Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes...Knees and Toes

So, you might remember from my first visit to see John, that I have a weird obsession with babies' feet. I also think their hands and fingers are incredibly cute. So, here are several pictures...


This one cracks me up every time I see it. Daynah has such a personality! She posed for this one all on her own.
If John doesn't feel like eating his own fingers, he will find someone else's to put in his mouth.

I love this one because he has his hand on his knee. And it looks like he might have inherited Aunt Teresa's tan...
Look...I have hands.
And toes too...Ann said John just recently discovered that he has feet : )
He's holding his own bottle. How cute is that!

Installments

I've finally gotten the pictures loaded onto the computer. Now the predicament becomes which of the 157 (which includes Daynah's pictures) to include. Don't worry. We're working on an installment plan. We'll see what I get up tonight and then we'll go from there until I'm satisfied that you guys are all babied out!

John LOVES his fingers, but he usually sucks his thumb, so this was really cute.
John, we think Daynah is pretty funny too!
My aunt and I are both Aunt Teresa's now, so she has come up with a solution. She is taking Polish classes, so she said John can just call her Aunt Teresa in Polish: Chocha Tereska.
John and Grandpa.
John and Grandma. Oh, and there's the thumb in the mouth. This was also John's first trip to Portillo's--a very sacred trip that required lots of picture taking for documentation.
Don't you just want to pinch those chubby cheeks!!!
I LOVE his smile!
Having fun with Mom.
He likes to stand up, but he's no where near to walking yet.
I got in SO much trouble for taking this picture, but it was So worth it! Ann was outside visiting with family and I snuck upstairs to take a picture, but as I was taking the picture, Ann walked in the room to check on John. I really didn't get in trouble, but only because I didn't wake him up : ).

Apology Accepted

At least that's what I hope you'll say when I tell you I haven't loaded any pictures from the weekend onto my computer again. I had time today, but I had to prepare for Bible study (as the leader, I decided I should be fully prepared to lead a discussion) and then I opted to play euchre with the family. A good choice, since Amy and I kicked butt against Daynah and Dad!

So, in the meantime here are some fun pictures that for some reason I haven't posted yet. The first picture is John at 5 months. The second and third pictures are John's 6 month pictures.





Can you believe those cute little chubby cheeks?! What a difference a month makes. He has gained some weight...I got a few cute pictures of his cute little chunky thighs : )....that I will eventually get on the computer. In the meantime, these will have to do!

And more on driving...

So, have you guys noticed the new campaign "Start Seeing Motorcycles"? Okay, it's not so new, but I've seen a lot of new signs recently. For some reason, it has cracked me up lately and I have a lot of conversations with myself in the car over it. Does the sign imply that I was purposely NOT seeing motorcycles before? I mean, was I subconsciously saying, "I am not going to see that motorcycle. Nope, I'm not going to do it." and I didn't even know it? Well, now whenever I see a motorcycle, I have to say to myself (or to the driver of the motorcycle, who can't actually hear me), usually out loud, "I see you." It makes me feel better. As if I have accomplished something in my day. : )

On my way home from Chicago, I saw this sign that made me laugh for a few minutes: "Stay with your disabled vehicle." A few miles down the road, I saw someone actually obeying the sign. How very rule-following of them.

Later this week, I will post some oh-so-cute pictures of my nephew who is now 6 MONTHS OLD! I was able to see him in Chicago all weekend. Super fun. He is adorable. Now I have to go to bed before I fall asleep while typing.

Driving Pet Peeves

• People who slow down on the highway before they get off the exit ramp. The exit ramp is when you are supposed to slow down, people!
• People who go 5-10 miles below the speed limit because there is a cop somewhere in the vicinity. They will not pull you over for going the speed limit!
• People who go just enough over the speed limit that you can't justify passing them even if you are running a tab bit late to pick up a client and you might need to exceed the speed limit slightly more than you normally would...Not that that has ever happened to me. Coworkers tell me that it happens to them all the time : )

Those are the three that occurred to me today, maybe because they happened to me : ). I'm sure I have more. How about you guys?

Graduation

Daynah graduated tonight. She looked beautiful as she strutted across the stage at Grace Pres. Okay, she didn't strut, she walked very ladylike...

Pictures will come later. I didn't take my camera, so I'll have to pilfer some from Amy's camera. We took one where she looks taller than me. Man, something must be wrong with Amy's camera...

And now tomorrow, since softball didn't get rained out on Monday, I'll be doing laundry : ). HOORAY for clean clothes! This sentence was just in case any of you are really tracking my schedule. Which Andrew apparently is, because he let me know I could go see the new Indiana Jones movie since he reads my blog and saw that Friday's schedule said TBD. He's always looking out for me : ).

Twins

I think at some point in time, it is every girl's dream to be a twin. To go to summer camp and find an identical someone whom you can share your hopes and dreams with. At any rate, I know I always thought it would be cool. As I got older, I decided that the next best thing would be to have twins myself. But, apparently the next next best thing is to find out your best friend is having twins! My friend Danell found out two weeks ago that she is pregnant with twins. Click here to see the cutest sonogram pictures of the babies! We've had multiple conversations about the fact that she is having twins. Apparently it continues to be fun to say things like "Twins=2." It is a little hard to wrap my mind around. The best part for me was that her doctor told her that she needed to go eat more ice cream. What girl doesn't want to hear from her doctor that she needs to eat more ice cream! : ) Congratulations Danell!!!! Oh, and Ken too : )!!!!!

Chaoticness Aside

A very relaxing weekend. A reprieve from life. Just what I needed. Friday I got off work at 5:00, arrived home, and found out I had the house to myself all evening. A rare treat. Then I met Kari at 9:45 to see Prince Caspian. I slept in on Saturday and awoke to find another rare treat...the house to myself again : ). And a sunny day. Hip Hip Hooray. I cleaned around the house, ran a quick errand, and then went to Amber and Josh's wedding. Let me tell you. She looked BEAUTIFUL! And it was the perfect day for a wedding. The reception was at the Grandview Pavilion. So, not only a perfect day for a wedding, but the very best day for a reception outside. After I got home, I took a 30 minute nap on the couch and then played euchre with the family. Then watched 27 Dresses. A pretty good movie, definitely fitting the theme of the day. Today I went to church, had lunch with the fam, and then vegged all day. Now I'm watching the Academy of Country Music Awards. I know that so many of you are jealous, unless you are watching them too : ).

Plans for the week:
Monday--spectating a softball game unless it rains. If it rains, I'm doing laundry. Please let it be sunny, please let it be sunny...
Tuesday--my baby sister is graduating from 8th grade! I KNOW...I can't believe it either
Wednesday--nothing, at least not yet
Thursday--hmmm...I think nothing again. Maybe my week isn't going to be as crazy as I thought.
Friday--TBD
Saturday--leaving for Chicago for the weekend to see my nephew who is now 6 MONTHS OLD! It seems just like yesterday...
Sunday--missing the ground breaking at the new land (I really am bummed) but continuing to love on my nephew
Monday--still in Chicago and being so excited not to be at work

Chaos

Today my life is feeling a bit chaotic. Take a little of this, a little of that, some of that over there, throw it all together, and that's what you've got. Chaos. I did a google image search of the word chaos and here are a few pictures I came up with to represent how I'm feeling. Neither of them really hits the spot, but I decided I couldn't search forever. I need sleep again.

Tomorrow is Friday. I hope to get my chaoticness in check by Monday. We'll see how that goes. When weeks go like this I often decide I should move back to Texas (not because life was perfect there, but it is a place of comfort that currently does not represent chaos. Believe me, it had its own share of chaoticness). I know chaoticness is not a word, but can you really fault me for making up words on my own blog. I think not. And if you click on it to find out how to spell it, the thesaurus gives you these options: chattiness, chicness, chalkiness, chatlines, and chattiness's. I personally like chaoticness better!

On an extreme side note, I had some bonding time with the sibs tonight. We played DDR. Yes, I know, there are people who are reading this who are shocked because I have been known to sit on a couch for a whole evening of DDRing without participating. But with the siblings it's different because I can make a fool of myself with them and there are no repercussions for me and I don't feel like a fool. With "you people" (that is so a phrase my grandma uses all the time) I am just not sure. So, while I had great fun, don't expect to see me do anything but sit on a couch if you suggest DDR at the next social gathering. : ) Did I mention that my almost 10 year old brother can beat me just about every time. There is a reason I don't dance in public.

Around the world in 80 days

Or something like that. I am now successfully recovered from my trip to Virginia! We had a great time! We left Kari's house at about 3:45 on Friday. We picked up Kevin at 4 and arrived at Josh's about 15 minutes early. Always a good sign to start off a trip early. We travelled through the night in order to get to Kristi's graduation on time. Barring all disasters and two minor detours (okay, one wasn't so minor, but it was an honest mistake), we arrived at the hotel where Kari's parents were staying at 7:45. We had to be at graduation by 8:30. We made it just in time to see Kristi as she was lining up to process in. Graduation was outside and we had been afraid that it was going to rain, but it was beautiful outside. Chuck Norris spoke at the graduation. I'm still not sure what to make of it, but it was rather entertaining. On a side note, no one believes me anymore, but I've actually gotten my picture taken with Chuck Norris once. He did a book signing at the LifeWay in Texas where I worked, and the staff was able to take a picture with him. I, of course, do not have a copy of that picture, but I called my former boss after graduation to request a copy : ). We then attended a smaller graduation where Kristi was able to walk across the stage and receive her diploma. It was fun to watch, but I must admit, at that point we were all getting rather tired. We then went back to the hotel and were able to take a very brief nap before going to lunch at the restaurant where Kristi works. We then went to Kristi's house where we were able to take another nap while Kristi packed some things. We loaded the trailer and one of the cars. Then we got to eat dinner at Chick-fil-a (boy was I excited because that was not in the original plans for the weekend). Then we stayed up way too late playing Wii. But it was fun to get some last Wiiing in since Kristi gets to keep it this summer (Wii is a standard Girl's Night activity for us). We got up way too early on Sunday (okay, it was really 7:00) in order to go to church before we left. Then we drove for 15 hours and arrived back at home around 1am. It was a quick trip, but after it was all said and done, I say I would do it a 3rd time. I started and finished Prince Caspian on the way home. So now I am fully prepared to see the movie this weekend when it comes out! So there you have it, my trip in a nutshell! I would post pictures, but apparently I didn't take any : ). Any questions?

Samson...

I figure I haven't had a random cat posting in a while. Isabell still only barely tolerates Samson being in the house. They fight a lot. But every once in a while, you come across a surprise like this....

I love that they are laying the same way even! Neither one of them were happy that I woke them up from their afternoon naps to take this picture. It was also about the third time I went in to check that they were still laying like this because it was amazing to me : )! Notice Samson's extreme fluffiness before moving on to this picture....
Samson got his annual summer cut! You'll notice that he has a "mane." He was in desperate need of this haircut because he was quickly turning into one big mat of fur. Poor thing was a little camera shy tonight though.
He still wouldn't look at the camera!
I LOVE that his tail is still fluffy : )
And a view from the side...

He is soooo soft when his hair is this short!

Anyway, I will post about my trip to Virginia once I have had more sleep. Thank goodness for Tuesdays when I can sleep in and go into work late because I work until 8:00... Optimistically speaking, I slept 15 hours in the last three days, but more likely it was much closer to 12. Needless to say, this little girl should be in bed.

Reason # 314...

Reason # 314 not to join Facebook: The only person I can find from high school who is on Facebook is an ex-boyfriend.

Perspectives, Priorities, Plans, and a really long Post

I have several things I have wanted to post about this week, but none of them fit together. Some are serious, some are very superficial, some are just things I want you to know. So, we will start with the serious and go from there...

Perspectives: I found out last week that my aunt has breast cancer. I am unsure what the prognosis is...people keep giving me information and it keeps getting muddled in my head. They were doing another biopsy this week to check to make sure the cancer has not spread to her lymph nodes. I know she will have to go through radiation. I was able to see her last weekend. She looked tired, but was optimistic. She made some statements that really made me think. She talked about how your perspective on life really does change when you hear the word "cancer." It no longer matters if your house is a mess when guests come over...seeing the people is what matters. It doesn't matter if the grocery shopping gets done today or tomorrow. It doesn't matter if the toilets get cleaned. It was a good reminder. Things don't matter, but relationships do. It made me think of a passage from Matthew: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Perspectives: I was examining the gadgets in my car this week and was able to watch my car turn 25,000 miles. I have had my car for 1 year and 4 months. I was in my mom's car this weekend. She has had her car for 10 or 11 years. It has 105,000 miles on it. You do the math. I have a lot of miles on my car. Period. The end.

Priorities People: My birthday is only 58 days away. Here are the plans so far. Celebrate. Period. The end. Actually, there's more. The current plan is possibly to go mini golfing (I've been practicing my golfing on Wii...I am getting very good!).

Priorities: I am taking Friday off again. Partially because I have to (I have some comp time that I need to use or I will lose it). Partially because I just want to. Partially because of the next bit of information.

Plans: I am taking my now annual trip to Virginia to see Kristi. I leave tomorrow between 3 and 5. Kari, Kelli, Kevin, Josh, and I are driving through the night, attending graduation in the morning, celebrating in the afternoon, crashing in the evening, going to church on Sunday morning, going to lunch, and hitting the road with trailer attached carrying some of Kristi's things, cruising home late evening, and getting up Monday morning for work. I love road trips. I am getting good at the no sleep all night and being able to function for most of the next day. One of these times I will remind myself before the trip that I am not really young anymore, I need to get a grip on reality, and I should really "just say NO." Until then, Virginia, here I come.

Okay, is anyone still with me? Oh, last bit of random information. We'll file it under "polemic" even if it doesn't really fit except that it starts with a P. I was driving by a church this week and here is what the sign out front said "Txt message: O u mean the Bible." Very interesting. Awe inspiring, even. It took me a while to process...hope you have fun with it.

"Bomt" and other famous words by Teresa

The year is 1986. I am very smart and a great writer. Don't worry, you haven't gone back in time, I am just setting the stage. Amidst the papers that I found in the box that mom gave me were several journal pages from school in 1986. Do you remember when you were learning to write and your teacher made you write in a journal every day? Well, here are some entries. By the way, none of the entries have punctuation. I will translate as best I can after each entry.

Jan 22: "My mom is happy bet i em not beocs I bomt my haed today." Translation: My mom is happy but I am not because I bumped my head today.

Feb 3: "My naem is Teresa I like school a lot it is fon to lorn all the werk My fands play with me a lot it is Feb. 3 We are werking all day We go to jim a lot avre day but sometomes we go aut saed sometomes Love Teresa" Translation: My name is Teresa. I like school a lot. It is fun to learn all the work. My friends play with me a lot. It is Feb. 3. We are working all day. We go to gym a lot every day but sometimes we go outside sometimes. Love, Teresa.

Feb 7: "...I love my dog a lot some boys ran a lot and a lot do you like the boys I do not and I like school a lot It is fun to have a lot ov finds." Translation: I love my dog a lot. Some boys run a lot and a lot. Do you like the boys? I do not. And I like schol a lot. It is fun to have a lot of friends.

Feb 11: "I love you mom I love you Dad I love my dog to I do not love my bortr He is not nice to me..." Translation: I love you mom. I love you Dad. I love my dog too. I do not love my brother. He is not nice to me.

Tues 18 (not sure of what month): "are spaleieg wrs for today are green, teeth, leaf, and three..." Translation: I should have learned how to spell spelling words : )

Side note: Spell check really did not like my journal entries!

My trip in MPG

I went to Bloomingdale to see my mom's new apartment this weekend. It was a quick 24 hour trip. Here is the trip in miles per gallon (remember I drive a hybrid). I got really good mileage the whole way, which is exciting coming out of a long winter.

Total miles travelled: approximately 320. MPG at the end of the trip: 43.5. Gas tank: still 1/3 full.

Route taken: I travelled up 24, took 17 through Lacon to 39. Took 39 to 80, 80 to 55, and 55 to 355.

On 24 and 17 I got really good gas mileage. I think it was right around 51mpg. While on 17 I felt like I was going really slow, but was actually exceeding the speed limit (I won't say by how much!). Once I got on 39 I realized that the reason I was getting great gas mileage and that I felt like I was going really slow was because the wind was pushing me! Once on 39, the wind was hitting the side of my car and blowing like crazy. I lost about 9mpg on that leg of the trip. But then once I got on 80 it went back up to about 45mpg. Overall, I was really impressed. I usually average about 38-40mpg, but I don't think I've ever had 1/3 of a tank of gas left at the end of a trip to see my mom. I know I've had to fill up when I leave and was on empty when I got back before. Yeah for hybrids!

Oh, and mom's apartment is SO cute! I am so excited for her to have her own place again. She sent me home with a box of really random stuff of mine (most of my stuff from GA is still in boxes in my grandma's basement. I'm going to go get it at a later date. Anyone want to road trip to Chicago?), so I'll have to tell you guys later what was in the box.

Addendum to my last post: I never meant it to be a debate between Facebook or my blog. I'd definitely keep my blog, but that is one of the decisions that is difficult because blogs already take up so much of my time and I don't want Facebook to consume even more of my time! And Danell is right, just because I'm considering it doesn't mean its imminent. It actually means that it will probably take me another year. I have to "talk it out" a lot before I actually make the decision. My blog was probably the one exception, and most people were very shocked to hear I had started one. Pressure from others actually doesn't work in favor of the process going any faster : ) I'm just glad that most people still like me, quirks and all!