Tuesday

Creative title, eh? I'm tired what can I say?

So, it rained today. a lot. we were supposed to go to the Gardens this a.m. with Gudrun but it was pouring then. So, we went later in the day during the 2 hours it was not raining today. Good luck, eh? It was gorgeous and honestly I felt like I was in another city. Not that I don't think Cleveland is beautiful but this was just so different than anything else I've seen in Cleveland. I am hoping to get a membership and go back in the future. I would like to explore more with Griffin and whomever attends with us :)

I took Griffin swimming again tonight. It was late (8-9 p.m.) but he was still in a decent behaving mood so I went for it. We had a blast again. I asked him on the way there what the one rule was at the pool and he said, "no running." That was amazing to me :) and the right answer or at least the one I was looking for. We started him out in the lifevest and he liked that and was really getting good at swimming without me holding him. Then I asked him if he wanted to try without the vest. He said, "YES!" and boy did he ever want to try....unfortunately he just doesn't quite get it yet, swimming that is, so he kept sinking. The good news is he wasn't upset by it and kept trying. I'm thinking this is going to be a worthy investment! We are excited to go back next sunday. He was one tuckered out little boy after and fell asleep in our bed with Lee...I just moved him to his bed without a hitch....

Sunday Swimming

So, we went to the Y yesterday for our first trip to the pool. Griffin was a bit skiddish at first but soon warmed up to the water. I LOVED being in the water! He let me take him into the deeper water where I could stand but he couldn't but then he wanted to get out again. That's when we opted for the life jacket. I knew that he might have trouble staying "down" with it on but I thought it might make him more fearless. It did a bit until it toppled him over like a turtle-poor boy. Then Julia, a 4 y.o., showed up and his fears quickly disappeared. She jumped in the water by herself, she swam by herself, and she went under water. By then end of our hour session in the water he was wearing the life jacket doggy paddling by himself, albeit slowly, to the walls. It was amazing to watch the transformation. We are going to try to go again tomorrow evening!!

Great Day

Today was just all around a nice family day. I got to sleep in until 10 a.m.!!! woot. We took our time getting ready for the day with Lee playing with the kids, me taking a long shower, tidying a bit, eating a late breakfast, the kids eating for the third time of the day (ha), etc. We finally were ready to walk up to the YMCA and sign up for our new membership. We stopped for chai and coffee first, then a quick stop at elder N's house, then to the Y. We all got our id's, even Griffin, and we are set. G man and I are going swimming tomorrow to break in our membership!! On our way home we got ice cream at DQ and then stopped again at the in-laws for a visit. The rest of the day involved dinner, baths, and bedtime. I did some watching of t.v. and cooking this evening. Yes, a great day...

things of note: P took two steps today on her own. I think it was a fluke but it marks the beginnings of her walking! G said Please several times on his own today, he is practicing holding up two or three fingers (it's hard to get those fingers in the right spots), he is continuing to learn magic, and he ate SPAGHETTI! for the first time tonight with the family---this is a major deal :)

tomorrow is my morning on with the kids so I should get to bed....

She threw me a bone

Thank the freaking lord. She slept from 7:30 p.m. until 3 a.m. This wasn't all the way through since she woke like 4 times before I even went to bed but she settled herself back to sleep all those times. Then she came to bed with me at 3 a.m. and made my life hell. I"ll take it but I really need to figure out how to get her BACK in the crib after that middle of the night feeding. Ah well..it's still some amount of progress, right?

We had a glorious day yesterday. Went for ice cream and then to the zoo. Aunt Tamara came with us and since she has a broken leg Griffin got to ride around with her on the motorized cart. This worked for me as then Ms. P and I just visited with GG. It was sooo nice out. Then home for some resting and playing. Finally a loooong bath followed by more playing outside. Griffin only broke down at the end because he was really tired. I'm sad to think he is going to stop napping but it makes for a much earlier evening of peace so maybe it isn't such a bad thing. A really great day all around.

10 months old!

Sunday was my grandmother's 80th and also Paisley 10 month date :)

Stupid Me

So, I try hard to be green but some things I just cannot give into....my streaky stainless steel was one of them until tonight. I have always used nothing or just water on them when I clean but once/month allowed my cleaning lady to be toxic in our house with ZEP ss cleaner. It was STRONG but it worked and the smell didn't linger more than a day and I didn't feel ill from it (so it must be safe, right? ha). Well, neither of us have been able to locate the stuff since I ran out a few months ago. Finally I just broke down and bought a different brand. Bad idea. It looks great...but now my house is making me ill. More specifically my kitchen but it seems to be spreading. Blech. I feel lousy and it's all my damn fault. Lee cannot smell anything due to allergies but the poor kids...how do I get rid of this stuff? HELP!!!

She slept through the night!!

We were at a birthday party until 7:45 p.m. Then both kids fell asleep in the car. Paisley woke when I got her out of the car but I put her right back down and she was asleep by 8:45 p.m. She slept in her crib until 4:50 a.m.!!!! It was insane and awesome...of course I paid for it big time from 5 -7 a.m. but it was worth it :) also, I missed her....stupid I"m sure but it was weird not sleeping with her. I think it is best for us both in regards to actually sleeping but man, where's my baby going? :( she's growing up fast...

Biker Babe

10 is the magic number?

I am starting to think with all the superstition in me that Paisley is getting close to sleeping through the night. It hasn't happened yet but we have made GREAT strides over the weekend. Let's pray that is the case. She will be 10 months next sunday and that is around the same time G man began sleeping through as well. Only downside....I got my period 3 weeks later. So, I'm on the lookout for that too-blech.

something about my husband

I try hard not to write about my husband on here. I just don't think it's very nice or often what I might say wouldn't be very nice ;) but this story is just too funny to me NOT to share.

So, my grandmother helped me clean up my basement yesterday. Down there was a basket (one of my good laundry baskets) full of stuff from his old office. In the basket included one really big monster guy. We were going through the basket while G napped and as soon as I saw that I said, "Oh man Griffin is going to love that thing." Lee did not looked pleased at sharing with him. lol. You see, my husband has a small sharing problem. It started when he was little and his brothers ruined all his GI joes. We've talked about it but he can't help it. He's protective of his toys. It makes me giggle. I"m giggling right now.

So, he said, "I'll just put this upstairs on my shelf" I giggled inside knowing that Griffin would spot that guy anywhere he put it and he was doomed to share with his son. Sure enough just now before bed Griffin spotted him, saying, "what's THAT!" Lee said, "It's nothing and tried to hide him under some clothes." haha. Griffin did not let up and I Just giggled watching Lee squirm out of it. Guess who is sleeping with the monster guy? giggle giggle giggle. lol. I love my husband even though he can't share.

Reasons we don't do home improvement projects

So, our dryer has been making a squealing noise for a little while now. It hasn't gotten worse but it hasn't gotten better. A patient of mine told me it was an easy fix and probably the belt...my mom had also mentioned this as a possibility so I figured I would fix it. no problem, right? Lee HATES when I do this sort of thing. I am so eager to do it but doing things on my own, especially when learning, has never been my strong suit...I love learning, I love doing, but I like help ;) so he usually gets dragged into the project (that's the part he doesn't like). Anyhow, we start to investigate on the computer and waaaaay too many options as to the problem are coming up but one theme was apparent...go look at the machine. So, the family headed to the freshly cleaned basement for a looksie.

We unplug it, we move it away from the wall, we try to figure out how to look inside, we discover you must remove the back panel, we remove the back panel, Griffin finds batteries but calls them coins, we put those back, we remove a second panel with a bit more difficulty because the lint trap was holding it down, many coins fall out of the dryer when we tilt it, Griffin picks up coins and puts them in his mouth, I yell at him, we clean up lots of dust dog hair fur lint etc from inside and outside the dryer, we remove two separate pieces of metal lodged in places inside the dryer, we decide to turn it on to see if that improves or removes the squeal (it does mostly), Lee announces there is a fire and flits around a bit alerting me to it, I flit around some more figuring out what to do to get the fire out, I announce maybe it is the puff inside the dryer being dried that is on fire, Lee opens dryer, I see the light from inside illuminate the back panel but I confuse the light with fire and start panicking, I get a bucket of water, Lee looks inside and realizes it is the light....I recover from a heart attack, we put everything back together, no fire, all is well, squealing resolved!

wow, we should stick to our day jobs :)

stats

Weight 21 lb. 8.8 oz. (between 75-90%)
Height 28 3/4 inches (90%)
Head 17 7/8 inches (between 75-90%)

So, still a big girl :) but slowing down from last visit. I think she is just great. lol.
Paisley did not like the doctor touching her or investigating her different parts (eyes, ears, belly, chest, etc.). The Dr. said, "wow, she's socially advanced. they don't normally do that until way past 1 year." I had to laugh because what mother doesn't like to hear that their kid is "advanced" but really what does that mean? neither of my kids goes by the book either and they certainly aren't reading the same book. haha.

Anyhow, clean bill of health. Griffin got his 2nd tetanus. I think we are done with shots though. I feel good about him having that one although he broke my heart when it was done. He didn't cry but he wimpered and said, "ow why'd she do that? no no no." poor kiddo....

Paisley's check up today

I'm putting in guesses at 21 lbs. 5 oz. as her weight. Lee said, "only 21 lbs.?" haha. She is heavy but I just keep thinking that she won't be as heavy as she feels. Time will tell....1 hour and 20 minutes to be exact :)

Be back later with stats...

20 years ago...

I saw this on a blog I follow and thought it would be fun :)

20 years ago....
1. I was 10 years old, and in 4th grade.
2. I lived in St. Louis, MO on shenandoah...loved that house
3. I was the tallest girl in my class that year.

10 years ago....
1. I was dating Lee
2. I had just decided to work full time instead of go back to school
3. I was working at a friend's office doing retirement pension advisement.

5 years ago....
1. We were rapidly preparing for our wedding.
2. We were living in Lakewood in a friend's house with another roommate
3. Lee had a new job, I was working at Heinen's, and I had signed the lease on THIS place, my office!

3 years ago....
1. Griffin was a newbie :)
2. We traveled to Florida for his first plane ride to visit my gma for her 80th
3. Lee's grandmother was in a nursing home dying :(

1 year ago....
1. I was getting as big as a house.
2. Griffin was becoming the little person he is now instead of a baby.
3. I had just returned from St. Louis for a mom only weekend....it was nice!

This year so far....
1. we are enjoying the family life of 2 kidlets.
2. The kids have done great at their new sitter.
3. We all survived a 10 hour car trip to St. Louis and BACK!

Yesterday....
1. We all stayed home and played with a friend's daughter.
2. Then we walked to the office and baba's house for a quick visit.
3. Then the kids broke down and gave us another difficult evening...grrrr.

Today....
1. I am working again!
2. The kids are back at daycare.
3. The morning went very smoothly.

Tomorrow....
1. Paisley has her 9 month check up at 9 1/2 months.
2. it's City Fresh Day!
3. I am hoping to sneak away for an evening with some friends.

Next year....
1. I will keep working working working so I can make some MOOLAH!
2. Paisley will be running and Griffin will be running faster.
3. My BIL and Kelly move here---yahoo!

I tag....
1. Paaprints
2. Wawap
3.Meredith
4. mom (even though you don't have a blog)

The P stands alone :)

She stood today alone in the middle of the grass for a good 10+ seconds, then gracefully plopped to her hands. She had been standing next to a toy and her brother kindly pulled it away from her, she kept standing and then she realized she was standing and smiled at me and then like I said, plopped forward gently. Wow! not even 10 months old and doing this, I'm thinking she will definitely walk before G man did....

Laundry

I am one of those people that actually finds doing laundry therapeutic. I know, I"m crazy, shut up! I should say actually that I USED to find it therapeutic because now I can barely get one load done without having to wash it twice (because it sat for too long the first time), dry it 2-3 times (because it sat and/or because our drier needs some TLC), fold it on the D-L (when they are sleeping and I"m exhausted or in between battling each of them trying to knock down the piles of perfectly folded laundry all while they find it thoroughly amusing and I try not to laugh but I do too because they are cute and it's making them happy), and then putting it away! puh-lease...like that happens unless my mother is coming to visit (and then sometimes not even then ) or my cleaning lady is showing up. man, so much for therapy. haha.

I'm sure I will get back to finding it therapeutic. Then I will think back to these times and cry in my laundry pile, right? lol.

Today

Today I watched my friend's daughter since she watched the kids for me last friday. It was great! She is such a sweet little girl and since they all normally go to the same daycare they already knew how to play together. It was a nice day. Griffin was better today but still defiant defiant defiant. It's at times like he doesn't hear me but from the smirk on his face I know he hears me. soooo frustrating. and by the time Lee gets home I've had it with him and that is exactly when Paisley becomes needy. It's wearing on my nerves to say the least. I am desperate for some time away that I can just be away....I really really really want to go to mosaic this week but I need to go to JWCL meeting. I also haven't run any of this past lee so who knows what I'll be actually doing thursday evening. blech....I'm ready for life to be more "normal"...what is that though, right?

Sorry for the absence

So, I figured out that it was much much easier having P sick and Griffin feeling well. Griffin generally can entertain himself around the house and me and P was happy just being with me....the reverse was a semi-disaster on our household. lol. P was all over the place, still wanting to be held a good portion of the time, and G was whiney, itchy, crabby, stubborn, etc. the list goes on and on...I "think" we are doing better now. whew! All said the pox didn't keep us down too badly...I'm glad they are now immune, or at least I hope so.

All else is going well. Shout out to Kris and Will on a fabulous wedding this past weekend. We are trying to get organized around this place and I feel like it's finally happening. Now if I can just keep up with it and get back to organized at the office. I feel like I did when I was taking algebra and geometry at the same time....one up, one down. I'll figure it out and then prolly have another kiddo, right?

well, kids are a calling....

The face is affected

poor guy has them all in his scalp and on his face/neck today. they make me itchy just looking at him so no wonder he's kind of miserable. We've given some benadryl, doing oatmeal baths, and using the yarrow stick..all of that with some distraction and he is managing.