Penelope is 1!
We had a great morning, opening presents and eating cake. Mom was here to make sure the girls were sufficiently spoiled. Now we all need naps.
For Carolyn, I started taking pictures of her at 1 with a grown up dress. I plan to take a picture every year so she could see how she grew into the dress. I did the same for Penelope today. For her, I chose my wedding dress. Here's the most beautiful baby is the world:
Still digesting the turkey day feast, I got up at 4 a.m. to buy an $80 digital camera and a bunch of Christmas gifts. So if you get something weird for Christmas, just know I probably paid $10 or less and think about how it's the thought that counts and all that.
Anyhow, we're back in videos. Here's Penelope training for her first marathon.
Today was a big day.
Michigan played Ohio State, number 2 v. number 1, to a much anticipated, much hyped event. Never before had this rivalry met with such status at stake. Famed U of M coach Bo Schembechler's death could be matched by no other as a prelude to the enormity of the event.
Alas, the game did not end well for poor Michigan.
But even as the Wolverines struggled to regain the lead, Penelope took an important step. Today, of all day, she learned to walk.
Cheers could be heard throughout our house for most of the afternoon, for one reason or another.
But take heart Michigan fans, Penelope was born on the day of a very important match-up between the Steelers and the Colts. Steve was heartbroken when his second daughter's birth preceded an enormous loss by just a few hours.
But the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl. Which means what?
It seems to mean Penelope's accomplishments are measured by the success or failure of sports teams. And what does that mean?
Maybe it says we watch too much football.
My other blog is getting lonely. Go visit it.
Carolyn figured out how to use the iPod. The other day, she was spinning around the kitchen wearing headphones singing, "Dededededed, Yeah!" I presume she was dancing to Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison" or maybe his "Cocaine Blues."
Oh, and she wasn't wearing any pants.
It always makes me feel a little warm and fuzzy when I see how much like me she's becoming.
Penelope is just days away from walking. I'd show you video, but I have no camera and refuse to buy any big-ticket items until Black Friday when I can save 50 percent by getting up at 3 a.m.
Hey. I've been up at 3 a.m. for substantially less noble reasons.
The other night, Carolyn and Penny were playing, hard core. Carolyn was chasing Penny around with a Quaker Oats box filled with popcorn. Discount morocha.
So with the squealing and the screaming and the running and the crawling and the screaming, Steve asked me if this was "the pitter-patter of little feet."
Yes. I believe it is.
He smiled. "I didn't think it'd be this loud."
I had a great time in Chicago this weekend. It was a little crazy but I feel like I got a lot of staying-at-home stress out of my system.
And it makes coming home a great thing.
And even though I went out with a group of 30-something kids, I'm a much older 30-something and need to set some ground rules.
A 20-something greasy snack: gyros/ A 30-something greasy snack: iceberg lettuce with lots of Italian dressing.
A 20-something night out: clubbing/ A 30-something night out: dinner and a show.
A 20-something drink: Bud Light in a giant plastic mug and a shot of tequila/ A 30-something drink: something other than Bud Light.
A 20-something sleeping arrangement: the floor of an condo owned by a couple you hardly know/ A 30-something sleeping arrangement: a bed.
These are just a few of the rules I didn't quite understand when I ventured out this weekend. But at the rate I'm going, I'll only make it out once more before I have to learn a whole new set of rules.
The 40-something list.
Department store shopping.
To get the very best deal, you have to be loyal. That explains the dozens of women I saw at Kohl's today, loading up on bath towels and Fiestaware. They were all using their 20 percent coupon sent to them for having a Kohl's card.
Now, I'm not much of a shopper. But I've found myself in a difficult position of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner with only four butter knives. So I've been shopping around, looking for the best deal.
What I've discovered is shopping is a lot like getting drunk. You kind of walk around in a daze as 15 minutes turns into three hours and all of a sudden you're sure you need glazed, iron pot because it's on clearance and that lady who walked by a couple of minutes ago had her grubby little eye on it. You'll be sorry in the morning, but tonight, under the florescent lights of TJ Maxx, it seems like the right thing to do.
Turns out drinking is cheaper.
So I'm not about to give it all up for a little love from Kohl's. And when I took my $10 off coupon to the cashier (no spending limit!) and paid $2.88 for two potholders and a basting brush, she knew my kind. She didn't even ask if I wanted to use my Kohl's card.
Just another rogue cheapskate looking for a bargain.
Especially in November, although November Rain is pretty sweet. It's almost 70 degrees here today. You just know all those parents at the playground were skipping chores; but who cares! It might be the last summer-like day of the year.
My friend Dana sent me one of those survey e-mails. Since I just burdened my friends with one of those a few days ago, I'll post it here. Besides, we all secretly know it's more fun to answer them than it is to read them.
If you want me to know more about you, e-mail me your answers at cciwan33@yahoo.com.
1. FULL NAME? Christine Carol Gardner
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My dad's sister-in-law and my mom's twin. Funny story, my parents intended my middle name to be Carolyn, but my mom was so drugged up after the birth she fell asleep in the middle. Hence, Carol. At least that's how I remember the story.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? It's been awhile, which is impressive because I'm a crier.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I like Italian subs, so whatever that blend is.
6. KIDS? Two daughters.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? No
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? I have two blogs, a column and a freelance magazine job that occasionally allows me to write about my family. I'd say that's a pretty impressive journal.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Never
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No, no, no
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I don't like cereal, but I occasionally eat a handful of Cheerios.
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Peppermint
16. SHOE SIZE? 9
17. RED OR PINK? Red
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My ability to hold a grudge
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Mom and dad, not dead, just far away.
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I hope to read hundreds of surveys in the next two days. Hundreds.
21.WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Khaki pants, brown shirt
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? White rice with soy sauce.
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The refrigerator hum, Carolyn not napping
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? White, because nobody ever uses white and I would last longer than, say, green.
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Coffee brewing, Cereal City, the beach
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Steve, yesterday afternoon.
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Height, intelligence
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Red wine
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Football
31. EYE COLOR? Blue
32. HAT SIZE? I don't know, but I have a big head.
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Tacos, which, I found a place here that makes pork tacos like Nina's with soft corn, cilantro and onions. Hooray.
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? I prefer sad ending. Weird I know. And I don't like scary.
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIES? Inconvenient Truth
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Brown
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, but I love winter too.
39. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs (it's probably a passing kid thing)
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Homemade cookies
41. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Everybody. I expect hundreds of responses.
42. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? You better respond!!! And I don't want to hear, "I'm soooo busy." Everybody is busy.
43.WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? My friend wrote a chick lit book and I'm reading that.
45. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? I didn't watch TV.
46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Carolyn singing to herself, Penelope when she's not screaming (and recently, she's always screaming), the beach
47. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles
48. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Aruba
49. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Guilt.
50. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Sept. 3, 1973, Royal Oak Michigan.
51.WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Dana. She's an editor at the Battle Creek Enquirer
* Major note. This post is not for those who gross out easily.
You never want to walk into a room and see your baby daughter eating her own poop. Agggggh. So gross.
It's really bad. Really really bad. And that's taking into account that I shrug off some things (i.e. playing in the toilet, eating dog food, putting their faces up to the clear plastic at a McDonald's playland) that would have jump started the gag reflex just a few years ago. And I worked at a nursing home for many years cleaning up those kinds of messes on old people.
Still. Yuck.
The joys of motherhood.
Carolyn still holds the "Oh my god that is so disgusting" award. When she was about a year and a half, and we still had our cat Duke (we miss you buddy) who used to kill things to earn our respect and love, or so he thought, Carolyn came inches from stuffing a dead mouse into her mouth. Even now I get shivers thinking about that one, and I grew up at a racetrack where my dad killed rats with pitchforks.
On my bright side, I'm going to Chicago for a night sans husband and children. Steve is the best husband, EVER. And he thinks I'm coming home. Silly husband.
I must have subconsciously heard about William Styron's death earlier this week because I found myself thinking about his book, in movie form, "Sophie's Choice" last night.
I'm pretty sure I saw that movie in the last few years. At least since having Carolyn. It struck me as an awful thing to have happen, but not unbearable.
Not until I had two children.
What would I do if a tree fell on my house and I had time to only rescue one? What if a bear attacked and I could only carry one to safety? What if I was boarding a train and some jerk-off made me leave one behind for certain death?
I almost think it would be better to risk both than chose one. But what do I know? These are not choices people are asked to make, at least not in Normal.
Now, what I really have to decide is this: If I'm forced to take one of my children grocery shopping with me, which one will it be? Not Sophie's Choice, but a real pickle nonetheless.
