Good alternatives for Chit-Chatty strangers

Recently my friend Austin, who just went through a painful and elaborate leg surgery, blogged about how he was really, really sick of everyone asking him how he hurt his leg. He didn't want to get into the unpleasant details with a perfect stranger, especially not for the 100th time that week.

*Blush*, because I'll use just about any excuse to strike up a conversation with a friendly looking stranger. But then I started thinking about how tiresome it gets, as the pregnancy progresses, when people seem to stop seeing me and only see the belly (and possibly, the other 3 children I'm wrangling at the time.) Case in point (actual recent conversation):

Friendly old lady: "Oh, so you're expecting aNOTher baby? Are ALL these babies yours?

me: "Yes. It's a boy, and he's due in September. We're really excited."

Old lady: "So you'll have two of each. How nice."

me in my head: Yes, I figured that one out on my own, actually.

me: "Yes. It will be fun for his big brother not to feel so outnumbered."

not so friendly old lady: (firmly)So you are done having children now. You won't be able to afford any more.

me: "Oh, I'm not worried. My husband has a great job."

me in my head: again, maybe I've done this math already?

even less friendly old lady: "It might not be so bad now, but wait until they get older! You'll have to buy yourself a new Frigidaire just to keep up! Go grocery shopping, and it'll be all gone 5 minutes later!"

me: (exit stage left. I wander off to find Jello.)

So. I vote that we begin a campaign to stop all frivolous ice-breaker questions--they always end up being tedious and/or judgmental. No commenting on somebody's crutches or pregnant belly or that weird rash on their face or why their pants are on backwards. Stumped? Here's a list of new ideas for that friendly person behind you in the checkout line:

"Hi! I see you like gum. I do, too. We should be friends."

"Remember The Truman Show? I wonder if they're watching us now."

"I'm going to the beach and I need a great book to read. What's the most life changing book you've read lately (that you wouldn't mind getting wet)?"

"I don't think it should be required by law for adults to wear their seat belts. We have the right to be stupid if we want to. Discuss."

See? Friendly people just need to get more creative.

Charlotte's new hair cut

This is Charlotte, Thursday.

This is Charlotte, Friday morning, post clandestine scissors in the bathroom episode.

This is Charlotte, Sunday morning, post mommy bawling for the better part of an hour, a mullet eliminating hair cut, and some creative use of a head band.

Yeah, so apparently this happens to everyone. Doesn't mean I can't cry about it a little! Although now, I have to admit, I'm enjoying the punk rocker look. She'll just have to wear a hat or a headband for the next 3 years to cover the big bald patch.

It's a boy!

After enduring the necessary, but hardly comfortable 45 minute prodding and poking ultrasound, we were rewarded to hear that our new baby is healthy and growing right on target. And a boy. If you look closely in the picture above, you can see a little face profile with nose and lips (on the right side) and some tangled up legs (on the left). The ultrasound tech even gave us a neatly labeled picture with an arrow drawn to point out the prominent male-ness, but what kind of parents do you think we are?? You'll have to come change some diapers if you really are that curious. :)

Jack, Charlotte and Anna all came in to see the baby at the end of the exam. From Charlotte (upon seeing the spine) "Mommy! Baby brother looks like an alligator!" Jack was subdued-- either afraid his new little sibling was an alien, or he was annoyed that he had to stop watching "Teenage mutant ninja turtles" in the waiting room. Anna was just fussy and ready for a nap but she did squeal with delight when she saw the baby wiggling on the screen. Maybe she was just happy that Mom hadn't disappeared for good.

We're fielding name suggestions. (In honor of the sometimes wacky names we run into here in Vegas, we're telling everyone that we can't decide between "Solstice" and "Raindrop". )

More random cute pictures

I haven't had a chance to load pictures up lately, so I thought I would catch up a little. Here is Anna sharing an oreo milkshake with mom!

Jack and Charlotte never cease to amaze me with their inventive ways to get into trouble. My mother in law found them like this and came down the stairs, trying not to laugh, "um, are the kids...supposed to be turning that blue blanket into a hammock? They say they're camping?" Fortunately for everyone, the blanket is not an heirloom and the kids were applauded, not punished, for their ingenuity.

This is a picture of us with my sister Sarah's kids, who came to visit the week after Easter for their Spring Break. It was a busy week, and a lot of fun!

This is Charlotte and Grandma, "watching conference" together on Easter. It was a hectic weekend visit and everyone was a little short on sleep and taking catnaps when we could!

Jack's 5th Birthday party

For Jack's 5th birthday, we had a pirate themed party and lots of friends there to enjoy it with us! I made these cute cupcakes for the party (my first experience with fondant) and they were quite a sucess! I had to hide them on top of the cupboards to make sure they weren't taken by our crew of overzealous pirates before cake time!

This is the cake that I made for Jack's birthday--literally a hour before dinner, I sat there with a completed chocolate cake fresh out of the oven and asked, "I'm supposed to turn this into a pirate ship HOW?" But with help from our action figure box and a generous helping of canned frosting, I whipped up a cake that at least a five year old could accept as a pirate ship. Not going to be auditioning for Ace of Cakes anytime soon, though...

Everybody got dressed up for the party, and this is Jack's costume. He took it off about 3 minutes later because it was interfering with his climbing and running and hollering, so I had to take a picture while I had the chance!

One game we played: pirate battle! We turned our lawn furniture backwards to face each other, like two pirate ships, then let the kids pelt each other with balled-up socks. It was unexpectedly fun!

Look at a calendar, everyone...

Jack was born April 6, 2005. 18 months later, Charlotte came. 25 months later, Anna came. And 23 months after her, due on Sept. 19, we're going to welcome NUMBER 4 into our family! Perhaps it's foolhardy, baby hunger--perhaps (more realistically) it's a psuedo-suicidal attempt to get all the kids taken care of in one fell swoop--one crazy, frenzied group of diapers, a crazy, frenzied set of soccer players, a crazy, frenzied time filled with high school and college applications and missions.

Anyone willing to cook and change diapers is hereby offered residence in my guest room forever, especially after the new baby comes and Matt rushes from the delivery room to the OR.

What We're Up to

Jack is building space ships and action figures out of legoes. Constantly.

Anna is climbing onto the kitchen table. I did not take pictures the times she climbed up and spilled milk, cereal, spaghetti, water bottles, and crayon boxes.

Jack is pretending to be a super hero with giant carrot muscles. I promise I did not put him up this; he is this cool all by himself.

Charlotte is pretending to be a princess. Asks me daily if we're going to Disneyland today. I should have told them them in June.

A

More Christmas!

More Christmas break pictures---I hosted most of my Lewis family here in Las Vegas and we had a really good time together. When we weren't thowing up.

Here is a picture of many of us on Christmas Day. This also includes many of my brother in laws relatives, who live in the area and came to my home for the festivities. Who says you can't serve dinner to 23 people when you only own 9 chairs?

With everyone taking turns being sick (and cleaning up after sick kids!) we didn't get our act together enough to take a complete group picture; this is as close as we get--My brothers James and Mark, and my sisters Mary-Celeste and Sarah, and me.

On New Year's Eve, we had friends over again and spent the evening in Band Hero merriment. Matt spent the night in scrubs and went to bed at 8:30, but was still a good sport about the whole occasion. We are saving our real partying for when residency is OVER! :)

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's been....a while since I've been on the blog, and I wanted to post a few pictures of the wonderful Christmas we had here in Las Vegas:

Here are Jack and Charlotte in front of our fireplace! I finally have a good place to put my cute stockings up (and you can't see it in the picture, but I FINALLY got around to making one for Anna, too!)

Here is one of the few pictures we took on Christmas morning. I think this just about captures the exaultant, frenzied glory. And the fact that Charlotte wore her princess clothes all day long.

Charlotte got a doctor coat (guess her bought her that one?) and a matching coat for her new barbie doll.

Anna and Charlotte. There aren't any more pictures of Anna because I couldn't get her to sit still long enough!