Saturday, August 26, 2006
My dear sweet husband was so kind as to remind me this morning that not only will UTPan-Am likely not accept all of my transfer credits because colleges usually don't take all of your transfers, but also because a lot of times they won't take credits that are past a certain time frame, and mine are going on 10 years now for some.
Thanks Eric! How sweet of you to make sure I realize that not only has it been 10 years in January since I started college and I'm only a sophomore, but when I go back to school I'll probably only be a freshman. Oh, yes, and what was that - you have 5 degrees? (No, he didn't say that, just my internal insecurity dialogue)
I've been thinking about school a lot. I don't think I'll be ready for spring semester, but hopefully by next fall. And as Karrie recommended, I might try doing some online classes, at least for basics. And see if I can test out of anything, especially things that won't transfer.
My goal is still basically get a degree before any of my kids, which should give me 12 years. I should be able to manage that, right?
Apparently the Anthropology program here is pretty good, although I'm going to start back just taking classes I want to, like the 2nd part of Art History, and Economics, maybe Psychology. At this point I'm not out for a career, but an education, so I'll take it slow and easy until I figure it out.
Thanks Eric! How sweet of you to make sure I realize that not only has it been 10 years in January since I started college and I'm only a sophomore, but when I go back to school I'll probably only be a freshman. Oh, yes, and what was that - you have 5 degrees? (No, he didn't say that, just my internal insecurity dialogue)
I've been thinking about school a lot. I don't think I'll be ready for spring semester, but hopefully by next fall. And as Karrie recommended, I might try doing some online classes, at least for basics. And see if I can test out of anything, especially things that won't transfer.
My goal is still basically get a degree before any of my kids, which should give me 12 years. I should be able to manage that, right?
Apparently the Anthropology program here is pretty good, although I'm going to start back just taking classes I want to, like the 2nd part of Art History, and Economics, maybe Psychology. At this point I'm not out for a career, but an education, so I'll take it slow and easy until I figure it out.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
4 Months!
First, I have no idea why that lost post screwed up my template. The html looks okay, to me at least. Weird. I'm curious if a new post will fix it, or if I have to wait for it to be archived.
Anyway, T-Maw (yeah, it's a stupid nickname) had his 4 month appointment today. The stats:
16 pounds, 8 ounces, 26 inches
And hours of crying after his shots.
Poor thing. Although I think the shots are really harder on Mom than on Baby, because we know what's coming.
Comparison to Guthrie at 4 months: 1 inch shorter, and exactly the same weight. Funny, since Guthrie started off over a pound heavier.
And our Ped, who Eric hasn't even met yet, went on and on about how we could start solid food anytime now. Give him some cereal, she said. When I told her we plan on waiting, she acted like I was the first person in the world who'd ever done so. I think I probably am a rarity down here, all around. But she kept going on. "How long do you plan on waiting?" "Why wait?"
Okay, you're the Ped. Doesn't the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, then gradual intro of solids. So what's the big deal? Aargh!
I don't think she likes me.
And we've decided to really, truly, officially wean Guthrie. Eric has started putting him to bed at night. Last night it was 10:00 before he passed out. It's currently 9:30, and he's not asleep yet. But he's not screaming, which is what he was doing when I was trying to put him to bed. Screaming, and banging his head on the door trying to get out.
We also broke down and bought one of those portable DVD players with the little 7-inch screen. Yes, I know it seems like a complete and total waste of money when we already had a perfectly good TV and DVD player, and when both of our computers will play DVDs. But sometimes I need Guthrie to chill for a bit so that I can feel like a normal human being, or I need to have the "No Nap Today - OR EVER" child occupied so that the smaller infant, who DOES nap and needs more than, say, 17 minutes of sleep a day, can actually get some rest without Guthrie coming over and proudly waking him up.
And the portable player seemed like a good idea because a) it's portable, and can be put away, and so none of us will be tempted to turn it on in the middle of the day and just be veggies all day; b) it only plays DVDs, so we can't get sucked into soap operas or the news; c) it could be taken with us on long drives, like back to Missouri, so that there's something to keep the non-sleeping child occupied while we drive for what feels like weeks at a time; and d) it can be watched anywhere, any room of the house, or wherever we want to take it.
So he gets one movie a day. (Usually) That's not so bad.
Eric and I have also started watching the X-Files DVDs we bought. So. Much. Fun. I'd forgotten how much I loved the X-Files. And not just because David Duchovny's hot (he is). Just about bit Eric's head off when he suggested we skip forward and watch specific episodes - uh, no. We're watching in order. I still don't know how it ended, and won't until we get through 9 seasons.
Any predictions for how long it will take us? We've finished 3 episodes so far.
Yeah, I'm in total stream-of-consciousness mode. I have no idea what I've said. Must. Get. Sleep.
I'm debating whether I want to take classes in the spring. I don't know if I'll be ready to leave both kids with Eric for long stretches of time like that. And I freakin' hate pumping, and don't want to have to pump milk for Turner. I may wait until next fall. I just want to get my degree before one of my kids does.
First, I have no idea why that lost post screwed up my template. The html looks okay, to me at least. Weird. I'm curious if a new post will fix it, or if I have to wait for it to be archived.
Anyway, T-Maw (yeah, it's a stupid nickname) had his 4 month appointment today. The stats:
16 pounds, 8 ounces, 26 inches
And hours of crying after his shots.
Poor thing. Although I think the shots are really harder on Mom than on Baby, because we know what's coming.
Comparison to Guthrie at 4 months: 1 inch shorter, and exactly the same weight. Funny, since Guthrie started off over a pound heavier.
And our Ped, who Eric hasn't even met yet, went on and on about how we could start solid food anytime now. Give him some cereal, she said. When I told her we plan on waiting, she acted like I was the first person in the world who'd ever done so. I think I probably am a rarity down here, all around. But she kept going on. "How long do you plan on waiting?" "Why wait?"
Okay, you're the Ped. Doesn't the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, then gradual intro of solids. So what's the big deal? Aargh!
I don't think she likes me.
And we've decided to really, truly, officially wean Guthrie. Eric has started putting him to bed at night. Last night it was 10:00 before he passed out. It's currently 9:30, and he's not asleep yet. But he's not screaming, which is what he was doing when I was trying to put him to bed. Screaming, and banging his head on the door trying to get out.
We also broke down and bought one of those portable DVD players with the little 7-inch screen. Yes, I know it seems like a complete and total waste of money when we already had a perfectly good TV and DVD player, and when both of our computers will play DVDs. But sometimes I need Guthrie to chill for a bit so that I can feel like a normal human being, or I need to have the "No Nap Today - OR EVER" child occupied so that the smaller infant, who DOES nap and needs more than, say, 17 minutes of sleep a day, can actually get some rest without Guthrie coming over and proudly waking him up.
And the portable player seemed like a good idea because a) it's portable, and can be put away, and so none of us will be tempted to turn it on in the middle of the day and just be veggies all day; b) it only plays DVDs, so we can't get sucked into soap operas or the news; c) it could be taken with us on long drives, like back to Missouri, so that there's something to keep the non-sleeping child occupied while we drive for what feels like weeks at a time; and d) it can be watched anywhere, any room of the house, or wherever we want to take it.
So he gets one movie a day. (Usually) That's not so bad.
Eric and I have also started watching the X-Files DVDs we bought. So. Much. Fun. I'd forgotten how much I loved the X-Files. And not just because David Duchovny's hot (he is). Just about bit Eric's head off when he suggested we skip forward and watch specific episodes - uh, no. We're watching in order. I still don't know how it ended, and won't until we get through 9 seasons.
Any predictions for how long it will take us? We've finished 3 episodes so far.
Yeah, I'm in total stream-of-consciousness mode. I have no idea what I've said. Must. Get. Sleep.
I'm debating whether I want to take classes in the spring. I don't know if I'll be ready to leave both kids with Eric for long stretches of time like that. And I freakin' hate pumping, and don't want to have to pump milk for Turner. I may wait until next fall. I just want to get my degree before one of my kids does.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Math Relays
Some of my best memories of are math relays. Yes, I was a nerd. What did I do for fun on a Saturday morning? Get up at the crack of dawn, pack my bag full of cards, pencils, notebooks, over-processed snack foods, grab a soda and a pillow, and show up to meet the bus. Then we'd ride somewhere so we could take math tests.
Sounds like a great time, huh?
Seriously, there was something about being on the bus, with a bunch of other nerds, and doing our own version of competing. I wasn't athletic, or artistic, or able to compete in any other way, but man, was I good at math. (Apparently still am, since I caught a significant error in dh's checkbook today)
I will admit, without bragging too much, that I have many, many math relay medals and ribbons in my keepsake box. Of course, the one I remember the most is the 4th place I got at Smith-Cotton one year. 4th place. 3rd and better got to go to state. If I'd only known the quadratic formula I would have gone to state. And then there's the fact that the same person - from the 'Burg at that! - always beat me. Or at least that's how I remember it. Beat me in speech competition too. And to something else. Thought about linking to her profile, but decided against it. With good reason.
A lot of people really disliked word problems. I, on the other hand, enjoyed them, and did pretty well with them. All of this came to me earlier, when I was trying to get both boys down for a nap at the same time. I wanted to write a new math relay test, one for moms.
So, get out your #2 pencils, your solar powered graphing calculators*, and get ready to fill in some bubbles, 'cause it's math relay time!
Question #1:
Guthrie is 29 months old and needs approximately 47 minutes of sleep in any 24-hour period. Turner is 4 months old and needs much more sleep than this in a day. Judy is their 28-year-old mother, who would like to take a nap with them. If Guthrie wants to nurse to sleep for his nap, and Turner needs to be bounced to sleep for his, and Judy just wants a little bit of rest, should she drink the merlot or the cabernet?
Question #2:
Turner wears size 3 diapers, and goes through an economy size box in 16 days. Guthrie wears a size 6 diaper and his boxes last a little longer, 21 days. If they both wear the HEB store brand with Clifford and cute little bones on them, will Guthrie ever decide to potty train?
Question#3:
Judy and Eric are a happily married couple. They love their children, cook healthy yummy meals, and see their dentists fairly regularly. If both boys co-sleep, and Guthrie's train set has taken over the entire living room instead of his bedroom, why did they buy a 3-bedroom house?
Question #4:
Eric's brother has nicknamed Guthrie G-Mitch, since his middle name (Mitchell) is after Eric's brother. This is a cute nickname from his uncle. Turner has 2 middle names, and his initials are TMAW. Judy has begun calling him by those initials as a nickname - T-maw. Is this the silliest nickname ever?
Question #5:
If Eric announces, at 10:51 p.m. on a Wednesday, that he wants more babies, and Judy's response is "Screw you," to which he promptly replies, "Well, yeah, that's how it works," should she have another glass of merlot? Or should she just drink the whole bottle?
Time's UP! Turn in your papers and go to the gym to play the dot square game, some Gameboy, and eat some nachos while you wait for your results. The awards ceremony will be at noon.
*At some point in high school my friend Tonya and I discovered that we could pass notes back and forth on her graphing calculator. It always looked like we were working, but instead we were just using the alphabet feature to pass notes. I've heard you can also use them to store formulas to cheat on tests, though, so I'll have to change my earlier statement and ban graphing calculators from this test.
Some of my best memories of are math relays. Yes, I was a nerd. What did I do for fun on a Saturday morning? Get up at the crack of dawn, pack my bag full of cards, pencils, notebooks, over-processed snack foods, grab a soda and a pillow, and show up to meet the bus. Then we'd ride somewhere so we could take math tests.
Sounds like a great time, huh?
Seriously, there was something about being on the bus, with a bunch of other nerds, and doing our own version of competing. I wasn't athletic, or artistic, or able to compete in any other way, but man, was I good at math. (Apparently still am, since I caught a significant error in dh's checkbook today)
I will admit, without bragging too much, that I have many, many math relay medals and ribbons in my keepsake box. Of course, the one I remember the most is the 4th place I got at Smith-Cotton one year. 4th place. 3rd and better got to go to state. If I'd only known the quadratic formula I would have gone to state. And then there's the fact that the same person - from the 'Burg at that! - always beat me. Or at least that's how I remember it. Beat me in speech competition too. And to something else. Thought about linking to her profile, but decided against it. With good reason.
A lot of people really disliked word problems. I, on the other hand, enjoyed them, and did pretty well with them. All of this came to me earlier, when I was trying to get both boys down for a nap at the same time. I wanted to write a new math relay test, one for moms.
So, get out your #2 pencils, your solar powered graphing calculators*, and get ready to fill in some bubbles, 'cause it's math relay time!
Question #1:
Guthrie is 29 months old and needs approximately 47 minutes of sleep in any 24-hour period. Turner is 4 months old and needs much more sleep than this in a day. Judy is their 28-year-old mother, who would like to take a nap with them. If Guthrie wants to nurse to sleep for his nap, and Turner needs to be bounced to sleep for his, and Judy just wants a little bit of rest, should she drink the merlot or the cabernet?
Question #2:
Turner wears size 3 diapers, and goes through an economy size box in 16 days. Guthrie wears a size 6 diaper and his boxes last a little longer, 21 days. If they both wear the HEB store brand with Clifford and cute little bones on them, will Guthrie ever decide to potty train?
Question#3:
Judy and Eric are a happily married couple. They love their children, cook healthy yummy meals, and see their dentists fairly regularly. If both boys co-sleep, and Guthrie's train set has taken over the entire living room instead of his bedroom, why did they buy a 3-bedroom house?
Question #4:
Eric's brother has nicknamed Guthrie G-Mitch, since his middle name (Mitchell) is after Eric's brother. This is a cute nickname from his uncle. Turner has 2 middle names, and his initials are TMAW. Judy has begun calling him by those initials as a nickname - T-maw. Is this the silliest nickname ever?
Question #5:
If Eric announces, at 10:51 p.m. on a Wednesday, that he wants more babies, and Judy's response is "Screw you," to which he promptly replies, "Well, yeah, that's how it works," should she have another glass of merlot? Or should she just drink the whole bottle?
Time's UP! Turn in your papers and go to the gym to play the dot square game, some Gameboy, and eat some nachos while you wait for your results. The awards ceremony will be at noon.
*At some point in high school my friend Tonya and I discovered that we could pass notes back and forth on her graphing calculator. It always looked like we were working, but instead we were just using the alphabet feature to pass notes. I've heard you can also use them to store formulas to cheat on tests, though, so I'll have to change my earlier statement and ban graphing calculators from this test.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I just want to say a great big congratulations to my niece, Stacia, who got her driving permit today.
I can't believe it's possible that my little Boo-Boo Bear is driving. Although she does have some pretty cool wheels now - take care of the Cougar, I miss it sometimes!
I love you Stacia. Be careful. Be safe. Congrats!
I can't believe it's possible that my little Boo-Boo Bear is driving. Although she does have some pretty cool wheels now - take care of the Cougar, I miss it sometimes!
I love you Stacia. Be careful. Be safe. Congrats!
Monday, August 14, 2006
One-handed typing is limiting. So I'm quizzing, thanks to Callie.
| Your Political Profile: |
| Overall: 10% Conservative, 90% Liberal |
| Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
| Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
| Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Weaning? Ha!
It's now been about four hours since I announced, about as publicly as can be, that I'm going to try to wean Guthrie. And how's it going? Well, he woke up from his nap, cranky, and after trying for about 10 minutes to get him interested in something else, he pleaded, "Please may you nurse me so I will feel better?"
I gave in.
I'm weak.
Weak.
Mama wuss.
He's nursing as I type.
Weak.
It's now been about four hours since I announced, about as publicly as can be, that I'm going to try to wean Guthrie. And how's it going? Well, he woke up from his nap, cranky, and after trying for about 10 minutes to get him interested in something else, he pleaded, "Please may you nurse me so I will feel better?"
I gave in.
I'm weak.
Weak.
Mama wuss.
He's nursing as I type.
Weak.
I didn't desert this thing. Just between my mom and Samantha's visit, and Guthrie's new fascination with the computer, I just haven't had much of a chance to sit down at the computer. Well, I have, but it usually escalates into a fight between me and Guthrie:
"I want to press the moon button."
"No, Guthrie, you may not press the button."
"But I want to."
"You can't always have what you want."
"I want to."
"I know you want to. You may not. Mommy needs to finish this ..."
Moon button pressed, computer in hibernate, Mommy very frustrated. Keyboard and mouse get put away where Guthrie can't reach.
And remember how I talked about how well both boys were sleeping? Ha! You think Guthrie can sleep well, for an extended period of time? In your dreams. Okay, in my fantasies. Turner still sleeps like a dream, but Gus? Nightmare. I'm also thinking I'm ready to wean him. Yep, he's 29 months, and I think I've had enough. He only nurses at bedtime, and during the day I think I can handle that. Then bedtime rolls around and I dread it. So, we're working on giving it up. I'll keep you posted.
So the moral of the story is uninterrupted computer time has gotten hard to come by. I don't know how it's working right now, honestly.
I think of brilliant, witty things to write when I'm in the shower, or driving to the store. Then I actually get logged in to my blog, and I'm lucky if I can get to the "create new post" page before the fight begins.
We're thinking we're going to have to set the TV up after all. I'm about to lose my mind (completely) getting no time to do anything. I mean anything. 1,000 miles from family, no babysitter we trust yet, and a 2 year old who doesn't believe in sleep. The TV would at least buy me a few minutes here and there to do something with my time other than dishes and laundry. And with two adults, a 2 year old, and an infant, sometimes it feels like there's not much more to life than dishes and laundry.
We did go to the beach while my mom and Sammie were here. I wore my pretty dress we bought in Progreso. See:
"I want to press the moon button."
"No, Guthrie, you may not press the button."
"But I want to."
"You can't always have what you want."
"I want to."
"I know you want to. You may not. Mommy needs to finish this ..."
Moon button pressed, computer in hibernate, Mommy very frustrated. Keyboard and mouse get put away where Guthrie can't reach.
And remember how I talked about how well both boys were sleeping? Ha! You think Guthrie can sleep well, for an extended period of time? In your dreams. Okay, in my fantasies. Turner still sleeps like a dream, but Gus? Nightmare. I'm also thinking I'm ready to wean him. Yep, he's 29 months, and I think I've had enough. He only nurses at bedtime, and during the day I think I can handle that. Then bedtime rolls around and I dread it. So, we're working on giving it up. I'll keep you posted.
So the moral of the story is uninterrupted computer time has gotten hard to come by. I don't know how it's working right now, honestly.
I think of brilliant, witty things to write when I'm in the shower, or driving to the store. Then I actually get logged in to my blog, and I'm lucky if I can get to the "create new post" page before the fight begins.
We're thinking we're going to have to set the TV up after all. I'm about to lose my mind (completely) getting no time to do anything. I mean anything. 1,000 miles from family, no babysitter we trust yet, and a 2 year old who doesn't believe in sleep. The TV would at least buy me a few minutes here and there to do something with my time other than dishes and laundry. And with two adults, a 2 year old, and an infant, sometimes it feels like there's not much more to life than dishes and laundry.
We did go to the beach while my mom and Sammie were here. I wore my pretty dress we bought in Progreso. See:
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Behold, the power of ...
To keep up the trend set by Amanda and Alimum, as well as others, I'm sure, I'm going to honor World Breastfeeding Week with a few nursing pictures myself.
First, one of my favorite pictures, taken minutes after Guthrie's birth:
To keep up the trend set by Amanda and Alimum, as well as others, I'm sure, I'm going to honor World Breastfeeding Week with a few nursing pictures myself.
First, one of my favorite pictures, taken minutes after Guthrie's birth:
Me nursing Turner at my 10 year class reunion:
And tandem nursing both boys. Not my favorite pic, and definitely not as beautiful as one I saw on the Feeding Choices Board, but the only decent one I have.
All I have for now. And since my mom and Samantha are visiting, and I'm trying to spend as much time with them as possible, I don't have any wonderful words of wisdom for the day. Except that it still amazes me to see these little bundles and know I kept them alive for 9 months in, and then 6+ months out, by my milk alone. Pretty cool, huh? Nature is a beautiful thing.
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