Is It Wrong to be So in Love with a Household Appliance?

I need this:

The Staples MailMate Junk Mail Shredder. Why do I need it so badly? It shreds everything. Credit cards, papers with staples in them, DVDs (Why would you need to shred a DVD? Who cares? It can do it!), and, most importantly, unopened junk mail, people! I don't even have to open the stupid credit card application, with its stupid fake credit card and the stupid little stickers you use to pick out what lame credit card design you want. SO SWEET!

You wanna know the for-really-real reason why I need it? Here it is:


Did you see it on tonight's episode? SO AWESOME! Yes, I really am that shallow. I am a consumer product company's dream.

Help Me...I'm Stuck!

What's the Most Embarassing Song on Your iPod?

When my in-laws came to visit this summer, we played a game that I stole from a magazine called "What's the Most Embarassing Song on Your iPod?" It was fun; mostly because I think I won. Anyway, P & K's Mommy's post about her rockin' time at an Alison Krauss concert got me thinking about how eclectic our music tastes can be. I never would have dreamed that you liked Alison Krauss, Arlene! That's so awesome! For some reason, I just assumed it was a requirement to live in the Midwest or South before you could enjoy good country music.

I thought I would give some insight into myself by letting you in on some of my song picks on my iPod. A few of my recent downloads are:

• "Remember When" Alan Jackson
• "When You Were Young" The Killers
• "London Bridge" Fergie
• "Remember the Name" Fort Minor featuring Styles of Beyond
• "Jesus Walks" Kanye West
• "Proof" Coldplay
• "I'm a Slave 4 U" Britney Spears
• "Grillz (Dirty)" Nelly featuring Paul Wall, Ali & Gipp
• "Testarossa" Sir Mix-A-Lot
• "I'd Die Without You" P.M. Dawn
• "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" U2
• "Bulls on Parade" Rage Against the Machine
• "Crazy Bitch" Buckcherry
• "A Thousand Miles" Vanessa Carlton
• 8 Aerosmith songs
• 4 Christina Aguilera songs
• 5 Evanescence songs plus "Broken" Seether & Amy Lee (Can you tell I love Amy Lee?)
• 5 George Strait songs
• 18 Kid Rock songs, people (I would divorce Bill in a second for my Kid Rock)
  
• 9 Limp Bizkit songs (I LOVED the entire Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water album)
• 5 Prince songs
• 6 Stone Temple Pilots songs

My taste in music is almost schizophrenic in how eclectic it is, isn't it? I mean, why must we be pigeon-holed into liking only one or two genres? Yes, I enjoy Rage Against The Machine as well as George Strait. So sue me!

By the way, to answer my own question - "Good Vibrations" Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch. Stop laughing! It's a good song to dance to. What's your most embarassing song? Be sure and leave me a comment and let me know so I can hopefully feel a little bit better about myself.

Future Computer Geek...Just Like His Mommy

At Least He's Pretty...

...'cause from the looks of this video, it doesn't seem like he's got a whole lot going on in the brain cell department:

Of course, this was right before we put him down for his afternoon nap, so maybe it was delirium due to sleep deprivation? I can hope, right?

Crazy Glowstick Guy!!!

Without the camera flash...


With the camera flash...

My Stomach Hurts

All I needed was a little perspective...or not. 'Cause I am officially freaking out now. Today we are at exactly T minus three weeks before Bill, Aaron, Reagan and I will be piling into our cars and moving to California. So Cal to be exact. The DESERT to be even more exact.

One of those three weeks will be spent in Missouri for the Thanksgiving holiday. My sister Bethanie is also getting married the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We get back from Missouri on November 28th, the movers are coming November 29th, 30th, and December 1st, then we will be heading to California on December 2nd. Have I done anything to prepare this house for a move? Heck no. It's already sold, so that's a good thing. And the government is moving us, so basically we just sit back and watch the movers pack our stuff and haul it away (Sweet!). I still feel like I should be doing something, though. It's kind of like the calm before the storm and the storm isn't going to end until we finally make it to California and get settled into our house, around mid-December.

Auugghhhhh! O.K., breathe...

How Can I Get Him in Trouble When He Looks So Cute?

My Heart Melted Tonight...Again

Tonight Daddy returned home from San Antonio where he has been for the past four weeks or so. I was very concerned about how Aaron would react to him. I even gave Bill the "don't get your feelings hurt" speech because I was worried that Aaron would be indifferent to him like he is to every stranger on the street. Maybe even a little scared or, at the very least, stand-offish. As it turns out, I didn't give my son nearly enough credit. From the moment Bill got in the car when we picked him up at the airport, he had Aaron giggling and talking (well, Aaron talk, that is.) When we got home, Bill chased Aaron around the house and played with him like they were old pals. Aaron reached his arms up for Bill to pick him up, which he usually doesn't do for anyone except me. I absolutely loved every minute of it.

My poor heart isn't going to be able to take this child-raising thing for very much longer.

From the Third Whitest Chick in America...

...here is my most favorite Scrubs clip ever. Tonight one of the reruns of Scrubs that I was so fortunate to watch on the TiVo was entitled "Her Story." This particular episode has the funniest bit in it and I have it memorized because I have watched it so many times. It doesn't even have my Dr. Cox in it! Go figure! Anyway, I thought I would share it with you.

Writer's Block

Well, I've got some pretty good writer's block going on but I'm determined to keep up with NaBloPoMo, so I've decided when this happens that I'm going to write about one of the several things that Aaron does each day that impresses me. Today, I noticed that Aaron has gotten in the habit of sticking his fingers in his ears when I am rinsing his hair during his bath. He doesn't like water in his ears, so he plugs them up! My boy is a genius!

Now if I can just keep him from drinking the bath water, we might be on to something here.

Baby's First Black Eye

I promise I wasn't the one who gave it to him! See, the thing about toddlers, sometimes they are so preoccupied with what they're doing with their hands, that they aren't paying attention to where they're walking. Or, more specifically, what they're walking into. Aaron was in his bathroom last night chewing on the snot-sucking aspirator thingy (I only let him do this after his bath so he'll stand relatively still and let me comb his hair) and he started walking away and tripped over the rug, falling face-first into the side of the bathtub.

I look at it as a learning experience.

Come Catch a Ride on the Pineapple Express!

We're drowning up here, people. Apparently we have something called the Pineapple Express over us right now, which is a jet stream that brings very moist, warm air from Hawaii. This means record rainfall plus higher snow levels in the mountains. So what does more rainfall and less snow mean? You guessed it - flooding. You know you live in Washington when they cancel school due to rain rather than snow. I guess I don't blame bus drivers who don't want to drive through the streams that have formed over the roads. According to King 5, our local NBC station, normal rainfall measurements at Sea-Tac for the month of November is 5.90 inches. As of today, 6.39 inches was recorded at Sea-Tac for November. It's only November 6th and we've already surpassed normal measurements for the ENTIRE MONTH!

I don't really mind the rain here. I look at it as the price you pay for the gorgeous summer months we have around here. However, I am afraid that my poor little spoiled puppy is going develop both a bladder infection and constipation because she does not enjoy getting her tootsies wet at all. Not even to go to the bathroom. This should be a fun few days.

My Mood Ring Says I'm Frustrated

Reason #1: I can't get my freakin' Flickr Flash Badge to work. Check out The Girl's Moma's Blog to see what it's SUPPOSED to look like (By the way, Lis, I have figured out it has something to do with my new fancy, schmancy template. At least I've narrowed it down!).

Reason #2: My boy won't stop climbing up on top of the coffee table. Sometimes he even likes to stand on it and bang on our million dollar flat screen TV that his daddy had to have. I've tried yelling, time-outs, pretty much everything I can think of. What does he do? Laughs.

Reason #3: My house is a pit and my son still doesn't have any clean socks.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Another New Addition to the Blog!

Well, if I can ever get the freakin' thing to work. I have created a Flickr account and placed it in the sidebar to your right under "Bonus Pictures." I have wanted to create one for a long time because I wanted to be able to show off ALL of the Aaron photos that I take without having to post them all to Blogger, thus making Blogger very angry. I have only uploaded pictures from Aaron's First Month so far but I plan to upload the best pictures from all his months so you can see them. With Flickr, you can also sign up for an account and order prints directly from the website, if you happen to find a particular photo that you can't live without!

I hope to figure out why it isn't working properly very soon (it's supposed to look a lot cooler than this), but for now you can just click on "what is this?", then "Aaron's Mom" and it will take you to the photos I have uploaded so far. Enjoy!

My Heart is Bursting!

While I was cleaning up the kitchen tonight after dinner, I wondered where my son was because he wasn't underneath my feet "helping" me load the dishwasher like he normally does (such as in the post). I started looking for him, all ready to get my yell on, and found him behind the couch doing this:

Could I be raising a reader?

My Mega Blok Tower is Bigger Than Yours!

So when I started this Blog a little over a year ago, I swore to myself that I wouldn't be one of those parents who post pictures of EVERY LITTLE THING their kid does. "Look, he's bouncing a ball" or "Oh my goodness, would you look at that! He's jumping up and down! Good jumping, Son!" Well, I lied because now we're talking about my kid and I like to show him off, dangit! It's my party and I can be lame if I want to!

Keeping this is mind, take a look at my boy building with his Mega Bloks! His main objective is to build the tallest tower that he can. Unfortunately he really doesn't take architectural design and stability into consideration when developing his masterpieces, so Mommy helps him out by holding the bottom while he stands on his tippy toes to get one last block up there.

It is so awesome to watch the concentration in his eyes and how proud of himself he is when he gets one more block to stay. He literally shutters with excitement. I love it!

A Big Shout-Out from Beigeland...

...from one of the "Blog Chicks."

Oh, and TBPlayer, you were wondering where you could put your pigs? I think they'd do perfectly fine in my backyard. No cars up on blocks, though. They frown on that around here.

Check Out the Jedi-ness!

Yesterday was, of course, Halloween and it was a lot more fun this year due to the fact that Aaron was slightly more aware than last year of what was going on. I say "slightly" because I'm sure all he knew was that he was able to stay up later and play with his friends. Mommy had a great time, though, dressing him up and getting him ready. This year he was Yoda, with a lightsaber and everything. So cool!

We started things off on Monday by participating in the Halloween Parade at the YMCA. Aaron was able to march around the Y collecting candy (for Mommy to eat) and showing off his costume. After the parade, he played in the Toddler Gym with his best friends, Coley and Jalyn, who were cowgirls!

On Halloween night, Aaron and I went to a Halloween party at Lisa's house. We went trick-or-treating around their neighborhood, then came back and let the kids play until it was time to go home and go to bed! It was a great night.

Say It Ain't So!

I read this article on my Yahoo! News page today:

St. Louis ranked most dangerous city

It can't be true!

Quash the Defiance or Support the Independence? That is the Question.

One of my many goals for Aaron right now is to get him down to one nap per day. One reason is pure selfishness - it's really hard to get out of the house and do anything if you have to plan around two naps. The afternoon nap invariably gets skipped because we are out running errands after lunch and get back too late, so now he's gone from about 11:30 a.m., when he woke up from his first nap, until bedtime without any sleep.

A second reason is that I think he sleeps better if I keep him busy in the morning and make him wait until after lunch to nap. I also think he sleeps better at night and, most importantly, later into the morning, thus ending the need for a morning nap.

That sounds all fine and dandy, right? The only problem is if he refuses to take the nap in the afternoon, like today. I laid him down around 2:00 and at 3:15, he was still awake, talking and rolling around. I refused to let him get up, though. I didn't not want to see Toddler Monster at 5:00 p.m. rear it's ugly head because it had not had a nap all day. The moral of the story is this:

This is what I found after I went in and checked on him around 3:3o after not hearing from him for a while. I just don't get it! He was obviously tired. Hello?! He fell asleep sitting up! Why does he fight it? It kills me.

Did I Mention That He's Climbing Now?

So the door to our dishwasher has officially been tested to hold 23 pounds, give or take a few ounces.

Do You Like My New Template?

Yesterday was my one year anniverary as a Blogger and I thought I would shake things up a bit and try out a new look to the ole' Blog. How do you like it? I was so excited when I saw it because it has two of my favorite colors together - light blue and brown. I still have a few kinks to work out that I don't particuarly enjoy but I wanted to get it up and running, so I'll work on those later.

A big thanks to Miss Zoot and her kickin' template designs!

And That's The World Series, Baby!!

Congratulations Cards!!!

Can You Say Catatonic?

What could leave my boy in such a cherub-like, blissfully peaceful state, with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap?

You guessed it - Little Einsteins on the TV.

It's Fun Playing in the Garage!

New Addition to the Blog!

One of my very favorite TV shows in the whole world is Scrubs on NBC. Three other networks are running reruns of it in syndication so I get six episodes recorded everyday thanks to my TiVo! Yahoo! My favorite character on the show is Dr. Perry Cox, played by John C. McGinley. His pessimistic, cynical and all around snarky personality brightens my world every day! Mostly because he actually verbalizes all the things that I wish I could, but don't have the guts to. I think I also like him so much because he reminds me of my husband in about ten years. I thought I would brighten your day too by including a particularly snappy quote from him during his many rants on the show. Check out the sidebar to your right to read them. Enjoy!

Do You Ever Have One Of Those Days...

...where the kids drive you insane? I had one of those today. Aaron and I have been cooped up in this house for the past couple days because it has been cold and rainy outside and I wanted him to get over this massive cold that he's had since the weekend (this cold developed into bronchiolitis, which involved breathing treatments, inhalers and oral steroids. So much fun for me.). I can sense the cabin fever in him because he's been extraordinarily clingy, whiny and just overall bad. Case in point:

What is wrong with this picture? Oh, let me count the ways:

1. He still has his pacifier in his mouth and his blankie at his side. The only place that he should have these two items in his possession is in his bed. However, when he woke up from his nap and I tried to take said items from him, he SCREAMED bloody murder. And you know, it's just that kind of day where it's much easier for me to let him be bad than fight it. You know what I'm talking about. You've had those days and you know it.
2. He is playing in our shower.
3. Even though our shower is relatively clean, it still grosses Mommy out so much that he has the blankie that he sleeps with at night in the shower with him that I have to immediately throw it in the hamper and get him a new, clean one to drag around the house.
4. Why must he always pull his socks off?

I have to love him, right?

Daddy's Alma Mater

Burkburnett, Texas, that is. Of course, you know the first place we're going when we get to Missouri in a few weeks is Key Sport to get some ROLLA Bulldog wear. Oh yeah! There's WAY too much Texas pride in this house as it is!

Fair Weather Baseball Fan

YEAH BABY!! GO CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!

A Very, VERY Good Day

Today Aaron actually let me work out for a whole hour without sending the nice ladies in the YMCA nursery to come get me because he was too hysterical to stay in there. We have not been having a very good time in the nursery over the past few weeks and I had given up hope of going all together. This week, however, I have been extremely restless for some reason with the idea that I needed to SWEAT! I guess I've had too much couch and TiVo time and my body was telling me to get up off my butt. So I decided to brave the nursery again and just crossed my fingers the whole time that I wouldn't hear a tiny voice behind me saying, "Um, are you Aaron's mom?" I'm pretty sure they have to hold him the whole time or he cries, but, man, the jogging was SO worth the guilt.

I hope I haven't just jinxed myself because we're going to try again on Thursday. Pray for us!

My Big Helper

Now if I can just keep him from wielding the broom like a lightsaber and knocking a hole in the T.V., we might have something here!

Don't worry, Daddy. Your precious is just fine.

We Have a New Blogger in the Family!

Bill's cousin Kris has just let me know that she too has her own Blog now! Apparently she was trying to comment on mine and ended up having to create her own (I hear that happens a lot. Sorry about that!). She said that she is going to keep it going, though, so be sure and check it out!

http://www.washingtonwithers.blogspot.com/

I Can Make Myself Giggle!

A few months ago, I wrote this post about the cork gun that Grandma and Grandpa Q bought for Aaron while we were in San Antonio. He got huge giggles out of it, but only if Mommy and Daddy were playing with it. Well, in yet another way that he is impressing me everyday, he has learned to operate the cork gun himself and crack himself up! My only concern now is that he doesn't pop Reagan (or me!) in the behind when he's playing with it. I guess that's when the whole "parenting" thing kicks in and I'm supposed to say something like, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!" I hate being the party pooper.

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We Miss Daddy

Today Daddy left for a few weeks to go learn how to fly a smaller, faster airplane than he's used to (hopefully his landings will become "good" this time, rather than just "safe." he he). Yesterday we went down to the park and had some fun outside time since I'm sure the nice weather we have been having is not going to last for very much longer. We miss Daddy already and can't wait for him to come home!

Just Call Me "Beelzebub"

This is an evil, evil boy. One of his new favorite toys is the cordless phone in our bedroom (unplugged, of course, so he doesn't call China). You can change the ringtone pretty easily by pushing the buttons on the front and when he does this, it drives Reagan crazy! So Reagan gets going and it makes Aaron laugh even harder! Check out the video below of him torturing her. It's a little dark but you really only need the sound to get the idea.

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This is a Sad, Traumatized Little Puppy

My poor Reagan got put through the ringer today at the vet. The vet tech tried to give her the Bordatella vaccine for Kennel Cough, which I was all for since she got it last year and it was an injection. Apparently this year, however, they were out of the injectable kind and only had the intra-nasal kind. Hello?! She's a pug! How much of a sadist are you to make a pug snort anything up her nose! We actually had to walk out of there without the vaccine because between me, the vet tech and the vet, we could not hold her still long enough to shoot it up her nose. We were sent on our merry way with the recommendation, "Yeah, you might try Petsmart. They might have the injection." I love the military.

I Am My Father's Son

Here is Aaron gnawing on Daddy's most favorite thing in the whole world - bacon! I mean, we almost named Reagan "Bacon", that's how bad it is. I love bacon, too, but I do not like what it does to my thighs, so there you go. Our son is definitely a carnivore, though, so it's all good!

Fall is in the Air!

Lisa and I took the kiddos and the daddys and made our annual trip to a pumpkin patch so that we could take some fall pictures. We were also super-jealous of Arlene's post about taking her little ones to a pumpkin patch so this also motivated us! Last year we took the kids to a local farmers' market to take pictures with the pumpkins but this year, Lisa found an awesome farm that had all different kinds of pumpkins and gourds, a corn maze and a mini petting zoo!

I was having a little trouble at first getting good pictures of Aaron because all he wanted to do was walk around and check stuff out!

Walking...


Following Jalyn to see what fun stuff she's been up to...


More walking and not looking at the camera...


Too busy, Mom!


High-steppin' it!


After he was able to check everything out, I was finally able to get some good pictures:

I love pumpkins!


Best friends, Jalyn and Aaron

Look how tall I am! (Poor Coley wasn't in the mood for the picture-taking at this particular moment!)

Picture perfect fall!


Pickin' out my own pumpkin. Decisions, decisions!


Cheesin' for Lisa...

I can't believe how much he's changed since last year at this time. Take a look at a couple of the photos I took at the farmers' market last October:

He's such a big boy now!

Case No. 1001: Staci vs. BAD GIRL REAGAN

Exhibit 1:

Reagan in favorite sleeping spot: underneath the covers on Bill and Staci's bed.


Exhibit 2:

No visuals for this one, but just know that Staci had just given Reagan a bath SECONDS earlier so she is still very, very moist.

Exhibit 3:

Reagan coming up for air but still laying on aforementioned bed. The fur dampness can now be viewed.


Verdict:

This is a very bad dog.

Victim Impact Statement:

With the blankets, sheets and mattress cover thoroughly washed, I think I can go on to become a functioning, productive member of society.