2011–>2012

And, another year is over.

Its been a big one.  Life this time last year was pretty different.  And its not that there were a lot of changes, but the changes made were pretty big.  Some of them were more punctuated – William graduating with his PhD and then getting a job at SVU as an English professors were some big events.  Closely related was the big (and oh so welcome) move from Tallahassee, FL to Buena Vista, VA. 

Some changes were more gradual: this time last year I had a new born and a toddler.  Now I have two toddlers.  It may not sound super different, but trust me.  Its very, exhaustively, different. 
I’m not looking for any major changes in 2012.  Not for us.  I’ve got some big hopes for people close to me, though.  I know some deserving people who need babies, jobs, and good health.  I’m praying that 2012 brings these people lots of joy.

I am planning on some small (relatively) changes for myself.  For one, I’m seeking my pre-motherhood fitness levels.  I pretended to work on this most of 2011, but my efforts were really half-hearted.  I had a moment, though, a couple of weeks ago…  I had some extra time one Sunday morning before church and so I actually did my hair.  To highlight how rarely this happens, I got a lot of comments at church about how nice I looked.  And by a lot, I mean most everyone I talked to said something.  At first it was nice that someone noticed, but the comments just kept coming.  Each person just as shocked as the last at how nicely I cleaned up.  An hour into this, each comment was adding credence to the newly developed theory that I have totally turned into a frumpy mom.  By the time I got home that day (after a three hour block at church), I was convinced of the truth of it.  It was totally depressing.

I got a hair cut last week.  That’s helped some.

I’ve been working since this summer on being a runner again, and I’ve committed to being more diligent with that and with other exercise.  Before having kids I was quite the yogi.  I miss that and want to start doing it again.  I’ll be eating healthier too…  but really, isn’t this all so cliché?  New Year’s resolutions can be so lame. 

I’ve also been thinking a lot about how I spend my time.  2011 had entirely too much facebook in it.  2012 will have less.  It will have more reading, more blogging, more blogging about reading, more instrument playing (guitar and flute, if I can get the flute fixed), more knitting, more sewing, etc. etc.  I’m looking forward to being a more well rounded person.  I’m not looking to participate in these hobbies like I did pre-Things.  I love my Things and will continue to devote a majority of my time and energy into being the best mother I can.  But, we all know that being the best mother I can means making myself a priority. 
I was a woman first.  Then a wife.  Then a mother.  If I take care of those things in that order, it will be better for all of us.  And I’ll have something more to show for 2012 than a list of awesome status updates. 
Happy New Year, ya’ll. 

Post Holiday Blues

It happens every year.  Its actually happening early this year.  I usually ride the holiday high until a few days after New Year’s Day.  I think its happening early this year because I’m just so tired.  I’ve had at least one Thing sick—often both, right now both—for about two weeks now.  Which included the entire time we were in Denver with my family.  We still had a really great trip and it was so awesome to spend Christmas with my family, but we’re just all worn out. 

Either way, its already happening.  The “what does January really have to offer me after New Year’s Day” feeling has totally set in.

A Book Blog

 I started a new blog.  Check it out!

Never fear, this will remain my personal blog and it will be active.  I knew you’d be worried about that.

I could’ve done without…

Adventures from the past couple of weeks:
In the early hours of the morning on Thursday December 15th, I woke up to the sound of retching…  next to my head… on my pillow (strike 1 for co-sleeping).  Thing 2 came down with a stomach bug that had him throwing up pretty frequently for most of the day on the 15th.  After it had been nearly 12 hours I called the doctor’s office to see if I should take any action or be concerned.  Because Thing 2 had not been able to keep down any fluids they recommended I take him into the ER.  Here was the tricky thing though: the closest ER does not have a pediatrician on staff.  My pediatrician’s office recommends that you not take your children there.  The next available ER is about an hour away.  At the time I was thinking, “how bad could the closer ER be?”  So we went.  It was awful.  The ER doc gave me an antibiotic prescription for an ear infection that my son did not have and sent me home. 
Fast forward for about 4 more hours and Wesley is still throwing up and getting increasingly dehydrated.  So, around 10:30pm will bundle the boys up in the car and trek to Roanoke so that we could take him to the ER there.  It was a MUCH better experience (despite being in the middle of the night).  They have a pediatric department in the ER at Roanoke Memorial, and the pediatrician on call was pretty awesome.  He gave Thing 2 some zofran and we got him to keep down some fluids.  We were pretty relieved to see some improvement.  I was just kicking myself for not going there earlier in the afternoon when we could have been home by bed time.
We got home after 4am.  So. Tired.
Thing 2 was much better for most of the day on Friday (the 16th) albeit he didn’t have much of an appetite.  At least he was thirsty and taking in lots of fluids.  He seemed much better on Saturday (the 17th) and ate more…  but then threw up again Saturday night.  Seriously?!? 
I was a bit stressed at this point because we were leaving on Sunday (the 18th) to begin our trek to Denver.  I was armed with the Zofran rx we’d gotten in Roanoke and the promise from the pediatrician’s office of getting more if I need it and we headed out.  And, really, Thing 2 did fine.  He didn’t have much of an appetite and was really tired, but did okay. 
I, on the other had, started throwing up around 4am Monday (the 19th) while staying at a friend’s house in Baltimore area.  We flew from DC to Denver this day, and I made a few more trips to the airplane lavatory than I really cared to.  It was kind of awful.  By the time we arrived in Denver, however, I was feeling much better.
William threw up on the way from the Denver airport to my parent’s house.  Seriously.  My dad had to pull over on the side of the road.
In the middle of the night (perhaps in the wee hours of the morning on the 20th) Thing 1 woke up crying.  You guessed it.  Puked.
Over the next few days?
My dad got it.
My 1 year old niece got it.
Thing 2 threw up again (I about came undone).
My sister got it.
My mom got it.
My 6 year old niece, FYI, had it on Saturday (the 17th) before we arrived, and luckily didn’t get it again.
We’re all most recovered now (my mom is still suffering a bit, but she was the last to get it-on the 23rd).  BUT all of the kids—both my nieces and both of the Things—have colds now.  Colds, at least, are not as bad as the puking.  But I do feel a little bit frustrated for them. 
This hasn’t been the healthiest of our Christmas vacations, but at least the family has all been kind of miserable together.  That’s what the holidays are all about.

Thing 1 is 3

Thing 1’s birthday was pretty successful this year.  For one, we are with family and that just makes everything more fun.  Also, we woke up to this:

John has had so much fun playing in the snow.  His 3 year old self had his own little birthday celebration by playing out there for a couple of hours.
We also had the present opening:

He was saying the funniest things:

“I found something in there!”

And the cake:

The buttercream transfer went much better this year than last year.  Its still a bit sloppy, but awesome enough.
I would say its really fun having a 3 year old around, but I think we all know that would be a lie.  Mostly we just try to make it from sun up to sun down.  Thing 1 is a super passionate, all-or-nothing little person, which is why I love him and also why I love bed time.  He certainly keeps me busy, but he also keeps me laughing.  And he’s a kind-hearted, happy guy, so there’s not much more I could ask for.  (Except for some quiet.  Quiet would be good.)  For the most part, he just brings a lot of joy into our lives.

Merry Christmas!

We’re having a pretty good holiday today.  It started early, but that is the fun of having small children around on Christmas morning.  I got a couple of pictures of the Things exploring the contents of their stockings before the real present opening melee started.  Then I forgot I had a camera.

Thing 2 was quick to discover there was chocolate involved:

And this here is the look on William’s face when he opened the Kindle Fire that I put in his stocking.  I worked so hard at keeping this a secret, so this was a Christmas WIN for me:

After the present opening and the traditional quiche breakfast, we got to go to church with my parents.  That’s a special bonus to having church on Sunday.  The choir did a wonderful Christmas program and it was a great way to complete the Christmas morning.  My mom had a solo in their rendition of O Holy Night which was particularly awesome.  It’s the first time I’ve seen her perform in years.
The afternoon has been full of resting, playing, and preparing the Christmas feast.  I’m just so happy to be with my family this year.  it’s the first Christmas we’ve been able to spending with them since before Thing 1 was born and its been so awesome.
I’m working on some other posts about our adventures in the last week (and there have been some “adventures”, believe you me), so there is something to look forward to.
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it!

Name Change

Since William created is OWN BLOG—a decision I fully support, because I think he will blog more frequently there and he’s an interesting person with interesting things to say—I have changed the name of this blog to reflect that its no longer the two of us. 
If you’re following with the google follower thing, I don’t think it matters.  But if you’ve been using another method to follow my blog, you’ll want to note the new URL.  I think all three of my followers should be able to work it out.

So, about that….

After posting my Simple Woman blog last night, I woke up to a couple of frantic messages from people who know me and my sensibilities well, that I am, under no uncertain terms, NOT to read the book The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.  The most convincing was this passage from a close friend,
“the author was obsessed with violence towards women. Sure, he always says it's a bad thing, but after awhile you kinda think he's against it in the way homophobic people are against gays . . . 'cause maybe they're a little *too* against it, like they're trying to prove something.”
Do I want to read violent, detailed rape scenes written by a man who is writing about rape because he’s barely keeping himself from doing it in real life?  Meh….  Not so much.
I’ve done a little research on the book after getting these warnings and its definitely not my kind of thing.  I don’t really appreciate grit for grit’s sake.  When there is heavy grit in a book that I think has value—let’s say, Kite Runner for example—I can tolerate the bigger picture.  But when its just a story about the awful things people can do…  Well, I’d rather not have all that trash in my head.  That’s the reason I hate shows like CSI and Criminal Minds.
I also did a little research on the author and was totally unimpressed (may he rest in peace).  He kinda seemed like a jerk… one who modeled the main male character in his stories after himself so that people would think he was super awesome.  Again, meh…
Anyways, just so everyone knows, and in case anyone else was gonna warn me, I’m not reading that book next.  I’m gonna read that book never.

Simple Woman

Find it here.
FOR TODAY
Outside my window... Its dark.
I am thinking...  that my goal of blogging more often is kinda failing.  I suppose I’m blogging more this month than I did in October.  But November was kind of awesome.  And then the blogs that I have blogged in December have been pretty darn boring, if I do say so.  Its possible that I’m not as interesting as I think I am.
I am thankful... for Christmas lights.  So happy.
From the learning rooms... Thing 2 is picking up words and letters.  He’s starting later than Thing 1 did, but is actually the normal one.  Thing 1 was conversational freakishly early.  There are pros and cons.  My favorite word that Thing 2 says is cracker.  ‘Cause, you know, he hasn’t mastered the R.  Say out loud, and you too will giggle like a 9 year old boy.
In the kitchen... Today I rocked out a homemade marshmallow cream that is corn free (it was hard to find a recipe without corn syrup).  I’m going to try to make fudge with it tomorrow.
I am wearing... pjs.
I am creating... Christmas presents.
I am going... to Denver next week-end.  Yay for Christmas with family!
I am wondering... why I’m still awake. 
I am reading... nothing, kinda.  I just finished Heist Society by Ally Carter (I like it!) and need to start something new.  I’m think that Dragon Tattoo book, even though the movie looks totally unappealing.  I’ve heard the book is great.
I am hoping... that when I do finally get into bed, I sleep like a rock.  I almost said sleep like a baby… but that phrase is stupid.  Who wants to sleep like a baby?  Babies wake up ALL THE TIME.
I am looking forward to... Christmas!
I am hearing...peace and quiet.  Everyone else is asleep.  That’s likely why I’m having a hard time going to bed.
Around the house... I need to sort through the Things’ clothes and pack away/get rid of the stuff they’re out growing.
I am pondering... friendship.  I was thinking about friendships I used to have that slipped through my fingers for some reason or another.  Its sad when you find out that someone doesn’t care as much as you thought they did, and I wonder when that will stop hurting.
One of my favorite things... Pine scented Christmas candles.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Its finals week for William so we should get to see him more, and we need to pack and get ready for our Christmas trip.  Woohoo!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Its hard to tell, since he’d already ditched most of the costume when I finally took a picture…  so you’ll just have to take my word for it: This was the cutest shepherd you’ve ever seen in a nativity scene.

Traditions

I’m all about Christmas traditions, but all of the ones William, the Things and I functioned with so far have been my traditions from my family.  This week-end, we started what I believe is going to be a new tradition for the Silverman family.  It will be our first week-end in December tradition.  Brought to you by the city of Buena Vista, the city of Lexington, and the Buena Vista Pentecostal Holiness Church. 

I lost my camera over the week-end, and found it on Sunday.  I’m just throwing that out there so that you know why there are no pictures of any of this.
Thursday night last week we went to the Buena Vista Christmas parade.  It started at 7pm, which is just about the time the Things go to bed.  So, we bathed and PJed them before we left in the hopes we could just put them to bed as soon as we got back.  That actually went as planned, except we didn’t make it through the entire parade.  They were just too tired.  It was fun while it lasted though.  Lots of cars and various kinds of trucks (Thing 1 was very pleased) and lots of decked out Christmas stuff – a combination of the Santa variety and the Nativity Scene variety.  And people gave us candy. 
Friday night we went to the Lexington Christmas parade.  It was a 6:30pm, so it was a bit better for the Things – but Thing 2 had really had it about three quarters of the way through and we left early again.  It was still worth it though.  Lexington does a bigger parade – with even more cars and trucks.  There were also more Christmas type things.  There was one float—I just really wished I had my camera with me.  The creators didn’t seem to know that the Star of Bethlehem and the Star of David are not the same thing.  Epic nativity scene fail.
Saturday night we went to The Night of Miracles put on by the local Pentecostal church.  Its an AMAZING live nativity.  You start on a hillside with some shepherds, which begins a live reenactment of the whole thing.  And when I say live reenactment, I mean that there are live camels and sheep, an elaborate caravan following the Wise Men into Bethlehem…  which was lined with street vendors, stables, homes, an inn (of course) which all looked pretty great.  With all the live animals around it sure smelled realistic.  And of course, the end finds us with Mary and Joseph and the newborn Savior in A CAVE (which is way more historically accurate than a stable and I appreciate that they did their homework).  I was amused by the angels, though.  They were all female.  In all of the accounts in the Bible of angels that refer to gender, the angels are male.  Why do we always have girls playing angels in nativity scenes?  Not that I think it needs to be all boys all the time—but some diversity would be nice. 
ANYWAYS, it was a super fun Christmas week-end, and I’m already looking forward to it all next year.  It was a great way to start the month.

Simple Woman

Find it here.
FOR TODAY
Outside my window... Its dark. 
I am thinking...  about Wesley’s sleeping habits.  I just read a review for a book on a friend’s blog that I might want to read.
I am thankful... chocolate.
From the learning rooms... I need to get Thing 1 an early reader.  He reads random words all time – I should probably catch up to him.
In the kitchen... I’m going corn free.  Exciting, right?
I am wearing... pjs.
I am creating... Christmas presents. 
I am going... get some new shoes,  Its got to be done.
I am wondering... about when should I make some short bread cookies.
I am reading... Heist Society
I am hoping... that my Things will not be sick again for awhile.
I am looking forward to... Christmas!
I am hearing...William watching Burn Notice.
Around the house... I’ve got some things I want to sell.
I am pondering... my to-do list for the week.
One of my favorite things... a nice, hot shower.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Christmas party at church Friday night!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Right?!?