TBR Challenge List

For this challenge you should....

** Pick 12 books - one for each month of 2007 - that you've been wanting to read (have been on your "To Be Read" list) for 6 months or longer, but haven't gotten around to.

** Then, starting January 1, 2007, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31, 2007. :o)

1. Sticks & Scones - Diane Mott Davidson
2. The Cereal Murders - Diane Mott Davidson
3. Catering to Nobody - Diane Mott Davidson
4. The Last Suppers - Diane Mott Davidson
5. Red Lily - Nora Roberts
6. London's Perfect Scoundrel - Suzanne Enoch
7. Beginning with Baby - Christie Ridgway
8. A Family Christmas - Carrie Alexander
9. Killer Takes All - Erica Spindler
10. Testing Miss Toogood - Stella Cameroon
11. Taking a Chance - Janice Kay Johnson
12. The Lonely Girls Club - Suzanne Forster

Note: Green font colors means, I finish reading the book.

I am a month late posting this...we'll see how I do. I noticed that my two little boys at home are wanting more and more of my time. They love to read and wants to show off to Mommy. I am already reading a whole lot of Dora, Berenstein Bears, Little Bears, Blues Blues, Spot and the likes. I wonder if I might have to change my TBR list to suit their needs. Maybe I can do a trade off of 20 childrens book per title I have to trade.

Wordless Wednesday Vol. 6

[Note - added 1-31-2007]

No children or pets were harmed in the making of this picture. He actually got what he needed. Check it out, click on the picture itself (or here) to link to the story about this feet on the chair.

What a Day!

DH and I just got home from a "real" date! I left my baby with my mother and he slept the whole time we went to see a movie SMOKIN' ACES. I don't understand why Ben Affleck got the top billing. There were too many "good" actors in there and not enough lines or time to develop any character. It was fun to watch though.

I was thinking the movie is a bit like PULP FICTION, and body count like FROM DUSK TIL DAWN, that Clooney/Hayek movie from way back when. I like the soundtrack towards the end. Really good music there.

Any time I get to snuggle in the dark with my darling is a great time. Did I mention that DS4 stayed home with my mother? I was leaking milk all over! My chest was soaked with milk (is it dairy if it's from human?) by the time we went out. Grrr, cold!

I am just remembering my DS3, who's potty training himself told me in a British accent - picture Oliver here in that soup scene...

"Mommy, it's a poop!"

Even if he didn't tell me, I can smell it already. The only thing about my potty training kid is he loves to go around in his birthday suit. I am positively tuckered out following him around putting his clothes on. I mean, really. What made him think that just because he's going to use the big boy's bathroom now, he has to go naked?!

He's got a sense of humor, this child of mine. He had figured out that smell gets to me. So, today, he held up his hand and said,

"Mommy, it's a poopy finger!"

then he'd laugh so hard he starts snorting.

DS4 took 4-5 steps today. He's showing off to my MIL who came by for a short visit on her way to work.

Now, every one's nice and snug asleep in their beds. We're not going to mention the few kids who have relocated and taken over MY bed. They're like kittens. They move in my bed at night and I wake up with multiple appendages on my face. How do I go about tossing them off my bed anyway? Any ideas?

My Receptionist

I am sitting here doing some stuff when the phone rung. I ignored it of course, I was busy. That's what answering machine is for. Or cell phone.

In the back of my brain, I am hearing:

"Hello"
"Uh huh"
pause
"Sure!"
"Mmmm"
"Uh huh!"

I got curious. It's my two years old doing receptionist duty between painting my walls and watching Little Bear.

I immediately grabbed for the caller-ID and found out it was the hospital calling. An appointment follow-up for DS1's allergist/immunologist. Imagine my two year old making a doctor's appointment for me, sounding almost mature.

We snag an appointment for Thursday after class. That's is great because I can pick them up from school and go kid-shopping afterwards. We haven't done an all-grown-up-kids-day-out in a while. Except for DS4 of course. He's tied to my breast.

I am Bursting!

I am sad and excited all at the same time. My baby took 2-3 steps last night. Ever since, he kept making those little unassisted steps. He's clearly showing us he's ready to walk.

It's weird. I feel that when a baby walks, he stops being a baby. Technically, he's toddling. I am so proud! He's ten months after all. Still, I am a little maudlin about the fact that there won't be another baby after him...not until the grandchildren starts arriving. As my daughter loves to tell any one who cares to listen, "We are going to enjoy his babyhood. He's the last one!"

I took a video. It's a long video and I am hopeless at editing it right now. DD helped him some last night, and this picture was supposed to be DS4 walking, except I got the part where he went splat after his 2-3 tiny steps. My children walk around these ages...the earliest one being DD, who walked at 8-9 months. She would hold my hand and walk alongside me when we go shopping. That seems so long ago.

DS1 walked but we don't remember seeing him crawl very much. He's got a terrible allergy-induced eczema and we have to hold him all the time so he wouldn't peel his skin, he itched and scratched all the time. The few times we took our eyes off him, he bled from scratching. You can just imagine our surprise when one day, he wiggled out of my lap and took three steps towards the middle table. What a nice surprise that was.

So, here I am, writing down for the record. Later on, my memory won't be so good, and I'll have a hard time remember who did exactly what. DS4 walked short steps at ten months. I noticed that when I walk DS4 up and down the hallway, my back doesn't hurt as much as it did with DD. He's 31 inches tall. That's half my height. I think he's going to live up to his "tall and stately" second name.

My Photo Hunt #15 - Silver

Well now, this is a hard picture to find. I hunted all over my digital albums, and nothing! I missed last Saturday's Wild Theme, and it looked like I'm going to have to missed this one too.

Then I remembered my unexpected visitor last Wednesday. He would sometimes visit my front yard at night. I think he's silver, don't you? And he's definitely "wild" too!

I would have taken a picture of my visitor with my baby, but I wasn't confident enough that he wouldn't bite my child.

My husband took this picture below. He finds it wild because of the ice bridge in the middle bottom and the water still flowing in the center above it.



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Because of Blogging

Niceheart tagged me with this one. She asked me about the five things that happened to me because of blogging:

1. I've learned to play tag. I find myself enjoying it. I've done at least three, I think. Maybe more. I never joined this game in real life when I was in grade school. I have a natural aversion to being chase, and then infected, and must then spread that infection. It also involves running. It's why I do not play tennis. It demands that I run and chase a ball. I'll run, fine! But don't make me chase a ball and run at the same time. There's just something inherently wrong with that. My husband is really great at it though. Oh crap! I must now apologize to my mother for wasting her money on tennis lessons which I've never learned.

2. List.
I'm a compulsive list-maker, but have no staying power. With blogging, I've learned to list and keep at it. That's how I found out that in my slow year, I still read and finished 63 books. That's some addiction eh?

3. E-friends
I've virtually met a few e-friends. Sometimes they're the best kind because they can lend you their ears and sympathy, and more often, that's all that's needed to get us on our way. I don't have to dress up and put on make-up to come and chat. I mean, lets face it. A mother of five, and breastfeeding a baby with a home business to boot...I got plenty on my plate. My e-friend still talks with me even as I smell of dried up milk and have yet to expend extra energy to make it to shower.

4. Expressions
I can rant and whine and then feel better. Blogging for me is very much like picking up that Karaoke microphone and singing in front of the party. I wouldn't do it at all, except that no one have to look at my face as I blush my way to too-much-information after another. It's cathartic. I believe I am a better Mom for expressing myself, but not in anger, and not at my loved ones. I can brag about my kids through pictures. I can do it anytime I want.

5. Multi-tasking. Ambidexterity.
I've honed my special talents. Really. Have you look at my 2006 list? I've managed to do all that, grow 5 kids, make a meal here and there, keep a relatively neat house, especially my floors. I just cannot walk in my socks on a dirty floor. It will be like breathing through my mouth in autopsy class. No. Way! And let all that rotting flesh smell go through my body unfiltered? Not that dirty floors are ever as bad as rotting flesh smell (cadaverene and putrescine). I'm just saying that for me...blech. Evidence showed (though heresy) that I've always have this tendency. Now, the question is, with that many ball in the air, which one dropped?

Now, that is the question that's hanging in the air like a dead skunk. I'd tag somebody, but I cannot think right now. Give me a break, it's two AM and I have 4 days to mail out my W2s and 1099s.

Checking Up on Speech

I have a two years old little boy. He's tall and slim, and looks so sweet with his dark blond hair until he opens his mouth to ask for anything. He's the loudest of them all. That's not an easy record to break. With three other boys in this family, two of them older than he is, it's an impressive feat. DS3 is truly louder than anyone I know when he choose to be heard.

[Warning: this has the appearance of a mother's rambling rambles]

Today, I had doctor appointments for DS4's 9 month old check-up and DS1's 8 year old check up. They're both healthy and growing well, both their weight at 55 percentile. As part of the check-up routine, they do blood counts. DS1 was gritting his teeth as they took his blood. DS4 wasn't even aware. He was bubbling and cooing at Nurse Ester. When the nurse was done covering his fingertip with band-aid, he promptly ate his finger until the cover fell off. I thought he had stolen some sweet bubble gum, he's chewing in ecstasy!

I put him on the exam room floor as he was flipping and rolling and tumbling non-stop! When I looked back from reading my magazine, it's to the sight of my DS4 flinging droplets of blood on the floor and all over his brother's socks. DS4 was in his diapers and socks. He's still blissfully unaware that he's supposed to scream at the sight of blood.

DS4 is 21 pounds, 31 inches right now. I can't believe how fast time is. He said "Mama" "Lala" "Baba" "Vava" today. I am so thrilled because he's on his way to talking.

My older children are late talkers. At ages 10-20 months, they'll say things like "How are you?" "Stop it" "Want that choco" "What's your name?" However, from age 16 months for 4.5 years, it's like The Dark Ages. Mostly, I am the only one who can understand them. I don't worry about it now, both are on honor roll and one is on Talented and Gifted Program. Yeah, they're smart and I am proud.

That also taught me to worry about The Dark Ages for the younger ones. What if the others will do the same? So, I am taking steps to prevent it from happening. Not because I am worried they'll be stupid, but because I just want them to have a good command of their language without the $$$ for speech therapy which my kids' previous private school insisted on.

I don't know what it is about me and my household which makes my kids try their language and then stop using them for a few years before taking them up again. Seriously. It's worrisome because other parents make every opportunity to point this out to me. I would have been fine with it (figuring they'll speak when they're ready). Still, I am glad for tutoring and speech teachers who's insuring my kids will keep their words and use them as necessary.

Thursday Thirteen #14

Thirteen things my two years old told me today. He prattles a lot, and it's so much fun to listen to him.

1. Look at that, look at that face!

2. Where's the chocolate [muble] love choc'late.

3. This is letter F [showing me a figure which looks like F in the middle of all his scribbles]

4. Mommy, where's Daddy?
I answered, "Abba is working."
Then he said: Mommy, where is Abba working?

5. I want so me'balls.

6. Take it off! [referring to my Lil Sis putting ribbons on his long curly hair]

7. This is L [he showed me a perfect big letter "G"]

8. I hear the baby crying. 'ash is crying.

9. Off he went towards DS4's crib and I can hear him say:
Here 'ash, Mommy's coming. Here baby. MOMMY!

10. Look at this crying face Mommy! [and I saw he drew a circle with two eyes and a straight line for mouth with little spots for tears.]

11. Mommy, here you go [handing me the pen he used to draw].

12. Thank you much, Mommy. Goodbye [as he heads to other parts of the house]

13. [mumble, muble] is 'oav? I want some milk. Go'nite Mommy. I want some milk.

Yeah, I realized it's almost midnight, but he fell asleep at the wrong time today, so he's probably going to be up for another hour. Lucky me!


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Wordless Wednesday Vol. 7

Baby, Oh Baby

I am talking about my "real" baby. He's ten months old now. I can't believe how time just fly.

He toddles. He'll hold on to your hands and walk all over, any where you take him. All that with a huge smile on his face. He says "Mama" as he dances to get to me. He says "babbabababa" because he likes to blubbler too. He has almost 10 teeth now.

He's taller than my bed, and he's 21 pounds I think. He loves our remote control. He's a good swiper for chicken nuggets. While most other kids his age ate fruits and Mr. Heinz for a solid food, he eats Wendy's chicken nuggets like a pro. That's his real first "solid" solid food.

I was afraid he might choke that first time. I had brushed up on my Heimlech for infant just for that moment. However, he was daintily biting the nuggets. What a pro!

We're not going to talk about that crunchy Tortilla on my floor last Saturday and how I felt the jolt of electricity all over my body when I heard a choking sound. Did I mentioned he's in "Vacuum Cleaner" stage? It doesn't go well with my 2-year old's thing of spreading food all over the house.

Here he is, discovering something on his own. He's never done this before.

Father and First Son

I saw this picture while cleaning up my files. Don't they look great together? My first son is 8 years old now. He's only 3 and a half here.

How Juicy Do You Want It?

Ghee tagged me with My Five “Juicy” secrets. It's a whooper of a tag. This is the 'I'm-going-to-get-naked-tag' without taking any clothes off.

This is a tough tag. I have secrets, but I don't think they're that juicy. Let me tell you my secrets.

1. Lazy Bladder
It's not a medical term. I have weak bladder muscles which gives me lots of problems growing up. It's my major reason to be glad for my mother's uber-protectiveness. Sleep-over? Seriously! When image is everything, I am saddled with this. It's a family secret. It's my secret which I was convinced this would kill me if anyone knew. Yep, I am a bed wetter growing up. It mortified me then, and it still does today. I could have an operation, but the risk is not worth it. I do like living. I don't like the odds of operating which wouldn't guarantee to fix my problem anyway. I was probably the only bedwetting cheerleader huh?

2. Someone
told my husband, of course he wasn't my husband yet at that time. On the day of the wedding, some took DH aside and informed him of my little secret. I mean, how sexy can a conversation be involving bedwetting? It's not like Sex and the City where peeing on someone is a thrill. I was an innocent! Geesh. Everyone who knew about it knew how I am so worried about it. I had decided to not drink any liquid at all past 3 PM ever. It works for those times when I have to be somewhere else. So, this someone told my DH (darling husband)-to-be to make sure he never ever jest or do anything to hurt or mortify me when it happens. It didn't happen for a long while. When it did, I wasn't embarrassed. But only because DH was/is great. He's the best! So, almost 16 years later, I am still wondering who that person is. My husband's not telling. I think it's my Lil Bro#1, but he's not telling either. This thought drives me nuts about once a year.

3. Grudges
I try not to hold grudges. I don't believe in "Forgive and Forget" either. Forgiving, yes! Forgetting? Are you nuts? What for? So the b*stard can do the same thing all over again? All I can truly say about this is, never threaten someone else's children's safety. It wouldn't go well for that child's mother. Not even if you think you're teaching a lesson and giving "help." Think of it as someone accusing a man of rape to teach him about patience.

4. Straightening
Something up makes me think better.

5. Hormones
I don't think my husband understood why I choose legation after my last (6th) pregnancy. I have 5 kids. Sure I almost died, but that was the least of it. I want to have more babies, but I also felt I was at the end of my ropes. I love being pregnant, but my hormones where driving me nuts. And suicidal. It scared me how many times my foot would jerk on my accelerator on tall bridges when I am driving alone. I get so overwhelmed. This is not me. I am not the overwhelmed type. Not about anything in particular, but just the whole thing. I knew cannot be in that place again where I would stand in front of my oven baking and thought about sticking my head in. Or when I am chopping onions and thought of how easy it is to sit in a trash bag somewhere and let and artery go. Even as I was thinking this, I don't want to do it anywhere near my children. I don't want to upset them. I think of this, and I am too embarrassed to tell anyone. No one knew. It wasn't depression either. My husband and my kids love me. I couldn't be gladder nothing happened. I couldn't really explain either because then I'd have to explain about all that. It was not so horrible, but I don't do suicidal thoughts! I felt like this spoiled kid who had everything and still was not satisfied. I love being pregnant, but I go through this since pregnancy #4. It goes away just as soon as I am done having my baby. I was afraid the next pregnancy might be the end of me.

So there, TMI! I have no idea whom to tag.

[Edit 10+ AM]
Tagging Ale, T-Girl, Ethel, Ev, Airah, and LhadyMitch
As always guys, you can say no. There isn't a hex attached to this tag or anything. :)

Thursday Thirteen #13 - Books

Out of all the 63 books I've read last year, I decided to pick the top 13 from the list. As usual, they're in no particular order because I can't decid which goes where. Some books are more powerful than others, but my list below took me away for 3-10+ hours it took me to finish them. Ten hours plus being the audio books I got instead of the text.

1. Tatiana and Alexander by Paulinna Simons

2. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

3. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCollough

4. Kiss Me, Annabelle by Eloisa James

5. The Curious Indident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

6. Wild Swan by Jung Chan

7. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

8. Into The Storm by Suzanne Brockmann

9. The Secret Life of Bess by Sue Monk Kidd

10. Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

11. Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

12. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

13. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory


Honorable mention:
*Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
*The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez *Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
*Anybody Out There? by Marian Keys
*Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keys


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Wordless Wednesday Vol. 6

This is me, always multi-tasking.

On another note...

It's a whole lot scary to buy gummy candy vitamins so my child would take some, only to find out how great tasting it really is. DS3 was whining for more as I frantically thought of places to hide the rest of it. I love it. It's sour and taste just like candy.

It's a good thing that it doesn't contain iron, in case of overdose I guess. In fact, I cannot find any infant vitamins with iron recently. Seems like most stores I frequented have ran out.

Honestly, I am wondering if the makers of this vitamins have mistakenly forgotten the vitamins and went for candy only instead.

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Let Me Hear You Read

In honor of delurking week, I'm sporting their button.

For every comment left, I'm donating a dollar to support literacy. Up to 150 dollars only. Hey, I am on a budget here.

So, leave a comment, and know that you're helping someone somewhere read. Easiest donation you'll ever make. :)

Gush and Blah

Over a year ago, I bought a very pricey rice cooker. I fell in love with it so much, my mother and my brother bought one each based on my manic reaction. There are so many good things about this rice cooker.

First of all, thanks to the Japanese. Really. I know they butchered a lot of my people (Filipinos) during World War 2, and they're so inventive with their punishments with things like slicing off the sole of the feet and making you walk on salt. I know that my life will never be the same again when Uncle Juan was all broken up after being put on fire inside a barrel. It's simply horrific to hear him scream, and I won't even mention his scars. I'm never going to find out if Auntie Maria could have been nicer before her husband's head rolled to her feet, eyes wide open. But Japanese sure know rice cooker.

Zojirushi ZNH-VBC18 10-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer with Induction Heating System rice cooker is the Lambo or Porsche of rice cookers*. Buy it and you'll never have to deal with soggy rice, petrified rice, burnt rice, or even tossing half the rice you made because it took you longer to get to it. This rice cooker will keep your rice fresh for up to 7 days.

I kid you not. This is so worth the purchase price. It makes awesome brown rice, which I heard is healthy for you. However, in this household, we have mild aversion to things healthy which contains brown. So, we've tried that a few times, and it's great. WE just really like our white rice better. So, what are you waiting for? It's really worth the investment*.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have adopted a philosophy of not saying anything bad (if I can absolutely help it) about things I watch or read. But really, this book is just pushing all my boundaries of control. I am such a dork. I love this author from way back when.

I love this author so much, I can remember a few exams which I've taken less than a perfect grade in my slightly anal-retentive mind so I could finished her book. On a re-read no less! So you can just imagine how betrayed I felt when I have taken time off about my floor obsession so I could read her book straight.

It's very painful. Painful, I tell you. I had to pinch and check myself several times if I had suddenly woken up in a BDSM session because it's painful without the fun! Are there character deserving of death more? None that I can recall right now. After 5 hours of uphill travelling with this book, I can honestly say that there is nothing I can say except that, I had to read it so I could read of of this author's book. That's it. I read it for the OCD** in me. The Vampire Who Loved Me by Teresa Medeiros should have been called The One who Bored*** me.

So, in summary, it's a dissolute vampire, and an innocent (?) girl, in a duel but not to each other, in a fight with some other vampires, in a charade, with a blah love-making. I take offense at the love-making. I thought if you're a Vampire you get hot sex. HOT! Not even lukewarm on this one. Really. I am feeling all guilty ranting about this book, but I can't not do it. I am so disappointed.

Have you ever have an author disappoint you so thoroughly?




* really, I am not getting paid to plug this. I am just amazed and enamoured all over again with my rice cooker.

** no OCD either, but if I have, this would be the only reason I could think of why I read it.

*** It's probably not an easy thing to do, write a book, but really. This is not up to Madeiros's standard at all!

(haven't got time to edit for grammar coz my baby's awake and angry)

Eating with Lola

“There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one”
Jill Churchill

Today, my husband spontaneously suggested we share a family meal. Meaning my sister and her family, my mother and my brother who lives next door, and us. My sister just ate, and so, we went to see Lola (my mother) at her work by ourselves.

On the way, we picked up some Boston Market food. I didn't feel like cooking or baking anything just yet. I make some rolls and stuff, but I am not in full-steam cooking mode or is it mood?

I like it when we do stuff together. My kids love it. In fact, DS3 was all ready to stay and work with Lola. We had to drag him away while he screamed "I want Lola. I want to stay." Yes, he was very articulate because it's something he really wanted.

Here's some pictures we took withDH's camera phone. I forgot my "real" camera, but this one's not bad.



My daughter once told me that when she's grown up and have children, I'll be like Lola for her. What she really meant was for me to be there for her like my mother is for me. She's looking forward to it. So, here's hoping I am half the mother my Mama is.

Happy Birthday, DS1!

Happy 8th birthday sweetheart! Mommy and Abba are very proud of you.

When DS1 was new, he's the one on the left. I remember laboring and pushing for 3 hours! This baby did not want to come out. I felt him swim the wrong way.

He'd be engage in the birth canal, and in between contraction, off to my ribcage he goes. After Demerol, epidural, and spinal, he still wasn't ready to go out. He loves his apartment, thank-you-very-much! Off we went to a different room where they showed me a forcep to help him out the rest of the way. He's 7 pounds, 11.7 oz.

We love DS1 very much. He's smart- honor roll student, funny, and very talented with his piano. He's sensitive, and creative. He's everything a mother can dream of in a child. Throughout the years, he's always made us proud of him.

He's 3 years old here
He's 4 years old here
He's 5 years old here

He's 6 years old here

My Photo Hunt #14 - Technology

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Technololgy is sometimes good for children. It makes them learn things we would never have learned at their age. At least not in my generation, because even if we wanted to, some tech didn't exist yet.

DS2 managed to put together the mouse, monitor, keyboard so he could play on the computer. He was almost 2 years old when he did this. I dismantled my old computer because he was always playing. It's an advantage. It's also a time-sucker...like when I play around with my blog template because the other one's getting old.

Look at the last picture: There's always the artistic pursuit if technology don't pan out.

Thursday Thirteen #12

Out of all the movies I've seen last year, these are my 13 top picks. It's the movie that made it worth while to hire babysitter so DH and I can date. In no particular order...

1. Something New -Simon Baker



2. 16 Blocks - Bruce Willis



3. Failure to Launch - Matthew McConaughey



4. Mission Impossible 3 -Tom Cruise



5. The DaVinci Code -Tom Hanks



6. The Lake House - Keanu Reeves



7. The Devil Wears Prada - Meryl Streep



8. Superman Returns - Brandon Routh



9. Little Miss Sunshine - Greg Kinnear



10. Crank - Jason Statham



11. Casino Royale - Daniel Craig



12. The Guardian - Ashton Kutcher



13. Fly Boys - James Franco

Honorable Mentions:

1. The Departed - Leonardo DiCaprio


2. Stranger Than Fiction - Will Ferrel

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Wordless Wednesday Vol. 5

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Baby, Oh Baby!

[This is the picture]

DS4 is nine months now. He's just starting to eat sweet potato from Heinz. I could bake and mash it myself, but that would mean having to move a muscle. Ok, more muscles. So, we're trusting Mr. Heinz to do his job well.

He's so much more independent now. He actually lets go of the hem of my skirt long enough to unload all the drawers within his reach, pull down books, and investigate the toilet.

He's into remote controls. TV/Satellite remote is his favorite. DH and I would pull trick him into taking a fake remote, but it's hard. He tests it before taking it. He is so quick, and he's got a strong grip.

DS4 laughs beautifully. When I hear it, I can't help but laugh along with him. Imagine, 9 months ago, I was still carrying him around. He was kicking my spleen and and bladder.

Did I mention his teeth? He's got 6, and today, I noticed his gums showing 3 more coming. One is a molar.

I am still breastfeeding him. It's a little scary, and I never feed him when he's mad. I made that mistake once. I'm still traumatize by it.

He's really sweet and fast and adorable and all things that are good in this world. I am so glad I had one more.

My Photo Hunt Vol. 13 - Memories

Looking back, there's lessons to be learned, foremost of which is to be happy with yourself. I've always thought of myself as either too thin, and then too fat! Here in these pictures below, 2 years before I got pregnant with DD, I thought I was really fat. I almost didn't want to take these pictures. My husband insisted, saying I was the most beautiful girl in the world. I didn't believe him of course. I am glad for the pictures now though.

Dang! If I should met myself then, I'd tell that girl that she's hot. She should be happy with herself. Now, numerous pounds, 6 pregnancies later, I'm truly "fat". Now, I am working on being "happy" with the now. Tomorrow will take care of itself...body-wise.

Wanna know?

I've always wondered what happens to the things confiscated in the airport? I didn't know until I went trolling to e-bay. Yeah, I know. You're probably thinking, "WTF! Where is a mother of five getting extra time to go on e-bay?" I have no idea, but you can bet my floor is not spotless. I am wearing socks to protect my good mood. Check this out! Click on the item numbers and read the descriptions.

I still think that my idea about the airport is neat. If the government implements it, then they wouldn't have to worry about knives problem. On the other hand, this e-bay guy will be out of business.

What I really want to know is, how do you get them knives and cork screws huh? Do I flash and bribe the "confiscator?" so I can get all those loot of knives. Is this the new pirating job? Hanging around airports to collect all the confiscated knives? Does this business involve a lot of dumpster diving? Coz, you know, if the profit margin is right, I'll send my minions to go for it!

Could I put in orders for confiscated rings instead? They're metals, and surely they must be taken off or dog knows what it could blow up! Here's another idea...I'd peddle BOBs. You know, B.O.B.* I hear people carry them and that they make the airport security take notice. Is there a market for slightly used, like new B.O.B anywhere? Could I build charity based on BOBs?


*Battery Operated Boyfriend

Thursday Thirteen #11

Thirteen things about WD-40.* I know I can't live without for too long.

"Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. " Well, no matter if it's true or an urban legend, it's quite helpful to me.

1) Protects silver from tarnishing.

2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.

5) Keeps flies off cows.

6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7) Removes lipstick stains.

8) Loosens stubborn zippers.

9) Untangles jewelry chains.

10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.

13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.

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*Part 1 of 3. Stand by for more on WD-40.