A-Z Me...But Not Really

I think I could have come up with some more compelling A-Z questions, but I'll go with the formula because even though I didn't get tagged this time, I owe Melissa at least one or two. So here goes:

A-Available/Single?: Clearly neither if you've read my blog even once.
B-Best Friend?: Even though I rarely get to see her, she's the best, especially since she knows all my secrets.
C-Cake or Pie?: Yes, please. Just set them both down over there.
D-Drink of choice?: Coffee.
E-Essential item used everyday?: Disinfectant spray cleaner.
F-Favorite color?: Periwinkle blue.
G-Gummy bears or Worms? Neither, thanks.
H-Hometown?: Sterling, MA
I-Indulgence?: Using the bathroom by myself.
J-January/February?:Definitely January. February is the longest short month ever.
K-Kids and names?: David, Sofia and the soon to be "Fabuloso". Yeah, we're still working on that one.
L-Life is incomplete without?: Love, baby!
M-Marriage date?: August 28, 1999.
N-Number of siblings?: Two.
O-Oranges or apples?: Both, as long as they have some flavor.
P-Phobias/Fears?: Outliving my children.
Q-Favorite quote?: Hmm, too many good ones but my dad always used to tell me, "You have to be smarter than the thing you're working with." Thanks, dad.
R-Reason to smile?: My kids when they say, "I love you" out of the blue.
S-Season?: Spring, when/if it's actually warm.
T-Tag three people?: No, but anyone who's up for it, have at it.
U-Unknown fact about me?: I wish I could make all my own wood furniture.
V-Vegetable I don't like?: Not a big fan of beets.
W-Worst habit?: Procrastination.
X-rays I've had?: X-ray of right wrist, of course numerous dental x-rays and I don't know if this counts, but sonograms of my heart and ultrasounds of the three kids.
Y-Your favorite food?: Mashed potato.
Z-Zodiac sign?: Virgo.

Things That Make You Go "Awwwww"

Very sweet, Ernesto, but I think I may need to keep a closer eye on Whiskey, as he has been spending a lot of time under the tree...

Dear Santa

Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone! I was too busy eating and making merry to blog, as I hope you were, too.

This morning the kids dictated their letters to Santa to me. This is the first year we've done this. I think St. Nick will especially appreciate the glittery crayons we used to pen our words. Here's how they went...

David's (Age 4):

Dear Santa,

I would like a smiley face making kit and a Geek Squad spy set and a tool box, but I already have a tool belt so you don't need to get me one. I would like a spy geek puzzle with a box with buttons on it. I would also like some new clothes. Merry Christmas, Santa! Have fun giving presents to people!

Love,
David

Sofia's (Age 2 1/2):

Dear Santa,

I want the jump and bark puppy. I want a mama kitty and a baby kitty cat. I want a mama duck and a baby duck. Santa, I have some yummy candy up on my refridgerator.

Love,
Sofia

I sure hope Santa knows where to get "spy geek" stuff, because I'm not sure I do. Maybe I could get a member of the Geek Squad come to our house and dress up as Santa. David would be impressed to see Santa all "geeked out" with his lap top and pocket pen display.

The candy to which Sofia refers "up on the refridgerator" is all the leftover Halloween candy that's in her bucket. I actually snuck them away last night, but she didn't seem to notice, or perhaps this was her subtle way of telling me she had.

The Secret Lives Of Armadillos

Conversation with Sofia last night as she helped me clean up after dinner:

"Thanks for helping me wash the dishes, Sof. It's a big help to mommy."
"Oh sure, sure. You're welcome." She scrubs the bottom of a pan more vigorously.
"I love having help. Who wouldn't, right?"
"Oh sure! And armadillos like lots of help."
"Oh?"
"Yes. They need help with the sponges and the water. They need help with getting alllll cleaned up with da water and da soap." She then appears to be holding the pan like an armadillo, if you can imagine that.
"I didn't know they took baths like that."
"Oh yes! The need all kinds of help and then their little friends get them all cleaned up with the sponge and water and..." and then she begins mumbling something about them going down the path and falling down a hill, but I really can't be sure because she is intently cleaning the pan and has gone into some dishwashing trance. I am all too familiar with that.
"Are we still talking about armadillos?"
"Oh yes. Yes, we are." She smiles and begins dousing herself with the sink sprayer, laughing delightedly.
If only I could enjoy housework as much as she does.

Denied At Delta

Needless to say this irks me in every way imaginable. Having nursed my own kids and going well out of my way to make other people feel at ease, I am annoyed that a mother feeding her child is left to feel like an exhibitionist and as though she has done something wrong. Most nursing moms feel a little uneasy nursing in public places, so they go to lots of extra effort to avoid that, by delaying feedings, trying to hide baby under blankets (tried it-doesn't work!) or nursing in bathrooms. Babies have a right to eat and moms have the right to feed them. Enough said.

Little Lumberjack

Little Lumberjack
Originally uploaded by Ernesto and Kristen Burden.

So we had our cord of wood delivered today. An unusually warm November day, nearing 70, but hey, that's fall in New England. You get firewood delivered, you have a heat wave. We just learn to anticipate these things. Still, it was great to be outside and everyone pitched in on the stacking effort, even Sofia who made do with some pink and white mittens since she apparently misplaced her workgloves. Everyone was having a grand old time until David lobbed a piece of wood toward the stack and it bonked Sofia on the back of her head. Ten seconds prior to the incident, Ernesto had said to David, "Now be careful not to ever throw the wood." Maybe he misheard.

After some ice to the back of her head and a call to the doctor's office, we were pretty well assured that she was going to be okay. In fact she was back stacking wood before I even got off the phone with the nurse who said, "she must be pretty tough."

Yep. She's a lumberjack and she's okay.

You Know You Are Getting Old When...

...you are so incredibly excited the repair guys are coming to fix your chimney flues and that is not even remotely as sexually suggestive as it sounds.

What's A 'Big' Family?

I came across an article the other day that discussed whether or not Americans are having "large" families anymore. It had come to the conclusion that while some families still tend to be large (defined as three or more children) the majority of couples have one or two, with two being the average. That struck me as odd that now a family with three children is considered "large". I came from a family with three girls and it did not feel at all large to me. In fact as a kid I often got the strange feeling that someone was missing at the dinner table. And then I would do a mental head count and think, nope, everyone's here. But then I was a strange child.

My parents came from "average" size families for the time. My dad had four sisters, my mom had a sister and two brothers. I doubt back then people squawked when their parents said how many kids they had at home. It's much different today. We've been told by well-meaning folks(on more than one occasion) that we can be "all done" now that we have two kids, especially since we have one of each gender. Thank you for the report. I will notify my ovaries. I had told my hairdresser at my last appointment that we were having another baby and she said something along the lines of, "Three is okay, but anyone who has four is nuts." Huh??? I kept my comment to myself, because I was afraid she might ruin my hair.

If you look at magazines you see the perfect family size reflected there as well, with covers displaying a happy foursome, two glowing parents with their two, evenly spaced children, usually an older boy and younger girl. I've noticed this frequently- keep an eye out and you'll see what I mean. Vacation packages and prizes are usually only good for families of four.

And it's no surprise with all the reports about how "expensive" it is to have a child these days that people intentionally have smaller families. Us stay-at-homers are budgeting masters though, and know how frugally and inexpensively you can raise your kids. If we can do it, dual-incomers should find it no trouble at all.

So why would you suppose anyone might care how many children someone else has? Sure, everyone has an opinion, but there is a prevailing attitude in America that fewer children is somehow better, less of a "burden"- pardon the name pun. And while I see the number of smaller families growing, the amount of personal debt just seems to keep accruing- couples with the McMansions and their Hummers. We are overhoused, over"materialized", yet we look at children as an expense we cannot afford? I don't get it.

And don't misunderstand me- I'm not advocating the notion everyone should have a huge family. Clearly that's not a right fit for everyone. I would just like to have my children without people telling me I'm a nut. I'm a nut for other reasons, but not because I would like more than a couple kids.

Of course I will revisit this topic after I've had my third child and let you know what I really think a large family is. I am not afraid to eat my words.

And No, It's NOT Twins...

...But it IS triplets!!

Ha, ha. Just kidding. It's just one little munchkin. A little girl munchkin, so far as they can tell. With long legs and big feet, and we already got to see her dance in utero. She's going to be a heartbreaker. And possibly, very clumsy.

Keep grooving, baby girl!

Go Daddy!

Go Daddy!
Originally uploaded by Ernesto and Kristen Burden.

We had a great weekend here in the brisk Northeast. On Saturday we headed off to Alyssa and Sandeep's home in Massachusetts, during which time we may have managed to postpone their plans to have a child just a little longer. Our kids didn't break anything, but someone did try to eat their calculator. I'm not going to point fingers but it was one of three redheads. Much more on this later. Anyway, after eating some delicious barbecue and making off with two very nice bookcases, we said adieu to our good friends with hopes to see them again before the snow flies.

On Sunday Ernesto ran in the annual Santa Fund Run 5k which is sponsored by his company and helps to bring great presents to less fortunate kids each Christmas season. I brought the kids down to see their dad race and we were all poised at the finish line, camera ready, and then David started swinging on some yellow ropes that made up the end of the race "corral" area where the runners walk to cool off and I spotted one of the officials giving him the hairy eyeball. I quickly go to David and tell him that he's not allowed to do that and begin to explain why, and how we need to keep an eye out for Daddy because he could be coming any second, and that's when I stand up and see Ernesto pass by us, already over the finish line in the corral. I let out a weak, "Yay, Honey!" and quickly snap this lame shot.

So we missed the big finish, but with his heart pounding in his ears, and the wind blurring his vision, he probably wouldn't have heard or seen us anyway. He was in "the zone", and finished with his fastest race time ever (22:37). The last time he raced it was six years ago and he was a whole minute faster on this run. Not bad for a guy who used to smoke two packs a day back when I first met him. See, I make people healthy.

We are very proud of you, sweetie! Next year we promise to be paying attention when you finish the race!

Bleah!!

Too much Halloween fun!
Originally uploaded by Ernesto and Kristen Burden.

"Someone, please...lock up the Reeses before I get peanut butter/chocolate poisoning...Ugh!"