Names I love.

Somehow growing up, we knew who all the cousins were and who they were with. I don't think it was until I did the wedding database that I realized there was so much carry-over. Other than the time we were in Mass for the untimely passing of my cousin and MAM (My Aunt Mary) put all of the hotel rooms in M Naughton...with the exception of 2? Ps? The guy at the desk thought she was nuts...but really...in the 15 or so rooms, they almost all had an M Naughton. I see this as convenient:)

So someone in a "mom's group" was just asking for Irish names for their son...and so I began, well we have a Stephen and a Thomas and a Michael and a Joseph in Ireland...and we have a Stephen and a Michael and a Joseph here...then then there's a Mack and a Patrick and a Joseph...

I continued to write that it's not that confusing, you just do as the Amish and put the parent's name first, ie: Peg's Michael, Helen's Joe. Then I said, oh well there is one Helen with a hubby Joe and a son Joe...oh jaaazzzuuss Mary & Joseph that's both the Helens...

Status Updates..the Amish way.

Before facebook, did I know what anyone was up to? The Amish did.
I subscribe to Die Botschaft...the weekly Amish newspaper. It's a hoot. It is a compilation of letters written in by the scribe in each district/parish with a dusting of awesome advertisements. Need to know where to get a full treadle sewing machine, just let me know!:)
This week's update from Lowville, NY. the town neighboring my mother in law. Ok maybe not a town....but a group of houses on the other side of the hill and within a 15 minute drive to Turning Stone, well, by car.

Lowville, NY
David & Saloma Beiler
March 15, Tuesday
A new day! What an opportunity. And looks to be a lovely one, with the sun out so bright, after the 20 degree morning. I see steam from three sugar camps, which looks to be very thrilling. What nicer way to spent your time than trudging the woods gathering sap. Working with nature! Here it is shop work, and seems no let up there yet. Yesterday we dressed a turkey someone gave us. An old (at least three years!) rooster. I knew people who used to come for old hens to make chicken corn soup. Said old ones have more flavor. Well, I know see that is true. This rooster has a very rich flavor, much more so than fryers.
Sounds like everyone in the area was well and busy. A new arrival in the area was a Henry to Dannie A and Becky Stoltzfus. Bringing their total up to seven. Five boys and two girls. Amos R's of MD and Sammie B's, local are the grands.
Amos and Lydia Hertzler were home over the weekend, (Ammons) am not sure how long they will be here. Also Chris W's Rudy of Path Valley, Pa is here helping is brother in the sugar bush. Greenhouses are started up, and our snow seems to be going the way of all snows. Not that I think anyone is sorry. It is beginning to seem like spring isn't too far off. Although, it does not come in March in the North Country.
My sister writes her lilac bush will soon be in bloom and one patch of daffodils is near. Well, I'm glad we still have that to look forward to; but still kind of makes the heat rise to read such, although I know i could not handle Maryland's heat in the summers. So guess we best bloom where we are planted. Then our glowers will bloom in due time.
Have a good week.

Have you ever heard the word trudging used so positively? :-) It's like "your week in status updates" for all the folks in Lowville. We hear about the new baby, what was for dinner last night, the maple sap, the vising family and the weather. We even get the update from MD included:) Just no pics, digital or otherwise, and the news is a week behind--"amish real time."

I love these people. To follow their lives week by week is truly a look into the lives of their people, a culture so different from our own but really just over the east hill.

"not-chili"

I have a wonderful hubby. He does not have an extensive list of foods he'll eat. I must say it's expanded in the last few years, and HE actually told me something I made a couple months ago was a little bland! whoa! So progress has been made. One thing that he refuses to eat: chili. One of his top 20 things I make: cowgirl beans. I'll share the recipe:)

1lb ground beef
2Tbsp Onion Flakes or 1/2 small onion diced fine (remember...he hates onions:)

1Tbsp of vinegar
1Tbsp of Worcestershire Sauce
8oz Tomato Paste
1/4c BBQ sauce
4 cans of beans (I use 2 pork & beans, 2 baked beans...2 drained 2 not)

Brown the beef and onion. Drain if necessary.

Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

It looks like chili to me:) with a bit of a smokier flavor.

We serve over rice, egg noodles or baked potatoes, and usually top with a sprinkle of cheddar

If you need a quick filling meal...thats "not-chili" enjoy Cowgirl beans:)

(If you are feeding a larger group, I have made this with 6 cans of beans without adding more meat. Just up the BBQ a little)

the next best thing to love (the one about PB pancakes---updated!:)

Peanut Butter Pancakes!
While vacationing in Florida @ my parents, we went to Yoder's Amish Restaurant twice. The morning we were leaving we were there for breakfast. I'm pretty sure that NOTHING is a bad choice on that menu. Wayne ordered the Peanut Butter Pie Chocolate Chip Pancakes...write that on a little note pad. It was love at first bite. He was certain my parents would have to send some to him until we were back again. (Why do I have a funny feeling that upon arriving in Sarasota next January, our first stop will be Yoders?) He did let me have a small bite, only because I told him it would be easier to replicate had I eaten them before.
Try I did.
The first attempt...eh...not so great. Edible, but not the same.
Try two: as close as I'll get to perfection without blackmailing IdaMae for the recipe.
The boys are in love.

First step: A nice griddle. I use an All-Clad double burner griddle which is amazing. I was serving the "panycakes" (Joey's term) with sausage, so cooked those first while preparing the batter, then wiped down with paper towel.

As with most batters, I find the KitchenAid stand mixer to be a great help, but especially with this sticky batter. This is more like a cookie dough, than a pancake.

2c flour
5 tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
4 Tbsp sugar
4 Tbsp veggie oil
2 eggs
2c milk
1c pb (I use creamy)
1.5c chocolate chips (mini ones would be fine too)

UPDATE: Add flour through eggs and then mix...clean this kitchen, start the coffee.  Wait until it's little mini-peas (a la pastry dough).  THEN add milk, 1c at a time.  Once combined add PB and mix well.  Add chips if desired.

Now, you can sub PB for cream cheese.  However, cut 8oz cc into about 20? cubes.  Once added, don't mix too much.  PB is good evenly distributed, CC is best when still chunks.

It is critical to use a low temp when cooking.  I had my gas range in between 2 & 3 for the duration.
I ladle on and cook as one cooks pancakes.

Once cooked, serve with a sprinkling of PB crumbles (sugar and PB in almost equal parts combined with a pastry blender or food processor. Slightly more sugar than PB. A batch of these keeps for a while in a rubbermaid in the cabinet.) and maybe a few chocolate chips. The boys liked these traditionally topped with butter and syrup.

These are filling. This batch (for dinner) left us with leftovers (3) for Wayne's dinner the next night.

If you are lucky enough to have leftovers, store between waxed paper in a ziplock. Reheating in the toaster oven is our fave method.

Enjoy!

Love

love

[luhv]noun, verb, loved, lov·ing.

–noun

1.

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2.

a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.

One of the more basic concepts in our world is love. Even most children are aware of the word and can conclude their own meaning of it. Why is it, that some people seem to only love themselves? Not so much a stranger, but a member of your immediate family. I know better than to assimilate love and affection, I know in some cases there can be a very deep love by someone who is short on words to express it or the affection to. In these cases you see it in actions. There was a country song a few years ago about a Dad who was just this person. He always made sure Jr's car was good on fluids, checked the tires and told him to drive safe...while Mom was giving hugs and being emotional. I get that some people are not affectionate, based on either the environment they were brought up in or their own personal struggles.

Affection aside, how can you not love your children? I suppose I always thought that a parent wants what is best for their children, and grandchildren. That regardless of their means, they would try to prepare them for a great future. I think that in a case of the family business, whether it be a circus, a farm, or a chain of motels, your motivation IS your children. Growing the business so they can support their families and you did yours. Preparing your children for the roles they will fill either along side you, or instead of you. Cultivating, if you will, the next generation of both the business and the familial generation. I know for different people, this looks different. How we go at a task of the heart can vary based on our personal skill sets and comfort level in human interaction.

A few days ago, while going to pick up George's crib, I was pointing something out to Joey. He says "not now mom I'm trying to think." What are you thinking about? "I'm thinking about when I'm old enough to run the farm. I could do it for 9 years and then let my brother take over, I don't need to be the boss." Love. There it is. He already loves his brother. He has great plans for them as a duo and his best interest already in mind. Joey's a planner...much like..um...his mother:) His thought process continued and he decided that they could have their own departments they would be in charge of. Then he requested a third brother to be in charge of animals. One of our favorite local farms is run by three brothers, each with their own passion and therefore department. From the outside, we think it rocks:)

As parents, we overlook small flaws in our children, we build them up. Even in adult relationships, it makes for a much more harmonious and productive household if I build my husband up rather than tearing him down over socks on the floor and other minuscule things.

Children, like employees, need management. They are not adults because they cannot function completely on their own. They are trainees, if you will. If they worked at Cracker Barrel, they'd have no stars on their apron. While a child may be capable of certain tasks, it doesn't mean he may not need reminders, pointers, and correction. Children are curious, left to their own resources they may explore. Does that make them bad? no. However, this is where supervision comes in to play. Set clear boundaries, set up consequences, give them age appropriate freedoms, enforce the consequences. Children are a full time commitment, not part time. Complaining about a child who does not act completely as an adult, but as an exceptional NINE year old, is not fair to the child.

No child is perfect...including Joey. I spend a lot of the day training him. Make certain he's staying on task, check his diligence in chores, when his work is done properly, he is rewarded with free time. I'm certain if I just let him be, he would eat, not pick up the kitchen, the dog & cats may go hungry, he'd be in his jammies at 5:00 and probably would have watched star wars all day and not done any school work. Is that his fault? absolutely not. We train children with increasing responsibilities so that come the age of majority they are self sufficient. Due to Joey's size, he accomplishes a lot of tasks that other kids wouldn't be able to do until they were 12 or so. I like to think he's above the curve in responsibility, but that doesn't mean he isn't 9.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

A child, is not a man. Don't criticize him for his lack of 10 years.

The Joey Story

I suppose this should have prefaced yesterday's post, but that's why "real writers" have editors, no? I tend to think that "everyone knows" the "Joey story"...but about a month ago I realized my FIL's fiance of 5 years didn't....so I guess not.
I'll cliff note the beginning.
Wayne and I met online in 1999. I was studying at Manhattan College he was home on the farm. We talked online or emailed almost every day. For 13 months. He started asking me to meet him after about 6. This is back in the day when people "just didn't meet online"...so something weirded me out about it. it may have had something to do with my 4th grade school project that said "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I wrote "NOT a farmer or a nurse."
Finally, June 7th of 2000 we met at Crossgates Mall in Albany. I in my 1993 green and tan Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer, he in his 1998 green Ford F-150 XL. We parked next to the same tree, though we met inside. The intent: dinner and a movie. The reality: we talked too long to see a movie. So it was dinner/dessert at Houlihans. He had apple pie for dessert and made me promise not to tell his mom it was better than hers:)
It was the start of something fabulous.
We spent a lot of time together over the next year.
In the spring of 01, darling Wayne started talking about "our future." In short, he wanted a minivan and kids....I was soooo not there...yet. (Funny how I now stalk Honda Odysseys.) I was busy traveling and working for my Dad. That summer I planned to be all over the place, and couldn't imagine for the life of me WANTING to be in ONE place. how boring!
and I left...a very sad guy...in April of 01.
a few weeks later I wasn't feeling well. I remember ordering Chinese to a school in Brooklyn we were working...I ordered white rice and broccoli. Tosca says "what are you pregnant" "yeah right"....
indeed I was.
awesome.
meanwhile, I live with my parents. By live I mean most nights I share a hotel room with my Dad...and when we're home it's uber "tight" too. ie: I didn't go to Walmart alone...
Around the 20th of April we (my Dad, myself and 8 ponies) headed to Saskatchewan. and. i. worked. I remember when I started hanging out with the amazing Patty Zerbini. She had two teenagers, 3 elephants, a bus, a semi and an infant....and man did she rock it.
But I couldn't do that.
The plan was to terminate.
Well. Being in a foreign country, with your father up your butt...all.the.time...there's really no where to go to even investigate.
I came home to the states a few times, but not long enough to coordinate appointments.
So I just worked my tail off and hoped nobody would notice. We ended up on another show for most of the summer and I worked alongside another awesome elephant guy. We had dinner every night, breakfast every morning, and spent all day together chatting about al-U-min-E-um and Tag Heur watches and Z-trois. It was purely a friendship though...he was actually in love with someone else...who we talked about all.the.time:) which was fine with me. She's one of my favorite people.
So we were finally home in August.
9/11 happened. We lost my cousin Jimmy.
A few days later, on my way to Virginia to scope out jobs I stopped at my Aunt & Uncles house with brownies. I gave my Uncle a hug for probably the first time in my life...and I felt the baby move for the first time.
That was a long drive to Virginia.
Then I decided adoption would be best. In student congress we had debated PBAs all.the.time and I hated the thought of it. I also thought that since Jimmy was taken, this must be God's way of bringing new life. (Not that I was all that close w/God at the time.)
So November 18th I moved to Virginia. Finally "cut the cord" and could do things on my own. I picked a family through an adoption agency and I met them at a Cracker Barrel. They had a minivan, an older boy who played soccer, and looked really lovely.
I told them I thought it was a boy and that he would be here before Christmas.
I went to get Medicaid. They didn't believe I was pregnant...(at 36 weeks) and I needed a Dr's note.
I got a job at Walmart. I put on my app that I wanted $10/hr. Well, turns out with that they needed a girl in the hardware dept so their numbers were right. Sure enough I got $10/hr...to hang picture frame hanging kits on little pegs.
Sweet.
I had a job in sales lined up at the Ford dealership in Tyson's Corner, but not until after the 1st of the year.
Well, I was pretty sure that baby was coming. On a Sunday I drove over to the hospital...had to convince the L&D staff that I was pregnant...They ended up sending me home b/c he wasn't ready.
Tuesday I went back. I got there around 3:30. They decided to induce me at 38 weeks.
I had told one person by now. Two, but one was drunk at the time and didn't remember. The one I told was because I knew I'd need an emergency contact at the hospital...and i knew he would use discretion, but call my parents if something was really wrong.
They started the induction at 6ish...and things progressed smoothly. I remember wondering which birthday he'd be born on...that day was a dear friend's bday--genious...and the drunk guy I had told. The other was also a great guy. So I decided that if some qualities are related to the day you are born...either would be good.
Well...I had to wait for the Dr. Who was...well...kind of a jerk. Joey was born just after midnight.
The "family" came up the next day. I did hold him and give him a bottle...and was surprised how "chill" he was. His apgars were 9 & 10...looked like blonde and blue as I would have figured.
I had to give him a name.
Since it wouldn't be "used" I names him James Woods Naughton...after my cousin who died. I thought it would be nice for it to be "somewhere."
Finally I was out of there. I only had Canadian money and convinced the guy at the gas station to let me buy gas with it:)
I went home and showered...oh that was great!:)
I got my mail. A Christmas card from Wayne's mom. If she only knew.
I was starving.
I went to Cracker Barrel.
There was a man in the parking lot--senior citizen who also had a truck. We chatted a bit in the parking lot and by the time we got to the door he asked if I'd eat with him.
Sure, why not.
He was a nice guy. I liked him. I remember talking about his wife he lost and how he still RVs because she always loved it.
Then I went back to visit the baby. I brought him my stuffed eeyore and held him. One of the nursery nurses said "you'll take him home"...i thought--yea right.
Back home online I started researching car seats...but didn't have the money or anything. So it wasn't happening.
a week later i drove home from virginia for Elizabeth's birthday. On the way home in PA I had these awful cramps after eating baby carrots. I figured it was things going back into place...or maybe I overdid it with 1500 crunches/day...who knew?
So I got home, picked up Elizabeth from school, etc.
After dinner I was still crampy and couldn't get comfortable. But my Dad wanted to go to Walmart and do some Christmas shopping. So we went. I just about got through HBAs and couldn't do anymore. me. I couldn't shop! we checked out with the few things I bought and I gave my dad the keys to my truck. At that point, he said we're going to the hospital. (I NEVER let him drive my truck.)
So we got to St Peter's and while he was in the hallway I explained to the Dr that I had a baby but nobody knew and we had to keep it that way. Fine, no prob-I was 21.
Ended up being pancreatitis/gall bladder.
Well we had to wait until some levels went down so they could operate. So every day they would print out my labs for my mom. She knew what they meant...I certainly didn't.
Well one day there was a new nurse who printed out my whole report...including the part that said "post partum" My mom IMed me from home and asked what that meant. pssht. must be a typo.
Wayne and his mom even came to visit me. Isn't that adorable:) He had another gf at the time...but he still gave me a hug when his mom "oh so strategically" left us alone:)
So surgery is done, I go home.
My mom comes downstairs and knows I can't lie to her face and says "so what does that mean?"
oh crap...game over.
i went to the safe and got out the footprints from the hospital.
and she cried. and said "we have to tell your father"
really? I made it THIS FAR without telling him.
So...we told my father. He said "we're going to get that baby"
oh.
we are?
um...I should tell Wayne.
It was a power outage so I only had my laptop battery and dial-up to communicate. So I emailed him...btw, we have a kid....this is what I'm naming him...i don't want money, but you may have a relationship if you wish.
I immediately changed his name to Joseph Patrick Naughton...after my favorite Uncle. Since Uncle Joe is either, Joe, JoJo or Joseph...Joey got Joey:)
On Jan 5th we picked Joey up from his adoptive family. It wasn't final in VA yet...i had to go back down and go to court after 30 days. I had a 30 day no questions asked window.
Wayne emailed back initially saying that he'd be down on Monday to meet him and we could go from there.
Before Monday came there was an email...he may have dictated it, but didn't type it. Saying that it would be better off if he didn't get involved so he wouldn't be pulled between two houses, etc.
Seemed weird but whatever. (Turns out his father told him it wouldn't be a good idea.)
If Patty could do it with elephants and a baby, you bet your butt I could. screw him.
At 5weeks old. Joey was on the road with the circus. My friend Sadie had just had her son Samat. I remember being at the UPS in Latham picking up a toy order w/my ryder truck and Sadie's husband. I called Pierre to tell him. He was excited. We talked briefly b/c he had to go back on with the elephants. That's the last time I spoke to him. He was killed a year or so later.
Sadie's husband died in a tragic accident a month later. we never know, do we?
Joey's first few months of life were spent in hotels and trucks. Might have something to do with his current truck obsession:) At 15m old he was pushing boxes 10 times his size down the hallway.
I ended up w/a bf. and made a life somehow. Until I was tired of his mooching butt and was done. (I worked...he didn't...and didn't do anything at home)
Well now, I'm living on my own in Saratoga. Working 65hrs/week at a trucking company and Joey needs daycare and insurance. He was almost 3.
I went to the county to get child care assistance. I was told I had to file for child support.
I had no other option.
So I did.
His father told him to get DNA testing...so we did.
Then we had the court date for support. He had a lawyer, I didn't. I told his lawyer he could have him up to 50% of the time and save on child care, etc.
The lawyer told Wayne that I was great.
On the way out of court his lawyer says "you two should really talk" and we did. We talked for 20 minutes or so in the parking lot. He had a bit of a cold but said he'd be over on Monday. I was hoping this Monday would come.
Well he came over...hung out with Joey. Joey liked looking at his truck through the window.
the next day Joey and I were out running errands and saw a blue/green F-250 and he says "that's my Daddy's truck"...and I cried. I had never mentioned the "D" word...
We've been together ever since.

Was it planned?

Ok here goes. My least favorite question having to do with pregnancy.
"Was it planned?"
Our answer? very much so. In reality...who cares? We've owned our house for almost five years, have 3 vehicles younger than our oldest child, pay our bills and function as adults....we're even married now.
I'm a planner...there's NO DENYING that! Which is one of the top reasons that in April of 07 I had my tubes "tied." At the time we didn't see how we could "ever" afford another kid...or manage a baby with our schedules. There was also the "what would they say" element. When Joey was born I remember Mom Peg telling me..."we love Joey we're glad he's here, but don't let it happen again" ok great.
Never one to want to disappoint those around me, I lead the campaign to shut down the factory and avoid the "risk" of another child.
God has a funny way of working on people. That was April. In September I had my car accident. After about 2 days of being home due to the injuries...I started dreaming of another child. I read the "tightwad gazettes" and I remember clearly a line in there where the author had been watching a program on tv when her youngest was an infant, and they were saying how it's "impossible" to survive on one income "these days" (In the mid-80s). She said she shook her fist at the TV and told that guy "No it's not impossible and I'm going to do it"....
It was then I started dropping hints to Wayne.
There's a few reasons I desired a second child. First of all, I think children are a blessing...and who wouldn't want to receive blessings? Secondly, though we have a child. We never "had a baby"...sure in the technical sense of the term...the DNA is there. Joey was 3 before Wayne met him. There was no Dr appts, ultrasounds, maternity clothes, baby showers, there was no 1st birthday party...there was no mommy, daddy, Joey moments...there was a big empty hole. Joey has no clue and is convinced he rode home in Daddy's new truck when he was 5m old...but still for me...it's an empty space.
I wanted to "do it together"...
Just when I thought that maybe he was starting to agree...12/28/09 was a bittersweet day. Wayne's godson DJ was born. I love DJ and his parents, please don't misunderstand. All the excitement and phonecalls and the "he's arrived" wonderful chaos, just hit me like a ton of bricks. i drove myself to the hospital....and home again when I had Joey. That night Wayne told me "we made a decision, we need to live with it" and I cried...
I was bummed for a while. But apparently didn't give up.
On Mother's Day Eve 2010, a month after we were married, I was all the way up in our room, Joey and Wayne were down in the shop in the basement. They wanted to know what I wanted for mother's day. Joey kept bringing ideas all the down and came back up with a "nope, something else" So finally I made a list. i shot for the moon:) Including "German Sheppard Puppy, Compound Miter Saw, Flowers, 2-3 more kids" Well Joey brought the list down...then back up with some lines through a few things...like the puppy and the saw....and a circle around the 2-3. So I went back down this time and said "what does this mean?" He said "well I don't know how many" yay!:) So on mother's day he took us to lunch at Uno's and bought me a lowe's gift card...with flowers on it:) We started discussing names.
I was under the impression that I could have a reversal of my procedure.
August 28th I found out, from a Dr who preforms reversals every day, that the Drs advertising "my kind" of reversal had a 5% success rate in 3 years. Insert knife into heart.
Then I remembered that the dr that did my procedure had moved to a fertility clinic before our final follow-up. i poked around their site and started explaining the option to Wayne for ivf. Initially he thought he didn't know anything about it...but with cow-reproduction he knew more than me.
After a few days I called to schedule a consult. Since i was already a patient I got in on September 23rd for the consult. (I was the first of their clients to ask what temp extra embabies are stored at, because Wayne said we could just buy a vet freezer if the temp was right, rather than pay for storage:) Our cycle began on October 4th...with a grant of $3500 worth of FREE medicine. I gave myself one or two injections daily (a miracle in and of itself) to stimulate egg production and stop them from being released. On October 23rd...the dr retrieved my eggs...11 all together...and fertilized them. 5 days later two precious embryos, the only two surviving and genetically normal were placed back inside. 4.75 days later, I started testing positive on home preg tests...and the following week a positive blood test at the fertility clinic. followed by a series of 4 weekly ultrasounds before a discharge to my OB's office.
So yes...this child was very much planned. That doesn't mean it didn't require the hand of God to make that child implant and begin to grow. Joey wasn't planned by us...God had different plans.
Just because we think we're planning something, doesn't me we are really in control anyway. Sure we had to enlist Drs this time...but they can't make a baby "stick" and grow....that's still in God's hands. There are women who try 7 cycles of ivf before conceiving...if at all!
We're delighted to be pregnant. We are very much enjoying the whole experience this time.
Do I wish we could leave the whole process up to the Lord? sure thing. But it's my fault the factory was shut down...so we need to give him the tools...and He's used them for His glory!
So "planned" or not...this mother's day our second son will be in the final stages of growth:-)

How long has THAT been there?

So last week the boys and I went to a pancake breakfast. When we got there I had to pee...of course. I happened to glance in the utilitarian mirror and saw this freaken skunk stripe on top of my head. What the heck? I've had scattered greys for a few years now. About 2 years ago I was walking down the street with my Uncle Joe right behind me. He says "Um...excuse me Miss Naughton...what is that on top of your head?" From one of the few people who has a clear view of the top of my head:)
So I sit down at the table and ask Wayne "How long has that been there?" he was trying so hard to avoid the question or come up with a clever answer that I knew it must have been there for a while. OMG! I followed up with "is it always that visible or did I comb my hair different?" He says "maybe you did comb it different" (not buying that either)
So...um. I have a grey streak. eew.
idk. the scattered greys really didn't bother me much...they kinda blended or looked more like highlights. This freaken thing looks like I took a bleached soaked toothbrush and ran it through my hair.
I'm really not traditionally a vain person...or even someone that gets more than two haircuts a year. I did have highlights done before the wedding...because Aunt Mary told me too. (Maybe Uncle Joe had looked at the top of my head more recently?)
To top it off the night after the breakfast...I had a dream about a skunk and a raccoon. Not funny....sooo not funny.
I'm only 30...I don't think I'm ready for a streak. I know I'm not.
Nor am I really ready to commit to a lifetime of hair crap. However, I suppose I can't have both, right?
30....i'm 30. I do say "15-20 years ago" and remember that era vividly. I do look at high school kids and realize they are half my age....and kinda feel bad for them.
3o isn't old enough for a grey streak. I've only been married less than a year...and only on bambino #2.
Is it post-accident chronic pain? did that doom me?
Either way...I'm not ready for it.
I suppose it's time to start researching organic-ish coloring solutions that won't turn the baby colors....because I can't wait until July...
Barb, I'm coming to visit...make it go away!

A house full of boys!

Well, other than the dog, cat and cat-niece, this is such a boy house.
Today the boys and I went to a pancake open house sale thing at Walker's Farm Home & Tack. i was kinda psyched because I knew that other than shovels and wheel barrows there is half the store dedicated to clothes, gifts, toys and such. We walked in the door and Joey says "You are not buying anything for the baby"...like it's his money:)
We had breakfast first, then shopped for farm stuff...then went "to the other side." For such an "aggie" store...my oh my did they have a lot of girl clothes! I really didn't find any shirt/outfit i wanted for the baby. Some that were cute and I'd be ok with, but nothing I "had to have."
We went to look for boots for my wonderful hubby. Back and forth looking at a few different ones. He keeps coming back to this one pair, shoving his hand in them, deciding that it should be comfortable....on and on. Finally I took it from him and asked the attendant for his size. He's smiling asking "oh I guess I'll try them on?" I said well you need to stop making out with them and see how your feet like them:) He did like them...in the size I've been covertly buying him for 2yrs now..:)
I did find adorable cowboy boots for the newest little man...they had a few options, and we narrowed it down, but...I thought I'd be able to find them cheaper on ebay....what kid wears out infant size cowboy boots? Yet...I make kids with big feet. So I have a feeling we'll just get George his first boots next year at the breakfast...then we'll know they fit. (and they weren't any cheaper online..) They also had cute barn/rain boots that looked like cows...Wayne even thought those were cute! (that's saying a lot!)
After he decided on his boots he said to Joey "let's go look at the toys"....um...Joey's been an only child/grandchild/nephew for too long. He had everything...really. Wayne was like "how about this" got it "ooh what about this "I have it in die cast and bigger"...oh. after about 5 of these situations, Wayne says "Do you want to go to the other side and get that shovel?" his face lit up!
So Joey got a shovel and a wheelbarrow for the small calf barn and was just about the happiest kid ever pushing that wheelbarrow out to the truck.
I told Wayne...wait a year...you'll have someone else who is excited about new tractors...not that we need to buy ANY....EVER! We have enough for 10 boys. BUT...he plays with them, takes care of them, and they are contained.
I did find a cute puzzle for George...it's a Melissa & Doug chunky wooden puzzle with tractors/construction equipment...and another with a farm animals. Those we will need. Joey's puzzles are long gone.

But we don't need it today....he's not into puzzles yet:)

Not doing a menu

I'm procrastinating. I have a brain injury. It sucks. However, I've learned to cope and manage and at least get the house somewhat organized and properly running. To do that there are a GAZILLION systems in place. Each month ends with lists for the next. Starting with menu, groceries, updated inventory, then bills to be paid, upcoming expenses, projects for the month. I like to have it all done by the 1st of the month and tend to do my once monthly shopping a few days later. (Using up leftover perishables in the beginning of the month before starting with fresh.)

March....not happening.

I think I'm still convinced that March shouldn't happen until the snow is gone, or maybe it just shouldn't be here yet. Being away for over 2weeks in Feb, sure made that month fly by.

Well other than getting some milk and bread when we got back from vaca, I hadn't gone grocery shopping since around January 6th or 7th. Yes, really. Now, not that there was "NO Food" in the house, but when you live solely off the pantry, it feels not-creative and repetitive. Either way it was bugging me and I needed variety. I hadn't been to Walmart since October. It was my own little ban on stupid clientele and dumb management. i doubt they missed me.

With the ever increasing fuel prices, and our desire to cut expenses it's been decided that I should try to limit my trips out and about. Thursday was a busy day, I had Drs all morning, a stop at cracker barrel, picked up Joey at the farm, went to get his haircut, then home. Well, I had pics we took on Wednesday that we needed ON a poster for Saturday that I forgot to send over for printing on Wednesday night. Sooo. I went online to send them to Target...and they no longer do 1hr 5x7s:( bummer. Walmart does. So I sent them over and 20 minutes later I got a text that they were done.

Well, since we'd be there "anyway" I somehow decided we could get groceries. I tried to stick to the staples and the "normal" list. It was weird. Now, 4 days later I still don't have a menu or a freaken clue what we're eating for dinner. It's bugging the crap out of me. Which is normally a good motivator to get things done. But. I've never done it this backwards and I think part of me doesn't know "where to start" and therefore I'm avoiding it. I have a few ideas, but certainly not 24 more days worth.

The house is quiet, we have nowhere to go...the boy is out shoveling...and here I am blogging about not making my menu. I suppose that's a step up from avoidance...at least I'm acknowledging it now.....right?

George Thomas

This wiggly kicky guy inside of me has had a name for a long time...before he was even conceived, he had his name. So why? Why George Thomas?
First of all, George Edwin Woods was Wayne's grandfather. He was an awesome man that we loved a lot, and miss so much. Oddly. My Great Grandfater was George E Woods too. We're just that organized....or weird:) I promise the roots don't cross anywhere...just strange similarities!
Thomas, first off, is Wayne's Dad and Grandfather's name, and Wayne's middle name. Grandpa & Great Grandpa are Thomas Alexander.
I also have a Great Uncle Tom, and cousins Tom.
Early in the fall I was researching names, out of boredom, we already had ours. I discovered that George means "a farmer", and Thomas means "a twin." I cried instantly:) At that time, we were hoping for twins. Boy twins would have been George & Tommy. As the Lord would have it, our two wonderful strong embryos were a boy and a girl. They were both implanted, and two weeks later it looked like both were there, by the next week there was only one baby growing. Regardless of if our baby girl ever "stuck"...she was in there with him...so on a very technical level...he is a twin...maybe only in my heart.
George was the slightly smaller embryo but was growing strong, apparently he continued to do so:) It's amazing to see his growth between ultrasounds. Weeks 5 through 8 were all met with an ultrasound where he grew from a black space to a gummy bear:) Week 18 he looked somewhat like an alien, and in week 20 Daddy says "He's sure starting to look more like a person" ;-) We like to think he's a very cute little person:)
Today I bought him clothes. He'll have some growing to do in between now and when he wears them, but nonetheless, he has some clothes:) It sure has been a long time since I've folded clothes that small! Joey's in a mens medium now and 32-34/30s! These are a LOT smaller:) I've pretty much avoided anything in "newborn" except for one biggish looking outfit I picked up today. Joey wasn't one for staying small long...(obviously)...and I can't imagine his brother being any different:)
ha, I just looked over to George's little pile of clothes...they're sitting on a Thomas magazine...and only the word "Thomas" is visible:)
Thanks God for our little farm twin:)

A persons a person no matter how small!

My favorite line from the movie "Horton Hears a Who"

We found out yesterday that the smallish person in my belly is a boy! His name is George Thomas Gorsky, and we are uber excited to meet him...when the time comes of course! For now, there is a room to be finished!

Yesterday was also "Joey's new bunkbeds day." Well...new to him. I got them for free off freecycle from a lady 3/10mile away. Good deal. They are circa 1940s with iron springs and half-wagon-wheel head/foot boards. I need to do some bracing/rail building before he can go on top bunk, but I think they'll work...and the price is right:) The wood is stained just darker than the dresser I have in the room. The dresser is one my father had commissioned before my arrival for use as a tall-parent changing table. 31 years later, it will serve the same purpose:)

The color scheme for the kids room will be Lake Blue & Alfalfa Green, with some pale green, white and chocolate. I think it will be appropriate for both a 9yo and a newborn...and will grow with both well.

It looks as though the teddy bear situation is just about maxed out. I don't think I realized how many Joey had when we bought one for George in California! All of Joey's have a "story" though...so none are going anywhere. There is MY FAO Schwartz teddy bear that I got on a trip to the city with AnneMarie Dalton. I have a picture of us on the black leather couch in Amy Belinsky's apartment. There is the Cat in the Hat which is the first toy Joey asked for in Crossgates at about 5-6months old. By ask--I mean--pointed to and showed interest in:) There is the stuffed brown raccoon that Uncle Joe brought to Joey on his first visit. There is CarMach...a small brown bear I bought for Joey while traveling for my Dad's show. Day one in the International 4700 466DE, I spilled a Caramel Machhiato on him. There is my Patrick the Pup from FAO. There is Romeo...the blue elephant that I bought in 1993 at Madison Square Garden with Ruthie Chaddocks backstage pass for $18. There is the giraffe I bought just after Dickie the Giraffe of Commeford's died. There's a Mickey Mouse I bought for Bit while at Disney. There is the Large Pooh Bear that my mom's friend Rosemary Walsh gave to Elizabeth when she was born. There is the brown and white cow I found on craigslist about 3 years ago...NWT for $5...and does Joey love it. Then there is Kenny...the newest addition to Club Stuff. He is the bear Wayne and I bought for him on Valentine's Day in Saulsuito, CA at Babies R Us (Wayne's first time in a BRU) after his 18wk ultrasound. The bear then traveled to Louisville, Sarasota and home to NY in the "new" 1998 Kenworth W900B. So Kenny is his name.

I'm starting to realize why Joey already has two beds:)

We will be picking up the crib hopefully in the near future, then I will continue to move things around for 4 months. I "think" I know where everything is going...but I'm not 100%. I will know better once the crib is in place. Discovered yesterday that Joey's bookshelf needs to be replaced. A) it's too small B) it's too shallow for kids books and C) it's pretty much falling apart.

The Borders near us, like many, is closing due to their Chapter 11 Filing. Joey and I stopped by today and I started George's library off on the right foot. Joey has "most" of the classics: Eric Carle, Dr Seuss, Goodnight Moon, Shel Silverstein, etc. All the "baby books" short picture/board books are long gone...except the Thomas ones...those will go to the grave with Joey:) This whole "boy thing" it turns out I'm pretty good at. Yes, I'm sure we have tractor books...but a tractor/truck book that teaches colors? Where was that when Joey needed it? Other neato books like that too. AND a baby book. I don't think Joey ever had one---oops. So might as well start off on the right track for George...check back in a few years and we'll see if I remembered to stay on the track....but the intentions are good:-)

We also went to Target to raid the new baby section. I had started a registry online...and have since deleted half the stuff because it's been gifted as a hand me down or I've found it on craigslist for a great price. I have the high chair, bouncer, infant car seat, a bumbo, crib on it's way, changing table(dresser), some crib sheets, etc. There are still a few more big things: stroller, pack n play, monitor, etc...and all the little stuff too. The trouble with Target's website is a lot of the "in store" available stuff is not shown online...maybe a close cousin, but not the same thing. I know many people don't want to go online and would rather just go to the store, so we went to add stuff on today. The scanner was uber easy--Joey did all but the first one. With a little house, it makes it very important to draw lines between needs and wants. Cause Goollllllyyyyy baby stuff you don't "need" could take up a lot of room. The swing for instance...my goodness...it's worse that the Christmas tree:) So I picked out a smaller one---online, that can be tucked out of the way if need be.

Oh can I vent about pirate stuff? I have never liked skulls and crossbones on kids stuff...ever. However, you would think with the new actual pirate attacks on innocent people that maybe we could stop glorifying them? I don't mean to be ungrateful, but anything we receive with pirates/skulls/crossbones will be returned. It's just not appropriate. In wake of the recent attack on the 4 missionaries who were killed, at least in their honor we could not support the "excitement" of this lifestyle.

OK I'm done now. Off to inhale more water. Yes...I CRAVE water. 2 ice cubes and filtered water=happy Katie. Maybe I'll buy some lemons and spoil myself:)