SuperGenius is now SuperStuffedUp

Our little SuperGenius has a SuperCold. And it's not pretty. Also, the books say that around 6 months of age, babies will start to resist the aspirator. This is hogwash. Noah fights the aspirator with the force and might of an angry badger. A really angry, angry badger. Who hasn't eaten in three days, and who missed the season premiere of "Heroes" (which is on tonight, I believe. We'll have to record it, then watch it in 15 minute increments, as is our custom these days--since trying to watch one entire show, without interruption, is a distant memory. I'm sure we'll be able to do it again in, oh, about 18 years. Maybe.).

We've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning at 8:15; I'm just hoping we all last until then. Patrick wasn't feeling well today, either (we're hoping the two are unrelated, since we all had breakfast on Sunday with Mom & Dad, and I'd really hate to have unwittingly passed our cooties to them); he stayed home with Noah, and I came home at noon. I walked in the door, and seeing Noah's little face just about broke my heart--his cheeks were all red and chapped; his eyes were red & tired; and his little nose was all red & running. But yet, he still saw me & smiled, then held out his arms to me. He's such the sweetest little boy, and it breaks my heart that there's nothing really that we can do for him. Except, apparently, torture him with the aspirator.

I'm also in my second week of motivational Real Estate training; it's good information, but it's hard not to get overwhelmed. I'm getting my name out there, though--just about everywhere I go, I ask if I can leave my business cards, explain that I'm in real estate & try to drum up some business. It is hard, though, working at GWB full time (unless it's a day like today, in which I work 4 hours) and then trying to cram all the Realtor business in on the weekends. Exit Realty is a good company to work for, though; this training is being sponsored by Exit, and was expensive--but Exit will reimburse you $100 for every closing you have, up to 20, this year. So, I have the opportunity to not only recoup the money I paid for the training, but actually make money on top of any commission I may wrangle up. I figured I couldn't lose, and figured it would be a good investment. We'll see how that gamble worked out at the end of the year!

The weather people have predicted two ice storms so far, and both have missed us. Well, I'm not sure if the storms "missed" us, or whether they just over-predicted it (as they usually do--when they don't predict it is usually the time we get whomped). I wish I could say the same for Rachel, who was sent to New Hampshire in January, when the chances were quite good that she would run into fairly inclement weather, and Mother Nature didn't disappoint. I believe she's back home, safe & sound, with a nice story to tell.

We finally took down our Christmas decorations this weekend--it's nice to have our living room back, but sad to see Christmas go. I'm not sure if it's because this was Noah's first year,but I'm really disappointed that it's over. I just really had a great Christmas this year--and it wasn't because of anything I got (though Daisy, my laptop, is pretty awesome!). I think it's because we had family here, and that's really all I wanted.

But, as is our tradition, we did take a picture--self-done, of course--of us in front of the Christmas tree, but this year, with a new addition in our little SuperGenius.



(Taken June 24, 2006)


(Taken January 7, 2007)

All that fun & excitement, and now it's over...

It seems like there's all this preparation that goes into Christmas, and then, BOOM! In five minutes it's all over. This was our little boy's first Christmas, and as he wasn't even seven months old, I think the whole thing was a little lost on him. Oh, sure, he enjoyed chewing on some new objects, and enjoyed seeing family, but I think next year there will be a little more awareness of what's going on. We didn't even wrap the present we gave him--which, by the way, it the ultra-cool Sing & Go Choo-Choo, from Fisher Price, where you push on the engine stack & an extremely annoying song plays--loudly--about what fun animals are, and then the engine pulling a couple of cars moves across the floor. Noah seems to like it, and, more importantly, we think it's a lot of fun. I think he enjoyed looking at the lights on the various Christmas trees, and we did go to Hollywild and I think he saw the lights for about five minutes (then promptly fell asleep).

But I'm just sitting here, in my living room, looking at our dark Christmas tree. I haven't even bothered to plug it in the past couple of days. We still need to take our Christmas self portrait--it's a tradition Patrick and I have, and I was looking forward to doing it this year, what with the addition of our little Elf, and we just haven't done it. It's not that I don't want to, it is just that with all the hype that goes into making this Christmas the most absolutely most wondrous, amazing Christmas ever in the whole world, I think we just sorta, well, forgot about it. So my goal this weekend is to have us take a picture. I know that it won't be a remembrance of Christmas day, but really--does a few days make that much of a difference?

And did you notice that I'm posting to my blog...and sitting in my living room?? Do you wonder how this is possible? I must have been a very good girl this year because Santa Patrick gave me Daisy, my laptop. He figured with the change in vocation I may need an office that's a little more portable than the one we have now. Which isn't very portable at all. So, I've finally been able to play with my new toy, and I must say--I really like Daisy. We also got a wireless router, which Patrick the Amazing Router-Hooker-Upper has working like a champ, and so I'm able to speedily surf the 'net from our living room. It's truly an amazing feat of technology.

And yes, for those of you who caught the subtle indication in the last paragraph--I'm embarking on a new, exciting journey--a journey into Real Estate that I hope will prove fruitful. If not, we're screwed. Let's think happy thoughts, though, shall we??? I have given my notice at my current job--I'll be working there through the 31st, then after that, it's all on me. Well, not all on me...Patrick is still keeping his job. I'd love to say, "Sure, honey, quit!" but I've grown fond of eating, and I'm not sure that cardboard boxes (even though we have a lot of them, and could make a pretty impressive fort out of them) is a suitable home for a seven-month old.

For those who are counting--he's seven months tomorrow. Holy cow. I can't believe how much he's grown and changed in these past months. The time really does fly by...I was talking with Patrick the other night, asking him if he ever thought that the time would come when Noah would go to be at 7:00 p.m. (rather than 10:30, 11:00, midnight...), and would sleep the whole night through, and that we'd have a little person in the house with a distinct personality, with likes and dislikes, and who lets us know very quickly if the Backyardigans song that is currently playing is not "Float, Flutter, Fly" and would we please play "Float, Flutter, Fly" right now. Last time we weighed him (I got on the scale, then on the scale with both of us), he was right around 16 pounds...I'm not sure how tall he is. He's taller than the giraffe sleeper that I love so much (I bought it for him before he was born...it's got cute little giraffe heads on the feet, and says, "I Love Daddy." Of course, Noah really loves Mommy better, but we don't like to brag.).

Well, the oven timer went off, which means a quick dinner & then off to bed.

I will say, quickly, that we had a wonderful Christmas. We had Mee Ma & Pee Pa, my parents, Patrick's parents and sister, and I think it was just about perfect. I'm so happy that Noah got to meet Mee Ma & Pee Pa, and they were able to really spend some time with him, which is what I wanted. They thought he was pretty amazing, and I have to agree. But then, I think he thought they were pretty amazing.

Enjoy the photos--some from Hollywild (which, by the way, was so spectacular and awe-inspiring with its sheer multitude of lights, rendered Janet speechless. No small task, I assure you.); some from Christmas; and of course, some of our boy.