It's Oh So Quiet ...

On a particular Friday evening ... When Joel is fast asleep in his crib ... And Jason and Jacob are at hockey practice ... And the house is quiet ... And no one is competing for my time ... And I have no one to clean up after ...

That's when I make a hot cup of tea ... Turn on the fireplace ... Curl up with a blanket on the couch ... And open a good book ...

For a few minutes it is WONDERFUL.

And then I miss all my boys.

I'm sure when I have this next little one I will feel a bit different about this.

This May Be Boring ... But It's Better Than Nothing (Perhaps)

I impressed Jacob by knowing the entire Fresh Prince of Bel-Air rap. And he impressed me by knowing some of Can't Touch This by MC Hammer.

I have been really excited about food. Including Birthday-Cake-Flavored-ice-cream-with-Butterfinger-and-raspberries. And vegetarian lasagna. And oranges (do they not smell SO GOOD?!). And cheeeeeeeese.

Joel clearly takes after his daddy because today when I was switching over the laundry, he took off his pants by himself.

Yesterday it snowed. Yick.

I am pretty excited about this new little baby. I really like being pregnant. I even kind of liked labour (hey, it was only an hour and a half long ... I'm sure if it was hours and hours I would feel differently) ... our little family of two quickly grew into a family of five. Craaaazy!

I'm not usually successful with plants. I can't tell you how many Venus Fly Traps I've killed in my lifetime. But maybe six. A lot. Anyways, these days I have an Aloe Vera plant and a Christmas Cactus and I hope they live! I also planted Sweet Peas, but seeing as it snowed yesterday, they might not make it.

I love my little family. You should come over for dinner sometime.

Advice ...

If you watch The Bachelor, this is the best recap I have ever read.

Also, pineapple tidbits taste REALLY good in chili. I'm not a chili fan and I actually liked it last night.

God Really Does Save The Day!

When big worries like 'does-this-mean-we-going-to-lose-our-beautiful-home' and 'is-my-work-going-to-screw-me-because-of-the-contract-I-signed' are all pushed out of the way, little worries like 'um-our-family-isn't-going-to-all-fit-in-the-car' and 'is-it-possible-to-retain-some-sanity-while-having-two-babies-17-months-apart' aren't as bothersome anymore.

Because, seriously. You can call it God, you can call it fluke, but either way, I think if God can take care of the big stuff, I trust him to take care of the small stuff.

A Baby Shaped Wrench ...

Leave it to sperm to throw a wrench in your plans, right ladies?

I'm pregnant!

And I couldn't be more happy-scared-worried-thrilled-apprehensive-excited ... Because what is going to happen with my signing-a-contract-to-return-to-work-for-a-year and other things? And because I have a baby growing inside of me that is due somewhere around September 30th and we will have two in diapers! And because my little family who I love with all of my heart isn't going to be such a little family soon!

You May Be Right, I May Be Crazy ...

... But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for

($10 if you guess the song and artist. I will pay you in installments)

Now, I will readily tell you that I watch The Bachelor. I never watched any before this season, but I am hooked. Jason watches it with me too, but he is more reluctant to admit this. Does he like it? He would say no, but he was preeeeetty excited when they showed a preview of next week's episode.

So anyways, last night the bachelor (Jason) got to meet the girls' families. There are three left. But I only want to talk about the one I can't stand. Ok?

I do not like Molly at all. Last week, on the radio she said something to the effect of "many people would look at Jason and see a divorced man and a single dad and wouldn't want that ... But I think it makes him more of a man." Translation: "Nobody wants him, but I am going to sacrifice myself for him because I am a hero." You and what personality, Molly? You seem more like a Stepford Wife than anything else.

And I don't like her even more now that we have seen her fam. They are annoying. Her mom tried sooo hard to be quirky and different. She brought out hats for everyone to wear (a crown, an indian chief head thing, a beer hat) and got Jason to draw a picture of Molly. Come on, mom, you need to be more creative than that to successfully convince people that you are fun.

The dad sucked too. His quality advice for Molly wasn't about love, wasn't about being a wife or mother, and wasn't about relationships. It was "if you get your heart broken, don't cry." No wonder Molly seems devoid of personality and emotion. She gets it from her boring parents.

*sigh*

Some of the Best Afternoons ...

Once in awhile Jacob will do something like complain about having an upset tummy whilst simultaneously practicing jumping off the 5th stair. And I realize that from time to time he's showing that he just needs some mom time.

So I keep him home from school and when Joel naps we make cookies and have an inside picnic at lunch and we read Lemony Snicket and stay in our pjs for most of the day. And then when Joel is up we go get hot chocolate [coffee for me] and go for a walk.

And soon enough Jacob is back to normal and we all feel rejuvenated and I know that there was never time better spent.

He Might As Well Have Shaved A Cul-De-Sac ...

This morning I discovered that Joel has a little bald spot above his ear. Perhaps my darling husband should have used scissors to trim the baby's hair, rather than the electric shaver-thingy.

Get To Know Me ...

1. People always think my name is pronounced A-neek-a. That annoys me.

2. When my sister and I were littler and we were having family pictures, we'd make ugly or funny faces to ruin them.

3. We still do this from time to time.

4. I think I could eat either sour cream or whipped cream on every food.

5. I don't like it when people touch my neck. It induces my gag reflex.

6. I think it's gross when people chew with their mouth open.

7. I pierced my ears three times with a safety pin when I was 16.

8. I can't stop biting my nails -- I've tried everything.

9. When I worked at McDonald's in high school I accidentally dropped a cd in the fry vat.

10. When I shake the hand of someone I anticipate that I won't like, I make my hand completely limp.

11. No matter how hot it is at night, I have to have some sort of blanket on me.

12. I throw yellow Skittles in the garbage.

13. My mom made me take piano lessons when I was a kid. She told me I'd regret quitting them when I was older and I didn't believe her.

14. I regret quitting piano lessons.

15. I like the smell of roses, but I don't like the smell of rose-scented stuff.

16. I have never done a cartwheel.

17. When I eat a bag of chips I squish them all first so that they're nice and small.

18. When I was in grade 3 (I think) in Social Studies we learned about a community that lived on the moon.

19. I thought this was real; that people really did live on the moon.

20. I learned to skateboard in university.

21. In cooking class in high school we ruined other groups' food by pouring salt in their recipes when they weren't looking.

22. When I potty trained Jacob, I tried teaching him to aim for Cheerios in the toilet, and peeing outside because he thought it was fun.

23. After that for a long time, he went outside every time he had to pee.

24. Sometimes when I'm swimming in a pool I get scared of sharks.

25. I don't like it when people whistle to music. Humming and singing is ok, but not whistling.

My Mom Is The Kind Of Mom ...

That is kind to everyone, even when they don't deserve it.
That battled breast cancer when she was fifty. And she overcame. And she was the most gorgeous bald woman I have ever seen.
That told Jason there wasn't enough dinner for him when he had his first ever family dinner with us -- and he believed her.
That is super-sensitive and will cry at almost any beautiful story.
That loves her grandkids SO much. She is SUCH an amazing grandmother.
That is generous with her time and likes to make us feel special.
That gets a little bit ditzy when she's had too much wine.
That is so beautiful, but never sees in herself the glowingness of her inner and outer beauty.
That always has hope, no matter what.
That loves her son-in-laws.
That used to wear mom-jeans, but has blossomed into a middle-aged woman with grace. She's stylish, even!
That loves coming over to visit.
That tells me I'm being over-sensitive when she doesn't agree with my frustration.
That gets her husband to pick up wine from the liquor store because she doesn't want her students' parents to see her there.
That has a certain 'laugh' when she doesn't actually think it's that funny. It's kind of like a 'lol' -- I love that laugh.
That makes everyone feel welcome.
That works late to do an amazing job, even though she doesn't get overtime.
That encourages me when I feel like I've hit rock bottom.
That, when my sperm donor was telling her he had had an affair (and was for some reason giving her details about it), my mom threw a fork at the sink, but it ricocheted out and stuck him in the hand (I am so proud of that moment).

Happy Birthday, Mom, I love you so very much.