11 hours ago
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Irony
Have you ever noticed that most of the ads in parenting magazines are for various methods of birth control?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Do We Have A Birthday Here?
Despite my best efforts to turn back, stop or at least slow down time, my baby has reached her first birthday. I can't believe it's been a year already, and I can't remember life without her.
Tonnelle has survived longer than any plant I've ever owned, and certainly longer than any pet fish I've attempted to care for. She has learned more in a year than I did during all my years of college. She makes me laugh more than anyone in the world, save Ben and maybe Tina Fey. And Conan O'Brien. And William Shatner. And Mr. T. OK, she makes me laugh a lot.
I have had my fair share of accomplishments in this life, but nothing has ever made me well with pride quite so much as when I overhear someone saying about my daughter, "That is the CUTEST baby I have EVER seen."
To celebrate her first year, I stole this idea from Becca -- I took a picture of her each month to kind of "chart" her growth.
Three days
One month
Two months
Three months
Four months
Five months
Six months
Seven months
Eight months
Nine months
Ten months
Eleven months
Twelve months
Tonnelle has survived longer than any plant I've ever owned, and certainly longer than any pet fish I've attempted to care for. She has learned more in a year than I did during all my years of college. She makes me laugh more than anyone in the world, save Ben and maybe Tina Fey. And Conan O'Brien. And William Shatner. And Mr. T. OK, she makes me laugh a lot.
I have had my fair share of accomplishments in this life, but nothing has ever made me well with pride quite so much as when I overhear someone saying about my daughter, "That is the CUTEST baby I have EVER seen."
To celebrate her first year, I stole this idea from Becca -- I took a picture of her each month to kind of "chart" her growth.
Three days
One month
Two months
Three months
Four months
Five months
Six months
Seven months
Eight months
Nine months
Ten months
Eleven months
Twelve months
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Name that husband
We had a poll a bit ago to see which nickname for Tonnelle was most popular. It was a close race. Actually the winning nickname – Nelly – only won by one vote, and I personally voted for it twice. (Hey, no one ever said that life -- or online polling) was fair.)
Your newest mission: a nickname for Ben. I’ve learned my lesson regarding asking for a nickname for myself. So let’s see what you can come up with for Ben.
Throw your suggestion in a comment and we’ll plug them all into a poll in the next week or so.
P.S. Though Nelly was the winning (and my preferred) nickname for Tonnelle, we love that many of you call her Tonna. Please continue to do so.
Your newest mission: a nickname for Ben. I’ve learned my lesson regarding asking for a nickname for myself. So let’s see what you can come up with for Ben.
Throw your suggestion in a comment and we’ll plug them all into a poll in the next week or so.
P.S. Though Nelly was the winning (and my preferred) nickname for Tonnelle, we love that many of you call her Tonna. Please continue to do so.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The best/worst movie EVER
This morning I had the chance of the lifetime. I got to go see the new Batman movie before anyone else in town.
A little background. When I was a kid, I was a mad fool for the old Batman television series. My comic book loving husband always begs me not to admit that, but I’m proud of my little Adam West/Burt Ward crush. I kind of had a crush on the Riddler, too.
I never, however, watched any of the movies. Not the Michael Keaton, Val Kilmore or George Clooney ones.
Then, three years ago when “Batman Begins” came out, for some reason I got really into it. I made tee-shirts for all my little buddies (my now brother-in-law Adam, Camille, Jeff and CR) and we went to the midnight showing. It was awesome. Life-changing experience. Really.
I wanted desperately to have a repeat of the experience this time around, but with the addition of Ben of course. That just wasn’t meant to be. I lost CR’s number, Adam’s plane just landed back in New York, Camille didn’t really like it the first time, and Jeff is in a penitentiary in Seattle. Plus, the midnight showing sold out before we ever got around to buying tickets. All my dreams were shattered and scattered as sharp shards of shame all about me. (OK, so that phrase doesn’t really make much sense, but isn’t the alliteration beautiful?)
A call late last night changed all that. Sure, Jeff is in prison*. But that didn’t stop his wonderful wife Stacey from offering to take us to the 9 a.m. employee showing. That’s right, we got to see the movie FOR FREE, and 15 HOURS before anyone else. Take THAT prepared people who bought their tickets in advance. HA.
So I played me some hooky and we overburdened poor Stacey’s babysitter with our little handful and went to the movie. And was it any good? Well …
Honestly, I wouldn’t know. The movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes. After the first hour and a half Stacey and I were so contorted with fear that we ran out of the theater, screaming like the little girls that we are. It was just too, too much. I haven't been that scared since the first "X-Files" movie (which, by the way, I'm dying to see the second one). When we finally got up the nerve to go back in, the credits were rolling.
Stacey and I vowed we would tell the whole world NOT to go see “The Dark Knight.” But then … on the drive home, Ben told me everything that I missed, and while I know it would have given me a heart attack, I’m actually dying to see it.
Sad, sad, sad. I’m sure Stacey will successfully talk me out of it. From now on, she and I should just stick to the chick flicks.
A little background. When I was a kid, I was a mad fool for the old Batman television series. My comic book loving husband always begs me not to admit that, but I’m proud of my little Adam West/Burt Ward crush. I kind of had a crush on the Riddler, too.
I never, however, watched any of the movies. Not the Michael Keaton, Val Kilmore or George Clooney ones.
Then, three years ago when “Batman Begins” came out, for some reason I got really into it. I made tee-shirts for all my little buddies (my now brother-in-law Adam, Camille, Jeff and CR) and we went to the midnight showing. It was awesome. Life-changing experience. Really.
I wanted desperately to have a repeat of the experience this time around, but with the addition of Ben of course. That just wasn’t meant to be. I lost CR’s number, Adam’s plane just landed back in New York, Camille didn’t really like it the first time, and Jeff is in a penitentiary in Seattle. Plus, the midnight showing sold out before we ever got around to buying tickets. All my dreams were shattered and scattered as sharp shards of shame all about me. (OK, so that phrase doesn’t really make much sense, but isn’t the alliteration beautiful?)
A call late last night changed all that. Sure, Jeff is in prison*. But that didn’t stop his wonderful wife Stacey from offering to take us to the 9 a.m. employee showing. That’s right, we got to see the movie FOR FREE, and 15 HOURS before anyone else. Take THAT prepared people who bought their tickets in advance. HA.
So I played me some hooky and we overburdened poor Stacey’s babysitter with our little handful and went to the movie. And was it any good? Well …
Honestly, I wouldn’t know. The movie is 2 hours and 40 minutes. After the first hour and a half Stacey and I were so contorted with fear that we ran out of the theater, screaming like the little girls that we are. It was just too, too much. I haven't been that scared since the first "X-Files" movie (which, by the way, I'm dying to see the second one). When we finally got up the nerve to go back in, the credits were rolling.
Stacey and I vowed we would tell the whole world NOT to go see “The Dark Knight.” But then … on the drive home, Ben told me everything that I missed, and while I know it would have given me a heart attack, I’m actually dying to see it.
Sad, sad, sad. I’m sure Stacey will successfully talk me out of it. From now on, she and I should just stick to the chick flicks.
A Letter To Kristi
Dear Kristi:
I know that one of the first things you do each morning when you get to work is check my blog. Well, this morning there's something you should know. I'm not coming into work today. I'm playing hooky.
I know you think I'm joking, but I'm totally serious. I have a really good reason ... but I can't tell you what it is. And no, I'm not pregnant again. Sorry. It's not that good of a reason.
To be fair, I'll give you a few hints. It has something to do with a Welsh guy (not Welch like the grape juice, but Welsh like from Wales). The Welsh guy pretends to be an American guy who pretends to be a flying rodent guy. I may be eating popcorn while all this takes place.
I'm not normally so irresponsible ... but today I make an exception. Please forgive me. And please answer my phone when it rings.
Love,
Jade
P.S. Cute outfit. I have no idea what you're wearing, of course. But you look great.
I know that one of the first things you do each morning when you get to work is check my blog. Well, this morning there's something you should know. I'm not coming into work today. I'm playing hooky.
I know you think I'm joking, but I'm totally serious. I have a really good reason ... but I can't tell you what it is. And no, I'm not pregnant again. Sorry. It's not that good of a reason.
To be fair, I'll give you a few hints. It has something to do with a Welsh guy (not Welch like the grape juice, but Welsh like from Wales). The Welsh guy pretends to be an American guy who pretends to be a flying rodent guy. I may be eating popcorn while all this takes place.
I'm not normally so irresponsible ... but today I make an exception. Please forgive me. And please answer my phone when it rings.
Love,
Jade
P.S. Cute outfit. I have no idea what you're wearing, of course. But you look great.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Highlights from the Oregon Coast
Last week we were in Oregon for the semi-tri-annual (aka every 18 months) Stellmon Family Reunion. Ben’s immediate family (his parents, all his siblings and all their kids) rented a house at the ocean and we all hung out for the week.
The house we stayed at was great – just a block from the ocean, with an incredible view.
Tonnelle saw the ocean for the first time … honestly, she wasn't that impressed.
She was much more impressed with the aquarium we went to in Newport. She was able to touch starfish and stare at a bunch of really weird fish.
Because the ocean was so cold, we headed to Devil’s Lake for some warmer swimming time. Everyone managed to burn there. This photo shows the two whitest white guys on the planet, pre-sunburn. The really white one is my brother-in-law Adam. Ben has the advantage of dark hair to make him look less transparent.
Tonnelle still wasn’t a fan of the water. Once we turned her around so her back was to the lake and she could play in the sand it wasn't so bad.
But mainly she wanted off the beach.
Just to prove I was there, too …
Some highlights from the trip:
• We put exactly 1,000 miles on our car and spent $165.77 on gas.
• During the drive home, we were listening to Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take the Girl” and I asked Ben something I’ve wondered for years – does that mean the girl died? When he told me yes I sobbed uncontrollably for about 10 miles until Ben took it back and told me that not only does she not die, she becomes the queen of France.
• Tonnelle got lots of playtime with her cousins and aunts. Now she finds life with just the two of us pretty boring.
• Ben didn’t get to relive his childhood memories of the ocean – instead I relived mine. His childhood memories involve seeking out the wildlife in tide pools and playing with starfish, crabs, etc. My childhood memories involve being scared of all the freaky things that live in the ocean, being scared of the waves, and being scared of cutting my foot on a bottle, getting some creepy disease and dying a horrible death.
• I fit into my skinny Capri pants for the first time in two years. The double chin you see in the family picture may seem to indicate otherwise, but in all reality I’m finally back to pre-pregnancy weight. My goal was 3 months. I did it in 11. What was my secret, you ask? Well, I didn’t do squat for 11 months, and then I got a Wii Fit and suddenly my pants fit again. Note, I never USED the Wii Fit – it was en route from Idaho Falls when I finally fit into the pants. But clearly it did the trick. I should be the Jared (the Subway guy) for the Wii Fit campaign. “Just buy one and you’ll lose 15 pounds. Pick one up today – or have someone else pick it up for you so you don’t have to exert yourself.”
• I lived under the same roof as Adam for an entire week, which was something I swore I would never do again. And we both survived.
The house we stayed at was great – just a block from the ocean, with an incredible view.
Tonnelle saw the ocean for the first time … honestly, she wasn't that impressed.
She was much more impressed with the aquarium we went to in Newport. She was able to touch starfish and stare at a bunch of really weird fish.
Because the ocean was so cold, we headed to Devil’s Lake for some warmer swimming time. Everyone managed to burn there. This photo shows the two whitest white guys on the planet, pre-sunburn. The really white one is my brother-in-law Adam. Ben has the advantage of dark hair to make him look less transparent.
Tonnelle still wasn’t a fan of the water. Once we turned her around so her back was to the lake and she could play in the sand it wasn't so bad.
But mainly she wanted off the beach.
Just to prove I was there, too …
Some highlights from the trip:
• We put exactly 1,000 miles on our car and spent $165.77 on gas.
• During the drive home, we were listening to Tim McGraw’s “Don’t Take the Girl” and I asked Ben something I’ve wondered for years – does that mean the girl died? When he told me yes I sobbed uncontrollably for about 10 miles until Ben took it back and told me that not only does she not die, she becomes the queen of France.
• Tonnelle got lots of playtime with her cousins and aunts. Now she finds life with just the two of us pretty boring.
• Ben didn’t get to relive his childhood memories of the ocean – instead I relived mine. His childhood memories involve seeking out the wildlife in tide pools and playing with starfish, crabs, etc. My childhood memories involve being scared of all the freaky things that live in the ocean, being scared of the waves, and being scared of cutting my foot on a bottle, getting some creepy disease and dying a horrible death.
• I fit into my skinny Capri pants for the first time in two years. The double chin you see in the family picture may seem to indicate otherwise, but in all reality I’m finally back to pre-pregnancy weight. My goal was 3 months. I did it in 11. What was my secret, you ask? Well, I didn’t do squat for 11 months, and then I got a Wii Fit and suddenly my pants fit again. Note, I never USED the Wii Fit – it was en route from Idaho Falls when I finally fit into the pants. But clearly it did the trick. I should be the Jared (the Subway guy) for the Wii Fit campaign. “Just buy one and you’ll lose 15 pounds. Pick one up today – or have someone else pick it up for you so you don’t have to exert yourself.”
• I lived under the same roof as Adam for an entire week, which was something I swore I would never do again. And we both survived.
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