My Bathroom Cabinets Rival Martha Stewart’s

Today was another day where Nanny came and I did not go to work. I decided to use the time to accomplish something big - something that I could never do with CRB's "assistance."

ToolMan and I moved into our current house a little more than four years ago. From my findings of expired everything today, the last time any attention had been paid to our bathroom organization was when I packed up stuff to move.

As an Air Force brat, I am better at making new friends and finding my way around a new place than I am long-term organization.

What my 3 hours taught me:

• Apparently, I never need to try to buy makeup when there is a free gift offer going on.
  
• We have 7 boxes of band-aids.
  
• The act of buying a hair improvement product (moose, shine, gel, spray, different conditioner, different shampoo, etc.) WILL NOT improve my hair if I simply store the bottle under the cabinet.

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And the kitchen sink, too

At some point next week, CRB and I are headed to my parent's timeshare on the Gulf Coast. It is not a glamorous place but we always have loads of fun. Last year the place opened back up mid-summer (after the hurricane repairs) and the crews did a nice job. The pool had not been rebuilt yet.

ToolMan asked to stay home for some guilt-free shop time. As I have vacationed with ToolMan when he'd rather be doing something else, I quickly agreed. One other benefit of him staying home is that Colin can stay home. (Someday I will blog about Colin's horrifying boarding experience.)

I started typing up this list last week just to see what vehicle I will be taking. I am really hoping not to take the diesel Excursion, "the living room on wheels," but each day it looks more likely. For many entries, like swim wear, both CRB and I will need the item.

Beach trip packing list:

• Brown stroller
  
• Beach tent
  
• Beach towels
  
• Beach toys (sand stuff and floaty boat)
  
• Sunblock
  
• Sunglasses
  
• Swim wear
  
• Dreft
  
• Dish towels
  
• Bottle rack
  
• Baby spoons
  
• Juice bottles
  
• Formula bottles
  
• Baby food (veggie, fruit, cheerios, formula, rice)
  
• Diapers
  
• Swim diapers
  
• Wipes
  
• Waterproof crib mat to use as a changing area
  
• Night light
  
• Pillow
  
• Bumbo
  
• Exersaucer
  
• Laptop with media base and charger
  
• Backyardigans dvd
  
• Camera
  
• Camera charger
  
• Phone charger
  
• Blocks and toys
  
• Books
  
• Red push car
  
• Baby towels
  
• Hand soap
  
• Baby quilt for playing on floor (big one if can find it)
  
• Pack n play
  
• Clothes and shoes
  
• Hats
  
• Kiddie blowup pool (partially inflated)
  
• My book
  
• Ipod
  
• Ipod stereo
  

If anyone actually makes it to the end of this monster list and has a comment about what is extraneous or what I am forgetting, I'd love to hear from you. I never take a diaper bag in a restaurant, but I always have a ton of stuff in the car!

Back to Reality, and It Wasn't So Bad

I returned to work today after last week's self-proclaimed vacation. I had forgotten that I had cleaned my office before I left so that was a great surprise. I don't understand how I can actually not remember things like that anymore -I was truly taken aback!

Talking to a few co-workers, I mentioned how I had not read my email since May 18th. They looked at me like I was an alien (I do get this look frequently.) R said "There's NO WAY I could do that." K, another co-worker said "I am itching to check mine and it's only been a few hours."

Wow. Not me. I was ok. I had 95 messages waiting for me, probably only 20 of which were something other than solicitation or spam and about 5 of which I needed to respond. Not bad. The time that I picked for my vacation did have the benefit that no "academic emergencies" were likely to occur.

Nanny is coming tomorrow and the next day, so it's my big chance to finish my summer school planning and possibly get ahead.

Summertime at the Pool

One thing that I always look forward to is summertime at the pool. This summer is turning out fantastic!

CRB and I have made two trips to the pool this week, one Monday and one today. The outdoor pool complex at our university is fabulous! There are plenty of chairs and awesome gigantic umbrellas (20-25 feet or maybe even larger) strategically placed all over.

The kiddie pool has calm fountains and has nice non-slippery bottom. It varies in depth from 6 inches to 1 foot 6 inches. It has a great shape to it and kids of all ages enjoy it.

The big pool has a lazy river around it, special areas for seating in the water, a lap area, a water basketball area, a regular pool area, and then another raised huge tiled area with calm fountains that is about 2 inches deep. Did I mention the water slide?

Perhaps I can take some photos next week. I managed to take a few of CRB but there is no way I will take my eyes off him to photograph anything else.

Today CRB and I ventured into the big pool. He's my child with no fear so he floated with help on his back and body surfed with me on his tummy around and around the lazy river. He loved watching the children jump in, and the guys play water basketball. He never got upset when he was splashed. Monday a little girl poured a cup of water over his head and he laughed. How is this normal? Is he OK?

A lot of our friends and contemporaries, even many of those with a university connection, are members of various country clubs around town. I wondered this spring if we were going to be "missing out" because we are not, but CRB and I are having a tremendous time at the college pool. The facility is tremendous and we are getting to see a lot of people I know (OK most are under 24!) and we are making some really nice new friends too.

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

Thursday Nanny came again and I did not have to go to work. I played up my celebrity status by staying in the bed guilt-free until a little after 10. It was outrageous.

I helped Nanny with some housework, went to the grocery and picked up lunch for the crowd, retrieved Colin from the groomer, and started a sewing project for CRB. Here is a picture the john-john I made him.

Yesterday was also a BIG day for ToolMan and ToolMan's buddy Wren. Wren's CNC lathe arrived at the house yesterday. I am not sure how many times 18-wheelers have come to our house this year, but our neighbors no longer ask what is happening.

Wren is just finishing his Masters of Mechanical Engineering and has accepted an awesome job in Huntsville. Wren's lathe is going to stay at ToolMan's shop until Wren has a place to house it. Wren and Brandon will be making some parts for Citation Engineering, but Wren is planning to be his own job shop and make a lot of different parts, not just race car stuff, in his spare time. Last night the guys got power to the machine and got it to move in different ways.

Today we took CRB to the doctor for his six month checkup. (Yes, reader(s), I do know that he is eight months, but remember I was working full-time with help only two days a week, so you do the best you can. I assumed he'd get sick, or I would have some question or worry, and we would go in then, but he did not.) CRB got an excellent report. He's in the 75th percentile for height and between the 50-75 percentiles for weight. His ears were clear and she said he is perfectly on-track developmentally - everything a mom wants to hear. He got 5 shots (7 total kinds of vaccinations) and passed his iron level test. Unless we have a problem, he does not need to come back until he is a year old. I cannot believe how he is 8 months already!

Tonight Nanny is coming again to keep CRB while we go to the Bright Star Restaurant with Joe and Sue. Joe is a retired judge now law professor and has just finished a 5,000 mile in 100 hour motorcycle trip that he took with some buddies. I am very excited to hear about his adventures.

The Meme about Me

I saw this at Vader's Mom and I decided to participate.

What were you doing 10 years ago? I had just graduated from law school and I was beginning to study for the bar exam. We were also preparing for our August wedding and enjoying a ton of wedding parties.

What were you doing 1 year ago? I was pregnant!

Five snacks you enjoy? Fruit Splosions, Hersey's Caramels, blueberries, strawberries, bananas

Five songs that you know all the lyrics? In some ways it would be easier to name artists whose lyrics I don't know but that would not be relevant. First to mind: "Beautiful Day" U2; "All Along the Watchtower" Dylan/Hendrix; "Ramble On" Led Zeppelin; "Welcome to the Jungle" Guns N' Roses; "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" U2

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire: buy a forklift for ToolMan, buy my dad a Z8, hire my mom a housekeeper, buy myself another Mini Cooper, set up a charity for the remainder

Five bad habits: talking on phone while driving, changing the subject of a conversation, not keeping a firm sleeping schedule for myself, finding excuses of why I am too busy to go to the gym, not using spellcheck

Five things you like doing: Spending time with Colin, CRB and ToolMan; walking; sewing; gardening; reading.

Five things you would never wear again: permed hair, parachute pants, 80's Guess jeans, pastels, flats.

Five favorite toys: my laptop, my sewing machine, my Tivo, my iPod, my camera

I tag Kerri!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

For the first time, our Nanny came on a day in which I did not have to go to work.

It was my day to accomplish anything, and everything. After today, I completely see how celebrities can have it all. I felt like one today. I am sure Robin Leach was lurking somewhere.

As Nanny walked through the door this morning, I walked out it to weed the front plant beds. After I finished, I came back in to pick CRB out of his crib. He'd just woken up and I changed his diaper and we played a few minutes.

Next I headed out to the W-M & Brown's Nursery to get a strawberry jar for one of our friends who was diagnosed last week with pancreatic cancer. The plants I found were not the greatest, but the strawberry jar turned out okay. At home again, I got it planted and wrote a note to her. Once again, I left the house to deliver the plant, note, and new squeaky toy for their dog. They were at the hospital still, so I made my goal of a doorstep surprise for when she gets home from the scan.

Arriving home again, I was in time for CRB to be up from his nap. I love being the one to get him up. He wakes up so happy!

I had a truly fabulous day. Although I drove around a bunch, I was able to get something done that I otherwise would have had no chance of accomplishing. I got to spend some time with my son, but I knew he was having a good time and well-taken care of when I was gone. I am going to let Nanny go an hour early so she can have some extra time today, too.

Nanny comes again Thursday. Our Nanny gets a slim retirement, so other than that, we are her sole source of support. After the semester ended, ToolMan and I did not even discuss anything but Nanny continuing to come. What she does is priceless. I can't wait to see what I can do Thursday!

Truckin'

The past 2 weekends we have traveled - last weekend to ToolMan's parents, this weekend to my parents. Unbelievably after arriving home each Sunday, we have all had a 3 hour nap. Last Sunday I considered it a Mother's Day present from CRB, today it was a late birthday gift from him to me.

Thursday: Tifosi

One of the youngest Ferrari Tifoso:

taken December 10, 2006 in CRB's room.

Surreal to Real

Step back with me to Wednesday, February 14, 2007. Picture me coming home from work super late. ToolMan has been keeping CRB since the afternoon. I come into the kitchen and see some chocolate and a cute Valentine's Day stuffed dog on the island. Picking up the stuffed dog, I see a card. It's addressed to MOM in my husband's handwriting.

"Hey ToolMan, did you forget to mail your mom her card?" I ask aloud.

"No." he replies, and he looks at me and smiles.

"Well then whose card. . . OH! ...WOW! Thank you!!"

This Mother's Day was different. The painful yearning that I felt for the last 5 Mother's Days was absent. Last year I was pregnant with CRB and we had known for several weeks that he was a boy. It should have been a happy day, but I have no memory of it. I spent so much of my pregnancy in a state of intense anxiety. The only memory that I have from last year is the sweet mother-to-be card that Kerri gave me. I kept that card out on the baker's rack in the kitchen until after CRB was born. In late September cards welcoming the baby surrounded that hopeful card.

Today was a good day. ToolMan gave me a beautiful Waterford vase that is the first in a series planned for Mother's Day. CRB gave me smiles, a hug, and we all had a two and a half hour afternoon nap. This evening I received great cards: one from ToolMan, and the other from my little boys Colin (yorkie) and CRB. This time I got the mom reference without missing a beat.

Confusing the Nielsen Profile

My two favorite shows are House and Lost, but here is a list of shows that I enjoy that you might not guess.

1. Pimp My Ride – I love this show. My favorite part is the first 15 minutes where the crappy vehicle is shown and the outrageous plan is announced. If I could change my cell phone ring to the theme…
   
2. Survivorman – In each episode, some dude named Les survives in a different remote part of the world and films his adventures.
   
3. Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain – My Sunday night staple. Dave covers all forms of racing, and has a lot of interesting guests.
   
4. Barrett-Jackson auctions – I have no idea how classic and rare cars are valued, so I find this fascinating, mostly because I have no idea what is happening.
   
5. Are You Being Served? – 1970's English comedy at its finest
   
6. Top Gear – more British comedy this time disguised as a car show. My favorite episodes are 1) when Jeremy Clarkson drives the length of England and back on one tank of gas using fuel saving techniques & 2) when Richard and James spend the day in a SMART car.
   
7. Everybody Hates Chris – I have missed a lot of this season but I find Chris Rock very funny.
   
8. Match Game – The 70's game show with Richard Dawson, Brett Sommers, and Charles Nelson Riley. It's like having a dysfunctional dinner party without the clean up.
   
9. neat – It's a Canadian show that is a half hour version of Clean Sweep, except the show host Helen does not muster much sympathy for pack rat people. Every time I watch it, I radically clean some area of my house. Dangerous for getting dressed but good for Goodwill.
   
10. Mythbusters – fascinating, humorous, and one of the best shows on television.
    

I am not sure that my list was as revealing as when I heard that Anderson Cooper winds down to My Super Sweet 16 but hopefully you found it entertaining. Be sure to leave a comment if you have a show I need to check out!

Splish Splash Fun

This morning CRB had his first sitting up bath. I put him on the munchkin bath sponge and he had the best time smacking the water. I don't have any pictures or video because I was watching CRB very closely and playing ring toy with Colin the yorkie.

I’m Gonna Crawl

I thought that he was going to perhaps skip crawling altogether but I guess children will always surprise their mothers…

This afternoon, CRB managed coordinated hand, knee, head movements, and he moved forward on the floor in order to get his toy school bus. Moments later he did the same thing to get his stacking toy. ToolMan and I have not counted his crawling movements in his bed, so for us, this is his first, purposeful crawling.

I have to say though - he's much more interested in standing. No one would believe, unless you have seen it, the intensity with which he will try to use the jungle activity mat as monkey bars in order to attempt to pull himself up. CRB is a big baby, always has been. People in our football-obsessed town actually comment about how he's "going to help" the team one day.

I promise to post photos soon. Right now he is taking his third(!!) nap of the day, and I am trying to hold off tears that he is growing up so entirely fast. I think I am beginning to understand why people have more than one child. Could this be something to consider? Coming from an only, married to an only, the poor only child argument won't work on us. ToolMan says "No", but I say (a big, firm, tear-filled) "MAYBE", but not anytime soon and not without a lot more consideration, and not without the painful realization that even if we want another, it might not happen.

7 Things Meme

Amberly tagged me earlier this week for the 7 things meme. It's been a crazy week, so I am just now able to participate.
Here's a list of 7 things not universally known about me:
1. As a child I used to throw myself backwards. Like all the time. People think that when I comment about CRB's thrill seeking behavior that he "gets it" from his dad. Wrong! Flying and race car driving can be done somewhat safely... I am the one that wants an ultralight and would consider base jumping.
2. I am terribly afraid of escalators, although I will use one. See #1 above, I threw myself backwards off one at age 4. Thankfully, some nice stranger caught me somewhat.
3. My mom is kind of "granola" and she made all of my baby food without aid of a food processor.
4. I did not have a carbonated beverage until I was 6.
5. I did not spend a night away from my mom until I was 6, and that was at my grandmother's.
6. I love fresh cotton candy.
7. The house in which I have lived the longest was my first house with ToolMan. We lived there a whole 5.5 years!

I tag Totallyscappy for the meme.

Wordless Wednesday: First Wheels for Baby

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Manic Monday Typed on Tuesday

Colin the yorkie had a seizure Monday morning at 3 a.m. The last time he had a seizure was winter 2006 as a result of confirmed vitamin D poisoning in his special food. His special food is necessary because of the huge bladder stone he had in 2005. The dog food company, Royal Canin, responded in a very good way by paying for all medical bills related to the incident, and Colin made a good recovery. But long story short, I am worried that his food may be making him sick again. There may be something in the Colin's system that is responding in a bad way to the food, or it may be the food. The RC Urinary SO food is quite different than any other food in the way it is trying to prevent both kinds of bladder stones.

I had said several times in the last month that I did not think he was feeling well. But after the seizure, ToolMan and I were concerned because the last time he had a seizure was with the poisoning. I took him to the vet on March 15 and he got a great report, or I would have taken him in sooner (Never in Colin's life has he been given such a good report).

We don't have clear findings yet, and we may not get them without some more repeated testing, but I have switched dog foods and I think he is beginning to feel better. Perhaps I am right, and perhaps he is better.

CRB went with Colin and me to the vet. It took about 1 hour 10 minutes to get to the vet, 4 (yes four!) hours at the vet, and about 1 hour 20 minutes to get home. CRB did great. He found everything fascinating and he enjoyed the other animals and toys. This was his 5^th trip to the vet with Colin. That's a lot of vet trips for a 7 month old.