But Mommy I'm Afwaiidddd.....

Big Brother, 4 1/2 years old, the one who talks non-stop when he is not asleep, is afraid to sleep in his room. I was going to type that he is afraid of the dark, but I don't think that is completely true. It might be some elaborate dreams/nightmares too.

This isn't necessarily 'new' for us. He goes through various phases of sleeping 'all night long in his big boy bed' to needing to sleep in our 'big boy bed'. He is one of those kids who would sleep with us each and every night if we'd let him. He just loves to snuggle bless his little heart. I think most nights I'd just snuggle him right in, but I know the habit will form. So, rather than having him join us, one of us puts him back into his bed.

Let me clarify one more thing. He goes to sleep in his bed. He pretty much always goes to bed easily. It's the middle of the night when he comes in--midnight, 3 am, 4:30, you name it.

I'm not saying he never sleeps with us. When he is sick he is in our bed. I don't play when it comes to being sick. I don't mean the runny nose kind of sick, I mean the fever kind.

This time is different. Before he'd just say he wanted to sleep with us. Now he is saying he is afraid of the dark. We have done several things to fix this:

1. Gone beyond the nightlight and put a 15 watt bulb in his lamb on his dresser. It stays on (not sure how I feel about that--fire hazard?)

2. The bathroom light stays on. We have 2 lights in our bathroom--one right above the sink and then a dimmer one that is above our shower. We just use the dimmer one. (Maybe we should use the brighter one?)

3. He sleeps with a small flashlight that stays on.

4. He has 493743 stuffed animals or cars or helicopters or whatever the newest toy is in his bed.

5. Daddy put a force field around our home to protect us and nobody can get in unless we LET them in.

6. He still has a fan on in his room.

7. Sleeps with 'blankie'.

I do have a minor concern that his imagination is getting the best of him. He is talking about eels coming into his room with an 'eggtoof' that sneaks into his room. I think he has been having some elaborate dreams/nightmares. Then I worry that I'm letting him watch stuff that might scare him on TV. But it seems everything/anything can be scary if you let it! Seriously, I found a way to make Max and Ruby somewhat frightening the last time I watched it. Come to think of it, we've not watched anything new these days.

What is next? All I can tell you is that when he comes in for the 3rd time in the night I don't care where he sleeps just as long as he leaves me alone. He also comes to my side of the bed and tries to sneak in. He's gotten in our bed a time or two when Daddy didn't even know he was there....smart boy comes to his mommy's side of the bed.

I feel for him. I remember being afraid as a child that someone would get me. I did go to my parents room and sleep in there sometimes. I don't remember how much, but I cherished those times I got to be snuggled next to my mommy!

It's just that he would be in there every night and that is not healthy for our family. Some kids sleep with their parents for a long time. That is what is right for their family, but it isn't right for ours. So .... help!

If anyone has anymore helpful advice, I'd love to hear it. Could this just be another phase?

Good Reads...

So I just finished this book The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. Can you say GREAT BOOK? I devoured it, not just read it casually, but DEVOURED it. By devoured I mean that I read it at every free moment I had and even added some not-s0-free moments here and there. That is the bad thing about good books. I can't stop reading them. I neglect my children, my husband, my dog and my daily chores to just sit and read. I don't get to read much anymore now that Miss Bug is busier, but when I find a good book, it's all over honey.

Flip the TV on to some craptv like Baby Einstein or Spongebob (God Forbid) depending on who is bothering me--and read, read, read. We're talking (here's the visual): I remain in my pajamas, glasses still on at 11am (usually put contacts in close after I wake up), coffee mug half-full with coffee still in it and -here's the clincher- teeth not brushed.

Breakfast dishes sitting on trays in the living room because it was easier than making everyone sit at the table. But the dishes are spotless because our furry companion, Carly, has already passed through and made sure I wasn't paying attention so she licked the plates/bowls clean. She probably loves it when I read. It's her signal to creep up and get a free waffle or bacon and eggs!

So, thanks Preppy Mama for the good read. It was great. And did you like Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult? She is my FAVORITE author of ALL time so far, so if anyone has read her and knows of any books similar, please let me know. I loved Diane Chamberlain's book, but she still was no Jodi........though I'll probably read another one by her because she is the closest I've come to 'crack' books.

I've got some other books to keep me going (read: neglecting) in the meantime, but if anyone has suggestions, I'd love to hear from you! I just can't seem to find the intensity of Jodi from any other author. And it doesn't have to be that much drama, I just like the suspense and realism of her novels. I have also read some great books by Joshilynn Jackson, so if you know who she is and know of other authors like her, let me know that one too!

PS Blogger is not letting me separate my paragraphs and it is making me mad, so bear with me!

I've Been Tagged!

So I love getting tagged and Boo and Hootie's Mom tagged me. (Thanks, B&H's Mom--you are very sweet).....so I get to give the Blogger Award to others, too. Fun!

I give the blogger award to:

The Pink Clutch (she keeps me on my toes with shopping deals from Target..)

La Vie En Rose (she is so sweet)

Preppy Mama (we are a lot alike and she is so cute)

AFRo (am new to reading her post and really into it lately!)

Love & Labs (I cannot live without the 'documenting the belly'!)

Clemsongirl and the Coach (She is just so darn funny & I look forward to her posts.)

Here are the rules:
Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland!!! Leave them a comment on their blog to let them know they received this award! Beware......you may get the award several times!!!
Remember that people can be tagged more than once!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday!

How Come

Big Brother had a a friend over to play, we went to swimming lessons, I fed dinner to 2 small children, bathed those same 2 small children and put those same 2 small children to bed and I feel like I've just run the Boston Marathon?

Maybe it also has to do with:
the 423,456,434 loads of laundry I've done,
and the vacuuming,
and the sweeping,
and the mopping,
and the dishes,
and the dusting,
and the booty-wiping.......

I think it was the whining the ensued when flossing Big Brother's teeth that about put me over the edge. Floss can do that to ya, you know......

Good Times...

Big Brother and Susie's Son (Susie and Miss Bug in background)

Sorry I've been out of touch for a while. We baptized our little girl (Miss Bug) this past weekend and everybody and their brother was here for the weekend. My best friend from Colorado came with her son. You can see her (Susie) in the background holding Miss Bug. Susie is Bug's Godmother. Susie's son is the one with the shirt buttoned all the way up. My son (Big Brother) is next to him. He looks taller but that is because he was standing on the railing of the gate! Normally I don't show pics of kids, but just couldn't resist...

So, we had all grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and a lot of barbecue all weekend long! We also had a bounce house in the backyard for the kiddos. It was hot, but a nice diversion from the amount of chaos going on when they were all in the house. A good time was had by all. Next time we will have to do it in a bigger house. Which means our upcoming move to Atlanta needs to get a move on! Still trying, have been showing the house more, so that is good. Might have a lead on some people from Alaska but you know once you get your hopes up it goes down the pooper, so I'm not doing that.

It was WONDERFUL to see Susie and her son. We went to the beach one day, pool the next. Susie's son is the one that I wrote about in my 100 things. He had a heart transplant about 2 months before he turned 3. And no, he wasn't BORN with this defect. It literally happened within about a week. The cause could've been strep related, but no one will ever truly know. He is a walking miracle. I could go on and on about him!

So, I'm just getting home from airport and the laundry saga continues. Of course all I want to do is catch up on blogs and let my son watch CrapTV. Miss Bug is supposed to be taking a nap but is still buzzing her lips in her crib.

Bbbbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
bzbzbzzzzzzzzz. bbbzzz

We have swim lessons today at 4:30. I'm sure she'll fall asleep at 3:45.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

BARACK OBAMA:The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MC CAIN:My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON:When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road.This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure -- right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.......

DR.PHIL:The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad.So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W.BUSH:We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us.There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY:Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions.I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in hiseyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART:No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level.No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS:Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:To die in the rain. Alone.

GRANDPA:In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.Somebody toldus the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE:It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON:Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES:I have just released e-Chicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book.Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% ....... reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath thechicken?

BILL CLINTON:I did not cross the road with THAT chicken.What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE:I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

'It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.' ~President George Washington

**Mad about plaid girl sides with Dr. Seuss**

Fender Bender for the Plaid Girl

Warning: This post should be rated R for language...

Yes, the title says it all. I don't even know where to start. I swear, this must be the shittiest 2 weeks I've ever had. I guess it could be worse, but damn, it sure is sucking right now.

So, I make plans for drinks/appetizers with friends and then to see the Sex & The City movie last night. I get in the car, drive up I-95 and then as I'm getting off at the exit ramp I stop b/c there is a red light. I'm listening to my man (John Mayer) and so excited to just be out and away from home and small children. I am stopped. The next thing I know I hit the car in front of me. WTF? I didn't even know I hit her until the lovely bang I hear. I guess I took my foot off of the brake.

I drive a Honday Odyssey (my husband calls it the Loser Cruiser) and the woman in front is in a Suburban (freaking tank). The first thing I see is her rear bumper. Minor ding. Minor. So I'm thinking I won't be that bad. HOLY SHIT> looks horrible. I have her trailer hitch imprinted on my front bumper along with several scratches and dents. I swear, I thought I was going to throw up right there. The whole time I'm thinking, 'How in the hell did I do this?" I still am pondering it. I'm now wondering if I subconsciously thought she was going so I accelerated b/c I really don't see how it did the damage that it did if I just crept up on her........

The lady was a mom and so nice and probably close to my age. She was so nice and felt sorry for me and said she was glad that we both were ok. So, we are trying to decide if we should call the cops b/c we both know whose fault it was (mine) and we are both unhurt and our vehicles are drivable. We are both calling our insurance and a Georgia State Patrol drives up.....welcome Officer Jerkface.

He did the typical 'license and registration' and blah blah blah. He actually took forever and the other lady and I were both wondering what the hell he was doing...being thorough--using some tool to mark what happened, etc. and writing up an accident report. And then writing up my TICKET. WTF?

So, he comes over and I see the paper (for some reason I recognize it--I wonder why?). I say, "I'm getting a ticket?" He says, "Yes, for this to happen you were following too closely. That is what I'm citing you for. Though you can take it to court if you want." And then continues to say how I can take it to the judge. I can contest it. I can talk to a judge. Really, you can take it to court. Seriously, he says it like 6 times. I GOT IT. THANK YOU. SHUT UP. I finally said, "It's fine." But I was thinking, " SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT. UP."

I just didn't have the heart to go to the movie. I was just so upset. I just knew my hubby was going to KILL me. He didn't and was very sweet. I am just so upset with myself. He just told me that I need to pay better attention. He also asked me if I was on the phone. NO I WASN'T. I PROMISE. Seriously, I wasn't. I'd probably feel a little better if I was b/c then I'd have more of a reason or something to blame. But, nope. Just stupidity I guess......or daydreaming or ???

So, that is me. I also had a metal Gator tag on the front and part of it broke off and is all smashed (No comments necessary from the Peanut Gallery--Clemsongirl!).

I took it in to check my damage. So far it's $1600. New bumper, possibly grill, and something to do with the air conditioner. And the nice little old man told me to be checking b/c my air conditioner might not work like it is supposed to---and yes, I noticed when I put the air on 60 degrees that it wasn't that cold. Usually in my car it is freezing if you do that. Granted it is 100bazillion degrees in S. Georgia right now, so I'm wondering if that is it. I. Seriously. Doubt. It.

And here's the clincher-my in-laws and family are coming on Saturday to Miss Bug's baptism. We're talking MIL, FIL, BIL, SIL and all my family too. I'm sure I'll get an earful. I am thinking about pretending like I don't know it's there and then whenever someone mentions it, I'll be like, "What happened? What are you talking about?"

What do you think?