Welcome to Crazyland

The Strong-Willed Child

Connor is proving himself to be a first born, in every way imaginable. Can we say strong-willed? Yeesh.

Oh yes. And the toddler temper is starting to real its ugly little head.

Today, in fact, Tim told me a wonderful story at lunch. How when he picked up our little precious jewel from daycare this morning, Debbie said that he was “mostly” good. Except for when it was time to come inside after they had been playing outside, and Connor decided that he most definately did not want to come.

So, my little munchkin, decided to throw quite the little fit - kicking and flailing all over the place, screaming “Mommeeee…Mommmee…Mommeee!” over and over again. And then when he was brought inside, he was so mad that he didn’t want anyone to look at him or talk to him for like a half hour.

Morning Email Conversation

Tim: Hey babes… Good morning. You were alsooep last night, but the MI guy got picked up by the bobcats. Love ya. Me.

Me: STOP THE PRESSES. Just kidding. I shouldn’t be sarcastic - I know you think that its important. AND IT IS. How are you? Is Bubba still sleeping? Kid got me up at 4, freakin’ 13 in the AM. I? Am tired, yo. Did not really ever get back to sleep.

Tim: Wow, that was almost harsh. I just thought you’d like to know because the guy played at MI. Love ya babes. sorry your tired. me

Me: Did not mean to be harsh. Meant to be funny, sorry. I always screw that up. Too tired to try to be funny, I guess. When Connor gets up, tell him that he was VERY NAUGHTY for getting up so early and not cuddling with mommy and going back to sleep like he should have.

Tim: I understand about the tired thing, and its ok. I cant Believer CHicago took two poing guards last night. they now have 5 point guards on their roster next year.

Kirk Hinrich
Jamal Crawford
Janaro Pargo
Ben Gordan
Chris Duhan

Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Me: Hee. It’s a PointGuard Palooza.

Tim: That could be the name of my next post

Me: Pick your pointguard, any pointguard.

Tim: I’m starting to HATE the point guard posetion

Me: Oooooh, don’t be hatin’.

Me: I got this email yesterday from UNITE from someone named Mary Lou Rhegan. And for a second, I totally thought it was Mary Lou Rheton, my childhood idol

Tim: Hehehe. Thats kinda funny

Me: Yeah, like Mary Lou freakin’ Rheton is going to get a job at the Unisys Conference. But I swear, that was my first thought.

Tim: It could happen. Whoops i think bubba is upp

Auntie Julie

Two entrys. One day. Fabulous!

Almost as fabulous as Connor’s Auntie Julie - here are 100 things about her:

1. Her full name is Julie Anne Conolly
2. When she was younger, she used to tell people her name was Julianne
3. She’s always been rather dramatic
4. Her nickname growing up was Juice
5. She hated that
6. Which made me call her that all the time
7. She had a mean big sister
8. (Um. That would be me.)
9. When she was 7, our little brother was born.
10. She did not fancy someone taking her place as the baby of the family
11. She threatened to throw Jeff in the trash
12. Luckily, she did not
13. All of my memories growing up involve her
14. They are all, more or less, hilarious
15. Julie had a unique way of getting herself into situations
16. And she had quite a bit of help from big sis
17. One time I convinced her we should open our Christmas presents early
18. I found out I was getting a baton. Julie? Not so lucky
19. She opened hers right on the eye of a giant Pink Panther
20. Which freaked her the heck out
21. She had nightmares for a week
22. I was petrified that she was going to rat us out
23. She didn’t though
24. But refused to open that present on Christmas morning
25. I think we eventually did get busted
26. I found her a strange mix of great playmate/partner-in-crime and annoying tag-a-long
27. We had a love/hate relationship
28. Now I love her to death
29. And can’t imagine life without her
30. She was and continues to be a great sister
31. I was the terrible one who tormented her to no end
32. She has always been a bit accident prone
33. When she was 18 months old, she cracked her head open on a desk
34. And needed stitches in the ER
35. That was apparently my fault, as my dad told me all the way to the ER
36. I was the great big age of 4 ½
37. Julie and I were taking turns spinning each other around in the swivel chair
38. It was great fun
39. Until she fell and then there was blood and yelling
40. I think she has forgiven me
41. When she was 4 or so, she fell face first into a campfire
42. She was badly burnt
43. I remember being totally freaked out in the waiting room
44. That one? Not my fault. Look to crappy camping chair for your culprit.
45. When she was about 6, she fell into a big mud pit.
46. That was freaking hilarious
47. Julie did not find it so funny.
48. When she was in junior high, she dropped a hot bowl of oatmeal, fresh from the microwave, on her legs
49. 3rd degree burns, my friends.
50. I thought this was the funniest thing ever and told all of her friends exactly WHY she wasn’t in school that day.
51. Again, she did not find this so funny.
52. I still think this is one of the funniest stories ever and she still does not find this funny.
53. Julie has a great love and talent for the arts
54. She’s very into movies, plays, music, etc. You name it – she loves it.
55. Her favorite play is Rent
56. After seeing it, she decided that she would become a crazybohemian.
57. She was kind of pissed when the bohemian thing became “in”
58. I think she’s over that now
59. Her favorite TV show used to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer
60. But its off the air now
61. She had her very own Scooby gang and everything
62. She sees about a gazillion movies a week
63. I’m not kidding
64. She knows like every single actor/actress ever born
65. And can kick your behind on every movie game ever invented
66. Except our annual Oscar game
67. In which by pure luck along I manage to win quite frequently
68. I can’t remember who won this year – I think we tied
69. Tim always loses and ends up in last place
70. She beat me last year, but she won’t accept that as a win due to the fact that I was having contractions the whole time
71. She takes this Oscar thing seriously, man.
72. She’s a wonderful Auntie to Connor
73. She keeps trying to get him to say Auntie or Aunt Julie
74. He tends to laugh at her
75. She baby-sits him all the time and he has a great time, every time
76. She’s one of the two people that we can leave him with, without lots of tears
77. Connor is so much like her – full of energy and spunk, and tendency to get into trouble
78. Julie was spanked so often as a young child – it was a way of life for her
79. She eventually outgrew that
80. And became a model teenager, while I was the hormonal terror of the house
81. She was never overly interested in clothes, makeup, hair, or pretty, shiny things as a teenage girl
82. Nor in being all flirty with boys, trying to look good for boys, etc – she didn’t play that game
83. She had a lot of boys that were friends because of this, but no “boyfriends”
84. She’s somewhat interested in “girly” things now, but not obsessed with them
85. She still doesn’t play games with boys
86. I think this is admirable, but she thinks that she’ll wind up as an old maid
87. She doesn’t believe me when I tell her that she won’t
88. She laughs and gets all embarrassed when I try to teach her how to flirt
89. Her soulmate, whoever you may be out there – you really need to get your crap together and come and meet her already and sweep her off her gosh darn feet. Because Julie? Is a precious, rare jewel that you don’t just find anywhere, and she really needs to be treated as such.
90. She is an excellent euchre partner
91. As my partner in Outburst, we can NOT be beat. I will give her this seemingly random clue and she will guess the word instantly – because we, are like that, ya’ll.
92. She’s not really skilled in the sports department
93. Yet she still played: basketball, softball, and cheerleading
94. She’s one of the best writers I’ve ever read.
95. She doesn’t write as much as she should.
96. Someday, she’ll be a world famous novelist.
97. And take me on fabulous vacations.
98. Where we will sun by the pool, and drink fruity drinks brought to us by cabana boys.
99. Until then, we will have to just hang out in Lansing together.
100. She lives just 15 minutes away from me, and still I think this is too far. I need her to live, like, across the street. She’s just too fabulous.

Happy Father's Day

Yeah, um. Three days late.

I’ve been BUSY, people.

Anyways - Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddy’s in the world out there. Especially the two closest to my heart:

My Dad - the fabulous pastorc who finally got voicemail on his phone on Monday. So next Father’s Day, when he’s camping in the middle of nowhere, I can at least leave him a message to say Happy Father’s Day. My intentions were good. Cell phone service - not so much. Anyways - Happy Father’s Day Daddy - you are the best!

My Husband - I hope that you had a wonderful day and that you enjoyed your gifts. And that you don’t think a handpainted grilling apron with Connor’s handprints on it isn’t too girly. Because I’m still worried about that.

Oh - and also…trivia fact: Tim and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday as well. We got to go out to dinner and a movie and everything. We even tried to eat the dessert that can not be finished, but it was not to be done.

The Daddy

Okay, here it is….100 Things about Tim:

1. His full name is Timothy Warren Ambrose
2. He hates his name
3. He thinks Tim or Timothy is too common
4. He wants to be different and unique
5. His middle name is his Dad’s first name
6. He doesn’t mind his middle name
7. Unless he’s mad at his Dad
8. Then he hates it
9. He also grew up all over the state of Michigan
10. But more up north than I did
11. And in more “farm country” than I did
12. He laughs at me for not knowing farm-y things
13. Not that he’s what you would call a farm kid
14. We like living in Lansing
15. Although we want to live in the country someday
16. Just outside a big town like Lansing
17. We need civilization
18. He has a brother named Travis
19. Who is three years younger than him
20. He was awfully mean to Travis growing up
21. One time, he pushed him down the stairs
22. And blamed it on the cat
23. He also used to shove his head into the wall
24. Amazingly enough, they are now the best of friends
25. Tim would be lost without Travis in his life
26. He also has another brother, Troy
27. Troy was born when he was 16
28. So Tim had plenty of diaper-practice
29. Tim likes to pick on those he loves
30. It’s the Ambrose way
31. He especially loves to pick on his sister/brother-in-laws
32. He used to really embarrass Jenny, growing up
33. I think he probably still does
34. He was very involved in drama in both high school and college
35. His best play was Godspell at SAC
36. He has a great singing voice and can really act
37. He absolutely can not dance
38. It is humorous to watch him try
39. At a young age he read LOTR and has been hooked on fantasy every since
40. He reads all sorts of those books with elves and dragons in them
41. I suspect he fell in love with me for my half-elfishness
42. He loves collecting weapons
43. Those go in his den
44. His den is a mess and has never, ever been clean
45. He loves playing video games
46. Especially role-playing games
47. He also likes sports games, especially basketball
48. Connor loves to play video games with Daddy
49. Tim gave him his own controller
50. Which Connor has stuck in his mouth so many times it is now ruined
51. He is a great, great Daddy
52. He has great dreams of Connor playing in the NBA
53. They practice basketball daily
54. But Connor cheats
55. Which makes him laugh
56. He loves basketball so much it is beyond an obsession at this point
57. He is a die-hard Chicago Bulls fan
58. My Dad let me marry him anyway
59. But it was mentioned in the wedding
60. He looked like he was going to pass out at the end of the aisle
61. He didn’t though
62. We left for our honeymoon in his grey Olds
63. He loved that grey Olds
64. Even though it did not have working blinkers or radio
65. And lots of rust
66. He got a speeding ticket on the way home
67. Which he forgot to pay
68. The State of Pennsylvania issued a warrant
69. He paid it rather quickly after that
70. That was his last ticket
71. He has a wicked temper
72. That has gotten him into lots of trouble over the years
73. One time, he threw Travis’ mattress down the stairs
74. He has also broken our phone
75. And our remote control
76. He’s much better about that now
77. But he still gives “the sigh”
78. “The sigh” is an Ambrose thing – every male does it
79. Its part of their heritage
80. Just like “the grunt”
81. Tim’s aunt, uncle, and Dad have a grunt fund
82. That way whoever gets it will be able to have it removed
83. Tim and Travis have talked about starting one themselves
84. Tim has a mole in the spot the grunt usually grows
85. It scares him
86. People usually either love or hate Tim
87. Because he’s load and kind of obnoxious at times
88. So he’s either charming and endearing or utterly annoying
89. I think he’s fabulous
90. Although I do tell him to be quiet all the time
91. And to be nicer to other people
92. He’s a lot better at numbers than I am
93. But he’s terrible with directions
94. He once tried to convince me that Flint was south of Detroit
95. And he always says “up there” or “down there” wrong to family across the state
96. He loves Mountain Dew
97. And donuts
98. I’ve put him on a diet
99. He misses what he calls “real food”
100.And cheats on the diet all the time

The Momma

Okay, I figured that I start with me since that’s the easiest one to begin with. Here are 100 things About me:

1. My full name is Jennifer Lynn Ambrose
2. I used to be Jennifer Lynn Conolly
3. But I changed it when I got married to Tim
4. Back in ‘98
5. ‘98 was the last year the Bulls won the NBA championship
6. Tim thinks I cursed him.
7. I used to be known as Jenny, Jennie, or Jen depending on the year
8. Now I go by Jen
9. I also now answer to Momma or Mommy
10. I do answer my phone at work as Jennifer
11. I feel stupid when I do
12. I work at a software company
13. Contrary to popular belief, I am not a computer nerd
14. I work in the marketing department
15. Okay, in truth, I am the marketing department
16. This happened when the economy turned nasty
17. I have a lot to do
18. I don’t have a budget
19. Or very much money to spend
20. That makes my job hard
21. I also find it hard to balance work, family, and life
22. I could not do it without God and his blessed invention Diet Coke
23. I heart Diet Coke
24. And God
25. We go to Capitol City Baptist Church here in Lansing
26. My husband works there at the school
27. In full-time Christian ministry
28. Part-time over the summer
29. I said that I would never marry someone in full-time Christian ministry
30. God laughed
31. Tim and I both went to Spring Arbor College
32. Its called Spring Arbor University now
33. After everything we paid them, they still seem to want money
34. We don’t have any to send
35. Still paying off student loans
36. And diapers are expensive
37. I grew up in many different towns across Michigan
38. We moved around a lot
39. My dad was/is a youth pastor and pastor
40. When I was 12, we moved to Coloma
41. I spent my teenage years there
42. I met my bestest of friends Stacey and Jennifer there
43. And my first boyfriend
44. We were engaged for three days
45. But then I broke up with him
46. This was after we moved to Reading
47. I didn’t like Reading. At all.
48. Except for my cute Sunday School teacher
49. So the boyfriend had to go.
50. Cute Sunday School teacher turned out to be a jerk.
51. So did ex-boyfriend.
52. I hope my son is never a jerk.
53. When I hated Reading the most, I met Tim, his family and friends
54. Suddenly, it was not so bad.
55. Fell into that group of friends right away
56. Starting dating Tim’s friend
57. Tim, his friend, and I were best of friends
58. We all worked at Wal-Mart
59. I made Tim move to softlines
60. He worked with me in the men’s department
61. We folded a lot of jeans
62. Tim and his friend went to college
63. The friend dumped me
64. I was devastated
65. Tim remained my friend
66. He got me through it
67. One time on the phone, he told me that we were going to get married someday
68. I didn’t believe him
69. One night, while hanging out, he kissed me
70. I kissed him back
71. But we didn’t start dating
72. We were just friends
73. With super, secret kissing on the side
74. We stayed this way for 5 months
75. Tim is a patient, patient man
76. I knew that he would be my last boyfriend
77. We were engaged 5 months after we started dating
78. Married 8 months later
79. We fought a lot
80. We are too tired to fight now
81. My sister and I also fought a lot growing up
82. I used to want to be a lawyer so I could get paid to fight
83. The school part scared me
84. So now I just fight in meetings
85. I have a bump on my left ear which makes me look half-elf
86. I inherited it from my great-Grandpa who had a bump on both ears
87. I guess he was full-elf
88. Unfortunately, I have no magical powers
89. I went to both public and private schools growing up
90. I loved and hated them both
91. I miss my friends from Grace Christian and wonder what happened to them
92. I was a varsity cheerleader at both schools
93. At the Christian school, we wore long skirts that came to our knees
94. At Coloma, I wore a super, short skirt that barely covered my behind
95. Now I’m a cheerleading coach
96. I love my cheerleaders and I’m paranoid they all hate me.
97. I devour books on a regular basis.
98. I enjoy easy to read, compelling fiction
99. I get too easily caught up in reality television
100.And sports

Connor's Family Tree

Seeing as I’m completely exhausted and out of it today, I could not think of anything to write about. But then I had an idea…start writing about Connor’s Family Tree.

So yeah. I’m going to create a handy-dandy tree reference graphic and then I shall talk about all the crazy branches on his tree, myself included. Yeah, scratch that. This reference graphic is taking too dang long. That’s a future project. I’ll just start talking ‘bout the family, K?

What a Week

The past week was the most trying one that we have endured as parents, for sure. I am very surprised that our hair is not completely gray by this point in time. It’s been rough, but we have seen the worst of it, I think, and are coming out of the storm. Thank goodness.

Here’s how it all broke down:

Dateline: Tuesday, 17:30 PM - I arrive home and Tim hands Connor off to me. There are 4 guys inside of my house ripping out doors, walls, and all sorts of other things. We are replacing our furnace and hot water heater, and installing A/C. Needless to say, the place is a mess. Connor, of course, is very helpful in all of this. We head out to get him out of the way until bedtime.

Dateline: Tuesday, 18:00 PM - We go to Meijers to kill some time in an air conditioned environment. Because boy, is it hot! We look at the birds and hamsters and the fishies. Connor: “Ishy! Ishy!”. We buy him a plastic bat/ball combo. And some bubbles.

Dateline: Tuesday, 18:45 PM - Dinner time. We go to McD’s. Happy meals all around. (The new adult happy meals? Yum! Plus, I love my toy!). (Oh, and I can’t say enough about the great choices that you get with the kids meals now days either.) ‘Bout halfway through our meal, Connor quits eating. Just doesn’t want anymore and isn’t happy. I shovel food in my mouth and we high-tail it out of there.

Dateline: Tuesday, 19:30 PM - Drive home. I look in the rear-view mirror. Whoa. Connor’s puking. Crap! What do I do? Okay, pull over. Offer reassurances. Wipe up best I can with wipes in my purse. Head home.

Dateline: Tuesday, 19:40 PM - People are still in my house when I get there. Bring in boy covered with happy meal puke. Find out there is no water in house. Great.

Dateline: Tuesday, 19:42 PM - Clean off puke boy best I can with wipes. Set up pack-n-play upstairs in our room away from the noise. Get his bottle together, lay him down to sleep. He goes to sleep right away. Poor kid, doesn’t feel well.

Dateline: Tuesday, 20:30 PM - Check on him. Still sleeping soundly.

Dateline: Tuesday, 22:00 PM - Water is back on. Yeah! I can finally pee. Shouldn’t have driken all that diet coke at McD’s. Go check on the Bubba. Man, he’s hot. Must be the weather. Make plans to move him downstairs.

Dateline: Tuesday, 22:30 PM - Enlist Tim’s help in moving Bubba and pack-n-play to living room. Set up fans. Make decision to sleep down there tonight with screen door open.

Dateline: Tuesday, 23:00 PM - Man, he feels really hot. Even in front of the fan. Maybe I should take his temp. 102! Holy crap. Come on, baby, wake up - you need to take some baby motrin! Crap - Tim - he’s throwing up again! Okay, let’s try this again - Crap - okay. Maybe later.

Dateline: Wednesday, 1:00 AM - He’s still really hot. What should we do? Okay, we’ll try the motrin again in the morning.

Dateline: Wednesday, 6:00 AM - Okay, wake up - let’s try this again…Yes! SCORE! Now keep it down…..102.9. That’s not good.

Dateline: Wednesday, 6:30 AM - Call in sick to work.

Dateline: Wednesday, 8:00 AM - Call doctor’s office. Unfortunately, his doctor passed away last month and they don’t have the replacement doctor yet. Don’t like the other two in the practice. Will try the new nurse practitioner. 11:00 AM. Okay.

Dateline: Wednesday, 10:00 AM - Give Bubba cool bath. Trying to reduce temp, plus remove pukey smell. He’s not happy and shivering.

Dateline: Wednesday, 10:30 AM - Temp down to 99 under the arm.

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:00 AM - Doctor’s office. Happily playing in playcenter. Until they call his name and he sees the nurse. Will not stand on the scale. Scared he’s going to get a shot. Go in the room. Take temp. 104. 104???? Are you kidding? Crap!

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:03 AM - Nurses are now slightly freaking out about his temp as well. Nurse also doesn’t feel as bad - he’s sick and doesn’t hate her totally. Nurse practitioner comes right in.

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:15 AM - Lungs, ears, and throat all check out clear. Must reduce nasty temp before we can leave, though. Must cover baby with cool cloths. Baby most decidedly unhappy about this plan. Mom gets very wet.

Dateline: Wednesday, 12:00 PM - Also give him Tylenol on top of the Motrin to reduce the fever. Temp finally goes down to 102. Say its probably a virus. Watch for cough or anything else. If temp goes higher than 104 again - head to ER. Double up on both Tylenol and Motrin to control temp.

Dateline: Wednesday, 1:00 PM - Another Meijer trip to stock up on Tylenol, Motrin, juice, and a good rectal thermometer. Also? Air conditioning feels nice.

Dateline: Wednesday, 1:40 PM - Nap time. Temp down to 102.

Dateline: Wednesday, 4:30 PM - And he’s awake. Temp is at 103.7. Motrin and Tylenol.

Dateline: Wednesday, 5:30 PM - Temp holding steading at 102. Baby just wants to be held. Guys come over to continue to rip out furnace and stuff. Connor and I head over to Julies for quiet, air conditioning and pizza.

Dateline: Wednesday, 7:30 PM - Connor is freezing at Aunt Julie’s in his diaper. He’s still at 102, but shaking. Poor kid. Put him in Aunt Julie’s Tshirt and put him down for a nap in packnplay in Aunt Mandy’s room. He goes right to sleep.

Dateline: Wednesday, 7:40 PM - Pizza’s here! Settle down for girly movie - What a Girl Wants.

Dateline: Wednesday, 8:20 PM - Check on Bubba. Crap. He’s burning up. Take temp. 104.3. Crap, crap, crap. Head to ER.

Dateline: Wednesday, 8:40 PM - Get to ER. Wait.

Dateline: Wednesday, 9:00 PM - They take his vitals. 102. Better. Give him some more Tylenol. We go back to waiting room to wait. Connor cries constantly. Sing goodbye song from Bear. Sing Bicycle ride for Two. Sing Jesus Loves Me. Anything to help.

Dateline: Wednesday, 9:40 PM - Finally, he gets a bed. Screams as doctor examines him. Not happy. They need to make sure that something bacterial isn’t going on. Great. Mention Xrays, urine tests, blood tests, and lumbar punctures. Oy.

Dateline: Wednesday, 10:00 PM - Julie and I try to entertain him in his bed. Somewhat difficult. He seems to like to pull out tissues from the tissue box. I let him because let’s face it - we are going to pay for them whether we use them or not. Plus, it gives him something to do.

Dateline: Wednesday, 10:40 PM - Chest Xray time. He screams the entire time. Does not want to leave my arms. Does not want to sit on the stool and have his arms held back. Very hard thing to do.

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:20 PM - Chest looks clear. Want to test his urine now. Will send nurse. Try to talk doctor out of blood tests or lumbar puncture if we don’t need to. Because I know how pleasant that is going to be.

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:30 PM - Julie calls Tim to come and switch with her so she can go home. Nurse comes to put on urine bag. Connor really doesn’t like this. Who can blame him, really?

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:45 PM - Tried to get him to drink juice. Does not want any. Pushes it away. Try it in the bottle they have. Wrong type of nipple. Connor throws glass bottle. Luckily it does not break.

Dateline: Wednesday, 11:47 PM - Yeah! Daddy’s here. They tell us that he can go home once he pees. Daddy plays around with him and tries to get him to drink some more. Runs some water.

Dateline: Thursday, 12:15 AM - There’s finally pee in the bag! Yeah!

Dateline: Thursday, 12:45 AM - Discharged. Keep it up with Tylenol and Motrin. Come back if over 104 again. Watch for cough, etc.

Dateline: Thursday, 1:00 AM - Home. Bubba to bed. I wait for Tim to come home after dropping Julie off and picking up our stuff from her house. I wonder how the movie ends.

Dateline: Thursday, 1:30 AM - Tim’s home. Set up pack-n-play in living room. We all camp out there again.

Dateline: Thursday, 2:30 AM - Connor screaming. Calm him back down.

Dateline: Thursday, 3:30 AM - Connor awake screaming again. Calm him down. Starts puking everywhere. Yick. Get cleaned up and baby back to sleep.

Dateline: Thursday, 5:30 AM - Wake baby up for more tylenol. Call in sick to work.

Dateline: Thursday, 9:00 AM - Motrin time. Wakes up. Lays on couch and watches TV.

The rest of our time is a basic rinse, repeat of tylenol, motrin, etc. His fever finally broke about 5 PM on Friday. But he was Mr. Cranky Pants all weekend long. He developed a cough on Saturday night which prevented a lot of sleep all around.

Luckily, he seems to be doing a little bit better now. Thank goodness.

I now know why God didn’t bless us with a special needs child. We are just not cut out for this kind of craziness and anxiety. I lost years on my life this past week.

Zoorific

This weekend, we took Connor to the zoo for the very first time. We almost bought season passes, but we decided to wait and see if he would like it or not. We didn’t want to blow that much money on it and have him be terrified of the llamas or something.

But the verdict is in and it looks like we will be springing for those season passes. He loved it. I think the highlight of my day was seeing his face when he saw the peacock strut with the feathers all out. And when it turned and squaked at him? Priceless!

He also really enjoyed the otters and the penguins as well. Oh, and cotton candy. Loved, loved, loved the cotton candy.

Congrats

Shout-out to Canis and Chris who just found out they are having another boy! Time to pull out those out-grown Lucas clothes out of storage. A house full of boys - oh my! Chris - you will be in my prayers. When they are really bad, make them all watch Little House on the Prairie or something.

Also, props to Randy and Mel. They were the good news that I alluded to earlier.

Anyone else? It seems HCG is in the air….

Victory!

Okay, I know this may not seem like much, but Connor went to nursury last night and totally didn’t cry. It’s a first, people! Something for the record books, that’s for sure.

We are going through a separation anxiety thing lately and boy, is it hard. Like today at lunch, I pick up my keys and Connor toddles off to the door. It just breaks my heart to tell him that he’s not going with me. Because it breaks his little heart as well.

When he goes to Debbie, he’s usually okay. But when her helper is there? Or a sub? Yeah, not so much.

That’s why I think we are going to have him go a few days a week this summer. That way he won’t forget Debbie or any of his little friends.

I’m also happy to report that he’s playing much better than he used to. He no longer takes toys out of peoples hands, yet waits for them to offer them to them. He does go out of his way to imply that he wants said toy, though. He stands there, real close. He’ll add a bop or two (the I-want-that-toy-please dance). He’ll look at them in the eyes (Jedi mind control?). And usually he gets the toy. What do you think, future Survivor winner or what?

And by the way - how kick butt would that be? Survivor 29 or something. I could be the “person from home”. And be in the audience for the live reveal. Awesome. As long as he doesn’t do anything really embarassing, because then I would totally kick his butt. I don’t care how old he is.

Yeeeeeeah, Baby!

Told. Ya. So.

Next Stop: LA.

Fear the ‘fro, yo.

Some were not believers - especially after the first half. Or even the 3rd quarter. But I kept the faith. And now? Yeah, bring on the Lakers.

Don’t even bother telling me that the Pistons don’t have a shot. Because they totally do. They’ve split their series with them this year in the regular season. And that was before the Pistons acquired ‘Sheed. They have beyond a shot - they can totally take this.

Aw, yeah.

Are You Ready to Rumble?

Oh yeah. It’s on, kids.

Tonight the Pistons have a chance to win the series and send the Pacers back home to their Mommas. You can guarantee that this will be a fight worth watching.

You can say what you want about them fighting for second place. As if the Finals have already been decided. Whatever.

The Bad Boys have returned to the Motor City.

Show ‘em some love.

Yeah! Holiday Weekend

Oh how I love a good three-day weekend. They are just spectacular. The best part is, of course, Friday night. As you leave work, and you think “Yahoo! I don’t have to come back here, think about here, or breathe here until Tuesday!” Which, of course, feels a gazillion miles away.

This weekend did not disappoint. From that great feeling leaving work on Friday and also, the anticipation of the Pistons game that night (which of course, they lost, but you can’t win them all, I guess). To a wonderful Saturday in which we were blessed with furniture!!! Yeah!

(Oh. And thanks to all that helped - Aunt Linda…Trav & Jenny….you guys rock!)

Saturday also brought fun times with friends (okay, technically they are family, but they are cool family, ya’ll) including shopping, discovering the world’s best smoothie, oh - and lunch at TGIFridays.

Also, sometime this weekend, we got the BESTEST of news from really, really good friends of ours. I’m not going to publish it here, as I’m not sure they’d be too happy about that, but my goodness, it made me so happy it brought tears to my eyes. So, so, so happy.

Sunday we made it to not only Sunday school and morning church, but - get this - the evening service as well. A hat trick! :) Never happens in our household anymore. But this Sunday? Everything was like butter, baby. Smooth as silk. Oh yeah - and the Pistons were feeling the groove as they pulled ahead in the series.

And Monday - sweet, glorious Monday. A fabulous day to be sure. We slept in. We hung out. We played with Connor. During his naps, Tim video gamed and I read - just like we used to when we had free time. Like the good ol’ days.

I just feel so good right now I could bust out into song. Everything seems to be going so well and I feel just so overwhelmingly blessed right now. God never ceases to amaze me.