Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Baby talk
Ok ok ok...I think I have baby fever. I do not know how this began, but I have experienced it for some time now, yet it was not so long ago when my attitude was different. After graduating high school in 2005 and visiting my Grandmother, She told me about some distant relative who had just given birth and showed me pictures. I listened politely, but inside thought, "This is the most boring piece of news ever. I don't care about people having kids." In high school, I sometimes did not even like being around babies. Once when I was in 10th grade, at youth group, I made it known that holding them was out of my comfort zone and interest level, and a girl exclaimed, "you don't like babies?!" In 9th grade, my friend Emily and I volunteered in the babies class at our church's VBS. When it came time to change a diaper, we went it together and screamed simultaneously when we opened the thing to find it was poopy. The thing is, as a young child-6,7,8,9-my mother worked at a daycare. She would cart me along with her to work. There were lots of infants and toddlers there, and many of the regulars became my favorites. I would ask to hold them, and I would sit Indian style on the floor while my mom put them in my lap. Also, when I was in Kindergarten, my Grandfather's second wife gave birth to Maria and then, later to Jeff, two little nuggets whom I adored and constantly camped near. And up until 4th grade, I would "adopt" little girls a few grades below me. It is obvious, to me now, that I was totally jonesing for a little sister or brother back then. Yes, I think besides Christmas, my many childhood years were spent obsessing over this one fantasy. By the time I got past ten and realized I would be the only little sister in the family, I just stopped caring...for eight more years. The only time I remember liking a baby in my teen years was when my mother's best friend adopted a 9-month-old named Cammelia Rose. She had the eyes of God, bright blue and forever staring in concentration. She was beautiful, and I would hold her gently, have staring contests, doing my best to make her giggle, taking in the details of God's tiniest creation. Now, my mother bought me many dolls as a little one. That was certainly sweet of her, and I liked them, but I remember tiring of them easily. She would give me expensive ones and I would name them and change their clothes and put them "in bed", but the play never extended to much more than that. I feel quite sure I played with them as a means to please her. They sat on shelves much of the time, so I think if I buy babydolls for a girl one day, they are going to be value priced. Mom no doubt gave me dolls because she loved me. She certainly wanted me to be a girl's girl, but I had much more fun doing cartwheels and "gymnastics" with my brother, Ben, in the living room. Now, Barbies are a different story. I really preferred these the most because she looks more like a teen and I felt grown up. I am in no way endorsing the Barbie brand, but now when Cammelia and her little sisters visit, my mother pulls out the old trunk of Barbie junk and they beg me to play. I find it therapeutic to dress her up like old times. Have I digressed? Good. What I am saying is my level of interest has changed over time. Rewind to the start of college in 2005, I suddenly wanted a baby, a whole baby, and nothing but a baby, so help me God. I was married four years later. Rob and I know we want kids in the future. I feel over the moon in love with babies for now. The purpose of this post is to share my 10 favorite little girl names. Because it is healthy to plan and dream, right? Ready? OK!
1. Emi, as a nickname for Emilia. Similar but better than Amelia, as in Earheardt. Who wants to name their kid after someone famous? Not me. Similar to Emily, my friend mentioned above. Feminine. I rather like E names.
2. Ruby. Retro cool, gem name, girly, funny. Not just for gingers, I anticipate my nuggets being blonde.
3. Tenny, perhaps as a nickname for Tennyson. I don't know why I like this, but it's different.
4. Frankie, nickname for Francesca. Come on, this is adorable, funky, vintage, precious. I rather like the sound of Frank Sinatra's voice. Plus, Rob has an Aunt Frances: recycle those family appellations, folks.
5. Josie, as in Josephine. I always loved Jo from Little Women. Easy to say, and J is the next best letter after E.
6. Nori. I also always loved Norah Jones, when I was 17, her music made me want to write in my journal. This is a softer version, isn't it?
7. Nellie. Yes yes, the mean girl from Little House on the Prairie. It's endearing, but old timey.
8. Cece, real name Cecelia. I always wished this was my name as a little girl. I was highly influenced by the movie Beaches. If you have not seen this movie, well friend, please do.
9. Maggie, maybe by itself or as a short form of Margot. My Grandmother informed me that this is what old ladies are called. I love it, though.
10. Callie, beautiful and always in style. Easy to say and spell, and it is a name a little girl would love having.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Movie Lines I Love
1. "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful."-Bill Murray, What About Bob?
3. "I need a baby, Hi. They got more than they can handle...Don't you come back here without a baby!"-Holly Hunt, Raising Arizona
 |
5. "Onions have layers. Ogres have layers."-Mike Myers, Shrek
6. "You're killing me, Smalls."-Patrick Renna, The Sandlot
7. "Your cone is changing, and you feel unsure."-Jane Curtin, Coneheads
8. "Will you light my candle?"- Rosario Dawson, Rent
9. "That's what I do. I invented post-its."-Mira Sorvino, Romy and Michelle's High school Reunion
10. "Basically, a snake don't have parts. But if I had to call it anything, I would say it's his knee."-Kathy Bates, The Waterboy
12. "What is this? A center for ants? How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read... if they can't even fit inside the building?" -Ben Stiller, Zoolander
13. "All my life, I had a lump at the back of my neck, right here. Always, a lump. Then I started menopause and the lump got bigger from the "hormonees." It started to grow. So I go to the doctor, and he did the bio... the b... the... the bios... the... b... the "bobopsy." Inside the lump he found teeth and a spinal cord. Yes. Inside the lump was my twin."-Andrea Martin, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
14. "So long, and thanks for all the fish."-dolphin, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Randomness
"ness" is my favorite suffix, as in "gorgeousness" or "swiftness" or "politeness." This is something no one needs to know, but it is my blog. My eyelashes are ticklish. I tickle them with my index finger. The sensation puts my nose in sneeze mode. The sneeze does not show. Sneezes are one thing humans are so good at predicting. When the sneeze feeling shows up on the dial without the actual function, we get weirded out. And yes, The name Esme does sound like a sneeze. I am not good at picking tv shows. Rob watches all different kinds. I like Criminal Minds. This morning I watched an old re-run of The Crocodile Hunter, which is grippy and fascinating. And I meant to write "trippy" just then, but both adjectives apply. Who doesn't want to see an Aussie get spat on by a cobra and then surf? Speaking of t.v., last night I fell asleep while Rob watched Family Guy (one show that should be murdered.)I never sleep without taking my meds, and then only at night. I can not take naps during the day. I can wake up early morning to use the loo and fall back into it, and that is all. Last night, though, I took a pre-bedtime nap without the medicine. I think that is pretty awesome. I mean, it has been full years since this has happened. Summer is everything one wants in a lover- warm, sunny, light, bright, fun, care free. I feel good about this summer. And everyone becomes so aware during these months. Everyone travels during summertime, but we know fall is coming, and this is just a season. We get louder in summer, more talkative, animated, sure of everything. The time for harvest and cubicles and coldness (everything one does not want in a lover) will come, but summer is for letting roots grow. I think we become more aware as a way to say: hey, everyday is important-and mundane and amazing-not just these summer days that we Americans like to make quite a deal of. It will pass once again, as always, and God is not effected by perennial Seasons like us. We are trying to root down Now in the growing months because we know the rooting up time is coming. We are trying to stay the same during a time of change? We are trying to find ourselves? I am confused and not getting at what I mean to get at. My birthday is on Friday, and in my humble opinion, it ought to go ahead and get here. Oh, so I have noticed lately that toddlers and elderly people LOVE me. It is because I am at a good weight. I am not even kidding, this is the reason. These two life stages notice things that make you look good, and they want to be around you because you are attractive. The same would be true if I had huge breasts, or any breasts! At work, toddlers stare and start random conversations with me. Old men tell me I am pretty. Can I say that I do not "just love old people." This is not because of the old men paying me undue attention. It is because I am young. I worked with some waitresses who liked taking tables with elderly patrons. My mother, for years, cleaned the houses of old people and would strike up conversations with random old men on park benches. I think it's a bit dumb and not genuine. This is not to say I dislike them. I respect them as individuals who have things they need to do, and I have had a few gems of old ladies in my life. I just think it is weird to make them your hobby. Now, I don't feel the same way about kids. I say if you LOVE kids (and are not mean to them), then do something with them. I rather like kids, but if you would rather not be around them, I totally respect that, too. Moving on to more randomosity, I like all my candles, yet they are all Christmas scents. I need to buy a few summery candles. Like cilantro mint or daisy breeze or cantaloupe whispers. Again, I will be twenty-five on Friday and all I can think about is the good Mexican food I will eat at Nuevo Laredo, and then the dessert after at Cafe Intermezzo. Mexican food is my favorite cuisine, followed by Japanese. Rob likes American and Italian. I would pick Mexican food over anything else, and then, good sushi. Rob likes his hamburger with fries, and a bowl of spaghetti with meatballs. My toes are on the desk, painted purple with sparkly non-sense on them. I like being tacky sometimes. I must go, baby blog, I love you!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Valentine for my Daddy
Today I sent my dad a thank you e-mail. And I thought it was worth writing about. I told him he is partially to thank for me marrying Robert. Here's why: I was the new kid in school during the fourth grade when my dad moved us here from Texas. By fifth grade, I had been to four elementary schools. When we moved here, I knew no one at all. There is one thing that people always noticed about me at any school: my hair. I had long hair, to my waist. My Dad, during my childhood, did not allow me to cut it. Ok, so at the time, I hated it a lot. It was hot, and my mother had trouble doing things with it, and I wanted a break from it. (but that is another post). I look back and am grateful to him for his rule for two reasons: he was the boss, and it made Robert notice me. If I had short hair, then I would have faded into the crowd of other little girls. Rob started eyeing me in the fifth grade, in the hall way. Somehow we became friends. In middle school, he made it clear to me that he liked my hair a lot. When I was fourteen, and a rising high school freshman, my dad let me cut it. (fourteen inches came off). But by then, Rob was already convinced that I was the coolest girl in the world.
So, thanks dad, for all that long hair. It must have, in some small way, landed me the right husband!
So, thanks dad, for all that long hair. It must have, in some small way, landed me the right husband!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
New Year's Eve
"You know, they say, how you spend your New Year's Eve is how you'll spend the whole year," a girl at work said. I spent the day: at the park, working, reading, and having fun with my family and family friends.
She must be right, I must say.
Raise your hand if you have family friends that are so similar to family that you might as well call them that. My hand is raised. Evie and Mickey, my "Aunt" and "Uncle" and their four adopted kids, my "nieces" and "nephew" visited for New Year's Eve. They are so special and fun to me and I am so glad they visit my parent's house often.
The kids brought along their Christmas loot, which included some skate board scooter things. We tested them out at the park. And I fell while trying one out.
Later, at night, my dad built a bonfire out on the small piece of land he owns. (My parents call it just "the land.") We roasted s'mores, everyone talked about their new ideas for themselves for the coming year, and we even sang. Like, all of us. Together. As a group. It's weird for sure. But I think weird is the way we play it in Bornert land. My favorite part is that the neighbors who live behind "the land" put on a fireworks show every year. Like huge fireworks, or huge for a neighborhood. We could see the fireworks clearly and up close. One they threw up was even a smiley face.
And the next day, on January 1, we ate cornbread, and greens, and black eyed peas. Rob LOVES greens. He was raised on them. Me, not so much. But guess what? They are growing on me. I watched Mickey as he prepared them, and there's actually not much to it. Later, Evie, the Queen of Massage gave us all the most heavenly back rubs. Like she worked out the biggest, egg sized knot in my shoulder. I hold all my body's stress in my top shoulder muscles. And that is where the trouble was and she worked it out like a magician.
So, smiley faced fireworks, greens, falling on my butt, and egg sized stress knots are what I will take away from this New Year's.
Huzzah!
She must be right, I must say.
Raise your hand if you have family friends that are so similar to family that you might as well call them that. My hand is raised. Evie and Mickey, my "Aunt" and "Uncle" and their four adopted kids, my "nieces" and "nephew" visited for New Year's Eve. They are so special and fun to me and I am so glad they visit my parent's house often.
The kids brought along their Christmas loot, which included some skate board scooter things. We tested them out at the park. And I fell while trying one out.
Later, at night, my dad built a bonfire out on the small piece of land he owns. (My parents call it just "the land.") We roasted s'mores, everyone talked about their new ideas for themselves for the coming year, and we even sang. Like, all of us. Together. As a group. It's weird for sure. But I think weird is the way we play it in Bornert land. My favorite part is that the neighbors who live behind "the land" put on a fireworks show every year. Like huge fireworks, or huge for a neighborhood. We could see the fireworks clearly and up close. One they threw up was even a smiley face.
And the next day, on January 1, we ate cornbread, and greens, and black eyed peas. Rob LOVES greens. He was raised on them. Me, not so much. But guess what? They are growing on me. I watched Mickey as he prepared them, and there's actually not much to it. Later, Evie, the Queen of Massage gave us all the most heavenly back rubs. Like she worked out the biggest, egg sized knot in my shoulder. I hold all my body's stress in my top shoulder muscles. And that is where the trouble was and she worked it out like a magician.
So, smiley faced fireworks, greens, falling on my butt, and egg sized stress knots are what I will take away from this New Year's.
Huzzah!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
So I won't forget
I never remember what presents I've been given for Christmas from one year to the next. At least not all of them. So, I wanted to make a log of some gifts I received this year.
Let me begin by explaining how Rob and I spent our Christmas. We woke up and exchanged gifts. Well, sort of. My gift to him this year was getting his wedding band re-sized. It has been one full size too big since I bought it in 2009, and has been gliding off of his finger for that long. He knew about this present, and we took it to the jeweler a couple weeks before Christmas. Not a package to open, but something he really needed. Sidebar: We do small, budget friendly Christmases. This is the first year he has even received anything from me. This was the first year we went and picked out a tree together. (Although it was scantily clad the whole season through.) We're working on celebrating holidays. Maybe next year, stockings and holly and decorations. The next, Christmas cards. We will always keep it low key, I think. But I want to participate in the decorating and traditions a little more each year. Anyways. He gifted me with black TOMS shoes. Yay! I love them, and they were exactly what I asked for. (I love my earthy shoe collection: TOMS, Clarks, Chacos, Birkenstocks.) He included a big package of Ghiradelli special dark chocolate. He knows me. After we woke up and celebrated together for a bit, we went to my mom's house for breakfast. After my Dad and Brother woke up, we opened gifts. Then, we had lunch. (This year, duck was included as part of the meal. Kind of interesting.) At four or so, we moseyed on over to Rob's parents house with his sister and her husband meeting us. We exchanged gifts there. A couple hours later, we drove over to visit Robert's Grandmother, MiMi. I have been going to Mimi's house for Christmas with Robert for four years now. All of his cousins from his Dad's family came, too. I love each and every one of them and I felt so blessed to be related to beautiful, sweet people. This year, we added two people. Rob's sister, Christina, got married December 10 to Charlie Alderete. And Rob's cousin, Jonathan, got married in November, and added Dessa to the family. There are now five of us female cousins all about the same age range. I adore being around all of them.
We end the night conked out and spoiled, in case you were wondering.
The presents I received:
My mom gave me a myriad of gifts, and I am sorry to report that I actually told her a few things I wanted instead of responding, "NOTHING" when she asked me. (But my brother, Ben, told me to tell her what he wanted. Just Saying.) She gave me two collared shirts in blue and that lovely pastel purple color I love. She also gave me a scarf and gloves to match the purple. She gave me brown mascara, and several new make up brushes, as well as some eye make up items. She gave me big scented candles. Oh, and she basically unloaded her pantry in a box and gave it to us. Read: pasta, rice, canned beans, etc. Her months of couponing extra items paid off. I thought this gift was funny and laughed about it. But it works out because I don't buy canned foods very often and my "pantry" was basically empty up until now. Thanks, Mom. She gave me GA TECH flip-flops. A Chick-fil-A calendar (she knows me as well.). One thing I asked for was Cardamom, a spice used in baking that is almost ten dollars a jar. She included it in my stocking along with socks (a traditional Christmas gift). Oh, and there was the underwear. (Another traditional gift.) Please don't judge me for my writing style and for telling you about the underwear. Or do judge me. My gift to my mom was the DVD "The Help." (Have you read it? Have you watched it? I've done both.) We spent Christmas day watching this movie, and I have watched it at least twice since then.
Ben gave me TOMS, too! In navy. He also gave me Susan Boyle's new CD. I love her stuff. But...onward...
My dad always gives us gift certificates to the bookstore. This year it was to Barnes and Noble. Can I just say that this was the first Christmas without Borders and it was rather sad. Borders closed down this past summer, and it was so far superior to Barnes and Noble. But Alas, it will do. I have already been in and purchased a One Year Daily Bible with my card.
My most favorite gift was two gift certificates to Passages: Experience the Bible Like Never Before, a museum exhibit about the bible in Atlanta. This was from Rob's parents. I am looking forward to visiting this place. Rob's mom also gave me scented candles from the Yankee Candle Company in cinnamon, Christmas cookie, and home for the holidays. I love candles, and they were exactly what I wanted. Melinda also gave us each square buckets in place of stockings, which I thought was a cute idea. She filled them with candies, nuts, gum, and clementines. Charlie and Christina gave me a loose leaf tea pot, which is great because I have some loose leaf tea Stan brought home for me from England. I have been wanting to try it out. The tea pot also came with tea buds, which flower inside the boiling water. I can't wait to see how that works.
Rob's Grandmother, MiMi, gave all of the married cousins a George Foreman Grill. Exactly what Robert has been wanting.
Next year, I really want to give Robert a package to open, fully decorate a tree and my home, get an advent calendar, go caroling at a nursing home, make some stockings, contribute to the family meal, and maybe even send out awesome Christmas cards.
More about our New Year's Eve to come...
Let me begin by explaining how Rob and I spent our Christmas. We woke up and exchanged gifts. Well, sort of. My gift to him this year was getting his wedding band re-sized. It has been one full size too big since I bought it in 2009, and has been gliding off of his finger for that long. He knew about this present, and we took it to the jeweler a couple weeks before Christmas. Not a package to open, but something he really needed. Sidebar: We do small, budget friendly Christmases. This is the first year he has even received anything from me. This was the first year we went and picked out a tree together. (Although it was scantily clad the whole season through.) We're working on celebrating holidays. Maybe next year, stockings and holly and decorations. The next, Christmas cards. We will always keep it low key, I think. But I want to participate in the decorating and traditions a little more each year. Anyways. He gifted me with black TOMS shoes. Yay! I love them, and they were exactly what I asked for. (I love my earthy shoe collection: TOMS, Clarks, Chacos, Birkenstocks.) He included a big package of Ghiradelli special dark chocolate. He knows me. After we woke up and celebrated together for a bit, we went to my mom's house for breakfast. After my Dad and Brother woke up, we opened gifts. Then, we had lunch. (This year, duck was included as part of the meal. Kind of interesting.) At four or so, we moseyed on over to Rob's parents house with his sister and her husband meeting us. We exchanged gifts there. A couple hours later, we drove over to visit Robert's Grandmother, MiMi. I have been going to Mimi's house for Christmas with Robert for four years now. All of his cousins from his Dad's family came, too. I love each and every one of them and I felt so blessed to be related to beautiful, sweet people. This year, we added two people. Rob's sister, Christina, got married December 10 to Charlie Alderete. And Rob's cousin, Jonathan, got married in November, and added Dessa to the family. There are now five of us female cousins all about the same age range. I adore being around all of them.
We end the night conked out and spoiled, in case you were wondering.
The presents I received:
My mom gave me a myriad of gifts, and I am sorry to report that I actually told her a few things I wanted instead of responding, "NOTHING" when she asked me. (But my brother, Ben, told me to tell her what he wanted. Just Saying.) She gave me two collared shirts in blue and that lovely pastel purple color I love. She also gave me a scarf and gloves to match the purple. She gave me brown mascara, and several new make up brushes, as well as some eye make up items. She gave me big scented candles. Oh, and she basically unloaded her pantry in a box and gave it to us. Read: pasta, rice, canned beans, etc. Her months of couponing extra items paid off. I thought this gift was funny and laughed about it. But it works out because I don't buy canned foods very often and my "pantry" was basically empty up until now. Thanks, Mom. She gave me GA TECH flip-flops. A Chick-fil-A calendar (she knows me as well.). One thing I asked for was Cardamom, a spice used in baking that is almost ten dollars a jar. She included it in my stocking along with socks (a traditional Christmas gift). Oh, and there was the underwear. (Another traditional gift.) Please don't judge me for my writing style and for telling you about the underwear. Or do judge me. My gift to my mom was the DVD "The Help." (Have you read it? Have you watched it? I've done both.) We spent Christmas day watching this movie, and I have watched it at least twice since then.
Ben gave me TOMS, too! In navy. He also gave me Susan Boyle's new CD. I love her stuff. But...onward...
My dad always gives us gift certificates to the bookstore. This year it was to Barnes and Noble. Can I just say that this was the first Christmas without Borders and it was rather sad. Borders closed down this past summer, and it was so far superior to Barnes and Noble. But Alas, it will do. I have already been in and purchased a One Year Daily Bible with my card.
My most favorite gift was two gift certificates to Passages: Experience the Bible Like Never Before, a museum exhibit about the bible in Atlanta. This was from Rob's parents. I am looking forward to visiting this place. Rob's mom also gave me scented candles from the Yankee Candle Company in cinnamon, Christmas cookie, and home for the holidays. I love candles, and they were exactly what I wanted. Melinda also gave us each square buckets in place of stockings, which I thought was a cute idea. She filled them with candies, nuts, gum, and clementines. Charlie and Christina gave me a loose leaf tea pot, which is great because I have some loose leaf tea Stan brought home for me from England. I have been wanting to try it out. The tea pot also came with tea buds, which flower inside the boiling water. I can't wait to see how that works.
Rob's Grandmother, MiMi, gave all of the married cousins a George Foreman Grill. Exactly what Robert has been wanting.
Next year, I really want to give Robert a package to open, fully decorate a tree and my home, get an advent calendar, go caroling at a nursing home, make some stockings, contribute to the family meal, and maybe even send out awesome Christmas cards.
More about our New Year's Eve to come...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
About me
1. You can't embarrass me.
2. I am a DOG person, NOT a cat person.
3. I am not afraid of heights. That is lame.
4. My primary love language is physical touch. Always has been, always will be. I think.
5. I do not like sending passionate texts to my husband via text message.
6. I like to read, and I like it when people read.
7. I like to be a perfectionist.
8. I think art is a powerful force. I choose to be inspired by art. I think Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock are my favorite artists as of right now.
9. I don't like eating meals in front of the television.
10. My favorite book of the bible is Genesis.
11. I like socializing.
12. I enjoy getting older now as much as I did when I was a kid. Being embarrassed about your age is weird.
13. I do not claim a personality type, but if I were, it would be TYPE A. I like lists, and I like alone time.
14. I do not like kid movies. I am an adult.
15. My favorite sense is sight.
16. My favorite color is pastel purple.
17. I usually know more than I let on.
18. I like black sharpie on note cards.
19. First, I would like to have a boy. Second, a girl.
20. I write the date with dashes, not slashes.
21. Spending time with my husband is my favorite.
22. I am creative.
23. Laundry does not get on my nerves, it's a part of life.
24. Red lipstick is my favorite invention.
25. I like christian music. Judge me.
2. I am a DOG person, NOT a cat person.
3. I am not afraid of heights. That is lame.
4. My primary love language is physical touch. Always has been, always will be. I think.
5. I do not like sending passionate texts to my husband via text message.
6. I like to read, and I like it when people read.
7. I like to be a perfectionist.
8. I think art is a powerful force. I choose to be inspired by art. I think Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock are my favorite artists as of right now.
9. I don't like eating meals in front of the television.
10. My favorite book of the bible is Genesis.
11. I like socializing.
12. I enjoy getting older now as much as I did when I was a kid. Being embarrassed about your age is weird.
13. I do not claim a personality type, but if I were, it would be TYPE A. I like lists, and I like alone time.
14. I do not like kid movies. I am an adult.
15. My favorite sense is sight.
16. My favorite color is pastel purple.
17. I usually know more than I let on.
18. I like black sharpie on note cards.
19. First, I would like to have a boy. Second, a girl.
20. I write the date with dashes, not slashes.
21. Spending time with my husband is my favorite.
22. I am creative.
23. Laundry does not get on my nerves, it's a part of life.
24. Red lipstick is my favorite invention.
25. I like christian music. Judge me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)