Really Cool Forecast (if you're a duck)

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Happy Two Weeks

100_5235, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Taken on Cole's Two Week 'Birthday'. :) Still sleeps a lot, but having more and more alert moments, too. Cole seems (knock wood!) to be really mellow and as someone else said, an old soul. He often looks amused, like this is all old news to him.

Cole's starting to bat at things just a tiny bit, beginning to notice he has hands. Spent a long time messing with his left ear yesterday, like, "Hey! I can feel this two ways!" Loathes diaper changes, like most tiny babies, but quickly calms once he feels himself being dressed, and certainly when held. Paul's been getting him to take to the sling like a pro, and usually Cole settles right in, unless he's simply not ready to chill--then he generally still quiets down pretty quickly--or he gets to come back out, since it's supposed to be a nice place, not torture. ;)

Did I mention my husband jokingly nicknamed him Cutie McTiny? Probably not going to stick, but he is cute and tiny.

2 Weeks with a Cheesy Grin

Call the baby mensa chapter, for I have a genius on my hands. Cole is smiling. This is no gas, for I know the face he makes for *that* (and the general accompanying noises). It's uncoordinated, and very amateur, but hey, it's pretty adorable. Maybe I will see if I can't get Paul to make him smile and film it, since these things are so fleeting.

Success!

Managed to take three kids to Target today *and* get all three back home. Whoopteedoo! Bunny helped a lot keeping Mr. You Mean I Get to Walk? around without putting too many random items into the cart. He did seem to think we needed a ginormous thing of Tide and many air fresheners (Yummy! was his reason). Otherwise, it was only minorly headache inducing. I forgot my list, so I forgot to get a few things on the list, but I did remember the various kinds of diaper supplies which we needed ASAP, so the other things can wait. Cole slept the whole time, which was a major help, too. Me? I'm exhausted! Need to rest up so I can make dinner... I'm wishing I'd told Heidi to go ahead and bring a meal tonight even though we do have the salmon to cook (this fish needs to be eaten today, seeing as I got it Sunday--we've been so blessed with meals from others that I have not had the chance to cook it yet). It's okay; I'll be happy to have the healthy meal once I am done actually making it (planning salmon, sauteed zucchini, salad).

Oh! And I finally took down the Christmas tree today. So now I just have to get Paul to chop it up so it'll fit in the green waste container and I can say we've avoided being the craziest people on the block. Though with my weird neighbors, that would be a hard feat to accomplish. Seeing as they still have some Halloween decorations up! ;)

Day off? P'shaw!

I remember loving 3-day weekends. It used to be *SO* awesome that MLK Day was neatly just a couple of weeks after New Years, then a month later is Pres Day--just what you need to break up the winter doldrums! Take a coupl eof days off for Good Friday or something, and you have a nicely broken up winter with extra free time to enjoy.

Now it's just a weekend that is ONE DAY TOO LONG. Someday, in a couple of years, we'll go on minivacations, or make good use of the extra day, but this year it's not so much fun. Probably because it's rainy, Cole is cluster feeding with ravenous gusto, and Carter is very TWO. Bunny got out of the house, which I'm sure has immensely improved the prospects of a decent evening, and Nancy dropped off a meal that is cooking in the oven, so my tired butt has less to do than normal to get dinner on the table. So, much thanks to both Heidi, for braving Chuck E. Cheese with an extra child on a rainy holiday Monday (apparently it was a CIRCUS), and Nancy for feeding us. Oh! And she sent a very cute little jacket for Cole to grow into--with Tigger on it!

So, for today, for this year, 3 day weekends are not the bestest thing ever. But soon Paul will be out of the shower he's taking after he did his workout, and he'll be gifted with a fussy 12 day old infant, I will finish assembling dinner, get the kids to eat it (or not, since Carter probably will refuse the stuffed pasta), douse them with water (or put them in the tub), and get them to bed... then open a bottle of wine, methinks. One glass would be heaven right about now.

Then tomorrow is just a normal weekday--much easier than a 'day off' in reality. ;)

I'm really not a complete wreck -- promise!

This happened two days ago, but sue me, I don't get as much computer time as usual, and what I do get involves holding a baby whose age you still count in days (9 today, BTW).

Somehow, despite starting to get ready to leave something like 30 minutes before pick up time, I was still running late to pick up Bunny Wednesday. (I hate modified days!) I decided, as I was literally pulling up near the school as the bell rang, that it would take less time to wimp out and do the car line than to park, put Cole in the front carrier, get out Carter, hold his reluctant hand all the way to school… but for some reason the line was held up for 5 minutes of idling. UGH. I could have walked back and forth 3 times. Live and learn.

I finally pull up, and Bunny runs over, I wave to her teacher and apologize for my tardiness (she’s fine about it, and plenty of non-postpartum moms are later than me anyway). Bunny gets into the car and starts to say how cold she was in just her shirtsleeves in the wind. I ask her why she didn’t put on her sweater—I saw her grab one on her way out the door after I reminded her!—and she told me she had accidentally grabbed a pair of BLACK LEGGINGS instead of her block sweater. Whoopsie! Half the way home I was chuckling about how much of a mess they must think me, sending her sans show and tell item one day and with some pants instead of a sweater the next (though it really wasn’t my fault on the sweater!).

Oh well!

First Outing Today... Oy.

100_5221, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

So today Paul had an appointment which conflicted with Bun's pickup time, so it was the big day to steel myself for an outing with all three. All the way to the car, drive 4 mins to school, walk basically a block, pickup, reverse order and get back home.

I decided to give myself 15 extra minutes to change and dress Cole in footies instead of the nighties he has been wearing at home so he would have warm legs for the front carrier and carseat. 15 minutes sounded like more time than it turned out to be.

Just as I put him on the changing table, I hear the sounds of an eruption in his diaper. Actually, this is an AWESOME thing, since I much prefer changing him than to get him all the way out to the car, then having him start to go. I give him a minute or two to finish up, then open the diaper. TMI, but he was really ready to go. Seemed he *had* to be done going by the results. WRONGO! As I am cleaning up and putting the soiled dipe in the genie, KAPLOWIE! He's not done! But I had an extra wipe handy, so I then cleaned him and was sure to be good to go. NUH-UH! By then I am asking Carter to give my wet wipes and basically just trying to play catcher and mitigate the mess.

Long story short, about 10 minutes later I finally am getting him dressed in his adorable velour Pooh footies my uncle bought for Carter in London (big ben on the front with Pooh, weirdly), and we're in the car about 2 mins later than I usually like to be heading down the driveway. I got there *just* as Bun's class was exiting the room, and Cole was *almost* as much of a hit with the kids and moms as Happy, Olivia's family's new puppy.

Strangely, while all the *mess* was happening, it was the absolute calmest Cole has ever been during a change. Go figure.

Make Your Own Damn Food!

Found a new blog to crush on. Or rather someone with whom I heartily agree on the topic of picky eaters. To read her manifesto on picky eaters, click HERE. While my kids are a little young for me to adopt the idea of 'if you don't like what Mama makes, make something for your own damn self'--I envision Carter covered in yogurt and pretty much only being able to 'make' himself an apple beyond the yogurt, since he can't even open a cheese stick--I love theoretically commiserating with other moms who once 'never' would bow to kids' being picky who also own books on sneaking in extra veggies commando-style.

How low the mighty always fall. *sigh*

Good for the Soul

Good for the soul, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Made 5 qts of what I mean no slander calling Jewish Chicken Soup. Hey, the recipe is on the back of the bag of Manishevitz noodles. I only change it a teeny bit, adding a tiny bit of red pepper flakes to it, some parsley, and more salt than the recipe calls for.

This stuff is goo-ood!
Since the Manishevitz site does not include this recipe, I can't link to it. It's worth sharing.

4.5 lbs chicken parts, cleaned
2 qt water (I use more--however much to cover the chicken in the pot)
8 whole allspice
8 whole peppercorns (I sub ground pepper per hubby's request)
1 tsp ground dill
1 tsp salt
4 celery stalks, chunked
2-3 medium parsnips, chunked
4 carrots, chunked
1 medium onion, chunked
1 bag Manishevitz fine yolk-free egg noodles

Put all but carrots in pot and bring to boil. Skim and reduce to simmer for 1.5 hrs. Skim. Add carrots and simmer a final 30 mins. Remove chicken and allow to cool a little, then remove from bones, cut into bite size pieces and return to soup. If you will not be eating all this at one time (and it is a LOT), cook the noodles separately (al dente) per package directions and serve with soup in bowl. If you're feeding a hungry crowd, put the noodles in the soup and allow to cook for about 8 mins more then serve.

I never needed to know this existed.

I believe I have mentioned before my odd fascination with Japanese schwag. I find the way popular culture there is manifested to be both oddly compelling and, well, just plain damn odd. I used to collect stationery sets, but having kids limits my actual letter writing nowadays. I fiddle around with bento, though I have not gotten up the nerve to go to the Japanese dept store to buy real-deal bento boxes; I just fake it with Pack & Pack containers. Anyway! This I never want, nor do I ever want any-effing-one aside perhaps from an ENT specialist helping me clean my ears. Gag.

http://www.jbox.com/PRODUCT/FY377
Hello Kitty Ear Pick

The Japanese love cleaning their ears, and it is often a sign of love if your partner will clean your ears for you. It is not an uncommon sight in Japan to see a man with his head on his partner's lap while she scapes out his ear wax with the precision of a surgeon. This Hello Kitty mimikaki (ear pick) will help you recreate the uniquely Japanese experience of having your ear wax cleaned out. Made of wood with a tiny ladle-like scraper at the end, it is made to be inserted into the ear (but not too far!) and scoop out the ear wax. On top of course, is a incredibly cute figurine of Hello Kitty, usefully weighted for balancing the delicate instrument. There is a whole subculture in Japan dedicated to ear picking, find out why with this high-quality Hello Kitty Ear Pick. 5" (12cm) long. Of course, always excercise common sense when inserting anything inside your body -- these ear cleaners are used throughout Asia but should be used with caution in a sturdy place, like your girlfriend/wife's lap. (More like this) (Direct link to this product)

Crash! Boom!

Huge storms the past two days, and last night the 'big one' rolled into town. I was up going to the bathroom at about 3, because I do that a lot being massively pregnant, and as I was falling back asleep I heard a loud crash/crack sound. I thought it had to either be the fence we share on one side with the crazy Sanford & Sons neighbors (seriously, that's their backyard, but it's allll theirs, not for sale) or a tree branch. I went over to the living room and flipped on the flood lights and all was well there, then I noticed all the way over to the far side of the pool that the umbrella was upended. Crap. Though that would not be noisy per se. Then I saw that the glass top to the 'circle table' was entirely shattered. Double crap. Shame on me for not even thinking about it when I knew full well there would be 60 MPH gusts today. Oh well, worse things turned over today, like 4 big rigs on the San Rafael Bridge, so losing the top to a somewhat old table is not the end of the world. It never let up enough for me to go out and sweep it up, so that job awaits when hopefully tomorrow is not so crazy weather-wise. But we have a week solid of rain ahead. 10 feet in Tahoe by the end of this weekend! Too bad I seriously doubt I'll make the slopes this season even for April boarding. Bah!

On the plus side, I finished the scarf I started for Bunny last night and today. She loves it, and it came out well. I'll photograph it tomorrow probably. It's soft and purple--one of her new colors she loves. Thank goodness I don't have to do just pink-pink-pink anymore.

Happy New Year!

happy new year!, originally uploaded by drewzel.

Sadly my egg hath not hatched. But hey, all in good time...

I must have some of this.

And hide it from anyone (read: girlchild) in the house who'd use it all up in an hour but also become frustrated because nothing stays glued.

Instant DIY sticky notes with special repositionable glue stick.

Boo Yah. Because the boy child just delights in pulling apart the actual pads of sticky notes I buy--and the ones he can abscond with from his father's desk. Which leads to Paul wandering about the house asking where things are.

Happy Belated Birthday Note to Cartert

Dear Carter,
You've been 2 for two whole months now. And Mama is just getting to writing her letter to you. By the time you're old enough to really read this, you'll know that's pretty typical and A) roll your eyes, B) laugh, or C) A+B with a touch of love.

Now, I could wax poetic about how much I love you, and gush how, over the past two years, you've changed my life in ways that I never could have fathomed. I could tell you about the tears and joys you've brought to our lives. Or I could try to explain how the journey of adding a second child and first son to our lives has been such an adventure--one I never knew I'd enjoy so much.

Instead, I think I'll just tell you how cool and weird and wonderful you are. When I look back at these times, these are a few of the things I'll want to remember about you now:

• You have the goofiest sense of humor! Your father says it's from me, and he's probably right. One of your favorite things is to completely gross out Mama with boogers. You will pick at your nose--and in no small way!--then hold it out to me and say, with this *look* in your eyes, "Bite?" You don't do this to anyone else, just me. Because it freaks me out, and you like that.
• You're much more sensitive than your sister. Apples to apples, when Bun would get angry and pitch a fit, you become upset or have hurt feelings. You need LOTS of hugs. And boo-boo-gone kisses. You're not a wuss; you often do just get up and keep on trucking. But you're not above running to home base for some love.
• Man are you a picky eater! I used to have myself convinced my tactic of always feeding a small child the same meal as their parents, not bribing, and not sneaking in foods was a WINNER. I mean, Bunny eats everything and other moms comment on how she will gobble escargot en brioche or even begrudgingly take her couple of bites of kale. Then came you, little man. You, who survived on willpower and milk for something like 5 weeks in early fall. This again, you get from your mother. I went on food strikes, too. I'm a foodie now, so there is hope. Until then, there is The Sneaky Chef. Yes, I now hide veggies in meatballs. *sigh* Oh how low the mighty have fallen. You're just as stubborn as me, dangit.
• You still sleep with us. Kind of. You sleep in an adjacent futon to our queen bed, and we shuffle around as you wander over to find 'touch' with me, then I usually shift, Paul goes all the way to the far side of the futon... long story short, it is not at all uncommon for someone to end up UPSIDE DOWN in the queen bed as we accommodate you sleeping sideways, especially after your sister creeps in at about 5:30 insisting there is plenty of room. I shudder to think how we will make it so the baby can cosleep in this mess we created. I also longingly think of hte day when you and Cole will share a room and hopefully we'll get at least, say 4-5 hours just parents in the bed. But I know we'll miss having you 'nuggle' with us, too. Your Daddy has said it: we like having you guys close, as inconvenient as it is sometimes.
• You are at the same time a poop denier and a poop "wolf cryer". Hopefully it's something leading up to the day you use a toilet and your recongition signals are haywire with the latter. Either way, we can count on you to deny having very obviously soiled yourself or declare you *have* pooped when you're not even wet. However, you do manage to have a nasty bordering on blowout diaper at the park a good 4 out of every 5 times. Way to go dude, I really appreciate that. :-/
• You're pretty well mannered considering you're not all that verbal yet. You say please and thank you and you're welcome very reliably, which charms your adoring public to no end. Sometimes you lay it on a bit thickly, such as you thanking Bunny with much gusto for being a turd and chucking your juice at you because she was grumpy. Or was that your sense of humor again? Were you sarcastic? Hmmm. Again, that would be a wee bit from me.
• You kick trees. Dunno why. But boy does every tree need a good kicking in your opinion.
• You love music, but hate my singing. Which may simply mean you have good taste, as I have a 4 note range, more or less. HOWEVER, you did see Barry Manilow singing Copa Cabana on Ellen and screamed, "That's awesome!", so I am not completely sure of your taste. At least it wasn't Mandy.
  

Cartito, this is just a smattering of what makes you, well, YOU! Any day now you'll be a big brother. I try to forget that you'll also be the dreaded middle child. I try to couch it as that you're the older brother. I hope very much we're all able to help you with this transition and to keep you YOU. Because you're pretty awesome the way you are. Boogers and poop and all. I can't wait until we have real conversations and I can learn more about what you think about things. Except Barry Manilow. I hope you don't find him awesome very soon. Because that's just wrong.

Souper Yum

So yesterday I cooked the ~8 lb ham. Yum. I had ham and hominy and eggs twice in 24 hours, and Bunny and Paul had plain old ham steak with eggs, plus Paul has been eating ham-out-of-hand all day, and there is still a ton left. My main goal was getting the bone and ancillary meat to make split pea soup. I am so glad legumes are back on Paul's diet after years of no split pea soup, or it being seen as some major splurge (for the record, beans and legumes lower insulin resistance and the impact of both the carbs in the meal you're eating *and* the next meal, so there!).

Anyway, it was a very easy recipe. Take 2 lbs dried split peas and dump into 4 qts water, bring to boil and simmer 3 mins, then let sit covered for 1 hour. Then bring back to simmer along with about a cup each of celery, carrot, and onion. Add about 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp dried thyme, 4 bay leaves, 1/4 tsp pepper, some celery seed and put in the reserved ham bone and any meat you're willing to give up for the cause. Simmer about 90 mins. Depending on how thick you like it, you may want to thin it with some chicken stock. Voila.

I'm putting away some to freeze for a meal after Cole comes, and we'll nosh on more in the coming days. Tomorrow I think I will make a double batch of "Big Martha's" meatloaf and freeze one. Except I prefer oatmeal to bread in it. It's what I had growing up, and what I like. Sue me.

I *heart* this idea!

Keep a list of things you swore you’d never do as a parent

This is an awesome idea. I remember way back when I had such high ideals on, oh, everything mothering. I still do have high ideals, it turns out, compared to a lot of people out there. (You really get your eyes opened once you're no longer only in the very self selecting groups of mother's clubs and co-op preschools, where ideals are pretty dang high anyway... public school, even in the area of San Jose that wants very badly to be Los Gatos makes you realize you're a rock star in comparison to some [and a schlub compared to others, oh well!]).

Anyway, along the way we all seem to make concessions to reality. We buy a Happy Meal--then we at least rationalize that one child gets apples and one gets fries; they split it and it's somehow not total junk. We buy battery operated toys--and the 40 pack of AAAs at Costco. We crank up PBS Kids and Sprout, and if it's a bad day we may even let 'em watch SpongeBob just to get dinner made while being the only adult in the house. But we do a lot of things right, too.

Anyway, this is a great idea--to revel in inadequacies we never expected to have.

Oh, and I'm still preggers. Dammit. Oh, and cranky. And nesting. Let's see, what has Muffy done today? Hmmm. 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, baked a ham (going to make split pea soup and freeze half tomorrow), and sorted a lot of maternity clothes for the charity pick up on Jan 4. The kids can't possibly have more clean clothes than they do, unless I start making them go naked, there is nary a dirty linen or towel in the joint, and even the trash rugs I put on the cement floor in the garage around the fridge and washer/dryer are freshly laundered. I hope this kid decides to get born before I have to paint the exterior of the house or something to use up this nesting energy.

If I were only this creative...

I am beginning to suspect I live in some alternate reality where there are TRULY less hours to my day than others have. Or maybe it's simply that I really like to sleep. If I were an insomniac, I'd get so much more done, I promise. But I love sleep. Like 6-7 hours minimum. (Don't remind me that will sound like a decadent amount soon when night feedings re-enter my life!)

Anyway, this blog is too cool and I only wish I were able to do more than look and imagine finding the time and space and keeping the kids out of the way and out of my stuff long enough to make one in ten of these projects this woman does. Though she has her share of UFOs (unfinished objects), I am sure, too.

Behold: http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/

What a mess.

It's far too early to know how it all happened, but by now there are probably 3 people in the Western World and beyond who don't know a young man was killed at the SF Zoo and that two others were badly injured on Christmas. A lot of evidence points to the tiger having been provoked somehow to escape (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gEclFYG2_eqGTpkeD4OknwUlgqEgD8TPVPG01). Again, while it's still being investigated, this sounds pretty likely, as zoo tigers are not in 'sparring shape' and even if the moat is not as tall as current standards (seems it's off by 4 feet), it's still quite a leap for a flabby 'kept tiger' to leap. Anyway, we're keeping our membership, as we love the SF Zoo and I'm sad to see that this gorgeous creature is dead.
We went to the zoo on Veteran's Day and I got a little clip of Tatiana in her enclosure. Yes, she was huge! But you can see how great a leap she had to make. While I am sorry for the families affected, this reeks of Darwinian justice. My 2 yr old would know better than to taunt a tiger.


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Carter Skywalker

Carter Skywalker, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

We had a very merry Christmas and are now in the hangover stage, where the toys are fun, but the natives are also restless.

Carter made out very well, getting a teeny bike, a lot of Jay Jay and Thomas stuff, a light saber (darn that Santa putting that in the stocking), a pedal-free trike with wagon, about 20 Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars, and some nummy candy, plus some other things I am sure I'm omitting.

Bunny got her first two wheel with NO training wheels, a real digital camera (better in MPs than Mama's!), a very soft Steiff bear, a pottery wheel, 3 or 4 books, the much coveted Littlest Pet Shop ranch set, plus a few other new 'pets', and of course candy.

Oh, and of course a light saber, too. She and Carter have waged many a battle with them, and even took them to the park today. Both nights I have had to confiscate the sabers and put them away once the kids seemed to be turning to the Dark Side in temperament. ;)

I'm still large and in charge here. Today we met up with Heidi and her kids at the park and she laughed out loud at how huge I had gotten just since Saturday when last she saw me. From my view point (mainly above) it doesn't look much different, but apparently I'm really dropping, haha. I will say it's damn near impossible to keep up any but the one pair of cropped jeans (PERFECT in cold Dec weather, p'shaw) because I am not shaped anything like a normal human, well anything like a non-ready-to-pop human.

Paul said he considers the real Christmas to be whenever Cole's born, and he feels like he's in suspended animation until then. He really can't wait to hold the little guy. I'm excited to see him, but I think, seeing as I feel him all the time, it's not the same for me as him. Yes, I want to hold him, but I *have* been holding him. He's all mine now; Paul wants to have his baby in his arms. Which, since I got the sling washed and ready, he will get a lot of, fear not. Paul does the screeching baby routine much more sanely than me. It drives me up the wall when babies cry with no resolution available. Paul, however is so good at remaining calm despite the pissed-off-for-no-discernible-reason mass of humanity. Which is why the person who made slings large enough for men is a saint (though probably, they're really just for larger sized women--whatever, it works for me). Paul gets his baby time, and I get my free time, ya know, to make dinner or some other comparatively relaxing thing in the evening. ;)

Carter's Beloved Rock

Carter's Beloved Rock, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Behold the Rock. No, not the wrestler cum actor who's really named Dwayne I think. :) This is Carter's Rock. It's small enough for his palm, flat, and both water and increasingly careworn. It also fits nicely in his pocket. Most rocks do not see much action beyond what happens near their resting spot, but this one gets around. It (He?) goes to school, to stores, to watch Bunny sing songs with her class, pretty much everywhere but the park (Mama says it stays in the car then, because she's pretty sure it'd get lost *there*). Carter proudly shows it off to all who appear to be attentive, thrusting it in their faces saying, "Rock!" Kids are cute.

How big is Kristianna? Soooo Big!

I think I look like I'm dropping? This is not a full profile, which would be even more impressive, probably. I find myself spending a lot of time gawking at my bigness in the mirror lately. Amazing there is yet another human about to emerge pretty much whenever he's ready to get on the daylight side of things. I personally need a couple more days to get presents finished and wrapped/shipped, and I want to be sure to see Bunny's class do their Christmas program Wednesday. After that, bring it on, I say... well, until like the 24th thru the 25th. The 26th? Again, bring it on. ;)

Why, oh why do I do this?

More Cards, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Here are our friends and family cards for this year... well three of them. :)

I got the idea from the December edition of Family Fun magazine (good magazine if you're a mom with older than baby kids and are ready to slit your wrists at the idea of ONE MORE article about baby skin issues or developmental stages for the first year... they really just regurgitate all the topics year after year, I swear). Anyway, Family Fun has things to do and make and stuff like that which if you're a wee bit craftsy like we are, is a wonderful find (a doctor's office find, no less!).

These are a family of reindeer, one print per member who can breathe air outside my womb (Bunny suggested a teeny print for Cole, but it feels jinxy to me). I did mine first, then basically played amateur fingerprint taker for the kids and Paul, bless his impatient heart, sucked it up for 3-5 mins to appease me and put his thumb to paper about 40 times. I glued on the eyes and Bunny put on the noses, fretting much about who to make 'Rudolph' on each card (strangely, she seems to be Rudy a LOT, hmmmmmm!). Then I let it all dry and now I am putting on antlers (varying sizes, of course, since a fawn of Carter's size would only have weeny beginner antlers and Paul's are obviously more developed--yes, I spend time and brain energy thinking about these things). Since they're homemade, I have to actually write in them, so that's the slow going part, as Carter likes to crawl onto me and scream "I draw!" and grab at things every time I think I have a moment to do a card. Then I spend time figuring something he *can* draw and somehow I only get one or two finished a day. Where does the time go? Oh yeah... kids.

I love home made cards, since it seems everyone else is more wise to the expedience of photo cards (which are great, too), but they just are not as nice on the mantle as the real deal cards. Then I can enclose a photo of the kids for those who'd actually appreciate one and those who really could give a crap about owning some strange child's photo has a real card to enjoy.

But this is time consuming, I tell you. I always think something will be so much simpler than it is and bite off too much. It would take me a day to make these were it not for, oh, those kids and being a million weeks pregnant. ;)

Feeling the Power of the Light Side

Watching the Empire Strikes Back, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Verdict is in: our kids love Star Wars. Thankfully it's On Demand, as the 'live' showing started at 7 last night, and no way were the kids staying up until after 9, no matter how cool Yoda is. :) Plus Bunny can watch and ask her 1,000,000 questions clarifying who exactly is bad and not. Weird thing is, while we all found out Darth Vader was Luke's father way back whenever (1980??) Bunny already knew it, since to her the series runs in a different order than it does to me and every child of the 70s (or their elders). Carter? He just likes the action and seems to believe he's watching himself whenever Luke is onscreen. Took us a while to figure out why he kept hollering "Cartert!" at the screen and then became upset when Luke was not in the scene.

Anyway... finally something we all like and not just something the adults merely find un-terrible. ;) Since they could not stay up to watch the second half, and it's yucky weather this weekend, I foresee much 'force feeling' in the immediate future.

An Inconvenient Possibility

2007SantaPhoto, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Sometimes it's easy to forget the girlchild in this photo above (cute Santa photo, no?) is only 5. And a half, she'd have me say, of course, since that 'a half' is a big half.

Bunny has such an advanced vocabulary that you forget it's still very 5 yr old sensibilities inside, no matter how well spoken she is.

For example: I'm talking to my dad today and he jokes about how would we deal if I were to go into labor on the 24th or 25th. The 25th would be better, since it'd probably mean even if I were uncomfy, I'd be able to see Christmas morning, whereas the 24th would make me miss that, and as much as having a baby would be the perfect salve for such a thing, I'd still be very bummed to not see their eyes, hear them on that morning--ya know.

Then my dad tells me that he talked with Bunny about what she thought about if that were to happen. She said, "That would be very inconvenient for me and I would not like it at all." Then she went on about the general worries a child has about how the man in red can find a child who's not at home on Christmas morning.

All sounds so rational, and like she'd be better at dealing than me in the end were that to happen! But at the same time, Bun has been spending a WHOLE lot of time observing the different chimneys in our neighborhood, marvelling at how Santa can fit down them, once she realized the 'circle part' (flue) is really the part that is the chimney itself and the bricks are not how wide a chimney actually is. She also noticed a lot of people have covers (spark arrestors) on top. How then does Santa get down?? Magic, I say, over and over (and over). Note to self: thank Norbert for that tip: Magic is the answer to all Santa questions. It works.

So, she's not growing up too fast after all. She just talks a good talk.

Parent-Teacher Conference Time...

It was Tuesday morning, but I am just getting to sitting down and hopefully writing all about it (Carter is napping, so some of this depends on him cooperating by staying unconscious!).

Mrs. Cline started off by saying she hoped I realized what a special child I have, that she really adores Bunny. :) She loves how good her manners are, and also how well spoken she is. Told me that on day 2 or 3 there was an assignment to color in a picture of an apple, and Bunny hesitantly, but very deliberately told her, "Excuse me, but I don't color; I create. Can I draw an apple?" Which is totally Bunny to a 'T'. That child knows her mind, I can attest to that.

Mrs. Cline went on to say that Bunny seems to enjoy playing with a variety of classmates and taking leadership positions, such as being a class Safety Marshal. (For what it's worth, I named her House Safety Marshall, too, haha.) With regard to 'standards' for her grade, she's exceeding most concepts and meeting some others (not a big fan of writing in all lower case, but that is typical of her age). Her spatial awareness, ability to predict and reason are precocious, and she is a great listener (good to hear she listens at school haha, since she mainly excels at interrupting at home, heehee).

All in all, she's doing wonderfully, and I am proud--and so is Bunny! This is the teacher comment on her report card:

Bunny is an excellent student and her love for school is obvious! She is creative, confident, and polite. Bunny excels with listening, following directions, and classroom behavior. It is always interesting to hear her share in front of the class because her language is very sophisticated. Bunny knows all letter names and all letter sounds and is beginning to read simple words. Our focus the next trimester will be writing numbers and lower case letters. During choice time Bunny enjoys going to the art center. Bunny is a joy to have in class!

Eye bleach please. PLEASE?!?

Do I really need to say anything here?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

He was just checking... honest!

Today Desmond and Luke came over to play and Gretchen and Heidi stayed the whole time to visit. It was nice to sit and chat... anyway at some point Luke began to make quite a stink, literally, but did not admit to needing a new diaper. Heidi was lying on the floor on her stomach, as Luke ran this way and that... we figured eventually he'd decide he did want to be clean after all. Carter was really enjoying hearing the word poop so much, and at one point I checked him to make sure he was not contributing to the 'odeur' in the air. Anyway, a few moments later Heidi is gasping in shock -- Carter has pulled her waistband away from her rear end and checked her for poop! First time a male has been that fresh with her in quite some time. ;)

Thankfully Heidi is indeed potty trained, and was clean. Or so she claims!

Carter & His Lovey

100_4983, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

My sweet boy has an odd lovey. Mama's big belly. I kid you not, the child loves this belly of mine. He will walk up, raise my shirt a little, say, "Hello! Baby Be-yee!" and wave at well, my belly button (the best part, it seems). He loves to rub his cheek on it, rest his head on it. If big sister comes up and wants to use my belly as a pillow, too, he will try to pull my stomach towards him (not so comfortable) and scream, "Mine!" He will also tell 'the belly' "Bye bye!" and wave at it then cover it back over.

Too bad it's a temporary thing. Well, for him. Personally, I won't mind forgetting I can't fit in tight spaces or bonking myself with doors, or my favorite, as I go around a corner. (Yes, I am very graceful.) Plus, it's the baby boy who is making it this size, and he's set to debut sometime in about 6-8 weeks (my due date is kind of fluid and may change as I never agreed with the Jan 12 date to begin with, haha).

Monkey Cake for the Little Monkey Boy

Monkey Cake for the Little Monkey Boy, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

The birthday party is over and was all in all a success. I didn't realize when I set the date that it was also the return to standard time, so by all of 5:30, the little boys were stumbling tired (it feeling like all of 6:30, haha). I have to admit, the cake was really yummy. Chocolate with chocolate butter cream. Took me forever to get those dang ears on, and I was not ready with the rest of the food by the time our guests were here, but it was only Desi's and Luke's families, so not someone who I have to be perfect for. ;)

Carter had a great time, actually ATE some of his cake (unlike the ice cream from his birthday), and is now pooped. As are we all!

Tee Shirt Factory

Tee Shirt Factory, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Stumped as to what to give the kids for favors for Carter's birthday party, I settled on making tee shirts. Well, Hanes made them. But I dyed them and did the rest. I always get a little grumpy when buying loot bags for kids, as it's just something you do because you're supposed to, and then it's all in the trash or on its way there before dusk settles that day.

Now these were fun! I have a feeling the boys will like theirs well enough (and hey, they're boys; they care a lot less)... the girls? I have no clue if Lily and Anika will wear them. Bunny asked me to make her an extra one: the top left one... and lemme tell you, she wanted about 10x more hearts on it. We're really still trying to get this whole less is more concept, haha. Bunny has said she'll wear hers with her name on it when she has a substitute teacher. Now that's using your noodle! ;)

Oh yes I di'id!

Oct 29 2007, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

I just have to show off this one. Mini bagel mummies! Today I very innocently asked Bunny, who brings the best or coolest snacks to school? I was pretty sure, since kids always are stinkers, she'd say, well someone else. But she said she did. Aww yeah. Sad to say it, but these little things are what make it fun. She said lots of kids have the same snack everyday and hers is always fun to see when she opens it. Yay me. :)

Tomorrow's is already in the works. I made 'faux' pumpkin custard... okay, it's sugar free instant vanilla pudding mixed with pumpkin and the pie spices, but it tastes pretty dead on, and I needed to figure something that would fit in the box cups without melting in an oven). I ate one of them (it made like 4 servings) and it was really pretty damn good, if I don't say so myself.

Happy Birthday My Sweet Boy.

I intend to do a better birthday open letter to my precious boy later. I'm a tad bit distracted by the earthquake we just had, even though it was nothing to write well, anywhere about, haha. But I still have that adrenaline from scooting everyone into the hallway. :) It was a 5.6 and decently close, but just a rumbler.

Happy Birthday Carter!

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Is Halloween over yet?

Glazed Expressions Courtesy Candy, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

While I suppose it's nice that costumes get a lot more use these days, it's out of CONTROL how much Halloween has changed from a one night, put on a sheet or something lame that resembles a trash bag with a very dangerous mask having itty eyeholes, into a month long extravaganza. Our first H'ween party was September 29!!! Eeesh.

Anway, here are the kidlets, in their sugar-induced states from Friday when we went TOTing downtown. I must admit they're super cute kids. ;) Little Carter was mystified by it all, but he certainly 'got' that people were being really nice and giving away candy to him, and all he had to do was hold out a big pumpkin bucket!

Was it wrong that I ate a Reece's cup out of his bucket that very night? Hey, he doesn't even like peanut butter (though I guess adding chocolate to the equation may have changed it a bit).

P.S. Carter is a monkey, but he refuses to put up the hoodie part. Stinker!

A nice, laid back weekend. Pshaw!

Is October over yet? Is it?? Please?? In our house, we jokingly call fall 'birthday season' since there are a damn lot of birthdays mid-Sept thru early November, but October is by far the pinnacle. Of course, I didn't make things any easier by having a child the day before Halloween, did I? (Going with the theme, I fully expect to do into labor at, oh, 3 a.m. on Christmas morning or something magically impossible like that... I imagine myself trying to breathe through early labor while hurrying the kids through the "Santa Came!" portion and hightailing it to the hospital to deliver, but I digress.)

Anyway, counting that one party was for twins (which means it's double the fun and I count this as two), there are/were 8 birthdays in October. Plus: Bunny won that award, so we had to go to that thing. And there are Halloween festivities to get to. I was going to have C's birthday party this weekend, but another friend is having a party for a playgroup I am in, and we wanted to go, so I pushed his back a weekend. Which is a great thing, since we're going to be going trick or treating downtown this evening after the park playtime. Then tomorrow Bunny really wants to go to Lakeshore Learning to make a craft tomorrow morning. then tomorrow afternoon we have a birthday party at a pumpkin patch (please, let it be in the shade, said the pregnant lady).

Sunday I need to make my menus for next week and grocery shop in the a.m. so I can prepare a side dish for that afternoon's halloween party, which I truly am looking forward to... as long as I can sit a lot, haha. I would call Monday a day off, but really I need to finish up the tee shirts I am making as favors for C's party and probably bake a small cake for C's 'real' birthday. maybe I'll just get cupcakes. Oh, and I really should wrap his presents. Oh, and I at sometime in the intervening few days need to buy his tricycle/helmet that Mama & Daddy are giving him. Then Tuesday is his birthday. Wednesday is Halloween! I did already buy candy. Give me the strength to not eat all the Reece's cups. ;) Bun needs to wear her costume to school, and at 12:45 I need to get there for her parade and party. So much for Mr. Man's nap.

Paul is *so* taking the kids around for a few blocks of trick or treating while I hand out candy that evening. but, but, but, then I don't get to see C holding out his pumpkin bucket begging for candy! Or maybe hiding because he's not as adventurous as his big sister. I guess I can live with that, right? I will pass out candy at home, and Paul would love to see it all, anyway. He can carry C on his shoulders, it will be okay to miss it (this is me convincing myself to *not* do something here).

And then on Thursday? Rest! Unless something comes up. Oh, and Paul just told me to not overdo it tonight. Bwahaha. As if I have a choice. ;) I da mama!

I really don't need a new hobby/obsession.

Oct 23 2007, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

But I am being sucked into it, bit by bit. Bento appeals to my anal inner core, and I always used to love going to Miyake for lunch back when I was a working woman. All those neat little compartments, with stuff all perfectly tucked inside.

I have a depraved fascination with Japanese culture, as they have such a sense of order and yet also are completely, utterly insane at times (I used to collect--and use--Japanese kiddie stationery because it cracked me up how weird it was, but also how well thought out at the same time. My favorite set of stationery, which I still have a couple of sheets to, is one called "Animal Donut" with the words "This taste has warmed up our mind as well as our body." (Yay Engrish!) on the top of the sheets, and it's decorated with some odd hamster on a donut, and what look a lot like crullers which are shaped like animal heads. I never could figure: were the donuts made OF, FOR, or BY animals??

Anyway. I now seem to be morphing into a bento kiddie lunch maker. I bought all these Lock & Lock containers back at the beginning of the school year, but when they have all 4 inner compartments in them, as neat as they seem in theory, I never could figure how to use them for a lunch in toto and Bun is only 5; she eats with gusto, but it'd be overkill to give her 4 snacks and a sandwich. Then I saw an example of how someone removed two compartments and VOILA! perfect kiddie bento for the mom not wanting to buy much to start out.

Though, as addicting as playing with food is, I am sure I'll buy 'her' a couple for Christmas. ;)

My Little Award Winner

Bunny_Kinder, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

We found out today Bunny won 2nd place for a habitat preservation awareness diorama she built for class! Hers was about helping sharks, and I had to juggle her very full birthday party attending schedule so she can go get her award this coming Saturday. She's invited to a party at Blush (makeover place) with pizza at Round Table afterwards, but we're going to the wildlife preservation center at 10 and just making it to the pizza and cake part, which hopefully gives her a 2.5 hrs to go and show off her creation and get her major award. She's been to those makeover places a few times for parties anyway, and she's over it, plus then I don't have to scrub glitter out of her hair for the next week.

I'm very proud of her, and hope it's not a lamp shaped like a leg or anything. ;)

No, Pat No! Don't Sit on That!

So Carter has been enjoying a little self exploration whenever he's afforded the chance. Quite normal, though his gravelly way of saying, "I touch," is a bit odd when I am changing his diapers. Whatever.

Anyway, Paul was changing him today and noticed he was a bit red, so we decided to let him 'air out' in the back yard for a while. Usually we let him be a shirtcocker (shirt and no pants -- Burning Man phrase that cracks me up to no end), but today he was au naturel, as we were thinking he'd want to put on his swim diaper and get in the hot tub if we got in. He was running around, arching his back, trying out the sensations of 'touching' everything he can. Again, whatever. Up to a metal chair, arch back, said "touch"... and so forth.

Until: He decides to try out a lavender plant. They are kind of prickly this time of the year, since they are planted in beds that are native plants and able to handle the 5-6 mos of dryness. Up to lavender plant, arch back, says "Owwwwww." All I could think of was that line from Hop on Pop. ;)

And Many Moooore!

KRISTIANNA___BABY_ELEANOR_1_78, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

My sister is 30 today! Which makes me going on 35. Dang.

I feel like it's only been a short while since we were these little kids.

A well-balanced meal

It's taken me a couple of weeks to get around to sending this photo from my phone. This is my dessert from a playgroup family get together--berry pie with super sugary crust and a chocolate-chocolate macaroon sandwich cookie.

The baby kicked for about 3 hours after this little treat. Me? I was semi-comatose. ;)

Warning: This Boy WILL Feed You a Booger

100_4668, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Carter's newest way to torture mama: pick his nose (which has been full of 'nose picking gold' lately), and offer a booger to Mama. He likes to pick his nose, then hold a miniscule (or NOT) boogie up to my face ane then after saying "Booger!" a few times, say, "Wan Bite?"

His sister never did this.

The Much Coveted Buggy

100_4773, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Carter was very happy to play with this decrepit broken stroller frame at the park today. It's Luke's and usually Luke is not wanting anyone else to use it. No matter which child plays with it, they look like a very small elderly man using a walker.

But it's a very beloved toy, nevertheless.

We get so hung up, worrying what will be the perfect present or addition to the brightly colored plastic arsenal of toys, that we forget they like what they like. And they likey the the buggy!

Holy MouthFire, Batman!

I love the palak paneer from Trader Joe's and last weekend picked up a package of punjab choley to mix it up as a lunch for me. Made some rice and this for lunch today and OMG my mouth is on FIRE.

And I like spicy food, too. I can't say I dislike this, but I am having to take 'breathing thru my open mouth' breaks to handle it, LOL.

Yes, random blog entry, but I am eating it right now as I mess around on the computer, and my nose is even running, LOL! They mean it when they say it's 'richly spiced'!

I'm off to put some sour cream in this.

On having an obstetrical appointment with a poodle on my chest.

So, I'm waiting in the exam room, having had my BP, doppler, and weight done by the nurse, when my OB opens the door, and is hunkered over, coaxing some little wiggly thing whose shadow I see before the actual dog.

It's doing that sideways nervous shimmy thing with a lot of tail wagging, which makes me think a puppy is on the way, but my OB said, "No, she's a full grown adult pregnant with two puppies in her!" The a teeny-tiny teacup toy poodle is suddenly on my chest, LOL! Nancy (my OB) asks me to be mindful she has claws, and then proceeds to measure my belly and check out my calf, as I am having varicose vein 'issues'. All with a dog that can't be more than 4 lbs with two puppies in her on my chest, haha!

She had to bring her dog in to keep her under watch, since she could go into labor anytime and needs to deliver the 2nd puppy within a certain amount of time after the first or she'll need an emergency c-section. Carter thought it was the best part of the day by far and was telling everyone about the dog (not that anyone knows 'ga' = dog in Carter-speak).

Me so big

23 wk belly, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

This was at 23 weeks more or less. Only getting bigger! We're having another son! Two boys 2 years apart. I think I need a Tums just thinking about it.

Monkey, monkey...

Okay, the title is supposed to be sung a la the 'funky, funky... bidee bidde BOP' line in Cantaloop by Flip Fantasia.

Carter's wee little #2 birthday party is on, with a Cheeky Monkey theme. The house will be Halloween central, because Mama is not giving up her annual excuse to put up the glittery pumpkin Bun made a couple of years back, and of course my black table cloth with the ghosts! Plus, it's a perfect opportunity to take off a week for cobweb dusting! It's not dirt -- it's atmosphere. ;)

However, the back yard will be a monkey theme. I'm taking the monkey party ideas from good Old Martha and going from there. Found bouncy balls at Target with a monkey in them, and I'm going to make tee shirts with a monkey on the front (hope Paul Frank doesn't hunt me down and sue me for daring to put a monkey on something)... it'll be my own sad sack design. I can lay various color of ovals over each other in MS Paint and print it onto iron-on transfer paper like a mofo. I have delusions of crocheting something monkey to wear, too. Maybe the hat I have been meaning to do for about a year now, but never could find the exact yarns for.

Since Carter's two whole 2 yr old guests also have big sisters Bun's age, I still need to figure out what to make/give them to not leave them out.

Ugh, must go and change a poopy diaper. Carter is going through a phase where he is a Poop Denier. So, I also must chase him down. Being a Dirty Diaper Denier is not as bad as a holocaust denier, but it still stinks. ;)

Pizza Crustless Quiche. Mmmm!

Before in oven. Fresh from oven. Yum!

This is the second time I have made this and it's really quite good, especially for those who don't do crusts or doughs in their diets. The idea was Paul's; the recipe, mine.

Crustless Pizza Quiche
serves 4-6

• 1 c shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 T pancetta cubes (Trader Joes sells them pre-diced and cheap!)
• 5-6 basil leaves, cut in chiffonade
• 1 T flour
• 5 eggs
• 1 c milk
• 1 t Italian seasoning
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/3 of a 5 oz package of thinly sliced pepperoni
• 2 small tomatoes, sliced about 1/4" thick, and allowed to sit on paper towels to absorb some of the moisture for 10 mins or so
• more mozzarella to top (maybe another 1/2 c?)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a bowl, toss basil, pancetta and cheese with flour, then place that mixture into bottom of nonstick skillet which has been sprayed with canola or olive oil spray.
3. In same bowl (less to clean!) combine eggs with milk and herbs/spices and mix well.
4. Pour that mixture slowly over the cheese mixture in the pan-don't dump fast or the cheese and whatnot might move around and not make every slice the same.
5. Top with tomatoes, pepperoni, and a little more cheese.
6. Place in oven and bake about 35-40 mins, or until a knife inserted in middle comes out clean and top is nicely browned. Allow to cool a few minutes, then slice into pizza/pie wedges.

We usually have this kind of meal with a salad, though it is technically nutritionally complete as is. Really good leftovers. I also like to put some parmesan on it, just like I would pizza.
Mange! :)

Trip to the Egyptian Museum

100_4747, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Bun's been wanting to go to this museum for months, and she had today off for school, so off we went. I only took a few photos from outside because of the no-flash rules inside, but it was as nice inside as out -- and the outside was very impressive. Bun's favorites were the mummies. Carter was fond of screeching and trying to touch things he should not (everything). We had fun, and I think we will return again.

Nerd Alert!

Gingerbread_Man_083007, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Bunny made this in school, and it's cute, no?

I had it up on the fridge for a few days, then decided to catch up on scanning and it wasn't until I looked at the cutout bit of cheekiness as a cautionary tale that I realized my daughter has put the details of the Eye of Ra on hers. Those highly stylized eyelashes? Eye of Ra. I smile proudly and also cringe inwardly for the time when she decides to suppress her nerdiness because, well, putting the Eye of Ra on your gingerbreadman is no where hear as cool as turning your own eyelids inside out or something stupid like that.

News Flash: Boys Like Dirty, Yucky Things

100_4654, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

This is from the beach about 1.5 weeks ago, a last 'hurrah' for the playgroup before the older kids have to go to Kindergarten (gasp!) everyday. A great time was had by all, and Luke and Carter found a TREASURE. Yes, a partially burnt piece of wood from someone's fire the night before was quite the find. Luke found it; Carter coveted it. Both became filthy from soot. Heidi and I looked on with disgusted faces, but, meh... we let 'em play with it anyway, cuz... um... it was easier than not letting them play with it. ;)

The Tomatoes Worry Me

The Tomatoes Worry Me, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

This is 3 tomato plants. They're bearing ripe fruit, and growing what appears to be a foot every other day. At the rate of 8-12 ripe tomatoes daily, we should be buried in a week or two.

I need to get a'freezing! On the good side, the romas are awesome in soups and sauces. One big batch of bolognese was gobbled down, and another dozen roma went into a soup for Paul-Food yesterday. The beefsteak are being eaten at almost a rate of parity, keeping in mind the biggest yields are looming in a week or two.

He loves Jay Jay <---this---> much.

Carter is obsessed with Jay Jay the Jet Plane. Big time. Thank goodness for on demand programming, because I don't know when it's on 'for real'. Though he does not get his way all the time, he *does* ask for Jay Jay about 10 times a day. In reality, he gets to see it in the morning when he wakes before Mama has had her coffee, or when Bunny and Daddy are in the pool and he's 'not allowed' because it's Bunny-Daddy-ONLY time (which royally POs Carter, who loves to be in on anytime Paul's in the pool).

Last night Carter was having some intense dreams at about 4 a.m. and kept fussing awake, crying. I pulled him into our bed and was holding him to help him go fully back to sleep. As he drifted off, he said over and over, "I yuv (love) Jay Jay," kind of how Dorothy muttered about no place being like home in The Wizard of Oz. The kid really loves that plane.

The Deer Drawing

DeerWaterfall_082007, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Figured while I'm still up may as well scan.

Don't laugh too hard -- she was actually watching Bob Ross on PBS when she did this, but *gasp* used NO titanium white. She's a big fan of Bob Ross now. Meh, I'll enjoy that on the TV more than I'll ever enjoy Caillou.

My favorite recent thing Bun's done

Watercolor_Flower_Bugs, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

She drew with crayon, then used water colors. I have to scan one of deer by a waterfall which I also like, but this one is just so happy it makes me smile.

The thing about cravings

You gotta satisfy, because they burrow in deep. For some reason, this is why tuna casserole *had* to made yesterday. I've made it exactly once before, since it's not really the kind of food I make much. But the thought of tuna casserole was like a siren song to me for days. So I made it. And loved it!

Now I just want to chuck out the leftovers. What was I thinking? I guess I wanted protein?

One of those moments.

fairyland 016, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

So we went to Fairyland the other day with a few other friends from playgroup. It was okay, but Bunny and I agreed, all things equal, that we like Happy Hollow better.

I took dozens of photos, but this is one of my favorites. It's not the typical happy child at an amusement park photo; quite the opposite. In this, Carter's obviously unhappy. But why?

Well, it's one of those typical, hard toddler moments. Moments before Carter was on the ferris wheel with Bunny. For about 10 seconds. He climbed in, and sat down, then the person operating the ride closed and locked the door. No mamas allowed b/c there is a height restriction of about 4 feet. Carter immediately began to cry, and they opened the door right away to let him off.

But Carter didn't want to get off the ride. He wanted, I suppose, to sit on my lap. He probably didn't understand at all why Mama wasn't getting in. I finally had to pick him up and 'help' him off the ride so that it wasn't held up any longer than it already had been.

Which is when I took this photo. Carter is experiencing that frustrating desire to do what he's just not ready to do. Bunny, at the same age, would have had the same inability to go on the ride alone (and she did--we had a few rides at the boardwalk have to be stopped as soon as she started to move)... but she got mad. Carter appears to be feeling the loss as he watches Bunny go up and enjoy her ride. He so badly wants to be a big boy, but he's still got a lot of baby in him.

So, for those reasons, for the way it touches the heart of a mama, this is one of my favorite photos from that day.

I'm in trouble with this kid.

So today I went in for my 16 wk appt. The nurse tried and tried (and tried!) to get the heartbeat with the doppler, but never could get it. I joked I would feel a little anxious, except I felt like there was a trout flipping around in my belly th ebaby was moving so much to get out of the way of the doppler. They did get the 'echo' of the HB at a nice 152, but never the thunky-whooshy noise you learn to listen for by your 3rd pregnancy.

This kid is already giving us grownups a hard time, I tell you.

Other than that, I'm doing well, and have gained 7 lbs (all that ice cream last week paid off, LOL). I had my blood drawn for the AFP test. Hmmm, that's about it.