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altarflameI am so hungry. SO HUNGRY! I had red beans and rice with cornbread for dinner, we all got full. But within a couple of hours I was having a hot dog (all beef, cooked on the George Forman and with a whole wheat bun...so sue me :p), and then I ate a kiwi while Grant and I watched Smallville, and just now wolfed down a big navel orange and peanut butter'd bread. I swear that at the bottom of my esophagus, I have a baby positioned on her back with her mouth wide open. Periodically the baby rolls over for a nap, and all nutrition gets re-routed directly to my breasts for Jake. Sheesh.
Related Sidenote: It's so gratifying and cool to make things like homemade cake and cornbread, and loaves of cinnamon raisin bread last week, in and amongst all the normal meal cooking. It's this whole other kind of thing.
Grant got a job offer today from this agency he's connected with online, that hooks him up with one time and temp jobs in our area - it's in Key West tomorrow (2.5-3 hours south of us, where I was born and most of my paternal family still is). So after his morning meetings we'll all go down there, he thought, and the kids and I can see my dad and he can make $250 with a (really) quick job, and we'll have some food somewhere and come home. I called my dad today, to tell him about this, and he was talking about how he might not be able to be awake at all to visit with us because he works 6 pm-6 am tomorrow evening AND this evening (he drives a cab) and he'll have to see, can I call him back in 10 minutes? I waited a bit longer as he was getting ready for work and eating and stuff, then called back but he didn't answer. I waited another hour or two, and called again (after 6 at this point) and he was still at home. Saying he had a flat he had to change out and couldn't make it in tonight. Ok, fine. He could help Grant tomorrow evening with moving this giant LCD screen that is part of the one-time job right before going in to work himself, as long as it would really be a quick thing. "Well, do you think you'll be able to see us before that, around sleeping?" I ask, and he responds, "Oh yeah, tomorrow is my day off." Wha - ? "I thought you said you had to work 6 to 6", I reply, and he counters, "No, Friday is 6-6. I'm off tomorrow." OFF YOUR ROCKER, I'm thinking, but I asked instead, "Are you ok, Dad?" and he said Yeah and acted normal but...does anyone else think that's kind of bizarre? Alzheimers runs in the family, but, well, he's 46. Whatever.
Today is the first day of Lent. Grant and my sister are giving up chocolate, and sweets, respectively, and I'm trying to think of an appropriate sacrifice, but coming up short. I eat pretty well already. It was good for me one year to ditch the computer for Lent, but I'm not addicted to it the way I was then, need to check email regularly for PATH and am taking courses online, now...Fasting is not really an option in the third trimester of pregnancy with a nursling. I think, the more I consider it honestly, that the best and most beneficial thing for me to do would be a sacrifice of time in carving out a morning period to read scripture every day. Before I do anything else that the kids don't immediately need (cleaning, friends' page, cooking myself something elaborate, calling my sister, etc). I rarely have the discipline to keep up with any sort of regular devotional time, but it makes a huge difference in my life when I do. And this Lent is a time when faith and a tangeable connection to God will really benefit me, as I prepare for birth. This baby is even due on Easter, so how is that for cool. I can't help but feel I blew it today - every Ash Wednesday that I don't mark my forehead, or go to a service somewhere, or already have my sacrifice in place, I feel so lax. At least the kids knew it was Ash Wednesday and what that means, and I've been thinking about it, I suppose.
We did so much schoolwork today. Two hours straight of sit-down work may not sound like a lot if you are thinking of public school schedules, but really, for a 5 and 6 year old who "do school" every day and all year around, it's quite a bit. Ananda was reading short stories that were all out of order, and then putting the sentences in the right sequence, working on vowel teams like "oi" and "ai", and doing some excercises in synonyms and antonyms. Aaron was reading simple sentences and picking 1 of 3 words to go in the blank - like, "He has a ___ hat", choices being the, big and is. And some review concepts like under/over, between, left and right, left TO right, and capital letters at the beginning of names.
My Jacob is at that special "pain in the butt" phase that comes shortly after turning 1. He still sleeps like a dream, naps reliably and without much bother on my part, is still by far the most expressive and most affectionate baby I've ever had. He's still content on long car trips or stroller jaunts, as well as having a decent attention span for books, songs and even, unfortunately, PBSKids shows that the others watch. Eats anything without complaint, even raw red pepper slices or spinach leaves. Yet he's not exempt from THAT AGE. Digging in the trash 3-5 times a day, moving dining chairs to stand on and pull things off the craft shelves twice a day, getting a little art table chair to go reach something somewhere else in the house 1-2 times a day, grabbing things that have been left too close to the edge of the counters (knives, spillable cups, wallets that can then be emptied, cell phones that then call China) half a dozen times a day at least. He bolts for the front, back, bathroom, office, oven, dishwasher or fridge door anytime they're opened, at lightning speed (at least a dozen cumulative times per day). Then there is the nonstop "drag and drop", as I call it, that Isaac is just outgrowing - wherein toddlers just pick up anything of interest, carry it until the next thing catches their eye, and then drop it wherever they are to pick up said next thing. Two hours of a single toddler dragging and dropping can have your entire house strewn with clutter. And of course he blatantly refuses to stay dressed indoors, can get out of ANY diaper we own, and pees and poops on the floor regularly as a result. The kid can undo snapping covers, snapping pocket diapers, he can get through whatever double knotted tight drawstring longies I've put on him to the velcro fitted beneath...ISAAC can't even take off a shirt by himself, but Jake has mastered it. I'm grateful that he's for whatever reason accepting of having to be fully clothed while out, and he is cool in that he ALWAYS comes to me and tells me he's peed or pooped immediately and leads me to it...but I'm getting a little tired of scrubbing the carpet. And he's nowhere near toilet training. It's like having a puppy.
I want to write more, but I can't think of anything but how hungry I am and finding something else in the kitchen O_o
Related Sidenote: It's so gratifying and cool to make things like homemade cake and cornbread, and loaves of cinnamon raisin bread last week, in and amongst all the normal meal cooking. It's this whole other kind of thing.
Grant got a job offer today from this agency he's connected with online, that hooks him up with one time and temp jobs in our area - it's in Key West tomorrow (2.5-3 hours south of us, where I was born and most of my paternal family still is). So after his morning meetings we'll all go down there, he thought, and the kids and I can see my dad and he can make $250 with a (really) quick job, and we'll have some food somewhere and come home. I called my dad today, to tell him about this, and he was talking about how he might not be able to be awake at all to visit with us because he works 6 pm-6 am tomorrow evening AND this evening (he drives a cab) and he'll have to see, can I call him back in 10 minutes? I waited a bit longer as he was getting ready for work and eating and stuff, then called back but he didn't answer. I waited another hour or two, and called again (after 6 at this point) and he was still at home. Saying he had a flat he had to change out and couldn't make it in tonight. Ok, fine. He could help Grant tomorrow evening with moving this giant LCD screen that is part of the one-time job right before going in to work himself, as long as it would really be a quick thing. "Well, do you think you'll be able to see us before that, around sleeping?" I ask, and he responds, "Oh yeah, tomorrow is my day off." Wha - ? "I thought you said you had to work 6 to 6", I reply, and he counters, "No, Friday is 6-6. I'm off tomorrow." OFF YOUR ROCKER, I'm thinking, but I asked instead, "Are you ok, Dad?" and he said Yeah and acted normal but...does anyone else think that's kind of bizarre? Alzheimers runs in the family, but, well, he's 46. Whatever.
Today is the first day of Lent. Grant and my sister are giving up chocolate, and sweets, respectively, and I'm trying to think of an appropriate sacrifice, but coming up short. I eat pretty well already. It was good for me one year to ditch the computer for Lent, but I'm not addicted to it the way I was then, need to check email regularly for PATH and am taking courses online, now...Fasting is not really an option in the third trimester of pregnancy with a nursling. I think, the more I consider it honestly, that the best and most beneficial thing for me to do would be a sacrifice of time in carving out a morning period to read scripture every day. Before I do anything else that the kids don't immediately need (cleaning, friends' page, cooking myself something elaborate, calling my sister, etc). I rarely have the discipline to keep up with any sort of regular devotional time, but it makes a huge difference in my life when I do. And this Lent is a time when faith and a tangeable connection to God will really benefit me, as I prepare for birth. This baby is even due on Easter, so how is that for cool. I can't help but feel I blew it today - every Ash Wednesday that I don't mark my forehead, or go to a service somewhere, or already have my sacrifice in place, I feel so lax. At least the kids knew it was Ash Wednesday and what that means, and I've been thinking about it, I suppose.
We did so much schoolwork today. Two hours straight of sit-down work may not sound like a lot if you are thinking of public school schedules, but really, for a 5 and 6 year old who "do school" every day and all year around, it's quite a bit. Ananda was reading short stories that were all out of order, and then putting the sentences in the right sequence, working on vowel teams like "oi" and "ai", and doing some excercises in synonyms and antonyms. Aaron was reading simple sentences and picking 1 of 3 words to go in the blank - like, "He has a ___ hat", choices being the, big and is. And some review concepts like under/over, between, left and right, left TO right, and capital letters at the beginning of names.
My Jacob is at that special "pain in the butt" phase that comes shortly after turning 1. He still sleeps like a dream, naps reliably and without much bother on my part, is still by far the most expressive and most affectionate baby I've ever had. He's still content on long car trips or stroller jaunts, as well as having a decent attention span for books, songs and even, unfortunately, PBSKids shows that the others watch. Eats anything without complaint, even raw red pepper slices or spinach leaves. Yet he's not exempt from THAT AGE. Digging in the trash 3-5 times a day, moving dining chairs to stand on and pull things off the craft shelves twice a day, getting a little art table chair to go reach something somewhere else in the house 1-2 times a day, grabbing things that have been left too close to the edge of the counters (knives, spillable cups, wallets that can then be emptied, cell phones that then call China) half a dozen times a day at least. He bolts for the front, back, bathroom, office, oven, dishwasher or fridge door anytime they're opened, at lightning speed (at least a dozen cumulative times per day). Then there is the nonstop "drag and drop", as I call it, that Isaac is just outgrowing - wherein toddlers just pick up anything of interest, carry it until the next thing catches their eye, and then drop it wherever they are to pick up said next thing. Two hours of a single toddler dragging and dropping can have your entire house strewn with clutter. And of course he blatantly refuses to stay dressed indoors, can get out of ANY diaper we own, and pees and poops on the floor regularly as a result. The kid can undo snapping covers, snapping pocket diapers, he can get through whatever double knotted tight drawstring longies I've put on him to the velcro fitted beneath...ISAAC can't even take off a shirt by himself, but Jake has mastered it. I'm grateful that he's for whatever reason accepting of having to be fully clothed while out, and he is cool in that he ALWAYS comes to me and tells me he's peed or pooped immediately and leads me to it...but I'm getting a little tired of scrubbing the carpet. And he's nowhere near toilet training. It's like having a puppy.
I want to write more, but I can't think of anything but how hungry I am and finding something else in the kitchen O_o
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-22 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-22 04:13 pm (UTC)And with her I am trying not to say "no" so much so instead I am using distraction more often, which is time consuming in itself especially if she is really obsessed with the idea of scaling the book shelf.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 09:45 pm (UTC)That is how it always was with my first three. Now, with Jake, I've just sort of resigned myself to the idea that he's going to be playing in the dirt pile while I sweep, slipping in the mop water, running away with the lint trap as I move things to the dryer,etc. I just sort of take the frying pan out of his hand and put it back in the dishwasher 50 times as I load the thing. With the others I would try to distract them, wait for naps or bed, or have Grant take them in a different room/out of the house. But since #4 came along there's just too much to do. I'm sure a lot of people would think I was really remiss, though, if they actually saw Jake playing in the dirt pile and slipping in the mop water. It's either that or CPS thinking I'm really remiss when they come in and the house is news-worthy levels of filth, though.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 11:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-22 05:53 pm (UTC)I think it is a travesty that along with everything else Mari and I had to content with (rejection, grief, attachment issues, a language barrier, and Daddy "abondoning" her just as she started bonding) she had to come to me on the cusp of the terrible threes. Poor kid.
Sick as it is, this conversation is giving me baby lust. I think it is just ovulation though. I'll get over it in about a week. I usually do. :P
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 09:38 pm (UTC)Ananda and I had a very hard time when she was 3. I am ashamed to admit that I actually felt us grating on each other like two girls, catfight style...just this general hard to describe irritation and need to WIN that I have never had, with my boys.
Me Too!
Date: 2007-02-22 09:25 pm (UTC)That's totally weird - on a side note, I dunno if Melissa told you about the baby shower we're having, but if you're at all interested in coming you should give her a call. It's going down this Sunday- 5-8 PM.
Also, let us know if you're having a baby shower or something to that end.
As well, I wanted to ask you if you're going to the chiropractor still, and if so, how much does your's charge?
I have been going 3 times a week, and my doctor (Dr. Jenny Caceras) charges $25 a visit.... so, if thats cheaper than what you've got going, maybe you can give her a call.
(I was going so much because my baby was breech, and a chriopractor can adjust your pelvic bones and ligaments to facilitate turning of the baby. She turned just last night! So it works!)
Anyway, good luck with everything.
Re: Me Too!
Date: 2007-02-26 09:36 pm (UTC)I'm sorry I missed the shower, I had a really hard week last week and ended up doing a lot of sleeping and planning this weekend while Grant was home. I hope you got some of the things you need.
I've considered having a Blessing Way, which is when people just get together to celebrate that you're having a child. Food, possible belly casting, wishes for the baby, that kind of stuff. I've had a ton of showers in the past and feel bad asking the same people for MORE gifts, at this point. I'm not sure yet, though.
I am going to the chiro still - Grant and he did a trade and so I'm going free for 25 visits in exchange for him getting a website. He is normally more than $25, but he also does take Medicaid, and he is AWESOME.
I got Jake to turn doing some positional things like laying inverted on an ironing board - it's so awesome when you can take a holistic approach to things like that and not just schedule a freaking surgery like so many people would.
I hope you see this comment.