dougism

I love that I married such a down to earth, happy-go-lucky, determined, brainy, hard working man.  However, fashion just has never been his strong point.  For those of you who are lucky enough to know my Douger, you know he has his own sense of style. He is loyal to the tee shirt and jeans look. The "Snowboarding makes me happy"tee has become his soul mate. However, I think that chumming with too many "sophisticated doctors" has helped him to see the light beyond his Quicksilver tee shirts.  He said to me the other night, "...that was back in my tee shirt days.  Now I just buy meaningful shirts; like Baylor shirts."  

I wasn't aware those days were behind us, but...Now that his tee shirts days are over (except for his 10+ Baylor shirts that made the fashion cut)  I am looking forward to see what fashion trends he will keep.  And honey, scrubs do not count.   

And one or two more words about D.S. Lewis. I fell in love with him 11 years ago this month. And in a blink of an eye...I found myself plucking gray hairs out of his head today.  I am so happy we are now planting trees and making a home and family together.

I call her Dolce (with an accent)

I craigslisted. For my first time. I must have had beginners luck because I found a beautiful, really, really nice 2009 Women's Specialized Dolce Comp bike at a awesome price. It reminded me of haggling for 'real silver' rings and necklaces with your name on a grain of rice all those many years in Mexico. "10 Dollars." "How about 4 dollars and a soda?" My buyer was going camping the next day and still had not found a tent. She knocked $200 off her asking price if I would throw in a tent. Done! (Big thanks to Paola for sacrificing her new tent from craigslist!)

Today, just me and Dolce went for a ride. I almost forgot where I was. Quiet, cool morning, green pastures. I sang "My Bonnie" to the cows as I zoomed past them. (This is a well traveled biker road, but those cows really starred at me. I started to think maybe they haven't heard singing bikers before.) And then I would pass a road kill armadillo and remember, oh yes, Texas. That is where I am. It happened a second time. I made sure to steer very clear of its silvery armor this time...and found myself on the grated part of the road that wakes up the sleepy drivers. In a car, those things sound a little funny and perhaps give you a little vibration in your bum. K, on a bike those blasted things just about shake your brains out of your ears and wake up every single bone, muscle, tissue, organ, you name it in your body. I didn't see much of the second dead armadillo. I wish I could have been a bystander and watched my reaction in that moment. Just thinking about it makes me laugh.

Anyway. Note to self and anyone else who may need a boost. This morning was medicine for the soul. Go for a bike ride, preferably in the country with cows. Leave the kids at home. Sing.  Enjoy the endorphins. You will not be disappointed.

my motherhood confession

My baby is 3 months. I am not really one to post about all of the month birthdays- how much they weigh,what percentile their head circumference is, etc...however.  This month I feel like I have reason to celebrate.  This has been the month that I am back.  I don't cry as much anymore.  I am not overly tired.  I am not stuck at home all the time because I have a newborn.  I have much more patience with Cal.  I am cooking real meals multiple times a week.  Marriage is fun.  I biked 17 miles and ran 1 mile this morning.  Home projects are back in business.  Don't get me wrong, there is still more progress to be had.  Like, I still have a stack of jeans haunting me in my closet that I try on about 3 times a week.  Nope! They still don't fit. But that is ok.

I chatted with a friend in the Wal-Mart parking lot this week who just had baby #2 about her new life.  I told her about the times I cried my way through the dinner hour.  How Doug would walk in the door and immediately be given the two kids, while I ran- literally upstairs to take a bath making sure to lock the door behind me.  How there are times that all you want is your two year old is disappear for just a few moments so you can nurse in peace and enjoy your little one.  Motherhood is hard.  Every day. It just is. I am pretty sure that there will still be some challenging moments or days ahead...but in the mean time I am loving this new three-months-post-baby energy and feeling. 

And now... my darling, blue eyed, three month babe who is one of the two reasons that after a long day still makes everything worth it. 

my second born's bad habits

Dear Rhett,

I love you.

A lot.

(No reminder note needed...yet that is. See post below.)

I kind of like it, but you toot when you cry, or even laugh sometimes.  Although today is really only the second day where you have full blown belly laughed.  I love it! (We called Dad and left him a laughing message so he could partake in the joy.) 

You always have lint between your toes, your fingers, and under your double chin.

You insist on drinking some milk somewhere between the hours of 3 and 5 am. 

Other than that, you are perfect. 

Love, Mom

my first born's bad habit

Dear Callin: 

 I love you.

A lot.

Love Mom

(I thought about posting that note as a little reminder to myself.  And here is why I need the reminder...)

I walk down the stairs just in time to see this little man just finishing up a little pee into my half drunk Lemon Lime Gatorade bottle.  Seriously?  Is it in the male DNA to have to pee on everything! When I asked him what he was doing, he looked at me and kind of confused said, "Someone peed in here."  It would have been just a little bit funny if I didn't see that happen.  And it was April Fools.  And it was Doug who finished it off!  hee hee!

 

Apparently the whole camping really stuck with him. Especially the going-to-the-bathroom-outside thing.

 Since our camping trip (about 10 days ago) he has:
peed on a crate of bricks at Home Depot,
 pooped (excuse my language) 3 times outside our house,
pooped at the park-like right in the middle of 20+ kids (Bless you Elice),
peed in my neighbors backyard,
peed on at least 1 dozen trees,
and now...peed in a bottle.
 And I should mention that he does a excellent job of removing this shorts and undies before. 

We have talked A LOT about the appropriate places to go and I think he has figured it out.  Every time he now goes outside he tells me, "I won't go poo poo outside mom, only in the jungle."

P.S. Sorry to his buddies who have followed his example and have tried it out for themselves. Boys will be boys! 

P.S.S  Happy Bithday to my dear 'ol (not to be confused with old) Mommy!

post edit: Sorry for the confussion.  No Doug did not drink it.  But it sure would have been funny. 

the santa bunny

I made the mistake of telling Cal that the Easter Bunny is kind of like Santa.  That he will bring us a special prize if he is a good boy.  All he heard was "Santa, Santa. Santa."  Suffice it to say that he was a tad bit let down and is still asking when is Santa coming. Rhett on the other hand couldn't have been happier with his new jammies (shower present) and duckie (recycled Easter present from last year that didn't get much play time).  Yeah that is how this Easter bunny rolls.

the great outdoors

We enjoyed a LOVELY spring camp out at Brazo's Bend, home of the alligators.  Next time we are staying longer. 

D.S. Lewis said, "This is the best tinfoil dinner I have ever had."

Rhett slept better than he ever has.  Horray for all that wedding camping gear that doesn't get that much use.

ps. wow I really have a lot of freckles.