Meet our new temporary pet...

ELEPHANT PUMPKIN!

Sawyer's daycare does not let the kids dress up for Halloween (which was great since he wanted no part in dressing up this year), but they did hold a pumpkin decorating contest this year. They sent home a note saying that the pumpkins would be judged in 4 or 5 categories, Best in Show being the top prize. They also reminded parents that this was the CHILD's project, not the parents. Good thing I was reminded! But, honestly, how much can a 1 or 2 year old do on their own?

So, I put on my thinking cap, and came up with the above. Sawyer is VERY into elephants these days. Loves to visit them at the zoo, asks to wear his elephant shirt every freakin day, and carries around his toy elephant family. He is a wee bit obsessed. I suggested making an elephant pumpkin to Saw, and he was into it. We sent Daddy out to find a pumpkin with the longest stem he could while Sawyer and I were in IL. I had seen a nursery on my way home from work that had rows of long stemmed pumpkins in front, so that is where he went. On Monday, after we got home, Sawyer and I painted it. He did most of the painting himself (I should have taken photos to prove it, but I was too busy wiping up paint that he was flinging all over the floors and walls). While we waited for it to dry, I cut out some ears, but Mr. Man decided to raid my scrapbook supplies and he decided that puffballs should go in the ears. SURE...why not? :) We then glued on his eyes, stuck his ears in with some popsicle sticks, and declared him finished. Except...the whole night, he kept saying "he's sad. the elephant's sad. he's crying" I would ask him why he thought that, and he would just repeat it. After he went to bed, I decided to give the elephant a mouth, thinking that would solve the sad problem. It did. The next morning he said:
"he's sa.....OH....he's HAPPY!!!!"

Cool.

So at 4:30pm on Halloween, I get a call from G:

me "hello"
g "so you and your son have something else in common"
me "what"
g "his pumpkin won best in show out of the ENTIRE daycare...all of them up to age 6"

:)

my little overachiever. I'm so proud!

They gave him a medal (see the second picture) and a prize bag with another elephant, a hotwheels car, a pumpkin flashlight, and some other little things. He was SO PROUD. Look at that face :D

and that hair. My little hippie. I am thinking about getting some of the hair cut tomorrow. It is in his eyes, and I think it is driving him crazy. Wish us luck. The last time, he screamed so much that it wasn't a haircut as much as a hair drive by cutting. I had to basically give him a start to finish haircut at home...and my friends, I am not a hairdresser.

Happy Weekend!!

goals...long and short

First...I am DESPERATE to get this puppy in my hands...I still can't believe that they asked me to be a part of it. The editor emailed me on Monday and said that they shipped 6 copies to me, but I haven't gotten them yet, and I am taking Sawyer to my parent's house tomorrow, so wait I shall.

I have had so many amazing scrapbooking experiences this year, but I am always hungry for more. "She" who shall not be named ;-) was supposed to send me some product for MT, but because the release was so small, we didn't get anything...my fingers are crossed for CHA. I really want to join a kit club...I think that it would be good to have monthly deadlines. I always do my best work under pressure. I might have to go check out the Pub calendar and see what is available.

Long term goals for me...get this skin disease under control. my HS (hidradenitis suppurativa) is getting worse. I have avoided antibiotics and surgeries up until this point, but it has spread, and I have a huge fear that it will start to affect my ability to work, to parent, to create...
SO...I am going to slowly work up to a month long detox. This week is starting with sugar. Next week...caffeine...after that...processed foods. My goal is to cut out everything except for foods in their most basic forms. I need to get some vitamin supplements and all natural soaps also. Luckily, the natural soaps are SO MUCH better than they used to be. That part will be fun. Wish me luck :)

This is not new (the picture or the sentiment)...but I love this boy. so much. The newest cute thing is that he will bring me dora, or elephant, or some other lovie, and say "give him a kiss." "give him a hug." "He's HAPPY!!!" SO. FREAKING. CUTE. We have been tantrum free for the last couple of weeks, so I know we are due for a rough week...but I am going to relish this time!

I don't wanna work...

and I don't have to :). Best unexpected gift ever....oh, except for this little baby...




G surprised me with this last week...totally unexpected! And THEN, ordered this
for me....LUCKIEST GIRL EVER!!!!

My iPOD is one of those things that I never knew I wanted so badly. I had my eye on one of the colored nanos, but I am so happy that I have the 30G one. Just being able to load all of my pictures is so awesome. And, I really love when G surprises me for no reason at all...I really don't deserve it, but I love it!

And, last week this arrived in the mail. I saw someone in line with this baby at Target, and I had to have it....HAD TO HAVE IT. I am notorious for coveting something to the point of obsession. I looked online, nothing. I looked at stores, nothing. Found out that they only made a handful for the stores...special edition or something. So, onto ebay. I really don't like ebay...I don't trust it, and I am way to neurotic to bid on things. I found it, marked up $10 above MSRP, so I placed a bid on impulse, thinking that someone would outbid me before the time ran out....WRONG!! Luckily, G understands and to a point encourages my obsessive behavior....and I think it is so cute....and it's HUGE!

Hopefully we are taking Sawyer to the park, or maybe a pumpkin patch this weekend. The weather is supposed to be very "fall" tomorrow. A couple of weekends ago, we attempted the pumpkin patch...got snacks, jackets, camera, etc. We get there, scope out an in-demand wagon, and set off into the field. Sawyer HAD to pull the wagon, so we let him go ahead of us. I was happily snapping pictures, when I realized he was face down in a mud puddle. No amount of bribing, comforting, kissing could bring him out of the despair of getting his pants and shoes muddy...we had to go home. There is a "Pumpkin Train" in Noblesville I would like to try. You start off at the Transportation Museum and ride a real train to the pumpkin patch, and then after you get your pumpkins and apples, it takes you back. It sounds like something he would like, but the times unfortunately fall right in the middle of naptime.

I am off to scrap...:)

looking forward to today...

Because I have to work this weekend, I was able to take a half day today...HOORAY!!! I am meeting G for a lunch date (have to take the dates when we can get them), and then I will pick up Sawyer from school. Don't know what we are going to do yet. I might hit the scrapbook store to see if they have any copies of the Trendsetters book that I am in...actually, maybe I will do that BEFORE picking up Sawyer. He has turned into one of those whirling dervish children in scrapbook stores...

I was doing some searches on 2 year old milestones, and I think my guy is kind of ahead of the curve. He has been singing entire songs since he was about 26 months (we have him on video in August signing the ABC song and Twinkle Twinkle). There were a lot of other things too. AND, I did an online height predictor....it said 6 feet 5 inches!!!! I don't doubt it, the kid looks much bigger than 2. It is starting to make me remember the problems that my parents had with Eric. Everyone always expected more out of him because he was so tall. If Sawyer is as tall as Eric, it will make for pretty funny family portraits :).

I can't believe it, but I am already thinking about Christmas. I want to get a jump on it this year...maybe get things or make things for extended family too. I was thinking about making a dress up chest for Sawyer....maybe getting Halloween costume accessories on clearance in a couple of weeks. I am not sure if he will be into it, but I really want to get him things that will fuel his imagination...he seems to have a pretty active! Last week, he spent about 30 minutes coming up to me with his little plastic wagon, and saying "I am going to the punkin patch to pick apples mama, I'll be right back". And then he would move forward a few feet, bend down and pick up his pretend apples, and then come back to me and say "I'm back, momma!". A couple of times, he bent down, picked up an "apple", and told me to "try it". He also added umbrellas to the inaginary pumpkin patch trip, and started walking around holding up his "umbrella" as he was pulling his wagon.

Last night, he sat down on the carpet, and quizzed his Daddy and I on flashcards. His teachers told us that he LOVES doing flashcards (this started in his 1 year old class), and that he is a wiz at them. So, he held them just like Miss Candace, and said "now what is this, momma?" He had a VERY hard time waiting for me to answer,...he beat me to the punch most times, but I was able to answer first a couple of times, and when I answered wrong, he was in hysterics. "No, Momma, that is a dog, not broccoli!!"



This is my newest layout. I have been working on Hillarie's family tree all week, and of course I have a million ideas for layouts floating through my head...but as soon as I scrapbook for myself, I am sure I won't be able to.

my little guy...

I love the way you line everything up...your animals, your cars, your dominos
I love your long hair, even if everyone thinks you are a girl
I love that I catch you singing to yourself (moon moon, old mcdonald, dora)
I love the way you dip your cucumbers in raspberry vinagrette and crunch them
I love that you randomly tell us "I love Momma....I love Daddy"
I love that you have a dysfunctional relationship with Maxx. I can see we will have problems when you have a brother or sister!
I love dressing you in new fall clothes
I love that you have an enormous vocabulary and you are constantly using it :)
I love that you say please, thank you, and excuse me
I love that you ask to paint and color

Because you sing Beck "2 turntables and a microphone" and adapt it for the situtation
Because your eyes are still gorgeous
Because you don't like to be dirty
Because you are starting to pretend
Because you don't want anything to do with Halloween (just like Mommy and Christmas!)
Because you stay up late with us on the weekends
Because you want Mommy to nap with you (mmmm...naps!)
Because you pick a new stuffed animal to dote on every couple of days
Because you want to wear "elephant shirt" every day

You love Grandma
You love to wash all of your tub animals when you take a bath
You love Broccoli and Chicken Fettucini Alfredo
You still adore and prefer your Daddy
You know your colors
You call us guys (hey guys!)
You have an incredible sense of humor
You beg to be tickled
You have such a kind heart
You make my heart melt
I love you so much that I sometimes don't know how to deal with the intense emotions.

You are a joy, my little pumpkin butt...

Challenge...

List ten things that you recommend...anything from a recipe to a book to a website or a behavior.

1. Vitamin Water: G and I are hooked (OK, mostly I am hooked). My favorites are the Lemonade and Dragon-something I can never remember. YUMMY!!!

2. CD: Illinoise, by Sufjan Stevens...amazing! I could listen to it over and over again.

3. Daffodils: Nothing makes me more ready for spring. I saw some in Trader Joe's last week, and they definately cheered me up.

4. if you are a parent, any book by Dr. Sears. G and I don't do full on Attachment Parenting, but I really love his discipline book, and the Baby Book...I try to pick them up once a month to remind myself that Sawyer's tantrums are normal and not to stress :)

5. taking naps: Every weekend, I try to nap with Sawyer at least once (see picture above)...it's the best. I LOVE being waken up by him when his cheeks are all rosy, and he is in the best mood EVER because Mommy is with him.

6. Photoshop: I have become addicted to actions...big time. Our tax preparer just sent me a copy of PS7 out of the blue, and I am LOVING it! I was using PS Elements, and I was really missing "Curves". Poor G...he will have to fight me for the computer now!

7. Mothering Magazine: Sometimes it's a little TOO crunchy for me, but it definately gives you some things to think about.

8. Crocs: Yeah, they're ugly (so ugly they're cute...right?), but since I bought them almost a year ago, they have become my favorite "Mommy" shoes. With a toddler, it's awesome to wear shoes that make your feet feel like they are wearing nothing at all. I think I will be getting an orange or red pair for the summer :)

9. Visit Brooklyn, NY: G was born and raised there, and I lived there with him for 6 years before we moved to IN so that we could start a family. We went back a couple of weeks ago for Sol and Paulette's 50th, and I really had forgotten how much I love it...even more than Manhattan. I love the busy-ness, and the diversity, and how the borrough is really rough around the edges. I also love the cool little shops that are nestled between fish markets and neighborhood eateries....can't wait to go back in April!

10. Live with dogs: They are loud, dirty, and insane, but I couldn't imagine my life without them. Even Sawyer thinks they are his siblings...he yells at them (especially Maxx because he steals his toys), but they are at the top of the "goodnight list" after Daddy...so I think deep down he loves them.

Off to bed...this flu or whatever is kicking my ass. I am soooo getting tired of being sick. Pneumonia, fluid in my ears, every cold that I come in contact with....really tired of it :(

I call this...

fun with rubons!!! Last night, I sat on the couch until about 1am...that is when I decided to go into the office and scrapbook ;). G came home at 1:30am, and we ended up staying up until almost 3am. Sometimes I think we are both in denial that we have a toddler who gets up early weekday or weekend. But, Saw decided to give us a little present, and sleep until 7:30, and when G brought him to bed, he slept another 2 hours...yippeeee!!! Did some shopping...got Sawyer some cool shirts at Old Navy (I got a jacket and shirt), and then we went to Borders where Sawyer picked out some new books to take home (Maisy, of course!). Did the obligatory Sam's run, came home, had lunch, Sawyer napped. Typical Saturday stuff. Sawyer did get his first bruise today on his head....bad Mommy. I was trying to roll up his pants legs so that he wouldn't fall and hurt himself (ironic, huh), and he lost his balance and fell into the corner of his table. Luckily it isn't bad at all.
Reverend Glasseye & his Wooden Legs played at Radio Radio last night. Gregg said it was a cool show, and somehow 70 people showed up even though Mythopeic did not promote it at all. They gave G their most recent CD, and Sawyer LOVES it...maybe even more than Laurie Berkner (watch out, Laurie...I'm gonna catch you, you better run. I'm gonna catch you, here I come). He was dancing his little heart out to freaked out circus music....while eating cucumber slices and peaches...little weirdo!

"mo" has left the building

for the last couple of months, Sawyer has been using the word "mo" for "no"...quite liberally I might add. Tonight, he said NO. And it wasn't just a fluke. I will regret, I am sure, encouraging him to say no...but I really wanted to hear MO a couple more times. Oh well...everyone at work says "mo" now, so it will live on there. I hate that they have to grow up...

Sawyer saying no also proves my theory that the kid's hearing is fine, and he doesn't need ear tubes. We saw an ENT yesterday, and he agreed that we should wait 6 weeks before considering ear tubes...unless Sawyer gets ANOTHER ear infection. I don't know about tubes...I had a ton of ear infections as a kid, no tubes, and did not have any delays or problems. I really feel like they kind of jump the gun these days.

Mr. Man was so loving tonight. G has been busy with Mytho stuff the last couple of nights, so it has just been the 2 of us. It is amazing how much time can fly when you are busy tickling and cuddling, and playing with cars, and reading books. He has thankfully given us a break from his infamous tantrums the last week...and I have been kind of bummed rather than grateful when his 8pm bedtime rolls around. Of course, he has not been sleeping through the night, but I am sure that is vacation related.

Speaking of vacation...the above picture was taken at my bro and sis in law's house. This kid was freaking amazing...AMAZING! He was great on the flight there...a little fidgety, but who among us isn't fidgety on an airplane. The flight back, he slept from takeoff to landing...a freaking angel. The only breakdown we had was when they made him get out of his beloved stroller at the security checkpoint. And if that wasn't bad enough...they made him take off his ga-chee. You don't mess with Sawyer's jackets. Only HE decides when to take it off. That was one time that I didn't mind the screaming in my ears, because I think it got us through the checkpoint a little faster!

Sawyer was definately a hit on the east coast. It was nice to hear so many nice comments about how cute and well behaved he is. At the restaurant in Brooklyn, about 5 strangers came up to me just to tell me how beautiful he is :) I might be biased, but the kid IS gorgeous!

Sawyer's newest obsession is pairing things. He has to have "two" of everything...watches, keys, hats...all new prized possessions, and all must be had in twos. Last night, I found a pair of plastic kiddy sunglasses in his room, and showed him. He asked for "two". I told him I didn't know where the other pair was...OK I fibbed. I knew they were in the car, but I was lazy and I didn't want to go get them. Believe it or not, he remembered that he had put them there over a week ago, and INSISTED that we go to the car ("mama...up...car....mama...UP....g-asses....UP....car") So, we went to the car, got the glasses, and then I took him into the bathroom so I could stand him up in front of the mirror with his glasses. He wanted me to put a pair on, and when he saw us both in the silly plastic kiddy glasses, he was in hysterics! Fast forward to tonight....I came home with a hat on. He wanted "up", and saw his hat on the table. He said "mama...hat". I gave him the hat, helped him put it on, and then started saying "me-oh". It took me about 10 "me-ohs" to realize that he wanted to look at himself in the mirror...so we stood in the bathroom while he chanted "hats...two...mama....hat...two"

"two" f'ing cute :)

holy *#$%!@....I'm 29...how did that happen?

it was a good one! G got me the softbox I have been coveting for my alien bee. He also took me out for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, and shopping for scrapbooking supplies. We came home and had a couple of drinks before the boy woke up and insisted on sleeping with mom and dad :)

I am going to try to enjoy this last year...i am SO not ready for 30...

playing catch up...

I need to update!

Friday, 2/24/06-

My first real shoot. Anya emailed me and asked me to come to the Indy Art Center to take pictures of a big art opening. I was psyched! Everything went really well. I took about 250 pictures. I got home relatively early...about 8:30pm. When G and I put Sawyer to bed, we inevitably fall asleep with him. It's a given. Except for tonight. I came in, put my camera on the counter, put my boots in the sunporch, apparently locked the door to the sunporch and went to the bathroom. Just as I was opening the door to come out of the bathroom, I heard the sound of glass breaking. Not like someone dropped a glass...like someone knocked over a china cabinet. but then I remembered we don't have a china cabinet. I thought "shit, someone is breaking into the house". I run towards the sound, and see Gregg standing in the kitchen, with blood running down his arm, and glass everywhere. I was floored...confused...scared like I had never been before...and so was he. He was outside. He heard someone in the house over the baby monitor, and when he tried to come in, the door was locked. Like the amazing daddy he is, his first thought was Sawyer. He was convinced someone was kidnapping him (cause he is so darn cute..LOL), and natural instinct took over, and he punched through the window on our door to unlock it. Luckily, his cuts weren't too bad, and $80 later, we had a new window installed today.

And our poor sleeper? Yep, Sawyer slept through it all!

2.22.06

after getting the arctic frog stuff ready for CHA, i was SERIOUSLY unmotivated to scrapbook. i decided to take a break and try again. so, i tried again, and was really bummed to discover that i had no ideas, and the one layout that i did took 2 days, and was fantastically (is that a word?) sucky.

but this one, i did on saturday, on a whim...

and it felt good.

i have also been a little dissapointed with my photography lately...i just don't feel like my composition is as good as it needs to be. but then i remembered that i could crop...HAHA!! i have a problem sometimes with missing obvious things. and i am going to shoot an opening night party on friday for the indianapolis art center. it's pro bono...but if i do a good job, they might use me again. i am scared shitless. but, i keep telling myself that i will be really fucking pissed off at myself if i don't try to make something out of this hobby. i don't want to look back 20 years from now with any "what ifs"....kwim?

these lyrics are running through my head tonight...don't know why, but there they are. i love this band...and this song will always transport me to a certain place (g and i coming back from a show in KY, having fun in the car....nuff said):

children. wake up.
hold your. mistake up
before they turn the summer into dust.
if the children don't grow up
our bodies get bigger. but our hearts get torn up

we're just - a million little gods
causing rain storms
turning every good thing to rust.
i guess we'll just have to adjust.

++ arcade fire

patience

when we all have to get up, get dressed, get sweet man food, and get out of the house in an hour, being tired and cranky doesn't help. usually i can squash my inner cranky beast, but this morning....not so much. i hate that....a 20 month old can't help it....but does he have to be held ALL the time?

and now the all day guilt...
sitting here, feeling bad he is shipped off to daycare 4 days a week...
feeling bad that i didn't give him everything he wanted.
just feeling poopy.

sad frog face.

2.21.06

Hi-eee

who says our lives are boring? yeah, i'll admit it...sometimes the thought crosses my mind. but then the sweet man goes to sleep, and g and i sit and remember those moments of the night...the kind that you never can imagine forgetting, but we do. tonight:

sawyer was dressed in his jeans, grey sweater, and chuck taylors, do his little dance down the hall, and i thought i might die from his cuteness.

he wanted to go to the office, and while i was trying to save g's guitar from emminent demise, he turned the stereo up to full blast, and scared the crap out of us, the lady from sbc who g was talking to, the neighbors (i am sure)...and most definitely himself.

he pointed out bird sillhouttes in "the little red caboose" and said "cheet, cheet, cheet", and he could not have been prouder.

we dressed a stuffed monkey in his baby residents tee and baby shoes :)

he said goodnight to everyone his little brain could conjure up, including ba and pa-paw's doggies, monty and ellie.

love these moments.
love our family.
love this kid so much it hurts.

bye-bye