10 Reasons Why I've Sucked at Blogging Lately

1. Started Christmas shopping the day after my last post and haven't stopped.
2. I forgot my blogger.com password.
   
3. We were visiting family in Ohio for a little over two weeks and had limited internet access.
4. I'm preoccupied with thinking of a theme for Preston's big-boy room.
5. I'm preoccupied with wondering if our new baby will be a girl or boy!
   
6. Every time I sit down to post, I remember something important I forgot to do.
7. Deaths in the family. :(
8. My free time is now nap time.
9. Been working on darn Christmas cards – and have sent out about 70!
   
10. I'm pregnant. And being pregnant is an excuse for everything!

Daddy's New Job: Half-Naked Rainforest Cafe Dude

Today I took Preston to Rainforest Cafe for lunch. We'd been there once before, but P was a little too young to really get into it.

Walking into the restaurant, Preston's mouth dropped wide open and a plethora of "Wows" and "Neats" fell out. He was pointing and laughing and making all kinds of animal sounds. Just darling!

We were then seated by an aquarium, and P'Dub proceeded to pick out all the 'Mommy' fish. (He must know something I don't, because I have no idea how to tell if a fish is male or female.) From our table we had a great view of two elephants. They opened and closed their eyes, flapped their ears, and blew their trunks. Preston, in return, made his own trunk noise.

Preston then noticed the ceiling, with all the twinkling stars. But quickly turned his attention to the primates in the corner making a huge ruckus. P'Dub clapped and cheered. He LOVED it....

...until the lights started flashing, sounds of thunder and rain filled the restaurant, and all the animals started freaking out. Then, little P panicked. I moved his high chair next to me, and he buried his face in my arm, holding on for dear life. Fortunately the storm passed; but Preston seemed a bit traumatized...

...until he spotted Daddy. Yes, Daddy was there! He wasn't in Ohio working; he was standing knee deep in water, practically naked, holding up a sphere reminiscent of a globe, with the words "Rescue the Rainforest" across it. Uhh, huh...Preston thought this guy was his Daddy, and everything was all better!

Preston waved to Daddy. Blew kisses to Daddy. Held his arms out to Daddy and said, "Up!". Preston was really glad to see his Daddy, and it didn't even phase him one bit that Daddy had turned bronze and lifeless.

I am definitely in support of Daddy's new job. Just look at Daddy's abs! Daddy is lookin' good!

All I Wanted Was A Backrub

Gummy Baby* meet everyone. Everyone, meet Gummy Baby.



We couldn't be happier!


*Gummy Baby affectionately refers to the uncanny resemblance between our little bean and a Gummy Bear in the 4-D ultrasound.

I Am SUCH A Mom

Last evening, Jeremy and I let Preston stay up past his scheduled bedtime, so that we could all snuggle on the couch and watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Since P'Dub is only 21 months old, we weren't even sure he'd sit through a half-hour show. But, he did!

Preston shouted, "PUNKIN!" and "DOGGIE!" whenever they appeared on-screen. He also enjoyed Schroeder tickling the ivories. And when the commercial breaks hit, he would yell "Mote!" (which is short for reMOTE); thinking that the channel got switched.

I, for one, would have loved to switch the channel. Don't get me wrong, I know this is a classic. But I probably haven't seen it in 20 years, and I don't recall EVER watching it as closely as I did last night.

Those kids are mean and rude. If they aren't calling another kid STUPID or BLOCK HEAD, they are yelling in one another's faces or writing on some poor dude's bald head. That Lucy chick is a real asshole. And Sally isn't far behind her.

And what about that weird Red Baron footage? What every little kid wants to see is their favorite little Snoopy shooting up the enemy and being shot at – bullet holes in the dog box included – until he gets shot down himself. It seems a bit violent, don't ya think?

Plus, there is the sad story of Charlie Brown himself. This kid gets bullied the entire show. He gets an invitation to a party, but is told he was accidentally invited as his name was on the 'NOT INVITED' list. He wants to be a ghost for Tricks-or-Treats, but his costume is full of holes as he had trouble with the scissors. Poor guy can't get a break. And on top of everything, all the kids get candy, gum, and popcorn balls when they go up to houses, and Charlie gets rocks every time. Why? Why all the Chuck haters?

And last, but not least, the horrific ending to the show: THERE IS NO GREAT PUMPKIN. Are you kidding me? Could you imagine how upset your little one would be if they believed in something that much, and every year the pumpkin was a no-show. Linus waits every year in the patch, and every year he is let down. BUT, he never gives up. Go Linus!

The one and only nice thing in the story, is when that witch Lucy actually gets her brother out of the patch at 4:00am. He's shivering and tired, and she puts him to bed.

At any rate, I think I'll wait to watch this again with Preston when he's twelve.