My tea was a sweatin!

That's right, as I sat on my front porch on Sunday, relaxing in my rocking chair, reading a good thriller, I looked down and noticed my large glass of sun tea was SWEATIN! And I loved it! I loved that FINALLY we had weather hot enough and humid enough to make my glass of tea sweat. The heat index was 91. And, you may or may not know, that Iowa just endured over 7 months worth of days of temperatures below 80 degrees. So a glass of tea that is sweatin' is worth celebrating. Oh sure, the humidity made my hair frizz out and my eye-makeup slid off my face and I started to resemble Marilyn Manson. But still... I smiled. I sweated and I liked it.

In honor of the sun and heat I took my little Dolly to the beach. It was such a great day. It smelled like sun and lake and coconut sunscreen. Her little afro came out in full force.

We played in the sand...
She gave me a huge smooch and told me, "Mommy, your my best friend..."
And it wouldn't be a trip to the beach without a sandy little wedgy.

Conversations with a 2- year old

Setting: Daddy grilled marinated pork chops and the daughter loved them.


Daughter: Daddy! More fork more fork!!!

Daddy: Do you like that pork honey? You want more?

Daughter: (Nods yes). Fork!!!!

Daddy: It's PORK honey. With a P. Pork.

Daughter: (looks distraught now)

Daddy: What's wrong honey?

Daugter: Ewwww. Daddy are we talking about pee?

Daddy: (laughs) No honey! I mean, P, the letter P, it's pork, not fork. This, what we are eating, is pork.

Daughter: We don't eat Pee daddy. That's gross.

Daddy: No, we don't you're right. But I mean the letter P.

Daughter: (still thinking things over) We don't eat poop either do we Daddy? That's yuck.



And there you have it. A conversation with a 2-year old.

There once was a girl

There once was a girl. She was kind and funny and beautiful. She graduated from high school and enrolled at her local college. Her classes were assigned, her textbooks were bought, and just like that she was a college student. The months went by, winter dragged on and finally the spring came and the girl was so excited to welcome her first summer as an adult. She spent time with her best friends. She worked and she shopped. And by the end of the summer she fell in love with a wavy haired boy with a dark tan and a contagious grin. They were married and the girl had never been happier.

A few years went by and the babies came. Two of them- a bouncing baby boy and a tiny little daughter. And the girl was a wonderful mother. But heartache followed and the girl was soon divorced with 2 babies under the age of 3. But she was resilient. While her heart broke for her love lost, she worked hard to give her babies the best life possible. Times were tough and money was tight. There were times when the electricity was shut off for a day or two, and macaroni was a staple in the diet of them all. But the children were happy. On snowy Christmas mornings you'd never have guessed that the Mother had sacrificed so much to give her babies a twinkling tree so full of wrapped gifts. And birthday mornings always started with a buzz of excitement, for her children knew a special day was sure to follow.

The children grew and got involved in school. The mother juggled work and occasionally some night classes. But eventually the dance recitals and baseball games took over and the mother made the choice not to miss a single moment in her children's lives and her dream of getting her college degree was once again tabled.

The years went by too quickly. Soon, her babies were graduating. The Mother cried the day she took her young daughter to move in to college. Her daughter cried to. The Mother threw herself into her work and was promoted again and again. Soon, the many financial hardships she'd encountered for so long began to evaporate. She got involved in church and volunteering. The children matured. They graduated from college. They got married and soon the Mother was a Grandmother and she was so happy. She was filled with a generous spirit and she loved her 3 grandchildren fiercely.

And then on a beautiful sunny day, less than 1 year from retirement and with a 4th grandchild on the way, the Grandmother walked across a stage. She'd once dreamed of accomplishing a goal and she wasn't ready to let it die. She graduated from college Suma Cum Laude. She'd lived a life filled with love for others and in that moment the love from them was apparent as they watched her on HER day. And they were proud.

I love you mom!!!

The day I became a mother

It was Labor Day, 2005. I'm not joking, it was actually LABOR DAY, you know the Monday the rest of the world is enjoying themselves while cooking out, boating, drinking themselves into delirium- yep, that Labor Day. Anyway, I had contractions on and off all day. I diligently timed them- they never got stronger, they never got closer together. They didn't hurt that bad either, which I'll admit, I'll thought to myself, "maybe I truly am just the toughest woman to ever endure labor? Maybe I'll be that crazy story on Dateline of the mom who didn't realize she was in labor and gave birth right there in the recliner." Regardless, with no dramatic breaking of the water, and no life-altering pain, I went to bed.

The next morning I felt... off. So I called in sick to work. The mild contractions continued all day, so finally about 2 PM my mom convinced to head to the doctors office, "just to make sure." I did and they of course made me feel like an idiot for coming in nothing more than a case of "Braxton Hicks." I was feeling chagrined and a little more than disappointed that my stubborn child would not be coming out afterall, when the doctor noticed that I had early pre-eclampsia. She explained what that meant and said

"so, I'll be sending the order to the hospital and they'll start the induction."

Me: "Order? Induction? Ummm, like what... tomorrow, next week? I mean, people schedule these things, right?"

Her: "No, right now. Please drive straight there."

Me: (dumbfounded- I mean, we threw a camera in a duffle bag at the last minute before we left home but that was about it.) "Like, today? Will I have this baby today!!!??"

Her: "Yes today. Well, we'll start the pitocin, there's no telling how long the labor will last."

And there you have it. A few panicky phone calls later to inform loved ones of the news and we were off to the hospital. We checked in at 3 PM. They threw a robe on me and they jump started my labor. And at first things were peachy. I was laughing, I was playing cards. I thought, this labor stuff ain't so bad! Fast forward:

9 PM: I was in a rocking chair doing what laboring moms to- watching the screen for each contraction- seeing just how high each peak went on that little screen.

10 PM: Lying in bed, starting to feel what it's really all about.

12 AM: Writhing in pain. Realizing I had no idea what it was all about.

2 AM: Delirious. Frankly that is the truth. I was in a haze of pain and fatigue. My mom and husband took turns rubbing my back through the contractions. I'm pretty sure that one of them was stabbing me in the sciatic with a straight razor but to this day I can't prove that.

3 AM: The evil nurses kept refusing me any pain medication because I had what they called a "stubborn cervix" that just wouldn't dilate.

4 AM: Water breaks. I don't tell anyone for a minute, thinking I am so delirious I have just wet myself. But, it soon becomes hard to hide. Evil cervix refuses to dilate STILL! I am now pissed at my cervix because it is not catching on to this baby stuff at all.

5 AM: After some serious threats, cervix finally cooperates and goes to 2 cm. Nurse calls the anaesthesiologist.

5:20 AM: I greedily soak in the site of an 8 inch needle about to enter my back. Anything, ANYTHING to stop the pain. Soon, I am in a blissful, painless heaven and I rest my eyes.

11:00 AM: I am ready to push. Jackal doctor is no where to be seen. Baby crowns, nurse literally yells and actually uses the word STAT which I think is cool for a second until I realize this could be bad. He shows up 5 minutes later, strolls in, catches baby and mutters "congrats."

11:28 AM: My world changes forever. I hold in my hands the most precious thing I have ever imagined. She is perfect. She is healthy. She is so round and so pink and I love her more than anything. I am a mother.

And that's how it happened.

Deal or no deal?

I just got done puking up my morning shredded wheat, and was browsing through some of my favorite blogs and lo and behold I am the topic of someone elses blog! Great you exclaim!!! WRONG! So, dear friend, here is my response:

Dear friend,
I know I know, this pregnancy thing is throwing us all for a loop. I mean, we were just cruising along enjoying life. It used to be our biggest concern was how bad of an influence was Napolean Dynamite on my 2-year old anyway? Then two pink lines later, BAM! So yes, there is no turning back. Yes, my intestinal inhabitant is here for another 5 1/2 months. But I am willing to make some compromises here in the name of our friendship.

First to address: the drinking. Ok, actually there is no compromise on this one. But you find me a nice patio where I can breathe some sunny, smoke-free air, and I promise to come along, drink a virgin margarita, and act like I'm getting wasted, K? I would even dance on the bar, just for old times sake, but let's face it- nobody wants to see the pregnant lady doing her best Coyote Ugly.

Your second concern: my constant vomiting. OK, this one is hard to fix I'll admit. How about I keep all mention of vomit, puke, upchuck and anything having to do with chunks coming out of my nose to a minimum. Next time I need to hurl in your office, I will simply excuse myself under the guise that I hear my phone ringing and I'll toss my cookies in the privacy of my own office, K?

Ok, your complaint on the Mexican food. I just can't fix this one. I'm sorry, I just CAN'T! That's like asking Brittney to be sane for a day- it's just not going to happen. BUT- how about we go to the regular Sports Bar and Grill, throw on a sombrero and order us some dirty nachos? That would suffice, right?

Ok, the budgeting. Look, I know you all young and cute and single and can spend your money on cute shirts and heels- I get that. But throw a momma a break girl! I got plumbers and electricians and babysitters to pay! Just last night I spent my only disposable income for the month on a bubble-blowing mower and a turtle shaped sandbox. The problem is the pain at the pump. See, gas is expensive, therefore groceries are expensive, therefore I have to spend WAY more than usual to feel this hulking tank I call a body. Now, my deal for you is that I will start driving the moped to work. I think I can just string the Radio Flyer wagon to the back of it, throw a Barbie helmet on my baby girl and call it good. I figure I'll save at least $25/week. Plus, budget or no budget, you know this girl is never turning down a movie invitation.

Ok, so is this workable for the summer? Let's work this out. We've had a good run I think we should keep it up a little longer?

Foto Friday

OK, I know I've been a little absent again lately. But I was busy puttin' on my best Professa moves. My class is now over so I celebrated by taking my little Princess to the park after work today. And yes, don't be alarmed- the sun was actually shining and we did break 70 degrees so the cute little pixie shirt was completely appropriate.

Plus, I am celebrating motherhood today because I am officially in the 2nd trimester! So bring it on little womb-inhabitant. Bring it on!

Ok, in the spirit of mommyhood please allow me to be a doting mother... it's not like I do it everyday! I just love me some pig tails so much that I had to bust out some mad photog skillz.

When it was all said and done my little playmate was so forlorn over having to come inside that she just stared out the window in devastation... completely oblivious that she was totally sportin' a PLUMBER'S CRACK!