Baby Beluga

Last night brought more swimming in the tub, which inspired Ella to sing one of the songs that she learned at preschool. As a general rule, I think that whatever Ella does is cute so of course I thought it was video worthy!

Baby Beluga Video

"Baby beluga in the deep blue sea,

Swim so wild and you swim so free.

Heaven above and the sea below,

And a little white whale on the go." (or 'whale of gold' as Ella says)

Ever worn these?

Manhattan may not have an Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond or Chick-Fil-A. We may be missing out on the super sales at Kohl's. We may only have one movie theater. But by golly we will soon have a Beer Goggles (although, being a college town, we have long since had beer goggles).

My boxing gym is situated right in between the new BG and a Mexican restaurant with the BEST cheese dip. That sounds like a good recipe for David: "hey, can you get some beer and cheese dip on your way out of class?"!

Where horses drink, we swim

After lots of inquiries from Ella Grace and fair bit of guilt on my part, I agreed to take Ella swimming this weekend. It's shameful how we haven't been to the pool even once this summer! Of course, just like the rest of the country, we are in a major damn heat wave this weekend. Ugh. Oh, and did I mention that going to the pool also requires me in a bathing suit?! Things just keep getting better and better.

I wanted very badly to keep my word to Ella and take her to the pool. So much so that I looked for a maternity suit at Target. 'Puh-lease' I scoffed at the dismal selection and outrageous price. But that paled in comparison to the scoffage that took place when I put on my regular suit from last year. (In all fairness, the suit was too big for me then and actually covered pretty well now.)

Wow. You have only heard stories and rumors of women who look like they are smuggling watermelons until you have seen me in this suit. It was and is a feat of structural engineering the way that lycra/spandex-y material stretched across my midsection. I feared for the eyesight of everyone within a 50 foot radius, should the material give way and take off like a rubber band.

But I wore the damn thing anyway, because I'm cheap and one hell of a mother. I toyed with the idea of actually going into public looking like I had raided a fruit stand but gave that up quickly in favor of the alternative that David came up with. He just so happened to have an empty water tank and would I like to bring that up to the house and splish splash around with Ella in the comfort of my own yard while he grilled up some delish kabobs? Yes I would, thankyouverymuch!

So there we went running water from the outside spigot into the tank. Even though it was 98 degrees at 6:30 last night, that water was COLD. Goosebump inducing, makes your arms steam when they come out, COLD. And I got in. Did I mention that I am the best mama of all time?!

Ok, so maybe I'm not the best mom ever since after the first picture I said "Sweetie, pour the water on your head! Hee hee!" and thus the second picture. Sounds like something my mom would have done to me...! :)

Yallwantsomesweettea?

Um, hell yeah. That's what I'm talking about!

I Wish I Lived in a Land of Lipton

(Thanks to Jamie for sending this over. She knows what it's all about!)

Garden Update, #?

Here are the latest pickings from the garden. Do you notice how I am not showing you what the actual garden looks like?! That'd be because it is a sorry, shameful mess. I don't know if we can dig ourselves out of the weed infestation this time!

Sadly, the squash and cucumbers have given up the ghost. Their lack of endurance is bieng countered by the tomatoes and peppers, however. Salsa, anyone?!

Here and There

No time or brainpower to sit down and compose a well thought out post. Random thoughts or bits of stories that I have been meaning to share is all you're going to get outta me on a Monday!

E's been her usual chatty self lately, coming out with a few gems:

David: "Sweetie, lean back. I'm trying to wash your hair out."
Ella: "I'm busy playing."
David: "I'm busy trying to give you a bath!"
Ella: "Well, that's not my problem!"
That's what I call some sassin'!

I try, as hard as I can, to give Ella some sort of an accent. The bland
Kansanese here is winning the battle, but I will take my victories (no matter
how small) whenever I can get them. The other night all the stars were aligned
just right because she said 'y'all', 'fixin' to' and (drumroll, please) 'THA Wal-
Mart'. I gave her an extra little treat, just because her mama love love loves to
hear that kind of talk!

Is it neccesarily bad if I take my prenatal vitamin with a gulp of beer?

I need my roots touched up, pronto.

I wore a watch with a dead battery all day Friday. I knowingly put it on that way.

I sneezed a sum total of 732 times Sunday. WTF?!

New panties make me happy. And hell no, they're not maternity. Please girls, don't ever do that to yourselves or your husbands! Those things are vile!

How much would it cost for Merry Maids to clean my filty, squalor-ish house? Must investigate.

If I leave David's resume under his pillow, will the job fairy come?

Last week while cruising down a four lane, a guy pulls even with me and starts pointing, trying to talk to me. I'm utterly confused until I see his Georgia G sticker on the back of his vehicle. He had seen my sticker and license plate and wanted to say Go Dawgs! (Yep, we rolled down our windows and chatted while driving down the road. He was from Monroe!)

Preach

As told to me, with a slight alteration:

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco, and started working east
from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and
making notes.

He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with
a sign which read "$10,000 a minute."

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor
answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if
he pays the price he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor
and continued on his way.

As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Denver, Michigan, Chicago,
Minnesota, and around the United States, he found more phones, with the
same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Georgia. Upon entering a church in Athens, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone.

But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: 25 cents."

Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor.

"Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I
have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to
Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 25 cents a call. Why?"

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Georgia now; it's a
local call."

Last Night

A review of last night, in pictures. (I don't know why I got so snap happy, but whateves.)

Ella's zinnias

Life is tough when your name is Maggie Mae

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ella goes inside to use the bathroom. A few minutes too long later, this is what I find...

Somebody thinks it's bathing suit time!

Then later...

We took these,

and made these.

Remember my offer for serving up a mess o' peas? OK, gonna need to retract that. We finished up the peas last night as well and it only made a pint! If you want some of those then you're going to have to high tail it over, PDQ.

The bell peppers are coming on like mad. I hear that I can chop them up and freeze them too, but I have to be sure to disperse some to Angie Jo. She's had dibs on them since they were planted! Maybe some kabobs are in our future?!

Pea Body

We've been having a pea pickin' good time. If that's what you'd call it.

Tonight we are going to freeze some of the loot for some post summer pea eatin' goodness. Feel free to come visit (in November, perhaps?) and I promise to serve you up a whole mess o' peas!

Pink eyed something or anothers. Direct kin to the Southern staple, black eyed peas.

A.K.?

We have come to an agreement on the name of our new baby girl. I feel pretty sure (!) in saying that the newest sweet baby M will be Miss Ashley Kate. There is the ever so slightest chance that this could change, but I doubt it. Besides, Ella has decided that she likes Ashley and so it will be!

I realize that the name Ashley Kate makes most think of the Olsen twins but I don't care. Waif-ish Olsen twins, be damned! I'm naming my girl whatever I want to! As my mom said, may she have all the money of those two but a little more meat on her bones!

Growing Buddha

This morning I went looking for something that I had dropped in my lap and discovered that I was actually looking for my lap. There was literally a moving of the belly involved. Still didn't find what I was looking for, on both accounts.

Ah, and so it begins.

Who wants a poke... cake?

In the wake of my nudie photo happy birthday post, David still managed to be friends with me. It might have been out of pure greed since I had yet to give him a couple of birthday presents and who wants to miss out on goodies?! (I jokingly told David that I was going to label the nudie pic as him striking the pose which I then realized that it's best that I didn't.)

We celebrated the big 2-9 with steaks, beer and the company of the Wallace fam. Quite a nice evening, overall. The twice baked potatoes that I made, which contained cayenne pepper, had enough heat that I found myself saying "Is is hot in here?!". Mercifully, I was not the only one having a hot flash as the pepper had heated us all up! We found that birthday cake is an excellent flame putter outter even if you are full to the breaking point of steak, potatoes, salad and beer (or baby).

I made David a poke cake which is oh-so-good. I had never had one until Angie Jo introduced me a few years ago. It's a really nice summer alternative to a traditional cake with heavy frosting and it's got fruit on it so it has to be good for you. It's good enough to share with you here, so that you can make your own damn cake, because I'm not sharing the real thing.

"You won't need a plate, I can tell you that. Just dig in with a fork and go."

Stawberry Poke Cake

1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients to make the cake

1 small box strawberry jello

3/4 cup hot water

1 container Cool Whip

1 pint strawberries, hulled and cut into bite sized pieces

Prepare cake in a greased 9 x 13 dish and while hot poke lots of holes with a toothpick. Dissolve jello mix in hot water and pour (or spoon) over cake. Let cool and top with Cool Whip, then strawberries.

Let me know if you make this and how long it hangs around!

Happy Birthday!

Today is the birthday of two of my favorite people! Big Daddy David turns 29 and Sarah Kate Cato is 28! Wow, I really do like the ring of Kate...

Much like my birthday wishes for Ashley (gosh, I really like the name Ashley, too), I tried to find a picture of something that both Katie and David would appreciate. Umm... In case you don't know both Katie and David, there's not a whole helluva lot that they have in common, other than some love for me. The two things I could think of are Harry Potter and beer.

Unlike the birthday post for Ashley, I actually did try a search for HP and beer. I didn't find what I was after but I did stumble across this photo of the boy wizard in Equus. Not that David would appreciate this, at all, but I know me some Katie Cato and I don't think she's one to turn down a peek. :)

Happy Birthday, Kids!

Cuteness

** If you are a Harry Potter fan, be sure to head over to Ashley's new blog, Post Potter, for discussion and group therapy. If you are not a Pottermaniac, be glad that I will take further Potter discussions to the new blog and will leave you alone!**

I thought that Ella's outfit today was so cute. I found the capris on clearance and they matched the little green stripe in the tank perfectly!

Me: "Smile, sweetie! One more, I didn't get your shoes." E: "I'll point at them!"

I asked to see her face. I guess technically she obliged!

Is it really over?

Friday was a day of sheer anticipation. I almost didn't make it to the midnight release party due to a 'quick nap' on the couch but alas! I make it. No butterbeer, though. I stayed up until 4 am getting a good jump and then throughout Saturday managed to while away some time reading. I closed the book at 1 am on Sunday to little fanfare.

Below is my review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I tried to come up with a way to review it without giving away pivotal points, but I can't think of any. Read below at your own risk!!











I can't say that I have ever reviewed a book before but certainly our fine friend Harry deserves the honors. I apologize for my ineptitude in advance. I tried to compose thought out paragraphs to help wrangle my thoughts and let them flow seamlessly, but bulleted points is all I got.

* Wow, it starts out with a really dark scene and murder. I think it really sets the tone for the whole book. It's a lot darker than I expected, although I guess it has to be.

* I really was surprised that all we hear from the Dursely's is their departing. After all the hubub about Petunia and then nothing?!

* Didn't Hedwig deserve a little more ceremonious death than that?!

* A noticeable mention of "God". And prayer later on.

* I was flabbergasted that the first death was on page 78! So soon!

* There was a marked maturation of Ron, Hermione and Harry. Almost a little too much, too soon for me. It seemed like Rowling realized "Oh yeah! They are 17!" and started making them act 17, cussing and all.

* How did Harry get access to Voldemort's mind again? I thought that Voldemort was using occulemency against him?

* Rowling didn't make me really care about the quest for the Deathly Hallows. I felt that it was annoying and got in the way of the Horcurx task.

* The only time I cried was when Dobby died. Poor, sweet Dobby!

* I was a little let down by the revelations about Dumbledore. I wanted him to be as good as we thought!

* Snape! Good all along! Wow, those memories explain a lot, don't they? He's my new favorite character.

* So Voldemort's soul was in 8 pieces, not 7. Hmmm...

* Harry should have died. I wasn't ecstatic that he lived! (How terrible is that?!) I feel that he should have accepted his fate, walked into the woods, been killed and someone else finish off Voldemort. I think Rowling copped out. How could Voldemort's curse only kill the piece of his soul and not Harry? The 'King's Cross' bit was nice for what we learn from Dumbledore but come on...

* Neville does it! Yippee!

* How can you not love Molly Weasley after "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"? Hell yeah.

* The final scene between Harry and Voldemort was anti-climactic. He does use Expelliarmus, which Lupin made fun of him for, and it worked!

* I thought Rowling didn't want to leave the story open for other books? The epilogue being 19 years later? That sounds like a gaping hole for some "fill in" books. I want to know what Harry's job is!!

* Albus Severus. I almost choked.

* So who was the person Rowling said would do magic late in life and under dire circumstances? I must have missed it.

* Does this mean that Harry and Voldemort are related (through the Peverell's)?

Overall, I was very mild about the book. Looking back on my list here, however, it would appear that I hated it! Not true, but I didn't love it like I have the other ones, thus the negativity. I am sure that once I reread it and have more time to think it over it will grow on me. Maybe it came off bad because it wasn't the standard prescription of the prior books that I guess I was secretly hoping for.

I feel bad hammering the book that I have looked forward to like no other. I think I need to go back and think of all of the things I liked about it... I'll update later.

K.O.

Most evenings when I head away from the daily grind I head toward they gym to work out. My gym isn't like most other gyms with a plethora of exercise machines and racquetball courts. It's a boxing gym. I have been boxing for over 2 years and I love it.

I take the adult fitness class in the evening and while we do other 'work out' things, boxing is the mainstay. It is a phenomenal work out and a great stress reliever! (Don't worry! Our class doesn't spar, we just hit the heavy bags. There are people training there who do spar, but I'm too much of a weenie for that... and too vain!)

I have learned the proper names and execution of the 8 punches and the right stance for pulling them off. Also, I know how to defend, block and counter punches coming at me. There is no 'hitting like a girl' going on at K.O.! I think that's pretty damn cool! David thinks it's cool too but I must be somewhat scary because he won't let me hit him (I've asked!). And I don't think he's too keen on making me angry, either :).

K.O. uses red and black as a color theme (like Title) so of course that goes over well with this Bulldog fan! Here's a shot of one of our workout rooms:

and the owner/trainer Lorissa (who is pretty bad ass herself):

Pregnancy has altered my workouts slightly but nothing too drastic so baby M is learning all of the moves too! Maybe she will come out swinging? Sometimes I would swear that she is practicing already...

CinderELLA

Sometimes a girl has to dress up and feel special. Last night was one of those times for Miss Ella Grace. Quite the ensemble, really. A lot of Cinderella with a dab of Snow White, looks like! Once princess-fied she cracked out a microphone that plays music and treated us to lots of dancing and singing. Good times!

What a Fancy Pants

Are you happy now?!

I don't know what it was about the picture of me from the horse show that made me look hardly pregnant. Trick lighting? Camera angles? Smoke and mirrors? Andria and Karen were kind enough to comment on how great I look and they sure are sweet words to hear. But I know the real truth!

Lest any of you agree with Andria about my state of affairs, I present to you a bona fide profile shot. I tried to create definition between heaving bosom and burgeoning belly but it proved difficult. Use your imagination and I'm sure that you will see what I see! Preggie Meggie!

Party Time

I went to Hastings and reserved my book this weekend. Guess what I found while there? Details about the 'really cool' party! David told me that he would never publicly acknowledge me again if I went to it :). I told him that I was going to get a Hungarian Horntail painted on my face along with the obligatory lightning bolt! Ha! Oh, and yes, there will be butterbeer! I'm gonna get some... I bet if Jeff were here he would go with me! (Wouldn't you, Jeff?!)

Showin' Off

Saturday was a big day for Miss Ella Grace. She was in her very first horse show! It was a real laid-back affair but local and free so we were all about it! She and Scooter were in the lead line class which is just for little kids (6 and under). The kids ride and are supposed to be 'in charge' of the horse with the reins but a parent walks along with a lead rope, just in case. (Which could mean to control the horse should they spook, or could mean to make them do what the judge is asking and just make it look like the kid is doing it!)

The judge asked them to walk, trot, reverse, stop and individually back the horse up. Ella did really well and David only had to help a little bit! She was quite proud of herself for being such a big cowgirl!

I had mistakenly told her that she would get a ribbon, and oops! they didn't give any out! We were on the way home when it hit her that she didn't get a ribbon and she really wanted one. Well, of course I felt that she deserved one and cussed the cheap-o show for not giving them out. In true Mommy super hero fashion, I told her that I bet they gave the ribbon to Daddy after we left, stopped by a party store where she got to pick out a treat and I bought a shiny red ribbon on the sly, swung by the horse unit and passed it off to David and he gave her the ribbon that they gave to him after we left! Whew! And she loves that ribbon. It's the best $2 I've spent in a while! (Mom told me to have one in my purse just in case and from now on I will!)

Practicing turning Scooter

Hanging out, waiting her turn

Miss Too Cool For School

Just the two of them in the class

Backing Scooter (look at her go!)

Here we are!

I hope that last picture makes all of you clamoring for a preggo pic happy! It's not a profile but I think you can get the idea!