This is just about our lives - four cats, two kids, a musician and a preacher.
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This is where you stick random tidbits of information about yourself.
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Monday, December 01, 2003
I just can't seem to keep up with my blog. So I've decided to take a little blog break. I've been writing so infrequently, it seems silly to even make that statement.
I'm trying to cut down on my computer time, since it seems to make me feel worse. There's something about the sound and the light that makes my headache/queasy feeling even worse. Hopefully I'll feel better in a bit, and pick up the blogging thing again then.
12:09 PM
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Thursday, November 13, 2003
It seems like every time I think about posting, I end up sitting here thinking "what was that funny thing Nathan told me today?" I actually remember one something today.
We were driving home from the Y today, and we were stopped at a red light. Nathan looks out to his right and says, "HEY! It's Fish's Big Boy! He's a big, big, big, big boy!" We usually see the other Frisch's on 18, and he was just amazed to find another Big Boy.
The other night, Nathan had a hard time with supper. He was HUNGRY, but he didn't want the ravioli that we had fixed. We finally settled on a quesadilla and a pickle. But he wanted fries. When I explained that we have tater tots but no fries, he offered to compromise on a frozen fry. "We have no fries" was just an unacceptable answer. I offered a frozen tater tot, but that wasn't the same. Luckily, he spied the bag of frozen fruit and decided that would do. Since his frozen peach was cold and his quesadilla was hot, he wanted a warm pickle. So I microwaved his pickle, and all was finally well.
11:24 AM
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Sunday, November 02, 2003
Have I mentioned lately that Hurt Paw Kitty is a great cat? I just love that cat. I've always admired Siamese cats, but I've never really known one. I don't think you can know a Siamese unless they have chosen you.
Hurt Paw Kitty sat with Randy on his bench for the whole Trick or Treat parade last Friday. He made quite an impression on the Halloween ghouls.
Nathan and Hurt Paw Kitty like to play in the leaves together. Hurt Paw Kitty flops, then Nathan rolls around beside him. The other day, Nathan went to the back gate and started calling "Huht Paw Keeeeety!" and he came trotting up from the stream. This cat comes when a two year old calls him! All of the indoor cats run and hide. Nathan doesn't mess with Hurt Paw Kitty like he does with Hobbes, Diego, or Noire. He knows that Hurt Paw Kitty is feisty.
I looked into purchasing an outdoor heating pad for Hurt Paw Kitty, since he can't come inside. But Randy has forbidden a $60 splurge on a cat that isn't really ours. He does agree that we need to get him fixed. I guess we'll fix up the guest room for him when that happens.
12:45 PM
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Tuesday, October 28, 2003
I am just beyond tired. It's a good thing Nathan went to bed early last night because of the time change. Luckily, I did too. At least I got an hour of sleep before he woke up. And stayed up. From midnight until 4:30.
He wanted to be asleep, but he just couldn't get comfortable. Then at 3:00 he finally threw up. After a bath and clean PJ's, he felt MUCH better. So much better that he was ready to go! He picked up his plastic bat, hopped up and down and yelled "Play tennis!"
While he was in the tub, he noticed the yucky floaties and said "I burped." After I explained that he had thrown up, he kept saying "I choked up." It would have been funny, except that it was 4 in the morning.
12:09 PM
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Saturday, October 25, 2003
Today is our anniversary! Six years! Sometimes our wedding seems like just yesterday. Sometimes when I look at the pictures I wonder "Who were those people?" I laugh at how little we really knew about each other when we got married.
We took our honeymoon in Hawaii. It was a great trip! When I'm feeling stressed, I escape in my memories of Hawaii. But I laugh when I think of our second night there. We had spent all day on a cheesy tour of the Waiameia Canyon. I started running a fever during the bumpy offroad part of the tour. By the time we got back to the hotel, I had one of those raging fever headaches. I just wanted to sleep! Randy kept waking me up every 20 minutes or so to tell me that I wouldn't be able to sleep later if I slept too long then. Hah!! He laughs at that story now that he knows my ability to sleep anywhere and anytime.
I'm off to close my eyes for a few minutes before we go OUT! Nathan is going to play with his buddy Aaron for a few hours while Randy and I enjoy our anniversary. Aaron does have chicken pox, but oh well! They've been playing together this whole week, so Nathan has already been exposed. We'll know in about 10 days.
1:14 PM
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Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Why is it that when it rains it pours?? I had been feeling halfway OK, despite this fever that has been popping up the last few days. But I woke up this morning with the kind of sore throat that turns toast crust into jagged glass. So I called the doctor, who can see me late tomorrow afternoon.
Nathan woke up happy and poopy this morning, and of course there were no wipes in his room. He pitched a raging fit when I left his presence to search for wipes. I came back in time to see him launch over the side of his crib and land flat on his back. He was crying and wailing when I picked him up, but then he went limp. When I held him in front of me, his eyes were rolling back and his lips were blue. He was only out for a few seconds, but it really scared me! I put in a call to his doctor, and by the time the office called back Nathan seemed back to normal.
I hear him waking up. Time to go guard the cribside. I think the crib is turning into a daybed this weekend.
1:31 PM
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Tuesday, October 21, 2003
My week definitely got better last week! I really love playing in Owensboro. There's a great spirit of comradery between the musicians. And playing Brahms, Schumann and Ravel will lift my spirits anytime!
I'm much happier with the performance schedule that I picked this season. Last season, I picked Lexington MasterClassics over Owensboro just because Lexington is closer. But I always felt cheated! The programming in Owensboro is always better, and the level of respect (and competence) from the podium always makes such a huge difference. So I'm playing all of the Pops concerts in Lexington, and picking Owensboro when there is a conflict.
I picked up Ina May Gaskin's newest book on midwifery last weekend - Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. The first half of the book is devoted to birth stories from The Farm in Tennessee. All of the births are homebirths attended by midwives. Before I read this book, I knew that I wanted our next baby delivered by a midwife. But I thought that a hospital birth might still be OK. Now I'm not so sure. I'm not sure that a homebirth is for us either, but the birth center in Cincinnati sounds so appealing. But it is out of network for our insurance. We have some research ahead of us. With our last sorry insurance, we had to pay over $3000 out of pocket for Nathan's birth. If we're going to pay that kind of money, I want a say in how baby is born!
I'm off to read more Ina May.
1:41 PM
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Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Last week I thought "I'm having a lousy week." Now it looks like I may be having two lousy weeks. Nothing major has gone wrong, just about a million little things.
Exercising again is part of my plan to end this feeling yucky. This week is Owensboro Symphony madness, so the exercise will have to wait until next week.
I hear Randy downstairs with lunch. Maybe that will help me feel better right now!
10:53 AM
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Sunday, October 05, 2003
So much for feeling better and being well rested. I'm in day 3 of a cold now. It's just one of those irritating sniffly things that totally disrupts sleep. So between that and Nathan being up most of last night, I feel like a big old soggy noodle today.
Anything that disrupts sleep WILL happen on a Saturday night in our house. Randy's day starts so early on Sundays, and he gets really testy if anything disturbs the little sleep that he does get. So at 4:15 AM, Nathan stood up in his crib and said "I want to go!" I had to ask "Go where?" "To the Mommydaddy bed," he says. This was after being up with him for two hours already, and I was just desperate to lie down. So off to the Mommydaddy bed we went. Randy was not pleased. Nathan did eventually sleep - with he head pressed against my shoulder and his feet wedged up against Randy's back.
I took a little snooze on the recliner after church while Nathan climbed on me. At one point, he climbed on top of me. When I opened one eye, he said "Mommy tired." Yup. Then after I got up he asked "Mommy sleep again?" Hopefully.
12:30 PM
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Thursday, October 02, 2003
I realized yesterday that I FEEL better. I had been having awful dizzy spells and visual disturbances for several months. I hate going to the doctor, so I didn't. Still haven't. Probably should. But the iron supplements seem to be helping. Nathan also slept all night last night and the night before. We thanked him!
Naptime was just funny today. Naptime is usually a bit of an ordeal. After lunch we have to come upstairs, put the FuzziBunz on, maybe read a book or two, then nurse for a good long while. Today, Nathan finished his lunch and told me to "Sit and nurse!" So I moved his plate and sat. He sat next to me and nursed, and when I looked down a few minutes later he was OUT. I carried him upstairs and laid him down in his bed almost two hours ago. Ahhhhhh.
Now that it's getting colder, I've been more concerned about Hurt Paw Kitty. I hate to think of him out in the cold, but we can't bring him in. We can't afford for Hobbes to have any more medical problems, and he gets Urinary Tract Infections when he is stressed. But Hurt Paw Kitty is SO sweet. He follows us around the neighborhood. Last night he plunked himself down in the middle of the circle while the older boys kicked the ball around. Hurt Paw Kitty likes for Nathan to run down the hill so he can zoom past him. I'm off to hunt for a nonelectric heating pad while I'm thinking of it.
12:11 PM
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Sunday, September 28, 2003
Whew! I made it through my crazy busy time without (knock on wood) getting sick! Both orchestras had good opening concerts, and Linda Ronstadt was fantastic. I love her sense of phrasing. She sang all of those great Nelson Riddle tunes - Straighten Up and Fly Right, Crazy for You, Someone to Watch Over Me. . .
Playing in Owensboro was difficult. It was the first series at Riverpark Center after Kerry died. Her husband Marty played, and it was hard to see him in such pain. I think about how much Kerry loved him, and how their marriage meant everything to her. The thought of him waking up in the morning without her, and going to sleep at night missing her is just so sad.
I was surprised that Nick didn't talk about Kerry from the podium. I'm sure he had reasons of his own - maybe he had discussed it with Marty. But I would have liked some sort of recognition of my friend's passing.
12:12 PM
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Friday, September 19, 2003
Ahoy, me harrdies! That's Captain Feathersword's "hello." I've been looking for a Captain Feathersword Halloween costume for Nathan. I'm just not sure I can fork out the $30 for the official version. I'm also wondering how hard it would be to make a Henry the Octopus costume for myself. Very difficult, most likely, since I don't sew! I'm playing the Lexington Philharmonic Halloween shindig this year, and I need a costume.
Have I mentioned here that they TOOK OUR 9:30 AM JAY JAY OFF THE AIR??? How could they do that to us??? Don't they know that 9:30 Jay Jay gave me just enough time to wash my hair, get dressed, and get the diaper bag ready for the day?
WCET changed their morning line up. They replaced all of their good preschool shows with "Instructional Television." Which seems to be a euphymism for "boring, low budget shows." Before this downhill turn, our TV was tuned to WCET and KET. We've had to branch out to Noggin, Disney Playland, and Nick, Jr to fill in the gap.
I'm a little irritated.
I also need a nap. We're on Day 4 of my crazy two weeks. Nathan doesn't sleep well if I'm away at bedtime. He has been up once or twice for the last three nights. Cross your fingers for tonight, because this weekend is just a killer. We have THREE services on Saturday now. LPO is playing for Linda Ronstadt in Maysville at the Rosemary Clooney Festival. Then I drive to Owensboro on Sunday for two rehearsals. Just thinking about it wears me out.
12:49 PM
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Wednesday, September 17, 2003
What a gorgeous day!! It's just the right shade of warm with a touch of breeze. We walked down to the playground, and stopped to visit with Aaron and Joan, his mother, around the corner. Nathan calls him "Aanon," and asks for him every time we pass his house. Which is anytime we go anywhere! The big thing now is to knock on Aanon's door to see if he can play.
Our TV viewing is spiraling out of control. Nathan discovered The Wiggles at the Y. At first I told him that our TV doesn't show The Wiggles. But then I gave in. The show bugged me at first, but it has grown on me. Four guys dancing around and making up silly songs originally struck me as odd. But after several gazillion shows, they feel like part of the family.
If we just stuck to The Wiggles, that would be OK. But now Nathan likes Dora the Explorer, Maisy, Miffy and Friends, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Rolie Polie Olie. . . TOO MUCH TV!!! Did I hear someone say "Just turn it off then"? I'm trying. I mean I'm trying to make myself! I feel so guilty for letting him watch too much, but I can do things like wash my hair, make a phone call, read a chapter of my book. . .
Well, I'm off to clean. My grandparents are stopping by to visit Randy and Nathan tonight. I'll be at rehearsal. They are on their way to the airport to fly down to Florida. Dad's sentencing is on Friday.
12:17 PM
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Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Okay. I haven't written in forever. The stress of starting a new studio has been a monkey on my back. I just hate the business part of running a studio. Working at Northern Kentucky University will take care of some of those details. I've never had to market myself before, and I don't much care for it.
These next two weeks are just insanely busy. I have 15 orchestra services in the next 11 days. I won't see Nathan at bedtime for seven nights straight. I hate that. Bedtime usually goes pretty smoothly (unless there was a 5 PM nap). We do snack, bath, then the nursing chair. Before I leave tonight, I'll tell Nathan that he needs to take a bottle from Daddy. He calls it his "nursey bottle." Sometimes he'll say "OK. See ya in the morning." But lately he cries and holds onto my leg.
I've had great success with "Once upon a time there was a little boy" stories! The little boy does things that Nathan is getting ready to do, or he does things that Nathan is resisting. Yesterday the little boy lay still and watched TV while his Mommy changed a poopy diaper. So Nathan did too! One story is never enough. Nathan tells me "Wittle boy again!"
Randy tried to tell a little boy story yesterday, and he had the little boy doing all sorts of naughty things! NO!!! Little boy models good behavior!
I'm off to enjoy naptime. There was NO NAP yesterday.
10:53 AM
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Friday, August 29, 2003
The things that Nathan says just crack me up! Yesterday we were walking down the sidewalk, and he stops. I walked ahead and turned to see if he was following. He was walking the opposite direction, but he stopped to wave and say "Bye! Have a nice trip!"
Where did he get that one?
He still counts "Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Four!"
8:54 AM
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Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Our stray kitty seems to be a fixture on our front porch now. I think he'll always be an outside kitty. He would like to come in, but we just can't afford to disrupt the cat balance. Hobbes' medical bills cost us over $800 this last year, and he's finally well. Stress just does bad things to him.
Nathan still calls our stray friend "Hurt Paw Kitty." But his paw seems to have healed just fine. We've known him for several months now, but I only started feeding him when his paw was hurt. He's SO pretty! He's a little Siamese guy - brown markings with an apple head. He even likes Nathan. He rubs against his legs and flops for him.
Last week, Nathan told me "THIS cat IN!" Sorry. He has to stay out. Every time we go out the front door, Nathan yells, "No, Ah Deego! NO!!" Which alerts Diego and sends him flying to the door. Then Nathan stands in the open door to see who will win, Diego or Mommy. Diego really hates the stray cat, so I work hard to make sure he stays in.
I have one lonely little lesson to teach today, and it looks like Nathan is not going down for a nap. Maybe he'll go to bed early and I can watch Charmed at 10:00. I usually only catch the second half.
If any of you all watch Charmed, could someone please tell me what happened to Phoebe and Cole's demonic baby? I missed the end of that story line, and they never talk about it.
12:30 PM
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Wednesday, August 20, 2003
It's getting much easier to travel with Nathan. We did just fine over the weekend. The logistics of checking in and out of a motel with a baby were just overwhelming. Now that he's walking and paying a little bit of attention to what I tell him, that's much easier.
Nathan had a blast with Hayes, Bonnie, Sarah Margaret, and Ellen. He was napping when I left for my long day, and that was a huge relief for me. I had envisioned one of those no nap days from toddler hell. But he had a big time! They walked down to the barn to see the horse and the mule. He ate his favorite meal for supper - salmon and corn. And he was asleep on the floor with a little pillow and blanket when I got back at 11:00. Ahhhh.
Our conversations in the car just crack me up! On the drive back from Owensboro, we passed a big plant with smokestacks. Nathan was very interested. He especially liked the "clouds" pouring out of the smokestacks. I told him that was smoke, but he said, "No. Clouds!" Ok.
He's leaving so many of his cute baby pronunciations behind. He finally stopped calling Snuffy "Nussy." Even though he can say B's and J's clearly now, he held onto "Ih Gake" for Big Jake. But today I heard him actually say Big Jake. At least we still have "A Deego" for Diego!
11:16 AM
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Thursday, August 14, 2003
We got coupons in the mail for The Picture People, so I decided to try them for Nathan's two year pictures. I knew it would be tricky, since the store is right next to the indoor playground at Florence Mall. When the photographer led us to the front of the store (instead of a room with a curtain), I explained that Nathan would most likely end up in the playground instead of a picture. The rest of the session went downhill.
I don't think we'll go back there. Besides being overpriced, they print out several pages from every pose. Then they shred the pages that you don't buy. I HATE that. Surely they wouldn't have to charge $15/sheet if they didn't waste all that paper.
Nathan and I leave for Western Kentucky tomorrow. We're combining a visit with family in Madisonville and my concerts in Hopkinsville and Owensboro. Nathan's going to stay at Hayes and Bonnie's all day Saturday while I'm in Hopkinsville. I hope that goes okay. It's a long day, 1-11, and Nathan hasn't done that long of a day without us. Makes me nervous, but I'm sure it will be fine. He'll have cats and cousins, a horse, a mule and a pool.
I'm so excited - I get to start Nathan's TWO scrapbook. I still haven't finished his baby book yet, and I'm not even sure he'll have a seperate ONE book. But TWO is underway!
10:55 AM
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Monday, August 11, 2003
OK, Nathan cracks me up. We were up on the bed the other morning, and he tells me that he's going downstairs. I asked him what he was planning to do downstairs. He gets this little grin on his face, and says "Hmmmm, 'et's see. . ." with the exact same inflection that I always use. Then he just cracks up!
We went to the Newport Aquarium with Mom and Graves yesterday. We had been talking about doing that with then for months. Nathan loves the sharks and the sea turtles. But I think his favorite is still the huge whale fountain in the lobby. It's Jay Jay and Tracy's whale. In one episode, they swim underwater with a whale.
Speaking of "the guys," Big Jake is broken! His wheels broke off at church yesterday. It wasn't a big deal until Nathan started in on his favorite game with the guys this morning. He likes to line them up either wing to wing or nose to tail. Now Big Jake doesn't line up right. It was very upsetting. Randy wants to head on over to Toys R Us and get a new set of guys. I think we'll wait. Nathan was figuring out different ways for broken Big Jake to still play.
12:36 PM
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Thursday, August 07, 2003
Oh, it has been one of those no nap days. Nathan was sleepy at the usual naptime. We did the usual nap routine. Then he slept for 5 minutes and woke up crying. He did this yesterday too. I don't even remember the day before yesterday. But it feels like a LONG time ago.
Maybe once you learn how to do a somersault, you don't take naps anymore. I almost wrote "you don't need naps anymore," but he really DOES need one. Nathan did bad things to Noire and Diego all afternoon. Sure sign of a sleepy, cranky boy.
We received a UK Wildcat shirt/shorts outfit that is almost too small for Nathan. But he loves it anyway! He wears the tank top over other outfits. And now he says "Go Cats!" We called Mom (Grandmommy) and Dad and Laura (Grandad and Gran) today so Nathan could tell them "Go Cats!" Randy tries to counter with "Go Vols," but Nathan already loves his Kentucky Wildcat. He calls it "a Tucky Wilecat."
We had to play both violas and the violin tonight. He calls it "a woewa." I thought about getting him his own violin for his birthday, but I think we'll wait until Christmas or next birthday. He does have a tiny violin that gets us through.
6:33 PM
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Friday, August 01, 2003
I did talk to another OSO friend in Bowling Green, and found out more about how Kerry died. They had played a wedding together the weekend before, and Kerry was limping and thought she had sprained her foot. It turned out to be a blood clot in her foot that traveled to her heart.
Kerry's death was such a shock. Randy and I had talked about finding a guardian for Nathan should anything happen to both of us. We've known who we want to ask since before Nathan was born, but just haven't asked yet. We really need to have that conversation.
I can't believe Nathan will be two on Monday! I think he's going through a growth spurt. He has been taking 2 -3 hour naps. And he slept for 12 hours last night (with a diaper change/nursey break at 2 AM). I slept until 9 AND got to read the paper over that second cup of coffee!!
We have a cat visitor. A very friendly male Siamese has been using our bench for his morning naps off and on for several months. But now he is injured, and he is using our bench for his recovery. His paw is hurt, but I can't tell how badly. He doesn't have any cuts or wounds, and he can still flex his paw and stretch his claws. But he won't put any weight on that leg. Randy says we are NOT taking this cat to the vet. He has a flea collar. But I am feeding him.
Nathan really likes this cat. He talks about him all the time. "Cat. Paw hurt. Aw! He's sad." Last night, he pointed to the cat and said, "Cat - IN! Na Na want!" Nice try, but we already have three. They would not appreciate the company.
8:52 AM
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Friday, July 25, 2003
Here is an article about my friend Kerry:
http://www.bgdailynews.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?/200307/16+sharer20030716_news.html+20030716+news
9:34 AM
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Tuesday, July 22, 2003
My friend Kerry died last week. We came home from vacation today, and there was an email saying that she collapsed at home and died.
I can't believe that my friend is gone. We played together in Owensboro Symphony viola section. Kerry taught 60 violin students in Bowling Green. Every time we talked about teaching, she would tell me how much she loved teaching. When I met her students a few weeks ago, I could see how she touched their lives in such a positive way.
Two summers ago, we went to Kerry and Marty's wedding. Kerry's mother made her wedding dress, and sewed a tiny handmade bear into the bustle. I keep replaying the images of Kerry and Marty on their happy day, and I can't imagine the magnitude of Marty's grief.
4:25 PM
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Tuesday, July 15, 2003
I've been meaning to write this for a while. It cracks me up every time Nathan says it. A few weeks ago, I was reading Oprah's exercise/lifestyle change book. I can't remember the title, but it has a picture of Oprah and her trainer, Bob, on the cover. Nathan studied the cover dilegently for several nights, and we talked about "Ah boke and Bob." Then we moved on.
We were turning into our subdivision on our way home, and I told Nathan to get ready, we were turning onto Oakbrook. He tested that out, and it came out very clearly. "Oak book." Then he added, "And Bob!" Oprah, Oakbrook. . .same difference! So now when we turn onto Oakbrook, we always talk about Bob.
We're getting ready for our vacation week. We're leaving tomorrow to trek across Kentucky. We're staying at General Butler State Park for a few days, then on to Louisville to stay with friends. Then we're headed to Bardstown to ride Thomas the Tank Engine!!!
I haven't told Nathan that we're going to ride Thomas. We'll probably save that for when we're on the way. Then after we ride Thomas, we're going to Grandmommy and Gramps' for a few days. It feels like forever since we've seen Mom and Dale. I think it has been a month.
Mom is having a small birthday get together for Nathan. With balloons. Nathan has seen birthday parties at "the club" and he knows that all parties must have balloons. And party goers should share their balloons with all interested babies. (Fat chance!)
I can't believe he's almost two! His words are getting much clearer, and I already miss some of the cute baby stuff. He said "beeshies" for so long, and now "fishies" sounds so grown up. I am hoping that "Na Na" hangs around for a while longer. I know he can't go off to college calling himself Na Na, but it's so cute!
9:32 AM
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Saturday, July 12, 2003
Well, I finished Harry Potter last night! It was every bit as good as the first four. Now I'm antsy for J.K. Rowling to finish (start?) the next one. Hopefully, the wait won't be as long as the last one.
Nathan talks about "Ah Pottah" often. "Mommy wead!" He must know that it's special, because he let me read some while he nursed. He actually saw the second movie in the theater last Thanksgiving. I don't think I would let him watch it now. He notices more now, and worries more about people getting hurt.
I had the best time teaching in Bardstown this week! I met a Suzuki teacher, Cathy Mejia, at Annual Conference, and she invited me to teach the viola students at their camp. 28 kids from Costa Rica came to participate in their camp. Three viola students came from Costa Rica, and I saw them over two days. I had never taught with a translator before!
Nathan went with me, and stayed in the room with me while I taught on the first day. Cathy translated and entertained Nathan. She gave him a practice viola (box with ruler) so he could play along. He has one at home, but tired of it months ago. But the new one was still fun. When the kids played together as a group, Nathan shouldered his way in. He held his box up and bounced away while they played!
I'm all fired up to recruit some students. I need some former students to come up and play a concert or two. I'm convinced that people need to SEE before they'll sign up. Getting ready to make some calls. . .
12:51 PM
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Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Can't write today - Harry Potter beckons! Randy is antsy for me to finish before we start our vacation next week. Today turned into a no nap day, so Randy has Nathan out running errands. I think I'll take Harry to the Y with me tonight, too. After I work out, Nathan can stay in the nursery for a while longer while I read!
12:04 PM
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Monday, July 07, 2003
I can't seem to keep up with my blog. I mean to update it more often, but I get sucked down into that "where did the time go" black hole.
We survived the 4th! I really despise outdoor pops concerts. The hot sticky weather, trite pops music, crowded playing conditions, wretched intonation. . . Maybe I'll be pregnant next summer and have a good excuse not to play!
We did get to visit with family on the 4th. For the first time in a long, long time we had all of my cousins together! We gathered at Nanoo and Grandaddy's tiny retirement apartment in Mayfair Village. Nanoo was in her usual fine form. Randy and both brothers tell me that she seems as ornery as usual, but no worse. But I disagree. I don't think we'll be going back to their place anytime soon.
But back to the cousin part! Jennifer flew in from Seattle and brought her boyfriend Chris. Jennifer is 8 months younger than Graves and 7 months older than I am. She used to visit for part of every summer, and usually go on vacations with us. She's so much fun to be around!
Nathan had a big time playing with Olivia, my cousin Kate's little girl. Olivia was 2 on June 28. She liked to hug Nathan, and he liked to kiss her. She's fun to chase, too.
I have to tell you the funniest thing that Nathan does. He loves to read an Arthur book that we have. For those of you not up on your PBS shows, Arthur is an aardvark. I really don't like the show - the kids' language is disrespectful. But I edit the book as I go!
Anyway, the Arthur book is Nathan's current favorite. Arthur's sister is named DW, and Nathan has a hard time saying that. His pronunciation is a hoot!! I can't write it, so I'll have to describe it. Take your tongue and flap it back and forth over your upper lip. Now make a little noise. "Uhla uhla uhla." Nathan calls DW "D uhla uhla." It cracks me up! I try not to let on just how funny it is. I really want that one on video!
11:45 AM
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Thursday, June 26, 2003
Diego is desperate for the outside world. He escapes on a daily basis now. I think that Nathan is intentionally slow at the back door, just because he likes to watch Diego run under the deck. Nathan cracks up and yells, "Cat! Cat!" When Diego is at the door meowing, he tells Diego "No, no! Inside."
Nathan is having one of those oppositional weeks. Two really is right around the corner. He loves Storytime more than anything else. So when we're driving anywhere within a half mile radius of the library, he cries for "Books, books! Woosy, Ehk! Boys, boys!" Woosy is Lucy, and Ehk is Eric. We see them both at Storytime, and they are supposed to live at the library so we can see them there anytime.
This makes going to the decent Kroger salad bar very difficult. You can SEE the library from the Kroger parking lot. Nathan tried to throw himself from his shopping cart race car onto the asphalt yesterday. He screamed "books, books" all the way home. He did stop yelling long enough to look for the cows, and tell me that they must be in the barn. Then he remembered that he needed "books, books" and cried the rest of the way home.
I hope that this is just a tired kind of week, and maybe he's just not feeling perky.
1:10 PM
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Diego is desperate for the outside world. He escapes on a daily basis now. I think that Nathan is intentionally slow at the back door, just because he likes to watch Diego run under the deck. Nathan cracks up and yells, "Cat! Cat!" When we're inside, he tells Diego "No, no! Inside."
Nathan is having one of those oppositional weeks. Two really is right around the corner. He loves Storytime more than anything else. So when we're driving anywhere within a half mile radius of the library, he cries for "Books, books! Woosy, Ehk! Boys, boys!" Woosy is Lucy, and Ehk is Eric. We see them both at Storytime, and they are supposed to live at the library so we can see them there anytime.
This makes going to the decent Kroger salad bar very difficult. You can SEE the library from the Kroger parking lot. Nathan tried to throw himself from his shopping cart race car onto the asphalt yesterday. He screamed "books, books" all the way home. He did stop yelling long enough to look for the cows, and tell me that they must be in the barn. Then he remembered that he needed "books, books" and cried the rest of the way home.
I hope that this is just a tired kind of week, and maybe he's just not feeling perky.
1:09 PM
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Saturday, June 21, 2003
bazey, bazey!
Nathan has a new game. It's Jay Jay related, of course. On his current favorite episode, Jay Jay gets all of his buddies to dress up in lights and roll around Tarrytown in a Winter Parade. They sing about an "amazing, blazing light parade." Nathan loves that part! So he takes his "guys" to the sink and asks for bubbles. Once we get the bubbles nice and fluffy, he dips each plane in and sings about the "bazey, bazey" light parade. The planes usually end up in a line on the "wugga mat."
Big Jake is still his favorite plane. It doesn't matter if ever other plane is lined up in front of him, we still have to search until we find "Ih Gake." When Big Jake is covered in bubbles, Nathan holds him up and asks, "Where ees he?" Bubble peek-a-boo!
Big Jake was also the subject of Nathan's first long sentence. "Oh no! Big Jake is in the water!" He knows that the planes really shouldn't get wet because their paint rubs off. But sometimes they just have to get wet.
This has been kind of a nice day. We got up WAY too early, so Randy took Nathan to Home Depot and Krogers for errands. Then after Nathan's nap, they went to Randy's gym to swim for a while. I went for a good walk! I feel like I've hardly seen Nathan today. Ahhhh. But I hear him calling. He's either calling "Mommy" or "Rannnny."
4:36 PM
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Friday, June 20, 2003
I've been going to a Yoga class at the Y for several weeks now, and I love how I feel when I leave. All relaxed and stretchy. So I have revisited my Yoga videos. They were just too hard to follow when I first got them. Going to a live class has made the videos much easier.
Since I've been doing some Yoga at home, my purple mat is out of the closet. That means that it is now Nathan's play toy. He calls it "a wugga mat." For a while, Jay Jay and "the guys" lined up and played on the mat. Then Nathan wanted to do some "wugga." So we put the wugga DVD in, and Nathan showed me some new Yoga postures! He starts off reaching for the sky, then he touches his toes. Then he gets down on all fours and holds one leg out straight behind him. He holds that pose while he nods his head up and down. He's very serious about his "wugga". He goes about it with a look of intense concentration.
He really cracks me up! He's at the gym with Randy now, so I'd better get on with my shower. I have plans for a walk AND some Yoga before they get home.
8:50 AM
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Thursday, June 19, 2003
My baby fever is getting worse. I've been rereading Birthing from Within, and thinking about being pregnant again. All of my weight loss and fitness plans are focused on being pregnant again. I am SO hoping for an easier time next go 'round.
With all of these plans churning around in my head, I decided that it might be time to find an OB/GYN practice up here. I would really like to go to a group of midwives in Cincinnati that do well woman and prenatal care. But they would be out of network with our insurance, and I know that we can't afford that. I liked the practice that I went to in Louisville pretty well, but I liked it better before I got pregnant. I liked that all of the doctors are women. I didn't like that I had to rotate between 9 doctors while I was pregnant. I never even MET one doctor. Thank goodness she was on vacation when Nathan was born.
One of the Suzuki moms that I know in Cincinnati is a Birthing From Within mentor and doula. I think I'll call her to see if she has any suggestions.
11:23 AM
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Tuesday, June 17, 2003
I have a lot of catching up to do! Conference in Bowling Green was fun. I don't remember the last time I was in Bowling Green, really if ever. But it's a great "small town" of about 50,000 with tons of restaurants. We ate a great Thai restaurant with my friend Kerry. Then we happened upon a Mongolian Grill, and had to eat there three times. (Grrr.) Randy finds his thing and sticks with it!
They had great (free!) child care set up. They had volunteers staffing three room from 7:30 AM through 10:00 PM. Nathan couldn't get out of the motel fast enough in the morning. "Boys, boys! And girls." I only left him there twice. I went to the Clergy Partners luncheon, then out to eat with friends. But we played there most of every day. I know some of the volunteers thought I was too protective, not leaving him there on his own. But we're happier playing together. I took my breaks when I needed them, and stayed when he needed me to. So there.
Now that we're back, I'm SO glad that our Storytime is in swing for the summer. We went yesterday, and we'll probably go again tomorrow. Nathan has been desperate to go to his library. He cries for "books, books" every time we pass the library. He also talks about Eric. I know it has been about a month since we saw Eric, a toddler friend, at the library. I'm always surprised by how much Nathan remembers.
Lunch time - Randy's home.
10:59 AM
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Thursday, June 05, 2003
OK, I'm back. Still not feeling great. I think my cold turned into a sinus infection. It's that insidious kind of sick - too exhausted to do anything but not sick enough to go to bed.
I'm looking forward to next week in Bowling Green. Nathan and I are going with Randy for his Annual Conference. We'll get to see my cousin Clint and his wife Kim, and my violist friend Kerry. Hopefully the weather will stay nice, so we can scope out the playgrounds. Too bad our hotel doesn't have a pool.
We've been talking about the zoo this week. Randy and I took Nathan back to his Louisville Zoo last weekend. I still love going there, but I feel so cheated! I still want to live across the street and go every day. It's feels so strange to drive by our old house and not be home. Nathan trotted up and down every hill in that zoo! Today he reminded me that he had seen the lemur asleep on its rock. "Ahboo nigh night wock." All lemurs are Zaboo. And he saw the warthogs. We talk about warthogs all the time. We read about Bashi, elephant baby, and the warthogs at the watering hole.
Now it's nap time. For me! Nathan was up twice last night, from 12:50 to 1:30 and from 5:45 to 6:30. We keep telling ourselves that surely the next baby will sleep. We can hope anyway! I did read that women who eat lots of Omega 3 fatty acids in their third trimester have babies who sleep better. I'll start eating more salmon NOW if it might help.
12:54 PM
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Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Wow. It has been a long time since I've written. We've had a steady stream of visitors, and this is just a four day lull here. Nathan shared his cold. Generous baby. He's feeling perky again, but Randy and I are both pooped.
I saw my friend Eva in Owensboro, and she was telling me some of her son's cute stories. He goes to Preschool, and they asked him what his parents' names are. He told them, "Eeeva and Daddyman!" Nathan was nursing when I told Randy that one. He had to stop nursing for a minute so he could test that one out! He likes to say Daddyman, but he likes his version better. It's Mommydaddyman!
Randy's sister Elga visited over Memorial Day weekend. Nathan had a big time playing with her, and has been talking about her all day today. He calls her "Egga" or "Egga boomy." She said kaboom when he fell and bumped his head, and that turned into "aboomy." So now she's Egga boomy (at top decibel level for full effect).
12:20 PM
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Sunday, May 18, 2003
I don't know if anyone wants to read about life's disappointing moments. But it's all I can write about right now. I was just "unhired" from my favorite teaching job of the year. The woman who is running the Louisville Suzuki Institute couldn't find any advanced viola students. (Never mind that I was originally hired to teach viola/violin students in the regular program.) We had our week all planned, and I had turned down several playing jobs that would have covered that car payment.
But here's that silver lining (or about a square yard of it!) - now I get to go to Bowling Green with Randy for his Annual Conference. I think our motel has a pool, and we can visit with cousin Clint and his wife Kim. And my wonderful friend Kerry is talking about setting up Master Classes so I can teach her students!! And faced with being really broke, I finally called and placed an ad for students in a Parent/Child magazine.
11:50 AM
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Tuesday, May 13, 2003
Just an update on the Jay Jay activity at our house. Today Jay Jay and the gang went for a spin in the microwave. Thankfully, Nathan has not figured out how to turn the microwave ON. He just loaded up all of the planes on the turntable and took them for a ride. We got into a tricky spot when Nathan wanted to climb into the microwave, too. But once we had a bucket to load the planes into, everything was alright again. After the planes were dumped in the family room, they took turns driving down Noire's back. All seven of them, one at a time. And Noire didn't seem to notice (bless her 18 year old ancient kitty heart!)
12:45 PM
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Monday, May 12, 2003
I have baby fever again. Everywhere we go, I see these adorable little baby bundles. They look so sweet! But at the same time, I'm not quite ready for another one yet. It's that sleep thing. Nathan woke me up at 5:30 AM on Mother's Day, and didn't go back to sleep until 7:00. At one point he woke up all the way, insisting on Jay Jay.
Jay Jay the Jet Plane. He is ever present in our house. I had these visions of a TV free environment. I still do, but now I know that those visions aren't reality based! I gave in out of desperation. I thought I could sneak one section of the paper and that second cup of coffee if Nathan was interested in the TV. I let him watch Sesame Street. He liked it OK, but it wasn't life altering. Then I turned the TV on early one day, and Jay Jay the Jet Plane entered our home. Nathan was instantly captivated. "Ja Ja" was one of his first words. He would beat on the TV screaming "Ja Ja! Ja Ja!"
We bought some Jay Jay videos for Nathan at Christmas, and had a pretty good Jay Jay library by the time our VCR broke last month. Now we only have one Jay Jay DVD. Randy and I are SO sick of those five episodes. But Nathan still loves them. He likes the Pangaboola Island episodes best. "Inand! Inand!" Tuffy the Towtruck stars in those two episodes, and she just happens to be the most IRRITATING of the bunch.
Nathan has a set of Jay Jay toys. He spends hours with them every day. Lately Big Jake is his favorite. He can have the other six lined up as a Choo Choo, but it isn't right until Big Jake is there to take the lead. Big Jake is the only "adult" plane that is in the set. I don't know why, but they don't make Old Oscar or Savannah toys. Wouldn't it figure that Big Jake is the only one of Nathan's toys that likes to nurse! Big Jake flies up to the nursie and Nathan makes the slurpy nursing noises. Then he kisses Big Jake, then I'm supposed to kiss Big Jake. Cute, but just a little creepy.
12:56 PM
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Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Noire is driving me nuts. She's sitting here bellowing! I've brushed her, offered her wet food, fluffed the dry food, told her that she IS the kitty princess. I think she wants me to go lie down with her. Great - here comes Diego. He likes to lie across my arm while I'm typing.
Nathan likes to feed the cats. He stands in the middle of the kitchen and screams for Hobbes (who is scared of loud noises and small children). Then he takes a plate of wet food to the nearest cat, asking "Ah hunny?" (Are you hungry?). Usually, Noire is the closest cat. She sleeps on the chair, so he puts the plate right in front of her nose. She'll usually humor him and wake up to eat. Diego only ever eats on his own terms.
We went to the Y this morning. Too wet for the playground. Nathan likes to play in the nursery, and surely all of that fitness equipment will help me lose these last 12 pounds. I've lost 60 so far, and I made Lifetime Membership with Weight Watchers. But these last 12 are really bugging me. I feel like I'm starting all over again.
Toddler snacks are killing me here! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are WAY too tastie. And those cheese cracker snack paks. . .Raisin points add up really fast, too. But it's mainly the peanut butter. WW was much easier before Nathan ate real food. I miss those 10 extra nursing points, too. Even though Nathan still nurses 4 - 7 times every day, I can tell that my body doesn't need all of those extra points anymore. It was truly amazing how much I could eat and still lose weight when Nathan was little! I guess it's time for the next baby.
11:06 AM
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Monday, May 05, 2003
Time for some more sappy Mommy moments - I feel some Nathan stories coming on.
Choo Choo Blanket
I hang a blanket over the end of Nathan's crib to block some of the light from the window. I have no idea if it really helps, but anything for a few more minutes of naptime. When he wakes up happy, he likes to stand up and scrunch the blanket over to one side. Then he pulls it along the side of the crib saying, "choo, chooooo!" It cracks me up every time!
Boogah
This has to be a boy thing. He has an endless fascination with boogers. Last night when he was nursing to sleep, he stopped to whisper to me. He pointed to my face and whispered, "Eye . . . nose . . .boogah." Then he went back to nursing and went on to sleep.
Car in road!!
When we were coming home from Lake Junaluska, we stopped at a rest area to let Nathan run some energy off. He had a big time running down the hill, but then he wanted to run too close to the parking lot. So we told him "No! Cars go in the road! Not Nathan!" It made a big impression. At least 50 millions times every day, he stops what he's doing to yell "CahsinWOAD!" All one word. Delivered with great dramatic inflection. Then he says "No, no, Nay nay." I'm glad he at least talks about not going in the road, because he still tries to run out there.
10:56 AM
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Sunday, May 04, 2003
OK, now I remember that I LIKE teaching kids. I taught as a guest clinician for my friend's Suzuki workshop yesterday, and it felt like coming home. I need to get busy and recruit some students. I love the teaching part, but the business/recruiting part is such a hassle.
Nathan had a big time at the workshop. Randy took him to Creative Movement class. My friend Wayne Krigger is the Pied Piper of Suzuki workshops. On the way home, Nathan would say "Kiggah, Kiggah" and just crack up! Nathan is going to a whole week of Wayne's classes when I teach at the Louisville Suzuki Institute in June.
12:22 PM
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Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Poor Hobbes! I think he's really depressed. After our week in North Carolina, he thought that he was going to be an only cat. When we were there, he slept between our heads every night. And he played like he did when he was a kitten. He would have preferred a trip away without Nathan, but we did the best we could! We still have to give him two pills every day. He had his third (really expensive!) urinary tract blockage since we moved last June. We took him with us to Lake Junaluska so we could keep an eye on him. Good thing we did, because he started crying and licking himself. Once we got him back on his medicine, he started feeling better.
Randy's home with lunch (Kroger salad bar). Maybe I'll write more later. If Nathan sleeps that long!
10:34 AM
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Monday, April 28, 2003
We're at the end of a REALLY long nap, so this might be short. I should have slept, too. Nathan was up twice last night. This sleep disruption thing needs to go away. Sleep deprivation does nasty things to my temperament.
I was going to write about our trip, but I'm barely keeping my head above water here. All I can think about is what might keep Nathan occupied with the least amount of energy on my part.
We made some rice this morning. "Cook, cook." I don't know why it was really fun, but the anticipation of cooked rice kept him interested for 20 minutes. He ate a whole bowlful of plain white rice. We bought it to stuff rice socks for Christmas gifts. Randy thinks white rice is boring, so it has just been sitting on the shelf. Now we know that Nathan likes it!
1:39 PM
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Sunday, April 20, 2003
Happy Easter! We're packing (and I'm working hard!) and getting ready to leave for Lake Junaluska this afternoon. Nathan will be SO excited to spend another week at The Junction, the house where we stay. Our friends own this home that used to be a train station. It was moved down the hill from the tracks in the mid '60's, but the trains still go by half a dozen times every day. "A choo chooooo!!" It's more excitement than you could possibly imagine!
We're going to need a LOT of coffee to get us to Knoxville tonight. We're staying over at Della's tonight (Randy's Mom). Nathan had another one of those fevers last night. I was up cooking until 1:00 AM, then Nathan was up from 2 - 3 and 4:30 - 5. Ugh. And Randy had to get up at 5:15 for the sunrise service.
I got up at 6:00 to finish getting ready brunch ready for Dad and Laura. But they ended up with some stomach bug last night, so we ended up with a fancy brunch for just the three of us. Hobbes and Noire enjoyed the ambience. They sat on the extra placemats and eyed our chicken with sun-dried tomato/basil sausage.
Our brunch was almost entirely from Cooking Light. I love that magazine! Spinach, Leek and Potato Frittata, Blueberry Buttermilk muffins, Asparagus with Sesame Vinaigrette.
12:53 PM
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Saturday, April 19, 2003
This really scares me - I can see a Dad mowing his lawn with his toddler following right behind him. I'm sure this Dad has confidence in his skill with a lawnmower, but toddlers are FAST! No lawnmowing for Nathan!
Nathan's big new thing is drinking water from a cup. He told me that his sippy cup is "baby juice," and that he wanted "wahs." He did pretty well - only doused himself once yesterday.
We're going to Lexington for Dad's surprise 60th birthday party! (It's OK - he doesn't have this blog address yet) We'll get to hear all about David and Teri's honeymoon in Jamaica. They brought back some Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee for us! That's Randy's favorite.
Time to actually clean house. Randy and Nathan are out shopping. Nathan will be disappointed to miss out on the vacuuming. He would vacuum all day if we let him (too bad he can't actually push it yet!).
8:13 AM
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Friday, April 18, 2003
Nathan came home from church last night running a fever of 103.7! This kind of stuff always seems to happen during Holy Week. Or at least on Saturday night. He's feeling better today, but we were up from 5 - 6:30 AM. Ugh.
It's raining today, so that means no "das" (slide) or "wocks" (the rock garden in the corner yard). I'm so glad we have generous neighbors who don't mind him rummaging through their rocks. He starts the "wock" chant in the car when we pass that yard. "Wock, wock, wocka wocka wocka." Then it escalates to screams for the "WOOOOCK! WOOOOOCK!" It truly borders on obsession.
We're leaving for Lake Junaluska on Sunday, after Dad and Laura join us for Easter lunch. Hobbes gets to go on our trip! He was in the kitty hospital for a week with another UT blockage. He seems to be much better, but we need to keep an eye on him. Poor Hobbes. He really hates the car, so he'll need a sedative. And he wishes that we would just leave Nathan here with the other cats!
11:22 AM
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Thursday, April 17, 2003
OK, I'm going to try again. I had a post mostly written, then erased it. Whoops. Nathan's napping, and I don't have much nap time left. Here's my gripe of the day - WHITE WALLS. I'm really sick of them, but we don't have the energy/money to fix it. Here's my yea for the day (why is it that the gripe is always easier?) - really cute Spring toddler clothes. Nathan's just has a few outfits that go with the weather now, but they are all SO cute! I've been having good luck finding sale stuff at the consignment/second hand stores.
I'm remembering back to this time last year, and how much Nathan has grown. He wasn't even crawling yet last Spring, but he had mastered the belly scoot. Now he's going down the stairs by himself, saying "cashew, cashew!" which means careful! He slid down the carpeted stairs on his face last week. Rug burns on his forehead and nose - ouch.
Well - nap time is over for today.
12:52 PM
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