30 days, but who's counting?

I am officially one month out from the release of my "momoir" (A Journey To The Son, Two Harbors Press) as of today. Thrilling and mortifying all at the same time. Lot's o' work to do between now and then!
If you haven't registered over at goodreads for the giveaway of an advance readers copy, ya might want to stop by. It ends in two weeks.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6540016-a-journey-to-the-son

Peace, out! :)

Me, a soccer mom?

No ...really? Moi? I guess so, because Little Man just got his first soccer shoes and shin guards today in preparation for his first practice on Tuesday. Somehow I never pictured this for myself, being more of the artsy-fartsy theater type, but it really is all about the KIDS right? Ha! My kid kind of likes to do his own thing (read run around like a maniac :) ) so this should be interesting! He sure looked cute in his knee highs and cleats though! And he was sure excited about the "costume" and being on a team with a buddy. So, if he likes it ... soccer to me!

Tots for social networking

I woke up the other morning to Little Man saying "I love you more than a rainbow!" (That is his version of the moon and stars thing.) He saw my bubbling happiness at this statement, paused for a moment and said "you put that on your facebook page?" He is doing his own PR already!

Anarchy In The Pre-K

First of all, I'd like to thank Jason Ringenberg for the title of this blog. (An album title for him) I have known him a bit since he was the Jason of the legendary cow-punk band Jason and the Scorchers in the 80's, and I was a slam-dancing teenager and friends with some of the Scorchers. The times they have-a-changed. Now he is "Farmer Jason" who my son rocks to barnyard animal songs with on PBS, and I am a self-respecting mommy whose worst curse (in a mile radius of my kid) is "Oh my gooooodness!" (Well, maybe I exaggerate a weee bit).
But, I got a call the other day from pre-school that you just never want to get. My l'il guy tried to run out the front door and when he had to stay with the teacher, started hair pulling--laughing all the way. Luckily he pulled himself together before I had to come take him home. But, this former punk-rock girl is wondering how in the world my precious angel could turn into KID Vicious?!
This too shall pass! :)

Half-Pint Head Hunter

Driving along yesterday I mentioned that my Dear girlfriend, Leslie, was on her way over to help me send out packages containing advance readers/listeners copies of my book/CD. She is a music row pro with awesome ideas, organization, energy and enthusiasm. I am lucky to have her helping me part-time while looking for another full-time music row gig.

"Aunt Leslie looking for job? I help her ... alright, alright ..."
he says from his carseat as he pretends to take out a notepad and pen and take notes.

"Maybe she wear a nametag ... I know, she can work at (the grocery store)PUBLIXXX!!" (He said like he had just handed out a prize to her)

"Well, Publix is a great place, but Leslie is an executive, she works in an office."

"I know .... (she can work in) a post-OFFICE!"

I heard the news today, Oh boy (Or girl!)

Well, how to begin. DH and I have been considering adoption ever since our infertility journey and especially after the rare and often fatal complication I had (amniotic fluid embolism) during our son's birth, that I chronicled in my upcoming memoir (A Journey To The Son, Two Harbors Press). I think I have always had a heart for adoption too.
I felt very drawn to the orphaned girls in China. Once my DH and I made the final decision to adopt (on our 10th anniversary almost a year ago) we started the process to adopt from China. But, by the time we started our process the wait time was standing at 3 1/2 years and possibly getting longer. We pulled out of China not too long afterwards, losing some money, but deciding that wasn't in the cards for us anymore. We heard about a domestic adoption agency (in another state)that usually places within the year and signed up with them last spring and have been playing the waiting game.
Then, a twist of fate. I heard of a situation of a pregnant teenager locally who decided today that adoption is the best way to go and would like to work directly with us! It feels weird to be excited when I know it is such a hard time for the birth mother. I spoke to an adoption attorney today who said how wonderful birth mother's are, because they make the biggest sacrifice and give the greatest gift. So true! She is due in March (on my birthday actually). We will see if this actually moves forward. Here's to the best possible outcome for everyone involved! Big hugs to her on a very brave decision!

#1 Son

Last week we went to my dad's #1 party at BMI for the song, People Are Crazy, by Billy Currington, (that he co-wrote with Troy Jones) with Little Man in tow. This was a bit brave of us to attempt as he is verrrry active and verrry curious. "Grandbobby" told him if he was a good boy at the event he would give him a surprise. Well, he did want to keep running off to check out the news cameras, etc., so DH and I tag teamed chasing him so he wouldn't get lost. But, he kept his word during the presentation and was pretty quiet and wide eyed.
We were so proud of my dad and all of the accolades he was getting from his peers in the music industry. When it was Daddy's turn to speak, he said on the microphone in front of the large group of people there "I would like to thank my four year old grandson, (insert little man's first middle and last name here), for being such a good boy. "He say my name, he say my name!" That was the best surprise he could have gotten ... even better than chocolate!

No Rubber On My Baby Buggy Bumpers

Do I invite trouble? Is my aura radiating some vibe I would rather it not? A new mommy blogger and low-tech chick, I have not yet gussied up my site with cute banners and pink girlie designs like some of my sister bloggers. I did agree to let the blog host "monetize" my site, by putting ads on based on my content. So, I expect to see ads for things like fancy strollers or organic babyfood, and was not surprised when ads for musicians I had mentioned popped up. But, now I am wondering why, oh why they put ads for a certain male contraceptive on my sweet little mommy blog?
Perhaps I'll take that feature off! ;)

Jumpeeing

About to take one of his first ever big leaps into the swimming pool, Little Man suddenly had an overwhelming urge to go talk to a man about buying a horse ...

The Office

Ah, turn about is fair play I suppose.

About ten years ago, when my sis-in-law Allison was a new mom with a toddler, Jim and I would play with precious nephew Michael when they would visit our apt. in New York City from London. I was going through a phase of saying "what-EVER" (adolecent style) while making a big W on my forehead with both hands. Mikey picked up on this and would repeat it in his precious little British accent. Ali was not pleased that her darling tot had learned a phrase that carried some 'tude with it.

Flash-forward to when we were at the Jersey Shore shore in the summer and all of the cousins were playing together. Ali told Michael and his little sister to teach our boy the "w" word as payback.

The other day, we were at home and I asked Little Man a question. He got an impish look on his face, said "whatever" and put his hands on his hips and pranced across the room to the coffee table. He repeats this action about ten times, each time after saying "whatever" putting his hands on hips and strutting back to the coffee table.

After we quit laughing he pointed to the coffee table and said "that's my office ... my WHATEVER office!

Serious monkey business going on there for sure!

Oh deer!

Xenia, a new mommy blogger friend @ http://thanksmailcarrier.blogspot.com/(there is a mafia of us out there, I tell ya!) tagged me on a photo tag game. You have to go to your first photo file and post the 10th pic. That could be a little scary! I rummaged through my husbands pictures (for the nightclub he did PR for in Las Vegas) of Paris Hilton whooping it up, nutty music promo shots of meself, countless pics of Little Man (and I'm still a little squeemish about posting pics of him online) But, the one I landed on was this! A cute little fawn that came into our yard here in our subdivision out in the hilly countryside of Tennessee. This is a sweet pic to look at since we plan on moving back into town and will miss these dear sightings!

Now on to the rules of picture tag:
Open your first photo folder.
Scroll down to the 10th photo.
Post that photo and story on your blog.
Tag three others (or more) friends to do the same.

Amy @ Milk Breath and Margaritas, Melany @ Brother and Little Bitty and Rebecca and Maggie at Homemade Mamas

You're it!

In the heart of a child

Little man's fascination with death continues. He brought up our dog Scooby who died when he was two years old. Then he brought up his "Poppie", DH's dad who died a couple of years ago. He said he missed Poppie and I told him I did too, but he lives on in his heart.

He thought about that for a moment and said "Does Michael Jackson live in my heart?"

Don't Bug Me

Little man came down the stairs the other day announcing. "I eat animal"

"You ate an animal?"

"I eat bug"

Incredulous, I seek more info ... "You ate a bug?!"

"It died in my throat"

I had to look away for a minute so he couldn't see that I was cracking up.

I know that is gross and something we don't want to do, and I told him so, but sometimes ya just gotta laugh.

Up where we belong

Since my boy is out of pre-school this week I decided to make today a "staycation" day. We went to the pool and then my fave four-year-old and I had a movie date. We saw the movie Up and wow, it was really good. There were sad parts that I think fortunately go over little ones heads. (Minor spoiler coming up) They even dealt for a brief, yet possibly too close for comfort for one who has been through it, moment on the subject of miscarriage/infertility! Too bad the woman in the story's generation did not have modern science on it's side. Maybe they could have given her a leg up.


Pixar did not disappoint.

Give it away, give it away, give it away now

Enter at Goodreads to win your free advance reader's copy of A Journey To The Son!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6540016-a-journey-to-the-son

Master plan

Happy to say that I have just finished mastering my CD that goes with my soon-to-be-released book, A Journey To The Son. The four years my producer/co-writer Don Henry and I have been working on this is coming to fruition! Now it is on to getting it reproduced and sending out advance listener copies.

I am also very excited to have heard from another AFE survivor who is starting an amniotic fluid embolism foundation (www.afesupport.org, launching in September). She and some doctors are discussing some exciting, ground-breaking studies and I hope to be able to support the foundation as much as I can! Wouldn't it be wonderful if more were known about prevention and or cures for this devestating complication?!