Turtle Parade

The iPhone - 48 hours later

2011-10-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

I finally got my iPhone people. I was able to pre-order it last Saturday, the 8th and I received it this past Saturday, the 15th. (getting in my hands is another story in itself, thanks ONLY to my friend Todd...)

Love at first sight, it was.

How great are these cupcakes?
I found them HERE, though I can't find the original source.

Call me a nerd - don't worry, my husband has been for 2 days - I like gadgets. I like playing with technology. I've already downloaded 18 apps (17 free, mind you). If you didn't know, Saturday was the ridiculous-fake-card-company-created-holiday Sweetest Day. I told Ryan I was making out with my new phone for Sweetest Day. He didn't really find me amusing. Wah.

I want more, so tell me:

What are your favorite apps?
Which ones can't you live without?
Which ones are a waste of time?
Fun apps for toddlers?

Surgery Update

2011-10-16T14:34:00.002-05:00

As you've read below, my friend Samantha had a double lung transplant on Friday. Just scroll down for the info.

To update you all - her surgery went very well. The doctors say it couldn't have gone better. Within 6 hours of the surgery, Sam was still sedated, but had already taken some breaths on her own. Amazing.

Think about that for a minute. A 6+ hour surgery - her lungs completely removed from her body and new donor lungs placed - think of the absolute complexity of that - and then within just a few hours her body is able to take some breaths for itself. Without the use of a machine.

Mind blowing.

The next morning (Saturday), Sam was awake, looking good and even able to communicate a big via hand gestures. Things were looking great at this point.

Today is turning out to be a little rough for her. She has developed a fever and pneumonia, but the doctors explain that this happens. They've got her on some extra antibiotics.

Please, if you haven't yet or if you have - keep Samantha in your prayers.

AND.... #DONATELIFE

Today is a day dreams are made of

2011-10-14T12:38:00.002-05:00

Today, RIGHT NOW, my friend Samantha is undergoing a lung transplant.

We SHE has been waiting for this day for years.

Nearly six years ago, when she was in her early 20s, Sam was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension. As of today, there is no known cure for PH. Sam's life lies in the hope that these new lungs work for her.

Sam texted me this morning just before 5 am:

"I got the call, I have to be in Cleveland at 830am I'm getting lungs today!"

Can you imagine telling your friends that? Oh SAM! I'm so ridiculously excited for you. We knew this day was coming. We knew you'd be moved up high enough on the list and we knew a matching donor would be found. But wow. It's TODAY.

My every moment so far today has been consumed by thoughts of Sam. Tears come and go. Tears not so much of fear, but of pure hope and excitement. Sam has a long road ahead of her. It will be rough. But there is a big rainbow waiting for her at the end of that road. I'm sure of it.

So I'm asking all of you - all of my internet friends - to say a prayer today for my friend Samantha. Pray for her, pray for her family, pray for the donor's family and pray for her entire medical team at the Cleveland Clinic. Say a hundred prayers. Send hugs. Just think about her.

Thanks.

It was the BEST of times, it was (sometimes) the worst of times

2011-10-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

That's how I'd like to describe these past few months. This girl is SO MUCH FUN. This girl also PUSHES EVERY BUTTON possible. It's normal. She's learning about the world. She's learning about herself. I'm learning. Frustrations come in pretty large packages around here. She wants, but she's still learning how to communicate. What a simple little thing we adults take for granted.

Today my Jocelyn is 18 months old.
There is nothing baby left.

Her words amaze me, however. I tried making a list a couple weeks ago. I stopped somewhere between 60 and 70 words. She's starting to put 2 words together. New words seem to come every day. I'm amazed every time I hear something new.

She tries to make people laugh. (if she's comfortable enough with you) She's got quite a bit of humor inside her little body and mind. She has this almost fake laugh she does just to get other people going.

She's not that great of an eater, but put any kind of fruit in front of her and she'll practically inhale it. Cheese is a close second. Rarely do we get her to eat any meat, unless it's a hot dog.

Caillou. Holy Crapballs, Caillou. That's all.

Books and music are still the most wonderful thing ever. The marching band at the local high school football games seem to be the best thing every invented. She dances. All the time.

She gives the BEST kisses. Her hugs aren't too shabby either.

There's so much more...but I'm sure you're bored already.
On to pictures:

Learning how to swing a golf club with Daddy!

The strut.

Dreamy.

Crazy, happy Ladybug.

This picture makes me think of me. I don't know, there's something about it that looks like my toddler pictures.

The nightly walking of her baby.

I just love this one. So intense.

She's looking for ants. Then she stomps on them.

Could this face be any cuter?

Riding her bike. I LOVE this thing. It's perfect for toddlers.

HEY! It's ME!
(rugrat)

These next two? Hold on people. These next two pictures just melt me.

Her eyes just penetrate. I feel like she's looking right into my soul. She knows.

And then innocence. Pure toddler vulnerability.

Remember that one time...

2011-10-12T10:06:00.001-05:00

when I had a baby?

Remember that? Well, never-the-less I do and here I sit on the eve of her 18 month-day. Like all moms on the eve's of these apparently special milestone days, I'm wondering WHERE IN THE WORLD DID ALL THIS TIME GO?

Here's my baby on her 1st day of life:

And tomorrow I'm hoping to give you a glimps into her world as an 18 month old. Holy hell, how things have changed. (though those super mood swings as seen above are still around)

Loss

2011-09-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine from elementary-high school lost her mom last week. Her YOUNG 60 year old mother. Yesterday I went to the calling hours.

My dear...

I/WE are far too young to be doing this. I went alone (R stayed home with Joss and my parents went earlier in the day). For a few moments I just stood and watched. I watched Mr. B with smiles and tears, greeting his family and friends and helping each one of them say goodbye to the woman he thought he'd grow old with. 60 years old is so young. He and I talked about how we just get comfortable in life. Maybe falsely comfortable.

I watched her four daughters wipe away tears with each hug of a friend. I watched their husbands stand in the background wondering what exactly this means, how do you comfort your spouse when something this life-changing happens?

I watched 10 grandchildren run around giggling and playing, almost unaware of where they were and what was happening, bringing a few smiles to so many saddened faces. There's another granddaughter on the way. Most of these poor kids will never know or remember their fun, spunky, feisty, life-loving grandmother.

Today, Mrs. B is being laid to rest.

I cannot even begin to imagine this happening to me. My heart hurts so terribly for her daughters and husband. They were cheated. You can say that Mrs. B had a great life, because she certainly did. And lucky for her, the end was a quick and painless as it possibly could have been. But for everyone else, it's just not fair. They are cheated out of a lifetime companion.

Hugging a friend that I haven't seen in about 9 years was bittersweet. She lives in FL now, so I was happy to see her, but obviously not for this reason. Sadly, this family also lost another loved one just a week ago. Mr. B's dad passed away just one week before his wife did. I heard my friend say, with a smile on her face, that "This is God's way of telling us to get together more as one big family." What a perspective to have. I'm not sure I would have thought that way.

Anyway...hug your mom. Kiss your babies. Call your dad. Snuggle for 5 extra minutes with your husband. Send your grandparents a card. Have lunch with your friends. Because you just never know....

Pinterest Challenge #1

2011-08-19T12:01:00.000-05:00

(DAMN. I messed up the logo...)

If you haven't heard of this little challenge brought about by Wendy, you haven't really been in our little blogging/tweeting corner of the world lately, have you? To sum it up: a group of use internet friends (yep, we are) decided to make/sew/cook/whatever one of our pins on Pinterest.

While most of my cohorts decided to get super crafty with sewing machines and stuff, (no, I am NOT jealous. Really, really, I'm NOT) I decided to bake. Mostly because I don't have a sewing machine and even if I did I doubt I'd be very good at it. But baking? I can bake.

Super EASY Apple Dumplings. (oringinally found here via Pinterest.)

INGREDIENTS:
2 tubes of crescent rolls
2 granny smith apples
2 sticks of butter
1 cup (recipe said 1.5) sugar
1 tsp vanilla
12 oz Mtn Dew
Cinnamon

Peel the apples, core and slice them - 8 slices per apple

roll each apple slice into a crescent roll, arrange in sprayed baking dish

put 2 sticks of butter, 1 cup of sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla in microwavable bowl
Microwave until melted, mix well.

Pour butter and sugar mixture over rolled apples.
Then pour Mtn Dew over everything.

Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.

Voila!
Apple Dumplings.

Delish.
hot OR cold.
Probably even better with vanilla ice cream, but I didn't have any. :(

Challenge 475

2011-08-17T14:17:00.000-05:00

My car has a built in hard disc drive. It's pretty great, actually. If you aren't familiar, it just means that I can upload a shit-ton of songs right into my car radio. I don't have to keep CDs in my car or plug my iPod in anymore. Granted, I'm more inclined to listen to my satellite radio than anything else, but it's still pretty great to have the majority of my music collection right there, accessible at any time.

Yesterday I wanted to hear a specific song (at this point I can't even remember which one) so I went searching. I realized I had 475 songs stored in my car. I guessing that I haven't really listened to half of them in the [almost] 2 years I've had this car.

So I challenged myself. I'm going to listen to every single song I've uploaded - from start to finish.

From System of a Down to Frank Sinatra, Tool to Casey Chambers, Keith Urban, They Might Be Giants, Pavement, OAR, Tori Amos, Metallica, Robert Plant, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Missy Higgins, Janis Joplin and everyone in between....I'm going to listen to them all. In alphabetical order by song. That way, all the artists are mixed up and I can't get sick of one of them.

As I got home from work this afternoon, I was listening to song #18 of 475.

I've got a way to go. I'm curious how long this will take. (Listening to nothing else, but this list, as long as I'm the only one in the car. I won't bore others with this challenge.)

I'll keep you posted on my progress...silly or not :)

16 months old: Who is this kid?

2011-08-13T08:29:00.000-05:00

Holy cow people, this has been THE month of change around here. So much seems to be happening with my little ladybug I can hardly wrap my brain around it. (and this is LONG...)

To take you back a couple months - I just need to let you know that months 13 and 14 were pretty difficult for me. They were, by far, the most challenging for me as a mom. And truthfully, they have to have been the most difficult for Joss as well. I think the difficulty came from her inability to communicate what she wanted/needed - or at least my inability to understand her attempts at communication.

However, things are changing. These last 2 weeks alone marked a gigantic jump in all directions for us.

We've moved on from US reading to HER.
Now SHE reads to her Monkey.

1. Joss got her 1st molar. I have to believe this contributed largely to some of her grumpiness last month. Oh yes, I cannot WAIT for the rest of those monsters to rear their ugly heads! (she's up to 7 teeth, if you're counting...I am)

2. vocabulary EXPLOSION! Granted, not everyone can understand every word, but there are just so many more! Such intent. Such determination to communicate. She's saying her friends' names (Lilli and Molly), she's often telling us exactly what she wants to eat (hot dogs are VERY popular these days), she tells us what she wants to do - match (play with her matching cards), book, dance, pool, etc. Flat out - we CAN communicate pretty darn well right now. We definitely still have moments of utter confusion and unhappiness, but dude! it is getting so much better.

3. Joss is learning her name. She doesn't do it every time, but if you ask her who she is, or point to her and ask "who's this?" she will occasionally answer with Jossssssssss. It's quite cute.

4. Bedtime is changing. Judge if you want - this is US. I am NOT a co-sleeper. It's just not right for our family. Joss has slept in her crib, in her room, since the very 1st night she came home from the hospital. However, I had been rocking her to sleep, to deep sleep, every single night. I loved it. Nearly every single moment of it. It was MY quiet time to stare at her and admire and adore my gift. For the last couple months, however, it had been getting difficult. She wanted to talk and play - name all the parts of my face, "eye, eye, no(se), mow(th), (h)air, eee(ar)" It just went on and on. Things needed to change.

This Tuesday night, I decided to change them. After a few minutes of cuddles downstairs and night-night kisses for Daddy, we went upstairs and Joss was put directly into her crib. She fought it, oh she definitely was NOT happy with me. But I just laid down on her floor and held her hand through the crib slats. That first night and the next were hard, like over an hour of "lay down" and "shhhh, night night." Thursday night got easier. LAST NIGHT? I stayed in her room for 5 mintues. She was completely asleep in 15!

I'm certainly missing that sleeping, sometimes snoring, baby cuddled in my arms, surely I am. But this was a necessary change. It's a good one, for all of us.

Pigtails! Crooked, yes.
But ridiculously CUTE!

5. SHE'S TELLING US WHEN SHE HAS TO GO POTTY! Whoa....you guys, this is absolutely, completely blowing my mind. I know this is only happening because she spends time with her friend Lilli who is actively being potty trained right now. Joss hears my mom ask Lilli if she needs to use the potty. She goes in the bathroom with Grandma and Lilli and sees Lilli sit on the potty. (THANK YOU LILLI!)

It all started last Wednesday, at my mom's house. My mom had both girls - I was at work and R was golfing with my dad. When the woke up from their naps my mom was getting them reading to come over to our house to play, she said, "Okay, everyone needs to use the potty before we go!" Joss started yelling "BAH-E, BAH-E" and ran into the bathroom and sat on the training chair. So, my mom took her pants and diaper off and sat her back down. And she peed! So, this 1st time was prompted, though it was really just meant for Lilli. Regardless...something happened.

I bought a potty chair a that weekend. (OF COURSE I DID! I'm running with this! Potty training was NOT on my radar, other than thinking about when I might want to start trying. I had bought a book, hadn't read it yet.)

The next Monday (this past Monday), I was at work and Joss was home with Daddy. He said, "Joss, lets go upstairs, Daddy wants to take a shower." She ran into the bathroom yelling "BAH-E!" She sat on her potty chair and R asked her what she was doing. She said "poopoop" and waived her hand in front of her face, and proceeded to fill her diaper! She's AWARE! This one was completely unprompted. Wow.

Then, last night she and I were in the living room, she was playing, I was reading a magazine. "BAH-E! BAH-E!" I said, "do you have to go potty?" She shook her head yes and ran to the bathroom. I took her pants and diaper off, she sat down. She used the potty! (and then stuck her hand in it...) And then, about 90 minutes later, the EXACT same thing happened. TWO times in one night! Hells Bells People.

This morning? She pooped on the potty! This time, I did ask her - I could tell she had to go, so I asked. She shook her head yes, sat down and went. (Then told it bye-bye as I flushed it down the big toilet!)

I'm pumped. I'm excited. She's amazing me.

-----

Remember how sad and melancholy changes were during her 1st year? Remember the mixture of feelings when she turned 1 year old? Oh, wow, are these changes different. Is this stuff exciting or what?

I think the biggest challenge I have ahead of me is the pacifier. "THIS" as she calls it. She's pretty attached to it (as was her Mama!) I haven't decided just when I want to tackle this. I feel I have some time.

On to just a few more pictures:

Playing and talking with her cousins - Lily and Ella
(not the same as friend Lilli!)

Okay, not all that great a picture of Joss,
but check out those rain boots that
her Great-Grandma Fern bought for her!

Silly Girl!
SO happy!

Relaxed in Daddy's arms.

Still loving water!

Look at those CURLS!

(okay, so I'm realizing right now that my camera hasn't been out nearly enough recently. I don't have ANY great pictures of her! Ugh...this makes me sad. I shall try much, much harder in the future.)

Tootles!

Corn on the Cob!

2011-07-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

We gave Joss corn on thr cob for the 1st time, with handles, and she knew just what to do. Loved it!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

IMG00184-20110710-1302.jpg

2011-07-11T08:27:00.000-05:00

Just a test. Trying to get this phone blogging to work!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Water!

2011-06-28T21:48:00.001-05:00

What have we been up to lately?
WATER!

This kid cannot get enough of being outside, especially if it involves water. The first set of pictures is her first dip in her little baby pool. The second set we were just visiting family at a cousin's house, playing in a tub of water, and the last (*love*) is Joss helping daddy water the flowers in our front yard. (The 'wink' picture...ugh, can't get enough of her!)

Update: Joss is 14 months old. She's sassy. Independent. Talking up a storm! Of course, "no" is her word of choice, but there are several others. Finally, animals are making correct sounds, and if you didn't know, bunnies "op!" One of my favorites is "thsssss," that's what snakes say.

This past week has been rough - she's had a low-grade fever and I think teeth number 5 & 6 are on their way. In other words, she's been just a tad grumpy. Or more than a tad, really. We're dealing.

Enjoy the barrage of pictures.

Oh, one other note. If any of you have tips on how to get this little girl to keep barrettes or hair ties or anything in her hair - to keep that crazy hair out of her eyes - I welcome your suggestions. It drives me crazy, but I refuse to cut bangs. I just don't want to deal with those.

Happiness, the butterfly

2011-06-21T12:16:00.001-05:00

A little over a week ago I attended the wedding reception of a friend from high school. It was nice to see some people I don't talk to very often and don't get to see much at all anymore. As we were sitting there I was thinking about how drastically different all of our lives are - and how parts of our lives will always be the same.

One has lived in NY for several years and just recently returned to NW Ohio.
One spent some time in CA and recently moved to Georgia.
Another friend who is still in Ohio near me, unfortunately we don't see each other.
I have spent all of my life in NW Ohio (except for a couple years for school).
A friend's sister and her family are living in Italy right now.
and on and on and on...

It's all so different. And yet we ALL seem so very happy. We all are doing the things and living the lives that make us happy.

I'm sure there are people who look at the choices I have made in my life and think, "boy that Sarah, she's hasn't left. How depressing." (they couldn't be more wrong about my life).

I know someone who who lives far away who cannot wait to get back here someday.

You know what think this all boils down to? Happiness is what you make it. It is what you want it to be. Happiness is a way of being. I think it's a conscious decision that one makes.

Far too often I think people are constantly on the hunt for their happiness. They live with the hope that one day, happiness will come knocking on their door. If I could live here. If I could meet the man of my dreams. If I had a baby. If I lost weight. You get it.

Now, please don't confuse this with dreams. Dreams are good. Dreams are necessary.

I just fear that there are so many people out there with this hope to someday overtake happiness when the conditions are perfect. But you can experience happiness in the present moment, without waiting, if you give yourself permission. Perfect is not written in stone. And perfect is different for everyone. There is no need to meet any requirement, fulfill any quota, or compete with rivals in order to allow yourself the liberty of carrying unconditional happiness inside you every moment of the day.

You call the shots here...your life is yours alone to experience.

Have I ever thought about living somewhere else? Sure. But in all honesty, I don't want to. There is nothing better, to me, that living so close to my family. Nothing secures this feeling in me more than when I see my daughter with her grandparents, her aunt and uncles, our cousins. There is nothing more valuable than having so much unconditional love and support available at the drop of a hat. And that's just me, that's what is right for me. I've always thought, "I don't care where I am, I just care about who I am with." and that's true of a city, a state, a bar, a party.

I am not saying that people won't find the happiness they're searching for by changing something. By moving, etc. Obviously, some do. Heck, I found some of the greatest happiness in my life by having a baby girl. However, if that never happened to me, I know that I still would have had a happy life. I would have chosen to make the most of what was handed to me.

I wouldn't change my life right now for anything. Could there be more in store for me? I think so, I do dream about having another baby. I hope it happens. But, today is now. Happy is now.

Don't ask me where this came from, I'm not sure. I just hope that all of you, all of my friends, are living for today. Choose that, for yourselves.

Willkommen

2011-05-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

A college friend of mine has just newly entered the blogging world, and I'm so very excited! She's a mom to 3 boys and I can't wait to read all about them!

Three Little Monkeys!

Go pay her a visit, have a sneak peek at her little guys and leave her a comment!

For my records: the word list, Joss 13 mo old.

2011-05-16T23:35:00.000-05:00

Since I am that mom who hasn't even opened Jocelyn's baby book - I've used a calendar a little bit, but I've not been very good at it. What I have done is used this blog and twitter to keep track of some milestones. Hopefully someday I'll be able to put them all together!

In any case - I wanted to document the words Joss has so far. This list is what we've heard, some more consistently than other, but all in appropriate context. (In no particular order, just the order I'm remembering them in)

All done (1st word)
Hi
Milk
Mama
Dada
No
Don't
Cheese
Up
Down
Pig
Bob
Ozzy
Apple
Bubble
Book
Hop on Pop (sounds like OpOpOp!)
Ouch
Dance
Egg
Eat
More
Hat

ALL animals make the same sound, in J's world. They ALL roar like lions: the birds, snakes, dogs, everything! Cracks me up.

Ahhh...Minty

2011-05-07T10:06:00.009-05:00

Have you ever had a Mint Julep? Eh, me neither. But it does sound awfully good, in my opinion. Perhaps I'll run out and get the ingredients (mint, bourbon whiskey, sugar, water) and make myself one for the big race. That I probably won't watch. Because I think it's kinda cruel - that horse racing shit. Maybe not as bad as the greyhound crap that goes on in Florida, and certainly not as bad as Michael Vick's chosen ring, but still, not cool.

Cheers to the Run for the Roses. Whatever.

Photo Shoot - 1 year old

2011-05-05T20:02:00.047-05:00

Some of you may have already seen these on facebook, but nevertheless, here they are. This past Saturday, me Ryan and Jocelyn went over to the 577 Foundation for a photo shoot with the fantabulous Sarah J. First of all, I've never stepped foot on 577's grounds and I'm incredibly sad I haven't. What an awesome place. It was so beautiful...I can only imagine how incredible it is in the middle of the summer, when everything is growing and blooming and full. We will be going back. Oh, and the BIGGEST miracle of the day? J left her barrette alone for most of the shoot. Seriously, we can rarely keep anything in that hair for more than 7 seconds!

(WARNING: there a quite a few...I can't decide on my favorites!)

Cheerios make me happy!

And, I'm a HAM!

Daddy and Joss

Mommy and Joss

This one's just goofy, but I love it!

L.O.V.E.

Pretty damn cute too.

another L.O.V.E.

Sooooo BIG!

What's going on?

Ha! Looking at a flower petal she dropping on the bench.

The Family

Wordless Wednesday: Got Milk?

2011-04-27T09:43:00.001-05:00

Happy [belated] Easter

2011-04-25T20:31:00.000-05:00

Papa Pete

2011-04-21T07:22:00.000-05:00

My Dad and his girls

Joss and Lilli

(probably right after/before reading Hop on Pop)

word up.

2011-04-20T07:44:00.000-05:00

Just some thoughts to share:

The transition away from bottles is going GREAT! Sunday and Monday, Joss only got a nighttime bottle. Last night, she got some milk in her sippy! No bottles yesterday! She was a little cranky last night, but manageable :) This morning she's her silly, happy-go-lucky self. SCORE!

The girls in my family - from Grandma Fern down to anyone over 21 - are planning a weekend retreat together. I'm so excited about this. Fern, her 3 daughters, 3 grand-daughters, 2 grand-daughters-in-law, a couple in-laws, all together - from across the country - in a waterfront condo in Sandusky (don't laugh, it's easiest for the old lady) for a weekend in July. I can't wait! We haven't all been together in, well, nearly forever.

My SIL is getting married in less than a month! (oooh, I better get my dress altered!)

Joss and I are currently sitting on the couch, looking out the front window. I'm typing, she's reading the users guide to one of her new pools, out loud. It's quite hilarious.

Screaming has started - screaming at the top of her lungs when she's frustrated. This is annoying.

A big group of girlfriends from college are also planning an evening "reunion" this summer. It'll be impossible to get us all together at once, but I hope it ends up being a night I can do!

A house is being build next to us and now Joss is dancing to the beat of the hammer.

I so badly want to get outside and plant my flower beds, I know it's early, but they're calling my name. And this craptastic weather isn't helping any.

Speaking of plants, I should probably water my indoor plants before they become piles of dried up leaves and sticks.

Work is crazy busy, which is awesome. We were too slow for too long. I love how it makes my days go by so much faster.

(I'm a horrible proofreader. I'm sure there are mistakes in nearly every single post I write. Too bad.)

Transitions

2011-04-18T10:22:00.000-05:00

Before I get into this, let me tell you that
1) I'm sure I'm over-thinking this.
2) I know every kid is different.

I just want some stories. Tell me how you did it. What worked for you. (I'm nervous about this transition for some reason. I suppose I was forced into the transition from breastmilk to formula. I had to. This is something I have to do too, but I suppose I don't, if I don't want to!)

Joss is now a year old. We are supposed to be weaning her off of the bottle. (IF I were still nursing, who knows how this would be going - but she would still be getting milk from a bottle/sippy while I'm at work.)

We're still using formula - I'm using what I bought since that shit ain't cheap. I think we'll be done by the end of the week and will be switching to organic whole milk.

I'd like to know how you made the transition from formula or breastmilk to cow milk. Did it matter to your kid? Did the temperature change throw them off?

How did you make the transition from bottle (and/or boob) to a cup - sippy or other. Did you always give them milk in a certain cup, and gave them water or juice in a different one? Soft nipples vs. hard nipples or even straws? What worked for you - what didn't?

How did you transition to (as J's doc says we should be doing) milk at meals and before bedtime, water any other time she is thirsty?

Yesterday was our fist full day of no bottles, with the exception of the nighttime bottle. So, she had a sippy of milk (formula, for now) at breakfast, lunch and dinner. She doesn't seem to mind drinking milk from a cup, but doesn't seem to drink as much. Breakfast was great - 6 ounces taken. Lunch - eh, maybe 4? and Dinner maybe 5. But then at bedtime, I gave her her 6 oz bottle and she demanded more. I gave her 4 more oz. Is that too much? Did I starve her during the day? (I know I didn't, but ???)

Please and thank you fellow mamas!

Happy Birthday Sweet Ladybug.

2011-04-13T09:17:00.001-05:00

Day 1. On my lap.

1 year ago today our little Jocelyn graced us with her presence. I'm tying to get over the "I can't believe it's been a year already" and I'm moving on to "this has been the most wonderful, most challenging, most amazing, most sleep-less, most memorable, most amazing year of my life."

Just a few minutes old.

That first week and a half were the most difficult days of my life. Physically and emotionally. You were not supposed to spend 11 total days in the hospital. You were supposed to come home the same day Mommy did. But it didn't work out that way, and lucky enough you had some wonderful doctors and nurses looking after you when Daddy and I couldn't be around.

Hospital Portrait

One of your first days in the NICU

You came home and just a couple days later we invited Sarah J over for your first photo shoot. You weren't the happiest of souls that day be we still enjoyed it. Even when you made a mess all over Daddy's foot and your bedroom carpet! Hey, it was our fault for trusting a newborn without a diaper!

Our Family

Me and My Baby

You took your first plane ride at only 5 weeks old and you were an absolute angel. Mommy and Grandma Michelle took you to see your family in Phoenix - most especially to meet your Greats - Grandma Fern and Papa Jack.

Fern, Joss, Jack

(Not much tops that picture right there. I can't look at it today, nor will I ever see that picture without tears rolling from my eyes. They are special people. I feel so blessed that you got to know them.)

1 month old

You make me smile every single day. My heart races when I just think about you. You are the biggest joy of my life, Munchie.

It's hard to look at these old pictures and really, truly remember what it was like to hold that tiny sweet little Joss.

2 months old

It's hard to be a Mommy and not be overwhelmingly proud of your every little accomplishment. Ever new thing you master, every new thing you learn. You first rolled over at 3.5 months. You crawled at 6.5 months. You started pulling yourself to standing at 7.5 months and started cruising very shortly after that. Your first words, "all done" came around 9 months and your officially started walking at 10.5 months. All those things make you the smartest baby in the whole entire world, right? :) The logical side of me knows differently, but the Mommy heart in me believes it. (as I should).

4 months old

We made it through over 8 months of nursing, of which I am so incredibly proud. Both of you and of me and of your Dad. You didn't give up on me when you had to be given formula in the NICU. I'm proud of me for sticking though the sore nipples and sleep-deprived nights of numerous feedings. I'm proud of your Daddy for supporting me and the craziness that surrounds a nursing mother. The pumping, the paranoia of running out of milk and times of poor supply. Of not being able to have that adult night out with drinks and friends, etc. Sure, it all ended rather abruptly and unexpectedly, but necessarily. And I'm so lucky that you just rolled with it. You made that switch to formula transparently. I took it much harder than you did. You are a trooper.

5 Months Old

Cereal!

You have a lifetime of love and support surrounding you baby girl. I hope that you always know you can rely on it. Your parents, your grandparents, your aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

And as sweet as you are, you are just a strong-willed, hard-headed and demanding. You know what you want and it's terribly difficult trying to distract you. As difficult as that can be right now, I know it will be a good thing as you grow up. I think you get that from your Mommy :) That and your eyes.

8 Months Old

You are a happy girl. You love to laugh. You will laugh just because other people are laughing. You know your smile gets you things. You know how to make others laugh.

Your 1st pair of jeans.

Just being a ham.

You absolutely LOVE music. This makes me happy and it makes your Dad ecstatic (so long as it's good music...no Justin Bieber in our house, FYI). Dancing is daily event. At the moment, your favorite song seems to be "Shake your Booty" by KC and the Sunshine Band. Last night I learned you've also got some of Daddy's Polish blood, as you were loving some Polka. You wave your hands, bob your head, sway back and forth and stomp your feet.

8 Months Old

You wear your emotions very plainly on your face. You have the best expressions I have ever seen. We know when you are full of joy and we know when you are utterly upset. We know when you don't like someone. We know when you are shy.

Clearly upset that Mommy stopped reading!

You adore books. So much so that sometimes Mommy has to hide your books because I just cannot read a book for the 29th time in one afternoon. We're lucky that you love books. I hope this is a sign that you'll like to read as you get older. I hope this is a sign that you'll be a good student. I hope...

9 Months Old

OH, those eyes. Killer.

You can be a pretty good eater. You love veggies and fruit. But somedays, like yesterday, you just didn't want much to do with food. I suppose you'll have those. I'm not worried about it.

10 Months Old

We have some transitions coming up. I'm nervous getting rid of the bottle. I don't think you're "hooked" on it, but I'm curious how we go from 5 bottles of formula a day to just drinking whole milk at meals and whenever. You really, really like your pacifier and I'm curious how long you will want to hold on to that or how long we're going to let you. (I'm not upset, I much prefer a pacifier baby to a thumb baby...just my opinion.)

11 Months Old

Trying to make Mommy laugh

Happy, happy birthday my dear. I love you more than you will every know. I cannot wait to see the little girl you are about to become, and I cannot wait for the fun this next year will bring. Thank you for bringing so much joy to my life!

The Cake.

The Party

2011-04-10T17:20:00.001-05:00

The invitation (made by me me me!)

there was also a back-side, with all the info, but it was just info, nothing cool.

What a day. What a crazy, crazy day. A TON of kids, lots of love, delicious food, amazing cupcakes, friends, family, smiles, laughter (minimal crying) cake in the hair...it was fun.

It made me happy.

In fact, I couldn't be happier with anything in my life.

The Birthday Girl

The Cupcakes and Smash Cake

I bought some owl decorations online - they were NOT what I thought they were going to be. What I got was a set of white poster-board cut-out owls.

Hmmm...what do I do with them?

I sent them to my friend who is a 2nd grade teacher. Her students decorated them for us!

Lots of FRIENDS!

(you all might know Miss Stella in the bottom center picture, with her adorable polka-dot party dress on!)

CAKE!

And then, she was d.o.n.e.

and on Sunday, she was pooped.

Tomorrow, tomorrow

2011-04-08T14:29:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is my daughter's party. Her 1st birthday party! (her actual birthday is not until next Wednesday.)

OHMYGOSH!WHAT'SGOINGON?WHEREDIDTHEYEARGO?ithinkimightvomit.

yep. that's my head. EXPLODING.

I've spent the majority of today running around - buying all the little stuff - plates, napkins, pop, water, beer (yep. laugh if you will, us adults need some sustenance too.) I got cupcakes for the celebration and a smash cake for my girl. (that's a story in itself, I'll report more later).

I found the card aisle today, and remembered that I hadn't gotten her a card from Mommy and Daddy yet, so I stopped to look. I CRIED. Hard. Even though 1-year old cards are pretty awful and cheesy, I couldn't handle it. But, I did find her one, though it wasn't just for a 1 year old. And the people around me probably thought I was in need of heavy meds, but oh well.

I can't wait to share pictures with you - hopefully sooner rather than later!

the comment debate

2011-03-31T20:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I promised to tell you all how I like it.

After 2 full months, and 24 posts, I can say that I STILL like the Intense Debate format.

It's easy. I like how it organizes comments. I like that I (and you) can comment on specific comments - we can have conversations within my blog. I love that I can reply to the email I get and have a direct post to your comment without even visiting my blog (like right from my phone!)

I like it.

And I'm keeping it.

I cannot say one way or another that I have lost a commenter. Hey - there are only a handful of you that comment anyway, and you're still here, so I guess we're fine :)

March.

2011-03-31T07:35:00.000-05:00

'Tis the last day of March. Holy cow. Peeps, this means we are about to enter the month where my BABY girl celebrates her very 1st birthday. How did this happen?

For now, let me just share this past month with you. It's been a great one, most of the time. It's also been one of the most frustrating. This is hard, this age. I mean she is an absolute doll, she's so fun, she makes us laugh - she knows exactly what to do to make people laugh. She's walking 99.9% of the time, she's trying to run. The hard part - she knows what she wants. She just can't say it yet. She knows what she needs, what she likes, what she wants to do, what she doesn't want to do...BUT, there is this big communication block that SUCKS. As frustrating as it is for me, I cannot even begin to imagine how she is feeling. Words are coming, signs are picking up...but it's just not nearly enough yet.

(and, diaper changing is NOT getting better. she's just not distractable. period)

Anywho...on to some pictures from this past month:

We L.O.V.E bath time:

and we LOVE drying off and getting rubbed down with baby lotion!

Probably my favorite picture this month.

So sweet. So inquisitive.

Chasing Ozzy.

Look at those tiny legs on that cute little bod!

I just want to munch her!

♥

love the dress too. she wore this to a friend's baby shower.

and then again to her first musical - Bye Bye Birdie

(which she ABSOLUTELY loved. endless dancing and clapping on mama's lap, until the second act when she conked out.)

She constantly wants to be wearing her Halloween glasses. She does a good job of putting them on her head (like mommy always wears them), but can't seem to get them straight on her eyes. So Daddy helped.

But, she won't leave them on very long.

lets ask Grandma Fern to help

GRUMP.

Mama - YOU do it.

AAAAAHHHH!

Hahahaha...so cute.

Now, it's time to talk on the phone.

She likes to call her Papa.

And just a sweet, sweet smile.

our first two babies

2011-03-30T19:37:00.001-05:00

They're almost 9 years old.

Ozzy

and Bob

They're still trying to figure out the latest edition to our family. (the one who will be a YEAR old in 2 short weeks. WHAT?)
Ozzy lets her touch him, only if we're around to supervise. Bob. Nope...nothing. He's rarely in the room with us anymore. I'm sad for them. I know both Ryan and I completely neglect them and it's so unfair. They are fed, their litter is always clean, but man, they certainly are lacking in the love department. Bad mom.

My little daredevil

2011-03-25T19:51:00.001-05:00

Joss finally figured out how to climb ALL THE WAY UP the slide stairs, sit down and GO! (11 months old.)This is at my mom and dad's house, my mom filming...I was - of course - at work when she did all by herself for the first time! You can hear Lilli giggling in the background.
Oh - and please ignore the outfit! She had an accident during her nap that day and this was the spare my mom had...a 6mo outfit...just a TAD too small!

Joss on the slide from Michelle Emch on Vimeo.

as it seems, I have a new hobby.

2011-03-24T09:05:00.001-05:00

Not that I didn't like to read before, but WOW, things have changed. I find myself looking forward to getting in bed with my favorite little Kindle, turning out the room lights and turning on my little "booklight," snuggling under the covers - more than likely with my electric heating mattress pad (one of my favorite inventions ever) on - and READING.

Since January 1, this is what I have read:

1. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane
2. One Hit Wonder - Charlie Carillo
3. Two Rivers - T Greenwood
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tatto - Stieg Larsson
5. The Girl who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson
6. The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson
7. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
8. Imaginary Jesus - Matt Mikalatos
9. Fat, Forty and Fired - Nigel Marsh
10. Heaven is for Real - Todd Burpo
11. Saving Rachel - John Locke

Basically - that's one book a week so far. CRAZY!

I've got a load of books still waiting for me to read, but I'm not sure I'm excited about any of them. Tell me what you've been reading. What books you love. WHAT should I read next?

Repercussion: sad goodbyes.

2011-03-21T08:05:00.000-05:00

Remember that time I said that I didn't think Joss missed me while I was gone?

WRONG-O!

She now HATES me to leave her - I can't leave her side without a whine and fuss. Leaving the room, leaving her at my mom's in the morning? Screams of terror. It doesn't matter who else is with her - daddy, grandma, her friend Lilli. It's chaos.

Yikes - that tugs at my heart something fierce.

I'm not gonna lie, there's a piece of me that is thrilled I'm the one she wants. There is also a great, great sadness that washes over me just thinking about her being sad for even a split second. Then, there is pretty significant annoyance that I can't even use the bathroom without someone screaming outside the door.

Oh little Bug. I love you.

I survived! (and, more help needed)

2011-03-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

Well folks, the bark is worse than the bite.

I made it all the way down to Dallas. Experienced a fabulous 2 days of training and seminars (for real. I loved it). Enjoyed 2 FULL NIGHTS OF UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP. Had a couple yummy glasses of wine (YES, wine), with a delicious pear/gorgonzola pizza drizzled with honey - to die for. Met some awesome people and learned a ton.

I missed my girl a WHOLE lot, I did.

But. I was FINE. Once I was officially gone, I was golden. Sure, I nearly choked kissing Joss goodbye, and I sobbed pulling out of my driveway watching her wave at me from our front window. But once I was on the road with my work peeps, things were fine. And then I was so busy, I hardly had time to worry.

So, like MickeyDee told me, and as I suspected, it's the anticipation that hurts the most.

THANK YOU, thank you, THANK YOU for all of your words of encouragement. You all have done it before, and y'all (see I was in TX!) have felt those emotions and you know how daunting that time is. But you all survived too! So thanks!

Now Joss...I think she hardly missed me. Her days were so busy with family that she hardly knew I was missing. Friday she was with my mom and dad and grandma. Then with Daddy, and then with her other grandma and grandpa and a ton of Ry's extended family. Saturday was Daddy and Joss time during the day, and then in the evening they went over to a friend's house with a couple other couples and she got to play with her friend Drew. So she was so preoccupied with fun and excitement, I don't think she missed me too much!

♥ It was good for all of us.
♥ It was good for me to get over this hurdle, it had to happen eventually.
♥ It was nice for Ryan to be in charge of logistics :)
♥ It was good for Joss. I LOVE that she knows there are so many people who love her and will GLADLY take care of her. I LOVE that she is comfortable sleeping at her grandparents' homes. (she stayed there because Ry would have left for school Friday morning and baseball Saturday morning probably before she would have even woke up).

-----

Now, can anyone help us get a grip on this insanity that is diaper changing? It's AWFUL. Not only does she writhe around like an alligator having a seizure while someone is trying to hog tie it's legs, but she SCREAMS and yells at me. She looks right into my eyes and yells - I can only imagine the words that she thinks are coming out of her mouth. Sometimes she even points her figure at my face while she's yelling.

I keep telling myself this is a phase. But shit...it's been going on for months and it's only getting worse. The only pleasant diaper change is first thing in the morning when she's still groggy, and even at that not every morning is nice.

At times, I've feared it maybe hurts her, but she doesn't have a problem "going," and there is no sign of irritation anywhere down yonder. There never really has been, so I've dismissed that theory.

I think she just HATES that I interrupt her play-time. She does not like to sit still, unless there is food in front of her face.

OH, BY THE WAY: Joss is now 11 months old. The world is caving in on me...

{almost} Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T08:42:00.000-05:00

Ahh...my very first Wordless Wednesday.

Not sure why I haven't done it before, it's cool.

Just because she's cute.
And I love her to death.
And those PJs are adorable.

Panic

2011-03-08T09:14:00.001-05:00

You guys...I'm panicking. I'm leaving the STATE in two days, without my baby, without my husband. I've been crying for the past two days already. When I rocked Joss to sleep both Sunday night and last night, I cried. When I was just laying on the floor playing with her last night, I cried.

Ugh.

I'm going to Dallas for work. I want to go. I'm excited for the opportunity that our small company has been invited to join. I'm hopeful that this will make me better at what I do.

I'm just terrified of being away from Joss.

She's never been more than a quick car ride away from me. I've never been without her for more than 12 hours or so at a time. Yes, she has stayed overnight with both sets of grandparents already. But ONE night at a time. I'm going to have to go 3 nights without rocking her to sleep. I'm afraid my poor heart won't handle it.

One of my current favorite pictures.
I just love that expression.
(and those pants)

We leave Thursday late afternoon. I'm lucky that I've been given the afternoon off, so I can spend a few hours with her before I leave. But then I won't be home until after midnight Saturday night. So I'll have to wait until Sunday morning before smothering her with kisses.

I KNOW she will be fine, she will be taken care of by her daddy and her grandparents. I know she will be loved and be happy and have fun. I KNOW ALL OF THIS.

My walkin' talkin' ladybug.

I'm not at all worried about her.

It's me.

♥ ♥ ♥

How did you do it? How did you get through your first extended time away from your baby? Did you pack a baby blanket to cuddle with at night? (don't laugh...I have contemplated doing this).

Love -vs- Love -vs- Love

2011-03-07T10:11:00.001-05:00

Did you ever think it was possible to have so many different forms of Love inside you? I was thinking about this last night, as I was rocking my baby girl to sleep. (YES, I rock her all the way to sleeping, and maybe a little beyond. I love it. I couldn't be more at peace when I'm doing it, and I figure I only get this for a short, short time.)

Anyway. I was thinking how I've never loved anyone or anything in the same way that I love her. I never knew I could love someone the way I love her. And then I thought, well...yes, I love Ry just as equally - with every ounce of my being - but yet, it's a different love. It's a different feeling. And then my thoughts kept running past me like a train. And I started thinking about how I love my parents and my brother and my this and that and on and on.

The truth is, I equally LOVE each one of these special people in my life. I would do anything for any of them. I would put my life on the line for every single one of them. Yet, I love them all differently. Equally differently. I don't think I could love any of them more than I do right now.

And then I confused myself.

How is this possible? BUT. It is. It's just impossible to explain.

and the point of this post? I have no idea.

Just know that there isn't a better feeling in this world than Love. And those moments when you get to hold and rock and smell and stare in awe at your baby are some of the most precious moments. Period.

And Loving Joss...that just about makes my heart explode.

Have you had a SkinnyGirl?

2011-03-02T11:47:00.001-05:00

Last night a few of my neighborhood girlfriends came over for a little Girls Night ~~Out~~ In. (About once a month, we take a break from the work, the kids and the household chores and go out for a girls only dinner.) I'm loving getting to know these girls that I'll hopefully be living near for a long time - they're all sweet, wonderful people - good conversation and maybe even some gossip once in awhile!

Jenna brought over some SkinnyGirl Margaritas! (of course...she's a dietitian! she'll always be the "good" one!) Anyway, have you had one? DELISH! No, they don't taste like Loma's or Ventura's margs. However they are fantastic. You'd never know they were only 100 cals a serving. BAM!

That Bethenny Frankel's pretty awesome, no?

Jenna even found them a Kroger! They went lovely with our ~~skinny~~ snacks too! Hey, at least we saved the calories somewhere!

HAM!

2011-03-01T08:45:00.000-05:00

I did it! I finally figured out how to upload videos! YIPPY! This one was taken this past Sunday night. I just can't get enough of it!

Joss having fun with Grandma Sue from Sarah on Vimeo.

She has the SASS

2011-02-28T10:41:00.000-05:00

Over the past month or so, Jocelyn's personality has been blossoming. The GOOD, the BAD and the UGLY.

She is a sweet little thing, most of the time. She is a laughing, smiling joy to play with. She nuzzles up against me just to say "Hi mom, I love you." She loves to play together - she's very much into handing a toy over for a second and then asking for it back. She organizes her stuff, dropping blocks into cups or "cookies" into a cookie pot. She still loves peek-a-boo, especially with her daddy and a blanket. But she's also very good at playing all by herself - so long as someone is at least in the same room with her.

However, there is a demon inside her! And I say that with as much love as I can muster up. When you do her wrong - like try to change her diaper when she's not ready for it (which is NEVER) - you'll get an earful. When you don't let her stick her hand into her cup of yogurt, you'll get a solid hand slap on the high-chair and a good yelling at.

WHERE does this come from? Actually, it's probably not hard to figure...seems to be my attitude nicely paired with Ryan's temper. Hmmmm...

A couple of weeks ago I needed to change her diaper in the middle of the night. Much to her protest, I laid her on her changing table. She proceeded to rip her pacifier out of her mouth and throw it clear across the room. Side arm - right at the closet door. Then she looked up at me and said in a little harsh gravely voice "AAHHLLL DUH." (wrongly, I couldn't help but laugh, she caught me so off guard.)

Then a few days later, my mom was trying to change her, again without her consent. She looked up at my mom and sternly said "UP" with an emphasis on the P.

Last friday I had a self-imposed snow day (it was my decision, and unpaid day off, but it was worth it - our street wasn't plowed until about 4pm and there was a good 3ft drift of snow against our garage door, doubt I would have gotten my car out). We had a rough day. Joss did not want to nap at all. Mama could tell the little lady was tired. Red eyes, intense yawns, a little bit of the grumps. So, I grabbed a blanket and pulled her up onto my lap in the rocker. WRONG MAMA! My hair was pretty violently pulled and I got a little slap on the cheek.

OH MY GOD...WHO IS THIS CHILD?

NEVER has she seen someone hit someone else. Sure, she sometimes pulls her own hair, just figuring stuff out, and she plays with mine all the time. BUT this YANK was out of nowhere.

Eventually, I got her to calm down and sleep. Well, only for about 30 minutes, but she did wake up a much happier baby.

This is crazy. How do you discipline a 10 month old? I definitely will not put up with that attitude, but I'm not convinced that she understands, "NO, that's not nice, that hurts mommy." These are fleeting moments - they certainly do not last all day, or even more than a few minutes. MOST of the time, my daughter is an absolute pleasure to be with.

I'm just amazed the things that appear, seemingly out of nowhere. The GOOD: the "AI!" and a wave I got when I said goodbye to her this morning. Ugh...too cute. And even the BAD and UGLY attitude.

I want a kid that other people like.

2011-02-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

I realize this is risky, but fortunately the people who I'm referring to don't read my blog, or at least I think they don't, and if they do, they don't know who I am.

I test a LOT of kids. Especially on Wednesdays, when I work at a non-profit clinic ONLY doing child diagnostics. These kids can range anywhere from 6 months to 21 years old, but most of them are between 2 and 5 years old.

This past week, I tested 3 little boys right in a row. Each one of them was 4 years old. 4 year olds are hard. They can't always follow directions and complete the tasks I need them to well, but with encouragement I can typically get pretty good results. Hearing tests are behavioral tests - so I NEED them to participate. Two of these boys were great. I had to keep on them, reminding them what to do, etc. but they were good kids. I got a big fat bear hug from one of them at the end. (This is when I LOVE my job).

BUT, the 3rd little boy was a BRAT. He complained that the headphones were too tight and hurt his ears - not true. He complained that the chair was uncomfortable. He had to go to the bathroom, 2 times in 10 minutes. His glasses needed to be fixed. And ON and ON and ON. He had an excuse for everything - he tried anything to get out of the test.

The problem, MOM. She enabled ALL of this. He talked back to me when I asked him to pay attention and listen. He was rude. And mom? She just kept telling him he was doing a good job. HUH? Tell your kid to sit still and listen to Mrs. Sarah. This kid was just awful.

When we were finally finished - I got fewer responses with less reliability than I get from a 12 month old - I tried explaining the results to mom. I said, "He was rather difficult to test...he didn't really follow directions well, but his results..." Mom listened, was responsive, then as they walked away from me she said to her son, "D you were SUCH a good boy! You did a great job!"

Seriously people. I don't want to pretend I'm the best parent in the world. I'm not pretending I know the best way to parent every child. HOWEVER, I see enough kids and parents every single day, and I'm getting pretty good at pointing out which of those parents I want to be, which kids I want Joss to be like. I know which parents/kids are going to be a teacher's worst nightmare and I know what I want my relationship with Joss to be like.

Moms and Dads...it's OKAY for your kids to hate you sometimes. It's OKAY for them to get mad at you and to not like what you're telling them to do. Moms and Dads, it's your JOB to teach your kids how to behave appropriately in this world. Sure, it's a benefit for your kid to be your friend in the end, but sometimes the best way to get there is tough love. Your kids WILL do wrong. And you are responsible for explaining that to them.

A Pout. Probably just told her I wouldn't read
Moo Bah LaLaLa for the 23rd time in a row.

Phew.

Sorry for that rant. But there are days when it gets old. REAL old.

That's all.

So, when do you officially say your baby is walking?

2011-02-25T22:39:00.000-05:00

No, really?

Joss started cruising around furniture about 2 months ago.
For a few weeks, she's been nearly running with her hand grazing the top of the couch or coffee table - man, she moves.

And within the past week, she's consistantly taking between 5 and 10 steps at a time.
HOWEVER, crawling is still much, much faster for her, therefore when she really wants to get somewhere, she crawls. But when we're just hangin' out, she walks...most of the time.

So?
When do I "record it" in her baby book?

(oh, and guess what? That outfit? 9 months! Nevermind that she's 10.5mo old, we're finally moving up! Who cares if I have to roll up the sleeves and the tops of her pants!)

Twenty Six

2011-02-24T21:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Hopefuls is doing it, so I am too :) No really, just an easy excuse for a post, and a way for you to learn a little more about me, I suppose.

1. Age: 32

2. Blog Title Inspiration: Well, it was a crap shoot. I really like Turtles, and a Turtle Parade sounded kinda fun.

3. Chore You Hate: Laundry. Not so much doing it, but putting it away - I hate folding, hanging, pairing socks...all of it. I'd much rather clean the toilet.

4. Day at the Beach or Cozy Rainy Day? I think both have a place in my heart. As of right now, at this very moment however, I'd take a day at the beach.

5. Essential Start Your Day Item: Lately, Orange juice. I can't get enough. Funny enough - I used to HATE it.

6. Favorite Color: Green

7. Gold or Silver? Mostly Silver, but I've been likely Gold more and more lately.

8. Height: 5'4''

9. Instruments You Play: I took several years of piano lessons, I played the flute for a year and the clarinet for two years. I can still tickle the ivories (ha! dumb) a little bit, but the other two, I'd have no clue.
10.Job Title: Audiologist

11. Kids: My little Ladybug, Jocelyn (Joss) She'll be a YEAR OLD in less than 2 months.

12. Live: Northwest Ohio.

13. Mom's Name: Michelle

14. Book Currently on Your Nightstand: On my kindle - Imaginary Jesus and Fat, Forty, Fired (see widget to the right)

15. Nicknames: Sar, SarBear, Sarah-Sota, Sarah-Pete

16. Overnight Hospital Stays? One when I was a baby, some type of flu/infection where I wouldn't keep anything in me and needed fluids. Second, I had a tumor when I was 14 and spent 5 days in the hospital after surgery, and then just the 3 nights when Joss was born.
17. Pet Peeve: Got a minute? Kidding, I think my biggest pet peeve are patients who just walk into my office and expect to be seen right away. Make a damn appointment dude.

18. Quote from a Movie: (If you know what this is from, I ♥ you)

Wallace: I feel sorry for you, my man. I mean, I don't know what I'd do if I had a woman who wouldn't give me any.
Kevin: Wouldn't give you any what, Wallace? Gum?
19. Right or Left Handed? Right mostly.

20. Siblings: 1 younger brother, Ben

21. Time You Wake Up? Joss typically has me up by 7am, even if I don't want to. For work, I try to get up by 6:30.
22. Underwear: I'm a bikini-brief girl. And COTTON, always just cotton.

23. Vegetable You Dislike: Not many, the only one I can think of right now is a radish.

24. What Makes You Run Late: Typically my husband :) (I HATE being late)

25. Yummy Food You Make: I think my chili is pretty darn good, and my pepper steak.

26. Zoo, Favorite Animal: This is hard. I like them all - love watching the penguins wobble around, love the birdhouse where the birds fly freely around you (at the Toledo Zoo), love the Elephants.

YOUR TURN! Play along if you'd like. And let me know when you do!

Balancing

2011-02-23T08:48:00.001-05:00

Okay, that's a little extreme, but SOMETIMEs I feel like there are two little lives that I'm living, and sometimes I have to make a choice.

Weird...okay I'm strange.

But really, I've got my "real" life - my husband, my Joss, my job, etc. All the things living and real, right around me. All my favorites. Everything I've ever wanted or needed in my life.

Then, there is this online world/life. This other life that I adore too. This family that I enjoy and trust and respect. But, the one that must get put on hold.

Last night, Ryan asked me why I haven't "twittered" in a while. Before my one comment this morning, I hadn't even logged on to twitter in about 5 days (if I'm remembering correctly). Add that to the fact that I just cannot seem to find words to put on this blog...something's off I guess.

I miss it. Yet, I'm unable to commit to it anymore. I want to, I just can't figure it out. And it kinda makes me sad. I guess life #1 is getting in the way, which is okay.

I've even been slacking in the reading/commenting department. 12q1qq (oops...that one's from Joss)

I blame it on a hard winter. A lot happened and I'm still not shaking all of it. But there is good news flowing in from friends, I'm planning a 1st birthday party (shut up, really?), getting ready for a family wedding, and I am looking forward to Spring and all it brings - flowers, the smell of grass, baseball, watching J run around outside, etc.

I like sharing good things with you, and maybe that's the problem. Good things have been slow. Other than watching my little ladybug learn and grow, and I kinda feel like I bombard the internets with too much Joss. So, I'd like to find other things to fill this blog. Hopefully, they're on the horizon.

I like my two lives to merge, a little at least!

Get it?

2011-02-15T09:51:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I spotted a license plate that made me think for a second, then smile.

(I laugh at things like this. I laugh when other people don't laugh. I laugh at the "cat playing the piano and cracking open a pistachio" commercial.)

SYRAQQQ

Get it? HA!

Let talk about change. Baby change.

2011-02-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

Like I said in my previous post, this little girl I have seemed to change so incredibly much over the past 4-6 weeks.

It's exciting.

It's breath-taking.

AND, it sucks.

I love, love, love every new thing she does, don't get me wrong. But every little new thing seems to be one more giant step away from that little 6 pound 4 ounce miracle I met just 10 months ago.

Whats happening now is FUN. Super, I'm in love, can't get enough FUN. But I also miss that little snuggly, squishy thing that would just plop on my lap for hours. Now, we barely sit still long enough to get some milk before she tries a head-dive off the chair and get back at playing with her Little People or the remote controls.

Really, how great is this change? And how great that it isn't scheduled? It happens so differently for each kid, development is so randomly-timed, but perfectly timed. It works out, no matter when or where or how. It all falls into place at what is the right time for everybody. It's amazing. How can our bodies be so similar, and yet so different at the same time?

I was excited about the crawling, I'm pumped about the walking, but let me just say - the TEETH? For some reason THAT is what changed my girl. You don't look at a little munchkin with a tooth and think baby. At least I don't. When I see a toothy grin, I think kid. So, I kinda feel like I have a kid now. Weird.

Baby-hood and Childhood should be so fleeting. We spend so much time as adults, it just doesn't make sense.

Joss - 10 months old

2011-02-13T12:07:00.001-05:00

Disclaimer: I know, I know...this place has turned into a Jocelyn shrine of sorts. Which, well, it's okay seeing as it IS my blog and all. BUT, I do miss posting about other things, and I've been wanting to get back in the swing of things. I changed things up a bit, in attempts to get me more excited about my place here on the internets, and I'm hoping it works. However, TODAY Jocelyn is 10 months old, and I should tell you all about it, right?

Goodness, I think someone needs to pinch me. 10 months have flown by, and for some reason, this number feels so much more close to one year - like 9 months and 3 weeks was ions away, now one week later seems like she'll be a year old tomorrow. How is that possible?

The past 4-6 weeks have been monstrous, in my opinion. She's started talking. REAL words. She says aahhll duh (all done), and she says it appropriately - like when we finish a book or when she's done eating, or and the ending of anything. She uses "Dada" correctly, although dadadada is still a big part of her blabbering. Occasionally we hear "Mama". A couple of times I've heard what sounds like an attempt at "milk." (add-on) Just this afternoon I realized that she is saying "teek" (peek) as in peek-a-boo. She'll hide behind a curtain or blanked or her barn, pop her head out to look at us and say "teek!" Every new thing she learns just makes me melt.

She's taken at least 4 steps unaided by a hand or furniture. Though crawling is certainly her preferred method to get from point A to point B - it's MUCH faster.

She has a tooth! (Monday, Feb 7th) For some reason this nearly marks the end of baby-hood to me. KIDS have teeth, not babies. You can really see her tooth yet, it's still a short little thing, but you definitely can feel it.

She waves at everything. And her wave has changed. A few months ago she started a stiff arm wave in the style of "Heil Hitler." Within the past few weeks, she's actually started waving her hand up and down, opening and closer her hand, really waving. She waves "hi" and "bye." I love it.

The best thing: she DANCES! Oh my gosh, how she loves dancing. She'll dance to any music, or anything with a repetitive beat, like the guys who had to do some work on my parents roof last week. She dance in beat to their hammering. And, she knows what it means when we say "dance, dance." She starts immediately. It makes me smile.

Food: Joss is eating just about everything we are. She's at least trying it, but still, chicken seems to be her favorite, followed closely by cheese (YAY!) and kiwi, and of course cheerios. She almost always refuses to eat "baby" food anymore. She wants to use those pincers and feed herself. The only exception in yogurt. Yum.

Finally, she's doing well with a sippy cup. I took me awhile to find some that she likes, but I finally did. She uses a Tommy Tippy cup well, but her favorite is probably an OXO - didn't even know they made training cups until I was hunting. I keep trying a straw, but that's just not working yet.

One of my favorite things about my ladybug is how friendly she is. She just loves people. Occasionally, she'll show a little shy side, burying her face in my shoulder, but that's very rare. Yesterday we went to a fundraiser at a local boutique and at least 10 different people held her. (I knew them...don't worry. People I work with, etc) She was fine the entire time. She enjoyed it. I LOVE that I've got a social girl!

And, I think that's that.

Joss - 9 mo Pictures

2011-02-08T21:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, so Joss is going to be 10 months old on Sunday, but I never got around to showing you a snippet of her 9mo shots. We went back to Portrait Innovations. I like it there. It was our second time there, and both times have been great experiences. Both times they got Joss to ham it up, and I like the results.

She was a little cranky that morning (looking back, the very beginning of a cold) so the 1st couple are pretty somber. But then, they got her going, and she was "Joss."

New technical question for you:

2011-02-08T20:37:00.003-05:00

I use Google Chrome to access the internet 99.9% of the time. So, when I recently made changes to my blog, I just assumed it looked good everywhere because it looked good on Chrome.

Tonight, I just happened to open Internet Explorer and my header looks horrible! It's much longer than the "blog" section and hangs over the right edge.

Tell me, please...what do things look like to you?

Dankeschön!

-------

Also, did you happen to notice my new little icon? Look up at the tab on your browser, see my little turtle and balloon? Cool, huh?

the Grumbles ROCKS!

2011-02-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

Oh, a BIG FAT thank you goes out to mrs. grumbles for helping me get my shit together!

My comment section is now working! WOOHOO!

----

So, my initial review of the Intense Debate format is nothing short of Wondeful! YES, it was a pain to get set up, for some strange reason. You see, ID was created for Wordpress, and things don't necessarily go smoothly for us blogger people. BUT, I already love the format and I haven't even had a real post yet!

I LOVE that I'll be able to comment specifically to each of your comments.
I LOVE that anyone can comment specifically to someone else's comment.
LOVE, LOVE that you can "reply" to your email to comment on a comment.
(oh, yikes, too many "comments" there!)

FUN!

Does it Work?

2011-02-07T21:17:00.005-05:00

I've been working on this Intense Debate thing all evening. I'm a little slow, but MAYBE I've figured it out now.

Could you PLEASE leave me a comment to help me know if it worked?

Thanks!

UPDATE: I KNOW you cannot comment from this main page right now - the only way is by clicking on the post title and going to the unique page for each post. I'm working on this. No new posts until I at least think I have it figured out!

Intimidation

2011-02-07T10:50:00.001-05:00

I have a love-hate relationship with food. Good food comforts me. But, I feel like I don't like to cook.

What I've realized recently is that I'm not a bad cook, necessarily, and I don't really hate to cook. The real problems are:

I'm intimidated by the grocery store.
I really don't want to take the time to cook.

-----

Let's start with #1.

How do you shop? Do you plan out your meals for a week or whatever in advance and get your supplies accordingly? Do you just keep a stock of things you like to make, then every day pull them out of your fridge and pantry and have at it? What are good things to keep on hand, just to whip up? What are the staples of your house?

Gosh - I walk into the grocery store and all I can think about is how quickly I can get out of there. If I pick up some chicken, I have no idea what to do with it. What else should I buy? Same with steak or any other meat. People running into me with their carts piss me off. I get very irritated by others just dawdling along in the lanes, blocking my path. I just hate it in there. How do I get past this? Shop at 2am? Perhaps. But good luck waking me at that hour for anything.

-----

#2 - time

When I get home from work, the LAST thing I want to do is anything that isn't Joss. I only get about 2.5 hours with her in the evening. I sure as hell do not want to be standing at a stove while R gets to play with her instead of me both of us playing with her. It's that simple.

This past week, however, I have been rather proud of myself. I've actually used the crock-pot a few times, which is GREAT. I made chicken fajitas one day, pepper steak another, and today I've got a Hobo dinner cooking. Yep...all in the crock.

I have a feeling, however, that all this crock-pot food is going to get boring eventually. UNLESS, dear friends, you can give me some of your favorite crock-pot recipes. *wink wink*

Send them over...PUH-LEASE!

Or, tell me what else you do for speedy, good dinners. Easy dinners. Or, how do you tackle the grocery store? Do you coupon? (ooohhh...even scarier)

Let's hear it.

December

2011-01-24T15:14:00.003-05:00

ADDITION: This is a LONG post. It's a personal post. Very much so. I wrote it because I've come to really value some of the support, opinions and discussions that come about via this little circle of internet "friends." I did it because a recent conversation with some of my internet friends at our little lunch (a.k.a. star trek convention) a couple weeks ago...

December was a rough month for me/us.

First off, as most of you know, my Papa Jack passed away, on December 6th. That in itself was enough to sour the entire month, and much longer, for me.

But, here's the rest of the story:

2 days, just 2 DAYS, before PJ's passing, something crazy happened. Something almost totally unexpected happened. Something WONDERFUL happened on December 4th. (hey, Dec started off with a BANG!)

Ryan and I were getting ready to meet some friends out at BW3 to celebrate a 30th birthday. I was about to get in the shower when I had a thought. Hmmm....no period in quite some time. Let's take a test.

Pee.

Jump in shower. Test on shelf in shower.

I am totally NOT expecting anything at this point. I mean, it took us 2+ years, oodles of tests, a handful of doctors, and some crazy drugs before Joss happened. HOW would this time be much, if any different? How could one month of "trying because we'd be okay with it happening since J was 6 months old" work?

Well my friends, it freakin' worked.

I WAS PREGNANT! All by myself - okay, not by myself, but without any medical intervention. Ryan helped :)

So, we were excited. Scared. Possibly crazy. What in the world did we just do?

Here's the deal: since it took so long for baby #1 to come along, we struggled with the idea of when we would start trying for #2. We didn't want to start soooo early that we had kids right on top of one another, however, if we waited too long, how long will we have to try again on our own before seeking out help from the Gods at Toledo Hospital again? So, we said 6 months. Joss would be 6 months when we thought it would be a good idea. That would make babies 15mo apart, which is doable. My brother and I are 15 months apart.

NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS did I really think it would happen like that.

But, it did.

So, we were happy for 2 days. Then the news of Papa Jack came our way. Sadness started. That was Monday.

The following Monday (Dec 13th) evening I started cramping. (I may have my days off a little bit, but this is how I remember it). Slight bleeding. I called my doctor, got some advice. Went to bed.

Bleeding never really stopped, thought it really wasn't heavy - very, very light.

Cramping came and went.

I had a few blood tests. They showed my hormone levels going up (good) but not going up quite as quickly as we would like (boo). I had a couple ultrasounds. There really wasn't anything to be seen, which maybe was bad, but it was still VERY early - I was about 6 wks along.

The following Monday, Dec 20th (two days after my grandpa's Ohio funeral) I had another ultrasound.

This is when they found a spot in my fallopian tube.

SCREECHING HALT. My heart just broke for the 2nd time this month.

That's it. It's all over. I was pregnant. But in the wrong place. I had an ectopic pregnancy. I was advised to go to the hospital for treatment. Because, holy hell, ectopic pregnancies are SCARY. I mean, I had heard of them, but I guess I never thought about how dangerous they can be. I'm talking life-threatening people. If untreated, if I didn't realize things weren't going right, I could have died.

So, I was off to the hospital for an injection to, essentially, kill the growing being in my tube. Doesn't that sound horrible? IT IS. It was. But that's exactly what HAD to happen.

I had to get injections of methotrexate, which is a drug typically used to treat cancer, though it does have other applications. BUT CRAP! I have to take a cancer drug? SCARY shit.

WAIT...I'm still nursing my Joss. Here comes heartbreak #3.

NOPE. No more. I had to stop nursing. Cold Turkey.

Oh, gosh, you guys...this hurts more than anything. This still makes me cry. It still saddens me beyond belief that I stole this from her. I made it nearly 8.5 months, longer than I really thought I would, and now I have to quit? I really just wanted to quit on OUR terms, when SHE was ready, or I had just had enough. Or maybe when she got teeth, or ANYTHING else that would have made it our decision. Instead, it was something I just had to do. I had no options. This drug has the potential to be in my system for 3 months.

So, my initial hurt was for Joss. I took something away from her. Lucky for us, SHE is a champ! She transitioned to formula like nothing happened. No one would have known. (ugh, love her).

Let me tell you something, though. NEVER stop nursing cold turkey if you don't have to. Physical PAIN! PAIN! Nothing eases that pain. Nothin.

A month later, I'm feeling okay (emotionally) about all of this. Physically, I'm back to my old self. In a way, I'm liking this formula thing - it feels kinda good in a way, to have my body back. On the other hand, it still saddens me that I'm not giving Joss her best possible nutrition anymore. I like the convenience of someone else getting to feed her when I'm busy. I like not having to rush home every day to nurse (I still love to rush home to see her, but if I have to do something else, I can). What I don't like - no matter what anyone says, there is nothing more convenient than breastmilk. It's with you all the time. It's always the right temperature. You don't have to prepare anything or clean up (really) anything when you're done. It's just there. I do miss that.

Is it sad that I'm relieved to be able to have a drink, maybe a GIANT bloody mary or margarita, without worry?

I feel good that perhaps my body has changed. Perhaps we'll be able to have baby #2 on our own terms. We have to wait a few months, to make sure the methotrexate is completely gone from my body, but we'll try again.

I think about how things would have changed in early August. I'm sure it would have been insane. GOOD insane. I think we were ready for it. We WILL BE ready for it, whenever it happens...

The 9 month check-up

2011-01-20T10:19:00.001-05:00

As of this past Thursday, the 13th, my Ladybug is 9 months old.

That little mouth cracks me up!
(and yep, this is the only pic for now, I've got to dump both of my cameras, I haven't done so in a LONG time!)

Yes, I'm amazed at how quickly time flies by with a baby. But even more than that, I'm overwhelmed by how much SHE changes in that small amount of time. It's incredible. It's just amazing how much happens in a baby's first year (or more, I'm sure) of life. (The only think more absurd is how quickly they go from non-existent to living and breathing on their own).

Yesterday, we had her 9mo check up with the doc. She's up to 16 lbs 4 oz - she's gained exactly 10 pounds in her 9 months of life! (I already forget how tall they said she was, oops). Granted, she's still in the 10 percentile for weight, which I suppose doesn't mean all that much, but sometimes I worry. Just about everyone who sees her comments on how tiny she is, which someday I know she'll come to appreciate, but I just worry sometimes that she's not growing enough. The doc reassured us that she is FINE. She eats like a champ, and she actually has a little belly on her, developmentally she's on target, so there is NOTHING to worry about!

What's Joss up to? Oh, EVERYTHING :) No, maybe it just seems that she's getting into EVERYTHING!

She's cruising around furniture like a pro, crawling only when furniture does not exist between point A and point B.
She plays. and plays, and plays, and plays. And seems to play with intention. She LOVES her Little People House (complete with flushing toilet sounds!) It's so fun to watch her do things!
She's already started to develop an attitude. Holy cow people, it's hilarious (and frustrating!) She yells at us. Really. She smacks her fists together in frustration, like when we're trying to change her diaper and she doesn't want us to! When she's told 'NO' she sometimes puts her hand out (picture: "talk to the hand") and yells, "blah, nah, nah, bah!" (I think we're in trouble).
She loves to eat. Chicken is probably #1. She loves veggies, toast and yogurt too.
No teeth to announce just yet. Every once in awhile I think one might be coming, but I've yet to be right.
Sleep is going better than ever. We were having a really hard time with this just a month ago. Some things have changed (post to come later) and it really seems to help her sleep better, consistently, through the night.
She loves her Papa Pete (my dad). There is no lack of smiles whenever he walks into the room.
She also loves her pal Lilli, who also spends her days with my mom. Lilli just turned 2 on Thursday, and is just about the sweetest thing I've ever met. They play SO WELL together, it's adorable.

I am constantly amazed by my daughter. My heart seems to grow every day, sometimes I think it just might burst. Every once in awhile, when I'm rocking her in the dark in her room, little tears roll down my cheeks. I still cannot believe she's mine.

a new blanket + a happy baby = ridiculously adorable fun

2011-01-01T23:11:00.000-05:00

Jocelyn's 1st Christmas

2010-12-30T22:21:00.000-05:00

The D Family, our 1st Christmas Eve

J's favorite gift. A little people house.

(complete with flushing toilet and other sounds)

Paper. The best stuff around.

more paper...

Me, Joss and Jack

Joss and Jack

Christmas morning, walking one of her new baby dolls in her stroller.

Gifts from Santa!

Sweet excitement!

Climbing on her gift from Uncle Ben

Christmas night bottle from Grandma Fern

(check out the foot in the air. always.)

Don't give up on me

2010-12-27T11:40:00.000-05:00

After a smashingly good month of posting in November, thanks to NaBloPoMo, I fell off the wagon.

I have a couple very VERY valid excuses - you know of one, my grandfather's passing. It's still hitting me pretty hard. You don't know of another, that I may or may not feel like sharing at some point, I'm just not sure yet. This is hitting me even harder, in a few different ways.

'nuff said for now. Just know that I'm still around. I'm still reading. I'm still smiling at your pretty pictures. I'm still enjoying your blogs, tweets, etc.

Hopefully I'll get around to sharing Joss's first Christmas with you. (I'm still dealing with the aftermath of that too. Oy...Joss is one lucky little lady)

8 months old

2010-12-13T18:35:00.000-05:00

My ladybug is growing up. Fast. And I can't stop her. (no seriously, I'd love to slow things down, maybe even halt them, just for a little bit.)

Her current favorite thing to do is STAND. For reals. She needs to be standing all the time, and she's even started walking around furniture. I am not ready for this party. She's constantly busy. Hardly ever sits still. She's talking non stop, which cracks me up. (Right now she's pulling up on my pant legs, saying " doh, doh, doh. awheel, dohee. thhhhheee, doh.") There's lots of falling around here too, but she's a rough-and-tumble girl, I think. I think falls scare her more than actually hurt her.

She waves in a kind of "Heil Hitler" sort of way. I promise to correct that as soon as possible.
She's started eating some finger foods - peas, baby puffs, cheerios. She was unsure of them at first, but is starting to really like them. Especially the cheerios!)

It's been a crazy week here with my family. And I thank you all for your kind wishes and loving words. My parents are on their way home from Phoenix as we speak, with my Grandmother. Fernie will be staying with my parents for awhile, which I'm excited about. I haven't had a Christmas with my grandma in years, and I'm excited for her to be here for Jocelyn's first Christmas. And then her 85th birthday is in early January.

My Papa Jack. I love you.

2010-12-12T14:28:00.001-05:00

Jack Vining MILES

MILES Jack Vining ...a member of the greatest generation...a hero...our hero...Jack Vining Miles, 87, formerly of Curtice, Ohio, passed away on December 6th, 2010, surrounded by loving family at Hawthorn Court Memory Care Community in Phoenix, (Ahwatukee), Arizona. Jack was born in Toledo, OH, on October 2, 1923, to John and O'Vivian (Bordeaux) Miles. He grew up in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Following high school Jack joined the National Guard and then joined the Marine Corps in 1942, serving his country proudly in the 3rd Amphibious Corp/5th Marine Division in the Pacific Theater, including Guam, the Marshall Islands, and Okinawa. Jack also served for several months post WWII as part of the unique China Marines. Upon his return to the states in 1946 he married Fern Shaneck of Curtice, OH. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on August 3rd, 2010. Jack worked for Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company and was elected President of the United Glass Workers of America Local 9 from 1958 to 1963 and from 1965 to 1971. From 1971 to 1982 he served as President of the United Glass Workers of America District 3. He became International Vice President of the Aluminum, Brick and Glass Workers in 1982 until his retirement in 1985. During his career he served on a number of boards and committees, including the Toledo Area Executive Board of the AFL/CIO, the Ohio AFL Board, the Toledo Labor-Management Citizens Committee, and the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Advisory Board. Following his retirement, Jack and Fern moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona, where they enjoyed visits from family and friends, traveling in their motor home, and volunteering for the Boys & Girls Club. Jack was also a member of the China Marines Association and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1296 in Sun Lakes. Jack was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grand father and friend. He is survived by his wife, Fern; three daughters: Christine (Tom) Moore of Sylvania, OH; Jacque (Tom) Keller of Phoenix, AZ; and Michelle (Pete) Emch of Rossford, OH; grandchildren: Brad (Kerry) Moore of Cedar Park, TX; Stephanie (Rob) Fulop of Avon, OH; Andrew (Janell) Keller of Gilbert, AZ; Kristen (Alex) Chernyak of Phoenix, AZ; Sarah (Ryan) DeLauter of Perrysburg, OH; and Ben Emch of Oregon, OH. Papa Jack's eyes lit up when he saw his great-grandchildren: Daniel, Madeline, Katie, Jackson, Buddy, Grant and Jocelyn. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and 3 sisters: Betty, June and Beverly. Family and friends are invited to join the family at Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th Street, Phoenix (Ahwatukee), Arizona, on Saturday, December 11, 2010, at 12:00 Noon for visitation and 12:30 PM for a memorial service. A service will also be held in Jack's memory in Curtice, Ohio, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 20 S. Yondota Road, on Saturday, December 18th, 2010, at 2:00 PM followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery, Brown Road, Curtice. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Curtice, Ohio. Bueler Mortuary.

Best Blog Advice, Ever

2010-12-03T08:55:00.000-05:00

Not sure if the rest of you caught this comment on my last post, but it's worth sharing.

FYI, blogging isn't actually about writing. It's about living, experiencing and sharing. A daily blog isn't really realistic, but you have 18 more years plus the rest of your motherhood to share on here.

-Kohne

And, if you have any interest in photography, beautiful pictures of the nature of NW Ohio and SE Michigan, or you're just looking for a new blog...visit the author.

Kohne Camera's Blog

Over but not the end

2010-12-01T21:19:00.001-05:00

So NaBloPoMo is officially over, but I'm hoping that that doesn't mean the end to my daily posting. Well maybe I shouldn't commit myself to a daily post, but I'm hoping this challenge got me back into some very frequent posting.

Will they always be incredible, insightful, wonderful, meaningful posts?

Uh, Nope. So sorry.

In fact, I think those post have always been more rare on this blog. And that's okay. It's mine. And that's how I ~~do it~~ roll. Because I don't think I ever have been or ever will be a great writer. I do admire that about most of the rest of you, but I was never blessed with that talent. When I'm lucky, it comes out once in awhile, but please don't expect it often.

I like pictures. I like humor. I like music. I like sports.
I LOVE my girl.

So that's what this bloggity-blog is about.

Now, I'm going to watch an episode of Tosh.O (on demand) that I haven't seen before.
Hope you'll stick around.

na-na-na-na-boo-boo. Stick your head in doo-doo. *wink*

Breastfeeding and me (us)

2010-11-30T12:35:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd save a nice meaty post for my last one of the challenge. And since so many of my blogging friends are in, or were in, this boobalicious ride with me, I thought this appropriate.

I knew I wanted to breastfeed, before I even got positive HPT. I just knew it. I knew it would be the best for by baby's health, for my health and for good old-fashioned bonding with my nugget.

BUT, I was scared my bigger than DDD appendages wouldn't let me. I thought I would drown a tiny 6-7lb baby. Seriously, can you even get a mental picture of that? (sorry)

I was reassured. By doctors, nurses, family and friends and by La Leche League peeps who I visited with one cold snowy Tuesday night about 2.5 month before Joss joined us. IT WOULD WORK.

Still. I was skeptical. Scared. Nervous that it wouldn't work.

Come April 13th, just a wee bit after the Ladybug was entered our world, she latched on. PERFECTLY. It worked! Really, it worked right away. BIG sigh of relief.

Goal # 1 - just start nursing - check.

It worked all day on the 14th. We were happy. She was a chowing little bug. On the 15th, she was whisked away to the NICU where she would spend the next 10 days of her life. Where I would be unable to nurse her every time she needed it. I cried and cried and cried. For her, especially. But I remember the first time I tried to pump, that evening of the 15th. Right after I had to leave the hospital without this little being who had been with me for the previous 40 weeks. I sat on the floor with plastic cups attached to my boobs and sobbed. It hurt. It didn't seem to work. I wasn't supposed to be doing this yet.

And, I was afraid. I was SO afraid that this would ruin breastfeeding for us. She would have to be given some formula from the nurses, she would be given my milk from a bottle. She would be using a BOTTLE on the 3rd-12th days of her life! I thought for sure she would end up rejecting me. I did have a couple days of difficult nursing. But we fought through it. And we figured it out.

And when she came home from the hospital, we picked up right where we had left off. As if nothing had every gotten in our way.

Goal #2 - figure out a way for the NICU stay to NOT impact nursing - check!

It was a beautiful thing. We both loved it. It worked. Then came what was, in my head, my next obstacle - going back to work. Pumping. Ugh. Got a pump. Marked off times on my schedule to do the deed. Made a little "do not enter" hanger for my office door (um, with a cow on it...get it "milk!" HA!). Got all necessary supplies.

Goal #3 - pumping regularly to feed my girl - check

Now, the Ladybug is 7.5 months old. And we're still going strong. I have bad pumping days. I have days where I pump excessive amounts. It pretty much all evens up. People keep asking me how long I'm going to nurse - how long I'm going to pump at work. I don't know. I'm trying not to have any real expectations of this. I'd like to make it for at least a year. I don't want to use formula. I don't necessarily see us nursing much past a year, but who knows.

My next goal(s) - teeth or 1st birthday, whichever comes first.

And, I'm lucky enough to say that I think I've had it easy. Of course, those NICU days SUCKED - for several reasons. But it worked out, and I have nothing to complain about. I have employers who more than support me on this - in fact, I think they might frown on me if I didn't breastfeed. I have my own office, with my own door - no it doesn't lock, but it is a solid door. I have a husband who supports my nursing, who helps me with anything and everything else. I have family and friends who all support me (at least to my face anyway!)

I'm so glad that I didn't scare myself out of it. I'm glad horror stories didn't scare me out of it. It works for me, us. And I'd encourage anyone to at least try. But, I promise not to judge you if you don't.

-----

Take THAT NaBloPoMo!
Wahooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Generic

2010-11-29T19:14:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the crappy posting today, on top of the rather generic post yesterday. But yesterday was Sunday, and I just didn't feel like it.

And tonight, my little ladybug is running a slight fever. So she needs my attention more than you do. She wants me. She wants to hug me, with her head on my shoulder. And she wants me to gently rub her little squishy bakc. And she wants to be loved more than ever. (as much as I HATE when she feels shitty, I secretly like it that she's cuddly with me. She's generally not a cuddly little girl).

Hopefully I'll get a good, nice, thought-provoking, meaningful post together for your enjoyment tomorrow.

New Favorite

2010-11-28T21:25:00.005-05:00

I've found a new song that I love.

Happy as the Sun by Tyrone Wells. (I might be late to know him? Not sure, but I just heard of him recently, as I was given a mix CD by my cousin. And I like.)

And this MP3Bear is a pretty cool website too - that allowed me to share the song with you.

Get this Ringtone

Tyrone Wells - Happy As the Sun mp3

This week: in Jocelyn's world

2010-11-27T20:48:00.020-05:00

Joss got to finally wear her 1st pair of jeans.
0

She got to play with her friend, Drew. (who's going to be a BIG brother to TWINS this summer!)

Somebody's voice got a weee bit louder lately!

And she got to play in a box!

Um, mom? Could you please stop flashing that thing in my face? Yeah. Thanks.

Getting ready for bed on Thanksgiving eve.

Joss's 1st Thanksgiving. Complete with her octopus.

My favorite "O" face. She does this ALL.THE.TIME.

It means excitement, wonder, shock, just about every emotion.

On Wed, Joss figured out how to pull herself up to her knees.

On Friday, she figured out how to stand on her own.

Sorry Mom. I know things are happening too fast for YOU, but I'm ready to M-O-V-E!

Mama and Joss read LOTS of books together.

"Red coat, blue coat, yellow coat,

OOPS!"

She's even cute when she's unhappy.

Hope you all had as fun a week as we did!

I'll GLADLY work today

2010-11-26T09:13:00.007-05:00

Shopping in general, not a fan. So, shopping on Black Friday, with hoards of pushy people. NO THANK YOU.

My time and sanity are worth much, much more than those sale prices.

Besides, I prefer to shop online. It's so much easier. And you can almost always find free shipping codes, so why not?

But, to those of you who enjoy this stuff. I hope you have a very successful day. I'm going to work. And I don't mind one single bit.

I'm Thankful

2010-11-25T09:08:00.000-05:00

I hope you all have a FABULOUS Thanksgiving. This is my favorite holiday. Good food. Family. No hype/expectations of gifts. Football. Gratitude.

Besides the obvious stuff like my family, friends, health, home, etc. here is a list of 50 other "smaller" things I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

1. Chapstick, specifically Blistex
2. Chi Tea Latte
3. Cameras
4. Airplanes
5. Sirius Radio
6. Sunglasses
7. Medela
8. Salsa Verde
9. ESPN
10. My Kindle
11. Humidifiers
12. My blog
13. YOUR blogs
14. Pacifiers
15. My heated mattress pad
16. Saline nasal gel
17. Grapefruit spoons
18. BIC ultra fine point permanent markers
19. My computer
20. Coach outlet stores
21. Mascara
22. The Internets
23. My cell phone
24. Limes
25. Frank Sinatra
26. Crayons
27. my Dyson
28. Hersey's Holiday White Chocolate Candy Cane Kisses
29. Tosh.O
30. The "fake" line of scrimmage and 1st down line on televised football.
31. Cheese. ALL of it.
32. Nursing Bras
33. Pickles
34. My debit card
35. The Art Museum
36. Mentos Gum
37. Paprika
38. Tweezers
39. Toothbrushes
40. Sump Pumps
41. Smiles
42. Deodorant
43. Olives
44. Double sinks in our bathroom
45. Snow
46. Baskets
47. Mylicon
48. The moon
49. Baby sized nail clippers
50. Flip flops

Gettin' my whites pearlified.

2010-11-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

Wahoo!!!

Today is my semiannual trip to the dentist! Oh, how I LURVE going to see my dentist.

I love the clean smell of the office.
I love Rene, my dental assistant, who also happens to be a good friend of my mom.
I love Dr. Fisher, he's just a nice guy. Very accommodating. Very sweet. (They're both very gentle).
I love getting a new toothbrush ;)

-but-

Most of all, I LOVE the way my teeth feel when I leave. I wish I could accomplish that feeling on my own, with brushing and flossing. But no matter how hard I work at it, I can't.

Me and Papa Jack

2010-11-23T22:36:00.000-05:00

at the Grand Canyon.

I'm guessing I'm about 5 here?

And see, I've always been totally in love with him.

Embracing the "waves"

2010-11-23T11:32:00.001-05:00

Lets talk about my hair. I've never really loved my hair, ever. It's super thick. It's coarse. It's almost wavy, but not quite. It's frizzy. I just don't have wash-your-hair-and-go hair. I'm sure most people don't, but that's my ideal :)

When I was a wee young one, my hair was so blond you could almost call me a toe-head. And it was the perfect texture. Then in 5th grade I talked my mom into letting me get s spiral perm. Don't laugh, it was all the rage.

It's been downhill ever since. Really. 22 years later and I'm still trying to wash that perm out :)

On top of the crappy texture I was blessed with, especially during puberty, the color changed to a nasty bland dishwater-blond. Lucky for me, I had a cousin who was in beauty school when I was in junior high, so I started getting highlights. And, before I got my first flat-iron late in high school, my mom would occasionally iron my hair - yes, with a clothes iron! If she didn't, you can pretty much guarantee my hair was in a ponytail.

The highlights got so extreme that by the time I was in college my hair was almost white. Luckily enough, I had by now learned to manage my frizz pretty well. I even found ways to kinda like my hair while wearing it curly. But only on occasion.

After becoming a professional, I decided to get back to my roots, literally. And buh-bye went the bright ~~white~~ blond hair. Ha! I'm a brunette, now...who knew?

So then, about 7-8 years later, I became a mom. And TIME flew out the window.

I started showering at night, after Joss went to bed. It was the easiest. And, I'd even go to bed with my hair wet! Gasp. Funny thing is, I'd wake up in the morning with rather smooth, wavy hair. That I actually LIKED! My heavens, what's happening?

So, I went with it. I still straightened it when I could, but I started liking my waves.

Then my hair started to get ungodly long again, and then it gets just too heavy, and the ends get super fine and then they stay straight. And I started to hate my waves again.

I thought I just needed it cut.
I got it cut.
I was right. (now my face might look like death, but my hair doesn't!)

I'm actually loving my hair right now (most days). I still shower at night. Still sleep with it wet. I just have to use a fat curling iron on a few top pieces in the morning to smooth them out a little bit.

YAY for waves!

(you can see my long hair in the halloween post. you can see my short, straight hair in the phoenix post. just scroll down in both of them to find me)

Come out, come out whoever you are!

2010-11-22T15:49:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm officially stealing this idea from Two Pretzels, but it's a good one.

I want to know who's reading!

PLEASE! Pretty Please! Play along...even those of you who have never commented before!
I dare you! *wink, wink*

1 - Please identify yourself.
2 - Do we know each other?
3 - If yes, how? For how long?
4 - Any funny stories you have about the 2 of us?
5 - Do you have a blog? Twitter? Other site I should be ~~stalking~~ following you on?
6 - What is your favorite Holiday? Why?
7 - What do you want Santa to bring you this year? (I may or may not have a personal connection, and maybe I can send suggestions :) Really, I'm not lying)

Friendship

2010-11-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Too cute not to share - just got this in an email, these are the 1st and last pictures of a series.

"Friendship isn't about who you have known the longest
It's about those who came and never left your side."

First Christmas

2010-11-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

I'm struggling with what to get Joss for her first Christmas, from Mommy and Daddy.

She'll be 8 months old, she doesn't really need anything, and we've got grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc who have already gone crazy with clothes and toys. (Really...I'm kinda dreading trying to put everything away already, and I really haven't even seen it all yet!)

So, I want to get her something meaningful. Something special. But I'm really, really stumped.

Thoughts?

Are you ready for Winter?

2010-11-20T18:22:00.002-05:00

NOT until you make some paper snowflakes!

http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/index.html

The Man in the Glass

2010-11-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

This poem was written by a friend of my Papa Jack's. They served in the Marine Corps together, during WWII. I have no idea when Mr. Beard wrote this poem, but my Grandpa held on to a copy of it, always. We found the copy while we were visiting last week. If anything speaks of how my Papa felt about life, this is it.

The Man in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self

and the world makes you king for a day

Just go to a mirror and look at yourself

and see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your parents - your children - your wife

Who judgement upon you must pass

The fellow whose verdict count most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum

And call you a wonderful guy

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest

For he's with you clear up to the end

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life

and get pats on your back as you pass

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the man in the glass.

-Leland Beard-

Stuck

2010-11-18T14:44:00.000-05:00

At this just-past-midway-point of NaBloPoMo, I'm stuck. Can't think of a think to write about. (well, that isn't entirely true - I have a post in the works, but it's taking me a while to refine. I've been thinking about this one for a few days now. But truthfully, I'm not sure I'm ready for that post to be unveiled...at all. We shall see.)

SO - I called up the NaBloPoMo people, and this is what they asked me to do today:

Today's Writing Prompt

Thursday, November 18, 2010
Link to three posts that you've loved this month written by other people, and tell us why

1) My favorite posts so far this month have been by Freckleface at Disorganized Thoughts for the Day. (I'm lumping more than 1 of her posts into "1 post." See here, here and here. It's the most "open" thing anyone I've been reading has wrote this month. It's hard to open up about stuff like this, to share it with the world. It's hard to let that stuff out. And, I hate to say that I'm enjoying reading it...because that kinda sounds like I'm saying I'm enjoying the hardships that Freckleface endured. But, they have been great posts. And I commend her for sharing. In a way, I think talking about this stuff helps. It's like all the infertility stuff that I and so many others have gone through. It helps to get it off your chest. And you never know, you might just get some feedback from others that helps too!

2) This here post, on this here blog, was truly great - about COMMENTS. And how we all need them to keep going. DITTO, Written Permission, I totally agree. I like to blog, but I'm always disappointed when a post doesn't get at least one comment! And, I'm just as guilty about reading and not commenting. We all need that fuel, otherwise, we'd just be writing in a private journal somewhere. (The sad part, I never even commented on that post. Ugh. I will...)

3) The brestfeeding post. Whoa, Nelly! The Grumbles ignited some great conversation with this one. And I love it. Again, I'm this shoddy excuse for a blogging friend, and didn't comment, but it still got my head-a-spinning. I'm breastfeeding. I love it. And who knows how long it will last for me. I guess till it feels right to stop, for all 3 of us.

Shutter Island

2010-11-17T09:33:00.000-05:00

I'm currently reading Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane. Yes, it's the book that the recent movie was based on.

No, I've never seen the movie, and chances are, I never will.

I'm about 28% of the way into the book. Pages? Nah. I'm reading it on my kindle! Percentages kinda make more sense, since not all books have the same number of pages, right? So I'm a little more than a quarter of the way done.

And really, I just wanted you all to know I'm reading it. And IT's GOOD. And maybe someday, I'll finish it. Someday, maybe I'll get to read more than 1% of the book at a time, because someday maybe I'll actually be able to read more than one page without falling asleep. And then, ladies (and gents, if there are any of you that actually read) I might be able to write you a review.

But you know what I need for my kindle? I need a light. Because, it would be nice if I could lay in bed without my overhead light on, so when I do fall asleep it's just dark. Instead of waking up a couple hours later and then having to get out of bed to make things dark.

PS - Dennis Lehane also wrote Mystic River. And actually, I only saw the movie here. And it was good. Bet the book was better though.

Phoenix in November

2010-11-16T09:39:00.000-05:00

(insanely long post - for me at least. photos at the end)

So, if you read last weeks post, you'll know why I chose to make a last-minute trip to the Grand Canyon State. As much as I LOVE visiting, and would go there every month if I could, this visit was different. It was hard. But good.

Papa Jack was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago. As it does, it's been progressively getting worse, but these past few weeks have been really bad. He made two trips to the ER two weeks ago, which prompted us to go see him, more than likely for the last time.

Do you know how hard that is? To say goodbye to someone and know that you'll never see them again. Sure, the potential is there every single time you say goodbye, but to actually be conscious that this is IT. Well, it flat out sucks.

The last time I saw PJ was this past May. There was this cloud of possibility that I may never see him again when I left that time, but it wasn't as impending. That goodbye was hard enough. This last one was just indescribable.

----

Monday, Nov 8th, we walked into my grandparents new digs - at a memory care facility. My grandma really doesn't need to be there, but she refuses to leave her husband's side. I don't blame her. Would you, after 64 years? Wow, such a nice place. And there just aren't enough kind words to describe the staff. Can you imagine caring for people who might love you one minute then slap you across the face the next? (Um, yeah - Papa slapped a nurse across the face one morning while we where there.) Anyway, these people take such good care of the residents. They engage them. The love them. They give hugs. They are simply amazing people. Special hearts, that's for sure.

When we walked in, Papa Jack literally lit up at the sight of Joss. That smile was just enormous. He just couldn't get enough of her. He held her. He smiled. He tickled her. He smiled. He talked to her. He smiled. He thought she was a boy - but who cares. SHE made his day. THAT made mine. We had a great day Wednesday. I wasn't sure that day if Papa knew who I was. But I knew he was happy at that time, and that's all I cared about.

Needless to say, Grandma Fern was in her glory too. The day before, my Aunt told Fernie to be prepared, that she was going to have some visitors the next day. "WHO?" Fern asked, almost annoyed :) My aunt said, "well, maybe I shouldn't tell you." Then Fernie demanded. So Jacque asked, "if you could wish anyone here to see you, who would it be?" JOCELYN was her answer.

Melts my heart. And so Jocelyn showed up.

-----

Day 2 did not go quite as well. Papa was combative with the staff in the morning, then slept the entire rest of the day. I didn't see him much at all. We ended up taking Fern out to dinner with us, which she needed. (To one of my FAVORITE Phoenix places - Macayos!)

-----

Day 3. The final day. Wow. Papa was a different person. SO upbeat. So happy. Even better than day 1. He was actually able to have some coherent conversations with us. A little bit, anyway.

Here's what set me over the edge though: When I was little, I used to say, "That's dick-uh-lus Papa!" as in ridiculous. It's one of those stories that PJ and Fern would tell over and over again. But only in story form. No one actually uses that term, they just like to talk about it. Well, that afternoon, Papa was playing with Joss, and he looked at her and said, "that's dick-uh-lus." Oh, waterworks. THAT means my grandpa made a connection. He KNEW who Joss was. He KNEW she was my daughter. He KNEW that we were with him, at that very moment. He REMEMBERED a story that made him giggle every time he heard or talked about it. And then I KNEW, this trip was worth every little thing it took to get out there.

-----

I'll never, ever forget this trip. Ever. It was so special, so needed. And really, so very, very hard. But it also made me realize that Papa is ready to leave us. This isn't his body anymore. As hard and sad as it will be, and as hard as I know I'll cry, I'll know that it was time.

-----

And now, a BOATLOAD of pictures.

Talking with Papa.

One of my favorites. Joss is sitting on Fernie's lap, and Pap just can't take his eyes off of her. I wish he was more in focus, but it's still precious.

Cousin Grant holding Joss.

And the UGLY.

Javalinas, or wild pigs.

They were in my aunt and uncle's back yard (behind the fence) but still really, really close. There were 3 of them but I couldn't get them all in one shot.

LOOK at those TEETH!

And these guys are vegetarians, believe it or not!

Since I was last there, Aunt Jacque and Uncle Tom rescued two dogs.

Meet Digby - a Chug? (chihuahua with some pug?)

And Archie. A Corgi.

This was a Trivia Game with most of the residents where my grandparents live. And that would be my dad and Joss laying on the floor in the middle of them, entertaining.

The woman in the purple - that's Marjorie. She was enthralled with Joss. I can't tell you how many times she approached me/us and asked questions. At one point she touch her face and said, "Oh, I think I'm gonna cry." In regards to Joss.

Great Grandma Fern feeding Joss.

Aunt Jacque holding Joss, dinner at Macayos!

Just cute.

Love this one.

My daughter's first shy behavior. That's John, my aunt's business partner. They own an art company together. John works primarily with Copper. Joss kept burying her face in my chest when John would talk to her. It was adorable.

More talks with Fern.

Lots of Love.

4 generations.

Grandma Fern, my mom, me, Joss

Old hand. New hand.

Love, love, love. We told Papa to lean in for the picture, and his humor shined...he tried to hide behind Joss.

(HATE this pic of me, but love everyone else)

Joss entertaining Fern and Jack

My dad wrapping up PJ who was cold.

Just a cute picture. See that smile. It's golden.

My cousin Kristen with Joss. Kristen was married, in Phoenix, 4 days after Jocelyn was born.

I missed the wedding. And it still breaks my heart.

Pomp and Circumstance

2010-11-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

This is what I woke up with blaring in my head? WTF? It was like the ring of my alarm clock was the first note of this annoying celebratory tune. And I did not have a dream about any graduation!

Then, as I was going about my morning routine, it turned into Kokomo. Sorry, but the Beach Boys annoy me just as much, especially so early in the morn.

Only because I'm too lazy to google it, does anyone know what this means? Seriously, there has to be some strange underlying phenomenon as to where we get the songs we hear. I haven't heard or listened to either one of those in a LONG time. Years perhaps.

The Arizona Sun

2010-11-14T20:31:00.001-05:00

Joss - 7 months

2010-11-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today, my little ladybug is 7 months old. First of all, that's nearly impossible to believe. Really? I mean, wasn't she just born 3 days ago? I guess not.

Second, this little girl has been quite the angel this past week. I asked SO MUCH of her, it's crazy. And she just went with it all, making everyone smile along the way.

We had that time change thing on Sun morning. Didn't seem to be too big of a deal on Sunday, but then we flew out to Phoenix Sunday night- with another 2 hour swing. She was awesome. Just a little fussy on the way up - but she was TIRED. Our flight left right at her normal bedtime. And it's hard to sleep in someone's arms, on a crowded plane, with so many new people to look at! She eventually fell asleep, slept the entire 4 hr flight and woke up just before we started to decent. Then some more fusses, but she was hungry! She nursed on the way down, perfect timing. By the time we got back to my aunt and uncles house it was midnight Ohio time. But Joss was a trouper, and decided to play for about an hour, before nodding off for the night.

SHE brought a smile to my Papa Jack's face. (I'll get into that part of the trip more later) But, she was what made him happy this week. It was simply amazing.

-Joss is getting this crawling thing down. When she wants to go somewhere, she gets there pretty darn quick.
-She gets MAD when we take something from her - like if she spots a cell phone and heads for it, then we hide it. She is upset. Or, like now, she is trying to grab my computer, as I sit next to her on the floor typing this, and she's getting mad at me because I'm keep inching away. (Mean mommy!) When we hide and object, she looks for it.
-She's a good eater. She LOVES summer squash and peas. This week she got carrots too. (whoa....diapers.) And she also loves water. Which I am so happy about. (I'm surprised they say I can start giving her juice already. I'll stick with water.) Um, right now she's trying to eat my leg. I suppose I might taste like chicken? She won't answer.
-Her new sounds are "oh" and "oooo." It's so cute when her lips round to make those O sounds.
(she just climbed over my leg to try to get the computer)
-Her favorite toy now? My 1/4 Cup measuring cup. And the stacking cups are still the bomb.

New World Map

2010-11-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

Hooooo - larious.

Click to make larger.

Home

2010-11-11T22:53:00.001-05:00

I just got home from Phoenix a few hours ago. I'll catch you up later on the trip, but give you a little piece now:

Me, Joss and Papa Jack.

Absolutely Priceless.

I haven't been able to keep up with your blogs, but I will!

Once Upon a Happy Saturday Morning

2010-11-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

This was a hilariously fun morning, just hanging out in our pajamas, playing with the camera.

Check out the 3rd pic down, on the left side:

It just might be my favorite picture of Jocelyn, ever.

Who knew about Google's awesome sense of humor?

2010-11-09T09:22:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I stole this from Chili Dog Blog, who stole it from Dave Barry's blog...I mean really, I was NOT looking for directions from Japan to China on my own good will. (wait, am I going to get in trouble for this?)

But do this anyway, it's good for a few seconds of laughter.

Follow these directions.

Go here.
Click Get Directions.
Enter “Japan” for A.
Enter “China” for B.
Click “Get Directions”
Read Step # 43.
Laugh.

Dear Readers:

2010-11-08T08:01:00.002-05:00

I'm in Phoenix. What? Very last minute trip that really, I'd rather not be taking, but it's needed. But I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry that I won't be reading YOUR blogs this week. Sadly, when we decided we had to get on a plane (I'll explain in a sec) one of the things I thought about was you, this, um...NaBloPoMo. I'm crazed, I guess. Really, I think it's somewhat therapeutic to write my stuff and read your stuff, which makes it a little addictive.

Here's the scoop.

Many of you know I have family in Phoenix, including my grandparents - Fern and Jack. They are a HUGE part of my life. Huge. They moved from NW Ohio to AZ when I was 8 years old - that's 24 years ago. I still remember the last time they pulled out of my driveway like it was this morning - that's how much it hurt. And for the past 24 years, every.single.time my grandma and I have to say goodbye to each other, it's a major production. There isn't anyone in our family that doesn't say to us, "Just get it over with." Gosh - I'm writing this (Sunday) and already getting upset that I'm going to have to say goodbye to her on Thursday.

It's hard for me to even type this, but it is what it is. I'm going to Phoenix to say goodbye to my Papa Jack. He has Alzheimer's disease and is not doing well. This past week has been a bad one, and Friday was a really bad day, which prompted several of us in Ohio to book last minute flights out there to see him. Just in case. He may hang around for months, it may only be days. It's impossible to tell. But if I don't go now, and something happens, I'll never forgive myself.

It's not for him. Realistically, he won't know it's me that's there. But then again, maybe he really will. How would we ever know? I just need to hug him. One more time. Hopefully I'll catch a gilmps of his smile at least once as well. His smile is killer.

I'll be there until Thursday night. Then Friday is our annual trip to Frankenmuth. Not so sure I'll make that this year, but the plan is that I will. And then I'm going to work on Saturday so I can see some of my patients that have had to be rescheduled because of this last minute trip.

So, forgive me for pre-writing my posts this week. And forgive me for them being fairly "cheap." But, I want to keep you around. And truth-be-told, I HATE to fail a challenge. Period. NaBloPoMo, I shall not fail you!

Shameless promotion of Work Blog

2010-11-07T11:44:00.000-05:00

I'm an Audiologist, in case you didn't know.

Recently, we were advised to start a blog. Well, me being the only one who has ever blogged in in our small office of 8 people, was designated the task. It's been up and running for about a month now.

I just wanted to put it out there - if you have questions about hearing loss, hearing aids, etc., you might find it there. Or you might submit a question for me/us to answer.

www.kenwoodhearing.blogspot.com

Also, we started a Facebook page. You can "like" us too, if you want :)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toledo-OH/Kenwood-Hearing-Center/287208981990

Thanks!

Some of Jocelyn's other friends (besides Stella!):

2010-11-06T08:49:00.001-05:00

Kira, 1 year old!

Emma, 2 years old

Drew, almost 2!

Ava, almost 4

(Emma's big sister)

Wilder, just a few weeks old here.

Brayden, also just a few weeks old here.

Logan, just turned 2.

(Brayden's big brother)

♥ Love ♥

2010-11-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

5 years ago today:

11/05/05

Happy Anniversary to US.

JIF

2010-11-04T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's true. My daughter was a jar of peanut butter for her first Halloween. My husband started calling Jocelyn "Jiffy" every once in awhile, for a reason I feel is a little gross to mention. (Just use your imagination - she's 6 months old)

I made this with the help of my mom. I cut everything out, including the letters. She sewed. (Yes, I just told you I wanted to sew, I think this was my latest inspiration. I was just too nervous to sew fleece, and too nervous to mess up this oh-so-important piece of clothing for my girl). I hand stitched the word "creamy" myself too. My mom added the binding along the top and bottom. And the headband - I bought the headband and the flower, and just hot-glued real peanuts into it.

Tada! (sorry these first 2 pics are a little blurry...blame my sister-in-law! - kidding Dana)

Watching the parade in front of my inlaws' house.

With her cousins: Isabella the Pumpkin is holding Joss, Sophia as Snow White in the middle, and Jack as Buzz Lightyear!

Bobbins and Thread

2010-11-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

I can't say I want to learn how to sew, because I kinda know the basics already. I can sew simple things. I can work a sewing machine. I made most of Jocelyn's halloween costume myself. My mom did have to help me a little bit. I helped make some purses when I was in Phoenix last May - again, I couldn't do it all by myself, but some. I learned how to sew basics in junior high. And I've done minor things here and there since then. Once in college, I took the seam out of a pair of jeans and added a strip of fabric down the side of the legs in place of the seam. I've hemmed my pants. (um, I'm short, almost always have to do this.)

But, I want to do more. I want to experiment with clothes. I want to maybe make a little baby quilt for someone. I have a rather simple idea for curtains for our bedroom, but I've yet to find them, so I want to sew them.

So, what I really want is a sewing machine. (I've been told I can have a sewing machine that my aunt doesn't use anymore, all I really have to do is go pick it up. Not sure what I'm waiting for?)

Do you sew?

Absolute Cuteness

2010-11-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Mickey Dee stopped over with her doll, Stella. We had a little play date with the girls.

WARNING: Excessive cuteness below.

My FAVORITE pic of Stella from that afternoon!

"Let's see how this thing called sharing works."

Stella won. What is that face, Joss?

I think they're both coming after the camera

Pppllllffffftttt mama! Put that thing away!

Oh my gosh Joss! You just stuck your tongue out at your mom?!?

So smiley.

Gluten Free

2010-11-03T09:19:00.002-05:00

My mom has come to find out that she can't eat anything with gluten. This world is a gluten heavy world, though it is getting better. (she has fibromyalgia, and a gluten-free diet has help rid her of pain beyond belief).

I'm constantly on the look for good gluten-free recipes for her. So, this is a plea! If you've got 'em, could you share 'em...PUH-LEASE?!?!

Thanks so very, very much. Muah! (that was for you Iris)

I want to get my hairs cut!

2010-11-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

I'm in desperate need of a new do. My hair is just too long, too heavy, too blech. I haven't hat it cut since just before I started back to work in early June.

The problem is, I need to find a new hair dresser. My two favorites live too far away for my liking. #1 - Laine - works in Cleveland. I started seeing here when I lived in Akron for grad school 9 years ago. #2 - Stephanie - works in Ann Arbor. She did my last 2 hair cuts, and I loved them. And AA is doable, but not all that convenient.

The problem. I have THICK, thick hair. It's coarse. It's wavy - not pretty wavy, not curly, just annoying enough that I have to either straighten it or curl it. I can't let it go "untamed." Most people cannot cut my hair well. I either end up with Triangle Head, or with the 90's Rachel cut, which I hate. It's hard to cut thick hair, or at least it's hard to cut my thick hair.

So - who do you know? Do you have my hair-type? Do you love your girl (ok, or guy)? Where do you go? I need your help!

Halloween Sneak Peak

2010-11-02T05:45:00.002-05:00

Here's my little Jar o' JIF with all four of her grandparent on Halloween.

On your left - my parents; on your right - the inlaws.

What? You can't really see my baby?
Oh, that's cause she's constantly moving and the cameras just can't keep up.

I promise some clear pictures later! :)

MAJOR milestone!

2010-11-01T11:41:00.002-05:00

Back in mid-August, I bet someone (? I guess just myself, since it was a bet to no one in-particular) that my little girl would be crawling by Halloween. Back then, she'd just started that scooting on the back of her head thing (ala - back bend without arms) and she was just starting to try to get up on all fours.

Slowly, but surely, she was getting better. Taking "steps" with her knees, but just not quite understanding how to pick up and move her arms to get herself going.

Earlier this week, I started telling her she had x-more days left until she made Mama a liar.

Well, guess what? My Lady Bug went and proved me right!

YESTERDAY! JOSS! CRAWLED!

We were hanging with the family - my parents, Ryan's parents, aunts, uncles, cousins...the works. The kids were out collecting candy from the neighbors, and we were just scootin' and rollin' around on the floor. Joss was just minding her own business. Until, that is, those kids came back and dumped their loot right in the middle of the living room.

GASP! Joss was a good 4 or 5 feet from the pile. But man, all that crinkling candy wrapper noise sure got her attention.

And before we knew it, she had a Kit-Kat in her mouth.

Great Googly Moogly! (that's for you watchers of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast. I ♥ the Beast) She crawled! What? For candy? Candy? What's that? How does she know? You little 13 lb nugget who has only tasted peas and green beans and sweet potatoes?

Oh, and the camera. Tucked away safely in the diaper bag. Perfect. Her costume was already off, so what in the world would I need a camera for? Frick.

So, there you are. My 6.5 mo old is a crawler. I'm anxious to see if she kept with it today at Grandma's house.

NaBloPoMo - November

2010-11-01T09:19:00.007-05:00

I'm going to attempt this. I really, really am.

I miss blogging. I know I post something here and there, but 9/10 times is about Joss. Which is nice, well, for me...I'm sure most of you get sick of it, or at least wish there was more content here once in a while.

Truth is, I don't think I've ever posted one post every single day for a week, let alone an entire month. So, I'm taking this challenge. And hopefully it'll get me back in the swing of things.

So today...this is it. Cheating? Eh, somewhat. But it's a post, no?

Did you know they actually give you daily prompts, though? AWESOME...keep me on track NaBloPoMo!

(you ALL should join in!)

And in honor of this blogging change - you know, doing it more frequently - I've decided to change my look too. This will be a work in progress.

Jocelyn's Half Birthday

2010-10-22T19:39:00.001-05:00

On October 13th, my baby girl celebrated her Half-Birthday!

(okay, I'm a little late getting to this)

That very day, we took her to get some pics. Yep, I gave in. I take pictures of her nearly every day. I like them. I get some good ones. But, I wanted them to be different. To look "official" I guess.

My FAVORITE picture of the session.

(my hand is missing in the edited, printed version, thankfully)

Click on any of these pictures to make them larger.

A week later, on Oct 20th, Joss had her 6 mo check-up.

The stats:

Head: 16.2 inches (35%ile)

Height: 25 inches (25%ile)

Weight: 13 lbs 15 oz (15%ile)

Other Stats:

Favorite Song: You are My Sunshine

Favorite Toy: anything that crinkles, especially her orange flower

Favorite mode of transportation: Scooting on the back of her head with her feet - ala "back bend without arms style." It's rather unique. And funny. She's also VERY close to crawling. She gets up on all fours, takes "steps" with her knees, but doesn't yet know how to move her arms, so she kinda face-plants every once in awhile. She'll also get up on her hands and toes and take steps. Lots of rocking on all fours. I'm waiting [im]patiently, with video camera in hand.

She's had 2 tastes of real food. (she loves her cereal). Attempt #1 was a bust - avocado. She really did not like it. #2 went much better - green beans. She liked them! Oh, I guess 3 tastes, she does get to gnaw on some celery every so often. Keeps her busy for a LONG time. Which lets mom and dad get some dinner ourselves!

Our difficulty right now? SLEEP. Or, well...her absolute HATRED of falling asleep. She fights it like crazy! First of all, she only takes a couple very short naps most days. Short as in 30 minutes, maybe 45 if we're lucky. Then at bedtime, which used to go very smoothly around 8:30-9:00 every night, she is a bear. She just wants to keep playing, even though her eyes are red, she's yawning, she's got baggy eyes, etc. We try to sooth her with rocking and feeding and music and love and humming and anything we can think of, and it just does not work. She just whines, then gets so pissed off that she's actually crying...all because she doesn't want to go to bed. Suggestions? Books I should read? Anything?

She's got my heart, everyone. Plain and simple. I am IN LOVE with this little lady. As much as I can't believe how quickly the past 6 months has gone, I also cannot even remember my life without her. There is no sweeter sound in the world than her voice. Nothing that makes me happier than that grin. Nothing that pierces me more than her big blue eyes.

We're keeping her. And thankfully, she's agreed to stay :)

Eyes

2010-10-11T18:07:00.000-05:00

I finally dumped the hundreds of pictures that collected on my camera over the past 2 months. As I was doing it, I kept seeing all these amazing eyes. My girl's eyes. They're piercing. I just can't get over them. Her daddy has blue eyes, my dad and my brother have blue eyes...but none of them look quite like this:

(absolutely no editing here)