Things That Make You Go Oh!!!

It was one of those questions that every mother knows is eventually coming, but can never quite prepare herself to hear. "Mommy, how did we get out of your tummy?" Yikes!!! Miss Audrey posed the question in the van yesterday. I cannot remember how our conversation actually led to that point, but here is how it ended:

Audrey: how did we get out of your tummy?

me: well, I pushed really hard and you came out. (evasive maneuvers)

Austin: is the hole still there? (what, you mean babies don't just magically appear outside the belly?)

me: (vaguely) it's always there.

Austin: nu~uh, you don't have a hole on your tummy.

me: (oh, man!) well, when mommies can't have their babies the regular way, the doctor cuts open her tummy and pulls the baby out. That's called a cesarean section. Then the doctor sews the hole up with stitches and when it heals, the mommy has a scar but not a hole. (biting the bullet) But I didn't have to have a c~section, I had you the regular way and pushed you out a hole and that hole is called a _____ (insert your word of choice here, but, yes, in Hosmerville we use the "real" words and they already know plenty about this word).

Austin: ooohhh! (said in wonderment like this bit of information was the missing piece to his puzzle of life and now with this revelation everything finally made sense.)

There was a big pause to the conversation in which I could only imagine Austin was busy contemplating how he, in fact, had been born. Then a big exclamation:

Austin: that's disgusting!!!

Then another big pause.... like it was almost too much for him to imagine:

Austin: that's DISGUSTING!!!

Fast forward to this morning, Audrey had stripped down naked because she had wet the bed and Austin caught a glimpse of her naked bottom.

Austin: Audrey, I can see your baby hole!

At least they haven't asked how the babies get in their mommy's tummy... YET!

Lexi's 3 Year Stats

We started with tears...

We headed off to the doctor bright and early Monday morning. Lexi figured out where we were going and literally tried to grab onto anything and everything to anchor her in as I tried to pull her out of the van. Little drama queen. Things started off wonderfully with a finger poke/blood draw. The puppies on the band~aid seemed to take her mind off the hurt for awhile and she did cooperate by standing still on the scale for her weight and height. (37 1/2 inches tall and 30.5 lbs which puts her in the 60th percentile for height and 48th for weight with a BMI of 15.2) I double checked the nurse's BMI calculations against the calculations from FindMyBMI.com and that website categorizes Lexi's BMI as being in the anorexic body classification. Ha! This girl can definitely eat, although she's starting to get a little bit pickier in her old age. I guess I should start monitoring her daily treadmill workouts to make sure she isn't burning too many calories;)

She totally lucked out as she was a mere 4 days short of being ready for her next hep A vaccination. We'll catch that one later. Dr. Rao came in and the tears started all over again. She almost flew off the table when he came at her with his little rubber hammer. Hmm, brings to mind a certain other 3 year old who promised her mom to "just let me go" as she was being held down on an exam table 26 years ago. The mom bought it (sucka;) and the 3 year old went running out the door and down the hall before being dragged back in for her shot. Although this isn't a "not me monday", I will say that this certain 3 year old was definitely not me! But if it was me, then I guess you could say that this is payback time. Dr. R is always so gentle and calm with the kids and we made it out without any more drama.

... and gum and stickers made everything right with the world again

Happy Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday

to my beautiful, sweet

little Lexi!

I love you, baby big girl!!!

Austin's Perspective

Flashback Friday: August 2006

(someone special is turning 3 tomorrow!)

Everything You Really Need To Know About Cedar Point I Learned On Monday

On Monday I ventured down to Cedar Point for the first time in 11 years. Tom backed out at the last minute because he was too afraid of riding the big rides and screaming like a little girl citing back problems so it ended up being just me and my sisters going. I had a ton of fun (and I think Ann and Lori did,too). The trip brought back a lot of memories from past visits with the youth group and school. So I thought it might be fun to share with you the top ten most important things I learned from my day at "America's Roller Coast":

1. At 29, I am too old to ride the intense, fast rides.
2. skin is "in"~ and if you happen to have piercings and a tattoo (or four) then you get bonus points for showing them off.
3. the chemical reaction made when golden blonde highlites and sunscreen combine is not a desirable one. Unless, of course, you wanted orange~y streaks through your hair.
4. when I put "BigSexyHair" root pump spray mousse in my hair to make it big and "sexy" and then did 2 drenching water rides, a handful of roller coasters and fair rides, and went thru a downpour or 2, my hair was not Big and Sexy. Rather, it looked as if I was going for the homeless, matted dog look.
5. when the rain starts, EVERYONE goes to Disaster Transport.
6. one should not drink Starbucks coffee and then attempt to ride the Raptor 2 hours later.
7. even though it costs almost $45 dollars for 1 FunDay ticket, you still have to pay $10 to park. (yes, they do take Visa).
8. the smell of fairway food is amazing. Always has been, always will be. Someone should bottle it.
9. If you were to rate people's favorite rides by the intensity and the number of times they screamed then the Sky Hawk was by far my favorite ride.
10. I am too old to ride the intense fast rides. Something my stomach and my head tried to tell me numerous times. Apparently my brain did not get this memo.

I had a wonderful time, thanks for a great day, girls!

Double Pool Dippin'

Today was one of those amazing and fantastic days. You know the kind? The ones where almost everything goes right and there's so much to look forward to you're almost giddy. Yeah, that kind of day!

• I had fun emails from great people in my inbox.
• I got Tim Horton's to go for myself, my kiddos, SIL, and her sweeties for a playdate in the park.
• the playdate went well. We pulled into the park at exactly 10am. I felt like I deserved a mommy raise for that but settled for high fives all around. No major catastrophes on the playground, lots of Tim Bits to keep the kids' sugar high running strong.
• a new razor in the shower to get my legs "pool ready".
• a pool date with one of my bestest girls and her kids. Sunshine and warm water. Contraband crackers and frozen blueberries to snack on.
• a second 2 hour & 45 minute swim session because my kids were sooo good. Sooo why not?
• 2 very brave kids 1 brave little girl and her scaredy cat big brother (who sent brave little sister down first) conquering the big, blue slide.
• my littlest mermaid continually jumping completely under water~ head and all~ only to come up gasping for air and wanting to do it again (and again, and again, ....)!
• silence on the ride home as my kids devoured their McD's dinners. All plans to cook dinner at home went down the pool drain when hunger pains overrode the ability to think rationally and practically.
• all 3 kids tucked in and asleep by 9:30.
• best $12 (pool admission) I've spent in a long time.

Keri and Andrew's Wedding~ July 5th

I've known Keri and her family since I started babysitting for them over the summer of '96. I came to meet her parents looking for a summer job to help pay for the "new" car I had just bought. Four years later, my "munchkins" arrived at my wedding decked out in their finest to serve as my ring bearer, flowers girls, and junior bridesmaid. Last month Tom and I celebrated Keri's special day with her and the family. It's crazy how fast time goes by and how grown~up these "kids" are now. Three beautiful ladies and 1 super handsome dude! ;)

Shellby, me, and Melanie

yum! cake!

This is a beautiful picture of the bride! Myself? Yeah, my dress makes me look like I'm pregnant :P

First dance: so sweet!

More Good Stuff

New Pics... FINALLY!!!

As promised, oh a month ago maybe, I finally have some new pictures to share. These shots are some of the first that Tom took with our new camera. These were all taken on the auto setting. Not exactly Nicole Barczak quality, but not too bad for a newbie;)