Cuti Mamu

Conrad, being the youngest of four children, doesn't have many pictures of himself as a baby. Actually, the last two times I visited his family we looked for pictures of him. We found lots and lots of his oldest brother, and fewer the more syblings there were. Us oldest kids are certainly the lucky ones when it comes to posterity, I guess!

But a few months ago, his Mom called to tell me that she had found a few baby pictures of Conrad! I was so excited, especially having another little one on the way..I was excited to see what our newest addition may look like!

Conrad's cousin Susan, was gracious enough to scan them in and send them to me, since I've been so excited about seeing them! Thanks Susan!! On a side note, Susan is one of Conrad's favorite cousins and she works for Deloitte and Touche in Hyderabad. All of Conrad's younger cousin's call me "Bhabi," (pronounced like Bobby) which means "Sister-in-law" Of course, my other two sister in laws, Sudha and Anthony Mary are also called Bhabi, so everyone turns around to respond when "Bhabi" is called in the house at home. Just thought I'd share a little Indian culture with you on this dreary Monday...

Mamu is what Conrad's family calls him. Roughly translated, it means "the littliest guy." since he's the youngest in the family, which has turned out to be quite ironic, since he is the biggest brother, by a few inches. Cuti means small, and Cuti Mamu is what Conrad's mother calls Isabelle often. "Little Conrad" for lack of a better translation (and since I get my translation second hand!) We do think that Isabelle looks like Conrad in the family picture, where his Dad is holding him. And, I want to point out, that Isabelle's wild hair comes squarly from HIM...I had straight hair when I was little!

Family Pictures

Last weekend we had family pictures taken. Isabelle wasn't feeling all that well and was in no mood to be photographed. In fact, we had a major fallout about the bow in her hair before we even left the house. Her hair was wild (no one but me and heredity can be blamed for that one!) and she didn't smile for most of the shots, but they still turned out pretty well.

These are obviously, just the online shots, but you can get the idea. And the much sought after belly shots are here for your purusal too!

A Polite Decline

A conversation with Isabelle last night before bed:

Mommy: Isabelle, do you want a baby sister?
Isabelle: No
Mommy: Do you want a baby brother?
Isabelle: No. (Progressively louder) No. Thank. YOU!

September Book Nook

I am an avid reader. I am neurotic about carrying books around with me because I might have downtime somewhere in my daily schedule that will be wasted if I don’t have a book in which to absorb information/utilize my time/kill my time. Of course, these habits have been slightly altered with Isabelle, because I don’t have as much downtime, but we still frequent the public library and I still have a 2 foot stack of books by my bed.

This month I thought I would recommend two books I recently finished reading that have really challenged me and I hope I can absorb enough of the principles to make changes in my life! (By the way, I almost always read the books that my friends recommend on their blogs. I LOVE doing that! So recommend away!)

Not For Sale
This non-fiction book by David Batstone is about modern day slavery. How it is more prevalent now in the world than at any point in history. Shocking? Yes! You should read the stories of children taken from homes in Africa to perform in “African Children’s Choirs” in the US only to be exploited by the managers, or the child soldier slaves of Northern Africa, or the rice slaves of India. Unbelievable and difficult for the middle class American mind to absorb. Many of these people are in bondage to slavery because of $3 loans or less. Or young girls kidnapped from bus stops in Cleveland Ohio and sold into the sex industry. It happens right under our noses, as well as all around the world. I’m still really processing what this means for me and for our family and HOW we can help.

Safely Home
This fiction book is based on a lot of real facts about the current situation in China. Randy Alcorn’s “hero” is a middle aged American Businessman, who is doing business in China, and comes face to face with the harsh realities of Christian persecution through his old Harvard roommate, a Chinese citizen. The book vacillates between what’s going on in character’s lives on earth and Heaven’s perspective on the situation, as Christ and the Saints look down and respond and intercede for the “Shadowlands.” Being pregnant and prone to weird dreams, I had to stop reading both of these books at night before I fell asleep because of the crazy dreams they gave me. But I walked away from this book asking myself if I were really a Christian. If what I was living my life for was really God’s priorities. I’m still struggling with that.

Name Him What?

Conrad and I have been talking about baby names. I’m settled on names, but him? Not so much. Needless to say, whenever I ask him, he starts throwing out weird random names that come to him at the moment. So a few days ago, the following conversation ensued:

Momma (currently carrying said child): “Babe, if you don’t like our current name choices, give me some ideas.”
Daddy: “How about Andrew? Andrew Zimmerman?”
Momma: (Silent Pause) “Isn’t that they guy who eats bizarre things on the food network?”
Daddy: “Oh ya. I knew I had heard that name somewhere before.”

I know what my husband watches on TV. Next thing you know he’s going to be suggesting Wolf Blitzer Michael.

...and on the farm he had a...

We had a great holiday weekend this last week. We started it early, by heading up to my mom and dad’s so Conrad and my dad could go to a Brown’s game on Thursday night. Isabelle and I stayed home with Grandma and Mom. Fine with me! I had to work in Cincinnati that morning, so I had logged several hundred miles by the time we made it to Norwalk.

We spent most of the weekend resting and relaxing and doing not much of anything. Isabelle has lately been enamored with horses. So every trip in the car in rural Ohio is a delight for her senses! Actually anything on four legs warranted an excited response. These city girls….


Friday night we went to my parent’s friend’s farm and Isabelle actually got to get up close and personal with some cows, horse, pig, pigmy horses, roosters, cats, rabbits etc. She was having serious sensory overload. She loved it and did not want to leave the farm. Of course, she really didn’t want to get too near the animals either.

My sister and niece also came up on Friday night so we got to spend some time with Jona and Abby. Isabelle is totally in love with Abby and gets so excited when she’s around, she will literally run in circles around the baby. Abby is just looking around like, “What the…?” Consequently, since Aunt Jona is the bearer of the baby, she’s not too far down on the favorite list either. Whenever she was out of Isabelle’s sight she would say, “Where’s Aunt Jona?” or more often, go screaming down the hall, “Aunt Jooooooonnnnaaaaaaa?”

Isabelle had a great time, and she was a little delight most of the weekend. It seems like the more she learns to talk, the less frustrated she gets. That’s good. Yesterday, we were at the mall to pick up some things, and she saw her daddy across the store. She started yelling, “Daddy! Daddy! How are you?” And when we got home from my mom and dad’s on Sunday night, Isabelle spotted our neighborhood and started crying, “No home. Go to Oma’s house!” Over and over…I guess that means she had a good time!

Isabelle's Two Year Check Up

Today was yet ANOTHER doctors appointment for the Michael family. Although lately, I have been the object of the prodding and poking, Isabelle was today.

Surprisingly, she was a gem! She jabbered and played throughout the whole appointment, showing off her growth chart milestones rather well, if I do say so myself! The doctor called in an Rx for her mild eczema, and I was even pleased that she didn't throw up on Dr. D when he stuck that popcicle stick in her mouth. Our whole family knows she inherited her Aunt Jona's sensitive gag reflex.

But I did start to get a little nervous when they mentioned she was going to get two shots. I thought we had already hit all of her shots, so I failed to pre-dose her with tylenol, and honestly, have been dreading holding her down for this ordeal, as she gets older and more aware of what's going on. BUT, I did bring our dwindling stash of jelly beans, as incentives, just in case.

So with the promise of jelly beans on my lips, I laid her on the examing table, as TWO nurses came in to help hold her. Oh no. This was the first time they'd ever brought in two! So I started talking to Isabelle about bears and jelly beans and we looked at the pictures on the walls, and mommy held her little arms down. She did not even flinch, when she got the shots. When she got up, she looked down at the little bandaids on her legs and excitedly exclaimed, "Stickers!"

All that nervousness for nothin!

Today's Happy Thought

I'm glad big babies don't run in our family.

Doctor Appointment #327

With Gestational Diabetes, it seems like I have a doctor’s appointment every week or so. So last week was no different. Although it wasn’t my “high risk” appointment, where I get the great 45 minute ultrasound sessions, it was with my regular OB, who just came back from maternity leave herself.

So I decided it was time to have a heart to heart with my doctor about delivery. We needed to come to an understanding about WHEN I would be getting pain medication during delivery. So I reminded her that my first delivery took only about 4 hours, and asked if she expected my second to be shorter. Yes. So she suggested that if everything progressed smoothly that we schedule an inducement sometime before my due date, to avoid having the baby at home, at the office(gasp!), or in the car on the way to the hospital. Not to mention, to “manage the pain.”

I fully agreed, then also reminded her that with Isabelle I couldn’t get an epidural until I was 9 cm dilated because Mr. Anesthesiologist was in surgery. And also because the nurses were under her direction to not give me an epidural until I was in “active” labor. Unfortunately, no one but me figured out my labor was “active” till it was too late. So, at the conclusion of the appointment, I felt like we had come to an understanding and my “birth plan” was in place to my satisfaction. In reality, you can’t plan these things too much tho, can you? Baby M just may decide to come at his/her own time and surprise us all in an inconvenient time and location.

In the meantime, we are dreaming of what this baby might be or look like. While I am trying to get a picture of Conrad as a baby (Thanks Susanne!) I have been purusing (and posting) pictures of me as a baby!

Puppy Dog Tails?

Since we will be utterly surprised on that auspicious day in October as to the gender of the baby, I thought I would take a “Poll” and see what you think we are going to have: girl or boy. The Chinese Gender Predictor says BOY. The teachers as Isabelle’s daycare say BOY (based oddly enough, on the fact that Isabelle has a peak in her hair, at the back of her neck…old wives tale?) Conrad thinks BOY. Me? I was thinking BOY, only because I already have a girl and this pregnancy has been so different. Anybody else care to cast a vote?
Danielle as a Baby

Baby Preperation Slacker

I was recently reading a blog about a friend who is pregnant with her second child. Actually, she’s not as much a friend, as a friend of a friend, so you probably don’t know her! Anyway, she is preparing for their second child. She was due in a few weeks and is in the throws of baby showers and decorating the nursery, washing baby clothes, and unpacking baby equipment. This made me feel…well, like I’m in the slow group.

For one, I don’t want any more baby stuff. The idea of getting one more piece of baby equipment makes me a little anxious. It makes me want to call the bulk pick up guys and schedule an appointment for some serious haul away. I have always felt like one thing coming in merits one thing going out. New crib? Okay, an old bed has to go. New dresser? Alright, let’s throw away an old desk then. I am THE polar opposite of my mother’s family. They are keepers (how MANY boxes of Christmas decorations do you have Mom? 20?). Ever visited my Papaw Clynis’s garage? It gives me a nervous twitch to even think about its existence.

Secondly, I don’t know what we’re having. We decorated Isabelle’s nursery with the idea that a subsequent baby, no matter what the sex, would be in the same nursery. So it’s fabulously neutral green. Ever the pragmatic. The thought has crossed my mind that I need to go through some old baby clothes and sort into a “Can Use” pile if it’s a girl and if it’s a boy, but I figure some helpful relative (mom) might help out with this when the baby is born. I might even stroll through the newborn isle the next time I go to the store and buy a gender neutral hospital outfit or two.

Thirdly, even diapers I hesitate to buy, since all that good stuff I planned for with Isabelle I couldn’t even use until she was about 2 months old, I had to rush out and buy preemie diapers and clothes anyway. So, in my mind, Conrad can rush out, while I’m still at the hospital and make that happen.

What has happened to me? I used to think Martha Stewart was so cool. Now I think she’s a wasteful over achiever, who uses children as background accessories. I guess that’s parenthood for you.

UPDATE: The picture here has the sole item Michael Baby #2 has had purchased for him/her. This lovely gender neutral “going home from the hospital” outfit.

Isabelle-isms.

In Word
Muffin: Pronounced muppin. Meaning anything cake like, that comes in small round portions.

Swing: Pronounced wing. Meaning anything that swings from a hinge. Most likely a seat or a toy

Swim: Pronounced wim. As you can see, we are not yet fond of our “s”s. Meaning anything that requires the use of a bathing suit, including sprinklers.

Wash: Pronounced wash. Meaning water. “What would you like to drink?” Wash. Or, more appropriately, what do you do with the soap? Wash, of course.

Open: Pronounced ope. Meaning I am not capable of opening this item myself, I need you to help. Command, “Open!”

Ice Cream: Pronounced Eye Keem. Meaning anything frozen, pop cicles, ice cream, even sometimes frozen fruit. Excluding Ice. That is just Eyes.

In Deed
Yesterday we were laying down for a sunday afternoon nap, which Isabelle graciously complied with. As she was laying on her tummy, drifting off to sleep, with her eyes closed, she started wiggling her little bum and said in her little sing-songy voice (I kid you not) "Shake your boo-tay, shake your boo-tay." What are these guys doing at daycare? Watching old soul train re-runs??

One Big Cupcake Mess

Last Friday I took cupcakes to daycare for Isabelle’s birthday. When I came in the afternoon to pick her up, the kids where just finishing up their snacks, which consisted of her birthday cupcakes. I could hear the shrieks of the substitute teacher down the hall, as I approached her room. When I looked into the window, I was dismayed, and not a little humored to see a room full of big eyed toddlers, covered in cake and frosting, holding their little cake coated fingers up in the air. It was in their hair, eyebrows, ears, and on the tables and the floor.

Twice the week before I had asked permission to bring in a treat for her birthday, remembering how much fun it was to bring a birthday treat to school when I was a kid. Both times I got a resounding yes. Not to mention, I asked about what was okay to bring. Are there certain things we can or cannot bring? You never know these days. Do I have to bring carrots and low fat dip or something super healthy? I even mentioned cupcakes.

But the teachers told me that the kids in her class didn’t have any allergies, so bring away! I’m thinking they told me this KNOWING there would be a substitute teacher that afternoon….

Starving Children of Asia

I had a lovely birthday with my family. Not to mention the beautiful flowers I got at work from my husband (which made my day) My co-workers also took me out to lunch and then Conrad took us out to dinner..and I had dessert!! And skipped taking my glucose level after the fact. It was my birthday, after all. For the special occasion, Isabelle "got" me a whine free evening, where she was pleasant and sweet. When asked, "Isabelle, do you know you are beautiful?" She answered with, "I know that."

While we were having dinner at the restaurant, a parent was walking out past us, and commented to his child, “Why didn’t you finish your dinner? You know there are children starving in India?”

While I am fully aware that this comment is absolutely true, it’s funny to hear it when you are Indian…we’ll at least Indian by marriage. I turned to Isabelle and told her, “Those are probably some of your cousins starving over there in India,” thinking of her pleasantly plump little cousins who outweigh her two to one. Then Conrad commented, “American’s eat their bland bland food, no spice, and then talk about starving Indians…” I’m not sure what one has to do with the other, but it made perfect sense to him and I thought it was funny.

Special Delivery for Me

"When a wife has a good husband its easily seen on her face."johann wofgang

Goodbye to the Good 'ole Days

I guess last week Isabelle was giving us a good bye to the good ole’ days. She really wanted us to miss her first year. Because we do. Saturday, her first FULL day of being 2 was indeed, terrible. She was so exceedingly UNagreeable that she was “disciplined” upwards of 12 times. This is how the day began. “Isabelle, do you want cereal or eggs for breakfast?” “I want jelly beans.” Mommy replies, “Jelly beans aren’t a choice. Eggs or Cereal?” This goes back and forth a couple of times before, “Jell bells!! I want Jell bells!” Later that day she told us, “I want doggy. I NEED doggy.”

By 10:30pm, three hours AFTER her normal bedtime, she still wasn’t asleep. I am already not sleeping well and pretty much exhausted all of the time, I was reduced to tears at the thought of two of these children. What was I thinking? How can I manage two? (keep in mind, my wonderful husband and father of our children is really doing most of the “managing” at this point) Conrad told me I had better keep my genes in check with this next child, because he doesn’t think he can take two little “mini me’s”

Sunday morning, after two early morning episodes of “discipline” we decided church was out of the question for all of us, and started looking for a way to get out of the house and spend some of Isabelle’s energy. We decided to venture to the zoo. We actually bought season pass’s and the weather was beautiful! We had a wonderful time at the zoo and Isabelle really enjoyed it this time. The first time we took her she was about 11 months old. She really loved the animals and the train and begged to go on the merry go round (ie. See the horseys), but still screamed bloody murder on it…apparently she hasn’t grown out of her fear of things that go in circles. All in all, Sunday helped to redeem the weekend for us, and we had a great time together!

Happy Birthday Baby

Today our baby is 2 years old! This time, exactly two years ago the ptossin was just starting to kick in and I was beginning to get a little uncomfortable. And at 12:57pm, we excitedly welcomed Isabelle into our little family.

Yesterday, she was exceedingly agreeable. I can only hope that this means her “terrible two’s” will be terrific…hmmmm. We had such a great night hanging out and Isabelle was chatty and fun. Not one melt down! As I laid down with her last night when I put her to bed, I couldn’t help but be amazed at how one little person can change your life so much. It’s certainly more work than anything I have ever done in my life, and more worth it than anything I have ever done. My favorite sight in the world is her sparkling brown eyes, and my favorite sound is her saying, “You coming, Mama?” and her giggling when her Daddy tickles her, and my favorite smell, is predictably, Isabelle after her nightly bath. Children are certainly God’s way of blessing us. Happy Birthday Baby!


Isabelle August 8, 2006



Isabelle August 8, 2007


Isabelle August 8, 2008

Does my family like Conrad?

I recently ran across a blog where the author wrote the following couple of paragraphs. I laughed so hard, I almost spewed my non-fat, sugar free, decaf coffee. Just take out “Jon” and replace it with “Conrad.”

My father and stepmother gave both Jon and me cards with a little bit of cash tucked inside for our recent birthdays. They signed my card, "Love you." Jon's card was signed with, "Thanks for being who you are. Also, have we told you lately just how grateful we are you took one for the team? I mean, we know how hard it must be, and the fact that you continue to put up with it shows just how amazing you really are. There was a time when we thought she'd die alone, deserved to die alone, and then you came along and made it so that we didn't have to field those late night phone calls. You truly have a place reserved for you in heaven."

Okay, maybe it was just that first sentence, but I know exactly what my dad is trying to say when he doesn't say it. And when people ask me if my parents like Jon, I'm all, like Jon? Hmm. How do I put this? They think Jesus sent him.

Warming Up

In hopes of getting Isabelle used to the idea of being a big sister, we have been using our little niece Abigail as somewhat of a guinea pig. And, of course, wanting these two to be friends too. I’m sure it didn’t help when my mom would be holding Baby Abby, we would tell Isabelle, “Look, Oma has the NEW baby, you’re the OLD baby.” Then proceed to ask her if she liked Abigail. She would scowl in the general direction of the pink soft little bundle and answer with a definitive, “No.” (If you are a parent to be, perhaps you should add these things to the list of “Not to Do’s” that you have been subconsciously compiling.)

Now that Abby is about four months old, Jona let her hold Abby on her lap and this seemed to quell the storm of competition. The whole time Abby was with us, Isabelle stayed close by her stroller or by her side. She would rub her face and say, “Nice Baby.” Or “Soft Baby.” All the while, Abby had this semi-concerned, “Are you all sure about this?” look on her face.

Luckily, in keeping with her mother’s personalities, Abby is easy going (and consequently already sleeps through the night with little effort) and compliant. While Isabelle, in keeping with her mother’s personality, rides through life like a cowboy on a bucking bull. She came from the womb crying, “Listen up folks, it’s my way or the highway!” Good times…

Birthday Week Continues

This weekend we went to my mom and dad’s to have a family birthday party for Isabelle. We definitely took it down a few notches from her first birthday party, which, let’s be honest, was mostly for the grown ups, since she had no idea what was going on! This one was dinner at a pizza place, lot’s of family, cake, and presents. What more could a 2 year old ask for?

The weekend seems somewhat of a blur for me, with only the pictures to remind me of the festivities. Maybe I was on a sugar high (or low??) from the cake, but I was so tired all weekend I could hardly function. And this seems to be a regular occurrence these days, with at least one day a week going by in a sleepy headed blur.

Fountain Fun

Here's a clip from Easton last weekend


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Friday Mortgage Update

Conrad and I have been so excited about our Money Merge account, we have been counting down the days until we make our first big "principle only payment" into our mortgage! Well, today was THE day! So I thought I would share our excitement with you! We paid $6500 toward the principle of our mortgage today, cutting 2 years and 7 months off of our remaining time and saving $19,500 in interest that we no longer have to pay to our mortgage company! Whoo hoo! And we've only been on the program two months!

I have had a lot of friends ask me how the money merge works. Aren't I just taking money from a line of credit and putting it toward my mortgage? No. If that were the case, we would be WAY over budget already. Since we only have a $12000 line of credit, which we took

$9500 out to pay off loans at the beginning
$6500 Principle payment to mortgage
_____
$16000

But we still have almost $3000 left on our line of credit. It's simple finance principles of letting your money work for you instead of the bank. Seriously, if you haven't already, take the time to check the program out!
www.u1stfinancial.net/daniellemichael

Birthday Week(s) Begins

Saturday Conrad and I took Isabelle out to Easton to celebrate her birthday with "just" us. We went to Friends 2B Make and had she got to make her own doll. And we had only one melt down, as we were doing her doll's hair and she decided she definatley DID NOT want ribbons in the dolls hair.

Next we took her out to the fountains where Mommy and Daddy enjoyed some starbucks and Isabelle enjoyed the fountains. It's the first time we have taken her there, but I have looked forward to taking her here for years...probably before we had kids! It's so fun to watch the kids having fun here!

It's the Little Things..

I made muffins on Friday for a work thing and for my family. I got up early and left for work. Isabelle got up later and went into the kitchen with Daddy for her usual waffle and yogurt breakfast. I had told Conrad that there were blueberry muffins, which Isabelle loves. He called me later and told me that he pulled one out and Isabelle said, “Muffin…ohhhhhhh.” And took it to her little table to enjoy for breakfast. But she insisted on eating with her Daddy, “Sit Daddy,” She commanded and he sat at her little table and they enjoyed breakfast together. And she kept asking, “Mommy at work?” Because isn’t that where Mommy always is??

Napping with her favorite Daddy.

Happy Friday Blog Game

I got this from Sohailah's blog. I haven't been getting many comments lately, and am beginning to wonder if people are still reading our blog?! So, to selfishly solicite responses, I would like to play the following game:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Sleepy Girl

After a weekend of staying up late, getting up early, irregular naps, and lots of parties and hanging out, Isabelle couldn’t quite make it through dinner Sunday night.

China Team Reunion

Our good friends and "m's" from China, Dave and Lorna came to visit us last week. We were so excited to see them and spend time with them. And, as a matter of fact, the last time they were here to visit, Kim and I were roommates and both preparing to get married in a few months. So this visit was the first time they got to meet Conrad or Isabelle. we had such a good time talking about the Lord, comparing notes (and laughing) on being in cross cultural marriages (Lorna is Philipina), and just haning out!

Last weekend we also had a China team reunion (I took a group from my church in '03 to do a STM trip)It was at Kim’s house.Kim and I got married within a month of each other. Her son, Andrew, is just over a year old, and now we are both pregnant with our second and due one day apart!! We couldn’t have planned this! Here are some great pictures of Andrew, Isabelle, and Dave at our “reunion.” Isabelle thought Dave and Lorna were great, and every time they left the room, she'd go, "Where'd they go?" Not to mention she would sneak up the stairs to thier room and burst in unannounced whenever she could get away with it!

The Unfortunate Fate of my Flowers

It seems like both summers I have been pregnant, my plants die. Maybe I’m imagining things, but in 2006, while I was pregnant with Isabelle I bought a bunch of annuals and recruited Conrad and my brother-in-law Hubert to help me (i.e. do all of the real work while I supervised from my shaded perch) plant them in our flower beds. Everything last one of them shriveled up and died.

That fateful summer prompted me to decide to do only container gardening. The next summer things went swimmingly. I had beautiful flowers and plants. This summer, believing that my blooming curse had been lifted, I bought several wonderful flats of colorful flowers and planted them in containers.

A few weekends ago, while we were away in Georgia, we had several big storms and it pretty much drowned my plants in pots. They must need better drainage. But I find it odd since I’ve used these planters before?? Between the rain and the kamikaze birds that continue to dive bomb my hanging plants until they plummet daily to a dry concrete death, I’m fresh out of energy to maintain plant life.

Sadly, three weeks after spending big bucks on the dang things, I threw them out. Maybe next year I just have to stick with those pre-planted pots you get at Wal-Mart. Time to dumb it down a little more.

A Visit to the Hospital slash Spa

Our OB recently switched hospitals, which means that we have to deliver at the new hospital. I was sort of bummed about the change…until we took a maternity tour of the new hospital!
This place just opened in January and all I can say is WOW! You walk in to natural light, stone, bamboo, and water walls. No bright florescence or obnoxious paging systems. All of the staff wears personal pagers on their persons.

The maternity floor has a private, secure garden complete with rocking chairs for you to take your new baby out to relax. Each “suite” has a refrigerator, a queen size sleeper sofa, for your family to sleep in while you are there, and a personal PC where you have full internet access and where you order your meals. Of course, they don’t have typical meal service, but provide room service, at your leisure, which you order from you Personal computer. Your husband hungry? No problem, order online and pay with a credit card, and they will deliver right to your room.

I think I may never go home.

Weekend Rants and Raves

I have to take a few minutes to rant and rave. Let’s start out on a positive note, so I’ll rave. I got a new hair guy. All I can say is wow! He gave me my dream hair! He just moved to Columbus from New York City, he is tattooed from head to toe and very very gay. And he is fabulous (albeit overpriced, but when you are pregnant, it’s worth the big bucks to make you feel good about your hair). My hair looks shiny and full of body both straight (which he calls “smooth”) and curly. He is a miracle worker! And if you are in Columbus and need miracle working hair services..I highly recommend David, the owner of Salon Hotel Lily. And no, I have no idea what the name means. I need to ask next time I’m there.

Now on to the ranting. I am 7 months pregnant, I have a toddler, and I work full time. Our only day to sleep in, and when I say sleep in I mean 6:45am, is Saturday morning. Precious time here, people. This Saturday morning I was rudely awakened by a lawn mower right outside my window at 6:07am. The neighbors lawn literally comes within 5 feet of our bedroom window. I was perturbed, to say the least. So what’s a girl to do? I threw on my pink robe and went outside to talk to said lawn mowing guy.

“Hey!” no response. “Hey!” Stopped lawnmower and looked at me with a blank stare. “Do you think you could wait a couple of hours to do that?” said incredulously. “Nope. I got 22 lawns to mow today. Talk to the homeowners.” Start mower back up and go on his merry way.

What to do? The house has been empty for a couple of months as the homeowners have been trying to sell it. I did what any self respecting blogger would do, I got my camera and went out into the early morning, uncomplimentary light, and started snapping pictures of the perpetrator. Later, I called the realtor, who’s name was on the sign in front to ask her to relay a message to the homeowners for us.

To add insult to injury, he followed his mowing, with trimming and edging, STILL five feet from our bedroom window.

Hello Atta!

Most Saturday mornings we are online with Conrad's family catching up on a video conversation. It gives us a chance to see everyone and everyone to see us (by us I mean Isabelle!) What we discovered a few days ago is that Isabelle is starting to recognize everyone. We were showing her pictures and we asked her "Who is that?" And she said, "Atta" (her grandma),"Alistair" and "Alana." She's starting to remember names!

Mustang Sally

This is my daughter in Aunt Brenda's corvette. The girl LOVES this car. She cries and throws a royal fit when you take her out. Aunt Brenda was just moving the car from one parking spot to another with Isabelle on her lap, and Isabelle tried desperately to shoo her hands away from the steering wheel with a commanding, "I drive!" I hope this isn't shadowing of things to come...

Her True Colors

Conrad dropped Isabelle off at Daycare this morning. Isabelle was pouting about something and her teacher was laughing at her obvious ploy for attention. She then commented, "You know she's wonderful, as long as she gets her way." Hmmm...our words exactly.