Little do they know...

Little do Boobah, Ernie and Bert know that there juice and nana snacks in the afternoon will be soon disrupted by a small man named Alex. He will disrupt everything, from breakfast, snack time lunch and dinner. Life as they know it will be changed forever in just a few weeks. They should alert the other toys...

I was just writing out my "what to pack" list for the hospital. I think I did a good job last time around, pretty easy. C.O.M.F.O.R.T. for all 3 of us. Ed sweats and t-shirts, Alex sleepers (going home outfit too) myself nothing but super comfy clothes. And some toiletries. And some mild entertainment (magazines, DVDs, iPod?)

I started making a pile of what I wanted to go, I need to get our bag ready. I was freaking about packing for Mia too, but my mom is coming by tomorrow and we are going to go over where everything is. She said she will just get what she needs for Mia and take it to her house. (not to mention she has enough supplies, and clothes for Mia at her house too)

Kinda insane that I am at the point where I am packing for the hospital. The family dry erase calendar on the fridge just got the 26th on there. With a big Alexander Edward? on it. Yikes! now that is reality!!

BUT we still have lots to do...

... get Mia a bed so we can move Alex's crib down the hall

... get bassinet down from the garage, clean and set up

... Dad has to fix Alex's door (never shuts right)

... get Alex a car seat?!

... vacuum his room

... move changing table to his room from Mia's

BUT I have...

... washed his new clothes (in the magical Dreft)

... sterilized bottles and pacifiers

... set up swing

That's all I can think of for now...

Maniac Monday

What is the sexiest part of the body? Your butt! Yes well you have your opinion and I have mine. I have been obsessed with butts since forever. I have a ghetto butt, and I love it. I hate flat butts. Turn. off.

If you kissed a frog, who would you like it to turn into? Duh, a billion dollars. Or a new Mini Van, we are hoping to get one with next years tax return. (Here's hoping the 9 and 10 year old car and truck keep on going!)

What do you have stuck up on your refrigerator right now? Alex's ultrasound picture (with a magnet crown over his head!) A picture of Mia, the family dry erase calender, a magnetic tablet and the Cubs season schedule.

Sara these are from http://manicmondaymeme.blogspot.com almost every Monday she posts 3 questions. Sometimes I get behind and I will post a bunch of Mondays together. Now you all know my secret!!

The great move

I am moving. Like I had said in last nights post. I am moving my most precious art supplies to the little 5x5 cubby room that was my original art room in the basement. This was before I started to scrapbook and do Stampin' Up! Some how I have to fit 1/2 a basement's worth of art supplies into a little room. Already packed with other art supplies.

So I began yesterday. Lots of back and forth, but there is no heavy moving so it is something productive for me to do. Plus there is NO way my dad could even try to work in that zoo of a room I have. So if I want my room done, I need to have it cleaned! But I can't go more then a week without playing with my art supplies, SO I needed to find some sort of space in this house for all my stuff.

Perfect. Right next door to my current mess. That little room still will be used for art, mostly storage. But it has a big counter in it, with a plug strip for me. So I can work in there. And it is right next to my washer and dryer, so I can always switch out laundry as I go!

Well I think that is where I shall go now, off to my art room. As Debbie Lillard says in her book. I will give C.P.R. to my room. To Clean, Purge and Rearrange the room!

Delegation

3 loads of laundry to fold, I was able to get Ed to carry them upstairs for me today. I was pooped from making dinner, cleaning the kitchen. But I really wanted the laundry caught up. I still have 3 loads downstairs to do.

So Miss Mia wants to help. I was able to tell her I wanted more hangers (I showed her a hanger) she knows I keep them on a plastic hanger storage thing in the corner of the room. So she gets me a hanger. I tell her I need one more. Well needless to say, we still have to work on counting. She brought me 6 more. Then 4 more, then 5 more... this kept on until the hanger storage thing was empty.

And she is my sock helper. I start a sock pile of everyone's socks (on the other side of the room)and as I fold I give her socks and she takes them to the pile. This is fun watching her learn different tasks. Even though they are simple and I can do them faster it is teaching her to do things for herself.

I am reading a great book called "Absolutely Organized A Mom's Guide to a No-Stress Schedule and a Clutter-Free Home" by Debbie Lillard. LOVE IT! Easy to read, and perfect for my de-cluttering process and the no-stress is very helpful for a procrastinator like me.

So one of the things she covers is about "When will they learn...?" saying that mom A. lets her kids pick out there own clothes, so there is no argument on what they are wearing. But she does set parameters like, today is long pants and long sleeved shirt day. This way the child has Independence and is still dressed for the weather.

Now mom B. picks out her kids clothes every night before they go to bed, and this lasts until they are 10 years old. Mom realizes that they could easily do this themselves. Why didn't they? Because she never delegated the work, and they never asked for it.

So I am learning that as Mi grows, and Alex too. I can give them age appropriate tasks to do. That will lighten my load, and teach them how to be responsible at the same time. She says that children we grow up like this are more independent and often develop better decision making skills along the way. There is even a chart to help with what age group and what tasks they can handle.

It may sound to some like I am creating little slaves. But no, I am trying to make great little humans out of the great little person Mi already is. I will do the same with Alex. If anything I will teach them the one thing my mother always taught me. Common sense.

Rub a dub dub, Mommy and Mia in a tub

I wanted to take a nice long hot bath this afternoon while Mi was napping. Well as always it didn't happen that way. I yapped on the phone with Jen, and worked in my art room some more, and before I knew it nap time was over.

Eh, so I decided to give us both a bath! What fun, I fill the tub up full, so when Mia sits in it, it is right below her shoulders! (Only when Mommy is in the tub with her though!) Then we close the shower curtain, with the clear curtain inside the tub, we push it so it hangs over the outside edge of the tub, making a trench to fill with water. Mia loves this she has her tub animals walk in it. This is something Susie and I would do growing up!

LOTS of suds, or as Mia says "snow" I let her pour water on mommy, I let her know how much fun it was, so she let me pour water on her (not her favorite part of tub time) I was in there with her for about 35 minutes, then mommy gets out I drain most of the water. And then Mi swims around on her tummy while I am picking up her bath toys and picking up in the bathroom.

Then Mia hops out, dries off, and usually runs naked to her room, I slather her with lotion (she asks for it!) and Mia helps. Then she starts to chatter, and notices her pruny fingers from being in the tub so long! Into her warm lounge clothes, and out for a late lunch, and daddy's home from the Video Store!

Yeah tub time!!

Saturday's news

Today was a busy and eventful day.

We woke around 8 to get ready for breakfast with Ed's parents in Orland, get there around 9:30. Breakfast was yummy, 4 eggs sunny side up, 4 pieces of toast, 1 sausage link and some of Mi's hash browns, my own diced potatoes, one cup of coffee, 2 cups of o.j. and a glass of water. Yes I was hungry, and obviously thirsty!

Ed's parents spent the day with Mia. So we had the day to ourselves. We went back home, Ed needed some sleep, so he napped on the couch in the basement for about 3 hours. I spent that time, reading, tearing out and filing my scrapbook magazine pages.

Then I went downstairs to my crazy art room and started to make the move (more on that later) and clean out crap. Oh and I did 3 loads of laundry, now just to get Ed to carry them up!

We had a busy day planned of Dave and Busters, but since its a hour ride there, we thought Ed could sleep more and we would just hit Odyssey in Tinley Park, well we went. I peed, and we left. It was PACKED, not to mention it got REALLY ghetto since we were there last. So we went to Marcus Theatre down the street and saw the only movie playing at that time. Superhero Movie, the spoof on the all the super hero movies. Eh, it was ok. Neither one of us really laughed once, but it was nice just having the time with Ed.

Then off to his mom's to get Mia, and home for a quick 30 minute nap, Ed is off to work, and I am exhausted! So I am going to bed too.

Maybe tomorrow I will have more energy, I want to blog about my room move, and my parents are home! Yeah!!! Sleep tight!

Noon check in...

So far I have...

Loaded and ran the dishwasher

Fed Mia, banana and 2 waffles

Fed Maggie & Sophie

Fed Jordan & Chloe

Ed fed himself oatmeal

Swept the first floor

Cleaned off the kitchen table

Attempted to make my 5 gallon dispenser of lemonade. Cracked the bottom when I moved it. Gah. Small leak! So I filled every empty container I could with the lemonade. That forced me to then wash some of the floor, dishwasher front, and cabinet doors. Boo!

Took out 2 bags of garbage

Filled my bird feeder (made Jordans day, mmm sunshine and a full bird feeder!)

Brought down 2 loads of laundry (not to heavy!)

Folded the basket of laundry in our room, and the random piles that still needed to be put away.

Dusted our room

Watered plants

Took 10 minutes to read my scrapbook magazine.

Put Mi down for a nap

Put in 2 customer orders for Stampin' Up!

Now off to do laundry, eat lunch and kill Sophie, for she is into something... grrr...

What to do today...

YEAH! Ed is off his Video Store job!! Wee!! That means I can see him for more then 20 minutes today! Otherwise I a wondering what to do with myself...

I should...

Do laundry
Clean off my desk in the loft
Sweep the floors, and mop (yucky)
Clean both bathrooms
Finish dishes

I could...

Keep cleaning in the art room, organizing, figure how I am going to tell my dad what he is going to do
Clean Mia's room and figure where I want her bed to go

Hmmm...
Maybe a combo of some laundry, with the dishes, a quick sweeping. (Mop if I really have the energy) Then when Mi naps I could go back into my art room...

We will see, its only 8:50am...

Only 62 more...

Views to my blog and I am at 5000. Yeah me!

Me and 30

I have to throw this post out there. I had a chat with Ed today about what turning 30 means to me.

I am proud to be 30, I am happy with my life where it is at. I was told last night that it means my 20's are gone. Sure there gone, but they were great.

I met my best friend Jen, made some great friends. Met Ed, got married, bought a condo and then a house. Vacationed in the Myan Rivera, Vegas, Arizona, Utah and Oregon. Ed and I paid off both our cars, I am even going to squeeze in having 2 kids right before I am 30.

So why be sad? My 20's were awesome. Love them, the freedom of no kids, no curfew. Just me, Ed and our jobs. But now that I am turning 30, I see it as a new chapter in my life.

Kids, family, house, pets, Stay at home mom gig. I mean maybe for some this is sad. It's no more crazy nights out drinking and staying up late. But who needs that, when I have two great kids, a husband who loves me, and a house to enjoy it all in?

I can't wait to start this part of my life. My family, the friends I have, the joy of staying home with my kids. Crazy nights this summer, will consist of hanging out on the deck after a home cooked meal on the grill, around the fire pit after the kids are in bed. Ed with his favorite cigar, and me just enjoying his company. That is a happy crazy night for me.

And as an Optimist, that is my glass 1/2 full on turning 30. So keep your black t-shirts and canes for someone elses birthday, I am just getting started...

You frustrate me.

This is the adorable face that I love. Yes Sophie my Lophie McHale you are my fuzzy puppy (at 3 1/2 years old)

I love your wiggly bootie, and your playful ways. You are SO gentle with Mia, and I know your curiosity gets the best of you (90% of the time)

But there are so many days when I just can't handle you. The barking when we sit at the table. Or the I won't come in, but don't shut that back door or I will bark. There has been a suggestion of a shock collar for your barking. But I guess that would be the same if I wore one because I talked to much. You just want to be heard.

The chewing of everything. I mean everything. There is NOT anything you won't chew on. Foil, plastic, wood, metal. Edible or not, if Sophie thinks it should be eaten it will be. Now most people would throw a fit over some of the things you have destroyed, I have learned over the years that you are really just trying to help me clean house. I mean, do I really need that many containers? Or how you helped me throw out some old memorabilia that I really needed to just toss but couldn't? Thank you. The 3 cell phones, 2 cordless house phones and 4 remote controls are another story though.

So even though I threaten to take you to the nearest Chinese restaurant and sell you for a good dime. I would never in a zillion years consider it.

Oh and thank you for the ever so humorous and rare dry humping. Ed's arm at his suprise 31st birthday, Maggie when she lets you. And the small children at Mia's 1st birthday party.

Mommy loves you Sophie the Wiggler. Barking, gnawing, humping and all.

Something about Paint, Paper, Ink and Stamps

Oh and every other craft item on the planet. I love them. Just going into a craft store gets me all sorts of creative!

I love it. I like to get messy, and spend hours and hours creating. Most people ask where I get the time. It's the same time you have. I just use mine like you do yours, doing what I love.

Sometimes I will spend a whole hour just filing my card stock or reading my newest Scrapbook magazine. There are so many things I can create down in my dungeon. I know that I usually only talk about my never ending love for paper crafts, and my happy Stampin' Up! demonstratorship. But back in the day. Before the paper took over.

There was paint, canvas, paper mache, clay, pencils and sketch books. Still there, just collecting dust. I am really hoping that with the re-doing of my dungeon. I can really spend my time creating.

It would be great if Mia and Alex had places to create too. I have the tools for them, oh yes. Be afraid! I have Popsicle sticks, crayons, markers, glue, glitter (yes messy glitter) paint, paper and so much fun kids stuff. I just need a safe clean area for them to work in. ( I have there smocks all set for them!)

I guess I am trying to say that I can't get enough of my art time. I do have to thank my dear friend Sara for getting me hooked on blogging. It is so easy for me to jump on each night, and just let my mind free (so scary!!) that it is really helping me with my scrapbooking block I have had for years.

So when you are watching t.v. or surfing the net, or maybe doing your favorite hobby. That is when I am down in my dungeon, enjoying mine. I once read we all have the same 24 hours, it's just how we use them, that's what makes the difference. I don't have the time. I could always be cleaning or organizing something. But I make the time for myself.

If I didn't I would be insane, for my art makes me calm and happy. I only hope my kids learn from this, and do what makes them happy, and they learn to make the time for themselves.

Susie's gone.

So my dear only sister, Susie. (Susz) Stayed here at my house this week, and it was a nice week. Probably the longest time I have spent with my sister since High School and I lived at home.

She got an exciting view of what her sisters Stay at Home Mom job is like. I mean, what is more exciting then watching me blog, run around behind a 22 month old, take care of dogs, feed meals in between to everyone (dogs, cats, kids, sisters, husband. Oh and me too) maybe some cleaning here and there. But otherwise it was mighty dull.

We did venture out on Saturday. That was fun, KFC for lunch, Target then to Barnes and Noble. That is a happy day for us girls.

Susie otherwise was able to chill, watch her soaps (AMC and GH) chat in her Soap forums, watch DVD's on her portable player (she loves it. I think she sleeps with it every night)

Even though I know it was no Marriott or Hilton, she did get to have Alex's room. She had an air mattress, an empty closet and dresser to use. And my glider is in there too. Not to shabby.

I know she would have been fine at home on her own, but it was nice hanging out with her, and I am sure she enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner with Mia everyday. Ed worked alot so she didn't get to see him much. And the cats really liked her. And Maggie finally calmed down some around her, letting her walk across the kitchen without the usual ankle sniffing and pawing.

After I dropped Susz at home today, it was weird being back home without her around. Sadly her next stay here will be spooning with one of my kids. Since the bedroom she used here, is going to be occupied my Alex soon!

Thanks for hanging out with me this week Susz. Love Gack

Rain, Ohio, and me

Today was return Susie to her happy place. Home. She did have fun here, seeing Mia everyday. But I agree there is nothing like your own bed, house, bathroom.

On the way, we had errands to run. Yuck and it's crappy sleety rain here. So we stopped by the bank. I had to go in. Mia had change to be counted for her deposit from the Easter Bunny, and I had some account questions.

Then to drop Eds electric shaver off to him at work. He forgets how fuzzy he is sometimes. Then I went and got him Taco Bell and brought it back to him (Yes Susie and Mia are in the car the whole time)

Then off to Goose Lake to drop off Susie, check the house, feed the cats, clean and feed the birds, come back home. Phew. Now Mia and I are home, she is napping, and I am off to make some lunch and do laundry.

I talked to my parents, they are in Ohio now, they are stopping at the neighbors son's house for the night. And will head home tomorrow. So that is all that is new here. Have a fabulous day!

April Showers, bring May flowers! (even though it's March...)

StAmP cAmP iS oVeR!

(please insert psycho laughter here) Stamp Camp is done. For the next 3 1/2 months I am Stamp Camp free. Here are fun pictures of the last class I did (tonight) on Rub-ons. They paid me $18, The received a pack of rub-ons (4 sheets. Same images, one in olive, chocolate, white and black images) and these 4 projects (Jars $1.99 from Ikea)

There were SO many oohs and ahhs, lots of Wows, and repeated "this is my favorite class!" Me to ladies. Not only was it SO easy to put together, they were done by 8pm (a record for these Stamp Campers, 9:30 or 10pm is there usually time)

I will miss teaching, but I am SO in need of a break. I will still take orders, and my Mystery Hostess Club will still go on. But until sometime in July, I am officially on Break! ha ha!!

Such a relief. It's like getting a 3 month vacation from your job, that's how I treat my Stampin' Up! business. As a real job. This is a much needed break. I can spend the next month getting ready for Alex and relaxing. Then spend 2 more months enjoying him, and getting my life back to somewhat normal and get a new routine.

Here's hoping my art room is done, so when I go back to having classes I am better organized. Until then, maybe I can scrapbook some more!

Enjoy the pictures!!

(Olive Rub-ons with black cardstock, also adding felt flowers with eyelets and brads)

(Those binder clips you use around your desk at home or at work. Flip it over, add some paper and ribbon, wala! A picture holder!)

(Love this one! Pumpkin paper and Chocolate 5/8 grosgrain ribbon, just a few rub-ons, and you have a card!)

(Ikea jar, $1.99, rub-ons, and some ribbon. Oh the possibilities are endless!!)

I also just have to say. If you don't know about the work that goes into these classes. I would like to explain. I buy, the paper, ribbon, brads, accessories, stamps, ink, rub-ons, whatever. Then I am the one that spreads it all out on my desk and creates all these things. I do get inspired from other stampers, or our catalog (with over 300 ideas in it) but it's funny when some people think I get these things in kits! Ha!! Nope all in Gacks Creative Mind...

Mia in Laundry Land

This is not my fault this time! I swear!! I did 5 loads of laundry the past few days, and Ed was to carry it up from the basement to the second floor for me to fold. Well 7 loads all ended up on my bed yesterday! Bah. Only 1 1/2 hours of folding. With Mia as my supervisor! (and sock thrower)

I have come to realize...

I have come to realize that my butt: Is my ghetto pass, and I am damn proud of it.

I have come to realize that when I talk: It's alot. And there are times no one notices I stopped in the middle of a sentence.

I have come to realize that, if I love someone: I give them my all

I have come to realize that, I need: To focus on myself, family and being happy

I have come to realize that, I lost: Ownership of my body.

I have come to realize that, I hate it when: I sneeze and pee.

I have come to realize that, marriage: Is the happiest place I could be. What better then to spend forever with my best friend.

I have come to realize that, work: Never ends. At least at this SAHM job.

I have come to realize that, I will always be: Silly and creative.

I have come to realize that, I like: to be organized. It makes my life easier.

I have come to realize that, the last time I cried was: Monday morning

I have come to realize that, my cell phone is: Full of pictures of Mia and my dogs

I have come to realize that, when I wake up in the morning: Ed, Mia, Maggie, Sophie, Jordan and Chloe all need me RIGHT NOW!

I have come to realize that, before I go to sleep at night: I miss Ed.

I have come to realize that, right now I am thinking about: My parents in Maryland on vaca.

I have come to realize that, babies: grow up to fast.

I have come to realize that, when I get on Myspace: I check messages, new pictures added, and maybe a few posts. 20 minutes tops.

I have come to realize that, today I will: Go to sleep happy that Stamp Camp is all ready for tomorrow

I have come to realize that, tonight I will: Sleep.

I have come to realize that, tomorrow I will: Have Stamp Camp, but enjoy the day since class is all done and ready.

I have come to realize that, I really want to: Be me, surround myself with happy, positive people, stay organized, enjoy my family I have created, scrapbook more, spend time with Ed.

I have come to realize that, working out: Is something I will need to do after Alex is born. Walking the stairs is enough for me now!

I have come to realize that, friends: Make me happy. Weather I talk to you everyday or once a year. You know where we stand, and that makes a true friend to me.

I have come to realize that, I love: my children more then I thought a human could love another person.

Hope you enjoyed these, re post them and try them out yourself...

"The house looks good"

That is all I need to hear from Ed to make a long day of house work all worth while to me. Not that I don't enjoy a clean, organized house myself. But just those 4 words really make my day.

I spent today doing the following...

... Most of this morning was depressed, I miss Ed, hate his work schedule, and just needed a hug (see Fetal Position blog)

...After a good hug, and an I love you from Ed, I proceeded on with my day...

...Ordered Ed's contacts from 1-800-Contacts
...Balanced the checkbook, yikes! I didn't realize that it had been 2 weeks since I did!
...Payed April's bills
...Balanced Stampin' Up! account
...Payed Stampin' Up! credit card off
...Cleaned up more of the loft, still a work in progress
...Folded clothes with Susie (will upload funny pictures later, yes we got it all done, 2 hours later)
...Cleaned the kitchen and made Ed's dinner (leftover turkey from Easter with IL's and steamed Broccoli)
...Even had a few minutes to hang out with Ed before he left for Empress (I know it's his day off, but who can turn down OT?)

So my day was good, started out shitty, I was crabby and in no mood to talk or deal with anything. And then after a good hug from Ed. A clean house and the best comment of them all, not to mention a hot bath. I have to say, it was a pretty good day.

Time for bed now. Night.

Bath = my happy place

Bathtime is my new favorite time. From mid afternoon while Mia naps to after she is in bed at night. Either way I love my bath.

I use a baby vapor bath to soak in. I am very generous with my bath soap. It is warm, not to hot, otherwise I get sleepy and kinda sick.

Tonight was great, I had made myself a Campbells Soup Creamy Chicken, one of those heat and sip ones. With a bottle of water, and my new book. (About being a mom and organizing my life and home)

I sometimes read a book, or a scrapbook magazine. Even then I like to just daydream too. It really helps calm my back down after a long day. Even though there is boobs and belly still above water, I do my best to enjoy my bath.

This does take some pre-planning though. If it is mid afternoon, I MUST make sure Mi has been asleep for at least 45 minutes, to ensure that no interruptions will occur. And the dogs must be happy. And I need to have the phone by me. (Just in case!)

This is one of those things, that I may not have the time for. But I make the time for it.

Fetal position

This is how I want to be.

Just curled up, somewhere warm. With Ed by my side. These stupid "contractions/Braxtons" suck. I HATE timing them. I don't want to have Alex yet. He's not done, and I don't want a hospital visit.

I want my parents home. I want my house in some sort of fucking order. I want my art room done. Gah.

This blog makes no sense today. Just a bunch of yadda yadda, and some blah, blah, blah.

Thank god Ed fixed the front room t.v. it wasn't broken. I guess it was on the wrong channel, but you had to change the channel by the tv to fix it. Now Susie can veg out down there. Very nice for her. No dogs, and a change of scenery from the loft and her/Alex room.

She was helpful this morning, Mia need a bath after her very syrupy french toast this morning. So Susie sat in there with her and I got to pick up around the house.

Speaking of picking up. I know this may come as a shock, but I have a mountain of laundry. I shit you not, the size of my king size bed, and about 3 feet high. I have been doing laundry, but I can't carry it up or down the stairs without braxtons and a nap. So I had 5 loads of clean laundry at the bottom of the basement stairs for Ed to carry up. Well today was the first time he carried up laundry for me. Sigh. Maybe for now on I will just wash an armload full and carry that up.

Anyway, in other news, I am sure I will wait till the last minute to prep for my Stamp Camp. SO HAPPY this is my last one till July. I love doing them, I am just not there right now. The only issue is my area is a zoo, so I need to take time today to just clean off my desk to possibly create today and or tomorrow. Plus it's a huge class 7 people for me.

Yesterday I took about an hour and measured and sketched out some idea's for my art room. I know that I will have to have details down for my dad. I don't think he is going to be excited about this at all. But this is what I want for my 30th birthday. I want Ed, my parents and my IL's to only give me stuff for my room. This is a long deserved room. And I should have had my dad build it years ago. It only makes sense. Stampin' Up! has been in my life for 3 1/2 years now, but art in general has been something I love to do all my life. So why not have a room for me to be happy in? My basement is a dungeon, filled with crap and my supplies are everywhere.

Most of the time I spend looking for special supplies, that I know are around there somewhere. If I had a nice room, drywalled, drop ceiling, lighting, white cabinets and either a fun pale yellow or green on the walls. Hang up my black "Create" sign, and have all my Ikea organizing tools up and put to work. That is what I want for my birthday. BUT, I would love for my dad to work on it while I am not having stamp camp these next 3 months. That is doable in his time.

I bought the kids another Shel Silverstien book, this was an old one "A light in the Attic" but it has a CD with it. Yeah! Miss Sara and Dominique will remember the teachers at Nativity playing them for us. Maybe I will put that on, and go fold my mountain of clothes.

So maybe now after this blog, I will untuck from the fetal position, just a little, and try to get something done, and get off my pity party.

Thanks for reading. Gack

Saturday 14

If you could have any music group or musician play at a party, who would you hire?
P!nk by far. I love seeing her play live.

Name three things to be happy about today.

Mia was so happy today, Alex makes me happy, and Mia told Ed goodnight without me forcing her too.

How do you release frustration?

Blogging, or just giving myself a time out. I am realizing that things that frustrate me will be over sooner, if I just remove myself from the situation and chill. It should be ok. Nothing some Vick's and a spray from my water bottle won't fix.

What's your favorite thing to spend money on?

Scrapbooking, art, stamping supplies!! Love it!!

If you could retire tomorrow what would you do?

Since I can't officially retire from being a mom. When I can retire, I just want to enjoy my life with Ed as much as possible. And travel with him.

Should anything be censored and if so, what and why?

No, not really. Even for kids I think it should be up to the parent to decide what there kids see and don't. Maybe this is because my shock factor is pretty high. It takes a lot to shock me and Ed.

For my kids sake though. I choose the T.V. they watch. Mia watches, Boobahs, Sesame Street, Wonder Pets and Disney cartoons. (I HATE Barney) but in real life, no I don't think things should be censored.

I don't want to teach my kids one thing, and hide the real world. Breast feeding shouldn't be censored. No I don't need your tit out for the whole family, but feed away at the restaurant. Shit that's what there for. Gay's, hold hands, make out. Whatever your just as human as everyone else, right? Swearing. OK I am so guilty of this, and I try with kids not too. Again it depends on the environment. If your around alot of teens and adults you should expect more adult language.

So at my home, I try to censor what violence I can. But in the real world, it's just that. Real.

You find that your best friend has stolen money to pay for medical treatment for a seriously ill relative. What would you do?

As long as they didn't steal it from me. Go to town.

What three things you regret not learning to do?

A back handspring (always wanted too!)
Roller skate/Rollerblade (I can, but I suck, and I go like two steps and I am so done!)

I really think that is it. And since I am yet to be 30. I still have a LONG time to learn those things and a whole lot more...

How did you celebrate your last birthday?

With family. And wondering how my next birthday will effect me. (30)

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun?

Some scrapbook paper, and accessories.

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?

She would be very proud. I am my mom, just like I wanted to be. I am happy, creative, and most importantly. I am still myself.

What do you order when you eat Chinese food?

Just rice. Chinese food scares me.

How much have you controlled the course your life has taken?

I think completely. No matter the situation. I really try to take advantage of the situation that would best suit me. When there is a fork in the road of my life. I really weight out my options and pick what I think is best.

I hope I continue this route. If I don't who will?

Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?

Mine I guess. Maybe I am confused by this one. Voting for me is not high up on my list of priorities. I do care who wins this time. I am very much so on the Hillary/Obama side. Whomever of the two is fine with me. They both cover most of what I agree with.

I would be sad if the Republicans won. We really need a change.

Again, it's not something I follow daily. I will vote in November. But otherwise, whatever.

Timing is everything...

So I hate timing contractions, or Braxtons. Whatever. I don't know which is which, I guess when they last for over an hour, I should be concerned?

So they are about 4-8 minutes apart and going on for 2 hours now. No pain, sometimes uncomfortable. But nothing worth noting. Maybe, but I really don't know when to count them as actually contractions.

REALLY hoping that this week is calm. Since Susie is here, and my parents are gone. They are my Mia watchers for the duration of the hospital visit, and since they are on the east coast right now, that is not exactly a 20 minute drive.

Plus my MIL is out, cuz of her back surgery. My FIL would come out and take care of Susie, Mia and the dogs and cats. But that is alot to ask of him. I just want my parents home before anything happens...

Don't read this if you don't want to know about...

BB9!

So from what I have seen, Adam as we know is HOH, James and Chelsea are up. Evil Dick woke them up, ass early, surprise, surprise by banging pots and pans! (must have seen last season to understand)

Woke them all for the Veto this morning. It was a lot like last years, Crochet and the weird shots to drink. James won! Sad though, now we know Chelsea is going home. It's quite obvious. I think Sheila is going up as a pawn, either her or Sharon. But either way Natalie and Ryan and I am sure Sharon too, will vote to keep Sheila and then that only leaves James and Joshua to vote to keep Chelsea. :-(

Sad to say that unless then James or Joshua wins HOH on Wednesday, then James will be out too. That and or Joshua will be out.

So here is my take on who is left, and some on who is in sequester...

Adam (current HOH) eh, take him or leave him. He smokes, spits and is NOT entertaining at all on the feeds. What he did this week was a power move, and he would have been dumb if he didn't do what he did. Not that I am happy about it.

Ryan. Good guy. Like him, sorry about your Grampa (his grampa passed away today, they called him in the DR and told him) otherwise, I could see him winning this. Thank god he got rid of that douche bag Allison when he did.

Joshua. Angry. He blows up bad when he is pissed, but when he is happy, he is very entertaining. He won't make it to the end though.

Sharon. Her and that damn blue blanket. She is dry, WAY older then she really is, boring.

Sheila. Can't stand her on the feeds, she is WAY to emotional for this game. And she talks way to much shit, acts likes she's running this game. Bah, if only she knew she is the ultimate pawn, and will be sacrificed to the BB gods as soon as they don't need her vote.

Natalie. Not as dumb as CBS makes her out to be. Really, she called the 8's with everything in the house, the America's Player, all before they announced it to the hamsters. Funny to watch, yes she is annoying, not as bad as Sheila though.

James. Love him. Think he is a kick ass player, as he needs to keep up with this winning, or he is SO out. I think he plays well, and on a personal level, he is a great guy.

Chelsea. Love her too. The attitude, the hair, the no classy burping farting girl. That is me. Sad that she is more then likely going on Wednesday, unless Sheila is the pawn and totally fucks up this week.

The Gerbils. Cute, fuzzy and Sharon loves them. (Hi beebee's!!)

Sequester

Matty. Glad he's gone, to cocky about women, treated Natalie like shit ALL the time. Thought he was a bad ass. See where that got him. First place at Sequester!!

So that is my take on the hamsters. They suck, because they are always outside laying in the sun, and at night they just need jeans and a t-shirt, there weather is so nice. Bastards.

Blog in your head

So if your an avid blogger. My question to you is, when your not blogging, and your just doing your daily thing. Do you blog in your head too?

I am always thinking of things to blog on, if only I can get a printout of my thoughts... that would be scary! Just curious if we all do the same thing...

Human Resources employees are retarded.

Yes they are. My dear husband has worked for the same casino for 10 years now. Always with insurance. Sigh, so here is our drama...

I get a medical bill for $1300 dollars. Ok, this is just since December and January. Kinda confused as to what insurance covered. So I pulled up the December statement from Blue Cross, noticing that there were two dates in December that said "SS Coverage for this member was terminated prior to the date of service, so no payment can be made"

Lovely. My Dr.'s office called, and they said they sent the claim in twice, and it keeps coming back. They don't think I should pay anything to them, until I get some answers.

I called Blue Cross, nope. Insurance for Jacqueline was terminated as of Nov. 30 2007 until Jan. 1st 2008. Now why the fuck would we do that?!? She said to call HR for my husbands employer, to ask them.

So Ed called HR, and by some miracle those dumb asses actually answered the phone (they are IMPOSSIBLE to reach) Dumb girl was confused. Just keep telling Ed that it was terminated. Ed said the only thing he did in December, during open enrollment, he moved us up to the premier plan for Jan 2008- Dec 2008. Oh, says dumb HR girl. Well I am not in charge of that (of coarse not) so call back Monday and talk to Linda, she can help you then. What are the odds that Linda will be in or answer her phone on Monday?! Slim and none?

So I called my Dr's office and she was very understanding that we were working on the issue. So until then, just keep her posted.

Oh, I didn't tell you the best part. These two visits couldn't have been a blood pressure and a heartbeat check. Noooo. They had to be one Ultrasound on December 17th (per Dr.) and one emergency room visit, December 29th, because I was bleeding!! So $575 and $514 are my two uncovered bills.

I will keep you posted on this drama, I do know that I am covered now, and that I don't take no for an answer. We will get to the bottom of this...

Me and my Alex

We play games. He pushes his foot out my left side, and I tickle, or grab at his foot. May sound weird or funny, but I swear he is playing back with me.

This is early moring when I am waking up, he messes with me. So I talk to him, and we play. I have 5 weeks left to enjoy the just me and him part. Mommy loves you Alex. xo...

Put it away.

I really don't get where this is difficult. I know my mom would laugh her ass of at that. I never used to put things away.

I still have a hard time, but when you are trying to do everything I do, clean, organize and sit and be pregnant. All I ask is that if you use it, just fucking put it back where you got it. Not on the counter by it's place, not on the shelf over there.

JUST PUT IT AWAY!! Please?!

Addition to the zoo

Well the addition is not like an exhibit to my zoo, more like a visitor to my zoo. Susie, my sister, is here for the week. My parents are in D.C. with there neighbor friends. Susie could have gone with, but I agree with her on the Hell no answer. Mmm...visions of mom, dad, and Susie in the backseat of Deb and Rich's little SUV all the way to Ohio first (staying at Rich's kids? house.) then to Maryland tomorrow to stay with more of Deb and Rich's relatives.

1. I wouldn't want to stay with anyone's relatives, can we say hotel? Own bathroom, own schedule, own room.
2. I wouldn't want to ride there or back. I think I would have flown. Especially with gas as high as it is.
3. It's not like it's any warmer where they are going. So again a bonus to stay home.

Plus Susie is SO amused by Mia. She talks so much to Susie, takes her hand and leads her around. Jordan (Boobie) my cat loves to sit on Susie's lap. Sophie is good with her to. It's just Maggie is a big spaz ass always jumping and sniffing her. Can't have all that with Susie's surgeries she has had.

Oh and Susie has an air mattress from home, with all her sheets and bedding. All pimped out in Alex's room. She has his empty closet, empty dresser. One glider chair and stool. Like her own little hotel room.

My sister is SUCH a night owl, so when I cap the night off at 9:30pm, she can have the Internet to chat to her soap forums, the T.V. in the front room and her portable DVD player in her room. Not a bad set up.

So here is for an entertaining week here at the McHales!

Kinda frustrated

I try I really do. I want to pick up around the house, and have everything done and organized in the next 5 weeks. But I start picking up a room, braxtons. Folding some clothes, braxtons. Making dinner, braxtons.

This is why I can't wait for this to be over. I do enjoy Alex moving around, as I did with Mia. But I am just so tired of starting the day with energy, and by midday I am so exhausted, you would have thought I was up all day and night cleaning.

So now my basement art room is some what cleaned, basically all the shit is up off the floor. It's amazing if I take all my empty containers out of the room, that is a good 60% of my clutter. Sad. I am a container freak though!

I really want to get down there and pick up, and measure the wall space, figure out what I want to do in there. What I want and what my dad will want to do, are two different things. So I really want to be up on him with how it needs to be done, to be how I want it.

So I try to clean, but instead of just a day of cleaning a room, I need to have about 3 days. Add in a toddler, laundry from hell, dogs, cats, Ed... bah, to have my energy back... I just wanna have it back...

Just one more...

Stamp Camp. Phew, next week is my Rub-on stamp camp. I actually am excited about this class I have a ton of ideas for this class, it will be hard to narrow it down to just a few!

This whole last weekend was stamping, stamping and some stamping. Thursday, stamped. Friday, stamped A LOT. Saturday, stamped some more. Sunday was Easter with my parents. Monday was Dr. appt's and more Stamping at night. Tuesday was the Anne Frank exhibit and NO stamping. Sadly I left that to today at 1:15 I started my stamp camp work. Yeah, it was 4 hours before everyone showed up, yikes!

So after next Wednesday, I will be on maternity leave from my stamp camps. I treat this like my job, so I do officially take a maternity leave. But I will still take orders, and my club will still go on. I think I should be back having classes some time in July. Which is good timing.

April into May will be all focus on Alex and myself and my family. Then May we have Mother's Day, Alex's welcoming party, and a Stampin' Up! garage sale at my uplines house. June is even more insane, we have Mia's Birthday (Golden birthday this year!) Father's Day, Me and Ed's anniversary (7 years!) my parents anniversary, usually an annual trip to Arlington Park with Ed's whole family. Not to mention your average grads and weddings. (don't think I have either this year) Phew.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I am happy to be getting a 3 month break. I need one.

Holland Michigan

I am home. Pooped. I had a great weekend. I went to a Stamping Seminar in Holland, Michigan, we try to go every year. A demonstrator that has been in the business for 15 years runs this, 12 years now. About 200 of us go. She usually has a very successful demonstrator talk about business, other demo's show techniques and what tips they have on some of our new product, it's usually 8am -9am for Swapping and registration. Then from 9am till 5pm is the seminar with an hour lunch.

So yesterday started our adventure, "our" as in myself and Michele. Sad that Jen couldn't make it this year. Other priorities in life, gatta do what you gatta do! We went to Ikea first, and had a ball picking out some fun organizing tools for our stamp rooms. Then we had a great lunch at Gordon Bierch in Bolingbrook. Then off to Michigan.

We stayed at the Residents Inn Marriott. It was a great deal on a 2 bed, 2 bath w/ kitchen, dining room and living room... $120 a night!! It was SO nice, I almost refuse to stay anywhere not as kick ass next time!! Loved my own room, my own bathroom, we stamped at the kitchen table all night (1:30 am to be exact) then up at 6 am to get ready for breakfast.

Very inspirational stuff, I took great notes, tons of pictures I HAVE TO PRINT AND ORGANIZE!!! I love these seminars, they really give me a boost to work harder at my business.

I am exhausted, we have been going all day. (Michigan is 1 hour AHEAD of us, so we lost an hour after getting there. BUT gained an hour to sleep tonight!) After the seminar we went to Michigan City, Indiana to eat at a Damon's Ribs (thanks to the lovely GPS I have!) then back to Illinois, to see my Ed, and spend about 45 minutes with him, nice we chatted about Alex, and our family. LOVE to do that with Ed.

I have more to blog on, about scrapbooking, I think you bloggers will enjoy what the demo's said. More to come on that, I need to go pass out, I am zonked. Nighty night!

Miss me!

I am leaving for Holland Michigan in a few hours, my girlfriend and I are going to make a fun stop at Ikea to pick up some organizing tools.

Then off to Michigan, to stamp and swim at the hotel pool, and relax. Then tomorrow bright and early we are having breakfast with another stamper, Susan. Then to our Spring Seminar!

Yeah!! I will be back late Saturday, then Sunday I will be at my parents all day, we are celebrating Easter (they will be in Washington D.C. next week) then Monday, well that is just insane...

9am Mia Dr in Joliet
11am Jacki Dr. in Plainfield
4:15pm Ed and Jacki to eye Dr. for contact check
7pm Jacki to my Dauber Diva meeting!

Phew, crazy busy weekend, miss me!!

More and more tired...

My energy sucks. I really have to pick and chose what I do each day, if I am too busy in the morning by afternoon I am comatose.

Today I was blah, up around 8:30, no Mia or dogs up yet. So I took a shower, and bs'd with my mom for a about 1/2 hour. That was nice.

But no sooner did I enjoy it, the dogs got up, and Mi was yelling for me. The usual routine followed, fed dogs, fed Mia (2 scrambled eggs, 1 banana, 1/2 cup of Cheerios, 1 sippy of water) Mia then watched her Sesame Street and played in the front room, dogs outside, and I cleaned up the dishes (it backed up again)

So now Mi will go down for her nap, I will get some laundry together, drag it down stairs, iron Ed's clothes for work (2pm-8pm at the video store, then 10pm-6am at Empress) probably eat lunch and work on my trades for this weekend until Mia wakes up. And move on from there.

I just needed to sit and blog, I am pooped already, and my back is sore again from being on my feet just for a little bit this morning. I do wear good shoes around the house for some support. Oh well, hope everyone has a good day.

From one energy lacking momma.

Pain scale and me

Ever since I was a spry young casino worker, I was sloppy and jacked up my back. I was seeing a Chiropractor, thank god for Dr. Santolin, who was able to fix me. I found out later that my hips are out if line, that is why my back hurts. Because it is compensating for what my hips don't.

I know not everyone is on the same page with the Dr./Chiropractor controversy. But I was prescribed Alieve by my first Dr. for my back (jeez thanks) and the second just gave me anti-inflammatory. I am not a big drug person. But I am also not a pain person. When I was treated by my Chiropractor, with once a week visits for 4 weeks and if I did stretches on my own. My hips and back are ok. Way better for me then just popping pills. But some people just take the easy way out. The meds would only mask my back and hip issue. Not fix them. I have to say my Chiropractor would also tell me if he couldn't fix it, he would send me to a Dr. to get it fixed. Too bad Dr.'s aren't on that same page.

So my big fear both times is my back going out while pregnant. I was fine with Mia, a lot of the time I was sore, but that is expected anyway. I just went after she was born and got myself adjusted back to where I should be.

So at my ultrasound yesterday, the printer jammed about 1/4 of the way through, I am stuck FLAT on my back while 2 nurses tinkered with the printer. I didn't mind at first but after 10 minutes I realized that I was not going to have an easy time getting up. Nurses finished. The tech continued the ultrasound. Well after a hour of being FLAT on my back. I was fine until we hit the parking lot. I opened the door to the explorer and just the right move and I hit a nerve.

This is the kind of pain, where if you breathe wrong, tears just run down your face. I was stuck. Literally stuck. I was stuck with my left foot on the ground, and my right up to take the next step. I couldn't even flex my foot without a shooting pain running all the way up my back.

I don't think many people know I deal with this from time to time. Ed does NOT believe in Chiropractors at all. So he just thinks pills will fix it, and sadly our insurance will cover some of the visits. But they are still $60 a pop. That is a bit much for me. I go when I am unable to walk for a few days.

So after about 5-7 minutes of freezing my ass off and crying from the pain. I was able to realize that if I s.l.o.w.l.y. moved my leg back, behind me, I could ease the pain. After this I was able to get into the truck and we went home.

By the time we made it out to Channahon, I was better and able to get in and out of the truck just fine. I think I just hit a nerve, just right, then I can work it out, and move on. HOPING that I never hit that nerve while in labor, I would just die.

Which brings me to the pain scale. And it's kinda weird to even have a scale, everyone is different on there level of what they can take. Here's mine...

1. Headache / Braxton Hicks
2. Lower back ache
3. Paper cut
4. Hit your nose pain /
5. Needle for blood being taken
6. Needle for shot
7. Migraine / cramps
8. Contractions
9. Birth of my child / Back pain on nerve
10. Stitches after my child and there is NO pain meds

So see, I really can deal with a lot, I have never broken a bone or had a major surgery (knock on wood) so my pain to your pain is so different.

And today I was ok, I just feel like the weight I gained with Mia was more around me, and Alex's weight is all in the front of me. Which is just wrecking havoc on my back. Again I just want my body back. No I don't want more kids, I want to get back to me, so I can enjoy the kids I have.

So when you see someone shuffling along. Don't laugh, your dear friend here has done it. Across the Harah's Casino floor, while working. A 2 minute walk from one side to the next took me 18 minutes. No joke. And unless you have been to the point of straight tears and absolutely NO movement for minutes on end. You have no idea.

This ain't your time of the month my back is sore, or I was on my feet all day sore. This is right up there with my kid's birth. Ouch.

Oh Boy!

There he is! My Alex. Ultrasound was today. We totally forgot that Mia can't come in with us (not sure why) so we dropped her off at my IL's this morning, went to a very nice lunch at Applebee's (the new one on Jefferson st.) then I started the water drinking. Sigh, if you have been there you know, if you haven't next time you have to pee, I mean REALLY bad, REALLY, REALLY bad. Drink another bottle of water and then hold it for two more hours. GAH!!



OK enough about me, lets talk about Alex. He is 4lbs. 15oz (yes an oz. away from 5 lbs.) the Hydrospholis that Ed has is not showing (water on the brain, requiring an stint in his head right after birth) so yeah for that. We did do another check, and yes we had another showing of the twig and berries!



Even better news, the ultrasound tech (god love them) said I was about 34 weeks, but with the measurements of his head I was more like 35 weeks. Holy week jumping! I am actually 32 weeks and 3 days. Take that torturing Doctors! So I think May 2nd, my original due date is out the window. And we are looking for anywhere from April 20th to the 26th.



His heartbeat was 122, his head is way down and good to go. She showed me that my bladder is right below his head. What a shocker, the kid blinks and I piss myself!



So I am very happy with my ultrasound, and that I still saw a penis. Jayme's news had me worried, and second guessing. But I made her check at least twice today that it was a boy!

Not exactly as planned, but what is anymore?

So Mi goes down for her nap yesterday. I called my MIL to tell her I think we will be needing more border for Alex's room. While on the phone her sister Donna is now free and would like to do the border today (yesterday)

Fine by me, I really didn't want to stare at card stock any way. I did actually use my time well, in the hour and a half I had before they got here I put away class stuff, and worked on my color layout.

They came, they bordered, they visited with Mia for about 20 minutes. They left. I hung out with Mi from about 3 until 7. Let me tell you that is a LONG 4 hours. Again still cold, and can't walk outside. Even if it was nice. I am so tired, I get exhausted getting the mail across the street.

Once she went down, I went back to my art room, and created my meeting swaps (16 of them) and watched some After Dark, on ShowTime not so good. The hamsters just shit talked each other. A lot.

Ed did good, went with $300, came home with $249. Any time you gamble and come home with $$ is good to me! He got home around 2am (new time, we had to spring ahead our clocks. So 1am old time) we locked up and went off to pass out in bed. (We did some math, he was up for 29 hours straight. That is insane)

Now Ed is again gone and at work at the Video Store until 3, then home until tomorrow night, when he closes the Video Store.

I am off to get Mia from her bed, make breakfast, feed the dogs, cats. Come back upstairs. Clean the loft (ZOO!) then when Mi goes for her nap, I would like to eat lunch and then go back to the basement to make more projects.

We will see how today's schedule goes... sigh...

Zombie Day

Today is not going to be much of staring at some card stock in my basement. I have my Holland Michigan trip coming up on Friday, I usually make almost 100 card fronts to trade. And I haven't even thought of what I am going to use.

Plus when I get back on Saturday, Sunday is Easter with my parents (they will be gone on Easter in Washington D.C.) we are picking up Mia then, but Monday will be insane. I have a Dr. appt for Mia at 9, mine is at 11 and then my meeting at 7 pm. (Diane's surgery and St. Pat's day too!) So there will be NO time for meeting trades after my trip.

Then that Wednesday, the 19th I have a Sticky Cuts Letter Class, and a Rub-On class on the 26th. So why am I still blogging and not up to my eyes in paper and stamps?!? Cuz Mi is finishing watching Sesame Street, and then I will make me some coffee, and head down when she goes in for her nap.

Working on a project with a 21 month old is just about impossible. Especially at the creating stage.

Ed is gone already for the day. He HAS to be exhausted. He worked Thursday night (went for an insane 8.6 mile walk that afternoon) from 10pm, till Friday morning at 6am. That gave him until 9 am to sleep, he had to work the video store from 9:30am until 4pm. Came home and slept from 5 pm till 9:15. He had to work Empress again from 10pm till 6 am this morning. Then he slept until 8am, he had to leave at 8:30 to get up to Chicago for Wrigley orientation (yes his 3rd job) that crap should last until, hoping no later then 3ish, he has a poker tournament at his friend Mike's house at 6. So by the time he leaves the city and goes to Yorkville he will just eat dinner in Yorkville then over to Mike's. This is the rest of his birthday present from me. $100, to go kick ass at Poker.

Then come home to pass out. Oh and he has to open the video store at 9 am tomorrow, until 3 pm. I would assume sometime around 3:30 tomorrow Ed will be in a coma.

So that is the update on us here, I am off to put Miss Mia off to nappy land, make my java, and go stare at paper. If that doesn't move me. I may watch a movie.

Have a caffeinated day!

Flower Fusion

I always talk about my Stampin' Up! business, and I never show you what I do. So here is a little sample of a class I did. Pictured below are 3 of the 4 projects (the one would not load) I charged $20. It included a $15 tin with 130 little felt flowers inside, and the 4 projects. Classes are on every other Wednesday from 6pm until about 9pm. I have a good core group of about 6-7 who attend regularly. (Yes my mom is my biggest fan!) Any who, check out the samples below...

Above is a CD holder, cute gift idea if you want to burn pictures or a music CD for someone...

Cute Thank You card, they learned a neat trick about tying the 5/8 grosgrain ribbon, for shipping and the less bulky look...

This one was SO fast and easy, but that's what a lot of card makers like, fast, easy and cute!

Hope you enjoyed. Maybe, just maybe I will have pictures of my up coming classes, meeting swap and Holland trades... stay tuned!

Have a creative day!!

Thriller

It's been 25 years since the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller Album. I have to say I was a HUGE MJ fan. I loved the whole CD, had nightmares to the Thriller video, but I still loved all his music.

Dance moves... amazing. Footwork... phenomenal. Style... out there. The reason why I am blogging on this, is most of you know I have a love for hip hop and pop music. But if you watch Best Dance Crew on MTV they just did a tribute to the Thriller Album. These kids are so talented. Randy Jackson is the producer, and pulling kids from the streets that have there own style and there own flare. Are just not appreciated like they should be.

Sad to see one of my favorite groups get eliminated, Fysh and Chicks, but they were up against BrkSk8 (not sure if that is right there) they do ALL there dancing on old school roller skates.

I also have to say when "So You Think You Can Dance" is on that is another one of my favorites. Again free style dance. Not that I don't like the ballroom dancing with the stars style, it's good, it's exciting. But it's all stars. What a shocker, lets get ratings from the stars.

I would rather watch the real talent from kids that are given a chance to do there thing. One of my goals, after Alex. Is to get the weight off. Get into yoga to get my balance and strength back. Then I would like to get into a Hip Hop dance class. Yes they are hard to find, not for kids, but for adults.

I don't see that coming for a few years. I really want to be back into shape and able to give it my all. So this blog is for the love of Michael Jackson's music, hip hop & pop dancing, and giving the opportunity to those who have more talent then the B list celeb's.

I can only hope Mia and Alex appreciate dance and music, no matter there taste, as much as me and Ed do.

Zonked. (yesterday's events)

My parents were here around 12:30. Mia slept until about 2pm.



My dad...

Hung Alex's valence, (bigger deal since he needed an extension to go over the vertical blinds.) Hung the mirror and the Qtip holder from Ikea.

Carried down to the basement 3 loads of laundry

Carried down my tall skinny curio cabinet now at the bottom of the stairs

Moved the small marble octogon table into the pool room

Fixed the garage and basement door knobs, both loose.

Hung the new rod, and curtians from LTD in my frontroom. No more vertical blinds, now those paneled ones that are made so the sun can't come through, in a Mocha color.



Mom and dad spent a great deal of time moving around my front living room, Mia and me supervised and directed them. The new layout is crazy different, but I like it.

Mom ironed Alex's valances, it took 2, since he has a big 5x5 window (looks awesome!)

She also, helped me fold clothes, cleaned my bathroom, fed Mia lunch, helped me dust and clean the front room.

Then I made dinner, chicken breasts (Maggie is on watch for 24 hours, since her greedy ass ate 2 uncooked chicken breasts, my bad for leaving them on the counter) mashed potatoes, corn and a salad.

Mom and me went online to order 2 more pannels of the mocha curtians (my window is kinda bigger then I thought by a few inches)

Phew, that was a lot of work for all of us!

Sara and Jen recheck the picture!

Correction to my two dear friends.

Sara. Again not ignoring your calls, I was eating dinner with my parents, I really do like you. really. Muah! Anyway Snuffy is the first one on the far right, trying to spoon Telly.

Jen, silly girl. Elmo is the 5th one from the right.

So again for correction sake the line up is...

Oscar and Abby Cadaby (new girl) in Tigger's lap, Zoey and you can barely see the blue from Grover #1, then Baby Bear, Rosita, Betty Lou, Big Bird, Grover #2, Elmo, then Cookie #1 and Cookie #2, then Snuffy.

I do not see Barkley or Rubber Ducky (she has them in the little stuffed version too.) and again Bert and Ernie are the top dogs so they get to attend breakfast, while everyone else sleeps in.

Oh and Slimey, Oscar's worm is there, he is with Oscar on his can. Yes I watch WAY to much Sesame Street, yes I love it. Yes Mia does too.

So here is your Sesame Street trivia. Without googling it, or looking it up somehow. Do you know what Big Bird's stuffed teddy bears name is?

Alexander Edward McHale

So we only have 50 or so days left until Alex graces us with his appearance. This is what I wonder...

• Are you really an Alex. Or are you a Madison Grace?
• Are you ok. Do you have Hydrosypholis?
• Will you have dark hair, or light hair? Mi was born with dark brown hair and is now blonde.
• Will we wait until my water breaks and go in that way. Or will you be so big that I get induced again?
• Will you tear the shit out of me like your sister, or will you just fall out? (I am hoping for option #2)
• How will Mi act around you?
• How will I handle you and your sister? I know I can, it's just the unknowing that is hard.
• I hope you will be as great of a baby as your sister. Sleeping, eating whatever formula I give you, no colic, get on a schedule fast. I can hope!
• How hard will it be for me to clean your circ surgery, and just cleaning you in general will be all new to most of us. (My parents had only us 2 girls!)

Either way, I love you. No matter what you look like, or how you are. You are my little man, and I am so proud of you already. We have just a little longer to share space together. I will try to enjoy it, when I can. Then we will have a tough day together, but with Daddy's coaching we will do just fine. I love you. Mommy

Friday 15

Yes I skipped yesterday, so today will be the Friday 15 instead of the Thursday 13. Here are 15 random things...

1. In the back of my head I am wondering if Alex is a Madison. I am 99% sure and I was before the ultrasound that I was having a boy. But now that my friend Jayme, was just told her baby is now a boy. I wonder...
2. I CAN NOT wait for the carpet to come in for Alex's room. I just want to get that in, the border up (tomorrow) and start setting up his room.
3. I am so over these mood swings, it's not even funny. I miss me.
4. I really just want to get my loft organized and the house in pretty good order before he gets here. Thanks to my parents, who are coming by today to help out.
5. I worry about Diane and her back surgery coming up. March 17th. That will be one crazy St. Patricks Day. She will be in surgery, Mi has a 9 am with Dr. B, I have a 11 am with Dr. Quell, and it's the night of our Dauber Diva Meeting at 7 pm. Maybe it will be good I will be busy and have my mind off the surgery...
6. I love silver jewelry. Who doesn't now a days. But I did back when I was a kid, before you could get it like you can now. I am so glad I was able to get my wedding ring in white gold.
7. I hope I keep up scrapbooking, my pages are awesome, and I love the story of my family's life that they tell.
8. I went power grocery shopping yesterday. But still managed to forget...dog food, diapers, Mia's juice, and I just realized we have no strawberry jelly.
9. 2 nights ago my dream was so crazy. I was in a hospital with baby Alex (who had dark hair) Dominique just had Kailey, her best friend Laurie had her little guy, Dylan, Jayme had a baby and so did Melissa (friend) neither of there babies sexes I knew. We were to live in the hospital for a year, and husbands, family and friends could visit. To bizarre.
10. Last night I had another dream about Alex, he looked like Jackson from Steel Magnolias the movie?!?
11. Sesame Street makes me happy. I like the song, the people, the Muppet's. All of it. Thank you Vee company for such a great show, I was able to grow up with and now so will my kids. Plus it is unisex so both Mia and Alex can like it.
12. The two things that will calm me down pretty much no matter what. A spray bottle with water in it, spray me in the face, and the strong smell of Vick's. A combo of these two and I can be calmed instantly. Yes even before my pregnancy. I am just bizarre like that.
13. I really, really need to back up my picture files to CD's. I was doing so good. I am falling behind!
14. I need to get tapes for my video camera and find the charger cord. Soon.
15. Happy to say our iPod and the speakers I bought for Ed are awesome, he takes it to work and listens to it for a few hours. I use it down in my art room. And we take the iPod on walks too. Love it!

The morning line up...

Here is the line up. Every morning before Mi gets out of bed, we have to line up all her Sesame Street friends and tuck them in. Say "nih, nih!" and then we go to breakfast, notice that Bert and Ernie are not there. Of coarse not, they are the privileged that get to attend breakfast. Silly.

Week 32!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 32:

Fetus in eighth month In the latest womb reports, your amazing baby has now developed sensitivity to temperature! This means you’ll probably get a swift kick if you put a hot pad on your ginormous belly. For the Elton John lovers out there-- yes, baby’s got blue eyes. At this point, all babies do, although depending on their chromosomal disposition, this could easily change after birth (or even between now and labor), but for the time being, blue it is. Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week, survive premature births. So it’s pretty much a done deal. Even if your little monkey’s planning on heading out early, their survival odds are in everyone’s favor. Time to celebrate (no, no, wait until after the birth to crack open the champagne!) We’re talking baby-showers and alcohol-free punch!


And how's mom doing? If your family or significant other is around and involved, it’s probably time to start discussing what’s going to happen when you really go into labor.


Even the weak-stomached birthing buddies can still help to make the labor-process more bearable with breathing assistance, massages, and constant reassurance and cheering: "Yay! That was a great contraction honey!" (Now run! Before she breaks your wrist!). For the more blood-bold and not so faint of heart, the positions of cameraman, baby-catcher, and/or umbilical cord-cutter are always available—just talk to your doctor or mid-wife beforehand so they can be prepared to deal with an extra person during the birthing process.


Surprise! Your third trimester symptoms aren’t going away yet. If you just got back from peeing, you already know that your bladder is nearing non-existent-land. These joys will persist till you’re on the birthing bench. Also, be careful of lightheadedness during these last weeks. Your blood tends to pool in the lower limbs, resulting in low cranial blood pressure. So, watch out for the head rushes and get up nice-n-slow after sitting for long periods.