RTT: Meetings

James Bond did not know today was Tuesday. We actually argued about it until I reminded him of what he told me he did yesterday at work. Read on:

*James Bond has a...job. I have a very vague idea of what the job is (I obviously know he's in the intel field), but what he does specifically, I have no idea (isn't that weird?). We're not allowed to talk about it, so....we don't. Most of our conversations go something like this:

Me: How was your day?
JB: Fine.
Me: Do anything exciting?
JB: Yep.
Me:  Can you tell me about it?
JB:  Nope.

And that's the end of the conversation. Exciting, right? Yeah, I know, be jealous. One thing I know he does is attend meetings. I swear it is a freaking miracle that the army gets anything done because they are always in meetings (2-4 a day for JB).  He does on occasion tell me that he had a meeting.  I always ask what the meeting was about (thinking he might slip up and tell me-ha!) and he usually says something crazy exciting like "stuff."  Oooooh, stuff?    You don't say?  Anyhoo, yesterday he told me had a meeting and once again I asked what it was about (More stuff?  I'd like to hear about that).  He surprised me and actually gave me a different answer!  What to know what the meeting was about?  It was about a meeting they were having today.  You read that right.  They were meeting to discuss a meeting they were having the next day.  WTF?  I asked JB if this was common and he said that sadly it was.  I asked him what the most bizarre or pointless meeting he'd ever attended was.  He thought about it for a minute and then told me he once to go to a meeting about how to properly hold a meeting.   This is why men should not be in charge.

*Han Solo can sleep through freaking anything, the dogs barking (a frequent occurrence), TV shows, Indy acting like a fool, seriously, anything, except a creaky floorboard.   He can be sound asleep, but the minute he hears a floorboard, his little eyes pop wide open.  Our entire bedroom is creaky floorboards!  You should see JB and I creeping into our room.  It's pretty comical.  And sad.

*We're supposed to move in 31 day.  We can't do anything (and believe me, for even a short move like this will be, there's tons of crap to do) until JB gets orders (official paperwork that says where we're moving, when we're moving, etc, etc).  31 days out and still no orders.  This means we'll be running around like crazy people when they finally do come in.  Sigh. 

*So, the season premier of Castle (SQUEEEE!!!) was last night.   AFN (American Forces Network) won't air it until tonight (though that's a HUGE improvement from being a season or two behind like we used to be).  I couldn't wait to watch, so I watched it on hulu.com today (shhhhhhh, don't tell JB).  It was awesome.  Hulu has commercials though (I don't miss them).  I did laugh at the Jimmy Dean commercial with the guys as the sun (you know what I'm talking about?).  Another commercial really caught my attention though.  It was from Lowe's.  You've probably seen it before, but if not, watch this.  It's only 15 seconds, but cute as can be.



See, wasn't that worth it?

*You know I'm still completely confused by the fact that Robbie Williams is not all that popular in the States (WTH, people?).  This is (IM-not so-HO) this is hands down his best song ever.  Watch the video.  Seriously.



*Do you ever get tired of everything being PC?  I sure do.  I get tired of remembering what I'm not allowed to say or what I'm supposed to say instead of something else.  It's exhausting and taxes my brain.  Sometimes I just want to be completely un-PC.

*Some days I get tired of women's lib.  They ruined some really good stuff.  Listen up all two of my male readers:  if you want to open a door for me, I will not give you a snide look and tell you I can damn well open the door myself.  I will thank you for your politeness (something that seems to have gone by the wayside).

*Finally:

Click the button at the top to read all the other Randoms.  Castle is about to come on here and I have to pretend I don't know what happens!

My night and morning: a timeline

You may remember that I mentioned in yesterday's post that Han Solo has rotavirus. Good grief. Indy had it when he was almost 2 and it was even more awful because he was eating solid foods and mobile. I'm extremely grateful that Han Solo is still just on liquids and cannot move around. I know it could be so much worse.   He's actually taking it quite well (as did Indy) and not fussing.   My nights have been rough lately, but not really because of Han Solo.  Here's how last night went:

8pm: Give Han Solo a bath. Indy takes a shower while Han Solo is bathed, chattering the whole time about his day. Asks if I can read to him.

8:15pm: Feed Han Solo a bottle while reading to Indy (I'm a multitasker).  James Bond cleans up bathroom.

8:30pm: James Bond puts Indy to bed. Indy yells that I need to come kiss him when Han Solo is down.

8:45pm: Han Solo goes to bed (quietly and happily) . Go tuck Indy in. Has to talk about his day for a few more minutes..

9pm: All is quiet. James Bond goes to his man cave for...whatever.  Have time to read my own book.

10:15pm: Go to bed. Han Solo sleeps in our room next to my side of the bed.  Creep in quietly praying he doesn't wake up.  He doesn't.  Give silent hurrah.  Fall asleep.

11pm: Woken up by the dog whining and crying to get in the bedroom with me. Don't let them in.  They take forever to settle and will only cause a ruckus when James Bond gets them up to go outside and they might wake Han Solo.  Go back to sleep.

12:15am: Woken up when James Bond takes the dogs out.

12:25am: Dogs storm into the house like a pack of elephants. Pray fervently they don't wake Han Solo. Fortunately, they don't. Let out a sigh of relief.

12:30am: James Bond comes to bed. Floors creak. Han Solo moves around. Hold my breath, but he doesn't wake.  Sigh in relief.  Go back to sleep.

1:30am: Han Solo wakes up and babbles quite loudly for about 15 minutes. Lay there wondering if he'll go back to sleep. Babbling turns into fussing. Get up. It's rare he's up at this hour, but he's not feeling well.

1:45am: Change a ridiculously stinky diaper. Curse rotavirus for a few minutes. Make a bottle and feed Han Solo. James Bond sleeps through this.

2am: Start to put Han Solo back to bed and notice he is smelly again! Change another stinky diaper. Curse rotavirus for a few more minutes, put Han Solo back to bed (he's instantly asleep, bless him), crawl back in bed.

3:20am: Dogs start barking for no apparent reason, scaring the beejeebers out of me. Shush them. James Bond doesn't wake. Han Solo sleeps through this (dogs barking don't seem to bother him). Go back to sleep.

4:45am: Han Solo starts shifting around. I check on him and he smells suspicious. He doesn't wake up though and consider whether or not to wake him up to change his diaper. Decide to let him sleep. A little poo in his diaper won't hurt anything but my olfactory senses. Go back to sleep.

5:45am: James Bond's alarm goes off. Smack him on the shoulder a few times to wake him up so he'll turn it off. Han Solo is never bothered by the alarm (though I don't know how as it's crazy loud), so he continues to sleep. James Bond gets out of bed, walks across the room, hits snooze button gets back in bed and instantly goes back to sleep. Lay there waiting for the alarm to go off again. Think bad thoughts about James Bond.

5:54am: Alarm goes off again. Smack James Bond some more to turn off alarm. He turns it off and gets up to get dressed for PT. Fall asleep.

6:20am: James Bond comes in to kiss me goodbye, but I'm asleep so his hovering over me scares me half to death and I let out a scream. Han Solo stays asleep. James Bond leaves. Once my heart stops thumping I fall back asleep.

7:30am: Indy creeps into room quietly, wakes me and asks if he can get up. Nod that he can.  He goes to play in his room. Wonder briefly why he walks all the way to my room to ask if he can get up. Decide I'm too tired to care.  Check Han Solo. He's still smelly, but asleep. Go back to sleep.

7:45am: James Bond comes back from PT and dogs bark. Shush them rather violently. Han Solo still sleeps. James Bond crawls back in bed and falls instantly asleep. Lay there thinking I should get up. Decide not to and go back to sleep.

8:40am: Han Solo is babbling. Wake up and realize what time it is. Smack James Bond. He's supposed to be at work at 9. Get Han Solo up, change a stinky diaper and make his bottle. Indy comes out and makes his own breakfast (sweet, sweet boy). James Bond runs around the house like a mad man trying to get himself together.

8:50am: James Bond runs out the door. Han Solo stinks again! Change his diaper, wash my hands and make a cup of tea.

9am: Jump in the shower.

9:10am: Get dressed.

9:15am: Start school.

Is it any wonder I'm tired all the freaking time???? Han Solo slept through the night (8:30pm to 8am) for about 2 weeks and it was sheer bliss, but since he's been sick he's back to waking up at night and I'm delirious.   James Bond and the dogs don't help with my sleep issues.  Pray. for. me.

Does this make me a bad wife??

to make sure there are no more surprise babies, James Bond got the big V yesterday.  I know it hurts, but they didn't even have to put in any stitches.  He acts like he gave birth to the largest baby in the world naturally.  Give me a break.  I've gotten more than a giggle or two out of pretending to throw things into his lap.  The look on his face is priceless and he falls for it every. single. time.  And then he tells me I'm evil and sulks for a few minutes. It's the little things that make life fun.  Does this make me a bad wife????

The sweetest gift

One Sunday every May, a day is set aside to honor moms and today, I was honored.  I didn't want anything for Mother's Day except to be able to sleep.  :)  James Bond got up with Han Solo this morning and I slept in until 11:30, when they came in bearing breakfast.  Indy insisted I needed breakfast in bed.  While I was eating, I was presented with the sweetest card.  Apparently Indy and James Bond collaborated to write some poetry (Indy told James Bond stuff he'd like to say and JB put it in poetry form).  They printed the poems out on a card with a photo of both Indy and Han Solo.  I cried when I read it.  James Bond said he's not much of a poet, but I think you'll agree that he did a marvelous job writing 2 poems, one from each of the boys.

You're there when I've fallen
You're there when I'm sad
Your hugs are like magic
When my days have gone bad

No matter how big
Or grown up I may be
I'm forever your son
So you can hug me

Love, [Indy]


I know that I'm little
But my eyes they do see
The most beautiful angel
That firmly holds me

With my life I do trust
My future unseen
My love is forever yours
In my crib as I dream

Love, [Han Solo]


I hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day.

Slacker Blogger

Let me blow the dust off my keyboard. Whew! That's better. I've been a slacker lately when it comes to my blog and I know it. To my faithful readers, I sincerely apologize. I'm really struggling right now with what write on my blog. I don't want to make it all about the baby, but right now, that's what my life seems to revolve around. My days are a blur of feedings, changing diapers, schooling Indy (who's enjoying the slackness at school) and trying to sleep.
Han Solo is now a month old! Can you believe it? I sure can't. He's roughly 6 pounds now!  I KNOW!  The night before last, I finally got him to sleep in his crib!  Halleluiah!  Up until then, he had been sleeping next to me in our bed because that was the ONLY place he would sleep.  I was dozing, but not sleeping deeply and for a few days thought I was going to lose my mind (what little is left).  The other night though, I thought I'd try the whole swaddle thing again (he did NOT like it when we tried it before), and he was okay with it.  I fed him, swaddled him, shushed him and very, very, very carefully laid him in his crib and he stayed asleep.  I crawled into bed (his crib is right next to the bed) and slept hard for almost 4 straight hours!   Huzzah!  I fed him when he woke, swaddled and shushed him again and guess what???  He slept for 4 more hours!!  I swear I could hear a choir of angels singing.  He did the same thing last night.  I can't tell you how much better I feel getting actual sleep.  I even dreamed!!!  Yes!  Cross your fingers this continues.


Last week Indy earned his Bear Badge in Cub Scouts.  This means he'll be a WEBLOS scout next year!  He's worked very hard this year and still loves scouting.  He also earned so many belt loops (achievement things) that his scout master didn't even bother to read the entire list (it took a page and a half to list them), but told the pack that Indy would look like a Spanish general when he got them all on his belt.  That's my boy. 

Look how many are in the bag:

I guess this qualifies as our first family photo:

Back when Indy was a baby I bought him a bear wearing BDU's (Battle Dress Uniform) and we put the uniform on him for photos with James Bond.  Look how cute:

Well, now the Army wears ACU's (Army Combat Uniform), so we had to buy a new bear for Han Solo.  He wouldn't put up with the beret though.  Here he is with James Bond:

 Aren't those cute????   You'll notice both boys look thrilled to pieces.


On his one month birthday, we took his photo with the bear Indy gave him when he was born.  We'll do this every month (hopefully I'll remember-I forgot a few months when I did this with Indy) to show how much he's grown.  This is a 9" bear.

So, that's what's going on in my world.  Hopefully things will get a bit more normal and I'll have more to blog about soon.  We're thinking of going to England for several days once Han Solo's passport comes in, so that should give me loads of blog fodder.    Until then though, I'll definitely keep up with RTT, because I've ALWAYS got random thoughts.

My Funny Valentine: James Bond is crafting KING!!!

Ah, Valentine's Day! A day to pay twice as much as normal for flowers and big ugly heart shaped boxes of chocolates. Ah, amore!

Well, Indy had cooked up a plan with Gigi (my mom) to take us out for dinner and buy me flowers. Indy said this was a very special V-Day as it would be the last one that it was just the 3 of us. Awwwwww.....

I got these flowers:

And these:

Indy told me he looked at the premade bouquets but could get me more flowers if he bought the loose flowers and if he did that, I could put my "special touch" on them.  What a sweet boy!

James Bond had been specifically told (by me) not to buy me chocolates (pregnant + chocolate = disaster) and said he couldn't step on Indy's plans to buy me flowers so he had to think of something different.  Let me back up here.  James Bond works in a very secure building.  Let's just leave it at that.  I'm not even allowed in without surrendering all my electronics and having an escort.  It's not worth the hassle, so I don't go to his office.  This secure building has to be locked up every night by an officer, so they rotate out this duty.  James Bond had been tasked with it for the first 2 weeks of Feb, which meant he would be getting home late every night.  Why?  Because not only do military work there, but civilian contractors too, many of whom do not have their families with them (and often forget that most military members do), and who like to work late into the evening.  James Bond had to stay until the last of them was gone.  A few nights, he had to throw them out because it was pushing 9 pm and he was ready to go home.  Civilian contractors also like to work late so they can come in late in the mornings, not thinking that they are keeping someone else there at night waiting on them.  Got that?  Yeah, so while James Bond sat and waited for the civilians to leave (believe me, if they can, the military flee as quickly as possible after 5pm), he thought about what to do for me for V-Day.  He's very artistic (he's a lefty, which means he's incredibly right brained) and came up with an idea.  He had paper clips and coffee filters aplenty, so he googled how to make flowers from coffee filters.  He watched a tutorial by Martha Stewart but decided he didn't like the way she did them (take that Martha) and could come up with his own way.  He started cutting the coffee filters and experimenting.  He started hand coloring them with markers, but decided that was too much work, so the next morning he smuggled out our food coloring (good thing I had no plans to use it) and his box of water colors.  While he was in charge of the building, he also couldn't leave for lunch, so on his lunch break and after he finished work, he made flowers!  His co-workers thought he had lost it, but when they saw them beginning to take shape, actually commissioned him to make some for their wives and daughters!  Ha!  He told them when he finished mine, he would get to work on theirs.

So, on V-Day, he pulled out a little vase of these:

Can you believe that????  I was totally blown away.  Of course everyone says homemade gifts are the best, but rarely get around to actually making them (especially guys).  Let's take a closer view at a few of them, shall we?

He decided to use some old buttons he found at the Re-Use-It center for the middle of several of the flowers.  He hand cut each of these petals and leaves!  The stems are straightened out paper clips.

This is my favorite flower.  It's actually the very first colored one he made.  He hand colored the petals with a yellow marker and put the detailing on with an orange marker.  This one is very full and looks real to me.

This flower is ingenious!  He wanted to do something "different" (as if he wasn't already!), so he found some sheet music online, put it into a PowerPoint slide, taped a coffee filter to a piece of paper and ran it through the printer.  He then reversed the coffee filter and ran it through again so there would be music on both side.  He's very clever! Isn't it neat???

 

He knows I love tulips, so he made one too!  I didn't get a photo of the center, but he covered a button with a gold Hershey Kiss wrapper that had a heart on it!

The button used on this one is from an old pillow he found at the Re-Use-It.  He pulled off the buttons and tossed the pillow.  He said it was gross anyway, but he liked the buttons.

A lily.

A peach rose.

And the last one I took a close up of, is his least favorite, but I think it beautiful because of the paint details.  It's a carnation bud.  Look at the coloring!

He didn't wrap the coffee filters like many of the tutorials suggested, but rather hand cut each and every petal on every flower.  No two flowers are alike!  I almost cried when he handed me the vase (it is actually an Old McCormick's grinders salt shaker that he pulled the top off of) because of the amount of work and thought that went into this gift.  He's been showing me how he makes them in the evenings (he's not closing the office anymore) and really, this is a detailed process.

After I got my flowers, we went to our favorite Italian restaurant, Casa Sorrento.  Indy paid for dinner (via money Gigi sent him) and then we went to see Tangled (which is awesome).  It was indeed a very special Valentine's Day. 

BTW, James Bond said he might be willing to do an online tutorial if anyone is interested. If not, he said he'd show me how and I'll do one, though I don't know if I'd be quite as good at it as he is.  He's super talented, isn't he???

Happy Birthday James Bond!

James Bond is 38 today! WOWZERS! He's OLD. ;) Saturday night I threw him a little birthday party. We had good friends over and a few bottles of good wine. What more could you ask? Oh, a cake! Indy made the cake. He likes to think of himself as a baker supreme and has a passion of sprinkles. The cake was double chocolate fudge with dark chocolate frosting. We put sliced strawberries between the layers. Indy did all the mixing and icing. I just put it in and pulled it out of the over and oversaw the stacking. He loves to bake a cake.

I think he'd had a few glasses by this point.

Indy even learned how to light the candles.  This was a BIG deal to him.

Look, it's empty!  Must have been good though.  See how happy he is?

TOM and the Contessa gave him a box of Leffe Beer, which comes from Poland.  It's so thick you practically have to chew it.  Not my favorite, but he loves it.

All told, including my mom and stepdad, we had TOM and the Contessa, Hoosier Mom and JAG, Cheese Head and Sgt Major, plus their kids over.  It was lots of fun. 

Today is his actual birthday and we went to a local American style diner for dinner.  He was off work today and said that overall it was a pretty good day, except that we had to go to the OB for more contractions (it's all okay though, so don't stress).  Happy birthday James Bond!   Here's to many, many more.