8 Random Facts About Me Meme

As if I haven't disclosed enough of my quirks - I've been tagged by Xenia K, to give you all more to laugh at. Thanks XK! ;)

RULES
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Here we go....

1. I smile, laugh and blush very easily. I don't really like this about myself. I can't help it and wish I could keep a straight face better. When it comes on, it can't be stopped and I picture myself as The Joker in Batman.



2. When I'm embarrassed, or have been hurt, I bite the inside of my right cheek.



3. I have a very good ear for music and harmonies, but a terribly mediocre, range-less voice. This makes me feel disappointed. But sometimes, I just go for it when I sing and belt it out, even though I am completely aware of how bad I sound.



4. I was once a pretty good swimmer. My specialty was backstroke. I swam competitively from 11 years old until I was 19. However, I wish I would have spent more time doing more artistic things, or enjoyed school more though, because, let's face it, I wasn't going to the Olympics. But, it kept me out of trouble, and given the choice at the time, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed school more.



5. One of the reasons I like to blog so much is because I feel I express myself much better with writing than speaking. I get flustered and lose my train of thought when I talk.



6. I get on these little obsessive "kicks" every once and a while. Like when I read about the health dangers of microwaving food, I didn't use my microwave at all for almost a year. And when I was a little kid, and we were in a drought, I would use the LEAST amount of water possible. I would take a bath in one inch of water because I was scared that one day, when I went to turn on the water, sand would come out, like in that freaky commercial.



7. I was a loner in elementary school. Are you surprised? At recess I would walk around by myself. Since I was uncoordinated, I never played any organized sports/games and I had a hard time relating to other children my age. I was an only child so I don't think it was terribly odd to me at the time.



8. I say bad words in my head. For instance, if I bump my head, in my mind, I say, "Oh F---!" but I'll force out an "Oh Fudge" out loud. I blame my parents, because the whole time growing up there were sprinklings of colorful language during times of frustration - like changing light bulbs and stubbings of toes. I think cussing is kind of funny, but Jason really dislikes it (probably because he works all day with potty-mouthed construction workers who use the F-bomb as a substitute for "um"). So I try to clean up my act for him. And oh yes, for my kids too. Because bad words rolling off the tongue of a two year old sound especially tacky.

No, I still haven't bothered to teach myself ANY HTML so there are no links - sorry. I choose:

My Mom (you can list yours here in my comments)

Michelle Melania

Victoria

Mimi

Bea

Rebeca

Katie H. (please, a new post!)

Thomas Ham (A new post - I'm daring you. What, are you too cool to play along, punk?) :)

This made me laugh. I really hate nursing with a blanket. But I do it out in public because, a) I don't like people seeing my private parts, and b) I don't want to freak people out too much. But I really find nursing with a blanket is hot, uncomfortable, and confusing for me and the baby. And sometimes, even though I feel that I'm being more than modest, people are giving me the stink-eye. You'd think I'd have it down by now with my second baby, and that I'd be completely confident about it. It's weird. That's all.

Blue's got a boo boo

Blue sliced his foot open. Don't feel too sorry for him. He did it to himself. He runs around the backyard like a neurotic buffoon chasing a cat that never leaves the top of the shed. Every time he goes back there he body slams himself into the shed. This last time, after his body slam, he landed his paw on something sharp, we're not exactly sure what. After two expensive trips to the vet, he has to wear this cute bonnet to keep him from licking at his infected wound, that at the first and most expensive trip to doggie ER, only exacerbated.

So he's on dog house arrest. Which means he has to stay inside all day. And when I get a chance, I have to walk him to his leash (which is no small task - he's such a beast) that's tied to Hannah's play yard on the grass, leave him for a few minutes and hope/pray he pees and goes poop. Neither of which we have seen. Until yesterday. He refuses to do his business while we hold him on the leash. He looks at us like, "Well, go on. I have some dignity, you know." So yesterday morning, we woke up to pee on the floor. Great. And then again that day, after I tied him up and wished him luck, he "Houdini'ed" his way out of his leash, harness, and plastic bonnet. So he finally went #2. I guess we all have our standards.

To add to the fun, we have to clean his paw at least once a day. Jason wrestles him to the ground while I flush his wound, soak it in some warm water with Epsom salt, and then lovingly apply some ointment.

At least he earns his keep. He has a mean bark and can look ferocious when he wants to, making an excellent guard dog. And Hannah could yank his tongue out of his mouth and he'll just lay there with his tail wagging. Oh the poor, dumb mutt.

Why do I like them so much?

Oh yeah, because they're mine, and I think they're great. I'm talking about my kids, of course. We've been getting lots of smiles and coos from James this week. I really enjoy his personality and disposition. He's so mellow. Or maybe we're just more laid back this time?


For Father's day we went to have sushi with Jason's dad and brother. Hannah had her first sushi - some yellowtail, which happens to be my favorite. She liked it! I was a little reluctant to have her eat raw fish this soon, but she really wanted to try it. So, now we can brag that our kid ate sushi at two years old. Or we can gross her out, if she ever becomes a picky eater, and remind her that she willingly ate it, and liked it when she was younger. Our kind waitress fashioned some kid-training chopsticks with a rubber band and a piece of paper. Hannah, of course wanted to take her new eating utensils home. We made her some ramen for a snack that evening, and she was eager to use them. She does pretty well. Sadly, I had to throw them away this morning. Wooden sticks don't wash well, especially with a piece of paper wedged in between them. I haven't broken the news yet. I'm hoping she'll forget. Shhhhh.

While I was replying to comments,

My husband just said, "What if those people don't even exist? What if it's just a computer program responding back to you?"

I'd be really disappointed.

The Next Best Thing

Happy Father's Day!

James was getting hungry and actually latched on to his pop's nose! I don't care how germy this is, it's adorable. Jason handed him over to me for the real thing as soon as I was done taking the picture.




We are all still enjoying our new one and all his cuteness. Today Hannah and I were going to the video store, and I had James in his bouncy seat while we were getting ready since I had left his car seat in our truck. I said to Hannah, "OK, let's go," and she lowered herself to James and said in her sweet mama voice, "OK, buddy, we go to movie store. We be wight back, OK? Don't woowy. We be back weal soon." I explained to her that James would be coming along. Where ever we go, she asks if baby brother is coming too. We go to the mall, and get out of the car and she asks if he is staying there. She's always glad that he comes with us though - so far.

Being a mom of two has been good for me, I think. I feel like having a newborn has made me more practical. Yesterday we went to Target and then the mall. After Target, I was feeling done, but the mall was right across the street and I really needed to go there. I knew I would not want to come back again another day, so I used my Maya wrap/sling. I got it with Hannah but a little late so I never really got the hang of it with her. But since I didn't end up ever buying a double stroller, I figured I'd better get used to it. We love it now. I just pop little James in there and we are unstoppable. I had Hannah in our stroller and I was able to push her around, get shopping done, and hold a very content James for a couple hours without much strain to my back. It's funny the comments I get when I wear him. Some people say how cute it is, and what a great idea, and others look at me kind of funny, and ask if I'm worried he'll fall out. I told one lady, "Yeah, but it's only happened a couple of times." No, just kidding, I didn't say that. I felt like it though.

In other "mom" business, we are cloth diapering this time. We used disposables with Hannah, but when my parents offered us a couple months of a diaper service, I had been interested in trying it out this time. So far I really love it. And I have to say, and I never thought this would be the case, that cloth diapers are far superior to disposables when it comes to function. I remember with Hannah, when she would have a "blow-out" poop, it would get EVERY WHERE. I once was in a snooty OC mall with a friend for lunch when she had one of them, and I, being the unprepared mom that I was, forgot extra clothes. She had poop all up her back, through the sides. It was awful. And embarrassing. And expensive. Because I had to wrap up my little girl in a blanket and find a Nordstrom (the cheapest store they had there) to find something to put her in for the rest of the day. But anyway, I am loving the cloths! It rarely, rarely, rarely gets on his clothes. And I just love the smell of the fresh diapers and they are so soft. And I'm not going to pat myself on the back or anything about them being better for the environment - well, OK maybe a little. he he. If anything, I love not spending money on one of those HUGE and probably awful companies that spend millions on cuddly commercials and ads, but probably make their products in cancer-causing factories in only God-knows-where. And if there is one less evil company I give money to, then that makes me happy.

Whew.

So anyway, I am shopping around now for my own diapers to purchase and will wash myself. I don't mind the prefolds at all (you cloth diapering folks know what I'm talking about) but I think I would prefer all-in-ones at this point, so if any of you have suggestions, I would love some advice.

For now, I think I will make my blog a picture blog. Maybe for the next couple of weeks. I've seen some blogs have daily pictures, and I love those, because it gives you a slice of the blogger's life. And since all I seem to be blogging about is boring housewife stuff, maybe it will help me get a little creative. And I beg your pardon in advance for my photography. I know it's lousy.

James is calling me now...Have a very blessed day, and if you are a father, Happy Father's Day!

And to my dad, I love you! You are a great dad!

And to my dear husband, thanks for being such a great dad, that you let our son use your nose for a pacifier. I love you.

Around here...

Things are good.
Hannah, despite her sassin' me all day long, has her sweet moments. I caught her reading James a story. Awwww...
Yes, I want to eat him. He is just that cute.
Oh, and he happens to sleep very well in his crib, I am discovering!!! Except for last night. Last night was not his best night. I give him a 5 out of 10. But I think he is in his 3 week growth spurt, so it's forgivable. And did I mention he's cute? So he gets away with everything right now.

That's all for now. My brain is too foggy for much else. Hope everyone is doing well...



OH YEAH...I almost forgot to add that our family became catechumens in the Orthodox Church last weekend. We are very excited and happy to become more involved in our new church.