Today, I kicked a dog in the head.

...And I don't even feel bad about it. Isn't that awful?

But first, I just have to comment on this. I am watching the President's address to Congress right now, and though I like that any President must go through the gauntlet that is Congress when bringing his ideas to fruition, I can't help but laugh at the ritual it's become. Speech writers try to pack as many BAM phrases into one speech as possible, and by BAM phrases, I mean the hundreds of sentences that are probably underlined, italicised, AND put in BOLD PRINT because those are the ones that people are going to stand up and clap for. SAY THIS ONE WHILE WAGGING YOUR FIST!!! And no, I am not just dogging on Obama. I'm not his biggest fan, but every President does it. So, they say these phrases, and half (or perhaps if it was a good enough BAM phrase, the whole) room stands and cheers. And what I love is the OTHER HALF of the room. The part that's not standing. The part that is shaking their heads with that smile on their faces. The smile that says, 'Oh those silly Republicans (or vice versa)' when in reality they are probably getting really annoyed that these people keep standing up and cheering every time the President says the magic word (I think that's how they do it... they get together before and agree on a word that every body is going to stand up and cheer for... then the President is left confused as to why he got a big cheer every time he talked about demagoguery).
Well, that's all I have to say about politics.

Back to the kicking of the hounds!

I would like to start this out by adding a disclaimer that I didn't mean it. ... But that would be a lie.

BUT. I at least have a good reason.

I have been making an effort to get the dog out on walks at least every other day. Poor Violet has been neglected for a while as mom and dad adjusted to life with two kids. So tonight we went for a stroll, and because Alex didn't kick and scream and spin her head around mulitple times when I broke out the stroller, she went with us. I was having a nice, quiet walk, which was sped up by Violet pulling my left side a smidge faster than my right side wanted to go. As I was approaching one of the houses, I noticed that there were two guys out there (father and son I assume), both making half-hearted attempts to catch a dog. I assumed that because they were out front with a collar on the dog that this dog would not bother us. But as we passed, the lure of a dog, small child with her hands out and a sweaty, slightly overweight power-walker was too much to pass up. The dog (a puppy pit... quite cute actually.... ok, now I am starting to feel bad for kicking it.... ) (no... not really) came over and made aquaintences with Violet as dogs tend to do (BUTT-SMELLING). They were getting excited, bounding around each other, taking turns knocking into me. The puppy's owners were standing on their porch staring, not seeming too concerned. The dogs continued to bound and sniff, then started to bark, then started to growl, which quickly progressed to little snaps at each other. And all the while, Alex is straining to get out of her stroller, with one hand reached out towards the dogs. Now... I am not all about grabbing dogs I don't know. I am a firm believer in owners taking responsibility for their dogs, making sure to the best of their ability that other people will not be put in the position of having to restrain a dog they don't know. But, tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum were not moving from their porch. So, I tried to get in between the dogs, Violet backed off, puppy went for the next target, which is was my little one-year-old with her hand outstretched....

He didn't get her. But he did get something.

And after that, the owners came and got him. The father looked like he wanted to say something along the lines of 'how dare you kick my dog', but I had MAMA BEAR written all over my face, and I think he decided it would be safer if he just removed the hound from my sight.

Put. The dog. On a leash.




And I suppose I should add a disclaimer that this was not a wind-up-and-kick kick, it was more of a forceful redirection with my foot. The dog didn't yelp, limp, or even cower. He just went for Violet again. So... no hate comments pa-lease.

Morning Conversation

Scene: Eli laying on couch. Alex pointing to his various body parts.

Alex: (points to eye) EeeeyyyyyeeE?

Laura: yes, eye.

Alex: (points to nose) EeeeyyyyyeeE?

Laura: Nose.

Alex: (points to arm) EeeeeyyyyeeE?

Laura: Arm.

Alex: (points to foot) EEeeyyyyeeeE?

Laura: Foot.

Alex: (points to belly) EEeeeeeyyyyeee?

Laura: Belly.

Alex: (points to crotch area) EeeeeyyyyeeeE?

Laura: (thinking daughter will continue with previously set routine) ....Penis.

Alex: .... Peeeeniiiiii?

Laura: .....

If at first you don't succeed, do something else.

I have been trying again and again to upload a certain video of certain children. You may have noticed the blank post that's been on here for the past few days. Well, it's gone. I am going to for-go uploading that certain video (which starred a certain mini-man and his talkative nature), and head straight to this one (which I have yet to attempt to upload... so it may or may not be at the bottom of this post) which stars a certain toddler with a tendency to drop it like it's haaawwwwwt whenever there is any kind of beat in the background, whether it be music or Eli's very loud and creaky swing.

Enjoy. (maybe.) (...and as an added bonus, get to see some white lady in her pj's who has yet to brush her teeth or comb her hair or even look in a mirror get down with her bad-ars self.) (...and all credit of the music goes to the britney spears channel of pandora.)

Changes.

Things are changing.

I wear glasses now. And aside from a few days where it felt like I had been punched in the face (trust me, I asked Paul about 5 times if he would please just tell me if he hit me while I was sleeping... which he didn't.). Anyway, aside from that, the transition has been smooth. I was amazed (like, truly slack-jawed, with audible gasps and everything) at how much better I can see with them strapped to my face.

We are putting the house up for sale. We've been clearing out all of the 'stuff' we've accumulated throughout the years (and... WOW) to be put into a garage sale this Saturday. Which... I've never taken part in a garage sale before, so it should be fun. We have been looking at houses around the area. Big thing we are looking for... 3 bedrooms on the same level. Right now, the master bedroom and one other room are on the upper floor, while the other two are in the basement. I had planned on having the kids share a room for a bit, so this wasn't a problem. But, considering Alex can not only climb out of the crib, but also into the crib, this won't be happening. I have seen her try to end his life once already (death by eye-gouging.... I walked around the corner to see her thumb IN HIS EYEBALL. That image will forever be burned in my memory....*shudder*), and I don't care to walk into their bedroom one morning to find her sitting on Eli's head. And there is no way I am going to put either of them on a different floor than us at this point... especially since the basement becomes ridiculously cold come November... So.... three bedrooms. Same floor. Also, no pool. We've had enough of sinking money into that, thank you very much. When the kids are older, maybe we'll give it another go.

Also, I am slowly trying to adjust my days to prepare myself for when they will get much longer. Paul is going on deployment for four months come January (WHIIIIIINE), and between now and then, he will be going on trips for work, a week here, two weeks there. I have been attempting to get to the end of the day not feeling like I am going to collapse if so much as an ant blows on me. At this point, I look forward to Paul getting home every day, offering some relief from these two angels of mine. Maybe 'look forward to' is too weak of a phrase. I NNNEEEEEEED Paul to get home and snatch these children away from me before I chuck them over the balcony. I think some days he gets home and he can just see the look in my eyes. The look that tells him to move slowly and not make any sudden movements and to remove the children from my line of sight right this second or so help me...

So yes. I am trying to do things while he is at work like go grocery shopping with both, shower, all those little things that get so much more complicated when you have children. I would like to have somewhat of a routine down before he up and leaves me.

That being said, if anyone wants to visit between January and May, feel free!

Today.

August 12.

Happy Anniversary, to my one and only.

On this day, 3 years ago (has it really only been THREE years?... or is it... has it ALREADY been THREE years? I can't tell), we said our vows, we walked down an aisle, we cut some cake.

On this day, 2 years ago, I threw up a few times, we ate a bland dinner because that was the only thing I could stomach (because something very special was growing in there), and we went to bed early.

On this day, 1 year ago, we were adjusting to our new lives as parents, oblvious to the fact that our lives were about the take another crazy step forward.

And now, 3 years in, this day no longer represents a walk down the aisle. It no longer represents a big party with some pretty awesome food (from what I hear... I didn't actually get to eat that much). It represents two beautiful children. It represents a year in England and two in St. Louis, with nothing but each other. It represents the loss of lives we cherished dearly, as well as the gift of so many new little ones in our families. It represents more trials and triumphs in the many years ahead. It represents so much. I am very happy and very proud to say that August 12, 2006 was not the best day in my life. I had hoped it wouldn't be. There have been too many days to count since then that sweep it under the carpet. And I hope that there will be many more.

Happy day, Paul.

Love,

Your Laura