the girl who misses Texas

My mom and dad have taken to driving around the Texas countryside on the weekends. Dad has been sending me pictures of the wildflowers. I'll admit it, I miss Texas! Check out the beauty of my homestate.

the girl who asks...ARRRR you ready for some pictures?

Despite Zachary being on restriction until further notice and Daddy and I deciding to "cancel" his birthday, I just couldn't do it! So we did end up celebrating a little bit (although not nearly as elaborate as we had originally planned) I went with a Pirate theme this year and the original plan was to go hit the Pirate's Cove mini-golf, then hop over to the Pirates Dinner Show and end it with watching Pirates of the Carribbean 3.

What we ended up doing was, well, none of that.



We had ice cream cake (which Mommy improvised a Pirate theme on)...

and presents and we did go watch a movie but the birthday boy decided he would rather see Shrek 3 instead, so we did. His presents were Pirate themed though...






and I did get some pics of him with the POC3 display at Downtown Disney (so I get to use my Pirate themed patterned paper after all, lol!) So, while the day may not have been Pirate themed, the birthday boy did have fun and I do have some new favorite pictures.

and I even got some pictures of Ian too (since he came along)

the girl who is quoting

Conversation with Matthew today:

M: "Mommy, I go stinky!"

(me): "Good for you, baby. Now go wash your butt."

M: "No thanks, Mommy."

(me): "Matthew, go wash your butt!"

M: "No Mommy. I can't wash my butt. My finger hurts."



I just thought this was hilarious!

the girl who is happy

Here we go with the requisite "Things that make me Happy" Post.

This man makes me happy (when he isn't driving me crazy with his phone-a-phobia. You know, he thought he caught someone breaking into the condo and then calls me at the Dr.'s office to have ME call 911? Seriously.) But most of the time he makes me happy.

My kids being goofy and mugging for the camera makes me happy. I love that I have them TRAINED to be aware of the camera! lol!

This is the wall of my kids' art that I have next to my computer. Looking at this definately makes me HAPPY! (Hey Jen, note your b'day tag hanging there! lol!)

I found Izze grapefruit soda at my Publix. This definitely makes me happy! Love this stuff, and not just because of the cool flower stamped bottle cap!

Blue makes me happy and this is what is on top of my scrappy cabinet. I love everything here. My head in a cage, my tahitian vanilla reed diffuser, my big ass potpourri balls, the incense (black tubes) beside it--can you tell I like smelly good stuff?--and that picture of Aramis and I when we first started dating. We were definitely pretty darn cute! (this is pre-kids, of course! lol!)

My kitty home safe and sound after his adventure a few months ago. I love this animal. He is my "furry son."


Things that definately DO NOT make me happy, in fact, they make me decidedly UNhappy!

Kid one sick with fever, bronchitis, ear infection and throat infection.

Kid two sick with fever and vomiting.

Really, don't you two communicate? You need to coordinate your sickness so you have the same thing at the same time! And could you possible try to get over it quickly? I hate having to take off from work. At least the two sickies felt bad enough they slept a good portion of the day. (poor babies) Ian is just like his Daddy when he's sick. Set him up and leave him alone. Check in on him every hour or so to dispense juice or medicine, but seriously, just let me be miserable by myself!

Matthew is more like me. When he's sick he wants his miserableness acknowledged. He wants cuddles and love, and--if possible--he'd like to infect you two through sloppy, slimy kisses so you know how miserable he is!

the girl who is drowning

For the love of all things good in this world...someone please surprise me with a maid and/or cook soon before I crack. What is the deal with the laundry never being done? Why is my kitchen always a mess? And why does the bathroom always smell like pee?

Oh yeah.

I have three (and a half) kids. Boys at that!

and a dog.

and a cat.

and a husband.

and only two arms and about three hours in the day to do housework during the week before and after work.

I cannot wait to win the lotto and hire a full-time maid!

the girl who is raising a Chippendale

Check out my little future Chippendale dancer! Whoo Hoo, does he have moves or what?

This is Matthew (and Zack) having waaaaay too much fun, bouncing on the bed and dancing to Mika's "Lollipop" on endless repeat.

Notice the "Standard Cuban Boy" physique: big round belly with protuding belly button, cute little butt, and square shoulders.

Notice how the drips from the Kool-Aid Ice Pop accentuate the happy little mouth and afore-mentioned big, round belly.

Notice how happy he is to shake his groove thang!

Boy is he going to be dangerous to the ladies!

the girl who is a mother

Thought I'd share this video...I thought it was kinda cute considering the day, lol!

Yes, It's Mother's Day and I am a Mother. That, of course, is an understatement, but it *is* my day after all.

For Mother's Day, I got to sleep in until 4:00 am when the dog woke me up by vomiting all over my feet. (Note to DH: do not feed your dog leftover sub sandwiches--they don't agree with him!) After I finished cleaning up that mess, walking the dog in my robe and putting him in the crate for the remainder of the night, I got to sleep some more until about 6-ish, when I was awakened by DH to help him track down a missing shoe. After going back to sleep I was awakened by DS#3 wanting to cuddle and then the whole troupe came into my room a little later with a bowl of Cocoa Krispies and a banana. Happy Mother's Day! The cutest thing was Matthew insisting on spoon feeding me the cereal and shoving bites of banana in my mouth. Adorable! They have been very kind in letting me cat nap since but it really is time to get up and get going.

My plans for the rest of the day involve laundry--lots of it. And spraying the boys' bathroom down with bleach, lol. Three boys with various standards of cleanliness really can abuse a toilet. I know, glamorous. I have a sneaking suspicion that DH is going to present me with Tori's latest cd as my pressie when I get home, so I know what I will be listening too over and over tomorrow at work!

Mother's Day gives me a chance to reflect upon my kiddos. I really am proud of them. Such distinct personalities and oh, so loving. Each of them!

There's Zachary who is my comedian. He loves to make people laugh and involve people in what he's thinking. I worry about his tendency to want to be liked so much that he forgets his rules, but I know he has a good heart. He's finding his way, he just needs confidence. But he is so smart! Now I understand why potential is such a scary word. I know he has potential in spades, but I wonder if he really is motivated to use it. I don't want to be *that* mom that pushes her kid to the point he doesn't enjoy things that once brought him joy. So I'll let him find his own way, he is only 8. I'll wait until he's in jr. high at least before I start the insane academic pressure!

Then, there's Ian. He's Mr. Shy and Sensitive. The calmest and quietest of the three, he really is content to sort of stay in the background and not create a fuss. We call him our "OCD boy" because he is so particular about so many things. He has to drink form *this* cup, make his bed *this* way, follow *this* routine. He is the only one of the boys who sees a messy room and cleans it WITHOUT BEING ASKED! And all he wants as a reward is a sticker! He is very competitive with his younger brother though. Perhaps because they are so close in age, and perhaps because Matthew tends to bulldoze his way through everything and try to take over. Ian is my cuddle-bug and totally willing to just sit in my lap and tell me a story (even if I can't understand it.) He's my artist and will take crayons and paper over an action figure any day of the week. And as much as he is normally quiet and reserved, when competing with his brother's he turns into a drama queen. Push him while reaching for a toy and he will fall to the floor screaming piteously. When it isn't annoying it's comical.

Matthew is my BOY. He is Trouble on Two Feet. He is my Charmer. He wraps people around his finger. And he does it on purpose so he can get away with stuff. He charges headfirst into life. If he wants something he takes it. If he doesn't want something, he just says "no thanks" and refuses. "Matthew, time for bed!" "No thanks, Mommy. No thanks." He not only keeps up with his older brothers, he gives them a run for their money. And he is so irresistibly cute he gets away with way too much! He goes through life just assuming everyone loves him and I really hope he never loses that. One thing I hope he does lose is his total lack of fear of consequence. This is why he's the only kid to have had stitches, have had DCF called on us for his "escape" and who is always covered with bruises. Let's hope he learns restraint as he grows older.

Eli is my jumping bean at the moment. I hit 6 months this week and am started to get excited about meeting him. This pregnancy is bittersweet. On one hand, it was a complete and total surprise so there was a little bit of shock and a getting used to the idea period. On the other hand, I *know* this is the last time, so I am embracing some of the thrills and discomforts of pregnancy as the last time I will feel this way. Those kicks and jabs in my tummy? After 3 and a half years since my last, I realized I kind of missed that really intimate little thrill. Especially the first time you feel them, before anyone else can. It's like a little secret, "I've got a LIFE inside me!" So my firsts with this pregnancy are also my lasts.

Well, the kids have been generous, but I can hear a pile of laundry calling me, so it's off to work I go. I'm going to make a teeny plea here. If you read my blog and are not one of the Jens, please leave a comment so I know! I go so long between posts sometimes because I figure the Jens are the only one reading and I talk to them daily. Then I'll hear form someone that they saw such and such on my blog, so then I feel kind of guilty for letting ot go so long. Anyway. I'll leave you with the fabulous Tori Amos' new single "Big Wheel." Pay attention to my favorite part, completely appropriate for today...

"I am a M. I. L. F. Don't you forget!"

the girl who is classic

So I'm driving to Chipotle's (best damn burrito anywhere!) and I'm listening to the "classic rock" station.

Aerosmith's "Dream On"

Classic. Awesome.

Jimi Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower"

An Anthem for the ages.

and then...the biggest blow to my ego from a radio station I have ever received.

Right after a commercial break, the Dj does the tag "50 minutes of classic rock every hour!" and directly after that they play this song.

When did my jr high obsession become classic? Totally unfair!

the girl who welcomes...

Eli Deacon

Yes, another boy! But I couldn't be happier. Boys I know, boys I have stuff for, boys I don't have to worry about acting like I did when I was a teenager! lol! Now that I know, I get to go register. That's shopping without spending the money!

the girl who is walking

The van suffered massive organ failure and is on life support. So I'm walking. Well, actually, I'm sharing the wagon with Hubby again, but I'm not liking it. Damn car is so low that in my behemoth state I feel like a whale getting in and out. (Especially out!) The van will be better soon (I hope). I came out of Publix to find a huge puddle of fluid underneath the van. I mean HUGE! It took all of my nerves just to drive it across the street and around the corner to park it at Larry's house. And all the while my temp gauge is rising and rising and then alarm beeps start going off!

Nerve-wracking.

Then the whole issue of getting Aramis out of work early to pick up the kiddos and alerting after-school care and the daycare about our lateness. All with a cell with a dying battery. (Bad me for not recharging!)

Then I stayed home from work on Fri and attempted to get the car to our mechanic. We'd fill the radiator and turn it on and watch all the fluid run out and the temp gauge run up. Four hours of fiddling with this and I definitely didn't want to chance it, even though the mechanic's shop was only 5 miles away.

So Saturday I got a tow into the shop and, unfortunately, they were busy. They can't even look at the can until Monday. On the bright side, I'm thinking water pump or radiator--both guaranteed to be $$$$. The mechanic says it may just be a hose issue--something common in this van. So let's all cross our fingers for that!

Monday will be quite the mileage burner on that little wagon. Unfortunately, I can't miss work again seeing as it's a payroll day and I think the staff would prefer getting paid to me being mobile. Come to think of it, if it isn't the hoses, I'LL probably appreciate the paycheck too!

In the meantime, I've been folding laundry, sweeping concrete floors, and brainstorming some projects. I want to create, but I really don't have the urge, ya know? It's like food these days...it's lunchtime, I should eat, but I really don't feel the hunger.

Until you set a plate of food in front of me.

I hope it's like that with my mojo. I kinda feel like I should be creating right now, but don't really have the urge. I'm hoping if I just sit down to do it, I'll become ravenous.

The girl who has a buttload of pictures!

So I had QUITE the Easter. I'm not sure if it was a good one or not, but it was definitely one I will remember.

First, Thursday night my FIL calls to say he is coming up for the weekend on Friday to paint the place. Granted, it is something that definitely needed to be done and that I had been planning on doing for awhile, BUT it is Easter weekend and I had plans for the family. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It goes Halloween, Christmas, Easter. So many fun things to do, lots of traditions and TONS of photo opportunities...I love it! Well, FIL coming up sort of mucks up my plans. I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but couldn't it have waited until NEXT weekend?

Anyway, since it is painting and I can't be around the fumes and nobody in their right mind would want all three kiddos running around, I was going to take off. There were some Easter activities around town and I thought maybe we'd dye eggs at the park at a picnic table (less mess for me to clean up!) and maybe take the dog out to the doggie park. You know, fun stuff. DH had other plans,

DH committed ME to take the kiddos to a friend of his from work's girlfriend's kids' party. And it was for THREE kiddos. So...I'm being sent to a place I've never been, to celebrate the birthdays of children neither me nor my kids have met AND I'm obligated to buy presents for them. I appreciate that DH wants to make the day special for his buddy's kids by increasing the guest count, but I wish he had been able to come with me. Anyway, we go, the kids have a good time, but the party was running from one until nine and they MEANT it! We got there around 2:30 and things were still in the set-up stages. By 4 they had started serving burnt hot dogs and by 4:30, one of my kiddos went exploring. Now I thought (silly me) that there was always an adult watching the bouncy house by the gate. I mean, I even took a turn (or so I thought). But apparently I was wrong, and while I was trying to convince one kid that burnt hot dogs were a great delicacy, I had one kid wandering around in the street.

Let me ask you this. If you are at a party and see a child from the party wandering around in the street would you a.) go remove the child from danger and find that child's mother or b.) go find the child's mother and tell her to remove her child (who is still wandering around) from danger? Of course, option b seemed to make sense. Then, as I'm waddling over to get my kid out of the road, one of the mother's feels like it is her duty to say to me, "You really need to watch your kid better."

Really!

I responded with a pretty insincere, "Thanks for the advice!" and ran after my kid...whom she is WATCHING play in the street!

I decided at that point I should leave before I made a scene. It isn't my party and I'm not going to make it about me. So I loaded the kids in the car to drive home and find...

DH has made the executive decision to rip up and throw out all of the carpet in the condo as well as paint the walls. Great. let's destroy our landlord's property! It'll be fun! Particularly come renewal time when she comes to the condo and sees what he's done! This is one battle I am pissed about because--while I agree that it is probably healthier for the kids and easier to clean--it is not OUR property and therefore, not OUR decision. Now my house that I cleaned for my FIL's arrival is completely trashed and who knows when that will get cleaned? DH also threw out all of the boys' furniture seeing as the old stuff was much-abused particle board and falling apart. Yes, we have ordered new furniture, but it will be June before we get it and I'm not entirely comfortable with the boys sleeping on mattresses on the (concrete) floor. Plus now all of their clothes need some sort of storage system too! Argh! It'll get straightened out eventually, but in the meantime, I can't find a damn thing!

Easter Sunday was the day we actually did the dying of eggs and egg hunt. I made a wonderful dinner that my FIL didn't stay for and DH wouldn't eat. More lamb for me! I'm trying not to be upset, but really, I haven't been in a good mood since Sat. Yesterday I stormed out of Subways because they wanted to stop making my order in the middle to start making the order of the person who came behind me. I asked them why I had to wait on the people in front of me as well as the people behind me and he said it was because he couldn't change gloves. What?!!! So I stormed out and left him with five halfway completed sandwiches. I went to Publix and got the meat myself and we had sandwich night.

So I'm in a bad mood and really can't be trusted around people right now. On the bright side, I did get some AWESOME pictures this weekend. Check them out!

the girl who is sharing *THE* picture

So what is so special about this picture? I can hear you asking yourself this very question. Yeah, it's a cute billboard, but really...it's just a billboard. Well, the answer is really not so much in the picture but the story behind it.
You see, right before the Tampa trip, I got a new camera. A really cool 8 megapixel Kodak in cosmic blue. It's really, really, really, outstandingly awesome. The entire drive to Tampa I was taking random pictures just for the pure joy of using my new camera. (see previous post) Well, Island Jen's love of Starbucks is well documented and when we passed this sign she wanted a picture. Unfortunately, the camera was put away at that point and I wasn't able to get a shot before we had passed it.

I'm not sure if it was Starbucks obsession or wanting to be part of the fun of random pictures, but Jen made a U TURN, drove past the sign in the opposite direction and then u-ied again. Yes she did. Then she found a handy storefront with a parking lot almost underneath the sign and stopped, so I could get out and take my time getting a good shot.
The girl is just plain obsessed with Starbucks! lol! So anyway, that is the story behind *the* picture.

Happy now?

the girl who has random pictures

Random pictures of a road trip with Island Jen. She was seriously laughing at me, esp when I took the picture of the puppy! That guy probably thought I was flirting. I was--with his dog!

(Jen, *THE* picture deserves its own post! Don't worry, its coming!)

the girl who is feeling cute

It's this pretty spring dress, courtesy of Island Jen. She was generous enough to "lend" me her maternity clothes. I am under the impression getting them back is more important to her husband than to her, but she likes to let him think they're going to have another kid. lol! So, since I was feeling all cutesy and awash with preggo feel good hormones, I thought I'd try out some settings on my new camera. I also need to figure out how to not make myself look so pink. Unfortunately, that's probably my mother's complexion peeking through and not a setting malfunction! I hope I end up with her tendency not to wrinkle, that will make the ruddiness worth it when I'm 60 and look as good as she does.

Anyway, I TRIED to take a self-portrait belly shot. This is 17 and 1/2 weeks worth of baby here. I can still get away with,"Is she pregnant or just fat?" if I'm careful with what I wear, but it's going to be a little bit too obvious before too long.

And for everyone I've been promising: meet Parker, the newest addition to our family. He's growing on me (how can he not? Look at that FACE!) despite my efforts to resist his puppy charm. Little guy makes an awesome heating pad too.

Went on a fun road trip with Island Jen yesterday. Will post that later. Just thought I'd try and parcel things out in dribs and drabs to possibly encourage myself to post more. I will say this, the next post will be quite picture intensive!

the girl who loves Photoshop

Look at this! The cutie picture of my little guy fixed with the modern wonder that is PhotoShop! I will link a proper thank you to the wonderful Pea who helped me out once 2Peas is actually up and running again!

And in other news....the prodigal son returns! Yes, after two weeks Maceo has returned. And let me tell you, that old cliche, "Don't know what you got 'til its gone" (Thank you Cinderella) is very true! I didn't realize how much love and affection I had for my furry son until he disappeared. Exactly two weeks after he disappeared, he shows up at the back door yowling his head off. We don't know where he's been, but he wasn't starving when he got back (although he had lost some weight), he was filthy dirty, but not alot of brambles and such stuck in his fur, he seems fine, really. We took him to the vet on Sat just to be sure and he got a clean bill of health. So all is well. He has been spoiled ever since!

the girl who is such a mom

Who else but a mom would be so proud of her son's potty accomplishments? lol! Really, I just wanted to share!

So--for those who want to know--Matthew's normal potty routine is to first get completely naked (I'm telling you, this kid loves being nude) and then place his feet firmly on either side of the seat and squat down, hovering his little tushie over the hole in the seat. He then will make some random faces and sound effects (without actually doing anything at all--this is purely for effect), drop a smidgeon of toilet paper in the bowl and flush, proclaiming, "I'm doooooooooooone!!!"

And then ten minutes later I'll be changing a diaper.

And as a note, let me assure you, this will repeat itself even if I make him stay on the potty until I"m forced away by some scream from the other room. So at a newly minted three years old we're still trying to figure out this whole potty thing.

Tonight he started to make exaggerated faces and sound effects and I asked him if he was going stinky. He said yes so I encouraged him to go stinky in the potty, not in his pamper. (Yes, tmi, but this is proud mama talking--wait for it)

Moments later I hear a jubilantly triumphant cry..."Mama! IT'S WORKING!!!!!"

lol, that's the punchline, you can stop reading now. Yep, he finally achieved full potty status! And he continued to announce (and flush) after each little pellet. (Ok, so that's really tmi.)

Proud Mama moment over.

And if you are wondering about his face in the picture (what a cute expression!) this is what happens when you catch someone in the act. Any new mothers out there, let me just give you a piece of advice: when you catch your toddler in the middle of a potentially dangerous act--say climbing from the step stool into the open freezer to use it as a stepping stone to the stuff that is out of reach on top of the refrigerator--DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT yell at them from across the room! This will have the effect of startling them into losing their grip and (if they are anything like my son) hitting everything possible with their face on the way down before landing with a thud on their--yes, you guessed it--face. If you find yourself in this situation, sneak up on your child and deftly remove them from their precarious perch. THEN feel free to admonish them as much as you'd like.

I promise you, it actually looks worse in person.

And, might I mention, he started a new daycare on Monday and did this on Saturday. I was afraid that they would think I beat my child, but when they asked me on Day 2 if he had any balance problems, I knew they understood. To borrow a phrase from the Princess, he trips over dust molecules. He then cries for about a minute, gets up and is fine. I assured him, he has been given a clean bill of health (from a pediatric neurologist no less) and is merely clumsey and has no fear. A dangerous combination.

He inherited his grace from his mother, who inherited it from her mother. Hopefully he'll discover grace when he starts playing football. (He's the one I've chosen to be the pro-footballer.)

the girl who is missing

her furbaby. He went missing sometime on Tuesday and it took me until yesterday to realize it. I feel terrible and I miss him! I hope someone returns him, I put up fliers, hopefully someone will see it and call. In the meantime, I'll just hope it turns out ok.

the girl who is having a...

c'mon! You really didn't think I'd know already? Nope, sorry. At least two more months until we get to find out what this little bean is. But, for the time being, let's just assume that its a boy, since everyone else has been a boy. Anyway, so here is Eli's first picture:

All is well and I my ultrasound matches the Dr's prediction of Estimated Due Date to the day, so pencil in August 29th!

the girl who swears (again) to organize

I'm thinking that organization is not my thing. Some friends I have might laugh at that since they consider me to be a touch anal retentive, but when it comes to my house, it's a mess. I can't keep any system in place. Mainly because nobody seems to adhere to my system once I put one in place. DH has the same complaint. Of course, his organization system is to get rid of everything so there's nothing TO organize. Great plan, but he shouldn't have married a pack rat.

So I've made a list of things to buy to help me get this place under control. I'm considering a storage unit. Not that that would help the pack rat issue, but some things NEED to be saved and closet space is at a premium in this tiny place. So why not put the stuff like the Christmas decorations and clothes that are saved for hand-me downs and such away somewhere off site and clear up that space for the stuff I need here?

Of course, I think I just like buying organization stuff! That, too is my pack rat nature!

the girl who is missing Jen

This is for you, girlie!