tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74549627796144408402024-03-05T05:00:58.109-06:00the hodge podge lodgeeclectic observations.
since 2009.Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-35966349324936342562013-12-12T14:57:00.000-06:002013-12-12T14:57:33.479-06:00Why [NOT] me?I am sick. I have been sick for what feels like forever, but actually, if we're being completely technical, it's been about 2 weeks of misery. I was prescribed antibiotics. They did not help. My head aches, my body aches, my nose and sinuses are congested, my chest feels heavy and painful. <br />
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I can't sleep at night. It's hard to get better when you can't sleep. My baby is sick. He's had back-to-back ear infections for the past couple months. Yeah, months. You read that right.<br />
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I have no Christmas spirit. I'm trudging along, trying to do these fun activities and Christmas crafts with my kids, and I'm feigning a smile, but inside I'm screaming, "I WANT A DECEMBER DO-OVER! I'm cold! My body aches! My head hurts! I'm exhausted! I hate this! I don't want to make snowman handprint ornaments. I don't care about watching Prep & Landing. I don't give a shit about a Christmas Eve menu. I want to sleep and sleep and wake up on January 10, when someone has put my house back together again and my head is clear and my kids are well."<br />
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I'm not depressed. <br />
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I'm a crabby, raging bitch. There's a really big difference.<br />
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In the middle of the night, when I am not sleeping and my baby writhes on my chest, I try to remember that these moments are fleeting and one day, my baby will be a big boy who won't need me, and I should cherish these times, misery and all. But what I am secretly thinking is: "How am I going to go to work tomorrow and function? Why can't I breathe? I don't care if it's 2 a.m., I should really call up ____, Ms. Breastfeeding Proponent Extraordinaire and drill her on why my sweet, happy baby boy, who has never had so much as an OUNCE of formula in all 10 of his earthly months, is, and has been sicker, than his brother, who, by this time was on to formula exclusively. Oh, Client X? I should call him up and tell him how ridiculous he's being and that I'm sick of dealing with his stupid antics! I should call my Dad and tell him how I annoyed I am at him for not calling me and asking me how I'm doing."<br />
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Today I called the doctor's office to set up an appointment with an ENT specialist. And the receptionist informed me that the first available appointment was January 14. And I just completely lost it. I started crying an ugly, wracking sobs sort of cry, and I went on a diatribe about how I knew it wasn't her fault, but I'm desperate, and exhausted, and miserable and I need help! Please! Get me in before that! Please. Please. Please! <br />
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[She called me back later, and said I could come in tomorrow over lunch.]<br />
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An hour or so later, I called my husband to ask how our baby's umpteenth doctor appointment went. He STILL has double ear infections. He was prescribed his fourth antibiotic. He has some new drops. He has a referral for an appointment with an ENT specialist on December 27th. <br />
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After that, I called my mom. And I complained about how Scroogey/Grinchey I feel. About how I see Christmas lights and all I can think is how abnormal my behavior is this season. I don't feel any of the warm fuzzies I usually feel about the approaching holidays. I feel cold. And sad. And mad. And desperate.<br />
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After I hung up the phone with my mom, I started to cry. In my office. With my door shut. While I silently raged about head congestion and never-ending ear infections. <br />
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GET IT TOGETHER, I told myself. You're pathetic! People's kids have cancer, and you're in your office crying about ear infections.<br />
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So I sniffled a little. And thought of my new December mantra, "WHY ME?! WHY?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"<br />
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And then I just happened to open an email from a client. <br />
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A client who has it way worse than I do.<br />
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I instantly felt guilty for feeling bad for myself. "Why you? Really, Stephanie?!" I thought. "Why NOT you?" <br />
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I am writing this...<br />
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... not because I want to pretend that my outlook has magically changed in the last 45 minutes. (I'm still sick and I still think odds are that tonight is going to be another miserable, sleepless night in a string of miserable sleepless nights.)<br />
... not because I want to sugarcoat everything and pretend I can see the silver lining in anything I'm dealt (Some things suck... no way around it.)<br />
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I am writing this because, in 45 minutes, when I start thinking "Why me?" again, I can remind myself to try to remember that... <br />
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... I am not some extra special snowflake who doesn't deserve sickness. I'm no Mother Theresa. I'm just a regular person and sometimes regular people and their regular kids get sick. It sucks. Get over it.<br />
....I have a support network to commiserate with me. I have my mom, my friends, my sisters, my husband, and my colleagues to vent to and commiserate with. No, it doesn't clear head congestion. My chest feels the same when the rants are over. None of my complaining has drained the fluid from Owen's ears, BUT these people care about me, and I know, if I asked them, they'd help me/us with whatever we need. <br />
... I have a husband who loves me and even though we've been snapping at each other because we.are.both.exhausted, he still reminds me every.night.when.I.lament.the.lack.of.sleep that "we are on the same team" and "we are in this together."<br />
... I have a good job with job security, and even though I feel like I'm barely keeping my head up these days, I have colleagues who will help me if I ask, and I have the ability to take time off if I need to be home.<br />
... I have health insurance that allows my kids to receive great medical care from pediatricians who know and care about our family and want to help us get healthy.<br />
... I have a house, albeit a germ-ridden one currently, that we are not in danger of losing, where we can all lay in misery on the couch together watching Christmas movies. <br />
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We're sick. We're crabby. We're tired. We're whiny. We're clingy. We're one tiny setback away from having a meltdown in the middle of the Walgreens Pharmacy (oh wait, that was last week), but we are (I know this, I believe this, I say this without one iota of sarcasm) BLESSED. <br />
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Really and truly, if there was a time to throw out a #firstworldproblems... this would be it. <i>This too shall pass</i>. <br />
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I just needed this little reminder. <br />
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Oh damnit, I kinda feel a little Christmasy all of the sudden...<br />
<br />
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-58485542558285093422013-09-03T11:30:00.002-05:002013-09-03T11:33:00.469-05:00Whilst shopping at Ikea (or the story of the #hipsters)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, Labor Day has come and gone... which sort of signals the end of summer. But this is not a sad, reminiscing type-post: I'm not sad. Summer is wonderful... and this one came complete with beach time, splashing in the pool, adventures in the woods, camping and more... but fall is around the corner. Fall means Fuegerfest, and cooler temperatures, and boots, and pumpkin flavored things and... that is all very good. So, happy-day-after-Labor-Day-and-beginning-of-fall-to-you!</div>
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<i>This</i> is not about <i>that</i>, however. <i>This</i> is about yesterday. This weekend marked the 4th Annual Jaquez Labor Day theme party, and this year's theme was #ZombieApocalypse2013 (the official party hashtag). There were zombies, survivors, an amazing theme cake, some flippy cup action, jello shots, the Re-Mix to Ignition, some "Free Miley" chants followed up by dancing to "Party in the USA"... and more. In short, it was a great time! We're already looking forward to the announcement about next year's theme!</div>
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On our way home from the party yesterday, we decided we'd do an Ikea run since our basement man cave/playroom/SOON-TO-BE-NICEST-ROOM-IN-OUR-HOUSE is headed toward completion and we're in need of furnishings/decor/etc. from the Swedish king of reasonably priced items in those categories. So, we arrived at Ikea at 11 a.m., eager and excited about the adventure that awaited.</div>
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First of all, yesterday was FREE FOOD day at Ikea. (It was also Labor Day - so you go figure how many people were there. 5 point 9 million, or something. A day off work + the enticement of free food = just too much for most of suburban Chicago to resist). Basically the gimmick was that you could eat as many Swedish meatballs and other delicacies served up in the Ikea cafeteria as you could fit in your stomach, and, so long as you were spending $150, they would subtract your food bill from whatever you spent when you checked out. And DUH! Who goes to Ikea to spend less than $150? I would venture to guess that you don't set foot in that store (it's not worth the trouble) if you're buying a few hand towels and a picture frame. So anyway, we started our adventure with a stop in the restaurant section. We ate our hearts out (I even ate some delicious chocolate cake!) and then we started checking things off our list.</div>
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So... I live in Iowa. The Land of Cornfields. A land that is peacefully oblivious to trends until they arrive here 3-5 years later. Most people drink Busch Lite, and if they're feeling classy, maybe a good 'ole Potosi (from a nearby brewery in Wisconsin). I'm not making fun of us. I AM ONE OF US. AND I'M PROUD OF IT. I'm just trying to explain why I was really blown away by the infestation of hipsters everywhere I looked. Is this a thing?! Is this "trend" coming soon to Iowa?! Because I hope not. The most pretentious thing I've ever seen was the guy with the half shaved head, SIPPING ON A HEINKEN while strolling through Ikea with his emaciated girlfriend, discussing whether to buy a chaise lounge or some other stuffed chair. I mean, really?! I wanted to drink a beer at Ikea, too... but for entirely different reasons. (It seemed like a semi-appropriate way to cope with the aforementioned). Is it because I have kids now, and no time to keep up with <a href="http://www.elmalpensante.com/control/medios/El%20Malpensante/Imagenes/galeria20130212034841/20130218030819.jpg">all the effort that the hipster lifestyle entails</a>, that I just don't "get" it? Or was I never cut out for it anyway? Other questions I have:</div>
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(1) Why are you wearing a plaid shirt with skinny jeans and boots in 90 degree weather?</div>
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(2) Did you get lost on your way to a hippie music festival, or why are you wearing that band around your forehead, sister?</div>
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(3) Did you paint those spandex pants on just for this furniture shopping excursion? Or is this is an everyday look?</div>
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(4) From where can I, too, acquire a vast collection of fedoras? </div>
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(5) Prior to going out in public, do you find an old "vintage-looking" t-shirt, rumple it up, roll it in the mud and then wear it out? Is that part of this trend? </div>
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(6) How long did it take you to grow that crazy pedophilia-like mustache?</div>
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(7) Are denim studded shirts/shorts/vests SERIOUSLY coming back? Like, for real? Like early 90's denim clothes with silver studs in them.... they are coming back? From the grave? WHY?!</div>
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Let me just say, that with respect to (4), I have to admit that I love hats, and I do want to know if there is a place where I can, for a relatively small amount, purchase 1-2 fedoras. But I digress. If you know the answers to any of these questions, please let me know.</div>
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I won't bore you by regaling all the details of our very long (but very successful) trip to Ikea, except to say that if I never see the inside of that store for the next year or so, that will be just fine with me. I do, however, need to share the following tangent with you. At the culmination (or what we <i>thought</i> was the end-but that's another story for another day) of our shopping adventure, John ran out to get our car to drive over to the loading area. I waited with the kids and all of our packages. So - picture me... sort of tired, sort of hot/sweaty, baby strapped to me in his carrier, pushing a rolling dolly-style cart with a bunch of crap (and my toddler) piled on. And remember: every hipster and his girlfriend are there, too, so there are very few open spaces for us to park in and load up our things. It's taking John a while to drive back from the parking lot to the unloading area, and I am promising ice cream and other treats to Jack so that he continues to sit calmly on the rolling dolly cart. And while this is going on, I happen to notice hipster couple with a tiny box the size of my arm standing in an open spot, arms around each other, making out like it's that scene from Armageddon. The girl is wearing one of those leather strap hippie headband pieces (<a href="http://blogue.us/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/skinny-braided-headband.jpg">similar to this</a>), a battered old t-shirt that has a typewriter on it (of course), and a studded jean jacket (<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo8pa7SU4M1qgyx0vo1_500.jpg">like so</a>). And her <a href="http://milkthebull.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/mustache-dreamstime_s_9532332.jpg">mustachioed </a>boyfriend (I seriously just googled "hipster mustache") keeps stroking her hair and kissing her... all the while <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogart">bogarting </a>this one open spot that could have been used by my husband. Now, my dear husband, being the defender of all things right and good, with a clear head and an eye for swift justice, sees these two canoodling and starts to back into the open spot, hoping they'd get the hint... LIKE... MOVE your skinny asses and your make-out party to the nearest bench, please. Better yet, pick up your tiny box, walk to <a href="http://jalopnik.com/whats-the-most-hipster-car-ever-made-1214877246">your restored Mustang</a>, and be on your way. Instead, the hipsters turn ever so slowly around, as if in slow motion, really, and mustache man holds out his hand, flips the bird to my husband, and goes "Bro! Bro! Dude! Dude! This spot's taken, dude. Sorry." Each word took about ten seconds too long, drawn out in such a way, that, had I not been within view of my two impressionable offspring, I might have gone over there and said something about how annoying this was. So - my husband drove away from the spot... and hipster girl backs up, and with a force I did not anticipate after watching her lackadaisical, mellow, hipster-ways, sort of run-leaps and high-fives the mustache guy saying, "Good job, baby!" ... as if the two of them had really done something important for humanity. Ok, score 1 for the hipsters. You <i>DID</i> totally and selfishly hog that parking spot for yourself. </div>
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So that, my friends, is the story of my weekend. A zombie apocalypse party... followed by a zombiehipsterapocalypse at Ikea. Hope you had a good one, too.</div>
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-88821163908761253522013-08-13T23:49:00.002-05:002013-08-13T23:49:58.224-05:006 months old!owen william is SIX months old tomorrow! can you believe it?! it's so cliche, but... i just can't. the time has FLOWN!<br />
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-44944129737259136772013-07-22T10:56:00.002-05:002013-07-22T10:56:28.872-05:00Jack-isms.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been awhile since I've shared any Jack-isms, but don't let that fool you. This cutie still talks our ears off, and he's gone from sharing sentences to monologues. </div>
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Yesterday Owen was napping and John was reading, so we decided to head out to a park for a little one-on-one time together. As we were driving to the park, we noticed a garage sale and I asked him if he wanted to stop. "Ok, Mom," he answered, "But just for two minutes!"</div>
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We got out of the car, and I made a beeline toward a mid-century style bookshelf that I thought might be perfect in our bedroom. "Oh, isn't this cute, Jack?" I asked. "I could put this in my bedroom for books!" </div>
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He gave me a perfect side-eye, looked exasperated and loudly remarked, "We already have a bookshelf, Mom. And we don't need this bookshelf. So we are <strong><u>NOT</u></strong> going to get it. We need to get back in our car, and go to the park. Right now!" </div>
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And so we did. A special thanks to the combined efforts of Dave Ramsey and my two-year-old for keeping us on track with our budget this month!</div>
Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-43537783003318861022013-06-12T12:53:00.000-05:002013-06-12T12:54:17.379-05:00this might be funny someday.<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know how some days start off HORRIBLY and just go on from there? Every single bad thing that could happen does, and you end the day with a coffee-stained shirt, a desk full of castrophes and broken furniture? Yeah, that's my day today.</div>
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It all started when I went to make myself a sandwich to take to work. I opened the fridge and pulled out the mayo, and SOMEONE had forgotten to screw the cap on it so it fell to the floor splattering MAYONNAISE all over the kitchen, all over my shirt, skirt, HAIR, face, etc. Apparently this was HILARIOUS to my husband and eldest son. I, as you might imagine, did not find it amusing. I was filled with rage at the audacity of (1) the mayonnaise can to behave so poorly and (2) my husband and child to mock me with their laughter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BU2HmJraimFkgsYdtQMOA3yPJI1tVwJVf_Y3Rt9f56azQ7NNr7jylmkBpU0A0EaJ_cjwJEi68TerGS5tAbHrpPlakrQo3u2fDfaDDloNWnGDJVlPUDZsifMrBgvVpL_43MnuU6AWl1U/s1600/mayo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BU2HmJraimFkgsYdtQMOA3yPJI1tVwJVf_Y3Rt9f56azQ7NNr7jylmkBpU0A0EaJ_cjwJEi68TerGS5tAbHrpPlakrQo3u2fDfaDDloNWnGDJVlPUDZsifMrBgvVpL_43MnuU6AWl1U/s400/mayo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To add to today's troubles, today I am rocking that greasy, wet look on one side of my head. Maybe someday this will be funny. Until then - I'm eating all sandwiches with spicy brown mustard that can be squirted from a bottle.</div>
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-83688974794255810052013-06-09T08:23:00.001-05:002013-06-09T08:25:23.307-05:00on being irrational.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Top o' the morning to all (twenty) of my blog readers. I'm sitting here, sipping a cup of (decaf) coffee before the rest of the house is awake, trying hard not to let an out-of-control to-do list overwhelm me. You might be thinking, why in the F is she drinking decaf coffee, and I'm with you... it sort of seems pointless, right?! Lately, though, I'm wondering if the act of drinking coffee, taking a moment to cup the steamy mug between two hands and take little sips as you ponder what the day might hold, is just as important for a re-charge as any amount of caffeine might be. </div>
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Anyway, the Blackhawks are going to the Stanley Cup. Maybe this means nothing to any of you, but for me it means that some members of my household might be slightly hungover this morning, there are a lot of dishes in my kitchen from late-night celebrations and also the facial hair of other household members will remain unshaven for the next couple weeks. Go 'Hawks! </div>
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In addition to celebrating the 'Hawks victory last night, I also got extremely obsessed with what was supposed to be a simple Father's Day project for John. Famous last words: <i>simple project</i>. A dear friend of mine did this project with her son and as soon as I saw it, I texted her and was like, I AM STEALING THIS PROJECT. And of course, she was like, DO IT! AND SEND ME PICS! AND I LOVE YOU! AND I MISS YOU! because she's awesome like that. So, for a few days, I plotted about the project, deciding how I would set it up, brainstorming ways to get John out of the house for a little while so I could complete it, mentally analyzing the candy reserves I had on hand to coerce Jack's cooperation in said endeavor. After we cleaned up from breakfast yesterday and John was occupied with lawn care maintenance, I loaded up the boys and headed to Hobby Lobby for supplies. On the way back, Jack was carefully explaining to me how he was going to "tell Daddy all about the surprise!" I tried to explain the meaning of SURPRISE to a two year-old, which, as you might imagine, was not the easiest task. By the time we returned home, however, he was distracted by a bribe involving fruit snacks and the secret remained safe... for the time being.</div>
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As soon as John was out of the house running an errand, I sprang into action, dressing the boys in cute outfits, dragging a quilt out to the backyard, gathering candy and a pacifier (to appease my subjects) and doing last minute diaper changes and face wipes. PEOPLE - we had about a 30 minute window (of course, just before nap time for both kids - which was a FABULOUS time to undertake this project - where's the <i>sarcasm </i>font?!).</div>
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This is the final project. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxufHk8Rm_fSRQPdS0T1Gcn0k5zN3g1zQxFqD3icDp_jNEdkrCoRxhFcRL52gOk9gqT8gNgBX1zwpQos0Lbm_KpJfekSIWWHG8ceKUYtwJSZ1SRd1znwxJ8ecpwp2zDe_d3WkbUrRwk4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxufHk8Rm_fSRQPdS0T1Gcn0k5zN3g1zQxFqD3icDp_jNEdkrCoRxhFcRL52gOk9gqT8gNgBX1zwpQos0Lbm_KpJfekSIWWHG8ceKUYtwJSZ1SRd1znwxJ8ecpwp2zDe_d3WkbUrRwk4/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To get to this point, though, required arranging, hemming, hawing, threatening, begging, pleading, wiping, swiping, grabbing and grumbling. And some other things. Seriously. I don't know why I so often make the mistake of thinking things are going to be SIMPLE with CHILDREN. As soon as Jack would do something adorable, Owen invariably spit up all over himself. If Owen was smiling and cooperating, then Jack needed to go pee. right. that. very. second. I think there's a good reason professional photographers charge you so much for shoots - because they.are.worth.every.penny. Seriously. At various points yesterday, I would have paid you any sum of money to complete this project for me. When I finally adjusted and cropped and spliced the pictures in the way I wanted, I printed them at Walgreens only to discover that Walgreens had cut the top off when I went to pick them up. I was not pleased and returned home to start from scratch. (Deep breaths, small sips of coffee)</div>
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Here are some of the outtake shots:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfdGnpeJods-mLznQUTcSNgac21CwzzW0kd5OjCc54nsW_20jjLZGZyPSrR1dJjO_xE2PwZFTGtBA5wW6rfNlwDSeDCWK_ElpkBGBsp-95C-I3D3v49qecLJDdUxBJMAEVvHp3FttW5M/s1600/IMG_3966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfdGnpeJods-mLznQUTcSNgac21CwzzW0kd5OjCc54nsW_20jjLZGZyPSrR1dJjO_xE2PwZFTGtBA5wW6rfNlwDSeDCWK_ElpkBGBsp-95C-I3D3v49qecLJDdUxBJMAEVvHp3FttW5M/s400/IMG_3966.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9GThnPnknbwlHh6YhmNwq5DinATpXAWuxENyERvgDb6WaccyMcYlczPZnzfENnKSdg38aPYoQIRcpNGVr2ragfm_hCBwLZwVq1mD95Vyug0wl_C8WDHMR0a9ED6mYtJwBKQi_5qHMfc/s1600/IMG_3975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9GThnPnknbwlHh6YhmNwq5DinATpXAWuxENyERvgDb6WaccyMcYlczPZnzfENnKSdg38aPYoQIRcpNGVr2ragfm_hCBwLZwVq1mD95Vyug0wl_C8WDHMR0a9ED6mYtJwBKQi_5qHMfc/s400/IMG_3975.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rq27MFewQF_-E79cwBKDk8F18k4kOIyVIlRv-Zbiqx3h14gi6H-xmVME8nmk87lRzOQL4oj6632hCadjiLaGcqJAwLKXOoSTVoONSeqZq4-qmYPgLWWbcE2i7A3JDb5kgJ227_BPnhs/s1600/IMG_3983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rq27MFewQF_-E79cwBKDk8F18k4kOIyVIlRv-Zbiqx3h14gi6H-xmVME8nmk87lRzOQL4oj6632hCadjiLaGcqJAwLKXOoSTVoONSeqZq4-qmYPgLWWbcE2i7A3JDb5kgJ227_BPnhs/s400/IMG_3983.JPG" width="266" /></a> <i>a wave of spit-up followed the taking of this photo...</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvPUlAA-eYlMn7YY1fEw18LT40bKSX_11Jwc0ULsXEXnwPoEed61EPlIbqa2IOu2WmdsilMSesBNBQuFhyQ1MOwonIm5mHji5dgfrGoNOrHFZo2WR3jN7g20H1JeXrVSp2JFCPSjHoTw/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvPUlAA-eYlMn7YY1fEw18LT40bKSX_11Jwc0ULsXEXnwPoEed61EPlIbqa2IOu2WmdsilMSesBNBQuFhyQ1MOwonIm5mHji5dgfrGoNOrHFZo2WR3jN7g20H1JeXrVSp2JFCPSjHoTw/s400/IMG_3992.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqlwFugVWX3Z4PHf0l7LFV7vPit5hgz3Y3eSQOlShtvOd8z7QWBsZdZdz10mqeAKsGTArUfvPaH_z9YSLCX2kznBBJlodXYCka2LxkLnN7Wjp5363NAOwCC8qP-2btag8e5mDdumwAuI/s1600/IMG_3996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqlwFugVWX3Z4PHf0l7LFV7vPit5hgz3Y3eSQOlShtvOd8z7QWBsZdZdz10mqeAKsGTArUfvPaH_z9YSLCX2kznBBJlodXYCka2LxkLnN7Wjp5363NAOwCC8qP-2btag8e5mDdumwAuI/s400/IMG_3996.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkHGqkp-7EEmxlXdmTc1U6YgKfUdeUI2xOREYap9gjcFv681sIzDpbdCXx9jO0AkAVyV4eXZjDWN-8ITrSDmxHE5qXytssYKlou6AorVe7J5GOs7rU1ZC3_l7yEEUOHzWBcE7xIWp8C4/s1600/IMG_4003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkHGqkp-7EEmxlXdmTc1U6YgKfUdeUI2xOREYap9gjcFv681sIzDpbdCXx9jO0AkAVyV4eXZjDWN-8ITrSDmxHE5qXytssYKlou6AorVe7J5GOs7rU1ZC3_l7yEEUOHzWBcE7xIWp8C4/s400/IMG_4003.JPG" width="266" /></a><i>we moved inside to help boost spirits...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC0exguAujJCOrGabJD017nagFgee1nnG_AxokIGf2BguBbSh7YMGmgZJNapK7kFOpkpnDBMP5DYgeQv-OHA8TIwUo7Otca_D_r5bFCN0SjVKWrd29siWy_yp1fpGOspMOaxdYqEITbI/s1600/IMG_4007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC0exguAujJCOrGabJD017nagFgee1nnG_AxokIGf2BguBbSh7YMGmgZJNapK7kFOpkpnDBMP5DYgeQv-OHA8TIwUo7Otca_D_r5bFCN0SjVKWrd29siWy_yp1fpGOspMOaxdYqEITbI/s400/IMG_4007.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4C_oBNlHA-L0bxZowNX0zDJS4iqpMaGf4j5xQENj0FkXyVyUFdKo_fP0ejqNzpL761BQbw1fqW4T1KF9alXG1SKZbW6BSwWzs1ENFkisXPC-bIsSDucP7fotfqaxOaeWtPgCEuEiN_A/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4C_oBNlHA-L0bxZowNX0zDJS4iqpMaGf4j5xQENj0FkXyVyUFdKo_fP0ejqNzpL761BQbw1fqW4T1KF9alXG1SKZbW6BSwWzs1ENFkisXPC-bIsSDucP7fotfqaxOaeWtPgCEuEiN_A/s400/IMG_4015.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<i>In the picture below, Jack is hiding under the chair, begging me to read him "Dig, Dinosaurs, Dig" for the 800th time. I was very, very afraid he'd sit up and knock Owen over, so the entire time I'm pleading with him to keep laying down.</i><br />
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<i>Jack was very concerned that Owen was going to choke on the letter in this picture. He kept frantically running into the shot, yelling, "Save Owen, Mom! He is eating the letter!"</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexSTjPvpoy05_AqrSBUBq4IfmHkCk7h8xLinbexIjCgphOtQs5W2ytO2sjtSm6Mt91ld12LkvV1hoWrGjSnDj0MzrHGIyThwiMjwwC6biUWfty0DC4GHh6aX7z1u8zFGfaBXRhp497u0/s1600/IMG_4031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexSTjPvpoy05_AqrSBUBq4IfmHkCk7h8xLinbexIjCgphOtQs5W2ytO2sjtSm6Mt91ld12LkvV1hoWrGjSnDj0MzrHGIyThwiMjwwC6biUWfty0DC4GHh6aX7z1u8zFGfaBXRhp497u0/s400/IMG_4031.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<i>Andddd... that was a wrap. When we got to this final shot, Jack proclaimed, very loudly, "THIS IS NOT FUN. I want a cereal bar. I AM DONE." </i></div>
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Other options that didn't make the cut, but are shown here so you can fully grasp how obsessed I became with getting this right:</div>
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In the light of morning, things seem clearer. I KNOW that John would love any of these pictures, regardless of whether Owen is spitting up or Jack is scowling, or the letter is slightly cut off.... but it's so easy FOR ME to lose sight of the forest for the trees in the midst of an "easy" project. This project, however, demonstrates EXACTLY why I am grateful for my husband and how I need to remember that not just on Father's Day, but every day: <i>because he helps me (sometimes FORCES me) to let go of the things that don't matter and focus on all the good things all around us</i>. He lives in the moment, doesn't worry about to-do lists, makes an effort to enjoy himself wherever he is (regardless of projects or jobs that need to be completed or other complications), laughs at himself and the circumstances he encounters, lets go of mistakes and loves his family unconditionally. He is my perfect match - and always challenges me to live a little more spontaneously. When I stop focusing on all the details and just think generally about my life, I am always reminded how lucky I am to have him.</div>
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So - cheers to my husband! He doesn't read this blog (or any other blog, for that matter), but he deserves a toast, and I'm raising my morning coffee to him. Whichever version of this photo he opens next Sunday, I'm sure he's going to love it!</div>
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P.S. As I was finishing this up, Jack woke up, looked at the pictures of this project on the screen and said, "And Jack and Owen said CHEEEEEESE! and now we made a surprise for Daddy and he will love it!" Which is a better and less time consuming summary of this whole affair.</div>
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Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-85744616516352605702013-06-03T23:56:00.001-05:002013-06-03T23:56:13.939-05:00I'm sorry Miss Jackson. I am for real.<i>I could apologize a trillion times</i>, but instead I'm just going to dump a bunch of cute pictures on you. They will probably more appropriately explain where I've been...<div>
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a longer update is forthcoming. Soon (ish). What do I know?! <i>You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather.</i></div>
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Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-78574609388711262352013-04-26T09:12:00.003-05:002013-04-26T09:12:51.398-05:00back in the office.So, I've officially been back to work for two full weeks now, and the transition (minus a horrible computer virus that wiped out our office network for 5 days) has been pretty smooth. In the interest of keeping it real, however, I thought I would share that three times a day, I sit in my office with the door closed feeling panicky about whether I locked said door. Because having a colleague walk in on you with your boobs hanging out (especially on those days you wear a dress that has to be hiked up around your neck while you pump) is not exactly the most professional thing to do - YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.<br />
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In other news, breastfeeding is going really well, and <a href="http://stephshodgepodgelodge.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-hearing-things.html">so far my breastpump has only had POSITIVE things to say to me.</a> A longer post on all of this is overdue, but it's back to my valiant dig-out-from-under-the-piles-on-my-desk battle (I'm winning! Slowly, but surely!) Happy Friday!Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-72575081302493529472013-04-23T22:38:00.000-05:002013-04-23T22:44:07.899-05:00best of what's around - april 2013.Forgive me remaining blog readers, for I have sinned. It's been awhile since my last post, and I apologize. Life moves quicker with each passing day (it seems), and I'm trying to soak it all up. We survived the Norovirus, the end of my maternity leave, and this seemingly<i> NEVER-ENDING</i> winter (can we get some warm weather, puuuhhhhlllleeeease?!) <br />
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Anyway, I've really been focusing on squeezing the juice out of every moment of every day.... and, without further ado, here are some of <i>our favorite things </i>as of late....<br />
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<i><b>Favorite</b> picture of me and Jack on a recent riverwalk </i> </div>
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<i><b>Favorite</b> picture from Owen's 2 month photo shoot - can you believe he's TWO MONTHS old already?!</i></div>
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<i><b>Favorite</b> recent playdate with friends - the circus comes to town!</i> </div>
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<b><i>F</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;">avorite </i><i>candid picture of Jack "playing baby" - doesn't he look SO old in this picture?!</i></div>
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<i><b>Favorite </b>chubby baby Owen picture - check out that double chin! </i></div>
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<i><b>Favorite </b>picture of me and my little man - both in our suits! - on my first day back to work</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxUuWPGI6ZhgwqFMqG-yzzdnNN5C41THcIRo__dhmqbJHl_JlRLyGrLP3NeYrLVAk2BXkSPZC4Z4EDqaVienQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<i><b>Favorite</b> video of jack - especially hearing him share who his best friend is. SO ADORABLE!</i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MVKIbAzjKgQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Favorite </i><i>music as of late - Rebecca Ferguson </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMp98oZf5e0n9pJVj_4iEweY5McZs8FMr0VnDnnNTd-XIR16oSQyvAB_Ns8t8hXzJW5AcvdtDoO-dczeJlfhmOWhwTwyOuAS-yPlaWn4yV0k80LXLLnIKn8d_H-Vrx3KN58A9RRRxvkcc/s1600/RHOA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMp98oZf5e0n9pJVj_4iEweY5McZs8FMr0VnDnnNTd-XIR16oSQyvAB_Ns8t8hXzJW5AcvdtDoO-dczeJlfhmOWhwTwyOuAS-yPlaWn4yV0k80LXLLnIKn8d_H-Vrx3KN58A9RRRxvkcc/s320/RHOA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Image from <a href="http://rollingout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Real_Housewives_of_Atlanta_season_5-e1352312527527.jpg">here </a></i></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Favorite </i><i>reality show recently - Real Housewives of Atlanta, OF COURSE - the three part reunion was GONE WITH THE WIND FABULOUS (you knew I was going to say that, right?!)</i></div>
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images from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">here</a></div>
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<i><b>Favorite </b>FUNNY children's books. Dear Mr. Mo Willems, you are a bright spot in my evening storybook routine! xo, me</i></div>
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<i>Other <b>favorites </b>as of late include:</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1nMZ3jVq10io7xuFIsBkFqgofgS2vlYl4I3dS_b8kYbcXoe2OX346SzzaIQQI9NP-s6fRBw13btBoq14pRBhrmU1Ik-UYTBswLxlv_Wr5utfY9dQ9MAkKPTDu8VK6UC2bLsafNTaT4w/s1600/llama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1nMZ3jVq10io7xuFIsBkFqgofgS2vlYl4I3dS_b8kYbcXoe2OX346SzzaIQQI9NP-s6fRBw13btBoq14pRBhrmU1Ik-UYTBswLxlv_Wr5utfY9dQ9MAkKPTDu8VK6UC2bLsafNTaT4w/s1600/llama.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Love the "stop all this llama drama!" line!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOLvB1ic_9Me-kgG4nvo9sYEcin8I_VjJ99NKrLh3366PgDitY7xVITrnpiHqPlBE2Fz3IWHe2zV9jJjOggQRUrudLApuxL0gQDTE37NcwPpVotLsyHP2MCu7Kf07J4PP7yG_22lr6hg/s1600/owen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOLvB1ic_9Me-kgG4nvo9sYEcin8I_VjJ99NKrLh3366PgDitY7xVITrnpiHqPlBE2Fz3IWHe2zV9jJjOggQRUrudLApuxL0gQDTE37NcwPpVotLsyHP2MCu7Kf07J4PP7yG_22lr6hg/s1600/owen.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>for our little namesake!</i></div>
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T<i>he sequel to L<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Found-Oliver-Jeffers/dp/0399245030/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top">ost and Found</a>, this one's just as beautifully illustrated! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE7ANptvR_mpzkjsJd2Mzdcvil9geXyqJslsrTwUMB7mLbaxK8XT3imqvKyodhXD38MzpqEGHxIernezzHwSEwIDdh-_zWNgsfJ3pRgMbbxGKR72ia4f5Dd_nj48uv5A_TcWrnp0QhhA/s1600/cat+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE7ANptvR_mpzkjsJd2Mzdcvil9geXyqJslsrTwUMB7mLbaxK8XT3imqvKyodhXD38MzpqEGHxIernezzHwSEwIDdh-_zWNgsfJ3pRgMbbxGKR72ia4f5Dd_nj48uv5A_TcWrnp0QhhA/s320/cat+truck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZIeApz6WghsGj-YxgOQW_YfuWgWS0K6KQONdftm5WP_de3FUYELQf4WDNzo0YNX7X_GuoV26O_fwcNPiTUu5ci3S0jXqTQHcAjAYL48-h4HhRyuV-hLVP5C6oWKYafOZFdleTUDb8ao/s1600/cat+loader%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZIeApz6WghsGj-YxgOQW_YfuWgWS0K6KQONdftm5WP_de3FUYELQf4WDNzo0YNX7X_GuoV26O_fwcNPiTUu5ci3S0jXqTQHcAjAYL48-h4HhRyuV-hLVP5C6oWKYafOZFdleTUDb8ao/s320/cat+loader%2527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">images from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">here</a></td></tr>
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<i>Jack's <b>favorite </b>toys right now - two big trucks that transport anything from blocks to stuffed animals to his little brother - if only we allowed it! </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PMgTppcEGXoRFPZbevadXcYzSxutfCpVQdheiIG7Rf2p2N2PzzdQuPCIve0GrA_eqRpjHc6LycIxOhzCTDqNb-g6jZIAY07roNrROPsSNKbQV6j_bn-qYTw1Xm7vUmDd0M9ZPSkNMSI/s1600/cookie+jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PMgTppcEGXoRFPZbevadXcYzSxutfCpVQdheiIG7Rf2p2N2PzzdQuPCIve0GrA_eqRpjHc6LycIxOhzCTDqNb-g6jZIAY07roNrROPsSNKbQV6j_bn-qYTw1Xm7vUmDd0M9ZPSkNMSI/s320/cookie+jar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb2mP_SMtf2T4TNF7KPC7fBuyvCddo_lIWyEQtXf26kJvmWN52R_YXDbwIeh7OXZGoM92FOlxQi3HysSrCJhE-883hKhDOmchmqFIYFDb4IrIBblQ3PuQGKF_RQKabU9ey5l6mxYRHzY/s1600/snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifb2mP_SMtf2T4TNF7KPC7fBuyvCddo_lIWyEQtXf26kJvmWN52R_YXDbwIeh7OXZGoM92FOlxQi3HysSrCJhE-883hKhDOmchmqFIYFDb4IrIBblQ3PuQGKF_RQKabU9ey5l6mxYRHzY/s320/snail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Images from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">here</a>.</i></div>
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<i>Owen's <b>favorite </b>toys right now - not that he's super picky. If it makes noise and lights up, he's pretty enthralled...</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW0PlNBpxbQKfqyfeya6072ygg0q4k-jgnLrOJSjy-W33GimyfuqilD_pZMbo_4H2ku_XfYJPAA1NQGyARWiskqYUOZvGIykf1QGXNpS7KHboy3QTFk5NG7UhES3C3nN0FLDdTuQfDgQ/s1600/skinnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW0PlNBpxbQKfqyfeya6072ygg0q4k-jgnLrOJSjy-W33GimyfuqilD_pZMbo_4H2ku_XfYJPAA1NQGyARWiskqYUOZvGIykf1QGXNpS7KHboy3QTFk5NG7UhES3C3nN0FLDdTuQfDgQ/s320/skinnies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>My <b>favorite</b> recent purchase - <a href="http://www.target.com/p/merona-women-s-rolled-ankle-skinny-jean-fit-4-assorted-colors/-/A-14413644#prodSlot=medium_1_43">bright blue skinny jeans from target</a>. They are SO comfy - I could LIVE in them. If only colored denim was courtroom appropriate. Le sigh.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw35CeuWzJBhaELnq0g7-08yLQY5CghRcdwxRCQQKjbhrX-OI6rraVZM_1CSoA4zSpPXOeh92nTRJJ5XVotOSLidWthUQnv16CQiEB3evQW8b3IAHOT57at4IqL8LHg9bYmG0m57Tl74/s1600/duo+stroller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw35CeuWzJBhaELnq0g7-08yLQY5CghRcdwxRCQQKjbhrX-OI6rraVZM_1CSoA4zSpPXOeh92nTRJJ5XVotOSLidWthUQnv16CQiEB3evQW8b3IAHOT57at4IqL8LHg9bYmG0m57Tl74/s1600/duo+stroller.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graco Duo Glider stroller in Metropolitan</td></tr>
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<b><i>Fa</i></b><i><b>vorite </b>modes of transportation as of late - it's a toss-up between the ergo and the double stroller. Love the ease and convenience of both! Images from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">here</a>.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkhRwZAkeW3eOCB0SPOqqWRzDlj0zGgSDBpLYs4I4wAICFc2YacF8xGCwwWxjzpl_2-PHA6jX4u5OhDoZamE5FWr2C-o6GlKXnMbPiv2RFUkcoIp23HzeZlKoDnPkwFuiJMdYSSlIp8Q/s1600/ergo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkhRwZAkeW3eOCB0SPOqqWRzDlj0zGgSDBpLYs4I4wAICFc2YacF8xGCwwWxjzpl_2-PHA6jX4u5OhDoZamE5FWr2C-o6GlKXnMbPiv2RFUkcoIp23HzeZlKoDnPkwFuiJMdYSSlIp8Q/s320/ergo.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So there you have it - our most recent favorites! Hope you have all been having a wonderful April! We really can't complain (except about this unseasonably cold weather!) All the best to you and yours -- what favorite things are you enjoying these days??? </span></div>
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-69250468921270723312013-04-06T10:28:00.001-05:002013-04-06T10:28:10.569-05:00some more jack-isms for your Saturday!Me: Jack, how did this truck get to the bottom of the stairs? Did you throw it?<br />
Jack: It was a accident on purpose.<br />
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<i>while organizing clothes that he's grown out of...</i><br />
Me: How did you get to be such a big boy?<br />
Jack: (motioning with his hands) I was a tiny baby! I grow and I grow and I grow. I am a big boy, and I am cute!<br />
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Me: I have to feed Owen first.<br />
Jack: Owen's daddy can do it.<br />
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Me: What do you want to do today? Do you want to go to the park?<br />
Jack: No, he wants to play trucks ALL DAY LONG.<br />
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<i>clothes are strewn all over my room during my spring cleaning campaign...</i><br />
Jack: Who made this mess?! It was MOMMY. I am going to be very mad at you!<br />
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<i>in the throes of spring cleaning...</i><br />
Me: Holy moly! Mommy needs some chocolate!<br />
Jack (runs to the top of the stairs and yells down to Daddy): DADDY! DADDY! WE MEAN CHOCOLATE! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! WE MEAN SOME CHOCOLATE!<br />
<i>Sometimes when he's excited he uses "mean" instead of "need." Adorable!</i><br />
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<i>while hiding behind a box...</i><br />
Jack: I'm hiding so I can peek you. You can't even see me, Mom!<br />
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<i>annnddd... my favorite sentence of all time. I MEAN to record this because I LOVE the way he says it.</i><br />
Jack: We MEAN to get more ba-neeeee-nas puz we fresh out!<br />
<i>He says "puz" when he means "because," and it's the cutest thing ever.</i><br />
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-28760482008024085672013-03-25T21:54:00.002-05:002013-03-25T21:59:31.793-05:00reflections.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-GuN6uMueteC4f6d8cnXCJ2LDUpcknHdv95TpEHaX6ez3RMQlKZMIP05VzN4-wzqnVug1ahtNCRpgU2-B7Ur1s81K_Sl_MG65uXtGav60_7rBcruLB75OSg8EZSxdIi3E-9z1UWYPok/s1600/IMG_3187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-GuN6uMueteC4f6d8cnXCJ2LDUpcknHdv95TpEHaX6ez3RMQlKZMIP05VzN4-wzqnVug1ahtNCRpgU2-B7Ur1s81K_Sl_MG65uXtGav60_7rBcruLB75OSg8EZSxdIi3E-9z1UWYPok/s640/IMG_3187.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>such hard work being a baby!</i></div>
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well, it's been five and a half weeks since owen arrived on the scene, and i figured it was high time to share some observations on life around here. </div>
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1) owen could quite possibly be the most relaxed, chill baby in the world. i'm NOT exaggerating. he is a sweet little cuddler who, thankfully, is impervious to the raucous atmosphere around here. between his father's commentary during blackhawks' games to his brother's opinionated monologues, LOUD NOISES is one thing we're glad he doesn't seem to mind.</div>
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2) <a href="http://www.target.com/p/maybelline-volum-express-the-rocket-washable-mascara/-/A-14328368?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Google_PLA_df&LNM=%7C14310170&CPNG=Health+Beauty&kpid=14310170&LID=PA&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14310170">THIS</a> is the most amazing mascara in the world. no matter how few hours of sleep i've gotten, a shower and this mascara are all i need to feel like a million bucks.</div>
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3) <a href="http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=919780361&MasterCategory_Id=MC29">THESE</a> nursing bras are still my absolute favorites. thought i'd share, just in case your boobs are ridiculously large and leaking milk...</div>
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4) the key to a happy home is regular meals. and regular snacks in between. seriously. i don't need eight hours of sleep each night -- i can function on about half that, if need be. nothing brings me closer to meltdown, though, then ravenous hunger. i've been focusing on keeping everyone around here well-fed (myself included), which, i believe, has resulted in general good spirits and happiness. </div>
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speaking of which - if you have a toddler who has recently decided to become a picky eater, i highly recommend any and all articles by dr. sears. he's calmed my anxiety on the topic. instead of getting frustrated, i've been trying to make mealtimes fun, and let me just say - eating an orange <i>is</i> more fun when it looks like a monster face.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFnOivMEf3_Jaj4nmki-2wFpnYYbZSmMtXUQd7Uku_n4RDR6FrBujmwOe7dfM9NugGZ14IG9oDNd2_Cw-OMWdeMmHTLo-YHbiYtJtuIex-LwVuHwxaLf_3_fIwXuwVBWlVM2KdNVuFHU/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFnOivMEf3_Jaj4nmki-2wFpnYYbZSmMtXUQd7Uku_n4RDR6FrBujmwOe7dfM9NugGZ14IG9oDNd2_Cw-OMWdeMmHTLo-YHbiYtJtuIex-LwVuHwxaLf_3_fIwXuwVBWlVM2KdNVuFHU/s640/IMG_3185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>those are the three little bears wearing super fashionable, on-trend strawberry hats. and those two orange monsters are FRIENDLY, as i carefully explained to jack. he was more concerned about the lack of legs on the caterpillar. regardless, he ate the entire plate and followed it all up with "candy peas," which i, employing skillful reverse psychology tactics, asked him to PLEASE NOT eat those CANDY PEAS because they were for mommy and daddy. as soon as i turned my back to him, he gobbled the bowl down. stubborn mom - 1; stubborn toddler - 0.</i></div>
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5) nothing brings me to hot post-partum mess quicker than tender moments between my husband and his sons. </div>
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6) family pictures become exponentially more difficult with the addition of more children. (this is maybe number 18 in a series of 37?)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XtAZV5sr4JjF1n9D2gx9QEZGeKfYCDtuOZtFHtbKRmrRZ9l0KUU7Qet0Pa6OxnkY6g5PZupmprYxxASuxbWoJbm0UkyWsibsnX5u8qYFqjA4WMRqBUJtoXTaLKdQRj35Adx9fvwtWCA/s1600/IMG_3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XtAZV5sr4JjF1n9D2gx9QEZGeKfYCDtuOZtFHtbKRmrRZ9l0KUU7Qet0Pa6OxnkY6g5PZupmprYxxASuxbWoJbm0UkyWsibsnX5u8qYFqjA4WMRqBUJtoXTaLKdQRj35Adx9fvwtWCA/s640/IMG_3147.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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7) mediocre is the new AMAZING. or something. you know me: BIG expectations, COMPLICATED plans, and always a HUGE to-do list. however, beginning with a surprise c-section, these past five-ish weeks have really reinforced to me that i need to check my control freak tendencies at the door and just LIVE. my favorite recent memories have not come about after tedious crafting or elaborate meal preparation. they've mostly taken place on the floor of our living room, where everyone's still in their pj's at 11 a.m., i'm covered in baby spit-up (but i'm wearing that awesome mascara - see #2), and i've just recovered from a near-death run-in with a lego underfoot. i feel a familiar nagging voice reminding me that i haven't "done ANYTHING" today, and then i see jack hugging owen and sharing trucks with him, and i realize that i don't need to "accomplish" anything today. </div>
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8) speaking of which, revising my attitude and changing my perspective is about as helpful as more sleep and a live-in housekeeper would be anyway. i challenge you to really think about this the next time you tell yourself you haven't accomplished enough today. i guarantee you've done a lot more than you're giving yourself credit for. i almost dismantled my happy mood with that sort of nagging today when i realized, HEY! i did two loads of laundry, had the kids in actual outfits, made everyone breakfast and paid all our bills online - all before 9:30 a.m.! it's the little victories!</div>
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9) frozen yogurt makes everything better.</div>
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10) downton abbey is a fabulous show. i'm sorry i resisted jumping on that bandwagon for so long. my mother-in-law came to visit for a week, and she insisted i take afternoon "naps" (LOVE her!), so i was able to watch seasons 1 - 3. </div>
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11) speaking of shows, john and i are slowly, but surely, plugging away on mad men episodes. i have a love-hate relationship with it. some days i'm all about it, and other days it annoys the crap out of me. no matter the day, it always makes me thirsty.</div>
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12) most importantly, i am having a great time hanging out with my boys at home. i'm trying not to think about the looming end of this time together, and doing my best to treasure all the sweet moments we're experiencing. <br />
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all the best from our messy, but HAPPY, home to yours,<br />
steph</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCmX6VuSAtd9CyJ00Auc7JokO6i-swvNwNOXWIkALD9mtmrLIar0-oQixbJ6q5qsrx59Lq5Ga6lIAgV2oql_bqKaBcWae-KnYU9bDZeEOowmvz-baLEb03LuJun46sahRHYw3YVEJkx4/s1600/IMG_3131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCmX6VuSAtd9CyJ00Auc7JokO6i-swvNwNOXWIkALD9mtmrLIar0-oQixbJ6q5qsrx59Lq5Ga6lIAgV2oql_bqKaBcWae-KnYU9bDZeEOowmvz-baLEb03LuJun46sahRHYw3YVEJkx4/s640/IMG_3131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>"take a camera of jack's sad face, mom!"</i></div>
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<i>"angry face!"</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvyrmv5PKvPxz2OfrA_R86YhCNDbd4kwfcMLu-5uTFoMI-M6mLQg96CbEBoHj656wwGKPN3zCj_u2g-ESR237j1Xm_n0NCqcKHw2QLV_cOChtBhZz66xSsirpKHWjLLfyfgeOu_lBAMI/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvyrmv5PKvPxz2OfrA_R86YhCNDbd4kwfcMLu-5uTFoMI-M6mLQg96CbEBoHj656wwGKPN3zCj_u2g-ESR237j1Xm_n0NCqcKHw2QLV_cOChtBhZz66xSsirpKHWjLLfyfgeOu_lBAMI/s640/IMG_3127.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>"happy face!"</i></div>
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<i>littlest lepruchan.</i></div>
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Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-84861037009701141712013-03-24T23:29:00.000-05:002013-03-24T23:29:24.453-05:00jack-isms.<i>handing owen a toy train...</i><br />
jack: here you go, owen! you have this train. (raises his voice to a squeaky pitch and pretends to speak for owen) oh, thank you very much, jack!<br />
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jack: good morning, owen! (sees that owen is wearing a sleep sack) WHAT (pause) IS (pause) THAT??? owen's legs are broken!<br />
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jack (to his stuffed puppy): you better be good at the store! no barking, no screaming, no yelling, or mommy will be mad and angry and you will be in a time out. <br />
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<i>jack lugs a gallon of milk to the living room and sets it down next to me while i'm feeding owen. </i>jack: can you give this milk to owen and we will play trucks?<br />
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<i>walking home from sledding at the park, a man shoveling his walk says hi to us and i say hi back...</i><br />
jack (VERY LOUDLY, i might add): DID YOU TALK TO THAT MAN? DAD IS GOING TO BE MAD! <br />
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jack: i peed in the potty, mom. i peed LOTS. i peed three thousand.<br />
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<i>jack is walking around with a one dollar bill, a nickel and a penny...</i><br />
jack: i have twenty-eight, eight-four monies. i have coins. i have monies to buy whatever we need.<br />
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jack: i am captain hook. you can be smee. <br />
me: ok.<br />
jack: don't say that, mom. say ARRRRGGGHHH.<br />
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<i>jack drops a truck behind his bed and gets his leg stuck in the process of trying to retrieve it...</i><br />
jack: help! help! emergency! ayudame!<br />
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<i>i'm mixing some spices together to sprinkle on top of homemade fries...</i><br />
jack: can i have a little taste? (he proceeds to lick his finger and taste the spices, and make a face) this is ewwwww. can i have some more?<br />
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-63083580600612327302013-03-15T23:27:00.001-05:002013-03-15T23:27:12.133-05:00owen william: one month!totally cliche, but i can't believe this little peanut is one month old already!<br />
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happy st. patrick's day weekend, everyone! i'll be celebrating with my little lepruchans... indulge me in a proud mom moment... aren't they the cutest?<br />
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<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-64718210205217056462013-03-12T18:11:00.000-05:002013-03-12T18:12:37.470-05:00more jack-isms.<i>on increasing morale...</i><br />
me, to john: i'm crabby today. i need to get out of this house.<br />
jack: we can go to cherry berry (frozen yogurt place), mom, and you will feel ALL better!<br />
<i>... and we did!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>preparing to take owen to his doctor's appointment...</i><br />
me: i'm going to take owen to the doctor and you're going to stay and have fun with daddy.<br />
jack: can i go, too?<br />
me: not today.<br />
(jack leaves the room, and comes back a few minutes later)<br />
jack: (holding out his finger) i got an ouchie on my finger, so i have to go to the doctor, too.<br />
<br />
<i>owen is upstairs napping</i>...<br />
jack: did you forget owen, mom?<br />
me: no, he's upstairs sleeping.<br />
jack: don't lose owen, mom. go get him!<br />
<br />
<i>inspecting a knick in our bookshelf...</i><br />
john: jack, did you do that?<br />
jack: yes, he did. he bashed it.<br />
me: do you know what happened to the piece?<br />
jack: i need my glasses. i can't find it.<br />
<br />
<i>jack and i were in a minor (thank goodness!) car accident on the way home from target. we were rear-ended. after the ordeal, we headed home to tell daddy what happened.</i><br />
(as i'm unbuckling him from his car seat) jack: i'm going to tell daddy about the big bam! this is going to be really exciting! (as he enters the house) daddy? daddy? where are you? a man hit mommy's car. there was a big boom, and the car is SMASHED! call the police, daddy! (he proceeds to "call" all our relatives using a red block, to share the news)<br />
<br />
<i>at target, we're searching for "short" yoga pants.</i><br />
me: i don't think they have them, jack. mommy can't find them.<br />
jack: don't cry, mom. cheer up. we will find them. i promise you.<br />
<br />
<i>owen is grunting</i>.<br />
jack: he is trying to poop, mommy. owen will feel better if he toots!<br />
<br />
stay tuned for the next edition of things-i-think-are-funny-because-my-offspring-said-them!<br />
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-3949917656955959272013-03-06T17:11:00.000-06:002013-03-06T17:11:12.971-06:00jack-isms.me: are you crabby? i feel like you're not listening very well today.<br />
jack: (proudly) that's right, mom! i'm NOT hearing you and i'm NOT listening today!<br />
<br />
<i>while making banana bread, using the electric mixer, owen lets out a tiny meow...</i><br />
jack: MOM! please turn off this! it's too loud and owen hates it!<br />
<br />
jack: there's only one thing we can do! we have to smash it! (about a toy truck that was broken)<br />
<br />
me: would you like yogurt or applesauce?<br />
jack: umm, no thanks. he will have a cookie. (we're big on talking in third person around here)<br />
<br />
<i>owen grunts a little...</i><br />
jack: i'm sorry, owie! you have to be quiet. be a good boy now.<br />
<br />
<i>after his super reader show ends...</i><br />
jack: i want more super readers, mom. can you get me some more?<br />
me: it's over. i can't turn it on... i don't make the schedule.<br />
jack: (encouraging) you can do it, mom! just try! excellent work!<br />
<br />
<i>after his nap, i discover him cuddling up in my bed...</i><br />
me: what are you doing in here, jack? are you still sleepy?<br />
jack: SSSSHH! quiet down, mom. he's still waking up.<br />
<br />
<i>i purchased a bag of jelly beans to reward my little grocery shopping sidekick for good behavior.</i><br />
grocery store clerk: what a good helper! are you going to help your mom with these groceries?<br />
jack: ummm, no thanks! i will sit here and eat jumping beans. (he calls jelly beans "jumping beans.")<br />
<br />
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-33757585612867844822013-02-21T02:47:00.003-06:002013-02-21T02:47:57.392-06:00Jack-isms.Me: "Please don't touch that... those are Uncle Chris's supplies for his job fair. Uncle Chris is trying to find a new job."<br />
<br />
Jack: "I need a job! I need a job!"<br />
<br />
Yes, sir, kiddo! Start pulling your weight around here, geeeeeesh! What have you been doing for the last 2 1/2 years anyway!? Haha.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Upon me walking into his bedroom to read some books to Jack before naptime:<br />
<br />
Jack: "Where is Owen?"<br />
<br />
Me: "He's downstairs, taking a nap." <br />
<br />
Jack: <i>exasperated </i>"Get my brother! I need him! Don't leave him downstairs, Mom. That is NOT a good idea."<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Jack, after passing a little gas: "Did you fart, Mom?"<br />
<br />
Me: "No, I did not. I think you did."<br />
<br />
Jack: "I think Owen did." <br />
<br />
We've only just begun with the sibling scapegoat, I'm thinking!<br />
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-70924285870876780412013-02-19T21:05:00.000-06:002013-02-19T21:05:42.474-06:00mama-razzi. (cheesiest title ever, yes?)he doesn't like being filmed, but he's pretty crazy about his new brother... thank goodness!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSZ3izFZhsHAFHvVAQ0ZJ9z5eQDpTUZ6Zov7ymKDDX11_FNmYQ0BazvtrV4qWqnhKvkucv0q9zfRBWb7Z8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-59556842694931763882013-02-17T23:05:00.002-06:002013-02-17T23:05:29.112-06:00always remember there was nothing worth sharing...<i>.... like the love that let us share our name....</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Owen William, February 14, 2013</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>With my little Valentine</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Watching the Blackhawks with Daddy<br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE26wrfPkOnIfukX9gKS386cZDJrZwGsPplyu_45cirEAxShdz_hryzkhc6ivfCaE84ADRg65EComaLVgayvVy36dEnIryD1xPqRcMUyAdXxfDOBXvCgbawivtej7ncnyGYfVru9_aOkE/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE26wrfPkOnIfukX9gKS386cZDJrZwGsPplyu_45cirEAxShdz_hryzkhc6ivfCaE84ADRg65EComaLVgayvVy36dEnIryD1xPqRcMUyAdXxfDOBXvCgbawivtej7ncnyGYfVru9_aOkE/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE26wrfPkOnIfukX9gKS386cZDJrZwGsPplyu_45cirEAxShdz_hryzkhc6ivfCaE84ADRg65EComaLVgayvVy36dEnIryD1xPqRcMUyAdXxfDOBXvCgbawivtej7ncnyGYfVru9_aOkE/s640/IMG_2817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>So excited to get home!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijMp6SR1n8xJ5qewrzdnvNaZCw4J9qhw0zX1d71vL25q0XSkZ69uQXK6uZXJ32_1RUBHsTnaMjllBfb7qkEfVhEkE5TyUOaxty9_l_rMIZ7ObcBsrFHpGWbNvGztk9daKaxV8xtWT4NQ/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijMp6SR1n8xJ5qewrzdnvNaZCw4J9qhw0zX1d71vL25q0XSkZ69uQXK6uZXJ32_1RUBHsTnaMjllBfb7qkEfVhEkE5TyUOaxty9_l_rMIZ7ObcBsrFHpGWbNvGztk9daKaxV8xtWT4NQ/s640/IMG_2830.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Meeting for the first time.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxgzvxCXs_AWZC1Mbq7D0RXZgQcaDpqqMPNIT95RFuSj7oQ4uOdLK-kS1aDRD_4rdSKRG-PESAGzSA4FZEP54oQ8cr45lwJB3XCL1pcCjI0wSe7BfU7PNKVpt_3UtgashParJtpvc4lA/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxgzvxCXs_AWZC1Mbq7D0RXZgQcaDpqqMPNIT95RFuSj7oQ4uOdLK-kS1aDRD_4rdSKRG-PESAGzSA4FZEP54oQ8cr45lwJB3XCL1pcCjI0wSe7BfU7PNKVpt_3UtgashParJtpvc4lA/s640/IMG_2822.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eskimo kisses</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daddy and his boys</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLha4R9DjOLHKHqo5_K0pmbcvQlUGJOWfNKJTzCgNGweWiBpjnxricxmV2k9Uu3NQWFgpLBGIoUIqYNmT8OtDMVKdFj2sa7wOJbXPK9nmVU7s9obTzeFbbAzsQvBbr3W1A_ddJOmFOQmU/s1600/IMG_2841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLha4R9DjOLHKHqo5_K0pmbcvQlUGJOWfNKJTzCgNGweWiBpjnxricxmV2k9Uu3NQWFgpLBGIoUIqYNmT8OtDMVKdFj2sa7wOJbXPK9nmVU7s9obTzeFbbAzsQvBbr3W1A_ddJOmFOQmU/s640/IMG_2841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Brothers</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
my heart is absolutely bursting with love right now. hope you all had a wonderful valentine's day. we celebrated one we will never forget!</div>
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<i><br /></i>Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-73742088655827294062013-02-11T21:03:00.001-06:002013-02-12T05:00:00.738-06:00From the mouths of babes...I need to get to the store and buy a special notebook so I can remember all these hilarious daily Jack-isms, but until then...here's today's installment.<br />
<br />
Jack: "NO! NO! NO! I do NOT want to read <u>Puzzlehead</u> tonight. I NEED <u>Click, Clack, Moo</u>!"<br />
<br />
Me: "Why are you being so crabby tonight?"<br />
<br />
Jack: "Sometimes I'm crabby, ok, Mom? Sometimes I'm a happy boy and sometimes I'm crabby, ok? That's it."<br />
<br />
True story, my boy, true story. I'm picking up what you're throwing down.<br />
<br />
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-28077266044951039022013-02-02T09:16:00.000-06:002013-02-02T09:16:15.521-06:00on the difference between men and women.yesterday we got a little peek at the tiny baby in utero. i only had one ultrasound with jack, so it was pretty neat to see this baby so far along. <br />
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my take on the experience: "he has his brother's nose and lips! i can't believe how much he looks like jack!"<br />
john's take: "well, this means jack will be giving him a fake ID once he turns 21."<br />
<br />
my due date is officially moved and i'm measuring past full term... so chances are, we'll meet this little man.. SOON! so excited!Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-41706765477294706092013-01-25T14:40:00.000-06:002013-01-25T14:40:14.142-06:00in the wee hours of the morning...i woke up <i>very early </i>this morning to pains in my stomach. i had been laying on my left side when suddenly my eyes were open, and i felt very uncomfortable. "am i hungry?" i wondered. "is this labor? do i need to use the bathroom?" i stumbled around in the dark and found my cell phone. 2:19 a.m. i padded quietly down the hall and downstairs to the bathroom. minutes later, i returned to the warmth of my bed and laid on my back next to john, listening to the rhythmic hum of his breathing. in the distance, i could hear a siren. the pain in my stomach had somewhat subsided, and i could feel sleep closing in. i closed my eyes and thought for a moment about things i still need to do before the baby comes.<br />
<br />
nothing seemed that pressing, though. nothing too urgent nagged at me, and i sank further into the bed, moving a little closer to the warmth of my sleeping husband. suddenly a thought popped into my head and i blinked open my eyes. how many nights i had laid in this bed and wished and hoped and prayed and pleaded to be pregnant. how many nights i had resigned myself to the fact that our household was limited to me, the man sleeping beside me and the little towhead down the hall. and how sad that had made me. how it made me feel like a failure. <br />
<br />
now i was in such a different place. <i>am</i> in such a different place. i can feel the gentle and sometimes not-so-gentle kicking of a baby growing stronger every day. i can feel his tiny little hands pressing back when i push on my stomach. i can see the excitement on his brother's face when i explain that the baby will be here soon and he reiterates, "the baby will pop out soon?! hip hooooooray!" <br />
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sometimes i find myself thinking, though, about what i would have been like if this wasn't where i was. if this wasn't the road i got to travel. if i never got to see that second line on yet another pregnancy test. would this life have been enough for me? would i have been okay with the hand i was dealt? would i have been a good wife to john? a good enough mother to jack? or would i have cried myself to sleep and felt empty on holidays? would i have felt a pang of jealousy when friends and relatives announced pregnancy? sometimes it's very important to me to be able to assure myself that it would have been okay. that i would have still managed. and not just managed - but lived life the way i wanted to, intended to, regardless of less than ideal circumstances. like getting what i wanted somehow made me a brat and i have to prove to someone, anyone that i could have made it through - persevered - triumphed - forged ahead - even in the face of adversity. but laying in my bed this morning, i thought, i don't know if i could have been that person. <br />
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right before i learned i was pregnant, i felt like i had made progress in accepting that my own fertility was not in my hands. that i couldn't control many things - including the size of my family or if/when we would welcome another baby into our lives. <i>but did i make any progress at all?</i> does it matter? can i move on? will i ever hear the questions "when are you going to try again?" "how many kids are you going to have?" "when is x getting another sibling?" without feeling a pang of anxiety? will i ever be able to let go of residual anger at the way people in my life responded to what i was going through? <br />
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in the quiet darkness of my bedroom this morning, these questions seemed less urgent than they otherwise do. i pondered them, but didn't feel any overwhelming pressure to resolve them one way or another. around 3:30, i determined that the pains in my stomach were actually hunger pains, and i made my way to the kitchen for half a bowl of cheerios. i laid back in my bed and eventually drifted back to sleep.<br />
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... only to be woken by jack yelling at 5:20 a.m. it sounded like he was having a nightmare, and i bounded out of bed and down the hallway to his room to soothe his little writhing body. it took a few minutes to calm him down, and after a diaper change, he opted for the comfort of mom and dad's bed (a total rarity for our generally very-independent-very-good sleeper) and so we (me, puppy, blanky - the other puppy, teddy and his white blanket) made our way back down the hall. jack settled in between john and i and laid there in the stillness. he did what he has done since he was born, matched his breathing to mine, and we laid next to each other, our chests rising and falling together. his hand reached over to touch my face, his little fingers rested on my cheek, and i saw his eyes blinking in the darkness. he snuggled in closer.<br />
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after thirty minutes or so, it became apparent that he wasn't going back to sleep. he wanted water, he wanted a story, he wanted to talk about his puppy. while john is much more patient than i when it comes to certain things (toddler eating habits, messes around the house, disorganization in general), i have resigned myself to the fact that i will not be getting a solid eight hours of sleep for a very long time (eighteen years?!) and i am much more patient with waking earlier/in the middle of the night. so, jack and i returned to his room and laid next to each other in his bed. he requested that i read "the giving tree" and "lost and found." he wanted a granola bar and warm milk. we discussed the need to be quiet when other people were sleeping, and i reminded him that very soon his baby brother would be here and it would be extremely important to whisper if he woke up when it was still dark outside. "okay," he answered very seriously. "i promise. i be VERY quiet!" he exclaimed in a not-so-quiet voice. he struggled to keep his eyes open in the dimly lit room, and i rubbed his back and sang him a few lines of edelweiss, his favorite "lullabye" since he was a baby. after a time, i tiptoed out of his room and back into mine. it was silent for a few minutes before he started calling for me again. john rolled over, visibly irritated. "he needs to go back to bed!" he grumbled. "why is he awake right now?!" i was tired, too, but i just felt like maybe jack needed his mom this morning. <br />
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back to his room, i scooped him up and carried him to the rocking chair in our bedroom. he snuggled up on my chest and closed his eyes. we rocked and rocked, and i thought and thought. i wondered if this would be the last time i would rock my son before his brother was born. i wondered if jack felt like the time was drawing near, like he could sense that things were about to change and he needed to reassure himself of his place in my heart. <i>do kids think about things like that? are they aware of the magnitude of additional siblings in the days leading up to birth? </i>i hugged his little body closer and silently thanked him for all the precious moments he's given me, the laughs and the tears and the opportunities to grow. the forgiveness and patience he's shown me when i had no idea what i was doing as a new mom or even a mom two plus years into this journey. i said a silent prayer of thanks for all the "mama's" he's uttered, the hugs he's shared and the kisses on my cheek. i don't know why i felt this overwhelming need to express to him in some way how grateful i am to be his mom, but i guess it's just one more thing i'm glad to have completed before his new brother arrives. <br />
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i won't pretend that parenting is all a bunch of roses and rainbows and unicorns and happiness all the time. because it isn't. it's a lot of sleepless nights and worry and hard work, but mixed in with all of that are so many joyous, amazing, precious moments that make it worth any less-than-ideal times. despite the 5:20 a.m. wake-up call this morning, i am so glad that i got a little extra time to snuggle with my firstborn. i know these special moments might not come as easily in the coming weeks, and maybe he knows that, too... either way - i'm treasuring all these moments - whether they come at 5 a.m. or p.m.! Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-28244261778525204732013-01-21T16:50:00.001-06:002013-01-21T16:52:38.381-06:00In which I share my true feelings regarding the FLUThe black plague of death otherwise known as FLU SEASON 2012-2013 can kiss my ass, thank you very much. I'm going out on a limb here, and I'm going to be a smidge dramatic, but I would really rather give birth to a child than have the flu. Understand that this is coming from a woman who had an uncomplicated delivery the first time around. This is also coming from a woman who is very tired, very pregnant and very ready to never have to see another jug of Pedialyte for a good long time. At least at the end of a 12-24 hour labor, you have an adorable cuddly newborn to kiss and hug and snuggle. At the end of a 12-24 hour flu sickness, you have a shit ton of laundry and an entire house to disinfect.<br />
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If you can't tell, we've been a little under the weather lately. I am hoping that this week brings more sleep and less germs. I have to be honest when I say that one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever witnessed was my two-year-old apologizing for throwing up. John made a 3:30 a.m. run to Walgreens for some provisions and after he left, Jack asked, "Daddy mad at me?" I wanted to cry and made a silent vow that I would offer to be sick for any/all remaining flu seasons of my life if my poor little angel would just get well (you know, because bargains offered to no one in particular in the middle of the night are <i>always</i> super successful).<br />
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Anyway, the update on this front is: we are alive and (hopefully) out of the woods in regard to sickness (<i>fingers crossed</i>), I am still pregnant (<i>legs crossed</i>) and there is a lot of laundry piled up in my basement. Hope everyone has a great week... sans germs!Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-29571042070308524542013-01-13T15:59:00.000-06:002013-01-13T15:59:22.190-06:00there's no buddy...i am sitting here, sipping on some hot chocolate and listening to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMy9JFco-Sk">crooked still.</a> for one of the first times throughout the past 8+ months, i <i>feel </i>very pregnant. not heavy. not sore. not achy. i just feel a very strong sense of being <i>with child</i> if that makes any sort of sense. which it probably doesn't. i find myself waxing philosophical when the house is quiet and i am listening to music and thinking too much about anything and everything. <br />
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this is the first weekend in a very long time that i had no real agenda, no rigid to-do list of work projects that <i>needed </i>to be completed, no sewing projects begging to be completed, and no housework that can't wait until later this week or even next weekend. of course yesterday began earlier than it needed to... i mean, why wouldn't jack wake up an hour earlier than normal on the one day i could sleep in?! (he and his sideKICK (emphasis on the KICK) both had the same idea, i suppose, since little man was jabbing me in my ribs ferociously from about 5 a.m. on... ) anyway, i knew that we could head off any impending crabbiness from waking up a little too early with a mommy-son date to donut boy, our local fried dough establishment. i wish i could bottle up these precious little moments with him. he is so fun and full of life and he really enjoys our adventures together. yesterday, when i was in line to get the donuts, he was sitting at a table, calling to me, "hi mom! don't worry! i'm sitting. no screaming, no yelling, just donuts! sprinkles, please. thanks, mom!" we were sitting there enjoying our breakfast when he randomly kissed my cheek and said, "i love you, mom! we're having fun!" if i hadn't been in a room full of strangers, i might have cried. these are the moments worth living for - fleeting, precious, perfect. of course, later in the day, i always let myself reflect on how many more spontaneous kisses i will receive on the cheek before i will be the annoying mom who jack can't wait to avoid... and i should stop doing that and just appreciate the wonderful moments for what they are.<br />
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speaking of precious moments, my sister and nephew were in town this week, and is THIS not one of the more precious moments you've seen captured on film?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFAxDk5H4xodnltuv92YiitQ8YN_pf841DYkfLLV2sSpgz6r44ml-8R-ACOVQ_INxTnvazOZ8-RAbrt0jjvxSTOJWW3zGfKSjIcL2l6wfg3_PSonQdhH2cMYZk9Ikwe5WORlQhpiLjcY/s1600/IMG_2601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFAxDk5H4xodnltuv92YiitQ8YN_pf841DYkfLLV2sSpgz6r44ml-8R-ACOVQ_INxTnvazOZ8-RAbrt0jjvxSTOJWW3zGfKSjIcL2l6wfg3_PSonQdhH2cMYZk9Ikwe5WORlQhpiLjcY/s640/IMG_2601.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
i just melt at the sight of little babies clasping their hands. i also melt at the sight of jack being tender and sweet with his little cousin. he was SO attentive and gentle with baby petey. showing him all his toys, finding "soft" toys to share and telling him stories to calm him when he fussed. in fact, he wanted to bring petey in his bed to sleep, but i think we're at least a few months away from cousin sleepovers (can't wait for that, though!)<br />
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since we had no real agenda this weekend, we decided to tackle a fun "baby brother is coming soon" project envelope... an art project for the gallery wall in the boys' shared room. (wow, that was weird... to say "boys' room" and realize that soon - there will be children - multiple - sharing that space) anyway, i let jack paint a canvas after i had put a quote down with stickers. when he was finished, i peeled the stickers back to reveal jack's new masterpiece!<br />
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<i>"mom, it says g, b, h, x marks the spot!" - jack</i></div>
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<i>paintshirt throwback to the alma mater, held in place by a classy hair tie</i></div>
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<i>"this paint looks like blood, mom! (pause) it's NOT blood, mom! it's paint!" - jack</i></div>
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<i>the finished product.</i></div>
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<i>the masterpiece on the gallery wall. as jack said - "this is for baby brother. he might love it!" </i></div>
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<i>we can only hope!</i></div>
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we're one step closer to being ready to welcome baby brother! Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-66094531326499118192013-01-06T10:13:00.001-06:002013-01-06T10:13:56.746-06:00on battling the post-holiday blues.this is the soonest i have ever taken down my christmas decor (jan. 4) and the most emotionally stable i have ever felt while doing so. and did i mention that i'm also very pregnant?! this is no small feat... but i suppose it has something to do with thinking ahead to all of the other fun things that will be happening around here in the coming weeks. <br />
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jack and i started on the first of our "before the little brother comes" adventures. we started friday night off right (on daddy's suggestion) with a trip to cherry berry - this frozen yogurt place where you add toppings galore and gorge to your heart's content. jack had already been there with daddy and his friends, so he was very helpful in explaining how to navigate the process and which flavors to try. after successfully filling ourselves with a healthy amount of frozen yogurt, we all made the trek to joann fabrics where jack was to pick out some new fabric for two special projects.<br />
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i needed to make some more cloth diaper wipes since soon enough there will be another bum to change, clean, wipe, etc. around here, and here are jack's final selections for flannel fabric choices:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbDTMRRSOwElgg2oQPq5e9qySe4mieebPo-ZppGigyRZlBVgnW4p6hIun2j1mtYT1jE1rgV-P49qXhr92lM5bfRsuqumito6zEEoLhc-EnETlfg-PAA6rxDNLqmyIRhBVixRfF4Liz8E/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbDTMRRSOwElgg2oQPq5e9qySe4mieebPo-ZppGigyRZlBVgnW4p6hIun2j1mtYT1jE1rgV-P49qXhr92lM5bfRsuqumito6zEEoLhc-EnETlfg-PAA6rxDNLqmyIRhBVixRfF4Liz8E/s400/IMG_2582.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe_BSawnqs26SpDtFmoqKq75Xeyj88s9HO9956Pom2YB1wn2HkXMln7hzgWHX-KC3PYFlc9iFaOg23ZY7rMsEzZScMnjZuf4eTQrLNUPzBDT9ldaCYOQfGwqOCvommwRGiZcKW0UzTgQ/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOe_BSawnqs26SpDtFmoqKq75Xeyj88s9HO9956Pom2YB1wn2HkXMln7hzgWHX-KC3PYFlc9iFaOg23ZY7rMsEzZScMnjZuf4eTQrLNUPzBDT9ldaCYOQfGwqOCvommwRGiZcKW0UzTgQ/s400/IMG_2584.JPG" width="266" /></a><br />
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very two-year old boy appropriate, right? next on the agenda was to choose some fabric for a new apron so he could help make some freezer meals in the coming weeks. </div>
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he picked the fabric, which was a very intense process that involved touching every single home decor fabric option and explaining to everyone that walked near us that we were making an apron. after approximately 43 minutes in the store, we left with our selections, and now jack has this apron to assist in our culinary pursuits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP44SLaeIriDIdd-1y6shRPIWbOCrESc6S6tcKAP_ap785PP4XUKbCO5g0VrQv7NV3DZRAXOyr1Gq5uVt1_pLSpswd9NBECujf_RDvZANYunP-C0IYVvY8YOXbATUSGWbmljwEAFBEYb4/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP44SLaeIriDIdd-1y6shRPIWbOCrESc6S6tcKAP_ap785PP4XUKbCO5g0VrQv7NV3DZRAXOyr1Gq5uVt1_pLSpswd9NBECujf_RDvZANYunP-C0IYVvY8YOXbATUSGWbmljwEAFBEYb4/s640/IMG_2581.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddYV55hC7lidshzm8REWvdj6k1aOCk7I7iPSish8_FkLcp-HiBMXalzDrGN44mfZEWG8whbt4F-Z3md9kTRZuSimD9-lgg1t9n0J_xXRWZZwp8DU1DTLuVEAsNuiPlH6iqBiL2Nmce1E/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddYV55hC7lidshzm8REWvdj6k1aOCk7I7iPSish8_FkLcp-HiBMXalzDrGN44mfZEWG8whbt4F-Z3md9kTRZuSimD9-lgg1t9n0J_xXRWZZwp8DU1DTLuVEAsNuiPlH6iqBiL2Nmce1E/s640/IMG_2586.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>putting the new apron to the test</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-NDzgQ98wz4vtTIYZYYgvMI1H_l_iAbmF3A91cBXG1a67tVSW39pvfC9iLY7rOikEaAhoem8N1jpxVFTIHwYTvINDyl1dzfVS2no4T1HxfxvzKYxF_CNQvUOyUvbWHtgGj7Tj0Kz-3Q/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-NDzgQ98wz4vtTIYZYYgvMI1H_l_iAbmF3A91cBXG1a67tVSW39pvfC9iLY7rOikEaAhoem8N1jpxVFTIHwYTvINDyl1dzfVS2no4T1HxfxvzKYxF_CNQvUOyUvbWHtgGj7Tj0Kz-3Q/s640/IMG_2593.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<i>helping make our <a href="http://www.lovintheoven.com/2012/08/cinnamon-baked-french-toast.html">favorite new breakfast recipe </a></i></div>
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(a GREAT option for little helpers... what 2 year old hell bent on mass destruction can't get behind tearing up a loaf of bread?!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9qX1DZOV8CkvSuQ2ucMyErkHoJtT1tU1kWM3Ac2dytZGIndHlHGfcsSeaNtZDWYJzS7WXPhgjn0Pa4_LuzjWnDxkQP76_EEYAL35XBhYPq_VBVm8kCnaSv5DMt8SGvmHNfQa9OD4Go4/s1600/IMG_2597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9qX1DZOV8CkvSuQ2ucMyErkHoJtT1tU1kWM3Ac2dytZGIndHlHGfcsSeaNtZDWYJzS7WXPhgjn0Pa4_LuzjWnDxkQP76_EEYAL35XBhYPq_VBVm8kCnaSv5DMt8SGvmHNfQa9OD4Go4/s640/IMG_2597.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>and... the final product. i'm telling you - this recipe is heavenly. jack describes it as "breakfast cake" - doesn't that tickle your taste buds?!</i></div>
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hope you're having a great weekend - after a day of getting busy with my sewing machine, i found myself back in a familiar mindset - i should open an etsy shop and quit my day job! i could be creative 24 hours a day, sip coffee and sew while watching old "wire" episodes on dvd.... lest those feelings overpower me - we are on our way to the grocery store to run errands and do other reality-based tasks. have a wonderful sunday!</div>
<br />Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7454962779614440840.post-35058810247200626582013-01-03T23:37:00.000-06:002013-01-03T23:37:04.385-06:00countdown to baby.well, i'm officially in the throes of the third trimester. sleeping is difficult, there's no room in my stomach for food and i'm making insane "lists" of things that <i>NEED</i> to be accomplished before the little guy makes his entrance. you know that point when you look down at your to-do list and it seems so lengthy and daunting that you can't even begin one task? that's where i'm at. so - i'm just going to ignore most of the "you have to's" and "don't forget about's" and "make sure to's" and focus instead on this completely unnecessary BEFORE BABY ADVENTURES CALENDAR i made with my new cricut cartridge (one of john's very thoughtful xmas gifts!)<br />
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yes, i know - making intricate little envelopes with tiny icons on them was not necessary nor a particularly productive use of my time, but it does, on the other hand, tie in with my main goal for the next few weeks - concentrate on making this a fun and exciting time for jack, as he prepares to be a big brother. john and i have had 8+ months to get used to the idea of welcoming a new addition into our family, but only recently has jack really seemed to understand the concept. i really want to focus on making this a smooth transition and, to that end, i made eight little envelopes with ideas/adventures/tasks for us to complete prior to the arrival of little baby brother. jack so enjoyed the advent calendar activities that i thought this might be a great idea to help with the changes that lie ahead. <br />
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so... i'll be sharing the fun right here as we check off the days that remain before the ole due date. and lest you think that i'm REALLY overdoing it with these ADORABLE little envelopes - please note: i have a sink full of dirty dishes, a messy bathroom, unfolded laundry and a pile of bills that need to be paid. and paper making supplies strewn all over my living room. PRIORITIES, people!Estephaniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14325600424453937925noreply@blogger.com0