Wordless Wednesday

My Girl is NOT "Average"

Look at this picture, does Delaney look "average" to you? (Please disregard her wet hair, we normally do her baths at night)............Here's a closer look----I may be her mother (or "mom" as she likes to say) which makes me a little bias but I just don't see anything average about her!
I mean would an "average" kid bring along Wally Lamb to the doctor's office to read?
Or would an "average" kid get to eat in the living room (a big "no no" in our house) and get to watch Desperate Housewives before nap time? DIDN'T THINK SO!!!

(Have you tried the Smores Goldish yet??)

So when we went for Delaney's 18 month check up today and the doctor told me she's in the 50th percentile which "just means" she's growing at an "average" rate I was not happy! She weighs 24 lbs (now you do know that I never tell her "true" weight right??) and is 32 inches tall, or as the doctor would say "just average"..............................Delaney had to get 2 shots today (hence the eating in the living room---she's always allowed to watch Desperate Housewives!) and did great. She did cry tears but was such a big girl. Speaking of big girls, she doesn't get anymore shots until she goes to kindergarten---you know with the other "average" kids!!!! I don't know why this doctor keeps thinking I am ever going to let her go to school! I mean I told him she slept 14 hours last night how in the heck does he think she's ever going to get up in time!

18 Months!!!

My little sweet cheeks (see below) is 18 months old today! When we were in Florida this summer we went to the grocery and a lady who was shopping with her "tween" daughter stopped and looked at Delaney and said "before you know it she'll be her age" while pointing at her daughter. I replied "don't I know it"...............................She went straight to the bath today after lunch (and YES, she ate lunch while still in her pajamas)!!!! We "planned" to go tailgating today but the rain kept us from leaving the house.
This weekend Uncle David and Aunt Teresa and Cousin Maria came into town for a visit (and I may have forgotten to take pictures but I did remember to take pictures of the food after everyone left). We had THE BEST fettucine alfredo (let me know if you want the recipe, it's really easy).....see how good it was!!!!
And for dessert we had pumpkin spice cupcakes that only require two count them two ingredients (or, as Teresa from The Real Housewives of New Jersey would say "ingrediences"). One box of yellow cake mix and one can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) you do NOT add the oil, egg and water listed on the cake directions---see, I told you TWO ingredients. I then frosted them with cream cheese icing and sprinkled Heath bar bits on top. There were 6 leftover. Of course not now--what can I say Delaney has a sweet tooth!!!! We had a fun visit and can't wait to do it again. Oh, and I discovered this morning the cleaning lady forgot to empty the wastebasket in the bathroom before everyone came over! I think I"ll fire her!!! I am sure our family members who came over didn't notice but I sure did. I like a clean bathroom for company (and for us too!)
There are a lot of things I should be teaching Delaney at 18 months and I take my job very seriously! I realize that A.J. Foyt (the newest one) is likely next in line to be the Colts "official" baby mascot but Delaney should definitely make the short list! Her "Go Colts" comes out "Go Golts" and you'll have to excuse the apples in her mouth for "touchdown" I should have waited until she swallowed. I tell her a lady chews with her mouth closed---guess I forgot to teach her not to talk with food in her mouth!

And here is what my little sweet cheeks is up to:

• I don't know height/weight but will update on Tuesday after her doctor appointment. And yes, she will be getting shots so we will probably make a pit stop at the mall to make her feel better (or at the very least for ice cream)!
• The doctor has asked me the last couple of visits how many words she says and I was totally caught off guard. I think I said 5 (this was 3 months ago). Well you can multiply that times 3 for this visit. This girl was born with the gift of gab! You know that whole apple tree thing! Oh my land she talks from the second she gets up until she goes to bed. Each morning I hear her on the monitor saying "mom" "mom" and she also throws her baby on the floor combining that with a "thump"! Once she goes to bed at night she can sit in her crib and be really quiet so you think she's asleep then you hear her making noise or banging on the wall! I won't repeat her words from last month but I think these are new: her latest trick is to pull herself up on the sofa but before she does she stands in front of it and says "uppie".....she also says "uh oh" about 100 times a day. Typically, after she has intentionally thrown something she says it! I tell her "uh oh" is not for when you do something on purpose---she doesn't care!
• She is still strangely obsessed with my cell phone and likes to hold it up to her ear and say "hello" and just today she was holding it up to her ear with her shoulder while messing with the remote! I think tomorrow we will dump all of her toys off at Goodwill!
• She has been doing some really fun things lately---she makes fish lips and kisses with them! She kisses pretty much all the time now and a couple of times I haven't even had to prompt or ask her (she also blows kisses). We were sitting on the sofa and she was standing up on my lap and leaned down to kiss me out of the blue---I had to call the cardiologist because right then and there my heart melted!!!!
• A couple of days ago she lifted up my shirt and gave me a "zerbert" on my belly button! No clue who the heck taught her that!
• She is into smelling her and more strangely--other people's feet! She also likes to tickle feet!
• We recently went to the mall and she had to take both of her babies. Now, when I was pregnant, I didn't care boy or girl---all I cared about was ONE baby! I am not about to start taking care of twins now! Even if they are just baby dolls. This girl sucks on her baby's ear until it's sopping wet and I have to wash it constantly. The other day I washed it during naptime---not my brightest idea seeing how she sleeps with her "day day" which is code for baby. Luckily she has another baby that resembles her "day day" so we improvised!
• The girl will NOT eat meat! I think I have an 18 month old vegetarian!
• She holds out her hands and does the "all gone" motion.
• She is starting to throw tantrums where she arches her back and then she does the cutest thing she takes her whole hand and covers her face and then pulls her hand down slowly pulling down her bottom lip---I realize that was not easy to picture, I'll try to get it on camera.
• I am in a rut lately and feel like I feed her the same food over and over (and don't worry, I threw out her Campbells soup per Dr. Oz's warning).
• It seems lately that almost everyday she does something and I am saying to myself "where did she learn that". I mean seriously I am with this kid 24/7! Here are a few things: I have our printer in our kitchen. Not because it looks good in there but because there is nowhere else to put it. We don't have a home office (or media room, or library or wine tasting room for that matter--we have bedrooms!) Anyway, I don't print often so I don't leave the printer plugged in. The other day Delaney walked up to the printer, grabbed the cord and walked over to the outlet and tried to plug it in. No clue how she knew to do that she isn't ever in the kitchen when I am printing! She took a coaster off the end table the other day and sat it down on the ottoman and sat her sippy cup on the coaster! I always use a coaster so I guess this "living the example thing" really works! LOL....The other day she tried giving her baby doll her sippy cup----she really is full of cuteness like that! I think she is really going to be into baby dolls! HELLO AMERICAN GIRL................
• Her new thing is she likes to turn the light switches off and on (thank goodness light switches are up high and I have to be holding her to do it)!

Dear Delaney,

So many people say that 18 months is their favorite age. I don't disagree but I won't forget the past 17 months either! Time is just flying by and being able to be home with you is priceless! You get 100% of me forever Delaney! (And just so you know, if you want, you can always live at home!!) I say all the time "you are so much fun" you have the sweetest personality and really are quite entertaining! Everyone just wants to eat you up and pinch/kiss your chubby little cheeks (including the pool guys who came last week--I seriously thought they were going to kidnap you they couldn't get enough of you) I'll make sure when they come back this week we aren't home! You are such a curious little girl you have to be in "everyone's business". You are cute and sweet and so much fun, I just can't believe you're already one (and a half if we want to get "technical").

Love you sweet cheeks!

Your "mom" as you say!

Goodbye Summer.......

Delaney is all ready for fall y'all. You probably think because we haven't blogged much lately we haven't been up to much but that couldn't be further from the truth. We have been busy squeezing Delaney into last year's fall onesie (which thank goodness it was a bit big on her last year and fits her perfectly this year)................and purging her summer clothes.............(notice my helper at the bottom of the picture)
and making our new fall wreath (which will probably also be our Christmas wreath once we pull the pumpkins off).........

Good-bye summer (they're coming next week to close the pool)............

See you next year!

We thought it would be fun to do a little recap from summer which of course includes a:

Swimsuit Edition 2011

(Notice the only time she's not wearing a sunhat is in the house!)

This summer was made up of Family, Friends, Food, Fun and.........

Apples

Babydolls

Cousins

Drives

Eating

Florida

Grandmas and Grandpas

Hugs

Ice cream

Juice

Kisses

Laughing

Mall

Naps

Oatmeal

Pool

Quiet

Ravioli

Swing

Tailgating

Unbearable heat

Vacation

Wagon

"X"tra special moments

Yogurt

Zoo

We're sad to see summer go but we are excited for fall!!! "We" have a couple of ideas for Delaney's halloween costume this year and can't wait to get started!

Wordless Wednesday

(sorry, I cheated and used a picture already on the computer)

GO I.U.!!!!!

We set our alarm for 9:00 this morning so we could load up and get on the road to go to I.U. to tailgate today and visit cousin Cerelle. For the record, we have no idea who they played, what the score was or who won (we didn't stay for the game). Those things were not important to us! What was important was spending the week before tracking down an I.U. cheerleader outfit for Delaney (it was a group effort that consisted of many phone calls, text messages and trips to multiple stores). Oh, and in addition to the cheerleader outfit, she needed a long sleeve white shirt to go under it....you know, the one I took off of her not long after we got there because it was so hot today! Uncle Jim took Delaney for several walks and of course she had to take her baby--and blanket with her. I wasn't shocked to see who had to carry the baby back to our site!
Aunt Beth brought Delaney marshmallows (I lost track of all of the junk food Delaney had today! Oh, and if I were a bad mom I would have let her have french fries and an elephant ear the night before but good thing I'm not a bad mom!!!!)
I made her a megaphone (that lasted through this ONE picture!) Not sure why she looks like she's trying to smoke it!
At one point she was holding her baby rocking her back and forth in her camp chair. Here she is with her organic apple juice to counteract the Doritos and marshmallows of course!
I always get mad when I forget to get a group photo! Ricky--you made the blog! Happy Birthday!!! I told everyone to take off their sunglasses but Aunt Essie didn't get the message!
If you look closely you'll see Delaney is sitting here with the mustard bottle. She saw it when we set up our site and was obsessed with it! She did however give it back when the brats were ready!
Couldn't resist!!! LOVE ME SOME RUFFLE BOTTOMS!!!
So about this time last year we went down to I.U. to tailgate and without going back to look at that blog post I'm sure it went something like this "we had so much fun blah blah blah but ain't no way Delaney is EVER going away to college blah blah blah".....but a year later I have decided "we had so much fun blah blah blah and STILL there ain't no way Delaney is EVER going away to college"!!! If this picture doesn't explain why then I don't know what to tell you! I will tell you however that I was the ONLY thirty-"something" mother in the midst of this madness PUSHING A STROLLER WITH A BABY IN IT!!!!!!!!!!! A father stopped us and said "here's the good news, you have an adorable daughter----here's the bad news, your daughter is going to grow up someday and come here and behave like my daughter"..............TRUE STORY PEOPLE! (Well, the fact he stopped us not that that is EVER going to happen!)
And I am humbly asking for your nominations for THE WORST MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD because I apparently didn't think I needed to take sunblock with me today but clearly (well, not so clearly in this horrible picture taken with my cell phone) I needed to. I love that Delaney is without her hair bow, white shirt we just had to have, her socks and her shoes! She fell asleep 10 minutes before we got home tonight! I told Delaney when she wakes up tomorrow it will be time to support our "other" team---our boys in blue!
Perhaps before worrying about sending Delaney off to college I need to think about sending her off to etiquette school! ZERO MANNERS when it comes to sitting like a lady!

Wordless Wednesday

"All Gone"

FUNday Monday!!!!

We had big plans for today. We got up and put on our dresses (seeing how Delaney has 2 with the tags still on---size 12 months---that she needed to wear)......so, a quick text to aunt Karey ("can't wait for tomorrow, wear a dress") and we were off..............our friends Erin and Elyse were suppose to go but baby Elyse is sick---HOPE you feel better soon baby Elyse!!! We headed about a 1/2 hour north to Trader's Point Creamery and Dairy Farm (I think that's its official name) for lunch and of course ice cream. It is in Zionsville and is an organic farm where the food goes from the farm to your table. We failed to get a picture of our food but Karey did remember to take a picture of the ice cream---I am not usually one to get vanilla but it was really good! It was creamy and very flavorful and Delaney liked it too...but I think she liked Karey's blackberry better and wouldn't you know my picture of her's didn't turn out! But take our word for it. There is a big empty barn on the property you can rent out for weddings, etc.---(Delaney goes NOWHERE without her baby)............And there were cows (and flies......) The restaurant is called the Loft. I meant to get a picture inside. It is really neat and has a "rustic elegance" decor. Oh, and our waitress was a girl I went to middle school with back in 7th grade. She recognized me immediately so I ask you, is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I mean do I REALLY look like I did in the 7th grade??????? Oh, and strike two was when she asked if Delaney was my 1st and when I replied "yes" she said "oh, you waited awhile didn't you"!!!!!!! (Her son was in MIDDLE school)....................
Then we walked around the grounds for some pictures......(and an hour after we got home Karey reminded us we forgot to go into the store where they sell their food products). Guess we'll just have to go back!!!
Please excuse Delaney's white shoes. We are perfectly aware you are not suppose to wear white "below the waist" after Labor Day. But, you need to be aware that it is like 90 degrees today. Oh, and we did go shopping on Saturday for new shoes for her but Stride Rite didn't impress so she didn't get any. And, I also want to blog about what only my kid would do right smack in the middle of Von Maur and the mall. She wore her sandals so it would be easy to try on shoes so when I went to put a pair on her in Von Maur, where by the way, they don't sell wide width nor extra wide width, and when I took her shoe off she lifted up her stinky feet to her nose and made her crinkle face like her feet stunk---AND THEY DID!!! So I then tried on a pair of crocs at the mall kiosk and she did it again.....the girl is determined to mortify her mother!!!! But oh my gosh it was so "stinkin" cute. My problem is I can't buy her shoes off the internet because her foot is so wide and chunky she has to try everything on. Oh and while in Von Maur I tried Uggs on her and her foot wouldn't even bend---how is she ever going to wear Uggs?????? This is a fashion crisis we're dealing with here people!!!! P. S. the crocs don't feet her either...........

Are You Ready for Some Football?????

Apparently, the Colts aren't!!! Delaney was so depressed over the game, just before halftime she decided to go take a nap!!!And then wanted to wake up (after only an hour) to wish all of her grandparents........

Fashion Friday

Ok so today's "fashion" isn't exactly clothes. It's this adorably cute (is that redundant?) kitchen I found on where else? PINTEREST? I mean if this doesn't get you to join nothing will! Anyway, I know you want to see a picture of Delaney and what she's wearing but she's napping and you all know my stance on that!!! So, while wasting lots of valuable time on the internet when I should be reading Mansfield Park (for book club on my new Kindle "fourteen" of my closest friends got me---true story---I am so blessed!), I came across this BUT I NEED YOUR HELP! Garage sale season is coming to an end so I need ALL EYES on the lookout for this. I think it's a t.v. stand (you know, from the 80's) so if you stumble across one PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BUY IT. Delaney promises to pay you back!!Oh, and if you're wondering what she's wearing today it's her purple onesie that says Mom's Lil Shopper (thanks Debbie). She wanted to wear it in preparation for tomorrow's Macy's sale she is so excited to go to. She thinks she needs new socks and pajamas...........oh and new shoes, she thinks she needs them too! I can no longer afford this kid! ha ha ha

Have a nice weekend and as we are "starting" to say in our house---GO COLTS!!! GET WELL SOON PEYTON!!!!

Fish and Locks

Delaney and I love fish, white fish (tilapia) and GOLD FISH (which I swore I would never give her!!!!) One of her newest things lately is to fold her arms like this (it's sooooo darn cute)! And just in case you're wondering what her shirt says........................
I've been meaning to blog about this too, Delaney's daddy insisted we were not going to need those things you put on your cabinets to keep your kids out of them, he thought we would just tell her "no no". Darnit, I can't remember what they are called, does anyone know? Oh wait here's a picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOCKS they're called LOCKS!!!
The "no no" approach didn't work!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Fall Y'all..........

Well, Delaney and I were NOT happy this morning when we got up and had to put these on!!! Although it's not technically fall until September 23rd (yes, I looked it up for you) it sure feels like it today. But, it's our favorite season so we aren't complaining, in fact we're making our list of all the things we want to do this fall: Design our pumpkin ("we" think we already know what we're going to do this year--courtesy of pinterest), go to a pumpkin patch (hayride/apple cider/pictures), get out our fall decorations, order a "fall" shirt from Etsy, make halloween costume--again, "we" think we already know what "Delaney" wants to be, buy a fall candle (any recommendations?) WOW, who knew putting on socks would lead to so much!Oh and because I know you want to see the cute face that belongs with those cute feet.........
We haven't put away our flip flops just yet. In fact, Delaney just tripped over mine on her way to bring me her Thanksgiving book! WOW, guess she really is ready for fall (or maybe she just wants turkey for lunch)....which, I need to go fix!

***I had to go back and add this to today's post----tonight, I was sitting on the sofa and Delaney walked up to my leg, pulled my pant leg up and tickled my leg and said "tickle tickle" NO CLUE where she learned that from!! I do not tickle her because I HATE to be tickled!!

Labor Day Weekend....continued

So have you all spent the past 24 hours creating your pinterest boards? Addicting isn't it? I think that it will become a very valuable tool for home decorating and party planning. I think pinterest is one of the coolest things I've come across lately and had to share it. Why does my brain always think I"ll remember where I saw something online because I never do! I really do think when you have a baby your mind gets left behind 'cause I know I'm not the only one who's mistakenly put away the Tide in the refrigerator RIGHT PEOPLE????? Anyway, onto our weekend wrap up who cares about Tide (clearly not the cleaning lady who once again, failed to show up!) Delaney and I "labored" Sunday night to get our house ready for our company today and although we didn't get the weather we were hoping for that didn't stop us from celebrating--I mean that's why they make sweatshirts. We had bbq chicken on the grill..........................and ice cream cake (and plenty in between like baked beans, mac n cheese, cole slaw and pasta salad) but really? isn't it all about the main course and dessert--which by the way there were two of, cousin Jenny makes the best lemon squares but they aren't really considered dessert since we served them along with lunch!)
And this little one was all about being outside.......(and yes, I know I mentioned sweatshirts but Delaney didn't have one that matched)!
And didn't understand why she couldn't get in the pool.............
with cousin Adarrah (or Jackie O as I was calling her) Despite the cold air, the pool water felt great, or so said Jackie!
Here is cousin Jenny feeding the little monkeys bananas!
We had a fun day and are sad the holiday weekend is over. But, we are more sad that we will be "laboring" tomorrow putting away all of our white clothes!

Labor Day Weekend

Sorry we haven't blogged in a couple of days, Delaney and I have been busy getting our house ready for family to come over on Monday for a cookout............................we can't wait to sit outside and enjoy that mountain view!!!! What do you mean there are no mountains in Indiana? Ok, well I guess I"ll just keeping wasting my time (I mean enjoying spending time) on PINTEREST----my newest addiction! What is Pinterest you ask? Well, I'm glad you did because as you know, I'm all about "paying it forward" when I come across new things! I think that pinterest really was made just for me. It is a virtual "pin board". If you are online and come across something you like and want to "remember" but you know you won't, you "pin it" and then it goes to your personalized pin board----you can add the "pin it" icon to your bookmark and then it's as easy as a click to pin it to one of your boards---you can personalize the categories for your boards. I have DIY projects, recipes, one for Delaney, and books to read. I just can't describe to you how much I am loving it. However, if you have an addictive personality (or don't want to lose your job due to all of the time you'll spend on pinterest) maybe it's not for you because once you go pinterest you'll NEVER go back! ha ha ha P.S. my favorite "style" is tuscan so this picture just screams at me--I am LOVING the rustic beams on the ceiling---which I want to someday do to our kitchen!

(since I"m all about giving credit where credit is due----photo courtesy of HGTV)

We'll be back soon with pictures of you know who. She's all about wearing her white clothes since she won't be able to after Monday!!!!

Fashion Friday

Are you all wondering if someone hacked into my blog yesterday and had the audacity to leave a post without a picture????? Or, are you all wondering if Delaney not napping on Wednesday was just a fluke? Apparently not, because she did (or didn't) do it again on Thursday! So, maybe the "hacker" was wrong about never waking a sleeping baby when it's 10:45 a.m. and she's still sleeping!!!!

DID

YOU

GUESS????

We were at the canal!!!! Delaney's outfit is from guess where????? GYMBOREE!!!!!!

Oh, and if you're wondering if the "random fest" is over--not quite, well, I thought so but then yesterday I went into Delaney's room to get a basket that sits on her floor and has her blankets in it. When I lifted ALL (if you've had a baby then you know how many blankets you can accumulate) of the blankets out there was a basket full of diapers I never used!!! They were size 2-3 (Delaney wears a size 4) and if you're wondering....YES I immediately took Delaney's diaper off of her to see if they would still fit and YEP they sure did/do! Oh and if that wasn't random for you how about the fact Delaney's grandma Terry found her sunscreen in our outdoor trash can!!! I think my reply was "I'm not surprised"....what may surprise you is Delaney can't reach the trash can so that only leaves one other suspect as to who threw it in there!! STUPID DOG!!!!

Thursday "Thoughts"

I am not sure when the last time I did a post WITHOUT a picture of Delaney in it was but sorry people, it's happening!! Actually, I am writing this late on Wednesday evening (as in...it's almost Thursday) and she's asleep right now so NO WAY am I sneaking in her room to take her picture because if there's one thing I have learned as a mother in 17 months it's that I will "NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY". I am talking this kid is ONLY being awaken if our house were on fire (and maybe just maybe for a good sale at Janie and Jack!!!) Ok so enough of that ---I get so sidetracked--- Maybe because it's late, or maybe because my daughter didn't nap today but we aren't talking about that either because I'm just sure it was a fluke! Ok so here is where this post gets random.....just a few things I've had on my mind lately. Oh, and if you're still reading this post, these are in no way life changing so if you have something really important you need to do, I'd go do it!

1. For those of "us"---please please tell me there's an "us" and I'm not the only one addicted to Giuliana and Bill? It's on at 8:00 on Monday nights. Well, in the Newsom household that means 9:00 because NOTHING CAN TECHNICALLY BE "WATCHED" UNTIL DELANEY GOES TO BED! Which is why I am up---and it's NOT because I enjoy watching Toddlers and Tiaras either (where by the way a little toddler just stuffed her bra and underwear--NO JOKE!). I'd be happy to change the channel if only I could find the remote.......I'm sure a certain someone has hidden it again in the drawer of the end table where she put it the other night sending her mother on a ten minute wild goose chase. Ok ok (see, sidetracked again) back to Giuliana and Bill. Since this season began I've noticed that her hair is different than last season---let's get this straight people, I covet her hair!! (or, I did). Her roots are sooooo dark and she has really long hair (probably extensions) and it just looks horrible. I mean it's like I want to call the Style Network and say "yes, I know I'm just a girl from Indiana----what? Yes people, I-n-d-i-a-n-a- you know, between Illinois (where your Husband is from) and Ohio---what do you mean you've never heard of Indiana?? well, anyway, I think you need to hire a new hair stylist out there in L.A. on the set because Giuliana's hair just looks awful!" Ok, so that would never happen because A. I don't know their number and B. they would never accept my call. oh and C. I pretty much can't make (or take) calls anymore between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. due to a certain someone who is constantly making noise. So....for those of you still reading this post, I have just learned that this "darker on top" look is in!! I should have known....I mean especially for a stylist icon like "G" herself and it has a name----Ombre Hair they call it!!!!! Now, I realize that a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) like me is in no way shape or form going to be invited to sit at a judge's table when it comes to style (seeing how this is day 3 of said green shorts I am wearing because the maid has once again failed to show up this week to do the laundry) but REALLY???? Two tone hair on purpose??? This is just not right!!!! All I know is when I go to my hair stylist later this month (you know because it is September now people so turn the page on your Erin Condren planner---you DID get one didn't you???) I will A. NOT be asking for a feather in my hair and B. NOT be asking to go "Ombre".................I mean who knew all these years when our "roots" started growing out we were just ahead of the times---well westcoast times at least!

2. I was sad to learn that Kate Plus 8 will be going off the air in two weeks. I realize she is like a lot of things (for me, the color red) you either love it or you don't (by the way, I don't). I however often compare myself to her (minus 7 kids of course) in her "mother style" because IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED I AM A BIT INSANE WHEN IT COMES TO MY DAUGHTER--I DON'T THINK LIKE A RATIONALE PERSON AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL. I am like a warrior I guess you could say----I did extensive research (I know, shocking!) on which car seat to buy Delaney. I had it narrowed down to 2. At the store, I let some young girl who couldn't possibly know anything about kids (or so I thought) help me and when she showed me the one (not even in the running) that Kate Gosselin has for her kids I said "sold" say no more, don't need to hear your "speech about safety features" just wrap it up!!! As I watched her show last night it was the first part of their RV trip around the country (which by the way, I have always thought sounded like fun--with a hired driver like she had of course!) and it really portrayed how downright awful she treats people. I am talking her BFF and her nanny (I"m sure the driver, camera crew and her bodyguard--who looks nothing like Kevin Costner) got the brunt of Kate too! I mean it was just awful. And she gave a whole new meaning to the word "prissy" (well if you don't count her letting the kids throw sewage at her---don't worry, we won't do that when we go!) on this trip (as if traveling in an RV--actually it was two) with your full entourage and organic chicken breasts with you was "roughing it". I wanted to call into TLC (maybe Style has their #) and have them "remind" Kate that not too long ago she took a little trip to Alaska to visit Sarah Palin for an overnight camping trip and it did not go well (to say the least) so not sure why she thought a camping trip across country would be a good idea! She'll be known as Kate Plus 8 Minus Two (her BFF and Nanny!) I was recently at a seminar in Chicago where a guest speaker said to "Live The Example" for your kids. Perhaps Kate should have attended!

3. If you're by some strange chance still reading---why I have no idea----my last thought is about Dairy Queen. Specifically, this month (or now I guess that's last month's) blizzard of the month! Nutter Butter to be exact! Delaney bugged me all month to go get one. So, like any self respecting mother we packed up and headed straight to DQ---Is this what the speaker meant by "Live The Example"???? WE WERE NOT IMPRESSED!!!!! We like our ice cream just as much as the next person but we wanted more Nutter, more Butter DQ. You're going to have to do better this month! We give Nutter Butter Blizzard two scoops down!

4. Oh and if you're wondering the little toddler just went on stage and she was impersonating Dolly Parton---oh, ok, that all makes sense now! I was just waiting for her to start belting out Islands in the Stream!!! Ok, so maybe I should wake up Delaney to see where she put that remote!

5. My random thoughts are done now--oh and it's officially Thursday, September 1st--time to turn the page on my Erin Condren planner (no really, I am not a paid spokesperson)