Last Day for NaBloPoMo!

In tribute to posting EVERY SINGLE DAY for the past month, I decided to go ahead and accept a couple of meme tags.

Heather over at Coal Miner's Granddaughter tagged me today for a meme of my 5 favorite things, so here they are in no particular order:

1. Baby Snuggles! I LOVE baby snuggles, and not just from my baby! I love baby snuggles from all babies, though now I can say I prefer my baby's snuggles.


2. Drinking Starbucks while browsing in Barnes and Noble! My winter drink is White Chocolate Mocha, and my summer drink is Caramel Frappuccino. I browse many different sections - Occult & New Age, Bargain Books, Crafts, Journals, and now Parenting & Children. I may not buy anything except the coffee, but I love books and I love coffee, so this is the best of both worlds!


3. Salsa! I LOVE salsa in just about any way you can give it to me - chips and salsa, salsa on omlets or eggs, salsa with my quesadilla or burrito or enchilada. I've even been known to eat salsa with crackers when I didn't have any chips. My favorite salsa is the homemade stuff my mom cans. It is absolutely delicious! My second favorite is the kind I get at El Mezcal, my favorite Mexican restaraunt. Mmmm. I'm drooling now. By the way, pico de gallo is not salsa. Salsa has to be cooked before canning or serving!


4. A Massage from a good massage therapist! A friend bought me one in May for Mother's Day, and it was wonderful! It had been years since my last massage. I plan to get one for my mother for her 50th birthday in January. I'll get one for myself soon after, unless DTTF decides that's what he's getting me for Yule.


5. Yarn! I love yarns and fabrics and crafty things. I love making things. I love touching the soft fibers. I'm allergic to wool, though, so all my yarn has to be acrylic or cotton. I've banned myself from buying new yarn until I use up most of my stockpile, but that doesn't stop me from stroking the skeins of yarn in Wal-Mart or Michael's.

The second meme is one that Carrie from Live in the Badlands tagged me for over a month ago. I'm supposed to come up with 7 random things about myself, so here goes (warning, though, some may be gross):

1. I can't see or hear someone puke without gagging. Most of the time I can prevent the all-out-act, but it's a struggle! This was made even worse when I was pregnant, though after Tree Faerie was born, it went back to normal.


2. I have a huge scar on my right bicep from being in a car wreck in April of 1987. My late step-dad (he died in 1990 from a heart attack) swerved to miss a dog in the road and lost control of the truck. It flipped several times through a field and I was ejected from the vehicle. I had a compound fracture and the skin around the wound was ground with dirt and had to be removed. I have a patch scar on my butt cheek from where they took the skin graft. During my 3 1/2 week hospital stay, everyone kept telling me how luck I was that I didn't lose my arm. Now I rarely even think about the scar unless someone asks or something scratches it.


3. I also had a piece of glass stuck in my eye from the same wreck and had 2 dissolving stitches in my right eye. The eye doctor can't even find a scar on my eye from it now.


4. I used to be allergic to poison ivy until I had a full systemic reaction to it. I was building a fort in my back yard next to a tree that had vines on it. Now, being the good Girl Scout and Southern Girl I was, I knew what poison ivy leaves looked like, but I had NEVER seen leaves on the vines on this tree. I pulled the vines off the tree and used them in making the fort. The next morning, I could barely open my eyes. I had to go get 3 shots, take a round of steroids, and use LOTS of hydrocortizone cream. I had one little bitty outbreak the next summer and haven't had it since, even though I've been around it and helped doctor other people's outbreaks.


5. I was offerred the opportunity to go to both Space Camp and a journalism symposium in DC, but I had to turn them both down because we didn't have the money.


6. I entered exactly ONE beauty pagent after being pushed and nudged by various people. I did not have fun and felt very out of place. I didn't win anything, either, probably because I looked mortified at some of the things I'd seen backstage. My mom was very supportive without pushing me one way or the other. That's one of the things I love my mom for - she often let me make up my own mind about things.


7. I found my first silver hair when I was 17. Since then they've been coming in slowly. I've recently been pondering coloring my hair (I haven't colored it in about 6 years) because I keep seeing full-length silver hairs.

So, those are my random facts. Hmmm. Who to tag... Mom is in the Fishbowl, how about telling us 5 of your favorite things, and Mom's Happy Handful, what are 7 random things about you?

Gifts

I ordered DTTF's Yule gift yesterday, so now I have to try to make it home in time to beat DTTF to the mailbox next week. Usually DTTF checks the mail before he comes in the house, and I'm afraid if he sees the package, he'll immediately know what it is.

Of course, while my dear hubby doesn't make it a habit to read my site, I can't tell you what it is just in case he decides to pop on over. So you have to wait, too! Let's just say it's something he really wants, and I've found a way to make it even more special. I'll also get him a couple of small things, but this is the main gift!

I've decided to make sock animals for my nephews and my best friend's boys. I'm going to make two elephants, a monkey, and a cat if all goes as planned. I've already picked up the socks. Now I just need to sit down and make them. I've been debating making Tree Faerie a sock animal or two as well, though I haven't decided. My big-$$$-gift for her is going to be a convertible car seat. I found one that should last her for the next 8 years or so (that might be a slight exaggeration) for around $120 at Wal-Mart. It's made by Graco, and while I trust the brand, I still want to research it before I purchase it. This is the life of my child we're talking about, after all.

For the grandparents, I'm torn between getting them mugs (either regular or travel) with Tree Faerie's picture or something else. I have other things in mind for all of them, but I really liked the idea of the mugs! Is it selfish to give them something bearing Tree Faerie's picture? They are grandparents, after all...

I think for the ladies in my department at work, I'm going to do something cutesy from OrganizedChristmas.Com. I'm specifically thinking of the We Whisk You a Happy Holiday sort of thing. I've already discovered their favorite individually-wrapped-indulgences. I guess I need to decide soon.

For the daycare teachers, I've decided to go with snuggly socks and bath stuff (I know, but I'm stumped, and I know they all like scented bath stuff because they've mentioned it!).

I have no idea what to do for DTTF's sister and her husband, nor do I know what I'm doing for my brother. I also don't know what I'm doing for my boss.

That about sums up my gift-giving list! I didn't realize I was this prepared! Now I just have to make sure all the shopping is done at least a week before Yule...

*******
I've also decided to practice my hand at writing reviews. I posted a food review over at Fey's Tricks of the Trade, so go check it out and let me know what you think. Please be honest and offer suggestions if you have any!

Holiday Ramblings

Well, I bought my holiday cards last night. They're not my usual glittery cards like I get from Target, but I had to go to Wal-Mart (I know the horrors of the place, yes, but I have to pinch my pennies) last night, so I perused their card selection. I found some cute, homey cards with a secular yet warm greeting inside. I got 60 for less than $12, and since my list just keeps getting longer every year, that's not too shabby! I love sending and receiving holiday cards, though I receive a lot fewer than I send.

I also picked up artificial poinsettia flowers to put in the vase on the mantle. The vase is one that my mom made when she took a pottery class at college years ago. DTTF put it on the mantle with the suggestion that we update the arrangement regularly based on the season or upcoming holiday. I forgot how much I enjoy arranging flowers! I didn't take a picture, but as soon as I do, I'll post it. I didn't buy a real poinsettia because I'm terrible at remembering to water my plants, so they always die. I almost killed the aloe plant Random Faerie left with me when she moved to Colorado. It's still alive and doing better, but I really need to re-plant it. That's the only plant I've been able to keep alive, though. I'm glad I'm better at taking care of my animals than that...

This is Tree Faerie's first Christmas holiday, and I would really like for her to see both my parents and DTTF's mom. Yule (Winter Solstice - our holiday) will be focused more on the spiritual aspect of the season, and we each get to open one gift that night. We'll have our Outer Court Yule celebration on the 22nd. My family gets together at my grandma's on Christmas Eve, but DTTF has to work. That 3 hour drive does not sound appealing with just Tree Faerie and me because I can't keep her entertained and drive. She gets bored easily, and once she gets to the point of fussiness, she needs active distraction. Christmas day will be spent with DTTF's family. I don't know if we're going to do Santa at our house or at DTTF's mom's house or both. I know it will all work out, but until it does it will be burrowing itself in my worry-center.

This weekend I get to pull out the holiday decorations and decide what I'm putting where. I was also debating touching up the paint in Tree Faerie's room so we can move us all upstairs. Hmm. If I get that done, maybe I can get the border hung and her room set up. Then I can pick a day for us to move upstairs so we can get a bit of help in exchange for dinner. Hmm. My wheels are turning...

Transitioning

Starting next week, Tree Faerie will begin transitioning to the toddler room at daycare. The transition period lasts 4 weeks. During the first week, one of the infant room teachers will take her to the toddler room for about 15 minutes in the morning and in the afternoon. On Week 2, one of the toddler room teachers will come get Tree Faerie and take her to the toddler room for about 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon. Tree Faerie will spend an hour in the morning and afternoon on Week 3. The last week of transitioning, Tree Faerie will go to the toddler room in the morning and stay through the morning nap, then go back to the infant room.

This morning I talked to the head teacher of the toddler room she'll be moving into. The woman was very nice and personable. I was really nervous about the transition and she was able to ease my nervousness quite a bit. The toddlers only take one nap a day around mid-day, and they don't give the toddlers bottles at all, only sippy-cups. They are given regular whole milk or juice during the two snack-times and lunch. This means I won't have to pump anymore starting the first week of January. While I'm kind of happy about it, I'm also kind of sad. My baby is growing up!

So, do any of you have words of wisdom to help me through this transition? I'm sure Tree Faerie will be fine with it. I'm the one who has a problem with change. If you would prefer, you can email me at asumers at gmail dot com.

Busy as a Bee

I have a lot of work to get done today and impending deadlines. Hopefully we'll return to our regularly scheduled programming shortly. I'll catch up on all of your posts then.

I <3 My Husband

When Tree Faerie went back down for her morning nap at 10 AM, I decided to nap, too. Two and a half glorious hours later, I woke up. DTTF had taken Tree Faerie out of the bedroom when she woke up so she wouldn't wake me.

I love my husband dearly!'

Weekends = Rest, Right?

In my pre-mommy days, I could find time for a nap or sleep in until noon if I was exhausted.

Now?

Now I just get sleep when I can. Last night Tree Faerie was up every 45 minutes again. The culprit? I'm sure it was Tooth #2. That's right, Tooth #2 is taking it's own sweet time. It broke the surface a week or two ago and has SLOWLY been working it's way up.

Okay, so maybe it stopped. I don't know. I can't see any other tooth appearing, and that one is just BARELY above the surface.

Anyway, did I think to myself, It's okay because it's the weekend and I'll be able to get rest later? No, because there are other things that still have to be done while wrangling the child!

I know I complain a lot here about the lack of sleep, and I know that it will get better as she gets older. I also know that when we decide to have another I'll be right back in this cycle.

Who knows? Maybe the next one will know what sleep is...

Turn the Heat On!

This is the first time since summer set in that we have turned our heater on. It probably won't be left on, however the AC people came out to clean the heater, so we had to turn it on to test it. While it is nice to have the chill out of the air, we are trying to conserve as much as possible. I am thankful to have a heater to use when I want, though!

Yesterday we had Thanksgiving lunch at my grandma's. My mom and dad got to play with Tree Faerie, and fun was had by all. DTTF's mom did not join us because DTTF's sister will be coming up in 3 weeks and she wanted to get her house put back together after re-doing the flooring. She was missed, but we still had a good time. I miss my mom, even though we talk nearly every day. It's just not the same as getting to see her.

I am Thankful

I am thankful for

• my daughter
• my husband
• my family - immediate, extended, and in-laws
• the roof over my head
• the job that pays the bills
• that there aren't more bills than my job will pay for
• a good daycare that only charges an arm instead of an arm AND a leg
• great friends, both IRL and online
  
• great food
• nap-times
• sleep
• showers
• good health
• and the perseverance to make it through when my health is not good

Happy Turkey Day!

Tell Me Again

What are the pro-sides to owning a home? I forget sometimes and need to be reminded.

This morning I awoke to the wonderful sounds of rain and thunder. I love rain (as long as it's not every day), especially hard rain. DTTF heads off to work and I proceed to get Tree Faerie and myself ready for the day. Tree Faerie decided to scream through two-thirds of my shower. After I finished my shower (including taking an extra minute to use the Netti pot - which will be a post for another day), I finally convinced her to stop screaming while I brushed my teeth and got dressed.

Now, DTTF and I are currently sharing a closet because mine still has not been put back together after the whole air conditioner incident. So, I open his closet and see a wet spot on the carpet. I look up to find the ceiling around the light fixture is soaked and the water is dripping down from the end of the bulb. It's a good thing I didn't turn on the light, right?

So, I said a few explicitives, got the bucket from the laundry closet to catch the water in, grabbed the towel I had just used to dry off, and proceded to clean up and set up the bucket. I didn't leave the closet door open because Storm (the cat) loves going in the closet, and I was afraid she'd try to play with the water and tip the bucket.

While I continued getting Tree Faerie and myself ready, I called DTTF to tell him the news. After I nursed Tree Faerie, which made her much happier and more forgiving, I went upstairs to find out where the leak was coming from. Turns out it is leaking around the flashing from the air conditioner. So, I grabbed another bucket and set it under the main drip in hopes to at least slow things down.

When DTTF and I were house-shopping last year, I was really excited about owning a home. Now? Not so much. At least not this home. I've got a list running in my head of things to look for on our next house-shopping adventure. To name a few:

• Single Story
• Unattached
• Either proof that the carpet was just replaced or plans to replace the carpet upon purchase
• Or hardwood flooring
• At least one window on each side of the house to allow air-flow
• A clean fireplace or a gas fireplace
• A happy neighborhood - and scouting it out well before signing on the house
• Not for sale by owner, that way I can't say that the owner lied to me
• Either new appliances (less than 5 years old) or no appliances
• A useful yard, preferably with room for a workshop

That's just off the top of my head. We've made it a year in this house; I can make it 4 more. Our original plan was to be in this house for 5 years because this is our 'starter-home.' Wish me luck.

Dragonflies and Totems

I believe everyone has a totem of sorts, a particular creature they relate to well or that keeps popping up throughout their lives as a source of inspiration and courage. Some people have more than one, but so far everyone I've come across has at least one. My husband's main totem is a bear, while my main totem is fey (faeries and the like - explaining fey will be a post for another day). Tree Faerie's totem is obviously a dragonfly.

Since the moment of conception, I have focused on dragonflies for Tree Faerie. The online baby journal I started during my pregnancy was done in purple and green dragonflies. The decorations for her nursery are centered around dragonflies. Every time I saw a dragonfly, I thought of my baby.

The moment Tree Faerie was born, a purple and green dragonfly landed on Panda's (a close friend) shoulder across town. While Memphis is in the south, winter is still cold and does not bear dragonflies, so a dragonfly on January 6th is a bit odd. We spent 2 nights in the hospital after birth in a lovely private room. This print was on the wall (that's Mr. Chomps in the photo):

It wasn't until we were packing up that we noticed that the picture contained more than just the pretty tulips. In the upper right corner was our little friend:

See what I mean? They're everywhere! Since her birth, I've had dragonflies fly alongside the car all the way from the grocery store to the house, which is about 2 miles. We've had entire swarms hover over us. We've had dragonflies land on us at various times. While I've always liked dragonflies and taken notice of them, I have never had this much direct contact with them!

My next tattoo (I currently have 2) will be a dragonfly on my left shoulder. I haven't settled on a design yet, but as soon as I have the perfect design, under the needle I will go! That dragonfly will be my tribute to my Tree Faerie. The symbol of a dragonfly different meanings according to different cultures, including luck, freedom, and change. Tree Faerie is all of these things to me.

I leave you with a bit of old-world lore. What creature are you most drawn to and what does it mean to you?

The Dragonfly

Once, in a little pond in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened that their friend was dead - gone forever.

One day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top.

When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired and the sun felt so warm that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept his body changed, and when he woke up he had turned into a beautiful blue tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying. So, fly he did! And as he soared, he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed.

Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended!

But his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. He then understood that the time would come when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

Let the Holidays Begin!

Welcome to the beginning of Thanksgiving Week! The local radio station that plays holiday music from Thanksgiving until New Years started 2 weeks early. The stores had holiday decorations out before Halloween was even over. The shopping rush has already begun. Whether people are just making plans to hit certain stores on Black Friday or people are trying to avoid the worst part of the rush by shopping now, the stores are already bustling.

For Thanksgiving, we're taking DTTF's mom (Nana) to my grandma's house (Grandma) where my mom (Grams/Mom) is meeting us. I can hardly wait! I love getting to visit with my mom. Even though I talk to her every day or two, it's not the same as seeing her face-to-face! Plus, I can't get her to send me pictures of her new haircut, so I have to see it for myself.

Sometimes I really wish my mom and I lived nearer to each other, especially now that Tree Faerie is here. There are so many times when I would love to be able to pick up the phone to tell my mom, "Hey, could you come over for a few minutes/hours to play with Tree Faerie so I can get such-and-such done (or take a nap)?" I would have no problem asking this of my mom. When I ask DTTF's mom, I'm always afraid I'm burdening her because I know she has so much she's trying to get done with her house, her horses, her property, or barrel racing, not to mention her time-consuming job. Plus, when she comes to visit, I always feel like I need to visit with her, too. Don't get me wrong - I love my mother-in-law dearly and love talking to her. My list of Things-to-Do-When-Tree-Faerie-Is-Otherwise-Occupied just keeps growing, especially since that "otherwise occupied" usually means napping or asleep at night. Naps are not long enough to actually finish a project, and at night I need sleep, too, now more than ever.

I guess I just need to make a schedule of when I want certain things done by and have someone, even DTTF, come over to entertain her while I accomplish things.

Tangent over. Back to the original topic.

We're taking Nana with us because I don't feel right about leaving her 'alone' on Thanksgiving. If she had said she couldn't make it, we would have made plans here. I think that's the way it should be since DTTF's sister now lives in Florida and can't be here for Thanksgiving.

Speaking of my sister-in-law... SHE'S COMING IN FOR THE HOLIDAYS! (Can you tell I'm excited?) She, her husband, and her two boys (a 2.5 year old and a 2 month old) are flying in around the middle of December and will be here until after Christmas! We can hardly wait! DTTF occasionally giggles with anticipation, which is absolutely adorable.

So, enjoy the holiday music and the shopping mad-house, and make sure to tell your family how special they are to you!

Speaking of the holidays, over at An Island Life, you can enter to win Mom Spit, the alternative to the lick-and-wipe method! You can also enter to win Babylegs from Queen Baby and enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate to Out to Tea, makers of adorable hair accessories, featuring non-slip clips and adjustable fabric headbands.

Where's My Sunday Rest?

My head is stuffy and aching and I'm exhausted. Tree Faerie has been rather whiney this evening, though I don't know the specific reason. I gave her Motrin before bed and just got her tucked in. Now it's my turn.

I need a break.

Tag, I'm It!

So, Kelly the Culinarian tagged me, and since I've only done one of these since starting this particular blog in January, I thought I'd go ahead and give this one a shot.

1 How long have you been blogging?
Technically I've been blogging since May of last year after I found out I was pregnant. I'm not giving out the web address to the entire public, but if you're interested in seeing that one, let me know and I'll hook you up. This blog is my first public blog, and I started it on July 2, 2007.

2 What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
Manic Mommy and Random Faerie were both major inspirations in the starting of this particular blog. Random Faerie has been suggesting I give blogging a shot for years. I've taken her off my blogroll for the moment because her site is currently being reconstructed. She's been blogging since before blogging was cool, and it was always such a joy to read her posts. Manic Mommy is wonderful at making stressful situations hilarious with her writing style. Part of the inspiration also came from the number of blogs I read on at least a weekly basis that all seemed to have this friendship, this special bond, that I wanted to share. A lot of times I feel like I'm doing this motherhood thing all by myself. Blogging helps keep me connected with other mothers and helps boost my confidence in being a mother. It's my link to other great moms out there.

3 Are you trying to make money online or are you doing it for fun?
I'm doing this for fun, but I figured while I'm already at it, why not see if I can generate a bit of income, too! Personally, I'd love to be like Dooce and have my site support my family, but I'm not holding my breath for that one.

4 What three things do you love about being online?
A. Connectedness without having to actually meet face-to-face. I can let it all hang out here without worrying about what people think or whether or not they'll still like me tomorrow after I've said something offensive today.

B. Meeting people (okay, Kelly, I'm borrowing your last two). There are some amazing women (and men) out there, but sometimes they're hard to find. I've looked locally, and either they're in hiding like I am or there really are none locally (I prefer to believe they're hiding). So, I branched out.

C. Getting feedback. Especially getting feedback from people I know are not trying to kiss up to me for any reason. It's sad to think that people online tend to be more real than the people talking to your face, but sometimes it sure seems that way.

5 What three things do you struggle with online?
A. Tangents. I get online to look up something or do something specific (like writing a blog post), and something 'sparkly' catches my eye. Off I go, reading about some new scam or health kick instead of fulfilling my original intent.

B. & C. Okay, I can't really think of anything else I struggle with online. I, like Kelly, would like to improve my readership, though I'm slowly taking the steps to do so. Struggle is such a heavy word, though.

That's it. Now it's my turn to tag, right? Okay, hmm.

I'm going to be a puss, but I'm admitting it before you can call me one, so it's okay.

Dear Readers...

TAG!!!

Now run with it and leave me a comment if you post it on your blog!

(Oh, and Carrie, I will do your tag at some point!)

This Week in Summary

Well, folks, we made it to Friday. I was beginning to think the end of the week would never come! These trials that come our way now prepare us for future experiences, right? And what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger? And this too shall pass?

If anyone had said any of these cliches to me this week, I might have actually choked them. Or at least I would have had the urge to choke them and might have glared at them just a tiny little bit.

The High Points of this week:

• I'm really not a bad mother. I can actually take care of some things on my own and have gotten better about not panicking about the things I can't.
• I have actually gotten more than 4 hours of sleep in a row at least three times this week! It's a new record!
• I <3>
• I love baby snuggles!
• I got the flu shot, but it didn't make me sick. Plus, it gave me an opportunity to try the Vicks Vaporub (the adult kind) on a shot site that I KNOW would be sore without it. It really and truly works! (Plus, did you know it actually says on the jar that it's great for muscle and joint aches? Who knew? I'm learning a lot more now that I've started reading ENTIRE labels instead of just what I want to know.)
• I love blankets. Soft, snuggly blankets are divine! Since it's been chilly lately, I've had more opportunity to snuggle under one or two. The only thing I need to go with it is a good book and time to read it. I'll take snuggling with Tree Faerie instead, though, especially since I know I won't always have the opportunity to snuggle with her when I want to. The books can wait.

The Low Points of this week:

• Labial adhesion. Creepy, but thankfully not dangerous. We're going to monitor it instead of using the hormones right now because according to the doctor, if they have it this young, the child will usually develop it again and again. We really don't want to give her hormones, even absorbed through the skin, for years. Cross your fingers that she didn't get mine and my mother's plumbing and isn't prone to bladder and kidney infections, otherwise getting a urine sample will be difficult.
• Croup. While Tree Faerie is apparently having a "calm" case of croup, its still not much fun. She is so precious, and while I love that she wants to snuggle a lot while she is sick, I don't want her to be sick. I keep telling her to stop kissing those babies at daycare, but what can I say? I was the same way! Plus, I like having a kissy baby! I just wish she'd be a little pickier about who she kisses.
• Darkness. Why does it have to get dark so early? Plus, half of the week was even dark during the day! I NEED SUNSHINE!

Okay, so I had 6 high points and only 3 low points. That's not such a bad week! All I needed was a change in perspective!

I Love You More - A Review

As I removed the book from its packaging, I ran my hands over the dust cover, introducing myself to the book. I felt the slick raised form of the mother and child transition into the rougher, yet softer, image of the rolling hills in the background. My expectations were high for this book to be special, not only because I had been looking for a book with this message, but also because I knew the background story and had read of the author's journey through life. As I cracked the cover for the first time, I held my breath in hope and wonderment.

I Love You More not only met my expectations, it exceeded them. Laura Duksta guides you through this expression of love with wonderful words carried along by rhyme and rhythm. The images illustrated by Karen Keesler are full of color yet are simple and soft. The experience of reading this book is almost like a hug in itself!

I Love You More is a flip book - or a book that starts from either end and meets in the middle. The 'front' half is from the mother's perspective on love in response to her son asking how much she loves him. With phrases like, "I love you longer than the longest path ever found. I love you prettier than the prettiest flower ever found," this pulled at my heartstrings and dampened my eyes. My daughter kept reaching out and rubbing the colorful pictures.

When we reached the middle, we turned the book around and started the journey again from the son's perspective when answering his mother's question of how much he loved her. My favorite phrases from his perspective read, "I love you longer than the longest lollipop ever lasted. I love you louder than the loudest rocketship ever blasted." As we reached the center of the book again, I felt a sense of wonderment, love, and completeness. This book is perfect!

I Love You More is the product of Laura Duksta’s incredible personal journey in taking her biggest challenge and turning it into her biggest blessing. At the age of 11, she lost all of her hair to alopecia areata. After 19 years of wearing wigs and pretending to be someone she wasn’t, Laura made a decision on her 30th birthday to throw a coming out party as “The Bald Chick” and never looked back. While it took her many years to love herself and to allow others to love her, the lessons she learned along the way are as heartwarming as they are inspiring. She believes that when people know they are loved, anything is possible. Her mission is to share her story so that others might see that no matter what challenges they are facing, anything is possible with love. She is now fulfilling this mission through her book, school programs and inspirational talks.

Illustrator Karen Keesler earned the nickname “Hippie” from her love for people and the planet. Upon hearing about Laura’s book, Karen took a bag of pastel chalks that she bought at a yard sale for 50 cents and drew the perfect pictures for the text. Together they become known as the author and illustrator dynamic duo, Hippie and The Bald Chick.

I already have plans to buy several copies of this book for friends and family as gifts for the holidays. We will continue to read this every night before bed. What more perfect way can there be to tuck my daughter in feeling full of love and joy?

http://www.sourcebooks.com/

***Disclaimer: This is a free review. No money was exchanged or additional offers made in return for completing this review. The only transaction was the receipt of a reviewer's copy of the book. If you would like your book reviewed, please email me at asumers [at] gmail [dot] com.

Another Doctor's Visit

I don't have much time to post because I have to take Tree Faerie to the doctor again. I'm not taking her for her cough and congestion, though she has another cold right now. Oh, no. Nothing as normal as that.

***Warning: Your stomach may flip. Mine did.***

I'm taking Tree Faerie to the doctor because her labia has fused together about 85 to 90%.

*waiting for the shock to dissipate some*

I first noticed it yesterday morning, but I wasn't thinking clearly yesterday morning. After her bath yesterday evening, I took a look again just to be sure that's actually what I was seeing. Yep, that's what I was seeing. So I did some research this morning and found out that 1-2% of girls between the ages of 6 months and 6 years get this. Apparently, if the labia gets irritated, either by irritants like bubble bath or a bad diaper rash or more sinister things that I refuse to think about (and I'm absolutely certain do not apply here), when it heals, the two sides sometimes heal together. It's not necessarily dangerous, but depending on how much is fused, it can lead to bladder infections and urinary tract infections, things I'm naturally prone to anyway. Thankfully the treatment is easy and non-invasive. If they decide to treat it, the doctor prescribes an ointment that contains estrogen that you apply to the area to help it separate, then maintain the separation by treating the area with Vaseline or KY daily for a while (hopefully not 6 years, though).

So, I'm off to the doctor. Coming soon - the review for I Love You More, a fabulous flip book.

Torrential Tuesday

Rain was not in today's forecast yesterday morning, but I awoke this morning to thunderstorm warnings. The bottom just keeps dropping out of the sky at random, with mild spitting in between. Welcome to Fall in Memphis - cold and wet.

This morning Tree Faerie woke up around 5:30 very fussy. As my mind became more cognitive, I realized that she was kind of coughing/clearing her throat and was stuffy. Uh oh, I thought, another cold. I sure hope this one doesn't come with a fever.

So, I walked her, snuggled her, laid her back down, snuggled her, walked her, then finally put her in her carseat to help her breathe. We got about another hour of sleep or so that way. She was really cranky after she finally got up, and during one of her screaming fits (probably the one after I suctioned the gunk from her nose), I noticed Tooth #2 looked like it was poking through. Sure enough, it was breaking through the skin. No wonder I had a cranky baby! I gave her a dose of ibuprofen, which she took graciously. I didn't hold her down or anything! She opened her mouth, I squirted some in, she swallowed. Rinse. Repeat. I was shocked but thankful!

Once the ibuprofen kicked in, I had a happy baby again, and she didn't seem very stuffy anymore. She still coughed occasionally, but they weren't croupy-sounding. She was even dancing on the way to daycare to Prince's Let's Go Crazy! I love that kid. She is absolutely amazing!

I just called daycare to check on her, and she's still a happy baby, so I feel better. Whew!

Finally, check out this contest from Mamanista and Best Buy. You could go wireless, too!

Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day! To all the veterans I hold dear to my heart, thank you for serving this great country of ours. This includes, my mother, my step-father, my biological father, 3 uncles, and lots of friends. While I may not always agree with the reason for our military involvement in some things, I definitely support the people who serve in the military. It takes a lot of honor and commitment to endure some of the hardships you encounter, and I admire you for it. Again, thank you.

In other news...

***Warning: I'm talking about Breasts again! If you don't want to know, skip to the next ***.

I have ANOTHER plugged duct! The first one cleared out Friday night, bringing wonderful relief and leaving only a little tenderness. Yesterday evening, I discovered another one slightly to the right of where the first on was. I don't know what I'm doing that keeps causing these, but I do not enjoy them in the least. I slept with the heating pad last night, which made it feel better, and it's moving down today. The moving part is only painful when it actually moves or when it's time to pump. The rest of the time, I'm fine.

***It is now safe to read again.***

We had a good weekend. NaBloPoMo is actually rather difficult because it's hard to find time to just sit and write when I'm at home. Any down time I have at home is spent doing other things. But a short post is better than no post at all, right? Saturday night we went to a chili cookout at a friend's house in the country. I really admire that she drives SO far to come to work. I don't see me doing that in this life. We all had a great time. Sunday was spent doing laundry and taking it easy. No major drama and nothing stressful = my kind of weekend.

This morning I got my flu shot, and Tree Faerie will have hers on Saturday morning. I figure with her in daycare and me working, we can't afford to get the flu. DTTF isn't getting the flu shot, but he's a big boy and can take care of himself. I bought Vicks Vaporub just for the occasion and even shared!

For those of you who don't know, if you put Vicks Vaporub on the shot site after getting a shot, it relieves and reduces the soreness. A lady who works for one of our clients told me about this a few hours after Tree Faerie got her 4-month shots. I didn't use it immediately, but the next day her legs were really tender, and she screamed whenever the daycare teachers touched her legs. I had to go pick her up from daycare because they couldn't console her. I put Baby Vicks on her thighs as soon as we got home (and yes, she screamed), and within 30 minutes I had a happy baby again instead of a scream-monster. I've been a believer ever since.

Sunday Short

I absolutely love my daughter's laugh, especially when she seems to chuckle from her toes! A great Sunday, though we're still waiting for T00th #2 to pop up. It's taking forever and making a cranky babe.

Tribute to November

What could be better than hanging out with awesome people (including my daughter and hubby) in the cool November evening, eating chili and smores, and enjoying a bonfire?

At the moment, I can't think of anything...

Finally Friday - Breastfeeding

Well, it's finally Friday, and I'm counting down the hours until the weekend officially starts (2 hrs, 53 minutes from right now). Of course, I'm going into the weekend with a plugged duct that's working it's way out. Not fun. Thankfully it is working it's way out and not sticking around to cause mastitis. I caught it early, so I was able to begin treatment immediately. Ah, the joys of breastfeeding.

I know that breastfeeding does not work for everyone, either because of their beliefs or their bodies. Personally, I still find it amazing that my body produces Tree Faerie's food. Sometimes it amazes me even more that she actually likes it and prefers it over solid food! I think she'd nurse pretty much all day if I let her. She tries to nurse all night. Just call me Mama' Buffet...

Still, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I know I will be sad when we wean in a few months, though the bonds we created over the past 10 months will hopefully last forever. Thankfully, Tree Faerie likes to snuggle, so at least I'll still get snuggles and kisses. I want her to be weaned by the time she turns two, not because I think it's wrong for a toddler to still nurse, but because I don't think it's for me. My parenting style is mostly baby-led, so I'm hoping she'll take the reins and decide she's done nursing before I have to force the issue.

Of course, when I say force, I mean to gradually reduce the number of nursing sessions until we ultimately cut them out entirely.

And because I have a plugged duct, this is what is on my mind as we head into the weekend.

Wish It Was Friday

Can this week get any longer? I don't know if it's because of the time change or what, but this week has been dragging it's butt. Ugh. I know I don't like leaving work after dark, not because I'm afraid of the dark or anything. I don't like leaving after dark because I'm SOLAR POWERED! I don't get enough sunshine this way. I've done very well in the last few years to not get SAD (Seasonally Affected Depression), at least not as bad as I used to, but for some reason I can feel it coming on already.

I don't like Daylight Saving Time, but I would prefer we keep the DST setting on the clock instead of the regular setting. I like having more daylight in the evenings. I don't really care about the mornings. In the spring, I didn't mind that the President announced we would switch to DST early, but switching off of it late has thoroughly messed with me. And it's all due to the amount (or lack thereof) of sunshine in the evening.

So, now that I'm done complaining, on to other news...

I have over 1,500 words written in my book. Colorado Writer suggested I set a goal of 100 words a day. I immediately adopted the idea. Now, when I write 500 words, it feels like a great accomplishment. And since I'm only writing in my "spare time," I'm really glad I already have most of the story worked out in my head. It makes it easier to pick up where I left off. I'm getting less nervous about it as the story begins to unfold.

Speaking of books, I got an offer to review this children's book, and I can hardly wait for it to come in! In case I've never mentioned this before, I love doing reviews, though I usually don't do a full review without being asked to do so. I love books. I love to read them, to touch them, to smell them. Every single one of my bookshelves is overflowing with books, but I refuse to get another bookshelf because I really need to go through my books and donate the ones I don't plan to read again. I prefer fiction, though I've read a few non-fiction books that I liked. My problem with most non-fiction books is that I don't get carried through, therefore I lose interest. With a fiction book, I get carried along by the flow of the story, therefore I devour it as quickly as possible. I like light reads and heavy reads. I like many different genre's, though I'm not crazy about the romance novels full of emotional turmoil, heavy petting, then more emotional turmoil. I'm also not crazy about war stories. I love horror, fantasy, and science fiction.

I'm trying to instill my love for books in Tree Faerie. I don't know if it's working or not, but she loves to touch books (especially books she's not supposed to - like DTTF's school books), she loves to taste books (see previous note), and she loves to crinkle the pages of books (again, see previous note). I made a commitment to read to her every night before bed, no matter how many times we read during the day. We always finish with the same story, a book titled The Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. One of the neat things about always finishing with the same story is I can tell she's starting to comprehend things differently. When we first started reading this story 7 months ago, she would "talk" and kick while I was reading it. As time passed, she started responding more to the actual story. Now she sits on my lap and "helps" me turn the page and touches the pictures. She knows when we're getting to the end of the story, and when the story is done, we have to close the book, turn it over, and rub the cover hard enough to make squeaky noises. Then she pushes the book away and we're ready for bed.

I have several books on the bookshelf that I'm keeping for her to read when she gets older, books I loved when I was younger. I just hope she has a love for reading!

10 Months

Don't hold your breath for pictures. Who has time to unload their camera?

Dear Tree Faerie,

Yesterday you turned 10 months old. I know I say this every month, but my, how the time has flown! You continue to amaze me with your intelligence and independence. As each day goes by, you prove again and again that you understand what we are saying and can follow simple directions, at least as long as it is along the same lines with what you wanted to do in the first place. When we tell you no or don't or stop, you will look directly at us and shake your head. When I use both your first and middle name together, you've figured out that the next thing to happen if you don't stop what you're doing is that I'm going to stop you. You know to tell Daddy bye bye in the morning and when you're going to bed. You also tell people bye bye when you want them to go away or want to go away yourself.

This month I had to pack away all your 6-9 month clothing and start putting you in 12 month clothing. I caressed each little sundress as I carefully put it in the box. The weather is too cold for sundresses now, so you now wear cute corduroy pants and jeans with t-shirts or long-sleeved bodysuits. As always, you look adorable. I wish I could figure out how to put your hair up in a ponytail, though. It's long enough now, but I can't get you to sit still for the actual act of putting up your hair.

You attended your first Festival of Souls this year, and you were a hit. Everyone just loved you! Of course, you weren't crazy about everyone getting in your face, but you handled it well and made your wants fairly clear. You also seem to be drawn to people, especially kids, with red hair, though that's no surprise. After watching the other children at the festival, I look forward to festivals with you in the years to come. Seeing the festival through your eyes renews my sense of wonder and curiosity.

I've started a tradition with you that I hope to continue for many years. We currently practice Funky Sock Friday. Every Friday, you and I both wear funky socks of some sort, even if they don't match our outfits. Right now it's just fun for me, but I'm hoping you'll enjoy the tradition, too.

The odd things about you are intriguing. For instance, you seem to be afraid of balls and balloons that are bigger than you or seem to chase you. I have no idea why, but anytime you're faced with one, you draw away from it. If the ball or balloon doesn't "go away", you get as far away from it as possible. I'm waiting to see if this fear subsides on its own or if I need to do something to help you adjust.

You experienced your first Halloween this month, too. We all had a lot of fun, and I'm so proud of you for not being scared of the music, the lights, or your daddy trying to scare the little kids. It was great that you could laugh at him even when the kids at the door were screaming. I'm sure this comes from you and your daddy playing Daddy Scare Me all the time. I didn't buy you a costume, but I did buy Halloween pajamas for you, so that's what you wore. I still think Grams was a little disappointed that I didn't get you an actual costume or take you trick-or-treating, but I want your first trick-or-treating trip to be one that YOU will remember.

I haven't had time to take as many pictures over the last few months because I'm chasing you a lot more. Plus, every time I get the camera out, you want it, so I have a lot of pictures of you coming at the camera. I can already see I'm going to have to buy you a camera of your own when you're a little older.

Well, little bird, I think I'm ready for you to start walking now, so whenever you're ready, go for it! You're still practicing Look-Ma-No-Hands and getting better at standing unsupported for longer periods of time. I'm not rushing you, mind you. I'm just letting you know that I think I'm ready for the change. You take your time, though. I still want you to be my baby for as long as possible.

I love you, Tree Faerie!

XOXOXO,
Mama

(shhh! I've got a secret!)

lean in close and I'll tell you...

I've started writing my book. You know, the one that's been bouncing around in my head for a while now? That one. I've actually started writing it. I have a synopsis and a gameplan, and have written more than 500 words in it. I'm scared to death. I don't want it added to my list of projects-never-completed. I'm trying not to feel overwhelmed, because every time I look at the book as a whole, it seems like an impossible task. I have to look at it in small parts. Starting it was a small part. I've got several of the main points outlined in my head already, so I'm looking at those as small parts, too. Tying them in together hopefully will be easy, especially since I have that part outlined pretty well. So, I'm joining the ranks. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.

Whew! Now that my secret is out, I actually feel better. It makes it more real, more believable. Yesterday, when I started it, I only told Random, Manic, and my hubby. I toiled over the idea of telling the rest of the blogger world. This morning I decided that telling you all would be therapeutic and hopefully help commit me to writing this story.

It's time for this story to be born.

Monday Already

Monday came entirely too quickly. The time on the clock fell back an hour, but the time on the child did not, so she had me up an hour earlier than the clock said I should have been. Which is great for getting to work in a decent amount of time, but it's terrible for my sleeping habits since I tend to go by the clock. I don't feel I get enough sleep as it is.

I know I complain about my lack of sleep entirely too much. It tends to be an on-going problem, though. If I were able to get enough sleep, I wouldn't complain about it so much!

My step-dad turned 65 yesterday. My, how time has flown! I remember thinking he was old when he and my mom started dating 15 years ago, but he really doesn't seem so old now. 80 is old. 65 - not so much. In another 20 years, my perspective on 80 being old will probably change as well. My mom will be 50 in January, and while she just wants to ignore it, I'd like to do something special for her. I'm not sure what, but I'll come up with something. I won't call her out or anything, but I'd like to get or give her something memorable.

Any ideas for a new mom's budget?

Saturday Subtleties

During lunch yesterday a friend stops by to pick up something she'd left here last weekend. This is the same friend who is the poster-child for the reason to have more than one, so we'll call her OC for Only Child. This particular friend reminds me of myself sometimes, though the self she reminds me of is the self I was several years ago. Especially when she's PMSing.

You see, I used to think it was NORMAL to have absolutely no control over one's emotions for a week, and only slightly more control over what came out of one's mouth during that time, stuff which was usually illogical and emotionally-based. It wasn't until DTTF experienced my PMS first-hand that I discovered that this was not normal. He said I was the first person - outside of drama class - that could go through 7 different emotions in 3 minutes and come out of it as if nothing was unusual. He was amazed!

I'd always experienced PMS this way, and because my mother did, too, it didn't seem odd at all to me. Once DTTF and I started sharing an abode, I started tracking (mentally) my emotions and my reactions to things. I taught myself how to control my reaction. I still had the raging emotions, but the instances that I had to go back and apologize for later were much fewer and far between.

I haven't had a cycle now for a year and a half, since I still have not started my cycle after Tree Faerie's birth due to breastfeeding in combination with that little pink pill (Camilla is the brand - in case anyone is interested in a birth control pill to take while breastfeeding that doesn't make them any more nuts than motherhood does). Talking with OC yesterday made me realize how much I appreciate not having a cycle right now, especially since motherhood itself has sent me through an emotional roller-coaster anyway.

When I do start my cycle back, I hope that either it's changed for the better and won't be so straining or I remember easily everything that I had figured out before getting pregnant with Tree Faerie so that I won't be a monster once a month. At least I took the time to figure it out, which should help tremendously when Tree Faerie gets a cycle of her own. Hopefully she'll have a cycle more like her Nana (DTTF's mom) than mine, but just in case, I'm prepared.

Waiting

This is a lame post because I'm waiting and only have a short amount of time. I'm waiting on lunch to finish cooking and I'm waiting on DTTF's mom to come by. I'm waiting to see if we are going to a movie or staying home. I'm just waiting...

Oh! Lunch is ready!

To Be or Not to Be...

...pregnant, that is.

Before you ask, no, I'm not pregnant. I can hear a few sighs of relief from here, including my own. People keep asking me now that Tree Faerie is approaching 10 months if I plan on having anymore and if so, when.

My kid-free, rather eccentric friend has a hard time imagining us having another child because of all the 'stress' it would add. This particular friend is also an only child herself, and she's actually a good example of reasons to have more than one. I love my friend dearly, however she is rather spoiled and needs a lot of attention. I've met both of her parents, and they're wonderful people who loved their daughter with all their hearts and provided all they could for her (and still do).

I am not an only child. I'm the oldest of 5. My mom provided me with a half-brother, and my dad provided me with two half-sisters and one half-brother (who I haven't met yet, but he'll turn 7 in a few months). I grew up with my brother and only saw my sisters once or twice a year. My brother and I did not get along very well, but I still love him dearly.

My husband is not an only child, either. He has a wonderful younger sister who now has two boys, the newest of which was born on September 28th. When she was talking to DTTF about whether or not to have more, she told him that she definitely wanted another because of the relationship that she has with DTTF. She couldn't (or wouldn't want to) imagine life without him and wanted to provide her first son with the opportunity to have that sibling bond. When they were growing up, they may have fought and argued, but if anyone tried to pick on one of them, the other stepped in. I really admire their relationship.

I know I definitely want another one, but I don't want another one right now. I've done quite a bit of research on the subject - talking to people about their childhood experiences, their parenting experiences, and reading all I could get my hands on about childhood development and birth-spacing - and I think that if DTTF and I are going to try for another one, I'd like the child to be born when Tree Faerie is about 2 1/2. Otherwise, I'd prefer to wait until she's 4 or 5. I gave DTTF the heads up that about this time next year I will broach the subject of having another child. At first he panicked, which is why I brought it up now, and since then he's been doing little things to try and prepare.

Part of the reason I chose these time-frames is so that I don't miss any of Tree Faerie's milestones and hopefully can time it during one of the least-stressful growth periods. I know some stress is to be expected, but I'm hoping to make this as easy as possible.

Tree Faerie was planned, and well planned, I might add. We decided on a time frame for getting pregnant based on insurances and the like and saved up money to prepare for her arrival. Granted, there were a few things we didn't figure in, such as her contracting RSV when she was 2 months old or both of our ACs going out this summer, but we've made it and things are getting easier. We would like to plan for our next child even better.

So, until then, I will continue taking my little pink pill, and I'll continue to be careful when I forget to take my little pink pill. I know I'm very lucky that Tree Faerie came so easily to us, and I pray the next one is just as easy. If Tree Faerie is the only child I'm blessed with, though, I certainly will not be disappointed, for she is the perfect child for us.

Growing Old Gracefully?

I looked in the mirror and what did I see
but a wiggly grey hair looking back at me.
It begged for a plucking but I just knew
that 5 more would grow where the first one grew.
So now that grey hair is on my mind.
I can't look in the mirror 'cause I'm afraid to find
A thousand more growing on this head
That used to be brown with a hint of red.
Should I race for the bottle to color these locks
And pick a new color that totally rocks?
Or do I just sit back and let them all take root
And convince myself that I don't give a toot?
Oh what a wonderful dilemma I'm in
For no matter which way I choose, I really can't win.
My hair's going grey no matter what I do
So I'll just sit here and complain to you.

(c) Andrea Sumers 11/1/2007

All Souls Day

We had a FABULOUS time last night! It was very similar to last year, only this year I didn't dress up. We had the door propped open and the music blaring again, and George-the-talking-head was set up on the table in front of the door. I strung my purple lights inside the door, and Tree Faerie and I met the trick-or-treaters at the door to give them candy. While I was doling out the candy (and I'm not stingy about it, either), DTTF would come out from behind a curtain weilding my axe. He toned it down some for the younger kids, but really revved it up for the older ones. We got a few good screams and one really GREAT scream. I told her after she stopped that she should be in movies with that scream! I told DTTF later that I would have been surprised if she hadn't wet herself! It was a blast! Some of the same kids from last year came around this year, too, so I think we're going to mix things up a bit next year. I'm working on ideas for a Haunted Walk, so to speak.

Tree Faerie handled it all beautifully. She's used to her daddy trying to scare her anyway, so she just squealed and laughed at him. At first, she was a bit confused by the music and darkness, and George-the-talking-head made her nervous at first, but pretty soon she was rolling with the flow of things. I've got a few pictures that I need to download off my camera and post.

Since we're on the subject of DTTF scaring Tree Faerie, let me elaborate a bit. Tree Faerie is her mother's child and proves it by jumping when you startle her, even when she's expecting it! She then giggles and squeals, just like her mother. One of her favorite games is "Daddy, Scare Me!" It is absolutely hilarious to watch! Granted, she usually runs to me and tries to climb on me when he does it, but she always wants more.

This morning I actually scared her by accident, but it was priceless! She sits in the bathroom with me when I take a shower, and usually I talk to her. Well, this morning I was feeling rather introspective, so I wasn't talking, but she was. When I got out of the shower and was putting my hair up in the towel, I was bent over in front of her (and yes, I've imagined it from her perspective, and yes, it's scary, but she's surviving okay; at least she stopped laughing every time I bend over in front of her like she used to!) when I realized I'd been very quiet throughout my shower. I peeked around at her and made some sort of noise at her, and she jumped and started giggling! It was great!

Now it's time to get ready for the rest of the upcoming holidays. I've got ideas for DTTF's gifts, but I'm really considering getting Tree Faerie a convertible car seat for Yule and leave the toys and such for the grandparents. Is that wrong of me?

By the way, I'm participating in NaBloPoMo instead of NaNoWriMo this year. Check it out!