do I have to go back in the corner?

Yes, we make her stand in the corner.... 'nose in the corner' is what we call it. She has been standing in the same corner since she was 18 months old. Yes, that young. We learned very quickly that 'time out' was not punishment enough for this little one, but nose in the corner is more effective. I wouldn't say completely effective as she still goes there... often, but she dreads it and it is a great threat. She tries everything to get out... wailing, screaming, 'i need to go potty!', it hurts my cheeks, it is dark in here (if the light is off in the dining room) and I am scared... the list goes on and on. The part that kills me about it is that I hate it as much as she does. I feel terrible every time and I just want to shake her and say please don't do that because I really don't want to put you in the corner. But, it doesn't stop her and she pleads with me every time. Today, she almost moved from corner punishment to spanking punishment. I know that somewhere down the road we will laugh at what happened tonight, but mostly it is terrifying. There are 4 little girls in our cul de sac that are around Ava's age, but she is at the younger end of the age spectrum. At 8 o'clock tonight, they were all chasing each other from backyard to backyard as they usually do while I was sitting on the front porch working on homework and Greg was working on his truck. The three girls she had been following came to the front yard, and I leaned forward to see where Ava was, but she didn't seem to be with them anymore. Seconds from me yelling to Paige to ask her where she went, my daughter came running from Paige's backyard... in her underwear... soaking wet. I sat stunned as I watched her run towards me grinning.

'What are you doing? Where are your clothes? Why are you wet?'

The questions came flying out of Greg and I as she looked at us stunned to see how angry we both were.

'Get inside!' Greg yelled sternly, 'get in the corner and where are your clothes?'

After much wailing in the corner, she explained that she had jumped in to Paige's swimming pool... in her clothes.... and when they got wet, she decided to take them off. Mind you... none of the other kids jumped in the pool... my daughter... by herself... no adults around. I still find myself wondering what in the world she was thinking. She wasn't... clearly!

I am responsible for this little person, who is clearly afraid of nothing and doesn't care at all what the other kids are doing, because she will do what she wants to do. In most cases, I would be proud of her for doing her own thing, but this time I am just a little bit speechless. I believe I have posted this statement in many other posts, but I will say it again... we are in so much trouble!

On a totally different note... I will be induced on Tuesday, July 7th. Let us all say a little prayer for the baby boy I will have who, God willing, will be quiet, calm, peaceful and serene in every way.

today...

I don't believe I have posted a photo of our puppy to the blog yet, so let me begin by introducing Oscar. My husband, the dog whisperer, has already taught him to sit, stay, go potty, and go kennel. Seriously, this dog listens to him like none other and I am so grateful because I was really uneasy about getting a puppy a month and a half before we bring a new baby into the house. Besides the fact that he likes to use our cat as a chew toy... he is great. And truthfully, our cat needed to be knocked down a notch.
Okay, so back to my title... today...

I am 37weeks pregnant.

My husband and I spent hours going over names and we are no closer to having a name for our baby boy... in fact, I think we are further.

I finished my masters portfolio and only have 3 weeks of class left.

Ava went to the zoo with her mimaw and I stayed home to finish my portfolio.

My husband and I went to dinner at Charlestons and I ate the best steak I have ever had!

My shoulders are really sun burned from Ava and I hanging at the pool all day yesterday.

My baby boy is still head up and shows no signs of flipping over.

I lent $1 to a guy who came in to Panera and asked me for 85 cents. He called me 'sweetie' when he left.

I rode in our new truck for the first time .... a 1994 Ford something or other that belonged to Greg's grandfather. My hubby sold his acura in one week.

My dad called me from California (no idea where or why or what he is doing there) to tell me not to worry - he is just fine. He hears voices and is working for an 'agency' that doesn't exist and is running up a ridiculous credit card bill, but he is fine.

My daughter asked for a bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast and ate about 8 marshmellows out of it and said she was done.

I had intentions to work on the nursery and never even walked in it. Instead, I laid on the couch and watched Law and Order:SVU and The Mentalist.

I am going to bed at 11:45... good night.

more from mimi's...

I got to hang out at Sam and Stella's while mommy and mimi went to a purse party. I adore Stella... can you tell?


Don't call social services... it's just apple juice, but it is way more fun to drink it out of this flamingo martini cup (it's not glass) then out of a box. I love visiting mimi!


Time to go home. We had a great time mimi and papa! Thanks for all of the fun!

summer fun...

It is summer and it is hot! Daddy stole the idea from the guy next door and rigged up our swing set slide to be a water slide into my pool. Thanks dad!


Mom and I went and spent a couple of days at mimi and papa Eric's this week so that mommy could get away from our house and rest a little before my new brother comes. There was a pool here too! Lucky me!


Mommy's favorite conversation of the day...

"do you want to go in the cart with mommy or go in the cart with daddy?"
"i promise I won't touch anything!"
"i understand that, but that doesn't answer my question: mommy or daddy?"
I can see her contemplating and I say...
"are you trying to determine who is easier to manipulate?"
"i want to go with you!"
"why?"
"because you are the nice one and daddy will yell at me."

First, she is to smart for her own good as I am definitely more of a softy. I am sure that those of you who know me will be a bit surprised by this. Frankly, it surprises me too. Secondly, when she is 12, I will remind her that she things I am the nice one!

i HATE to post photos of me...

but this one is for Megan and since my new photography partner in crime took them for me I am posting them. She did a great job of hiding my hugeness! Seriously, we did a little shopping together on Sunday and in about 15 minutes time three women, yes three, asked me if I was having twins! When I responded that it was only one, they asked me if I was sure. Seriously people, here is 5$ - go buy yourself some tact. I know I sometimes exaggerate on these things, but I kid you not! Tierny and I decided I needed to have a maternity t-shirt printed that said "Due July 10th and it's just one..." and on the back it would read "just tell me how great I look!"