Picasso Pictures

Just in case you wanted to see the damage done here are a few photos.  The wet spots are from where we tried using the Magic Eraser to clean it off.

My Little Picassos

It was bound to happen.  Yesterday the kids spent some time coloring.  We always try to make sure that all the crayons are picked up after a coloring session and moved to an appropriately high shelf out of the reach of little fingers.  Apparently yesterday I missed 2 crayons.  And in a fit of artful enthusiasm, my two little artists made giant swirls and lines up and down both sides of the walls up the stairway. 

 

I was very calm and am pretty proud of myself that I didn’t lose my cool when I discovered it.  They did get a short lecture and time out.  Then they had to help me clean it up.  And when Mr. Brown got home from work, Allison had to tell him what they had done and apologize. 

 

How did the cleaning go… not so great.  They tried to help, and that was the point.  But the problem is that the paint on those walls is flat.  As flat as flat paint comes.  We have not yet got around to painting that area of the house and neither did the previous owners before us.  So the walls are builder-finish flat white paint.  Not an easy thing to clean.  I managed to get some off with my Magic Eraser but it wasn’t long before my last one was gone (I only had one left in the house).  I had heard that using a good old fashioned pink eraser would work.  And it might on regular paint but this stuff is so dull that it just smeared the crayon around.

 

And so this week I will be buying more Magic Erasers and spend my evenings sitting on the stairs.  I’ll also be calling the painters for a quote on painting the rooms.  I’m not expecting it to be cheap.  The problem is that our stairway walls are connected to both the downstairs living room and the upstairs hallway.  There’s no good way to break up the color.  All the area have to be the same.

 

Now to think of color ideas.

Back to Bed

I hesitate to even post this for fear of some kind of "jinx-ing" outcome.  However, it's too good not to share.

For the last 3 nights, Allison has slept in her bed from the moment of bed time until a reasonable (after 6am) wake-up hour in the morning.  Why is this significant?

You probably aren't aware but for the last 5 months or so Allison has been sleeping exclusively on the floor in the hallway outside her room.  We bought a lovely twin bed for her back in October. She slept in it approximately 10 times before deciding it was an awful place.  We haven't had trouble with her going to "bed" - she understands the bedtime routine but she didn't want to actually be in the bed.  Instead she curls up on the floor with her two blankets (inexpensive fleece ones we've had in the closet for years) and pillow and bunny and happily sleeps there all night.  I suspect she was having a little fear of the dark and being about to see the lights and hear the sounds from downstairs while falling asleep were soothing.

But 3 nights ago, she decided to sleep in her bed.  It was completely out of the blue and not prompted by us at all.  And there she stayed until I went in to wake her up at 6:30am.  Amazing!  Not only because she was in her bed, but also because she's usually up somewhere around 5am. 

So... here's hoping that we have a long future of restful nights in bed.

Just a letter to let you know....

that you’ll be getting another letter in a few weeks.

 

Folks, that is the piece of mail I received yesterday from the U.S. Census.  Now, I’m all for the census.  I plan to fill out my survey completely and mail it back immediately.  I want as many tax dollars for my county and state as possible.  I think the advertising to remind people of its importance has been good.

 

But I almost fell over when I got a letter telling me that my census survey would be coming soon.  I understand that the price of postage is tiny compared to the price of all those T.V. commercials I’ve been seeing but it just seemed like such overkill.  I had my pen in hand, ready to answer all questions accurately and was disappointed to find just another piece of paperwork to be recycled.

 

I have to say that I am also a bit disappointed to only be filling out a survey this year.  During the last census I was living in Chicago and a census taker actually came to our door.  I chatted with him for the 10 minutes or so it took to answer his questions and it was actually a really pleasant experience.  I know that door-to-door is much more expensive but it sure was more pleasant.

 

Am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy to send a letter letting me know you’ll be sending me more mail soon?

Are we excited about this pregnancy?

I have only been telling people around me over the last week and I have been asked the above question twice already. 

I apologize in advance for the fact that I am a bit riled up about this.  I'm going to blame it on hormones. 

First of all, I can't say how "we" are feeling.  You may not be excited.  That's okay.  It's not your baby, your body or your family.  But here is how I feel.  I am THRILLED!  I feel so BLESSED to be given the gift of a new life that Mr. Brown and I will guide through the murky waters of growing up into adulthood and a relationship with our Lord.

It's a BABY for crying out loud... what's not to be excited about? 

Do people really think that because I already have two that I should feel "done"?  Or maybe because I have a girl and a boy what more could we want?  Well, I don't feel "done."  I'm not sure when I will feel that way.  But I do know that our family is not complete.  And to me, having one of each gender was never a goal.  There are joys and struggles with each.  I would have been happy with a houseful of all boys or all girls.  Having one of each doesn't make our family any more complete than just having one gender.  And that doesn't mean we were or should have been finished. 

Not that it's anyone's business but this pregnancy, while not totally expected, wasn't exactly a surprise either.  Mr. Brown and I understand how it works and we were open to the possibilities.  This baby is very much wanted and we are very much excited.

Sometimes we grow by leaps...

... and sometimes we grow by Browns.  This is one of the latter times.

Yes, that's right... the newest little Brown will make his or her debut in September!  We are both thrilled and terrified.

I will now take this time to answer a few questions you might be having...

Another one already?  Don't you know this isn't a race?
Yes, we do.  And in my opinion, there is no perfect spacing for children beyond the timing in which God provides them.  This is when our newest addition was needed.

How far apart will the kids be?
Allison & Peter are 14 months apart.  Peter and the new baby will be 26 months apart - just over 2 years.

Isn't 3 kids just too many?
Too many for whom?  For you... maybe.  For us... since God blessed us with this baby, I'm guessing not.  And while I know 3 kids seems like "a lot" today, it's really a very normal and reasonable sized family in my opinion.

Will you buy a different car?
Probably.  We currently have a sedan and an SUV.  While we can fit 3 carseats in them, it's not ideal.  I suspect a minivan is in our future.

Will you keep working?
Yes.  I have no intention of quiting my job when baby arrives.  Our kids are very happy in a very wonderful daycare.  I have no regrets about that.  While I may someday be a stay-at-home mom, for now, this is the path for our family.

Will you find out the gender?
I don't know yet.  Probably not.  But I may change my mind at the last minute in that ultrasound room.   And yes, I do mean "my mind" because Mr. Brown is leaving this choice up to me.

How are you feeling?
In a word - crummy.  The nausea and vomiting are as bad as ever.  But last week I met my new BFF - Maggie.  Maggie is my Zofran pump that gives me a continuous dose of anti-nausea medication directly into a small catheter in my thigh.

How far along are you?  When are you due?
I am currently 12w4d.  My due date is 9/10/10 which means I'll probably be having a scheduled c-section somewhere in the 1st week of September.

Isn't a c-section risky?
Yes, it is.  But after having one out of necessity, I am not comfortable with the risks associated with a vbac based on my particular situation.  If you have an issue with c-sections, don't have one but leave my decisions alone.

An Interview with.... ME!

I saw this today and thought it sounded fun.

1. What's your favorite time of the day, and why?

Early morning.  I don’t really like to get up early.  But when I do coax myself out of bed I am always so glad.  I especially love the way the day feels fresh and new and full of possibility.  And the dew on the grass and trees makes everything seem clean.

2. If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?

Coca-cola classic.

3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?

I’d wish for my health to be back to normal so I’d have all the energy I need for the things my mind and spirit still want to do.

4. What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?
My ability (or lack thereof) in basic arithmetic

5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?

I’ve been sitting here thinking about this for awhile now.  Most of the TV shows I like to watch are crime dramas – not exactly a good choice for making a life out of.  And my favorite classic movies are a bit goofy.  I think I’ll have to go with one of the southern romantic comedy movies – like Sweet Home Alabama or Hope Floats.  I’d love to be a southern romantic lead.

6. If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?

Craftiness.  I have great ideas for doing cool things myself but the execution is always much lacking over what I have in my mind.

7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?A few months in Europe with the family.

8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?

Some kind of indie music – like the Indigo Girls or early Jewel.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?

Pottery Barn – or some other home decorating/furniture store.

10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?

Maybe the 1950s.

11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?

Brown

12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?
(Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)

These days… sleepy.  During a normal season of life… Happy.

13. What's the last album you listened to?

I listened to my Bon Jovi greatest hits album a few weeks ago in the car.

14. What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?

I never liked cheesecake until I was in my 30s.