Totally. Thrilled.

I'm not going to ruin this post with comments about how I looked or what was going on that day.

I am just going to show you the pictures that make up my new livingroom collage.

Maggie - three years ago

Bill - three weeks ago

All together now!

This ones for the (grand)parents

Unless you are our parents you may not be that interested in these next two videos - but still.

This first one is Miriam the day she found herself in the mirror on her playgym - maybe 2 1/2 months old?? I didn't mean to load the whole thing, but as it was I did.

Second we have just last week - Mommy was catching Daddy at the changing table . . .hehe

Stay tuned for another fun Daddy/Miriam video and Miriam eats Tigger video. We want to show you how much she changes!!

It's only a mild form of emetophobia

You know, no one ever wants to be sick. No one ever looks forward to it. But I used to not think about it much. I washed my hands and avoided bathroom doors. I had good hygiene practices. But I didn't really think about "oh no am I gonna catch that?" (Well except during finals week)
It started at the end of my pregnancy. It's hard enough to breathe right? So I started to feel concerned about catching a cold. My sleep positions were already limited. But I avoided it.
Then, two weeks postpartum, I got the flu. I hadn't had the flu in . . . I don't even know how many years. YEARS though. And there I was with a new baby + a day or so very ill (It was a sure fire way to get me to go to sleep in between all feedings though).
Ever since that day - I think about it now. People cough at church and I pull in closer to myself. I break out the Purell before and after a trip to the grocery store. I use it like 5 times if I have to use the restroom at a restaurant. I wash up before handling the baby after going almost anywhere.
If there is one thing I know, it's that I never want to be sick EVER AGAIN (It's okay you can laugh). It should be outlawed for parents of babies or young children (now you can get up off the floor). Being the mom and being sick just do not go together.
Of course I know this is ludicrous. I'm only on my first child. She's going to get bigger, go to playgroups and then school and bring home -sigh- everything under the sun. And I can't run around after her and any other children with a bottle of Lysol all day (you just watch me try).
But I AM going to do my darnedest to avoid THE FLU myself (okay, seriously, STOP LAUGHING NOW).
I know a mother of five who is going through a sick cycle. She asked me if I want one of the bubbles she is going to invent. I think I need to get in on this research. Never mind how I would be a billionaire. Talk about better than Airborne.

Foot Fetish

So Miriam discovered that she had feet a few weeks ago, I saw her looking at them . . .
Sunday I helped her grab her toes while hanging on my lap and all of a sudden it was foot grabbing central. Too cute!

Turns out she doesn't really do this much of her own accord though. Just this one time. Has to be shown. And then again, has to be interested.

I am happy to report that we are past the days of crying when getting our clothes changed. Now mommy doesn't stress like the end is coming whenever we need new clothing.

I am also happy to report that we had a bath that ended with a happy baby. Most others have ended in various degrees of crying and/or unhappiness. Not all, but this was the best.

You do know what is going to happen right? We'll finally be somewhat adjusting to life outside the womb and BAM! Teeth.

Kuschel Kuschel

In case you missed it . . .
The Jamba video (short version) Schnuffel
aka - Miriam's song :)

Somebody Thinks They Are Funny

And it is not me.

After the Great Pregnancy Scare of 2008 (hey - you have headaches and heartburn and a little nausea for a couple of days and see if YOU don't start wondering if you are pregnant), I had a small break from misadventureville. Then Mommy got sick on Miriams 3 month birthday - luckily it wasn't a very bad cold by Maggie standards and only lasted 5 days (Unheard of in Maggie's past). Then was the Ankle Rolling Wednesday and The Return of Proof of my ability to ovulate Thursday- if you get my drift. Something that I didn't expect to see for oh - at least a few more months. Has not returned in former glory however, which is nice.

All things you wanted to know I am sure. But I think someone is having a good laugh at my expense here.

(I just want you to know that for all of my sarcasm and appearance of complaining, I am currently quite happy and loving life. There is nothing like making fun of life for a good blog entry though.)

Together We Are One!

Titans!

Yeah - I'm pretty sure a huddle of girls screaming this sounds a lot like "Squeek squeek, squeek squeek squeek, SQUEEK!" rather than actual WORDS.

I'm having a bit of nostalgia today though so I hope you will indulge me, (or just skip over this post).

A few weeks back, I caught the news reporting that the Regional Gymnastics meet was held and that University High School had won and was on their way to the State meet. All things that brought back memories. Today I decided to look at the U-Hi website and find out when the State meet was. Yesterday and Today. When I went to U-Hi I was part of a team that had a pretty high reputation (don't let that fool you about my gymnastics abilities though). Regional champs for several years. Being #1 all the time ended my junior year - I sure couldn't help but feel proud of them for returning there (I had ONE time being #1. It was at my last home meet on beam of all things on which I got an 8.6).

By the way, I'm totally jealous, they have a website now?

Ode to Jennifers Exciting News

How did this beautiful redhead . . .

Fighting over the boquet 4 1/2 years ago . . .

become this . . .

Owning both this pretty piece of bling . . .

AND this family heirloom . . .

PLUS a bit of high school nostalgia I don't have a picture of . . .?

How do you end up with three rings (+Kevin. I suppose he's the important piece) in ONE marriage proposal? I'm afraid that is a question you'll have to find out from Jenna. Now, go back to my dear Jenna post and give her all kinds of advice on PREGNANCY. Come ON people.

Anyway, Congratulations Jenna. Here's to gorgeous bride on July25th 2008! Cheers!

Some Firsts

Look at what Miriam Anne can do!

I'm pretty sure the first time she did this is was an accident, but I had to admit to myself yesterday (after a week or so of this) that she knows what she is doing when she rolls onto her right side. It's her favorite way to suck on her hands. I had one of those mommy moments . . ."You're growing up so faaaast!" Waa Waa Waa
We are spending the night without Daddy tonight, who is away on a Boy Scouts camping trip. In snow caves. Are They Crazy? But it occurs to me I don't think Bill's been gone since he stopped the reserves - which was almost 2 YEARS ago. I used to be home alone once a month - not to mention 10 months of IRAQ. Is it strange I'm feeling equally worried about him camped out in a cold snow cave 3 1/2 miles from anywhere in February? Maybe I just don't remember how worried I was about Iraq anymore. It's worth forgetting. But we miss him.
We love our Papa Bear. He's good for things like this: Got your conk!

Little MAC Attack

On the way home from my grandparents this evening we put a Schnulli (German for Pacifier) in Miriams mouth, strapped her into her car seat and were on our way. Only a block down the road we started hearing smack SMACK smack SMACK from the back seat. We were thinking - what are you doing to that Schnulli kid? But we turned around and it was gone, she was smacking away on her fingers instead!

Bill fondly dubbed it the Little MAC attack (M.A.C. = Miriam Anne Cox, not to be confused with Margaret Ann Cox which is mommy. No, I am not Big MAC).

Dear Jenna

Re: Pregnancy

You said I should write a book about what to really expect during pregnancy and beyond so I decided to give you sampling.

You will experience wierd symptoms out of the order books present them. For example: In the What to Expect When You Are Expecting book during month five I ran into - stretching pelvic ligaments. Okay, I had this symptom during month two and three. If I got up too fast or laughed too hard I felt pain in those stretching ligaments. By month five that was gone. Thanks a lot.

Lets say during month - oh - 5 or 6 (heck or 7-9) you catch a cold like I did. I don't care how many kegal excercises you've done, you will still pee EVERY TIME you cough or sneeze, which is a sizable amount of the time. Luckily it wasn't nearly that bad when I wasn't sick. Maybe I just didn't have the willpower to squeeze while sick.

I honestly had NO IDEA that the ultrasound would be a time to check on all baby's vital organ development. Hearing the tech say "there's baby's bladder" for example. Seriously - I thought we would look at head/chest and sex organs and be done. We were looking at everything from spine to spleen. If you are lucky you will get a baby who's head is stubbornly stuck down in your pelvis (the tech was looking for some part of the brain) and therefore lots of extra time to look at . . . "what was that again?" parts of your baby.

Stay tuned for a samplings regarding labor, breastfeeding and bringing home baby

(*I invite all you mothers out there reading my blog to make your contributions, because everyones experiences are different. And I would love to hear yours!)

Lullaby

This evening I decided to try out this CD I got from my healthcare plan (It was that or the digital thermometer and I decided three was enough, you know one for armpit, mouth, and that other place). It's the heartbeat music therapy. So not only do I have the wonderful Yankee Doodle, London Bridge and The Cheese Stands Alone (what is that song again? Oh - The Farmer in the Dell) playing in the background but this loud, neverending Thump thump, thump thump. It was starting to drive me crazy, but then I looked over and saw the girl who was fighting sleep looking like this:


And I promptly decided a portable CD player would be on the list of things to buy with our tax return.

Big Day

Today was Grad Finale at EWU, the day they set up the Multi Purpose room for soon to be graduates to take care of all of their graduation "needs." You can get fitted for your cap and gown, order graduation announcements, get pictures, get stuff from random banks (what is that about?), or check out EWU's grad school programs (right - because we want to stay . . . longer? Because nearly 8 years just hasn't been enough for me. That's right friends. I've lived in Cheney for almost 8 years).

I absolutely insisted - way back - that we go to get pictures. I had mine done and liked them so Bill had to go. Besides we have a little girl to take pictures with Daddy in his cap and gown. That was really the whole reason we went . . . to get a family picture with Dad The Graduate. Then Miriam had to go visit some of our friends on campus. She was very tired after that. She napped from 3-7.

I am so excited to get them back and show you . . . I'm not sure how long it takes. But to tide you over: this very flattering picture of me. I direct you to the very cute baby passed out on my arm instead.

Basket Case

I've decided Shopko is my new favorite store. How long has Shopko been overshadowed by Target (at least in my mind)? But no MORE! I got some of my favorite maternity clothes there - including my favorite jeans AND they have maternity clothes on regular 40% off sales. We went there the other day so I could get new jeans and I was looking around other departments(aka: baby) and found a BROWN and PINK pack and play (totally would have loved that! Of course the one I have is more gender neutral) and the bedding set that goes with the ladybug blanket found in the picture below.



My Mom said Babies R Us was usually out of this bedding set - but it was at Shopko plus CHEAPER. Not that I minded so much before, but if I had only known I would call my daughter snug bug. . . .sigh
On the way to find Bill in Electronics I also ran into isle after isle of BASKETS! Wow, I was so thrilled - wicker type baskets in ALL colors, with and without liners, all sizes - like 3 or 4 isles of them!! I was already planning what to get and where to put it when we have a little money and hopefully a house. We also found a DVD/CD case that has doors and locks (keep little Miriam buggy out of there) the cutest "breakfast nook" table and . . . the way they won me over forever. . . they carry JELLY BELLYS!

Whew - so now you know I am a basket case for Shopko. Not that Target isn't great now . . . but I will not underestimate Shopko ever again.
(I know I'm a big dork)