Girlymama

Emotions Run Amok in Sleep-Deprived Brains

So, let me sum up. They knew that sleep-deprivation can impair the immune system and brain processes such as learning and memory. But they are just now finding out that sleep deprivation makes you more emotional.

Clearly these researchers have never lived with a sleep-deprived mom. Because this is not news at all to my husband.

Highly effective. Make them sleep in seperate rooms.

You can not even imagine the drama that follows. Tragic cries of “But I need my sister! Please give me my sister!” Weeping into pillows. Promises to be quiet and stop talking. Really. Promises that they will stop doing flying leaps from one bed to the other when they are supposed to be sleeping. They mean it this time.
Today at naptime they were seperated after playing and causing a ruckus for an hour. They were both crying and so super sad… and asleep within 5 minutes of being seperated.

Dumbledore is gay.

Not quite sure what to say about this…. except a) Did we really need to know this? and 2) Of all the additional she could have revealed, unanswered questions and the like, she chose to reveal that? How disappointing. I want to know what happened to the Dursleys, darn it.

Maybe she’s just trying to be controversial. “Not everyone likes her work, Rowling said, likely referring to Christian groups that have alleged the books promote witchcraft. Her news about Dumbledore, she said, will give them one more reason.”

UPDATE: So. Didn’t see that coming. I feel like I should give my opinion here, since everyone else is very passionately giving theirs. I don’t agree with any of my commenters so far. I am not upset that Dumbledore is gay. It really doesn’t change my feelings towards his character of the series. I was bummed that she didn’t reveal something much, much juicier 😉 The last time she revealed extra information, it was so great. This gay-thing was kind-of a let down. So this may explain things, this may just cause more controversy, but this is what I think about the whole thing.

First, I do not think that Rowlings is “all about pissing off the conservative Christian base” or “just trying to sell mroe books.” Is there a Christian conservative base in England like there is here? Plus, the woman is richer than the queen – do you really think she needs to cause a stir to help sell more books?
I was part of a book club for awhile with some wonderful Christian ladies and I was shocked when a book that I chose was criticized for not having a Christian message. Of course it didn’t. It was written about non-Christians by a non-Christian. Why would it? It was still a great book, a valuable read and a very accurate portrayal of how many, many people view the world.
Harry Potter books are the same. They are not meant to be religious. She was writing an epic story about the battle of good vs evil – a classic literary theme found in such Christian-approved books as Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia. (Ironically, both of which have witchcraft/wizards in their stories.) Rowling is not a Christian. Yet, there are many Biblical themes seen in the book. The same way she draws on history, myths and many other types of literature to form a timeless story.
Another big theme of the story is tolerance for all creatures. So naturally, Rowling would throw in a gay character who is worthy of great respect. But, she is announcing it now, it is not found in the actual book. The stories are remarkably G-rated on that front while still having some dating storylines, she instead sticks to her main themes. If she really wanted to be controversial, she would have thrown it in the book. But she didn’t, and I find that to be very respectful of the children who will be reading it.

My children will be absolutely be allowed to read these books. They teach the importance of self-sacrifice for a cause. That evil is present in this world and that it is unacceptable to turn the other cheek and pretend not to see it. It teaches that people may even die in the fight. Rowlings was criticized for having major characters die in a series for children, but I applaud her. That is a reality that we can no longer shield our children from in this day and age. Would I prevent my children reading them because they feature a gay character? ( it’s not even stated in the book, so will they even know?) This book in no way glorifies that lifestyle, it is just a fact about this particular character. My children will undoubtedly encounter gay people in their lifetime. What would forbidding them from this whole series teach them? Nevermind that these books are a fantastic work of fiction. I’ve read them all, so have many, many Christian friends. And we all think they’re phenomenal.
I’ve always found it very curious that people refuse to read Harry Potter because they are not Christian books. What other books do these people read, I wonder? Why such a big deal about this one?

Does anyone else find it fascinating to look at what other people are buying at Sam’s? Maybe its just extra funny because there’s so much of everything. Today I saw someone buying about 20 pounds of bananas and this couple buying enough diapers to diaper that tiny baby for about 6 months. I really wanted to ask them if they were expecting it not to grow at all, since that was a lot of size 1 diapers for one little baby.

Although who am I to talk, since we were buying a ridiculous amount of milk and an extremely large box of Bagel Bites that my kids sweet-talked me in to buying for them. “I think they’re on sale, Mom.” says Ellie. How well does she know me? 😉
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Tomorrow we’re headed into Philly for homecoming. Since Husband’s philosophy, as seen in my wordless wednesday photo, is that you can never start the brainwashing too early. Our kids are soo excited to go to ‘Daddy’s College.’ Ellie wants to see his house there and Grace wants to get her own PENN shirt, since she is the only one who doesn’t have one. And she is seriously feeling left out about this. Still, should be fun.
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I’m trying to get as much Christmas shopping done as possible, since we’re leaving for India in a month. A month, ya’ll.  Excuse me while I take a deep breath. Okay.
Anyway, I am seriously uninspired this Christmas. I usually have a ton of ideas of what to get people. This year, I got nothing. Maybe I need to go wander the mall for awhile. I really want to get things mostly done, since we’re returning only a couple weeks before Christmas and I hate shopping near Christmas.  I guess I could get people exotic gifts in India…

I felt the baby kick last night! And lots again this morning (perhaps its the coffee.)

I know I’ll be sick of this in a few months (I have very active babies. Ellie bruised my rib one week before she was born with her delightful little feets.)  but right now its so sweet and exciting!!

I was upstairs cleaning the girls’ room, which had been utterly destroyed by my wonderful children during their “nap.” I came downstairs to check on them and found them locked in the bathroom, nekkid, looking like this:

The faces were the cleanest parts of their bodies, which are completely covered in what I dearly hope are washable markers.

The just cleaned downstairs bathroom looks like this:

Please notice the stopped up sink, filled with dissolving toilet paper, the huge pile of sopping wet toilet paper in the upper right corner, the floor covered with water… I wasn’t able to get the multi-colored handprints all over the wall on the left.

Now they are in my just-cleaned bathtub, getting it all multicolored and dirty. They are still alive, in case you were wondering, but only by the grace of God. I haven’t actually dealt with the situation yet. They are just soaking in the tub, completely oblivious to the deep, calming breaths I am taking in an effort to show some measure of self-control.

Figures this happens right after husband calls to tell me that he isn’t coming home tonight, but will catch a flight tomorrow morning “sometime.”

My kids need clothes. Not many – Ellie has officially outgrown all her size 4s and has only 1 outfit for church. Grace only has 4 long-sleeved shirts. (3 of which are pink babydolls, so they all look the same.) So, as much as I’ve been trying not to spend extra money on anything non-essential, I’ve realized that they do really need a few new things.
So I guess I’ll need to go shopping after I drop the kiddos off at school today. Its a rough job, but someones got to do it. I guess it might as well be me. Cause I’m self-sacrificing like that.
And if I happen to go to the Old Navy that has the huge maternity section, it is purely coincidental.

Update: I totally rocked that Target clearance section for the kiddos. Very cute stuff, a plaid jumper for Ellie  and 2 whole outfits for Grace for about $25.
Old Navy had not much for kids stuff, but the Maternity section, oh my! (And I had 2 $10 off coupons 😉 I got two pairs of pants, these jeans and these khakis (in dark brown), that are very adorable. I think I’m covered for maternity pants now! Although I love those khakis so much I may wear them even when I’m not pregnant. And oh my word, do I love this sweater!! I couldn’t bring myself to spend $40 on a maternity sweater, when already I have a couple and was already buying two pairs of pants. But I did try it on and it was very hard to take it off again. Especially with my new brown khakis….

The look on Gracie’s face when we heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time…

This girl is going to be the sweetest big sister! I can’t wait to see her meet this baby!

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Ellie has gotten three playdate requests this week. Apparently girlfriend is now Miss Popularity in her class. Moms call saying, “Jane just keeps talking about Ellie and is dying to have a playdate with her!” I’m wondering if this is a good thing. Are they talking about her because she is fun and a good friend? Or because she’s such an oddball? Time will tell, I guess!
Grace got invited to her first friend birthday party – a girl in her class. The professionally printed invitations are about as nice as your average wedding invitation. (Well, if the wedding invitation had princesses, castles and magic wands all over them.) I’m a little intimidated by this. Should she be dressed up? Cause it looks like a pretty fancy party to me. But, maybe this is normal for this neighborhood and I just don’t know it? Am I supposed to go with her? What am I supposed to wear? Am I over-thinking this?
Jeez, I’ve never done anything nicer than an e-vite. When we bother to have an actual  party for our kids, that is.

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Went to Cheesecake Factory for a Mom’s Night Out last night. So yummy. I had the “Factory Burrito Grande,” which translates to “Monsterishly Humongous Burrito.” Three of us shared it and I don’t think anyone was able to actually finish our third. Seriously. (Well, we had to save room for cheesecake, so figure that into the equation.) Have I mentioned how thankful I am that I can eat food again?? And not feel guilty about calories? 😉
And can I just add that we all thought it was obnoxious that Cheesecake Factory has the nerve to charge $2.95 for a cup of coffee.
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Check out my new store logo design. I love it!! Many new items coming over the next week or two!