I like to scrapbook. Alot. Before I was 18 I tried to become a Creative Memories Consultant but they’re pretty strict about that so the month I turned 18 I signed up. I only did it for a little over a year or so and have just in the past year finally gotten rid of most of the stock I kept in my basement on ebay. So much crap. Seriously. Scrap bookers are a brew of their own.
But I love it. I LOVE looking back at the books I’ve done and seeing the pictures. I like pictures. I take way too many. About twice a year I get the urge to get caught up and I spend a week in the middle of piles of paper and photos and just get ‘er done. Right now I’m working on Jessica’s album, because - seriously? is there anything else TO work on? Thats what I thought.
I’m up to/around 18 months on her book so I have about a year to catch up on - which isn’t a big deal for me. I used to put an entire book together for other people in under 24 hours. I’m not a lolly-gager when it comes to this stuff. You put some paper down, you crop your photos, maybe you have some stickers - you journal and you move on to the next one. I average 10-12 pages an hour or so (which would be 5-6 pages that are double sided).
So I’m in the throws of baby hair and first pony tails right now. So much fun. And back to work.
posted on May 31, 2007| 2:30 PM EST
Ok, I thought we’ve covered this here already but apparently it’s been 10 weeks and that’s like a lifetime when you’re expecting me to be expecting.
Which I’m not. I am not pregnant. Leave my uterus alone.
I have a girlfriend who happens to be single and I used to ask her about her dating life every time I would see her - like Have you met anyone new? Hm, I wonder if you would like so and so, maybe I should set you up? A new crush? Really … give me the details. And I don’t say all this because I think being single is bad. It’s just different than where I am and some times I forget to have manners around this very dear friend of mine. Because having a partner is not the prerequisite to happiness.
Lately it’s like people think my single uterus is looking for a new partner and every time we see friends and I mention I’m tired or we maybe talk about a larger family down the road or I don’t order a drink the girls usually let their eyes travel to my abdomen and I usually get asked at least once, by someone, if and when we’re having more kids.
I feel like I’m being set up with sperm. You know because my best friends brothers uncle knows this one guy who has a sister whose husband’s best man’s friend is single too - and um, would I like to have dinner or something? Test it out - see if it works?
So here’s my public apology to my single friends. Not that I’m comparing you to my uterus or that I have any idea what it’s like to live your life with the frustrations of people’s nosy do-goodedness … but I feel like I can relate some times and I’m so sorry I was that person.
No information might be good information as far as our reproductive aspirations might go on this website. If I talk about it, I’m bound to get asked. So let’s just not. Talk about it.
posted on May 30, 2007| 8:33 AM EST
My house has been full of flowers lately, which I love by the way. But each bouquet has come from a different flower vendor or store. Here are the results, I think you might be as surprised as I am by this …
Indigo Floral - had 2 bouquets, one for me and one for Jessica - from Aaron. They lasted a week - I kept them for a week and half - they were looking SORRY at the end of that time. Indigo is my favorite flower shop by yards and yards - miles even. I love this place.
Farmers Market - had a bouquet of beautiful flowers, liliam or something weird like that - I get these every year and they only last about 4 to 5 days … but I can’t help myself. They make a huge mess though - must keep out of reach from small people.
Wild Flowers, Poppies - these are gorgeous and are wild for a reason. They lasted a mere 24 hours after picking and also make a huge mess.
Um and then … Aldi Grocery Store - I bought 2 mixed bouquets to combine for 3.99 each. These bouquets have lasted more than 2 weeks and still going strong. I’ve only had to weed one stem out of the entire bouquet.
The obvious winner is Aldi. But that doesn’t stop me from buying them at Farmers Market or hoping for them from Indigo.
posted on May 29, 2007| 11:35 AM EST
We spent a night up at Roger’s cottage on Harper Lake in Irons, Michigan this weekend - you can see the photos here.
We also ate breakfast on a porch and watched the Memorial Day parade.
Tonight we plan on sitting in front of a movie theatre for a good 3 hours to blow our minds with Pirates 3.
Great weekend.
posted on May 28, 2007| 1:19 PM EST
Dear Jessica,
I haven’t written you a letter here lately because some times all the mushy things I like to say to you are better written by hand and put in your box of special things I’m keeping for you. Like that duck you made out of your hand prints and the paper plate - I’m keeping that because you showed everyone who would look at it that you made something, with your hands. Literally. And I’ll always love that memory - your face and your giggle when each and every person said something like, wow or oooh thats cool. And especially your dad - when he made the biggest deal of all. Out of a paper plate and construction paper. It was like you were showing him a diploma from Harvard. Or any college really, we’re not picky.
I think to myself every month, THIS is my favorite time with Jessica. And then another month rolls around and I think, no this is the best. It just keeps getting better with you. You were an extremely easy baby, you hardly cried and ate well. You smiled and slept through the night right away. And as far as me being bent out of shape, I never really got there when you were an infant. I had time to do the laundry, make dinner and even read. You were a gem and you just keep getting better.
You’re in love with our friends, which is right up there with being in love with Elmo. And our friends think you’re pretty cute, too. Not that you have to be told that. You’re well aware of their affection which makes it even better. You’re such a lover, a social butterfly, you’re fears are about as scarce as your the size of your bottom. You’re outgoing and I’d like to say that comes from your dad, which it does, but I think it also comes from me. And I like that I can see such a great personality mix already.
We went to the beach yesterday and all you wanted to do was go swimming in the freezing water - or run up and down the beach. Both of which were making it hard for me to get a tan but watching you figure out that the water keeps coming back to the shore with every wave and seeing you discover how sand falls made me remember being 5 in Texas and wanting to know how worms crawled and why flowers were so pretty.
You’re vocabulary is growing daily and we have to be extra careful what we say within your earshot because you repeat it. All of it. So we’ve been saying things like “Righteous!”, “Totally bodacious!”, “oh man!”, and “Uh-Oh Spaghettios!”. We’re bringing the 80’s back into our house one word at a time. And with dance moves.
We dance every day - and not because it’s like, oh we should dance now. It’s more like - man, what is our day missing? Oh, thats right - music! All I have to do is turn it on and you’re gone flailing about the house, shakin’ it and lip-singing. And then you twist my arm into it and who can resist a dance invitation from you? Not me. So we spend a good amount of time dancing every day, even in the car and the driveway. You and me, we can’t get enough of it. We’re like this with the radio. And iTunes.
You’ve been in training for roller coasters since you proved that you wouldn’t throw up if we put you up side down. So pretty much since you like 4 months old. You like being thrown around and swung. I’m measuring your height on your wall to see how you grow but also to keep of track of the exact moment you’re big enough to go on a roller coaster with me. And when that happens, we’re dropping everything, climbing into the car and getting to Cedar Point as fast as we can. Period. Oddly enough your dad does not like roller coasters at all. Which is something I knew before we got married, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make to have him be the father of my children. Good thing too, because seeing him be a dad is up to par with seeing him for the first time and just knowing I had to love him. He’s that good. You’re a very lucky girl. We both are.
I used to end all these letters with a cute sentiment about how you’re the breath of heaven, which I still think you are - but you’re so much more than that now. You’re Jessica. You are 2 1/2 years of joy rolled up into a person who is bursting at the seems - who wants to try it, eat it, do it, see it. You’re me and you’re Aaron - and you’re perfect.
I love you, Jessa.
Mama
posted on May 25, 2007| 8:38 AM EST