I want to talk about me, want to talk about I

I've been tagged by my friend Lisa to list 10 Intersting things about Me. I am actually curious to see how this turns out. Part of me thinks I am so boring I won't be able to find 10 things and the proud, toot my own horn, part of me thinks maybe I am fabulous and just don't know it yet.

1. I once had my head run over by a bike during the West Bountiful Fourth of July Parade. I'm still not sure how it happened, I got down to get some candy and the next thing I know a Huffy is parked on my head. I was fine, just very shocked and scared.

2. Both of my thumbs are double jointed.

3. I am addicted to Junior Mints. I love chocolate and mint and this little treat is the best combination ever. I've thought about looking into rehab programs to see if they have on specifically for Junior Mints but I'm afraid I will never be able to stop eating them.

4. When I was a kid I got called from the audience to be in a show at Sea World. That is the last time I have ever been brave enough to be in front of an audience. I was 6.

5. I once had a poem published in a national book but then the company ended up going bankrupt and instead of mailing me a copy of the book with my work in it I got a notice saying I could be part of a class action suit against the company.

6. I do medical transcription from home because one of my talents is very fast typing. I have been called Fingers of Fire and Flying Fingers Kari by various coworkers. Fortunately I have a much cooler nickname, Gidget Miguel, AND super powers bestowed by the great state of Idaho.

7. I have been friends with my group of friends for more than 22 years and we still meet monthly and have had only fight I can ever remember. I think it was in junior high.

8. I gave birth by emergency C-section to a gorgeous 4 lb 1 oz baby almost exactly 19 months ago and now he is a handsome, inquisitive, very bright toddler who gives meaning to my life each and every day.

9. I dated my husband for one month before getting engaged. We were then engaged for two months before getting married and got pregnant on our honeymmon and had our baby one month early which makes it fun to watch people try to do the math in their heads when I tell them our anniversary date and Jackson's b-day.

10. I am horrible at telling time. I wore a digital watch until I was 13 and would still wear one if they made fashionable ones for girls with tiny wrists.

I tag Emily who I know like me will think she is boring but I will start her out with the Phrase "French fries, french fries, french fries!" and hopefully she remembers where that came from. If not see Lisa's post.

The Facilitator

You know how in The Wedding Planner Jennifer Lopez is running around behind the scenes, feeding the best man his lines for the toast, repairing lost buttons, sobering up the father of the bride while the wedding party thinks everything is just going along smoothly all by itself? I have to come realize that moms are the Family Life Planners. When I was a kid I thought dinner was just there on the table and then the kitchen was clean again later. Somehow clothes I had dirtied were magically back in my drawers. I especially realize this on Sundays. I have to get ready, dressed, teeth brushed two hours before church because if I wait I will inevitably have to run out the door with hair not done, teeth unbrushed because of all the things that need to get done. Baby has to have his morning bottle, diaper change, outfit chosen for church, possible solid food for breakfast, which means possible outfit change, diaper bag packed for church, extra bottle made to take to church. Husband needs clothes, socks, scriptures found. Tithing also needs to be figured out every two weeks, and due to the odd assortment of jobs we currently hold that requires two different computer programs and a calculator to figure out.

Yesterday we went swimming which sounded fun until I realized all the packing, etc I would have to do to get everything for me, Jesse and Jackson so we could swim for an hour (Jackson ended up LOVING the water after initally HATING it). And of course once we got home, soggy wet towels and swimsuits were pulled out to be added to the wash for the week!

Don't get me wrong, I love being a wife and mother and sadly actually thrive on doing three things simultaneously. I would just like to recognize moms for yet another hidden talent. And I'd like to know who is going to play me in the movie version of "The Family Life Planner" because since J Lo just became a mom herself I think we will have to look elsewhere...

Hats!

As I've said before Jackson LOVES hats. The above pic makes me laugh so hard every time I see it. Jesse put a Swimmie on Jackson's head and he loved it so much he kept insisting we put it back on if it fell off. Then Jesse put one on his own head and I couldn't stop laughing.

Another of my latest favorite is his idea of a hat that involves a large plastic container. I've added video of him wearing it. I didn't capture it but he his favorite thing to do while has that is to smoosh his face to the side and do fishy faces or have mommy do it from the outside. Enjoy!

Little goodbyes

We are trying to teach Jackson to say "I love you." We have not yet been succesful but he has come up with something funny on his own. When Jesse and I say goodbye on the phone or in person we always say "Love you, bye" So when I asked Jackson "Can you say I Love you?" He blew me a kiss and said Bye bye! Not what I was going for but very, very cute.

He is very cute when he blows kisses goodbye. The other day I went to the store and left Jackson with Jesse. I said goodbye to Jackson and he looked at me and blew me kisses and then walked over to the door where I was standing and shut it in my face. Maybe that won't be so funny when he's a teenager and means it but boy did I laugh hard when he did it this time.

Fully equipped

There are certain things I just think every mom should automatically get when she has a child.

The first is an extra set of arms for every child. I have no clue how moms of multiples every get anything done. Next I think she should get an automatic camera in her eye so as soon as she sees an adorable photo op she can take it. Every time I see Jackson doing something and run for the camera he stops doing it. I have tried many, many times get video of him dancing but as I soon as I start he sits down and just looks at me.

I also think you get a removable bladder with a a few spare sets. Then you could simply remove the full one, put in a fresh one and wait a few minutes, hours or until your youngest moves out and you get a spare moment to empty the first one. I've heard a lot of teachers get urinary tract infections because they have no time to go potty. Well, I think Moms have them beat. Even if you do dash into the potty you have to go to the accompanying symphony of little hands beating at the door and a chorus of "mama, mama, mama! which doesn't exactly make for a relaxing break.

You should also be able to turn your hearing down or completely off to make for easier sleep training or just to keep from going deaf as your little discovers how "fun" it is to screech to get your attention or just for the hey of it.

Bye bye doggy

Our little family will soon not include one member. We are giving Toby the dog back to his previous owners. I tried my best to be a dog person, but I am just not. He will go back in about two weeks when his "parents" move here from Colorado. I have to say I think it will be better for everyone concerned though it has provided much entertainment for Jackson and because of Jackson. Jackson has heard us snap our fingers to get Toby's attention and because he can't do that he has adapted and instead clicks his little tongue and points urgently at the dog to get him to come. He has also heard me tell Toby numerous times to be Quiet! so now he when he first sees Toby in the morning he will point at him and sternly say "Kiet!"It is very funny.

Poor Toby has put up with a lot from his little friend. Jackson tries to get all sorts of things to stay on the dog; belts, hats, earphones. His latest favorite game is to pull the dog's leg as he tries to curl into a protective ball. I tried to get him to stop the other day and then looked away for a minute. When I looked back he was pulling on, well, um a part every male of any species is very protective of. To Toby's credit he just looked at me for help and didn't hurt Jackson at all. I quickly pulled Jackson away, apologized to Toby and scrubed Jackson's hands. Yeah, I don't think Toby will shed any tears over leaving our family.

Cheese head

Or I guess it would be cheese face, maybe Captain CheeseBeard, arrgh! Lately Jackson's face when I take his picture looks like he is trying to say "Mom! Stop with the pictures already!" I love taking pictures of Jackson getting messy with food. Someone told me recently that some moms might be frustrated with the mess he makes when he eats but because I watched him struggle to eat for so long every time I clean spaghetti off the walls or find more rice down his shirt I relish every moment and say a quick thank you prayer to everyone involved in getting this little boy so completely messy at mealtimes.