A Rant...beware

I have a question that I've been pondering - especially these past few days....

When did it become OK to speak your mind freely - even at the cost of someones feelings? Am I the only person who watched the movie Bambi? "If you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all!"

I'm really sick and tired of people criticizing anything and everything that we do. I don't understand when it became ok to make fun of or express dislike of people's houses, decorating, clothing, parenting, name choice - etc. It's so rude!

Guess what? It's my choice to let my child watch Wiggles or Barney. It's my choice to let my child not wear socks around the house. It's my decision to paint my kitchen red, and it's my choice to give my children their names! It's my choice to drink a diet coke a day (with caffiene while pregnant) and it's my choice to get certain tests done during pregnancy. It's my choice to listen to MY Dr.'s about shots and c-sections and decisions regarding my health and the health of my family. We are all made differently (thank God) and I probably don't like your decorations or your favorite TV show...and that's OK!

On another note....never say never has become a key phrase that I ponder. I always said that I'd "never do this" and "Never do that" - but when you're in the moment - and you see your child light up when his/her favorite cartoon comes on - who am I to say - NO WAY am I sitting through that again?! When my child loves Elmo, why would I NOT let her watch it or get a favorite Elmo toy for her birthday? Isn't Seasame Street what you grew up on?

My family lives 17 hours away...there is no way a 1 year old can sit still in the car and entertain themselves for that long. If your child does - I'd question your honesty. So...(Gasp)...we have a DVD player in our car. I know - seriously - call CPS...I'm the worst mother of the year.

Bottom line - if you can't say something nice...keep your mouth shut!!...or at least wait until I'm out of the room and talk behind my back. ha-ha!

Guilty pleasures...

Well - my one show that I watch every day with Kennedy is Price is Right.
You know you've maybe seen it one to many times when your daughter is in the
midst of playing and hears "COME ON DOWN" and throws her hands up in the air and starts clapping for herself. :)

At least it's not soap operas....

Learning (still) to say "NO"

These past few weeks have been crazy...
Whatever I could possibly fit in every minute of my spare time - has been fit in.
We have re-arranged our entire house, moved furniture, baby-sat, made dinner for people who just had babies, made snacks for homegroup, showed our house 3 times, picked up a million and one blocks and toys, ran from practice to practice for music...I could go on and on....and these aren't even the normal things such as laundry and dishes and making beds!

Well - yesterday - my body said "STOP!" I had to cancel a couple of things that I had today - but there comes a point when you have to do what's best for you...for a short amount of time at least....and that's what I am doing this morning. Kennedy and I are going to stay in our pajamas and just play on the floor and watch Elmo...her 2 favorite things. :)

6 1/2 more weeks...till baby _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is born!!! :)

"FREE WILLY!"

Ok - so obviously it's 4am - and I can't sleep...at all. I woke up with incredible hunger pains! I tried to go back to sleep - but that pregnant no-sleep thing has definately hit me...and I forgot to take my Tylenol PM's last night! :( BUMMER!
So - I am downstairs eating cheese (protein) at 4 in the morning.
Speaking of eating - yes - I am still growing. :)

Jon said something kind of funny the other night. I came out of the shower in one of our regular bath towels....and he said..."Hmmm...I wonder if they make maternity bath towels...you know - that wrap around your whole body?" "Wouldn't that be cool?!" I could see the wheels spinning in his head...marketing this new product.
Unfortunately - I had to burst his bubble...."Yeah - they do make those...they are called BEACH towels"

Fish and Pasta

Ok...so I think this pregnancy is really getting to me! :)

I burnt a HUGE pot of noodles! I had it boiling - and forgot about it -- left it cooking for about 45 minutes. Needless to say...I smelled this horrid burnt smell - and then went to look and they were black, burnt noodle crunchies. :) My whole house smells like burnt popcorn....and it's only 10am!! :)

And...our new pet...the fish. I feel so sorry for him! He is a beta...and all he does is swim around all day by himself. So sad! I think he must be lonely.
Someone told me to put a mirror next to it...but that just seems more cruel! He gets so excited when I walk over there - and swims to the top of the small tank to get a morsal of food. It's like the highlight of his day. Sigh...so sad!

I need to have this baby...just to get my hormones and mind back to normal! :)

Trip Update

Well...Obviously Jon and I are back from Charlotte. We LOOOOVED it! What a great city! We see soo much more opportunity there for us as a family than in West Virginia. We are sooo anxious to get there and we feel like we'll be really "starting life". I think these feelings come from the fact that we always knew that WV was temporary...so we tried to keep that mind set.
Charlotte seems to have the big city appeal - but the small town feel. You can be in the city - and then drive 5 minutes and be in a neighborhood subdivision. It's great! The best of both worlds. It will be very hard to start over...I can't even think about it right now...but it will only strengthen us again.

Ok - so now for the good part. Kennedy and staying over night. Whew. Well - the first day with Tina - all she did was cry. She stood by the door and pointed and cried. She wouldn't watch her videos or play with toys or EAT! Tina even told me that she tried to feed her a chocolate donut - and she wouldn't even take that! :) ha-ha. :) She cried herself to sleep a couple of times - one time sitting straight up on the couch...and her head flopped in between her 2 little legs. Tina said she felt so sorry for her - but she wouldn't let Tina hold her or comfort her. :) She even tried to take her outside (because she loves being outdoors) and Kennedy just walked to the driveway and pointed to the car as if to say "I know this will take me to my mommy!" :)

By 2pm - it was time to take the stroller and walk to the school to pick up the big kids. When Kelsey came out of the door - Kennedy was a new woman! She was so excited and was playing with Kelsey. The minute they got home Kennedy was running to the kitchen doing the sign for "please" and pointing to the refrigerator.
Tina said she couldn't get the food fast enough for her! :) She was even eating plain pieces of bread...just shoving food in! :) The girls played dolls and house and blocks and had dance parties.

Then came bed time. :( When Tina pulled out Kennedy's pajamas...Kennedy lost it! I think she realized..."OH MY GOODNESS...I am spending the NIGHT here!!!!!!!!!!!"
Eventually she cried herself to sleep and slept until 4:30 am. Tina finally got her back to sleep around 6am but then it was time for her to get her kids up for school! :) What a good friend right!?

The next day was better...she kind of seemed to adjust and get in the groove of things. :) Let me tell you...Mom and Dad couldn't get home fast enough. We were originally planning to look around some more that morning...but instead - we just showered and hit the road! :)

IT was a tough thing to do - but we did it! We all survived. I did have a wonderful time with Jon - we had adult conversation - ate at an adult restaurant - and just really were able to love on each other. We felt like we were dating again! :)

Thanks to all who prayed! :) Wish we lived closer!!

Freaking out....

Tomorrow, Jon and I are heading to North Carolina. And...here is the clincher....we are leaving Kennedy with my wonderful friend Tina and her family. This will be the first time I have left her for more than a couple hours since I quit working.

I realize that most of you with kids probably leave them all the time - b/c when I started telling some of my friends - they were almost shocked that I hadn’t done it before. But it is sooo different if you don’t have family close by! Who would be crazy enough to volunteer to keep her!? ha-ha! TINA! :)

Also - the only experience I have of leaving her is with the babysitter when I was working. Most of you remember that she wasn’t getting fed...seriously....and she would be completely distraught when I picked her up each day...and she was a baby. I have no idea what all went on there....but neglect is certainly the key word.

So...that being my only experience - I am worried!! I’m not worried that Tina will not do a good job. She is a wonderful mother who loves her girls soooo much! I’m worried about Kennedy! She is sooo high maintenance and she is my baby! I guess I turned into one of those moms.... :)

But...I am sooo thankful that I have a friend like Tina to do this wonderful thing for Jon and I. Once I know Kennedy is fine...we will be able to relax and really enjoy ourselves!! I’m really looking forward to adult conversation - and a meal with no food thrown on the floor or drinks spilled..... well - I guess I still am out with Jon...ha-ha!! Well anyway - it will be nice. :)

TJ told us that he is only doing this for Jon - and sang .... Boum-chicka-boum-boum. :) Jon says..."PRESSURE"!! :)

So...if you think of it....say a prayer for Tina and for me and for my baby. :)