Halloween 2011

We didn't have time to get to the Pumpkin Patch.  I really didn't even have time or money to get costumes, but somehow....those dilemmas worked themselves out.  Today, Chris asked me "So how long is this going to go on?  Please tell me this is the last year Naomi is trick-or-treating.  She's 13." 

And to that I nonchalantly reply..."Oh, um yeah this will maybe probably be our last year..." 

We are milking it for as long as we can, and next year and for a couple years after that - she's a lucky duck, because Reggie will be her little partner in crime and she will have a rock solid excuse to still go parading around begging for candy.  After all, someone has to escort the little man.  Me, all I care about is the chocolate.  I'm in it for the chocolate.  Everything else will end up discarded.  Save the chocolate for Snow White!

 A slightly wrinklier...aged Snow White.  Like a fine wine.

Sue Sylvester

Baby Dino

Maybe next year, we can convince dad to dress up.  Matching Baby Daddy costumes!  Yes! 

Even better, they should have matching outfits.  All the time.  No this is not my baby daddy or my baby, but you get the idea. 

Yeah, it's never gonna happen.

On the Move!

T-minus 9 days!  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I haven't seen my honey in over 2 weeks now, and I am just dying to get up to Oregon and start unpacking all my crap.  All of my crap, all of Naomi's crap, all of Reggie's crap, and all of the household crap.  I actually LOVE unpacking and getting set up.  It's the *packing* that I loathe, and I am not ashamed to admit that I really didn't have to do much of any *packing* for this move.  Chris is a very organized individual unlike myself, and I was more than happy to let him be in charge of all the packing duties, and I find him very sexy when he takes charge and does domestic things around the house, including packing.   

Sexy

Not sexy

That being said, there has not been a lot of time lately for me to do the things that I enjoy the most.  One of them being writing.  I seriously thought that I could juggle working full time, breastfeeding, taking care of an infant and a 13-year-old, wake up at 5 am every morning, be up all hours of the night and morning changing and feeding my little one, and STILL make time for the things that I am fond of.  What I realized was this......um, NO.  When you are so tired and busy, and by busy and tired I mean (OMIGODIHAVENTSLEPTIN6MONTHSANDIMGOINGTOLOSEMYFRIGGINMINDINEEDADRINK!) the really important things tend to fall into place over time, or get pushed to the back burner until the last minute.  The fun stuff - well, that's when you need to get a babysitter or enlist help from an innocent relative or friend who happened to answer their phone at the wrong time. 

I have found myself being one of "THOSE" parents.  You know, the ones that pass their baby around at parties and get togethers, while taking advantage of the freedom for however long they can milk it.  The freedom of two arms and two hands.  I find that typing and writing is not cohesive with baby holding or nursing...so until there is this new super invention of a robot nanny or baby holding and keeping happy device...I still won't be writing as much.  However, I will not be waking every morning at 5 am and running myself ragged until I come home at 5 pm to dishes, laundry, blown out diapers, teenage angst, and neighbors who make me want to shoot dolphins.  Yes, they made me that angry. 

Now, there will be a little more time.  In less than 2 weeks I will be up in Oregon, getting settled and honing my domestic engineering skills.  We are moving to Clackamas, a suburb of Portland - and I'm nervous but very excited! 

Until then, the kids and I are staying with our cousin Rachel, who has opened up her home to us.  She has proven to be a wonderful "Baby Holding Snatching Relative," and I am finding that those are hard to come by.  I really appreciate her baby hogging urges, and I am happy to oblige as often as she feels the need.

Thank you Rachel, for all your help and support through this crazy last minute move.  We love you!