RTT - I'll Take my Flowers Now Please

It's that day of the week again...

Michael Jackson's death was surprising and unexpected, but I'm more shocked by the response.

It seems like he's barely been in the news the last five years and when you did hear about him they were usually focusing on his more bizarre behavior.

Now there is world wide out pouring of support.

It seems to me that he could have used some of this love a little sooner.

I'd like my flowers before I die please.

Rest in peace MJ.
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I think it's pretty amazing how many Supreme Court cases end in a 5-4 decisions. It's just strange to think that one person could change so much if they wanted to.

While I know it's totally unrealistic, it would be comforting if on occasion it was 9-0. It would be nice to know that everyone agreed on what is the "right" thing once in awhile.

But I guess if it was that black and white it won't make it to the Supreme Court.
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My son is definitely in the mimic stage where he repeats everything I say and do.

While I've worked hard to clean up my mouth, it's definitely crunch time now. I'm trying so hard not to swear that I think I swear even more. I think my brain is overloaded with the effort.

So fair, he hasn't used in any four letter words he shouldn't, but he did say "boob" yesterday. I'll have to add that one to the list of word to avoid.

But I don't really like the word "breast". Any suggestions on a good alternative?
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Please visit the queen of random, The Un-Mom for a random good time.

Have a great Tuesday folks!

Home Again

We're back from our road trip to PA. It was about a 5 hour drive to visit my in laws (they live a little north of Pittsburgh).

It was a good trip all and all.

The little man went to everybody and put on a pretty good show. He can sing his ABC's now, which he happily demonstrated to anybody who would listen.

I finally bought some summer maternity clothes since I didn't need any the first round (my son was born in April). I don't really need them yet, but the time is rapidly approaching.

I get along pretty well with my in laws, but I don't think I ever really realized how weird my family was until I got married. Well, maybe what I really mean to say is how weird every family is.

My family gets excited about the rodeo and loves their horses (I'm the city girl sell out of the group). And I went to high school in the really liberal part of Northern California. It's a completely different background from my husband.

My father in law has been a high school basketball coach for decades. Everyone is a huge Pittsburgh sports fan. They take sports to a level I didn't know existed outside of sitcoms.

Everything about the way the two families operate is totally different. It's just really interesting to see the dynamics in action.

Well, that's about all I've got today. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Random Tuesday Strikes Again

I decided to jump back into blogging today because it's Tuesday...

And I just really enjoy Random Tuesday Thoughts!
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Reading "Self" magazine when you're three months pregnant is a very bad idea.

I'm at the phase where my normal pants are uncomfortable now, but I don't look pregnant.

I just look chubby. All those flat bellies and exercise tips I can't do right now aren't helping the old self image at all.

I can't wait to get past the puking part and move onto the cute belly and feeling little kicks phase.
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I've never been a huge watcher of Jon and Kate Plus Eight, but I did watch it for a few months when I was a zombie nursing that tiny baby nursing five hours a day.

I'm not shocked by their big divorce announcement, but I was secretly hoping that they were canceling the show. Seems like it might be time to kick the cameras out and circle the wagons before it got to the point of divorce.

And I don't buy the whole show must go on bit at all.

My folks split when I was about 10 and I'm thankful there is no footage of that time. I won't want the entire world watching the drama.

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The whole metro crash is just surreal - Death Toll Reaches 9 in D.C. train crash

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

I've ridden on the metro many times and I honestly didn't know they went fast enough to end up on top of each other. I'm curious to learn more about what happened.
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We are heading up to Pennsylvania for a long weekend to visit the in laws so I might be MIA for a few days.

I promise I'll be back in action once I start feeling better and we quit traveling so much.

Hope all is well with everyone! Have a great Tuesday.

Dear Baby

(I wrote this when I first found out that another little one was on the way, but I wasn't ready to share it yet.)

Dear Baby,

Welcome!

I'm so glad you'll be joining our family.

I can't wait to meet you and kiss your tiny cheeks and touch your tiny toes.

This world is a beautiful place. Don't ever let anybody tell you differently. We're going to have a lot of fun together.

Parenting is a learning process, but I promise I'll always be the best mom I can.

I'll proudly teach you how to walk on your own, but I will always, always be here to help you when you fall.

Love,
Me

Confession

I realize my blog has been sucking lately. And I haven't been around to visit quite as often as usual. And I have been totally dropping the ball on awards, tags and all that sort of stuff.

To be honest, it's not the only area of my life that I have been letting go the last few months.

My house isn't as clean as ususual. I've barely been cooking anything that can be called dinner. I haven't even been the mom I want to be lately.

And I'm sure I've been a lot less fun to be around in general.

I've spent a lot of time laying on the couch submitting to the healing powers of reality TV, rock and roll, and chocolate.

But there is actually a reason for all this.

I've been keeping a secret from you.

It just a little secret right now, but it's growing bigger every day.

Last week when I wrote about being sick I left some pretty important facts out.

I've actually been sick for weeks. The last two months have been some of the most miserable of my life.

But it's all worth it.

Because this morning I heard a tiny little heart beat for the first time.

Professionally Cool

The company I work for is updating their website. Part of the project includes adding a biography of all the employees. Apparently, this is a trend in the world of consulting.

Last week, I was asked to do a quick write up of my background. Simple enough request.

I listed my education, background and where I live (the employees are scattered around the US since we all work from home).

So far, so good. Nothing too alarming.

This week, I got another email. Asking me about my hobbies, favorite thing about my job, assets I bring to the company, what I would do if I won the lottery, to list my favorite websites, etc.

I was also asked to include a photo of myself enjoying life.

Crap.

Frankly, now I'm a little alarmed.

The line of the email that told me to "have fun with the answers and show my personality" didn't do a thing to ease my mind.

How does one sounds interesting, cool and professional at the same time?

Especially since I'm not exactly cool?

I'd love to answer that I send my weekends teaching classes on wine tasting, rock climbing and caring for stray animals, but it would be a big lie.

I chase my kid and hang out with my friends. If I get a few minutes to myself, I read a book, hit the gym or blog.

So now I have to find a way to sound interesting and professional.

I'm an engineer. Can't I just calculate some stuff and call it good?

This fluffy stuff freaks me out.

In a Word...

Sick!

To add a few more words...

I know I've been a blog slacker lately and I promise I'll get back on the wagon soon. I'm just not feeling well this week.

I won't go into the details because nobody really wants to hear them, but I'm not functioning at full capacity.

As much as I like blogging, I like sleep more right now.

So I'll be back in action soon.

As soon as I actually have something remotely interesting to say and as soon as I stop whining all the time (because again, nobody really wants to hear that).

Hope all is well with everyone else.

Point of View

Arkansas - The Toddler View

This place is great.

I need to ride the horses. All of them. Right now! Why can't I ride them by myself?

Go faster on the four wheeler. Faster, faster, faster...

Why does everyone keep tellings me to hold on?

So many dogs to pet.

So much mud to play in.

I love the water park. Why can't I go down the big slides? I don't see the problem here.

French fries for dinner is a great idea.

This is the best place ever.

Arkansas - Mom's Point of View

Wow, this place is really dirty.

So many outfit changes in one day. Thank goodness for washing machines.

Holy crap, that horse is 8 feet tall. Please hold on. Dear lord, he is going to break his neck.

No, you can't ride the horse by yourself.

Slow down. Do not go faster on that four wheeler. He really is going to break his neck.

Grab him before he jumps into the deep end of the pool. Don't let him go down the water slides.

Everyone needs more sun screen.

Could you please wash the dog drool off his hands before he eats.

Don't you want to eat anything other than french fries?

This place is exhausting.
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The bottom line - My son had an absolute blast even if I wouldn't let him ride a horse by himself or go down 30 feet tall water slides. I had a pretty good time too, but I did moments where my heart skipped a beat.

My son is absolutely fearless. This is somehow wonderful and terrible at the same time.

Maybe he has a future in the X games?

Home!

Hi everyone!

I'm back, physically anyway. Mentally, I'm still on vacation.

While we were gone I didn't even check my email. It was nice to unplug for a bit and really take a break, but now I need to get caught back up with my regular life.

The little man did surprising well with the airplane flights. He was pretty annoyed when we told him we won't be flying anytime soon. I am, however, totally okay with that.

Yesterday was an exciting day of laundry and grocery shopping peppered with some toddler meltdowns for flavor.

We often had a rough period of grandma withdrawal after a visit with family. It appears that mom just doesn't let him get away with enough stuff.

He also got to ride a horse a few times, ride a four wheelers, pet lots of dogs and see all kind of fun animals in Arkansas. The house cats just aren't cutting it in the excitement department right now.

I promise to write more about the trip soon, but I'm still trying to get settled right now.

Take care.