Cheyne Reactions

What's the opposite of granola-y?

2012-01-21T10:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I feel like the only one of my child-bearing/rearing friends who didn't breastfeed/cloth diaper/make baby food from scratch. I also feel like doing all of these things has become increasingly popular just in the last three years. Or is this a result of being immersed in child-rearing culture within the last three year?

It's not that I am opposed to any of the aforementioned activities. I had every intention of breastfeeding when Thaxton was born. But an unplanned C-section, screaming baby, and mild PPD quickly put an end to all my good intentions. Cloth-diapering and making baby food just seemed like too much work for someone who was already working full-time. I wonder if I would have done those things if I'd stayed at home? (Probably not. Let's face it, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to these things.)

I am a little sad when I can't join in conversations about breastfeeding with my expecting friends. And I do think I would try again/a little harder with a second child to make breastfeeding work. At the same time, I have to remind myself that the choices I made three years ago were the best choices for Thaxton (who needed to eat), me (who needed to wrap my head around being a parent for the first time) and Garrick (who wanted to be a part of the process and do anything he could to make things easier for me).

I guess the most valuable advice I can dispense to anyone expecting their first child is this: It is important to determine your parenting values early and plan around those values. But it is just as important to allow yourself some flexibility when everything doesn't go according to your plan. I wouldn't change anything about the choices I made in the first three years of Thaxton's life. He's healthy, happy and vibrant. What more could a mom ask for?

What's in a resolution?

2012-01-02T18:51:00.001-05:00

I did not make a concerted effort to sit down with pen and paper and make resolutions this year. This may be the first year since I could sit down with pen and paper to make resolutions that I didn't. I'm pretty proud of myself.

I did start the Burpee 100 Day Challenge yesterday. You start with one Burpee and add one a day until you can do 100 in a day. And now you are probably wondering what in the heck a "Burpee" is, right? I'll break it down:

1. Bend your knees into a squat,
2. Put your hands on the floor,
3. Thrust your feet behind you so that you are in standard push up position,
4. Do one push up,
5. Jump your feet back between your hands, and
6. Jump up with raised arms.

That's one Burpee. I've been told this move goes by other names, as well. Call it what you will, but doing just one of these bad boys will elevate your heart rate ever so slightly. Can you imagine doing 100?? Me neither. I'll let you know how it goes. Two today wasn't bad at all!

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The Promise of a New Day

2012-01-01T09:23:00.001-05:00

What is it about the ringing in of a new year that fills everyone with such hope and optimism for the future? The tolling of the clock at midnight from December 31st to January 1st is only significant because we have made it significant. Couldn't we ascribe this significance to every day? What if we chose to wake up each morning filled with the same sense of promise and optimism as on the first day of a new year? How much more could we accomplish? This is my resolution.

Happy New Day!

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It Finally Happened

2011-11-07T12:30:00.000-05:00

After his nap yesterday, Thaxton got himself out of bed, opened his bedroom door and came downstairs all on his own. This was a first for us.

Garrick and I were on the couch in the living room watching the Falcons game, when we heard Thaxton's door open. "It's happening!" I said.

I don't think Garrick was nearly as excited about this new level of independence as I was. I suppose knowing that your child will stay put in bed (awake or not) until you come get them up is pretty awesome. Perhaps I shouldn't have empowered Thaxton to set himself free.

But, here's the thing, I may not have a very good long-term memory, but I do remember Saturday mornings as a little kid. I would wake up and crawl into bed with my parents. I can still remember how warm and safe I always felt snuggled between my mom and dad. When I got a little older, I would still spend some time in their bed on Saturday mornings before heading downstairs to catch NBC's (?) Saturday morning line up. Good times.

Garrick and I never attempted to co-sleep with Thaxton. It was not on our radar. Now that he's a little older, he's not interested in sleeping with us at all! Perhaps now, when he wakes up early in the morning and tiptoes to our room, he'll happily crawl into bed with us... I've got my fingers crossed.

To ease Garrick's anxiety, I did counsel Thaxton that he should always stay in his room/bed if it's still dark outside his window. That worked this morning...

Parent-Teacher Conference

2011-11-02T12:30:00.000-04:00

When I dropped Thaxton off in his classroom this morning, his teacher asked if she could speak with me for a few moments.

'Oh, Lord,' I thought, bracing myself to be reprimanded for some behavioral episode of Thaxton's of which I had been heretofore unaware. This was, quitely possibly, the moment I dreaded most as the parent of a preschooler.

First, Ms Christine asked if there had been any changes to Thaxton's schedule lately. I assured her there had not and waited for her response. She then mentioned some "unsettling" behavior on his part that lead her to consider changes in his homelife as the catalyst. Apparently, during circle time, Thaxton encouraged one boy to hit another boy. Then, when he was removed from circle time, he was extremely upset and told Ms Kim that she didn't have a mommy and a daddy!

While I am aware that Thaxton does not take kindly to being reprimanded (who does?!), I was pretty surprised to hear that he would say something like that to his teacher!

I didn't have much to say to Ms Christine on the matter other than assuring her that we would discuss proper circle time behavior with him at home and work on his reponse to negative criticism or situations.

I immediately called Garrick to relay this conversation. He didn't seem as surprised by the whole thing. Perhaps being a teacher gives you a unique perspective on situations of this nature. He saw Thaxton's "no mommy and daddy" insult as an intelligent child's angry response to being reprimanded. "Thaxton thought of the worst thing someone could say to him and said it to his teacher because he believed she was being mean to him," Garrick told me. Seems pretty high level for a three-year old, but what do I know?!

So, anyone got any tips on how to handle this with Thaxton? By now, he is really too far removed from the incident for us to use it as an example of inappropriate behavior.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T17:15:00.000-04:00

Unlike in year's past, I only have three photos to show for Thaxton's 4th Halloween.

The first photo reminds me of things/people I am thankful for, which amuses me since Thanksgiving is a few weeks away.

"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese!"

We could not have been luckier to have Carolyn join our little family four years ago. She and her husband David have loved Thaxton like their own and I know he is better for it. Although Carolyn is no longer Thaxton's primary care provider on a daily basis, he still gets to spend a few days each month with her and David. I know he looks forward to those visits (almost as much as they do).

So, as you can see, Thaxton was Spiderman for Halloween! The mask really makes the costume, though.

Look out! Here comes the Spiderman!

Could he see? I doubt it. He said he could, but I picked him up off the sidewalk more than once last night. Fortunately, he was a really good sport about it! Perhaps a bucket full of candy makes children less prone to crying?

And, finally, I took a picture of him at the first house we stopped by. I'm not sure why. Proof that he did trick or treat?!

Mountain Pics

2011-10-19T11:41:00.002-04:00

For your enjoyment, follow the link for pics from our trip to the mountains last weekend!

I'm heading home to spend the rest of the day with a sick kiddo. :(

What the?!?

2011-10-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

It has become necessary to impose a "No Drinks without Lids" rule on myself.

In less than one week, I have somehow managed to spill 3 drinks at/on my desk/myself.

Last Wednesday I spilled the same glass of Fresca (that delicious cranberry kind!) on my keyboard twice within 20 minutes. Are you picking up what I'm putting down here? I spilled about half of the glass all over my keyboard, then spent 10-15 minutes cleaning it up. So, less than 5 minutes after cleaning up the first spill, I spilled again! Who does that?!

This morning, I spilled half a cup of (thankfully lukewarm) coffee onto my desk and my pants. If I pass by you today and you suddenly have the inexplicable desire to go to Starbucks, this is the reason.

Farewell, Facebook

2011-10-10T13:04:00.000-04:00

I deleted my Facebook account today.

I had an account for a little over 3 years, but it feels like it's always been a part of my life. Doesn't that seem strange? It certainly speaks to the genius of the medium that it can pervade one's life so completely. My hand hovered over the mouse for a few moments as I stared at the "Are you sure?" screen and pondered the consequences.

As with anything in life, I suppose, it took a lot longer to set up the account than it did to shut it down. But it was a necessary thing to do in order to improve my quality of life - in order to live in the present, with all the wonderful gifts each moment has to offer.

I hope that those of you who may have found this blog through Facebook, will consider following it for continued updates. I'll be here posting the random musings of a preschooler's mother.

I'm also on Twitter! Follow me, if you dare! :)

Killing Time

2011-10-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

Email is down at work right now, so I'm forced to revel in the wonder that is Pinterest. I've been pinning things left and right. In my head, the plan is to pin them now to refer back to later. Will this actually happen?...How well do you think you know me?

I've found some really awesome looking/sounding recipes and some cool kiddie-craft projects to try out with Thaxton, as well as some nifty home decor ideas. Here's a great example!

If you haven't tried out this site already, head on over to www.pinterest.com and check it out. You can view others' pins without signing up. If you request an invitation to set up an account, you should receive it by email within an hour or two. Or let me know and I'll send you an invite from my account!

Happy pinning!

Just another Thaxton Thursday

2011-10-06T12:35:00.001-04:00

I have not been particularly consistent about updating ye olde blog. This is probably a result of the fact that I haven't been particularly "connected" lately. At work I don't really have much downtime to check social networks or create blog posts. When I get home, I don't really have any desire to touch a computer, cell phone or tablet. Did I mention that I downgraded my cell phone last week? Yep, no more iPhone/smartphone for me! I'm so 2000 now - a simple phone for calls and texts. So, as you can see, the blog is left in the lurch.

Since I last wrote, Thaxton celebrated his 3rd birthday with family and friends at the most fantabulously fun place ever, Champion Kids.

I had to write today because my morning with Thaxton resulted in a very cool occurence that I just had to share.

As we were leaving the neighborhood to go to school this morning, Thaxton asked if he could sing to me. Of course, I said yes. Who would say no to that?! He proceeded to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," the days of the week song (set to the tune of The Addams Family theme song, btw) and the days of the month song. He said those were the only three songs he knows, so I asked if he wanted to learn another song. Who would say no to that?!

A few weeks ago, I added "You Are My Sunshine" to our lullaby repertoire. This song has pretty strong significance for me. I learned this song at daycare when I was two and I would sing it to my Grandpa Rogers on his sick bed every afternoon. The first time I sang it to Thaxton, it caught in my throat for a second.

Looking at Thaxton in my rearview mirror, I said, "I'll sing a line, then you repeat it. Okay?"

"Okay!" he replied.

"You are my sunshine..."

"You are my sunshine, " he echoed, matching my pitch pretty closely.

"My only sunshine..."

"My only sunshine"

"You make me happy..."

"Make me happy"

"When skies are grey..."

"When skies are grey"

"You'll never know dear..."

"You never know dear"

"How much I love you..."

"Much I love you"

"Please don't take..."

"Please don't take"

"My sunshine away."

"My sunshines away."

"Now you know another song!"

"Yes, I do, Mommy! Now I'll sing a line, then you repeat it. Okay?" he said (with an air of authority he could have only learned from his father).

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but he gave me every line perfectly, even when the notes weren't exactly right, he had the melody down. We were both grinning ear to ear at each other in the rearview mirror as I repeated the last line back to him.

The boy is obsessed with instruments, so it is especially wonderful for me whenever he deigns to sing.

Conversations with Thaxton: The Cat in the Hat

2011-09-14T19:03:00.001-04:00

While watching an episode of "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That" on PBS, Thaxton turned to me and asked, "Mommy, why is the cat in the hat black?"

"He's a black cat with a white belly! Some cats are black and some are orange. Some are striped and some have really furry tails," I responded while wondering what we were really talking about. I was hoping to convey the beauty in differences, I suppose.

"Why are you white?" I asked.

Thaxton looked at me sharply before saying, "I won't tell you!"

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Say What?!

2011-09-09T08:46:00.001-04:00

I have to share with you two things Thaxton said this morning. The first cracked me up and the second dumbfounded me.

After I buckled him into his car seat, Thaxton looked at me and said, "Mommy, you almost snapped my penis!" Of course, this cracked me up. (And I'll never regret teaching him to use the proper term for his anatomy because there's really nothing funnier than hearing a three-year old say "penis.")

On the way to school, the song "Hey there, Delilah" came on the radio. From the backseat, Thaxton said, "Is this a White T's song?" I had to do a double-take. I couldn't recall having listened to this song with him before and certainly not telling him the name of the band. I think my son may be human jukebox...

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How To Play Croquet - A Pictorial

2011-09-07T18:00:00.002-04:00

One of Thaxton's favorite things to do is pull out our croquet set to put all the mallets together and sort everything by color. Here's a pictorial guide to playing croquet with Thaxton.

Yes, yes, he is aware that there are other elements involved in the actual playing of the game - wickets and rules and what not. They're just not important elements at the moment.

"Is It My Birthday Today?"

2011-09-07T11:53:00.000-04:00

He was gabbing along happily to himself and "his guys" in his room this morning like it was any other day.

I opened his door and started singing Happy Birthday.

"Is it my birthday today?!" he asked, wide-eyed.

"Yes, it is!" I replied, kneeling down beside his "big boy bed."

"Am I three?" he asked, getting more excited by the minute.

"Yes, you are!"

"Are there cookies downstairs?" he asked, remembering the sugar cookies he helped me bake last night, but didn't get to stay awake long enough to see iced.

"There are!"

"Can I eat one of them?"

I tried to talk him out of it, saying the cookies were for sharing with all his friends at school. Ultimately, he talked me into giving him one.

Of course, he did.

Happy 3rd birthday, Thaxton!

Conversations with Thaxton

2011-09-06T21:23:00.001-04:00

For some reason, Thaxton was not in high spirits this evening. On top of saying he didn't want to have a birthday party (he is his father's son, I guess), he was whining about every little thing. You'd think the kid is two or something!

At one point, Garrick asked me if I thought he'd learned this behavior at school. I decided to ask Thaxton.

Me: Thaxton, is there someone at school who cries and whines to get their way?

Thaxton: Yeah.

Me: Who is it?

Thaxton: (Pause) Me.

I'm not sure what the appropriate response should have been, but I'll tell you what G and I did. We laughed. A lot.

Thaxton helped me bake cookies to take to his classmates tomorrow for his birthday. After he went to bed, I iced them. I can't wait to show them to my three-year old in the morning!

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A Great Piece About Harry Potter

2011-09-02T17:33:00.000-04:00

Harry Potter fans, I am re-posting from here because I loved it and hope you will, too.

What Harry Potter Taught Me

By: Elizabeth Kellom

1997 - 2011

Harry Potter taught me that some things are worth dying for.

Ron Weasley taught me that believing in yourself is a hundred times more powerful than luck.

Hermione Granger taught me that an education is a girl’s best asset, even if it doesn’t make you many friends.

Severus Snape taught me to never, ever, ever judge someone.

Rubeus Hagrid taught me that anything can be cute with the right perspective.

Ginny Weasley taught me that bold is beautiful.

Lily Potter taught me that a mother’s love is the strongest force on earth.

Remus Lupin taught me that fear is the only thing I should be afraid of.

Dolores Umbridge taught me that education with a political agenda is a terrible, terrible thing.

Sirius Black taught me that the ones we love never truly leave us.

Albus Dumbledore taught me that good people are not always good.

Draco Malfoy taught me that bad people are not always bad.

Neville Longbottom taught me that courage is standing up for what’s right, even when you’re scared out of your mind.

Luna Lovegood taught me that weird is wonderful.

Dobby taught me that freedom is a gift.

Lucius Malfoy taught me that no amount of money, pomp, or circumstance will buy you true friends.

Fred & George Weasley taught me that sometimes all you need is a good laugh.

The Dursleys taught me that a world without imagination is a dull and dreary place.

Arthur Weasley taught me that an good sense of curiosity and a bit of obsession can be healthy.

Fleur Delacour taught me that true love is not based on appearance.

Molly Weasley taught me that a happy family is not measured in gold.

Bellatrix Lestrange taught me that hatred and prejudice rot your mind and can turn even the most beautiful person into a monster.

Kreacher taught me that if you want to get to know a man, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.

Cho Chang taught me that rebound relationships almost never work.

Nymphadora Tonks taught me to love myself, no matter what I look like.

Percy Weasley taught me that, in the end, no career is worth sacrificing your family.

Sybill Trelawney taught me that you cannot change the past, only the future.

Lavender Brown taught me that physical relationships only last for so long.

Peter Pettigrew taught me that rats do not make good friends.

Nicholas Flamel taught me that to the well-prepared mind, death is but the next great adventure.

Minerva McGonagall taught me that a good cause is worth fighting for at any age.

Hedwig taught me that the love we have for our pets is very real.

Lord Voldemort taught me that a life without love is barely living.

J. K. Rowling taught me that the stories we love will always be with us.

Until the very end.

One Week Left

2011-08-31T22:08:00.001-04:00

In exactly one week, my two year old will be a three year old. Is he still considered a toddler at 3? He hasn't seemed like a toddler much anymore (except around bedtime). He's growing up so fast.

He's already made friends at school. When I drop him off in the mornings, the same two girls in his class always come up and greet him. This morning another girl in the parking lot told her mom, "There's Thaxton!" Then she yelled hello to him. He just looked over his shoulder, nodded and kept walking. He's already got swagger.

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On top of things

2011-08-30T21:59:00.001-04:00

Since the Great Cheyne Clean Up of 2011, we've been doing a pretty decent job of maintaining the cleanliness of our home. Just a little effort each evening or before heading off for work in the morning is all it really takes. (At least, this is what I'm telling myself as I grudgingly head to the laundry room at the end of a long day.)

And here's an interesting lesson I've learned about keeping up with your laundry- it becomes nearly impossible NOT to dress your child in the same outfit twice in one week. I have certain "go to" shirts that I think Thaxton is just adorable in, so when they're clean I gravitate to them. With everything else going on each day, I can't keep up with what he has or hasn't worn to school already this week. Do you think his teachers notice and think that he only has like five decent shirts?!

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Location:Blankets Creek Dr,Canton,United States

More pictures of Thaxton

2011-08-17T21:47:00.001-04:00

Thaxton and Huck

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I want you to WANT to do the dishes!

2011-08-14T11:08:00.001-04:00

I woke up to a clean house this morning - a house I spent seven hours cleaning yesterday. SEVEN HOURS! I thought I'd be pretty sore this morning after all the sweeping and vacuuming, but I feel pretty good! Must be the pride of accomplishment coursing through my veins.

No one gives much thought to the logistics of cleaning a home when they buy it, do they? I know we didn't. And for the last 2 1/2 years someone else was keeping things tidy for me, so I didn't have to give it much thought then, either. This place is monstrous for a family of three. And a monstrosity to clean!

I thought I'd share some "after" photos with you here. Of course, while reviewing these pictures, I have added dusting to today's list of things to do:

Really wish we could afford to have the carpets cleaned right about now. Yikes!

I let Thaxton clean up his play area by himself. Nice work, kiddo!

You can't tell by looking at this picture, but those drawers are now beautifully organized.

That couch in our bedroom is usually covered in clean laundry. Seriously, COVERED.

The goal now is to work harder at maintaining the current level of cleanliness to avoid doing all the cleaning in one day. Anyone have any tips?

Fun with Technology

2011-08-08T11:42:00.000-04:00

I had to attend a national sales conference last Friday night and all day Saturday. Fortunately for me, my company was handing out iPad2's at this conference and I got one! Woo Hoo!

Thaxton spent some time yesterday helping me play around with some of the preloaded apps, including Photobooth. Here are some of the photos from our play time for your viewing pleasure.

Our little daredevil!

2011-08-08T11:36:00.001-04:00

Just a little harmless fun with Thaxton...

This is Thaxton's favorite thing to do before bath time. It's pretty much the only way we can talk him into going upstairs for a bath.

The Inhumanity

2011-08-02T12:51:00.000-04:00

I was directed to this article by a relative who posted to Twitter and Facebook. If you were not previously aware of the situation in Somalia, as I was not, prepare to be shocked, outraged, and saddened.

I can't even completely comprehend what I've read. This is the 21st century, right? How can there still be people who believe that the ends justify the means, if the means to that end are the deaths of hundreds of thousands of human beings?

I've been struck by the realization that I have never known suffering. I have never known want. Not because I'm a better person. Not because of my religion. Not because of my political party. I have these privileges, securities, rights, and comforts that I take for granted every single day because I just happened to be born in America. I didn't do anything to deserve all this. Every human being on the planet deserves the same.

Right now, innocent children are starving to death. Right now, mothers and fathers are watching their helpless sons and daughters waste away or succumb to curable/preventable diseases like the measles. Right now, the politics of a country have become more important than the people.

A Good Day

2011-07-28T20:19:00.000-04:00

The last part of the day has been as refreshing as the first.

When I got home, Thaxton, G and I all played together for a little while. We had an air mattress out in the living room from when one of G's band camp instructors was here last week. Thaxton discovered how much fun an air mattress can be.

Family play time is so much more enjoyable when I am not thinking about the workout I still need to fit in before bed.

I hope you have had a great day, too!

A New Leaf?

2011-07-28T13:23:00.000-04:00

It's amazing how quickly blogging falls to the wayside. Apologies for my absence and sporadic posting!

I am now going to use the rest of this post to brag about myself and how awesome my day has been so far.

As hard as it is to do, there is something to be said for getting up early and exercising first thing in the morning. My alarm went off at 5:35 this morning. (It goes off at this time most mornings because I'm an optimist. But I reset it for an hour later and go back to sleep because I'm lazy.) Today, I got out of bed when my first alarm went off. I had to talk myself into it. As I was going to sleep last night, I was talking myself into it. When the alarm went off, I was talking myself into it. After putting on the running gear I laid out the night before (because I'm an optimist), I tiptoed downstairs to locate my headphones and head out the door into the pitch black morning.

Running in 72 degree weather is much more agreeable than running in 88-100 degree weather, obvi. The sights, sounds and smells are different, too. Morning running doesn't offer the external stimuli of a daytime or evening run. I'm used to the sounds of children playing and cars passing by. I love the familiar smells of freshly mown grass and steaks cooking on someone's grill. Today, I had to rely on my own thoughts (and Pandora's 80's station) to keep me going. And it was comforting to know my boys were sleeping peacefully in their beds and I wasn't missing any valuable time with them because I chose to run.

Back home by 6:30, the rest of my day was ahead of schedule. I had more time to prepare breakfast for myself and Thaxton. I had more time to pack my lunch. Yep, getting up early makes the remainder of the day run so much more smoothly!

Exercising at the beginning of the day has had the added benefit of making me more mindful of what I am eating. M&Ms don't sound so appealing when I feel so healthy. Instead of going out to pick up lunch and browsing around Target, I ate the lunch I packed and did 20 minutes of yoga in my office! And I've been drinking water like it's Dr. Pepper.

I can't say for sure that I'll be able to do all this again tomorrow, but I hope today's experiences will provide the motivation for tomorrow's efforts.

Big Weekend Plans!

2011-07-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

For as much time as Thaxton will allow, I will be re-organizing and straightening a couple of rooms in my house this weekend. My goal is to tackle the office and my closet.

I will be taking before and after photos for a little project I'm working on. Usually, I face a project like this with dread and some serious procrastination. This time, I'm really looking forward to it!

If I get even one of these done to my liking, I'll share the results here!

What kind of interesting plans do you have for the weekend?

All the Single Parents

2011-07-19T19:55:00.001-04:00

I am a marching band widow again. Band camp started for G this week, making me a single parent in the mornings and evenings with Thaxton. To say it's exhausting would be an understatement.

So I tip my hat to all the single parents, stay at home moms, and pseudo-single parents whose spouses are out to sea, off to war or working 15 hour days 5 days a week. You are amazing.

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Thaxton at the Park

2011-07-10T10:57:00.001-04:00

"I'm the bestest mountain climber ever!"

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Thaxton in pictures

2011-07-09T22:00:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed a tv-free day with Thaxton today! I wasn't sure we could make it the whole day, but we did! We spent an hour at the pool where Thaxton was adored by 4 older girls. Then we read books at the house.

Thaxton let me watch him conduct his band.

After nap, we turned his crib into a "big boy" bed!

What day is complete without puzzle time?!

After we finished this puzzle, Thaxton sang the ABC's song.

It was a good day!

I love my...

2011-07-09T19:05:00.000-04:00

Mother-in-Law!

(Bet you didn't see that one coming!)

I know I am fortunate to have a mother-in-law I can consider a friend. I respect her opinion when she gives it. I appreciate her feedback and advice when we talk.

GieMa (that's what Thaxton calls her) came to spend last night with Thaxton while Garrick and I went out for our anniversary date. (Happy anniversary, G!) She also got up with him this morning, so we could sleep in. Thaxton has so much fun with GieMa and loves to play with all the toys in her "GieMa bag."

After Garrick left for his tennis match this morning, GieMa and I enjoyed lengthy conversation over coffee and a batch of blueberry muffins.

I know she came for Thaxton, but I'm glad she stayed for me for a little while.

Food for Thought

2011-07-07T17:15:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been feeling like my body is unfamiliar to me. Sometimes I'll look in the mirror and I don't recognize the person looking back at me. Where is Crystal of 1998? 2002? 2007?! Certain areas are creeping outwards in a manner that is unpleasing to me. I know we all come in different shapes and sizes, but I'm convinced that this is neither the shape nor the size I was meant to be. On top of my (age-appropriate?) body image issues, my skin won't clear up completely regardless of what topical treatments I try; and my nails are constantly chipping and cracking. What the?! Sadly, all of these things weigh heavily (no pun intended) on my mind.

While ambling through Target earlier this week on my usual I've-finished-eating-lunch-but-it's-too-early-to-go-back-to-the-office trip, I came across The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder. I'm a sucker for a good diet book, so this was a no-brainer. I've known for awhile that I need to drop the sodas and nightly chocolate chip cookies from my diet. I was hoping this book would provide some tips to motivate me to make real changes to my eating lifestyle.

It was a really easy read. I've been trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet anyway, but Kim makes some really compelling arguments for vegetarianism and veganism. The menu plan and recipes she includes are intriguing. Although I originally thought I could never live without meat in my diet, I know if I had filling/healthy alternatives, I could manage just fine.

If I decide to make major changes to my own diet, what does that mean for Thaxton? And Garrick? If I try Snyder's program and really see changes and feel better overall, doesn't that mean my son should be eating the same way? I've read before that kids shouldn't be put on vegetarian diets. Is that really true? What say you, reader? Tell me everything you know about it!

Bargaining

2011-06-30T20:37:00.000-04:00

He wanted to play Angry Birds. I wanted to film him doing his robot impression. We both got our way.

And here's another recent video of Thaxton you might have missed.

Terrific Tuesday!

2011-06-28T10:21:00.000-04:00

Thaxton told me he wasn't going to cry about me at Montessori School today. And he didn't!

He walked right in with Blanket draped around his shoulders and said hi to Ms. Brenda. I gave him a kiss and told him to have a good day. He said, "I will," and let me walk out of the room without clinging to me for dear life.

And, I'm only working a half day today! WooHoo!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-22T19:26:00.000-04:00

I would like to share that I spent the first four hours of my work day thinking it was Thursday.

Anyway, here are some recent photos of my little man. We bought a new battery charger for the camera battery, so I've been taking more pictures than usual.

Yesterday I found a little table and chairs set for Thaxton. He loves stuff that is "just his size."

"Puppy is my friend!"

School: Day 2

2011-06-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

After Thaxton finished crying and telling me he didn't want to go to Montessori school today, we got in the car and headed to school. Halfway there he said, "I'm not going to cry about you today, Mommy."

I told him that it makes me sad when he cries about me and I just want him to be happy.

"Okay, Mommy. I'll be happy at school today," he said. (Do you remember when you would do anything in your power, even deny your fear or your sadness, to make your parents happy? All I could think after he said that was that I better not take advantage of this stage of his life.)

At school his teacher told me how wonderful he was yesterday. The other children ran up to touch him while he clinged on to Puppy and Blanket. (Cheeseburger got to stay home today, so Puppy could see what school is all about.) He bravely gave me a kiss and said good-bye.

When I went to watch him through the window, he was still standing near the door. His face was buried in his blanket. Every once in a while he would peek over at Miss Nicole to see if she was watching him. That's how I knew he'd be alright today.

Bye-bye, Baby

2011-06-20T12:35:00.001-04:00

I spent the majority of the weekend wondering how this morning would play out. Would Thaxton cry and cling to my leg as I tried to leave? Throw himself on the floor? Would I cry and cling to him as he tried to pry himself loose and go to the playground? Here's how it all played out in real life:

I greeted Thaxton this morning at 7 AM. He was in his room "reading" to his guys (Puppy, Cheeseburger, and Blanket). I asked if he was ready to go to school today. He seemed pretty excited and said that he was. He helped me get him dressed, chatted with his dad, and fussed while I brushed his hair. Finally ready, we headed downstairs for breakfast and a little "Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That" on PBS. He inhaled all of his cinnamon toast, apples, bacon, and chocolate milk.

We left the house at 7:45 for Montessori school. On the way there, he asked me if I was going to stay at school and play with him. I told him I had to go to work, but I would pick him up this afternoon. He didn't seem upset by this at all.

When we arrived and got out of the car, the first thing he noticed was the playground.

"Can I play on that playground now?" he asked.

"Not yet. You'll go out and play with the other little boys and girls this morning, though," I told him.

When we walked into his classroom, he couldn't decide if he wanted to be bold or shy. Ultimately, he was bold. He helped me unpack his bookbag. When he took out the new package of pull-ups I'd packed just in case, he said, "I don't need these!" as he carried them over to Miss Megan. But when I pulled Blanket and Cheeseburger out of his bag to put them in his cubby until naptime, he wouldn't let me put them away. He was still clutching them when I left the room, though no tears were shed by either of us.

Ms. Tammy led me over to a window where I could observe him for a few minutes. Miss Nicole was leading him over to the game/puzzle area. Once he found a puzzle that looked good to him, Cheeseburger and Blanket hit the floor. I wonder if they've been safely stowed away in their cubby now...

I have to admit, I was a little choked up as I was leaving. I can't really put a finger on the emotion. Would I have felt better if he'd been upset and cried out for me? Was I upset that he'd made it a little too easy to leave? Is there a sense that my baby is growing up too fast, becoming too independent? I don't know. I suppose it's a combination of all of these things. I did manage to get out of there without shedding a tear, though. So, to quote one of Thaxton's books, "I'm so proud of me!"

I can't wait to see him this afternoon and hear all about his first day at school. Ms. Tammy said I could call and check in any time. You can bet I will!

Tonight, Tonight.

2011-06-17T16:54:00.000-04:00

I have a hot date tonight with a guy who looks a lot like my husband. Hope it goes well! Keep your fingers crossed for me. He could be the one!! :)

I don't know who you are, but I know what operating system you use!

2011-06-16T08:10:00.000-04:00

Do you ever take a look around all the fun tabs on your blog dashboard? Blogger has a "Stats" tab where you can see how many page views you've had in the last day/week/month/etc, what sites are directing readers to yours, and where your readers are viewing your blog from. Nothing specific like "from the inside of a Starbucks while sipping on a caramel frappucino," just basic locations - country or city/state. They also have these nifty charts.

It seems the majority of readers of this blog are Mac people. Although I still haven't decided if I'm a Mac or a PC, I do think Macs are pretty awesome. I have yet to actually own one. I like my iPhone. Does that count?

Do I really have readers in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Germany? That's crazy! Howdy, y'all! :)

Re-connecting with old friends

2011-06-15T20:05:00.000-04:00

Sunday night I was able to reconnect with an old college friend of mine, meet her family and introduce her to my husband. Although we both have some very fond memories of one another, this is someone I could have easily lost touch with, only seeing her occasionally at reunion events, were it not for the power of the internet/Facebook.

Erica's son Hank is 3 months old. He's absolutely adorable. And very chunky in the best chunky-baby way. At one point, while Garrick was holding him, Thaxton looked at his Daddy and said he wanted to hold him, too. If I had any idea where the battery charger for my camera is, I would have taken photos to share with you of Thaxton holding Hank, rubbing his baby-Buddha belly and looking from Garrick to me wondering what else he was supposed to do with him. It was the most adorable sight to witness. (And, of course, it did wonders to kindle that little 2nd-baby-spark in my womb.)

Seeing Erica again reminded me of a time when I spent more hours with my friends than the months and years I've recently spent away from them. It reminded me how thankful I am for my years at Wesleyan and all the amazing women (womyn!) I met there.

Growing up is so bittersweet. You get to have these amazing moments watching your own children experience the world around them for the first time, but you also have moments of longing for your own first times and the people who were there with you.

Erica, if you are reading this, I don't want to wait another ten years to see you again!

The Times. Are they a-changing?

2011-06-15T17:15:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting here trying to recall what aspirations I had when I was a kid. I can remember a few - journalist, author, and songwriter. Of course, if American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance had been on back then, I'm pretty sure I would have been somewhere in those long lines to audition (and I might not have quit taking ballet). I wonder if reality tv skews the dreams and aspirations of today's children. Do kids still say they want to be doctors, teachers, and police officers or is it all singers, dancers, actors, and teen moms?

I Think I'm Losing Control

2011-06-15T12:35:00.000-04:00

I think I've figured out what it is about this whole daycare/preschool things that's so hard for me to take. It's a control issue.

Although I don't have the luxury of staying home with Thaxton every day (or, I'll be really honest here, the predisposition), Garrick and I exerted our influence/control by selecting the very best caregiver to spend the days with him. For the most part, we always knew exaclty where he was and what variety of activities he would be doing because we knew he'd be in our home. We always knew who he was with.

With a school situation, although we will always know where Thaxton is, we have no control over who he is with. The other students will come and go. We don't know their parents and how they're raised. We'll never know his teachers the way we know Carolyn and David. So many unknowns...

I am thrilled about our choice, though. Thaxton will be attending a Montessori school not far from our home. His teacher has been with the school since it opened 20 years ago. Her children attended the school. The classroom he'll be starting out in is organized and engaging. He'll be spending time with a diverse group of children. I know these are all things that Thaxton is ready for. That's why we're going this route and not trying to find another in-home provider.

It's me that's not ready. I can't be there to protect him when he has his first disagreement with another child over a playground toy. I can't be there to see him smiling with pride when he gets rewarded for doing what the teacher asked. I can't be there to stroke his hair at nap time the first day when they show him to his mat on the floor and he doesn't understand why he can't sleep in his own bed. I can't be there.

A Running List

2011-06-05T08:38:00.000-04:00

Here's a sample of thoughts I had while running and listening to Pandora's Pop 80's station:

Ooh, Footloose! Should I run faster or stop to dance?...Dance!
True Colors. Good song! Not so good for running, though.
It's like all up tempo 80's songs were meant to be run to. Or danced to.

Decisions, Decisions

2011-06-03T17:30:00.000-04:00

Thaxton, G and I visited three preschools this morning, all before 11 AM. Three. I am on daycare overload right now!

With the exception of the Montessori school we visited, I'm inclined to think a daycare is a daycare is a daycare. It's all runny noses and playground dirt. It's babysitting times 10 or 12 or whatever that location's teacher to student ratio is. The directors like to talk about curriculum and "academics", but at the end of the day the kids are most excited about running through sprinklers during water time and eating popsicles. Honestly, the only thing I can really remember about my own summer daycare experience is running around the wooded playground and swimming in the pool.

Garrick pointed out that the potential teachers we met should be the biggest determining factor. While I was observing what kinds of toys each place had, how clean their ~~students~~ facilities were, he was watching teachers interact with the children. (He's so smart, that hubby of mine.) Since Thaxton is pretty advanced verbally (are you tired of hearing me say that yet?!), it's important that he spend time around adults who won't talk down to him or use "baby talk." The teachers that didn't adjust their routine just because we were there scored the highest with us. What's the point of touring during business hours if not to see everyone in their natural habitat?!

At the moment, the Montessori school is the front-runner. The classrooms were neat and organized. Independence is highly valued in this type of program, but it only succeeds due to the organizational structures in place - personal cubbies, labeled seats at the table, assigned daily responsibilities, etc. Thaxton seemed to enjoy being there and he even deserted us at the playground! Emphasis is placed on learning practical, age-appropriate life skills (i.e. scooping, pouring, dialing a phone number, basic computer skills, etc.).

After being shy for a few minutes at each place, Thaxton was his talkative, inquisitive self. After sitting with him for a few minutes while he worked a puzzle, one of the directors giving us a tour said, "Please bring him here!" Everyone was impressed that he's already potty trained, too. So, if nothing else, these visits served to validate everything we've done as his parents and all the work Carolyn has put in with him in the last two years.

We have one more place to visit. It comes highly recommended, so I'm looking forward to going there next Friday morning. I'll keep you posted!

Advances in Cinema

2011-06-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

Since when are jean shorts a good fashion choice?

I have a theory that male actors have only recently (last 10-12 years) been held to a similarly impossible physical standard as that of women circa 1960s forward. I cannot remember a movie from my adolescence wherein a male actor was baring all the flesh a la Twilight.

I did a little "research" this morning. As I've mentioned before, the movie Romeo and Juliet was an obsession of mine. I could not find one shirtless di Caprio image from this movie. WHAT?! Clearly six pack abs and bulging biceps have not always been a teen movie staple.

I did a quick search of some of the big name actors from the late 80s/90s, as well. (It was a lot of hard work, but I do it for my readers.) Top Gun has one gratuitous "topless" scene - Tom Cruise playing volleyball on the beach. I couldn't find any shirtless photos of Kevin Costner. I found one or two of Mel Gibson, though nothing to swoon over. Kevin Bacon in Footloose was scrawny compared to the Taylor Lautners and Zach Efrons of today.

Really?! A wife-beater tucked into your jeans? That's the look your going for?!

If I had to pose to a trendsetter for this turning of the tides, I'd say it was Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise, though it didn't really become the norm until after Brad Pitt in Fight Club. What do you think?

This man should never be allowed to wear a shirt.

Part of me is pleased with this turn of events. It evens the playing field, so to speak. And who doesn't mind the eye candy, right? Right?! But part of me is saddened by this "progress". Did you know the incidence of anorexia among boys is on the rise? Things that make you go, hmmmm.

And, just for fun.

I guess this will be difficult for Thaxton, too...

2011-05-27T17:15:00.004-04:00

Something pretty major happened in our lives this week:

Our housekeeper/supernanny worked her last day with us on Tuesday. That's right - I'm going to have to clean my own house now, y'all! (Just be prepared to never be invited over again because I refuse to allow people into my unclean house. And it will always be unclean.)

But, seriously, I don't think Thaxton really understands what has happened yet. We've intentionally made the last three days different for him than his usual daily routine - wake up, hang out with mom while refusing breakfast and watching Imagination Movers on DVR, greet Carolyn when she arrives. Wednesday, Thaxton spent the morning with his Daddy then hung out with one of G's graduating seniors at the house until nap time. When he woke up, G was there to greet him and take him to my (extremely accomodating) parents' house where he has been for the last two days. I think if we'd had someone come to our house the last three mornings, he would have started to wonder what was going on. Even though he will still see Carolyn and her husband from time to time, I don't really know how to explain to him that she won't be coming to the house every day anymore.

We are looking at preschools for him to attend. Originally, we were thinking of starting him in preschool in the fall when he turns three, so this just ups our timeline a bit. He seems pretty excited about "going to school" whenever we mention it, so hopefully the transition won't be too rough for him. He's very sociable and loves to be around other children. I do anticipate some serious crying in the first 30 minutes to an hour of his first day when he realizes that his mommy and daddy aren't there, but that's too be expected, right? RIGHT?

Somebody please tell me he's going to be okay and that he's still going to be an intelligent, well-adjusted child even if he's spending his days around other kids who aren't nearly as advanced as he is! (Seriously, my kid can use the words "obviously" and "distracting" correctly in a sentence and he's not even three.)

I think I'm going to spend the rest of the day in the bathroom hyperventilating.

We Are Who We Are

2011-05-23T19:00:00.000-04:00

Facebook has made me realize that I really haven't changed much at all since high school. And, after browsing around on the pages of various friends, acquaintances, and people-who-were-at-the-same-school-as-me-for-at-least-one-overlapping-year-so-we-are-"friends"-on-Facebook, I don't think many of them have changed that much either. The ones who partied still party. The ones who played Magic the Gathering at the lunch table probably play some other kind of online gaming thing. Those of us who tended to spend their evenings at home surrounded by a few good friends or a few good books, probably still do.

It's funny to me all the time I spent in high school and college "trying on" different personas only to end up right back where I started. I'm glad I had the experiences I had. They've shaped my opinions of the world around me and solidified what I know to be true about myself. It's really nice to feel completely comfortable in my own skin.

Now that I'm the mother of a toddler, I spend a lot of time observing Thaxton and wondering what aspects of his current personality are permanent. I hope he will continue to be the good-hearted boy who gives freely of hugs, kisses and "I love you's." I hope he will continue to see the humor in life. I hope he will continue to ask questions and try to understand the world around him. And I hope he will celebrate others' differences while seeking out their common ground.

My Top Ten Songs of the 90s

2011-05-19T18:00:00.001-04:00

I was listening to Sirius 90s on 9 the other day on my way to work and became so consumed in song-related memories that I drove right past my office! Has this ever happened to you?

So, I decided to create my own Top 10 list of 90s songs. But it's really a Top 10 list of 90s memories, if that makes any sense. These are not in order.

Oasis - Champagne Supernova - I can't go into too much detail here about the memory related to this song. Let's just say when I hear this song I think of three things - missing my All-State Chorus 2nd audition Sophomore year, hanging out with Marinda, and being really, really hungry...
Janet Jackson - I Get So Lonely - To say I was obsessed with this song would be an understatement. When two friends of mine performed a choreographed dance to this song our senior year, I was overjoyed. If there's anything better than a song on its own, it's a choreographed dance number. In fact, I spent most of the 90s trying to write my own choreography to various Janet Jackson songs.
The Cranberries - Dreams - Any song by The Cranberries makes me think of that fabulous show "My So-Called Life." Did every girl think she was Angela or was it just me?
Sir Mix A Lot - Baby Got Back - When a song from 1992 can still be quoted word for word by me and most of my female friends (usually at a Wesleyan pep rally) it has to make the list.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Wildflowers - I played this one on repeat the summer before my junior year. When I was walking around on a youth retreat with headphones in my ears, hoping my ex was noticing me, this is the song I was listening to.
REM - Everybody Hurts - I wanted so badly to relate to the message of this song. But, for the most part, I didn't have a care in the world from 1990 - 1999. I just assumed everybody else was hurting. I did love the music video.
Aerosmith - Crazy - Speaking of music videos, Aerosmith has been making great ones since the 80s. Their Alicia Silverstone trilogy of Cryin', Amazing and Crazy (which also introduced Liv Tyler to the world) was the culmination of years of great music videos.
Counting Crows - Omaha - My friend Marinda and I swore we were going to run away. At first, we couldn't decide where we should go, but this song inspired us. We planned to run away to Omaha, Nebraska - somewhere in middle America. Fortunately, we never made it there.
Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm - After youth group on Wednesday nights, while the rest of the youth were in orchestra rehearsal, I would sit and listen to three friends of mine attempt to play this and other equally grunge-ish/alternative-ish songs. Did I mention I dated two of the guys in this group of friends? So Wednesday nights had a really nice Dawson's Creek/angsty feel to them. Good times.
The Cardigans - Lovefool - As I've already mentioned my obsession with the DiCaprio's Romeo, I don't think this song needs further explanation.

Here's a great Top 200 of the 90's, if you like that sort of thing.

Reminiscing

2011-05-18T17:39:00.000-04:00

The other night G and I found ourselves reminiscing about this time many, many years ago (seven) when we were dating. The "dating" stage didn't last very long for us (we were engaged after 4 months), so it's easy to forget all the details of each and every dinner, movie, or trip to Waffle House. Fortunately, G's mind is like a steel trap (as long as said event didn't happen less than six months ago), so he was able to fill in gaps in my own recollections. (Can you have Alzheimer's at 31?)

I don't really know why I'm writing about this except to say that I think every couple should take time to sit side by side, hold hands and reminisce about the way things were before they knew every minute (pronounced: MY newt) detail about their significant other. First, it can remind each of you why you chose to spend time getting to know (and falling in love with) the other person in the first place. Second, it can remind each of you how far you've come since then and how much farther you will go, together.

And now, lyrics from a really great Brad Paisley song that sums up what I'm trying to say in this post:

And for your listening/viewing pleasure:

Teenage Hubris

2011-05-09T17:15:00.001-04:00

I came across an old journal of mine in our guest room the other day. (What? You don't leave your old journals lying around for your husband/overnight guests to read?!) As usual, I dropped everything to peruse its' contents.

This particular journal included entries from the summer of 1997. It started as a regular journal, morphed into some sort of "Romeo and Juliet" (the movie not the play) tribute book (magazine cutouts of DiCaprio pasted on 3 or 4 pages - I wish I was kidding), and morphed again into a prayer journal that I was apparently taking with me to church, as it included everyone's prayer requests each week.

One entry in particular really shocked me. It was a prayer thanking God for my nephew and his wonderful parents (my brother and sister-in-law, both more than 10 years my senior btw). After giving thanks for these wonderful people in my life, I go on to mention some letter my 17-year old self thought it would be appropriate to write and give to them regarding the proper upbringing of their child. (You know, just some friendly admonishment from you kid-sister! Who doesn't love that, right?)

I sat on our guest bed stunned. What could have possibly possessed me to write such a letter? Clearly it was an idea so awful that I have completely blocked it from my memory. How would I have felt if my 17-year old nephew had written me this type of letter and handed it to me a few weeks after Thaxton's birth? Then I started to worry that this letter had somehow colored the last 13 years of my relationship with my oldest brother and his wife.

So, since I like to confront embarassment head on, I called my sister-in-law during my lunch break today to apologize for this mysteriously ridiculous letter. She vaguely remembered it and we laughed about it. I told her what wonderful parents I think she and my brother are, how awesome my nephew is. And all was good in the 'hood.

I'll be re-reading all my journals later this week to make a list of all the other people I need to call and apologize to. It's like my own kind of twelve step program. "Hey, do you remember that time when I was stupid? Sorry about that."

An Ode to the Circus Peanut

2011-05-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

I am sitting at my desk shamefully snacking on circus peanuts I picked up on a whim while at Publix yesterday. The bag lists the following generic uses, parenthetical additions are mine:

thrill your coworkers (by juggling them, obvi)
make party favors (circus peanut on a stick, anyone?)
cheer up a friend (must be the delightful orange shade)
include in care packages (when you don't have any packing peanuts, I guess)
reward a job well done (as these are an acquired taste, this isn't recommended for everyone)
enhance a bag lunch (see above)
and more!

I've decided to add some circus peanut specific uses. Here we go.

makes an excellent (one squeeze and it's done) stress ball when you cannot find yours
study its biodegradability for your next science fair project!
door stop
table leveler - no more wobbly tables for you!
oddly-shaped children's blocks
ward off dentists by waving them in their face (like garlic to a vampire)
induce diabetic coma

A Change of Perspective

2011-05-04T17:15:00.001-04:00

Last night while watching "The Voice", I experienced a profound paradigm shift.

For those of you who don't know me personally, a little background may be in order. In middle school, high school and college, I was a singer. I sang in chorus, in church, in school musicals and anywhere else they'd let me. I majored in voice and was weeks away from attending grad school in Opera Performance when I deferred my acceptance and, ultimately, never went back. The only times in the last ten years that I have regretted this decision were during episodes of work-related depression. I know it was the right decision at the time and now. I know I wouldn't have my amazing husband and my beautiful son if I'd followed that path.

When "American Idol" came along and grew in popularity, I had several people tell me to try out. Being the realist that I am, I knew that I could not compete on this show. I don't have a "pop" voice. I can't sing like Christina Aguilera and I can't dance like Britney Spears. In short, I knew I wouldn't make it past an initial audition, so I never tried. And I'm okay with that!

So, last night while watching "The Voice", I kept trying to identify with the people auditioning for the judges and it never happened. But when the cameras would cut to the waiting parents, pleading with the judges to pick their child, I got choked up. I thought about Thaxton and all the potential he has to do anything and be anything he wants to be. I thought about all the dreams he hasn't even had yet and how much fun it will be to help him make his dreams come true.

It's not about me anymore.

BabyWearing

2011-05-01T10:48:00.003-04:00

When I was pregnant with Thaxton, I had big dreams - natural childbirth, breastfeeding and babywearing (one word or two?) were among them.

When Thaxton was born, I came face to face with certain realities - a C-section and a baby who was none too interested in breastfeeding, latching, or not crying in my face whenever we tried aforementioned breastfeeding and latching.

But having been given several baby carriers at showers and handed down from friends, I was sure I could still be a proud babywearing mama. Unfortunately, Thaxton didn't like the sling, I didn't like the Bjorn, and I lacked the appropriate secondary degree required to tie some other really cute wrap I purchased around me in a safe and comfortable manner. I gave it up.

Recently, I've been looking around for carriers that would allow me to carry my 32-pound youngster on my hip or my back comfortably. Thaxton likes to be picked up just enough to make me wish I had a third arm. Baby carrier to the rescue, right?! I looked around online and found something I liked. I surveyed a babywearing friend. But being the very lazy person I am, when I was at Babies-R-Us yesterday buying a shower gift for someone else, I totally purchased an ERGObaby Baby Carrier on a whim.

I got it home and read the instructions. I attempted the hip carry, but could not convince Thaxton to even let me touch him while this thing was on my body. Same with the back carry position. The lesson here is, a child who was not worn as an infant probably won't be into being worn as semi-independent toddler. Mama sad.

G laughed at me the entire time. And then he said, "I don't think this about Thaxton. I think you just want another baby."

Oops! Cover, you've been blown...

On last weekend as this weekend starts

2011-04-29T17:15:00.000-04:00

Raising a child and keeping up with a blog have at least one thing in common - all the guilt.

I can't tell you how many times this week I thought about this blog. I would come up with a decent topic and forget about it a few minutes later, when, you know, life happened.

I've also been journaling more, so that might have something to do with it. I can only pour my heart out so many times per day, you know?

Since I can't think of anything worthwhile, I'll leave you with a few Easter pictures.

The first - If you ask Thaxton what he did for Easter, he might tell you that he saw eggs fall from the sky.

This picture should give you a better idea of what on God's green Earth he is talking about. We went to a community egg hunt with my cousin and her three children (all under the age of 4) last Saturday. A helicopter dropped 10,000 eggs onto a field for a free-for-all "egg"stravaganza! (I do love a good pun.)

The Easter Bunny heard about the event and showed up, too! He must have a really great assistant to keep him up to date on all the latest Easter events and mall appearances.

I'm surprised Thaxton wasn't sick of hunting eggs by Sunday afternoon. He was thrilled to get out in my parents' front yard and do it all again! Every time he found one he would exclaim, "Here's another one, Dalton!" And my 13-year old nephew would congratulate him with all the excitement a 13-year old boy can muster for his 2-year old cousin. It was pretty heart-warming to watch, really.

Easter Weekend

2011-04-21T15:38:00.000-04:00

G left last night with a tour bus full of band students and parents headed to Disney World! While they are enjoying the most magical place on earth, Thaxton and I will be on our own.

As one who is not accustomed to being a single parent for more than a night (kudos to all the single parents out there - you brave, brave souls), I am doing what I think all single parents should do in this situation, if they are able. We are high tailing it to my parents' house for the weekend! That's right, all hands on deck to entertain the baby, baby!

I wouldn't necessarily say it takes a village to raise a child. But I would say it takes as many parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents as are readily available at any given moment. This is why I will most likely never move to another state. (This and Georgia teacher retirement benefits.)

Home Ownership Horror Story

2011-04-18T20:31:00.002-04:00

My bloggy friend, Amanda at It's Blogworthy! wrote here about a nasty leak episode at her new house. This reminded me of a doozy of a situation G and I found ourselves in about 9 months after we moved into our first home.

We closed on our (rubric-passing) dream home at the end of May 2005 and moved ourselves in shortly thereafter. Built in 2001. it's not a small home - 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath, and full/unfinished basement - so I wasn't really sure what to expect in the way of utility bills. (The first few months were pretty eye-opening. The gas and electric companies are now my arch enemies.)

I can't really remember how long we'd been living here before I started wondering if a $100-150 water bill was normal for a family of 2. I do remember that when I mentioned this to Garrick (who had actually been paying utility bills for years prior to owning a home), I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head. We decided something must be up, so I called the water company. The woman on the phone was really friendly. She confirmed that our current meter readings and resulting bills were excessive and instructed me to contact a plumber (in what sounded to me like her most pitiful, I-can't-believe-this-poor-naive-girl-voice). Side note: I'd like to live in a world where someone at the water company had notified us the very first time the meter reading was high. Why did they just sit there and collect our money when it's obvious there's a problem?!

The plumber discovered a leak where the main water line enters the house. To be exact, the leak occurred in the pipe just outside the foundation (this will be significant momentarily), but it was visible inside the house because the foundation was beginning to crack where the water line pipe entered the house.

A call to our home owner's insurance revealed that we were not covered under our policy since the leak in the pipe was 1/4" (she says with a shaking fist raised in the air) outside the foundation even though there was some water damage inside the foundation. A call to the water company revealed that the leak was not their problem since it was on our side of the water meter.

We got a couple of quotes and decided to have someone patch the pipe. This cost us $500. Sadly, less than a year later, we noticed the bill creeping up again. It was the same problem!

This time we learned that the area around our foundation had been filled in with leftover bricks and rocks before being covered with dirt and grass. As the house settled over the years, this debris was cutting into the (no longer up to code) pipe leading from the meter into our house. We had no choice but to replace all of it. Once again, we were not covered under our (useless) homeowners' policy. This cost us $1200 even though my brother did most of the dirty work involved.

After all this, I briefly considered going to school to become a plumber. Those guys must make a killing.

He loves me, he loves me not

2011-04-14T18:13:00.001-04:00

My favorite flower is anything Thaxton picks for me.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

She Works Hard for the Money

2011-04-14T11:00:00.001-04:00

G and I have debated before whether I've had more cars than jobs in my lifetime or vice versa. I was pondering this during my *short* commute this morning. Here's what you should keep in mind about me. I'm (barely) 31. In the last 8 years I've only had 3 different jobs and 3 different cars, so the majority of cars/jobs were had before I turned 23.

Ahem:

Cars (years with license 15) -

1983 Audi 5000 Turbo Diesel, silver (I may have taken this one for a joy ride to visit my best friend when I was only 15 and my parents weren't home. Another story for another day, though.)
1989 (?) Ford Taurus, black (Met her end in an 8 car pile up that included 7 other Morrow High School students...)
1989 (?) Ford Taurus, black (The engine of car #2 was placed in body of car #3, I think. I'd have to ask my brother.)
Year Unknown Mazda 323 Hatchback, gold (with my first in dash CD player!)
1997 (?) Hyundai Accent, Easter Egg purple
2002 Hyundai Accent, blue (Surprisingly, this car does not function well when submerged!)
2002 Hyundai Accent, blue (Equipped with emergency exit device for cutting a seatbelt and breaking a window. See #6. Thanks, Granny O!)
2007 Volvo S40 T5, black (company car)
2010 Nissan Altima, blue

Jobs:

Cashier, Softball Country Club - Decatur, GA
Greeter/Cashier, Media Play - Morrow, GA
Shampoo Girl/Cashier, Classic Clips - Rex, GA
Marketing Intern, Southlake Mall - Morrow, GA
Seasonal Salesperson, Radio Shack, Southlake Mall - Morrow, GA
Server, Buffalo's - Macon, GA
Front Desk Clerk, Mathews Fitness Center, Wesleyan College - Macon, GA
Music Dept Intern, Wesleyan College - Macon, GA
Resident Advisor, Wesleyan College - Macon, GA
Cart Girl/Cashier, GA National Golf Club - McDonough, GA
Programs Intern, Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences - Macon, GA
Sales Associate/Cashier/Receiving Assistant, Bed Bath & Beyond - McDonough, GA
Outside Sales Rep, Marketing Endeavors - Atlanta, GA
Server, O'Charley's - McDonough, GA
Administrative to Executive Assistant, Marketing Endeavors to Aurora Group - Atlanta, GA
Spa Director, Riverstone Skin & Laser - Blue Ridge, GA
Executive Assistant, Ganz - Marietta, GA

As you can see, the jobs have it! Honestly, I'd forgotten about a lot of these. Some jobs were held simultaneously (i.e. 6,7, and 8 during the summer before my Junior year at Wesleyan). Some were held during extreme low points in my life (i.e. 12 and 14 made me question the point of going in debt for a college degree).

Listing it all out this way is really eye opening for me. I wonder if Thaxton will work when he's in school.

How about you? How many jobs have you held? How many cars have you blown through?!

Life's A Beach

2011-04-13T16:44:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, I met up with G and Thaxton in Jacksonville last Friday night.

I wouldn't normally bore you with the details of my airport experience, but as it was so fantastic, I thought it deserved sharing. I decided to channel the friendlier version of myself (my inner Charlie Rogers AKA Dad) for this particular trip. As a result, I made friends left and right! I chatted with a fine-smelling women (it was Versace) while in line at the security checkpoint. Conversed with my sandwich maker about hairstyles at the Atlanta Bread Company at the C Terminal. And I made nice (read: we got our drink on) with my seat mate (mother of 4 teenage girls, yikes!) on the flight. Mundane life experiences are so much shinier when you open yourself up to interaction with perfect strangers, if only for a few minutes. Hopefully, I will remember this lesson in the future...

Saturday morning, our party of 7 (four adults and three toddlers) headed to the beach. I am not normally a "beach person." I attribute this to years of wearing contacts and avoiding the unfortunate feeling of salt water in my eyes at all costs. In spite of this, G and I decided to brave the ocean. We walked hand in hand with Thaxton to the where the tide was lapping at the shore line.

"That's cold!" Thaxton exclaimed between giggles. We walked in a little deeper.

Eventually we took turns carrying Thaxton as we went deeper into the water. Every time a wave came toward us, we would "jump" over it. This provided no end of joy for Thaxton.

"Do it again, Mommy!" he would shout gleefully. I found myself laughing along with him.

Perhaps I could be a "beach person" after all.

I Asked for It, I Guess

2011-04-07T10:32:00.000-04:00

When my husband and son are around, I crave alone time. Just an hour here or there when I can do what I want, when I want. Watch what I want to watch on tv. Eat what I want for dinner. Get up when I want to without worrying about getting T ready, too.

So, since G is on Spring Break this week, he took T to visit with my parents at the beach. They've been gone since Tuesday.

In the days leading up to their departure, I was doing a mental countdown. I had a running list in my head of things I planned to accomplish in their absence. Tuesday couldn't come soon enough.

But here's what really happened: I get up each morning and get ready for work just like I usually do, but there is no little voice calling out to me from the kitchen for more chocolate milk. There are no arms wrapped tightly around my neck as we navigate down the stairs with a blanket and two stuffed animals in tow. There's no one kissing me goodbye and wishing me a good day as he breezes out the door. I come home from work just like I usually do, but there's no one sitting on the couch watching PTI to greet me with questions about my day. There's no little voice calling, "Mommy!" and reaching up to hug me. It's been a little bit lonely, to say the least.

I've found ways to fill the time, of course. Tuesday night I went to my old office and gave blood with former co-workers. I walked around Perimeter Mall wishing I could find something, anything to spend money on, but finding nothing of value. I got home late and updated my iPhone while watching "Kourtney and Kim Take New York" re-runs. Last night, I went out for a run around a beautiful lake in a nearby neighborhood. I came home and grilled salmon that I served over sauteed spinach and quinoa. I danced alone in the kitchen to Miranda Lambert songs. I went upstairs and drank a glass of wine while I took an hour long bath. Then I stayed up watching "Did You Hear About the Morgan's" on DVR.

It's funny how when you get what you think you wanted, it isn't as fabulous as you thought it would be. I saw G and T's vacation to the beach as a vacation for me. A little break from being a wife and mother. But, as it turns out, you can't take a vacation from who you really are.

I'm flying out to meet my boys tomorrow evening after work. I can't begin to convey how excited I am to be with them again. I can't wait to have Thaxton's little monkey legs squeezing into my side as he tells me all about his days at the beach with Papa and Granny. I can't wait to be reunited with my heart again.

Ten Commandments for Everyone

2011-04-04T16:51:00.000-04:00

I was looking through the new company's various catalogues today when I came across a wall plaque called "Ten Commandments for Kids." I thought I'd share these with you.

Thank God for each new day.
Be thoughtful and kind in what you do and say.
Share your things cheerfully.
Help family members without being asked.
Take care of all living things: people, animals and plants.
Be true to what is really important.
Treat other people's things as if they were your own.
Always tell the truth and be honest.
Be happy for your friends when good things happen to them.
Show God your love by loving others.

I think even adults should be keeping these, don't you?

Boy or Monkey?

2011-04-02T09:38:00.000-04:00

Thaxton has developed a strange, new habit. If I'm carrying him on my hip and then try to put him down, he will squeeze his legs tight on either side of me so that I can't get him off of me! He's a little spider monkey that one!

Now, if I could just get him to hold his own weight so I could regain the use of both hands at all times, that would be great.

It's Friday!

2011-04-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

I think I was the last person in the world to see this video/hear this song. Honestly, I was holding out as long as possible based on all the negative press. While part of me wants to jump on the bandwagon and talk smack about Rebecca Black, there's another part of me that has no beef with her whatsoever. Yes, her voice (even with auto-tune) is pitiful, her hair needs to be flat-ironed, and her eyeshadow is from 1992. But the real issue here is with the songwriter.

These are some of the worst lyrics ever recorded. Ever. My 2 1/2 year old could write a better song about the days of the week. When Black's parents walked into a recording studio and paid some people to cut a track with their 13-year old daughter, did these people snicker and then pull something out of the reject bin as a joke? And would this video have ever gone viral if a) the song was well-written or b) she could actually sing? The world will never know.

What about you? Downloaded this one to your iPod yet?!

So This Is What It's Like

2011-03-29T20:30:00.000-04:00

I'm not planning to write in specifics about my work. Just so you know. Besides, it wouldn't be very interesting to read. It'd be all 'Hey, guys, I created some really spectacular spreadsheets again today with lots of formulas in them!' You don't want to read about that, right?

Everyone there is great, though. I love the work environment. I do wonder how long I'll be working there before I finally give up and get rid of all my suits. This place is strictly casual. I wore skinny jeans with knee-high boots over the jeans yesterday. I was overdressed.

And here's something extra cool that happened today. I got home in half an hour, put lasagna in the oven and ran to the grocery store to pick up a few things for the rest of the week. I got home from the grocery store exactly one hour after I left work. This is how we do it, indeed!

I'm Obsessed

2011-03-24T11:17:00.000-04:00

If you've been privy to my Facebook status and Twitter updates lately, you'll know that I just completed all three books in Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy in less than four days. Yes, they are that compelling.

I read them all on my Kindle. I am a huge fan of the Kindle. It makes reading while lying down really easy because you only have to keep one hand on the device and it doesn't get tired from holding it open. You don't need a second hand to turn pages. What can I say? I'm a lazy reader.

What I did not anticipate when reading books on my Kindle was how strong a desire I would have to be able to physically hold a book in my hands after I'd fallen in love with the words on its' pages. The need to easily flip through to memorable passages. To take pen to the paper and underline things with real ink instead of highlighting with a cursor.

Also, I have this really strange desire to dissect these books AP English-style. I want to draw out all the correlations, symbolism, and themes. I want to truly understand the depth of the allegory the author lays out. I want to better define my own personal political and worldview utilizing scenes and quotes from the novels. In short, I have been thinking about these books when I go to bed and when I wake up.

The last time a series of novels possessed me this whole-heartedly was several years ago when I breezed through all seven Harry Potter books in under a month. I stayed up through the night reading. I took extra "bathroom breaks" at work to read. I cried when I finished the last page of the last book. This is what really great, thought-provoking books with well-developed characters and intricate plots can do to me. I think this is why I stopped reading anything for months at a time after the Potter series. I needed to detox.

With all that being said, go ahead and laugh when I tell you that I just ordered the hardcover box set on Amazon this morning. Happy early birthday to me!

River of Tears

2011-03-21T14:39:00.000-04:00

I've been crying a lot today. I'm sure some of my emotional state is a result of staying up until past 3 in the morning reading a book about children, death and oppression.

But there are other things, too.

Today was my last day of Kindermusik with Thaxton. He'll still go every Monday until the end of the semester, but I'll be at my new job. Carolyn will take him. I know this is a small sacrifice to do what's best for our family. What's best for my sanity. But it doesn't really make it any easier.

As I sat in the classroom with Thaxton this morning, watching all the other mothers interact with their children and listening to Thaxton sing and clap along to some of the songs, I got choked up. I fought the tears back hard because who wants to be seen crying in front of a group of people you never took the time to get to know that well? Garrick was able to join us this morning for class, so Thaxton was really in rare form. He danced, he sang, he clapped, he drummed, he joked and made other mothers laugh. I couldn't have asked for anything more than him. He is the most amazing thing I've ever seen on this earth. Being his mother is a privilege and an honor.

I know every mother must feel this way about their child. And that's another reason for my tears today. My 19-year old nephew, who joined the Marines last year, left for Afghanistan sometime last night or this morning. Maybe while I was lying in my bed reading a work of fiction, he was setting out on a very non-fiction journey of his own. I don't know what he'll face there. My brother gave me a brief run-down of some possible scenarios at lunch today, but I have no desire to type any of them here. All I can think about now is his mother. I know how proud she is of him. She raised him almost exclusively on her own from baby to boy to man. This is no easy feat. And now his protection is out of her hands.

I guess I never thought before about how difficult this must be. To watch your baby start a life of their own that doesn't exclusively involve you must be so incredibly bittersweet. It's what you've been working toward for 18 years, of course, but when the time comes, I bet the only thing you can see is a 2-year old dancing around the room with a spatula for a guitar.

A birthday giveaway for me?!

2011-03-17T15:32:00.000-04:00

I was having some trouble figuring out what to write about today when I stumbled on a link on Twitter to this blog where they are giving away an iPad 2! On my birthday! So obviously I'm going to win, right?!

By writing this blog post and linking to their site, I am garnering an extra 10 entries for my new iPad 2. I've already commented on their post, tweeted about it, and followed them on Twitter. This will get me the maxim fourteen entries. I would suggest you go on over there and do the same, but that would decrease my chances of winning. So, if you love me and want me to have a really great birthday present, DON'T enter the contest! :)

Anyway, the point is "I’m posting this to enter a contest offered by Brad’s Deals at Sweetney! I want to win the white iPad 2!" (They told me to say this last part.)

The Last Bachelor

2011-03-16T15:18:00.000-04:00

G and I watched the Bachelor finale together Monday night. We were both pleased to have chosen the right ~~horse~~ ~~fame-whore~~ lady to win from the very beginning. That's right, we knew as soon as Emily stepped out of the limo in her emerald green gown, eyes shining that she was the only one that could possibly be standing at the end. That's not to say our confidence didn't waver throughout the season. Clearly, we weren't giving Brad enough credit (or her hotness eclipsed undertaking the massive responsibility of becoming a step-parent).

A perfect (looking) couple

Since then, Emily has gotten a lot of flack. People are reviewing the season with fresh eyes. "Oh, she was so cold toward him the whole time." "They were really trying to make chemistry where there was none." Whatever.

Have we all forgotten that while we were watching this season from week to week she was watching each episode for the first time, too? Has anyone ever sat you down and made you watch video footage of your current boyfriend/husband with all the girls he's "loved" before? Do you think you would enjoy that? I'm not really up for it, thank you very much! So I can't really blame Emily for getting a wee bit upset each week as she's watching. And let's not forget once taping wrapped, they can't even see each other in public until after the finale! Is it any wonder that she would start questioning this whirlwind romance that ABC is trying to wrap up in a pretty bow?

On the other hand, this show has been on for how many seasons now? 50? Any man or woman who auditions to be on it has to know what they are getting into. It's not all roses and engagement rings all the time, people. That's not reality, just reality television.

***Let the record show that I have already vetoed watching the next season of The Bachelorette. I liked absolutely nothing about Ashley the dentist. Why does ABC insist on recycling these people? G suggested a new and already-famous Bachelorette. It hasn't been done yet! I suggest a non-caucasian Bachelorette. I mean, for serious, can we get a little diversity? Or does ABC stand for All 'Bout Caucasians?

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-03-15T15:03:00.000-04:00

There's something I've been dying to write about here, but had to wait for the right time.

I met with my boss this afternoon to give my two-weeks notice!

I've taken a job 20 minutes from my home doing executive assistant/sales support administration for a large, international wholesaler! Woot!

Although I'll be working 5 days a week again, the days and drives will be shorter. The office environment is casual.

I'm really looking forward to my first day!

On the Other Side of the World

2011-03-11T15:39:00.000-05:00

I've never really given much thought to what's happening on the other side of the world right now. I suppose most of the time it's not terribly different from here. Just in another language. 12 hours ahead.

My heart goes out to all of the people in Japan dealing with the aftermath of an 8.9 earthquake. That's just insane! Isn't it a 10 point scale? Did I make that up?

If you live in Japan, does the possibility of an earthquake occurring at any second just sort of live in the back of your mind at all times?

Yep, Still Old

2011-03-10T14:28:00.000-05:00

On my way into work this morning, "Sweet Caroline" came on one of the Blue Ridge stations. I have to be honest, I am a Neil Diamond fan. Thank you, Will Ferrell. I didn't get out of my car until the song was over. And I was in a considerably better mood for having listened to it.

Since it put me in such a great mood, I decided to create a "Sweet Caroline" Pandora radio station to listen to at work today. So far I've enjoyed Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Monkees, The Turtles, and CCR, among others.

A Night in the Life

2011-03-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

Left work at 5:45.

Arrived at Carolyn's to pick up Thaxton at 6:50.

Stopped to fill up gas tank (see you later, $60) and grab Zaxby's for me since Thaxton ate at Carolyn's (yay!).

Arrived home with boy and food at 7:30.

As fork reached lips, was informed that Thaxton needed to poop on the potty. Helped T undress himself and mount his throne. Turned on "Cat in the Hat" to get him in the right frame of mind. Resumed eating.

As fork reached lips for the second time, a bare-bottomed boy waddled over to tell me he was done. Seriously, that was fast! Left salad once again to clean up and redress boy, dump out and clean up potty (very appetizing, mind you). Washed hands.

Settled down on the couch with T and salad to enjoy the rest of "Cat in the Hat."

At 7:55, convinced Thaxton that it was in his best interest to go upstairs for a bath.

Jumped on bed with Thaxton for 5 minutes before getting him in the bath to soap up.

At 8:15, got out of bath, dried off and raced to T's room where he proceed to run around in circles until he was dizzy and fell into my lap in fits of giggles.

Dressed in snuggly pj's, properly serenaded and kissed by Mommy and all available stuffed animals, T was tucked into bed at 8:25.

Baby says what?

2011-03-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I am floored by the things my son says. I'm trying to remember as many of his witticisms from our day yesterday as possible to share with you here.

We went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner (because it's Monday). When the server brought Thaxton his lemonade, Thaxton took a sip and exclaimed, "He makes good lemonade!" The server was still in earshot and thought this was extremely amusing. He thanked T for the compliment. Later, when he brought T his kid's cone (did you know you can get a kid's cone in lieu of the toy?!) Thaxton said, "Did he make this ice cream just for me?" Of course I said yes.

He's obsessed with instruments right now. With most little boys, it's trains, dinosaurs or cars, but with T it's musical instruments. So, he reaches up to the kitchen counter and pulls down the spoon rest that sits by the stove top and proceeds to "play" it like a saxophone. And then a banjo. All the while saying, "This is a pretty cool saxophone, huh?" and "Do you like my banjo, Mommy? Pretty cool, huh?" (Because apparently he's picked up a few words from Miley Cyrus?!)

On the way home from Chick-Fil-A last night, Thaxton told me that a tuba is also called a Sousaphone (really wanted to spell that Seussaphone). And did you know a saxophone is also called a Jazzophone? I think T just told his first joke!

Routine or Ritual?

2011-03-04T15:41:00.000-05:00

Every Monday that I am with Thaxton we eat either lunch or dinner at Chick-Fil-A. The last two weeks, we've gone to the Dwarf House and eaten on the sit down side. Just me and him.

When we are there, I think about how cool it is that we have this time together. I wonder how long it will last. And I wonder if he'll remember these meals shared by just the two of us.

I was thinking about this today when I remembered a routine that my mother and I shared during my childhood and early adolescence. Every Saturday we would get up and do the following - browse at Southlake Mall (until I found the appropriate clothing item or toy to beg for), eat lunch at McDonald's, and go to Kroger for the next week's groceries (where I would inevitably spend most of the visit alone on what I called the "school supplies aisle" pretending to teach imaginary students). I remember looking forward to spending the day with my mom. I still remember what we would order at lunch (McNuggets for me and ~~McFishy~~ Filet 'O Fish for her). I knew that ultimately she was my parent/disciplinarian, but on Saturdays it felt like we were just two girlfriends out running our errands together.

I don't remember when we stopped going out together on Saturdays. I probably decided I was too cool to be seen with my mom at the mall or something lame like that.

What is going on with me?!

2011-03-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

I just read someone else's blog announcing the pregnancy of their third child. And I started to cry. Do I want another child THAT BAD? Wowsers!

(For the record, I am not currently pregnant. No way. No how. Just so you know.)

A Doggy Dilemma

2011-03-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

I walked into my boss' office this morning to drop off the company checkbook. She has two female pugs that she brings with her to the office a couple of days a week. I happened to notice that the black pug was wearing a diaper held around her waist by a pink band this morning. (She shot me a very dirty look for noticing, by the way.)

Thinking it a bit odd, I stopped by the nurse's station to ask one of them why Luna was wearing a diaper.

"She's menstruating," said Nurse A.

Nurse L chimed in, "If you say she's menstruating one more time! That dog is in heat!"

At this point, I'm just cracking up at the absurdity of it all.

I'm adding this to my list of reasons why I am not a dog person after all. Here's the list so far:

I can't tolerate animal hair on my furniture, carpet or clothes.
I already have to find a place for my kid to stay when I go out of town without him.
It wouldn't cross my mind to put a dog in a diaper.

What does work look like to you?

2011-03-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

There's a phenomenon that occurs almost daily here at my office.

First, you need to know that we share our suite with a medical research office. They have three patient rooms in the back and see research patients daily for various studies they are conducting.

So, these patients are constantly coming in and out past my desk (I sit in what you would consider the "lobby" of our shared office) as I am diligently working. My work is computer-intensive most of the time. I use QuickBooks to manage our bank account. I update our social network sites. I use various programs to create our advertising and e-marketing.

Inevitably, at least one male patient every single day will say to me on their way past my desk, "Don't work too hard" or "Somebody's got a hard job." Really, sir? Just because I'm not sweating my a** off in a warehouse (which I have done in a previous job), serving you coffee (done that, too), or on my feet all day (cold-calling, anyone?) doesn't mean I'm not working!

I usually smile and offer a fake laugh as they go by, all the while wondering what "real" work looks like to them. Not one woman has ever walked by my desk and made a joke about how hard I'm working. Would a man elicit the same reaction if he were sitting behind this desk? I can't help but wonder.

But can I do it again tomorrow?

2011-03-01T21:31:00.001-05:00

Today was productive. I did what I set out to do.

I am determined to do the same tomorrow.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I have a new addiction

2011-03-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

and her name is Adele. She's a torch singer in the truest sense of the word.

I bought her sophomore album on iTunes this weekend and I'm truly enamoured. The whole thing still has that throwback to the 50s and 60s feel that Adele is known for, but there's an edge in her voice and each song that I can't get enough of.

Favorite songs so far are Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Someone Like You, I Found a Boy, and her fabulous cover of The Cure's Lovesong.

This album deserves a listen. Seriously.

Determination is key, right?

2011-02-28T22:44:00.001-05:00

I am going to bed this evening determined.

I'm determined to actually get up when my alarm goes off.

I'm determined to get out the door with time to spare.

And I'm determined to make tomorrow the first day on a path toward putting myself where I really want to be on a day to day basis.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

On Having Another Child

2011-02-25T15:03:00.000-05:00

I have slowly been awakening to the realization that I do, indeed, want to have another child. For the longest time I struggled with a good reason to do it. The first few months of Thaxton's life were not easy for me. I was depressed. We didn't connect right away. Although I'm certain that my expectations coupled with the actual circumstances surrounding his birth were the major contributing factors to my temperament, I hate that I didn't feel about him from day 1 the way I feel about him now.

Then I had to weigh the pros and cons of Thaxton being an only child versus having a sibling. And, if we had another, exactly how far apart should they be for optimal individual personality development versus their relationship to one another. Would having another child be for me - a selfish desire? Or for Thaxton - a selfless act? Ultimately, I think it would be both of these things.

For the first year or so of Thaxton's life, I had trouble imagining that I could ever love another child as much as I loved him. Now, I know I have more to give than I ever believed possible.

Thanks for the follow!

2011-02-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if I've been extra-witty on Twitter lately or what, but I've picked up a few new followers this week for some reason. I'm definitely not complaining. I've always thought people should be following me...

Anyway, this morning I received an email saying that @LveChiStyleBlog had started following me last night. Intrigued, I headed on over to her Twitter page to see if I might like to follow her, too. Then I clicked a link to her blog. (I'm officially a blog junkie.) She's writing a blog about online dating in Chicago. Her writing style reminds me of Carrie from SATC (which she references in her very first post). I'm hooked.

Her blog hits close to home for two reasons. First, G and I met online through eHarmony when I was about this girl's age. I used to be so ashamed to tell people how we met. In fact, I originally told my parents we met in a bar so they wouldn't freak out when I went to actually meet him for the first time having only talked online and on the phone. Don't worry, they know the truth now. Second, I was reading the posts this morning and trying to imagine having these "getting to know you" conversations with random men again. Yikes.

It just really made me appreciate what I've got. Who I've got.

I hope @LveChiStyleBlog eventually finds her Mr. Right, too.

Hey, while you're online, go on over to her blog and have a look-see! http://lovechicagostyle.blogspot.com

The One Where I Get All Political

2011-02-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

I've always tried very hard not insert politics where I don't think it belongs - at family gatherings, at work, or on Facebook, for example. In instances where I begin to post something political on everyone's favorite public forum, I will stop and ask myself, "What would so-and-so think about this?" But recently, I've started to realize that what I'm really asking myself is, "What would so-and-so think about me?"

This morning, when faced with the realization that I live in a state where certain personal and civil freedoms of women could be infringed upon, I didn't stop to ask myself what someone would think of me. I just acted. I posted. I commented. Because it's more important for citizens to be informed than for me to be liked.

I've been online this morning doing research into Georgia House Bills 1 and 1181. In HB 1, House Representative Bobby Franklin proposes that the term abortion be changed to "prenatal murder" and that miscarriages should be investigated as they may fall into this category. With regard to abortion, the bill asserts that 40 years of legalized "prenatal murder" has cost our poor state economically by robbing us of what could have been upstanding citizens, workers, and (my opinion here) taxpayers. Since when did increased population equal improved economy, sir? And miscarriages as botched abortions? Really? I cannot even imagine the feeling of loss one must feel after losing the child inside of them. To add the insult of a murder investigation on top of that grief is completely and utterly ridiculous. And in a state with budget concerns so severe that pre-K and college programs are being cut, where are the financial resources necessary to uphold this bill were it to become a law? In a state that is in the top 15 for violent crimes reported, our law enforcement should be concentrating on actual crimes.

And speaking of crimes, HB 1181 (also introduced by Rep. Franklin) proposes a change in semantics to how the legal system should classify rape. A rape victim would become a rape "accuser." This proposal would also apply to victims of domestic violence, stalking, and child molestation. I suppose this would solve the problem of Georgia's violent crime ranking as reports of rape would most certainly decrease if rape victims, already vilified during a trial, become accusers.

For the sake of other women. For the sake of my unborn daughters and granddaughters, I cannot remain silent and hope for the best. I am speaking out in the only way I know how - through my Constitutional right to freedom of speech. A right not easily earned by the founders of this country. Thank you for taking the time to read my rantings. I hope my state representative will be as obliging.

We now return to our regularly scheduled (and notably non-political) programming.

Conversations with Thaxton

2011-02-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

This is my version of "Kids Say the Darndest Things."

I've got two recent conversations to share with you.

Thaxton: Mommy, do you like jelly beans?
Me: Yes, I do, Thaxton. Do you like jelly beans?
Thaxton: When I was a boy, I liked jelly beans.

Thaxton: Mommy, are cookies round like balls?
Me: Sort of. But they don't bounce.
Thaxton: But some cookies bounce.
Me: Really? What kind of cookie bounces?
Thaxton: Bouncy cookies!

Sometimes I Feel Like a Phoneless Child, Part 2

2011-02-18T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hallelujah!

Shout it from the mountain tops!

My phone is working!

Immediately after retrieving the phone from the bathtub, I turned it off. Garrick, upon hearing me ~~swearing profusely~~ softly crying, came to my rescue. He ran down to the pantry and grabbed a bag of rice. I was all, 'Um, what? Okay, buddy. Good luck with that!' as he gently slid the phone into the rice.

Seeing this incident as a bad omen for the day, I begrudgingly took my riced up phone and trudged off to work expecting the worst.

But, joy of joys, when I pulled into the parking lot and pulled the phone out of its rice-y cocoon, it turned right on and has been working perfectly ever since!

Sometimes I Feel Like a Phoneless Child

2011-02-18T06:43:00.000-05:00

Less than a week. Six days to be exact. In the span of six days, I cracked my iPhone screen and then dropped it in water. The water dropping happened this morning and it still hurts to talk about it.

As I sit here eating a toasted English muffin, I'm wondering if my phone is toast, too. The bridge of Cee-Lo's "Forget You" is playing in my head over and over. "WHYYYYYYYY? WHYYYYYYYYYY?"

I'll keep you posted.

Maybe I'm Amazed

2011-02-17T10:27:00.000-05:00

I've found myself completely awestruck by Thaxton these days. He'll be dancing in front of me, occasionally glancing my way for approval, and I sit amazed at his perfection. I'm reminded of an old country song - "She Don't Know She's Beautiful." He's kind of like that. He has no idea how amazing he is! He's just doing his thing. Perfectly unassuming.

Sometimes I think back to Thaxton's first car ride. We'd been released from the hospital a few days after his birth. I sat next to him in the back seat. He was sleeping peacefully. And I just couldn't wrap my brain around the idea that he was ours. Were they really going to let us take this perfect, little person home? Shouldn't we have to pass some sort of parental exam first?

Last night around 9 PM, G and I were watching tv when we were heard Thaxton jabbering in his bed. We muted the tv to see if he was upset. He'd been in bed and quiet for over an hour so it was unusual for him to be awake then. He was fine. Simply having a conversation with his good friend and tv personality Curious George. He would say, "You can't do that, Curious George!" And then he would giggle uncontrollably. Who needs a television when you have Thaxton to entertain you?!

And now we do the dance of joy!

2011-02-10T16:05:00.001-05:00

I usually drive one hour and five minutes to get home from work. Sometimes I have to stop and pick Thaxton up from Carolyn's on the way home, adding 20-25 minutes to that drive.

Tonight I will only drive 20 minutes south to have dinner with my husband and son. Then I will spend the night in a hotel and get up and drive 20 minutes north to work.

I'm so excited I could burst!

Mommy Monday

2011-02-08T14:56:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was my "Mommy Monday" with Thaxton. That is, my day off where he and I spend all day together doing stuff he loves.

The day started a bit frantically as I tried to get us both ready for his 9:30 Kindermusik class in under an hour because T slept past 8 AM. (You hate me right now, don't you?!) Fortunately, we weren't late and all the other mothers and the teacher seemed genuinely happy to see Thaxton (and me?) when we came in!

From there we drove 20 miles south to Champion Kids for a little gymnastics fun. I wanted to see if I could go from one place to the other in 30 minutes or less because I'm considering a Parent-Tot gymnastics class there that starts at 10:30 on Mondays. Fortunately, becoming a mother hasn't affected my lead foot because we made it in 25 minutes!

A brass player in the making.

After a little over an hour of trampoline-filled fun, we headed north again to grab some Chick-Fil-A and eat lunch with G. Since Garrick goes straight from school to Reinhardt for his graduate studies on Mondays, this is the only way we get to see him all day.Thaxton loves having lunch with Daddy because it means he gets to bang on all the drums and walk around with whatever instrument he can carry/reach while we're there.

Here was the highlight of my day yesterday:

On our way home from G's school, Thaxton told me not once, but THREE times that he needed to "go poop in the potty." We've been at this whole potty training thing for almost a year now (I don't care what the Europeans say, 18 months is too early!), so it's beyond frustrating at this point. If you put him in front of a toilet every hour or so, he will usually go #1 for you without any fuss. #2 has been just out of reach for so long, though. So, as you can imagine, to actually have him communicate this with me and in such an urgent manner was really very exciting.

As soon as we pulled into the garage, it was all I could do to turn off the car and unbuckle my seatbelt before trying to get out of the car to get him out of the car to get into the house in time.We did make it in time. And he made it. Big time.

I would describe my actions after seeing Thaxton stand up to look at his work as a "Poop Pep Rally." I jumped up and down. I clapped. I danced. I picked him and whirled him around. I played pretend instruments and marched triumphantly. He stared at me with a strange look on his face for a bit before deciding it was okay to join in my happy dancing. He earned himself a Tootsie Pop and this time I think he truly understood what it meant to get it.

To someone reading this who is not a parent, this might seem like the most ridiculous thing you've ever read. Raising another human being is a full time job, though. It consumes you. Part of that job is giving your child the tools to exert their independence in this world. (Frankly, going to the bathroom is a pretty independent endeavor.) And you will celebrate every little success with them every step of the way. It's all peeing and pooping right now. Not too long from now it will be reading and writing, then golfing and driving, graduations from high school and college, and romantic relationships... Every step of the way, I hope I will find ways to let Thaxton know that I am his champion and his cheerleader.

Friends for a Session

2011-02-02T16:34:00.001-05:00

I've written before about my issues with making new friends in real life. It wasn't until recently that I gave much thought to making new friends in my virtual life.

I'm not going to lie to you, Reader, I spend an inordinate amount of time reading blogs. I love blogs. There's just something about getting a glimpse into someone else's world and feeling a kinship with them that is really uplifting to me. "Mommy" blogs, fictional blogs, "bitchy" blogs - I love them all. But that's not why I'm writing this post.

G and I started watching The Bachelor/ette right around the time I began working at Riverstone and also around the time I decided to start writing my own blog. Through Blogger's sometimes right-on Blog of Note feature, I stumbled upon two bloggers who shared my love/hate relationship with Ali of The Bachelorette. I began following their blogs. You, too, can follow them here and here.

Then I began following their tweets.

Then I began @replying to their tweets.

Then they began @replying back to me - mostly in response to delectable, organic, frozen food products. (I love me some Amy's!)

So, now, of course, I consider us the best of virtual friends. Why not? I know their states of residence, occupations, favorite television programming, a few embarrassing moments, and lunchtime selections. That totally makes us friends, right? RIGHT?!

My mother in law recently reminded me of the saying that goes something like, "There are friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for life." I'm adding "Friends for a session" to the list. Shut up, it counts.

Are you happy, Mommy?

2011-01-25T12:06:00.000-05:00

Two nights ago, Thaxton did something he's never done before.

He pooped in the bathtub.

It was a shock to G and I. We were momentarily stunned, but just as Thaxton made a move toward the poo, we sprang into action. He grabbed T and ran to the guest bathroom to wash all the feces off of him.

I'm not sure how I ended up with the task of cleaning the tub, but I went to work (dry heaving the entire time, mind you). I took a plastic cup that Thaxton normally played with to do the scooping. Then I drained the remaining water. All toys in the tub at the time were sent to the dishwasher for proper disinfection. I had to call Carolyn to ask what to clean the tub with and where to locate it (that's right, I don't know where the cleaning products are in my own house). Next I sprayed the tub cleaner with bleach all over the tub and let it sit for about 20 minutes before rinsing.

So, the tub is officially clean, but I can't look at it the same anymore. It will be a really long time before I can take a bath again.

Top Ten for Taylor

2011-01-24T15:52:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned a few days ago, my best friend since college is moving away to Seattle this week. I’m so excited for her and her husband. I love the idea of new beginnings, so moving to a new city to start anew rocks my socks.

Anyway, we bid adieu last night and I was trying to keep things light. But, as I’m in a heavier mood today, I thought I’d put together a list of ten songs for Taylor - who she is to me, what she means to me, and how she’s changed my life.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun - I met Tay freshman year. Her dorm room was across the hall from mine. She was sporting the most fabulous red pixie cut I’d ever seen. I decided instantly that she was too cool for me. I wouldn’t say we hit it off right away. We sort flitted in and out of the same circles for the first few months. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” then you know that Helen Hunt’s character totally pulls SJP’s character out of her shell. Taylor was like that. She just knew how to have fun. It was infecting.

Intergalactic and Vogue - One thing Taylor loved to do before a pep rally was get in her little red Dodge Neon, turn the volume up to eleven, and drive around campus with the windows down. She introduced me to the Beastie Boys this way. This is also how I heard all the tracks from Madonna’s Immaculate Collection album.

Get Out the Map and Untouchable Face - No tenure at a woman’s college is complete without the Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco. Tay and I could rock some Indigo Girls harmonies. And Ani has totally stolen Taylor’s trademark wifebeater look in this vid.

Hard to Handle - I don’t even know if Taylor will remember, but we danced around her parent’s house to the Black Crowes one summer night when all her Gainesville boys were over. I was 100% sure that my fantastic dance moves were driving them all wild…

Boston - Taylor did her graduate work in psychology at Tufts in Boston before making the bold move to attend culinary school. The boldest thing I did at the time was fly up to visit her on a buddy pass. I got to town right before a snowstorm and stayed a little longer than intended! Her email address (until recently) was bostontaylor@. (I guess she can be seattletaylor@ now.)
Lost Cause - I had to include Beck because Taylor gave me his second album as a gift. Thanks, Tay! So every time I hear a song by Beck, I inevitably think of her.

Sex and the City Theme - Yet another thing that Taylor introduced me to was Sex and the City - long after the series began. After she moved back to Atlanta, we would get together at her place and watch three or four episodes of a season while I gorged myself on whatever new culinary creation she’d made. This is how we worked our way through the entire series.

Easy Silence - I’m not sure Taylor has ever heard this song, but it’s easily one of my favorites. And it’s a great fit for us. We can spend time together without saying a word. I’d take a side-by-side silence over a chasm-of-miles absence any day. But that’s life. It goes on.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2011-01-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

G just left for his band practice up at Reinhardt.

Thaxton is napping.

I'm waffling between napping or working out before I shower and get ready to go see Taylor for what will be the last time for a long time.

My best friend and her husband are moving to Seattle. They are leaving on Tuesday to drive cross country.

Her husband has a great job lined up out there. As an excellent chef, I'm sure Tay will find something perfect, too.

I miss her already, though.

What's next?

2011-01-21T08:37:00.000-05:00

So Carolyn, G and I have been working on potty training with Thaxton for, well, longer than I really care to admit. We probably started too young - 18 months. But at the time I was really into getting Thaxton through the next milestone and the next one. (Truth be told, I also wanted to save money on diapers.)

In the last two weeks, though, he's really gotten it - I'm sure in part because G and I finally committed to the process as much as Carolyn already had. Yesterday he went #2 on the potty...twice. The second time I was actually there when it happened and he asked me to put him on the potty to do it! This is a very exciting development in the Cheyne household. (We're so cool.)

But this morning I've been wondering what's next. Pretty soon I won't be carrying a pull-up around in my purse anymore. I've been carrying a diaper or pull-up around with me for over two years now! I spent so much time focusing on getting to the next milestone that I neglected to value Thaxton for who he is right now.

I have this amazing child who is one part me and one part G and all parts miraculous. I wish I'd seen it sooner, but I intend to stay in rapt appreciation of every second I have with him in this stage of his life, for as long as he wants to be there.

How's that working out for you?

2011-01-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

So, the next time I tell you I'm trying to stick to a diet that requires me to eliminate an entire food group, please smack me in the face because you and I both know it ain't going to work.

You guessed it, friends! My "Slow Carb" days are over. They ended approximately two hours after I posted my blog yesterday. They ended when I walked into a co-worker's office and was offered a glazed donut. How's that for resolve and discipline?!

Anyhoo, don't cry for me, Argentina. I'm not dangerously overweight or anything. I've just a few vanity pounds I'd like to be rid of. Though I don't mind if they hang around a bit longer. I hear it's going to be a cold winter, so I'll take all the padding I can get!

Okay, enough of that. Here's the real reason for today's post.

Why hasn't anyone ever held me down and force fed me a Wendy's Cheeseburger Deluxe? I had one today for lunch with all the trimmings (onion, tomato, lettuce, and pickles) and it was amazing. My mouth is watering for another one as I type this. I went to Wendy's because I recently learned that they make pretty good sweet tea. Once there, I wasn't in the mood for chili and salad, so I got the burger. You'll be happy to note that I didn't get anything other than the burger and the tea. Once I got back to work, I threw away the sweet tea. Why can't everyone get sweet tea right? Is that too much to ask?!

An Eating Plan

2011-01-19T11:31:00.000-05:00

I think I've written before about my dysfunctional eating habits, so I won't go into all that detail. Suffice it to say that I have always lacked discipline when it comes to food. In spite of that, I am a bit obsessive about nutritional information, including magazines, books, television programming, etc.

Enter Tim Ferriss' The Four Hour Body. (As an aside: I first learned about Ferriss when one of my bosses asked me to purchase his first book The Four Hour Work Week. I skimmed the book jacket when it arrived and determined that I had no use for the guy. Seriously, how does a book that's basically written for CEOs and Richard Branson-type entrepreneurs make it to the top of the New York Time's bestseller list? It just seems like a niche market to me.)

Last week, while perusing recommendations for new reading material on my Kindle, his latest offering popped up. The general premise is that the information we've all been given regarding diet, health and fitness is incomplete, at best. The underlying theme of the book is this idea of a Minimum Effective Dose. For example: What is the least amount of time, reps, etc. one could do and still achieve optimal results? Thus, four hours to your "perfect" body.

The first couple of chapters are dedicated to his "Slow Carb Diet." It's basically the Atkins Diet (I think) with the addition of beans to supplement caloric intake at meals. The prescription: Eat 4 meals consisting only of protein (eggs, meat), vegetables (particularly green ones), and beans (lentils, limas, kidney, black, etc.). Avoid processed food, grains, dairy, fruit and sugar. Do this for six days a week. On the seventh day, all food is fair game. The forecast: Up to 20 pounds of fat loss in 30 days.

I liked the lack of options available in this program, as I believe too many choices always lead me astray. The science also seemed to fit with other things I'd read about eating. Stay on the outside aisles of the grocery store, for example. That's where the freshest foods are. I decided to give it a try.

Since Sunday I've had no bread, no peanut butter, no soda, no sweet tea, no potatoes in any form, no rice, no chips, no fruit. I'm pretty surprised that I've lasted this long. (Thank goodness for coffee and flavored, non-dairy creamers!) I do think I can tell a slight difference in how I feel each day - energy levels, etc. I'm not weighing myself again until Saturday morning before I binge on the Coke waiting for me in the fridge and the Eggo waffles in the freezer.

Today has been challenging. I wasn't really up to making eggs for breakfast...again. So I microwaved a chicken breast I'd grilled Monday night. I didn't really feel like making or eating any vegetables first thing this morning either. At 9:30, though, I was wishing I'd followed the rules. I was sooo "hungry."

Fortunately, I've managed to stay on track. But this realization hit me that this isn't really a diet for Tim and the hundreds of followers. This is their way of life. This is how they always eat. Six. Days. A. Week. I don't really like the idea of not being able to have peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat toast for breakfast whenever I want it, not just on a Saturday.

I guess the ultimate question is what matters more to me in the end? Fitting back into an old pair of jeans again or eating whatever I want whenever I want? I'll keep you posted.

A little imagination

2011-01-18T14:48:00.000-05:00

Don't ask me why, but sometime in the last year and a half, I developed this fear that my child would lack imagination and social skills. Part of this fear stemmed from the limited number of people with whom he interacts on a regular basis: me, G, Carolyn, and his best playtime buddy (David, Carolyn's husband). About once a month, he'll spend time with grandparents or cousins.

As most of my fears tend to be, this one was completely unfounded and irrational. Thaxton has plenty of imagination.

Here are a few examples from the last week:

Whenever he climbs the stairs, he pretends to be a frog, complete with "Ribbit"ing and attempted.

When we lay him in his bed for naptime or bedtime, he proceeds to tell his stuffed animals (named Puppy, Cheeseburger, Tucker, and Blanket - because it's a blanket NOT in homage to Michael Jackson's kid) all about his day. Then they all play sports. Saturday morning when I got him out of bed (because my 2-year old still sleeps in his crib - jealous much?!), he told me that he, Puppy, and Cheeseburger were playing soccer. Cheeseburger scored the most goals.

He can play pretend pirates with the best of 'em. (I like it when he calls his dad a "scalawag.")

He makes some of the most amazing letter soups and stews. This kid is destined to be Top Chef one day.

I suppose it's natural as a parent to worry about how your child is developing in relation to other children their age. (Is it bad that he can't jump off the ground with both feet yet?!) And there's the constant guilt that the one thing you did or did not do will be the one thing that makes or breaks their whole life giving them basis for hating you when they turn 15.

I'll try to worry a little less and play a little more.

Swift Justice - Musings on a Young Musician

2011-01-15T14:17:00.000-05:00

I was listening to Taylor Swift’s latest album Speak Now on my way home from work last night. (Have I lost you? You’re silently judging me right now, aren’t you?)

I was struck by several thoughts as I listened.

First, her lyrics (I am a lyrics person) always resonate with me. She says what I was thinking, what I was feeling (no matter how trite it may seem), at similar stages in my life. I wish I had written a snarky song about a DB ex instead of sliding a nasty, curse-word filled letter into his locker that later got me in-school suspension. Hindsight, eh?

Second, why do male celebrities continue to date her? She’s made it abundantly clear that if you date her, whether things go right or wrong, she will write a song about it. And she won’t even pretend the song isn’t about you. “Dear John,” anyone?

Finally, if she weren’t constantly on tabloids for her virginal dating exploits, would her music continue to be relevant? Would her albums sell?

I made it!

2011-01-13T12:45:00.000-05:00

G got behind the wheel of my car this morning at 8:45 to steer it down the icy driveway. The ice and gravity did the bulk of the work, though. Once on the road, he parked it for me and I had a lovely and uneventful drive to work.

After three days "trapped" at home, I was itching to get back to work. Now that I'm here, I have to wonder what I was thinking!

Our three snow days consisted of a lot of the following: chocolate milk, cooking together, playing Wii (T loves Wii bowling and we love Super Mario Brothers), reading books, jumping on the bed, and playing in the basement.

We learned that Thaxton is both a good cheerleader and a trash-talker in the making. G and I set up our Ladder Ball set in the basement and would play a game each evening while T played with his trains and drums, etc. ---Quick explanation of Ladder Ball: Two PVC pipe "ladders" about four feet high with three rungs on them are set up on opposite ends of a room or open outdoor space. Each competitor or team has three bolos (sp?). A bolo is made up of two golf balls (or golf ball-sized rubber balls) attached to each with 10-12 inches of cord. The basic object of the game is to score the most points by tossing all three bolos at the ladder farthest from you.--- Last night, T decided to come over and watch our game. Every time one of us would throw our bolo and score he would say "Yay, Mommy and Daddy!" It was really precious. Then he started to realize we were competing against each other. The next time I threw my bolo, it started to wrap around the middle rung then fell to the ground. Thaxton yelled, "Yay! Noooo." Every time after that he would taunt me when I missed a rung. Which, sadly, was every time I threw a bolo from that point on. What can I say? G schools me in Ladder Ball every time we play. C'est la vie!

Weekend Plans?

2011-01-07T13:49:00.000-05:00

None for me, thanks!

Garrick is judging All-State second auditions down in good 'ol Perry, Georgia all day tomorrow. Normally, I would find something snazzy outside the home for T and I to do together, but I've decided this weekend is THE weekend. We are going to stay in and T is going to get good and potty-trained.

I've read that it takes three consecutive/consistent days of working with the wee little ones to get them to come around. I'm making this three day weekend all about the potty. T is going to run around the house in his regular underpants, a long sleeve shirt, and socks. No pants. No pull ups. No problem!

Before I hit the sack tonight, I'll have to set out a plan of attack for the day. If I don't plan out several activities for us to do throughout the day, I will lose my mind and T will end up watching a whole lot of PBS while I surf the internet. I'm thinking coloring, play-doh time, hide and seek, a Spanish language and sign language lesson or two, some jumping on the bed, sword-fighting, and book reading will get us through most of the day. Is he too young to do a scavenger hunt? That might be fun to try, too.

Wish us much luck!