Merry Christmas, Happy Easter, etc.

Well, welcome to the Barclay Labor Day weekend ... we have spent it like so many others in the past: reading the paper (Mary and Hope's most favorite hobby) and cleaning out the garage.

This cleaning out of the garage was, of course, Annie's cue to grab her Cars shoes, a jacket (even though it was a bazillion degrees) and the beloved Baby Ethan. Oh, just in case there was confusion, I wasn't actually cleaning, just supervising and celebrating every single holiday that exists as our decorations for them came into view. I most especially loved Christmas. I think that was my favorite ...

Now Annie mostly played and found a nice place to put Baby Ethan down for a nap, even reminding us to be quiet so he could sleep. Right.

As her hair got sweatier and sweatier, and her face got redder and redder, we tried to get her to take off her sweatshirt-jacket, but no. She really likes that jacket. But FINALLY (not soon enough for me) we came back inside, she got half-naked and kicked back on the couch. Ahhhh, now that's a Labor Day I can get on board with ...

The Crazies

Ok, now having undergone the hysterectomy along with surviving the crazy hallucinations, I am now physically feeling so much better. However, there's only one teensy little problem.

I think I've gone crazy.

It's like PMS on acid (never did acid, just guessing. Truly -- I was always too afraid.) I feel like my hormones are having some kind of sick little party in there. From what I've been told and from what I've read, you just sort of wait it out. Let us all pray for my hormones and for my husband ...

Switching gears, I believe (strongly) the lovely people in our neighborhood Target may also believe I am crazy. We are there so often I am considering taking up residence, and Annie's newest baby of choice is Baby Ethan. He always accompanies us to Target and to avoid a massive breakdown on her part gets strapped in beside her in those huge carts. Until our last trip I didn't realize that that probably does not in any way, form or fashion look normal. (especially because Annie insists that Baby Ethan's clothes be off.)

Just picture it if you will: a grown woman (usually dressed in yoga pants so it will appear I have just finished a class, which I have not) pushing the cart of a two-and-a-half-year-old strapped in beside a naked baby doll. Heaven help us on that front, too.

Ok, last thing: now Hurricane Gustav would appear to be wreaking havoc and heading for the Gulf. Having lived in Gulfport when Katrina hit, I fully understand the insanity of trying to buy gas, get plenty of water and buy plywood to secure windows and make it through the storm. So for all you people along the Gulf Coast, most especially our friends and family, watching that familiar red swirly thing indicating the predicted track, please know that we are watching it, too, and that you ALWAYS have a place to stay ...

And for our special friend who is probably in her pantry with a pound cake and wearing her bicycle helmet, may Sybil be with you!

Push To Silence

Wow, what a difference two days makes, huh?? You all know I love my daughter dearly and desperately, but I cannot WAIT for Moms Day Out to start next week. Holy cow.

We had a playdate yesterday, and the getting ready to go process was absolutely insane. I was trying to get dressed, and Annie was pulling down my jeans, pulling down my underwear and yes, (not proud to admit this one) patting me on the bottom. Not exactly a confidence-builder for sure! She wanted to take roughly 1700 baby dolls, a tractor, etc. with us, but I said no, she pitched a fit, and we got in the car to go.

Then we got to the house where we were having the playdate. AMAZING transformation. Suddenly I was not the mother of Sybil but of this perfect little person who played so well and shared, and I swear the other mothers were practically in awe. Me, too, actually. I even considered asking if we could just live there because Annie behaved so well ...

Then we had Moms Day Out Open House last night. CRAZY getting ready to go, but once we got there once again this perfect little Annie emerged. It's rather a miracle ...

And then we have this morning. We were calmly and lovingly watching "The Rocket" together when suddenly the power went off ... no worries. I assured Annie that all was well, and then the !@#$%^%$%#@$ smoke alarms started beeping. I swear people who hate mankind make smoke alarms. Anthony had gone to work, so it was up to me to take care of the things.

I climbed up on a stool and started trying to figure them out. First, the beeping made me deaf. Then I found a button that said "push to silence," so I did. And you know what? The thing went off. And let me just tell you from the perspective of a person who was standing directly beneath the godforsaken smoke detector -- they are LOUD. So from that point on, Annie started screaming (don't blame her,) the dogs started going crazy (don't blame them, either) and I had no idea how to make the screeching stop. It was horrible. So I did the only thing a sane person would do: I called Anthony. Luckily he wasn't too far from the house, so he came home and just disconnected the things. We'll just pray we don't have a fire today.

The pictures are from a tickle-fest last night ...

Idiot Alert

had just put Annie down for her nap and was sitting down to eat lunch when I saw (or rather heard) this ridiculous ad on TV ... it was for one of those law firms whose sole purpose is to go after companies who make medicines that hurt or kill people ... the announcer said something like "if (whatever medicine) has seriously injured or killed you or a loved one, call us." Ok, if that medicine has killed me, I think I might have a pretty hard time making that phone call.

Mothers & Daughters

Well, our baby girl starts Moms Day Out next Wednesday ... she'll be going on Mondays and Wednesdays ... we have Open House tomorrow night to meet her new teacher. The new teacher's name, you might wonder? That would be Ms. Kay. My mom's name is also Kay, as in "Kay Kay" to Annie, so the poor child is going to be hideously confused, I think.

Still, we've been getting her little backpack and nap mat and everything together, and a month ago I couldn't WAIT for Moms Day Out to get here. Two whole days every week to do whatever I needed to do without a two-and-a-half-year old cutting her molars clinging to me every single second of every single day. Now? Not so sure. I might possibly come home after dropping her off that first day and just curl up in the fetal position.

The older she gets, even on days when she's whining and acting like Sybil and throwing herself in the floor because she didn't get her way, she's still becoming my friend. Strange how that happens, and it happens without any real notice. It's just an all of sudden kind of thing. Mothers and daughters, what a complex little relationship ...

Jesus Christ Superstar

Ok, it can't be good when your child asks you to draw Jesus Christ on her mini Etch-a-Sketch, and it ends up looking a bit like Lenny Kravitz. Now she's asked me to draw Mary or Hope or cars or tractors before but Jesus? Where does a person begin when we don't even know for sure what he (?) looks like?

I first drew a cross, then a stick-man (with a beard) surrounded by stick-children, all the while explaining that Jesus made everything around us -- the trees, the grass and that he loved all children ... Annie just stared at me during my Bible lesson and then erased the (and I use this term loosely) drawing. Ah, the attention span of a two-year-old. It's really, really, really, really, really short.

I will say this, though, she can now say "mamma mia," and I am proud ...

FYI: The actress who plays one of Meryl Streep's friends (the hysterical one with short hair and, I think, glasses) in "Mamma Mia!" is the same actress who plays Ron's mom in the Harry Potter movies.

The Great Outdoors

Well, we spent a good bit of time outside this morning and simultaneously supporting the Disney industry. As usual, Annie is wearing her Disney Princesses shirt and Cars shoes. She sat in puddles, dirt and of course it started to rain while we were out there, which led to a mad dash to get back in the house, which meant gathering up her sippy cup, plastic camera and the beloved Baby Ethan doll. The child is a little hoarder, and I have no idea where she got that trait ...

Mamma Mia!

Ok, readers, if you have not yet seen "Mamma Mia!" at the movies, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to GO! It is easily the most fun I think I've ever had watching a movie ... Meryl Streep is absolutely luminous and just about steals the show. I promise it's worth your time and money. The theater was packed, and people were clapping and cheering, sort of like a party ... GO!

The Mellow

Just some random pictures of Mom and Dad (and us!) while they've been in town this week ... we ate last night at one of our favorite places in downtown Franklin -- The Mellow Mushroom ... of course Annie had a big time ...

My Heart and Soul

Just thought I'd update everyone on my recovery from the hysterectomy I had in June ... physically I feel better than I have in years. The difference is absolutely astounding, and I am profoundly glad that we made the decision to go ahead with the surgery.

Emotionally, it would be entirely misleading to say that every single day is wonderful and perfect. I still have plenty of dark days where it hits me that I'll never have another biologicial child or when the question of "why?" angers me ... perhaps this is a normal reaction to such a radical change. Nonetheless, I am fortunate beyond words to have an unfailing support system in place just like I always have. And most assuredly I count Anthony in that group because he has listened to me time and time again and has ALWAYS been there for me ...

And then of course I have my beautiful child. I am extremely aware that there are countless numbers of women in my situation who were never able to have a child, so right there I count myself blessed. Annie is a miracle, and she is my heart and soul. I love her so very much ...

Darby Claire Smith

With permission, I am now posting pictures of Darby Claire Smith, Teri and Dwayne's beautiful new addition. The last picture is of Kinsey and Abby, Darby's big sisters ...

Magic Bottom Cream

Ok, we have returned from our weekend trip to Lexington for the American Idols concert (and no, the audience was NOT entirely tweens or whatever they're called these days.) It was an amazing show, but of course no cameras allowed so I'm still working on the pictures we took with our phones. And yes, in one of the pictures below I am proudly wearing an American Idols t-shirt. Not ashamed to be on the side of the road having my picture taken at all. Of course we were in front of some castle thing, but those pictures are coming later.

In the meantime, it's back to reality here at the Barclay zoo. We were at the dr. yesterday for Annie's diaper rash that has been coming and going all summer and received (and I kid you not) a prescription for Magic Bottom Cream. May try some myself. Anyway, then it was a stop at the grocery store where of course we had to navigate around in those massive "race car" grocery carts which I think you need a special license to operate. I really, really hate them so much, but Annie thinks they're so fun, especially when I completely take down a display with them. Oh, my mind is gone, I forgot to tell everyone that we found out for sure at the doctor that my precious child is cutting her molars. Just wondering how long that excuse can be used for her throwing herself down on the floor when I tell her "no"... shall see ...

By the way, two things: a big Happy Birthday to Kinsey Smith!!

And ... Kelly, thanks so much for all those videos of Spencer that we've watched at least twenty-five times today. I seriously, SERIOUSLY owe you one ...