Your Birth, Abbreviated.

Doulicia has a very inspiring and fun activity going on over at her blog that I thought I would try.

Basically, sum up your child's birth in six words. Try to be as specific as possible.

Here are mine:

The Mermaid: She's here, I'm drugged, don't notice
The Guppy: In water, glorious birth, Hello Baby!

I would love to hear yours!

Your Birth, Abbreviated.

All About Me Meme

Mama K NJ has tagged me for a great All About Me meme. The rules are:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

So, without much further ado: Eight Things About Me.

1. I have double vision, meaning I see two of everything. This makes playing games like pool and darts really hard, but I LOVE to see fireworks.

2. I have a fear of dolls. I watched one too many doll-come-to-life-and-murders-everyone scary movies when I was a kid and now I can't be near them. When we go to the mall and pass the doll kiosk, I have to have the Knight walk between me and the kiosk and I can't look at it when I pass.

3. Like Mama K, I also obsessively research everything, especially when it comes to my kids. Every decision that I make regarding parenting, whether a small one like what type of toothbrush to buy for the Mermaid or a large one, such as whether or not to vaccinate, I make only after researching all my options. Some people might say that I am obsessive and uptight. The Knight and most of my family says it is one of the things that makes me a great parent. I choose to believe my family.

4. I am a Trekkie. I watch all the older shows, including the original series, the Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine. Right now I am in a Voyager kick, because you can't help but love a Star Trek show that stars a female captain.

5. I used to hold horrible grudges. Not so much anymore. I think being a Mom has changed the way I look at forgiveness. Even though I am better at holding grudges, I still get very angry when it comes to insulting my parenting or my kids. This is an area I am working on.

6. I love having my kids with me at all times. I rarely need a babysitter to just "get away". If I have to leave my kids with a sitter, I will only leave them with my mother or sister or one trusted friend, and I miss them terribly. I get very annoyed when people tell me that all parents need "time away" from their kids, because the Knight and I don't feel that way.

7. I am addicted to sunflower seeds. I eat them every day. I am better than I was before having kids though....back then I would eat them until I got sick. Now I just snack on a little each day.

8. I want to write a book someday. I don't know about what, or even when, I just know it is something I would like to do in my lifetime.

Well that's it for me. I'm not sure who has already done this meme, so if you haven't already done it, I tag: Angela over at Breastfeeding 1 2 3, My Fabulous Self over at To Blog or Not to Blog, Dakota over at Dakota's Natural Blog, and Sinead over at Breastfeeding Mums blog. Anyone else who wants to join, please do so and leave a comment so I can read 8 things about you!

All About Me Meme

Favorite Childhood Story

When I was a little girl my favorite story to read was The Velveteen Rabbit. I loved the concept that you could be loved, no matter who you were or what you looked like. As I got older that concept remained close to my heart, along with the concept that less is more. The Rabbit in the story did not have all the gadgets and buzzing parts that other toys do, but he was loved anyway, despite his simple appearance. My favorite part of the story is when the Rabbit and the Skin Horse are talking in the library:

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

I hope that when I am older, my knees and back will be sore from lifting children and grandchildren and holding them on my lap. I hope my face with be wrinkled with laugh lines, permanent memories of happy times etched on my face. If I lose my hearing, I hope it is because it was worn out from listening to the laughter of children. If I lose my eyesight, I hope I will still be able to see into their hearts and souls. Most of all, I hope that my children will still find me as beautiful as the love that I hold for them.

So, I want to hear other mama's favorite childhood stories and how they relate to their present lives. I tag Mama K NJ, My Fabulous Self, and Stephanie. Anyone else who wants to participate, please leave your links/and or comments so I can read up on your favorite childhood story :o)

Favorite Childhood Story

I've Been Tagged!

Mama K NJ has tagged me for this cute meme.
0) What’s your name and website URL? (optional, of course)

My name is Shelly (not Michelle), and you are on my website. The only other sites I have are the girls' birth stories, over to the right.

1) What’s the most fun work you’ve ever done, and why?

When I worked at my University's library, I worked with some very fun people, including my good friend and my superviser. My superviser knew everything, and we were constantly trying to stump him.

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max).

Ride horses.

B. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max).

Write a novel.

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max).

1.I would love to be better at sewing and knitting. 2. I would love to speak German fluently, even though it was my minor in college I don't remember much.

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max).

DaVinci. Oh, the things that I could learn...

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

(stated by the Knight) bright, optimistic, loving.

B. Now list two more words you wish described you…

energetic, skinny.

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes– three sentences max)

parenting, including breastfeeding and homebirth; politics; and horses.

6) Write–and answer–one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

What is your most vivid memory? When the Guppy was born.

I tag Stephanie, AnnieM, and Queeniebad!:o)

I've Been Tagged!

Because What You Don't Know Can Hurt You...

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I have double vision. That's right, I see two of everything. This makes it really difficult to play pool and mini golf, but I love going to fireworks!

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2. I rode horses since I was four years old and participated in Equestrian competitions. I had to sell my horse when I got pregnant with the Mermaid and haven't been on a horse since....I really miss it.

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3. I have a phobia of dolls. But just the real fancy porcelain ones that you keep on a stand to look at. I can't walk by the doll kiosk in the mall without digging my nails into the Knight's arm.

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4. I think whoever invented Bratz has a special place in Hell reserved for them for teaching little girls it's OK to be materialistic, wear too much make up, and dress like a slut.

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5. When I took my driver's license test I ran a stop sign and hit a snow bank. When the test ended the instructor flipped a coin to decide if he would pass me or not...I picked heads, and heads it was. He passed me.

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Thanks to Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing for this fun meme. Now, post this meme in your blog and leave the link in a comment so I can learn more about you! :o)

Because What You Don't Know Can Hurt You...

Four for Friday

Four for Friday (last one, I promise):

Q1 - Iraq: On Monday, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he opposed the death penalty for former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein but that his trial had reminded the world of the deposed leader's brutality. Even if Hussein loses his appeal and dies on the gallows, it probably will have little effect on the future of Iraq, experts say. What do you think...should Saddam Hussein's death penalty be carried out, and if so, what kind of impact do you think it will have in the U.S. action in Iraq?

I was always on the fence with the death penalty. I don't think it helps to avert crime and I do think it's hypocritical. But considering the extent of Hussein's crimes, and the amount of death he has caused, for him I would say it should be carried out. And I do agree with the experts, I think the toppling of his government had a huge impact in Iraq, one that will be felt whether he lives or dies.

Q2 - College: If you went to college, did you learn more from the social or academic aspects of the experience? If you didn't go to college, do you wish you had?

I did go to college, and I did learn a lot. I loved college, and the thing I loved most about it was how the classes were structured so openly, with a lot of debate and talking in general. I think I learned more from the social aspects that occurred while learning the academic aspects.

Q3 - Life and Religion: A friend's teenage son recently said that one of the problems he has with fundamental religion is that it teaches that we are all bad and that we are only going to be rewarded if we make all the right choices and do all the right things. He then said, "Life isn't the test; it's a time for learning." Your thoughts?

I don't think the basis of all religions is that we are all bad and therefore have to make up for it by making the right choices. I do think life is more of a time for learning rather than a test; or rather, it should be.

Q4 - Whodunit: If you could solve any unsolved crime in history (or prove with certainty that a particular crime was incorrectly solved, and resolve it), which one would you choose?

Who killed JFK.

Four for Friday

Friday Five

Today's Friday Five:


1.When was the last time you did something against your better judgment, and what was the outcome?

Hmmm this is a tough one. I would have to say, on Sunday, I drove my car around at night even though both the brake lights were out and the inspection sticker was expired. I did get pulled over, but the officer was kind enough to just give me a verbal warning.

2.Who in your life seems to be a keen judge of character?

I would say that I'm a pretty good keen judge of character. However, my sister can also be counted on for giving a pretty acurate description of someone's character.

3.If there is such a thing as Judgment Day, what do you think it will be like?

I'm not sure on this one. I would have to say, very confusing and also a little sad...sad for those who will be left behind.

4.What were the circumstances that led you to the last time you stood before a judge?

When I was 16 and a half, my father let my insurance and registration expire on my car without informing. Of course, I got into a car accident and had to appear in court for the lack of insurance and registration. I got six months of probation and then six months after that had my record expunged.

5.If a panel of judges were to evaluate your last potluck contribution, what might their comments be?

If a panel of judges were to eat any of my cooking, they'd be luck if they didn't end up in the hospital :o)

Friday Five