Happy Christmas!

Joe got stung by a scorpion last night!

Here it is ....Dead....

Grandma & me put it in the freezer in case it made Joe sick & would have to be identified for anti-venom-serum....

He is fine...no problems...I gave him 2 Benedryl & he slept like a baby all night.

The scary part is that it stung him in bub's room....& bub & I had been playing in there barefoot not more than 5 min. earlier. I say "Thank you" to God! I'd prolly be allergic/sensitive to it (bee/wasp/ant sensitivies) & Bub is prolly so small it would have meant a trip to ER for either of us. Joe took it in stride & acted like he was mad about all of us fussing over him (grandpa got out cousin K's emergency adrenylin shot out just incase Joe needed it)...but deep down where no one sees...he was happy we all fussed.

I didn't think Bub comprehended what was going on last night with all this hull-a-bah-boo, but I guess he did get some of it, cuz he was afraid to go in his room for a while today, until momma put slippers on both of us & showed him all was safe, even under the bed. Then he was happy as a clam-bake.

FYI- we identified it as a striped bark scorpion. The one that got Joe was only about an inch long if even that!
Here is a site with lots of good info! (if you don't want to hurl just looking at the creepy-crawlies!) EWWWWW!
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg364.html

Happy Chompo to me!!!

Happy Chompo to me...is how it ought to be....happy chompo dear Muppethead!....Happy chompo to me!


Points to those who know what I am quoting.
For the rest of you...better brush up on your Hoban.

tee hee.
:)

HA-ha-ha-ha-hah-aww nuts!

Points to those who get where I stole the title quote from. *grin*

but really, the taunting nature of the title is that I am DONE with my Christmas cards!
(sorta)
I mailed all but 9 & that's because I had missing information (such as addresses) or ran out of pictures & had to make more. (thanks to Kellie!!)

But here is a cute picture because it is cute.


Ok, it's official. I'm back to the sappy momma mode.
can you tell?

Poor little man has been SO patient with me the last few days.
Wednesday he had digestive problems...(lesson #1: all 1st time moms are fixated on their child's digestive system....I swear, so many of my conversations in the last 3 days have started with talking about what kind of poop is coming out of him...)
So as we learned from lession #1, he has a really BAD diaper rash. I had lots to do on Wednesday, but he was so miserable, I had to baby him all day & I got exhausted. Cleaning a baby's sore poopy butt is enough to make anyone cry, but then he's in SO much pain he's clinging to me begging me not to clean him...I'm half crying & half laughing because this is my life.
(Lession #2: yes Melissa, I -am- that kind of Momma *sigh* you were right)
so as we learned from lesson 2, being -that- kind of momma, I will continue the story... Thursday I had to get my butt in gear & make stuff I wanted to send out, so I spent the day making things & then chasing a sore-bottomed bub who is now angry at me for not babying him for a 2nd day in a row.
(lession #3: no matter how old men are, they expect you to baby them when they do not feel well...even if they are only 2)
So, looking at lesson #3, you would think today I would have kept that in mind...but NO. Lil Muppet-head is a frenzied mad-woman. what started as "I'm just going to package these few things & then go to the postoffice & then go to walmart & get baby-wipes & diapers" turned into crazed obsession to finish ALL and ANY christmas cards, just to get them done so I won't have to go thru the hassle of taking bub to the postoffice twice (he likes to steal the bulbs off the christmas tree in there)
(lession #4: yes virginia, I am a crazy woman)
So now it is 1:30. Bub had lunch but no nap. The post office I want to go to closes at 3pm (because it is a "country" office & is less busy)
(lession #5: ALWAYS go out of your way to a less busy post office)
So keeping lesson 5 & 4 in mind. I get all the stuff I have to mail in a HUGE bag so I have one hand free for bub. Do another diaper change & grab mr. Man's Fluffy (Fluffy is a duster that is blue & white. it is currently his favorite & best toy) On the way to the post office I tell Bub that if he is especially good & obedient in the post office I will take him to the secret pirate treehouse castle. This is his favorite play ground on the OTHER side of town, so we don't go there all the time. I call it the "secret pirate treehouse castle" because that's what it looks like to me...it's really cool & makes me jealous I'm not a kid.
(Lession #6: all the really COOL stuff wasn't invented until you grew up)
Mr Man was wonderful! even tho we went to the small "country" office, there was a line, but making good use of rule #4- I talked to Bub about everything we were doing...example: "ok bub, we're opening the door....pull real hard...Good job! momma loves your cheerful heart! Now hold hands real tight! don't let go....etc..." people looked at me REAL funny, but they let me go first!!!! it was GREAT! The postoffice lady remembered Bub from last time & complimented him on minding me so much better this time. He hid his face in my shoulder, then blew her a kiss as we were leaving. continuing the crazy woman thing, I praised him all the way back to the car & told him how much fun we were going to have when we got to secret pirate treehouse castle. he was all smiles.
(Lession #7: ALWAYS keep your promises to your bubs)
Had a great time at the playground. drove to a mcdonalds & got a lemonade we diluted with water (WAY TOO SWEET!) & a yogurt. Normally I hate mcdonalds, but I have to admit, they do have healthy food. Like I could get a yogurt for bub anywhere else with a drivethru??? my best 2nd option is to go to BK & get an applesauce. Then we went to walmart. Bub was SO excited there was a salvation army bell ringer there. I have been spending the last 2 weeks teaching him to put monies into the bucket! today I gave him $.60 b4 we crossed the street & told him it's for the bucket! He didn't even TRY to eat the coins! He put them in the bucket & the lady let him ring her bell for a while! He was SO happy!
(Lession #8: teach giving is good whenever & as often as you can!)
So I tried to let bub hold hands with me instead of riding in the cart as he is now getting impatient with the slowness of my shopping. (i am SO price conscience! I do math in my head to make sure I get the best deal) He did REAL good, until I asked him to put the babywipes in the cart. He grabbed the babywipes & started running down the isle. even tho momma may not be in shape, she still can sprint faster than bub can. After that bub rode the cart.
(lession #9: just because they are being good, doesn't mean they will STAY acting good)
once we got home, normal patterns commenced, but the poor little man's butt was so sore, I ended up slathering him with more A &D ointment & giving him some tylenol. we sat in the big comfy chair & watched Jonah until he fell asleep.
Now, I am tired. I meant to end this right after I posted the picture...but my rambly nature took over. (lession #10: stop.)

Remembering friends

Today as bub naps, I started to work on Christmas cards...instead, I found my -small- collection of our friend Mike Daly's watercolor print cards. I love his work. Out of everyone's art in the co-op (except for Joe) his was my favorite. When Bub was especially crabby, we would walk up & down the hall on the 5th floor & look at Mike's paintings. Bub just loved how colorful they were & loved just staring at them. They always calmed him down. If you get a chance, check his website!


http://www.dalywatercolors.com/index.html

Some of his new paintings are breathtaking.

Must return to cards....must.

So sad...I missed it.

This was the album of my youth. I have had this sucker memorized since I was 4. I am making mr. man listen to it =ALL= the time. We dance to the "Brothers & Sisters song". I sing the "when I grow up" Song and cry by the end of it. I am constantly letting Hubby & Bub know what kind of "Help" they are really providing. (see thankgiving post)


It was on TV land at 10 am on Sunday. We forgot to set up a tape before we left for Church.
I have only seen the movie once in my life. That was in 3rd grade @ Dayton's Bluff. Everyone thought it was too baby-ish & made fun of it. I was so sad. I had to pretend not to like it too.
And now, when I have come to the point of my life where I embrace my inner nerd, (HELLO...I refer to myself as "muppet-head"...anyone have any doubts??????) I missed my chance to see it.

To make matters worse, they had "That Girl" on all day, and I got sucked into it a bit b/c I was hoping they would do a repeat, but I was thwarted.

On the plus side, Jeff Dunham was on Comedy central.
I still love peanut! "Nnnneyying" For those of you who really read this...I met him!!! at the state fair YEARS ago. Really brief. I don't think he was very big then. I think this was when I was in HS, bc I think I remember Laurie was with me....
THEN a few years later, Tina bought me tickets to see him at the Guthrie, before it became glitzy. that was when she was my friend.

****sad reflection time***
I sometimes miss Tina. Ross will call me stupid & flick my nose, but she could be a really wonderful friend at times. I tried talking with her a few years ago & we had NOTHING to say to each other. we were both trying, but we were at such different places in our lives & too many things had been said over the years, or not said enough.

I digress.
must dash, it is sleepy time. Glad my parents made it safe to CA! :)
Love to all!

WOO HOO!

Got college acceptance letter yesterday. Have to make appt w/ an advisor soon. They didn't include a name or number to call. oh well. If I could clog to motivate my employees years ago, I can embarrass myself a little more by calling around & feeling stupid. :)

At least I never wore an orange tablecloth & danced to the Cure. Butter-knives anyone? how about peanut thai sauce?

The more he changes, the more he's the same

Yep, Mr. man gets bigger, but he still loves being in just a diaper....

Bub at 8 months....


1+ year old....


Last week

Some day Bub will see this & give me the "MOM! HOW COULD YOU SHOW ANYONE THOSE PICTURES!!" Then ten years later, he'll be doing the same thing to his kids....hehehehe

Love to all...

a dollar short & a day behind....or more....

So is the story of my life...anyhow.
Here are some shots of Thanksgiving. We went to AR to visit with Grandma's family...all the aunties & uncles were there. It was very exciting! I haven't seen some of the family since before we were married! Daddy was in charge of the camera once we got inside(my job was to manage to get some food in the squirmy little man)...so you guessed it. I don't have many pictures.

This was taken when I gave Daddy the camera & said "you're in charge of pictures"


I only have this next one b/c I said..."hurry up & take a picture b4 everyone goes home!!!!" while chasing Mr. Man around...

The lesson I learned this year is ....
"Make Daddy feed The Bub so I can take pictures next year"

These are shots I took....

B4 we left home...some kind of help is the kind of help we all can do without....


(rare action sequence with Daddy)