Jameson and I went out tonight with my BFF and her husband and now I’m back a recovering.  My big question to you guys. 

Any suggestions to commemorate Lovey Girls finalization?  Another blogger recently used a hand print and a foot print which is an awesome idea.  I would make them and hang them.   Anyone else?  I’m out of ideas and totally open. 

Now I’m off to drink my Sleepy Time Tea :-).  Talk to you tomorrow.

Shopping for a $%^%$$%^%% car.  My husband has a M.azda Miat.a and I have a F.ord E.scape.  Both of which are paid for so we live in car payment free bliss.  The biggest issue?  My husband wants a sporty stylish car.  Apparently we have different ideas of a stylish mode of transport .  I have him talked into a Min.i Clu.bman (which has a decent sized backseat, has all the child safety stuff, great crash test ratings, 3rd side door, and clam shell doors leading to the trunk so it’s dog appropriate too…I am so tired of being the only one to take the dog in my car) and I was also able to talk him into the 4 door J.eep Wran.gler.  The Je.ep is the less expensive of the the two so it looks like the Je.ep is what we’re probably aiming for.  I will say I do like the Clubma.n.  It’s a FUN car and the Mini gets better gas mileage, but it doesn’t come with anything “included” the way the J.eep does and by the time Jameson chose everthing he wanted it made it a little pricey.  Yesterday we had a discussion about the car situation.  He did used to have a J.eep when we first got married so he loves them, and they have a warm place in his heart.  That J.eep left me cold with its basic-ness and windows that were plastic and had to be unzipped to open them, but todays has definitely been upgraded with normal automatic windows and everything.  Our choices so we have enough to purchase the car with the interest free financing option all include trading in the Mi.ata although he loves it he doesn’t want to keep it because the insuring a 3rd car would be pricey:  1.  Take money out of savings (I got paid from my job when I left for my unused vacation and sick time so I could donate some, although I sort of like knowing I haveg “my own” stash)  2. Save up enough for a downpayment by having Jameson volunteer to work on some projects at work and get the overtime money 3.  Buy an inexpensive used car (Jameson’s least favorite choice because as I said he does like to have a stylish sporty car and the idea of a used J.etta or something like that turns him off).

We do have a fun night planned.  My parents are babysitting and we’re going out to dinner with my best friend and her husband.  They went to a marrige encounter weekend through their church and came away with having ”date night” which meant they had to get a babysitter for their two little ones.  Her husband doesn’t like to spend money on anything for the two of them, he thinks it should be all about the kids, so that was a real stretch for him.  Tonight is one of their nights and we made plans to go to see ”The Wizard of Oz” at the local theater and to go out to dinner (BYOB italian).

Speaking of church.  My best friend is going to be Lovey Girls godmother, and I told Jameson to choose a godfather figuring it’s his religion (he’s C.atholic and I’m L.utheran…we joined a C.atholic church and they had no problem with me not being C.atholic).  It’s really only a big deal to his family mom.  I remember when we were matched with the scammer eons ago, the first question my MIL asked me was who the godparents were going to be.  I asked one of by BFF’s to be the godmother, but having Jameson choose the godfather is turning out to be harder than I anticipated, grrrrr.  My BFF said her husband would do it if Jameson doesn’t choose anyone, but she thought we should choose someone who is more meaningful in her life than her husband…she’s on of two best friends…she was my college roommate we been friends over 10 years, etc.  Now that Lovey Girl’s finalization date is approaching we have to plan her baptism.  We need to get on the ball!  I’m sort of getting tired of nagging discussing the subject.  I wonder if we can have 2 god mothers?  I doubt it because you know how the Ca.tholic church is about same sex couples despite the fact that I would be choosing my BFF and my cousin who is Cath.olic (she converted when she got married and is active in her church) and they are both married (to men).  I would just be choosing two women because I don’t have many Ca.tholic people to choose from.  I do know that I can choose 1 person who is C.atholic and the other just has to be christian.  Ok, then we could ask my brother. Jameson didn’t want to ask my brother.  He said he’s already an uncle.  (???)  Yet notice he’s not offering any suggestions (sigh).

It was a day of a LOT of driving and I wish I had counted the number of times my MIL said “did you come to grandmas house?” to LG.  After the first dozen or so I finally said if she could talk she would say yes, she came to Grandmas house (in my mind I was thinking would you PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT!).  I was hoping that would put a stop to her saying that that but it didn’t sink in w/my MIL (sigh).  Positive?  She had made a new mashed potato dish and it was delish!   Apparently she picked up on the fact that I never eat her string bean casserole.  She said that I don’t like string beans.  Jameson’s grandmother said that I don’t like CANNED string beans which is what she uses in the casserole.  I said that was correct.  I think canned string beans taste funny, I like fresh or frozen, but all my MIL hears is that I don’t eat her string bean casserole (sigh) and she’s so set in her ways she won’t consider making it with frozen or fresh.  Anyway, I’ll stop griping about my MIL.  I’m sure you guys have your own in-law gripes.  So, to say something positive.  She wanted to know what we wanted for Christmas.  They are both retired and on a limited income.  I asked for 2 new cooke baking sheets for Christmas from her.  I figured that was in her budget,  you can get them at Wal-Mart, and mine are getting pretty grimy.  We also asked for a gift certificate to L.owes to get us started on purchasing the desired kitchen appliances.  It’s funny, what I really wanted is the white board wall calendar that P.ottery Barn sells.  I’d like to hang it in the kitchen, but I was pretty sure that was out of her price range AND she never orders online or anything.  I’ll buy the calendar for myself eventually . 

Anyway, from there we went to my parents where they were having a great time.  Unfortunately, it was toward the end of gathering, but eveyone adored LG.  She was definitly the star of the room.  My brother and SIL held and played with LG and I could tell my SIL was sad.   Later, I saw my brother giving my SIL a hug.  Her brother just had a baby too.  I stayed tactfully silent and acted like I hadn’t noticed.  My SIL is a very private person and I’m sure she wouldn’t want to talk to me about her feelings.  My brother on the other hand might is pretty open if was just the two of us and there would be no way she would overhear. 

So, it’s the infamous Black Friday and we are NOT going shopping today although I am planning on going this weekend for picture frames for my parents, my in-laws, and Jameson’s grandmother.  I have a coupon for K.ohls that’s good all weekend :-) and that’s what we’re giving everyone for Christmas.  I have to come up with something my brother and SIL though.  I don’t know that they would want a picture of LG as a gift.  That’s seems like a grandparent thing.  

Anyway, we’re going to check out a new car today.  We’re looking into the 4 door Je.ep Wran.gler and we’re hoping that by purchasing or leasing a 2009 instead of 2010 we can wrangle a montly payment that’s in our price range.   I don’t know…  The 300 dollar price range seems to mean that we have to put down a large down payment and all we have is Jameson’s car to trade in.  This one income thing is making us sweat a little when it comes to actually making big purchases like the desired new car to replace Jameson’s 2 seater convertible (it STINKS to have to depend totally on my car), the microwave oven (ours turns off if we heat anything longer than 2 minutes), or the new fridge (ours freezes items in the back of the fridge and it’s on the lowest setting).

Pics of the star of the family LG!

At our house.  The dress turned out to be a little shorter than I anticipated.  It’s what I get for not having her try the dress on beforehand.  WE will be trying on her Christmas ensembles to make sure we don’t end up with the same issue.

Grandpa and LG after Thanksgiving lunch.  LG didn’t even eat turkey, lol which supposedly makes you sleepy yet they both took a ”wee” nap as my Irish FIL says.

A look back at 2008 Thanksgiving:  http://littlezen.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/thanksgiving-love/

2007 Thanksgiving:  http://littlezen.wordpress.com/2007/11/27/pay-yes-or-no-this-everyday-in-november-thing-is-getting-harder/

2006 Thanksgiving:  http://littlezen.wordpress.com/2006/11/27/ok-holiday-eatershow-to-burn-more-calories-than-you-consume/

My goodness I’ve been blogging WAY too long!  I’ll post a picture of Lovey Girl in all her Thankgiving glory tomorrow.  I had a good time shopping for her.  She has an adorable lavender dress and I got a pair of matching striped baby legs (they’re like stockings that that only cover the legs and don’t cover the diaper region).

How pumpkin pies are made.  hee hee hee…  Anyway, I hope everyone has a fantastic turkey day!

All 49 minutes of Lovey Girls nap (sigh).  I made it through only a few of the listings on my reader and ate some black bean soup for lunch.  Ah well, maybe the nanny from next door will be interested in a play date and bring over the next door neighbor…

Yesterday when I was being catty about my brother I said I had mentioned that I had wanted them to have some difficulty.  I wanted to clarify that I had only written that to you guys.  I did NOT say that to him.

My mom and I were talking yesterday.  It would seem that my brother is geting upset because he and his wife have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months now.  Both my brother and my SIL are over achievers who have NEVER failed or been unsuccessful at anything they have tried.  It makes for two people who are not the most empathetic.   When he told me they were going to start trying I know I said that I hoped it wasn’t easy for them.  I don’t when them to be “infertile” but I didn’t want it to be too easy.  Anyway, my mom just told me what he said about being upset and she reminded him that his wife is probably upset too (he would be self involved and not think about that).  I don’t really have a point.  I’m not glad that my hope is coming true, and it’s only been 6 months, but I am waiting to see what evolves for 2 overachievers who never have been unsuccessful at anything they work for.  Well, LG is sleeping. Again she’s tired from holiday shopping maybe I’ll have enough time to make the chocolate chip cookies my mom wants for Thursday .

Or, should I say LG is pooped on so many levels .  I wanted to make that the name of the post, but I’m sure that my spam filter would be filled.  Anyway, she is was constipated and the floodgates let loose last night.  It was so bad that an emergency bath was required.  Any suggestions for how to teach her how to suck from a straw or a sippy cup?  Since she doesn’t know how yet I’ve been giving her water mixed with pear juice in one of her bottles, but I know more liquid refreshment is needed.  I asked the other mons at her baby book club meeting this morning and juice boxes were recomended so I picked up an organic pear/banana/apple juice boxes at Tar.get (yup, what used to be a big department store has become a 2 floor Tar.get, talk about one stop shopping at the local mall).

Anyway, she fell asleep in the 2 minute car ride home and them proceeded to sleep for another 2 hours.  I guess our weekend away really pooped her out (he he he).  Then I made the aforementioned trip to Tar.get and she proceeded to fall asleep again.  Hmmm…  I guess being a social butterfly at baby book club, traveling to the moutains for the weekend, followed by the libray (had to get my book club book) and T.arget has pooped (hardy har har) her out.  Lovey Girl is sleeping downstairs in her carseat while I took the opportunity to pig out on wasabe peas.

Jameson, Lovey Girl, and I went to the mountains this weekend.  A good time was had by all.  We just relaxed and ate (I’m still full    Obviously I knew the date Thanksgiving occurs on. It’s the same day in November every year (hee hee).  We’re going to Jameson’s parents for dinner which is served at 12 so in my mind I think of it as lunch.  It will only be Jameson, me, LG, my FIL, my MIL, and Jameson’s grandmother.  I already know what we’ll be eating because she makes the same meal for each holiday.  ie:  Thanksgiving has its own designated meal, Chrismas Eve does, Chrismas Day, and Easter also.  I know the meal down to the type of rolls that will be served including the brand and everthing.  I know some people find tradition comforting, but I find it boring.  However, the traditional gathering that I usually dread because I know how the everthing will play out may be different with the added ingredient of LG .  We’re having ”dinner” with the in-laws but are going to my parens house for dessert.  

At my parents my mom offered to be a dinner host for new immigrant students at her school (she teaches English at a community college) so she has two girls from Korea (I believe that’s the location) coming for dinner.  Obviously, U.S. Thanksgiving didn’t exist there so it’s neat.  She asked me to make chocolate chip cookies and said she was pretty sure they had been in the U.S. long enough to have been offered traditonal chocolate chip cookies, but she wanted to have them to serve.  My MIL is providing a traditional PA dutch dessert names shoofly pie.  My mom and my uncle (her brother) were both born in a town outside of Lancas.ter, PA not far from where my in-laws live and they LUV that pie (so do I…warm with vanilla ice cream….yum!). 

I’m noticing the difference between the two family gatherings.  In-laws:  sameness and tradition that my MIL finds comforting.  My parents:  14 people including 2 students who are new to the U.S.  In-laws:  no liquor, same meal, same seats around the table, scripted.  My parents:  uncle who makes his own wine and another who is a huge fan of C.rown Roy.al, younger people like my brother and SIL, a baby (LG).  

I could go on and on. Which outing do you think is more fun?  I hate to equate liquor and more people from many different age groups as more fun but I’m not going to sugar coat.  It is more fun at my parents than the in-laws where commonness and tradition rule (sigh).  Anyway, I’m psyching myself up and it’s just a few hours of my life.  We will fulfill our obligation and then move on to the fun outing .

I heard from the place I’d like to store my embryos, and yes, the annual storage fee was $200 cheaper and the guy I spoke to had all sorts of suggestions for donating.  I’m getting paperwork and someone will be calling to discuss the details because I’d like to keep a few but the rest will be donated. He didn’t know how my health condition would affect it as far as people wanting to use the embryos.   I guess I’ll be calling clinic where our embryos are currently stored to find out all the details again since I can’t find my paperwork anywhere!