Smart Kid

Today Lindy said she wanted to write us a note:

Zombie

I've mentioned/complained a few times before that my adorable little baby boy is not the best sleeper. He never has been but this last month has seen an increase in awake time, an increase in screaming, and a serious decrease in the number of hours available for me to get some decent rest. Typically I love the night life. I like to boogie. But it's getting to the point that I'm losing the ability to function at a normal level. This was made abundantly clear to me on two separate occasions.

During the night when Curtis gets up I try to "wake up" as little as possible, thereby making it easier for me to get back to sleep after he's calmed down. I tend to keep my eyes slightly shut as I go from my room to his and back. One night I suddenly woke up to find myself "stuck" in the corner behind my bedroom door. I don't know if I was coming or going, but I was suddenly wide awake wondering how (or why) I'd gotten there.

A few nights later, after a particularly rough week with little sleep, I went in to feed Curtis at 5am. As I sat in the rocking chair I started to wonder why I could smell tanning lotion. Suddenly I realized that the smell was coming from ME. I put the baby down and went into my bathroom to find my self-tanning lotion open on the counter. At some point in the night I apparently got up and put it on my face and hands and went back to sleep. That was the only time I've been grateful that he didn't sleep in until later in the morning.

I'm still having moments where my dreams and reality collide. It's a disconcerting thing to feel like I'm not in complete control of myself. I'm hoping we're just in a phase and he'll start to settle down soon. In the meantime, please try to hold in your laughter if I show up somewhere with an orange face. It is NOT intentional.

"My Top Ten" Tag

My Top Ten Reasons I Haven't Thrown in the Towel

10. My husband is home for the first time this month.

9. Last night Curtis slept for a 3-hour period rather than his usual 2.

8. Tonight my children actually ate dinner AND said "thank you".

7. I didn't have to drive my kids anywhere today and listen to screaming.

6. I finished one load of laundry. Not a huge accomplishment but an accomplishment nonetheless.

5. My counter tops are clean. For now.

4. I haven't unknowingly put self-tanning lotion on in the middle of the night this week.

3. My sister likes my spaghetti...even if no one else does. 

2. I'm not allergic to chocolate.

1. Can you say "Molten Lava Chocolate Cake"? (Thanks, Holly)

Whew! I don't know who to tag. It's late and I need to get some sleep before I end up doing some other weird sleep-walking thing. Wish me luck.

Any Bit Helps

In September, Rochelle and her family will be walking in the "Walk a Mile In Her Shoes" march to raise awareness for victims of sexual violence. 

The statistics say that "one in six American women are victims of sexual assault. That means someone you know, someone you care about, has been or may become the victim of sexual violence. It may be your mother, your sister, your friend, your girlfriend, your wife, your co-worker, or your daughter." 60% of sexual assaults are NOT reported to police. This needs to change! The way to begin change is by talking about it. The march literally asks men to walk in women's high heels for one mile. This will get conversation started, don't you think?

Rochelle is working on raising funds for the walk. If you have the ability to make a donation, of any amount, and sponsor her in her walk, please help. "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" strives to educate communities and raise money for local rape crisis centers.

http://www.firstgiving.com/rochellelyman

After all, a friend of a friend is still a friend, right? Good luck, Rochelle. Thank you for being strong for all of us!

Uncle Steve

Monday afternoon the girls and I were enjoying a little down-time following our hectic weekend and I asked them both what they liked most about the family reunion weekend. Lindy, without hesitation said, "Uncle Steve!" Ellie said, "Hiking up a mountain!"...but a few minutes later asked when uncle Steve was going to come back and pouted for a while when I told her we wouldn't see him for a long time. 

He made quite an impression on our two little girls. We are glad that he was able to spend some time at our house and that we were able to get to know one another a little better. Thank heavens for iChat...the girls will be glad to be able to talk with, and see, their favorite uncle again soon.