Things that make you go Hmmm??...

I found this article interesting. We never knew why i was so susceptible to preterm labor, even with the multitude of tests they did on me. I figured i might have a misshapen uterus or something. But now this study has come out and it just makes me wonder...

I'm Wide Awake

Cami should know the band that sings the title song...

So, why is it that just because Doug is out of town that none of us sleep well? Since my dear, sweet hubby is a serious snorer, it's not like I miss having him in bed with me (don't take that personally, Babe). (I kick him out of bed on a nightly basis--thank goodness for a spare bedroom!). I'm not as easily spooked being alone in the house like i used to be. But I can't seem to ever really settle in and get to bed. I just sort of putter around the house.

Keegen has been struggling tonight, too. Lots of random crying-outs. Very restless sleeping. Lots of banging into his crib rails (it took me awhile to figure out what that noise was. I was certain that our house was having some serious settlement issues until i made the connection). I finally went up and gave him a nip of Tylenol and a backrub (i'm fearing an ear infection).

And Bode. Dear Bode. Just flunge his door open. Blankie in hand (my Linus). Just standing in his doorway. I went up to him and the conversation went something like this...

Me: Hey.

B: Uh, Mom?

Me: Yes?

B: Um.

B: Well.

B: Hmmm. (racking his half-sleeping brain for something that i might buy as an important reason to be out of bed).

B: Mama, what are you doing?

Me: Helping you get back to bed.

B: Oh. Well, what are you doing downstairs?

Me: Shutting down the computer so i can go to bed.

B: Oh. I was just coming to see what you were doing.

So concerned for my welfare. Now it's getting to be so late that i think i might need another meal before i hit the sack. Cookie Crisp, anyone??

What a Croc!

I am a nut when it comes to Crocs. Love them. Wear them constantly. Wear them to work. I even have what I call my "dress" up Crocs (and, yes, I've worn them to church). So comfortable. So casual. They've replaced my Birkenstocks. For a jeans and t-shirt gal, what more can I say?

So I thought I'd pass this coupon code along. If you don't already have a pair, give 'em a try. If you already have some, try on a different style. I'm considering these lovelies in light blue--how can I resist? Anywho. It's for free shipping through 12/31/07. Go to crocs.com and enter promo code "fall2007" at checkout.

Happy shopping!

Out with the Old

I've been needing to clean out my closet for a long time. Basically, since we moved in. It's become a catch-all and a total disaster. I've been hearing my mother's voice in my head (more often than i'd like to admit!) telling me to get rid of things. "If you're not using them, give them to someone who will!" And my friend Kristen told me about an organizing book she read and said i need to try everything on and if i don't LOVE it or NEED it to toss it. Be brutal!

So, I did that. I tossed into the Goodwill pile 16-year old Birkenstocks. My first pair. I know, they can be resoled (and have been!), but I'm not going to wear black suede Arizonas ever again. I got rid of two perfectly good 10-year old dresses--one that i wore to a friend's wedding and another that i wore to my rehearsal dinner. I probably wasn't as brutal as necessary, but i think i did good. There will be some dang good shopping down at the Goodwill come next week!

It feels good. I can walk into my closet now. I wish I'd thought to take a "before-and-after" photo. Not only can i walk into it, but i know what i have in there! I can find stuff. And, now i have a really good reason to go shopping! Because, I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!!!

Where the Wild Things Are

Bell Boys Update (Doug's Post)

One of Bode and Keegen's favorite things these days is to play the "Smashing Pillow Game". That is man-talk for pillow fight. It is so fun. We get three pillows (one for each boy) and hit each other with them and then when someone goes down you smash them with your pillow. When I get Bode or Keegen down, I unleash the SUPER SMASH, which involves lifting the pillow way up over my head, screaming "SUPER SMASH" as I bring it down to gently smash them. Then I lay the pillow on them and smack it repeatedly to pummel them into the floor. Bode will swing his pillow in a very short arc and I kind of have to lean into it for him to hit me, then I go flying across the room and fall flat on the floor. Then Bode runs over and jumps on me with his pillow yelling "super smash". Keegen struggles with all his might to lift the pillow off the floor (the bottom of the pillow never actually leaves the carpet) and hobbles towards me (frequently tripping on the pillow case) and when he gets close he falls forward saying "bonk" and I have to quickly get myself under the falling pillow. Then Keegen goes into wrestle-mode, which for him involves him putting his head down, burrowing into you and then flopping over on his back (kind of like a dog waiting to have it's tummy rubbed) and waits for you to get him. Sometimes we get a dad-pile, where Bode has jumped on me and then Keegen comes over and tries to jump on Bode (pretty much he leans on the pile) until I can get a hand around to lift him up on top. Everyone giggles and laughs until I gently roll them off and finish them with a "Super Smash" or a Steamroller.

Bode's Favorite Thing: riding his Tricycyle. He loves to ride his tricycle on the new sidewalk that goes from the garage to the back patio. He loves to ride his tricycle home from the sitters. He loves to ride his tricycle in the driveway and chase me on my roller blades. Bode often says t hings like "Look how fast I'm going", "I am the fastest" and "I can peddle all by myself".

Keegen's Favorite Thing: ice . . . he loves to munch on ice. Whenever I get a glass of water, he comes running up and says "ice" or "ice pease". He never gets enough either, because ice isn't very filling. You should have seen his face the other day when I set him in his high-chair and gave him his own bowl of crushed ice. I think we are going to have to start making ice-cheese cubes and ice-meat cubes and some kind of ice-vegetable cubes in order to get him to eat.

Bowl Me Over

Inspired by the Pottery Barn Kids bowling game we played with the other day at the mall, we had a family bowling activity Saturday. I think it had been 2 years since we last went--so Bode was about 2 but somehow he had lots of appropriate questions about it, as if he knew what it was all about. Maybe it's been on a cartoon or something...Anyway, he was super-excited to go and we had a great time. Bumpers and those handicapped ball-roller-thingies rock! Bode tossed his ball down the lane by himself and would yell to it to "TURN!" Keegen would yell "GOOOOO!" (reminding me of Spanish channel soccer games whenever they score --GOOOOOOAL!!!) and clap. They were cute and fun and we had a great time.

The sound of my own voice makes me cringe!! Ugh.

Eclipse

OK. Really. There had better be a "Book 4" because that was a major letdown.