Family Tree Answers

I feel bad doing this book tour and not answering the questions. So here are my answers...

1. In the book, many secrets had been kept. What kind of an impact did these secrets have on the characters once they were revealed? Actually I think many of the characters were able to face their own flaws better once the secrets were all out in the open.

2. How would you feel if your child looked like he/she was from a race neither you or your partner showed evidence of? Would you worry about your child's future? I don't think I would worry about the child so much. Nowadays, families come in all shapes and sizes and I don't think anyone from this generation going forward cares all that much about background.

3. When Hugh discovers that Lizzie is a different race than him he questions the paternity of the child. He doesn't understand why Dana is so upset that he wants to prove he is the father. Do you feel that the faith and trust you have in your partner should be enough in this situation? Would you need to prove to other people and to yourself that you were correct? This was the part of the story that bothered me the most. I was so angry at Hugh for his accusations. I think your trust in your partner SHOULD be enough to not question their faithfulness. On the other hand, I WOULD want to know where the genes came from and would probably insist on doing the background research. But I like to think that I would not suspect my partner of anything unseemly.

The Great Mofo Delurk 2007

I cam across this in my blog-browsing and decided to participate. I know my close friends comment on my blog regularly, but I always wonder if anyone else reads besides them. So here it is...


Next Wednesday, I will be SURE to post and you be SURE to comment. In fact, you should comment on EVERY blog entry that you read that day to make sure that your bloggers feel loved. So pass back by here on that day and let me know you care...

Slow Cookin Thursday

As per Erica's instructions, I am posting two slow cooker recipes I made back in June.

Apple-Dijon Pork Roast

1 boneless whole pork loin roast (2-3 lbs)
1 can (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons cold water

Cut roast in half and place in a 5 quart slow cooker. Combine the broth, apple juice and mustard; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

Remove roast and keep warm. For gravy, skim fat from slow cooker. Pour juices into a saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork.

Minestrone Stew

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (19 oz) ready-to-serve minestrone soup
1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14 1/2 oz) stewed tomatoes
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until heated through.

Both were yummy. Good luck and happy cooking!

Sleeping babies!

For the fist time in a long time, I have two sleeping babies at nap time! Erin is in her crib too! She fell asleep in her swing and after an hour or so I transferred her to her crib because I had to shower and needed her to be near a monitor. So far no peeps! Now to address birth announcements.

PS I walked 2.5 miles today (first 1.5 with a double stroller, second 1.0 on an indoor track with Erin in the Moby wrap) and I feel good!

PPS Sorry about the exclamation points!

See-saws - Not safe for children

And apparently not safe for adults either! Today we took the girls to a new playground in Waxhaw (it is next to a skate park that is being repaired). They had two see-saws, the kind that are just a pole with a slab of wood at each end to sit on. The handles are just a small piece of metal at the front of each seat. So at first Mike and I got on and tried it out. He is heavier so he kept pushing off really hard and I would fly down. I didn't like it because there was hardly anything to hold on to and I felt like I was going to fall off every time. Then Leah wanted to ride. Mike held her while I pushed on the other side with my arms. Then we switched and I held her. Mike suggested we all ride together, so I got on with Leah and he got on the other side. That went well, because we were pretty evenly weighted. Leah then wanted to ride the OTHER see-saw. So Mike put her on and got on behind her and suggested that I get on the other side. I didn't want to, but decided to be a good sport. Of course they were WAY heavier than me and every time Mike pushed off, I felt like I was going to fall. I told him to stop, I wanted to get off. He stopped with me at the top. I thought he was going to let me down slowly, so I started to slide off a bit but couldn't stop myself and slid off all the way! I tried to hang on so I ended up twisting around the seat and landed on the ground HARD on my right side. It knocked the breath out of me pretty good and left a few bruises. I thought that was the extent of my injuries, but here it is 6 hours later and my right outer thigh feels bruised on the inside. I think I did something to the muscle. Seriously I couldn't even carry the baby up the stairs tonight! It hurts to walk or put any pressure on it. Mike starts his new job tomorrow so if I am injured, he can't even stay home and take care of us. I hope it feels better when I wake up.

So moral of the story - don't ride see-saws. Also don't listen to your husband. He has no idea what he is talking about.

Book Tour #4 Questions

Okay, these are all the questions I got this time around. If you read it and didn't send me a question, that's okay. You can still answer these on your blog. Everyone who answers, please comment this entry and let everyone know that you answered the Q's.

1. In the book, many secrets had been kept. What kind of an impact did these secrets have on the characters once they were revealed?

2. How would you feel if your child looked like he/she was from a race neither you or your partner showed evidence of? Would you worry about your child's future?

3. When Hugh discovers that Lizzie is a different race than him he questions the paternity of the child. He doesn't understand why Dana is so upset that he wants to prove he is the father. Do you feel that the faith and trust you have in your partner should be enough in this situation? Would you need to prove to other people and to yourself that you were correct?

I love Gatlinburg!

I was chastised in the comments last entry for not posting real post. So here it is... a REAL post.

We had such a great time these last few days with Nikki, Jason, and her family. We stayed at the Gatlinburg Falls Resort at the Eagle's Nest cabin. It was so beautiful! It had a hot tub, 3 floors of rooms, 5 bedrooms each with own bathroom, and a game room with air hockey, pool, poker table, big screen TV, and arcade game. Leah LOVED playing with Halle and
adopted Nikki's mom, Mia, as her own. She also liked hanging out with Nikki's sister, Teryn, and meeting the other family members. We just want to say thanks to the DeRosa's for having us and taking care of us so well! Oh yeah, and thanks to Joe for turning 30 so we could join them on vacation!

Anyway, we had a blast on Saturday watching the Gators bang out the win against Tennessee. When I pick up our pictures from JC Penney's (where I get all my photos taken), I will post the ADORABLE one of Mike and the girls in their Gator outfits. Sunday we headed to Gatlinburg and got settled into the cabin.


Monday, Mike and I took the girls on a hike to see Grotto Falls. We hiked a "moderate" trail 2.4 miles round trip. Leah rode in the backpack (thanks for loaning it to us, B&L) most of the way there and Erin was in the Moby wrap. Actually Leah got out and hiked with us probably at least 1/4 mile. At the top, Mike and Leah played in the falls and I fed Erin. We ate lunch up there and then started back. Now it took us 1.25 hours to get up there and only 35 minutes to get back. Leah actually fell asleep in the backpack on the way down! :) I so wished I could have gotten a picture of that, but the camera was packed away somewhere by then. We were so proud of going hiking as a family! You too can hike with a one month old. :) That evening I made roasted chicken and vegetables for everyone.

Tuesday, we went into the town of Gatlinburg and shopped around. We ate lunch at Bennett's BBQ, then took the tram up to Ober Gatlinburg. Mike and Leah went on the Alpine Slide, which Leah LOVED. We got ice cream and headed back to the cabin for a yummy Mexican fiesta. The next day we went to breakfast at Flapjacks Pancake Cabin, then walked around the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community.

That afternoon we went Hillbilly Mini-Golfing! You take this tram up the mountain and golf your way down. Leah did so well with her little orange plastic club. She teed off and putted every hole. After the first hit, she would move her ball to within inches of the hole for her last shot. We were there during naptime, so I think she did great! After golfing, we went home to let Leah have a late nap and pack up our stuff. We had an early dinner of burgers and dogs then headed home around 6pm.

Three things of note on this trip:

1. We do NOT like having both girls in the same room. Whenever one woke up crying, we were afraid they would wake the other up. Leah had a stuffy nose while we were there so she coughed at night a lot. (Erin has the stuffy nose now at home. She sleeps in her car seat for the time being.)

2. I can nurse Erin in both my Moby wrap and the sling I bought at Sleeping Baby Productions. That was nice because I didn't have to slow anyone down while we were out and about. The sling is WAY easy to nurse in and it will be even easier when Erin has full head control.

3. I love fresh raw corn! You can cut it right off the cob without cooking. It is great in salads of all kinds. I will definitely be using it in recipes in the future. If you eat my food, keep your eyes peeled for corn!

Extended Book Tour

Book Tour #4 has been extended for another week to give others a chance to get their questions in since I only have my question and one other one (thanks, Jen!). So anyone who is reading/thinking of reading Family Tree, please get me your question by NEXT Friday. Thanks!

This or That Tuesday - Take Comfort…

I know it's not Tuesday, but I couldn't get to this yesterday...
Which is more comforting for you…

1. Lying down on the couch, or stretching out on a recliner? Lying down on the couch. I always feel like I am going to fall out of a recliner.

2. Going barefoot or wearing soft slippers? Barefoot, slippers never stay on.

3. Eating ice cream, or pizza? Ice cream (I agree with Erica)

4. Watching on TV…a classic movie or a reality show? Reality show

5. Wearing: blue jeans or sweat pants? right now sweats, but ordinarily jeans

6. A long, soothing bubble bath or a quick, invigorating shower? Shower usually

7. Furniture: leather, or something more on the fuzzy side? Do NOT like leather. it hot weather, it sticks to your sweat. In cool weather, it is cold to sit on.

8. Soft, classical music, or upbeat rock & roll? Totally depends on my mood

9. Darkness or light? Both at different times

10. Thought-provoking question of the week: You get married, or otherwise begin cohabitating with a significant other. S/he moves into your place, but brings with them the UGLIEST chair you have ever seen! You really don’t want this thing in your home, but SO says it is the most comfy chair s/he has ever sat in, and no way will they part with it. Do you: grin and bear it, or scheme to get rid of the montrosity somehow? Keep discussing it to death until the other person gives in just to shut me up!

YOU are tagged. Ha, ha, gotcha!

VMAs

So I had to watch Britney's performance at the VMAs, especially after Erica's comments. I had DVR'ed it and put on just the beginning this morning. Wow, it was BAD! I mean, REALLY bad. Britney looked as if she had to concentrate so hard to remember the words, she couldn't think about anything else. She barely moved around the stage, and the dancing she did do wasn't even full out. Her face was had no expression the entire time.

When the camera would show audience members, their faces were so funny. They looked like they were trying to be encouraging, but couldn't actually LIKE the performance. I will watch the rest later when Leah is sleeping because I saw the first minute of Sarah Silverman's monologue and it is NOT toddler-appropriate. :)

School Days

I really love that we are sending Leah to "school." She is always excited to go. Granted, I don't actually drop her off, Mike has been doing that since Erin is born. (I will probably get back to it when he starts his new job. More on that in another post.) But I am sure she is giddy with joy when she gets there. Every time I pick her up, she is happy to see me and says, "Mama, I go home with you? Awwww, my baby!" She loves seeing Erin in her carrier at pick-up time. I love seeing art projects I did not have to clean up after. :) They are all over our playroom now. Another non-Leah related plus is that I can either get so much done with only one OR I can relax and chill and veg on the computer or read the entire time. I can also take that time to just concentrate on Erin and what she needs instead of trying to juggle things. It is truly one of the best decisions we have made.

I started this post last night then had to feed Erin and put her to bed in the middle, so I did not finish. Now is is 7am and the girls have been up since 6. Both are happy, smiling, and playful. BUT I didn't hardly sleep because Erin was nursing like every hour and a half. So hopefully I can make it through the day.

Question due Friday

Book Tour #4 is ending soon. Don't forget to send me your question this week!

A few notes from my life

I have random bits of news to share. Let's get started...

I swear Erin is smiling now! Not consistently, but yesterday she and I were talking and I am pretty sure I caught a few smiles. I need to get them on camera, they are ridiculously adorable (what baby smiles aren't?).

I went walking with the CDS girls this morning! There were four of us, each pushing a stroller (me with my new double) taking up all of the road! It was funny. But anyway, I am proud of myself for getting started back on the path to fitness. A few more weeks and I will be back on Weight Watchers too.

Leah is so funny when Erin cries. She says over and over, "I know, baby, I know." I have noticed myself saying it now that I hear her say it, but I never realized it before. Kids pick up EVERYTHING!

Other than that, my dad & step-mom are coming tomorrow to visit for the weekend. Then the next weekend, the Konickis are stopping at our house on their way to Gatlinburg and we are following them up there for a few days. Our first overnight trip with Erin! I may be wrong, but I think Leah was almost 3 months before we went on an overnight. Ahhh, how things change with the second.

Mike is wakeboarding today, so it is my first day, ALL day, with 2 kids and just me. So far so good (at 3pm). I was even able to clean the kitchen, mop, and clean the downstairs bathroom while the girls were napping. We will see how bath and bed go. :)

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then she is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me." And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t," knowing in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying her — as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how she adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of her new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you — only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you — both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
— Author Unknown

I cry every time I read this (stolen from my pregnancy board). Although we are only at the beginning of this journey of two, I see some of these things starting to develop. You do have to sacrifice some time with the first to care for the second, but the LOVE is never sacrificed.