Friday, May 23, 2008

Potpourri

Jeopardy is one of the greatest shows of our time. And fortunately for me, Chris loves it too so we record it and watch it together. It's very nice. But in all honesty, I don't know why I feel compelled to watch it all the time. Though it occassionally makes me feel pretty smart when I get a bunch of answers right, all it really does is shed light on how little I actually know. The other day there was a Shakespeare category... What am I talking about? There is a Shakespeare-related category pretty much every day, but on this particular day I got evey single answer WRONG. Being an English Major, the only thing that I am required to know is trivial Shakespeare facts. Twas a sad day. Anyhoo, sometimes they have a category called 'Potpouri' (that's not how you spell it, is it?... dang it! someone get that bright light out of my face...) and it's just a category of randomness. Today I will share all the randomness that has been going on around here lately.

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Arizona- it was chilly and it rained. I love it. The last week or two have been HOT! Liky 110 degrees hot. So yesterday and today dipped down quite a bit, and as much as I enjoyed the temperature change, my body decided to flip out. Jeehon's too. So we both woke up this morning (at 6am. Thanks kids) with headaches, sore throats, runny noses, and very bad attitudes. Being exhausted did not help. I have not slept well in days, mostly cause Lily has decided that waking up well before 7am is her new favorite thing to do. So Jeehon went down for an hour and a half nap while I watched the kids. Topher slept very soundly in the midst of his sister and cousin running around him, and occassionally poking at him. I played with them, threw on 'The Backyardigans', blew bubbles, tried to stay awake, and counted the minutes till I could get Jeehon back up. I just woke up from my hour and a half nap and feel so much better. Still a bit delirious, but Lily and Topher are napping, and Jeehon went out with Sungu. Enjoying some much needed coffee and quiet.

Two days ago I said 'bye' to Maggie. Short for Magdalene. Or something like that. I am talking about the Jeep. For some reason Chris names his cars/vehicles the most random names. He had a motorcycle in Iraq that he called Agnes. She was stollen. Or she ran away from him cause her name was so ridiculous. He also had this huge black truck that he named Delores. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff. Anyway, we said bye to Maggie, my favorite vehicle of all times, and said hello to Old Age. That's not actually our Mini Van's name, but that's still what I said hi to when we bought it.

Three days ago Chris started an herbal colon cleanse. His uncle did one a few months ago, and for some reason it intrigued Chris enough to want to do one too. I think it's cause he wants to see how big a poo he can poo so that when he sees little babies he can say 'I've crapped poos bigger than that' and mean it. That's gross and a bit crass, but that's the man I love! He just text messaged me to tell me that he 'flippin loves vegetable broth!' cause that is the closest thing to food that he is allowed to have for the next five days. The major up side to all this- I do not have to make him lunch or dinner for the next week! Though I do love making food for the guy in general, one less thing to do right now is not a bad thing.

We are still waiting to hear whether or not we got the house that we put an offer on. Short sale my ^%$#... We are going to go look at houses again on Tuesday with our wonderful realtor. Hopefully we will get 'our house', but if not- we REALLY need to find a house to move in to- and soon! But as my wonderful mother-in-law reminded me this week- faith and patience need to be had by the truckload. Amen to that.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

To MiniVan or Not To MiniVan...

Why do minivans scare the living daylights out of people under the age of 30?

So Jeehon moved here a week ago, and we immediately put Lily's and Topher's car seats in her Hyundai Sante Fe. I don't know why we didn't just move Sungu's car seat into the Jeep, cause that might have been easier, but there you have it. Oh wait, Jeehon has a DVD player in her SUV, which I always thought was the extreme in unneccessary car upgrades. How wrong I was. Not only is Lily learning Korean by watching Pororo, the cutest little singing and dancing penguin, but I am too!

Anyhow, with the three car seats dominating the back row, and Jeehon and I up front, and with the double and single stroller in the trunk- there is only enough room left for a gallon of milk and three bags of groceries. If we want to go somewhere with just one other adult, we need to take another car along too. This is the quandry we found ourselves in this morning. We were going to the JC Penny furniture outlet, where they have already cheap furniture with extra discounts. We got a $740 dining room table for $74. And a sweet kitchen table for $35. Look for the purple sticker people- it's an additional 90% off! I digress... So, we packed up the kids and went down to the store- in the Jeep and the Santa Fe. What a waste. If we had a minivan, or an SUV with three rows of seating, we could have just wasted about $10 worth or gas, instead of 20. I was in the Jeep with Chris as I was pondering this outloud, and Chris mentioned that he was just thinking the same thing.

I hate it when we are on the same page like that! (Sometimes.) We briefly mentioned a Suburban, but not only can we not afford that car, we also could not afford to ever fill it up. And what's the point in having a car that your family fits in, but that just sits in your driveway forever? It costs a touch over $60 to fill up the Jeep right now. So I can only imagine that it would cost over $100 to fill up one of those giant SUVs. Ouch.

But a minivan! Not only are those stupid things more fuel efficient than SUVs, but they are also roomier. I wouldn't smack Lily's poor chunky little leg on Topher's car seat base every time I get her in and out of the car (she sits in the middle) if we had a minivan. I would also be able to see my blindspots while changing lanes on the highway if we had a minivan because there wouldn't be so many stroller wheels obstructing my vision. Oh how wonderful and awful you are minivan! I know I am no longer a young spring chick. I am also not trying to win any 'coolest parent' contests. And in general I don't really care what other people think about me (or doI?...) I just don't want to drive a minivan!

Friday, May 9, 2008

And the Winner is...

We are all winners. So this is my final report on The Napping Wars.

I admitted defeat on Monday. Then on Tuesday I went to work for a few short hours, only to come home to a quiet house. Lily was napping. And it was only 11 am. What the?!?!? I left her with Chris, and he got her to go down after five minutes of crying. Then we went house shopping and Bre took her again (bless that girl's heart!). We told her Lily didn't have to nap since she slept for over an hour already, but wouldn't you know it- Lily went down for another nap.

Wednesday, Thursday, and today were all filled with naps where Lily only cried for five, ten minutes max. So all I have to say to that is- Thank you Jesus. It took us quite a bit longer than a week. But that is ok. The important thing is that Lily can nap on her own! Which officially makes us both the winners of The Napping Wars. Thanks for tuning in folks. Now I have to find something else to write about...

Monday, May 5, 2008

Defeat...

Yesterday was not good. Went out with my sister and nephew, who are now officially living with us, and came home at about 1pm. Lily fell asleep in the car as soon as we got in it. So she slept for about twenty minutes, but she seemed REALLY tired so I was convinced that she would continue sleeping once we got home. Not so much.
Put her in her crib with white blankie and all. Left the room and she started to cry. And cry and cry. She stopped after about twenty minutes. played for about ten. Cried again. Finally at 2pm I decided to cave ever so slightly (wrong move? you be the judge) and give her some milk. So I gave her a bottle and had a pep talk with her. Put her back in her crib. More crying. Two steps forward, three steps back. That's all I could think over and over again. But what was worse was I was thinking those thoughts as the lyrics of the old Paula Abdul song where she is singing and dancing with an animated cat. Why was she singing and dancing with that cat? Sure, opposites attract, and 'attract' rhymes with 'cat', but still- unneccessary use of animated cat in dance video. So all in all, yesterday was not the best day.
Today was better. She has woken up from slumber a few times already, but there are guys doing landscaping with very loud machines outside. It startled her a couple times, but now I think she is used to it. She cried for about ten minutes when I first put her down. Then played for about twenty. Cried for another ten, and has been pretty good, besides the aformentioned little crying bouts.
Once Lily stops crying, I will stop talking about it. For now, these Napping Wars consume me.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

VICTORY!

typing one handed again. but i just needed to write and say that i put lily down for her nap today and she did not cry AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i'd just like to take this opportunity to thank some important people:
-thank you Jesus. cause you give me the strength and the patience! and you created lily and she is so wonderful! i know you are helping her too.
-thank you white blanket. thank you for being so soft and snuggly.when i wrapped lily in it before putting her in her crib today she automatically was putty in my hands. and when i laid her down with you all around her, she felt safe and secure because of you.
-thank you mary beth for your continual pep talks and encouragement and for guiding me through these Napping Wars. i owe you an iced mocha. venti!
-thank you lily for causing me to grow not only as a mommy, but as a person. i owe you a bottle of milk. 8 oz!