On Raising a Polite Child

John and I are apparently raising a polite child. Although we think politeness is a very important trait, I admit we haven't spent a great deal of time discussing the finer points of etiquette with William. It just hasn't come up in conversation.

For those of you we will be seeing in the next few days, I need to explain this word we've been hearing a LOT of over the last few days: 'elcome. The translation: you're welcome.

Somewhere he has picked up that when you do something nice, someone says thank you and the other person says you're welcome. Only he can't be bothered by the thank you part. So, when I hand him his cars he'll reply "'Elcome!". I would estimate we hear 'elcome at least 50 times a day for a wide variety of things. When he does something nice, when I do something nice for him or even John. Not altogether correct, but still very, very cute.

Somewhere, someone must be modeling politeness. I should really figure out where he is getting it from....

Through Sickness and Health Blog, I do Take Thee...

Are you impressed? I haven't missed a day in November yet. Even though we've been running like crazy and had the plague visit our house.

We got new cell phones a few weeks ago and we were finally able to get the priceless photos off of my cell phone. Why we had so much trouble is a long story that I don't find very interesting. Anyhow, this week I plan to entertain you with these pictures.

Please note: these pictures are great quality, but they are special to me because oftentimes it is the only picture I have of William doing something because the other camera isn't always with me.

I call this set: The Many Faces Of William




These pictures were taken one after another when William was roughly 6 months old. He is looking very serious because he is trying to figure out how to cute me out of my cell phone.

The Plague

John was struck down last night. I had a post brewing about the differences between us when we are sick. But, the more I think about it, the less fair many of my generalizations were. Let's just say it is a lot more work being the more healthy one.

We Passed!

Although we have been suffering mightily here from some type of plague, the basement/office/babyroom/big boy room project continues to roll along. Today we were visited by both the city fire protection district and the city building officer to do our final inspection walk through in order to get our building permit finalized. Although the basement itself isn't completed, all of the structural pieces are in place for the inspection. Carpet and baseboard will make the space more finished, however doesn't have any safety bearing the city cares about.

The best news: both inspections passed and our permit is completed! Hurray!

How did we celebrate? We went out to eat and bought John's car 2 new tires. Wild!

Maternity Clothes make me Crabby

This is just a heads up for all of you lucky people who might be in the same room with me over Thanksgiving. Maternity clothes make me Crabby (with a capital C).

My specific issues include (but are not limited too):
-Bows. My belly is not a gift for you or anyone else. While I am thankful to be pregnant and for the child I am growing, I don't care to adorn any part of me with bows. Most certainly, I do not care to adorn the largest part of myself with a gigantic bow, regardless of color.
-Ruffles. I'm not 6 anymore. Enough said?
-Low cut-ness. I don't care to show a great deal of cleavage when I am not pregnant. Being pregnant has not changed this about me.
-The drape. Most of my maternity shirts have no shape. You are left wondering if I have a torso at all between my neck and my knees. While I don't need a form fitting shirt, I'd like to not have people eying me suspiciously: is she getting a beer belly or could she be pregnant?
-Elastic. While this is a necessary evil, it is not the most flattering of materials. Currently it is either way to small or way to big. Neither is a good look or comfortable. One has me too uncomfortable to get down on the floor and the other has me hanging onto my britches when I'm getting back up again.


All of these problems are compounded by several factors; not all of which are horomone driven:
1. When I was at this stage of pregnancy with William, I was roughly 20 pounds heavier. That means that most of the clothes I wore during this pregnancy are still too big for me at this point.

2. When I was pregnant with William, I was teaching full time. Teaching is a demanding job and I was on my feet all day. And hot. I had no more than 4 long sleeved shirts total because I was so hot while teaching all day (and the multiple layers I had to wear due to the cleavage problem, see above). Now that the weather is cooler and I sit at home eating bon-bons on my couch all day long, I'm finding myself wearing those same 4 oversized shirts over and over again.


So, in all fair warning to those of you spending more than several minutes with me over the holiday: watch out. Especially if I am wearing something other than sweatpants and sweatshirt. If I have gone through the trouble to put on something maternity related, you can bet that I will be working overtime to overcome the Crabbies.*

*I'm really so very excited to be able to spend the holidays with my family and some close friends. I just can't figure out how to deal with this wardrobe situation....

So lame I'm posting other people's vacation pictures

We're still under the weather here today. Eating isn't really happening, although plenty of other "stuff" is. Use your imagination. So, here are some pictures my parents sent me from their recent trip to San Diego. Posted without permission, of course.

Sea kayaking
More sea kayaking
Sailboating


PS You'll have to ask Grandma and Grandpa who got wet...

Look!

We had a rough night last day and a yucky day today with a stomach bug going through our house. I was just thinking the other day that William hasn't thrown up since his refluxy days in infancy. That is VERY much untrue now. I think we're on the mend (hope!) and I'll be feeling better soon. Also hoping John doesn't come down with it because it wasn't much fun.

In the meantime, how fun is this? I've been invited to an ugly sweater party!