Missing in Action

If I only had a brain. . .

This week has been filled with the lost and the found. Things have gone MIA so often this week, I feel like I've lost my brain. But I know what happened to it: I must have put my brain in a 'safe place' for future use; and now I don't know where that 'safe-place' is.

I admit that misplacing things are peppered throughout my past. My mom can attest to that: "Mama, where did I put my glasses case?" "Mama, where is my book?" "Mama, what did I do with my homework?" But this week. . .this week. . . was I loosing it.

Here are just a few examples:

Case 1

Exhibit A

Isaac's "Guy Blanket"

He had it for his nap yesterday. We--Isaac, Tom, and myself--could not find it anywhere after dinner. It went MIA for almost 24 hours. We searched in all the obvious and not-so-obvious places. We checked all the closets (upstairs and down), in nooks, in crannies, under beds, in the bathtub, the minivan. We scoured the floors and the empty spaces under the sofas. But to no avail. I was sure Paddington Bear came to life and walked off with it.

Exhibit B

The boys room.

Exhibit C

UNDER THE PILLOW!!!! Where was my brain?!
*shakes head* . . . under the pillow. . .

Case 2

Where is Isaac's diaper bag? I know it was in the car, but now it's not. Where or where can it be?

Exhibit A

I looked all over the laundry room before combing the house.


After a week of searching. . .

Exhibit B

Didn't look hard enough I guess.

Case 3

Exhibit A

Car Keys

Okay, I admit "loosing my car keys/phone" can be a regular occurrence in our household. However for this instance, I was sure they walked out the door. I looked, no searched, the kitchen, my bedroom, the kitchen again. Couldn't find them. I had to resort to the spare keys--which, surprise! I was able to find.

That night. . .

Exhibit B

Out in the open. On the table. Anyone with a brain would've spotted them like. . . THAT.

As proven in the cases above, my brain was/is on hiatus this week. If someone comes across it, please return it to my lost&found. I am in dire need of it.

Added March 9, 2009 9:43pm. . .

Just wanted to add that I 'misplaced' these cute leggings-that I just bought-for Leah. FYI: This happened right after I posted this thread. Searched everywhere. I searched the hamper basket with her folded clothes (the place where I thought I put them in) not once, not twice, but thrice! Couldn't find them. I was quite distraught: I really thought I wasn't going to find them until it was too late for Leah to wear them.

Found them today!!! Guess where?!

In that same basket.


Please if anyone has seen my brain, I really really really need it.

Leah is Mobile!

Leah is crawling!!! That's right. She is crawling.

Don't believe me?



Told you so. :P

Crawling is one of those milestones that parents look forward to, but don't want it to come at the same time. As a parent, I'm happy that she's learned this new freedom of movement. BUT on the other hand it means "CONSTANT DILIGENCE!" and re-baby-proofing the lower third of my home. I have to worry about outlets, tiny legos, stray coinage left by the boys, cords, stairs, and a 1979 banister.

"What do you mean "1979 banister"??!!" you ask. Homes now-a-days are built (if you have stairs) with balusters that are 3 inches apart. In my home, the balusters are 5 inches apart. What does that mean? Leah or any child who's head circumference is smaller than 5 inches might take a tumble between the banisters and down the stairs. Fun stuff.

Overall, I am ecstatic that my baby girl reached this wonderful-yet-tainted milestone.

Did I mention she likes to play on my iPhone? Yes, you read that right, ON. Watch and be amazed or be appalled by the 'indoctrination'. :P

Cute ain't she?

Isaac's Three!!!

It's been 3 years, 3 days, 21 hours, 30 minutes, n seconds-and-counting since Isaac's first breath.

Many thoughts speed through my mind as I contemplate this: Where did the time go? My baby is no longer a baby. I'm craving something smothered in chocolate. Isaac's growing in both body and intellect. Life keeps moving forward. Etcetera.



Isaac is bright, cute, energetic, huggable, sly, a great salesman, and still innocent--well not as innocent as he was a year ago, but still quite so. *sigh* My baby. . . *sniff* Enough of this sentimental stuff, I know you're dying for the cute stories. Here are two cute-worthy stories:

Leah is interacting more and more with her brothers each day. What does this mean? More and more of their Lego towers, brick bridges, and forts get touched, knocked down, and/or demolished. Isaac has learned quickly to use his body to shield whatever project he is working on when Leah is near. However, this physical barrier is not always enough to hold back the tide of Leah. When the tide comes in you hear this phrase shouted by Ike, "NO! NO! Leah-Leah!" I love how he says her name twice. It's soooo cute!

and the piece de resistance. . .

Over the past 2 months, Benjamin has been drilling into Isaac's mind that we were going to Chuck E Cheese for his birthday. Every single day Ben would tell Ike, "We're going to Chuck E. Cheese for your birthday." And every day Ike would in turn ask me, "When are we going to ChuckieCheeses for my birfday?" Two whole months of being indoctrinated by his brother. Two whole months of me saying, "We'll see if we'll go to Chuckie Cheeses. Your dad and I need to discuss this." The night before his birthday, Tom asked Isaac, "Do you know what day it is tomorrow?" Ike looked over his shoulder, gave Tom a mischievous smile, and whispered, "ChuckiesCheeses." There we have it.
However, we did not go to Chuck E. Cheese because we did not want to set the precedent of birthday party==Chuck E. Cheese. Ike was only somewhat disappointed. He was more excited for his Birthday candle and present.

Happy Birthday Isaac.



Warning: I apologize about my singing. It's quite bad, especially at the end.

A Ranting of an Aimee

2009 is here, and I'm already behind on my blog. Isn't that life? You get caught up on one or two things, yet fall behind on other stuff. I'd like to take a moment and contemplate on past year. I've been advised that "One should always assess the previous year to see where you've grown and blossomed, but to see what you need to improve on as well ... etc..."

2008 was a big year. We were promoted to a 3 kiddie family. Bought a mini-van. Went camping with 3 kids. Survived a lay-off. Weathered through Isaac's terrible twos. Followed and participated in the Presidential Election. What does this all mean?

I don't know.

Which has sidetracked me to this point: Life is filled with "I don't know"s and "It's not fair"s.

There have been many articles implying or out-right saying:
Our generation and those following us are the self-indulgent, self-seeking, and self-interested. We don't know or understand the words sacrifice and hard-work. Everything must be fair! AND if we don't get it now, let all hell break loose. On top of this narcissistic emergence, we don't seem to know what we want.

We we we. . . me me me. . . us us us. I think the articles may be right.

I find myself caught up in this narcissistic web many times: What about my career? Why is the grass always greener on the other side? I WANT that grass (Literally and figuratively). Why must everyone else get the breaks, but I'm the only one suffering?? ME Me me!

But logic and reasoning usually set in. Reality slowly and surely comes crashing down. KaBAM!

Life isn't fair. It's that simple. Some 'bad' people get the breaks while good people suffer. The rich get richer. The poor usually stay poor. Reality can be harsh and cold. BUT. . .

deep breath in
deep breath out

There's always a but. :) Despite the unfeeling of reality sometimes, there is always a silver lining. I see kindness in the smile of a stranger. Good people do get breaks. Affluent people help those in need; who in turn help others. Goodness and love abide in the world.

Life may not be fair, but life is worth living.

What's my point in this ranting, you ask? Well, 2008 may or may not have gone the way you planned.

Perhaps you son didn't get potty trained as fast as you like. Perhaps the candidate you voted for didn't win. Perhaps, you received a speeding ticket or two. Perhaps someone ran over your foot. Perhaps your souffle collapsed! On the other hand, perhaps you've become closer to that special someone. Perhaps the tree you planted early in the year has survived for at least another year. Perhaps you finally finished that project that's been sitting in your garage for the past 3 years.

Whatever bad may have happened, if you look hard enough there's always something good to counterbalance that.

I do not welcome the challenges that collide into my life, but I am grateful for the lessons I've learned from those challenges. I am a better person because of "Life isn't fair" and "Life is hard".

As I plan for my 2009, I'm going to try to be less egocentric and more self-sacrificing. I do this in hope that my children may see their mom as a giver and not a taker. Perhaps it will rub off on them, and they'll be better people when they're older.

fini


None of my rantings are meant to offend or hurt. When I rant, I rant in general.

Reacquaint Yourself

Please hum Jingle Bell Rock as you watch this video.