Leaving on a Jet Plane

Currently running around like crazy getting things together for our weekend-wedding-Furlong family-extravaganza in Miami. As usual, haven't packed a thing. This will be Beau's first plane trip...and probably mom melt-down #1,248... and counting.

Be back Monday.

Talk to you then...

A Little Behind...

So sorry. I'm a bit behind. Beau got a nasty cold that lasted for about ten days. It was so sad. Who knew that much snot could come from such a small nose? Poor guy sounded like Bea Arthur for a few days he was so congested. And remember when I told you that I thought I was going to get sick next?...Well, Mama's always right. And I went down HARD. Ears, nose, throat, head...everything was swollen, aching, stuffy, pounding and runny. Thank you to my mom for coming and helping me with Beau during the day the past couple of days. What a lifesaver.

Well, since my last post, Beau had his nine month anniversary of life outside the womb. Since the last update we have had to install the world's largest, world's ugliest baby gate that closes off the opening from our living room and kitchen. One of Beau's favorite things to do is hold on to it and jump up and down and shriek and laugh. That, and let the dog give him open mouth kisses when I'm not looking. Gross.

He is talking all the time in his own little language. His favorite things to say are "mamamama", "dadadada" and "babababa". In addition to talking, Beau enjoys squealing at the top of his lungs when we are in public places like Target and places like, oh, say, church. Also his fun new game is throwing things on the ground over and over over again. So fun. Really.

Beau is so curious and is getting into everything. You should see my house. My furniture is all arranged to block bookshelves and openings. All my sofa cushions are on the fireplace hearth. The blinds are all pulled up with the strings and curtains tied up so little hands can't reach them. Not to mention the afore described baby gate. Looks like I'm in the market for a couple more of those suckers since yesterday Beau started climbing the stairs. The girl inside me that loves my cute house has been smothered by the mom that doesn't want to go to the ER.

The big accomplishment of this month is that we are now standing all by ourselves. (Yes, Leo and I are too.) Beau is getting to where he can stand without holding onto anything for a good amount of time. He is getting better and better cruising on the furniture too. I think we are going to have a walker here before Christmas.

These are a couple of Beau in one of his favorite spots. Looking out the dining room window.

runny nose and full memory

Hi Family/Friends/Acquaintances/Random Strangers/Blog Stalkers (don't be ashamed, I'm included in that category too...). The Furlongs are currently battling the first of this fall's runny noses, coughs, and colds. Beau has felt puny for the past few days and I think I am about to fall as the next victim. In addition to all that... I tried to upload some photos (because I know I owe you guys some new pictures) but there is no more room on my computer! Isn't that impressive? I've taken so many I have used up all my memory. Well, between that and all the showtunes I download...So I have a project of transferring all of them on CD...which I need to do anyway because I have a recurring nightmare where my computer crashes and I lose all my sweet, precious pictures. So I'll work on that today, free up some space, and upload my way back into your good graces...

The Morning After the Morning After...

November 4th was the day I have been waiting for for months now. I have eagerly watched results from the primaries. Hung on every word for both the DNC and RNC. Watched countless hours of cable news stations and read political blogs. Scrutinized poll numbers and rationalized electoral maps. And finally...it got here.

I have been slightly obsessed with politics since I voted for the first time in a Presidential Election in 2000. I think it all goes back to my love of theatre. And nothing is more theatrical than a Presidential Campaign.

...and for that matter the days following a very intense election...

I have such strong convictions about what I believe is the best course for this nation, especially now that I have a family. It really all boils down to this: I believe in limited government and privatization. I believe in self-responsibility. I have strong, traditional, Christian values. I believe in the free-market and capitalism. I think low taxes leads to job growth, and therefore creates prosperity for everyone. This does NOT, in any way, mean I am anti-poor, anti-minority, anti-gay, anti-woman, or anything else the liberals want to label me as. Especially anti-American.

After all, isn't it our different opinions and our RIGHT to express these opinions what we should be celebrating about our great nation? However, I have never seen, or experienced emotions so high. I personally have been attacked on Facebook for stating my political beliefs on my own page. And I am actually hesitant to post this blog because I have heard of another blogger being defiled simply for posting pictures of her daughter in an elephant t-shirt. Come on people! The hypocrisy is running rampant. How can you claim I am un-American and then attack me personally for merely stating my political opinion? I have even been very careful in my words not to use aggressive tones or demeaning rhetoric toward the other side. I have not attacked any one's family, lifestyle, or beliefs. Just stated my own. Which I believe is my Constitutional right.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we can be so open about what our beliefs are, different they may be. And, hopefully, at the end of the day, we can all sit down and have beer together, and say we are better for surrounding ourselves with people who think differently from us.

You are welcome to comment...however please refrain from attacking. You can state your case without belittling, mud-slinging, or name calling. This goes for both sides. I am open to a civilized conversation.

And for once in my life I can say I'm tired of the drama.

A lesson:

Beau: pronounced Bo

not Bew
not Boo

CC: Cobb Pediatrics

H A L L O W E E N

I have been looking forward to carving our pumpkins. Leo was in charge of the medium and small one. It took him about 10 minutes to do both of them. I, however, spent the better part of an hour carefully sketching and carving the big one. My big plans included the GT logo for Georgia Tech. I was sooo close to being finished...and my knife slips....slicing across the front of the pumpkin...and taking with it my work of art. Ugh. So Leo had to fix it... and it turned out like.......this. Niiiiice.
Halloween night we went over to my Gramp's house. Beau was a lion cub. He loved his costume and was really excited that I made (uh, I mean, LET) him wear it all day. Even to the grocery store. And when I say loved...I mean hated.

We did a "WICKED" (or Wizard of Oz) theme. I was Glenda the Good Witch, Beau was the lion cub, Lori was Elphaba the Wicked Witch, and Matt, her boyfriend, was such a great sport and was the Scarecrow. Leo was supposed to be the tin man, but as you can see...that didn't fly. My husband loves Halloween. (And once again I'm using the word "love" very loosely.)

I love this picture. The tennis shoes and the beer cans are a nice touch. Don't you think?

The fuzz ball in the bottom right is Beau's mane. He was so cute crawling around.

Me and Gramps.

Lori and I doing our "WICKED" impression.

See?

An Eye for Style

It has finally begun to get chilly here in Atlanta. That means I had to dig out the sweaters and jackets from the back of my closet. I finally got them all arranged, and with a shiver, reached for my favorite warm cardigan. My method of getting things off the hanger happens to be just tugging on the item and have it fling itself haphazardly into my hands. Never have I actually taken the hanger off the rod, removed the item, and then put the empty hanger back. My method removes two of these needless steps. And I am all about efficiency.


So I tugged on the sweater. It didn't come off on the first pull. I tugged harder this time. Nope. One last go, quite forcefully this time. That worked. It comes flying off...along with the hanger ...that just happens to hurl itself into my OPEN right eye.


Immediately, I clutch what I am certain is now just an empty socket. With my "good" eye I scan the closet floor. I don't see my eyeball... so I start trying to decipher if, even though it is still in place, would my eye actually be of any use anymore. I ran to the mirror, and for the nanosecond that I could open my eye, I confirmed that, yes, it was there, and equally importantly, I could see from it. But it watered, and watered, and watered. And hurt. HURT. I couldn't even open it without using my hands to pry the lid open for a good while.

I never like going to the doctor. Any doctor. I would have to have a severed arm or, well, be pregnant again to go to the doctor. But I was so concerned about my eye I even considered making an optometrist appointment.

I have always had perfect vision. I'm not kidding ya'll...my eyes are good. There was a time in high school when I really really wanted glasses, though. So I convinced my mom to make me an eye doctor appointment telling her I was having trouble seeing. I wasn't. I just wanted some glasses for an accessory. I didn't get glasses. And my perfect vision is just one reason I haven't been back for a check-up since. When I was there, after I got the drops to dilate your eyes (although I didn't know what they were for at the time), sitting there reading my little magazine...and everything starts to go blurry. I thought I was having a reaction to the drops. Thought I was going blind. What tragic irony. Blind from the drops at the eye doctor. I'm very dramatic. But, ya think someone could have told me I might experience a bit of blurriness. Scared me to death.


So I decided to wait it out and figured if worse comes to worst I could rock a patch and be a pirate for Halloween...and the entire week before. But after a couple days it finally feels back to normal. Thanks for asking.


When I was telling Leo that night about what I had done to myself he jokingly asked if I had learned my lesson (about the way I rip things off hangers).



Yeah, I learned a lesson.

Heavy sweaters now go in drawers.

Just A Thought: 3

"Oh, this poo stain isn't that bad."

When in my life did it become ok to rationalize poo stains? There used to be a time when all stains were bad, and poo stains were a deal breaker.

Um..."Happy" Halloween

Before I carved these babies up I wanted to get a picture. (Don't you know me by now...?) Beau, on the other hand, could not think of a worse thing that he could be doing.


After the initial meltdown of the extreme torture he was undergoing...having to sit next to pumpkins and all, I did get a few...

Fall Crazy

I love love love love love love love love love love love this time of year. Fall has been my favorite season since as long as I can remember. There is just something about seeing the colors change on the trees and finally feeling that nip in the air. It's football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks, and cashmere sweaters.


It's also driving 62.9 miles to Gainsville in a monsoon to pick out that perfect Halloween accessory. No pumpkins piled on a parking lot for my son. We were headed for the real deal. Beau, Katie, and I made the hike up to The Kinsey Family Farm.


We spent the afternoon perusing the finest gourds the Kensey's had to offer. Beau and I came home with a HUGE one with a long stem (I had to strap it in the seat belt on the back seat next to Beau), a near perfect medium size one, and of course a baby one. And even though we couldn't get a hayride (which I was really looking forward to) because it was raining, we had a great time. Who knew autumnal produce could be so entertaining?


I don't know if it's the fact that I've been on a farm now two Fridays in a row and the fresh air is getting to my head, but I have totally been having daydreams about a quaint little farmhouse, lots of land, animals and tractors. Beau running in from playing the barn while I'm making homemade...er...whatever it is people make homemade... Playing church hymns on an old, out-of-tune piano. Snuggling on a front porch swing with blankets and hot chocolate. Listening to rain on a tin roof. Smelling the morning mist rolling in. Wearing gingham shirt dresses and hand-embroidered aprons. Riding my horse to Target...Oh, wait. Nope. It would never work.

My pumpkin...and a few others.