Everything seems to be moving so quickly this week!

The kids are doing great, new baby has his 2 front teeth coming in. I'm going to miss that toothless grin! He eats everything we put in front of him. We don't even know if he likes it or not, he shows no preference for anything whatsoever. I am going to take full advantage of that while I can!

I am still trying to make sure we all sit down to a nice dinner every night. So far, so good. We didn't last night though; I wasn't feeling very good and wasn't hungry. My husband was hungry earlier than old baby, so we just kind of did our own thing. Old baby has been trying some new foods. It isn't exactly as difficult as it was when he was younger. He still gags on almost everything he tries. It makes me feel so rotten. I will be the happiest woman on the planet the day we all sit down to dinner and old baby eats everything on his plate, and asks for more vegetables!

On another note, our wedding anniversary is tomorrow. 4 years of wedded bliss! I did a little break-down of the last 4 years and I have been pregnant for 62% of our marriage. That is crazy! I'm sure my poor husband will also tell you I was more than my share of crazy hormonal byotch. What a good man, to put up with all my ravings, cravings and bad moods. What on earth could I possibly give back to this man, who has given me everything? Maybe a 2 year stretch without any more babies?

This week has gone very well, considering all of the new things going on.

My husband has started a new job. His first day was Wednesday. It seems to have gone well, and he is working with one of his closest friends.

New baby started with day care on Tuesday. We interviewed her last Friday, and I actually liked her so much we decided to cancel our other interviews. My husband joked that I just didn't want to leave the house again. I thought that was funny. Then I smacked him. Just kidding.

Old baby was not happy with us Monday night. We made him eat vegetables. The poor abused boy! He wouldn't eat them, so it was straight to bed. What followed was not the quiet evening I had in mind in preparation to take new baby to day care the following morning. I had imagined well rested, happy children as we skipped happily into the sunrise, tra la la la la. That fantasy bubble was popped as a screaming three year old refused to go quietly to bed, and instead kept his baby brother up until almost 9:30. He refused to sleep in his bed, and wanted to sleep on the floor. That was fine with me, except he also wouldn't let us turn off the bedroom light or shut the door. So, we waited until they were finally asleep sometime around 10, and shut off the light and closed the door.

At around 5:00 the next morning, I hear a knocking sound. I got up, and it was old baby, knocking on his bedroom door to be let out, with the light on. And new baby was awake too. I couldn't get too upset, I was going to be getting up in 45 minutes anyway. And, everyone was up and dressed and out the door by 7:00 am.

Wednesday morning, old baby was awake at 4:00 am. I wasn't quite so thrilled this time around. He came to bed with us, which consisted mostly of him poking me in the eyeballs and using me as a platform for his toy train. I finally got out of bed, turned on the TV for him, and tried to go back to sleep. Apparently, TV watching is no good unless mommy is there too. Again, it wasn't the worst thing to happen, as we were able to get out the door on time.

This morning, old baby was a bit more kind to his dear sweet old mother. He didn't wake up the house until almost 5:30. I, however, am not quite as chipper and awake today. I definitely need to get to bed earlier tonight and try to catch a little bit more sleep.

Dinner has been good this week too. We had leftover chinese foood Monday night, my version of Oyaku Ju on Tuesday night (chicken and carmelized onions served over rice and topped with a sauce made from soy, rice wine and sugar, and cooked eggs), and NY steak marinated in red wine, soy sauce, garlic and ginger last night. Yum. Not too sure what's on the menu tonight - I might spend some time cruising the "Food TV" website.

I hope old baby starts sleeping to his normal time, as he is getting more and more grouchy. He has never been much of a morning person. We'll try not to torture him too badly at dinner tonight, and see how it goes!

meme time

Things that scare me
Digital pregnancy tests
Cancer
The Hwy 12 exit off I-80 in the mornings

People who make me laugh
My Husband
Adam Carolla
Mike Nelson

Things I hate the most
Digital pregnancy tests
Unsafe drivers
That I am so forgetful

Things I don’t understand
Digital pregnancy tests
Computers
My ex-boyfriend

Things I’m doing right now
Payroll voluntary deduction reconciliation for August
Worrying about a payroll package that Fed Ex lost
Watching the clock till I can go home

Things I want to do before I die
Have another baby
Make a beautiful quilt
Study our ancient ancestors

Things I can do
Juggle work and family, and be happy doing it
Belly dance
Make people feel better

Ways to describe my personality
Friendly
Open minded
Goofy

Things I can’t do
Dance
Sing
Decorate

Things I think you should listen to
My husband (he is always right!)
Yourself
Your children

Things you should never listen to
Habitually negative people
Hypocrites
Movie reviews

Things I’d like to learn
Sewing
Throwing pottery on a wheel
Gardening

Favorite foods
Flan
Chili and rice
Waffles

Beverages I drink regularly
Milk
Pepsi
Water

Shows I watched as a kid
Three’s Company
Sesame Street
Donahue

I had dinner with my friend Keri last night. We used to work together, but she moved on to another company about a year ago.

Keri and her husband have been fighting many battles.

First, the in-laws. His parents are two of the most hideous people I have ever heard of in my life. Too much booze, too many opinions.

Second, her husband has diabetes, and they both are severely overweight and struggle constantly to try and lose it.

Third, they have been trying for years to get pregnant. They went to one doctor who ordered all of these tests that all came back inconclusive. They went to another doctor who said those tests couldn't be inconclusive, and they needed to be done over again. Not being able to afford that, they've gone for more opinions and had another doctor tell them there is no reason why they can't get pregnant. As it stands today, their current doctor, who they like very much, has said that their options are invitro-fertilization, or a sperm donor. Invitro costs roughly $18,000.00, and her husband can't quite decide how he feels about using a sperm donor, which would cost roughly $600.00.

In the meantime, Keri has decided with her doctor to have gastric bypass surgery. I have mixed feelings about this surgery, because it so drastic. I think though that it is a smart move for Keri's situation. She needs to lose another 15 pounds before the surgery in October.

Before we had dinner together, I was almost thinking she was going to tell me she was pregnant. A couple of funnily-worded e-mails, and then an announcement during dinner that she had stopped drinking caffeine really got my hopes up. It has been such a roller coaster for her, and I can't even come close to relating.

So, I will think happy thoughts for her and hope that her surgery will be the doorway through which good things will come.

New baby said "mama" last night! I was so tickled. He has been talking to "dada" for a few weeks now, so I was glad to finally have my turn!

Dada is on his way to being employed again. Yay for our pocketbook, but I am so sad that he has to leave new baby. They are quite the pair. If everything were the way I wanted it to be, my husband would not be working at all, and staying home with the kids. I don't mind working. I actually enjoy my job. I have never seen my husband as a "9 to 5" type guy. He is too thoughtful. He is my philosopher king. I love seeing my husband and the kids together so much.

I think we are extremely lucky. We have had the opportunity that not many couples have of both at one time or another being the stay at home parent, and being the only one working. I never thought I would understand my parents as well as I do now. Our current situation has given me many moments to pause and reflect. I have spent many hours pondering the roles of men and women in the traditional sense. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to see things from the traditional "male" point of view. It has helped me grow as a person and I think made my relationship with my husband even more loving and strong. We can appreciate each other in a way never possible before.

As the next phase of our lives moves on, we will undoubtedly have road blocks and hurdles and pot holes to overcome. I feel much better equipped to deal with it now, and am looking forward to the challenge!

Something Different: Five Years: Where Were You?

Where Was I?

I don't remember what radio station was on when I turned on the car. It was probably between 6:15 and 6:30 am. I was on my way to work in St. Helena, and had to be there by 7:00. All of the information was disjointed, and as I neared the end of my street, I wondered if I should even continue in to work, or turn around and head back home to find out what was going on. I decided to continue in to work, and by the time I got there, I still didn't really know what was going on. I called home, and left a message for my boyfriend that he should probably wake up and turn on the news. He called me a short while later, and the first thing he said was "what the hell is going on?". I told him that from what I could gather, this was a terrorist attack orchestrated by someone named Osama Bin Laden. He said "Robyn, this is not good. If he is behind this, we are in big trouble". I had never heard the name before that day.

I was dying to call my mother. She and my dad were living in Hawaii, and my dad worked at Pearl Harbor Shipyard directly for the Admiral in charge of Pacific Operations. He was also in Philadelphia attending meetings, and scheduled to fly to DC. I was panicing, because I had no idea when he was supposed to be flying to DC. But, it was still only 4 or 5:00 in the morning in Hawaii. I called, and my mom had just gotten off the phone with my older sister. I remember bursting into tears and saying, "where's dad?". My co-worker Mary Lee was sitting at the desk directly across from me, and you could tell she was about to burst into tears as well. Luckily for us, my dad was still safely on the ground, and actually at a military base in Philadelphia. We weren't able to talk to him for more than 8 hours though.

I tried to work as usual, but the radio was on right behind my ear all day long. I was so drained by the end of it, I went straight home and huddled on the couch. I completely forgot to go to the dressmaker and get my bridesmaid's dress fitted for my sister's wedding.

Note: by "boyfriend", I mean the man that is now my husband. Just in case you thought I would live with some random guy.

Old baby and I were driving to day care this morning when we hit some traffic. We were in this long line of cars moving slowly towards the intersection which lets us merge onto the highway. Old baby says "Cars moving slowly, slowly, slowly. Cars stuck in the mud". I have never heard him use a description quite that way, saying something is like something else, using a comparison. I am just enchanted with how grown up he is becoming. It seems like he is growing in leaps and bounds mentally.

He is going to be so much smarter than me.

I already don't remember how to talk good.

Or spel.

My husband corrected my grammar this past weekend. That was embarrassing!

Well, at least I still have new baby to gurgle and coo at.

Old baby and Daddy can converse over dinner while new baby and I spit on each other.

I had a lovely weekend. I do love three day weekends, even though I have to hop to it at work to get payroll done on Tuesday!

I made a promise to myself not to schedule anything to do any weekend this month. So far so good. Except for my best friend Aimee's daughter's birthday party next Saturday. But that's it!! We have a butt load of family birthdays this month. My husband is more than welcome to take the kids wherever he wants, but my ass is staying at home to get some things done!

This weekend though, I just veg'd out for the most part. We had a small get together with my mother and father in law last night because they missed old baby's birthday. I didn't have too much housework to do, and I even got to sleep in until 10:00 twice this weekend.

Today, I am trying to eat better, because my body is sending me some signals that it is very unhappy with me. Mostly a small breakout of pimples on my chin. I haven't had pimples since I was 18, except a small breakout with both pregnancies.

For breakfast, I snacked on dates, and for lunch I had a 6 inch veggie delight sandwich from Subway. It was soooooo yummy! It was Italian bread with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, bell pepper, olives and a little bit of salt and pepper. No mayo, no oil and vinegar. And it was delicious! So nice and crunchy. Now, the trick is to go home and eat a light dinner as well, no greasy and delicious red meat! We shall see how I do!