Her Man

When Little Lady was born I was obsessed interested in finding her a "lovey" - a special toy that she could call her own, carry everywhere, be machine-washable, and possible replicable.  This became especially important when I recall The Great Penguin Debacle of 2014.  Little Lady has become slightly attached to various items in her time on earth of 2 years - a penguin, a purse, a doll, a blankie, nothing super original or crazy. UNTIL...Her Man. 

Last Christmas, my sister-in-law generously gave Little Lady a big box of hand-me-down toys from her 3 boys.  It included quite an array of toys such as action figures and other toys.   Little Lady, and her friends love searching through the toys for treasures.  One day several months ago while doing laundry in the basement, Little Lady pulled the box off the toy shelf in search of a treasure.  She stumbled upon an unlikely hero...Her Man. 

A 2-inch stretchy white skeleton man.   

Now, The Hubby and I named it "Man" because we didn't want to describe it as a "skeleton", and we honestly didn't think he would make it past the evening for entertainment.  Well that was a mistake!  (Do you know how awkward it is to be in a public place and have to lean down and ask your 2-year old where "Her Man" is?  No, I didn't think so).  

MONTHS later, "Man" was still sleeping with Little Lady, and traveling with us most places.  Blame it on Maybe it is his stretchy body, or easy to hold arms and legs, or a million other reasons, but she latched on to him and wouldn't let go.  

This brings us to several weeks ago.  Little Lady had her 2 year doctor's appointment in which I knew she would receive several shots.  I gathered all the artillery I had to combat the sadness - her paci, special books, her doll, and yes, Her Man.  After the doctor's appointment, she was doing great, so I decided to squeeze in our weekly grocery store run to Weis.  Now normally, toys and loveys STAY IN THE CAR, but this particular day called for some give and take, and Her Man went into Weis with us.  

I need to interject here that I do not normally shop at Weis, but we received some coupons in the mail for the month with crazy discounts on larger orders.  Being that we are about to have another human enter our household in December, I have taken advantage of these coupons to stock up on food items we use frequently.  With that being said, I do not know my way around Weis as accurately as other grocery stores so sometimes it takes me awhile to find what I need.  This also sometimes includes backtracking up and down aisles, or the entire store.  

After making my third trip around the store, I look down and my heart stops.  "Where is Your Man?" I ask Little Lady.  

Her response - "I dropped him".  YouWHAThim??? Where?  What aisle?  Oh right, you are 2, you don't know aisles.  What food were we looking at when you dropped him??? 

I proceeded to make one more loop around the store, already anticipating how to break the news to Little Lady.  I went so far as to alert a friend that we ran into that if she sees a little stretchy white skeleton in the aisles to PLEASE PICK HIM UP AND TAKE HIM HOME.  

On the way home, I had to break it to Little Lady that Her Man is now sleeping at Weis.  Forever.  

It has been almost 3 weeks since we lost Man, and whenever he is brought up, Little Lady replies with the same statement, acknowledging he is sleeping at Weis.  She doesn't seem that bothered by his absence, shocking, I know.  We even took a trip back to Weis for our weekly grocery trip and no breakdowns!  I don't know if that is success or if I should be worried how quickly she gets over losing priceless loveys in her life...

If your child secures a lovey, please be mindful of the name you give said lovey.  Also be mindful what toys enter the store with you, as to not leave them sleeping there, forever - says the village idiot

29 Weeks

29 Weeks! And counting! 

Little Lady then decided she wanted to be in the picture.  

She ran in, grabbed my legs, and smiled! 

She then decided she wanted to show off her belly.  

Below is the progression of Little Lady's "belly shots" 

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain: 18 pounds and counting 

Stretch Marks: Nada

Maternity Clothes: It is that awkward fall weather that starts cold in the morning and I end up sweating by lunchtime.  I know that doesn't answer the question, but right now I just wear whatever I am coolest/most comfortable in 

Sleep: Sleeping well!  Lots of weird dreams but no other sleeping ailments 

Best moment this week:  My second-to-last swim lesson with Little Lady.  I will be sad to see it end!   

Miss Anything? NOT having heartburn in the evening! 

Movement: Constantly 

Food cravings: Mint chocolate icecream!! Get in my belly!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: Nothing yet 

Symptoms: So much heartburn 

Belly button in or out? She moves so much right behind my belly button that I think it is taking on a new shape! 

Weddings rings on or off? I only ever wear my band but it's still on!  Hoping it will make the trip to the hospital with me. 

Happy or moody most of the time? Mostly happy

Looking forward to: Celebrating Little Lady's birthday this Saturday at a local farm! 

Showing? Yes. Just yes.

10ish more weeks to go! - says the village idiot  

Dental Emergency - Part 2

A few days I recalled the beginning of my dental emergency.  

To recap, my fixed bottom retainer that had been in my mouth for years, broke off on one side, and The Hubby had to help remove part of the wire.  He did this semi-successfully, but left a sharp piece remaining. 

The next day I called my dentist first thing in the morning, and thankfully they were able to squeeze me in that same morning. I rushed to my emergency dental appointment later that morning directly after the no-towel incident at the YMCA.  Little Lady sat in her stroller while my dentist filed down the remaining sharp piece of wire, and tried to get off the glue that remained behind.  Since I had already traumatized Little Lady enough for one morning, I didn't push my dentist to work too hard to remove the glue because I assumed I would be there later that week to put in a brand-spanking-new fixed bottom retainer.  It was only after I made a joke about "this costing $6000" that my dentist laughed along with me and said "oh not $6000 but probably about $600".  Excuse me.  $600.  I was kidding about it being that much! My dentist was not kidding.

I left the office in a haze and somehow managed to make a follow-up for the next week, ignoring the potential hit on my wallet and our bank account.  I also left with glue still in my mouth and visions of my bottom teeth immediately shifting and become a mangled mess.  

For one week, I went back and forth about getting a new fixed retainer.  I rationalized that my teeth probably wouldn't move, or at least not that much.  I rationalized how much I really didn't love having a fixed retainer and how badly it irritated me to floss around it and the sharp sensations I felt after the dental hygienist rudely removed all the plaque that made it smooth in my mouth.  BUT I couldn't shake the feeling that many years ago my parents made the financial sacrifice to give me straight teeth, and I loved having straight teeth!  For only $600 I could continue to live my straight-teethed dream!  

This was turning into a nightmare.

The week of my appointment, The Hubby convinced me to "shop around" for dentists who could put in a fixed retained for a less offensive price.  I laughed at him and told him that was impossible.  There was no way someone could do it for cheaper.  

The first dentist I called could do it for $450.  Hm.  That was cheaper. 

By the 5th call, I was down to $150.  

Now I should clarify, most dentists I spoke to don't actually "put back" fixed retainers.  This type of retainer (so I learned) was never truly designed to be in someone's mouth forever after having braces.  Mine just lasted an exceptionally long time.  So my new option was to get a super cool removable retainer.  So be it.  Anything to keep my teeth straight.

I made an appointment for 2 days later and was excited my teeth would no longer have the opportunity to shift out of place!

I arrived at my new orthodontist and was a bit perplexed by a sign on the door that said Pediatric Orthodontist.  Hm. That didn't seem right.  I opened the door to find cartoons on the waiting room TV, and a small kids activity table available with toys.  Hm.  That didn't seem right.  

It was then I realized that I was in fact at an orthodontist for children.  I am sure they were wondering why this knocked up teenager cares so much about her teeth, and were wondering how the heck I had braces 11 years ago.  The orthodontist saw me with no issue and even made a comment asking if I was having a girl or a boy. I was fitted for my retainer while sitting between children on my left and right.  

Word(s) to the wise - If your bottom fixed retainer pops out, avoid using pliers to finish it off.  When making a dentist appointment, take the time to shop around for someone who can do the procedure for a good price, but don't hesitate to ask if their normal cliental has gone through puberty yet - says the village idiot 

Dental Emergency - Part 1

Several weeks ago I had what you might call a dental emergency.  This also happened to coincide with Little Lady's YMCA swim lessons.  

Some background - back in high school like 5 years ago I, like every other high-schooler, had braces.  I fortunately only had them on for about a year, in which time my teeth were straightened, and the gap in my front teeth closed.  Ever since I have been *focused* on keeping my teeth straight.  ENTER my removable top retainer - you know the one.  Someone in middle or high school was always going through the trash for this type of retainer, thrown away mistakenly when taken out to eat.  I wore this retainer every night for years.  YEARS.  The Hubby loves it.  You don't even have to ask.  

So in addition to a sexy top removable retainer, I have a fixed bottom retainer.  I don't have any personal pictures of this beauty, but below is a google image of "fixed retainer."  

It basically is a bar that stretches from one tooth to the other, behind, like hidden braces.  Lots of people have them and they helped keep my teeth straight for 11 years...until I went to floss one night a couple weeks ago and the bar broke off on one side.  I was stupefied as to what just happened and as to what I should do about this floating piece of metal in my mouth, attached only on one side on my teeth.  I decided the logical thing to do was ask The Hubby to take his pliers and cut off the remaining bar. Genius right??? 

I should mention - 

1. I trust my husband with my life.  

2. This is not the first time pliers have come near my face. 

In college, while studying abroad in Spain, I decided to get my nose pierced.  Genius right?? It was cute, I liked it, but before I got married about a year later, I decided I did not want a tiny stud nose ring in life-long pictures, so my dear mother-in-law got out her handy pliers and took it out for me!  

Back to a couple weeks ago.  The Hubby got his pliers and CUT the remaining wire.  I didn't stop to think that his pliers are not the smallest instrument, and that what he left behind would slice my mouth apart.  After wielding the pliers, I was left with a VERY sharp tiny leftover piece slicing my mouth apart.  

The next morning I made an emergency call to my dentist to have them remove the remaining retainer and put in a new one.  

It would be fine and dandy if the story ended there but it would not be my life if it did.  Stayed tuned for part 2 that would one week later find me sitting between a child on my left and a child on my right, getting fitted for a new retainer...says the village idiot  

Pool! Swim! Towel!

Pool! Swim! Towel! These are a few of my favorite things!...or so Little Lady would say.  Now this is a complete 180 from the summer.  This summer she wanted nothing to do with the pool or water, other than the bath.  We went to the beach many times and she did not want to get in the pool - with us, or in the baby pool.  She loved the sand at the beach but did not want to get into the water.  

We finally turned a corner at our family vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina at the VERY end of the summer.  She actually GOT IN and enjoyed it!  

This leads me to our current weekly adventure at the YMCA - swim lessons.  I was hesitant all summer to enroll her because she seemed to hate the water, but I capitalized on her fond memories of family vacation and signed up the day we got home.  I have not regretted it!  

Now I should mention, not only did Little Lady learn to love the pool, and love swimming, she fell in love with her towel - an ADORABLE personalized towel from Pottery Barn that I received as a gift right after she was born.  Did I mention it's adorable??

We don't use it for the bath so it is her special pool-only towel.  Is this coming across? She loves the towel.  

Enter our first swim lesson at the YMCA 3 weeks ago.  I had taken a general tour the day I signed up so I knew where to go, where to change, etc.   I dressed us both in our bathing suits that morning and we showed up at the pool in our bathing suits, with all the necessities like swim diaper, wipes, change of clothes, EXCEPT - you guessed it - towels. None, not her special pool-only towel, and no towel for mama.  Whoops. BIG whoops.  

I decided not to let this deter us from the blast we were set to have.  Swim lessons started off great.  She loved the water.  Temperature was good.  Instructor was funny and great with kids.  It all went downhill about 25 minutes into the 30 minute group lesson.  Around minute 23 Little Lady started asking for her towel...Around minute 27 ****someone**** pooped in the pool.  I am not accepting blame for Little Lady, though I did change a very poopy diaper moments later...I digress...

We exit the pool and the tears start.  Fast forward 20 minutes and I have successfully changed an extremely poopy diaper, and dried my screamingbloodymurder child with bathroom paper towels and my bathing suit cover-up, and gotten us both dressed.  If there were medals for mamas, I should have received one in the mail that afternoon.  

We have since gone back for 2 more lessons and Little Lady didn't seem scarred from the Towel Event.  Though when The Hubby asked Little Lady how she liked her first lesson, the only words she could get out were "towel, towel, towel."  Yes, mommy gets it, I forgot your towel and will not do it again.  Or at least I haven't forgotten again yet! - says the village idiot 

My Return

I know, I know.  I have not written a blog post in 3572039571038702935 days.  That is a rough estimate.  

Between getting pregnant, being super nauseous for 3203984232093843 days, and all the while caring for a toddler, I did not blog.  I am sorry.  

I also have not completed any Pinterest crafts.  I probably never will again.  Just kidding.  Kind of.  

Here we go again, with 2 months left in my pregnancy before life changes again with another little girl making her debut.  

Baby Girl Kok #2 is scheduled to arrive December 24th.  Sorry Little One, we have doomed you to a life of forever receiving the joint birthday/Christmas gift.  Hopefully you find fulfillment in the many other joys of life. 

For the sake of not even knowing how to recap the last 4 months, below is a cool thing I saw on a blog when I was pregnant with Little Lady and vowed I would fill it out religiously the next time I was pregnant!  So here is my first pregnany Q & A:

How far along? 27 weeks

Total weight gain: Eh. about 15 pounds

Stretch Marks: None! Hallelujah 

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much everything I wear 

Sleep: Ain't nobody got time for that!  Just Kidding.  I sleep pretty well.  Thankfully Little Lady likes to sleep a good 12 hours which means mama sleeps a good 10 hours

Best moment this week:  Going to Totswap with my mama and great-grandmama and scoring some awesome things for Little Lady and Little Sister  

Miss Anything? Wine, sushi, being able to look down and see my waist...

Movement: All.The.Time.  This kid is probably going to be a kickboxing dancer

Food cravings: Italian dressing, preferably over a bed of iceburg lettuce, the reject of all lettuce

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not Particularly

Gender: Girlie girl!

Labor Signs: Nothing definitive, except some very strong Braxton Hicks contractions!

Symptoms: I would not call myself a complainer in ordinary life, but this pregnancy has brought about some rather strong symptoms...backache (I am sitting with a heating pad as we speak), heartburn, overall achiness, and reminders of being 2 years older this time around

Belly button in or out? Kind of in, kind of out.  I can't explain it

Weddings rings on or off? On! 

Happy or moody most of the time? Mostly happy, though if you ask The Hubby, he would probably say moody task-masker.  So much to do! So little time!

Looking forward to: Little Lady's 2nd birthday party.  So much to celebrate this past year

Showing?  I should say so  

So that's that.  Stay tuned for more funny stories coming up - says the village idiot 

Buy One Get One

The Hubby and I started a business with Amway almost 5 years ago.  It has been a great way to meet new people, buy great products, sell products, and make extra on the side by helping other people do the same.  

In honor of Mother's Day coming up soon, I am running an Artistry Light-Up Lip Gloss promotion - buy one get one 50% off OR buy 2 get 1 free!  They come in 5 delicious colors so choose your favorites to give or keep! 

These make great gifts for any ladies in your life!  Just send me a message for details and I will send them to you immediately! - says the village idiot