Road Trip

Cub woke up this morning with a low fever.  

He seemed to be OK (just a little congestion), so we headed to Mormor and Dadoo's house as planned.  It's about a two hour drive and he slept for about forty-five minutes on the way.

Here he is not really eating, but being cute while we attempted to feed him.

 

We all had a nice visit and Cub even took a little nap.

Filanthropy Friday

I was unable to attend my dear friends', Will & Kate, wedding today. It's a long story, but it involves my private jet and a small family of mongoose (or is t mongeese?). 

In lieu of gifts, they have asked everyone to make a donation to charity. 

They have numerous suggested charities on their site and I donated $15 to Beatbullying.

Bullying is bad, but sapphire rings are very, very good.

Winter then Summer then Spring

This year we went from ice days in February to mid-90s in March.  Thankfully today we got our one day of Spring.  High in the low 80s and beautiful.  It's a good thing too because the AC in our house went out again.  It's actually cooler outside than it is in our house.

Cub decided to only nap for one hour today; however, he was surprisingly playful the entire afternoon in spite of being really, really tired.  We had a great time outside ("ought").

I often get teased for putting barrettes (I call them borrettes) in Cub's hair.  Today, I discovered that baby sunscreen can double as baby hair gel.  Thus, keeping Cub's hair out of his face without the use of a borrette. 

Just look.

Now, here is Cub nearing the end of our day (read: extremely tired).  Ever wonder what a really tired, filthy baby who doesn't really eat food so much as he chews it and spits it out looks like while sitting in a stroller eating (kind of) a bagel?  

Probably not, but here he is anyway.  

Wordless Wednesday

Training Program

My mother and I have an ambitious (by turtle standards) marathon season ahead. 

I'm going to need some help.

When I first started running about three years ago, I joined a running group at my gym.  The group was extremely helpful for zone training and general accountability.

If I'm going to complete (and try not to be the slowest finisher in my age group) three marathons, I need a group or team or or coach or therapist or something to keep me going (and get going a little faster too).  

I'm strongly considering the Rogue Running marathon training program.  I always see people wearing Rogue Running shirts while running half and full marathons, so I'll take that as a good sign that runners who complete the training actually run in the race (and most of them are passing me).

The training program for fall marathons (my first is schedule for end of October) starts May 21st.   I should probably do it.  I think I will.

Here's a picture of my little running buddy, he's running (pushing something fast) away from me.

Misfit Monday

From time to time, we participate in trade shows.

We are participating in a mini-trade show in a few weeks and the theme is "The 80s".  

Much to the dismay of the misfits, I've come up with a few ideas.  

Cub was kind enough to do a dramatization of the misfits' reactions to my 80s theme ideas.

Reaction to my Care Bears idea:

 

Reaction to my Top Gun idea:

Reaction to my Fraggle Rock idea:

Cub is a pretty talented actor. 

Happy Easter!

I do not know the science that goes into determining when Easter falls every year - all I know is that last year Easter was my due date and I was still pregnant; however,  this year on Easter, I have an over one year old toddler.  Go figure!

Here's our little bunny today - he does look a little bunny-esque with those two front teeth.

Milestones

Cub has been working on a few milestones in the past couple of days.

1.   WALKING - he's taken his first couple baby steps.  Today, he took a few very deliberate baby steps while holding his truck.

2.   EATING - I joke that I'll still be pureeing his food when he's sixteen.  The boy has serious issues with eating food in a non-liquefied form.  Today, I'm pretty sure he ate a tater tot.  Who knew he just wanted his first food to be fried?

Tonight we also got "first soap in the eyes", not a very fun milestone, but little Cub healed quickly from the trauma.

Filanthropy Friday

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day - I selected World Wildlife Fund for Filanthropy Friday.

Originally, I was going to adopt the ugliest animal available (because I figured not a lot of people want to adopt a Tarsier - poor Tarsier, they don't even have a cute little plush animal), but I instead look at threat level and the most critically threatened species.   

I decided to adopt a Darwin's Fox and made a $25 donation.  I like foxes (I'm smart like one) and I also like science - so it seemed like a good choice.

Marathon (Gulp) Schedule

Seeing as my mother and I have only completed (notice how I didn't write "run") one marathon - we have a pretty ambitious schedule for the next year.  We're planning three (gulp, gulp, gulp) marathons in the next year.

One - MARATHON FOR ADOPTION - October 29 - New Braunfels, TX

The hills in this race make Zooma look like a downhill race.

Two - METAL SAWING TECHNOLOGY TEXAS MARATHON - January 1 - Kingwood, TX

These are my kind of people - here is the time limit: This event is walker and velocity challenged participant friendly.  The only time limit is that participants must finish before dark (5:30pm).  Also, 2012 is the year of the pig and they provide a pizza picnic (no crappy banana and bagel) after the race. 

Three - LIVESTRONG MARATHON - February 19 - Austin, TX

I've done the half a couple of times, so I guess it's time to try the full.

My mom and I discussed that we're going to push for a strong run on New Year's in Kingwood.  I'd settle for a non-crawling finish in all three races.

Wordless Wednesday

Movie Updates

I've actually seen a few movies recently (OK, maybe a few weeks ago), but I keep forgetting to do my cookie reviews.  Here are a few.

Scream 4

Bleh.  It's difficult to remember when this movie franchise was cool.  Maybe I'm just too old for these movies, but I was bored in a horror/comedy and I'm pretty easily entertained.

Source Code

Very fun action/thriller!  I'm sure there will be a sequel and I'll be third or fourth in line. 

Lincoln Lawyer

Really, really loved this thriller - even more than I expected.  For those of you who are counting (maybe only Liz), McConaughey takes his shirt of one time - but for being a movie about a lawyer, that's not too bad.

OK, that's all for my movie reviews for today.

In other news, Cub seems to be much, much better.  His appetite has returned and he was very happy and playful this afternoon.

Here he is playing the role of  - Kitty Prison Guard.

Misfit Monday

Today, I spent the day doing (as far as I'm concerned) the hardest job ever - stay-at-home-mom.  True, it's about a bazillion times more rewarding than selling carpet, but it's also tons more physical and there aren't many breaks - especially today.  

Cub woke up this morning with a fever.  He's doing much better now - no fever - but he had to stay home from school.  Aside from not wanting to eat (solids) very much, or sleep very much - he was generally very happy and playful. 

Me staying home with Cub meant that Buttin was kind of solo today at work.  It was a pretty crappy Monday.  

I think any small business owner will tell you that because you see everything that happens in a business - you see people at their absolute worst.   I continue to hope this means that we will also get to see them at their best, but we're still kind of waiting for it. 

I wish I could say that some of today's events surprise me - but they really don't.  I don't know which is worse - the pain some can willfully inflict on others or my lack of surprise.  

OK - now back to something happy - Cub playing.  I may have mentioned it before, but he LOVES playing outside.  I like him to play barefoot, but I've started to put shoes on him because of the ants.  Here he is walking around (assisted by the chair) with his puppy shoes!

Zooma Half-Marathon Report

Zooma: in short, not as good (feeling) as Austin but not horrible like Houston.  It was my worst time since my very first half marathon: 2:41:35.  Sheesh, I'm slow.

Who could have predicted that a race in April would be 20 degrees cooler than a race in January or February; however, I was very thankful for the 48 degree start temperature (it was high 60s by the time we finished). 

The race organization was pretty fantastic.  My mom and I parked at an airport parking lot and a bus drove us to the Hyatt Lost Pines.  We arrived around 6:30, leaving us a good 45 minutes to just wander around (read: find a bathroom with no line) and explore the resort.  It's very pretty - even in the dark.

The race started right on time - at 7:30 - there were about 1,500 participants (the smallest half marathon I've ever raced).  My mom and I decided to try our Austin strategy again - start out slow and get slower.  

It took a couple of miles for my fingers and toes to warm up, but by water station #2 my mom and I had discarded our disposable layer of clothes. 

I'm not gonna lie - there were lots and lots of hills.  Some were pretty steep and long - strangely enough the downhill just never felt as good as the uphill felt icky.  The course was very pretty, but there's one thing I really hated about it - there were many (at least four) out and back places on course where you see the people who are faster coming towards you.  I guess this is only really a problem for slow people.  The only thing I found myself thinking is - where is the turn around? 

My mom and I ran the first five or six miles together and then I went ahead for a little while.  New term created by my mom: "Bunny Me".  As in, "run ahead of me for a little while and be my pace bunny."  Then she caught up and then I went ahead again.  

During the times when I was ahead of my mom, I'd try to find her when I was running the "back" part of the out and back sections of the race.  There were a lot of blond women wearing pink tops and black shorts and I yelled "Hi Mom" followed by "Oops sorry, you're not my mom." at about five confused looking runners.   

When I finished, I was glad to be done.  Sadly, the water and food were not very close to the finish line - but I grabbed two waters and went back to the finish line to wait for my mom.  When she finished we found the food and headed back to the buses to go home.

Overall - pretty fun race, but I probably should have trained a little better for the hills. 

Here's a picture of Cub today, I call it "Grumpy Justin Bieber Baby".

Filanthropy Friday

Happy Tax Day!

Our government, in all its wisdom (sarcasm) almost shut down a couple of weeks ago.  One of the HUGE budget fights was over funding for Planned Parenthood.

In honor of our government, which thankfully decided to continue funding Planned Parenthood, I donated $20 to Planned Parenthood.

Low Expectations

I have rather low expectations for my last half marathon of the season (that's what good runners in Texas call the period between November - April), Zooma.

This is the elevation map.

I'm not exactly sure what it means, but it looks hard.

Here is a graphic representation of my hill training the past few weeks.

I've also been kind of sick the past couple of weeks (maybe you've read?) which has meant very little training, irrespective of the hills. 

I'm sure my mother and I will have a nice time watching the race crew as the start picking up at the water stations right as we arrive.  

OK, onto Graby.  Lest you think I'm his only dorky parent, here's a little story about Buttin's dorkiness.

If Buttin and I are alone with Cub, we often take pictures of Cub (with our phone) and send them to the non-present parent.  

This morning (it was still rather dark), Cub decided he was gonna go for a walk outside.  I thought it was kind of funny and I took a couple pictures.  When Cub turned around, the flash caught his eyes and I got a creepy Cub picture.  I sent it to Buttin.

Buttin sent a new picture back to me with the caption:  THE INVASION BEGINS - SAVE US KITTY WARRIOR. 

See, Buttin is a dork too.

After I picked Cub up from school today, I took him to work for a little while.  He helped Buttin do some important work.

Wordless Wednesday

New Favorite Cookie

A long, long, long, long time ago (like when Cash was still Lumpy, and Lumpy was  microscopic) I wrote about my favorite cookie and my one woman campaign to bring them back!

Sadly, Keebler didn't bring back Magic Middles, but Pepperidge Farm did start making Milano Melts. I'd like to think that I had something to do with this new cookie product line. 

I tried the Milano Melts and they're pretty freaking fantastic.  They're not as good as I remember Magic Middles, but what can compete with my idealized memories?  

Now, onto Cubbie Cub - for the first day in his entire life (I think) I only got one picture of him looking at me and it wasn't even a very good one.  He was unusually grumpy this afternoon.  I think he's having a difficult time adjusting to one nap a day.

Here he is, kind of swimming.

Misfit Monday

Last week, the trade association we are members of put on a talent show to benefit the American Red Cross.

Besides having a raging ear ache, I had a blast. I managed to smile even thought I felt like warm poo.

Speaking of feeling like warm poo, Graby has been in TRUE Graby form.  I think he's adjusting to just one nap a day.  This afternoon nothing was making him very happy, except for all the things I would NOT let him do . . . put rocks in his mouth, bite me, eat my camera, hit the cat . . .if it was dangerous or destructive in anyway; he wanted to do it and was letting me know how unhappy he was at me for preventing him from doing these things.

Here he is being a grumpy Cub when I told him he could not have my camera. 

The Yale Class

Yesterday we went to the first birthday party of one of Cub's classmates, Fischer.

It was fun watching the little guys play and talking with the parents. 

I hadn't heard it before, but apparently they call Cub's group of boys at school - The Yale Class.  I'd like to think it's because they're all so smart, but really it's because of their names, I guess they all sound Yale-ish - Fischer, Emmett, Bennett, Everett, and Cash.  

I wonder if all the parents would be OK with Stanford?

This afternoon we went swimming (kind of), this picture is for Mormor (notice the block, Mormor?).

Doctor Visits

Cub and I both went to the doctor this week.

Cub's one year appointment by the numbers:

• Weight:  19lbs 14oz - 15th percentile.  Dr. Boston said he was slender, but healthy.
• Height: 29 inches - 50th percentile.  Perfectly average!
• Cub got THREE vaccines - one in each leg and one in the arm.  He hated them, I hated them, but he was OK after just a couple of minutes.

Dr. Boston (new pediatrician for us) was OK.  I give her a B-.  I'm not sure what I'm expecting from a doctor - she's much better with Cash than she is with us (the parents), which I guess is better than if it was the other way.

Regarding biting, she said that if Cub bites we should - say "NO" very sternly and then put him in a playpen or isolate him for one minute - no hugs, no kisses, no smiles, no talking for one minute. 

I'm sure medical professionals HATE parents like me - I want her to look in his ears (which had a little fluid - due to the cold he's had recently) and in his throat (which was a little red due to the cough he's also had recently) and give me medical advice.  I DO NOT WANT parenting/developmental absolutes like - when he bites, put him in a time out. If Cub has any difficulty with math one day, I'm not going to ask Dr. Boston for advice.  I appreciate suggestions, but I didn't like her "'only way" tone.  

Dr. Boston did call Cub perfect, so I guess she's a pretty qualified doctor.

My doctor visit:

I've had a pretty bad cold for the last week and a half.  On Thursday morning, my ear started hurting - lots of pressure.  On Friday morning the pressure had subsided, but I had a puddle of goo on my pillow and my hair was crusty.  

My doctor got me in first thing on Friday morning - gave me an antibiotic and some Flonase (for allergies).  I teased my doctor that MY having a baby was good for HIS business.  I've been to see him twice in the last couple of months and before that I hadn't seen him since we confirmed my pregnancy with Cub.  

I still have quite a bit of pressure in my ear and when I talk, it sounds like I'm in a cave.  I am feeling better though and I even managed a sweaty run this morning.

Here is a picture of Cub today:

Filanthropy Friday

This week we celebrated Cub's one year birthday.  In honor of my son's birthday; I was planning to donate to SOS Children's Villages because it was important to Johnny Cash, Cub's namesake.  

However, as it has frequently happened in other weeks, the universe provided an even better option. I WILL spend a separate Filanthropy Friday on SOS Children's Villages. 

This week (on Cub's birthday) we also celebrated the birth of my dearest friend (since age eleven), Shannon's (I call her Nana) twins - Calie Ann & Sofie Marie.  They were born eight weeks premature; however, I think they were just so excited to meet their awesome mom and dad that they couldn't wait any longer.

Thankfully, both girls are very healthy; however, they will have to spend some time in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU).

Not all babies are as fortunate as Carlie and Sofie, so in their honor I gave $25 to the March of Dimes.  I donated specifically to their campaign that supports families in the NICU.

I say it often, but it's so true - we are extremely thankful that Cash is healthy and happy.  We are also very thankful for the health of Carlie & Sofie and can't wait to meet them. They are the two luckiest girls in the whole world and I can't wait to start planning joint birthday parties, graduations (from high school, college, medical school) and then one day - a WEDDING (hee, hee)!

Dear Cash - ONE YEAR!

Dear Cash,

For many, many years - on my birthday - my mother (your MorMor) would tell me the story about the day I was born. I think the last time she officially did it I was 19 and volunteering at a Muscular Dystrophy camp for children. She called me and told me about how 19 years and 1 day ago she was eating pizza and drinking beer (I may have made that part up) and she started feeling ill. She went to bed that night, but woke up a few hours later and went to the hospital. Shortly (although it may not have felt short for her) after arriving, I was born (at 7:26 am).

This is a tradition that I would like to start with you.

It does not seem possible that a year has gone by since the day you were born. I remember it so vividly and I'm very thankful that I wrote most of it down. I'm not sure your father really wants to remember exactly HOW you came into this world, but I'm positive he'd say it was the best and most perfect day of his life (thus far).

I will spare you all the details of your birth, at least for the next several years.  For now, I'll just tell you the simple version - in poetry form:

On the 5th of April, it was a Monday night;

I started feeling "gas pains" and wasn't feeling quite right. 

Eventually your father convinced me you were coming,

I took a quick shower because the poo had been running.

We got to the hospital, it was pretty late.

The doors were locked, so we had to wait.

I got into the room and said the word "peace" a lot,

I was looking forward to meeting you, but felt really hot.

Soon you were born and I was filled with great joy,

The first thing I said, "Oh my, it's a boy!"

You are so loved - there are no words that have ever been written or that will ever be written that even come one pinkie toenail close to describing it.  You are only one year old and already have countless people who care about you, love you, want to squeeze your chubby cheeks and whose only wish for you is for a happy life (and maybe admittance to Stanford). 

Here are a few things about you (I plan to revise the answers every year on your birthday and one day - you'll be able to answer for yourself):

Favorite Color:  Red

Favorite Word: "OGHT" (we think it means out as in, outside) or "AT" (we think this means cat, as in Mouser who you torture).

Favorite Food: Squash

Favorite Thing To Do: Push stuff around the house (anything - toy cars, chairs, pans, books, cats). 

Last time you cried:  Really cried, probably when you fell out of your chair a couple days ago. Although you do enjoy fussing at us daily when you don't get your way (welcome to toddlerhood). 

Last time you smiled:  Tonight, when I was finished feeding you and carried you to bed.

What I think you'll be when you grow up:  Besides a good man, a veterinarian - that or a circus performer. 

Here are a couple of pictures - of you - the day you were born and then today.

Sleeping - the day you were born:

Sleeping - today:

Daddy kisses - they day you were born:

Daddy kisses - today:

Cash/Cub/Graby/Lumpy - you are the best thing I have ever done (and I include the time I ate a tub of cookie dough in one sitting).  Everyday you make me laugh and I am so thankful that I get to be your mother.

Please be sweet to me and your dad and please don't grow up too quickly.

Love you more every day,

Mom

P.S.  Your wife was born today (on your birthday so you'll have no excuse if you forget her birthday).  Your Aunt Shannon had twin girls this morning - Sofie and Carlie.  So, all I ask is that you marry one of them (not both - I don't want to be featured on some weird reality show, Cash Honeys) so that Aunt Shannon and I can be grandmas together.  No pressure, but I did birth you. 

P.S.S. Your mom is a dork.  Get used to it. 

Birthday Eve

Since tomorrow is Cub's 1st Birthday, it won't be Wordless Wednesday.

So, today I'm being a little lazy and spending time thinking about what I was doing this time last year.

At this time last year, 7:15 PM  . . . I was feeling some gas pains.  

Here is our little Cub today.  He isn't very interested in walking yet, but he's doing a lot of standing on his own practice.

Misfit Monday

I'm always surprised (although at this point, I shouldn't be) when something happens and I feel the need to write up some kind of policy or procedure.

This week's company policy:

Employees may not use the company delivery van as a personal vehicle.

This may seem like a very obvious "DON'T", but not for misfits.  One day, I might be able to write the most comprehensive HR manual imaginable.  Maybe I'll publish it and become rich beyond my wildest dreams and I'll have all the misfits to thank for my success.  Until then, I'll just publish my all my great ideas on this blog.

Here's the daily picture of Cub - just a couple days away from the big ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!

Recovery

Sadly, I'm not talking about running.  I'm talking about my massive head cold.  Buttin had this a couple of weeks ago and he's a much better person than I because I don't remember him complaining nearly as much as I've been complaining. 

I'm on the path to recovery (I think).  I actually found myself googling "where does snot come from?" yesterday.  I was blowing my nose so much, I thought I was getting dehydrated (I still don't know if that's a risk).  

Yesterday was an extremely busy and fun day so we spent most of the day trying to relax even though little Cub really didn't want to nap.  

I'm planning to take massive amounts of NyQuil tonight in an attempt to knock myself (and this cold) out. 

1st Birthday Party!

Today we had a little 1st birthday party for Cub and some of his friends.

I'm  too tired to write, so I'll just post some of my favorite pictures.

Filanthropy Friday

My friend Liz and I have many new business ideas that will one day make us millionaires (or committed to a home for the insane).  One of our most favorite ideas is ferret inspired. 

In honor of our to-be-started ferret business, I donated $10 to Rocky's Ferret Rescue & Shelter.  It's a loving halfway home for wayward ferrets - or at least that's what the website claims.  One day, Liz and I will live in a loving halfway home for wayward crazy ladies.

I would like my $10 donation to go towards the decorations for this year's Ferretstock.  Yeah, it's a real event.  Maybe one year, Liz and I will attend and sell our wildly successful ferret merch.