Wedding Weekend, etc.

Here are a few snapshots of the wedding taken with my little camera (and some other random recent pictures). But if you want a real treat, see the pictures that our photographer friend from church Kevin Swan took! Amazing!!!

We wondered all along if Meredith would actually make it down the aisle as a flower girl. She did well at the rehearsal but got stage fright at the ceremony. She asked grandpa to hold her hand and he did. She walked down the aisle WITH him, staring bashfully at the floor. But she was cute anyway and I know it was one of the highlights of her life-thus-far to be a flower girl in aunt Megan's wedding!

Megan was a beautiful bride, the ceremony and reception were very memorable, elegant, and fun. We're glad KC is a part of our family now. Best wishes to the happy couple as they honeymoon and settle down in Texas!

Five-Year Reflections

Wow. I can hardly believe I’m saying this but, as of tomorrow, Kevin and I will have been married five years.

The other day I started thinking about what has happened since August 3, 2002, when Kevin and I joined our lives together.

In five years we moved five times. We lived in three different states, four different times. On two separate occasions we left our jobs for unknown future employment. We bought a house in a seller’s market. We sold a house (in the nick of time) in a buyer’s market. Kevin has been enrolled in two different law schools. We’ve had two beautiful babies.

Although I hope the next five years are slightly less eventful, despite all the challenges the past five years have been the happiest years of my life. Kevin and I have faced all of these things together as a team. Our love has endured. Our love is strong.

Neither of us have any regrets about marrying young. We are thankful to have shared so much of our life-thus-far together. Marriage and children require sacrifice. But these things have made life so full and rich.

Kevin is the type of guy I never thought existed. When I first met him, he caught me by surprise and I couldn’t help but love him. I love the fact that Kevin is so smart and savvy but also so good, selfless, and kind.

Kevin, you inspire me. I’m such a lucky girl to have you. I love you always. Happy 5th!

That’s Our Meredith

Lately Meredith has been wearing a gold Burger King crown every day, along with a red Minnie Mouse dress with white polka dots that we recently found in a hand-me-down box. I often sit and watch her prance around the house with her dress and hat covering her messy hair. She’s in a stage right now where she hates to have her hair brushed. I only make her do it when we’re going out. So, most days she’s twirling around the house with messy hair. She looks quite comical. But in her own little mind (as evidenced by the way she prances), with her dress and paper crown, she is the most beautiful creature in the world.

Here are some recent highlights straight from our two-year-old daughter’s mouth.

Conversations:

Amy: “Meredith, stop whining.”
Mer: “Maybe some grapes would make you [Meredith] happy.”
Amy: Gets some grapes and starts to pick them off the stem.
Mer: “No! Leave them on the tree.”

Mer: “I want to go outside!”
Kevin: “Sorry babe, it’s raining.”
Mer: “Put up an umbrella and stay dry!”

Mer: “I want French fries.”
Amy: “We don’t have any French fries.”
Mer: “Go to Old McDonalds!”
Amy: “Daddy took the car today. We don’t have a car.”
Mer: “We walk!”

Amy: “Meredith, you are going to grandma’s house tonight.”
Mer: [eyes light up] “I probably eat dinner there. And spend the night, probably!”

Amy: “You are going to have pasta and green beans for lunch.”
Mer: “No green beans.”
Amy: “Yes, green beans will help you grow big and strong.”
Mer: “I’m already strong.”

Amy: “Meredith, come brush your hair.”
Mer: “No, my hair messy!”
Amy: “Don’t you want to look nice for Mr. & Mrs. Myers?”
Mer: [smile] “I look messy for Mr. & Mrs. Myers.”

Other quotes:

“Mommy happy now!” --This is what she says whenever she is obedient in response my direction. All day long, I hear how I should be such a happy person.

“That mommy is sad!” --In response to watching a labor and delivery video and seeing the woman experience a contraction. When the woman had another contraction Meredith said, “That mommy is sad again!”

“Two weeks! My baby sister in MY tummy will come out in two weeks!” –Because, according to Meredith, she is pregnant just like mommy was.

“That’s a mess! That man sweep it up!” --At the grocery store when she saw some produce scattered in the aisle. She then pointed out an employee and suggested that he clean it up. I didn’t know whether to die of embarrassment or laugh.

“It’s nice and cool and windy outside.” –After feeling a breeze on her cheek. Meredith is really into “making lists” right now. Her prayers at the dinner table are starting to take five minutes now that she wants to thank God for every piece of food and each family member’s napkin, etc.

“Stop talking, Kevin! Nooooo talking!” --This is what she told her daddy in the car the other day. It was one of those times when you know you need to discipline your child but you can’t stop laughing because it’s funny. Meredith has already stopped calling us “mommy” and “daddy” and most of the time calls us “mom” and “dad.” But bossing us around on a first-name basis is over the top.

Morning Trek

I haven't had time to download pics from my camera so here are a few that I stole from Shannon's blog. :)

I just finished an approximately two mile walk (round trip) to the post office, the canal to let Meredith feed the ducks, the grocery store to buy bread and milk, and Starbucks (because I figure I deserve a treat after all that). We only have one car so I love living in a borough of the city where I can walk to these types of places. It was my first time pushing the double stroller, which was heavy but not too bad. The worst part was lifting it to get it down the stairs.

Thoughts from Mom

Clara came really fast, after full day. Fortunately it was one of those restfully-full days and not a hectic-full day. We went to church, had a leisurely brunch of waffles, strawberries, and scrambled eggs with Kevin’s family, I took a long nap while Kevin watched golf on television, then we played a game of croquet with Colin, Megan, and Kc on the back lawn. As we were getting ready to head back to church for evening service (5:30), I had my first contraction. Clara was born exactly four hours later (9:30).

Short labors are nice but (for those of you who think it’s all dreamy), they are very intense. Your body has to go through the same thing in getting ready to deliver a baby, regardless of how long it takes to get there. When Kevin and I were limping across the hospital parking lot (okay, I was the one limping) to get to the maternity ward, I felt a big contraction coming on. In order to get more comfortable I got on my hands and knees on a patch of grass in front of the hospital. (Seriously, when you’re in labor you don’t care what other people think of you!) Suddenly a woman rushed over to us and said, half joking, “Don’t do anything on the front lawn! It’s bad for business!” She ended up being a really nice doctor who got a wheel chair and wheeled me to the third floor. I had four or five more contractions on the way up there and she kept patting my back reassuringly as we went. She seemed like an angel to me. Maybe she was.

It’s amazing how much we love this new baby already. I’m definitely more relaxed as a mom this time around. I was so uptight with Meredith that I wasn’t able to enjoy her as much, I think. Also, I appreciate the perspective I have now with a second baby. I realize that these first few weeks are ultimately fleeting. As hectic as they are, they are precious and irretrievable. I can’t stop hugging and kissing on both my little girls.

Maybe it’s in response to MY being more relaxed, but Clara seems so laid back to me. Like this sweet “whatever” attitude that I don’t remember Meredith having. At all.

I forgot how small newborns are. Her feet, hands, and little bottom. It’s amazing.

I also forgot how naturally sweet a newborn’s skin smells. Like Kc said, “She smells like vanilla!” I can’t stop kissing Clara’s chubby cheeks and the crook of her neck. I want to savor each moment.

Meredith is doing fairly well adjusting. Her disposition toward Clara is very sweet and gentle. At the hospital she was all smiles and kept saying, “I hold her,” “I hug her,” “I kiss her.” But she is also more emotional than normal. She’s had a hard time sharing a few things. For instance, her box of wipes. Can you believe it? Today I asked her to help me and get a wipe. She clung to this stupid box of wipes and said, “This is Meredith’s wipes!”

When we first got home from the hospital I started to worry about how I was possibly going to be able to love both my children equally. It was overwhelming. They are both distinct persons with their own unique set of needs. They say that a mother’s love grows when another child is born and this is so true. But I’m still overwhelmed. I will pray for grace and just keep on loving as best I can.

Clara Pics

Welcome...

...to the world, Clara Faith Koons! She arrived safely and quickly (a 4-hour labor from start to finish) last night around 9:30 p.m. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 3 oz. and measured 20 3/4 in. long. Amy and Clara are both doing fine. Pictures forthcoming...

500-Pound Man Rescued After 12 Hours in River

Did you guys see this incredible story on Drudge today?

I’m still trying to figure out why this man ever tried to go tubing in the first place.

“The aircraft that found him [stranded] said they could not lift that amount of weight.”

If an airplane couldn’t handle him, why on earth did he ever think an inflatable device could?

Local Touring and Second Deliveries

Over the weekend we decided, once again, to be tourists in our own town. Honestly, lately I’ve been wanting a vacation SO badly but with a baby coming and school starting, that’s not an option. So we’re doing the best we can locally. And it’s been fun.

We went to White River State Park and walked around the canal downtown. At the end of the day we were going to see an IMAX movie but thought that Meredith would be too scared of the 3-D sharks and 3-D dinosaurs. Or that maybe she wouldn’t keep the glasses on and then wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway. So, we opted for a movie back at the house.

I’m definitely ready to shed my big belly. Although the weather was nice on Saturday, it was still exhausting to lug around this pregnancy weight during our long walk.

Now that I’m near the end of this pregnancy, I’ve finally started thinking about labor and delivery. Unlike last time, I haven’t read any books on the subject and we didn’t take the child birth prep class (which was a waste of time and money anyway).

Because I had such a great experience with Meredith, I hope I’m not disappointed this time around. With Meredith, everything happened very fast and, thanks to that beautiful thing called the epidural, I was rested, relaxed and really (honestly) enjoyed the process of welcoming my daughter into this world.

Although most people apparently have easier deliveries their second time, I know of two examples where things were significantly worse. So, I’m trying not to be overly hopeful.

When you’re going into your first delivery, everything is “unknown.” When you’re going into your second delivery, it’s not that much different. Although I now know what a contraction feels like, I still have no idea what lies ahead with baby number two’s delivery. It’s hard for me to not let my first experience taint my views of this upcoming experience since they say each one is different. Right?

I’m glad Kevin has a sterling memory ‘cuz I sure don’t. The other day I started worrying that I wouldn't remember how to breathe, when it would be time to go to the hospital, etc., etc. After vocalizing these concerns to Kevin, he immediately piped up with all the relevant information to respond to my questions.

How he remembers all this stuff from two years ago, I’ll never know. But I’m glad.

Recently I read a statistic—one in 300 women in the U.S. has given birth in a car. Doesn’t that figure seem high to you? I personally can see the advantage of having a baby that fast (aside from the bloody mess in the car, of course). Kevin, I’m sure, would rather it not be quite that fast.

Fabulous Book

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is the best book I’ve read in a long time. It was this month’s featured book with our book club and we had a great discussion last night. The book is beautifully written and deals with intriguing subject matter. I highly recommend it.

Although I thought it would be a depressing book because it entails a father abandoning his newborn handicapped child and lying to his wife—and, ultimately, this family secret has repercussions for everyone involved—I found it to be redemptive and thought-provoking and I’m glad I read it. The book was especially interesting because it followed and contrasted parallel lives—the man who abandoned his child and the woman who raised her. The author has tremendous insight and ties everything together beautifully. It was a definite page-turner for me.

So, check it out!

Two Wonderful Years

We are so blessed. God has given us a precious little girl to love for two whole years now. I figured it would be the case but parenthood has caused me to experience the depths and heights of the wide range of emotions like I never had before. Who knew it was possible to love this much, or be this frustrated, or this happy? Who knew that I would laugh so much every day or cry more than I ever had my whole life? When I signed up for a baby, who knew that I would have a toddler so soon? In the blink of an eye, my baby grew and became her own person, independent and free-thinking, loving life and living every day with passion.

I love you Meredith Grace Koons! I’m so happy that God gave you to daddy and me!

The birthday girl.

Playing doctor with Aunt Megan.

Gift from mom and dad … a new sandbox! Unfortunately the sand had mosquitoes in it. Can you believe it? Our little girl was eaten alive. The next day the mosquitoes were gone, so we ended up not having to get new sand.

Family of Four

Meredith has been singing Happy Birthday to herself and blowing out imaginary candles for nearly a month now! She was so excited to get to do it “for real.”

Sand and Cake. What could be better?

Who says 9 months pregnant isn’t sexy? (On second thought, don’t answer that.)

Fun Fourth

Gettin' Ready

"I like this."

Crying Momma and Caring Tot

I’ve decided it’s good to let Meredith see me cry now and then. It really transforms her attitude. Today I felt like I was at the end of my rope. Meredith was being really bratty and demanding. Between that and my seemingly overwhelming “to do” list for the day, I lost it.

When Meredith saw me crying, she got very quiet and then came to pat me on the back. She said, “Mommy is crying. You got a tear on your hand.” (I had put my hands over my eyes and a tear had rolled off my hand.)

After sitting with me quietly for a few minutes, she ran to the other room and came back with her ratty blanket. Her favorite possession. The one thing she never shares with anyone. The one thing I never ask her to share since I know it’s that special to her.

She handed it over to me and said, “See? Here’s a blanky.” Then she smiled.

It was a very precious moment to be comforted by my toddler—the one who only moments before was the source of so much frustration. I was also very moved by her love. She probably wasn’t exactly sure what to do when she saw me crying—she had no idea why I was crying—but she knew I needed something to cheer me up. So she ran and grabbed the one material possession in her life that comforts her and means the most to her.

It’s funny how the hardest days with a toddler can also be the most precious, at times.

One-Thousandth Post

Wow. It's hard to believe. This apparently, according to Blogger, is my one-thousandth post.

I feel like I should say something more ceremonious at this point but I'm not sure what.

Blogging has been good. My blog has morphed a lot. I used to be a more frequent blogger. I used to be a more philosophical and political blogger. But now I find I rarely have time for that. I used to blog about a lot more random things but, again, I rarely have time these days to memorialize those observations.

I'm really glad for blogging—for the outlet it provides and that it enables me to keep up with friends too.

So, here's to another thousand posts!

I don't get it.

I don't understand how a little girl can be so into dinosaurs and making scary "rooooooaaaarrrrrrr" sounds all day long while, at the same time, be such a girly-girl.

While rummaging through her closet, Meredith recently discovered a pair of Cinderella princess pajamas that I had put away because I thought it was still too big. Someone gave it to her as a hand-me-down. She now wants to wear it ALL the time.

I am amazed at how quickly the "battle over clothing" has begun. Although she is not yet two years old, Meredith insists on wearing certain clothing (i.e., dresses) and shoes. She’s become extremely opinionated about the matter. I often have to put my foot down when things simply aren't practical. Mostly I give in, though, because she is SO happy to be able to wear her favorite things. It's cute to see.

We must be Parents ... or something!

If we hadn’t already realized we are parents, what we did on Saturday confirmed it in our minds. We walked four blocks downtown in the rain and joined a throng of other weary parents and exited children just so Meredith could meet her beloved Elmo. When we got there we had to stand in line for thirty minutes.

Kevin kept looking at me like, “I can’t believe we’re doing this. We are crazy.”

We nearly missed Elmo since he and Grover took turns, each doing a thirty-minute rotation. We’re glad we squeezed in on time because Grover just wouldn’t have been the same experience for Meredith. We thought she might be scared of Elmo—which is how she has reacted to large stuffed animals in the past. But she loved him! She walked right up to him and gave him a high five. Then she sat on his lap and gave him a hug and a kiss.

In the end we decided it was totally worth it. Even Kevin said, "It's worth it" after Meredith got so excited when she spotted Elmo in line and started talking it up ("I hug Elmo! I give him a kiss!"). And, when she asked to "hug the pig too" after spotting "Piggly Winks" (another PBS character), Kevin said, "Let's do it. The line isn't quite so long." Sigh ... the things only parents do.

_____________

Today I did another “parent thing” with Meredith and went to the Children’s Museum to meet up with Sarah and Nora. It was so great getting in a conversation with Sarah while the girls played—we haven’t seen each other for more than a year. It's fun because our first-born children are weeks apart and our second-born children will likely be days apart.

Common Food Art

I must have been bored last night while making dinner. Who says taco salad has to be monotonous?

Me at the "Y"

Last night I signed up for a water aerobics class at the local YMCA.

Yes, I know that water aerobics is stereotyped as the lazy person’s exercise. Come to think of it, this classification is probably deserved. After all, I’ve never seen a really buff person doing water aerobics. All of those people are pumping iron in the next room.

But, regardless of the stereotype, I feel like it will do me a world of good in the final six weeks of my pregnancy. So, there I was last night with all the other lazy exercisers, most of them gray haired and at least 100 pounds overweight. It cracked me up … some of them had flotation devices strapped around their midsections and some of them weren’t even doing the exercises at all. Ha!

But, seriously … I feel like it will help me meet my personal goals for exercise right now. After 90 minutes in the pool, I truly got a decent workout. I was able to stretch and use muscles in my body that I wouldn’t have been able to outside the water because of the pressure on my joints, which are already in pain because of the baby weight. Rather than being exhausted after the class, I was refreshed and had renewed energy.

So, I think it’s worth it. And maybe I’ll make some new friends from the local AARP in the meantime.

Camping

This past weekend found us roughing it at camp. “Roughing it” is a relative term since we were about as close to a bathroom and warm showers as is possible at a campground.

It was a church function and the main reason we went was for Meredith’s sake. We figured she would get a kick out of it and she truly did. On Friday night she was covered from head-to-toe with dirt. Unfortunately I never got a decent picture of her!

Honestly, I think camping can be enjoyable. Being surrounded by nature is good. Hanging out with friends at a campfire, roasting s’mores is just about as fun as anything. Since I’ve had some really fun and pleasant camping experiences in the past, I would never completely discount it. But, for the most part, I think it’s overrated, especially if the weather is bad. I think that priceline-ing a hotel is generally a much better option. But like I said, we did it for Meredith. Every kid deserves to go camping now and then.

We came, we saw, we conquered. And I think that this eight-month-pregnant body should get some sort of a medal for going (getting ready for it took the biggest toll) and sleeping in a tent on an air mattress. I’m not sure I’d ever go again under these same physical circumstances.

Twirling, Needs, and Customizing Drinks

Meredith has landed squarely in the little-girl-twirling stage. She wants to wear the same purple dress every day and she spends a large part of her free time spinning in circles watching said purple dress floating around her legs.

Who ever told her she is a girl and she should twirl? No one.
_____________

Lately Meredith has started telling us that she “needs” things. She’ll start off by stating that, for instance, “I want a pen.” When we tell her no, she’ll say (with urgency in her voice), “But I need one.”
_____________

Meredith has finally caught on to the fact that I dilute her fruit juice. After tasting the full strength juice, she has become quite irritated at the fact that hers gets watered-down. She has started telling us, “No water in it!” when we pour her juice.

This morning I offered her some chocolate milk. As I got out the milk and the Hersey’s syrup, she yelled, “NO milk in it!”

Nice try, Meredith!

Videos of Mer

Here are some videos Aunt Shannon took last Wednesday. I tried to get the video screen up on the blog but I guess I'm just not that techno savvy.

S'up Girlfriend?

Quoting her bible verse.

Singing You Are My Sunshine.

Book Club #3

Last night the book club—I’m thinking we should probably get a proper name at some point—met and discussed Thrity Umrigar’s The Space Between Us.

Other than the fact that the ending was a little bit contrived, I thought it was a decent read. Not my favorite but definitely something that made me think and broadened my horizons a little bit.

The book is a novel set in modern day Bombay and is written from the perspective of two different women, from different classes. One woman is a wealthy Parsi and the other woman is her downcast servant who lives in the slums.

As the author states in the back of the book, “The novel deals with a relationship that, despite all the good will in the world, is ultimately based on the exploitation of one human being by another.”

This brought up some interesting discussion about the existence of class inequity in the modern world and whether or not there are any parallels in America. There were also some sub-issues that were interesting to discuss including abortion, women’s rights, failed marriages, choosing denial over truth, etc.

Of course, food is an essential ingredient of any book club. I made naan bread for the first time and bought some spicy mango chutney to go along with it. Since I wasn’t sure if anyone would care for the bread/chutney, I made an old favorite, orange ice cream cups. Oranges grow in India, yes? Yes. So, therefore, that was appropriate too.

Exorcism

Neither Kevin nor I are into horror films. I don’t mind suspense movies with jump scenes, when I’m in a certain mood and up for a scare, but I generally would rather not see depictions of ghastly evil constantly portrayed for two hours. I was, however, glad that we watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose last night.

Several months ago I got the film from the library and started watching it. By myself. At night.

After the opening scene, showing an eerie pumpkin patch, I turned it off and decided to wait until I had more company. Last night Kevin’s sisters and our pastor came over to watch it with us. I'm glad I waited.

It was very interesting to see a film where Faith vs. Reason was on trial. The film also brought up a host of questions about exorcism and demon possession. Apparently Emily Rose is based on a true story. Some of our discussion afterwards centered on how common or real is demon possession and can it happen to a true believer with the Holy Spirit residing in them.

If you’re up for it—and have people to watch it with you—I would recommend seeing it, if only for the reason that it will make you think. And if you’re into horror, you might also be entertained.

“In many of the documented cases [of demon possession], there are good explanations for [why a person is singled out for it]. There seems to be a pattern of people who get involved in the occult, or people who have been literally placed under spiritual curses. It does seem like there are certain warnings that ought to be avoided. But at the same time, as I read the New Testament, it seems like some of the people who are possessed just are. That they are victims of this fallen world.” –Scott Derrickson (writer/director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

A Marriage That's Good Enough

I’d love to hear what you guys think about this article (below).

This article made me smile. I think there’s definitely a grain of truth to it. Contentment is a great place to be and always searching for something better can only lead to misery. I like this article and I agree with it. But I guess I can’t relate to this woman entirely because, after nearly five years, I still think Kevin is a saint and he IS my best friend. Either I’m just a lucky girl or my rose-colored glasses have a lot of mileage on them.

A Marriage That's Good Enough
by Corinne Colbert (June 4, 2007)

My husband is not my best friend. He doesn't complete me. In fact, he can be a self-absorbed jerk. We're nearly polar opposites: He's a lifetime member of the NRA who doesn't care for journalists, and I'm a lifelong liberal with a journalism degree. On the other hand, he doesn't beat or emotionally abuse me. He doesn't drink or chase other women. He's a good provider. So I'm sticking with him.

Some people would call that "settling," like it's a bad thing. But I believe in settling.

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines "to settle" as "to place in a desired state or order; to quiet, calm or bring to rest; to make stable." In short, it means that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Alas, too many of us buy into a different adage: that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. From movies to magazines to commercials, we're told we should demand more from lives that are, for many of us, pretty good. We're supposed to look better, eat better, find better jobs, be better lovers and parents and workers. A stable marriage isn't enough; it's supposed to be a fairy tale. Perfection is the goal.

But at what cost? Would I really be any happier if I took up yoga and ate more soy? If my spouse wasn't just my partner, but also was my soul mate? I doubt it.

Settling, in my sense, is about acceptance. I'm a pretty happy person, in large part because I'm honest with myself about what I have. My body isn't bikini-worthy, but it's healthy. I'll never write for Rolling Stone as I once dreamed, but I am making a living as a writer. I yell at my sons and let them play too much GameCube, but I'm still a good mom.

Of course, some situations are worth improving. If your weight jeopardizes your health, exercise and change your eating habits. If your job makes you truly miserable, find a new one. If your marriage is toxic, end it. Chances are, though, you probably have what you need: a roof over your head, food on the table, a job that pays the bills, and family and friends. If you're unhappy, ask yourself: Am I unhappy because I really don't have what I need, or because I just want more?

So, yes, I'm settling. Sure, I wish my husband would kiss me more often, tell me he loves me every day, and get as excited about my accomplishments as I do. Emptying the dishwasher without being asked and giving me unsolicited foot massages wouldn't hurt, either.

All that would be nice, but it's not necessary. I'm happy with my husband who, despite his flaws, is a caring father, capable of acts of stunning generosity and fiercely protective of his family. Thinking about him may not set me on fire as it used to, but after 17 years and two kids, our love is still warm. And I believe that's good enough.

A New Park Find

We have enjoyed exploring new parks since moving to this new corner of the world last year. Last Friday we found an amazing park! I saw something online about a kids' movie night being held there. We packed a picnic dinner and headed off. We ended up not staying for the movie but we had a blast eating dinner by the lake and letting Meredith run wild in the squirt park and on the playground equipment.

The squirt park was incredible. It had two large “mushroom” water contraptions that squirted out water and made it flow into a man-made river. The river was shallow but pooled in several areas so kids could splash around. There were natural-looking rock formations and Meredith enjoyed jumping off the rocks into the water. At the end of the “river,” were more water spray features. It was so much fun for us to see our daughter having such a great time.

Then we spent some time drawing chalk art on the sidewalk. And daddy helped Meredith catch several fireflies after it got dark. It was such a great Family Night Out. I love my family!

Whirlybird

The other day I spotted this outline Kevin made and thought it was cool. Apparently it’s called a “Whirlybird” outline, something new he learned to organize your thoughts on paper without having a rambling linear outline. Does anyone else out there use this method? I couldn’t really find much info about it online. But, anyway, like I said, I think it’s cool.

Celebration

Megan is getting married. Soon. We had a fun girls’ night out last night to celebrate—with dinner at Bazbeaux Pizza and then dessert and more good times back at my house. Some of Megan’s friends from China put together a DVD with KC answering questions about him/her/their relationship and we watched it in segments with Megan answering the same questions beforehand. It was a total crack-up!

(Sorry to Heather and Stephanie—the retarded waiter apparently can’t take pictures without cutting off heads!)

Smile, Please

Here is something noteworthy I came across this morning. The first item on the list, “smile,” is something that I appreciate about how my parents raised me. They were always good examples of treating other people positively and greeting them consistently with a good attitude, regardless of what mood they were in or what was going on in their personal lives.

If you think about it, being cheerful toward other people (regardless of how you feel that day) is essentially about loving them. When we are a drag around other people, or are gloomy, we are just pulling them down too.

The ABCs of Family Civility

Adapted from Pier Forni, Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct.

1. Smile. People respond better to those who are positive.

2. Be considerate. Ask yourself, "Is what I am about to say going to encourage and build up the other person, or tear him or her down?"

3. Practice restraint and don't yell or raise your voice.

4. Have the courage to admit it when you are wrong. Avoid ridicule and don't humiliate or demean the other person. You can express your anger without attacking the other person.

5. Accept kindness from others and let others be nice to you.

Alligators, Crayons, and Pink Golf Balls

Lately there has been no question about what is on our nearly-two-year-old daughter's mind. She tells us exactly what she is thinking. This can be both good and difficult. Either way, her fresh perspective often makes us laugh out loud.

“Go on alligator!” said Meredith, at the mall last night. She then pointed to the “escalator.” (Close enough, right?)

“I ate a crayon,” explained Meredith as I was furiously trying to brush a chunk of brown that was stubbornly clinging to her tooth. As I was brushing the tooth, I was puzzled by the brown substance. I asked out loud (more talking to myself than to Meredith), “What on earth is stuck on this tooth?”

“Get mine pink ball!” said Meredith as she watched her daddy get his golf clubs out of the garage. I had no idea what this meant. Later I found out (from Kevin) that he often lets her knock around a hot pink golf ball with his putter. She just wanted to be part of the action.

Betcha Got One!

As we were driving along a major road the other day we noticed a run-down apartment complex with six or eight units. In each of the balconies of the apartments, there were little charcoal grills.

It made me reflect on the home and garden show we attended several months ago. At the show we were dazzled with numerous high-end, built-in grills featured in various displays.

These ponderings made me realize how much grilling is a part of every American’s experience, regardless of your socioeconomic status. Whether you spend $20 on your grill or $20,000 on your built-in grill patio, if you are an American you likely have one.

And, seriously, who can blame Joe American for reveling in the delicious summer ritual of a smoky, juicy piece of semi-charred meat?

Links are Back Up and World Rejoices

The links are back up (in no particularly logical order) thanks to the fact that someone whose name begins with an "M" took a long nap today. The links' order will likely change in the near future but, in the meantime, maybe you'll discover new links, and perhaps even new friends, because of the randomness ... you never know.

I learned my lesson that I need to save them in one document, html format, before I decide to give my webpage another facelift. Thankfully they were at least all saved in my favorites folder. (I know a lot of you folks out there are thankful too since I got a lot of e-mail requests and complaints when I originally took them down!)

Happy blogging,
Amy

Recent Family Quotes

“That wife picked it up!” –Meredith (in response to a very obese 20-ish woman who picked up a bag of chips she took from our cart and threw in the aisle at the grocery store. She gets confused about the whole mother/wife/woman thing and will randomly call people whatever role she chooses at the time).

“How about some fishy crackers?” –Meredith (to her grandma as they were grocery shopping and she spotted a bag of them in the check out lane).

“Some people are miserable and don’t even know it.” –Amy (referring to a very interesting neighbor of ours whom she is still trying to figure out).

“You are worth a whole head of gray hairs. Maybe even two heads.” –Kevin (to Amy when she asked him if she’s worth the four gray hairs she’s given him this past year).

“I thought it tasted different.” –Kevin (this morning after Amy asked him if he realizes he is using her toothbrush).

What's Up

Kevin is working every spare moment on a writing-competition-thing for school. Poor guy is still waiting for his summer to begin. To make matters worse, he really hasn’t had much time to adequately work on it, either. It’s just been a busy week with various personal commitments.

Amy is trying to be a good mom and failing most days. The “whining toddler” phase is very trying for her. She seriously thinks it’s worse than the “fussy newborn” phase. Do you realize how difficult it is to deal with a toddler who simply cannot be pleased, regardless of what you do, and whines about everything? Amy wishes she had a nickel for every time she tells Meredith, “I cannot hear what you are saying when you whine. You need to ask nicely with a smile and then I can hear you.” Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Meredith is enjoying being a kid to the fullest extent possible. Every day brings some new fun thing in her life. This week she went to Brown County and went hiking for the first time without being carried or riding in daddy’s backpack, she went to the park twice including the water “squirt park” by our house, went swimming in her pool, went to the Children’s Museum, and on Wednesday was thoroughly spoiled by every member of Kevin’s family while mommy got her work deadline done. Yes, she has a good life, despite her quite imperfect mother.

Tonight Kevin and Amy are going to dinner with friends—yes, it’s an adults-only event. As much as we all love our children, a break now and then is nice too.

Two Long Days

Yesterday and today have been two very long days. Actually, yesterday was probably the longest day of my life—or at least it felt like it—with numerous activities crammed in from sun up to sun down.

Yesterday I took Meredith to the OB with me. It was the first time I’ve taken her. She was surprisingly good. She stared with wide eyes as the nurse took my blood pressure and she held onto my foot the entire time I laid on the exam table. She glared at the doctor and absolutely refused to share her fishy crackers when he asked for one. I gave her three jelly beans as a reward for being good. Unfortunately I did not have an orange one (only green, purple, and red) and she was very upset by that.

The day ended with friends coming over—most of them were at our house to talk about starting a movie-discussion outreach program with our church, which Kevin is going to be involved in.

Today I took Meredith to our MOPS group’s end-of-the-year picnic. In addition to the playground equipment, “fun stations” were set-up for the kids—drawing with chalk, “fishing” for magnetic fish, bubbles, beanbag toss, face painting, balls and bikes, etc. Needless to say, Meredith had a grand old time.

Midway through the picnic, the Chick-fil-A cow showed up. Meredith liked the idea of the cow but was terrified of him when we got closer.

The funny thing is that, turns out, I am acquainted with the young man who was inside the cow costume! Such a small world! Of course, he was not allowed to speak to me or anyone else since cows aren’t supposed to talk. [Note for future reference: I would never make a good Chick-fil-A cow since I can never shut up for very long.]

Tomorrow should be much calmer. My weekly work deadline is over and I think me and the kidlet will be hanging out at the pool for a few hours with Aunt Megan.

Beauty and Serenity

We decided to be tourists in our own town and visited the Lilly Mansion grounds on Saturday. The property is so lovely and serene. Because of the formal gardens and French Chateau mansion in the backdrop, I told Kevin it felt like we spent the day in Europe, except that it was only a ten minute car ride ... and free.

Because of the numerous stairs throughout the gardens, we chucked the stroller and let Meredith walk (except that she preferred to run). She had a blast with her newfound freedom. By the time we put her in her stroller again, she was so tired that she fell asleep instantly. This worked out perfectly because we went to the art museum next (also on the same property) and Meredith slept the entire time, allowing for uninterrupted art-viewing by the adults. Nice!

What is really nice—the new director of the Indy art museum decided to make admission free. So we didn't feel pressure to "get our money's worth." We look forward to going again soon in order to explore some other exhibits.
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Conversation with my daughter:

Me: "Where is baby sister?"
Mer: "Mommy's tummy."
Me: "When is she coming out?"
Mer: [silence]
Me: "Remember? She's coming after your birthday."
Mer: "Cake!"
Me: "Yes, what kind of cake do you want for your birthday? Chocolate or Strawberry?"
Mer: "Strawberry. Um, no ... cinnamon cake!"

What is amazing to me about this is the fact that I don't think Meredith has ever had cinnamon cake. Nor do I ever really give her other cinnamon things. I have no idea where she learned that cinnamon exists in cakes. We’ll see if she still wants one for her birthday, come July.

Don’t let your summer go by …

… without fun!

Here are some fun ideas to do with kids this summer that are free or nearly free. If you guys have any ideas to share, I’d love to hear them.

Have a theme for the day: A “color” day where everything is green, for example. A “backwards” day where everything is done backwards (wear your clothes backwards, walk backwards, eat dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner and, of course, eat your dessert first).

Have a family hunt to find the best chocolate milkshake in the city.

Have a special craft day.

Have a campout in your backyard or living room, with a tent, etc.

Make a list at the beginning of the summer of all the fun things your kids want to do before fall and work at checking them off (make a fort in the basement, make chocolate chip cookies, etc.)

Give each child a day of the week that’s their day to choose a special activity.

Take a trip to the dollar store and fill up a bucket—kids can choose one item each on those days when boredom starts setting in. Apparently, from what I'm told, a roll of scotch tape can provide hours of entertainment.

- Go berry picking
- Free concerts in the park
- Free movies in the park (a lot of cities have kid-friendly movies)
- Splash Cinema (swim and watch movies)
- Squirt parks
- Library reading programs
- Bike rides / rollerblading on a long walking trail
- Vacation Bible Schools
- Free museum days

Reality Strikes

Behind on everything. Trying to keep my head above water. And then …

A dose of reality.

My life is going to be so much more hectic come August. I just finished reading a book about having a second child. At the end of the book are all these testimonials of women who explain—with no holds barred—how much more difficult it is with a toddler and a newborn and how tired they were all the time after the birth of their second child. I almost wish I hadn’t read it. Ignorance is bliss, right?

And, here’s the worst part. All the women in these testimonials were SAHMs who don’t have a side job (like me) and a husband who is absent evenings and weekends with school and study, in addition to work (like me). If they could barely survive those first months, what are my prospects?

If I’m already feeling behind with just one kid, how am I ever going to do it with two? “What were we thinking?” I asked Kevin last night, only half joking.

Not to mention that the book also mentions that, statistically, the most difficult year in a marriage is the year following the birth of a second child. [Pause for further dark meditations.]

I really don’t want my fears to get in the way of me fully enjoying the welcoming of my second child into this world and relishing every moment of her precious babyhood.

I know it’s only a temporary time. It’s only one more year and then life will become less complicated as far as our family schedule is concerned. But can I survive this coming year? Is there any hope that I can be a good parent and make good memories with my kids in the midst of the sheer chaos?

(Yes, I know … God’s grace.)

Speaking of which [making memories with your kids] … today’s MOPS topic was on having fun with your kids. I’ll write more about that later …

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day 2007 came and went. Honestly, it still feels somewhat awkward to celebrate it. Mother’s Day (no offense) is for older women. It’s really weird to have a holiday that I never celebrated—until just two years ago—suddenly thrust upon me.

I did get breakfast in bed, though. That was nice. And Meredith rushed into the room to wake me up, with a homemade card in her hand, yelling “Happy Dirth-day.” (That’s how she pronounces “birthday.”) Kevin then burst out laughing because he had coached her for the last five minutes to say “Happy Mother’s Day.” In her excitement to wake me up, Meredith forgot the right thing to say. Hmmmm … I love my family.
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Earlier I asked Meredith, “Who is your mommy?” She said, “Mommy.” Then I asked, “Yes, but which one?” She then yelled at the top of her lungs, “Amy!!!”

The other night Kevin was going to take Meredith to run errands. They were going to look for exciting things like ink cartridge toner. When I told Meredith she was going to go shopping with daddy, her eyes lit up, she gasped, and she asked, “New shoes?” She has learned early in life the meaning of true shopping.

Lately Meredith has been referring to herself as a dolphin, her new favorite animal. She always says things like, “Dolphin’s knee is hurt. Kiss it.” And “Dolphin sit on daddy’s lap.” And “Dolphin eats chicken. Yum!” It’s so funny that she imagines herself to be a sea creature. She also pretends to be a puppy and a lamb, at various times. Cute.

Planting Time

I wish I could say that I have a garden full of a variety of things but, while in our rental house, a bunch of potted flowers—and hopefully a few herbs—are going to have to do.

We got some flowers planted over the weekend and it makes such a big difference! I love it!

We are trying to enforce the "one finger rule" so Meredith can enjoy touching the flowers without destroying them. She picked a Gerbera daisy today so she's not always very obedient.

Kevin gets the credit for this "arrangement" and I get the credit for keeping it alive (presuming I can).

“Elmo is so proud of you!”

Aaaaaahhhhhh!!! The potty talks!!! It says things like “Elmo is so proud of you!” and “You did it! Way to go!” and “It’s potty time with Elmo!”—in both English and Spanish.

We finally went out and bought the Elmo potty for Meredith—the one that she has been asking for about ten times per day for the last two months. She was ecstatic, of course. She hugged it tightly to herserlf in the car on the way home.

Since I am totally unprepared to begin potty training—and I have my doubts as to whether Meredith is even READY to start potty training—I started reading a potty training book in the car on the way to Toy’s R Us to buy the potty. (I know … I can’t stand it either … I’m such an advance planner.)

My suspicions were confirmed that Meredith probably needs a few more months. I hope we didn’t jump the gun. It would be ideal for her enthusiasm over the potty to peak around the same time that she is ready to begin her training. Oh well.

Kevin and I both had a big chuckle over this paragraph in the book—which our experience shows is entirely untrue!

[In speaking about the tools you will need to purchase to begin potty training, the chapter starts with the obvious one, the potty chair itself.]

“New chairs start around $10.00 and go up from there depending on how many bells and whistles you desire. The ‘you’ in that last sentence refers to Mom and Dad because your child really doesn’t have a preference at this early age what her potty chair will look like or what fancy sounds it can make.”

Ha, ha, ha!!! Very funny.

Okay, well maybe not when I'm hearing the “Elmo is so proud of you!” mantra in my sleep.

One Year

It suddenly dawned on me, as I was sitting behind the steering wheel at some nondescript intersection waiting for the light to change, that today is our one-year anniversary of moving to Indiana. It was one year ago today that we left our hotel in the Wisconsin Dells, drove through Illinois, and crossed the border into Indiana to begin this most recent chapter of our life.

Like many things in life, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a year, yet, at the same time, it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year. Do you know what I mean?

When I remarked to Kevin that today is a one-year marker for us, his first reply was, “Can you believe you still haven’t been to the BMV yet to get your driver’s licensed changed over?”

Some of us, unlike the Kevins of this world, aren’t perfect. Some of us don’t rush in the week we move to take care of all the necessary business transactions.

Also, to be perfectly honest, I’m kind of scared to take the test. I don’t want to do it cold turkey but, at the same time, I haven’t felt like reading the driver’s manual. There are so many more interesting things to read, don’t you agree?

Isn’t that ridiculous? I took the California bar exam without batting an eye but every time I think about having to take the BMV test, I run and cower.

I know I’m going to have to do it eventually ...

My California driver’s license expires in 2009.

[Just kidding—I’ve already promised Kevin that I’ll take it next week.]

Spontaneity

My friend Kristi called this morning and invited Meredith and I to go to the zoo with her and her three kids. I took a speed shower, got Meredith ready, packed a lunch, and we flew out the door. We had a great time, except for the fact that a lot of the animals were missing from their cages! I felt sorry for little Levi who talked excitedly about seeing the kangaroos … until we got there and they were mysteriously gone. Fortunately Kristi has a pass and we all got in free! But we still had fun visiting and seeing the animals that we did see. Meredith was very happy to see the giraffes, elephants and monkeys. She’s getting to the age where she really appreciates the zoo.

I think spontaneity is important. It’s important to be willing to chuck the prearranged plans at the last-minute and do something new. If you always stick with your Plan A, life rarely has any surprise or adventure to it.

It was fun to hang with Kristi because she is the type of friend who inspires me with her endless energy and love for life. She has twins who are three and a 15-month old, yet she never allows having three toddlers to get in the way of family fun! Everyone needs a “sure-why-not?” and “let’s-do-it” friend. I’ve found that in Kristi.