5 Things You Don't Know About Me

I was tagged by my friend Heidi http://www.stangerfam.blogspot.com/...thanks, I needed something to write about!

1. Around the age of 8, my friends Pilly (Jill), Annette and I opened up our own dance studio (in my parents basement). We called the company "Jammin' Dancers." We charged $1 per month, per child (see picture above). We had 3 students: My little sister and Jill's two little sisters. We never got paid.

2. When I was about 10 years old, I was asked to dog-sit the primary president's dog. This meant I got the keys to her house and free reign of her backyard (the bear river runs through the back of it). I took the initiative to create invitations for an "eclipse party" to be thrown at her home. Dessert was cookies and lemonade from her pantry. Afterwards, re-decorated her home by re-arranging the furniture and pulling things out of storage that I thought would add a new light to her home. Thus, my career as an interior designer began...I did not get paid!

3. I was a participant in the Miss Murray pageant. I was 2nd attendant and Miss Congeniality. Once I announced my engagement to Todd, I was "stripped" of my title and it was passed onto another girl. I was no longer a Miss. I never received a crown or the scholarship money that I was supposed to get paid.

4. One story time, when I was in kindergarten, I had gotten sick of my chewing gum. It had grown rather stale and chomping on it was only making my jaws tired. We were not allowed to be chewing gum in class and I did not want to get caught, so I secretly stuck it under a cabinet. It must have fallen on the ground, because someone stepped on it and smooshed it into the carpet. I couldn't lie, so I fessed up to it. I had to stay after school and scrape it up using a piece of ice and a razor (can you believe they let a five year old handle something like that!). I didn't get paid for cleaning that up either!

5. Almost every day I am a waitress, baby walker, bill payer, laundry woman, dishwasher, cook, entertainer, peace maker, nurse, doctor, maid, repairman, decorator, demolisher, computer whiz, researcher, personal shopper, educator, visiting teacher, singer, actor, dancer, and motivator. I have finally found something I get paid for! The forms of payment: hugs, kisses, sweet glances, laughs, smiles, funny faces, and words of endearment.

I'm tagging:
http://www.haebigs.blogspot.com/
http://carruthcuties.blogspot.com/ and
http://tropicalvelvet.blogspot.com/

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

I must admit, I like a lot of things, these are just the ones I could come up with now. Okay, so I started writing this list and it ended up just being things that make me feel good...and things I like. Oh, just do with it what you will! Thank my sister-in-law Angie for this great shot of me at my very best!

* My favorite architect, student, Executive Secretary, husband, father of my children (there is only one), companion & friend is Todd
* My favorite explorer, dare devil, two year old, whiner, & kisser (sorry Todd) is Connor
* My favorite cheeks, legs, smile, laugh & bottle drinker is Abi
* Scrapbooking and Cardmaking
* Bertucci's Pizza
* Canolli's
* Secret Dirty Indulgence: Diet Pepsi Jazz Black Cherry and Vanilla
* Watching Abi stretch when she wakes up in the morning
* Enjoying a lecture about ? from Connor
* Dancing (not very good at it, but LOVE IT)
* Singing
* Attempting to plunk the piano
* The smell of rain
* Eye Brow Shaper from Kristy Harris Salon
* Volumizing Mascara
* A good dye job on my hair (blonde, preferably)
* At least 3 hours of solitude every afternoon
* Bubble baths
* Completing my Visiting Teaching (still working on this month!)
* Talking
* Eating
* Peanut Butter M&M's
* Any good romantic comedy
* Strawberry Banana Rendevous from Coldstone
* Dreaming about the house I will someday have
* Making the kids laugh
* Listening to Todd make up stories/songs
* Being happy

If I think of any more, I will add them.

So Hard to Say Good-bye

I realized today, that saying good-bye to people never gets easier.

My friend Rachael closed the chapter on her life here in Hawaii and returned to the mainland today. She said it best when she said, "I don't say good-bye, I say see you later."

That makes saying good-bye so much easier if you have in the back of your mind the ones you will get to see again. Why doesn't it make it easier when the person in your life is going to pass away. You know you will get to see them again.

My grandmother isn't closing a chapter, she's finishing her novel (the beautiful woman in the picture is my grandma, she's holding my dad). I spoke with her on the phone a little while ago, thinking it was my good-bye. She's still here and I am afraid to call her. I don't want to have to say good-bye again. I know that I should call her every single day and tell her I love her. I should remind her of all of the things I admire about her. But I can't get up the courage to do that. I will tomorrow.

I know that I will eventually see her again, but it will be in a completely different light. I will see everyone again and we will all eat nachos and shave ice and chocolate haupia pie and canollis and Bertucci's pizza. I hope.

In my life, I have had to say good-bye to a lot of people, knowing that the likelihood we would have of seeing each other again would be slim. But never so many as I have had to say good-bye to in the last year.

Living in so many different locations in one year is incredible. I have met the finest people that have made huge impressions on mine and my families lives. Some I know I will see again, others, I only hope we can cross paths or afford to fly out and visit again.

I admit, sometimes I avoid saying good-bye. Isn't that lame! I can't say those words. Why does it bring tears to my eyes? Why does it makes my insides get all tense?

So this post is for you whom I may have not said good-bye to....I say "See you later!". For those that I have said Good-bye to, I meant, "See you later." For those who I have said "See you later." I ask...come visit me here in Hawaii, there's plenty of room!

Abi

I absolutely adore this fat little chunk of ours. Here are a few things about Abi many of you may not know:

*Each time she wakes up, she talks to herself. When you go in to take her out of her bed, she has the hugest grin for you

*To fall asleep, she has to be swaddled super tight and her face has to be covered. Not to worry, once she is out, we removed the light blanket covering her face.

*By the time you get her out of her bed, she has gotten herself out of the swaddled blanket. Usually her flailing arms are what wake her up.

*If she hasn't gotten out of the blanket, I will unwrap her and she will stretch so big and so cute. It's a favorite thing of mine that she does.

*She loves to talk, squeal and be talked to.

*Sure-fire way to get her to smile, sing to her...she loves it.

*The person who can get her to laugh the hardest is her brother.

*She loves to eat and gets so excited when she sees her bottle. She will let you know when she is hungry.

*Like the books say, babies only cry for three reasons, dirty diaper, hungry or tired. Yup, that applies to this little girl. So we try to catch these things before they happen.

*She has rolled over only once, I missed it. Todd told me all about it.

*She still can't sit up on her own...am I expecting too much for a nearly 5 month old?

*Abigail had sever jaundice after she was born...a level 26 for those of you who know anything about bilirubin levels.

*The doctors were concerned about her weight gain for a while...ha ha ha, look at her now. She was put on a strict two-hour feeding regimen.

*Because she wasn't gaining weight, she had to be fed by bottle to see how much weight she was gaining. Because of the bottle, she refused to latch on and much to her mothers dismay, didn't nurse and has been on formula since she was 6 weeks old. I prefer nursed dirty diapers over formula dirty diapers.

*She has mastered grabbing for things that are within her reach.

*She takes a binky (Connor never did)...and I love it!

*Her legs are so huge and chub-a-lub, everyone just wants to squish them. They are like a log of pillsbury dough..with a few more rolls!

*She has ginormous cheeks. If we are strolling along a bumpy road, the only thing that moves up and down are her cheeks. It's so cute!

*Her eyes are so blue, just gotta love those baby blues.

*Has a small strawberry birthmark on the left side of her head above her ear.

*People would take one look at Connor and pronounce "he looks just like his dad." Nobody has said that Abi looks like her mom or her dad.

Mischevious One

I know most of my posts are about Connor, but he is the one that is doing the most right now. Tell you what, I will post a blog about Abi. Just as soon as I am through writing this one!

Connor, You gotta love this kid! You will find that there won't be a whole lot of up-to-date pics on the blog for a while. My beautiful son broke my digital camera. It is my fault, I let him have a go at taking pictures and he continued to try and close the lens manually. The result, a mangled and sad camera that won't take any pictures at all.

The pictures above were some of the last ones that I was able to take with the camera before it got into its current state. I will describe the pictures to you....mind you they were both taken on the same day!

Connor is into everything. You know, you hear so much about "baby proofing", but what about "toddler proofing". Those are the ones you really gotta worry about!

I was folding laundry in my bedroom when I heard what I thought was the refrigerator open and shut. I didn't think much of it. Usually Connor will get what he wants out and if he needs help opening it, he'll bring it to me. That is, except, for the time he wanted water, pulled out the pitcher and all the water spilled onto the floor.

After that incident, I purchase one of those saftey latches that you put on fridges. I had yet to put it on though. I guess my lesson hadn't been fully learned.

Connor didn't bring anything to me. So I wasn't worried. It was quiet again (uh, mothering law number one, if all is quiet on the home-front, something is awry). I was walking to the kitchen to start another load of laundry (side note I LOVE having a washer and dryer in our apartment) when I noticed Connor eating something. He had gotten something out of the fridge. A whole block of cheese. The little mouse was eating cheese right off of the block! Needless to say, we didn't use that block for anything else. It was designated as Connor's to eat at his will.

I immediately went into the kitchen and place the safety latch on the refrigerator to prevent occurences like these from happening again. Did you realize that a block of cheese here in Hawaii is almost $7!!!!!

Later on I was feeding Abi in the living room. Connor was being quiet again, so I went to find him. When Connor has to go to the bathroom, he usually finds a room that isn't being used and shuts himself in it. He then finds a corner to squat and comes out once his business is done. He usually goes into the bathrooms, but has no interest in using the toilet, yet.

I checked both bathrooms, including the tub and shower. I checked the closets, I checked the bedrooms. I couldn't find Connor. I was standing in the entry way thinking about where else he could go, when I heard "hep peez". It was coming from inside the clothes dryer! Of course, I had to pull out the camera and take a few shots, then I rescued him.

We all took a little journey to Wal-Mart and purchase a baby gate to put in front of the kitchen so we don't have any more experiences such as these. The only thing he can reach in the kitchen now, is the oven light. Every night after I get into bed, I notice a glowing coming from the kitchen and I will get out of bed, turn it off, and laugh about our little Connor and all of the amazing things he does during the day.

Can't a mom get a little sleep around here!

I shouldn't complain, at least the little ones sleep. It is 7:20 am, I am fully dressed and getting ready for the day. Connor has been awake since 6:30 and Abi is laying in her crib talking to herself, where she has been for the last 1/2 hour!

They get the early bird thing from their father...that's who I blame. Really, I can only blame myself. Here is the scenario.

My children have put themselves on a mother's dream schedule (if you are the productive type that likes to get things done during the day). As you read before, they wake up really early. Abi goes down for a one hour nap about 8am. Then the both of them, together, in the same room (no I am not kidding) go down for a four hour nap around 12 noon. Abi takes another small cat nap around 6pm, then she's usually in bed by about 7:30 pm. We try to have Connor in bed by 8:00, but when he actually falls asleep is a mystery to us. Abi will wake up at 3:30 or thereabouts for a bottle and we start the whole thing over again.

To be completely honest, I prefer it this way (some days). I like to have alone time during the day to work on little personal projects. It's nice to have that time to myself. The only thing is that just once in a while I would really like to sleep in past 6:30 am. I know what I have to do to change this:

Shorten the kids naps and start feeding Abi rice cereal

Isn't there a way that I can get both? The kids to sleep in until, oh, I'd even take 8:00 am, take a 4 hour nap together. Yeah, it's asking for a lot. I was just reading in What to Expect the First Year that a baby Abi's age should get around 14 hours of sleep in a day. If my calculations are correct, the little ladybug gets 17 hours of sleep! I'll stop whining. I got a pretty good thing here.


Hold on, Connor wants something.....Isn't he a doll! He ran into the bedroom and wanted to take Abi out of the crib. So I let him "carry" her and he started grunting like she was too heavy. Instead I ended up carrying her with Connor leading me into the living room. I laid her on the ground next to him and he started hugging her and kissing her. They are now enjoying "The Wiggles" together. He's such a sweet boy and just adores his sister.

I feel so blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving!?!

This morning as Todd was leaving for work, he leaned over and kissed me and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving! He stepped out the door, then stepped back in and said, "Did I really just say that?" He did.

Valentine's Day. I remember fondly as a child waking up in the morning and having small gifts from my parents. One year I got little erasers that spelled out I Love You. So, Valentine's isn't as much a "couples holiday" as it is a family holiday. I thank my parents for making it that way. It should be a whole family holiday! It's all about love and who better to love than the ones you are forced to share a roof with.

Do I still expect something from my significant other, of course! I would not be my mothers daughter if I didn't. Todd came home for lunch and informed me that he was going to get me flowers, but they "cost like $50 or $60 bucks." He would rather spend the money on clothes or something I can use and need. I agreed.

My gift to him? A reminder about the brand new laptop (powerbook pro) and programs that he recently purchased. I know, I am a hopeless romantic.

So tonight when Todd gets home from school, we all, as a family are going to enjoy a nice meal at McDonald's, followed by some browsing around a local clothing store to pick up some new duds for each of us.

Connor was invited to a Valentine's Day party with some friends. He was the only boy there...I wonder if it was planned that way. Actually, he is the only boy in our nursery, and at playgroups there is only one other boy. The kids decorated cupcakes and exchanged Valentine's. It was all so cute!

So to all of you, Happy Thanksgiving! No, really, Happy Valentine's Day! Hope that yours is filled with more creativity than ours is!

Today's Lesson

On our ride home from Church today, I was talking with Todd about the wonderful teachers we have in our ward and discussing what our lessons were about.

Intermittently I brought up a discussion I had with a friend in the foyer about children and how amazing it is that they can drive you nuts all day long. I can put Connor on time-out three times for the same thing, put lemon juice on his tongue 5 times for screaming, and clean up an exploded diaper. The whole day will have seemed horrible, that is, until Connor comes up to me and says, "want a hug...want a kiss." My heart always melts and I forget anything during the day that he may have done wrong.

Todd pointed out that our Savior is the same way. We can screw up every single day, but the moment we turn our hearts to Him and ask for his forgiveness, His heart melts and he forgets anything that we do wrong.

Sometimes it is hard for me to fathom that my mom could have ever felt for me the way that I do for Connor and Abi. But she did, or she must have. Then to think that our Savior and Father in Heaven love us even more. I am grateful for this gospel and the love of my Heavenly Father. I am most grateful for His Son and the amazing Atonement.

Being a parent for these few short years has opened my eyes to the meaning of unconditional love. I hope everyone has this chance.

If the Shoe Fits

On Monday we had finally gotten everything moved into our new apartment and were beginning to get settled. With getting settled, you have to arrange for all of the new utilities to be set up. I had asked my friend Rachael if she could run me and the kids to the mall to set up our internet and cable.
sidenote: First off, yes, the cable/internet office is in the mall. How great is that! Other thing, Todd takes the van so I am vehicleless during the days. I would drive him, but it would just waste gas and he happens to leave work at the same time the kids are napping. That doesn't work! NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY.

Okay, back to the story. We got the cable/internet arranged quickly and decided to eat some lunch at the mall and see if we could find Connor some new shoes.

Connor has worn the exact same shoes for 1 year. They are his favorite. They are the first thing he puts on in the morning and the last thing he takes off at night. I love them because they are plastic and easy to wash after a day at the beach and because they are black, they can pass off as Sunday shoes. So, needless to say, Connor only owns one pair of shoes.

We went to Payless, where I had purchased his first pair. They were a size 5, but they didn't have any in stock. I asked an employee if they had any in the back, and he told me that they were completely sold out, but I could order some on-line and have them delivered to the store for no extra charge. Yeah! Connor could have his shoes again.

Before we left, I asked the salesperson to measure Connor's foot just to be sure that I had him in the right size of shoe. Connor willingly took off his shoe and stood on the scale. My son had grown up. He was no longer a size 5, but a size 81/2.....wide!

I had been wondering why his toenails always seem to grow curling into the tips of his toes. Now I know why! In one more week Connor will have a properly fitting pair of shoes and I promise to check his feet size more often.

Moving Day

I am blogging so much today because I am stuck.

We moved almost everything we own into our new place yesterday. But because of all of the chaos going on in there, there was no way we could sleep there last night. So we spent one final night in our place here on Makaloa.

There is nothing for me to do. Everything is packed, the place has been cleaned and the kids are asleep. Isn't my life perfect! Todd is at work and school till 3pm, so here I sit with a laptop waiting for the responses from my ad on Craigslist to die down. No, I did not post myself for personal services.

The condo at Marco Polo was purchased with all of its furnishings. Before we moved in, there were 5 girls living there. So lets do the math:
5 Platform Bedframes
5 Twin Size Mattresses
5 Desks
5 Lamps
5 Comforters
5 Sets of Twin Shetts
2 Cabinets
5 Full Length Mirrors
5 Folding Chairs
2 Beautiful stools
1 Carved Table
1 Side Table
1 TV
1 DVD player
5 trash cans
5 Rolling Desk Chairs

Yeah, I'm trying to sell all of this stuff. That is, except, for one of the platforms and mattresses. It is going to make for an awesome fort underneath for Connor and a nice place to rest his head for naps and bedtime (he's been an a regular bed since August).

Okay, so selling this stuff has been a breeze. Craigslist has got to be one of the most fantastic creations. I posted this stuff at 7am this morning and it is now 12:30. All of the beds, desks, mattresses and bedding have been sold. That is, of course, assuming that everyone that has asked for this stuff actually shows to pick it up.

Back to moving day. Todd finished work and school around 2pm and he picked up our friends Mike and Becca. Becca was left here at the place on Makaloa to fend for herself and our two wee ones while Todd, Mike and I went to our storage unit to begin the move.

I LOVE opening our storage unit. Memories of a wonderful life first lived in Hawaii come flooding back to me. Not to mention the scrapbooks, materials, Connors first clothes, toys and a real bed all for ourselves!!! So we began the loading and got a lot of stuff in our van. So much stuff, that I had to squish myself between the front two seats. Let's just say that my hips have expanded some since delivering Abi, and I didn't squish to the floor. It wasn't too uncomfortable though. We made it to Marco Polo and began taking our stuff the the apartment. Two of the girls were moving there stuff out at the same time. They were living in the living room....the other two bedrooms had not been vacated yet, so we had only one room to put all of our things into.

The van got unloaded and it was time to go back. Todd said that he and Mike would go, and that I should stay and get things settled back at our new place. So I tried. Can't do too much when you can only work with one room and there are big beds taking up space with not place to store them. So I spent the time doing what I do best, talking. I visited with a neighbor that happens to be in the ward, and with Memnet. It was great. Todd returned, but he didn't have the stuff. He couldn't have the stuff. Why? Because I had the code in my back pocket and the keys in my front pocket! They had driven all the way to Kalihi in Honolulu traffic only to find out they couldn't get in. AUGH!

Another lady came that had the middle bedroom and cleared all of her stuff out, so I began to get that room settled for Connor. Mike and Todd showed up with even more help! Our friend Van and his friend Dan and our neighbor Dan all were there. It was great.

So they had one last load to do. I took the stroller to our place at Makaloa while the guys returned to the storage unit for the last load. I rescued Becca from our kids...she said they were good and she only had to change 2 poopy diapers and she had only watched Cars 3 times. No big deal (what a life saver she is).

We picked up a couple of pizzas and walked the one mile to Marco Polo (the new home).

By that time the last current tenant had arrived and was cleaning her stuff out of the master bedroom. We all enjoyed some pizza, but it was getting late and the kids were ready for bed (along with all of the movers). We decided to come back here and spend one last night. And that leads me to where I am now. Sitting at the computer waiting for 3pm to come so we can move our last load from this place and close the chapter on our lives that I like to call "renting". And begin the chapter that I call "renovation."

Who is Todd?

Okay, so I am totally stealing this idea from my friend Heather. She listed on her blog the many things about her husband, Sam, that people may or may not already know. I was so inspired. What better way to think of my husband while he is at work than to make a list of those endearing qualities that made me fall in love with him, and make me continue to fall in love with him day after day. So, here it goes:

• Todd is a morning person, NOT a night person.
• Is a constant critic of his body...I thought girls were only like that.
• When he has a lot on his mind, his lips will constantly be moving (mimicking what must be going on in his head), but no words come out.
• Will usually try any type of food at least once.
• Used to consider himself anti-social, but has recently been the first one to invite people over or the one who stays after church talking.
• Has picked up golfing within the last few years, loves it (doesn't mean that he's a pro though...but he's working on it).
• Really enjoys dressing up and looking sharp (hence the black and white shoes).
• Showers every single day
• Never misses brushing his teeth twice a day
• Has been known to sit down in front of the tv with a jar of peanut butter and a solid piece of chocolate.
• Favorite flavor of Ice Cream...Vanilla
• Every time we get a knew movie he watches it at least 4 times before he will watch another one (now I know where Connor gets it).
• Favorite movie....The Burbs
• Todd has a serious face...so it is difficult at times to determine if he is teasing or being serious...most the time he is teasing.
• When he has some down time, he can be found in front of the computer watching tutorials on how to use his favorite computer programs....none of them involve games.
• Isn't heavy into watching sports (you won't hear me complain).
• Absolutely loves 80's music, all of it.
• Steak and potatoes kind of guy.
• He likes my cooking (weird, but sweet)
• Makes the best Scrambled eggs, EVER.
• Takes really good care of the things he owns (car, house, wife, kids)
• Is an aspiring Architect with only 3 more semesters till he graduates with his ArchD.
• Has had to adjust to some serious changes in his life. HE DOESN'T DO CHANGE. Or should I say, DIDN'T do change. He's getting better.
• Is considering purchasing a Mac (computers are dying or dead)
• He is very hard on himself and expects way too much from himself
• He's not a pessimist, he's a realist
• His favorite thing to wear when he is at home is this old pair of pajama pants...I threw his second favorite pair away, it had a huge hole in the knee (can you believe he actually wore/owned something with a hole in it!)
• Knows exactly what to do to cheer me up when I am down
• He's never down when I am...it works out so well.
• Favorite sandwich...Peanut Butter and Honey. Do you realize that he has eaten this for lunch every single day since Jan. of '06 and never complained.
• Favorite Chips...Lays Plain (do you see a pattern, plain ice cream, plain chips, plain sandwich, plain burgers)
• While living in Dallas, we would only eat out once a week. This is what Todd's dinner consisted of: Whopper from Burger King, French Fries from McDonald's, Shake from Sonic. Yes...we would drive to all these places. First to McDonalds cause the fries are only good when they are fresh and he could eat them while we waited in line at the other two places. Now there's a guy who knows what he wants!
• Likes to enjoy wherever he is living. Thanks to our good friends Jay and Kelly, we learned a valuable lesson about life. Enjoy it and get to know your surroundings. So, every weekend wherever we lived in the last year, we made sure that we saw one of "the sights" or did something besides sit at home. We can tell you the great things about Dallas and Boston and Hawaii.
• Feels so guilty if he ever scolds Connor. He quickly returns to Connor and cheers him up.
• Can go for days without sleep if he has a big project due (then passes out for two days to catch up on lost sleep)
• Doesn't snore
• Does his share of work around the home
• Is incredibly gifted with his hands. He had built and re-finished so many beautiful things in our first home and gets to do it all again in our new home. Plays the guitar and piano beautifully, does the dishes, draws incredibly well, and tickles the kids.
• Loves and adores his mother (who doesn't)
• Is always truly interested in what other people are talking about
• Before going into Architecture had considered (and often times still considers) becoming a pilot.
• Loves to dream about different projects, whether they be inventions, careers or architecture.
• Before he had a life with me he snow and water skied.
• Was perhaps, one of the most beautiful little boys ever.
• When writing papers he reads and re-writes a sentence 12 times before he gets it looking the way he wants to....but then wants to change it again after it is handed in (way to critical of himself when it comes to writing)
• Purchase a book to learn a new word a day
• He really enjoys learning
• Has a great sense of direction

If you think I have forgotten something, please include it in your comment. Isn't he a wonderful guy. I needed this...you all should try it some time. It is quite therapeutic to write down things about the one you love.

The Name Game

I caught myself in the act of calling Connor "Bugaboo" again this morning. Yes, I have names that I call people who are close to me that aren't exactly the names given to them.

Todd likes to be called Todd. Todd only. Sometimes I can get away with "Toddy" and of course the ever so popular husband pet name "honey" (which can sometimes be heard by Connor when he is referring to his dad). But Todd will always be Todd. When I first started to date him, I was working at Country Furniture in Gardner Village. One of the managers saw him and began to call him "Hotty Toddy." That's where Toddy came from. For while there we only called each other babe. That one hasn't really stuck. Maybe it's cause we are no longer babes, just two old kids with babes of our own (any woman who has had a baby knows that the body no longer is babe worthy...okay, maybe I am the only one).

Connor has had many names given to him. Sister Stapley at the Institute used to call him Connor Bonner. Frank from Todd's work used to call him Conrado. On a bad day, I call him Conster Monster. On a good day, he is Bugaboo. I don't know why, it's just a cute name.

Abi....oh how we love that chub-a-lub. Flabigail, Abigirl, Flabby Abi, Ladybug (Connor has caught onto this one).

Suzy...I mean, Karen. My little sister was the first victim of name change. I thought the phrase "sistah soozeh" sounded cool. So, she was my sister, "sistah karen" just didn't flow as easily out of the mouth. So, she became "sistah soozeh". That was just way too long to say, so she became my Suzy. She will always be my Suzy. I love the name Karen...heck it was inspired by a James Taylor song, what isn't to love about it. But it's kind of like our little link of sisterdom...she calls me Mo. I'll take it. Connor doesn't know who Karen is, but Suzy...oh yeah!

My mom was the next to receive a name in the name book hall of fame. I remember a friend of hers telling me that she looked like Liza Minelli. At the time, I had no idea who she was. So I began to call her Liza. I saw pictures shortly after....my mom is soooo much better looking than Liza. She only gets called that name now once in a blue moon. And since becoming a mom, I have learned just how important a name "mom" is. Only a child will call the one who loves, looks after them and lets them go "mom." It takes a really special person to be a mom.

So for all of my friends out there who I have called different names, please don't take it personally. It is a "term of endearment." And for all those who don't have pet names...you just aren't endearing enough. JUST KIDDING!!! If anyone has a different name for me, thanks. If it is a bad word, stop using it. I will try to redeem myself.