Sleepy. Definitely sleepy.

Hello :) I didn't get to finish my last entry yesterday- rather, I finished it TWICE, but it didn't save both times, and after that, I was just about done writing, and it remains to be done. Oh well.

Today was fun- I took the kids Orchid shopping with me because Mary Olsen, a friend of the family, broke her leg or hip or something and Grammy asked me to bring her an orchid. I keep not being able to get it to her, since Tobin's nap schedule has been so erratic, but today I at least got the flower. I took Amy with me to help out in taking 2 munchkins into a place with a lot of breakable stuff, especially since my back has been hurting.

I have sciatica (oh, how comfy) that is usually on my left side, but allllll last night, my entire leg was hurting SO much. I even dreamt that my leg was in excruciating pain (I've never been able to feel pain in dreams before) and I woke up, and did NOT have the luxury of saying "Phew! It was a dream.". I'm getting a Mommy Massage this week, though. My mom got it for me for my birthday, which is August 5th, in case any of you don't know. I knew from last time I was pregnant that a massage would be exponentially appreciated later in my pregnancy, like now. Smart me. :)

After we picked out an orchid, of COURSE it got kicked in the car and a bud fell off (boohoo) but all in all, it's still beautiful. CRAP! I just forgot I left it and another bunch of flowers in my car. I bet they're wilting. I'm going to go get them.

Alright- so the flowers are safe, and where was I.... after we picked out an orchid, we went to drop Amy back off at Sean's dad's, where they have a WHOLE bunch of toys and stuff for his neice's and nephews. That's where most of the pictures are from today. They also have pigs. Pigs are dirty, dirty creatures, and they SMELL. They also do not say "oink", as Tobin pointed out to me. The kids made some faces at them (I did NOT let them touch them!) and then we went back to playing, because pigs are gross. Now I know why it's considered an insult to be called one. PEE-YOO. Seriously. Smelliness.

 

"Mommy YOVES a doggie!"

Hooray! I took the kids to see puppies (they have a little place down the street from the house) today. Now, NONE of you can tell me that there's something puppy breath and little kisses can't make at least a *little* better. You'll notice there are a few pictures (yep, that's more than one!) of them... and Grammy, that's a picture of Tobin kissing a Yorkie puppy for you.. :)

I actually went in to get my bulldog fix- (Necessary sidenote: Have you SEEN a baby bulldog? I have NEVER seen a puppy even HALF as cute as a baby bulldog. I almost imploded when I saw one the first time. They're like $2,500 and HECK if I need ANOTHER little something around the house to feed, water, clean up after and potty train. I am not insane. So... I just get my fix, and give them back. Like a Puppy Grandma.) So I'm feening for little tiny underbite with jiggly jowels and puppy breath and a HUGE belly with little puppy grunts in my ear.... and there are SO no bulldogs there. Sadness. But my ankle biters played with the other little ankle biters, and all in all, it was good.

Tobin didn't get down for a a nap until almost 4:00, although he wasn't cranky or anything beforehand. Just that kinda mellow, quiet tired. (I forgot they made that kind!) We read some books (Noisy Nora, which my grandma read to me, The Cat in The Hat, The Foot Book -of course- and two Thomas the Tank Engine toddler books about shapes and about numbers. Whew.) We always read a few books (toddler books are short!)

PS: I spoke with Randal late last night- he was in port in San Diego, I think, for just a little bit. I was asleep when he called and pretty groggy on the phone (see earlier I AM SO TIRED entires) but it was good to hear him, if even for a few minutes, and half dreaming. That's usually when I hear him, anyways. :)

cont'd...

I LOVE the colors in fall, and I love love *love* being able to wear sweaters and corduroys. Those are my FAVORITE things EVER. And scarves and all the warm fuzziness available. I LOVE having a blanket and a book when it's cold outside... a fireplace is a nice little topper in there, but I don't have one in my apartment, so the light of the fishtank will have to do. I have one pair of brown maternity (hisssssss) cords that are alright- I can at least pretend to wear my favorite clothes while having an NBA basketball attached to my middle.

On *that* note- I had a Birthing Center appointment on Friday, and everything looks great. My bloodwork came back just fine- I'm not even anemic this time, which I was kind of suprized about, since I was with Tobin, and I get accused of every 5 minutes since I'm so skinny. I'll have you know I'm drinking blueberry juice (blueberries & raspberries are very high in iron) and eating iron (and calcium!) fortified cream of wheat right now. Aww yeeeah. The baby's head is turned down, and the heartbeat is as strong as ever. Tobin even got to hear it again, which is kind of cool, though I'm pretty dure he has NO idea what the noise is.

So... still no boy names. I kind of like Dakota, or Koty for short, but Grandma said, "But that's a truck!" I figure if it's a boy, he won't mind being named after a truck. For THAT matter, I bet he'll think that truck is named after HIM. :) That very same Grandma (or Bobbe, if you're not her granddaughter) was pretty sure they invented Bobby Sox after her (since she's actially pretty good at softball) so I'm sure it will all work out. It's actually a Native American word that means "friend". All the same, I'm not sure that's THE name, but it's one I kinda like.

Anyhow- I better get going and get ready for work. I'll write more hopefully when I get home, so you can hear about the pigs at Amy & Sean's, Costco, and Uni. (eew eew eew). The anticipation! :)

quote for the day: "It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." Alan Cohen

Holy Cow

Ohhhh, you guys, I am SO stinkin' tired! I'm sorry I haven't written much lately- I've been doing my darndest to even stay awake during Tobin's naps and bedtime. The last few days, I've just gone straight to bed with him. He's actually still sleeping in my bed now, which is why I have the time and (sort of) the energy to write right now. Phew!

I have so many pictures! Even if I haven't been writing, I've still been taking pictures to remind myself to write about certain things. I actually even wrote an entry that was at least 2 long, and some charming little chubby fingers decided that it would be a pretty good idea to turn off the computer at that point. Ah, the life of a mommy. :)

First and foremost- I have on the COOLEST SOCKS right now! Linda & Ray sent a care package from their trip to Nebraska with a shirt for Tobin with all the footprints of all the native critters, a cute little white sleeper for the baby, and FUZZY PURPLE SOCKS with FROG HEADS attached to tha ankles. These socks are awesome, and seriously the warmest, softest ones I've ever had. (see picture!)

Linda would have you know that RAY picked out the socks (she put in a disclaimer like three times before the package even came!) so thank you RAY for the nifiest socks in my sock wardrobe. Some of you might think I'm being sarcastic, but anyone who's known me since high school (where I *never ever* wore just plain white socks- I had cow print ones with pink individual toes that look like udders, tie dye (of course) and about every other print but white) will know my affection for bizzare socks. So hooray! I have new socks!

I took Porky shopping in thecity (San Francisco, you you non-Cali-lingo-fied people) on Saturday, which was fun, but overall pretty tiring. We didn't find a dress, although we DID find Godiva (hey, gotta take what you can get!) and they have a new truffle called Pumpkin Cheesecake... OH heaven. Oh my goodness. That was the best thing ever. I love pumpkin- especially since it reminds me of autumn, which I think might be my favorite season. I can even bake a pretty decent pumpkin pie- from *scratch* even!

... cont'd

I'm going to post some more pictures in past entries, so I can make room for new ones, so feel free to scroll back and take a look at those, too. I also just checked, and you can click on the "view my album" or whatever that says, and it will show all the pictures I post on here in one foul swoop. I think you can even make screen savers and stuff with just another click from there. Nifty!

The camera in my phone isn't the best focus or lighting-wise, but it works, and I don't need to develop or send them or anything! OOH! Maybe I can take pictures of pictures and post them. I am *definitely* going to look into that. On that note, I have gathered the most recent pictures of Randal, Tobin and I, and I'm just going to copy them all at Kinko's, so if any of you want a chunk of updated pictures (in color on regular paper) just let me know. You MD folks have yours on the way, rest assured. :)

I finished the second season of 24 last night- SOOOOO good. Oh man, you guys have seriously got to watch it. The 3rd season starts October 28th, and I'm about to buy a TV *and* get cable just so I can see it. Well, my parents have satellite, so I can record it. Sweeet.

Well- I am going to watch the *bonus material* (insert drool here) for 24 now, and, of course, get to my DDGRs.

Ooh! Before I forget- a lot of people have been asking what to get Tobin for his birthday. He (and I both) really like the Leap Frog toys- Gabby has a few, and they're awesome. He has none so far, so he's love ANYthing. Also, he's been really into Dr. Seuss books lately. We only have a few- the board book version of The Foot Book (which I think we probably read 5 times a day) The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, and Go Dog, Go!

Dr. Seuss is also GREAT for their language development, and goodness knows Tobin's is already off the charts, so I want to keep him stimulated and learning. ANY books at ANY point are great, though. I'd love to hear what childrens books you guys liked or one you still like. I know my mom likes the "Love You Forever" book, and I remember Kimberly liking the "I. Am. A Bunny." book at Grandma's house. I read so much when I was younger, I hardly remember which ones I especially liked, although I bet my mom could help fill in there. 

Anyhow- off to my DDGRs.

Quote for the day: "There never was a child so lovely, but his mother was glad to get him asleep." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sleep. Is. Good.

Hooray! I figured out how to take pictures with my phone, and load them onto here. Now you guys can even SEE how we are everyday. Well, somedays. I took this picture the other day when the kids were, as usual, naked and running around the yard. Those days are really fun.

Today... today was really tiring. I woke up and felt like I had glue in my eyelids. (not something I reccomend doing- if you want a story about putting glue in your eye, ask Grammy or my sisters!) I could NOT keep them open. Then, Tobin and his poor little self needed a BATH after the diaper change this morning, and you other moms will know what that means. Mmmmm. Also, during this bath, I left the bathroom to get dressed, and Tobin was quiet and happy.... then, as you other mommies (and daddies) will also know, I quiet and contented 2 year old is something to investigate, not cherish.

My brand new Coconut Milk bath gel I got for my birthday was full.... of water. Ohhhh, so sad. I might actually have to go spend $20 on i to have it again, too. It is (or was... sniff!) from the Bajik Spa line from The Body Shop- I forget the exact name, but it's SO YUMMY. Oh, it smells like heaven. I just want to keep smelling myself after a bath with that and my new perfume. But people might start to look at me funny. :)

ANYhow, so I trudge through my morning and get to work, and there are TWO little faces in the window to greet us. Gabby's cousing Tyler (who is 3 and SMART, which isn't always the easiest thing) was over because his mom went into labor. Damn her. Well, I supposed I don't want to be in labor YET... but the SECOND the baby is big enough to be healthy, I am READY FOR ACTION. I think Marnie (Tyler's mom) is overdue, though. She'd also been in labor since yesterday when I was at work. Yuck.

So I had three monkeys running around today at work.... phew. I've not been around a three year old boy much lately, so that was another little crash course. I actually had to EXPLAIN WHY I did EVERYTHING, and give him detailed answers to about 50 gazillion questions. Yeah. Can't wait for that. I will now cherish the times I can just throw a balloon in the air and say, "Hey! Look at that balloon!" and they are distracted and happy EVER so much more.