Friday 5: Things I am Grateful For

I know I have been trying to post what I'm thankful for daily, but I know I've missed enough days (and fully intend to not post on the weekend) that I will put up my 5 today.  As Kat said, and I mentioned in one post, this is for Sara's Gratitude Project 2011.




In no particular order:
1.  I am thankful that I still have a job.  It may be a struggle, and it may sometimes be in question, but I am no doubt blessed that it still exists.  And it's been great to be at home part-time with the Lion.
2.  I am thankful that I am musical.  And that the Lion appears to have inherited this.  I remember having a "heated debate" with a fellow member of my choir in college.  He was quite pompous about his musical taste.  He would only listen to opera or classical music and thought anything else was drivel and a waste of time.  My response was that, certainly, not all music was complex and challenging, but sometimes all you wanted was something that could immediately set a mood, whether it be cheerful, somber, or sexy.  He even acknowledged that that argument was valid...as long as I realized that the music was crap.  I am merely thankful that I can appreciate it all!
3.  I am thankful, that even if it takes prompting, I have a husband that will tell me I look pretty when I haven't showered and am wearing sweats.
4.  I am thankful for all the hardworking medical researchers that are out there making strides.  Especially those of them that can actually get their research STARTED.  (hmm hmm....exercise guy)
5.  And, as fluffy as it gets.  I'm thankful for a cold beer on a Friday night while watching football on the couch with my husband after the kiddo goes to bed.  Off to do that.  ;)  

Flashback: Study Abroad in Ireland

I was just asked about travelling in Ireland recently, and it made me realized that 10 YEARS AGO I studied abroad.  Man that makes me feel old.  My knowledge may not be current, but I scanned in some pictures from what was a wonderful semester.  It was a very surreal time, though, as I was living in Ireland over September 11, 2001.  Being an American abroad was part pride, but there was also an element of disguising the fact of who you were.  It was not necessarily safe to be American, and as our foreign policy decisions were questioned, often you would meet with out right hostility.  I have to admit that frequently I let my Irish accent take over and just let people assume that I was, in fact, Irish.

I stopped just short of scanning my entire scrapbook.  Well, not really, but here are some of the more interesting pictures.  These were from our trip to Belfast.  My friend Dave and I got lose at one point in a less than ideal part of the Protestant neighborhood at night, and did have all sorts of horrible scenarios running through our heads being silly, Catholic college kids.  Of course, none of them happened.

My dad came over, and we did a lot of touring around the southern and western portions of the country.  This is on the Cliffs of Moher.

Some of our frequent hang-outs.

The Aran Islands.  I'd say my #1 recommendation of places you must see.

The iconic image of an Irish cross.

And, of course, there's me.  A naive, little 20-year-old.  How cute.  :)

I'd love to go back, and Notre Dame is actually playing a football game there next year, but I don't see us having the money or the vacation time.  Which is very sad, but it is what it is.  I can still reminisce.   

Today I am grateful for all the opportunities that my parents gave me growing up.  Thank you Mom and Dad!

People Say the Darndest Things

Today I am grateful for random comments that make you reconsider what you're doing, who you are, or just what people are thinking.  I had two of those yesterday.

Yesterday morning I was deeply saddened when I called our gym and asked, "I see you have a swim class for 6 months and older.  My son is 5 1/2 months.  Is there any way he can join?"  They said no.  I promptly decided we were going to go to the pool anyway and swim on our own.  Well, promptly following his nap.  And feeding.  And, alright, it was about 2 hours later.

Predictably, Robby LOVED swimming in the indoor pool and did a great job with it.  He watched all the older kids having classes, was happy floating on his stomach or back, splashed away, and loved "jumping" in (with my help).  His version of jumping was standing on the side and having mom do the jumping portion.  He also thought it was hilarious when I took him into the deeper area and treaded water while holding him so he bounced a bit.  After half an hour, I decided he had had enough, though I would place money on that he probably would have stayed in forever if I let him.  Takes after his mom just a little bit.

As we were getting out, I saw an earring on the ramp.  (Oh, how awesome is it that this is a handicap accessible pool, so there is a full wheelchair ramp...which I could walk up while carrying a baby????)  I called the lifeguard over and told him, but said I couldn't get it while holding the Lion.  He looked pretty miserable, but started to get ready to jump in.  I said, "If you don't want to get in, you can hold a baby, and I can grab it."  His face lit up, and he took that offer.  I got the earring, took Robby back, and the lifeguard said, "Man, he's a lot heavier than he looks!  How much does he weigh?"  After I told him 18 pounds, he said, "You don't look nearly big enough to have an 18 pound baby."  I thanked him, but I think that this probably-just-graduated-high-school male is a little confused on how things work.  As the baby gets BIGGER, the mom does tend to get SMALLER.  God forbid I ever had to birth an 18 pound child!!!

After the pool, Robby and I went to the outlet mall to return some pants for Chris.  Obviously, we had to go in all the baby stores while we were there.  While in Carter's, an elderly woman walked up to me and asked, "Do you work here?"  Ok, not an odd question, I've gotten it a million times at various places.  But not when I was sopping wet, stinking of chlorine, wearing a sweatshirt and track pants, and pushing a stroller.  That certainly just resulted in me looking at her with the most confused look ever.  Ah, well.  Guess I give off that Carter's vibe.  (All apologies to a great store whose employees certainly do NOT look that grungy.)

Here is one last person who says funny things.  Or, rather incomprehensible things.  Ok, it's just a video of Robby waking up and babbling.  Enjoy.  (Yes, it starts out with the lights out.)

 

Playing with the Big Kids

This weekend we finally had a gathering of friends over.  It wasn't anything extravagant by any means, but we finally got over the intimidation-factor and, also, lowered our standards a smidge.  Not much.  We still were cleaning like mad men, but the stove wasn't cleaned.  And I still cooked 3 dishes, but one tasted awful (Thanks for pretending it didn't everyone.  I really need to find a new recipe for that dip.) and 3 is definitely on the skimping end for me.  Regardless, it was nice to get back in the game.

Robby was into getting to play with the "big kids", though wasn't the most gracious host.  As you can see above.  Where he is trying to pull Hailey over.  Fortunately Hailey's 10 months old and much more stable than my little man.  Dean is 8 months.  And...Robby's big enough to look like he fits in.  Ridiculous.  He actually outweighs Hailey.

Please try to ignore that every time Chris takes pictures you get excessive cleavage.  It's either that or no pictures.  Sigh.  Someone tell me next time, please.  Robby just likes to hang on shirts.

Hailey also made use of some of the hand-me-down toys that are still too advanced for the Lion.  Well, Dean, too, and once again, Robby got upset because they were crawling all around, playing with the cool stuff, and he was stuck.  I think it's going to motivate him pretty soon.

Until then, he'll just sucker nice people (who bring brownies, too!) into being his support system.  Thanks everyone!  Had a great time!  So obviously today I'm grateful for wonderful friends.

Friday 5: Teething Symptoms

Teething has been a long, hard battle at our house.  And it still is going nowhere.  Remember when we first showed those white bumps at 2 months?  Well, those two white bumps are STILL white bumps.  Just the symptoms have gotten worse.  Hopefully we'll cut a tooth soon.  However, I thought I'd share a bit of what I've learned with you.

1)  White bumps on the gums

This is kind of a no brainer.  If you can see the teeth, there are teeth.  HOWEVER, I have learned that this does NOT mean that they are necessarily coming in any time soon.  It has been 3 months.

2)  Fussiness

No, he's not fussy ALL the time.

Now, I don't know how much to give credit to this.  Has Robby been fussy?  Sure, but babies are fussy.  So, who knows.  On to the more concrete things.

3)  The Teething Rash

Isn't this lovely?  Apparently, baby spit gets more acidic when it is time to cut a tooth.  Therefore, at night, when they drool and lay in it, it gets all over their face and causes them to break out in a most unpleasant manner.


4)  Excessive Drooling

The drool is MUCH more plentiful, so it soaks the sheets and makes it virtually impossible to avoid planting one's lovely, smooth, chubby cheek directly into the mess.  Bibs become daily attire.

5)  Green Diarrhea

Aren't you glad I don't have a picture?  Because your child is swallowing so much drool, their digestion gets thrown off.  Hence, the green diarrhea.  You also may notice diaper rash, yet again, due to the acidic nature.

Bonus #6) Dropping the latch vs. Chewing on things

Harper is demonstrating the chewing.  No, thank goodness she's not teething.  ;)

It hurts to eat!  The baby will start and stop because he won't want to put pressure on his gums.  And then get upset because he's hungry.  Vicious cycle here.  At the same time, he always is shoving things in his mouth to chew on.  Masochistic little man.  It's like touching a bruise to see if it still hurts.

Others:
- Low grade fever
- Rubbing cheeks and ears

What am I grateful for?  I am EXTREMELY grateful that we do not have to teeth as adults.  That'd be PMS on steroids.

Grateful for Rain

No, it's not raining right now.  Nor do we need rain.  But today has been a long day with no pictures, so I was thinking of short anecdotes.  Of course, I appreciate that rain helps plants grow, and all that good stuff, but really?  This is just about my complete enjoyment of it.

I remember once writing about my favorite place for school, and it was sitting on the bench in front of the large window at my grandparents' watching the rain fall on the lake and reading.  Really?  I can't imagine a better day than getting to curl up with a good book, under a blanket, while rain is falling outside.  Sadly, that doesn't happen so often right now, since someone doesn't think I should sit still, but one day we'll get back there.  Hopefully.

The semi-amusing anecdote is that not once, but TWICE I had the experience of walking across campus in the rain, just relishing the cool drops on my head, and having a guy run up behind me and offer to walk with me under his umbrella.  The guy at OSU, I did take up on the offer, because I had learned my lesson at Notre Dame.  I had declined, saying I was enjoying walking in the rain (which I was).  The poor guy looked devastated, and I can only imagine how low he must have felt.  I do acknowledge that it's a pretty weird thing to GENUINELY love walking in the rain.  It must have come across as the ultimate shoot-down, though.

There ya go.  Today I'm thankful for rain.

Irrational Fears

We all have them.  You can own up to it.  Mine may be a little more bizarre than some other people's, but that's ok.  Here goes a revealing look into my head.  These are the things I am afraid of:

1)  Spit

Having a baby has made me deal with this.  Unfortunately.  On the upside, his drool doesn't bother me nearly as much as other spit.  Maybe because it's expected?  Chris enjoys being cruel and threatening to give me wet willies or to lick me.  WRONG.

2)  Flying

This picture is actually new.

I used to be ok with this.  I thought I was lucky.  My mother is TERRIFIED of flying, to the point that she needs an "aid" to get on and off planes.  But, that's an improvement from the days when she wouldn't fly.  I'm going backwards.  I used to think it was fun, and now, particularly if I start to fall asleep, I feel like I'm falling out of the sky.

3) Eels and Water Snakes

  (I know I'm stretching on this one.  Do you really think I'd dress him up as an EEL?!?!)

When I was 8 years old I was happily swimming behind the canoe in the lake at my grandparents' house when my uncle turned around and said a few fateful words, "Katy, you know there are eels in there..."  I screamed and almost tipped the boat trying to get in.  There is something UNNATURAL about snakes swimming.  I'm sorry.  It just shouldn't happen.  I actually am NOT afraid of snakes on land.  But this is part of why I am putting off registering for a triathlon.  Open water swim?  No thank you!  However, I do find eel sushi delicious.  Go figure.

4)  Heights

This one isn't so bad, but it's bad enough that my friends think it's just HILARIOUS to sit next to me on a roller coaster.  Also, I promise you I will never go bungee jumping or sky-diving.  But, I can go up in a tall building just fine.

All of these paranoias make me grateful that God has given me the strength to overcome my fears.  Head over to Miss M's Month of Gratitude.