And now presenting...

Big T!

My new nephew is here, and is 18 days old. He weighed 8 lbs and 3 oz and was 20 inches long! I'm now a three time auntie!

Welcome to the world!

In this photo, he's 36 hours old!

Random Stuff on a Tuesday

Got my hair trimmed because it's grown so quickly. My stylist was just chatting away with me and she ran the clippers over the back of my hair and suddenly stopped and realized we 'didn't do that last time' but it was a little late for that now. My hair is REALLY short now. Yikes! More Gennifer Goodwyn short than Katie Holmes short.

And speaking of Katie Homes, does anyone else think "it's about damn time" that she divorces Tom Cruise and gets away from his mind control whako-ness?

And speaking of clippers, my household is in an uproar looking for Daddy-O's hair clippers. Mac uses them to give himself a haircut last week and Daddy-O helped him. Mac said Daddy-O took the clippers back and Daddy-O thought he gave the clippers to Mac. We've turned the house upsidedown looking for those suckers in all the obvious places and some not.

Does anyone else just LOVE Subway?

Is anyone else going to watch the new show on CBS this fall called Sherlock?

Does anyone else just love hotel sex?

I'd love to learn how to use Pinterest. Still can't figure that sucker out.

I've been thinking it would be cool if I could operate a Mac Book laptop.

Daddy-O and I went to a Kroger Market Place which is a cool twist on the super store idea but BETTER. It has furniture and home stuff. We found a "painting" on canvas in the lobby and after I finally found a clerk and made her scan it, we found it was $30. This thing usually retails for $80, and it's about 4x5 feet and totally cool. I grabbed it and had them hold it at the cusstomer service desk; hey, with that discount it HAD to be bought!!!!

It seems the new trend in the area I live is to now NOT find out the gender of the baby. I know all these pregnant women, or women who've very recently had babies, and no one is finding out the boy or girl answer. And just a few years ago, everyone was finding out the gender as soon as it was possible. Interesting. I don't care either way, but I think trends are interesting.

I want to have a Bernese Mountain Dog instead of a baby. Naming it will be just as fun!

I don't care what anyone says; Charlie Sheen is just hot and still sexy.

Today was a super busy day at work. Since we have tomorrow until Monday off for the 4th holiday, and then I'm going to be at a conference from Monday thru Thursday and then we have our July Recess until the last day of July, I won't be back at school for a MONTH! Go me! however, this does mean I had about a million things to do today. I made a to-do list and crossed off every single item! And for the first time EVER, I have to say that every single library book was returned!!!!!!!! I didn't have to go to the kids' res halls or do locker searches. Kids brought them back. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This weather sucks and I hate it. The heat is killing me. And it's only early July; it's going to be a very long, hot, miserable summer.

My phone is telling me I have very little storage data left. I thought I'd delete stuff and there's all this Sprint shit I can't get rid of but I never use it like the football and NASCAR app. Nor do I Facebook and I can't delete it either. It's taking up valuable space and it just pisses me off that because it's part of the "phone company's promo" stuff, I can't remove them.

Mags

Catalog Shopping

In spring of 2005 I thought I wanted to adopt a little girl from China. I did TONS of research and found a very reputable and legitimate agency here in the US that specialized in Chinese adoptions and would facilitate such an adventure from the first set of paperwork all the way to bringing her home.

I did some of the basic beginning paperwork and paid some beginning fees to get the process going. Then I got an official letter telling me that China had shut down single parent adoptions but the agency said they would send me a letter when they resumed again. No harm, no foul.

In the meantime I'm on the agency's mailing list. Not a big deal because they sent a very minimal amount of junk stuff. At Christmas they sent a calendar of pictures of all the little girls who were adopted the previous year, dressed to match each month.

Now Mac knew what I was doing. He was 12 years old then. Old enough to comprehend the concept of what I was doing but not quite old enough to have complete understanding of the process and the details of how it all worked. So Mac's looking through the calendar one day and then comes over to me, pointing to one of the little girls.

Mac: "I want that one."
Me: "Wha??????"
Mac: "I want that one", he said again, pointing again to the same picture.
Me: "What in the world are you talking about?"
Mac: Still pointing, "When you get my sister I want this one."
Me: "Mac, that little girl's already been adopted."
Mac: throwing the calendar across the room, "Why send a stupid catalog of sisters if all the good ones are already taken?!?"

Maybe it's better I only have one child...

Maggie

Obsession

First, I want to formally announce that I have an adorable little niece and a brand new nephew whom I shall dub in bloggerville as Fab Finn.

Why Fab Finn, might you ask? Well, because he is Fabulous! And Finn? Because... and this is a dumb reason, but as good as any when trying to assign a moniker to a person who has only lived for a few weeks and hasn't had time to earn a nickname between the nursing, sleeping and peeing. So, I picked Finn because I'll never have another child but if I did I thought I would love to name him Phineas. I love Fab Finn's real life name, but all identities must be protect, so Fab Finn he is. And I tried to convince Bro and SisIL to go with Phineas but the request fell on deaf ears (isn't there some culture where the only Auntie, sister of the father, gets to name the baby??? Hmmmm???). So here, in my space in the blogosphere, I dub thee Sir Fab Finn. His big sis is the Divine Ms K, and I couldn't copy using the initial thing, so Fab Finn he is!

Now all that being said, I think I'm obsessed with Fab Finn. I've had to control the obsession, or I would be at his house every day holding the baby.

He's also amazing. He's just the perfect size to hold. He's a solid little guy and doesn't feel like he's going to break. He's also not squishy anymore. You know, the newborn squishy-ness when the baby is still sort of all curled up in womb shape. He's all elongated and flails his arms all around and kicks. He's also using his voice and will yell, which sounds funny having such a loud sound come out of such a little person.

What gets me the most about this adorable little being are his eyes. He just stares at me when I hold him. It's like he's memorizing how I look. Or he can see into my soul. He's so serious and intent on looking right into my face. He makes eye contact. He little dark blues eyes will just practically burn a hole. I wonder what he's thinking. I wonder what he sees. I wonder if he knows what going on inside my mind.

He's a pretty amazing and intense looking little guy.

Mags

Baby Watch- Introducing...

My nephew!

Welcome!
8 lbs, 3 ozs, 20 inches long!
Pictured here, he's 7 hours old.
What a little champ!
I'm gonna have to come up with a cute little name for this cute little guy!

Love,
Auntie Maggie

Baby Watch Day 3- He's HERE!

At 10:09 am today, (EST USA) my nephew arrived, weighing in at 8 lbs and 3 oz! At this time, other than his weight and knowing that he's a boy, I know nothing. As soon as school is dismissed I'm heading to the hospital to see him. More information and pictures will be forthcoming!

His mommy and he are doing fine!

Thanks for all your prayers, well wishes and good thoughts!

Auntie Mags

Baby Watch Day 3 at 6:30 AM EST USA

Still no baby......................................

Baby Watch Day 2 but later in the day

I think I should've started counting with: "Baby Watch Hour ____" rather than days...

The baby is en route. Sisinlaw is hooked up to the Pitocin IV and had an epidural. Her dilator is dilated and the baby has "assumed the position." Her doctor said he should be here before midnight.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Maggie

Baby Watch Day 2

Still no baby. Sisinlaw still dilated but to 4 now, and is having regular contractions.

If he doesn't appear on his own before 5:45am tomorrow morning, she'll be induced.

Stubborn booger. I like him already!

Auntie in wait of a nephew,
Mags

Baby Watch Day 1- Taking his own sweet time!

My Sisinlaw is pregnant for the second baby. As I've mentioned, he's a boy. This has been a rougher pregnancy for her than The Divine Ms. K was. (Now that lil girl is practically perfect in every way!!)

His due date is June 3 (or the 6th or the 8th- the three of us in the room right now, none of us being the parents, by the way, all say different ones). But Sisinlaw is dilated and been having contractions forever. We all really thought he might make an appearance over the weekend, but nope, still no baby. This lad has a mind of his own, for sure, the little booger. He's ornery already!

I hope post about him will be like a nudge or something- me complaining about him not wanting to show is cute little face, and then to spite me, he'll pop on out!

And for the sake of my Sisinlaw's body and mind (she is so positive; I would've killed someone by now if I were her uterus) I hope he gets here soon!!!!

Oh, and in case ya wanna know, here's a picture of a 3-D ultra sound that was taken 2 weeks ago! Look at those cheeks; I just wanna kiss 'em!

Waitin' to be an Auntie again,
Mags

What's in a name?

Since my brother and his wife are expecting a baby in June, the naming of said baby is always a fun topic of discussion. (even my friends and I are "naming" their baby, even if they aren't around! Though if we come up with good names, I send my suggestions to my sister-in-law. Not that I expect them to listen to me, but my sis-in-law is polite in giving me an ear and never tells me she thinks the names are stupid, which I greatly appreciate it.)

But when talking about names for the baby, we always come around to what Hollywood Couples are naming their kids and I think celebrities are idiots. XRayGirl and I came to this conclusion. The evidence?

Seriously, I always hear what some famous person named their kid and my brain says, "What in the hell were these idiots thinking?" Just because they are famous doesn't give them liberty to name their children stupid things. I am so tired of famous people doing stupid things and this is an example that will haunt their children for the rest of their lives. For pete's sake.

Gwyneth (Paltrow) and Chris Martin (lead singer of Coldplay) had a baby and named him Moses. Now there is nothing wrong with the name Moses if you are spiritual or religious or leading people out of a country or parting a sea... but, come one, these are the same people who named their daughter Apple! Some examples of the idiot Hollywood elite who so obviously lack naming skills are:

• Indiana and August- parent -Casey Affleck
• Coco- Courtney Cox's kid
• Ireland (Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin)- she is a girl, by they way, since the name is not gender indicative.
  
• -Zowie (David Bowie) this is a boy and I appreciate good alliteration and a rhyme scheme; note I said "GOOD"
• Ocean, True and Sonnet - these are Forest Whitaker's kids and I have no idea on gender; I see therapy in their future...
• Pilot Inspektor Lee, son of Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf. This has got to be in the top 2 of the dumbest baby names in the world or in the history of naming babies. I think they should be been drug tested before being able to name the child; any drugs in the system and the baby should have a mandatory name of John or Jane.
• Audio Science Clayton, son of Shannyn Sossaman and Dallas Clayton. This has got to be in the top 2 dumbest baby names in the world or in the history of naming babies. 'Nuff said!
• Crumpet Cohen, daughter of Lisa Vidal and Jay Cohen. After a British pastry. WTF?

I only have one child and his name is normal. We know that his real name isn't Mac but it's a derivative from his middle name, but according to people who know him say he has a "normal" name; a good Irish name, but a normal name. If I would've had a girl she would be Isabella Grace. I consider that name to be MINE in the family until I hit menopause, just in case. I will probably never have another child- good Lord willing (and since I've practicing abstinence right now with no prospects, well... you know), but I do like the idea of naming kids.

So I've come up with the perfect new job for me. I think the Hollywood couples who are going to pick STUPID names, should hire me to name their kids. I would do a good job, and the world would not have any more kids call Audio or Crumpet or Inspektor.

Maggie

A rose by any other name would... stink.

I am so glad that when I was pregnant for Mac many moons ago that I wasn't teaching. I cannot imagine trying to name a child now, with all the kids that have gone through my classroom. For those of you in education or who work with kids in any capacity, you're sitting there nodding your head, knowing exactly what I'm talking about. For those of you not, here's the deal: there are so many kids who are pains in the arse, kids ya just don't like, that you don't want to saddle your off spring with that same name to be constantly reminded of the kids you hated (or "tremendously disliked").

I know my child naming years are behind me and I'm thankful for that because there are a slew of perfectly nice, strong, lovable names attached to demon seed little brats so I could never name my child any of those. Take Jennifer. Nice and traditional, right? And yes, I could list about 10 Jennifers who are nice people. However, I know one Jennifer who was a slut with a capital SLUT, and she had a mean spirit so now matter how many nice Jennifers there are in the world, they cannot cancel out the Jennifer the Whore.

I could never have a Trevor either. I had a student Trevor who used the "N" word like I drink coffee. And the other "Trevor" I had spit on me. And the third "Trevor" I had was a gay snob who had his mommy yell at ME when he didn't turn in his homework. For 7 week. In a row. Even though I called her once a week to tell her this. So no Trevors.

I would also have to cross off Angel (Drama Queen), Nate and Eli (both racists), Hope (lying conniving little bitch), Toby (might as well hang a sign on him that says "I'm fat and play the tuba"), Sergio (arrogant prick), Marie (she was a stripper and one of my former college students) Kayla (she was so evil we teachers called her 'Rasputin'), and Lance (dumb, dumb, and just dumb). And crossing off Eli and Hope really upsets me because I really liked those names.... until. See, you get my drift.

If you ever meet someone with an unusual name, you might ask them if one of their parents is a teacher, or works with kids. It's safer to go with something a bit odd because otherwise you want to smack your poor kid named Blake just because of a Blake from school shot snot on the kid in front of him. (Uh, no Blakes for me either. Or Reese.) So if you meet a Lennox, Landon, Harrison, Jackson, Cerissa, Amelia, or a Helene the odds are good that one or both of their parents are teachers.

One of the teacher's I see on a regular basis is having a baby and she and her husband are both teachers. They found out they're going to have a boy partly because they needed to get a jump start on names. And her husband teaches in an "prison like school" setting so it sort of doubles the amount of names you never want your kid to have. "Gee, I just love the name Lori except I'll always think of the girl Lori who shanked her math teacher." She said she and her hubby have a list and are working on narrowing it.

I also know I could never name any of my sons the following: Michael, Kyle, Joe, Eric, Brian, Clayton, Randy, Chris, Robert, Sean, Tom, or Dean; I dated and/or had sex with men by those names and it didn't always turn out real well.

And my final comment on names: you can always tell what movies, music and TV shows (especially soap operas) were popular about 13-15 years ago, as students pass through my classroom doors. This year there seems to be so many Devons, Joshs, Blakes, Justins, and Makaylas you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a kid by those names. (What movies, rock bands or soap operas had these characters?)

Just in case, though, I keep hoping that I don't meet any Isabelles or Harpers 'cause if something ever went drastically wrong in my uterus and I was put in charge of naming a little tyke, these are my options. Unless a new middle schooler who is really the spawn of Satan shows up as an Isabelle or a Haprer; then it would be back to the drawing board.

What's in a name,
Maggie

An aside: Had my parents gone through with it, I would've been Sara Martha at birth... thank goddess leveler heads prevailed.

Good news!

It's positive!


I'm gonna be an Auntie...... AGAIN!

Kisses,
Auntie Mags