What the Future Looks Like

This is so FREAKIN' cool! You can go to Obamicon.Me and upload any picture you want and turn it into a neat-o portrait like this one. Created by Paste Magazine, the image is inspired by Shephard Fairey's style poster that was so popular this election.

Also, thanks Jim for the neat link. The picture is of the inauguration of President Obama. Check out this, friends: Click on the in-text link for the photo, let it load up, and then zoom in super-close. Give it time to refresh, and you can make out individual faces...very cool image.

Taking the First Step

I did it today.
I signed him up for pre-school.

PRE-SCHOOL.

I can't believe it. I was all good in the days leading up to it. I had spoken with the director at a church function and she told me that they had had the open house a few weeks ago and that the three year old class was filling up. Initially, I was going to sign him up for two days a week this year, and then three days next year. But the two day a week morning class was full. And y'all know I'm not messing with the afternoon naptime (when else would I blog?) So he will go to school on MWF from 9-11:30 beginning in September.

I like the school very much because there is a big focus on socialization and play. It is actually run by the church that we attend and Trenton is familiar with the classroom (that is where he goes for nursery during the service). I think he'll be ahead in some areas and ready to learn more. I look forward to walking him to school in the jogging stroller, dropping him off, then heading over to the gym with just Ollie to get a work out in (both places are within a mile of our home).

Anyway, today we decided to visit the school while classes were in action. He was able to go in the classroom and play while the other kids were there. He colored, sang, played with a beanbag, ate a snack, followed directions, and did all the other things a big boy does. I did not cry. But man, it was hard to watch him doing all of those things and not think back to the days when he was as small as Ollie is now.

No pictures, but you can imagine the big smile on his face when I told him that he could come to school here in the fall, when he turns three and a half.

Another Thing That Wouldn't Have Happened...

... if McCain was in the White House. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law today by Pres. Obama. This bit of equal-pay legislation has been on my radar for quite awhile. I'm still amazed that there are employers out there who can somehow justify paying people differently based on their gender. In needing to file a complaint within 180 days of the first occurance, this woman lost a Supreme Court case because of that silly rule. She worked for 19 years at Goodyear as a supervisor, finding out that the others were earning much more than she did near the end of her tenure there. McCain and other opponents argued that this bit of legislation would encourage more lawsuits (um, if they are justified, DEAL WITH IT) or that the affected would put off filing claims in order to get a bigger payout.

Craziest part (to me) of today's ordeal? From the Times:
*Mr. Obama signed his name to the bill, using one pen for each letter.“I’ve been practicing signing my name very slowly,” Mr. Obama said wryly, looking at a bank of pens before him. He handed the first pen to the bill’s chief sponsor, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, and the last to Ms. Ledbetter.*

Well, OK... I guess if everyone wants a pen, that is what you do... But really, one pen per letter?!?

Bring on the Mr. Bubble. I bought it in bulk. Trying to keep it to twice a week, though. Not too good to be sitting in that stuff regularly, I'm sure.

Photo Shoot, 1/26/09

Okay, someone better let me know if this is illegal...
I tried to get these into a slide show at Slide, but it wouldn't let me do it with this form of pictures (.dll?) But I HAD to get them up here so that you all could see them. The photographer was FANTASTIC and it was hard to pick just a few pictures to buy. So I tried to get the ones that had expressions that I have not already captured. I got the above picture in a set of wallets.

And the one above here I got printed in black and white to hang on the wall as the "Three Year Old Picture".

And the one above is Oliver's 3 month picture (also done in black and white).

Well, it's not like I'm stealing anything, right? I mean, they all have the darn "Zazzle" logo printed on them!

"I'm Getting Tired of This"

I've decided that this year I'd write down all the little things that Trenton says that just crack me up and put them in a jar. When it comes time for Christmas cards, I may send them along to you. Or maybe I'll blog them. Either way, my friends Ali and Mike do it with their kids and it makes me crack up reading them every year.

So, in looking at Dawn's post about Katie's "two times", I knew I had to get on and blog about Trenton's "I'm getting tired of this".

Last night we had hot dogs, mac and cheese, and beans for dinner. My kid does not eat hot dogs often (for awhile, he thought that Mickey Mouse's name was 'hot dog'-- something to do with a Playhouse Disney theme song he learned at the gym). But he's taken a liking to them recently. He absolutely HATES beans and it is usually a struggle to get him to eat mac and cheese. Not sure why, as he loves cheese, and most three-year-olds would want mac and cheese every night for dinner.

After a twenty minute struggle to get him to eat, I abandoned the table to begin cleaning up and Jim took Ollie to the couch for some cuddle time. Every once in awhile, Jim would remind Trenton to eat. And each time, T would respond in the negative, or not respond at all. At one point, he said, "Come on Buddy, eat some beans!" And Trenton's reply? Just low enough, almost under his breath, he says, "I'm getting tired of this!" HA! I didn't realize how often I say that when I'm getting frustrated with him... must be often enough that he knows how to use it in context!

Anyway, it snowed about 4 inches last night here and then quickly turned to rain. Jim has a delayed opening, the town has a snow day, and we were lucky enough to get out and play in it this morning while Oliver slept. No pictures as we were all busy building snowmen, shoveling, and sledding down the hill in the back. And then Jim went to the gym and took Trenton with him (childcare there--thank goodness). I'm supposed to be doing my yoga/pilates tape now while Ollie sleeps-- so I have to sign off now! UPDATE: Took Ollie to the doctor's office yesterday. Seems that his cold is indeed just a cold. Poor kid sounds nasty still, though, and his eye is leaking fluid that then dries up and looks gross. Using green tea bags for that and saline for his nose. With suction. Great, right?

P.S. Check out this article, "Babies Know- A Little Dirt Is Good for You". Over-reliance on anti-bacterial soap, hand sanitizer, etc. is someday going to come back haunt us. But at the same time, I wish that my kid wasn't looking so miserable with a cold...

Enjoy your snow day, if you have one!

I Love My Husband!

Look what Jim made for me!
I truly did not remember that today held any significance... but he did. So sweet, right?
We actually got married exactly one and a half years later, to the day. Ha!
:}{:

First Cloth Diaper!

The time has come! Mommy couldn't wait any longer!
And, dang, he looks so cute!

So I've been selling off all of my diapers that I used with Trenton. Many were still OK, most were stretched out, and I'm psyched to buy new ones for Ollie. But there are four good BumGenius One Size diapers that didn't sell, and are still in great shape from Trenton. And Aunt Shairna gave Ollie two for Christmas. The thing with these is that you can adjust the size (kinda like a grow-with-me diaper). I initially bought these thinking I'd use them on two kids-- kinda paid off!
I decided that since I have six use-able diapers, I'd give 'em a try. Now, the kid goes through at least ten diapers a day, and I've heard that cloth pockets aren't the best at restraining breastfeed poop... but we'll have to see.

I just HAD to put this outfit on him. It is a t-shirt with matching pants and socks (too cute!) that I got from my friend Stacey. Normally I don't dress my kid up in silly outfits... but this one really made me smile. Check out the tuft of "mane" on the back of his butt!

Oliver is getting better about holding his head up. He uses his playmat often and tolerates tummy time (Trenton is very fond of that term-- makes him giggle to say it).

A whole post devoted to Ollie--- he deserves it! Such a good, happy baby. Even when he is sick. Sleeping on my lap right now... Jolly Ollie ;)

Indoor Aerobics

It has been wicked cold here this week-- in the teens. I feel bad shuffling the kids outside for any reason... Ollie's sniffles and coughs are so sad :( He did sleep better last night, after having a nebulizer treatment and using the humidifier.
These pictures are of Trenton dancing to The Wiggles- Getting Strong. This Christmas DVD (thanks again, Grandma K.!) really motivates Trenton to dance and jump as he watches it.

Can you see the new car seat? T is finally big enough for the new-style booster seat. I like it so much better than the 5-pt. car seat (which he has been in since he was 10 months old), although I've read that the 5-pt. is the safest place to be for as long as they can fit into it. But his feet are so long, they were hitting the seat! And we were running out of strap with his big winter coat on... Anyway, this one uses the real seat belt. Seems to work well!

On nights when Jim works late, I let Ollie lay in bed with Trenton while we read books and say prayers. They looked too darn cute so I had to run and get the camera.

Sleigh Ride

Hello Folks! Haven't blogged in awhile... things are getting busy around here. Trenton had croup last week, I had a little cold, Ollie is just starting on a cold, and Jim's spring semester of classes began.
These sledding pictures are from last week. We got a good snowfall-- enough to get the sled down from the attic. Since then, it's been so freaking cold outside that we are pretty much staying in.

They played outside for about 20 minutes, and then it was time for hot chocolate again.

Busy weekend, too. We visited the Konopacks and Kim and Bob's new house in the Poconos. Lots of time in the car... Also got the kid's pictures taken professionally for the first time at the Picture People. Mom bought some nice prints and I plan to go to a closer PP with the boys next week to use my own coupon and get some done...
Thanks again to Wes and Amanda for this ADORABLE outfit for Ollie! It fits him so well-- not shrunken like all of his hand-me-downs!

Also, a big congratulations to my cousin Jennifer, her husband Andy, and big brother Brayden! Barron Walker arrived on 1/16 weighing over 7 lbs! And that was like, two weeks before her due date! We will meet him soon, and I'll post pictures then.

And, finally, we spent most of yesterday glued to the TV. What an inauguration, eh? We were impressed by the determination of the crowd (standing around in freezing cold weather), the somber optimism of the acceptance speech, and relieved to know that all the festivities went off without a hitch. I spent some of the morning in the dentist's office. They had a TV right in the room-- and I got to view coverage from there!
We are very interested to see what this administration will do first. Best of health and divine guidance to you, President Obama. You're going to need it ;)

Surfin'

Man, what a good day for great articles to read.

First of all, mad props to the pilot who skillfully landed this one in the water... seriously, no sarcasm here. Better in the water (everyone survived) than on land!

And then there's this one. An Obama phone? Gotta have it!!!

As one of the NY Times' Most Viewed Stories of 2008, they are re-printing it now. I remember reading it the first time and trying out some of the beet recipes with our CSA food this summer.
And, last but not least, are you counting down? You should be, because "We have to go back".
Might wanna get a free set of the Dharma tattoos...
PS This is also a great site for Easter Eggs.
PPS- Best recaps online here.
PPPS Finally, if you have no clue as to what I'm talking about, go HERE.