NJ update

Today NJ crawled/scooted forward for the first time! The last couple days he has attempted going forward, but it was hard to tell if it counted as crawling forward! T thinks it counts! He has been crawling backwards for several weeks now. It is really exciting! After I gave him a bath tonight, I put his pj's on and sat him on the floor. I walked over to his laundry basket and NJ definitely crawled forward after me. He was interested in his laundry basket. I can't wait for him to really take off crawling forward!

Last week, NJ pulled/pushed himself into a sitting position for the first time. It seemed natural for him when scooting backwards to sit himself up. It was awesome seeing that for the first time!

NJ has lots of "firsts" that I can look forward to experiencing with him.

Valentine's Day pasts

I was just thinking about what happened last Valentine's Day. I had my sonogram and found out that we were having a boy! That was a very special V-day. Dust and I have usually gone out to eat at restaurants to celebrate. I then tried to remember what I did for V-day before I met Dust. One V-day in particular stands out.

It was my freshman year in college. It was Valentine's Day and nobody on my floor had a date or plans. Some of the girls wanted to do makeovers to make them feel beautiful. Autumn decided that she wanted to color her hair, so a few of us went to Wal-Mart with her. Autumn had auburn hair and would switch back and forth between red and brown colors. Anyway, while we were at Wal-Mart, Lisa decided that I needed to do something with my hair. Autumn thought that I needed a perm. She said she could give me one in the dorm. I agreed to it. I sat in the bathroom and Autumn put my hair in rollers. Lisa came in to look and got nervous. She didn't think Autumn knew what she was doing. That scared me and they wouldn't let me look. The whole floor reaked of perm solution. Apparantly, we aren't allowed to give perms in the dorm. The end result wasn't that bad. It was curlier than I expected! Almost like a spiral perm, but I had chin length hair. I usually don't do things on a whim like that, but I was glad that I did.

"Things that make me gag"

I went to bed early tonight because I have a cold but couldn't sleep. My mind wouldn't shut off. So, a new post entered my mind and I decided to write it down now. Has anyone ever wondered what I really think about things? I used to say the line, "gag me with a spoon" in the '80's. This is a list of things that make me "gag."

• People who seek out to date and then marry someone with the same first initial that they have. They name their kids with that same first initial. And their dog. Too cutesie! gag.
• People who will only date/marry someone with the same hair color that they have. Example: Someone has blonde hair and they want to marry someone with blonde hair so that they can have kids with blonde hair. "gag" me. Can someone say superficial?
• Someone who only uses china dishes in their house for every meal. They serve pretzels and popcorn on china.
• Teapots. I can't stand them. Collections of teapots make me gag. Tea parties also make me gag. It seems too fake and showy.
• Fluffy dresses and tutus. Ballerinas. Leotards.
• Bows. Any type of bow on anything. Bows in hair.
• Tulle used in weddings.
• Couches with plastic covers on them. Usually in living rooms that are just for show and not used by anyone.
• Sequins.
• Any type of floral pattern.
• Most shades of the color pink.
• MaryKay parties and consultants and products.

I apologize if I offended anyone. Blame it on the cold medicine.

my time

I look forward to "my time" after the baby goes to bed every night. Dust has class on Monday and Wednesday nights so I am alone with my thoughts. I usually end up on the computer doing blogs, myspace, and emails. I love the peace and quiet. The dryer and the dishwasher are going so I do hear that rumble.

"My time" has dwindled down a lot. Especially on the weekends. I have some gift cards from Christmas that I haven't spent because I haven't had the time. I think once the weather gets warmer and NJ gets older, I will take him out with me to run my errands on Friday. Dust usually stays home with him on the weekends when I have to run errands. It's not the fun errands like shopping. I don't consider grocery shopping a fun errand.

I have some housework to do yet, but I will surf the net next.

paper cuts

I sliced my finger pretty good today on a piece of paper from my binder at work. I wrapped it in a tissue and pressed firmly. I took it off, but another drop of blood formed. I remembered that I put some band-aids in my purse. Last time I had a paper cut, I had no band-aid.

I am extremely prone to paper cuts. It's so embarrassing!! It sounds like such a nerdy problem. Dust has this problem too. : ) Not that Dust is nerdy or anything.

A year ago, my co-worker got a paper cut on her finger at work. I told her that I had a band-aid. I put it on her desk, but she didn't use it. I couldn't figure out why. I ran scenerios in my head of why someone wouldn't accept a band-aid. I knew she was a smoker but was hiding that fact from everyone. Maybe she didn't want to get the band-aid on fire when she smoked. I think I ended up taking the band-aid back off of her desk.

I think if I used more lotion on my hands I wouldn't have this problem. See Dust, I fixed my own problem. I guess I shouldn't talk about paper cuts anymore. : ) j/k (see Dust's blog)

know-it-all

The phrase "know-it-all" has negative connotations. It shouldn't be a bad thing to possess knowledge. The key is how you relay the information to others. And the attitude and tone. I have been trying to evaluate myself to see if I come across as a know-it-all.

There is a reason that I have been thinking about this. I have noticed that I get annoyed when I am around a "know-it-all." Sure everyone gets annoyed by that type of person. I think my reason has to do with the fact that I wanted to be the one to share the knowledge of whatever it was. A couple of people have stolen my thunder. (nobody in blog land : ) ) Maybe I just need to be quicker to talk. I think I have an inner desire to be a teacher, so I like to share things.

I told Dust that I wanted to come out and tell these people that he/she is a know-it-all. Dust said that wasn't a good idea. : ) A scripture verse came to mind today when I was thinking about all of this. It says something to the effect of "for as much as it depends on me, live peacefully with one another". That is kinda hard sometimes.

American Idol addict

Yes I have to admit that I am addicted to American Idol. I have been watching the tryouts that played last night and I am watching it tonight. I like the brother and sister that made it to Hollywood. They had pretty skin-their mom was white and dad was Pakistani maybe?

I bought Chris Daughtry's CD a couple weeks ago and have been listening to it in the car. I like his rocker voice but the songs are aimed at people younger than I. It seems that all pop/rock songs are about broken relationships with yourboyfriend/girlfriend. I can't relate.

I also received Carrie Underwood's CD for Christmas. I like her voice also but some of the lyrics I can't relate to. My brother teases me about liking her song, "Jesus, take the wheel." He thinks it's cheesey.

Maybe I will grow out of this Idol phase that I have been in. Or I might just think twice about buying the CD's.

quality time and laughter

I like to spend quality time hanging out with Dust. A friend from college used to tease me about how much time I used to spend with Dust. She was single and probably jealous though. She would say, "Every night is Dust night." Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night etc. Of course all couples are inseparable when they first start dating.

Reading the Sunday comics is something that Dust and I like to do together. We also like to laugh about lines from tv shows and movies. Dust likes to quote stuff a lot. Laughter is very important in our family. Dust gets NJ to laugh a lot when they play and "rough house" together.

Dust enjoys showing me clips from u-tube that he thinks I will laugh at. He also shows me various comics online that he thinks I will laugh at. I usually need the laugh because I tend to take myself too seriously!

fresh start

I like January because it is the beginning of a new year and I feel like I have a fresh start on everything. I do try to make some new year's resolutions each year. They usually only last a couple months at the most. Here is a list of what I am working on:

• Reading the entire Bible in one year. My brother told me that he was doing it and I decided that I would also. We can encourage each other to stick with it. We are reading it chronologically. We are using the list on www.backtothebible.org. I think that trying to read it in 60 days is too hard and you won't have much comprehension.
• Having a healthier diet. I tend to eat a lot of junk food. I want to eat more salads and fruits and veggies. I want to limit my pop and chocolate intake.
• Investing time with people. I get annoyed when I am trying to work/get a task done and someone talks to me. I need to enjoy people more and establish better relationships.
• Taking time out to spend with NJ. Chores can always be pushed back especially to when he is sleeping. Play and be a kid again with him!

1st Christmas

This Christmas was special because it was NJ's 1st Christmas! At Grams and Gramps house he yawned through the opening of his gifts. NJ tried to help out with the ripping of the wrapping paper, though. At Grandma and Grandpa's house, NJ liked putting the tissue paper in his mouth and playing with it. He was getting cranky because it was his nap time so we had to hurry through his gifts.

Grandma had an exersaucer at her house for NJ to play in. It was a circus theme and had different animals sticking up on it. NJ loved putting them in his mouth. There was a seal, elephant, monkeys in a barrel, and a circus tent.

NJ was spoiled by both sides of the family. He got a lot of clothes and toys!

I think next Christmas will be even better. He will be walking around and talking then!

contraband heater

It is very cold in the office building that I work in. There is no thermostat in our suite to control the temp. Apparantly, the temp. in the whole building is controlled by maintenance. My co-worker has called to complain about the air many times. They are usually nice about it. They turned the temp up a degree for us. (She asked about space heaters and they are not allowed)

Last Friday, when I was off work, the building had trouble with the thermostat. My co-worker said it was 50 degrees. Our friends on the first floor went out to get space heaters. They blew some fuses in their office because they had several of the heaters going.

We knew the heaters were illegal, but our boss said that we could have one anyway. I have been nice and toasty warm with my heater. Sitting by the window makes it very cold. When I came into the office on Monday, I noticed that my heater was hidden in my bottom desk drawer. I asked my co-worker about it, and she said our boss wants us to hide them each night.

December stinks!

I don't look forward to December. It is the busiest month of the year. There are a million Christmas parties to go to where you have to bring a gift and meal. There is always a work dinner. Somewhere you have to fit in Christmas cards and buying gifts. We always travel to see both sides of the family. (I should explain that I get panic attacks when I think of everything that has to get accomplished.)

I would complain some more but I am feeling a little better about things. I think I have my Christmas shopping done! We did a lot of ordering online this year. We aren't buying as many gifts either as last year.

I am looking forward to seeing Roamer and Dar. Their party won't be so bad or stressful.

NJ

I haven't done a baby post in awhile. So, here is a NJ update. NJ turns 5 months old tomorrow! He has already started on solid foods. He doesn't seem too thrilled about the rice cereal though. I am going to try a different type of cereal soon. I am also considering starting him on some baby jar foods. I have noticed that NJ likes his formula and cereal made with warm water. He will not eat or drink anything that is cold. I am the same way! I have been heating his cereal up in the microwave before I give it to him.

NJ has the best laugh! Dust likes to push him up in the air and say "Whose the baby?" That usually gets a good giggle out of him. I got him to laugh really good today. He was lying down on a blanket and I would get right up in his face and say "Whose the baby?" He likes the inflection of the voice going up and down. He started touching my face when I was leaning over him.

When I change NJ's diaper, he likes to grab my arm. He will grab about anything in front of him. I have to watch my hair if it hangs down close to him. He likes to pull hair!

no tree

I am considering not putting up the Christmas tree this year. It is a lot of work putting the fake tree together. There is the lights, garland, and ornaments also. I don't know when I would have the time. I don't know when I am going to find the time to shop for Christmas presents either.

We will be going out of town for the holidays, so it somewhat seems pointless to put a tree up. We will be gone for 11 days. Then there is the work of taking it down.

I helped decorate my parent's Christmas tree over Thanksgiving. I secretly still view my parent's tree as my Christmas tree. It has all of my ornaments that I got growing up on it. : )

It basically boils down to the fact that I am lazy. I am ok to come out and admit that I am extremely lazy. : )

Nine years ago today......

Nine years ago today, Dust gave me a note that said he was interested in me. It was also miss carisma's 15th birthday! Happy Birthday! Dust told me that his sister was turning 16 and wanted to know what to buy her. I was messed up on miss Carisma's age for awhile.

Anyway, back to the story behind the note. I had started my work-study job cleaning the Academic Building. I was vacuuming a room on the first floor, when I saw my friend Pete in the window. I went out to see him and he told me to follow him because it was his job to distract me for awhile. Dust was supposed to leave the note on the floor. I ended up seeing him and he handed it to me and Pete and him ran off. The note said, "Golden, I wanted to let you know that I'm interested." He attached his school picture to the note. I was so excited! I couldn't wait to get off work. Dust started work an hour after I did. He cleaned the carpets in the cafeteria. When my friend and I walked back to the dorms after work, we stopped at the cafeteria door. I jumped up and down and waved at Dust. He waved back. I wanted to give him a note in return. I took my name plate that was attached to my dorm door by a magnet off and taped it to a note. I wrote the "feelings are mutual." My friend Pete stuck it in his mailbox at the dorm. Dust came back from work and Pete told him to check his mailbox. We met in the study room and Dust asked me out on a date for Friday. It would be a double-date with Pete.

The rest is history....

the maintenance guy

On the show "Scrubs" some of the doctors are "friendly" or friends with the janitor. I had a hard time believing that until recently. I just couldn't see where the doctors would have time to get to know him. I guess it's really the janitor that "bothers" the doctors.

My coworker and I have gotten to know the maintenance guy from our building. He gets bored and chit-chats with the office workers. The maintenance guy is named Rob. He remembered that I was pregnant and asked how the baby was when I returned from maternity leave.

Rob knows everything that goes on in the building. We told Rob that our boss's Wall Street Journal gets stolen about twice a month. (All the papers for the building gets tossed in the doorway on the first floor) He told us that he knows who does it but he wasn't going to tell us who it was. He came back after an hour from talking to us and brought us our Wall Street Journal. Rob had a talk with the person and told us that this person wouldn't do it anymore. This person thought that we had taken his by mistake. Rob told him that noone from our company gets to the building before 9 am, so that is why ours is always lying there. We were glad that the case was solved. This person is going to call the Wall Street when he doesn't get it. We will see about that.

what smell do you leave behind?

One day this week I was waiting to get on the elevator at work. I was going down to the first floor to pick up our mail in the mailroom. A man in a suit walked out of the elevator. As I walked by him and on to the elevator, I smelled wintergreen gum. The whole elevator smelled of the mint gum. I thought it amusing that one person and one stick of gum could leave that smell behind. That's when I wondered what kind of smell I left behind. Sometimes I smell like formula if the baby spits up on me.

Smells certainly get people's attention. If I asked you to name someone that wears heavy perfume/cologne, I bet you would have no trouble naming them off. We all know some guy that smells like he bathed in cologne. When I pick NJ up at the nursery at church, he reaks of ladies perfume. He gets a new scent each week because a different lady holds him each time. I smell the perfume all day on him if I don't change his outfit.

I hope I leave good smells and not bad smells.

independent thought

I was telling Dust the other day that I don't think that I have ever had an independent or original thought about anything. Maybe it's because I'm apathetic about almost everything. I have an "I don't care" attitude. I know that's bad, but it's hard to change.

Dust was laughing because at my job, independent thoughts are discouraged. Usually those would be encouraged at a job. My boss doesn't take well to new ideas. He has said no to almost everything that my co-workers have asked.

Maybe I have a hard time thinking outside the box. With accounting there isn't much outside the box thinking unless you refer to "creative bookkeeping". ( "Sure you can write that item off.") I love rules and I love staying within those rules. I find safety in what I know to be true.

I always had trouble in school when an assignment asked why you thought what the answer was. Somehow I always got marked wrong for "I don't care". : ) I always knew the answer to the question except when they asked why it was so. Maybe my legalistic upbringing had an effect.

Baby Jesus

It is Halloween night and I just got back from the Hallelujah House at our church. It is a walk-through the Bible event with skits and candy. A Halloween alternative. Anyway, NJ was baby Jesus in the Nativity skit. He did pretty good. He had his bottle and then fell asleep during it. He got fussy around 7:30 and I decided it was time to get him home to bed. They were going to use a doll for baby Jesus after we left.

I got NJ's acting debut on video camera and the digital camera. Dust was in class so he didn't get to see it. I am sure the grandparents will enjoy the pictures and video also.

jealousy

Everyone at one time or another goes through jealousy of another person. I don't consider myself a jealous person though. I usually tend to be genuinely happy for people when they get something that they have wanted. What I want to talk about is other people that have been jealous of me.

I have lost friendships with others because they were jealous of me. I have the tendency to let my friends know all the good things going on with me and hide the bad. A previous friend of mine once told me that she wished that I would have considered her a friend in all seasons whether good or bad. This friend seemed to always have bad luck. She couldn't take hearing all the positive things that I had to say about my life. I didn't want to complain. And I don't brag about things either. I usually state facts and try not to gloat or brag. Also, there are things that are too personal to even tell your best friend.

I have been doing better with letting friends know when I am going through a hard time. I still like to be optimistic and positive about things though. It's a hard balance for me. I guess because I am such a private person.