Furry Purry Kisses

Filed in: Artsy-Fartsy Scrapbooking Stuff, Cat

A little luvin’s always grand!

Posted by Lou on March 28, 2007 @ 7:42 pm | 9 Comments

Sweetly Whistles The Howling Wind. . .Or The Snoring Preschooler

Filed in: Monkey

We have had serious wind the past few days. My new swing has blown over many a time and is now laying on it’s side waiting for the wind to chill the heck out already before I set it up. The last two times I set it up it fell and smashed my geraniums- see, I do learn from my mistakes!

So I’m sitting on the computer thinking, “Dang, that is SOME wind tonight! Listen to that howling whistle! Good thing I left the swing down!”

At that point I walked out of my scrap room, only to find that the howling, whistling wind powerful enough to fell mighty oak trees was, in fact, coming from my sleeping 4 year old.

Posted by Lou on March 27, 2007 @ 7:30 pm | 3 Comments

The Family Census Consensus

Filed in: parenting

Chris and I have been contemplating a third child. I am a bundle of conflicting opinions, fears, and what-if’s. You see, we are smart enough to know that we have a good thing going here. Yes, Jonas is amazingly adept at destruction and wild behavior, yes, Maggie is a total drama queen and loves the part of Jonas’ partner in crime- but seriously, these are two great, happy, healthy, cute kids. We are extremely blessed, and we know it.

During the good moments, I look at our little family and my insides go all warm and gooey like a chocolate s’more, and I think, “this is what it’s all about” and the thought of additional children just sounds perfect. I envision Pottery Barn Christmases and all the grandkids I could someday have. Then there are the nights when the two I’ve already birthed tag team me and I’m fortunate to get 15 minutes of sleep- a third kid could totally take that 15 minutes away. On those nights I envision my “happy family” fighting a week long stomach flu. It’s enough to make my insides run cold.

About a year ago, we were running some errands and I asked Chris what he thought a good spacing would be for the next one (clearly, this was a good day). We are both very happy with the Maggie and Jonas space of 2.5 years, so that was what he responded with. When I informed him that that scenario would entail getting pregnant TODAY, all the blood drained out of his face. Suddenly 3 years sounded VERY good- and 3.5- EVEN BETTER!

Honestly, the biggest issue for me isn’t the child (I’m 90% sold on him)- it’s the pregnancy. My pregnancies have been so horrific that the thought of having to put my life on hold and torment my family with 8 months of vomiting, IVs, bedrest, hospital stays, and then the postpartum depression and post nursing anxiety - well. It’s enough to make you take pause.

And while you take that pause all the what-if’s attack, and I find myself contemplating the realities that say that my next child could be exceptionally challenging, or could be sick, or could look like a cross between Donald Trump and Quasimodo. What if it turns out that 3 children is infinitely more difficult than 2? I keep getting mixed reports from the parents I know- they are no help.

I’m comfortable where I am. Oh, I get frustrated and I have bad days, but on a whole- I’ve got this routine down. I am quite capable of managing with Chris deployed. My hormones are leveled out (thank you drugs), and I have a great job and so many opportunities on the horizon. What if everything that could go wrong, goes wrong?

When I was sick as a dog expecting Maggie, I told myself that next time I got baby hungry I’d get a pet. Amazingly, shortly after the baby hunger struck, a cat showed up. Is it a sign? I will confess that having a soft bundle of fur to cuddle does help- but it doesn’t cure. Chris and I are making sure that the next car we get can seat an additional child (I’m opting for an additional 2 seats, because with our luck, if we buy a 5 seater, we’ll get pregnant with twins a week later-we’re that kind of people).

It all boils down to faith, I suppose, and I’ve never been very good at faith. I like controlled situations in which I know the outcome. I like knowing what is expected of me, and what I can expect from others. This is all so impossible to predict. It’s wonderful, scary and exhausting all at the same time.

Posted by Lou on March 26, 2007 @ 6:22 pm | 12 Comments

Lucky

Filed in: Stuff 'n Nonsense

Made from the March Scrappy Giraffe Kit Loving the bling!

Posted by Lou on March 25, 2007 @ 11:17 am | 8 Comments

Calgon. . .

Filed in: parenting

take me away!

Ok- so every night for the past week I have either had extreme insomnia, or the kids have woken me up countless times. I am exauhsted. Like semi nauseated all day exauhsted. Like can’t remember how to spell exauhsted. Like forgetting to put the parking break on exauhsted.

Jonas kept me up until 11 last night. Then Maggie woke up from 12 until 3. Then I fell back asleep and woke up to shattering glass because Maggie got up again and tried to get herself a drink and dropped the glass.

Then Jonas wet his bed, and ended up crawling in with me, kicking me for about an hour and snoring until he wet MY bed.

Then Maggie got up AGAIN and brought and entire jug of milk over to my bed, where she dropped it on the floor and spilled milk all over a pile of clean laundry waiting to be folded.

Holy Freaking Cow, people. 5 loads of laundry, no sleep and a HUGE overwhelming to do list that I’m already behind on.

I. Have. Had. It.

Posted by Lou on March 24, 2007 @ 8:16 am | 9 Comments

Updating Wouldn’t Kill Me. . .

Filed in: Artsy-Fartsy Scrapbooking Stuff

I know- I keep creating, but do I have the get up and go to update the blog? Apparently not! It’ s been a crazy few weeks- but here’s some scrappy goodness for you!

Le Mini Album

and

A Layout

Posted by Lou on March 22, 2007 @ 8:40 am | 10 Comments