Flashback Friday: Thanksgiving

2005 - Dating and childless at the Grand Canyon


2006 - Married and newly pregnant. Too grouchy, tired, and hungry for photos.

2007 - Back in Arizona with a 5 month old Playette


2008 - Cruising along



2009 - Our little girly pirate who is now too fast and busy to be able to catch in focus a lot of the time. Check out that outfit though. Too cute! Thanks, M & K!



And then there was my attempt to get into the holiday spirit by dressing up like a present at the end of the night.

Flashback Friday: Fall Family Fotos

2008


2009

Thanks again to Sara Atkins for all of our beautiful pictures! We will treasure them forever.

Flashback Friday: Nap Time

December 2, 2007

July 12, 2009

Flashback Friday: I think my belly's bigger than that now.

I thought of this picture yesterday while I was "running."

What reminded me of it was the fact that, as I was huffing and puffing and sweating, much of that attributed to how much weight I was trying to move, I realized that I'm just about the same weight now as when I was when I was about to give birth to Playette.

That is so unfair.




These were taken when I got home one night from a Tae Bo class at the gym. I had had a good night and wanted to memorialize it. I was right around 28 weeks and so excited that I finally had a cute little belly. I got sick not long after this and had to stop working out, but - man - I used to love that class and the friends I had in it. I really do miss it. Did I ever mention here that I used to teach those classes a lifetime ago?

*sigh*

Anyway. We used to call Playette "Teep" in those days. "Teep" started out as "Tadpole" and then evolved right along with her.

I'm surprised the child knows her real name with all these nicknames.

We're heading out to the movies tonight, something we haven't been able to do in a while since we've bee Ms. J-less. I really, really hope the movie is funny because I want to laugh sooo bad.

Playette will be at daycare tonight for Parents' Night Out, but she's got a fun-filled weekend planned. I'll tell you more about that later.

We're meeting a new respite worker on Monday and I really hope that works out. The new IFSP meeting was just scheduled for the end of the month and I'd hate for the Service Blockers to try to take that away since we haven't been using it.

By the way, so many people are now coming to this IFSP meeting of ours that we've had to move it to a non-traditional location.

The Actual Flashback

Ok, so this sounded like an easy project at first. I would ease my way back into blogging by posting a few photos of Playette.

Simple, right?

Except:

1. The scanner at home was broken (translation: I didn't know why it wasn't working.)

2. The color scanner at work was unplugged and stashed in a corner. I still don't know what that was about.

3. As I mentioned before, my husband wasn't trying to let me get on the computer at 10pm to blog last night after he "fixed" the scanner.

4. And then after I begged him and he finally scanned in this year's photos, I realized that, well, I didn't exactly have one from last year in my possession. I know I used to have one.

So, being the resourceful lady that I am, I went into my sleeping child's shrine room and took what I needed off of the wall.

I don't know how she feels about having her photos all over her bedroom walls, but that's where they are. I guess I never gave it a lot of thought before now. It seemed cute when I did it.

Hm.

Ok, I'm going to stop myself right now because I really don't need to get ideas about redecorating because I know myself and that would only turn into a bigger mess and no one would win. Seriously. No one.

Anyway.

I took the big ole 10x13, framed, three pose, "New Mom Sucka Special" off the wall.

I took it to the scanner attempted to ignore my husband while he blah blah blahed about how it was too big to fit on the scanner and I needed to give it up already and got about 43% of the picture loaded so that I can share it with you all.

I am so proud of myself I can't even tell you.

And I think my child just now signed "read" and "together" for the first time.

Awesomeness.

Playette, Spring 2008

'member me?

Hi.

I'm back.

I've been on the west coast since Tuesday night, but I think I'm still recovering from the trip. I'm overwhelmingly tired.

And then there's work. Today's my last day at this job and Monday is my first day at the next.

My grandmother remains in a state of decline, but my aunt informed me today that when she told her last night that it was ok to let go, my grandmother's reply was, "Uh uh." In a sad situation, that kinda made me smile though I wish I knew what to do. I'm kinda at a loss. Is there something we're not doing for her that she needs? Perhaps she's waiting on my (deceased) mother to "come and get" her?

My mother's always late.

I wanted to do a Flashback Friday today, but my dear, sweet BD wouldn't let me have my way with the computer last night. He was acting as if I would stay on the computer all night instead of coming to bed. I mean, seriously. Who does that?

Me.

So instead, I will break it up into two posts so that I can finish doing what I need to do when I get home this evening.

First, we have Playette's 2009 daycare pics:
The one that cracked me up and reminded me of a pageant pose.

My favorite. Tongue, drool, and all.

I can't get over how grown up she looks! Just wait 'til you see the comparison...

Flashback Friday: "Who's that?"

That title right there is a quote. BD said it when he saw this photo:

That's me!

He didn't realize how much Playette favors me. I don't think anyone really does because I don't look like I did when I was a baby. Actually, I never look the same. People usually recognize me by the company I keep and not by my face.

I think that's my Christening gown peeking through, so my deduction is that I was about three months old or so. I still have that gown, by the way. I meant to at least put Playette in it to take photos, but I never did so before she outgrew it.

I tried to find a photo that shows just how much we look alike as babies so that you can compare. Here are a couple of options I ran across that show Playette at about the same age:
This is a good one, but it's a side view.


Different day, from the front.
I think this is so cool. Genetics are just amazing.

For all that think everyone with Ds "looks alike"? Take heed. It's not true. People with Ds have an extra chromosome, but their genetic material comes from their parents. Playette looks like her family. She is an individual, uniquely and wonderfully made.[/soapbox]

Cancel your calls to Maury. I am the mama.

Because Friday is a long way from Monday...and Who are THEY anyway?

I feel like Flashbacking now, daggone it, so Flashback I shall.

December 23, 2007



December 7, 2008


Uh, I guess we have a thing for grey and green? That is too funny. At least Playette can keep folks guessing what she's going to wear next year.

What a weekend. BD went to a Bachelor Party on Friday night and I stayed in. Playette and I had a pretty quiet evening and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. That was all part of the plan. It felt like such a luxury to do so. The last time I fell asleep in the living room, I realized how much better my back felt afterward and I couldn't wait to do it again. I slept so good that I didn't even hear BD stumble in come home.

I was up nice and early on Saturday for the Yard Sale. It was a pretty day and I was glad to make it home with less stuff and a few dollars in my pocket to boot. I shared my space with someone who had LOADS of stuff. She made out like a bandit.

That night, I went to a Ladies Night In of sorts and it was nice to meet some new people for the most part. There were tons of snacks and I felt like everyone else got the memo to eat dinner before they came but me. Shoot, I took "heavy hors d'oerves" to mean just that. Dang, I need some self-control.

Anyway, I was pretty bummed before leaving the house. I just couldn't seem to shake it. BD asked me what was wrong and I told him that I knew that I'd be in a room full of women and I knew we may have some fundamental things in common, but that I didn't feel like I'd really be able to fit in. I knew I'd be different.

I've mentioned this before here and it's really hard to put into words how it feels, but ever since I heard the Ds termination statistic, I've wondered. Every time I'm in a group of women, I wonder how many of them made sure their life didn't end up like mine. 90% is a huge number. Chances are, unless I'm at a gathering targeted to families of children with Ds or any other differing ability, I'm going to be in the minority. I thought I knew what it was like to be a minority before, but nothing has ever been like this. Even when I was the only Black female in my college...for years. It was nothing like this.

So, BD tries to encourage me and I try to shake off the feeling and I leave. And then what happens? As soon as I get there, the conversation turns to children and childbirth (my friend I rode over with is due to have a baby very soon). Before I can even put a glass to my lips, I hear, "I had to stop before I ended up with a baby with Down syndrome."

My heart stopped. I felt like I had been stabbed. I can't explain it. Either you know that feeling or you don't. It's the one that lets you know that you're different. You're not like the other moms. Your life, no matter how good things are going, is not carefree. You live the life that they don't want.

I hate when I leave a situation like that wishing I had said something. It always happens. And then I beat myself up for not speaking up. So I did. I said something. Not profound, but something. In a small voice I said, "It's not that bad."

Writing it out, it brings tears to my eyes. It's not bad. It's good. But that's not what I said. And again, if you don't get it, you don't get it. I'm not unhappy, but I can never truly convince them of that so how do I even try? When I do feel sad, it's primarily because of them, not Playette. If they didn't exist, I might know what it was like to be carefree too.

Back to "It's not that bad." Which, by the way, is not on my list of Snappiest Comebacks Ever.

When I said it, the lady looked up. She looked at me. Then turned away. She mumbled something, but I knew she didn't think that I meant that I knew firsthand of what I spoke. If she had, in her loud and boisterous way, she would have shifted the conversation. But I knew that when the room didn't get quiet, when the only sound was not of the jazz station playing on the TV in the background, but instead was that of 8-10 voices all vying to be heard, I knew the moment had passed.

The only person there who knew my story was the person I came with. She missed the entire exchange since she had stepped out of the room for a moment. I wanted to leave at that point, but I knew that wasn't what I needed to do. Not this time.

So we stayed. We all talked. And boisterous lady and I actually do have something in common. We've lived in the very same house. We talked about how the heat still doesn't work downstairs and how the tub still creaks. I left not thinking that she was someone I needed to avoid in the future, but I wonder if she wondered after that. I wonder if she thinks about that brief exchange of words like I have over the last couple of days.

After all that deep thought, I went and had pumpkin french toast on Sunday morning. You know I love me some pumpkin. That made me feel better.

And then we went and took photos. Sooo much fun. I'm about 60 pounds too heavy and 6 inches too short to ever reach my supermodel dreams, but yesterday you couldn't tell me nothing. I was working it like I had just won 50 extra frames on America's Next Top Model.


This photo is classic "us."


Y'know, I don't know if they will ever really get it.






On the days when it feels like it matters so much more than it should, I guess I just have to remember that we do.

Flashback Friday: Annual Day of the Ninja

Thank you, MSN Random Photo of the Day. Without you, I may have missed out on knowing that today is the Annual Day of the Ninja. I wanted to be a ninja once. As a matter of fact, sometimes I still act like I am one.

November 10, 2005
I vividly remember this night. BD and I were dating. It was a Thursday night, but the next day was a holiday. He had plans, I did not.

So I decided to surf the 'net. You know how I do.

I found a web site. And then the following happened, which I documented on Kodak Gallery. I have repeated it all here in its entirety, changing nothing, and obviously have no shame:

Watch what happens when "someone" has too much time on their hands and unlimited access to the internet... (http://www.rit.edu/~djl5698/ninja1.htm)

Aha! I did it. I am a NINJA!

The ninja sizes up the competition....

The ninja is angry and ready to strike. Beware of Angry Ninja!


Are you still here? I didn't scare you off, did I?

Why BD continued to date me after I sent him that photo album, I'll likely never know for sure.

The original web site that I used to make my ninja mask is no more, but I did find it saved elsewhere. Obviously, I'm not the only one who found that info essential to retain.

Now, go hug a ninja...if you can find one.

Fashion Flashback Friday

Who knew I was so fashion forward when I was rocking those heinous black glasses?

Jay-Z cira 2008


Crittle circa 1990


If party shirts come back in style, it's on!

Flashback Friday Thursday: Friendly Skies

Not for me, for Playette. 'Cause you know I better be done flying for a while, right? (At least not until we head to Mexico anyway. Wheeeee!)

Here's my calm, adorable travel companion while were were flying from Baltimore from Phoenix during part one of our big move west. She was so easy to fly with. It was just the two of us and I remember thinking, "Heh. This aint so bad."
November 19, 2007


And then there's my just as adorable, nowhere near as calm companion almost a year later. Yes, BD was there this time, but lemme tell you...even so, it was a lot harder. An hour and fifty minutes of entertaining a 1-year-old in a very small space is a very long time.

October 27, 2008







But this here? Dang it. She melted me with the whole "looking out the window thing and checking out the world" thing. She was in awe and then so was I.

Flashback Friday: Costumes

Yeah, Playette hates them, but I can't resist. I'm not big into Halloween so thus far the costumes have come from a community yard sale and a friend. Maybe one day I'll be bitten by the celebration bug. Who knows.

I would have waited until next week to post this, but I have something else in mind already for that day.

October 31, 2007




October 18, 2008
Our neighbors had a party. "Ghosts on the Coast" they called it. Cute, huh?






Killer view from the party.


Playette checking out the view.


Peapod checking out the view.


Oh! Because it made me laugh, here's a joke:

A man is walking home alone late one foggy Halloween night, when behind him he hears:

BUMP...


BUMP...


BUMP...



Walking faster, he looks back and through the fog he makes out the image of an upright casket banging its way down the middle of the street toward him.


BUMP...


BUMP...



BUMP...



Terrified, the man begins to run toward his home, the casket bouncing quickly behind him.



FASTER...


FASTER...



BUMP...



BUMP...



BUMP....


He runs up to his door, fumbles with his keys, opens the door, rushes in, slams and locks the door behind him. However, the casket crashes through his door, with the lid of the casket clapping.


clappity-BUMP ...


clappity-BUMP...


clappity-BUMP...


on his heels, as the terrified man runs.


Rushing upstairs to the bathroom, he locks himself in. His heart is pounding; his head is reeling; his breath is coming in sobbing gasps.


With a loud CRASH the casket breaks down the door.




Bumping and clapping toward him.




The man screams and reaches for something, anything, but all he can find is a bottle of cough syrup! Desperate, he throws the cough syrup at the casket...


and,





(hopefully you're ready for this)









The coffin stops.





HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Flashback Friday: October 29, 2007

Four months old and fascinated with blowing raspberries. Let the spit-off begin!

Sound is a necessity with this one. Check out the cute little "hi" Playette gives in the beginning.



There was a really funny follow-up to this video, but it should be no surprise that all video uploading software hates me.

Here's another "Before & After" instead:

August 17, 2007
A moment of over-coordination.


August 17, 2008
Playing in the hotel tub during our weekend getaway to San Francisco. Let's just call this an interesting hair moment.

Flashback Friday: An Assortment

I've been reading about babies rolling over for the first time and it reminded me of what a great time that was for me. Playette first rolled over at about 4 weeks and as a new mom I didn't know that was early at first. I remember checking online and reading books that didn't support that feat at all. I was so confused and thought I must have been losing it. I could tell people thought I was exaggerating. BD finally saw it too and then we caught it on video. It was her first real milestone-y type thing and we were so proud.

So, here she is. August 1, 2007.

Experiencing technical difficulties (of course we are - this is me, after all). Please check back later for the video.

Update: Trust me, it's cute. And there's rolling. The video and I? So not on speaking terms anymore. Come over my house and I'll show you the video. That's the best I can do.

And I just couldn't resist adding in a "Before & After" segment.

Before: "Look What We Did"



After: "Look What We Really Did!"

Flashback Friday: July 17, 2007

Daddy's Little Girl

Malea was just under a month old here...and she already had her Daddy wrapped around her tiny little finger. Take a look here at them spending some quality time together.