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Surviving...*gasp*

Well I have safely survived since my last post. Boy have things been busy here in Graperland! I am still sorta' shell shocked...

To recap:

We got the princess starting Wednesday of last week, per my earlier posts. This did create HAVOC in our household. Crash (the not yet a year old baby), loves his sis! He is used to seeing her at the end of the day on weekdays and every other weekend. He OVERLOADED on sis, he did sleep well...once we finally got him there. Talk about stimulated. We also had the neighbor kids over on Friday

The King had to work Saturday, but was still able to get up with the baby and let mom sleep in. He also managed to squeeze in a game of Monopoly with the Princess. He didn't have to be in to work until 2 PM, but had to stay until 9 PM. I don't know if I fully conveyed the SUCK of this in my previous post. It did SUCK, the baby stayed up until 10:30 PM Waaaaaaaaaaay past his usual bed time so Daddy could put him down. He was asleep within seconds of daddy picking him up.

Talk about a disgruntled mommy...I wanted to sleep in sooooooooooooo bad on Sunday, but it was Father's day and the Princess needed to be returned by 1:00 PM for a BBQ at her mothers. So mommy was up by 7:30 AM and the princess joined us about 8:30 AM...and we finished the Father's Day preparations. The Princess and I did a Father's Day card for the King and wrapped the pocket knife the kids gave him, Crash also scribbled his mark on the card and we took him a cup of coffee in bed around 11:00, the lucky bastard, I'm not bitter...never...

Then the Princess and I left at noonish for the dollar store and then her mom's house. We needed to re-stock the Princess Store so she would have new things to "buy" with her Princess Points. By the by, if anyone is dealing with an essentially cooporative step-child and is looking for a good way to get them on their side, I highly recommend rewarding good/positive behavior by giving out points (of whatever sort) before bed. Take the time to reinforce all of your positive interactions throughout the day, one-on-one and let them spend them on tangible immediate rewards the next day. It puts them to bed with a good feeling about both of you and they can look forward to playing with their new thing. This can get expensive, especially if you have items to choose in several "price" ranges. We ended up spendin WAY more than I had planned, but I wanted to re-stock for summer, they also had some great things. I can't wait to see her face tommorrow!

Today we had the Farmer and her parents, my grandparents over. They were coming in for a doctor's appointment and decided to come by for an hour or so and see the baby. They ended up getting here about 2:30 PM and left about 3:30 PM. Needless to say, I spent most I my morning hystarically trying to restore order to the downstairs. I succeeded better than I had dared hope. I was able to excavate a table and chairs in the dining room, moved the computer to a new desk. Moved the desk that had been there into the dining room, to become the Princesses very own place to have STUFF. Vaccuumed both the dining room and living room, and cleared the front entryway of all of the various accumulation. I also did 3 loads of laundry, just to make the piles look more managable. When will the laundry end????? hee hee ha ha ho ho...

We all had a wonderful visit, Grammy gave me an early birthday present, I loved it! She gave me a hilarious card, I have to remember to share it with the neighbors. I also got a great purse and some CUTE tanks. Grama ROCKS! Crash was on semi-good behavior. He was very sleepy by the time they got here and he has a little cold, so he was a bit crabby. He didn't seem to recognize Grammy & Grampa, but he hasn't seen them much lately, not as much as ANYONE would like. The Farmer keeps making me feel like I don't want to share him, it isn't that, come on, gas there and back is close to $40 and we seem to be up there more than not. Besides we are going up on the weekend of the Fourth and will be up there plenty long enough for birthdays for all...

Crash did manage a couple of things on his own for the first time today. He managed to put all of the rings back on the cone, and he also managed to make a squeeker squeek on one of his rattles. He is AMAZING to me. He did do the rings while the Farmer and his great-grandparents were here, he also played a rousing game of peek-a-boo with us. Once again, Crash gives a great visit.

We are all looking forward to Daddy's Grammy coming into town this weekend and need to have the entire weekend cleared. I also need to get the kitchen whipped into shape again. When will the dishes end, I think you get the idea...

Anywho, she's a kick and I am looking forward to seeing her. I hope Crash is a good sport about it.

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What would I do with out her?

My next door neighbor, and best woman (call her The Lady) ROCKS! I met her when I was working in HR for a call center, we struck up a warm friendship over cigarettes and shared funny anecdotes about our families. This was 7 years ago and it was also where my husband and I met. Through the years we have brushed across each other from time to time but never really stayed close. I have always felt she is one of the warmest most well-grounded people ever. Shortly after the King and I began dating, she moved in next door to him. They used to date. No, it's not weird. They are the worlds best exes and have a good friendship.

Over the course of time, she and I became close enough that I asked her to be my maid of honor in our wedding. Once our son was born she consented to become his god-mother, we still need to make that official at some point. She is a bastion of sanity in my otherwise crazy world. When the Princess is being particularly royal and Crash has totaled himself, she is always there to help me put the pieces back together.

Speaking of, Crash is presently visiting next-door. Mr. I don't need a nap...I can stay up all day and all night and all day and all night and all day... you get the idea.

Today, we are all adjusting still to the Princess being here all day, and overnight even. I think Crash is going to adjust eventually but I may not be here to see it. There will be a small mushroom cloud where I used to stand. I am glad my kids seem to like each other, when they don't hate each other. This is normal and all to the better. I could wish however that Crash didn't fall apart every time the Princess is out of the room. I know it will pass...before I pass out?

Oh dear dog, what was I thinking... Oh yeah, I wasn't

So my mother-in-law is coming into town this weekend, she's due here on Saturday at noon. The Princess's mom and step-father were kind enough to let us have her until Saturday evening, so she will be able to see her Grama on her dad's side. I am looking forward to seeing her again. She is so sweet, and very good with the baby. I'm sure it will be a full house working on an insane asylum.

School ends for the Princess on the 10th of June and we begin getting her from Wednesday through Friday and every other weekend. This continues until school begins in the fall.

Then the following weekend, Crash and I will be spending Father's Day 60 miles away with my family. Leaving the King and the Princess to fend for themselves all day. This will be in celebration of my niece's first birthday, that is if her little brother hasn't ruined plans. I just had a call from the Farmer and she says that they are inducing my sister-in-law tonight. Either way, my mother assures me that Crash needs to walk for Great Grammy SOON! Also, the King has to work Saturday...Happy Father's Day, my love.

The weekend of the 21st & 22nd, the King also has to work Saturday. UPDATE: I have just been informed that his Grandmother will also, tentatively, be joining us that weekend, on Saturday. We won't have the Princess, sad that she won't get to see Grama : ( Maybe her parents will let us borrow her for a day, like they did this time... Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to me, the mad mommy, on the 23rd.

As it stands we will have the Princess on the weekend of the 28th & 29th, and we could celebrate her birthday as well as Crash's on this weekend up on the farm.

The weekend of the 4th, 5th & 6th, the King and I will be off until Monday morning, and we could do a long weekend up on the farm. We have a family reunion that will be happening, potentially for the last time I have been informed, on Saturday the 5th and will need to attend any way. I have been informed by the Farmer that our attendance is not optional. Since we will have the Princess, she should enjoy being partially in charge of the horses? Maybe with her older cousin? That could be fun...

If anyone sees me on the 12th or 13th of July, I am a figment of your imagination...this is not the March Hare Mommy you seek...

Little girls...

We had the Princesses best friend over today after school. I wonder why it is that 1 little girl is a handful and two is the end of the known universe?

I remember what it was like when I would have friends over, what I don't remember is the liquid crack this apparently used to shoot into my system. I have just watched them run all over my two story, 3-bedroom apartment like it was a certain speedway in Indianapolis.

They had an attack of the giggles that was sustained until they were separated due to lack of oxygen and managed to take an hour to put down a cheeseburger each. There was also time to color two fuzzy posters and play a rousing game of hide-and-seek. Oh yeah, they also managed to play outside with the neighbors, keeping the other neighbors, good friends of ours, who were home sick, awake while they were trying to nap and it looks like world war III would have been less disastrous to my upstairs.

If this is two hours, it's gonna be a loooooooong summer.

A moment please, for the cats...

Our cats are being particularly cute today and exhibiting perfectly average behavior for them. Their person, however, feels they are being so good they need to be acknowledged for their contribution to our daily lives.

As I have mentioned Emi is our resident athlete. Crash figured out some time ago that if you wave around the feather on a stick, the cat will try to get it. Well he had just woken from a morning snooze and needed to get some pushin' done before he could get on with his day. He was being a bit cranky about it, so I got out the "kitty fishin' pole" and called Emi. She obligingly came over and began doing all of the customary gymnastics. Look folks she flips, swats and pirouettes, only $19.95 and all this too could be yours. Kidding, I wouldn't part with her for the world.

Boo, from a safe perch on the back of our futon, looked on with mild interest. He then looked at me as if to say, when one of the adults have the pole, maybe he could understand taking
the time to try to get the feather. Otherwise fetch is the only game
suitable for a cat to play. He then curled up and went to sleep, the only other acceptable way for a kitty to pass the time indoors.

I love our pets! I find they keep me sane, spending 99.99999999% of my time with a pre-verbal infant! At some point I am sure I will vent about how frustrating it is for most of your conversations with your son to be one sided, but I don't have time right now...

May your pets be as entertaining and anthropomorphized as ours.

From walking to running...

Well folks, crash has finally begun to take-off. He has started walking for the first time today. Daddy had just gotten home from work and he was very ready to see him. He was playing Daddy is a jungle gym in the living room when daddy stood up and backed away saying come on, come here and holding his hands out. Jonathan stood and began walking, proceeding to a run, as it will when it is your first time ever and flung himself on Daddy.

Yeah! We've known it was going to happen soon, for about the last two months. He just pulls himself up and around so easily. It is really unbelievable to be able to watch him grow, I can't believe he's almost a year old. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing home this 6 lb. 6 oz. baby boy, and now we have a toddler.

I also got to have The Princess this afternoon. On Wednesdays her mom picks her up from here at 4:00 and she doesn't get out of school until 3:00 so we only got about 45 min. together today. This was a good thing... It seems that she is being encouraged by persons who shall remain nameless, to express her attitude. SHE'S SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait until she's sevenTEEN. Thank goodness she is basically good natured and mom backed me up when I said "You know, not everyone likes attitude." I might have completely lost it.

Like I said in the title...walking to running.