Day 139 ~ Being Nicole

Recently some photos were posted on facebook from Nathan's brother Jesse, and his wife Brandie's East Coast wedding reception.
Naturally I criticized (in my head) the photos with me in them.

Here I will let you into my head so you can understand why I am such a weirdo.

I am always amazed that I have such a big mouth.  Or that I open it really widely, and animatedly when I talk.  This shouldn't be such a shock, but alas, I see this and I think it looks like I am about to eat someone's head.

Family photo with Nathan's fam.  I immediately looked at Sharon here.  I also feel slightly embarrassed that my big head is half covering Bob's face and ruining the shot.  Also, why did I feel the need to pose with my hand on my hip.  Not the red carpet Nicole, not the red carpet.  Nathan looks sufficiently awkward an uncomfortable with having his photo taken though.  That makes me laugh.  A lot.

This photo feels slightly voyeuristic.  I think I look like I was judging someone.  Or thinking in my head something not nice.  I probably was doing this.  Sometimes I am a bad person and think really bad things.  I would have to know what/who I was looking at to know and share it though.  Maybe I was looking at someone having their photo taken and posing with one hand on their hip.  Because, who would do something like THAT?  Also... boobs.

One of the most fun nights ever dancing was this night right here.  However, I will tell you I announced this night that I was going to be a millionaire by teaching fist pumping classes in gyms.  True story.  I totally announced that.  By the looks of it, I was practicing for my class.  Also, my legs look pleasantly thin, yet I have an intense urge to go to inner thigh lifts.

I love Brandie.  Also... BOOBS.  (Sorry dad.)

I am laughing a LOT at this.  I have no idea what amazing dance move I was doing, but I think it is fantastic and I intend on breaking it out all the time now.

Boobs.

Okay, I am obsessed with this one for a few reasons.  The first being, I am doing an "ugly laugh" the cousin of the "ugly cry", do you know the difference?  A pretty cry is simple, some tears, maybe a few unsteady breaths.  An ugly cry is where you can't catch your breath, your face gets blotchy and red, there may be some snot dripping out of your nose, and you usually are unable to make any sense.

Take that an apply it to laughing.  A normal laugh is a normal laugh, but then there is an ugly laugh, where you (in my case) apparently get a double chin, and you may snort a time or two, can't catch your breath, and may even pee your pants a tad bit, or a whole lot. 
Another reason? Ba-Ba-Ba-BOOBS

Anyway, now that we've cleared that up, I remember dancing and laughing this night, and the fact that there is a photo capturing a very major ugly laugh, makes me happy.  I'm pretty sure when Brandie visits next month, there will be many more ugly laughs.

Your welcome for wasting a few of your brain cells on the nonsense that floats around in my brain.

Day 101

Today was a hot mess.  But in a "I will laugh about this later" kind of way.

And you know what, by the afternoon, everything seemed so ridiculous to me that I was already laughing.  It was one of those days.



I woke up with a residual wine headache.  The kind that makes you want to pull the covers over your head, or the kind that makes you want to eat greasy food, even though you know you're going to throw it up.

(pretty mental picture, eh?)

The kids had no school, and there was close to another foot of snow on the ground.  I tried to sleep in, I really did, but it was short lived when Nathan couldn't find his keys.  He had moved our cars last night, for easier snow-blowing tactics, and my keys were safe inside the house, but his were no where to be found.  We feared they were stuck under the massive amount of snow.  We called AAA, to find it was at least a four hour wait.  We called a local locksmith who said it would be a while.  I decided to go outside and try one more time to look around.  I had about the same odds as finding a needle in a haystack.

But then, under a pile of snow, I saw something black.  So I dug a little deeper.  And there, right there on the ground, under all that snow, were his keys.

I could not believe my luck.

Next up was a two hour trip to the dentist for the boys.  They did great.  Wonderful in fact.  But two hours hopping between two rooms, trying to stop Brody from grabbing more prizes was a little rough.  For the record, I gave up on the prize situation and let him dump a whole drawer of little bugs.  I made him promise to clean it up before we had to leave, and thank the lord, he actually did.

The next hour was spent listening to the kids whine and cry about how they were starving and I was the meanest person ever because I wouldn't let them eat (per dentist's orders because they just had a cleaning.)  Of course once told they can't eat, they suddenly become ravenous, blood thirsty children.  I'm going to start telling them they're not allowed to clean.  No more picking up toys, no more turning the lights off when leaving a room, no more bringing your dirty clothes down.

Think it will work?

The kids were anti snow this day.  They said they were "tired of playing in the snow."
Any other day, they wouldn't dream of saying this.  Come spring, you watch they will be dragging each other on their sleds around the yard again.  But today, the snow was their enemy.  Instead they basically self destructed.

Nate tattooed a dancing bear wearing a tutu on his forehead.

Brody stamped his face.

Keira colored all over her face and hands.

It was just kind of all downhill.

But like I said, it became one of those days where things seem so absurd that laughing is all you can do.

Otherwise you may go crazy.

Day 49~ 17 Bean and Barley

Sickness has taken over my body.

All day my bed has been calling, but I could not answer that call due to the massive piles of laundry that I felt too weak to put away. I instead spent an hour sitting on the floor next to my bed, hugging my knees and distracting myself with the movie It's Complicated.

We are down to the bare minimum of food in our house. You know when you get to the point when grocery shopping moves past the must-do point, and you are searching through your cabinets wondering why you have three bags of Trader Joes 17 Bean and Barley mix?


I mean why I thought one bag, never mind three was necessary is beyond me. I must have convinced myself I would have made that instead of eating the box of cheez-its.

pfff, like that would happen.

Or have you ever been so reluctant to go shopping that you think,
"you know I can make something out of a box of stuffing mix, weird holiday shaped pasta, canned asparagus and evaporated milk!"

And by you, I mean me, because I am now wholly convinced that overcoming procrastination is my life lesson.

Okay, so I am admittedly being a baby about feeling so sick right now. It's just I can't swallow without feeling like their are a thousand samurai warriors waging war against my esophagus, and I feel like my body is demanding more than the three interrupted hours of sleep I get each night.

How dare you require sleep body of mine!

When Nathan came home from work, I decided that attempting sleep was a must, and rallied to put away the current piles of clothes, and told Nathan Keira and I would be retiring to the bedroom, and all XY chromosome beings were banned for an hour.

Sadly Keira did not immediately jump on the sleep train, so I put on Franklin, which I found out bores her as much as me. (I will keep that in my memory bank for future use.)

I woke up to Tyler (who I allowed to be my alarm clock) jumping on my bed to wake me up. He was over excited to be heading to his friend's house for pizza and then going with a group of friends to see The Nutcracker.

I think the jumping on the bed excitement was brought on by the fact that his friend's parents would never buy three bags of 17 Beans and Barley mix.

In other news, I have become deeply disturbed today by the resemblance Keira's hair is taking to Nick Nolte's in his famous mugshot.



I'll blame it on my fever.

I will also blame my fever for wanting to share this totally awesome photo with you. I am wearing my great grandmother's wig. What is not to love?



And with that, I will sing to you

There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping out to say "cuckoo"

Cuckoo, cuckoo


Regretfully they tell us Cuckoo, cuckoo
But firmly they compel us Cuckoo, cuckoo
To say goodbye . . .

Cuckoo!

. . . to you


So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight


So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu

Adieu, adieu, to you and you and you


So long, farewell, au revoir, auf wiedersehen

I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne


So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye!

I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

The sun has gone to bed and so must I


So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Goodbye!

Day 15 ~ Halloween!

Day 15, Halloween, sure to make you want to SCREAM!

It was an insanely early day for us on Halloween. We were up a little after 5am, and out the door by 5:50am. Ty's game was far away, but oh was it worth it.
On the opening kickoff of the game Ty caught the ball, was hit while in the air but landed on his feet, and then that boy ran. Ty ran just about 60 yards, dodging the opposing team, and then he had his break away and kids were running behind him, trying to grab him. I was screaming "Go, Ty! RUN RUN RUN!!!" He never looked back, not even once. Most of the kids would dive and fall trying to get him, but there was one that was just out of arm's reach... until he dove and fell. It was all Ty after that. He scored a touch down. His team was screaming and jumping up and down, the kids all ran around him patting his helmet, congratulating him.
I cried.
Thankfully, I was only standing next to one other mom, and I told her, I was going to cry. I had sunglasses on, so no one else could see.
I'm not sure why I cried. I think I was just so filled with happiness and pride for him. It was his first touchdown ever. His first six points. It was a big day.
The kids went on to win 32-6. This was their last game of the season, and only their second win. Needless to say it has been a long season, but to end on such a high note made it so much sweeter.

When we got home, I gathered all the Halloween stuff up in a bag to bring to my mom's house. We had Sunday Spaghetti with my mom and grandmother, we played with Halloween stuff, dressed up in funny wigs and masks and teeth. We had fun!

The kids finally could not wait a second longer, so we got them dressed and made up (well my mom did all of their make up) and ready to go.

So here are the 2010 Halloween costumes:
Ty as Jason

Nate as a vampire
Brody as a cowboy
Keira as Raggedy Ann
No themes this year, but man are they cute/scary!

My kiddos

I had to add in these cute ones of Keira with her "kitty cat candy bag". She carried this bag all night, and we were out for almost two hours! She refused to let me help her hold it, even though it was so heavy.

My little cowboy! I love getting kisses from my Brody.

My vampire Nate, who I think enjoyed Halloween to the extreme this year!
Fighting off Jason. Don't worry world, I'll keep you safe.

Check out

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2008


I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween with their families, friends, or just enjoying the Pats game, or handing out candy.

I didn't mean to!

We're back! I had the most unbelievable time in San Francisco this weekend. I have so much to write about, once I have composed myself and have caught up on the exhaustion, which is finally hitting me.
I do want to share this though, because it made me laugh. As I have said before, sometimes I give dirty looks. They are totally unintentional, and they get me into a LOT of trouble.
This photo is case and point. My memories of the wedding were nothing but happy, fun, dancing, laughing, sometimes so hard that I cried.
Apparently I took a brief moment to look like a total bitch though. Here is that moment, captured.
And here I am, showing you. This was probably within minutes of me singing "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey into a microphone, with the bride's two sisters, if that is any sort of reference to my absolutely non bitchy mood.
Always a class act.

We're Alright

This seems to be an appropriate theme song at the moment. Quite honestly, if you were a fly on the wall in my house, you would hear this blasting, and see me and the kids jumping up and down, spinning, and dancing in strange ways that we find hilarious. Oh and when we sing "keep our teeth nice and clean", we all make various gestures towards our mouths, which inevitably makes us all crack up laughing.
The upbeat, fast pace of the music is the closest equivalent to what my life seems like at the moment. The song is on replay constantly. I am going to hope my kids appreciate my eclectic taste in music someday. In all honesty they would have to thank the wonderful movie Clueless for my introduction to this song. Just one of many things to love from that movie, but that's another post that I probably won't ever write."I know what you must be thinking... is this like a Noxema commercial, or what? But actually, I have like, a way normal life for the average teenage girl..."
Seriously guys, I could sit here and run through the entire movie start through finish. It is THAT embedded in my brain.
I'm scaring you now, aren't I?
Off subject, but Nathan and I were discussing this the other day. What show would you say is this generation's Saved By The Bell? We're guessing iCarly.
Also of possible interest to you is that Nathan believes Zac Effron is "probably like the next Brad Pitt."
To which I responded "Are you trying to tell me you have a man crush on Zac Effron?" (because he has an admitted man love thing going on with Brad Pitt, and I'm not questioning his sexuality here, I'm just stating facts.)
And he responded "He is a really good looking guy, and you know I actually really like him in movies."
Have I told you Nathan loves 17 Again? And Legally Blonde? I once (when we first started dating) went over his house to find him and one of his good friends baking chocolate chip cookies and watching Legally Blonde. I have never in almost eight years let him live that down, and whenever it comes up (usually at his expense, my delight and in the presence of other people) he admittedly protests that there is nothing odd about that situation. I laugh. A lot.
Have I also told you he is known to sometimes sing Madonna, (song of choice being Holiday) at the top of his lungs in the shower?
These are reasons I love him. His man crushes on Brad Pitt and Zac Effron, his love for chick flicks, and his ability to know the words to Madonna.

I have no idea where this post is going but I am sure I have already said entirely too much.
Happy Weekend!!!!

I Can't Help It

Last post for today, I swear! This is Brody and Keira at the exact same age, making scrunchy nose faces, and I laugh EVERY single time.

Durga

I have survived folks! February Vacation week is rapidly coming to a close and gosh golly gee willakers, I SURVIVED. Please see slideshows in my previous post for proof of survival.
Last night Keira participated in her first pageant. It was fun, and I'm glad we did it. Before you get all Toddlers and Tiaras on me, it was a natural pageant. No make up, tanning, false anything was allowed, not even in the older divisions. Give me a break, I have a girl now!!!
In other news, Brody met with his speech therapist this week (I am patting myself on the back for being able to juggle two speech therapists, early intervention, kindergarten registration, a pageant, policy council for Nate's school, pop warner board meetings, basketball practice, and vacation week ALL AT THE SAME TIME, in other words I am channeling my inner Durga.) I felt validated and like we are finally getting somewhere with Brody. She picked up on the tone issue in his voice that sounds a bit off. She described it as a poor quality of voice. She actually said it sounds like there is an obstruction causing the poor quality of voice. She had me discuss what she observed with Brody's pediatrician and he agreed with her. Brody is set to see his Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in March and will be discussing having his tonsils and adenoids removed as well has having tubes put in his ears. Hopefully we will get this taken care of sooner than later and he can continue to develop normally. The speech therapist did pick up on the letters and sounds Brody has the most difficulty with and the correlation with high frequency hearing loss. It seems those sounds are in the high frequency and although he is attempting to say them, but is just having so much difficulty, it makes sense in that he can hear some high frequency (in one ear more than the other), but he can't hear it completely., thus causing the difficulty. All in all I just feel so happy to be getting somewhere with all of this.
I got to fill out the mound of paperwork that goes along with kindergarten registration this week. I can't believe my baby Nate is going into kindergarten!!! It just goes by so fast. Moms with children not in elementary school yet, it goes by SO fast. The thing is, once the enter the school system, you just have t pray you did everything you could to prepare them. This sounds depressing, because they are still your babies, but once the enter elementary school, they enter their new world. It is possibly more emotional for me this time around because I know how incredible a change it is. I won't even get started on the fact that when Nate enters kindergarten this also means Ty will be in his LAST year of elementary school. Yikes.
It is gorgeous out, and I am aching to get out for a walk, so I will bid you farewell. Hope everyone's weekends are enjoyed and fun!

C is for Cookie

Readers, meet the cookie that almost burned my house down. While cooking a tuna casserole a few nights ago, I was shocked to see the bottom of my oven suddenly burst into flames. Turns out Brody didn't think this cookie was quite done cooking, so sometime throughout the day he shoved it way down into the crack at the bottom of the oven. A bowl of water and lots of smoke later, I saw the culprit, and got it out.

Merry Christmas

On our town's common, every December, Santa's Headquarters, or a wonderful little house, magically appears, and every afternoon Santa is there to visit with kids and go over their lists. As much as I love the very famous resident mall Santa that is in my hometown, the lines are usually outrageous, and the prices of pictures with him are expensive, and well, to be honest, holiday season at any mall gives me instant claustrophobia. Have I mentioned that our town common Santa is there for free? He takes lots of time with each child, makes sure to tell them to behave, and do what parents tell them to do, and generally we leave with the kids promising Santa to be the world's most perfect children. No complaints from me on that.
Nate went first and told Santa that he wants a robot that cleans houses and folds laundry and can make food, and I shouted a big AMEN to that one. Ty made a very thought out list with the items he wants, and Brody, bless his heart, was very nice to Santa, gave him his letter, talked to him but refused to go anywhere near him. Did I mention they take a picture for free picture too? Well when it came time for that, I asked Santa if he wanted to hod Keira, who was smiley and happy this whole time, but as soon as I passed her off to Santa, screamed for her life. This picture makes me smile.

Feelings

Beware of the Ick Factor

This morning when I was getting Brody dressed, in our usual morning rush, I noticed it looked like he had food stuck to his cheek and ear. I started cleaning his cheek, questioning what it was he ate, when I stopped dead in my tracks. His ear was covered (I mean COVERED) in ear wax/yucky goo. It was all dried up, but it looked as if his ear had exploded. I quickly realized that it was not food I had been cleaning off his cheek, but whatever mess that had oozed from his ear, had also gotten all over his face and hair.(sadly my camera did not pick up on the lighter goo, and this is post cleaning of his cheek and hair)
Needless to say I quickly called the doctor and made an appointment. And no, it does not seem that we can catch a break around here.
Brody's doctor is on vacation, so we saw my 2nd favorite doc in the practice, Dr Rosenthal. After cleaning as much as he could, he told me although what he could see of his ear drum looked good, he couldn't see much because of all of the stuff STILL IN IT. (hello!?!? look at the picture AFTER I cleaned him up... there's lots more in there?)
I raised my concerns over his speech development (which I have started writing about, but haven't had time to finish yet) and he agreed that a hearing test should be done. While he did a referral for that, he sent Brody to do a pressure test on his ears. Basically this test blows air into the ear, and it senses the amount of pressure on the ear drum. If it is normal, the machine reads out a mountain-like line, meaning the air goes through with no problem. If there is a problem, there is a flat line. Brody flat lined on both ears. Not what we were hoping for. Now where this could be a signal for a problem, it could just be that he has really bad ear infections (he was just treated two weeks ago for double ear infections) and all the fluid/goo is trapped behind his ear drums. The doctor decided to put him on ear drops, three times a day for 10 days, and repeat the medicine he was just on, because it is great for ears (Cefdinir.)
Brody will go back in 2 weeks to check his ears. He can not have his hearing test until we can clear up these infections as best as we can, so hopefully he can have that done in 2 weeks. If they will not drain, tubes will have to be put in his ears.
The doctor also was very happy I have already started to seek out Early Intervention services (again, I already started writing about it, but have not completed it yet, I will soon, I promise.)
Wish him luck and health for me!

Death by Laundry

When they find me, I will be surrounded by clothes, drowning. This is one week's worth, minus towels.

3/31 Update

I am 39 weeks pregnant... almost a whole 10 months I have been growing this baby and feel like as a reward for that she should decide to give me a break and come this week. I am not optimistic about this though. I am at the point where I feel like I will literally be pregnant forever. I am actually completely surrendered about the fact that I do not think she will come out on her own, no matter what I do. I had my appointment yesterday and not a whole lot has changed. Still 60% effaced, 1 centimeter dilated, but the major change was where my cervix is usually very posterior, it has come all the way down and is no longer so. Without being too graphic, I did not have to get into funny positions for her to strip my membranes this week.
I am walking as soon as the kids finish up lunch, and am going to walk again tonight without the kids, and will hopefully follow this routine all week as long as the rain holds off... we'll see.

A few random pictures

Brody decided to take off his clothes and diaper , but leave his socks on... Some brotherly love from Nate... Nate got a haircut!
7 1/2 months along...