Mommin' It Up!

November 20, 2007

Dads Rock!

I don’t know about you Mommies, but watching my husband become a father was a real joy for me. I had an emergency C-section with Joshua, and then a post-op compilcation called an ileus (paralyzed bowel) which was extrememly painful. I was in the hospital for four days, and Bobby took such good care of me and Joshua during that time. He lovingly changed his diaper, held him to my breast when he needed to nurse and I was too sick to hold him, and carefully noted his pees, poops, and feedings on his chart. When we got home he was no less devoted to us. As a matter of fact, Bobby encouraged me to take it as easy as possible at home. So easy, in fact, that I didn’t even change my own son’s diaper until he was seven days old! He has continued to be an amazing father to both of our kiddos, and I am so thankful!

Unfortunately, Bobby doesn’t blog, but I’ve recently discovered some cool dads who DO blog! So do yourselves a favor, and in honor of the rockin’ dad in your life, go check out these dudes today!

November 19, 2007November 19, 2007

Joshua meets Jeebus

If you’ve ever been on Interstate 75 in southwestern Ohio, perhaps you’ve seen this ridiculously ginormous statue of Jesus:

I call him Jeebus. Others call him “Touchdown Jesus”, and comedian Heywood Banks wrote a song about him called “Big Butter Jesus” (because he really looks like he was carved out of butter). Google any of the names I just mentioned and you will find a plethora of websites and YouTube videos poking fun at Jeebus. Here’s a link to an article the flippin’ NEW YORK TIMES even wrote about Jeebus!

Yesterday the kids and I were driving home from a friend’s house. She lives about an hour south of us so our drive up I-75 took us right past Jeebus. Now, I for one loves me some Jesus, but I think Jeebus is ree-donkulous. I was kind of hoping Joshua wouldn’t notice him, but since he’s not blind, I was out of luck. Here is our Jeebus-inspired conversation:

Joshua: Whoa, who’s that big guy?

Me: That’s supposd to be Jesus.

Joshua: What’s he saying to all those people?

Me: What people? (I have no idea what people he was talking about. There were cars in the church parking lot but no people I could see).

Joshua: ALL THOSE PEOPLE!

Me: Ummmm..he’s saying “I love you.”

Joshua: And why’s he looking up at the sky?

Me: Well, he’s looking up at God in heaven.

Joshua: And why’s he got that funny look on his face?

Me: Uh….it’s a happy look. He’s happy because he’s looking at God and he loves all the people.

Joshua: Oh. Right.

Who knows what Joshua’s little brain and heart thought about our conversation? We talk about Jesus and God in our house every day. We read books about Jesus and Bible stories…but how can they compete with JEEBUS?? I guess Bobby and I need to keep making very, very sure that he sees Jesus in our actions as we parent every day, and that Jeebus just remains another of the many distractions we see along life’s highway. Last night when we said bedtime prayers, he thanked Jesus for his cousins, his toys, and Sophie’s birthday party. Jeebus didn’t get a mention, so maybe we’re doing ok.

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This is Emily, but I just had to jump in here, as I love the topic of Touchdown Jesus (or “The big white giant,” as Kate likes to call it)! As Jenny mentioned, the internet is full of fun facts about this frightening monument, but here’s a link to my favorite article about it.

November 18, 2007

Birthdaypalooza Comes to an End!

Yesterday we had a great 1st birthday party for Sophia at our house with our family and a couple of close friends. It was very fun but I am so glad it’s over! The Ohio State vs. Michigan football game was on and the Buckeyes won – thankfully it was clear early in the 2nd half that they would win, so my brothers were in a celebratory mood. 🙂 They gave me all kinds of crap for planning her party in the middle of the game – I maintain they should’ve KNOWN that I would not check the football schedule first! Thankfully it all turned out ok!

I decided to do a super-easy cake, which worked out well since those cupcakes were such a pain. I got a pan at Michael’s and here’s what I came up with…

A cake shaped like a cupcake! Ta-DA!

Here’s Sophie showing her Elmo cupcake who’s boss…

…and rockin’ the “Birthday Princess” t-shirt (thanks Avery and Kristyn!)

The Birthday Girl was veeeeeery sleepy because she only took a short morning nap. So she only made it through the cake and half the present opening and then she had to take another nap! But the party went on without her and we all had a great time. 🙂

Oh, and guess what else? She chose her first birthday to take some steps!! My dad decided he needed to teach her to walk on her first birthday, and he and my mom got her to take four steps twice. Of course, they did that AT THEIR HOUSE when I WAS NOT PRESENT!! (They had taken the kids for a couple hours so I could finish up the cake and house cleaning.) GRRR!!! So, Bobby and I missed her first steps!! I did get her to take three steps to me yesterday morning, but that’s all I’ve seen so far. I’m sure it won’t be long ’til she is running circles around me, though.