I love the smell of baby's breath. Not the little white flowers that come in those cliche' bouquets of roses. The breath of an actual baby. Okay, I can own that this may be a little weird to some of you, however I would wager that any mom who has nestled her cheek up against that of her sleeping baby would understand what I'm talking about.
I really wish I could describe it for those who don't know. It smells light, and sweet, and warm. To me it embodies that fundamental closeness that exists between a mother and her infant. Intimacy. Oneness.
The human infant has the most complex and intelligent mind of any other infant of any other species. It is also the most helpless. A baby is born from his mother's womb and clings to her. He knows her by the sounds of her voice, and by her smell. He needs her in every imaginable way.
A mother gives birth to her child and gives to him in every imaginable way. It is as if she is now holding her own heart in her arms. To see it hurting or wanting in any way would be to physically suffer.
I can't count the times I sat with my babies, nursing them in the peaceful glow of the nightlight, so desperate for sleep, but grateful for that moment. They would fall asleep, and I would cradle them up close to my face. I would whisper little lullabies to them, and gently rub noses with them. I would linger with them, even after their tummies were full. I would forget for a moment how tired I was, and that I could now tuck my baby in and go back to bed. I would stare at the way they would rest their perfect little lips apart just so as they slumbered, and I would lean into them and breath them in. I would drink in their sweet, brand-new breath.
Even now my Little Man still has that baby breath, and I find myself rubbing noses with him when he yawns, or kissing his cheeks while he's laughing trying to catch that sweet smell. As they get older they lose it. It disappears with the macaroni and cheese and chocolate milk and blue raspberry suckers. I will never forget that smell though, long after it has left my babies' lips. It is entangled in the memories I have of their infancy, and the intimacy we shared that is the basis of our relationships today. They may be walking and talking and growing taller, but when I hold them in my arms, it is still my heart I hold.
What a beautiful post! It brought tears to my eyes, because I remember Princess when she was a baby with that smell. I used to hold her and just drink it in. Now she is a very grown up soon to be 4, but I still hold her and drink her in, because I know that my days of being able to cuddle her just because we both want to are numbered. And I cherish every precious moment of it!
By 
Crazy Single Mom, at
6:05 AM
I understand completely. Wonderful post!
Great, just what I needed, a tear jerker! Lady, that post needs a disclaimer. Now, hand over that Kleenex box.
It is SO true. And I miss it, I miss that dearly. Thanks, I needed to read something that would stir my soul and make me feel good all over, even the tears were nice. ;o)
That's a beautiful post. i totally agree.
You're making me cry! Evil!
Though my two younger kids are step-kids, I was lucky enough to hold both of them within a couple of days of their birth. Unfortunately, they moved away when Perrin was about 6-7 months old. :( They were just passing through my area again when Darcy was born - I babysat for her when she was just three days old...then I didn't see her again until she was 3. :( Regardless, I was lucky to get the little time in with them when I did.
I always felt an attachment to those two - maybe somewhere deep down, I knew I'd be raising them as my own someday.
Beautiful. I am moved - you are SO right about that smell.
Thanks for making me cry at work! I love the smell of a clean baby's head. You know, right after you wash their hair in the bath? My youngest will be two this month, and it's just not the same anymore. This post really made my biological clock CLANG BANG TICK.
By 
, at
2:04 PM
Thanks for making me cry at work! I love the smell of a clean baby's head. You know, right after you wash their hair in the bath? My youngest will be two this month, and it's just not the same anymore. This post really made my biological clock CLANG BANG TICK.
Beth
http://supermom3604.diaryland.com
(I apologize if this posts twice. My browser keeps hiccuping somehow.)
By , at
2:04 PM
Thanks for making me cry at work! I love the smell of a clean baby's head. You know, right after you wash their hair in the bath? My youngest will be two this month, and it's just not the same anymore. This post really made my biological clock CLANG BANG TICK.
Beth
http://supermom3604.diaryland.com
(I apologize if this posts twice. My browser keeps hiccuping somehow.)
By , at
2:04 PM
Hmm...you made me reflect upon my own mommy. Maybe that is why she cares so much for me (even though I do not like it).
By Darnell Clayton, at
6:25 PM
Gabriella is really into My Little Pony and Care Bears. She has a large collection of each. (Both of which, by the way, I played with as a child. If I had only known the hundreds of dollars I could have saved simply by storing away my toys for my daughter.) Her three-year-old world revolves so much around these toys, in fact, that every day she renames everyone in our family with either Pony names, or Care Bear names, based on what we are wearing. (This seems to be the basic criteria for the renaming, however no one completely understands the complexities of her system besides herself.)
She will rename everyone at her whim, and once the renaming has occurred, everyone must be called by their new names, or suffer constant correcting.
"Alexander, get down from there!"
"No, Mommy, that's Bedtime Bear!"
Today I was Sunny Daze. (I'm usually Wing Song, so I was very excited to be someone new today!) Spiral was Too La Roo La. Little Man was Rainbow Dash, and Gabriella, of course, was Pinkie Pie.
This is more than often highly annoying, although generally benign. I have found how to work it to my advantage. If, for instance, I make a request of her using her Pony or Care Bear name of the day, she is so pleased that I am playing along, she frequently obeys.
I also shamelessly use this tactic to get love from her. My daughter has apparenty gotten too old for cuddles and saying "I love you" to her mommy. (They grow up so fast these days, don't they?) As I tuck her into bed at night, I whisper to her "I love you, Wish Bear!" In return, and without fail, I receive a huge smile, and "I love you, too, Grumpy Bear!"
That's right. I'm Grumpy Bear.
I am right there with you. There isn't a Care Bear that my daughter won't have after her birthday Dec. 15. She has an entire corner in her room completely devoted to her Care Bears. We call it the Care Bear shrine. This year, she put her Care Bear decorations on the tree and she wakes up, runs to the tree and kisses each and every one. For her, it's like Christmas every day. We live and breathe Care Bears. Care Bears are our lives.
Hey! you and I need to get together and do a Care Bear commercial!! Our kids are different ages, so we can target different ranges. LOL
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
9:01 AM
Last year my youngest daughter was into carebears too. This year she is into Bratz dolls. I really can't stand them, but they seem to keep her happy and satisfied. They dress too 'fast' for my taste. Whatever happened to clothes that cover a dolls body? She is also into Rainbow Bright.
I think that's cute she renames your family daily. lol
For some reason it wouldn't log me in to leave a comment. simplyschatzi.blogspot.com
I love your layout!
By , at
2:24 PM
My daughter thinks she's Dora the Explorer. When we go anywhere, I have to sing the map song, and come up with 3 landmarks. Heaven help me if we go to Care Bears next.
Ooh, my daughter does too! She absolutely loves them, and they all come help out with dinner daily. Sometimes they even take turns. I'll have to snap a picture of that soon, LOL!
But I know most of their names, I used to collect them myself. *grin*
Tonight as Spiral and I put the clean sheets on our bed, we had a small tragedy when our pillows got mixed up. I, being the anal retentive, borderline obsessive person that I am, am always careful to keep his pillows and my pillows separate. Luckily he averted certain disaster by pointing out that his pillows are the ones with drool marks on them. "If I were a super hero," he joked, "that would be my name. Drool Man!"
That got me thinking, what kind of a super hero would I be? Well that's a no-brainer, seeing as I have lost track of everything about myself that doesn't have to do with raising children. I would be
Hey I want to join the SuperMom clubhouse too :-)
By Crazy Single Mom, at
3:11 PM
I think I would be more like "Super Surfer: Able to dodge piles of dishes with a single click."
I couldn't get this to come up on THanksgiving challenge. I just found your site and love it...I'll be back and comment more.
MZM
emptynest@gmail.com
http://www.emptynest.typepad.com
By , at
8:07 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there in the US. I thought of doing the obvious post where I list for you all of the things I am thankful for, but let's face it - you don't really care, and my list is long. So let's just not and say I did.
That out of the way, I'd like to issue a challenge to all of you. I have noticed that there are many blogs that I visit regularly (and they aren't all on my blogroll - I really need to update that!), but I don't always comment on them. In fact I would bet that there are a few that I read that I have never commented on. (Shame, shame!) I would bet that you have some of those as well. Today make a point of stopping by those blogs and let that person know that you enjoy their site. Just drop a comment in the most recent entry, or fire off a quick e-mail. Let them know you're out there, even if you are just quietly lurking. Make someone's day a tiny bit brighter. (If you're so inclined, you can start here! ;)
What a wonderful challenge. So, I will begin here. My wish for you and yours......have a bright and blessed Thanksgiving!
Dariana
http://dariana.tblog.com
By , at
2:59 AM
Thanks for the challenge! Have a great T'giving!
Im here!! Happy Turkey day.Its funny that you mentioned this because there is a teenage girl at "this may be the year I disapear" who is from NY.I sent her a comment to let her know I was there.Reading.I just wanted to let her know she is not alone.Go say Hi to her!!
Just surfing through on BlogExplosion and was impresed with your site. Happy Thanksgiving!
Ann Marie
http://www.geocities.com/amb3589/justrambling.html
By , at
11:30 AM
Hiya, I'm a lurker and I thought I would accept your challenge! Have a great day!
Wendy
http://dailydoses.blogdrive.com
By , at
2:33 PM
I comment occasionally, but mostly I lurk...
So today, for you, I will lurk more loudly. :)
Happy Thanksgiving. :)
Gobble Gobble! Hope your Turkey Day was scrumptious!!
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
6:59 PM
I've been visiting a lot of blogs today and wishing many of them Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your Thanksgiving was special.
By Aldon Hynes, at
7:16 PM
Great website. Thanks for the brief visit.
Ameena
By , at
7:25 PM
Just surfed by via Blog Explosion and enjoyed your blog!
Karen
http://verbatim.blogs.com
By , at
7:25 PM
Happy Turkey Day, Christine!!
I enjoy your site, posts, and view point in general. Thanks! Amy
Happy Thanksgiving. I am a new reader and am enjoying your site!
By Crayonsetc, at
9:41 PM
What's crazy is that I was thinking this earlier today so I went through and put all of the people that I had blogmarked on Blog Explosion on my blogroll. So, hello there and hope you had a great Turkey Day.
By Dawn Oglesby, at
10:23 PM
hi im a newbie for this thingy =0) happy turkey day!
Good idea - but i dont think it'll work on my blog - Im a bit rude and sweary - and it can upset some people i suppose .... anyway i had turkey day here in the UK last night - i live with a Bostonian u see .....
take care - say hello someday :)
rj
By Hashi & RJ, at
8:50 AM
Hi,
I hate people like you because you put the writing ability of the vast majority of us Bloggers to shame. Let me know when you land a book deal.
I stumbled across your Blog while surfing Blog Explosion and got snagged by the very professionally done layout, but then stayed “snagged” by the unusually good writing.
I’m not really good at either but I know something good when I see and read it. Keep up the good work!
Duncan
What a great challenge! I read you all the time and very much enjoy. :) Hope you had a great thanksgiving!
Angie
http://fickenchingers.blogspot.com/
By , at
11:10 AM
Hope you had a wonderful turkey day!!! :)
-Mandy (http://atomic-rain.net)
By , at
1:49 PM
Excellent challenge, and I am indeed starting with you. You're on my BE blogmark list, and I do check in as often as I can. Keep up the good writing!
Happy belated Turkey Day. I always make it a habit to peek in here. I enjoy your blog :) Your new layout is adorable..
Just surfed on through BlogExplosion.
I really enjoy the design of your site.
Christopher
http://www.whatintarnation.net/blog
By , at
2:32 PM
I read pretty regularily but don't always comment! Bad huh? I like your blog...
I found your blog through Oliquig, I like it and promise to comment from now on :-)
By Crazy Single Mom, at
3:10 PM
Genuine has been kind enough to give me $10 million (hypothetical) dollars, and wants to know what I'm going to do with it. Well now, let's see....
I would buy a small country, name it after my dog, and live a life of overindulgence until I die fat and happy. No no....
I would selflessly give all the money to children's charities, and spend my life campaigning for world peace. You're right, that doesn't sounds like me, either.
Truth is, somewhere in between sounds about right. Spiral was laid off almost a year ago, and we weren't in the best financial situation before then. We took a large pay cut to move back to Wyoming to be close to family, and we are struggling. It would be nice to pay off all the debt and not have to scrape up enough quarters to buy milk every week. (I'll wait now while you go get a tissue to wipe those tears away.)
So truthfully, and I know this is going to sound boring, I would pay off our debt. I would take a long vacation. I would set up large funds for my children. I would buy one of those gorgeous brick homes in the "big tree district". I'd donate some to my favorite charities. I'd spoil my family, and I'd stash the rest away to live off of.
Now that I've bored you to tears, go get another tissue and then head on over to see Geniune - he may have some of this money left to give to you!
Sniffle... sniffle...
Oh I couldn't find anymore money for him to give me :(, oh well, I'd probhably do kind of the same thing except I have no wife or kids. I'd buy a big house, and set myself up with some real estate and spend the rest of my life writing ;)
By Benjamin Solah, at
5:28 AM
"Stop kissing me! I'm all out of kisses!" Labels: quips
Thanks to Amy over at Prochein Amy, I have my very own gmail address. (Yes, I know I'm behind.) I now have 6 invites to hand out myself. If anyone is interested, drop me a comment with your name and email address here. (And don't forget your URL - I like to visit my readers' sites!)
Update (11-26-04) - I have one invite left.
Christine, I'd like to try out gmail! :-) I'm now at http://scenicroutetojoy.blogspot.com.
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
8:12 AM
Me too me too please!!
bertuc9@blogspot.com
I am having Emily at cio bella set me up a blog site soon.Come and visit.
Hi there: Would you mind sharing your gmail invites with me? My email is annielaurie7@hotmail.com. My blog is called Lala Land and can be found at http://lalawawa.blogspot.com
Thanks very much.
Lauren
I just got around to completing my "100 things" list. If you are interested, it can be accessed in the side bar, or right here.
Oodles of noodles,
that's all that we will eat,
Oodles of noodles,
for breakfast or a treat.
We wake up in the morning
chanting "We want noodles!"
We eat them shaped like flowers, stars,
or giant orange poodles.
Don't try to sauce them up at all.
We only eat them dry.
Don't you dare add peas to them.
Don't you even try!
You think you're being sneaky
hiding tuna under there.
But we will pick out all that meat
and rub it in our hair!
Oh go ahead and add some cheese,
we'll eat it that way, too.
But afterwards we'll need a bath,
if that's what you want to do.
We will not eat those nuggets
or the stew you made last night.
Don't try to make us noodle soup.
You do not make it right.
We won't eat grilled cheese sandwiches
but go ahead and dream.
If you won't give us our noodles
then we'll just take some ice cream.
We're hungry, Mom, we need to eat,
but we are very picky.
If you make "pb and j" for us
we'll make the kitchen sticky!
If it makes you feel better, Mom
call it pasta if you'd like.
But you'd better make us noodles
if you don't want a big fight!
(When told that if she didn't eat at least some of her dinner, she wouldn't be allowed to go downstairs and play the piano.)
Labels: quips
"No, that's my job and I'm doing it!"
If you are easily nauseated or disgusted you may want to scan down a bit and read one of my other posts. You've been warned.
I recently went to the doctor for my annual visit (always fun) and pointed out to her this thing on my leg. It was just a little bump - it's been there for years, and I've always meant to point it out to one of my various doctors over the years but this was the time I did it. She said that even though she didn't think it was anything to worry about she would like to remove it and have a biopsy done just to be on the safe side.
So that is what I did, and now I have this lovely... hole in my skin on my upper thigh. It is really disgusting. It looks like a crater. Gabriella saw it and then told Spiral "Mommy has a rip on her leg!" I'm to keep it covered and not get it wet until it scabs over and looks more... normal, I guess. I'm going through a lot of Band-Aids. It doesn't really hurt, although my pants irritate it, so I have a great excuse to wear my flannel pajama pants all day long.
I neglected to ask how long it would take for it to become normal. Right now it's full of pus. It doesn't look or feel infected. Spiral says this is "good pus", whatever that means.
I am now taking donations for my artificial leg, just incase. If you are interested in contributing, e-mail me.
Can you put a blister block bandaid on it or would that cut off the air too much? Those bandaids make a cushion and stay on for days.
Ouch! That sounds sore.
Hope it heals really fast.
I love your blog. Thank you so much for sharing!
(There IS such a thing as good pus. There is even good vomit, though I forget why.) I remember being glad my son vomited, though. Sheesh, I hate being old. . . . .
By Mamacita (The REAL one), at
11:02 PM
Hey, this is Mandy from http://atomic-rain.net
Thanks for taking the time to read my site and leave a comment :)
I love your site, the design is awesome too!
Maybe "good pus" means it helps it to heal or something? I don't know :)
By , at
7:05 AM
Eeeew! Ouch! Good luck with the results!
"I'm not poopy. I'm just farting a little." Labels: quips
The sound of Sunday. I don't know what that phrase may mean to others, but here it is yelling and cheering at an inanimate object. (You know they can't hear you, don't you?)
"Get that guy!"
"Yes!!"
"Score!!"
(That is of course, unless they fumble.)
He has dragged my children into this ritual. Little Man wears his jersey on Sundays, and yells at the TV along with Daddy. Gabriella has a cheerleader outfit, and she hollers "Go Broncos!!" while going about her 3-year-old duties.
Where does this leave me? All alone, on the computer. Not such a bad deal, is it?
You need to convert them to Packers fans.
Whoops, here goes! So I left you a comment here and one via BE - I said you have a great blog! :)
Alex
http://hurlnecklace.mu.nu
By , at
10:57 PM
A family that watches football together, stays together.
By beerconsumer, at
11:53 PM
Hey....being left alone on the PC sounds pure bliss to me. I get here on and off in between tending to the needs of a toddler, a budding teenage daughter, a six yer old boy and a very (lucky for me) undemanding hubby!
xx
Oh, I wouldn't be complainin either! ;)
Chana
www.bunnyburrow.com
By , at
6:01 AM
go go go go go !!
u'll miss it when they all come back and want to sit *there*..
cheerz
SEV
It didn't take much convincing. My hubby, henceforth known as Spiral, has entered the blogging world. He is working on a very special project here in our humble little town, and he will be writing about all the humor, angst, and stupidity encountered behind the scenes. (I'm sure if you ask nicely he will tell you stories of his fabulous wife - only the good ones, of course.)
Please head on over to Eventual Restaurant and welcome him - tell him Christine sent you!
"Those Broncos fumble too much. They need to score!"
Labels: quips
(She spends too much time with my mom and her Daddy!)
Has anyone else noticed the decrease in mystery credits on Blog Explosion? That "100 credit" winners list used to have maye 2 dozen names on it for a 24 hour period. What happened BE? Don't you love us anymore?
The tiny Little Man spies the open door. Ahhh - a mysterious room he is not allowed to venture into alone. His eyes are wide as he toddles cautiously to the doorway. No parents in sight. It appears they forgot to shut this particular door during their morning routine. Oh they are so mean, never nurturing Little Man's curiosity by letting him explore this room. He looks down the hall to be sure they are still safely on the other side of the baby gate, and then darts in.
Where shall he explore first? There are always fun things on the table on the far side of the bed, so he heads that direction first, but gets distracted by a pair of shiny black shoes that didn't get put away. He stops to awkwardly slide his small foot into the giant-sized shoe. He smiles to himself and takes two steps before the enormous shoe falls off. Unaffected, he continues his journey.
When he arrives at the table he first sees a small green contraption with wires coming out of it. Fascinating indeed, but just as he gets his little fingers around it he spies a pair of eyeglasses. The green thing is tossed aside, and the glasses immediately go on - upside down.
That is when he hears it. The thunderous STOMP STOMP STOMP of the parent-beasts. They are coming to punish him with banishment! He will be tortured all day long with face-washing and diaper-changing and naps! Oh they are horrible! As the steps get closer he knows he has been discovered. The glasses are catapulted onto the bed, and he puts on his best smile in preparation for battle.
There is the Mommy-beast in the doorway, smiling that fake, knowing smile of hers. "Little Man, what have you been doing in here?" How quick she is to place the blame on him, oblivious of the fact that it was she who left the door open. She walks toward him, arms outstretched to seize the boy and begin the torture. He is trapped! What will he do?
It's too late to escape. His last chance is to endear himself to the beast and hope for sympathy. In a last-ditch effort, he flings himself upon the floor and wails his most pathetic-sounding wail. He curls up face down, his legs tucked under him and his little bottom in the air. His arms lay spread out on the floor, his head buried in the carpet. He is working it for all it's worth. Certainly she can be no match for such a sad little boy. She will be forced by his cuteness to take pity on him.
The evil monster is unmoved. In fact, she giggles at his performance as she scoops him up and lays his head on her shoulder. How could this be? That was oscar-worthy stuff, and not only does she laugh in his face, but then picks him up and pretends to love and care for him! Is there no end to her devilish ways?
She removes the tiny boy from the room and shuts the door. She then sets him down on the floor, and with a patronizing "No no, Little Man", goes back to relay the story to the Daddy-beast. Little Man is left alone in the hallway, his feelings hurt that he was once again unable to win at battle. He cries, and this time real tears stream down his soft baby cheeks. He toddles to the gate and reaches up to the Mommy-beast. She picks him up, wipes the tears away, and kisses him. He smiles and wraps his tiny arms around her neck. The battle was lost, and now also forgotten.
I just had to laugh at this post! I can completely relate - one second my son is incredibly peeved that he's been foiled in yet another scheme to get his hands on something he shouldn't, and the next he's hollering, "MY mommy!" as he hugs my legs. Don't you just love 'em? :)
And I really like the new look of your blog - very nice!
Lisa
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
1:10 PM
Fabulous story, and I love the new blog skin.
By , at
1:56 PM
What a well written story! Love the way you write.
Btw, popped in via BE
Amelia
www.whisperingloudly.blogspot.com
Blogger wouldn't let me sign in!!
By , at
7:01 PM
cute..
i want MY mommy-beast too!!
cheerz
SEV
http://satish-ev.blogspot.com
Me - "Gabriella, I want you to appologize to your Daddy for being sassy."
Labels: quips
Gabriella - "Daddy, sorry I sauced you!"
Cute kid, great blog.
Came via Blog Explosion. Enjoyed my visit.
By , at
8:47 PM
My journey to self-discovery and self-improvement begins with my humble little blog.
As you can see, the new and improved "Mommy Matters" is up and running. I can't believe what a great job Mia did! I am so happy with how it turned out! I'm ecstatic to have an original, (and fabulous looking!) site! Yippy!!
Please, before you leave here go over to Ciao! My Bella and tell them how fabulous they are! Maybe you'd like to give your own site a facelift?
I LOVE your new looks! It's fabulous!
Maria - http://www.livejournal.com/users/kiwiria
By , at
6:36 AM
Great new look, nice blog!
By Jumperless, at
7:35 AM
I love the make-over ! Mia did a fabulous job !
I'm lovin' it! I love the yoga pose - enjoy!
(Liz @ Full House)
By , at
8:55 AM
Love the new look!! Awesome colors!
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
11:00 AM
Looks great!!
I LOVE the new look! Mia is getting started on mine! Thanks for the referral!!
Manolo says, your blog it looks the super fantastic!
Muchos Besos!
Manolo
Love your new look! Congrats on the reno!
Ann
http://anndouglas.blogspot.com
The Mother of All Blogs
Looking good!
Definitely love the makeover!!!
We interrupt this blog for an important personal note to one of my 3 fans. (And you know how I love my fans!)
Cory, of Mommy Dearest - Thank you so much for your comment. I am so flattered! (You like me, you really like me!) I wanted to respond to you, but I have no way to reply. Drop me a line at kabiel at gmail dot com.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...
Last Friday I opened up to you about my worst failure as a mother. Now I would like to show you the flip side of that, so that you don't think too badly of me. But first let me tell you a little about my greatest mothering success (so far, although I don't know if it gets much better than this), as I may define this differently than some of you.
I first knew I was a successful mother after my son was born. The change from one child to two was much more difficult for me than I had expected. It took me quite a while to adjust. (Truth be known, I'm still adjusting.) But there was a moment - one glorious moment when I knew I could do it. I stood in the hallway of my home, a soft glowing light shining down upon me as a sign from heaven, and I knew. As proof of my success, I witnessed two sleeping children. Children sleeping at the same time.
Since that day I have made it my goal to see this evidence of my success every day. Two angelic faces peaceful and slumbering at the same time. I'm proud to report to you that I continue to be a successful mother - almost every day.
Remember - sometimes it's the little things.
Ohhh. They are so cute.
Those two "little things" are adorable!
Oooh! I like this measurement scale! This means that at some point during EVERY day, I'm a successful mother! Oooh! I like this measurement scale!
They're always so sweet and innocent looking when they're asleep, aren't they?
the only time you really want to play with them is when they're asleep..
unfortunately, that works in reverse too
cheerz
SEV
http://satish-ev.blogspot.com
(Said to my mother, who has trouble sleeping.)
Labels: quips
"Grandma, are you nocturnal?"
(Yes, my three-year-old knows the word nocturnal. Next week she will be teaching a course in biophysics at the college. And she still poops in her pants. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how proud we are!)
I've noticed in my writing, and especially in email, I am one of those horribly annoying people who use too many exclamation points! I use them all the time! Perhaps I'm trying to compensate for my calm outward appearance? Anyway, I am aware of the problem, and I am working on it. I will be joining a 12-step program shortly to help me cut down on my exclamation point use.
I'm not aware of a worldwide exclamation point limit, but if there is one, I'm using yours up. Sorry about that!!
We will have to start charging you for each exclamation point that exceeds the legal limit. you can pay to the order of, well, me.
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
1:40 PM
I use way too many !! on my blog when I post. I usually hit the backspace a few times.
have a great evening!
tracy
http://www.wingedemotion.shows it
By , at
8:32 PM
Okay I found your blog and am having fun reading it.So I decided since I have two kids and I stay at home that I should be a witty bogger too.I signed up-put in my info-blogged away and zilcho.I am sooo boring.I deleted myself two times.I have nothing to say.How do you get started? I was like"who cares" I sounded so stupid.Help!!
Okay I found your blog and am having fun reading it.So I decided since I have two kids and I stay at home that I should be a witty bogger too.I signed up-put in my info-blogged away and zilcho.I am sooo boring.I deleted myself two times.I have nothing to say.How do you get started? I was like"who cares" I sounded so stupid.Help!!
(Said as her Daddy walked into her room to find she had undressed herself, and smeared poop all over her bed while trying to wrangle into her pajamas)
Labels: quips
"You might want to wash my panties."
That's priceless!
She's such an smart child. Not everyone can put it together quite like that. :o)
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
1:43 PM
That goes into the "not sure I want kids" bucket. But it's so cute when someone else's does it!
I'm sure you all read Three Kid Circus, but just incase you don't, you really need to head on over there and read this.
So I let hubby in on my blog, only after I convinced him not to make fun of me for it. (He loves to do that!) Then it occurred to me that he should blog, too! He could talk about all the antics he puts up with at work, he could show off his photography, brag about his fabulous wife... and he's much funnier than I am. (Those of you who are thinking "but she isn't funny!" can just keep that to yourselves, thank you.) Plus it would be in the great tradition of Dooce and Blurbomat, Java Diva and Nef, Mrs. G and Genuine.
I can tell he's thinking about it, but isn't convinced yet. I'll keep nudging him along. After all, if he starts his own blog, that will be one more blog for me to read. (And one more blog that would link to mine!)
omg. are you my long lost twin? i just recently let my husband in on my blog and helped him to set his up too! freeeeakie! :)
just visiting via BE - like your blog - will visit again!
blogs between spouses are always tricky things. you want to say what you feel but if that involves another person, then you feel like you're trapped between a sword and a wall. But then again, a blog is just a blog. It shouldn't go beyond that.
lol, blogging is just too addicting!
just be careful on what you write on your blogs ;)
nina
http://fork.nu/saga
By , at
7:54 PM
I had asked my then fiance' to keep a hard copy journal or at least typed it up on what goes on his mind as we planned our wedding.
He started blogging and we had a wife/husband blogs for a while. We now have sepearate urls.
I think blogging helps get your voice heard if not 'talk it out'.
Do you think he would want you to read his blog? Or do you want to know what's on his mind?
:: Mona ::
By , at
9:38 PM
I knew it was inevitable. I knew it would come. I've been terrified since the day she learned to talk of this day coming, and now unfortunately I have the sad, sad duty to report to you that it has arrived...
"Why?"
I suppose because little children are curious about everything, and they are looking for information.
"Why?"
Because they want to know all about the world around them. There is so much to know.
"Why?"
The world is a big place and...
"Why?"
Well, I'm not sure exactly. It just is. It's filled with so many different things: animals, plants, people,...
"Why?"
I don't know! It just is! Now hush and let Mommy finish blogging!
She has hit the "why phase". I really hate this phase. I babysat for a little girl once (and I do mean once) who all night long kept repeating this one word to me, wanting more and more information from my then 18 year old brain, until my ears started to bleed. Now I live with one of these.
Can any of you more experienced parents out there tell me how long this phase lasts? We're on about day three, and I'm already poised with the icepick ready to shove it into my ears at the sound of that little voice uttering that word to me.
As a side effect, it has also marked the beginning of my new phase: the "Because I said so!" phase.
I'm not a parent, but I can relate. Sort of. It was a horrible, horrible day when my baby African Grey parrot learned to say "NO!" and "Stop it!". Aaaarrrrhhhhggggg!!!
Oh, boy! I don't think my son is too far behind your daughter, and I am not looking forward to this phase. You can figure out how to survive it and let me know when I get there, 'K? :-) Kind of makes you understand why so many mothers seem to develop selective hearing, doesn't it?
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
10:20 AM
Yes, the "why" phase is fun, and does tend to bring on mommy's "because I said so" phase, but even more fun is when your child picks up that phase as well. Uh, that's not how it works, kid.
By The Narcissist, at
12:37 PM
The last time I saw my niece, she was in the "What's That" stage. I'm getting antsy to be around babies. So i got a new kitten instead.
:: Mona ::
By , at
9:39 PM
it's funny because i had this conversation yesterday with my friend who has a 2 1/2 year old... I said to her "just you wait until she gets to the 'why?' stage",
well I have a 4 year old and she has outgrown the 'why' stage ( well 90% out grown it anyway...I don't think they ever outgrow it fully considering my 13 and 16 year old still occasionally say it).
Rachel.
http://www.jiorgee.modblog.com
By , at
2:37 AM
Just a tip - don't ever answer why when they want to know why you said no to something. Don't explain that they don't need candy because dinner is coming. Otherwise, they'll be almost 10 years old and making you account for every single no you give!
LOL I Christine, I saw the comments you left on my blog... good to know I'm not alone! We also get "No!" frequently, and the wonderful Hubs cannot understand how I can just tune it out. It's called self-preservation... duh!
By SeeingDouble, at
11:50 PM
I have two children. (A boy and a girl. Who could ask for more?) I also have postpartum depression. My hormones are still out of whack. I have confidence that they will come back in whack over the next year now that I’m not breastfeeding my son any longer.
I found that when I was really wanting a baby and when I was pregnant, I loved watching those baby shows. You know the ones – “A Baby Story”, “Maternity Ward”, “Special Delivery” and the like. These programs show you (nearly) every detail of giving birth. I couldn’t get enough of these shows, and would watch them every chance I got. I don’t know if I thought I was educating myself on child birth, or if I was excitedly anticipating my own little arrival, or if it’s like a car accident and you just can’t look away.
After giving birth to my children I wasn’t so interested in these shows anymore. I guess after pushing a human out of your vagina you aren’t too anxious to watch it over and over again.
Tonight while settling in to surf some blogs and watch TV, I found myself stopping on one of these shows. Not only that, but I watched it for the entire hour! I began to feel that little flutter in my heart (or perhaps that was my uterus – it’s so hard to tell.) I’ve made no secret of the fact that I do want another baby someday. (My hubby has also made no secret of the fact that he does not want another baby. Stay tuned to see how this one plays out.) I really didn’t think I’d start feeling that baby urge quite so soon. I’m a little worried about my sanity….
The first time I saw one of those shows I tuned in right as a woman giving birth in a bathtub screamed, "Sweet Jesus, get it out of me!" Confirmed my non-reproductive lifestyle immediately.
Heather
spirit97.tblog.com
By , at
7:40 PM
I'm the same - I have no interest in those shows but as soon as I see one I think about having another one.
Jaynee
http://www.cootiehog.com
By , at
8:10 AM
OMG! I watched TLC endlessly, and Discovery Health! I was facinated by anything "baby", and since I was on bedrest I had plenty of time to see every show available!
By SeeingDouble, at
11:52 PM
"I'm having a hard life!" Labels: quips
LOLOL!!! Out of the mouths of babes, huh?
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
3:12 PM
I've been surfing with Blog Explosion for some time now, and so have been reading quite a few blogs. (I have found more blogs than I care to think about that I am now reading regularly, btw.) I think that a blog should be judged on its content and not the way it looks, and I try to do that, but I do have to admit that the way the blog looks plays a great part in whether I come back or not.
With that in mind, and the fact that so far I've been forced to use a blogger template, which even though is just fine, is the same as scores of others, I am getting my blog redesigned by the talented Mia at Ciao! My Bella. I am so excited about getting a new look! Look for my shiny new blog in the near future, and while you're waiting, scoot on over to Ciao! My Bella and check them out!
I agree that it should be content and NOT site design but so many don't bother to read they just look at the pictures. I certainly hope you are NOT paying someone to design your new look because it isn't worth it. There are tons of FREE layouts on blogskins.com. I change mine almost every 2 weeks free.
Dariana
http://dariana.blogspot.com
By , at
3:59 AM
Mia did my site as well. I love my new site. I also happened to have the exact same layout as you when I just had a blogger layout. You won't be disappointed with Mia's work.
http://shootersstation.blogspot.com
Looks and content both matter, especially with Blog Explosion's model. I like your site a lot now. Looking forward to its new design, but I already added you to my blogroll.
Greg
By , at
11:34 AM
I have the most boring blog "look" ever, so I'll be checking her out. Thanks!
Imagine if you will that you run an office. Not just any office, but a very important one. One that will cease to function at all if it's left alone for more time than it takes to go to the bathroom. (And not one of those cozy, read a book bathroom breaks some of you are fond of. I'm talking just a quick in and out, take care of business bathroom break.) It is so important that someone is in the office, in fact, that if it is left alone the law will come along and throw you in jail if you leave it unattended.
Now lets pretend that you are in charge of this office all by your little self from 8:00 am to about 5:30 pm. Now before you get your hopes up, you don't get to leave at 5:30 - oh no. At 5:30 you get someone to come in and help you with the office. This relieves some of your stress and responsibility, but by no means all of it. You continue to share the burden of this office until about 8:00 pm, when it can finally be shut down for the night. Also keep in mind that the office can decide that it needs to keep running past that 8:00 time slot, and/or it can decide it needs to be running at a later time - say 12:30 am or 4:00 am - it's in charge, not you. When 8:00 am rolls around again, your partner runs off and you are on your own again.
You would think that such a high-stress job would offer weekends and holidays off, but sadly you thought wrong. Weekends and holidays you do get to have your partner there with you, but you cannot leave that office. Maybe you can pack up all of the important things you need to run your office and take it with you, so that you can run your office while taking care of other things, but the office is always your first priority. Once and a while you can hire someone to care for you office for you for short amounts of time, but they will never do as good a job as you, and your office will protest.
Now before we go further with this story you must also keep in mind that you chose this job freely and willingly, and YOU DO NOT GET PAID! Not at all - no monetary compensation of any kind.
Back to this partner of yours. Yes, they are a huge help to you. You live for the times when this person shows up and helps you run the office, because while it was agreed to by the both of you that you would be solely responsible for the office to that they could find a way to earn money for your business, you are both equally attached to this office. Partners 50/50.
Let us remember here, because I cannot stress this point enough: This office belongs to the both of you equally!
So tell me please, is it fair for this partner of yours to assume that just because you care for this office single-handedly the majority of the time, that it is okay that they make plans in their free time and not give you equal opportunity to do so as well? No it is not!! But you see, they don't understand that running that damn office is all you do. That though you care about the office immensely, and running an office just like this is your life's dream, you can't be expected to do it 24/7 all the freakin' time with no break. They wonder why your patience is running thin and your temper is short, but they don't understand why. Is your partner blind? No, not at all. Is your partner stupid? No, far from it. Then why in the world do they not see that anyone who does any one thing without a break is going to go mad?
This is not a hypothetical question - if anyone can answer this one I'm open to ideas. It is beyond me. I mean, after all, this partner of yours likes to get away from their day job and have fun. You would think they would understand.
Sorry, no help from me, but if you ever find a solution, I would LOVE! to hear it, because I have exactly the same problem.
(btw: surfed in through BE and am loving your site. I've blogmarked it for future reading :) )
By , at
6:05 AM
... I do apologize for staying completely anonymous, that wasn't my intention. That last comment was written by
Kiwiria
http://www.livejournal.com/users/kiwiria
By , at
6:06 AM
i also have the same problem...except my partner doesnt even live with me so he gets lots of time off.
Rachel
www.jiorgee.modblog.com
By , at
3:33 PM
"Don't drink too much of that beer, Daddy!" Labels: quips
I just have to digress for a moment to talk about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I love this show. Yes, I enjoy the whole make-over aspect, but really I keep comin' back because of the lovable Fab Five. They are so put-together, and they also all have (to varying degrees) a sense of humor, which I find mandatory in any man. My favorite Fab Fiver is Jai. He's so cute - I just want to put him in my pocket. (Jai - I'm not lovin' the facial hair look. I can't see that baby face of yours!) I wish I had me a group of gay men friends. Sadly, I don't think I would be cool enough to hang out with them.
I admit I'm out of whatever loop you have to be a part of to know all about gmail. I've heard it mentioned here and there, but really didn't pay much attention. It seems to be everywhere now, and my curiosity has peaked. So tell me, internet friends, what do you think of gmail? Are all these wonderful features going to remain free? I'd love to hear your opinion. (Also, if anyone out there has an extra invite they'd be willing to donate to my curiosity, I'd love to check it out firsthand. Send to kabiel at lycos dot com.)
I just sent you an invite.
durn....Amy beat me to it.
Yes...what IS gmail?
I'm going to admit to you my worst failure (so far) as a mother. This is the biggest frustration in my life. My daughter and I stand on opposing sides - it has become a full-out battle. I dug my heals in. I really tried to keep it from coming to this, but she insisted, and she dragged me with her. We are on opposite sides of the doorway, and neither of us will budge one more inch.
It is the bathroom door of which I'm speaking, of course. Potty training. (Or potty "teaching", if that term sits better with you.) I really don't know where I went wrong. I am excellent at the potty thing, if I do say so myself, so you'd think I could pass on my well-honed skills to my offspring. It should be simple, right? No, sadly, it is not simple.
Maybe I started too late with her. Let's face it. I'm lazy - I can admit that. I was perfectly happy changing her diapers, because there is less FWIF involved with changing a diaper than having my toddler sitting on public toilets - I shuddered at the thought.
She is a whiz (pun intended) at tinkling, as it is known in our house. (Yes, tinkle. What would you call it? It's cute and child-like. I like it.) She got this concept right away, and has had only a handful of accidents in this regard.
Our problem is poop. I hate poop. Everywhere I turn I'm cleaning it up. My house smells of it. My little girl smells of it. One night I kissed her little angel face good night and I swear I smelled poop on her breath. It's that bad.
My poor dear little darling is anal retentive - literally. She has troubles with regularity, so that takes this very difficult task to a whole other level for her. I really feel for her. I've been there, too, and I "feel her pain". Also knowing what I went through as a kid frightens the hell out of me - I'm afraid of what's to come for the two of us on this magical journey.
We've done the whole "this is what big kids do" bit. Lots of positive reinforcement. We stuck with that for a long time, because this was the beginning for us, when our patience was high - right up there with our hopes and expectations. We said a lot of things like "Aaahhh Sweetie, it's okay that you had an accident. You'll do better next time!" We finally decided this wasn't going to work when she would come to us and say "I need to be cleaned up. It's okay I had an accident!"
I resisted but finally turned to rewards. Tootsie rolls were our reward of choice, and looking back on it now, aptly so. (Come on, you can't see the humor in offering tootsie rolls as a reward for pooping?) This really didn't work. There were a few times when cleaning her up we'd set her on the potty and the "product" that she had "produced" in her pants had stuck to her cute little bottom and then fallen off in the toilet. She was ecstatic! "I went poopy on the potty!!!" she would scream, and what is a parent to do? We couldn't burst her bubble. We were consistent with the rewards, and trudged along. More positive reinforcement.... more trudging.
We then decided that we were pushing too hard, so backed off a little bit. "Here Baby, if you need to poopy and don't want to go on the potty, you may use a Pull-up." We thought she would do it on her own when she was ready. This didn't work either. She apparently inherited her mother's laziness, because she just decided that since she could tinkle in the pull-up and not make a mess, this was far better than interrupting her playtime for potty time. Scratch that.
I'll spare you the rest of the details. Sadly, we are now at full-blown bribery. I have little toys - toys that I know she covets - locked behind glass at her eye level. "Look what you can have if you go big poopy on the potty!" (We now have to specify "big" to avoid the problem I mentioned earlier) She was very excited about this prospect, and immediately spent an hour sitting on the potty with no luck. She has earned herself a little Care Bear, but doesn't seem in a hurry for the other toys. I have even heard myself say "Ella-bear, don't you think that other Care Bear is lonely in there? I bet he would love to come out and play with you!" Someone please just slap me!
I'd love to tell you some kind of end to this torturous story, but THERE ISN'T ONE! I have nearly given up. I'm doomed to clean up poop. My son will be potty trained before she is. If she is never potty trained she will never go to school! What am I going to do? (The irony here is that when she was a baby I toyed with the idea of home schooling, which hubby is adamantly against. Now here we face the possibility of being forced into it, because what 5th grade teacher can stop her class because my daughter needs to be cleaned up?)
All I can say is that Little Man better be easy after all of this! Excuse me now while I go Febreze my entire home.
oh no the potty traing ... i remember that but the thing i can say is be patient and she will get it down ... visit sweetrosie.com :)
By , at
11:03 PM
I'm right where you are with no answers. My daughter is going to be 4 in less than 10 days and she's still not potty-trained. She was fine for a few months, but then it became a power struggle, and--you know the rest. I've been reading in _Positive Discipline for Preschoolers_ that in one way or another many, many parents are still dealing with potty issues after their kids are nominally "trained". And it's one area you just can't rush. But still, with her brother coming up on two and a half--shouldn't one of them be out of diapers/pull ups by now?
By MysticSavage, at
12:55 AM
damn you got me spooked im bout to start my daughter to potty...oh i dred the day
Hi there from another Wyoming Mom!
My boys are almost 7 & 10 now. I remember those days well! Poop was the hardest! The cleaning up part... the worst!
My boys were about 3 1/2 before they got the poop thing under control.
But...she'll get there! I promise! Especially if her little brother is doing poop in the potty before her!
Hang in there!
from another mommy blogger at http://www.mommyshome.blogspot.com
Oh, man. With a baby on the way, I knew I had to baby-proof the house, but I didn't even think about poo-proofing it.
Ahhhh....the potty. We're doing that in my house. I have a shelf full of toys waiting as bribes. The boy just looks at his toys and says "some day."
I could tell you the way we took care of potty training but it would get too many folks mad at me. I can tell you that no child was hurt, no hitting took place but both my daughters were potty trained in less than a week. Worked for all my friends too.
By , at
10:30 PM
Don't feel bad, it can take longer for some than others. My son was over 4 (I was beginning to think he would be wearing pull ups to the prom) before he decided one day that he wanted to poop in the potty and stopped having accidents, except for a brief problem from severe constipation when he was 6 that was it. Eventually she will get it. (BTW, my son is now 11)
Holly
By , at
11:24 AM
Guess I was lucky. My kid was potty trained in one day, last summer when she was 3. I told her I wasn't getting out of bed unless she used the potty and wore underwear. It worked. We had a couple of minor pee accidents that first day but other than that, it was smooth sailing. She refused to use the toddler potty chair and always wanted to use the grown-up potty.
I actually came across this page because, full disclosure, my mother never potty trained me. She sent me off to daycare in pull-ups at age 4; when I saw the other kids doing their thing, I just started doing it, too. I'm graduating from an Ivy League university in May after working full-time for a few years as an office manager in a medical office (the youngest office manager my boss has ever had), and am in a stable, healthy, non-abusive relationship. I actually google'd "never potty trained" to see if this was a major anomaly in my life that could cause serious psychological damage down the road. Don't worry. You'll figure something out, and you're daughter will be fine. I think that Care Bear idea is brilliant, actually-- having no experience of my own, I will need something to run off of when I procreate and come to the PT stage.
By , at
4:51 PM
"If it's okay with me, then it's okay with me!" Labels: quips
Well, that's rather hard to argue with. ;)
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
8:46 PM
We've all heard the cliche', but seriously, would you ever want to eat your food right of of the floor? Could you ever trust that they were clean enough? I bring this up because yesterday while watching TV I saw a commercial for some sort of floor cleaner. The commercial takes place in a resteraunt where everyone eats right off of the floor! Here's this lovely couple sitting picnic-style on the hardwood floor, and their waiter places their food right on the floor in front of them - no plates.
Please tell me this isn't an actual resteraunt! I couldn't do it. I just could never believe that the floor was ever clean enough for me to eat my pasta and meatballs right off of. I don't care what kind of wonderous contraption they used to clean it.
I'm going to assume it was just a commercial trick. Health department regs wouldn't allow there to be SOMETHING under that food.
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
8:47 PM
Of course it is real! Don't you know that everything on TV is TRUE? HEH. I saw that commercial too... kept thinking of grit in the pasta...
lol
I was sitting on the couch, holding Little Man on my lap. His tiny hand traveled up my arm and then stopped and rested up under my sleeve. There I was holding my son watching (insert the name of your favorite inane children's show here - they're all the same) and that little hand on that particular spot on my arm triggered a memory, and I was zapped back in time.
I was 16 years old, sitting next to hubby (then my boyfriend - yes, we were high school sweethearts) in the auditorium of our high school. He was on my right, and a friend of mine was on my left. I don't remember why we were in the auditorium - I'm sure to hear some "important" announcements or watch an amateur talent show. Anyway, as we sat there hubby's hand rested on my upper arm, right under my sleeve. I remember this because later my friend made a comment to me about it, to the effect that he had "gone up" my shirt.
Huh?
I guess her definition of "going up" one's shirt was different than mine. (Besides, we hardly ever did that at school!)
~ZAP~
The smell of a poopy diaper can always bring you back to reality...
I don't think I've thought about that day since. The human mind is a funny thing.
Great story. I dated my husband for the first time when I was 15. Then again when I was 16. Then again when I was 17. We got married (the first time) when I was 19. *sigh* Since then, we split up, both married other people, both divorced, and got back together again when I was 28.
It's nice to have those high school memories with your sweetheart to look back on. I just wish I had the memories between 21-28 with mine, too. :(
Thank you hubby, for the 6+ years you served our country. I am so proud of you for that. (Thank you also, for deciding to make a life for us outside the Navy. It's no fun seeing you go and knowing I won't see or talk to you for months on end!)
Thank you Daddy, Uncle Bobby, Uncle Ken and Papa.
Thank you to all those who serve, or have served our country.
Thank a veteran today. It's a huge sacrifice, and they volunteer to do it.
Thanks to my Big Brother for 20+ years of service to the Force, and currently risking his life in Baghdad. My thoughts are with you bro, and your family back home (three boys and a wife).
I'm posting this picture of Gabriella (age 2) in response to Goldberry at Silver Linings. You should go check her out - her daughter has almost as many of those damn Care Bears as mine does.
Oh, how adorable!! Were you guys at a park? Her cheeks just jump right out at us! I love it!
Thanks for linking to me. I hope I get to see many more cheesy pictures!
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
12:56 PM
That is a precious smile!!!!! tooooooooo cute!
Brooke
www.minddiversion.com
brooke@minddiversion.com
By , at
7:19 AM
So cute! What a smile!
I stepped out of character the other day and decided to do some housework. I was putting clean sheets on Gabriella's bed and found her room to be much too quiet. I got out her collection of CDs (at three years old she may have more CDs than her parents) and picked out the dreaded Evil Songs Which Get Stuck In My Brain. And there I was, singing away and making the bed.
I guess a grown woman listening to such evil attracts attention, because in popped hubby's head, obviously worried about the health of his wife, and questioned my sanity. "I can't help it", I said. "It's growing on me."
My dear husband of 11 years then looked at me sadly, paused and said, "I think we should see other people."
Heh heh - had to chuckle. You could always plead temporary insanity :P
Warm, cozy blog you have here. Just stopped by via BE.
Bizzare
http://bizzare.modblog.com
By , at
10:20 AM
You have to love those "marriage" moments. :)
Ha Ha Ha Ha
My son was a Barney fan and Thomas the tank engine!
Damb those catchy tunes!
Thanks
Mutts
http://undeliberate.blogspot.com/
LMAO!!!!!
surely you will be married for many more years!!!
evil..lol....see other people...lol!!!
Theo
http://www.theophany.us/theojournal
By , at
6:35 PM
(Said to her Daddy, who was getting ready for an important day at work)
Labels: quips
"I don't know about that jacket, Daddy."
Someone needs to dress our men! Ha!
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
12:50 PM
Oh my gosh! Got a love her! I am laughing so hard. I am not sure how I've missed your blog this long but am adding you to my list so I can come back to visit!
Chana
www.bunnyburrow.com
By , at
4:11 PM
I, like many of you, went out a week ago and voted. I believe strongly in exercising this right of mine. I also believe strongly that if you don't know what you are doing when you step into the voting booth, you have no business being there.
When I stepped into my voting booth last Tuesday (3 year old in tow, wanting desperately to know how you vote, and can she vote, blabber blabber blabber....) there were 2 of 4 amendments on my ballot that I didn't feel I knew enough about to vote either way on. I skipped over these 2.
Now I find out that here in Wyoming, a skipped vote is a "no" vote. In other words, by choosing not to vote either way for those amendents, I was actually voting no on them.
I'm just outraged about this! No where on the ballot was I warned of this. My brother said he did notice something mentioned of this on the sample ballot mailed out 2 weeks prior to the election, but it was not on the actual ballot. I think this is dirty! Seriously, why even bother having a option for voting no? Just have a yes column!
Is this common practice, does anyone know? Am I wrong to feel this is just plain wrong?
It sounds wrong to me! What's the procedure for challenging a ballot after an election?
Hmmmm ... that would be a state statute so it's going to vary. still, there should have been some type of in-your-face notification.
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
8:18 AM
Christine, I'm sorry! I don't think it's that way in Texas, but that's no doubt something that would vary from state to state. It should definitely have been made clear to you, though, and not just on the sample ballot. I'd be frustrated, too.
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
9:32 AM
Wow, here a blank vote isn't recorded as a vote...that's bullshit!
That's just wrong, You should be able to say yes/no/or abstain. A blank vote should never be a yes or no vote. I wonder how many other people did the same thing you did?
Now, lets think about this people. What does voting "for" something mean? It means that whatever you are voting "for" has earned your vote- the contest in an election is to "earn" votes. When I vote for, say, John Kerry, I'm not voting against Bush, I'm voting for Kerry. Thus if you don't vote on something it is still the same as a "no" because you aren't giving that measure a vote because it hasn't earned it. Think of "yes" and "no" as two cadidates.
The Girl Scout cookies are here.
OOOOOOHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO! Run! Hide! Protect the small children! ;)
uhm, what kind did ya' get? ;)
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
10:28 PM
We got 2 boxes of the Samonas (which I noticed they are now calling Carmel De-Lites? What's that about? Political correctness?) and two boxes of the Thin Mints. This should last us most of this evening I'd say. Problem is the 3 year old knows the cookies are in the house, so I'm going to feel guilty when she doesn't get any. Not guilty enough to save her any...
Odd, here in SC we're not allowed to start selling until the day after Thanksgiving.
i feel you
I understand you are trying to play a game with me. You are doing a wonderful job making this part obvious. It happens every day - I'm in the kitchen, and you are in the living room. The baby gate seperates us. You bring your ball and toss it over the gate to me in your clumsy baby way, big grin on your face. You start chattering instructions to me. I desperately wish I could understand these instructions! Oh if I could just respond in the way you are looking for I would, dear son. I am not trying to cause you to be angry with me.
I have tried everything I can think of to continue your game. I've rolled the ball under the gate to you. I've brought it over and placed it back in your tiny hand. I've tossed it back in the same manner you did. I've even tried just leaving the ball where it is, thinking that perhaps this ball has offended you in some way and what I perceived as a game was merely you punishing the ball with exile. Every time I am met with your shrill voice ringing in my ears - your pre-English protests.
Little boy, I know you think great things of your Mommy, but I am only human, and I don't understand your toddler speak. I am trying, and you are getting better at speaking my language, but we are just not in sync yet verbally. You are going to have to help me out more with this one. Perhaps you could get your sister to translate for us, as she always claims to know your every thought.
Until then, I guess I will just continue with rolling the ball under the gate to you, as this is my preference, and if it can't be about you, it might as well be about me.
Ohh, what a wonderfully sweet story!
Ana
http://independenceofmind.blog-city.com
By , at
12:25 PM
I don't want to post anonymous but Blogger is having issues!!!
Toddler babble is so fun!! I'm having issues understanding my little guys talk most of the time!
I came via Blog Explosion and realized that we have a few blogs in common!! Genuine to start (we're related!!)
Hula Doula
http://www.huladoula.thezeroboss.com !
By , at
12:53 PM
At about age 5, he will tell you what he REALLY wanted you to do!!
Goldberry
Silver Linings
By , at
2:35 PM
Christine, that's a wonderful story! My son is two now, and much more verbal than he used to be, and there are still times I can't interpret his language. :)
Lisa
By Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen, at
4:01 PM
That is such a sweet story. How often I have been in those shoes with my 3 kids. One day you will understand ...and wish you didn't anymore. ;-) But these days of toddler babble are SO precious!
*whimper* I miss having toddlers in the house!!!
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
10:30 PM
Aahhh...the wonderful things I have to look forward to! How sweet! :)
i remember the golden times with my nephew.. we spent the most part of 3 glorious days together recently, and at the end of it i was speaking 'toddler' !!
cheerz
SEV
http://satish-ev.blogspot.com
I know you're here....
I love you!
(Said to her Daddy in a very stern voice, finger pointing in emphasis, after he had spun her around like a centrifuge.)
Labels: quips
"That's dizzy, Daddy!......Do it again!"
LOL. That's CUTE, that's what it is!
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
7:51 AM
I finally hit the jackpot on Blog Explosion with the 100 mystery credits!! I've been clicking away for weeks just waiting. I knew if I was patient I would one day hit it, and today was the day! I'm so thrilled!
Now, I guess I will..... go back to clicking.
Woohoo!
Congrats you lucky dog!
Chana
www.bunnyburrow.com
By , at
11:28 PM
Okay. damp rag here. What do you DO with the credits? It's not like you can trade them in for prizes. I'm totally disillusioned and in full boycott BE mode.
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
7:51 AM
Hubby got back from his backpacking trip yesterday afternoon. He had fun, got some sun on his face, and no frostbite on any of his limbs - go figure. We went out to eat last night, because, as is always required after a backpacking trip, hubby needed meat, and lots of it. He then took over the bedtime rituals so that I could attend "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Casper College. (Yes, I totally support the arts when someone has a free ticket to give to me. Thanks Mom!)
We had a deal that in exchange for happily tolerating his trip this week, I would get to sleep in this morning. He would, without complaint, get up with the kids at whatever time they deemed, and care for them single-handedly until such time as I decided to leave the comfort of my bed and join the family. Well, that didn't happen.
Poor dear hubby is sick. Can't keep anything down, splitting headache sick. He is downstairs relaxing on the couch watching football, and I'm up here with the kids. Oh why can't I be sick?
At least I still have the laptop to keep me company.
Isn't it interesting how often things end up that way? At least you got to enjoy the theatre!
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
7:48 AM
That's hilarious! When RD gets sick I think, "Not fair!" LOL
My hubby has this week off. Kind of a small break before the resteraunt opens and I never see him again. He is doing what any loving, family man would do, and is taking off into the back country with my dad for a three day backpacking trip. These men, though I love them muches, are nuts. Why would you go out into the mountains of Wyoming in November? There is snow out there people! Really, it's okay with me. They are their toes. They can freeze them off if they want to.
So while they brave freezing temperatures I am at home with the LAPTOP! The laptop is hubby's, and he uses it for work, so it's rare that it's here in our home. I get to use it some evenings to surf or play SIMS, but that's it. I have always dreamed of a laptop of my very own. One I can keep on the kitchen counter during the day so I can use the internet and not have to haul my kids down to the basement, where they are sure to get into trouble, even with me sitting feet from them. With hubby off in the wilderness, the laptop is here with me!
I am currently sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying a bagle and tea, while my kids are playing My Little Ponies. This is wonderful! I have technology right here at my fingertips while I unload the dishwasher. I can get some housework done and still "check my stuff" (which is how I refer to anything I might want to do on the internet, so as to make it sound a bit more important than it actually is).
I've been down in the dumps lately because I'm having a hard time keeping the house clean while dealing with my blog explosion addiction, and I've promised myself that I am not going to let the computer distract me from my responsibilities anymore, but this is seriously going to put a damper on that. Excuse me while I make another cup of tea...
It's a rite of passage I think, losing stubborn toes to frostbiye in Wyoming.
By , at
10:28 AM
I love my laptop. It's wonderful to be able to plop it on the kitchen counter and read my email as I cook dinner. (Or, if you check my blog entry for today, as I DON'T cook dinner.) It's not quite as grand as it used to be, though, because when we moved, we put the regular desktop computer in the kitchen. So instead, I haul it down to the basement with me when I do laundry. ;-)
Two things that dramatically changed my life: my laptop and putting WiFi in the house. So, I can surf in the bathroom if I'm really possessed to do so.
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
8:28 PM
Blog explosion is a horrible, horrible thing that has invaded my house as well! Why, oh why, can't someone invent a self cleaning house, so us mothers can do other more important 'stuff'?
BTW, find your site via blog explosion ;)
Frozen toes, snow, rain. These things are all just little annoyances and easily overlooked when faced with the opportunity to go backpacking.
Of course, my wife doesn't get it either.
Laptops are amazing. I take mine to different parts of the house so that I can have a change of scene. I can also work if I'm waiting for one of my kids at the dentist's office. I can't remember my life BL (Before Laptop).
Ann
The Mother of All Blogs
http://anndouglas.blogspot.com
What is this "keeping the house clean" thing that you spoke of?
By Mamacita (The REAL one), at
12:08 AM
I love laying anywhere in the house while working on my laptop. And on those warm summer days I can lay in the hammock out back and surf the blogs. Enjoy it while you can, but maybe you can get one of your very own for Christmas.
I just found your blog, enjoyed it! Wanted you to know I signed up for blog explosion through your link & it listed you as my referrer. :)
Hey! Lovely blog! Lovely kiddo! And speaking of lovely, mmmmmm, yeah - LAPTOP!
My ode to my laptop: http://gracedavis.typepad.com/i_am_dr_lauras_worst_nigh/2004/10/warning_dangero.html
Bravo to you on a really sweet site.
GraceD
'I Am Dr. Laura's Worst Nightmare'
http://gracedavis.typepad.com/i_am_dr_lauras_worst_nigh/
By , at
6:29 PM
Those of you with little ones may or may not watch NOGGIN from time to time. If you do, then you have probably seen Laurie Berkner singing and dancing between the shows. Now my kids love music, and they love singing and dancing, so when Laurie pops up on our screen they are both on their feet twirling circles and singing. (The older one sings - the little man just twirls circles and smiles). Far be it from me to interrupt anything that holds my kids' attention away from trouble, but the true evil of these songs are the way they get embedded into my brain. Just a few lines of one of these songs and I'm singing it for the rest of the day. Like I have nothing better to do with my brain cells than to memorize annoying children's songs.
Oh why did I ever allow such a thing into my house? Then again, I have allowed The Wiggles in, so my standards are pretty low.
LOL. There's simply no escape. When my oldest was little, there was this show on called "KidSongs." From that, he learned the words to "Wild Blue Yonder" and proceeded to sing it to ANYONE who dared to listen ... or look his direction.
You can't win. ;)
-G
By DementedPhotographer, at
10:48 PM
Hey there first time visitor cruising through on blog explosion. No blogger account so I have to post as anonymous. My kids also love Laurie and can I just say,"Victor Vido and Freddie Vascoe ate a burrito with tabasco, they put it on their rice...." Oh and have you heard the Danny Zane songs yet? "All around the kitchen, cock-a-doddle doddle do". I turned to my hubby the other night and asked him to please turn off the voices in my head. ;-)
Thanks for making me laugh. Kristin S http://www.amommysdaze.com
By , at
2:30 PM
came via blogexplosion, i am still humming songs my kids learned at school nearly 30 years ago, there's no hope! Doomed to forever hum the wheels on the bus and you cant keep a horse in a lighthouse! mellowyellow http://older.blogdrive.com
By , at
5:20 AM
"...and she keeps it there all day."
I feel your pain. LOL
By Michael Tedesco, at
1:27 PM
You might be wishing for the Wiggles, soon! (This from a mom who doesn't like Berkner all that much, but who bought tickets *first thing* when the Wiggles came to town).
By Textile tArts, at
7:53 PM
I'm late to the party on this one, but found your site whilst surfing around and had to comment. I thought I was the only one. noggin is on at my house all day (and I thank god for it, too). But that Laurie...
"Victor Vito and Freddie Vasco"...oy vey.
But she's awesome compared to that Dan Zanes guy - he looks like a frustrated would-be hipster from Greenwich Village who wasn't able to crack the big time. And his fricken songs get in your head like a vicious earworm.
Sometimes I ponder: I used to bring in a 6-figure salary, now my days are filled with "Victor Vito" and "We are the Dinosaurs". How the mighty have fallen!
Loved your site, by the way.
trantortwinmom
http://doamsahm/blogspot.com
By scrappintwinmom, at
3:50 PM
I am in no way perfect - far from it, so I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way. (I also don't make a habit of peaking into other people's cars, but I'm a mom, so I am prone to notice other moms and their kids from time to time.) I am just amazed as I tote my kiddos around town how many car seats I see installed incorrectly. Last year as I unloaded the kids to go into the mall I noticed the car next to us had an infant car seat base with the seat belt wrapped around the thing twice, and not tighted up at all. This poor baby must have been tossed from side to side as his/her parents drove about town. I pray they were never in an accident!
Today, I noticed a mother and father pulling out of the parking space in front of mine with a baby much smaller and younger than my little man, and they had him facing forward.
Like I said, I don't claim to be perfect. I try to do my very best with my kids' carseats, because their safety is so, SO important. I've gone to the carseat clinics and have made mistakes. I know there are lots of parents out there in internet-land, so I just wanted to give you all a friendly reminder. Please check your kids' carseats. Go to a carseat check, or call your local fire department and find out about one. Read over those manuals. There is nothing more important. Please.
I agree with you totally. The worst part is that using them incorrectly is even worse than not using them at all.
Martin
http://martin.eclecticblogs.ca
By , at
9:30 PM
Eek - I always wondered how one could install one incorrectly. I suppose I'd never considered that someone might just wrap the belt around it a couple of times and call it done! Egad!
We have a peeve in common! There are so many people who will do forward facing too soon. Read my lips: Twenty Pounds and Twelve Months. Not ten-and-a-half months. Not eighteen-pounds-and-ten-ounces. The kiddo must be Twenty Pounds and Twelve Months. No, it doesn't matter how long the legs are.
You won't find me discussing politics much here, despite my very strong views. Please remember to vote today. (And please, if you haven't educated yourself on the issues and the candidates, don't vote.)
I know I complain about my kids a lot. (Oh they make it so easy, though!) Really that is a big part of what my blog is about for me. I need to vent somewhere, and you, my helpless little blog explosion-ites, are doomed to 30 seconds of my venting. (Sorry about that.)
I was reading Three Kid Circus the other day, and I was moved to tears (nearly) reading this. Every once and a while you read something that someone else wrote, and feel like they took your own feelings and put them into words. Thanks Jenny, for the great reminder!
I fell like all I do is complain about my kidd too. I guess it just comes with the territory. But that is what your blog is for so that moms like us can come and see that we are not alone in our feelings :)
To kick off the Christmas Thanksgiving season, I sat my kiddos around the table and made a big batch of hot cocoa mix. We usually do this once a year, and it lasts us all winter long. I'm going to share the recipe with you now, but please don't tell hubby I'm doing this. He thinks this is some secret recipe to be guarded at all costs, even though I have pointed it out on several websites. Now I know that the internet is a large place, but I know you can all keep a secret, right? It's quiet yummy - give it a try!
All you need is one large container of chocolate Quick, a 16 ounce jar of coffee creamer, enough dry milk to make 8 quarts, and 1 cup powdered sugar. Just mix all that up in a large bowl. (A whisk works good for this) and store it in an air-tight container. To enjoy, mix about 1/3 cup cocoa mix with about 8 ounces of hot water. Also great with marshmellows, or we like to stir with a candy cane at Christmas time.
That would also make a cute little gift! Scoop about a cup or so into a plastic bag, tie off and stuff into a Christmas mug along with directions. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm determined to make this a more frugal Christmas this year. I went way... overboard last year. Shirley :)
I'm totally stealing your secret family recipe.
http://ilitafire.blogspot.com
By , at
5:29 AM
Halloween turned out okay. Hubby and I even attended an adult Halloween party, costumes and all. The kids went trick-or-treating. They had a blast, and got lots of candy for me them to eat.
Halloween is nice. As a kid, of course, I loved it, because who doesn't love free candy? (Okay, even now I can't pass up a little free candy). I have to say it's very fwiffy though. Especially when you get 5 inches of snow. I'm glad it's over.
Now, on to Christmas, I mean Thanksgiving.