Gotcha Baby

Grown in My Heart: Blog Carnival

Michelle — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:24:16 +0000

This month the theme at GIMH screams, “It’s summer!!”….it’s a favorite post link up. Simple, right? You’d think.

It took me three days to decide, but I finally did it.

I picked this one because I remember writing it, at the Holiday Inn in Vero Beach, FL. I was on vacation with my mom, aunts & cousin when BgK got the call about MaM’s impending arrival. I spent that vacation in a daze, thinking about the future and a bit nervous.

This is the post that got the whole thing started.

NEWS.

This Saturday, MaM’s having a girls-only gymnastics party. Tuesday, she turns FIVE.

My Living Stories: A Review by MaM ( & a $25 iTunes gift card giveaway)

Michelle — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:33:50 +0000

Earlier this month I was invited to try the new My Living Stories Apps for my iPhone. I jumped at the chance, because MaM (who will be five in one.short.week) loves playing with my phone. I toss it to her when we are in the car, or when we find ourselves waiting for something without much entertainment. Being the new-millennium kid she is, it took her all of five seconds to learn how to use these apps. Since they are geared for her age group, I thought I’d invite her to share her thoughts.

“What do you like about my iPhone?”

“It has games and stories.”

“Do you like to use my iPhone?”

“Yes.”

“When do you like to use it?”

“When you’re not using it.”

“Is there a time when I don’t use my phone?”

“When you’re working on your computer and when you’re driving.”

“So you had some new stories on my phone yesterday. Did you like them?”

“Yes.”

“What did you like about them?”

“They had Goldilocks and the three bears, and the bears were so mad she ate the porridge. And in Little Red Riding Hood, she learned not to talk to strangers anymore–the wolf was a stranger. “

“Did you like the pictures?”

“Yup.”

“Would you like to get the other stories available?”

“Yes.”

“Would you eat all of your vegetables if I bought you the other stories?”

“NO!”

**At this point in the interview, we take a break to listen to the stories again, and to play with the “record a story” option. **

“So MaM, do you like the part where you can record the story?”

“Yes.”

“What do you like about it?”

“Ssh! I’m recording now!”

And we’ve found the part of the app that MaM loves best–the part where she can practice reading (or making up) the story, and record what she is saying, and then, most importantly, play back what she’s said.

There are currently five My Living Stories available for the iPhone and iPod Touch in the iTunes store, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “The Tortoise and the Hare”, “King Midas”, and “The Princess and the Pea”.

THE GIVEAWAY

Would you like the chance to try these out??

Simply leave me a comment telling me which story you think your kids (or heck, yourself) would like, and you’ll be entered to win a $25 iTunes gift card!

Fine print:

Contests open to Canadians. Readers may enter the contest on multiple blogs but are only eligible to win one iTunes gift card as part of the My Living Stories contest.
Contest is open until August 6th. I will use random.org to select a winner.
Disclosure – I am participating in the My Living Stories program by Mom Central on behalf of Decode Entertainment. I received 3 free apps and a gift card as a thank you for my participation.

Ford Focus Time Machine

Michelle — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:06:09 +0000

This past weekend I flew away to the Twin Cities, met up with four of my besties and was transported back to life circa 1989.

Four girlfriends, friends since 1987 & 1988, descended upon the only boy brave enough to hang out with us then (and probably one of only a handful who’d brave us now). Jason put us up, drove us around and treated us to fabulous days and nights out on the town. He shared his friends, adjusted his schedule and has banked serious friend points.

It got me thinking.

In high school, we had a lunch table. Depending on the semester, some or all of us would be there every day. We had a meal together every day, and never really thought twice about it. Once we were licensed drivers, we spent more time together. Countless sleepovers, countless cups of coffee at the greek diners, we even started a tradition of going out to breakfast before school on Friday mornings (which was nuts, because school started at 7:30am). We spent a lot of time together, and never really gave it a second thought, because we were friends, it’s what friends do.

In college, we still managed to see a lot of each other. Weekend visits to our respective universities, attending annual family Christmas parties, maxing out calling cards (calling was SO expensive, but we talked all the time), and surprising each other as we were able.

After college, the real world happened. Most of us were done with school by 1996, and real life started to happen. We moved a little further away from each other. We suddenly didn’t have month-long semester breaks to visit each other.

When we (collectively, via Facebook) got to thinking about it, the four girlfriends and their boy hadn’t been together, all in the same room since October 1998, at the first of our four weddings. Since then, there have been three more weddings, five births, two adoptions, a few family deaths/tragedies, several moves and house warming parties.

Flash forward, and all of a sudden, it was 12 years since we’d shared a meal all together, laughed together, shopped together.

That needed to be fixed.

So we all descended upon Jason’s life.

And besides reliving old memories (it’s funny, we all remember different funny stories), we now have new memories.

Memories of a fabulous night at the W Hotel.

Memories of a fun sushi lunch at the Mall of America.

Memories of deliciously grilled-through-a-storm dinner, complete with Skinny Girl margaritas.

And the best thing about being with friends you’ve known since you were fourteen?

You NEVER age. Seriously, we all look exactly the same, only better. (I’d post a picture from then, but they are all in storage, honest)

Love in the 21st Century, Blog Style

Michelle — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:13:31 +0000

Nine years ago we got married on a sweltering hot day in July. There hasn’t been a dull moment since. Chances are, I’ve blogged a lot of them, since I’ve been blogging for over half of our marriage. For fun, I linked up my past anniversary tributes. And for the record, yes, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

2009: http://wp.me/pVbJS-cI

2008: http://wp.me/pVbJS-8q

2007: http://wp.me/pVbJS-4A

2006 (also a nod to 2005): http://wp.me/pVbJS-1K

2010 has been a good year for us–starting on New Year’s Eve, right up through summer fun complete with face painting.

The Halfway Point: Feeling Full and UnPlugged

Michelle — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:11:37 +0000

I refuse to actually look at the calendar and count the days/weeks, but the middle of July means I’ve reached the halfway point (or could be slightly past it) of my summer break.

How’s it shaping up so far?

It’s been great. It’s been busy. It’s been full of day trips and friends, family and celebrations. It’s been full of daylight (amazing how awful it feels to drive at night in the winter, and how great it feels in the summer).

It’s been full.

Too full to sit down and type about it at day’s end.

Too full to tweet about it while it happens.

Too full to Facebook it when the kids are watching TV.

You can’t tweet and swim at the same time.

You can’t blog while you’re rolling down sand dunes.

You can’t be on Facebook while you’re pushing kids on swings or catching them at the bottom of the slide.

I am liking it that way. A whole lot.

Are you in central Indiana and looking for things to do away from your computer?? Check out the Indianapolis City Guide on Savvy Source!! I’ve hand-picked the best just for you!

It’s On

Michelle — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:48:32 +0000

We decluttered.

We cleaned.

We rearranged.

And then…………….

We waited.

We waited for 4months to get a call from the listing service. For months we waited to hear the words, “An agent would like to show your home….”

Last night we got that phone call.

And then? While we were at the pool, during the first showing? We got another phone call.

Another agent wanted to show our home.

All of a suddent, people want to see our home.

I really hope at least one of them likes what they see……

A Weekend to Recover from my Weekend

Michelle — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:54:58 +0000

Phew. That was exhausting. Was your weekend exhausting?

My was fabulous, fun, busy, and filled with family….and it was exhausting.

It all started Saturday morning when I packed up the kids and brought them down to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for the Beatles cover band, Brit Beat. They were amazing, and the kids humored me by sitting through their “Ed Sullivan Era” set. MaM needed earplugs. Jr danced. Then they wanted to see the rest of the museum.

Typically we go for 2-3 hours at the most, and we hang out in just a few exhibit rooms. Saturday, however, the kids were on the move. We saw probably 75% of the museum, and they spent 5 hours in constant motion, with only a 20 minute break for lunch.

They played with Barbie, dug for dinosaurs, played at the train table, flew to Egypt, road the carousel, and checked out the newest exhibit, Rock Stars, Cars and Guitars.

For the down-low on Rock Stars, Cars and Guitars, check out my review at Savvy Source. If you’ve got a budding rocker, you won’t want to miss it!

Five hours later I was able to convince them it was time to go home. Jr was asleep before we pulled out of the parking garage. He slept for the 20 minute ride home, and then was recharged for the afternoon. Funny how 35 yrs makes a difference.

When we got home? I waved briefly to BgK, and then went upstairs and took a two hour nap!

And that was just Saturday……

MaM was thrilled there was a red-headed Barbie!

Party Crashers

Michelle — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:57:16 +0000

Last night we went to the local playground to enjoy the absolutely perfect weather. My social little MaM walked right up to a group of kids playing & said hello, and was off and running. In a few minutes, Mam and one of her new friends realized that they knew each other from the week Mam had spent at the daycare at the very beginning of summer.

Turns out, that big group of kids were cousins. And they were all there for a birthday party. The grown ups were at a few picnic tables across the lawn. Before I knew what was happening, we were invited over for pinata hitting and birthday cake.

It was crazy, but very fun. And I mean, really, who in their right mind ever passes up birthday cake?

I only wish that BgK had been there–a) to confirm that it was happening, and b) to take more pictures in that special way that he does.

A man named Peanut helped the kids with the pinata.

The uncle who asked me if was OK that MaM walk over to their table talked to me about his girlfriend’s breastfeeding 3mo old.

MaM told me that when we were singing happy birthday she didn’t say the birthday girl’s name because she wasn’t sure what it was.

Jr was tickled to run around and play soccer with three other toddlers.

The bag of candy from the pinata was a total bonus:

Savvy Source City Guide: Indianapolis

Michelle — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 05:17:22 +0000

So this month of June, which has just flown by, has been a busy one here at Kahuna Manor. Besides transitioning from going to work to being on summer break, having Jr turn two, AND having MaM lose a tooth, I’ve been busy on the internet.

I SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED a NaPoBloMo, which is kind of amazing. And really, it wasn’t a big deal or very tedious, except for this past weekend when I posted really lame posts from my iPhone really late at night. Other than that? It was fun.

But here’s the new: I have a new internet gig over at SavvySource.com. I am the new city editor for Indianapolis, and I’ve worked my fingers to the bone building content for the Indianapolis page to launch. In about two weeks, I’ve built all of the content currently on the page. I now know when and where storytimes, free movies and special events are happening around the city. It is very cool and very fun and I’m looking forward to featuring ALL of what Central Indiana has to offer!!

So….go check it out if you’re so inclined. And let me know if there’s something around Indy you love that I’ve omitted, or if there’s a special event coming up that I can add. I’ll be adding events weekly!

I’m Big, and Tall and I (Had) a Wiggly Tooth

Michelle — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:55:53 +0000

Yesterday morning I asked MaM if she needed help getting something off of a shelf.

“No, I’ve got it.”

“Wow, MaM. When did you get so tall?”

“I’m Big, and Tall and I Have a Wiggly Tooth!” she retorted, as she poured milk into her cereal.

Less than 10 hours later……..

She lost that wiggly tooth.

We were “everybody all together” (as she used to call it), driving to the gym. She was blowing bubbles into my water bottle through the attached straw. All of a sudden, she shrieked. Then Jr shrieked.

“My tooth! My tooth! My tooth is out!”

She may as well have won the lottery. Randomly, there was an empty plastic egg in the van, so that has become the safe-keeping place. She showed her new space off to anyone who would look at the gym, called Grandma and Jane when we got home and was ready for the tooth fairy last night.

Except that she didn’t want the tooth fairy to take the tooth.

She’d like to keep it, and any more teeth she may lose, in her pink plastic egg. Forever and ever.

This tooth fairy is OK with that.