Children's picture places . . . I don't know how these places can employ people without offering some sort of therapy. There is always running and yelling and crashing of something going on. Flash! Flash! Flash! "Waaaaahhhhh!" begins to cry the 2 year old because he wants the ball now. I cover Kenna's ears and tell her that the boy is crying because he hurt his toe. And like magic . . . these photographers and "stimulizers" (that's what I'll call the people who hop around the photographer and try to get the kid(s) to smile) jockey for position to capture just the perfect pose . . . you know, the one that makes you forget what a little hellion you've got because they look so cute and innocent in the photo. It's a split second in time when the child simply looks pure. The cynic in me can't help but to think of Fight Club the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton. If you look closely at the beginning of the movie, Brad Pitt (Tyler Durton) who plays the mischievious alter ego makes flash appearances here and there. I look around at these kids and I can see the flashes of little Tylers here and there. Goodness gracious!
Fortunately, Kenna's a good kid. She has realized that she can holler to get attention. We'll have to work on that, but for the most part she really is good. I thought it would be nice to dress her up for pictures. She barely fit into the dress I bought (whew!) although for a moment I thought I might have to cut it off her. Side note: they should make the zippers go down further on the back. She wore the locket from her Grandma McConville, the bracelet she got from her Great-Grandma McConville and the diamond ring from Matt and I. Yes, I know my kid has alot of bling! My favorite picture is with her eating her hands. It looks great in black and white! Less than a year old and she has more pictures than I have in my lifetime . . . ah the glamorous life!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Kenna's 1st Easter!
One of the best things about being the grown up is that you can do silly things to your kids when they are young and they seem to colude in the silliness with you. You take the pictures so that when they are older you can show them you can say, "Awwh, look how cute you were!" Cute seems to be the term we use to describe just about everything with kids.
Kenna is such a tolerant kid, lucky for us! She seems to enjoy wearing bunny ears and funny hats and has great bed head every morning (she's really fidgity and likes to rub her head against the bumpers in her crib). Most importantly, she's a very happy kid!
We spent Easter morning enjoying a brunch over at out neighbors' Julie and Jarrod. They have a four year old son and a new born little girl. There were other friends and neighbors there with their children, including three of us who had the token bunny ears for the day. Cute! Great food and great friends . . . nice way to start out the morning. The latter part of the day, we spent enjoying the living room floor and talking with my friend Sylvia who came by for a visit. Kenna is getting really proficient (yes, I used that word) at rolling around all by herself. Often times, I'll leave her with her toys and come back a few moments later to find her 2-3 feet from where she started and often tunred the other way. She looks up at me and smiles as if to say, "I wasn't going far, mom, just over here" or "I really wasn't up to anything."
We also drove down the day prior to the holiday to visit my parents in the big KY. It was so great for them to see the kid and have some time together! They both could not believe how big she is now (likely creeping up on 23 lbs - and yes, somehow I feel my arms should look bigger from holding her.) and really enjoyed how interactive she is now. It's too bad the visit had to be so brief, but it was nice to see them.
Well, enjoy the pictures (to the side and below), and I hope to hear from you all soon!
Kenna is such a tolerant kid, lucky for us! She seems to enjoy wearing bunny ears and funny hats and has great bed head every morning (she's really fidgity and likes to rub her head against the bumpers in her crib). Most importantly, she's a very happy kid!
We spent Easter morning enjoying a brunch over at out neighbors' Julie and Jarrod. They have a four year old son and a new born little girl. There were other friends and neighbors there with their children, including three of us who had the token bunny ears for the day. Cute! Great food and great friends . . . nice way to start out the morning. The latter part of the day, we spent enjoying the living room floor and talking with my friend Sylvia who came by for a visit. Kenna is getting really proficient (yes, I used that word) at rolling around all by herself. Often times, I'll leave her with her toys and come back a few moments later to find her 2-3 feet from where she started and often tunred the other way. She looks up at me and smiles as if to say, "I wasn't going far, mom, just over here" or "I really wasn't up to anything."
We also drove down the day prior to the holiday to visit my parents in the big KY. It was so great for them to see the kid and have some time together! They both could not believe how big she is now (likely creeping up on 23 lbs - and yes, somehow I feel my arms should look bigger from holding her.) and really enjoyed how interactive she is now. It's too bad the visit had to be so brief, but it was nice to see them.
Well, enjoy the pictures (to the side and below), and I hope to hear from you all soon!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Didn't know my own strength . . .
With my mind on a million and one things I hoisted myself up to get out of my car and WHACK! My head hit the door frame and jolted me back into my seat. OUCH! Yes, it hurt . . . and I proceeded to go back into the office to finish my day. Little did I know my brain had begun to swell - concussion.
I rubbed my head as I sat across from my boss, my last meeting of the day. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I hit my head, but it's nothing. Just a headache now." We chatted on. I began to sweat. I began to feel like I wanted to throw up. "Just so you know I'm not feeling right." I said. "I feel slightly nauseous." We kept talking. "I began to sweat even more. I could feel the blood rushing out of my head. I was going to be sick. I held my hand up . . . "We've got to stop. I think I'm going to be sick." "Should I drive you home?" "No, I'll be ok." I tried to keep a straight face and got up to go to the restroom.
I asked my friend Mary to follow me home, tears now in my eyes from the pain in my head. She immediately responded. I called Matt and tried not to get him to panic - yeah, right. good luck there. Gina was okay to keep Kenna. And then there's me, trying not to inconvenience anyone. I let Mary talk me into letting her drive me home.
On the way out the door and home I got sick a few more times and finally agreed to let Mary take me to an Urgent Care center near by. My head felt like it was going to explode. What's happened here?" the nurse asked. After explaining, they brought me to the back room, where I kept getting sick. Matt was on his way, and so were the EMTs to take me to the nearest hospital. Rush, rush, rush . . . but everyone was really nice.
Once I got to the hospital, they admitted me and put me on an IV - anti-nausea medication . . . better. I had a Cat Scan and pain medication . . . "what's that brown floaty thing over your head, honey?" giggle, giggle. I felt better. Results = no apparent brain damage. Coup and countercoup (giggle, giggle). That's what happens when you hit your head and your brain jolts forward (smack) and then backwards (smack). Delaudanum in my IV (giggle, giggle), I'm feelin' mighty fine. Conk, I'm out like a light.
Under observation for two days, I slept. Matt had to make sure I was myself and wasn't showing any signs of not being msyelf ; ) . That would mean that my brain might have started bleeding and I would have to go back in. I was a bit delayed but felt good by Friday enough to go back to work. Wish I had a cooler story, like I was sparing with Chuck Liddell and he got a lucky hit in or something like that. At least I know I'm strong enough to knock myself out.
I rubbed my head as I sat across from my boss, my last meeting of the day. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I hit my head, but it's nothing. Just a headache now." We chatted on. I began to sweat. I began to feel like I wanted to throw up. "Just so you know I'm not feeling right." I said. "I feel slightly nauseous." We kept talking. "I began to sweat even more. I could feel the blood rushing out of my head. I was going to be sick. I held my hand up . . . "We've got to stop. I think I'm going to be sick." "Should I drive you home?" "No, I'll be ok." I tried to keep a straight face and got up to go to the restroom.
I asked my friend Mary to follow me home, tears now in my eyes from the pain in my head. She immediately responded. I called Matt and tried not to get him to panic - yeah, right. good luck there. Gina was okay to keep Kenna. And then there's me, trying not to inconvenience anyone. I let Mary talk me into letting her drive me home.
On the way out the door and home I got sick a few more times and finally agreed to let Mary take me to an Urgent Care center near by. My head felt like it was going to explode. What's happened here?" the nurse asked. After explaining, they brought me to the back room, where I kept getting sick. Matt was on his way, and so were the EMTs to take me to the nearest hospital. Rush, rush, rush . . . but everyone was really nice.
Once I got to the hospital, they admitted me and put me on an IV - anti-nausea medication . . . better. I had a Cat Scan and pain medication . . . "what's that brown floaty thing over your head, honey?" giggle, giggle. I felt better. Results = no apparent brain damage. Coup and countercoup (giggle, giggle). That's what happens when you hit your head and your brain jolts forward (smack) and then backwards (smack). Delaudanum in my IV (giggle, giggle), I'm feelin' mighty fine. Conk, I'm out like a light.
Under observation for two days, I slept. Matt had to make sure I was myself and wasn't showing any signs of not being msyelf ; ) . That would mean that my brain might have started bleeding and I would have to go back in. I was a bit delayed but felt good by Friday enough to go back to work. Wish I had a cooler story, like I was sparing with Chuck Liddell and he got a lucky hit in or something like that. At least I know I'm strong enough to knock myself out.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Which came first?
And here I am again at 5 something in the morning . . . having been up since 3. I wonder if I'll ever return to normal sleep again. I wonder if my voice will ever return back to the way it was again. Or am I doomed to late night blogs and never again to sing Karaoke?! There goes my back up career!
And in the cavern that is my mind a multitude of ramdom thoughts whirl into view . . . how could I get Matt to buy me a dog? . . . should I try to plant sugar snaps this year? . . . I should feed birds more often. . . .why haven't we figured out a better way of communicating at P&G? . . . I need a new pair of black heels . . . . Kylie's birthday is coming soon . . . can't forget to send that e-mail - don't forget, don't forget, don't forget . . . ok, I'm likely to forget . . . oranges . . . I haven't had one in a while. . . I like them . . . Is orange the only color that is also the name of a fruit? . . . perhaps . . . then which came first, the color or the fruit?
The latter is the most cohesive thought I can muster. Maybe I should blog, and here I am. Somedays I am simply two steps away from dementia.
And in the cavern that is my mind a multitude of ramdom thoughts whirl into view . . . how could I get Matt to buy me a dog? . . . should I try to plant sugar snaps this year? . . . I should feed birds more often. . . .why haven't we figured out a better way of communicating at P&G? . . . I need a new pair of black heels . . . . Kylie's birthday is coming soon . . . can't forget to send that e-mail - don't forget, don't forget, don't forget . . . ok, I'm likely to forget . . . oranges . . . I haven't had one in a while. . . I like them . . . Is orange the only color that is also the name of a fruit? . . . perhaps . . . then which came first, the color or the fruit?
The latter is the most cohesive thought I can muster. Maybe I should blog, and here I am. Somedays I am simply two steps away from dementia.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A Night Out for Mama & Papa - UFC 93, Baby!!!
Saturday night Matt and I drove up to Nationwide arena to witness UFC 93!!! What a fantastic evening we had!! Similarly to the NIN (Nine Inch Nails) concert there was a particular genre of attendants. Unlike the the many body piercings, many of this evening's attendants were textbook examples of what happens to you when you take HGH. For the most part there were regular sports fans, and then there were those who want others to know that they are really into it - body building, sparing . . . whole nine yards. I was amazed some guys heads didn't explode.
We had great seats in the first row above the octagon looking down into it. We could see every blow and all the people. Then shortly after the first two matches we were able to move to get seats right above ground about 35 yards away from the ring. We sat between the aisles where fighters entered and exited the arena, so it was really cool to be able to see them all coming and going. Matt's friends from college were with us and they were certainly making a scene - everyone could not stop laughing at their antics and funny dance moves.
Being the addict I am, I bought a program and some shirts and really hung out to enjoy the fights. I made calls on all the fights and called every winner for the night. Maybe I should have gone to Vegas. : ) Check out the below pictures. I ran out of batteries early on : ( so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. Still the experience was phenomenal, and I hope to go again when the opportunity arises.
We had great seats in the first row above the octagon looking down into it. We could see every blow and all the people. Then shortly after the first two matches we were able to move to get seats right above ground about 35 yards away from the ring. We sat between the aisles where fighters entered and exited the arena, so it was really cool to be able to see them all coming and going. Matt's friends from college were with us and they were certainly making a scene - everyone could not stop laughing at their antics and funny dance moves.
Being the addict I am, I bought a program and some shirts and really hung out to enjoy the fights. I made calls on all the fights and called every winner for the night. Maybe I should have gone to Vegas. : ) Check out the below pictures. I ran out of batteries early on : ( so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. Still the experience was phenomenal, and I hope to go again when the opportunity arises.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
What's your is mine. Didn't you get that memo?
Kenna has developed so fast. She is now approaching 21 lbs and seems very eager to be mobile on her own. One of the latest new manners she's taken on appears when I want to eat or drink something. Even though she has just consumed a full bottle and had her fruit and cereal, she notices that I now have something I am eating - a bowl of cheerios, perhaps. She'll turn and smile to me and then open her mouth patiently like one of those little baby birds. I'm thinking, "You're kidding me, chica. You just ate." But hunger is not the point. If I don't quickly break off a piece of what I've got and shove it in her mouth, she does her frunstrated squeal "Uummmm." This is her manipulating me ; ) and I willingly concede defeat. "Here you go." She smiles and gums the food down. She'll do this until she sees I'm not longer eating, smiling at me with every bite and sip of juice. Who knew she liked pad thai?! I'm glad she's an adventurous eater, actually loving peas. I seem to realize that she believes what is mine is hers, and that I should have received that memo some time ago.
I have tried on two occasions to eat, holding the bowl behind her head and taking bites without tinking the spoon on the bowl and trying to chew softly even pausing when she turns to look at me. Apparently, she gets suspicious. I finally said, "This is ridiculous. I shouldn't have to hide my ravioli." Getting with the program, I now resort to making sure what I have can be broken into small pieces and I share. Perhaps I'm teaching her a lesson of sharing that she'll practice as she gets older. Or perhaps she'll think that it's always others who need to share with her since I never try to drink her bottle or taste her green beans.
I have tried on two occasions to eat, holding the bowl behind her head and taking bites without tinking the spoon on the bowl and trying to chew softly even pausing when she turns to look at me. Apparently, she gets suspicious. I finally said, "This is ridiculous. I shouldn't have to hide my ravioli." Getting with the program, I now resort to making sure what I have can be broken into small pieces and I share. Perhaps I'm teaching her a lesson of sharing that she'll practice as she gets older. Or perhaps she'll think that it's always others who need to share with her since I never try to drink her bottle or taste her green beans.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Nocturnal activities . . .
Somehow I thought my being up all night would be due to elaborate partying or being frisky with my mate . . . Amazing how I feel so exhausted and yet so excited that I might get a chance to cuddle with K-town for a moment in the middle of the night! Yes, I am crazy, AND it's true! It isn't the first time I've been up since 2:00 am, my last midnight cuddle with Kenna. So what if it's because she's wet and so what that I need 8 hours of sleep or I have trouble remembering to wear matching shoes before I rush out the door to work?! I still get a brief quite moment of just me and her. I still get her head resting comfortably on my shoulder before I lay her back down for bed.
It's the middle of the night, and I'm watching the most beautiful snow fall outside the window and listening to Kenna breathly softly through the monitor. I thought I would be frustrated for not being able to sleep, which in the past has been the case. But this morning in this moment I feel fortunate that my life is what it is, that I am up in the middle of the night, that I feel at peace on the inside.
It's the middle of the night, and I'm watching the most beautiful snow fall outside the window and listening to Kenna breathly softly through the monitor. I thought I would be frustrated for not being able to sleep, which in the past has been the case. But this morning in this moment I feel fortunate that my life is what it is, that I am up in the middle of the night, that I feel at peace on the inside.
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