My Favorite Childhood Toys ~ Blog Assignment # 2

1. Lazy Dazy ~ This doll was my absolute favorite. I have such fond memories of her. To this day, her "unexplained" disappearance will forever haunt me (thanks Mom).
2. Tessie Talk ~ Peculiar little thing she was, this ventriloquist's doll.
3. Tiffany Taylor ~ A diva before her time. With a twist of her scalp, she went from blonde bombshell to beautiful brunette. AND...when placed in the sun, she actually tanned.
4. Magic Hair Carrie ~ Another interesting creature. Press her belly button, pull her hair and viola, instant long blonde locks. Twist the nob on her back and she returned to her sassy short do.
5. Baby Crissy ~ Same concept as Carrie but in a cuddly baby (well, as cuddly as hard vinyl can be).
6. Quick Curl Kelley ~ From the ingenious minds of Mattel came the "Quick Curl" series of Barbie. This beauty had needle-thin wires in her hair and when "curled" with the miniature pink plastic curling iron she was a sight to behold.
7. My bright yellow bike with the banana seat. Many hours were spent with a flexible straw taped to it (my gearshift of course) picking up and dropping off "patrons" on my bus route.

The memories these toys elicit are strong, warm, and full of smiles. A girlie-girl I was, my dolls were some of the best friends I've ever had.

Boy Genious

I am, again, amazed and in awe of my sweet angel. I am certain I am like all other mothers out there in believing that my son is a genious. However...mine really is - LOL! Yes, I had my inklings when he was counting to ten at the age of two (in Spanish) but he has exceeded my expectations yet again.

My little boy is now a computer whiz (watch out Bill Gates). He can navigate his way around PBSKids.org and NickJr.com with the ease and proficiency of a pro. A mouse is no longer a nasty rodent in his world but a tool to transport him to far away adventures...Dora's Star Mountain Golf Course, Diego's Railroad Rescue, and Blue's Shape Forest. He can dress Max and Ruby, play kickball with Wubbzy, and paint a masterpiece with Zak and Wheezie like nobody's business.

Logan spends hours each day at the computer - MOM'S computer. My ONLY remaining sacred space has been overtaken by a three-year-old with an attitude. Pens, papers, and reference books have now been replaced with trucks, balls, and playdough. What's a mom to do??? ANSWER: Get the three-year-old with an attitude his own computer.

Buster boy will now be able to sit at his own desk, in his own little corner of my office, and play to his heart's content on his very own computer. We Love You, Gippy!!!

Memories and Lessons Learned

As I sit here listening to 38 Special, I am transported back to a much simpler time. The only worries...Do we have enough gas to make it to the Galleria to pick up our Cloves? Is this mini skirt too long? Can you see this HUMONGOUS zit on my face? Fresh out of high school, we embraced the freedom that we had waited 18 years for. Endless nights of California Coolers, Andre Cold Duck, and "Clove highs". Cruising around in a bright orange Karmann Ghia and a boy with hair the same color. We had not yet heard of cell phones, the internet, or DVDs. No one carried around a Blackberry, a digital camera, or a gun. Crystal meth was not in our vocabulary...it was all natural for us - Mother Nature's greatest herb (rolled in leopard-skin papers when we were feeling really crazy!)

I often wonder where that carefree, crazy girl went. Well, as it inevitably does, she grew up. The journey was not a smooth one...she stumbled and tripped along the way, often times falling so far down that she didn't think she could ever get back up. She did though - time and time again. And with each stumble and each fall, she learned...valuable lessons that would mold her into who she is today. She learned to not ask "why" but rather "what am I to learn from this?" She learned to be grateful for all that had been given to her in this life.

Amazing Grace

How you climb up the mountain
is just as important as how you get down the mountain.
And, so it is with life, which for many of us,
becomes one gigantic test,
followed by one gigantic lesson.
In the end, it all comes down to one word…
GRACE.
It's how you accept winning and losing,
good luck and bad luck,
the darkness and the light.

You Mean It's NOT Menopause? ~ Blog Assignment #1

I remember the day well...

After weeks of feeling "blah," bloated, and "just not right," I decided to take a pregnancy test. After all, it had been quite a while since Aunt Flo came for her monthly visit. No worries...I was certain it was just all a part of the much-dreaded perimenopause - after all, I was no spring chicken.

I ventured to the nearest Fred Meyer and picked up the ever-populer EPT test and headed home. I read the directions (so simple even a beginniner could do it) and followed them to a tee...

1. Remove the EPT pregnancy test stick from its foil packet just prior to use;

2. Remove the purple cap to expose the absorbant tip;

3. Hold the test stick by its thumb grip. Point the absorbant tip downward;

4. Place the absorbant tip in the urine flow for just 5 seconds;

5. Place the test stick on a flat surface with the windows facing up for at least 2 minutes.

Hmmmmm....two minutes - no problem. After all, I was no spring chicken right?

WHAT THE??? This thing has got to be wrong. Are you kidding me? Maybe my vision is starting to fail me as well. Just at that moment, there was a knock at my front door. Impeccable timing my dearest Jill (a registered nurse). Shoving the stick in her face, I begged her to reiterate my failing vision theory. "What does this look like to you?" "Well, that would be a plus sign. I'd say your pregnant." Not the answer I had been hoping for. Maybe her vision was failing too.

To my astonishment, my perimenopausal symptoms turned out to be something much more than I would have ever expected. That emptiness that I longed to fill but had forever eluded me was to soon be a thing of the past.

My greatest accomplishment, my most treasured gift, my very reason for existence was scheduled to arrive in June!

"Raising You Alone"

My sister gave me a wonderful book right after Logan was born. It is called, "Raising You Alone." It is a beautifully illustrated story that explains to little ones some of the challenges and differences in being raised by a single parent. Each time I read this story, I am brought to tears.

As a single mommy, to an only-child, I often wonder if my son is being deprived...deprived of love, companionship, and security. I do the best I can but often wonder if it is enough. I wish I could give him the world and everything good in it...the sun, the moon, the stars!

Logan's father is a great dad. He adores his little boy and is very active in his life. He treats his son with respect and guides him with a steady hand. The lessons he teaches him are those that only a father can. For that, I am grateful.

Each day I pray that I will make the right decisions for my son and he will grow to be a kind, loving, and secure young man. I hope the lessons I teach him as a single mommy will be enough.

"Will I ever have enough

to give you everything I think you'll

want or need?

Toys and books and clothes and college?

All the big and little stuff

that says I love you,

and I want you to succeed?"

"I will be there when it matters -

cross my heart, no matter what.

If it's important to be there, I'll find a way.

Out on the field, the court, the stage -

I'll try to be there on the dot.

I want to stand and clap my hands at every play."

"There isn't anyone

that I will ever love as much as you.

And so I promise you, by all the stars above,

no matter who or what or when or where

our lives may lead us to...

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!"

"You are a part of me, you know.

The very heart of me, you know.

You are the greatest blessing

I have ever known.

Maybe my dream did not come true,

but I am still here loving you.

Now you and I can dream a new dream,

all our own.

Until that dream comes true,

I will be raising you alone."

Excerpts from Raising You Alone

Sisters

Sister, Kurt, Jack-Jack, and Geske got here today. Needless to say, work took a back seat and Logan and I headed on over to Mom's. As usual, Logan was beside himself to see Jack. He absolutely idolizes that little boy - so different they are but so much love between them. It always warms my heart to hear them off in their own little world..."I love you Jack-Jack" "I love you too Wiggin." I just feel so blessed to not only have my precious boy, but to also have this incredible experience that I can share with my sister.

My sister, my baby sister, is turning 40 on Sunday. I couldn't believe it when it happened to me and I can't believe that it is now happening to her. Weren't we just fighting over the phone and borrowed clothes? Hmmmmmmm......

As my sister and I have "matured" so, too, has our relationship. Don't get me wrong...we still have our moments of silliness (which now translate into psychotic breaks) but for the most part, the relationship we share is one of mutual respect for the differences between us.

I can't imagine experiencing this journey called motherhood without my sister. Her guidance, advice, and words of comfort have been invaluable. The many doubts I have had about myself as a parent have always been met with words of reassurance from her. "It's okay...It's normal...You're going to make it through this" have so much more meaning coming from her as she had been through it all only months before.

The bond between sisters is quite an amazing one...the emotions are strong on each end of the spectrum. The love/hate relationship runs deep - the love far outweighing the hate that so held us back in our younger years. I respect my sister, I value my sister, and I love my sister like only a sister can.

So, happy birthday to you my dear baby sister!!!

A Classic

Logan LOVES music - he loves to play instruments, he loves to sing,

and he LOVES to bust a move!!!

No One Like Family

Rocking Out to Guitar Hero with Cuzin Tracy and Mom/Gippy

No One Ever Told Me

As much as I love my son, adore my son, am in awe of my son....HE'S ON MY LAST NERVE!!! Forget the Terrible Twos - this kid is kickin' it in high gear and has done headed into the Thickheaded Threes.

What happened to my sweet little boy who was always ready to give a squeeze and kiss to anyone? What happened to my well-mannered, thoughtfull little angel who was content and happy with everything mom did? All I've been able to come up with so far is that some alien lifeform invaded his soul in the middle of the night.

"Please" and "Thank You" have been replaced with "Get me that now" and "No, I don't want that one". Obedience has been replaced with mimicking. Quiet smiles have been replaced with screaming and spitting. HELP!!!

My only saving grace at this moment is that "Damien" will be starting preschool in September. Well, that is, if I am able to get him completely potty-trained by then (poopies included). I'm sure he won't last more than a day or two once he is in preschool before I get a call from them. You see, my "perfect" little boy's favorite phrase is "God damnit". I don't think this is going to go over too well in a Christian preschool. I imagine it going something like this..."Class, this is Logan. Logan, can you say hi to everyone?" "Hi. I'm Wiggin James Kirby, God damnit!" "Ms. Adair, this is Three Rivers Christian School calling in regard to your son Logan..."

Lord please take mercy on my soul and help me make it through this "phase" in one piece with all hair intact.

In closing, if you ever pass by the local Wal-Mart and see a cute little blonde boy with horns sprouting from his head and a forked tail holding a "Free To A Good Home" sign, please be kind to him!!!

Logan's New Hog

Thanks Gippy!!!

Cringing

Ok...some people may consider me "old" and crack jokes but this went a little too far.

I just got my mail and in it was a letter adressed specifically to me from AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). When I opened it, there was actually a membership card with my name and account number on it along with a letter that said, "Please keep this card until you receive your new membership kit." HUH?!? I mean come on, I'm not that old yet.

(P.S. Which one of you sent this to me?)`

Random Things About Me

~ I love lemonade
~ My favorite color is pink
~ NIKKI SIXX IS MY GOD
~ I love Motley Crue
~ I love the ocean
~ I'm addicted to hand lotion
~ I suck at Guitar Hero
~ I live by the Buddhist philosophy
~ I love to learn about different religions
~ I give to charity each month
~ I've been self-employed for 21 years
~ I've never met my best friend
~ Cops float my boat
~ I love programs about prison life
~ Charles Manson scares me to death
~ I'm a "Brady Bunch" fiend.
~ Centipedes give me the heebie-geebies
~ I own a graphics web site with my best friend
~ I love, love, love Judge Marilyn Milian from the People's Court
~ I have three tattoos
~ I want two more tattoos
~ I used to have each eyebrow pierced
~ I volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
~ I volunteered at the Dept of Social & Health Services
~ I recently had 10-1/2" of my hair cut off
~ I donated my hair to Locks of Love
~ I cry during St. Jude's commercials
~ I'm an organ donor
~ My first car was a '69 Volkswagon Bug
~ I was on the Dean's List in college
~ My first love was at 15
~ I don't go to the movies because I can't sit still that long
~ I still have a silky