Life as a Leach

My life this week: swim lessons at 11:30 lunch after we get home get Caleb down for a nap leave at 3:45 for VBS get home at 9:30ish ...and do it all over again! The second half of my week will also include many visitors, so let's just say I'm a little busy!  I have a post ready for tomorrow, but you might not hear from me too much until next week when things have calmed down a bit!  Ta ta!

Today was Caleb's first day of swim lessons with Kandi Spain, who was my swim instructor when I was a kid as well!  He did a great job! We had many conversations this morning about the importance of being a good listener and doing what Ms. Kandi told him to do.  I think we did a good job of prepping him, because he was golden! Listening to Ms. Kandi's directions.  The older boy is her son, who was helping out with the younger ones. Kicking his legs.  Sara is in his class, which I think made him feel a little more comfortable.  Although, he was very concerned about whether Ms. Kandi would rescue him if Sara pushed him under the water.  I assured him that she would, but that Sara wouldn't do anything like that.  :) There were more girls than boys in the class.  One was Sara, one was a girl who spent the whole time screaming in terror while her mom video taped, one was a daddy's girl who spent more time out of the pool with him, and then ther...

We fish-sat for Ariel this week while my sister and her family were on vacation.  She's pretty low-maintanence as far as animals go....we just feed her daily and make sure her oxygen is plugged in!  Before I give you today's lesson, I need to give you a little background on Ariel. Ariel is a survivor.  6 fish were bought as a way to console some very upset children after their beloved dog passed away rather suddenly.  Amy strategically bought the kind that could easily be replaced in case of *ahem* an accident.  She got a really nice tank that plugs in and everything (rather fancy for $3 fish!)....and the next morning, 5 of the 6 fish were sucked up into the filter while Ariel swam happily around in her big tank.  Yes, Amy got her money back, but that did not remedy the fact that now these young children had not only lost their dog, but 5 of their 6 fish as well!  Turns out, you can only have one fish in that kind of tank. Anyway, Ariel is a surviv...

My high school trig teacher wrote  a fabulous song to help us remember the Quadratic Formula.  Have I ever used this formula in real life?  Nope, we don't really teach that in 4th grade!  But I still know the entire formula, thanks to this catchy tune!  "Over 2A, over 2A, over 2A!"  I can't believe I found it.  Enjoy a little bit of high school.

*  I like even numbers.  I eat all candies by color in even numbers (ex: 2 red M & Ms on each side) and separate all bites of food into equal amounts on each side of my mouth.  I never take handfuls of candies that are colored, because that would just be ludicrous.  However, Matt has tested me many times and no, it doesn't bother me if other people put a whole handful in their mouth. (Yes, I am well aware I have OCD.  It helps me relate to people better!) *  I have been to 6 foreign countries:  Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy.  I have big plans to go to the Czech Republic (Prague) one day.  *  I did not have an epidural when I gave birth to Caleb.  I wasn't against it, but I told myself the pain would have to be pretty darn bad for me to endure that big of a needle into my spine.   I have a really high pain tolerance (and a very low needle tolerance) and it just was...

This is the conversation we had while Caleb was drinking some milk. Caleb:  Mommy, is this milk from cows? Me:  Yes. Caleb:  Oh.  The cows pee in a bucket and then it turns into milk and that's how we get milk. Me:  No, it's not cow pee Caleb.  It's milk from their bodies. Caleb:  They have milk in their bodies? Me:  Yes.  The milk comes from their udders. Caleb:  Where are the udders?  Is that the pee hole? Me:  No, their udders are near their stomach. Caleb:  So they pee through their stomach? And this continued for quite some time.  Reason #349 why I'm thankful I won't be nursing this baby!  My sister will sure be getting some questions though--look out!!

I made myself a delicious tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil from my herb garden salad for lunch today.  Apparently, though, I shouldn't have picked the basil. Caleb:  Mommy, I'm still mad at you. Me:  Why?  What's the matter? Caleb:  You picked the basil and it's not good for you. Me:  It's not?  I think it's fine. Caleb:  No, it's not, and now your teeth are going to fall out. Me:  Hmm.  (opens mouth) Have any fallen out yet? Caleb:  Just two.  But wait.  There will be more. Beware of the dangers of basil.

I'm pretty sure Caleb thinks that the baby is going to fall out of the sky and into our arms.  We have never done the stork thing with him.  He knows the baby is in my belly and that the baby will be coming out in November.  That doesn't stop him from asking me every time he sees a little baby if that is our baby.  And every time I answer, no Caleb, our baby isn't coming until Thanksgiving.  Our baby is in my tummy.   So then he asked if he could watch the baby being born.  Um...NO!  I did promise that he would be the first to meet the new baby as soon as Mommy and Daddy are ready.  I'm certain I don't want to expose Caleb to that kind of trama!

It's no secret I'm a Gleek.  Well, apparently not everyone appreciates the beauty of this amazing show that takes me back to my musical theatre days in high school!  Can you believe that there are even some people who say it's just lip syncing!  Anyone can do that!!!   Well, here's a clip from the 2010 Tony Awards.  Matthew Morrison stars as the director in the show, and this guy dances AND sings his pants off!  (I don't particularly care for the song, but can certainly appreciate the amount of dancing and singing he is doing!!)  Take that, Glee nay-sayers!!!

Friday was Relay for Life, and it was a blast!  Our team sold used books, homemade dog treats, and "I Walk For..." sashes.  We also had a lollipop pull and Amy sold some hair clips. Matt took kids on rickshaw rides around the track for a donation, so we truly did a little bit of everything!  There was no real theme, but it doesn't matter as long as we raise some money!!  The books did alright, and people browsed through them right up until we started packing them up at 3:00 a.m.  We just had a lot so it didn't look like we sold many.  The dog treats went pretty well, but the sashes were a bust.  Live and learn, I guess!   The lollipops were GREAT!  They were very cheap to purchase, and just about everyone gave $1 or more for each one.  It was really great.  I am definitely voting to do that one again, because it went really well.  We didn't separate the money to figure out which thing sold ...

..I know you're all singing Black Eyed Peas now, admit it!  :) Relay is tonight, and it really is something I look forward to all year.  I haven't been as good at fundraising this year (chalk it up to being pregnant, moving classrooms, or just life in general), but I did manage to make my goal! If you have never been, you really should.  Whether you have had cancer or not, everyone has been touched by it in some way.  Cancer doesn't discriminate.  Relay is a celebration of life.  It's a time to remember friends and family who lost their fight with cancer.  It's a time to rejoice with those who have won their battle.  Plus, it's ridiculously fun!  There are so many people to visit, lots of games to play, stuff to buy, and tons of food!! My Reasons to Relay: My dad~7 years cancer-free My grandfather~ passed away in 2000 My friend Lisa Western~ passed away in 2005 My Aunt Betty Jean~ Cancer Warrior! My cousin Jacob~ Cance...

I'm totally stealing this from my sister-in-law , but she stole it from someone else! :) These ten things are bring me great joy right now: 1.  Caleb's excitement over the baby.  He loves to talk to it and inquire about its day! 2.  Tomorrow is the last day of school with kids.  Summer is near!!!! 3.  Any kind of fruit.  The baby likes fruit.  I need to get more because I go through so much so quickly! 4.  Relay being tomorrow.  It's a night I look forward to every year.  If you've never gone, GO! 5.  My new Recipes for a Cure cookbook sponsored by The Jacob Phelps Foundation to raise money for pediatric brain cancer. 6.  The Broadway channel on our Sirius radio.  I'm really going to miss it when our trial is up! 7.  I finally got caught up on my coupon-cutting!! 8.  Pomegranate juice, or any blend of fruit and pomegranate.  Pomegranate soda is fabulous too! 9.  Flip-flops.  I...

This site is dedicated to raising money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer.  It is in honor of my cousin's three year old son Jacob, who has been battling a type of brain cancer.  He's a pretty brave little boy, and I often hug my Caleb tighter when I think of all that Jacob has gone through. If you would like to support them and buy a cookbook for $15, it would mean a lot to me!  :) Yet another reason I relay...

We've been keeping a close eye on the birds, and they sure are growing!  The other day, I went in to get my camera.  When I came back out, I found Caleb dutifully guarding the nest! This guy must have been really hungry! They are finally starting to look more like birds and less like gremlins.

Yesterday, our nephew Ezra broke his femer.  His fall was really not that bad (according to his mom), but he fell in such a way that it actually broke like a corkscrew.  In addition to having a large cast around his stomach, down his leg, and 1/2 way down the other, poor Ezra can't put any weight on that leg at all...which means no hobbling, crawling, or even scooting!  We brought them some dinner, watched Isaac while they were meeting with the doctor, and hung out with them for the evening at the hospital until they were finally able to go home around 9:00.  Caleb and Isaac had a great time playing Batman and Robin with their superhero capes (thank you, Subway napkins!) and watching videos on my iPod.  Ezra, naturally, was miserable.  The little wimpers he would let out were heartbreaking, and it was obvious that he was in a lot of pain.  I'm hoping that he's feeling better today, but I'm sure he'll be uncomfortable for a loooooong time!  C...

I'm 16 weeks (well, 15 according to my doctor, but what does he know??) :)  I'm feeling great!  A bit tired at times, but overall doing really well.  The baby is moving a lot and kicking every now and then, but Matt hasn't been able to catch it yet.  We learned that last week the baby's ear canals allowed it to hear, so Caleb has loved talking to my belly!  He tells the baby about his day, sings songs, asks the baby questions...then gets mad when it doesn't answer!  He kisses my belly every morning and tells the baby to have a good day.  I know he's going to be the best big brother!  I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl.  I have an OB appointment on Monday and should get my referral after that.  I'm hoping to have my sonogram sometime next week so that I can tell my class and coworkers before the end of the school year.  I'm carrying this one very differently than I did Caleb, and my symptoms have been pretty much the ...

I've always tried to be environmentally friendly, but in my more recent years I've realized just how much is thrown away!   Sure, we recycle (well, I recycle...), try not to waste water, etc.  But I wanted to do a bit more.  I'm not into dealing with compost because I don't like the mess or the smell.  I knew there was more I could do! We went to all cloth napkins about a year ago, and I've never looked back.  Do I use an occasional paper towel to soak up nastiness under Becky's bowl once in a while?  Sure.  But I do love my cloth napkins.  I'd venture to say that Matt doesn't even mind them!  We've always chosen rags over paper towels for cleaning, so that wasn't really a change. Until a few days ago, we've been using cheap white wash cloths for every day napkins and have some nicer linen ones for when guests come.  Last week, Amy gave Caleb some ridiculously cute pirate-print napkins as a little end-of-the-year gift. Side Note: ...

Our baby birds are growing.  I'm reposting the first pictures I took so that you can see how different they look in just 3 days! Our little birdies, day 2 The other two eggs hatched!  This is day 3. Every afternoon, Caleb runs to the front door and begs to see them.  He coos at them and assures the mama bird that we're not going to hurt her babies.  He's quite a softy!

No, not me.  The little robins that have taken up residence in our hanging baskets.  They come every year, but Caleb is especially interested in them this year. Whenever I refill our watering bulbs, I take the baskets down to make sure I don't pierce the nests with the bulb!  Well, last night, look what I found... These little guys hatched just a few hours before this picture was taken!  They were really sweet in an ugly gremlin kind of way!  They kept trying to pick up their heads and move. Caleb's response was, "Can I snuggle with them a little bit, Momma?"  He did seem to understand the reason why he couldn't though. Matt and Caleb talked to the momma bird to assure her that they were not going to touch her babies.  We'll take pictures of their daily development as we continue with this real-life science lesson!  (I love stuff like this!!)

It's 3:00 a.m. and I am wide awake.  It all started with the bathroom...darn already-small bladder!  Then Caleb woke up "needing more light."  As soon as I started with a song in my head, I knew it wasn't looking good.  Now I have a new one:  "...I said Baby, it's 3 a.m. and I must be lonely..."  I was hungry too, so I snagged some of Matt's Vienna Fingers.  I was hoping to sneak them and he wouldn't notice.  Wouldn't you know he came down to check on me and caught me red-handed?  I'm excited to go to Canada this summer.  Caleb is thrilled about going to the falls and has pretend trips there all of the time.  I'm a little nervous about what my energy level will be by then and hope that I can keep up with Caleb.  I hate when I'm too tired to truly enjoy my vacation--especially a trip such as this. Our condo is only a few blocks from the falls, so I can go back and rest if I really need to.  Nothing is fitting right now....

Caleb is really into Batman right now.  Could it be because it's his cousin's favorite superhero??  Perhaps.   Tonight, he was pretending to fly like Batman from his bench to his bed (probably 2 feet, so I wasn't too concerned).  Just as he was getting my attention to watch his flight, he let out several big toots in a row. "See?  Those toots mean I'm ready to fly!" He says, without missing a beat! Oh, Caleb.  You do entertain me.

A flash mob is a group of people that do something completely random in a public place.  Welp, this is definitely a flash mob...using some of the best music ever!!  I was mesmorized by this!

That's pretty much how I'm feeling these days.  Daily, I take: a prenatal DHA Vitamin A Iron On really bad allergy days, I also take Claritin and Benadryl at night. In an effort to take control of my allergies in a more natural way (I'm really not much on taking drugs during pregancy--all of my daily pills are vitamins!), I am also doing a daily sinus rinse, gargling with salt water 2x a day to control the massive sore throat I have 24/7, and sniffing Eucalyptus oil to open up the sinuses.  Yes, I feel like I'm in a chemist's laboratory at times! I'm not gonna lie...the sinus rinse is one of the most vile things I have done in my life mildly uncomfortable.  It has even made me throw up a couple of times (which isn't hard to do because I have a really sensitive gag reflex).  But it is helping.  I can't say as much for the salt water and Eucalyptus oil, but I do notice a difference when I use the sinus rinse--and when I don't, like today b...

I have had a lot more cravings with this pregnancy. Some include--but are not limited to: pretzels ice cream (chocolate especially!) crabs...I really must remedy this! Coke (preferably real coke, but caffeine free will suffice!) fruit...doesn't really matter what kind Tootsie Roll pops I have found that I want these things with great intensity too....poor Matt! :)

Every year, my boy gets his summer legs...you know, the bruised-up, scratched-up, obviously-outside-a-lot kind of legs? Personally, I love them! Before you report me to Family Protective Services, I'm not saying that I like that he gets beat up. I'm saying that I love what those tough legs stand for: lots of running around, climbing trees, riding bikes and scooters, playing basketball and golf...you get the picture! I look forward to those summer legs every year because it means that, for a few months at least, I get to be with my boy through every bump and bruise. I wouldn't trade a second!