The Vanover Stories

My, how time flies!

2009-11-05T20:40:00.008-05:00

It seems the last time I was here it was spring. Now we're well into fall. Oops. I've been doing a lot of FBing lately (primarily because I can do it from my phone), but I know some people don't have a FB account, so I guess I'd better post some pics here as well. In the interest of fairness and all.

Guess we'll pick up with some Halloween fun...

This year for Halloween, Kathryn was a fairy princess (naturally) and Annaliese was a ladybug. My favorite part of the night was when Annaliese walked up to the houses yelling, "Tick or eat!" and Kathryn sort of hid behind her. Hilarious. Amazing how two kids can be so different at times.

We spent the evening carving pumpkins with my mom and sister. Eventually, Tiffany showed up with Bryan and LG. Bryan joined in the carving and later went trick-or-treating with us. Good times were had by all--despite the cold.

(This last one is from Evan's work Halloween party, which is a different story entirely, but still part of the Halloween experience.)

Happy Gardeners

2009-05-25T22:16:00.004-04:00

There's no place like Granny's house...

Welcome, Baby!

2009-05-16T14:27:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Rick and Tiffany on their beautiful new baby girl!

Lyndsay Grace
May 15, 2009
6lbs 5 oz

Lyndsay Grace was born yesterday via emergency c-section. Tiffany went in for a routine stress test (for her gestational diabetes) and they noticed an irregularity with the baby's heartbeat. An ultrasound revealed that she had wrapped the umbilical cord around her neck.

The staff is now hard at work trying to regulate Lyndsay Grace's blood sugar. She has improved dramatically from last night and is now able to be held by visitors. Tiffany is also doing well. They are hoping to go home Monday or Tuesday.

Spring is here!

2009-05-14T18:34:00.002-04:00

After a massive pollen attack finally subsided, I was able to actually enjoy the beautiful spring weather. The girls and I went to the park for some swinging and sliding. It was a good time. Kathryn is (mostly) over her fear of swinging high and Annaliese just laughs at everything.

Ballet Baby

2009-04-10T18:49:00.002-04:00

Turns out ballet isn't exactly what Kathryn expected. I signed her up for a class at the YWCA, thinking it would be low-key and no pressure. It's a once-a-week half hour class that has no beginning or end. It just continues and you pay monthly. No recitals, no specific dress code. Perfect, right? Not so much.

All the other girls have clearly been going longer than Kathryn and she's completely discouraged because she can't do the dance as well as them. So discouraged, if fact, that she refused to go this week. (It was actually pretty good timing because she was contagious with strep throat anyway.)

I think we're going to finish out the month and then look into a real class with a start and end. Then at least she's on the same page, even if I do have to deal with the stage fright.

At least she loves the clothes.

The New Bike

2009-04-09T19:53:00.004-04:00

Woohoo!! We now have the internet at home again! To celebrate, here are some photos of Kathryn enjoying her new princess bike. Apparently, she really wanted the Barbie bike and is furious with Evan for "forcing" her to get the princess one. Either way, she's having a good time. Now if she could just figure out the difference between pedaling forward and braking...

A doctor, perhaps?

2009-03-24T10:46:00.002-04:00

Puppy Love

2009-03-23T08:45:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, we spent some time visiting Rick & Tiffany at their new house. We also met their new puppy, Skunk. Annaliese loved her, but she wasn't a big fan of being licked or knocked over, so Rick had to hold Skunk still while Annaliese made friends with her.

Tea Party at Grammy's!

2009-03-09T13:28:00.001-04:00

The Little Show-Off

2009-03-02T12:55:00.002-05:00

Annaliese's new favorite game is climbing onto the rocking chair at my mom's house. Usually she stands up and rocks "no hands" style. Today she's showing off the headband she stole from Kathryn and put on by herself. She's very proud.

The Curious Case of the Bedwetting

2009-02-23T17:07:00.003-05:00

Thus far in my almost 4 years of parenting, nothing has frustrated me quite as much as coming home to find that for the 5th consecutive day (not counting three at school in the middle), Kathryn has had an accident during her nap. Under normal circumstances, this might not be such a big deal. Wash the sheets, move on. Unfortunately, we are not living under normal circumstances and she is sleeping in my (non-plastic sheet covered) bed, which is wedged into a very small section of a room, making changing the sheets extremely difficult. Added to that is the fact that we only have one set of sheets for the bed, so we can't just put on new ones. 3 of the 4 previous days, Annaliese has been asleep--and consequently woken up--at 8 o'clock when I can finally put the sheets on again.

Strangely enough, as I mentioned, this did not happen on the days that she was at school. Think they would take her 7 days a week, just for nap time???

We're Back....

2009-01-04T13:14:00.006-05:00

We've entered 2009 with a camera that takes real pictures and have now learned how to upload them to the computer. To celebrate, meet my new 1-year-old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNALIESE!!

The Effects of Hurricane Ike

2008-09-15T21:53:00.004-04:00

And we live how many miles from Texas???

Almost 1300 miles from Houston, we got hit with unbelievable winds. My parents siding started to blow off their house. Evan was up on the roof trying to nail it down before the whole thing went. In the 90mph winds. It was crazy, but I kind of liked it. Kathryn and I even went for a short walk in the wind to look at all the "dancing trees" before the rain came. Whole trees were uprooted all over our neighborhood and through town. People were still without power today. Crazy.

If you look just above the garage toward the right side, you'll see the spot where the siding fell off. It was too windy to put that piece back on yesterday, but Evan nailed all the pieces around it down so the whole side wouldn't go.

Introducing the Redhead to the World's Favorite Sport

2008-09-14T11:21:00.004-04:00

She didn't actually seem too excited about Uncle Andy's soccer tournament this weekend, but Annaliese certainly loved being outside. Guess who else loved it? Kathryn & Drew. Kathryn was actually a little more excited about the soccer, but not enough that she sat and actually watched it. She was too busy picking on Drew and Aunt Rachelle. Luckily she was so distracted that she missed seeing one of Andy's players fall and break her collar bone--which did nothing to convince me that soccer is the best sport for my kids.

Labor Day '08

2008-09-03T19:12:00.002-04:00

We spent Labor Day in Michigan (as many of you know), visiting our newest niece, Meren, and hanging out in Romeo for the Peach Fest. We had a great time seeing our family and some of our friends, but Kathryn's favorite part was the fair. Here's proof:

Riding the carousel.

On the kid's train--by herself.

Taking a turn on the ferris wheel. You can't see her once she sits down, but this ride was her favorite.

Annaliese had a good time, too. No rides for her, though. She's too little.

Touch-A-Truck

2008-08-24T14:57:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I took Kathryn & Annaliese to a Touch-A-Truck event nearby. Annaliese mostly lounged in the stroller, but Kathryn loved it. She had a free hot dog, bag of popcorn, and orange drink--which required about 5 refills. She also spent time climbing into a fire truck, ambulance, Life Flight helicopter, racing motorcycle, USMC humvee, and more. We met up with a few friends, too. The last one is my favorite. :)

Dancing Queen

2008-08-16T13:52:00.004-04:00

Apparently, some of you were surprised by Kathryn's dancing and singing at Becky & Bill's wedding. Just to show you how Kathryn-like that really is, here she is dancing (on her own with no music) at our friends' wedding the weekend before.

Free dog, anyone?

2008-08-11T20:01:00.002-04:00

Seriously. Henry almost died tonight. By my hand. I don't know how much more I can take. I am not a dog person, and the only reason he's still around is that Kathryn was crying about how she didn't want me to get rid of him.

Realistically, I wouldn't have actually killed him, but I might really have taken him to an animal shelter of some sort. Please. I am begging you. Take this dog. The only one who will miss him is Kathryn, and I could maybe persuade her to forget about him. (Especially if she could visit him at one of your houses periodically.)

See, you'd really be doing this for her. ;)

(And he's so cute--if you like dogs.)

Teething Time!

2008-08-07T17:59:00.006-04:00

Annaliese's first tooth poked through yesterday. (I'd show you a picture, but she tries to take a bite out of the camera every time she sees it.) Needless to say, today was a disaster. Even more so because she was at school and they can't administer medication without a doctor's note.

After we got home, I was holding her on the couch, waiting for her to calm down, when Kathryn asked me: Did her shots make her get teeth?

I laughed for several reasons.

Thank God for Motrin.

***

Okay. I snuck a picture. (She's much more cooperative now.)

It's official...

2008-07-22T22:19:00.005-04:00

In the month since I've last blogged, a lot has happened. The biggest of these, of course, is the fact that Rick & Tiffany got married last Saturday. Oh, yes. Both bride and groom said, "I do," although I'm fairly certain they may have both been too intoxicated to remember.

Anyway, a good time was had by all. Here are some pics so you can feel like you were there, celebrating with us. (Sorry my camera takes such fuzzy pictures.)

Exploring with Dora!

2008-06-15T11:05:00.004-04:00

Kathryn met Dora at the zoo yesterday. She was so excited to see her... We had to wait in line for an hour and 20 minutes (40 of which Dora was on break, despite the fact that she was only there for 3 hrs total), and when it was Kathryn's turn, she refused to go up to her. In fact, she stood behind me crying that she didn't want to get close. Guess that's a two-year-old for you.

On the plus side, it turned out to be a beautiful day and I got a really good picture of some ducks.

No Wonder I'm Dying

2008-06-15T10:49:00.004-04:00

I just discovered that one of the common environmental allergens in my area is living (and blooming in full force) in my backyard. No wonder I can't breathe, smell, or see anything. Stupid tree. It is pretty, but that's about all it's good for. And the prettiness will only last another week or so. A third of the leaves were blown off (onto my patio) during the storm two days ago. I'm sure the rest will be down by the end of this week.

Still, it is pretty.

Learn more about the "Bean Tree" and how it hates me

We Made It!!!

2008-06-06T10:36:00.003-04:00

As of today, June 6, 2008, Evan has only one year left on his contract with the Marine Corps. This is very good news. Unless he decides to reenlist, the chances of him being recalled at this point are very low. (knock on wood) Of course, at this point they probably wouldn't even want him back, what with all his injuries, etc. They're really better off just going for someone else. Then again, maybe they won't recall anyone, depending how the election goes. But let's not go there.

My First Hair Cut (Well, Kathryn's, anyway.)

2008-05-31T18:59:00.006-04:00

Kathryn got her FIRST hair cut today. She has been begging me for months now to go with me, so I finally broke down. I took her to one of those kid-friendly salons where they put on a video and let the kids choose which animal or car/truck they'd like to sit in. Kathryn chose a horse for her seat and The Little Mermaid for her video. She was really excited...

...until the cutting began.

She warmed up to the idea, however, once she realized that the "cut" wasn't going to hurt her--and that they were going to give her a balloon and a sucker. She also liked the giant slide. Go figure.

In the end, her hair looked considerably shorter, but there was barely enough cut off to fill the tiny plastic baggie for her baby book. On the plus side, much of that straw-y, hard to detangle baby hair is gone, leaving room for her healthier "big girl" hair to shine though.

Do you know me?

2008-05-28T19:21:00.004-04:00

This lovely little blue wildflower (or maybe weed) bloomed overnight in my backyard. I put out a ton of seeds this spring, but this is the first to have actual flowers. It has fuzzy stems and leaves. Does anyone know what it's called?

Day Out With Thomas 2008

2008-05-24T17:59:00.009-04:00

Today was our second year at the Day Out with Thomas event in our area. We were better prepared this time around. We went on our train ride early so we would have plenty of time for fun after.

We arrived at the site and Kathryn got her first look at Thomas.

We met up with Kathryn's friend, Avery, and her mom for the day. We all sat together on the train.

After the ride, Kathryn chose a Thomas tattoo.

Then she ran around in the maze for a while...

...until she could no longer resist the petting zoo. They had baby cows, goats, deer--even a kangaroo. And lots of Purell.

Then we make glittery noodle necklaces and watched the model trains for a while.

Before we left, the girls colored some Thomas pictures and climbed on a giant Lego Thomas.

Kathryn's favorite part? Feeding the goats. And seeing Thomas's face. She was strangely obsessed with seeing his face.

May is National Military Appreciation Month!

2008-05-13T22:29:00.003-04:00

As a nation, we observe and participate in various national cultural and social awareness events through mass media attention and educational curriculum. However, we have not allocated appropriate recognition of the most important presence in the world today, an entity that impacts each and every American in a significant way, the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM), as designated by Congress, provides a period encompassing both the history and recognition of our armed services with an in-depth look at the diversity of its individuals and achievements. It allows Americans to educate each generation on the historical impact of our military through the participation of the community with those who serve encouraging patriotism and love for America.
This month gives the nation a time and place on which to focus and draw attention to our many expressions of appreciation and recognition of our armed services via numerous venues and also to recall and learn about our fast American history.

National Military Appreciation Month (May 2008) includes Loyalty Day (1st), VE Day(8th), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (9th), Armed Forces Day (17th), and Memorial Day (26th). This very important month honors, remembers, recognizes and appreciates all military personnel; those men and women who have served throughout our history and all who now serve in uniform and their families as well as those Americans who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms we all enjoy today.

It recognizes those on active duty in all branches of the services, the National Guard and Reserves plus retirees, veterans, and all of their families - well over 90 million Americans and more than 230 years of our nation’s history. Let us celebrate them just as we celebrate the other important entities that make up this wonderful country of ours.

(Source: nmam.org.)

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T20:31:00.005-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers I know (and even those I don't). We celebrated today with breakfast before church and then dinner at my parents' house with my grandparents. The dinner was a join celebration for my sister's 16th birthday, which is tomorrow. (Don't worry; she's already a better driver than Rick.)

I should also mention that we started (actively) potty training yesterday. This is no small task. Kathryn has no accidents this morning, then 3 at my parents'. We're making progress.

Talented Girls

2008-05-08T21:02:00.003-04:00

While Annaliese masters the art of supporting her own head (which she's actually quite good at already)...

Kathryn tackles the difficult task of peeling an orange. She can actually do this completely on her own. Sometimes she needs a little help getting it started, but that's it. Seriously, that's more than I can do. I have to get Evan to peel my oranges for me.

It's a sad, yet proud, day when you realize your 2-year-old has accomplished something you haven't.

American Heart Association Walk

2008-05-06T20:20:00.002-04:00

Kathryn, Annaliese, and I will be participating in a walk for the AHA next week. It is 3 miles around our public square. If I'm lucky, the weather will be nice and Kathryn won't run into the street while I chase after her with the stroller. I may need to invest in one of those parent-child leash things. Of course, then we might all end up in the street. If anyone is interested in sponsoring us, we're happy to take pledges.

Guess The Babies' Ages

2008-05-04T21:27:00.002-04:00

I'll give you a clue...they are 17 days apart. Can you tell which one is older?

Happy Babies

2008-05-01T22:06:00.003-04:00

Ahh...the joy that a simple afternoon at the playground can bring.

Best Movie I've Seen This Year

2008-04-26T22:37:00.003-04:00

Tonight the unthinkable happened. Evan and I went to see a comedy and actually both thought it was hilarious. This is truly rare. We have very different ideas of what is and is not funny, so for both of us to be laughing out loud at a movie is kind of amazing. The movie is Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which stars one of my favorite actresses, Kristen Bell. Really the only reason I even went to see it was to support her. I didn't like either of the movies credited to the creator (The 40-Year-Old Virgin & Knocked Up), so I didn't expect to like this one, either. Suffice it to say, I was very wrong. Everyone should see this movie.

We met Biscuit!

2008-04-19T18:16:00.002-04:00

Today Kathryn, Annaliese, and I met "the real" Biscuit! He was MUCH bigger in person than Kathryn remembered from the books. She had a good time, though, and met a few new friends. We also picked out some princess books, and Kathryn had to get Fancy Nancy's Bonjour, Butterfly. It was kind of fun. Our Barnes & Noble might be the biggest book store I've ever been in. I loved it.

Spring is here!!

2008-04-16T22:16:00.003-04:00

I know this because the guys were out mowing the lawns at work today. And I didn't need a coat. (I never wear one anyway, but today I really didn't need one.) And I was able to take my babies to the playground--and other kids were there. It was crazy. Then we came home to dinner all ready for us (I love the crock pot), and watched a little Dancing with the Stars. And then the best part happened.

Due to feeling miserable (with a 101.6 fever, which doesn't even faze me anymore...how disturbing is that?) and feeling exhausted (from a long day of playing at school and then at the playground), Kathryn went to sleep in her own bed. It took a little coaxing, and I had to bribe her with an Oreo to take some cold medicine first, but she went. And she actually went to sleep right away. Of course, then Annaliese woke up and started crying, but she just wanted to eat. Now both of my girls are sleeping--in their own beds--and I've had over an hour to actually do things. And what have I done? Dishes, laundry, email, and now blogging. I'd say that's a very productive hour. Now I'm going to reward myself with a little American Idol...or General Hospital since Evan might want to watch American Idol with me... Then again, he did go to the Cavs/Pistons game tonight and leave me home alone with both children...

Here's a little something to help you celebrate Spring, too:

So peaceful...

Traveling With Babies

2008-04-06T23:37:00.003-04:00

It seems I've forgotten how much work it is to travel with a two-year-old. I say this because I recently made the drive to Michigan with only Annaliese in the car. Typically, on those trips, it's all four of us--or at least Kathryn, Annaliese, and me. This time, however, we traveled separately. (Evan & Kathryn left a day ahead of us. We don't willingly spend that kind of gas money for nothing.) Ordinarily, I don't think much of Kathryn's constant talking, question asking, and singing. I don't really even her mind her frequent demands to open the window and turn the music up. It's so common that I don't even notice it anymore. That is, until today.

After making the drive with a lovely, cooperative three-month-old sleeping almost the entire time, I guess I got a little spoiled. Suddenly, a 30-minute drive with Kathryn shouting out song requests seemed to take twice as long. It's crazy how you just adapt to the way things change. From a quiet little baby asleep in the backseat to a demanding little angel calling, "Nothing Better to Do!," "Last Name!," and "Turn it up louder, Mommy!" at the top of her lungs...and I barely even noticed the transition.

By the way, Annaliese slept during that whole drive, too.

Our Florida Getaway

2008-03-13T21:52:00.005-04:00

I finally convinced Evan to take a vacation. The first true vacation that we've taken since getting married. It was wonderful. Beach, pool, sun, a DVR to record General Hospital...pretty much my dream life. For one beautiful week, we enjoyed lovely Florida. We went to the ocean at Cocoa Beach (Atlantic side), visited Disney World, and stayed with our wonderful friends, Kristin & Travis. Kathryn had a fantastic time--particularly the lunch with the princesses. Here are some photos from our trip.

Hey! All four of us smiling in one picture!!

Cocoa Beach; I apologize for the bathing suit. It's the only one with Annaliese's face.

Visiting my grandparents in Jacksonville

Kathryn's childhood is now complete.

My baby, not a "big girl."

2008-03-07T08:42:00.002-05:00

Since meeting her heroes (Cinderella, Snow White, Briar Rose, Jasmine, and Belle--pictures to follow), Kathryn has been even more outgoing and talkative than normal. Yes, hard as it is to believe, it's really true. She's also started acting a little more independently than before. For example, at Disney World, she locked herself in one of the bathroom stalls and refused to come out until she was ready. So, I wasn't too surprised when she locked herself in yet another bathroom stall at Applebee's last night. I was surprised, however, when she took off her pants and diaper and climbed up onto the toilet. I was even more surprised when she actually used the toilet. All by herself.

I was so excited, I must have told her 100 times on the way home how happy I was for her and how proud she should be. She, too, was quite impressed with herself, but she told me as I got her out of the car, "Mama, I not a big girl." Of course, ten seconds later she was running into Evan's arms screaming about her accomplishment. Guess it's because she knows I'm not quite ready for her a big girl yet.

Let's Try Again

2008-02-14T13:26:00.005-05:00

I've looked into all the suggestions given so far about why the pictures are so small. None of them fix the problem. The pictures are small like that on my computer, too. If I try to enlarge them, they get all blurry and distorted. So, I am going to try putting a couple pictures on here that other people have sent so we can see if it's really the pictures or the computer that's the problem.

Well, that's a little better.

Seriously...

2008-02-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

Why are my pictures suddenly so small? It's really starting to bother me. Someone must know how to fix that. Please.

And now, per Adam's request, pictures of both of my beautiful girls:

Now, honestly, wouldn't it be nice if the pictures were big enough that you could actually see Kathryn's adorable smile??? Help!!

The Mini-Photog

2008-01-27T12:20:00.000-05:00

Since I may not post for several days (given the exciting week of surgeries and procedures in my future), I decided to keep you going with an adorable little video of my up-and-coming photographer. Hope you enjoy it!

So many updates...

2008-01-22T13:46:00.000-05:00

Can you believe that the surgeon's office doesn't want me to take blood thinners for 5-7 days prior to my gallbladder removal??? Yes, I can, too. What I can't believe is that this includes the motrin 600 prescribed when I left the hospital after Annaliese's birth. Now, maybe some women are completely recovered 2 1/2 weeks after deliveries. I am not one of those people. I am still taking my pain medicine almost daily--although, to be fair, I've also started using it to fight off the pain from mild gallbladder attacks. Following my surgery, they'll give actual pain medicine (ie. vicodin or percocet), so I guess that'll make up for them making suffer even more during the next week. (Did I mention that I had another ER visit last night due to the lovely stones taking up all the space in my gallbladder?)

Since hospital/doctor visits seem to be our new favorite hobby, we've scheduled Kathryn for her first surgery. She will behaving her adnoids removed on Feb 11. She saw the ENT this morning and, after taking x-rays and examining her, he determined that taking out her adnoids has an excellent chance of reducing her constant illnesses. Let's hope he's right, because I'm kind of terrified of having by baby put to sleep for surgery--even if it is only for 20 minutes.

Also a new change in my life, January is quickly becoming the new "birthday month," falling only behind June. In addition to my father-in-law, adorable nephew, and beautiful new baby, my newest nephew is now a January baby, too. Rick & Tiffany had their baby, Bryan Andrew, yesterday afternoon. He was 6 lbs 7 oz, 20 inches. Everyone seems to be doing well, although Tiffany needed a c-section, so she was a little groggy all evening. We all went to the hospital to see them last night, but of course I had a massive need-to-be-hospitalized gallbladder attack as we were pulling into the parking lot, so I went to the ER while everyone else saw the baby. Hopefully, I'll make it tomorrow.

This is turning out to be a very busy year for me...

Does anyone know how to get the little picture of Kathryn & Annaliese (and a little of me) at the right to be the same size as the ones above it?

Happy (Belated) New Year!

2008-01-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

With all the craziness leading up to the birth of Annaliese, I lost track of posting for a few days. (Again.) During that time, some fun events happened, like the start of 2008. Here are a few pictures of our celebration:

Yes, that is my 2-year-old running around at midnight with a glass of fake champagne in one hand and a noise maker in the other. I'd been asleep for over an hour by this point.

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year, too!!

Please join us in welcoming...

2008-01-08T18:59:00.000-05:00

Annaliese Brenton Vanover

January 4, 2008

6 lbs 12 ozs

19 1/2 inches

Everyone is home and doing well. Kathryn is adjusting very nicely to having her new sister around all the time. She's also loving all the attention she gets when her family visits. So far, so good...

No baby...yet.

2007-12-30T08:41:00.000-05:00

But this is the week, I think. Maybe Friday. Friday sounds good to me. Nothing too exciting happened at my most recent appt. I'm now at a 2, but I still haven't felt any regular contractions since my bout of false labor last weekend. I get an occassional one here and there, but nothing that would send me running to the hospital. (Although that might help speed things along...)

Also, for those of you following the Rick/Tiffany saga, they were told on Friday that the weight problem has "corrected itself" and that inducing 4 weeks early won't be necessary after all.

In other news, we purchased our camera--thanks to all those who contributed--so expect to see some wonderful pictures and videos of Kathryn once I figure out how to use it.

My Crazy Appt Day

2007-12-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

I managed to make it to all my appointments on time Thursday. Sadly, some of the doctors were less punctual. Still, I have a brief update from all of them.

Dentist--No cavities (Yeah, me!!)
OB/GYN--Had a contraction while I was at her office (she told me about it because I'm not feeling them again) and have continued to have them since.
Surgeon--Gallbladder surgery scheduled for Jan 29

So, about the contractions...how long can a person have regular contractions every 8-10 mins, when it's her 2nd child, before the baby actually comes? A couple days? (Please...)

Today's Schedule

2007-12-20T10:49:00.000-05:00

7:00am-11:00am Work
11:00am-11:15am Lunch
11:30am-12:30pm Dentist Appt
1:15pm-2:00pm OB Appt
2:10pm-2:45pm Consultation with new surgeon re: gallbladder

Keep in mind it's about 20 minutes from my dentist to my OB. Fortunately, my new surgeon is in the same building, so I might actually make it if my OB is running on schedule. Of course, she's on call today, so I might not get to see her at all. On the plus side, I decided to leave Kathryn at school (she usually comes with me to OB appts) so I will at least have the peace of mind of knowing that she's getting a quality nap while I'm trying to be on time to every doctor's office in Ohio.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Six More Shopping Days!!

2007-12-18T18:03:00.001-05:00

I don't really want to post today because I want people to give me feedback on my post from Sunday, but I don't want you to think I've given up on blogging already. So, happy Tuesday and good luck finding those last minute Christmas gifts!

An Update!!!!

2007-12-16T12:20:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. Many of you, particularly Adam, thought I had completely given up on the blogging. I haven't. I've just run out of time in my daily schedule to sit at the computer--uninterrupted--to blog for ten minutes a day. I'm hoping to change that, starting today. Today's post is actually more of a question.

As most (if not all) of you know, my brother and his girlfriend are expecting a baby at the end of January. They mentioned to me Friday night that Tiffany's doctor told them they might induce labor at the end of December because the baby has lost some weight. By "some" they mean almost 1lb. Now, my question is, how accurate are in-the-womb fetal weights? I've heard of women being induced because the baby was so big, but never because the baby seemed to be losing weight. I'm sure this is possible, but I've never been told how much my baby weighed before it was born. Near the end of my pregnancy with Kathryn, the doctor estimated that she was probably about 6lbs.

On the other hand, Tiffany has had a couple of ultrasounds (at least 3 so far with another one scheduled for Dec 28, when they will apparently make the inducing decision) and I only had one. Also a factor (at least in my mind) is that Tiffany had the flu for about a week and was actually hospitalized for dehydration during that time. She lost over 10lbs herself, which I would think affects the baby's weight at least slightly. The doctor, however, told her that her weight has nothing to do with the baby's weight. Now, if that's the case, why did my doctor tell me I need to do whatever I can to battle my gallstones so I can gain at least 1lb every week between now and the delivery and that my baby needs me to eat more fat for brain development?

I don't have a lot of faith in Tiffany's doctor--he actually told them that she shouldn't raise her arms above her head because she might strangle the baby with the umbilical cord--but maybe that's just because I like mine so much better. Any thoughts??

How was your Saturday night?

2007-07-15T10:55:00.000-04:00

While Evan & I wasted our evening out at the worst Harry Potter movie made thus far, Kathryn actually had a great time at the Indians/Royals game with my parents.

Time for a Change

2007-07-12T10:46:00.000-04:00

As some of you already know, I will be starting a new job (at my present company) on July 23. I will be the transportation coordinator, which is a fancy way of saying I will be responsible for scheduling various residents' appointments (testing, eye doctor, etc.), and driving them to and from these appointments. The job is full-time, Monday through Friday, which happily gives me every weekend off for the first time in years. Of course, that also means giving up 40 hours a week with Kathryn, which is pretty much breaking my heart.

Kathryn is very excited about the change. Not the never seeing me part, of course, but the idea of spending extra time with Grammy & Aunt Betsy and going to "school" two days a week. She's already picked out a Tinkerbell lunch box and equally girly thermos for the occasion. And she wants to do more shopping. (This is unusual because Kathryn, like me, hates shopping.) Here's her official first day supply list:

--2 complete changes of clothing, including underwear, socks, and shoes (more if in the potty-training process)
--Nap blanket & pillow
--A paint shirt or oversized t-shirt for art time
--Lunch with an ice pack
--Sunscreen
--Family photos for the classroom photo board
--Diapers & wipes

Shoes also need to be closed-toe, which means I have to add that to the shopping list, because Kathryn generally wears sandals every day.

Just to show you how much Kathryn is going to love this place, in her first four weeks there, she will experience: a library lady visit, 3 Popsicle days, surfin' safari and beach dress up days, and visits from Milrow characters. Every day has it's own theme.

Drum Roll Please...

2007-07-10T14:38:00.000-04:00

Today is a big day in the Vanover house. It is the first official day of Kathryn's room being completely overcrowded...with her big girl bed! It arrived bright and early this morning, and, as Kathryn was so excited she could barely keep the oatmeal on her spoon, we immediately had to set up with sheets, bed skirt, and the extremely girly quilt set that she picked out. Here's the result:

(Kathryn just looked at this picture and said, "Baby Drew??")

Now, the actual sleeping part didn't really work out. She was so excited that she just kept climbing in and out and playing until I finally went in and put her back in her crib. She was not too impressed by that decision, but she did take a nap. I guess it's a gradual transition.

Eventually, there will be a beautiful white headboard to go with it, but that's going to take a few weeks.

Pottermania

2007-07-09T10:49:00.000-04:00

Photo from Amazon.com

This July seems to be the month for Pottermania, and you either fall on the "I Hate Harry Potter!" side or the "I Can't Wait!" side of the phenomenon. As I am of the latter, I am very excited for this month to be here, and have done my share of contributing to the craziness. My copy of Deathly Hallows has been pre-ordered--40% off at Borders if you pick it up that first weekend--and my tickets to see Order of the Phoenix have also been purchased ahead, just in case the Saturday night showing sells out. This was my favorite of all the books (although Half-Blood Prince is a VERY close 2nd, so close that I sometimes change my mind) so I'll probably hate the movie, but I still have to see it. And since Evan can't bring himself to sit still for 900 pages of reading, this will be his first experience beyond Goblet of Fire. And I just saw that they are offering a boxset of the entire series in September, which will be well worth the money for me since this is the first book I'll actually be buying, but I've read the rest of them more times than I can count. (Well, except the first three, which are kind of boring after the second three.)

And the tradition continues... After requesting pancakes and syrup for breakfast, the first thing Kathryn said today was, "Want watch Power." She can't quite say "Potter."

New Toys Are Very Exciting

2007-06-20T13:58:00.001-04:00

Turns out there's a huge benefit to having (very generous) cousins that are 15+ years younger than me: Kathryn gets all their old toys! This particular toy includes three sides for climbing, a mid-level floor for climbing onto or hiding under, and a slide. It also fits remarkably well in her bedroom, ensuring that she plays with it every day, rain or shine.

She also got another playhouse that is in our guest room and will be getting a picnic table. Last night she tried to convince us to let her sleep in the playhouse.

We've only been here two months and we're already out of space!!!

Tale As Old As Time...

2007-06-18T11:26:00.000-04:00

Don't bother turning up your volume. One of Betsy's friends is talking is the background--sorry!!--and Kathryn isn't really saying much anyway. She's dancing to "Tale As Old As Time" from Beauty & the Beast. The music can faintly be heard playing, then the talking starts. We tried to get another take with no one talking, but Kathryn wasn't interested in dancing anymore.

This happens pretty much every time she watches the movie, so chances are decent that we'll be able to get a better video at some point, but I know some people have been getting a little impatient... Hope you enjoy it!

It's Really Over

2007-06-14T12:28:00.000-04:00

Veronica Mars Is Now "Officially Dead"

Maybe now the healing can begin....

The CW has officially pulled the plug on Veronica Mars. Series creator Rob Thomas confirmed the news for me via e-mail just moments ago. "I'm afraid I have to report that Veronica Mars is officially dead," he wrote. "At least in TV-show form. There's really no way that it can happen now. I'm not sure the CW should've given the glimmer of hope. I think Dawn Ostroff genuinely would have liked to have continued on with a version of the show, but there was too much resistance around her. At the end of the day, it would've been kinder had the band-aid simply been ripped off rather than peeled away in this agonizingly slow manner."

Although we all saw this coming, particularly when they didn't even get a full 22-episodes this season, it's still sad that my newest favorite show has ended. Even more sad because it was finally looking like stupid Piz would get out of the way for a Logan/Veronica reunion. (The actor--Chris Lowell--is scheduled to be on the Grey's spinoff next fall.) But, as with all my favorite shows, it didn't last.

Really makes me appreciate General Hospital. On the air since 1963 with a new episode every weekday. Doesn't get more stable than that.

Photo by Patrick Ecclesine/The CW; article from tvguide.com

I Relented

2007-06-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

Turns out, that first night was a fluke. Every night after resulted in more and more crying. I can only take so much "Mommy...Mommy...need paci. Mommy..." mixed with sobs (both real and forced) before I crack. So last night, after a good 30 minutes of breaking my heart, I went in and gave her the pacifier. She looked up at me and said, "Thank you," in the most pathetic, exasperated little voice. It was adorable. I've now decided that I care if she ruins her teeth with it...they're all going to fall out anyway. Just as long as she's not that 4-year-old walking around the mall tying to talk through it.

Sans Pacifier, Night 1

2007-06-10T21:46:00.000-04:00

Remember how I just said I was terrified of putting Kathryn to bed without her pacifier? Well, sometime between her nap this afternoon and bedtime tonight, it vanished. I mean, completely disappeared. Evan tore her room apart looking for it, checked the living room, kitchen...nothing. So, we decided to give the whole no pacifier thing a try. Turns out, it wasn't so bad. Tonight.

She was exhausted from a busy day of playing with Daddy and then a birthday celebration for my mom, aunt, and grandma (all have birthdays within two weeks of each other this month) at my grandma's house, which I thought would make things worse. Seems it may have actually helped. She was so tired that she only cried for 2 minutes. Followed by 3 minutes of quiet. Then 1 minute of forced crying. Then about 10 minutes of playing. For the last hour she's been perfectly quiet, which I hope means she fell asleep.

We did try to compromise by giving her a chew toy--what I call a chew toy is actually one of those teething toys that go in the freezer until you use them--but it's a rattle-type, so she can't really suck on it. She may have hidden the pacifier someplace that we couldn't find and simply got it out again after we left, but she hasn't yet figured out how to climb out the crib, so she would have had to find a really good hiding place. Like, inside the foot of her Tickle Me Elmo.

I'm not sure if this was just luck being on our side tonight or if giving up the pacifier really wasn't as big a deal as I anticipated, but I'm hoping for more nights like this one. Maybe with even less crying. Nap time tomorrow will probably be a good indication. Guess we'll just have to wait and see!

My Daughter, The Monkey

2007-06-08T12:21:00.000-04:00

Maybe it's because she just finished watching the monkey section of Baby Einstein's World Animals, or maybe she just decided it sounded like fun, but my daughter just did one of the craziest things of her short life thus far.

Kathryn was supposed to be watching the rest of her Baby Einstein DVD (which was not doing a very good job of holding her attention) while I did a few things on the computer. She comes wandering into the computer room, bugging me to change the DVD (for the 4th time in an hour, and by 4th time, I mean 4th DVD). Reluctantly, I agreed, but told her to go into her room first so I could change her diaper. Then I went back to the computer, sort of forgetting that she was waiting for me.

A few minutes later, she starts calling me. "Mommy, help! I stuck!" I realize I haven't gone to change her diaper yet and now she probably has her arm stuck in her crib trying to reach that dumb pacifier. So I go into her room, and there she is, laying exactly the way she does when I change her, on top of her changing table. I have no idea how she got up there. Nothing was knocked over, so I guess she climbed up the shelves of the table, and miraculously didn't tip it over onto herself. I asked her to show me how she did it, but she refused and went back to the DVD.

Hmm...I guess maybe that section of her room could use a little straightening... Maybe later. It's lunch time.

"10" Things for Rachelle

2007-06-08T11:45:00.000-04:00

Recently, my wonderful sister-in-law, Rachelle, posted a 10-things-about-me list on her blog and asked that all her sisters-in-law do the same. Well, the others did it a while ago, and I've been going crazy trying to think of 10 things about myself that I felt like sharing with the world wide web. So, here's what I've come up with:

1. I think offering a 42-oz soft drink for 89 cents is just plain cruel. McDonald's should be ashamed of themselves.

2. My thoughts on domestic violence are perfectly summed up in Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder & Lead" (from her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend CD), and it warms my heart to hear Kathryn "singing" along in the backseat.

3. I pretty much always sing in the car (unless I'm on the phone) or while watching Disney movies with Kathryn, but I absolutely will not sing in front of Evan. Nevermind how we met or that he probably wouldn't really care that I don't have a very good voice, it will not happen.

4. I made Amish friendship bread for the first time this week and it was actually good! (The surprise is in reference to my culinary skills, not the Amish.)

5. I am a compulsive list-maker, although I rarely check things off.

6. I am terrified of the day that I have to take Kathryn's pacifier away from her. Evan tried this morning and my heart almost broke from her devastated little expression.

7. I'm pretty sure I couldn't function without my DVR & SOAPNet.

8. Despite our technical competence, neither Evan nor I can figure out how to hook up our TV so that the DVD player and VCR (which are connected) work at the same time. For the last two years, we've either not used the VCR or changed the cords around so the DVD player doesn't work so we can watch a VHS tape.

9. I haven't yet managed to teach Kathryn how to say "yes" but she has learned "mm-hmm." Now, when I tell her her I love her, she says, "Mm-hmm." I ask, "You love Mommy?" And she says, "Mm-hmm." It's probably one of the cutest things she's ever learned.

10. After all this time trying to think of 10 things, I only came up with 9.

Choose your words wisely...

2007-06-05T09:04:00.000-04:00

...when speaking to a 22-month-old. On our drive home from the doctor's office yesterday, I decided we should stop and get something for lunch because I didn't really have time to make anything before nap time (and I didn't really feel like making anything).

I said: Kathryn, where should we eat?
She said: On couch.

Clearly, she missed the point of my question, and she refused to let me rephrase it. Every time I tried to ask it differently, she'd say, "No. Eat on couch."

In doctor's appt news: NewBaby is the only one there (no twins) and is about 1" long right now. Dr. estimates my due date at January 11, but said not to plan any holiday traveling (based on Kathryn coming two weeks ahead of her due date). So, it's pretty much what I thought. Oddly enough, Kathryn was due August 11 and actually came July 29, so I guess NewBaby could come as early as December 29. I'm thinking more like Jan 4, though.

$5 To The First Person To Answer...

2007-06-03T13:45:00.000-04:00

1. What is this?
2. How do I fix it?

I know the picture is a little fuzzy, but it's the best we could get with a camera-phone. It looks like some sort of fungus growing on various parts of my azalea plant. This is the plant that was already here when we moved in, so I have no idea how long it's been like this. I just noticed it today, but, if it makes any difference, no new flowers have grown on the plant in the last couple weeks.

***

Well, I guess the $5 is going to stay in my pocket. I decided to do a little research on my own, and I found the problem. Apparently, my azalea plant has what is known as azalea gall disease. Seems it's not very serious, but Evan still needs to remove all the infected leaves as soon as we notice them to keep it from spreading all over the plant and my new rhododendron (which Kathryn brutalized this afternoon). Thanks for playing, though!!

Life's Simple Pleasures

2007-05-29T18:37:00.000-04:00

#1 on Kathryn's list is ice cream.

On this particular day, Kathryn is enjoying a chocolate peanut butter sugar cone and cup--yes, both. The delicious mess was courtesy of her favorite Granny. You'll notice the photo progression leads from almost clean to total disaster.

Still figuring out how the cone works.

Now she's got the hang of it.

Moving on to the cup.

All that's left of the ice cream...and the table.

I should mention that at the conclusion of this adventure, I took her into the bathroom to wash her off. She took one look at herself in the mirror and started crying hysterically. Apparently, she was so messy, she actually scared herself. But it was worth it.

A Lovely Night At Work

2007-05-23T20:05:00.000-04:00

Between the hours of 11:00pm last night and 8:30am this morning, NewBaby made me sick more times than Kathryn did during my entire pregnancy. Keep in mind, Tuesday night is my 3rd shift night. So, I spent the entire night trying not to think about how miserable I felt, when all I wanted to do was sleep. I think NewBaby is not going to be as well-behaved as Kathryn. Which is scary. Unless it's the opposite: NewBaby is more rebellious in utero and a perfect angel once born. Somehow I doubt that.

Anyway, my night at work started by me finding out that our business office manager had been fired. Technically, her position was eliminated, but it all comes down to the same thing. They actually had a representative from our parent company come in at the end of the day last Thursday to tell her. She had to pack up and leave the grounds immediately. This woman had been with the company for 5 years. Doesn't that sound like the kind of company you'd like to work for???

The interesting part of all this is that even though they "eliminated the position" her responsibilities still need to be done. So, the human resources person (who worked under the BOM) is taking over her job and they're hiring someone new to do the HR aspect, which to me sounds like they just wanted to fire the BOM. As a result, there's an HR opening that I might apply for. It's a much better job, but it's full-time. That's a major downside because it means putting Kathryn in daycare 3-4 days a week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Must Be A Sign

2007-05-22T12:38:00.001-04:00

Our DVD player isn't the highest quality, but it gets the job done. In fact, it has worked with relatively no problems (that I can think of) until recently. Now, it has done the same thing twice. Let me explain...

Although it is not technically an HD DVD player, it still plays every disc we try. Until the Pulse disaster. We tried to play that disc and it would not work. Thinking it was the disc and not the player, I returned it for another copy. This went on until the third disc of the same movie, when we finally decided to get a non-HD copy. Now, you may recall that this particular movie was not worth all the effort. In the end, we were fairly disappointed in having spent so much time trying to get a movie that didn't impress us. So, when it happened again, we decided to forget the movie altogether.

This second time was with Babel. I'd heard mixed reviews going into it, so the decision to give up on it wasn't all that painful. If anyone has seen it and thinks I should reconsider, please let me know. Otherwise, we are taking it as a sign that we should not waste 2+ hours (not to mention all the days needed to get a new copy) on it.

In happier movie news, we recently watched and enjoyed the following:
Flyboys
Alpha Dog
The Pursuit of Happyness

When is the best time, when it's never the "right" time?

2007-05-18T10:54:00.000-04:00

I haven't yet told my employer that I'm pregnant again. I have several reasons for this. Here are a few, in no particular order:

It never seems like the right time.
My maternity leave is going to fall immediately after a co-worker takes three weeks off to visit family in TX, which already has my boss scrambling to fill shifts.
Last time I had a baby, something happened...oh yeah. They FIRED me.

So, perhaps you can see why I'm a little hesitant to share my good news with them. In my defense, I'm just starting my 7th week today, so it's not as if there isn't time.

My plan is to wait until after my first doctor's appointment on June 4th, when they will give me an estimated due date, although I've already narrowed it down to January4-11. I figure this way I can tell my boss the dates and then it will be a little more concrete than my predictions. (Of course, my last prediction was only a day off.) By that date, I'll be just over 8 weeks. Now, in your expert opinion, does that seem sufficient notice?

To thank you for your time, here's a little reward:

The (Surprising) Joy of Swimming Lessons

2007-05-17T10:51:00.000-04:00

This morning I spent a full 45 minutes with no nausea. I know, I know. It's hard to believe, especially given how miserable I've been over the last few days, but it's true. The trick, it appears, is being in a swimming pool.

I was really nervous about going to Kathryn's swimming lesson--so nervous I convinced my mom to come watch in case I had to jump out quickly and needed someone to take Kathryn. It was our first lesson since my nausea has really set in. We couldn't go on Tuesday because neither one of us could breathe with our awful allergies. Instead we both went to the doctor. I got a fantastic recommendation of Sudafed, while Kathryn actually got a prescription for Zyrtec. Needless to say, after two days, she's feeling much better than I am.

Anyway, so we went to her lesson and I fully thought I'd be sick right in the middle of it, but I actually felt pretty good most of the time. Except, of course, when Kathryn had a fit about kicking while on her back and twisted around and started kneeing me in the stomach. That brought on just a bit of queasiness, but not so much that there was a problem.

Now you might think that I just got lucky for a few minutes and that the pool had nothing to do with it. You might be right. But, in the pool's defense, by the time we got to the locker room--a full two minute's walk at most--I was nauseous again.

The Trouble With Early Pregnancy

2007-05-13T22:04:00.000-04:00

It's just plain exhausting.

I have two posts that have been "saved as drafts" and at least five more in my head, and I'm just too tired to take the time to insert pictures and create links. I think I failed to consider how much energy Kathryn takes up when conceiving again. At least with her, I only had a part-time job to contend with on a regular basis. I could easily sleep 15 hours a day and not have any trouble. And California weather is very relaxing in the fall. Now I have a part-time job and a full-day schedule of running all over the house/yard/playground/pool, trying to unpack and settle into the new house, and fight off morning sickness--which is also starting earlier this time around.

Do me a favor. The next time I'm thinking about getting pregnant, please remind me that pregnancy is not kind to me, and I should plan a month-long vacation at the start of it. Preferably someplace with ridiculously beautiful weather and a lot of white beaches. And also remind me to hire a nanny to go with me. Or, to convince one of my fabulous sisters-in-law to take over that responsibility for free. Wait a minute...isn't one of my sisters-in-law also a nanny??? Hmm... You'd like to spend a month at the ocean with Kathryn, NewBaby, and me, wouldn't you?

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Happy Mother's Day!

Move-In Ready...Almost

2007-04-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

We have a few days of work left before our new house is completely ready for next weekend's moving, but here are a few photos from the process...

Kathryn's favorite part of her new room was running through all the strips of torn down wallpaper. It looks nothing like this now.

Please note the hideous brown around the ceiling and chair rail. This color was all over the dining room and downstairs bathroom.

Our beautiful fireplace...one of my favorite features.

Blue is supposed to one of those colors that soothes you when you wake up. Guess we'll find out...

Pay close attention to the floor here. It used to be dark pink carpet. Hmm...I think I need a picture that shows the new floor better.

Don't forget our moving dates are May4-6. We can use all the help we can get!!

Just for Adam

2007-04-28T22:13:00.000-04:00

Since Adam specifically requested more videos, here's an adorable little one we made just the other day. You'll want to turn your volume up so you can hear exactly what she says. (Don't worry. She won't scream.)

The Great Pancake Experiment

2007-04-27T14:42:00.000-04:00

Many of you already know, either from word-of-mouth testimonies or first-hand experience, that I am not the world's best housekeeper. On a good day, there's only about 10 hours worth of clutter to pick up. What you may not know, however, is that I'm actually not too bad in the kitchen. (By that I mean cooking, of course, not cleaning.) I'm certainly not going to win any awards, but my family generally eats my meals without complaint. Because of this, I'm willing to take a few chances with foods I've already mastered. One such food is pancakes.

Lately, Kathryn has been on a "Berries!!" kick, so I've been buying raspberries and blackberries as often as I can afford them. This morning I realized I was down to one package of blackberries and they weren't looking too great. So, we decided to put them in pancakes. At first, this idea made perfect sense. Delicious fruit mixed into pancakes. What could go wrong? Well, I'll tell you. Blackberries, as it turns out, are much thicker than pancakes. Therefore, when you try to flip the pancakes, the other side doesn't reach the pan.

For the second batch, I smashed the blackberries already on the pan. By the third, I had figured out that it made the most sense to smash them in the bowl with the remaining batter. That not only made them prettier, but also allowed for even cooking on both sides.

In the end it was a huge success. Kathryn ate four of them--without syrup. I can't tell you how much easier that makes mealtime.

What are some of your successful (or unsuccessful) homemade modifications??

The View from the Top

2007-04-27T13:53:00.000-04:00

Although last night's Wings' game didn't end quite as I'd hoped--they lost 2-0 to San Jose--there was still plenty to see.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend a game with my dad, I suggest you take full advantage. Playoffs or not, sitting at the Joe cheering for goals (and even louder for fights) has brought some of the best memories of my life.

The garage? Seriously?

2007-04-26T19:48:00.000-04:00

Now, do you think that means I'll actually have to open the garage door? As in reveal its contents? The contents that would make it nearly impossible to fit a bicycle, let alone a car, inside?

You'd think if that was the case they might have given me a little more notice. This letter was outside my apartment door (and the doors of all my neighbors) when I got home today, meaning it arrived between 10:00am and 5:30pm. There's also a note taped to the building entrance saying that our building's day is the 27th. For those of us keeping track, that's tomorrow.

So I'm checking the weather channel, hoping for thunderstorms to prevent any actual work being done, and what do they predict? Few showers. 60 and cloudy with a 30% chance of rain.

I ask again--do you think I have to open the door?

Good morning!

2007-04-26T09:21:00.000-04:00

Kathryn decided to take a moment out of her busy breakfast schedule to wish you an enthusiastic "Good morning!!" Make sure your volume is on...

Right Name, Wrong Chromosome

2007-04-25T13:02:00.000-04:00

There was discussion among some of us that the Vanover men tend to get in a yard-working mood around this time of the year. I, of course, commented that my Vanover does not follow this family trend. As it turns out, the yard-work gene does exist in my family, just not in my husband.

Gardening with Aunt Betsy. (And thoroughly enjoying

every second of being allowed to play in the dirt.)

Getting some practice time on the riding lawn mower.
(Already a better driver than Uncle Rick.)

MISSING

2007-04-24T12:19:00.000-04:00

Missing one Kodak EasyShare digital camera.
Last known sighting April 8, 2007. Please contact
me immediately with any information.

*REWARD*

Actual model not shown.

Spring is here...finally!!!

2007-04-23T13:17:00.000-04:00

It seems that after months of waiting and a brief reprieve a few weeks ago, spring is finally here for 2007. Of course, that doesn't absolve us of awful rainy days or ones where the sky is completely gloomy and not at all "spring" feeling. On the other hand, it does occasionally provide us with days like yesterday: sunny and 75 with just enough breeze to keep you comfortable. The kind of days that inspire a one-year-old to venture by herself--for the first time--down a twisty-tunnel slide even though she'll come out sideways at the bottom.

I love spring.

The countdown begins...

2007-04-18T18:38:00.000-04:00

With a little luck, the entire downstairs of my new house will be painted and move-in ready by tomorrow afternoon!! It's down to one room that needs wall paint and a little trim work in a few others. (Okay, all the others.) Then we can move on to cleaning the carpets (which apparently never happened with the previous owner) and finishing the upstairs. Then it's just a matter of packing all our junk and moving it from one place to another!

Just to inspire us to actually start moving, I scheduled a service transfer for my cable/internet/phone (all with the same company) for May 7th. Now, anyone who knows me knows I cannot live without my DVR, so I guess that settles it!

If you'd like to help with the festivities of moving, we'll be doing it the weekend leading up the 7th. Everyone willing to carry things, pack, unpack, drive, or distract Kathryn while I do all of those things is welcome! (Unless you're some creepy weirdo that I don't know who's just reading my blog for no reason. You are not welcome.)

Let me tell you about my local McDonald's...

2007-04-16T17:23:00.000-04:00

I'm one of those people who enjoys a good, hot breakfast in the morning. I'm also one of those people who wakes up 15 minutes before I have to be somewhere. You can see my dilemma. Fortunately, I've found a solution that generally works well. There's a McDonald's located right on the corner of my road and the road that takes me...well, everywhere. As a rule, McDonald's is my least favorite of all fast food chains (but they do have flavored coffee and hashbrowns). Apparently, my McDonald's feels the same way about me.

Friday morning I ventured into the drive-thru, hoping for a quick stop before heading to work. I don't love their breakfasts--although they're slightly better than their lunches--so I always get the same thing: a #11 (a sausage mcgriddle meal). Recently, our "restaurant" expanded into iced coffees, which I am very pleased to enjoy. So, on Friday, I pulled up and ordered a #11 with an iced vanilla coffee.

Here's how the conversation went:

Me: I'd like a #11, please.
Employee: We're out of mcgriddles.
M: Okay, I'll have a sausage biscuit meal. With an iced vanilla coffee.
E: We're out of vanilla.

You should be impressed that I left without yelling.

So, I ordered hazelnut (the only other option), and went on with my day. Sunday, I decided to try again. I pull up, order my #11 with an iced vanilla coffee. The girl charges me $5 something and I head off to work. Once I get to work, I open the bag to eat a quick bite before delivering the newspapers (yes, I have to deliver newspapers to 150 residents on weekend mornings), and what do I find? Certainly not what I ordered. Instead of a sausage mcgriddle, I got a bacon, "egg" and cheese mcgriddle. I removed the egg product and tried to enjoy what was left. Of course, it was awful.

At least the hashbrowns are consistent.

Ahh...the joys of teething.

2007-04-10T19:54:00.000-04:00

Those of you with children feel my pain, figuratively speaking. To those who don't: good luck.

Kathryn is one of those babies that gets multiple teeth at the same time. On one hand, that makes for fewer bouts of teething; on the other, the experience is that much more painful. This time, she has four coming in simultaneously. You can imagine how the last week has been at our house. None of us has slept through the night since Friday, when we were up--literally--every hour.

Fortunately, after this round is over, she only has four teeth left to come. Of course, since the remaining four are molars, I doubt it'll be easy. At least the 101.5 fever is down to a reasonable 99.5 and we aren't feeding her Motrin like water anymore. I guess that means we're almost finished.

Stifling that "Vanover Temper"

2007-04-05T18:16:00.000-04:00

Whether it's in her genes or just her age, Kathryn's temper is getting out of hand. She used to hit and scream for reactions, but she's now doing it in retaliation for not getting her way. In a way, I guess that's still for reactions, but she's doing it to hurt people now rather than to see what happens. Time-outs are not working. Any tips on how to stop this behavior before it gets really unruly??

Starbucks' The Way I See It #205

2007-04-04T20:32:00.000-04:00

Many people search blindly for the "meaning of life." What they don't seem to understand is that life does not have meaning through mere existence or acquisition or fun. The meaning of life is inherent in the connections we make to others through honor and obligation.
--Dr. Laura Schlessinger, International Radio Host & Author

There are some things that happen in my life that can only be explained as God looking out for me. Even if you're not religious, these things have probably still occurred, but you gave them another name. Today I felt compelled to buy myself a delicious caramel mocha latte. This is not an unusual urge, but it is fairly unusual for me to actually give in to it. When I read the quote on the side of the cup, I knew why.

I'm at a particularly difficult time in my life right now, and Dr. Laura's words resonated better than any of the advice or platitudes others have offered. If more people, or, specifically, the people causing me such heartache, embraced that single statement, my life would be much simpler. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. Life is messy and complicated, and emotions, as we all know, too often prevent logic and common sense from allowing us to do what we know is right--what we know is honorable.

At times like these, when it feels like the world is closing in around me, it's indescribably reassuring to know that someone is still watching out for me--even if it's only with a few simple words.

"The Way I See It" can be found on your 10% post-consumer recycled fiber coffee cup or at www.starbucks.com/wayiseeit.

Harmonica lessons, anyone??

2007-04-03T21:38:00.000-04:00

Not for you--for us. Specifically, for Evan. He received a free harmonica in the mail today and is now determined to learn how to play it. Any tips (from those who actually know) would be appreciated.

Kathryn is also interested in learning. After watching Evan for a few minutes, she took it right out of his hands and started "playing" a little herself. Of course, her version sounds more like her humming against the metal, rather than actually blowing air through it. Still, she's quite the musician. We're very proud.

After she gets a little more practice, maybe she'll put on a concert for all of you. Of course, there is one guest who must attend, above all others:

No Mail is Good Mail

2007-04-02T08:15:00.000-04:00

The week officially ended without the receipt of the dreaded certified letter we were expecting. Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers going up that it wasn't an oversight.

At least one of our friends wasn't so lucky. Fortunately, she has extenuating circumstances that might just keep her out.

What Not to Watch

2007-04-01T23:22:00.000-04:00

If you're into horror movies, or just looking for something a little different, allow me to not recommend Pulse. I'm not sure what I expected, but not what I spent a seemingly unending 85 minutes watching. Don't get me wrong, I love Kristen Bell (best known as Veronica Mars from the TV show of the same name), and she did a very good job, but the movie itself was kind of awful. Evan asked me to rate it one-star at Netflix. (For those unfamiliar with the wonders of Netflix, one star means "I hated it.")

On the plus side, now we can send it back and get something better. Next on our queue is The Good Shepherd. And we still have Babel and the second half of Flyboys to watch--not to mention half a house to paint. Are we busy people, or what?

Would you like a Veronica Mars link? I'll give you two. The CW's site isn't that great, so I'm including one that's maintained by fans. Much more informative.

Such a loving child...

2007-03-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

Although it may not appear that way, I'm actually pulling Kathryn's head away from Drew Tae in an effort to not let her smash his little baby face. In a few seconds, she'll shove my arm (and Drew) out of her way so she can climb down.

This is the sort of over-excited loving both Drew Tae and Tegan can expect this weekend. With any luck, Kylinn has been toughening them up.

Step 2: Start your own blog.

2007-03-30T17:56:00.000-04:00

Well, here it is. My very own blog. Now if I just had something to blog about... Guess I'll go with the one thing I can always talk about...my beautiful little angel baby Kathryn.

In preparation for her trip to Michigan this weekend, we've been working on saying people's names. She now says Shell, Drew (as in Baby, not Uncle), Meg, Baby Tee, Papa, and, of course, Ky. Hopefully, she'll even recognize all those people.

Here's a little something to help all of you recognize her...