tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65694695953071094792024-03-05T03:57:46.066-06:00Our Many Colored MomentsAlicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-78883297051218056092013-03-29T20:21:00.000-05:002013-03-29T20:21:18.114-05:00guest post: But I Never Learned How to Read<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>The husband blogs for me again. :) - Alicia</i> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It's the hubs again! The
wife hasn't blogged much lately, so here I stand. Or write. Or ramble. Your
call. "Why hasn't she blogged recently?" you may ask, take your
choice:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">1) Her fragile mind has
broken, and she currently believes herself to be an elephant in search of a
herd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">2) Inspired by The Amazing
Race, she is currently in Zimbabwe hunting down Phil Keoghan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">3) She's decided to spend
the rest of her pregnancy in a Michael Jackson inspired sensory deprivation
chamber.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">4) She's extremely tired
and busy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">At least one of the above
is totally true. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">So, here I am once again! Prepare
for a magical journey of self-discovery, enlightenment, and possibly a few
lemur-knife-fights. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Or maybe I'll talk about
books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Lemur-knife-fight books.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I have been reading to
Grayson since he was about -3 months. I read him <i>The Hobbit</i> through Mama's
tummy right about when she hit the 3rd trimester, and never stopped. I read to
him every night, and it's one of my favorite times of day... just the two of
us, rocking in a chair. Him on my lap, turning pages... It's calm, lovely bond-y
time for Daddy & son. Yeah, I hear you out there... "awwwww"...
damn right. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">For the first year or so it
was nothing but Little Golden Books and Disney books and the like, but starting
a little after he turned 1, I starting reading one kid's book and a few pages
of a real book a night. Generally, G loves it. Sometimes he's not in the mood. Sometimes
he just demands stories about lemur-knife-fights. Strange kid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Some books go over better
than others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">So, here we go. Grayson's
book list. All the (real) books that I've read him over the past year and a
half or so, bit by bit, and how they go over for a tiny child. My review, and
G's review. In the order in which I read them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Ladies and gentlemen, I
present to you:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Grayson's Book Review</b>!</span>
(with some help from Daddy!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I hope I get his portion
right... It's hard to read his handwriting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Hobbit</u></span> - J.R.R. Tolkien
(do I really have to tell you that? Shame on you.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy says</b><i>:</i> This was the
first book I ever read him (twice). Once in the womb, and his first real book.
I love <i>The Hobbit</i>. It's probably the book I've read the most during my life
(except maybe <i>The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy</i>), with at least 20 times. Fun
trivia fact: I used to be completely fluent in Tolkien's runic language, and
did a massive English project in high school where I wrote out Kili's journal, spanning
the entire book, all completely in runic. Think I got an A? Hell yeah I got an
A. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson says</b><i>:</i> I love this
book! I never wanted Daddy to stop reading it, except maybe during those long,
boring descriptions that seemed to go on forever and ever and.... zzzzzz... What?
Oh. Hi! I also loved all the funny voices Daddy did when the dwarves and
Gandalf and goblins were talking. I give it 2 pacis up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Socks</u></span> - Beverly Cleary</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy says:</b> My own
childhood favorite. The book that I would read to myself when I was sick and
stayed home from school. Or when I was fake sick and stayed home from school. I
still tear up at the end. For those that don't know it, it's about a cat that
has to deal with a new baby in the house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says:</b> Kitty! I love
kitties. This book has pictures in it too, and the pictures always have a kitty
in them. I liked this book. It was about a kitty, and really, what more do you
need? All the best books have kitties, right? War and Peace is about mad<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>kitties... Les Miserables is about grumpy
kitties. See? I give it two kitties up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</span></u>
- L Frank Baum</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy Says:</b> Wow, I've never
read the real story before. This is not the movie. It's a neat book, and I
enjoyed it. I thought it was a little inappropriate that the wizard turned the
cowardly lion into a rug at the end, though...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says:</b> Meh. I didn't
really get it, though I liked making monkey sounds during all the flying monkey
scenes, and man there were a lot of monkey scenes! It had nice pictures in it,
and on almost every page, too. Did I mention the monkeys? Two monkeys up!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Odd And The Frost Giants</u></span> -
Neil Gaiman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy Says:</b> I love me some
Neil Gaiman. Odd was a cute book, very Gaiman. In case you don't know it, it's
about a boy that joins Odin, Thor, and Loki (who are all trapped in animal
bodies)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in a quest to save Asgard from a
Frost Giant. I'm a sucker for Norse mythology, and this was done very well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says:</b> There were a
lot of people talking in this book, which I like. Daddy had to make screeching
birdy sounds a lot, which was funny. It was an okay book, but I never asked
Daddy to keep reading. One toe up. Which is hard to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Phantom Tollbooth</u></span> -
Norton Juster</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy Says:</b> This book was a
chore to get through. It's like an English major vomited into a typewriter. No
offense to English majors out there. Did you know I'm married to one? She hit
me when she proofread this blog. Sure, there are tons of puns (which I love), but
not even good ones. It's all just constant wordplay and stretches of usage, and
after a chapter or two of reading aloud five characters that constantly yell
single words at each other... it's all just too much. No.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says: </b>What? I
didn't really get this book. Sure, it had a dog that sounded like Jake from
Adventure Time, but too many weird words and concepts that I just don't get.
Plus Daddy kept muttering things like "well that's offensive," and
"wow that's outdated" all the time. There wasn't even a ghost in it.
Some phantom. Though I think everyone died in the end... at least that's what
Daddy said would make it better. Zero sippies up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Peter Pan</span></u> - J.M. Barrie</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy Says:</b> Another book
that is just so different from what we're familiar with. Ok, maybe not Wizard
of Oz different, but MAN Tinker Bell is a bitch. Rather short, but I love the
real Hook and Smee. Proper pirate bastards them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says:</b> Lots of
talking and kid voices from Daddy, yay! There were fights and pirates (I love
pirates) and fairies and pirates and mermaids and pirates and indians (that was
what they were called in the book, anyway...) and pirates! The pirates all died
in the end, which wasn't good. I wanted the pirates to win. I give it two
pirates up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Graveyard Book</span></u> - Neil
Gaiman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Daddy Says:</b> Another book
that I actually read to him in the womb as well as outside of it. We're
currently in the middle of this book, and it's a favorite of mine... Okay,
anything Gaiman is pretty much a favorite of mine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Grayson Says:</b> I like all
the old ghosts and characters. There's lots of talking and fun action. And
werewolves and vampires and ghosts and pirates and... oh wait, no pirates?
Unless they're ghosts. Ghost pirates! Boo! Arrrrr! Booarrrr! Two booarrrr's up!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">So what's next? I'm tempted
to read him the entire Harry Potter series. Yes, the last book or two are a bit
harsh, but I think he'd enjoy them... other than the quidditch<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>matches, which would be description heavy. It
would take a while, too... but I'm not against that. Lord of the Rings would be
a bit advanced for a 3 year old, don't you think? Game of Thrones is right up
his alley... Or maybe he should watch the show first. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I will read to him has long
as he lets me. I don't know how I'm going to juggle reading to G and Evie, but
I'll manage. I wonder if someday, when they're old enough, they might gather to
me together at night and I can read to the both of them at once. Ah dreams. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I hear you
"awwww"ing out there again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Stop it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm off to read <i>The Hobbit</i>
to my wife's belly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-26698069744847669992013-02-15T20:32:00.001-06:002013-02-15T20:32:30.706-06:005 love letters: dear baby #2This week, I'm writing to my five children: my toddler Grayson, my three
miscarriages, and the little girl nestled in my belly.<br />
<br />
Today is the one year anniversary of the day we learned we had lost our first baby. I don't really want to rehash that time, about how we walked into a routine OB appointment and the silence that followed as she tried to find the baby's heartbeat. About the D&C and my postpartum anxiety that followed in the months after. If you want to read about it, <a href="http://manycoloredmoments.blogspot.com/2012/02/grief.html">here</a> is a good place to start.<br />
<br />
Today, I want to write that baby a love letter.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidECAcDQEnodYY7JDB0dfRySlpuBA5nNX12ZWTHgbvz7WJjcdEQUM4dCLilKWMb2sSL2lFYUA8Y9c09sZAwcvPLnolRkA2_EWgxQwu5PXonuDHkRmdKbp6QbOpH8pXRgs8l69PWt0kUTk/s1600/belly10wks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidECAcDQEnodYY7JDB0dfRySlpuBA5nNX12ZWTHgbvz7WJjcdEQUM4dCLilKWMb2sSL2lFYUA8Y9c09sZAwcvPLnolRkA2_EWgxQwu5PXonuDHkRmdKbp6QbOpH8pXRgs8l69PWt0kUTk/s400/belly10wks.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 weeks pregnant with baby #2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-0l64ey_Om9isRcjBEFU3BZADyh6QZoS50386vTYx8So7g06xSTzxzsIPB-tI1_My3ikytv35PZ_JxvtiQYTQmwN1kWXbvs_vH9mFbnI-yW9LEBmB7lPOUg1CUEzmISAo8LNMMstlXg/s1600/edit2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-0l64ey_Om9isRcjBEFU3BZADyh6QZoS50386vTYx8So7g06xSTzxzsIPB-tI1_My3ikytv35PZ_JxvtiQYTQmwN1kWXbvs_vH9mFbnI-yW9LEBmB7lPOUg1CUEzmISAo8LNMMstlXg/s320/edit2.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Dear baby #2,<br />
<br />
I'm sorry you don't have a name. We never found out if you were a boy or a girl, just like we never found out exactly what happened to you. I have a lot of regrets about that, but I do know that for 14 weeks, I carried you inside of me. I held you close and loved you hard, and I can't wait to see you again.<br />
<br />
You changed my life forever. I know that the time I spent with you is overshadowed by losing you and the months that have followed after. I might think about how difficult it was to lose you more than how happy I was when I had you. But I want you to know that the experience of you is so precious to me. I'm forever changed by having you, and I hope to always make those changes as positive as possible.<br />
<br />
I wish I could have seen you other than on ultrasound. More than anything, I wish I could have held you. I had dreams about you for a long time, and while those dreams have faded, the want of you is still there. You should be six months old by now.<br />
<br />
I hope you realize that this baby girl is not your replacement. No matter what, you are our second child, our baby #2, the one we first tried to have. You'll always have a place in our family, and when your siblings are old enough, we'll share your story.<br />
<br />
You'll always be my baby.<br />
<br />
love,<br />
mamaAlicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-37393242152667503092013-02-14T20:54:00.000-06:002013-02-14T20:59:38.311-06:005 love letters: dear GraysonThis week, I'm writing to my five children: my toddler Grayson, my three miscarriages, and the little girl nestled in my belly. The one year anniversary of our first miscarriage is the day after Valentine's Day, and while I'm remembering all the terrible things we've gone through in the past year, I also want to celebrate my love for my children.<br />
<br />
Dear Grayson,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT5rEugoxSzOAJRxRGDzpbt6GXdqZblzAjtRv_ks3Gr85GS44p0OEvbdbCbJFREFRT_maOtGcWAs5V0RP_14yPyMr8cbkl8voCDGtLqZOwu3qa8PwFS5nHhqcz2eFuJgFja4QjMblRbo/s1600/bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT5rEugoxSzOAJRxRGDzpbt6GXdqZblzAjtRv_ks3Gr85GS44p0OEvbdbCbJFREFRT_maOtGcWAs5V0RP_14yPyMr8cbkl8voCDGtLqZOwu3qa8PwFS5nHhqcz2eFuJgFja4QjMblRbo/s640/bath.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Before I say anything else, I want to say this: I am so, so <i>proud of you.</i><br />
<br />
The past year has been very hard for all of us, and I know you're too young to understand any of it. Your parents have been preoccupied with trying to make you a sibling. On the days when I've been too sad to focus on much of anything, or too sick to do anything but hold you, or too tired from being pregnant (yet again) that we can't go somewhere fun, you handle it with a grace beyond your two and a half years. I've had to take you to many doctor's visits with just the two of us, and you've just sat back and watched with such patience. When I say, I need to sit on the couch for a moment, you say, okay, here's a toy we can play sitting down. You love when we go outside or to the mall, but you don't complain when we don't.<br />
<br />
I know I'm not always the best mama for you, but I also know these moments are so temporary. I'm so very proud of how you've handled everything. There are moments from the past year I'll never forget. When I came home from my D&C, you plopped yourself into my lap and seemed so concerned about the hospital bracelet on my right wrist and the IV bandage on my left. I love holding your hand as we ride the escalator up and down, and I get tickled every time you stop to dance to music coming out of a store.<br />
<br />
Today, you ran over to me, wrapped your arms around my waist, kissed my belly, and said, "Baby!" I can't wait to see you as a big brother. You've been so gentle with my belly, and I rarely have to remind you. I know your patience will translate well, and you'll be able to deal with your sister not being able to run around with you for a while.<br />
<br />
A year ago today, you bent down to pick up your sippy and split open your eyelid on the coffee table. We spent all of Valentine's Day evening at the emergency room, wondering if we'd have to put you to sleep to stitch up your cut. Luckily, we didn't, but you still sport the scar. Last night, we heard a large bang and then the sounds of you crying. You had somehow fallen out of your crib for the first time, and we were so relieved you weren't hurt! We immediately changed your crib to a toddler bed, and you've dealt with the transition as well as we could have hoped. When you're ready to come out of your room in the morning or after a nap, you knock politely on your door. It's so cute and so very you.<br />
<br />
I know we're still dealing with your speech delay. It pains me because I often feel like I failed you somewhere. You did so well with your therapy last year, and I hope we can start some more in a few months. You're trying so hard to talk nowadays, and you say new words all the time. Sometimes I can really tell it's difficult for you, that you have to stop and think about it. You're so smart and obsessed with the alphabet and with counting, so I can't wait to see what your little brain will come up with once you can express your thoughts more often.<br />
<br />
The past year has been a very difficult one, and through it all, you've been my constant, my rock. I love to hold you close and breathe in the smell of your hair, the smell that's always been yours. You've helped me get through our losses more than you'll ever know, and I often wonder if I could've done it without seeing your smiling face every day. Having you depend on me certainly helped me focus on daily life and kept me going.<br />
<br />
When you're older and can understand, I'd like to say thank you for being my child. It might seem weird to say that - I mean, it's not like you have much of a choice. Of course you have your tantrum moments, and there are times when I want to throw my hands in the air and walk away; you are two after all. I hate having to put you in time out, and I'm as miserable about it as you look. Some days we're both ready for Daddy to come home so we can take a break!<br />
<br />
However, when you call "Mama" from the other room, and I'm the one who gets to answer, I really feel as though I'm the luckiest woman in the world.<br />
<br />
You'll always be my cuddlebug, my babycake. Even when you're too big to fit in my lap.<br />
<br />
Love you bunches and always,<br />
<br />
your mama<br />
<br />Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-697407078255247392013-02-02T20:33:00.000-06:002013-02-02T20:33:45.231-06:00kid versus snow, take twoWe weren't expecting snow on the ground this morning (and neither was the weatherman). But we thought it was a great opportunity to suit up the little one and shove him outside for his first real snow experience.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01LuVwpT0-r55qgi9RfuT3EOsL3PFwtHMshaR9273UYqvjjwMm88MlmfishFA6vvWPtOZlULIbV9LqpizsjKwFgiIzoqPGYNATp9V-nT8joAoolGxbicHw-YgXpa6CC_RLGVhNh6r2pw/s1600/snow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01LuVwpT0-r55qgi9RfuT3EOsL3PFwtHMshaR9273UYqvjjwMm88MlmfishFA6vvWPtOZlULIbV9LqpizsjKwFgiIzoqPGYNATp9V-nT8joAoolGxbicHw-YgXpa6CC_RLGVhNh6r2pw/s640/snow4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvobDG9TNtyrk9BwQzMQlqF8WTVwo9iJ0JbvJJ6LgH71PHKnVuMBR2YeQMwOKvLZXvyzf8bisI4gvP1gljtrcAluwi9fFPXNHyv_fVWb2Y_Mq4DF694R12kFQpYkwHB282AjqF8xlE5c/s1600/snow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvobDG9TNtyrk9BwQzMQlqF8WTVwo9iJ0JbvJJ6LgH71PHKnVuMBR2YeQMwOKvLZXvyzf8bisI4gvP1gljtrcAluwi9fFPXNHyv_fVWb2Y_Mq4DF694R12kFQpYkwHB282AjqF8xlE5c/s640/snow5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
He didn't do much besides walk around and knock the snow off our cars. We tried to convince him to do a snow angel, but that just resulted in a very wet Dave. G also thought it was funny when I threw snowballs at him, but I couldn't convince him to throw any back. Ah, well. At least he touched the stuff. With one hand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFMFdeJSfHc4xW_AEvnhHziSemwNx5Wlq9RdQK-8EHk74Ui3eXKe8eZDWE2MBVjUDn4knz4RILesU8m3KHLoNO-6miiL1pj_ivKg2VlTP_QBcsXFAd0-NE6fC2jorzFXse0LEj-DWMO8/s1600/snow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFMFdeJSfHc4xW_AEvnhHziSemwNx5Wlq9RdQK-8EHk74Ui3eXKe8eZDWE2MBVjUDn4knz4RILesU8m3KHLoNO-6miiL1pj_ivKg2VlTP_QBcsXFAd0-NE6fC2jorzFXse0LEj-DWMO8/s640/snow1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlhnciH8ETaDxCQd76snERCZwhwxOdk-7jZ5qwHMIIp3cMaVvHw_-2gRSZSBHTk1MM42LBw1UrGwcg0cjr0FtbCPNBM4KVfzulp3lVDDcTdPCtZEeL97jmiE1iOtjcEBB48Dzpz4XTGU/s1600/snow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlhnciH8ETaDxCQd76snERCZwhwxOdk-7jZ5qwHMIIp3cMaVvHw_-2gRSZSBHTk1MM42LBw1UrGwcg0cjr0FtbCPNBM4KVfzulp3lVDDcTdPCtZEeL97jmiE1iOtjcEBB48Dzpz4XTGU/s640/snow2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
He wasn't too amused when it stuck to his glove, though.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK657jDMvNC9W-_nYvTdw8Iaq0B7WO_WVqiEUnyJvQECGuA-H0-OwHSEIU4jSMqfCojboW_F8jpJsPju4UsGhv50ggQeHkWSbz3YpsYXFyqr8FyzH-OE8ZLWtY4dytNXcuRkIsiVgoJk/s1600/snow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK657jDMvNC9W-_nYvTdw8Iaq0B7WO_WVqiEUnyJvQECGuA-H0-OwHSEIU4jSMqfCojboW_F8jpJsPju4UsGhv50ggQeHkWSbz3YpsYXFyqr8FyzH-OE8ZLWtY4dytNXcuRkIsiVgoJk/s640/snow3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't get it, Mama. Wasn't the big deal?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He fell down at one point, and then promptly decided he was done with the snow. Maybe he'll loosen up about it next winter, if we're lucky enough to get anything.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-14481790277227837172013-01-18T20:41:00.000-06:002013-01-18T20:45:43.073-06:00baby talkI knew getting into this pregnancy that it was going to be complicated. Along with seeing my regular OB, I'm seeing a variety of doctors at a maternal fetal medicine clinic. This means that going a week without seeing a doctor is rare. While seeing the baby so often has helped calmed my fears, it does mean the doctors bills are starting to pile up.<br />
<br />
When I last talked about the pregnancy, I was only a few months along. Here's a summary of what's happened since then.<br />
<ul>
<li>At an 11 week ultrasound, they discovered that the baby had a <b>thicker nuchal neck fold</b> than normal. We went off for Sequenom bloodwork testing on me and scheduled a NT scan for the following week.</li>
<li>The next week, at the NT scan, the nuchal folds actually looked<b> normal</b>. What a relief! But it did mean that we had spent that last week panicking. Our bloodwork also came back normal, but MFM wasn't ruling out a heart problem.</li>
<li>Oh yeah, and by the way, MFM told me I need to be doing <b>vaginal ultrasounds</b> every other week to check on my cervix. Because of a cervical biopsy I had done back in 2006 and because of my D&C last February for my first miscarriage, they wanted to keep an eye on my cervix. I've got two more scans to go before they let it go, but so far, my cervix has been long and closed. Woo.</li>
<li>At a 14 week ultrasound, the ultrasound tech <i>thought</i> she might know the sex of the baby. She didn't want to call it but she told me her call. Then, a few days later, a different tech told me she knew <i>for sure</i> the sex. Another scan a few weeks later told us the same info, so at that point, we were pretty sure that <b>we're having a GIRL!</b></li>
<li>Cue our 20 week ultrasound, which takes forever and consists of over 100 images of baby girl's heart. <b>Her heart is perfect</b>, and in fact, the technicians and doctors love her heart so much that they're going to use her in a study they're doing. We're so relieved that all the drama about her development is finally behind us.</li>
<li>At our 22 week cervical check-up a few days ago, during which we find my cervix is still long and closed, we see that she's still breech. Baby girl's shown up <b>breech</b> in every ultrasound since she was large enough to start noticing. Everyone reassures me that she has plenty of time to turn around and stay turned around, but certainly I'm a little nervous about it.</li>
</ul>
And that's about it!<br />
<br />
Oh, I guess I forgot to mention some of the biggest news, beyond the fact that we're a girl.<br />
<br />
We've named her! But you'll have to wait for that news. Because I'm mean like that. <br />
<ul>
</ul>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-47901410572671366052013-01-08T20:43:00.002-06:002013-01-08T20:43:57.973-06:00no good excuses, reallyI'm alllliiiiiiive.<br />
<br />
Okay, it's been a seriously long time since I blogged. I could give you a whole host of reasons why I just haven't picked up the computer in the past almost two months.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I ran into end-of-the-semester business consisting of finals, grading, and a rush to finish my own classwork. </li>
<li>The holidays wiped me out and I spent most of my free time sleeping.</li>
<li>As suggested above, this pregnancy has wiped me out. I spend G's naps getting a nap of my own, and I go to bed at 9:30.</li>
</ol>
Honestly, it's more likely that I just haven't known what to write about. I have a ton of things happening in my life right now, almost all positive, yet I've got a writing funk. I just haven't felt like dealing in writing with hosts of issues we've faced, from issues with the baby to Grayson's speech therapy. We spent the last couple of months unsure if we were going to be able to keep the little life inside of me. And, well, here is a picture of me as of a few days ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJW7Hbdv2_xPfVmYY1NucmR1F48Rx2Co3XdIweonWngTn7Ad9Q5o-tOvtnkjXUyPaqcxq9nTvEbYKDQ4ZlYHUFM4rwThyphenhyphen-w0DuY-XNv2uKrOrX4zEMDh94vgLI6VIi0tp6LVRYXc0lK4/s1600/2013-01-04_1357308522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJW7Hbdv2_xPfVmYY1NucmR1F48Rx2Co3XdIweonWngTn7Ad9Q5o-tOvtnkjXUyPaqcxq9nTvEbYKDQ4ZlYHUFM4rwThyphenhyphen-w0DuY-XNv2uKrOrX4zEMDh94vgLI6VIi0tp6LVRYXc0lK4/s320/2013-01-04_1357308522.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_299715824"></span><span id="goog_299715825"></span><br />
<span id="goog_299715824"></span><span id="goog_299715825"></span>That's me 20 weeks pregnant. Yeah, I can't quite believe it myself either. I'll post more later this week about our baby, including if it's a boy or a girl (we know!), and the struggles we've faced. I promise I'll play catch up on our lives!<br />
<br />
For now, here's a few pictures from Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
G and my mom. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz85NHihtniTuP2iYLSDLEpAJjyFf8o6b8G6NawcZXcLYZWNh5XApoAKXmHnDD8GSF8iYVOZD7VBnqSyvNB8nrjCsO8HXgVB39cZUK-udfuiM2M_AqzE-rug_7E_VOXVdv4AUBzESdZP0/s1600/edit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz85NHihtniTuP2iYLSDLEpAJjyFf8o6b8G6NawcZXcLYZWNh5XApoAKXmHnDD8GSF8iYVOZD7VBnqSyvNB8nrjCsO8HXgVB39cZUK-udfuiM2M_AqzE-rug_7E_VOXVdv4AUBzESdZP0/s640/edit1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
G and his great-Granny. This picture cracks me up so hard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCvrpsQAv6lkKW1h6EEw0qSkeXCStX1yjH9CmfjmIMxztbJeVJLPFEr_EXzn10a2D6gDUJn8zmzXUtcV_YLT_pStF6WdS9Zbsvfc6kzwdlIHzBxsVl8EX_KgneczqRmVt-EFsbOaUrCY/s1600/edit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCvrpsQAv6lkKW1h6EEw0qSkeXCStX1yjH9CmfjmIMxztbJeVJLPFEr_EXzn10a2D6gDUJn8zmzXUtcV_YLT_pStF6WdS9Zbsvfc6kzwdlIHzBxsVl8EX_KgneczqRmVt-EFsbOaUrCY/s640/edit3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And finally, a gorgeous picture of my Granny, laughing it up. I hope these pictures make her smile. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sypgwvD9_y7cUk4DFnRg1mKbm3zu4pKTtEXhzUMpFHsswd_wXozhO5yQ-WlTtd7CkLSuzgFhUsnrgBiOLiVjYFyj1MxlJSlgaRG7Ye8pbLje1qe2d8AMFsR1qYYRhc_7dykj4BpHV18/s1600/edit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sypgwvD9_y7cUk4DFnRg1mKbm3zu4pKTtEXhzUMpFHsswd_wXozhO5yQ-WlTtd7CkLSuzgFhUsnrgBiOLiVjYFyj1MxlJSlgaRG7Ye8pbLje1qe2d8AMFsR1qYYRhc_7dykj4BpHV18/s640/edit2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
More to come soon!Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-10951112549840414952012-11-19T20:38:00.000-06:002012-11-19T20:38:31.635-06:00wishin' and prayin' and hopin'It's been a <i>crazy</i> month. I know I've been hugely slack on blogging, but now that I've left the first trimester behind and I'm hoping entering better weeks ahead, I'm hoping to get back onto my feet. I've been in a daze of doctors visits, speech therapy with G, toddler-raising, teaching, and taking classes.<br />
<br />
I'm about to finish my seventh week of Lovenox shots to counteract my three clotting factors. To put it mildly, the experience has given me a whole lot of respect for people with diabetes. I don't know how they go through that may shots a day with no end in sight. At least I know my shots won't last forever. But it's amazing what you'll go through when you have no choice, when you <i>have to do it</i>, and especially when you have to do it for the health and life of your child.<br />
<br />
So every time I stick the needle in, I think about the baby and how I'm one shot closer to holding him or her in my arms.<br />
<br />
There are some things I've learned about taking Lovenox that I wish I'd known ahead of time.<br />
<ol>
<li>Put the needle in slowly. You don't want to jab that half-inch thing in there. It seems terribly in theory to do it this way but trust me, you'll feel like you have more control. And don't worry about that weird bendy thing your skin will do before the needle finally breaks through your skin - no, it won't be difficult to puncture your skin.</li>
<li>Ice liberally before and after. Like at least ten minutes before and after. If you don't want it to sting like a mofo afterward, you'd better ice.</li>
<li>Oh yeah, the medicine will sting. It stings much worse than the needle going in (most of the time). The stinging will take your breath away, but don't forget to keep breathing and stay calm. When it hurts too much, stop putting the medicine in and wait a moment. It doesn't hurt to keep the needle in, so take your time when pressing the plunger. The first time, it stung for over 30 minutes. After that, I injected much more slowly and the stinging time has decreased.</li>
<li>You'll bleed so be prepared. Keep tissues handy and tiny bandaids if you get a bleeder.</li>
<li>Do the shots yourself. The hubs did mine for the first two weeks because I was a big chicken, but I swear, it's less traumatic to do it yourself. My hands were shaking so badly when I did my first one, but I feel like a pro by now.</li>
<li>It hurts, but it doesn't hurt forever. The stinging eventually fades and you'll get a reprieve until you have to do it again the next day. </li>
</ol>
Also, the experience of giving yourself a Lovenox shot changes each time.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it's a bleeder. When you take the needle out, a big bubble of blood follows. Don't put too much pressure on it as the bleeding will eventually stop on its own and you don't want to cause too much bruising.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS14bhPdXRvFOLPaaczHGJDemOmIapdViRV5QBO6L-RFmqgirbvMPiUw6PsFI-DmPBv072diWEvsBWQcG1dpFU9KdX_BMAXZdTpiG75zTFnOiWGQrRwKPY2UZfn8xNLJ4X9DBzZd8xNI8/s1600/2012-11-14_1352857944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS14bhPdXRvFOLPaaczHGJDemOmIapdViRV5QBO6L-RFmqgirbvMPiUw6PsFI-DmPBv072diWEvsBWQcG1dpFU9KdX_BMAXZdTpiG75zTFnOiWGQrRwKPY2UZfn8xNLJ4X9DBzZd8xNI8/s320/2012-11-14_1352857944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes it's a bruiser. Luckily, I haven't gotten many of these, and only one has given me a huge bruise.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH6m76NVo71ryOVA0Vrz6695ZPgfz66lIucuRwuE-3__qvJSj3PnnlooMU4WeRiiYdFP2UmaADowwH0k0yhh_GNfY5_OUAKANF64CRZhXG2vuCVNDWqXM0QMZLIDM3xLq_g9Zx2uraiM/s1600/2012-10-16_1350406547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWH6m76NVo71ryOVA0Vrz6695ZPgfz66lIucuRwuE-3__qvJSj3PnnlooMU4WeRiiYdFP2UmaADowwH0k0yhh_GNfY5_OUAKANF64CRZhXG2vuCVNDWqXM0QMZLIDM3xLq_g9Zx2uraiM/s320/2012-10-16_1350406547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes it stings so badly you think you can't stand it. Along with the stinger can come the oh-my-god-this-needle-is-huge moment when that baby burns all the way in.<br />
<br />
And then, every once in a while, you'll get the easy. The injection that you barely feeling going in, that hardly burns at all, and the only way you can identify the injection sight is by the tiny red dot.<br />
<br />
But I'll take stingers and bruises every time if it means a healthy baby at the end of the journey. I know these shots will be like labor, and the memories of pain will fade with time. I can't feel the baby yet, but I know it's in there, bouncing around on my uterus and wiggling those skinny limbs like a crazy monkey.<br />
<br />
So I let out a long breath as I slide the needle in. And I make a wish.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-8426983138232677512012-10-24T13:17:00.000-05:002012-10-24T13:17:41.637-05:00fall daysI've spent most of the past few weeks hibernating. If I can be laying in bed and/or asleep, I take the opportunity. This pregnancy is totally kicking my butt, and I have the worst nausea I've ever had. That said, when the Zofran does its job, I do my best to get out and about with G. We've had a terrific fall so far.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOXOsU_z4lDDIp9rXTCjqAnJPqv0eXpFo64TM3P8O3ARl19UythI7T_xzzIONJ1esN5Ofd2CgdQfpzc_MZFgaxUyQEWPDHnDsi3nzZH4Tqx9aJkM4194S2VY-T7IvjfIBONIUbZiU94/s1600/fall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOXOsU_z4lDDIp9rXTCjqAnJPqv0eXpFo64TM3P8O3ARl19UythI7T_xzzIONJ1esN5Ofd2CgdQfpzc_MZFgaxUyQEWPDHnDsi3nzZH4Tqx9aJkM4194S2VY-T7IvjfIBONIUbZiU94/s640/fall1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfMd9qLW2dAYxqhBkWlIGj7lrAgPZxDzK6zL-RqbkyHgyj9zA87iY9_1G2hAf2Yi7tazlEj7pHYWPNdBQ6h3lfeq5hBbQItv3YUWmUI1fgLZWljCHRtXF-vrK-a1wBOaMetzK7jEMg5U/s1600/fall11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfMd9qLW2dAYxqhBkWlIGj7lrAgPZxDzK6zL-RqbkyHgyj9zA87iY9_1G2hAf2Yi7tazlEj7pHYWPNdBQ6h3lfeq5hBbQItv3YUWmUI1fgLZWljCHRtXF-vrK-a1wBOaMetzK7jEMg5U/s640/fall11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Have I mentioned lately that my baby is huge? It feels weird to still call him my baby, especially since we have an actual baby on the way, but I guess he'll always be a baby to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFV_Sqf9jOsnsHEBT_fSEF4WIa0LX3XLRSJcAbfGNSdh5hxHPicGF01cjlFRY3NJTDwnWGUoNe-2YJdFF5pzB_iIwppZSh6qUBSe93AyNhsitRzvCNwWvnnpJpliQQyawnIPViBESysY/s1600/fall12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFV_Sqf9jOsnsHEBT_fSEF4WIa0LX3XLRSJcAbfGNSdh5hxHPicGF01cjlFRY3NJTDwnWGUoNe-2YJdFF5pzB_iIwppZSh6qUBSe93AyNhsitRzvCNwWvnnpJpliQQyawnIPViBESysY/s640/fall12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnfYaf72B8C2T0dgItgEDWIwQvVKqBW5TIPP1BPmWnZpo71JiCJrk9OVECFubO5qxGej839eh5pHYGx_Yg8TlEMERmEMieIikE7x8LS5Tc3JEOv9tHFgX0NlpfzjSDV80wX4ciilNToE/s1600/fall14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnfYaf72B8C2T0dgItgEDWIwQvVKqBW5TIPP1BPmWnZpo71JiCJrk9OVECFubO5qxGej839eh5pHYGx_Yg8TlEMERmEMieIikE7x8LS5Tc3JEOv9tHFgX0NlpfzjSDV80wX4ciilNToE/s640/fall14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksfzHR8Xqi8OKtX6cp5AFispohaVF3mzISE3sr3TF_JoOA3dGn00Z3J0rZhj7YHMecnwEZj6DAS3F6PAIpbGErExQFUqv80TkgaEF3MN4s3DXtyV9okaOluKeRm_8rWUzKgrcj3IXa68/s1600/fall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksfzHR8Xqi8OKtX6cp5AFispohaVF3mzISE3sr3TF_JoOA3dGn00Z3J0rZhj7YHMecnwEZj6DAS3F6PAIpbGErExQFUqv80TkgaEF3MN4s3DXtyV9okaOluKeRm_8rWUzKgrcj3IXa68/s640/fall3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I like how he looks like he's fishing with this stick. I couldn't get him to really smile for the camera, but at least he was willing to stand around for a while. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PiLqkkFpV_NGe97wqlAwATK6S5l-5euq_hGvP9Aq_X2aOB9i4QQZwwo9MSbzVTGjqT98dDX900FzAcupB2eYvnwI8-9YCSuJg4eSX0tKnaXEUo-Up7F2ccGhEbHMfiyQn1MKSs472XA/s1600/fall6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PiLqkkFpV_NGe97wqlAwATK6S5l-5euq_hGvP9Aq_X2aOB9i4QQZwwo9MSbzVTGjqT98dDX900FzAcupB2eYvnwI8-9YCSuJg4eSX0tKnaXEUo-Up7F2ccGhEbHMfiyQn1MKSs472XA/s640/fall6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdfmVTFzNLP5ATUlY5-cWscFD3qLgKCPTXDFvddOT4cSEBQR1uNknAxEJuxpXlTjsxJ9caYx_-u3oZJ0il3wmkPRRweAnX05j4w26MLk162mmwfHZG-acndJdj6KX13HZ6_gZdp62Cl8/s1600/fall9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdfmVTFzNLP5ATUlY5-cWscFD3qLgKCPTXDFvddOT4cSEBQR1uNknAxEJuxpXlTjsxJ9caYx_-u3oZJ0il3wmkPRRweAnX05j4w26MLk162mmwfHZG-acndJdj6KX13HZ6_gZdp62Cl8/s640/fall9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Kiddo even threw some leaves in the air for me. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iw8kIqfjJzsYs19OkhdGVySrp2ajJzqNqmQeEE9NDLrlYrFCNEl9uFnr-crvpMu6gCGFH01rUeSALR5755D0_C_WUh7hB-XY3KrjG6IGOS13FqiWc3Zfkn-lDndXCT9Lc8fqfNidM8U/s1600/fall10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iw8kIqfjJzsYs19OkhdGVySrp2ajJzqNqmQeEE9NDLrlYrFCNEl9uFnr-crvpMu6gCGFH01rUeSALR5755D0_C_WUh7hB-XY3KrjG6IGOS13FqiWc3Zfkn-lDndXCT9Lc8fqfNidM8U/s640/fall10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hyphenhyphentwSRObgfnV5pEzsnYyZjmYx267hyXvV8GQs-RuJoecpppsnGlab8hMmvwbAA6gMFm44G7bi7t5WgieBgSWZQ4QFXg2XPaaWK3tRfCwkPHQStX9QiJ7v2r2dtIukXAJeTlt9bDrXsQ/s1600/fall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hyphenhyphentwSRObgfnV5pEzsnYyZjmYx267hyXvV8GQs-RuJoecpppsnGlab8hMmvwbAA6gMFm44G7bi7t5WgieBgSWZQ4QFXg2XPaaWK3tRfCwkPHQStX9QiJ7v2r2dtIukXAJeTlt9bDrXsQ/s640/fall2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVPt87FccqF9JpE0Oe0TyoPIn0u4T1BMsvd2-07I-pecUhi9u_hjx6wy4ZjoSuFjPQBANlvOKIpPYjkds1hCQWjUYMTvdkmWX9QSjp1WKWfOMh2lvOcCUj7NcUiwi9pJEZspdK3_SuKE/s1600/fall4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVPt87FccqF9JpE0Oe0TyoPIn0u4T1BMsvd2-07I-pecUhi9u_hjx6wy4ZjoSuFjPQBANlvOKIpPYjkds1hCQWjUYMTvdkmWX9QSjp1WKWfOMh2lvOcCUj7NcUiwi9pJEZspdK3_SuKE/s640/fall4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I love this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fFTB8HgIU9ks-XJ02M-uV1BLgOfZfmMFFeiH2GEb2fcIv4CQc5SswDkuGk2EyDRqlEwNXtYY7cgAZtdXcKqBV-k5-F8vzwgJ1Akx9OLENRrXFO2jo2HS9SNxXVkYDfKAF62UN6kbGfk/s1600/fall5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fFTB8HgIU9ks-XJ02M-uV1BLgOfZfmMFFeiH2GEb2fcIv4CQc5SswDkuGk2EyDRqlEwNXtYY7cgAZtdXcKqBV-k5-F8vzwgJ1Akx9OLENRrXFO2jo2HS9SNxXVkYDfKAF62UN6kbGfk/s640/fall5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BWTKiIUZa4PABmavBdanPDEd-TE2BazyAFpo_ciB7urtRea5CGED_LNE-P7BlkjJcPTtXxAr4iTa7brMw0syCHZbtswUpuVtNiIkVsmi-zwefTBQYxBwC9aXJOiYQUXVJbxcD6Cjeck/s1600/fall7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BWTKiIUZa4PABmavBdanPDEd-TE2BazyAFpo_ciB7urtRea5CGED_LNE-P7BlkjJcPTtXxAr4iTa7brMw0syCHZbtswUpuVtNiIkVsmi-zwefTBQYxBwC9aXJOiYQUXVJbxcD6Cjeck/s640/fall7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Toward the end, he got tired of walking around and came to sit in my lap for a while. He took this photo of us, hence the fierce look of concentration on his face.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_xTMOaI2kl_R1a_jB-P57rlhiFlA9wBCE5dUZxaGmDFs9Ynk46y_CRYupyfrDVE_IykIn2HVu-xde1dsszKPSZYRfFxlsi20IydOMfHN0KTe8KdR1DCt9jX4VNCAkNjfHPD1tj4elCg/s1600/fall13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_xTMOaI2kl_R1a_jB-P57rlhiFlA9wBCE5dUZxaGmDFs9Ynk46y_CRYupyfrDVE_IykIn2HVu-xde1dsszKPSZYRfFxlsi20IydOMfHN0KTe8KdR1DCt9jX4VNCAkNjfHPD1tj4elCg/s640/fall13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I hope I only have another month or so before my energy level goes back up and the nausea eases off. I'm 9 1/2 weeks, but since the symptoms kicked in high gear at 5 1/2 weeks, I feel like I've been at it forever.<br />
<br />
More to come about this pregnancy, but I thought you might enjoy some cute pics of the kid.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-20076089426341338802012-10-14T20:21:00.001-05:002012-10-14T20:21:32.848-05:00guest post: 10 Things I Think I Thought I Thunk
<br />
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="SpellE"><i>Since I'm spending most of my days 1) throwing up, 2) trying not to throw up, or 3) asleep so I'm not throwing, the husband is blogging for me today. I'm sorry for unleashing him on you yet again. ~Alicia</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi everybody, the husband here again, blogging again as the
wife tries not to throw up (and often fails). Failing having anything
interesting to talk about (maybe next time), I thought I would share a few of
the random items that bounce within my head. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, with apologies to my wife, here’s my “10 Things I Think
I Thought I <span class="SpellE">Thunk</span>.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stop laughing. <span class="SpellE">Thunk</span> is a word.
Just like <span class="SpellE">Squozen</span>. After you squeeze something, it is
<span class="SpellE">squozen</span>. Just <span class="SpellE">sayin</span>’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Buckle up people, here we go!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1.</b> – I’m finding it far too amusing that the best shows
we’re watching right now are cartoons. I’m not sure what that says about us or
the current state of television, but I feel like it’s been this way for a while
now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Transformers Prime, Bob’s Burgers, the new Turtles. All
quality. What else are we going to watch - Honey Boo <span class="SpellE">Boo</span>?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Heck, even some of Grayson’s shows beat the pants off of 95%
of the drivel on TV right now. I’ll take <span class="SpellE">Phineas</span> and
<span class="SpellE">Ferb</span> over just about every network’s prime-time line
up any day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2.</b> – My child falls for the Bugs Bunny argument trick. I’m
not sure if I’m proud or sad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: “Come here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G: “No.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: “Yes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G: “No.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: “Yes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G: “No.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: “No.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
G: *pause* *nods enthusiastically* *comes over*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t wait until he’s older and we can have the “<span class="SpellE">Wabbit</span> season / Duck season” debate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3</b>. – It’s about time that someone else in our household gets
an introduction. Meet Teddy:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTKLiBm_9coeLdiF3o-CVFyNsfd-CY-R45ZX3g4jg82rFLHpgLjXUbxelfJHvHewKmeFRRARFVoFQYNHh42nMHBfwjpYkv66hxMj_W_R18NkB8lIOQSbfeKk63gsJ8dt1fI4VzqVWkUs/s1600/Teddy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTKLiBm_9coeLdiF3o-CVFyNsfd-CY-R45ZX3g4jg82rFLHpgLjXUbxelfJHvHewKmeFRRARFVoFQYNHh42nMHBfwjpYkv66hxMj_W_R18NkB8lIOQSbfeKk63gsJ8dt1fI4VzqVWkUs/s400/Teddy+1.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teddy is G’s best friend. Teddy joined our family on G’s 2<sup>nd</sup>
birthday and G loved him instantly, carrying him through the mall after we made
the little bear. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teddy was G’s first bedtime companion, and still keeps him
company every night. He’s never thrown him out and has often used him as a
pillow… but who hasn’t used their best friend for a pillow from time to time,
right?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teddy is far from a security blanket, and G tends to largely
ignore him (and all his stuffed animals, to be fair) unless he’s actively
playing a game with them, but still, he’s the best friend that the boy’s got.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teddy is also occasionally a projectile. But, again… who
hasn’t occasionally chucked their friend at their parents? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Behold the cuteness!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kYWtdrp2bm10cdZsZGIntTzF0IG3ZIyb55J6lUoo4Z5bC6cQjlL_1saqjky6BmbB3RbHTgY2QhjXpOuPtcX_PpVzcdFQhVCPKvEbHG5NzLow_4AoH8bv3NDAwYf6kk862qelw4I4n2w/s1600/Teddy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kYWtdrp2bm10cdZsZGIntTzF0IG3ZIyb55J6lUoo4Z5bC6cQjlL_1saqjky6BmbB3RbHTgY2QhjXpOuPtcX_PpVzcdFQhVCPKvEbHG5NzLow_4AoH8bv3NDAwYf6kk862qelw4I4n2w/s400/Teddy+3.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8ePejudyUgYmKWzgi9qQrcbWttD7Tjpk19f4un6LVlRYuzofGWQj59DPGJzIxN9RqJcHDGFoONJQQ_Pn7rHv4aFLxpophTSBCCExaKw7NCn28oifSK-7Ow6PjsGgP4PmuaBNgTspqsA/s1600/Teddy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8ePejudyUgYmKWzgi9qQrcbWttD7Tjpk19f4un6LVlRYuzofGWQj59DPGJzIxN9RqJcHDGFoONJQQ_Pn7rHv4aFLxpophTSBCCExaKw7NCn28oifSK-7Ow6PjsGgP4PmuaBNgTspqsA/s400/Teddy+2.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4.</b> – <span class="SpellE">Toodee</span> stares at me every day.
<span class="SpellE">Toodee</span>, from <span class="SpellE">Yo</span> <span class="SpellE">Gabba</span> <span class="SpellE">Gabba</span>. Yup, that <span class="SpellE">Toodee</span>. Every day I open the shower curtain and BAM.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vJPzIr3FGUfJP4IO2XVeVmLhhWgGJRywvYxFJI6tk_wqqpXEgAimI-5p_SlBR5qNDpjXnwpRaAsvIAnjVEg6er8QD9iZoCspzS8UoISiLjpY1hmgF40D4kcrG7py15FkAONaGrINCA/s1600/Toodee+%2528L%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vJPzIr3FGUfJP4IO2XVeVmLhhWgGJRywvYxFJI6tk_wqqpXEgAimI-5p_SlBR5qNDpjXnwpRaAsvIAnjVEg6er8QD9iZoCspzS8UoISiLjpY1hmgF40D4kcrG7py15FkAONaGrINCA/s400/Toodee+%2528L%2529.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like some sort of weird Hitchcock movie in reverse.
Staring children’s stars in giant costumes. Next one is Barney in reverse “Rear
Window,” where Barney sings as he slowly crawls back home from a neighbor’s
house and gets a cast taken off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t really know where I was going with that. Pretend it
was funny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
END TANGENT</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there <span class="SpellE">Toodee</span> is, in the shower,
every day for over a year now. But hey, at least that one’s at eye level. The
other <span class="SpellE">Toodee</span> is at a very unfortunate level, as you
can tell by her shocked expression. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6rJ_Va6nPAZCvSA5aFH2qQh5WsvbYvdroPP04HSUQUjotDVdkt9p6Nzw8j9TOWDYVf1oePWWAhmfb9nJRxv-PB2Bbc18anBwH_sSreOA4iSBXi1v3GobNTEOzDBQriJ9eE-3ygxEWuk/s1600/Toodee+%2528S%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju6rJ_Va6nPAZCvSA5aFH2qQh5WsvbYvdroPP04HSUQUjotDVdkt9p6Nzw8j9TOWDYVf1oePWWAhmfb9nJRxv-PB2Bbc18anBwH_sSreOA4iSBXi1v3GobNTEOzDBQriJ9eE-3ygxEWuk/s320/Toodee+%2528S%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5.</b> – Serious alert. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate the fact that I haven’t really enjoyed us being
pregnant since baby 2 (our first loss). I hate that I feel like I’m just
waiting for things to go wrong again. I hate that I did that with baby 3, and
then we lost it. I wish I could enjoy every minute, every nauseous, <span class="SpellE">vomity</span>, tiring minute. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I try to enjoy it when I can. When she complains about
feeling horrible, I give sympathy while also being extremely happy at the nice
strong symptoms. I try to gently remind her (and myself) that all her problems
are because BABY, but that only goes so far. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="SpellE">Oop</span>, and I’m being sent out for a
McDonald’s double cheeseburger (pickles only) at 11pm. Be right back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6</b>. – I’m back. Ok, so on a less serious note, I write most of
this post as I watch a football game. The Tennessee Titans are miserable this
year. Amazingly, I don’t really care, and I watch every game to the end. People
ask me how I can do that, and I just respond with the fact that I’m also a Cubs
fan… so I’m completely used to rooting for losing teams. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And drinking. Drinking during the games helps quite a lot
too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(the Titans went on to win, which only made me all the
happier)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7.</b> – Every once in a while I wonder if I’m confusing my child
because I tend to do voices and accents when I read to him. Everyone in The
Hobbit talks in an English or Scottish accent (Hobbits and wizards = English,
Dwarves = Scottish. Really. I shouldn’t even have to explain this to people).
Tom O’Malley (the alley cat in Disney’s “<span class="SpellE">Aristocats</span>’)
talks in an Irish accent (because: O’Malley). Everyone in Anastasia talks with
Russian ones, for some reason Tinker Bell is Swedish… you get the point. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can’t help it. I like to do voices. Someday he’ll really
appreciate it. Or beg me to stop. Either way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>8.</b> – Every night during my goodnights to G I paraphrase
‘Blazing Saddles.’ Some day he’ll realize this. Someday I hope it will amuse
him as much as it amuses me. Some day he’ll properly squeak back at me, and I
will die from pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq97y7bOUvKURVHJ3ikFYg5e3BpbX9khyphenhyphen8t3tYg_v9PcMfuYQ_qrQuncnUfC5_r5tNxG5kLeSimwH4aToZX7qOYcGQpBaJErXilVi5cwA7qdDTDJjDbI6JRpVWalG4a_fBEMsptYdDl2A/s1600/Saddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq97y7bOUvKURVHJ3ikFYg5e3BpbX9khyphenhyphen8t3tYg_v9PcMfuYQ_qrQuncnUfC5_r5tNxG5kLeSimwH4aToZX7qOYcGQpBaJErXilVi5cwA7qdDTDJjDbI6JRpVWalG4a_fBEMsptYdDl2A/s400/Saddles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>9. </b>– It’s starting to seem like every day G is saying (ok,
telling) a new word. Today we were driving to the mall (one of his favorite
places because of the play area). As it came into view, G pointed with
excitement and yelled, “Mall! Mall!” It’s more than <span class="SpellE">kinda</span>
awesome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>10.</b> – I feel like I haven’t been funny enough in this post.
So here’s my absolute favorite joke ever:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A small town in the middle of nowhere is in crisis. It seems
that whenever anyone enters a local flower shop, they never come back out.
Suspicion is that the pair of monks that run the shop are killing all their
customers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The police chief is frazzled, and is about to quit his job
when a man walks into his office.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Chief,” says the man, “I am here to help.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“And just who the hell are you?” asks the chief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“My name is Hugh, and I will put an end to this town’s
nightmare.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We’ve lost over a dozen police and an entire SWAT team,
what makes you think you’ll fare any differently?” asks the chief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Chief, you’ll just have to trust me,” replies Hugh, “I can
handle these monks.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For some reason the chief believes the man, and he takes him
to the flower shop immediately. Hugh takes a long look and strides purposely
towards the shop. The police beg him to stop, but he waves them off, and with a
final wink, he pushes open the door and disappears inside. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Minutes pass and the police get worried, but finally the
door swings open again and out steps Hugh, carrying the unconscious bodies of
the two monks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hugh drops them at the chief’s feet, and without a word, he
walks away… never to be heard from again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The moral of this story?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only Hugh can prevent florist friars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yup. Ending it with a pun. A grand pun. A glorious pun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m amazed that my wife let me post it.</div>
</div>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-79458175320813382362012-10-05T21:00:00.002-05:002012-10-05T21:00:24.691-05:00so my reason is...Okay, I promise there's an awesome reason for my absence the past couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
It starts with "preg" and ends with "nant."<br />
<br />
I'm pregnant!<br />
<br />
I'm 7 weeks, to be more specific. We had our first ultrasound a couple days ago and everything looks great! Baby's heartbeat was perfect and we're so excited. Dave might have cried when we saw the heartbeat. Don't tell him I told you.<br />
<br />
We weren't able to get any of our ultrasound pics, but we have another one this coming Wednesday. Maybe I'll have something to post then! I've also got a post in the works concerning my daily Lovenox shots, of which I've had three so far.<br />
<br />
Mostly, I've been extremely tired and nauseous 24/7. That's mostly why I haven't been on. I spend most of my time trying to 1) not throw up, and 2) stay awake. I got some Zofran today, so I hope I'll be more coherent now. <br />
<br />
But anyway, welcome to baby #5!Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-88249253507258385222012-09-20T19:40:00.000-05:002012-09-20T19:40:36.941-05:00playground drama, take two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKu6MaVdrlUtjGayXJMy7E_9GZguqO4DTnY_0psumxNWcpy3t3uwE7xVcCiYuaHXhetBtuyFxPO0V0XBAfHyo4PyBIi5xoyLZoz_7zL499uEPB-Pp2e7FAdoywrbvDaky8E0N5RTlPuI/s1600/263956_10100834551084900_570601504_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKu6MaVdrlUtjGayXJMy7E_9GZguqO4DTnY_0psumxNWcpy3t3uwE7xVcCiYuaHXhetBtuyFxPO0V0XBAfHyo4PyBIi5xoyLZoz_7zL499uEPB-Pp2e7FAdoywrbvDaky8E0N5RTlPuI/s320/263956_10100834551084900_570601504_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This afternoon, G and I headed out for a quick jaunt to our closest playground, the one at the library. It was the scene of G's first <a href="http://manycoloredmoments.blogspot.com/2012/09/playground-bully-or-mama-bear-wanted-to.html">encounter with a bully</a>. There were several other kids there, mostly older toddlers or pre-schoolers. One set was a mom with a baby in a carrier and her three year old son. Another set involved a grandfather with a 4-5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl.<br />
<br />
I started talking with the mom after our boys collided accidentally. No one was hurt, and they both went back to playing pretty quickly. While G was playing, I noticed every once in a while the grandfather would try to instruct one of the two kids he was with. He would say things like, "Don't climb up the slide because that kid wants to come down" or "stop running into the road." For the most part, his two grandchildren ignored him. Most of the time, they laughed at his meager attempts at discipline and ran off.<br />
<br />
At one point, I noticed the grandfather's little girl try to pick a fight with the mom's little boy. She shoved him, and the mom separated them. She shoved him again, and he went to shove back, so the mom separated them and herded the boy off to another area to get away from her.<br />
<br />
G decided he wanted to go down the curly cue slide. He sat down and got himself all prepped to push off when the little girl came up behind him. She sat down behind G and started pushing, yelling at him to move out of the way. After a moment of that, he started getting upset and just wanted to abort the attempt to slide, but she kept on pushing and yelling. I was standing below them, on the ground, and she was watching me. I told her to stop pushing him. She looked at me, raised her hands, and pushed some more. I told her again, and she lifted her feet, and while watching me, <i>kicked him hard in the back</i>. I rushed to the nearest stairs and climbed up, but by the time I got there, G had run off, upset.<br />
<br />
Soon after that, the little girl ran after the mom's son who she had shoved earlier. She pushed him hard, and the mom immediately stepped over, saying that was unacceptable. The girl continued, chasing the boy around the playground and pushing him repeatedly. The boy was crying and yelling, "No, stop!" over and over, but the girl ignored him. The mom called over to the grandfather to do something, saying the girl would not leave her son alone. He verbally reprimanded the girl without even going over to her.<br />
<br />
I went onto the platforms to follow G around, and when he ran down one area, the little girl followed. I hurried after him, but I was too late. The girl shoved him hard in the chest and down he went. He sat up, looking at her like she was crazy, and started crying. At that point, I was pissed. I yelled at the girl, who was still putting hands on my son, to go away and leave him alone.<br />
<br />
I picked G up as the grandfather walked over, and I just lost it. I said, "She is going around pushing other kids and being very mean. You need to do something other than just standing around. Our kids can't even play!" He didn't even reply. He just stood there looking bewildered.<br />
<br />
It took a while to calm G down, and by then, his nerves were shot. He just wanted to go home. He signed for water and pointed at the car, so we headed out. In the parking lot, I met up with the other mom who had also been chased off by the crazy child. Neither of us could understand why the grandfather would just stand there and allow these children to terrorize others. It's not like he wasn't paying attention; he was constantly following them around, verbally trying to instruct them to get of the road and leave other children alone. At one point, he even said they were leaving, but of course he did nothing to make that happen.<br />
<br />
I understand that, being a grandparent, this man really might not have known what to do with these kids. Maybe he doesn't watch them often. Maybe they're so out of control that he just doesn't have a clue what to do. But when your child is hurting other children on the playground, you need to physically step in and remove that child. He had two moms complain that the little girl was shoving others, but he just stood there and did nothing.<br />
<br />
Frankly, it was just lazy parenting. He didn't want to have to go in and stop them from doing anything. And he was too lazy and ignorant about the whole situation to pack up the kids and leave. What will that three year old be like if you allow her to hurt other people now? It's really not that hard to follow up on your threats, people.<br />
<br />
All I know is, as we pulled out of the parking lot, they were still playing there without a care in the world.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-74467015216567533042012-09-17T19:54:00.000-05:002012-09-17T19:54:12.707-05:00yard sale-ing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWydNKF8W-ZbvzROWCkR9DhTG7N8NKpR0OiroP72faa61XrsDNFX09oeumff0viK0XkNoD6qZGnQwnJm2fIS3f8QQ0TFdSQJlIjYCsjk37KqY98ZVZ1O6D5JGYrZP9klsVzxvAA_pWYCE/s1600/264332_10100830162848960_8107682_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWydNKF8W-ZbvzROWCkR9DhTG7N8NKpR0OiroP72faa61XrsDNFX09oeumff0viK0XkNoD6qZGnQwnJm2fIS3f8QQ0TFdSQJlIjYCsjk37KqY98ZVZ1O6D5JGYrZP9klsVzxvAA_pWYCE/s320/264332_10100830162848960_8107682_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
How cute is this pic of G with his two grandmas? Totally cute. My mom on the left and Dave's mom on the right.<br />
<br />
My mom came into town Friday night to watch G while we had our yard sale Saturday. We had been collecting other people's stuff for weeks, ever since we discovered that our insurance will not cover any of our maternal/fetal specialist's doctor visits, ultrasounds, or lab work. We plan on fighting our insurance in whatever way we can, but even if they do cave in and cover these items, we're still looking at bare minimum of $10,000 for our next baby. Assuming we can carry to term, anyway.<br />
<br />
We were so lucky to get tons of donations for our yard sale. While we didn't have as big of a turn-out as we were hoping, we actually sold a ton of stuff! In fact, we sold $600 worth! We donated our leftovers to Goodwill while keeping what we think we can sell on eBay or Craigslist.<br />
<br />
I'm so grateful that our yard sale was such a success. We spent a lot of time sorting through items, placing prices, and of course, hauling everything outside and setting up. G got to spend some much-wanted time with my mom who he doesn't get to see very often. And we got to cover a month's worth of doctor's bills! Woo!<br />
<br />
(As a side note, if anyone knows if blood clotting disorders are covered under the "pregnancy complications" of insurance, do let me know. We're gearing up to fight our insurance since it's not listed either way on our explanation of benefits. We don't have a maternity rider as our insurance company doesn't offer one. Also, when I spoke to someone from my insurance company, all she would say is that they couldn't theorize on covered benefits until it actually happened because it depended upon the physician who reviewed my claims. Uh-huh.)Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-30469578752736274342012-09-12T20:58:00.001-05:002012-09-12T20:59:05.093-05:00proud mama is proud<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LGl7jc-fcMyp66y-qiIgbDkEpUGOsrs_Yi1UTmJ2WwXSuNPgu3Qi87dn4bMrM62ZgfVBN_yyysWxvO7bLJEcAUO2Z_5op-YYWdJxI07fVHDcAeqSaaWDi_YnVTl6Uq7EpSFd8bnGwG0/s1600/park16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LGl7jc-fcMyp66y-qiIgbDkEpUGOsrs_Yi1UTmJ2WwXSuNPgu3Qi87dn4bMrM62ZgfVBN_yyysWxvO7bLJEcAUO2Z_5op-YYWdJxI07fVHDcAeqSaaWDi_YnVTl6Uq7EpSFd8bnGwG0/s640/park16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On Monday, G and I returned to the playground where he was <a href="http://manycoloredmoments.blogspot.com/2012/09/playground-bully-or-mama-bear-wanted-to.html">bullied last week</a>.<br />
<br />
A group of kids were already playing there, most of them at least a few years older than him. They seemed to know each other, as did their moms, so I wondered if they were all brothers or cousins. As soon as G approached, one of them came near, asking if G wanted to be his superhero side-kick. It was cute, but G is way too young to have any idea what that means. When G ran off to play, the kid followed, making pew-pew gun noises.<br />
<br />
Of course, it freaked G out. The kid was loud and jumping around G, and my poor child had no idea why another kid was targeting him. G, almost crying, ran over to me and clung to my leg. I bent down, trying to explain that the other kid was being nice and only wanted to play. When the other kid persisted, though, I told him that G was too little.<br />
<br />
It didn't really help that a few minutes later, one of the oldest of the group accidentally knocked G over. Once he calmed down from crying, he was on high alert. One of the group pushed a hand into his chest, saying, "Tag, you're it!" G was having none of it. I finally just told all of them in the nicest way possible to bug off and leave G alone. One of them even asked me, "What's wrong with him?" as though it's G's fault that he hasn't had the best experiences with older kids.<br />
<br />
But after a while, G had had enough. When three of the kids came over to him, trying to see if he wanted to play, he yelled, "NO!" G doesn't say no very often, only when he means it. Usually it's said in a way that's joking, like "ooooh, noooo." The boys backed off after that, and we didn't have anymore problems.<br />
<br />
I was so proud of G. I swear I felt my mama heart swell with pride. He didn't want to play with the other kids, and he told them the best way he could with his limited vocabulary. I can't wait to tell his speech therapist on Friday what he did. Using a word for actual communication is a huge step forward for G. He didn't have to stomp his feet, push his way through, grunt, act angry. He just said, "NO," and that was that!Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-67216135139708761552012-09-03T21:21:00.000-05:002012-09-03T21:21:43.827-05:00playground bully (or, mama bear wanted to punch a face)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVghiFxUFMaKDeeiAsZrqWbm_R_AIk2Pk36MEBzYijYAA8FldAsiEZU5qnsWmhbvizWI_LgNxIg0ppunoJNmInsSMs7OhkH5ZUGtE6L7dNGejrt5ZgZc7U6RKA8Nz308YgWzvyXHr7NY/s1600/2012-06-02_1338671777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVghiFxUFMaKDeeiAsZrqWbm_R_AIk2Pk36MEBzYijYAA8FldAsiEZU5qnsWmhbvizWI_LgNxIg0ppunoJNmInsSMs7OhkH5ZUGtE6L7dNGejrt5ZgZc7U6RKA8Nz308YgWzvyXHr7NY/s320/2012-06-02_1338671777.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To enjoy the break in the slight drizzle outside, G and I headed to one of our favorite playgrounds at our local library. We go here probably at least once a week because it's so close and easy to pop in and out. Plus, G loves this playground. It has wide, open walkways where he can run in a large circle, many slides, and several different sets of stairs. Really, if the place had some swings, it would be perfect.<br />
<br />
When we arrived, a father and son were playing with some toy (a slingshot, maybe?) in the empty parking lot. G proceeded to do his thing, screaming happily and running in circles. I tried to engage him in a game of tic-tac-toe, but he became distracted by the boy walking into the playground area. His dad stayed in the parking lot, playing on his phone. The boy seemed to be about four years old, about a head taller than G. He said "hi" to G, and I asked G to say "hi" back - of course, G only waved. He's starting to notice other kids more and more, so he watched the other boy for a bit.<br />
<br />
At one point, the boy jabbed a finger into G's chest. Now that I think about it, it was probably to move G away from the top of a small set of stairs that G was standing nearby. G looked at me and back at the kid and back at me, like <i>what was his problem, mom?</i> G didn't seem hurt, so I told him it was okay, to go ahead and keep playing.<br />
<br />
The boy went down the set of stairs, and G wanted to follow. G headed down a few steps before the boy rushed back, telling G, "You can't go down these stairs. No stairs. No slides. You can't get on the ground." He said this over and over.<br />
<br />
I thought, okay, we've dealt with this before. Some kids get possessive over certain parts of the playground. I told G he could go down the stairs if he wanted. But there were other steps to use to get down as well. I pointed him toward another set, but he felt like being a little stubborn and standing his ground. I wasn't about to discourage him; G is notorious to giving up ground to any kid who even walks past him, so the fact that he wasn't running away was a huge step in the right direction.<br />
<br />
I told G to just wait his turn and let the boy get off the stairs first. The boy did, but again, as soon as G tried to go down, the boy would rush back and yell at Grayson. At this point, I was encouraging G to just use another set of stairs and he decided to agree. G started to walk off, but the boy followed, still talking about what G could and couldn't do. He was getting right up in G's face, and G was really started to get unnerved by this boy. I told the boy, "You need to leave my kid alone."<br />
<br />
The boy started to stomp close to G's feet like he was trying to hurt him. He was grunting, swinging his arms around, trying to intimidate G. I put my hand up, saying, "Do not touch my kid. If you touch my kid, I will not hesitate to push you away." He continued to stomp and make threatening gestures at my son.<br />
<br />
I looked for his father who was oblivious and called over to him. "Sir, you need to come talk to your son. He is bothering my kid."<br />
<br />
The man started walking over. "What's he doing?"<br />
<br />
"He's not letting my son play. He's being a bully." Yeah, I used the b-word. But it was true. It was bully behavior.<br />
<br />
The man looked at his son, who had backed off. "If you can't play nice, we're going to leave." His kid started whining and saying he hadn't done anything. When G tried to go down the stairs again, the boy immediately tried to prevent him from going down. His father (I'm assuming here) stopped him, saying, "Okay, we're going home." The kid took off, yelling. The man said, "Come get your shoe." It was on the steps and he was too large to get it; I actually went and got it for him, eager for the kid to go.<br />
<br />
This continued for a while, with the father telling his kid to do something, and his son repeatedly whining and saying no. Once, the kid ran off saying "Don't hit me, don't hit me!" and the father replied, "I won't if you leave the other boy alone." The father eventually gave up, though he did hover nearby on the ground, finally keeping an eye on his son.<br />
<br />
G relaxed and began to run in circles along the top platforms. The boy began to chase him, following about half a circle behind but slowly catching up. G would notice and start running faster, trying to get away from him. When G would run over to me, the boy would stop and yell at G to keep running. <i>OMG, seriously!</i><br />
<br />
After a few rounds, G got upset, making the noises he makes when he's scared. He didn't cry, but man, he was close. He came over and clung to my leg, staring at the other boy like he was psycho. I told the boy, "Leave him alone. You are scaring him." His father came over to say basically the same thing and demand that they leave. Of course, the kid refused.<br />
<br />
At that point, I held G close to me. Either we were going to leave, or they were. The father eventually managed to catch his kid, hoisting him over his shoulder and carrying him back to the car. The kid screamed bloody murder the entire time he was being strapped into his carseat, and I could hear him still screaming as they drove out of the parking lot and onto the main rode.<br />
<br />
Why are some kids this horrible? The boy couldn't have been older than 5 at most, and he was probably more like 4. We've met some pushy kids before, including two I've had to physically block from touching G. But this is the first time I've come across an actual bully. It was like he smelled blood in the water, and as a shark, he was compelled to circle. Or maybe something about G just screamed easy victim. Or maybe he was bored and G was the only other kid around. While his father tried to control his kid, he was mostly ineffective. Following through with your threats when you first make them is kinda Parenting 101. I can't help but blame the parent for at least part of the kid's behavior.<br />
<br />
I wasn't sure how to get G to handle it. I've always told him, "Do what you want. Take turns, but don't let someone push you off your toy." But he's just passive that way. At the mall that morning, he asked to leave the play area after some more kids arrived because he couldn't be assertive enough to use the slide. Being passive is just part of G - it's a large reason as to why he hasn't started talking much yet. It's part of his kind and gentle nature.<br />
<br />
I don't want my kid to be bullied because he can't stand up for himself. I know it's unreasonable to demand a two-year-old to stand up to a bully, but I won't always be there at his side. I want to teach him some skills now, but how do you do that with a child who doesn't talk? I read something about just teaching them to say "No" loudly, and I'm going to work on that with G.<br />
<br />
Our first encounter with a bully broke my heart. I'm glad that I managed to keep my emotions in check, but inside, I was burning with mama bear rage. I had to push aside my angry tears to be strong for G, and to not lose my cool with a kid who was still so young.<br />
<br />
What would you do if your kid was being bullied on the playground? Any tips for this mama?Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-43168250444933210482012-08-30T13:49:00.000-05:002012-08-30T13:49:09.665-05:00oh, the places you'll go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ewpHS46Jr-JQZcJOlJlmdGqJNIaWxepmQfL1Bpk38Ua1GrBOWietEskEympFjeZtX-H4qKq2f0A7B0-Th3EZfdv0BUEBxl0rtPX5Iwse2T_0XvTnA9uRjLw1qVmeDjxqv_-7oFujYwA/s1600/face1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ewpHS46Jr-JQZcJOlJlmdGqJNIaWxepmQfL1Bpk38Ua1GrBOWietEskEympFjeZtX-H4qKq2f0A7B0-Th3EZfdv0BUEBxl0rtPX5Iwse2T_0XvTnA9uRjLw1qVmeDjxqv_-7oFujYwA/s640/face1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
We just finished our first round of therapy at KidTalk, the speech therapy program at Vanderbilt University. I have to say, I am <i>amazed</i> at the change I already see in Grayson.<br />
<br />
He's had three real sessions, two there and one at home yesterday. During the sessions at the university, we have been learning our first strategies. Our biggest concern right now is stepping back and letting G take the reigns in play and in communication. We've been focusing on back and forth conversation, where we put a word to something that he says. If he's being very quiet, we mirror his actions and name them. We're not supposed to ask questions unless we just really have to throughout the day.<br />
<br />
I didn't see a whole lot of response from him until we did our first home session. He just lit up. I'm guessing he was more relaxed at home, or maybe he was paying more attention to the words rather than the cool new toys at the university. But my boy, my little boy with only ten words he'll attempt, said "push" and "ball" for the first time. When he would say the word without getting the first sound correct, she would get him to focus on making the sound and often he'd then get it right. I was amazed that he even tried intimidating. I was even more amazed at his attempts to correct himself and pronounce the sound.<br />
<br />
I might have cried right then. Just a little.<br />
<br />
His therapist's assessment of him is right on par with ours. He's a thinker and he contemplates everything. He's incredibly sweet and often hilarious. He loves to be helpful and clean up after himself, often doing so without being asked. He's passive to a fault, sometimes giving up too quickly or being too comfortable with how things are, which is at least part of the reason he hasn't started talking much yet.<br />
<br />
One thing we learned, that was kind of hard to swallow, was her confidence that he will need even more speech therapy. This program focuses on motivating children to talk and giving them (and their parents) the tools to <i>start</i> talking. She sees it as a great stepping stone to transition G into real speech therapy, where you work on actual phonemes, in the future. I guess I was hoping he'd get it after some practice. People kept talking about that magical switch that would flip one day, and G would start talking like most of the other kids his age. But it doesn't happen like that. <i>My kid has trouble talking</i>. That doesn't go away overnight.<br />
<br />
Here is an updated list of what G says:<br />
Mama<br />
Daddy<br />
Blue (buu)<br />
Cheese (geese)<br />
Five (iiii)<br />
Moo (buuu)<br />
Bak, bak (like a chicken, ba ba)<br />
Baa (like a sheep)<br />
Beep (eee)<br />
Boom (boo)<br />
Push (puuus)<br />
Ball<br />
<br />
Since he's turning 27 months next week, it's not near long enough of a list. But I'm so so proud of my buggy. He's been doing so well with his therapy, really paying attention and being so cooperative. Most of those words he's learned in the past month, so clearly him and language are clicking better.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gj8pSiBR_F0GIo1nnSpSuyWsOPb6LghddEdrU6DFNucmOej91nYzb998aXohx7CZ-Y4sKQvpxOOAqncZfuXBcAWx0ddvRimJRGtBO4Ogar7rNZ0j1kTPWzRBxkzAvgPKURquONbTT4I/s1600/face2.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gj8pSiBR_F0GIo1nnSpSuyWsOPb6LghddEdrU6DFNucmOej91nYzb998aXohx7CZ-Y4sKQvpxOOAqncZfuXBcAWx0ddvRimJRGtBO4Ogar7rNZ0j1kTPWzRBxkzAvgPKURquONbTT4I/s320/face2.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWMEW7JbF2iYemEJAywF6rOHr01S0JU0s1gGmc018IGxPsLTRHbHSRo5bGbjRpsgnrU57e6wwNhEtumDpI_LmqiiBJYICi4BdT8Y3H3o5mxOuZOffVmRIJ3Y0xYWyeTleyZAJlumEaKM/s1600/face3.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWMEW7JbF2iYemEJAywF6rOHr01S0JU0s1gGmc018IGxPsLTRHbHSRo5bGbjRpsgnrU57e6wwNhEtumDpI_LmqiiBJYICi4BdT8Y3H3o5mxOuZOffVmRIJ3Y0xYWyeTleyZAJlumEaKM/s320/face3.jpg" width="213" /></a></center><br />
I can't wait to see what else he can do in this program. And even if G needs years of speech therapy, we'll be there with him step by step, cheering at every new words he says and every new sound he learns.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-73928154212148663572012-08-23T21:55:00.002-05:002012-08-23T21:55:59.862-05:00jump jump!<center>
<a href="http://s1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd506/aarishiaa/?action=view&current=jump2.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd506/aarishiaa/jump2.gif" width="266" /></a></center>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-52083356298885743672012-08-19T12:35:00.000-05:002012-08-19T12:36:25.635-05:00bath time is apparently hilariousAt therapy on Friday, I was asked to name three things I love about my kid.<br />
<br />
I said,<br />
1) he's very affectionate and loving.<br />
2) he loves to read as much as I do.<br />
3) he's so stinkin' <i>happy</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DLivqfP9t6VfqIC-aWvDNm0PQhi2IuBhtucHSRjsCtOjUpGik9diwzasKAiKmJaxvZrtgBD1HOpxhPVkSzOq1aGqm4NZZluYN_eBFZEi6zPfVYsQxhSjzkMKtWM6hmamHKeb_ZFCL4U/s1600/bath1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DLivqfP9t6VfqIC-aWvDNm0PQhi2IuBhtucHSRjsCtOjUpGik9diwzasKAiKmJaxvZrtgBD1HOpxhPVkSzOq1aGqm4NZZluYN_eBFZEi6zPfVYsQxhSjzkMKtWM6hmamHKeb_ZFCL4U/s640/bath1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5OdHCTXLGl9quDqr58Y6iePqrhoBz3iGjw1C1dL3Ki8c7YuD9BDduNZnHa6qrjhukmomYavBqW9tGMKRkxlvNqIlAJicHp1dbkJGt4WPdSbeb_D3_jTwA6ljuXvjd34ILHFPwv4VRYs/s1600/bath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5OdHCTXLGl9quDqr58Y6iePqrhoBz3iGjw1C1dL3Ki8c7YuD9BDduNZnHa6qrjhukmomYavBqW9tGMKRkxlvNqIlAJicHp1dbkJGt4WPdSbeb_D3_jTwA6ljuXvjd34ILHFPwv4VRYs/s640/bath2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
He loves to smile and laugh while talking. Often it seems like he's telling his own jokes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXp7flNktdqPmZUIreBkKBHxOlfMq88dr0cIYvlZRmB2buBOKzV6-xNLjJsWWZRsEGN-FWChTVy_Tctk7198qI-883GhgWpeKOsoqKn2HGqX-iEobqNc7OAXteq7FfvycSkXqfRU8Lss/s1600/bath3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXp7flNktdqPmZUIreBkKBHxOlfMq88dr0cIYvlZRmB2buBOKzV6-xNLjJsWWZRsEGN-FWChTVy_Tctk7198qI-883GhgWpeKOsoqKn2HGqX-iEobqNc7OAXteq7FfvycSkXqfRU8Lss/s640/bath3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyaTzC1g5kbdRPQnpN9eH1m09xJsDH_HqnS-_9oyV2UVdeIRBCgschWcFvysqK-0bWtw8jtClWfk63yl2yVgbJvlAeQcCU5WcEesBINSbvTy2Pg1RBdBilEGB7jjF21BWAouFRBLQS1c/s1600/bath4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyaTzC1g5kbdRPQnpN9eH1m09xJsDH_HqnS-_9oyV2UVdeIRBCgschWcFvysqK-0bWtw8jtClWfk63yl2yVgbJvlAeQcCU5WcEesBINSbvTy2Pg1RBdBilEGB7jjF21BWAouFRBLQS1c/s640/bath4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I asked him where mama was, and he laughed and pointed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3vDMGgYF8rnjBGKunauJsWBI8yFV9FyK96jaDkyhFTZn0AnwAW6XbyToJmJlcHjSOfe2Q6jD_2QwsH3o8E1297EFBAwt_IVP0tChUIeO9AKN4UkQvvCGqw9xtrnybOxS-0gPtsWt5tg/s1600/bath7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3vDMGgYF8rnjBGKunauJsWBI8yFV9FyK96jaDkyhFTZn0AnwAW6XbyToJmJlcHjSOfe2Q6jD_2QwsH3o8E1297EFBAwt_IVP0tChUIeO9AKN4UkQvvCGqw9xtrnybOxS-0gPtsWt5tg/s640/bath7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Doing his "cute" face. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFSXouiUOp1Fa3x09Df92mR_sGBKV5Y7HFUzQQetvSaLFd9UQqet9uxJvYmPq7VUmeOv0PddajUxjGi3R8mMF1Bz7EUPM6rBIg9RLNyA-2xEyisi9BEZliOYb0mQGp9I7aR3HkKvQL3Q/s1600/bath8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFSXouiUOp1Fa3x09Df92mR_sGBKV5Y7HFUzQQetvSaLFd9UQqet9uxJvYmPq7VUmeOv0PddajUxjGi3R8mMF1Bz7EUPM6rBIg9RLNyA-2xEyisi9BEZliOYb0mQGp9I7aR3HkKvQL3Q/s640/bath8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfKD2DsNwrEXZgs7XFwSbY_15SFePAKyZjsfAHx0c-qy_OQ-MHIZoUh7l7GRJ-z4cun24_285EORv9qP50v6hFbzS8jtRPT81J1bBrclVV22Vl9VO5K9q1NPFjIs-gzCuB3meAOOJUs/s1600/bath6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNfKD2DsNwrEXZgs7XFwSbY_15SFePAKyZjsfAHx0c-qy_OQ-MHIZoUh7l7GRJ-z4cun24_285EORv9qP50v6hFbzS8jtRPT81J1bBrclVV22Vl9VO5K9q1NPFjIs-gzCuB3meAOOJUs/s640/bath6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Gotta love that toothy smile!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpqPBq4wm0ts0JNr7S6qcZwKgT2-IMG1MUZmYiJ0DhOxMjutkSALROxHFpX8vJvf5_5kkGFZqJDOBYYE5V0N0oLmRs_BKsHWSNy4RggF66I6oJVtuZPdTxlKp7Ci9c-raYr8S5Z85wsE/s1600/bath5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpqPBq4wm0ts0JNr7S6qcZwKgT2-IMG1MUZmYiJ0DhOxMjutkSALROxHFpX8vJvf5_5kkGFZqJDOBYYE5V0N0oLmRs_BKsHWSNy4RggF66I6oJVtuZPdTxlKp7Ci9c-raYr8S5Z85wsE/s640/bath5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-31522049313171496582012-08-17T20:33:00.000-05:002012-08-17T20:33:55.397-05:00where do I even start?The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of revelations and sadness. If you're tired of hearing about my miscarriages and related troubles, you probably want to move on. I promise the posts for the rest of the month will turn to happier subjects.<br />
<br />
<b>On Tuesday</b>, I got a positive pregnancy test. It was so faint that we really thought we were just seeing things, so we didn't tell anyone and quietly hoped. I did call my OB and got an appointment to come in for bloodwork the next day.<br />
<br />
<b>On Wednesday,<i> </i></b>I got more positive pregnancy tests, this time much more obvious. I had my blood drawn to test my HCG levels, then headed up to my first visit with maternal/fetal medicine. Dr. K was pretty awesome; she actually has the same OB/GYN as me, which was great. We went over everything my test results showed, which was more than I had originally thought.<br />
<br />
I knew that I had one genetic marker for Factor V Leiden, a disorder that can cause blood clots. Dr. K was pretty sure this was why G only weighed 6.3 ounces at 38 weeks and why I got pre-eclampsia with him. She was amazed that I didn't get pre-e earlier. :( Another reason I'm so so thankful for my healthy toddler!<br />
<br />
However, I discovered that I have two markers for MTHFR. I didn't hear which kind, but she said it was not the "worst type" but the "medium." Since MTHFR blocks the absorption of folic acid, this might have been what caused baby #2's base of the brain problems. We'll never know for sure, but there you go. I also have two markers for PAI 4G/4G, which she said wasn't a big deal except when combined with other factors.<br />
<br />
So, awesome, right?<br />
<br />
Anyway, we formed a game plan for my next successful pregnancy:<br />
<ul>
<li>4000 mcg extra folic acid</li>
<li>40 ml of Lovenox in a daily injection</li>
<li>500 mg extra calcium (once I start Lovenox)</li>
<li>1 daily baby aspirin during pregnancy (and for the rest of my life)</li>
<li>Lovenox is started as soon as we get a heartbeat at 6-7 weeks. I would get bloodwork and an ultrasound done every month to check the baby and my red blood cell counts. At 32 weeks, the ultrasounds become bi-weekly.</li>
<li>Switch to Heparin before delivery so I could have an epidural if wanted or stay awake during a c-section.</li>
<li>Induction around 38 weeks. I would then switch over to blood thinner in the form of pills for the next 6 weeks.</li>
</ul>
Whew! A mouthful, right? But it's worth it, if it'll get us another baby... Wednesday was also baby #2's due date. I did break down in Dr K's office because there was a lot of talk about baby #2. Also, the office was the same one where we had our extensive ultrasound to diagnose baby #2's miscarriage. Stepping into that waiting room literally took my breath away (we had no idea), and I'm pretty sure the hubs cursed. <br />
<br />
<b>On Thursday, </b>I had another positive pregnancy test, but it was fainter. I called my OB for my test results. The nurse called back to say that my blood HCG test had came back negative. In fact, my HCG was only 3. Of course, I was shocked. I thought maybe my tests were too faint and they weren't getting darker, but I thought maybe the baby was just a late implanter. Not so.<br />
<br />
Later that day, I started having horrible backache and spotting.<br />
<br />
<b>Today, </b>I'm still spotting. I took one pregnancy test this morning which was negative. I'm guessing I'll get my period eventually... or the miscarriage... or whatever you call it when it's a chemical pregnancy (which, by the way, is a nasty term for a very early miscarriage). Should I call it baby #4? I don't even know. Maybe my body just wasn't ready to be pregnant again two months after my last miscarriage? I don't know that either. All I know is that I'm tired of being on the shit side of life's percentages of chance. I want something to go right for once. I need it to go right.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm gonna take a break from talking about all of this. We'll start trying again immediately, but of course it'll be about a month before we know if we're successful. All of this waiting definitely doesn't help.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-16962198313880752142012-08-16T19:13:00.000-05:002012-08-16T19:13:21.223-05:00grayson says, I love the park!Grayson says,<br />
<br />
I love going to the park! It's been really hot this summer so we haven't gone out except on great days. But when we go, it's <i>awesome</i>.<br />
<br />
I love to run in circles. Circles are the best. I mostly only draw circles too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FnsDTOIuBf5gTyzwLhWU6rzYmkfCtUGb5VfmaqZmzwTatk592W8xqhulFI5rT8ENFioL_B-TbfcWkdPxQBe8FZ6i1emxQwK3of2DqRby_0NXmUSZT0dfTKttKj5yOlYThyb1CbGAJkw/s1600/park1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FnsDTOIuBf5gTyzwLhWU6rzYmkfCtUGb5VfmaqZmzwTatk592W8xqhulFI5rT8ENFioL_B-TbfcWkdPxQBe8FZ6i1emxQwK3of2DqRby_0NXmUSZT0dfTKttKj5yOlYThyb1CbGAJkw/s640/park1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And then I climb up and down these stairs. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5NeKRLxXPCxZ_q4-8G1iyXCqDfDjW3hE-gaqYm-92nncnDafE3QZlw9OpNKk6TMfZg_XKKGD1ODjh8V9DlH-jc2VuKfcsBvrl0T38Z_pLQ54LUWGftf-3o4neGnDzULZ0X37aOGw94o/s1600/park3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5NeKRLxXPCxZ_q4-8G1iyXCqDfDjW3hE-gaqYm-92nncnDafE3QZlw9OpNKk6TMfZg_XKKGD1ODjh8V9DlH-jc2VuKfcsBvrl0T38Z_pLQ54LUWGftf-3o4neGnDzULZ0X37aOGw94o/s640/park3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes I'll sit and pose for mama.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhpxrWANektbwasSCXgQkIv1pgSTC0yV9Pzdq9DZgEJpbxTDYrN3nEiQU8YoIktWXNrM7eNdW-MTLAP1rs4rGmhb4xjz4vNxpVfrsEp7OHNcbpd3M_CY9DMUtOyB2laVXNcPI_Z4dCJY/s1600/park15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhpxrWANektbwasSCXgQkIv1pgSTC0yV9Pzdq9DZgEJpbxTDYrN3nEiQU8YoIktWXNrM7eNdW-MTLAP1rs4rGmhb4xjz4vNxpVfrsEp7OHNcbpd3M_CY9DMUtOyB2laVXNcPI_Z4dCJY/s640/park15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And then I'll run some more! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja70h1jb7iyri6q7Xf45PwOJFn-B3mOm3zItYo7r8CE529yA05kAwaXoQn3tpZKEl-3Qf1Um69IS2I0_eM139aN2ayNZ1-qPn5BY68JieOVCnOposGbAvzlPbtkzhHYT-iTKy6GJz9Zqw/s1600/park2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja70h1jb7iyri6q7Xf45PwOJFn-B3mOm3zItYo7r8CE529yA05kAwaXoQn3tpZKEl-3Qf1Um69IS2I0_eM139aN2ayNZ1-qPn5BY68JieOVCnOposGbAvzlPbtkzhHYT-iTKy6GJz9Zqw/s640/park2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This wheel thing is hilarious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1WQoMRkJLAvhGQ_A2yX2zvBOptddLZ52dSnhQDHptEClFLXslhsTov9_zyqXdNXM9T3Kg9uQIGl8lqRL4uLcu30uRkViO2CH6cij9rL7l25oYjYIx5fpErjw_vDa-0ex0RxfdDpJObE/s1600/park4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1WQoMRkJLAvhGQ_A2yX2zvBOptddLZ52dSnhQDHptEClFLXslhsTov9_zyqXdNXM9T3Kg9uQIGl8lqRL4uLcu30uRkViO2CH6cij9rL7l25oYjYIx5fpErjw_vDa-0ex0RxfdDpJObE/s640/park4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This wheel thingy is hilarious too! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuoLGMXkXxpZL1_87zGXDnxfgM4YMnoxgLVDB_wW5CasYaUUAvPgKN8Z21dxpB9dim1PDLg0PrnC1fPb_52mbL92fLq2Fzho0Y2FLolo8iJaHqm25FKbdMVW4mD_eXKzucgzXMoCDY8o/s1600/park14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuoLGMXkXxpZL1_87zGXDnxfgM4YMnoxgLVDB_wW5CasYaUUAvPgKN8Z21dxpB9dim1PDLg0PrnC1fPb_52mbL92fLq2Fzho0Y2FLolo8iJaHqm25FKbdMVW4mD_eXKzucgzXMoCDY8o/s640/park14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9-mpxaxdYCJaVPviS-vS2lybg_ZE_TNOYLgsbhUenW5xXwB5VrM-N7ura1yyFGvNqDc4bJUmSjGSYd_I1b4r93RfIbXexyraCTmdTr7AwME0xD9jmYZzAt3o7GGxyx6AXnXdOEc-zHM/s1600/park13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9-mpxaxdYCJaVPviS-vS2lybg_ZE_TNOYLgsbhUenW5xXwB5VrM-N7ura1yyFGvNqDc4bJUmSjGSYd_I1b4r93RfIbXexyraCTmdTr7AwME0xD9jmYZzAt3o7GGxyx6AXnXdOEc-zHM/s640/park13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh mama, did you say this was the way back to the car?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc-SOLjlPHLpi0yfNkAQq7TaieDm5JG4maAG__IeJto3_99sx9w4LTtQfHUl731F67FMY_ml2tBCSGiE3v4q6LDzYUEOZnl6KTrqBYU_qwVjDkh43mahsqFlg7w3PQocCBLniTNBWprk/s1600/park12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc-SOLjlPHLpi0yfNkAQq7TaieDm5JG4maAG__IeJto3_99sx9w4LTtQfHUl731F67FMY_ml2tBCSGiE3v4q6LDzYUEOZnl6KTrqBYU_qwVjDkh43mahsqFlg7w3PQocCBLniTNBWprk/s640/park12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh wait, what's that? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ4nsHJsFPJPqr-xC6fjnCHJDy7glcu9EEykVtfi0cur3BWfuIrqorOXFsyH9Al0qPmQ1GGa1CN6ndcbsrt9OSvZI0eJ88z59IVBMWaP2RHXI4RrYYHRqlLxjDt8rsbQxg3Ca7jXBPnc/s1600/park6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ4nsHJsFPJPqr-xC6fjnCHJDy7glcu9EEykVtfi0cur3BWfuIrqorOXFsyH9Al0qPmQ1GGa1CN6ndcbsrt9OSvZI0eJ88z59IVBMWaP2RHXI4RrYYHRqlLxjDt8rsbQxg3Ca7jXBPnc/s640/park6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Haha, psyche. We're not going back to the car yet. Silly mama. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShESWwS37DdSOJjgrIZsHWsAOa4nASIU89QovotmFF3cNBpvV-6KmCBIQLpBCj-otp6KEZrvesCn3_neU14MUmTSUiPWJ_iY2Htvg13odbj6uOF2_-nz7xmDeF1qWZrQp3vq2i-t9pg/s1600/park5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShESWwS37DdSOJjgrIZsHWsAOa4nASIU89QovotmFF3cNBpvV-6KmCBIQLpBCj-otp6KEZrvesCn3_neU14MUmTSUiPWJ_iY2Htvg13odbj6uOF2_-nz7xmDeF1qWZrQp3vq2i-t9pg/s640/park5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I gotta show you these alphabet letters first. You know I stinkin' love the alphabet.<br />
<br />
Here is the W. That's my favorite. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWQjhgF6CDgjh1222FyZ-9VvnqN6qaY7nnwFBhNvn1Z2FoAwcetyPbwaWgsU2EkyszlZxgj5ZNcD5KmZ5z_VRxA_MLNmIF4qSxUsJ3veAGnWy09M_vergr-_fudI6sxR7JqkeUMvMDIU/s1600/park10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWQjhgF6CDgjh1222FyZ-9VvnqN6qaY7nnwFBhNvn1Z2FoAwcetyPbwaWgsU2EkyszlZxgj5ZNcD5KmZ5z_VRxA_MLNmIF4qSxUsJ3veAGnWy09M_vergr-_fudI6sxR7JqkeUMvMDIU/s640/park10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Um. (So much pressure.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaFw7AA2dsLrtX3hxnNsHprZkc0nym6H1tw7p2PRbbs5VWdd0OBJUk1KaH1hJMaUCgC_PWokBKjDSRjeScVZRbeHKfZ_9iQvLGCaWaBWRBdWtll8PKfurv3iNY7ptgJlJYwdVRN-U4OA/s1600/park7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaFw7AA2dsLrtX3hxnNsHprZkc0nym6H1tw7p2PRbbs5VWdd0OBJUk1KaH1hJMaUCgC_PWokBKjDSRjeScVZRbeHKfZ_9iQvLGCaWaBWRBdWtll8PKfurv3iNY7ptgJlJYwdVRN-U4OA/s640/park7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is the A. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstvabiekM7C-ZIu78N4ELFP00Y8GlamaP25wR1_xSHnt_Nuwm2fZbrT4NfgJR8cG0apIKtegEa2h6iw6uMmMuzgxrYyqdo0_ODOxJKTLQYq0zCDg6zJKsRNtvLJQWgXVr4Tn6i7eybdo/s1600/park8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstvabiekM7C-ZIu78N4ELFP00Y8GlamaP25wR1_xSHnt_Nuwm2fZbrT4NfgJR8cG0apIKtegEa2h6iw6uMmMuzgxrYyqdo0_ODOxJKTLQYq0zCDg6zJKsRNtvLJQWgXVr4Tn6i7eybdo/s640/park8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And there you have it. The alphabet! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvp3PgRWA3ST92P875CTvM6asbs0zWxp0a2I-aE5AHQ3cDxYZM2AfZkXM6THdfSM2BTUaE_uaLZ62KWlIJOcNlg3w5HA_caBwei3k_jI1ThnQHL300K1oQKAPmh_5fyLqchvrSd7qBTM/s1600/park9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvp3PgRWA3ST92P875CTvM6asbs0zWxp0a2I-aE5AHQ3cDxYZM2AfZkXM6THdfSM2BTUaE_uaLZ62KWlIJOcNlg3w5HA_caBwei3k_jI1ThnQHL300K1oQKAPmh_5fyLqchvrSd7qBTM/s640/park9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-66081506021525698272012-08-14T05:00:00.000-05:002012-08-14T05:00:00.990-05:00on the eve of your due dateDear baby #2,<br />
<br />
Your due date is tomorrow. August 15th.<br />
<br />
Almost forty weeks ago, your mama was beginning the cycle that would conceive you, and your daddy and I were so so happy to finally be trying for a second child. It took two months of trying and I remember how thrilled I was to see those two pink lines. You were my 11/11/11 wish. A little girl I didn't know asked me if I had a baby in my tummy two days before I tested positive with you, and I almost said, "Yes!" You were the baby we told friends and family about on my 30th birthday party and the timing was so perfect to surprise everyone. You were the perfect piece to finish our family.<br />
<br />
On Valentine's Day, I threw up all over myself on the way to tutor a second grader. I was almost 14 weeks pregnant with you. That evening, your older brother split open his eyelid on our coffee table and we went the next four hours in the emergency room. I sat in the lobby, rubbing my belly, touching you to reassure myself because I was so scared about G. I didn't know at that moment you were likely already gone from me. The next day, we went in for a routine check-up, expecting to hear your heartbeat for the first time. <i>We heard nothing.</i><br />
<br />
It's only gotten worse since then, second-baby. Your mama is trying, she's trying so hard. But we lost your brother-sister in June, and I feel like <i>this nightmare will never end</i>. I'm tired of charting my basal temperatures and trying to have more babies. I'm tired of wondering how many more I'll have to lose before we either get our take-home baby or give up in despair. I'm tired of peeing on tests to see if they're positive or negative, or trying to figure out if every twinge in my stomach is good or bad.<br />
<br />
On your due date, on Wednesday, we have a doctor's appointment with a specialist who will try to help us from losing more babies. I might have to have daily or twice daily shots in my stomach, which is kinda ironic considering <i>my belly is the source of all my hope and all my sadness. </i>I hope I can keep from crying. I hope I can keep from screaming. Because all I really want is to have you back inside me, tucked safely under my ribs. Or better yet, since your due date is tomorrow, to have you alive and well in my arms.<br />
<br />
More than anything, I wish you were snuggled against my chest right now, and I would be typing about happier things. Maybe I would be editing pictures from your birth day. Maybe I would be dozing along with you. Maybe I would be still trying to find the breastfeeding angle that you liked best, tucking my nipple down and against your lips so you could feed for the fifth time today. I know that these wants are hopeless and impossible, but I want them nonetheless. I don't want you to feel bad about how much I still grieve for you. I know you're in such a happy place right now, and I know I'll get there eventually, but it's hard to see that perspective right now.<br />
<br />
I hope one day that you'll forgive me for not fighting harder to hold you in my arms when you were born. You came into the world in such an awful way. I should have been awake to see you. I should have birthed you at home. My doctor did suggest at the last moment, right before they hooked up my IV, if I wanted her to get me into labor and delivery; I could have been induced and could have seen you. I could have held you. I could have taken you home with me and buried you. But I didn't. Mommy was so scared. I didn't think I could handle being in the same ward as other moms giving birth to healthy babies. I didn't think I could go through a painful miscarriage at home at 14 weeks along, so I did the D&C instead. I'm sorry I never found out if you were a boy or a girl. Or what really happened to you.<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I wasn't stronger for you. <br />
<br />
Second-baby, can you please give baby #3 a giant hug for me? I know you had to become an older sibling so quickly to another angel baby. But sister-brother really needs you. Mommy hasn't been able to properly grieve for them, not like I have you. I guess I'm still too stuck on missing and wanting you to attach myself to other babies right now. Please tell your sister-brother that Mommy loves them and she wanted them badly, even if maybe she hasn't talked about it much. We had such a short time together, only seven weeks, and mommy wanted so much longer.<br />
<br />
You would be so proud of your older brother, second child of mine. He has done so well when mommy was sad and couldn't play, or when I wouldn't let him run around very much for fear he would get hurt. I feel like he understands that when I say, "Be careful please," what I really mean is "I miss your siblings."<br />
<br />
I can't promise you to do better than I am. But I can at least promise to keep doing as well as I am. I can promise to eventually get rid of the bitterness I feel toward others and brush aside my feelings of being ignored. Not everyone understands the pain of loss, and the fact that it never goes away. I want to be more forgiving, but it's difficult to do that right now.<br />
<br />
I miss you, child of mine. I miss you terribly. I love you, I love you, I love you.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday.<br />
<br />
~MamaAlicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-43959730107586649372012-08-13T12:14:00.000-05:002012-08-13T12:14:15.120-05:00Amazon Giftcard Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd3hENhpbsJJwuAQigjmqu1tZiQT3CYWf8y4wJF1MKNSSk9HZHVG-eTUeIOIBh6Zg17wDEWHvnj35buWOTjFlIkCxrgf4MegfUGq18CTmVqKswc8FN_3WhfRA1_qdgF57V-C976V4WIs/s1600/giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd3hENhpbsJJwuAQigjmqu1tZiQT3CYWf8y4wJF1MKNSSk9HZHVG-eTUeIOIBh6Zg17wDEWHvnj35buWOTjFlIkCxrgf4MegfUGq18CTmVqKswc8FN_3WhfRA1_qdgF57V-C976V4WIs/s640/giveaway.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our Many Colored Moments is doing its first giveaway!<br />
<br />
I admit, I got a Kindle for Christmas but I really didn't know what to do with it. I'm a purest when it comes to books, so the idea of buying books only to have to read them on a screen wasn't appealing. I love my book collection. I love holding the paper in my hand! But then I realized that many libraries, including mine in Nashville, let you check out eBooks for free.<br />
<br />
Of course, my two year old loves the Kindle. Since we have Amazon Prime, he can watch the first two seasons of Yo Gabba Gabba for free. He knows how to play all sorts of games on it too, including ABC flashcard games since he's obsessed with the alphabet.<br />
<br />
I just recently realized the Kindle was a huge help in the kitchen too! I can pop on the Internet, pull up a recipe I pinned in Pinterest, and stand up my Kindle on the counter. Way easier than using my laptop or phone.<br />
<br />
So because I love Amazon, I'm giving one of you a <span style="font-size: large;"><b>$25 Kindle Giftcard to Amazon!</b></span><br />
You can use it on many Kindle products, as well as millions of other items available on Amazon.com!<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/6f21b91/" id="rc-6f21b91" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
Giveaway ends midnight on Friday, August 31st!<br />
<br /><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
<i>Our Many Colored Moments has no affiliation with Amazon. I'm not receiving any compensation to do this giveaway. I'm just a happy Amazon customer!</i><br /><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com159tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-11269050451698294372012-08-12T20:24:00.003-05:002012-08-12T20:24:56.020-05:00these last days of summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIkzGuNFL881zf760TWop28RjvvLfUTH5Lqak7bkEapxS6LPgCWenFQBB31S4coqSibvINnyWaqxLVhpJaZYofeS8KAtxYseJu5s6SMO4Rfq6U9xLGDOXY8WvkqNucJv0Su12_X90Wq8/s1600/Water1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIkzGuNFL881zf760TWop28RjvvLfUTH5Lqak7bkEapxS6LPgCWenFQBB31S4coqSibvINnyWaqxLVhpJaZYofeS8KAtxYseJu5s6SMO4Rfq6U9xLGDOXY8WvkqNucJv0Su12_X90Wq8/s640/Water1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The past couple of days have had glorious weather in the 80s instead of the high 90s and 100s we've suffered through since late Spring. I'm feeling the need to do all the things I wanted to do this summer that I haven't already. Once of those was taking G to Cumberland Park, which is right next to the Titans stadium, just across the river from downtown Nashville. <br />
<br />
Cumberland Park is fantastic because of its water jets and wading pool. It's perfect especially for tiny kids, so I was hoping G would love it. At first, he clung to me like a monkey, but he reluctantly let me put him down after a bit. He had a tight grip on my hand for a while after that, and then eventually he was off on his own. He'd return now and then to touch my leg, as though reassuring himself, and then he was off again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkZCWrxhWK3QGoGN-cVV0vhPFK0b61KtU74_Lpq131UA14eQ4PFVhptqyRYpzPdKRwTKDcr0irgshcZA9u8RD1hoO5et1JDB4XbHy-_vhJaVr453RLTmQHVSGQNbn4Zn4qUMq793x9Y4/s1600/water2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkZCWrxhWK3QGoGN-cVV0vhPFK0b61KtU74_Lpq131UA14eQ4PFVhptqyRYpzPdKRwTKDcr0irgshcZA9u8RD1hoO5et1JDB4XbHy-_vhJaVr453RLTmQHVSGQNbn4Zn4qUMq793x9Y4/s640/water2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lGHT_mHVo2KRU9TrPbz_jXU6q-DVkgFBJ4BG_OyRtIyXKNySEGY7BnUEJkSzfnzorOmqA8tpjuuCfyBM3G2DjKTDwht57E2L4SJaMn-swkBqSTBG7sj16VE1KyjFj_sZ65iqu8-OK0c/s1600/water3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lGHT_mHVo2KRU9TrPbz_jXU6q-DVkgFBJ4BG_OyRtIyXKNySEGY7BnUEJkSzfnzorOmqA8tpjuuCfyBM3G2DjKTDwht57E2L4SJaMn-swkBqSTBG7sj16VE1KyjFj_sZ65iqu8-OK0c/s640/water3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi360icy1juL7_dmOk86HQvRzuiSQhv-uqtHrOl8nFxh39X2ynFvGcUfYdpnBL_z2qNQE6_Y4Gyov_oMc2EP9D0qIn_jRPvosr33u0trkKYQZmoqlPNEezWtyoslsinEjKrl5i7xQRwOOA/s1600/water4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi360icy1juL7_dmOk86HQvRzuiSQhv-uqtHrOl8nFxh39X2ynFvGcUfYdpnBL_z2qNQE6_Y4Gyov_oMc2EP9D0qIn_jRPvosr33u0trkKYQZmoqlPNEezWtyoslsinEjKrl5i7xQRwOOA/s640/water4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-NP-NKVCC3Ne47D6yIDfVi3Mg3xUaKLPZSGUjp_iP0H483Zk8q2HjexyppQwB3y1etv83JazJaJKAoNisbY3qiV6EkNB6aKBFvYV0nzbcCMEVQ43A4HHAu_fXSZWM8qE97VEtsOF6SI/s1600/water5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-NP-NKVCC3Ne47D6yIDfVi3Mg3xUaKLPZSGUjp_iP0H483Zk8q2HjexyppQwB3y1etv83JazJaJKAoNisbY3qiV6EkNB6aKBFvYV0nzbcCMEVQ43A4HHAu_fXSZWM8qE97VEtsOF6SI/s640/water5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZkyHNaLexJXDvOt3HfMrRkivACYmOo4UiXKdsTGiYbeg5Z_aAe0EVYreYnfO5PjnmJ77z0Qa2Tk5je5QTRZKI9qKLg9AZs0wKnot9ujcGbbowAgn7t6DlePc1s5lUSz1oo1LAA_6k6Q/s1600/water6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZkyHNaLexJXDvOt3HfMrRkivACYmOo4UiXKdsTGiYbeg5Z_aAe0EVYreYnfO5PjnmJ77z0Qa2Tk5je5QTRZKI9qKLg9AZs0wKnot9ujcGbbowAgn7t6DlePc1s5lUSz1oo1LAA_6k6Q/s640/water6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I know he looks pretty serious in most of these pictures, but I swear he was loving it by the end. He didn't want to go and protested having to leave. We had already been there for over an hour, and our feet were very wrinkly! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2_iBuQcnEIGESUn1bTegKLro3YmGBQstJqUQjRhsqk-FJcZZed9TUbRsV5KSjm3MF9TM89JMXaXuh9dhsiXaJkFISbWY_MJ6HmeqyIb2xG_jDX22kzX78IthJN5qLX_VBsC48CFQt-o/s1600/water7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2_iBuQcnEIGESUn1bTegKLro3YmGBQstJqUQjRhsqk-FJcZZed9TUbRsV5KSjm3MF9TM89JMXaXuh9dhsiXaJkFISbWY_MJ6HmeqyIb2xG_jDX22kzX78IthJN5qLX_VBsC48CFQt-o/s640/water7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wiwTCG-Mq-KNDOEEC85hvAyXttDxA-PQtev1PZaN8ZPGVP4Mk3dukv4YizxK2LpIjcLE5k6XmfvBDZzcUINtfeXLSgj6kNiBK5vAwaZVZxBpaTLct_GOacvyUKxBx997NqWj3KZC4GQ/s1600/water8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wiwTCG-Mq-KNDOEEC85hvAyXttDxA-PQtev1PZaN8ZPGVP4Mk3dukv4YizxK2LpIjcLE5k6XmfvBDZzcUINtfeXLSgj6kNiBK5vAwaZVZxBpaTLct_GOacvyUKxBx997NqWj3KZC4GQ/s640/water8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I didn't really want to leave either... but it was taco night. Nothing really stands in the way of taco night.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-21828643419310546622012-08-09T21:17:00.000-05:002012-08-09T21:30:03.347-05:00talk, baby, talk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9bHiwgkmCLW8kH65m_yW9xOu7IHoM1SzwX94WNKM5A4HrWZWXKJ1m1wFXOPBFGGxwxhuKOJD3rcv1ukepmPZjQM6rvOQxA9Yp8OwFQqabQ6t3ZfjZUdHFamq03n28Ohn1rEb4tnOA-w/s1600/2012-08-06_1344258563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9bHiwgkmCLW8kH65m_yW9xOu7IHoM1SzwX94WNKM5A4HrWZWXKJ1m1wFXOPBFGGxwxhuKOJD3rcv1ukepmPZjQM6rvOQxA9Yp8OwFQqabQ6t3ZfjZUdHFamq03n28Ohn1rEb4tnOA-w/s320/2012-08-06_1344258563.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you're wondering why G's chest looks funny in the above pic, he's wearing what's called a LENA, or voice recorder. On Monday, we recorded everything G said and heard the entire day. Yes, I was on my best behavior!<br />
<br />
(P.S. G's reading <i>How I Became A Pirate</i> by Melinda Long, one of his favorite books. It's sorta kinda awesome.)<br />
<br />
After being denied by our state's early intervention program, despite the fact that G only scored one point in expressive communication, we were accepted by KidTalk! KidTalk is a research program at Vanderbilt University. Part of what they do is provide speech therapy <i>for free</i> to toddlers who need it - in fact, they pay you for the times they review progress.<br />
<br />
We've been going through preliminary testing this week as we get ready for the real therapy to start week after next. Mostly, they've been testing him for autism (they do this for all the kids) and getting a baseline for G's speech abilities right now. The LENA helps determine what he's saying right now so we can weight that with what he learns over the next four months.<br />
<br />
KidTalk only lasts four months, but I'm hoping one of the main things is accomplishes is teaching <i>me</i> what to do to help G. We spend time at the Vanderbilt clinic each week as the therapist teaches me techniques to use with G. Then we have a session at home where we practice using those techniques.<br />
<br />
I've discovered a few things about G this week as he has gone through testing:<br />
- He thinks Play-doh is <i>awesome</i>.<br />
- When a puppet ducky asks to eat his tummy, he obliges by raising his shirt, without missing a beat, sending everyone into stitches while laughing.<br />
- Baby dolls are his newest favorite toy. I'm on the lookout for a great set to get him.<br />
- My kid can go through over 2 hours of extensive play-based testing with only a short cuddle play break with mommy.<br />
- Other people think he's the best kid ever as much as I do.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to see how KidTalk benefits both G and me. I see only good things coming from this fantastic opportunity, and I'm so so <i>so</i> thankful to have figured out a way to help out my kiddo.Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-75306745395882778562012-08-07T21:41:00.001-05:002012-08-07T21:41:52.275-05:00OMCM now has a Facebook page!You can now "like" Our Many Colored Moments<i> </i>on Facebook.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/OurManyColoredMoments">Check it.</a>Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569469595307109479.post-5179547143041953112012-08-06T20:47:00.000-05:002012-08-06T20:47:28.586-05:00my trip to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ZmMwhyL_HvZq68oLc_y5MNxbCrS6WTBH-4rclt8oU6qJoCIl5Trgj0ALJDmS6Wdd6ld07SaFKQAuPVBxl5kzWqsAt9WhsbMUcdJ0PxLQH1JddvcTkYwNS7dGqpKNPLxbOoZAJRR4oE/s1600/2012-08-01_1343863816.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ZmMwhyL_HvZq68oLc_y5MNxbCrS6WTBH-4rclt8oU6qJoCIl5Trgj0ALJDmS6Wdd6ld07SaFKQAuPVBxl5kzWqsAt9WhsbMUcdJ0PxLQH1JddvcTkYwNS7dGqpKNPLxbOoZAJRR4oE/s200/2012-08-01_1343863816.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZfE7y-m_92S6A4HzxpektkOhNRxxbwl9dzQ7GEhJbzlZpqgvl34bAPuet6u6XTGqerQb5xn9l48I3Z-IXPW6hKSpAXR279JlRp00lgyrLzq6riDtPwkzK0Hpgnoekhv1ibbqSRzkmfk/s1600/2012-08-03_1343998760.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZfE7y-m_92S6A4HzxpektkOhNRxxbwl9dzQ7GEhJbzlZpqgvl34bAPuet6u6XTGqerQb5xn9l48I3Z-IXPW6hKSpAXR279JlRp00lgyrLzq6riDtPwkzK0Hpgnoekhv1ibbqSRzkmfk/s200/2012-08-03_1343998760.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfzlfuV9DWdDvw7f1RCuiHNZrtWdWpxRTXfJR6hw6x96KN3N-cGR7YWN4g5ERoRht51EEoqKp3bWoq4z3QwsBuLf12pJ8U-ScCLDFtkiPO5CjEu6tkw5xZgR_nDKEHQQo5jZmZmHC89A/s1600/2012-08-03_1343998677.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfzlfuV9DWdDvw7f1RCuiHNZrtWdWpxRTXfJR6hw6x96KN3N-cGR7YWN4g5ERoRht51EEoqKp3bWoq4z3QwsBuLf12pJ8U-ScCLDFtkiPO5CjEu6tkw5xZgR_nDKEHQQo5jZmZmHC89A/s200/2012-08-03_1343998677.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
1. Soooo hard to leave this kid behind.<br />
2. But I know he's in good hands with my Mum.<br />
3. And then we hit the road at 6:30am. Time for our first baby-free weekend!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa08u928kKLwN2zEtvcH-tZmx-Z0j_5B-LHMbGabnbzRXl8jV_iDn718YwDDOAmRfptLR9v5SAGivrtlHLJfM4k2H6DDcqGAYUlswyV6gh1A1CK5HqsrGIYe3tZoOlYhGb6B7jlq8UQQ/s1600/2012-08-03_1344011092.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa08u928kKLwN2zEtvcH-tZmx-Z0j_5B-LHMbGabnbzRXl8jV_iDn718YwDDOAmRfptLR9v5SAGivrtlHLJfM4k2H6DDcqGAYUlswyV6gh1A1CK5HqsrGIYe3tZoOlYhGb6B7jlq8UQQ/s200/2012-08-03_1344011092.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENaKujir7oqGw30xlkh7Ro9QLWaw_5UI9GshE7rqLDKYCfbb4uFojgUBh9Axda-25_iuoflYHKUCJHrKqwq2SGNDBBarbAstp7AvW-PyL22XEER2nBHC3N7MZc4Q_SZP8YEtCrli3WTI/s1600/2012-08-03_1344011081.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENaKujir7oqGw30xlkh7Ro9QLWaw_5UI9GshE7rqLDKYCfbb4uFojgUBh9Axda-25_iuoflYHKUCJHrKqwq2SGNDBBarbAstp7AvW-PyL22XEER2nBHC3N7MZc4Q_SZP8YEtCrli3WTI/s200/2012-08-03_1344011081.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kpbJ3-TWNqvhKJfg6-xzB-Pi7NdqE_CMb5duaBXUlSgSuAK78P5OMzI6WfBGAUb0WahQD4lSSBmGh71fc6Brwy9dSlbBC1OsvBl05bFepIKezaZ7VqP09cn8aDfOyh7x5UGfkcVKWXI/s1600/2012-08-03_1344011136.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kpbJ3-TWNqvhKJfg6-xzB-Pi7NdqE_CMb5duaBXUlSgSuAK78P5OMzI6WfBGAUb0WahQD4lSSBmGh71fc6Brwy9dSlbBC1OsvBl05bFepIKezaZ7VqP09cn8aDfOyh7x5UGfkcVKWXI/s200/2012-08-03_1344011136.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
4. Almost 4 hours later, we're on a tram! Hold on! Old dude is crackin' jokes but please just get us there safely, m'kay?<br />
5. Time for a quick shot of the two of us. Aw.<br />
6. And we made it into the park!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodZl8HpuJ-8QPp6diXxRuj9UPzJJVfa2OdiS7MvDQ8ZBQX4toy-kYJ5LXIVMpJ8G1JLri4FmaHRWWrgjADIhlgSbygs7NWOhM5PKb-n7l0I0JCrjNTzRb6WDrMWAV3eUZft2bBVizR70/s1600/2012-08-05_1344204407.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodZl8HpuJ-8QPp6diXxRuj9UPzJJVfa2OdiS7MvDQ8ZBQX4toy-kYJ5LXIVMpJ8G1JLri4FmaHRWWrgjADIhlgSbygs7NWOhM5PKb-n7l0I0JCrjNTzRb6WDrMWAV3eUZft2bBVizR70/s200/2012-08-05_1344204407.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh31z4lZ4rp_d_vjQNE2v2Y1d9AQAgk8BI-Pma7eEBuu8Sk7I0JZGeuLH6j3vr_7F_2asjpeITDe7lfn3F5ktJRkeHnnyRIdDZsaDLoVKpCpeN4GeXfkfJSfnNgZVfUth1Mrzt0YC_nfE/s1600/2012-08-03_1344012633.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh31z4lZ4rp_d_vjQNE2v2Y1d9AQAgk8BI-Pma7eEBuu8Sk7I0JZGeuLH6j3vr_7F_2asjpeITDe7lfn3F5ktJRkeHnnyRIdDZsaDLoVKpCpeN4GeXfkfJSfnNgZVfUth1Mrzt0YC_nfE/s200/2012-08-03_1344012633.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
7. The entrance to the eagle.<br />
8. The eagle ride at Dollywood is %&^$^# awesome. You feel like you're flying. And about to die. But mostly flying. The wooden roller coaster was mostly "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die," the tornado was all "I can't see because I'm dizzy G force <i>omg</i>," the mining roller coaster was so cool we rode it again almost immediately, and the indoor only other mining ride was like the beginning of a horror movie where the ride breaks down and there's fire everywhere and screaming, lots of screaming.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6NL6ibDvVmrZZPenm_lC7f49YH2VFVEyLPp6YgrLHhTEVv9sjyah-_bPGBaOSRHB8g7MC3X3ajGbV44hpJgqutHI1zcQv2jDX3hGv7KppM5jfSrLF6Q9VB9kzK6udPM-8tV45QqbZ3E/s1600/2012-08-03_1344016782.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6NL6ibDvVmrZZPenm_lC7f49YH2VFVEyLPp6YgrLHhTEVv9sjyah-_bPGBaOSRHB8g7MC3X3ajGbV44hpJgqutHI1zcQv2jDX3hGv7KppM5jfSrLF6Q9VB9kzK6udPM-8tV45QqbZ3E/s200/2012-08-03_1344016782.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfdD0edXxIlUDgGfCdfijLs54NPMvsLsatyT4TFT7fLP7Y2HeYnahaJIQOCW1WKj5WmWwV4s0DpKG5HqDpu9R6w2WHqtnLnu5K5arJcGoXX9XQP8B0jezPzagk0SEJZ7h1qbFuv6_B5o/s1600/2012-08-03_1344017334.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfdD0edXxIlUDgGfCdfijLs54NPMvsLsatyT4TFT7fLP7Y2HeYnahaJIQOCW1WKj5WmWwV4s0DpKG5HqDpu9R6w2WHqtnLnu5K5arJcGoXX9XQP8B0jezPzagk0SEJZ7h1qbFuv6_B5o/s200/2012-08-03_1344017334.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzMISsq0mEDd46LfAHuoTd_LauU1JYVOuNogXg8JPtUWBuZqKN6CTF4r2oK7vuoTIBcCOuGW6HpAtwzx5cNJp0pEoYQ-401OpaK8TNh9tjHiMINosF3MjpwOqDDICJB4hDBKhCnN6n1g/s1600/2012-08-05_1344204303.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzMISsq0mEDd46LfAHuoTd_LauU1JYVOuNogXg8JPtUWBuZqKN6CTF4r2oK7vuoTIBcCOuGW6HpAtwzx5cNJp0pEoYQ-401OpaK8TNh9tjHiMINosF3MjpwOqDDICJB4hDBKhCnN6n1g/s200/2012-08-05_1344204303.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
9. It stormed on us both days, causing us to leave. But we spent half a day at Dollywood plus most of a second day. Under the train tracks? Not a great place to wait out a thunderstorm.<br />
10. The mostly empty theater was better.<br />
11. A duck. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-WJZwcNCcOLPpEnG3utw0Ud6I1VRhLEY00jjczHNd90V_X5qhZoBc1T72Q3fTTq2HWcSQnGx9DF6QTI01ACoqHJlnVJxa0EdIAJ5lrSWQdTusMWKphDqrQmgYqmAoriVUFKfm-I5Zdg/s1600/2012-08-04_1344043080.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-WJZwcNCcOLPpEnG3utw0Ud6I1VRhLEY00jjczHNd90V_X5qhZoBc1T72Q3fTTq2HWcSQnGx9DF6QTI01ACoqHJlnVJxa0EdIAJ5lrSWQdTusMWKphDqrQmgYqmAoriVUFKfm-I5Zdg/s200/2012-08-04_1344043080.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIva5bP7kOwhUGSabjXWX_Qp8FjjjEgAAMk4NH1ZmYHAK1kUb4OB2xSOLXIZSAzQIcQdufadj2ddBf-sTP91WpR3b054QN3SE2dVHGLfaHk4wt2kipaVaGLh-Ef623M3WAHgy1Bq43ZWc/s1600/2012-08-04_1344082469.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIva5bP7kOwhUGSabjXWX_Qp8FjjjEgAAMk4NH1ZmYHAK1kUb4OB2xSOLXIZSAzQIcQdufadj2ddBf-sTP91WpR3b054QN3SE2dVHGLfaHk4wt2kipaVaGLh-Ef623M3WAHgy1Bq43ZWc/s200/2012-08-04_1344082469.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtAJo04r3lotAqD52DeE5TZp9VjzlZ0knx-ivSf7dXami51vkpz547ueWjCiBabGNpk0gJ-_SlsGt4anYt9hlLYYDq3Rl5YRtrkElmiIrgGvyF9t8Ir99GebYC6A82jKDQyXg6ZafRmk/s1600/2012-08-05_1344188561.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtAJo04r3lotAqD52DeE5TZp9VjzlZ0knx-ivSf7dXami51vkpz547ueWjCiBabGNpk0gJ-_SlsGt4anYt9hlLYYDq3Rl5YRtrkElmiIrgGvyF9t8Ir99GebYC6A82jKDQyXg6ZafRmk/s200/2012-08-05_1344188561.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
12. The hot tub at our cabin rocked the socks off my sore feet. I spent every night here. I should've spent every day, too.<br />
13. The view off our balcony. We had a few neighbors but our cabin was one of the most secluded around. I wanted to stay in that rocking chair forever.<br />
14. A tunnel through the Smokies. Honk honk!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U3296zvDg9c7G-vaxL_oaiDaeApP5GUhKXXHQ0kOLG2Ks5UR1rGHlpQfZMQMVRQurE1ixtApnrGxuFt5U8wvaLHX-aegrSXaVxvuUpF-fHadjHcShoYMXVyKYiei1MKdsHYFV5fUMbc/s1600/2012-08-05_1344210914.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U3296zvDg9c7G-vaxL_oaiDaeApP5GUhKXXHQ0kOLG2Ks5UR1rGHlpQfZMQMVRQurE1ixtApnrGxuFt5U8wvaLHX-aegrSXaVxvuUpF-fHadjHcShoYMXVyKYiei1MKdsHYFV5fUMbc/s200/2012-08-05_1344210914.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdJroRZMkCfFxWuCXNEmgM1-k0dKB877xSCjRn25dDGfMJzsatFciVJlb19zOsLqkwDrQjwQ6aDsd6s7tjqy78bUgiNfAv7CBHFgN2jPquQzRUBKWoFrn2G9UPmbNS499zNfrmvGF0_o/s1600/2012-08-03_1344029697.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdJroRZMkCfFxWuCXNEmgM1-k0dKB877xSCjRn25dDGfMJzsatFciVJlb19zOsLqkwDrQjwQ6aDsd6s7tjqy78bUgiNfAv7CBHFgN2jPquQzRUBKWoFrn2G9UPmbNS499zNfrmvGF0_o/s200/2012-08-03_1344029697.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ6wOLDr7h_x1Lu0xpvi9lfDWTvGTgn-4USYZfAKmymais3btkekXEKe03On2jrx4np2t8E148sB2eBz7_30X6FSRS0mQoISxiK0wL9yeUDAWVGUdD5htVITO1EIQcoOlf4_ww4Y2bfU/s1600/2012-08-05_1344210844.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ6wOLDr7h_x1Lu0xpvi9lfDWTvGTgn-4USYZfAKmymais3btkekXEKe03On2jrx4np2t8E148sB2eBz7_30X6FSRS0mQoISxiK0wL9yeUDAWVGUdD5htVITO1EIQcoOlf4_ww4Y2bfU/s200/2012-08-05_1344210844.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
15. When we got rained out the first day, we headed to Ripley's Seaquarium. It was cool. This is Dave is the tunnel o' fish. Seeing sharks from upside down = sweetness.<br />
16. Atreyu the penguin.<br />
17. I'm also in a fish tunnel! I look excited!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnShji9_JcjkEgTSnf0jEZsvkDkvb5-1xhMkUFVcVnUVcTmnpmiAMF_b2TR-K_73Akvn1RhQK9gPXvNiF120nOiKOYfMwQ_-NwrlFGIlwhEf6YbAvV7nr7InsmtSZsq20PxB6D0Nqnno/s1600/2012-08-05_1344204736.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnShji9_JcjkEgTSnf0jEZsvkDkvb5-1xhMkUFVcVnUVcTmnpmiAMF_b2TR-K_73Akvn1RhQK9gPXvNiF120nOiKOYfMwQ_-NwrlFGIlwhEf6YbAvV7nr7InsmtSZsq20PxB6D0Nqnno/s200/2012-08-05_1344204736.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vtch8Bv3b0X_aM-CyfO-fOT5DstMhCoRvl6vuzefcjqvtLuDk_LSEbMxr8ow1lu9l2ZejgcbGQVsPuNdrp4lsaovwBuIHyCgSrPoSG0b4hI8Cz42nUB4ftcWOFUxXMJedZ-eVehnfrs/s1600/2012-08-03_1344031305.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vtch8Bv3b0X_aM-CyfO-fOT5DstMhCoRvl6vuzefcjqvtLuDk_LSEbMxr8ow1lu9l2ZejgcbGQVsPuNdrp4lsaovwBuIHyCgSrPoSG0b4hI8Cz42nUB4ftcWOFUxXMJedZ-eVehnfrs/s200/2012-08-03_1344031305.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM7W9gMxRzx-fWYXF_sDG3q-B6vV6U4fiJXBRFIRLNWZLH9UwiFkbwgxJ5RxyTpBAAkw3uAOar8MzX-MbDMruO8Au9IRzRpSnAgY1dXIXce3weIZSzbjVW8e_0ZMd6HCxjITIWKZ71go/s1600/2012-08-05_1344211032.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkM7W9gMxRzx-fWYXF_sDG3q-B6vV6U4fiJXBRFIRLNWZLH9UwiFkbwgxJ5RxyTpBAAkw3uAOar8MzX-MbDMruO8Au9IRzRpSnAgY1dXIXce3weIZSzbjVW8e_0ZMd6HCxjITIWKZ71go/s200/2012-08-05_1344211032.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnHU4imDFF3auEv-Jrt6TaXFAFFvydxZg7y420iCSSwgdnHXizK5_RTv1e8nnQB059Qaksc5ZOLFTypLacY5TkfhIkkurwNRFycY2zlEvF79PsmnixkyH6-lxP4OoBuW_ue3wxXvIX_Q/s1600/2012-08-05_1344204648.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnHU4imDFF3auEv-Jrt6TaXFAFFvydxZg7y420iCSSwgdnHXizK5_RTv1e8nnQB059Qaksc5ZOLFTypLacY5TkfhIkkurwNRFycY2zlEvF79PsmnixkyH6-lxP4OoBuW_ue3wxXvIX_Q/s200/2012-08-05_1344204648.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
18: Jellyfish = among the coolest things at the aquarium.<br />
19: Another jellyfish.<br />
20: A sharkface only a sharkmama could love.<br />
21: Sleeping seahorse.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGe9jgwmb7hWwsgdX02_5-pKWdiZjxXJq5r0X0Mo1QRd3plu4dNT8VgHN705-RXw761wqWX1dFiUcdIPC2nOVqc65oQScD4P20z2owS4tiZ3lT5zzVOs83WhGQTPTDDUBsR0CfbfmHXQ/s1600/2012-08-03_1344033120.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGe9jgwmb7hWwsgdX02_5-pKWdiZjxXJq5r0X0Mo1QRd3plu4dNT8VgHN705-RXw761wqWX1dFiUcdIPC2nOVqc65oQScD4P20z2owS4tiZ3lT5zzVOs83WhGQTPTDDUBsR0CfbfmHXQ/s200/2012-08-03_1344033120.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwZciDS3YMbLbwj1MXAk5blJfC85kWSc19hFMbBvi_VtlrDWPeoZFrL_7JIYd1FkeWhNOaMGb9VdPHFEtH5F_iZ7mxIWA08oAR6Nept-yyK5QliA73nLYTSslDHGYe_bodiZGmFmM5P8/s1600/2012-08-03_1344033901.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwZciDS3YMbLbwj1MXAk5blJfC85kWSc19hFMbBvi_VtlrDWPeoZFrL_7JIYd1FkeWhNOaMGb9VdPHFEtH5F_iZ7mxIWA08oAR6Nept-yyK5QliA73nLYTSslDHGYe_bodiZGmFmM5P8/s200/2012-08-03_1344033901.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNMZnhwcNMwBZJAvbWKZooKNKpx7Bks3Oy_VCDwerJQvdXDWB7wgMu4ZsdstnrbgY2dEJiuSnOGdF9NlMMUTo08b8_2WJhjbZW-Zn3PTzb-28ArujoZQqT2iFJ3mutDT8ZQEy8TY4cvU/s1600/2012-08-05_1344210734.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNMZnhwcNMwBZJAvbWKZooKNKpx7Bks3Oy_VCDwerJQvdXDWB7wgMu4ZsdstnrbgY2dEJiuSnOGdF9NlMMUTo08b8_2WJhjbZW-Zn3PTzb-28ArujoZQqT2iFJ3mutDT8ZQEy8TY4cvU/s200/2012-08-05_1344210734.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
22: Convinced my heights-phobic husband to go on the sky lift with me.<br />
23: On the way up!<br />
24: Aw. <3 <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqlGBnfnkQ4s7PtfR2vKiAn8Jiqu5yIueT_CoMf7x2KlPAEiJROBEUXCoZuDEjLLtm0jhUtmP6olAb7L5ci-6nKyUfFTsDmm17SYu9QNJ_G7RXq-lczEzxwICT7YMmc28tNDx_dEg_vk/s1600/2012-08-03_1344033889.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqlGBnfnkQ4s7PtfR2vKiAn8Jiqu5yIueT_CoMf7x2KlPAEiJROBEUXCoZuDEjLLtm0jhUtmP6olAb7L5ci-6nKyUfFTsDmm17SYu9QNJ_G7RXq-lczEzxwICT7YMmc28tNDx_dEg_vk/s200/2012-08-03_1344033889.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0eHXCgaewGVKMNqixjcZGr21JyXKBbjr-qpzqncGKdKWKL3Ue9weGFruJIgiJUYK6EwbvmiDfzaa4hSfU3f_QdcK74ijci2An4GNrnzKcgC_5Bxuw3vCR8yU0iWnpZRqksufRZMtHNw/s1600/2012-08-03_1344036130.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0eHXCgaewGVKMNqixjcZGr21JyXKBbjr-qpzqncGKdKWKL3Ue9weGFruJIgiJUYK6EwbvmiDfzaa4hSfU3f_QdcK74ijci2An4GNrnzKcgC_5Bxuw3vCR8yU0iWnpZRqksufRZMtHNw/s200/2012-08-03_1344036130.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCYH_tdinDIFa6KiAyvslHwfhxDMbnJcvUijzIdTv7bmiOibAbbN1fHBqQOPR73uCdXoaJ4q46X1cx3p6p2ynbg9Dj7qEA65S5JsARsJjoc3qPjndfQF-YsjUBWedeKqkWEslxbKwyu8/s1600/2012-08-05_1344210635.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCYH_tdinDIFa6KiAyvslHwfhxDMbnJcvUijzIdTv7bmiOibAbbN1fHBqQOPR73uCdXoaJ4q46X1cx3p6p2ynbg9Dj7qEA65S5JsARsJjoc3qPjndfQF-YsjUBWedeKqkWEslxbKwyu8/s200/2012-08-05_1344210635.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
25: At the top. Most of Gatlinburg down below.<br />
26: On the way down. Way scarier!<br />
27: Another view from the top. Just gorgeous.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVkY255X_pVCh2Td2paudrkINXRL5LDBZ5sWtF4lIJnhbSNPZZ8Qlz4eBDACAByR7CgTSMjzifV-2wdqaBd5w_sBXAs2QENG10zP-sUC_L8ed3EqmEBIGDkhuoSp9zH1DlKLhGsD_Tuk/s1600/2012-08-05_1344210494.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVkY255X_pVCh2Td2paudrkINXRL5LDBZ5sWtF4lIJnhbSNPZZ8Qlz4eBDACAByR7CgTSMjzifV-2wdqaBd5w_sBXAs2QENG10zP-sUC_L8ed3EqmEBIGDkhuoSp9zH1DlKLhGsD_Tuk/s200/2012-08-05_1344210494.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyMa0Ovc8quzNcl7EpzYt_hzfNUs71X9uoVHSU-9z8woGWPc_Kw7JwSsDvN-fpPXIY8u0Tdr_nZyzFmdBZAwC2S12xXxEIG8eCjlNZMNGkwR3rEo9HFbOiCN-XjcYpvoCUhLIq1i9w5A/s1600/2012-08-03_1344035997.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyMa0Ovc8quzNcl7EpzYt_hzfNUs71X9uoVHSU-9z8woGWPc_Kw7JwSsDvN-fpPXIY8u0Tdr_nZyzFmdBZAwC2S12xXxEIG8eCjlNZMNGkwR3rEo9HFbOiCN-XjcYpvoCUhLIq1i9w5A/s200/2012-08-03_1344035997.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvQgXnVpn6V5-3VlWfB3ZC6nYUq7HlK8Ej6xVAftrRkdKC3hMEEpbspguW9ZWKU1ZwzN5pT9OzbkBRbLTFBbsFgOYUzxaP0pOELnb8FApYpiIfwQ465Ktyj3z1ylaQVlXyS0LiuY-WRY/s1600/2012-08-05_1344183713.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvQgXnVpn6V5-3VlWfB3ZC6nYUq7HlK8Ej6xVAftrRkdKC3hMEEpbspguW9ZWKU1ZwzN5pT9OzbkBRbLTFBbsFgOYUzxaP0pOELnb8FApYpiIfwQ465Ktyj3z1ylaQVlXyS0LiuY-WRY/s200/2012-08-05_1344183713.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
28: Another view from the top. Gotta love the Smoky Mountains.<br />
29: Ate here. I was starving, so it was tasty. Margaritas weren't as good as our local Casa Fiesta, though.<br />
30: 1977 Bumblebee, actually used in the first Transformers movie! I made Dave drive back to Gatlinburg on our last day when I saw it was there in a car museum. Luckily, we didn't even have to pay to see it. I gave him a pat.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUvmNvgNdFA1xxo_cQ56LvrakWdcjx0qZ5ZPKlKghHxN-dELrWfQ573HT4_FgQNv-zq763GwKbBjDJqVGghDvD2lPc_hw7GjETByNQTFY5_MMJbjVY1fHYZSE0ssk4JCsjI74kM7HSeA/s1600/2012-08-05_1344188697.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUvmNvgNdFA1xxo_cQ56LvrakWdcjx0qZ5ZPKlKghHxN-dELrWfQ573HT4_FgQNv-zq763GwKbBjDJqVGghDvD2lPc_hw7GjETByNQTFY5_MMJbjVY1fHYZSE0ssk4JCsjI74kM7HSeA/s200/2012-08-05_1344188697.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos_ED7X8EJKZojpVLmRQU1imwENkA4LSqLIdrxRVSQ9dIOKk8giAfB62TojGd7UYg62233Oaz0J0g8LOk2svutcajcoU_rXIgyorluscQTXIUomG4DL3hyLdAluD1AbiQIL5hr01oWAA/s1600/2012-08-05_1344188633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos_ED7X8EJKZojpVLmRQU1imwENkA4LSqLIdrxRVSQ9dIOKk8giAfB62TojGd7UYg62233Oaz0J0g8LOk2svutcajcoU_rXIgyorluscQTXIUomG4DL3hyLdAluD1AbiQIL5hr01oWAA/s200/2012-08-05_1344188633.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3vygThtys9Nj9pO7o0oTzycMZxwI-ZsbcFsIejy4KvmW-FJpz-nt-c0q7EzzFOsbuzunfVj3WVw5sSmWd0mzMoQ8xH_cG1bzAF9pV07j0JzaV9qfDY0W3QQRZEmA0di-jfJgJmNXPEw/s1600/2012-08-05_1344195366.jpg"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3vygThtys9Nj9pO7o0oTzycMZxwI-ZsbcFsIejy4KvmW-FJpz-nt-c0q7EzzFOsbuzunfVj3WVw5sSmWd0mzMoQ8xH_cG1bzAF9pV07j0JzaV9qfDY0W3QQRZEmA0di-jfJgJmNXPEw/s200/2012-08-05_1344195366.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
31: I LOVE PUTT PUTT.<br />
32: A shot right before my first of two holes in one.<br />
33: Yeah, we had to go through these clouds to go home. The hours of rain weren't fun.<br />
<br />
Also:<br />
<ul>
<li>Huge amounts of fudge.</li>
<li>A giant blister on the bottom of my foot. Ow.</li>
<li>Holding a pregnant woman's four-year-old while she held her sleeping two-year-old on the Dollywood tram - the hubs held all of her stuff. It was pouring and the tram was packed. The four-year-old dealt well with me holding him, though he kept giving me half-awake "who the hell are you?" looks.</li>
<li>Huge amounts of food. And alcohol.</li>
<li>A shower with two separate shower heads. Awesome.</li>
<li>Every picture on every roller coaster looked the same. Me: eyes closed, mouth wide open while I'm screaming. Hubs: relaxed and smiling as though he was going in for a headshot.</li>
<li>Having my son run across the room to fly into my arms. Coming home is as fantastic as going away.</li>
</ul>Alicia (Our Many Colored Moments)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10748273001109728970noreply@blogger.com3