Baby Dane's 18-Month Stats

Baby Dane turned 18 months old on Sunday. Yesterday he went to the pediatrician for his well-baby visit. Here is a list of Baby Dane facts:

• Weight: 22 lbs 11.5 oz, putting him in the 12th percentile
• Length: 30.6 in, putting him in the 8th percentile
• Head circumference: 46.6 cm, putting him in the 15th percentile
• Weight/length: 50th percentile
• Long story short, he's a little dude
• Favorite thing to eat: anything but meat
• Number of shots he had to get yesterday: two
• Favorite thing to say: "No-no!" Usually said to me when I'm scolding him or to Captain when he barks.
• Favorite thing to do: Climb on the table and yell for me to get him down.
• Number of times he's done it in the last hour: 3
• Halloween costume: the cutest parrot you've ever seen
• Number of haircuts: 1
• Favorite person in the world: Jenel (my writing critique partner and good friend), or Bella (his cousin)
• Autism screening: PASSED! (I will probably write an entire post about this later, but I was so excited to realize that Dane has none of the warning signs of autism that Dutch had)
• Number of books he's destroyed: 4+
• Favorite music: anything but country (seriously, he'll be dancing and then a country song will come on and he'll immediately stop. It's crazy!)
• Number of kisses he's willingly given me: 3
• Number of kisses I've asked for and been denied: 100+

Anything else you want to know about Baby Dane?

Dane's First Haircut

Before:

Cute hair, but a little mullett-tastic

Before:

I've got a sucker,

I get to play in a peddle car,

I get to watch Phineas and Ferb.

Life is good.

During:

Why?

Why are you letting her torment me in such a fashion?

After:

That wasn't so bad.

I got a balloon afterwards.

And now I look like a little man.

A List for Tuesday

One of my favorite authors did a post on her website about five books that changed her. It was an interesting list and I decided to do my own. I encourage you to do the same.

Five Books That Changed Me
(in chronological order)

1. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman One of the only books from my childhood that I remember with perfect clarity. I had a pair of pajamas with hula girls on them that I thought of as my Little Black Sambo pajamas. It makes me laugh to know that this is a banned book now. Thinking about it now, this was my first foray into stories written like folktales.

2. Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad I'm not sure why this book had such an impact on me, but I think it had something to do with the descriptive language. There are images from this book that are so well-described I can still see them in my mind's eye.

3. Last Act by Christopher Pike I wouldn't say that this book is in any way fine literature, but it's a book that spoke to me. A bookish girl moves to a new town and finds her place in the theatre department (although things get a little complicated from there). I was in middle school when I first read it and had just moved from Texas to Utah. I had my exact same copy of it until recently, when Baby Dane took it upon himself to tear all the pages out.

4. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy My introduction to this book came in Mrs. Brandt's English class my junior year of high school. We watched the A&E made-for-TV movie starring Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. I was absolutely in love at first sight! The only library in my area that carried it was the Manti Library, so I had to go and get a library card there. It was a ratty paperback version that was falling apart. The first book that I blatantly imitated, trying to write a story in exactly the same language as Baroness Orczy.

5. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carsone Levine The book that inspired me to write fairy tales. The book that led me to seek out every other fairy tale re-telling I could find. The book that I chose to be my companion as I hiked from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon, where every ounce of weight in my pack mattered. A very important book indeed.

I showed you mine, now show me yours. What are five books that changed you?

A List for Tuesday

5 Things That Make Me Laugh

1. When something good happens Dutch yells, "Happy birthday!"
2. If Dutch and Chris are wrestling, Dane will jump right in to the fray.
3. Right after Dutch falls asleep Captain curls up next to him, knowing it's finally safe to snuggle him without risk of Dutch's (close to abusive) love.
4. Reminiscing with Chris about things we've done or said in the past.
5. Dane's laugh.

What makes you laugh?

A Halloween Conversation

Pam: What are you going to be for Halloween?
Dutch: A pirate! Arrr!
Pam: What's Dane-Dane going to be?
Dutch: A parrot!
Pam: What's Mommy going to be?
Dutch: A princess for pirates!
Pam: What's Daddy going to be?
Dutch: A pooper!

This after I've told him many times that Daddy is a party pooper and won't dress up for Halloween.

Sometimes Bad Things Happen to Good People

I went to see my psychiatrist yesterday. Yes, I see a psychiatrist. He keeps me sane, literally. I see him every couple of months to make sure my meds are working, that I'm not suicidal again, and to talk over things that could be harming my mental health. I always leave feeling drained, but happy.

I haven't talked with him for three months and when I went to see him I realized a LOT has happened in the last three months. A lot of bad mixed with good.

I've been trying really hard to focus on the good things these last couple of weeks. If I focused on the bad I would probably spend my days crying, curled up on the bathroom floor. So here is a list of good things that I wanted to tell you about:

1. We got a new dog named Captain Buddy and he is perfect for our little family. We are back to being a one family dog and I really do prefer it. Two dogs is just too crazy.
2. I got a job! My first "real" job since before Dutch was born. I'll be working at a place called Paper Source where I'll be able to teach classes and demonstrate crafting items. As a bonus, I'll be working nights and weekends, so I'll still be able to be a stay-at-home mom during the day! It was a big decision to go back to work, but I know it's the right thing to do.
3. My sister Heather and I started a new blog to showcase the altered books we've made before we sell them: The Girls With the Red Shoes. Check it out and tell me what you think!
4. I have the best friends in the world! They are so supportive and loving. I don't  know what I've done to deserve the amazing people in my life.
5. A special shout-out to my friend and writing critique partner Jenel! Without her I would never get any writing done.
6. I am going to be doing my second flea market on Saturday. This time I'll be doing it alone since Heather can't make it, but I think it will be fun. Hopefully there will be a good turn out and a lot of people will want to buy my altered books, etc.!

Things are hard and sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes promises get broken and things that you thought were indestructible start to fall apart. That's the time to get on your knees and pray. That's the time to pull out a journal and write down what you're grateful for. That's the time to count your blessings, because the good will always outweigh the bad if you put more focus on the good.

Resolution Horse Company

Today was Dutch's last day riding horses at Resolution Horse Company. While we were there he worked with three trainers: Terri, Sarah, and Bruce; and three horses: Feliz (which I thought was Felice), Dixie, and Bisbee.

It's been such a great experience for him to be around the horses and learn to take care of them, how to behave around them, and to have a relationship with them. I am very grateful to the whole team there for everything they've done. I hope and pray that they will be able to find a job locally so we can enjoy many more years of horseback riding with them!

 Dutch riding Feliz on his first day

 Dutch with Miss Sarah

Dutch looking awesome in his Lightning McQueen helmet

Over Eight Years Ago...

That's how long it's been since I had a job interview where I hadn't already been promised the job. My last job interview at all was five years ago. It's been awhile since I've been out in the workforce, I guess you could say.

Tomorrow I have an interview.

It's for a part-time job at a place where I feel like I could really be creative and use a lot of my artistic skills. I'm hoping to work nights so I can still be with the boys during the day. I'm nervous, but at the same time so confident that whatever happens will be for the best. That's an attitude I've been trying to cultivate lately.

Que sera, sera!