Photo Friday!

Sorry for the delay, I had a nasty stomach bug this week. But here is Photo Friday (on Sat) for the week!

GO BRIAN GO!

Last week the kids went to stay with my Mom for the weekend. Finally, Paul and I had some much needed time alone. And how did we spend it you ask? Exactly! Going to UNCC to watch Brian in a chess tournament. And not only did we watch him, we painted ourselves to show support in the silent room, realizing we would have to be completly slient.

Ok, when he invited us, did we know we'd be the ONLY spectators there? No. Did we know we could get him disqualified for being a distraction? No. Did we realize we'd cause him to loose all focus and subsuquently the match? No. But did we mean well? YES!

Go Brian go! (And stop getting beat by 8 year olds ok?!?)

Thankful

Two days ago I heard some tragic news that made me stop and be thankful for my own situation. Someone I know had a niece who gave birth this week to a baby that died due to strangulation by it's own umbilical cord during delivery.

This was horrible to hear, particularly since Kate, when born, had her umbilical cord wrapped and knotted around her own neck. I remember the doctor saying he had never seen anything like it and him likening it to a sailor's knot of some sort.

You see, it all started with impatience...mine. Being as big as a house and chasing around a toddler in the dog days of summer was just about more than I could handle, never mind that Kate was taking her sweet time arriving. After her due date came and went, I think it was around the 1 week mark after it I started pleading with my OB to induce labor and get her out of me.

He agreed and we scheduled an induction for Sept. 15, 1.5 weeks after her due date. We checked into the hospital the night before and I was given Ambien (sleeping pill) by the nurses so I would be rested and ready for labor inducing in the morning.

Around 4:15am I remember being roused from sleep by what I thought was labor. I woke Paul up and told him the baby was coming and to call the nurse. Two nurses came in and told me it wasn't time yet and to go back to sleep. I tried to, but the contractions were too strong.

I then made Paul get the nurses back in to check me about 15 minutes later. I remember the nurse was grumbling to herself that she was busy and I wasn't ready, but agreed to check my cervix. It was then that she lifted the sheet and yelled to me "Whatever you do, don't push yet! I've got to get the doctor!" She then hurried out of the room.

Frantic and dazed from the sleeping pill, I looked to Paul trying to figure out what was going on. He then checked under the sheet and screamed out "I see the baby's head! Where is the doctor?" I then looked to the door of our room just in time to see the doctor stumbling in putting his shoes/booties on. He hurriedly sat down on a stool and pulled up to my "area" just in time to coach me to push, the baby was in fact, as I had told them, "coming". (Why doesn't anyone EVER listen to the mother in situations like these???)

After the normal birthing process occurred, Katherine Elizabeth (Kate) arrived into this world and we received the standard "It's a girl!" (which we knew) and I waited for her to be placed on my chest so I could meet her. I guess I got caught up into hearing the nurses talk about her amazing strawberry blond hair, (me thinking she must be blond like her daddy but it was tinted with blood or some fluid) but, as the minutes ticked by, I became worried. As soon as I began to speak up, she was given to me and we were told of how lucky we all were. She did have her own umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and it had become tied, so had she waited until we had scheduled her for delivery, she may not have made it. The doctor also went on about the oddness of the type of knot it resembled and how unique that was. But, honestly, I guess I thought death in childbirth was a thing of long ago historical novels and surely it wouldn't have happened in the new high-tech hospital we were in, so I just shrugged him off thinking she was never in any REAL danger.

Now, two and a half years later, as I heard the awful story of my friend's niece's loss, I was reminded of how lucky we are to and how thankful I am that Kate is with us today, happy and healthy!

Today Was a Good Day

Ashton wanted everyone to know he had a good day today at preschool. He did not go to time out at all and was a good listener, plus it was Gabe's birthday and everyone got to eat giant cupcakes!

Kate also had a good day and got to color and play at preschool and only cried for 2 minutes when I left her.

So, in spite of the recent sea of bad/terrible/horrible days, this all adds up to Dawn having a good day too!

Second Born - KER

Second Born Share: Here are my answers to a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about my second born! Let's see how much I remember!

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? yes, we knew we wanted someone for Ashton to play with



2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes



3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Wow, that was fast. We only tried for a month! (Ashton & Kate are 22 months apart - we were going for more like 24-30 months)



4. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 24



5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Pregnancy Test



6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Paul, then Paul's mom this time



7. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Absolutely



8. DUE DATE? September 2 I think, Kate was two weeks late!



9. 9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes, all the time for the 1st 4 months



10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Milkshakes and spicy food (Mexican, Thai, Cajun, etc)!



11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Morning sickness and maternity clothes and Kate coming two weeks late in the dog days of a hot NC summer!



12. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX? girl



13. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING?no



14. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 20 on top of the 20 I still needed to loose from my first pregnancy.



15. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER?Yes, two



16. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew



17. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS? She was two weeks late. Also, when Kate came out she had her umbilical cord wrapped around her throat in what the doctor could only describe as a knot he'd never seen before. She almost was a stillborn baby. Thank God she came when she did!



18. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Presbyterian Uptown in the same birthing center



19. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 3 hours. Pushed for 5 minutes.



20. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Paul



21. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Paul, she came so fast there was no time for anyone to get there!



22. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural



23. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? yes, an epidural and I regret it



24. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8 lbs 4 oz



25. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? September 15



26. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Katherine Elizabeth (Kate)

Potty Humor

Let's see, where do I begin? Ashton has gone 3 weeks without pull ups and is, dare I say, potty trained? Sure he tends to drop trow and pee on anything that doesn't move, but hey, at least he's not having accidents in his pants! I guess having a restroom in his new preschool class was all he needed. (His old preschool had a shared restroom in the hallway for all rooms)
Kate is restarting her potty training now that her new preschool is on board and just cracks me up. She told me yesterday that her naval is her "pee pee button" and if she pushes it hard enough pee pee will come out! Also, when she tries to make #2, it's like something out of the Austin Power's movie. I almost expect to hear "Who does #2 work for?" with all of the loud grunting noises she thinks she needs to make.
Also, yesterday in the span of 10 minutes all of the following happened:

• First, Ashton was trying to "fix" Paul's assisted pull up machine in the garage with a screwdriver, slipped and fell hitting his private area on the way down. We rushed in to the wailing child make sure he was not bleeding (he wasn't) and carried him to the couch where I held and hugged him.


• Then Kate, ever the caring sister, came to him with a look of concern all the while telling him "No cry Ashton, no cry." She then offered to help the boo-boo to make it "all better", saying "I kiss your pee-pee and make it all better." I quickly redirected her to his cheek, assuring her that would be the best place to heal the pain.


• While Paul and I were consoling Ashton in the living room Kate wandered into the kitchen where Paul and I had been cleaning up from dinner. Noting we were busy with Ashton, she decided to sneak a few sprinkles that she found in a jar on the table. The next problem arouse because they weren't sprinkles, they were crushed red pepper flakes. Having near convulsions she screamed out in agony as I rushed to see what she had done. Me: Here is some water. Kate: (Chug chug chug) Me: All better? Kate: Noooooooooo! Paul: Try some chips! Kate: (Eat eat eat) Me: Chips make it all better? Kate: Nooooooooo! Me: Here is some milk. Kate: (Drink drink drink) Me: All better? Kate: Nooooooooooo! Me: How about some crackers? Kate: It hurt Mommy! Me: I bet it does Kate. Here is some more milk. Kate: Ok. Ouch Mommy ouch! Me: Drink your milk Kate. Paul, can you open this bottle of wine?


• All this was in the span of 10 minutes or less!

Yes, kids keep you on your toes. I tell you what, the FEMA Director has nothing on me!

Mommy Tantrums Do Exist!

Yes, my children love to push my buttons. They must lay in bed at night, planning out their day with a special focus around random, naughty "To Do" lists. I mean, really, the things they pull off can't be spur of the moment. You don't just wake up one morning, wander downstairs and think "Hey, a 3 lbs Costco sized-bag of trail mix would look GREAT on the living room floor...organized by nut type of course! The last time I did it size didn't work out so well, as demonstrated when Mom yelled at me/put me in time out/bordered on the brink of CRAZY." That kind of debauchery would surely take some kind of planning right? That type of havoc just isn't spontaneous. I mean...really!?!?!

Since I've become a mother I swear my patience has more than tripled in capacity. But you'd never know it from the amount yelling and screaming that sometimes flows out of my mouth or all the tears of frustration that will just spring to my eyes. I found this article in the NYTimes and was happy to see I'm not alone. Check it out! I will say, after the fact I do smile and laugh, but I'll be the first to admit, in the moment I cry or yell...sometimes loudly.

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/can-it-be-good-to-yell-at-your-kids/

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Know That I Am

I know that I am all grown up now. You see, today I realized that I am more excited about giving gifts than I am about receiving them. Watching Asthon, Kate and Paul's excitement was something that no one can box up, buy and give to me, but I'll treasure it always and forever just the same.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas-ville USA

We took the kids to McAddenville, NC http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/ Tuesday and they both loved it. We've taken them there before, but this was the 1st year they were both aware and in awe. In all the times I've gone to McAddenville, I've never gotten out of my car and walked the town. We did this time and discovered the following:

1. The church in town plays old instrumental Christmas songs from it's bell tower.
2. In front of the church is a nativity scene made of statues perched high on a hill of sand.
3. Judging from all the footprints in the sand, it's ok to walk up to it.
4. There is no baby Jesus in the nativity, (I guess he appears on Christmas day), but we did find the following note: "If you want to see Jesus again, give us $1,000,000 or he will die."
5. There is a path around the lake with all the lights, but it's behind the trees.
6. The light sculpture of the old north wind blowing snow flakes is perched on a flat bed trailer.
7. When you walk along, 1 out of 3 cars will have a passenger that calls out "Merry Christmas" to you. (You get used to it)
8. You can walk the majority of the town in 30 minutes or less.
9. There is one restaurant in town, "The Village Restaurant".
10. Walking around you get the added bonus of "smelling Christmas", most of the lit trees are some kind of pine (Frasier fir maybe?) and smell amazing.
11. The kids loved picking a small branch of one of the pine trees, so they could take Christmas home.

Loved doing it and looking forward to many more visits around this time of year! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Early Politics

Ashton has declared his party of preference. He is a "Demo-crap" but wants to vote for "McCandy". We are on our way to be a part of history as a civic-minded family!

Once we got to the polls, Ashton & Kate stuck near us as we did all the necessary paperwork. Ashton accompanied me to the voting booth and Kate stood with Paul. He pressed my button for president and then wandered off while I avoided the straight party and hand-picked my people. (GO MUNGER FOR GOV!). We then marched over to the Kids Vote area where Ashton, without any prompting or direction from us, did indeed select John McCain. He also informed us, as serious as a heart attack, that he is, infact, not a "Demo-crap", but a "Re-pumpkin". Kate, all on her own, filled in the bubble directly under Munger for governer (my choice as well). All in all, I look forward to sparking their civic-mindedness and will tell and retell the story of the first presidential election in their lifetimes and how they were apart of it.

53 Plants and Ouch, My Back!

Well, I planted and planted and planted and planted and, did I mention PLANTED, 53 plants for 4 hours this afternoon. I am so excited! I tried to plant everything so that my beds are going to have that beautiful layered filled in look of an established garden instead of that bare, "three holly bushes out front only, sub-division" look. I will try to take some photos tomorrow when it's light out, but I don't think the real difference will be seen until mid-spring/early summer. How lucky to have gotten all these plants for free too! I made sure to share some with three of my neighbors and can't wait to see the whole street full of beautiful black-eyed-susans next summer!

Everything Is Coming Up Hostas?

A great hobby I've picked up over the last few years has been gardening. I really enjoy getting my hands dirty and watching something grow and flourish that I've tended to and watched over. My mother's kind neighbor just donated an entire trunk full of plants to me which I am very excited to get in the ground and try my luck with. All are perennials and seem pretty hardy. Tons of variety including some really interesting succulents, hostas, black-eyed Susan's, lambs ears, etc. The neighbor also instructed me on how to grow cuttings from my prized Anniversary present tree - our Weeping Japanese Cherry.
Wish me luck and I promise some before and after pictures of the yard!

Three Years Later and Still Going!

Check our our Wedding Photobook -

Click here to view this photo book.

Bad Economy = Time To Rethink "Wealth"

As the economy stumbles and slides, I've observed the stress levels of people all around me inch upward. As the overall financial health of this country is beyond my power (other than making sure I cast my ballot in Nov), I've decided to turn my eyes toward the things in my life I can control and the happiness I get from them. Here goes!

• Picking up Kate from preschool every day and the always getting a big hug and even bigger smile followed by "Mommy's here!" (as if we've been away from each other 4 months as opposed to 4 hours)


• Hearing Ashton always ask for seconds, not for himself, but to ensure Kate gets whatever it is he is getting


• Watching the leaves change on the trees and realizing how wonderful fall is in NC. I'm thankful that nature takes no notice of the NYSE!


• Buddy, the coolest cat of all time, is mine and always has time for me to pet him and cuddle with him.


• Having a good man for a husband. One that is patient, even keeled and a good father to our children.


• Meeting new and always interesting people in my job and seeing them insist on having fun, no matter what type of day they had


• Loving my neighbors and the fact that we all know each other by first name


• Listening to my niece's voice over the phone. (It's so adorable and tiny)


• Having both my mother and father alive and around for me, but also for my children to know their grandparents (Both of my grandfathers had passed away before I was born)


• Talking to my grandmothers, both of them, and realizing what huge impacts they've both had on my life and how lucky I am to have to help me parent my little ones


• Having a great mother-in-law that truly loves her grand kids and who's grand kids love her


• Thinking ahead to how this will be the first halloween both of the kids will really be into it and how much fun it's going to be to take my little red dragon and fair maiden princess out to trick-or-treat!


• While we have little left over, I am happy that both Paul and I have jobs and are able to pay all our bills each month and on time!


• Realizing that myself, my husband and my children are all healthy

I mean, really, happiness come not from what happens to you in life but how you react to it right? So, while my retirement savings circle the drain (remember, my background is in the financial industry) all I can do is look forward to working the rest of my life and raising kids that will do well enough to support me in my twilight years! ;)

Festivus For the Rest of Us in Fall

Yesterday we had a great time at this year's "Festival in the Park". The kids really had fun riding the carnival rides, playing on the playground and in the sandbox, catching a show by a clown troupe and taking in all the sights and sounds of a fall festival. Previously we've gone to events like this one, but for some reason or another (tantrums, nap time, over stimulation) they've not been the greatest experiences. But this time, it was magic!



Kate and Ashton both not only wanted to, but enjoyed, going on the rides by themselves. This was the first year they really did it! It was so much fun and gave me unbelievable joy to see them both get in ride cars together not fighting with, but having fun with each other! They were so good about siting right next to each other and taking turns steering or turning or whatever the rides did. (Kate is so fearless at 2!)

The only minor blip was Kate and good ol' Gus the Talking School Bus. As of late she's become fascinated with school buses, always pointing them out as we drive down the road. I was soooooo sure once she saw Gus the Bus parked and open to anyone who wanted to go inside and explore, she'd run up to it and climb those giant stairs. But, surprisingly, she did not want to get on. I'm guessing up close a bus is quite larger and dirtier than she anticipated. As she stood there staring at Gus, she was very certain and firm when asked again and again if she wanted to go on, saying "No. Nope. No. No. No. NO!" But she continued to hang around the open door, playing peek-a-boo with the driver and carefully watching all the kids getting on and off. As I began to give up on her, out of the blue she puffed her little chest out and said "Mommy, up!" pointing inside the school bus. So, I carried her up the stairs and deposited her in the seat next to her daddy. She immedietly got up, ran to the window, and let out the loudest Tarzan-like bellow I've herd from her yet. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" to the festival, crowd, and anyone within a mile distance.





I guess that was her way of telling everyone how proud she was of herself for conquering her fear of the giant yellow machiene. I was proud of her too!





All-in-all it was a great time and it cemented in my mind what a wonderful season fall really is!

ChaCha Guide

If you text a random question to 242242 you may very well get an answer from me! I am a newly appointed ChaCha Guide (part-part-time job) and, while the money is hardly anything, it's a great way to leave the potty-training/kid squabbling world behind me and enter back into the adult realm.The questions range from interesting t0 weird, but I enjoy attempting to craft witty yet correct answers in record time with a 160 character or less limit. Try it sometime! ChaCha!Here are some recent questions with my responses:
Q:What is the sexiest thing to do to a woman? A: I think the sexiest thing to do to a woman is listen to her. ChaCha the night away!
Q:What are the 7 colors found in the rainbow? A: The 7 colors of the rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Use the acronym Roy G. Biv to remember!
Q: What time does Jimmy John's open? (In Iowa) A: The Jimmy John's located in West De Moines located at 5465 Mills Civic ParkwayTel: 515-440-6666 opens at 10am. Pick me up a sandwich!
Q: Comment: You rock! A: Yes, ChaCha Guides are the best. Tell all your friends to text 242242 and join to join the cool kids club!
Q: What is the score of the Yankees game? A: The Yankees lost to the White Sox tonight, 2-6. Boooo! Get' em next time sluggers. ChaCha!
Try it sometime, you just might get me!

School Daze

Wow, what a 1st day back to school! The kids did not want to make it out the door this morning. Correction...Ashton did not want to go to school but Kate wanted to go without pants on. They rivaled cats and dogs when Kate decided to wear Ashton's Lightning McQueen underpants (backwards no less) without his consent. But eventually we got to St. Mike's with pants on and Ashton in tow. The following happened:

• Kate wanted to go back to her old classroom and did NOT want to take off her backpack. She did mention she approves that all the chairs in her new classroom are purple, which is the best color in the world apparently.


• Ashton wanted to hide behind me in the hallway outside his class and was more clingy then he ever was as a toddler going to daycare. He also decided today he did not like his favorite shoes in the whole wide world and wanted a pair I gave to Goodwill weeks ago. :(


• I eventually just had to hand the kids over to the nearest adult and run out of the building *yes run*. I was surprisingly sad to see them go. Really sad, but I got over it quickly by slowly and quietly walking around Kohl's department store and trying on everything I could find only to purchase one VERY cute turquoise top. What a perfectly good waste of a morning!

Wednesdays Ashton has OT 8:30-9:30am then I drop them both off back at school. I am very much looking forward to organizing our lives and spending more quality time with the kids in the afternoons now, while I think Ashton & Kate will have some desperately needed time apart. (Click on the photo to read what Ashton's schedule is like this week. OMG, he has a schedule! Where have my little babies gone and who are these school children?)

Happy Birthday...Just try not to drown.

For my birthday Paul surprised me with a whitewater kayaking lesson and a romantic dinner by the river! He must have heard me talking about the time I went whitewater rafting with my church's youth group and how fun it was, so he took the time to look into lessons, pre-paid it, found a sitter and made sure to have the time off from work.

The best parts were beyond the lesson itself. I loved that fact we went on a date! I loved that it wasn't the old standby of dinner and a movie. I loved that we were being active AND outdoors. I loved that we learned something new together. I loved that we are so supportive as a couple, never making fun of the other or getting frustrated. I love the patience we both have for each other. I loved the long leasuirly stroll around the park, watching everyone navigate the rapids. I love that I can say we kayaked the largest Whitewater center in the world. I loved that I made it down the last rapid and didn't tip over at the end! I loved that Paul found a babysitter that Ashton and Kate had fun with, Dallas and Regan's family. I loved that he kept the whole thing a secret until the last moment. I just LOVED the day and I love Paul for making it happen!

Olympic Fever at Our House

This is the first year we've all really been into watching the Olympics, actually...it's the 1st Olympics Ashton & Kate have been alive to see! This is how we are involving it in their lives:

Lego Beijing Olympic Renderings: Check this link out...holy cow these are LEGOS - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046255/On-marks-set-Lego-Welcome-Olympics-everyones-quick-blocks.html

• Getting ready to witness history = 8 gold medals by 1 Olympian: We've spent all summer at the pool learning to swim so Ashton could begin his quest for the 2020 games and 9 gold medals!
• Making sure the coverage is ALWAYS on tv. Kate stayed up late and watched the opening ceremony on 08.08.08 and absolutely LOVED it! It was so colorful and fluid and simply the most amazing thing I've ever seen. (Outside of Micheal Phelps in a swim suit!) Can you beleive these are PEOPLE 2-3 high making a model of the stadium they are standing in?
  
• After watching the ENTIRE 2 hour 20 minute coverage of the Woman's marathon, which was sooooooooooooooooooooo much more exciting then I thought it would be, Paul and I have started going aggressively back to the gym and try to pretend we are marathon runners when we are on the treadmill. (And FYI, a 38 year old woman from Romania won which means...I still have time if I really want it!)
  

Birthday Wishes and Caviar Dreams...

Ok, my mother-in-law made the suggestion I write about Paul and I once in a while...so here's something about me! With my 27th birthday fast approaching, I ponder what a birthday should mean as I cross the threshold into my "late 20's". If you can get me any of the presents below, I would be eternally grateful!

Birthday Wishes:

1. To live in the moment with my children, aware of them and how wonderful and complex their personalities during each minute of the day.

2. More sleep, 7 hours a night would be wonderful. Ideally, at least one day a week where I can awaken naturally, instead of to the sound of Ashton kicking his door or Kate thumping me on the head.

3. I wish to learn to sew this winter. As a mother of young children, sewing seems like a great tool to stow in the "Mommy toolbox". I want to make a quilt before I am 30, knit a WEARABLE scarf before I am 29 and make homemade Angel/Devil costumes for Ashton, Kate and Angelique this year.

4. Improve my cooking and learn to bake! I want to learn to chop/slice/dice without band-aids being involved and bake confections that do not double as blunt objects.

5. Read more books. Have more dates with my husband. Drink more wine. Watch more movies on my AFI Top 100 of All time List. Go to the gym more. Take bubble baths. Practice yoga twice a week. Begin to study for the LSAT. Hang out with my friends.(More ME time I guess)

Words of Wisdom

Don't focus on what you don't have, focus on what you do.

Amended 8.18.08 after watching Micheal Phelps, previously disgnosed with ADHD and as a "hyper kid" set Olympic history with 8 gold medals -

More to the point, I think, is the moral of her story, which offers hope for parents of any child with a challenge like A.D.H.D.: Too many adults looked at Ms. Phelps’s boy and saw what he couldn’t do. This week, the world will be tuned to the Beijing Olympics to see what he can do