A Typical Situation...

This is a typical evening in the McIntosh household...

I get home on a good day between 5:30 and 6:00. It's rush, rush, rush to make some dinner. Sometimes, it's dinner for four, sometimes it's simply feed the kids something, and worry about dinner for the adults after they go down. It varies with what's in the house and my energy level quite frankly!

Luke is not a happy go lucky guy in the evenings. NOT. AT. ALL! Yesterday, I literally had to make dinner holding him the ENTIRE time. How is that possible? It can be done. Not easily... and not without wine... but it can be done!

It's just quite frustrating... the craziness of the evening routine. Screamining baby boy. A bit of a demanding kindergarten girl... and trying to feed them both something that I don't have guilt about. Yesterday, grilled chicken, steamed brocolli and wild rice. Of course, we were eating after 7:00 pm... but that's not really the point now is it?

I also consumed half a bottle of wine in the process... a nice French White Burgandy! Little wine, little cheese... and the screaming baby and process of making dinner wasn't all that bad!

Mommy's little helper!!!

Evenings are crazy! And I must say that I simply feel like I am rushing through absolutely everything and not really spending real quality time with either one of my kids. It's not like I can come home and simply enjoy being with them for a bit. There is always something that has to be done. It's just life, right? Everyone feels this way!?

For all last night's and every night's craziness... there are moments of pure peace. After attempting to feed Luke and having him throw his baby fit cuz frankly he was just tired... I gave up and finally decided to eat myself. Ally had already finished... and she came over and decided to help out and try to feed Luke... and damned if that boy didn't smile and take every morsel she fed him!!!!!!!!! He just stares up at her with his big baby grin... and eats the rest of his dinner in happiness. She is the light of his life for certain.....

It was a good moment..... it was adorable and I'm going to carry that moment with me........ they will always have eachother.......... :-)

Change...

Change is scary for most people. It's the element of the unknown... the wonder of it all. So many people would rather live in the comfort of the status quo, even if the status quo SUCKS... then take the necessary efforts to make a change...

I know. I've been there before. We all have at one time or another... we all will be again...

But, it takes a lot to embrace a big change. This change... this new president, may not make everyone happy... but it's time to come together and work towards a common goal for positive change no matter what your political views. Sitting back... being pissed off because "your man" didn't win... isn't going to do our country... any of us any good.

I know you're all sitting there, thinking that I would not be saying this had McCain won... but I would. I swear it. I might not be thrilled... but I would want to move forward and do what I could for change in any form.....

We are in the midst of a scary time right now. In America. In Michigan. In my lifetime, I have not known such economic hardship. I have seen nothing like this... felt nothing like this... and I am fortunate enough to have a great job and the general feelling of job security. I am one of the lucky ones.

I know some who are not so lucky and my heart breaks for them...

So... I implore you all... come together. Accept what is done... and look for the good in it. Seek out the positive, for SO MUCH is positive in this.

Bitching and moaning will get us no where... fast...

The Only Time I Will Say This... Go Blue!

Blue states that is!!!!  I am GLUED to the TV.  Watching the polls close and the votes being tallied. I get giddy when a state turns blue.  I remind myself not to travel to a state that turns red. Irrational, yes... but I am feeling emotional about this election for some reason.

When I logged onto Facebook this evening, I was completely overwhelmed by the status of almost all my "friends."  Everyone had voted.  So many people out there encouraging everyone to vote!!!!!  I was overcome with emotion!

It's an exciting night.... I will not be able to make it very late as I am wicked tired... but I will likely just let myself fall asleep on the couch and wake up at some point... maybe catch a glimpse of our new president?

A change must come... Go Obama!!!!

It's Not Too Late...

.... to get out and VOTE!!!!!!  The polls are open until 8:00 pm... and you only have to be in line by 8:00 pm to be eligible to cast your vote!!!!!!

EVERY VOTE MATTERS!!!!!

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!!!!!!

Get out there people!

I Can See Clearly Now...

I can see the light at the end of my tunnel! I cannot TELL you how much better I am feeling... thank god for the modern invention of antibiotics! Thank god I finally went to the doctor! And even a thanks to all of you who wouldn't get off my back about NOT going to the doctor. I went. I'm on the road to recovery. All is going to be right with the world again....

When you are sick... for so long... it is easy to let the weight of the world get you down. I cannot imagine what the truly sick go through. I felt depressed with just a cold turned pneumonia. It gives you a glimpse into what it must feel like to really be down and out with a real ilness. Now, in the process of "feeling better"... I almost feel eurphoric! It's like a high! I had forgotten what it is like to feel GOOD!

Four weeks of hell.... coming to an end...... thank God!

Everyone seems to be adjusting to the time change well! Luke slept until the real 7:30 this morning, which would have felt like 8:30 to him... but is his usual wake up time... so I am thrilled with that! It was a struggle keeping him awake until 7:00 pm last night, but we made it... and hopefully, he will stay on track with the time change! That would be nice.

He still continues to sleep straight through the night. Making him cry... BEST THING WE EVER DID! I don't know if he was just ready or if we could have done it sooner... but it doesn't matter now. He is sleeping. We are sleeping. The relief is overwhelming!

Ally doesn't have school today. I am truly amazed at how many days off they have already had in this school year! She was thrilled to spend the day with Luke, Gracie, Nana and Papa. Nana made her Pumpkin Pancakes this morning and she was giddy! She couldn't even wait to get there this morning... so I took her and Luke and came back home to finish getting ready. I knew I couldn't stand an hour of constant "are you ready yet?"

Scott and I were just talking last night about the crazy turn-around in Ally's behavior lately. She is almost a whole new kid. Since starting Kindergarten, we have virtually had no behavior issues with her. Of course, I think through the help we sought out, we have made some changes in our ways too, but overall... she is being GREAT!!!!!

She continues to absolutely love school and her friends and teacher. She talks about Mrs. Spicer all the time and had to make a picture for her this weekend. I think that Mrs. Spicer is a perfect match for Ally... Ally respects her and loves her... a great combination!

Look at this positive post from me!!!!!!! I hope to have many, many more positive things to say this month as I embark upon this "one post for every day of the month" effort. Of course, I cannot recall the actual acronym for it right now... hmmm???? NaBloPoMo? Is that right? HA! I crack myself up......

Anywho... will save more for tomorrow... going to need to save my topics to make it the full 30 days!

Fall Back Again...

Did everyone remember to "fall back?"  It's that time of the year again where we turn our clocks back an hour... where we all throw ourselves off... where our children wake up an hour earlier and are grumpier an hour earlier in the evenings and we try to "hold them off" in order to get them in line with the clock.  Oh what fun!!!!!!  :-)

So... throw your lives off... turn your clock back!!!!  Gaining that extra hour only counts if you DON'T have children.... remember those days?  When you would argue with your parents that you could stay out an hour after curfew, cuz after all... it was an hour earlier!  When you could sleep in after drinking all night and still get homework done for your Monday 10:20 (I never took 8:00 am classes!) on Sunday cuz you had that EXTRA HOUR?  

Gone are those days... now we have grumpy kids who are hungry an hour earlier and tired.... as we try to get them to fall in line with the new clock!  :-))))

Here Jane Comes To Save The Day...

Jane got some GREAT pictures of the kids yesterday at Scott's parents' house.... here are Ally, Grace and Luke all dressed up for Halloween... looking adorable.  Our little princess and our two little monsters...

Thanks Jane!!!!  You made it a little easier on me to miss...... HUGE HUGS!!!

A Sad Halloween...

We have exactly THREE pictures of our own from Halloween... but Scott assures me that Jane will save the day and that she took a ton of them, in true Jane fashion!  :-)  Let's hope so, cuz the few we have are just sad.... but I will share them anyway!!!

I love how Ally looks bored with the entire process in that last picture!  And Luke... well, he's just cute.... and being a boy.  He is all boy.  It's SO TRUE!

The middle picture is Ally with her friend from school and Nana and Papa's neighbor, Annabelle (and her brother I believe, but am not sure!).  Ally and Annabelle are great friends and it's so nice that she has a friend to play with after school... and ride the bus home with.

Luke hung out with Scott's parents last night, so I could lay in a drug-induced stupor and get better.... I was in no shape to be a parent last night anyway.  Scott took Ally to the school where they had a big carnival and Trunk or Treat in the parking lot.  She played all sorts of games, refused to go into the Haunted House after Scott paid for both of them to, and saw all her friends.  Sounds like she had a GREAT time....

Pneumonia...

Cough.... cough.... cough. I can't REMEMBER the last time I slept! Well, now I know why... I finally sucked it up and went to the doctor today, and he thinks I have a "touch of pneumonia."  I have to laugh at the "touch" comment cuz everyone I tell says the same thing... how can you just have a "touch?"  HA!  Well... if you knew my doc, you'd understand.... he never likes to overestimate anything or make you overthink...

So, my horrid cold has turned more horrid... and based on how my lungs feel... I was pretty sure something more was up. This morning it hurt just to breathe in and out.  That's a problem.  My throat is raw from constant coughing... I was coughing so hard I almost threw up and I feel like I could.  Body aches.  You name it.  

Here it is, Halloween and I feel like death warmed over.  I don't need a costume, that's for sure... I'm PLENTY scary enough to look at!!!!!!!  Poor Scott... he has to do the Halloween duty all by himself... but more than that... I'm just sad to "miss" it.....

Another holiday come and gone for Luke that isn't quite great.... his first Christmas, we all had the stomach flu.  Of course, he was only 5 days old... but I remember how awful it was! Now, Mommy is down and out with broken lungs on his first Halloween....  :-(

At least I have lots and lots of drugs now...... and things can only get better from here! I figure I will get healthy and have a new outlook on life soon. Being so sick sure does drag you down..... 

Happy Halloween to everyone!!!!!  I will be sure to grab a couple pictures through the coughing and post my gorgeous kids soon.....

Bad Mom...

I think I might be a bad mom. Just today, Scott asked me about carving pumpkins with Ally... Huh! We didn't do that at home this year. She did it (sorta!) in Chicago at a party... of course, Auntie Beth actually carved her pumpkin, but details, details! We have no pumpkins at home... none. Even the one carved in Chicago this past weekend has already been disposed of because it went rotten already...

So... apparently, my dear daughter asked about carving a pumpkin at home. She also asked about Halloween decorations. Ugh. Double ugh. We have very few actual Halloween decorations... and I got exactly NONE of them out this year. I did not decorate. I barely even acknowledged the holiday. I guess I DID get the kids costumes though... but it's not like THAT was hard. It's not like I made them or anything!

I just don't think like that..... I can barely keep my house picked up let alone decorate these days. Wow... I hope things go better at Christmas...... will it be December 22nd and Ally will be asking when are we going to get a Christmas tree so Santa will come?

Just yesterday.... Scott went to feed the dogs... and there was no dog food. He had forgotten to get food. I can't count the number of times we have realized we need diapers or formula or that we had no milk for breakfast.... and no offense Concord.... but it's not like you can exactly run down to the corner store and get what you need! :-) Organic formula is not carried in the local grocer....... hmm..... I wonder if diapers ARE?

Is there something wrong with me that I cannot keep these things straight? Sometimes, I do feel so put together and on top of things... but as of late, I really do feel like a "bad mom!"

The other day, I barely made it home from work in time to get Ally to soccer at 6:00 pm..... and that was a stretch getting out of work to be home by that time!

Don't get me started on the evening routine of dinner.......... by the time I get home and pick up the kids, get home and get something together for dinner... it is truly bed time! It is crazy..... and I do not forsee an end in sight, at least any time soon....

The problem as I see it... is my job I guess. The bigger problem as I KNOW it... is that I don't want to back off on my job.... so what do I do? Things are ramping up at work and getting exciting and I am THRILLED with that. Stressed, but thrilled.

Does THAT make me a bad mom? Do I chose other things over my kids? Why do women beat themselves up over this? Would a man have the same argument in his mind???? Maybe some. God... that thought doesn't make me FEEL any better....

Ah..... I think I am just SICK, hormonal and emotional..... :-)

But still... today, I feel like a bad mom and I'm just going to go with the feeling.... and try to do better tomorrow......

Getting Ready for Halloween...

Luke's costume arrived today! He is going to be a Monster for Halloween.  I ordered the costume from Gymboree. Look at this.... is this not the CUTEST blue monster you've ever seen?  COME ON!

I may be a bit biased... but I DO think he's cute.... and he LOVES Mommy's Blackberry!  :-) Sometimes, it's the only thing that works to get him to sit still or stop screaming...

The other day, I grabbed a couple shots of him in this adorable jacket we got from Beth, that was Eli's... 

Blue is definitely a great color on him!!!!!  I am so lucky to have Beth and her fabulous taste for a friend...... who is willing to give me fabulous hand me downs!  

Just a quick post this evening... I am going to try to get to bed early... I have 7:30 am breakfast meetings the next two days and tomorrow's is in Ann Arbor... SUCKS!  I have to get up at like 5:00 am!  BLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween in the Windy City...

Ally and I traveled with my friend Kristen this weekend to Chicago to stay with our friends Beth, Scott, Isabel and Eli!  We had SUCH a good weekend, in spite of my illness.  I put on my big girl pants and dealt with it!  It's always worth it to spend the weekend with friends!

Friday, we drove in... I picked Ally up from school, Kristen met us at our house and we took off right away.  We got into Chicago in time for a late dinner... and drank a LOT of wine!  We didn't end up going out that night... just stayed in and let the little girls (Ally and Isabel) play and and the big girls stayed up and talked!  We ordered in Thai.... ah, the joys of Chicago and delivery on every corner!

Saturday was a BUSY day!  We attempted to get up fairly early and do some shopping before our S Factor class.  I am almost POSITIVE I haven't blogged about S Factor yet.... hmmm.... how to explain the fact that I have taken pole dancing classes?  And, this time, I was there for a lap dance class!  It's really one of the most amazing experiences.  I can't convey what an awesome workout it is... how empowering it is... and it's not at all "dirty" or what you think of when you envision pole dancing!  Check out the website.... but unless you have the opportunity to actually go to a class, it's SO HARD to explain how amazing it is.  I will say this... I am considering driving to Chicago weekly just so I can be part of it.  It's really amazing....

Okay, that said..... we had S Factor at 2:00 and got some shopping in before....  While we were at class, Beth's awesome parents took the girls to a Halloween event at Borders.  They were all dressed up in their costumes and got to hear stories and do all sorts of fun stuff!  

We came back and got ready for a kids and adults party at a friend of Beth's.  It was a spectacular party with pumpkin carving, bobbing for apples and a pinata!  GREAT food.... the kids just had the best time and the adults had the BEST martinis!  Can't beat a party with a great mixture of things for kids AND adults!!!!!

Of course, we weren't fully prepared for the party... we didn't have pumpkins... so on the way, Beth's husband Scott stopped for us and picked some up.  We were SO concerned that he was going to have to haul three pumpkins AND the passing dish and Beth's 2 year old, Eli.  All the girls went in one car and Scott and Eli (running the errands) in the other.  Well... little did Beth and I know we needn't worry about Scott and the pumpkins.  He comes into the house and hands us a bag.... with THREE pumpkins in it....... and here they are.....

I'm not sure if this picture really conveys how tiny the pumpkins actually were! They were grapefruit size for certain!  Beth was the SUPER TROOPER of the year and was actually able to carve a TINY face in the grapefruit, I mean pumpkin!  HAHA!  The girls SO didn't care.  They thought they were great..... and well, Beth and I didn't go get them, so can we REALLY complain?  :-)

If nothing else, it sure did provide us with something to laugh our asses off at.......

After the party, we headed back and got the little girls off to bed, so the big girls could go out for (more) martinis and sushi!  Isabel and Ally got a little cuddle in with Auntie Kristen before heading off to dreamland.....

What a cute picture, huh?  I love that shot!  They're all snuggled in.... under the giant Cubs blanket..... oh, poor Cubs fans.......

We had fabulous sushi and far too many martinis that night.... poor Kristen!!!  She's pregnant and Beth and I must have been most annoying!  She was quite the trooper though... SUCKS to be the sober one!  I was five months pregnant at her bachelorette party. I remember it well. All I wanted was some Jimmy Johns!!!!  :-)))))) And, all my girls wanted to do was hit a college house party after a night out at the bar(s)!!!!!  

All, in all... a GREAT weekend in Chicago.  As always.  I love that town and consider it my second home more than anyplace else on earth. I always feel so welcome and at home in Beth and Scott's home... and it's just wonderful to have such close friends that I know I can just go there, with my little girl and have the time of my life!  

Huge thanks to Scott for watching Ally while we took his wife out!!!!! We couldn't have had our time without you!

Huge thanks to Kristen for putting up with our drunken-ness.....

And huge thanks to Beth.... for EVERYTHING!  And you know what I mean....

We're so lucky that our little girls are friends.... I hope they will continue the tradition we've started!!!!!!!

Sick of Being Sick...

I'm just SO sick of being sick! I don't mean to be a complainer. I hate complainers. I hate complaining... but I have been sick for going on THREE weeks now. It hasn't been solidly awful. I have had good and bad days... but I just can't seem to kick this cold. I am starting to wonder if the flu is going around yet?

I'm achy... and stuffed up and sneezing like crazy. I'm not SUPER stuffy though. It's not a severe head cold. My chest hurts and I'm coughing. But, my chest isn't crazy congested either and my cough is dry. My MOUTH hurts? Like it's sore. My body hurts... especially my back. WTF? WHAT IS THIS???

Luke seemed to have it for a few days and is fine. Same with Scott. Ally's runny nose has dragged on for a couple weeks, but she seems fine otherwise. Nope... just the Momma is completely and utterly sick as hell!

I have been a horrid blogger.... I'm so sorry for that! Part of it is due to my lack of camera STILL... or more specifically, lack of a memory card. I am going to Best Buy to buy one right after work today. If my body can make it!

I went to Chicago this past weekend! I have exactly TWO pictures from the weekend! LOL! I will post them and write about the weekend this evening when I am home. Hopefully I won't just pass out on the couch when I get there. Oh wait - I don't have that luxury... I have TWO KIDS! How could I forget? :-)

A lot is going in life right now. Work is stressful... busy... but I can usually take that in stride. Something is getting to me more than usual as of late. Maybe it's the change in weather. Maybe it's just LIFE! Who knows...... I am just trying to stay afloat!!!!!!!!!!

I will post the two pics and Chicago stories later...... for now, it's back to work!

10 Months...

Luke is 10 months old tomorrow!  And, since I have become an awful during he week blogger, I figured I better blog about it today!!!!  I can't believe in TWO short months, we will be celebrating his first birthday!  HOLY HANNAH!!!

Here are some of Luke's recent accomplishments:

• First and foremost, he is SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!! We had to "train" him.... which meant a good week of hell truth be told.... but in the end, it was totally worth it, just like everyone said it would be.  I guess we just had to wait until we were at the end of our rope and really ready to let him cry it out.  He did cry for almost two hours the first night and it improved each and every night from there until he started sleeping silently through the night.  He sleeps between 11 and 12 hours... straight through!  THANK GOD!
• He still has no teeth!  I talked to my dentist about this at my recent cleaning, and he said it's really a GOOD thing. The earlier they get teeth, the more likely it is for decay to set in from formula, etc.  So, I've decided to take this as a positive! Oh well.... he isn't suffering any denial of food for it!
• We have started giving him a lot more "solid" soft food to "gum."  Yesterday he had two entire meals of "non-baby food."  I steamed carrots, slow cooked chicken and cut up banana and avocado.  Cut everything up into tiny pieces and he handled it all quite well.  Unfortunately, I just feel it's EASIER to do baby food!  We make a big batch every couple months and we're good to go!  Now that he's eating real food, I either always have to make us something I can modify for him, or cook him things separately.  I am now remembering this stage with Ally.... and it kinda sucks!  I just recall preparing food for her every night after making dinner. Hmmm..... must figure out way to streamline this process!
• He is pulling himself up to a stand (as evidenced by the picture above!).  He loves the piano that was Ally's when she was a baby and loves to stand at that most of all. The only other thing he will really stand at is the Crawl and Cruise Playground that was Ally's as well.  He likes to dance to the really annoying music!  
• He has a lot of hair... especially at the base of his neck and I think it's time for a haircut!  I just want the neckline trimmed a bit.  I'm sure I could do this right.... hmmm?  But, Ally did have her first haircut from Christopher (my stylist!).  I guess she is a girl.  I need to suck it up and just trim his hair myself.  :-)
• He is constantly babbling.  He sings... he says Uh-Oh and Mama and Dada.  Mama and Dada are just sounds... although this morning, I was changing his diaper and Scott walked in... as clear as day Luke looked up at him and exclaimed "Dada!!!" It was likely coincidence, but it was still really adorable!  Uh-Oh he really actually says and seems to comprehend what it means.
• He still loves his sister best and since Ally has recently taken up playing the guitar..... she sounds JUST LIKE Dave Matthews I tell ya.... he is her biggest fan!  He will just sit there and listen to her and watch her for as long as she plays and sings. What a wonderful way to keep TWO kids entertained!!!
• He LOVES doors.  Open a door and he comes running.  He loves to push them open and shut and mostly just see what's inside!  He is hilarious when it comes to doors.
• He puts his blankie over his head and crawls around the house.  This absolutely cracks us up because it is SO what Ally did... only she did it when she was walking. She constantly put her white blankie over her head and walked around and into things.  He just crawls into things.  What a crack up!
• He has gotten a lot better with his pincer grasp and is pretty good at picking up some food!  I was worried there for a while.....
• Oh... and right now, he has the evil cold..... poor guy!  But, he appears to be handling it much better than Mommy!

That's what's going on with the 10 month old in the house!!!!!! Never a dull moment... that's for sure....

Warm Bath...

We have a new Saturday tradition.... after soccer in the cold early morning... Luke and Ally come home and jump in a warm bath! Luke LOVES taking a bath, especially with his big sister!  Ally helps wash him and make sure he's safe.  She is a good, caring big sister to Luke.  I'm very proud of her!

Ally's team won again!  2-0.  They have shut out every team to date!  We are worried that Ally will cry if they happen to lose someday!  We always ask her if she had fun and stress that this is FUN!!!!  She always asks about the score in between quarters.  A little competitor!  

Everyone in our house is sick... Ally still has the cold.... Luke has the cold.... I have the cold.  Of all of us, Scott seems to be in the best shape.  I am still achy and generally feeling horrid.  I was up most of the night coughing...

On a positive note... Luke has slept through the night for more than a week now!  The first few days were easy... then, a good 4 days of CRYING!!!!  And, now... he does it without a peep!  Well, maybe a little peep.  But he is not crying for hours at a time!  I am so proud of us for being tough and so proud of him for catching on.

We are on our way over to Scott's parents to watch the MSU game..... I will have to get some pics of the kids today cuz they are all decked out in their Spartan gear!!!  Here are a couple bath pics for now!

I've Been Tagged...

I've been tagged by Stephanie!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven random facts about myself, huh?

1. I love Dave Matthews! I love the band, I love the music, I love him personally! I can’t help it. Call it obsession... call it love... call it juvenile and crazy... it is what it is! I accept my obsession and go with it. I know many of you know this already, but really - it is my number one fact!

2. Beyond Dave, I am obsessed with music in general. I am always listening to music. I think the best invention ever was the iPod... and then, the iPhone. Music is my life.

3. I love jalapenos, but I cannot eat an entire sliced piece. You know, the kind you buy sliced in the jar? I can’t eat a whole slice. I need to at least quarter them. It’s odd. I know. I will cut them up, people make fun of me. I have learned to cope.

4. I appear fairly “put together” on the outside, but the truth is you will often find the cup holders in my car out of order, clothes strewn everywhere in my room, and don’t get me started on the state of the shoes in my closet. Behind the polished exterior, I am a slob. It’s true.

5. Like Fergie, I still go to Taco Bell. I don’t care... I’m still real. I love Taco Bell. I crave it when I’m drunk... I NEED it when I’m hung over. Yes, eating healthy is important to me... but so is a Chili Cheese burrito! It’s a guilty pleasure. Whatever - just bring me my Nachos Bel Grande!

6. I don’t clean my own house. (see #4 above) I love my cleaning ladies.... sometimes more than my own family.

7. I have chosen to pee my pants into a diaper. Scott bought the wrong size pull ups for Ally once, and I decided to see if they would fit me. They looked big enough, and sure enough, they did! So... then, of course, I had to take it a step further. I had to see if I could pee in them and what it would feel like. Mission accomplished. I peed. It wasn’t even that weird. Wow, that makes me quite weird!

Since that time though... I was stuck on I-94 on my way to a meeting. I had two cups of coffee. The highway was closed down. I could not move to get to an exit. The situation was dire. I remembered my emergency diaper in the glove compartment. Luckily, I was wearing a skirt. I descreetly worked the diaper up my skirt.... and tried to go. COULDN'T DO IT! Apparently the privacy of one's home is quite different than the interstate!

** This is a repost (edited) from my old blog... sorry to those of you who have read it, but figured most of you hadn't.... so cuz I'm sick and lazy, this is how it's gonna be. :-)

I now tag:

Chelsea
Andi
Sarah W.
Megan
Sarah U.
Emilie

Cold...

It's official!  I finally have the cold that the rest of my family has had for some time now.  I thought I was going to escape it, but it seems to have taken hold of me. I've felt a bit achy for a couple days, but today the sore throat started... which is always the start for me! 

I'm bummin' cuz I have a really big week this week... I have an overnight meeting and big dinner to go to... that I've actually been looking forward to for a long time!  The dinner is at the MGM Grand in Detroit, which is SUCH a nice hotel... and I am looking forward to spending a luxurious night there and having a fun night out with drinks and friends!  

The dinner is Thursday night. Here's hoping I will be feeling much better by then! If not, I guess a little cold medicine and wine always cure what ails ya?  :-)

Gymbucks....

Hey there....

Does anyone need Gymbucks?  I have $50 in Gymbucks I cannot use.  You have to spend $100 and then, you get $50 off....

Let me know ASAP as you would have to use them for an online purchase today. I will just have to email you the code!

Dog Gone Good Times....

It's a gorgeous day, isn't it?  80 degrees outside.  Sunny. The smell of fall in the air.  Just gorgeous!!!!!

Well, Ally was outside enjoying this fine, fine day earlier.  She wasn't thrilled with the prospect of playing outside on her own, but I am knee-deep in laundry and clothing organizing (still putting away summer clothing and Luke's 6-12 month stuff) and Scott is pretty sick... so we have remained indoors today.  At any rate... she was outside and decided to come in when she saw Luke at the front door grinning at her.  Who CAN resist that grin?

She came in through the garage so as not to knock him over since he was leaning against the door.... very considerate of her.  We heard her come in and asked her if she closed the door tight.  She said she did. And, we also were pretty sure we heard it shut as well. We were all in the living room.  I thought nothing of it.

When I got up to go to the kitchen, I saw that the garage door was WIDE OPEN.... and of course... things were quiet.... there were NO DOGS in our house!  GREAT!!!!!!!  It was probably a good 20 minutes before we realize this.  

WANTED -  Two Scotties - Berkley the "Bad" and Fergus the "Famished":

Scott jumped in the car... only to return about 20 minutes later with no scotties.  He asks me to call in reinforcements, his dad, and ask for some back up.  The situation is grave.

Ally is screaming, Luke is crying because she is screaming... I am trying to calm everyone down, but I am downright MAD at Ally. Tension is high in the McIntosh household.

I go back and forth between thinking... "good riddance!" and wanting to cry... thinking the worse of course.  Imagining them getting hit by a car... gone to live in the wild forever... generally wondering what I will do with all their stuff if they are gone.  I am obviously not feeling optimistic today!  Maybe it's the economy?

Poor Scott, he's feeling awful, I know and this is a huge stress... I just know he's out there stressing, cursing, and worrying.  He loves those boys.... as bad as they are....

It isn't too terribly long - another 20 minutes maybe - before I hear Ally yell that they are home... and Scott walks through the door with two of the worst smelling scottie dogs in the world.....

I am rethinking my wanting them home safe and sound!

Scott, takes them and their crates outside... and hoses them down. Literally.  Bathes them with the hose in the back yard.  Lucky for them it's such a nice day!  We would have had to do the same thing if it were 40 degrees out!

So....  our convicts are home safe and sound... outside in their crates, thinking about what they've done.....

Ally is repenting.....

Luke is now sleeping....

Scott is resting....

I am blogging....

How else to I work through my emotions of the day!?  Oh - a martini or glass of wine would do the trick, but I too am fighting the cold.... so I'm thinking better of my alcohol intake...  ;-)

I can't believe it's only almost three in the afternoon!  Definitely feels like bedtime should be around the corner!!!!!!

Kiddios....

Well, I feel like there is a lot to update you on about Ally and Luke! Why do I feel like I haven't talked about them in a while?  I think it is mostly because I haven't blogged a lot this week!  Work has just been picking up the pace lately, and time is short.  I've mentioned this before and it continues.  We actually are in the middle of a small reorganization of my department.  Nothing major and I am not directly affected, but it does mix things up a bit and things like that always cause a little anxiety, ya know?

At any rate.... this past week, Luke finally had his 9 month well-baby visit.  We learned that he is 23 pounds and 30 3/4 inches long. He has slowed down weight wise... and fallen from the 90th to the 75th percentile... but his height has shot up!  He's completely off the chart now... he is very long!  A tall boy for Scott and I?  Hmm.... that would be interesting!

We have implemented "operation tough love" around here.  We are forcing Luke to sleep through the night.  We are only two nights into it... but we are not getting up for him, no matter what.  My pediatrician told me it was completely fine for him to cry up to two hours!  Luckily, we haven't had to wait that long yet for him to go back to sleep... but we are doing it!!!!  I'm so proud of us.. and hopefully, after the 4-5 days that it was estimated to take, we will have a boy who sleeps SILENTLY through the night and two VERY happy parents!

Luke has many new talents lately!  He has started clapping and he has started dancing.  I just really noticed his dancing today. I was singing to him as I fed him his solids and he was shaking his head back and forth.  I finally put it all together and realized what he was doing.  He then did it when the music started on one of his toys.  He just kinda sways back and forth.  SO CUTE! He is cracking me up.

He and Ally played for hours today.  Ally has become such a wonderful playmate and big sister.  She is really gentle with him.... and if something happens, like he hurts himself during the play, she is genuinely concerned.  He generally follows her around like a little puppy.  Crawls around after her from room to room as fast as his legs and arms can carry him.

Ally, herself had a soccer game this morning.... Grandma Geri and Boompa (my Dad) came to watch her and it was so great of them to make the trip!!!!  Ally was thrilled to have them here to cheer her on.  She has many adoring fans... one lucky little lady!  Ally had a GREAT game... she played goalie for the third quarter and I'm happy to report she didn't allow a single goal.  Okay, maybe there wasn't a single shot on goal the entire quarter, but still.  It's quite possible there wasn't a shot on our goal the entire game!  The score was like 12-0. Ally's team KILLED the other team... it was actually sad to watch... you started to really feel BAD for the other team.  Two goals were scored while their goalie was trying to retrieve his shoe that had gone flying when he tried to kick it.  I must say.... 5 year old soccer is HILARIOUS!

This past week, we also had Ally's first parent-teacher conference! We met with her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Spicer and learned that Ally is doing very well.  Not to be one of those moms, but Ally is quite bright... and I am proud of her!  She reads very well... she scored extremely high on all her initial testing... we were just so pleased to hear it. We know Ally is a smart girl, but it's nice to see that she can apply it academically.  Listen to that... it's KINDERGARTEN!  LOL!!  I crack myself up....

We also learned that Ally is "very social."  Code for... the girl won't shut up!!!!  She talks a lot in class and this comes as absolutely NO SURPRISE to me as my parents spent many a conference hearing the same thing from my teachers when I was in school.  I was very prone to "visiting with my neighbors."  Ally is indeed a social girl.

Another thing we were told is that Ally is a "sixteen year old trapped in a five year old body."  WOW!  Don't we know it!!!  Mrs. Spicer is obviously a genius to have figured our little girl out already. I'm just happy to know she has her number.. and appears to have things under control!  We couldn't have asked for a better match for Ally teacher-wise!!! We are so pleased with how she is doing and what she is doing there.

Well... that's what's up with the kiddios... I promise to post pictures soon!  I have my camera back now, but can't find the memory card anywhere.  I will have to get a new one cuz my camera only holds 10 pictures or so without it!  

What an Experience...

My friend Kristen got tickets to the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday... she somehow scored them online by just submitting a request and writing a short story about how her Mom would love to go.... that sort of thing!  Well, she was given four tickets... and I was lucky enough to make the short list to be able to go!  :-)

Jane, Kristen's Mom (Marilyn), Kristen and I all left Jackson at the ass-crack of dawn.... and got to Chicago in time for our 11:00 am check-in time for a 1:00 pm taping.  What a production!!!!  

When we arrived around 9:40 am Chicago time... the line was already forming outside the studio.  We ran to the nearest restaurant, a Subway, used their bathroom and grabbed a sandwich to eat in line.  We got back to the line and it was already moving! We had to inhale our sandwiches as we shuffled in through security as no food was allowed once we were inside.  A little indigestion was a small price to pay, right?  We were, after all going to the Oprah Winfrey Show!!!!

So... we made it through all the hoops and then, proceeded to sit and wait for at least an hour and a half..... Kristen had to stay downstairs because the Oprah Winfrey Show does not believe you are capable of walking up stairs if you are pregnant!  HA!!!!  So... Jane and I drank water, frequently peed and talked about every topic under the sun while we waited and anticipated being let into the actual studio....

The entire room was just buzzing!  As you can imagine, a room full of excited, dolled up women waiting to go to a taping of a show that is really a DREAM for a lot of people - it was electric!  I was surprised at how far many people had traveled in order to come to the show!  How many of them actually got on a plane to come to the show!  Amazing... Oprah really does have quite the following!!!!

Well.... somewhere along the way of calling groups in.... I realized I had to REALLY pee... so I made my way downstairs to the bathroom. Unfortunately as soon as I got there, they called our group's name... so I was immediately ushered into the studio.  Jane was still upstairs. We waited... and waited... and waited.  No Jane. We got seated, and luckily they allowed us to keep a space for her, but she just wasn't coming!  I was totally freaked out... I abandoned my little sister-in-law and now she was lost and alone!  :-)))))  HA! (Any of you who KNOW Jane are laughing your ass off right now!)  

Luckily, Jane came down when the number group was called.  For some reason our group was called by name early... and Jane made it when the rest of the groups were called in my number.  She never heard Kristen's name called.  LOL!!!!  

No harm done... she made it and I was just happy she wasn't left wandering around the waiting room....  :-)

The guest was Suze Ormand... it was a financial show.  Not the most exciting topic of course... but still... WE WERE AT THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW!!!  It was just so cool to see a live taping, see all that behind the scenes action!  Just an all-around cool experience!!!!!!

We were not allowed to have our cameras or cell phones in the studio at all... so after the show, we grabbed just a few shots... before we headed to Rise for some FABULOUS sushi and ginger martinis!!!!!!

It was such a wonderful day, with some of my favorite people in the world.... thank you so much Kristen for allowing us to have the experience!  It's a day I will never forget!!!!!!!!!

OPRAH!!!

I am going to see Oprah this Friday!!!!!!  I am GIDDY!!!  Can you tell?  My friend, Kristen got tickets somehow by submitting something on the website. HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!! She got four tickets... and is taking myself, Jane and her Mom!!!!  We have to be there by 11:00 am Central time... so we are just going to drive over there early Friday morning and drive back the same night.  

If you can believe it, I actually considered turning Kristen down when she first told me.  Things are CRAZY at work right now, and I didn't think I could take the day off... but COME ON!!!  This is OPRAH!!!!!  I have to go.......

We have no idea what the topic of the show is..... but any opportunity to see Oprah is an opportunity you don't let pass you by!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to have the story and pictures to post!!!!!!!!!!!

Dancing Queen...

Scott and I went to see Mamma Mia at the Wharton Center in East Lansing last night and what an awesome show!  I LOVED IT!!!  We had second row seats.... so we were right up close for the action.  I love, love, love sitting so close at events - plays, concerts, you name it.  There is nothing like being on top of it all!

I can't say enough about the show!  Ally would love it... and I have half a mind to turn around and take her to the matinee this afternoon... but there are some VERY adult themes and scenes that I'd rather not have to explain at this age!  There was a girl, probably around 8 or so sitting next to me last night, and there were times I was very uncomfortable just knowing she was there and she wasn't my kid!

So... if you haven't seen Mamma Mia, I highly, highly recommend you do!

It's Sunday morning and I have a few things I have to do at some point today for work. There are not enough hours in the work week apparently!  Oh well. It is the price I pay for my flexibility.  And I am extremely grateful for the flexibility I do have to take my kids to the doctor, leave early when they have things going on... come in late or stay home with them when they are sick.  A few hours work on a Sunday is a small price to pay.

Scott and Ally are at the grocery store.... Ally dressed herself this morning and I snapped a quick picture with my iPhone that I have to share.  It's crap quality, but you have to see this outfit she put together.. complete with her Uggs!  She cracks me up...

It's the sweater she got at the American Girl Store, a jean skirt, some leggings, her Uggs and a hat she HAD to have one day when we were at the Gap.  HAHA!!!  She looks adorable... and I couldn't NOT capture it, even with the crap camera that is on the iPhone.  

Speaking of cameras.... I got my camera back last week from Best Buy.  They did not just give me a new one as I suspected they would... they did send it away for repairs and it seems to be repaired.... but now, I can't remember where I put my memory card!  Nice, huh?  I wait six weeks for my camera to return to me and I still can't use it!!!!!!!!!!

A HUGE thanks to Jane though... for letting me use hers all that time..... I would have missed so many moments if she didn't let me borrow it!!!!!! THANKS JANE!

Luke slept through the night 3 or 4 nights last week... and then, last night was a debacle, he was up twice.  Oh well... at least he gave us some decent sleep during our week!!!!  He has his 9 month well-baby visit this week, finally.  They had to move it for some reason. I'm looking forward to finding out how much he weighs! Nana weighed him on her scale the other day and it read 23 lbs, 8 oz..... we shall see how accurate that is!!  Our little bruiser!

Enjoy the fall Sunday today everyone.... Scott is making his famous chili today and I can't wait!  YUM!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday Ramblings...

It's been a busy week for our family!  I have had a more than full work week and I don't see a real break in sight.  Oh well... we will plug along and deal!  We always somehow seem to manage.  I will tell those of you with one child this.... TWO IS EXPONENTIALLY MORE DIFFICULT!  Most days it feels like having four or something! Maybe it's the difference in Ally's and Luke's ages that makes me feel that way.  A school age child and a baby is a lot to balance. Add to that two full time working parents and whew!

It was just one of those weeks that makes me stop and wonder how we will survive.  But, then a week that is a bit more low key will arrive and give me the respite I need to believe it is possible....

Ally had soccer this morning - again a 9:00 am game!  She had to be there early for pictures though, so it was an 8:30 arrival time for her!  Scott took her and I followed with Luke closer to game time. It was COLD this morning! Frost on the grass!  I dug out my Uggs and a winter coat... bundled Luke in a head to toe fleece... and off we went to the big game!  Nana and Papa joined us this week and Ally was so happy to have so many fans there to cheer her on.  She has a bit of a cold, so I think she was a little tired today, but she did a pretty good job.   There were moments when we weren't so sure she remembered she was playing a game of soccer.  She tends to get separated from "the herd" and stand there as if to say... "Huh, what was I just going to do?"  Scott kept calling her a space cadet.... I just chuckled...

They won their game 2-0!  Good thing we have some fabulous "bigger" boys on the team!  I really think defense may be Ally's best position..... :-)

Scott just took Ally to some thing they're going for kids at the Hobbit in Spring Arbor. I don't know for sure what they're doing... but she will get a pumpkin and who knows what else... I'm home with Luke so he can nap and I threw a load of laundry in.  There are other things I should be doing.... but the laptop has this tendency to call to me... like it's lonely.  So, here we sit, on the couch... 

I was looking through some old pictures and I must share these two shots.....

The "Spartan" pic is Ally and Luke is the second pic.  They look so much alike to me! I know their eyes are very different.  Ally has always had these HUGE eyes that bore into your soul.... but their face shape and expressions are so eerily similar!  They have the same little mouth and chin...

Sometimes Luke will just give me a look that is SO ALLY!  But... other times, he is just SO BOY!  He is all boy.  He plays rougher.... he is less graceful (not that Ally is full of grace herself!) and he is just more aggressive with his actions.  He's going to break things and destroy furniture when he gets older... I can just FEEL IT!

Ah... at any rate.... Scott and I are going to see Mamma Mia tonight up at Wharton.  I'm really excited because we have FABULOUS seats... second row or something like that... and I've never seen this show before!  I want to take Ally to see the movie, but I wanted to wait until I saw the stage performance first.  So... maybe next weekend or tomorrow I will take her.....

Happy Saturday to you all!

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