Prize at the Bottom of the Cereal Box

Last post of the month…..I’ve been thinking and I’m considering myself a pregnancy expert now that I am finishing up my third and final (yahoo). There were a lot of things I didn’t know before I was pregnant. And I was amazed that I couldn’t find women with similar stories or books about how real pregnancy really is. Sure, I found the round, warm, fuzzy belly books but I wasn’t feeling that way. Don’t get me wrong, I am very blessed to be able to carry and conceive children and even more blessed that they are healthy. But let’s be honest….isn’t the baby the best part? I mean, I have been known to read the last page of books, peek in a corner of loose wrapping paper to see the present, I love getting to the end!

Since having my first I’ve found that there is a lot more discussion and literature out there about the nitty gritty of pregnancy, nursing (Spilled Milk-a pretty good book about nursing and such, it made me feel better about having difficulties), and momming. Of course, I always have Brain,Child to turn to.

My doctor, Dr. C, told me the other day that I was his dream patient. Can you say “teacher’s pet”.

“Beth, you are always positive.”

“Well, yes, Dr. C, but that’s only when I come in to see you. At home, I’m gripe, gripe all the time.”

I smiled. I’m not like that really but my husband will beg to differ. Aside from really annoying symptoms and some annoying pain, things ain’t all that bad. There are so many who have it worse. But really, people, the best part is the baby, and I think everyone can agree about that.

Always and Never

Ok, it totally bugs me……I just can’t stand that Giant commercial…you may have seen it. A mother says her day isn’t “stressful” it’s “hectic” and that all of the food her family puts in their body is ALL organic and ALL healthy. Let me just say, that I’m a pretty healthy eater, so I feel that I can say this….GIVE ME A BREAK LADY! Really, come on…..eat some ice cream, enjoy a cheesy curl, pop a few Oreos….It’s the word “ALL” that makes it so hard to swallow. I remember being given the advice not to use words such as “always, all, never” in your marraige. This should be applied to advertising.

I’m not really sure why this commercial bothers me so much. My family eats pretty well, organic food would be nice but ALWAYS isn’t in the budget (it’s sometimes for us). Maybe, I’m just a tainted Mother of two who can ask for cookies. Maybe the new Jessica Seinfeld (Tricking You Kids Into Eating or something like that) book bugs me too….come on, you have a nanny (or three) and time to puree vegetables into everything…..ok, ok, sorry, I just had to complain and I NEVER complain!

Zip

Today was a nothing day. We watched TV, played with trucks, ate ice cream. Did nothing, went nowhere. How nice.

I just love that when you scroll over this blog, this little box pops up called “Snap Shots” and the words for describing my blog apparently are:

OCD, birth announcements, soccer cleats, bubble wrap and diaper bag

Yep, that about sums it up.

Thanks again

Well, I’ve used up my space here on WordPress so I can’t add anymore art right now. I’ll figure that out.

I was thinking today, again, the thankful thing…about how I am blessed to be able to work and be with my kids. It is a true luxury.

When I was teaching elementary school art I had a very diverse group of kids, all ages, all backgrounds, all economic situations etc. There was one family I’ll never forget, single mom, 2 jobs, 3 kids…..the children come down with lice. This means, of course, they have to leave school and get treatment (and of course, every teacher is scratching their heads until they are convinced they too have the little critters). Amazingly, I saw the kids back at school the same day their heads’ shaved, almost completely bald, even the little girl (grade 1). I was appalled. Then I realized their mother had to work, she couldn’t keep them home and miss even one day at her minimum wage job. It really makes you think before you judge another parent or family or way of life.   And maybe as a community if we helped each other out a bit more there would be one more pretty pony tailed first grader out there.

Lights Out

We lost our power today smack dab in the middle of cooking the turkey. We haven’t lost power in ages and what are the odds that this happens the one time a year I have a 17 pound turkey in the oven? What we take for granted…boy were we thankful when the power came back on 4 hours later. I’m not sure what I actually ate, I think mostly dessert….turkey did finish cooking outside on the grill, stuffing over a camp stove in the garage. I must say my family is resourceful. And it was so dark, no one noticed how much of the pumpkin pie was missing…hmmmm……

Kill Your Television?

Before I had kids I wasn’t too keen on letting my kids watch T.V….oh no, not my kids…..rotting away in front of the television. Well, that’s out the window. Actually, my perception of what is acceptable is out the window. I’m not saying that the T.V is on all of the time in my house but it’s not being treated as a unwanted guest either. I would kiss the producers of PBS’s Curious George’s feet if I had the chance. Not only do I love it, BOTH of my boys do too and it gives me an hour of sanity in the morning. And that my friends, is priceless.

I found out in the last year that when I stopped battling Jamie over the T.V, the T.V no longer was as desirable as before. Often, I’ll hear him say….I’m turning off the T.V mom and playing in my fort, OK? Now I do realize that this is not always typical. There are plenty of kids who get glued and stay put. Mine (much like me) can’t sit still for too long and voila it’s a non-issue.

I can still be called a bit of a television snob though, we do stick to PBS, Sprout (a wonder of a channel) and a little Spongebob (who I now love, boy, can he cheer me up) here and there. And on the weekends, Jamie can watch TMNT (yep, dude) and a few other fluffy, candy, commercial ridden shows (oops there I go). As my husband, Bobby likes to say, Beth, I went to UVa, graduated 4th in my class I watched plenty of TV, I turned out fine.

Well, that’s argument enough for me…..

Green Thumb

uuugh, the postcard I worked on today is just plain ugly! I’ll mess it up a little more and then post it. Let’s say, it has a cactus and it’s a little sickly.

Another WIP

Thanks

Good movie viewed (through pillow): 1408

Good book read (in tub): A Thousand Splendid Suns

Great find (although I am not a Martha Stewart fan): Martha Stewart’s archival writing pens

Great ice cream: Edy’s Double Chocolate Fudge (And I had thought I didn’t like chocolate ice cream!)

I try every day to be thankful. In this time of Thanksgiving, I can honestly say I am. The kids are crazy but they are healthy. I feel like a Willy Wonka factory worker but thankfully it’s been an uncomplicated pregnancy. I’ve got a great network of friends and family, enough said there. The list goes on.

The house is a mess but the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow! (My twice a year thing of joy). Oh thank you, thank you.

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.

The second best time is today.”

~Proverb

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