2005 Book List

Jan. Drowning Ruth
Feb. Unbearable Lightness of Being
March Hamlet's Dresser
April The Cloud Atlas
May Lovely Bones
June Blue Moon Circus
July Ellen Foster
Aug. I Capture the Castle
Sept. Plainsong
Oct. Bel Canto
Nov. Isabel's Daughter
Dec. Cupid and Diana

Lindsey Mitchell 

2004 booklist

Several people have asked me to list the books the book club has read. Here ya go:
The Secret History- strange college students gone bad
I Wish I had a Red Dress- woman mad at men teaches girls to stick up for themselves, falls in love
Remains of the Day- starchy butler
In the Castle of the Flynns- cute Irish boy grows up with family members since his mother and father die in car accident
Harris and Me- middle school book, but funny!!!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn- poor girl grows up in Brooklyn with big dreams
Alias Grace- based on true story- murder
Running with Scissors- soon to be movie- NASTY- true story- I was ashamed that I checked it out at the library
Crescent- Iraqi American loves to cook loves Iraqi man
Ahab's Wife- I did not read this one, I was too busy birthing a baby
Back When we Were Grown Ups- adult woman looks back on her life and wonders if she has lived the right life
The Awakening- college requirement, woman has affair even though she has a perfect husband

Diaper changing 101

Materials:
one HASMAT suit
three baby wipes (warm)
six hands (warm)
a plastic sheet (warm- but not melted)
tongs
soothing music
two diapers
diaper rash cream
disposable gloves
nine volt battery
diaper pail
air freshner
duct tape
one baby
three outfits for the changee
two outfits for the changer
sturdy surface that baby can not roll off of

I think the list is self-explainitory.
I was joking about the nine volt battery.

This is Lindsey's cousin Katie. Aren't they cute together. We hope they will be friends for a long time. 

Early morning ponderings

Ok, so at 4:30 AM I am pondering why it takes so much effort to burp a 14 pound human being! What else am I going to think about that early in the morning with a screaming baby on my shoulder? It takes at least four hands. One to hold her neck from going all willie nillie on you. It takes one to pat, pat, pat. One hand to keep the little hand that is swinging wildly about your face-you need your hand to keep that little hand from scratching your face and pulling your hair. If you have glasses just forget it. Now, you're thinkin' - what is that 4th hand for? Well, my nose itches! Then I realize, she hasn't even burped yet and when she does, she is going to puke, that takes another two hands at least!
Oh, who invented those cute little burp cloths? You know, those daity things that come in wonderful pastel colors? First of all, they never stay on your shoulder- that would take another hand, and the baby never pukes on them! They puke two centimeters away --down the front of their outfit or down your shoulder. What we need is to use a giant towel to cover the half of our body. A drop cloth for the floor, and a rain poncho for the baby. I find it amusing when the baby pukes down your back, but you don't know it. That's is classic slapstick comedy there folks!
Next week: Diapering 101

My friend Mandi is eleven weeks pregnant!!!! We are so happy for her. She did the neatest thing for Christmas! She put santa hat stickers on the sonogram pics. and gave them to her parents as gifts! She is going to be a great mom, and we can't wait to hang out together with the youngins'!

I'm three months old! 

3 months old!

Lindsey is three months old today! It seems like she has been with us forever or at least a quarter of a year. Why didn't anyone tell us she would change our lives!!? Okay, you warned us. I didn't think it was possible to love her more each day. She does something new every day. Today she was sucking on her top lip and making wierd noises. While she is holding her head up well, she hates to be on her stomach, but how is she going to swing a golf club with weak arms? She loves it when I make pig noises. I am not sure how this even came about, but I will do anything to make her laugh! She still laughs whenever TJ smiles at her.
We are looking forward to the weekend so we can go to the big family get together.

This is Lindsey. 

I'm back

Okay, being a mom is difficult. I barely have time to do what I am supposed to do. But enough complaining.... no time to complain!
Lindsey is growing so quickly. Her smiles, coos, giggles, and babbling are so enjoyable, it is difficult to leave her at the sitter. Tonight I put some footy pajamas on her and they were not long enough- they are 3-6 months! I feel like I should take a picture every day with all the changes.
We just had a beautiful ice storm. It is hard to believe that something so beautiful could be so destructive. For pictures you can go to History in Halstead.
The book club that I am currently read "Drowning Ruth." We haven't discussed it yet. If you have read it- let me know what you think. I found it very interesting. I wanted to beat Amanda for being so selfish and Mathilda for being so inmature. I felt sorry for Ruth for having to be the adult her whole life. Even Mathilda's husband was a dependent whiney baby. I think that Christina Schwarz is great at weaving the tale back and forth from past to present. She also does a great job of leaving you hanging and explaining at the same time. It is kind of a long read, but great for this cold weather!
I am almost done with my Masters in Special Education. I have no idea what I want to do after that. What can you do with a doctorate in Special Education. Any ideas or thoughts on a PhD. in Educational Psychology?