Anyway, I was successful last year with a trip to San Antonio in the middle and Thanksgiving as well, so let's see how I do this year with a new baby. Wish me luck!
Cheers.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
NaBloPoMo is here again!
Tomorrow starts the month of November, also known as National Blog Posting Month! This is the original month that jump-started my blogging last fall. The goal is to post every day for the whole month. 30 posts. 30 days. The official site has a place where you can put your blog on the blogroll, and then at the end of the month, if you have 30 posts, you are eligible for prizes. Pretty cool.
Anyway, I was successful last year with a trip to San Antonio in the middle and Thanksgiving as well, so let's see how I do this year with a new baby. Wish me luck!
Cheers.
Anyway, I was successful last year with a trip to San Antonio in the middle and Thanksgiving as well, so let's see how I do this year with a new baby. Wish me luck!
Cheers.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Happy Allhallows Eve Eve Eve
You know when you're in a a football town when trick-or-treating is done two days early becaues the high school has home football game on Friday night, and the local university has a home game on Halloween. So, my rejoicing at Halloween being on a Saturday this year, meaning my students would have their major sugar high at home on Sunday, was premature. Crud. So, Eli wanted to take Elsie out tonight to the downtown family event. Pictures follow shortly.
However, I have a few things to share before we get to the cuteness.
1. Elsie has ears. I mean, I knew that, but she just found that out, and she's yanking on them constantly.
2. She's moving all over the floor by rolling. She sees something she wants and she rolls toward it. The other day I was distracted by the television, and I looked down, and she had rolled up against me (I was sitting on the floor) and was thiiiis close to putting my big toe in her mouth. Gross.
3. Three Elsie fingers fit into one Daddy nostril. Don't even begin to imagine how we know this.
4. Elsie is sleeping through the nights most nights. It's quite nice, aside from the minor bosom discomfort.
5. We're getting closer and closer to our foray into solid foods. I'm not READY!
And now, what you've all been waiting for (with a special thank you to MC and girls for the cute costume!): OUR CATERPILLAR!
Elsie ready to leave to go trick or treating.
Costume on, making our way toward downtown. A Darth Vader midget made his way behind us as we were stopped to cross the street, saying, "Excuse me. Excuse me." Eli said, "We have to wait for the light, lil' man." The boy was confused.
Elsie sitting up like a big girl in a high chair at Cheeburger Cheeburger, a local hotspot. No, the name is not misspelled, but that's part of the reason we've never eaten there before. She was funny. She wouldn't move her head from side to side to look around, just her eyes, as if she were paralyzed.
Elsie is teething. I know it. She puts everything in her mouth.
When Daddy's fingers didn't tast so good anymore, Elsie turned to his cup, licking the condensation off the side. And then she got her teething keys out. And then her place mat.
We walked around downtown seeing all the costumes and just being together as a family. Elsie decided it was time to start metamorphosizing into a butterfly. She started this process upright and then decided caterpillars can have their heads on their daddys' shoulders.
Look at the whole cute costume! The onesie she's wearing under it says, "I Love My Mummy." Just coincidence that the armholes in the costume are at the orange part of the bug.
Home again, exhausted from not really doing anything except being cute. And she's still cute, even when she's exhausted from being that way!
And that was our Allhallows Eve Eve Eve adventure.
Cheers!
However, I have a few things to share before we get to the cuteness.
1. Elsie has ears. I mean, I knew that, but she just found that out, and she's yanking on them constantly.
2. She's moving all over the floor by rolling. She sees something she wants and she rolls toward it. The other day I was distracted by the television, and I looked down, and she had rolled up against me (I was sitting on the floor) and was thiiiis close to putting my big toe in her mouth. Gross.
3. Three Elsie fingers fit into one Daddy nostril. Don't even begin to imagine how we know this.
4. Elsie is sleeping through the nights most nights. It's quite nice, aside from the minor bosom discomfort.
5. We're getting closer and closer to our foray into solid foods. I'm not READY!
And now, what you've all been waiting for (with a special thank you to MC and girls for the cute costume!): OUR CATERPILLAR!
Elsie ready to leave to go trick or treating.
Costume on, making our way toward downtown. A Darth Vader midget made his way behind us as we were stopped to cross the street, saying, "Excuse me. Excuse me." Eli said, "We have to wait for the light, lil' man." The boy was confused.
Elsie sitting up like a big girl in a high chair at Cheeburger Cheeburger, a local hotspot. No, the name is not misspelled, but that's part of the reason we've never eaten there before. She was funny. She wouldn't move her head from side to side to look around, just her eyes, as if she were paralyzed.
Elsie is teething. I know it. She puts everything in her mouth.
When Daddy's fingers didn't tast so good anymore, Elsie turned to his cup, licking the condensation off the side. And then she got her teething keys out. And then her place mat.
We walked around downtown seeing all the costumes and just being together as a family. Elsie decided it was time to start metamorphosizing into a butterfly. She started this process upright and then decided caterpillars can have their heads on their daddys' shoulders.
Look at the whole cute costume! The onesie she's wearing under it says, "I Love My Mummy." Just coincidence that the armholes in the costume are at the orange part of the bug.
Home again, exhausted from not really doing anything except being cute. And she's still cute, even when she's exhausted from being that way!
And that was our Allhallows Eve Eve Eve adventure.
Cheers!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Ode
Geez. I'm so self-absorbed that I haven't taken the time in a long time to write a husband appreciation post.
I feel like I'm losing my mind, but it would already be lost if it weren't for my soulmate, my best friend, my husband.
I don't feel like I rave about him enough. No, he's not perfect, and he never claimed to be. I'm not perfect either, but together, we're pretty darn close. He puts up with my clutter, my Mafia Wars habits, my venting, and he does an amazing job with Elsie and with helping me get out the door in the mornings.
He's very attuned to my mood, and so, as I sit here thinking about him and how wonderful he is and everything else, I keep sighing and he keeps looking up and asking if I'm okay. Yes, I'm okay. I'm better than okay because you're here, my love. I wouldn't be able to do it without you.
We've been busy busy busy and falling behind behind behind on housework, laundry, dishes, quiet times, but somehow, somehow we're still (mostly) sane.
I love you.
I feel like I'm losing my mind, but it would already be lost if it weren't for my soulmate, my best friend, my husband.
I don't feel like I rave about him enough. No, he's not perfect, and he never claimed to be. I'm not perfect either, but together, we're pretty darn close. He puts up with my clutter, my Mafia Wars habits, my venting, and he does an amazing job with Elsie and with helping me get out the door in the mornings.
He's very attuned to my mood, and so, as I sit here thinking about him and how wonderful he is and everything else, I keep sighing and he keeps looking up and asking if I'm okay. Yes, I'm okay. I'm better than okay because you're here, my love. I wouldn't be able to do it without you.
We've been busy busy busy and falling behind behind behind on housework, laundry, dishes, quiet times, but somehow, somehow we're still (mostly) sane.
I love you.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Glee
In the last post, I wrote about Jazz Hands. Today, I write about what was to inevitably come next (and I should have seen it coming).
After church tonight, I had to go Wal-Mart and get some diapers for J (and some other stuff--including a box of rice cereal for when that happens--egads!) and run to the mall to stop at Hot Topic and buy some knee socks for tomorrow--Sock the Tigers day. Eli brought Elsie home so I could run these errands quickly and efficiently (I did this in under an hour--a feat by anyone's standards).
I came home, and Eli was watching Glee. You know the one. About the kids in the singing and dancing glee club? The show that is a primetime musical?
I'm not kidding.
He won't watch Secret Life of the American Teenager, or whatever it's called, because it's too "dramatic." But somehow, if you add singing and dancing and some rock tunes, it's different though the scenarios are basically the same? :)
Jazz Hands. Glee. What's next?
I'm teasing. Haha.
And finally, here's a little glimpse of our little family at the wedding this weekend:
Cheers.
After church tonight, I had to go Wal-Mart and get some diapers for J (and some other stuff--including a box of rice cereal for when that happens--egads!) and run to the mall to stop at Hot Topic and buy some knee socks for tomorrow--Sock the Tigers day. Eli brought Elsie home so I could run these errands quickly and efficiently (I did this in under an hour--a feat by anyone's standards).
I came home, and Eli was watching Glee. You know the one. About the kids in the singing and dancing glee club? The show that is a primetime musical?
I'm not kidding.
He won't watch Secret Life of the American Teenager, or whatever it's called, because it's too "dramatic." But somehow, if you add singing and dancing and some rock tunes, it's different though the scenarios are basically the same? :)
Jazz Hands. Glee. What's next?
I'm teasing. Haha.
And finally, here's a little glimpse of our little family at the wedding this weekend:
Cheers.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jazz Hands!
I don't know what I was doing the other night, but Eli was in Elsie's room, changing her diaper and putting her pajamas on. I kept hearing peals of giggles. And more giggles. Whatever I was doing didn't seem so important anymore, so I went in to investigate. This is what I encountered as Eli finished changing Elsie's diaper:
Eli: And we're going to close up the left side...JAZZ HANDS!!! (making said hands)
Elsie: Giggle giggle giggle
Eli: And now for the right side. (pause) JAZZ HANDS!!!
Elsie: Giggle giggle giggle screech
Eli: And we put your left arm in the pajamas.
Elsie: (looks at her daddy expectantly)
Eli: (teasing) And now your left leg. JAZZ HANDS!!!
Elsie: Giggle giggle squeal giggle giggle
I tried making jazz hands, but mine weren't as funny, I guess. :(
Anyway our trip to SoCar was a blast. Eli's cousin got married at the lodge at Table Rock State Park. The weather was beautiful, if a bit chilly, and the views were pretty awesome, too. Here's a picture of all the Beavers at the wedding with the groom and his bride, the newest Beaver:
Of course, Elsie wasn't looking at the camera. So, that's the Beaver clan, minus Paw-Paw and Maria, and the second oldest Beaver brother and his family.
Cheers.
Eli: And we're going to close up the left side...JAZZ HANDS!!! (making said hands)
Elsie: Giggle giggle giggle
Eli: And now for the right side. (pause) JAZZ HANDS!!!
Elsie: Giggle giggle giggle screech
Eli: And we put your left arm in the pajamas.
Elsie: (looks at her daddy expectantly)
Eli: (teasing) And now your left leg. JAZZ HANDS!!!
Elsie: Giggle giggle squeal giggle giggle
I tried making jazz hands, but mine weren't as funny, I guess. :(
Anyway our trip to SoCar was a blast. Eli's cousin got married at the lodge at Table Rock State Park. The weather was beautiful, if a bit chilly, and the views were pretty awesome, too. Here's a picture of all the Beavers at the wedding with the groom and his bride, the newest Beaver:
Of course, Elsie wasn't looking at the camera. So, that's the Beaver clan, minus Paw-Paw and Maria, and the second oldest Beaver brother and his family.
Cheers.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
So Car and Date Night
I logged on quickly to tell you that we are leaving within the hour for South Carolina (I've never been there, and it will be Elsie's 6th state in 5 months) to attend the Beaver family event of the year--a Beaver cousin is getting married to a girl whose name starts with an E! I tell you, it just doesn't stop. E Beavers everywhere!
I read this joke somewhere back when I was working with elementary students:
Knock knock
Who's there?
Beaver E
Beaver E who?
Beaver E quick to say yes to free food!
Okay, so I changed that last line, but it acted as a great segue into what I'd like to talk about next: We went on a date last night. One of the local churches sponsored an event called "Date Night with a Purpose" with this theme being "At the Movies". One of the teachers at school attends this church and left a flyer in the lounge, so on a whim I told Eli we were going (I actually asked, but only out of courtesy--I knew we were going).
There was a red carpet going in and several table decorated with different movie themes. We sat at the Princess Bride table--a movie that has been coming up more and more these days--especially when I couldn't show it to the 7th grade during the incentive because it has one itsy-bitsy little SOB in it. Any other movie, I would object, but come on! This is a classic! ANYWAY, the table was awesome, including several elements from the movie, and the conversation was a lot of movie quoting and references.
Some of the other tables included (of course) Twilight, which was decorated with the books and red ribbons and then everyone at that table had a blood red apple with their name on it as a place card--oh, and there was a cardboard stand-up of Edward Cullen overlooking the table; Steel Magnolias, with an armadillo cake and curlers; So I Married an Axe Murderer, with LARGE cappucino desserts and a butcher knife centerpiece and News of the World table covering. There was Fireproof, 21, and Lord of the Rings. It was pretty cool.
Anyway, even though I dragged Eli there, the music was great, the fellowship was awesome, and the food was FREE. As was the babysitting. So we had a grand time, just the two of us, in a room with about 80 strangers. Good times. (Some friends from our church were actually there, so it wasn't all strangers..haha.)
Well, I've been told it's time to get off my rear and finish packing for our trip which will now start within the next half hour. Thankfully it's only four hours from here, in the mountains above Clemson. We'll see you on the flip side!
Cheers!
I read this joke somewhere back when I was working with elementary students:
Knock knock
Who's there?
Beaver E
Beaver E who?
Beaver E quick to say yes to free food!
Okay, so I changed that last line, but it acted as a great segue into what I'd like to talk about next: We went on a date last night. One of the local churches sponsored an event called "Date Night with a Purpose" with this theme being "At the Movies". One of the teachers at school attends this church and left a flyer in the lounge, so on a whim I told Eli we were going (I actually asked, but only out of courtesy--I knew we were going).
There was a red carpet going in and several table decorated with different movie themes. We sat at the Princess Bride table--a movie that has been coming up more and more these days--especially when I couldn't show it to the 7th grade during the incentive because it has one itsy-bitsy little SOB in it. Any other movie, I would object, but come on! This is a classic! ANYWAY, the table was awesome, including several elements from the movie, and the conversation was a lot of movie quoting and references.
Some of the other tables included (of course) Twilight, which was decorated with the books and red ribbons and then everyone at that table had a blood red apple with their name on it as a place card--oh, and there was a cardboard stand-up of Edward Cullen overlooking the table; Steel Magnolias, with an armadillo cake and curlers; So I Married an Axe Murderer, with LARGE cappucino desserts and a butcher knife centerpiece and News of the World table covering. There was Fireproof, 21, and Lord of the Rings. It was pretty cool.
Anyway, even though I dragged Eli there, the music was great, the fellowship was awesome, and the food was FREE. As was the babysitting. So we had a grand time, just the two of us, in a room with about 80 strangers. Good times. (Some friends from our church were actually there, so it wasn't all strangers..haha.)
Well, I've been told it's time to get off my rear and finish packing for our trip which will now start within the next half hour. Thankfully it's only four hours from here, in the mountains above Clemson. We'll see you on the flip side!
Cheers!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Flying time
Has it really already been almost a week since I posted last? I guess that means that I won't be participating in NaBloPoMo again.
Plenty of stuff to blog about, but so little time. Right now I have to do dishes and wash Elsie's bottles and all the pump parts for tomorrow.
Pep rally at school tomorrow. Pray for me.
Cheers.
Plenty of stuff to blog about, but so little time. Right now I have to do dishes and wash Elsie's bottles and all the pump parts for tomorrow.
Pep rally at school tomorrow. Pray for me.
Cheers.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
5 Months (Yesterday)
Oh my goodness! Elsie turned 5 months old yesterday! I can't believe the time has passed so quickly--it's already October, people!
In the past month, Eli has started reaching for objects, grasping them, and putting them in her mouth to chew on--including her pacifier; and she's rolling over more confidently both ways, front-to-back and back-to-front. She's tracking objects for a long way, and pushing up and holding her head up like a pro--no screaming about tummy time. And have I mentioned before that she's a drool faucet? This month she also started sleeping through the night--not consistently, but several times. I'll take eight hours of sleep when I can get it!
My predictions for month six--Elsie will get up on all fours and at least rock back and forth, if not take off at a crawl. Okay, that's not really a prediciton. One of my college friends has a baby who is almost exactly 4 weeks older than Elsie and I stalk her blog trying to figure out what comes next. Elsie is hot on her heels.
She's still exploring the world. I'm amazed at how much difference a couple of days makes. Eli told me the other day that the best sound on the planet is Elsie's laugh. He said that before we had a baby, he never would have suspected that a baby laugh could be so adorable. Elsie has a sense of humor, or at least comedic timing. Here's how it goes:
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-MOO!
Elsie: [guffaw, giggle maniacally, and big smile]
Anyway, J asked for me to come up with a nickname for Elsie to call her when she starts talking. I don't know how I feel about that. When I'm talking to Elsie, I call her "Miss J---" (which is the standard at church for what young'uns call elders not related to them) and when Jh refers to herself in her notes, she calls herself JJ. Either of those is fine with me. Any other name would be wandering into surrogate grandparent territory, and Elsie already has six grandparents (2 of which are GREAT!). Also, while J is as old as my grandmother (a little younger, but not by much), she is Elsie's caretaker, not her relative. Is that too harsh? I don't mean to be, it's just that I get easily annoyed for no reason. Perhaps a little jealous that I can't spend as much time with Elsie? Maybe...
Something for me to think about (or not).
Cheers.
In the past month, Eli has started reaching for objects, grasping them, and putting them in her mouth to chew on--including her pacifier; and she's rolling over more confidently both ways, front-to-back and back-to-front. She's tracking objects for a long way, and pushing up and holding her head up like a pro--no screaming about tummy time. And have I mentioned before that she's a drool faucet? This month she also started sleeping through the night--not consistently, but several times. I'll take eight hours of sleep when I can get it!
My predictions for month six--Elsie will get up on all fours and at least rock back and forth, if not take off at a crawl. Okay, that's not really a prediciton. One of my college friends has a baby who is almost exactly 4 weeks older than Elsie and I stalk her blog trying to figure out what comes next. Elsie is hot on her heels.
She's still exploring the world. I'm amazed at how much difference a couple of days makes. Eli told me the other day that the best sound on the planet is Elsie's laugh. He said that before we had a baby, he never would have suspected that a baby laugh could be so adorable. Elsie has a sense of humor, or at least comedic timing. Here's how it goes:
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-goo!
Elsie: [giggle and smile]
Me: Ah-MOO!
Elsie: [guffaw, giggle maniacally, and big smile]
Anyway, J asked for me to come up with a nickname for Elsie to call her when she starts talking. I don't know how I feel about that. When I'm talking to Elsie, I call her "Miss J---" (which is the standard at church for what young'uns call elders not related to them) and when Jh refers to herself in her notes, she calls herself JJ. Either of those is fine with me. Any other name would be wandering into surrogate grandparent territory, and Elsie already has six grandparents (2 of which are GREAT!). Also, while J is as old as my grandmother (a little younger, but not by much), she is Elsie's caretaker, not her relative. Is that too harsh? I don't mean to be, it's just that I get easily annoyed for no reason. Perhaps a little jealous that I can't spend as much time with Elsie? Maybe...
Something for me to think about (or not).
Cheers.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Boy did this week fly by. I looked up and suddenly it was Saturday again. I haven't posted since last Sunday.
A quick recap of the week includes a couple of days of car repair, making it around town in one car, waking up earlier than usual to drop off an extra person at work. I was observed at work on Tuesday--it went well. Then was convicted by a sermon on busyness at Wednesday church. I think I may be a workaholic, and sadly can't imagine having only one job--it's been so long. And Friday I found a show on TV that I really like. Fox's Dollhouse, by Joss Whedon.
This morning I should have awakened early to take Elsie out to the RIF 5K or 1 Mile Walk, but we went back to bed. Eli was at the hunting camp getting stuff done for hunting season, so we had another consecutive girls' Saturday. We went adventure driving in little neighborhoods that I hadn't visited, and then ate lunch in the park with my friend Angela and Baby J, who is 2 days younger than Elsie. It was a beautiful day to sit out on a blanket under a tree and talk shop with another mother. Elsie and J hit it off. They were mesmerized touching each others' hands, and I'm pretty sure that at one point Elsie had J's finger in her mouth, sucking on them. It was funny to watch. She's a roly-poly, and he's able to put his toes in his mouth. It was interesting to see their similarities and differences in their development.
We came home and invited my favorite church friend from Houston over to watch a movie. K, Elsie, and I watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, a movie I rented because Eli would never watch it with me. If you haven't seen it, don't waste your dollar at the RedBox. I'm going to switch to past tense as I say this because it used to be true--I really liked Jennifer Garner, so I rented the movie hoping it would be entertaining, if not actually good. No dice. The whole plot made me feel archaic because I have self-esteem, morals, and values. Surely, I'm not in the minority?
Anyway, Elsie was on the floor with us, sitting on a blanket, and darned if she didn't hang on to both her feet at the same time for the first time that I've seen. Usually she picks one side or the other. I think she was truly inspired by Baby J and his incredible flexibility. Competetive. That's my girl. Ha.
So, that's the recap. We're singing in church next Sunday (10/11) and I don't even know the words to the song. Time to get to work.
Cheers.
A quick recap of the week includes a couple of days of car repair, making it around town in one car, waking up earlier than usual to drop off an extra person at work. I was observed at work on Tuesday--it went well. Then was convicted by a sermon on busyness at Wednesday church. I think I may be a workaholic, and sadly can't imagine having only one job--it's been so long. And Friday I found a show on TV that I really like. Fox's Dollhouse, by Joss Whedon.
This morning I should have awakened early to take Elsie out to the RIF 5K or 1 Mile Walk, but we went back to bed. Eli was at the hunting camp getting stuff done for hunting season, so we had another consecutive girls' Saturday. We went adventure driving in little neighborhoods that I hadn't visited, and then ate lunch in the park with my friend Angela and Baby J, who is 2 days younger than Elsie. It was a beautiful day to sit out on a blanket under a tree and talk shop with another mother. Elsie and J hit it off. They were mesmerized touching each others' hands, and I'm pretty sure that at one point Elsie had J's finger in her mouth, sucking on them. It was funny to watch. She's a roly-poly, and he's able to put his toes in his mouth. It was interesting to see their similarities and differences in their development.
We came home and invited my favorite church friend from Houston over to watch a movie. K, Elsie, and I watched Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, a movie I rented because Eli would never watch it with me. If you haven't seen it, don't waste your dollar at the RedBox. I'm going to switch to past tense as I say this because it used to be true--I really liked Jennifer Garner, so I rented the movie hoping it would be entertaining, if not actually good. No dice. The whole plot made me feel archaic because I have self-esteem, morals, and values. Surely, I'm not in the minority?
Anyway, Elsie was on the floor with us, sitting on a blanket, and darned if she didn't hang on to both her feet at the same time for the first time that I've seen. Usually she picks one side or the other. I think she was truly inspired by Baby J and his incredible flexibility. Competetive. That's my girl. Ha.
So, that's the recap. We're singing in church next Sunday (10/11) and I don't even know the words to the song. Time to get to work.
Cheers.
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