Monday, November 30, 2009

Not Me! Monday

I did not just clean the most disgusting cloth diaper I have ever seen. It was not wrapped tightly in a plastic Target bag and left on a shelf for over a week because I forgot them when we went on vacation last week. It did not have mold growing on the poop. Seriously. Mold. Eww...I didn't even know that mold could grow on poop. I am very excited about this new piece of knowledge. Can't you tell?

That poop situation was not followed by my having to clean out the cat litter box. I do not suddenly feel like one big pooper-scooper.

While at work today, I did not spend my lunch hour shopping online for Cyber Monday. I did not get so distracted by work that a website emptied my shopping cart...twice. I did not learn my lesson to not shop at work...even on my breaks!

While at my parents house for Thanksgiving week, I did not eat sweets and drink soda every single day, for what felt like all day long. When my mom called one day to see if we needed anything, I did not ask her to buy oreo cookies and proceed to eat waaaay too many when she brought them home. I have way more self control than that!

This blog carnival was started by MckMama, head on over to her blog and see what she and others have not been doing this week!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Another giveaway!

I think I have the worst giveaway luck...I never win! I am going to keep trying though because you can't win if you don't play! Elizabeth over at Confessions From a Working Mom is hosting her first giveaway of those cute baby legs leg warmers! I've thought about getting these for BBZ but never bought them. It would be just in time for the winter! Head on over to her blog and check it out. She's a journalist and always has something interesting to talk about, and as a working mom I love her insight of trying to have it all. Happy Sunday!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Week in Pictures

Last Sunday I woke up at 4am, swooped up BBZ and headed to the airport. He and I flew the 2nd part of the round trip ticket I bought when I went to see my sister in a play last October. He did so great on the plane! He slept through the whole first flight which was from about 6am to 7:15 or so. He woke up when we landed and played like crazy in the terminal for the hour or so layover. We were playing with his little cars at the corner of the terminal so we had windows on both sides of us. I looked up from my car playing and saw BBZ with this look of absolute amazement on his face. I looked out the window and saw a huge airplane coming straight toward us! The door opened to our right and the nose of the plane was about 20 feet in front of us! The pilots even waved to us! BBZ was quite impressed. He did great on the next flight, which probably had the fewest people on it I have ever seen on a plane. BBZ talked and giggled and rambled on the whole time. I didn't mind though, it was way better than him screaming!
N and Delilah met us at my parent's house after dropping us off at the airport around 5am. It took him 11 1/2 hours, which is apparently a record. I guess it goes that much faster without a wife and a baby to slow you down :)
We hoped to find some different things to do this time around, so we drove about 30 minutes to a nearby town that had a cute little winery. Grapes cannot grow in this frozen part of America, so they use every other kind of fruit imaginable to make wine. We tasted wines such as Rhubarb, Choke Cherry, and Apple Jalapeno. It was interesting and much better than I thought it would be.
We also went to the town mall, which is small, but a nice place for BBZ to run around and explore. We also did some Christmas shopping.
BBZ's cousin, CJ, hung out with us almost the whole week!
Little cuties! I saw my sister's apartment for the first time and it is huge! On one of her shelves was a picture of me holding CJ when he was 14 months old, exactly the same age as BBZ now! That was 9 years ago...man how time flies. Here's a peek at his Thanksgiving outfit! He was moving non-stop. I got a few good ones, but this one reminded me of this one that Nikki over at Purple Lemon Photography took of BBZ during his 1 year photos! He's quick!
He did not really want to cooperate with me for a picture with Delilah...
...so we took a break to play some piano... ...and I got this one, which I love.
He managed to sit still long enough for this cute one with my dad, who he calls Ba-Pa, just like CJ did before he could say Papa. But not quite long enough for this one with my mom (Meme) which BBZ still can't quite say.
Watching football and eating strawberries with Daddy.
We decided to venture out into the cold, which was actually much more mild than it usually is in November.
Daddy bought him this awesome hat, which we all had bets on how long he would keep it on. It turns out, if you put gloves on a baby, they are unable to do just about anything with their hands, including removing a ridiculously cute hat from their head! I just love these that N took of him hobbling around the yard.
Then right in front of us he goes Christmas Story on us and totally licks this pole! I'm not sure what he was thinking, but I'm just glad that 1) it didn't stick and 2) that we had the camera!
My little winter munchkin! There was snow on the ground one morning, but it melted by the time we got up and moving around. We were hoping that BBZ could get some good snow-playing time! Oh well, hopefully he will have plenty of other opportunities soon.
Mmmm, turkey! BBZ had been refusing to eat meat for weeks, but this week he ate chicken, steak, and turkey! He was pumped about this one!
It was definitely a messy meal! But so worth it. I even caught a little video of him saying "gobble, gobble, gobble"!
We had no intention of going out into the black Friday ridiculousness as we have in years past, but we did end up going to the mall in an attempt to wear BBZ out for the 8 hour drive we planned, which started at 3pm on Friday. We thought we would maybe try the Santa picture, and I am so glad we did! There was absolutely no line and we walked right up. As you can see, BBZ was not very happy about it, but I honestly think that is half the fun.

Like I said, we left around 3pm Friday and drove about 8 hours. We thought about driving all the way through, and if BBZ had been in a deeper sleep we might have tried it, but N and I both said this morning that we made the right decision by staying at the hotel. BBZ was pretty wound up when we got there around midnight, but it didn't take too long for him to settle down and sleep. It was a bit harder for N since he drank so much caffeine, but we all managed to get enough sleep. It was crazy warm here today so we went for a walk then came home and played in the backyard for a while. I must say, it was a wonderful week out of town. I love spending time with my family and wish we were closer. I am very happy that we have one more weekend day left! I don't feel rushed to have everything done tonight for the week. I see tomorrow as a nice and lazy Sunday!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Not Me! Monday

I did not leave a full bag of poopy cloth diapers at BBZ's school on Friday only to realize this after the school closed. I am not out of town all week. The diapers will not sit there getting nastier and nastier for me to clean NEXT Monday. I am never in a rush and always take my time and would never do something so...dumb.

I did not allow my child to eat goldfish the entire time we were at our Le Leche League meeting so he would stay quiet and occupied the whole time. I would never use food to distract my child. Especially food that is not-so-good for him.

I was not a little excited about waking BBZ up at 4am when we left for our trip yesterday. I did not think it was a little funny to be the one waking him up at that hour instead of vise versa. I would never find excitement or humor in my child's unhappiness. That's just cruel and I am not that selfish!

Want to join in on the Not Me! Monday fun? I think she's skipping the carnival this week, but nevertheless, this blog carnival was started by MckMama, head on over to her blog and see what she and all the other moms have not been doing this week.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Some Deep Thoughts on Slavery

I wrote just a bit right here about slavery. About my wonder of how we as humans could do such horrible things to other humans. I shutter at the thought of what people went through, and in many ways are still going through, because of the color of their skin. My father is a very deep-thinking man. I remember growing up thinking that he was a man who just demanded respect. People flocked to him in admiration. I wondered how he did it...how he managed to have so many people think so highly of him. As I have grown older I realize that the respect and admiration he has is not because of something he does or demands, it is something he has earned through the way he approaches people. He respects and admires all people, and all things, and in turn has that same reflected upon him. It is his integrity and love of people and life that attracts so many followers and admirers. Who would not want to spend time with someone who makes you feel so good about yourself, about life, and about living? My father is also a reader. He reads poetry, and stories and was recently asked to speak during chapel at the college where he is the Chief Information Officer. My father is not a religious man, although his faith in people and his commitment to the betterment of society could quite easily hold the same distinction. He emailed me the speech he wrote, which I finally sat down and read today. I am so moved by his thoughts and will likely read them over and over when I feel like being closer to him. The following is an excerpt he included, which made tears pour down my face, while I read it at work. I don't know that I would have felt as strongly about this if I were not a mother, but I can almost feel the pain as I read the words of this young slave as she was being sold away from her family.
From the diary of Mary Prince – slave of Bermuda – written in 1831 – escaped from slavery to freedom in England in 1828
The black morning at length came; it came too soon for my poor mother and us. Whilst she was putting on us the new osnaburgs in which we were to be sold, she said, in a sorrowful voice, (I shall never forget it!) "See, I am shrouding my poor children; what a task for a mother!"--She then called Miss Betsey to take leave of us. "I am going to carry my little chickens to market," (these were her very words.) "take your last look of them: may be you will see them no more." "Oh, my poor slaves! my own slaves!" said dear Miss Betsey, "you belong to me: and it grieves my heart to part with you."--Miss Betsey kissed us all, and, when she left us, my mother called the rest of the slaves to bid us good-bye. One of them, a woman named Moll, came with her infant in her arms. "Ay!" said my mother, seeing her turn away and look at her child with the tears in her eyes, "your turn will come next." The slaves could say nothing to comfort us; they could only weep and lament with us. When I left my dear little brothers and the house in which I had been brought up, I thought my heart would burst.
Our mother, weeping as she went, called me away with the children Hannah and Dinah, and we took the road that led to Hamble Town, which we reached about four o'clock in the afternoon. We followed my mother to the market-place, where she placed us in a row against a large house, with our backs to the wall and our arms folded across our breasts. I, as the eldest, stood first, Hannah next to me, then Dinah; and our mother stood beside, crying over us. My heart throbbed with grief and terror so violently, that I pressed my hands quite tightly across my breast, but I could not keep it still, and it continued to leap as though it would burst out of my body. But who cared for that? Did one of the many by-standers, who were looking at us so carelessly, think of the pain that wrung the hearts of the negro woman and her young ones? No, no! They were not all bad, I dare say, but slavery hardens white people's hearts towards the blacks; and many of them were not slow to make their remarks upon us aloud, without regard to our grief--though their light words fell like cayenne on the fresh wounds of our hearts. Oh those white people have small hearts who can only feel for themselves.
At length the vendue master, who was to offer us for sale like sheep or cattle, arrived, and asked my mother which was the eldest. She said nothing, but pointed to me. He took me by the hand, and led me out into the middle of the street, and, turning me slowly round, exposed me to the view of those who attended the vendue. I was soon surrounded by strange men, who examined and handled me in the same manner that a butcher would a calf or a lamb he was about to purchase, and who talked about my shape and size in like words--as if I could no more understand their meaning than the dumb beasts. I was then put up to sale. The bidding commenced at a few pounds, and gradually rose to fifty-seven, when I was knocked down to the highest bidder; and the people who stood by said that I had fetched a great sum for so young a slave.
I then saw my sisters led forth, and sold to different owners: so that we had not the sad satisfaction of being partners in bondage. When the sale was over, my mother hugged and kissed us, and mourned over us, begging of us to keep up a good heart, and do our duty to our new masters. It was a sad parting; one went one way, one another, and our poor mammy went home with nothing.
I had to read this twice, so just so you get the full affect, go ahead and read it again. Don't worry. I'll wait. My heart sank as I imagined what is was like for women during this time. To love and embrace your child only to "shroud" them, as this woman's mother said. I had to look up the meaning to shroud, to shroud means to wrap and prepare for burial, but this mother was not burying her children, she was preparing them for a life she knows all to well. A life that she herself lived. She would then have to always wonder what her children were doing, how they were living, if they were living, if they gave her grandchildren that she would never meet. I worked with a woman once whose husband was severely injured in a car accident. After sustaining a massive head and spinal cord injury, he relied on a ventilator to breathe, a catheter to pee, his wife to change his clothing after accidents, and a life that would likely rely on nursing home placement, although this wife fought to avoid it. When she learned of the untimely death of the child of our agency's founder, she said to me "sometimes death is kinder". How true this might have been during this slave's life. At least in death one can find peace and closure. To never know what happens to your child would be torture. I wonder, if I lived as a black woman at that time, would I celebrate a life I created or mourn what was sure to come for my precious child? This is something I am so happy to say I do not have to even think about.
I wonder too, what became of this woman. This is the only time I have heard of this woman's diary, of her personal experiences with a life I can't begin to imagine. The heading states that she escaped slavery, so I wonder if she was reunited with her mother, with her family. I am searching for the happy ending, the something that can make me feel better after this sad story I have read. Even if this ending is happy, there are so many more unspoken stories of torn families, people sold as cattle, and treated as less-than-human.
I like to think the world has changed, and in many ways it has, but we have miles to go before we sleep and must never naively believe that things are as good as they can be.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Wet bag giveaway!

Many of you know that I am a happy gdiapers user. NappyShoppe.com is run by Sharni who is a SAHM (stay at home mom) who runs a cloth diapering website dedicated to lots of cloth diapering goodies, including accessories! I would love to win a fun colored wet bag! Who cares if poop and pee diapers go in it...it can still look cool! Click here to check out the giveaway!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Time for a makeover!

So I figured it was time to look around for a different layout for my blog. I really wanted one with gadgets on both sides and a little more flair...I think I found it! Hopefully it will be more fun to visit me!

Monday, November 16, 2009

I would rather be blogging.

I had a bit of a rough day. I'm actually a little torn about it. It was rough, but I handled everything about as good as I possibly could, so for that I feel ok. I can't really blog about any of it because of HIPPA and confidentiality, but I cannot resist the urge to blog. My Not Me! post doesn't really count for today since I actually typed it last night...I mean I did not type it last night :) So Gina over at Namaste By Day posted this fun survey! Like her, I also used to love doing these surveys on Myspace. I rarely check my myspace account any more and really can't remember the last time I did one of these, so this is just the thing I need since I can't blog about my day... 1.What is your current obsession? BBZ's diet. I never feel like anything is good enough for his little body. 2. What are you wearing today? A black sweater and some dark brown cords I dug out of the closet. I feel dark today. Maybe I will wear something fun and bright tomorrow to set the mood. 3. What’s for dinner? N got home from work early today, so when he called to see how my day was we talked about what the heck to do with the pound of ground beef I took out. We're both sick of pasta and tacos, so I put him on the hunt for something yummy, and like always, he did not disappoint. He made a delicious meatloaf which I paired with cheesy rotini and leftover little trees from last night. Mmmm. 4. What’s the last thing you bought? A prescription, hair styling gel, wipes and jujyfruits from Walgreens about 15 minutes ago. 5. What are you listening to right now? Monday night football. Go Browns! 6. What do you think about the person who tagged you? Gina is great. She is am amazing woman who loves her job and often makes me tear up when I read her work stories. We met through a mutual friend and became friends through social sites and blogging. And she always comments on my posts. ALWAYS. And let's face it, that's just cool. 7. If you could have a house, totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? N and I always said that we would love to live in Denver or Portland. We have traveled to both and got the same feeling in both places that we just belonged there. But if it came right down to it, I think we would be happy to live right where we are for the rest of our lives. As long as the house has a garage and a master bathroom I would be happy. 8. What are your must-have pieces for summer? My chaco flip flops. They were $50, which I thought was ridiculous for flip flops but they were worth every penny. Capris too. I don't wear shorts much so the capri is perfect summer attire. 9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? The far, far North to see my family. 10. Which language do you want to learn? Sign. I'd love to one day be a Licensed Professional Counselor for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I don't know if I have the patience to learn it though. I want to just be good at it without having to try. 11. What’s your favorite quote? "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." ~Robert Frost 12. Who do you want to meet right now? Barack Obama 13. What is your favorite colour? Blue 14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet? My Ugg boots. I bought them for myself with birthday money that I pooled together. They were way overpriced like my chacos, but I never splurge on anything, so buying them was really special for me. 15. What is your dream job? I'm still deciding. I love what I do, but I also feel the need to keep growing. I am lucky enough to work in a place that allows me to grow and change and still do the job I do. 16. What’s your favorite magazine? I get way too many and rarely read any of them. I actually managed to cancel all of my subscriptions last year right before N turned in a bunch of his flier miles for free ones. Now I get them and they ofter go straight into the recycle bin. I think the Le Leche League publication, New Beginnings, gets read most by me. 17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on? Christmas presents 18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas? Skinny girl jeans on guys. I know it's a whole style thing, but I just don't get it. 19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon? I really don't know anything about this subject at all. 20. What kind of haircut do you prefer? I love the idea of long hair, but I am constantly thinking about cutting mine off. I have been wearing my hair with its natural curls lately and love it! Plus it's much easier to deal with than straightening it every day. 21. What are you going to do after this? Chores. Put laundry away, wash diapers, stuff diapers for tomorrow, and change the bed sheets. I really need to clean the shower but that might be expecting too much of myself on a Monday. 22. What are your favorite movies? Across the Universe, Almost Famous, Fight Club, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. 23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without? Oil of Olay daily moisturizer Bath and Body Works body cream Mascara. I don't wear make-up very often, but when I do this is a must! 24. What inspires you? ~Results. My job can be tiring and sometimes thankless, but when change happens and you see a person go from where they were to where they want to be, there is nothing more inspiring. ~When musicians are masters of their instruments. I have seen some of the most musically talented people in the world perform right in front of me. I especially love the look on their face when they know they are throwing down an amazing jam. I smile just thinking about it. ~The elderly. People in this country de-value the elderly and brush them off as people who are no longer important. I have been lucky enough in the last few days to speak to some amazing people who have lived their lives right here in my city. To hear their stories and just chat with them has been a nice change. 25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you? ~Love your natural hair texture ~Choose your outfit before you go to bed. It lessens the likelihood that you will leave the house in tennis shoes and a sweatshirt (not that there is anything wrong with that!) ~If I dress nice, I feel nice. Putting a little extra effort into my wardrobe makes me feel so much more put together! 26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)? I always have fall-back outfits. Things I know I can throw on with little or no effort that will look pulled together. 27. Coffee or tea? Tea. I don't drink coffee. Give me a cold ice tea for lunch or a hot Chai Tea Latte in the morning and I am a happy woman. 28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed? Kiss BBZ. He is the cure-all for any sad mood. Shop. It always makes me feel better. 29. What is the meaning of your name? Full of grace 30. Which other blogs do you love visiting? I love reading my real life friends blogs the most. I love MckMama, even though our religious views are quite different. Confessions from a working mom is one of my new favs. 31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet? Candy. I love fruity candy. And Gooey Butter Cookies. 32. Favorite Season? The end of winter when it turns into spring. I actually like the cold of winter and hate the humid summer. 33. If I come to your house now, what would you cook for me? I cook a mean taco soup. I also love cooking pasta. When The Sopranos was on on Sunday evenings I would cook a huge pot of pasta for us as we watched the show and drank red wine. 34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you? I read a book once about a concept called sycronicity. It basically described the way energy is disbursed among people during everyday encounters. It also talked about and named the way people try to steal or rob you of your energy...think of the way you feel when someone overpowers you verbally or otherwise makes you feel defeated. The person basically took over your energy, which is the way they feel they must maintain control...or something like that. When I feel someone doing this to me, I often notice it early and either decide if it is worth fighting for the energy or give it over without a fight. I pick my battles. 35. How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry? Think of the many things I am grateful for. Usually a thought of my little man is enough to put things in perspective. 36.Who is the modern ideal girl: The one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy, or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well? Ideal n. ~A conception of something in its absolute perfection. ~One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence. Ideal seems a little too unrealistic to me. I think the modern girl is flawed, imperfect, and struggling to have it all. But she is loved by her babies, adored by her husband, and supported by her equally flawed friends. She is happy with who she is and hopes to provide the world to her family. _______________________________________________ This was so fun! I ask any of my followers to copy and post your own survey! If you don't blog, post it to your facebook page! Happy Monday!

Not Me! Monday

I have not been coughing and sneezing and blowing my nose and snoring and all the other nastiness that goes along with a sinus infection for more than a week now. BBZ does not have the exact same symptoms. I do not think that the antibiotics are doing nothing for my infection. I have not convinced myself to keep taking them because they are probably helping BBZ a little bit since the medication passes through the breast milk.

I am not still breastfeeding BBZ...a lot. Don't judge.

I have not used everything within arms reach to wipe snot off of my son's nose. This definitely does not include my hands, my pants, the sleeve of a shirt and various Kleenex that get stuffed in my pocket and used and re-used. That is just gross. Noses with snot running out of them are not grosser. Gross noses are not a pet peeve of mine. I would not rather my son have a face full of dirt than a face full of snot.

I have not fallen asleep on the couch before 10pm every single night this week...including weekend nights. I have not completely blamed it on my illness. My house does not need me to stay up later and do everything it needs me to in order to stay in decent condition.

I am not worrying about what BBZ is and is not eating. Who me? I never worry. About anything. Ever. I am not concerned that the fruit he eats out of a can has way too much sugar but still feed it to him because he needs fruit. I am not too lazy to cut up fresh fruit. I do not feed him vegetables out of can because I do not feel like cooking fresh vegetables. There is no way I am that lazy. I did not take pictures of the first good meal I have made for him all weekend (whole wheat pasta and broccoli). This was not in an attempt to convince myself that it is much better looking and more appetizing for him than the canned stuff. I definitely did not post the pictures here...that would be just silly...who would do such a thing?

I did not make up a song about the meal entitled "Pasta and Little Trees".

I did not get photographic proof of him eating the little trees.

He did not resort to eating the only thing he seems to eat anymore (puffs or goldfish) all because I forgot to put the cup of them away when we got home from running errands.

I do not still think he is the cutest thing alive! (even after he dumped the plate altogether sometime during the meal).

This blog carnival was started by MckMama. Head on over to her blog and see what she and the other moms have not been up to this week.

I should include more pictures of the little guy on Not Me! Monday...it makes it a bit more fun, don't cha think?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sing-a-long Sunday, Imagine Redemption

So I was driving home one day this week and heard this song, which I have never heard before. It's Jefferson Starship's rendition of Bob Marley's Redemption Song and John Lennon's Imagine. These are two of the most amazing songs I have ever heard. I doubt that the words are necessary since these are such popular songs, but I included them anyway. I love the message of peace and humanity they both send. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It won't let me embed the video, but I am still having trouble with embedded youtube videos anyway...am I the only one? Click here to go to youtube to see the song. It's not the best one out there, but it was the best one I could find! Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships, Minutes after they took I From the bottomless pit. But my hand was made strong By the 'and of the Almighty. We forward in this generation Triumphantly. Imagine all the people Living for today.... Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, 'Cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? Some say it's just a part of it: We've got to fullfil the book. Imagine all the people Living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you wil join us and the world will live as one. Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Catching some words on video

My friend Gina who is a speech pathologist has been asking me to catch some of BBZ's talking on video for er viewing pleasure. While he has been talking for quite a while, he just now started to speak on command. He had lots of words for stuff, but he wouldn't say what I asked him to say until now. This was my first attempt, so bare with me! I'll try to get another one soon :) Click here if the video doesn't work below. I tried to get him to say car, but he wasn't having it! I also love how he went Godzilla on the tractor at the end! I just love this little boy! His newest words are football (which N loves), hi, blanket (which sounds nothing like blanket but it is the same word every time), he says get down when he wants to be picked up, but we're working on it. Car and truck (sometimes dump truck) are his favorites and he also says a version of outside that we are also working on. "truck book" is a big one and so is "kitty". He is a little motor mouth! The best is this new word that sounds like mommy but it it more like "mymie". He calls me it but also every other thing around him when it is on his mind. He actually woke up at 5am this morning as always but when he laid back down after nursing he fell asleep and about 5 minutes later I heard him on the monitor saying over and over "mymie, mymie, mymie" and I thought for sure he would be standing up waiting for me to go get him, but instead he was just laying there cuddling with his blanket. Little cutie pie!

Monday, November 9, 2009

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." ~Elizabeth Lawrence

The leaves have certainly turned in our neighborhood. This time of year is one of my very favorites. The colors are so beautiful, there is a chill in the air and the sweaters are out of the closet. This year is unseasonably warmer than usual, so we all had fun outside while N raked the millions of leaves in our backyard. This is also a definite photo opp since little boys look so handsome surrounded by beautiful color-changing leaves!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Sing-a-long Sunday, Throw Down Your Heart

This week will be a bit different than the past few Sunday posts. "Throw Down Your Heart" is a film that Bela Fleck made when he decided to seek the origin of the Banjo. We went to a show at the Sheldon which I wrote the first paragraph of this post about. Well he also made a movie about the trip, which we watched this week. This is a preview of the movie. Check it out and rent or buy the movie. You will not be disappointed. I don't know what's up with the embedded links from youtube, but they aren't working, so you'll have to head over there to see it. I learned in the film that the title, Throw Down Your Heart, has a deep meaning. One of the men in the movie explained that a beach on the coast of Africa has this as it's name. When the white men came and took the slaves, as they boarded the boat they were told by each other and by those left behind to throw down their hearts there on the beach, because they all knew they would never return. Just think about what that means. To have foreigners come to your home, steal you, and take you away from your family. How is it that human beings can do this to other human beings? Why do some people get to decide that other humans are not as worthy as others? Why were the people in Africa believed to be less of humans because of the color of their skin? I often compare the way humans treated people who are black to the way humans treat people who are gay. My friend Toni who wrote this blog had me thinking a lot lately about equality, human rights and the rights of people who are gay to get married. The absurdity of the marriage laws in the United States (in my opinion) can be compared to the absurdity people of this age think about slavery. Even people who may think they would have supported slavery when it was active in this country know that it is fundamentally wrong. I really believe that this will be the case for gay marriage in the future. I think it becoming legal is inevitable. I think that if BBZ's children are born gay they will not be made to feel that they are less than human. That is my hope anyway. Deep thoughts for a Sunday evening! I had a much longer blog written in my head about this topic, but it will be saved for another day. Have a good week!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Waaay back When-sday!

This was taken in 2005 when the new Busch Stadium was being built. It was pretty cool to see the new one being built while attending a game at the old stadium. I really just chose this picture this week because I feel like it is one of those pictures that will look really cool 100 years from now. I am feeling nostalgic, clearly. I also just noticed that I am actually carrying the same purse now as in this picture! That's funny. I have lots of purses that I rotate, but this one is apparently at least 4 years old!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Not Me! Monday

I'm just going to jump right into this one. I have not eaten 792 pieces of candy since Saturday. I have way more self control than that and would never eat out of boredom or just because it is there. Never. When heading out the door to BBZ's friend's 1st birthday party, I did not do a quick check on the evite for directions to the family's new house. We did not walk up to the door with presents in hand only to have a complete stranger answer the door. When N proudly announced "we're here for the party!" the man did not smile and say: "you must be looking for #208 South". Oops. I always know exactly where I am going and take special care to get good directions when I don't know so we never end up in the wrong place. After forcing my son to go without an afternoon nap, I most certainly did not expect him to be a perfectly behaved angel at his friend's first birthday party yesterday. He certainly was not that perfect angel! He did not play well and eat well and make me the proudest mama. I'm not writing this just to brag about my little fella. I am way more humble that that! After the party was over, BBZ did not pass out (at 4:30pm) on the way home. He was not a sleepy mess when I woke him up when we got home. He did not beg me in every single way he knows how to let him go to sleep (at 5:15pm). I did not give him a bath as a last attempt to drag out his evening into the daylight savings time hour. I did not eventually allow him to go to bed at ahem, 5:30pm. I did not completely plan on getting up at 4:30am this morning because of this decision. He did not sleep until 5am, nurse, and GO BACK TO SLEEP until 7:00am. I do not know that I am the luckiest woman in the world today after my son slept for 13 1/2 (almost) straight hours. I did not fall asleep on the couch at 8:15pm last night right after putting the first of 3 loads of desperately-needing-to-be-done laundry in the washer. I also had not filled up the sink with soapy water and BBZ's bottles and cups for the week. They were not still there this morning since I barely got up from the couch to drag myself to bed around 10pm. I have way to much to do to be going to bed at such an early hour.

This blog carnival was created by MckMama, whose little Stellan is doing much better, but still in the hospital. I doubt the carnival is happening on her blog today, but if you want to know the rules and regs of Not Me! Monday, head on over to her blog and check it out! Have a great week!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Sing-a-long Sunday, Enjoy Yourself sung by Todd Snider

Enjoy Yourself was published in 1949, with music written by Carl Sigmun and Lyrics by Herb Magidson. I first heard it when sung by Todd Snider. Of you have never heard of Todd Snider, consider yourself warned. He is a somewhat known folk singer/songwriter whose fun lyrics and comedic stories had N and I hooked the first time we saw him perform. We were in Chicago seeing Yonder Mountain String Band and Todd Snider opened up for them. On stage walks this very tall, thin, barefooted man with a black guitar and a pink shirt. He broke out into a song that I immediately loved. One line in that song was "Widespread Panic diggin' hippies like me" and the name of that song was "Conservative Christian, Right Wing Republican, Straight White American Males". He was hilarious and I was hooked. That song will likely be a Sing-A-Long Sunday hit when we get closer to an election. Enjoy Yourself is a great song that talks about how short life really is. I chose this song because I am trying to really take every minute in and not waste a moment. Life is short and I want to cherish it all and make it all worthwhile. Enjoy yourself people, it really is later than you think. I tried to embed the video, but it didn't work. Click here to see the you tube video. One thing about Todd is that he often screws up the lyrics, so they don't exactly match the version, but you'll get the idea. You work and work All day long You're always on the go. You never take a minute off, Too busy making dough. Someday, for sure, you're gonna see the world When you're a millionaire. How far you gonna travel In some old rocking-chair. Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink. The years go by, as quickly as a wink. Enjoy yourself, Enjoy yourself It's later than you think. You're gonna take that ocean trip No matter come what may. You got your reservations But you just can't get away. Some day, for sure, you'll see the world, You'll really get around; But how far can you travel When you're six feet underground? Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink. The years go by, as quickly a as wink. Enjoy yourself, Enjoy yourself It's later than you think. Get out and see the world... You worry when the weather's cold, You worry when it's hot. You worry when you're doing well, You worry when you're doing not. It's worry, worry all of the time, You don't know how to laugh. They'll think of something funny When they write your epitaph. Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink. The years go by, as quickly as wink. Enjoy yourself, Enjoy yourself It's later than you think. Enjoy yourself enjoy yourself it's later than you think.

Happy Halloween!

We had such a fun Halloween! We went to Nikki's house and went trick or treating with all of the kiddos! It was cold, but we had lots and lots of fun! BBZ is a big fan of Reese's peanut butter cups just like his mama!
Here he is with his soccer ball and "bum-in" from school.
And his new Peace t-shirt
You don't eat the bum-in, silly!
Little Yoda! Thanks so much to Gina for letting us borrow L's costume! BBZ loved it!
The whole crew bundled up and ready to head out!
We started out right at sundown. It was a beautiful, but cold evening.
BBZ didn't quite understand at first. I carried him up to the houses and gave him the bucket and told him to walk toward the door and say Trick or Treat. He would walk up and say "hi, hi, hi" and tried to walk into this guys house!
Princess Leia and Yoda
Daddy walked him up to s few doors too!
Once he realized that the people were giving him candy he was so excited!
He never did say Trick or Treat, but he did say hi over and over with his bucket held out!
We all had a great time!
It was such a fun Halloween! It was weird to be the parent walking around with the kiddos rather than the one going to the door wanting candy. I haven't trick or treated in a long time, but this is the first time I have ever been the chaperon and it was a little weird. I guess I am all grown up now. I do have a few more years before BBZ can actually eat the candy, so I do still get the candy, which is pretty cool! I have to share it with N, of course. But that's ok :)