Sick and Tired

That's what I am.  Sick and tired.  But not in the annoyed/mad sort of way.  I'm sick and tired in the literal pregnant sort of way.  Yeah, Sadie is going to have a brother or sister in July!  Hooray!

Jazzercise - Part 2

Some of you might recall that I started going to a Jazzercise class a few months ago.  I told you all about my first class.  I'm happy to say that I've become much more comfortable with the class and routines.  I find that it's worth going just for the entertainment and people watching.

There is a little lady who has to be in her 70s.  She's cute.  Short, sweatband around her head, and quite often her shirt tucked into her panties.  I like watching her.  She sticks to the low impact version of the routines, but I'm proud of her for exercising!

Then there is the lady who knows EVERY word to EVERY song, and she's not afraid to sing them.  She does some weird yelps and cat calls.  She doesn't follow the routines exactly all the time - she just sort of does her own thing.

The Asian instructor is lots of fun.  Especially when we listen to the Britney Spears song I Wanna Go.  It cracks me up when she says - ooh, yes, I want to go all the way.  Do you want to go all the way?  (I wish I could write with an accent.)  Yes, we are super ladies!

And I MUST mention one other individual.  I refer to her as The Creeper.  It doesn't matter where in the room she starts off (although it's usually towards the back somewhere), she usually ends up behind me.  She is also an older lady, but there is something not quite right with her.  But then I think....if there is something wrong with her, she shouldn't be driving to the Rec Center.  So does that just make her weird?  I don't know.  She took her makeup application lessons from Tammy Faye Baker, she wears glasses with a chain, and she is always in a daze.  Her feet barely leave the floor (except when she's making her way closer to me - intentionally?), her arms never raise over her shoulders, and she looks scared.  I think the workout she gets climbing the stairs to the class is more of a workout than what she gets from being in the class for an hour.  There was one time today that I turned around, and she was RIGHT THERE.  Creeped me out!

The instructor who is there most of the time is good.  I like her.  Probably close to my age.  However, do you know the song Party Rock Anthem?  (I had to look up the name)  Well, when it comes to the point in the song - everybody's shuffling.... she tells us to "freestyle".  ha ha ha ha!!  This girl don't freestyle.  This girl ain't got a freestyle bone in her body.  This girl goes into panic mode every time we are asked to freestyle.  Good grief.  I'm glad I still stick close to the back.  Oh, and this same instructor kept telling us to make sure our legs and feet stayed together for one move.  I thought - she's telling us to keep our legs and feet together, but her legs aren't together.  Then I paid attention to her feet.  Yeah, they were together.  She's just so skinny that her legs don't touch.  Uhm, mine do.  Darnit!

The class is fun.  Entertaining.  It makes me sweat.  I'll keep going....because I'm determined to one day fit into those cute little yoga pants!

Annoyed

I know there are many things way worse to get me frazzled, but.....

• inconsiderate people
• if you park on the line, it makes it really difficult for me to get my child into the vehicle
• no diapers in the size I need at Target?  come on!
• two days ago I called India (most likely) to discuss billing/insurance stuff.  I could only understand maybe every 2-3 words the person said.  I don't even know if the person was male or female.  I decided to call back today to try and talk to someone else to clarify what was discussed earlier.  How, HOW, did I get the SAME person on the phone?  He/She said (I think) - yes, you called on 10-18 and I told you blah blah blah.  I still am unsure of what is going on.
• my child throwing a fit in Target - I should have known better than to take her during nap time
• yard crew showing up in the middle of nap time
• dogs going crazy at the yard crew in the middle of nap time

My Hair and Me: A Hate Hate Relationship

My hair has always been a stressful part of my life.  Always.  I honestly could only recall maybe a handful of times I thought - hey, my hair looks good today.

I sit here not even knowing where I want to go with this post.  I'm just so fed up with my hair!  I've had it long, I've had it short, my mom had it cut in an embarrassingly masculine cut at one phase in my life.  I've gone through periods of rolling it with hot rollers to calm the frizz.  I got a Chi, but it took way too long.  I always thought I wanted a perm to help get the curl more uniform, but my mom refused to let me get one.  And now I'm glad she wouldn't let me go through with it.  Who knows how much money I've spent on gels and creams and defrizzers and deep conditioners and and and!  My grandmother, who I love dearly and miss like crazy, used to tell me - if you'd just get your hair cut really short, it would do like mine.  Uhm, Meme, I don't want it to look like yours!  (Think....Ronald McDonald)

I didn't even like my hair on my wedding day.  I could shoot everyone (especially the photographer) who saw me having pictures taken and didn't tell me about the hair sticking out on the side of my head.  There's just no controlling it.

I always resort to just pulling it back into a ponytail.  I know it's not a great look, but what are my other options?  I pull it back and Kris says - take your hair down.  I wear it down, and Kris will say - fix your hair.  He's not happy.  I'm not happy.

Last week I'd had enough.  I scheduled an appointment to have it cut.  When the stylist asked me what we were doing, I just gave her a look.  Oh no, here we go again.  Sit down.  She knows the routine.  I'm going to debate, look at pictures, and then do nothing to make a change.  I'm scared of change.  I'm scared of my hair.  About a year ago, I decided to go with a few little wispy bangs.  Kris told me that he liked them....if I was a twelve year old girl.  Anyway, I sat there looking through magazines.  Not one person in Hollywood has problem hair.  Or short hair, for that matter.

After much discussion, we decided that we needed to get away (far, far away) from the bell shape.  Unfortunately, I came home with a ball shape.  I always leave the salon with my hair semi-wet.  You don't want to see my hair if you actually dry it with a dryer.  So I'm not placing the blame on my stylist.  She really couldn't tell exactly what it was going to do with it still damp.  It looked pretty good while damp.  And then I stepped outside.  Stupid barometric hair!

As usual, it was in a ponytail when Kris got home.  He wanted to see it.  I took it down and he just looks at me.  Told me to turn around.  And then turn around again.  No comments.  Not a good sign.  There's just still....too much hair.  AAAHHHHH!!!!!  I called and left a message for my stylist.  I told her we need to do some more work.  But what?  If I keep cutting on it, I really will end up looking like Meme.  I'm too young to have Meme hair!

So, what to do?  I have no idea.  All I know is that I'll never be without lots of conditioner.  And a ponytail holder.

Never a Dull Moment

Never.

We just returned from a long weekend trip with my parents and nephews.  I know, I know, Branson is supposed to be for old folks, but these young folks made the trip.  Kris and I wanted to fly, but there are no direct flights from Houston to Branson.  If we flew, we'd have to fly to Atlanta and change planes.  That would take over seven hours, not counting getting to the airport, checking in, renting a car, etc.  So....ROAD TRIP!  Woo hoo!  I know you all are jealous.  I actually think road trips are fun.  Kris doesn't necessarily feel the same way as I do.  Especially after this past weekend.

We left from Houston Thursday night at 8:00 and made it to my parents' house a little before midnight.  The next morning we picked up my nephews and hit the road.  Oh, I guess I should back up and say that we rented a car.  Kris didn't want to put the extra miles on our vehicles.  And boy, are we glad he made that decision!  It wasn't an hour and a half into our trip when Sadie started throwing up.  The child has NEVER thrown up in her whole sixteen months of existence.  Until this weekend.  When I say throwing up, she was seriously vomiting.  Thankfully we were close to a rest stop, so Kris quickly pulled in.  Sadie was crying and puking as I was unbuckling the car seat as fast as I possibly could.  No way was I going to take her out of the seat in the car.  I get her out and take her clothes off.  The poor baby was so weak and shaking and crying.  I wanted to cry with her.  My mom took her, cleaned her up, and put new clothes on her.  I cleaned the car seat while Kris cleaned the rental car.  I needed to clean the little buckles, so I told Kris to dig out his toothbrush.  I didn't want to use mine because I just bought a new one a few days prior.  I don't know how long it took us, but it was not a quick process.  We finally got back on the road with all the windows rolled down.

Next stop, Dollar General.  Baby wipes, paper towels, two different air fresheners, and a new toothbrush.  Things were going ok, stopped for gas, a little further down the road we stopped for a picnic.  The kids were able to run around for a little while.  Back on the road, thirty minutes later we had to pull off for a diaper change.  Zay, my nephew, wanted to know when we were going to get there.  At the rate we were going, the next day!

Kris had a conference call at 3:30, but we couldn't have Sadie in the car in case she started making noise.  At 3:00 we stopped.....put Zay in the car with us, Sadie in the car with my parents.  Zay ended up falling asleep, so Kris was able to talk without any disturbances.  Forty-five minutes or so later, my parents pull over.  Mom said that Sadie was crying and calling for me.  I get in the car with her, dad drives the rental car, mom drives their vehicle.  Thirty minutes later, we stop again.  Zay wasn't feeling well.  It could have been the hills and curves or it could have been the smell of the air fresheners and puke.  Car seat change again - Sadie back with us, Zay back with my parents.  aaahhhhh!!!

We FINALLY get to our potel, as my youngest nephew called it.  We pull in, and Zay gets sick.  In my mom's brand new car!  Seriously?  Can we not catch a break?!

Time for dinner.  We decided to go to a smaller section of Branson.  However, we didn't realize HOW small it was.  There were only a few fast food options and one mexican restaurant called Tequila's.  Tequila's it is.  Kris, Sadie, and I go in and get seated.  What's taking my parents so long?  Kris goes to check.  Zay got sick again.  They go back to the potel and we eat alone.  It was quite a hole in the wall with interesting people to watch.  At one point we lost it - we started thinking about the day and couldn't stop laughing.  When our food arrived, it made us laugh even harder.  They call this mexican food and expect us to eat it?  ha ha!  We had to stop at Sonic for milkshakes to get the taste of Tequila's out of our mouths.

Saturday was Silver Dollar City.  It was fun, but it was crowded.  Everyone except my mom and Sadie toured the cave.  I took Zay on his first real roller coaster ride.  Yummy cinnamon rolls.  Craftsmen making knives and rolling pins and sugar/syrup and quilts.....

Sadie in the wilderness schoolhouse 

Sadie and daddy on a ride.  Poor Kris had to fold himself in half to fit into the little seat!

The kids were wiped out after a busy day.  But the day wasn't over yet.  Next was the Noah's Ark musical.  It was really great!  We loved watching Sadie get so excited about seeing live animals on the stage.  She was pointing, clapping, bouncing, and trying to call them.  Too cute.  By the end of the first act, though, she was getting restless.  Kris ended up taking her to a "cry room" for the second act.  The sets were truly incredible.  I don't know where the show will be appearing next, but if you have the opportunity to see it, you should!

Sunday was back to Silver Dollar City.  It was more enjoyable because there weren't nearly as many people there.  Roller coaster ride again, train ride, good food, nice weather.  Time to head home.  

Sadie slept a short while after we got on the road.  When she woke up, she was watching her silly song DVD.  I had noticed a really pretty scenic overlook on the way up and wanted to stop on the way back.  I spotted it and told Kris to pull in.  As soon as we pulled in, Sadie started throwing up again.  This time worse than the first time.  Here we go again.  My parents didn't see us pull in, so we called them to let them know what happened.  They turned around.  The cleanup process began again.  This time we used MY toothbrush.  Poor Sadie was down to her last outfit.  We considered just setting the rental car on fire and leaving it on the side of the road.  How were we going to get the smell out?  Kris put a disposable bib on Sadie - one with a big pocket on it to catch "stuff".  Thankfully she didn't have to use it because she was fine the rest of the trip.

I'll spare you the details of the rest of the trip.  Nothing too exciting happened.  We made it safely home.  Tired and stinky, but safe.  It was a crazy few days, but I guess all that matters was this:

Three cousins and two grandparents spending time together....memories, even if they were crazy memories!

Just a Glimpse

In case you wanted to know all about Sadie's day, here are some snippets.

Before "school", she'd been playing with her baby doll.  She stretched out a changing pad and pretended to put a diaper on the baby.  Then I found her doing this:

It was picture day at school, so I attempted something unusual - putting something on her head.  She wasn't too sure about it.  Neither was I.

When I picked her up, her teacher told me that picture day was a big failure for Sadie.  She cried and cried, and the photographer couldn't get a decent picture even after many attempts.  That girl!  She's usually such a little ham for me.  I'm going to take her back tomorrow and stay with her to see if they can get a decent picture.  Wish us luck.

A few minutes ago, she decided to accessorize herself.  I don't think she has a future in fashion.

Now I can hear her in a kitchen cabinet.....let me go see what's going on in there.  I'll take my camera, just in case.

You Think You've Seen it All?

Well, you're about to.  (Please excuse the poor lighting and video quality.)

Yes, that is my child dancing along with a Britney Spears cheerleader monkey.  Leave it to the grandparents to find such a treasure!