K'isms and such

One of the things I want to be sure to remember are all the funny little sayings my kids have. K used to sing, "Row, row, row your butt..." instead of boat which cracked us up! Here are some I want to make sure I don't forget!

She got her very first Barbie for Christmas. While she can fully pronounce "bob, boat, bubble, etc.", she calls her Barbie "Garvey." We don't know anyone named Garvey, but she says it like she has forgotten how the letter "b" sounds. ;)

She often calls us "mama bear" or "papa bear"

She is in L-O-V-E with all things Winnie the Pooh. When talking about Eyore, she says "Eee. (pause) Ohhh."

I bought some Fruit Loops to make sugary cookies for a church bake sale last week. I ended up with a stomach bug so didn't think making baked goods to share with the public was such a good idea. So K has been happy to eat some sugary cereal in the mornings, and calls them "my yoops, my yoops!" She typically chooses to eat "Yife ce-we-uhl" (Life cereal for those less experienced with K-ese)

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On a separate note, J is babbling up a storm. His second tooth has broken through and he sits up now! Big boy! I'm not sure he'll ever learn to crawl as he still hates being on his belly for more than a minute or two, but he might be that kid who just stands up and walks one day! He fights sleep like crazy during the day and his last effort at staying awake includes him laying in bed with his eyes closed and opening and closing his mouth saying "Eye eye eye" like he's chewing gum. Sooo funny! Thankfully, he still sleeps through the night and both kids are in bed asleep by 8:30 pm. They get up between 6:30 and 7:00 am.

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On ANOTHER separate note, Barack is coming to Bloomington tonight! I am trying to find childcare so that I can make sure I get there in plenty of time to get a decent seat! I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for him to come speak here, so am VERY excited! Go Obama!

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Oh, and Helga (what I named our bat) has gone missing. Apparently, she has taken lessons from the other neighbors and now chooses to ignore us too. ho hum

Neighbors

So, as you can imagine one of the biggest changes for us at "the new house" is the loss of our dear neighbors. We always knew it would be a big adjustment, as the fact that we met/got along with so many very close neighbors immediately next to us, was a fluke and not typical of most streets. With the weather being so nice out, these days the adjustment is particularly hard, as most days like we've had lately we would be outside enjoying the evening with our neighbors.

Our new neighborhood has a few young people, but not kids as young as our's and while they are out playing some, we mostly can hear them but not see them. We live at the very beginning of the neighborhood so any "playing" that is occuring back in the other parts of the neighborhood we are not privy to.

Most of our neighbors are older, retired professors, and apparently from the music department. In the house across the street, lives an older retiree with his wife who has Alzheimer's. Every morning, as their home health aides arrive, Mr. comes out in his robe singing like an Italian gondoleer (?) man. Very beautiful. Very sweet. But, we've never met them. And they are likely in there 80's.

I have met the neighborhood "nosey nose" as she walks in the afternoons and sometimes stops in if we happen to be in the front yard (which is about never). She has filled me in about the history of our house, our neighbors and the whys/hows of people who have lived in this neighborhood over the past 40 years. She has lived here since the neighborhood began so really can go on and on.

I've seen the people directly next door out several times, while the kids and I have been outside playing, but they never say anything to me. Ever. D met her briefly and she said to him no less than twice, "we are all friendly here, but we keep to ourselves." Then, he met the husband later and he said, "we are all friendly here, but we keep to ourselves." Okay people! We get the not-so-subtle hint. We won't be sharing bundt cake and coffee in the mornings while the kids frolic in the back yard. Sheesh.

On the other side of us, is another retired couple. They have instrumental music coming from their open windows at times, which is pleasant to hear. They have a son in college who was home a few weekends ago, who for some reason kept walking through our backyard for unknown reason. Never met them either.

This is getting long isn't it? The other day, D was putting the kids in the car and another couple was walking by. Yep, older, retired. D (being way more social than typical) said hello and walked down to chat briefly. I, bound and determined to actually MEET a neighbor, ran out the door carrying J to meet them. I said hello and introduced myself and J and the woman, no kidding- said, "How much did you pay for this house?" Yeah, my jaw hit the ground too. Uh....what? She then went on about how her son was living on the east coast and was looking to buy a house here. Well. People, we all know that real estate on the east coast is at least double what it is here, so I am sure he will be pleasantly surprised by the houses here. (Even though our market sucks and I think we pay wayyyyy too much for houses here) Regardless, who asks such a question? Of a person you don't even know????? OMG

So, here are pics of our most recent neighbor. He has taken up shack in the vent at the top of our garage and creeeeeeps me out. Can you see him? Think: BAT. I have nightmares about him. But honestly, he is the friendliest one I've seen thus far. He keeps to himself too- but I don't mind.

Actin' a fool

What is it about babies that makes us lose all inhibition?

Sadness

I hate to be a bummer, but need somewhere to express this, so feel free not to read on. I found out late this afternoon that my ex-step nephew died. He was just a young man in his early twenties. It's a strange thing. Divorce. Death. What is the proper protocol here?

My father is divorced. His ex wife, has a son, who married a woman, who had two children from a previous relationship. He is one of the children....but all grown up. I remember this young man as a young boy, early teen, goofy,laughing, forever smiling. Joking around with everyone. Clearly adoring his younger sister. I have not stayed in touch with them since my father and their grandmother divorced. Well, I have talked with his sister via Myspace in the past. She is in the Air Force and makes me beam with pride when I think about that. (Go girl!)

This young man had ongoing health issues since early childhood and I remember hearing about him being hospitalized not long ago. One always assumes people will recover/get better/ go back to their lives.

I don't know the circumstances of his death. I just know that he died. It makes me sad. And I'm not sure why I feel guilty about feeling sad? Maybe, guilty for losing touch with this young man, who was family for several years. Does anyone ever really stop being family? Divorce is such a strange thing. Sides seem to be chosen, indirect contact takes the place of direct contact. Now he is gone. I am so sad for his mother, his father, his Grandmother, and most of all, his baby sister. They were as close as any two sibilings I ever saw.

This is random, run-on, tangential, choppy . I know this. It is how I feel right now. Random, run-on/run-over, tangential, choppy. And sad.

Rest in peace Kevin.

New blog

Hey everyone! D (my hubby) just started his own blog! Check out his site on my blog roll... It's "cooking with kids". Be nice and supportive and encourage him to post more! We can't have too many dad/husband/man blogs out there to read!

Six months

How in the world can J be six months old already? Was it just six months ago that I was laying in the hospital bed and wishing we were home? Six months, a new house, and 10 pounds later here we are!

His six month check up indicated he was healthy, strong, and active! (Am I suprised, well no! And neither are you if you have been around him at all lately!)

He is 27 inches long (75%)
and weighs 17.4 pounds (50%).

He is in 6-9 month clothes, although when I buy him things, I buy him 9 months now. His eyes are still bright blue and seem to be turning into Daddy's shade of blue/green/gray, depending on what he wears. He is rolling over from belly to back and is working on sitting up. His first two bottom teeth are seconds away from breaking through (oh please LORD!) He has been eating rice cereal for over a month and will start his journey to baby food this weekend. Come on sweet potatoes!