Journey of a Lifetime

Back to Blogging

2011-08-10T13:07:00.005-05:00

Remember when I used to write here all the time?

Me too.

So now I'm back. Mostly I'm back because I suspect we're getting very close to having another baby, and as the second child in my own family, I will feel guilty forever if the documentation of his/her life is not at least somewhat comparable to that of his brother.

As an example, I present to you the following: My older brother has a baby book that is busting at the seems with facts and figures, locks of hair and sloppy finger-paint hand prints. Tucked into one envelope inside is a profile tracing that may or may not have been created using an overhead projector.

My own baby book displays my birth weight (9lbs, 14oz), first word ("bye") and 26 depressingly blank pages.

So. I'm back.

A Letter From Santa

2010-08-04T10:31:00.004-05:00

Dear Santa,

Thank you so much for the postcard we received in the mail yesterday. Because of your advanced age and sheer volume of mailings you must send, here's a reminder of what it said:

Dear Drew,

Are you being a good boy this year? My notes say "Maybe". Be sure to listen to your mommy so you stay on Santa's good list.

Love, Santa

While your handwriting looks suspiciously like Aunt Stephani's, I believe that a mid-year check is always a good thing to keep potentially naughty children on the right track. As you can see from the following photo, our little guy looks somewhat concerned. I am hopeful that this will translate to an upcoming five months worth of good listening skills and moderately appropriate behavior.

Thanks again for your concern.

On the "nice" list for many years now,
His mother

P.S. Please disregard that he is naked from the waist down in this picture. It is an experiment in potty-training. Fingers crossed for a potty-trained boy by the time we next hear from you?

Alias

2010-07-18T19:54:00.001-05:00

"That is mine daddy. Jeff means Daddy and Honey means Daddy, too."

Appetite

2010-07-17T21:36:00.003-05:00

Tonight, the Ponablogski family ran some errands and had a nice dinner at one of our favorite local spots, Ramsey's. For dinner, Drew enjoyed the following:

Macaroni and cheese
A hot dog
Three large-ish tomato slices
Four small-ish avacado slices
Half an ear of fresh corn on the cob
Six saltine crackers
Half a slice of raspberry bliss pie

We sat back waiting for him to explode, but thankfully, he did not.

A First

2010-06-04T18:45:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby Drew,

Today represented a momentous occasion. You rolled your eyes at me for what I believe is the very first time. I'm inclined to say it was appropriate. Well, except that I didn't think that what I was saying was annoying, but rather pertinent. I hope you understand how very much I love you for a host of reasons, including how much you remind me of myself.

-Mom

Sugar and Spice....

2010-05-18T13:20:00.003-05:00

Drew's been rockin' his pink princess pull-ups like a champ. I have to say, he really pulls it off.

Er, so to speak.

On Saturday, Drew and his Cinderella underpants went to a birthday party. When he came out of the birthday girl's play room with a pink Barbie convertible, his father looked concerned. When he followed that up with about 45 minutes in front of a dollhouse, arranging furniture, stacking shoes, and opening and closing the refrigerator, Jeff was able to stave off a panic attack. When the birthday girl open her gifts, Drew was right down there in the middle of the action... at one point, he slung a recently-opened Hello Kitty purse over his shoulder and Jeff gasped out loud and lost 10 years off his life.

Drew and I went to the doctor on Monday morning for what ended up being strep throat. For the third time in as many months, but who's counting? When the trauma of the throat swab was over, and he was re-clothed, the receptionist offered him his pick of a large bowl full of stickers.

"Oh.... I want DIS one!!! It has Barbies and Reesie Roo has a yot of Barbies!"

I didn't have the heart to tell his father. Drew enjoyed it adhered to his shirt for the balance of the morning, and somewhere around nap time, Barbie had herself an accident. Tell no one that we spoke of it.

A Rough Week

2010-05-18T13:09:00.002-05:00

Me: "Did you poop?"

Drew: "No. I didn't. Kerney pooped in mine diapee. She just has a yot of poop inside her and she is just pooping ebreywhere."

That was yesterday. This morning we had a conversation about the potty, while he was on the potty.

Me: "Can you make any peepee come out?"

Drew: "No. I can't do it." He said AS HE WAS PEEING. Then he got excited and stood up. As I was silently rejoicing that he waited until he was done to stand, he threw up. "Yook, Mommy. I burped ebreywhere."

Fifteen minutes and set of fresh clothes later, we went to vote in the Kentucky primary. "I peepeed on the potty!" He announced to the neighbor who gave him the ubiquitous "I VOTED" sticker. "And then after that I frowed up."

More on the Potty

2010-05-14T08:25:00.003-05:00

One morning, a couple weeks ago, Drew did the unthinkable.

He woke up with a dry diaper. I blinked a few times, and looked around the room to make sure I had the right kid. Then I stripped him down and off we ran down the hallway to the little frog potty. In spite of himself, and likely against his better judgement, he pee-peed on the potty.

His reward can only be described as supreme exhaultation. We called everyone we knew to spread the good news. We had candy for breakfast. We put a stack of coins in the piggy bank. We stopped on the way to school to buy a new car. It was a crowning achievement. If he ever poops on there, I am prepared to offer booze and hookers.

Just kidding. Ahem.

The two times he's (accidentally, maybe?) peed on the potty since then, he's gotten so excited he's stood up mid-stream, and shared the excitement with his clothes, his body and our bathroom floor.

So that's enjoyable.

After considering the pros and cons of pull-ups, I decided to buy some over the weekend... mainly because his teacher thought it was a good idea, and who am I to argue with that? She's potty-trained hundreds of kids. I have potty trained effectively none. I defer to her judgement.

As a side note, a friend of mine told me this week that she and her husband are ready to have a baby. When she asked for advice I told her to ignore the books and ask other people (moms, teachers, etc.) what works and what doesn't. This requires an absense of pride and an abundance of humility.

I can give this advice because I'm doing such a bang-up job. Obviously. I have the urine on my floor to prove it.

Where was I? Ah yes. I bought Pull-Ups. Had I only the forethought to ask some other moms if they are gender specific, I might not have come home with six packs of pink ones. With princesses. But I didn't. Also, I dropped the first pack off at school, unopened, before I realized my mistake. So when Jeff picked him up, his teacher laughed. Apparently, most of the staff were aware of Drew's new-found familiarity with his feminine side.

I'm glad I could make them laugh. Really, I am. They do a tremendous job.

"Do you know who's on this Pull-Up, Drew?" I asked him this morning when we got dressed for school.

"No. I dun know who that is?" (bent over, looking at his front, confused)

"Well, that's Cinderella... and her story is sort of sad in the beginning, but don't worry because it all works out in the end. Oh, and get used to seeing her, because she's going to be around for a while."

Sigh.

Mother's Day

2010-05-11T20:39:00.003-05:00

I love being a mother.

Who's surprised? Anyone... anyone.

I woke up on Sunday to the cutest child on the planet and his adorable father. "Happy Bir-day, Mommy!!!" he yelled, as I walked down the stairs after the luxury of sleeping in until... gasp... 9:30am. I had a delightful breakfast of Lucky Charms, and then settled in to watch a movie with my favorite Lightning McQueen fan...

I know. I know. It's a life of extreme privelege.

Mother's day is a little bittersweet for me, and I wish that wasn't true. I only have to look at the little boy snuggled up on the couch next to me, discussing Sally, Flo and Tow-Mater to realize what I have gained. But sadly, it is also a reminder of what I have lost, and that is significant.

I've been thinking this week about the church mother-daughter banquet I went to with my mother when I was in 1st grade. There was a presentation, and all of the girls in my church Sunday school class were assigned a letter. When the time came, we stepped forward, held up the letter, and read a sentence from the back of the card it was printed on. In the end, the letters spelled "Happy Mother's Day". I still remember my line: "M is for the many things she does for me each day."

I wish I could find that picture of her and me, under a constuction paper rainbow on the concrete wall of the church fellowship hall. I had on an ill-fitting pink dress, bright white knee socks with patent leather mary jane shoes and homemade bangs. She stood with her arm around me in a bright orange skirt, sweet platform heels, and a smile that, if inverted, would have stretched to the moon and back.

How on earth did I lose that picture? Grrr.

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

Trifecta

2010-05-03T21:27:00.000-05:00

I look forward to the Kentucky Derby each year like Drew looks forward to Christmas, french fries and Dora the Explorer.

I love a horse race. I mean, I really love it. I'm fond of saying that there are few things like the feeling you get when yours is in the lead when they make the final turn. Provided he stays there, that is. Keeneland on a Friday afternoon is one thing... but the Derby? Something else entirely.

My process for picking horses is very skilled and scientific. This year, when I was looking at their pictures online, Drew walked over and pointed on one and called it "pitty".

Ice Box. Post position 2.

Calvin Borel rode Mine That Bird across the line first last year, and I really adore him, despite that he doesn't appear to have a tooth in his head. This year he was riding a horse called Super Saver and I happen to clip a lot of coupons.

Super Saver. Post position 4.

I really love grey colts. They seem to have a look in their eyes that says they want to win, and would do damn near anything to accomplish it. Also, jockey Kent Desormeaux spoke at an event for Drew's school last year.

Paddy O'Prado. Post position 10.

We sat in the car in the drive-through betting window at our local racetrack for nearly 90 minutes on Saturday to place our bets. By the time we got to the window, Drew's nap was over and we were all tired, hungry and cranky. $2 Box Trifecta, 2-4-10. $2 Across the Board on 2. We handed her the money and she handed us some tickets.

I made a Hot Brown Casserole and two Derby Pies. And a salad, to offset the cardiac effects of the casserole. Here's a secret. I really love bourbon, but I despise a mint julep. Keep that under your Derby hat, as I'd like to continue living in this state.

When the horses took off, the track was a swamp. "Longest three minutes in sports, today..." Jeff quipped. When they made the final turn, they were covered in mud, and it was hard to tell who was who... until they were almost to the finish...

4. Super Saver
2. Ice Box
10. Paddy O'Prado

It's hard to contain your excitement when you realize you've just potentially won a large sum of money. It felt like a long time before unofficial results were official.

The car line to claim the winnings was much shorter than the one to place the bet. They paid us our winnings in crisp hundred dollar bills, after confirming our identify and filling out the appropritate IRS forms. Drew announced "that man gave us a yot of money!!!!"

That he did son. Perhaps our luck is changing?

Sneaky

2010-04-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

"Mommy... I need you to go in your room" Drew said last night. He was in the bathtub, and I had just told him to leave Kerney's bottle of puppy wash alone. I walked out of the room to walk back in and find him with the cap off the soap, half of it poured out in the tub.

Oddly, he didn't smell like a wet dog. It seems to have that effect on his sister.

This morning he was trying, unsuccessfully, to drive his ride-on train though the dog door. I told him to stop and he looked at me for a minute and said "Don't you need to go to the potty?".

I responded negatively.

"Do you want to go in the toy room? I 'sink that would be fun for you, Mommy"

Nice try, Drew. Nice try.

A Blog I Love

2010-04-21T12:39:00.003-05:00

If I knew Kelly Bee from The Beehive in real life, we would talk about our travels and go shopping and drink cocktails and have a great time. Also, I would want to use her pool. And not for Drew, because he hates pools.

I love her blog, for posts like this one from last week. I love when she says...

"We have good days and bad days, but our worst days as their parents are better than our best days before we met them."

Anyway, you should check it out.

Funny Talk

2010-04-21T11:12:00.003-05:00

"YaYa got this book for me. Mine YaYa gives me all mine toys and books and cars and trains and chalks and car stickers and suckers and cookies."

"Yook, Mommy! There is a little bit of foggy ow-side!" (It was foggy.)

"Mommy.... you will go to time-out and you can not play wif any cars rest of da day" (sternly, after I told him he had to eat some corn.)

Nemo the Third Wheel

2010-04-18T20:26:00.001-05:00

Exceptions

2010-04-18T20:17:00.002-05:00

I only allowed this foolishness because PopPop went to Georgia. We bleed wildcat blue around these parts...

My Opinion

2010-04-18T19:25:00.001-05:00

I typically make an effort to keep my opinion to myself about most things. Here, in particular. The reason is two fold... mostly, I find the opinionated to be overbearing and obnoxious. Also, I tend to think that most people already have an opinion of their own about most things like politics and religion and I like to leave myself open to accept them as they are. I mean really, there seems to be little point in making angry 50% of the people around me. Right? Secondarily, I like to minimize the opportunities I have to stick my foot in my mouth, and I find that the less I talk, the more likely I am to avoid it.

When it comes to adoption topics, however... it seems like all bets are off. It's just too hard to resist.

I hate what the adoptive mom in Tennessee did. I mean, I really hate it. I hate it mostly because she was an irresponsible, reckless and unworthy mother. I intentionally omit the word adoptive when I refer to her motherhood, because I believe there is no distiction amongst mothers except that a good one is a good one and a bad one is a bad one. I know lots of both. Don't you?

How's that for opinion?

On a very personal level, I also hate what the sensationalism of this story does to our cultural perception of adoption. I have long ago come to terms with the fact that I will encounter many people in my life who will look at my lovely little family and immediately think that we settled for less than what we really wanted: because I didn't grow him inside my body, because he is not made of my physical parts or Jeff's, because I wasn't there when he drew his first breath of life in this world. Of course I believe it's foolish, but they are entitled to believe it, because they don't know what I know.

When I read the article on CNN.com, there were immediately three others in the related links... all about the difficulty of adoption, how lots of parents don't bond with their children, they just don't know what they're getting into, etc. You know, the stuff that fuels the fire of awkward conversations with well-intended grocery-store patrons.

I know. I know. I'm selfish for not instead ranting about the injustice to the child. I know his psychological trauma is much more significant than mine for having to endure a non-stop litany of inappropriate questions from strangers. I get it. But I would contend I would rather be waterboarded than asked in rapid succession about my son's birth family, the circumstances of our decision to adopt, and if I think he'll be good at math/playing the violin.

Also, I think athletes should grow up and stop cheating on their wives.

That is all.

Family Tree

2010-04-18T17:36:00.003-05:00

Jeff: "Drew, Gramma is my mommy like mommy is your mommy and PopPop is my daddy like I am your daddy."

Drew: "And YaYa is Kerney."

More Quotes

2010-04-18T17:26:00.003-05:00

"WE JUST HAVE TO BE BERY, BERY QUIET AT A WEDDING!!!!" Screamed. At a wedding. In the silence immediately following prayer.

"Daddy. I want to hold you. But I can't. I have a boo-boo (points to scrape on arm). I'm so sorry" (Jeff had surgery about a week prior and can't lift him for 6 weeks)

"Monkey needs to go to time-out. So he can work on his listening".

"We can touch butterflies and frogs, but we cannot touch 'piders. Or camels. Because it is very dangerous"

"Mommy. I was just wondering. Are we going to get a station wagon?" (we are not)

"If something is very, very funny then it is hilarious."

"Hey Kerney.... Go Poop!" Times 1000. Everytime we are outside. Followed by hysterical, fall-down laughter.

The Big Boy Bed Chronicles

2010-04-18T12:34:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago, Jeff and I dismantled the crib that has been Drew's happy place for the last couple of years. We moved a full size bed into his room, covered it with car sheets, and made a primary introduction between the two of them.

On night 1, Drew discussed the sheets ad nauseum. "Look at mine big boy bed!!!! It has cars on it!!! There are cars ebreywhere!!!!" He collected Nemo, monkey, moo, baby spiderman and the rest of his essential bedtime pals and off to dreamland he went. About 3 hours in, he woke up in borderline hysterics.

Big Boy Bed. Night 1. Epic fail.

On night 2, we snuggled in the big boy bed and had an extended conversation about potential cash and prize rewards for sleeping all night in the big boy bed. "If I sleep all night in mine big boy bed, tomorrow we will go to da 'tore and buy me a new car!"

It worked. And then the next night. And then the night after that.

On night 4, Kerney took up permanent residence at the foot of the big boy bed. I think she had her mail forwarded and everything.

On night 7, the unthinkable happened. He fell out. The bed itself sits on the floor, and he is protected from such a fate by a wall of pillows that I construct each night, after reading a pile of books, and prior to turning off the light and walking out the door. I guess somehow it made it over.

"Nemo did this to me. He pushed me." he wailed at 3AM as I was putting him back behind the pillow wall. Nemo looked innocent. "We just have to be bery, bery careful, Mommy, and not fall off of mine big boy bed." he said as I careful replaced him in his prior position.

Since then, smooth sailing. Perhaps an easy big boy transition is our reward for what is shaping up to be an epic battle. The potty.

We Have the Same Eyes

2010-03-29T11:20:00.002-05:00

Last night, we were reading a book about colors, when we came to a page featuring a little girl with bright blue eyes....

"These eyes are blue, Mommy."

"What color are Mommy's eyes?"

"They are black and white. Just like mine eyes. Daddy's eyes are like dis girl."

Happy Hour

2010-03-16T20:02:00.002-05:00

Drew and I stopped to get take-out tonight at a local bar and grill. After asking if he could touch every car, truck and suv in the parking lot, we made our way in the front door, past the hostess and to the bar area to place our order.

"Fries. I want fries." Drew told the bartender before he could place the ubiquitous little square napkin on the bar in front of us... He smirked and said he'd be right back. When he returned, he slid a pilsner under the Blue Moon tap and pulled it forward and beer splashed everywhere.

"You made a mess" Drew announced as he mopped up the beer, and I asked for two salads and one kid's chicken fingers WITH FRIES, no spit. To go. We settled in for what was promised to be a 10 minute wait. It was 27. I counted.

The gentleman next to me was working his way heroically through a mound of wings, greasy nachos and a giant domestic beer. I assumed this was likely the only stop en route from the service department at the Chevrolet dealership (per his shirt) to a quiet apartment devoid of ride-on toys, fruit roll-ups and marked up walls. And noise. At one point, he started to make conversation, but then thought better of it. Good for him.

Minutes later, a $7.50 pepsi rebate check fell out of my purse and onto the floor. Drew was screaming and hanging upside down from the barstool when I stood back up from retreiving it. I grabbed an ankle just in time. Then he dug through my purse for cars, snacks, etc. and yelled loudly when his mission was fruitless. "Can I watch all those TVs???" Sure. That entertained him for approximately 45 seconds. He pointed out football (LT traded to the Jets), basketball (NCAA starts on Thursday - go cats) and Lightning McQueen (Nascar) on ESPN. Loudly. I asked for a glass of water. He spilled it. Then he asked the ladies at the table behind us what they were eating. Potato soup.

He was jelly-legged and begging for his fries when we finally walked out the door with the giant bag in hand. Well, I was walking. He was flailing. Semantics.

I was putting away some laundry later tonight when I turned around to see him slip off the rocker and fall down between it and the ottoman. "Mommy!" he wailed "I need to hold you. Because I am crying and it make me better".

That was the happiest hour of my day.

More Quotes of the Day

2010-03-14T10:39:00.002-05:00

"Hey, did you know Pablo Picasso in here colored all over the stairs and front door with red chalk?" - Jeff Ponablogski

"Drew... we're going to ride in a taxi with Cole this week... did you know that?" (while looking at a book about Taxis).

"I wanna ride in a Police Car with Cole".

"Well, maybe someday."

Quotes of the Day. Yes, he said them all TODAY

2010-03-13T18:56:00.003-05:00

"Mommy, I am waking up from mine nap. Time to go back downstairs and play with mine cars..." (20 minutes after being put in bed for his nap... not having been asleep yet)

"I don't like basketball, mommy. I just like football"

"And THAT is how you make a chicken pot pie". (sitting on the counter, after watching me put the top crust on)

"Hi, noodles. It's me, Drewby. I'm gonna eat you." (to his dinner)

"This is mine favorite song, Mommy." (Life is a Highway - "Cars" the movie)

"I want a diet coke." (From his bed, 5 minutes after I put him in there for the night.) Upon being denied, he point to monkey and said "It for him, not me" P.S. He has never tasted diet coke.

Financial Matters

2010-03-11T12:12:00.002-05:00

Last night, Drew rolled out my yoga mat on the floor. I'm actually glad it's getting some use... it's probably been pretty lonely rolled up and crammed in the corner like that, not ever seeing the light of day.

"It is the road, Mommy... It's for mine bike..." He dragged his tricylce from the toy room and positioned it very carefully at one end of the mat. Within a few seconds he climbed on, glanced at me over his shoulder and said "Bye, Mommy. I am going at work. At the hospital. And I make the medicine. See you later".

After travelling the entire four feet length of the mat, he climbed off, opened the trunk and pretended to fill his hands. Then he walked toward me with them outstretched, saying "Here mommy. Here is mine money that I got at the working."

Hmmm. Kids. They say the darndest things.

Love Hate Relationships

2010-03-10T22:43:00.002-05:00

At the beginning of this year, Jeff had a dog door installed in the kitchen. It was at my insistance. The background issues are not worth getting into... Something about me having too many things to take care of, but I digress. $500 was a small price to pay for keeping our entire family (including the dog and my sanity) intact.

So, after the dog door was installed, Kerney 'regressed' (shall we say) with the level of potty training that we have enjoyed as a family for many years now. This made me very disappointed in her. Over the last couple weeks, the problem seems to have resolved itself. I am pleased to announce.

In the height of the madness, a few weeks ago I was in the nursery changing Drew's clothes on the floor, when I looked over and caught her in the act of treating the great indoors like the great outdoors. For the fourth time. That week. I was very disappointed in her.

"Dammit, Kerney" Drew exclaimed when he looked over and noticed what was happening.

Ahem.

Earlier this week, Drew stood in his crib about 15 minutes after going to bed, yelling "Kerney! Can you help me? I wanna come back down-tairs."

Tonight, I was in the kitchen when Kerney rolled over on the remote control. "Mommy, Kerney changed the channel" he ran in wailing... "I wanna watch ca-toons and she changed the channel to not ca-toons... MOMMY!!"

So, he's cursed at her, solicited her help when in a pinch, and tattled on her, all in the course of a couple weeks' time. If that's not family, I don't know what is.

Ladies Man

2010-03-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

At Drew's school, there are three rooms that house the toddlers. Drew was promoted last month, and is now in the final room, which is the last stop before preschool, which I can't even talk about, so forget I mentioned it. Let's not bring it up again.

So, when I picked him up his first official day in the new room, he was in the middle of the floor with three little girls in dress-up attire. Music was playing, and the four of them were rockin' out. Drew did not have on a princess dress, but I suspect he might have asked and been denied, but I didn't have the nerve to investigate my hypothesis.

As I watched them for the few minutes before Drew noticed me, I could barely contain my laughter. Who am I kidding? I didn't really make an attempt. One little girl had two hands on her hips and was singing along. Another had her skirt up over her head, and the last one, who truly appeared to actually have rhythm, had both hands in the air and appeared to be raising the roof. Drew was jumping up and down, holding a giant monster truck and I heard him yell: "YOOK EVERYBODY! I'M DANCING WITH MINE FRIENDS!"

The other boys in the room were sort of on the outside of the dance party, staring blankly at the twirling, flailing, laughing quartet. As if confused.

"Who are your friends in the big kid room, Drew?" I asked on the way from the dance studio to our house.

"Soapy (Sophie), Reesie-Roo (Reese) and Hope Lastnamehere!!!!" he replied.

"Are there any boys in the class?"

Silence.

"What about Jimmy, Henry, Tyler, Owen?"

His response: "Reesie-Roo is booooo-ti-ful."

I hope the love quadrangle doesn't become too dramatic or vicious.

Potty Training

2010-03-06T22:41:00.003-05:00

Last night, I put a pair of underwear on Drew for the first time. I explained the process in age-appropriate detail: That since he is in the 'big kid' room at school now, because he carries a backpack and very soon will be in his very own big boy bed that, well, this is sort of the next step in the order of events. Yada. Yada. Yada.

He cried. For 20 minutes.

"I don't liiiiikkkkkeeeee it". (All while pulling at Diego and his jeep and baby jaguar in TOTAL despair.) "Pease Pease Pease put mine diapee on."

Very sad.

So I took them off. It may or may not have been the right thing to do. Subsequent discussions about the underwear and appropriate use of the toilet as the proper mode for eliminating body waste have included entire segments about cash and prize rewards. Still nothing.

"I don't want to pee pee on the potty. I like to pee pee in mine diapee."

It's tough to argue with logic like that.

So today, we ventured out to Target, specifically to find a potty inviting enough the make some headway with our intended mission. We found one that looks like a frog which also, conveniently, was the cheapest one... and since at this point we are inclined toward believing that it will likely not ever actually be used, cheap is sort of what we were going for.

"NO! PUT IT BACK." he wailed, as I showcased it to him The-Price-Is-Right-Barker's-Beauties style before dropping it in the cart.

I would have thought that Lightning McQueen on the back of 5 pairs of tiny underwear could have been the piviotal moment in the shopping spree where it all turned around...

"NO. I don't want underwears. I don't yike it. I don't yike it. I don't yike it."

So, that's where things stand at the casa de non-compliance. When we walk into high school together, and I drop of a pack of size 12 Huggies to his homeroom teacher, I hope she'll be understanding. And for those keeping score, the standings are as follows. I'll continue to keep you updated.

Drew: 3
Toilet: 0

Clearing Things Up...

2010-02-20T11:44:00.004-05:00

Jeff: "Drew, you're a miracle."

Drew: "YES, Daddy! I am American."

Smarts

2010-02-19T21:58:00.002-05:00

"Yook Mommy... we are in our neighborhood"

"Yook Mommy... dat's a con-bert-ible"

"Yook Mommy... dose are your coo-pons..."

"Mommy, where is da sun going?"
"It's going down, but it'll be back tomorrow..."
"And nen we will have a bir-day party for that sun?"

Neighborhood? Convertible? Coupons?

I Wanna Kiss You

2010-02-18T20:52:00.002-05:00

When Drew and I visited the after-hours clinic earlier this week, his temperature registered 104.

"Let's do a chest x-ray..." the doctor announced after listening to his chest and while I struggled to hear her over a lengthy and loud chorus of "I WANT MINE DADDY" Aside from identifying "Nemo" in the lobby aquarium, it's really the only other phrase that came out of him during the 75 minutes we were at the clinic. What he lacked in quality, he made up for in quantity. I'm sure he said it one go-zillion times. Hearing that repeatedly while being kicked and bitten really does a lot for a mommy's ego. Ask me how I know.

I should mention that we were both wearing our pajamas. Yep. True story. Drew and me, that is. The doctor had on a lab coat and sensible shoes.

Anyway, I can't relive the agony of the radiology room... it's too soon. But it's safe to say that when she told me that she'd need his lungs to be good and full of air when she took the x-ray, I knew she shouldn't have a problem.

I don't know if it was the pneumonia, or the lack of sleep, or the anti-biotic, or being stuck in the house with his grouchy mother for five days, but Drew's sweet and pleasing personality was radically replaced with something I don't currently have words to describe. I'll work on it and report back.

Last night, he was still congested and woke up at 1am... I brought him to our bed, and he woke up again around 2:30.

"I wanna kiss you, mommy..." he said, and for a brief moment I lay there revelling in the sweetness of my beautiful baby boy, who had suddenly and certainly returned to me like the prodigal son. It was all worth it, these days of agony we had lived to know it was finally over... I moved close to oblige his request and my face was quickly shoved back with five tiny asian fingers.... "NO MOMMY. I WANNA KISS YOU. WIPE MINE NOSE"

Kiss you, tissue. Easy mistake to make.

Q and A

2010-02-13T14:53:00.004-05:00

Me: "Drew, will you be my Valentine?"

Drew: "No, I want Daddy be mine Balentime"

Drew: "Monkey, will you be mine Balentime?"

Monkey: Nods head (with Drew's help).

Drew: "YES!!!!! Monkey IS mine Balentime!!!!"

Drew: "Is that you bicycle?"

UK student locking his bicycle up outside my office: "Yep"

Drew: "Can I ride you bicycle?"

UK student locking his bicycle up outside my office: "Some day, little guy... some day"

Drew: "Can I have a gape?"

Me: (hands him grape)

Drew: (to lady in front of us in line at grocery) "This gape is VERY, VERY good!!! Are you my Nana?"

Lady in front of us in line at grocery: (silence... glares at me)

"Mommy.... what IS that????" Times a zillion. Times every day of life.

Birthday

2010-01-31T21:13:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, we went to Andrew's birthday party. He turned six in star-studded fashion, at a local facility with zillions of inflatables, a couple of teenage party coaches, juice boxes and cupcakes. When we arrived, Drew was fresh from a 20 minute nap, and an abbreviated night's rest (he woke up at 5:30am....). Anyway, he smiled initially, and then became overwhelmed by the noise and the flurry of activity.

When Andrew's papaw asked him if he wanted to go in the bouncy house, he responded with a giggly yes, and the the nod of his head. When papaw took him from me and placed him in the bouncy house, it quickly became apparent that he had either lied of grossly misunderstood the question.

I removed him from the evil house of terror, and managed to calm him down. Someone convinced us he might like the giant slide, so I took off my shoes and heroically attempted to climb the ladder to it with him. I slipped about three rungs up and we slid to the bottom. Jeff took a try, and made it about nine steps up before sliding back to the bottom. As if the day weren't proving traumatic already.

I slipped him a contraband juice box (they aren't allowed 'in close proximity to the equipment"). and he was fine. Andrew's mother, Angela and I wrapped up the event in one of the bounce houses in fierce competition with a couple of GIANT boxing gloves each. Luckily, my defeat wasn't the most embarrasing Ponablogski moment of the day. Hell, it wasn't even MY most embarrassing moment of the day (flashback to sliding down stairs holding small traumatized child in front of 15 kids and their mortified parents).

On the way home, Jeff announced that it was probably pretty safe to remove bounce equipment/establishments from the list of potential birthday party venues this year. With that he said to Drew... "Son... what kind of birthday party do you want this year?"

"Pink" he responded.

Language, Grammer, General Cuteness, etc.

2010-01-28T21:51:00.004-05:00

"Daddy is going at work." or "Mine daddy is at the working".

"I can't touch that (ceiling) fan. It too high."

"Nope, I just riding in dis car" (in the car, when asked if he had pooped, shortly after he HAD pooped)

"YOOK EVERYBODY!!! DREWBY IS DANCING!!!!!" (while dancing)

"Hi! Whatcha doin'?" (to the complete stranger in the dressing room at Ann Taylor, after he crawled under her door)

"Lighty Keen" (Lightning McQueen)

"Biting Nemo" (Finding Nemo)

Interestingly, he NEVER confuses the words "is" and "are" or "don't" and "doesn't"???

A Showdown

2010-01-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

Last night, there were probably a hundred tiny cars spread out all over the floor in our family room. I picked up a box and said "Drew, time to clean up these cars."

And then it happened.

"No Mommy, you do it".

What?

His first refusal landed him in time-out. His second refusal landed him back there. He cried for the full two minutes both times, and took his shoes off (?). He emerged the second time, his will still completely in tact. He apparently had no idea who he was up against.

Seriously, son. You're out of your league. Willfulness is one of my areas of expertise.

At this point, I took his hand and showed him how to put the cars in the box. Three of them. Maybe he's confused about what I'm asking or how to do it... After that excercise (in futility), he carefully reviewed all of the cars in the box, and pulled out the specific three I had helped him place in there, and threw them back in the floor. Triumphantly.

I picked up all the cars and put them in the box. I put the box on top of the refrigerator and then explained that he would not be allowed to play with the cars the rest of the night. We walked to the TV and dug out a car he has squirrelled away back there and said "I play wif dis car, mommy. It OK". That car was added to the box and off to bed we went.

This morning, when Jeff went to get Drew from his crib, he immediately said "Daddy, you get dose cars down off da frigerator for Drewby?"

Maybe he does have some idea of who he's up against.

Questions

2010-01-08T19:34:00.002-05:00

"Mommy, can I drive this car?"

"Mommy, can I have some coffee?"

"MOMMY. I WANNA WATCH DORA!!!!" (screamed from his crib at 4:30 this morning)

The answer is no, son. To all. Sorry to be so negative.

This Morning

2010-01-06T09:43:00.003-05:00

Kathy: "Drew, do you want to go see Ms. Abby today or stay home with Daddy?"

Drew: "Hmmm.... probably ride in nat white car."

Does the fact that he didn't really answer the question cancel out the genius of using the word "probably"?

Probably.

I turned off the hairdryer a few minutes later to see him sitting in our bed, holding monkey in his arms (swaddled with the blankie like a baby) saying the following:

"what's 'at Monkey? Yeah, we can do that. We can get down off dis bed. Mommy will help... MOMMY!!!!!!!"

In (only marginally related) other news, the white car goes back to Enterprise today, and the black car returns. I'll keep you posted on how well we all survive the transition.

Seriously. This Kid's too Cute for Words...

2010-01-01T14:58:00.004-05:00

"Turn light off, Mommy and Drewby snuggle in Mommy Daddy bed?" (first morning back from Thanksgiving break...)

"Actually Kerney, that Drewby bobby" (while yanking blankie out from under sleeping dog)

"Santa Cause bring Drewby big semi-truck?" (a few weeks before Christmas)

"Dis Hippopotamus chewing gum... grum grum grum grum grum" (while squeezing hippo's face)

"First Drewby kiss mommy on na cheek, den mommy read dat Thomas a Train book... mkay?"

"First ride in na white car, nen go to Gahm's party, nen eat popcorn, nen sing Happy Bir-day?" (after nap, before Graham's birthday party)

"WANNA SEE POPPOP ON NA COMPUTER!!!" (screamed into PopPop's answering machine, a delicate request for webcam chat...)

Mall Security

2009-12-30T10:36:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Drew and I went to the Children's museum with friends.

It was a pretty uneventful morning. Drew enjoyed the bubble room, ignored the water play areas and seemed strangely ambivalent to the train tables. He sat at a table and played with wooden fruit for a while, and tried to convince all of his playmates to ride on a big green tractor next to him (with limited success).

We headed across the pedway to the Civic Center shops for lunch. Drew made quick work of his own lunch and then began soliciting donations from the rest of the table. He was pretty full when we headed upstairs to the toy store. He sat up shop at a table of Melissa and Doug puzzles and began pulling cars and school buses out of bins and lining them up. Occasionally, he was stop and exclaim "Cars are lining up!!!" or "chool buses are lining up!!!" When we were ready for departure, he returned most of the vehicles to their appropriate receptacles, but retained three in his arms and declared they were going home with us. I gently explained that they in fact were not. Then I added that Santa had recently delived similar such articles to our house, and that additions to our massive collection were both unwarranted and unnecessary.

Should I mentioned it was naptime and that he had just dirtied his diaper? It should come as no surprise that this moment is where our otherwise delightful morning fell spectacularly apart.

He collapsed. The screaming, the crying, the histrionics. I was carring a large bag and all of our coats, scarves and gloves, which complicated my attempt to remove him from the premises. I should mention that the storekeeper seemed delighted to see us go. Trouble is, he was too busy throwing himself dramatically on the ground to stand and walk politely to the exit, holding the welcoming hand of his adoring mother. When I finally managed to get him outside, his fit echoed through multiple stories and I could feel people staring, though I made no attempt to look up. I didn't see a bathroom, and in discussing the diaper situation with the other two tall people in our party, our collective assessment involved a parkbench and a couple of human shields.

Would it surprise you to know there were no wipes in the diaper bag? It shouldn't. I did the best I could with some kleenex and as I was re-clothing him, I heard the security guard talking to Angela... apparently, he asked what the problem was. She said he had a dirty daiper and was mad... I ignored him, and walked on trying to simultaneously purell my hands and scan the horizon for a place to dispose of the diaper. Meanwhile, he's moved on to Monica, still following us toward the pedway back to the parking garage. He asks her what the issue and she says he's angry because he couldn't have a school bus in the toy store. Paul Blart then accuses them of having different stories about why the child is throwing a fit, and at this point we all realize that this guy might actually think we abducted this screaming, thrashing, writhing child.

We kept walking and eventually he lost interest. I now sort of wish this story involved handcuffs, a police car (Drew would have been thrilled beyond description) and an interview from child protective services. Because I love a good story. Alas, no.

When we got home, I was changing him for his nap, when he looked up from the table and said:

"Mommy, Drewby sorry I naughty in nat toy store".

Hmph.

Pretty Girls

2009-12-30T10:28:00.002-05:00

My brother's family is here to visit. This morning, only one of them could be convinced that 8am was an appropriate hour to drag out of bed, but thankfully Drew is persuasive. We loaded up in the rental car and headed for Krispy Kreme and then the grocery.

At the grocery, I was loading Drew in the car and Emily (10) was putting the groceries in the trunk. Then I waslked a few feet to return the cart, I noticed the woman next to me was loading a giant box of Tide and two jumbo packs of Charmin into her SUV. She must have company, too.

"Your girls are absolutely beautiful!" she said....

"Thank you..." I replied with a big smile...

That one of them isn't mine and that the other is not a girl seemed irrelevant...

The Rental Car

2009-12-22T06:15:00.000-05:00

So, the Honda and I were rear-ended a couple weeks ago... After a zillion phone calls with the-other-guy's insurance, I was finally able to drop the car off yesterday morning at the dealership to have the rear end returned to it's former state. I signed some papers for a shiny white Volkswagen, which will be my home away from home for the next few weeks.

I picked Drew up from school and when we walked out he stopped abruptly and said

"That's a different car, mommy."

The entire way home, we discussed the new car. "Dis a white car, mommy. Mommy has a black car. I like dis white car. I like dis new car. Mommy and Drewby drive dis new white car til other car is fixed. Mommy crashed other car. I like dis white car. I like dis new car. Dis car kinda like other car..."

And so on and so forth. Had I only know how much joy and convsersation a tiny white rented car with manual door locks and extra-loud heater would have brought into our lives...

Christmas Traditions

2009-12-19T23:05:00.007-05:00

Recently, I was talking with a friend whose husband lost his father this year.

I remember the first Christmas. It took almost a year for it to arrive, because my own father died three days after Christmas. Then my mother, 87 days after that.

It's hard to describe, and I do so with tears in my eyes. If I'm being honest, a year into it, my raw grief wasn't so raw anymore. I wasn't constantly looking around, wondering where they were a half a second before realizing a truth that I had temporarily managed to misplace. Instead, the worst part, by far, was suddenly feeling like an outsider in someone else's Christmas tradition no matter where I was, who was around or how welcome or grateful I felt to my hosts.

That part was exceptionally hard to swallow.

Our tree was from a box... it was the only one I ever remember having, so that dates it to the 70's at least. The branches were so sparse you could see the center rod from top to bottom. Remember those boxes of silver icicles? It was lousy with them. There was a ball in the center that let go a 10 second bird chirp about every 12 seconds. The ornaments were mostly handmade out of yarn and awkward elementary school pictures featuring homemade bangs. There were strung popcorn garlands, and it sported a star at the top with about 40% of the lights actually functioning. The presents weren't designer and the meal was not great. She was a terrible cook. I don't feel bad mentioning it. It's widely recognized and all part of her charm.

It might sound lousy, but it wasn't. I know that part of the reason adoption was an obvious choice for us was because there were a number of years in my life when I knew what it meant to not have a place that felt like "home". It's a poor comparison, some might say, but it is what it is. I missed being part of a family.

It's hard to believe that nearly 10 years have passed.

And now I am part of a family again. Maybe it's why I have to make myself wait until November to put the tree(s) up. Four of them. Ahem. We practically bake a batch of cookies a day in the month of December and lots of candy... toffee and peppermint bark and mocha truffles and bourbon balls... The cookie swaps, the ugly sweater parties, the spare bedroom being a mess of paper and ribbon and double-stick tape for weeks on end... it's all part of it. We read books and sing carols and watch all the movies and load up to drive around looking at tacky christmas lights six (maybe seven) nights a week.

It's nothing glamorous. But it's home.

He Says the Funniest Things...

2009-12-15T19:54:00.002-05:00

Last night, some friends came over to make Christmas candy. Drew could not have cared less.

At some point, he yanked his "fridge farm" off the fridge and indicated his frustration that it doesn't work. I examined it and realized it needed batteries. I told him it was broken and that daddy would have to fix it... I should add that I was elbow deep in melted white chocolate at the time...

A few minutes later, Drew stood by the door to the garage, with one hand on the knob, and the other carrying the fridge farm. "See you later, everybody... I go see daddy at work now."

He gets is patience from me. It's the nurture, not the nature.

Thanksgiving Memories

2009-11-22T20:49:00.003-05:00

Every year, my mother would cook a tiny dish of stuffing for me, in the oven next to the big dish for everyone else. Might did not include sage.

As much as I love Thanksgiving, some of the essential elements I'm not such a fan of. I don't understand sweet potatoes, and I abhor pumpkin pie. It should come as no surprise that my mother always made a chocolate one in addition to that yucky orange one. For me.

When she died, I was 25 and she was still cutting the crusts off of my sandwiches.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this year I am thankful that I had a mother who taught me how to be a mother, long before I ever actually needed the skill.

The Baby Shower That Wasn't

2009-11-21T21:54:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, we had a baby shower at our house.

Well, sort of.

About two hours before the baby shower, the parents-to-be called to say they were in the hospital with pre-term labor. Most of the friends invited still stopped in to drop off a gift and have some food. Which was nice, because I'm not sure what the Ponablogskis would have done with stacks of light blue plates and the makings of brunch for 40.

Baby Quin was born this morning at 32-ish weeks gestation. He was large for his age, and breathes on his own, and I love him already for making it known from the beginning that he does not abide by the agenda of othes.

Thief

2009-11-21T21:51:00.003-05:00

I went to Sam's Club this evening and collected $140 worth of things.

I got to the checkout and didn't have my wallet.

To add insult to injury, Drew had eaten half a box of unpurchased crackers while we walked through the store.

I am officially a disaster. You heard it here first.

Here Comes the Pie

2009-11-05T11:48:00.002-05:00

This post is not about Thanksgiving.

We were on our way home from dinner last night, when this song came on the radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2zSEgw8B3U

Drew sang "Here comes the pie" over and over again.

When we got home, Jeff found the cords on-line, looked over the lyrics, and within minutes, the two of them were playing and singing the song. Jeff: lead guitar and back-up vocals, Drew lead vocals.

By the way, Drew. You will probably not appreciate the tremendous talent your father has in this regard for many years. But that's OK. Because, when you do... it'll likely overwhelm you like it does me.

We had breakfast this moring to a chorus of "Here comes good-bye... here comes the last time... here comes the start of every sleepless night..."

Perhaps we should stick to Twinkle Twinkle.

...Shawty Fire Burnin' on the Dance Floor

2009-11-05T11:43:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Drew and I came downstairs to have breakfast, pack lunch, and generally get ready for the day.

Once I got him situated, I ran back upstairs to get something I had forgotten. When I came back down he had my cell phone up to his ear, and said the following:

"Hi PopPop. PopPop OK? Drewby OK! Bye Bye PopPop." I pulled the phone away and it said "Emergency Call" on the screen. I hung it up quickly, not knowing what else to do.

The 911 dispatcher called back. I explained. He was not amused.

A Gentle Reminder

2009-10-21T20:18:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby Drew,

The rules are quite simple. We do not lick the bottom of our shoes, any part of a grocery cart, or THE WALL OF THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM AT GOLDEN WOK. These are pretty much the rules all the time, but more important to note during flu season. FYI.

Love,
Mom

The Mall

2009-10-21T07:57:00.002-05:00

I hate the mall so much that I do about 98% of my shopping online. I love amazon.com.

Yesterday, Drew and I went to the mall to look at the Christmas trees at Macys. We may have discussed this before, but I am NOT in the camp of people who complain about how early the trees go up. They could never take them down, as far as I am concerned, and I would be perfectly happy. So there.

I went to the mall to buy a shirt for Drew's Halloween costume. I actually bought make-up and turkey brine. Go figure.

So we circle the 47 Christmas trees about 10 times with the exact desired effect. Lots of oohs and aahs and smiles. After a stop off at Sephora, we head to the food court. I'm in line at the Subway when the mom in front of me tells her whining (3 or 4 year old?) child to "shut the F$#% up". She had lots of tattoos and piercings, and before she walked away with her meatball sub, she told Drew to have a good day and called him sweetie. He was singing at the time, so I was pleased she didn't ask him to be quiet in her very special and unique way.

Drew and I were eating at a small table, likely covered with H1N1 virus residue, when a woman came up to us to let us know that her husband's uncle's daughter's best friend from grade school (or something?) had adopted a daughter from China. I don't mean to beat a dead horse with this, and I get that she's totally well-meaning... but it doesn't detract from the fact that Drew and I might like to enjoy our $5 ham and cheese on wheat in the relative peace that the mall food court allows. I smiled and pretended to be interested in a tale of infertility, paperwork and travel woes...

This would never happen on amazon.com. Never.

We loaded up and headed to the Williams Sonoma, where I bought a jar of turkey brine. Yes, I know it's early, but haven't we already discussed my thoughts on Holiday preparedness? I like the Macy's Christmas trees up by mid-August and the turkey brine in the pantry by mid-September. So technically, I'm a little late.

I suspect Drew will feel the same way about such things someday.

Morning Conversation

2009-10-19T08:23:00.001-05:00

Me: "Good morning, Drew... Did you have any good dreams?"
Drew: "Yes"
Me: "What did you dream about?"
Drew: "Graham's house".

I wonder if he really knows what a dream is?

I do.

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-18T19:38:00.007-05:00

Last year, we invited our friends over to carve pumpkins, and then realized that there were no pumpkins to be had in the tri-state area. This year, we learned from our mistake. Sort of. We held the event early, and bought pumpkins way far in advance. We just forgot to buy candles to light them up. Whatever.

It may not matter much. Graham and Drew put stickers on tiny pumpkins and were entertained for approximately 3 minutes. Then they got down and practiced their fledgling sharing skills with Drew's toys. With limited success.

It was fun, nonetheless. I love the fall.

Happy Birthday

2009-10-18T19:34:00.002-05:00

Tonight, Drew sang Happy Birthday to a list including but not limited to the following:

Graham
Kerney
Grapes
Daddy
Mommy
Thomas the Train
Puzzles
TV
Downstairs
Mommy's car
Panda Bear
Police Car
Lightning McQueen

Then he said grace.

Five minutes later, when Jeff said "I love you, Drew", Drew repiled with "I love cars, daddy".

Bedtime

2009-10-04T20:16:00.002-05:00

Typically, Drew goes to bed without much of a production.

Tonight, Drew had a bath and brushed his teeth. We read books and sang songs. He said night night at least twice each to all of the following: downstairs, bobby, monkey, daddy, milk, cars and mommy. Into his bed he went with Monkey, two bobbies (blankies), a teddy bear named Ben and a car in each hand.

When he cried after about 20 seconds, I went in and asked him what the problem was. He held up the monkey and one of the bobbies and said "Monkey. Bobby. Take bath?".

"No," I explained. "Monkey and Bobby do not need to take a bath, but they do need to go to sleep. In fact, look, Monkey is already asleep. Shhh. You're disturbing him".

10 minutes later, when he hadn't settled down, I ventured back in. He stood up immediately, the tears diminished quickly and he explained "Fingers hurt", while yanking on one set of fingers with the others.

"Well then stop pulling on them..." I kissed the victimized fingers and then asked him if he could lay down and go night night for mommy to which he responded with a reluctant "yes" and repeated "fingers hurt... kiss fingers" while kissing them himself.

I guess he and his dirty monkey, dirty bobby, and injured fingers worked it all out, because that's the last we've heard from any of them this evening.

I enjoy that he's smart enough to figure out reasons to stay awake. I don't enjoy that he's smart enough to figure out reasons to stay awake. It's bittersweet, as they say.

Halloween is Coming

2009-10-04T14:02:00.005-05:00

The Ponablogski Annual Fmaily Halloween Costume has been decided. You might think it's a bit early, but if you think that, you should know that we've actually been discussing the costume since early August. I won't reveal the actual decision here, because what fun would that be? I will, however, give you the short list of ideas which were rejected.

1.) We rejected the Star Wars option largely because Drew was Yoda last year. Time for us to branch out. In this scenario, I would have been C3PO, Drew: R2D2 and Jeff: Princess Leia.

2.) Drew really loves his Bert and Ernie books. Drew as Ernie, Kathy as Bert, Jeff as Rubber Ducky. It's impossible to find an adult Rubber Ducky costume, so that was also a reject.

3.) I think Jeff would've made a great Harry Potter, and Drew the most adorable little Dumbledore. But where did that leave me?

That's really about all we entertained, except the winner. Halloween might be my favorite part of fall. Or the fall festivals. Or caramel apples. Or the awesome weather. Or all the football. Or that Christmas is coming.

Happy fall, everyone. :)

Sick Day

2009-09-21T16:41:00.003-05:00

Drew threw up all night on Friday, but seemed to recover nicely on Saturday. Subsequently, Jeff and I were up all last night engaging in the same and similar activities.

We both called in to work today, which is pretty rare, but since Drew was fine, we decided to drive him to school since they'd probably be better able to take care of him than we, in our extremely weakened conditions. As we were both lay there , praying to die, we tried to amicably decide who would bite the bullet and drive him the 6 miles there and heroically make it the 6 miles back. I made a point that I'd prefer not been seen in public without make-up, but my competitor made a better argument, and I effectively drew the short straw.

Drew through a fit heavily dosed with tears and histrionics on my leaving. I was roughly 3 minutes into my drive home, fantasizing about a cocktail of Sprite and phenergan, when the phone rang. He was so angry, he threw up on his teacher, the absolutely lovely and delightful Ms. Abby. Back I went, feeling horribly guilty on top of everything else. I really do love his teacher, and hate the idea that it was my kid who got her day off to a roaring start. At moments like these, I feel like a truly horrible parent. I tried to keep from crying when I loaded him and his monster truck lunchbox back in the car. He was smiling, for the record.

So we all crawled back in bed, and I may have dozed off for a few minutes to Jeff snoring and Drew (between us)discussing a myriad of subjects amongst himself. I laid there, in my cozy bed, under layers of down, in the dark, with the rain pouring outside and with everyone I love most at arms-length.

Maybe sick days aren't so bad. Sans the vomit, that is.

Graham Crackers

2009-09-17T20:48:00.002-05:00

We bought a box of graham crackers a couple weeks ago to make smores. Then we realized there's no firewood within a 500 mile radius that wouldn't require us to both trespass and weild an axe.

Just as well, we discovered how much Drew loves the crackers, and more specifically how much he loves to torment the dog with them. Don't worry, she is victorious at least 50%
of the time...

Wedding Reception Behavior

2009-09-17T20:29:00.002-05:00

Playing peek-a-boo may or may not be considered bad manners.

The Wednesday Wedding

2009-09-17T20:05:00.000-05:00

We went to a wedding last week, on Wednesday. 09/09/09.

It was a very beautiful wedding, and Drew enjoyed himself immensely. When the bridesmaids came down the aisle, he became increasingly more excited with each one, at first whispering, and in the end practically shouting "pitty fowers". They really were quite pretty flowers. When the music was playing, it wasn't so much of an issue, but when the bride appeared and the music stopped, we headed out to leave the minister, bride and groom to conduct the more pressing business at hand.

Drew and I stood in the back (it was an outdoor wedding) with a drove of other toddlers and their associated (exhausted-looking) parents. We shared our collective notion that it will likely be a few years before we enjoy a wedding as it is meant to be enjoyed: in relative peace and quiet, wearing a lovely outfit and sitting in an actual seat.

Lessons Learned

2009-08-31T19:37:00.002-05:00

When Drew held up his Monkey to me last night, he uttered a word I couldn't understand. After reapeating it about 3 times, he looked at Monkey and said "No... Monkey!". Then he took Monkey in the dining room, and sat him in the time-out corner. Finally I understood he had been saying "Monkey time-out". He stepped back and stared at him for about 5 seconds, and then said "beep beep" (a clear imitation of the timer on the microwave). He then picked Monkey up, hugged him and said "No naughty, Monkey".

I hope Monkey learned the lesson Drew intended to teach. This all happened about 30 minutes after Drew had experienced practically back-to-back timeouts for throwing various objects at my face. On the phone with Daddy a few minutes after short-term incarceration #2, I heard Jeff ask if he had been naughty, and Drew say "Yes. Two time-out".

True Love

2009-08-27T21:01:00.003-05:00

Drew's been enamored with a girl in his class named Hope for months now. He recently learned her last name, which I feel I should not announce here, for privacy sake.

All day and all night, Drew talks about Hope Lastnamehere.

"Drew, should we go outside?"
"Hope Lastnamehere outside?"
"No, I don't think Hope Lastnamehere is in our backyard. I'd be shocked in fact, if she was"

"Drew, what movie should we watch"
"Watch movie with Hope Lastnamehere?"

Every morning:
"Ride mommy car go school see Hope Lastnamehere?"

Last week it was Hope Lastnamehere's birthday... At pick up, I told Drew to get his lunchbox and tell everyone goodbye. He grabbed his lunchbox, then hugged and kissed her and said "Happy Birthday, Hope Lastnamehere!"

You're a lucky girl, Hope Lastnamehere.

Bossy

2009-08-17T09:25:00.002-05:00

This morning, Drew pushed against me with his monkey in the kitchen. He then pulled the monkey back and scolded "NOOOO Monkey... Mommy cooking waffles."

Yesterday afternoon, he grabbed his stuffed cow, Moo, and demanded he drink some milk. He had Moo's head in one hand, his sippy cup in the other, and crammed the two together violently while yelling "Moo thirsty. Moo drink milk. Yes."

Perhaps I need to re-evaluate the tone of my parenting.

Referral Day

2009-08-14T20:35:00.003-05:00

Two years ago today, we got the news we'd been waiting for. A five week old baby boy born in Yuanlin, Taiwan had been referred to us.

It's impossible to believe that so much time has passed.

We took Drew to the Build-a-Bear workshop to celebrate. He reviewed each of the potential animals in front of him and for each one he said "Hold it?". One by one, he gave each a good hug and kiss before settling on a light brown bear. The sound device in his left hand has a recorded message from us that says "I love you Drew... I love you son...".

We couldn't have picked a more perfect little boy for us if we'd had all the children in the world to choose from. Even if we held and hugged and kissed them one at a time.

RIP John Hughes

2009-08-10T07:50:00.003-05:00

So far, 2009 is shaping up to be a really terrible year for 80s pop culture icons.

In honor of the late John Hughes, Jeff and I held the (first annual) Ponablogski John Hughes tribute film festival this weekend. We watched both of the John Hughes films that we own: Uncle Buck and The Breakfast Club.

Drew did not participate. Because of language issues.

The Vacay Pics, in no Particular Order

2009-08-06T19:42:00.019-05:00

I really love this picture...

He also kissed the turtle several times... 'keesss... tuh - tle...'

Jack considers his next move...

Lori and Freeman...

Pretty girls...

Jeff shared a ride to the airport with Auntie Stephani, who made him giggle. A lot. I never had a cool Aunt when I was little and he has many. I'm very jealous.

Post Panera grilled cheese lunch.

Shana and Haley enjoy the kiddie pool. Two families with children from Taiwan were able to meet us for a day at the beach. It ended up being an hour at the beach, due to uncooperative weather, but it was nice nonetheless.

Shana and Kevin with Mia, Haley and Kyan; Alan and Beth with Brady. Me and adorable on the right.

He cruises the pool deck.

I was a little shocked he finally gave in and enjoyed (tolerated) the water a bit...

Uncle Bradley....

Uncle Robby...

With cousins at the zoo...

Drew and Brady at the zoo.

The day at the zoo is over, a farewell pic...

Drew gets some assistance at the ice cream social. His cousin made him a sundae that included vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, half a gallon of whipped cream, and approximately 14 cherries. He ate 3 bites.

I love this kid.

Vacation

2009-08-02T20:34:00.005-05:00

I apologize for my brief absense from the blogosphere. I wish I had a good excuse. I really can't believe it's been almost three weeks.

Drew and I just returned from vacation in Florida. Jeff was unable to go at the last minute, and we all missed each other terribly. Drew used the vacay as an opportunity to reaffirm his hate for sand, deepen his love for his cousins and expand his language skills...

I know I seem to say it a lot, but I wish I could freeze time. For example:

Drew and I had a conversation/argument that lasted practically the entire trip down about the nature of the vehicle we were in: I explained repeatedly that it was an airplane. I showed him the clouds out the window. I viewed the actual plane itself when it was at the gate before we boarded. I cited numerous articles of evidence from Sky magazine.

"Mommy Rupee ride bus. Mommy seat (points), Rupee seat (points, grins at flight attendant)."

"No Drew, Mommy and Drew are on an airplane... we're flying through the air on a big plane...:

"Mommy Rupee ride bus. Mommy seat (points), Rupee seat (points, grins at flight attendant)."

You get the idea.

I think it's safe to say that Drew was a fan favorite at the resort. He grinned and kissed and winked his way into the hearts of practically every guest there... every time he showed up poolside, in the lobby, or on the beach it seemed like adoring fans were there to greet him.

He was nearly constantly on this hip of one of his cousins: Kenzie, Emily and Skyla. They read him books, they fed him ice cream, the taught him how to jump on the bed. Several nights I put him to bed in his portable crib, and listened to a desperate round of him calling out each of their names in hope that they would rescue him for this horrible fate known as bedtime.... "Kenddddie.... Emmmmmie.... Kyyyylllllaaaa".

Very sad.

He swam in the 'pitty ocean' and more than once it rocked him right to sleep in his little inflatable turtle... He enjoyed his bunkmates Jack and Freeman by running through the condo with them at full speed talking about cars and trucks and pools. He swam in the kiddie pool with his Taiwanese friends Brady, Mia and Kyan who visited us the first day we were there. He saw elephants at the zoo.

It was a wonderful trip, but we are glad to be back with the daddy. It's always good to come home. I'll post pictures in the next few days... promise.

The Barnyard Bash

2009-07-14T21:12:00.016-05:00

The Ponablogski Boys

2009-07-14T20:53:00.008-05:00

The Currency of India

2009-07-14T20:44:00.003-05:00

Rupee.

That's what he calls himself.

Up until this week, he's never called himself anything, except to make a closed-mouth sort of grunt at the mirror when asked.

Rupee reviewed all of his birthday party pictures tonight, and labeled practically every person, location, animal, vegetable and mineral in them.

"Ruppee. Ruppee Daddy. Matttttt. Mattttt Daddy. Ow-sie (outside). Gogdy (doggy). "

According to the internet, as of today, one Rupee is worth approximately 1/49th of an American dollar. 2 cents.

I think mine is worth substantially more.

He Woke Up a Year Older...

2009-07-13T20:16:00.011-05:00

He Turns Two

2009-07-08T21:01:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby Drew,

Someday, you might wonder what we did on the last day that you were one year old.

You had waffles and strawberries for breakfast and wore plaid shorts and a polo shirt with whales on it to school. On the way there you told me about all the cars and trucks we passed, while clinging to a red a green matchbox car, one in each hand. When we got there, you were mad and fussed a little because you couldn't take your little cars inside school. When you saw Miss Abby, you smiled really big. You had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and when I picked you up, you announced you were Miss Emily's boy when she asked. We met Graham and his mom and dad at the park, where Catherine took your picture over and over again. You loved the swings. We went to Cheapside for dinner where you demanded pizza and I had a black bean burger... my favorite. We came home and you went to sleep and I made cookies to take to school for your birthday: Chocolate Chunk, from the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook.

When you woke up after sleeping only an hour tonight, I held you and your blankie in my arms, and sang you the same song I have sang to you, literally, every day of our lives together. As you fell back to sleep, I realized that the next time you would wake, you would be two years old. And I cried. Daddy called me on his way home from work to tell me he had stopped to get your gift. It's no secret and you probably know by now that it's a tricycle. I think you're too little for one, but he doesn't.

He is probably right, and I am probably in denial.

They might seem like trivial details, but they aren't to me. Someday, when you are big and grown and out of my sight, I will want to remember every single last trivial detail of what it was like to be your mother when you were just one year old.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy. I love you so very much,

Mom

Multi Media

2009-07-07T11:52:00.002-05:00

I got a text message this morning from Drew's teacher, with this picture, and the text:

"Kathy, Drew can wink!"

That he can. That he can.

I forwarded it to Jeff, and asked him what it feels like to have the most adorable, most hilarious, most loved child on earth. It's a very exclusive club...

Time Out

2009-07-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

This morning, Baby Drew got out of bed and somehow managed to carry a bear, a cow, a bobby (blankie) and an orange plastic baseball bat from his room down the hallway to our room. Typically, he likes to transport assortments of items such as these to our bed, hoist them up onto it, and then climb up there himself.

This morning, Kerney was still up there snoozing when he joined her with his collection of toys. He immediately picked the baseball bat, wound up like Barry Bonds (bases loaded, tied up in the bottom of the ninth), and made contact with her head. She yelped.

As he sat contemplating his horrifying actions in a make-shift time-out corner, he glared at me sourly showing, seemingly, no remorse.

I wonder if this is how it all started for Michael Vick and that kid in Florida who skinned all those cats last month. Jeff noted last night that you don't have to teach a child to be bad... you have to teach them to be good. They somehow seem come into being knowing the ins and outs of naughty. I'm sure Jeff's didn't invent the idea, but he's right nonetheless.

RIP

2009-07-01T19:47:00.005-05:00

There was a big poster of the Jackson 5 on the wall of my first grade classroom. I don't know why. It was probably 1981.

I watched the Thriller video on MTV (back when they really played videos) for the first time circa 1984. It scared the life out of me, and I may or may not have slept in my brother's room for about 3 weeks after that first viewing.

In middle school, I went to the roller rink every weekend. Bad. Beat it.

When I was a Senior in high school, the Superbowl halftime show brought me, literally, to tears. The world really did need healing.

People my age, thankfully, can remember a time when he was just a fairly normal guy with abnormal talent.

Here's Drew's tribute to the deceased King of Pop. This happens to be my very favorite MJ song... purely coincidental.

Catching Up...

2009-06-30T21:05:00.002-05:00

In the beginning, Drew's language was "delayed".

Suspecting this, we consulted a speech therapist last fall who came to our house, unloaded a truck full of complicated apparati (read: toys), and after asking questions and completing a series of complicated diagnostic worksheets, she concurred.

That seems like a long time ago.

On Sunday, Jeff called me 6 times at the grocery. The phone was on vibrate, and I was so caught up in the whimsy of fresh summer produce that I didn't hear it vibrate. When I finally called him back, I assumed he was on his way to the ER, or standing in the front yard with Drew and the dog, watching the house blaze.

"Drew knows all the last words in the book about trains, Kathy... he knows all of them. We haven't read it in weeks, and I picked it up and paused on each page and he filled in the last word... he didn't miss any."

He thinks we have some kind of savant on our hands and I tend to agree...

Tonight, while on the couch, Drew unexpectedly poked me in the eye and grinned. I explained that we do not touch anyone's eyeball, including our own.

"Naughty..." he responded, quite seriously, while nodding his head in apparent agreement.

Home Improvement

2009-06-15T21:16:00.005-05:00

Jeff and I are enjoying the new flooring he installed last week. I am really impressed with my husband's home improvement skills. There may be lots of projects in his future.

Drew likes it so much, he's even delighted to help clean it.

Drew's swiffer mop harassment of Kerney is amusing, and we really do put forth our best effort to make sure he doesn't actually hurt her. Besides, if it really bothered her, she'd remove herself from the situation, right?

These two certainly do seem to love each other more and more every day. Drew laughs like this every time he's around her, and I really do love her for tolerating him...

There I said it. I love the dog. Someone call the media.

Drew Drew Vocabulary Translations for Novices

2009-06-15T12:02:00.004-05:00

"Awful" - Waffle

"Party" - Strawberry

"Pork" - Fork

"Poon" - Spoon

"Hot" - Macaroni

"Daddy Potty?" - Daddy is anywhere except standing next to him.

"Bobby" - Blankie

"Ree Ree... Ree Book " - Please read this book to me.

"Nack" - Snack. Food of any kind.

"NOOOO, my nack". - Kerney, please do not try to eat my food.

"$hit" - I am officially the mother of the year. Also, I'm glad we didn't actually rear-end the mini-van.

Lucky Girl

2009-06-12T10:59:00.004-05:00

I recently read a really nice memoir, by Mei-Ling Hopgood, a grown Taiwanese adoptee. In Lucky Girl, she details her adoption from Taiwan as an infant, her childhood in the United States and becoming aquainted with her birth family as an adult.

I liked the book because it felt like an honest account of her identity struggle as an adoptee. Though I doubt Mei-Ling wrote the book to calm the fears of adoptive parents, that's what she did for me. I fear that a day will come, and it will, that Drew realizes that our family is different, and it breaks me heart to think that for a single second, it will make him feel insecure about who he is. The book (unwittingly?) suggests that that if you love your child, give them a happy upbringing in a stable home and throw your entire support behind their needs/feelings regarding their birthfamily, that they might just be fine and functional in the end.

Which is good, because that's pretty much what we plan to do.

Also, her descriptions of places where Jeff, Drew and I have stood brought back happy memories of temples, night markets and steamers full of Din Tai Fung dumplings that were so delicious it felt like they exploded in your mouth. Also probably not her motivation for telling her story. Whatever.

I say read it. Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another to a review published in Adoptive Families magazine, which I feel like I should warn you, is no where near as insightful as mine. Duh.

And while we're on the subject, here's a link to our favorite pork dumplings. Cook them for 13 minutes in a bamboo steamer over a simmering wok, and I promise they will change your life. Forever.

Conversation

2009-06-09T22:19:00.002-05:00

Drew is becoming quite conversational. In the car, for example.

Drew: Cuck. BIG Cuck!
Kathy: Yep... that is a big truck
Drew: Yep (nods head)

(5 seconds pass)

Drew: Car. Beep Beep Car!
Kathy: Yep... that is a car
Drew: Yep (nods head)

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. The entire drive to school.

If you do not verify for him that what he thinks he is seeing is in fact what he is seeing, he will keep stating it until you do.

Drew: Car. Beep Beep Car!
Drew: Beep Beep Car! (louder)
Drew: Beep Beep Car! (even louder)
Kathy: Yep... that is a car
Drew: Yep (nods head)

Gatlinburg - 2009

2009-06-07T22:05:00.015-05:00

Somebody put some pants on those kids...

If you can't get them all to look in the same direction, it's almost as good is to get NONE of them looking in the same direction.

Sweet...

Sweeter...

It was a day of careful attention to nutrition...

I wonder what he wished for...

Sucker. Car. Dancing. All necessities to happiness present.

" So, Kathy... what would you look like with no make-up or hair dryer? " The kid totally saves this pic... He insisted on an encore, and said the word "Neigh" continuously while giggling for about 10 minutes.

I assumed he would either love or hate this ride, but there was no line, and he and Jack were the only two kids on it, so I took a risk that paid off big time. He loved it!

Drew. Jack. Thomas.

Cutest. Kids. Ever.

Family Vacation

2009-06-07T21:27:00.003-05:00

I grew up in a nuclear family of sorts, with one mom, one dad and one brother.

My mother and father met in July of 1971, and were married in October that same year. They drove to a neighboring state to take care of the logistics and notified all friends and relatives on their return. At this point in the story, my father would always mention that the whole deal cost him $115. The marriage license was $39 and the fuel pump that went out on the way back was $76. He would announce this as though it was an integral detail of the story.

It should not come as a surprise, that my father may or may not have been the cheapest man who ever lived. He was 62 when I was born, and retired the next year and moved us all to Florida. Every summer, we would drive to Kentucky to spend several weeks. The drive itself would take approximately 4 days. I don't know how.

Along the way, we would eat suspect food at suspect nameless restaurants and spend the night in even more suspect establishments. One hotel room didn't have a door on the bathroom, and my mom sat in the car with both of us so my dad could take a shower. One required us all to towel the sand off our feet before getting into bed. It was in Indiana. My very favorite motel included, at no additional charge, the appearance of an unnamed drunk gentleman banging on the door and threatening bodily harm to someone named Keith at 2am. My father (age 75 at the time) obliged his visit by yanking open the door in his underwear and explaining that he didn't know who the hell Keith was, but that he'd be happy to act on his behalf if need be.

This weekend, my BFF Ruby and I went to Gatlinburg, and stayed in a cabin owned by my brother. The last time I stayed there, I walked into the kitchen with the lights out and met a mouse who was fat, dumb and happy. On my order, Jeff Ponablogski packed our bags (as I stood on the bed) and we went to the Fairfield Inn in Pigeon Forge. For two years after that, I referred to my brother exclusively as the "slum lord" in all forms of correspondence and reference.

Since I moved to town, I don't do rodents. Also, I need at least a Fairfield Inn. I really hope that Drew will have happy memories of time spent with family, in spite of my high-browed needs.

The Tie That Binds

2009-06-07T20:34:00.003-05:00

Arrogantly, perhaps, I will go on record saying that I believe that adoptive mothers are a very unique group of people. We are bound to each other by a shared experience that is quite different from that of other mothers. We really don't have to have much in common outside of not having physically given birth to some or all of our children. That's enough.

Our experience is one that is not as easily understood by outsiders, and also that which draws us to each other. Paperwork, home equity loans, the pouring out of our medical and financial histories for relative strangers to review and deem fit for motherhood and being at the capricious whim of an adoption agency worker/government office/foreign judge/every other living being are all issues that do not require over-explanation amongst each other.

We understand the unique and immeasurable love of a child who is not made of us.

When Beth's referral came last week, I cried happy tears for/with her. It brought the memory back like a flood of what it was like to see my baby's face for the first time, after months of wondering what he would look like, if I'd think he was cute and if I'd know instantly when I saw him that he was meant to be mine. The difference for those in our exclusive club is that those first images are not the end of the wait, but only the beginning of the worst part of it.

Good thing Beth has an army of sisters and those sweet chubby cheeks to see her through.

I Dreamed a Dream...

2009-06-01T20:02:00.002-05:00

Last night, I dreamed that my mother came to visit.

She came in the door, and never uttered a word in my direction. She threw her arms around my baby, and the two of them walked into the kitchen together.

It was the best dream I've ever had.

The Clubhouse

2009-05-31T21:50:00.002-05:00

Memorial Day

2009-05-31T21:12:00.006-05:00

I almost forgot... Drew had a fabulous time entertaining his friends for Memorial Day.

The Elmos

2009-05-31T21:01:00.003-05:00

For Christmas last year, in the spirt of sacrificial love, my brother sent Drew a delightful toy called "Elmo Live". He called it payback for a drum set our mother bought for one of his children 15 years ago. Up until this point, I'd had no idea that retribution had an inheritance factor.

Our adoption foundation held a garage sale last month, and I was surprised to see a couple of Elmo Live's friends there. At 50 cents each, Chicken Dance Elmo and Hokey Pokey Elmo were too good a deal to pass up. They joined an American flag chip-n-dip in a box and home they came.

At least 20 times a day, Drew yanks them individually off the shelf, and presses the appropraite appendage to create 30 seconds worth of pure glee for himself. Yesterday, Hokey Pokey was just wrapping up his routine, and at the end he declared "Elmo's pooped"...

Drew looked puzzled, and one by one, Drew picked up each Elmo and checked his bottom for the evidence. Luckily, he found none.

T.V.

2009-05-27T19:50:00.003-05:00

Tonight, Drew and I sat together and enjoyed a very intellectually stimulating television program called "Friends".

After watching Ross and Rachel engaged in a lip lock for about 20 seconds, Drew climbed down, walked over and picked up "Moo" the stuffed cow, and made out with him for approximately the same amount of time. He then walked over to the table, strapped Moo into the high chair (sort of) and then tried to feed him the rest of his dinner.

Yesterday, he yelled "YaYa!!! PopPop!!!" and ran toward the TV at full speed, giggling. I looked up to see George Kastanza and Jerry Seinfeld having coffee.

Might be time to buy some Baby Einstein videos.

Alias

2009-05-21T13:49:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, I stepped out of the shower, and realized Drew was awake... I threw on my bright red bathrobe, and went to fetch him.

I have to say I dread these mornings, when he's awake before my morning routine is complete... it's a little challenging to hold a hair dryer in one hand, a mascara wand in the other and something to entertain a toddler in the other. Even the best of mothers will always end up at least one hand short in these scenarios, and will look 75% dishevelled for 90% of the day.

I entered the room, to find him standing up, holding his blankie, and grinning ear-to-ear.

"Elmo?" he inquired...

I love the bathrobe, so it stays. I'm glad my nose is somewhat appropriately proportioned to my face, else it might have been a blow to my ego...

A New Era

2009-05-21T13:44:00.002-05:00

"Poop" he said this morning over breakfast, while pointing to his diaper and grinning.

I got up to investigate, and when I found no evidence, I stripped him down and held him on the potty. He screamed and cried. I suppose it must be stressful to have solid ground under neither one's feet or one's bottom. I get it. I got him down and put the diaper back on, where he promptly pooped. Jeff is stopping on the way home for a potty that is a little less intimidating.

And so it begins.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-18T21:16:00.003-05:00

My Wordless Wednesday posts are inconsistent, never wordless and rarely on a Wednesday.

I'm powerless to fix it.

The Loves of My Life

2009-05-18T21:13:00.003-05:00

Travel

2009-05-18T20:47:00.012-05:00

We boarded a plane last week bound for YaYa and PopPop's house. About 10 minutes in, we were regretting it, and I'm sure every passenger on the direct Delta flight felt the same way.

Drew screamed and cried and kicked and fought for over and hour. He threw every cup, toy, book and conciliatory item he was offered back at it's offerer (mostly me and Jeff, but once the flight attendant, Judy). We passed him back and forth, walked him up the aisle and made promises we could never possibly fulfill. As we made our initial descent into BWI, he finally fell asleep, exhausted from his antics, and I half expected a round of applause.

As you can see, the trip was totally worth it, and he was an angel on the return flight.

Aunt Caroline

2009-05-18T20:38:00.005-05:00

The National Aquarium

2009-05-18T20:26:00.007-05:00

At the National Aquarium, you will find one of the most extensive collections of marine life in the western hemisphere.

You will not, however find any strollers. They don't allow them. You check your stroller at the door, like it's a wool coat, and if you ask nicely, they'll gladly swap it for a claim check and a baby backpack.

Roots

2009-05-10T21:44:00.017-05:00

In celebration of Mother's Day, my aunt made me breakfast and then spent about 25 minutes expounding on on the following 2 topics: A.) Barack Obama is the anti-Christ, and we will all be raptured from the earth during his administration and B.) Drew should have been potty-trained months ago.

Happy Mother's Day to me.

Drew happily ate his sausage and eggs while all this was going on, and still had time to get down and make out with her dog for about 22 minutes.

So then, leg two of the mother's day 09 cross country party tour took us to the IGA in my hometown. I bought two cemetery wreaths and promptly received the following reprimand:

"You realize this store hasn't been Hancock IGA in 15 years..."

"Uh.. oh yeah, i guess not... do I need to re-write this check?"

"No."

Then why bring it up? Happy Mother's Day to me .

I stopped at two more stores in search of fresh flowers, with no luck. I did meet a nice woman at the last store who was buying a carton of Red pack Marlboros, presumably for her (-1) month old baby.

Happy Mother's Day to her.

Maybe it's morbid, but I'm guessing you'll forgive me, because I love this picture. Something tells me my father would have as well.

My parents are buried in separate locations. It's a long and complicated story, but the long and the short of it is that my father was married before, and had a child who died as a teenager. He is buried next to the child, in his family cemetery. My mother never wanted to spend eternity with "a yard full of (my father's) family". Besides, she wanted to be near her parents and siblings. So my brother and I carried out their wishes, much to the dismay of my aunt. If she'd had time today, I'm sure she'd have touched on the topic. I guess her lecture notes left her short on time.

I feel like it's important to remember where we come from. My parents have been gone for nearly 10 years now, but I want Drew to know how valuable those years were. When the clerk at the former Hancock IGA went on to ask me who I was, I told her my parents' names, which, in small town America, is the only true marker of "who you are". When she responded with only "Oh yes, I knew them..." I assumed that her lack of emotion meant she knew my father. I explained to Drew in the car that people either loved him or hated him, and that he and I are in the "loved" category.

On we drove... now would be a good time to tell you that I'm sort of famous. My great - great- grandfather introduced planatation farming to Hancock County in the early 1800s, and as such his farm is on the national register of historic places. The orginal farmhouse is still there, and just beyond it, the family cemetery. Hold your applause.

My mother rests in a place that is so quiet you can hear your own breath. The hillside is breathtakingly beautiful. Drew and I sat quietly there for a long time today, and I feel like he must have felt as peaceful as I did, and as she surely must. I'm glad for her. She deserves an eternity of peace and quiet, as all mothers do.

Especially on Mother's Day. Ahem.

We took a couple of self-portraits, stopped for lunch and headed for home.

I thought a lot today about the second most important mother in my life... I hope she feels all of our gratitude all the way on the other side of the world, on this very special day and everyday.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T14:18:00.004-05:00

The Convoy

2009-05-05T22:12:00.004-05:00

This might be the happiest caboose I've ever seen...

Simon Says

2009-05-05T21:58:00.002-05:00

He's still learning...

Mother's Day Gifts I Do Not Wish to Receive

2009-05-05T07:42:00.002-05:00

I could present this post as a word of advice to my male readers, but as far as I know, I don't have any, except my husband. Even my brother got bored and gave up months ago.

If I'm wrong, and you are A. Male and B. Reading This, please be sure to leave a comment so I'll know to stand corrected.

Here is a list of MUST NOT HAVE items for mother's day:

A rose, hand picked and preserved at its peak of beauty, and dipped in 24-karat gold.

Any package listed on the International Star Registry, particluarly the ones including gigantic 16X20 prints, meant to be hung on the wall. Trust me, she does not want a star named for her even if it comes with a wallet card so that she can show off. Under no circumstances will she brag to her friends about this.

Any component of the "Open Hearts" collection that Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is constanting promoting. The ultimate symbol of love that she spent years designing reminds me of a King Cobra or some type of mathematical symbol that I feel like I should remember from Calc 1, but can't.

Anything that plugs into the wall.

The Derby

2009-05-02T19:56:00.003-05:00

The 135th running of the Kentucky Derby was so exciting Drew couldn't tear himself away.

Boots

2009-04-30T21:26:00.008-05:00

Drew loves cats.

It's always seemed odd to me considering we don't have a cat. We do have an obnoxious dog. On second thought, maybe it should not be so shocking that he would love something else.

Up until this point, Drew's love of cats has been entirely and absolutely unrequited. The enthusiasm he exudes when presented with one is matched only by their remarkable ability to get the hell out of there as fast as possible at the mere sight of him, running toward them, arms outstretched, shouting "MEE-OW.... MEE-OW.... MEE-OW..."

Until this week, that is... I wouldn't say Boots the cat loved him back, but she did tolerate him, and that's really the best he could hope for...