the girl who is cheering!

ok, enough already. Let's call a moritorium on Paris stories!

the girl who overheard

This is the conversation I recently overheard between my eldest and my youngest.

Matthew: "these are my boobies!"

Zachary: "Those aren't boobies, those are nibbles. Boys have nibbles and girls have boobies. Mommy has boobies. You have nibbles. I have nibbles. Ian has nibbles. Daddy has nibbles. Even Parker has nibbles! Maceo has nibbles too, but they're hard to see because of the fur. I've seen them though."

the girl who got crafty

So this was my project this weekend! I had fun with tie dye and iron-ons and fabric paint. You should see my hands! lol! I might add some more stuff like some hand stitching...or maybe not. Not all of them turned out as I envisioned, but my faves are the dragon, the gnome, the cycle and the skull. Right now, I know Eli has some rockin' new duds and this was just size 0-3 months...he'll grow and need more! Plus all the other boys loved watching me play and the results, so maybe I'll make some matching tees too.

the girl who is doing a recap

So quite the eventful week I've had! On Tuesday I got a phone call bright and early telling me that Judy had a kidney waiting for her at the hospital. So I leapt out of bed, threw on some clothes and sped off to play chauffeur. This was at a quarter to 5 in the morning, mind you. Only for something of this magnitude would I WAKE UP that early. Go to bed that late, yes, more than probable, esp. if I'm on a scrappy high, but WAKE UP??

Anyway, this pic was taken on the way to the hospital. Who knew that the sun was up at 5:30? The good news is that Judy got the kidney! The weird news is that it took until about 9 pm for the surgery to actually take place. The even better news is that after one week recovering, Judy is scheduled to come home today! She had orange juice for breakfast for the first time in years! The kidney is doing well (as is Judy) so I hope everything continues well for her!




So while I was in the area last Tuesday, I went ahead and hopped over to the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and babies. Previously, I had delivered at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children, but Winnie has been built next door since then and Arnie is just a kids hospital now with Winnie being for delivery and babies.


Oh. My. Goodness! Let me tell you, this hospital is worth being pregnant again! In fact, if I wasn't already knocked up and found out about this, I'd seriously consider getting pregnant just to deliver here! It's gorgeous! The rooms are about as close to hotel-like as you can get for a hospital room. There are Murphy beds for guests and the showers are full-sized (not the dinky little tiled slits in the wall that Arnie Palmer had. The vanity counter tops are granite for goodness sake! They have a concierge service! You can upgrade for extra comforts (paid separately from Insurance, naturally) and even have a post-delivery, gourmet, 4-course meal. It's just beautiful! This picture is of the atrium at the entrance. The only thing that bugs me though is that the parking garage is next to Arnie Palmer and even though Winnie is across the street and not too far a distance (although ANY distance is too far when you're waddling over in labor) there is no crosswalk between the two! I guess that's why they offer valet parking!

This cutie picture is Matthew in the morning in all of his bed-head glory. After I took this I realized how long his hair really was! (Ok, maybe the fact the sitter keeps putting it up in a pony tail should have given me a hint.) Anyway, I decided to take care of that this weekend too and all three boys got haircuts. Zachary even got a "faux-hawk" BUT his hair has a mind of its own and the world's most dangerous cowlicks. Even with a TON of professional product in his hair it just would quite go into full "hawk" mode. It's cute, in any case. Maybe I'll go old-school 80's punk mohawk on him and use Elmers. (Yes, that is what was used.) Then again, I don't want the other kiddos putting it in their hair--which they totally would--so I guess I'll just stick with trying to find some styling wax and see if that will work.

Faux "faux-hawk" See what I mean? No points at all! Poor guy, he really wanted to be "cool."

On Saturday we went to a birthday party for my sitter's eldest son. He and Zacky are good friends so it was a no-brainer to go. I learned something though. When you are invited to a party given by Puerto Rican's, add 2 to 3 hours to the start time listed on the invitation. Silly white girl that I am, I showed up at 3 (the time listed on the invite) and my sitter said "Oh, you're early!" lol! Now I can say this and not be politically incorrect because my sitter kept telling eevryone how I showed up on time like it was a huge joke. That will teach me!

The bright side is that the kiddos had the bouncey house to themselves for a long time. Note that Matthew's underwear is on backwards. There is a simple explanation for this. Kids character underwear usually has the picture printed on the butt. Long ago Zachary decided that he wanted to see the picture, not sit on it and his brothers picked up his habit. Zack has since outgrown it, but somedays it isn't a battle I really care about fighting, lol.

I love this picture right here. This is something that I would expect of Mr. OCD, Ian. But no, it's Matthew. All the sandals were higgledy-piggedly all over the place outside of the bouncy house. Matthew matched them up and then arranged them from smallest to largest. lol! I love my kiddos quirks!

Another favorite picture from the party. Poor little guy, he sometimes doesn't feel very social and doesn't particularly want to be included in all the fun and games. This is typical Ian. Mommy is trying to love on him and take a picture of the two of us and he doesn't want to look at the camera. At the same time he looks sorta thoughtful. Out of all of them, he'll probably go goth when he hits his teens. He is the one who looks the most like me, but he has definately inherited his Daddy's anti-social tendancies.

This is more like it! This is my sweet boy when he bothers to give me a natural smile for the camera. His cheesy smiles always looks like he's looking into a really bright light and it hurts somewhat. lol!

So that was Saturday. Sunday was Father's Day and I gave my DH the best present...I let him sleep in until noon! Of course, I was frantically trying to clean the house because our landlord was coming over to sign the new lease, but he got to sleep in! We didn't "do" anything for Father's Day because that's the way he likes it. We just chilled at home and I kept the kiddos under control so he could play WoW all day. Then I made us some nice steaks for dinner (droool!) and the boys and I made brownies for dessert. One kid got the beater, one got the spatula, and one got the bowl. (Yes, Mom...I know...salamonella. But I figure that I survived so they will too!)

And I end this lengthy post with a picture of my furry son, Maceo. Sometimes you take a picture of an animal and you can see the human in them. This is such a picture.

Can't you just see that he's thinking he's about to shove that camera down my throat if I don't stop taking his picture? LOL!

the girl who had fun with da Jens!

So I also may have gone overboard with the slideshow extras, but lets pretend I'm in jr. high and this is cool, ok? lol!

These girls are so much fun to hang out with! This weekend was my baby shower. Unfortunately, the guests seem to have forgotten that and nobody showed up except for someone who was working anyway. So that kind of sucked. (I'm trying not to be bitter.) Anyway, instead of tasting baby food and measuring my massive belly, I ended up gorging on fruit and dip and cupcakes and doing a wacky photo shoot. With the Jens around, I really don't need anyone else there to have fun! Plus, they got me the most gorgeous diaper bag from Wendy Belissimo! I had been coveting a real, trendy diaper bag--I've always just used the hospital freebie. But this is my last baby and I deserve to go out in style!

Then we went scrappy shopping and I picked up some Love, Elsie and we ended up at Panera Bread for "real food." Princess had to leave at that point, but I dragged Island Jen off to the mall to check out Lush and get some Buffy the Backside Slayer soap. Seriously, this is the best stuff evah for those bumpy backsides and I needed something to make me feel pretty. I tried to turn Jen onto it, but I think she balked at paying $10 for a bar of soap. Her loss! It is sooooo worth it!

So, my baby shower may not have gone off as originally planned, but I think the day itself was perfect! Look at these pics, can't you see the fun we have when we are together?

the girl who asks...

Seriously...have you ever seen a cuter belly shot?

So I am 28 weeks tomorrow--which means that I am 7 months along. Which would seem somewhat "on the homestretch" encouraging until you take into account that pregnancies are 40 weeks which really is 10 months, not 9. I suppose people just never count that first month because you really don't know, but for goodness sakes! It's just depressing when you finally hit your third trimester and figure out how much further you have!

Anyway...tomorrow is my birthday. 33--I guess that I should consider it a "lucky" b'day since good things come in threes and that's double threes. I continue to remain optimistic about this year. I know this is OUR YEAR, the YEAR OF NOW. I'm just impatient and want to get this pregnancy over with, I feel like its holding me back in the sense that I just want to go do things and I keep having to say "when the baby is born" and that was so NOT part of my word for this year. It isn't WHEN, it's NOW.

And NOW I must get back to work, lol!

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!)