Seems I've been bitten by the blogging bug. My apologies.  (I got bit by some other kind of bug too, but that's a different story.) Izzy's 4 month check up was the morning, and she is doing wonderfully.  One thing I hate, though, is having to hold my tongue and be polite while being patronized. Last appt (2 months), our doctor wasn't available.  We saw a nice old man whom I felt comfortable with and who seemed to have a lot of wisdom and experience.  This time I had an ...

THIS WILL BE IN ALL CAPS.  I'M NOT YELLING, I'M NAK.  AGAIN, NOT YELLING. I WILL MAKE THIS QUICK SINCE BABY GIRL HAS A CHECK UP THIS AM. SC - I ASKED YOU TO IGNORE ME AND I WOULD DO THE SAME SINCE I JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DON'T LIKE YOU.  TRY IT. I ALSO HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT LW DOES OR SAYS, ALTHOUGH I CAN SPANK HER IF YOU'D LIKE.  THAT IS ALL.

Spring Break is almost over. All 2 weeks of it.  There's technically still time for us to go to Cancun, but the airline ticket prices would be ridiculous.  I'd really like to go wild but I guess I'll have to wait until next year for that.  Hehe. Instead we have a 4 month check up, a Cub Scout meeting, a Cub Scout trip to the news station, a Cub Scout site sale, an FRG trip to the beach (probably not going since daddy doesn't want baby to see the ocean until he's home), Era...

It's no secret that I don't believe in spanking. There are times when my children piss me off so severely that it sure would be satisfying to give them a smack on the behind, but I don't discipline to make myself feel better.  I discipline to raise secure, happy, competent, considerate children. Therefore, what would make *me* feel better when my child spills Cocoa Puffs all over the kitchen floor (and leaves them there as if there are some magic cereal fairies who clean these things ...

While American women have, and always should have, the right to choose how to feed their infants, many Americans simply do not understand the difference between breast milk and infant formula.  Many people feel that formula is "as good as" or "close to" breast milk.  An infant can surely survive and grow and develop while consuming manufactured infant formula, but formula will never be a true substitute for mother's milk. Because human milk is so superior to infant formula and s...

There is hot and then there is "MySpace Hot".  MySpace Hot is what you get when an average, or unattractive male or female dresses and/or poses seductively, for females lots of make-up is involved, and the photo is cropped or otherwise altered to make the male or female almost unrecognizable to people who actually know him or her.  The end result, though, is a photo of a "hot" person. I think we all like to post what we feel are flattering photos of ourselves.  And onl...

I'm not eloquent like most of you and I don't have a fancy job or an exciting social life, but I have all kinds of thoughts (probably not of interest or value to JUs) that I might as well write down.  It's not like anyone's forced to read it, and there are other people *cough* who do the same. My boys are off for Spring Break for 2 weeks.  That's a long frickin' time.  I love my boys very much, but when they are together 24/7 or when they are bored I begin to wish I could drink...

I only ever post pictures, but pretty much everything I have to say has to do with parenting (or complaining about stuff) and no one wants to hear about the new "chore puzzle" idea I'm trying out with the kids or about my thoughts about Attachment Parenting. So, here they are... Oh, I should also add that my dad has a great new website that he wants me to pimp out on JU.  It's www.wadeextremetexas.com .&n...

OK, let's start simple. There are these big, thick white stripes painted on a road in areas where a person might possibly want to cross the street. For example, a hotel with a Red Lobster across the street might have one.  A block of houses adjacent to a school might have one.  A barracks across from a convenience store might have one. These things are very, very common and quite easy to pick out.  Just look for large white stripes painted on the ground and old ladies, sm...

I am so out of the loop when it comes to JU. I am only vaguely aware of who is currently mad at who, I read articles and don't completely understand because I've managed to miss some key piece of backstory, and I generally just feel disconnected from my favorite website (ok, it's my 2nd favorite now, but you guys don't need to know that!). I find plenty of time to be online.  It's just that my computer time is mostly comprised of mini-surfing bits.  I check JU between doing ...

JU should have an article category labeled "bitching". I HATE my neighborhood. Gone is the gossip and good-natured public drunkeness that at the time seemed like an annoyance.  My family has outlasted everyone on the block.  None of the other "original" (read:  August 2004) families are left. Privatization of Army housing has improved maintance response time, but cut out day-to-day Army oversight.  The street used to be clean.  Trash cans were not left next to t...

Earlier today I as I sat at my computer, checking in on "my" websites, I looked down at the sleeping baby in my arms (yes, I'm a multi-tasker), and realized that I was utterly and brazenly topless.  Both breasts were happily bathing in the warm glow of the computer screen. It's funny how quickly modesty goes out the window with the process of pregnancy, delivery, and motherhood.  As time goes on and children grow, modesty and decency is brought back bit by bit, but for a time, new m...

Isabella has been so blessed.  She had a wonderful baby shower.  She's received cards and emails and well wishes from people all over the globe. As you all know, I'm a terrible procrastinator, but I wanted to post a photo of little Izzy with what is sure to be one of her favorite childhood "friends".  Maso and his wife sent her the most unique and wonderful little cuddly pal...it's a flat koala bear made from sheepskin.  It has little eyes and a nose that make an adora...

There's an angry little rain cloud following me around. We watched Home Alone.  It wasn't funny. We listened to Christmas music.  It wasn't jolly. We ordered pizza.  It wasn't pizza-y. The boys are making gingerbread houses with assorted candies and graham crackers.  It isn't precious. Ok, it is precious, but it still doesn't feel right.  This is not my first Christmas without him, and not my last, either, I'm sure, but his absence numbs me to the exciteme...

Isabella is 2 weeks and 5 days old today, and she had her first professional photos done.  I'm obviously biased, but I think they turned out great. We won't tell daddy how much we spent!