ice, ice, baby....

We have no p'wr, folks. The lovely invention of electricity left us around 6something a.m. yesterday, due to some icey tree branches & downed wires. (actually it blinked off & on during the night, which woke me up several times...so, i woke B. up one of those times...he is still making fun of me for waking him.)
Any-who, we are staying with our friends, the Grahams, for a few days (?) 'til all repairs are made. The yucky part of all this is that we are suppose to be leaving for AL early Mon. morning (early train to Chicago, then flying to D.C. & on to the Rocket City). I am not looking forward to doing laundry elsewhere & possibly packing in the cold (when b. went back home to look for some things this morning, it was 46 in our house!).
We actually stayed home yesterday while B. went to the office to turn in grades & finish up some end of the semester stuff. I bundled both kids & put them down for nap (I knew L. would be too excited to sleep at Zach & Andrew's house :). I stayed awake & read (with quilts around me) until my hands hurt so badly that I called B. & told him to come get us & take us to warmth! I think it was 54 or so, in the house, when we finally left.
So, if we make it down to Alabama (prayers, please), I will not want to leave! Give me humidity, sweet tea, football as religion, accents, & palms with pines any day. I'll take the South, please...y'all. :)

He comes bearing gifts...

L-town came home from pre-school Tues with a little bag (that he had drawn a pic of "langston" on) & a book from his teachers. He then proceeded to talk about his 'tivity & pretend to be the "wise men" bearing gifts. The following is what I overheard, "Hi, baby Jesus. I've got some money for you!" In a different voice, "And I've got the frankenstien." And an altered version of the second voice, "I've got the...muuuurh." :) **See the objects on the blue table for our half-homemade version of a Nativity. And yes, mom, I trimmed his bangs yesterday. He did look like a sheep dog.

*8* is Great!

My sweet gal is eight big months old! Time is flying by. Her nicknames now include: Happy, Little Fat Pants, Zora Ray or Pappaw (bc she looks so much like my Pappaw, Billy Ray ;), Z-ford, and (of course) Zee. She is scooting & spinning all over. She stays on her belly & pushes around. The "all fours" postion might happen for a second, but she doesn't understand how to move from there. She "talks" to us & wants to play whatever big brother is playing. She wants to see & do whatever we see & do, so she loves to be held. Sleep is a struggle right now. Ever since her teeth-cold few weeks, she's not wanted to sleep by herself at night. I can get her down for a couple of naps during the day, but at night she only wants to sleep with me. Urg. Well, no matter what, it's better than Langston 1.0. Hooray for Lil' Fat Pants!

Brrrr....snow.

It's funny how we Southerners--Barclay & I--used to get excited about the snow. Now I think, "Ack! Snow. Messy floors, lots of clothes (=lots of mopping & laundry)." I'm happy that the kiddies like it. :) (Well, Langston likes it. This was Zora's first real snow. She was curious, but not very mobile.) These are from a week or two ago when it was snowy, but still "warm" (20-30s). At this moment it's icey + snowy & feels like 10-15 below. Not play-able.

While I'm posting on this topic, I would like to say that kids in IL play outside unless it's below 22 degrees. (Yea, all you in FL & AL are shivering, right?) I was the crazy mom who thought they would certainly be running around the gym on those chilly days, but then I picked L. up at preschool (he goes 2 mornings a week) & he said that he "cried...kind-of whined a little" at school. I asked why & he said that he was COLD! I got the whole story & found out that he had borrowed some school mittens, but the his jacket wasn't warm enough! (Of course I had been sending him in a lined denim jacket & long sleeve tee & undershirt with jeans or khakis...for the classroom.) I felt horrible! My poor baby had been playing out in the cold! Anyway, I immediately went to our local kid's consignment shop (where I trade things all the time...I've only actually used cash twice in the past 6-8 months) & picked up 2 snowsuits (1 for home, 1 for school). Now he has 2 warm coats, snowsuits, mittens, hats...like he needs those with all that hair! Anyway, he's set. I apologized to the teachers. I felt like a mom that the other moms talk about for not taking care of her kids. :( **Sidenote: babies in the "infant room" at L's school go out to "play" unless it's less than 32 degrees (!) I can tell you that Z. didn't do much in the snow, so that seems wierd, too.

After only 4 years...

he sleeps. Langston really wants me to post this to let everyone know that he can "put himself to bed" now that he's 4. We do the same routine, only he listens to a "story on tape," (instead of mommy's stories) which he turns on by himself. He can also turn his nightlight on & bedside light off. Big boy. And it only took 4 years. (Mel, I know you are laughing. Some of us don't get those Daisy Joy sleepers...no matter our prayers.) :)

please, please...

Please do not listen for my horrible, tone deaf singing in any of the videos. Sorry it's even on there. You know...the things a mom does for love. (I also sneezed & prayed not to pee myself today...that's another one of those things. :)

Happy Birthday Par-tay (s)

Langston felt the love over the course of his "birthday week." He had a school b'day party on the day of his birth (more like singing & snacks with party hats & family there...but that was enough for him). Langston & Lexi's birthdays are only 2 days apart, so I took a pic of the b'day kiddies.Then, that evening, we went back to school for a "teddy bear tea." It was a cute idea. The kids brought their fav stuffed animal (L-town brought Albert Gator...of course!) & got "prizes" for oldest teddy or animal, etc. We had already been forewarned that the pukes were going around, so I was not feeling great about being at school more than the regular hours...or even the regular hours, for that matter. But, it was a party on his day, so...we attended. Until some kid barfed all over his mama, himself, the floor,...then I said to L, "Well, it's time for us to go anyway." My friends Erin & Shelia laughed at us as B. & I hustled the kids out the door. I shouted, "C Ya!" And we were off to sanitize ourselves & the kiddies before heading out to the restaurant of Langston's choosing, "The Spaz," as we call it.
He ordered off the adult menu, as usual...unless my mother-in-law is there to recommend the hotdog...thanks, Donna!:) He had some spicy pasta dish with meat (which we don't do at home, but allow on special occasions), salad, a delish cheesecake via the cheesecake factory & a small bit of decaf with cream. (Yea, he's really 4-0.) We sang to him (again) & opened grandparent gifts as soon as we got home.
Then on Saturday morning...around 9ish, we drove an hour to "Going Bonkers" (kind-of like a clean, more airy, much better Chuck E. Cheese). There, we played 'til the kids were falling out grumpy. :) Then, L. & Z. napped on the way back home. We arrived home, grabbed snacks & such & headed over to Ralph & Joanna's (AU fans)for some football action. :) The Roberts family (fellow gators) joined us & we had a Florida Gators bash. The day didn't end until 8:30ish, so we were all worn out from a almost 12-hour-happy day of festivities & a big Gator win. I think L. had a wonderful, super-duper birthday week. (I know it looks like L. is angry in some of the 'Bonkers pix, but really he's totally worn out. :)

Wood you?

I've been asked about my hard wood floor cleaning technique & supplies (no chemicals, but weekly sanitizing). So, here's my recipe.

1 capful of Murphy's Oil Soap (Veggie based)
about 1/4-1/2 cup of White Distilled Vinegar
1/2- 3/4 bucket full of warm water
lots of old towels or rags
a few rubber bands
a flat head mop (swiffer or some other kind)

Mix up the liquids. Dump several towels into the mixture. Wring out one towel at a time & fold it so that it fits onto the mophead. Rubber band the towel onto the mophead. Go to it!
Change towels as needed. (I use one side of the towel, then flip it...wiping up any excess crumbs or yuckies with a washcloth each time I flip the towel. I usually use one side of the towel per room. In our living room or bedroom, I use the whole towel since there's a lot of floor.)

Go forth & clean chemical free!

4 years ago today...

Four years ago today, at 2:44 p.m., with the Gators playing basketball in the background, I met a guy who would change my life--and my person--forever. Langston Hadley Key was born in Gainesville, FL on Dec. 4th, 2004 to a still-newlywed (we got pregnant on our first anniversary) mom & dad. We were clueless, nervous, scared, happy, exhausted, very poor, and above all...very much in love with that little guy.
L., as he would soon be nicknamed, didn't sleep very well that first night. In fact, he gave us one of the many hundreds of sleepless nights to come. The boy has always been bright--super bright. I can only hope that his brian power is the reason sleep doesn't come easy for him. (They say, all those experts, that some "gifted" children never sleep well...I suppose all worn out parents hope for an explaination to their caffine dependancy. Intelligence is our cop on as to why L-town smarty-pants doesn't find sleep easily.)
Extra smart or not, Langston has always brought some "gift" to our lives. He is quick-whitted, funny, charming, thoughtful, creative, studious, dilligant, gentle, loving, sensitive, & independant. He is a great combo of his daddy and me. We enjoy him more and more all the time.
Having Langston in my life taught me to love. I learned how selfish & petty I could be. I understood more of the heart of God. Selfless love is parenting. (Aren't we all thankful for a Heavenly Parent who loves us as we should love our small ones?)
My hope for my baby boy is that he continues to grow to love God & people, to relate, care, understand as much as possible, & to do his best to make the world better when he leaves than before he came. I have hope that he can do it. I think that to some extent he has. I know that this mom feels overflowing joy because of that little brown-eyed boy. I am a better person having known him. Happy Birthday, sweet pea! I love you from head to toe!

Heel & a toe, L & a Z, baby!

Pre-bed routine: poop (L., sometimes Z.), baths, p.j.s, (sometimes playing with daddy fits in here) snack, stories with milk (breast, cow, or soy). Then out goes the light & mommy tells a story. Sometimes L. picks his and Zora's pjs...this night the theme was "sports." They also had matching socks. Langston digs the "heel-toe" socks SO much. He has two pair. Navy & Red. He has named them his "favorite socks." :) He has worn those jokers out.

for the grandparents Key

here's a daddy & babies pic...as well as a few from our AL trip. sorry it's taken me so long to post 'em. enjoy! we love y'all!

what happens when your kid knows all the body part words?

Langston looked at this pic yesterday (it's my screensaver right now) & announced, "hey! I can see my testicals in my mouth!" Yes, he meant tonsils.

nappie-poos

I LOVE it when this happens...and I can do something without one on my hip & the other under my feet. Ah. Naptime.

a few of my favorite things

one of z's many cute faces. i love my blue-eyed girl...& my brown-eyed boy...who is trying to press my fingers down as i type. urg.

This is a strange & random list of a few things that I am really into lately. Since I can't sleep, my throat is killing me, & I want to do something to make me feel happy rather than focus on feeling crappy (ha, that rhymed!), here goes.
in no particular order...
1. Scrapbooking. I recently got a lot "in the book." It isn't "cute" yet, but it'll get there. Doing 2 instead of just 1, esp. with 2 kids needing me all the time, has been tough.
2. Tea tree oil: to clean, to use on zits, fever blisters, & lots more. yea, essential oils!
3. Not having strep. I've had it 3 times in about 13 months. Yuck.
4. Tiny snowflakes. Because they are pretty & they aren't sticking...yet.
5. Hulu & Netflix. We don't have a t.v., so I get my fix this way. ;)
6. House, M.D. (What was up the House & Cuddy kiss?!)
7. The Office (Question: How awesome is Dwight? Answer: He's great, but I have a crush on Jim.)
8. Heroes (my x-files meets a soap opera fix). I am addicted to all three of these shows. At least I only waste an hour & 40-something minutes a week on them.
9. Method & Seven Gen cleaning products. I clean a lot, so it's important to carry on a love affair with these non-toxic dudes I spend hours a week with.
10. Mountain Dew. Yes, I'm doing the caff again. I usually have one can per afternoon. Tsk, tsk, Sonya.
11. Real coffee. Again, tsk, tsk. Only one cup per a.m., but it totally gets me going.
12. Pilates. Ahhh. I'm taking a class at the Y right now, but I still miss my Yoga-lates power class from Ames. It was such a cool combo. High impact. Kicked my butt. ;)
13. Yoga. I like the intense kind. I can tell a difference in the way I feel & sleep when I am really into pilates & yoga.
14. Larenim makeup. Bare Escentuals makeup. I feel prettier & more "finished" when I use a little makeup...esp. under my eyes, where I always look like I've been in a boxing ring. And all hail mascara to "open" one's eyes. Granted, I don't "pretty up" daily.
15. Downy fabric softener. I had been using a seventh gen type, but nothing softens like Downy free.
16. Bum Genius (cloth) diapers. I'm saving $ & not filling the earth with diapers. Check out Cotton Babies webpage for some good savings on this brand. I also [heart] Fuzzy Buns.
17. Lavender oil. Spray or diffuse to calm thyself for sleeping.
18. Peppermint oil. Great for muscle soreness or to promote clear thinking. Also yummy to diffuse in a stinky room.
19. Baking soda + water to soak stainless steel cookware in. Even stuck-on scrambled eggs will come out easier after soaking for a while. (Please tell me you don't use teflon anymore, right?!)
20. Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles & sippies. Come on, at least get one. They'll last for the rest of your life. You can will them to your children.this is the only pic of just me that i have...not a great one, but there i am!

21. Consignment kiddie stores. Since Zora-bean is growing like a weed, I trade up stuff all the time. It reminds me of the days of barter. I haven't spent cash there in a long time. :)
22. Hand-me-downs. I'm all about free, gently used stuff. Bring it on. I also like to hand down to others. It's awesome to keep the cycle going. I think I read somewhere that some folks had "all things in common" & it worked out well. :)
23. Time with my hubby. Lately we've managed to slide in some good conversations & time together, even if Baby Einstein is sitting the kids. It's been nice. I know it'll get easier as they get older.
24. Losing some of that Zora weight. I lost 3 or 4 lbs. this past month & I can really tell a difference. I know that doesn't sound like much, but when you're only 5'4"...it is.
25. Pescatarianism. We are eating only fish & other non-meat proteins right now. It's working out well, except when we travel. We've decided to be committed when we're at home & less so when we're not.
26. Going "home" for Christmas. I love it & then it stresses me out. Mostly I try to concentrate on the things I love about it, though: family, Alabama accents, fried fish, Killen, Florence, Moulton, church family, all my kids I used to babysit, friends, eating our special Key family fancy dinner, Christmas games & songs, seeing L. enjoy all of the above. This year seeing Z. enjoy most of the above will be special, too.
27. Hosting events. I like to do the organizing people thing. :) I recently had the University Women's Scrapbooking group over in the a.m., then B's grad class came over for a short class & supper later that night. We didn't mean to plan it all for the same day, but it worked out well...and reminded me that I enjoy doing those things.
28. Class reunions. At least I hope I'll enjoy ours. I'm attempting to gather info for everyone now so that we might have one! Happy ten years, y'all!
29. My accent. Barclay teases me a little & calls me "Brenda" or "Brendalee" (from The Closer). He says I sound just like her when I say, "Thank Ewwww." :) I love my twang. As long as my grammar is correct, I don't care to bring the twang.
here's a pic of L with his "bathtub crayons"...the recipe is in a previous post. all you need is a bar of ivory, some food coloring, a grater, warm water & an ice cube tray.

super sweet 7

I can't believe my little peanut is 7 months! She has been full of "da-da-la-la" for the past week or two. ;) She has also outgrown her infant carrier, so I'll either be borrowing or purchasing a new seat for my big woman...21ish lbs & 28ish inches, she's filling up 12-18 month clothes & size 4 diapers! (It's onto toddler wear before we know it!) At least my arms & core are getting toned from lugging around my jumbo! Yea for fat, breastfed babies!

the most fun i've had in fa' eva'

Bekki & me...it had been years since we'd seen each other! Yea, Bek! I had so much fun with you! I'm glad you got to be with your fam & take care of your mom. I'm also glad that I got to be part of your La Hacienda experience this time around! :)

Lori gave Langston a trim one night. It was funny to see (& hear) the "great haircut debate" once she was done. I was really happy with it. All the grands kept asking, "Is she finished?" (Yes, we like it long & shaggy!)


Silas & Langston usually get together once a year, at least. :) I'm so happy that Lindsay & I get to see our babies together...just like we've been hoping for the past 16 or so years! Congrats on the little girl, Andy & Lindsay!






Bubba's party was too much fun! I enjoyed getting to spend so much time with Lila (who I realized that I miss!). It was great to see Bubba, Kim & Jason, Zeb, Amy, Terrell, Malynna, & Kayleigh, & all the old CSC crew. Going back to AL this time was (as usual) packed with lots of spending time with friends, church family, & family. Only this time, I "went out" more than usual. (**Disclaimer: L. was a little sickly, so not up to par with his usual friendliness...sorry to all who hung out.) Mom & Dad watched L. (or sometimes L.& Z.) while I attended a Halloween party with some of my college pals, went to hang out with 2 of my high school friends (Julie & Lori), & I had girls (Bekki & Lindsay). I also took the kids or one kid with me to "visit" sometimes. It was fantastic to see everyone! I laughed so much, remembered all kinds of stories, caught up on people's lives, & picked up where we left off with SO many folks. I am blessed to have lots of great friends! I'm thankful for each of you!