8 Things About Me

Per a friend, I have been requested to list some of these 8 things about me. I enjoy these survey/list thingies, so here goes. I'm supposed to tag people to participate and put it in their blog after I finish mine, but I'm not. Just do it if you want. Later, peeps.

8 things I want to do before I die

Have another baby

Go on an Alaskan cruise (Royal Caribbean, natch)

Go on a European vacation (England, Italy, France)

Visit and tour vineyards in California

Watch my children (hopefully) graduate from college

Learn how to quilt and also crochet

Visit Canada

Live at the beach

8 things I am passionate about

My husband

My son

My work

Animal rights/cruelty to animals

Being honest

The right of marriage for ALL people

A clean house

Sleep

8 common phrases heard in my house

"I love you."

"We don't hit."

"No, Lucy!" (see below)

"No, Brother!" (see below)

"It's your night." (to walk the dogs)

"Do you want any wine tonight?"

"How was your day?"

"Any good shows on tonight?"

8 recently read books

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?

Pat The Bunny

That's Not My Truck

That's Not My Pony

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Goodnight Moon

Spot's First Walk

Spot's First Easter

(hey, it said recently read books... didn't specify grown-up or kids)

8 songs on my iPod

Valerie - Amy Winehouse

Shoop - Salt 'n Pepa

It's Your Love - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

You Make My Dreams Come True - Hall & Oates

Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees

We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel

You're So Vain - Carly Simon

Home - Michael Buble

8 random things about me

I have a tatoo.

I'm going to get another one.

I've never had chili on a hot dog.

I love 80s movies and music.

I've been to Nebraska twice.

I like to scrapbook but I'm way behind with it.

I'm afraid of heights, but not roller coasters.  Go figure.

I got to meet Hillary Clinton.

Great long weekend

Well, 2/3 of it was, anyway. Friday night was quite productive. Picked up little guy at daycare after work, and we went directly to the grocery store. Came home and I got little guy his dinner, then we went directly upstairs to do our chores.

I figured since husband had to work late, maybe I could get some of my weekend cleaning done early. I HATE to clean bathrooms so I wanted to get it out of the way. I managed to clean one bathroom upstairs while son played quietly by himself (ahhhhhh). Then, while little guy was in the tub having a ball, I took that time to clean the master bathroom. Yes, that's where he bathes, I don't leave him unattended. I also started some of the laundry that's been piling up for almost 2 weeks.

Saturday started off great. Got my hair did (cut and highlight) and it was just lovely. Went by husband's work and picked up my little man, then we went home for lunch. After getting him down for his nap, I made myself some lunch then attempted to complete my cleaning... vacuuming and dusting. Little man woke up before I started vacuuming, and since that's not his favorite thing in the world, I set him up a station on the couch. This is a new thing for us, as we've never really paid much attention to the TV before. I got him, his nuk, and a blanket, and got him settled on the couch with some Noggin on the TV. Little Bill, to be precise. It was a success! He LOVED it. Thank God for Bill Cosby. It worked so well as a distraction for me to vacuum the downstairs, that I was able to turn it on in our bedroom and get everything done upstairs too! The best part of the day came next. Husband came home from work early (about 3 PM) and we set out on an adventure to Pullen Park, near downtown Raleigh. It was so much fun, for all of us. And we got some great pictures, as you will see. There are playgrounds, an antique carousel, a train that rides around the park, pond and paddle boats, and walking trails. I had never been there so it was all new to me, as it was to little man. He enjoyed the swings very much, as well as the carousel.

For me, the train was frightening. That thing was rickety as hell, and turned corners pretty damn fast to be a "kids" ride. And, no seatbelts. Score. Not to worry, husband had a good hold on little guy, while I sat behind with my purse, the camera bag, and the diaper bag. Remember the days when we traveled light, pre-children? We spent about two hours at the park, and then went to Fresh Market to get some fun stuff for dinner. We made it home about 7 PM (little guy's usual bedtime), so it was a quick dinner and off to bed for him. Husband and I enjoyed a nice dinner and wine, and finally watched 27 Dresses that he had rented for me about 2 weeks ago. I love, love, LOVED that movie!! So cute and funny. The Bennie and the Jets scene was classic.

Sunday was pretty good too. Woke up late, about 9 AM, and watched CBS Sunday Morning while eating a homemade sausage/egg/cheese on an english muffin. Husband is an excellent cook. And I love CBS Sunday Morning, it reminds me of my dad. When I stayed with him on weekends growing up, we watched it every Sunday. After breakfast, I cleaned up the kitchen while the guys went upstairs for internet time and reading some books. I joined them to put away laundry, but amazingly still had more to wash. Does it multiply? It must.

The remainder of Sunday was consumed with lunch, more laundry, nap (for little guy), and baths all around. Daddy and little man put on their matching skateboard shop t-shirts. We went to a cookout in the late afternoon at some friends house, and a bunch of our other pals were there too, so it was lots of fun. They have a great yard, there were other kids to play with, and there was good food too. We stayed till little man cracked, then it was home and off to bed, with mom shortly behind him. Daddy stayed at the cookout to go out with friends afterwards... must be nice, right? :)

I was SO looking forward to a productive Monday off. I love long weekends. I had shopping to do, and some organizing to do at home. We slept so late (9:30 AM!) and had already planned to go out to breakfast. Unfortunately, a short while after I woke up, I started to feel so sick and nauseated. I thought maybe I needed to eat, but that didn't help much. We purposely chose a restaurant near the mall to eat breakfast because I wanted to use some Yankee Candle coupons and browse around. I love me some Yankee Candle. Anyway, we're at the mall after breakfast not 10 minutes, and I told husband I had to go home. You know any woman is sick when they have to leave the mall voluntarily after being there only 10 minutes. The rest of the day for me was spent on the couch, trying my best not to vomit while keeping my son entertained. How much does it suck to be sick and try to take care of a toddler? I ask you. I missed a family cookout, husband took baby without me. It was actually kind of nice to have the quiet and take a late afternoon nap, which I desperately needed. They got home about 7:30 PM, and after putting little guy to bed, we watched The Flock with Richard Gere. It was decent, albeit disturbing.

So, that was our long Memorial Day weekend. Like I said, most of it was great, but I could have done without the nausea and sharp stomach pains on Monday. And no, I'm not pregnant, much to my mother's dismay. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

It's always something...

This is what my husband and I like to say to each other, at least once a week, if not once every couple of days. Today was no exception. The day was decent at first. Had a bit of a late start, but that's not unusual for me. Those who know me best know that mornings aren't my strong suit. Did a little traveling for work today, up the road to Oxford and Louisburg. I get back to the office about 2:30 and get to work writing up some files.

Then daycare calls.

Most of you parents know the daycare call. Before you pick up the phone, you get a little pit in your stomach, wondering what the person on the other end is going to tell you about your child. It could be minor, like a case of the sniffles. Or it could be major, like your little guy has just thrown up everywhere. Again, those who know me best know that I don't do vomit. But I digress.

This time, they inform me that little guy has fallen down and bitten his tongue, bled a little bit, but that stopped. And, oh, by the way, his left front tooth is a little loose now.

Great. A 20 month old with a loose tooth? I didn't expect this for another 4 to 5 years.

Our little guy doesn't have his sea legs all the time just yet. Especially after just waking up from a nap, like he had this afternoon. Apparently, one of little guy's teachers thought he was nice and steady after getting him up. She turns away, he takes a step and falls down. No one knows exactly what he hit his mouth and chin on, because they didn't see him fall. Now, I understand that accidents do happen, especially when dealing with little guys and gals. Lord knows, I've had a few myself with him, but we're not talking about me here. I was just most upset at the fact that my little guy fell down, got hurt, and now has a loose tooth. It's not his fault he was still sleepy, and left to fend for himself in the great big world they call the Toddler Room.

Needless to say, I was not happy about any part of the situation. After hanging up with daycare, I called my husband and expressed my frustrations to him in the form of tears and senseless ramblings. Being the good husband he is, he offered to call our dentist to see what we should do, or could do, about little guy's slightly loose tooth. Thankfully, our dentist said that it should tighten up on its own, which was a relief.

So he's ok, a little grumpy when I picked him up today, but wouldn't you be? Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for all of us.

Our little guy, pre-loose tooth. Note the scab above his left eye, thanks to another daycare accident. Not as bad, but that's another story.