In Case You Missed the News!

Yep I am pregnant. In case you were wondering if I was or I just let myself fall apart. It's surprising to run into people and they can't figure it out! We were at an event where cocktail attire was required and people still didn't get the hint! Do you think I would wear a form fitting dress and let my abs go, seriously!

This pregnancy has been pretty uneventful, not that I am complaining! No morning sickness. VERY irritable (if you want to piss me off please be late, slow moving or write a check in the check-out lane). Retaining water. This baby is kicking me in places I never knew were possible (like bring me to my knees kicks), lets just say I have a new found respect/pity for men who get kicked in the groin.

We still have a few things to accomplish before the baby arrives: paint and move Grant to his "big boy room", paint and decorate the nursery, sibling class for Grant, breastfeeding class, update Grant's baby scrapbook, purchase new baby monitor and attend two baptism classes. Oh and let's not forget to keep my sanity.

Four Years Later!

I can't believe it's been four years since I have stopped working! Fours years ago I was 2 weeks away from delivering Grant and getting some much needed rest. Flash ahead four years and I am 70lbs lighter and still needing rest! It has all been worth it! Sure I have had days where I browse the classifieds and think about updating my resume. But kids have a way of saying they are sorry whether it's an "I'm sorry", "I love you mommy", "Snuggle with me" or "Mommy read me a story" and everything feels right with the world again. I have stopped reading the classified section for the time being realising I have the best job in the world! Cherish all their little moments while you can.

Somedays when I am having a tough day with Grant I remind my self to repeat the lyrics from a song called "Let Them Be Little" by Billy Dean
I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:

Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

Let them be little.

Somebody's Watching Me

Last week I am downstairs and the door bell rings I peak upstairs and to see who it is, all I see is a pair of small legs wearing jeans in the window. I immediately think it is my neighbor across the street who also is also a SAHM. I open the door and a bugged eyed, gaunt and short man is at my door. I immediately grab Quincy for a border between me and this individual. "May I help you?" I ask. Stranger tries to poke his head in door and asks who our realtor was at the time when we purchased our house. Perplexed by this question I ask "may I ask why?". I was thinking maybe he was looking for the builder of our home, since it is well built that seems to be a question strangers on the sidewalk like to ask us. He was asking because he left his garden tractor in the garage."Holy crap!" I thought to myself "this is the old owner of our house"! I wanted to ask him a few questions but wanted this strange individual off my property stat! Directed him to ask the listing realtor about his question since we obviously don't have it! He was on his way and I took down his vehicle description and license plate number. When I was writing this information down I realised this vehicle has been in our neighborhood before. Wrote a mental not to myself to change the locks!

This is a list of why I was perplexed about his question.
1. It was a foreclosure and ANYTHING left in a foreclosure is property of the new owners. The garden tractor was probably sold in a sheriff sale to help pay off the back taxes.

2. This genius had a garden tractor and no lawn. We installed the lawn, sprinkler system and landscaping. I really don't think he was looking for his garden tractor.

3. Why would you go up to your old house and ask the new owners about personal property left in your old home? A house that he lost in foreclosure three years ago!

4. If there was some sort of a riding lawn mower in our garage do you think I would be mowing the lawn?

I was a little spooked after this visit but after evaluating his appearance Quincy and I knew we could take him!

Where Have You Been?

As the saying goes "Life is what happens when you start making plans." Well friends life did happen around here and some parts of it I could have done without. We had a snowstorm, flood, flizzard (flood and blizzard going on at the same time), sports sampler classes, preschool, general winter blues, Mark finished his policy and procedure writing for his department, parents, Grant is completely potty trained, oh and I met New Kids on the Block.

The only thing that I want to say about the flood it that I would rather just forget it ever happened. It was the worse 2 weeks of my life! Many sleepless nights worrying if the Hesco wall about a block form your house would break, sounds of black hawk helicopters became normal. Every time the phone rang you wondered if this was the call to evacuate. Our community came together and saved our city. It was quite a site one late evening seeing your neighborhood join together to sandbag and save the neighborhood. We survived and it all made us better people and better neighbors. United We Sand!

**Above are pictures that I borrowed from another blog (type in drain 27 or Rose Coulie and see the results). In these pictures you will see how close the water got to the bridge. On the other side of the bridge where we live the water was a lot closer to the houses. Also an interesting fact: Do you see the twinhomes? That is our old neighborhood. They were on the wrong side from what I have been told. Some of the twinhomes even built samll sandbag rings around their houses. I guess we moved just in time!

Good Advice!

Being yourself
As we walk
along in life,
there is a tendency
to follow
the established pattern
or norm.

In doing so,
we miss
being ourselves.

Our true character
and value
are hidden.

Always be yourself.

Poem By Gary Dodd
**saw this poem on a favorite blog and had to share it.

Joining the Facebook world

I always vowed I would never set up a Facebook page.

Whoops.

What brought me around? A few things. We had a strategic planning meeting at work a few weeks ago that we talked about the whole "social networking" phenomenon. As the youngest member of our management group, it really struck me that no one in the room had a Facebook page but everyone's kids basically did. I'm young enough to be the son of some of that management team.

Did you know the average age of a Facebook user now is 36? Stunned me. I would have bet money it would have been a late-20's type thing.

Also, I am on the alumni association board of directors for our local university that I graduated from, and now I see that a vast majority of students have Facebook (or Myspace) pages too. We have to understand how younger students think and interact, and Facebook appears to be the "window" that we can get access to that.

So, I've jumped over to the dark side. Let the experiment begin!

(Anyone wanna be my friend?)

Exit Bush, enter.....?

I'm watching the crowds this morning assemble in our nation's capital for the inauguration of Barack Obama. I can't help but wonder what the next four years are going to be like.

I didn't vote for him. I don't like many of the things he stands for. I don't care if he's black, white, or any other color- I don't have to agree with him. I think the Democratic party in general will lead this country in a direction I'm not comfortable with.

But such is the result of elections in this country. I have a great deal of pride in my country and our democracy. I think it's amazing the way power transfers in such a peaceful fashion. But I do have mixed emotions.

I remember watching in 2001 when George Bush came into office and how excited I was to have a decent man in the White House after the scandals of the Clinton years. Today, I am sad to see a man leave the presidency who, while he may not have always made the correct or best decision, has been unfairly tarnished by a media who hates the Republican party in general, especially truly deplorable people like Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher and other left-wing bomb throwers who do nothing but complain about how much they hate Bush without offering any productive or constructive dialogue about how the country can move forward.

Let's not forget the Hollywood elitists who are on the Obama bandwagon because it's hip and cool and don't know jack-squat about anything that matters in this country. How Hollywood actors can know and/or care about what the average American is going through is beyond me. Those people should stick to reading their scripts and producing fictional works for our entertainment. I don't care about their politics, nor do I want to hear about them while they promote their next movie or appearance on Dancing With The Stars.

These are the same hypocrites that preach "going green" and then climb into their five-vehicle SUV posse to go nightclubbing in Los Angeles, get on their private jets to fly to Washington and go to one of the 960 inaugural balls and be "seen" by everyone. These are the same people who are willing to raise your taxes because they already make millions. In short, because they can play a character on the big or small screen and make a ton of money doing it, they feel they can tell you how to think. Scary thing is, many people listen to them because they don't have any independent thought of their own. Please, America, don't swallow everything Obama and his team give you at face value. Take a step back, think, analyze and objectively look at what is happening with your government, your country and your lives.

But, like many Americans, I am interested to see what happens after noon today. It's also different for me this time around as a father---this man will be the first president Grant grows up to know. I still remember watching Ronald Reagan as a very young boy and the influence it had on me-it will be interesting to see what mark Mr. Obama leaves on the youngest generation in his presidency. I hope it is for the best. At heart, I'm a cautious optimist. Good luck, Mr. President.

People Watching

Over the past few months I have observed some strange/interesting behavior. Here are some of the highlights. Maybe some of you might not find these observations strange but I sure do!

I love to people watch, some of my favorite places are malls, Las Vegas, airports and church. Church you say? Yes church. Mostly before mass starts the rest of the time my mind is where it should be. One person at Christmas Eve mass kept me entertained/annoyed for a period of time. We arrived early to get a good seat and sit through our wonderful choir and bell choir's Christmas carols. The people in front of us sit down and I notice she has an issue of "Newsweek" in her possession. Thinking this was a little odd I thought this could get interesting. Not only did she read the magazine during Christmas carols but also through parts of the service! How disrespectful! We Catholics do the "sign of peace" during a portion of the mass. This is when we shake hands, greet one another and flash our gang signs (I'm kidding). The same person in front of me after she give the sign of peace takes out a bottle of Purell and uses it! Oh no not a small purse size to make it inconspicuous but household size. Was that really necessary? Wash your hands after the service if your that worried about germs.

Next observation comes from the anniversary party of Mark's workplace. As part of the festivities a kiosk of Dip and Dots was on the premises. People really love their Dip and Dots, in fact so much one person was licking the bowl.

This last observation comes from the Starving Artist Sale held at the Holiday Inn. Side note: There is a reason why these artists are starving and I think they should study a new trade. I overhear a conversation between a mother, father and their tweens about which painting they should purchase. This was a pretty heated discussion. They were so animated about which piece of "art" they should buy and where it should be placed. Really people, is is worth arguing over a $55 piece of "art". Who let's their children and husband pick out the decor of their house? Mark has A ROOM and that's all he gets. If it were up to him the house would be decorated with Vikings, fantasy football banners, Agusta Golf pictures and dogs playing poker.

People watching is such a great pastime. Sometimes it makes me wonder what the rest of their life is like. I am thankful for these people in my observations, it gives me a little time away from my everyday life, makes me smile/laugh and helps pass the time when I am waiting for people. Next time your in a public place take a few minutes to people watch I bet you will find it entertaining.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! We had a quiet night last night of our choosing. Mark and I have never been ones to party on New Years. For the past five years or so we have ordered in Olive Garden and spent some quality family time together. This year we broke out one of our new Wii games, Monopoly. The game ended the way all games I play with with Mark, me getting frustrated and walking away. For once I just want to beat him in something! At least I didn't throw the Wii mote and throw out some expletives (flashbacks form Wii golf are rolling threw my mind). I can go through childbirth without a scream or an expletive but put a Wii remote in my hand and I am a different person. We watched the "ball" drop on CNN with my favorite CNN reporter Anderson Cooper and the funny/sarcastic comedian Kathy Griffin.

A new year makes people ponder how they can improve themselves for this year. Here are our resolutions for 2009. My last years resolution was to read more books, which I did. This year I want to become more organized in all aspects of my life. I want my cupboards, drawers and closets to not have objects fall out of them when they are opened. I want to be able to find things and know where they are. Basically I want everything to have a home. I have a clean house thanks to the Flylady system I just need it organized. I plan to follow the Flylady and toss out or donate 10 items a day for 100 days. This should help me get rid of 1000 items! I also want to bring my scrapbooks up to date. Grant's resolution is to become fully potty trained. As I have said before we have #1 down but not #2. I told him for every accident he has 1 toy will be taken away. It's a little harsh but I have tried everything. By the end of the year we might have a totally trained child or a child without toys. Mark's resolution is to eat better. We'll see how that goes. Quincy promises to be cute, cuddly and to tone down the barking.

Happy New Year everyone! May your days be filled with health, happiness and peace.