Here's a rant.
Oh, Facebook.
I love that you help me keep in touch with people, especially ones that Ihaven't seen in person in years. I love that you make it so easy. I love that I can chat with family that live out of state, and show them what The Prince has been up to.
I dislike how you can so easily turn me into a cyber stalker. It's so simple to keep clicking and checking up on people. That link that went around to tell people who has been looking at your pictures? That scared me pretty good. I dislike how people use you to tell their friends important news (I have done this myself, and while I can't really find a great way around it for big announcements, I still am uncomfortable with it). I dislike how somedays I have to check you umpteen times a day.
Arg. Somedays I think about giving up technology, or doing a fast or something, but then I get the shakes and hyperventilate. I'll stay plugged in for now.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Royal Celebration
Birthday breakfast
Lots of friends came to play
The Prince loved when Daddy blew the Birthday Horn.
Out-of-state family joined us by webchat.
Out-of-state family joined us by webchat.
Squishing the cake.
End of the day hijinks.
Happy 1st, Little Prince!
End of the day hijinks.
Happy 1st, Little Prince!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Oh, Motherhood...
Yesterday was One of Those Days. The Prince was fussy all day long. Here are possible reasons:
1. He had cabin fever.
2. His mouth hurt from new teeth.
3. His tummy hurt from something he ate.
4. He was mad because Mommy kept taking away the interesting things he found to play with (which, by the way, Mommy has no idea where most of them came from, because the house has been baby-proofed for months now).
5. He was exerting his individual identity and challenging the status quo in the household.
The day ended with what is a very funny incident, but which led Mommy to give up and wait for Daddy to come home.
The Prince's favorite cabinet
The Prince is allowed to play in the cabinets. There's nothing in there that can hurt him, or that he can hurt, and he finds it interesting. So, he got into his favorite cabinet, sat down, and found the only thing in there he could make a mess with: an almost-empty bag of cat food crunchies. Almost-empty, so no mess, right? Wrong. He shook and shook and shook the bag, and found enough crumbs to pour all over the floor (instant dog-mania for spilled food). The Prince even tried to nibble a few himself, while being scolded. Mommy brought the broom out to clean up, and The Prince took the broom from Mommy, and tried to do it himself.
This is the point Mommy gives up, and just tries to make sure The Prince doesn't consume any more kibble.
Not laughing yet, but maybe closed-mouth smiling a little bit. It won't hurt my feelings if you laugh.
Hmm, the mess seemed a lot bigger yesterday when it was happening.
1. He had cabin fever.
2. His mouth hurt from new teeth.
3. His tummy hurt from something he ate.
4. He was mad because Mommy kept taking away the interesting things he found to play with (which, by the way, Mommy has no idea where most of them came from, because the house has been baby-proofed for months now).
5. He was exerting his individual identity and challenging the status quo in the household.
The day ended with what is a very funny incident, but which led Mommy to give up and wait for Daddy to come home.
The Prince's favorite cabinet The Prince is allowed to play in the cabinets. There's nothing in there that can hurt him, or that he can hurt, and he finds it interesting. So, he got into his favorite cabinet, sat down, and found the only thing in there he could make a mess with: an almost-empty bag of cat food crunchies. Almost-empty, so no mess, right? Wrong. He shook and shook and shook the bag, and found enough crumbs to pour all over the floor (instant dog-mania for spilled food). The Prince even tried to nibble a few himself, while being scolded. Mommy brought the broom out to clean up, and The Prince took the broom from Mommy, and tried to do it himself.
This is the point Mommy gives up, and just tries to make sure The Prince doesn't consume any more kibble.
Not laughing yet, but maybe closed-mouth smiling a little bit. It won't hurt my feelings if you laugh.
Hmm, the mess seemed a lot bigger yesterday when it was happening.Monday, January 24, 2011
Depression Reference
One of the biggest lies of depression is that you're alone in the emptiness, you're alone in your despair.
It's simply not true. The more I am brave enough to share my experiences, the more I find others who have felt or are feeling just like me.
And I found this the other day:
You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?
Ps 56:8
I've always heard that God knows the number of hairs on my head, but I suppose I've become jaded to that precious statement. This one, though, really hits home. God knows every tear I've cried. It seems as though He's saved them, like they matter to Him. He is aware of my depression. I'm not alone.
It's simply not true. The more I am brave enough to share my experiences, the more I find others who have felt or are feeling just like me.
And I found this the other day:
You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?
Ps 56:8
I've always heard that God knows the number of hairs on my head, but I suppose I've become jaded to that precious statement. This one, though, really hits home. God knows every tear I've cried. It seems as though He's saved them, like they matter to Him. He is aware of my depression. I'm not alone.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Baby Life #6
The Ebb and Flow of Time
Really it's more just "The Flow of Time," because hardly anything ever ebbs around here anymore. Sometimes the sleepless nights ebb, and the time spent away from my family to do practical things like work, but mostly time just rushes by.
I've said this more in the past year than I ever have before, but I'll say it again. I can't believe how fast things have gone. I have a one-year-old. How on earth did that happen? He was just a few months old yesterday. Now, he's walking (nearly running) around the house. Naked, when at all possible.
It's sort of one of life's most unfair things, that this is such an important time in my life, and I'm having a hard time remembering a lot of it. Some nights, when I'm waiting for The Prince to sleep, I try to go back through this past year, and I have a tough time remembering clearly. The lack of sleep and enormity of it all seems to have eclipsed many of the precious moments. I try to hold on to as much as I can.
I am so glad we splurged on a nice camera on Black Friday two years ago. Totally worth it.
Really it's more just "The Flow of Time," because hardly anything ever ebbs around here anymore. Sometimes the sleepless nights ebb, and the time spent away from my family to do practical things like work, but mostly time just rushes by.
I've said this more in the past year than I ever have before, but I'll say it again. I can't believe how fast things have gone. I have a one-year-old. How on earth did that happen? He was just a few months old yesterday. Now, he's walking (nearly running) around the house. Naked, when at all possible.
It's sort of one of life's most unfair things, that this is such an important time in my life, and I'm having a hard time remembering a lot of it. Some nights, when I'm waiting for The Prince to sleep, I try to go back through this past year, and I have a tough time remembering clearly. The lack of sleep and enormity of it all seems to have eclipsed many of the precious moments. I try to hold on to as much as I can.
I am so glad we splurged on a nice camera on Black Friday two years ago. Totally worth it.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Comfort Foods - Fried, of Course!
On our recent trip to OK, I was inspired to make egg rolls. Now, these are a special family recipe, and I've never attempted the entire process by myself. Usually, my mom is very involved. But, I wanted to make something special for my family, and these certainly fit the bill.
This isn't so much a recipe as a food story. I'm glad to share it again.
Pork and veggie egg rolls, coming right up!
Not to be 0utdone, hubs made fried twinkies for dessert.
This isn't so much a recipe as a food story. I'm glad to share it again.
Pork and veggie egg rolls, coming right up!
And the second course is...crab cheese wontons!
Not to be 0utdone, hubs made fried twinkies for dessert.
Mmmmm, contented-sigh-of-happiness. That was dinner on New Year's Eve. What a way to end the year!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Frailty of Life
This one has been a few weeks in the making. I've been searching for the right words to make what's on my heart sound eloquent, as a fitting tribute to those we've recently lost. But nothing's come to mind.
A friend of mine died two weeks ago. I'm struck by his life and his story, and his death.
Last week, my husband's aunt took her own life. I am struck by the life she leaves behind.
So what now? I spent the hours after I found out about each in a stupor. One day, one moment, they were here, and now they are gone. On this side, death seems so final. But also on this side, life seems so frail. I clung to my husband and my son even more fiercely on those days, insisting they stay near me. I thought of things I needed to say to those that I love, because, what if? What if this is the last kiss? What if this is the last thing I say to you?
We cannot live in fear. That would choke the very life we held so tightly. It seems to be a delicate balance, an intricate dance, almost as frail as that life. I must make sure, as much as I can, that moments matter. I must have no regrets, and simply make that a part of my life and character. But I must also accept that loss is a part of this broken life and this imperfect world.
I begin the new year with a deep appreciation for this frail life, and that surrounds me. I remind myself to take the time to enjoy the feel of the brisk air or the soft fur of my kitty, the sound of my favorite song or of my son's laughter, and the way my heart swells when my husband comes home. I'm learning to enjoy each of these moments while I can, and I am so very thankful for them.
A friend of mine died two weeks ago. I'm struck by his life and his story, and his death.
Last week, my husband's aunt took her own life. I am struck by the life she leaves behind.
So what now? I spent the hours after I found out about each in a stupor. One day, one moment, they were here, and now they are gone. On this side, death seems so final. But also on this side, life seems so frail. I clung to my husband and my son even more fiercely on those days, insisting they stay near me. I thought of things I needed to say to those that I love, because, what if? What if this is the last kiss? What if this is the last thing I say to you?
We cannot live in fear. That would choke the very life we held so tightly. It seems to be a delicate balance, an intricate dance, almost as frail as that life. I must make sure, as much as I can, that moments matter. I must have no regrets, and simply make that a part of my life and character. But I must also accept that loss is a part of this broken life and this imperfect world.
I begin the new year with a deep appreciation for this frail life, and that surrounds me. I remind myself to take the time to enjoy the feel of the brisk air or the soft fur of my kitty, the sound of my favorite song or of my son's laughter, and the way my heart swells when my husband comes home. I'm learning to enjoy each of these moments while I can, and I am so very thankful for them.
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