tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66046896292663476892011-04-21T15:45:20.453-07:00kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.comBlogger1051100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-17941754186629711372009-01-06T11:24:00.001-08:002009-01-06T11:33:39.246-08:00

You may have noticed I haven't posted anything in a while.Yeah. About that. Two kids. Harder than one kid. I guess most of you knew that. I underestimated. Hoping life resumes to some semblance of normal at some point.But I wanted to wish my bloggy friends a Happy New Year and post some of our Christmas photos. Better late than never, right? Nicknack: two-and-a-half and impossible to

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-12018998489304923912008-11-25T09:25:00.001-08:002008-12-03T21:45:30.984-08:00

Introducing...Elisabeth TalbotThis photo was taken at about two weeks - she turned four weeks yesterday!She was three weeks early and "small for gestational age." So at 4 pounds 6 ounces she was the size of a preemie, but as developed and generally as healthy as a regular three week old. She is up to 6 and a half pounds and looks so much different already!We planned to call her Betsy, but

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-65415188614010930592008-11-02T06:11:00.000-08:002008-11-02T07:42:10.392-08:00

I woke up this morning at 4:30 and couldn't get back to sleep. My mind is full of to do list items. Then I started thinking about Nicknack, and finally decided to get up and write a quick post to capture a few random things that he's doing these days, that I don't want to forget. WARNING: this would bore absolutely anyone other than Nicholas's own parents, I'm quite sure.I absolutely love this

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-62836249597867059172008-10-06T14:45:00.000-07:002008-10-06T14:49:20.475-07:00

This is a must read.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-4325811500970660332008-09-25T14:41:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:48:13.535-07:00

Although I have many, many homemaking weaknesses, laundry is probably my strong suit. Oh sure, I get backed up on occasion. But because we have a system that works perfectly for our family, it's easy to do a little catch up and get back on track. I recently shared our laundry routine with a friend who was at her wit's end trying to stay on top of her family of four's laundry. After typing it

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-72164131532966573742008-09-25T13:08:00.000-07:002008-09-25T13:57:57.546-07:00

No, not Nicknack. Penn, of all people.Penn has been trying to find a job comparable to the one he currently has for over a year now. We've known for many years that, although Seattle is a lovely city, we don't want to raise our family in a city. No offense if you do! :) We're just over it.The problem has been that Penn has one of those needle-in-a-haystack kind of jobs. They're out there,

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-63776294732336087902008-09-19T16:34:00.001-07:002008-09-19T16:53:21.613-07:00

Have I mentioned that our baby is a girl?I don't think I have. Oops.We decided not to find out with Nicknack and that was really fun. I would strongly recommend being surprised with at least one pregnancy. But we both felt differently this time around and decided to "peek."With Nicknack, even though we never officially found out, I always felt he was a boy, and told everyone so. This time I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-86941375610563070522008-09-17T12:08:00.001-07:002008-09-17T12:44:03.581-07:00

Today was Nicknack's second day of preschool. And probably his last day, at least for a while.We dropped him off this morning, watching and waiting to see how he would do. Things seemed better. Instead of obsessing over the one station, like on Monday, he flitted from station to station, stopping to interact with others. Also, several other children threw tantrums for various reasons, which

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-61934761157363001632008-09-15T12:14:00.000-07:002008-09-15T12:53:07.531-07:00

Today was Nicknacks's first day of preschool. It's our home church preschool, so he's familiar with the environment because he's been nearby in the nursery twice a week since he was a baby. His little friend (whom we've decided should be his future wife) is in his class, and her mother (my friend from Bible study) is the teacher. So I've been SO excited for him all summer, and especially since

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-27155354415926596212008-08-10T10:04:00.001-07:002008-08-10T11:19:21.397-07:00

My husband is adorable. He is unbelievably good to me and I am not just saying this to sound humble: I don't deserve him. Ask my family. I still can't believe I "lucked" into such a happy marriage.Having said that, Jeesh, husbands are so funny sometimes! And not funny as in, "ha ha." Funny as in, "Whattheheck?"Here is what I don't get. Why can't husbands find anything? Is it just mine?

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-88329842629914905032008-06-09T12:14:00.000-07:002008-06-09T12:54:38.419-07:00

Oops. It looks like I published a draft version of my last post. I'm sure I had edited it to be much more witty and entertaining. Plus I know I added at least a couple of paragraphs. Obviously not anything terribly important, as I only remember one thing that wasn't included in the published post. Which is...Nicholas is short! 5th percentile, in fact. When our new and wonderful Pediatrician

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-38822539176357694402008-06-05T17:43:00.000-07:002008-06-06T09:30:02.135-07:00

Well, it's official. Nicknack is two.The weirdest thing happened. He must have received some kind of secret memo, because he woke up on the morning of his birthday and started acting... well, two. And everyday since.Have you ever heard of such a thing? 729 days old and he is pretty much easy. Day 730 rolls around and all of a sudden he's "difficult." This morning I ordered a time-out mat,

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-40208404253263491612008-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:002008-05-13T13:55:51.236-07:00

A million years ago I was a nanny. I traveled quite a bit with the family, but the trip that stands out in my mind was the time the Dad and I took the two boys by ourselves, while Mom stayed home with the new baby. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Mom, the Housekeeper, the Laundress, and myself, we were extremely well-prepared. We shipped the bags and car seats ahead of time so that we

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-4888358935983487292008-05-08T13:51:00.000-07:002008-05-08T14:13:51.176-07:00

I've started to write this post a half dozen times and I either get interrupted or don't like what I've written.So let me just get right to the point.We're expecting another baby! Yay!I found out two days after I wrote my last post. No wonder I was in a sentimental mood! I was already pregnant. We've taken a test every two weeks since Nicknack was about six months old. We weren't sure how

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-37025903725217270852008-03-25T14:24:00.000-07:002008-03-25T15:49:22.194-07:00

Poor Penn. He is on his third full day of jury duty selection, and they still haven't chosen the actual jury. It's been a very frustrating and inefficient process. We are just crossing our fingers that he won't get chosen for this four week criminal trial in downtown Seattle. He would have to spend his days at the courtroom and then cram his normal ten or eleven hour work day into about four

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-82633724413948140012008-03-20T12:39:00.000-07:002008-03-20T14:43:10.909-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to bed early. I awoke at 11pm or so to the sound of Penn rummaging around our bedroom, for a flashlight. "How can you sleep through that?!" he asked in a stage whisper. I listened. There was a very loud helicopter hovering over our home. It had apparently been doing so for several minutes. It's search light was sweeping the steep wooded cliff that runs along the

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-45995535530599230952008-03-05T16:48:00.001-08:002008-03-05T17:13:37.065-08:00

Well, it's March, and you know what that means.Spring Cleaning time! Woo hoo!No, I'm serious. I love Spring Cleaning. Duh, not the actual cleaning part. The planning and the results. The work involved in between the two is worth it.I started yesterday. I have a not terribly ambitious plan to tackle one room per day. I plan my attack in the morning and do the bulk of the work during

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-28303987725199246312008-02-29T15:18:00.000-08:002008-02-29T18:46:49.083-08:00

I just read this on an adoption web site and thought it was worth sharing:How To Know Whether or Not You Are Ready to Be a ParentMess Test: Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flowerbed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer. Toy Test: Obtain a 55-gallon box of Legos.Have a

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-29075520664488670962008-02-26T15:58:00.000-08:002008-02-26T16:28:31.375-08:00

I got my hair cut yesterday! Three inches off, woo hoo!But the "first" haircut to which I refer is the cut I gave Nicholas this afternoon. My first time cutting hair. Other than my own bangs, but I won't go into that traumatic story. Let me just urge you not to cut your own bangs a week before your child's baptism. Unless you like the look of 3/4 inch bangs.I was just about ready to book

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-22719202139445262722008-02-23T11:48:00.000-08:002008-02-23T12:25:53.045-08:00

Nicholas is doing a few new things.For starters, when I drop him off at the church nursery for my weekly Ladies Bible Study, and when Penn and I drop him off for church, he cries! This is totally new for us. He never went through any "separation anxiety" that we could detect back when the baby books suggested he might. It was more like, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out, people!" I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-39725898933709915902008-02-08T16:48:00.000-08:002008-02-08T23:40:31.999-08:00

The ArtistHis WorkSelf-Portrait... see the signature on the lower right?The thing is, I don't know how he smuggled a crayon into his crib as I, myself tucked him in for his nap. And I can't even find the crayon!I know I'm probably supposed to be cross about this, but my immediate reaction was delight. He was just so happy with his masterpieces, as you can see from the (albeit blurry) photos.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-20557257044815019342008-02-06T15:37:00.001-08:002008-02-06T16:34:01.311-08:00

This just in.Nicknack now says "No!"We've postponed the inevitable by trying to avoid the word. We shake our heads, say "Hmm mmm", or "Uuummm... I don't think you should be fill-in-the-blank," and save "NO!" for really big stuff. But this afternoon he's said it about twenty-six times. True confession? I love to hear it. I love the sound of his voice. And it's way better than a tantrum.He's

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-60654997290866237952008-02-01T14:32:00.001-08:002008-02-01T16:48:57.023-08:00

Last fall I had a bit of an altercation with my sister-in-law, Penn's older and only sister.The whole family was assembled at Penn's parents' house. We were just about ready to depart for home when the brouhaha went down.I was standing on one end of the kitchen, with Penn and Nicknack. SIL was on the other side of the kitchen. About ten family members were between us.I was just thinking, "I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-17290911265303217322008-01-31T21:24:00.000-08:002008-01-31T21:30:48.432-08:00

THIS is one of the neatest ideas I've heard of in a while!You can lend as little as $25 to developing world entrepreneurs. Microloans make a huge impact not just on borrowers, but on their communities! The best part is that you'll get your money back, so you can lend again and again!Please, check out Kiva's website!

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-11789185965252389872008-01-28T19:23:00.000-08:002008-01-28T20:05:18.194-08:00

I thought this was a nice meme:Tomorrow: is Tuesday. Very uneventful, like most of our days. We'll probably just go to the library. Feeling: Lethargic, for no apparent reason.Happy Because: my 20 month old FINALLY says "mama" as of last week. Woo! Hoo!Today I: will not act cross about my son's latest favorite activity, bonking our heads together to hear me say, "Ouch!" He thinks it is a super

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-42842246767548050242008-01-16T08:41:00.000-08:002008-01-16T08:52:21.723-08:00

Mine are:1. To get up earlier.2. To quit Diet Cherry Coke.3. To exercise six days a week.4. To be more consistent with my daily "quiet time."So far, I'm having the most success with numbers two and three. 1. Nicknack hasn't been sleeping well for the past two weeks (ever since he was sick), which has made goal number one less doable. But, hurray! He finally slept through the night again

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-29304041355668060512008-01-12T19:08:00.000-08:002008-01-12T19:09:27.373-08:00

Dear Seahawks,Thanks for an awesome season! I'll see six of you at the Pro Bowl and the rest of you next fall.Your friend,KittyPS Good luck Green Bay!

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-30412096374468967822008-01-11T13:21:00.001-08:002008-01-11T13:59:25.411-08:00

Hey, guess what?Nicknack seems to have forgotten that he knows how to get out of his crib. He's quit escaping, cold turkey. We've set up a sort of landing pad by his crib (using Euro Pillows) just in case. But it looks like we won't have to deal with this issue right this second, so we're doing the happy dance around here.Also, we remembered (duh!) that N's crib is one of those convertible

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-90693956431207817892008-01-08T14:02:00.000-08:002008-01-08T14:40:51.268-08:00

A couple of days ago I put Nicknack down for his nap in his crib. A few minutes later we heard him crying, in the hall. WHAT?!We checked the crib. The rail was up. The small bookcase next to the crib was undisturbed. There was nothing inside his crib to climb up on. "I guess he can climb out of his crib! Maybe it was just a fluke?" We couldn't believe it! Penn stayed to rock N while I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-80052192188144716692008-01-08T13:41:00.000-08:002008-01-08T14:02:09.880-08:00

We're on day five with a poor, sick little guy. We took him to the Pediatrician yesterday. If we hadn't been able to get him in early in the morning, I was considering a trip to the hospital. He was so lethargic, feverish, and miserable. Leave it to me to overreact. According to the Pediatrician, he just has a cold.This visit confirmed our conviction that we need to find a new Pediatrician.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-32958972009681497052008-01-03T11:07:00.001-08:002008-01-03T14:51:07.833-08:00

Yesterday was the first day back in our usual routine. Daddy wasn't home. We weren't visiting anyone. No one was here visiting. Just us two - Nicknack and Mama. We didn't go anywhere or do anything special. It was just a quiet day at home together. It wasn't pretty. N was SO cranky and whiny all day. Tons of tantrums. He absolutely trashed the house. By the end of the evening it looked

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-22628471915637461672007-12-10T18:55:00.000-08:002007-12-10T20:58:13.176-08:00

My embarrassingly expensive and ridiculously enormous brassiere recently broke. I was bending over doing something acrobatic (no doubt) w/Nicknack at tumbling class when I heard it snap. Darn. It was my favorite "hooter-holder."It's only a few months old and Nordstrom has such a generous return policy that I'm tempted to call them and inquire about a replacement. I've been washing it in a

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-46208473552411954152007-12-04T21:44:00.000-08:002007-12-05T08:45:26.128-08:00

Seriously! After my oh-so-graceful ankle injury (just a sprain, ptL!), Nicknack came down with the flu. Then me. Then Penn. Thank heavens not at the same time. We each had a day all to ourselves. :) Despite all three of us getting flu shots this year.You know what is especially fun? Ralphing, while a small person stands a couple feet away imitating you during the intervals. That is just

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-82742739071377467682007-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:002007-11-30T09:39:01.585-08:00

I forgot to mention that Penn never heard back about that job in my mother's small college town in central Washington. We were all mildly bummed about it, but the major silver lining was that Penn wouldn't have to leave his current job before Christmas bonus time (about 15% of his total salary). We count on that money for our annual retirement and college saving plans.Trusting God's plan for

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-10299338847929839752007-11-30T08:53:00.000-08:002007-11-30T09:21:51.589-08:00

I'm sitting in my husband's recliner, watching Sesame Street. Why am I watching Sesame Street, you may ask, since Nicknack isn't even in the room, as he's getting a bath in preparation for his 18 month check-up later this morning. I can't give him said bath or even get up to find the remote and change the channel because I have done something strange to my ankle.This morning I got up early so I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-39307067844059723832007-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:002007-11-27T18:57:34.684-08:00

Dear Nicholas,You are just about to turn 18 months and I wanted to record some things about who you are at this stage of your life so I never forget. You and anyone else reading this are likely to find these thoughts incredibly mundane. But to me they are incredibly special and important.I want you to know how much I like you. Of course, I love you. Every little molecule of you and more than

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-70686050681462505672007-10-28T19:55:00.000-07:002007-10-28T20:15:33.095-07:00

HEY!What's new? I miss you, Siestas! But I've been keeping up with your blogs, even if I haven't done the same with my own.Here's a quick news flash.1. I heart tennis. It's expensive though, with the club membership, fancy new racquet, comfy tennis shoes, and lessons! I'm taking a series of eight private lessons and in a couple of weeks I start my weekly group class. It's sooooo much fun.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-51940083508911761092007-10-12T14:00:00.001-07:002007-10-12T14:48:52.930-07:00

Hi!I haven't been posting much lately because I've been busier than usual. Actually. I have the same amount of things on my "to do" list, I'm just doing them. Which is time consuming and has distracted me from my blog. The house is clean, the laundry is caught up, I've been making dinner every night, and I have tackled organizational projects I'd been putting off for months and months.And I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-41424417369734704112007-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:002007-10-04T17:20:44.190-07:00

I've had a case of the blahs lately. I think it's because I've been feeling so sluggish and sleepy a lot of the time. I've been sleeping a ton, getting up late, and still ready for a nap at any given moment throughout the day. I even went through the Starbucks drive thru this morning and purchased a pumpkin latte in an effort to start a coffee addiction. I don't actually enjoy the stuff at

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-74091849819894497942007-09-29T21:33:00.000-07:002007-09-29T21:58:39.552-07:00

Here's a fun meme!1. MY ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car),Dolly Cherokee(Penn is Freddy Cherokee)2.MY GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)Cherry Tollhouse(Jamocha Tollhouse)3. MY “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),K-HoxP-Sil4.MY DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),Pink Parrot(Royal Cat)5. MY SOAP OPERA

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-72057586667842563372007-09-25T14:46:00.000-07:002007-09-25T14:52:00.636-07:00

I just wanted to let you know that Penn's interview was a success, in the sense that it went well, he made it home safely, and he was offered the position.However, he just turned it down.Although the salary was extremely generous, the cost of housing in the area is $500/sq ft and up. ! He looked at several two bedroom cottages on itty bitty lots in the $550-700,000 range and wasn't impressed

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-15731619761374529842007-09-21T07:00:00.001-07:002007-09-21T08:11:42.998-07:00

I haven't posted in sooooo long because I haven't had anything new to report. And everytime I came up with a story or thought I want to share, I didn't feel like typing!Yesterday was the first day of my women's Bible study after the summer break. It felt like the first day of school. I forgot how nice it is to get together with a group of ladies to share and pray for each other. We have two

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-12972586441282759252007-09-14T18:26:00.000-07:002007-09-14T18:46:26.412-07:00

Penn is flying down to Atherton for his interview next Sunday.Yikes. In other news, the retail area close to our home has a bunch of new stores going up! They're adding on to the mall, which will house an additional movie theater and eight new restaurants. AND there is a new Kohl's!! We used to love Kohl's when we lived in Connecticut, because they had a section for tall people. Penn, not me

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-25119176411065716992007-09-12T12:38:00.001-07:002007-09-12T13:37:33.648-07:00

I haven't posted with job news because things are up in the air right now.I've been praying that God would throw obstacles in front of the changes that aren't right for us. And at the end of each prayer I've tacked on a half-hearted, "and, of course - if you want us to stay put for a while, let us know." But I've not-so-secretly hoped God would see things my way, and uproot us in a major way.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-47018133143902198342007-09-07T10:34:00.000-07:002007-09-07T10:36:58.525-07:00

This is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time...

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-69505290322577628132007-09-04T09:20:00.001-07:002007-09-04T10:48:14.247-07:00

I forgot about the holiday weekend... Obviously, we didn't hear anything about the job on Friday. So we hope to have more information today or tomorrow.However, in the meantime, we've done a bit of sleuthing. And found a few red flags. Red flag might be too strong a term. Pink flags? You get the idea. Just so you have an idea of what I mean, the job is manager of a small, brand new resort

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-76317480722624395392007-08-29T19:55:00.000-07:002007-08-29T20:06:08.086-07:00

The first time I typed this post's title I accidentally wrote "Changs is in the Air." As in P.F. Chang's? I wish! :)I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy acting as Penn's personal secretary. By that I mean creating his resume, writing cover letters, and sending e-mails on his behalf, to potential employers.I have to be careful not to make it totally apparent that his wife is

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-23380067774981282952007-08-24T13:05:00.000-07:002007-08-24T13:55:13.723-07:00

This morning I stood in front of my fridge, door open, scanning the contents for something appropriate for breakfast. A who-knows-how-old container of pasta stared at me from the "leftover" shelf, and triggered this stream of consciousness:Hmm. I wonder how old that is.That reminds me - I need to put marinara sauce on the grocery list.When am I going to the grocery store?I know, I'll go to

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-63526351774689672452007-08-20T10:21:00.000-07:002007-08-20T13:01:32.508-07:00

Although I read dozens of baby and parenting books and had quite a bit of experience with young children, I was still pretty unprepared for motherhood. I think parenting is just one of those things in life that you learn on the job. Kind of like marriage. For the past 15 months, life has been full of surprises and opportunities for problem solving. One thing that no one ever told us to expect

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-80384386813994471202007-08-17T18:11:00.001-07:002007-08-17T19:52:11.936-07:00

I love football. I really really love it. I really really really love it. Pro or college, I love almost everything about it.But you know what I hate? What I really really hate? That stupid Fox Sports football animated player robot/transformer/thing. Do you know who I mean? The one that looks like he's warming up - stretching, running, bouncing, and pointing. ARG!! All last season I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-17558053705514600292007-08-15T21:40:00.001-07:002007-08-16T10:27:11.687-07:00

For several months (and as recently as a week ago) I have been declaring that I was not ready for Nicknack's first haircut. Well, I changed my mind. I was pushing his Fab Five sideburns behind his ears and trying to swoop his bangs to the side for the millionth time and I just decided it was time. The next morning I made an appointment at a nearby children's salon for the following day.I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-86887249716358335952007-08-13T11:08:00.001-07:002007-08-13T16:23:53.333-07:00

So about the reunion... Sigh. 

When I heard (what I thought was) the cab pull into the driveway after midnight I figured that was a good sign. I assumed that if the party had been a bust Penn would have returned home much sooner.

So I was surprised to see him shuffle in with a sheepish look on his face, brother-in-law in tow. The reunion was, in a word, "lame."

You know how I was so worried

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-69229154763918225132007-08-11T20:36:00.000-07:002007-08-11T21:43:27.660-07:00

This evening I am home alone with Nicknack while my husband attends his 20th high school reunion! I am not tagging along because... well... I don't want to go. And Penn doesn't mind, so that works out. Hanging out with a bunch of people I don't know for five hours, hearing (potential unflattering) stories about my husband doesn't sound like fun. What makes it sound especially unpleasant is

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-49216484910786828592007-08-04T09:11:00.000-07:002007-08-04T12:20:07.230-07:00

Before I had a child I was the world's most accomplished parent. In my head. But when Nicknack arrived I quickly discovered what an amateur I was. So many of my pre-baby ideas (based on months of pregnancy spent with my nose in books) just didn't seem to fit, apply to, or work on my little darling. I soon adopted two babyrearing mottoes: a) Muddle through (Thanks, mother!) and b) Whatever

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-632665762419264872007-08-01T13:31:00.000-07:002007-08-01T21:35:58.910-07:00

I am perfectly happy to wait on God. It's waiting on other people that absolutely drives me bananas!We're just waiting on some information about a potential job for Penn. It makes sense that other people don't handle our lives with the same sense of urgency and expectation that we do. But wouldn't it be nice if they did?The funny thing is that we aren't in any big hurry to relocate far away,

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-19024284505648850792007-07-27T21:19:00.000-07:002007-07-27T22:14:44.248-07:00

Like many ladies, I'm terrified of spiders. When I see one that is too menacing for me to squish with my sh-mop I have been known to call my husband home from work to take care of it. He used to do it cheerfully, but I think this act of valor has lost its charm. If a spider is on the small side I make sure to rescue it, which I hope makes up in some small way for all the spiders I've smooshed

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-56105207131400017332007-07-25T20:32:00.001-07:002007-07-25T21:23:13.648-07:00

Don't worry, I didn't really have to call Poison Control this evening. I was just thinking about what I would say to Poison Control, had I needed their assistance.I was giving Nicknack his bath. He was still in the early stages of soaking and playing, when the bath is still fun for both of us. The moment the first sign of the rinse cup (just to get his hair wet, pre shampoo) rears its ugly

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-74303341953439543232007-07-23T09:45:00.000-07:002007-07-23T10:35:25.695-07:00

Hello!I hope you had a lovely weekend.I spent most of my free time (okay, all of my free time) on Saturday and Sunday reading the newest and last Harry Potter book. I was like a child at Christmas when my UPS driver delivered it to my front door on Saturday afternoon. I won't say anything about it, for those of you who haven't read it yet. I will just say that I enjoyed it. A lot. I'd like

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-86538452038952540562007-07-21T08:24:00.000-07:002007-07-21T08:46:35.009-07:00

Yesterday was my husband's 38th birthday. He was born the day man landed on the moon. Here is the list I sent him yesterday, which I have his permission to share:Here are 38 things I love about you:1. I love that you are big and strong.2. I love your broad shoulders and back.3. I love the way you think I am pretty and tell me so a LOT. I love that if you had your way I would never wear any

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-7139723389805797312007-07-19T15:55:00.000-07:002007-07-19T16:41:37.407-07:00

My baby is sick. He's had a few colds before but he's never really been sick. You know, fever and throw up sick? He's held out almost 14 months without catching a bug, even when Penn and I were super sick last fall. I knew it had to happen sometime and it is just as sad as I expected. Poor baby. It started yesterday when he woke up a little bit on the cranky side. Both of his naps were

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-84135659205426345352007-07-18T09:59:00.000-07:002007-07-18T11:39:46.268-07:00

Hi! Sorry for the unplanned hiatus! My Mac powercord died. The good people at Apple are mostly very helpful and I just love my MacBook Pro. So don't get the impression that I'm complaining about McHenry. (That's the name of my laptop. It probably should be MacHenry, but McHenry is a family name and it just seemed wrong to spell it differently.) So I'd like to stress that it was not

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-91510661177812362852007-07-11T17:10:00.001-07:002007-07-11T17:45:11.093-07:00

Gosh, I know I haven't posted in a while. My mother and stepdad visited this past weekend and this week I'm working in the nursery at our church's VBS. If you're reading this, Mother, we miss you. And we also miss Maddy! I didn't notice how much vacuuming she was saving me from until I glanced at the floor under the highchair this morning. Maybe we need a dog...I'm going to cheat and respond

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-43977984178294298562007-07-05T11:34:00.001-07:002007-07-06T12:00:11.048-07:00

I'll admit it. I used to look down my (regrettably large) nose at parents with DVD players in their vehicles. I'd think something smug like, "Come ON! Whatever happened to family togetherness? You know, sing-a-longs, road games, and deep conversation?" (Can you tell I was an only child and this is what I envisioned was taking place in the cars of my friends with siblings?) I have Clark

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-50116017956671192832007-07-05T08:53:00.001-07:002007-07-05T10:03:08.127-07:00

July is my husband's favorite month (his birthday month) and The Fourth of July is his favorite day of the year. He gets as excited about it as I do about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Among his most cherished childhood memories are Independence Days at his parents' lake house surrounded by dozens of extended family members, relishing his mom's home cooking, swimming for hours, and setting off

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-90075559762427715582007-07-02T08:31:00.000-07:002007-07-02T09:07:33.944-07:00

I have a very important (to me) question for all of you parents.How old were your children when they got their first haircut (including at-home trims)?I had less hair than Nicknack, so I wasn't expecting him to look so shaggy at thirteen months. I was hoping to put off his first haircut until he was at least two. Last week someone called him a "she" and Penn has been not-so-subtly hinting about

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-46562164638773529662007-06-29T15:19:00.000-07:002007-06-29T17:05:06.058-07:00

I promise this is my last vacation post. Here are the requisite travel slides. For the full effect, imagine me reading the captions to you in Ben Stein's Ferris Bueller voice. "Bueller... Bueller..."Here we have our three backseat drivers: :)This was the first time Nicknack has ever ridden in his carseat facing forward. It thrilled my heart to be able to turn around and interact with him or

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-14126851128919599642007-06-28T10:29:00.000-07:002007-06-28T11:21:13.068-07:00

My camera battery needs to charge before I can download our vacation photos and share a few with you. So in the meantime...I provided Penn with a few more details about my last post, since much of it was about him. I wanted to make sure he was okay with what I'd shared. He had given me permission, in advance, but there was a slight miscommunication between us. (Imagine that!) Penn wants me

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-64303467881927732022007-06-26T18:24:00.000-07:002007-06-26T18:58:59.568-07:00

Gosh, it's kind of difficult to get back into the blogging swing of things after a break! I will be posting a few of our vacation photos tomorrow. For now, let me just say that North Idaho is a special place. Well, only if you like mountains, rolling farmland, meadows, lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, and trees. If you're an urbanite, it might not be your cup of tea!I was praying about a

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-24270187015214534752007-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:002007-06-19T12:48:27.440-07:00

Hello!We are having a wonderful time in Sandpoint!Here are the highlights and low points of the trip, so far.Highlights1. The natural beauty of this 46 mile long lake! It is surrounded by steep green hills right next to a ski mountain,and surrounded by gorgeous rolling farmland. Beautiful! The town of Sandpoint is smallish and lovely, and has lots of character.2. The people seem very warm

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-90337435859747276912007-06-15T10:42:00.001-07:002007-06-15T11:13:51.861-07:00

I forgot to mention that I'm going through Matthew and yesterday I read chapter six. Which just happens to contain a number of verses that are applicable to my eating issues. For example:Matthew 6:31-33So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-47489854843752081962007-06-14T16:09:00.001-07:002007-06-14T18:13:11.806-07:00

Okay, I'm posting one more time before we leave for Idaho. Something has happened, and I don't know what to say about it or even if I should mention it. But I will, of course! I have struggled with my size for about ten years. (I'm now 30.) I won't go into the boring details, but I've progressed from a happy medium (in high school), to an ecstatic small (in college), back to a medium (met

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-54389535894902584432007-06-13T11:03:00.000-07:002007-06-13T12:20:33.188-07:00

I have only one more final and then I am free for the summer!Except for the fact that I couldn't help myself and signed up for one teensy tiny Economics course. But it should only take an hour or two a day to keep on top of it. The rest of the summer I am committed to:a) getting our house in order! I'm just dying to see it returned to the "way we were" before Nicknack started crawling! In fact

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-66707166577569718152007-06-09T13:28:00.001-07:002007-06-15T11:18:36.825-07:00

A few weeks ago I shared that Penn and I have been discussing a move.Actually, we've been talking about this for about three years. However, Penn's compensation package includes housing. A house we could never afford in this area, by the way. So that has been one of the little somethings that have kept our feet firmly planted. Another is Penn's annual bonus, which amounts to about 10% of his

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-46862180211137420062007-06-07T20:02:00.000-07:002007-06-07T20:11:24.975-07:00

This Just In!For the second night in a row, I made dinner! Actual hot dinner, using things like a salad spinner and the food processor! Yay, me!This Just In!For the second night in a row, I burned said dinner! Boo, me!Yesterday I forgot I had sesame oil heating in a pan (for shrimp salad) and set off the smoke alarm. And made a mess in the process. Today, I failed to remember the Orecchiette

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-33347275414432103682007-06-07T16:41:00.001-07:002007-06-07T19:35:46.029-07:00

Today I went to Wal-mart.I'll stop and let that sink in.Oh wait, you don't know me in "real life." So you don't know how surprising that statement should be.Let's just say that I've never had a kind word for Wal-mart. To be fair, I've only been there three or four times (before today). But each of those shopping experiences was negative. There is something about this store that just rubs me

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-51582954928458877292007-06-05T12:36:00.000-07:002007-06-05T21:56:46.553-07:00

I've been thinking about the careers for which Nicholas might be well suited, based on his first year of life. Here is what I have come up with, so far:1. Food critic. Either he has his father's sophisticated palate or his mother's extreme pickiness.2. Drummer. I can just imagine the bongo solos.3. Worship leader. He loves to bang on the piano. And every fifteen seconds he pauses and

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-71642834377790133862007-06-04T15:26:00.001-07:002007-06-15T11:21:32.360-07:00

Have you seen any good movies lately? Well? Have you? I'm dying to go to the movies. So I would love your recommendations. But you should know that I try not to watch anything terribly depressing. And I can't handle rated R movies. Even PG-13 movies are sometimes a little too violent or profane or racy for me. I'm what you might call a "sensitive" viewer. In our pre-baby days we used to

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-2757936622229043162007-06-02T11:26:00.000-07:002007-06-15T11:23:00.945-07:00

I was recently tagged for two more memes! Yay!This one, started by one of my very favorite bloggers Rachel Anne at Home Sanctuary is about rules. Here is her description:"My Personal PoliciesI think it would be safe to say that we all have personal rules that we live by. Surely it's not just ME. I'm not talking about moral rules, like "Do not kill." I'm talking about the silly policies we

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-66859728985045640852007-05-31T18:40:00.000-07:002007-05-31T21:12:56.398-07:00

WARNING! WARNING! This is very long and would, no doubt, be quite tiresome for someone to read (unless they happen to be related to our birthday boy.)Happy birthday, dear Nicknack!At this time one year ago, we were holding you in our arms for the first time, marvelling at how amazing, miraculous, and surprisingly cute you were! For some reason, I had an irrational concern that you might be a

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-51523787982192115902007-05-29T13:35:00.000-07:002007-05-29T13:41:21.075-07:00

Ooh! I've been tagged for my first meme. Thank you, Jenna @ Joyful Journey!I will try to play by the rules, but if I do something incorrectly, please don't hold it against me. :)Here are said rules:1. Link to name of person that tagged you. (see above.)2. Include state and country you live in.3. List top five favorite local restaurants.4. Tag five other people and let them know they've been

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-32393772454536237342007-05-27T21:14:00.001-07:002007-05-30T11:30:50.183-07:00

Today was the big day! Nicknack's birthday party. He doesn't turn one until the 31st, so I have a few more days to enjoy my baby before he turns into a big kid.I'm soooo happy we had this party for him. Not just because Nicknack enjoyed himself immensely or because it was such fun to get all the people who love him best together in one room. True and true. But also because he is only one and

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-85135623354744446702007-05-23T10:38:00.000-07:002007-05-23T15:33:14.662-07:00

Yesterday I did something I've never done before. I used coupons at the grocery store!Our weekly grocery bill has been hovering around $150 a visit for months. Not including diapers, formula, or toiletries. Or meat, which we buy from the butcher. It just seems a little much for two adults and a baby. I have never been known for being frugal. I'm not exactly extravagent, either. Basically,

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-58872507547600465962007-05-21T11:57:00.000-07:002007-06-15T11:28:02.389-07:00

I spent the weekend playing catch up. I had a midterm and paper due today, and I've been procrastinating for about half of the quarter. As a result, I was way behind.This is quite unlike me. I am normally the Hermione of every class. I do not want an A. I certainly can't deal with an A-. What I'm striving for is an A+. Preferably the highest grade in the class, but I'll settle for a 97% or

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-35854729197783760732007-05-15T16:24:00.000-07:002007-05-15T18:41:47.306-07:00

I like Seattle. The weather isn't half as bad as you think. It's nice when it ought to be, in late spring and summer. And when it's shining, it's glorious. I've included a few photos of our backyard view, as proof. It's lovely. The mountains, the sound, the islands, the lakes, the trees. Thanks to three cross country road trips, I've visited 45 states. (I still have North Dakota, Nebraska

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-10549231720971096682007-05-14T08:12:00.000-07:002007-05-14T08:12:27.521-07:00

It's Mother's Day and I'm home alone.I suppose that sounds a little odd. But what I really wanted today was a little time to myself. My days - weekdays and weekends - tend to run together. The only difference is whether Penn is home or not. But whether he is or isn't, it's still all about naps, bottles, meals, laundry, and that darn kitchen that will just not stay shiny no matter how many

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-56718116382311188782007-05-11T12:19:00.000-07:002007-05-11T16:10:56.389-07:00

Yikes! Step aerobics were a lot easier seven years and fifty pounds ago! Today was my first day at my new fancy gym. And I forgot to wear deodorant! I was in a rush, what can I say.I wanted to get there super early so I could fill out all the paperwork for the "kid's club," spend a few minutes with Nicknack (since it's his first visit there), ask my instructor if her class ("The Ultimate

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-48349020249234308182007-05-09T12:19:00.000-07:002007-05-11T12:04:15.635-07:00

Shortly after Penn and I married I decided that not only would I make memorable, amazing, and elaborate birthday cakes (just like my own mama's) for each of our children, I would do so for Penn, each year. It would be my "thing."I chose a scrumptious sounding triple chocolate recipe. The most complicated I could find. And it was going to be huge. A Pollyanna kind of cake. I researched

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-71299076220972797262007-05-08T08:39:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:29:48.070-07:00

Today is the big day! All across blog land, ladies everywhere are uniting to do the one thing ladies do best. Start a new diet!I'm glad it didn't start on Monday. Whenever I start a diet on a Monday and then fail at some point during the week I just decide to start over again the following Monday. Sometimes I think that all the pre-dieting behavior (you know, one last this or that before I

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-24148737965118895362007-05-07T21:07:00.000-07:002007-08-14T12:29:47.389-07:00

EDITED: Photos removed.Today was Nicholas's first visit to the zoo! He wasn't into the animals, but he did love the people watching and the carousel! It was a wonderful day.Usually when I go somewhere full of, well, people, I get annoyed about something or other. I guess I'm not really a people person? I tend to notice everything, which means I notice all the good things and also all the

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-83354633803499341192007-05-06T23:00:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:30:16.818-07:00

Things I never want to forget about carrying Nicknack (in no particular order):1. The way he always had the hiccups! It worried me to no end;2. The way he got up in the middle of the morning (between 4 and 4:30am) and bounced, jumped, and did a jig;3. Singing "Teddy Bear Picnic" to him, especially in the bathtub;4. Seeing his first ultrasound, at seven weeks. His heartbeat - bink, bink, bink -

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-30832115806704490902007-05-05T14:01:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:30:40.755-07:00

Since my post yesterday I've been thinking of how I long for the past. It's a new sensation. For the first 28 years of my life I was always looking forward.When I met Penn and we started dating, I couldn't WAIT until we were exclusive and he was totally wrapped around my finger and head over heels in love with me. Check. Then I couldn't WAIT until he asked me to marry him. I think back about

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-52951087813953158312007-05-04T12:12:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:30:56.563-07:00

Last night Penn and I looked at some of Nicknack's newborn photos together. Ah, Nicknack the newborn. He was the most precious thing you can imagine. It went by so quickly that I almost can't believe it ever happened. He was just so tiny and new. And now he's so strong and busy! Every day, several times a day, I wish for a time machine. Or magical remote. I'd love to rewind and relive,

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-90141065336614853392007-05-02T15:48:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:31:28.992-07:00

When we did finally conceive, this is how it happened. (Not THAT part.) Every month I'd head to Seattle proper to have a follicle study ultrasound to see if I had a good sized egg waiting in the wings. When the ultrasound revealed the time was right, I'd get a shot from my OB/Gyn. Then we'd cross our fingers, say our prayers, and play checkers. Or something like that.It was August, and we

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-69525566901385685182007-05-02T13:36:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:31:42.186-07:00

WARNING! The following is a very long post. I'm attempting to record all the things I want to remember someday, about Nicknack's babyhood. So I'm starting at square one - our bout with infertility. You have been warned.When you tell people you're "trying" to have a baby, it always seems too descriptive. Don't you think? You hope they aren't getting any mental images that they'd like to

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-67448275058715757082007-05-01T18:23:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:31:54.426-07:00

Technorati Profile

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-86678093579344537882007-05-01T10:29:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:35:35.587-07:00

Happy May Day!May is now my favorite month because it's our Nicknack's birthday month! And since he was born on the very last day in May, I get to celebrate him all month!I'm naturally a sentimental person and this motherhood thing has really brought out that trait. Last night I went through all the photos we've taken since his birth. All of them. Oh, how I wish life came with a remote

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-7658850652954621822007-04-30T10:08:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:32:36.971-07:00

I feel as if CNN has turned into "America's Most Shocking Videos" or YouTube, rather than a news program reporting the most IMPORTANT news of the day. You know, the war? International suffering. Political news. Things of that nature.I am so tired of viewing one disturbing video after another: beatings. car accidents. car chases. anything involving a celebrity. Just because video is available

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-19196766102196866662007-04-29T21:32:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:33:19.283-07:00

Just tried to jokingly talk my husband into moving to Texas. "I've heard nice things about Austin," I offered. "Too hoooooot," he whined, er, replied.We decided to research Austin's climate. Thank you Wikipedia.Unfortunately, I started to read outloud before I previewed the material. "Austin has... a, um... humid subtropical climate..." Oh. Subtropical? Really? Hmm.I continued reading

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-77314210045311769702007-04-29T17:46:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:33:38.163-07:00

Edited to add: sorry so long AGAIN!When I was an ICS (aka Immaculate Conception School - no kidding!) cheerleader in junior high school, one of the first cheers we learned was: "S-U-C-C-E-S-S! That's the way we spell... SUCCESS! Comets! Sucess!" Kind of a random cheer, I think. But very motivational.Anyhoo, I'm one of those self-help book types. I can't get enough of them. I usually stick

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604689629266347689.post-7348943464628513442007-04-28T20:26:00.000-07:002007-05-09T17:33:49.775-07:00

I've noticed that of the dozen or so blogs I read on a regular basis, all but ONE of the bloggers are from the Lone Star state.What's up with that? Are all Texan ladies so funny, eccentric, and full of the Spirit?I live in a very "unchurched" corner of the world - Seattle. I wonder what it would be like to live in a place where the majority of people worship as a family on Sunday.My beloved

kittyhoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03413419370677881366noreply@blogger.com0