Memoirs of a Moorings

Anticipation

"What is a home without children?  Quiet."  ~Henny Youngman

Someone is so excited about being able to dress up. He has been constantly asking when is Halloween.

I bought this Spiderman costume weeks ago (he's completed the ensemble with the slippers). I was hoping it would encourage good behavior. It didn't work. But his behavior has taken a turn for the better! No more calls at work! His pre-school is having a Harvest Day parade where they are bringing to life the book "The Little Engine That Could." Instead of regular costumes like Spiderman, the kids dress up like toys on the train. Rhyan will be a toy soldier. Then they have rented a train for the kids to ride on. He is so looking forward to it. And Auntie Bobbi is supposed to drop by tomorrow evening to let him knock on a few doors.

And his mommy is excited about the upcoming shower this weekend. I can hardly believe I really am having another baby! And he'll be here very soon!

I'm It.

I got tagged by African American Dad (one of my favorite bloggers) to complete the NonBlog Meme about three things I enjoy more than blogging. Wow :-)

The Rules:

1. After your intro, copy/paste this line and the rules below it: The originator wants to see how far it goes so please keep his link intact: http://rileycentral.net/ 

2. Encourage people to post with the incentive of a link by including those who have passed it along here:

• The NON-Superwoman
• African American Dad
• Ebony Mommy

3. Visit at least 3 on the list that have written and passed this meme. Leave them a comment..

Damien at Riley Central says, “Today I hereby unblog my mind with this post. One reason MANY of us writers get writer’s block is because we don’t nurture the things that give us joy. We spend too much time on the computer trying to write when we haven’t done anything worthy of writing about! To illustrate what makes me tick, and what gives me pure joy I am choosing 3 things I enjoy more than blogging and writing about them! Pick three things that enrapture, consume, fascinate, or otherwise enliven you more than blogging. Then write a few lines about each to explain what the nonblog activity does for you, why and how.”

3 things I enjoy more than blogging:

1. Being a wife and mommy (I rolled two into one because they both pertain to family). I really feel like I was placed on this earth to be both, though sometimes I fall short in both roles. I love the idea that my hubby and I have built a great life together and overcome major obstacles to be where we are today. I love the children that are part of our family and I love that we are helping to shape little lives into something grand. I love that our house is a home--a warm, loving place to be--and I helped create that!

2. Give me a book, magazine or a blog to read and I'm one happy woman. Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated by words strung together on paper. As a child I remember looking through my parent's bookshelf and being so anxious about being able to read all those thick books one day. When I was young, our neighbor across the street was a bookworm as well and would take me to the library with her where we both walked out with a big stack of books in our arms. Thank you Mara Duffy for feeding the book lover in me! I especially love mags, books, blogs that offer a personal glimpse into people's lives. My husband calls me nosey--and yes, I'll accept that :-)

3. This third one is hard because there was a three-way tie between surfing the net (the world is at your doorstep), making paper crafts (creating invitaitons delights me to no end) and driving through neighborhoods or going to model homes to do some housewatching. I pick the latter because I NEVER tire of it. When we were dating, my hubby and I would drive through LA's nicest neighborhoods (Hancock Park, Beverly Hills) and check out the curb appeal and see how much of the home decor we could see through the open curtains. Going to a house I've never been to before is so exciting to me. I really dig seeing the furniture that folks have picked out, what is on their walls, the colors they picked for their bathrooms, the little trinkets they have around. It gives me inspiration for my own home.

Now I'm tagging the following folks to share their non-blogging loves:

• One Thoughtful Momma
• Gina of Peeking Into Liam's World
• Nerd Girl

Random Retail Ramblings

The baby is not even here and already I'm imagining how cute I'll look with a waist again. Been seeing the cutest skirts everywhere. Now I'm just curious as to how much work I'll have to do to actually get a waist back.

Thinking these cute skirts over at the Skirt Spot will just be the right incentive. I can totally see myself in this one by next spring!

Can't wait to make these yummy Rice Krispie Pumpkins with my little guy this weekend.

And these Happy Suction Toothbrush Holders are making me so happy. Think I'll buy a few for Rhyan.

Why, oh why, does something as adorable and simple as these recipe binders cost $110.

Nesting Instinct.

Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be. ~ Carrie Fisher

The anticipation of our new baby is energizing. Only thing is, we STILL don't have a name yet for baby number two. Daddy likes Shane. I like Austin---spelled Austyn. We are determined to have a name before November ends!

This week marks 32 weeks of pregnancy. And I'm feeling my nesting instinct kicking in big time. Getting a little anxious about all that still has to be done. Rhyan's new bunk beds should be here this week and we have to do a room swap complete with re-painting. One of my dear friends volunteered to paint one room and my mother another! I am so relieved. Still no crib and there's big boy bedding and Rhyan bedding to buy, a closet to organize and I'm thinking that I'm going to last one more month at work. I think I"m kidding myself. There are major aches and pains that didn't come this early with Rhyan. My back aches and my hips hurt. Just when I think I can do something in my head--like clean the kitchen and the den in one day, my body lets me down.

Even with this, I 'm determined to get the new bedroom done for Rhyan and the new baby. Rhyan will be trading in his happy blue room, for a new color scheme something like sage green with blue and brown accents. I just hope the vision in my head comes out as beautifully.

 

My Picky Little Eater

"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices:  take it or leave it."  ~Buddy Hackett

I hate to admit this but as a child I was a bit of a picky eater. It didn't help that my mother, bless her lovely soul, wasn't much for cooking. And that she stocked the house with foods I wasn't hot on like: cream of wheat, oatmeal, bananas, raisin bran. So imagine my amusement when I run across this article in the New York Times titled, "Picky Eaters? They Get It From You."

My husband will eat just about anything except for green beans or anything with tartar sauce--oh yeah, and he's not a fan of mixed veggeis. But othe than that, anything is pretty much game. His son, on the other hand, drives me crazy with the faces and the pushing away of plates when he's not happy. He won't eat typical things that most kids eat like: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hamburgers, chicken pot pies, chocolate chip cookies that are not soft, certain brands of oatmeal cookies,

Down through the years, I've definitely expanded my repetoire food. Here's hoping my little one does too. Be sure to check out the article if you have a picky eater. Interesting stuff there.

Gratitude: The One Thousand Gift List

"Gratitude is one of the greatest antidotes to complacency and mediocrity that I know." ~Bishop T.D. Jakes

26. Little hands that carry a little pumpkin all around the house.
27. Being able to comfort a sick child with snuggles, pats on the back and mommy's made-up bedtime song.
28. Hearing our three year old recite Matthew 22:37 heartily and proudly.
29. A laptop to work from home when our little one is sick.
30. Getting to see and hug my grandmother who was in town two weeks ago.

31. Finding one last copy of Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits at the bookstore at work.

32. Being inspired to voice God's vision for my life during a girl's party Saturday.

33. Hearing other women give voice to the vision God has given them for their lives.

34. Believing wholeheartedly in the vision.

35. I John 5:14-15 ringing loudly in my spirit daily.

36. Rhyan asking for an orange instead of a cookie today and totally devouring it.

37. And him telling me that I'm his favorite mommy.

38. Food for thought from this post.

39. A husband who is excited about baby boy #2.

40. Being barefoot and pregnant right now--and loving it.

41. Having a mommy's ear which can hear the faintest cry.

42. Knowing that I have a God who can do the same for me.

43. Interviewing an 80+ year old woman last week and having her pray over me.

44. And having her tell me I brightened her day with my visit.

45. A cool autumn breeze sweeping through the house this afternoon.

46. Eating two fugdsicles today and feeling absolutely no guilt.

47. Being able to afford a photographer who captured this baby belly so beautifully.

48. A text message from a cousin--just because.

49. Friend/co-worker who calls to tell me I was missed.

50. Having a mother who volunteered to paint Rhyan and the new baby's room.

Veggie Time

"I think food is almost like a history book to other lands and other cultures, . . . whether it’s spices,or preparation, or utensils. . . . I think it’s a history lesson all at one table sometimes.” ~Unknown

I'm constantly concerned if Rhyan is getting enough fruit and vegetables--even though there are some days that I fail miserably. So here is my latest effort to make veggies fun. Did he love it? Absolutely not. I put the plate in front of him and he looked at me like "what am I supposed to do with that?" And then he pushed the plate away--far away. *Sigh*

He's a big dipper now, so I included some salad dressing and of course ketchup for dipping. After I named all of the veggies--the red bell pepper mouth did not go over well--he seemed somewhat interested. Surprisingly, once he got to dipping, he took two bites of everything--except the bell pepper and the tomatoes which he just licked--he took one bite and acted like he way dying. So perhaps we'll try this one again.

Anybody got any suggestions for Veggie Time plan B?