General Stuff Post

The coolest thing about the new van: how it works with my ipod. I never liked to use the ipod in the car before even though I had a connector because scrolling around on the stupid thing while trying to drive is annoying, not to mention dangerous. The van has a USB port in the glove box. I plugged the ipod into it and my entire library is on the regular vehicle display. And it is super easy to search through and find what you want using the van controls...sort of like finding a radio station. I'm sure this has been around for awhile, but I'm consistently behind the tech curve.

Vivian is officially six months. We have started trying solids, but thus far she spits everything out (tried cereal, fruit, and veggies). We'll just keep offering at this point. She seemed sooo interested, I thought she'd take to it right away. File that prediction under the growing pile of "mom thinks she knows how the kids will react to something, but not really." Her MD appointment went well. She's 16 lbs. 11 oz and 25.5 inches which is all right around 50th percentile. She is rolling all over the place and (please don't jinx it) sleeping a bit better. The last couple of nights she slept from 7:30 to 1:30 (with a few short interrruptions) and again from 1:30 to 5:00 or so. Then I bring her to bed with me for the last couple of hours.

Bennett is getting a couple of words out consistently and clearly. The ones I can think of at the moment are "hi" and "no." He is babbling repeated letters a lot, so I hope he is on his way in that department. He has been having more fun being around other children and making more eye contact as well. All good things. I still worry about him all the time, but I suppose that won't stop no matter what.

My dad is still saying that he needs to move out of the house by the end of the summer. He usually changes his mind, but for now I am running with it. I requested applications for Eagles Manor and Park Manor in GF. He agreed I could fill them out just in case he decided to move to one (rather than traveling around the country every few months to live different relatives). Both places offer some light housekeeping as well as meals. I hope he will decide to give it a try. I'm not sure how long he will last there until he needs more assistance and has to move to the nursing home. He would be a great candidate for assisted living, but doesn't have the money. Montana has waiver spots (long waiting lists) at ALF's for Medicaid recipients, but he has consistently refused to apply. It took some convincing to apply for disability a few years ago.

I think I will buy our vegetable plants this week and get those in. My goal is to get a couple of good tomato producers this year. I have had trouble in the past. Usually I plant 3 or 4 and only 1-2 make it.

We are over $8,000 for the race today! I'm getting excited to raise our goal and very nervous that it's less than two months away. We still don't have any real cash sponsorships which is really frustrating when you've applied to what seems like a zillion places. But we do have food, coffee, and possibly some fruit. I'm trying to stay positive and send good vibes out into the universe. Maybe good things will bounce back.

Do you get some mom pants with that mini-van?

I think that's what Amy asked me when I told her we were going to purchase the mom-mobile. And no, it didn't come with a pair...but I plan to buy myself some along with a patchwork vest to wear whenever I am driving around in it. Seriously though, you can't take it away now that I have it. I've been driving it for about two weeks and love it. Automatic doors, heated seats, and lots of room for everything. It's a little different than driving the Prius around with two kids. It's silver 2011 Honda Odyssey with gray leather interior. Honda did a redesign this year and at first I though it was ugly. Now I'm getting used to it. My fellow mom-friend Jermaine says it looks "mean," so that's something.

Bernie has sold his truck. Every shred of his man-hood is now gone.

Bernie's parents are leaving tomorrow after staying the weekend. I always wish they would stay longer, but they need to get back to North Dakota after spending multiple months in Phoenix. We didn't do anything too exciting. But Bernie's dad got the "papa-do" list whittled down and we finally planted some trees in the backyard. It sounds like we are going to be doing some fairly serious landscaping ourselves back there this summer.

We have had tickets to see U2 for about 18 months now. Last year, the concert was canceled because of Bono's back. It was rescheduled for this May. I don't think I'm going to be able to go because we will be gone 6+ hours. Vivian is not ready to be away from me for that long and we have not had any luck getting her to take a bottle (haven't tried in a few months). Add that with the recent case of stranger strangeness we have been having and it's not a great situation for concert-going. I'm a little disappointed, but not too much. I'm sure Bernie can find someone else who will have more fun than me. All I would do is worry about the kids. I did go to trivia last night for my first real outing since Vivian was born. And we won for once in our miserable lives.

Vivian will be six months old in 10 days. Other than the couple of teaspoons of cereal she had last week, she has been exclusively breastfed the entire time. I think it's one of the proudest accomplishments of my life thus far...especially after all the guilt-inducing drama I had trying to breastfeed and pump for Bennett. However, I think teeth are on their way. I hope Vivian will be nice to her mama.