I know, Grant...it'll be okay....only 7 more months to go til November....



If this post is upsetting to you - if you think it is disrespectful....please know it is was JUST a joke (kinda). Now - for a little fun...please post comments on the photos below - leave me a fitting caption for each!

I had hoped to have this sudden burst of taking care of myself be a surprise to my husband when he returns from his trip to Boston....but sorry, honey....my blog-readin' peeps gotta know! As you may have read (what? you didn't? you aren't reading my blog daily? You haven't subscribed in a reader? - shame!) that I wanted to get my hair cut and colored this week. Well guess what?! I did it! Thanks to Stacy and my Mom for pinch-hitting for me with the kids. Man it feels great to take care of myself like that!

Anyway - I've tried to take pictures of it for you...but do you have any idea how hard it is to take pictures of yourself in a mirror? I was trying to get good shots of the hair - so please disregard any messes you might see in the background, any unflattering views of upper arms, etc. It's about the HAIR people.

I think I'm going to like the cut - I can tuck it, pin part of it back, wear it all down, cover up the little bangs, allow just the little bangs...versatile...and I like that. The color I love. It isn't Aveda (my fave)...but it didn't cost Aveda either...so there. Anything was better than blah natural color I had goin' on.

Here it is:

Mark left this morning for Boston. He'll get home Thursday afternoon. This is the first time he's traveled in a loooong while. I have very high hopes of getting A LOT done this week while he's gone, but the reality is that it is just the same as any other week except I'll have NO help from 5:30 til bedtime. Soooo...that probably means I'll get LESS done...not more. Oh well...it doesn't stop me from making my gigantic to-do list:

* Haircut/color (I really think hair places should be open on Mondays. If I owned one it WOULD be open on Mondays to steal business away from all of those places that are closed on Mondays). I haven't had a cut since Christmas-time. This is what is called "letting yourself go" by the way.

* Paint. This one makes me laugh while I'm typing it...but one can dream. I really want to paint the entryway to our home. I haven't really liked the color since I painted it three years ago.

* Organize. Again - laughing. I want to organize cupboards and drawers!

* Laundry. I want to get ALL of the laundry done! This is a doable goal I think...if I ignore the first three items on the list that is.

* Scrapbook. I put this on my list every stinkin' week...and every stinkin' week I don't get to do it. Still....it needs to know that I'm thinkin' of it...all of that beautiful paper and adhesive and piles of photos...they need to know that I still love them.

* Cook as little as possible. Totally doable. I'm stickin' to this one!

* Work. It must be done...at least 10 hours this week.

* Rearrange Lauren's room. Maybe.

* Attend Bailey's track meet. It is really going to depend on the weather - but I just hate missing these things even if she says she doesn't care. I think every kid wants an audience, don't you?

* Clean master bedroom closet and sort through other items for garage sale (MUST!)

Ok - there's a lot more...but I know you're already laughing your heads off. I am too.

7 Months OldToday Grant is 7 months old! The slippery-slope to ONE! (weeping now). This month he's shown us a lot of new tricks. He still doesn't sit up the best, but he can do it...until he falls. Now when we put him on the floor to play he rolls to his belly and then does this half-inchworm and sometimes rolling thing to get around. It is subtle - you wouldn't even really notice it even if you were watching him...but suddenly he'll be 5 feet away from where he was playing!

He continues to light up the room with his still toothless smile, but as you can see from some of the pictures below - we are definitely in a put-everything-in-your-mouth phase. I think teeth are well on there way. He soaks through bibs and shirts every day with that drool of his.

Grant babbles more and more these days - ba-ba, ma-ma, da-da and strange variations of the three. Sometimes he just lets out a long gutteral noise with a very serious look on his face. He knows he's talking....wonder what he's saying? ("You are so beautiful, Mommy! You are absolutely the best Mommy in the whole-wide world! I Love You, Mommy!!!"???)

He is getting better at eating. Opening his mouth wanting bites now...whereas before you'd have to wait until he smiled or cried to get something in there. Green beans, peas, peaches, applesauce, mangoes, rice cereal, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes...he's tried them all. He LOVES applesauce...and seemed to dig the green beans too last time.

He continues to be my mostly-mellow dude. He gets mad when he's tired, hungry or needs changed....that's MOSTLY it. I so deserved that - thank you, buddy....for cutting this Mom of two girls a break with your mellow. Shwew! ALTHOUGH...you are the worst sleeper of the bunch. You think a 20-minute nap is ok...you think it is ok to wake up at 4 a.m. - not cool. But oh well, you're so cute...I guess I'll just deal.

I've noticed recently that he likes to play "rough"....no sweet little tickles for him...he'd rather you make a monster voice and eat his rib cage or wriggle him up above your head, or bounce him up and down. Very different from the girls at this age. Speaking of bouncing - the boy LOVES to bounce! If you stand him on your lap he immediately starts bouncing. He also likes to rock his exersaucer back and forth...and hit things. Sometimes it is hitting a toy against his high-chair or maybe it is slapping his hand against my cheek...but he loves it.

Lauren seems to be going through some delayed jealousy lately. She wants to be a baby like Grant and not so much of a big girl anymore. (great - hmph.) She has really gotten the "apologize" command down-pat. Here she is acting all innocent ("I didn't Dooooo it! face) after she knocked you in the head with a book or something. Good thing your pastey-white skin shows every little mark.

* note....sorry I keep switching voices within this post...sometimes I'm talking to Grant...sometimes I'm talking about Grant. Whatever...if you wanted a wonderful writer you'd be reading someone else's blog. =-)

Bailey continues to be Grant's favorite person...Dad and Lauren are a tight second though. =-)

I can't believe he's 7-months already. Seriously unfair how quickly that goes. Until next month....thank you for not crawling or walking yet, Grant...plenty of time for that stuff.

Grant at 7 months is mostly wearing a size 9 months...or 6-12 depending on the sizing...although this shirt he's wearing is a 12 months from Target. I think this picture is funny....his mouth kind of looks like the mouth on his shirt. Mr. Funny.

I love my little man! Little drama and BIG smiles....that's just the way he is....PERFECT!

Is there really anything wimpier than going to the doctor for a broken "pinky" toe? I don't think so....but there I was this morning. At least it was confirmed that the toe IS broken. A clean break - clear through...but aligned just fine despite the mangled exterior appearance. So $43, a couple x-rays, some tape and a sexy shoe later..I'm home and hobbling around. Did you know they can view x-rays digitally now? How cool is that?! He even burned the images to a disk for me....but the file format is funky and I can't figure out how to upload them to the blog. I'll have Mark help me with that tonight - cuz I just KNOW you are dying to see the bone images of the largest female feet known to man. =-)

Confessions of an old transvestite

Ok, so I"m not a transvestite...but if you looked at my feet, you might wonder. Before kids I wore a women's size 11. After kids, a 12 WIDE. (Hold the Sasquatch jokes, please). This is a horrible predicament for a woman. Shoe shopping has NEVER been an enjoyable experience for me. IF a store carries my size, they tend to be the most hideous looking shoes - ever. There's the whole men's shoe solution, but what woman wants to wear Men's shoes?

Last night around Midnight I completely and totally rammed my foot into the glider ottoman in the baby's room. My little toe was bent outward and upward in an awkward position and I was (am) in pain! Now, the toe is either broken or dislocated and footwear is not really an option at all right now. I know doctors can't really do anything for a broken toe except maybe tape it....but I think I'm going to go see a doctor because I"m afraid it will heal in this jetted outward position...thus making Amazon foot even WIDER and harder to fit. (sigh).

Life is so not fair. I want to wear cute strappy sandals with kitten heels, but noooooo...I have to wear shoes that my husband slips on to get the mail. NOT RIGHT! So off I go this morning to the doctor - where I"ll hang my head low, embarrassed of my large and now swollen foot....hoping they believe I'm a woman and not a transvestite. Actually, it would be nice to know a fashionable transvestite...because the first thing I'd ask is where do you buy your cute shoes??

Lauren had a wonderful time with her Grandma yesterday (read: was SPOILED ROTTEN). She and Grandma went to get pictures taken, enjoyed a nice lunch together and each other's company. Thanks, Grandma! Here are a few of the pictures from yesterday's photo shoot:

Bailey & Mark returned safely from Omaha where they saw Santana. They both had a GREAT time and Mark says it was the best concert he's ever attended...ever!

Today Grandma took Lauren to get her picture taken in the dresses she sewed for her. They aren't back yet, but I'll post her pictures later. While the 2-yr-old was elsewhere I took advantage and took Grant for his 6-month pics (since I only have a few days left before he's 7 months!). Here are the pics we ordered....the first is my favorite but he did SO great today that I had to leave dozens of fabulous shots behind. =-( Here are the three I ordered:

And here are a few shots when we got home....Grant and all of his double-chin smiley-guy goodness.

Run, Bailey! Run!

Yesterday afternoon I packed up the little ones and we headed to Bailey's track meet. Of course the very minute we got in the van to drive over there it started raining. Not enough to cancel the meet - just enough to make it absolutely miserable. It was still warm and humid...but WET. Luckily a rain cover came with our double stroller and that saved my life! Grant was cozy and dry under there and Lauren? Well...she was excited to see sissy "win the race." (even if she had come in last, Lauren thought she winded the race (toddler speak).

Even more lucky, Grandma & Grandpa live right across the street from this track, so after Bailey's first event (4x800 relay), Grandma & Grandpa took Lauren back to their house. She had to take her new watering can...since it was raining she thought she needed to collect the water. Yup - like I needed ONE MORE thing to haul to the track meet.

It is definitely difficult attending track meets with two little ones - but I'm not going to miss Bailey's activities - it isn't her fault her brother & sister are 12 and 10 yrs younger than she is! Because I had the double stroller, that meant that we didn't sit in the stands - you know...where you can actually SEE something? And because Grant is still cranky around the 5 o'clock time....that meant I had to stay in-motion! I was able to watch her 4x800 event and thankfully Grant held out until her 4x200 event. Bailey was anchor for that relay and came in 3rd.....I thought it was a strong finish and was very proud of her.

I'm looking forward to a sunny track meet someday soon.

Tonight Bailey & Mark are headed to a Santana concert in Omaha. Mark won tickets (I swear - he is always winning tickets to something!). I'll be home alone w/the kiddos.

Later!

I've been a menu-planning slacker again...and boy could you tell around here! Just how many nights did we have cereal? TOO MANY! So here I go again - because it saves money, time and definitely effort. If you want to see what everyone else is making this week (sure to be better than mine), head over to Laura's site.

Monday: If the track meet doesn't get rained out, then cold meat sandwiches picnic-style. If it DOES get cancelled, then we'll actually pull out the real plates.

Tuesday: Corn Dogs (Bailey & Mark gone)

Wednesday: Pork Chops on the grill, Potatoes, Green Beans, Applesauce

Thursday: Philly Cheesesteak or Italian Beef sandwiches, steak fries, peaches & cottage cheese

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Spaghetti and salad

Sunday: Tortilla Soup

For years the front room of our home has contained a giant desk for our computer. It is a great desk (coming to a garage sale soon!) The room has been functional for us but sort of confusing for others - especially if you look at it from a potential buyer's perspective. It has been my goal to create a more purposeful space - one that combined the functionality of an "office" (which we needed) with an understandable and comfortable look for others (which THEY needed). So..... I found a computer armoire off of the classifieds for $75. It is like-new! Yesterday we emptied the old desk, moved it to the garage and set up the computer in the new armoire.

Then I picked up two chairs from my friend/neighbor. She didn't want them anymore and said I could just have them. (FREE!). The pillows on the chairs were made by my Mom and were a Christmas gift (FREE!). The floor lamp and decor? Moved from another room (NO COST THERE!). I still need to move the desk lamp off of the top of the armoire - it is too tall. I need to find appropriate lighting for the armoire. But other than that? A pretty darn cheap room makeover I'd say! Here are the pics - sorry I forgot to take "before" pics.

Lauren: "Mommy!" We're Hiding Again!

Me: "Where could Lauren be hiding? Hmmmm"

Lauren: "Under the blanket!"

Daddy: Hey, Lauren? What do you want to be when you grow up?

Lauren: A singer! At church! I wanna have a flower microphone!

=-)

We watched Alvin & The Chipmunks movie last night. I was surprised! For a kid-movie...not too bad! Lauren LOVED it! It held her attention for the majority of the movie. She laughed out loud at parts and got up and danced several times. This just might be a movie we have to buy. Here she is shakin' her groove thang...

Stream of Consciousness...

I love my family. I love hearing Mark make Grant giggle through the baby monitor. I can't believe he's up already - didn't I just see him at 4 a.m.? And I know that constitutes "all-night" for the doctors....but for me? All night is when I am not awake when I would otherwise be asleep. So we aren't there yet.

I need to exchange one of my shirts today. I realized the other day when the temps were in the 70's that I don't have spring clothes! Well, I do...but they are either maternity or they are athletic tees....Old Navy 2003, etc. (sad). So I bought a few things. Of course I didn't want to try anything on, so there was one that I didn't like after I tried them all on at home. Here's the one I didn't like:I hate running errands - unless I was alone - which I am NEVER.

But if I were alone - I would have page after page of scrapbooking to work on. Poor kids - no photo albums, just a few scrapbooked pages. Maybe before they marry I'll have them done. But I suppose I wouldn't even scrapbook if I were alone, because I'd be thinking of the - oh - 15 loads of laundry in the basement? I'm exaggerating - but not by much. Seriously - how am I supposed to keep the house clean, entertain the kids, make meals, work 10+ hours a week, scrapbook, do laundry, organize budget stuff for the finance class we're taking, make dental appointments for the girls, arrange for the handyman company to give us estimates on the jobs we want done, remember when track meets are, arrange someone to watch the kids when we have somewhere we have to be... Too much! And that, my friends is why I get started on everything and finished with nothing. Drives me crazy. Oh, I've tried the chore chart - no one even tried. How do YOU do it? Please tell me I"m not the only one drowning here.

It has rained here the past 2 days - and I so miss the sun from Tuesday - it was beautiful to get out of the house! We need that again. I need to get walking. I found my Weight Watcher's weigh-in booklet from a couple years ago....glanced at my end weight.....then weighed myself today.....which totally just makes me want to eat....and then walk. Ordered cute shoes from Payless - hope they fit.

Ok - need more coffee. More coherent thoughts later....maybe. I have to find time to work at least 2 hours today....at least.

The Weekend Post.....on Wednesday

I didn't have time to post about our weekend until now...and technically I don't have time now either. I worked 3 hours this morning on my freelance job, played outside with Lauren (70 degrees - woo-hoo!) and have MOUNTAINS of laundry waiting for me...but oh well. I just know you are dying to know about our weekend. (ha).

Friday night was pizza/movie night and we watched this and liked it a lot...really gets you thinking...what would YOU do? Saturday Bailey went shopping with a friend while Mark and I took the kids shopping for new shoes for Mark and a few items we needed from Costco. (NEVER going to Costco on a Saturday again - holy cow!) Later that day Mark picked up his birthday gift from Lowe's. I'm not sure if this is the EXACT model - but it looks just like this. We tested it out Saturday night with Ribeyes and King Crab Legs..mmmm. I threw some red potatoes with parsley & butter in the microwave to go with it. Look good?

Then on Sunday morning we led the music set for the 9:30 service at church. It was our first time doing this together - just the two of us. We had a nice time. After church we ate lunch and watched this and love it! A total chick flick but LOVED it.

Then Mark went to pick up our new (used) computer armoire that I found off the classified for $75! BARGAIN! Now we begin the process of cleaning out the old desk - not fun.

That pretty much sums it up! It was a fabulous weekend, despite the freezing wind and SNOW FLURRIES on Saturday (don't get me started), but Sunday proved to be sunny at least...and today makes up for all of that. The only thing that could have made it better was if Brothers & Sisters would have been on with a new episode Sunday night. Oh well..THIS WEEK!!!

The Jig Is Up!

After she finished her cookie snack, Lauren asked me "Mommy? I want another cookie, please." I told her no....to which she asked again..."I want another cookie please?" Seeing where this was going, I said...No more cookies, Lauren - they're all gone." To which the child said..."I want to see the bag."

A Mom should be able to outsmart them beyond 2 1/2 years, shouldn't she? Something is wrong here.

Hip Hop Bailey This is not her usual look...posing for some sort of Art project they are working on at school). I think I'm going to try that pose sometime - maybe at her next track meet. Yo, Bay....Word to your Motha. wah-ha-ha-ha...don't ya just love imagining how easy it would be to mortify them? i never do intentionally...but I like to imagine. =-)

So how's potty training going you ask?

What DO they feed that girl!

Here's a funny from my brother:

Items currently missing from our home:

* hair dryer - seriously - how many places could a hair dryer hide?
* orange hooded Aero sweatshirt w/monkey on it
* my favorite jeans (and i only own 3 pair anyway)
* Gretchen Wilson CD checked out from library...in August...been searching since then
* my mind!

Things found at our home:
* The formerly missing Evita DVD rented from Family Video - found along w/5 other DVDs in the VCR slot.....LAUREN!!!
* Lots of miscellaneous adapters, chargers and other types of cords - no idea what they go to
* sippy cup with solid white substance in it.....now in garbage
* expired coupons

The Bachelor....Common Sense Calling

Ok...so that is what it NEEDS to be called instead of "London Calling." Hello! Matt? Get a friggin clue! You gave up THIS for THIS? And you have kept HER? Come ON! Time for your friends & family to fly in to knock some sense into you! I think you've played one too many rough games of rugby...knocked silly a few times perhaps. I still can't believe you gave up HER. Sheesh. She was the best!

(yes....if you didn't know it already...I need a life. I know I am 36 years old and should be watching grown-up shows like 60 Minutes or something (which I also enjoy)...but I just can't help it...I love The Bachelor.)

We had a great weekend at our house...and it's about time! Friday night Mark & I had a "date night" (long overdue). Grandma & Grandpa watched Lauren, my friend Stacy watched the baby and Bailey went to a sleepover. We ate a wonderful meal here (one of my favorite places) to celebrate Mark's birthday. We enjoyed uninterrupted conversation (imagine!) and even dessert! (twice in one week for me - oops). After dinner we headed to The Home Depot to look for a new grill (Mark's non-surprise b-day gift). The selection over there was horrible. Seriously - is it too much to ask to have ONE home-improvement store that has their act together? I guess Lowe's comes the closest...but I have plenty of horrible stories from there too. Anyway...back to the story...

After Home Depot we went here and perused the Children's books (by far my favorite section). We ended up picking up my next book club book for a friend and a couple sweet children's books for my 4-yr-old half-brother (yeah - don't ask).

Bailey babysat on Saturday - two separate jobs that kept her gone for 13 hours....but worth it...she made over $100 for the day. She spent the rest of the weekend at online retailers "shopping" for her spring/summer wardrobe purchases. Oh, man....the memories....remember when your money was YOURS?

We watched several movies this weekend. I found this rental store and I was able to get 6 movies (2 kids movies, which are FREE...ALWAYS)...and then 4 regular movies and my total was five dollars and change. Un-be-leeeee-vable! We watched this and this and this.

We also CLEANED! All of us...everyone pitched in - cleaned their "zone" and we done in no time! It wasn't deep cleaning...but it was general pick-up and what a difference it made in my life! Thank you family!!! Let's do it again!

I tried to find a picture of the Amana gas grill Mark picked out for himself - but no dice. But let me show you what I DID find....how awesome is THIS?

Anyway - a great weekend. We relaxed, we enjoyed...AND we accomplished. It doesn't get any better.

All Aboard!

Me - talkin' to Mother Nature: "Oh no you Din-Nent!" (man - I even type white...anyway...you get the gist....it is April 3....and it has been SPRING for more than a few days now, darn it....and today, what do I see out my window? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!See those beautiful little shoots of green? Those are my tulips....and they should not...SHOULD NOT be covered in snow. I'm mad! Old Man Winter - you let me out of this house! Right now! You've kept me hostage for too long now and I mean it!

On a brighter note, Bailey picked out her new phone last night (contract was up)....and she is EXCITED! She picked the light blue Chocolate - very pretty but definitely designed for the younger crowd.

Dave Ramsey is gonna be soooo mad at me! Last night I had book club...you remember...the dining/gossip/girlfriend club I go to once every 6 weeks where we discuss the book everyone else in the group read and vote on the next book everyone else will read? Well, I haven't been to the last 2 or 3 meetings, so I thought I'd go...and NEEDED to go to get out of this sick house I've been trapped in since...oh....September? Anyway, I had a fabulous time! I had budgeted $25 for book club on my zero-balance budget plan. Well.......sorry, Dave......I blew it.

We went to this fabulous french bistro near downtown. After I ordered my first glass of wine in...oh...three years? I knew my $25 budget wasn't going to hold up. But man - that wine was goo-ooood! I ordered the Bistro burgers (two 4 oz. sheeder farm & niman ranch burgers served on toasted brioche-poppyseed buns with lettuce, tomato and white truffle mayo. with parmesean pommes frites and homemade ketchup) - $19. I ordered a small side salad with house bleu cheese dressing - $5 (i think). DE-LISH!! And then...everyone ELSE ordered dessert....so I didn't want to be wierd or anything, right? So I ordered the flourless chocolate torte (OH. MY. GOODNESS. God must be French because that was totally a piece of heaven on my plate)....$7

Then you add in the tip and my bill came to a whopping $49 & change! EEK! But I haven't forgotten you, Dave Ramsey....today I'm looking around to see what I can sell. That's how ya do it, right? =-)

It was Rebecca's turn to present book choices...and she began by presenting The Princess Diaries and then a romance novel...(and I was so excited! I thought...hey! I might actually have a chance to READ that one! Woo-hoo!)....but clever Becky....April Fool! On to the real books...

The book we chose to read and discuss next time is: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

Now back to selling stuff to make up for my $$$$ meal last night. Oh well - nice fancy french bistro dinner? $50....an evening out of the house with good friends, good books and no diaper changing, no baths, no cleaning up after dinner.....PRICELESS.

Grant - 6 months old

So normally I would take Grant's picture in the green recliner with the same giraffe (thank you, Krista) on the 27th of each month to document Grant's growth. Well, this month on the 27th we were all sick. So finally yesterday I got around to snapping a picture. I absolutely couldn't choose which one to post because he smiled a heart-melting smile each and every time! Then Lauren got a little jealous and had to jump into the picture too.

But then that didn't last long:

About you at 6 months:

* 17 lb.s, 1 oz. (50th percentile)

* 26 3/4 inches (75th percentile)

* blowing raspberries

* jibber-jabbing and exploring all sorts of vocal abilities

* NOT sleeping all night long (you have 30 days, buddy)

* Rolling over back to front (have been for months now)

* You sit-up when assisted or propped slightly

* You still like (prefer, actually) to be swaddled. You are getting big for this, but if we don't, you only nap for 15 -20 min. tops...& that's just no good. We leave your arms out now though & make sure you aren't too hot.

* Eating rice cereal, Enfamil formula (the breasfeeding ended last month) and just got the green light for fruits/veggies

* You LOVE Bailey - even if she isn't paying any attention to you - you look at her and BEAM! (or giggle)

* You try to pull Lauren's hair now (funny! I think you are going to give her a run for her money in a couple months)

* You love your exersaucer but not the Bumbo really

* You also love games like airplane, patty-cake and "i'm gonna get you"

* You look at me - at everyone really with such love! That smile is AMAZING and your eyes just sparkle.

* Wearing size 6-12 months, or in a one-piece sleeper type thing you are just now ready for the 9 month size...popping out of the 6 month size because you are so long!

I honestly don't know how a HALF of a year can go so quickly! I love you more each day and can't wait to see what this month brings. I see you aren't going to listen to me about not growing up so fast....so fine....but please at least promise me that you are going to continue to like to snuggle, kiss, hug and smile at your Mom....for a few years anyway, ok? Love you, baby Grant!

Mommy