What a Weekend!

The last weekend of July in my town is a hectic busy crowded one. There are several athletic events that all take place in town and a street fair. We typically avoid all the crowds and this year was no different.

C had his final swim lesson on Saturday morning. It was pretty good. C really likes the water and his teacher Mr. Josh. The class he was in was for all 3-4 year olds and it started about a week after C's birthday. He was the youngest in his class by far, and it showed while he was in the pool, but when it actually came down to the skills they learned (as opposed to some of the games they played) he did very well. He is very good at blowing bubbles and kicking!!

The rest of Saturday was a family day as we celebrated Christmas in July. We listened to Christmas music and I wrapped presents during rest time. When they woke up we opened them! I put them under this little Norfolk Pine that we have and called it the Christmas Bush. Now of course, that is the name of it. We had a "holiday" dinner and it was delightful. Post dinner we had Christmas ice cream (because it's still July after all) and watched Elf.

Yesterday was M's 9 month photo shoot and cleaning day. A lot of fun! Well the photo shoot was fun, cleaning was less so. But we got some cute pictures and I'm pretty happy. We used M's fancy seersucker dress for pictures, which is actually funny because without planning it, C's 9 month pictures were in his fancy outfit with a seersucker jacket. Also, we took pictures with a rocking chair that my mom got for her first Christmas. So the painting on the chair is very 1960s. C used the same rocker with his

All in all, I am pretty impressed with how my weekend went. I certainly hope it carries on into the week!! 

AMT: The Final One

It's the very last Answer Me This of the summer because Miss Mary Jane made her appearance yesterday. So go offer well wished to Kendra and link up while you still can! 


1. What's your favorite grocery store splurge? 

I don't really go grocery shopping because I cannot be trusted to stick to the list. So I will say any kind of pop. We don't really buy it, because then I'd drink it. But I often can't resist when I'm shopping.

2. How's your penmanship?

Depends. It's not horrible but it's not great either. I am a lefty so honestly compared to some lefty writers I think my handwriting is pretty good. Obviously, it's better if I'm thinking about it than if I'm writing a really quick list for myself.

3. Do you have a summer bucket list? 

Yes. It was supposed to be a very managable list with only 10 things. But here we are going into the last days of July and we've accomplished 2 things. We'd better get our act in gear. Though admittedly one of the things is our family trip we're not taking until September so we're probably okay.

4. What's the best thing on the radio?

Besides what my 3 year old refers to as "Our Song" (Shut Up and Dance with Me) or "Up Down Funky Up" (Uptown Funk) I really like Stiches by Shawn Mendes and Want to Want Me by Jason Derulo.


5. Ice cream or frozen yogurt? 

Okay.

No really, I don't care. They're both tasty. But I rarely have frozen yogurt so I guess ice cream.

7QT: Velociraptor Returns

one. Don't let this face fool you. My Velociraptor baby has been back full force this past week and a half. If anyone has any suggestions on how to calm a Velociraptor please let me know. Things that don't work include: nursing, a bottle, snuggling, being held, being put down, being in her crib, taking a bath. 

two. Last weekend we went to my cousin's wedding. It was the first time that all the great-grandchildren had been together since the birth of M and Baby Ryan (born a week ahead.) Before that it was at the baby shower when C was a month old. It was also the first time that the cousins had all been in the same room since the summer of 2008. It was a really fun time, C really liked the dance party. They played his  favorite songs right away. Shut Up and Dance With Me and Uptown Funk. (Or... if you're three, "Up Down Funky Up.") 

three. We are in the fun stage where C says "take a picture mom." Of whatever random thing. This is the toy shelf and the penguin zoo for your viewing pleasure. 

four. This week was busy. We got back on Monday and preschool started back up this week. (Though only one day due to illness at the host's home.) The last swimming lesson is tomorrow. Next week also looks to be a busy one as we host preschool. 

five. Billie Jo celebrates Christmas in July and I want to too! So we are. We are going to watch Elf and have a roast and everyone gets a present! I am actually kind of excited. I love new traditions. 

six. I posted the Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club Questions yesterday if you're interested in joining in. It's not too late!! 

seven. My Velociraptor is blessedly sleeping in her crib so I am going to go bake with my boy. 

Have a great weekend friends! Link up with Kelly. 

Happee Birthdae Harry Book Club Questions

Hey! I am hosting a virtual book club. It's pretty easy: read the Harry Potter series in July. Answer the questions. Link up! Lot's of fun will be had by all.

It is way not too late to read some Harry Potter Books, since the link-up does not open until Friday July 31. But for those of you who are overachievers and like to write your blog posts in advance here are the questions for the book club. (Or maybe you just like to meditate on the questions while reading.)

1. Which was your favorite book to read? 
2. When I re-read books, generally, a line or two pops out at me that specifically speaks to me and my life at the time. Did any specific line jump out at you this month? (If not, do you have a favorite quote?) 
3. What surprised you the most while reading? 
4. There are a great many sorting hat quizzes out there on the interwebs, plus some pretty good descriptions of the houses. Where do you think you would honestly be sorted if you were to attend Hogwarts and what insights to yourself do you gain from that knowledge?
5. Which Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher do you think was the most effective? (I do think there is an argument for every single one of the 7.) 
6. I believe one of the major overarching themes of the series is the love and the power it possesses, what is the best example of this in the series? 
7. Why do you think the series was and remains so popular? 

So there you have it folks. I tried to make the questions slightly vague, so if for instance, you only got through 3 books you could still contribute. Or if maybe you didn't reread all of them in July. That's okay!! I just love HP and am fascinated by other's opinions on the books. 

The link up will open next week on July 31, right back here. It will stay open until August 7. Did I mention there will be party favors? Yeah. Awesome. 

9 Months!

Well... there's a lot of changes from last month. Night and day difference.

Rather than bore you with lengthy paragraphs where I discuss each milestone and precisely how I feel about each one, I think we'll go with list form to rattle off all that Miss M accomplished in one little month of life.

• Took swimming lessons with her daddy and really liked them. Took them super seriously. 
• Can stand unassisted. 
• Can get herself up to standing unassisted.
• Walks between 1-15 steps on her own. 
• Her first tooth started coming in. (Second one is just right there but not out yet.) 
• Can wave, play peek-a-boo and sign "More"
• Says "Mama" "Dada" and "Hi" 
• Climbs the stairs. 
• Her shoes fit. 
• Got a case of Roseola which was not much fun but in the grand scheme of childhood illness wasn't too bad. 

Seems crazy she has now been out for the same amount of time she was in!!

We haven't done her photo shoot yet but that is just around the corner. :) 

AMT: The Super Quick Version

Sunday. AMT Day. Kendra. 

1. What's currently on your to do list?

Not much. I need to trim the hedge on the side of the yard. But that's about it. Of course there's things that I could do as well but they're the normalish things and not list worthy. 

 2. Better type of superhero: magic/radioactive powers? Or trauma/gadgets/hard work?

I have no idea what this question means. I have read no comic books and I pretty much haven't seen a superhero movie since the original 3 X-Men and the Spider Man with Toby McGuire. I do like X-Men but since their powers are genetic I don't know which category it falls into... 

3. Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl before birth: Good idea? Bad idea?

Good idea. I totally respect if you want to go old school. Do what you want. But I do not understand the logic, since it is the EXACT SAME SURPRISE regardless of when you find out. I like knowing my specific kid and talking to my specific kid and using personal pronouns as early as possible. But again, do whatever you feel right with.  

4. Have you ever appeared on a stadium jumbotron?

Not that I know of. Also, I am pretty sure I wouldn't like it. 

5. Are you more book smart or more street smart?

I feel like I'm tied. I am book smart in the areas I care about, but those don't usually apply to most things in life. But I am also good with directions and adaptable. I do not like looking like a tourist. So tie. 

6. Did  you have that baby yet? 

Yep. About 9 months ago. She kinda rocks. 

Some Stories to Tell

I've got some things to tell you. 

Let's start with my girl. What a weekend(ish) she's had. 

Thursday she graduated from her swim class. She has to be 3 to actually move up to the next level but she really did amazing, even the instructor said so on her little certificate. 

Friday, she got her first tooth. Her lower right one. 

Saturday, she stood up all by herself without any help from anyone or anything besides the floor. 

Sunday (yesterday) she took her first step. It was just one, she fell on her second. And she has been unable to repeat this feat. I don't call it "walking" until she can really stabilize herself well and takes more than 5 steps at a time, but man she is on her way. I knew she'd be right there with her brother walking pretty early, C walked at 9 days shy of 10 months old. Miss M is still 13 days shy of 9 months and I did not anticipate her moving so soon. She is one determined little girl. I hope this is an attribute that sticks with her as she grows. 

Now, let me tell you a little story about small miracles. 

On Wednesday as we were leaving the house and I was loading the kids in the car I noticed I wasn't wearing my wedding band. I thought that was odd, but we were in the garage and we needed to leave. I don't wear my engagement ring often as it can scratch M and I don't want to do that but I almost always have my wedding band on. I take it off for some really gross things but usually not. 

I honestly didn't think of it again until dinner. I asked Husband if he had seen it. I said "I honestly haven't even looked for it yet, but I don't remember taking it off." 

I looked on Wednesday, I looked pretty well. I didn't find it. So I said a little prayer. Asked St. Anthony for help and went to sleep. I wasn't too worried. 

Thursday after bedtime, we moved furniture in our room. When I do take it off, it live on my bedside table so it almost certainly just fell on the floor somewhere. We deep cleaned our room. I started freaking out. What if M had taken it off the table and swallowed it?! Then we threw it in the trash because it was in a diaper? I didn't sleep so well that night. 

Friday I spent the entire day, and I mean the entire day, cleaning the house. Our room was looking pretty good. M's was spotless. I rearranged furniture in C's room looking for it. And his room was also all tidied up. After bedtime I cleaned the kitchen really well. I ordered a cheap metal detector off Amazon in case it had wound up in the yard or the trash. It would be here on Sunday. But obviously we'd find it by then and I would just return it. 

Saturday I was flipping out. St. Anthony and I had been talking pretty consistently for a few days now and my house was getting to be pretty clean. We started moving big things. Taking the fabric off the bottom of the couch. Etc. The really frustrating thing was I just didn't remember taking it off! I kept trying to mediate on that and I couldn't figure it out. C had known for days that I was looking for it and would periodically say "Where's Mom's ring? Mom is sad." It was true. 

Sunday mid-morning the metal detector arrived. I was pretty sure it was in the trash by this point. And that glimmer of certainty was the the hope I was clinging to. 

At rest time I went out to the trash. To really get a feel for the day you should know it was about 90 degrees with like 80% humidity. So it was gross anyway is what I'm saying. Sorting through our trash was easily the grossest thing I have ever done. WAY WAY worse than the great retainer in the school lunch garbage of 5th grade incident. 

I found every lid, twist tie, piece of foil and anything that would make a metal detector go off. I sorted through trash from our room that had been sorted through days before in this hunt and garbage that had been carefully gathered during the search. 

I didn't find it. And I broke down. 

I had been holding on to the fact the reason we couldn't find it in the house was because we must have accidentally thrown it out. It hadn't been in any of the diapers we'd seen in days. It wasn't in M currently. (Because yes we sure did metal detect her.) 

Husband talked me down and I calmed a bit. I took a short nap and I made the pie I had been planning on making. Beth posted this pie the other day and it looked so good the ingredients needed went on the grocery list. Beth had, without knowing it was my wedding band, just a lost thing, told a story about how she asked for St. Anthony's help along with her own little Saint Rebecca Irene's help and had found what she was looking for. 

So as I baked, which is something I find relaxing anyway, I said a Hail Mary. I asked for St. Anthony's help again and I talked to Rebecca Irene. I told her how I was making the pie her mom liked and her sister had just made. I told her how much my ring meant to me and why. I told her how excited I was about things that were going right in my life. Basically I just talked to her. As I put the pie into the oven, I asked it she could pray for me and help me out. 

The pie baked for just shy of an hour. Husband distracted me while it was baking and wouldn't let me keep looking. We had dinner. Then Husband and C went upstairs for a potty break. And the shouting started. They came running downstairs and C ran my ring over to me. "Mom's ring!! Be so happy! We found it!!"

I cried I was so happy. I literally bawled. I hugged my boys. C was giggling with delight he was so proud of himself. It was lying smack dab in the middle of the floor in his room. A room we had searched many times and a room that had been vacuumed and dry mopped since the whole saga began.

The Saints are real folks. Heaven is real. As a nice bonus, the pie really is that good. And I'm never taking my ring off again.