THRILLED!!!!!!!!!

OooooooooooooooooooooBAMA!

OooooooooooooooooooooBAMA!

Incase you missed it, Barack Obama gave the keynote speach last night at the Democratic National Convention. It was astounding. It brought many audience members to tears and had me twitching around. It was eloquent and thoughtful. It was moving and made me so happy!

Here are excerpts from last night:

http://www.zimbio.com/Democratic+National+Convention+Speech+Transcripts/articles/17/2008+Barack+Obama+Convention+Speech+Transcript

Please read it! It's worth your time.

The Eagle Has Landed!

As you all know, I've been trying to coax Roo into potty training. I said way back when that I would just take a laid back approach. Other than the week of hell, I have been. I'll encourage her to try once or twice a week and see where it goes. Usually she says no. Fine. She will go after a bath, but no other time.

Today was a different story. I was putzing around in our room this morning when I hear her clunking around the bathroom. Usually that means she's up to trouble. Namely, eating toothpaste, ick! I called to her to ask what she was up to. She responded, "I gotta go pee!" I go in to check on her. She's not sitting on the potty, she's just standing there. I quickly help her get her diaper off and she sits down. She goes!!!!!!!!

I asked her if she would like to wear undies today, rather than crunchy ol' diapers. She takes me up on the offer!! I reminded her every hour and she went!!! She had one accident all day!! It was amazing.

We even ventured to the Dollar Store today in undies ONLY!!! So exciting! :-)

Open House

Today was Open House at Roo's preschool. We got to meet her teachers and some of her classmates. She's VERY excited to start school next Tuesday.

Apparently, I am the room mom. Damn, when did that happen? ;-)

As an aside, I did my hair, wore make-up and wore a dress. I ran into a neighbor and she said, "Wow! You look great!" I've got to get it back together. Getting showered, made up AND dressed is so hard these days! I'll do it though. :-)

Writers' Block

I've been seriously struggling with what to blog about...thus the lack of attendance. Please excuse!

You're just gonna have to make do...

Overheard in our car last weekend


Roo: Mommy, I need ice water.

Me: Ok, here is your water.

R: But there's no ice!

M:Well, I don't know what to tell you. You're just gonna have to make do.

R: Make dew? I don't know how to make dew. I need to know how to make dew. Will you tell me how to make dew?

Jim: Why don't you give her the recipe, mommy?

R: Yeah, tell me how you make it. Make dew! (Rambles on for another 5 minutes)

J: Go on, tell her...

R: Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy....

E: *completely zoned out* WHAT?!

R: When we get home, can we make dew.

E: Um, sure. :-)

He's a love man

'Cau...'Cau...'Cau...'Cau...'Cause I'm a love man
Ooh baby I'm a love man
That's what they call me I'm a Love Man
Say there goes a love man
Six feet one weigh two hundred and ten
Long hair... Real fair skin
I'm long legged and I'm-a out-a sight
My, my babe I'm gonna take you out
'Cause I' a love man
Ooh baby I'm a love man

Jack-man is a lover. I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on him. He loves to be held. And I mean more than your average baby. He will do just about anything to stay in your arms. He started a few weeks ago with giving me kisses. Now he's moved on to hotter and younger babes.

Today, Papa caught him kissing the girls in his baby soft book. Then he moved on to Roo's baby.

Here's what we saw. Now, I'm sharing two videos to show that this wasn't a one time thing, he kept doing it over and over!





That lover... :-)

Is that baby Chinese?

We're not sure.

Obessions

Everyone is prone to having an obsession or two. They sort of come in and go out. Following ebb and flow is kind of strange too. Something can come up and suddenly you're all over it. As easily as it comes, it can go away. From foods, to crafts, to politics, to technology, to news, to toys, to the environment and many more. It simply goes on and on.

Roo's obsessions are birthdays and birthday parties. She loves them! I mean LOVES them! We went to a "Chick-a-lay" birthday today and as we were leaving she started asking, "ok, who's birthday is next?!"

Jim's obsession is music. This includes his iPod and Sirius Radio. He's always loved music but this incorporates into every aspect of his life. Sharing music and creating slide shows with music is the way that Jim shows love.

My obsession is not quite as lovely. I'm absolutely enthralled with the story of Caylee Anthony. She is a 2 year old little girl who "went missing" this summer. Her mom says that she knows where she is, yet wont share. As of today, she is sitting in jail under suspicion (duh!). She was charged with neglect and child endangerment. In my mind, she has done something with her child that is completely heinous and unforgivable. I don't know what she did exactly, but I know it's not right. I know this little girl is dead and hidden away somewhere. I check the news about 10 times a day, watch Nancy Grace and Greta VanSusteren. I can't get enough of it. I'm just sick over this little girl. Breaks my heart.

So, what's your obsession?

Some kids tunage for my parent friends

Our family has gone to several kids concerts in the last few weeks. We've seen Lunch Money, The JellyDots and Frances England. What's awesome is that they are ALL adults, who sing kids music that parents LOVE! :-)

Here's some kickin' kid's tunage for you to check out!

Lunch Money - Our favorite songs are Caboose, Roller Coaster and Yes, We have Rhythm. BTW, Jim has a serious CRUSH on the lead singer, Molly. :-) But I think I might too ;-)

Frances England - Our favorite songs are Fascinating Creatures, Daddy-O and Fast Train to Grandmas.

The JellyDots - Our favorite songs are Bicycle, Hey You Kids! and Quite Naturally.


Please check them out and let me know what you all think! It's a nice change from Laurie Berkner (who is fabulous in her own right!).

Overheard at Chick-a-lay in the middle of no where...

An employee places a large soda in front of a woman at the line.

Customer: I didn't order a Coke. I ordered a white soda.

Employee: Uhm we don't have white soda.

(pause pause pause)

Employee: Do you mean Sprite?

Customer: That is WHITE SODA! (says indignantly, AS IF!?!)

Employee is perplexed but makes the woman a cup of Sprite instead.

Customer walks off.

Jim: Hi, I'd like 2 large white sodas!

Employee breaks down in laughter.


People are so wierd!

5 months

My dear Jack-Jack has come along way in the last 5 months. He's been busy doing all sorts of new things.

He:

• is rolling from front to back AND back to front (today).
• is getting his first tooth.
• is a mama's boy.
• is sleeping nearly 8 hours in a stretch at night.
• loves to sit up and did sit for about 2 seconds.
• bears weight on his legs to stand and even held himself up for a few seconds on my hands.
• weighs in at about 15 lbs.
• is sleeping in his own crib at night.
• is growing some dark hair and is getting an Alfalfa cowlick in the back.

6 Days of Sobriety

I've been sober for 6 days. That's right. I have a drinking problem. Coke, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi. You name it, I've done it. I've had to cut out my drinks completely. I'm doing it all alone. No sponsor, no meetings, no Big Book. All alone.

By now, I'm not dying, but I sure felt like it a couple of days ago. Anyone who has quit caffeine can attest to the withdrawals. I thought I was going to have seizures the first few days. Head pounding, lethargy, pissy attitude, difficulty concentrating...that was all me. Surprisingly though, I'm very optimistic and I know I can make it through this.

Why you might ask? Because for the first time in 5 months (!!!!) I am sleeping well. It's not because I have been keeping myself up with all of the caffeine. Nope. It's because it's been keeping the boy awake!

Jack has been a horrible sleeper since day one. I NEVER put two and two together. Well apparently NO soft drinks sit well with him. He was literally waking every 2 hours to nurse, all night, every night. Couple that with Roo's night terrors and you can see why I was crazy for caffeine. I was exhausted.

In the last 6 days, he has gone from waking every 2 hours to sleeping for one 8 hour stretch (8:00 to 4:00) being fed and then back down until 7ish. It's been heavenly. I've actually had DREAMS for the first time in...well...in 5 months! He's napping too!

So from now until I wean, I'm off the caff.

What's sick? I'm already planning my reunion with Coke (that's what we, in the south call ALL sodas/soft drinks). Maybe it'll be a Coke Classic with a pepperoni pizza or maybe some Mt. Dew with Taco Bell. Hmm...I'll have to think about that!

Get yourself a Walmartz name...

I frequent an online bulletin board for moms. One of the most common topics is wierd names or spellings. They have been dubbed "Walmartz names". These names would be unisex names, kre8tively spelled names, made up names or blatantly misspelled names. You get the picture.

Riley would be considered a Walmartz name. But Ryleigh, Rilee, Rylee, or Wryley would be more kre8tive. Kennedy is now considered a Walmartz name (sorry K-K). Kre8tive ways to spell it would be Kynedie, Kenidy, Kenehdeigh, or Kenadee.

Many people get defensive about having a Walmartz name, while others, like me, have embraced it. Sure, my child has a Walmartz name. I'm ok with that, because I love her name. I have in turn started to help create kre8tive spellings for us with "non-Walmartz" names. I prefer the spelling Ehlysuh'byth. For my friend Hanna, I've come up with Geo'Hanuh, J'hanya or Heanauh.

My dear daughter has become a kre8tive namer with out even realizing it. She has started naming all of her babies.

The names are as follows:

Yahboo (the first)
Come
Cama
Ubu
Wyrey
Wahwoe
Do'wah
Keely
Glorah
Kai-lyne
Finkle Lee
Came

The funniest one came up this week. Her beautiful Bitty Baby twin boy is name.....

STEAK!

What a wierdo. :-) I guess my grandchildren will have themselves some kre8tive names!


So, if u wantz a Walmartz name, you just hollah at me!

Don't make me...

Don't make me cut your bangs crooked...because I will!

Oops.

First Dates...

I never thought I'd be blogging about my 3 year olds love life. But alas, here I am.

Roo has known Reese since they were bitty babies in daycare. They were fast friends. When Roo was in school, there wasn't a day that went by that we didn't hear about Reese. His mom swears the same was true in their house. Both good kids, both thoughtful and caring, both timid. Two peas in a pod.

We haven't seen Mr. Reesey-Cups in a while. I got an email last week propositioning a date between the two of them. :-) Roo quickly accepted the date at Chick-Fil-A.

We met the Cups* family at "Chick-a-lay" this morning. We ate a delicious breakfast and then played in the play area. The kids had a blast!

He even went in for a kissy! What a playa! :-)

*No, their last name isn't really Cups ;-)

She shall be called Ariel

Roo has informed everyone that she no longer answers to Roo. She must me called Ariel or Princess Ariel, if you prefer.

Please make a note, as you will be quickly corrected if you use the wrong name. :-)

Cricket? In Fort Mill?

We were driving home from dinner today and saw a field of men playing cricket! How wierd is that. In Fort Mill no less!

We iz so klassy in South Care-o-lin-uh.