*GREYisms*
(While watching an eTrade baby commercial during the Packer game)
G: Mom, that baby sounds like a man

G: Mom, I feel bored
Me: You do?
G: Yep
Me: What should we do to cure your boredom?
G: I think we should play some golf

My boss's wife, Annie (a true gem), threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was relaxing and enjoyable and the girls and I ended up chatting for close to 4 hours. My office went in on a great video monitor and my professional flute player who is now known as our resident reporting guru burned an amazing compilation of classical music that I'm in love with. Back on the homestead, Mike took Greyson to soccer class in the morning and a 4-year old's birthday party in the afternoon. I think I got the better end of the deal!

In addition to soccer and preschool, Greyson is also enrolled in a 6-week PeeWee Pirate class on Fridays. The inagural class consisted of yo-ho-ho songs and the very important task of picking their pirate names. Greyson = "Black Tooth". He's very proud of his name and his new pirate hat and apparently will be learning how to swashbuckle next week. As Halloween approaches, he's started to get serious about choosing his costume and I'm guessing pirate has a good chance of winning. He's been debating between a skeleton, skull, ghost, Green Bay Packer and fireman. He was a fireman 2 years ago, skeletons and skulls scare the crap out of him (but in a weird demented way he's attracted to them) and he dresses like a Packer at home quite often so I think it bores him. What do you think he should be?

This is baby Santino (7 months old) and Greyson modeling the fireman costume that still fits

Pearl Jam again?

Mike is headed to the Pearl Jam concert tonight at Key Arena in Seattle with my boss, Paul. I don’t think Paul knows what he’s in for. I’ve been to these concerts with Mike and he falls into a state of oblivion and will go into long stretches where it’s just him, the band and the music. I told Paul he should plan for short conversations and a couple of elbows to the ribs (not on purpose).

Lookin good, Seattle! Key Arena, here Mike comes!
The new album, backspacer , was shipped to Mike last Friday and Greyson now has “Got Some” down pat. The two of them spent the weekend either listening to the album or watching old PJ DVD’s. I’m a fan but I prefer variety and hours of PJ each day is too much for me. Grey may look like me, but he’s all Mike. One of the books I’m reading, The Rules of Parenting, says that even if you don’t immediately see anything of yourself in your child, there’s common ground there somewhere and you should search to find it. We haven’t had to look far but I’m keeping it in mind for Guenther #2 since Grey has so much of both of us in him that I’m expecting the exact opposite with the next one. Based on the in utero movement, #2 will be bigger and more active. Time will tell. Did I mention that I'm ready for that time to come?

Yes, I’m reading more than one book at the moment. I’m refreshing myself on Babywise because the infant/baby sleep philosophy worked fairly well the first time and if it ‘aint broke… and for some reason, I’m enthralled with The Infiltrator, Robert Mazur’s autobiography about taking down Pablo Escobar. Don’t ask, I have no idea why I bought it. (It’s pretty good, though)

GREY*isms*

(after scraping his finger, though you would have thought he broke it, getting ready for bed)
G: It hurts, it hurts!
Me: It’ll feel better in the morning. Let’s pray and ask Jesus to heal it.
G: He’s not going to come into my room, is He?

(this morning shortly after waking up and looking at his reflection in the oven door)
G: My hair is all jacked up!

Can I just put on record that I am really missing my old neighborhood these days? Facebook has been a blessing and a curse. Blessing because it’s connected me with people I’ve long lost touch with; curse because I have to see and read about all of the fun being had on my old stomping grounds that doesn’t include me. Granted, 8 months pregnant, I’m not missing much these days but I’m still green with envy. Although I’ve appreciated the social invites I’ve received out here, and really, people, I’m not going to spend $1000 on a dinner with Gloria Steinem but I would have said yes to the $20 booze cruise sans the aforementioned 8 months pregnant. I will live vicariously through Mike tonight who as I write is no doubt brushing up on his 90’s grunge dance moves and lyrics to the old school songs.

Mike*isms*

M: (via instant message) Is it bad that Grey corrected me on the lyrics of “Elderly Woman” when I sang to him last night?
Me: Nice, Mike (as I think OMG, my kid is not going to be one of those stringy haired band guys, is he? No offense, Dad)

Bodily Functions

I met a new friend this week *gasp*! Greyson's class had their first field trip to a local animal park where parents were encouraged to get to know one another. I made an effort, believe it or not. She's a mom of a boy in Greyson's preschool class and she blogs too and she's much cooler than I am so her posts are interesting, extremely funny and very well written. Yes, I am jealous. She too studied English so we even have something in common. OK, enough of that. She might read this and think I'm a stalker.

So, I'm stealing one of her ideas (thanks Mrs. Mouthy). Rather than try and summarize Grey's "isms", I'm going to dialogue them. This way, I can type less and you might get the gist of it quicker. If you don't, it's not my fault. Blame Grey.


*GreyISMS*


G: Mom, what are you doing?
Me: I have to go to the bathroom
G: Are you going to squeeze it out?

Me: (pause) Yes

G: Like I squeeze it out?

Me: Yep

G: (while sitting on the toilet, yelling to me in the other room) Mom, know why I go to the bathroom?

Me: Why?

G: Because that's what I do

G: (naked from the waist down) So how was your day?

Me: It was good! How was yours?

G: I pooped and I peed

Me: Did you wipe?

G: (bending over) See?

Greyson had his 2nd full day at preschool on Tuesday. It was not a success from the standpoint that I was present the entire time. My plan to stay for "a long time, but not the whole time" didn't work. He's not adjusting yet, but our field trip yesterday gives me hope that his comfort level with the teachers and the other kids is increasing with each day. I'd prefer not to spend Tuesday and Thursday mornings helping kids who are not my own go to the bathroom and wash their hands (see above *isms*). I remain optimistic that next Tuesday will be a better day and if it isn't, have decided that I'm completely OK with the "valet" who literally takes your kid out of the car and escorts them into the classroom.

So, now that Greyson feels like he's perfected his guitar playing skills- he told Mrs. Debbie yesterday that yes he does play the guitar- he's now working on the drums and vocals. The following clip is a Greyson original- I like to think he came up with this song for me and me alone.








Does anyone want a cat? Greyson and Hayden have a lot in common these days. They both like to run, yell (trust me, if you've ever heard Hayden "meow", you know what I mean) and poop. Unfortunately, he occasionally chooses places outside of the litter box and he also barfs up hairballs. Hayden, that is. Mike's about to give him a dirt nap. No hidden fees, shipping and handling included!

Indian Summer & Football!

How great was this weekend's football debut? Wisconsin over Fresno State, the USC/OSU matchup, Michigan/Notre Dame and Packers/Bears? Our house is officially in gridiron madness and loving it! For the record, our fantasy team is officially 1-0. Better luck next time, Sibs!

Enjoying the weather on Sunday the 13th

I know the Midwest is experiencing great fall weather and for the first time since we moved to the Northwest, we're enjoying similar temperatures at the same time! It's a little warm for football but we're making the most of it while we can. We took Greyson to a book fair that benefits Seattle Children's Hospital on Saturday and he got to see and explore a real fire truck (made by none other than Appleton's own Pierce Manufacturing). He wouldn't let the fireman pick him up (he's got a serious thing about strangers touching him), but once he got into the truck, we couldn't get him out of it. He also got to tour an ambulance and UPS truck!

Our "Junior Firefighter"

Greyson started school last Thursday and it was not a non-event. He waved goodbye and I thought I was home-free but 10 minutes later, Mrs. Debbie called to tell me 2 little girls started crying and set Grey off too and could I come back? So, I spent Greyson's 1st day of school right along with him. No worries- he had a blast. He goes back tomorrow and I've been setting the stage that I'll stick around for a little while but not the whole time. We'll see how that goes. Stay tuned!

Greyson's 1st day of school!

We haven't posted a video to the blog in a while so here's a short one of Grey playing his "naked" guitar (that would be a guitar that is missing it's strings) with his friend Ryder who is, well, let's say "ukelele challenged". Press play below.

Congratulations to Brock and Becky Goehler who gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Reese! So you've asked and I've delivered. Here are a couple of belly pics. Greyson did his best to show off his belly too, as you can see. I'm 32 weeks today. This baby boy is extremely active and we're all SO ready to meet him! Enjoy what's left of the Indian Summer. We're going to do our best to keep you all updated as the due date nears, but keep in touch. Our phone doesn't ring nearly enough.

Counting Down the Days!

I cannot believe it's September already! Do you feel like you've been saying that as the months and years go by? In less than 4 months we're going to be ringing in 2010 and I can't figure out what happened to 2008!

We just enjoyed a fabulous weekend with our friends, Ryan & Tina Johnson and their daughter Lauren who turned 4 in February. Kids seems to make the space-time continuum go faster (is that a real thing or am I caught up in Star Wars, Star Trek or Back to the Future lingo?). Our nephew Jake turned 11 this year and his sister Bria just turned 8. Happy Birthday, Bria! Our niece Alayna, who's 5, started Kindergarten yesterday and I'm getting ready to send Greyson off to pre-school.

It was a joy to celebrate the "official" end of summer with the Johnsons doing fun Seattle touristy stuff (hello, Duck boat tour) and just enjoying great company. The kids, minus their son Tanner who stayed home this time, had a great time together and we're already looking forward to the next visit; hopefully sooner than later.

The famous Pike Place Market

Feeding the ducks at the Kirkland Marina

Lauren & Mike on the Duck Tour in Seattle

In 2000, Ryan (aka RJ) sent a photo of the 4 of us from a Mexico vacation into the Ripon College alumni magazine and they in turn published it. Long story short, Tina & Ryan looked like they were posing for a magazine shoot, Mike looked his usual debonair self and I, in the forefront of the picture, looked like Humpty Dumpty. My head was twice the size of theirs with 3 chins and a ridiculous stupid grin on my face. I've been threatening retribution ever since and when Ryan posed for this picture, I figured what the heck...I'll go ahead and post it and hope that my friends and family poke some fun at him. I don't have nearly the readership that the Ripon Magazine does but feel free to post comments for his reading pleasure.

As most of you know, Greyson has a few things he's really into these days. Guitar and golf have been the staples for a solid year. He's recently become obsessed with Disney's Imagination Movers (he's going to their concert in December and will very likely pass out from excitement) and he loves to draw. To see his self-portrait, you'll have to visit my Facebook page as Blogger.com doesn't recognize the format. He captured his big eyes quite nicely. He's not likely to be a Picasso, but I plan on framing it!

Greyson after a "show"

Happy Fall (yeah football!). Mike and I are defending our Fantasy Football title this year so please join us in wishing injuries upon the players owned by Sejal Shah (whose wife just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Sai), RJ, my brother Nate, Sibley and the rest of the schmucks in our league. Oh, and may Brett Favre lead the NFL in interceptions and be sacked a record # of times by the Green Bay Packers. We wish no ill will on anyone; we just want to win. We're looking forward to attending a few Seahawks games this year ("Hawks" to the locals) but our hearts remain in Green Bay.

I've been asked a number of times to post pictures of my pregnant belly. I am not promising anything but I'll see what I can do. You should know by now that pregnancy to me is a means to a wonderful end but the 40 weeks in between are a torture of sorts and no amount of mental pushups seem to get me over the hump. I am counting down the days. Until then, here's a family portrait. You may not be able to see my belly, but believe me, it's there!