Pardon Our Poo

need art? jump on it!

2010-06-22T19:40:00.000-05:00

This started out as a fun little painting project ... but, somehow it morphed into a big o' mess of greatness. :) Aww kids, sometimes ya' just gotta follow their lead...

maybe baby: airplanes

2010-06-19T00:20:00.001-05:00

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky
are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now"

Eight months ago I had a fall cleaning … the doc went in and cleaned out all of my endometriosis. It was stage 4; there are only 4 stages.

Four days ago I had a spring cleaning … the doc went in and cleaned out my endometriosis, scar tissue and adhesions, removed a cyst and untangled my ovary, which had become “one” with my fallopian tube.

Eight months ago I believed I’d be pain/symptom free for two/three years, the average time endo remains “dormant” following a clean out and back-to-back birth control.

I had six months before the pain took control of my life. Again.

The recovery from this second surgery makes the memories of the first seem like a paper cut in comparison. I’ve never felt such excruciating pain — and subsequent fear — in my life.

Going into Tuesday, I was terrified of what they’d find — or, more honestly, of what they wouldn’t. I couldn’t have handled a non-cause, a long, endless list of possibilities. Certainties you can face, head on, it’s the mysteries that leave you breathless. Or, so I thought.

My biggest fear, aside from not knowing, had been the idea that I couldn’t be a mommy again. Cooper would be such an amazing big brother and it is written on my heart, on my soul, to see that dream come to fruition. If I can’t bake my own baby, there are, of course, other options, other equally beautiful avenues.

But now, sitting here, crumbling in a bout of pain uneased by meds, I am faced with an ugliness I hadn’t imagined: a life unlived. There is no cure, no absolute fix for endo, even complete removal of all things “mommy makers” isn’t a guarantee for pain-free days.

I have yet to find a pain med that eases my symptoms and allows me to be, well, me. Chronic pain inhibits my ability to be the kind of wife, daughter, friend, sister, aunt and, above all else, mother, I want to be. I can’t miss out — I refuse to miss out — on the little moments of Cooper’s life because my body chooses to glue itself into a mass of ugly. But, I have yet to find the strength to push through the pain.

Chris and I have an appointment with the infertility specialist next week and a post-op appointment with my surgeon the next.

I’m praying for answers, for help, for strength, for a light at the end of it all.

three years = three celebrations

2010-05-18T20:50:00.000-05:00

Coopie's three today ... woo-hoo! No big party this year, instead we opted for three little celebrations. :)

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

a very, merry christmas

2009-12-27T00:39:00.002-06:00

yay, boo, sigh

2009-12-23T15:22:00.001-06:00

Oh, the things we'll put our little munchkins through all for the sake of snagging that commemorative photo ...

7-month-old Coopie and Santa: besties!

19-month-old Coopie and Santa: mortal enemies!

2.5-year-old Coopie and Santa: frienemies! :) (Although jolly ol' St. Nick still seems to be on cousin Montana's naughty list).

mama said there'd be days like this ...

2009-10-02T11:58:00.002-05:00

I sent the following to a friend of mine awhile ago when she was going through a rough patch ... and she just returned the favor. :) Thought I'd share this in the hope it might help someone else who's having "one of those days":

On Perseverance
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do." — Eleanor Roosevelt

You are doing that thing, right now, this very moment. Be proud of your bravery, of your strength, even on the days when you forget you are being brave, being strong.

On faith
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." — Martin Luther King, Jr.

You’ve taken the first step, and the second and the third. Each day is a new step toward a new adventure, a new life. Trust that the staircase will lead you where you need to go.

On life
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." — Robert Frost

It does. It is. It will. I promise.

On friendship
"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." — Oprah Winfrey

I’ve got the bus tickets, where do you want to go? =)

thanks for the reminder, K ... words have power and meaning, it doesn't matter who writes them, it only matters that they were and that they're shared.

Hugs.

the kindness of strangers part 3

2009-09-29T14:13:00.005-05:00

update: Unfortunately, I have no encouraging news to report on Avery’s condition (my coworker Amy’s daughter). She’s still very ill and doctors are now looking at possible surgical procedures (ear/nose/throat). My office held two benefit events last week, which raised more than $1,600 (with an additional $550 added to that, which came from the kindness of strangers) … a wonderful success, however Amy was taking care of Avery and unable to attend.

When Amy stopped by the office briefly to complete a couple of projects, she was gifted with the donations. She was completely touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support by both her coworkers and perfect strangers.

On a side note … there’s a very special book on its way to Avery. My amazing mom, who believes in the power and beauty of words, sent a note to author Dallas Clayton (veryawesomeworld.com) upon hearing of Amy and Avery’s situation. For every copy of “An Awesome Book” Dallas sells, he gives one away. Having purchased the children’s book as a 30th b-day gift for me (the message is universally appealing and inspiring), my mom is very aware of how, well, awesome the story is … which is made even awesomer (yes, that’s a word) by Dallas’ pay it forward attitude. And yay (!!!) he’s paying it forward to Avery… a signed copy is in the mail.

Thanks again to everyone who has sent prayers, donations and unexpected words of awesomeness to Amy and Avery … here’s to the continued greatness that is the kindness of strangers.

the kindness of strangerspart 2

2009-09-21T08:45:00.003-05:00

Moms. Are. Amazing. I have had more chill-bump moments, more heart-swelling, tear-inducing, steal-my-breath pockets of pure and total greatness in the past few days since posting “the kindness of strangers” and I am simply in awe …

Case in point, just received this beautiful message from a fellow mama I met on the plane to Salt Lake City earlier this summer: “I was going to buy a new comforter this weekend but God prompted me to ‘comfort her’ instead. Please count us in…” There are simply no words for this kind of compassion.

In my first post, I noted that tomorrow I would gift my coworker with donations, however, as so many have asked to send checks, I will continue to collect through the end of the month and will route everything as it is received. A packet with e-mails and donations will be given tomorrow, as well.

thank you. thank you. thank you, everyone.

the kindness of strangers

2009-09-17T14:28:00.001-05:00

What would you do if your child was sick and no one knew why?

What would you do if you had to take 6 weeks unpaid leave from work?

What would you do if you were given one day’s notice of eviction?

What would you do if all three events collided into one heartbreaking time in your life?

And what would you do if all of this happened while you were a single mom with no support?

This is the harsh reality one of my coworkers is facing right now.

Since early August, this courageous mom has helped her young daughter battle an unknown illness that has demanded two hospitalizations and some 15 different drug therapies, all to no avail. And she has shouldered this burden alone. Yesterday, after being at her daughter’s side for six weeks (exhausting what little PTO and vacation time she had saved), my coworker was notified that she was being evicted from her home…

In an effort to help offset some of the staggering medical bills and expenses, my company will be hosting a benefit lunch next Tuesday. As we’re a small staff and I know their needs are great, I wanted to extend the opportunity to anyone out there who might want to contribute a small donation to a fellow mama in need. If you’d like to participate either by donation or simply sending words of encouragement, the e-mail address helpamom2009@yahoo.com is ready and waiting (this address is tied to a PayPal account created for the family).

Here’s to the beauty and power and inspiration found in the kindness of strangers …

p.s. If you make a donation, please shoot me an e-mail at writess10@yahoo.com so that I can include your name in the card. I will close out the account next Tuesday and present the donations during the benefit lunch.

a conversation with cooper

2009-08-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

me: What's your name?
cooper: name.
me: No, silly, your name is Cooper.
cooper: name.
me: Say Cooper.
cooper: ...
me: hey, say Cooper.
cooper: ...
me: Say Falk
cooper: f%@k
me: oh, eff!

maybe baby: between a rock and a hard place

2009-08-24T21:25:00.008-05:00

The past couple of months have been a bit rough … physically and emotionally. The weekend of Daddy’s Day I started experiencing some rockin’ pelvic pain — like leg-numbing, head-spinning pain. I thought my little ovarian cyster was back, but a UTI diagnosis, two cat scans and a sono later revealed that I didn’t have a cyst, but rather a stone — who-hoo.

Kidney stones, my friends — not purty.

When I was told by my urologist — who bares an uncanny attitude resemblance to the crazy OB/GYN in Knocked Up (I almost laughed out loud the first time we met) — that passing a stone is worse than squeezing out a baby sans epidural, I immediately signed up for the kidney stone master blaster. This noninvasive procedure uses sound waves to break apart the stone so that you can pass it in not-so-painful pieces. But, this in no way eliminates the gag factor, but I’ll spare ya’ those details (yay, you).

Anywhoo, turns out, the master blaster isn’t always 100% effective on the first shot … and, as luck would have it, it’s looking like I’m not so much a one-and-done kinda gal. My two-week follow-up showed that my stone was still hanging out and the doc gave me a two-month warning: “Pee It Out, Or I’m Coming In.” Oh, goody.

I have about 4 weeks left to get my rock rollin …

As much fun as this whole ordeal has been, it’s just the tip if the iceberg. It looks like the kidney stone may not have been the pain culprit after all, but rather just a fun little bonus. All signs are now pointing to endometriosis — a little insult to injury to someone who’s already battled infertility. Sigh.

The hubs and I have always said that this December we’d start working on baby No. 2. And though I blogged earlier this summer about some unexpected struggles with this decision, Chris and I both long to have another baby. I can’t even put it into words … I get huge crocodile tears just thinking of Coop holding his baby brother or sister … he would be such an amazing, loving brother (as long as we hide anything that can be used as a weapon).

Now that we’re committed to moving forward, I am absolutely terrified of going back … of diving head first into a sea of infertility issues, especially with this fun little female friend tagging along for the ride.

And because kidney stones and girl gunk aren’t enough for one post … there’s this minor little detail of potty training. We are all potty talk, all the time. And I hate it. I mean I love it, but I. hate. It.

I want Coop to be the big boy who uses the big boy potty and wears the big boy pants, but I also want to cling to his rapidly dwindling days of babyhood with every fiber of my being. Every day brings about change and growth and maturity and it’s exciting and beautiful and painful all at the same time.

This weekend, out of nowhere, Coop started saying, “I don’t want that.” I was floored. The day before all he’d mutter was “No” to voice his objections. And a mere 24 hours later he seemed so cognizant, so capable … so big.

He used the potty for the first time at school today (as opposed to simply sitting there, happily flushing clean water down the drain). So, we went to the store and got his first pack of pull-ups. I cried (such a sap). After bath time, Coop sat on his “thrown” (the hubs got him a music-playing potty complete with a crown on the lid), while I read the book he picked out — The Potty Train — specifically for moments like these. By the time the last “chugga chugga poooo pooo!” was read, Coop went pee pee and the potty sang out like royalty had just entered the room.

He looked at me and said, “I deed it.”

I never imagined that peeing could bring me so much pride. But, then again, I never imagined I could ever love someone the way I love that little “man” o’ mine.

It’ll be interesting to see what the next few weeks bring – with Coop making the potty sing, with me hoping I make a rock roll and with the three of us waiting to see if we’ll become four...

regularity rocks

2009-08-24T08:33:00.003-05:00

Well, there's been a bit of "constipation" on the ol' poo front lately (nearly 2 months worth of back up, yowza). But, after a few fiber supplements I'm back and happy to be blogging again. :)

I have much to share, many pics to post and I promise to start dishing details later tonight.

Giveaway: I Wanna’ Make A Splash!

2009-07-07T23:45:00.005-05:00

It’s summertime in Texas, which means I’m one HOT mama (literally!) and I could use a great way to cool off … without breaking the bank. My fingers are crossed (oh, the toes, too) that I can snag the North Texas Kids Splashfest fun pack for the whole family.

This awesome giveaway includes four passes to Splashfest, a water-filled family expo at Hawaiian Falls in The Colony, and a rockin’ cabana! Best part(s), well in addition to the total greatness that is free stuff? Radio Disney, 20 family-friendly vendors and Sci-Tech Discovery Center (hello, poolside science for the kiddos? Sweet!) will all be there.

Event Details:
North Texas Kids Splashfest
benefiting Sci-Tech Discovery Center
Hawaiian Falls in The Colony
Saturday, July 18
11 am-4 pm
tickets are $13.99--$5 off the regular adult price--plus, $3 from each ticket goes straight to Sci-Tech; purchase online at www.northtexaskids.com

While I’d love to win the golden ticket, I’m a sucker for dishing details—especially when other mamas can benefit. So, here goes. If you, too, would like a chance to soak in the sun, fun and latest in parenting support courtesy of North Texas Kids magazine, simply copy this entry (including headline and the above link to the pub) and repost it on your own mama blog, then shoot the magazine an e-mail at info@northtexaskids.com to let them know you’re participating (be sure to include a link to your post).

Next Thursday, a winner will be drawn from the “inbox” and notified via e-mail … it’s that easy!

Good luck ladies, may the “hottest” mama win. ;)

Flying trip to A-town

2009-06-15T10:39:00.002-05:00

Late Friday, after enduring 24 hours of excruciating back pain (stress and the way I tense up on the eliptiKILL wreak havoc on my shoulders … yowza!) I decided to get the hell outta’ Dodge. I left the hubs to do “boy stuff,” loaded up Coop and headed to A-town to see my mom.

I hadn’t had any time to hang with just her and Cooper in months, so it was a much-needed reunion. Aside from “my boys,” my mom is my absolute bestie, which makes the long breaks between visits a little hard to handle.

We didn’t do much, which is exactly what we all needed—just puttered around town, checked out garage sales and Good Will (I LOVE the Abilene GW … they always have the best bargains … including a 2009 calendar I’ve been hunting down for a whopping $1.25, who-hoo!), playing in the kiddie pool and mowing the yard (burning those calories in 105-degree temps, yeah, baby!).

Came home early Sunday exhausted (um, did I mention that my mom’s air conditioner was out … hello, Sweat City), but completely recharged.

Thanks for the great visit, Mimi!

Fat Chants

2009-06-04T11:05:00.001-05:00

My lastest Fat Chants article has just been published over on Moms Out Loud (yay!). Check it out here ...

p.s. It was written a few days ago, so it doesn't reflect this AM's success on the scale. ;)

something to think about

2009-06-02T21:44:00.003-05:00

Motherhood: it’s an experience fraught with contradictions. It is at once beautiful and messy, exhilarating and exhausting, amazing and agonizing. It is a winding journey that is so filled with certainty and uncertainty, with self-confidence and self-doubt that most of us never really know which way is up (or down for that matter … although crunch a Lego with your bare foot in the middle of the night and you’ll quickly remember).

That said, it is amazing to me that once we cross that threshold from womanhood to motherhood, that we don’t automatically assume a “solidarity” type of mentality. I think supporting our fellow mamas should complete our transformation — wider hips, droopy boobs, empathy for anyone who sleeps with Cheerios in the bed and wears snot remnants on her sleeve.

I’m the first to admit that my automatic compassion switch didn’t flick “on” when Cooper came out. But an e-mail I received tonight has made it clear that I need to super glue, nail, duct tape my switch to the full and upright position … I don’t ever want to be responsible for making another mom feel the way I do right now:

“You and Chris cannot tell me how much you love little Cooper UNTIL you show yourselves that you love him enough to stop the food addiction cycle.”

This is just a small portion from an e-mail written in response to a recent blog entry I posted on Fat Chants.

It is the only sentence that matters.

I believe in my heart of hearts that the sender wrote out of love and concern. I know the intentions were good. But daring to question my love for my son … that simply negates any good that was intended.

I’m truly at a loss …

new post

2009-05-31T18:24:00.001-05:00

After 35 days of neglecting my high-fat, high-calorie "weight-loss" blog, I've finally posted an update. Check it out here.

on-air

2009-05-29T11:45:00.009-05:00

At 2 pm yesterday I was huddled in my coworker’s office, my blazing-red face tucked into my hands, my nerves a chaotic mess as the words, “I have Tessa with me here today …” rang out over the air waves.

It was my debut on The North Texas Kids Radio Show (click here for backstory). And folks, it wasn’t pretty. The one cosmic truth I know about myself is this: Thou Shalt Not Speak In Public (or on radio, TV, podcasts, voicemails, outgoing messages, drive-thrus, Cooper’s recordable Elmo toy).

It’s amazing to me, how, when in the zone, I can find just the right words to convey my message when I have a keyboard at the ready. But holy catfish Charlie … ask me to verbalize that same sentiment and I’m transformed into the village idiot.

Ugh. Click here for all the audible "glory" (if you must … but don’t say you weren’t warned). Thanks to Minette for giving me a shot ... I'm sure it will be my last, lol. It was a blast while it lasted! ;)

p.s. Huge “oops with good intentions” out to Shelly over at Sawatzky Survivors, Alicia at Murry Mayhem and MckMama at My Charming Kids for failing to remember the names of their blogs when I attempted an on-air shout-out. You all inspire me ... just a doof behind a mic. ;)

maybe baby: make room for more?

2009-05-28T09:15:00.004-05:00

Last year the hubs and I agreed that we’d start “working” on munchkin No. 2 this December. It sounded like a good plan …if things “worked out,” Coop would be sporting his “big brother” tee by the time he hit 3 years and some change.

But, of course, this was before we bought a house. Before I started ramping up my freelance work (in addition to the full-time job). Before we fell head over heels in love with us, The Three Musketeers …

Chris and I were enraptured with our baby boy the minute we found out we were pregnant. But only as Coop’s gotten older have we settled into this totally rockin’ rhythm that makes us both wonder how we could ever hope to improve on this kind of perfection.

The other night, as Coop lay sandwiched between Chris and I for a pre-bedtime viewing of Wonder Pets, my little man turned to me and with his fingers spread wide, he patted my closed eyes, as I often do his back, and he said, “night, night” and gave me the sweetest little kiss. My. Heart. Melted. He continued to do this off and on for the next half hour any time he caught me sneaking some shut eye, “night, night. night, night.”

It’s this kind of unexpected pocket of bliss that makes me want 12 more little Coopers and then just the one amazing original all at the same time.

I’ve spent my entire life wanting to be a mommy and dedicated nearly three years leading up to pregnancy desperately trying to get there (surgery, specialists, fertility meds were all necessary). And now that I’ve been so completely blessed, do I dare ask for more? Am I hanging my uncertainty about another child on the fear of what awaits when we start trying again … the endless negative pregnancy tests, the tears, the emotions, the turmoil? Am I good enough? Strong enough? Creative, energetic, loving enough to give parenting greatness to two children? Or is there a limit to my mommy mojo?

It amazes me how I can be so completely full on happiness and wonder and laughter and love and yet still long for more. Aww, just another one of the joys of mamahood, I guess.

talkin' 'bout bloggin'

2009-05-22T05:56:00.004-05:00

Who-hoo! I survived my first radio interview (well, I was on another program once before, but that was in a PR capacity, this one was totally focused on mamahood). And, despite my serious case of butterflies (OK, it was more like falcons dive bombing my insides), nonsensical ramblings, lost trails of thought and a brief period of waterworks (ugh, what a cry baby), I some how managed to plow through the 30-minute interview without a projectile showing of my stomach contents. SWEET!

Minette Riordan, publisher of North Texas Kids magazine and now host of the parenting-powered radio show of the same name, asked me to come on and dish all the goodness that is blogging your way through mamahood. Now that the experience is over, I can say it was completely awesome. Minette was super-easy to chat with and she was great about picking up the ball and running with it when I inevitably dropped it like a two-ton diaper (over and over again … there is a reason I’m usually on the other side of the interview, lol).

The show, which airs weekdays from 2-2:30 pm on The Word, 100.7, debuted Monday and has already featured some amazing guests (present company excluded) including authors, experts and parenting phenoms. The show’s ratings will inevitably dip when my segment airs next Thursday, but I know Minette has the strength and wherewithal to bounce back.

I’ll post a link as soon as my segment airs.

Here’s a pic of me and Minette post-show … no, the studio was not as balmy as it appears. Cooper, unbeknownst to me, had swiped my camera at some point and smudged the lens with his pudgy little fingers. So, riddle me this batman, why does Cooper avoid me like the swine flu when I’m going all mamarazzo on him only to snag my camera, turn it on himself and say, “Cheese!” when I walk away? Gotta’ get this kid his on toddler-friendly version … would love to see what he “captures.”

Post lens-cleaning … hmm, maybe I should keep the baby smudge on … I look waaaay better behind the “smoke.”

ack!

2009-05-21T11:02:00.000-05:00

I'm waiting in the lobby of a radio station to record an on-air interview about what else ... Blogging! Who-hoo. Hope I don't throw up on the host. ;) More details to come ...

Cooper is 2 Cute!

2009-05-18T20:14:00.010-05:00

Cooper turned 2 today (sniff, sniff). His b-day bash is Saturday, so we kept things simple today ... pizza and homemade chocolate cake (courtesy of Daddy), who-hoo.

I've been a little teary-eyed and I honestly can't put into words how much I love and adore my super Cooper, so I'll let my mom (aka Mimi) do it for me. Here's a too-precious e-mail she sent to the birthday boy this AM:

"Dear sweet lil man, you are such a fabulous blessing to everyone who meets you. Your unexpected crazy faces and antics create joy and laughter everywhere you go. You have such love for mommie and daddy and they are so deserving of your attention. Trust them to teach you right from wrong, up from down and trust ONLY mommie with fashion sense!! ha ha You have already made such an impression on the world in your short 2 years, I am excited to watch you grow and see what excites you and what moves you and the impact you will make on others. For now just be the zany lil boy we allllllll love and enjoy every fun, crazy moment that is the 2 year old world. I am so blessed to have you as my very own grandson---all my hugs and kisses!

happy bday lil man
lovemimi"

happy, happy mimi!

2009-05-13T06:32:00.002-05:00

happy mama's day

2009-05-10T00:27:00.002-05:00

I'd just walked into the living room to tell the hubs I was headed to bed. It was 12:17 am ... 17 minutes into my second official "mama's day". Chris gave me a kiss and whispered, "Happy Mother's Day." And then, as if on cue, Cooper started crying ... that little guy's got amazing timing. Guess he was afraid he was missing out on the fun. ;)

Incredibly tired, but my heart is so incredibly full. I'm headed to bed ... next to my little guy, who doesn't seem ready to get back to sleep anytime soon ... here's to mamahood.

Happy, Happy everybody!

National Mom's Nite Out Dallas 2009

2009-05-08T23:09:00.003-05:00

poop patrol

2009-05-06T19:38:00.005-05:00

Cooper had a bout of extended diarrhea recently ... the kind that had me and the hubs asking, "Coopie, did you poo poo?," every time we caught a whiff of something foul. Well, now he's returning the favor...

This afternoon Coop and I were playing in the floor and he had me laughing so hard that I accidentally "let one slip." Coop heard it and immediately ran around my back, grabbed at the waistband of my jeans and said, "Poo poo? Poo poo?"

Aaaaaacccckkk! It was funny when he started doing this to Chris last weekend, but totally NOT funny now that he's moved on to inspecting my gadget.

I soooo need a nite out! ;) Thankfully I'm taking part in National Mom's Nite Out tomorrow ... sans poop patrol! Who-hoo!

felize cumpleanos

2009-05-05T19:54:00.003-05:00

happy, happy cinco de mayo y feliz cumpleanos (how's that for some fancy schmancy Tex/Mex talk for ya')to some awesome in-laws ... Chris' Dad and Grandma.

just because...

2009-05-04T21:34:00.000-05:00

aww

2009-05-03T15:29:00.004-05:00

My mom just sent the following pics of my most precious niece, Montana, on her visit to Lubbock to wish Grandma a big o' happy 79th birthday. How stinkin' cute are these...

Montana is mesmerized by her great Grandma ... as she should be, I always have been. ;)

Montana looks like she's gonna' skip the birthday cake and take a bite outta' Grandma's chin instead, lol

best birthday present ever ... lots of baby kisses.

you'd cry, too if this happened to you ...

2009-05-01T17:46:00.005-05:00

yep, the hubs did this to our child ... striped lime green and blue shirt, red plaid shorts and mismatched socks ... nice clark, reeeeeal nice. I was so shocked when i picked Coop up from school today that i said, "Please tell me he didn't come to class like that!?" Don'tcha just love daddies. ;)

my lil' star

2009-04-30T21:16:00.001-05:00

happy, happy

2009-04-29T15:52:00.001-05:00

"Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while.....but our hearts forever."

happy, happy birthday Grandma.

savvy shopper?

2009-04-26T14:31:00.003-05:00

I'm helping with the first National Mom's Nite Out Dallas (May 7, visit Facebook: Mom's Nite Out Dallas-2009 for details)--an event i'm completely excited about as it's been months (literally!) since I had a "just me and the gal pals" night out.

Anywhoo, the event is benefiting Alley's House, a local nonprofit that works to empower teen moms through support services, education and mentoring (click here for my personal essay on the topic) and I'm scouring the retail stores for great deals. If anyone sees a super deal on baby food and/or baby duds, will you leave me a message and tell me where to find it? I want to support the organization as much as I can, but, like the rest of the world, I gotta' make my dollar s-t-r-e-t-c-h!

that's what he said

2009-04-24T20:12:00.001-05:00

all you need is love

2009-04-16T19:32:00.003-05:00

Today is an amazing day. Today my grandparents celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Today my grandparents remind me that sometimes all you do really need is love.

Here's to you, Grandma & Grandpa. I'm praying that no matter where life leads, you always find your way back to each other.

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.”

big news!

2009-04-11T20:34:00.011-05:00

So excited! Just signed on to help promote a huge event in dallas (during my "down time," of course ... the hubs is "thrilled," he loves taking on extra daddy duties so i can work, lol).

The event is for moms … just moms … a little “MEedom” if you will. Thursday, May 7 (the week of Mother’s Day), is the first ever National Mom’s Nite Out. An homage to mamahood, this celebration is in recognition of the short-changing we always do to ourselves (something we usually never realize until we’re found sleeping in our cereal bowls).

Anywhoo, a total grassroots initiative, this nite, via every social networking site and the mom blogosphere, is encouraging moms to take part in local MNO activities or to simply take the nite off, get together with the gal pals and enjoy a much-needed brain break (hello, happy hour!).

And, if you happen to be in the Dallas area, well there’s something great happening in your mamahood. MomsOutLoud.com and North Texas Kids have teamed together to bring MNO to you … at Studio Movie Grill in Addison (munchies and mixers and movies … I’m in!)

I will be tweeting — momsniteoutdfw — and facebooking — Mom’s Nite Out Dallas-2009 — (and any other “ing” I can think of) all the details shortly, but until then, save the date. We all deserve a little nite out.

dear mom,

2009-04-07T20:56:00.006-05:00

In answer to your question, no, I am not dead. No, we are not fighting. No, I have not lost my ability to return phone calls/emails/messages left with the hubs.

And yes, my son now tells me no just as much as I seem to tell you. ;) Talk about coming full circle.

My apologies to all 5 people who read this blog for my lack of postings as of late ... i've been crazy busy with work work, freelance work, getting side-business off the ground work, pro bono writing work, wife work, mommy work and yes, though it may come as a shock to my parents, yard work.

Hmm, sounds like i should start saying no to someone other than my poor mama! ;)(Oh, and on a sad little sidenote ... this post is in respone to my total MIA routine pulled last week with my mom ... niiiice, right. It takes me another few days to even post about not posting/responding ...ack!)

hope to be back in the groove again asap! Until then, Mom, here's a pic of your favorite grandson to tide you over.

impassioned plea

2009-03-27T09:15:00.002-05:00

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” --Mahatma Ghandi

As one can imagine, fundraising efforts across all fronts have been impacted by the economy, which means amazing programs/charities/organizations will suffer due to lack of funds, igniting the all-too-familiar trickle-down effect.

In a time where millions of people have lost their jobs, their homes, their livelihoods, my family and I are lucky. The paychecks continue to come, the roof is ours and the joy the hubs and I get from seeing our precious son smile is something that can not be measured.

We are not only lucky, we are blessed.

And, as such, we must give back.

Last year I participated in my first round of fundraising walks and the Bobcat Boogie held Saturday, April 18 will kick off round two (click here for details). It is my hope, my plea that anyone who reads this will be motivated to join me. Not necessarily in next month’s event (although that would be amazing), but in the simple act of giving to the greater good.

Our country, our communities, our friends, our families are suffering. And we have to help. Things will only start to improve when we start getting up, getting out, getting back to the way life is supposed to be — filled with passion, empathy and love for our fellow man.

Wow, I don’t know where that soap box came from, but I’ll stand on it as long as I need to. ;)

Want to get involved? Volunteer Match has a list of amazing opportunities. Click here for a list of local fundraising walks/run in the Texas area.

a new view

2009-03-22T17:34:00.005-05:00

The hubs was in A-town this weekend helping his BFF do wild and crazy things like haul dirt and work cows, which means Coop and I were left to fill the weekend with some mommy-and-me time.

I must confess, I both love and loathe these times.

Love them because it’s the perfect excuse to do those things you’re not “supposed” to do: like have Dippin’ Dots for lunch, skip bath time, watch entirely too much Elmo … all of which Coop adores (I swear, Elmo is like crack for babies).

Loathe because, though we’ve been a part of each other’s lives for 14 years, I’m always a bit heartsick when Chris is away … more now since we’ve become parents than I ever did when it was just the two of us. I always feel like he’s missing out on some magic memory that Coop and I create together. But, I guess at the same time, it makes it uber-special for me and my little guy, each parent needs those “just you and me” moments.

And yesterday was an amazing one.

Ask anyone who knew me when I was kid and they’d tell you I was the most precocious, dirt-fearing little priss who preferred books to anything outdoors (unlike my hellion of a little sister). Now, an older, wiser mom to her own little hellion, umm, not a lot has changed. ;)

But, I’m making progress.

Yesterday Coop and I went to the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano (freakin’ love it!). We used to go all the time, but haven’t been able to make it out since we moved. So, as we pulled into the parking lot on Saturday afternoon, I was just as excited as Coop. We tackled the tot-size playground and then, sans stroller (this was a first!), we hit the trails.

Coop had me chasing him under fences, through brush and after dogs (lots and lots of dogs). I, in my $5 Old Navy flip flops, wasn’t much of a match for the wild man …but, then we hit the water. There are lots of creeks running through the preserve and last year, Chris took a pic of me and Coop (see below) on “the edge” of one of them (too chicken to go in … um, eeww).

But, now that Coop is pushing 2 … well, you know what they say, you can lead a toddler to water, but you can’t make him stay out of it. ;) Complete in his socks and shoes and my jeans tugging beneath my flops, we tromped and splashed and climbed our way through the streams.

It. Was. Awesome.

Coop got a little “too brave” at times … his balance isn’t quite up to navigating sudden drop offs and extra-large rocks hidden amongst the pebble beds, but he loved it. And, this dirt-loathing mama did, too.

When we climbed our way outta’ the stream, we were soaked and squishy and covered in mud, but it was one of the best afternoons I’ve ever had with my little guy.

I can’t wait to take him back. (Although, I’ll be rethinking my footwear.)

It’s so important that we, as parents, teach our children and lead them down the right path, but, every so often it’s even more important to let them take the reigns. It’s amazing how the view of the world changes when you’re crouching in a creek bed …

aww, fun with weeds

2009-03-17T20:23:00.002-05:00

chef BOYardee

2009-03-12T20:29:00.006-05:00

In homage to the whole "nuthin' says luvin' like somethin' from the oven" notion, my lil' sous chef (emeril in the making!) and I whipped up a couple of batches of chocolate chip cookies to send to my grandparents. I think Coop poured more chunks of chocolate down his little gullet than he actually got in the bowl ... but he was just. so. stinkin'. cute. I couldn't say no. ;)

Coop started chomping on the chips before i could even break out the mixer. That's my guy ... inhaling fist fulls of chocolate!

This was just after a tear fest of epic proportion. who knew that butter wrapper could be so dang tricky!

Look at that face ... he's in aww. Nearly 2 and the lil' man has never seen a mixer in mama's kitchen before ... what can i say, betty crocker I'm not (though i do have her cook book, which may or may not be covered in dust)

totally off the cookie convo, but look at those lashes! plucked those right off his aunt amy's eyes ... i'm so jealous.

one for you ...

12 for me.

apron by grandma. sweet, chocolate-covered cutie by nestle.

p.s. The stand mixer in the pic holds a special place in my heart. It was my grandma's ... she and I used to make cookies together using that same mixer when i was just a little older than Coop.

The Great Giveaway

2009-03-10T15:23:00.001-05:00

So, taking a brain break at work, I snuck over to Murry Mayhem’s blog and saw a giveaway announcement for a free photo shoot and well, being paparazzi-style obsessed with pics of the fam, I just had to enter.

Wanna’ temp fate?

Give it a whirl. Details below:

Drama Mama is hosting an AWESOME GIVEAWAY! Her dear friend, Camily, took some gorgeous pictures of the family and now she’s passing on the opportunity for one lucky lady to snag a FREE photo session.

Camily will do a shoot for an individual, children, or a family in the Dallas area. She will shoot on location at the Arboretum, or any of the locations you see on her photography blog (and is open to suggestions if you have another idea). She will spend about an hour with the winner, edit the images and give you a copy of a CD with all the awesome pics.

The value of the photo shoot AND photo CD is $250!

And just for fun, there's a second drawing for a free blog makeover done by Drama Mama!

To enter, click here ! Once you get to DM's Post, just follow her instructions!

She will use the random generator thingy to pick a winner on Wednesday night. And the winners will be posted on Thursday!

yay!

2009-03-09T12:19:00.002-05:00

An essay I wrote about Melanoma Mimi (aka my mom) several months ago now has a home ... over at the momtrepreneur-started, DFW-centric, chica-focused online-community/hub: Moms Out Loud. Check out the article here. And then stick around and poke through all of the great resources available ...

loving you

2009-03-03T15:35:00.000-06:00

I didn’t think I would blog about this, but I feel compelled to do so … if just to put some tiny nugget into the universe that could make understanding easier, acceptance easier, letting go possible.

This past weekend I went with my mom to Lubbock to help my grandpa move my beloved grandma into a home for Alzheimer’s patients. And though I have a dictionary on stand by and thesaurus at the ready, I have absolutely no words that could capture even some semblance of the heartache that transpired.

But, I do have this … Two days before I headed out, I crawled into bed with my laptop and a box of tissue and let the words and feelings and tears tumble forth, filling the page, filling my soul. I wanted to share a snapshot of it, the part that offers a sampling of solace.

This selection references a visit I had with my grandmother this past October:

“There were these tiny, festinate glimpses of the grandmother I had always known, of my friend that loved books and flowers and afternoon naps. They were millisecond moments darting in and out among the shadows and if you dared blink, you would miss them. They appeared as precious reminders of memories and laughter and pure and total joy. They were there in the way she rocked in her favorite chair, the way her eyes smiled at the sight of a child, the way she cupped her hand around my grandfather’s, a gesture perfected by 60 years of marriage.

It was beautiful and perfect and painful all at the same time.”

to my grandpa, to my mom, to my sister, to my uncles and aunts and cousins … I am in constant prayer that peace and strength and unshakeable faith envelope each and every one of us.

and, to my grandma, my friend, I am loving you for now, forever, for always

What about bob?

2009-02-25T15:59:00.006-06:00

A good friend called late Friday afternoon and wanted to know if I was interested in some tickets. Once upon a time, the idea of snagging last-minute free entrance to a concert/theater production/tractor pull … would’ve piqued my interest, but I probably would’ve passed (I’m more of a planner, a plotter, rather than a fly-by-the-seat of her Hanes her ways kinda' gal).

Now, however, give me nearly two years in the trenches of mommyhood, take away one daddy for five days and hallelujah I’m singing your praises all the way to the front row (or row T, as it were).

Last Saturday, free tickets in hand, my friend Lindsay, her cutie patootie 3-year-old, Connor, Cooper (now 21 months) and I made the long pilgrimage from the ’burbs to downtown Dallas for an afternoon showing of Bob the Builder.

Coop and his sudden OBSESSION with Elmo has had me curious as to whether or not he was ready for a live-action, cartoon(ish), $30-plus-per-ticket kind of thing, so I was beyond thrilled to have this opportunity to scope out the situation on someone’s else dime (yee-ha!).

Let me say that my excitement over bob was quickly tempered when I realized—a whopping five minutes into a 90-minute show (plus a 20-minute intermission)—that Coop was in nooooo way ready for “Broadway.”

Sippy cups rolled down the aisle, prompting the ever-attentive usher to scurry after them with a flashlight. Raisins were tossed on the floor, causing shoes to glob together with the floor. Coop crawled up and down (up and down, oh Lord the up and the down) three flights of lobby stairs instead of watching bob, generating beads of sweat and throbbing thighs (hmm, a hot-mama workout in the making?).

But, the few pockets of bob Coop actually sat through were great. I snagged a few pics, helped “blow” the wind turbine into action and the song about recycling took me back to the hand-jive days of Grease—luv it!

Maybe we’ll give ol’ bob another go in another year (or 2, or 12). Until then, it’s all Elmo, all the time, safely tucked behind the TV screen.

Bob and crew working to create a recycling center (or at least that what's I gathered from the 10 minutes we saw).

Lindsay caught me and Coop in a rare moment ... sitting still! Who-hoo!

Coop's favorite part of bob ...

Lindsay and Connor post-show. Before we even left the theater Connor was asking Mom if he could see it again ... aww! So worth it!!!

Fat Tuesday

2009-02-24T10:39:00.001-06:00

Whoo-hoo. I'm Fat and it's Tuesday ... bring on the gluttony! ;)

Tomorrow, on what I have dubbed Thin Wednesday, I will be revealing my new hot-mama mission plan of attack over at my weight-loss blog Fat Chants.

But, until then, I will revel in the deliciousness that is Mardi Gras!!!

p.s. I wanna' be this chick (photo courtesy of the hubs and his camera phone ... both of which were in New Orleans over the weekend) ... yes, she's embracing her birthday suit with a lil' body paint ... gotta love her, um, balls?

beads, beads, beads

2009-02-22T12:01:00.003-06:00

the hubs just walked in from a 5-day business trip that just happened to conveniently fall during Mardi Gras ... aww, such a rough life. ;)

at least he wasn't too, um, tired and overworked to remember a lil' souvenir for coop ...

brickhouse

2009-02-21T23:14:00.006-06:00

i blogged about the makeover to my blog before I blogged about the makeover to the new house ... talk about priorities. ;)

We closed Dec. 15, moved in New Year's Eve and now, seven weeks later I've finally gotten around to posting some pics ... sheesh, such a slacker ... glad to see that "don't be such a slacker" resolution has really worked out for me this year.

Anywhoo, I wouldn't cross off any room in the house as "done," we're still missing the hubs' poker table in the "bowling alley" (what normal people who call the formal living/formal dining ... we're not that "formal"). And a chair or two in the family room. Need some serious love in the master bedroom (umm, wait ...), office, guest room and bathrooms and we've yet to paint Coop's wing, but other than alllll of that ... ;) here's a lil' montage of what we have done thus far.

guess what??!!

2009-02-17T16:25:00.005-06:00

My dear ol' dad's been telling me for months that I needed a makeover. Yes, I know, it sounds a bit harsh to tell your eldest child that she could use a serious overhaul. And yes, I agree that any good dad worth his weight in handmade greeting cards should love his daughter despite outdated appearances.

But, after giving it some serious thought, I've decided the old man is right. It's time. It's waaaay time to makeover ...

my blog!

(Ha! And you probably thought I was gonna' say I was back on my hot mama mission ... Pftt!)

Coop's pic in the current header is more than a year old now and as he changes every single day, it's false advertising to keep it up. ;)

So, at any moment, you should see a fresh look for Pardon Our Poo. Same genius, witty, inspired entries, of course (um, that's what I tell myself), just a fantabulous new 'do. YAY!

Thanks, as always, to Lindsay at Designs By Splat ... she knocked another one outta' the park!

And hey Pops, since this was your idea, I'm having Lindsay send ya' the bill. ;)

latest luv

2009-02-17T10:15:00.000-06:00

little reminders

2009-02-16T08:31:00.006-06:00

At 9:12 last night, my cell made that familiar little jingle that meant I had new e-mail. Imagining the message would be something truly exciting — like SPAM — I debated whether or not I should check it. SPAM could always wait until morning (much like its canned meat namesake, SPAM never goes bad) and I would curse myself if I woke the (finally) sleeping tot tucked beneath my arm just to find out I was the instant winner of a lifetime supply of cheese.

Desperate to silence the painfully loud Elmo DVD, I decided to grab the remote and phone in one smooth, swift motion.

And I’m so glad I did.

With Elmo on mute (you can only hear about his friend Dorothy the goldfish so many times before seriously considering permanent ear plugs), the phone in hand and Coop still peacefully asleep, I was ready to read the adjective-laden details of my cheese winnings.

But the message wasn’t about cheese. Or some other equally sad little “contest.” It was an unexpected message from a friend.

Subject line: hi!

Message:
… just wanted to check with you and see if everything's okay....i noticed your blogging has slowed down some (mine has drastically come to a halt, too!), and just wanted to check in with you and make sure everything is going okay …

AWW! Touched. Touched. Touched.

Ever have those days where you feel like you’ve become the absolute worst version of yourself and you have no idea how to come back? That’s been me. For awhile now … but that’s for a separate post.

I have no words to describe how that simple e-mail made me feel, but to the sender, please know that you lifted my heart last night … a little reminder that joy and peace and happiness are always around the bend.

Here are a few more little reminders that I just had to share …

Mimi and Coopie during her visit a couple of weeks ago ... just after she found out her recurrent cancer scare was just that ... a scare! Blessings, blessings, blessings!

Coopie and Keri swirl around the "dance floor" ... no doubt giving her "new guy" a little jealous twinge. ;)

Wow, Mimi's got "great" aim ...

Aww, my lil' niece Monti (aka Montana). Love her! Love this pic! Miss her to pieces.

last night

2009-02-12T20:29:00.001-06:00

7:30 pm: Me to the hubs, "Wake me up when it's time to go to bed."

Ugh, exhaustion is my middle name.

ha!

2009-01-29T16:16:00.002-06:00

The day after my monumental, three-decades-old birthday, my younger sister (still a 20-something'er ... brat), texted me:
"Do you feel any wiser now that ur thirty?"

ha!

Nope, i thought, too weary to reply. I just feel older, poorer and less able to swallow the idea that I'm an adult.

Oh, but bonus? I still have the unpredictable skin of a 13-year-old ... so who-hoo on that one.

Sigh. 30 years old and still battling Mt. St. Helen on my face ... gotta' love it!

the break up

2009-01-26T10:56:00.003-06:00

I have to end a 10-year relationship. Break it off, clean and easy. Rip off the band-aid, the yelping pain be damned.

I’ve wrestled with this decision for months. Agonized over it, lost sleep over it, turned to my boyfriends Ben & Jerry over it (there is ALWAYS solace found in a heaping serving of New York Super Fudge Chunk, don’t ever let anyone tell you different).

I’ve weighed every pro against its con (we’ve always made a great team vs. I’ve grown beyond our once-crazy antics). Thought long and hard about the ramifications of living a life sans the support of this decade-long friendship.

After all, how do you call it quits after surviving college, first jobs and long binge drinking nights together? After enduring broken hearts, broken promises, broken cars together? After getting tattoos, bad haircuts (and the occasional good one) and dream opportunities together? After celebrating life’s biggest milestones together—marriage and babies and buying homes?

Though it pains me to my very core to imagine waking up tomorrow knowing I’ve done this, I have to. I have to break up …

with my 20s.

Sniff. Sniff.

Today is our very last day as BFFs (well, I guess that second “F” was always more of a generality than an actuality, but still …). Our last day to balk at being called ma’am. Our last day to know we’ll be carded, rather than pray to God that we will be (blessings to the bartender that cards the 30-year-old!).

Today is my last day with my 20s. Here's hoping it's a good one (inspite of the tears). ;)

shovel

2009-01-21T09:36:00.003-06:00

“Faith can move mountains, but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel.” — Author Unknown

I spent the morning drive into work with tears streaming down my face, my hands gripping the wheel and my voice, quiet and shaking, lifted to the Lord’s ears.

I'd talked with my mom earlier and she'd shared some news that rocked me to the core (a core which was already shaken by some news she'd delivered over the weekend). Just before I hung up the phone, I asked her: “What do I pray for?”

She simply said, “For strength, for peace …”

I'm not ready to share specifics, I just ask that anyone who happens by this entry to join me in bowed heads, bent knees and softly spoken words.

With one shovel, or thousands … miracles the size of mountains can, and will, happen.

M.G.G. … with each breath I take, each beat of my heart, I am loving you, lifting you up and praying that peace find its way to you.

what a day

2009-01-20T21:30:00.000-06:00

Today is a day that will forever remain engrained in the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens. Today is one that marks the beginning of change for our country. And while millions of people were captivated earlier by the powerful images of the swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama, I was doing a little swearing of my own …

as I rinsed out the four towels, four T-shirts and a half dozen washcloths that were the unsuspecting victims of Cooper’s sudden stomach flu the night before.

as I took him to the doctor and was told that his sinus infection (green gook oozed from his poor lil’ eyes) was HIGHLY contagious.

as I shelled out a whopping $50 for the tiniest bottle of eye drops I’ve ever seen.

But, it’s all relative. I was doin’ what mama’s do and I love that — despite the ooze and the tears and the yuck — that I got to spend such a momentous day with my little guy … even if we both napped through it all.

sooooo, vegas …

2009-01-19T16:09:00.004-06:00

In a word: YOWZA!

Whenever you take a heifer (such as myself) who spends the better part of her day tied to a desk and yank her off her hindquarters and ask her to stand/greet/sell — cheerily — for upwards of 12 hours a day for five days, you better believe there’s gonna’ be some pain. (in every conceivable part of the body that even the strongest pour(s) of whiskey can’t fix — but Lord love you bartender Horatio for trying!).

I’m not exaggerating when I say — even at this very minute — that portions of both of my big toes are STILL numb from the traipsing back and forth between the Luxor and Mandalay Bay, between this event and that and so on, and so on, and so on.

Band-aids, strong gum (cat breath, I have found, kills the deal, lol) and frequently texted pics of Coopie (thanks hubs!) kept me from having a meltdown.

Aside from the behemoth blisters and aching back, highlights from Vegas included a $60 loss at the black jack table, a photo opp with Santa (must’ve been on vacay), a STYX concert, a fuzzy night at the bar following the STYX concert and stalking the hotel-room neighbor who kept Hillary up with his $200 worth of sex-capades (apparently the prostitution industry is recession-proof, go figure).

I’m happy to report that the boys survived (dare I say thrived?!) in my absence … Chris took Coop to get a new ’do (spikey … so cute!), they went to the hospital to welcome Sutton Stephenson into the world and they were both all in one piece (as was the house) when I returned. Aww … and it only took Coop 12 hours to remember that I’m his favorite parent, lol!

My friend Keri and her "crazy" accountant friends always do a kitty cat pose in their pics ... so, we marketing chicas had to show 'em up ... tiger style! rrrrrrrr. ;)

Never really heard/knew much of STYX before this tradeshow, but it was a freakin' blast. Thanks to David for letting me try out the fedora ... sexy, right! ;)

marketing shows a lil' love at Eye Candy in Mandalay Bay ... we're like family, I tell ya', a big, happy, dysfunctional family!

Coopie shows off his Vegas souvenir and a rockin' new hair cut. So stinkin' cute!

Vegas, Baby!

2009-01-09T10:13:00.004-06:00

Who-hoo, I'm headed to Vegas!!! OK, it's a work trip. And, OK, I’m gonna’ miss my boys like crazy (I haven’t been away from Coop for more than a weekend and that was Once. A year and a half ago … ack!). But, I gotta’ tell ya’ I’m so stinkin’ excited …

Me. Sin City. For 5 days??!! (Oh, how I *heart* my black jack, lol)

Will post details when I get back (along with house pics .. Mom, I promise!)

Fingers are crossed that I come back with a truck load of winnings and two boys all in one piece (I just finished a “Daddy Cheat Sheet” for the hubs).

happy pants

2009-01-05T16:07:00.002-06:00

I was so distraught over Coop’s adjustment to the new house (or lack thereof) that I took the afternoon off from work on Friday in order to help rectify the situation.

From parents (thanks Shelly!) to professionals (thanks babycenter.com) — everyone seemed to know the one thing I didn’t — setting up Coop’s room should be top priority.

A framiliar setting with his favorite things all rarin’ and ready for play? Well smack me on the ass and call me clueless — why hadn’t I thought of that? ;)

I rushed home, dug out all boxes marked “Coop” and got started. Of course nothing (NOTHING!) went as I’d planned — no walls got painted, no pics or curtains got hung (and don’t even get me started on the refinishing of furniture! ACK!), but I did get his books, his toys, his bouncy zebra all out and strewn across the floor … just as he likes it. ;) And it helped! As did the massive amounts of attention heaped upon him by mom and dad.

Instead of getting boxes unpacked, laundry caught up and rooms adorned with fun décor, I let Coop lead the way (though, I must confess, my impatient side railed against it!). We watched cartoons and munched on French toast sticks before the sun even dared to rise. He and dad played in the backyard, garnering his first big face plant (he doesn’t navigate steps well, yet) with scratches from the middle of his forehead to the tip of his nose to prove it. We read countless books, played ball (and peak-a-boo and where’s your nose/eye/ear/button?), sang silly songs — all the things we normally do, but this time I didn’t give in to guilt of all the things being left undone and, instead, gave Coop my complete and undivided attention — just as I always should.

This weekend my little guy started smiling again and for that I’m happy to live not knowing which box holds my black pumps, to stare at blank walls and to wonder how long it will be before I touch up my shotty paint job.

Coop found his happy pants! And his laughing and giggling and loving life is what makes our house, our home. ;)

HELP WANTED

2009-01-02T08:07:00.006-06:00

The Falk family just survived (yes, I said survived) night No. 2 in the new house and for a lack of a better word, we’re whipped!

In addition to the usual chaos that occurs with moving …

“Honey, which box did you pack the thing in?”
“Did we get the load of clothes from the dryer at the apartment?”
“Why are Coop’s socks stuffed inside a vase?”

… comes the added benefit of moving with a little one. Who isn’t adjusting well.

Night one Coop was down by 8 pm, up by 9 pm, back down by 9:30, up again at 11, inconsolable until somewhere around 1 am, in our bed and fitful, tossing and turning until 5:30 am …

Since we started packing boxes a few weeks ago, Coop’s clinginess, mood swings, chaotic sleeping and eating patterns and temper tantrums have — understandably — increased.

But since the official move on Wednesday, everything has intensified to such a degree that I would find a way to buy him the moon if I thought that would help. I know this is a phase and that once we re-establish our usual routine and he adjusts to the new house, things will calm down, but, in the mean time, how do I ease my little guy’s anxiety (he is sooooo like his mother!).

Should I give him a Zoloft? (I'll take one, please). ;) Pour him a cold one? (Daddy will take two ... or twenty). ;) Extra cuddling, singing, cartoons, toys … everything kid-friendly helps for about a minute and we see our precious, happy son, then …

He walks around the house like a zombie, not sure where he wants to go. He then turns in a second and runs to me, bawling, flinging himself into my arms (accidental head butts included), only to stay there a minute before he lays flat on the floor exhausted. Then we circle ’round again.

Coop seems so miserable. So lost.

And Chris and I feel miserable because we're at a loss as to how to help him.

Anyone been here, done this? HELP WANTED!

*Praying that our usual insanity resumes very, very soon. ;)

the last day

2008-12-31T08:52:00.003-06:00

The last day of 2008 is also the last day in our apartment … we’re (finally) moving baby, who-hoo!

As excited as I am to kiss the big, white box good-bye, I’m a bit sad about it, too.

We celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, happy days, sad days, any days in Apt. 426. We lost jobs in Apt. 426. We found new ones, too. We loved (and laughed with) family and friends through cancer, heart disease, heart break, major life changes, minor life changes in Apt. 426. We embraced new loved ones, said our final good-byes to others and rejoiced in the blessings each brought to our lives in Apt. 426.

But above all of the living, the laughing, the loving, there’s one thing that matters most …

we became a family in Apt. 426.

On May 18, 2007, a tiny ball of squirming wonderfulness entered our lives and four days later we walked through the door of Apt. 426 as proud and petrified parents.

Over the next 19 months, up at all hours gave way to full nights’ sleep, bottles gave way to baby food, sitting-rolling-crawling gave way to walking, which gave way to running, inconsolable gave way to temper tantrums and silence gave way to the most beautiful sounds ever heard … Coop’s first coo, his first laugh, his first word, his first zerber on mommy’s cheek. It all happened in Apt. 426.

Here’s to last days. And here’s to first ones.

happy last day in 2008, everyone, hope it's a great one!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T07:40:00.001-06:00

From our family to yours, Merry, Merry Christmas!

negative nelly

2008-12-23T11:35:00.001-06:00

Next month it will be one-year since my mom (aka Melanoma Mimi) was diagnosed with skin cancer. 2008 hasn’t been kind to her — health wise. Like a bully on the playground, the last few months have kicked her around a bit, but it looks like 2009 is shaping up to be a much better playmate.

A couple of weeks ago mom called to say that at her annual cancer check there was not one, not two, but four spots that needed to be biopsied “just in case” (two around the original cancer site).

FREAK OUT (me, not her).

As always, she was totally calm under pressure and I did my best imitation.

She called again last night and said, “Guess what!? Everything was negative!”

Whoo-hoo! I’ve never been so happy to hear negative news in my life!

What an awesome Christmas gift.

(no) santa baby

2008-12-22T08:34:00.000-06:00

What a difference a year makes .... ;)

Coop & Santa, BFFs 2007

Coop & Santa, mortal enemies 2008

1 hour. 12 minutes.

2008-12-15T07:48:00.001-06:00

Until we close on our house!!!!! Who-hoo!

some seasonal soup for the soul

2008-12-04T08:42:00.004-06:00

If I got one of those “get to know your friends” e-mails this AM and I were to answer the always-included Q of when I cried last, I’d say about 10 minutes ago.

I just checked my e-mail and I had a message from my mom. It’s the kind of message that captures you. Steals your breath. Gives you the freedom to let the tears fall where they may. Makes you want to hold your child, your spouse, your mom …

Leaves you in awe of God’s amazing work, his timing, his power, his infinite wisdom.

This is the stuff those great “forwards” are made from. The ingredients used in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

But this story just happened. This week. To my mom (for my mom?). And I just had to share …

Yesterday [Tuesday] right before I left work, I checked my email. I had a message from a friend in Lubbock, Nancy. She wrote to tell me about a dear friend of hers whose dad was in hospice here in Abilene. She asked if there was any way I could go and check on her or at least call her.

Knowing Nancy, someone who never asks for favors and always keeps things close to the vest, I KNEW I HAD TO GO. So, off to Walgreens I went … I picked up some snacks and some puzzle books, put them in a Christmas bag and went to the hospital.

When I walked in, Nancy’s friend was standing in the middle of the room crying. I told her I was a friend of Nancy's and that she had asked me to come and check on her. She grabbed me. And hugged me. And two hours later I left.

I got an email back from Nancy today [Wednesday]. Her friend’s dad passed away at 8:30 this morning.

I’m so glad I didn’t put off checking on her …

’Tis the season friends … for reaching out, looking up and loving from within.

Please remember Nancy, her friend (and her family) and my mom in your prayers today.

love & blessings everyone

(bloated, i mean belated) turkey day pics ;)

2008-12-03T20:51:00.006-06:00

turkey man 2008 ... 18 months old

turkey man 2007 ... 6 months old

we've got moves

2008-12-01T12:34:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

and so does mimi ...

2008-12-01T12:33:00.001-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

work it, girl

2008-11-26T08:54:00.006-06:00

Hecka yeah! It is truly amazing how the blogosphere works ... you can connect with amazing people across the street, across the globe and feel this shared sense of commraderie—even when you’ve never met.

Case in point: After reading yesterday’s post (click here for back story), a blog buddy rallied in my sclubbish, sexless defense, posting this awesome entry on her own blog.

Shelly made me laugh out loud and made me rethink a few things. I love, love, love that she called on other mamas to share their “sex kitten” secrets in an effort to help me re-ignite my own non-existent one (really, my kitten doesn’t have nine lives, I think she kicked the bucket after 1).

Anywhoo, just a quick shout out and a huge thank you to Shelly: You rock, mama! Oh, and I’ll be sure to let you know when I wake up one morning, look in the mirror and say, “Hot damn my man is lucky!” ;)

p.s. LOVE the pics Shelly included in her post, so I had to steal her idea ... I'm so impressionable at this age. ;)

"you're tessa"

2008-11-25T11:31:00.003-06:00

So, I got a wake-up call not too long ago: I’m not sexy.

Apparently my foul mouth, love of 12-year-old boy bathroom humor and obsession with home-bound lounge wear (read: oversized t-shirts and sloppy shorts/pj pants), along with other miscellaneous characteristics, has pigeonholed me as someone without a sensual bone in her body.

I asked the hubs something about me being sexy the other night and he kind of chuckled and said “um, you’re Tessa.”

No sexy side. No sensual side. No wine and roses and soft, romantic gestures. I’m just … Tessa.

ACK! You don't want the husband to see you this way (um, unless you have a "headache," lol).

I know there was no malice in the hubs' message, he was just calling it like it was, but that one little comment has bugged me ever since.

How do I get my “Sexy Back” (thank you Justin Timberlake for the most overused song lyrics ever recorded)? Did I ever have it to begin with?

Suggestions? Please help the schlub. ;)

if all goes well ...

2008-11-23T21:05:00.005-06:00

Last Thursday we made it further in the house hunt than we have on the two previous houses ... we actually got a contract back, no changes, no amendments, no addendums, no blah diddy blah diddy blah. Who-hoo!

Tomorrow is a big one: the inspector is coming out! So, if all goes well with that, we may have actually snagged ourselves a new house -- literally (the house we're looking at is brand new, yee-ha!).

Fingers are crossed!

Front of the new house.

Coop posing in the entryway.

Coop and daddy check out the new digs.

Kitchen ... can't wait to whip up a mean pan of hamburger helper in there! ;)

Yay, built-in desk in the kitchen!

Looking into the kitchen from the living room.

Finally, a fireplace of our very own ... can't wait to tot-proof that bad boy. ;)

Coopie being his cute adorable self, which means he was working his charm, hoping I'd let him climb into the tub.

French doors leading to the study off the master bedroom (soooo dang excited about having an office!)

happy "birthday," baby

2008-11-18T20:30:00.003-06:00

A year and a half. Cooper is a year and a half today. And what a year and a half it has been.

He is obsessed with parts and pieces, rather than whole toys. He loves to crawl inside things, on things, around things and down things. He loves to bark at puppies, growl at bears and hollar at Daddy. He's a wild man at bath time, bed time, play time, any time. He gives the sloppiest kisses, the biggest hugs and is the best cuddle bug there ever was.

Since this little man of mine arrived, my life has never been more chaotic, more crazed, more full of messes and stenches and stashes of stuff. But it has also never been more blessed, more full, more perfect, more pure. And I thank God everyday for my precious little weirdo who makes me laugh like no other, makes me cry like no other, makes me love like no other, makes me live like no other.

happy, happy "birthday," baby. You are my light, my love, my life.

mama got a pick-me-up

2008-11-17T13:25:00.005-06:00

Big o’ honkin’ hugs to Alicia over at Murry Mayhem! I’ve never met this fellow blog mama, but she just gifted me with the “Your Blog Is Fabulous” award. This unexpected mid-day treat has totally boosted my spirits — a lift I was in desperate need of after a particularly trying “mama drama” morning (click here for backstory).

Thank you, thank you, thank you Alicia! My mellow was totally marshed, but now it’s back to full and fluffy! ;)

Now, on to keeping the good kharma train on the right track …

There are rules to receiving this award, and here they are:
1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions:
1. On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.
2. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well.
3. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" in your post as a picture so your winners can save it.
4. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget.
5. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Always one to follow the rules, here are my addictions and a list of blogs that rock!

My Five Fabulous Addictions:
1. Well, it goes without saying, but I gotta’ say it anyway: My Boys—the hubs and Cooper freakin’ rock my world!
2. Target (happy or sad, good day or bad, Target keeps sane — that’s totally normal, right?)
3. One Tree Hill—I know, I know, soooo lame (especially since I’m on the very sharp edge of 30-ack!), but I love this damn show
4. Haribo gummy bears — chowing down on a handful as I type this!
5. words — writing them, reading them, decorating with them — I just freakin’ luuuuuve me some words ;)

I pass this award on to my 5 Fabulous Blog Buddies:
1. Courtney at That’s What She Said
2. Devon at Devon J. Imagery
3. Hayley at The Six 3
4. Angie at The Buster Bunch
5. Kathy at Parent Talk Today

break. my. heart.

2008-11-17T08:33:00.006-06:00

In the 15 months Cooper has been going to daycare, there have only been a handful of times that he's done that thing that all mommies dread: cry out for you when you walk away. Each time has created a small crack in my heart, but today that crack turned into the grand canyon.

Coop has been in a "mommy mood" for the last week. He's cutting three teeth and, for the most part, he's miserable, which means he wants mama.

I took him into his classroom today and a couple of the other kiddos came right up to him, ready to play. Usually this is a good sign. Other ankle biters mean so long mama, hello play time.

However, this was not the case this AM.

Coop wrapped his little arms around my legs and buried his face into my thigh. I knelt down beside him, gave him a big bear hug and told him how much I loved him. Then, a distraction that typically works when all else fails, I took him over to the slide and set him on the top of it and quickly walked away. He started crying. Started calling out, "mama! maaaaaaamaaaaaa!" I turned back and blew him a kiss and watched, briefly, as the huge crocodile tears rolled down his cheeks and soaked his orange shirt.

I snuck out the door and angled for position so that I could see Coop through the glass, but he couldn't see me. His teacher was comforting him and he seemed to be calming down. Who-hoo.

I who-hoo'ed too early.

I walked outside and glanced over my shoulder and a bright jolt of orange caught my eye. There, in the window, was Cooper. He had his tiny palm pressed against the glass and he was staring at me, his eyes as huge as blue dinner plates.

I mustered all my mommy mojo and smiled (it was fake) and waved, hoping my "excitement" would jump through the window and reach him.

It didn't.

Coop didn't smile back. Didn't wave back. He just stared. He seemed so sad. So incredibly, heartbreakingly sad. And my heart broke at the sight of him.

I got in the car, his eyes following my every move, his hand still on the glass. I blew him another kiss and drove away. Letting my crocodile tears soak my shirt.

I'm sure by now that he's fine. I'm sure he's running around like a wild man, having the time of his life and has completely forgotten this morning.

If only mommy's minds could reset so easily.

bet'cha say "awwww" ;)

2008-11-13T20:46:00.002-06:00

the poo store

2008-11-11T10:59:00.006-06:00

While I was in Lubbock a few weeks ago (for my grandpa's 80th birthday), my uncle approached me about working on a line of baby gear with him. He would do the design and I would tackle copy/concept ideas.

Well, I'm now happy to announce that the e-store "Baby Poo & Spit Up, Too" is officially open for business!

And, because I spent weeks pulling my ever beloved hair out last year looking for a cute tee to commemorate Coop's first thanksgiving, some of the first designs available are turkey related. Check 'em out here and get some while the gobblin's good. ;) (yes, I really did just type that!)

Oh, and bonus??? If you see a design you like, you're not locked into the style or color that it's shown on ... you can pick from dozens of options. Who-hoo power shopping! ;)

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

today

2008-11-10T11:18:00.003-06:00

1.) today we should receive the signed/approved contract from the bank on house No. 2.*

2.) today we should get a report from the structural engineer who's headed out to check the foundation situation on house No. 2.*

3.) today I should be able to remain calm, cool and collected while waiting for news on house No. 2.*

*1 and 2 are waaaay more likey then 3. ;)

house wars

2008-11-05T20:20:00.002-06:00

Just created a new blog!!! Check it out here. Huge thanks to Lindsay at Splat Designs for the super-fast, super-great graphics. ;)

big step

2008-11-05T16:23:00.006-06:00

It’s official. I’m now the mommy of a toddler. It truly seems like yesterday that I was all misty eyed and overwhelmed with emotion as I carried and cuddled Cooper in my arms as we entered his infant classroom at daycare for the very first time.

And now, here I am, more than a year later, reflecting on the events of this morning … the morning I walked beside my little boy as he said good-bye to his infant classroom and hello his new room. The toddler room.

Aside from taking one nap instead of two and getting to go outside, the big leap, in my mind, is that Coop gets to wear shoes to “school” now. We got him a new pair last night to commemorate the occasion and, well, as a child who hates ANYTHING on his feet, wearing shoes all day is going to be quite the adjustment (on top of new teachers, new friends, new routines).

Before we even made it to daycare today, Cooper had managed to yank off one of his new tennis shoes and he was bound and determined to get to the remaining sock. He was kicking his feet a mile a minute when I went to get him out of his carseat.

I’ve been a little heart sick about how Coop would do today — especially with the shoes. I was worried that he’d kick them off so much (and have a subsequent meltdown every time the teacher had to put them back on) that she might just sell him on eBay before I could pick him up (a feeling I know all too well). ;)

I called earlier to see how my little shoe-loather was adjusting. His teacher said, “He's prancing around like he's king of the world.”

With his shoes off ... that's my boy. ;)

p.s. The first pic was taken today, on our way to Coop's first day (at 17 months) in the toddler room (shoes still on, but not for long). The second was when Coop was 9 weeks old and headed to daycare for the first time (socks still on, but not for long).

pins & needles

2008-11-03T15:04:00.003-06:00

Ack! House No. 2 is a short sale. In our initial contract we gave the seller and the bank until last Friday to decide "yay!" or "nay!" to our offer.

Thankfully, we got a verbal Yay! (whoo-hoo!).

But ... the realtor and I went back out to the house on Saturday and discovered that the water heater was TRASHED! UGH! So, we had to rework the contract ... the FHA person would NEVER pass a house with a moldy water heater. Just heard that the homeowner has agreed to replace the WH if the bank doesn't, so now, we're on pins and needles waiting to receive the written approval.

If we don't hear back today, the house goes into foreclosure/auction. I'm counting down the minutes ...

bat boy

2008-11-02T20:50:00.005-06:00

Aww, my little Coopie ... one year he's a halloweenie and the next he's a bat ... he's growing up so fast. ;)

Getting some love from Great Grandma Falk!

My high-flyin' bat boy. ;)

Showing off his wings with Aunt Jess.

Coop hits the streets for his first foray into trick or treating.

Me and my guy with a few "cool cats."

happy halloween!

2008-10-31T17:09:00.001-05:00

on the road again

2008-10-30T15:18:00.002-05:00

Well, after Tuesday's less-than-stellar news on house No. 1 and after yet another day of waiting with no news on house No. 2, I'm headed out with the realtor this afternoon to see if we can find house No. 3. With eight on our agenda, my fingers are crossed that the third time really will be the charm.

rejected

2008-10-29T20:09:00.004-05:00

Well, after nearly two weeks of waiting, we found out yesterday that our offer on house No. 1 was met with a big, fact rejection. The bank, after accepting our first counter and then our second, had finally had enough and went with some other house-hungry family. Sigh.

Now we wait to hear back on house No. 2 ... while we go out again tomorrow and look for house No. 3 "just in case." ;)

Life Goal? CHECK!

2008-10-28T09:22:00.002-05:00

I am beyond the moon excited today. I can now check off a HUGE goal on my "must do" in life list: Get Published In A National Magazine! ;) One of my personal "cribspiration" essays is in the November issue of Working Mother magazine, on stands now. It only took 15 months from submission to publication (ack!), they spelled my last name wrong (gotta' love those thorough fact checkers) and I’m not a fan of some of the edits (like the inexhaustible use of the phrase child care), but none of these things can diminish the joy of writing such a personal account of mamahood and getting to share it through such a great forum.

AND, my fav part? They included a fan-freakin-tastic pic of Coop taken by an amazingly talented friend of mine, Devon Jones.

Now, if we could just hear back on the house (um, houses?? lol), this day would be perfecto! ;)

the waiting game

2008-10-27T20:45:00.003-05:00

I'm over it. I'm over it. I'm soooo freakin' over it. This whole buying a house business is for the birds!

Today marks the 15th day since the hubs and I submitted our first offer on house No. 1 (yes, now there are two!) and 11 since we submitted our third and final offer. The day after we entered our final counter, we were told that, "mirale of miracles," the bank had received two other offers on the house we were interested in and so they would have to decide which one was the best deal.(Really? Reeeally? After 200+ days on the market with no bite, there were suddenly three? Pfft!)

Anywhoo, frustrated amd bordering on going completely postal, the hubs and I started looking at other houses last week. And, 5 days ago we submitted an offer on another house.

Two weeks in, two offers pending on two houses and still no word. Sigh ... I'm startin' to think the Falks won't be "movin' on up" like the Jeffersons. Boo.

80

2008-10-27T20:41:00.003-05:00

just a quick birthday wish to my dear grandpa who's celebrating his 80th today!!! Happy, Happy! I love you!

STUH-RESSED

2008-10-19T16:13:00.005-05:00

One word to describe me right now??? Stressed! We put an offer on a house a week ago and after our counter to their counter to our counter to their counter to our offer, we still don't have a signed deal. Ugh. The hubs and I are on pins and needles hoping that tomorrow will bring bright, shiny, happy news that the seller final signed off and that we're good to go.

On top of that (we're assuming the house will eventually be ours, because we love it and that's the way the world works, right, you love something enough and it'll happen???), we have 5 weeks from tomorrow until closing and need to scrape the last few dollars (think many, many "few") for closing costs, moving, renovations, etc. We're both working as much as we can "moonlighting" and the time spent a part and cranking out the extra hours is wearing us both down. Big time.

We're both grouchy as hell most days and all I want to do is sleep, eat and sleep some more. All the hubs wants to do is get lost in football ... fantasy or otherwise (um, wait, maybe that's not so abnormal, lol).

Fingers are crossed that a big, bright neon light is at the end of this tunnel (just hope there's not a train attached to it!).

Below are a few pics of our (hopefully) new home.

cuteness - it's in the genes

2008-10-15T11:16:00.003-05:00

Aww! Just saw that my mom had posted these two precious pics of Coop and my favorite lil' bundle of nieceness, Montana (I call her Monti).

Think that cute lil' smile has gotta' be in the blood. ;)

fingers crossed!

2008-10-12T12:05:00.002-05:00

After three back-to-back Saturdays trapsing through house after house (about 20) and a gazillion hours spent searching online, we've finally found one we like!!! Who-hoo (I DO NOT have the patience for this kind of thing!). And, at 3:30 this afternoon, the Falk fam is going to the realtor to put in an offer. Won't share house details just yet (don't want to jinx anything, lol), but let's just say that my fingers (and toes and legs and arms ...) are all crossed that this deal goes through!

happy, happy

2008-10-08T08:36:00.004-05:00

From the non-hair on your head, to the tips of your in-much-need-of-lotion toes, I love and adore you, all of you. Happy, Happy Birthday Hubs!

something to ponder …

2008-10-06T15:12:00.001-05:00

So, the hubs and I are doing whatever we can to help pad the Falk Family House Fund (working extra jobs, tightening up on the budget, etc.). And, in an effort to add any extra dollar or two, I thought about participating in one of those jumbo kids consignment sales that have been popping up everywhere.

Unsure of how it worked (or if it was even worth it), I pinged several of my mommy friends and asked if they’d gone the way of consignment sales themselves and if they had any great wisdom to impart.

The overwhelming majority responded with a “philanthropic” approach to kids gear … meaning their souls are better than mine in that they donated to charities, churches, family members and friends. (A huge thanks to Courtney for making feel less like a she-devil, lol!)

As one who’s all about the good kharma/dharma (especially now that we’re trying to snag a good deal on a house), I had originally intended to donate to Goodwill (the bags and boxes have been in my car for a week!), but after three unsuccessful attempts to unload at my local Goodwill (always closed), I thought maybe it was a sign. ;)

So, here’s the question: Do I go for the cash or the good kharma? Talk amongst yourselves. :)

5

2008-10-04T06:35:00.003-05:00

Things are busy, busy at our house right now. The hubs and I are both working side jobs to help pad the Falk Family House Fund (FFHF) and, when we’re not, we’re chasing after Coop, laughing at him, playing with him, convincing him to keep his fingers out of his nose (and ours!).

In fact, we’re both so focused on getting “house ready” and keeping up with Coop that today hasn’t even really registered on our radar.

Today is our fifth anniversary. Aww. :)

There will be no candlelight dinner (we’re not candlelight dinner people), no weekend getaway (every extra dollar goes in the FFHF), no gift exchange (unless a quick kiss counts).

Instead, we will spend the day house hunting with our realtor and, in all honesty, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our past than looking toward our future.

Happy Anniversary, Hubs … You make me crazy, you keep me sane, you steal my breath, you keep me breathing.

have daddy, will travel

2008-09-28T18:50:00.004-05:00

1 diaper box
1 leather belt
1 creative daddy
_________________
a great afternoon for the boys

insert back of hand swiping across forehead here

2008-09-27T15:51:00.000-05:00

I don't know how you'd begin to spell that breathy little sigh of relief you do as you dramatically swipe the back of your hand across your forehead, but if I could, it would be here (so just pretend).

I was so, so, sooooo relieved that Coop and I made it through the JDRF walk yesterday with no major meltdowns (his or mine). Without Chris there to run parental interference, I was a little nervous that halfway through Coop might bug out on me.

But, yay! He was a total trooper. In fact, he sawed logs for most of the 3-mile walk/ride. And, because I'm clearly M.O.Y. (mom of the year), not only did I sign-up my 1-year-old to join me in a long walk at the crack of dawn, but I also scheduled seven (yes, 7!!!) back-to-back tours of homes for sale with our realtor (again, sans daddy as he was at the ranch working) just an hour-and-a-half later.

You'd think the parental kharma train would've run right over me for that one, but, again, Coop rocked it out! At the walk, he clung to his purple hair curler (don't ask) and during the real estate rush, he clung to a bottle of baby aspirin (yes, it was child proof and, again, don't ask). I guess his "safety" toiletries totally helped, go figure! ;)

The mommy Gods were smiling on me yesterday! YAY!

Cooper lovin' on Leesa, our JDRF team captain.

Coop "walking" it out in his "For Cade" t-shirt.

Zonked. Who knew a 3-mile ride could be so exhausting?

p.s. A huuuuge thanks to everyone who donated to JDRF, the event/experience was amazing.

one more time

2008-09-26T08:57:00.007-05:00

Before this year, I'd never participated in any kind of charity walk. Then, I became a mama and was suddenly overcome with the desire to give back, to pay it forward and to instill in Coop from day one that doing for the greater good is a beautiful, powerful, important part of life.

That said, tomorrow will be my third (and final) walk for charity for 2008. Coop and I will both be slipping on our walking shoes in the hope of raising money and awareness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

And, this one hits pretty close to home. A dear family friend, a precious 5-year-old little boy, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes as a result of a sudden, life-altering medical condition, which landed him in Cook Children’s last year. Thanks to a great team of doctors (and amazing parents), he is now doing great, but it’s an ongoing battle.

So, in his honor and in honor of the other millions of children afflicted with this disease, Cooper and I will be walking it out. And we'd love to have your help.

If you can spare even a dollar, please visit my web page by clicking here.

Thanks everyone for your support over the past few months, you've helped this mama feel better than she ever has!

moms behaving badly

2008-09-24T10:35:00.003-05:00

OK, I’m the first to admit I’m one of those misbehaving mommies … I have screeching matches with Coop instead of cultivating his verbal skills (unless you consider a killer screech a skill), I let him take the occasional crawl around a store when he’s had enough of the stroller (oh, the horror!) and I have yet to convince him that socks and shoes are now crucial to his toddling development.

But, come on! During the past two weeks I have been shocked by some moms’ um, not-so-hot parenting moves.

Take last weekend for example. I was at a playdate at the mall with Hillary and the kiddos, having a blast watching Coop “walk” from me to the ginormous piece of French toast and Ally (his future wife) try to sink her non-existent teeth into the side of it. But then, out of nowhere, the pants come off (not ours). An extremely tall 5(ish) little boy starts parading around the play area sans any covering below the belt (well, there was underwear …). Umm, no, in public, we wear pants. The mom didn’t seem at all concerned, and acted as if she were hanging out at home and not in a public place teaming with tots and other parents. Isn’t this the time when we’re supposed to be teaching children how to interact appropriately with others, understand common courtesy, social norms and follow the rules?

My other encounter was waaaay worse. Like Britney Spears circa 2006 worse. I was headed out for lunch when I noticed that the mom in the next car over was holding her baby in her lap. As she drove! What the &^%$!!! The baby was drinking a bottle while mom tried to steer and when she saw me looking at her, she pushed the tot’s head down out of view. I didn’t have my cell on me, so Hillary grabbed hers and dialed 911 and relayed the situation. Since when did it become OK to play Russian roulette with a child’s life?

Yes, I’m being critical. Yes, I’m being judgmental. And I confess there are days when I feel motherhood is a total whip, but even in our worst moments shouldn't we always keep our child's safety as the No. 1 priority, closely followed by teaching him right from wrong?

hey good lookin'

2008-09-20T21:41:00.009-05:00

Bless the genius who came up with the car-shaped hair-cuttin' chair complete with a steerable wheel! I can't say that Coop loved getting his little goldy locks lopped off yesterday, but he LOVED the car he was in. In fact, he pitched a fit when it was time to go. So glad the fit came AFTER the hair cut! He did great!!! I was so proud of him, and, though he looks soooo much older now, he looks handsome, handsome, handsome. I'm still shocked that the hubs and I made such a cute kid! ;)

Coop is sky-rocketing toward toddlerhood, a reality which is always tinged with sadness, but his babyhood was so amazing, I know this next chapter will be just as beautiful (now, if only we could get this wanna' be toddler to um, toddle, full time! LOL!)

so long, mullet man

2008-09-20T11:16:00.002-05:00

Today is the day ... the day that the business in the front and the party in the back goes buh-by!

It took weeks of convincing the hubs, but the day is finally here ... 16 months and two days and Coop's finally getting his first hair cut! Who-hoo!

We have an appointment at one of those funzie, for kids-only places this afternoon and I can't wait! I know my lil' baby will suddenly look like a little boy with just a few snips of the scissors, but it's time ... it's waaaay time.

Wish me luck (hope Coop doesn't make the hair lady run for the hills!).

Pics to come later.