We have reached a new realm in Silas' development, one which seemed so excellent in the beginning but has apparently come with some tiring implications. The best news is that Silas is healthy and is growing like crazy! He's crawling all over the place in a commando-style belly scoot, and typically it's across the room, AWAY from his toys to various excitements such as electrical outlets, computer cords, or a forgotten cell phone. I hear it gets even crazier when they start walking. Even for now, gone are the days when I laid him in one place and he was still there when I returned ten minutes later.
Along with his ability to crawl has come his ability to push himself into a sitting position. I have waited for this ability for months, hoping each morning for the day that I would go in to get him and actually find him sitting in his crib playing with a stuffed animal. Well, he does this marvelously now, numerous times each day...and night. What I never considered with this feat, however, is the necessary ability to get himself FROM the sitting position BACK down to his tummy or side, a move that he has not yet mastered. What this means is that several times in the middle of the night he cries out because he has gotten himself to sitting and is not able to get himself back to lying down so that he can sleep. It's the very antithesis of "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" Each night at 2:30, 3:00, 3:45, 5:30, 6:15, and 7:00 Silas cries, and if you listen close enough, what you can hear is "Help! I've gotten up and I can't get back down!" We used to enjoy most nights of the week as he slept through the night without so much as a peep, and now one of us is trudging from our bedroom to the nursery to lay him back down and pull his blanket over him, so that he can immediately fall back to sleep (which he does).
Man, oh man, what a stinker. =)
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
A Grand RDO
Today was a great RDO. What RDO means technically, I have no idea, but what it means to me is every other Friday, the Friday that BJ has off work. The FAA has termed that day "RDO." We are just about the luckiest people in the world, as I'm off work every Friday and BJ has his RDO every other week. Those days are hard to beat. Today was chilly and rainy all day, but the boys and I got out and about on the town and made a great day of it. After Silas' morning nap, we started with a delicious lunch at Cocina Guatelinda. This place is a wonderful little Guatemalan restaurant right in the 'hood, and they were serving up some mighty fine dishes today, including my favorite queso pupusas and a delicious appetizer that we like to get made of mashed plantains, chocolate, and black beans. Hell to the yes, people. We ran several errands after this and had a cheery Silas with us all the way, which only serves to make the day even more grand.
Upon arriving at home, I thought, 'Gee, what could make this cozy day even better?' Knowing my propensity toward delicious food, as I know you all do, it seemed high time to me to work on a batch of chocolate chip cookies, the kind that are so big the recipe actually calls for them to be scooped with a 1/4 cup disher. Thirty minutes later, it smells like heavenly chocolate chip cookies in this house. The recipe made 17 cookies this time, as I refrained from eating too much of the batter, so our neighbors got a few in an attempt to save my waistline, and simultaneously keep them sweet on us since we have a 120-pound dog (albeit a friendly dog) and no fence. So here's to a night at home... and hoping that everyone else had a good day too!
Upon arriving at home, I thought, 'Gee, what could make this cozy day even better?' Knowing my propensity toward delicious food, as I know you all do, it seemed high time to me to work on a batch of chocolate chip cookies, the kind that are so big the recipe actually calls for them to be scooped with a 1/4 cup disher. Thirty minutes later, it smells like heavenly chocolate chip cookies in this house. The recipe made 17 cookies this time, as I refrained from eating too much of the batter, so our neighbors got a few in an attempt to save my waistline, and simultaneously keep them sweet on us since we have a 120-pound dog (albeit a friendly dog) and no fence. So here's to a night at home... and hoping that everyone else had a good day too!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Kick-Ass Jog
Okay, I'll admit it. Much to my displeasure, I went an entire week without jogging. At times I can honestly say that I chose to watch a football game or spend time with family instead of putting on those running shoes and hitting the pavement. However, there were 3 days last week when I planned to and even wanted to jog, and there was no time at all to do it. On those days, I got home just in time to complete tasks like feeding Silas, realizing I need to grocery shop, you know how it goes, until it was too late to actually go running at the end of the day. And speaking of the end of the day, whose big idea is this anyway to turn the clocks back? Now I'm guaranteed to be running in the pitch-black every time I go. Grr.
So, needless to say, my expectations of my jog yesterday were incredibly low, as I had not run in a solid week. I thought it would be a great mental battle, which it often is, and I told myself to start small and be pleased with myself if I could accomplish five minutes (okay, so I was REALLY going small). Well, the first time I looked at my watch, 6:15 had passed and I still felt marvelous, so I set my next goal to be running around the park one time, which would put me at one mile. Well, I made it around the park and had really hit my second wind at that point, so on I kept. At about a mile and a half, BJ started getting snarky with me about my pace (boo, BJ!) so I barked at him to run ahead of me and leave me alone, as obviously I could use encouragement rather than criticism. So on he went, and Tex and I proceeded to complete our run at 2.5 miles, which took me 31 minutes. Yes, I'm a slow runner, I know this. But may I also please add that one minute of this time was spent jogging in place as Tex pooped, peed, and sniffed about on multiple occasions. I am way ahead of training on the Couch to 5K plan, which only expects you to be able to run for 30 minutes the day before the race. However, clearly my pace is not on target, so I am figuring that I will really need to run about 40 minutes to accomplish the 3.1 miles of the Turkey Trot. BJ mentioned last night that apparently he doesn't like the way that I set goals for myself WHILE running, rather than saying before I begin jogging, "Well, I expect to run precisely 2.55 miles this eve." Instead, as I mentioned above, my goals for last night's jog started at 5 minutes, then went to once around the park, then went to 20 minutes, then 26 minutes, and finally I just went into what I will call "Penny Mode," where I "run until I get hungry, and then I eat a bearclaw," only there was a Dove chocolate at my house rather than a bearclaw. I ended the jog with the additional benefit of feeling tired but good, and certainly not at death's door. Will keep you posted on my progress! And, although this was a month ago, congratulations again to Claire's Crew for your excellent job done at the Minneapolis 10K. Someday I may be able to run that far too!
So, needless to say, my expectations of my jog yesterday were incredibly low, as I had not run in a solid week. I thought it would be a great mental battle, which it often is, and I told myself to start small and be pleased with myself if I could accomplish five minutes (okay, so I was REALLY going small). Well, the first time I looked at my watch, 6:15 had passed and I still felt marvelous, so I set my next goal to be running around the park one time, which would put me at one mile. Well, I made it around the park and had really hit my second wind at that point, so on I kept. At about a mile and a half, BJ started getting snarky with me about my pace (boo, BJ!) so I barked at him to run ahead of me and leave me alone, as obviously I could use encouragement rather than criticism. So on he went, and Tex and I proceeded to complete our run at 2.5 miles, which took me 31 minutes. Yes, I'm a slow runner, I know this. But may I also please add that one minute of this time was spent jogging in place as Tex pooped, peed, and sniffed about on multiple occasions. I am way ahead of training on the Couch to 5K plan, which only expects you to be able to run for 30 minutes the day before the race. However, clearly my pace is not on target, so I am figuring that I will really need to run about 40 minutes to accomplish the 3.1 miles of the Turkey Trot. BJ mentioned last night that apparently he doesn't like the way that I set goals for myself WHILE running, rather than saying before I begin jogging, "Well, I expect to run precisely 2.55 miles this eve." Instead, as I mentioned above, my goals for last night's jog started at 5 minutes, then went to once around the park, then went to 20 minutes, then 26 minutes, and finally I just went into what I will call "Penny Mode," where I "run until I get hungry, and then I eat a bearclaw," only there was a Dove chocolate at my house rather than a bearclaw. I ended the jog with the additional benefit of feeling tired but good, and certainly not at death's door. Will keep you posted on my progress! And, although this was a month ago, congratulations again to Claire's Crew for your excellent job done at the Minneapolis 10K. Someday I may be able to run that far too!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
8-1....and Worried
Well, some sports analysts predicted Oklahoma State's football team to finish dead last in the Big 12 South this year. One look at the standings, however, and you'll realize that those people were fools. After losing Dez Bryant and Zac Robinson to the NFL, as well as large amounts of our defense and O-line, OSU is leading the Big 12 South and is poised to control its own destiny. So why am I shakin' in my shorts? Because next week, folks, we play Texas. Dum-da-dum-dum.
I hate playing Texas. In the spirit of good ole Pedro Martinez, who once tipped his hat and called the Yankees his "daddy," I can readily admit that Texas has been OSU's daddy for the past many years. OSU has a harder time with Texas in recent history than they do even with OU, as recent history will show that OSU has beaten OU twice in the past nine years, including a win at Owen Field, which is one of Stoops' two home field losses since taking over the Sooners. I dread the game with Texas each year because they always find a way to win. About five years ago we had a 35-7 lead on them at half, and guess who won the game. Texas, that's who. And a couple of years after that we were leading with three minutes left before the showers, and guess who won that game. Texas, that's who. And two years ago we were ready to win in Austin, but Kendall Hunter fumbled the ball as he was running into the endzone and it was recovered by Texas for a 14-point turnaround, and guess who won that game. Texas, that's who, and by less than a touchdown. I'm sick to death of it.
This has got to be the year though, even though we play in Austin. Part of me feels nauseated watching Texas this year, as they have stumbled and lost badly to the likes of UCLA, OU, Kansas State, Baylor, and Iowa State. Holy heck, people, Iowa State! And yet, here we are, and I KNOW that we will lose in Austin...because we always lose to Texas.
May something turn around for us this year, please! A new uniform, a new something, please! All I know is this: If OSU plays in Austin the way they played at home yesterday, they will beat Texas this year. So which OSU team will show up in Austin next Saturday? Let's hope it's the OSU team that's ready to open up a can... a serious can of whoop-ass.
I hate playing Texas. In the spirit of good ole Pedro Martinez, who once tipped his hat and called the Yankees his "daddy," I can readily admit that Texas has been OSU's daddy for the past many years. OSU has a harder time with Texas in recent history than they do even with OU, as recent history will show that OSU has beaten OU twice in the past nine years, including a win at Owen Field, which is one of Stoops' two home field losses since taking over the Sooners. I dread the game with Texas each year because they always find a way to win. About five years ago we had a 35-7 lead on them at half, and guess who won the game. Texas, that's who. And a couple of years after that we were leading with three minutes left before the showers, and guess who won that game. Texas, that's who. And two years ago we were ready to win in Austin, but Kendall Hunter fumbled the ball as he was running into the endzone and it was recovered by Texas for a 14-point turnaround, and guess who won that game. Texas, that's who, and by less than a touchdown. I'm sick to death of it.
This has got to be the year though, even though we play in Austin. Part of me feels nauseated watching Texas this year, as they have stumbled and lost badly to the likes of UCLA, OU, Kansas State, Baylor, and Iowa State. Holy heck, people, Iowa State! And yet, here we are, and I KNOW that we will lose in Austin...because we always lose to Texas.
May something turn around for us this year, please! A new uniform, a new something, please! All I know is this: If OSU plays in Austin the way they played at home yesterday, they will beat Texas this year. So which OSU team will show up in Austin next Saturday? Let's hope it's the OSU team that's ready to open up a can... a serious can of whoop-ass.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Say Cheese!
Today we were up early because it was picture day for our little family of three. We came in contact with a photographer named Katie Christy, who does mini-sessions for a reasonable price. The mini-session lasts for 15 minutes or less and is at a specified outdoor location that she dresses up with cute furniture, etc., while getting in a nice outdoorsy background. Apparently it's enough to get some good shots, and she gives you a CD of the edited photos. Our appointment was at 8:15 this morning in Yukon, and boy was it chilly (for us in Oklahoma anyway)! Silas was a super trooper though, and he hammed it up pretty good for the entire 15-minute session. So, yeah, poor BJ was up at 5:30 and I was up at 6:00 as usual. Hopefully the pics turn out great... I'll be sure to let you know!
Tonight is fall-back, so don't forget to set your clocks back! For me, this will probably mean that I'm up not at 6:45, but rather 5:45, with a baby who is done sleeping but too adorable to get rid of. Just kidding. Honestly, I have never, and I mean NEVER, been a morning person before. In fact, my nickname in the family has been Jenny Bear ever since I was a toddler, and I was named this after my grandma (whose name was also Jenny) and who always woke up in a grumpy mood. She and I were two peas in a pod, apparently. However, 29 years into my life, Silas pulled the unthinkable and made a morning person out of me. There is no time that I love better now than the early mornings, especially the weekend mornings, up with the baby and BJ bright and early (or sometimes dark and early), fixing coffee and muffins, with College Gameday on in the background. So tomorrow if my prediction is correct and Silas and I are up at an ungodly time, I won't be too upset. In fact, I might be secretly happy about it.
Tonight is fall-back, so don't forget to set your clocks back! For me, this will probably mean that I'm up not at 6:45, but rather 5:45, with a baby who is done sleeping but too adorable to get rid of. Just kidding. Honestly, I have never, and I mean NEVER, been a morning person before. In fact, my nickname in the family has been Jenny Bear ever since I was a toddler, and I was named this after my grandma (whose name was also Jenny) and who always woke up in a grumpy mood. She and I were two peas in a pod, apparently. However, 29 years into my life, Silas pulled the unthinkable and made a morning person out of me. There is no time that I love better now than the early mornings, especially the weekend mornings, up with the baby and BJ bright and early (or sometimes dark and early), fixing coffee and muffins, with College Gameday on in the background. So tomorrow if my prediction is correct and Silas and I are up at an ungodly time, I won't be too upset. In fact, I might be secretly happy about it.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Yawn and a Prayer
Well, I don't know if it's teething or what, but Silas has not been sleeping well. And you know how the saying goes... 'When Silas ain't sleepin, ain't nobody sleepin'.' I feel as though I've been a bit of a zombie the past couple of days. Typically I would shake it off, as I did a whole lot of during maternity leave. Unfortunately, I am no longer on maternity leave, and when Silas is awake for hours in the middle of the night, it simply means I go to work tired (or just don't go to work, as was the case on Wednesday). Thank goodness my weekend is here!
Tonight I am sitting here, zombie-like on the couch while BJ watches the Thunder game on TV, and I'm thinking of others who are hurting. Friends in California with bad news, friends in Oklahoma just returning from a difficult trip, and friends who have lost loved ones. Even as I sit here trying to think of words to type, my heart just hurts and my word-bank is empty. I lift a general prayer for all of this hurt, and friends may know that somewhere in Oklahoma a tired girl is sitting on a gray couch in a quiet living room thinking of you and praying.
Tomorrow's entry is guaranteed to be happier.
Tonight I am sitting here, zombie-like on the couch while BJ watches the Thunder game on TV, and I'm thinking of others who are hurting. Friends in California with bad news, friends in Oklahoma just returning from a difficult trip, and friends who have lost loved ones. Even as I sit here trying to think of words to type, my heart just hurts and my word-bank is empty. I lift a general prayer for all of this hurt, and friends may know that somewhere in Oklahoma a tired girl is sitting on a gray couch in a quiet living room thinking of you and praying.
Tomorrow's entry is guaranteed to be happier.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Election Day
Well, tomorrow is election day. Or is it Election Day? I don't know. I do know that I will be going to vote, and I know that it will be happening late in the day. Two years ago I stood in line for an hour and a half to vote for the Presidential election and was subsequently late to work. Imagine my surprise when I drove past the same polling place about ten hours later that day, 6:30PM or so, and there were exactly two cars in the parking lot (both of which probably belonged to lonely and bored poll attendants). So, yes, I shall not make that mistake again. I will be an evening voter from now on. Silas will accompany me to voting, just like he accompanies me into the liquor store, although he is obviously under-age. And to the few fools who have ever commented to me about the age of my son in such locations, I simply ask, "Would you prefer that I illegally leave him in the car?" I didn't think so, so now shut your traps.
Well, there are many things about Oklahoma of which a citizen should not be proud, but tomorrow is not one of them. No siree, and why? Because no matter what happens by the end of the day tomorrow, Oklahomans will have voted in their first female governor in history. While I certainly have a preference between Democrat Jari Askins and Republican Mary Fallin, I will be happy regardless of which one is chosen for the simple fact that we are now progressing onward to a more equivalent society.
On other notes, happy six-month birthday to Silas tomorrow. Sometimes I think that six months has flown by, and other times I think, yes, it has indeed been six long but good months. Also, I have run twice since my last entry, once to the tune of 2.3 miles, and once to some major suckage of only one mile. To this day when I totally sucked (I believe it was Saturday), I kept telling myself afterward the great Vince Lombardi quote, "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit." I did not quit today and ran on, my friends. And on and on.
Well, there are many things about Oklahoma of which a citizen should not be proud, but tomorrow is not one of them. No siree, and why? Because no matter what happens by the end of the day tomorrow, Oklahomans will have voted in their first female governor in history. While I certainly have a preference between Democrat Jari Askins and Republican Mary Fallin, I will be happy regardless of which one is chosen for the simple fact that we are now progressing onward to a more equivalent society.
On other notes, happy six-month birthday to Silas tomorrow. Sometimes I think that six months has flown by, and other times I think, yes, it has indeed been six long but good months. Also, I have run twice since my last entry, once to the tune of 2.3 miles, and once to some major suckage of only one mile. To this day when I totally sucked (I believe it was Saturday), I kept telling myself afterward the great Vince Lombardi quote, "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit." I did not quit today and ran on, my friends. And on and on.
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