October update

Kaya is doing well in 2nd grade. She hasn't missed 1 thing on the first 3 tests she has taken, getting her 1st 3 "A"s ever. She likes school, and is also doing gymnastics this fall, she'll be starting Drama in a month and hopefully swimming in the spring to get her ready for the summer.

Jimi is about 18 1/2 months old, he is starting to talk, and has about a 12 word vocab, not bad considering Kaya wasn't saying anything until 2. He is such an active kid. If there is trouble, he will find it, and my hair is starting to turn more gray by the day.

Joey is in his last year of school for his job, and loves his chosen career so much. I am still working part time till 2:00 everyday, and I love my schedule...well, I'd really like to still have that 1 day off per week, but the extra money is nice.

We just refinanced our home to get a lower rate and wrap our home improvement loan that we got for our siding and windows into our mortgage so it would all be tax deductable. We even got our rate to 5% :) .

I also just booked a cruise for just Joey and I for next October...which I know is way to far away, but that is a good time of year as far as prices go, and the Jimi will be a year older then and I will feel better about leaving him. We are taking a 7 day cruise out of Port Canaveral to St. Thomas, St. Martin, and the Bahamas...YAY!

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas...

Well, not really, but I got your attention didn't I? I actually started my Christmas shopping today online. Kaya wants to redecorate her room as her Christmas present this year (this will be her 2nd year fully knowing there is no Santa) so I just bought a comforter set on clearance at Target online. I'm going to repaint her room a light aqua color and the set is hot pink with aqua paisleys. She is such a girly girl. I also got shams, a light, new chair and items to redecorate the hall bath too into a summery flip flop theme and it all totaled under $200! Her bedroom is all she gets for Christmas, and she says she is fine with it...we shall see.

Joey is working overtime all weekend so today I have my wonderful teenage babysitter coming over at 10:30 and I actually get a whole day out by myself until 3- woohoo! I'm going to do a little retail therapy and maybe pick up a few more Christmas gifts. Folks- I HATE shopping during Christmas season. It's cold, people are rude, and parking is a bitch. So I'm going to take advantage of this beautiful day, do a little shopping, get a pedicure and relax.

I'm on a political rant today...watchout!

People on the right are getting upset about the upcoming speech on Tuesday by President Obama to our schools. People on the left are upset at the people on the right. Do I think it's a big deal? Not really. Do I want to watch the speech first before I let Kaya watch it, you bet.

Do I think that the left would be up in arms if George W. wanted to give a speech to children? Yep, and there would be the same back lash from Cindy Sheehan and tons of others saying they don't want his war loving views being preeched to their children. The left is saying it shouldn't be about politics, but people you and I both know it's always about politics.

Leave My Healthcare Alone Bitches!

I'm not sure what is happening to America. I have lots of friends and family on both sides of the healthcare issue, and I love you all, but what crazy fucked up world is this that people actually think a gov run healthcare is a good idea? People will say there are millions without insurace. Does that account for young professionals that opt out of company insurance because they are unconcerned about their health because they are young and fit? Does that take into account people that sit on their ass and collect welfare because they are getting a free hand out from the gov? Does that take into account illegals that shouldn't even be here in the first place? I feel for people that are laid off, or just don't make enough money to afford ins. premiums, but there is Medicaid, and there are hospitals all over this country that admit you whether you have ins. or not. If the government has control of our healthcare, first it will cost us billions, second it will give the government ultimate control of our lives, third, it will put public options out of business because they are not allowing private businesses the option of giving new hires a public ins option, they have to use the gov. one. HELLO PEOPLE!! WAKE THE FUCK UP! Senators and Congressman are opted out of the gov healthcare...why? Why don't they have to have the same insurance? We will give our government full rights into our private lives. They will have the right to say " hmmm, you are a smoker, we are not going to allow you to have this procedure because you don't take care of your body". AND for those of you out there that are now thinking to yourselves "well good, you shouldn't smoke in the first place". What happens when they say "hmmm, you aren't eating well, you need to go on a mandatory diet, or we won't cover you for those blood pressure meds you need" or " hmmm, you have stage 4 pancreatic cancer...I'm sorry, there's no hope for you".

Does this sound crazy? Do I think this will happen immediately, no. But could it happen, yes. Why would you want to even give them the power to control your healthcare. Everybody was up in arms over the patriot act because it was an invaison of our privacy...um...what about giving the government full rights to our health history? They'll know if you are depressed, overweight, use drugs, have had an abortion, etc. And the taxpayers will pay for everyone, even the lazy people that never tried to do anything with their life. I haven't even gotten to the fact that this will decrease the quality of our healthcare, increase waiting times to be seen by a physician. I just don't get it people. You can comment and debate all you want, but I'm just never going to agree that it is a good thing.

Whew...it's been a while.

I don't even know where to begin. Our winter months were crazy. I missed so much work due to Jimi's ear infections, Kaya's sicknesses as well as my own. A bout of lice in the house (thanks Kaya) just so much crappiness happened the end of 08 and the beginning of 09. Finally around April, it all started coming around. Jimi got tubes in his ears, and I switched daycares due to my job being cut back.

Jimi is now 17 months old, cute as a button and into EVERYTHING! Kaya is 7, getting ready to start 2nd grade and thinks she knows everything.

Joey and I are great, I got cut back part time in March and love it! What we thought would be hard for us financially isn't so bad. We took a look at our finances, cut back here and there, and we are still at the same bottom line at the end of the month that we were before the cut back. I actually have time now to clean the house and spend extra time with my kids. Joey has one more year of classes before he is a mechanic. He loves his job and has really found a niche for himself in the electrical/troubleshooting aspect of his job. He has also found a love for cooking. He cooks almost every night, and has gotten really good. We go a little overboard with grocery shopping, since he bought a smoker back in Jan, we also have a deep freezer and have soo much food, everything is stocked full all the time...but cooking/eating/baking is something we enjoy doing together, I even signed us up for a couple of classes at Sur la Table- he wanted to take a knife skills/chopping class, and I'm going to do a bread making one. Luckily make a lot of healthy meals. I am only 10 lbs away from my goal. I've lost 20 lbs since last summer. I want to get down to 139. Those last 10 lbs are hard to lose when you don't exercise, and I don't.

We are currently getting windows and new siding for our house- YAY! For those of you that know us, we have never lived in one place this long (4 years) and it's making me want to redecorate! We were wasting so much money each month on electricity due to our crappy windows and our siding was starting to warp and rot in a few places. Joey also painted our bedroom and I am slowly decorating that as well. The next step will be our master bath- I want to paint our cabinets white and bring our bedroom paint in there as well. Replace our mirror with 2 white framed ones and change out our fixtures, but due to the cost of our siding job, that will be down the road a bit.

Back to Jimi. He is such a cute, chubby curly headed little boy! He smiles all the time! He is saying Mama, DaDa, hi, bye, and sometimes he'll say Kaya. He isn't talking too much yet, but I'm not stressed, Kaya was a late talker too.

Kaya is a sweet sweet girl, but her attitude can drive us crazy! She is so excited about 2nd grade and she learned to swim this summer. She has practiced riding a two wheel bike, and that isn't too far off.

A Day in the Life

I love my 2 children. My family is what I was put on this Earth for. When Jimi strokes my hair while he drinks his night time bottle, or Kaya still comes to snuggle me at every possible opportunity or Joey comes home and immediately sets them both off in fits of glee from being tickle hugged...it all makes me melt. I have to remind myself this when the daily grind frustrates me like it is right now.

I wake up at 5:00 or so in the morning- this is best case scenario, some nights my insomniac daughter will wake me up at 2:30 because she can't sleep(like last night) or Jimi might wake up once in a while from wetting through his pjs(that would be 4:30 last night, right when said daughter finally got up and went back to her room.) Don't forget the cat that is obsessed with me and sleeps at my head on the nights that I forget to let him out.

Anyhoo, so I'm up by 5ish and feeding Jimi as this is about as long as he can sleep. I change, feed him his morning bottle, and try to lay him down for another 30 minutes or so so that I can get ready for work.

6 or 6:30 I'm getting Kaya up, and fed and downstairs. I make it down for a quick cup of coffee, put Jimi in his jump up and have a quick look at my email before I fix snacks, and food for Jimi for the day, and go start the car to be out of the house by 7:20...and breath.

Work is pretty much status quo, it can get very stressful and busy, but I look forward to the adult conversation and a full 8 hours without getting spit up or snot on me. I leave work at 5:00.

I pick the kids up a little after 5. Joey and I work together to get Jimi fed his dinner, have a night time bottle, get changed and put to bed all between 5:30- 7:00. Kaya has a snack and plays while all of this takes place as she has already done her homework at daycare. At 7:00 or so we eat dinner, I check her homework, and have a little down time. She goes to bed around 8:30 and I colapse around 9:30.

So that's my day. Joey and I have only a few short hours to spend together. I never get a chance do things for myself, or if I do find the time I frankly don't want to because I am so tired.

I know I'm not the only one out there that works hard or is tired or whatever. I haven't even gotten to cleaning, or lack-there-of...that is a whole new post.

A New Day?

In my last post I predicted McCain would win. I guess it was wishful thinking when all the polls were pointing towards Obama. I wanted McCain to win not because I am a republican, as I consider myself an independent, not because I am a racist, nothing could be further from the truth, but because I genuinely like the man. I am sure I am a minority in saying that when his own party barely tolerates him because of is bipartisan ways. Am I wrong to think that this country would be a lot better if we stopped playing tug of war with our ideals and agendas and found a way to mesh them together? I guess I just look at things through rose colored glasses, but I have always been taught to compromise, not fight for your own way. That is a change I want to happen.

I said I couldn't picture Obama as president. How could I picture it when this country has never taken any step towards electing anyone other then white old men? I was wrong.
On election night, I went to bed early, knowing we would not win. I was asleep for all the speeches, and admit I have only seen clips of Obama and McCain speaking on election night, but I can tell you I am very proud of this country for bucking the system and voting the first African American into the White House. I too was teary eyed watching Jesse Jackson tear up and many many others break down that night. The significance is not lost on me, I promise you.

I am sad that my candidate didn't win. I do not share the same vision that Obama has for this country. But you have got to be very small minded, or blind, or both to not see that with his election comes renewed relationships with our allies who were starting to turn their backs on us. Our country has renewed hope in democracy; that if you fight for change, you will actually achieve it. This election was the personification of what Martin Luther King spoke about. And, I think we actually just jumped up a few links on the evolutionary chain.

That's my 2 cents on this election. Now I have to go pray that he doesn't turn us into a Marxist society...hehehe...just joking...kind of. :)

Halloween...already??

When did we get to the end of October? My house has been crazy busy with cheering, girl scouts, work, a teething baby...it just never ends. Christmas will be here before we know it.

Jimi is 7 months now. He has his first 2 bottom teet that came in about a week ago. He is sitting like a pro these days, and is so much busier then Kaya was at this age. She walked easily at 10 months, but she was perfectly content to just sit and chill with you. Jimi isn't crawling yet, but he bounces and swings his hands and moves more then I ever thought possible.

The election is next week. I have correctly picked the winner for every presidential election since Clinton's first run for president. This year I pick McCain. It has to be McCain. I just can't see this country with Obama as president. The only silver lining about this is no matter who wins...it is not going to be Bush.

I Am Who I Am

I am pro-choice, support the troops in Iraq, support gay marriage, the right to bear arms.

I am pro death penalty, feel the urgent need to do something to combat global warming, and completely disagree with tax and spend mentality.

I don't agree with a government healthcare, but think something has to be done about the costs of insurance, I support tax cuts, school vouchers and think if we werer attacked today on our soil, Obama is the wrong person to to have in office to defend us.

I think McCain has made mistakes, but Obama has made just as many. I initially supported Obama, but after reviewing all his stances, I just can't back him. I think he is way too extreme a liberal, and extremists of any party are scary. I don't consider myself a democrat or republican, but I'm voting McCain.

Please think about your vote before following the herd . Read about who you are voting for, or in some cases against.

I Love my Kids

I just saw them this morning on the couch with Jimi looking at Kaya with hero worship in his eyes, and Kaya so proud that her brother is starting to sit by himself. They are amazing and we are so lucky to have them.

So Sick of the Blame Game:

Do you know that in 2005/2006 McCain authored legislation for stricter regulations for mortgage companies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He tried to fix this problem but the senate shot him down every chance they got...now where are we???

Now Obama is trying to say that McCain's camp had money given to them by these companies...just look at the end of this post at the actual campaign contributions people.

I'm only pointing this out because there are many people to blame for our crisis. And of course there is so much more to it then just mortgage securities, but if people would stop pointing fingers for one minute and try to work together to end the issue, maybe we won't face another massive recession.

OpenSecrets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Invest in Democrats - Capital Eye: "Top Recipients of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008

NameOfficeParty/StateTotal
1. Dodd, Christopher JSD-CT$133,900
2. Kerry, JohnSD-MA$111,000
3. Obama, BarackSD-IL$105,849
4. Clinton, HillarySD-NY$75,550
5. Kanjorski, Paul EHD-PA$65,500
6. Bennett, Robert FSR-UT$61,499
7. Johnson, TimSD-SD$61,000
8. Conrad, KentSD-ND$58,991
9. Davis, TomHR-VA$55,499
10. Bond, Christopher S 'Kit'SR-MO$55,400
11. Bachus, SpencerHR-AL$55,300
12. Shelby, Richard CSR-AL$55,000
13. Emanuel, RahmHD-IL$51,750
14. Reed, JackSD-RI$50,750
15. Carper, TomSD-DE$44,389
16. Frank, BarneyHD-MA$40,100
17. Maloney, Carolyn BHD-NY$38,750
18. Bean, MelissaHD-IL$37,249
19. Blunt, RoyHR-MO$36,500
20. Pryce, DeborahHR-OH$34,750
21. Miller, GaryHR-CA$33,000
22. Pelosi, NancyHD-CA$32,750
23. Reynolds, TomHR-NY$32,700
24. Hoyer, Steny HHD-MD$30,500
25. Hooley, DarleneHD-OR$28,750"

My Baby is 6 months old...and other random thoughts

My stupid camera is not working at the moment, so there are no pics of my precious little 6 month old right now. Jimi is thriving, weighing in at 18.3 lbs and 28 inches long. He is so happy and loves to play peek a boo and patty cake. He still isn't rolling from belly to back, but the doc said today not to worry, since he is still developmentally only 5 months old. He loves to eat and is teething like crazy. I just can't believe it's already been 6 months!

Kaya loves her cheering and got the "loudest" award at last weeks game. She started Daisy's and is selling candy and nuts for a few weeks. She loves 1st grade and her teacher. She is doing great with reading, but her handwriting stinks...I guess it will get better as the year wears on.

Joey just started his 3rd year of school. Just one more year after this one! He got a nice raise last week...yay! He loves his current job he is working on, and is currently a bit obsessive trying to make sure Kaya sells the most nuts out of her troop.

I am status quo at work. It is such a crazy place to work at. So much happens in a day, week, month, but I just don't have the energy to tell all of my tales...I think that would be a whole other blog! I am slowing down on my weight loss, my own fault of course. But I am still headed in the right direction...down, and I guess that is what matters right now. I can actually fit into some old pre preggo jeans, and I think that has made me lose some momentum.

I had gum surgery last Thursday, a part of the whole "getting braces" saga. I can only eat soft foods for a week, and today is the first day I'm now swollen. The next step are pulling 2 bottom teeth, then the braces.

I am in the middle of posting a long post on my political stance. I haven't voted since Clinton, mostly staying apathetic with the whole process. But this year, I have actually pulled my head out of my ass and am reading over all of the issues, stances, propaganda, etc. I have to say I still hate the process because so much of the real issues get lost in lies and negative shit slinging.

That's it for now. I need to update my baking blog, but it will have to wait because I am leaving to go home now.

My Mind is Made Up

I don't talk politics. I generally fall in the middle of peoples views. I personally believe that too much of any one thing is bad for you, and of course I relate that to politics as well. I don't think attacking peoples inability to send an email, or swear someone is a terrorist because his name is Barrack Hussein Obama is right or has any place in an election. Presidents aren't allowed to send email, and really, the whole terrorist theory is just not even worth my time talking about...it's a name people. As are Track and Piper and Willow, so leave their names out of it! I get emails daily from friends who are passionately on one side or the other, and I totally support their views, after all, that is what is great about our country. Freedom. However, I feel with each passing election, people are getting more and more "passionate" and less united, which is what we are supposed to be...isn't it?


This is the part where I was going to lay out all of my political views and explain my stance, but I'm not. I'll simply say that I am socially liberal, fiscally conservative and based on what I have read about the candidates viewpoints and what I think are the most important issues facing us right now...I'm voting McCain and Palin.

The Voice Inside Me is Screaming

I have had no voice for over 2 days now. I can't yell at my daughter, or at my husband to come help with the kids...what is a girl to do?

I did work for the last few days, and what little voice I had was used on phone calls and people at work.

I even missed a girls night last night because of this craziness, and because my head felt like it was going to explode.

When I finally get it back for good, I'm going to never stop talking. My family better watch out.

Goodbye Summer. Hello 1st Grade

The Presidential Race

I have mentioned on my blog a few times that I was leaning towards Obama, but I have always stated that I like McCain for not always listening to the moral majority and popular republican vote. Well, I know that Palin is getting a lot of flack about her age, inexperience, and abandoning her kids...but I like her. I hated Hillary, so I'm not one of those "oh she is a woman so I want to vote for her" mentality. I like her and what she has done during her small amount of time in office. Now am truly on the fence about what to do.

Checking In

No new weight loss or gain this week. I got into this rut too when I was doing WW the first time. One week I lose, the next I stay the same. Since I have an online membership, I have been a little slack lately with going to the meetings and weighing in there. I need to focus on that as my goal for next week.

Kaya is all ready for school. She has delivered her supplies and met her teacher. All the clothes, at least through Christmas if not longer have been bought, and we have even had a fun bout of Stomach flu running rampant through our household. First me last week, then Joey the past week. And fun of all fun Kaya came down with it and got sick all over the place last night at around 2:00 in the morning. Good times. Luckily up till now, Jimi has missed the horrible bug.

He continues to get bigger and bigger. He loves his Johnny jump up and we are looking on Craigslist for an exersaucer. Kaya has grown this summer as well, now wearing a size 1 in shoes, and 7 clothes. Her first football game to cheer for is Saturday the 6th. She is so excited.

Metal Gear

I had my orthodontic consultation yesterday. For all of those with children...start saving your money now. If they need braces, it can be pretty expensive. Even with our dental insurance, it only pays for half of the cost. My orthodontist is really nice, and I have some pretty extensive work to be done, just like I expected. I have to have 2 teeth extracted, and after a year of wearing braces, jaw surgery to extend my lower jaw that never grew correctly...yikes. The surgery is up to me, but I guess I will see how the braces go first, and how much my insurance will cover the surgery. It is technically cosmetic, but my case is pretty severe, so they are sure that insurance will cover it. All of this will take 2 years to do. Don't worry, there is no headgear involved! My next appt is next week to take models and x rays of my teeth. I would think by Halloween I should have them on.

Jimi at 5 months old

Jimi is a little monster. No really, he is. He spends his days rolling, growling, bridging, growling, standing with assistance, growling, smiling and...did I mention growling? He is such a happy baby and loves to stand on his own 2 feet, which he just realized he had about 2 weeks ago. He is eating up a storm and loves everything but carrots so far. He has tried my ice tea, and loves that, and actually doesn't do to bad slurping water through a sippy cup. Messy, but he does it. He has never taken a pacifier, but his knuckles are getting a work out. I swear a tooth must be coming soon. He is still bald headed, as was Kaya for the first year.



We are so blessed to have this little guy. We went through a lot trying to have number 2, and I am so excited every morning to see his face.

The Upcoming VP Candidates

If you know me, you know I hate politics. I'm as about as middle of the road as one can get. I am fiscally conservative, and socially liberal. I have never voted republican, and so far this election I really like both candidates but I'm more inclined to vote for Obama.

I have mentioned on here before that I like McCain for his unpopularity in the eyes of most republicans because he is not so conservative. He votes his conscience, and he is good friends with another great middle of the roader that I am a fan of J. Lieberman.

I really like Obama. I feel think he has a great shot at really making a difference in our country. I am really siding with him at this point just based on what I have read so far.

If he picks Hillary, which I still think is highly unlikely, I will completely change my mind about him. She is evil. I like Kaine and Richardson. Warner is fine.

If McCain picks Lieberman (which is likely impossible) I will vote for McCain regardless of who Obama picks.

That's it. My 2 cents. I have very conservative friends, and very liberal friends. This is my moderate point of view.