Quick Poll Follow Up

I LOVED hearing everyone's advice!! Thank you so much for taking the time to share what you are doing in your lives! Here's what I gleaned so far:

1. Seems that my pregnant friends are looking to get H1N1. And maybe for some of your toddlers/babies. Me included. I really don't want to go wait in line with masses of people though. Maybe my OB's office will have it available when I go in this week. Anyone in CS gotten it yet?

2. Toddler questions: A few of you encouraged asking the question back. I tried this very early on and it worked for about. . . one or two days and then he got all frustrated with me and would just tell me that he wanted ME to tell him. Then, I try the listen and if you listen well, you'll get a stamp on your chart. That works well if I remember, act all happy and giddy about how exciting the chart is and generally sell my soul. Or, I just give up and answer once. Thanks for giving me some freedom in that, Elizabeth! Glad to hear I'm not alone. Maybe JG will answer some of E's questions when we get to that stage with her.

3. I just got a whole bunch of cloth diapers from a friend that I can try out for free. No up front investment, so I'm gonna give it a whirl. No environmental conviction, to be perfectly honest, just trying to save a buck. I am a Baker. If it turns out to be a real pain in the bahooty, I will go back to my Walmart favorites.

4. So, I saw a chiropractor. I was desperate. Turns out I'm in the 5% of people with one leg shorter than the other. Half an inch shorter. So, years of back pain may be resolved by a small heel lift in the shoe. Wish I'd looked into it sooner! The chiropractor was great, very straight forward and not trying to get me back for multiple adjustments, in fact, he didn't even adjust me. Said there was no point to doing anything until I get the heel lift.

5. Breakfast, breakfast: So, we've got muffins, fruit, yogurt, bagels, casseroles, eggs, toast or waffles with toppings (cheese/peanut butter). Ahhh, thanks for some refreshing new menu options. Still need recipes from Lauren and Molly, please. I'll add to that my staples of Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal made with milk, fruit (dried/fresh), cinnamon, brown sugar, Grits with cheese, and Pancakes. I freeze l/o cooked pancakes and reheat in the toaster oven. One thing I wish could be a staple but it is too unhealthy -- biscuits with gravy. Mmmm.

6. Seriously, I am savoring the delicious flavor of Marquez' words in Love in The Time of Cholera. I mean, just listen to this quote and tell me if it resonates with you as it did me: "her beauty purified by the restraint of maturity". Just an example. If you are looking for a book to read that is like a pot de creme as opposed to jello pudding, pick it up.

Nerd, Glutton, Escapist.

So, I think I have become MORE of a nerd in my 'old' age. If that is even possible. Those of you who knew me in high school may find this shocking. But, it is true. Now I walk my children to the library with my giant belly garnering stares the whole mile and a half there. Then, I trapse through the doors and detectors just barely because my stroller is the double wide version. Everyone kinda holds their breath for me as they watch or offer to open an additional door. (As I smile and think to myself, 'you can't really widen those detectors and aisle for me could ya?') If you haven't picked up on the nerdy aspect yet, just hang on.

Then I practically skip to the holds section. And look at the bottom shelf. Because usually I have too many books on hold to fit on the shelf where my last name would place them. And there is a thing of beauty. (Of sorts, though according to Kant, I may even be tempted to call it sublime as I am appalled at my own amibition.) This week it was a pile so big I wasn't sure it would all fit in the stroller for the trek home. You know, when you won't let your kids out of the stroller because it will tip backwards without their counter weight. And the variety, oh the wonderful variety. From Margaret Wise Brown, Allan Ahlberg, Eric Carle and company to James Joyce, Immanuel Kant, George Eliot, Greg Epstein and Elizabeth Edwards. I still haven't finished my last round of indulgence from the library. And like a glutton I'm back at the Ryan's cafeteria line for my umpteenth helping of fried okra and mac and cheese.

I tell myself that it is just one of the ways I cope with this stage of life. The lonliness that comes from being around toddlers all day every day and many nights home alone while husband works fighting fires. Sometimes I need the distraction, sometimes the deeper mental engagement than comes with made up words and tent building and sometimes, I realize this is quite possibly more of an escape than a coping.

But I don't mind one bit.

Lost

JG: "Mom. Mom. Mom. Excuse me, Mom."

(he really is far more patient with me than I with him)

me: "Yes, JG?"

JG: "Why is Elloree crying?"

me: "Because she lost her footing and busted open her lip. Poor girl."

EG: "WAAAAAAHAAAAHAAA HAWAHHHHWHHHAAAAA"

JG (incredulously): "She LOST her FOOT?"

Quick Poll

I'm just curious, so I'll put out a couple questions. Anyone feel free to comment and help enlighten me:

1. Who wants to get the H1N1 vaccine this year? Who most decidedly doesn't?

2. Does anyone else get really fatigued from answering toddler questions? Nonstop? All day long? Every day of the week? Examples: What's that called, what's that do, why does that do that, why, how does it do that, and then repeat the questions, often for the same object. I swear my answers are not even heard!

3. Cloth Diapers. Who does it, who doesn't, why?

4. Best remedies for back pain during pregnancy.

5. Breakfast ideas. Warm foods excluding oatmeal and cream of wheat. No cold cereal responses allowed ($$$, and it's cold), please. :)

6. Who has read Gabriel Garcia Marquez and LOVES his writing? Me!!

Okay, just thought I'd ask. Have a lovely Thursday.

Halloween

So, there are no pictures for Halloween because. . . well, the children went to bed without any costumes at 7:00 pm. (They did get dinner, however.) Mommy went to bed around 8:30. Really, I was too tired, worn out, lazy-whatever you want to call it- to think about Halloween this year. I know I should have, but they are 3 and 1 1/2 and hopefully won't hold it against me. I need to start checking for sales now on costumes for the THREE children next year. Honestly, Halloween is so taxing in part because there is a level of creativity expected that I simply do not have.

The day following Halloween, we gave JG a fun-sized candy bar. He'd never had one that we can recall. I explained that it was called a candy bar. After consuming it delightedly, he exclaimed, "Mom, is there any more of that bar cake?"

I can't tell

JG: "Mommy, Daniel caught a bug. He put it in a jaaR"
me: "Really, what kind of bug?"
JG: "I can't tell." [translation: I don't know]


**Flashback**
me to nephew G (Daniel's big brother) on Sunday: "G, tell Daniel and Caroline to stop catching bugs so we can spend time together soon." Apparently, I was overheard.

**Flashforward**
Oh, THAT kind of bug. I wish they kept in jars instead of bodies.