Speed Blogging: Emerging from the Fumes

Just a short update. On our kitchen remodel.

I'm planning to write a more thorough description once it's complete.

I'm timing this update because I'm exhausted and need.to.get.to.bed. Plus I thought it would be fun to speed blog.

My list of new things that I've learned over the last few days?

Cottage White (Behr) Splatterings

Texture can come in a can, and the process of adding texture to a wall is texturing not texturizing. Our wall texture is "orange peel." The smell of the texture in a can? Potent.

Mastic is a fancy word for tile adhesive (which is better applied directly to drywall; if you paint the drywall first, you have to rough up the paint with sandpaper.)

GFCI plugs are code for a kitchen (ground fault circuit interrupter).

Snippets

The 30 year-old cold water supply line to our kitchen sink broke today. Thankfully, my parents are visiting, otherwise we would have had another house flood. Karl is fixing the pipeage right now.

That inspired the start to prayers tonight for Miss S. LOVED her prayers tonight. My gosh, that girl. I just love her so much. I promise to write soon about her 3rd birthday celebration.

Besides the prayers, my other favorite Miss S-isms right now are:

Minnie Mouse muffin (she came up with that all on her own)

Jingle Bell (Tinker Bell)

Hungring

Jofes (Joseph)

Yogrut (yogurt)

Brushteeth (toothbrush)

Miss S's Birth Story

3 years ago today, I was pregnant with Miss S…

I LOVE reading birth stories. Since I’m newer to the world of blogging, I never shared Miss S’s birth story beyond my friends and family. I can’t believe she’s going to be 3 tomorrow. This post is all about the last 24 hours BK for Karl and me.

**I want to acknowledge that I’ve learned a lot about births and pregnancies through friends’ experiences over the last 3 years. I know that our early arrival went smoothly, but I know that isn’t always the end of the story (or the arrival can happen a LOT earlier). I know mamas who have had their water break at 18 weeks, 21 weeks…I know mamas who have delivered a full-term baby after an ultrasound couldn’t detect a heart beat…and other mamas who have had their lives shattered when their babies have passed away…If you have experienced any of these situations, I am so, so sorry. I understand if you can’t read any further. I will never comprehend “why” one pregnancy results in a healthy baby, why some women can’t get pregnant even though it’s their biggest dream, why some babies are born into horrible situations…

March 19, 1909

105 years ago today my maternal grandmother was born.

Miss S's namesake.

She was a phenomenal woman with a quiet strength.

She was practical, loving, generous, faithful, and prayerful.

She was the family matriarch.

I never took our relationship for granted because I didn't want to have regrets that I didn't see her or talk to her often enough. (I wanted to fully cherish the relationship that I had with her, which was innocent and pure in the fact that I was her youngest grandchild and saw her through rose-colored glasses.) When I went away to college, I moved to the Northwest so that I could spend breaks with my grandma, my aunt and uncle, and my cousins. I visited her by train on fall break, and we went to the library together so that I could research Rajneeshpuram for a research paper. She rode the train up for my college graduation (at age 90). I called her often - to say hi, to ask her advice, and to be comforted.

March Madness

Kitchen in Progress: Saying Good Riddance to that Wallpaper

When I decided to blog more this month, I forgot about everything on our March to-do list/events calendar:

Finalize the paperwork for our new home equity line of credit
Say goodbye to Karl's parents as they head back to Indiana after a wonderful visit
Finalize our IKEA kitchen plans & place our kitchen order
Relocate all of the items in our kitchen cabinets
Demo our kitchen
Demo our master bath sink/vanity area
Install new kitchen cabinets
Install new master bath vanity
Attend staff meetings at respective workplaces
Take Mr. C to his 10 month weigh in
Take all the animals to vet appointments*
Say hello to my parents as they drive in town for Miss S's birthday
Celebrate Miss S's 3rd birthday
Go to Thursday evening classes
Work

Mr. C's Weigh In - 10 Months

9 Month Appointment (Growth Curve App)

Today was Mr. C's follow up appointment. 

The pediatrician loved the chunk on Mr. C's thighs. 

While he still isn't winning any heavy-weight competitions

(drumroll, please)

Mr. C is up to 17 lbs 9 oz for a total weight gain of 1 lb 2 oz ... 8.4%.

**Deep exhalation**

Fat Tuesday Recap

My dad grew up in New Orleans, LA, so we celebrated Fat Tuesday since before I can remember.

I even have a Mardi Gras bead collection thanks to my paternal grandmother.  

My dad (I think?) hand-made a King Cake every Fat Tuesday of my childhood, and one of my parents took an obligatory photo of my sister and me with the cake. 

Parenting: Handling the Manic Stages of an Almost Three-Year-Old

Oh. My. Goodness. 

While I don't work on a psychiatric ward in a hospital, I work with patients who have psychiatric illnesses (in combination with other health issues). I **don't** take the use of psychiatric terms lightly. I dislike despise the casual/inappropriate use of words like "retard" and "schizo" and often do a double-take because a lot of people use those words...people who would never ever think about using other derogatory terms (but for some reason, these terms are considered acceptable?)

Let me step off of that soap box. 

I'm making this statement in all sincerity. I've worked with patients with bipolar disorder, and I cannot shake how much the moods of an almost 3-year-old resemble manic episodes. I made that realization recently and a friend of mine made that same comparison about her kiddo who is around the same age.

Miss S just stopped crying/screaming/tantruming.

It was at least a 10 minute affair.

It's been happening almost daily at nap time. 

I've read great plans about instituting a rest time, and maybe I'm doing it all wrong. (I believe it works for some people, and folks, I'm jealous!)