Nie Nie

I stumbled across this blog: Nie Nie Dialogues and have spent quite a while reading old posts. If you don't know the story, here's the gist: She's a blogger, Member, wife, and mother of 4. She's only 27.

She and her husband were in a private plane crash in mid-August, and they are very badly injured. She has burns over 80% of her body and is in critical condition. Her husband was slightly less injured, but is still heavily sedated and intubated. Their medical bills are around $2 million dollars right now, with insurance covering only half that. Some of the blogging world has pulled together to help the family, and there have been gatherings, auctions, donations, etc. It's truly inspiring to see how her family, friends, and various strangers have rallied around them and their children to help in any way possible.

What's my point?

Click the link and read about them. Check C Jane Run for updates. And say a prayer for them. It couldn't hurt, right?

Big J in Video

I haven't posted video in a while, but I couldn't resist this chance. This is Big J in all his glory - doing the things he does best right now: drool, stuff his fingers in his mouth, yell, kick the Feet of Fury, chew on his toes. I think he is just the cutest boy ever and want to cover him in cream and gobble him up.

I also discovered he has cut his first tooth - bottom front. The razor sharp edge has poked out and I think more are to follow soon. Unfortunately this means his nursing days are numbered. I planned to start weaning him after I get back from vacation next month, but this may move the timeline up. At least he's now discovering a taste for solids. I don't know if it's the homemade baby food, or if he's just ready, but he's now eating 2 meals a day. I didn't say they're big meals, but it's a start.

Week 2 Update

Training: I'm still on the program. It was a little more running this week, mixed in with walking. I did the program on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. I got up early on Saturday, bundled up Big J, and we went up the hill and around the lake by the library. It was a cool, foggy morning with lots of bunnies out along the trail. I'm most enjoying getting outside and exploring different trails and paths. Week 3 ramps up the running, so I'll be interested to see how I do. After the first 5 minutes or so I seem to adjust fairly well, so hopefully it will continue. My knee is bothering me a little bit, but the twinge usually goes away after warming up.

Pledges: I am so humbled to have received more than half my goal in pledges. Your confidence in me is inspiring, and I feel the weight of this responsibility on my shoulders every day of my training. I still have $200 to meet my goal, so I'll be sending out another groveling email asking for pledges and support. For those of you who have donated - Thank You! For those of you still thinking about it - do it! It's tax deductible! It's for a great cause! You won't be sorry!

In other news: I have a lovely goosegg on my forehead. I nailed myself on the corner of the trunk of my car while heaving the stroller back inside yesterday morning. It wasn't bad yesterday, but this morning it was marked by a nice red spot and some lovely swelling in the surrounding area. It's hard to see if you're not really looking for it, but I'm still glad I cut my bangs on Friday & I can kind of sweep them over so you can't see it. I iced it with a bag of frozen peas, but it still aches.

Have you been to El Rodeo yet? I have, and I want to go back. Tomorrow. And the next day. And possibly the next. Good Mexican food is hard to find outside the West Coast, and I'm a little shocked this place is as yummy as it is. In Des Moines? Oh yeah. Cheap, too. You know it's got to be good if the homies eat there. I know, it's a stereotype. But you shoulda seen the guy - he could have been straight out of South Central. Again - in Des Moines? Oh yeah.

Mac vs. PC

I've enjoyed the Mac vs. PC commercials since they launched a few years ago (2006). I'm a long time PC user, but appreciate the stylish sensibilities of the Apple brand as a whole. I know that if I ever want to seriously explore any sort of graphics driven hobby or possibly career, I'll have to switch to Mac, but that's not happening anytime in the near future. I'm also not one to be the first on any bandwagon, and I only obtained an iPod about 2 years ago.

I've watched Microsoft's new commercial a few times now - the one with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. I have to say, I am not amused. The commercial is neither funny, compelling, nor smart. It's so bad it's not even laughable, and I can say with confidence that there is nothing about it that makes me confident in Microsoft's ability to keep pace with the ever changing technology market. The punchline is Gates adjusting his shorts to confirm Seinfeld's hope of an edible PC? Has it really come to that, Bill? REALLY??

I have no idea who their target market is with that ad (my parents?), but it's definitely not me. Perhaps I'll be buying a Mac sooner than I think.

Kid Chaos

Big Sis was invited to a party for one her new classmates. His parents were very considerate and invited everyone in his new preschool class. The party was to take place on Saturday, at Chuck E. Cheese. I RSVP'd for her, saying that she would come with Mom and Big J in tow.


I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting, but I guess I never considered the ramifications of showing up to Chuck E. Cheese.


On a Saturday.


For a birthday party.


It was a little chaotic.

It's been several years since I've stepped foot in a CEC, and I think the last time I was there was on a Thursday evening. Not exactly prime kid play time. Saturday at 12:30 was a different story. I can't recall the last time I was so surrounded by such a large pack of screaming, shouting, crying, 3-10 year olds. The chaos was compounded by the buzz, beeps, and whines of 50 electronic "games". A little sensory overload. After a rough start trying to locate the party, we finally joined in the festivities, and the kids had fun. About 6 of the classmates showed up, and the parents were even able to visit a little bit. Big J actually fell asleep in my arms for awhile, but after almost 2 hours of this craziness, I was ready to G-O. I had to come home and decompress from the madness. Unfortunately, Big Sis' appetite for CEC has only been piqued by this little excursion, and we are already hearing refrains of "Can I have my birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese? Plllllleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeee??????" Since her birthday falls in the middle of winter (and we live in a tiny apartment), CEC is one of the few options available for hosting more than 2 five year olds at one time. Thankfully I have a good 5 months to steel myself for the madness.

Obligatory School Posting

Yesterday was Big Sis' first day of preschool! She went for a few months last year, but this is her first year of officially starting with the beginning of the school year. I wasn't sad at all - she was so excited that I had nothing to be sad over. Yes, it's difficult to see my girl growing up so quickly, but she is so filled with wide-eyed wonder at the world around her, I am eager to watch her grow and explore with other kids her age. She was ready to go at 8 am, despite not starting class until 12:30. Think she was a little excited? It was a short day, filled with exploring the new classroom, and getting to know her new teacher and other students.

Big Daddy and I tried to make her feel extra special about school, so the night before we went to the mall so she could play for a while, then got pizza for dinner. After I picked her up from school we got a strawberry drink and talked about her afternoon. And then we got ice cream after dinner! Snookie's closes soon, so we had to make it there at least one more time before the end of the season. While she gobbled down her kid cone, Big Daddy let Big J have a lick of chocolate soft serve. I think he's hooked, as he started licking his lips and lunging after the cone for more. He won't eat baby food, but loves ice cream. Let's hope I can eventually teach him a little nutritional balance.

By the time we came home from ice cream, it was bath time. Big J took his first bath in the regular tub. He's not solid with his sitting up yet, so we eventually just laid him on his back and let him paddle & splash. It was a big hit.

The End of Summer

This is the first summer in years that I have been eager for summer to begin, and enjoyed every day of it. We had such a great time. We had family come to visit, went to the Zoo, hit the farmer's market, went to Chicago for a long weekend, I started (and stuck with!) an exercise program, participated in our first 4th of July parade, Big Sis had swim lessons, I had a birthday, we went to the Fair, we hit the park a ton, went to the pool..... it doesn't sound like all that much, but we kept very busy. And of course Big J changed so much over the summer - he's a totally different boy! I can't believe it's now September and school starts this week. It'll be Christmas before we know it! Could I use any more exclamation points?!!!!!