Story of a Girl

Xmas Card 2010

2010-11-24T11:51:00.001-08:00

Picture Joy Christmas

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Brown Bear Brown Bear

2009-08-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

It was so cute, the other day DJ read the entire book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear to me. If you're a mom you probably know it, it's pretty simple "Brown Bear Brown Bear, what do you see? I see a....yellow duck looking at me!" and on, "red bird, green frog etc.". But for a mom whose son was a year behind in his speech this time last year, only saying FIVE words- this is amazing!!

Needless to say I'm pretty proud of him. He's still a few months behind, but has made huge progress. The main thing now is working on certain letter sounds and enunciation of longer words. Some long words like "playground or vitamin" he says very well, but other words like "breakfast" not as well. And letters like S, F, R...those he has to work on. But, so do a lot of kids so I'm excited to see how impressed his preschool teachers are in a few weeks with his progress. He is talking a lot more when we are out of the house and not as shy in talking to people, more confident.

Even better- he's potty trained! He still wears pull ups at nap & bedtime, but a lot of the time he is dry, but other times I put him in underwear and he wets the bed....so we're giving that a bit more time. Overall I am thrilled with how easy it was though! 4 weeks- he started week one never going on the potty before, and at the end of 4 weeks he's having no accidents! He will go run & sit on the potty all on his own, he's not scared to poop on the potty anymore, and when we are out he's great at going if we are at family- and even lately if we're at a mall or restaurant. Yay!

I'm starting to feel better here at the end of week 13. Although a few days this week I was feeling yucky, I think from just trying to do too much and not getting enough rest. 3 more weeks till my next appointment, and then 2 after that till the big ultrasound where hopefully we find out the gender! I can't WAIT for that- so many great sales lately at the outlets and such, but I can't buy anything till I know the gender. The stores are so either boy or girl clothes, not much in between. And luckily my list of what I need babywise is dwindeling, other than clothes and little things like paci's and new bottles and Balmex etc. I'm getting a new pump from my sister who barely used it and I forgot I got her a exersaucer/jumperoo- so I can borrow that too as well! Now I just need a swing- and if it's a girl I'll use my sisters as well, and a monitor. That's the major stuff. I know I have such a long time but it's nice to get stuff figured out in advance- and catch sales when I can!

Ok, I've got to give a friend a call but I had been meaning to post that story about the book for a few days so I had to take a min. to do that. Night all!

??

2009-08-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

I was upset this morning. I'm sure some of it has to do with being pregnant and emotions being magnified....but I don't know, I think some of it is legitimate. So, I found out my brother has a GF. Through Facebook! He's *never* (minus one crush he's had) told me when he has had a GF, I guess he's just private. But, you know, I don't want details, I'd just like to be included in his life, you know? And then, when I text my sister to tell her, as her and I have been speculating on his for a month or so, she texts back that she knows and that he was the topic of conversation at dinner. Ok...I'm over at my parents the next day and say, hey, heard you were at dinner with R. last night- no, not out to dinner, they were invited over. Ok....talk to my sister this morning and turns out my aunt & uncle and parents were all over there... I guess my issue is that I feel out of the loop. Not upset that we weren't invited, because I know how it is to have to have a ton of people over (I'd been talking about having this same aunt & uncle over for a while, just trying to find a date everyone could agree on), but just that #1 my mom and dad were mum about it to me- they didn't say my aunt & uncle were there! AND I saw my parents the day before and they didn't mention the plans. I guess they didn't want to hurt my feelings...but I guess I just feel like I don't know half the time what is going on in my family! Does that make any sense? I think that in my sisters case she didn't want to mention it because she thought we might be upset not to be included, but honestly I just feel weird being in the dark about it. Especially since this same thing has happened before. It's like it's a national secret!

With my brother...I don't even know what to say. I guess whatever. I am really trying to remember lately that he's young (27) and has friends and a GF. That's why I rarely hear from him or see him. I went through that in my late teens/early 20's. But come on, he can't even reply to an email in a weeks time? I know we are in different places since I am married with a child, but that doesn't mean I don't want to hang out now & again. He works a mile from my house, there's lunch, I often invite him for dinner...throw me a bone here! Who doesn't have time to reply to an email within a few days? (Besides I know his work is pretty slow so there's lots of time at work!)

I am probably just over-sensative, I usually am. I would just rather people communicate with me than to keep me in the dark for whatever reason.

And with friends, I feel like I am the only person making the effort to get together MOST of the time. It is so annoying. Luckily, I found an awesome mom's group last year and have made a lot of new friends through that, who honestly are better friends than some of the people I've been friends with for 5 or 10 years. Who actually keep in touch via email, phone, we get together etc. With the kids, without etc. It's funny that those friends are no less busy than my old friends, but that they make an effort. That's all it takes, a little effort. Ugh. This is turning into a vent now. Sadly, I've blogged about this for YEARS. And for the most part I've let it go. I don't make much of an effort any more. I don't have people over like I used to. It's just a bummer. There's a particular friend of ours that has totally stopped being a friend, we used to hang out pretty often, talk online, email etc. Again, he's a little younger & seems to be going through a stage where he's sowing his oats, but it doesn't hurt my feelings any less. Why were you my friend in the first place if you only wanted to be my friend before I had a kid, or before I don't know what happened! Honestly, I feel like emailing and asking WHY. He's non-confrontational, but I'd rather he be honest and say, hey, you and Dave are lame now! LOL Be honest, don't leave us wondering.

Ok, I'd better make some dinner. This stuff isn't bothering my like it was this morning after I talked to my sis, but I wanted to vent here, it's why I started blogging again. And maybe someone can tell me if I'm nuts...maybe I need to realize my brother is grown up and that's that. He doesn't want to share his life with us right now. ??

12 Weeks

2009-08-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post, that yes, I'm pregnant...but it's hard to find the time when I've either been feeling sick (most of the day long) or busy potty training, or once in a while trying to nap! The last post was before my 8 week appointment, which I wanted to wait for before telling too many people (ie the internet!). But then time just got away from me and I figured why not wait until after my week 12 appointment (which was actually Friday, but which was the end of week 11- much to my confusion!). So, here we are. Starting week 12 tomorrow. Due March 1st, 2010. Yay!

Actually, while I was really sick starting about week 5, it subsided around week 10. But of course after going to the Dr. and telling her I was feeling better and remarking to people over the last week how things were going better, today, not so much. Oh well, I think it's because I'm not getting much rest. DJ is a horrible sleeper and he is often waking me up 3-4 times a night! At almost THREE years old. Ugh.

On that topic though, he's doing really well with the potty training- he rarely has a pee accident, and finally today for the first time ever he pooped on the potty for me! He will tell us when he has to go, he has gotten over his fear of going, can hold it in longer etc. I'm SO proud of him. We just need to work on nap time and bedtime, but I hear that often takes a lot longer. I'm just thrilled, we haven't even gone through half a package (45 ct) of pull ups! And in other news, tonight he's in his big boy bed for the first time, so we'll see how that goes. I figure it's about time, even though he was happy enough with his crib, a friend mentioned maybe that's why he sleeps poorly, maybe he's not comfortable in the crib, so we'll see if it helps. Either way, it's another step to showing him he's a big boy. I think he's pretty excited about it.

Ok, I need to finish this up so I can grab something quick to fill my stomach and get to bed! I just wanted to update this thing for all 4 of you reading, LOL. And hopefully I can try to keep it going because it's a great way to log the pregnancy, which, may be my last. But I do have to admit that already it makes me sad to think that, and seeing DJ growing up I know it goes so quick, maybe 3 wouldn't be bad? Ehh, I will have to see what 2 is like come March 1st, first! :)

Blog #1

2009-07-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this feels really weird. I used to blog EVERY day, and having not done it for probably about a year...well, I feel a little rusty. I guess my big reason for stopping my previous blog was that 1. The site that I was on wasn't going anywhere, there were a lot of young kids on there....it just didn't fit, minus a few loyal readers. But, since most of those people were on myspace or facebook, I figured why bother. But reason #2, the fact that I felt like for a lot of people who only knew me over the internet, how boring was it to read about my day to day life after I had my now nearly 3 yr old son. I hate boring blogs, I didn't want to be one.

Alas, now and again I miss it. I like to vent. I started venting on Myspace- about national events, or doing updates on my son for my family/friends...but then it felt a little too OUT there. I mean, I didn't necessarily want everyone I went to HS with reading things or then I ran into now & again if I was having an issue with a friend, I couldn't blog about it and get any honest opinions. Blogger though...only a few friends are on here, and a few old online friends...much more secluded. I like it. I miss writing. And hey, if it's boring, well, I can stop again. We'll see how it goes. Personally enjoy reading my friends blogs...so I figure keeping one of my own would be nice for them as well. More than one person has reqested I start up again, so here goes.

Hmm, how to start though?

There isn't much to catch people up on...DJ is going to be 3 in September. I still have to figure out what we will do for his birthday. Man, some days it feels like time flies, but others it drags. Does that make any sense? It's so cool to see him growing up, he was behind in his talking this time last year, and probably still is slightly, but he's just a chatterbox now! He's still shy when we are out and about, but hopefully that will change in time. He'll be starting 3 yr old preschool in the fall, and I'm nervous & excited for that. Nervous because I know he'll have a little of a hard time adjusting, but excited because he's just going to explode into his own person even more. Nervous because I have to start potty training- soon! At least he is finally showing signs of being ready or close to it. Excited, because it will give me 3 days with a free morning, I know, a little selfish, but it will be a nice break & chance to get things done, or relax when I need to.

So of course ever since DJ was a year old people were asking us when we were going to have another one. Honestly, for at least the first 18 months, we were NOT going to. It was probably partly us as new parents, but man, those baby years are TOUGH. But now that he's older and a little more self-sufficient, the timing is much more right for us. I think it will work out well, they may not be super close in age, but...you have to do what is right for you. Honestly, I wonder some days when I see my friends with two kids, how to they do it?! I know it's probably like when DJ was little, those first 18 months or so are hard. I guess if it doesn't kill me, it will make me stronger, right?! Ahhh, I miss the baby years, but at other times I don't at all. I think I am much more of a person who enjoys that toddler stage- young & older toddlers. When you can talk with them and play games etc. I am actually surprised, my sister has a 6 week old now, and I thought it would really make me want another baby...it kind of did, but not a whole lot. I guess seeing her house and how tired she gets and a baby who never wants to be put down....it brings back those hard memories. I suppose I can never look at the new baby years the same again, once I know what really goes into them. So, I have a Dr. appointment on Friday. I will report in to all of you how it goes. I'm nervous & excited.

As for the rest of life, Dave still loves his job. He works for a fantastic entity. The perks and the benefits are something to be SO thankful here. If he had stayed where he was at in the auto industry, I def. would no longer be a stay at home mom. And sadly, I don't think I am cut out for working and managing a family, at least not till DJ is older. Our marriage...still the same I guess. Having DJ has defintely changed things- we just don't have as much time together any more to sit & talk or go to a movie. Mostly, I feel bad about the not talking quite as much, I mean, don't get me wrong, we talk daily and all that...but we're constantly interrupted by a two year old. Dinner time, well, he tries to talk to me, but honestly I get more pissed than anything because I can't concentrate when I have to help DJ eat and he's fighting with me etc. And before bed, well, I'm normally exhausted (again, how do working moms do it?!) and DJ doesn't need as much sleep as he used to, so bedtime has went from 8 to nearly 930 or 10! I know I should move it up...but getting to sleep in until 8 or 830 on good days is SO nice. But ya...sometimes I wonder if we should try and put a little more effort into things. I just think now & again that although everything is pretty peachy...I don't want to be one of those people who wake up 5 yrs from now and we don't have an US. We do now, and we get along very well, actually probably better than before DJ. But I think part of the less arguing is because we are too tired to argue, or don't have the time to...then again, maybe we are more mature. Maybe I'm not giving us enough credit. I admit, I am so jealous of people who have grandparents who take the kids over night, and the parents get a full night, or they get a little mini vacation without kids. MAN, that would be so nice!! To be fair though, I don't know how DJ would do, he doesn't sleep well away from home and has never not slept in the same house as us. Maybe before we have #2 we can convince my parents to take DJ and we could have one night. I think it would be 1. totally awesome & 2. a nice way to get a refresher. Just to get a little closer. I know, they say you've got to actively work on your marriage and all that to keep it close...I guess I should do that, esp. before our lives get any crazier than they already are!!

Ok, well, I'm off. I started watching High Fidelity yesterday and should finish. Such a fun movie! I'll try to be good about updating this.