Many of you know that I absolutely LOVE to read - fiction that is. My dad always told me my mind was "going to pot" with all the novels I'd stay up until 3:00 a.m. to read. Little did he realize that books were my friends, my escape from those "horrible boys" when they'd kick me off the basketball court or refuse to let me go down to the Santee river with them because I was a girl. (Not that I wanted to go to the Santee river - I was afraid of snakes and I couldn't see to the bottom). Growing up was hard at times, but thankfully, mom made sure I had plenty of gal pals and a bookshelf stocked with literary friends.
Now, I can be obsessive about reading. I cannot put a good book down. Unless I'm dog-tired and toothpicks can't keep my eyes open, I HAVE to finish it. I used to skip meals in order to finish, stay up until the wee hours of the morning, and neglect everyone and everything in the process, not even hearing mom call me. However, now that I'm married with a small child, I cannot do that. At least, I shouldn't.
I'm a snob when it comes to Christian fiction. That's why I want to write my own someday. I have found very few Christian fiction authors who can really tell a good story, at least, tell a story worth me missing out on sleep for. However, I have found a new fluff favorite - summer beach reading, if you will. Two of the college gals at church were telling me about a series written by Kristin Billerbeck. They're about a single successful patent attorney who's stuck in the church singles department, she's trying to find contentment in being single, she's a drama-queen, and really wants to be married. Okay, truth be told, my tastes typically run in the historical fiction category (Francine Rivers is a good example) and Southern Literature, but I'm not immune to chick flicks and chick books, especially when they're well written and humorous and don't contain all the post modern immorality of cohabitating couples, the advocation of an "alternate lifestyle", and just sleazy sleeping around in general. Those are the kind of books I throw down in disgust and despair for my fellow mankind. I mean, why have we allowed purity to become laughable, wholesomeness to become "intolerance", and living a life for Christ as becoming some kind of fanatical religious freak show?
Shew. Let me bring myself down from a hot boil and into a slow simmer. That is a subject for another day.
Anyway, back to the books. I got them on Sunday, and mind you, I haven't read a good fiction book in quite a while...school now being out of session for the summer, I am embracing my old friends and new with fervor! I had a rough day yesterday, so while Jeff hiked it over to our friend's house for a birthday party toting Gideon along with him, I crawled in bed and opened the first book and almost had it finished by the time they got home. Jeff went to bed early since he had to be at work early, Gideon fell asleep by 6:30 (he finally cut his first tooth, YAY!), and I was free to pursue my favorite leisure time activity. Don't know what time I started the second book, but Jeff got up at 10:30 for work. I packed his lunch and sent him on his merry way. I was all prepared to hop in bed and close my eyes, but my curiosity got the better of me. Gideon was still snoozing away, and I thought I'd just read for a few minutes. I have no idea what time I finished the book. Because I'd made it completely through, I refused to look at the clock. I just shut my eyes and pretended it was early.
Big mistake. I shouldn't have stayed up. Gideon woke up, WIDE-AWAKE at 1:00. After feeding and putting him back in his own bed by 3:00, I got about 5 hours of sleep total. That is NOT ENOUGH for me normally, and it's certainly not enough when I'm pregnant.
This morning, I am bleary-eyed and completely un-alert, and I promise myself I will not stay up tonight reading the third one. Lord, please let Gideon require his nap SOON or else, when Jeff gets home, I know I'm going to be cranky.
But, if you happen to read those books, let me know what you think...AND, if you can recommend any other good ones (fluff or deep), let me know, too!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Scary McScary
As I’ve mentioned before, Jeff and I have despaired that Gideon will ever learn to crawl. I mean, this kid DETESTS being on his tummy, unless it’s sleeping time. He’ll scream and throw a royal Medina fit (not a Vann, one – we save those for the teenage years).
Today, Gideon would not settle down to play on the floor with his toys, or in his jumpy chair, or in his mobile seat. So, when that happens, I usually sit him up in his crib and turn on his music where he’ll happily squeal and play for awhile.
Jeff had just gotten home. I was in the living room grading a giant paper for my dad, with one ear and eye cocked towards the baby. Jeff and I were discussing the fact that he’d PACKED UP ALL MY CLOCKS and subsequently, overslept by 3 hours this morning. I had woken up, who knows what time, to turn a crying baby over and plug up his mouth with his pacifier. I got back in bed and woke up several hours later wondering why Jeff was still in bed with me. I patted him and said, “Honey, what time is it?” He shot out of bed, checked his cell phone and said, “it’s 3:30.” I immediately told him that had he not packed up my clocks I could have woken him up hours before. No time like 3:30 in the morning to get a little jab in. I then asked him what on earth possessed him to pack up my clocks. He was too busy throwing on his work clothes to answer.
Back to the real story. So, as Jeff and I were discussing the alarm clock predicament, he looked into Gideon’s room and yelled, “Quick. Look at him.”
We ran into his room. The little bold munchkin had managed to pull himself up on the rails, which were in the lowest position possible. He was standing there smiling away (see attached picture – rails up by this point) like he’d just conquered Mount Everest.
Needless to say, our hearts were racing and were terrified thinking that he could have so easily toppled out and landed on his head.
Talk about Scary McScary. I guess this means walking is imminent. Oh dear. Are we ready?
Today, Gideon would not settle down to play on the floor with his toys, or in his jumpy chair, or in his mobile seat. So, when that happens, I usually sit him up in his crib and turn on his music where he’ll happily squeal and play for awhile.
Jeff had just gotten home. I was in the living room grading a giant paper for my dad, with one ear and eye cocked towards the baby. Jeff and I were discussing the fact that he’d PACKED UP ALL MY CLOCKS and subsequently, overslept by 3 hours this morning. I had woken up, who knows what time, to turn a crying baby over and plug up his mouth with his pacifier. I got back in bed and woke up several hours later wondering why Jeff was still in bed with me. I patted him and said, “Honey, what time is it?” He shot out of bed, checked his cell phone and said, “it’s 3:30.” I immediately told him that had he not packed up my clocks I could have woken him up hours before. No time like 3:30 in the morning to get a little jab in. I then asked him what on earth possessed him to pack up my clocks. He was too busy throwing on his work clothes to answer.
Back to the real story. So, as Jeff and I were discussing the alarm clock predicament, he looked into Gideon’s room and yelled, “Quick. Look at him.”
We ran into his room. The little bold munchkin had managed to pull himself up on the rails, which were in the lowest position possible. He was standing there smiling away (see attached picture – rails up by this point) like he’d just conquered Mount Everest.
Needless to say, our hearts were racing and were terrified thinking that he could have so easily toppled out and landed on his head.
Talk about Scary McScary. I guess this means walking is imminent. Oh dear. Are we ready?
Friday, May 18, 2007
Yet Another Poop Story
Wow. Three weeks left until we make our big move. Jeff and I were talking yesterday and we realized that, in the past two years, I’ve moved 6 times. This will make 7. I really detest moving: packing up all those boxes, throwing out accumulated junk, leaving a spotless empty place behind. It’s just so much work. This time, we have already been slowly packing up a few boxes everyday. Seems to work much better for me than chunking things in boxes at the very last minute.
Poor Gideon’s room has become cardboard box central. If he were older, it would make for a great fortress. Alas, he cannot enjoy it. But, he is up to his old tricks again. I think he must be teething because he’s become a diarrhea-making factory just like when he was a newborn. I mean, good night, I’d gotten used to this once a day, timely poop. I could handle that. Now, with being pregnant, I cannot handle all of his runny poop. And the smell. It’s horrendous. In fact, when Jeff’s mom was here last week, Gideon did a sneak attack first thing in the morning. I took him in his bedroom to change him, and when that odor assaulted my poor nostrils, I started gagging and dry-heaving (thankfully, I hadn’t eaten yet). Jeff’s mom shooed me out and took over. I was incredibly grateful she was there because I don’t know how I would have gotten through that wretched ordeal on my own.
Sadly, it’s only gotten worse. Just this morning, I had him in his walker (he kinda hops around in it) and I was eating my Raisin Bran when I heard a noise. I thought it was a car backfiring, since I had the windows open, but the sound was much closer. Indeed, it was occurring in the diaper of my small son right in my living room. Another vile sight and smell awaited me….thankfully, I’ve learned to quit breathing while changing the deed.
I added a little video montage below. Some of the pictures are from when Jeff's mom was here and Gideon with his cousins...others are just for fun.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
More Proof for My Claim
Many of you know that I don't intentionally let Gideon watch t.v. I read somewhere that it was harmful for his mental development under the age of two. I don't know where it was, but it stayed with me...partly because my mom limited our t.v. viewing days while growing up. Besides, I want Gideon to be into books and creatively foster his development by other activities.
Just this morning, I saw a piece on CBS. A lady has written a new book called Buy, Buy Baby which shows that products such as Baby Einstein cd's, videos, etc. don't utilize any kind of scientific research to "help make baby smarter." In fact, she claims these products can damage the mental development of your children. And, she says it's really just a marketing ploy for those of us Gen Xers who are "attached parents" and think if we're doing something else, like making a grilled cheese sandwich, the baby needs a surrogate sitter and can't be alone.
It was quite a fascinating piece and further convinced me that Gideon will not be watching t.v. for as long as I can keep him away.
Here's the blurb from the website. Check it out.
May 2007
(CBS) This is where you can get information about many of the books featured on The Early Show in May.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
"Buy, Buy Baby: How Consumer Culture Manipulates Parents and Harms Young Minds," by Susan Gregory Thomas
There are thousands of products out there that promise to turn young children into little geniuses, items such as videos, CDs, flash cards, etc., with one more high-tech than the next.
But in her new book, "Buy, Buy Baby: How Consumer Culture Manipulates Parents and Harms Young Minds," investigative reporter Susan Gregory Thomas contends those products don't really help children get smarter. In fact, she asserts, they may actually impair early development, and could impede kids socially and cognitively.
She visited The Early Show to discuss her research.
Thomas' two daughters were toddlers while she wrote the book.
She says the products are developed and sold based on marketing research, not research on child development. Yet, Generation-X parents are buying them in record numbers.
To read an excerpt of "Buy, Buy Baby," click here.
Just this morning, I saw a piece on CBS. A lady has written a new book called Buy, Buy Baby which shows that products such as Baby Einstein cd's, videos, etc. don't utilize any kind of scientific research to "help make baby smarter." In fact, she claims these products can damage the mental development of your children. And, she says it's really just a marketing ploy for those of us Gen Xers who are "attached parents" and think if we're doing something else, like making a grilled cheese sandwich, the baby needs a surrogate sitter and can't be alone.
It was quite a fascinating piece and further convinced me that Gideon will not be watching t.v. for as long as I can keep him away.
Here's the blurb from the website. Check it out.
May 2007
 (Houghton Mifflin)      |
Thursday, May 10, 2007
"Buy, Buy Baby: How Consumer Culture Manipulates Parents and Harms Young Minds," by Susan Gregory Thomas
There are thousands of products out there that promise to turn young children into little geniuses, items such as videos, CDs, flash cards, etc., with one more high-tech than the next.
But in her new book, "Buy, Buy Baby: How Consumer Culture Manipulates Parents and Harms Young Minds," investigative reporter Susan Gregory Thomas contends those products don't really help children get smarter. In fact, she asserts, they may actually impair early development, and could impede kids socially and cognitively.
She visited The Early Show to discuss her research.
Thomas' two daughters were toddlers while she wrote the book.
She says the products are developed and sold based on marketing research, not research on child development. Yet, Generation-X parents are buying them in record numbers.
To read an excerpt of "Buy, Buy Baby," click here.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Hot Buttery Yeast Rolls
Here we go again.
Just when I thought life was going to start being a breeze, I was hit with a torrential downpour of morning sickness, stomach bug, and head cold. It doesn’t get too much more miserable than that. Oh wait. In addition, I have two sneezing, coughing, drippy nosed men in need of care and attention. This week has not been easy breezy or beautiful.
We’ve been AWOL from the blogging world for awhile. We house/baby sat Jeff’s step siblings while their parents were out of town. Even though they’re well-behaved kids, I have a newfound respect for mothers who have more than one child. It ain’t easy keeping up with everyone!
During our week long stint there, Gideon decided he would start rolling over in his sleep, which wakes him up. Wide awake. He’s slept all night, through the night, since he was about two months old. I’ve been incredibly spoiled with my own sleep patterns. Suddenly, to have my warm and comfortable snoozing time ripped out by an impatient (and very awake) squeal anywhere between 12 and 4 in the morning is not my idea of a happy wake up call.
I’m simply at a loss. I’ve been hopping out of bed and flipping him back over, pancake style, in the hopes that he’ll fall right back to sleep. Usually it works. But, I’m a little tired after 5-6 times a night flipping my live little flap jack. And, at least once per night, he refuses to go back to sleep. He props himself up and watches me leave. I can see those little owl eyes following me, even in the dark. And then he commences to howling. Typically, I would let him howl himself to sleep, but lately, his wide awake time has come when Jeff is home, and because my sweet husband only gets about 3-4 hours of sleep per night, I know Gideon’s hollering will keep some of those precious winks from him. So, I get up and feed his tummy full until he becomes drowsy….but seriously. Anybody have any suggestions? I’m quite at a loss. And I'm becoming tired and cranky all the time.
On another note, the new pregnancy crazies have started.
I already can’t handle smells. I was bemoaning the odors all over our house. Somehow each room retained a distinct, yet horribly potent stench. I smelled the dirty diaper smell in Gideon’s room, musty wet towels in the bathroom, and old sweaty socks in our room. Jeff and I were lying in bed. The conversation had turned from my odorous observations to Jeff’s sermon this past Sunday. He was deep into his exposition of the text he was going to preach on, when a most pleasant aroma assaulted my nose and distracted me.
“I smell yeast rolls.”
“What?”
“I smell hot, honey butter yeast rolls fresh out of the oven. The butter is dripping down the side and I can just see myself taking a big melty bite of heaven. I mean, can’t you smell them?”
Alas, Jeff could not. He sighed.
After a moment's pause, he said, “Have you ever seen the movie, The Goonies?”“No. Remember, my parents wouldn’t let us watch it because there was cussing and questionable material in it? Why? What does this have to do with my hot yeast rolls? I need one.”
“Well, there’s a part in the movie where the kids are hiding from the bad guys and they’re all supposed to be quiet and it’s a serious moment, right? Well, the chubby kid suddenly yells out, “I smell pizza” and ruins the moment and they get caught.”
“Oh.”
I guess he was telling me 1.) I ruined his moment or 2.) he was equating me to the chubby kid who only thought about food. Either way, I’m not sure I like what I’m hearing.
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