Okay, I lied...

I didn't test this weekend. I didn't even *buy* a test with all the shopping I did. Went to Target and Wal-Mart - didn't even think about it. I think this is "breastfed baby went through a growth spurt" late. (I know that should actually be hyphenated, but give me a break, it's 1:00a.m. and I'm being lazy)

But I did buy Elizabeth a new car seat, which she loves. The fabric is denim with pink floral accents - she's thrilled with it. And I bought two egg dyeing kits (one Disney Princess, the other glitter) and some plastic eggs for the Easter egg hunt at my parents' house. Bought a bunch of other crap, but I'm sure you don't care about my Target/Wal-Mart SuperCenter list. Comment if you do...I'll list it. Okay, no I won't.

Oh, I did buy a book for the girls on my trip to Barnes & Noble - well, really for me - You Are My I Love You by Maryann K Cusimano illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa. I love the opening lines of the book: "I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild." Reminds me of Katherine. And the closing: "I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo. I am your good-night kiss; you are my I love you." :::sniff::: Sappy and sweet but not in the stalkerish way of Love You Forever. That book used to make me cry until I realized "this mom has issues". Though the part of it that makes me cry now is how the son sings to his mother on her deathbed and then goes home and sings to his baby girl -- that part is sweet. The other sappy, make-me-cry-about-how-much-I-love-my-kids book is Guess How Much I Love You. The words "Little Nutbrown Hare" come out of my mouth and I'm immediately crying. For those unfamiliar with the book "Little Nutbrown Hare" are the first three words in the book.

We went to the park to celebrate Eric J.'s 19th birthday - his actual birthday was 2 weeks ago but his parents and younger siblings were skiing (spring break). We met his roommate and his girlfriend. When he introduce me to his roommate he said, "She's been our babysitter for years." I was nursing Annie at the time and said, "Yeah, I started keeping Eric when he was about this size" which caused the massive wave of nostalgia to sweep over me. My gosh. My young charge is 19, in college (and kicking butt - he's doing so great), dating...when did I get so old?! Of course, Elizabeth clung to him when she wasn't playing on the playground equipment. She absolutely adores Eric; and now that we only see him three or four times a year, she seems to glow when she does get to spend time with him. It is so neat to see him with my kids - and I remember how my heart used to burst when I was with him when he was Elizabeth's age. Bill & Diane were telling someone about our relationship with their kids and I remember saying, "I cannot imagine loving my own kids more. I'm sure I will, if I ever have any, but I can't imagine it." Eric and his siblings prepared me for becoming a parent in very practical aspects: bathing, feeding, getting them to sleep, calming them when fussy, potty training, dealing with a defiant toddler, handling questions about sex (yes, that was a fun conversation). The things they did not prepare me for: my heart walking around outside my body and all the anxiety that goes along with parenting. Oh, and labor, c-sections and breastfeeding - the "J" kids didn't prepare me for that. Obviously. ;)

Everybody take a deep breath

Repeat after me...it'll be okay...I'll test this weekend...it'll be okay...I don't think I am...it'll be okay. Y'all are crackin' me up! Of course, I'll let you know. And no, Robin, he doesn't read my blog. He doesn't even know what a blog is! My next-door-neighbor, however, does read my blog -- so Amy, if you're reading...shhhhhhhh, don't tell Brad. I don't think I could handle being widowed.

On a totally different note. I did some more digital scrapbook shopping the other night. I won a gift certificate from Scrapdish and poof! it was gone. I picked up several more Robin Cabana paper packs and element packs. I love Robin's stuff...shoot, I love Robin herself! I bought Cozy Paper Pack, Flair Paper Pack & Elements Set, Monica Element Pack, (oops, I thought I bought the paper pack, too... back to Scrapdish to buy more stuff), and Funky Chicas. Fun, fun, fun. Now to find time to scrap with it. It's not like I don't have a ton of pictures.

I was going to blog something else but I forgot what it was so I don't guess it was very earth shattering, huh? I had a real Diet Coke for the first time in about a year. OMG, so good. And, if you haven't tried Coke Blak -- well, it tastes like Coke with coffee in it. I'm so accustomed to Diet Coke that I found it a bit too sweet for my taste. But for $5.98 a four-pack...well, it's not THAT good.

I want some cake.

Oh, I almost forgot

Remember how he didn't care that I was fertile?

Think he'll care that I'm late?

We're going to go with the "breastfeeding baby going through a growth spurt will make a momma irregular" line of thought until I get dizzy, have hot flashes and start feeling nauseous. ("We" being me and the mouse in my pocket. I'm not about to tell him. He'll have a heart attack and die.)

I want my hour back

Pass the cheese, I'm about to whine. I hate, hate, hate this time of year. Losing that hour always throws me into a tailspin. I've not been to bed before 3:45a.m. since Saturday night. Meanwhile, my children have done relatively beautifully in adjusting - no trouble getting them into bed on time. Keeping them there, is another story.

Annie is actually going to sleep an hour earlier each night - she's ready to be in her bed by 8:00 at the latest, though she is still waking in the middle of the night to nurse thanks to the growth spurt. Katherine is cutting her eye teeth (FINALLY - she's 23 months old!!!) and she's waking at around 2a.m. every morning. She wants to rock-rock, then she wants "Daddy's bed to snuggle". I put her in bed with us and she wants to sing or talk. Um, no...it's time to sleep. Elizabeth has taken to sleeping on her floor. She gives specific instructions that we are not to move her to her bed. She's in her bed now of her own will.

I am nursing a migraine thanks to stress, lack of sleep and allergies all combined to knock me on my behind all at once. A nice cool pillow in a dark room sounds like a version of heaven on earth right now. I think I'll go to bed. Yes, it's 2a.m. whooo-hooo, I'm getting in bed "early"! I hope my kids sleep late in the morning!

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

I saw this on Jeanine's blog and couldn't resist...

You Are Marcia Brady

Confident yet kind. Popular yet down to earth. You're a total dream girl. You've got the total package - no wonder everyone's a little jealous of you.

What Brady Are You?

Yeah, riiiiiight. I'm such a dream girl. Can you see me rolling my eyes from there? Total package? If the package is a full diaper, you bet.