For those keeping track, Jared's second word: "ba-ba," translated "bye bye," complete with hand gesture. Words 2, Dada 0.

trouble already

Sadly, I didn't have my camera to capture the momentous occasion: Jared ate an entire Jr. Roast Beef sandwich and 1 1/2 potato cakes for lunch at Arby's on Saturday. I told him his Uncle Ravi would be proud. I think Jared will be giving Ravi a run for his money for the eating bragging rights in the near future.

Last night, Jared climbed up the stairs. All of them. By himself. Joe followed him up, but I was highly disturbed watching the whole business. Apparently, he hasn't read the memo about not being a year old yet.

Some days you wake up and notice a pattern to the day. According to my small children, apparently the theme of the day is "let's make a mess for mommy to clean up!"

The leaves started falling off our oak tree in the backyard about a month ago. I thought it was odd, since the weather hadn't changed at all, but perhaps the tree checked a calendar. Silly rabbit, fall is for kids. The tree was merely shedding leaves in order to grow new ones. It's nearly full of bright spring green leaves. Depressing.

this and that

• Anyone who reads this and is not part of our Friday night Bible study will be sad: I have declared October "pumpkin dessert month." Lest the name not be description enough, every Friday night in October we will be having a pumpkin dessert. First up, pumpkin pie. After that...we'll see. My choices abound: pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin creme brulee, pumpkin bars, pumpkin cake... (I'm starting to feel a little like Bubba from Forrest Gump.)

• Jared starting saying "mama" on Monday. It's his first word, and he is the first child to say "mama" before "dada," and the sad part is I would have been just fine with him saying "dada" first. It makes it very easy to hand him off, "See, he's asking for you!"

• I never suspected it would happen, but I'm really enjoying coaching soccer. Last Saturday, my little team actually played like they had heard and understood and were implementing things I had been teaching them. It was pretty exciting. It is amazing how personalities play such a factor at this age, maybe because they haven't learned to be anything but who they are yet. It's also a little overwhelming to try and figure out where to start in teaching them how to play - they really don't know anything, but at the same time they are eager to be taught and then play. I sometimes wish I hadn't had my nose in a book the whole time I was growing up. I think I would've liked to play a sport...I might have been decent at softball.

• If you are at all able, go get some Blue Bell Southern Blackberry Cobbler ice cream. There really are no sufficient words to describe it.

• One of the worst parts about having small children is not being able to just sleep it off when I am sick. Today is the first day this week I feel remotely like myself again. And as a sort of addendum to my previous post (sorry Ashlee!), I must point out that I had no trouble with allergies until I came to the lovely state of Texas.

• In case you were wondering, we have declared September a terrible month. This information is so that you can be prepared next year, as we certainly will be. As far as I am concerned, September is now a close second to January when it comes to months that I don't like. October, if solely by mere fact of the "pumpkin dessert month" declaration, will be better.

• Poor Jadyn is feeling horribly left out because I have started homeschooling Alaina, and Jadyn desperately wants to "do school" too. Given my natural tendency to want everything to be fair, a large part of me wants to include her. The other part of me, which is winning, says that she has to wait until she is old enough and that she's not going to get to do everything Alaina does at the same time.

• Jars of Clay and Relient K have new Christmas albums out this year...look out world!
  

today...

I hate Texas.

I hate Houston.

I hate the weather.

I hate airports.

I hate not getting what I want.

I hate traffic.

I hate having to persevere.

SAVE ROSENBLATT

Okay, I know this post will have little meaning to some of you who read my blog. However, if you have a minute, I'd really appreciate your help.

Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha is the site of the Men's College World Series. The CWS has taken place in Omaha for over 50 years. I don't even know how many games I've been to, or how many times we've stood in line for hours on Saturday morning of the championship (when it was one game, winner take all). Going early and finding the best parking spot on the street is part of the adventure. We have found a couple of "secret" parking spots over the years. We've also parked at the zoo, which is right next to the stadium (even though you're not supposed to, though for the record, we did go to the zoo that day). We used to go during the week, when you could get in with one ticket and stay for two games. We always sit in the right field bleachers and mock the left field bleachers and heckle the right fielder. I'm pretty sure we were at a game that USC was playing and we heckled Morgan Ensberg.

Every summer, one of the most significant things I miss about being in Omaha is going to the CWS. That's part of the reason I will watch every game on ESPN - you can see Rosenblatt and get an idea of what Omaha is really like. There's a reason you will always find an LSU fan at the CWS, regardless of whether or not LSU is in the tournament.

And it's not just the CWS. Rosenblatt is a really great stadium for minor league ball, too. It may not have the swimming pools of new minor league parks, but it has character and tradition, which you cannot manufacture, no matter how much brick you use. This picture is how I think of going to a baseball game (even though this picture is from the wrong field bleachers). Summer, open air, sunshine...no doubt a beach ball is floating around the bleachers somewhere.

So please go here, and sign the petition to save Rosenblatt Stadium. Tell anyone you know who is a fan of baseball, or college sports, or just opposed to wasting money on a new sports arena that isn't necessary. And if you're ever in Omaha I will take you to a game.

assorted musings

From the last week or so...

• If you heard a faint shout for joy last week and were perplexed as to its origin, all I have to say is that Pumpkin Spice Lattes have returned to Starbucks. Bring on the Christmas music!
• More evidence proving the case that I should be commissioner of baseball: Bud Selig reduced his friendship with Cecil Cooper to a race issue. The article is here.
  
• Sunday morning conversation:

Jadyn: I want sa brefest. (translation: some breakfast)
Me: You want some breakfast?
Jadyn: Yeah.
Me: Well, it's almost time for church, so we're going to have to eat breakfast in the car.
Jadyn: Awww, dagnabbit!

• Sometimes they prove they really do love you (or at least need you because they're hungry). The other night, after putting the girls to bed, I stayed upstairs to do some work. Joe and Jared were downstairs. Jared crawled (scooted, more accurately) from the living room to the kitchen, whined a bit, turned around, scooted back to the living room to the stairs, where he started crying when he heard my voice.
• Every week should be a 4-day week.
  

just for Lisa

Ode to My Espresso Machine

The question I ponder
every now and then,
regarding the past,
how it could have been
that I harbored distaste
for a newfound friend?

That friend, espresso,
takes a latte form.
And frantic to and fro
of my daily norm
then takes a repose
while my latte is warm.

So hurrah for my espresso machine!
A true friend will it ever be.
Though small in size, on it I am keen.
But please don't expect more rhyming from me!

breakfast wisdom

I want to share with you the things I learned from my cereal box. These are suggestions from the good people at Cheerios (or at least their marketing or box design department) about how to "mix it up" in your life.

- Make a mix tape/CD.
- Learn one good joke and tell it.
- Write 10 things that make you happy and do one of them today.
- When describing something, use sound effects.
- Write all your emails so they rhyme.

Spanglish

So we Netflixed Spanglish, and I watched it on Sunday. Has anyone else seen it?

Let me start by saying that I really liked the movie. Adam Sandler, and by extension his character, is extremely likable - genuine and human. I have never really liked Tea Leoni, but she plays the role well (I'm beginning to think she's generally typecast). The crazy part is, despite my dislike of Tea Leoni, I still understood her character and even felt sorry for her. Anyway, the movie is really good - I've been thinking over it for a couple of days now. The main theme of the movie is the question, "how do we define ourselves?" Do we let external influences - culture, appearances, wealth, etc. - determine who we are and how we behave? Or do we let internal desires make our choices?

I have hung on to so many things (or people) that provided a definition for me over the course of my life. But at the same time, I react very negatively when someone tries to label me or tell me what I am. I don't think it's an easy thing just to be who you are. I think we'd save ourselves a lot of trouble if we could just figure out how to be who God made us to be and be happy with that.

my new best friend...

a mid-morning latte.

(Just in case you haven't heard me say it yet, coffee and caffeine both have health benefits. Seriously.)

childhood conversations

Jadyn: These flip flops are not working!

Alaina: (not even looking up from her task) Are they the right size?

Jadyn: Yeah. (pause) Pretty sure. ... Pretty sure.

they're back!!!

Though it probably made no difference whatsoever, I will choose to believe that the emails I (and others) sent to M&M Mars held some sway because dark chocolate peanut M&Ms are back!

So I bought some yesterday, and all of you need to go buy some too.

where'd that come from?

So I was watching this show last night on PBS about art. Seriously. It was one of those "by accident" things - the TV was on PBS when it was turned on, etc. etc. etc.

One of the things people might not know about me is that I love art. And it occurred to me as I was watching this show about Rembrandt - and how he was a total rebel and was sticking it to the man through his art (despite the fact that it was the man who had been paying for his art...) - that I have not been to an art museum in a really long time. I think the last time I was at an art museum was when I went to the Chihuly exhibit at the Joslyn. Anyway, that fact makes me kind of sad. Art is fascinating to me, and there's something in me that has missed that. I can't even really explain it.

So to all of those people who will be in the same city as I am at Christmas, I am going to the Joslyn. You are welcome to come with me, or you can stay at home and watch my children. :)

And yes, once again, this qualifies as one of those things that is cooler in Omaha - in my opinion, at least, the Joslyn kicks the Contemporary Art Museum's butt. And I think most of the people who would read this have not been to both museums, so that, combined with the fact that this is my blog, means that I'm right.

Nighthawks
Edward Hopper

how long can he possibly go without sleeping through the night?

Up to eat twice a night for the past week...he's never slept through the night for more than 4 nights in a row.

It will, in fact, be a miracle if I make it until the child turns 1.

a travelogue of sorts

A few amusing things heard on vacation:

Alaina (to Raj): You have short arms.


Alaina: That's Hoppy Bunny. I adopted him and named him Hoppy Bunny Lulla Larry.

Alaina (to Raj): You're weak sauce.

Azina: Jadyn, what is that?Jadyn: Puppy bunny.


Lindsey: Isn't Uncle Raj awesome?
Alaina: Yeah. But Uncle Ravi is more awesome.

Me: Jadyn, do you like your new car seat?
Jadyn: No!

Azina: I have to go back to my house in California.
Jadyn: No!
Azina: You can come visit me.
Jadyn: No!

Jadyn: I want no go to Texas.

That's all I can remember for now.

11.957

According to Joe, this is the number of days left until we go to Omaha. (He's also in need of a vacation...) I started the countdown on the message board by the door on Friday. Alaina is very excited about going to see Grandma. I am super excited about going to Omaha, but I am a little apprehensive about this road trip... The great thing is that Azina will be with us to help (plus she's cool to hang out with!), but I would be happy for any ideas about what to bring with me for a 2 year old and a 4 year old to do on the trip. It's going to be about 16 hours (and we're hoping not any more than that).

That's about all that's going on around here...we're working on soccer, and I'm pretty sure this is going to be the biggest season I've ever been part of. I just have this feeling that we don't know what we're in for!

Joe's parents gave us tickets to the Astros game yesterday for Mother's Day. I was away for Jared for more than an hour for the first time, and it was nice. He's also finally starting to sleep in his crib in his room, and I forgot how much I can get done when a baby is on some sort of schedule! Anyway, that wasn't the point of this paragraph. The point was that Joe bought me an Astros cap for Mother's Day, and I got to pick it out, and it's purple! Is it sacrilegious to get a baseball cap not in the team colors? Perhaps. But I don't care. I finally have an Astros hat. Even Alaina and Jadyn had one before I did, it just wasn't right. And they won yesterday!

Happy May Day!

If I could, I would leave baskets of popcorn and jelly beans at all of your doorsteps.

As it is, I will just leave you with a picture of my new refrigerator.

It's shiny and pretty and the girls love it. So do I. :)

wow...

My sister pointed this blog out to me...it's fascinating. But those bugs are disgusting.

We're so removed from it all in this country. (Or maybe we just have less obvious symbolism to deal with...) Thinking of the things that we do to each other, physically and emotionally, makes me feel ill.

So far this year, someone I know has died every month. Not a particularly delightful thought.

randomness

I'm almost finished reading Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller. Go get it and read it now. Seriously, it's that good. Reading it has made me reflect on my past and how amazing it is that I am who I am where I am. It seems as if at any point in my life I could've turned out to be a caricature of Christianity (not that I've got it perfect by any means). But God made sure that didn't happen. And I think a lot of that is because my mom is amazing. Of course I didn't realize that when I was growing up, but in so many ways she did things and believed things that were different from other people but that were true. And she didn't do it aggressively or with an agenda, she just did it. I think she'd say that she learned from the things she didn't like when she was growing up. Joe says that, too. It makes me wonder if I've actually learned anything. I've always been surrounded by people who have learned things, and I feel like I tend to just depend on those around me.

Sometimes it's hard. In the Christian culture, even the anti-Christian culture Christian culture, it seems as if there's a stratification. People who do things that affect large groups of people, particularly oppressed or marginalized groups, are held up as examples and have articles written about them. I'm sorry, I just can't make it to Africa this year, I have laundry to do.

I'm not looking for a pity party, I swear. Sometimes it's just hard to believe that this stratification that we apply to every aspect of life is not how God operates. And if that's the case, then why do we do it? Did He create that tendency in us? Seriously, is it really the same spending an hour with orphans and spending an hour trying to get all of us dressed in the morning? It's like trying to reconcile the idea that we don't know what's going to happen in the next hour or the next day with the reality that we have to make plans, whether it's to go to the beach or what to have for dinner.

Alaina requested "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" as our lunchtime soundtrack. She even knows that it's a Beatles song. I wonder if my kids are going to think I was amazing, despite the freakouts I'm prone to when they make a mess unnecessarily... (Don't squish your muffin! Why did you do that?!?)

My sibs and I used to play the "crusties" game. For whatever reason, people stare at us when we go places together. Inevitably, every time we walked into the mall, we would win because of the number of people who looked at us funny. I sort of feel like I'm playing that game by myself now, but sometimes it's a little less innocuous. It is far from the easiest thing in the world to do errands with three small children. I always have this voice in the back of my head telling me that I did this to myself - this is the choice that we made, so I can't complain. That's not what I used to believe. I used to believe that God would give us children according to His plan for our family. I still believe that. Everything else just doesn't look like I think it should. The way things are going, God is blessing us in ways that I never expected, or maybe even wanted. I'm not sure what to do with that.

By the way, I now believe that a water bottle is completely inferior unless it is filled with candy. (Thanks Azina!) :)