I made a huge mess last night. A mess that, now that I've done it once, I can't believe hasn't happened sooner and I still don't know how it happened. I will, naturally, blame it on Bill!
After spending most of the evening with Carrie, catching up on life, I came home at 9:30 and immediately started in on the household chores that I had neglected since Sunday (due to my growing addiction to 2009 TV programming...it started innocently with LOST on Wednesdays, then I got addicted to The Biggest Loser on Tuesday and just 2 weeks ago, I added The Bachelor on Monday).
The Catos are heading to Kentucky this weekend and since I've promised to bring Jim-n-Nick's BBQ for supper, we need to hit the road by 5:00 pm. Easy task...nope! Because I have to get home from work with a 2 year old and get the vehicle packed before Bill gets home because I don't like how he packs luggage!!! So, in order to meet my self-imposed deadline, it was a requirement that the bags be packed and sitting at the door on Friday morning. But before packing, (return to paragraph 2) I had to catch up on neglected laundry, housework, etc. So, at 9:30, I dove into the laundry. We keep the laundry sorted pretty well with all my different hampers, so I didn't even go through the clothes. No time for stain checks, I dumped the hamper with all of Claire's clothes in the washer with one motion, slammed the lid down and off to the next chore.
10:30 pm...laundry check...I head into the laundry room to switch Claire's clothes to the dryer and throw the next load in. As I was unloading her clothes, these granules kept falling out. As most of you know, I have dealt with allergies my entire life, so it's not uncommon to find a washed kleenex in the laundry. That was where my mind first went. Nope, not tissue. Then, horrified, I thought, "Oh no, one of my push up bras has exploded and this is what that gel is made of"...but no bra in Claire's laundry.
As I kept investigating, in the very bottom of the washer, there lay the culprit. A completely water logged disposable diaper exploded!
I may be the only one that has ever washed a disposable diaper and had it explode, but in case I'm not alone, you can picture it. Thousands of granules all over Claire's clothes, in the washer, on the floor...EVERYWHERE! And those things are stubborn. I got the vacuum out and they don't like to move. Oh it was a mess.
It was 11:30 before I got it cleaned up and I went to tell my sleeping husband about my fiasco. As you can imagine, he didn't really care!!! Which further caused me to blame him for the diaper being in the laundry in the first place!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Fwimming at the YMCA
No, I did not mispell it. That's what Claire calls "swimming". I'm not ready to take her to a speech pathologist quite yet. It's just too cute to hear her pronunciations and her mis-pronunciations. Here are some of her other common mispronunciations and their equivalent translations!!!!
Moddy = When she wants "Daddy" but starts out calling for "Mommy" and switches mid-stream
Dammy = No, she's not cursing, this is when she wants "Mommy" but started out with "Daddy"
Fwimming - Swimming
Faffle = Waffle (it took Bill forever to figure this one out and she was in a full-fledged tantrum of annoyance with him by the time he deciphered it)
Melmo = Yes, of course, it's Elmo
Molient = Only Aveda users would appreciate this one, this is her pronunciation of our hair gel, Phomolient
Choco-Milk = Chocolate Milk
I'll come back and add some more as I think of them. Check back occasionally for a good laugh!
Moddy = When she wants "Daddy" but starts out calling for "Mommy" and switches mid-stream
Dammy = No, she's not cursing, this is when she wants "Mommy" but started out with "Daddy"
Fwimming - Swimming
Faffle = Waffle (it took Bill forever to figure this one out and she was in a full-fledged tantrum of annoyance with him by the time he deciphered it)
Melmo = Yes, of course, it's Elmo
Molient = Only Aveda users would appreciate this one, this is her pronunciation of our hair gel, Phomolient
Choco-Milk = Chocolate Milk
I'll come back and add some more as I think of them. Check back occasionally for a good laugh!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
...loves to travel...
Sound like a classified ad? Sound like the hobby list of some individuals? Traveling is a large part of my job. "Loves to travel" would have described me when I was single. Being a person that didn't fly until I was 18 years old, I took every opportunity to travel the US, to see states and areas I had never seen. When working a weekend event, I would stay over until Sunday (and sometimes take a red-eye home Monday morning) in order to travel longer.
Then I met Bill. And although I still loved to travel, I was not as prone to stay over on weekend events. But I was still up for going to both my events and with my team-mates on their events.
Then we had Claire! I stopped traveling with others and tried my hardest to be back in Nashville as soon as I possibly could after an event. I got a little more ancy when a return flight was delayed, and heaven forbid...CANCELLED! This laid-back traveler would become plum UPTIGHT!
So, these days, I only travel about 12-13 times a year which averages to one trip a month (it doesn't end up being that neatly planned though). At a recent airport, one of the security lines was labeled specifically for "Experienced Travelers". These are those individuals that can get shoes, belt, coat off - computer out of computer bag - their ziploc bag of toiletries out of their bag in 5 seconds flat. No tolerance for waiting on those that may stumble through the foreign process.
I once would have considered myself one of these individuals, but I'm losing my edge as an experienced traveler.
In just 7 short hours of traveling today, I have:
1. Forgot to pre-check in for my Southwest flight which caused me to have a horrible seat
2. Misplaced my event cell phone
3. Forgot my personal cell phone charger - my only source of communication for 3 days
4. Forgot my ipod charger - my only source of entertainment for 3 days
5. Left my personal cell phone in the rental car that has been valet parked
6. Stumped my toe on the hotel bed and pretty sure it's broken (with 3 more days of being on my feet ahead of me).
Oh, how I pray that my travel saavy returns...SOON!
4.
Then I met Bill. And although I still loved to travel, I was not as prone to stay over on weekend events. But I was still up for going to both my events and with my team-mates on their events.
Then we had Claire! I stopped traveling with others and tried my hardest to be back in Nashville as soon as I possibly could after an event. I got a little more ancy when a return flight was delayed, and heaven forbid...CANCELLED! This laid-back traveler would become plum UPTIGHT!
So, these days, I only travel about 12-13 times a year which averages to one trip a month (it doesn't end up being that neatly planned though). At a recent airport, one of the security lines was labeled specifically for "Experienced Travelers". These are those individuals that can get shoes, belt, coat off - computer out of computer bag - their ziploc bag of toiletries out of their bag in 5 seconds flat. No tolerance for waiting on those that may stumble through the foreign process.
I once would have considered myself one of these individuals, but I'm losing my edge as an experienced traveler.
In just 7 short hours of traveling today, I have:
1. Forgot to pre-check in for my Southwest flight which caused me to have a horrible seat
2. Misplaced my event cell phone
3. Forgot my personal cell phone charger - my only source of communication for 3 days
4. Forgot my ipod charger - my only source of entertainment for 3 days
5. Left my personal cell phone in the rental car that has been valet parked
6. Stumped my toe on the hotel bed and pretty sure it's broken (with 3 more days of being on my feet ahead of me).
Oh, how I pray that my travel saavy returns...SOON!
4.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Birthday Pictures!
Claire and I have been having a blast this week after Christmas just the two of us. We have had tea parties, cleaned the house to our hearts content and played, played, played. Bill is now officially on vacation until the first of the year.
It's been so much fun for me to be with her these last couple of weeks. I've finally got a little organized and settled in the house. Amidst all of the busy-ness, I have taken few pictures of our move, of Claire's 2nd birthday, of our Gatlinburg family trip and of Christmas; however, I have a great sister-in-law who has been my "historian" and has been capturing pictures for me when I that's been far from my mind.
So, here's some long over-due pictures...
"Happy Birthday to You." Claire patiently waiting to blow out the candles.
I just had to post this one. I am definitely a cake-making amateur, but I was so proud of my attempt at a BarnYard themed cake. I probably spent more money than I would have paid the best cake-maker in Nashville to make one and definitely spent too much time...but she only turns 2 once!
The family portrait on her birthday!
This wasn't on her birthday, but she has one of her "birthday outfits" on and I just think she's too cute not to show off!
Have a great New Year and we'll be back next week!!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
"Bloom where your're planted..."
Has always been a favorite quote of mine. I'm not sure if it's my personality or if it's just a generational thing, but I am absolutely horrible about staying in touch. I bloom where I'm planted, I invest my life and energy into the people closest to me and often make the horrible mistake and regret of neglecting those from my past. I don't have a horrible past, so I don't think it is some deep-rooted emotional issue that I'm trying to run from. I'm not sure what causes it, but I don't like it.
I know there are pros and cons about the internet and social networks. My sister and I have these discussions often. But I am personally thankful for them and the outlet they offer me to stay in touch with childhood, high school, college, camp and current friends.
All of that is a preface to say, I want to teach Claire to set her roots deep wherever she goes. Last night, my mom called me and the father in one of our dear family friends passed away. Jen, his daughter, and I grew up together. As I drove home after her telling me, I thought about this family being one of my earliest memories of planting my roots. Memories of the adults playing cards or just coming to hang out and the kids playing Atari or just messing around. On those late summer nights growing up, I was usually somewhere in between their house and our house. Jen and I had a tradition, up until she married and began her family of calling each other on Christmas morning to tell each other what we had gotten. Softball games, football games, snow ball fights, church, girl scouts, school from K-12, weddings...and now a funeral.
I want Claire to have those bittersweet, deep-rooted memories of families she grew up with. I want her to fly, but I also want her to be well-rooted. So, today, I challenge you to set your roots deep and don't neglect those things of your past!
I know there are pros and cons about the internet and social networks. My sister and I have these discussions often. But I am personally thankful for them and the outlet they offer me to stay in touch with childhood, high school, college, camp and current friends.
All of that is a preface to say, I want to teach Claire to set her roots deep wherever she goes. Last night, my mom called me and the father in one of our dear family friends passed away. Jen, his daughter, and I grew up together. As I drove home after her telling me, I thought about this family being one of my earliest memories of planting my roots. Memories of the adults playing cards or just coming to hang out and the kids playing Atari or just messing around. On those late summer nights growing up, I was usually somewhere in between their house and our house. Jen and I had a tradition, up until she married and began her family of calling each other on Christmas morning to tell each other what we had gotten. Softball games, football games, snow ball fights, church, girl scouts, school from K-12, weddings...and now a funeral.
I want Claire to have those bittersweet, deep-rooted memories of families she grew up with. I want her to fly, but I also want her to be well-rooted. So, today, I challenge you to set your roots deep and don't neglect those things of your past!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
A Preview of Your Christmas Card!
Several weeks ago, we asked my good friend, Rich Kalonick, to come out to Fairview to take some pictures of us and our good friends, The Coleman's. I have not had professional pictures taken of Claire since her 1 year old pictures and she was now turning two.
I am a planner by nature and by trade, but Picture Day will not go down in my Hall of Fame of expertly planned events. We planned the pictures for the Sunday afternoon after the Saturday that we moved into the house and the Friday of Halloween...aka...Claire's busiest and most tiring weekend of her life! This did not dawn on me until after....we went to church and rushed home for Claire's nap, woke her up after an hour (that's plenty on any normal day), threw her into the car (still rubbing her eyes) with only a diaper on (didn't want to wrinkle the outfits), threw her a couple pieces of Halloween candy to tie her over until we had a late lunch (do not criticize me!), patted down her hair that got mashed during the nap and rushed to the Morrison's, the backdrop for the pictures.
As you can imagine and probably would have warned me if you had been there, it all back-fired on me. See for yourself!
Claire throwing a tantrum, Bill seemingly giving me a look like "what were you thinking"!
The full-fledged trantrum and the two referee's to restrain a two-year old.
Me, trying to smile in the midst of it all and be ready for the snap of the camera, in the extreme case that Claire suddenly sat down and complied!
I am a planner by nature and by trade, but Picture Day will not go down in my Hall of Fame of expertly planned events. We planned the pictures for the Sunday afternoon after the Saturday that we moved into the house and the Friday of Halloween...aka...Claire's busiest and most tiring weekend of her life! This did not dawn on me until after....we went to church and rushed home for Claire's nap, woke her up after an hour (that's plenty on any normal day), threw her into the car (still rubbing her eyes) with only a diaper on (didn't want to wrinkle the outfits), threw her a couple pieces of Halloween candy to tie her over until we had a late lunch (do not criticize me!), patted down her hair that got mashed during the nap and rushed to the Morrison's, the backdrop for the pictures.
As you can imagine and probably would have warned me if you had been there, it all back-fired on me. See for yourself!
Claire throwing a tantrum, Bill seemingly giving me a look like "what were you thinking"!
The full-fledged trantrum and the two referee's to restrain a two-year old.
Me, trying to smile in the midst of it all and be ready for the snap of the camera, in the extreme case that Claire suddenly sat down and complied!You'll have to wait for your Christmas card to see if the day turned around!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
"Funny's" on Claire
By this point of not updating our blog in several weeks, I am not sure if anyone will ever check in again. Our home computer is still on the outs (we just haven't taken it to be looked at) so I have no way of updating except at work and I try not to do that. However, this is the week of Thanksgiving and all of my co-workers are on vacation, so I thought little harm would come from updating our family blog.
Claire is doing so many funny things. I am sure I have already forgotten many of them. It seems as though we are rolling in the floor every night over something new and hilarious she has done.
Several stories come from her musical preference these days. When she was born, one of my co-workers gave me a set of books from B&H that are "My First Steps of Prayer", My First Steps of Faith", etc. There are four books in the series and each book has a cd with them. They have been sitting on the book shelf for 2 years now and we have yet to get them down. But I noticed that her new school uses those books in their curriculum, so I got one down and we started listening to the cd's in the car. They are catchy little tunes that you may remember from childhood, so they didn't get on my nerves. However, one morning on the way to work I was just needing some non-thinking country music. As we pulled out of the drive-way to Alan Jackson, Claire yelled, "No, don't like...no, don't like." I went through my list of things that she may not like...the temperature, the volume, the sun in her eyes, etc. Then she said, "No, don't like! JESUS!!!!!" (She wanted her "Jesus" cd on). So, now, when she wants to listen to her cd, she just yells "JESUS!"
Then, a few days later, we were on our way home. The car was silent. No music. We were both just being quiet. And I hear her singing, "Jesus, no, no...Jesus, no, no" She sang this about a dozen times and I asked her what she was singing. I went through my list of Jesus songs and sang, "Jesus loves me this I know" and she smiled and sang, "Jesus, no, no". We learned a new verse this weekend coming home from Gatlinburg. Now she sings, "Jesus, no, no. Bible says so."
She had a big birthday party about 2 weeks ago with all of her family and now we are gearing up for the holidays. More consistent updates will hopefully come soon.
Claire is doing so many funny things. I am sure I have already forgotten many of them. It seems as though we are rolling in the floor every night over something new and hilarious she has done.
Several stories come from her musical preference these days. When she was born, one of my co-workers gave me a set of books from B&H that are "My First Steps of Prayer", My First Steps of Faith", etc. There are four books in the series and each book has a cd with them. They have been sitting on the book shelf for 2 years now and we have yet to get them down. But I noticed that her new school uses those books in their curriculum, so I got one down and we started listening to the cd's in the car. They are catchy little tunes that you may remember from childhood, so they didn't get on my nerves. However, one morning on the way to work I was just needing some non-thinking country music. As we pulled out of the drive-way to Alan Jackson, Claire yelled, "No, don't like...no, don't like." I went through my list of things that she may not like...the temperature, the volume, the sun in her eyes, etc. Then she said, "No, don't like! JESUS!!!!!" (She wanted her "Jesus" cd on). So, now, when she wants to listen to her cd, she just yells "JESUS!"
Then, a few days later, we were on our way home. The car was silent. No music. We were both just being quiet. And I hear her singing, "Jesus, no, no...Jesus, no, no" She sang this about a dozen times and I asked her what she was singing. I went through my list of Jesus songs and sang, "Jesus loves me this I know" and she smiled and sang, "Jesus, no, no". We learned a new verse this weekend coming home from Gatlinburg. Now she sings, "Jesus, no, no. Bible says so."
She had a big birthday party about 2 weeks ago with all of her family and now we are gearing up for the holidays. More consistent updates will hopefully come soon.
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