Passive-Aggressive Puppy

Our dog Scotty has never really been a big fan of our new arrivals. (the twins, for those of you not paying attention) In all fairness he was here first. But since the girls' birth he has slid down the ladder of priority quite a bit. And he knows it. Yes, he knows good and well who has usurped all the attention. And he's not afraid to express how he feels about the whole situation:

Yes, that's right. He pees on the girls' stuff. Especially after they have been chasing him around all morning, or poking him with balloon-hats, or trying to give him hugs.... he likes to make sure everyone knows just how unhappy he is- and makes sure someone pays for all the injustice. (usually that person is me- who has to clean up the pee and wash the subsequent items)

So if you know of any nice, unsuspecting families you would like to get revenge on- boy, do we have the dog for you! He's so sweet and innocent looking. He's never overtly aggressive- but he'll let you know when someone has stepped over the line... and there will be yellow puddles.

Recycling

So I may be a hippie. I started recycling because I was sure there was a landfill out there especially dedicated to our family's tossed diapers. (a landfill that will continue to expand after craftybaby gets here) Seriously, I did a calculation when the girls were young with the stats of the diaper consumption that was going on in our house. It was ridiculous. The financials of the thing were terrifying. I felt bad about singlehandedly turning the world into a garbage dump. In an effort to make myself feel a bit less of a poseur-hippie, I signed up for the local recycling program.

After waiting for ages for the back ordered recycle bins, we quickly learned that the recycling truck skips our budding neighborhood entirely, and we would end up with a pile of crap on our sidewalk. It didn't matter how many calls/emails/complaints were made, they refused to come pick up the recycling. Slightly bummed, I moved on.

Until! More homes were built up around us, and I noticed their recycling was getting picked up. So I started being the recycling nazi once again. (much to the husband's disappointment) I simply cannot put into words the rush I get when I can put something in the recycling bin rather than the regular, stinky trash. And I often remind the husband of this fact whenever he insists on throwing the milk carton into the trash can.

Let me tell you, it has reduced our trash pile by at least 70%. We barely have one bag in the trash, instead of the usual 4-5 bags stacked precariously in and around the large can. Besides the hot-button "global warming" issue, (I see you rolling your eyes there, grandpa) it just seems to make sense that the applesauce cup the girls used could be made into more, instead of rotting away in the ground somewhere. And the cereal boxes can be remade into more boxes or whatever- without cutting down more trees. Seems to make sense, yes? Less trash having to find a home, means more places to build homes.... or enjoy or something? Plus, as I threw out two more diapers this morning, I am at least comforted that 'hey, I recycle'. So I'm doing more than nothing! (because there's no way I could be coerced into doing cloth diapers- ewww)

Some Items

1. The kids are on a hunger strike. Nobody is ever hungry around here! I've offered all sorts of yummy goodness and they've all met their untimely demise down the disposal. They have been eating less and less the past week, but today has been the worst. Catie has not had one bite of food all day so far, and Addie has only eaten a few apricot halves (although she pronounces it "capripots"... adorable)

2. In an effort to be less behind the times, I have started using Google Reader- and love it. That is why the blog looks so streamlined. So don't be offended, I am still reading everyone! (although I must complain about the lack of posting lately! I'm doing my part! Try and keep up, people!

3. Update on the pregnancy cravings: Apples! Apples! Apples!

4. I recently had someone ask why I don't have any pictures of myself up lately. Answer? I'm big and huge and pregnant. There is no "good angle" for me these days, and my lack of motivation to take a shower and do my hair further cements the no pictures rule.

5. I'm knitting again. I made the new baby a couple of hats, then decided the girls may feel left out. So I started a scarf. (the plan is to make two identical scarves) Has anyone else noticed just how long scarves are?! It's insane! I'm almost done with the first one- but sheesh! I don't know if I can really get up the nerve to start another! There are not enough Grey's Anatomy episodes to occupy me while I make this beast! (never mind the fact that I probably should pay attention to the actual kids once and a while...)

The General Public.... Nice.

A young woman (like myself) trucking twins around any given public arena is bound to attract more than the usual attention, as I may have mentioned before. Add the fact that the lovely lady is gigantically pregnant, and apparently you are asking for some pretty crazy comments that come out of people's mouths. Most of which are some variation on ".... and you're having another!" The super fun part is the inflections that are accompanied with this phrase. I will outline them here for your entertainment.

"..... and you're having another!"

-said with vim and vigor. Because clearly, my twins are that adorable that a third adorable little being gracing this earth is just the height of peaches and plum pudding. This is always said when the girls are happily in their stroller, have not made a fuss about being in yet another store, and are politely saying "hi" whenever solicited. So I must be super-mommy of the century and should thus create more little bundles of sweetness and joy.

-said with a slight maniacal chuckle. Because clearly, I am in over my head. This naive little blonde (yes, I'm going with blonde) mommy is completely unaware and naive about the chaos and craziness of raising multiple children. I don't know where these people think I have been for the past 3 years... under a rock or something? Yeah, lady. I'm their mother. I pretty much got the picture on what this whole dog and pony show is about. Naivety is pretty much something that waltzed out of the door along with us as we checked out of the maternity wing. I'm pretty much aware that 3 kids 3 and under is not going to look like a frosted cupcake with sparkles on top. But I'm trying to stay positive, dangit! A little help would be nice!


-said with a heaping dose of disdain and judgment. This is 100% used when everyone in the store has heard my screaming mess of toddlers coming from a mile away. I am without makeup, probably crying on the inside, and one more thrown sippie cup away from losing it. So, you wouldn't exactly call the Mother-of-the-Year award committee about me; you may even be tossing around the idea of calling CPS! (yes, I am a screamer) Ok, so you think I'm crazy. (you're not alone- I am also a subscriber to this theory) And while I may look like I live in a cardboard box under the freeway(not showering does that to a person sometimes)... I swear, I can (probably) take care of three kids. And usually, my girls are perfect angels... until we walk into a HomeGoods or Michael's store, apparently.

Craptastic

Is the word I would use to describe being an adult. Craptastic. Like now that I'm a grown up, I don't have to take a nap... I would just give an appendage to get the chance to take one. (guilt-free, that is) It's craptastic how many times I complained to my parents that I was bored. My Dad told me once I would someday be glad to be bored. At the tender age of 10, I was sure he would be wrong on that one. Nope.
I thought it would be fun to have my own money to spend on whatever I wanted... until I realized that all you get to spend your money on is bills. Being the CFO of a family is actually work. And not a good job at that... nothing like Candy Tester or Director of Fun... (it's craptastic) I have a system for this bill-paying anyway. I have dubbed most of the bills as ancillary- pretty much everything other than the mortgage and the credit card. And all these subordinate bills get paid once a month. I save them in a stack and then go through and pay each one simultaneously and then never think about them again. (until the next month, obviously)
I frankly do not care when any particular service demands payment by. They are getting paid on the same day of the month as everyone else. They will all be paid- just on my time frame.
The system has worked fine up until now. Apparently Nevada Power gets their panties in a bunch when they don't receive payment by the day they request. Too freakin' bad is what I say! It hasn't been a problem up until now! But this month they made a point to send me a little pink bill with a "10 day termination notice" on it. Ooooooh... I'm shaking in my ballet flats. You already have the payment you requested, and just tacking it on to this next month's balance isn't going to make me pay you any faster. Also, sending me duplicates of said bill is just a waste of paper... and postage. I will not be intimidated out of a perfectly good system. One day a month I worry about you pesky bills... deal with it.