What do I know?

A conversation with Sheridan while she was playing with her kitchen and play food:

Sheridan: (holding a basket of vegetables) I was in the garden.

Me: What kind of vegetables did you pick in your garden?

Sheridan: (picking up each one to show me) Corn, a potato, a pickle

Me: I can see how that looks like a pickle but it's actually eggplant

Sheridan: Really?

Me: Yes. What else do you have?

Sheridan: A egg and a orange

Me: I think that's actually a pumpkin

Sheridan: Hmm...I think it's a orange

Me: (thinking) Well, since I CLEARLY don't know anything, I won't even try to explain that eggs don't come from a garden.

Things I learned over Christmas break

1. Maybe I need to re-evaluate when I drink my daily glass of wine. It might be more beneficial to begin my day with it rather than coffee.

2. Unlike my teacher friends, I will NOT be counting down the days until summer vacation.

3. I love my children. Sometimes I love them even more when they are sleeping.

4. You can learn a lot during a game of Mexican train. Taylor, (even though you don't read my blog, just in case) I will never be the same after your story.

5. I've always said that I don't like pistachios. But I actually tried them and it turns out. I like them! Who knew? Although this new revolution does not mean that I will actually try brussel sprouts. I am quite certain I will not like those little things. EVER.

6. I am STILL finding sugar crystals from my evening of making sugar cookies with Sheridan.

7. Sheridan's daily "quiet time," is rarely quiet.

8. My Kitchen Aid mixer gets a lot of attention during the holidays. I used it three times in one week to make pound cake, sugar cookies, and oreo truffles.

9. There is a limit to how many times a person can watch Finding Nemo within a two week period. It's sixteen.

10. I should have asked Santa for ear plugs (to tune out all the new, noisy toys) and a personal trainer (remember #8?).

11. Leighton is not a fan of green vegetables. Can't say that I blame her on the baby food green beans. They are less than desirable.

12. I'm a little more emotional during the holidays. Hard to believe, I KNOW! But it is possible. EVERYTHING makes me cry or at the very least, get teary eyed. Because the bottom line is, despite all the craziness. And commotion. And temporary two week loss of sanity while school is out. I would be even crazier without my family and my precious girls that complete it.

Santa, define good....

Before & After

I can't remember what our garage looked liked before the invasion of the Bronco. And I can only dream about what it will look like after the Bronco moves to its permanent home on the ranch. But this is what it currently looks like in the midst of replacing the engine, performing search and rescue operations for the Christmas decorations in the attic, and trying to find a home for pretty much anything else that can't be shoved into a closet in the house:

Why am I posting a picture of our messy garage after months of not posting anything, when surely I have better pictures than this to share? It's really very simple. Because the chaos of that messy garage with randomness everywhere can pretty much explain what life has been like in our household over the last several months. From adjusting to the joys and challenges of having two kids to 6 to 8 weeks of optic neuritis and possible MS to delaying an MS diagnosis with weekly injections to starting a new business venture to gearing up for the most wonderful time of the year. It's pretty safe to say that everything in my head feels like that scrambled mess in the garage and every room in our house looks like that garage. There's my "CAbi office" on top of all my scrappin' crap necessities in the dining room (which is now also creeping its way onto the bar in the kitchen), there are piles of maternity clothes in our bedroom that I've been meaning to sell on craigslist but haven't had time for all that entails, there are tubs of clothes in the girls' rooms from transitioning seasons/sizes in Sheridan's closet and hand-me-downs from Sheridan and Savannah in Leighton's room, and the guest bedroom...well, I'm not even sure I want to go there because I can hardly walk into that room. Literally, there's so much shit in there. So, if you know any good personal assistants. Please. Get me one for Christmas.

College Station Checklist

1. Eat at Blue Baker: check.

2. Eat at Chicken Oil: check.

3. Outfit family with necessary A&M paraphernalia: check.

Gig'Em!!!

I'm sure that's what it means.....

Someone couldn't wait to put her bathing suit on to get in the pool. And didn't want to mess with taking her clothes off either. I like to think it's a sign that there won't be any skinny dippin' in her future. And if this is the first time I'm wrong about something, please don't tell me.

"Hmmm...I bet Mimi would love for me to run through her house right about now"

Shopping spree....here I come!!!!!!!!

Purchase non-running Bronco: $400 (remember this conversation)

Many, many, many trips to Auto Zone for parts: we'll say....at least $300 (and I think I'm being nice)

Tow bar to get Bronco into a mechanic: $100

Mechanic's bill to "maybe" get said Bronco to run: $500 (for now....)

I'm hoping there is a "priceless" end to all of this but my Magic 8 ball keeps telling me "outlook not so good."

Are heads going to roll?

Magic 8 ball: "It is certain"

Imagine

I always knew I wanted two children so they would have and know the special relationship that only siblings can share. And once we had Sheridan, I felt like I wouldn't be fulfilling my motherly duties if I didn't give her a younger sibling that would do things they shouldn't and then she would get blamed for them since she was the oldest and there was NO WAY the younger one could have EVER done something bad. Oh wait. Sorry. That was a flashback from MY childhood.

Anyway, I also secretly hoped for two girls because if they were to be as lucky as me, once they worked through the normal fighting and annoying each other stages, then they'd realize they not only have a sister but a best friend for life. One thing I didn't know I would experience while being pregnant with my second child was the worry of how could I possibly love TWO kids as much and the same as I love Sheridan. I tried to comfort myself with the fact that I love both of my dogs the same. But honestly, I was pretty sure that wasn't the same. So after worrying about this during my pregnancy, it turns out that my ass wasn't the only thing that grew over 37 weeks. Apparently my heart grew, too because I have more love for these two girls than I ever imagined possible.

Happy 4th of July

The decisions we make these days

What tv show will I watch next?

What should I do next? Eat? Sleep? Poop?

It's a tough life but someone's gotta live it

Two Weeks

Celebrating two weeks that I haven't completely lost my mind with two kids......

But it is pretty easy to avoid when they're this precious

Oh yeah, not to mention all the help I've had.

Then three became four....

Cameron's expression = Deer in headlights or reality setting in on the amount of estrogen that he's going to have to deal with?!?! My money is on the latter of the two. Sheridan said "hold the baby" and immediately stuck both hands

"Wait a minute. Does this mean I'm going to have to share my toys???"

Introducing Leighton Michelle

Leighton Michelle

June 9, 2009

7 lbs. 2 oz.

20 inches

Her name is just as special to me as Sheridan's because Leighton is my father's middle name and Michelle is my sister's middle name. For those of you who know the drama behind Sheridan's birth, this one was the exact opposite! (If you haven't heard the story, I'm sorry but I'm simply too tired to go into all the details. Perhaps another time.) Everything went smoothly and in record time...well, in my opinion! My first contraction was at 2:44am and she was here six hours later. But no.....that doesn't mean I'm considering doing it again, so don't even ask! ;) We are all doing well and will be going home tomorrow.

Last Year vs. This Year

This time last year I was here: Montego Bay, Jamaica (courtesy of Dell and my husband's hard work)

And here: St. Thomas (thanks to Heath and Shaunna for chosing a beautiful destination wedding)

And this year I'm here: 37 weeks pregnant and looking like I ate a basketball for lunch (thanks to my husband who did this to me!)Oh what a difference a year makes!

Word to the wise

Dear Teacher's Aide in Sheridan's class,

Last week when you asked me if I knew what I was having and I replied "a girl," I let your shocking facial expressions and responses of "Oh really? I think you're having a boy" and "are you carrying the same as you did with Sheridan" and "are you having another sonogram" roll off my back. But today when I dropped her off and you asked me if I had had the other sonogram yet, I wanted to punch you in the face. I will say that a slight part of that wishful thinking reaction might have stemmed from the fact that I woke up at 3am this morning and was unable to go back to sleep and I can be a tad bit cranky when I'm trying to function on only four hours of sleep. But really, I am the one who should be saying....really? You are seriously going to stand there and question the sex of my baby when I'm 35 WEEKS PREGNANT?? What the hell is wrong with you lady? Don't you think that since I'm so close to popping this kid out that I've got all my ducks in a row for A GIRL?!?!? There is a super cute pink and brown room in my house that is almost completely finished FOR A LITTLE GIRL. And a closet full of dresses and pink outfits FOR A GIRL. Not to mention all the other things that the color pink has puked on like blankets, burp clothes, car seat covers, diaper bags, etc. that are suitable FOR A GIRL. What makes you think that challenging the sex of my child when I only have 4 weeks and 3 days left (but who's counting) until my LITTLE GIRL gets here based on your "expert" opinion of how I'm carrying this baby is a wise decision? Do you have any idea the magnitude of havoc such a suggestion could wreak on my life in my current fragile state? It would turn my world upside down and inside out in ways I can't even imagine and know that I simply could not deal with. It would also be very unfair for my poor husband to have to deal with the repercussions of that due to your stupidity. So next time I drop Sheridan off, let's make a deal. How about you keep your mouth shut and I will refrain from unleashing on you the devil that has taken up residency in my body. Which you can ask my husband, it is not fun to be on the receiving end when those psycho pregnancy hormones get the best of me. I think I'm going to stick with the expert opinion of the lady with the initials M.D. after her name and 15+ years of experience under her white coat. And should you decide to ignore this friendly, little warning. I will come prepared with my 20 week sonogram pictures so you can see for yourself that there are indeed, no "jewels" between her legs. I will also be happy to make a special trip up to the school next Wednesday after my appointment to show you the latest and greatest of the sonogram pictures with the same image.

Have a wonderful summer!
Julie

Thursday Three's

3 things I'm grateful for:

1. A long drive in the car without having to listen to Dora.

2. Going to HEB by MYSELF and not having to push one of those monstrous race car shopping carts around.

3. Not having to change messy diapers because my precious daughter is using the potty like a big girl!

Sweet Berry Farms

Last week during spring break my sister came into town for a few days with Savannah. On Thursday we loaded into Sarah's car and headed for Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls to pick strawberries. And OH MY GOSH, I'm not sure why I haven't been there before since I've lived in Austin for 18 years! A little unknown fact about me is that I LOVE strawberries. Love them. Could probably survive on strawberries alone. When I was a little girl and we lived in Colorado Springs we had a strawberry patch in our backyard and I couldn't wait to eat them until we got into the house. I would eat them as I picked them. Well, Sweet Berry Farms was like crack to me and I was in heaven. While I picked and picked every strawberry I could, Sarah entertained Savannah (who would have much rather been somewhere that she could demonstrate her new crawling abilities). Sheridan played in the fields with me and picked a few strawberries and then Mimi took her to see the goats. I could have stayed there for hours but lunch time rolled around and we headed to the famous Bluebonnet Cafe for some lunch and delicious pie!

My little helper

More proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! She sure knows how to make her mommy proud.Savannah started blowing kisses while she was here and here she is mid kiss

Mimi and Savannah

Maybe next year Savannah can play in the strawberry fields with us

Apparently this was not close enough for Sheridan and she requested "open gate" so she could get even more up-close and personal with the goatsSavannah loved looking at the goats Aunt Sarah's new pimp ride is complete with a DVD player and Sheridan loved watching Dora and listening through the headphones. Sarah loved that Savannah was able to sleep peacefully. And I loved that we could listen to the radio and not Dora. (Note to self: must get pimp new ride when lease on Envoy is up.)
What $15 worth of strawberries and a happy Julie looks like

27 weeks

I can't believe I'm already in my 3rd trimester! This pregnancy has gone by so fast and it didn't dawn on me how far along I really was until one day a few weeks ago when I was shopping for maternity clothes.

Sales person: "How far along are you?"

Me: "24 weeks."

Sales person: "Oh, so you're 6 months."

Short pause while a truck full of bricks hits me in the face.

Me: (thinking, not speaking, trying to hold it together) HOLY SHIT! I'm 6 months?!?!? 24 weeks sounds so much better. Like I have more time to get ready for this baby. We have no name, nothing picked out for the bedding, nothing ready in the room, all the necessities (car seat, etc.) are still in the attic and other random places throughout the house. We've only got 3 months to get it together!!!!!

So it's been 3 weeks and the only progress I've made (other than getting bigger and making a mess in the baby's room by going through crates of Sheridan's clothes) is that I finally picked out fabric for her bedding and purchased it today. Her nursery will be pink and brown and I'm hoping I can drag Cameron to Home Depot this weekend to pick out a paint color for the walls. This shouldn't be too difficult since Home Depot is practically Cameron's 2nd home and he could spend hours in that store. Gag.

And how big am I? Well, according to my darling husband, I'm as big as a house. Yes, he actually said that to one of his friends on the phone. And I would have killed him BY SITTING ON HIM, but he's got a lot of shit to do around here for this little one.

I wish I had a picture of myself at 27 weeks when I was pregnant with Sheridan to compare, but I wasn't very good then either about taking belly pictures.

Our Valentine

Go figure the flash wasn't on for the two pictures of her standing completely still and smiling for me! Oh well, I'm getting pretty good at capturing things on the move.

It's a GIRL!!!!!

Turns out I'm 2 for 2 with my dream predictions and we have a healthy little girl!! The girl dynasty continues in my family and we are so excited!!! Her heartbeat was 154 and she weighs 13 ounces, which is actually in the 94 percentile!! I'm just going to say that means my due date might be earlier than they originally expected instead of meaning that I'm going to have a big baby!