Thursday, May 22, 2008

okay, cat, you've been in that bag way too long!

jeremy and i have been keeping a secret.  

but now it is FINALLY the right time to share.

that we are having a baby!  again!  

baby white # 2 is scheduled to arrive on november 20th.  (i'm 14 weeks along).

pregnancy has been pretty uneventful thus far, except for the ravenous hunger, the exhaustion, the cleaning frenzies, and the not-interested-in-cleaning frenzies.  but here are a couple of little tidbits you might find humorous.
  • the snickers ice cream bar binge.  oh, let me tell you, snickers ice cream bars are good.  so good, in fact, that i ate an entire box (6 bars) in less than 12 hours.  please note: for 9 of those hours, i was asleep.  i do believe i have set some sort of a record. 
  • "geez, you're fertile".  that was jeremy's reaction when i told him i'm pregnant.  gentlemen, just an FYI, when your loving wife tells you that she's carrying your child, you may want to consider some alternative responses.
  • being pregnant while you're raising a 13-month-old is not for the faint of heart.  enough said.  but, in the end, we are so thrilled at the idea of adding to our family.  if our second-born is even half as wonderful as harrison, we will consider ourselves immensely blessed!
  • jer would like to add that he really wants another boy, but he thinks this one is a girl. hmmm.  all i can say to that is, "yes, dear" (his two favorite words).  if anyone has an opinion, we're all ears!  : )  
so, thanks for reading about our exciting news!  stay tuned for more of our daily adventures!

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

good morning, sonshine

one morning last week i went in to find harrison's long-sleeved pajama shirt wrapped around him like...well, you see what it was like.  he looked up at me, smiled, spit out his binky and said, "dada".  

well, son, i've never seen your dada wear his t-shirts like that.  but maybe that's because he always gets out of bed while mama is still asleep.  do you know something i don't??

Friday, May 16, 2008

an addition to the post below. oh, the cuteness of mischief.


what a great helper















this is what happens when i turn my back for one second...just trying to put away a coffee mug.  

it's obvious to me, now, that i should just give up the daily fight of loading and unloading the dishwasher.  

because i'm always surprised to turn around and find my son either standing on the open dishwasher door or taking apart the dishwasher and pushing it around the house like the exciting toy that it is.
















i wonder if "damage by curious toddler" is covered under warranty?

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

why is oklahoma so darn humid anyway?

please note: the title of this post is slated to become the title of my first book.  yes, i plan to write one.  i've been planning on it since i was 18.  if you like the title and decide to steal it for your own selfish purposes, i will find you and assist God in allowing you to "reap what you sowed".  by "you" i am not referring to all 5 of my regular readers (thank God for family and friends).  i AM referring to the throngs of others, who tune in daily because of my quick-witted humor and endlessly laughable antics.  even though you don't ever comment, i know you're out there. 

in case you cannot tell, i do have a bit of a headache.  

and, yes, i am on drugs.  (the very nice..yet very legal kind). 

Sunday, May 11, 2008

happy mother's day!

to my mom, to my mother-in-law, to all the other "moms" in my life, to my friends who have children (especially those with newborns), and to my friends who desperately want children....

love and hugs and blessings to each one of you today!

thank you for all you've taught me and how you've inspired me! 

Saturday, May 10, 2008

dear harrison

to my sweet boy.  i thought it would be a nice tradition to write a letter to you now & again.  just to document what your life looks like at any given moment.  one thing i know for sure...i do not want to forget all the cute, funny, and interesting things you do.

you are nearly 13 months old.  my how time flies.  lately you have become obsessed with lights. you are quite demanding about "lights on" and "lights off".  over and over you reach for the sky and say "uh, uh" until i meet your request.  you walk from one room to the other....lamps, chandeliers, canned lights...even ceiling fans...you simply want to figure out how they work.  

you have, pretty much, quit saying "mama" and "dada".  you've also quit motioning/signing "bye, bye", "please", "so big".  you've accomplished those things and have now filed them away in your brain, only to be pulled out later.  you've moved on to bigger and better things.  such as, kissing noises with your lips, blinking (in a very exaggerated way), sticking out your tongue, squatting, and kicking or stomping your feet.  and you always expect mommy or daddy to mimic or mirror what you are doing.  you are making new sounds, too.  i always wonder what in the world you are babbling about.  some days i sincerely wish i could read your mind! 

you are so affectionate now.  (although you will no longer sit still long enough for me to actually hold you).  you love to run toward me and give me a big hug.  which absolutely, without a doubt, makes my day!  and you LOVE to see daddy when he gets home from work.  you love to carry your blanket around with you and cuddle with it.  when you take a nap, you love to nuzzle your musical puppy dog in the crook of your neck.  how i wish you would still love to nuzzle in the crook of my neck!  little do you know that mommy actually loves when you wake up in the middle of the night (which is a rarity) because it's the one time you will let me hold you and rock you without squirming. 

you are, certainly, at your happiest, most peaceful, contented self when both mommy and daddy are home and in the same room together.  weekends are so fun for you (and for us).  it seems like you get an extra burst of energy when both of us are there to love on you!  you cry when daddy leaves in the morning and you laugh when he gets home.  you are surely becoming a daddy's boy...and you've figured out that mommy is more for cuddles and daddy is more for rough-housing.  you are very smart.

you are a very good, obedient boy.  but you sure do know how to get into mischief.  although you've quit playing with the toilet paper rolls and playing in the toilet water...now you are interested in learning how to climb DOWN the stairs.  hmmm.  i think you may enjoy scaring me to death.  well, actually, i'm sure you enjoy it.  because the look on your face (of sheer bliss) speaks volumes.  you love to touch things that you are not supposed to touch.  but you do a very good job of obeying when mommy says, "no touch".  if mommy has to say "no" in a harsh tone (like when you are attempting to climb down the stairs by yourself), you get very sad and teary-eyed.  mommy always picks you up and tells you "i love you" and holds you until your feelings are no longer hurt.  mommy has had to swat your leg twice (because you were mad at her for telling you "no" and hit her in the face).  it broke my heart to do it.  it really, truly, made me so sad to discipline you.  but you have not hit me in the face since.  you learned very quickly. 

you love to eat peaches, pears, pineapple, whole apples (minus the skin because that only creates serious gagging issues), mandarin oranges, bananas, blueberries, and grapes.  you love cheese, macaroni and cheese, toast (plain and with peanut butter), yogurt, peas, green beans, carrots, potatoes, rice, and MILK.  and, so far, you've liked all meats except for salmon. mommy and daddy work hard to only feed you the healthiest, organic products.  all in all,  you are a very good eater and mommy feels very blessed!!  i must say, though, that both times i've tried to give you ice cream, you were not interested.  which simply seems insane to me.  but i have no doubt you'll come around.  : ) 

you are still a very good sleeper.  your schedule is pretty much the same every day.  bed time at 7:00-7:30 pm.  wake up at 7:00-7:30 am.  morning nap from 9:30-11:00 am.  afternoon nap from 2:00-3:30 pm.  

you would rather play with, pretty much, anything except for your toys.  as far as toys go, however, you love your golf clubs, books, and your new ride-on fire truck with a real siren.  the other things you like to play with are pots & pans, remote controls, and the broom & dust pan. if nothing else, you keep us VERY entertained.  you also love going outside to get the mail, going to see the ducks at the park, blowing bubbles, and playing hide & seek (which you are VERY good at).  oh, and opening & closing doors.  you could do that for hours.  i think it is your version of peak-a-boo.  you've actually locked yourself in the bathroom twice already...because you are just tall enough for your little fingers to touch the lock, but not quite strong enough to actually turn the knob.  never fear, mommy is always ready on the other side to get you out.  : )

at bedtime, we always read "goodnight moon" and "guess how much i love you".  and we always sing "goodnight harrison", "Jesus loves me", and "Jesus loves the little children".  you love your bed and always go to sleep with no trouble.  i think it is mommy & daddy's favorite time of the day because it is such a sweet, peaceful time.  you still have your binky, which, i think, is going to be a staple for some time to come.  and mommy is just fine with that.  i'd rather have you suck on your binky instead of gnawing on your hands and arms when your teeth hurt.  (which you do...you've drawn blood). 

and you still drink your milk from a bottle.  i was having a difficult time breaking you of the "baba" because it was the only time you would let me hold you.  now that that's no longer the case, i guess your time has come, little man.  you do drink water from a cup without any problems...so mommy needs to be brave now and get you switched over permanently.  besides, i am a bit tired of washing all those bottles! 

mommy is so excited for the pool to open this summer and can't wait to take you swimming for the first time (i thought you were too little last year).  we are also planning a trip to the zoo at some point.  mommy & daddy are so very proud of you!  we think you are the smartest, sweetest, cutest, happiest boy ever.  and we feel so lucky to be your mom & dad!  we love you "to the moon and back"!

Monday, May 5, 2008

a post from harrison

KJJJ,,,H

 nnm 

 SZ D

G YYYHN N B M N G

G

H C  C VV V V V     

can anyone interpret???








teething

my poor baby boy's molars are growing in.  one on the bottom right side of his mouth has now broken through.  and we can tell some of the others are still working their way to the surface.

teething has been difficult for him from the start.  but molars are no fun at all. 

i suppose this is why the tooth fairy rewards kids for losing teeth.  because although they don't remember the pain of growing them, "she" does!  : ) 

Sunday, May 4, 2008

happy cinco de mayo

oh, i jest.  

for those of you who read this post, you may have come to the conclusion that cinco de mayo has become a well-loved favorite in the white house.  

yes, indeed.  

after all, isn't it is so wonderful to be stuck on the highway...unable to exit...due to the police entourage blocking the streets...so that native cinco-de-mayo-ens can cruise the roads...in their big, huge trucks...with the word "chihuahua" in lovely tattoo script printed on the back window....blaring their non-english music...waving their non-american flags...up and down, up and down...for friday, saturday, and sunday night...all night?

clearly, i cannot think of one reason why i shouldn't be happy about such a fantastic holiday. 





i do believe the usps is participating in some sort of legal form of price-gouging

do you realize that the price of stamps is going up...again?!?! 

when i heard this news i was not angered.  rather, i was sad. sorrowful.  mournful, perhaps.  because i know that these ridiculous prices are going to force me to do even less letter-writing. forget about the white family christmas card for 2008.  i'm moving to "all email, all the time". 

which, although i love email, is simply not as good as a hand-written letter.  letter-writing has become such a lost art.  and i love everything about it.  don't even get me started on the stationery.  i love stationery.  i love to buy it.  i love to use it.  i love to give it as gifts. stationery is BEAUTIFUL to me.  so much so that jeremy has banned me from two of my favorites: papyrus and crane.  no longer am i allowed to enter their hallowed grounds.

he did, however, let me purchase crane invitations for harrison's birthday. (online.  not in the store).  because they were on clearance for $5.99.  he's so generous. 

oh, and the pens.  i refuse to write a letter with none other than the micro-fine-point-black-sharpie.  nothing else will do.

i have a box of letters...some of which were written/received back in 8th grade.  i cherish many letters that were written in college, back and forth with one dear friend each summer.  nothing was better (or funnier) than getting one of her letters in the mail.  and i cherish the letters that my cousin has compiled - back and forth between my grandmother and grandfather while he was off at war in WWII.  i have printed out all the emails (and saved all the letters) that jeremy and i sent to one another while we were getting to know each other long distance.  they are precious memories to me.  and i always save the hoards of christmas cards we receive each year.  at least until the next christmas comes around.  

simply put, letters are a keepsake to me.  

but, at $.43 a pop, i just don't know that i can swing it. 

is anyone else feeling the pain of the terrible dichotomy of really wanting to hang on to the beautiful tradition of a hand-written letter...yet being forced to go electronic???

Thursday, May 1, 2008

may first

it's snowing.  again.

two days ago it was 79 degrees.  yesterday it was 72 degrees.  today we have a thick layer of white snow on the ground.  and it's still coming down.  heavy, wet, huge snowflakes. 

beautiful?  yes. 

tiresome?  yes. 

i'm ready for may flowers.