"Snowpocalypse" or "Snowmaggedon"?

Really? It used to be relatively normal to get several inches of snow. I mean, can you imagine the Pilgrims complaining about 1 inch of snow, and dying off??

Pilgrim 1: Blast! I think it's going to snow! More than two flakes, and I don't think Granny's going to make it!

Pilgrim 2: This mild winter is going to kill us all off! Can it get any milder?!

Yeah, I just don't see it. So what's all the fuss? Pansies. We've be come pansies. I mean, schools reopened yesterday after being out for about 6 school days! Maybe we need to be driving more tougher vehicles rather than plastic matchbox cars.

What am I saying? I was just as amazed at the amount of snow we got. Especially since I live right on the east coast. I wanted to go to the beach and walk in the sand while it was snowing. Wouldn't that have been cool?! It started snowing early morning and by the afternoon, we had a good 3 or 4 inches. I took BAM out while it was still snowing, and as expected, he didn't like it so much. It was windy and the flakes were huge. So, we went out the next day, it was warmer and the snow had stopped. BAM loved it. He sat there trying to grab it and eat it. He managed to get some good bites in. But I think they came with brain freeze!

My parents live between Richmond and D.C. and got probably a good 3 feet or so. Mom was home with Thing One and Thing Two, but Dad had fled to Vancouver. He's driving the Olympiads up there. He sends me occasional texts from Iowa, Montana, and now Washington state. I can't wait till they start. I love watching ice-skating. I mean, who doesn't? They're so graceful and beautiful, and fun, too. I remember one year, we watched the winter Olympics AND the Goodwill Games. Double ice-skating! YES! I guess I need to go get my day started. BAM's down for his first nap, Mark's at work, and I'm feeling lazy. Anyone have any motivation pills?

Are you sure you want reset your settings?

Internet, isn't there just a reset button for housework and junk? Like "reset to original factory settings"? I mean, the laundry has taken over the upstairs hallway, no matter how much I try to keep it contained. It's as if we add to it each day....*sigh* and I wash it and fold it and put it away. Next thing I know, it's in The Pile again! What the crap? And the paper stacks? Let's not even go there. I'll just say that there's a pile about 6 inches tall that keeps growing like BAM during a spurt. I'm not saying all this to get sympathy. I'm just feeling overwhelmed by life.
I started a new position at New Hospital. I'm now in the progressive care unit, A.K.A. PCU, A.K.A. 3CCA. I like it, but, Internet, I'm still on orientation, so my schedule has been made for me. I just finished working 4 out of the past 5 days (12 hour shifts, but end up being 13 hours or longer from the time I leave to the time I get home). There's a reason I pick my own schedule and pace myself. Lots of nurses work all their days in a row to get more days off, but I can't do that. I have vivid dreams between the days I work (if I work consecutive days), so I don't sleep well. I don't get any housework done, I barely eat dinner and get BAM's things ready for the next day before I pass out. It doesn't help that BAM's nights are so inconsistent that even if we're all in bed by 9:30 or 10, there's no guarantee that I'll get a full 8 hours of sleep.
I look at my friends that stay at home with their kids, and can't help but envy them, bloggy world. I know it's wrong. I know the other job is always cushier. But I'm missing so much. I'm ready for another baby, but I don't want to have to leave that one, too. Plus, paying for another baby's daycare would take another big chunk out of my paycheck. I guess a little extra is better than nothing, but know what would be nice? If I could swap child care for child care. Like I'd watch a friend's kid or kids on the days she works, and she'd watch mine on my work days. But it'd only work if we could both work a few days the week. Don't get me wrong, internet, I like the set-up I have going now. Christina is unbelievably amazing and helpful. BAM is doing well. He and BEE are playmates and from the pictures, get along well.
On the other hand, I am thankful I have a job that pays well, gives me hours, and comes with really good health insurance. I need to be content, but every once in a while, I need to let out some steam. *whooooosh*
I'm good. Come back later to read about our snow storm!

Proof...

...that a baby lives here

...that a guy lives here

 

 ...that *I* live here

 

 ...that Brendon doesn't like to nap

 

 ...that he succumbs eventually!

 

...that I don't have a maid, but need one. Anyone want a low non-paying job? You can be our live-in babysitter, too. Brendon's quite fun! Anyone? Anyone?

Road trip, baby, road trip

We did a risky thing. We took a 6 month old on a 7 hour road trip. And we started at 5pm. Guess who ended up screaming at 10pm? Brendon Guess who wanted to be entertained the whole ride down? Brendon Guess who found it hard to nap in his seat while he could hear mommy and daddy just out of sight? Brendon Guess who, every time his little eyes found mine, reached out and cried begged for me to hold him? Brendon Guess who woke up to eat every 2 hours at night when we finally got to our destination? Brendon Guess who normally sleeps in the car, but didn't? ME! Guess who will never considering taking another road trip with a baby again? ME! Guess who drove most of the way and didn't get frustrated when I wanted to just give up and stop and live where we happened to stop? Mark :) thanks!



Aren't you glad I shared, so that you can be fully aware of what awaits you if you decide to travel with a baby? I can't imagine if there were TWO of them! I think I wouldn't have any hair left to fall out! But we survived, and we had a good time with Melinda, Hannah, Brie, and Janna, and various other friends we saw. 


As good as it was to get away, it was even better to get home. And, you know how, when you're packing for a trip, the mess just multiplies, no matter how much you try to not let it, and when you come home, there's a huger mess waiting for you? (and I think I used way too many commas!) Well, I did my best to clean up (after I finished packing and before we left) so we could come home to a cleanish house. We did! It was so nice to have somewhere to dump the junk that was created by the hours in the van, and not have to worry about adding to the chaos! I highly suggest that! What?! You already do that!? I guess I'm a bit behind in learning neat housekeeping tips. Next thing you know, you'll be telling me that you have a laundry room on the same floor as your dressers (I want one!) WHA-?! I give up! I can't compete with you, I'm a failure. Epic fail!

Just call me Ep.

Brendon's First Christmas

Merry Christmas to you who are venturing out in to internet land on this Friday that feels like a Saturday cause we haven't done anything all day long. We got to experience Christmas like we've never had it before. Although my baby isn't a newborn any more, this Christmas season has meant more to me that any other. I can relate to Mary the miracle of a new baby's birth. I leave you with my new favorite Christmas song, and a few pictures of BAM opening and playing with a few presents.

 

In the first light of a new day
No one knew he had arrived
Things continued as they had been
While a newborn softly cried
But the heavens wrapped in wonder
Knew the meaning of his birth
In the weakness of a baby
They knew God had come to Earth

As his mother held him closely
It was hard to understand
That her baby, not yet speaking
Was the Word of God to man
He would tell them of his kingdom
But their hearts would not believe
They would hate him and in anger
They would nail him to a tree

 But the sadness will be broken
As the song of life arose
And the firstborn of creation
Would ascend and take his throne
He had left it to redeems us
But before his life began
He knew He'd come back not as a baby
But as the Lord of every man

Hear the angel as they're singing
On the morning of his birth
But how much greater will our song be
When he comes again to Earth

When he comes to rule the Earth

Two years down and plenty more to come

Two years. Not my blog, my marriage. I love you, Mark.

I love the life we've made together, all the bumps and potholes included. I love the son we have, the wakeful nights and the sleepless naps.

I'm planning on having more. More life, more years, more babies :)

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, for real this time.
Each baby has a picture ornament, right? this bright little thing is Brendon's. I love the giraffe on the side. And the cheetah's tail? It's actually fuzzy! How cute is that?

The picture is from our recent Christmas picture sessions. Maybe one day I'll get around to showing them off. It took a while for him to warm up to the photographer, but once he did, he was a star!










It's a little snow family! Everyone with me now, "aww". Our first three-member family ornament. CCM and Karl gave it to us.











Now these two are my true favorites. They're last years versions, but that's ok, becuase I bought them with this year in mind. We were newly pregnant, and all I had on my mind (besides food and throw it up later, sorry!) was I'm a mommy, and Mark's a daddy! Then I found these things on sale, and voila! 2009 ornaments!












{See above notation for this picture.}

















How could I do pictures, and not include this little guy? Huh? Doesn't he just make you wish he was on your tree, stealing your peppermints?



OK, so maybe it wasn't completely wordless, but when I'm at home with just myself and the baby is sleeping...*gasp* the baby is sleeping! it's after 4 and he's sound asleep! Maybe I need to go check on him.....