Last Year's Wonder vs This Year's Merriment

Last year, BabyWheel was just starting to walk.

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007

Christmas 07

This year she's running. She is so aware that Christmas came and went. 2009, she'll probably have a list at almost 3 years old.

Oh, the things a Dora Kitchen can do....This girl can multitask! Christmas 2008

Hope your Christmas was great!

We'll Never Forget

Look around and you see all these ribbons commemorating some cause,...9/11, soliders active in war, autism, etc. I want to always remember the real meaning of Christmas. I don't have a ribbon on my car or on my tree, but there is a ribbon on my heart, tied to God, tugging at me to commune with Him and to remember His sacrifice, how God Himself was made flesh and lived among everyday people.

For me, Christmas is a pretty difficult time of the year. I think about my daddy who was the love of my life, and all the sacrfices he made to be sure that we had a merry christmas. The floor was full of toys and gifts and we had such a great time playing in our Pjs all day long. He made sure the house was decorated to the nines and we even won awards in the neighborhood for the best house.

Now that I'm a mom, I want to pass that same gift along to BabyWheel....the love of family and friends during Christmas time. There was, however, a key ingredient that was missing in all of my celebrations as a child....the Christ in Christmas. Sure Grandaddy read the Christmas story and we may have gone to church....BUT We got so caught up in the commercialism of the holiday, that we forgot why we were celebrating. It's like going to a marathon to run the race, buying all the gear you need, new shoes, the best antibacterial sweat resistant shirt and pinning on your number and getting stuck at the water table....... but never really taking off or finishing the race.

The whole point of Christmas is Christ. The gifts are very cool. The festiveness is even more fun. Ya'll know I love the food...lol but I really want to instill in our daughter that Jesus Christ is not only a baby who laid in a mager, but He can be her Lord.

May we never forget you Lord, even now.

AT&T Is a Home WRECKA

Remember the movie "Under the Cherry Moon" when Prince was teaching Kristin Scott Thomas how to say Wrecka 'Stow? That is my fave part of the movie!

Christopher Tracy: [writing something on a napkin] It's obvious that little Miss Mary has never been off the city block. [holds up napkin, which has "Wrecka Stow" written on it]

Mary: What is that? Some new language?

Christopher Tracy: Read it. Do you know what it is?

Mary: It's nothing, you ninny. And you know it, but you won't confess it because you're such a coward.

Christopher Tracy: It is something, something you don't know, and you won't confess that because *you're* a coward!

Mary: This is silly, and you're a child!

Christopher Tracy: [taunting Mary] I go to dinner without my father's permission. Now, read it aloud so we can all hear how knowledgeable you are!

Mary: Wrecka stow.

Christopher Tracy: [laughs at Mary's pronunciation] Do you know what it is?

Mary: Wrecka stow, wrecka stow, it's nothing!

Christopher Tracy: [laughing] It is something. Come on, say it again louder.

Mary: Wrecka stow.

Christopher Tracy: Louder!

Mary: Wrecka stow! I give up. What is it?

Christopher Tracy: If you wanted to buy a Sam Cook a'blum, where would you go?

Mary: [rolls her eyes] The wrecka stow.

So anyway, back to the point of that post....gosh I love that movie...

So, every morning, or at least several mornings during the week, I talk to my friend, Jenny. We always play around and I tease her for dropping her daughter off late to the daycare. We always do weird voices from Harr iett Tubm an to British accents in song...hilarious!

I wasn't surprised when my phone rang and looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Jenny from the Block.

I answered and said, "Hey my little butternut squash."

A male voice says...."hey."

Me: What are you doing (thinking that Jen is playing around with her many voices she does, I think it's Jen doing a heck of a job of impersonating a latino male) I look back down at my caller ID making sure it said JEN...it did.

Male Voice: Nothing

Me: (thinking that Jen can't be that good, I lose all my cool points when I say....) "Who is this?"

Male Voice: Who is this?

Me: What number did you dial?

Male Voice: 888 something

Me: Oh, I guess the lines must have crossed. I thought you were my friend. You guys have At&T?

Male Voice: Yeah. Oh, you sounded like my sweetheart (long pause)

*sidenote* when a man pauses, and the way he said...."sweetheart" let me know that he was trying to flirt with me. Before he could ask for my name ask me my zodiac sign and if I like candlelight dinners and long walks, I said...well, have a nice day sir.

I can't get my swagger on with hubby sitting next to me can I? *end of side note*

Male Voice: Oh, well uh, you have a nice day, ma'am. (long pause, giggle)

Simultaneously, Miss Jenny's lines were crossed as she was calling me.....Jenny was connected to the WIFE of the Male Voice. Apparently as the husband was calling the wife and Jen called me we got each others' phone calls and the line switched.

Jenny: Why you ain't call me last night? (said in a drunken stupor type voice, thinking she was talking to me)

Wife: WHO IS THIS CALLING FROM MY HUSBAND'S PHONE?

Jenny: Well, this is Jen, I'm trying to reach Adrienne. Jenny calls out another person's name, thinking it was her kidding around on the phone.

Wife: Must be his co-worker (talking to herself)

Jenny: *still trying to figure out who it is on the other line and thinks to herself that her addressbook must be messed up somehow.

Wife: HANGS UP

Jenny calls me to relay the story and I tell her the lines crossed. We laugh for a good 30 minutes.

So, folks, you see, AT&T is a homewrecka! We will never be able to duplicate that problem, nor will the wife ever believe the male voice was telling the truth. She was already suspicious of him and his beguiling ways....so thanks a lot cell phone company. You have saved yet another marriage. LOL!

But For the Grace of God

I am the sort of person who listens to God.....at least when it has to do with other people....for myself, I have made my share of bad decisions over the years.

I believe that "still small voice" is that of the God's spirit, guiding us as we go along our way. I listened to this voice as I was purchasing gifts last year for Christmas. I decided to buy my inlaws a carbon monoxide monitor. I knew that they were getting older and as simple as a gift it was, they would not consider buying it for themselves.

Last week, I received an email from my mother in law....she said that they were awakened by an alarm. It was not their alarm clock or their smoke alarm, but the evacuated the house immediately and called 911. It was their carbon monoxide alarm. Normal levels are from 0-150. Their levels registered at 2400 in their basement accirding to the firefighters. Houses on both sides were evacuated as a precaution. Being exposed to that level of the odorless gas even for a few minutes could be deadly.

I just thank God that as this week, although another family here in Philly is mourning the loss of their loved one due to carbon monixide poisoining, that my mother and father in law are here with us to celebrate another Christmas.

Your voice guides me. Thank you, Lord.


Now, go buy a monitor.

--MommaWheel

All Quiet on the Western Front

Anyone who knows kids, knows that quiet is never good.  After a tasty turkey and some rousing karaoke (imagine Poppawheel singing Bon Jovi, Living on A Prayer to the top of his lungs) we thought the babies were playing nicely on the dining room floor.  

Nope. Not our precious angels.  This eerie silence fell over the room.  You thought that someone over 3 feet tall was just helping themselves to seconds. 2 toddlers whose combined age is 4 helped themselves to the most yummy cake ever....

Note that this only took all of 60 seconds for the cake to be decimated and each of them to have a piece of their own.  lol  No leftovers will ever be safe again. 

I Love Life

An Itty Bitty Wheel

More like a hubcap.

This is a little video from when Alayna was 5 months old. I miss her being so tiny, but have so much fun with her now.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Daughter, the Makeup Artist

So BabyWheel loves MAKEUP just as much as her mommy! (Mommawheel was a freelance makeup artist for a national makeup company during college) So, it should not surprise me at all that when I brought home a kiddie makeup kit, BabyWheel squeals with delight...and tried to put some eyeshadow on the cat. The worst part is that Oreo sat that and allowed her to do it! Now who's crazier, the baby or that cat? ;p

Lord have mercy, look out Sam Fine! (who is my FAVE makeup artist of all time, well other than Kevyn Aucoin, God rest his soul)

BabyWheel, The HoudiniBaby

There are a few things that BabyWheel does that CRACK ME UP!

When near the edge of a swimming pool, the girl has no fear. She will yell, 1-2-3 DUMP and "jumps" into the pool without thinking twice.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when BabyWheel mysteriously appears in our room at 3am tapping MY arm.

Does she go to Daddy's side? Oh no, that's too easy. She climbs out of her crib in a MacGyver-esque fashion and shuffles her little feet and says "BabyWheel Up Mommy". Of course, it was time for a big girl bed....I have to get the gate contraptions ready so that she is not downstairs at 5 boiling eggs. I KNOW that's next :)

Take a peek at the little gymnast in action!








Oh, by the way, for Halloween, BabyWheel was little Red Riding in the Hood. Her tights were all twisted and holey and she ripped out her bows all before 6pm! lol

--MommaWheel

What a Difference 2 Years Makes

Ok so back to the SC trip...

For many reasons, SC reminds me of my Dad even though we lived in GA :)

All throughout my childhood, my dad would make a point to travel. We drove and flew everywhere...He had my sister and I on a plane by ourselves at 12 and 9. lol

California on a 3 day roadtrip...sure no problem! Picking the hotels with the indoor swimming pools, way to go, Dad! Driving in 120 degree desert heat....let your kids put on their swimsuits in the car and douse themselves with water! Stuck in traffic for 3 hours in Colorado? What do we do? Stick our feet in the Colorado River just to say we did it...(it was back in the 80s when highways were still being built and they were blasting the mountains, so we were stalled for 3 hours)
Drive your whole family to Canada just so your parents AND grandparents and your children can see Niagara Falls? Sure! A non issue.

So imagine my excitement when we got married and PoppaWheel, although not a traveler himself, wanted to continue the tradition...Mexico, here we come! Jamaica, been there, honey! Driven all across the Eastern seaboard. Yepperoo. After my dad passed, for some RnR we went to SC (notice a theme about that place) :) and PoppaWheel rented a convertible and we drove down the coast to Sapelo Island, Ga. It was the most selfless thing PoppaWheel has ever done....I felt so close to my Dad....wow. Just thinking of it...gets me all teary eyed.

Later, BabyWheel was born and we had a chance to share our love of travel with her.

Here are some shots from our most recent excursions!!


Us in 2006

Alayna and friends at children's musuem
Us in 2008 :)
Alayna with her "big brother" playing with the ducks!

-MommaWheel

7 Prayers a Day

I found this on a blog I read often. I thought it was a great idea, and I am going to do that for our daughter. Feel free to teaek and add your own scripture and kiddos name :)

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring Alayna word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show her the way she should go, for to you she lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help her bear with others and forgive whatever grievances she has against others. Help her forgive as the Lord forgave her. And over all these virtues, help her put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach Alayna the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach her that she can do everything through him who gives her strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "Alayna do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give Alayna clean hands and a pure heart, and let her not lift her soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let her receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God her Savior. Let her be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that Alayna will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which she shines like a star in the universe as she holds out the word of life-in order that she may boast on the day of Christ that she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

-MommaWheel

So Much to Say

WOW, you know it's bad when you receive a phone call...telling you to update your blog.

Sorry to the 2 readers who keep up with me...to say we've been busy is an understatement.

SC was BEAUTIFUL! It was wonderful to show BabyWheel everything we saw in the low country. :) She swam every night and jumped in the pool and even dunked her little head under water.

To be honest, SC is such a blur. As soon as I got home, I went directly to TN to see about my mom who was gravely ill. She is stable now, and has taken a turn for the better.

I just realized that every weekend in Oct was spent in another state.

Week 1- SC
Week 2- TN
Week 3- GA
Week 4- NJ

Sweet, Sweet GA...my overnight trip for a housewarming was a whirlwind, but OH so worth it! I got to see my friends from high school and party like a rock star...

Then I come home to Obama as president ;) CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!

I promise...more to come!

-MommaWheel

There's Something About David

Have you ever heard a story that impacts you so personally that you have to write about it? :)  Wait, that's what blogging is.

Sorry we've been MIA for a little while. We got back into the work swing after our vacation, and now we're gearing up to leave again for another small week long hiatus.

Anyway, there is this man, David who goes to our church. He was hit by a car on his bike and was injured almost fatally. He sustained some pretty traumatic brain injury, to the point where the doctors had to take his brain out of his skull in order to relieve some of the pressure that was building up.  This happened no more than 8 weeks ago.

The reason why I bring it up is because I personally, along with others, have been praying for David's recovery.  I know that there have been times in the past that God choose to answer prayers differently than I expected.  I am amazed at what He continues to do in my life as I struggle to balance prayer even for myself, my family, and my issues. Can I get a few more hours in the day please?

The most amazing thing about it is that David walked into church last Sunday while I was singing on the praise team.  He WALKED in the door, smiling and coherent.  There are some people who do not believe in God or miracles, and would ascribe this healing to technology/medicine or good karma.  

I just believe that God heard us and chose to answer our prayer in the way of allowing David to fully recover from his injuries a short time after his accident.  

God still heals.  He still performs miracles in the lives of people everyday.  I am overwhelmed that God used this situation to not restore but rejuvenate my faith in Him and to physically see the manifestation of God's awesome power.

I have been praying for some things in our life at home like baby #2, health and wellness for our family and financial independence.  I believe with all my heart that God will honor our requests and make Himself known to the people in our circle as a God who cares, loves and listens when His children talk to him.  

Now, we're off to SC to work on that #2. lol

--MommaWheel

Frustrations of a political junkie

I hesitate to discuss politics in this blog, yet I feel like I need an outlet to express my growing concern, frustration and dismay with the state of politics in this country, so I apologize in advance for the gloomy tone of this post, but I must ask the question: Why are we so divided in this country?

Why can’t more politicians do and say the right thing for this country even though it means they’ll lose political points in the short-term? There’s a reason the President has a dismal approval percent rating in the low 30s. There’s also a reason this Congress has an even worse rating in the upper-teens. These deep divisions are preventing the work of this country from being done. Why don’t we demand more of our politicians?

Whatever happened to civil dialogue in this country? We can’t we discuss honest differences without shouting, cursing, becoming visible angry or hostile? Why can’t I put a sticker on my car without the fear of my tires being slit, or my car be keyed depending which neighborhood I’m in? Why can’t we be more rational as we discuss politics? Why can’t people acknowledge the good qualities, traits and policies of the opposing candidate? Why must the opposition not just be belittled, but demonized completely and destroyed? Why won’t people even consider the possibility about what they have heard and learned about a candidate could be wrong and needs to be reconsidered? Why can't those of opposing philosophies find and build on the common ground they do share? Why are people so apt to believe conspiracies, no matter how vile, outrageous or outlandish?

I’ve seen conversations degrade quickly when one side or both levels charges like “you’re wrong”, “you’re a liar”, “you’re greedy”, “you lack intelligence”, “you’re stupid”, “you’re unpatriotic”, “you’re a traitor”, “you’re a racist”, “you’re a race-baiter”, “you’re sexist”, “you’re a warmonger”, “you’re a whoremonger”, etc. Once you use these words, there can be no further conversation, as these words are meant to shut conversations down. And this is unfortunate.

I find it increasingly frustrating to have meaningful conversations with people at this point in time. You cannot mention Bush, McCain, Palin to some without them flying off the handle. Similarly, you cannot mention Clinton, Obama or Biden to others without them becoming unhinged. It’s like there’s some kid of derangement syndrome going on. I find that most people have hardened their beliefs to the point where they are hyper-rigid --- there’s no flexibility. Consequently, any information news (good and bad) about Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin will already be used to support your foregone conclusion about the candidates. Most people have already framed a narrative so they’ll look for any new evidence, rational or not, to confirm that decision, almost if they need to justify the investment (mental, emotional, perhaps financial) they’ve placed on the candidates. This is cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias at it’s finest.

I’ve been following politics heavily since the 2000 election. I've read, studied, and thought a lot about political philosophies. Yet, I still find there so much I don’t know or understand. It’s not that I’m, the most of objective of people, because I’m not. I can acknowledge my bias. But I recognize my pre-conceived notions and I try to challenge them when presented new conflicting information. I wish more people would do this regardless whether you come to the same conclusion I do. This has nothing to do with the people’s intelligence. I think people just fall into a routine of lazy, sloppy thinking because it takes little effort. Challenging those ideas takes mental work and could lead to discomfort which is why I believe people take the easy way out.

Compounding these challenges is the inability for me to get the truth, without spin, partisan rhetoric, and fluffy, esoteric, abstract words. Take the economic causes and impact of these mortgage/banking institutions for example. It’s hard to find an unfiltered account of what are the causes and the solutions. I’m deeply skeptical of any one who oversimplifies complex problems down to “it’s George Bush’s fault!” or “it’s the Democratic Congress’ fault!”.

I’m growing to despise the coverage of this election by the mass media. It’s becoming shameful as reporters and papers are losing their credibility and ability to remain objective. This article by Stuart Taylor in the National Journal reflects my thinking exactly. Here’s an excerpt:

“…many in the media have been one-sided, sometimes adding to…distortions rather than acting as impartial reporters of fact and referees of the mud fights.

We still have many great journalists, but I no longer trust the major newspapers or television networks to provide consistently accurate and fair reporting and analysis of all the charges and countercharges. This in an era when the noise produced by highly partisan TV hosts and blogs creates a crying need for at least one newspaper that we can count on to play it straight.

Indeed, one reason that candidates get away with dishonest campaign ads and speeches may be that it is so hard for undecided voters like me to discern which charges are true, which are exaggerated, and which are false. Most people can't spend hours every day cross-checking diverse sources of information to verify the accuracy of slanted stories and broadcasts…”

I actually like each of the candidates and their VP choices. I’m serious. But no matter who wins the election, Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin, can’t we as Americans civilly disagree with them, yet still rally behind them as our elected officials? I know it sounds corny, but we are all Americans for goodness sake. This growing division will inhibit the power get things accomplished as a country, and this has me deeply concerned.

One thing I’m certain of -- I cannot wait for this election cycle to be over!

--Poppa Wheel

Don't Go There On My Hygenics

It is funny how a product can bring you back to your childhood. Smells are in my memory forever, and I just remember the regimen that my dad used to do on a regular...hop in the shower and clean with this certain soap. He would actually whistle while in the shower...and when he got out, the sudsy smells would waft through the house. He would use this aftershave that smelled like a grown man. He would take about an hour and we all cracked up because as my dad got older, he would put on these SAME what we used to call "coochie cutter" shorts and these LONG white sports socks. The sight was HILRIOUS! Until his death, we cracked on him. Man, I miss my daddy...anyway...

There is this mouthwash that reminds me so much of him, Dr. Tichenor's, that it saddened me to learn that after H u r r i ca n e K A T R I N A, the plant was devastated and most of it's work force was displaced or affected in some way.




I used to be able to get this 100 plus year old company's mouthwash from Wally World, but no more :(

I went online to find more info about it, and boy, if I want to buy some in bulk, it will cost a GRIP!

Your breath is kickin' like a Brazilian soccer team right? Those onions are coming out of your pores? Your kids are slowly fading away as you sing them to sleep? If you want a mouthwash made from essential oils and is a family company that is committed to the New Orleans region (would not sell to other companies post-Katrina, then the minty fresh Dr. Tichenor's is for you! I love it! Here's some info on the company.

*eww, that so was not supposed to sound like a commercial* lol

--MommaWheel

Andre is now Oreo

He looked more like an Oreo since he was black and white :)

So the kitten is going pretty well...BabyWheel humps the cat and stretches with him every morning and looks for him when she wakes up. I'm not so sure how Oreo feels about us though...lol He cuddles up to my legs, but he runs away so fast and bolts under furniture.

He's working out pretty well. PoppaWheel shoos him away, but when he hears the purring, he relents and lets Oreo into our bedroom. Gotta love a persistent kitty.

And of course I had to throw a pic of the big girl in there for good measure! Happy 19th month birthday BabyWheel!

My Preciousssssssss! Noooooooooooooo!

UPDATE - 03/09/2010: Upgraded! Now with Otter Box for maximum protection. I think I love my wife!!!



My precioussssssssssssssssssssss!

--------

UPDATE - 03/06/2010: A year and a half has passed since the maiming of my precious. I regret to report she has been given the last rites. Not only is the screen still busted but:

• There are broken screen pixels causing permanent gray horizontal bars across the screen
• One cannot hear incoming calls without the use of a Bluetooth headset (which I hate wearing)
• The phone doesn't ring or vibrate when a new call comes in
• The phone thinks headphones are plugged in thereby preventing one from hearing sound from the phone
• The phone is scratched like a rabid squirrel went berserk while using it.
  

I just needed to chronicle this journey out of respect.

----

So I'm running across the street during lunch trying to make the yellow light when my iPhone pops out of my case and falls on the street face down. I've had my iPhone drop before and from all the reports I've seen and my own experience, this sucker is pretty durable. As I pick the thing off the street, no real concerns since there no pieces falling off as I breath a sigh of relief. Yet, when I turn the thing over, my heart literally stops beating for five long seconds. I found it hard to breathe with no air coming into my lungs. This is what happened to my precious!



I had been so careful, though! I tried, Lord knows I tried to protect it as best as I could. I listened to the salesman at the AT&T store to get the best case possible. It took months even for me to take the plastic off. It even meant denying both Baby Wheel and Momma Wheel from touching it for extended periods for fear of something "bad" happening.

What makes me mad is that there's no insurance for the phone via Apple. And although the phone is under warranty, they won't replace it because of accidents like this, just defects of the phone. It's fully functional, but just has a cracked screen. However Apple doesn't repair the phones and essentially I would have to pay for a whole new one.

Why can't I ever keep a phone? Either they fall into the toilet (don't ask), fall apart or get dropped and lost. I never spent this much for a phone, and I promised myself that this time would be different.

(takes a deep breath) "WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!!" (as lightning flashes violently in the background)

Well, I think I'll pull out my classic James Ingram's greatest hits album and fire up, Just Once, turn down the lights and reflect on what could have been, because I'm just in that kind of mood.

Just Once
James Ingram

I did my best
But I guess my best wasn't good enough
'Cause here we are back where we were before
Seems nothing ever changes
We're back to being strangers
Wondering if we oughta stay
Or head on out the door

Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong
Why we never last for very long
What are we doing wrong
Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
If we could just get to it
I know we could break through it

I gave my all
But I think my all may have been too much
'Cause Lord knows we're not getting anywhere
Seems we're always blowing whatever we got going
And seems at times with all we've got
We haven't got a prayer
Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong
Why the goodtimes never last for very long
Seems we're always blowing
Whatever we got going

Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
If we could just get to it
I know we could break through it

Just once I want to understand
Why it always come back to good-bye
Why can't we get ourselves in hand
And admit to one another
That we're no good with out the other
Take the best and make it better
Find a way to stay together

Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
I know we can break through it
If we could just get to it

Just once
If we could get to it

Just Once...

--Poppa Wheel

ER

What seemed like a breath of fresh air as we drove down the mountain back to the concrete jungle, was really just a quick dose back into reality. We have not been back from vacation for one week and:

1. Someone hit our car and ran. We had to pay our $500 deductible, and you know how poor you are when coming from vacation :) lol

2. We rushed BabyWheel to the ER last night with a dislocated tendon in her elbow.

*exhale*

Normally in situations that seem overwhelming and that pop up so quickly one after the other, it is easy to be consumed by them, to allow them to steal whatever sort of joy you have in your life.

I made conscious effort to "count it all joy."

James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations"

I am reminded that God allows suffering and trials to happen in our lives, but He still loves us.

James 5:11 "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful."

Instead of worry, I choose joy. Instead of idle thoughts that solve nothing, I chose to trust that God has our best interest at heart.

BabyWheel is back to normal and is her wacky, chatty, LOUD self again. I wonder where she gets that from?

Lake Harmony

Our summer has been full of vacations that have the word "lake" in them....that's fine by me. :) We went away to celebrate my in laws' 40th wedding anniversary. With all the kids in tow, we headed up to the Poconos mountains to relax and regroup, and boy oh boy, did we.

I don't think I've had that much rest in a long time. I was able to really see how much BabyWheel has grown and how much vocabulary (read: motormouth) she has around other kids (her cousins) and to see that she is just as much the social butterfly as her momma.

Every morning, I woke up to cool mountain air and birds singing, looking out of this window:














And BabyWheel hammed it up for the camera every time...saying CHEESE to the top of her lungs.

And me and PoppaWheel were able to reconnect and just love on each other, pray with and for each other and just have a great time with our extended family.

Here are some shots:










































Don't you just love it when you can wear your jammies all day or not and chill out? We'll be back, Lake Harmony!

Hello Kitty???

So, we're on the eve of a new addition to the Philly Wheel household. The title of this post represents my mental dilemma with preparing for our first family pet, a cat named "Andre the Giant". I must confess that I approach tomorrow with much trepidation. Oh, I love animals -- when they're deliciously prepared especially with fried onions and peppers on my plate! In all seriousness, I am not an animal lover. I am very uncomfortable around them. Growing up, we never had any pets because my mom and brother were both allergic to pet hair, fur, etc. As a result, my attitudes towards pets were apathetic at best, antagonistic at worst, shaped by my somewhat negatives experiences with them. I could classify all my issues into one of the four categories below. These give me tremendous unease:

1. Cleanliness. Growing up we had some friends who were extremely fond of animals. These were the kind of people that would pick up stray animals off the street. Kind of reminds me of this lady:



When we spent the night over their house, it literally was like a zoo. The stench of the place was enough to punch you in the gut and cause you to shake spasmodically while dry heaving. It smelled exactly like a herd of Alaskan Musk Oxen were living in the house.

True, while an extreme example, what is much more common is visiting friends with family pets and being greeted with that unpleasant odor that there's an animal living in the house. I dread that. Oh sure, I hear some people say, "well cats are well groomed and lick themselves clean - as a matter of fact they may be cleaner then humans!" I don't buy it! Instead of washing your hands before dinner next time, try licking them instead. See how long it takes before your paws start reeking. Until I see a cat using Ivory for that 99.44% clean, I refuse to concede the point!

2. Meddlesome. I know cats are naturally curious, but I hope that is not Andre's undoing. I just have this mental picture that the cat is going to destroy some valuable belongings (pictures, TV, or my Xbox 360 for heaven's sake!) because it was too curious. Even worse, I'll be putting on my shoes, getting ready for work, on only to feel that soft "squish" followed by that sickening realization that I just stepped into some mess because the thing had a problem with its bowels and couldn't make it to the litter box in time.

But even this is eclipsed by a greater fear - having the cat mess with my food! When it comes to my food, I have borderline OCD. My hands must be absolutely clean, the food unblemished, un-sampled, and unspoiled before it goes into my mouth. Part of the reason why I don't like eating food at picnics is because people don't cover their food properly! If I even suspect that an insect (i.e., flies or bees) has touched my food I'd rather go hungry and starve. Seriously, that's how picky I am. How could you eat that juicy burger when there was this huge horsefly that was sucking on it earlier, possibly pregnant and laid eggs in it? You can imagine the cardiac arrest that I'd go into if I found out the cat nibbled or licked my food before I did.

3. Unpredictability. I have a very weird sense of humor such that I get much glee out of watching the "When Animals Attack" series. There something fascinating about watching the ignorance and arrogance of humans to think they can fully understand and predict behaviors of various species of the animal kingdom.

While funny, I truly understand that stuff ain't funny when it happens to you. Throughout my life, I have been chased and bitten by dogs, the biggest a huge Doberman Pincher. I have been the target airborne bombing raids by birds on numerous occasions. I have been attacked by a snake in the woods. I have been stung by a nest of freakishly huge black hornets. I was viciously charged at on a farm by a seemingly docile, but crazed and maddened cow. I was nearly decapitated and thrown from the back of a horse that, apparently, was demon possessed.

So, yeah I known my share of trouble from animals and while I giggle watching the unpredictable nature of animals on TV, I know first hand how those giggles can become easily become screams of horror when it happens to you personally. So, who really knows when the cat could snap and go ballistic like this?



4. Maintenance. I may have insinuated earlier that we never cared for animals growing up. That's not entirely correct. While my parents and younger sister wanted no part of it, my two older brothers and I had a number of carnivorous fish that included piranhas, sharks, snakeheads and oscars. But as I look back on this, these were never family pets. They were only for blood sport, subject to whims of three crazy boys who enjoyed watching goldfish swim for their lives from the larger predators.

As for caring for these things, I was extremely lazy when it came to cleaning their living quarters. The fish tanks resembled a fetid, murky swamp found in the bayous of Louisiana. It looked like the fish were swimming in dirt. And since we're being honest here, I confess that I couldn't even feed the things properly because getting to the pet store was so far out and a major hassle. Consequently some of the fish turned to cannibalism or even died, because I was neglectful. Flushing a dead fish down the toilet is pretty quick and painless . But flushing the carcass of a cat down the toilet becomes a bit more problematic. Fortunately, I can easily get cat food from the local supermarket.

It goes beyond just food, however. Is this thing going to be high maintenance?How much bonding time does it need? How much training is required? Do I need to walk it? Take off days from work so that it can have that heart operation and get a pace maker when it gets older? I just don't want anything to suffer because of my laziness, so you can appreciate my concern.

These are some of the things that have made me staunchly against having a four-legged beast in the house. Having said all that, I can no longer deny the plea of Momma Wheel to get a family pet. She's had one before - a dog - growing up. She's been asking for one for several years now way before Baby Wheel was born. Seeing how Baby Wheel responds to pets is hilarious. She goes crazy especially over cats. A friend, who is a cat owner, babysat Baby Wheel one night. When we picked her up, we were told she did not stop talking to the cat the entire night. As a matter of fact, Baby Wheel stalked the animal to the point where she had the cat backed up into a corner on top of the microwave trying to get away because it had enough. That's too funny.

So in spite of my bad experiences, I need to stop being selfish. Therefore, I've softened my position. Momma Wheel and Baby Wheel deserve more. My hang-ups shouldn't get in the way of them experiencing the joy and fun of a family pet. Who knows, maybe I will really come to like the thing in a way that I wouldn't have ever dared thought.

But make no mistake! The moment the fur ball bites my toes in the middle of the night is the day I call the SPCA. Andre, you've been warned!

--Poppa Wheel

Merenge and Bellies

My co-workers and I talk about fitness sometimes and although we all do our own individual attempts at staying healthy, we decided to make it a group venture by going to take a Merengue Dance class. It was hilarious.

First, we went to this really cool Mexican restaurant called Adobe and then we thought it would be a nice idea to walk to the dance class. Googlemaps said it was only .6 miles and some change. No problem right? Did I forget to tell you the restaurant was in Roxborough? Think San Fransisco hills on steroids! It was brutal. What was supposed to be less than a 5 min drive turned into a 40 minute walk. I am NOT taking the fall for the walk business. lol We decided together that it would be a good idea to walk. :) At first, it was fun. We were laughing at how steep the hills were, imagining what it would be like to live in the tiny houses at the tip top of the hills. It was all uphill from there *rimshot* :) The conversation got thinner and thinner, heck, so did our waistlines.

We finally made it to the class. My boss and I took up the task of interpreting the session since 2 of our other co-workers were deaf. The class was filled with "those kinds of people" the experts who make you feel so bad that they have all the technique down and swirl and twirl around you when you're still on step one. lol

The dance instructor had THE thickest dominican accent. I almost wished he would speak spanish instead because I could not understand a word he said. HA!

All in all, we had a GREAT TIME! We're going again next month if anyone else wants to join us??? :) Trish, Natalie, Jen? :)

The belly part of this post will have to wait for another time... :)

--MommaWheel

18 Months Old

Dear BabyWheel,

You're 18 months old! I never knew that loving a little person would be so fulfilling. God has blessed me with the honor of being your momma. I can't stand it. :) I promise to always love you and squeeze you and teach you and cuddle with you and laugh with you and feed you and go to the park with you and show you everything I know and just...be with you. I will keep teaching you about God and His love for you. I hope that you can understand just how much that is.

I remember when I first laid eyes on you. You were crying and wiggling and I cut the cord that sustained you as you grew. We've been tight ever since, girl. As you learn new words and experience new things, I marvel at what a miracle your little life is. It is all going way too fast for me, so I will just stop and smell you, touch you, hold you, and just let you be my little baby for just a while longer. You run from me when I want to kissie kissie now. You speak in complete sentences saying things like...BabyWheel wants THAT book, Mommy. You make me laugh with your antics. You are eating at the table with a fork and spoon like a big girl, and you don't cry as much when I do your hair. You seriously rock the afropuffs like a champ.

I am shocked that you know sign language....you actually are learning from the time we spend together. I love how you YELL my name to the top of your lungs when you think I'm not paying attention. Don't worry, little girl. I got you!

You play silly games with Daddy on the floor, and your squeals of delight just warm my heart. You can count up to 13, maybe more when we're not listening...And, just today, Mrs. Trish said you sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Thanks for going right to sleep so Momma can get her fitness on at the gym. I promise to stay strong and healthy so we will be together for as long as God allows.

I love reading to you. Your favorite book is Silly Sally. Sally is upside down in the book, so to make things right in the world, you flip your head upside down. You're so smart. You know where your head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth and nose are, thanks to the song.

I love when you squeeze my neck really tight and close your eyes to give me a BIG HUG. You scream SHOOOOOOESSS and JUIIIIIIICCCCE and sign milk when you want those things.

I am saying a lot, but I just want to say that I love you, and you have taught me patience, to think before I act and speak, and to just consider the things that I don't see before I react. For that, I am grateful.

Love,

--MommaWheel

Review: The Dark Knight

I just saw this for the first time last night. One word would describe it adequately: WOW. There is a reason why this movie is setting box office records. Continue reading for Poppa Wheel’s review of this summer blockbluster.

Note: While I will not give away the movie, this post may contain mild spoilers. Please consider carefully before reading.

Story: Set in the fictional Gotham City, this movie tells the tale of the Batman and his arch-nemesis the Joker. Let me just say, this movie is NOT for children. A lot of people are killed. There was little blood and cursing, but this skirted the edge of an “R” rating. In addition to the violence, there are some dark and mature themes that are explored such as corruption, betrayal, terrorism, assassination and murder. I also enjoyed the other themes brought up regarding heroism, sacrifice and the boundaries of morality and justice.

What I loved most about the movie was the gritty story telling that stays true to its roots in the comics. Forget the goofy, over-the-top, campy foolishness that you may remember from the other Batman movies (i.e., Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger). Ultimately, we learn why the Batman is not known as a “hero” in the conventional sense of the word. As such, the “Dark Knight” is such an appropriate moniker.

Character Development: Typically, you don’t think of character progression in an action movie. But I think they did an excellent job of showing not only the physical struggles of the Batman, but his mental and psychological struggles as well as he tries to come to grips with his motivation and his purpose. Similarly, the Joker is introduced as an inconsequential bank robber who eventually (and purposefully) becomes the principal criminal mastermind of the entire city. We get to learn some of his motivations are not rooted in money, but anarchy and psychological chaos. Although the main story was between the Batman and Joker, there were a number of support characters that were superbly presented.

One of my favorite lines of the movie is when the Joker says to the Batman, “you...complete...me!” Remember that line from Jerry McGuire? His argument was that they needed each other (good vs. evil; yin vs. yang.) and that is presented very well.

Acting: I’ll be honest, I thought all the talk of Heath Ledger being considered for an Oscar nomination was nothing more than over hyped regret because he’s now dead. That was before I saw the movie. After seeing it, wow – I’m now on the bandwagon. He nailed that performance unlike any I’ve seen. Heath's portrayal of the Joker made Jack Nicholson’s rendition seem like it was high-school play. I’m serious it was that good. He faithfully played the part of a psychopathic, murdering, terror inducing criminal mastermind. A humorous, but wickedly demented performance that makes you wonder if he got into the role of the Joker a little too heavily.

Action/Special Effects: Great action sequences. This is what you’d expect from a big summer blockbuster. There were some moments where this lagged, but it was appropriate, particularly how it done to progress the plot and the various characters. While the special effects were good, they weren’t over the top. They were quite believable for a guy that doesn’t have any super-powers, rather he relies on his intellect in addition to state of the art technology and gadgets.

Ambiance: The mood of this movie is really dark and gritty (almost grimy). The film made ample use of shadows and low-lighting to great effect. I thought the sound and music score did an incredible job of creating the feeling of tension, anxiety and terror.

Overall Rating: This was probably the best movie I’ve seen all year. I think it’s a very complete movie – plot, characters, acting, action, mood, special effects, even a little romance for those of you who like that sort of thing.

All in all, I give it a coveted 5 wheels out of 5!

Now to convince the wife to see it so I can see it again!

--Poppa Wheel

PhillyZoo

I love to experience new things with Alayna. She is the coolest, and always delivers the wow factor in word and deed when seeing something for the first time. PoppaWheel and I took off work because we wanted to be chaperons for Alayna's first daycare field trip. We thought it was important to show that we cared enough to experience such an important "first" with our daughter.

There were so many fun moments:


Alayna and her daycare boyfriend. Heretofore known as DCBF, Miles....accepting all dowry.


Alayna and her DCBF looking at the monkey cage


Alayna brushing the sheep in the children's petting zoo

Alayna and the ducks. Dare I say that was probably one of her first words. It was nice to see her face to face with her first love lol. They ran away when I snapped the pic, but you get the point...she was chasing them :)




Alayna and the hat she refused to wear in the 90+ degree heat.




I am not a super organized person, but this was a very special trip for us. I planned to avoid the $20 cheeseburgers and bring our lunches, so I made a nice spinach and chicken salad with some mushroom orzo and fresh fruit. I was really proud of me because it tasted REALLY good. Here's the recipe for the orzo:

1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch frying pan over high heat. Add 12 ounces sliced mushrooms and 3/4 cup chopped shallots or onion; cook, stirring often, until mushrooms are lightly browned, 9 to 12 minutes.

2. Reduce heat to medium and add 2 more tablespoons butter and 2 cups dried orzo pasta; stir often until pasta is light golden, about 2 minutes.

3. Add 3 cups chicken broth and 1/2 cup dry sherry. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender to bite and most of the liquid is absorbed, 9 to 11 minutes. If mixture becomes too thick before pasta is done, add a little more broth. You can add a bit of heavy cream at the end just before serving for more creaminess.

4. Stir in 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon risotto into wide bowls and sprinkle with a little chopped parsley and more parmesan cheese to taste.

Yield

Makes 3 or 4 main-dish servings

--MommaWheel

The FurryWheel That Almost Was

We were planning to get a new kitty to take of some "urban domicile issues", but yet we wanted to have a pet to grow old with BabyWheel....

For about 10 minutes, we were kitty owners, but we had to send her back. Her name was Sofia.

--MommaWheel

Life Lessons from Baby Wheel and Al Bundy

This child is obsessed with body parts. She loves pulling at ears and noses. I've almost been blinded several times as she yells out "Eye!" and then proceeds to stick her finger dead in my eye. At least she's learning so I suppose I can endure a bloody eye gouging or six. But nothing, and I mean NOTHING fascinates this child like the belly button. I don't know why that is, but she's been known to spend hours playing with it. She perpetually lifts her shirt or skirt in public to grab it. It is especially evident first thing in the morning when she gets a bottle. There's an automatic reflex to go to the belly. She doesn't think, she just acts. Once she gets the bottle, it's almost like she's in a trance -- nothing else matters. She becomes one with it.



It kind of reminds me of another influential American:



I see where she's coming from though. There are certain moments that are so comforting and relaxing that I too do the "Al Bundy". Mine is very specific. For me it's watching television with a big bag of spicy nacho cheese doritos, a cold 24oz pepsi and some twizzlers. During these moments, my brain is on energy saving mode - powered down - and I kind of forget where I am. It's extreme vegegitation. I tell you, it's almost like heaven on earth!

As I think about this now, I realize that we grown-ups need more of these moments. I cannot remember the last time I've done this. The craziness of life does not afford many opportunities. Cherish every moment you have to do this. Ah, to be a kid and to play with your belly for hours! Thank you Al and Alayna for this important life lesson! LOL.

What's your Al Bundy moment?

UPDATE: So, the wife reads my post and buys me some Doritos, a Pepsi and some Twizzlers. Ain't she sweet?! That's why I love her. She's the best mail order bride money could buy. Now, time for some delights!! Happy Happy Joy Joy!



(...runs off to go play with my belly...)

--Poppa Wheel

Mom, the Photog

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am OBSESSED with good picture taking! I mean, I love cameras, talk about cameras, everything, couple that with makeup and I am in heaven!

I got a chance to slip away and take another photography class. I am really starting to get good :) Most of my pics are of Alayna, but I think when I do landscape-type stuff, it is pretty good.

It feels great to be a wife and mom and have interests that my husband supports me in.

Here are some of my faves:














In Murrells Inlet, SC (we'll be going back again this year. If you ever get to go here, WOW, beautiful) Look how the Spanish Moss just hangs off the trees. It's so sexy to me. Reminds me of the movie, Eve's Bayou.














Murrell's Inlet again, at a botanical garden

This is not one of my faves, but I had to tell you about Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah! WE waited 4 hours in the 84 degree sun! WOOO DOOOGGGGY! Was it gooooood!!!!!!













Savannah, City Center...bustling with people, but yet stepping back in time














Sapelo Island, GA through the window of a rickety old school bus. We went to a cultural festival there in '06



--MommaWheel