Miscellany Flix
2010 Mish Mash
Posted on August 30, 2011
I hate that I haven’t had time to write anything here in so long … or time to, well, do anything really! It’s been so crazy busy lately. The night before last I actually stayed up ALL night working. Not a single minute of sleep. What was I doing? Working. Working all night so I don’t miss out on time with my precious girls during the days. But the ironic thing is in doing this I end up a useless mess the next day AND I’m so wasted and exhausted by the next night that I don’t get any work done at all because my body just shuts down and forces me to give it some sleep. Oh, if only sleep weren’t so necessary, I could get so much more done. I swear sometimes I feel like my five year old, Adeline, when she whines before bed about how much she hates sleep. She does not hear this from me, mind you – I keep my dislike of needing sleep secret. She just has the usual five year old dislike of having to stop all the fun things for a break. She has actually yelled, “I hate sleep … sleep is disgusting and a waste of time!!” LOL!
Here is a little something until I have a moment to write a proper post (and, yes, Eliza’s birthday photos are just about done being processed – only a month late, lol). These are a few shots from the recent Big Bad Voodoo daddy concert we took the girls to. We love listening to them around the house. What is particularly amusing is watching Adeline’s sheer horror when we force her to watch us swing dance. She just doesn’t understand how very cool we were in the 90′s when swing dancing was such a hot trend – now we are just plain embarrassing. 
And here is a one that showcases just how nuts I apparently look when in the moment with my girls. I seriously don’t give a hoot what anyone thinks of me if whatever I’m doing is amusing the girls. They love it and they love me – and that’s all that matters. Upon questioning, Scott affirmed that my face pretty much looks this crazy ALL the time. { baby headphones to protect tender baby ears }
OMG!!! It’s Big Bad Voodoo!!
If you enjoy my little, rambling blog, and have a second (literally), I would so appreciate it if you could pretty please click the banner below to vote for me (and thank you so much if you do!) … each click you make is your vote – heck, you can even vote every day, LOL!
Oh, and for the record, if time weren’t something I’m severely lacking in, I would LOVE to just sleep all the time!! It just happens to be the *need* for sleep that totally puts a kink in my plans to get anything accomplished! LOL!
Posted on August 17, 2011
Posted on August 13, 2011
Disclaimer: It’s 6am and I still haven’t been able to sleep. Being this sleep deprived and it being so late (or early??) means I’ll probably tend to ramble on and will most definitely be TMI as I’m always emotional at night (morning?). I can always come back and hit the Edit button after getting some sleep, right? Apologies for the overshare.
Miss Penelope Argentina, our dapple, long haired wiener doggie. She came to me by way of an anniversary / grief healing present from Scott on our first wedding anniversary. I had just lost my baby brother in a car accident and my heart was (and is) so shattered I can’t express in words the amount of pain that was left in my soul after Brett was taken from us. This little doggie’s fur has soaked up buckets of my tears, she’s sat and listened to gut wrenching cries as I battled to get through each day knowing my baby brother’s sweet laughter would never ring in my ears again. There are good reasons why there are so many dogs used in grief therapy and healing of all kinds.
The second year we had her she was there for me again when after 15 years of struggling with a severe eating disorder I finally got real help and flew to California to go into inpatient treatment for a couple months. Scott stayed nearby and took Penny to visit me … not only giving me that extra bit of strength and healing that only pets seem to be capable of, but also brightening the other women’s lives who had become my friends and support system during my stay there.
She was there when my first baby, Adeline, was born. We were afraid that she wouldn’t accept Addie. I was terrified she would have to go live with my mom if she couldn’t play nice with the new baby (my mom has Penny’s sister, Mona, who has helped my mom in her own grief from losing her only son). Penelope has actually always had something against kids – growling and snarling at them for seemingly no reason and going out of her way to leave the room if children visited us. However, as soon as she met Adeline she took her in as one of our pack. And since then those two have been the bestest of friends. Adeline is Penny’s champion if she does something naughty (and she frequently does). Penelope is Adeline’s fierce protector. She is also patient beyond imagination with Adeline’s overzealous loving and just a bit too tight squeezes. Adeline’s very first word was doggie … well, more like, “DOOOGGGIIEEEE!!!!” said with squeals and the pointing of chubby fingers. Those same chubby fingers we had to unpry from Penelope’s long fur and soft, floppy ears – but she never complained once, never even growled or even flinched. “Gentle – love the doggie gentle,” became the mantra for the first year. The second year was the start of Penelope being walked around the house with the leash on (often times by a nakey Adeline), and just as frequently she is dressed up like a fairy to attend Addie’s tea parties. I swear to you she loves every minute of it – there isn’t a bit of apprehension or even a look like she’s just tolerating it – no, she seems to relish her time spent playing with Adeline.
Through becoming so ill with POTS that I was bedridden for an entire summer, so weak some days that I could barely lift my head off the pillow and had to crawl to the bathroom, Penny laid with me and offered her silky fur as a place to lay my shaking hands. When my heart would soar to 200 beats a minute just from rolling over in bed I would place my hand on her little heart and try to will my own to be calm. And while nothing eased the physical symptoms, she helped keep my mind from going nuts with the fear over what was happening with my body.
Penelope was there for me again when I found out my dad has late stage Parkinson’s. How could my strong, loving, generous and very stubborn daddy have such a horrible and debilitating illness? And without my little brother here to talk to about all these feelings I have felt so alone and helpless. There is just something wonderful about the unconditionality. of a dog’s love. Something very comforting and healing. When I felt “talked out” or it I have woken in a panic in the middle of the night while Scott is soundly sleeping … when I have been totally overwhelmed by it all and lost and I can’t let the girls see mommy so beyond sad and scared … my Penelope has been here, never judging, never telling me that everything will be “okay” when it clearly is *not* okay, only offering silent and unconditional love.
And, now, with Eliza June’s arrival, Miss Penelope has two girls playing with her, squeezing her, dressing her up, making her special birthday dog “cakes” from crackers, peanut butter and cheerios. Eliza has been lucky enough to have the endlessly entertaining and hilarious Adeline to keep her giggling and trying to keep up, and so she was a little slower to start her Penny Love Fest. But it has SO begun this summer … tight squeezes and yells of “DOOOGGGGGG!” abound.
Thank you, Penelope. We love you.
{ She’s looking up with adoration at Adeline standing above her here. }
She, of course, co-sleeps with all of us in the not-so-big-anymore-with-two-kids-two-adults-and-a-dog bed (made smaller by the five year old who does somersaults in her sleep and lays horizontally across the mattress).
And because no post about healing, friendship and pets would be complete without our Miss Scout …
If you enjoy my little, reambling blog, and have a second (literally), I would so appreciate it if you could pretty please click the banner below to vote for me (thank you if you do!) … each click you make is your vote!
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Posted on August 10, 2011
In the middle of a busy day, rounding the corner with another armful of woefully neglected laundry, I was met by the sight below. Just as I was lamenting not having had the time to sit and really spend a long time reading with the girls in awhile, I was so happy to see them cuddled up together on the couch reading together. Now, just how Adeline managed to hoist Eliza up on the sofa so she could cuddle her safely in her arms, I’m not sure.
I have so many images and stories to share … now I just need the time to actually edit the photos and write the stories. I will be back this week! My apologies for all the short, photo only posts … or if my rambling bores you and you just like to look at the photos – you’re welcome! LOL!
One of Addie’s (and mine) favorites … “We Like To Nurse.”
And below is a snapshot of Adeline waiting for her fans at the Sandy Puc show a few weeks ago … she cracks me up – she even brought paper and pen in case someone wanted to ask for her autograph (and was a little heartbroken when it didn’t happen). 
If you enjoy my little mommy blog, and have a second (literally), I would so appreciate it if you could
simply click this banner below to vote for me (pretty please and thank you if you do!) … each click is your vote!
Posted on August 3, 2011
Summer has us busy with sunshine and dirt filled days … how many photos of my kiddos in their grime covered glory can you stand??
Bath?? Who needs a stinkin’ bath?? Scott snapped this iPhone shot of little Eliza’s hard working feet as she nursed to sleep after an exhausting day playing in the garden. I think that dark stuff is smashed blueberry stains, the rest is just good old fashioned garden compost and dirt. 
My joy filled, silly girl …
Some of the purple coneflowers I’ve planted in the garden …
And for those mom’s out there who ask me how my kids always look so perfect for photos … ummmmm, hellooo – my kids are kind of a nightmare to photograpgh most days. I give you these …
Getting the two of them in a photo together is nearly impossible and I usually end up with this – Addie looking all loving (and probably squeezing too tight) and a miserable, crying Eliza who is fighting to get out of big sister’s clutches.
Miss nose picker – self explanatory.
And miss “I will put *anything* in my mouth, most especially my shoes, in order to thwart your picture taking endeavors.”
Fighting over a cup of ice …
And big sister takes off with the ice, leaving little sis crying after her (we finally came to an agreement to share after this) …
But for all those shots (which I happen to love because they really capture the essence of *real* life for us), I get one of these in the bunch – showing her serious (and way too grown up looking – especially for pausing in the middle of swinging wildly) side …
