that I can pomade. I just don't know what I want to do. I'll keep thinking about it.
I'm going to get to work now. There's a lot of stuff going on right now in my world, but none of it that I can really get into right now. Bombshell type of stuff. Makes me tired thinking about it. I'll talk to you all soon! And Teresa, I love you and miss you and hope you're doing well!
Jacelyn is out of school, and somewhat enjoying her summer. She misses school, and she misses her friends, and I haven't yet arranged any time to spend with another child, so she's been surrounded by grown-ups, with the exception of a family birthday party last week. I think she's slightly depressed about it. Her routine is out the window - no bedtime, no set getting up time. She's a mess, and it's affecting her in a noticeable way. I think she needs to get back on a routine, and I think I need to get up with some school or girl scout moms about a playdate. She literally seems depressed. Poor thing.
I'm thinking about cutting my hair. I'm very torn about it - I want to, but then I don't. I like the idea of a new cut and actually having a hair style, but I'm concerned about the maintenance. I'm afraid the cut I want will not look good on me. And what I'm looking at is short. I would be going from long hair that falls to my lower back to hair above my ears. Big, big change. I'm terribly nervous. I don't know if I'm feminine enough to pull off a short haircut. I don't know if I'm confident enough to pull off a short haircut. I mean, all I ever do now is clip my long hair up in a bun for work or back in a ponytail at home, so it's not like my face isn't front and center now. But I'm very freaked out. My long hair is super low maintenance - wash it, pull it back, go. Zero primp time. However, that shows, too. Isn't it about time, as I'm knocking on thirty, that I spent a little time on my appearance? I suppose I can't go through my entire life counting on my sparkling personality to win people over. I have less than stellar skin, however, and a mouthful of charmingly crooked teeth (that I am very superstitious about in regards to my trumpet playing, BTW), and wouldn't short hair just highlight my considerable facial flaws? My big nose with the smeary freckle. The fact that I am, as my sister delights in pointing out, covered in moles. My uneven eyes. But again, since I always wear my hair pulled tightly back, all those are already on display. I want a funky haircut. Something that I can pomade. I just don't know what I want to do. I'll keep thinking about it.
I'm going to get to work now. There's a lot of stuff going on right now in my world, but none of it that I can really get into right now. Bombshell type of stuff. Makes me tired thinking about it. I'll talk to you all soon! And Teresa, I love you and miss you and hope you're doing well!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Update!
Yeah, I'm still tired.
Jacelyn had a fabulous field trip yesterday, to meet the Blue Angel pilots still in town, have her class picture taken with one of the planes, receive a signed certificate naming her an 'Honorary Naval Aviator', and have lunch at a 'gazoo' (to the rest of us, a gazebo). Her teacher aide told me what they did, and how much fun they had, and how fabulous it was. Then Jacelyn gets in the car, and I asked her, "How was it?" she answered: "Fun". "What did you do?" I asked her. "Nothing, I don't really remember". What? They got to sit in the planes and put on the helmets and talk to each other with the communicator thingies, something that I, as an almost thirty year old woman, would be excited to do, and you can't remember? The child is wicked, I'm telling you people. There's something not right about that girl. I'm going to check her for strange birthmarks when I get her home.
Big girl scout thing tonight, end of year celebration for all the troops in our cluster. It will be short for Jacelyn and I, since she's not bridging to Brownies. She will get recognized, get the rest of her patches (which I will then add to the stack of patches waiting to be sewn), and then we're out. Not trying to be rude, but it was made very clear that the cake is only for the girls moving up. Well, five year olds, or maybe just my five year old but I doubt it, don't appreciate the idea that there is cake and they cannot have some, so I plan on leaving before it becomes an issue. In my defense, leaving early was suggested by the troop leader. And I always listen to my troop leader.
I gotta be hoppin. Talk to you all later. Hope Jen is having a good, safe time in NO.
Jacelyn had a fabulous field trip yesterday, to meet the Blue Angel pilots still in town, have her class picture taken with one of the planes, receive a signed certificate naming her an 'Honorary Naval Aviator', and have lunch at a 'gazoo' (to the rest of us, a gazebo). Her teacher aide told me what they did, and how much fun they had, and how fabulous it was. Then Jacelyn gets in the car, and I asked her, "How was it?" she answered: "Fun". "What did you do?" I asked her. "Nothing, I don't really remember". What? They got to sit in the planes and put on the helmets and talk to each other with the communicator thingies, something that I, as an almost thirty year old woman, would be excited to do, and you can't remember? The child is wicked, I'm telling you people. There's something not right about that girl. I'm going to check her for strange birthmarks when I get her home.
Big girl scout thing tonight, end of year celebration for all the troops in our cluster. It will be short for Jacelyn and I, since she's not bridging to Brownies. She will get recognized, get the rest of her patches (which I will then add to the stack of patches waiting to be sewn), and then we're out. Not trying to be rude, but it was made very clear that the cake is only for the girls moving up. Well, five year olds, or maybe just my five year old but I doubt it, don't appreciate the idea that there is cake and they cannot have some, so I plan on leaving before it becomes an issue. In my defense, leaving early was suggested by the troop leader. And I always listen to my troop leader.
I gotta be hoppin. Talk to you all later. Hope Jen is having a good, safe time in NO.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Woe
I'm tired. I worked all day yesterday, worked a recital last night. Had to stop by Wal-Mart to get some stuff to make brownies for Jacelyn's school festival today. When I was getting out of the car at the store I saw another school mom leaving. She stopped and said hello; I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Getting crap to make brownies". Mmm-hmm. Yep. I felt her pain. And today, I work, and then tonight I am on the cleanup crew at school. 6:45 until whenever. Sigh. I have earned a peaceful, lazy mother's day. At least there will be beer tonight. Ostensibly for the runners at the 5K, but also for the cleanup crew.
Brian is in town. Or at least, he better be by now. He promised Jacelyn he would take her to her school for the festival today, and she has been so excited about it. He was supposed to come in late last night, and when I got up this morning and discovered he wasn't there yet, I was livid. It was 6:30 AM, and I was tired and cranky. I noticed he wasn't in bed, and then started checking out the other places in the house he likes to sleep. Every empty couch and bed just made me angrier. I called his cell phone and left a message, a not-very-nice message, about doing what he says he is going to do, about not disappointing his daughter, about having the courtesy to call someone, anyone. I shouldn't make any pre-coffee phone calls, I'm just too much of a grumpy bear first thing in the morning.
He called back about twenty minutes later, understandably on the defensive. I told him if he's too tired to drive, that's fine, please don't drive if he's too tired, but call somebody. He answered mysteriously, "But I don't know that I'm going to sleep; it just happens". Doesn't he have to sit or lay down first? And if he sits or lays down and realizes he feels sleepy, couldn't he call? Or does he just collapse on the floor? I asked him that, and he did not appreciate the sarcasm. I'm the one that has to make alternate arrangements, all before work, if he doesn't show up. What if his mother hadn't been home? Michelle and Joe are visiting family, they weren't available to watch Jacelyn. I don't want him to make the trip if he's sleepy, but he could make a phone call. Enough of that.
Yesterday Jacelyn's class had a mother's day tea. At 8AM all of us mothers (and a couple of grandmothers) dutifully lined up outside their classroom, waiting for them to let us in. The door opened and our sweet little children walked us to our seat (their tiny chair at their tiny table - very amusing). We had a menu (marvelous muffins, delightful doughnuts, terrific tea, outrageous orange juice, very cute), and we placed our order with our kid, who then brought us our food and drink choices. After snacks, the class performed some musical numbers, complete with dancing. We got a gift (a collage'd doorknob hanger) and one of those silhouette cutout things. It was very, very cute and lots of fun. I possibly made arrangements for Jacelyn to take ballet next school year with a friend from her class, made tentative plans to meet one of the moms for coffee when the new coffee place on Navy Blvd. opens, and joked about Jacelyn's banged-up head with the PE teacher, whose son is also in Jacelyn's class. She fell on the wooden steps at the playground Thursday and has an enormous goose-egg on her forehead and a faint black eye. The teacher was telling me how thick Jacelyn's incident file is (way thicker than anyone else's), and the PE teacher told Jacelyn she was going to check the playground equipment for dents. There were some helmet jokes, too. All in good fun, and Jacelyn has a good sense of humor about it. "I just fall down sometimes" she would explain. Poor baby. The Tucker genetics strike again.
The school year is winding down. Jacelyn has a field trip this Thursday, something on base involving the Blue Angels. The following week they have Field Day on Thursday, and then Friday is the last day of school. Yikes! Her first year of school will be behind her. Holy mackerel, I can't believe it. Then on to K5, which she is terribly excited about. K5 students get 15 minutes of homework every night except Friday, and she is terribly excited about that, too. I will have to remind her of that later, when she hates homework. She says she needs a desk in her room, so she will have a place to do her homework. She's a funny girl.
That's about it. Brian may be back before Jacelyn starts school again, which I am terribly excited about. In some ways. Mostly in the not-living-with-my-in-laws-anymore way. We've been discussing housing - rent or buy? We settled on rent. For a myriad of reasons, we are not ready to buy right now. House or apartment? HOUSE. He was seriously looking at apartments, but I think I have him talked out of it. I'll keep you posted.
Brian is in town. Or at least, he better be by now. He promised Jacelyn he would take her to her school for the festival today, and she has been so excited about it. He was supposed to come in late last night, and when I got up this morning and discovered he wasn't there yet, I was livid. It was 6:30 AM, and I was tired and cranky. I noticed he wasn't in bed, and then started checking out the other places in the house he likes to sleep. Every empty couch and bed just made me angrier. I called his cell phone and left a message, a not-very-nice message, about doing what he says he is going to do, about not disappointing his daughter, about having the courtesy to call someone, anyone. I shouldn't make any pre-coffee phone calls, I'm just too much of a grumpy bear first thing in the morning.
He called back about twenty minutes later, understandably on the defensive. I told him if he's too tired to drive, that's fine, please don't drive if he's too tired, but call somebody. He answered mysteriously, "But I don't know that I'm going to sleep; it just happens". Doesn't he have to sit or lay down first? And if he sits or lays down and realizes he feels sleepy, couldn't he call? Or does he just collapse on the floor? I asked him that, and he did not appreciate the sarcasm. I'm the one that has to make alternate arrangements, all before work, if he doesn't show up. What if his mother hadn't been home? Michelle and Joe are visiting family, they weren't available to watch Jacelyn. I don't want him to make the trip if he's sleepy, but he could make a phone call. Enough of that.
Yesterday Jacelyn's class had a mother's day tea. At 8AM all of us mothers (and a couple of grandmothers) dutifully lined up outside their classroom, waiting for them to let us in. The door opened and our sweet little children walked us to our seat (their tiny chair at their tiny table - very amusing). We had a menu (marvelous muffins, delightful doughnuts, terrific tea, outrageous orange juice, very cute), and we placed our order with our kid, who then brought us our food and drink choices. After snacks, the class performed some musical numbers, complete with dancing. We got a gift (a collage'd doorknob hanger) and one of those silhouette cutout things. It was very, very cute and lots of fun. I possibly made arrangements for Jacelyn to take ballet next school year with a friend from her class, made tentative plans to meet one of the moms for coffee when the new coffee place on Navy Blvd. opens, and joked about Jacelyn's banged-up head with the PE teacher, whose son is also in Jacelyn's class. She fell on the wooden steps at the playground Thursday and has an enormous goose-egg on her forehead and a faint black eye. The teacher was telling me how thick Jacelyn's incident file is (way thicker than anyone else's), and the PE teacher told Jacelyn she was going to check the playground equipment for dents. There were some helmet jokes, too. All in good fun, and Jacelyn has a good sense of humor about it. "I just fall down sometimes" she would explain. Poor baby. The Tucker genetics strike again.
The school year is winding down. Jacelyn has a field trip this Thursday, something on base involving the Blue Angels. The following week they have Field Day on Thursday, and then Friday is the last day of school. Yikes! Her first year of school will be behind her. Holy mackerel, I can't believe it. Then on to K5, which she is terribly excited about. K5 students get 15 minutes of homework every night except Friday, and she is terribly excited about that, too. I will have to remind her of that later, when she hates homework. She says she needs a desk in her room, so she will have a place to do her homework. She's a funny girl.
That's about it. Brian may be back before Jacelyn starts school again, which I am terribly excited about. In some ways. Mostly in the not-living-with-my-in-laws-anymore way. We've been discussing housing - rent or buy? We settled on rent. For a myriad of reasons, we are not ready to buy right now. House or apartment? HOUSE. He was seriously looking at apartments, but I think I have him talked out of it. I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
A Quick Catch-Up
Jacelyn's birthday party went really well. The food was good, the company was good. The kids had a blast. We had one very dramatic jellyfish sting, but other than that everyone escaped unscathed. Jacelyn has a ton of new stuff, and the day after her party her Paw-Paw bought her a bunk bed. She is living phat.
Jacelyn's actual birthday went well, too. When I dropped her off at school that morning I handed her teacher cupcakes for the kiddies, two gourmet carrot cakes for the teacher and aide, and goodie bags for the little ones. At her school the kids can dress up on their birthdays, so that morning she was insisting on a pretty dress. The only problem I had with that was that her class had PE that day, and I couldn't see her running around the sandy playground in church clothes and Mary Janes. Not to mention that the child falls down constantly, so shoes are always an issue. We compromised with a matching skort and shirt and her tennis shoes. Everyone was happy.
I am starting to catch on to the finer points of school volunteering. These are the rules of parent volunteering:
Jacelyn's actual birthday went well, too. When I dropped her off at school that morning I handed her teacher cupcakes for the kiddies, two gourmet carrot cakes for the teacher and aide, and goodie bags for the little ones. At her school the kids can dress up on their birthdays, so that morning she was insisting on a pretty dress. The only problem I had with that was that her class had PE that day, and I couldn't see her running around the sandy playground in church clothes and Mary Janes. Not to mention that the child falls down constantly, so shoes are always an issue. We compromised with a matching skort and shirt and her tennis shoes. Everyone was happy.
I am starting to catch on to the finer points of school volunteering. These are the rules of parent volunteering:
- Anything you say regarding something you can or cannot do should be addressed to the person in charge and as many other people involved as possible. You should also put your statement in writing.
- What you have just said and/or written will be immediately disregarded and you will be scheduled at the whim of the person in charge.
I signed up for substitute lunch duty at the beginning of the school year, with a note that I do work full time and will not always be available, and will definitely not be available on Mondays (too busy). I have been called numerous times with inquiries, always on Sunday nights or early Monday mornings, for Monday lunch help. Sigh. At the last PTA meeting, I signed up to help with MayFest clean-up. I signed up specifically for clean-up, on a piece of paper under the heading "Clean-Up: 6:45pm", and noted after my name I will only be available after 6pm as I work on Saturdays. Well, yesterday, stapled behind the Wednesday school newsletter there is a nifty little spreadsheet of assignments for MayFest, and where am I listed? In the plant booth from 1:00-4:30. Wha? God love them. I'm glad he does, because it's hard for me. We'll see how that phone call goes.
That's all from me for now - the desire for coffee is overriding my desire to blather about myself. Frank out!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Pray for Me
Jacelyn's birthday party is tomorrow. The count (as of right now) stands as follows:
Adults: 31
Children: 21
Good Lord. Knowing it, saying it is one thing. Seeing it in print is a different matter entirely. I'll be very busy for the next two days. It's for Jacelyn, it's all for Jacelyn. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Adults: 31
Children: 21
Good Lord. Knowing it, saying it is one thing. Seeing it in print is a different matter entirely. I'll be very busy for the next two days. It's for Jacelyn, it's all for Jacelyn. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
My Week: The Short version
Jacelyn is sick, has been sick since Sunday afternoon. Fever, cough. She has been sick her entire spring break. Poor baby.
That's about it. I'm going home before it starts raining really hard. I am so boring.
For anyone interested, I did post on my catholic blog.
Wee-snaw,
Frank
:-)
That's about it. I'm going home before it starts raining really hard. I am so boring.
For anyone interested, I did post on my catholic blog.
Wee-snaw,
Frank
:-)
Monday, April 09, 2007
I'm Catholic, Yo
Saturday was the Easter Vigil, the service where I was baptized, confirmed and received my first communion. Saturday morning dawned in a rather tense way; the RCIA was supposed to meet up at 10:00am for prayer and reflection, and Jacelyn was supposed to be at an Easter egg hunt at 11:30. The original idea was for Michelle and Joe to come over, get Jacelyn ready, and then drive her and Brian's mother out to the egg hunt while I was at church. Then Brian announced that he would be in town, so plans changed. Brian was supposed to come in late Friday night and he would do the driving, and Michelle and Joe decided to stay home. I spoke with Brian twice Friday night, and both times he assured me he was going to be there. I ended up staying up late, until almost 3:00am, doing laundry and cleaning and getting all the stuff done I wouldn't have time to do over the busy weekend.
I woke up around 8:30 Saturday morning and discovered Brian wasn't there. His mother was all aflutter, I was annoyed. I spent the first hour of my day trying to arrange transportation for Jacelyn and Brian's mother. Finally I heard from Brian; he was on his way in. Whew. By this time it was 9:40; twenty minutes until I had to be at church. I took a load of clothes out of the dryer and folded and put them away, then I hastily dressed and was getting ready to leave when Brian's mother announced the heater wasn't working (it was quite cold over the weekend). So I rushed outside and messed around with the breakers until there was heat again, then sped off for church.
The clock in my car just clicked over to 10:00 as I pulled into the parking lot. Deacon Wulf directed me to the rectory, which is where the parish priests live. I knocked on the door, certain I was the last to arrive, and entered the house (and what a freaking house! they're living good, but I think they probably deserve it, what with dedicating their lives to God and all) to discover...I was the first person there. Whew again. Stephanie and Mrs. Wulf were waiting, and asked me how my morning had been thus far. I just answered, "I think I need the prayer and reflection". Shortly afterwards another student showed up, so while we were waiting for our other two members we scoped out the house. Very, very nice. Huge. Amazing, really. Beautiful woodwork. Nice porches. Very high quality toilet tissue. I was impressed.
We opened with a prayer, and then did some readings and had some time in the chapel (what a chapel!). After that we headed off to the living room where we answered some questions about our experience thus far on paper and then some of us shared some of our answers. Then we said the rosary together, which was actually quite nice. I had a rosary already, since my incredibly thoughtful and generous sponsor gave me quite a beautiful one the day before. I was a little nervous about the rosary thing, and while I don't know if it's something I will do regularly, it was quite nice. Meditative, contemplative, kind of a lulling sensation. Very calming. After the rosary we ate lunch with Father Casserly, Father Viet, Deacon and his wife and Stephanie. Father Casserly served us our food and drinks and we had a very pleasant lunch. Father Viet joked that he was going to leave the priesthood to become a mailman, and kept us all laughing the whole time. I can't describe how nice it was. It was almost like eating with family. Better than eating with family, in some cases.
We left the rectory around 1:15. I spent the rest of my day feeling anguished over some family stuff that was happening. Got dressed and headed to the church to be there at 6:20 for pictures outside. We took pictures, did a dry run of the baptismal process (credit for the dry run joke goes to Mike - it was very funny, maybe you had to be there but take my word for it, very funny), then headed off to the cafeteria for name tags. Mine had 'Valerie' at the top and the saint name I chose, "Francis De Sales" at the bottom. I put it on and then reconsidered its' location later, realizing that Father would have to stare at my chest to come up with my saint's name for confirmation. Name tag crisis averted, we sat down to wait.
The vigil really is a stunning service. Everyone was seated inside, but then directed outside, where a fire was lit. I amused by the missalette making certain to note that the fire should be in a suitable location. The Paschal candle was lit from this fire, and then someone lit their smaller candle from the Paschal candle and then lit the candle of the person behind them and so on and so on. We entered the church, where all the lights had been turned out and the only lights were from the candles of the congregation. Gorgeous. A lot went on, which I won't delve into here because not everyone cares, but suffice it to say it was very moving. Then came time for baptism. We were called to the front, where we stood in front of our sponsors and/or Godparents, and there were prayers and then the Litany of the Saints.
That is a beautiful prayer, or song, or whatever you want to call it. I mean, breathtaking. I started crying at that point, because I was utterly moved. The song/prayer (I don't know which it is!) is ancient, and as I stood there, listening, the thought occurred to me how many people it has been sung over, for how many years, and that, somewhere, most likely multiple somewheres, the same song was being sung in the same setting at that same moment and the scope of this faith that I have decided to follow snuck up on me all of a sudden. It was an amazing moment. Words cannot describe it. I can't do it justice. Then we were baptized, and presented with our baptismal candles from our sponsor/Godparents, and a white garment (think a small shawl or wrap) that we had to try and not set on fire with our candles.
We returned to our seats and had a moment to rest while two others made a profession of faith or statement of intent or something, I don't remember quite what, then it was back up to the front again for confirmation. Our heads were anointed with oil and father said a little prayer, after which we said "Amen", then he said 'Peace be with you" and shook our hand, and we came back with, "And also with you". I was confirmed with my saint's name, Francis, so Father, as he was supposed to, called me Francis instead of Valerie. I remember my 'Amen' and my 'And also with you'. Father moved on to the next person, and I was exhilarated. I caught Michelle's eye, and she was making a frowny face and mouthed the words "He called you by the wrong name!". I sort of waved and shook my head, hoping to get across that no, it was fine, that was what was supposed to happen. When we got back to our seats Mike called me Frank and made me laugh. Immediately after this I noticed my (red!) bra strap poking out of my sweater and anxiously wondered how much of the evening I had spent with my underclothes hanging out. In my frustration I said, "Sh*t!". In church. I did whisper it, it was very quiet, but still highly inappropriate. I had just washed away all my sin with baptism, and then started immediately piling it on again.
Then came time for communion. The choir booked it up to the front, as they usually do, and Father shooed them back so we could receive first. I don't know if I can describe that, or if I really want to try. By the end of mass I was in tears. The whole thing was very beautiful. Very touching. I know that I tend to joke, to make light, to poke fun at myself and others. But I'm serious about this whole catholic thing. I resort to jokes when I can't express the emotion, so I joke, but I mean this, and I mean to stick with it, and do as much as I can to take it as far as I can. Not in a crazed, fundamentalist kind of way, but in a reveling in the glory of my faith and God kind of way. And I don't think there's much more I can add to that.
I woke up around 8:30 Saturday morning and discovered Brian wasn't there. His mother was all aflutter, I was annoyed. I spent the first hour of my day trying to arrange transportation for Jacelyn and Brian's mother. Finally I heard from Brian; he was on his way in. Whew. By this time it was 9:40; twenty minutes until I had to be at church. I took a load of clothes out of the dryer and folded and put them away, then I hastily dressed and was getting ready to leave when Brian's mother announced the heater wasn't working (it was quite cold over the weekend). So I rushed outside and messed around with the breakers until there was heat again, then sped off for church.
The clock in my car just clicked over to 10:00 as I pulled into the parking lot. Deacon Wulf directed me to the rectory, which is where the parish priests live. I knocked on the door, certain I was the last to arrive, and entered the house (and what a freaking house! they're living good, but I think they probably deserve it, what with dedicating their lives to God and all) to discover...I was the first person there. Whew again. Stephanie and Mrs. Wulf were waiting, and asked me how my morning had been thus far. I just answered, "I think I need the prayer and reflection". Shortly afterwards another student showed up, so while we were waiting for our other two members we scoped out the house. Very, very nice. Huge. Amazing, really. Beautiful woodwork. Nice porches. Very high quality toilet tissue. I was impressed.
We opened with a prayer, and then did some readings and had some time in the chapel (what a chapel!). After that we headed off to the living room where we answered some questions about our experience thus far on paper and then some of us shared some of our answers. Then we said the rosary together, which was actually quite nice. I had a rosary already, since my incredibly thoughtful and generous sponsor gave me quite a beautiful one the day before. I was a little nervous about the rosary thing, and while I don't know if it's something I will do regularly, it was quite nice. Meditative, contemplative, kind of a lulling sensation. Very calming. After the rosary we ate lunch with Father Casserly, Father Viet, Deacon and his wife and Stephanie. Father Casserly served us our food and drinks and we had a very pleasant lunch. Father Viet joked that he was going to leave the priesthood to become a mailman, and kept us all laughing the whole time. I can't describe how nice it was. It was almost like eating with family. Better than eating with family, in some cases.
We left the rectory around 1:15. I spent the rest of my day feeling anguished over some family stuff that was happening. Got dressed and headed to the church to be there at 6:20 for pictures outside. We took pictures, did a dry run of the baptismal process (credit for the dry run joke goes to Mike - it was very funny, maybe you had to be there but take my word for it, very funny), then headed off to the cafeteria for name tags. Mine had 'Valerie' at the top and the saint name I chose, "Francis De Sales" at the bottom. I put it on and then reconsidered its' location later, realizing that Father would have to stare at my chest to come up with my saint's name for confirmation. Name tag crisis averted, we sat down to wait.
The vigil really is a stunning service. Everyone was seated inside, but then directed outside, where a fire was lit. I amused by the missalette making certain to note that the fire should be in a suitable location. The Paschal candle was lit from this fire, and then someone lit their smaller candle from the Paschal candle and then lit the candle of the person behind them and so on and so on. We entered the church, where all the lights had been turned out and the only lights were from the candles of the congregation. Gorgeous. A lot went on, which I won't delve into here because not everyone cares, but suffice it to say it was very moving. Then came time for baptism. We were called to the front, where we stood in front of our sponsors and/or Godparents, and there were prayers and then the Litany of the Saints.
That is a beautiful prayer, or song, or whatever you want to call it. I mean, breathtaking. I started crying at that point, because I was utterly moved. The song/prayer (I don't know which it is!) is ancient, and as I stood there, listening, the thought occurred to me how many people it has been sung over, for how many years, and that, somewhere, most likely multiple somewheres, the same song was being sung in the same setting at that same moment and the scope of this faith that I have decided to follow snuck up on me all of a sudden. It was an amazing moment. Words cannot describe it. I can't do it justice. Then we were baptized, and presented with our baptismal candles from our sponsor/Godparents, and a white garment (think a small shawl or wrap) that we had to try and not set on fire with our candles.
We returned to our seats and had a moment to rest while two others made a profession of faith or statement of intent or something, I don't remember quite what, then it was back up to the front again for confirmation. Our heads were anointed with oil and father said a little prayer, after which we said "Amen", then he said 'Peace be with you" and shook our hand, and we came back with, "And also with you". I was confirmed with my saint's name, Francis, so Father, as he was supposed to, called me Francis instead of Valerie. I remember my 'Amen' and my 'And also with you'. Father moved on to the next person, and I was exhilarated. I caught Michelle's eye, and she was making a frowny face and mouthed the words "He called you by the wrong name!". I sort of waved and shook my head, hoping to get across that no, it was fine, that was what was supposed to happen. When we got back to our seats Mike called me Frank and made me laugh. Immediately after this I noticed my (red!) bra strap poking out of my sweater and anxiously wondered how much of the evening I had spent with my underclothes hanging out. In my frustration I said, "Sh*t!". In church. I did whisper it, it was very quiet, but still highly inappropriate. I had just washed away all my sin with baptism, and then started immediately piling it on again.
Then came time for communion. The choir booked it up to the front, as they usually do, and Father shooed them back so we could receive first. I don't know if I can describe that, or if I really want to try. By the end of mass I was in tears. The whole thing was very beautiful. Very touching. I know that I tend to joke, to make light, to poke fun at myself and others. But I'm serious about this whole catholic thing. I resort to jokes when I can't express the emotion, so I joke, but I mean this, and I mean to stick with it, and do as much as I can to take it as far as I can. Not in a crazed, fundamentalist kind of way, but in a reveling in the glory of my faith and God kind of way. And I don't think there's much more I can add to that.
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