Counting My Blessings

This week has been an interesting one at work.  Parent-teacher conferences always bring about some stories, but unfortunately none are quirky or fun.  Even more interesting, if it can be called that, are the stories I have heard from administrators regarding students in my class.

In the last two days, I have heard more than a few heart-wrenching stories about children and their home lives.  Many come from broken homes, parents who are out of work, parents who are either absent or incarcerated, parents with substance abuse, and kids who are living with extended family members, often older grandparents who are in bad health.  These students need help, love, a shoulder to cry on, and a positive adult role model.  Often these kids cry out in disruptive, destructive, or disrespectful ways, only because they are not sure how to get help or the right kind of attention.  My heart goes out to these kids, because it is the parents in their lives who are not providing the balance and security that kids so desperately need.  

In hearing these stories, it makes me so thankful that my marriage to Mitch is strong, that our love for Gizmo is unwavering, and that we had great role models in our parents to show us how to raise a family right.  

Random Thoughts

• Why is my throat itchy?  I hope I'm not getting sick.
• Why can I seem to strive to be the best when it comes to my job, keeping my home clean, and be a good wife and mom, but can't strive to make myself the best?
• Why does Joe Biden look like a total tool during the State of the Union?  He keeps nodding like an idiot.  Seriously, Joe, get a clue.
• When do you stop being tired as a parent?  Ever?
• When did it become OK to bring kids to parent/teacher conferences?  When I was in school, I never went.  I didn't have one conference tonight that didn't involve the student.  Of course, it's entertaining when a student who isn't turning in homework shows up with his parent and his mother says to him, "why ain't you doin' yo' homework, Rashad?", and the poor kid just hangs his head so low, he knows he's gonna git it at home.  
• Yesterday during kindergarten music, we were finishing up our unit on the letter "J" with a reading of the book "Jumanji".  While I was reading from a chair with the students sitting on the floor around me, a little boy started to play with the bottom of my pants.  Weird.
• Tomorrow I get to take my 5th graders to Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis to hear the Minnesota Orchestra perform music from movies.  They are playing Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Up, amongst others.  I can't wait!
• Gizmo is eating peas and carrots now.  Yay!  Up later this week:  sweet potatoes.  She's also getting really good at spitting and "buzzing" her lips.  She might be a brass player yet!

The Long-Awaited Baptism Post

Last weekend we filled our house with people, food, and laughter to celebrate Gizmo's baptism.  Or, as Aunt Katie sang in the song she wrote:

"Gizmo, Gizmo, you are baptized today,

Gizmo, Gizmo, you weren't a Christian, but now you are!"

Oh Katie, you are so poetic.  

Anyway, here are the formal family pictures at the church - (keep in mind they were kept short and sweet, as the Vikings game started at noon and church didn't get over with until after 12:00)

The big extended family -

Gizmo with her godmother, Tuba Lady - 

Sadly, her godfather, Dr. Martin, was unable to make it due to extreme fog, and his flight was canceled.  We certainly missed him!

Mitch, Tuba Lady, Gizmo, and I - 

It was a beautiful ceremony and Gizmo didn't cry until the cherub choir began to sing a song for her.  Of course, PD the pastor told us she was just singing.  That musical kid of ours.

Gizmo's baptism outfit was a mix of old and new.  Her gown was one that Mitch had worn, as well as Grandpa Sal, when they were baptized.  So neat!  She wore Aunt Winnie's christening sweater, a special bib made by Grama Poke, and a necklace from Grandma Jersey Girl.  She was absolutely adorable, and managed to not spit up on the entire thing until the moment that I was undressing her.  

While Gizmo spent much of the weekend tired (she's not one to take a nap anymore, and she really hates to miss anything when people are here), she did manage to look incredibly cute and adorable for pictures:

I also was not good with taking pictures all weekend, but I did capture a few with some of our guests (and Katie helped) -

Flying with Uncle Boston - 

Snuggling with Rachel - 

And meeting SouthCove for the first time - 

While Gizmo enjoyed playing with all her guests (thanks to everyone who came!), the most fun she had this weekend was when she was chewing on something.  She chewed on her caterpillar,

her teething ring,

her feet,

and her ring.

It was a really wonderful, but exhausting weekend.  Mitch and I are still recovering!

I Know, We're Slackers

I apologize for not posting in almost a week.  The thing is, life is busy.  We had tons of company over the weekend and baptized little Gizmo, and I feel like I am just now starting to recover.  

I promise to have pictures and video up soon.  Promise.  Until then, you'll just have to keep watching the hockey fight.  Enjoy.

Hockey Night in Minnesota

Wild vs. Canucks with Sal, 5th row!

Thanks Dad!

Awesome update: Twice during the game Sal said we needed a goal, and both times the Wild scored within 10 seconds. Then he said he wanted to see a fight, and our boys came through with three brawls.

Here's footage of the best one.

New Tricks for Gizmo

That Gizmo, she sure is getting big fast.  This weekend she finally got to have something other than formula, and so here she is enjoying her first few bites of rice cereal.

As her favorite Food Network TV Personality Rachael Ray would say, "Yum-O!"  Surprisingly, she has taken to it pretty well, although a lot of trickery is involved.  I'm hoping she doesn't catch on until she masters eating off a spoon.

The more amusing trick she does was performed on Sunday night right before bedtime.

Quite the acrobat, that Gizmo!  Stay tuned, as we hope she'll roll over one of these days!

Heat Wave!

To Those Who Will Be Making The Journey To The Frozen Tundra This Weekend:

You are in luck.  We are having unseasonably warm weather this week - the high temperature is supposed to be 10 degrees warmer than normal.  

Which means we're going to break above freezing.  Hopefully twice.  

Pack that long underwear!  

The Very Hungry Baby

Gizmo is in the "everything in the mouth" phase, as evidenced by her manhandling of her "Very Hungry Caterpillar" stuffed toy.  

Ew, Ew, Ew.

We have mice.

It all started last week when I took Mitch's car in for an oil change.  Gizmo and I were playing while we waited for the car when the technician came in with the air filter, which was filled with seed-like things.  He asks me, "do you have mice?", to which I immediately respond, "No!".  I mean, who has mice in their house?  Gross!  (Never mind the fact that my house-cleaning skills are terrible right now, there could very well be mice under the piles and I would never know.)  Anyway, he shook the seeds out, said to be on the lookout because something was crawling up and storing food in the air filter, and away we were.  We stopped at Target on the way home and bought mouse traps.  

After Mitch got home and I relayed what the technician found, he set up one mouse trap in the garage to see if we would catch anything.  Less than 12 hours later, the trap was full - one dead.

Between then and now, we have killed four mice (and injured one who left part of his face in the trap....I really hope that thing isn't dead somewhere in my garage) and discovered their food source.  They had eaten through the bean bags for our bags game and were eating the soybeans out of them.  (Sorry, Mom.  We'll need more bags.....)  Who knows what else they have climbed on and eaten through.  I am convinced that I am going to go to the garage one morning to find one sitting on the step, or even worse, in my car.  

Who can really blame them, I guess.  It is freaking cold here - we are barely seeing temperatures above zero - and the cars are warm when they come into the garage.  

I am so grossed out by mice.  Thankfully Mitch handles all mice-related issues, and so I can pretend that it isn't a problem.  But I shudder every time I run through the garage and get in my car.

Ew.

Goodbye, Baked Goods - You are No Longer My Friend

It's Time.

Gizmo was born over four months ago.  It's time to officially retire all of my maternity pants.

It's  time to face reality - my middle is large, my ass sticks out too far, and my thunder thighs  have got to go.  My chins have multiplied over the years.  And I can't ignore my backfat anymore.

Breast-feeding didn't burn off all of my baby weight, and so I have an extra 15 pounds on my frame that was already overloaded before I got pregnant. 

No longer can I justify eating tons of sweets, baked goods, chips, and second helpings.  It was fun while it lasted, but it's over.  

I can't keep getting dressed in the morning and hate the way my clothes fit.  I don't feel good about myself.  I'd like to feel confident without the aid of Spanx.  

Nothing will change unless I do it myself.

It's Time.  

Therefore, I am publicly announcing the start of my diet and exercise program to get into shape.  Yes, this is mostly about vanity and wanting to look good, but I want to be able to feel good, not run out of energy, and be healthy for my family.

I want to be able to rock a bikini again.  (It's been a LONG time.))

I want my clothes to fit.  I would even like the boxes of clothes that I have "because they'll fit someday" to fit.

I want Mitch and Gizmo to have a wife and mom they can be proud of.

If you see me with a muffin or a Twinkie, please don't hesitate to say, "Hey fatass, do you really need to eat that?"  Because I'm going to need all the help I can get.  

By the way, if there are any moms who can offer advice on how in the hell to squeeze a workout into my already-overloaded schedule, I'd appreciate it.  

It's Time.  Let's do it.