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Feel the love... Thursday, October 30, 2008 Latest funny conversation from the a*c*b crowd. We were just driving home from errands and a nice dinner out, and discussing something that led Andrew to say: A: I just don't get it. Me: B, can you say "Get it, Daddy"? B: GET IT, Daddy. A: B, can you say "Zip it, Mommy"? B: Zip it, Mommy. (lovely, right?) Me: BAD DADDY. B: BAD DADDY. A: I love you, mommy. B: I love you, mommy. Me: I love you, daddy. B: I wanna watch Dora. The end. We're charming, huh? ~Courtney posted at 7:15:36 PM Balloons, Apples and More Thursday, October 30, 2008 A couple of weekends ago, we trekked out to a much-farther-west-point of Virginia for a Balloon Festival. We saw exactly ZERO balloons, but had some great food, and Benjamin played pretty hard for a couple of hours. Because the posts have been pretty wordy lately, here are a couple of pictures for you. He checked out the hay maze, but only for a couple of minutes. >  Because he found this hole. Filled with sticks.  Benjamin chose to ride by the end, and also insisted upon holding the green and blue super-balls he "won," as well as the apple he tried to swipe from the farm stand, and of course, the bag of fishies...  I flew up to Boston for a fun get-together with some old colleagues and friends, and a more civilized Sunday brunch with Leah, followed by a walk, and then the quick flight home to the boys, who managed to keep the house looking good, and have a lot of fun at the same time. It's always great to get home. Especially when you are a homebody like me. We've done very little this week, although, some part of me thought it'd be a good idea to sign Benjamin up for Gymboree class here. I'd been putting it off, but he used to love it, so I figured I should give it another shot. I might just meet some moms, too. PLUS, the class is only a couple of miles from Andrew's work, so we can plan a weekly lunch get-together, which is always a plus. All in all, a decent week, but I am definitely looking forward to Halloween, and our weekend's events! ~Courtney posted at 8:38:07 AM I might be on to something here... Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Benjamin doesn't eat. He's healthy, and somehow eats enough, but I (not so proudly) can admit that his diet isn't nearly as balanced as it should be. Not for lack of trying, by any means, but it's just an ongoing battle/struggle here. BUT, he LOVES cupcakes. Of course he does. But, apparently, he loves anything in the cupcake shape. Including the super healthy pumpkin muffins that I made last night... Please chime in with your favorite cupcake muffin recipes, please. The more carrots, peas (kidding), whatever you can jam into them, the better! Thanks! ~Courtney posted at 8:07:04 AM Counting and choc-choc. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Scene: Benjamin looking at a coloring book that includes stickers of the numbers 1-6. His babysitter had written numbers 1-5 along the side. He recognizes most of the numbers, even out of order. Me: What number is that, Benjamin? pointing at 6 B: nine. Me: No, it looks like an upside down 9, but it's actually a six. See? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. B: No. Nine. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9. Me; No, it's a six. It comes after five. B: Yes, but it's nine. It went on like this for well over two minutes. In fact, it's kind of still going on. He's bright, but boy is he stubborn. Follow-up conversation: Me: Where is your bowl of M&Ms? B: In da belly. ~Courtney posted at 11:51:39 AM Nearly NaBloPoMo time... Tuesday, October 28, 2008 I've been on the fence about whether or not I am willing and able to do this again. Or, if it will drive readers away... But, I think I am up for the challenge, and to add a new spin to it, I think I am going to follow in the steps of my best girlies, and try to do something new every day for the month of November. I've gotten myself in a little bit of a rut, so, it'll be a good exercise in creativity, and not sitting around in sweatpants at home all day... If you have any strong preferences, one way or the other, on whether I should attempt to blog for all 30 days of November, please feel free to leave a comment. Also leave a comment if you have any good suggestions for new things that I can try. I have a couple of fun things that are not my norm already on the calendar, so we'll see. ~Courtney posted at 9:58:47 AM You know you need a life... Sunday, October 26, 2008 When you get "personally invited," to the 7th Annual International Bird Flu Summit in Vegas next month. Anyone in with me?** **Kidding. I will not be in attendance, as tempting as it is. ~Courtney posted at 7:15:35 PM Hmmmm...dream analysis? Anyone? Friday, October 24, 2008 I have this bizarre tendency to have VERY strange dreams if I wake up, function for a couple of minutes, and then go back to sleep in the early morning. This morning, we got up with Benjamin before 6, assuming he'd go back to sleep. After winning rock, paper, scissors with Andrew (kidding, I somehow just climbed into bed and thanked him for getting up) I had the most loony dream I've had in a long time. Highlights include:
The moral of the story is possibly that I should get up and exercise, instead of trying to sneak that extra hour of sleep in. No matter how badly I think I need it, stressing about a beauty pageant is NOT good sleep. ~Courtney posted at 8:02:55 AM There is a kid in Benjamin's crib... Thursday, October 23, 2008 Benjamin woke up in the early hours of the morning and was calling for me, so I shivered into his room and scooped him up. He immediately fell asleep as we rocked in his chair, and I realized, as I felt his length along my side, and his weight on my lap, that there is truly very little about him that is babyish anymore. ~Courtney posted at 8:05:44 AM Doing autumnal things this afternoon... Saturday, October 18, 2008 We hit up a children's halloween festival nearby for a little while, but nap time called, and really, I am not a big fan of missing nap time. Afterward, though, we lugged out the rakes and helped the across-the-street neighbors to rake jump in their leaves for awhile. Because I've been in documentation mode lately...here are the pictures of our autumnal afternoon.
~Courtney posted at 6:45:49 PM Shopping for a good cause. Saturday, October 18, 2008 It's no secret that I am a shopaholic, but I did want to put it out there that Banana Republic is currently (through 10/26, I think) accepting donations of gently worn coats and sweaters that they'll donate to Goodwill. In return for your contribution, they are giving 30% off of your purchase. It just so happens that winter coats (among other things...sweaters, too, I think) are currently 30% off. I had a coat that is way too big for me now, so I took that in, and left with a new, appropriately sized pea coat...for 51% off! ~Courtney posted at 8:56:38 AM Piles of wood, visitors, and making a disastrous mess... Thursday, October 16, 2008 There are a ton of things I should be posting about...the race, the race I signed up for, the fantastic company we had this weekend/early week, and the fact that it's my dad's birthday (Happy Birthday, Dad!!!). But, instead, you get some hilariously awesome pictures from this afternoon (and the wood-pile related ones from Sunday evening...).
~Courtney posted at 7:51:27 PM Random, but makes me very happy. Thursday, October 16, 2008 So, to many, this will seem VERY random, but I have to say that I am beyond thrilled that I just scheduled a doctor's appointment for Benjamin to get a flu shot using our pediatrician's patient portal on his website. Huh, you ask? For over four years (albeit quite part time for the past 2), I've focused an immense amount of my time and energy on working toward physician's acceptance of electronic health records within their practices. I've worked with some insanely forward thinking physicians, as well as some that eventually come around, but have, in NO cases, come across those using a modern EHR system when it comes to my family's healthcare needs. It might have something to do with my inability to "shop" for doctors, and rather, just pick the name I like best from the list on my insurance company's website...but that is neither here, nor there. Without getting into a long speech about the important benefits of an EHR system, I just want to send an accolade to Benjamin's forward thinking pediatrician, and encourage all physicians to shop for the best EHR system for their organization, because it truly does make a difference. Plus, I hate making appointments over the phone, so it was awesome to just type in all that information. ~Courtney posted at 11:49:51 AM Half Marathon Fun! Saturday, October 11, 2008 More later, but for now...  And some pics...
~Courtney posted at 4:42:38 PM Off to a GREAT start... Friday, October 10, 2008 Just checked into the hotel in Baltimore, planning to grab some lunch and put B down for a nap. Except, dumbass me forgot to pack Night night Doggie, Baby Night Night Doggie, Baby Jaguar, Green Blanket and Blue Blanket. Andrew is "zipping" back to NoVA to get them. This is NOT the night to explain to B why he can't have his dogs and blanket. So much for a fun, family afternoon in Baltimore... ~Courtney posted at 12:53:58 PM Chuck Taylors! Thursday, October 09, 2008 Benjamin got his first pair of Converse today! Navy, low-tops...insanely cute. And cool, of course.   ~Courtney posted at 7:43:17 PM The rare family shot... Tuesday, October 07, 2008 And we have three of them! Thanks, Dana and Beck!    And here's the scene the girls walked into after doing a bit of shopping:  Thanks again for the fantastic Sunday Funday! ~Courtney posted at 8:22:58 AM Autumn Cookies Monday, October 06, 2008 Our up-the-street neighbors have the best Halloween decor in their front yard and trees, and driving by earlier really put me in the fall mood. And when in the fall mood, I bake. Beth sent me a recipe for some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies that she was making today, so I figured I'd give them a try. Um, YUM. And because there is pumpkin, they are healthy. Right? Anyhow, since I am not to be trusted with a big batch of cookies, I figured I'd make plates up and take them to all of my favorite neighbors, including our friends up the street with the great autumn decor. It was fun to visit with them for a few minutes, as our schedules are all so busy that we're constantly moving in opposite directions, and their boys were excited for cookies. Benjamin was excited to wreak havoc on their family room. ~Courtney posted at 7:46:38 PM More pictures Sunday, October 05, 2008 Okay, so no organizing took place, although, I shaved the album WAY down. Click the album to see the pictures of our sunny family and friend Sunday Funday today:
~Courtney posted at 6:49:38 PM Annapolis Fun! Sunday, October 05, 2008 We were lucky to be able to meet up with some great friends in Annapolis today. We hadn't been there since we moved away, and somehow, I'd forgotten how much fun it is to wander around and look at the boats! Great company definitely helps, too! We had a great brunch, RULED the playground, fed the ducks while quacking at them, and then the moms got to sneak out for some shopping while the dad's and tots holed up in (the back corner, wonder why?) of a bar/restaurant to watch some football and drink some beers (and apple juice, for the bambinos, of course). There are loads of pictures from today, so I need to organize them a little bit better, but here is a cute one of Benjamin teaching his friend Sofia how to play ring around the rosy:  On a slightly terrifying note, it's 5:15 pm, and Benjamin is still napping. He got a (very) late start on the nap because of our fun day, but I just figured he'd snooze in the car and go to bed early...could be a LONG night here! Update on the nap: I woke him up at 5:30, and it looks like we'll still get him in bed before 8, hopefully. Phew. ~Courtney posted at 5:18:23 PM Pedestrians in a crosswalk? Imagine that. Friday, October 03, 2008 So, I am sitting here, huffing and puffing after a pretty decent run, absolutely tickled that the ***** in the Ford Focus didn't actually hit me as I ran through the crosswalk. I mouthed (well, I said it out loud, actually) something that I will not type out on here, being a family blog and all, and she shrugged her shoulders at me. Since I was almost home, I decided to let my adrenaline allow me to speed up to fly down the hill at a 7 minute mile pace to finish up my last half-mile, when I notice the lady standing in the middle of the road, to apologize to me. Here is what she said to me: "I am sorry for almost hitting you back there, but I wasn't expecting someone in the cross-walk." Um, really? Usually those bright white lines and that yellow sign on the side of the road with the people in a street-crossing-position is a good indicator that you should take a quick glimpse around the area. But, instead of saying something witty to her, I said "Yeah, those white lines are hard to miss." And, I said it lacking the sarcasm I truly meant. So, while I cool off and sip my water, I will be writing my THIRD letter to the town planning committee begging for one of those glow-in-the-dark-yellow-stop-for-people-or-go-to-jail-signs. ~Courtney posted at 5:56:12 PM Hobbies Thursday, October 02, 2008 So, I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and since it was my first time visiting this family practitioner, I had to go through all the motions of *gasp, on paper* filling out the new patient survey/questionnaire. Most of it was quick and painless, and then I got to a question that really stumped me: What are your hobbies? I, without missing a beat, wrote down running, because it was the first and sole thing that came to mind. Actually, that's not entirely true, both shopping and good wine both came to mind, too, but I opted out of putting them on there, for (hopefully) obvious reasons. Anyhow, since the next question was "What do you do for physical activity?" and the answer was obviously running, I was feeling pretty lame, and well, hobby-less. So, in attempts to be slightly less lame (or addictive-sounding), I am in search for a new hobby. Or maybe hobbies. Baby steps. Probably related, as I was thinking (deeply, I am sure) about this while I was waiting for my prescription to be filled, this old lady told me I was the "saddest looking pretty girl" she's ever seen. I told her I wasn't sad, rather, just hobby-less, and took the rest as a compliment, because I am actually feeling quite homely and blah lately. But, she left me alone, thankfully. WHO says something like that to a complete stranger? Or to anyone, really? So I beg you to tell me, what do you do for fun in your free time? PS: I am not saying that I don't think my running (or shopping, or occasional glass of fantastic wine) shouldn't count as a hobby, but I do feel like I should really come up with something to do. Or maybe not. Anyhow, starting to ramble, which is not something I want to have as a hobby. ~Courtney posted at 6:46:59 PM Because it's Halloween month... Wednesday, October 01, 2008 We got some new pjs at Baby Gap today!    ~Courtney posted at 8:45:22 PM |
