I'm finally choosing sides

It seems like everywhere I go there is Twilight mania. I've never read the novels or seen the movies, because I get annoyed when something is too trendy and popular and I protest by refusing to participate. Which is probably why I've never been one of the "cool kids."

Anyway, I keep seeing these "Team Werewolf" and "Team Vampire" things out there, and it's occurred to me that I must be a member of Team Werewolf, because I've apparently married one - Cory is getting hairier and hairier every day, so he must be a werewolf, right? SO...

Go Team Werewolf!

Disclaimer: No mere physical change, be it weight gain, southern migration of hair, or disfigurement, is enough to change how I feel about my husband. But I gotta poke fun.

The Princess and the Frog

Lear quote: "Is what I just said going on the Blog, Mommy?"

Ella quote: "Why did you marry Daddy, Mommy?"

Me: "Because I love Daddy very much."

Ella: "Daddy loves you, too?"

Me: "I certainly hope so."

Ella: "Yeah, he does, because he hugs you a lot. I saw him hug you and hug you today in the kitchen."

One more Lear quote

"Why is the Tooth Fairy the only Fairy that's real, Mommy?"

Also, we told him that if he ever sees the Tooth Fairy, ALL of his teeth will fall out, and that's why she only comes while people are sleeping and no one knows what she looks like. I love this innocent (or gullible, however you want to look at it) stage!

Blah, blah, blaaaaahhh

I'm not very motivated to do much these days, I'll admit. I have a difficult time keeping the clothes clean enough for my family, and we've been eating a lot of quick and easy meals lately. I'm starting to feel more energetic, which means I'm only falling asleep two or three times a day as opposed to five or so. The only time I break out the flute is when I have a rehearsal or a lesson, and I haven't been on the treadmill in a month.

However, we did manage to have a wonderful Thanksgiving (many thanks and hoorays to Bryce and Carolee for hosting us this year) and we have our Christmas decorations up. Lear lost a tooth the day before Thanksgiving, directly under the one that was already gone, and yesterday he had to have another one pulled because it died - something to do with fillings making the tooth think it's dead, I don't quite get it. Because it was a molar, he had to get a spacer put in to keep the space clear for his permanent tooth which won't arrive until he's 9 or 10. So, he's missing three teeth, and we discovered another one is loose. Why couldn't he inherit my mother's hard-as-diamond teeth?

I also went to the doctor for the first time Tuesday. We had an ultrasound, which is unusual for my doctor (midwife, actually). In the past, having an ultrasound was a big to-do, in which I had to make an appointment with the attending doctor and stuff. This time, we just walked down the hall, flipped on the machine, and got going. We saw the little kumquat and it's heartbeat. It's about 3 1/2 cm long right now. I also got the H1N1 maternity shot. I have to admit, I wasn't sold on getting the vaccine, but since I didn't have to wait in line for 8 hours to get it, I though I might as well. I admit, however, that I feel guilty for having gotten it, while my kids haven't. They've had the regular flu shot, but not the H1N1, and even though I'm pregnant, I can't help feeling that it was more important for them to get it rather than me. I also don't like taking part in whatever public panic and/or hysteria is trendy at the moment. Silly me.

Lear quote: "That's nonsense, Daddy!" (Cory had commented that Lear should join the Safety Patrol because he reminded us to buckle up, and Lear thought that was silly, because the Safety Patrol is a cartoon.)

Ella quote: "Why do I have to do everything myself?" (Ella was mad at me for telling her to get her own snack.)

Lear is the biggest sweetheart ever. (Read his quote at the bottom to find out why.)

So, I'm completely uninspired lately. I'm pregnant, sick, and so tired that it's all I can do to keep the house in tolerable order. However, here are some pictures of what's been going on in the Jaynes house recently.

Lear is modeling his pink vampire teeth. I wonder if all those Twilight fans would think Edward is as sexy with hot pink teeth.

Pumpkin carving on Halloween.

Lear and Ella decided that it was Nemo's birthday, so this is a picture of the party they threw for him.

And finally, Ella got into my mascara. The picture doesn't show the true extent of the damage, however.

Lear quote: Dad: "Well, Lear and Ella, did you know that Mommy has another baby in her tummy?"

Lear: "Oooohhhh, is that why you've been looking so fat lately, Mommy?"

Ella quote: Dad: "Did you make a lot of new friends at McDonald's, Ella?"

Ella: "No, Daddy, I found friends, not make friends."

Day trips and stuff

We went for a drive up in the mountains a couple Sundays ago. The pictures above are from our pit stop. Lear is playing King of the Hill, and Ella is standing in front of an amphitheater that's being built outside Sundance.

And Ella's room is finally done, thanks to my sister Gia, who made the curtains. Ella chose the fabrics for the curtains. We started with new sheets and bedspread in June, painted it a couple weeks later, and finally got the curtains. Now we just have to paint Lear's and our rooms. Just another couple items on the endless home improvement list.

Lear quote: Mom: "Lear, why is there a hole in you birthday cake?"

Lear: "A bird did it."

Mom: "Really? Are you telling me the truth?"

Lear: "Yes, I am. It was a magpie. It flew in the house, and pecked a hole in the cake."

Mom: "Yeah, let's stop this story before it becomes even more elaborate."

Ella quote: Ella: "Mommy, I hun-gee."

Mom, with exasperation: "Again? You're always hungry."

Ella: "Yeah, I a hun-gee little girl."

I broke Ella's heart yesterday.

We were driving home from having dinner at Fuddrucker's (my first hamburger in months. I guess I can't have another until December or something.) and we were having a discussion about nieces and nephews, and how all the relatives are related to the kids. We told Ella that when she gets married in at least 20 years (I'm sticking to that rule!) her kids will be our grandkids.

"When I marry Lear, our kids will be your gran-chil-in?" Ella said.

"Sorry Ella, but you can't marry your brother - or your cousins. Maybe you'll marry Kyle or Elijah." I replied. (Kyle is my friend Brei's son, and Elijah is Coryellen's. Both are her friends.)

"Yeah, Ella," Lear chimed in, "you can only marry your friends. I used to want to marry you or mommy, too, until I found that out."

A small whine started in the carseat behind me. It grew in both volume and pitch, before Ella burst into hysterical sobs. Why? Because she can't marry Lear. She cried all the way home.

"Don't worry, Ella. In 20 years, you'll think that marrying your brother is the most disgusting thing ever," I said, trying to comfort her.

For some reason, that didn't help at all.