Love is in the air, or the water...

So we all know that BigBro and Dr. Rom are getting married this season, and we are all stoked!!! Well Dear Readers, add another date to your planners (how high tech am I?). Gigi and her boyfriend are going to marry (sort of). They are going to have a ring ceremony, they don't want to actually wed because it would mess up my Grandma's health insurance. Anyway, that is the big news over here. I am really happy for my Grandma, I think it will really improve her life to have someone to share her time with. And her boyfriend is pretty cool, he likes to fly planes and do photography. I still don't know him too well but my initial impression is that he is a really good guy and a great match for my Grandma. So there ya go, a nice dose of old people love just for you =)

GiGi is here!

Dear Readers it has been a crazy few days! Evelyn is still sick, her fever is gone but she still has the runs and now she has a wicked sore bottom. All this equals bad for her and me, but we will make it through. Any tips on good diaper rash cream/solutions would be great. I tried J&J diaper rash cream and it made her hurt 10x more, so for now we are sticking to plain old Vaseline.

In other awesome news, my Grandma is here =) YAY! She moved down here Friday from Indiana and I am thrilled! I love her so much and she is the only grandparent I have ever had a relationship with, and we didn't really get to know each other til I was 19 yrs old. Evie's GiGi is a fun, crazy lady. The only weird thing about her being here is her newest addition to her life, her boyfriend! Yikes! I have no clue how to handle the news and presence of my Grandma's boyfriend. He is a family friend and a very nice guy but it's weird, I've never known my Grandma with a man in her life. It seems to make her happy so I am happy for them. But I can't help but have many questions that pop in my mind that I really don't want the answers to...eeww!

So that's the news here Dear Readers. And how are you?

=)

There's a First Time For Everything...

Today marks the first time Evelyn has ever been sick. She had a runny nose when she was 3 months old (I think), but that was nothing. Today, Dear Readers Evelyn was a "double ender". The endearing term comes from the askdrsears.com website. In hindsight I can say that this all started yesterday. I had no idea what was coming at the time but looking back I can see the signs. Many poopy diapers, less food intake, etc. I became abundantly aware of the situation by 7AM this morning. I'll spare you the details, just suffice it to say I changed many, M.A.N.Y, diapers today. What made Evelyn a "double ender" today was when everything started coming up, out of nowhere, so to speak. I was caught totally off guard, and again I'll spare you the details but just suffice it to say I changed my clothes many times today. By 8PM things were getting worse, her fever was 103 and we couldn't get anything to stay down. Well, one ER visit later I can tell you that she is fine, this will fix itself and all I can do is wait it out...and keep changing everything, E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

This is the Dress

So this is the dress that I ended up buying for the wedding. I love it and I was pleasantly surprised that I have gone down a dress size. I have a gold necklace and earrings and now the gold sandals so I think I am done buying my outfit for the wedding. Yay! =)



And here is what Evie will be wearing for the wedding. Our reds will clash but oh well. I am proud to say that my best bud Despi got this dress for Evelyn while she was in China last summer, thanks Despi!!! =)

Ms. Independent

She is so close to walking, I think she'll be walking solo in the next month or so. She walks very well in her walker. She's getting better everyday at walking while holding my hands. Check her out.







But if I can get a hold of her she still lets me kiss on her. =)



They say these times are fleeting, it feels normal to me but time is flying. I can't wait til July when Mr. E can come home and see his little girl. She watches videos of him everyday, at least twice. She really loves her Daddy. And he loves her too. I am a lucky lady to have them both in my life.

So, what are you all thankful for?

Holy Goat!!!

Yes Dear Readers we are now officially owners of a goat. It was a very sudden choice made by Grammy today. She got a call from a local goat owner saying she could get a goat but it had to be today before noon. So we went...without any idea of how we would care for/contain/feed/train a goat. We really went thinking that we'd look at the goats and maybe get one next week after we had time to prepare. But then we got there and they said pick a goat and leave. So we rode straight from the goat place to the feed store to buy a kennel and food for our goat. How did we transport the goat you might ask. In our arms. Yup, that goat is such a sweety, she just let us hold her and didn't fight us at all. Her name is Abby and she rocks!!

After we got Abby's kennel set up.



We realized that she might get lonely by herself, so...



This is Bonnie, our shepard mix goat puppy. She lives with Abby and hopefully she will protect and shepard Abby and any other goats we decide to get.

I Did It

I got the haircut. And...I...LOVE IT! I have had short hair before and I loved it then too. I forgot how sassy and cool I feel with really short hair. So here are the requisite pics of the new 'do.

First off we have the sleek look:






Next is the fun/sassy look:







I'm sure there are more looks but I have only had the 'do for a day. I'll keep you all updated as the looks come together. Perhaps my "Blue Steel" look will be debuting soon =)

Therapy

I have avoided coverage of the VA Tech tragedy, like, well, like the plague. I am avoiding it because I know I can't handle it. I am so emotional right now that watching coverage of this will debilitate me for weeks. I know this because I know my limits. I know my boundaries. For good or for bad I can't handle this in my life right now. There are lots of other things that I can't handle in my life right now. Iraq war coverage, Bush coverage, scary movies, any CSI type shows, and the list goes on. I learned to respect my own boundaries and to enforce my boundaries in my life by going to therapy. For years, on and off. I loved therapy, I hated it sometimes too but overall I think therapy is amazing. I think that therapy is magic. I think everyone should go to therapy (or whatever equivalent). AND, I don't think anyone should feel bad or weird for going to therapy. The crazy people in this world are the people that don't think they are crazy. Recognizing that you want/need help is courageous, getting that help is downright commendable.

Pixie?

Again I am deferring to you all, Dear Readers, to help me out. I am contemplating getting a pixie haircut. What is a pixie haircut? I'm glad you asked. This is a pixie haircut.



What do you all think? I am pretty sure I will be getting this cut...unless you all hate it. Here's some pics of me so you can kinda get a feel for what I will look like with new 'do. Sorry about the second one, it's a 2 month preggo belly shot.

Awe Inspiring

Yesterday I went to our local children's hospital to help teach an art activity. It was amazing. I didn't know what to expect with this experience. I knew that they would all be very sick kids but I didn't know what that would look like, ya know. I have never been to a children's hospital, I don't even like going to the regular hospital. So when the nurses brought out the three kids to do the art activity I was really impressed. These kids were hooked up to IVs and had wires coming out of them and they were hooked up to monitors...but they were sitting down with us to make some art. I don't know about you all but when I'm really sick I get really depressed, I don't want to see anyone or do anything. These kids, these amazing, courageous kids sat down with us and smiled, and played, and made necklaces for their Moms. I am crying just thinking about it. They all focused on their families. One little boy made a bead for each of his sisters and one for himself and his Mom. We didn't tell the kids to make these for their moms, they just all did anyway, because that's who they trust, that's who takes care of them. It just killed me! I couldn't cry in front of them but now I can, in front of my computer, holding my sleeping baby.

There are so many sad things that happen in this world. So many scary, violent, bad things. Being with those kids yesterday, seeing their courage and love, and hope and determination...it was awe inspiring.

Intro to Art History

Ok Dear Readers in case you missed it I will be teaching a 12 week Intro to Art History class for high school aged homeschoolers in a few months. Here is the syllabus I have going so far.

Week 1: Prehistoric Art
Week 2: Greek and Roman Art
Week 3: Medieval Art
Week 4: Renaissance Art I
Week 5: Final Paper Assigned and Renaissance Art II
Week 6: Baroque Art
Week 7: Final Paper Topics Due and Impressionism I
Week 8: Impressionism II
Week 9: Final Paper Bibliography Due and Modern Art I
Week 10: Modern Art II
Week 11: Final Paper Questions/Concerns and Contemporary Art
Week 12: Class Review and Final Papers Due

There will be a little quiz at each class to review art we have already looked at. The bulk of the grade will be based on the final paper that is due at the last class. Here's a break down of how grades will work. Each student's grade is out of 100 pts.

10 quizzes=5 pts each
Final Paper=50pts

90-100 pts = A
81-89 pts = B
71-80 pts = C
61-70 pts = D
Anything below 60 pts = F

How does the syllabus look to you?



Ohh OHH! I just bought 4 used copies of Gardner's Art Through the Ages for $16 including shipping! It's an old edition (8th) but still, they'll be perfect for my students! Yay Amazon!

p.s. Am I nerdy or what!!?? =)

The Tooth Monster Strikes Again!

Yup, Evie is cutting her second tooth folks. It is so exciting! And exhausting, the poor little girl is handling it really well but she is super tired and clingy. And me? Well I am too happy to mind to much. Maybe after tooth #10 I will be over it but not yet =)

In other cool news there is an awesome new website called True Mom Confessions. It's a place where Moms (and I think Dads) can confess their real feelings about parenthood anonymously. I already made a confession today. It felt great! Now I see what the Catholics have been raving about for so long. Anyway, head over there and support an open honest website about parenting.

What do you think?

I have a few MAJOR decisions to make in the next few weeks and I would like your help Dear Readers.

1.) What are your thoughts on this bathing suit? (I will look more pale and generally less supermodelish in the suit BTW)





2.) What do you think of this dress for BigBro and Dr. Rom's wedding? (Again I will look more pale and less glamorous in this dress)



3.) What about these shoes with the above dress? Now keep in mind that this will be an outdoor wedding in Georgia in May. AND I will be carrying a 25lbs infant up and down many stairs all day long. I need comfort and ease more than fashion and hotness. Plus, the theme colors for the wedding are gold and red and I will accessorize with gold earrings and necklace, etc.



4.) What do you think of these floor plans for our house that we want to build? It would be a log cabin. Any of my Dear Readers live in a log cabin now or in the past? Any thoughts?

Strangers in the South

**See edit below**

Dear Readers I am pretty sure that only a few of you know this, so I will enlighten you. There is no such thing as a stranger in the South. Seriously, every native (we are not natives, BTW) you meet is pretty much going to tell you their life story, for real. Grammy, Gramper, Evie and I went to dinner tonight. Evelyn was exceptionally well behaved, so much so that I almost forgot she was there (don't worry I caught her before she ordered a margarita ;).

At the end of our meal this older guy that had been sitting next to us, but out of my eyeline came up to our table. And the craziest question came out of his mouth. He looked at Grammy (who is a young looking Grammy BTW) and asked her if he could hold her baby. Her baby would be me, all 5'8" 150lbs of me. Needless to say he thought Evie was her daughter. That was great for Grammy, of course, but she corrected him and then I looked at him and made it clear to him that I am Evie's Mom.

So then he asked me if he could hold Evie. I have to admit it was the oddest request I have gotten in a long time. I am used to women of all ages asking to hold Evie, that never surprises me. But a guy? An older guy that looked like he could have grandkids of his own? It was very strange. Oh but it gets better, because though he was strange he was no stranger (at least in his mind). I replied that he could hold Evie. Now don't freak out Dear Readers, I don't let just anybody hold my daughter, trust me. At the table where this guy came from were two women, a wife/Mom and a Grandma. Also he and his dinner companions looked clean, healthy, and nice. And I (and Grammy and Gramper) was ready to jump this guy the minute he did something I didn't like.

So he held Evelyn for a moment and in classic Evie style she did not smile at him and just stared at him with a look that said "Who the fuck are you?" She wasn't scared or worried just baffled. After he gave her back to me he proceeded to tell us about how his Dad had died recently and how his daughter had given him a puppy (and we didn't provoke him or anything, we just wanted to leave). He was telling us about how the dog howled and cried when they left him on the porch by himself. I quickly jumped in and said "Yeah, Evelyn always cries and howls when we leave her on the porch alone." Man you should have seen this guy, he was just dumbstruck. It was awesome!! I quickly told him it was a joke and after a minute or two he finally "got" it. After my little joke he quickly finished up his story and went back to his table. I guess I scared him off.

So yeah, there are many strange people in the South but to native southerners there is no such thing as a stranger.

**Sorry for my convoluted storytelling, for those that are wondering what the hell I am trying to communicate, here is the bottom line. In the south people come up to you for no reason and tell you their life story. Seriously. It's crazy!**

Here's a pic of Grammy and Evie when Evie was still small.

Going Back to School

Pool school that is. Dear Readers tomorrow I am going to pool school to learn how to take care of the kick ass pool at the farm. Whoo hoo I love swimming and playing at the pool. But there's one negative about this whole thing...

















I have to wear a bathing suit...in front of people (just family and friends, but still)!!!

God/higher being/Buddha please help me find a suit that hides the flaws and accentuates the positives. Does such a suit exist? Can I get it at Target?

Speaking of Silly

Here's some more classic pics from last year.







That's my Man! =)

Classic

Here are some pics from my babyshower last year. These are classic! I love you ambpmd!

This is what I sound like

Check out what Ms. Evie did for the first time today!!!



Yup Dear Readers, that is Evie eating a graham cracker biscuit thingy. I can't believe she is 8 months old and eating. But don't be mistaken, she is not really eating anything at all, except some graham crackers today. You might remember that I tried to get her into solids a month ago and it did not take. She still doesn't like the actual eating/swallowing thing but she does love slobbering all over the graham cracker and gnawing on it.

That's my girl =)

This One is for BigBro

Dear Readers I don't think you all know this but BigBro is a total wikipediaholic. It's true, he may not be ready to admit it but he spends hours clicking through links. So in honor of BigBro I give you a game involving Wikipedia.

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday. Month and date only.
2. List 3 Events that occurred that day.
3. List 2 important birthdays.
4. List 1 death.
5. List a holiday or observance (if any).

Here's the results for Evie and Me.

Evie July 20

Events--

1712 - The Riot Act takes effect in Great Britain. Evie is a riot act unto herself =)

1864 - American Civil War: Battle of Peachtree Creek - Near Atlanta, Georgia, Confederate forces led by General John Bell Hood unsuccessfully attack Union troops under General William T. Sherman. This hits close to home for us.

2005 - Canada becomes the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, after the bill C-38 receives its Royal Assent. Go Canada, way to be ahead of the game.

Births--

356 BC - Alexander the Great, Greek king and military leader (d. 323 BC) Evie is pretty great.

1980 - Gisele Bündchen, Brazilian model And she is gorgeous!

Deaths--

1973 - Bruce Lee, American actor and martial artist (b. 1940) A legend dies and another is born.

Holiday--

International chess day Just for Gramper =)


Me November 21

Events--

1922 - Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia takes the oath of office, becoming the first woman United States Senator.

1905 - Albert Einstein's paper, "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?", is published in the journal "Annalen der Physik". This paper reveals the relationship between energy and mass. This leads to the famous equation e=mc².

1995 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 5,000 (5,023.55) for the first time.

Births--

1694 - Voltaire, French philosopher (d. 1778)

1898 - René Magritte, Belgian painter (d. 1967)

1965 - Björk, Icelandic singer

Deaths--

1959 - Max Baer, American boxer (b. 1909)

Holiday--

World Hello Day

Moving is Over!

Well Dear Readers as you know moving has been happening down here. It is finally done, thank the heavens! But I have to say that I am not the one that did the work. This post is for all my amazing and wonderful family and friends that helped me and moved me. You all have my eternal gratitude and my help in the future with anything you need.

I only have one question for my moving buddies. Shouldn't this box be marked with labels like "Fragile" or "Live Animal"??






Seriously though, thank you

Dad



Heather



BigBro



Dr. Rom



You guys Rock!!!


p.s. sorry for the outdated photos, we gotta get some new pics of each other, for real, yo!

Evie's Nana

Dear Readers Evie and I are very lucky ladies. Not only do we have an awesome Gramper/Dad but we have two Grandmas/Moms. I am currently living with my Dad and stepMom (who I call my Mom too), Evie's Gramper and Grammy. I haven't written much about my Mom, Evie's Nana, til now. My Mom is quite a lady, she has many amazing accomplishments under her belt, number one being me, of course, just kidding! Just in the last few years she has graduated with her bachelor's degree and started her doctorate! All that while waiting for and now recovering from hip replacement surgery. Truly, my Mom is incredible! But the thing I want to focus on today is my Mom's crafty side. Check out what Evie got from her Nana!






The outfit definetly looks better on Evie than me...



Yup, my Mom crotched the hat, sweater and booties, in like 3 days! It is an awesome ensemble, and I will cherish it forever. Thanks Mom!

Gramper aka Grand Daddy of Letters

My Dad and Evie are quite a duo. You see Dear Readers, Evie is quite bold and adventurous on her own. Add in my Dad who faintly understands infant safety and has no regard for "proper" baby toys and you get this.



Yes Dear Readers, that is Evie in the bathroom sink playing with a toilet paper roll. With my Dad.

To be honest I love that my Dad loves Evie and enjoys her company so much. I also love that Evie has that radical/different influence in her life. With me and Grammy, Evie gets conventional toys and games and songs. With her Gramper she gets wild and crazy fun. With Mr. E, Evie gets the most outrageous, super cool, sometimes dangerous fun. So while Mr. E is gone I am glad to say my Dad is picking up the slack and giving Evie some of that unconventional fun. Thanks Dad!

As Promised

I will post a few pics right now as I promised. But just to let you know, I have 3 posts that I am working on right now. The first is about the special and unique relationship that my Dad has with Evie. The second is a post about my Mom, Evie's Nana. The third post is about moving. Stay tuned =)

Here are some pics of Evie and Mr. E. They are old pics but they're so great!