And the two shall become one

This afternoon Lenny told me something that has been bothering him for some time now. I didn't know this - or maybe I did but didn't think much about it. Well he pointed it out to me today. Slowly, over time - could have been months or years, I have used the phrases "my", "mine", and "I" instead of "ours", "our", "us", and "we". Obviously, if I am talking about my big fat....behind, then I would most certainly use "my". But when I speak of Jacob and Sarah as my children, it bothers him. He prefers "our" children. Now he is certainly no egomaniac or chauvanistic machismo brute, but he is me and I am him and we are we.

He said that, for him, using "mine" feels like separate checking accounts. Like we aren't sharing things or in it together. Using "ours" and "we" sounds and feels more like a family, like we all inclusive of one another and belong together. I agreed.

I know that at one point in our marriage I did do that. I remember telling people that "we" were pregnant. Some people chuckled, some people even commended me on that. I clearly remember defending that usage as though Lenny and I were in it together. It was our choice to be pregnant, our baby and our family. Why would I be so selfish to say "my" baby?

BUT, over time, I guess I let life and the little selfish thoughts to enter my heart and mind. Perhaps those thoughts started to change the way I viewed things. Only God truly knows. But, one thing is for sure, we are in this together and there is no one that I would rather be in it with than Lenny. I love him more today than I ever have. Even when life seems harder, more challenging, and sometimes too much to handle.

The puppy is making me crazy

Remember what I said about the puppy being perfect???? He's not. I lied. He is crazy and whiny and chews everything. For me, potty training is of the utmost importance. For Jack, he could care less. He hates it outside. He doesn't like the cold concrete and he whines and shivers everytime he is taken outside. We put him on the ground to go and he just runs back to between our shoes. He has no interest at all in peeing on schedule. He prefers to do it in the microsecond that I look away from him when he is in the kitchen. Oh our new hardwood floors.

Right now as I type this he is howling away like a coyote at the moon. Really. He is so loud and obnoxious that I even went outside to see what the neighbors could here. Those gagillion dollar dualpaned windows do not keep all of the noise inside. He is going to go hoarse I just know it. Or maybe I hope it. He sounds like a dying seal right now. Or maybe a maimed horse in agony waiting for the merciful last shot to put him out of his misery.

I think I need someone to put me out of my misery. What in the world was I thinking? Oh, I remember. "How much is that puppy in the window?" I fell for my own tricks. Stupid me.

Can a puppy take Nyquil???? Please let me know :)

Common Sense

I saw this "obituary " in the Lakewood Community News last week. Thought you might like it.

Obituary

The Death of an Old Friend

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn’t always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge). His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit on her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his two stepbrothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Captain Jack Sparrow

So I took Michelle Lasch's suggestion and went to see Night at the Museum at the IMAX. WOW was that a great movie. And what was so great about it was - well if I go into detail about what was great for us and you haven't seen it then it might ruin it for you. Ok, everyone knows that Robin Williams is in it. No secret, right? Well the part that he played completely intrigued Jacob. We came home and researched a bit about that person. It was inspiring to us. We had planned on seeing it last Tuesday anyway, but at the IMAX it was awesome. Thanks Michelle for the idea.



Ok, so later on the way home, we stopped to pick up our new puppy. Surprised? So are we. Ecstatic? Yes, we are. He is soooooo sweet. He is a little dachshund dapple male. Since we have been without Pierre for over a year, we have always known that we would get another dog, just not so sure when. I love the wiener dogs. They are so silly looking but oh my goodness are they fun and loving. We didn't want a big dog, and I wanted a dog that could snuggle during a movie on my lap. This is the one.



As far as the name.... well what else would we call our new dog? Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack for short. It was obvious to all four of us. I thought that was the coolest name and it was so appropriate for our family. But, when I called the vet to make his first appointment, she asked what the pet's name was. I blurt out "Ca....." then stopped. I could not say it. I felt so goofy. I am giggling now and I ask the receptionist if she saw "Pirates of the Caribbean". She says "yes, is his name Jack Sparrow?" I answer, "CAPTAIN..Jack Sparrow". She laughed and said that they have many patients named Jack Sparrow. Ok, then I don't feel so weird. Then she asks me "does he go by Captain or just Jack?" I lost it. I could not stop laughing. We are talking about a 5 pound hairy wiener dog (eeeuh that sounded gross) and she is trying to get the appropriate title. I told her that "Jack is fine".

He is cute, he is adorable, he chews, he poops when we don't want him to (too bad we lost the 36 rolls of TP when our van was stolen), he whines, he snuggles, and he likes his head on my shoulder. He is perfect. Except the pooping part. We are working on that.

Happy New Year

So happy new year to all of you. I would like to say the usual - "wow, I can not believe it is already 2007," or "time flies," or " here are my resolutions for 2007." BUT I won't. Because it is 2007 and whether I resist or embrace it, the new year is here and time is flying by (evidenced by the rapid growth of my kids). I love the idea of a new year, a new start and clean calendar, just an overall freshness. But, on a more bittersweet note, it also means that Jacob and Sarah are growing, maturing and eventually readying themselves for adulthood. Yeah I know that is still several years off, but TIME FLIES and the day will come when there will be no more Hello Kitty slippers, Hot Wheels, crayons, GameCube games and Bubble Gum flavored toothpaste to clean up.

Just tonight, both kids wanted to take a bath instead of a shower and they wanted to take a bubble bath together. I filled the water as high as it would go. With the enormous amount of bubble bath I poured in, the whole thing looked like a gigantic cappuccino. They laughed and screamed and made the biggest mess in the bathroom. Then Jacob took the rubber fish that are supposed to go on the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping. He stood up and threw them one by one until they were all stuck on the ceiling. They were dripping on their heads and one of them fell and splashed bubbles right out of the tub. Totally and completely fun. It hit me...not the fish, that they won't be able to bathe together much longer. They won't be able to fit in there together one day, and also the whole he's-a-boy/she's-a-girl thing. It seems like, well yesterday, that they were both tiny little babies needing most everything from Lenny and I. Not so much anymore.

So I guess something that I hope to remember this year is just that. That time flies quicker than a bird does. That time stops for no man and certainly not for any mother's aching heart. I hope that this year is the year the I embrace every little detail of parenting, of homework, of giggles, of bedtime postponements, the last drink of water, the sweatshirt left in the rain, spilled milk, "she/he started it" and the never ending supply of kisses and hugs.

And I ask you, my friends and family, when I might dwell on the dirty handprints or underwear on the floor, would you please remind me of this post?

I can not believe I actually signed in.

For literally over two weeks I have been trying to sign into blogger. Can not do it. I was able to on the 30th but as soon as I logged out...I was shut out. I have been trying each day for probably 20 times each day to sign in but it is painful to use blogger. And not to mention frustrating.

Anyone else out there blog???? What do you use and would you recommend it?

I really have not been blogging for awhile.

I was just skimming over the last 3 posts. I titled a post "Charlotte's Web" when it had nothing to do with Charlottes Web. It was the Nativity. I believe that I have finally lost my mind. Keep that in mind when reading anything else here. :)