Earlier Today

PS: I'm not a Turd.

This is Why I Don't Have Cable Part II

It was one thing when I was the one sucked into the boob-tube, but now Normy's in on the fun too.

We're visiting my Mom and Dad in Florida once more, and enjoying the heck out of the TV. Amazingly enough, he is mesmerized by Sesame Street, which we have been watching every morning with breakfast. A meal that under normal circumstances only takes him fifteen minutes to eat now takes him the full hour the show is on. He only remembers to take a bite between skits.

A half hour after starting the meal and Norm's harldy touched his toast! But who can blame him with a letter and a number of the day! Today was brought to us by the letter 'Z' and the number '10'. Not to mention John Legend (our favorite!) was on and he sang a duet with a saxophone playing owl. Seriously, how can toast compete with that?

26 Weeks Preggers

Holy Crap! Where did this come from!?

Look at the size of this thing!

Just act natural.
Maybe no one will notice you swallowed a watermelon.

Our First Fall

Though Smoochy is a native of the Midwest, Normy and I have never experienced fall, until now. I haven't taken nearly enough pictures of the season. But, it has been spectacular...though fleeting. In early October I was hardly aware of the golden color starting show up on the trees, but by the end of the month fall was all around. Now many of the trees are bare and all the red and gold colors blow around on the ground. The wind is pretty powerful. I am always impressed with the drifts of leaves that pile up thanks to the sycamore trees that line our street. It has been quite the experience for me.

Now that the temperatures are dipping briefly in to the high twenties at night I wonder what it will be like when the drifts are of snow and not leaves... It has felt like winter to my Florida bloods for the last month and a half. It's hard to believe it's going to get colder. Much colder.

My computer hasn't been working.

My computer has been out of commission now for more than two weeks. Thankfully, my darling Smoochy has found a temporary way to solve the problem. So, here's some Normy, while I go read the two hundred or so emails in my box...

Crossing Over

You know you've crossed over from "New Mom" to "Slightly More Experienced Mom" when this is OK to you.


Because:

A) This will keep your child occupied for an entire 15 minuets.

B) There can't be THAT much dog hair on the floor.

C) And these are WHOLE GRAIN Os he's eating!


You know you really love your child when he offers you these very same Os and you eat them because.

A) He is so very persistent.

B) It gives him such overwhelming joy when he puts one in your mouth.

C) And these are WHOLE GRAIN Os your eating!

Is that a banana in your pocket or you just happy it's Halloween?

Missing Grampy and Grammy

It's hard to believe that it has been a week since my parents came to visit. We all had a blast, and their long weekend passed far too quickly. Surprise! Surprise! Here are a couple of the best shots from their trip. Thank goodness we don't have to miss them for long. Normy and I are going to Florida for almost two weeks in December and Smoochy will be joining us for our last long weekend there. The next two months are going to FLY!!!

At the Zoo

More zoo

Love Grammy!

Grampy and Normy read

Normy Here

"Hey everyone! Did you know door frames could be so comfortable? Me neither!!!"

"Mom, When was the last time you mopped?"

"Hey Jack! Quit looking at me like that!"

For Grampy and Uncle Zach

Look, I really am pregnant!

20 Weeks preggers.
Normy and New Baby!

I wrote about my dream homebirth here.

Have You Hugged Your Midwife Today?

Happy National Midwifery Week Everyone!
I'll be posting over at Birth is Good all week to celebrate!

I have only myself to blame...

Okay, the previous two pictures were staged. But only after I found my knitting in shambles. I was cleaning up after our healthy breakfast of organic vanilla toaster waffles (snort) when I turned off the faucet and hear the distinct cllick clank clicklittie click of my knitting needles. Oh crap. I ran in to the living room where I found my knitting sack pulled out from behind the couch were it was hidden. My practice-knitting was quickly unraveling and my working yarn had been unwound by the yard. Great hiding place, Mom. I probably would have been devastated had this been an actual project. Thank goodness right now I'm just learning.

I've been getting tremendous joy from knitting the last couple weeks. Well, joy and a hint of frustration. When my Aunt Em visited a couple weeks back she got me started. She is a consummate knitter. After 40+ years of practice she's got it down. I asked how she got started and she laughed, "Well if I wanted a sweater, it was the only way I was going to get one." She and my father were two of EIGHT kids. Plus, she told me she remembers her own mother being quite the crocheter. (Her mother died when she and my dad were very young.) Further, her stepmother (the only paternal grandmother I have ever known, and loved. Hi Granny!) is an excellent knitter as well, and passed the craft down to her. I love the thought of being a part of a handed-down craft!

Anyway, the truth is, knitting has been slow going for me. Though I do have a crafty streak, I have trouble visualizing the physics of things. And it has taken me weeks to grasp the concept of linking loop to loop to create stitches. Actually, learning to cast on was a particular nightmare fore me.

My Aunt Em had worked with me to teach me how to cast on. But, we didn't cover that as thoroughly as knitting and purling. She had me started with some practice knitting but after a week of split stitches, dropped stitches, and a million other mistakes I found the whole mess unworkable and wanted to start again. I scrapped the whole think and spent a WEEK trying to figure out how to cast on. I watched videos on this helpful site. I read the instruction book my Aunt left. And every night I made slip knot after slip knot, only to get hosed by the second stitch.

I was at my wits end when finally my darling husband asked, "Can I try?" I was so frustrated by that point I just huffed, passed him the needles and said, "Good luck." Smoochy read the instructions, watched the video twice, grasped the needles and went loop loop loop. He had cast on. I was stunned, impressed, and heart broken. I burst into tears. After the waves of tears and laughter finally subsided he showed me where I was going wrong, and I was back on track. However, still totally humiliated!

Though I am obviously not a knitting natural like he is, I am completely absorbed and happy with needles in my hand. This of course has been to the detriment of my blogging. But, for now that's Okay. I am excited to have a newly developing skill and hopefully a calming and enjoyable early labor project. Plus, this weekend I am taking a knitting class at the local yarn boutique. Look how freaking cute this shop is! If any one wants to join me, I'll be at String of Purls Saturday morning in Omaha!

Aunt Em shows me the basics

Every Day Smoochy

A bit about what we've been up to...

We've had visitors...

Grammy T & Mr. Tim (back in early September!)

My Aunt Em and Uncle Henry swung in for a stop on their year long camper tour of the nation. This picture was actually taken at my wedding but toy can read about their adventures and see pictures from their visit with us HERE (Set. 18th & 19th).

No, this is not our new household pet, but the THIRD bat we've found in our house. Smoochy went down stairs to turn on the dishwasher before we went to bed. This little guy flew right at his crotch as he turned on the light and walked into the kitchen. Luckily the bat was easy to catch and release back into the night!

We've been pretty busy all around.

A lot of my time has been spent working on projects promoting Nebraska Friends of Midwives activities. Today I'll be driving around Omaha hanging fliers and petitioning businesses for donations for our raffle. Plus this week I've hosted a playgroup and a dinner party! B-U-S-Y!

Smoochy has been working hard for the man and doing lots of home improvement projects.



And Normy had been up to his usual antics.



Plus, we have a bunch of stuff on the horizon. Tonight we've hired our first babysitter EVER so that we an go to the rodeo (a first for me!) with our next door neighbors. Friday after work we are heading to Topeka to see Patrick's (Jacob's brother) senior homecoming football game. Then Sunday, we have a visit at the Birth Center with our midwife.

Life is very good and full here. Tons to blog about and no time to do it! Oh well. C'est la vie.

In lieu of a card, gift, or any other effort whatsoever:

Happy Anniversary Smoochy! It may not be obvious to outside an observer that today is special to me, seeing how we’ve made no attempt to celebrate whatsoever.** But, the truth is I am wildly happy to have spent two whole years as your lawfully wedded wife. Nothing has changed since the moment of our wedding. Except if possible, I love you more deeply than I did that moment I screamed my vows and you sobbed yours. ;-)

It’s true, that our wild whirl-wind (drunken) courtship might not have been what most people would see as the precursor to a lasting and rock-steady marriage…but most people would be wrong. Right from the start of those hot summer nights in Georgia I knew you were a man worth holding on to. Maybe it was the soul stirring conversations we had under the star filled sky; maybe it was what a good friend and neighbor you were to all those around you; or maybe it was how great your butt looked in your kakis. Whatever it was, I had no hesitation about saying “I love you” the first week; getting a dog together the second; and moving in with you after a month…even though you were out to sea. Everyone must have thought we were crazy. In our case crazy works.

Engaged a year latter, married a year after that, and pregnant on our honeymoon. We’ve always known what we want and gone for it. Some people call us impulsive. I call us certain. With you, Jacob, there has never been any question in my mind: YOU ARE IT FOR ME.

Now two years later here we are a little older, a little fatter, and a whole lot more sober and it still works for us. Sure things have changed, but the thing that remains constant is our love and our friendship. You still make me laugh like no one else can; you are still the only person I wan to talk to when I’m in the dumps; and your butt still looks great (now in slacks!). Sure, we are only at the beginning of what (God willing) will be a long life together. And I look forward to it as much today as I did on our wedding day!

I LOVE YOU SMOOCHY!

**Turns out you did make an effort, thank you so much for my beautiful flowers and for making me feel like such a shlep for not even getting you a card! ;-) XOXOXOX

It's been too long...

Holy cow, I haven't posted in ages. I bet all you grandparents out there are dying for a little Normy fix. Let me help...




Sheesh, does everyone feel better now? He's still here and still cute as ever. Unfortunately, today he's sick. This morning he puked up his breakfast; he has a very leaky nose; and he's been sleeping for the last 2 and 1/2 hours. Sadly, I really haven't done much with that time as I am still feeling somewhat icky from my own gastrointestinal disturbance Thursday. Oh well, such is life. I know I have many years ahead of cleaning up kid vomit; but it is just so freaking gross now that it isn't just boobie-milk spit-up. So on that note, have a great weekend!

Sweet Pickles!

Actually, They're dill! I am so excited I can't hardly stand it. I made my very own pickles yesterday. Last Saturday while my sister and I were at the farmers market we stumbled across pickling cucumbers. How cool! I had never seen those before. So I bought a few to try it out. I found a recipe on line, got the necessaries, at Wal-mart...and wha-la! Pickles!

Pickles are just about my favorite food ever. And not just because I'm preggers. I have always been a pickle eating fool. I'm the girl who goes with you to a sandwich shop and always asks, "Are you going to eat that?" while pointing to your pickle spear on the side.

My favorite sandwich of all time is peanut butter and pickles. Don't make that face, it is actually quite delicious. And I'm not alone on this. My grandma taught me the joys of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, and my best friend eats them too. That's actually how we discovered we were soul mates... I finally found someone who would split a PB & P with me!

I was kinda' bummed that I only had enough cucumbers for two jars. That's just not enough! I mad one with shallots and garlic and the other with jalapeños and garlic! There are so many other combos to try! I am hoping to get more cucumbers at this coming Saturday's market. But the real bummer is having to wait TWO MONTHS for my pickles to be ready! I don't know if I'm going to make it that long...I even dreamed of pickles last night.

Missing Aunt Kate & Uncle Chuck

I miss my sister! Kate and Chuck came for a visit from Florida for the long weekend. We all had such a great time; it's all I've been able to think about since. That, and how sad I am now that they are gone. I wish we were neighbors. It isn't right that families should be separated by such great distances. Why doesn't everyone move to Omaha? Zach, Cathy, Angie, Mom, Dad? Are you guys in? What about all my peeps in California? Come on! Nebraska is were it is at! Matt? Jen? There is a base around here somewhere, right?Charlie and Sharon? There's a house for sale on our block! Okay, I'm done whining; I just miss everybody! Instead I am focusing on the positive. Check out these great shots form our far too fun weekend.