Thursday Spotlight ~ Oklahoma Women Bloggers

I'm over at Oklahoma Women Bloggers today, talking about how to get started and keep going. Check it out. ~ http://www.oklahomawomenbloggers.com

San Jose 2013 - Bucket List, Triple Check

I am blessed with a husband that travels. Quit laughing it's not like that. I love that he travels because on occasion I get to go with him. Feb/March of 2013 I got to go to Scotland and England, because Mike had to go for work. And this week I'm in San Jose, California. Being so close to San Francisco and the coast I knew immediately that I was going to cross at least 2 items off my bucket list.

1st Item: See the Pacific Ocean

And CHECK!!  Baby Girl and I went to Montara Beach and spent a couple of hours just playing in the sand and enjoying the beautiful day.

 

She wasn't too sure about the waves at first.

Baby toes in the sand... so cute.

We made a sand castle/hut.. hey we didn't have any buckets don't judge.

When I wouldn't let her burry me in the sand she started burying herself.

 

 

2nd Item: See the Golden Gate Bridge

 

Boom!

 

Okay so not only did I get to see the bridge, but I unintentionally crossed it... twice. I'm having a hard time getting my bearings in Cali, EVEN WITH THE OCEAN!! I know, but I think I'm just flustered because there are so many people. The traffic is crazy and I'm very thankful I have a hubby that rubbed my shoulders when we got back. I was wound up tighter than an eight day clock.

 

While looking for parking at the Golden Gate Bridge I found this:

 

3rd Item: See Alcatraz!

 

In case you didn't know, Alcatraz is closed because of the government shutdown (stupid politics).

 

I have always been fascinated by this place. I'm not sure if it's the haunted factor or just the thought of what all has happened on that little island. Wish I could've gone to the actual island, oh well.

 

Thanks for the memories San Francisco. You're the best (except for the traffic, that is not the best.)

 

 

 

 

 





Unlikely Friends

I was nervous.

We were having a baby. A blessing for sure. We already had five fur babies, three dogs and two cats. And one of those cats bites.

Our little Ali Cat was the most loving, sweet, kind cat you’ll ever meet, until she starts biting. She’ll turn on you before you can say, “Cat-astrophe”. One minute you’re petting her and she’s purring, the next she’s biting. She’s also a drive-by biter. Be prepared at any given time for Ali Cat to run by and bite your ankle.

So I was nervous.

We brought our baby home and I watched Ali Cat like a hawk. I sat on the floor, cradling Baby Girl close as both cats came up to get a sniff of the newest family member. Our cat, Abby, took one sniff and ran. She wanted nothing to do with the babe, and still doesn’t.

Ali Cat had a different approach. She sniffed Baby Girl’s head, before rolling over by my feet. I wasn’t convinced, expecting her to bite my foot at any given moment. She didn’t. In fact, she got up and sniffed Baby Girl’s head again, this time giving it a quick lick. I was pleasantly surprised, but still watched Ali Cat around the baby.

Baby Girl started to grow as babies do. Soon she was rolling over and Ali Cat was right there, giving her an encouraging pat. When Baby Girl sat up for the first time, Ali Cat laid behind her, giving her a back brace. And once Baby Girl started to play independently, Ali Cat played with her.

Now, Baby Girl is two, and Ali Cat is her best friend. Ali Cat lets her put sunglasses on her, drape necklaces around her and use her as a pillow whenever it is merited. Baby Girl will cook food in her play kitchen for Ali Cat and Ali Cat will give it a courtesy sniff before giving Baby Girl a thank you by rubbing all over her.

Whenever Baby Girl gets home from an outing, her first words are, “Where’s Ali?” Then she runs through the house screaming, “Ali! Ali!” and Ali Cat comes running. Ali Cat sleeps in Baby Girl’s bedroom, and we have heard Baby Girl reading books to her and having conversations with her ever-purring best friend.

I don’t worry about Ali Cat biting Baby Girl any more. My sweet baby and the cat that bites have become the unlikeliest of friends. 

Baby Girl putting a cap on Ali Cat

 

Nap Strike

Thought I'd share Nap Strike with you. I wrote it about a year and a half ago and was very excited when it won 2nd place at OWFI this year in Prose Humor. Enjoy!

Nap Strike

I am your pretty typical Type A personality. Anyone who knows me knows I like a schedule. I make one for just about everything and follow it to the letter. It’s how I get things done.

So when my beautiful baby girl came along, the first thing I did was make a schedule. I wrote down every feeding time, nap time, diaper change time; you name it, I wrote it. Pretty soon, my baby girl had all her needs met without making a sound. I was on top of things.

Daddy got her up at 6:30 am for early breakfast, and then I got her up at 8:30 am for late breakfast. At approximately ten am every morning she’d fall asleep on her play mat and I would fall asleep on the couch. It worked well for both of us. Everybody was happy and rested.

Then one day she didn’t fall asleep at ten. I lay on the couch, staring at her, willing her to get sleepy. I couldn’t take a nap unless she took and a nap and gosh darn it, I needed a nap. My eyes would grow heavy and just as they closed, she would let out a peep or squeal. Basically any shrill sound that would alert me to her still being awake.

Reluctantly, I got up and turned on the Wii. If I wasn’t going to sleep, I should at least get in some “exercise”. When you’re a tired first time Mommy, playing the Wii is like running a marathon.  I convinced myself during an exhilarating game of Wii Tennis that she would sleep longer in the afternoon and therefore I would sleep longer in the afternoon and have gotten in a workout.

Baby girl’s brunch and lunch came and went. I daydreamed about laying my head on the pillow. Again my eyes grew heavy and a pool of drool started to form in the corner of my mouth when baby girl let out a blood-chilling scream.

What had I done? I had fallen asleep and now she had been mauled by a cat, stolen by a zombie or was currently fighting off ninjas. Child Protective Services was going to come and take her away due to me falling asleep on the job. I swooped her up, trying to cuddle her tears away. They transgressed into a small hiccup cry as we walked around the house. Soon she was sleeping on my shoulder.

I whispered a “thank you” to the big guy upstairs and walked her quietly to her crib. The minute her butt hit the crib pad her eyes flew open and the screaming started again. I brought her back up to my shoulder and examined the crib pad for needles, venomous snakes or hot coals, anything to justify her terror. Nothing.

We walked around the house again until her soft baby breaths turned into ones of slumber. Again, I walked to the crib confident she was going to stay down, but was met with the same result. This time, upon bringing her back to my shoulder I could tell she was wide awake. She’d had her little cat nap and was good to go for another four or five hours. I could not say the same for myself.

I looked at the clock, it was only 2pm. I hoped she would go down later, but it never happened. By four she was so overtired that even sitting in the recliner sent her into a tailspin. She acted as if every bottle was filled with rat poison and my sole purpose on the planet was to make her life miserable by way of napping.

The minute her dad walked into the house I practically threw her at him saying, “She’s on strike and so am I.”

This continued for two weeks. I don't know what was more frustrating, not getting my nap or the way she giggled and cooed at my husband before gently falling asleep, and staying asleep in his arms. My days were filled with a cranky, pooping, slobbering monster. Why did he get the snuggles?

During those two weeks I turned into a world class negotiator. "If you'll sleep for half an hour, Mommy will play horsey with you. If you'll sleep for just twenty minutes Mommy will take you horseback riding. If you'll sleep for just ten minutes, I'll buy you a flippin' pony!"

She was a tough cookie, not cracking even at the thought of getting a pony. Of course, we did have a language barrier to contend with. If someone could tell me how to say, "It's just a little nap," in baby I'll buy them a flippin' pony.

Finally, the day came and once again she fell asleep on her little pink play mat surrounded by her forest friends. Not wanting to risk a minute of the slumber, I grabbed my pillow and blanket and dove to the couch. Hallelujah, a nap!

I lay there enjoying the bliss of a comfy couch, exhausted to the core, but I couldn't sleep. My body had decided that even though her nap strike was over, mine had just begun.

OWB ~ Gun Slingin' Porcupine

Today I'm hanging out with the Oklahoma Women Bloggers, talking about Gun Slingin' Porcupines. Check it out! ~ http://www.oklahomawomenbloggers.com/

Also, Jar of Pickles, is now up and ready for your e-readers on smashwords. Enjoy! ~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302429

Cover art by Brandy Walker at Sister Sparrow Graphic Designs

OKWB ~ The Call

Hey y'all I might be in Scotland, but I'm also on Oklahoma Women Bloggers today ~ http://www.oklahomawomenbloggers.com/the-call/