Happy Friday and happy Memorial Day Weekend! Do you have any plans for the long weekend? We’re keeping things pretty low-key here, staying close to home and finishing up some nesting projects (like getting new vanities installed in our two bathrooms, which counts for excitement these days). A friend of ours is staying with us tonight during his layover en route to Italy from Chicago, which has piqued Jackson’s interest big time. His new obsession is geography (all week, he’s been studying these map placemats my parents sent him and I think he has just about every state capital and country location memorized. Ok, not really. But, like, close. I don’t know where he gets this studiousness; it’s not from us). Anyway, he heard our friend is going to Italy and now he’s trying to figure out how he can tag along with him. This morning, he threw a fit when we tried to explain that it wasn’t feasible for us to go to Italy with Matt tomorrow.
“WHY?!” He demanded.
“Because,” Drew said patiently, “We don’t have tickets — they’re expensive — and we don’t have a place to stay when we get there and I have to go to work and we don’t have anyone lined up to watch the cats. A trip like that is something you have to plan for in advance.”
“I WANT TO GO TO ITALY!!” Jackson shouted, unmoved, and I have to admit — that does sound like a lot more fun than staying here and getting new bathroom vanities installed. Maybe we’ll compromise and go out for pizza.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend! And if yours includes travel, color me (and Jackson) jealous.
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Wendy's Sister May 22, 2015, 3:08 pm
I sure do love that little kid! I’m happy Wendy is having a girl, not only because shopping for little girls’ clothes and dresses is way more fun, but because I still get to tell Jackson he’s my favorite nephew.
As for what I’m doing this weekend, I’m excited to be going to a Dear Wendy Meetup tomorrow at 2 in Hollywood, FL! Please join us. Details in the Forums.
LadyinPurpleNotRed May 22, 2015, 4:03 pm
I can’t wait! It’s going to be awesome!
honeybeenicki May 22, 2015, 3:29 pm
If he decides he is going to be obsessed with geography for awhile longer (or not and you just want him exposed to it) I’ve heard great things about the Little Passports subscription box. We were thinking of signing up for it in a few years. There’s different “levels” tailored to different ages and it looks like lots of fun. Shit, all I got was stupid Highlights growing up.
Dear Wendy May 23, 2015, 6:50 am
Ooh, Little Passports — I’ve never heard of it, but I’ll definitely check it out. I’m happy to encourage any interest Jackson has in geography and traveling. A trip to Italy isn’t in the cards right now, but maps and books and short trips we can do.
Portia May 23, 2015, 7:07 am
Ooo, I just looked that up and it sounds awesome! I’m gonna check with Bassanio about getting that for his niece – she loves stickers and the family is full of world travelers.
K May 27, 2015, 11:21 am
Wow, that sounds great! Wish that was around when I was younger! I loved geography and was obsessed with putting together a state map puzzle and countries of the world map puzzle, when I was in first grade. I still have a great love of geography today.
sobriquet May 22, 2015, 3:50 pm
So cute! I love how little kids have no concept of things like distance and time.
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My husband and I got back from a beach anniversary trip on Wednesday night, so we’re all vacationed-out at the moment. I wore a bikini on the beach while 19 weeks pregnant- a very new experience! And the morning of our anniversary, I felt the baby kick! And not just little flutters, either. I put my hand on my lower abdomen and BOOM BOOM BOOM! My husband can feel the little kicks now, too. So cool. Pregnancy just got infinitely more awesome. I’m also reading “Hynobirthing” and feeling much more relaxed about un-medicated labor. Why do we have to make everything harder than it needs to be?
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Tonight we’re going to a minor-league baseball game to see Josh Hamilton hit for an inning or two. Tomorrow we’re building a picnic table for our backyard and I’ll be getting ready for our Gender Reveal party next weekend. We may go see Mad Max at some point. And other than that, the plan is just to RELAX any enjoy the long weekend!
Rangerchic May 22, 2015, 4:15 pm
Congrats on your pregnancy! I had both my girls mostly un-medicated. I didn’t have epidurals but I had (I don’t remember exactly) something that took the edge off when the contractions were really bad. But I don’t think it really helped. For both deliveries I asked for epidurals at the very end – of course it was to late. It’s hard, and painful but doable. I was never really afraid either. My second daughter was 9lbs 5 oz!
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Anyway, I would do it that way again if I had a do-over (except maybe deliver at home instead of the hospital). I’m not afraid of needles but I was afraid I would be that 1% mess-up case and would be paralyzed. Just my experience. I know everyone is different. 🙂
RedRoverRedRover May 23, 2015, 12:09 pm
That’s why I couldn’t have epidurals. 🙂 Waaaay more terrifying to me than the pain of childbirth.
Skyblossom May 24, 2015, 4:49 pm
Me too. The thought of someone damaging my spine was too much. I can handle the pain and I knew it would end and I’d have a baby.
Ika May 25, 2015, 4:29 pm
Me too!!! Epidurals scared the crap out of me way more than a natural birth ever could.
othy May 22, 2015, 5:06 pm
To be fair, I want to go to Italy tomorrow too. Sadly, I have real life in the way.
Portia May 22, 2015, 5:13 pm
Happy Memorial Day! Maybe it’s the weekends of getting things installed at your house, we’re going to attempt to change out one of our overhead lights on Monday.
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Other than that, we’re doing a belated birthday dinner tonight (my birthday was Monday) at this Thai place that used to be our favorite but then it became a multi-course prix-fixe place. So, we’ll see if it’s just as good as we remember… Oh yeah, update: I wore the floppy velvet tam hat to graduation. I’m glad I did, even though Monday was a terribly hot day.
Dear Wendy May 22, 2015, 6:00 pm
Happy belated birthday!
Portia May 22, 2015, 6:09 pm
Thanks! 🙂
othy May 22, 2015, 9:27 pm
I bet you rocked that tam!
Portia May 23, 2015, 7:09 am
Oh I totally rocked it! 🙂
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There’s also been a couple ideas about reuse of the tam foraying around, like a “zombie post-doc” Halloween costume. I’m gonna get my money’s worth out of this thing!
Portia May 23, 2015, 4:00 pm
Hm, I didn’t mean to type “foraying,” but now I can’t remember what it was supposed to be…
d2 May 23, 2015, 5:53 pm
“floating”
Portia May 24, 2015, 2:28 pm
Ah, yes! Thanks 🙂
Moneypenny May 23, 2015, 1:22 am
Hooray for the tam!!
Moneypenny May 23, 2015, 1:27 am
I want to go to Italy too!! Alas, I have work too, plus I’m broke. Maybe next week.
This weekend I have no plans. My aunt was admitted to the hospital a couple of days ago and it turns out she has lung cancer that has spread. So I may go visit her (2 hrs away) with my parents, but I’m not sure yet. I haven’t seen her in a few years, and she’s had a rough life since her divorce from my uncle (she’s an alcoholic, hasn’t been able to hold a job, was homeless for awhile until she found some assistance from a friend and a support group, plus social security kicked in…).
Also, my coworker gave me the contact for someone she knows who is a matchmaker. I’m curious to see how she works… Maybe I’ll email her. We’ll see.
Dear Wendy May 23, 2015, 6:52 am
Good news, everyone — I passed my kidney stone yesterday afternoon (I know you were all waiting with bated breath for an update). I’m happy to say it was practically painless, which I know is definitely not the experience a lot of the time. Here’s hoping for no more stones or infections for the remainder of this pregnancy (and after)!
d2 May 23, 2015, 8:47 am
I’m glad things worked out… 🙂
Portia May 23, 2015, 3:59 pm
Glad that’s all over with! The whole ordeal sounded pretty miserable.
MissDre May 24, 2015, 9:37 am
Yay Wendy!
Red Dog May 23, 2015, 5:29 pm
Jackson might be interested in this old Animaniacs song about the 50 states and capitals: https://youtu.be/sNUDDaEOvuY
othy May 23, 2015, 8:37 pm
Don’t forget all of the nations of the world. It’s a bit out of date, but still awesome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pOFKmk7ytU
Also, I went to a con in January where the Animaniac guys were, and I got to hear Yakko sing it. And shake their hands and say hello. Nicest show-biz guys I’ve met!
Dear Wendy May 24, 2015, 6:16 am
He liked it! Especially the “Jackson, Mississippi” part.
Anonymous May 24, 2015, 10:40 am
Awesome! When my kids were little, we had a CD of Animaniacs songs that included both of those songs – lots of fun on car rides!
Lyra May 24, 2015, 9:03 am
HUGE thanks to Kate for being my long distance fashion/hair/make up guru and helping me look fantastic for our engagement pics yesterday!!!
Ika May 25, 2015, 4:32 pm
My weekend involved travel! But only to come home, which is absolutely no fun at all 🙁
Our trip was amazing, esp. spending time with 2 of my favourite people (AP and jlyfsh), it is going to be sooo hard to go back to work and the rest of my regular life tomorrow! It was a holiday here today as well.
jlyfsh May 25, 2015, 4:39 pm
the US and two of your favorite people miss you already!