Curleygirl Days

A Whole Year!

2009-08-31T20:26:00.002-04:00

I have entered the love/hate relationship that is Facebook, so I've really been neglecting the blog. I've been thinking about the blog recently and realized that it has been my output of the early years of the girls. I hope to print these out one day for the girls to enjoy!

So, not much in our lives has chaged...just our lives as Babygirl has TURNED FOUR!! And, Jellybean is a walking, talking, headstrong, happy, beautiful toddler. This summer has really been a turning point...the girls now do most everything together. Dress-up is a big one. They have a nice collection of pink princess and fairy dresses, complete with purses, jewels, shoes, and other accessories. It's especially fun to see Jellybean prissing around calling everyone "Highness! Highness!" (Hope we got that on film!) The other big strides in our lives is that both girls have learned to swim somehow! Babygirl started off the summer not wanting to put her head underwater. Now, she is diving to the bottom of 3-4 feet of water to get the diving rings. At the beginning of the summer, Jellybean was still not able to get her feet under her if she tripped in a couple feet of water. Now, she is pushing off, getting horizontal, and kicking! At 2-1/2! It's unbelievable. I'm glad I didn't pay for swimming lessons. Seems like they learned more just by being in the water.

I've been working on the DeKalb mapping job since spring of 2007. That project has been on hold since last December. Sooooo, I've been working primarily on projects in the Virginia tidewater area and DC. Same SSES work, mapping, condition assessments, database management. Love it!! Haven't seen a client in over 2 years! Can't beat that! Just kidding... :)

Sales have been slow for Mapgeek since the housing market and construction markets tanked. In the meantime, we now have our first African-American president who is so over the top outrageous in his spending to get us out of the recession and kill capitalism, that markets have started picking up. I just wonder what the monetary difference between how much our taxes are going to go up and the potential money for sales will be. Anyhoooo...

I've forgotten how much I like blogging, especially when I can soapbox and nobody posts a bunch of opinions and then get in a fight on MY pages.

Still haven't done a sprint tri. Still half training for it, though it's hard to find the time to train for three different sports and work and deal with the kids. This is why there are so few women triathletes.

And that is the general goings-on at the moment. I really need some new books to read if anyone has any suggestions. Otherwise, I guess I'll go watch Tivo. Night!

Where does the time go?

2008-09-10T12:32:00.001-04:00

And the months come and go. We’ve been busy this summer as always! Jelly Bean is growing like a weed. She’s absolutely beautiful, just like her sister. How I ended up with two girls with straight blond hair and blue and green eyes…I’ll never know!

Babygirl is now 3! Completely potty trained now and hasn’t had one, single accident at night (knock on wood). Her latest obsession is dinosaurs. She saw a Land Before Time movie earlier this spring and it’s been dinosaurs ever since! She got a big Fisher-Price dollhouse for her birthday, and the dinosaurs moved in and took over. Clever girl. She also has discovered jigsaw puzzles. Partly because I found one with dinosaurs on it that was in the clearance bin at the grocery store. Babygirl’s collection has expanded, and she spends hours doing the 100 piece puzzles and can pretty much do them by herself. It’s fascinating watching her mind go!

Jelly Bean started preschool last week. After a summer of Mother’s Morning Out and also the childcare at the gym, she has taken right to getting dropped off for a few hours. The teachers keep them busy doing all kinds of fun things – coloring, eating, playground, etc. She also got a dollhouse this summer and she loves to play with her “house”. Lots of fun to watch the pretend in action.

We joined the local Lifetime Fitness a few months ago. It’s been incredibly motivating to me! After coming to the realization that in order to be in shape, you have to exercise 5 times a week. So, now I’m there almost every day. It’s been wonderful because the staff knows us, which is nice because I don’t really feel like one of the masses. I’ve been doing Peak Pilates, complete with torture devices, as well as running A LOT. At this point, I’m hoping to do a triathlon sometime next year. With their indoor and outdoor pools, I hope to get back in the water soon to start reacclimating.

Mapgeek is working like a dog, doing his quarry sales as well as multiple GIS contracts on the side. I think he loves keeping up with GIS and making all the extra money! But, I’ll have to let him tell you all about that…

Enough with my catch up. I will try to do better at keeping up!

Stop global warming (eat mor chiken)!

2008-04-11T07:43:00.002-04:00

This is really funny to me. The politicizing of global warming has gotten so absurd that I don't know how anyone can take it seriously. And I'm so sick and tired of being preached to about "being green" from people that aren't really living the lifestyle anyways. How can you lecture about the public's carbon footprint when you're flying around in a private jet to do so??

And I can't believe that Hillary is allowing the Olympics to go on! She really needs to go over there (or send Jimmy) and negotiate Tibet's freedom from China. And how come all those protesters aren't screaming about worse human rights violations (Sudan, North Korea, etc)?

Friday rant...don't get me really going.

1, 2, 3...PEEEEE!!!

2008-04-09T19:37:00.003-04:00

As was bound to happen, you *knew* I was gonna have to blog about it at some point. After months of knock-down drag-outs...Babygirl is finally potty trained (well mostly). I never was getting why she was so against potty training. Screaming, fighting, etc. And that little bugger can HOLD it...like 6 hours. So the whole sitting her down on the potty every half hour didn't work and was flatly miserable.

So, for the last couple weeks, I've been counting down to spring break, when she's at home all week. We've been shopping for new panties, though I never did find ones with bugs on them (her request). This past Saturday, I removed all diapers, pullups, the changing pad, the diaper genie, and the wipes from her room. And she hasn't had an accident all week (knock on wood), though I am still putting her in a "night-time diaper" for bedtime.

The next big hurdles are: using a public restroom; sleeping through the night without using "Mommy I have to pee" as a stalling tactic for staying up; and, the big road trip to Columbia this weekend.

I'll let you know...

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

2008-03-27T20:59:00.002-04:00

Not to far from the lake house in Kingston, TN. I'm duly impressed with the Crossville people. Wonder what the housing market looks like there in case I get a wild haa're to move!

The Party Goes On…

2007-09-11T18:59:00.000-04:00

Wow! Where did the summer go?? After a brief hiatus in July (post-Granddaddy P’s birthday and pre-Mapgeek’s birthday), we decided to head to Panama City Beach for a long weekend. We haven’t been down there in 3 years. One of my college roommates got married and lives down there. KR (or KO) and her husband own a couple of condo’s RIGHT ON THE BEACH! Lucky for us, one of them was available. And now for my shameless plug of her condos...

The condo was absolutely beautiful! And did I mention RIGHT ON THE BEACH? It was a very large 2-bedroom unit with a huge balcony, washer and dryer, huge kitchen, and TVs in every room. It was even setup for high speed internet (though not wifi at the moment). Both sleep 8 (two bedrooms, sofa bed, and bunk beds in a closet off the eating area – hilarious for kids). They recently decided to rent the units themselves, so I’ll post some contact info when I find out.

I love the gulf coast! It’s white, the water is clear, and the strong gulf stream currents are missing. Plus, we ate some fabulous seafood. I strongly recommend eating at Capt. Anderson’s (PCB standard) and a new place called the Boatyard, which was outstanding. We also ate at our old standby – Shuck-ums. Love those oysters! Mapgeek and I even got a couple of dives in one morning. Not quite Cozumel, but it was great to get wet. I’m really looking forward to going back this fall sometime.

Now we're into football season with the Thursday-Monday of nonstop action. *sigh* Fantasy football, college football, blah blah blah. I used to really like football season, but now it just gets on my nerves. It just gets old after 5 straight days. Hopefully, I’ll feel more involved when it starts getting colder, if it ever does. However, living in Georgia is always a treat when I get to proudly say GO COCKS!!

FYBirthday07

2007-08-02T21:53:00.002-04:00

Wow! Busy busy BUSY summer! As you may well remember. This year was even more so because we now have our Jelly Bean (Miss 3.0). BTW – I’ve thus rescinded my previous order (did I aleady mention this? I hate to go back and reread) and will now refer to Miss 2.0 in her original context of Babygirl and Miss 3.0 will henceforth be referred to as Jelly Bean (as we lovingly call her). It’s just cuter and we are all about cute.

I decided in my infinite wisdom to have Jelly Bean christened on Mother’s Day. I knew that I’d be hosting, but I wanted it to be extra special because it’s the first Mother’s Day that I had with both my girls. It was beautiful and Jelly Bean is the best. Happy, happy girl. We had the family in (except for brand new parents, Markyjoe and Niknik) and had a great lunch and day in general. Next was birthday overload week, which was a fun week of dining out at great restaurants. Killer Creek for one…my favorite! We ended May with Memorial Day at the lake. Very nice. And I finally got to drive a front end loader (don’t ask and see the pics when I post them). Woohoo!

June started with Babygirl’s second birthday! Amazing how time has flown by. Since we decided to go to Hilton Head Island for a whole week this year, we had Babygirl’s party on Friday. Then we left on Saturday for HHI. Mapgeek and Babygirl have been taking swimming lessons all spring, so it was only natural that we have a pool party. Our neighborhood pool also has a kiddie pool. Perfect! To avoid the weekend crowd at the pool and so we could leave for HHI Saturday morning, we decided to have the party around lunch on Friday. It was great! Guests showed up around 11 and we had cute food (of course). The highlight, in my opinion, was the strawberry cupcakes that I opted for, rather than a boring old cake. They were made from my Great-Aunt Hon’s recipe and were yummy! They were also a huge hit with the crowd.

Our next huge news, which unfortunately coincided with Babygirl’s birthday party, was that Mapgeek got laid off from Pulte. Long story short, we knew that it was most likely going to happen…and it did. Getting laid off was a blessing in disguise. Not many of us have a month off (serverance) to “try out” other things. Mapgeek had an opportunity to work with Papa C and decided that it might be a great opportunity. So, he is now working for Papa C and Markyjoe doing sales for rock crushing/mining/conveyors/etc. Lots more potential for growth than in consulting. However, he will continue to do some contract work in GIS on the side. For homebuilders. At quite a bit more than they were paying him as an employee. Bummer for them.

Next up was the annual Hilton Head trip. Mapgeek and I have decided to start going for the full week every other year. Unfortunately, due to Babygirl deciding to hang out in utero for an extra week, her birthday falls smack in the middle of that week. Every year. Forever and ever Amen. This year was actually our first full week at HHI. It was fabulous! Though, two months later, I can’t remember a single thing that we did. Beach, ate, pool, ate, shopped, ate, etc.

The big deal of the year was that BOTH my parents turned the big SIX-OH this year. My brothers and I decided back in March that we were going to try for a surprise party for them. After much scheduling drama, the first weekend that really made sense was the end of June…a month after Grandmommy P’s birthday and a week before Granddaddy P’s. We all plotted and schemed until my mother started telling me about a surprise party she was thinking of planning for my dad. THE NEXT WEEK!! So, no more surprise for Grandmommy. Which turned out great, because I needed help. From Mom. As usual, of course. The party was great! My dad had no idea. We had it at our neighborhood clubhouse, complete with Dusty’s Barbeque catering (great eastern NC style), and tunes supplied by my Aunt Wufpakgrl. It was especially memorable for me because as long as I can remember, I’ve never attempted to “get” my dad (that I can recall). I think Dads in general are much overlooked by society. I think there should be a whole day dedicated especially to the much loved male members of our family circle. Oh….wait…..

Since the decline of our social and party life, I’ve been sitting around, twiddling my fingers just waiting for the next thing. I don’t know how I survive without pressure. I just LIVE for planning!

Stay tuned….

Nerd Test

2007-07-03T13:10:00.000-04:00

Just because....

My score below. I knew I had tendencies, but am relieved that I'm a low-ranking nerd.

38% scored higher (more nerdy), 2% scored the same, and 60% scored lower (less nerdy).
What does this mean?
Your nerdiness is:Low Ranking Nerd. Definitely a nerd but low on the totem pole of nerds.

Democratic candidates

2007-06-04T07:45:00.000-04:00

From the Democratic debate the other night, which I didn’t watch, but caught up on the general theme this morning.

At the conclusion of the two-hour debate, the candidates were asked what their top priority would be for their first 100 days in office:

—Edwards: "travel the world" and "re-establish America's moral authority."
Moral authority? This sounds like we’re going to go out to the world and force our views on the world. And this would be his top priority??

—Clinton: bring home U.S. troops from Iraq.
I think the troops should be pressed to finish the job in Iraq before coming home. Is this what she’s talking about, or just up and leave Iraq? Regardless, I do believe that Iraq is doomed. It’s a cultural issue and we’re probably not going to solve it (unless maybe we push our Moral Authority?)

—Obama: bring home U.S. troops and push for national health care.
HUGE red flag. I would ABSOLUTELY NOT vote for anyone for a national health care program. Why does he think Andrew Speaker was trying so hard to get home? Because our healthcare is one of the best in the world!

—New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: upgrade U.S. schools and push a $40,000-a-year minimum wage for teachers.
Ok, a good idea in theory. Wonder how he proposes to upgrade the schools? Is this really a top priority at this moment?

—Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: end the war in Iraq and defuse tensions with Iran and North Korea.
Wonder how he proposes to “defuse tensions?”

—Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: help "reshape the world for peace" and end all nuclear weapons.
Ok, he sounds like a hippy. I wouldn’t vote for him.

—Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel: Remind Congressional leaders they can end the war in Iraq now.
Well that’s original.

—Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: "Restore constitutional rights in this country."
Such as?

Debates are great but I sure would like to hear details about how they are going to do what they say.

It's that time again!

2007-06-03T21:33:00.000-04:00

Election time is fast approaching and if you're like me, it's time to brush up on where you stand politically and then which person most closely agrees with you. And I'm so tired of hearing "liberal" and "conservative" and the first question out of anyone's mouth to put you in a party is "Are you pro-life or pro-choice?". I mean.....puh-leeze....like that's an issue that is ever going to affect me. As me if I'm pro-individual or pro-common good? Or if I'm for free trade? Or if I want my taxes raised (heck yeah!). Oh, wait...I guess the biggest political divider this day and age is the all important question of whether you are in favor of Kyoto. Go ahead....ask me!

The world's smallest political quiz. Take this, be honest, and let me know.

2007-05-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

Eating wangs

Babygirl Dancing Machine

2007-05-18T08:07:00.000-04:00

Check out 2.0! She's a dancing fool! We took her to Wild Wing's in Marietta on Saturday to attend the Crawfish Festival. Her uncle is a manager there, plus it's one of our favorite places. Bands, crawfish, wings, beer, etc. Reminds me of the good old college days.

Wow!

2007-05-06T20:34:00.000-04:00

Found this link on Drudge. It's from the tornados that hit the central US on Friday. Amazing! (these people are nuts!)

Iraq Op-Ed

2007-04-30T08:03:00.000-04:00

This op-ed piece from Victor Davis Hanson hits the nail on the head with me about Iraq.

North Korea Scare

2007-04-25T21:13:00.000-04:00

I just watched part of a very interesting National Geographic. It was “Inside North Korea”. Is anyone else worried about the nuclear weapon-bearing fanatics in that country? I sure as heck am. I’m definitely gonna be reading about our presidential candidates platforms and will only consider voting for someone that’s going to deal with this.

The episode was about a South Korean doctor that was allowed into North Korea for ten days to do cataract surgery on about 1000 people and heal their blindness. For some reason that I’m not clear on, a few National Geographic people were allowed into the country and secretly filmed about North Korea.

At the end, when they removed the bandages of the previously blind people, these poor souls were praising and bowing to a portrait of their “Great General”, saying things like “We praise our great general…Our children will be faithful for generations to come…”. And then came the kicker. This old man get up and shouted to the picture in front of the newly healed thousand, “With these eyes, I will pick up a gun and kill everyone of the Americans and terminate them from the world.”

One interesting point that the article made was that North Koreans blame America for their country splitting and all the hardships that exist in North Korea. And people want to negotiate with this or allow them to have access to these weapons? I sure don’t.

2007-04-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Mama Niknik and the cutest little Curleycuz ever!

Happy Birthday Curleycuz!

2007-04-25T20:50:00.000-04:00

The Curleygirl babies have a cousin! And it’s a Curleyboy! Uncle Markyjo and Aunt Niknik had a bouncing baby boy two weeks ago. Curleycuz is as cute as the girls and apparently just as happy. Must be in the genes! The four of us made the trek to Columbia, SC on Curleycuz’s birthday to officially welcome him. Miss 2.0 is already showing signs of babysitter material with her sister and with baby Curleycuz. Of course, Miss 3.0 has no idea. Anyways, we are all excited to add to our extended family and are looking forward to this summer at the beach and to our little ones interacting!

Yay cousins!

Finally!

2007-04-19T08:27:00.001-04:00

Sanjaya is *finally* gone. I haven't been watching the main show except for snipits here and there. I hate commercials which keeps me from watching some of the most popular shows, but that's another story. I did, however, catch Sanjaya's Bonnie Rait karoke performance the other night. He definitely can sing in key, but that's about it. No pizazz, nothing extraordinary, no energy, nothing. Bland, bland, bland. And now we're back to a real singing competition.

Speaking of singers, did you hear that Def Leppard is coming to Atlanta? In August, at Lakewood...

Emission Impossible

2007-04-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

Check out my friend, Heather on TV! I know someone famous!

Ok, now I'm a dork. :)

Toddler Rule #4

2007-04-18T08:17:00.000-04:00

If you find yourself having to venture forth to the Land of Chuck E. Cheese, the bastion of all things evil, be sure to do the following:

Make sure that your toddler has been fed prior to visiting the home of hell-spawn, otherwise, your kid might starve.
Pad your kid with extra diapers so you can limit the diaper changing while there and avoid the inevitable wrestling match when you try to pull your kid away from the RIDES RIDES RIDES to clean him up.
Don't turn your attention for a minute, or your kid might climb into the kid-sized gerbil maze and get stuck in a tube that's bolted to the ceiling, approximately 10 feet above your head.

2007-04-16T14:41:00.000-04:00

All dressed up, and Mommy with a camera

2007-04-16T14:31:00.000-04:00

Sweet, sweet babygirl!

2007-04-16T14:30:00.000-04:00

Miss 2.0 and Meauxdog in NC

2007-04-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

Makin' cookies with Mama. Mmmmmm good!

American Idol Weigh-in

2007-04-10T08:17:00.000-04:00

I have to put my 2 cents in...

I watched the opening rounds, when all the real entertainment happens. I tell ya, Sundance had one of the strongest, best voices I've heard and I was really surprised that he got bounced so early. Anyhow, this kid, Sanjaya, isn't all that spectacular. And he's an annoying little teeny-bopper to boot. I'd have cut him much, much earlier. It seems those in the American public that follow American Idol are letting the media sway their minds (ya think????).

Middle East

2007-04-04T07:57:00.001-04:00

This is some very cool stuff!

The death of BBQ

2007-04-03T08:17:00.000-04:00

Belgium to impose tax on barbequing to fight global warming

Mapgeek is in big trouble now. Wonder what's considered a "grilling session"?

Is Fred Thompson gonna do it?

2007-03-28T07:56:00.000-04:00

How exciting! I like Fred Thompson, even though Tennessee also managed to produce Gore. The big question becomes will he run and who I like better - him or Guiliani (no way am I EVER gonna vote for a Democrap, such as they are). The even BIGGER question is will the American public put another Republican in office. Guiliani might have a better chance for the more educated because he's more socially liberal. However, with the ignorant American public, Fred Thompson might have a better chance because he's on the highly watched Law & Order.

Exciting stuff!

Yikes!

2007-03-09T08:59:00.000-05:00

Anyone remember when Eddie Van Halen was decent looking?

This reaffirms the pitfalls of crystal meth. Talk about scaring someone straight.

Footloose Reborn

2007-03-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. The small town of Lilburn, GA, located in the huge Atlanta suburban Gwinnett County, has decided to ban all karaoke and trivia in it's bars. They apparently don't want to have a "bar scene" so have started banning all "bar-type" activities - poker tournaments, video games, trivia, pool tables, and karaoke. The mayor, Jack Bolton, also states that they don't want "...dance clubs, party clubs, or bars." What's a party club? Taking into account that Georgia STILL has blue laws...Lilburn is turning into quite the "family" town.

Your tax dollars at work people. Having some Mayor dictate to you how to run your private business. Except for the blue laws - that would be the gov'ner.

Toddler Rule #22

2007-03-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

When engaging in Naked Time* during a potty training session, make sure to be on a non-carpeted area with no access to furniture, clothes, rugs, or other items that may become damaged when wet. Preferably, Naked Time should be held in a tiled bathroom or linoleum or tiled kitchen, with the training toilet within reach.

*Naked Time is defined as the 30 minutes or so in which the parent nakifies the toddler and tries to entice him or her to sit and remain seated on a potty training device in the hopes that said toddler will pee or poop with accuracy.

Food of the Gods

2007-03-01T15:05:00.000-05:00

I’ve settled into the suburban stereotype and am looking forward to the day I can put a soccer ball sticker on the back of my gas guzzling Lexus SUV. And become a room mother (do they still do that?), join the PTA, and play tennis. Though my tennis game is greatly lacking, our neighborhood is a big ALTA neighborhood and I’m starting to feel left out. More on that later.

Mapgeek and I used to cook these elaborate meals from awesome looking recipes we’d see on Food Network, or out of our Spanish cookbooks, or out of Bon Appetit or Southern Living magazines (yummy!). I usually plan our menu for the week and do all the grocery shopping on Sundays. This week I found a couple fabulous recipes online. In the interest of trying to get back to a post-pregnancy, healthy diet (though I haven’t given up my Doritos or Kisses yet), I planned a mostly healthy meal from a couple recipes I saw on Food Network. Long story short…that dang meal took over an hour to make! In the midst of a cranky toddler and whining, hungry infant. And all this happening as soon as Mapgeek gets home, which he loves. Which leads me to The Food of the Gods…

Casseroles! We have a collection of frozen meals from our wonderful, fabulous, amazing, family and friends. And believe it or not, only one lasagna! I put one of our frozen delicacies in the fridge the night before to thaw, which it never completely does, but who cares! Then around 4:30, I pop that scrumptious pan of goodness in the oven and let it go. No muss, no fuss. When Mapgeek gets home (5:30-6:00), I break out one of those convenient, yet healthy Salads in a Bag, or steam some frozen, pre-cut veggies. And shazaam! All done ‘cept for tossing the disposable casserole pan (yay Gladware!), and washing 2 dishes and 1 pot.

So, I’m now on the hunt for new casserole recipes. Put a little work ahead of time (like on the weekend, when I actually have some time), buy some disposable pans (yay! No dishes!), and whip up a couple of half batches (to limit leftovers – who wants to eat the same casserole for 3 days), and freeze the suckers.

So, so suburban…anyone want to swap recipes? :)

2007-02-19T21:31:00.000-05:00

The many faces of Curleygirl 3.0

2007-02-19T21:27:00.000-05:00

And now, a word from your sponsors....

Shopping adventures

2007-02-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

Not sure how maternity leave managed to go by so fast. The first week I was home alone, I was actually stir crazy in the house. And then we got into the groove. It is much, much harder with two that are different ages (though I'm SURE twins have challenges all their own). Miss 2.0 is now a total toddler and into everything. Though she loves Miss 3.0 and being a big sister. I really did attempt to "do" stuff with the girls, but it's been so cold making all activities have to be indoors.

(DECREE - Curleygirl 2.0 will henceforth be referred to as "2.0" and Curleygirl 3.0 will be known as "3.0")

Here's our typical outing (substitute any store here).

1. Getting ready
I was so looking forward to shopping for new clothes! I did finally buy a double stroller, so I'm fully capable of toting them both around. First of all, have to get everyone dressed and with clean diapers. Then, depending on how long we plan to be gone, I usually have to feed 3.0, which is another 20-30 minutes. Packing up consists of diapers and wipes all around, snacks and juice for 2.0 to keep her happy, and we can't forget Tigger (or all hell breaks loose), and then a change of clothes for 2.0 just in case. So now we're clothed, clean, fed, and packed.

2. The trip
The first thing I do, is make sure I have the correct stroller in the car (it really stinks to get somewhere and have the wrong stroller). Then I load up the diaper bag and anything else I need. I put 2.0 in the car first because inevitably she gets into something if I don't. And half the time I get her strapped in and hear "Poo-poo! Change diaper!". Then I get to unload her, run upstairs (again), and change the diaper. All the time hoping and praying that 3.0 isn't pooping in the meantime. Now I load up 2.0 and get her all strapped in. I've usually already got 3.0 strapped into the baby carrier, so I just pop her into the car. Whew! Now we're ready to go!

3. The mall
We get to the mall and I have full intention of spending at least an hour shopping for my new non-maternity clothes, which I've been daydreaming about for a month. I decide to stick with Macy's because that's where we parked and it's an in and out, rather than having to go all through the mall. I first get the stroller out, load it up with the diaper bag and anything else. I then put 3.0 in the back. And, then I get out 2.0. I put 2.0 in the front and strap her down, all the while listening to her cry "Tigger!! Tigger!!". So, I get Tigger and hand him off. And we're off.

I wrestle with the doors to get into the d*&mn store and head for the women's section. As I squeeze the stroller into the racks of clothes and start to browse, I notice that the racks next to me are tilting and some of the shirts are falling off the hanger. Whoops! Toddler Stroller Rule #1 - don't get her within arms reach of ANYTHING. As I tell her no and pull the silks out of her hands, I get a piercing scream "NOOOOOOO!". So, I head for the displays near the wide aisle where 2.0 can't reach anything. Of course, nothing is on sale on the aisle displays, but no matter - we're rich! *sigh*

Upon realizing she can't grab anything, 2.0 immediately begins with the "Down! Down!". I'm like "yeah, right". So, I break out the snacks and juice and give them to her. Whew - a moment to shop again! I start looking at the nice, skinny, new clothes when Tigger decides to take a header off the stroller. Hand him back, and next goes the cup. I'm also beginning to notice Goldfish on the floor. Feeling guilty, I pick up the Goldfish and instead of giving her a bunch, I start handing them off one by one so they go straight to the mouth. 2.0 lets me know right away that I can't seem to keep up the pace of Goldfish distribution and clothes adoration, so I just hand her the bag and silently hope no one notices all the fish that are jumping ship. Five more minutes of peace.

About this time I hear a "phhhtttlllrrrprpppp" coming from the back of the stroller and a gosh-awful smell along with it. I sigh and head for the door. Wonder how quickly they ship?

2007-02-19T20:44:00.000-05:00

Proud big sister

2007-02-19T20:40:00.000-05:00

Mapgeek and Curleygirls 2 and 3

2007-02-19T20:38:00.000-05:00

There she is! Curleygirl v3.0!

She's Here!

2007-01-08T18:01:00.000-05:00

Curleygirl v.3.0 joined us on January 4, 2007. We discovered the week before that she in fact did not turn as was previously thought. Which actually explained a lot…why the doctor couldn’t feel her head, why my ribs were feeling so bruised. It also appeared that she was in a awkward position with the cord to attempt to manually move her. So, a c-section was scheduled for January 4. After a brief bout of disappointment, and a wonderful pros/cons session with Mapgeek, I decided a c-section might be easier (not that I had a choice). Curleygirl v.3.0 weighed 7 lb 4oz and was 20 inches long – slightly bigger than v.2.0. She does look more like me than Babygirl and she is obviously a really pretty baby. :) She’s also been really good so far. She only cries when hungry, which never lasts long, and she seems to be very content just sitting and looking around. I’ve forgotten how much fun newborns are. Makes me long for number 3….

2006-11-22T20:16:00.000-05:00

Babygirl with HoneyBear

2006-11-22T20:15:00.000-05:00

Bubbles!

2006-11-22T20:14:00.000-05:00

Roughing it with Elmo

2006-11-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

"Hiking" at Raccoon Holler

Convening with Nature

2006-11-17T10:24:00.000-05:00

We decided to brave it…our first camping trip with Babygirl. The monstrous, suffocating heat this summer drove us to escape to Raccoon Holler, in the mountains of North Carolina. My family has been camping there since I was little. Probably 30 years! Mapgeek and I have…ahem…let’s say “fond” memories of Raccoon Holler (30 degrees, high winds, a tent in the Christmas tree farm) from several years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold camping in all my life. And Granddaddy P assured us that it was going to be chilly. To me, that meant 70’s in August in the south. I packed accordingly…one sweatshirt. No jeans since I was 4 months preggers and hadn’t bothered to shop for cold weather pregnant clothes. And, of course, Babygirl didn’t own anything for cold weather in her current size.

We left Atlanta Wednesday morning so we’d get there before dark. Being pregnant and with a toddler, Mapgeek and I decided not to “rough” it and slept in the Taj Macamper with my parents. It’s basically a 2-bedroom (with king-size beds!) portable house complete with a kitchen and bathroom. Plus, there was a TV, complete with a new DVD player and an Elmo video! Lots to keep a restless toddler entertained and out of the rain and mud.

We setup the pack-n-play in the kitchen area, hoping Babygirl would sleep in it. Which she didn’t. The problem is being in a campground with a screaming toddler. You know the neighbors love it. So, we put the munchkin in the king bed between us and she sort-of slept. The next night, we put her on the end of the bed that’s surrounded on 3-sides by the camper walls. Babygirl thought that was the best! She and her Granddaddy smooched through the screens all evening. Eventually, she would lay down with all her animals and pillows and sleep. Of course, we all had to go to bed when she did, so we got lots of sleep.

The first night a front came through. And Granddaddy P was right….it was COLD! Low 50’s that night, plus it rained. We ended up making the Walmart trek to West Jefferson for warm clothes for Babygirl and long pregger-pants for me.

Luckily, it was warmer in the day. Mapgeek and I finally got to canoe the New River. Zaloo’s Canoes hooked us up and off we went. It’s been years since I rented a boat where I was handed and paddle and was told go. Boat rentals usually involve a how-to-paddle and safety lesson. It was nice to be out on the water, though a little boring after a while. Luckily, we started a little early because it started raining right when we were getting off the river. It seems like it rained almost the entire weekend and it was chilly. A very nice change from the heat of Atlanta.

Because of the rain, we ended up doing lots of shopping-type activities. We went to a cabin store outside of Boone, where Babygirl scored a big stuffed bear (Honey Bear). We also spent one day in Blowing Rock. Luckily, it was during a brief reprieve in the clouds and rain. Blowing Rock consisted of buying a stuffed owl for Babygirl (did I mention she LOVES stuffed animals?), who immediately learned how to hoot, eating ice cream, and playing in the park. Our other notable adventure was touring the cheese factory in West Jefferson. Let’s just say….gross! I didn’t need to know how they make cheese.

I was pleasantly surprised how much fun camping was with Babygirl! Though, I don’t think I’d enjoy it in a tent. Especially if it rained. I stressed for a month about how we were going to handle the sleeping issue and it was nice to know that she could sleep with us if necessary. And with less fuss than trying to get her to sleep by herself in her pack-n-play. I’m looking forward to going again, though next time it will be four of us. Wonder how much a Taj Macamper costs??

I did it again!

2006-11-14T07:36:00.000-05:00

I've got so much to write about and I can't seem to find the time. So, I don't write. Shame on me! I want to tell you about our camping trip to North Carolina in August, our semi-impromptu family reunion in Indiana in September, and Babygirl's first football game. Plus, there's all the updates about how much our little girl is growing! Did I mention that she started "school" in September?

Curleygirl v3.0 is growing away. Pregnancy the second time around has been very similar to the first time, though it seems this little girl is more active that Babygirl. If that's possible. Only 8 weeks to go, so we are all home for the holidays this year. Did I also mention that our good friend 'Nato is also home for the holidays? All the way from the madness commonly known as Iraq. Yay!

And then there was this wonderful pseudo-concert that Mapgeek and I went to the other night. It was at Big D's house and featured Francis Dunnery. British folksy, jazzy type music. I have lots to say about how good Mr. Dunnery is and what an interesting and inspiring performance he gave. More on that too...

For now, here's a couple interesting links I picked up on Boortz today:
Now that the country is going to San Francisco hell, I thought it time to re-evaluate.
The World's Smallest Political Quiz
I'm a conservative libertarian (big surprise).

40 Things That Only Happen in Movies
I have hope of moviestardom! I just need to find my comb...

2006-08-25T08:53:00.000-04:00

Fish!

2006-08-25T08:52:00.000-04:00

At the Aquarium with Granddaddy

2006-08-25T08:51:00.000-04:00

On the Merry-go-round with Daddy

Atlanta Adventures

2006-08-25T08:47:00.000-04:00

Our annual picnic for my company (formerly Mapgeek’s company), was at Six Flags! That’s hard to pass up when tickets, parking, and food are paid for by the company. Especially since tickets are $50 apiece!!!! And add in $15 for parking and who knows how much for food. It’s so expensive. One interesting observation is the clientele that ventures to Six Flags. Lots of trashy-looking people in lots of wife-beater shirts (men shouldn't advertise underarm hair, especially if they are gonna be sweating – yuck). I assume we have lots of rich people in Georgia to be able to take all their little ones to Six Flags.

We got there in the morning, which was determined after the fact to be the best time to go. However, with the eager waiting for Curleygirl 3.0, I didn’t get to ride anything. But, Mapgeek took Babygirl on her first merry-go-round ride! She loved it! They sat in the car part, rather than on the horses. She’s still a little small for that.

The day after the Six Flags picnic, we packed up the family and went to the Aquarium for Granddaddy P’s birthday. Babygirl loves watching the fish! An interesting observation is how different the crowd was from the Six Flags crowd. I only saw one wife-beater shirt and lots of well dressed and pretty much well behaved people. We all had a great time seeing this wonderful exhibit. I definitely prefer this to Six Flags.

2006-08-25T08:36:00.000-04:00

Babygirl's new best friend - Cousin Brandon!

2006-08-25T08:34:00.000-04:00

Driving the boat with Granddaddy

2006-08-25T08:33:00.001-04:00

Babygirl and Cousin Logan at the pool

2006-08-25T08:33:00.000-04:00

Babygirl's wild and crazy pool

What will they think of next

2006-08-07T21:34:00.000-04:00

Boy oh boy! It is the age for being a parent! Kid distractions at every turn. I have to say, Babygirl will definitely be a TV-watcher. It's the only way to get stuff done. Pop in a 30-minute Elmo or Barney video and you can vacuum, do laundry, fix your lunch, etc. I haven't experienced the Terrible Twos in the grocery yet. Hopefully, Publix will have these things by then!

Fireworks by Smokey (pun intended)

2006-08-07T21:15:00.000-04:00

Our next grand adventure was going to the lake house in Kingston, TN for the 4th of July. We headed up there for four days of fun, hillbillies, lots of food, fireworks, and mayflies. The whole clan was there including my grandmother, parents, aunt, her husband, my brother and sister-in-law, and us. Big party with lots of food. LOTS of food.

Granddaddy and Grandmommy bought Babygirl an insane pool-type thing. It had a slide, it squirted, it had moveable parts. Insane! She had a blast with it. We also took the Munchkin out for her first boat ride. The grandparents rented a pontoon for a couple days, which has gates and railing all around. We put a munchkin-sized life jacket on her and away we went. And, she loved it.

The highlight of the trip was firecracker night, which was the 3rd this year (except for some neighbors down the river that thought lighting huge rockets at 2:00 am the night before was a good thing). As it was last year, you gotta love legal firecrackers in hillbilly country. All the rednecks shoot some amazing stuff out over the river. Including us! We all setup our “watchin’ place” by dragging all the deck chairs down by the river. Granddaddy and Uncle Peewee proceeded to light what turned out to be, by comparison a puny stash, out over the river. In between our rockets, we watched an amazing show of booms, and swooshes, and lights directly across the river. Sleepy Babygirl sat on my lap the whole time and flinched and then clapped appropriately. About a half hour later, we realized that it got really light across the river. Then we realized the locals lit something up. Lo and behold, we got to watch half the hillside burn in addition to the awesome fireworks show. I can only imagine that next year’s show will be a disappointment.

2006-07-31T17:14:00.001-04:00

The Curley Clan

2006-07-31T17:14:00.000-04:00

Mommy and Babygirl - relaxing at the beach

2006-07-31T17:13:00.000-04:00

Building sand castles

2006-07-31T17:12:00.000-04:00

Daddy and Babygirl

2006-07-31T17:11:00.000-04:00

There she goes!

Hilton Head 2006

2006-07-31T17:09:00.000-04:00

So I think it will be a long time before Mapgeek and I have a vacation again. As told to me by a friend, when you have kids “vacations” become “family trips”. Gone are the days of sitting by the beach/pool, reading a trash-mag and sipping a fruity drink. The beach now consists of running up the beach after the baby, running down the beach after the baby, distracting the baby from poking sleeping sunbathers, distracting the baby from taking off with other kids’ toys, etc. We had a great time watching our little girl discover the beach and all the joys of sun, sand, and water. She loved it! As if we had any doubts….

We’re still competing with naptime, so our days consisted of getting up around 7, eating breakfast, and heading to the beach. Then it’s back around 11 for naptime and lunch. Then back to the pool in the afternoon for an hour before the second nap. I felt like we were on the move the entire time. It’s hard work entertaining a toddler! The weather couldn’t have been better though. Mid-80s all week and no rain while we were there. Of course, then we get back to Atlanta and it’s been 95 ever since. We’re definitely ready for fall here.

2006-07-31T16:25:00.000-04:00

Birthday cake round 2 - looks like a famous mug shot!

2006-07-31T16:24:00.000-04:00

The birthday cake

2006-07-31T16:23:00.000-04:00

Birthday presents

2006-07-31T16:22:00.000-04:00

The birthday girl!

Is it August already?

2006-07-31T12:57:00.000-04:00

Wow ok so I said when I started this blog that I’d NEVER let it lapse. And here it’s been almost 3 months! So sue me. It’s been a busy spring and summer so I’ll try to catch you guys up in a few hopefully interesting installments.

May was slammed as it is every year, falling right on the tail of our anniversary. My wonderful husband, Mapgeek, after a brief respite from anniversary responsibilities (and a great one it was!), gets to suffer through Mother’s Day and then straight into the gauntlet that ends with the annual trek to Hilton Head Island in the beginning of June. This year was a little longer and included six family birthdays, Father’s Day, and our annual BBQ. To top it all off, his lovely wife (me!) was contending with the First Trimester Blues. Yes, you read right…we are now expecting Curleykid v3.0! More on that later.

Moving right on to Babygirl’s first birthday….we had a wonderful party for her and invited our immediate family, a few close friends, and a few of Babygirl’s friends. Babygirl was a charmer, as always, and a little social butterfly. She did all the appropriate cake mushing and playing that one should do on their first birthday. And then she crashed hard for a long nap. And I did too!

2006-05-09T12:18:00.000-04:00

Babygirl with her Butterfly Wand (her present from Ren Fest) - hours of fun!

2006-05-09T12:17:00.000-04:00

Babygirl and Mommy at the Renaissance Festival

Ren Fest 2006

2006-05-08T11:33:00.000-04:00

I’m so sorry! It’s been far to long since I’ve updated my blog. It seems like there is so much going on. Our springs always seem to be so busy. Busy, busy six-toothed Babygirl is keeping me hopping. I do think it’s easier once they start to walk. Then you don’t have to worry about putting them down somewhere.

Let’s see – on the Babygirl front – she loves to be chased! Mapgeek or I will “chase” her and she gets so excited. She tries to walk fast, flaps her arms, and laughs and someone tries to get her. Of course, she always get so excited she falls down. It makes me laugh just thinking about it.

We took her to the Renaissance Festival this weekend. We met Biff, JD, and Biff’s daughter, Freckles (and the cutest freckles ever!) down there. Biff, Freckles, and I have been going off and on for a few years. Anyways, Ren Fest is hilarious. All the local nerds get dressed up in their best D&D outfits and show up speaking Old English. The weather was beautiful and there was plenty of park-like areas for Babygirl to run around. Lots of food including roast turkey legs, fried dill pickles, and kettle corn (though I couldn’t find the corn this year, dangit). There’s also shows including a real live joust!

Babygirl loved this big dragon (i.e. person in a dragon suit) at the entrance. Wasn’t scared a big. She just wanted to touch it. There was also a Mother Goose exhibit where you could sit and talk to “Mother Goose”, which was a big white goose named Maggie. There were 2 other geese and a duck. Babygirl LOVED it! She even got a hug from Maggie. We also went to the petting zoo part too. There were rabbits, geese, sheep, lambs, goats, pigs, and lots of loud roosters. Babygirl especially liked the rabbits and lambs. Of course, by the time we left, 3 hours later, Babygirl was crankkkkkk-eeeee and immediately fell asleep in the car. Sweet thing.

I’ll try to post some pictures shortly!

Immigration 101 (cont'd)

2006-04-10T20:33:00.000-04:00

Ok, I found a great site, Rapid Immigration, with everything you'd want to know about immigration. I think it's very interesting how our rules and social attitudes evolved. Basically, the US limits immigration to 700,000 per year. And there's quotas from different countries so that one country doesn't have all the slots. If there weren't the limit, millions would immigrate here and the country would have to absorb them all. If that were the case, there wouldn't be enough jobs for everyone and there would most likely be rampant poverty which leads to more crime, etc. Sounds like a good reason to me to enforce laws against illegal immigration. Plus, I thought everyone else in the world hated America?

Significant Historic Dates Affecting US immigration
Naturalization Act of 1790 - Stipulated that "any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States"
1875 - Supreme Court declared that regulation of US immigration is the responsibility of the Federal Government.
1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act - prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.
1885 and 1887 - Alien Contract Labor laws which prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.
1891 - The Federal Government assumed the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S.
1892 - On January 2, a new Federal US immigration station opened on Ellis Island in New York Harbor.
1903 - This Act restated the 1891 provisions concerning land borders and called for rules covering entry as well as inspection of aliens crossing the Mexican border.
1907 The US immigration Act of 1907 - reorganized the states bordering Mexico (Arizona, New Mexico and a large part of Texas) into Mexican Border District to stem the flow of immigrants into the U.S.
1917 - 1924 - A series of laws were enacted to further limit the number of new immigrants. These laws established the quota system and imposed passport requirements. They expanded the categories of excludable aliens and banned all Asians except Japanese.
1924 Act - Reduced the number of US immigration visas and allocated them on the basis of national origin.
1940 The Alien Registration Act - required all aliens (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States to register with the Government and receive an Alien Registration Receipt Card (the predecessor of the "green card").
1950 Passage of the Internal Security Act - which rendered the Alien Registration Receipt Card even more valuable. Immigrants with legal status had their cards replaced with what generally became known as the "green card" (Form I-151).
1952 Act - Established the modern day US immigration system. It created a quota system which imposes limits on a per-country basis. It also established the preference system that gave priority to family members and people with special skills.
1968 Act - Eliminated US immigration discrimination based on race, place of birth, sex and residence. It also officially abolished restrictions on Oriental US immigration.
1976 Act - Eliminated preferential treatment for residents of the Western Hemisphere.
1980 Act - Established a general policy governing the admission of refugees.
1986 Act - Focused on curtailing illegal US immigration. It legalized hundred of thousands of illegal immigrants. It also introduced the employer sanctions program which fines employers for hiring illegal workers. It also passed tough laws to prevent bogus marriage fraud.
1990 Act - Established an annual limit for certain categories of immigrants. It was aimed at helping U.S. businesses attract skilled foreign workers; thus, it expanded the business class categories to favor persons who can make educational, professional or financial contributions. It created the Immigrant Investor Program.
USA Patriot Act 2001 - Uniting and Strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism
Creation of the USCIS 2003 - As of March 1, 2003, the US immigration and Naturalization Service becomes part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department’s new U.S. Citizenship and US immigration Services (USCIS) function is to handle US immigration services and benefits, including citizenship, applications for permanent residence, non-immigrant applications, asylum, and refugee services. US immigration enforcement functions are now under the Department's Border and Transportation Security Directorate, known as the Bureau of US immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE)

Immigration 101

2006-04-10T08:10:00.000-04:00

I’m sure you all are as curious as I am about the hoopla that’s going on with the immigration reform. I’ve been hearing it on the news and apparently the “Mexicans” went on strike recently (are “Mexicans” the only immigrants?). I got to thinking about immigration and have lots of questions.

1. Can a person from Guatemala one day just say “hey, I think I’m going to move to Florida this week”?
2. What’s the criteria for immigration? Do you have to have a job lined up? How are you supposed to find a job if you can’t come here to look?
3. I hear stories about people being deported. Or maybe that’s just on TV. If deportation happens, who decides who gets to stay and who has to go?
4. At what point in history did the US government decide to stop or severely limit letting people in?
5. What exactly is the big deal about this immigration reform? Sounds like the government is actually going to enforce existing laws.

And I do understand some of the bigger picture. If we didn’t slow the influx of immigrants, communities wouldn’t have time to absorb so many without a lot of problems (see Katrina Victims for an example). And, I totally resent having to pay, through taxes, for services for non-taxpayers, including welfare junkies and illegal immigrants.

I’m going to do a little research and let y’all know what I come up with. Please feel free to respond if you know the answer to any of these.

Baby Action

2006-04-07T12:28:00.000-04:00

Oh my gosh, Babygirl is walking! It apparently started last weekend when she “let go” and stepped a couple of steps for her Grandmommy P. Then on Monday, we stopped Big D’s house while we were out walking. Babygirl saw Remy (the French bulldog) and let go of my hand and took two steps to Remy so she could tackle him. Best baby-dog ever, by the way.

Mapgeek and I are babysitting Bandit, aka Track Star, my brother and sista-in-law’s cat, while they are away. Babygirl LOVES this cat. Best baby-cat ever, by the way. You’ve never seen such a cat. He loves to be around people and just follows us around the house. And he purrs and snuggles up against Babygirl, all while she’s pulling his tail and grabbing his collar. Anyways, she walks to him constantly. A few steps here, a few steps there…

We also attempted to start swimming lessons this week. More for Mommy’s sake than Babygirl’s. We’re taking swimming at a local dive shop, SeaVentures, that happens to have an indoor pool. We’re also taking with one of our fellow Stroller Striders and her son. I got Babygirl all suited up in the brand new swim diapers and the cutest new bathing suit, when Sister Stroller Strider walked in and informed the 12 of us (6 mommies and 6 babies) that class was cancelled. Someone threw up and no one could enter the pool for 30 minutes. Basically our entire class time. All 12 of us were very disappointed and the mommies were discussing the fine art of drinking pool water and barfing, when the throw-up boy’s mommy apologized. I felt so horrible for her because it really wasn’t that big of a deal. I mean, sure the dive shop is refunding us for that class, but who’s to say Babygirl won’t be the upchucker next week.

Lots going on here in the fine town of Roswell. More to come!

2006-04-01T17:27:00.000-05:00

Belated Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2006-04-01T17:25:00.000-05:00

Having fun at Hoover Dam

2006-04-01T17:24:00.000-05:00

Babygirl and Mapgeek

2006-04-01T17:23:00.001-05:00

The Curleygirls dig Vegas!

2006-04-01T17:23:00.000-05:00

Family picture in Caesar's Palace

2006-04-01T17:22:00.000-05:00

Mapgeek and Babygirl in the Forum

2006-04-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

View from our room at the Flamingo

Our Stroller Made the Web!

2006-03-24T09:38:00.000-05:00

We had a great time visiting 'Manda in Charlotte last weekend for St. Patty's Day. A "local" photographer (she had a heck of a New Yoook accent) asked Manda and McCallen to pose. More later!

Viva Las Vegas!

2006-03-12T15:23:00.000-05:00

Ah, so much to write about! We’ve had a busy week. We all made it to Vegas and back this week (we all = Mapgeek, Babygirl, myself, Grandma C, Grandpa C, and Markyjo and Niknik).

Air travel and Babygirl
Let’s start off talking about airplane travel and a baby. There’s just so much STUFF that you have to take along with a baby. We checked our 3 suitcases (2 small ones for Mapgeek and myself and 1 big one for Babygirl). We carried-on 2 backpacks, a car seat, a stroller, and a baby. We had it all packed perfectly to lug around. Mapgeek had a backpack (with a laptop, video camera, and digital camera) and we put the car seat in a bag with a shoulder strap. A little heavy, but manageable. I had the diaper backpack and the baby in the stroller. Then we had a couple jackets in the stroller’s underneath basket.

And then we get to the security checkpoint. We literally had to unpack Mapgeek’s backpack, the car seat, and the stuff in the stroller’s basket. Babygirl had to come out of the stroller, which was then sent through the scanner. The computer, cameras, and the jackets had to be put in bins to go through the scanner. The two backpacks had to go in bins to go through the scanner. And to top it off, we had to take off our shoes to go through the scanner. *sigh* It’s quite an ordeal. Then we got to pack it all back up to get to the plane.

Babygirl did excellent on the plane. We left around 6pm and I had a few bottles ready for her to suck on when we took off and landed, just in case she had problems with her ears. I never noticed any issues with her except being sleepy and being too wound up to go to sleep. The only negative in getting to Vegas was a brief layover in Dallas. Since we were flying about the time that Babygirl goes to bed, I was hoping she would sleep the entire flight. Unfortunately, the layover ensured a power nap between Atlanta and Dallas and then full-on go-mode baby.

When we got to Vegas, Grandpa C had a limousine waiting for us (yay Grandpa!) so we loaded all 7 of us and all our STUFF for the quick jaunt to the Flamingo Hotel.

Ok, now about Vegas…

Day 1
We got checked into the hotel pretty late. Luckily, we had the forethought to get adjoining rooms with Grandma and Grandpa C. Everyone went out gambling, and Mapgeek and I put Babygirl in her crib (got one at the hotel) and hung out next door. We ordered room service and watched TV. We were all exhausted, so it was a brief evening for us.

Day 2
Babygirl was up and going at 6:30am, so the three of us got ready for the day, which takes 2 hours. We met the family and headed downstairs to one of the restaurants for breakfast. The Flamingo was the first hotel that we were introduced and it was astounding at first look. It seemed like the casino wrapped around and every corner you took was another entrance into it. Which was pretty much the case. Near the main restaurant, there was an exit into the hotel’s courtyard, which had wildlife exhibits and gardens. There were penguins, flamingos, lots of ducks, turtles, and huge coi. A river-type thing ran through it all. Babygirl loves animals, especially the penguins. After breakfast, Mapgeek, Babygirl, and I spent a good bit of time outside at the Flamingo. The weather was gorgeous, but a little cold to take advantage of the four pools.

The three of us walked across the street to Caesar’s Palace. We quickly realized that the Flamingo was nothing compared to some of the other hotels. Caesar’s was unreal. Gaudy, excesses like you wouldn’t believe, and HUGE. We grabbed lunch at the Hyakumi Sushi Bar in the hotel. Probably the best sushi I’ve ever had. YUM! It’s interesting to me that the hotel developers spend an unbelievable amount of money to build this inside city and then try to make it look like outside. The Forum Shops in Caesar’s looked like a European city. You walk down cobblestone streets, with stores on either side and look up and it looks like a blue sky. At the end of one of the streets was a big Roman-looking fountain and an aquarium. Needless to say, we spent some time there so Babygirl could yell at the fish.

After Caesar’s, it was back to our room at the Flamingo for Babygirl’s naptime. Again, thankfully we had adjoining rooms because she won’t sleep if someone is in the same room. Grandma C volunteered to sit with the napping Babygirl so Mapgeek and I could try our luck at gambling. We got some quick lessons from Grandpa C and Markyjo, but lost anyways. Tried out the slot machines, digital blackjack, and digital poker. Not brave enough to expose our ignorance at any of the tables.

Dinner was with the entire family at a Mexican restaurant, Taqueria Canonita Restaurant, in the Venetian hotel. The Venetian is again, one of the hotels with excess. There’s a river running through the hotel and you can take gondola rides. Unbelievable. We ended up cutting dinner short because Babygirl was fussy. She doesn’t seem to like to sit in one place for long. As long as you move with her, she stays relatively happy. So, Mapgeek, Babygirl, and I headed back to the Flamingo to put her to bed.

After dinner, Grandma C sat with Babygirl for an hour so Mapgeek and I could try gambling again. Old pros by this time, we pretty much stuck with the nickel poker so we would lose our money slower and get a couple of free drinks and wind down.

Day 3
We were up again at 6:30am. This time, we were ready before everyone else, but still dealing with a baby that doesn’t want to be in a stroller or held. Knowing that she’d never sit through breakfast, Mapgeek and I decided to grab a quick bite and head to the Mirage Hotel to see the lions. Our quick bite ended up being $12 bagels in the Mirage at a deli. $3 apiece for bagels, and $3 apiece for cream cheese. Each of the cream cheeses that we bought was enough for 4 bagels. I wish the deli woman had said something, as it was obvious we didn’t need that much. Ah well, live and learn.

The lions weren’t out while we were there, so we continued to keep moving and headed back into the Forum, just in time for Babygirl to fall asleep in my arms. Back to the Flamingo for a nap. And as typically is Babygirl, she woke up when we got back and was raring to go again. We headed off to lunch at Margaritaville, which is in the Flamingo. The highlight of lunch was watching the volcano inside the restaurant erupt.

After lunch, we spent a few hours in our hotel room, letting Babygirl play. Mapgeek dozed off and I got bored after a while, so Babygirl and I headed back to the wildlife exhibits at the Flamingo. Mapgeek caught up with us and we headed over to the Bellagio Hotel to see the dancing fountains and the gardens in the hotel. Apparently, the Bellagio is the crown jewel of the hotels in Vegas. It was just as ostentatious as Caesar’s Palace, though without the Forum shops. We saw the Dale Chihuly flower sculpture in the lobby and the botanical gardens in the Conservatory. It was gorgeous! We then went outside in front of the fountain and caught one of the shows. Babygirl loved it!

Dinner was with Markyjo and Niknik at an Italian restaurant in the Paris Hotel. The Paris is where they stayed on their honeymoon. Again, another amazing hotel, though we didn’t spend as much time in this one. After dinner, Markyjo and Niknik watched Babygirl for an hour so Mapgeek and I could gamble again. We wandered aimlessly around looking for ways to lose our money. Stuck mostly with slots and poker.

Day 4
Grandpa C rented a car, so after breakfast at the Flamingo, the family loaded up and drove out to see the Hoover Dam. It was an amazing thing to see. It wasn’t as wide as I thought, but was definitely as deep. Lake Mead apparently serves Las Vegas’s potable water needs (and all its excess) and the dam supplies all the power for Vegas (and all THAT excess). As I continue to write this journal, I realize that everything in Vegas is huge and excessive. People must lose a lot more than the $30 that I donated. :)

We got back around lunch time and Mapgeek and I grabbed lunch at a deli counter in the Flamingo. Afterwards, we tried to entice Babygirl to nap, which she wouldn’t. So, we headed back to the wildlife exhibit at the Flamingo. Yelled at the penguins for a while before dinner. Dinner on this last night was the highlight of our culinary experience in Vegas (except for maybe the sushi). We ate at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant, Spago, in the Forum. And we got to see the aquarium one last time. After dinner, Grandma C sat with Babygirl so Mapgeek and I could “donate” another $30 to Vegas.

Home again, home again, jiggity-jig
The trip home was pretty uneventful. Luckily, it was a direct flight home and Babygirl slept for at least the first half. When we got home, she was excited to see her toys and was even excited to see her crib. And when I put her down that night, she immediately curled up and stuck her thumb in her mouth. As did I…

Taking my babygirl gaming

2006-03-03T21:53:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh! When did I turn into a nerd?!? Is it a function of the times or is gaming really still considered “nerdy”? Mapgeek and I have been gaming together ever since we started dating (and before, but not together). Lately, we’ve been primarily doing the MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing games). Great acronym for us engineer-types. We’ve been playing World of Warcraft for over a year. Since I was pregnant, we’ve been playing these two trolls. I play a mage and he’s a warrior. It is funny to me that we’re still not to the highest level in the game, yet we’ve been playing these chars (characters for the non-nerds) for over a year. Guess it has something to do with the 5 other chars I’ve been playing too. We tried out Everquest (aka, Evercrack), which people said was a great one to play. We didn’t like it as much. It seemed too tedious to get ahead.

Anyhow, I wonder if anyone that regularly reads these posts is a gamer too…

We’re off to Vegas tomorrow. Got a plane ticket for Babygirl too. Mapgeek and I each took a carry-on suitcase (though we checked them) and a backpack to Spain for two weeks. This trip, we’re taking our two suitcases, a huge suitcase for Babygirl, a carry-on for Babygirl (aka, The diaper bag), a car seat, a stroller, and I’m sure we’ll end up with at least one more carry-on (since we can…we DID buy three seats ya know). It’s amazing how much stuff a baby can take. Clothes, blankets, burp clothes, bibs, diapers, food, bottles, formula, etc. Good thing the dog is staying at home.

Made A Poop!

2006-02-27T17:48:00.000-05:00

For all you rapper-moms out there!

Takeover 2030

2006-02-13T08:05:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else nervous about Muslims? I know I am and it's not because of any racist (the fundamental belief that one race is better than another) or bigoted thoughts. I'm nervous because there seem to be a lot of Muslims (radicals?) out there that absolutely hate me and want me dead. At all costs - including the death of their own. And everything ticks them off. It's a catch-22 for all Westerners - no solutions except for death. I haven't heard of any Muslims propose a plan for co-existing. A profound quote from the Mona Charen op-ed piece from Friday - "[Muslims] want to live in Europe and reap the benefit of the civilization Christianity, rationalism and enlightenment have created -- but they despise it and hope to destroy it." Read her column about Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within."

Teen Using Restroom Falls Out Bus Window

2006-02-08T07:45:00.000-05:00

LOL! Ok, the news is interesting today. How exactly does *this* happen? And can you imagine the shock of other cars on the road?

(disclaimer: ok, it's not really funny, but...)

Clean water in Iraq

2006-02-08T07:33:00.000-05:00

A topic after my own heart! A soldier in Iraq is helping to upgrade a couple of water treatment plants (WTP’s for all yall that don’t know) in Iraq. Someone once told me, that water and wastewater treatment were the most important health advances thus far in human history. What a concept….no bad stuff in what you ingest and no sewage in the streets.

And I still believe that we are doing a lot of good being over there. Just think, these people will have clean water! Does anyone really think Saddam would put money in the budget to update WTPs and infrastructure??

One of the last

2006-02-08T07:26:00.000-05:00

So, Atlanta, and the black community, buried Mrs. Coretta Scott King yesterday. It’s sad to lose such a great lady. One of the last figureheads in the fight for equal rights. I wonder how the equal rights movement would have turned out if her husband had not been killed at such an early age. And, is anyone surprised? More anti-Bush during Mrs. King’s funeral yesterday. However, I guess if you make your life political, then you should expect your funeral to be political. I sure am tired of hearing about “WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION” and “KATRINA VICTIMS”. *sigh*

A little perspective puh-leeze

2006-02-05T21:01:00.000-05:00

Boortz was discussing the latest on the Muslims being offended about a cartoon of Muhammad. I liked his summary of some of the highlights of the recent past. Let's not forget who is also doing great in the offending category.

• Muslims fly commercial airliners into buildings in New York City. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslim officials block the exit where school girls are trying to escape a burning building because their faces were exposed. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims cut off the heads of three teenaged girls on their way to school in Indonesia. A Christian school. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims murder teachers trying to teach Muslim children in Iraq. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims murder over 80 tourists with car bombs outside cafes and hotels in Egypt. No Muslim outrage.
• A Muslim attacks a missionary children's school in India. Kills six. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims slaughter hundreds of children and teachers in Beslan, Russia. Muslims shoot children in the back. No Muslim outrage.
• Let's go way back. Muslims kidnap and kill athletes at the Munich Summer Olympics. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims fire rocket-propelled grenades into schools full of children in Israel. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims murder more than 50 commuters in attacks on London subways and busses. Over 700 are injured. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims massacre dozens of innocents at a Passover Seder. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims murder innocent vacationers in Bali. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslim newspapers publish anti-Semitic cartoons. No Muslim outrage
• Muslims are involved, on one side or the other, in almost every one of the 125+ shooting wars around the world. No Muslim outrage.
• Muslims beat the charred bodies of Western civilians with their shoes, then hang them from a bridge. No Muslim outrage.
• Newspapers in Denmark and Norway publish cartoons depicting Mohammed. Muslims are outraged.

2006-01-31T13:05:00.001-05:00

Holding onto Great-Grandpa's hand

2006-01-31T13:05:00.000-05:00

With Great-Grandma - trying to sit still

2006-01-31T13:04:00.001-05:00

Babygirl and Uncle Jim

2006-01-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

The Curleygirls (lots of 'em!)

Indianapolis - Take 2

2006-01-31T12:56:00.000-05:00

Wow! Didn’t I say I was going to update more often? Our life has finally settled into a routine of sorts, so needless to say…I’ve been busy! The weekend after going to the lake, we headed up to Indiana to see Mapgeek’s extended family. This is the trip we attempted in November, but had to reschedule due to sick family. MLK weekend, so we didn’t have to take any precious time off. We left Friday afternoon and went to Nashville and spent the night in our favorite Holiday Inn Express (hello wifi!). Had our Krystal’s and Guinness date, though Babygirl wasn’t as accommodating this time. She gets distracted trying to sleep with Mommy and Daddy trying to watch TV or surfing the web. We got up early Saturday and drove the rest of the way to Indianapolis.

We got there in time for a late lunch with Mapgeek’s grandparents, which is who we were there primarily to see. Luckily, Mapgeek’s uncle and aunt were there to go to lunch with us at the very close-by Mexican place. It’s interesting that as our favorite relatives get elderly, the more nervous we are about transporting them. Especially with Babygirl. We are especially grateful that there are relatives there, used to the situation, that can make time for us too. We headed back to our next favorite Holiday Inn Express to let Babygirl nap. Then back to the grandparents for an evening hello. Needless to say, Saturday was busy. Sunday was even more so….

We got up and took breakfast to Mapgeek’s Grandparents. From there, we drove the hour+ out to Terre Haute to visit the family farm. Babygirl got to play with her older cousins and we got to visit the aunts and uncle. Babygirl LOVED playing with the girl cousins. Seems like she’s around boys much more often. From Terre Haute, we drove the hour and a half back through Indianapolis to Franklin to see the other aunt and uncle and cousins. Also a good time. Then back in the car yet again to drive the 45 minutes back to the hotel. Lots of car time. Babygirl was a trooper as always. We fed her at the appropriate times and she took her naps in the car in between stops. I think we might have the hang of this. We all slept great that night.

Monday, we ate breakfast again with Mapgeek’s Grandparents and the hit the road for the 9 hour trip home. We were worried that Babygirl was going to be hard to travel with for 9 hours straight. But, she was even better on the way home, then she was from Nashville to Indiana! We stopped periodically to walk around and she seemed to sleep a good portion of the way. Kudos to the Britax carseat! Did I mention before that Babygirl outgrew her infant seat? I wasn’t expecting to buy another carseat at 6 months, but after finally figuring out how to install it, it is working out great!

Well, we made our first of many long car trips and survived. Next up….an airplane ride to Vegas in March. Not sure how that’s going to work with all the baby gear…

2006-01-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Babygirl and Mapgeek playing at the lake house.

2006-01-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

View from the house.

Be jealous all ye city slickers

2006-01-08T10:52:00.000-05:00

So I’m writing this from the comfort of the lake house. We loaded up the family (2 parents, 1 kid, 1 dog) in the car on Friday and drove the 3 hours up to Tennessee. It’s so quiet up here. I got all bundled up this morning to take the dog out. It was almost dawn, so it was just barely light. It was so quiet that I thought I my hat was on down over my ears blocking out the sound. When I took off my hat, I realized that there wasn’t ANY sounds. No birds, crickets, the waves on the shore. Nothing. And then the next door neighbor coughed and scared the bejeezus out of me. He was on his back porch, sipping on his coffee, looking at the lake. A true Maxwell House moment. What a life.

The house itself is awesome. It’s on Watts Bar Lake just outside of Kingston. Since Granddaddy P lives here during the week, the house never gets that vacant, dusty, dead bugs in the sink kind of feel. It’s a 3-bedroom, 2-bath log cabin that’s only a few years old. The kitchen is huge and has tons of counter space and nice appliances. Plus, my parents have stocked it with all the comforts of home. Coffee maker, satellite, wireless network. You know, all the typical things you think of when you think “log cabin”.

TVA controls the lake and dams, so the lake is low for the winter. Where the house is, the yard and lake bed gently slopes down. When the lake level is low, the water recedes a pretty good distance and the docks are all out of water. So no fishing. And I was so looking forward sitting out on the dock in 30-degree weather waiting for a fish to nibble.

Mapgeek and I brought our computers (obviously, since I’m writing from here), and got some good gaming time. And we cooked and ate and grilled and ate some more. Babygirl had fun in the wide open floors with the toys we brought and also got to chase the dog. The dog is the only one that didn’t seem to have fun. He gets so picky about eating in a strange place. I think that we’ll be back up here soon. I hope. I’m looking forward to the spring when we can enjoy the outdoors.

2005-12-30T14:07:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-30T14:05:00.000-05:00

Babygirl and Babydog

2005-12-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

Busy busy busy

Ah, where to begin...

2005-12-30T08:38:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We certainly did. Best one ever! Busy, busy, busy though. Babygirl was a trooper through it all, though she was completely worn out every night.

Babygirl had her 6 month checkup a couple weeks ago. Still long and lean, but healthy and a very happy little baby. She entertained the doctor with her toe sucking trick, all while the doctor was trying to talk to me. Slurrrrrp! The big item that came out of the checkup is that Babygirl has outgrown her infant seat (she’s too tall for it). Huge shock for Mapgeek and I who were not expecting to invest in a new car seat for a few more months. So, I bought a new seat that was recommended by many and now we can’t figure out how to install it to our satisfaction. And no, fire departments don’t install car seats anymore. Liability of course.

Babygirl is also crawling! Full on, pedal to the metal, get out of my way, CRAWLING. Not only that, she also pulls herself up. So we’ve also had the big investment of a gate for the top of the stairs and the Superyard XT, which is a bunch of gates linked together that you can form a circle with (like a playpen). In our case, I stretched it from one wall, across the fireplace and TV (including cords) to the other wall. Makes a nice Babygirl barrier and she loves to pull up on it and watch the fire or the TV. I love this thing!

So that’s our biggest news for the moment, though I have tons more to write about. It will have to wait until another time.

Happy New Year’s!!