Hoping that all of your holiday wishes come true.

Love,


Natasha, JR and Grasshopper

All Aboard the Advent Train

My name is Natasha and I am a sucker for family traditions. (Hi, Natasha!)

I didn't grow up with very many set-in-stone traditions, but the ones that we did have are still sacred to me. I am trying to fit as many of those and as many new ones into Grasshopper's childhood as possible because, to me, tradition is the foundation that family is built upon.

To that end, I bought this advent calendar. It's not heirloom quality (heirloom quality is soooo not in the budget, this year) but it's just right for sparking imagination, and that's what I really wanted. That and a way to (hopefully) explain that, "No. Today is not Christmas. No, tomorrow is not Christmas. Why? Because it's not until December 25 and today is only December 1 and if I have to answer this question anymore this morning I will take down the Christmas tree and put it back in the attic until Christmas Eve so help me!" Ahem.

Also, I wanted a way to make the holiday season more about creating memories together than about the accumulation of more stuff (I'm looking at you, Toys-R-Us catalog). So I started brainstorming ideas for seasonal fun that we could have every single day between now and Christmas and printing those on little strips of paper that I tucked inside the calendar. Some were obvious like attending The Monkey Boy's family open house on the 12th, or seeing a special children's performance of The Nutcracker Ballet on the 17th. This morning we planted paperwhites in a pretty silver pot, and tomorrow JR and I will crank up some Brian Setzer Orchestra holiday music and have a dance party with Grasshopper after dinner.

I've scheduled in viewings of The Polar Express and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm hoping that we can make a trip to Callaway Gardens for their Fantasy in Lights and at least one Sunday morning will be spent making gingerbread waffles. Grasshopper is going to take some of his own money with him to the Dollar Store to choose a present or two for Daddy, and we're going to wrap them together. He's going to help me choose some items for Toys for Tots donation, and he is also going to go with me to donate foodstuffs to the local food bank.

I hope that the process of opening those little calendar doors each morning will lead to the opening of some much bigger thought-processes about what Christmas really means, and why the season is so magical.

At a minimum, I'll get to rock around the Christmas tree with two of the handsomest boys I know.
**********************************************

What about you? What are you most looking forward to this season? I've still got a few cubbyholes left to fill and I would love to add your ideas to the mix!

Happy Halloween!

From my very own Wild Thing.

Skippyjon Grasshopper

Do your kids (and, lets be honest, YOU) love Skippyjon Jones?

Ours is definitely a Skippyjon-adoring family. That tiny tornado of trouble is a character that every person we know (regardless of age) loves to read about. And this weekend, we got to meet Skippyjon Jones and his "Mama" author and illustrator of the Skippyjon series, Judy Schachner.

We are lucky enough to live in a terrific town that hosts an annual Book Festival and this year, Judy Schachner came to speak. She also hosted a charity brunch for her smallest fans at a local Mexican joint. I was the FIFTH person to purchase tickets to this brunch as I knew it would sell-out fast and I was not going to miss this incredible opportunity for Grasshopper to meet one of his favorite book characters, the ONLY author he knows by name, and get a copy of the newest Skippyjon Jones book, Lost in Spice before it was released.

Judy Schachner was so very, very gracious and charming and she spent a long time at our table chatting with Grasshopper and drawing a wonderful illustration in his copy of the new book. I took one look at it and told JR, "Go buy another copy because Grasshopper is NOT playing with this one. Ever." And he did.

Grasshopper was really in awe of having the author sitting RIGHT THERE with him. Most of the Skippyjon books come with a CD of Ms Schachner reading her book and that is our favorite way to hear the stories, so he knows her voice quite well. When he brings me a stack of Skippyjon books (usually with Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones on the top) I always give him the option of having me read them or having Judy Schachner read them, and he always chooses "Mrs Judy read it!" I'm not insulted in the least because she does such an amazing job.

For those that don't know, Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese kitten who, because "my ears are too big for my head, and my head is too big for my bed!" thinks he is actually a Chihuahua. There was a person at the brunch dressed as Skippyjon, and he was HUGE! I was a little concerned that Grasshopper might be scared, but he just said, "Mommy, his ears are too big for his head!"

We had an amazing time, and I have to tell you, I'm not being compensated in any way for this post. I bought our ticket, I made my husband take the pictures, and I even paid for a second copy of Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice which is a SERIOUSLY adorable Skippyjon story taking place in outer space. I am just a big fan of this author/illustrator, her character, and living in a community that makes events like this possible.

If Skippyjon isn't already on your list of favorites, ask Santa to bring you some for Christmas. You will NOT be disappointed.*







*I don't recommend library copies because they seldom have the CDs intact, and they are wonderful.

Riding the Dinosaur Train

This weekend, Grasshopper, JR and I got to ride the Dinosaur Train at the Georgia Public Broadcasting studios in Midtown Atlanta.

We were invited because of this little blog, which is cooler than I can say. I've been pitched all sorts of things for review or mention here, and I've turned them all down (or merely ignored them) because that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to record snippets of my life and my family that would otherwise be forgotten, and to hopefully connect with other people experiencing similar things. Not to try out laundry detergent and then try to get y'all to buy it. [I have no problem with bloggers who do that (provided they Blog with Integrity, with or without the button) but it's just not why I'm in the blogosphere.]

But this opportunity, this was one that I could not pass up. You see PBS kids is going to be debuting a brand new television series for preschoolers on September 7 called Jim Henson's Dinosaur Train, and we were invited to be among the first people to watch the first 2 episodes, and meet Buddy the dinosaur, the star of the series.

As anyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows, Grasshopper is a HUGE fan of dinosaurs, and I knew that this would be right up his alley. Combine that with my mommy-guilt over canceling our trip to Disney World (not that he even knew we were going) so that we can capitalize on our awesome adoption opportunity, and I jumped all over this invitation.

We had a fantastic time previewing the shows, ESPECIALLY once we found out that Buddy is adopted. He even said to another dinosaur child inquiring about his origins, "My Mom and Dad adopted me."

I'm not sure that Grasshopper caught that part of the story during his first viewing as he was so enthralled with everything going on and the knowledge that he would soon Meet.A.Dinosaur! But I know it will register once the series is on each morning, and JR and I are thrilled to have a young hero for our son who is proud of his status as a Chosen Child.

The characters are great, the music is infectious, and it had my three year old telling me, "Mommy, I have a hypothesis!" after just two episodes. I cannot wait to set my DVR for this awesome program since it will air primarily while Grasshopper is at school. There were kids in the audience from age 1 to about 6 and they all seemed to really enjoy the show and be learning a lot about dinosaurs, about science and about what it means to be part of a family.

Here are some of our photos from our fabulous day:


Watching the first episode


Tackling Buddy


Showing Buddy his favorite "Seratops"


Checking out Buddy's teeth, "Them not scary!"


Riding the "train" with Daddy


Trying to sit still for face painting

Thank you to GPB for all of the great children's programming and for inviting us to this fabulous event. We can't wait to ride the Dinosaur Train again.

An Adoption Day Miracle

JR and I have wanted, for as long as there has been a JR and I, to parent two children. When we were engaged, we planned to accommodate my desire to experience pregnancy and child birth, and our mutual desire to adopt a child by doing both. One child born of my body, one child born of our hearts.

It became clear after a time spent in unexplained miscarriage hell that both of our children were going to be born of our hearts, and that was more than okay with us. We just wanted to be parents. Within a few short months, with the addition of Grasshopper to our household, we were.

Then, we went through adoption hell trying to add members of Grasshopper's birthfamily to our family.

After those two "failed adoptions" the money to adopt was gone. We have the means to raise another child, but not the means to bring another child home.

And so we planned. And we worked. And we asked for your help.

And then, although I haven't talked about it here, we gave up. I am crying now typing those words, because I'm ashamed to admit it to all of you who have supported us with your money, your time, and your kind words, but the truth is, we gave up.

I checked out books from the library about Parenting Your Only Child, and My One and Only: A Parent's Guide. My eyes welled up every time I tried to sing "You Are my Sunshine" to Grasshopper (a song I have sung to him since the day we met) because I would stumble over, "My only sunshine."

I went so far as to email a very wise and generous blogger named Rita about her decision to parent just one child in an effort to embrace our family of three. The thing that stuck out for me in her incredible response was when she said that she looked around one day and realized that her whole family was already in place. I PRAYED with everything in me to have that sort of an epiphany, but none came.

Instead, an angel came to us via the internet and answered the larger prayer, the prayer that we had stopped praying. She offered to complete our family.

I have no words for how I felt when she contacted me, on Adoption Day, to say that if we would complete our homestudy, and pay for our travel expenses and legal fees, (our hard work and your generosity are allowing us to do that), then she would finance our adoption of an infant here in the US.

Before the week was out, I had spent over an hour on the phone with a very special adoption agency, who said that they understood the place of fear and loss that we were coming from regarding domestic adoption and assured us that they would honor our request to only be "introduced" to birthmothers who had already given birth to, and signed over, their child. Who assured us that our angel was very, very real and that they had the documents and substantiation of funds in place. That we would never receive a bill from them.

I have been trying to write this post ever since. My tears and my awe have kept getting in the way.

But now I've spent the day filling out forms and the evening organizing my laundry room because a social worker will be here, in my house, on Friday to make sure that we have a safe environment and to begin to determine our fitness as parents. It's real, y'all.

It's really, really real.

We still have a lot of ground to cover, before we're able to dive into the deep end of the adoption pool once more, but I'm standing on that first step. My toes are wet, and I know now that angels are real, and mine won't let me drown.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Happy 60th Birthday Granddaddy! We love you "Big Much!"



Grasshopper is wearing my mother's Minnie Mouse Santa ears. Do my parents know how to party or what?

Adoption Day

Dear Grasshopper,

You have just reached the age where super heroes fascinate you. You imagine yourself with magical powers, soaring through the air while your cape streams behind you on your way to vanquish the bad guys.

What you don't realize is that you already are a super hero. You have extraordinary powers, little one.

On this day 3 years ago, you made me a mother. On this day three years ago, you made my husband a father. Three years ago today, you and your magic powers transformed us from a couple burdened by infertility and heartache into a FAMILY.

There is no greater power in the world than the power of love, and you have that power in spades.

We hit the jackpot the day we found each other, Darling Boy. I will be forever grateful to you and your super powers for vanquishing our bad guys and making our dreams come true.

Your Mommy always and forever,

Natasha

Make a Smilebox slideshow

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday 3rd Birthday Edition

Grasshopper and The Monkey Boy had a fabulous beach party for their birthday. We had enough partiers that I made 60-something cupcakes and only had a dozen left at the end of the day!

Here are some images of the day in no particular order since I'm running behind.

Enjoy!

In which I answer the siren song of The Mouse

I cannot believe that I'm saying this, but...we're going to Disney World!

Early this fall, just in time for my birthday.

JR and I hemmed and hawed about spending the money (what with trying to afford another adoption and the state of the economy and all that) but the bottom line is this: we HAVE to go to Orlando.

My father's parents reside in an assisted living facility there, and we have real doubts as to how much longer my grandmother will be with us, and how much longer my grandfather (who has Alzheimer's) will recognize us. Therefore, a trip to Orlando must be made, and if we're going to make the trip, we might as well do it right!

Also, I have some guilt (a shocking thing in a mother, right?) about the opportunities for Grasshopper that we have turned down because we are saving for a sibling. I couldn't stand the idea of not giving him this treat solely because we want another child.

So, a journey to The Mouse it is.

We have made our reservations at a Disney Resort, contacted my godparents and JR's sister who also live in Orlando so that we can see them during our stay and are now mapping out our itinerary.

That's where all of you come in, Dear Internets!

Please give me your tips and tricks for navigating the Land of the Mouse and making this vacation as fun and memorable as possible for every member of our family. We are Disney novices (JR and I have been, of course, but it has been years and we never had a three year old to manage) and therefore can use all of the advice you have to offer.

Thanks!

Oops, my bad...

So. Um, Hi! [waves weakly]

I totally up and disappeared, didn't I?

Sorry about that.

I meant to write a post about how my parents are the best grandparents EVER because they let us drop Grasshopper off with them for almost a week while JR and I had our first ever post-parenthood vacation (okay, it was really a staycation) together.

But then I didn't.

Because my husband is the best husband EVER. And he puts up with my blogging, and my Tweeting, and my commenting and just generally seeing only the back of my head while I stand at the kitchen counter and play with the laptop. Almost every day.

So when we had the opportunity to connect as a couple (so corny, right?) and to really focus on each other, I took it. I turned the laptop off and *mostly* stayed away from it all week.

So if you've been wondering, "What happened to Natasha? Why hasn't she been leaving me truly insightful and witty comments?" [that's totally how you think of me, right?]

Here's your answer: I was giving them to my husband. And when I'm getting a full night's sleep and not being constantly distracted by the wants and whims of a small boy, it turns out that I really can be truly insightful and witty. Who knew? [Well, I guess the pre-parenthood me and the pre-parenthood JR did, but we haven't seen those people in a really.long.time.]

JR and I had a fantastic time just talking to each other this week. About stuff! And things! Stuff and things that do not relate to small boys in any way! It was marvelous. I live with a really interesting guy, y'all (when I remember to get to know him). We also ate at a bunch of restaurants that do NOT have kids menus, shopped at the Farmer's Market and grilled out, hiked along the Chattahoochee river, and hung out with some childless friends. It was great.

Grasshopper had numerous adventures with his grandparents, and when we finally got home with him late on Friday afternoon he announced that, "I like Unci & Granddaddy's house better."

I took that to mean that he had a lot of fun. And didn't have quite as many rules to follow. Ahem.

But now he is back, and I have been really staggered by how happy I am to have him here at home. While he was gone and I was busy being reminded of exactly why I married JR 6.5 years ago (hint: he is awesome), I missed him. But not that much.

Now that he is home I can't keep my hands off of him. I am picking that boy up just to hold him against me and feel him breathe like I would when he was a baby. I give him kisses until he squirms away laughing, "Stop it! Mommy!" I'm sneaking into his room just to watch him sleep, something I haven't done in months.

My love for him grew more visceral and palpable during his absence, which I hadn't really anticipated. But which I find myself very grateful for. I expected to find that original spark that drew JR and I together 8 years ago (and I'm so pleased that I did) but I didn't expect to fall in love with my child again too.

That was a really special bonus.

Three

Dear Grasshopper,

You are three years old today, and I can scarcely believe what a big boy you've become this year. You have learned to ride a tricycle (which you have since outgrown), to use the potty, to sleep in a big boy bed and cut your own food with a knife.

You have started school and learned a lot about what it means to be a friend, to share and to care about others. Your curiosity knows no bounds, and books have become almost a passion for you, which pleases me to no end. Books will be there for you the whole of your life, even a long time from now, when your Daddy and I aren't around, you'll have books to lean on. To take you to faraway lands, and to connect you to others.

You have learned to push my buttons, ho boy have you learned to push my buttons. You've also learned how to make me laugh every.single.time that you tell your father, "I not your boy! I mommy's boy!" and then you add, "Today!" so that he can hold out hope that tomorrow you'll decide to be his boy. But you never do.

You can recite your ABCs almost perfectly, and finally stopped saying, "T,U,V, double X, Y and Z." Which made me secretly sad. You have been known to count upwards of twenty, but never when I want you to show off. That's when you decide to only count to 2.

You are sweet and affectionate, unafraid to ask for a hug whenever you need one. Even at 3:00 in the morning. You have wonderful manners, and say "please" and "thank-you" to almost everyone, almost every time. You compliment my cooking, even when it's just a "buddy-jelly" sandwich. You even say, "Tank you Mommy for making dinner!" each night, and berate your father if he doesn't do the same. I honestly have no idea where you got that idea, but it makes me feel loved and appreciated, something a Mommy often doesn't feel.

I am so proud of you Grasshopper. You are the best boy a Mommy could ask for. I can't wait to see all of the things you learn, and all of the changes you'll make in this 4th year of your life. I love you.

Your Mommy Always and Forever,

Natasha

Flashback Friday: Muh Baybee

I've been participating in Flashback Friday for a few weeks now, but today I'm doing it a little differently...I didn't start this blog until Grasshopper was 2, so I've never posted any of his baby pictures. Well, today I'm feeling a little nostalgic what with his 3rd birthday coming up in less than 10 days. So for today's Flashback I present to you: Grasshopper, in the beginning.







The first two photos are from our days in the hotel in the small Midwestern city, waiting to take our new baby home (he is about 3 weeks old). The last two are shortly after our arrival in Atlanta at about 4/5 weeks old.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

On Saturday mornings I usually make a "special" breakfast and then after we eat it, we move all of the chairs out of the dining room so that the table can be wiped down thoroughly before I vacuum.

As you can see, I had a lot of help this past Saturday.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

A recent (unseasonably cool) outing to the petting zoo. Can I get an "Awwww?"

It's Finally Here!

Well, if you didn't notice immediately, Be a Piece of the Puzzle has now gone live! I have been working on it for a week now and I owe a huge THANK YOU to my IT dept (Blogging Mama Andrea) for helping this complete non-techie figure out how to make it happen.

There's even code over there in the sidebar so that if you would like to add the badge to your blog or use it when you write a post about us (hint, hint) it is there for the taking.

Those of you who encouraged me to take this leap, thank you. Please try it out and let me know if it works. I am dying to find out if I managed to do all of this right!

Again, thank you. I feel closer to finding our daughter already.

Happy Mother's Day

I want to wish a special and beautiful day to every mother.

To those of you whose children are grown and perhaps far from home, those of you who will consider the day a success if you get to pee by yourself, and those who perhaps never knew your child but are mothers in your heart nonetheless.

I salute each of you and hope that your day is full of whatever makes you happiest.

Today, this makes me happiest:



My first ever child-crafted Mother's Day gift. It's laminated y'all.

Love to all the moms,

Natasha

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

I took a day last week and said, "Forget about the yard sale for today. It's a gorgeous day, the strawberries are ripe and it's time to show your son where food comes from."

So we met Good Attorney and her son Little Z for some very old-fashioned fun.

So much more than money

Our Adoption Fund Raising Yard Sale took place yesterday. It was a lot of work, and a very long day. It was so completely worth it.

We have raised over $1500 and climbing!

I am in shock. I never imagined that we could raise that much money in one Saturday. And we wouldn't have without the generosity of our friends, our family, other bloggers and complete strangers.

In the weeks leading up to our sale Blogging Mama Andrea (who is a terrific blogger and an American living in Germany) asked for my address so that she could send me a brand new Hotsling to include in our sale. Kristen Chase of Motherhood Uncensored made arrangements to drive across the city with 3 kids on a Saturday morning so that she could bring me some fabulous donations and also (very generously) shop our sale. Last week I went to Athens to have lunch with the extraordinary Mir Kamin of Woulda Coulda Shoulda and picked up some great donations that she and her lovely children had put together for me. Then I had a fabulous time meeting Merrily from Life is but a Dream for coffee and telling my adoption story to her so that she could share it with others in our community. Talented and altruistic bloggers, every one of them, and women that I'm now privileged to call my friends.

When I sent an email out on Wednesday evening to almost everyone in my contact list, I asked them to forward it to anyone that they thought might be interested. In response, my friend Maria sent our email to at least 100 people with this introduction:

Folks,

I never forward emails, but this one is for a good cause. After a heartbreaking attempt at an adoption in which the mom changed her mind (you can read about it in their blog: http://exileonmomstreet.blogspot.com/2009/01/interview-meme-from-jim.html), this family is trying to muster enough funds through a Yard Sale to be able to adopt a baby in The Land Far Away. Please see below for the Yard Sale info.
Thanks,
Maria

Other friends passed it on to their friends, posted it on message boards, printed it and tacked it to the bulletin board at their child's preschool. In short, went above and beyond what I had even expected.

The next morning, I got this email:

Natasha,
I got your blog from a friend of a friend. We brought our baby girl back from The Land Far Away last June and it was and has been an unimaginable blessing. I would love to donate some things to your yardsale and if you would like to talk about adoption I am happy to meet with you. We (Atlantan's) have an amazing Land Far Away support group. I have made so mnay friends and feel wonderful that my daughter will grow up knowing many other kids from The Land Far Away. Also The Land Far Away society here in Atlanta is very supportive of these adoptions. Let me know if you would like me to bring some stuff by and good luck and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

MK

The following day, I posted an ad about the sale and our cause on Craigslist. I got this response:

I just saw your post because I am looking for a small desk and saw that you are having it for your adoption. My husband and I just completed a domestic infant adoption and our son was born Nov. 26th. I just wanted to send you a quick email to let you know how happy I am for you even though I don't know you and CONGRATS!!!! Adoption is such a long journey and I'm glad yours dream is coming true! I wish you all the best and I hope you raise LOTS of funds for such an EXPENSIVE journey! Take Care!

KW

I began to hope that we would reach my goal (that I hadn't really even had the courage to voice) of over $1000.00 raised. If so many people were reaching out before the sale even began then maybe we weren't naive in thinking that without price tags people would give more to us than some items were worth simply because our cause was just.

We were up well before the sun on Saturday morning and JR, my father, and I set to work setting up for the sale and emptying boxes. My mother and Grasshopper ran amuck, as was appropriate. By 8:30 am we had people waiting, but everyone was very respectful of our "No Early Birds" signs. Our wonderful friends Anne and Lynn arrived just about the time we "opened the doors" and we were off and running! I don't think any of us had a bite to eat or a sip to drink for almost 4 hours! We most certainly didn't sit down.

People really embraced our family and our desire for another child in a way that I hadn't even dared to hope. Sure, there were a few people who gave me a dollar for an item that I'd hoped to get $20 for, but they were FAR outnumbered by the people who gave me $10 for something I thought was worth about $5. Some simply pressed a $50 or a $20 0r even a $5 bill into my hand and wished us good luck on our quest. A couple who moved to Atlanta from The Land Far Away just 3 years ago embraced us with a warmth that still moves me to tears and shared their own infertility heartbreak with us.

At the end of the day, we were all utterly exhausted, completely sore, and incredibly elated at the same time. Even before we counted the money, even though we got rained on at the end, we knew it that had been a great day. When we reached $1500 without having sold a few of our larger and more expensive items (those are going on Craigslist and I may already have buyer for one of them) I started to cry.

Every dollar that goes into our adoption fund brings us one step closer to our baby, and we covered a lot of ground yesterday, but that wasn't what brought on my tears. It was the realization that my faith in the human race had been restored to me in just one day.

After everything that we've been through in the past 2 years (and even the past 2 weeks) my trust in people had been shaken to a degree that I wasn't really aware of. But as I responded to hugs and money from strangers, my heart got fuller and fuller. When we realized just how much we had been given, my heart overflowed. My relief in knowing that I had been right for most of my life and that people are inherently good and kind and decent left me with nothing to do but cry.

We still may not make it all of the way to $20,000, but I've already gotten so much more than money.

100!!!

This is my 100th post. I need to write that again.

This is my 100th post.

Huh. Still hard to believe, but I won't bore you by continuing to belabor the point. I'll bore you with something else!

Like, 100 things about me. Because lots of other bloggers have done it, and I'm just a big follower. Hey, that should be thing 100!

100. I'm a big follower.
99. I'm an only child.
98. I have been legally blind (without my glasses) for well over a decade.
97. I first got glasses in the 2nd grade.
96. I still hate wearing glasses.
95. I can't wear contacts because my eyes are too dry.
94. This is in spite of the fact that I cry at the drop of a hat. Go figure.
93. I attended a women's college.
92. I have a degree in Political Science.
91. I have never used my degree in political science.
90. I have, however, used my Diamonds and Diamond Grading certification from the GIA.
89. I LOVE sparkly things.
88. Especially if they're set in platinum.
87. Or made by an actual artisan.
86. I have 3 cats.
85. 3 is too many, but thinning the herd seems a trifle harsh.
84. The pure-blood Persian (a rescue, as they all are) is the most tolerant of small children.
83. She is not, however, tolerant of humor or poor quality nibbles.
82. Her name is Pasha but we call her Pushy. Because she is.
81. Grasshopper calls her "Pussy" and I think it's hil-ar-ious.
80. Because I love Are you Being Served.
79. I studied Ancient Greek Philosophy and Art History in Greece as a college sophomore. Yeah, that's come in handy.
78. I have a tattoo.
77. You'll never in a million years guess what it is.
76. It hurt, but the rush when it was over was incredible. I can see how people get addicted.
75. My middle name is Sarene.
74. My parents were hippies.
73. Autumn is hands-down my favorite season.
72. If I have to choose between mountains or beach, I'll choose mountains.
71. I'd rather not have to choose.
70. I am arachnophobic.
69. I consider it justified since I got bit by a brown recluse at summer camp.
68. I also broke my wrist at summer camp.
67. And two fingers.
66. I can't believe I want to send my kid to summer camp.
65. Three weeks sans kiddo? Oh yeah, now I remember why summer camp is still a great idea.
64. I plan to send him to the same summer camp I went to.
63. I was fascinated with all things Native American long before I had a Native American child.
62. This is harder than I thought it would be.
61. I fantasize about attending culinary school to become a pastry chef.
60. I don't actually want to work as a pastry chef. Baking is like therapy for me and doing it for a living would spoil that.
59. I am almost 12 years younger than my husband.
58. My second marriage, his first.
57. My favorite musical artist who I dream of seeing live (but given his age and infrequent live performances this may remain solidly in the dream category) is JJ Cale.
56. I used to love going to the movies but now I hate it. It's too expensive and people are jerks.
55. I can never have too many shoes or handbags. I used to buy stilettos. Now, if you can't run around the park in 'em, I don't bother.
54. I can't stand ignorant people.
53. I am a backseat driver.
52. I can get blisters on my feet just riding in the car.
51. This is despite 14 years of ballet which ought to have toughened them up a bit more!
50. I cannot believe you're still reading this.
49. I love plastic cheese. You know, the stuff that gets drizzled on "nachos" at the ballpark? Love the stuff.
48. I *love* names. The meanings behind them, the familial connections, the silly definitions in baby name books, all of it.
47. If I could, I would have a ton of kids just so I could name them.
46. My favorite drink is Woodford Reserve Bourbon with just a little splash of ginger ale. Heaven.
45. When I was 16 I spent 3 weeks backpacking in Mexico.
44. I've tried really hard to learn Spanish at various times and never been successful.
43. I adore college football.
42. I used to be afraid of needles, like chase me around the room and hold me down at the doctor's office afraid. I'm not any more.
41. I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in college after being involved in several severe car accidents in a 6 month span.
40. I wasn't the driver for most of these accidents.
39. I have VERY difficult time coping with change that I haven't planned for. I am not a go with the flow kind of gal.
38. I am allergic to dogs.
37. I am more of a disciplinarian than I thought I would be, pre-motherhood.
36. I swore that I would bake all of my child's birthday cakes and I have yet to bake a single one.
35. I can bake a cake that tastes great, but I can't get it to look like what I see in my head.
34. I love the concept of gardening, and I'm gung-ho every spring, but when it's time to actually sweat and get eaten by bugs, I retreat indoors.
33. I have never learned to drive a stick-shift vehicle.
32. I HATE potty training.
31. I have a thing for older men. There isn't a single man under age 40 on my Personal Top 5 list.
30. I love Disney movies. The animated ones, not that High School Musical crap.
29. My favorite one used to be Peter Pan, until I had a Native American child. The depiction of them in that movie is AWFUL.
28. My husband proposed to me while I was having a temper tantrum. He had to tell me, "Sit down, I am trying to propose to you!"
27. I figure this means that he knew what he was getting himself into.
26. I never thought that I would have a son. Always figured I'd be a girl mom.
25. I've said it other places, but it bears repeating: I want to be Ina Garten when I grow up.
24. I hate Los Angeles. I have been in several foreign countries where I felt more comfortable.
23. I am a fourth generation Florida native.
22. I am getting really sick of talking about me.
21. I'm sure that you're getting really sick of reading about me!
20. I would hate being famous.
19. 3 of my 4 grandparents are still living.
18. Tulips are my favorite flower.
17. I believe that respect must be earned. I do not believe that ANYONE gets pass on this.
16. I despise Caillou.
15. I love super spicy food. Thai, Mexican, Indian, doesn't matter as long as it's full of flavor and HOT!
14. I don't have nearly as many close girlfriends in my life as I would like.
13. I still think my Daddy is one of the smartest people I know.
12. I am so glad that I married someone who shares my (warped) sense of humor.
11. I am fascinated to see if Grasshopper inherits it. Ah, Nature vs. Nurture.
10. I am extremely hard to please.
9. I don't hold anyone to a higher standard than I hold myself.
8. I wish that rather than being eco-conscious (which I am) that I was more eco-active.
7. I am wearing a smaller pant size than I was in January.
6. I regularly dress my kid better than myself.
5. I would much rather receive a nicely wrapped present than a gift bag.
4. I do use gift bags, but only if the gift is impossible to wrap otherwise.
3. I despise laundry. It's never, ever done. Unless you have naked day and do it all then.
2. I like my sedan but miss driving an SUV.
1. I appreciate each and every reader I have, and especially all of you who take the time to comment. Thanks for reading!!!