Rock on

We co-hosted an 80's party last weekend with friends of ours. It was her brainchild, and she brought me along for the ride thanks to our spacious garage. Plus, I'm, like, the perfect, like, person to have an 80's party with because I thought it would be like, totally, RAD and I only listen to 80's music everyday anyway, so, whatever.

I had three costume changes. I started out with this jumpsuit number:

If it looks like the buttons are almost popping off, you are right. No maternity 80's stuff to be found.

Then, I shook it up with a prom dress:

I looked like Ginormous Woman in this dress

I finished the night with this sporty little number. Note the actual GM seat belt belt I am wearing. It was awesome. I was told I looked really safe.

Angela, pictured here on the left:

really knocked herself out with planning, decorations, and music selections for the night.

We had a totally awesome time. Our legs were actually sore the next day from dancing.

 Can you tell how short his cutoffs were? The pocket hung out in front lower than the jean shorts. That is what made them so classic. He got my vote for best male dressed.

 And this got my female vote. There was just so much going on here it was real eye candy.

And yes, we finished the evening with keg stands. Only because our maturity levels are actually that high. Do we like to relive our college days? Maybe sometimes.

I'll finish my post with this picture. Why? Because it just makes me laugh every time I look at it. And we all need a good laugh sometimes.

How does this happen?

Can anyone please tell me how this child goes to bed unscathed and wakes up with this?

I mean, honestly! That is long and deep! And it's gonna leave a mark!

And when I ask him what happened, he says he doesn't know, and then he says he doesn't want to talk about it?

I'd think if I got a gash like this overnight, I would probably wake up and let someone know.

Oh child, you are a mystery to me.

Thank you for keeping it interesting.

I don't think having a girl has really sunk in yet.
Honestly, just the fact that I'm having a baby is making an imprint on my brain, so the girl part will probably take a while.

But I'm so excited.

Is it wrong that I lie in bed thinking about the clothes that I can buy now? I mean, let's face it-beyond about 2T, boys clothes get pretty boring. But girls clothes? Oh my. And, I keep thinking about how different it will be to change a diaper, with no worries about the shooting geyser of pee at 3am when you are too tired to remember to cover it.

Jack is elated. Luke has accepted. Luke was sure it was going to be a boy. Before we found out via cake cutting, he said,

"Mom, I just know it's a boy, because when you had to take your doctor appointment, and we could see those pictures, I didn't see any long hair."

Before we cut the cake, we made wagers on what we thought it was. Luke and I both thought boy, and Rob and Jack thought girl. Jack has taken that to mean that I wanted a boy, because when he ran to tell the neighbors, he said that I'd wanted a boy, but I wasn't totally bummed. Ah, from the mouths of babes.

Frankly, I'm glad it all turned out all right. To be honest, the young girl at the bakery seemed utterly perplexed with my whole request. Rob had heard this cake idea from someone at work and really liked the idea, so we decided to go with it. We had the ultrasound technician write it down on a piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. Then, I took the envelope to the bakery, and asked her to open it, look at it, and then make the cake either pink or blue inside. I also had her put it back in the envelope and give it back to me as insurance that she understood this whole thing. She did....

So, now I'm just starting to get a bit freaked out at all that needs done between now and December. I need to figure out how I want to decorate/paint the room, move my current office downstairs (sigh... I love my office), and turn this into a bedroom. Oh, and there's the whole name thing. Holy cow.  We had lots of boy ideas but this one is a bit trickier. And, dare I dig into the 6 totes of boy clothes I've saved to put out for a garage sale yet? What if she was wrong? Oh, the drama.

But, it's a girl, right? Better get used to some drama real fast.

Editor's note: I'm honestly not too freaked out about upcoming drama. {See previous post about my son having the emotional makeup of a teenage girl and you will understand why.} Not sayin' it's bad, I'm just sayin'.

Drum roll please.....

Vacation

We just returned from a long vacation out west. 12 days in fact, the longest vacation I recall ever taking. Almost 3,000 miles! So close in fact that the nerdy exactist in me asked my husband if he'd be ok if we just drove around another 12 miles before pulling in so that my odometer would read a neat 3,000 instead of this:

He wasn't sure if I was kidding or not. To be honest, I wasn't either. I know, it's kind of a sickness. What can I say. I like exact numbers. Add 4 degrees to that thermometer to make it an even hundo and another 12.3 miles and I'm in heaven.

Anyway, we went out to see the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Yellowstone, and Jackson, Wyoming. It was great to see so many historical things and to share it with the kids. I hope they remember. I know Rob and I will.

 Our first official vacation photo in the Badlands

The 6 grandkids on Rob's side of family

Deadwood

Cemetery overlooking Deadwood. One of many times I will truly be clutching my children for dear life as one misstep launches you over a cliff.

I know, right? And we're only through South Dakota so far! On to Wyoming...

Devil's Tower in Wyoming

 The following are all in Yellowstone:

What's that you say, Jack? You want us to pose like those farmers in that picture with a pitchfork? Oh, I'm so there!

Old Faithful

We saw lots of geysers

The house we rented in Wyoming

Buffalo Bill dam in Cody

Not only am I obsessed with my cousins Megan and Lauren, but I am specifically obsessed with their hair! See?

Cody Rodeo

Teton Mountain Range

Dornan's-Lunch with a view

Our "campground cabin" in Jackson, WY (a mere $275/night!)

We loved it; so cute.

Girls only dinner in Jackson. Look at these beauties.

downtown Jackson

That takes the boys to about 19 to 20 states they have been in, and Rob and I are up to 29 (together). Individually, we've each been in 38. We are getting close!

So, back to reality now. 13 loads of laundry later and a day to sit with the bills/paperwork today has me feeling in tiptop shape again. South Dakota and Wyoming, thanks for the memories.

He's six now!

My little boy has turned 6, and in my dreadful bout of motivationlackitis, I have not acknowledged that fact.

Slap my hand.

I fiercely love this little bugger.

The same boy who used to make me lie in bed at night wondering how I'd ever get through his strong will has turned into the best natured, easygoing,  happy boy, seemingly overnight. He makes me laugh almost every day.

Luke: I love the way you furrow your brow thinking over what was said and processing it in the recesses of your mind for later. I love how you notice every license plate and know the make and model of car that everyone we know drives.I love how you ask me a million questions a day like, "Why is the sky blue?" I love how you easily adapt to changes in your environment. I love how you will still snuggle with me and call me Mama. I love your little blond curls and how upset you get if you know you've hurt someone's feelings or if you've upset someone. I love that you still say "wif" instead of "with", call the Hampton Inn "Samson Inn" no matter how many times I tell you otherwise, call Subway "Sailboy" and say "Goyls" instead of girls. I love your big heart and watching you sleep.

Oh my goodness

It's been a long time, hasn't it?

Where does one start when they haven't posted word one for 6 weeks? Sadly, it wasn't even for lack of material. I will often compose a whole post in my head (which I soon promptly forget) while I am weeding the garden or doing other daily chores. I would say it's truly just been a lack of motivation. I think it is the summer illness that befalls we bloggers. LACK O MOTIVATION. Or maybe I'm mostly speaking for myself.

So, let's see. I guess in order of priorities, I have something sort of BIG to share. Which, being that I only have 3 (admitted) "followers" of my blog, I would say you probably already know so I am mainly only sharing this with the random bloke who unintentionally stumbles upon this here blog while doing a google search including the words "new gardeners on plantations" or some such nonsense.

And, while I can wholeheartedly admit that the use of the following words is a straight out plagiarism of my friend Allie's blog, I must use them because they stuck with me.

I'm in the family way.

Do you know what this means? Because my husband didn't so I'm just checking.

You know, cooking a bun in my oven.

See?

Though, I must admit that the bun was more of a Hungry Jack buttermilk biscuit in this photo (16 weeks) and has grown into more of a Pillsbury Grand now at almost 20 weeks.

I'm already HALFWAY there! YOWZA!

And, it took me a while to get the courage to share this news.

You see, this is my 8th pregnancy. And if you know me, you know how many children I have.

This is my 5th pregnancy in 18 months. All since moving to Iowa. So to actually utter the words "I'm pregnant" have been more than a little difficult. In fact, virtually impossible. I think I have only said those  exact words once when no other words would fill in the blanks. If that seems strange, think of it as a self preservation mechanism. At some point, when you have suffered any sort of loss repeatedly, you have to sort of numb yourself to the reality. You know, not set yourself up for failure again. Because if you get too invested in a reality that might well not play out, the loss is only harder. So best to assume things will probably not work out than to run out and buy new maternity clothes or start picking names. Which I had done before. So I'd know.

I wanted to share this with the blogging world for another reason. This experience has reinforced to me the delicacy of words which should and shouldn't be used when you are speaking to someone who has had, or is having, an experience you cannot relate to. Here's my advice. The best words to say are:

I'm so sorry.

I can't imagine what that's like for you.

I am praying for you.

I'm here for you.

This would apply to nearly any scary/sad/stressful situation someone you know is experiencing, but you yourself have no experience in. I have always used these words at funerals or with someone who has lost a loved one.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I can't imagine what this must be like for you. I realize that there is nothing I can say to make you feel better, so I just want you to know that I am here for you and praying for you, and if there is anything at all I can do for you I will.

Here's a few examples of words, that while well intentioned as they are coming from people who care about you and your well being, are not the best chosen.

If you say: "I didn't know. I wish I would have known."
TRANSLATION to person hurting: Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why are you only telling me now? That hurts my feelings.

Or, if you say:
"Maybe you should just be thankful and focus on the children you do have now."
TRANSLATION: I was able to have as many children as I wanted, and I am not relating at all to your feelings of wanting more children and not feeling like your family was complete yet. Don't be selfish and ask for more.
Or,
"Do you really want to be having children when you are 40?"
TRANSLATION: You are an old bag who will in no way be capable of running around after a child. Regardless of the fact that you are only 38, people (translate celebrities at least!) do it all of the time, and I am not yet confined to Depends and a wheelchair.

I have wanted to share these thoughts mainly as a public awareness message. In my opinion, if a person is sharing a hurt or loss with you, it is only your job to listen to them and try to empathize in the best way possible. It is not your job to solve their problem, because chances are, there is nothing you can say that will make them feel better right now, unless you've been in those same shoes and found something that you truly think might help them because it helped you. Just listen, be a friend, and love them. The end.

Whew.

So, I am really super excited.
But it's still hard to accept that this is really going to happen. Now that I can feel some movement every day it is starting to feel more real. But it's been a long, long journey of acceptance of this reality. I wanted to accept it but was afraid to.

Stay tuned to find out what flavor we'll be having. We'll know very soon......