Secular Confessions

[The10Eels]

Wait a minute...there is no way Oso is Jack Black...Josh is listening to it right now!
I know he has been on Yo Gabba Gabba though.
Sorry about the medicine troubles Sarah :(


Sean Astin (from Goonies) is the voice of Special Agent Oso.


Hugs Lydia. You are a strong woman and such a supportive wife. :hugs:

huh.... I could have sworn I saw an interview where he said he was doing the voice of Oso... Maybe he guest starred on an episode like he did on Yo Gabba Gabba

[Cosmosmom]

huh.... I could have sworn I saw an interview where he said he was doing the voice of Oso... Maybe he guest starred on an episode like he did on Yo Gabba Gabba

I do not know who Oso is or what Yo Gabba Gabba is....can tell I haven't been hanging around too many little kids these days. Back when I was it was all about Little Bear, Barney, Bob the Builder, Blue's Clues and Franklin.

[AmeriBrit]

I was wondering if we got a different Oso cause he didn't sound like Jack Black to me either. On a lot of the Disney shows over here, they have changed the voices to British acccents except for Handy Manny, Oso and Mickey Mouse. Little Einsteins are all posh BBC kids, that kid on "Can you teach my alligator" is a Londoner, and Darby on Tigger and Poo is a posh English kid, too. LOL.

[The10Eels]

Does Jack Black have kids? Maybe he was saying that his kid likes Oso??

[AmeriBrit]

Yep, I'm pretty sure he has 2 kids.

[The10Eels]

ok... Thats probably what it was, and I was just remembering Oso and Jack Black...

[daylilies]

Sean Astin (from Goonies) is the voice of Special Agent Oso.





Aww, Samwise from the LOTR trilogy!

[Jenny]

Aww, Samwise from the LOTR trilogy!

Ahhh....right!! I forgot about that more recent role. :laugh:

[daylilies]

We just watched the first one again a couple nights ago, that's why it was fresh in my mind!

[3andMe]

Sarah, I'm sorry Mia isn't taking her medicine well. I felt very fortunate that Claire did well when she had her ear infection, and that was only a week. The few times I've give Ro Ibuprofen, he has gagged on it. Meanwhile, Claire asks for it every time she falls down because she loves it so much.

Maybe when she feels a little better, it won't be so much of a struggle to get her to take it, or to eat food with it mixed in.

DH emailed me from Dubai this morning at 8 AM on his layover. He offered to bring me back a camel milk chocolate bar. Poor guy forgot to pack his sleeping pill, so he was awake all night long on that flight.

[Gwenn]

DH emailed me from Dubai this morning at 8 AM on his layover. He offered to bring me back a camel milk chocolate bar. Poor guy forgot to pack his sleeping pill, so he was awake all night long on that flight.

Poor guy!

Are you going to try the chocolate bar?

[3andMe]

Poor guy!

Are you going to try the chocolate bar?

Ew, no. I'm normally a pretty adventurous eater, but I don't particularly like chocolate and the thought just temporarily turned my stomach. I have been having a lot of food aversions and nausea this pregnancy.

[MammaMia]

I read it as "caramel milk chocolate bar"...duh. :laugh:

I'm so bummed I keep missing the figure skating. Argh!

[Gwenn]

Lydia, for some reason I would have though you would try it! I can totally understand why you didn't, though.

MammaMia, that's what DVRs are for! Do they have them where you live?

[3andMe]

Yes, caramel sounds much better than camel as an ingredient in a chocolate bar! :laugh:

[3andMe]

I confess my dh is sooo bad about getting his pictures off his camera and onto the computer. He finally transferred some pictures right before he left for his trip so he could take a bunch there. There are pictures from Mexico that I'd never seen! Unfortunately, the only pictures he took of people were on the day Claire had her horrible meltdown, so there are a bunch of crying pictures. I changed my siggy picture in honor of my discovery, but these are from early November.

[Bean]

Ahhh....right!! I forgot about that more recent role. :laugh:
or the most important- Encino Man! :laugh: (totally joking)

So a friend of mine posted something in her FB status about how "He" (I'm assuming God since she capitalized the "he" and always talks about religion) gives her butterflies every time she thinks about him. I was so tempted to write "that's not butterflies, it's indigestion." :laugh:

[The10Eels]

or the most important- Encino Man! :laugh: (totally joking)

So a friend of mine posted something in her FB status about how "He" (I'm assuming God since she capitalized the "he" and always talks about religion) gives her butterflies every time she thinks about him. I was so tempted to write "that's not butterflies, it's indigestion." :laugh:
OMG... I nearly peed myself laughing!!

I confess I got to stick my teacher tonight and was somewhat disappointed that I didn't hurt her! lol... Yet proud at the same time, because she said she didn't feel it at all...

[3andMe]

I was just reading through a list of funniest/dumbest things people have seen on resumes. Someone wrote that his brother listed "Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006" under accomplishments.

That was the year the cover was a mirror and the Person of the Year was YOU. Bwahaha. I am seriously considering adding that to my resume.

[AmeriBrit]

Lydia, I was wondering why you didn't want the chocolate because I read it as a chocolate bar shaped like a camel...lol..didn't realize the camel was IN the chocolate! Eeeew!

They were showing Chinese people on the news last night and talking about how there is a movement of people who are keeping dogs as pets only and not eating them...it made me laugh.

[Jenny]

I confess that the parent that asked me about converting and feeling "sorry" for me came and gave me a hug today and apologized. She said she was just trying to make small talk with me b/c they were all speaking Arabic around me and Islam tries to include all people so she didn't want me to feel excluded b/c they were speaking in a language that I don't understand. I thanked her for apologizing and we went on our merry way.

[MammaMia]

I confess that the parent that asked me about converting and feeling "sorry" for me came and gave me a hug today and apologized. She said she was just trying to make small talk with me b/c they were all speaking Arabic around me and Islam tries to include all people so she didn't want me to feel excluded b/c they were speaking in a language that I don't understand. I thanked her for apologizing and we went on our merry way.

Oh, that's nice! I think sometimes when people are making small talk, they blurt out silly things without thinking. I know I do.

I confess that I'm sick with a stupid cold and I have friends visiting from overseas tomorrow.

I confess that after more than a week of sickness, our house looks like a bomb hit it. It's seriously disgusting. I hope my friends aren't expecting me to invite them over.

[MammaMia]

Wow, my post sounds negative. I'm actually in a really good mood. :)

[stephmama]

I was just reading through a list of funniest/dumbest things people have seen on resumes. Someone wrote that his brother listed "Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006" under accomplishments.

That was the year the cover was a mirror and the Person of the Year was YOU. Bwahaha. I am seriously considering adding that to my resume.


:laugh: That's brilliant!

[daylilies]

I joined a women's group on meetup.com a few days ago and last night I went to my first event. They had dinner at a restaurant about 40 minutes from me. It was a bit far to go but worth it. I met some nice ladies. They only meet once or twice a month but maybe I'll make some friendships out of it.

The new couples therapist DH and I have been seeing thinks I'm on the wrong medication. Right now I'm on something for anxiety. She thinks my main issue is just plain ol' depression and when she read off the symptoms I had to agree. She is going to talk to the therapist who prescribes my meds to see if she can get me on something for depression. DH is trying to be extra sweet to me lately, which is nice but in a way I feel bad. I hate feeling broken and like I have to be treated with kid gloves. I told him if he wants to move on and find a normal chick that I'd understand. He told me he didn't want to.

Also, I just made an appt. to see the NP on Tuesday.

[daylilies]

Someone just called my home and asked me how much it was to rent the movies. :laugh:

[Janeen]

I confess that I have decided to change our sons middle name.

[AmeriBrit]

I confess that I have decided to change our sons middle name.

Ooh la la, Janeen. Why is that? I like it either way. My DH is called Richard, goes by Rich, though.

[Janeen]

Ooh la la, Janeen. Why is that? I like it either way. My DH is called Richard, goes by Rich, though.

Eh, Donald would have been after my deceased dad. I thought the tradition in Jimi's family was to name the son James and then use the maternal grandfathers name for the middle name. When I told him I was having second thoughts about the middle name but didn't want to ruin his tradition, he told me that the tradition is actually to name the son James and then honor someone from the moms side by using their name as the middle name. There's only one other James in his family that actually has the maternal grandfathers name as the middle name. Well, my dad has a son (junior) named after him, a grandson (the third) and my niece Sharon Dawn is named after my mom and dad.

I'm 85% sure (it was 75% an hour ago) that I am changing it to James Richard. Richard is two fold, after my baby brother and my 20 year old nephew (my sisters son).

Oh and both the Richards in my family go by Rick. Well my older brother has for years and years since he was really little and when my nephew was pre-teenish he decided he wanted to be like Uncle Rick and have that name too. He's having a harder time getting it to stick though.

I still call the nephew Richard, or Ichy, or Ichard...I called him Butterball for a while haha...and I call my baby brother Icky. :laugh:

[daylilies]

I think James Richard sounds nice.

[Janeen]

I think it goes well with our last name which is Raygor. James Richard Raygor.

[3andMe]

I like the name switch, and I'm glad you clarified the tradition with your dh.

[Bridget]

Tomorrow night I'm leaving Savana and Kai with my parents and meeting my friend for drinks for an hour or two. She was best friends, more like soul sisters, inseparable from my friend that was killed a few months ago. She says she just wants to laugh with someone and talk about Tracy like she's still here. My eyes are filling up just writing that.

[stephmama]

Aww. I bet that will be really special for the both of you. :hugs:

[rhiannasmoms43]

Thank you! I had no idea Ms. Spy and I shared a birthday, so happy b-day to all of the Valentine's babies.

And Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!
I just got on here and saw new name picks..I have to admit, Soren Severin, when put together, sound awfully painful:pokey:
Happy Belated Birthday

[daylilies]

I like Quinn. I think it goes well with Claire and Ronin.
So last night at my new women's group last night I mentioned I went to culinary school, and kind of joked that I could do a cooking class for the group. Well eyes widened and heads turned and I was like oh crap. The next day the organizer e mailed me and asked if I would still do it. I said yes, and we set up some loose details for sometime next month. I posted it as an idea and 8 women have liked it so far. I have never done a cooking class before! LOL
I'm going to start with someting really easy for the first one--I was thinking of teaching my home made taco seasoning. (not as much sodium and no weird preservatives like the store bought envelopes) Tacos are easy so if I get really nervous I shouldn't screw it up too badly.

[3andMe]

I like Quinn, but dh is concerned about the trend toward making it a girl's name. It could end up being the next Leslie. Also, I could very easily end up saying "Quaire" and "Clinn" if I'm in a rush.

Dh actually suggested Severin all on his own last week, and I liked it a lot.

Kate, I think it's really cool that you're going to do a cooking class!

[daylilies]

Severin reminds me of Slytherin and Severus Snape from Harry Potter. It's just too offbeat for me...but don't listen to me, Joshua was the most popular the year he was born! (we did not know that, at the time)

[3andMe]

Ooh, that's good to know, actually. That is a big drawback.

[Gwenn]

I don't dislike Severin, but I'm confused because I don't know whether I should be pronouncing it the French way or the English way so I don't want to say it at all. I do really like Soren, though.

[The10Eels]

I have a cousin named Soren!

[Jenny]

I like Soren and Sagan. And Quinn. Though Quinn was on my list for Haley.

[daylilies]

There are like 15 people interested in my cooking class now, but when we actually get it up on the calendar I really have to set it for 10 or less. My house isn't that big!
I was just going to do the taco seasoning, but now I think that might be kind of lame. Does anyone else have ideas for something simple you'd like to learn how to do (or that you think other people might like to learn?)

[3andMe]

If I was going to a cooking class, I would like to leave knowing how to make at least a main course, maybe a full meal so I could go home and try it out on my family. Something elegant and interesting, but fast and easy to prepare. Maybe something exotic, like Thai or Indian, but not everyone is into that. I was going to sign up for both Thai and Indian cooking classes at the local college when dh and I were childless. Whatever the case, if you prepare everything ahead of time, have it chopped and in separate bowls, and if you have your recipe out, it should not be quite as overwhelming or time-consuming.

Or you could just ask them what they're interested in.

[daylilies]

Yeah, I posted on the message board, but got no response yet. I figured I'd get more of a response here. LOL
I totally take knowing how to cook for granted so I don't know if I would think of the really obvious things people would like to know. At the last meeting I heard a couple people say they don't know how to cook. I thought about teaching techniques that are elusive to some, like how to make a smooth gravy from scratch or how to thicken a sauce. But I think you're right, it would be more interesting to learn an entree.

[Bridget]

What about steak or chicken fajitas? Then you could still showcase the taco seasoning. You could have everything chopped and shredded ahead of time...or maybe a mexican pizza of sorts with a homemade crust?

[daylilies]

I don't actually cook a lot of Mexican food. I do tacos once in a while which is pretty much the only time I use the home made taco seasoning.
One thing I was thinking but wasn't sure if it was too simple, was a chicken breast thing I do that's topped with Fontina cheese and prosciutto. It's really good, and easy. You just sear the chicken, top it and broil it for a few minutes. Do you think that's too boring?
Another thing I could do is beef stroganoff. I have a good recipe I just made a few days ago. (and a couple tricks I learned to shorten the process and add depth of flavor) My specialty is soups and stews, but they are too time consuming for a couple hour class.

[Gwenn]

I think the chicken breast sounds really good, and if most of the women aren't comfortable cooking it should be simple enough not to intimidate them too much. I would go with that and maybe a salad or side so they could have a complete meal.

[daylilies]

I could do a salad or I could have everyone bring a salad. I just joined this group--I still feel a little uncomfortable with all the focus being on me! We'll see though. I just emailed the chicken idea to the organizer and mentioned either making a salad or having people bring one.

[MammaMia]

All this talk of food is making me hungry.

I think it's great that you're doing this Kate!

[daylilies]

Thanks :) It's exciting. I just hope they don't expect much. I've always liked cooking and had a knack for it but I'm no celebrity chef. Truthfully I don't usually even follow recipes unless it's something I've never done before, so it'll be interesting teaching them how to actually do something instead of just throwing it together LOL

[3andMe]

I like the chicken breast idea, Kate. I totally think you could handle a salad, too. Most people have no idea how easy it is to make an interesting and flavorful vinaigrette that compliments a meal.

[daylilies]

I could do it, but it would be interesting to see what other people bring and not have the whole thing be focused on me (then again people might like that--to not have to bring anything except their preferred drink).

[daylilies]

I confess I still haven't spoken to my MIL since she called Josh and DH and me lazy for him not being PT yet. They are planning on going over there for dinner and while the time off is nice while they go out, I just wish my husband would stand united with me on SOMETHING. And I don't agree that him being around someone who calls him names (his own grandmother, no less) is healthy for Josh. And then there is the constant swearing, and the secondhand smoke. Like I need more reasons for none of us to ever go over there ever. I don't know why my husband doesn't have a spine.

[daylilies]

DH took Josh up for a nap and I am downstairs watching them on the monitor. DH is reading him a book in such a terrible, monotone voice, he might as well be a robot.

I had a really rough morning. The whole inlaw disagreement came up again and I am still seething over it. How can he think it's okay for anyone to call Josh lazy? What is up with this sudden loyalty towards his parents, when he ran away from home at 16 and has never liked how his parents raised him? Now he thinks it's okay for them to treat Josh the same way? And WTH was I thinking, moving around the corner from them?

[The10Eels]

I confess I am researching double strollers so that I can finally buy one...

[AmeriBrit]

DH took Josh up for a nap and I am downstairs watching them on the monitor. DH is reading him a book in such a terrible, monotone voice, he might as well be a robot.

I had a really rough morning. The whole inlaw disagreement came up again and I am still seething over it. How can he think it's okay for anyone to call Josh lazy? What is up with this sudden loyalty towards his parents, when he ran away from home at 16 and has never liked how his parents raised him? Now he thinks it's okay for them to treat Josh the same way? And WTH was I thinking, moving around the corner from them?

Sorry about the family drama.


I confess I am researching double strollers so that I can finally buy one...

I think I need to do that as well, but my tight wad husband thinks we won't need one....I'm not so sure!

Tomorrow is the day I am telling my boss and co-workers that I'm pregnant...I just don't know what to say to them....I'll feel weird being all like, 'you guys, I'm pregnant.' LOL...I dunno.

[The10Eels]

I think I need to do that as well, but my tight wad husband thinks we won't need one....I'm not so sure!
We don't have one yet, because B didn't think we'd need one either. But with my mom watching the girls while I work, She can't take them anywhere other than the grocery store cause she can't carry them both at once!

I dont mind having Charlie in the sling, and Audri in the stroller, but my mom isn't comfortable with the sling. and as charlie gets bigger, it won't be as comfy for her to be in the sling either.. (and I think my mei tai is still in missouri.. :( )

[daylilies]

Josh stopped using the stroller when he was about 2, but I don't know if that's typical. It turned out that if I was taking him somewhere, I wanted him to burn energy, not sit down the whole time. If we go to the mall and he wants to ride I splurge on those little car carts.

[3andMe]

Tomorrow is the day I am telling my boss and co-workers that I'm pregnant...I just don't know what to say to them....I'll feel weird being all like, 'you guys, I'm pregnant.' LOL...I dunno.

Good luck! I've been reading a book about working parents, and it discusses telling the coworkers and boss. It seems like a lot of this is geared toward very ambitious career-driven women, but it recommends stating it very matter-of-factly, then mentioning approx. when you expect to start leave, and then discussing your plans for finishing projects and dealing with replacements. It makes a point of saying don't be disappointed if they aren't as thrilled as you are, because they're mostly thinking of how they'll deal with your absence and wondering if you'll return.

--------------

My children have only ever barely tolerated a stroller. Like Kate, I need them to get out their excess energy if we go somewhere too, so I try to let them walk or run. They can easily walk a mile, more easily at this point than I can. The only time I ever really use the stroller is if I need to have a place to park them for a minute (like in the dentist's office while I'm filling out paperwork) or if I need them confined while I use my hands so they won't break or mess with stuff (like in a store). I figure when the new baby gets here, I'll use the double stroller if I need to for the same reasons above and wear the little one, or put the little one in a stroller and hold hands with the twins.

----------------

Kate, it sounds like you're at that point when everything dh does annoys you. I've been there! It usually happens when I'm upset about something big that's not resolved, like you are upset with the laziness comment and the general feeling he's not got your family's back, and then it carries over into everything else he's doing. I hate hate hate it when I feel like that, because it contributes to dh getting testy in return and then we'll have a few months where we interpret each other's comments and actions negatively, get defensive, get even more annoyed or angry, etc. It tends to spiral out of control if I don't manage it very quickly, and I hate the way I feel and what it does to our relationship. Luckily, it's been many years since we had one of those cycles. What I've learned to do is (1) NOT let myself get annoyed at things that have nothing to do with the issue, (2) TRY very hard to look at the positive--like in your example of him reading the book, just be glad that he's reading with him, (3) Resolve the underlying issue if it's resolvable or do my best to get over it because it won't change.

I do tend to get annoyed or nitpicky about inconsequential things, so it's been a huge struggle and hopefully improvement over the past decade to get to a point where I realize what's happening and consciously try to correct it.

---------------------------

Mandy, I'm sorry about your uncle. My condolences to you and your family, and sorry even more about the stress from your mom.

---------------------------

Janeen, your nursery looks nice. I love all the wallpaper and chalk guitar suggestions. I don't know why I don't post in May DD more, but look how I'm conserving my post count here!

--------------------------

Bridget, how did your evening go with your friend?

--------------------------

I confess I've gotten very lazy with housework since dh has been gone. I normally empty the dishwasher and sweep the floors while the twins are eating breakfast, but yesterday I ended up having to change a really difficult lightbulb that I'd never changed before (I miss dh! and I can't believe how incompetent I was!) and my whole schedule got thrown off so I ended up letting clean dishes sit in the dishwasher, clean laundry sit in the dryer, and I ended up not sweeping until dinnertime. This is not like me.

[daylilies]

Thanks Lydia. You're right. Problem is, there have been issues from the beginning that I thought I could just get over and I end up just resenting him for them. I don't even know how to go back to the issues we've had for so long and figure them out.

[Janeen]

I confess that I stole some pictures of our Valentine's Day vow renewal from the photographers website...

http://americanpregnancy.org/forums/showthread.php?t=233192

[Janeen]

LOL Lydia you crack me up.

[Bridget]

My night was....interesting. My time with S was wonderful and heartbreaking. I found out some more things about our friend's death that were really hard to hear. There were lots of tears but I think all in all it was good for both of us. She didn't stay long because our friend that was killed left behind twin 13 year old daughters and they were staying at her house that night. Her husband had taken them to a movie so she could spend some time with me. We'll get together again soon I hope. At one point she thanked me for letting her talk about Tracy. She said that she knows people avoid talking to her about it because they're afraid that she doesn't want to think about it. But she thinks about it anyway. And she just wants everyone to keep talking Tracy because when everyone stops talking about her she fades away. That makes sense to me.
But meanwhile, dbf was tossing back drinks at about 3 to my one. And he ended up being really obnoxious to me in front of one of my other close friends. When him and I walked home he said really, really terrible things to me. I was disgusted with him. I told him today that I want to outline our plan for splitting up because I'm done feeling stuck. I just feel really close to ending this and have no idea how we'd figure everything out. I just don't think I should have to figure it all out myself.

[Bridget]

Lydia - I know how you feel about the lightbulb. Whenever I think of leaving dbf I always think about stupid stuff like that. Like, who's going to empty the eve troughs? Who's going to fix the water heater when it breaks down? :crazy:

[daylilies]

Lydia - I know how you feel about the lightbulb. Whenever I think of leaving dbf I always think about stupid stuff like that. Like, who's going to empty the eve troughs? Who's going to fix the water heater when it breaks down? :crazy:

I think about stuff like that too. It usually ends up being what keeps me here. But I think we really have to suck it up and do it. We'll probably feel better about ourselves in the end.

[shutterbird]

My night was....interesting. My time with S was wonderful and heartbreaking. I found out some more things about our friend's death that were really hard to hear. There were lots of tears but I think all in all it was good for both of us. She didn't stay long because our friend that was killed left behind twin 13 year old daughters and they were staying at her house that night. Her husband had taken them to a movie so she could spend some time with me. We'll get together again soon I hope. At one point she thanked me for letting her talk about Tracy. She said that she knows people avoid talking to her about it because they're afraid that she doesn't want to think about it. But she thinks about it anyway. And she just wants everyone to keep talking Tracy because when everyone stops talking about her she fades away. That makes sense to me.
But meanwhile, dbf was tossing back drinks at about 3 to my one. And he ended up being really obnoxious to me in front of one of my other close friends. When him and I walked home he said really, really terrible things to me. I was disgusted with him. I told him today that I want to outline our plan for splitting up because I'm done feeling stuck. I just feel really close to ending this and have no idea how we'd figure everything out. I just don't think I should have to figure it all out myself.

I am sorry you had to hear him open his giant trap... but yay for you taking the first step to get away from him! You deserve way better. :hugs:

[3andMe]

I am sorry you had to hear him open his giant trap... but yay for you taking the first step to get away from him! You deserve way better. :hugs:

Same here. You really deserve to be treated with love and respect.

And as far as the household handyman stuff, it's crazy that I felt so incompetent about a lightbulb! And no reason to stay with someone for that reason. I owned a house for years before I got married. I had a complete tool kit, I painted, I repaired toilets, I demolished a bathroom, I worked on appliances, I knew what to do if the pilot light went out. If I couldn't figure it out, I hired someone.

Since I got married and had children, I've always deferred to dh when it comes to fixing stuff. He's faster and better, doesn't have to look things up, and it's just easier for me to take care of the kids while he repairs something. Same reason I do all the finances. Unfortunately, it leaves me in situations like this, when I KNOW how to change a lightbulb but I never once had done it with this particular fixture, and it was not easy to do the first time because I couldn't tell which pieces to take off and I was balancing on a chair. And I had to deal with the giant spider that crawled across the bed last night all by myself.

Whatever the case, there is a first time to fix anything, and it gets easier the more you do it. And there are people out there who actually make money doing it for other people. It may be easier to have a guy around to fix things, but not if he's making life worse in other ways. The funny thing is, after I became a homeowner (and was still single), guys I went out with seemed so much more attractive if they were general contractors. Far more than doctors, actually. That was me being shallow, but at least recognizing it. :eyeroll:

[MammaMia]

My night was....interesting. My time with S was wonderful and heartbreaking. I found out some more things about our friend's death that were really hard to hear. There were lots of tears but I think all in all it was good for both of us. She didn't stay long because our friend that was killed left behind twin 13 year old daughters and they were staying at her house that night. Her husband had taken them to a movie so she could spend some time with me. We'll get together again soon I hope. At one point she thanked me for letting her talk about Tracy. She said that she knows people avoid talking to her about it because they're afraid that she doesn't want to think about it. But she thinks about it anyway. And she just wants everyone to keep talking Tracy because when everyone stops talking about her she fades away. That makes sense to me.
But meanwhile, dbf was tossing back drinks at about 3 to my one. And he ended up being really obnoxious to me in front of one of my other close friends. When him and I walked home he said really, really terrible things to me. I was disgusted with him. I told him today that I want to outline our plan for splitting up because I'm done feeling stuck. I just feel really close to ending this and have no idea how we'd figure everything out. I just don't think I should have to figure it all out myself.

I'm glad you were able to talk to your friend, Bridget. I'm sure it was good for both of you. :hugs:

Regarding Dbf...well, you know my opinions on him. I think it's wonderful that you're thinking about making steps towards separating. :hugs:

[daylilies]

I'm glad you could talk to your friend about your friend. I agree painful things can be hard to bring up but need to be discussed. Big hugs about the separation plans too. Keep us updated.

[Bridget]

Thanks ladies. I've basically been sitting in the bedroom all day and he's in the living room. I just don't even want to talk to him.
I always thought I wanted to know how her and her daughter died. I wondered all of the time. Now that I know, it's haunting me and a part of me wishes I didn't know. I just can't help but wonder what is the point of having such evilness even exist. Why are humans so effed up?

[Bridget]

On a lighter note, Kai's been in underwear all weekend. He's doing awesome.
I just posted this in the cloth diapering forum but wanted to share it here. He's super funny. He wants to be successful every time he sits so he practically pops a vessel trying to squeeze out a drop. Then I had to teach him just to pat the end of his penis when he finishes. He was doing a huge swipe of his balls, just the way he sees Savana wiping. :laugh:

[Gwenn]

Bridget, I'm sorry for what you are going through with BF but I suspect it's for the best. You deserve to be treated with love and respect. I'm so sorry. And I'm sorry you had to hear about the evil in the world.

I confess there is a good chance DH will deploy to Afghanistan this May. He would have to transfer to a different state's National Guard and I am waiting to hear what is going to happen. I really, really don't want this to happen but he's trying to convince me that financially it makes sense and with him out of work for the majority of the last year and a half, he might be right.

[daylilies]

Sorry Mandy :(
Bridget that's awesome that Kai is doing well.

[3andMe]

Bridget, I'm thinking more and more about what a terrible weekend you must be having. Even when it's anticipated, a breakup of an important relationship is very very very hard. I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be with children. And I am having a hard time stomaching how even your dbf could be so heartless as to say such horrible things to you when you're trying to assimilate the new knowledge of how your best friend was killed by the father of her children.

I've read some of the news stories about your friend, and I get sad for her and everyone her life touched, and anyone in a similar situation. I am even more sad at the thought that your dbf would abuse you when you're trying to cope with it.

While you're probably still in shock, practically I would suggest trying to find out everything about his/yours/ours finances asap. You have given him some warning, and I wouldn't trust him to be perfectly honest and upfront about everything when it comes to child support.

I am so sorry. I wish we could all be there with you.

[Ky'sMom]

I also think it's nice that you got to spend some time with your friend and am sorry your BF was such a jerk. It must be so hard dealing with that and all the other things you are going through. I agree with the other ladies though, that you deserve better than that but I can also see how difficult everything will be to split up.

And congrats to Kai for being a PT superstar! That is so cute about the squeezing LOL! On another note, it's nice to see someone call the gutters "eve's troughs." My DH used to try to argue with me that no one calls gutters eve's troughs outside of me and my family. I told him it was a midwest thing and even looked it up in my dictionary for him where it said that the phrase is associated with the Midwest and is another term for gutters. He gets mad because I tease him about his southern roots. Any southerners don't get mad at me, I just tease in good fun. My family has been in Ohio and other midwestern areas since right after slavery, some are from PA and were free people of color. DH's grandmother is from GA so he was raised with more of a southern dialect than I even though he is from Chicago and he and I tease each other about it. I call him country-ghetto and he says I'm bourgeoise because I'm too good to call a gutter what it is.

Erin

[MammaMia]

Bridget, I'm thinking more and more about what a terrible weekend you must be having. Even when it's anticipated, a breakup of an important relationship is very very very hard. I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be with children. And I am having a hard time stomaching how even your dbf could be so heartless as to say such horrible things to you when you're trying to assimilate the new knowledge of how your best friend was killed by the father of her children.

I've read some of the news stories about your friend, and I get sad for her and everyone her life touched, and anyone in a similar situation. I am even more sad at the thought that your dbf would abuse you when you're trying to cope with it.

While you're probably still in shock, practically I would suggest trying to find out everything about his/yours/ours finances asap. You have given him some warning, and I wouldn't trust him to be perfectly honest and upfront about everything when it comes to child support.

I am so sorry. I wish we could all be there with you.

Yes, yes, yes to everything Lydia has written!

Even nice, decent people tend to grow horns when it comes to splitting up, and seeing as your Dbf has been controlling with regards to finances while you were together, the chances of him being reasonable in a break-up are slim to none.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. :hugs:

[Bridget]

:grouphug: You all are so wonderful. Thank you for your support.
He came in the room last night with a world of apolgies. I just don't feel like it's that simple anymore. I sort of have a problem with who he is. He asked me what and why and this is all I could think of.
"You don't check yourself. You don't stop and listen. You come barging into a room/conversation/argument and just talk without listening. You don't check the vibe in the room before you open your mouth. You're that way at a bar and you're that way in the living room. It's not always okay to speak your mind. You don't always have the right to say what you think. Sometimes you just need to be quiet and listen. You could learn so much from other people, and about yourself, if you would just get out of your own head."
He says he'll go to counseling, do whatever i want. Sometimes I wish he'd just barge out the front door in a fury so I didn't have to make these decisions. Either way, we are sitting down and outlining a break up plan.
And Erin, lol about the eve troughs. I've never knows them as anything else. I thought gutters wer only in the streets.:laugh:

[daylilies]

Bridget, I could have written the same thing about DH. Sometimes I just wish he'd make it easy for me to leave.

[MammaMia]

Bridget, I could have written the same thing about DH. Sometimes I just wish he'd make it easy for me to leave.

Ditto. :(

I find myself staying because there is good stuff there. Things will get better for a while and I'll have hope.

Like yesterday, DH was making mean little jokes at my expense at every possible opportunity. If it were just now & then I'd probably laugh and tease him back, but when he does it all the time it becomes incredibly draining & depressing. Anyway, I called him on it and he seemed sorry, and was nice the rest of the day. I know he'll go back to doing it though.

It's exhausting. The worst thing is that I hardly even feel like trying anymore, so a lot of our problems are related to my own unwillingness to make an effort. I'm just sick of trying.

[Bridget]

Ditto. :(

I find myself staying because there is good stuff there. Things will get better for a while and I'll have hope.

Like yesterday, DH was making mean little jokes at my expense at every possible opportunity. If it were just now & then I'd probably laugh and tease him back, but when he does it all the time it becomes incredibly draining & depressing. Anyway, I called him on it and he seemed sorry, and was nice the rest of the day. I know he'll go back to doing it though.

It's exhausting. The worst thing is that I hardly even feel like trying anymore, so a lot of our problems are related to my own unwillingness to make an effort. I'm just sick of trying.
This.

[daylilies]

Ditto everything Sarah said too.
DH used to tease me constantly too like I was a kid sister or a guy buddy. I told him it bugged me and he finally stopped. It took a long time though.

[MammaMia]

I hate that you guys are going through the same crap, but I'm glad to not feel so alone. :grouphug:

I confess that I have a high school friend in the country and she's leaving tomorrow and I haven't invited her around for dinner (mostly because my house looks like a bomb hit it). I just saw her for lunch and was wondering whether I should invite her round. Maybe she's sick of me and just wants the evening to herself.

[sunrider]

I confess I feel so overwhelmed when catching up on this thread on Mondays. I never seem to have much APA time on the weekends - probably cause I'm focusing on Liam, which is not necessarily a bad thing.


Severin reminds me of Slytherin and Severus Snape from Harry Potter. It's just too offbeat for me...but don't listen to me, Joshua was the most popular the year he was born! (we did not know that, at the time)

I have to admit I have the same thought when I hear "Severin". I thought Severus.
I still like Quinn and Soren the best.


One thing I was thinking but wasn't sure if it was too simple, was a chicken breast thing I do that's topped with Fontina cheese and prosciutto. It's really good, and easy. You just sear the chicken, top it and broil it for a few minutes. Do you think that's too boring?
Another thing I could do is beef stroganoff. I have a good recipe I just made a few days ago. (and a couple tricks I learned to shorten the process and add depth of flavor) My specialty is soups and stews, but they are too time consuming for a couple hour class.

I think the chicken with a nice salad with a homemade vinaigrette as Lydia suggested sounds awesome.
And I'd love to have the beef stroganoff recipe. I love that stuff but only have when bought as a prepared kit type meal.


And as far as the household handyman stuff, it's crazy that I felt so incompetent about a lightbulb! And no reason to stay with someone for that reason. I owned a house for years before I got married. I had a complete tool kit, I painted, I repaired toilets, I demolished a bathroom, I worked on appliances, I knew what to do if the pilot light went out. If I couldn't figure it out, I hired someone.

Since I got married and had children, I've always deferred to dh when it comes to fixing stuff. He's faster and better, doesn't have to look things up, and it's just easier for me to take care of the kids while he repairs something. Same reason I do all the finances. Unfortunately, it leaves me in situations like this, when I KNOW how to change a lightbulb but I never once had done it with this particular fixture, and it was not easy to do the first time because I couldn't tell which pieces to take off and I was balancing on a chair. And I had to deal with the giant spider that crawled across the bed last night all by myself.

This is the way I feel with computer stuff. I could do all sorts of things myself before I met my husband, and of course he's a giant computer geek. I have forgotten so much that I had learned and it really frustrates me. There have been times I've asked him to coach me on things and sometimes he gets frustrated and just wants to do it himself cause it's faster.

Lydia, I shuddered on your behalf at the spider on the bed.

I confess I have lived in the Midwest my entire life and have NEVER heard the term eve's troughs. They have always been gutters, and it's always been my job to clean them.

[daylilies]

The stroganoff I cooked most recently is from Cooks Illustrated. You have to sign up with a credit card on the website to see the recipe and it is very long--if you can get your hands on the issue (or a subscription) it is well worth it. It's a great magazine. They improve upon classic recipes and explain why what they did is better.
If I have some time later I will type out the recipe!

[Bridget]

I confess that I can't stop thinking about nacho cheese doritos. Oh how I love them but do NOT buy them because they're so bad for me and I'm so obsessive about eating healthy. I'm ready to cave though. Yum.
I confess that I'm supposed to take the kids outside every day that's 20 degrees or above but I don't always. It's so hard when they are all involved in what they are doing inside, to tear them away, take the 15 minutes to get them in all their winter gear to go outside for 20 minutes until someone inevitably falls down mittenless, or steps out of their boot and into the snow. I vow to take them outside tomorrow.
I went upstairs after the kids fell asleep and dbf semi-cleaned the house and has ribs in the crockpot. I guess he's trying to make up for this weekend because I've been begging him to pitch in on dinner duty and he's never stepped up.

[girlwonder]

I'm sorry about what you are going through, Bridget.

[AmeriBrit]

I confess that I can't stop thinking about nacho cheese doritos. Oh how I love them but do NOT buy them because they're so bad for me and I'm so obsessive about eating healthy. I'm ready to cave though. Yum.

I caved the other day and bought 2 bags and had eaten both in like 5 days! These are my biggest pregnancy craving, but I don't allow myself them most of the time because they are soo bad!

[daylilies]

I just had a little bag of those Doritos with lunch! LOL

[MammaMia]

Doritos are soooo good.

That reminds me - I had a greasy hamburger and chips with this MSG salt on them. I felt like crap afterwards, but it was so delicious that it was totally worth it.

[daylilies]

Oh, Josh is into pirates--and I found this potty book about pirates going potty. It is really cute! Complete with little songs and pirate speak songs you're supposed to say when you go potty, and a little cutout pirate hat with reward stickers to put on it. I read the book to him and Josh wanted to use the big potty upstairs. Well Josh marched right in there and said "Arg! Ahoy, toilet!" It was just too funny. We both just burst out laughing. He liked my reaction, and spent the next few minutes saying "Ahoy" to everything he could see.

[daylilies]

Doritos are soooo good.

That reminds me - I had a greasy hamburger and chips with this MSG salt on them. I felt like crap afterwards, but it was so delicious that it was totally worth it.

MSG salt? It sounds like I could get totally addicted to that. LOL

[MammaMia]

I confess that anyone looking at my facebook groups would probably think I was gay. Which is half true, but still kind of funny. I have a gay friend who keeps inviting me to join everything.

[sunrider]

I confess I'm now craving Doritos . . . wonder if the vending machine outside my office has them stocked. That's not something I usually crave.

I confess my imagination went wild yesterday and I thought DH had killed Liam by suffocation while bedsharing for a nap. Liam napped yesterday for THREE HOURS TWENTY MINUTES. The first hour fifteen was on my lap on the boppy and then Jonathan took him into the bedroom so he could nap too. I was in bed last night from 9:45 pm to 8:40 am with Liam and my back hurt, so I did not want to lay down, but Jonathan didn't come to bed until 1:30 am.

I actually peeked in on them to make sure L was still breathing. He's almost 18 months old. Do you ever stop worrying about your kids suddenly dying?

[daylilies]

I confess I'm now craving Doritos . . . wonder if the vending machine outside my office has them stocked. That's not something I usually crave.

I confess my imagination went wild yesterday and I thought DH had killed Liam by suffocation while bedsharing for a nap. Liam napped yesterday for THREE HOURS TWENTY MINUTES. The first hour fifteen was on my lap on the boppy and then Jonathan took him into the bedroom so he could nap too. I was in bed last night from 9:45 pm to 8:40 am with Liam and my back hurt, so I did not want to lay down, but Jonathan didn't come to bed until 1:30 am.

I actually peeked in on them to make sure L was still breathing. He's almost 18 months old. Do you ever stop worrying about your kids suddenly dying?

It has gotten less for me, but it's still something I fear.

[MammaMia]

I actually peeked in on them to make sure L was still breathing. He's almost 18 months old. Do you ever stop worrying about your kids suddenly dying?

Nope. I checked to see whether Mia was breathing just yesterday.

[stephmama]

I checked on M about 5 times today because she took a 3 hour nap.

[girlwonder]

Look at this! An illustration from a 15th century illuminated manuscript (The Hours of Catherine Cleves c. 1440) showing Mary, Joseph and little baby Jesus in a golden walker! I thought it was funny to see.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/4230602083_a87b50776f.jpg

[Ky'sMom]

OMG that picture is hilarious. Baby Jesus in a golden walker LOL!!!

Erin

[3andMe]

I actually peeked in on them to make sure L was still breathing. He's almost 18 months old. Do you ever stop worrying about your kids suddenly dying?

I check on the twins probably 4-5 times a night.

[shutterbird]

That picture is hilarious!

I confess I have a pretty gnarly toothache and DH, after coming home, said that he'd happily chew my food for me, if needed. :lol: I really needed that laugh. :wub:

[Bridget]

That picture is hilarious!

I confess I have a pretty gnarly toothache and DH, after coming home, said that he'd happily chew my food for me, if needed. :lol: I really needed that laugh. :wub:
:laugh: Now that is true love!
I check my kids several times a night. Especially because they normally wake up at some point and come into my room. When they don't, my sleep is restless and I wonder where they are.
I confess, get this, ladies. I swear, you all are going to start thinking I'm making this stuff up. I woke up at 2am to the dog barking and bright snowmobile lights shining in our bedroom window. Our bedroom window faces the frozen lake where people snowmobile all of the time. This snowmobile was in my yard coming toward the house! I looked over and dbf was not in bed. I started running through the house in a total panic, yelling his name. When I get to the kitchen, I see dbf on the deck. I see his friend get off the snowmobile and fall down. Then he's coming up the deck steps and falls again. I open the door and ask what's going on. Dbf says, "I'll handle it." :eyebrow:
So clearly this guy is wasted out of his mind. I said, "He is not coming in the house." Dbf drove him home. I am so livid! This guy is building our closet and he does amazing beautiful work but why is he showing up at my house in the middle of the night drunk? And operating a motor vehicle? IN MY YARD?
This guy is supposed to come over today to work on the closet and if he drags his hungover self here, I don't care what dbf says or thinks, he is going to hear a thing or two from me. He cannot be bringing his dangerous, irresponsible behavior onto my property.
You guys are probably sick to death of hearing me but i'm glad I can vent here. It helps me a lot. I'm off to prepare my pancake batter for the daycare. Can I just say I am SO thankful for my daycare. It's my little peace haven down here. I'm so lucky to have it and all the little charges that come and remind me of how wonderful life is.

[daylilies]

I'm not sick of hearing about anything, Bridget! I can relate to a lot of things you're going through, although no drunk friends, thank goodness. I like hearing your stories about the kids, and day care.

[The10Eels]

Bridget.. You're BF and his friends are real pieces of work... You are a "saint" for putting up with their crap (ok, so from what you've written you don't really put up with it... you speak your mind, and for that -- Good for you!) But I agree with the other ladies that have said you deserve so much better.

[The10Eels]

speaking of pieces of work....

I confess last month I got a whole $20 of child support. and only because I used the debit card to B's account to buy diapers.

Well my friend Amanda sent me a text yesterday saying "OMG, LOOK WHAT B GOT!" and then a picture of a puppy.

He got a freakin puppy, and he can't even take care of his kids?! I was LIVID, and unfortunately was at work so I couldn't really go scream like I had wanted to.

[sunrider]

Thank you all - knowing it's "normal" to check on your sleeping kids makes me feel better.

Saint Brigid, you are an awesome and strong woman. To have the night you did and then to find a haven in making pancakes for your daycare kids speaks volumes on the kind of person you are.

Ashley - Should Jonathan and I hunt down B and injure him for you? That sucks. You could always stock up on diapers for the longterm future with his debit card, before he decides to cancel it on you. I know. I'm evil.

Why is there no devil smiley available? There are two angels, but no devil.

[stephmama]

Bridget, I would've been so pissed!


Ashley, I would use that debit card to buy everything you need for the YEAR. Jerk.

[sunrider]

Ashley, I would use that debit card to buy everything you need for the YEAR. Jerk.

Yay! My evil sister!

[stephmama]

http://www.ourplayland.com/images/smilies/708/she_devil.gif

[sunrider]

http://www.ourplayland.com/images/smilies/708/she_devil.gif

I love it.

[daylilies]

http://www.ourplayland.com/images/smilies/708/she_devil.gif

Oh baby! :silly:

I confess I just got back from the Dr. I took care of everything I had to, and they're going to refer me to someone to help me out with the sex problems.

Honestly when I do this stuff, I wonder why I wait so long. I think I'm ashamed of what the doctors will think of me. But they must see some pretty crazy stuff. So why do I care?

[stash]

Ah Bridget, I just got around to reading this stuff and I'm sorry things are so difficult for you right now. Big hugs, mama. :(

[The10Eels]

I totally would... if there was money on it....I dont want to make his account negative cause BOA charges buttloads of fees, and when he has to pay those, then he has even less money to send to me.. (if he were to ever send some)

[Bridget]

Ah Bridget, I just got around to reading this stuff and I'm sorry things are so difficult for you right now. Big hugs, mama. :(
:hugs:Thanks
Ashley! I really can't believe B is being this way! Was he always so selfish or is it only since the break up? Maybe I'm just having a brain fart but I don't recall you complaining about him too much before. Ugh. How terrible. I look at that picture in your siggy and cannot fathom how he couldn't just want to do everything and anything for those two beautiful little girls.

[Gwenn]

I confess someone brought homemade Red Velvet cake to work today and left it in the lounge to share. I had a piece after lunch, then later this afternoon I filled out a piece of irritating paperwork JUST so I could walk down to the mailbox and get another piece of cake on the way back. And I did. And it was good. And now I feel like a total pig.

[MammaMia]

I confess someone brought homemade Red Velvet cake to work today and left it in the lounge to share. I had a piece after lunch, then later this afternoon I filled out a piece of irritating paperwork JUST so I could walk down to the mailbox and get another piece of cake on the way back. And I did. And it was good. And now I feel like a total pig.

:laugh: I would totally do the same.

Come to think of it, I've never had red velvet cake and I'm not entirely sure what it is.

Where's Maggie? I haven't seen her on in ages.

[Gwenn]

:laugh: I would totally do the same.

Come to think of it, I've never had red velvet cake and I'm not entirely sure what it is.

Where's Maggie? I haven't seen her on in ages.

I can't describe it, but it's really good. It's chocolate based but doesn't taste like chocolate cake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_velvet_cake

I was wondering where Maggie was, too.

[daylilies]

I could seriously live without hearing the words "but" or "no" ever again...LOL
The defiance is killing me. I asked him not to put his toys in the laundry basket and he just looked at me blankly. I said "Please say 'okay mommy I won't'" and he looked at me, said "no" and ran off" Ooooh...

[stephmama]

Sarah, red velvet is amazing. With cream cheese frosting! Nom nom.


I'm having a super duper fat day.

[daylilies]

Sarah, red velvet is amazing. With cream cheese frosting! Nom nom.


I'm having a super duper fat day.

Me too! Fat week, actually. LOL

[stephmama]

I'm getting the fat girl to shut up with a bowl of ice cream with crushed up Golden Double Stuffed Oreos. Shut up, fat girl!

[Bridget]

I'm getting the fat girl to shut up with a bowl of ice cream with crushed up Golden Double Stuffed Oreos. Shut up, fat girl!
:laugh:
I wish I had my doritos

[daylilies]

LOL
I confess I thank goodness I don't have a sweet tooth. I can't imagine how fat I'd be if I like cheese, salty foods AND desserts. LOL

[Cosmosmom]

:laugh:
I wish I had my doritos

My weakness is Oke Dokie Cheese popcorn...just that brand. I can take out the bag in 1-2 sittings.

Sadly or probably thankfully, it seems that they can't get it on this side of the state. I don't understand why but none of the stores carry it. So now I only get it a few times a year if that when I go back down to the Milwaukee area or they come up by me and remember to bring a bag.

[Cosmosmom]

LOL
I confess I thank goodness I don't have a sweet tooth. I can't imagine how fat I'd be if I like cheese, salty foods AND desserts. LOL

I'm not deserts or salty. Dh loves salty...nuts, chex mix and goldfish we have to buy at Sam's.

Me, I LOVE my carbs. Breads, potatoes, and PASTA!!!! OMG I could eat pasta 3 days a day every day. I'm trying to lose weight and that is one thing I have cut out is having a half box of pasta as my entire meal (buttered and maybe a bit of parm cheese). I'm not allowing it unless it's with a meat/cheese and veggies. And measuring out 1-2 cups per meal.

[daylilies]

Oh yeah...I love pasta too!

[Cosmosmom]

I confess...one of my cars won't start. It's almost certainly the battery but we can't jump it since it's in the garage and it's a tight 1 car garage. Dh doesn't want to deal with it until Friday when he is off work. We work off shifts and generally just use the one car so the other tends to sit too long and this isn't the first time the battery has died and we needed AAA to come out.

I confess my DOG wet the bed last night. I don't know why so I'm a bit worried. She is 6.5 and potty trained for pretty much 6.5 years. I know she went at least an hour before bed and she has a litter box....which I know she will go downstairs and use even at 2am. But last night at 11 I was in the bathroom getting ready and she was waiting in bed...and it was wet when i got back. Had to change sheets and pull off the comforter...which is a king so now we have visit the laundromat and use the big huge drums and pay close to $10 to clean and dry.
I haven't seen any blood so thinking no to UTI...she has one once and I did know because I saw some blood.
She has had one known seizure a little over a year ago....so maybe she had a small one last night and lost control? I don't know. Tonight I will make SURE she at least tries right before we go upstairs.

[daylilies]

I hope your doggie is okay!
DH's car died too...we had jumper cables. But it happened again, so he took it to the shop and had to spend quite a bit of money to get it back up to par. It was my first car, a '98 Corolla, and I'll be sad to part with it, but I think it's almost time!

[Bridget]

Oh I hope your dog is okay!
I love salty and I love carbs. I bake so much for the daycare and it's really hard for me to not just inhale things like muffins and fresh bread.

[Cosmosmom]

I hope your doggie is okay!
DH's car died too...we had jumper cables. But it happened again, so he took it to the shop and had to spend quite a bit of money to get it back up to par. It was my first car, a '98 Corolla, and I'll be sad to part with it, but I think it's almost time!

this is the 2002 Pt Cruiser. DH LOVES his car so much that it sits in the garage and doesn't get driven as much as I think it should. We do have cables...only problem is we can't reach the engine because it's in the garage.

Thanks, I'm not overly concerned about Cosmo. It was a weird thing but she has been acting herself.

[Cosmosmom]

Oh I hope your dog is okay!
I love salty and I love carbs. I bake so much for the daycare and it's really hard for me to not just inhale things like muffins and fresh bread.

thanks!

I'm generally ok with muffins but man do I LOVE bread. I like cheese...and pasta, even leftover cold pasta. So hard but trying for sure to cut back. At least most of the bead I eat is really good whole grain (they mill it fresh themselves).

[3andMe]

I've been cheating on you with Miss Manners.

I absolutely love this Social Disasters (http://books.google.com/books?id=FOodocaTLsMC&pg=PA556&lpg=PA556&dq=%22social+disasters%22+guacamole&source=bl&ots=Qfz2VeWlT1&sig=HKPE_jwoLBPCIcfZraPR45MiwIY&hl=en&ei=DLaES-eKE4KSsgOL8bXtDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22social%20disasters%22%20guacamole&f=false) advice. I do believe I actually guffawed.

[The10Eels]

:hugs:Thanks
Ashley! I really can't believe B is being this way! Was he always so selfish or is it only since the break up? Maybe I'm just having a brain fart but I don't recall you complaining about him too much before. Ugh. How terrible. I look at that picture in your siggy and cannot fathom how he couldn't just want to do everything and anything for those two beautiful little girls.
Honestly, yes... He was always very selfish (I had to spend my birthday money from my parents on his bail money because he went out partying while I was at home with Audrianna......) but I kinda just put up with it, and hoped maybe once Charlie was born things would be better....

A song came on the radio earlier

I've got all I need
And it's alright by meI just belted it out with the radio, cause I'm coming to the place where I am totally alright with my life. I have the girls, a roof over my head, food in my tummy (and theirs) and I don't need B, nor his money...


thanks!

I'm generally ok with muffins but man do I LOVE bread. I like cheese...and pasta, even leftover cold pasta. So hard but trying for sure to cut back. At least most of the bead I eat is really good whole grain (they mill it fresh themselves).

Im a sucker for pasta too... and bread, but surprisingly I can pass on muffins super easily...but put some banana bread, or pumpkin bread.... ooooh, or zucchini bread in front of me... and you better not be expecting to get some back... its BAD!



I confess today was my first tuesday off, that also happened to be a meeting of the knitting club (if you remember knitting club was my only social interaction when we lived here before..) so I got to go see all my knitting ladies. I :wub: them!

It was also the hostesses 70th anniversary of coming to America. She is an author and trying to get her book of childhood stories published, so she read some of them to us. There were a few that brought tears to my eyes, especially when she told us about the note from her parents she found in her flute when she was sent to live with her aunt in Holland. They wrapped up all their diamonds in a note telling her to hide them, and only sell them in case of an emergency, and grow up to be a beautiful woman... (she was only 10 at the time..)

Then when she was 11, they made it to America, and a group of boys followed her into an elevator, and ended up beating her up, and raping her... When her mother saw how bruised she was, she took her to the hospital, and the Dr basically said "She's a pretty girl.. It was going to happen eventually.....":ohno:

[shutterbird]

That's horrible, Ashley. I hate that people have to go through that... :ohno: :cry:

I confess... somebody just shoot me already. My mouth is killing me!

[Gwenn]

I've been cheating on you with Miss Manners.

I absolutely love this Social Disasters (http://books.google.com/books?id=FOodocaTLsMC&pg=PA556&lpg=PA556&dq=%22social+disasters%22+guacamole&source=bl&ots=Qfz2VeWlT1&sig=HKPE_jwoLBPCIcfZraPR45MiwIY&hl=en&ei=DLaES-eKE4KSsgOL8bXtDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22social%20disasters%22%20guacamole&f=false) advice. I do believe I actually guffawed.

Hilarious!


Honestly, yes... He was always very selfish (I had to spend my birthday money from my parents on his bail money because he went out partying while I was at home with Audrianna......) but I kinda just put up with it, and hoped maybe once Charlie was born things would be better....

A song came on the radio earlier
I just belted it out with the radio, cause I'm coming to the place where I am totally alright with my life. I have the girls, a roof over my head, food in my tummy (and theirs) and I don't need B, nor his money...



Im a sucker for pasta too... and bread, but surprisingly I can pass on muffins super easily...but put some banana bread, or pumpkin bread.... ooooh, or zucchini bread in front of me... and you better not be expecting to get some back... its BAD!



I confess today was my first tuesday off, that also happened to be a meeting of the knitting club (if you remember knitting club was my only social interaction when we lived here before..) so I got to go see all my knitting ladies. I :wub: them!

It was also the hostesses 70th anniversary of coming to America. She is an author and trying to get her book of childhood stories published, so she read some of them to us. There were a few that brought tears to my eyes, especially when she told us about the note from her parents she found in her flute when she was sent to live with her aunt in Holland. They wrapped up all their diamonds in a note telling her to hide them, and only sell them in case of an emergency, and grow up to be a beautiful woman... (she was only 10 at the time..)

Then when she was 11, they made it to America, and a group of boys followed her into an elevator, and ended up beating her up, and raping her... When her mother saw how bruised she was, she took her to the hospital, and the Dr basically said "She's a pretty girl.. It was going to happen eventually.....":ohno:

Soooo sad.

I'm glad you're reaching a place of acceptance of where you are. You are amazing and I'm so glad you have what you need.

I confess I'm also a sucker for carbs, especially anything containing potatoes. Also anything sweet.

[MammaMia]

Im a sucker for pasta too... and bread, but surprisingly I can pass on muffins super easily...but put some banana bread, or pumpkin bread.... ooooh, or zucchini bread in front of me... and you better not be expecting to get some back... its BAD!

This made me LOL. :laugh:

I'm sorry B is being such a tool. :ohno: You're kicking major ass as a single mother! :hugs:

[MammaMia]

Ahh, Mia is so cute! I asked her to kiss me goodbye yesterday, and she got a very intense look on her face and proceeded to give me a big kiss whilst waving at the same time - her personal interpretation of a "kiss goodbye". She did it again this morning. It's so funny to see the things she comes up with. :wub:

[sunrider]

I'm getting the fat girl to shut up with a bowl of ice cream with crushed up Golden Double Stuffed Oreos. Shut up, fat girl!

:lol:



I confess my DOG wet the bed last night. I don't know why so I'm a bit worried. She is 6.5 and potty trained for pretty much 6.5 years. I know she went at least an hour before bed and she has a litter box....which I know she will go downstairs and use even at 2am. But last night at 11 I was in the bathroom getting ready and she was waiting in bed...and it was wet when i got back. Had to change sheets and pull off the comforter...which is a king so now we have visit the laundromat and use the big huge drums and pay close to $10 to clean and dry.
I haven't seen any blood so thinking no to UTI...she has one once and I did know because I saw some blood.
She has had one known seizure a little over a year ago....so maybe she had a small one last night and lost control? I don't know. Tonight I will make SURE she at least tries right before we go upstairs.

Our rat terrier pees in our bed appx once a year. We think it's dominance and jealousy issues, but have no idea. Always a pain to deal with.


I've been cheating on you with Miss Manners.

I absolutely love this Social Disasters (http://books.google.com/books?id=FOodocaTLsMC&pg=PA556&lpg=PA556&dq=%22social+disasters%22+guacamole&source=bl&ots=Qfz2VeWlT1&sig=HKPE_jwoLBPCIcfZraPR45MiwIY&hl=en&ei=DLaES-eKE4KSsgOL8bXtDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22social%20disasters%22%20guacamole&f=false) advice. I do believe I actually guffawed.

Hmmm, I would love me some BBQ'd Ox right now. That was awesome.

[Cosmosmom]

:
Our rat terrier pees in our bed appx once a year. We think it's dominance and jealousy issues, but have no idea. Always a pain to deal with.

.

That is weird. I don't know what her problem was. Usually she is a pretty passive submissive dog. And since we don't sleep together (I'm on first shift and DH works 3rd), she doesn't usually have to share. She sleeps with him during the day and with me at night. The times DH does sleep at night with us, she loves to snuggle in between (at times it almost sounds like she is purring!).

At least last night was fine. And the comforter did need to be washed.....

[Bridget]

I confess that Savana keeps me working with her constant questions. I have a boy here at the daycare who's dad is a smoker. He has just started to drop him off as opposed to mom and the first couple of mornings he came in Savana was like, "PEW. What is that smell? MOM, do you smell that? Is H poopy? What IS that?" So then they leave and Savana asks me why does H's dad always smell weird. I told her that he smokes cigarettes and sometimes when people smoke cigarettes the smells stick to their clothes and hair and then you can smell it on them when they come in the room. I also tell her that it is not polite to say something about the way that someone smells and if she wants to talk to me about it later that's fine but we don't want to make H or his dad feel bad. She asks me about a million questions about why H's dad smokes if it's disgusting.
Next day dad comes in. Savana walks over to him and takes a huge sniff. She looks at me and says, shaking her head, "Yup. Cigarettes." Then she puts her finger to her lips like it's just between her and I even though she has just said it outloud. :eyeroll:
He acted totally ashamed. He barely makes eye contact with me as it is. I just tried to give him a warm I-don't-judge-you-sorry-about-that smile.
It's tough because I always give her honest answers without thinking ahead to the fact that she will say something outloud later.

[sunrider]

I confess that Savana keeps me working with her constant questions. I have a boy here at the daycare who's dad is a smoker. He has just started to drop him off as opposed to mom and the first couple of mornings he came in Savana was like, "PEW. What is that smell? MOM, do you smell that? Is H poopy? What IS that?" So then they leave and Savana asks me why does H's dad always smell weird. I told her that he smokes cigarettes and sometimes when people smoke cigarettes the smells stick to their clothes and hair and then you can smell it on them when they come in the room. I also tell her that it is not polite to say something about the way that someone smells and if she wants to talk to me about it later that's fine but we don't want to make H or his dad feel bad. She asks me about a million questions about why H's dad smokes if it's disgusting.
Next day dad comes in. Savana walks over to him and takes a huge sniff. She looks at me and says, shaking her head, "Yup. Cigarettes." Then she puts her finger to her lips like it's just between her and I even though she has just said it outloud. :eyeroll:
He acted totally ashamed. He barely makes eye contact with me as it is. I just tried to give him a warm I-don't-judge-you-sorry-about-that smile.
It's tough because I always give her honest answers without thinking ahead to the fact that she will say something outloud later.

Well, on the bright side, maybe you won't have to worry about her becoming a smoker later in life, right?

[daylilies]

I think it's good she's curious about it now. I wish Josh would ask me questions about why it smells bad at the inlaws house.

[Bridget]

Well I have to give dbf "credit" for that one. He's really vocal about what he thinks of smokers. I really don't love that he speaks of the people instead of the habit itself. I mean, yes, smoking is disgusting but smokers are not disgusting. My brother smokes. I smoked for years.
I'm glad that she asks questions and I'm glad she thinks it's yucky. I just really don't want her to treat people with disdain.

[3andMe]

Savana is so cool!

I confess I've had a really crappy morning. Demigraf is coming over for a playdate in about 10 minutes. Two hours ago, I realized I didn't have hot water. I ran out of the house, down the steps, to the crawl space where the hot water heater is, and it's totally flooded. I spent about 15 minutes bailing it out and tried to light the pilot light, but it didn't light. There is still water everywhere and I'm up to my ankles in mud, I can't bend over very well because of my gigantic belly, and I hear little footsteps and yells above me. So I abandon it and run back upstairs (luckily they're both okay). I called my mom and asked her if she could come over and watch them while I try to deal with it.

Luckily my mom was available, and I just spent another half hour bailing out the water and kneeling in mud trying to get the pilot light lit. It worked! I came back inside and realized I had mud all over my clothes, my face, and my hair. I asked my mom if she could stay while I took a shower, and she said sure.

I turned on the water and realized my towels were in the wash and there was no hot water anyway. So I combed the mud out of my hair as best I could, washed my face, put on some clean clothes, and am now ready for my playdate.

The flooding was from all the rain we've been having.

I really hate dh being gone, but I don't think I'm going to tell him how difficult that was. He scoffed at me for the lightbulb.

[sunrider]

Wow, big hugs Lydia. I'm sure Myles will completely understand and you two can laugh about it while the kids play. Tell her Hi from Krista in KC!

[3andMe]

Wow, big hugs Lydia. I'm sure Myles will completely understand and you two can laugh about it while the kids play. Tell her Hi from Krista in KC!

I'm sure she will, too, but I always feel awkward meeting people for the first time whilst covered in mud. I actually thought if my mom couldn't make it that I'd have her just hang out in my living room with all the kids while I attempted it again.

[Bridget]

I'm sure she will, too, but I always feel awkward meeting people for the first time whilst covered in mud..
Always eh? :laugh: :winks:

[Gwenn]

Yes, Lydia, how often DO you meet people for the first time whilst covered in mud?

How often do you use the word whilst, for that matter? Great word! :)


I confess DH is deploying to Afghanistan in a few months. He is transferring into another state's National Guard so he can go, and he is set up to go be sworn in tomorrow. So it looks like it is definitely going to happen.

[stash]

I think Lydia probably uses the word whilst frequently. :P

Bridget, Savana sounds like Oscar. A million questions, and I'm always very thorough and forthright in my answers, but they bite me in the a$$ later on, sometimes. Or they involve further discussion after he's shared too much with other people... case in point... he was picking his nose this week and yelled "Boogers! Mama I had a booger that was really bothering me and I got it out! Yay!" I was driving. I was like "Hey that's great, dude. You must feel a lot better." He went on to tell me I needed to "take the booger" well I'm driving right, no hanky, said "Wipe it on your sock, buddy." He asks why, I say "Well, because that way it's somewhere where you're not likely to encounter it later where it might get all stuck on your hand again, and I don't really want you wiping it on the car seat."

So yesterday we're having coffee with a friend of mine and she's got a cold, blows her nose, and Oscar goes on to tell her that she must feel MUCH better, and that if she's ever without a hanky she can wipe her boogers on her sock, but not on the car seat.

Thanks, buddy. We talked later about how some people (luckily not this friend) find boogers, farts, poops, and pees to be a sort of a gross topic of conversation. :P

[Bridget]

I think Lydia probably uses the word whilst frequently. :P

Bridget, Savana sounds like Oscar. A million questions, and I'm always very thorough and forthright in my answers, but they bite me in the a$$ later on, sometimes. Or they involve further discussion after he's shared too much with other people... case in point... he was picking his nose this week and yelled "Boogers! Mama I had a booger that was really bothering me and I got it out! Yay!" I was driving. I was like "Hey that's great, dude. You must feel a lot better." He went on to tell me I needed to "take the booger" well I'm driving right, no hanky, said "Wipe it on your sock, buddy." He asks why, I say "Well, because that way it's somewhere where you're not likely to encounter it later where it might get all stuck on your hand again, and I don't really want you wiping it on the car seat."

So yesterday we're having coffee with a friend of mine and she's got a cold, blows her nose, and Oscar goes on to tell her that she must feel MUCH better, and that if she's ever without a hanky she can wipe her boogers on her sock, but not on the car seat.

Thanks, buddy. We talked later about how some people (luckily not this friend) find boogers, farts, poops, and pees to be a sort of a gross topic of conversation. :P
:laugh: Ah yes, Oscar and Savana would make fine friends.
We had to have a serious discussion about how most people do not enjoy breaking down the similiarities between what she ate and how her poops looked that day. :eyeroll:

[stash]

Oh yes. It's hard, because we really DO talk about those things in our house. He's constantly telling me whether or not his "pees are clear" or telling me that he just had a "fine, multi-colored poop" and I think it's important for him to observe those things. But it's a little harder to teach him TACT with other people. :eyeroll:

[daylilies]

LOL
Josh is obsessed with his potty books--I bought a couple cute ones the other day. He wants to read them wherever we go. I had to read them to him in my doctor's office the other day. I was wondering if anyone was grossed out by hearing about the potty train and pirate pee and poop.

[The10Eels]

I confess I had a dream last night that my mom, the girls and I were at my work.. and for some reason we had my laundry in our shopping cart. We were talking to the guy I work with that I kinda like, and all of a sudden my mom pulls a pair of my underwear out of the basket and shows him!

I confess I woke up MORTIFIED!!

[daylilies]

ROFL
Sounds like the kind of dreams I have.

[3andMe]

Yes, Lydia, how often DO you meet people for the first time whilst covered in mud?

How often do you use the word whilst, for that matter? Great word! :)


I confess DH is deploying to Afghanistan in a few months. He is transferring into another state's National Guard so he can go, and he is set up to go be sworn in tomorrow. So it looks like it is definitely going to happen.

I have met people whilst covered with mud on several occasions. It is considerably less awkward with clothes on. :laugh: I have used "whilst" twice today.

I am glad that your dh has got a plan and a direction, but sad for both of you that it has to be so far away and so scary.


Oh yes. It's hard, because we really DO talk about those things in our house. He's constantly telling me whether or not his "pees are clear" or telling me that he just had a "fine, multi-colored poop" and I think it's important for him to observe those things. But it's a little harder to teach him TACT with other people. :eyeroll:

I'm not even trying the tact part yet, but the twins are very good at noticing the color of their pees and the size of their poops. I hear a lot of exclamations about how yellow it is or how big it is.

Mylah was great! I think I'm going to post the pictures in NM. I was so happy she came over.

[daylilies]

Just when I thought the bedtime issues were maybe, finally, done..Josh now wants 5,000 pillows and blankets in his bed and keeps calling me saying he needs to go pee. I don't want to discourage that of course but when he just unloaded it all before bed, it's just a bunch of false alarms.

I confess I'm sick of friends logging off or just disappearing off chat mid conversation.

[sunrider]

Oh yes. It's hard, because we really DO talk about those things in our house. He's constantly telling me whether or not his "pees are clear" or telling me that he just had a "fine, multi-colored poop" and I think it's important for him to observe those things. But it's a little harder to teach him TACT with other people. :eyeroll:

:lol: Wow. I've read the stories of Savana and Oscar to DH and he's like :shocker:.
I'm sure we're thinking about what sorts of things might come out of Liam's mouth later on, as my biology background is going to come out more as he gets older.

Jonathan was giving him a bath a couple days ago, and I don't remember what he said to Liam, but I walked past and told him: Call it what it is . . . a penis. Didn't embarrass him at all either, not that I was trying. He told me he would, as soon as Liam touched it again.

[daylilies]

Josh calls his a peenee...which I'm okay with.

[The10Eels]

I don't know what we are going to call girly parts... I kinda like Cass (Bean)'s name of "tweena" I HATE the word vagina...

[Bridget]

The words penis and vagina don't bother me. We use those names. And it gets talked about a lot. Savana is dangerously close to asking just exactly how the daddy gets the seed into the mommy's egg. It goes back to me being totally fine with explaining that to her but figuring out how to let her know it's not for public convo.

[Bean]

I don't know what we are going to call girly parts... I kinda like Cass (Bean)'s name of "tweena" I HATE the word vagina...
Word. And feel free to use tweena. Almost everyone I know has picked up that word from being around me. :laugh: In fact, my friend Dayna and I wrote a song about tweenas in high school.

Soooo... I'm thinking about piercing my nipples. I mean, why not? I think I'll wait until after I get my boob job, though. I feel like I went through my crazy rebellion phase way earlier than most people did and now that I'm a little more grown up (not much LOL) I'm realizing how much it suited me. I'm going to ask my dentist to file my eyeteeth back into points. My orthodontist filed them down and I hate them. I can't wait to get my next tattoo. My favorite color has and probably always will be black. It's just... me. So yeah. Nipples shall be pierced.

[daylilies]

Go Bean!
Are you really getting a boob job?

[MammaMia]

You go Cass! I actually wanted a nipple piercing when I was a teenager. I even tried to do it myself. :shock: :laugh: I couldn't though...ouch!

[Bridget]

I have considered a boob job myself. Not bigger, just fuller and perkier. I hate them so so much right now.
But I have not ever considered a nipple piercing. Oh, I just shuddered. :laugh: OW!

[The10Eels]

Word. And feel free to use tweena. Almost everyone I know has picked up that word from being around me. :laugh: In fact, my friend Dayna and I wrote a song about tweenas in high school.

Soooo... I'm thinking about piercing my nipples. I mean, why not? I think I'll wait until after I get my boob job, though. I feel like I went through my crazy rebellion phase way earlier than most people did and now that I'm a little more grown up (not much LOL) I'm realizing how much it suited me. I'm going to ask my dentist to file my eyeteeth back into points. My orthodontist filed them down and I hate them. I can't wait to get my next tattoo. My favorite color has and probably always will be black. It's just... me. So yeah. Nipples shall be pierced.

I have been thinking about redoing mine... but I feel weird going to a new piercer... I got everything pierced by the same person there in Fairbanks... but she's now in Palmer.. so even if I wanted to do it when I come up to visit sometime, I couldn't:ohno:

[stash]

Aw ladies, don't go hating on the boobies. No offense, but I'd spend the boob-job money working on your perspective on your own bodies, not on puffing up something that will inevitably sag and go south by your middle to old age, anyway. Bodies do what they do. They sag, they stretch, they age, they die. The sooner we accept them and love them for what they are, the sooner we can spend our hard earned money on important things.

Like a new countertop and sink in my kitchen. :laugh:

[stash]

And Oscar calls his penis "his peen" for short. I'm cool with that. I'm interested to see what he asks and doesn't ask about sperm and eggs (we've explained that daddy's sperm comes to mommy's egg and it makes a baby seed, which hopefully, turns into a baby and then mommy gives birth).

But he hasn't asked where the baby comes out, or how the sperm gets IN.

[Cosmosmom]

Aw ladies, don't go hating on the boobies. No offense, but I'd spend the boob-job money working on your perspective on your own bodies, not on puffing up something that will inevitably sag and go south by your middle to old age, anyway. Bodies do what they do. They sag, they stretch, they age, they die. The sooner we accept them and love them for what they are, the sooner we can spend our hard earned money on important things.

Like a new countertop and sink in my kitchen. :laugh:


I'm with you there. I just can't spend that much time and energy on my body. Not after gaining a ton, losing a ton, gaining some back....yeah as long as I look ok with clothes ON....I'm cool with it. My DD's are not full and not perky (not sure they ever were).

I avoid surgery at all costs and do not like altering the body....no tattoos or any piercings on me (course I did alter my digestive track....but that wasn't an easy decision and one that took over a year of research to make).

Though I have to admit that I'm very lucky to have a DH who loves me at any size and finds fake bb's a turn off. We did talk about doing some plastic surgery after the gastric bypass but decided the risks, pain and money were not worth it.

[AmeriBrit]

Aw ladies, don't go hating on the boobies. No offense, but I'd spend the boob-job money working on your perspective on your own bodies, not on puffing up something that will inevitably sag and go south by your middle to old age, anyway. Bodies do what they do. They sag, they stretch, they age, they die. The sooner we accept them and love them for what they are, the sooner we can spend our hard earned money on important things.

Like a new countertop and sink in my kitchen. :laugh:

Word! I'm not a boob girl myself. When I'm not pregnant, I do like to be slim, but I've never been bothered about what my boobs look like!

[3andMe]

I miss Maggie, too. Maggie! Where are you?

And I just realized Willowspy is 37 weeks now. I am very excited for her.

MammaMia, I cannot imagine a do-it-yourself nipple piercing. Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow. Were you drunk?

Stacy, I'm anxiously awaiting your us results. Probably not as much as you, but close.

I have way too many things to spend money on besides cosmetic surgery too, but there are things I would consider doing without actually hating the way they are now. Property taxes, childcare, a new faucet, resurfacing our deck, insulation, vacations... sigh. I feel like I'm always juggling wants vs needs.

[sunrider]

I would never get a boob job, though I used to contemplate boob REDUCTION surgery. I'm happy in my boob skin as well. DH's only complaint is that he misses them and wants his access back.

If I had any sort of cosmetic type surgery, it would probably be a tummy tuck after major weight loss. I don't know how I'd ever exercise off my "baby shelf" of flab on my lower stomach.

ETA: and the only thing that shall ever be pierced on me is my ears. and probably no more (3 in left, 2 in right)

[stash]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

[Bean]

Go Bean!
Are you really getting a boob job?
Hells yeah.


You go Cass! I actually wanted a nipple piercing when I was a teenager. I even tried to do it myself. :shock: :laugh: I couldn't though...ouch!
I pierced my left nipple myself in high school. It kept getting caught on my bra or my shirt so I took it out before it was even healed. What a waste.

As for saving the money and feeling better about myself... this is HOW I'm going to feel better about myself. Eric doesn't want me to get the surgery. I want to! I'm doing this for me. I have way too many issues that can't be fixed with surgery and I will work on those myself, but this is something I can do for ME that will help my self esteem and make me feel pretty again. I don't want to accept that I'm going to look like a saggy stretchmarked old person when I'm 26 years old.

[Cosmosmom]

OMG, I don't even like my nipples being touched much (DH learned fast to be gentle). I cannot even being to imagine piercing them! Yikes.

[shutterbird]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

Awesome!!! :hooray:

[shutterbird]

After having big boobs, the back pain, the shirts that don't fit right, rare access to sexy bras, etc.... no thanks! I'm with Sunrider.... I'd get my Mommy Shelf chopped off (after losing all of this weight, of course). :)

Oh and GO CASS with your badass nipple-piercing self! :winks: :cabbage:

[sunrider]

I confess my nipples really hurt now.

[sunrider]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

:party:

Only one?:winks:

[3andMe]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

:hooray::hooray::hooray::hooray::hooray::hooray:

[daylilies]

Yay stash!

[Bridget]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)
:hooray:
I am ecstatic for you!

[stephmama]

Yay for heartbeats! :hooray:

[MammaMia]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

Wonderful, I'm sooo happy for you!! :hooray::hooray::hooray:


Hells yeah.


I pierced my left nipple myself in high school. It kept getting caught on my bra or my shirt so I took it out before it was even healed. What a waste.

As for saving the money and feeling better about myself... this is HOW I'm going to feel better about myself. Eric doesn't want me to get the surgery. I want to! I'm doing this for me. I have way too many issues that can't be fixed with surgery and I will work on those myself, but this is something I can do for ME that will help my self esteem and make me feel pretty again. I don't want to accept that I'm going to look like a saggy stretchmarked old person when I'm 26 years old.

You did?? Haha, you must have a higher pain tolerance than me. I got halfway through and nearly passed out. I still have a tiny scar there.

If you want perky boobies then more power to ya. :cabbage:

[Bridget]

If I took a pic of my boobs, y'all would be like, "Get em fixed!"
Okay, you're probably nicer than that but they are so ugly. My nipples are so severely inverted they look inside out. Man, if they had at least successfully breastfed my kids I'd probably love them in spite of their ugliness. But they SUCK. (Not literally, obviously :winks:)
And I love me. Just not them.

[Bean]

My boobs are just flat. :laugh: I'm going to pump them up to what they used to be... maybe bigger. LOL Other than that, they're pretty nice and I LOVE them for rocking with the breastfeeding. They pretty much kicked arse for three years.

[maggie]

I confess :hi:

First of all:

Congrats to Stash! Yayayayayayayay! That is fantastic news!

I just quick scanned the last several pages and I'm sure I missed a ton of stuff, something about shoving metal into nipples caught my eye though and OUCH. I'm so way too wimpy for that.

Anyway, sorry I disappeared on you all for a while there. I'm FURIOUSLY trying to finish my thesis. I'm working like a mad woman. After the noods is down for the night, which is when I usually have apa-time, I'm writing writing writing (well, and during the day I'm writing too and slacking off less on the internet).

I miss you all too. I'll probably be on only sporadically until I get this darn thing done...probably another month...maybe two. Arg. Hopefully a month of hard work and I can submit.

[sunrider]

Anyway, sorry I disappeared on you all for a while there. I'm FURIOUSLY trying to finish my thesis. I'm working like a mad woman. After the noods is down for the night, which is when I usually have apa-time, I'm writing writing writing (well, and during the day I'm writing too and slacking off less on the internet).

I miss you all too. I'll probably be on only sporadically until I get this darn thing done...probably another month...maybe two. Arg. Hopefully a month of hard work and I can submit.

You are SOOOOOO excused! Ewww thesis.
Now get back to work!:winks:

[AmeriBrit]

We Have A Heartbeat!!! :)

Awesome!

[MammaMia]

Hey Maggie! Good luck with your thesis. Will we be able to call you Dr Maggie when it's done?

I confess it's been snowing like a mofo here. It's halfway up my legs!

[shutterbird]

Good luck with your thesis, Maggie! You are missed around here!

[stash]

Good luck Maggie!

And thanks everyone, phew. I just got a lovely "GOD BLESS" in my due date room and couldn't resist responding "who's that?"

As for the boobs - do what you need to do - just make sure you're done nursing babies first!

[daylilies]

I thought women with boob jobs could still breastfeed!
Hi Maggie! Good luck with that thesis!

[stash]

I thought women with boob jobs could still breastfeed!
Hi Maggie! Good luck with that thesis!

I have a friend whose boob job severed a number of her milk ducts :(

[daylilies]

:(

[Bean]

And thanks everyone, phew. I just got a lovely "GOD BLESS" in my due date room and couldn't resist responding "who's that?"

As for the boobs - do what you need to do - just make sure you're done nursing babies first!
BWAHAHA!!! Stacy!!
and yeah, I'm done. I am getting the one that doesn't interfere with BFing just in case, though.

I have a friend whose boob job severed a number of her milk ducts :(
That would PISS ME OFF.

[3andMe]

Maggie, good luck with not getting distracted and not having anything prolong it and not getting any interference. I can't wait to call you doctor! (My dh insisted on being called doctor for about a week after he got his PhD, and I was happy to oblige after seeing the work that goes into it.)

[rhiannasmoms43]

Stash wrote:
And thanks everyone, phew. I just got a lovely "GOD BLESS" in my due date room and couldn't resist responding "who's that?"
This. Is why I like you so much LOL


Good Luck on your thesis Maggie!


Bean...owtchies...but have at...

[MammaMia]

I confess that I just had an epiphany regarding job-hunting.

I've been so set on the idea of working as barista/waitress, but that requires evening and weekend shifts, which is not going to work for our family. I should be looking at daycare positions instead! The pay is pretty bad, but there are good benefits and I can easily get a reliable, 9 to 5 job. I love working with kids, it will force me to improve my Icelandic much more quickly, and it's also far more useful in terms of what I want to study in the future.

I can't believe it took me so long figure that out!

Oh crap, this means I'm going to have to write a new resume. :P

[daylilies]

LOL Sarah! Well I'm glad you had an epiphany!

[Janeen]

I confess that my sister can be such an ass. Her and her kids are on their way from Colorado to Arizona and I just got a call from my nephew, he's livid. They stopped in Albuquerque to use the bathroom, my sister insisted on using the bathroom at the casino where she disappeared and has been gambling for THREE hours now, with her kids stuck in the van all this time. The kids are 20, 18, 13 and 6 and have been stuck in the van since 4am.

[daylilies]

Oh, nice!
One of the older kids should get behind the wheel and leave her there.

[MammaMia]

LOL Sarah! Well I'm glad you had an epiphany!

Thanks!


I confess that my sister can be such an ass. Her and her kids are on their way from Colorado to Arizona and I just got a call from my nephew, he's livid. They stopped in Albuquerque to use the bathroom, my sister insisted on using the bathroom at the casino where she disappeared and has been gambling for THREE hours now, with her kids stuck in the van all this time. The kids are 20, 18, 13 and 6 and have been stuck in the van since 4am.

WTF?!

[Janeen]

When my nephew called me he said "Would you get online and give me directions from Albuquerque if I stole moms van and took off? and then the story came out.

After I got off the phone with him I sent her a text and said "Uhhhhh, your kids are waiting for you!!!!" I just called her phone to ask her wtf she was thinking and nephew answered it. He said she came out and was like "I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THERE FOR THREE HOURS!!!!" then she looked at the clock and was like "Wow, three hours????"

But then she had to go back in and cash in her winnings. :eyeroll:

[Gwenn]

WTF, Janeen?

[3andMe]

That used to happen with me and my sister on our family roadtrips to Mexico. We'd stop in Vegas just for a minute, and then my sister and I would sleep under end tables in the casino lounge while Dad gambled all night.

[shutterbird]

Oh wow, Janeen. :ohno:

[AmeriBrit]

Do you guys think it would be possible to have a "preggo ladies thread" here in secular? There's a few of us on here and you ladies are my fav. group, so I wondered if we should do a thread?

[stephmama]

Do it!

[stash]

Do you guys think it would be possible to have a "preggo ladies thread" here in secular? There's a few of us on here and you ladies are my fav. group, so I wondered if we should do a thread?

Yes!

[Bridget]

I confess I am ecstatic right now. This week I've had Kai in underwear and it's been a matter of me getting him to sit on the potty every 20 minutes. And he hasn't had a ton of accidents but it's only been because I take him so regularly that he hasn't had the opportunity to have many.
Today he woke up from his nap and said he had to "go to the bafroom" and he pooped!!!:hooray: Then I took a huge chance and took him shopping with me in his underwear. He really didn't want to put on a diaper so I certainly was not going to put one on him. As I'm looking through the 85% off racks :silly:, thinking that it's probably time to get him in the bathroom he says he has to go potty! And he makes it.
We have crossed a threshhold!!! I am really excited to not have diapers to wash anymore.

[3andMe]

Bridget, I am so happy for a stress-light, nearly perfect potty training week for you!

[Janeen]

Do you guys think it would be possible to have a "preggo ladies thread" here in secular? There's a few of us on here and you ladies are my fav. group, so I wondered if we should do a thread?

What should the name be? I vote for ANY title that does not contain the words prego or preggo. :laugh:

[MammaMia]

What should the name be? I vote for ANY title that does not contain the words prego or preggo. :laugh:

What about "preggers"? :laugh:

[daylilies]

I'm so glad some of you can't stand the cutesy words either!

[AmeriBrit]

LOL..."Knocked up heathens" Would that be a good thread title?

[3andMe]

How about "More of us!"

I confess I'm thrilled dh is changing his ticket and coming back from India early. His colleagues there never bothered to coordinate the lab visits for him in Bangalore (although they kept saying they'd do it), and he can't do it himself or have someone else do it without causing offense. It's a very touchy situation. Also, I don't know why he ended up going to Delhi yesterday. This is the email I got:


Had an awful day. Five hours drive Delhi to Agra. Squalid beyond belief, like spending five hours in a burning landfill turned refugee camp. At one point my driver got into an altercation with the passenger of another car, and I think insulted him; the other guy got out, got a large cane from his trunk, and grabbed my driver by the throat through the window. I threatened him and he backed off. The driver has also been trying to tout me into going to places he gets kickbacks or whatever. Took four tries, an hour, and solid displays of anger to get him to go to the hotel I wanted. I’m thinking about changing my flight, and will try to see what it would cost. Maybe seeing the Taj Mahal this evening will improve things.

On the one hand, I'm sad that he's not enjoying it too much. On the other hand, I'm so thrilled he's coming back in three days instead of a week.

[Bridget]

How about "More of us!"

I confess I'm thrilled dh is changing his ticket and coming back from India early. His colleagues there never bothered to coordinate the lab visits for him in Bangalore (although they kept saying they'd do it), and he can't do it himself or have someone else do it without causing offense. It's a very touchy situation. Also, I don't know why he ended up going to Delhi yesterday. This is the email I got:



On the one hand, I'm sad that he's not enjoying it too much. On the other hand, I'm so thrilled he's coming back in three days instead of a week.
Oh my Lydia! Your husband is a tough guy eh? I imagine most people would just sit back and wait for the altercation to play itself out.
I hope he gets home early!

[stash]

Oh my lord, Lydia. How yucky for Justin (but good for you). If he ever has to go back to India, PLEASE tell me. I have dear, dear friends there who own a travel company and I had such excellent experiences because they gave me a driver and "chaperone" while I was there that kept me out of the muck that Justin seems to have gotten into. I'm sure they'd do the same for Justin if I asked.

[stash]

And I vote for KNOCKED-UP HEATHENS for sure.

[stash]

Serious about that, too. :P

[The10Eels]

And I vote for KNOCKED-UP HEATHENS for sure.
Im not pregnant, but I love this for a thread name!


edited cause Im lame

[stash]

Oh and... I confess I'm going to go through the bags of maternity clothes today. I'm afraid I won't make it more than another week without looking all poochy and being totally uncomfy. My challenge is - last two pregnancies were spring/summer when I was big - I think all I have is capri pants and that will NOT do for a spring here. I do NOT want to buy clothes...

How in the hell am I going to make it to 13 weeks before I tell anyone? We decided to wait that long because if our CVS comes back abnormal, we'll abort (this is the only room where I won't get totally face-bashed for admitting that) and I don't feel like explaining that to all my wackadoo relatives and friends, and ESPECIALLY not to Oscar. But like, people are going to KNOW...

[3andMe]

Just don't mention it and let people wonder, and wear baggy clothes. It's still cold there so you can get away with bulky sweaters. I started showing this time before my first pregnancy test, and had the first stranger ask me if I was pregnant when I was 7 weeks along this time. However, as long as you're prepared, you can just lie about it and say no.

People will suspect, but they won't KNOW unless you tell them.

The other thing is you could say you lost the baby if you decide to abort. You don't need to tweet every step or anything, as seems to be the growing trend. Have any of you seen that?

-------------------------
Bridget, my dh can be physically intimidating, and also I think it takes a little more willpower to get in an altercation with a foreigner.

Dh has one more day in Delhi and will start the two-day process of returning home after that. He's going to try to see the Taj Mahal again today, since the last time he went the line was really long and people kept wanting him to bribe them in order to get in.

[Janeen]

What about "preggers"? :laugh:

I can't say as I particularly care for that one either. :laugh:

[AmeriBrit]

Lydia, I'm glad your DH is coming home soon! India sounds like a very interesting country to visit, but I am rather intimidated by it.

'Knocked up Heathens' it is then. I'll go start a thread.

Stash, I told people just this past week at work (was 13 weeks on Tuesday) and a few people were like, "we were wondering about you looking a bit pudgy." (English people are not known for their tact...LOL). It is hard to not look so pregnant with any pregnancy after your first, I think. I wore lots of baggy dresses with leggings and empire waist type shirts. Totally in the maternity clothes now and feeling much more comfy.

[daylilies]

My mom is too funny. She lost power on Thursday night due to a big storm. So when it wasn't back on the next day, she took off to a hotel. But she doesn't just find a Best Western, or Resident Inn, where does she go? The freaking Charles hotel. One of the finest hotels in the Boston area.

[stash]

But she doesn't just find a Best Western, or Resident Inn, where does she go? The freaking Charles hotel. One of the finest hotels in the Boston area.

She sounds like me. :P

[Janeen]

She sounds like me. :P

I confess that when I saw your "Who's that?" post I really wanted to respond with "Tis I!" in my post on that thread. :P

[stash]

I confess that when I saw your "Who's that?" post I really wanted to respond with "Tis I!" in my post on that thread. :P

Heathen. :P

[stash]

p.s. I confess that sometimes I think my husband is a whiny snotapuss. He's in a bad mood today, and I TOTALLY get that. We all get in bad moods. But he picked a crap fight with me this morning because I was crabby with him. I was, it was my fault, I got snippy. I apologized, it wasn't THAT bad and he got nasty with me and has been a whiny baby ever since.

I don't complain about him much, because truly, he's a genuinely wonderful man, but GOOD LORD it's like having another child some days. :eyeroll:

[stash]

I also confess (I am bored right now can you tell?) that I'm a sucker for Jewish holidays and am planning to make hamentaschen and kreplach with Oscar tonight when he wakes from his nap. I love love love Purim and my only misgiving is that I can't drink myself into a stupor (part of the ritual) tonight.

[3andMe]

I love any holiday that's about food and drink. Yahoo! I guess I can understand fasting type religious holidays for the feeling of rejuvenation or purity associated with it, but I'd be thinking more about my next cheeseburger than any higher power.

I'm making dinner for my sister, her husband, and my mother tonight. My aunt was also going to come, but I sent out an email this morning saying Ronin was sick and had been exposed to pertussis a few days ago, and my aunt wrote back that she was relieved she didn't have to come over. Not because of my cooking or anything, but because she's flaky and a little bit agoraphobic or something.

So I'm whipping around, preparing for dinner and cleaning and putting away laundry and dishes and mopping, etc. But I'm stopping by every little while for a quick rest and internet check.

Have fun cooking with Oscar, Stacy!

[shutterbird]

I hear you, Stacy. My husband gets cranky if I'm cranky... and then stays that way for hours after. :headbang:

I confess I got a great compliment today because Lorelai was being uber polite. (Thank you, no thank you, excuse me. :P) It's nice for somebody to notice! :laugh:

[MammaMia]

I confess that I have a facebook "friend" (I actually barely know her) who keeps putting up pics of her little girls in pageants. The hair, the make-up, the dresses - it really creeps me out!

[3andMe]

Augh! Claire messed with the buttons on the tv and now I can't get it to work. She did this last week, but I managed to fix it. I have now spent 30 minutes trying to fix it, and can't. This is how I keep them occupied while I cook dinner (for company tonight), so I don't know what I'm going to do.

And when I told Claire it was broken, she started wailing and just finished a minute ago.

ETA Have I mentioned I miss dh? He would not only be able to fix it, but if he couldn't he would be able to entertain the children or keep them off of me while I tried to fix it.

[daylilies]

Sorry Lydia :( I'm all too familiar with that.
Today we went to a kids workshop at Lowe's and made a car. It was way above his skill level--I ended up doing just about the whole thing-- but it was something to do. Well it already fell apart and we lost a wheel. :(

On the other hand my chicken pot pie came out fantastic :)

[The10Eels]

mmmmm chicken pot pie sounds amazing!

I confess I went out and bought myself a new laptop today... and I have an appointment for an eye exam, and will be getting new glasses on monday... and my ring should be in within the next two weeks...

I havent bought this much stuff for myself since before B and I got married!!!

[Cosmosmom]

I confess....I'm United States of Tara right now....if anyone has showtime, this show is great.

I confess my Pt Cruiser is in the shop. Needs a new alternator. :( Dh has been forced to work every third weekend (so 12 days straight) and now all the overtime will go the repair. This is his weekend so he has been sleeping since early this afternoon...he works 3rd shift.

I confess that I'm so outta shape. My BFF recommended these 10 minute solutions videos and has lost over 40 lbs doing them and also watching/changing her diet. So I have been doing a hip hop dance one...which is pretty funny because I'm super uncoordinated. And now tonight I did one where you do kettlebell movements but can use a dumbbell. Yeah she she says that a kettlebell is like 8-10 lbs but to try a 3-5 lb dumbbell if you need. So I use my 2 lb dumbell...and only lasted through 8 minutes. OMG I was breathing so hard...the movements weren't hard but dang was my heart pumping! It was only about 2.5 hours ago but my legs already are sore. LOL

I really wish that I was one of those people who found exercise fun...no matter what type I try, I would really much rather be watching TV or reading a book (or doing both at the same time!).

I confess most of the time I am ok but for a few days this past week the whole infertility thing had me pretty down.
But I'm starting to wonder if I do maybe have some form of PCOS and am going to try to get metformin when I go in a few weeks for an exam.
I went in for a skin check since I figured I'm 31 so should probably have one...that was fine but the derm kept talking about my hidradenitis (a skin condition that I have dealt with since I was like 10 and nothing really helps but I only have it in places that only DH and a doctor sees and I just deal). She seems to think that she can help it and while there I had 4 cysts injected (which does help some). Anyway it had been a year or two since I did a lit search on the condition to see if anything new came up...it's not a high research area. And guess what I found....a case study in 2009 where a woman with this condition was treated with....METFORMIN. Seems to be something of a link with hidradenitis, PCOS, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism (which I do have) and androgens. Hmmmm. My sister is pretty sure she has PCOS....very textbook symptoms. My blood sugar so far is ok BUT my dad is type 2, his brother is insulin dependent (lost an eye to diabetes), their dad eventually lost both legs to diabetes.

So yeah I'm going to try to get them to try me on metformin....and maybe that will help the skin when nothing else has (and I did so many YEARS of antibiotics and am done with that and the case isn't severe enough for surgical removal of the entire areas).
And who knows...maybe that will help get my cycles going a bit better. And help with the losing some weight.
I would settle with the skin getting some help though (it has happened before where I might have a cyst in a bad spot that screws up either of us wanting to try for a baby).

[Cosmosmom]

mmmmm chicken pot pie sounds amazing!

I confess I went out and bought myself a new laptop today... and I have an appointment for an eye exam, and will be getting new glasses on monday... and my ring should be in within the next two weeks...

I havent bought this much stuff for myself since before B and I got married!!!

Oh fun!!!

Kate, how did you do your chicken pot pie? Details please! :)

[daylilies]

I seared off 3 chicken breasts in a pan and added water about halfway up the breasts. I covered and let them simmer until I could pull apart the meat easily. (about 45 minutes) I used store bought crust and put the chicken in the bottom half. I prefer no veggies in my pie so added nothing but that.

I measured the broth the chicken cooked in and had about a cup so I mixed a couple tablespoons of water and a tablespoon of cornstarch together (it should have the consistency and look of milk) and whisked it into the hot broth. Poured that on top of the chicken and put on the top crust, cut a few slits and baked about 25 minutes.

I wished I had a little more broth. I erred on the side of caution so it wouldn't be soupy. It was kind of dry but very good.

[3andMe]

I really wish that I was one of those people who found exercise fun...no matter what type I try, I would really much rather be watching TV or reading a book (or doing both at the same time!).

So yeah I'm going to try to get them to try me on metformin....

The only way I could ever exercise was with a book or tv. I liked the elliptical trainer the best (the bike is fine but doesn't burn as many calories) and would have a book propped up or the tv on in front of me. Alas, I've only touched it once since the twins were born.

The metformin sounds like a GREAT idea! Wouldn't it be great if it worked for everything? Did you have a workup by a reproductive endocrinologist ever?

When my dh was big on taking all of his anti-aging supplements, he also started taking metformin because he wanted the benefits, not because he had a medical reason.


Anti-aging benefits

Diabetes is believed by many gerontologists to be an example of accelerated or premature aging. Nearly everyone past middle age suffers from a loss of glucose tolerance with age. Metformin’s benefits may also include reducing the risk of age-related diabetes, prevention of sugar cravings, improved body composition with improved insulin use and the stabilization of sugar levels.

Metformin also lowers cholesterol levels and helps prevent low-density lipoproteins (‘bad cholesterol’) from attaching to blood platelets and arteries, thereby reducing the risk of blood clotting. Due to the sugar stabilizing properties of Metformin, it is also a useful aid for dieters, helping to prevent sugar cravings.



Finally, I want to say my dinner party went well. My mom came over an hour early and entertained the twins so I could cook. My BIL fixed the tv, and I have to confess I feel really stupid about it. Apparently it was disconnected from the cable in the back, and I hadn't even checked it because I knew Claire was messing around with the buttons in the front and the same thing had happened last week where she programmed channel 3 out of existence. Stupid assumptions.


Stacy, I hope your dh is over his whiny snotapus phase. The main times my dh gets really touchy is if I'm irritated, and I can't stand it. Even if it's not at him, or if I'm doing my level best to get over it, he sees my temper and raises me, which makes it way harder to get over my initial annoyance. So I know how it is, and it doesn't help to be somewhat of the instigator.

[Bean]

Eric is actually sick. This man has the immune system of steel, he never gets sick. But boy is he milking it. Laying on the couch, being short with the kids, etc. I told him I was going to treat him just like he treats me when I'm sick, so I've been routinely telling him to suck it up and that it's not that bad.

[3andMe]

Eric is actually sick. This man has the immune system of steel, he never gets sick. But boy is he milking it. Laying on the couch, being short with the kids, etc. I told him I was going to treat him just like he treats me when I'm sick, so I've been routinely telling him to suck it up and that it's not that bad.

I had never heard the phrase man cold before someone posted about it in ranting, but I've never met a man who doesn't get them.


The name 'man cold' disguises the true terrible, debilitating disease that is the man cold. Nearly all men will die from man colds unless they are administered immediately with large amounts of mindless TV such as daytime TV, or childrens' cartoons. It is essential that they not move from bed or a comfy sofa to allow for rehabilitation, and must have tissues and man cold medicine (such as chocolate biscuits, McDonalds, or a nice cup of tea) brought to them constantly by a nearby female.

[Bridget]

I confess I went to my best friends yesterday for her daughters 3rd birthday party and my kids did so so so awesome. There was candy everywhere and they didn't even ask for a piece of it. They each had some oreo cookie ice cream cake and that was it. And Kai had no accidents. At one point he was upstairs with my best friend and told her he had to use the potty.
After everyone left I got to be alone with just my friend and our kids and it was so lovely. I wish we weren't 2 hours apart so we could do it every weekend. I swear, everytime I'm with her I wish to myself that I had found a man who was just like her (but a man). How nice it would be to have that ease in my life all the time.

[Bridget]

I also confess that I'm at my parents right now. They live exactly halfway between my friend's home and my home. They had called me earlier in the day and said if I didn't want to drive all the way home I should stay with them. I had thought I'd just go home. But I called dbf and he was at the pub up the road having a couple of drinks with his buddy. After the way he acted last weekend, I had no desire to be around him "after a couple drinks".
And anyway, my parents were thrilled when we came through the front door. That's such a great feeling.:wub:

[MammaMia]

I confess I went to my best friends yesterday for her daughters 3rd birthday party and my kids did so so so awesome. There was candy everywhere and they didn't even ask for a piece of it. They each had some oreo cookie ice cream cake and that was it. And Kai had no accidents. At one point he was upstairs with my best friend and told her he had to use the potty.
After everyone left I got to be alone with just my friend and our kids and it was so lovely. I wish we weren't 2 hours apart so we could do it every weekend. I swear, everytime I'm with her I wish to myself that I had found a man who was just like her (but a man). How nice it would be to have that ease in my life all the time.

Oh, I had the same thought when I was hanging out with a friend who came to visit last week! It was so nice to be around her, I felt relaxed and happy. It really put things into perspective.

I confess, that I've just started noticing plaque on Mia's teeth. I'm so bummed. :( I bet it's from that stupid sugary medicine we've been giving her.

[MammaMia]

I confess that I made a snowman with Mia earlier today, and now we're baking cut-out sugar cookies. It's like Christmas all over again! :laugh:

[3andMe]

You make it sound like fun to play in the snow.

The twins are sick enough that I don't want to expose other kids, so we're making marbleized paper (http://unplugyourkids.com/2009/02/02/marbelized-paper/) with food coloring. Actually, it's drying now, because it's messy enough that I wouldn't want to leave it and go type on the computer. Ronin is now running around purposefully with a little bucket full of legos, saying "Goodbye--I'm going to work!"

I started noticing plaque on the twins' teeth around 2 years old, and that's about when they started getting morning breath, too. I don't know that it's related to the medicine--it might just be coincidental.

[stash]

Take care of the plaque, even if it means getting in there with a dental tool and scraping it off yourself. I know this from experience. Oscar started being AWFUL about toothbrushing at about 2 years and would throw a huge fit. I THOUGHT I was getting everything, but he would clamp his lower lip over his top teeth, and I missed a ridge by his gums up there for a WHILE. By the time I realized it (I am really not negligent) it had formed a little ridge of plaque. Managed to get it off, but he then developed a cavity in his front tooth between the teeth, in a place dentists won't FILL in children because the fillings apparently just fall out every couple of months. So he had to have a CAP put on, and it was a miserable experience, and it doesn't look as nice as his regular teeth. :(

Yes, DH is back to normal for the most part, but it took my saying to him "dude, PLEASE, you're a growed-up" for him to back down and apologize. :eyeroll: now he's being his sweet old self.

[Cosmosmom]

Definitely take care of those baby teeth! My mom still had several as an adult...and one that lasted until her 50's. The adult teeth just never came in.