The Green Cesspool of Despair

Our pool didn't tolerate the winter all that well. This picture was taken at the end of May, right after Mark declared all out war on the pool.

After almost 2 months of chemicals and cleaning, we finally were able to swim in it. Well, not me, end of July, and still a little too cold for me. But Mark and James enjoyed the pool.

James took some encouragement.



But it didn't take long before he was really enjoying himself.



Andy chilled out on the porch. This is the beginning of an "Andy smile".

I've been nagged!

I mean TAGGED. Whatever.


1. If you could inherit a comfortable home in any city in the world that you could use but not sell, where would you want it to be?
How about a house with a pool in Pensacola or Perdido Key? That would be nice.


2. If you could be instantly fluent in one other language that you currently do not read or speak, which would it be? Why?
Italian? Because then I would have a good excuse to go to Italy some day.

3. If you were given an hour to spend an unlimited amount of money in any store in the world where would it be?
Probably Crate and Barrel. Mark and I love their style, but just can't/won't pay their prices.

4. If you had to give your children to the care of someone famous, whom would you pick?
Maybe Ann Curry...she seems nice.

5. If you could cast an actor now alive to play you in a new film, what kind of film would it be and whom would you choose?
It would probably be some quirky indie film, and I don't know who would play me, maybe Hillary Duff?

6. If you could have an elegant dinner alone with anyone presently alive, whether you know them or not, who would you want it to be?
Elegant meaning romantic, or elegant meaning, just dinner? Probably Mark regardless, and can we get the wine pairings?

7. If you could resolve any single dispute, anywhere in the world what would you solve?

If I could do anything, I wish I could solve the racial divide in this county. The only way I can think to do that is to have all the races think and act just like me, which is probably the whole problem. ;)

8. If you were instantly able to play one musical instrument perfectly that you have never played before, what would it be?
Can it be retroactive? I wish I played percussion, or trombone. I think my whole life would have been different if I played a different instrument. If not, I wish I could sing.

It's time for another...Top Five

Top Five Things I Wish I Knew When James Was A Baby

1. I wish I had known about babywearing. I was borrowing a friend's bijorn and James would just scream and scream in it. I think he would have loved being in a wrap, and that would have given mommy a break. Another good point is that most of the stuff you get in stores is only so-so. You have to go online to find the really good kid stuff.

2. I wish I had broken out the bouncy ball earlier. With James, I think we did it at 4 weeks (and with Andy it was 3...really, a love/hate relationship with that bouncy ball). A bouncy ball is just one of those excercise balls you get at WalMart for $11. You simply cradle your baby and sit on it bouncing. It soothes almost immediately and also works great for putting babies to sleep.

3. I wish I would have asked about anti-depressants sooner. There is some difference between baby blues, post partum depression, and aniexty, but either way, to deal with a baby, it helps to be in good mental health. Although, I did loose all my baby weight very quickly, it isn't always a good thing.

4. I wish I had read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I mean, I read a lot of books, some of them talked about sleep, but none were as helpful as this one. One of the main points I got from this book is the "interval of wakefulness". Currently, I try to sooth Andy back to sleep after an hour of being awake. It doesn't always work, but that is due to the stage he is in.

5. For this one I think I am suppose to say something cheesy about how much I LOVE my kids and how it is all worth it, etc, etc, but I am just too tired for all that. ;)

Brothers

I finally got a picture of both of my boys. It is hard to get one with Andy. Let's face it, he just lays there.

He lays on his tummy...


...and on his back.


Then there is Crazy James. Look at this guy:


He finds these "hats" when I am feeding Andy. He always finds "two".

Engine Roll Call

The Bat in the Lamp

What?!? You wanted pictures of the kids?!? You will just have to wait.

So, Mark, my husband, is in California on business and left me with 2 babies. His parents were nice enough to come and stay with me this week and help me out. Tuesday morning, James, Andy, MIL, and I had just come in from a walk and I heard this stratching sound coming from a floor lamp. All I see from the top of this lamp, is a bony little arm sticking out and that was enough. My MIL and I tie a garbage bag around the top and take the entire lamp outside. Once the babies are down for their naps, it is time to deal with this...thing.



The bat was stuck between the bulb and the bowl, and it looked to be just a baby bat.



We shake the bat down into a pitcher lined with a ziptop bag.



And from there we are able to contain the bat.



Although this bat was the only one in our house, there were more in the attic and we are in the process of dealing with an exterminator (ok, the bat man) to get rid of them.

What a week!