52 Weeks of Blessings

Week 2: BAILEY

My first-born, my parenting debut....you are so passionate, so kind and sensitive, funny and talented, smart and silly, beautiful and faithful. You are such a blessing in my life. I'm so lucky to be your Mom.

We're back home! We headed out Friday night for a quick weekend trip to see Grandmas and Grandpas, cousins, and aunts and uncles on both sides of my family. We planned to leave after work so the kids would sleep on the way. I dressed them in PJs for the trip, stocked up on DVDs from the library, snacks - you name the need and I was prepared...and off we went. The kids were brilliant! We stopped in Iowa City to eat dinner - get the kids out of their car seats for awhile and stretch our legs. About 45 minutes later we loaded back up and hit the road again. Just before the Mississippi River we pulled off at a rest area so Mark could use the restroom. The kids were still great! And then....just as we were pulling out of the rest area...it happened. VOMIT! Lauren - for maybe the second time in her 2 years of life threw up. It was EVERYWHERE! Soaked her pjs, chunks all over the car seat, the car seat straps - oh...and saturated the DVD headset she was wearing. G-R-O-S-S!!!

Where do you even begin with such a mess? Now Grant is bawling, Bailey is fighting back her own urge to puke now...ugh. I stripped her of her PJs and took a wipe and cleaned her up the best I could before wrapping her in a towel to carry her back into the restroom to change her clothes and get her cleaned up more. That left Mark to the disaster that was the car seat. Oh I just wanted to hold her the rest of the trip...but aside from being illegal, it wouldn't have been safe. So Mark did a pretty good job of wiping up the seat, which was till wet, lying down a receiving blanket to try to keep her dry...and spraying perfume throughout the van so we all wouldn't be sick. We ended up throwing away her PJs at the rest area dumpster...which inspired a thought. I wonder what else lies within the rest area dumpster? Scary thought. I'm sure evidence of many highway tragedies are in there.

I believe Lauren was just car sick. She felt instantly better - asked for a snack as a matter of fact. But no WAY was she getting food after that! And no more movie-watching either! Luckily she slept.

The cutest part? She said "I not spill my hiccup again." What an accurate and innocent description of what happened to her. Poor baby.

More on the trip tomorrow.

We are traveling this weekend for the first time since Grant was born. THREE kids in the van....PRAY FOR US! We are leaving after dark in hopes that the little ones will sleep most of the way (and then sleep when we get there?..optimistic aren't I?). We are traveling here to visit my Grandparents on both sides of my family. For some, it will be the first time they've met Grant. We are also making it a pseudo family Christmas. This means in addition to diaper bags, wipes, duffel bags and toys...I need to pack GIFTS. Seriously, if they don't already know how much we love them, let this be evidence!

I am still doing laundry this morning (how hard can it be - packing for TWO nights...but it is), packing toiletries and emptying trash cans. I'm praying the travel goes well this weekend...because we have to do it AGAIN weekend after next, where we'll be going here to see Mark's side of the family.

Look for pictures and travel tales when I get back. Signing out for now...

-- The Mom of 'Em

Lots to do before we hit the road tomorrow! Still don't have everyone packed, still don't have laundry done, still don't have gifts wrapped. sheesh!

I've been busy tonight though trying to solicite votes for a video I uploaded to Leap Frog's Web site. They are offering $25,000 to the video/photo with the most votes. Here's the link to ours....please vote! http://community.leapfrog.com/thread.jspa?threadID=300001567&rw=true

G'night

FINALLY!!!! Praise God the boy FINALLY found his thumb. This after months of him wanting to suck it....hating the pacifier....about scratching his eyes out trying to find it. Today he found it!!! Woo-hoo!

Life with three kids...two of them under the age of 2 1/2 years can be stressful. It is so easy as parents to get wrapped up in the daily grind....diaper changes, baths, meals, cleaning up, bottles, snacks...the hundreds of I need, I need, I need! that happens in a day. I've noticed lately that like most couples, by the time we are done tending to the needs of the kids, we are EXHAUSTED and haven't been the best about taking care of US. We've been talking about this lately and I just have to tell you what my husband did!

Last night was my book club night. We meet once every 6 weeks at a restaurant to discuss the book I didn't read and then vote on the next book I probably won't get around to reading. It is great fun! I arrived at the restaurant last night a few minutes late. Several of my friends were already gathered around the table...some were shooting daggers my way and some were smiling like they knew something I didn't. Then I saw it.....in the middle of the table was a vase with three roses and an envelope with my name on it. Inside? A beautiful love letter from my husband.

He had arrived at the restaurant early, arranged with the owner to place these items on our table. Now seriously, people - how lucky am I? He's a keeper I tell ya.

And today's most hilarious blog post award (yes...just invented this award yesterday) goes to DOOCE...well, technically it goes to Jim Gaffigan...but I found it over at Dooce...so she gets today's coveted (aka meaningless) award. Enjoy.

My Funniest blog of the day award (which I just invented after reading this post) goes to: Creative Little Daisy

Head on over to her site and read the HILARIOUS southern sayings she's interpreted for us. The funny thing is, I think some of these are just country and not just southern. Growing up in several hick towns in the Midwest, I can assure you I've heard a few of her examples. To add to her list:

My great grandma and other relatives used to always say:

"Don't stir the dust" = settle down and quit running around like wild children
"Stifle Yourself" = shut up/be quiet
"Oh my achin' back" = I can't believe it - for cryin' out loud
"For Pete's sake" = substitute it for "oh my achin' back"
"funny papers" = comics in the newspaper

I"m sure there are more that I can't recall right now. Do YOU have any you could add to the list? If you've ever heard or spoken country (and you know who you are - I won't mention any names... Ron & Nancy) Please leave a comment - add to the country-folk dictionary we're creating here. =-)

I started a Bible study at church tonight. It is a Beth Moore study and it is going to be a good one! I did THIS study before and LOVED it. The current study I'm doing is a much more complicated topic, but that Beth Moore can really get you fired up about what you previously thought to be the "boring stuff.....or as she would say "FAHRD-up." Anyway, this study is called The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Read about it here. I'll fill you in on the good stuff I learn as I go along.

52 Blessings Project

Week One: My husband, Mark

To read more about the 52 blessings project, go here.

Last week my cousin Krista, Bailey & I went to see Enchanted....and absolutely LOVED IT! I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can buy it. If you haven't seen it yet - GO!

Failing Miserably

1. Christmas decorations STILL not put away
2. I delayed making a photo CD for my aunt so long that now I have to overnight it or send it 2nd day air.
3. I need to finish the invoice for my freelance job so I can get paid...I've had the contract for a week now.
4. Le'ts not even talk about the kitchen floor, the inside of the fridge or that our bed sheets could walk away soon if I don't change them.
5. AND...we're traveling this weekend...and i haven't begun to pack, think of packing, etc.

The Morning After....No Regrets

Well, it is the morning after Caucuses....and the mass media/candidate exodus is almost complete. So...how do I feel about my decision last night? GREAT! I feel wonderful about implementing a plan B and going with Obama. I feel like he brings hope that soon I could feel part of my government and not dictated by it. I feel a Kennedyesque atmosphere when he speaks - which is like a giant political warm fuzzy for me. (to which my husband replied -"ick."). I believe in this country - and it wasn't until recently that this feeling returned to me....this is a good thing....this is what HOPE looks like.

Now....I still wanted Richardson - since I struggled and struggled to make my final decision before the caucus...so since I hate to "lose" I'm hoping for an Obama/Richardson ticket. =-)

O-Bam-A!

It's CAUCUS NIGHT!!!!

I arrived at my caucus site to find a HUUUUUUUUUGE crowd! I knew turnout would be large but I had no idea it would be THAT large. I found my way to the sign-in tables, where I was not found on the list of already registered voters (I am), and then found my way to the line for people who needed to register (instruction I was given even though I was showing them my registration card). Annoying disorganization! The strange thing is - this is the SAME thing that happened to me during the last caucus! Finally, after re-registering to vote, I was able to find my way through the crowd to the Bill Richardson camp. Just eyeballing it I knew it was going to be tough to gain viability.

We waited for about 30 more minutes so everyone could sign in and find their appropriate candidate area...then an introduction of Joe Biden's daughter who gave a brief speech (cool), then a brief overview of the rules and then a head count in each camp. Bill Richardson's group (which I was in) had roughly 41 people in it (compared to 100+ in the Obama & Edwards groups). Then it was reported that we needed 65 to remain viable. The effort began to recruit more people. I started with the Kucinich group (seemed logical, right? I mean, come on....you have THREE people in your group...come on over!). But soon it seems we lost support and after the second head count it was announced that my candidate (remember...I AGONIZED over my caucus decision and FINALLY decided on Richardson)....was not viable. WAAAAAAGH. So now I had a decision to make. Who would be my plan B? I could stand behind Edwards....I could stand behind Hillary....I could stand by Obama. But here it was...the decision was before me.

Unfortunately because of the ridiculously large turnout, there was not space for much political debate. I had hoped to hear intelligent argument as to why I should choose Edwards, Hillary or Obama. Hillary's camp did a pretty decent job of this - Obama won on enthusiasm mixed with intelligence and Edwards peeps....sorry...didn't do a good job at my caucus site.

So...my plan B decision? OBAMA! And then the chanting began. O-Bam-A! O-Bam-A! O-Bam-A! What a wonderful process to be a part of. I'm proud to be an Iowa democrat. So there you go, nation.....what we decided here in Iowa didn't narrow the playing field much....but it did begin an enthusiasm for the process that I pray continues as each state holds its own primary.(I'm also praying for an Obama/Richardson ticket ..... because I still think Bill Richardson is a wonderful choice).

This afternoon Mark & I dropped the kids with Grandma & Grandpa and headed out for some couple time. We started with lunch here. They sat us directly in front of the kitchen so we asked our server if we could be moved away from the kitchen (not a good idea - remember when I saw an IHOP waitress TASTE food on someone's plate before serving it! ick!) he said sure - and then moved us directly BEHIND the kitchen. Nice. Don't you just wonder sometimes if people are just that stupid....or if they are just that rude. Just to be safe, his tip reflected the former. I ordered the BBQ Ranch burger - yum!

From there we headed over here where we bought this (with our 20% off coupon of course) and this (I'll let you know if it actually works). I also picked up a cute Christmas basket with liner clearance for $5. I had been looking for something to put diapers and the box of wipes in for downstairs. We've been just throwing a pile of diapers on the couch...not a good look to the already cluttered area. This works perfectly! It fits the box of Pampers wipes along with about a dozen diapers and the tube of A&D. Woo-hoo! Love those Christmas clearance sales for items you can use all-year round! Speaking of which - gotta get me some more of Target tomorrow. A little birdie told me Christmas clearance over there is now at 75% off. (salivating). Last year I picked up Ziploc storage containers with snowmen on them for cheap. Of course I caught flack from people in July when I was storing food in them - but who cares? I hope to score some paper for next year, some tape and ziploc bags with holiday designs on them. Actually, anything like that - Kleenex, ziploc bags, storage containers - whatever we'd use all year anyway.

Ok - I digress. After BB&B we headed here where we took our sweet time flipping through sale books, children's books - all of it. All while sipping on a delicious peppermint mocha complete with whipped creme and red sprinkles. =-) (hey - resolutions don't begin until tomorrow, right?) I picked up a 3 for $9.99 deal - two gifts and one for me. I picked up another book Bailey wanted to gift to her friend and this book for my cousin, Krista. I hope she loans it back to me when she is done - it looks like a good one!

After that we headed back to pick up the kids...and none of them were crying. Woo-hoo! A great afternoon I'd say, wouldn't you? Now I'm tired - no way am I making it til Midnight.

I'll leave you with a recap of 2007:

* Lauren turned 2, Bailey turned 12
* Grant was born!
* We got our house ready to sell, put it on the market for 4 months and then took it off the market again - shwew!
* We painted three rooms of the house, moved Bailey to the basement, moved the toy room to another area of the basement and prepared a nursery for the baby.
* Lauren started "school" two days a week - more like a morning play group - but great for her.
* Saw dozens of family members throughout the year - sometimes we traveled to them - sometimes they came here but we always enjoyed the company!
* Watched approximately 10,000 episodes of both Dora and The Backyardigan's
* Gave our dog, Sadie to a nice family outside of Iowa City where she now enjoys another dog and an acreage!
* Joined a new church
* Had Grant baptized
* I turned 36 (moved from "in my 30's" to "pushing 40" status - boo)
* Celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary
* Mark turned 42 (sorry - had to...you know..to make myself feel better about two bullet points ago)
* Got a new HDTV and HD Dish (lovin' the HD!)
* Decided who I want to be our next president =-)
* Enjoyed another year in my book club - almost had time to read one whole book this year...but hey - still love the club.

I'm sure there is more - but that's all I can think of right now. The year was busy, filled with another year filled with changes, but 2007 was another year where we have been completely and totally blessed. I don't know what 2008 will hold for us - but I can tell you it WILL NOT be another one of these. =-) Done and DONE!

Happy New Year Everyone!
-- The Mom of 'Em

My Caucus Decision:

After MUCH thought, I've decided to caucus for Bill Richardson. I favor his stance on diplomacy, his experience as Governor, his responsible approach to healthcare and national spending. I especially support his positions on innovation and technology and his ideas to reclaim this country's ability to compete globally through math, science and innovation initiatives. As a side note to the issues - I find him extremely likable.

>As far as Iraq goes, I don't think any of the candidates have the magic answer to the disaster known as Iraq. They all have ideas - but it is unclear which plan will actually work. I support Richardson's plan to move some forces to bases in more welcoming parts of the region and amp up diplomacy in the region. His foreign relations experience as US ambassador to the UN and his appointment to Clinton's Cabinet as energy dept. secretary has him poised for the job.

>I feel if the media had not singled out the top three candidates MONTHS and MONTHS ago, Richardson would have more of a backing at this stage of the game. He has my vote for the best candidate - well-rounded in his experience and previous roles to make a successful leader for this country.

If it is apparent Richardson does not have enough support at my caucus site, my plan B will be between Hillary Clinton and Obama.

OR...

>I still have not made a final decision on which will be my second choice. Initially I was going to abandon Richardson because I didn't feel he was electable, however after feedback I received and careful consideration, I have decided that change begins with ME. A candidate will not be electable if I abandon them before the Caucuses.

So, I'll give it my caucus-all for Bill and then jump ship only if it is clear he does not have the support to sustain him at my caucus site. Now, back to researching Hillary and Obama....where they stand on the issues and how they might fair against the Republican nomination next November.

** The views expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone. They do not reflect the opinions of my other family members, friends or acquaintances, although I do hope to influence them. =-)

The boy loves his Daddy

The Adventures of BUMBO boy!

THREE MONTHS OLD!

Grant was 3 months old yesterday. I don't wish the time away - but I'm SO glad we finally hit that milestone. Something happens at 3 months - a switch is flipped or something that says - ok - time to quit crying & waking a lot - you're 3 months old now - buck up and coo, smile and SLEEP. Yeah! He listened to his inner voice and he IS cooing more, smiling LOTS and sleeping a lot more. (cue choirs of angels).

He's wearing size 6 months clothing - at least in 1-piece outfits. He's one tall drink o'baby! He is seeing better - noticing what's going on around him and especially noticing when someone other than Mommy or Daddy is holding him. (he doesn't like it too much). That's ok though, buddy....you can be a Momma's boy for awhile.

Under his belt he has his 1st Halloween, his 1st Christmas, his 1st immunizations, his 1st sleep through the night (Christmas Eve - how perfect!), and his first smiles & giggles and coos. Still to come? LOTS and lots.

He still hasn't found his thumb but continues to seek it desperately. He does NOT like the pacifier. This makes for some frustrating times for both Grant & us. Soon he'll find it and life will be GRAND.

I love you, Baby Grant!

Mommy