I can't handle any more tragedy.

For whatever reason, this week I've stumbled upon blogs of several people I don't even know who have gone through the most unimaginable tragedies. Loss of a child....suicide of a parent...illness of a child...cancer...cancer...cancer... many are so very uplifting in their attitudes and their faith through it all. But I can't take any more of it right now.

Maybe because our own family tragedy is still so fresh, and creeps up on us at the most unexpected times (like today).

Or maybe it's because I'm so tired that I just don't have the emotional energy to cope with sad stories right now. I don't know.

Plus, this evening we watched a movie that we thought was going to be uplifting and heartwarming, but it was just heart-wrenching all the way through, and had a completely unsatisfying conclusion that left us wishing we hadn't watched it in the first place.

Whatever it is, I'm now going to seek out only funny things to read and watch. Call it escape, call it a break....I guess I just need to laugh!

Smiley Boy

I love all of his little expressions. This one is from the other day. I just happened to capture one of the only non-fussy moments of the morning.



And here are 3 pictures from today. He loves the toy on his Bebe Pod chair! He probably played with it for 20 minutes before he noticed me sitting there and looked up.





Cheesy smile!



Sometimes I still can't believe how big he is! He's not sitting up unassisted yet, but he can sit in his chair without slumping over now. Where does the time go? As I've said many times before, sometimes every day feels interminably long but the weeks and months go by in a blink.

Amazing video...

This was part of our pastor's sermon last Sunday; he warned everyone ahead of time to grab some tissues, and I'm repeating that warning here.

Perhaps it is my new status as a mom, but I absolutely lost it when I saw this for the first time. And the second. And the third. One of the most amazing stories I've ever seen. Watch for yourself, you'll see what I mean.

Put some Windex on it

So sad the photo is blurry but you get the idea. Target is selling Windex "classic" in the old-style spray bottles. As seen in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I have been on a quest for purses that will hold some baby essentials but don't look like diaper bags. And it turns out that my cute Harrods bag that I bought in London actually fits the bill. Yay! I can fit my personal stuff plus a change of clothes and diaper stuff for Elijah in one little bag. :)

Ugly Sweater Day!

Today I went to Best Buy because we're getting an appliance replaced...it's under warranty, so I just had to talk to someone about getting a new one. But when I walked back toward the appliance department, I couldn't find any employees anywhere. Then I walked to the computer section. Same thing. Where were all of the blue people? I walked all the way to the front of the store, to the customer service desk and asked for help.

He told me there should be someone back there--- but it's ugly sweater day and everyone is wearing an ugly sweater on top of their blue shirt! He pointed me to someone wearing a Cliff Huxtable-type sweater who led me back to the appliance guy in a horrible green sweater. Each person I talked to told me enthusiastically that it's ugly sweater day... apparently one guy is wearing a women's sweater.

I'm glad they're having fun at work. Even though it did make them blend in with all of the customers. :)

The Bucket List

So I've never actually composed a list of things to do before I die, but I have "borrowed" this list from my friend Alysa. The things I've done are in bold. Not quite as many as I'd thought!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (not sure if anything I've climbed counts as a mountain, but oh well.)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had malaria
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (I think so...not totally sure though.)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset .
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – both.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London - nope; we missed it. Darn!
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (only if working for an attorney counts!)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Married the love of your life.