thank you kindly

I really, truley appreciate some of the breastfeeding feedback I have recieved from all you beautiful women. Thanks for being honest, open, and sensitive. These are the times I really love the internet and blogging and the opportunities it provides us for feedback and encouragement. I’m gearing up for a very busy weekend and not really feeling too well (physically). Hopefully a good nights rest will make me up to it! I get to have my brother’s wife, Adrienne and neice and nephew over for lunch, pick up couches from an old accquaintance to use in our guest suite in the basement, and I get to have Meridith’s lovely parents over for a cookout, among other things. My parents are hopefully coming home in a week. And a few days after that my lovely sister and brother-n-law (& kids) will be coming in town for a few days. So hopefully health will be restored to my body… and I can feel as emotionally normal as possible God bless you all hugely from the bottom of my heart.

lying little lion

This will be one of my totally random bullet point posts to attempt to update my life at a glance on my blog (since I haven’t written much lately).

- Owen told his very first lie (that I know of). And it was so wrong, but also so cute… isn’t that horrible. He has this obsession with Ice (as most kids do). On many occasions his father has gotten him to sing “Ice Ice baby” for a piece. I on the other hand do not participate in the giving of ice due to my lack of ability to bite the ice making it small enough for him. Anyway, the other day he started crying for me to give him ice out of my glass. I nicely explained to him that mommy couldn’t do that and it was something special for him and daddy to do. He asked and asked as 2 year olds do. I suppose they believe in the art of persistence. But in this case there was no way for it to work. When he finally realized that his pleading was not working… he looked at me, grabbed his forehead and said

BOOBOO! Ice please BOO BOO!

What? My kid LIED! Isn’t he toooooooo small to lie? Apparently not. So I tackled it. I tried to explain that what he was doing was lying and that it was not right. Yeah- he had absolutely no clue what I was saying. Instead he kept ROARING! Every time I said “Owen you Lied” or “Owen you are Lying” HE ROARED! I thought maybe he was trying a distraction technique??? So I took him to his dad to explain that Owen has now learned to lie and he ROARED again! Finally, we got it. He thought I was calling him a LION. Yes, he still has no clue what a LIE is and why it is wrong. But he can do it, and he thinks he is a lion. Too cute.

-Last week my friend LETA and her family were driving near Ohio so they decided to drive through. It was so good to see the kids play!!! She posted photos on her blog, but my camera is now cracked so I have not figured getting my pictures out of it yet. It was wild to have Florida friends up with us in Ohio, but it was great. So how about the rest of you come visit too!

-Little frustrated on the media lately… I won’t go into it because I don’t want to ensue political debate right now. But I’m TOTALLY FRUSTRATED!

-Our basement is SO close to finished and I love it so far It will be nice to get the house cleaned out when they are done and move our things in there. My friend Meridith may even be moving in with us by end of year and living in the little apartment down there.

- I am officially at all out war with a thistle garden in my back flower bed. It is soooooo bad. I see signs of starting to win… but with all the rain in the last couple days they are starting to take a lead again. Argh. How the heck can I have time for this. We also have some poison ivy (I think). Hmph. HIGH MAITENENCE. I did get the chance to do a TON of planting on Sunday when my husband so sweetly cured my garden obsessiveness by watching the boys and letting me work. It is looking good, will look better when things grow…. but I really am excited for next year because I have a better idea now of where I want to go with it and what I could have done better this year. Each year I’m going to add more and more perennials so that I don’t have to do so much work every year.

- Breastfeeding (men you may not want to read this consider yourself warned).
We are almost at the 6 month mark. I still haven’t decided how long I’m going to feed lukie. He really loves it (what baby doesn’t) and I love how the whole family gets sick and he doesn’t. It is DEFINITELY super convenient, and though we do have some biting going on, and some kicking and pulling… He really is more calm than owen ever was. I breastfed Owen about 8 months. I would no question go for a year… but I just a moody emotional mess at times lately. This could be from hormones, saratonin, spiritual issues… you name it! Probably all 3. But I just wonder if I weaned him if I would start feeling a bit more stable. A little less post-partum. But it is the kinda thing you can’t just pick up again if I find it doesn’t help. Besides should I decide I need to start taking a little pill to stabilize me again, I don’t know that I want to be be feeding. Oh well- I am open to thoughts on this issue, just be sweet and kind while sharing them okay I’m quite sensitive. How about a survey on how long those of you who breastfed, breastfed for… or still are…

Okay enough posting for today.
Below I posted cool products I have happened upon lately.

Delicious Kiddie FInds

Okay so i’m loving some new kid shop sites I found, whether or not it is possible for me to buy any of the things right now. It’s just always nice to know there are people thinking good in product making for the kiddies. I’m a product junkie.

Anyway…

Let’s start with a fine tool to teach your children how to set the table. (to purchase go Here)

Anyone in the mood for this $450 diaper bag found on Go Clothing Dot Com

Or how about a stylish potty for little booties everywhere? (here

This is quite nice.

Highchair for the modernist in all of us. For only $575 - HA!

If you don’t have much room in your nursury this could be a nice solution (they have other designs with the same idea as well see them all

There were many other great finds… just explore those site if you love this stuff as much as I do

happy DADDYS day!

I just want to say that I could not have married a better father to raise children with me. Jeff seriously fills in so many of the cracks in my mothering. I watch him sometimes just to learn how to relate to the boys better. Obviuosly with me being mom and him being dad, their will be differences in our relationships… but so much comes so naturally for Jeff. He has a way with really getting through to Owen and helping him behave. For this alone I could love him forever. But of course there are 1000 other reasons to love him too

My dad. Happy father’s day dad. I love how our relationship has grown so much over the last decade. So many of my “little isms” Come from you. I see so much of you in Lukas and that makes me smile. You have done so much for my life. You serve us all the time… and you have prepared a future for both us and the kids. Thank you for thinking of the children your children were going to have before they even came to be! We miss you guys- come home okay! Stop leaving so much!

Dad (Jackson). Thank you so much for raising such a great son (Thanks mom jackson too!!!) He is such a wonderful husband, best friend and daddy. You have left him a spiritual inheritance and a marriage/family inheritance that nothing can rival. He is so blessed and it is so wonderful to be part of your blessed family. We love you and miss you much

Brother- watching you be a dad has been wonderful. You love your kids with incredible passion. You can’t wait to show them how to fall in love with the things you love so you can share it forever. You have been bringing up children that you have taught to love other people with all their heart. You have blessed them. They will never have to wonder if they have been loved.

Favorite Brother in Law You are never a dull person to be around! I love the political debates, legal talk, current events… watching fox news and beating you in dutch blitz! You and Jan are such an example with how you handle your household! I’m so glad we both married in to the Jackson family From one of the “mean ones” to another. I’m not mean by the way, just intense. Hope you guys can make it this way soon if it fits into the trial schedule.

And to all the other daddy’s that love their kids and stay in their lives. Thank you. The world absolutely needs you.

West Palm Pics UP

We posted some of our West Palm Trip pics… I’m waiting for more from my dad’s camera. Go HERE to see them.

OH AND! Thanks to sweet Meridith and her smart boyfriend I got my computer fixed myself.

Owen’s Goals.

I started a process of teaching Owen about goals today.

We are starting with 2 at a time ( i read somehting that said one per year of life). So when he masters one of these I can change it to a new one.

I made a little chart and drew pictures of the activity and made tons of sqares for stickers by each activity. I don’t know how long it will take him to fully understand it, but he can already tell me what the pictures are and that if he does it he gets a sticker and after stickers he gets a toy.

Anyway… His first 2 goals are

1. To listen to mommy and daddy when we are in the parking lot, and

2. Stay in bed when he goes to naptime or bedtime. He was always stellar at this, till lately he sometimes comes back out.

So far today he got a sticker for staying in bed for naptime. Anyway- we’ll see. It really may take him awhile to even coorelate doing something right then getting the sticker. But at least it is the start of him learning. I’m really excited about him developing an understanding of goal setting at a young age because it is something he can really take all through life with him. It also is something that effects every area of life, spiritually, physically, mentally, educationally, occupationally… and so on. I will let you all know how it goes.

Also, he has starting asking to use the potty Though when we go there nothing happens. It’s cute though that he is really starting to think about it. LU has starting reaching to grab everything. Owen walked by him today while he was in the exersauser and lu reached both hands and lunged to grab him.

I’m missing my computer. This is the first time I have been on line in 48 hours.
Oh and Shannon, I don’t know if it was MacAuthority you went to, but I couldn’t stand going there for a computer fix when I lived in Nasvhille. The apples store here is pretty awesome though…. You ought to come visit me and we’ll go when you need a computer fix

so you know

well.
my airport card is not working…. therefore i have no internet of any kind on my mac powerbook and have to wait patiently to occasionally get online with JJs. That being said, all of my favorite blogs RSS feeds are stored on my safari program. So when you post, i now have no clue. That results in blog checking taking quite a long time (since I will have to go through all the ones that i have updated on my side-bar, and of course since i haven’t completely updated, some will go unvisited by me.) Now I’m not saying you all care and that you will be in horrible pain because i can not frequent your blog as much. BUT just in case you wonder why i’m showing no love…. now you know. Hopefully my computer problem will be easily and CHEAPLY solved
Much love from the house of Zabs. (we are now home)
Later

West Palm Musings

Hi friends.

I have been in west palm this week visiting with my parents. I’ll post pics sometime next week. In the meantime, i haven’t been the best blogger. But oh well Here are some random musings from me while here

1. Some of my highlights:
- YESTERDAY -
While driving with my family (which usually consists of my father sightseeing when he is suppose to be driving, and susan, my step-mom petrified of every move he makes.) There were many gasps followed by rebukes. To her credit, there were times the close calls were scary. Owen who ADORES “noni” or Susan, likes to imitate all things she does. At one point Susan Gasped to which Owie followed up with “STEVE” then “DRIVE!”. Amazing what kids pick up on. I wish I had a video.

- TODAY -
Lu woke me up at 5:30 wanting to eat. I fed him them promptly fell asleep on the couch. It must have been around 6:30 I awoke to a kiss. I opened my eyes and my precious 2 year old Owen said “HI Mommy :)” Oh, I melt. Frame this moment.

-TONIGHT-
Kids were in bed, Playing cards with the rents. And what a serindipity! I looked out their 10th story balcony window and there were fireworks going on outside! very nice.

-FINALLY-
Zarqawi is partying with his 72 (or whatever that crap they believe is) vigins in heaven. Or not.

CRAZY ITEMS OF THE WEEK:

- These people don’t serve the same God I do. This link (can’t link from this computer right now, don’t have my codes with me… http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-md.ca.protest06jun06,0,5382360.story?coll=bal-local-carroll)

A woman from this Westboro Baptist church in KS was just on the news being interviewed with a livid fox news coorespondent. They ended up throwing word punches in what turned out to be quite a fight. Wait let me back up and explain in case you don’t read the link. A small handful of protestors showed up at a young soldiers funeral this week spewing their hatred because our military allows gays. It was not even an issue of this particular guys sexual orientation, but the fact that he fought for such a military that they made it impossible for his family to grieve in peace. The news woman was quite ticked off and they were spewing verses from the Bible (King James Version) at each other. At the end right before a commercial was cut to you hear the crazy woman from this cultish group spew… “I live in the country God placed me in to tell you that you are going to hell and there is nothing you can do about it.” - Wow, doesn’t sound like Jesus Christ to me. Didn’t he come to show us how we could be saved from hell?

- MYSPACE.COM -
Once again in the news. Tis time a 15 year old girl took off to meet up with a middle eastern fellow she met on myspace to go to JORDAN! Man, would be awful for you daughter to run away, let alone with a complete stranger she met on myspace to the MIDDLE EAST. Thank God they found her and Americans there convinced her not to enter. What was this guy thinking?

IN THEATERS!!!
Yes JJ and I have actually seen 3 movies in the last month. It has to be a post-baby record.

1. MI3. Yes, I went to it regardless of my annoyance with Mr. Cruise’s philosiphies. It was entertaining, but some what predictable. Not much more to say than that.

2. THE DaVINCI CODE- (gasp) Yes, i saw it. Not only that, a couple years ago I read it in my book club. They did get my 7.50, but I’m not going to apologize for that. I think it is bogus yes. I also believe it is complete fiction and not afraid of it in the slightest. In fact, I find that the book was far more convincing. Some of the details they left out in the movie, especially toward the end, left it empty and quite silly. It just wasn’t a great movie. And though the book is hard to put down… in the end, it was no classic.

3. THE BREAK UP- Let me expose my bias. I really like Jennifer Aniston. My heart goes out to her cause it is no fun to go through what she did (regardless of any blame may be hers) in the public eye. But despite all that we know was going on during the time this movie was shot… it really was entertaining to me. I felt I could completely relate to some of the feelings explored in this movie. The Critics tore it up, but I really think they completely missed it. I would have to do a whole seperate blog to go into it point by point. But let me sum it up by, they missed the whole thing. And yes, Jen and Vince have chemistry in my opinion despite what they say. Some people are let down by the resolve at the end (I won’t spoil), but as un-hollywood-satisfying as it may have been, let’s face it, that is how it goes. I thought it was realistic.

And from that- on to the awful things they are saying about her! My goodness give the girl a break! Her husband left her for sexy angelina and has this insta-family a year afer they break up. The public has mad it a popularity contest between Jen and the Jolie-Pitts. And THEN they side with and applaud the genetic amazement of those 2 pretty people being together and dis on her! So unfair.

And on a side-note, one critic said that they thought once again her movie wouldn’t make money and that she should stick to TV because her fan base is too cheap to make it out to a movie. Obviously he does not have children at home that keep him from getting out much. My assumtion is that those of us who watched Friends in our 20s are now in family mode and really don’t get out like we used to… cheap or not.

-BOOKS-
Now reading “Godless” by Ann Colter… say what you want friends that are to the left of me. But there are truly some sound points into it and it is much more reasonable and less cutting than it is coming off in the media right now. I am no Ann Colter, but she does have the courage to say things that sometimes I feel, but could never say for fear you all would hate me.