Have I Entered an Alternate Reality??

While, yes, it may seem like an alternate reality, it's really just me having time to post two days in a row.

Actually, it's Random Dozen Day, back again like a breath of fresh, creative air. Back again like those 10 pounds of baby weight around my middle. (Maybe not quite like that last one. I actually enjoy the R12.)



1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
Don't remember. Lately, dealing with postpartum depression has been more "cry till you laugh." But it is much better now than at first.

2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it?
Buy lots of Pepsi.

3. Do you volunteer anywhere?
No, but I'm hoping to be able to help out @ my school this year. We'll see if that works out.

4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it?
STRAWBERRIES. I love them just about any way I can get them -- fresh out of our garden, sliced, over ice cream, slightly sugared for juiciness is my favorite, I think.

5. Is your social sphere (circle of friends) small, medium or large?
Fairly small. What I lack in friends I make up for with family, of which I have an abundance in the immediate area. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, since I hear a lot about women and how crucial their girlfriend relationships to them. I really feel like I'm on the outside looking in on that matter.

6. When was the last time you attended a family or school reunion? How did that go?
Stephen's family had an unofficial reunion last week, and it was great. The things we did aren't always how I would have planned my free and/or vacation time, but it was with people I love.

7. When you're feeling blue, what is the best way someone can cheer you up?
Hmmm...

Pepsi. See #2.

8. Have you taken a vacation this summer?
Yup. Grand Haven, MI. See also #6.

9. What is the most unnecessary item you carry with you all the time?
My nail clippers. But when I DO need them, it's usually fabric-snagging kind of urgent.

10. What is the best summer flick you have seen so far?
Well, of the whoppin' two I have as choices, Toy Story 3 wins. It's got sentimental value as TS2 was the first date movie, and TS3 was the last official date night before Joshua was born.

11. Describe a perfect summer day.
It would be not hot. Probably in Ireland or something, because their idea of a heat wave is 80 degrees. Maybe Alaska.

12. Please a share a favorite photo from the summer so far!
Will post asap.

Poor, Neglected Blog

Life is returning to normal, or rather settling down to a new abnormal. Someone --I forget who-- told me that going from two kids to three is WAY more than just "one more kid." So far, that's not been true, but it might get that way later on.

FAMILY UPDATES:

We just finished up a great week with the Swan family. Stephen's brothers and sister were all in town, and 18 of the 20 grandchildren were able to be there. There were cousins galore! We zipped up to MI for a few days in Grand Haven, where we enjoyed the Coast Guard festival, the beach, and some kite-flying.

Stephen is working very hard on a big project for the church -- a new playground. Just the right kind of job for my kid-at-heart husband. Hopefully we'll be able to show some pictures soon. He adds that he's sad to be back at work instead of home with family, but the rest of us are grateful that he works so hard to provide for us. Thanks, Babe!

I'm getting ready to teach elementary Spanish at Lakeview again. This is my 8th year working there, and I still LOVE it. Things have changed somewhat for this year with the schedule, but that's teaching. Something's always changing to keep you on your toes.

Katy is getting ready to start her last year of preschool. This year she's in the four-year-old class with Mrs. Cerny. We're excited that she'll be joined by a friend from church. The thing she's looking forward to? The new play castle in Mrs. Cerny's room!

Caleb is moving up as well to the Preschool-3 class. He has a teacher who is new to LCS - Mrs. Folz. I am looking forward to seeing how he does this year.

Joshua is growing and changing. His smiles, while not often, are coming more regularly. I will resort to all sorts of crazy talk to make them appear. He has pooped on me a total of three times, and two of those times were with a diaper on. Now that is talent, ladies and gentlemen.

Hopefully you'll see more regular posting from now on, but I'd be silly to promise.

After all, three kids is way more work than just adding one more to two. :)

He's Here! He's Here!

Announcing Baby Joshua's arrival!

He got here yesterday evening (the 23rd) after working on busting out for about 11 hours. There were some tense moments for Momma as he experienced times of decelerated heart rate, but in the end everything was ok. He was a boy (which was not a surprise). He was 8 lbs. 13 oz. THAT was a surprise. Katy and Caleb were 8#5oz and 8#3oz, and that was after Caleb was a week late. We don't own very many newborn-sized clothes, and that's an especially good thing this time.

He's a great baby, and we're really excited to add him to our family. More to come soon...

Random Dozen!

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
When Stephen (the hubs) reads this, he'll LOL, as will my mother. I would have to say hot dogs. Or maybe eggs and toast. Want me to come over and cook tonight? HA!

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
My wedding ring, which doesn't hardly ever comes off so this is not a problem. Every other item I thought of also came along with a memory of leaving it. Usually accidentally. Whoops. :)

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
The bathroom. Good thing since I'm there about half the day. Ok, ok. Probably not what you had in mind, right, Lid? I really like going to the Indy Children's Museum. Always something new to explore.

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
Both of our maternal grandfathers are named William. (PS - that's Stephen's contribution to today's post. It's nice to hear from him. I should ask him to do next week's Dozen.)

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
was able to see my feet while standing.

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
Oh. That's a dangerous one. Practical answer? Diapers. Selfish answer? Fresh flowers.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
that I chew milkshakes. You know, those little tiny ice crystals could form a choking hazard unless properly masticated.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
A fountain Pepsi (aka Nectar of the Gods) from the gas station across the street

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
our church's praise team practices. We have a great time messing around and occasionally accomplishing something akin to practice.

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Work on Caleb's baby book. I'd like to have it up to date before the next baby arrives.

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
Don't know. I'll be on the lookout.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Today I'm going on a field trip with both kiddos to the local petting zoo. It'll be nice to see them in a school setting.

Wednesday Already?

Time is FLYING by. I'm nearly 31 weeks along, and Baby Joshua is making himself known 'round the clock. Caleb is getting ready to turn three in a week, and I absolutely refuse to believe it. :) Anyway, here's another Random Dozen. I can never get enough random questions. Fun things to think about.




1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"
Sadly, yes. I LOVE public libraries and am utterly ashamed that I have been on the naughty list. In middle school, I checked out a book --possibly one of the Little House on the Prairie books-- and lost it. I didn't find it again until we were moving away from the area. It ended up being less expensive to buy the book than pay the fine, but I took it in anyway just so they would know I had found the missing book. Oddly enough, we are in the same situation now with a book Katy checked out.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?
I keep a big stock of supplies, but since I've been using them a while, I'm finding that I don't have quite the right ones for particular occasions. For example, if you're having a birthday party, your gift may come in a baby shower bag because I've got a LOT of those. :)

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?
The closest I've come is that earthquake we had a couple of years ago. It was at five in the morning on a day that Stephen goes in to work quite early. I woke to the shaking, thought, "Huh. Must be an earthquake." Then I went back to sleep. Yeah. Hoping that no "life or death" situations arise whilst I am sleeping, because apparently it takes a lot to shock me into alertness.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?
Ummm, I know who he is, but I couldn't name a song of his off the top of my head. After some research, I have decided that for me his jingles are the most familiar (State Farm, Band-Aid, etc.).

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?
Love, love, love being in performances, so those are my favorite costumes. I have played a variety of chorus roles and some named characters. My favorite was probably what I wore as Mrs. Bedwin (housekeeper/nanny) in Oliver!

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
Dictionary. When I talk, however, I tend to go through a few words before I settle on the one that's just right for what I'm saying.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?
Eggs, bacon, and toast. And now I'm hungry.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?
Nope, but some things interest me.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yup. Hasn't everyone?

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Not really, but I do believe in the hard work that it takes to maintain a relationship.

11. How many pairs of jeans do you own?
Maybe three regular pairs and about 10 maternity ones. And that's after thinning the herd.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")
A randomized pile of books. Some open, some shut. Lots of children's literature. Bookmarks of all sorts.