Latest happenings - not all that exciting

I finally managed to get the bird feeder refilled.  So now we can sit and watch this huge, beautiful red cardinal.  In fact, he's sitting on my porch rail right now.  Now that I've figured out that these birds are bird food snobs and I've bought the right kind, we always have beautiful birds coming up to eat.  Eventually I'll get around to the hummingbird feeder.

I started rearranging the girls room again.  Started.  I at least got Audrey's bed moved.  Now she doesn't fall when she tries to see out the window.  And she got her toy box back with 1 bag of toys.  We'll see how long this lasts.  I'm still all for taking the television out.  We do monitor everything that gets watched (Playhouse Disney, Wonder Pets, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Disney movies, Barbie movies...), but I think it's too much of a distraction.  So I'm thinking of putting the fish tank where it is.  Poor Amelia just has a bed and a little drawer unit that stores diapers, socks, and little toys.  She shares a dresser with Audrey right now.  But if and when we move, that will change.  I'm thinking Closetmaid systems for their rooms.  Get rid of all unnecessary furniture.  And I'm thinking instead of toy boxes, getting the big bucket with rope handles.  Those would give a little more because a lid doesn't have to shut.

I'm trying to get motivated to get into everything and get rid of almost everything we have.  Or at least that's what it feels like.  If we move again, I don't want to have to move all of this.  I'm thinking YARD SALE.  And I already have a list in my head of everything that's going!  Dresser, bakers rack, kitchen stuff, toys...  I hate that everything's gotten out of hand.  But we've combined 2 households worth of stuff (well, 1 1/2--I had the most stuff) AND then added a baby.  It's exhausting.  Not everything has even been unpacked from when we moved here.  Stuff's stored behind the bookshelves in what should be the dining room.

First purchase to be made after the move -- A new bed.  I have Lysol-ed and Between the Sheets-ed this one until I'm scared to know how many chemicals are in it.  I'm half tempted to just toss it and we'll sleep on the floor or an air mattress...   I've been highly grossed out about it from the start.  But what can you do sometimes?  But on my list -- a new bed, new couch (so my parents can have the loveseat back once their basement empties out), storage systems for the girls rooms and living room, tv (we got Mom and Dad's old one and it's super dark sometimes -- CSI is very hard to watch, you can't see what's going on), and a dining room table.

I am so ready to sell the minivan.  It's been good to us.  It carried 1 4x6x16 and 2 4x6x12s.  (Jason loves it when I talk lumber.)  But it needs to go.  Every day I get more and more frustrated.  Sure, I have rights to drive one.  I carry 3 carseats, strollers, all that baby and kid stuff.  Not like people who run around with 1 kid with no plans of another one in the near future.  (I've never understood that.  But that's a rant for another day.)  But Jason has told me repeatedly that I'm a good driver and he trusts me to drive whatever I'd like.  It's just the funds for driving whatever I'd like.  I'm liking the Honda Element (but seems to only be a 4 seater which would put us right back to where we were and I should have just kept my Explorer Sport) or the Kia Soul.  I took the time to design the Soul I liked.  We'd be looking at over $20K.  And so that's on my wishful thinking list.  But I think they're both on the wishful thinking list.  They're only 4 cylinders.  I'd rather have 6.  Unless I go back to a manual.  Which could be possible...

Poor Amelia is on formula.  Poor thing is lactose intolerant.  Makes me sad.  But it's best for her to have food that she can have without her getting sick.  So we do what we have to do.  She's a much happier baby now.  Which is crazy cause she wasn't that fussy of a baby anyways.  But maybe she'll grow out of it.  Audrey did.  Audrey had to have the lactose free formula.  And now can eat milk, cheese, ice cream.

We have been working on Mother's Day gifts.  Each girl got 2 clay flower pots.  One for Donnie and one for my mom.  Audrey painted hers up all pretty.  For Amelia, the plan was paint her hands and feet and do prints.  Yeah.  Right.  They didn't turn out the way I wanted them to at all.  But apparently 10 week olds want nothing to do with that kind of stuff.  There's always next year.  But I put a sealer on them and I'm going to plant purple impatiens in them when it dries.  Then I figure Audrey can make cards.  And I'll do impressions of their hands.  I should get something for Audrey to send to Betty.  And I probably should get something for Jason's grandmother.  I'll worry about that later.

Jason has said we can go to Louisiana for a week.  So once I get the 4Runner sold I'll get on planning that.  I've already had about 5 hits on it and it's just been up for about 2 days.  I figure a few days in Shreveport/Bossier and then a day or 2 down in Independence/Baton Rouge.  I can't wait.  I've been so homesick for there lately.  But it's more of a homesickness with a want to be there with Jason kind of thing.  I can't imagine being somewhere without him.  (But that's something for another post.)

So our anniversary is next Saturday.  I can't believe it's already been a year.  I know I should try to do something, but he's working and I'm not sure when.  He's off the next day but that's Mother's Day and I'm sure we'll spend it visiting our mothers.  Or at least mine and Donnie.  (And I really like Donnie.  I have a mother-in-law that I like.  Who would have ever guessed.  Especially since she likes me.  Which is apparently unheard of.  But that's a whole situation I know better than to put on here.  So we'll just leave it at that.)  But the fact that we made it to a year and that it pisses so many people off that we even got married (or even divorced) is well worth it.  It's frustrating that so many people gave us 6 months.  But when Jason turns around and tells people that he's actually finally happy, that he has his house full of his girls, that he loves me more than he's loved anyone...  It's so worth it.  (Even if I would still like that necklace we looked at.  Hint, hint.  Nudge, nudge.  Silly boys.)

I've got to get in touch with UGA's College of Education.  Someone mentioned that they have programs for gifted kids.  Thank you Jason for bragging on her SO much to anyone you come in contact with.  So I need to get information on that and get Audrey over there and tested if that's the case.  It's frustrating that there's so much help and assistance for kids with disabilities but I'm having problems finding programs for Audrey who's on the opposite end of the spectrum.  (I realize that disabilities need to be worked with so don't take it as that.)  It's frustrating to have a 3 year old like Audrey who is advanced beyond what she could learn in a daycare setting (even the Montessori schools) and there not be programs for her.  This is why she's been staying home with me.  We can take her places and teach her things that will interest her far more than what I've seen at daycares.  Even just going to have lunch with Mom at her school I can introduce Audrey to things a daycare won't.  But she wants to be in a school setting.  She wants to learn constantly.  And I'm running out of things to hold her interest.  I just keep thinking though, please let Amelia be as smart if not smarter.  After having such high expectations with Audrey, I worry how hard it would be to not have a high functioning child. It is so great to have Jason's help with her though.  Neither of us would have come this far without his help.  When I can't think of things to teach her about, he jumps right in.  It's great to be married to someone who loves history, science, politics, and pretty much knows more useless information than pretty much anyone else I know (and that useless information is always useful to have access to).  It's just so funny to watch him brag on her.  He's so proud.

Vacation 2010

So if I sell the 4Runner, I get to plan a vacation.

1.  Louisiana
I could get to get my stuff out of storage.  We'd get to see Sue, Susan, Anita, and everyone else in Shreveport/Bossier.  We could go to Natchitoches, the gator park, and Monjuni's on Louisiana Avenue.  Of course, we would have to go home by way of Independence to see Scott and his family.  But at the same time, I'm thinking LA could just be a weekend turn and burn.  OR it doesn't have to count against us if I can arrange visitation for Audrey.  If that's the case, Justin pays her half of the travel expenses.  And he could watch her while we go do stuff.

2.  Charleston
I'd get to see Dale.  We'd get to eat some good seafood.  I'd like to go back out to Edisto, even for a day.  There's so much stuff that Jason's never seen.  Plantations, the battleship, The Citadel...  But that's not really a week's vacation.

3.  Savannah
I would have to go to The Lady and Sons.  I've never been to Savannah.  It looks beautiful.  In my mind I see us getting some great shots of the girls.  But at the same time, it kind of blends into Charleston.

4.  Florida
Not sure.  But I see BEACHES!!!  I wouldn't mind going back to Pensacola.  It could have been more fun, but we had a chance to see what fun we could have had.  I know we talk about going to Tampa.  I really liked the Clearwater/Dunedin area.  But no thanks.  A little weird going where your ex-husband's family lives and where your husband went on his honeymoon with his ex-wife.  I don't think he wants to revisit those memories.  Let's please leave the ex's down there.  What a waste of pretty beaches...  But I have no problem going elsewhere.  Too bad Amelia's not old enough to enjoy Disney.


My parents have a cruise they want us to take.  That would be fun but Jason would need a passport which would mean we'd need to track down a birth certificate for him.  Not difficult but time consuming.  And it would mean the girls would have to stay with my parents.  Audrey can fend for herself.  (And I already don't like or want her staying there with the present company.)  No way in HELL is Amelia staying there yet.

We've talked about Vegas.  But not really a place I'd want to take 2 small girls.

We've talked about Virginia.  I'm not sure how the girls would do on the drive up there.

Time for some randomness

I noticed there have been lots of hits on my blog lately.  Interesting...  If you're going to stalk, at least leave a thought or something.

Just because I drive a minivan does not mean that I do not know how to drive.  I do not drive one because I have to be in something large enough to protect me from personal stupidity.  I drive one because I need room for 3 carseats and baby paraphernalia.  But I think we did a little bit of overkill.  We didn't need as much room as we thought we might.  But it was a good deal and it replaced my 2 door, 4 seater.  Jason has said he trusts my driving enough to where he would let me drive anything I would like.

I'm thinking that next spring I'm going to look into buying a Kia Soul or a Honda Element.  I think those would work for us.

It's nice to know that my child has been properly disciplined.  It's a great thing to be able to take a 3 year old almost anywhere.

I'm back down to 125 lbs.  Bad thing is, I'm only down to size 6 jeans.  Time to work off some inches.  But apparently I get noticed.  At least Jason notices that people notice me.  Eh, who cares.  I have Jason and that's enough.

Lawn Mower For Sale - $150

Troy Bilt Push Mower
21" cutting deck
Briggs & Stratton 675 Series
190 cc
Mulching capable
Dual-lever height adjustment
Fully foldable with deluxe bail
Pull start
TriAction Cutting System: symmetrical steel deck, S-blade, rake guard

Used once to cut a 5' strip of grass to test.

Right now it's being kept at my in-law's in Dacula.

A little bit of bragging

It's coming up on one year of being married.  This is such a great feeling.  I randomly have to stop and remind myself that:

Yes.  I did win.

Crazy thing happened yesterday.  For some weird reason I decided to go through my old MySpace messages.  (After a day long conversation the day before with someone who used to be totally against me until they took the time to meet me.)  I found messages between us from when I was living in Louisiana.  And you know, I'd be more than happy to send them to anyone who still blames me for causing the divorce.  Funny, I'd forgotten that they specifically said even WAY back then that nothing that was to come was remotely my fault.  With examples given.  Is it appropriate to, at 29, say "NEENER NEENER NEENER!"?

I think that if I knew then what I know now, I might have done a few things differently.  But I'm highly satisfied at how things turned out.

As I was told the other day:

"Regardless of the road that was taken to get here, the fact remains that I love being married to you and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.  The past is the past, what matters is the future we'll have together with our family.  I love you like the birds love the wind.  Like the fish love the water, like the oreos love the milk."

I think that pretty much sums it up.  

But that is kind of funny that Oreos were mentioned.  Funny story about frying Oreos and a summertime power outage.  Oh, the memories.  Should have just said "to hell with it all" back then.  Cut out so much crap and we could have just moved on with life.  At least he then had a chance to learn how impatient I really am.

It will be one year married on May 8.  It will be three years since he found me again at the end of May.  It will be three years since I moved home on July 1.  It will be three years together mid-July.  I think that's more than enough time for people to get over it and move on with life.

And for what it's worth...  I didn't make it this far easily.  Just check with GCPD.  I've had to file reports for death threats being made towards me.  I had to have people physically removed from my place of business.  Phone numbers had to be changed.  Not that it justifies anything by any means.  But just so you know...

Just a reminder these days

We've had quite a few experiences in life lately that seem to remind us:

It's not where you live, what you live in, what you drive, the clothes you wear, the amount of money in the bank... It's who you choose share your life with.

And several times we've made the wrong decision on who to be with. But the right decision was finally made. And we're happy.

I know what it's like to feel satisfied in life.

Sure, I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. (Which is possibly changing.)  I drive a used minivan. (It's a necessitiy for 3 car seats.)  I don't get new clothes every time I want them. (I got to buy new jeans after I had Amelia out of necessity.)  We don't have the funds to do everything we want when we want to do them.  (We've already had to delay quite a few plans already this year.)

But we're happy. Life is great.

Some of my favorite products

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser

Huggies Pure and Natural

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags

Evenflo Lanolin Nursing Pads

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets