I used to be a pretty laid back driver. It seems that I inherited my mother's driving skills and I've always had a habit of accidently cutting people off, going through the stop sign in a 4 way stop before it's my turn, and generally pissing off other motorists. I used to do the "It's still yellow, so I'll run this red light" thing, before a City of Chicago Police Department camera caught me running one on Madison and Pulaski and sent me a $90 ticket with pictures of my car. (Those cameras really work!) I really don't do it to be a nasty driver or to be rude, I've just been kind of clueless. I was a nice bad driver though...again I got that from my mother. When people yelled at me, or flipped me off, or gave me dirty looks; I made the "Oops!" face and mouthed "I'M SORRY!" I never really understood why people got soo mad. I mean, nothing happened right? Why get so worked up over the possibility of having a car accident? We didn't actually have one, so relax! Enjoy the rest of your day!
THAT attitude has changed. It started when I was about 8 months pregnant and my doctor told me that I would have to cut down on my driving for work.
"If you get into a car accident, your belly will hit the wheel and hurt the baby."
"You mean there IS a baby in there? and it can get hurt?"
I surprised myself this week when I had to resist the temptation to put the car in park, walk up to the guy that was recklessly driving a semi and say,
"Don't you know what I have in that car? The most precious baby on earth. My reason for living. I carried her in my womb for 9 months while God put togather every cell in her body, breathed the air in her lungs and handed her off to me. Every breath she takes is a gift to me and every laugh she makes is a little ray of sunshine. You put her and every other little precious child on this road in jeapardy when you drive like that. Count your lucky stars that our vehicles did not make contact, because if they had, you would have experienced rage and fury unlike anything you could ever imagine."
It still surprises me how much I'm resembling a grown up more and more each day.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Best Movie Ever?
Since Stephanie is staying with us this week to help out with Aimee while I work, Brian and I decided to go on a date. Yay! After making sure that Aimee was asleep for the night, we headed over to our favorite theater, Nova 8. We knew traffic would be awful, since there is really no way to get there without trying to negotiate through mall traffic, but driving through 2 car accident scenes within 1 block of each other proved to be worth it, for $6.50, you get admission to the movie, a bag of popcorn, and a medium drink! We were so excited to see the Chronicles of Narnia that we didn't mind the 50 middle school aged youth group kids that laughed at inappropriate times and screamed their heads off when a dog started talking.
Was it the best movie ever? I can only give you a half-hearted yes. Not because the movie doesn't deserve a whole-hearted endorsement, but because we can only testify to the quality of the first half of the movie.
Yes. Aimee did it. She woke up and screamed her head off until she was coughing, choking, and almost drove her Aunt Stephie to desperation. After 2 full hours of screaming, and trying every remedy she could, she called us. Unable to offer any other solution, I decided that we would leave the movie and come home. Brian and I were totally engrossed and enchanted by this marvelous movie, but our commitment as parents pushed away any feelings of regret, frustration, or depression over not being able to finish watching what is probably the best movie of the year. That is, until we were 2 minutes away from the house and received another call. "I finally got her to go to sleep."
Should we go back? How much have we missed? We're too far gone. By the time we return, it will be too late.
Dejected and depressed, we returned home and ended our night as if we had never left. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow. At $6.50 a person, it's worth another try!
Was it the best movie ever? I can only give you a half-hearted yes. Not because the movie doesn't deserve a whole-hearted endorsement, but because we can only testify to the quality of the first half of the movie.
Yes. Aimee did it. She woke up and screamed her head off until she was coughing, choking, and almost drove her Aunt Stephie to desperation. After 2 full hours of screaming, and trying every remedy she could, she called us. Unable to offer any other solution, I decided that we would leave the movie and come home. Brian and I were totally engrossed and enchanted by this marvelous movie, but our commitment as parents pushed away any feelings of regret, frustration, or depression over not being able to finish watching what is probably the best movie of the year. That is, until we were 2 minutes away from the house and received another call. "I finally got her to go to sleep."
Should we go back? How much have we missed? We're too far gone. By the time we return, it will be too late.
Dejected and depressed, we returned home and ended our night as if we had never left. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow. At $6.50 a person, it's worth another try!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Talk is cheap...or is it?
I guess I should explain why I was so upset about the anonymous comment leaver's seemingly harmless rude comment. (My rebuttal can be found in the comment section of the post about Remmy's hair).
Over the past year, I have been learning to be more careful about what I say. See, usually, you just don't know what people are going through in their lives and a harmless rude comment can really stick with a person who is going through something.
Brian and I are leading a young married couple's group and we are learning about communication. Words have a lot of power. What you say to each other can make or break your marriage, and any other relationship for that matter.
"Fools have no interest in understanding, they only want to air their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2
We all know someone like this. It is impossible to have a conversation with them, and they think they are always right. They usually judge other's harshly, and then call everyone else "judgemental" or "close-minded". I find it very difficult to have a relationship with someone that is like this, because they constantly say carelessly rude things that hit you like little arrows.
"A person's words can be life-giving water, words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook." Proverbs 18:4
There are ways to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas when you don't agree with someone without making the listener feel bad. We are learning that disagreeing with your spouse can be a great thing for your marriage, that is, if you know how to share your ideas in a sensitive building up sort of way. Even disagreements can be like a drink of refreshing water in your relationship.
"Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life". Proverbs 18:21.
Be careful of what you say, because you can't take it back! Once it leaves your mouth, it's out there forever.
Over the past year, I have been learning to be more careful about what I say. See, usually, you just don't know what people are going through in their lives and a harmless rude comment can really stick with a person who is going through something.
Brian and I are leading a young married couple's group and we are learning about communication. Words have a lot of power. What you say to each other can make or break your marriage, and any other relationship for that matter.
"Fools have no interest in understanding, they only want to air their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2
We all know someone like this. It is impossible to have a conversation with them, and they think they are always right. They usually judge other's harshly, and then call everyone else "judgemental" or "close-minded". I find it very difficult to have a relationship with someone that is like this, because they constantly say carelessly rude things that hit you like little arrows.
"A person's words can be life-giving water, words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook." Proverbs 18:4
There are ways to express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas when you don't agree with someone without making the listener feel bad. We are learning that disagreeing with your spouse can be a great thing for your marriage, that is, if you know how to share your ideas in a sensitive building up sort of way. Even disagreements can be like a drink of refreshing water in your relationship.
"Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life". Proverbs 18:21.
Be careful of what you say, because you can't take it back! Once it leaves your mouth, it's out there forever.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
A cry of a different kind
I took Aimee to the doctor today and had to step out of the room for 1o seconds to get something that I left in the waiting room located just 10 steps away, around the corner. The nurse stayed with her in the exam room and guess what happened.... Aimee cried. It wasn't just a run of the mill, "I have a need that needs to be met" or an "ouch that hurt!" cry. It was her very first "WHERE'S MY MOMMY!" cry.
It was beautiful and I loved it. When I walked back into the room she leaned in towards me, and she hugged me, and she stopped crying. It was awesome.
It was beautiful and I loved it. When I walked back into the room she leaned in towards me, and she hugged me, and she stopped crying. It was awesome.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Dear Yoli and Stephanie
Sorry for trying to kill your patriotism when you were in elementary school.
Sorry for telling you that Abraham Lincoln owned slaves.
For the "This land is NOT your land! This land is NOT my land! This is the Native American's land and the British STOLE it!" tirade when you were learning that song in choir.
and I'm especially sorry for the "I'm not His-panic or Her-panic, or anybody elses panic, I'm Latina!" line. (Mostly because Stephanie reminds me of it about every 3 months).
Not that you didn't need to learn it, but maybe I could have waited until you were at least in the fourth grade or something.
That's all.
Sorry for telling you that Abraham Lincoln owned slaves.
For the "This land is NOT your land! This land is NOT my land! This is the Native American's land and the British STOLE it!" tirade when you were learning that song in choir.
and I'm especially sorry for the "I'm not His-panic or Her-panic, or anybody elses panic, I'm Latina!" line. (Mostly because Stephanie reminds me of it about every 3 months).
Not that you didn't need to learn it, but maybe I could have waited until you were at least in the fourth grade or something.
That's all.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Why I decided to go back to work...a series
I've been wanting to post about work for a while now. This is a big part of my life and I want Aimee to know why I went back to work, the feeling surrounding this decision, how I'm coping, how she's adjusted, and whatever else comes up. Today I'm just going to list the reasons.
In no specific order....
1. I love my job.
2. I love the people I work with. Yes. Love.
3. My Vice-President, Director, and Coworkers are the most gracious, suportive, encouraging people I know in Corporate America.
4. I have a GREAT schedule that allows me time with Aimee.
5. I get to work from home.
6. I have a GREAT sitter.
7. I make a decent salary.
8. I'm good at what I do.
9. I do not feel lead to quit right now.
10. My husband supports me working.
Stay tuned for more...
In no specific order....
1. I love my job.
2. I love the people I work with. Yes. Love.
3. My Vice-President, Director, and Coworkers are the most gracious, suportive, encouraging people I know in Corporate America.
4. I have a GREAT schedule that allows me time with Aimee.
5. I get to work from home.
6. I have a GREAT sitter.
7. I make a decent salary.
8. I'm good at what I do.
9. I do not feel lead to quit right now.
10. My husband supports me working.
Stay tuned for more...
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
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