The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Smith: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

25 Things

To give you a little flavor, today’s post is inspired by another fellow mommy blogger. You should check her out – she’s hilarious and will keep you in stitches.

25 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

1. When I was younger, I wanted to be a Subway Sandwich Artist when I grew up. The tiny compartments, all organized and whatnot, sent me swooning.

2. Once I realized I was just ~~OCD~~, highly organized, I later turned that dream into joining the Peace Corps. Obviously, that didn’t pan out either.

3. I have double-jointed arms. Seriously – I can rotate them a full 360 degrees.

4. I have strange muscle control and can do all those weird things like wiggle my ears (one at a time), raise my eyebrows individually, and do a headstand for long periods of time. H thinks this is hilarious.

5. I’m still a proud member of the No Cavity Club.

6. I’ve never broken a bone. Unless you count a messy incident where my right shoulder was popped out of place in high school, and I had a very embarrassing “Rookie of the Year” moment when my grandmother had to pick me up and take me to the Emergency Room, where I rode in the passenger seat of her car with my right arm out the window because I couldn’t get it down. It still locks in place to this day. And, unlike the movie, when you do this to your arm, you do not get drafted in the Major Leagues.

7. I had four surgeries on my feet in college. That actually sounds more glamorous than what really happened - bunions. Like, 80-year-old, old lady bunions. By the time the fourth surgery rolled around, I was so annoyed that the doctor cut open my foot and took out the screw without putting me to sleep, so I got to see the whole thing. Read: feel the whole thing. I have a very high pain tolerance. And I had to wear a super cool boot with velcro straps for the better part of my Junior year in college. Hot.

8. I have a fear of clowns. If I see an adult clown, especially a male, I will ~~curl up in the fetal position~~ try to exit the situation as soon as possible.

9. I am also grossed out by most fruits, particularly strawberries and kiwi. I think it’s the seeds. Or that they get hairy. Either way – ew.

Side note: If I saw a clown holding a bucket of strawberries, I might pass out.

10. I grew up on a farm, with hay haulin’ in the summer, horse riding, chickens, a pond and everything - although I’ve never fallen off of a horse. See #6.

11. I’m a total nerd and still think The Goonies is the best movie ever.

12. Speaking of nerds, is anyone else excited they’re making a Ghostbusters 3 or Anchorman 2? Anyone? I can quote Anchorman and Elf verbatim.

13. I’m a complete bookworm and speed reader. When I was little, I use to get in trouble for not “doing my chores” because I was hiding somewhere reading. True story. Ask Deena.

14. I can beat anyone in Friends Trivia. If you doubt this, bring it on. It has been proven time and time again – total domination. Monica Gellar is my long lost twin sister.

15. In case you missed the boat, I’m highly competitive. See #14 or any past references to Game Nights.

16. When I watch the Crimson Tide football team play, I turn into a very aggressive-speaking person. I hear it can be embarrassing to the people sitting with me. See #15.

17. I have a bizarre taste in music, which will range from Guns ‘N Roses to Salt ‘N Pepa to Journey to Classical. And I’ll probably know about 90% of the words if it’s from 1980 – 1995.

18. I love music (see #17), and played the piano from age 7 to 18. Sometimes you can catch me “playing” to songs on the radio on my steering wheel or in church singing hymns.

19. I’m pretty sure the new Snickers commercials were based on my tendency to get “hangry” (Hungry + angry. Feel free to use in everyday convo) when I haven’t eaten in a while. If my blood sugar drops… watch out.

20. At any given time, I have multiple “To Do Lists” running through my head. These range anywhere from Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Before I Turn 30, Traveling, and Bucket.

21. I’m a horrible texter. I have no idea what any of those acronyms mean.

22. I’m like an elephant and very rarely forget anything. If I can read it, I can usually remember it.

23. I hate math, but I work in the financial planning and management sector in marketing.

24. If time and resources were not such hurdles, I would have 20 children. Okay, maybe 10. But not just biological – I would adopt from all over the world and have a mini-United Nations in my house to take care of. I think being a mom is the most fun, exciting, exhausting thing I’ve ever done.

25. Sometimes if I’m having a bad day, I’ll go through a Drive Thru and ask the person at the window if I can pay for the person in the car behind me. I like to watch their reactions when they pull up and realize their meal has been paid for. Makes that bad day melt away, fo sho.

Hope that made you laugh. Love, Mommy Smith

Monday, May 28, 2012

A Weekend of Firsts

Memorial Day Weekend proved to be a weekend of firsts for H.

We joined Aunt Suz and Uncle P at Lake Tuscaloosa on Saturday and Sunday.

(I swear we don't try to match on purpose.)

H's first mohawk... what a cool dude.

H's first time in a life jacket.... epic fail #1.

H's first time in the lake... epic fail #2.

Clung to Mommy like a monkey.

H's first time riding in the boat... epic fail #3.

Fell asleep within 3 minutes.

You know who loved the water?
This bag of fleas.

Back at the Grandparents'... H had his first time in the swing.

Success! Finally - there's a smile!

Today, H and I went to Cullman for a day on the Farm.

My parents' house is finally rebuilt and they are all moved in!

(If you're just now joining us on the blog, their house was destroyed by one of the Alabama tornadoes last April.)

We celebrated with H's first time riding on the tractor...

He loved it!

H also met the horses, and while they weren't a hit just yet with him, I'm sure there's lots of riding in the future.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

13 Months

Dear Harrison,

You are 13 Months Old! You are such a little man now, growing fiercely independent - nay, stubborn - more and more every day.

I don't know where you get this from.

You weigh about 20-21 pounds, if we're going by my scientific measurement on your MiMi's scale last week.

You are such a wiggle worm! You're everywhere, all the time.

Example - trying to take your growth picture by Lucy.

Your favorite activities include climbing in and out, hundreds of times, in your Cozy Coupe.

Once you get in it, you turn around with the proudest smile on your face.

Then you climb back out and start the process all over again.

With you, repetition does not get old.

These pictures also serve as a friendly PSA from Mrs. Smith.

No texting while driving! Even on your Mouse-berry from Aunt Suz and Uncle Pelham.

Do not drink and drive!

Even out of your Mickey Mouse cup.

You're also still fascinated with ceiling fans.

And now, when we say what does the ceiling fan do?

You point your chubby litttle finger up in the air and make circle with it as we say "It goes round and round and round." This is courtesy of your T.

Ignore that drool, we're cutting a 7th tooth right now.

Feeding you is becoming a bit ~~difficult~~ challenging, as you're defining your tastes, shall we say.

Foods you're lovin' include whole milk, Vanilla flavored Pediasure, Honey Nut Cheerios, Yogurts, Frozen Yogurt (had a taste last weekend and loved it!), Townhouse crackers, Puffs, Bananas, Sweet Potato Puree, Chunky Mac & Cheese from North River Yacht Club, Guacamole, Plain Pancakes, Plain Waffles, and Scrambled Eggs. And those Gerber Ravioli things - sometimes. You make it about halfway through those.

Where breakfast was once an easy task with your beloved oatmeal, you've now decided you don't want that anymore in the mornings. I'm not sure what you want, but it usually ends up with a Song and Dance routine from Mommy to get you to eat anything. And Mommy is not her best in the morning, so this has been fun for everyone.

Foods you do not love: Juice, Grapes, Blueberries, Cheese (American, Cheddar, and Swiss), Most Vegetables, Turkey, Almost anything else. If you don't like something once it's in your mouth, you slowly push it back out, letting it dribble all down your mouth, chin, and clothes. It is hilarious. Yet, horrible, as for table manners.

You regularly want to "do it yourself" and push away our helpful hands and spoons to feed yourself, by yourself.

Once again, I don't know where you get this mentality.

Your school says you are slowly but surely embracing your Sippy Cup during the day, and you are at home as well. However, you still take a full 8 oz bottle of whole milk right before bed, which you love.

Your favorite time of day is after your bath and teeth brushing, when we have "Baby Buff Time" and you play in the buff for a good half hour. Airs everything out and you are overjoyed at your freedom. (And I'm sure so are the people who get my pics via texts of your Full Moon and Chunky Thighs.)

As for walking, you're still a Crawling Machine. You will walk if it's behind your Walker, Cozy Coupe, or Thomas the Train push toy. You'll also walk a tentative 2-3 steps by yourself to Mommy or Daddy, then realize what you're doing and quickly drop to all fours.

As of right now, I'm still enjoying as much of your sweet "baby-ness" as possible. You still love to snuggle, and often end up in our bed at some point during the night, snuggling in close to Mommy. You still love to crawl over and cozy up in Mommy's lap, or fall asleep on Daddy's chest, and we'll take it.

Am I boring you, H?

You have continuously come over and banged on the laptop during this post, and now I must save you from Daddy, who is making you walk all over the living room while he watches Duck Dynasty or something equally macho on the TV.

Love, Mommy