Creepy or just me?

So there is a lovely park within walking distance from our house. We go there often - even when the weather isn't nice and the clouds are starting to spit at us - just to get out and run off some energy. There's a 1/2 mile loop walking trail around the open rolling fields with tennis courts and playground equipment in the middle.

Really lovely. Except I always feel like I could use that extra set of eyes that my mother had in the back of her head. That I haven't fully acquired yet... despite me being a mother myself. There are almost always people sitting in parked cars in the parking lot and quite frequently there are middle aged men walking the path, doing laps in the middle of the day. Not that they don't have a right to come out and take a stroll in the park, but it brings out the grizzly momma in me.
There was nothing or no one especially threatening at the park today, but I found myself visualizing "Chuck"-esque kung-fu moves and wishing I could "flash."
" Take 'em out by the legs... yeah!"
If you haven't seen "Chuck" (no relation to Chuck Norris) on NBC you're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Well, Chuck has this intersect computer program in his head that allows him to upload all kinds of useful things, like kick-a** kung-fu, when he's in a jam. I do feel as if I have learned a few cool moves from him. Unfortunately for you though, since I'm pregnant, I won't be able to demonstrate for a few months.
I have always had a crazy imagination (why I don't watch horror movies) and I tend to see things in headlines. Then I always write a the first few lines of the article in my head.

For instance, I see a dog going nuts behind his fence as we walk past. I picture him jumping the fence and coming at us.
HEADLINE: "Mom fends off angry dog with keys and cell phone"
ARTICLE: "A mother taking her two toddlers for a walk was attacked by a dog when it jumped a fence. The quick-thinking mom grabbed the two items she had on her person - her cell phone and keys - and effectively stopped the dog by jamming the cell phone in the dogs open mouth as he lunged for her children." And you can imagine the rest yourself....

Wierd huh. So, maybe the park isn't as creepy as I make it out to be in my head. Occasionally, I'll take a friend with me and point out some of the things that get my imagination going - just to see what they say and figure out if it's just me....

Let me know when you want to go. Moo-haha!!!

Happy Halloween!

Apples and Punkins

And so begins the delicious baking/sugar frenzy which won't conclude till Christmas!

Applesauce muffins this morning to compliment the cold snap in the air. Then this afternoon we created some caramel apples. Sophia and I melted the caramels and swirled a few apples for some photo worthy and yummmmy treats. Did I mention we are an apple family?

I'm bracing myself for the sugar high which I'm sure I made worse by giving them hot chocolate to wash the sticky caramel off their teeth. So fun... I'm sure it will be worth it!

Also, this weekend we went to the Flower Mound Pumpkin patch where we took a hay ride and picked a few cute lil punkins for our mantle.

The Time Has Come...

The time has come my little one, to talk of many things,
of skinny jeans, tiny tees all tossed to the side till spring
(of 2012 probably).

A few days ago, I said goodbye to my wardrobe as I know it. Those cute shorts that made me look slim, the fun peasant top that showed a teeny bit of my flat belly when I wore my favorite pair of low cut jeans.... all sentenced to at least a year in storage. Didn't even unfold the skinny jeans to say goodbye. 'sigh'
By now its a familiar ritual. One I know in my head that is silly to get too upset about - I'll fit back into the stuff eventually - but still a difficult one.
The maternity clothes all are hanging expectantly (no pun intended) in my closet. I tried swimming in a few pieces yesterday, and hung them back up in favor of my new best friend... the t-shift. I'll grow into those pieces in a while... 'shudder.' It's a good vanity check.



It's a little known fact that these characters actually inspired
a popular maternity pant design.


Right now, when there aren't any kicks or wiggling its hard to remember that there's somebody down there, making my tummy pooch out. But when I think about being super-preggo and ready to deliver any day - it makes my heart leapfrog with anticipation.
It's amazing being a mother. I had forgotten the rush of emotions that accompany this time of belly-biggering. The things along the way that momentarily depress you but give way to excitement about the inevitable arrival of a tiny new family member.
So I won't get depressed about my inability to wear a belted sweater. I'll just zip up those black stiletto boots and give my baby belly a reassuring rub.

I thought the next stanza of the Walrus and the Carpenter was oddly appropriate to conclude with...

“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,
“Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!”
“No hurry!” said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

Wilderness-style

Though it has been awhile since I've posted, it is most certainly not due to a lack of material. I guess I just have to be in a creative mindset... and most of my creativity seems to be getting sucked up by Sophia!
Since potty-training, Sophia and I have experienced our share of interesting potty runs. From the nasty porta-potty at the park ("Sophia don't touch ANYTHING") to Wal-Mart ("EEew, she just bent over and touched her forehead to the toilet seat. She needs a bath NOW!") I have joined the ranks of moms who can share gross and funny toilet stories.
Here's a new one.
We were walking a long paved nature trail with my friend Marissa and her 3 yr-old son Joseph, when Sophia decided she needed to go. It wasn't a busy trail, and there was no sign of nearby facilities... so I thought we'd try going potty wilderness-style. Marissa watched Matthew as Sophia and I trekked out into the clearing and behind some brush. We were all set to "go" but Sophia suddenly decided "Momma, I go potty at HOME."
So our walk resumed with no more talk of needing to go. Until we got to the parking lot. Joseph and Sophia were running around the picnic area as Marissa and I chatted for a few more minutes. Suddenly, I look over, and Sophia is struggling to pull her jeans down over her hips. "Momma, I go potty in the grass" she says.
I definitely felt it was a slo-mo worthy moment. "N-o-o-0!" as I lunged across the lawn, fixated on her every tug. Would it be the one to de-pants her?
I reached her just in time. Thank goodness for the fact she can't un-snap her fly button. I informed her that we "only go pottty in the grass when Mommy helps you." Whew.

Spring Update

"They have TAILS! Little tails, Mommy!" Sophia says of her newly sprouted seedlings. We have planted sunflowers, snap peas and green beans. She loves to check her seeds about as frequently as I have the urge to go online. Which is several times a day. I'm trying to encourage her habit while discouraging mine!
This year we are creating a patio container garden using tips from this A&M booklet for container gardening in Texas. So far, I've started seedlings for lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes and radishes, in addition to Sophia's seeds.
Yesterday Sophia and I mixed dirt and filled pots. Finally, she got to plant two of her sunflower seedlings... it was the highlight of her day! That and playing with the pink plastic yard flamingo which she calls Humpty Dumpty.
In other news, Matthew has started talking on the phone. He puts Sophia's play phone up to his ear and makes grunting noises and ooohs. He's so deliberate about it and you can totally tell he's been watching Sophia because he also holds it flat and talks into the end (like Sophia does when Daddy is on speaker-phone). Hillarious! Also, for your enjoyment, below you'll also find a video of him dancing.... it's laugh-out-loud funny!!

Pictures

Until I can figure out how to sync Picasa and iPhoto, I shall just post my couple of cute pics here instead of creating a spiffy slideshow.

This is Matthew's favorite place in the kitchen. He digs around for scraps and dust bunnies under the dishwasher. Yummy. Makes me crazy, but it's pretty funny to watch!

A Quiet Moment. (Wait! Get the camera!!!)

The Sandwich Snitch

In case you have ever wondered what kids dream about, I have the answer!
Matthew and I have speculated when we hear Sophia crying in the middle of the night what she could possibly be upset about. She doesn't watch scary movies or shows (though for awhile she was afraid of "Swiper," the masked fox on Dora). Good grief! We don't even let her watch commercials during football... what in the world could she be crying about? Maybe we shouldn't have let her watch football... maybe she's dreaming of her friends throwing balls at her when she can't catch, running after her when she can't run because her shoes are on the wrong feet or something equally horrible and scary.
Maybe we've scarred her by not providing a night light in her room. Or perhaps she's crying because she can't find her blankie... it's lost in the sheets.
Well, this morning I decided to go in and ask Sophia why she was crying.
"Mommaaaa!" she sobbed, pointing toward MattMatt sleeping in his crib. "Matt-Matt took my sandwich!"