Cradle Cap?

No, just cookie crumbs on my babies head from carrying her in a baby carrier while indulging in some sweets. Oops! Ha!

I HATE THAT SONG!

Ya know, I have been able to catch quite a bit of Christmas music in my many hours in the house this holiday season and in my few trips to the store. There is a station here in Chicagoland that plays ALL Christmas music 24 hours a day for what may be more than a month before which I do like to put on from time to time. There are a few Christmas songs that make me really cringe or change the station. In mentioning this to me husband or my sister, I learned that what makes me cringe does not necessarily make them cringe and vice versa. So here it is, my most hated Christmas song, ready? My Grown Up Christmas Wish by Plus One. Agh! So lame, I can hardly stomach all the lyrics just thinking about them. Anyway, my sister hates a song that I love (Dominick The Donkey) and so does my husband (A Wonderful Christmas Time). Anyway, just thought I'd put this out there so anyone else can vent there most hates Christmas song. Sorry by the way if you live that song. You feel free to rip on mine if you like, two of my favorites are Rocking Around The Christmas Tree and The Christmas Song to name a couple. AND I love The Charlie Brown Album by Vince Guaraldi. OR you can mention your most hated non-Christmas song too, mine is Crocodile Rock (and it was number one on the charts when I was born). There, I feel much better. Go ahead, give it to me :) Oh, anyone like that soldier talking song? Is it a song if you're talking? Anyway, anyone?

Big Brother & Little Sister

My Glass Coated Paradise

Lots of rain and barely freezing temps have left a coating of glass everywhere you look. This Christmas is going to be fun to watch Little Buddy open all his gifts. I can hardly wait. This year will be the nice yet quiet year for us. I am kind of sad yet relieved that I am not going to be hauling a newborn and a toddler all over the place with gifts ALONE. In the last 3 weeks sickness has hit our house twice. First it was a throat tickly cough thing. It started with Little Buddy then made it's way through the house with the exception of the baby. Then when everyone was feeling much better, Little Buddy got a bad cold, then Little Munchkin, then Cop Dad too. Not me though, yet . . . .

Now everyone is getting over their colds. Cop Dad has to work today and tomorrow, he was held til 3am last night and has court today on top of it. Blagh! We will see very little of Daddy today. We will have one extra Christmas this year at his moms (not too happy about that, seeing as though we cancelled with everyone else cause it's just way too much). Typically Cop Dad works loads of side jobs in November and December for Christmas money. This year we had Little Munchkin during that moneymaking time so Cop Dad was at home with us and the extra $$ does not exist. Another reason I am so glad we are staying at home this year. How could I have gone out and bought for everyone anyway? Seriously. Maybe if I bottle fed but even then, my job is at home taking care of my toddler and newborn. Next year should be a completely different story.

So this year, we are staying in. Then Cop Dad will not be around. Roads are glass coated so we are staying IN. I got all of Little Buddy's gifts wrapped and ready to go. I am making cookies from store bought dough, GACK!, but that's OK cause we are leaving them for Santa and it makes Little Buddy happy.

I am happy to have a beautiful, healthy, baby daughter. I have my Little Buddy to keep me company through it all. My little pal, my friend. I love this boy. My husband has a good job and LOTS of job security (three chases in 2 days, one was like right out of the COPS show). Thank you criminals and scumbags of the world for giving my husband job security and keeping him from getting bored and providing a paycheck so we can survive. We have a home and food and are warm and relatively healthy.

Just waiting for the stores to quiet down so I can go and get a new garage door opener keypad. Plan to head to Walgreens for diaper rash cream today possibly? Other than that, we will be staying in our glass coated paradise and dreaming of next Christmas, a full nights sleep, and summer fun which is just around the corner. Can I ask for spring for Christmas? HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!

Little Munchkin At Five Weeks

Trouble With Gadgets Anyone?

I cannot add any new gadgets on Blogger anymore and every time I try to go in and access them I have no luck. Anyone else able to add or rearrange gadgets? Holler if you hear me. Thanks!

Steal It And Post It!

Feel free to grab and post for yourself all LEOW's out there.

My Favorite Quote Right Now

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep

Today Is THE Day

Today Cop Dad goes back to work. Yikes! I thought the day seemed so far away and alas, it's here. I think I can manage for the most part but what stinks is trying to be able to play with Little Buddy while tending to a newborn. Lots of work and juggling. I can some how think how most things will work out in my mind if times get desperate. I will have some family coming for the next few nights at bedtime to help get Little Buddy ready for bed. That is where I seem to have the most trouble. I can figure how to get Little Buddy ready for bed, either by putting Little Munchkin in her carrier or in her papasan. What mystifies me is how I will be able to read to him and lay with him on occasion when I need to be doing my very silent nursing of Little Munchkin in a dim room at the same time? I was thinking of possibly pushing Little Buddy's bedtime later then asking him to go watch a show for a bit while I take care of her? Like I said, for the next few nights I will have some help but even the other night when Cop Dad worked a side job and my mom came, he wanted mommy even though she is by far one of his very favorites. Last night with daddy home, again he wanted me. I understand the sharing thing but I have not been doing any of the bedtime routine with him and I think we both miss it :( Anyway, just thought I'd keep you all posted and thought perhaps I'd mention my dilemma just in case a mom out there has had to do this and had a suggestion or two. Remember, we have a teeny house with 2 bedrooms and Little Buddy is in one and I room with Little Munchkin right now and Cop Dad is on the couch due to his horrible sleep apnea and snoring and jumping and shouting in the middle of the night. Also, anyone out there ever put a baby in the same room as a toddler? With success? What age? Is it a pipe dream?

Daily Inspiration

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!

(I got this as an e-mail but thought it was so good I had to post on my blog. Enjoy!)

If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking Twenty-five miles to school every morning..... Uphill... barefoot... BOTH ways Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of mess like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that... I'm over the ripe old age of thirty; I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in Utopia!

And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have The Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalogue!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!

Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take, like, a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to beat us! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and mess it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished and the tape would come undone. Cause - that's how we rolled, dig?

We didn't have fancy things like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... forever!
And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your tail and walk over to the TV to change the channel! NO REMOTES!!!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled kids!!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or before!

Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd

Drive By Blogging

Just a few notes about life right now over here. Hope you are all having a great Monday.

- I am currently down 30 pounds and gained a total of 36 pounds during this pregnancy. I would like to be 30 pounds less than that but I will cheer for joy when I hit my conception weight. Need to keep up the calories to produce milk.

- Not too into the holidays this year. I mean, I am as far as it being just our little family. But, with all the 4 different Christmases we usually do, it's just way too much for me to do all that this year, especially without Cop Dad. I'll be lucky if I get shopping done for just the 4 of us. Christmas for Little Buddy this year is going to be alot of fun!

- Getting sick. Little Buddy just getting over whatever yuck he had. Fever for days and lots of him up in the middle of the night wanting Mommy and Daddy.

- Little Munchkin just loves to sleep all day. Not sure how much you can wake a newborn up during the day, not too successful with that. It's been lots of breastfeeding and little sleep. Though there have been a few fabulous nights of 5 hours, then 3 and another 2. I could handle that. Those are not that frequent but they should start to occur more frequently soon . . . . . . hopefully?

- Cop Dad's FMLA leave is done this Friday. Not sure how I'll handle the chaos without him. How on earth do moms do it? I have a new respect for any moms that have more than one small child and look "put together" and happy . . . . . . and awake?!.

- Little Buddy is going through some kind of phase where he is reverting back to some of his baby ways. Like crying A LOT!!!, lots of whining and he has suddenly gotten really, really, L-O-U-D! Eight pm is happy hour over here now :)

- Little Munchkin is almost rolling over by herself already. Wow!

- Wondering when the bags under my eyes will leave? They have been here since late pregnancy and got worse after my cesarean. I hope they are not here to stay.

- I feel so blessed to have one boy and one girl. I did not think I really cared because I am not a frilly pinky ribbons mommy. I caught myself talking to Little Munchkin the other night and telling her I was really glad I would be able to pass down my doll house furniture to her when we get her a dollhouse some day.

- I am very done with football season. Was done with it before it began. Not-a-fan.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tunnel Of Darkness

Thank you to everyone for all your kind and loving comments. I am finding it very hard to do much of anything right now as we all adjust to our new family, even showering. Currently, we are trying to figure out how to help Little Munchkin sleep during the night and not so much during the day. Very exhausted. This is why I call this stage, "The Tunnel Of Darkness." Another mom called it that one time and it seemed to fit so well that I now use it. You are in a whirlwind of things to do and get done and the whole way you are so tired (both mentally and physically) that you can hardly keep your bearings on the day, who ate and when, answering the phone, etc. Little Buddy definitely keeps us on our toes. Funny, when I had one I thought it was so hard. Now I think back at how it was so much easier in so many ways. I will hop on the computer periodically and check my e-mails and even see who's writing about what without much of a chance to read anything. Hoping our new little bundle can sleep through the night in a few months, (which seems like an eternity away). Until then, I will see ya around and miss everyone and blogging too. Oh, and sleep, I remember that wonderful luxury I used to enjoy. Hope you are all having a good November and are looking forward to the upcoming holidays. Heading up now to give my body, brain and my breasts a rest. Feeling very blessed and sleepy. Later!

She's Here!!!

"Little Munchkin" (as she will be referred to on my blog) arrived in this world on Friday, November 13th at 8:09 am by cesarean section. She has a full head of black hair just as I did when I was born. She weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces at birth and is 19 1/2 inches long. We are very excited and exhausted and Little Buddy loves her so much, it has even brought us to tears a few times. I will be working on our official birth announcement just as soon as I catch my breath as we just got home today. The oddest part of the whole birth was that they had a hard time getting her out as she was transverse (sideways: head under one of my breasts and butt under the other) and had one foot up to her forehead and one foot straight down in front of her pressing on my cervix? Glad I was scheduled for that day as the night before I was extremely uncomfortable with cramping and contractions. Happy Birthday Little Munchkin!!!

Happy 40th Sesame Street!

Hard to believe that Sesame Street is turning 40! I will be 37 in February and remember watching it as a small child on our little black and white tv with a dial and rabbit ears back in the good old 70's. Is the show really just a few years older than me? Now my son watches it and I can still love and appreciate it 40 years later. I was trying to think who my favorite character was as a chid. I think I was torn between Grover and Ernie. I wonder how many more years it will be around? Happy birthday Sesame Street!

Practical LEO Gift Idea: Badge Wallet

I picked up one of these for Cop Dad a few years ago for Christmas from a local uniform shop nearby. He LOVED it and the fact that he was able to have the best of both worlds: Carry around all his credit cards, money, etc. AND he got to carry around his off duty badge and his commission card as well. You can find many different uniform and police stores that either carry badge wallets or who can order them for you. There are also countless police supply websites who sell them. The only thing you really have to think about is the bifold/trifold option and what badge style/number your LEO has. Cop Dad's PD had that info when I needed it, I imagine most would. This badge wallet is not the one that Cop Dad has, but you get the idea. I have a few other very practical LEO gift ideas to share and was going to do it in one big post but figured it was easier right now to do one here and there.

On Daddy's Pillow

Over the last few months of my pregnancy I have had Little Buddy nap with me in our bed in Cop Dad's spot once in awhile. It is very nice but does not always work. That plus I cannot stop staring at him as he sleeps. I was laying next to him the other day and he was so wiped out but but all I could do was look at him. I grabbed my cell phone and took this photo and sent it to Cop Dad at work. What is so mesmerizing about watching your children sleep? I hope once we are 4 instead of 3 we will still be able to take a nap together once in awhile.

Pre-baby Jitters

Not sure if any of the other moms out there can relate to having really bad pre-baby jitters in your whole house right before a second or third baby. Naturally before the first one, I get that, but the whole house seems very tense and stressed lately. It seems to be worse for the males too? I kinda keep to myself especially cause they seem really touchy. My two-year-old, hubby and even the male dog seem to be pregnant or PMSing or something. It's funny and frustrating at the same time and I just keep thinking to myself, "Wait a minute, who's pregnant here? Who's going under the knife on Friday?" Maybe my hormones are rubbing off? Anyone out there recall any of this when you were about to deliver? Ha! Cop Dad just leaned over to kiss me on his way to work and read this and said he thinks he is definitely having a harder time with the jitters and anxiety. Amen, least he can admit it and Amen too that's it's not all me. The song, The Final Countdown, by Europe, has been playing in my head for weeks now. It always does right before something big. 39 weeks today and 5 days to go . . . . . . . Agh!

Ode To The Cesarean (In Photos)

*Warning, this may be a little graphic for the very young or if you are easily grossed out.
AND, no these are not me but just miscellaneous pictures from the internet I put together, so any V birthers out there can see what C births are all about :) I'm stillllllllllll pregnant. Ugh!

A Guest Post From Cop Dad

Please help me in welcoming for the very first time (drumroll . . . . . . . . ) Cop Dad! Once in awhile when I am on the computer he hangs over my shoulder (when he wants to talk to me about something) and reads what's on the screen. The last time he was reading the comment I had left on Walking a Thin Blue Line's post titled, Social Life For LEO Fams. I felt a little nervous as his eyes made their way down the list. Not that I said anything that put him in a bad light or was untrue but that I was so very open and had put out some very personal things that we had learned through much trial and error over the last few years since he first became a cop. I was honest and do NOT think I know everything by any means, but also felt that if maybe someone could either read something that they could relate to (in my comment and/or anyone else's) or are struggling with and benefit from, then that is what this whole blog thing is about, right? Helping each other out and sharing with others what your journey is about. It has been invaluable for me to have a circle of fellow LEO wives and LEO's too who can talk about what their experience's are like and often times relate to, sometimes disagree, and sometimes just learn from others about what it's like to be married and have a family with anyone in law enforcement. And I think that the anonymity of blogging definitely lets you share more than in real life, at least for me.

Anyway, he liked my comment and agreed with it wholeheartedly. I then asked him if he would be interested in doing a guest post about the same general topic and he at first said no, then asked me a day or two later if I still wanted him to write one. I was thrilled. I figured that many LEO's that blog or do guest posts for their wives do not want to spill their guts about much of anything regarding home/family/marriage life, especially on the internet. That being said I felt that it would be very helpful for anyone who is married to an LEO to hear a bit of what it's like from their side, seeing as though we are almost always hearing it from the women's sides on here. He tossed around some really good titles and then the very last one he came up with was, "Don't Let The Badge Define You." I loved it right away, but then also told him that I wanted to really grab reader's attention and title the post "A Guest Post From Cop Dad." He agreed. Without further ado.

My wife asked me to write a guest post several days ago and I said, “No way, absolutely not, it will never happen”. Ha. Here I am. Don’t ask me why I decided to write this because I don’t have an answer. I don’t even know what to write about. I’ve been reading my wife’s blog more often lately and looking at her cop wife friends’ posts and another cop that writes blogs so I decided I would give it a shot. First a blurb about being a cop, then the important stuff about being a good husband and father.

PART 1:
I’m second-generation law enforcement. I was raised in a cop household. My father was a police officer for 30 years in the Chicagoland area. He started the police academy in 1978, three months before I was born. I grew up around the police department and wanted nothing more in life than to follow in my idol’s footsteps and become a cop.

Being a cop was a lot different back then. Cops were much more free to dish out some old school justice on the streets. The bad guy wouldn't even get arrested half the time but he would walk away from the encounter with a new found respect for the police. The bad guys certainly wouldn’t be taping the encounter with their cell phones, filing a lawsuit or calling to complain to a supervisor because an officer accidentally said the “F” word when yelling at him to drop his knife.

Today’s world is the most difficult time in the history of LE to be a cop. The above example of using the “F” word to a man holding a knife and then having a complaint filed was is no joke. In my department the complaint would go nowhere, but it’s just the fact that these bad guys think they are smarter than us. The world expects us to deal with the worst of the worst on a daily basis and then call them sir or ma’am. LE actually emphasizes in training nowadays that when yelling commands at a guy with a gun or knife or whatever that we should really work on not swearing and possibly throwing in the work sir or ma’am. Oh, really. Watching my language is my last concern. The first would be keeping a bullet from entering my body with any means necessary. But in their defense, their theory is that if you do end up shooting the bad guy then any witnesses will only remember the swear word that you said or the tone of your voice and nothing else thus making you look really bad.

That being said, this is still the best job ever. I love it. I get paid to chase and fight with bad guys and drive fast – very, very fast. Every day is different.

I really think you need a Type A personality to be a cop. I mean, who else gets off on telling people what to do and hoping to get into physical altercations if someone doesn’t listen. There is nothing quite like going to a house on a domestic and walking to the front door and being greeted by a pissed off intoxicated husband telling me, “You’re not coming in here asshole, this is my house.” I can’t help but smile to myself because I know what is coming next and the scary thing is that I can’t wait to do it. It usually starts with me saying, “No, this is my house now!” or “Get the “F” out of my way”! Followed by a palm heel strike to the chest, a straight-arm bar take down and the bad guy falling down and me putting him in handcuffs. It’s now always that smooth but you get the picture.

PART 2:
I tell my wife all the time, “You are the reason for my success.” It’s true. I’ve been blessed with an incredibly beautiful, patient, caring, loving, understanding and nurturing wife. Anyone else would have left me by now. I realized that and took corrective action on my part. But it requires constant work. I can’t let down because Officer Cop Dad takes over in my mind and I treat my family like bad guys.

Living the life of a cop is what I would imagine someone with Bi-Polar Disorder lives with. It’s constantly one extreme to the other: One minute I am chasing and wrestling some dirt bag from the city who just stole a bottle of vodka from the liquor store and two hours later I am cuddling, hugging, kissing and tickling my beautiful two year old Little Buddy being as gentle as I can be. These are two different extremes within two hours of each other. This is why it so important to work so hard on separating cop/work from husband/dad/home.

Although that Type A personality is exactly what makes us good police officers, it is also exactly what makes us lousy husbands. Luckily there are a lot of things that can be done to keep a marriage strong, but they require us not being stubborn and managing our pride. A list of the qualities that I feel are important to constantly work on for cop dads/husbands:

1. Separation of cop/work from husband/dad/home. It’s not easy but necessary.
2. Patience, Patience, Patience. Did I say patience?
3. Teamwork
4. Fairness
5. Understanding
6. Develop/sustain a healthy hobby (i.e. I like to jog/strength train)
7. Make any time spent with your family quality time. You never know how much you have left. Already this year we have lost 101 brothers and sisters.
8. Be careful of the amount of OT and side jobs you work. Nothing will detach you from your family faster than never being home.
9. Always place family first. Fact is, no one cares for you and loves you like your family. I’m sorry if you disagree, but you will never experience the love and sacrifice and loyalty that your family gives you from any other human beings.
10. Being a cop doesn’t define what type of man I am. Being a great husband and father absolutely defines what type of man I am.
11. See a counselor. It’s not easy. I had to swallow my pride and tell this person all of the embarrassing things about my marriage but it helped dramatically.

There is so much to cover I could go on forever, but I won’t. I would just like to say to my fellow cops: Don’t ever let the job come before your family…it’s just a job. And to my fellow cops wives: Just know that you are the reason for the success that most of us have achieved and without you we will most likely fall to pieces. Don’t give up on us.

Honest Scrap Award

I was just awarded this from Mrs. Officer over at mrsofficer2u.blogspot.com. A fabulous new LEOW blog pal of mine that is fun, nice, and full of kindness. Thanks!!!

The Honest Scrap Award comes with some rules too. In order to accept it you must list 10 honest things about yourself and then pass the award along to some other bloggers. Here are ten honest things about me:

1) I have a horrrrrrrrible sweet tooth. I hide bits of chocolate and such around the house sometimes.

2) I am drawn to people who are down to earth, and need that quality in any friend I make.

3) I wish I had a different build. I am short and large boned and even at my thinnest have big feet, fingers, head, wrists, etc. and am very muscular. "Strong like bull."

4) I love vegetables! Probably more than fruit, meat, or dairy. Please don't put fruit in my salad or fruit flavored anything on my food. No apricot vinaigrette on my steamed asparagus either. Blagh!

5) I am not a sitter. I cannot sit for long periods of time and watch TV or anything else. Life is too short. I have to clean or walk or garden or cook or anything other than sitting.

6) I am very sound sensitive and LOVE quiet and peace. Kids will be kids but I do not want to listen to your cheap, noisy pool pump 24 hours a day all summer or your dog barking outside for hours, or your pipes revving in your driveway regularly or your bass thumping at 2am, that kind of thing.

7) I have a HUGE problem with passive aggressive people. I am very upfront and honest and don't like wasting my time reading between the lines and find it to be very petty and dysfunctional.

8) I LOVE to laugh!!! I try to find humor in most things even when they are bothering me. Though it seems that God puts many uptight people in my path, not sure how to deal with that. I like when people can laugh at themselves too :)

9) I am a worry wart!

10) I believe that children are an important part of the world but not that they should be the center of the universe. I am always pointing out to my son that there are people trying to shop and eat and live around him and to use a restaurant voice, watch where you're going, etc. Nothing bothers me more than parents that let their children run wild and glare at the rest of the world around them.

I am passing this on to Natalie from Walking a Thin Blue Line, Dori from Simply Dori and Monica from Loud and Proud. Please post this award or some very juicy, honest details about yourself or just feel flattered and laugh and point at my list :)

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

This movie looks really cute. Not sure if it would keep my 2-year-olds attention, but it would mine. I love claymation and/or plushmation or whatever other "mations" they use for these types of films.

Squash Fans: Ever Make One Of These?

I picked up this carnival squash at the apple farm a few weeks ago cause I thought it was pretty to set out and then eventually be part of a meal too. Anyone out there have any experience with baking, roasting, or cooking one of these? I make butternut squash and acorn squash in the oven in covered Corning Ware with water then top with butter. Figured I'd do the same but thought I'd post just in case one of my mad cooking blog pals had a better idea?

Roar, Brrrr, Wah!!!

Well, the makeup went OK, but, "No penk nose mommy!" "Daddy turn!" So he wanted the whiskers (and us to have them too, lol) but absolutely no pink on his nose. Too funny. Then we headed out, Little Buddy layered in long underwear, regular clothes and then the costume on top with winter coat in hand. The garage door opened and we were all hit with a blast of a forty something degree wind. Then the crying started ( I should mention that somebody had Halloween fever and refused to take a nap, sigh . . . ). After much convincing, we finally headed over to Guillermo's house, a fabulous neighbor of ours with 5 kiddos. Then we knocked and did the trick or treat thing and once Little Buddy saw a tiny bag of "M's" all was right in the world. On to the next house, and so on, and so on. It was so cold, in the 40's with lots of damp, raw wind gusts that blew right through you. The winter coat went on immediately. We made it up our block and then down the other side back when Little Buddy started to say, "Go home mommy!" No arguments here, home we went, and I was excited to give out candy to the kids! Uh, Houston, we have a problem, Little Buddy did NOT want to give out candy to the kids. He is really good at sharing for the most part, BUTTTTTTTTT, this was clearly our candy and what are you thinking mommy, giving our candy to all these other kids? So, that took some talking, and tears and more talking, then repeat several times. Then remember, no nap, hardly ate lunch, and poor little guy had wind burn too. Finally we got him to gobble up some mac and cheese, cucumber pieces and a few grapes too. Then we turned on the Winnie The Pooh tape mommy just unearthed from the bottom of the trunk. Ate a few candies. All was right in the world :)

But, what would trick or treating be in the Midwest be without cold damp weather and your winter coat covering your costume? Ahhhh, memories . . . . . .

The Pumpkin Workout?

OK, this is hysterical. I was searching for a clip from It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown to share for today and stumbled on this which I find to be very hilarious and quite seasonally appropriate. So for those of you that end up eating too much Halloween candy, here's the workout for you. Diggin' the cheesy music too! Ha!

Happy Haunting!

Happy haunting, baking, recovering, raking, trick or treating, and partaking this weekend!

New Amy's Favorite

We tried this new Amy's meal a short time ago and both Cop Dad and I really like it a lot. It's vegetarian but not vegan due to the cheese. I prefer to heat up one of these than many of the other frozen meals I see at the store since I have been cooking and baking less in these late days of pregnancy. Even "Meat and Potatoes" Cop Dad digs 'em. We were stuck on Amy's Black Bean Enchilada Meals for the longest time but now these are our favorite. It is always sure to perk some interest and skepticism in the lunchroom at the PD as well when I send them in Cop Dad's lunch. Then when the smell fills the lunchroom and Cop Dad starts eating, usually several other fellow cops are saying how good it smells and looks. These are lightly coated with a tomatillo verde sauce which has a slightly tangy taste. If you are not a fan of tomatillo's, then perhaps you'd like to try a different Amy's selection. Have any favorite Amy's meals?

From One LEO Wife To Another

This little pig flying pocket stone was just gifted to me from another LEO wife I know. Ever receive any "unique" gifts because you are a cop's wife?

FTO Training, Day Two

So Cop Dad made it to FTO training this week. This is day two and goes through Friday. Months ago he put in for FTO, then they gave him ET and DTI. He was flattered but then in the few months during and right before a new baby is coming from a high risk pregnancy, it has been a lot extra for him to stress about. So, he is traveling 40 miles each way every day for the training. Not a biggie but when your pregnant wife is about to pop and having lots of cramps and contractions, being an extra 40 miles away does not help. Anyway, we did not think we would make it this far. I have a very small, misshapen (bicornuate, or heart shaped) uterus that barely held a much smaller Little Buddy only 36 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours and 45 minutes last pregnancy. This baby is VERY, VERY BIG already passed up Little Buddy's size from the last pregnancy, weeks ago. This baby is also transverse (or completely sideways) and is already over seven pounds, so you can imagine how very comfortable I am. I'm literally ALL stomach. I am only 5' 3" and look like I'm carrying multiples or something. Really I think it looks pretty bizarre and wherever I go I get lots of stares and even some pointing too. Here comes the circus side show. lol Seriously though, getting tired of all the gawking wherever I go. Then add in the fact that I have to make several pathetic attempts to get up or bend over for things and you can imagine how hilarious I must look. We even went to the movie on date night and a group of obnoxious teenagers were pointing and laughing and walking past me with their arms hooped out in front of them and waddling. Honestly, were they born under a rock? I guess, it's just cause I'm otherwise so small and the stomach is so, N-E-V-E-R-E-N-D-I-N-G. I tried to explain to Cop dad the other day that it feels like someone surgically implanted a watermelon SIDEWAYS in me. Weird, I wonder what normal women feel like this late in pregnancy when the baby goes head down and drops into the pelvis. I try not to dwell on it but imagine how much more comfortable it must be than this.

OK, so we have pretty much everything ready: bags packed, stocked diaper/overnight bag for Little Buddy in case we have to dump him at Grandma's apartment, teeny diapers, everyone on standby too. AND yes, I keep getting house cleaned and ready every night so it is not a disaster for whoever comes here to watch Little Buddy and Psycho Dog during my 4-5 day hospital stay. Grandparents all have Little Buddy/Psycho Dog/House instructions. I am still under close observation with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department at the hospital and also have been going to the OB weekly for the last several weeks for NST (non stress testing) as well as cervix check and regular OB appointment too. I'm truly glad for all the modern medicine and technology but so tired of all the appointments and poking and prodding and monitoring and running around. Really feeling grateful for all the very caring and helpful family and grandparents so close by and always willing to help. Thankful too for a very involved Cop Dad who has been very with me to nearly every single appointment even though it gets him all worked up and stressed out when we have left some of the more questionable appointments. He has been there every step of the way and truly cares what's going on. PLUS, most of the time he has been very helpful around the house and with Little Buddy despite all his weird hours with training and work and side jobs. I talk to some women and well, I have it pretty good in that area from what I hear. This year has been though almost the breaking point in our marriage. Though I think it was a good thing in that our marriage is better now than it has been in years. It has been lots of work and counseling and fighting and figuring stuff out as far as what works and what must give and so on for it to work. I don't know if it's such a struggle for most cops to not be so angry, stressed, mean, detached and negative especially at home but it seems that I hear more LEOW's admit it more and more. It has been worlds better lately and that's what counts.

So FTO training ends on Friday and there is no more training (ET) until December which should conveniently sandwich Cop Dad's baby leave without missing a beat. OY! In the meantime, Cop Dad has been shopping around and researching flat screen TV's in his spare time. We HAVE a TV but it is old and humongous and "old school." So Cop Dad wants to spend his upcoming FTO check on it and as much as I think it's frivolous, so what. He has busted his ass this year for everything and we are not the keep up with the Jones's type of people at all and seldom if ever make big purchases like this unless something breaks. He has agreed to spend a lower amount so we can get a new railing for our front porch (the old one rusted through at the base and snapped off), a new larger area rug for our living room (old one is falling apart and small), then use our income tax this spring for a new driveway which is all a crumble and cracked and sinking too. All without any credit or financing use, thank God.

Now we are just hoping to make it through the week for FTO training and also for Little Buddy's Halloween. Then whatever happens, happens cause I am so done, I'll need a wheelbarrow soon to cart this stomach around. Ha! We are anonymous on our blog but will gladly e-mail the birth announcement to any of you that I have your e-mails. Feel free to comment it and I will delete and not post so no trolls get it.

Yum, Have You Tried This Yet?

We are huge fans of Panera and eat there all the time. Even though it's a little bit pricier than other fast food restaurants it is more wholesome and healthy (for the most part). I have so many favorites there I could go one forever but recently, since conceiving, I found a new heavenly breakfast sandwich that is incredible. It is called the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Grilled Breakfast Sandwich. They use a crusty ciabatta and insert a slice of white cheddar, egg, and bacon. Then they put it on the panini press. Oh my. So good. If you like breakfast sandwiches, this is one you have to try. They also have other's to pick from as well. I cannot tell you how many times I've had to have one some mornings during this pregnancy. Deeeeee-lish!!!

Daily Funny

As a mother, I often find myself saying the oddest things. Like they aren't odd in meaning but they sound wrong. I am completely sure other mothers out there know what I mean when I say this. Today, I went to the grocery store alone (hallelujah!) to pick up a few things. Cop Dad and Little Buddy picked up dog food at the pet store and then ate lunch at home together. Upon returning home, Cop Dad assure me that Little Buddy ate and was not hungry anymore. Ha! Not sure what it is about mommy, but I always make the kid demand food the minute he sees me.

Little Buddy: Hiiiiiiiiiii! Mommy!

Me: Hi Little Buddy! I missed you, were you a good boy?

Little Buddy: Yes mommy.

Me: Were you a good boy for daddy?

Little Buddy: Yes, good boy. Cheese please mommy! Cheese please mommy! Cheese please mommy!

Me: You want cheese? Just a minute. (Then I headed to the sink to wash my grubby grocery store hands so I could get him some cheese).

Little Buddy: (He walks over to the sink and looks up at me and at my hands as I wash them). Mommy, what doing?

Me: I am washing my hands so that I can cut the cheese for you. (Chuckle quietly to myself).

I don't think it's hysterical really but some times the words just come out of my mouth and make complete sense but really sound either bad or funny. Sometimes, Little Buddy insists on me playing with him and I have something to do. Then he says, "Mommy play with me!" To which I have often remarked quite plainly, "No, you go play with yourself for a little while and I'll play with you later." Not sure if I many of you experience this often or it makes you laugh but when I have mentioned it to my mom friends they laugh and admit it happens to them all the time. Guess, it's all we moms have to amuse ourselves sometimes. Ain't motherhood grand?

Daily Inspiration

Car Collection

Cop Daddy had the idea the other day to get all of Little Buddy's cars (and things that go) together and set them all up. Then I thought of taking a picture of Little Buddy with his collection. I guess our local library had a little boys car collection which was a fraction of this one, and of course, Cop Dad said we could beat it with what we had. So a digging we went all over the house, into the car and through mommy's purse, into the diaper bag and then under all the furniture in the house with Cop Daddy's new special strobe flashlight. I can not believe how many cars we have! We even have some that are left at grandparents houses too! We are trying to have fun around the house before baby comes. H1N1 is rampant around us and we are trying to avoid indoor kid places (germ pits) so that we don't all get sick right before the baby comes plus it is cold and rainy here and we are kind of limited as far as activities.

Ooh, Mrs. Officer just gave me the idea to have a family movie night. So we will be renting Kung Fu Panda and ordering a large thin crust cheese pizza from a local pizza place. No side jobs for Cop Daddy tonight . . . . . . . . LIFE IS GOOD :)

Ode To Pregnancy

Egg releasing, sperm reaching,
Period missing, Daddy kissing,
Bosom swelling, tears welling,
Face glowing, vomit flowing,
Appetite increasing, coffee ceasing,
Breasts sinking, no drinking,
Cells splitting, clothes not-fitting,
Fetus tumbling, tummy rumbling,
Belly expanding, hard standing,
Belly button popping, bits dropping,
Lungs wheezing, stomach squeezing,
Ankles puffing, breath huffing,
Brain exploding, life imploding.
Thoughts wondering, mind wandering,
Name thinking, time shrinking,
Breasts dripping, scales tipping,
Blood racing, muscles bracing,
Clock ticking, baby kicking,
Baby urging, hormones surging,
Labor pending, pregnancy ending,
Heart drumming, contractions coming,
Pain searing, faces peering,
Mummy screaming, tears streaming,
Baby loading, bum exploding,
PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

~ Karen Peradon-Alaga

Sending Goodies To Roll Call

I've been sending goodies to work for my husband and the guys (and girls) in roll call. Today I picked up a bag of Reese's Sticks. Last week I sent homemade pumpkin nut bread. The week before I sent zucchini bread. I have also sent brownies, chocolate chip bars, and peanut butter cookies. I enjoy baking and almost never buy junk food so when I want something, I make it but just eat some and send the rest to the station. Usually, the guys go nuts for the treats. Seems that most of the wives work or only send stuff once in a blue moon. Just curious if you ever send goodies to work for your hubby and the guys in roll call? Or does your wife make stuff for you to bring? Just curious. Figure that once the baby comes, there will be a treat drought for some time so I'm going nuts doing it now :)

Toyota Prius Commercial

I don't really know what it is about these Toyota Prius commercials but I am mesmorized by them whenever they are on. I love all the brightly colored costumes and all the people that make up the scenery. I think it kind of reminds me of scenes from The Wizard of Oz possibly? Anyway, I like to post creative or interesting commercials from time to time. There are alot of bad commercials out there both on tv and radio so when I spot a good one I like to share it. Do you have any favorite commercials or commercials that you can't stand?

Proud Of My Big Sister

Just wanted to mention how proud I am of my big sister in a post. My big sister and only sibling, started her family and got married right away. She was able to stay home with her kids and raise them and support her husband as he furthered his electrical career while she took care of the house/home/children. She stayed home for 17 years. In those same years, I wanted to do the opposite and so I went to college, partied, traveled, worked every place under the sun to put myself through college, etc. Then I met my now husband, we worked in our careers, bought a house, remodeled it from roof to foundation, got a dog (which WAS our baby until we had a baby), traveled some more and really enjoyed ourselves for awhile. All this time my sister was still taking care of her family. Then about the same time our lives took a total switch. My sisters kids were getting older and I was pregnant and about to become a stay-at-home-mom. She was taking classes in junior college and about to start the nursing program to become a nurse. Since that time, she finished her nursing degree, all while still taking care of her house and family and kids who were in middle and high school on the side. OY! I could not have done that. On one hand I was glad that I got all my schooling out of the way before starting my family, but on the other hand I was amazed that she was able to do hers with a husband/house and kids too! Not that it was a joyous cake walk for her, it made things so much harder BUT she did it. We just attended her graduation this spring just weeks before her daughter graduated from high school AND her son graduated from middle school!!!

With the current state of the economy, it was hard for most graduates to find a job. Pickings were slim if there were any. She did end up finding a job at a brand new assisted living place (a mansion) with less than 5 patients on the midnight shift. Needless to say, as the patients slept, she was bored out of her mind. She wanted to get into a hospital ER and experience all the action. Nobody was hiring and if they were, it was not new grads. THEN, one day she told me that she found a big hospital that had an opening on the med-surge floor. She interviewed and GOT THE JOB! She had some tests to take to get her RN before they officially hired her. Then she aced those (of course) and got hired. She loves it! There is so much to learn on the job even after all that schooling.

You know, I never doubted that she could do it but knew that it would be so hard for her to do with a family. I struggled going to college with no family. She did it though. And to be quite honest she did it well. She got really good grades, she was always VERY good in school. I never was unless it had to do with art. Oh, and there is no way I could ever be a nurse. Kudos to her for that. I cannot imagine taking care of people that were sick or dying. I am wayyyyyy too emotional. AND ooooooh, some of the things she has told me about that she has to deal with. Gross! Another reason she is the nurse of the family and I went to art school. I could never deal with all the blood and guts of that type of job. I am very proud of her and she amazes me. I really never knew if she would go back to school or what she would end up doing after staying home all those years. She did it and I love her!

Books, Baskets, & Boys Shirts

Just picked up these finds this morning at the local Salvation Army Store. I actually got to go by myself :) Hurrah! It is impossible to thrift shop with a 2-year-old, at least mine anyway. I snagged 5 very cute boys shirts, 3 baskets that I like to use for toys and books around the house, and 17 children's books (25 cents each, thank you very much) all for under $23. Ahhhh, I love thrifting! OK, must go eat and put my feet up :) Find any fabulous goodies lately? Thrifting, garage saling, clearance racks?

Paranormal Activity

If you like scary movies, this is a movie to see. We LOVE scary movies and Cop Dad and I went to see this after eating Japanese last night for our anniversary celebration. Whoa! There was no way I was going to let him stop holding my hand. I can honestly say that he was jumping as much if not more than I was. Also, I was squeezing his hand so hard that I could feel his finger tips pulsing from being squeezed too hard. Very, very, scary!

Take a whiff, officer, . . . . . .

An Award Post In Which I Share 7 Things About Moi

I just received this award from my pal Martha over at A Sense Of Humor Is Essential. She is a nurse out in Cali and is a very wise, kind, sweet, funny, and fabulous blogger I know. Guess she thinks I'm kreativ or something?

Before I get started with the facts about me (yawn), I would like to thank her for the award and always keeping up with my posts and keeping me laughing with her Loser Letters. Seriously CANNOT wait for the next Loser Letters post. They have nearly made me pee my pants a few times. Also, she is always going to the most interesting places and talks about some of the most hilarious and neat things. Really, I value her as a blog pal. Hope you know that Martha :)

Anyway, I guess I should now share 7 things about myself. OK, I think most of you are up to date with all that is current in my life so maybe I should make a list of 7 things you most likely do NOT know about me to keep you from falling asleep and hitting your head on the keyboard.

1) Before I became a stay at home mom and cops wife, I went to art school and received 2 degrees. Then I was in publishing for 6 years and worked as a graphic designer designing ads, page layout, marketing pieces and such for magazines, newspapers, special publications as well as the Internet.

2) Neither my husband or myself drink. Wayyyyyyy back in the good ol' days he had issues with it and I was not much of a drinker so when he gave it up, so did I. I really do not miss it, though I wish people were more accepting of it. Living a sober life can be a very lonely road. We don't mind hanging out with folks who like to partake occasionally. It bothers most people that we don't drink more than it bothers us. It is often a deal breaker for people when we want to be friends and they learn this about us. Sucky :(

3) I am kinda weird about harsh chemicals so I like to use a clean rag and really hot water to wipe most things. Then I also trust the good old gentle reliables like vinegar, baking soda, Murphy Soap, Bon Ami, etc. for most other cleaning. Don't use air fresheners, scented candles or sprays, really ever. Though once in a blue moon, I will burn a pumpkin or vanilla candle.

4) I was the very first person in all my family, even extended to go to college and receive my bachelors degree and paid for it by myself. There have been several since me but I was very proud of that, PLUS I went to school for art and my maternal grandmother was an artist too, a painter. Though I do not paint, I do love to do freelance design on the side. I also like to build, fix, make, refinish and repurpose things. Cook, bake, garden, and just create stuff whenever I can.

5) I LOVE ethnic foods. How could one go through life and live in the Chicago area and not find foods from so many different places to be fabulous? Life is too short. Eat well :) I enjoy Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, Mexican, Iranian, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Pakistani, etc.

6) I am nutty about wasting. I will take home unused napkins, butters, plastic utensils, sealed salad dressings & sour creams, crayons, etc. rather than leave them behind at a restaurant to be tossed out. Then when I get home I stuff the napkins in the napkin bin, utensils in the box for parties, crayons in Little Buddy's crayon bin, and perishables in the fridge. Each item is one less thing that will be unused/wasted and that I have to buy. I know, nutty.

7) I was born in my house, in my bedroom, in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood back in 1973. My mother wanted to have me at home, naturally, breastfeed and stay home to raise us. My sister and I did all the same when it was our turn except we have/had our babies in a hospital.

I would now like to hand this award on to a few of the kreativ bloggers I know.

· Stacy at Squirrel Chatter is a graphic design blog pal. She has many of the same interests that I do such as being environmental, gardening, art & design, food, and doing all kinds of fun things.

· Meadowlark at Just Wandering Through is a LEOW (Law Enforcement Officer's Wife) blog pal. Though I have not known her for long I find her to be a fun and creative kind of gal. She often blogs about doing things or making things that I find to be very interesting and can appreciate such as landscaping, gardening, knitting, canning, hanging around and roasting at her fire pit.

· Dori at Simply Dori is another LEOW blog pal. She often writes about her family, fun things she does with her kids, gardening, poetry, humor, and her life both past and present, things she likes to make for parties and kids, and she often posts some very cute comics too.

· Monica at Loud and Proud is a new LEOW blogger I just discovered. Though I have not known her for long or had much of a chance to read many of her posts I can tell she is another creative soul. Just in the last week I have read about things she likes to do such as cooking (OMG, stop by and see what she's cooking, drool . . . . ), she has some fabulous quotes and sayings along the side of her blog, she is very family oriented and is always writing about her beloved family and has beautiful things to say about them all, she likes to jazz up her blog for the season right now it is all decked out with Halloween graphics and music, oh, and she is always keeping busy doing something fun, and she is very outspoken and has a great sense of humor as well.

Please enjoy your awards and do with them what you will.

My Life Right Now In Bullets

· I am huger than huge, EXCEEDING MAXIMUM CAPACITY actually. Baby is in 80th percentile and transverse too. They think I can go any time. Only 35 weeks as of yesterday, so I am just praying for a minimum of 2 more weeks so the little stinker can avoid having many problems of prematurity. Little Buddy was 3 weeks early and had several issues. I had to schedule my section the other day for the last 3 weekdays in the second week in November. Dr. Dickhead works the first two, so yes, I am scheduled to have my cesarean on Friday, November 13th. There's NO WAY, I'm making it that far.

· As much as the baby is my focus, I worry too about Little Buddy and the change and everything. He started to stutter 2 weeks ago, literally overnight. The nurse said that it could be from stress, or the upcoming change that's about to happen, OR it could just be happening cause it happens to many little boys as a phase. She said it happened to her son at the same age and came and went, they just ignored it. We are supposed to ignore it completely. It was almost gone a few days ago. Then it started up again.

· Cop Dad is scheduled to go to FTO training quite a distance away the week of October 26th. As much as I hope he does not miss it, it is on the last of my priority list. After all, when you are at the end of your life, will you reflect about your FTO status or about the children you shared your life with? He feels the same way but I know that he will still be bummed if it does not work out. I would be 37 weeks or term by the Sunday the day before training begins. Just hopeful that he is not far away when I go into labor and he misses it and also misses the end of training.

· Swelling up badly and quickly lately. Not doing a whole lot. Got most things done for baby. I feel kind of stifled. Wanting to do more at the end here but then again doing day trips is much harder and more exhausting and we are afraid about being too far from hospital. Inside I am itching to cook, bake, go do play dates with friends, travel, garden, do Thanksgiving for my third year. I took it on a few years ago when Little Buddy was big enough and I loved it and this year there's just no way. Oh, and truth be told, I just fantasize about not being pregnant anymore.

· Enjoying my Little Buddy. Despite his speech issue, he is going through a very fun and loving and sweet and funny phase. Not that he is not always like that but it seems extra cute and loving lately. Hoping he handles the transition well, when baby comes. He is the light of my life.

· With all the training that Cop Dad has been going through lately our stress-o-meter (as well as our schedule) is like a roller coaster. He put in for FTO, then they gave him DTI, and ET. Then they also sent him to driving class and verbal judo. Then he stresses about the baby and well you can imagine the stress level.

· I love this time of year. I love fall and the colors and yes, I love Halloween. I do not see it as an evil that must be endured. I see it for it's cute costumes, candy, caramel covered apples, hay rides, corn mazes, pumpkins, apple picking, beautiful leaves, oh and I love haunted houses and scary movies too even though they are "evil."

· Rolling up on our 6th wedding anniversary this week. Not sure what we are doing yet. Hope we will be eating something wonderful and not in the hospital yet. We have been together since the summer of 1998, but we both needed to finish college and start our careers, etc. Then we enjoyed each other and partied and traveled and had a great time first. So it's really been 11 years. Some people don't think it counts but those first 5 years were very significant for us. Not sure if we would still be together if we didn't have those first five years under our belts before getting married. Older bride, older momma, just how I wanted it :)

· It's cold here now. Yesterday night we had a hard freeze not just a frost. Usually we have a lengthy, warm fall but this year it's been a wet, cold and cloudy one. Great for hot pregnant women but a bummer if you like to bask in the warm sunny days of Indian summer.

· Every one's sleeping well and a lot lately. Thank God for that because we all need it.

Once You Realize That You Have Enough . . . . . .

You are truly rich.
~Wayne Dyer

Wordless Week: Saturday (Sorry, Late Due To Internet Outage)

Wordless Week: Friday

Wordless Week: Thursday

Wordless Week: Wednesday

Wordless Week: Tuesday

Wordless Week: Monday

Wordless Week: Sunday

Honesty Awards

So, as I have been blogging for over a year and commenting and reading others blogs too I have noticed that there is a need for much honesty for most bloggers (especially myself) as time goes on.

I have my own trials and tribulations and have reached out for some good honest comments and in turn have left VERY honest comments for those I know through blogworld that are also seeking honesty too.

I think there is a variety of reasons for people to blog. Some people want to scrapbook their lives for family and friends. Some people use their blog to journal (like myself) and ed up blogging about any old thing that comes to mind, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes nonsense. Lately I have used my blog to reach out to others at times when I feel lost or sad and have asked for honesty and advice or wisdom.

In seeking honesty from my blog pals, there have been a few select bloggers that have really come through for me. When you are looking for honesty and not candy coated words or flowery nonsense, you begin to rely on your honest commenter's.

Sooooooo, I decided to create an award just for these fabulous people. I call it the honesty award. The awards go to, in no particular order, (drum roll please), Meadowlark at Just Wandering Through, Martha at A Sense Of Humor Is Essential, Dori at Simply Dori, Natalie at Walking A Thin Blue Line, and Copswife at Married To The Law.

Thanks to all of you who have been very honest with me when I desperately needed it. I also know that I can always comment honestly on your blogs without hesitation so I am giving myself the award too. Cheesy I know, but I like to keep it real and hope that is an admirable trait to most bloggers I know. Please grab the award and proudly place it on your blog. Thanks!