In case you were really, really missing your SAT experiences November 28, 2007

Try this: Free Rice. A vocabulary test that donates grains of rice through the UN. If you try it, leave a comment with your highest level. I saw this on another blog where the person got to 45 and I thought, hah, that doesn’t sound like much.

The Best Level I could achieve was 44. Sigh. Sure I could get demulcent, terpsichorean, donjon, and springe. Although I don’t think I could use most of them in a sentence–having the four choices really helps!

And in the end, I think I donated about a fourth of a cup of rice (2720 grains?). So maybe not the best charitable activity. But I really thought I could get to 45.

Anyway, can anyone beat my 44?

Thankful for November 27, 2007

Feet that still look like little baby feet. That never smell and are always warm and cuddly after a nap.

Daddies and the little girls that love them.

Sunlight and silly faces.

Warm hats.

Lingering autumn colors, and the surprise of autumn sunshine.

Kids who are still young enough for public hugs and cuddling (and shiny pregnancy hair).

Hope and optimism despite all evidence to the contrary.

The Chuck Norris Meme November 19, 2007

It’s so old its new again?

Totally doable, right? November 16, 2007

5.5 weekends before we leave for Cleveland. Here are the things I would like to do:

1. Bake holiday cookies with C (gingerbread men? kiss cookies? those sugar coated mexican wedding cookies? why not all of them!)
2. Buy, decorate tree
3. Visit Santa (this might not work, C has said she will sit on Santa’s lap when she is 5)
4. Take cool family picture (must come up with cool idea first) and make holiday cards
5. Visit Leavenworth–so cute!
6. See Nutcracker ballet with C and G
7. See live nutcrackers at Snowflake Lane and Garden d’Lights in Bellevues’ Magic Season 
8. Buy all Christmas presents, wrap those for C and G to open here
9. Other Christmas crafts with C: button trees, maybe painting some ornaments?
10. Take C to the local school’s holiday crafting fair, where she makes gifts for the relatives
11. Have meaningful family celebration with C and G

Oh, and exercise, work, laundry, dishes, etc.

Not too aggressive right? So far I have…well, done none of them. Except buy the tickets for the Nutcracker.

Gee. and I felt extravagant having Whole Foods cater C’s 4th birthday party November 13, 2007

4 year old’s Alice in Wonderland party with professional photographer

I am not sure our wedding even cost that much. Then again, no one came to our wedding in a rabbit costume.

Halfway November 12, 2007

Tomorrow I will be 20 weeks! Of course, the first 20 weeks includes those two weeks where you aren’t actually pregnant, another few weeks where you don’t know you are, and many weeks where you don’t look it anyway. So it might be considered the easier half. Whatever.

When I was pregnant with C we went to Paris around 16 weeks (who knew we would be babymoon trendsetters?) and Cleveland around 6 months.

This time, we went to Disneyland around 16 weeks…and will be going to Cleveland around 6 months. Because why *wouldn’t* you want to fly at 6 months pregnant, with a 4 year old, around the holidays…on a five hour red eye flight? Good times!

Pregnancy has definitely been more eventful this time around…ER trip, subchorionic hematoma, few days of bedrest and no vigorous exercise for several weeks, and now a parvovirus scare (still awaiting the blood test results on that one). Due to the location of the placenta, I also can’t feel the Bean moving as much as I could when pregnant with C. I miss having that regular reassurance that all is ok. My third ultrasound is in 8 days…been holding back a little bit on seriously considering names until we get that extra proof that the complications have resolved.

Otherwise, all is well. My only serious gripe is with maternity clothes makers–where are the exercise clothes for pregnant ladies?? Pregnant with C I was able to find maternity running shorts, with a nice, um, belly harness inside which enabled me to run until 32 weeks (hey, cut me some slack, we can’t all be like crazy Paula Radcliffe). This time, the "activewear" sections of maternity web sites seem to consist of "lounge pants" and velour hoodie/pant combos. Lounging != active. Sweaty velour just sounds awful. Newsflash–pregnant women exercise, or at least we are supposed to.

Today I am taking the day off exercise-wise, because after three weeks of no exercise, pilates on Friday, power-walking on Saturday (don’t laugh, I am already ashamed enough), weights at the gym on Sunday, and the beginnings of a cold…well, let’s just say today is more one of those "active lounging" type of days. 

Where does she get this stuff? November 8, 2007

C: When I am 13 I will stop liking you and babies.

Me: Huh. The other night you said you wouldn’t stop liking me until you were 15.

C: Well, when I am 13 I will stop liking you *with* me. When I am 15, I will stop liking you helping me find my way.

Sounds like C is fully prepared to be a teenager. I have 9 years to soak up her liking me, and 11 years to make sure she has found a good way. Wish me luck.

Milestone: Windows Live Writer 2008 November 6, 2007

It’s here. No more beta.

Lots more languages, including for spell checking.

Image fixes for Blogger and Spaces.

Fewer bugs, fewer error dialogs.

Support back for Vista x64 installations.

Try it out, let us know what you like (or don’t) and blog, blog, blog: http://writer.live.com.

3 November 5, 2007

3 things I don’t understand:
1. Why do maternity shops also sell belts?
2. Why do all the natural toy catalogs feature fairies so heavily? (Actually, I think I know at least part of the reason for this–Waldorf beginnings for some of these catalogs, but haven’t researched into why Waldorf feels the need to promote fairies so heavily)
3. Teenagers with concert Ts and mohawks…hanging out at Disneyland. Seems like a lot of money to be ironic. Or do they really enjoy Disney?

3 funny things C has said recently:
1. After weeks of looking forward to her fourth birthday, the very next day she said: "Mommy, I am almost 5!"
2.  When asked which ride was her favorite at Disneyland: "The rides that stayed down." (She does not like to go up…pretty much limits the rides she will go on!)
3. Her convoluted explanations for not eating certain foods: "I do not have to do things that I do not want to have to do."

3 reasons G is a great dad:
1. "Your leggies are tired? Let me pick you up for a horsey ride!" (Said to C, not me of course. And then he carried her all over Disney on his shoulders.)
2. Excitedly suggested outfit options at Build A Bear.
3. Makes paper animals with C for hours after school each day.

3 things I would do differently if we go to Disneyland again:
1. Make reservations for lunch and dinner each day well in advance.
2. Wait until youngest kid is older than C was–most of the rides did not appeal to her, and even some of the shows were too scary.
3. Smaller camera bag.

3 recent cool things:
1. C painted her name on a box this weekend.
2. Chic maternity top marked down at babystyle from $185 to $39.99.
3. Fab new wine bar that is 10 minutes from our house (well, by car), has awesome yet cheap food, and is kid friendly: Brix

Take my kid to Borders for a snack and book every weekend November 2, 2007

And this is the thanks I get??