Friday, October 19, 2007

Happenings

Updates: I have so many that I will list them and then come back to them in future posts, that is if anyone still reads this blog?

1. The girls have new beds and Finley has sort of moved into her "big girl" bed.
2. Finley separated her shoulder last week and we thought she had broken her collar bone.
3. We have new living room furniture.
4. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and feel as though I've been pregnant forever. All the little kids at labschool keep saying, "but where is your big belly?" Yeah, I haven't gained anything yet but heartburn.
5. We are going to Tallahassee next weekend for a football game, just me and the hubs.
6. This may be the first year I don't make halloween costumes.


For today I will write about our plans for this weekend. Up until now I have pretty much felt like crap. It is not unusual for me to feel this way for the first few months of pregnancy, but this time is just seemed more difficult. I am extremely exhausted most of the time and have not appetite really. Until about 2 weeks ago I was taking the generic zofran for nausea and that helped but now I'm out of it nad it is really expensive so I'm just kind of toughing out the few times I feel nauseous during the day. Wow, I'm such a whiner.

Anyway, so this weekend we decided to take a little mini-vacation to Tampa. We are going to the aquarium (that link may not be working) and the zoo and staying near Channelside so we can take the trolley everywhere.

We needed a break and we are going to have fun!

Hope you all have a great weekend as well and do something with people you love.

I wish you well!

Monday, October 08, 2007

Piper Speak



"Hey Mom?

I love you.

And I will never give up my feelings about you."

Thursday, October 04, 2007

the joys of pregnancy

We went for a walk after dinner last night...well, some walked (Jason and I), some rode in a wagon (Finley) and some rode their bike and had a meltdown onthe sidewalk (Piper).

A few minutes into the walk I feel Jason staring at my forehead and then he says, "So...is your face breaking out so bad like this because you're pregnant?"

"Yes. Thank you, I hadn't noticed."

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Piper Speak

Yesternight - n., the night before last.

my favorite "Piper" word.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

I've totally mastered this parenting thing

So today as I was enjoying a sour apple blow pop because I apparently can not stand upright without having to hurl, the girls were begging me for a lollipop of their own.

"I am only sucking on this lollipop because my tummy doesn't feel good."

"In fact, these are special lollipops, just for people who are pregnant."

"You wouldn't even like this because it is like sour medicine."

"Yes, you have to be pregnant to have one of these and you can't be pregnant until you're married."

"Well, you can't get married until you have finished college and have a job."

"And you have to work really hard and pretend like boys don't exist while you're in high school so that you can get into a good college."

"So, that's when we'll talk about you having one of these reallly disgusting lollipops...after you graduate from college and get married, and remember to marry that someone that you really love and don't settle because it's forever, then you can get pregnant, well, maybe be married a few years first and do a lot of traveling and learn about each other but don't wait too long because I don't want to be an old grandma."

"Ok, I'm glad we've cleared that up and no you can't have a lollipop."

Monday, August 20, 2007

A Marley classic - preschool style



and that is purple and blue eye shadow on their faces.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

HA! only 248 days to go!

I am so relieved that everyone knew what that drawing was about! And thanks so much for the well wishes, we are very excited. The girls are beyond excited as Piper has been begging me for close to a year for a baby.

I am due around April 18th and that seems like the perfect time. We wanted to space this baby a little farther away because I did not want two in diapers at the smae time again and I didn't want to be giving birth during Piper's first year of school because I remember when i was teaching Kindergarten and there were many kids who were welcoming siblings and it was a tough transition for them. So, I wanted there to be a little time in between when the baby is born and when Kindergarten starts so we can all get to know each other and what our family will be like as a family of five.

It never escapes me how absolutely blessed we are that we don't have fertility issues. I feel very fortunate as I have seen numerous people around me struggle and I know how heartbreaking it can be for a couple. I was a little nervous this time around because I had an IUD after Finley and I didn't know if that would have any affect on getting pregnant, but lucky for me the first time we tried we were successful. It has become a joke that all Jason has to do is whisper in my ear and I get pregnant and this time was no exception. It does kind of take the fun out of the "trying" part though but I am not complaining.

So now we wait what will seem like forever to find out the answer to the "boy or girl?" question. I will honestly be happy either way. I would love a boy but I also love my girls and can't imagine anything other than a girl. And we'll get to find out before Christmas so that will be good!

It's weird...Piper was an only child for almost 2 years but she will never remember her life before Finley and Finley has always had Piper, but I think that they will remember this new addition and what is was like before, I just think that's interesting.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Guess what's different about Mama?


drawing and announcement by Piper on our new toy

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Searching

we are in the market for some new living room furniture and I am the worst decision maker ever.

these are the ones I like with comments. I am thinking a sofa and two chairs with one ottoman. I figure that with two chairs it is the same amount of seating with less space taken and a more open feeling and more options for configuration.

These first options are all from Room and Board
1. The Burke Sofa and Burke chair and ottoman with the Quinn chair in spa color



what I like about these is that the legs are almost exactly like the legs of my dining room set which the living room opens to the dining room so they would fit nicely together. I am digging the modern clean lines and the chair looks especially comfy to me. What I don't like about the sofa is the loose back cushions and is it too modern? too stark?

2. The Candace sofa, chair and ottoman and another chair, but I don't know which would look good with this group.
what I like about this one is the tight back with no loose cushions and it looks comfy. The legs are a bit stocky for my taste and I am not in love with the shape of the sofa in general. And the chair does not look comfortable to me at all.

3. The Cole chair and ottoman

I just like this chair and ottoman and that it comes in a different pattern.

4. The Jasper sofa group

like the legs and looks comfy. A little too casual for the living room? and loose cushions not on the top of the list.

Next on the list is from Crate and Barrel

1. The oxford sofa group
I like the tight back and I like the option of getting the chair and a 1/2 twin sleeper with an ottoman. I don't really care for the shape though as it looks "mushy" to me and this is for our formal living room. I also don't care for the rolled arms and squatty legs.


ok, so tell me what you think? any other ideas?

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I do still sew...sometimes


I attended a baby shower last night, so I decided to make some baby things for the baby boy. It was a bit more difficult than I expected because I do not have a whole bunch of boyish fabric in my stash.

The results:




Link
more pictures here
along with pictures from our cruise
and I got a new toy today, can't wait to try it out!

so these pictures kinda look like crap, sorry!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Happenings at my house

Piper and Finley have formed a "club" and their anthem is:

"Rub a dub dub, welcome to our club! YYEEEAAA HUMANS!"

and Piper tells me that " 'they' call us humans because we're not animals."

and munching on some pretzels that are "exquisite" and "divine" Piper informs her sister:

"Do you want to know where I learned words like that, Finley? Well, when you're in the club longer you'll learn all kinds of words."

"Do you enjoy this club, Finley?"

indeed.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

summer vacation

new pictures over in my flickr from vacation and summer

Monday, July 16, 2007

summer anthem

When Mac Was Swimming
The Innocence Mission

when mac was swimming,
I was running late
walking around New Orleans
looking for a birthday cake.
it was a great surprise to him so many people came.


nobody knows, darling,
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up.

let's get up early now
dive clear into the day
let's get out of the car with open arms
not wait to be embraced
the flowers that bloomed, the things that happened since the day you came


nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up

nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up



nobody knows, darling
nobody knows how they are loved
don't worry, my darling
the sun is coming up

Monday, July 09, 2007

For Noah and Tiffany

Now we feel no rain, for each of us will be a shelter to the other.
Now we feel no cold, for each of us will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no loneliness, for each of us will be a companion to the other.
We are two bodies, but there is one life before us and one home.
When evening falls, I'll look up and there you will be.
I'll take your hand; you'll take mine and we'll turn together
to look at the road we traveled to reach this: the hour of our happiness.
It stretches behind us, even as the future lies ahead.
A long and winding road, whose every turning means discovery.
Old hopes, new laughter, shared fears.
The adventure has just begun.


Congratulations!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Guess who's coming to dinner...

We are hosting an, ahem, "Dinner Party" tomorrow night so I thought I would make it difficult and make all new things that I've never cooked before and if you know me, then you know that this is how it always goes and then I don't feel like eating it because I don't know if it's edible, but I digress...

Menu:

Chips and salsa
watermelon
cucumber, cantaloupe and summer squash salad

Reshmi Kebabs
grilled veggies (onion, peppers, zucchini)
corn on the cob with chili-lime cilantro dressing
roasted corn and basmati rice salad

Strawberry shortcake with homemade whip cream (this is an old standby because it's my FAVORITE!)
Homemade ice cream

Beer
White wine Sangria
water
mint iced tea

Phew! My dilemma (isn't there always at least one) is that there are various vegetarians in the crowd so I wanted to please them as well as the carnivores, so there you have it, what do you think?

We go to the library A LOT during the summer, especially because they have these free shows on Tuesdays and Thursdays and today was one of those shows, "Mr. Brian and the Boppets." He was so great but it was funny because he was singing "Twinkle, twinkle" and messing up the words to be funny and it was just totally getting Piper pissed off for real. She would look at me and glare and be like, "Come on, like he doesn't know it's 'like a diamond in the sky?' Seriously, this is so stupid." That's my girl, calling it like it is.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Finley's texture day at school








The girls and their teachers. Finley was sad about it being the last day (or she just didn't want anyone touching her, whatever.)

Piper's texture day at school



Sunday, May 20, 2007

Piper speak

Me: "Hey Piper, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Piper: "I want to be a Shannon when I grow up."

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

"If You Really Want To Know, Look In The Shannon."

go here and type in your name to get your very own "slogan"

funny


"Poppin' Fresh Piper"

"Puts the Finley in Britain"


"If you like a lot of Jason on your biscuit, join our club"

Saturday, May 05, 2007

cry baby

My feelings got hurt today to the point of tears. Then I realized it had been a while since I had had a good cry which evoked more tears and then I remembered that I didn't have anyone to talk to when I got home and the lonely tears started. I guess I was just really ripe today because really I was probably being overly sensitive and don't you just love it when people talk all around something but then don't give you the whole story? kind of like what I'm doing now?

It's ok, though, because I am going to Sunday school with Piper Jolie tomorrow because I have been invited for some muffins and everything looks brighter on the other side of a belly full of muffin and a heart full from time with my sweet girl. Gotta keep filling my cup.

Then, we'll go to the farmer's market for some fresh veggies to make veggie fried rice for dinner. And there will also be a craft for the girls and a swim in the afternoon, as there is every day lately - my girls - they're fishes.

And I have found my favorite version of the ABC's. When you get over there find the "You are my Sunshine" link then listen to the "Alphabet Dub", you will not be disappointed. Then poke around some more and listen to a few other songs. Really. If you have not heard Elizabeth Mitchell, go there and listen to her children's music. I listen to it even when I'm by myself.

You know what I love? When I am the working parent in Piper's preschool and I get to work the art room and I get to write down the kids descriptions of their paintings or drawings, their stories. It makes me remember what it is like to feel wonderment.

I think I might cry. miss you.