The Outlet

No Baby Yet!

2010-11-01T22:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I am now T-minus 6 days until my due date for Baby Girl Coleman. I'm progressing, but nothing big has happened yet. Of course, (all us moms and dads know) this can change in the blink of an eye. As I write this, Don is putting her car seat in the car. I've packed her bag and the boys' bags in case of an overnight stay somewhere. I just need to pack my bag and wrap up some odds and ends, so I guess we're as ready as we'll be.

The funny thing is that each of my pregnancies have gone progressively later. Brennan arrived 3-1/2 weeks before his due date, Aidan arrived 6 days before his due date, and so it appears that we're going a little longer with her. Here's hoping I don't go OVER the due date. :0)

Back in the Saddle Again

2010-09-22T20:04:00.003-04:00

Here it is! A new post for everyone who doesn't read my blog. :0) However, I'm so ashamed that it's been 8 months, I don't blame anyone. Well, I'll do an update blog.

Since January, I had my 34th birthday and I still feel like I'm 28 (thank you mom and dad for good genes). But right after that, the bigger thing I discovered was that I was pregnant with our third child!! Probably many of you don't know this because we didn't really send out an email announcing anything. It's not that this one is any less than the others, but partly we were like "whoa" (it was a tiny surprise, but yes, we know how babies are made!) and partly because I was a bit anxious about my pregnancy. I'm not sure why, I was just scared something might go wrong. Crazy thoughts. I am now 33-1/2 weeks along and things are great. It's also pretty exciting because we're having a GIRL! So now, that you know, we'll keep you posted as things get closer to B-day on November 7.

Let's see, the spring was pretty calm, as I was nauseous a lot of the time and then we rolled into summer and started traveling. We went up to Canada for Don's birthday in June, I went to Atlanta for a girls' weekend with my college peeps. Then the first week in August, Don & I went to Sanibel Island, FL for a trip ALONE. His mom and brother watched the boys while we lounged along the beach. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary which happened on August 19. It was uber-relaxing.

Once we got back from that trip though, things started getting busy. We had some seminary friends visit, which was fabulous, then Don went to Honduras for a week, then we had some more wonderful friends arrive, then we went on "stay-cation" here at home and enjoyed that. Then, BAM! It's September and now we're into fall church stuff, I'm planning MOPS stuff, we're getting ready for baby, and we just had a most stupendous visit with some Cali-friends.

So that's pretty much the update. I will try to be better about this...truly. But I have been doing well with Facebook, so check me out on there too. But don't be surprised if, come November, none of that gets attention for a few weeks. :0)

*These most recent pictures are from when our friends, Tim & Dave were here. Since they're SoCal guys, we had to go apple-picking and to the county fair. It was great!

4 Years...4 Years?!

2010-01-11T22:26:00.004-05:00

Today Brennan turned four. I can't believe that he's four already. I know I'll probably be typing the same thing when he's five, then six, then sixty (yes, I do plan on living until 89...at least! :0). It's one of those things you always hear but don't really get much until your doing it - time does go by quickly with your kids. One minute they're crapping through their diapers, the next minute they're crapping through their underwear. Well, I guess there's comfort in consistency :0).

Seriously, Brennan is getting to be such a big boy. Putting on his own clothes, picking up after himself, telling me not to talk with my mouth full. It's just so neat to watch an entire person form before your eyes. To see him grow physically is cool, but really it's the growth I've seen in how he thinks and perceives things. How thoughtful he is. How he wants to take care of Aidan and offers to "watch" him while I take a shower.

It's also been wonderful to watch his spiritual growth. To have him asking questions about God and even teaching me profound things in his own words is such . For instance, today I was trying to take a shower and had Aidan locked in the bedroom with me. We have a master bath off our bedroom and so I shut the door and took one of my fastest showers ever. All the while, I'm thinking, "please don't let him pull the dresser down on himself" or "don't eat my diamond earrings that are in the box that he could grab off the dresser and easily pry open in seconds." All these things are going through my head and then I just wished I had Brennan in there to play with Aidan. Two minutes 23 seconds later, I open the door and Brennan is sitting there playing with his brother. So I told him he was an answer to prayer because I was worried about Aidan. He said, "Mommy, you shouldn't be surprised. You know God is here." Wow.

So now, my little "baby" is four years old. Brennan and I watched the special video Don and I made about him during his first year and I was not trying to blubber the entire time. I already miss that. But I am truly excited to see what this next year will hold and what new things I'll learn from him.

I Won't Give Up Yet!

2009-11-27T15:56:00.005-05:00

Okay, I decided I'll keep it up and use this for 15 minutes of "me" time too. Or throw a note up when I can. So....what to write about today?.. Well, we had our first snow today! I was so excited to wake up this morning and see snowflakes falling and sticking! It was as if the Christmas season was being ushered in. So we'll have our annual "Snow Party" today. We usually make paper snowflakes and then bake snowflake-shaped cookies or something. Of course, now later in the day, the snow is gone. Hopefully, it'll come again soon. If it's going to be cold, I want something to show for it.

These were the good ol' days.

On another note, my smallest child is not sleeping, as usual. He's not been taking his afternoon naps and it's driving me crazy. Oh, I still put him up in bed and yesterday after an hour of being up there he fell asleep. He doesn't cry the whole time but off and on he whines and hearing that is also maddening. The funny growling noises he makes are good though. I think this means it's time to cut out the morning nap. I did this the other day as a trial. He did sleep in the afternoon, but I dealt with gremlin baby the whole morning. So, I guess I need to figure out what's more important. Gremlin baby or complete "alone" time, gremlin baby or complete "alone" time. I know for right now, I need an oreo. :0)

Should I Even Bother?

2009-11-17T15:25:00.002-05:00

I don't know how you do it. I keep trying and trying and failing miserably - that is, in keeping my blog updated. How do you guys get the chance to type out a wonderful entry while balancing kids, chores, jobs, more chores, and "you" time? You pretty much amaze me. So I'm grappling with whether or not I should just close this site down and be done with it. I don't know if people even read this...maybe I'm talking to myself here....

Up Way Too Late

2009-08-11T02:44:00.001-04:00

The time on the computer clock reads 2:44am. Yes, I'm still up. My mom left tonight, I was paying bills and searching online for a job. I know this isn't the best time to do these things, but honestly I sometimes don't know when else I could do it. I guess I need to take a time management course someday when I have time. Right now, I just need to get to bed...

Not Sure What I Just Did

2009-06-30T00:44:00.002-04:00

I want my blog to look more "put together" like some of my other friends. However, all I found was just changing the template and I'm not so sure what I need to do to increase my aestetics. Keeks, Juj, T-Rex some help, please?

The Unassailable Logic of a Three-Year-Old

2009-05-31T21:54:00.002-04:00

Here's a conversation Brennan had today with the nursery worker at church:

Michelle - "Brennan, do you need to go to the bathroom?"
Brennan - "No."
Michelle - "Well, maybe Thomas on your underwear needs to go pee."
Brennan - "But Thomas doesn't have a penis."
Michelle - "Does your penis need to go pee?"
Brennan - "No, but my testicles might."
Michelle - "Do your testicles need to go pee?"
Brennan - "No, they don't have a penis."

There you have it, folks!

Missing My Friends and Family

2009-05-01T14:55:00.003-04:00

I've really been missing my friends and family a lot lately - those that aren't nearby, that is. I got to talk with a couple of good friends from seminary today and though it wasn't very long, but the laughter came easy and the love that I have in my heart for them just longed to give them big hugs. I've been very bad at keeping in touch lately: calling people, checking emails, updating my blog, and notoriously going on Facebook.

I've been trying to figure out the problem and I honestly don't know what it is. I mean sure, I have two kids that are little and church activities or other social obligations, but so does everyone else and they seem to go on Facebook every day. So I'm trying again. I think I need to have a set time that I do computer stuff. A specific hour a day could be good. I think part of my problem is I always feel something pulling at me and I feel bad being on the computer when my laundry is out of control, dishes are piled up, and dust bunnies are watching Ni-hao Kai-lan with Brennan. I'm not going to give up though, so please, dear friends and family, don't give up on me either. Please know you are loved so very much - even if I'm not online.

Three Years Ago Today...

2009-01-11T22:56:00.005-05:00

So of course I gotta start off my post like this. Because in all honesty it is truly unbelievable that Brennan is three years old today. Sure every mom says this when her little one has a birthday...because it's the truth. In many ways, the three years seems like it has gone so slow because a million other things have happened: we were in the middle of seminary, the process of getting a job, graduating from seminary, me leaving a job, leaving good friends, moving, meeting new friends, oh and the birth of a second child just to name a few.

On the other hand, it seems like these three years have flown by. Sometimes, I look at my "big" boy and I have a vision of him taking his first steps or I'm trying to remember when he couldn't talk. And with Aidan looking so much like Brennan as a baby I feel like I have deja vu all the time. We sat down with Brennan the other day and watched the DVD we made of his first year of life (Christmas present to all the grandparents back in '06 - definitely recommend doing this) and he loved seeing himself as a baby. He kept wanting to watch more "episodes." And of course, I'm beside him blubbering.

It happens so quickly. However, as much as I miss seeing him as a baby, I love getting to know him more as a person. All the clever things he says, his little facial expressions, his big heart, how he's learning - all of these things are what makes it get better. So I'll cherish the past, soak in the present, and look forward to what he'll be like in the future. After all, he is one one cool little man.

A Funny Conversation

2008-12-14T21:00:00.006-05:00

So Don and I had some welcome and needed time away from the little ones this past Thursday. We decided to go to a nice lunch together at BJ's Brewery - a place I missed from the SoCal days - and then do a little shopping followed by a movie. We had a great time together, but the nicest little highlight of my day was when we stopped into a game store to look at some board games. Don was over looking in one section and I was around the aisle looking in another. Following is what I was privy to overhear:

Saleswoman: "Sooo,...you found the coolest game section."

Don: "Absolutely." (no eye contact)

Saleswoman: "I like to play strategy games too...unlike some other women."

Don: "Uh huh." (still no eye contact)

Saleswoman: "I play (some games I don't know/remember), but I also play Risk and Stratego, so I'm not a complete nerd or anything."

Don: "Oh, wow."

Saleswoman: "Settler's of Catan is a good one."

Don: "Yeah, that is a good game."

The conversation stopped there because another patron asked the saleswoman a question. So you can guess my response as I overheard this woman hitting on my husband, for if you didn't realize it that was what she was definitely doing, I was crackin' up inside! I stood there with a little smile on my face the whole time as she listed as many of her fine attributes as she could in 30 seconds. I mean I can't blame her, I think Don is quite good-looking myself. It was just really funny and I wish the other patron hadn't bothered her...I wanted to see how long it would be until she gave Don her digits.

Busting on the Buffets

2008-11-24T22:01:00.006-05:00

If you read our family blog, you saw that last week we were in Myrtle Beach on a family vacation with Don's family. It was super fun and I truly enjoyed being surrounded by Canadians the whole week :0). However, there was one part in particular that I do not have fond memories of: the seafood buffet.

First of all, I am NOT a seafood person. I do like salmon and tuna, with the little bespectacled tuna guy smiling back at me. But I draw the line there: no crustaceans, no bottom feeders, nothing that could possibly move off of my plate. However, my husband does like seafood and I knew that he really wanted to get some great seafood being by a beach and all. So it was with sacrifice that we went to a seafood place on a double date with my sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Chris.

Now we weren't searching for a buffet because none of us really wanted that. We wanted just a nice seafood place. Unfortunately, everywhere we looked said "buffet." Finally, we saw a place that made no mention of buffet but did say "fresh local seafood." We were all hungry so we ended our expedition and went on in. We should've known something was up when Blackbeard the Pirate greeted us at the door and then the host asked if we had any coupons. As he walked us through the restaurant, we of course saw that it was a buffet. I inwardly groaned, but we kept on moving to the table not sure if we should leave right then. Hush puppies and sauce were shoved in our faces and Don started eating them right away. Even after that, we were still ruminating whether or not we should leave. In the end, our stomach growling won and we stayed.

I never realized how much I truly disliked buffets or seafood until that evening. First of all, it was super expensive. This made me mad because it's a rip off for two reasons: 1) you're never going to eat the amount of food you'd need to offset the cost and 2) the food is never really that good. Now I don't know if my tastes have become more discerning through the last few years or if I'm just missing the simpler buffet days (and way cheaper!) of Ponderosa (awww man, did I used to LOVE some Ponderosa). Second, is the quality, as I just mentioned. You never know how long the food has been sitting, no matter how "fresh" they claim it is. So Connie and I decided to split a steak and baked potato and get the salad and dessert bars. Don & Chris opted for the seafood buffet.

I began with my salad and had to avert my eyes from all the hapless creatures staring back at me at the seafood buffet. I thought the salad bar was not bad, but my nice thoughts ended when I tasted a seafood-flavored cucumber, like it had been soaked in the little critters' bath water. Who knows, it was probably my mind playing tricks on me, but the damage was done - no more salad. Well, our steak finally arrived along side Larry the Lobster, Chris' extra entree and I about barfed because there he was in his entirety - beady eyes and all. Meanwhile, Don is cracking legs and shells on the other side of me and I couldn't even look over. I tried my steak, not bad, but not worth the price we paid. After all of this, Connie and I headed to the dessert bar and our hopes went up when we saw the treats. We grabbed a bunch of things, thinking the rest of the meal would be redeemed. Alas, we were mistaken.

The best part of the evening was being sans kids and getting to hang out with Connie and Chris. The worst, well, reread the above. So, with the exception of breakfast buffets, I think I'll stay away. Unless, the buffet somehow finds me again...

The Longest Day...

2008-11-09T22:05:00.002-05:00

Four pairs of pajamas, two sets of sheets (one washed twice), three pillows, and one bottle of pedialyte equals the longest day ever. Brennan started throwing up last night around 10:00pm and it didn't end until about 10:00am this morning. Needless to say, by the time I got the two boys in bed tonight I felt like I'd been awake for three days in a row. I'm now sitting and relaxing with Don. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a much shorter day. :0P

Ready for a Change

2008-11-05T23:58:00.004-05:00

So the presidential race is over - finally! I'll tell you I was really getting tired of things by the end. But I was excited with the outcome. For a while I was torn about who I was going to vote for. I definitely liked and respected both men. And in either case our country would make history with either the first female VP or the first African American pres. Both very cool. I thought John McCain could bring a lot to the presidency just as he has to the senate for the last three decades. He's experienced, fair-minded, and patriotic among other things. However, I also thought Obama could make a great president, too. He's compassionate, motivated, and goal-oriented among other things.

What it came down to for me, and why I voted for Barack Obama on Tuesday, was that after looking at both candidates' positions on the issues, I realized I agreed on more things with Obama and was excited about a number of the changes he proposes. On some of the social issues, I obviously disagreed with him, but I also disagreed with John McCain on some. And really on a number of the issues, such as immigration, they were very similar in their views and proposals.

I also appreciated that, throughout the campaign, Obama seemed to articulate his plans better and specify what exactly he wanted to do. I felt McCain was a little more vague. So while John McCain's 30 years of experience in the Washington establishment is good and has been a great service to our country, I believe that having someone who has not been entrenched in Washington as long can be a good thing. Someone with some fresh approaches and a willingness to do things a little differently. My wish now is that no matter who we all voted for, the divisions of the parties can come together and work with our new president to make this country - our country - the one that we all hope for.

Being a Mom of Two...

2008-09-06T16:34:00.004-04:00

...is freakin' hard! Not that I expected a walk in the park, but seriously it's A LOT. Of course, I'm enjoying being at home with my boys, but it's quite convenient how you forget what it's like to have an infant (I believe this memory relapse is the only way people have more than one) and top that with a 2-1/2 year old who has just recently decided to enact his two-year-old tantrum rights and you have simply, mayhem.

OK, not all the time. But it gets a little crazy on those days when everything happens at once. I need to remember that Aidan is only 6 weeks and we are still in "survival mode" as I dub the first three months. So things will get better and I will find the time to eat, bathe, and clean the house, right?

*Disclaimer: The third child above is not mine...that cutie (Ella) belongs to my girlfriend Kate, who is also a newly minted "mom of two".

Veggie Monster? C'mon!

2008-06-23T23:28:00.004-04:00

(Copyright 2008: ally.escapist.nu/cookiemonster/)

So I heard that the geniuses at Sesame Street are thinking of making a change: turning Cookie Monster into Veggie Monster in response to the childhood obesity epidemic. Now, in my research on Google and even on Sesame Street's website, I didn't turn up any concrete evidence confirming this and in fact only found information saying the rumors are not true (and have actually been around since 2006). It makes me very happy that no change has been made.

First of all, cookie monster has been a cultural icon for so many children since the late 1960's. Second, as I recall from my own childhood, Cookie Monster ate more than just cookies. In fact, he'd eat just about anything within his fuzzy, blue arm's length including fruit, vegetables, meat, letters, salt and pepper shakers, etc. Third, as my friend Darren pointed out, whenever he ate cookies, most of the goody went flying around him and didn't even get in his mouth, and many times he'd have milk with them. But most important, doesn't the fight against childhood obesity truly rest with the most influential people in a child's life - that is, the parents?

I won't deny that snack companies and the fast food industry prey on the sweet-tooth cravings of our kids and so it's good, to some extent, that they're being called to a higher level of responsibility, but really who is the most responsible? Parents. We can't shirk our responsibility nor can we rely on culture to help our kids know what healthy foods are and to eat healthy portions and to have healthy limits on sweets. We have to tell that to our kids, and more importantly model it for them.

So it's good that Sesame Street isn't making any crazy changes regarding the googly-eyed monster we all adore. Change needs to take place at home and I'll tell you, in our house, the Strawberry Monster definitely works for Brennan (especially when it's his dad).

Wow! A New Record!

2008-06-17T22:54:00.004-04:00

So it seems that I was averaging a blog post about once a month, but now I've gone above and beyond in my posting skills (or lack thereof) and am posting TWO months after my last post. Kudos to me, right?.....

Okay, maybe not. But trust me, if I posted every time I thought about something funny or wry or just plain ordinary, then there'd be a ton on here. Problem is I have a two year-old and unlike some "supermoms," I have yet to find a good balance between writing and taking care of him, oh and then cleaning (both the house or myself), running errands, doing something fun, yadda yadda. So, try as I might, the blog falls to the way side until a good friend points out that I haven't posted in many moons, or my own inner conscience demands that I sit down for two minutes to write something. As it is, it's 11:00pm right now and I really need to go to bed.

So, you'll have to wait until my next post to hear about Brennan's most recent funny sayings, our trip to CO, or our first trip to the ER for Brennan (don't worry there was no real damage). If you're intrigued enough, hopefully you'll come back and check to see if I've posted before August :0).

P.S. This is Brennan's "Risky Business" pose. Just like blogging seems like risky business to me lately...is the connection there? I'm grasping folks, work with me :0P

Going It Alone

2008-04-04T22:28:00.003-04:00

So I am officially on a "break." Well, for about another 18 hours. I'm currently sitting at a bed and breakfast not far from our house. After a very stress-filled last few weeks and just feeling a bit weary the last month and a half, I finally declared to Don that I was feeling burned out and needed a break. A true break. Not just an hour or two by myself or the three of us together, but actually leaving them and spending some time alone.

So my wonderful husband got the idea and booked me an evening at a very affordable local bed and breakfast and took Brennan for most of the day today and all day tomorrow. We also did squeeze in a little dinner date tonight by the generosity of some friends who took Brennan for a couple of hours.

So after an early baby doc appointment this morning and my MOPS meeting, I was on my own. I told a couple people about my solo adventure and they all asked, "So what are you going to do?" And I realized that I had no clue. It's been so long since I've truly been alone, no little one tagging along, no husband hanging on my every word :0), not even the cat twisting around my legs to get some attention. Alone.

So I began by grabbing myself a bite to eat, then browsed in Old Navy for baby and mommy clothes, then wandered over to Barnes and Noble and got caught up in the latest issue of People magazine. None of these seem like very astounding or magnificent activities, but it was wonderful to be able to do it. Sometimes it's the simple things that are most appreciated.

This evening I've been relaxing here at the B&B, chatting up the proprieter, and now doing some writing (yes, I realize it's been almost two months but, as I said, craziness). After breakfast (being made for ME), I'll do some reading/devotions and just spend some time in prayer before checking out. This is the other thing that I've been longing for. Time alone...with God.

Yes, I know I can have that when Brennan's napping, but when no one has any undergarments to wear, the dishes are going on strike from not being cleaned, and the dust bunnies are taking up permanent residence on the couch to watch TV, my mind gets preoccupied.

So this time away is also time with. Time with the one who I've been missing a lot lately and feeling drawn in to spend that quality time together. Time with the God's living word. Time with God's presence. As it says in Ecclesiastes, "there's a time for everything under heaven." Well, this is now my time.

I Hate Being Sick!

2008-02-06T10:55:00.001-05:00

Well, I've been sick for the last three days now, and I mean really sick. Everything aches, I get tired walking from the top floor to the bottom, Brennan feels about ten times heavier to me, coughing, sneezing, etc. etc. I really hate being sick and also being pregnant (i.e. can't take any drugs to help), having to keep track of an energetic toddler (i.e. "Let's watch the Elmo again, Brennan."), and trying to keep the house somewhat clean (i.e. I guess I really should wipe up the apple juice that was spilled on the floor...).

But through all of this, I've been thinking about today, Ash Wednesday. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to make our church's Ash Wednesday service, which stinks because Don is leading it and it sounds like it will be powerful. Our church is focusing on service through this time of Lent. About going out. So as I've thought about what to give up - maybe chocolate again (although this never works with Valentine's Day and my birthday in there), TV, beets? - I realize one of the best things I can give up, or rather give, is my time. Time is precious to all of us and I realize all to often that I don't give enough of it to God. Be it in devotions, service, volunteering, whatever. So many times, I say, "I just don't have time for that", when in reality I know I have the time if I make the time.

So that's what I'm going to do this Lent. I'm going to give my time - even if it's a half hour - and see how God works.

Just Plain Sad

2008-01-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

So yes, I've also heard the news of Heath Ledger's untimely death. When Don told me I was shocked and said how awful it was. Initially Don attributed me saying this because he was an actor. While "10 Things I Hate About You" is one of my favorite movies and I've always appreciated his acting mettle, really, it's sad because he was young, seemingly healthy, and left behind a beautiful two-year-old daughter. It's sad when anyone, actor or not, dies at such an age when life is supposed to be just beginning.

And what REALLY is sad is the following quote that I took from an MSN article:

"Outside the Manhattan building on an upscale street, paparazzi and gawkers gathered, and several police officers put up barricades to control the crowd of about 300. Onlookers craned their necks as officers brought out a black body bag on a gurney, took it across the sidewalk and put it into a medical examiner's office van.

As the door opened, bystanders snapped pictures with camera phones, rolled video and said, "He's coming out!""

This is ridiculous and disgusting. It's bad enough that paparazzi dog these people when they're alive, but to have people screaming and taking pictures as a gurney is rolled out bearing his dead body?! Get a grip! I remember my brother, who lives in this same NYC neighborhood, telling me how he saw Heath Ledger at the laundromat one day and how cool he was. This was a man, plain and simple, and to have his death denigrated and made to be some circus show is just plain sad.

I guess I should grab my camera when I head to my next funeral.

Wild Kingdom

2008-01-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, maybe my friend Heidi is rubbing off on me. We used to frequently go for walks in the mornings at Princeton along a pretty canal that ran behind our apartment buildings, both for the exercise and the fellowship (something I dearly miss). And it would never fail that at some point during our walk she'd see some woodland creature. A bird, deer, fox, snake, turtle. It was as if they came out just to say "Hi" to her. I used to call her Dancing Cloud.

So I just looked into my backyard and I was astounded by the amount of birds I saw. There were four blue jays, two woodpeckers, and - I'm not even kidding you - 30 robins. Now trust me, spring is no where near here. It's currently 18 degrees out, but it feels like 4. So why they're all flying around and chirping all over the place has got me, but it was a welcome sight and a pleasant reminder of a great friend. I believe I can call myself Running Water now.

Sisterhood

2008-01-10T15:12:00.000-05:00

So I stayed up late the other night (even though I know I shouldn't have) watching Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It's based on a book, which I have not read, but if the movie is any indication the book must be really good. If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, it's basically about a group of four girlfriends - one of whom is named Bridget, funny! - who are going to be apart for the first time over a summer and how a pair of jeans knits them all together (pun intended :0).

Now it could be because it was late, it could be because my hormones are out of whack, but I found myself crying a few times over as I watched. When I thought about it the next day, I think what really got me was the girls' deep friendships and it made me think of how I have been immensely blessed with wonderful female friendships throughout the phases of my own life. High school, college, seminary. They all brought me friendships that I cherish to this day. And I think that has been one of the hardest things moving to Ohio - I simply miss them.

But my comfort is this. If a pair of pants can keep friends together, how much more can God keep us together - me and my friends. Our friendships are based on a foundation that will not give way. A foundation that is solid, true, and deep. So for all of my beloved friends reading this post, this is why I know that even though miles separate us, our friendships will stand the test of time. And for me, that is enough right now.

P.S. FYI, there's a "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" coming out. Hmmm....those must be some pants. I gotta get me a pair.

New Year; New Look!

2008-01-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I've decided to freshen up my blog a bit and give it a new look to celebrate this new year. A little simpler looking, a little more color, and a little more...more. Don helped me with the sidebars and other fun stuff. I'll add some more things with his assistance soon, and yes, I do plan on blogging regularly. I won't call it a New Year's resolution, let's just say I'm making some changes. :0)

Christmas in Florida

2007-12-26T12:42:00.000-05:00

Well, Nano WriMo has long since come and gone. Some of you may be wondering how I did. If I made it to the 50,000-word mark. If I'm currently signing a contract for a book deal. Well, I had a total of 356 words...or less, I can't quite remember, but that was about it. Oh well, so my bestseller won't come out now.

We're now in Florida spending Christmas in the sunshine with my mom (aka Grandma Kathy). We got here yesterday and will be here until Jan. 3. We're looking forward to seeing some sights including Sea World, Downtown Disney, Universal Citywalk and some other Orlando sights.

I hope that your Christmas and New Year's holidays are full of joy as you celebrate with family and friends.

Bidgette's Month of November

2007-11-02T23:34:00.000-04:00

Yes, aside from Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations, I've decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month - NaNoWriMo for short. I am super excited! I've been wanting something for awhile that would help kick-start my writing and get me motivated to simply...write. And this is it! The basic idea is that you write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. This is an average of 1,667 words per day - whoa! I know it sounds nuts, but I'm totally into it and think it's just what I need right now. There's no editing or proofing (which will be hard for me) of what you write, you just write.

You can check out the website via the link to the right. You may be able to access my novel, but I'm not sure how that goes. Maybe I have to give permission? Well, if you are interested in reading along as I write and offering moral support, let me know and I'll see what I need to do.

As an aside, I totally realize that it's been two and a half months since my last post :0( (this seems to be a pattern), but I offer no excuses - even though I can list a bunch. I figure the photo blog is the more important one to keep up with since everyone wants to see pictures. But I'm going to try harder throughout this month...in between my 50,000 words. :0)

Settling In & Traveling Around

2007-08-07T21:59:00.000-04:00

Well, Don has been giving me a lot of grief about updating my blog...and yes, I will say it, he was right. :0) I've been woefully lax in keeping this updated since we've moved to Ohio. Needless to say, it's been a busy last month. So let me give you the lowdown on what's been happening.

We got here on June 27 and our movers arrived the next day. After spending that week trying to get everything we needed unpacked and then getting some other things in order, we had our very first guests, our good friends Jenn, Brad and little Paige came and stayed (and Brennan adored having a playmate his age). The next week my dad came and stayed for an extended weekend and it was great having him see our new home. Finally, we had an old Bel Air Pres. alum, Rourke, stop in for an overnight stay.

Here are our visitors:

Brennan enjoying his new favorite toy from Grandpa!

Hitting the ball for the first time.

A "nice" game of Carcasonne.

All this while still trying to settle in and preparing for Don's ordination on July 22 in Los Angeles. We headed out to L.A. on the 18th. The ordination service was beautiful and we had so many people there that were dear to us. It meant a lot to have friends and family celebrating the end of the seminary journey with us since they were there for the beginning. Don could only stay for the weekend, but Brennan & I stayed for a week longer. We had a great time and got to hang out with lots of people. We returned to Ohio last Tues and then two days later I was on my way to NY for a baby shower and to spend time with some of the six-pack. Good times...good times... :0). I got back late Saturday and so now am back to house stuff. And somewhere in all of this I finished the 6th Harry Potter book - I just have one word for it - AWESOME!! (Dave, Lindsey, we definitely need to talk soon :0).
Now on to some pensees (thoughts en francais, ask Pascal).

I love to travel. I wish actually that I could travel more, but babies; although small in size, still aren't the most portable considering all the gear that goes along with them and the fact that they have their own schedule to adhere to. I learned this partially in L.A. being by myself with Brennan for a week. It was definitely great fun and ended up being better than I thought. I was nervous because it was the first time I would be alone with Brennan for that long, but it all just flowed. Once we got home, I had to get ready for my solo trip to Dryden, NY. This was fun because I had some alone time. The radio/CD player was my companion. Let me tell you, there are funny things on the radio. The first thing I heard was a DJ say you're listening to blah-blah channel, the "family-friendly station." Now, I've been hearing this phrase used a lot, but never heard it followed up by Prince. I didn't realize he and family-friendly went together. This gave me a laugh. The second funny thing I hear as I'm driving was on a country station that came up as I was scanning. Someone crooning "...and all the trucks were broke..." (I kid you not).

At any rate, even though I was sad to leave L.A. and my friends in NY, even though I like going away somewhere, it's also nice to come home. Especially now, when we just got brand new flooring and carpeting and we can begin to finally paint and then hang things up on the wall. We're still in the fun decorating/furnishing part (especially for the two empty rooms). Too bad when you buy a house, no one gives you $10,000 Home Depot gift cards.

P.S. I'll add some L.A. and NY pics on the next post.

Happy Birthday to My Wonderful Husband...And to My Sister, Too!

2007-06-04T23:45:00.000-04:00

Today is Don's birthday - 29 years he has been on this earth. For the last eight, I have been here to celebrate his birthdays with him. I can't tell you enough how blessed I am to have Don as a husband. Truly, he is one of the best men I know. He loves the Lord, he's thoughtful, energetic, a great father, talented, smart, fun-loving, always has a smile on his face or a joke to say, is easy on the eyes, and so much more.

So happy birthday to you, Don. Brennan and I love you so much and we hope this next year brings many more exciting, fun and sweet times for you. We look forward to sharing it all with you.

...And a happy birthday to Debbie, my sister. She also celebrates today and I am equally blessed to know a woman who is always positive, sacrificial, funny, strong, honest, easy to talk to, and one who whole-heartedly loves God. I guess she's easy on the eyes too :0). She's someone I've looked up to through the years and will continue to do so. I remember talking late into the night about our future children and husbands, how we wouldn't be pastor's wives...:0) Now we're watching our children grow up together as we did. I'm so glad you're in my life, Deb. Happy birthday - I hope your day was great and that this next year brings more sunshine, smiling kid faces, little debbie peanut butter logs, and more.

Subway Stinks!...and "Tasty"

2007-05-16T14:07:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I didn't bring my lunch to work today and I was figuring out where I wanted to go. I thought "Oooo, Subway, I haven't been there in a while." So I got my usual, a turkey breast on whole wheat. How disappointing...

...In the days of my youth, I remember when Subway first opened up in my hometown. It was quite exciting and everyone - including me - thought their sandwiches were great. That was before Quiznos came on the scene with their toasting and their sassy sandwiches (Turkey Bacon Guac.) and their talking mice with deformed faces singing and telling us to "Eat Quiznos Subs!" This was also before I discovered Wegman's joint effort with DiBello's which produced subs that were awesome in every way (if you haven't had one before make for the nearest Wegmans Market Fair when you are next on the East coast). And so I hadn't had Subway in a long time, but thought I'd give them another chance to win my heart back...

...only to receive a sandwich that had four - yes, count them four - slices of turkey you could hardly see in the bread, let alone have a mouthful of turkey with your bread and lettuce. They have begun offering to toast your sandwich (a la Quiznos), but it doesn't help much. So unfortunately, Subway, I believe we need to part ways. But it was good while it lasted.

On another note, Brennan said a new word today, "tasty." It's so cute because he gives a lot of emphasis on the first syllable, so it's like "tayys-tee." You'll have to hear him sometime. Too bad he wasn't referring to Subway.

Lessons from Lost

2007-05-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

So I was watching Lost last week and the episode (Spoiler alert! Don't read further if you're behind on your viewing!) was about Sun and her pregnancy. They delved further into her and Jin's back story beginning with the fact that although he did work for her father, it was not originally as one of his goons, but as one of the factory people. A strange woman was blackmailing Sun for an obscene amount of money or else she would tell people that Jin's mother had been a prostitute, thus bringing shame upon him. Sun visited Jin's father to talk about this and he begged her not to tell Jin.

So.....Sun decides she needs to pay the lady off and goes to her father to ask for money. She knows her father has a "side" business and he tells her that if she takes this money, then Jin is beholden to him - meaning he needs to begin a life of thuggery. Jin then becomes a man she despises as he grows colder and meaner from doing her dad's bidding. It's at this point that she finds solace in another man's arms and plans to leave Jin. Only she gets on the plane too, the plane crashes on the island, it's discovered she's pregnant and the baby can't be Jin's because he's impotent. Whoa!

From previous episodes, it was thought that Jin had worked for her dad right from the get-go; we now discover that in fact it was Sun's doing. Jin turns, in many ways, into her father all because of this web of deceit and unwillingness for anyone, let alone Sun, to tell the truth.

As I was watching all of this unfold, I was just thinking that if at any one point during this journey, the truth was told and dealt with that it would stop the rest of the events from happening. Instead we moved from one intrigue to another, one secret to another, one lie to another. All of this begets suffering, bitterness, anger and pain. Sure telling the truth can also be painful - at first. Once things are brought to light, darkness has no control over it anymore. It's only when things are left in darkness that you lose control and people get hurt.

This is a lesson for everyone, I think. When one secret or lie is told to cover up another, it only makes things worse and it takes a bigger secret or lie to cover up the last one, and then a bigger one to cover that up, etc. etc. It gets to be a vicious cycle and one that never ends well.

So there you have it. Who said Lost was just about a bunch of good-looking people stranded on an exotic island with crazy 'other' people and an acorporeal beasty running about? It's also educational.

Photo: ©ABC

Beginning Again...

2007-05-08T10:15:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been almost two months since I've posted last - yikes! It just goes to show how fast time can go. Things have been really crazy this semester, and so my blog has suffered neglect when the baby needed feeding, the dishes needed cleaning, the cat needed petting, and Don needed to finish his studies. Graduation is almost upon us now, so I'm beginning to blog again...stay tuned...

Until We Meet Again, Grandma Mary...

2007-03-13T11:15:00.000-04:00

My last blood grandparent passed away about two weeks ago. It's a bit odd because I feel like it was also the passing of her generation in my family. I always thought my Grandma Mary (my dad's mom) was a really special woman and that she'd always be around. But then aren't most grandparents special and don't we always take our time with them for granted?

Brennan and I drove up to Syracuse, sans Don, the Wednesday before last. It was a full, difficult, emotionally and physically draining time, but through it all I could sense God's presence and peace. My grandmother did not have the easiest life growing up. From the little I know, she never really had a close relationship with her mother, Louise, but she did form a good relationship with her grandmother, Dora Brown. Her father, Norm Lukins, passed away when she was fairly young and her grandmother raised her.

As a little girl, she adored animals - even her pet goat (hello, it was the 30's and 40's). Many of the old pictures that were on display at her service showed her animals or her smiling cherubic face as she was doing something active on what looked like farmland of some sort. This penchant for pawed critters continued on until her death. There were always animals in Grandma Mary and Grandpa Jack's house: Suki, Yaki, Jinx, Sasha, Shiloh, Kelly, the cockatoo (Icharis was one, I think?), and on and on. You can imagine how fun then, it was for a little girl to visit. It was like my own personal petting zoo.

My grandmother was also very creative and talented (no, I don't know where my crafty gene went). She was a great cook, she sewed, she tended her yard. But she was especially good with ceramics. She had a kiln in her basement and a whole trove of white statuettes lined on shelves, waiting to be brought to life with paint and glaze. Going down there when I was younger was like wading through an unfinished museum exhibit. I remember she would have me pick one out and then we'd start the work of breathing life into the piece. After most weekends, I came home with something to give my mom and my grandmother always told me how great it looked (one of the few instances where she didn't "tell it like it is." :0).

Grandma Mary was also a stubborn woman. She was staunch in her opinions and she didn't mind telling you. Once. Twice. As many times as you'd bear to listen. And she always told you what was on her mind. However, she also listened. I remember many a summer afternoon or evening sitting on the front porch and watching the traffic go by. I would usually be eating a fudgsicle (she always hand those on hand - those and bananas and Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch, as my cousin reminded me) and telling her all the details of my life. Not once did she ever seem impatient or wanting to get away from me.

In the last few years my grandma's health was declining. She had a breast removed due to cancer, a leg partially amputated due to diabetes, and her usually quick-wit and reliable memory were failing her due to dementia. It was hard to see a woman so robust in mind and body move into a wheel chair and I think this was harder for her. But as my uncle reminded us at her service, she ALWAYS knew who my grandpa was. After 43 years of marriage, she knew when she called, "Jack," that he would be there in a moment. This, to me, is also a testament of enduring love. Love that's not fickle or flimsy, but love that stands the test of time, rolls with the punches, and is comfortable. Constant. Strong. Love that was exemplary for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was also a woman of faith. Not faith in God (that came later), but faith in her family, friends, and probably her pets too. At one point in her life she became a Jehovah's Witness. Now I don't profess to know all of their doctrine, but I do know it differs from Christianity in some big ways (trinity, soul, work of Christ). Her and my dad would often have discussions about this and so when she died it seemed this discussion was unresolved and this was a huge part of our sadness. We knew she had gone to a church service on that Sunday morning. So it was my hope that God may have spoken to her at that service.

Praise God because the next day, my cousin informed me that it was there that she asked for forgiveness and accepted Christ into her heart. I believe that during these last hours of her life here, that her mind was opened and God spoke to her heart. God's grace is truly amazing and his mercies are new every morning. That's how faithful God is to us. This knowledge brought a whole new dimension to honoring my grandmother at her services and it turned our "mourning into gladness."

I remember my Grandma as an energetic, funny, and sassy woman who I always enjoyed spending time with and actually looked forward to going to see. I will miss her dearly. I do miss her dearly, but it's nice to know that it's not good-bye.

"Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul."

-Psalm 143: 7-8

Sometimes God Says, "No."

2007-03-07T08:49:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, Don and I have been talking about going overseas for a year of extended study after he graduates this May. I was getting very excited about this possibility. Don applied for a Visiting Student position at Oxford and applied for a fellowship that the seminary offers, which would be the funding we'd need to do it.

Well, we found out a couple of weeks ago that Don was not chosen for the fellowship. This was really a blow to me. First of all, as I said, I was really excited and hopeful that my excitement was indicative of God's leading us there. Second, I really didn't entertain the idea that Don would NOT get the fellowship. I mean, I know he's not perfect, but he's very intelligent, had a well thought-out plan, and has always succeeded at what he's done, so I just figured, "We're in like Flynn!" Finally, I thought the timing was right. Brennan's not in school, I'm not pregnant, it would only be a year, etc. etc. But sometimes God shuts the door, sometimes God says, "No."

In fact, I had been praying that very morning about our future. I was wishing that God would just put up a billboard that told us where we to go and what to do. Even as I thought this though, I realized that's not who God is, nor is it who we are. God doesn't want to just dictate - he wants us to be free to choose. And likewise, we desire to make choices for ourselves. It's the discernment process that often gets us. Sometimes we get so caught up in one idea that we miss where God is actually leading and opening doors for options that he knows will be a good fit for us. I'm a person who likes options, so I appreciate all of this; however, I think God misread my prayers that morning when this door closed :0).

In all seriousness, I must be mindful of not getting ahead of God and maybe there was a little of that in this instance. I still feel in my heart that someday we'll go to Europe or somewhere and not just for a vacation. And I think that's something God has placed upon my heart. So instead of this being a "No, never" maybe it's a "No, not right now" and I will have wait and see and discern when the time is right.

Last Year At This Time...

2007-01-11T10:19:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't even believe it, but my "baby" boy is one year old today! It's crazy to think at this time last year, I was at the hospital in labor - especially considering that I wasn't supposed to be (at least in my mind) because it was 3-1/2 weeks before my due date. But then, isn't that how life is - unexpected?

I am so unbelievably blessed to have such a healthy, enthusiastic, joyful, and funny little boy. Brennan has truly changed me this past year. At first I didn't notice it much because I was thrown into the madness that is first-time parenting and newborn care-giving. As I've gotten into my groove though, and as he's grown, I realize some of the changes he's made in me. I'm less selfish because I know now that sometimes when I just want to sit and read my Star Wars book, Brennan has poop in his pants and that's a little more pressing. I think I'm a little more patient because Brennan's schedule somehow doesn't always jive with mine. I'm also more "huggy/kissy." I mean, I can't help wanting to just kiss his chipmunk cheeks every two seconds and sometimes I have to resist squeezing him too hard (I think you parents know what I mean).
However, probably the most profound change has come in my understanding of who God is. As we sojourn on the road of faith, it's ever changing - with forks in the road, speed bumps, road blocks and sometimes smooth asphalt. But through all of these changes, God's love never changes - it's constant and ever-present. That's the kind of love a parent has for their child. No matter what the child does or how frustrated you may get with them when they knock down the CDs for the 50th time, you still love them. If anything this constant love just grows into a more discerning love as you come to understand your child's personality and particular needs.

So as I think back to last year, being in labor, going through all of the hard work, anticipating the arrival of our baby, the excitement when he finally did arrive, and the love I felt for Brennan immediately, I can only praise God for his goodness and faithfulness and be thankful that we have an earthly example of how God loves us.

What's Our Generation Doing?

2006-12-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

Don & I were having a conversation with my brother Steev Richter, and he was lamenting the fact that our generation hadn't really done much or wasn't known for something. Like the baby boomers, or gen-Xers, etc. I was thinking about this and feeling like we must have done or be doing something and if not, then we need to.

As I thought more on this, I started to think about the fight against AIDS and how in the last 20 years there's been a dramatic shift from AIDS being a taboo subject to one that's discussed openly. In the last 10 years, more medicines have been developed and placed on the market and more support organizations begun to remove the idea of AIDS being a death sentence and instead calling it for what it is - a beatable adversary. In the last 5 years we've seen the use of antiretrovirals and how they can help an HIV-positive pregnant woman have a better chance of not passing the virus on to her unborn child.

Now in the last year, President Bush created the President's Emergency Response for AIDS Relief. This has pushed AIDS initiatives to the forefront of the American consciousness and will send money to countries in Africa and elsewhere for the global fight against AIDS. Even Gap has gotten in to the fight by partnering with Bono and the The Global Fund to create Product(RED) - clothing apparel with a higher purpose (gap.com/RED). Half of the profits of every Product(RED) purchase goes toward the Global Fund.

This is a great beginning I think, and I believe our generation has been a big part of the AIDS fight. World AIDS Day was December 1, but I think that every day we can be doing something to help - buying products that support the people, contributing time and energy, being educated about the matter, writing to your local congressperson/representative, and especially praying for the people living through the AIDS pandemic. It's the doing that matters now, then we'll be known for it later.

$4,000 Is a LOT of Money!

2006-11-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

So I'm wandering around in Williams Sonoma the other day. I like this store and the many fun kitchen gadgets and gizmos that are happily placed on the shelves. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see a glint of shiny metal. I turn around and there it is - in all it's glory sitting atop a perch in the front display window - the espresso machine.

Wow, I think what a nice machine. I say this aloud and my friend comments on how expensive it is. Well, surely, it can't be that expensive - maybe $200/$300 - and that would be a lot in my book. Oh no, the price tag was an egregious $4,000! HA! $4,000 for a machine that gurgles out the amount of coffee akin to a what Brennan used to barf up (which was not a lot).

I am astounded that someone would pay that much when they'll get the equivalent of 5 full cups of coffee for the rest of their lives. I mean I like coffee, but really a down payment on a car (or purchasing a pretty good used one) or two inches of java? Such a tough decision! Better yet, I was reading an article in Newsweek about how Las Vegas and Orlando have passed laws that don't allow for feeding homeless persons in parks anymore (as if that will make homelessness disappear). I wonder if those lawmakers have a $4,000 espresso machine sitting in their kitchen. Maybe if all the espresso machine buyers in the world pooled together their money a work program for the homeless could be initiated or money sent to refugees in Darfur or for the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Maybe even for impoverished villagers in Columbia to give access to better social services...I hear the coffee there is pretty good.

Missing My Brain

2006-10-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

Oh, am I missing my brain lately. I've heard it said that after you have a baby your memory really isn't the same for while, I think partly because you're packing it with all this new baby information, due to hormones still settling. Whatever the reason, I feel a little loopy and I don't like it. Case in point, I used to be really great at remembering people's birthdays - friends and family members - and I enjoy celebrating with people on their respective days.

Lately, however, I've been forgetting to make phone calls and do the traditional Coleman birthday rendition (I know everyone loves this) or send out cards/packages on time. And that's the funny thing, I'll remember that morning that it's someone's birthday, but then the thought completely goes out of my mind until about 10:00pm at night (coincidental the times are before Brennan gets up and after he's in bed? I think not!). This irks me greatly. So I hope that the friends and family who have not yet received a card or phone call will understand that they are still prayed for and thought of on their day. I will try and do better next year and hopefully, I won't forget January 11, 2007 :0)

Uncle Steev - The Rock Star

2006-09-29T15:04:00.000-04:00

**Warning - this is repeat information from the Coleman Photo Blog**

Not only can Brennan boast about knowing someone cool and famous (notice I left out the rich?), but he can say he's actually related to someone cool and famous. For those of you who don't know, Steev Richter is one talented and formidable musician. You may not hear his name on the radio (yet), but trust me when I say he's a pretty well-known and respected musician in his circle and the circles that permeate those circles. Brennan and Uncle Steev finally met for the first time at the end of August when we visited him while he was in New Hope, PA. It was great to see Steev and I'm so blessed to call him brother. If you'd like to hear some fun, soul-infused music then check him out at www.myspace.com/steevrichter.

Frustrations with Technology

2006-09-14T11:17:00.000-04:00

Aurgh! It has been too long since my last post, I know. We've been running around doing a myriad of things and I would show you the pictures, but unfortunately, blogger is giving me an error every time I try to upload one. It makes me realize that for all of the great things technology gives us, just like everything else, it is not perfect. We strive for perfection and think in many ways we've obtained it, but truly nothing is perfect...in this life anyway.

So stay tuned for another more thought-out post soon enough (I keep looking at my friend Kitty's blog and get inspired) hopefully with pictures of the cutest baby ever!

The Cat Ate My Baby's Hair!

2006-07-17T15:52:00.000-04:00

So there are a myriad of things I've had on my mind to write about: the state of affairs in the Middle East, the issue of "designer babies," being stewards of what we're given. But all of that will come a little later as I gather my thoughts. In the meantime, my discovery this morning leads me to the above.

We gave Brennan his first hair cut yesterday - a big milestone, at least as far as Mommy's concerned. To me, it signifies a step toward big-boyness. Only older kids and adults get haircuts, right? Well, not when your baby is often mistaken for having a little toupee on top of his sweet head. So we had his 6-month photos scheduled for yesterday and thought, "this is as good a time as any." Plus with the 97 degree weather and humidity, we thought it would help to cool him off if he didn't have curls hanging on his neck. And really a couple people said "Oh, what a cute little girl" and that pretty much sealed it for Don.

So, as any good parents would, we documented this momentous event with pictures of each of us attempting to evenly cut a baby bobble head. It's definitely not even, but he immediately looked like a "little boy" from the back. We didn't cut too much from the front though - baby steps, y'know. So, again as good parents, we gathered the lovely little locks and placed them in a ziplock baggie for safe keeping until they go in his baby book. The bag was set atop his armoire - safe and inconspicuous - or so we thought.

This morning I walk into the living room to be greeted by a long dark spot on the rug. In my bleary-eyed semi-wakefulness, I immediately groaned thinking Snickers had thrown up. Well then, to my chagrin, I noticed a little ripped ziplock bag next to the brown pile and realized in a flash that it was my precious baby boy's hair that my cat was attempting to feast on! I stomped toward Snickers, who knew that he was in trouble for something, and put his face down by the hair telling him, "no."

Now I know that you have to catch cats in the act, or else they really won't understand that what they've done is wrong, but I think Snickers had a clue. Not only had he jumped on top of the armoire (no-no), he'd gotten something that was, for some reason, very important to me. Why on earth did I really need to save Brennan's hair? Who knows. I guess for me, it's just another part of my baby growing. In any event, it made me realize that sometimes when I think something is safe, it really is ripe pickings for a crazy cat who has a fetish for paper bags.

The miraculous thing is that it looks like he didn't actually eat too much, if any, of the hair. So other than having cat slobber on it, I think the hair will still be nicely placed in Brennan's baby book with a little blue bow tied around it. Maybe with a picture of Snickers beside it...

Worth A Thousand Words...

2006-06-28T15:36:00.000-04:00

Carol and Brennan hanging out
"Petting" Snickers for the first time.
Our own little Popeye
"I'm five-months-old today!"
Carol and Dan cuddling with Brennan

My Two Guys

2006-06-20T15:58:00.000-04:00

Look at them! If they are not the most handsome two guys I know, then I am crazy...okay, I am crazy. Crazy about my husband and my son. This picture was from Father's Day - a day that we celebrate many of the men in our lives: fathers, grandfathers, brother, uncles, and so on. My celebration with Don & Brennan consisted of a couple cards, a fun gift (a golf bag!), and this picture. The picture is my gift. The two guys are my gifts. I am truly blessed to have such a man to stand by my side. To be my partner and soulmate in this life. God knew exactly what, or should I say whom, I needed. And what a father he is already. I always knew he'd be a great father, but these past five months have shown me just what kind of heart Don has. When he looks at our son, when he holds him, plays with him; it steals my heart - it takes my breath away.

Then there's my son. My other "little man." Oh what a happy baby he is and how happy he makes us. I hear him making his little vocal noises every day now and I wonder how I ever lived without hearing it before. When he smiles, his whole face lights up - truly it does! I am excited for him to have such a great role model in his father. I am excited to see how he will be like Don, what traits he'll have of mine, but also to see his own personality emerge, as it does more and more each day. Yes, these are my two guys...

The Amazing Brennan Boy!

2006-06-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

My son is amazing! I'm sure you'll here this from a lot of moms and every time it's true. A baby in general is an amazing thing to behold. Watch them and they will do feats of wonder - last night I saw Brennan roll over for the first time (belly to back). My husband saw him roll over from back to belly earlier in the day. Two milestones in one day - it was so exciting! It's a simple thing, rolling over, for you and me to do, but to see for the first time this little person throwing his legs to the side or putting his head down and turning the top part of his body was really momentous.

All the time Brennan is looking around and taking more stimuli in; I can just imagine the little cogs at work in his rapidly developing brain. Every day he learns to do more and I feel blessed to be a part of his journey. To watch him do his wonders and find my own sense of wonder renewed.

So I'm Now a "Blogger"...

2006-06-14T12:12:00.000-04:00

"You should get a blog of your own." These were the words of my husband, Don, to me a while back. Well, I finally did. But what was my biggest stumbling block to creating one? Thinking of a title for it. As a copywriter, I was taught that if you don't catch a potential customer in about 7 seconds, you can loose them for good. And so an eye-catching, thought-provoking, or just plain zinger of a title was essential. That being said, the title you see above came to mind. Although at this point, I can't give you an explanation yet of why or what it may mean to me. Is it to take a pause from our "normal programming" to listen to or see some things we wouldn't normally care about? Is it so we can see the support structure of a group? Something deep? Something trivial? I don't know, but I thought it was catchy.