Good dinners

With four kids we have a host of different palates and dietary needs. It can be hard to find meals to please all of them. Sometimes a child is left with cereal or a sandwich.

Except "Make Your Own Taco Night" I announced it this morning and was met with cheers.

This is one of those meals that the members of our family who are gluten free, dairy free, or vegetarian (or just not in the mood for meat) can find something to meet their needs.

Spanish rice, meat, beans, sauteed onions and peppers, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and tortillas are all on the table. It becomes a free for all of kids hands scooping up their desired foods piling them on to their plates and then joyful chatter.

Peas Parties

Peas is a party animal. She always has been especially at around 3 am- she parties like no other.

Since she has been in school she has made friends with another little girl. They have bonded intensely. To the point that Peas refers to her friend as my 'A'. They are two peas in a pod. Previously, I did not think that it was possible for a child to match Peas intensity. A does, and it is amazing. They entertain each other and absorb the others energy.

Peas was invited to her first big girl birthday part for A. No other topic was discussed by Peas for a week.

Finally, it was time for the party. Peas practically was bursting with glee.

She got to the party and was greeted by A with a hug and giggles like they had not seen each other for years (it had been 2 days).

The party was at a gymnastic place which was perfect for the energetic 3 year old set. I asked Peas if she wanted me to stay and she looked at me, baffled, and said, "Mama, you go. My friend's party. You go." Some of the other kids were not as eager insisting that their mothers stayed with them. Peas care, she was just happy to be with her A.

I pity the person to get in the way of her and A.

Will I still have a place?

I have been out of my pole dancing group for a while now, since August 23 (but who is counting)

I miss it so damn much. It is awful.

A thought hit me this morning that scared me. What if my class has moved on with out me? What if the dynamic is gone? What if? What if there is not room for me in the class, or I can never catch back up?

Don't get me wrong, this baby is a blessing. But leaving something I loved and women I love stings a little.

I don't 'do' Halloween

Halloween. Yuck. I don't like it.

Religious and cultural differences aside, I just do not really get it.

What fun is there in being scared? What fun is there in pumpkins- they are messy and they smell bad.

The good part, I suppose, is the candy, but freezing your butt off to get a sack of candy seems like an awfully skewed effort/reward ratio.

I do not like scary movies, scary books, or scary anything. I do not like gore, I do not like surprises, I do not like one bit (Sam, I am).


I really just don't understand it. I'll pass on the pumpkins and take some turkey.

If you haven't heard

The new baby is a BOY!

He was not shy at all. NewBaby is looking great and seems to be enjoying his cozy home.

I had a high-risk OB appointment and the doctor took a really long look at the baby. He kept saying that I am 'thin' so seeing the baby was really easy. Um- did you see the scale? I am not thin. But I am glad seeing the baby was easy.

The other kids loved getting a peek at the new baby, and we have begun discussing names for him (it is so fun to know what is coming!

So far Stinky wants to name the baby Gordon- after one of the engines on Thomas. Peas votes for 'newbaby'. Pixie thinks "Cookie" is the best choice. Princess has yet to weigh in.

warm blankets

My mom taught me how to crochet when I was 5 or 6- even though she is lefty and I am righty- she still taught me. When I was 8 or 9 I remember my aunt teaching me how to knit late one Saturday night on the patio, in the summer. My grandma and great grandma made me blankets before I was born. My mom and grandma also taught me embroidery and cross-stitching. I have some talented family members. Learning from them gives me a connection to them. When I sit down and crochet I think of my mom and grandma. I think of their strength their brilliance. When I cross stitch I think of my mother, my aunt, my grandma, and my sister, all of this gives me a connection to them that I may not have otherwise. A thing which we share. Despite any differences. This bit unites us. This bit can never be taken away.

These are a few of my treasures. I know that I can pick up a skein of yarn and in a few(several) hours create something. I am not a skilled crochet-er or knitter by any means, but I am learning (thanks library!).

As I sat tonight on the couch working on a blanket for the new baby, my oldest kids came and sat by me asking for me to teach them how to crochet. Tomorrow, we have a crochet date.

Before each of my children have arrived I have made them a blanket. So they can be wrapped in love as I was. The blankets that were made for me will always be part of my treasured history.

Worry about what matters

Seeing as this is far from my first pregnancy, I have gotten a lot of questions about what it feels like at various stages of pregnancy, labor, delivery. One of the most common questions I am asked is about water breaking.

Apparently, this is what a lot of new moms are really concerned about. My answer, by that point in pregnancy you'll be so relieved to be getting it over with who cares? (not that I have ever been that pregnant) This is followed up with the advice that it is far more likely that your water will not be a giant gush on the grocery store floor, and if it happens like that and someone gets upset with you, then clearly they have issues.

Regardless, this is not something to worry about. What should be worried about is the accidental pee-ing that comes along with pregnancy. Maybe it is because this is not the first baby for me, but I cannot run, jump, cough, or sneeze without pee-ing. I am a young poster child for poise pants. For now it is just a dribble, but later it can become a lot more and a lot more annoying.

Pee issues are far more likely in pregnancy that water breaking issues. Pee issues are not usually followed up with the arrival of a cute baby. Pee issues are also a lot more frequent. Water breaking is usually a one time shot, peeing? Many many many more times.

So my advice to expectant moms? Don't worry about the water. Worry about the pee.