a new thanksgiving tradition

I don't know which is funnier to watch, Jonathan Wright, or Jonas.

Have you ever been this tired?

This is a Video i took of Jonas yesterday. He was feeling sick but hadn't eaten all day so we gave him some plain noodles and he wanted to eat them but he was so tired. I know the video is sideways but it'll straighten up halfway through.

When you put your mind to it

I started my college career at MTSU in the Fall of 1999. I didn't really want to be there, i was paying my own way, working, dating, etc...being a typical 19 year old. i knew what i wanted to be when i grew up. I wanted to be a Pharmacist, get married, have kids, then be a stay at home mom, maybe working part time in a pharmacy somewhere when my kids went to school, But mostly i wanted to be a stay at home mom. I took Chemestry and Biology my first semester and made an F in Chemestry and a D in Biology. only my first semester in College and i started out with a 1.53 GPA! not a great start. but i thought okay, I'm in college now, i just need to study more than i did when i was in High School. so the next semester i took a few easier classes, started dating the LOVE of my life, the man i knew i was going to marry (Jonathan). but i dropped one class so i was only officially part time, i managed to get an A, a B and only one F! so i've brought my GPA up to a 1.895. That's a little better, but nothing to brag about. by the Fall of 2000, Jonathan and i are madly in love, want to get married and i'm thinking, okay it's not going to work out for me to be a pharmacist, I'll just be a stay at home mom. However, Granny is pestering me to make sure i get a degree, so i'll just get something to make her happy. i manage to get through that semester with 2 C's 1 B and 1 A (the A was in Speech, thank you 4-H!) for those keeping track my GPA has creeped up to a 2.226, doing better, but still not getting any scholarships with that! Slowly slowly slowly took a few classes here and there, still didn't really care because i knew i was going to be a stay at home mom forever, and i was only getting this degree for Granny anyway so what difference did it make how well i did. Fast forward to Fall 2001 i manage to have a 2.312 Still no scholarships knocking down my door and i just want to get married and begin my happily ever after story. Jonathan and i got married, I dropped out so Jonathan could finish (we couldn't afford for both of us to go and at least he wanted to do something with his degree) Jonathan got his undergrad and his masters, and gets a great teaching job. I got Pregnant and poof, no more reason for me to ever go back to school. woah but wait. now i'm home with this baby all the time. This baby is really needy, I don't know what to do with this baby all the time. what happens when i get needy? is there anyone to care for me? yeah, Jonathan's here for me. well, yeah he's here, but he has to work, one of us has to make money right? so what do i do when i just need someone to talk to and Jonathan's working? to make a long story short, i talk to myself and go crazy! yeah, i had post-partum Depression. All my life all i ever wanted was to be a stay at home mom. and now it wasn't working out like it does on TV. Why can't i be Uncle Jesse, Aunt Becky, Uncle Joey and Danny Tanner all rolled into one super mom!? Why didn't i love this? did it mean i didn't love my child? What was wrong with me? well...it took me a while to figure this out, but God told me that he didn't make everyone to be a stay at home mom. God said that he made some people to be stay at home dad's, he made some people to be babysitters, he made somepeople to work and run daycares, and he made some people to have regular jobs. they are still good people, they are still good parents. they are no better or worse than the people that stay home with thier kids all day, they're just not made to stay home. So God said he did not make me to stay at home and he reminded me that Granny said it was really important for me to finish college. so i thought, wow, Granny was a pretty smart woman. maybe i outta try this college thing again. So i go back to MTSU, talk to a career counselor, figure out what i really WANT to do, something that will make me happy, and pay me for it. and i start it up again, this time, i WANT to be there, This time i NEED to be there, i care what the teachers are saying, i Have the 2 Loves of my life encouraging me every day. and now i'm proud to say i'm a Junior at MTSU with a 2.75 GPA. I'm so excited, i'm actually even thinking about Graduate school! (have to have a 3.0 for that) and i qualify for some scholarships too! (havent' gotten any yet, but at least i can at least apply for them now!) I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who supports me through my last few semesters of school and to those who want to go back to school "GO FOR IT!" and for those who have not yet started, please pay attention, please don't waste your time and money!

a wonderful blog on how it feels to be a mommy. Deborah said it's like she crawled into my head and can say exactly how i feel!

PEACE!
Cindy

A Weighty Issue

I've been trying to loose weight for approximately 21 months now. (yeah, Jonas is 21 months old) before he was born i had gotten up to 193 pounds. (I'm only 5 feet tall!) yeah, i was a fatty Mc Fat FAT!! Since march of this year though i'm just fed up with my weight though. so i've REALLY been watching my portions and trying to exercise whenever possible. Last year in june i weighed 161. in March i weighed 153. so i had lost 8 pounds in 9 months! that's pretty pathetic when you think about it! so like i said, i got fed up in March and now i'm down to 139! I'm 19 pounds from my goal!! I'm so excited! this has been a long road for me and i know there's still plenty of road in front of me but the sizes that i've gone down recently are very inspiring to me! Please pray for me and encourage me for the rest of my weight loss journey!

I want a job

according to MY plan, i was going to graduate in August of next year (2009). That plan required me to take 4 classes this summer, 5 in the fall, 5 in the spring, and 4 next summer. if i drop even one class, it will push graduation back to December of 2009. Tomorrow, begins a summer session where i am scheduled to take 2 classes at once. one is an online class and one is a "go to class" class. I've been praying for a while that God will help me do this. Taking more than about 3 summer classes is sort of an ordeal because summer classes are very fast paced and you have to attend them practically every day of the week. well, i got an answer from God this weekend about my classes. God wants me to take it easy and not worry about graduating so soon. I will be dropping the "Go to class" class and keeping the online class. I was originally very upset about not graduating next summer because it means more money for school, more money for daycare and just less time till i am earning money. However, I know this is God's will and not mine and I'm learning to be okay with that. I'm not normally a "go-with-the-flow" kind of person. I'm very much a planner, a list maker, a structured person. i get tense when i don't know exactly what we'll be doing and when. i think God is trying to loosen me up to let me know he makes the plans, not me.

viscous dogs?

okay, i was traumatized, i should not be criticized for poor spelling in times of great stress!!! Jonathan pointed out that a Viscous dog really should be nothing to be scared of because it would be all gooey and fluid. However, a Vicious dog might be frightening!

Okay, calm down...
Tonight i went outside with Jonas to turn on the sprinkler to water my flowers in the front yard since it hasn't rained in a few days. Jonas LOVES the sprinkler so i let him play for a little bit. not too much though because it was really close to his bed time. we went inside, i put him to bed and a little while later i went back outside to turn off the sprinkler. i got around the sprinkler and about halfway to the faucet to turn off the water when i hear a dog...a dog that sounds VERY close to me. (remember it's dark outside now) i turn and i see probably 2-3 feet from me a Dog, an angry dog, a snarling, bearing his teeth at me and barking dog...now, many may not know this about me, but i am TERRIFIED OF DOGS. a million thoughts went through my head at this moment. I'm about to die, this dog is going to eat me, then go inside and eat Jonas, i wonder if i can even scream, wait, don't let the dog know you're afraid, that's right, be brave, show no fear, dogs can smell fear, I was a stinking pot of fear let me tell you. i managed to squeek out "get out of here" and i waved my flimsy shaking arm to motion the dog out of my yard, all at the same time i'm trying to run backwards because lord knows i don't want to turn my back on this dog because then he WILL CERTAINLY eat me. After i yelled "get out of here", i saw the people 2 houses down from me coming out of their door and looking in my direction. They yelled to the dog "get over here, come on" and they whistled. the dog i guess went toward them because i'm a little fuzzy after that from all the tears rushing down my "oh so brave-show no fear" face. I made it safe back inside and i have never shaken and cried so hard in my life. I started to think of what could have been. What if Jonas had been in between that dog and me. Would i have walked toward the object of my greatest fear to save my son? would i have just frozen in fear? If i had shown that much fear in front of Jonas, would he be terrified of Dogs the rest of his life like me? (Jonas is Pretty good around dogs. he will hold his hand out to most dogs so he can pet them even if they are strange dogs, we're careful to not let him get to close to strange dogs though) I called Jonathan (He had not gotten home yet), and told him what happened. He told me i had to call the police and tell them. He said there is a leash law. I wasn't sure, and since the people had seen me, they knew what house i lived at, would they try to "get back at me" if they got in trouble? Jonathan convinced me to call the police. so i called police dispatch. i told the dispatcher what happened. He sounded confused as to why i was crying and breathing irregularly. he said "did the dog bite you?" i said "no, the dog hadn't touched me, i'm just REALLY afraid of dogs!" he said that's fine, there is a leash law and i can send an officer over there if you want. i said that would be great. so...a lady officer comes over and i tell her what happens. she said, yes, there is a leash law in Rutherford county and in Smyrna, so it's sort of a Double Leash law. and she said if the dog bared his teeth at me, that made it a "viscous" dog. and made it a more serious offence. I told her i didn't want anything to happen to that dog. i told her i was afraid the people would know who called the police and be mad at me for getting them in trouble. she said nothing would happen to them tonight, that they would get a warning to keep their dog on a leash and if it ever happened again that anyone called on their dog then they would get a ticket with a fine. So that made me feel a little better. I feel ashamed because i'm afraid of dogs sometimes. I love Bird's dog Magnum. I've gotten to know him, and i know what to expect from Magnum. I Know for a fact Magnum isn't going to bite me as long as i don't try to take anything from his mouth. I'll even play fetch with him as long as he drops the stick or ball on the ground in front of me so i don't have to take it from him. I'm generally okay with Uncle Randy and Aunt Ellen's dogs. They are pretty big German Shepards, but they barely even bark and they know not to jump up on people. They just smell me when i come in, and they leave me alone. My mind is just stuck on what would i have done if Jonas were out there with me when that dog came up...I have to get over this fear

I heard Dave Ramsey the other day on the radio and he asked the Question, "Who do you work for?" he was alluding to the fact that most people work for Ford Motor Credit, or Visa, or Mastercard, or for their bank to pay the mortgage etc. I was thinking, that we aren't in any debt besides our house and even that payment isn't that bad because we've been very blessed. so i thought since I don't have a job. Who Does Jonathan work for? Then i realized, Jonathan works for me and Jonas. He wakes up, goes to school, and teaches willing and unwilling learners (mostly unwilling this time of year) for me. he wouldn't have to work so hard if i had a job now. I could get a job now, but more than anything right now, i want a degree so i can get my dream job. Jonathan has talked about wanting to go to get his doctorate. He's talked about going to get more certifications...we can't afford that right now because I'm going to school. So i decided, Jonathan works for me. Jonathan likes what he does, but almost no one loves going to work every day. but still Jonathan does. Thank you Jonathan for working for Jonas and me. I love you so much.

I didn’t write this myself, but it was so good that I want to share...
#9 is REALLY disgusting, but the rest is pretty good. and there is a link called "I said i'd never own a minivan" and it's a really good article, i actually emphatically said i'd never own one, but am now in love with my Quest!

10 Things No One Tells You About Parenthood
By Craig Playstead

Everyone has seen the "what to expect during parenthood" books and articles, but they never tell the whole story. While raising kids is the most rewarding thing you will ever do in your life, and the love you feel for them is unlike anything else you’ll ever know, there are a few pitfalls nobody ever tells you about. Read on, if you dare.

1) The way you view the world changes

When you bring someone into this world, things like war and women in beer ads have a whole new meaning. You start actually looking at the impact these things have, and what the world will become after you’re dead and gone. Leaving a better place for your kids and grandkids becomes more than just talk.

2) You’ll feel like a failure

There will be times when no matter how hard you try, your kids are never happy. You feel you’re telling them "no" too much, constantly harping on them to clean their room, or dashing their dreams of lowering their brother down the staircase on a rope. While they may complain they don’t have a Wii or that "so and so’s" mom let’s them see PG-13 movies, you need to stick to what you believe in and what you feel is best for your kids.

3) You have no time

This seems obvious, but you can’t believe just how little time you have. You start to measure things out in minutes and seconds. "If he watches Curious George for 20 more seconds, I can go to the bathroom," or "If his nap lasts another 10 minutes, maybe I can get in a shower today."

4) Not going to the bathroom by yourself

When your kids are babies, the bathroom is the only place you can get your head together. It’s also one of the only places you can actually read. I read ESPN’s Bill Simmons’ entire book over the course of the week in the bathroom when my youngest was a baby. And then he turned two. If he’s not forcing his way in to watch "how it’s really done" he’s banging on the door screaming "lemme in!" or sliding all his books underneath. There is no peace with toddlers.

5) Parenthood will turn you soft

This one hits the guys especially hard. You’ll find yourself tearing up at any dumb movie that has anything to do with parenthood, and if you have a daughter, don’t be surprised to find yourself playing "My Little Pony" before heading off to work. The icing on the cake is hawking Girl Scout cookies in front of your local grocery store annually.

6) They will embarrass you

This is a big shock, and you’re never ready for it. In your mind, they are perfect little angels; in reality, they’re little people trying to figure out their way in the world. Unfortunately, they say what they want—when they want. It can be something that’s funny like announcing to their pre-school class that Daddy farts all the time, or it can be humiliating like a temper tantrum in a grocery store or having them tell your parents to "get me a toy next time" after opening a gift containing pajamas. You’re prepared for the fact that you’ll embarrass them when they get to a certain age, but you’re never ready to be the one that’s humiliated.

7) Worrying

This is the one that stings from the day your child is born until the day you die. From the start you worry that they’ll stop breathing in their crib, then you obsess about getting the damn car seat in correctly. They get a little older and you worry about them falling down the stairs or choking on a Polly Pocket. As the years go on you lose sleep about dating, not fitting in, or getting into a situation that they can’t handle. Then there are the worries that never go away: providing enough, paying for college or not teaching them the right things. The list goes on and on and on, and it takes a major toll on you. But you worry because you love.

8) You won’t be the parent you think

We all had visions of the kind of parents we would be to our kids. Now, as battle tested Moms and Dads, we’ve heard the prospective parents spouting off advice. Those hollow words of wisdom come even though they’ve never gotten up at three a.m. to do a load of laundry with more vomit on it than a frat house floor. Nor have they tried to cook dinner with a screaming baby in their arms, a toddler doing cartwheels off the couch, and the phone ringing. It usually goes something like this: "I’d never let my kids watch TV before they turn three," or "I would never raise my voice at my child," or "My toddler won’t ever eat sweets." Uh huh, and I said I’d never own a minivan. You have this great picture of the kind of parent you want to be, and how picturesque your family will become. You try to live up to that vision, but you also have to survive. So, snickering at a prospective parent spouting off advice is not only allowed, but encouraged.

9) Sickness

Let’s start with pin worms. They are small parasitic worms that live in the human intestinal track. The worms crawl out of the child’s anus at night and lay their eggs in the diaper, pajamas and other areas around the bed or crib. The eggs are then passed to others and ingested unknowingly. The worst part? You have to go in there and grab them while your kid is asleep. It’s a damn horror show. It’s also not something I had any idea about before having kids. Sick kids take a toll on the entire house. Even the typical cold has taken on a whole new meaning, especially with toddlers. It can require being up in the middle of the night for days in a row, missing work and acting as one giant Kleenex. The numerous slug trails across your shirt are always a nice touch.

10) The feeling of unconditional love

You assume that you’re going to love your kids, but what you end up feeling for them is unlike anything else you’ll ever know. Just a simple smile from your offspring can erase a really crappy day at the office. This is the reason why people rave about having kids while they look exhausted and have a fresh batch of spit-up running down their back.

Craig Playstead is a freelance writer, husband and father of three living in the suburbs of Seattle. In the past he’s also been a sports writer, a game writer and a talk show host. You can reach him at playstead@hotmail.com.

http://men.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6534988&GT1=32001

okay, so i heard on the radio this morning that someone wants to make a law allowing the government to regulate what we are allowed to eat so we don't get so fat. and i thought "now that is crazy. just let us eat what we want to eat. it's going to be like prohibition in the 20's people are going to be eating dounuts and french fries and big macs at secret underground bars." but then i thought about it some more and it's just like a helmet law for motorcyclists (which i ...did...agree with). it's illegal in the state of TN for anyone to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. and they say it's for your own safety. and if you have an accident on a motorcycle without a helmet then you're VERY likely to either going to die, or be in the hospital for a while. and either cost your insurance company a ton of money OR if you happen to not have insurance, then you will cost the state of TN a lot of money. it's sort of the same thing with the food thing, if you get REALLY REALLY fat eating unhealthy things, you're VERY likely to either die early, or need lots of medical help costing either your own insurance company a lot of money or the State of TN. either way, when i think about it, i really don't think the Government has any business telling me what i can and can't eat. or that i HAVE to wear a helmet. (I would not ride a motorcycle without a helmet, i don't have a death wish). I am just so afraid that our country is moving more and more towards socialism/communism! your thoughts?

I'm such a horrible mother. Jonas has a new job while i'm changing his diaper in the morning and in the evening. he's learned how to brush his teeth. (he has horrible morning breath) so i give him his toothbrush and he brushes happily while i change his diaper and all is good. Last night however, i didn't lay out his clothes like i normally do. so i left him on the changing table with his toothbrush to walk 3 steps away to his closet and pick out his clothes. i turned back around just in time to see him roll off the changing table and fall 3 feet to the ground. I'm 99% sure he's not hurt. i don't think he had the toothbrush near his face when he fell and i squeezed his little arms and legs and tummy to see if he screamed or winced when i touched any of them and he seemed fine. i was running a little late already so i finished getting him dressed and put him in the van to go to daycare. it wasn't till i was trying to tell the lady at daycare what happened that i started crying. (jonas was giggling by this point) I can't believe i did something so negligent that got my baby hurt. I know babies are resilient. I know he's okay now. I know, i know i know. In that 1/2 second that i saw him falling i felt so helpless. that sight of him falling and feeling of helplessness is what's sticking with me now.