Buying Art!

I have never in my life bought an original piece of artwork but I think that might change this week. Through one of the STJ website's I frequent (yes, I am addicted this is established) I found out about this young artist, Kristen Maize, who was born and raised on STJ. She now works for the Friends of the VI National Park. I was intrigued at first but when I saw her works in sepia tones I fell hard! So this is going to be my new piece of art. Now I just have to decide whether to hang it at home or in my office.

This is the Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay on the East End of St. John. According to some web research it is one of the least altered Moravian buildings in the west Indies and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Moravian missionaries first held services near here in 1756, preaching to the slaves that worked the nearby plantations. This building, which went up in 1919, is the third built by the congregation. The others fell prey to a hurricane and a fire. Next to the church is a wonderful old West Indian graveyard where you will find some very old stones. This painting is based on an old photograph.

Ok My Blog has officially become all about the kids!

And I am ok with that...

Today the girl had her first dental appointment ever. They tried to tell me that she should have been coming since she was 6 months old. WHAT! She had teeth but please ... who cares they are all baby teeth. Anyway, regardless of being a delinquent mama and showing up with her almost 4.5 years late for her first dental appointment, her teeth are fine. Great even. No cavities. White. Straight. What more can a mom ask? She gets all that from dad. My teeth were crowded and needing braces in a serious way by the time I was 9!

And the boy is modeling the latest in STJ wear ... his very own onesie from Skinny Legs in Coral Bay, St. John, USVI ... only one of my favorite places in the world! My mom's friend brought it back for him as a souvenir from their recent trip. Nice lady!

Sleeping Through the Night!

I have not posted this for fear of jinxing myself, but here goes. He is sleeping through the night. Its more than a fluke now. I would say 12 of the last 14 nights (or since about 10.5 weeks for those keeping track) he has slept from about 8-9 pm until 6-8am. I mean that's through the night. That's BETTER than the 6 hour stretch that most consider through the night. Its so much sleeping that I asked the pediatrician if it was tooooo much sleeping. She said "consider yourself lucky" so ... I hope I didn't just jinx myself.

He's 12 weeks old today! It both seems like he's been here forever and barely at all, all at the same time!

A Choice

Ultimately, who should decide a woman's fate? A woman? A woman and her doctor? The Supreme Court? Politicians?

This is my body I sit in, it should be my decisions that determine my fate. The VAST majority of late term abortions PERIOD are not the result of someone deciding "hey, I don't want to have this baby after all!" The misrepresentation of the facts and the states of minds and the ASSUMPTIONS about women facing what is probably the most brutal decision of their entire lives infuriates me. I don't have to agree with you and your choice, but I do think it is reasonable to assume that women with the guidance of their doctors should they seek it should be free to pursue a long standing medical procedure. NO one is happy when this decision is set before them.

I can't site specific statistics but I would bet money that we in 99.9% of the cases the situation is one of two - the fetus is NOT viable outside the womb & will likely die soon after birth either way from severe abnormalities OR the fetus is threatening the physical health of the mother. In either case, really, do we need to legislate the options available to her?

A judge makes a bad decision and a woman pays for it with her future fertility or even her life. Maybe I am hypersensitive to this issue having just faced a potential "late-term" abortion. I was 19 weeks pregnant when we found out that our baby was struggling. We had an ultrasound tech actually use the word "catastrophic" in reference to the potential problems. Typically, the edema and fluid on the lungs is a sign that the baby has a devastating anomaly - genetic or structural - and is NOT going to make it. We were beyond extraordinarily lucky. Some would even argue that we are a reason that these procedures should be banned because you NEVER know. Well the truth is we had every test known to man and everything with the baby looked fine. Often, parents are not so lucky and they have a test confirming this terrible disease or that one, or a sonogram confirming that their child is missing a brain, or most of their heart.

To tell someone that they MUST carry to term a baby that will undoubtedly die the moment it is born is beyond cruel. Many women choose to do just that. And I applaud them. I personally do not think I would have had the strength. I would and DID do anything possible to help my baby boy's chances. But we always had hope. Reasonable hope. I am not talking pie in the sky there may be a miracle and his brain will regenerate hope ... I am talking "we see no reason for him to have this problem - nothing genetically, nothing structurally, nothing!" hope. We had to persevere and figure it out.

How about this? Let's let the women actually faced with the decision, in consultation with their doctors, decide! I am not sure what I would have decided if I had to make a decision. Thank goodness I did not have to go there. However, I do know the important thing to me and my psychological health was that I had a choice. I could decide. Either way. I always believed in my convictions before being put to this test. Now, I even more firmly believe that no one can make that decision for anyone else. It is so personal and so difficult that is makes it impossible to be absolutist.

VT

Yesterday I went on an 8 hour round trip to pick this kid (who is now a man) up from Vtech. At first he didn't want to come home. But then classes were cancelled. Then all the kids started leaving campus and he called and asked if we could come get him. There was no hesitation. This kid could have called at 3 am and I would have been on my way. He is like the mini-me of my husband and spends more time at our house than his own when he's home on break.

It wasn't until yesterday that the true meaning of family solidified in my mind. There is nothing I would not have done for this kid. My heart sank on Monday when I heard there was 1 fatality at Tech, we were fortunate, we got through almost immediately and were able to confirm he was ok. As the day wore on I can't imagine the feeling in the guts of those who were not able to get through to their children.

I also am amazed at how many people reached out to us to check on my nephew. My friends, coworkers, my husband's coworkers, old college friends, my godmother ... amazing. For now I am just grateful he is home and he is safe.

WTF is wrong with PEOPLE?

I know its a lone gunman crazy ... but what is wrong with people. My nephew is a freshman at VT just wrapping up his first year away at college. He's loving it. He could have been shot and killed today by some nutjob. Thank GOD he is safe and sound. We were able to get through to him on his cell phone. He was in a friend's dorm when he heard about the 2nd shooting but had been in the neighboring building to Norris for an 8am class!

I can almost understand (to some extent) those who shoot an spouse or a someone they are really pissed off at. I do NOT on any level comprehend why anyone would kill 32 unsuspecting, innocent kids! Again WTF is wrong with people!

Flirting 101

Photos, Photos and MORE Photos

I have gone nuts with Flickr, uploading, labeling, arranging, rearranging photos. I am OUT of control. It is official, but I really like their interface. So Easy and So Cheap. Unlimited storage for a year for $24.95. MSN was charging me $19.95 annual and I had RUN OUT OF SPACE! With a 2nd kid what's a girl to do. So Enjoy my photos ... you know if you have like a month to kill ;)

Is it Just Me?

...or does it seem like he's trying to tell me with telepathy "mama, what has this crazy man strapped me into?"

Carefulllll

Look how careful she's being with those eggs. You would NEVER think this is the same girl who found her way into mama's makeup last night. While I was out to dinner with a girlfriend, and with daddy in charge, she managed to complete quite the art project in the master bathroom. I wish he had taken a picture. It was all cleaned up by the time I came home, but I think it was a miracle she was alive. Dad was NOT pleased. The first thing she said this morning was "Mama, I am sorrrrry about your make-up. I made a gigantic mess!"

Still I find it impossible to be too upset with her. She's just too darn sweet.

Thanksgiving in St. John

Only 219 days to go!

It is official, I have switched houses from Drake's Lookout to Hale Lani.








I think the driveway and distance from civilization may have been a problem - not so much for hubby and I but for the gramma (with motion sickness) and the kids. Again, Destination St. John could not have been more helpful. So November 15 - November 23rd we will be limin'!



This house is in an area called Maria Bluff, very close to Cruz Bay (the main town) but somewhate secluded. Check out the amazing views!

Brand Recognition

Something has gone terribly amiss! This morning on my way to drop off the kiddos I was commenting to the girl about how tasty my coffee was. Giving my hubby props, I say "Daddy makes the best coffee!" She gasps and says "BETTER THAN STARBUCKS!?"

She's 4. I should be ashamed ... but strangely, I am not. Its not like she drinks it ;)

Brazzaville Beach

I don't know why I am so excited but I am eagerly awaiting my new book from Amazon. Brazzaville Beach. I just love the title. Maybe its because I am seeing the light at the end of the new mommy tunnel (it really does happen earlier with number 2) and can fathom time to READ! I can't wait for this book to come.

I am also happy to report that my little one is just the best boy in the world. He is NOT sleeping through the night for us yet, but he is the happiest, chillest baby. Just in the last week he's kind of hit his rhythm. YAY!

Cuteness x 2

She really likes boats. When you don't have one ... you make do!

And this young man we've dubbed

"The Thinker"

Updated STJ Playlists

Two playlists in particular on my ipod that get massive play while on STJ.










My Mellow Night Tunes (great for chilling on the deck with a cool drink):

Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd - Dave Matthews Band
#34 - Dave Matthews Band
Angel - Dave Matthews Band
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Cool Change - Little River Band
Crazy Love - Van Morrison
Crush - Dave Matthews Band
Digging a Ditch - Dave again
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Grace - Kate Havnevik
Grace is Gone - Dave again....
Gravity - John Mayer
In My Life - Dave Matthews Cover of the Beetles song
Like a Star - Corrine Bailey Rae
Oh - Dave Matthews Band
Some Devil - Dave Matthews Band
Supposed to Be - Jack Johnson
The Scientist - Coldplay
The Wings - Gustavo Santaolalla
Unplayed Piano - Damien Rice
Waste - DMB
Why Worry - Dire Straits

BEACH TUNES (great for roaming the roads of STJ):
A Pirate Looks at Forty - Jimmy Buffet
And it Stoned Me - Van Morrison
Badge - Eric Clapton
Be As You Are - Kenny C.
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
Boat Drinks - Jimmy Buffett
Brand New Day - Sting
Breakfast in Bed - Nicole Kea
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Buffalo Soldier - BOB
Coconut - Harry Nilson
Could you Be Loved - Bob Marley
Cruel Summer - Bananarama
Drive - Ziggy Marley
Escape (the Pina Colada Song)- Rupert Holmes
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
Get up, Stand up - Bob Marley
Grapefruit, Juicy Fruit - Jimmy Buffett
Hotel California - The Eagles
I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley
Old Blue Chair (Ocean Mix) - Kenny C
Represent, Cuba - Orishas
Sailing - Christopher Cross
Secret of Life - James Taylor
She's on Fire - Train
Smooth - Santana w/ Dave Matthews
Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
Son of A Son of A Sailor - Jimmy Buffett
Spirit in the SKy - Norman Greenbaum
Stir it Up - Bob Marley
Stuck in the Middle with You - Bob Dylan
Sunshine of your Love - Eric Clapton (I Guess Cream really)
Tempted - Squeeze The Tide is High - Blondie The Weight - The Band
These are the Days - Van Morrison
Toes - Norah Jones

The Garage is Whole Again!

Finally, after what ... a month ... they have come and fixed our garage. Well mostly. They need to replace the garage door itself - it looks fine and is closed now, but it can't open and close so well anymore. SO that will be another 3 weeks or so. Poor Hubby's been parking in the driveway but at least we have a CLOSED door vs. a huge silver tarp to keep the elements out.

Now I can feel like less of a fool.

Meanwhile the boy is doing really well with his adjustment to daycare. Mrs. J told me "he was a dream" today. Very nice to hear. He is SUPER smiley now. The girl is showing her first signs of big sis distress. I guues the onset was a little slow but she definitely has some mixed feelings about her new bro and all the attention he enjoys. Nothing major but a little bit of strong emotion. She's not quite sure that she "has room in her heart for him" :( I am sure it will all be fine. Someday.