Yup

Please

Please, please, please let us win this election... from a blurb on cnn about Palin...

Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. "She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast." That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor.

Banning books? Are you serious? I'm going to bed.

ugh

It seems like Kaia is always sick. It's never anything big, thank goodness, but the little fevers and all seem neverending. Last week, she had a fever for almost a week (roseola). This weekend, it was vomit and diarrhea and very little appetite. I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow (we called the on-call the morning she puked to see if we needed to take her in) and see what we should do. She has very little interest in eating right now and I'm pretty sure she has lost some of the weight we were so happy to see that she had gained. Stressful business, this being a parent. Anyway, she only puked once and there's only been one more diarrhea episode so I think she's fine, but the not eating stuff... oy. I hope that is related to maybe her teething or something.

One good thing about her not feeling well, it got us out of a visit with great grandmother. For those of you who don't know her, I know how harsh it sounds when I bitch about her but she is the most manipulative, conniving hag I have ever met. She is the female match to my dad, I swear it. She had the nerve to tell Cory that she knew we wanted to hold Kaia when she didn't feel well, but that we were making her not like other people. The next time I see her, I'm going to make sure she knows how Kaia reaches out for Aunt Paula, and how Grandma Jane made her laugh and how much she adores Grandma Cheney. Even Grandpa Ward makes her smile. Nevermind the fact that she smiles at Miss Vicky when we take her to daycare. Right. She just doesn't like YOU, old hag. Babies aren't stupid. She senses that she's a nutbag.

Grr. Like I said, I know it's harsh but fuck all, it's my blog and I needed to vent!

So much love, all in one place :)

How I Spent My Halo Vacation

Back in May or June, I ordered new bedding for our room. It's been sitting in a box in the guestroom ever since. After Father's Day, Cory asked what was in the box, and I told him it was a secret, and that if I ever got around to it, it would be really cool. What I didn't tell him was that I had plans of my own for Halo Weekend in Chicago.

THIS is what my mom, sister and I did all day Saturday and half of Sunday:

We worked our booties off and it looks awesome. "Pelican Ice" and "Autumn Fog" look mighty nice together, don't they? :) I'm proud of how it turned out. And I bought the bedding in king size so that when we get a new bed at tax refund time, we can still use it.

I let Cory calm down after the drive home and the barking dogs... then casually told him Kaia & I had a surprise for him. I made him close his eyes and everything for the "big reveal." He opened them, looked around and went "Holy Fuck!" to which I hoped my mom didn't hear but she did. Hey ma, I think he likes it!

It has been so much fun having my Mom around. She came over Wednesday night and spent the night and went back over to Paula's tonight. She has been playing babysitter and loving it, as well as bottle washer and laundry person. She probably hasn't loved that part as much though...

sigh

I'm sitting in the living room, watching cycling on the Olympics and missing my best friend. :( Kaia is in her swing and the sound of it is about to put me to sleep. Cory's at the movies, Paula's on her way to get my mom so she can come spend some time with Kaia and I'm supposed to be cleaning, but I am so sleepy. And so desperate for a mountain dew!

Kaia had a long adventure yesterday. Every time we take her somewhere, we put her in her carseat and ask her if she is ready to go on an adventure. Yesterday, her travels took her to Sam's Club, On the Border, Target and Grandma's. She barely slept at all until the ride home. Just like the dogs used to do. ;)

Cory & I gave the wee one to Grandma at lowe's after we all shopped at Target. We had plans so she was going on an adventure with Grandma instead of Mom & Dad. It felt freaky to put her in someone else's car but we made it. And had a great time too. We met Laura & Brian who were in from Indiana at Kilkenny's for a drink. I had my first alcoholic beverage in well over a year. Best shandy ever! It was fun to catch up but we couldn't get back to Sapulpa fast enough. :) What can I say, I miss my baby when she's not with me.

I feel bad for these cyclists in Beijing. It's raining like crazy and road tires plus wet pavement is a scary thing. Beautiful route though. Not that they get to enjoy it during their race.

Cory & I worked out 5 times this week. The lunch routine is awesome. Just what we needed to get us going again.

Irritated

I had my first "kaia, you're killin' me" moment today. She woke up at 4-something, again, screaming her wee tiny head off. We did the usual: sleepwalk to kitchen, make a bottle, sleepwalk to nursery, change diaper, feed baby... only this time, she only took about an ounce and a half and cried some more, then went back to sleep. We don't know why she is crying out in the middle of the night if it's not hunger. She does it when she naps too. We're not talking about her whimpers either. All out screaming, from a dead sleep. It's like night terrors but I don't think she is old enough to have those. Anyway, I was irritated. It seemed like she cried from about 6 p.m. on last night. I have a feeling she might be getting an infection in the other ear. :(

The dogs are not helping my irritability much. Tonight, we were on the couch and she was very curious about Fletcher. I let him sniff her (again, not like we haven't introduced them by now) and I let her touch him. She was so happy. So we sat there, and I kept reassuring Fletcher, petting him and telling him he was such a good boy... then Kaia started babbling and his ears went down and he started growling. I told him to get down and he just sat there. I said it again like 10 times. Finally, I stood up and went to shoosh him off the couch and he snapped at me. Yeah, into the kitchen you both go, damn dogs. If either of them ever hurt Kaia... well, it'll be a sad day in the Cheney household.

We got an exersaucer for Kaia this weekend and a bumbo. You should see her in that little seat. It's too cute. I have a picture but haven't downloaded it yet. Check back for it soon.

Cory & I have a new workout plan. Lunch. We start today. I think it might work for us. No guilt for leaving the wee one behind, and no waste of time alternating who goes and who stays. We'll keep you posted, cuz I know you're dying to know about our workout regimen.

Work is keeping me extremely busy these days but it's all good. I finally got an on-site farmer's market going so employees can payroll deduct fresh fruits, veggies, breads... plus I get to sit out under a canopy from 7-11 and call it work. I love my job. The gym has asked me to take cycling class back once a week. I don't really miss teaching but I'm thinking about doing it. I told them I would try once a month and see how it feels.

I'm still pumping. I was trying to quit but I just can't. Kaia doesn't like the formula as much as the breast milk. We are using both though, so at least I'm not pumping all the time. Just 2-3 times a day now. We'll see if I can quit for real or not. I want to so I can get on cholesterol medicine and get rid of these big ol' boobies but... the little one needs it so what's a mum to do??