Oh the wireless world we live in. . .

Technology. It's a wonderful thing. . isn't it? It's crazy how much we rely on these dang fickle machines in our lives. As I laid down last night to attempt sleep, if I turned my head to the right towards the night stand and alarm clock, the monitor had some interference. If I turned my head back to staring at the ceiling; Dellaina's breathing. Look back, interference. I must have metal in my head - a filling maybe? I'm not sure why I think metal causes interference now that I think about it. Maybe my brain just won't shut down and is sending out signals that are crossing with the monitor's. Our brains are like computers, right? I noticed it the other night, too and thought it was strange, but was too far gone at that point to remember it the next morning. But, now I have a blog with faithful readers that I need to keep informed and entertained, so I made a point to remember to share and somehow that worked. During my morning routine this morning I was reminded of other things I rely on daily; like the garage door. Back in January (yes, 6 months ago!) we had a bad storm and lightning took out lots of wonderful machines around our house: computer, phone, satellite, upstairs heating unit and the garage door. We had the heating unit repaired, because it was pretty chilly and we had a newborn that probably needed some warmth. We had just gotten a new computer for Christmas, that, thankfully, we had not hooked up yet, so the computer we lost was the ancient one. We got the satellite part we needed, because we can't be without our TiVo! We bought a replacement phone, but it was a cordless phone with 2 handsets and it apparently interferes with our wireless Internet. I'd been told it had to do with the frequency, but the phone is the higher 5.8 mega hertz rather than the lower 2.4 or whatever normally causes the issue. I even went to Office Max to get a replacement but the guy there was stumped after I told him that and basically I was out of luck and don't know how to fix it. I think we just need to get a cordless phone with a single base and maybe that will solve it. Or a corded phone So, we don't use our house phone much anymore. We still pay for it, mind you. Mostly because we need a land line for TiVo for updates and such. Oh, it's a vicious circle! And the garage door just needs a new sensor we think, but Home Depot didn't sell just the sensor and I wouldn't let Greg just buy a whole new unit. 6 months later I'm tempted if that will get the garage door working again! There is a manual override and I just have to hold the button in until it opens. Which means in the morning, holding it to open, backing out, getting out to hold it closed, going back through the house and out the backdoor to get back to the car. And in the afternoons, pulling up, getting out, going through the backyard and holding the button again to open, then pulling in and then holding the button again while I'm carrying Dellaina and all the daily baggage. I'm late enough as it is, I need the extra minutes it takes to go through this whole process. I will rejoice when I can hit the button on my visor again as I'm speeding out of the driveway! Those are my thoughts on technology today. . .
Dellaina pausing from watching the big technical "light box" (TV) to chew on her fist and squawk at the camera.

Sending out good vibes. . .

I've got some friends going through some rough times and dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, so I'm kind of in a funk myself at the moment. Work exploded today, too, so I haven't had much time to devote to posting. I just wanted to send out some good vibes their way and hope things pick up soon.

I'm definitely looking forward to the long weekend (although with work looming, it may not be as long as initially anticipated) and getting down to the lake and hanging out with old friends. We have our annual bash at the lake every 4th of July. I believe this is our 7th and counting. Even a youngun' couldn't prevent us from having a big party. Apparently it scared away some of the regulars, but we're still inviting those that will brave it with us.

I met some Berry friends for dinner tonight and had a fun girl's night out. Marcy & I have stayed in contact and try to meet for dinner about once a month or so. It's been really great maintaining that friendship and tradition. And Haydne joined us near the end. I always laugh when Haydne is around, she's a cool cat. I dread writing this for all to see, but I feel sharing my mistakes may help others either avoid them all together or at least feel marginally more human to know someone that has been there before. On the way home I was horrified to realize in the rear view mirror that I hadn’t actually buckled Dellaina into her car seat! She had done really well at dinner. She was asleep when we got there and stayed that way for a bit. Then, when she woke up, she was content in her carrier for a bit, while I finished eating, then I got her out and she played with different things on the table (played knocking them off the table, that is) for a while. Near the end she got fussy and fidgety, so I’d just put her back in the carrier, but never actually buckled her in. I carried her up to pay, which took a while and was crowded and hectic, then waiting on bathroom stops and saying good-byes. As we were leaving, I put Dellaina in the car and Marcy asked, "don't you need to buckle her in?" and I thought she meant with the seat belt across the carrier, which I generally don't do, except on long trips. The base is attached to the seat of the car and the carrier locks into the base and usually Dellaina is buckled into the carrier. I remember the exact moment I realized it and the feeling of shock. I pulled over and buckled her up immediately, but guess I’m still a little worked up about it. So there it is, for family and friends to judge and deem me an unfit parent.

I've been trying for a while to come up with something more cheerful to share. I know I will leave you with a picture, but I felt I should lighten the mood a bit or not talk about how I endangered my child before saying, "ooh, look at my beautiful little girl" as a visual reminder of what I put in danger. Hmm, we talked about Reality shows tonight at dinner. . what reality show would you be on? Greg & I have always talked about doing The Amazing Race. Haydne has actually applied. I'm surprised, actually, that she hasn't been chosen yet, honestly. My boss, Kirby, said I could have the time off if we did get on. Guess we just need to get cracking on that video application. We do have Granny's video camera at the moment. . .
That may be a lame attempt, but that's all I've got. Better get in bed. Have a Happy and Safe 4th everyone! Time for bed, Sleepy (broken?) Head. Big ol' noggin!

Scatterbrain

Work is a little crazy, so this post will probably live up to the name of my blog: Random Thoughts.

• Update to HP fanatics: I have read the first 2 books now and am trying to get my hands on the 3rd. I was a little skeptical and resistant given all the hype, but I have to admit, they are pretty good.
• Despite Niki's warning hanging over my head for years of procrastinating and having to pay expedited shipping costs to get the supplies for my own bachelorette party, I am doing the same last minute scramble for my sister and sister-in-law's parties. Also, on a side note, since I am planning two of these, if anyone has any ideas or supplies you could share, please pass them on. However, rather than leaving them in the comments section, since they may read those, please email me!

• In response to a post Niki had on her blog addressing Fitness Instructors, I would just like to add the complaint that one should NOT complain about your pants falling down multiple times to the class you are instructing. We do not want to be reminded of how tiny you are and that you have to tighten your belt in the middle of class because your waist is shrinking before our eyes and own bulging bodies. Just don't go there. If you didn't feel the daggers from the class, I'm surprised. At least she sweats so much it looks like she pees in her pants. That's some solace, I suppose.

• Even though I should be protesting because neither Boss nor Hank are finalists (yes, I did submit them) check out who made the Old Navy Mascot search finals and cast your vote. [Hope the link works, Megan helped me figure out how to do it, so we'll blame her if it doesn't work] Who wouldn't vote for these faces?

I've always loved this one of Boss; just too cute!

This is from Boss' first birthday party. Hank's eyes look weird in pictures (like cataracts), but they are really beautiful and a unique, haunting golden.

Guess that's the news for now. Dellaina has been waking up at 4:00 in the morning all week. Not sure what that is all about, but I hope she gets over it soon! She seemed to enjoy her carrots yesterday. And I took my first picture of her eating, after realizing I didn't have one to post yesterday, so I'll leave you with one:

Gotta Love Granny!

As someone who was always perpetually late on her own, adding a child to the mix has not helped my timeliness! That's why I was uber excited that Granny came to stay with us last night!

So, when Dellaina fell asleep at 8:00 and Greg said at 9:15, "shouldn't you wake her up? So that she doesn't get up at 4:00 again in the morning." I just smiled and said, "yes, but Granny's here this time" And sure enough, at 4:12, I hear Dellaina crying on the monitor long enough that I guess I can't ignore her or hit 'snooze' one more time and I get up to go check on her and Granny already has her on the changing table, changing her diaper. I go get her a bottle and leave Granny rocking and feeding her and crawl back under the covers.

At 8:00 this morning, I did hit snooze (on the alarm clock) one more time and then, got up and got a shower, got ready and laid out the day's food for Granny (she's going to get to try carrots today! So exciting) and then got to just walk out the door and walk in the door at work (to Tyler's great surprise) at 9:02 (I still can't be on time, remember, late on my own -- I just never seem to estimate how long things will take me to do correctly.)

Part of the tardiness these days is due to the fact that I tend to be more laid back about a lot of things, surprisingly, though having a child. I never knew my parent's hippy attitude would infuse it's way into my own parenting style. But even when I'm running for late to work, some mornings I still linger at the day care to watch her or sit with her a few minutes to make sure she's adjusted rather than just throw her out and run (like I'm sure I'll do later at some point) because I think, "she's only going to be this little once, enjoy it, take it in! She'll actually never be this little again -- each day is something new and different and she's grown and changed from the day before.

I took Dellaina with me to a shower for Emily & Daniel this weekend, where the host and hostess had graciously arranged for a sitter to keep her with their 2 boys (only one of which ended up there) and I go up to meet her and she asks, "Ok, what's her schedule?" and I find myself, mouth agape, with a blank stare on my face. .schedule? right, hmmm, well, she just ate before we left, so she should not be hungry before xx time, but if she gets hungry, she'll let you know. And if she gets tired, she'll sleep.

It was just amusing to me that I don't have a better handle on things to know exactly what she's "supposed" to be doing. I just let her do what she wants at this stage. The good thing about babies is they tend to do what they need to do, it's a good thing you can't over feed them (they'll turn away and find something more interesting when they are full) or over stimulate them (they'll pass out or cry to let you know enough's enough) or over love them or over baby them. And I have just let her run the show.

I'm sure some people would not be able to handle it that way, but it's worked for us. The hostess of the shower laughed and called herself neurotic, because she has her boys on a tight schedule of must sleep x amount at x time and eat precisely at x time and x amount. She said her mother or mother-in-law would laugh at her and when her boys would cry, would look at her watch and say, "now, it's it time for them to cry yet?" So, I can see benefits of adhering to a schedule to a point, and we do, somewhat, but I'm not a believer in waking up a sleeping baby for some reason.

ok, enough baby talk for now. It's about time to go check on her and Granny and see how the carrots took! Lovely orange -- maybe I shouldn't have laid out that nice white onesie for her to wear this morning. . .hmm

oh, and one more thing. . .

schedule? we don't need no stinking schedule. . .

Only Boys do that. . .

I picked Dellaina up from "school" last week and the teacher from the Toddler room, Felicia, was left with the last 2 infants; Dellaina being one of them. She was telling me about how Jennifer (the teacher that's normal with the infants, but had gone home early) had asked her to change Dellaina earlier, because she'd been feeding one of the other kids and Felicia was laughing because Dellaina was really smelly and stinky and dirty and she said that's why Jennifer hadn't wanted to change her. But, she was saying, at least she wasn't a boy and wouldn't pee on her like boys often did and as if on cue. . .Dellaina peed all over her and the table! And then she said she laughed! It made me laugh. My parents always told me the story about when I was born the doctor had kept them waiting a really long time before showing up and when he was passing me over him to hand to the nurse, I peed all over his lap and they just thought it was poetic justice and loved it! Anyway, those are my pee thoughts for the night. If anyone else has any pee stories they want to share, feel free. Hopefully, they are from a long time ago, though! ;)

Tastes like Dirt

I feel I'm definitely in the motherhood club now (and working my way fast and furious towards the "soccer mom" title) as I've been pulled over twice in the past 2 months! Fortunately, they were both for asinine reasons. Once because the 2006 sticker on my tag was missing (did someone steal it off my car?!) and once for getting into the turning lane "before it opened up." Both times, I was let off with just a verbal warning. Then, this week, I was telling Tyler how my car sounded funny as we were pulling out of the parking lot from work on our way to lunch and he leans out the window and then tells me to pull over because I have a flat tire. Poor Tyler. That was quite the adventure to change in the hot sun. We got it figured out, though. And it's good thing I'm cute, because the guy at Kauffman Tire didn't charge me anything to patch it and put it back on! Smart move, though, because now I'm even more loyal to Kauffman and spreading the word. . .
I tried changing a setting about the Enter key, but it still doesn't seem to want to add a line, how weird. Why would you not allow the Enter key to enter? What else is it good for it not toe ENTER?!
A-ha! I finally found what I needed in the help section, but it's just too weird that you would have to learn the Html format in order to enter a new line. So, let's see if I can get it to do several spaces now. .



woo-hoo! It's annoying I have to reset my font every time. There's got to be a way to do that more permanently. Anyway, who knew these dang posts would be this tricky? And my in-laws think I'm computer literate. Ha!

Another note on Dellaina's new baby foods; her green beans taste like dirt. Of course, that's what I say about most vegetables (as Greg has pointed out on many occasions) or things that come from the ground i.e. are healthy. I just had a dab on my finger and decided to lick it off to see how bad it was. I shuddered and gagged. Hopefully, we'll move on to fruits before too long and stop torturing the poor child.

Think Pink

So, in case you hadn't noticed, I tend to like all things pink these days. I cannot imagine where that came from! I never thought I would embrace girly girlism quite so much. So, this blog thing is addictive (at least for me); as soon as I published my first blog, I started composing my next post. I'm so concerned about recording my life that I tend to let it pass me by at times. I was late to pick up Dellaina, because I wanted to add some comments about her and a picture at the end. I didn't call to check in all day and that's unusual for me. Sometimes, I'm so focused on her pictures, even when she is right there, I have to remind myself to play with the pictures later. I have an obsession with pictures as most of you know. I didn't pump at all today either and so, it marks the end of my breastmilk as well (sorry if this is TMI, but Niki is the one that suggested I start a breastfeeding blog; too bad I waited until I was drying up to get started!) My goal was 6 months, so I'm feeling fairly good, but I also feel more disappointed than I thought, too. I guess because I expected to make it longer and have it ending be more of a conscious choice. I do wish I could have kept it up longer, but it's just hard to be consistent and she is eating so much, I couldn't keep up! Not to open the big heated debate, but I read an article a week or so ago about a new national ad campaign basically stating, "breastfeed. . or else" and it was a lot like the cigarette campaigns making formula out to be really evil and shameful (as if it doesn't already have enough of a stigma as it is) and putting warning labels on the cans or other similar tactics. People are aware that breastfeeding is preferable, but this campaign was going to really focus on NOT breastfeeding being harmful and a lack of good parenting. Anyway, I'm all for breastfeeding and think it's sooo super important, but there are so many variables and factors and I think the last thing a new mom needs is that kind of negativity. Support is so much more effective. I still think knowledge and education are key. If Dellaina hadn't been a natural at nursing or latching on, I would have been at a complete loss and it would have been much more difficult and I can't say how long I would have been able to do it. The soreness and lack of independence I can deal with, but just the ability to produce enough milk and nurse effectively are not things we can necessarily control. Ok, so I totally had not planned on that soap box. This is going to be one long, boring post. Random thought: why is baby food called "solid food?" It should be mushy food. Dellaina gagged on her green beans tonight. Not quite as adorable as the shudder. It's hard for me to pick out pictures, because I share all of mine, there are no surprises. I tend to like the more amusing ones for here. . .

Gotta do those leg raises after all that eating. . .

Everybody's Doin' It!

So, I'm finally giving in and starting my own blog. I've debated doing it so much back and forth because there's so much pressure to keep things entertaining or be thought-provoking or witty in order to keep others interested. And what would I talk about? My life is fairly uneventful. What [who] would I complain about if I'm sharing it with everyone? I cannot post anything negative about work, because it's liable to get back, so what good is it for me if not an outlet for frustration? No one has really been pressuring me or requesting it, but I felt compelled to join the ranks of other friends that share their daily lives with me via Blogger. That's fairly narcissistic , isn't it? To think others would care about my life and opinions. Oh well, there it is. I like to ramble and now I have another outlet for it. I figured it was time when I continue to get distracted at work by trying to come up with things to post. I'll try not to make it a shameless photo-op for Dellaina. I do that enough via snapfish. Let's see how Nascar I can get and how many other plugs I can do in one post. Hmm, I'm wearing a Coca-cola shirt today, that's probably enough. I don't know how to get to a new line. . hitting Enter does something weird, but it doesn't go to a new paragraph. Maybe Niki or Megan can help me out with that. See, I'm so inept! I'm also scared to publish, because I don't know if I can go back and edit after I publish. And I don't want to mess something up. Who knew I'd be this nervous about sharing? I just feel so much pressure to lead the discussion. Mainly I just want a venue for friends to communicate. So, in that vein, let's try something more interactive that I was thinking about earlier when I was thinking about having to fill out a profile and set things up: how do people describe you? What do you think is the first thing they say when they are talking to someone else about you (assuming the other person does not already know you). I think my key word is, ready for this? Short. I don't really know what follows that, but I bet that's a good starter. Hopefully, something along the lines of "beautiful and with a big heart" versus, "short and round with bad hair."

Ok, well, since it's my inagural post and because it's her half birthday I do have to have one photo of Miss Dellaina Lee, my happy little girl. "yeah! Put on your dancing shoes and let's go, girls!" We introduced solid foods last night - yea! Baby food green beans sure are green and messy. She would shudder after every bite! It was hilarious. I, of course, got a video of it, so if I sent you the Videos album via snapfish, you can check it out if you want, it's pretty cute. If you want the link, let me know. Ok, holla back now.

PS Bonus points if you can recognize who's in the picture in the picture