I gots me a dipoma!

3 years and a ton of money later I have an MBA. As my husband pointed out, apparently I can't graduate from a place unless a nun signs my diploma:

Sr. Nancy, Sr. Thrakill, and Sr. Whoever that is up there.

Aliens could have signed it for all I care, as long as it's in my possession and means I don't have to go to school any more.

Ta da - it's JoJo the dancing baby

Now I can look at these pictures and clearly see my child trying to lick his/her knee. Why, who knows - already fits into the family. JoJo does not like to sit still for pictures and JoJo is in utero folded in half with legs over head. JoJo is also breach and placenta preva, if this doesn't change I will have to have a c-section. I'd rather not, but whatever it takes to get the little bugger out safely.




This picture is a little more whispy, due to all the movement, but there's a little bit of a smile. During the u/s we got yawns, smiles, licking, eyes opening, and stretching. It was very cool. We don't have a DVD ripper right now so I can't upload the video, but I'll get it up soon.

Kudos for Mirror Imaging in Springdale. It's ironically operated by a family I've known for quite some time, in fact my u/s was done by someone I went to grade school and high school with. They are very nice, super flexible, and genuinely excited about helping you see your baby.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday (said in the voice of the monster truck announcer)

I have no patience. This isn't new to anyone who knows me. We've been wanting to get a 3D/4D ultrasound done of Halfsie, but my doctor's office had said to wait until 28 weeks. So like any good, patient person, I went elsewhere.

Cincymoms.com had some recommendations for Mirror Imaging - they are less expensive and open on weekends (so Jim doesn't have to leave work early). I called to make an appointment and they were already booked on Sunday, but they offered to come in early for us!

So on Sunday (at 26 weeks, so sue me, I have no patience - this has been established) we will know what Halfsie looks like, or at least a slightly less grainy more sepia colored version.

They say 27 weeks is better for chubby cheeks, again - no patience. I can't help it. I was all ready to do it in a couple weeks and then they said they could do it Sunday, would you wait? Shut up, I don't want to hear it.

Please, no . . .

UK Mom Delivers 14lb 7oz Baby!

Wowsers! A UK mom has delivered a baby that weighs twice the average weight of a newborn.

As Amanda Ellerton's delivery day drew near and then passed she knew that she was probably expecting a bigger than average baby.
But little did she realise quite how big.
Son Shaune was born after a six-hour labour, weighing a hefty 14lb 7oz. And what is more, his 24-year-old mother gave birth naturally!

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

Jim says no, I say yes.

Do they make one that says "My family's tattoos are cooler than your family's"?

Much like high heels - doesn't look comfortable - but it's so cool!

Aunt Amy - this one has your name written all over it!

Save the drama for your mama . . . aw crap, I am your mama.

So for the past several weeks I've been sleeping on the couch because it's too darn hot upstairs. Plus my insomnia keeps the tv on and I don't want to bother Jim.

At 5:00 this morning Charlie woke me up with a horrid screaming/moaning/hissing/merowing. Charlie "talks" he doesn't scream/moan/hiss/merow. I got up to see what was causing the trouble and it turned out we had a visitor on the porch. The black and white cat has visited before, but it was Minnie that gave he/she the talking to last time.

For some this might be a minor annoyance, but not a big deal. However, when you live in an animal shelter every action has a stronger and more annoying re-action. Tink, the gestapo, came running to Charlie's rescue - blaming Daisy (as she always does) with hisses and snarls. Daisy came to her own defense with barking and lunging. Yogi crawled up my back out of fear. I tried removing Charlie from the windowsill, but that didn't work. I tried calming Daisy down, but that didn't work. I tried removing Yogi from my ass, but that didn't work either.

I finally threw on clothes, turned on the porch light and opened the door - that was enough to scare off our visitor and restore the household to peace. Now the only remaining impact is the fact that I'm exhausted!

Happy Birthday to Me

Saturday was my birthday, my 30th birthday. I celebrated the way any 30 year old would. I had corn dogs and tater tots. My mom said my menu did not seem appropriate, I told her to drop the 0 from the invites and tell everyone I was three.

Some of my closest friends joined my family at the Lake for a little lake, some relaxing, a good amount of laughing, and a lot of eating. We had fruit, veggies, shirley temples, tomato tortes, salami rolls, twizzlers, sour cherry straws, tater tots, fries, corn dogs, beans, hamburgers, cream horns, cupcakes, soft serve, and smores.

I think I gained 5 pounds yesterday. I blame if on "Halfsie" it's a growing baby you know.

I had a wonderful day. It was so nice to have my family together. At this point I include my friends in that description as they are more a part of my family than some of my actual family. My family spoiled me with gifts and gave into my silly whims (something they normally do, but probably with a little less eye rolling since it was my birthday).

I am possibly one of the luckiest people on earth. I have the most wonderful husband, a phenomenal family, amazing friends, a job I enjoy . . . I am very, very lucky.

Thank you all for making my 30th so wonderful. Just don't ask me again how it feels to be 30, my other personalities don't know yet.

To see more pictures of all the fun, including the discovery that a life long friend has webbed feet . . . http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsmine/sets/72157601558754961/

30 is the new 20

At least that's what I'm going with. Today I turn 30.

When the hell did that happen?

On a more positive note, how would I look at a Simpson's guest star?

http://simpsonizeme.com/#

How Cool is this?

http://www.geargroupdemos.com/videos/DiaperVest/

"Vaz you ever in Zinzinnati?"

For those of you who can read German http://www.luette-leihen.de/ click here (and then call me, because I don't know anyone who can read German).

For the rest of us here's what the site is about:

Since newborns grow out of a clothing size every month or so in the first half year of their lives, German Lütte-Leihen came up with a solution: a layette rental service for a fixed fee per month. Parents can choose from different sets of onesies, pyjamas and outerwear. The clothes are delivered by post (or by hand to Hamburg and its suburbs). Once babies grow out of a size, the set can be exchanged for the next size up, free of charge. Like Netlix for baby clothes.
Lütte-Leihen's 9 – 11 piece sets come in a limited range of neutral colours and patterns, and include everything from bodysuits and pyjamas to socks and hats. Pricing ranges from EUR 17 – 26 per month, depending on which set is selected. The clothing may be used, but it’s in great condition; the items are only used for short while by each baby, and there's not much wear and tear in the first six months. Moreover, most of the clothing provided Lütte-Leihen is made from 100% organic cotton.

Not a half bad idea, although I think shipping from Germany might raise the price slightly.

Happy Birthday Bubba

Little Footprints

How very softly
you tiptoed into our world.
Almost silently,
only a moment you stayed.
But what an imprint
your footsteps have left
upon our hearts.

I've Found Mecca!

In my phone I keep a running list of websites I hear about, read about, or run across in daily life. Every couple of weeks I spend an evening online looking at those sites and others they link to. That's how I find so much good stuff.

Like http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp - my mecca. Their tag line is "Entertain Your Inner Child" - it's like they're reading my soul. And with items like these - how can you go wrong?

This isn't humorous - but it would look great in the nursery!

And then there's this - http://www.babylovesdisco.com/

"All across the country, Baby Loves Disco is slowly but surely transforming the hippest night clubs into child proof discos as toddlers, pre-schoolers and parents looking for a break from the routine playground circuit let loose for some post naptime, pre-dinner fun. Make no mistake, this is NOT the Mickey Mouse club, and Barney is Banned. Baby loves disco is an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun and mixed by real djs blending classic disco tunes From the 70s, & 80s guaranteed to get those little booties moving and grooving.
The fun spills out from all corners of the club: bubble machines, baskets of scarves and egg-shakers, a chill-out room (with tents, books and puzzles), diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks and dancing, LOTS of dancing. But at it’s core, Baby loves disco is a community event that brings kids together with kids and parents together with parents."

Unfortunately there's nothing closer than Chicago, but hopefully by the time Thumper is ready to party there might be one around here.

I think this is pretty cute too. It's from http://thesillywagon.com/. It's a vinyl wall decal. A little costly at $43, but I might have to check ebay.

For those who actually read, you'll notice the name for the 24th week is Thumper. Jimmy finally got to feel the little bugger kick yesterday - he loved it.

You've got to be kidding me

Jim and I are sitting in the living room, watching TV, talking about what needs to get done in the house and all of a sudden he screams and I look up to see a bat flying into our living room! I scream and cover my head with a book (because isn't that the first thing anyone does when they see a bat?).

Jim, being my big strong hero jumps up and says he'll get it . . . but he wants pants and a hat first. He covers me with a winter jacket that was still hanging by the door (shut up, we're behind seasons), and headed off to get dressed. I grabbed the phone to call my ever supportive family, who proceeded to laugh their asses off from the safety of their bat-free condo.

Jim came upstairs and proceeded to go after the bat. The bat came back into the living room - I screamed, Yogi the Ferocious dove under the jacket with me, and Daisy tried to snap at the bat like it was a fly. Jim screamed from the dinning room, I screamed, my family laughed.

Within a minute Jim runs for the front door, holding an old blanket, opens the door, and throws it in the front yard. As there have been no further bat sightings we are hopeful that it went out the door with the blanket. We found that the window in the dinning room had slipped open from the top a few inches, perhaps it was too hot outside for the bat? I appreciate bats, they eat bugs, I don't like bugs. However in the future they can dine alfresco.

One more time . . .

If you look closely you can see Nan walking up her porch.

Um, an even bigger WTF!?

So I get a call from Nan this morning - "I need you to do something for me, but you can't tell your mother." Never a good sign.

Long story short - in the middle of the night, a drunk driver did this.

The family finally made the news http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=2580e7f7-5da7-45ef-9d2c-acee0e3b75e0

I tried to download the video, but couldn't. So in case Channel 12 gets rid of it, it's "saved" below.

Nan is fine and while the porch is pretty rough but it seems like the house is okay. I guess I should just be glad she called . . .

P.S. Baby name of the week lbs. (as in pounds, 'cause we're both packin them on these days.)

Freestyle Skater 45 foot Freefall THUD! X games 07 ESPN

If I have a son, he will not skateboard.

WTF?

Can someone please explain to me why I can find this:

(A UNC NORTH CAROLINA TARHEELS MUSICAL CRIB MOBILE)

Yet I can't find one devoted to classic characters in children's literature? That is a sign of the downfall of society.

A mobile?

So I've been thinking about what mobile I want to put in the baby's room. With my theme I can't just go out and buy one. I've been thinking about trying to make one to match the quilt that will someday get made. But because I have to work on the quilt I need to figure out the lazy way to make the mobile. I had found a place on ebay that buys old mobiles and takes them apart and then makes new figures for them. I didn't like any of their figures, but was thinking that I could maybe buy my own figures.

Like these:

So - at only $8-$15 each, this will just be the most expensive mobile ever. I guess I need to start hitting the thrift stores.

I also found these - they have several varieties. They are books that are also pillows.

I need to stay off the internet . . .