Pitter Patterson

Hi

2009-03-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Remember me? Yeah. So I only signed on to delete my "other" blog that I decided was no longer necessary since that whole saga is over. Things are rolling along here in Pattersonville. Time is flying WAY too fast as you know when you have kids. I can hardly belive that Spring is right around the corner and my Pre-K and Kindergartener will turn into a Kindergartener and a FIRST GRADER in a matter of months. OMG. I try my hardest to enjoy every little moment and milestone like the older/wiser ones tell us to do.... but it's so hard to do when the rest of life is there getting in the way! And then I sign on to blog and there's SO much going on that I can't even focus on one single thing to blog about. I swear I have adult onset ADD. Really, I do. As you can tell by the random bouncing around I'm doing in this post. Oh yeah, and now it's time to go start dinner....

2009-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:00

These little monkeys go back to school tomorrow and the emotions, they are mixed. We have had such a wonderful two weeks of EASY LIVING. Staying up late, getting up late, nowhere to be at any particular time. But alas, the togetherness is taking its toll. It's been nice to be a stay-at-home mom again for a little while. But it's reminded me how challenging it is to keep them occupied for days on end! So yeah, I think we're all a little ready for tomorrow.

Not my favorite weekend on record....

2008-11-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

perhaps due to the following:

39-33
dead car battery
automotive grease on favorite pair of khaki cargo shorts
pumpkin muck left spot on new antique table
cramps
husband rented an ENORMOUS tractor to level the backyard
said tractor leveled the fence
accidentally drank out of sick husband's cup

Halloweenie

2008-10-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Every morning for the last week or two, the radio station I listen to while getting dressed in the morning has played a short clip of the "Halloween" theme song. I'm 34 years old and that song STILL makes the hair on my neck stand up. I passed a "Michael" mask in the Halloween store the other day and chills ran up my spine. What is it about that movie? I was thinking of all the other "scary" movies from my childhood: Nightmare on Elm Street, The Shining, Poltergeist, etc.. But Michael Meyers truly scared the hell out of me. Then I started thinking about why they don't make movies like that any more. I came to the realization that the stuff that used to be 'scary' is now another day in the headlines. Mentally ill people roaming the street and hurting others? Happens every day. Son kills his parents? Not that original. Demons in one's head ? Take some Prozac. So what WOULD scare us these days?

Chapter 1

2008-08-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so it's been a while since I've posted. This was not our best summer on record so it seemed appropriate to not document it so much. We've done the grief counseling thing and are doing our best to move on at this point. But moving on will never mean forgetting....

So. The new school year always feels like Chapter 1 of a new book! My girls both ended up with (who I consider) THE best teachers in their respective grade levels. Big O is now in kindergarten and Baby M is in pre-k or 4K as their school calls it. I had SO much anxiety over her starting there and liking it..... and fortunately I had it all wrong. Girlfriend LOVES it. Duck to water. And it has everything to do with her incredibly gifted teacher :) Big O, however, is not loving kindergarten quite as much as she thought she would! They actually have to do work, gasp! And can't talk at free will, gasp! Every night when I put her to bed I have to stifle my giggles as she gives me little glimpses into her world at school. She told me "I really like Mrs. L, but I can tell she can be mean when she needs to be..." So kindergarten is definitely NOT going to be the cakewalk she had in 4k! I suspect her well-seasoned teacher is just laying down the law these first days and will soften a little over time.

In other news: our sweet puppy, Maggie, got her cast off today! Yep, she broke her foot .... or rather Big O helped her break her foot about 5 weeks ago as she got launched off the top of a jumpy house. And let me tell you, it's been a loooong 5 weeks of keeping that sucker dry. We've had Maggie for four months now and we've already funded a new wing at the vet clinic.

So that's all for now. Hoping to post more regularly now that we've started a new 'chapter' :)

Graduation at the Bullseye

2008-05-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in school for over ten years, now. But I guess the fact that my life revolved around the "school year" calendar for twenty-one years kind of ingrained (sp?) it in my being?? My "years" still start in September and end in May. It's just how I function. June through August, it's just fluff. So here we are, at the end of another year, the closing of another chapter. The bad parts of the year are forgotten and the good parts are celebrated. Now that I have children in school, the cycle is reinforced. And this time of year always makes me sentimental - makes me realize the things I haven't stopped to appreciate enough. One of those things being the "toddler" department at Target. This weekend I ran to get Big O some play clothes for the beach. I headed straight for the toddler department for size 5T when it occurred to me "holy cow, she's 5 1/2." And yes, my first baby, numero uno.... she has officially graduated to the "junior" section at Target. I walked through that section like a zombie. Where were all the cute sundresses? With bloomers? And hair bows? And lacey socks? And HELLO, why are juniors clothes so much more expensive?!!! I ended up buying nothing. I'm gonna need some time to accept the fact that our days of cutesy clothing are also coming to a close - yep, another one of those chapters that turn me to mush. Only graphic tees and cargo shorts in our future, now I'm afraid. BUT.... I still have little M to dress. And she does love cute clothes. And shoes..... oh lord help me when she graduates to juniors. I might need some xanax.

Puppy Love

2008-04-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so it's a face only a mother could love. But, OH, is she ever lovable! The girls are absolutely in heaven with this scruffy little puppy. So far, she has been the model house guest. You can't tell in the picture I've posted, but she is TEENY TINY! More pictures later...

Doggone CrAzY

2008-04-10T19:28:00.001-07:00

My girls are both BIG animal lovers and have been begging for a pet for as long as they've been speaking. I'd been putting it off until they were old enough to have some responsibility. But then a few months ago I realized that I am like REALLY allergic to some dogs. But, I just haven't been able to resign myself to them not getting a dog because of me. So I started researching alot of different breeds and had narrowed it down to a couple of different 'hypo-allergenic' breeds. But the question still remained as to how much of a reaction I would have to them? I had actually kind of dropped the subject the last couple of weeks because I just felt too conflicted and had know way of knowing what my allergies would do even around these supposedly 'hypo-allergenic' dogs. Until yesterday. When a relative brought her dog to visit and lo and behold it was one of the breeds I'd researched! And I fell in love with her. And my allergies didn't go nuts. And so as of tonight, I have a deposit on an 11 week old Affenpinscher female puppy. We're going to get her Saturday afternoon and I am beside myself!! I can't believe I'm doing this!! My girls don't even know yet!! I KNOW I will hate myself in t-minus 48 hrs when she's whining all night and peeing on my new antique rug. But right now I can hardly wait to meet her!! So, I am attaching a picture of the baby I hope to call "Maggie" - whether or not that will end up being her name remains to be seen since Big O told me tonight if she ever had a dog she would name it CRYSTAL. Is it just me, or does that sound like a stripper?

Prev Next
©1997-2006 Openwave Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

Oh, Hi!

2008-03-27T20:09:00.000-07:00

Remember me? Yeah, been a little busy lately. What with kids and dance and soccer and HOLIDAYS involving multiple egg hunts and whatnot. DH has also been in the process of implementing a major budget overhaul for our household which requires him to tie up my computer for hours in the evening. I guess that's okay since it leaves me with nothing else to do but exercise!! And on that note, I've been on this exercise kick for precisely one month now. It's really been more like two months... but I only really got serious about it and started tracking my workouts/calorie intake a month ago. The scale has yet to budge more than a pound or two (give or take) but I remain hopeful because I am seeing definite muscle tone! And that was my original goal more so than real weight loss anyway.

Enough for now.....

Bye Bye Baby

2008-03-06T11:23:00.001-08:00

For the first time ever in her 3.75 years of life, my "baby" put herself to sleep last night. I have such mixed emotions about it that I just had to tell somebody. Almost every night of her life thus far we have "spooned" while she falls asleep. I LOVE this time with her because I absolutely love just laying there smelling her sweet little smell. But then I also lay there thinking about all the other things I need to be doing before bed (her bedtime ritual takes 20+ minutes). So last night, out of the blue, she announced that she was putting HERSELF to bed. DH and I exchanged knowing glances and giggled at the idea. She has never let DH put her to bed if I am in the house much less gone to sleep without SOMEONE lying with her. I assumed after a few minutes she'd be calling for me as usual..... but she did not. :( She drifted off to sleep on her own. Without me. (Sob). I am losing my baby one little milestone at a time. I am so proud of her for taking the initiative.... and yet so sad for myself that "that time" has come when SHE is ready to be a big girl. (sigh....)

Another one bites the dust.....

2008-02-29T14:49:00.000-08:00

Last night while logging in the requisite 45 minutes on the treadmill, I decided to try watching a movie on the kids' portable DVD player. Unfortunately, I realized the only adult movie we own is Castaway. But, the ipod's batteries were low so I went with the movie. I LOVE Tom Hanks and I love Castaway, but I can hardly stand to watch the scene when his leg gets gashed on the coral. So when that came up, I thought "I'll just close my eyes for a sec...." And the next thing I knew, I was laid out face down and headed 3.8 mph in the wrong direction (that's fast when you've only got three feet to go). Before I could even process what had just happened, I was up and going again..... I guess I must have shaken the whole ceiling when I hit the deck because DH came running up to check on me. I just smiled and waved like nothing happened :) Damn you, Healthrider.

Cruel Deceit

2008-02-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

Healthrider, you are one mean bastard. You let me be so proud of myself for THREE miles and almost 500 calories behind me on multiple occasions. Do you realize how many powdered donuts that is? DO you? I just uncovered your filthy lie, though, Healthrider. I THOUGHT I heard you laughing at me.... and now I know it's true. Sparkpeople just told me so. You can't burn 500 calories in 3 miles unless you are running TWENTY-ISH miles per hour. Maybe something is wonky with your circa 1995 motherboard or whatever gadgetry-ish filth is inside your deceitful box of lies. Surely you couldn't intentionally be so cruel?

Conversations in the key of "O"

2008-02-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Amidst a conversation with Big O (5yr old) about someone's hair:

Me: How could you see her neck? Her hair is long.
O: No, her hair is short.
Me: I just saw her an hour ago and it was long.
O: Well, I saw her this morning and it was short.
Me: Okay, so it grew long in just one day?
O: Well, maybe it was a long day....

I guess she told me.

Happy but Sad?

2008-02-06T18:52:00.000-08:00

Happiness is discovering the allergy medicine that keeps you functioning normally is going to cost you 50% LESS now that it's over-the-counter!

Sadness..... (sigh) sadness is discovering that you just drank (multiple times) out of your father-in-law's cup when he's been sick with the flu/crud/croupy junk. Oh.... I really could just cry.

fuzzy lovies

2008-02-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

I have one sibling, a brother that is 6 1/2 years older. If you're familiar with the Birth Order tribe, then you know that regardless of the above, I am an only child. I remember the years my brother was in middle and high school and I was merely his lowly servant - and HAPPY to be. I spent most of my childhood in my little make-believe world with Barbies and Breyer horses - playing alone. I'd never even considered that as sad until my girls became old enough to really enjoy each others' company. Don't get me wrong, I had a happy childhood - but I'm realizing what a difference it would have made if I'd had a sister to play with. Today Big O (5 yr old) went to a dance camp with her two best buds. One of the other moms was obviously NOT THINKING when she invited the other little girl over to play after the camp and left Big O standing there like a broken third wheel. My heart broke for her but I sucked it up and played it down. Shortly after arriving home I caught myself listening to my girls playing together in the playroom. Tears almost welled up in my eyes because I realized that they are going to be there for each other (whether they like it or not!) forever. How much harder would today have been if Big O had come home to an empty house to play alone? I'm sure she'd have much preferred her 5 yr old friends over little sister..... but little sister was a heckuvalot better than no one!! And no Ellen, this post is not for you :) I am just feeling particularly thankful today for the fact that God gave these girls each other.

Prayers, please

2008-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

Please say a little prayer for my best bud, Monica, and her baby today. They found a large mass in 10-day-old Anna's neck yesterday and they are now in ICU at Children's in Dallas trying to figure out what caused it and how to remove it.

Bettin' on a Neti

2008-01-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

Ever seen one of these beauties? Alot of people claim it's changed their life. I tried it tonight but the jury is still out... apparently the benefit comes from long term use. DH thinks I'm crazy with my homeopathic remedies. If this little plastic pot might save me $60 a month in allergy meds.... I'm in.

Closer to Fine

2008-01-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

In case you aren't yet tired of hearing about the T&A, Little M is doing considerably better as of Wednesday. I'd read on several forums that with the little ones, Day 10 is the magic number in the healing process... and it was. She has never been big on the eating thing so at this point I seriously think she is yanking ye ol' chain when she swallows a bite and clutches at her throat like I've just fed her razor blades for lunch. She just CAAAAN'T eat that tiny bite of chicken... but may she please have a piece of peanut brittle? The last item to be dealt with is going to be the separation anxiety it has provoked in her. She is terrified by the mention of leaving my presence. I can't help but think it has something to do with them taking her from me for the surgery and the next thing she knows she's in severe pain. I'd be scared to leave me, too. I promised her before the surgery that I would be with her the whole time.... I was told she'd be sedated before they took her from me and that turned out to not be true. So perhaps her trust in me has been shaken a tad. That just makes me want to cry!

So. Another FIVE days of stay-at-home-momness ahead of me because Monday is MLK and Tuesday is a teacher work day at M's school. In a way I guess this is good for me - occasionally when the schedule is hectic and I'm exhausted I think how much easier it'd be if I just quit working. NOT QUITE TRUE. Juggling work and motherhood is hard and hectic but I've found that the sense of balance it gives me keeps me sane. I met a stay-at-home mom yesterday who is one of those born-to-raise-kids kind of moms. She was at my office and we were discussing how many days a week our children went to preschool. I told her that mine had gone five days a week since they were two because I just couldn't keep them entertained at home. I immediately sensed a change in her tone - it was obvious by her response that she thought coming back to work was a cop out. I recall when I was staying home that I might have looked at it that way, too. But being on the other side, I see how much PATIENCE I now have with my girls.... I don't care what it appears to be. Now. I just have to remember that little soapbox the next time work starts getting to me!!!

White diet

2008-01-15T12:13:00.000-08:00

Little M is proving to be true what I have suspected since my college days: one CAN exist on a diet of powdered donuts and marshmallows, alone. Sounds like a dream diet to me!

Miss M also informed me this morning that one CANNOT ever dance again after having their tonsils and adenoids removed (this AFTER we busted our butts to get to dance class for the first time in a month). I guess that explains why her Daddy dances like a chicken!! (Hi hon!)

Best Laid Plans....

2008-01-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Shame on me for planning! I should know better than that by now... when kids are involved, anyway. We stayed home all week last week while little M's throat healed up. She was doing great (thanks to Motrin, again) until sometime Saturday she stopped eating. From what I've been told the s-c-a-b-s (hate that word so much i can hardly spell it out) come off of the surgery site about 5-7 days post-op and there's alot of pain - so that's what I gather is going on. But I figured by this morning that she'd be up for going to school since it's been THREE WEEKS since the last time she went. We got up early, got all ready, even got all the way to school.... nope. nada. not even gonna consider it. She got really upset when I tried to leave her and I just couldn't bring myself to force the issue. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow.....

On another note, can I just say how much I love school uniforms?? I didn't even realize it until this morning - big O's 4k class won a contest at school and part of the reward is "free dress" for the entire week. That means I sent her off to school in one of her few non-uniform outfits for her to WALLOW (yes, that IS a word, thank you) in the dirt on the playground and most likely wear those cute little velour knees down to the backing. I suspect whoever made up said contest did not expect the 4k'ers to actually win. I also find it odd that they decide to have "tacky" dress day in the middle of "free" dress week. I can remember detesting "tacky" day even as a kid. What if someone who doesn't know the deal sees you and thinks you'd actually dress that way? Or what if you didn't dress up and someone thought you had? I dunno... it's like wearing two left shoes.... it just ain't right!

T&A

2008-01-08T13:59:00.001-08:00

That would be T&A as in, Tonsils and Adenoids. But I admit, I did laugh when i saw that surgery description on little M's paperwork! After weeks of anticipation, we finally sealed the deal yesterday at 10am. Little M is now T&A-less. The doctor kept her overnight because of her size/age and it was every bit as TORTUROUS as expected. Ever tried to reason with a doped-up three year old? At 4am? Yeah, I now hate codeine. It did nothing for the pain and made her completely freaky. Motrin is LIQUID GOLD. We came home today, she had one dose and within an hour was asking for macaroni & cheese - we haven't been able to even mention food to her since yesterday. So the child that just 7 hours ago could barely speak because of the pain and drugs.... is now RUNNING around the house in a Cinderella wig and high heels. I love Motrin.

Inspiration

2008-01-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

So. I've had this blog set up for quite a while and have been considering another attempt at actually, well... blogging. I even thought about making it a resolution. But then I remembered that I've never kept one of those. So better not call it that! A friend of mine just emailed that she's starting a blog and so I thought maybe I'd give it a shot as well.

So here goes nothing for 2008.....