Goodbye, 2008

Wow! Can you believe 2008 has come to a close? It's hard for me to believe. It has truly flown by. This year has brought us so many special blessings. In January of 2008 Ava earned a new cousin when Chase Thomas Ritchie was born to Ryan and Kristina. In April Ms. Tess turned the big 3-0 and celebrated with an 80's themed bash. Later that month I was diagnosed with low amniotic fluid and sidelined with what was to become seven weeks of bedrest. It didn't turn out to be the leisurely life of eating bonbons and watching "A Baby Story" all day liked I hoped. Instead, I was depressed because I couldn't play with Ava, concerned for my baby's health, and worried about my keeping my job and paying the bills. On May 29th, 2008, we welcomed Alexander John Ritchie into the world. Our big, big, boy weighed 8 lbs 13 oz at birth! No wonder it took so long for him to make his appearance! Alex has given his mommy more love and adoration than she could ever imagine. A few short weeks later in July, Ava and Alex met their newest cousin, Finnegan Ross Ritchie, who was born with the most adorable red coif you have ever seen. Littlest sisser Ashley turned the quarter century in August, and Ava celebrated her 2nd birthday on September 11, 2008, with a birdie themed party. Ava spent all of 2008 pushing the limits, cracking us up nonstop, and letting off more energy than should be legal. Jeremy said goodbye to Bridgeway in October of 2008, and started a new adventure as a Correctional Counselor for the state of Iowa. November gave us the most historic election of all time, and a renewed hope for the future. This December we celebrated our first Christmas as a family of four. We feel complete and can't wait to see what 2009 brings.

Merry Christmas, Baby

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

It's one of those days..

You know, one of those days when the last person at the coffee machine took the last cup and didn't make more coffee, when you hit your knee on the edge of your desk, when your kiddo poops after getting him bundled for zero degree weather, when your car windows and doors are all frozen shut, when your windshield wipers are frozen to your car even with water poured on them and sixty combined minutes of work to unstick them, when your flaccid dollar bill isn't accepted at the machine, when you wear heels and it snows five inches, when you have a headsplitting cold. You know, one of those days.

When a mommy can't find a hair pretty at lunchtime....

....a mommy's gotta do what a mommy's gotta do.

Gotta go private!

Got some spam to my blog so I will go private soon. Email me so I can add you as a follower! mindileah@yahoo.com
xoxo

I am humbled

i saw this story on CNN today about a Korean man who lost his entire family when a military jet plane crashed into his home. He was visibly grieving but still had the strength and character to say that he wished the pilot that ejected safely from the plane no ill will and called the marine "a treasure for our country". His selflessness and ability to put someone else before his own grief truly inspires me.

Here's a link to the story if you are unfamiliar with it as well as a bit of the surviving father's message to the pilot.


http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-Fighter-Jet-Crash-San-Diego-Father-Dong-Yun-Yoon-Forgives-Pilot/Article/200812215176255?f=rss

What to wear when your wife has chores for you

What happened to Alex?

I picked Alex up out of his bouncy seat today, and look what I found!
I wonder what happened to Alex?

Winter weather ready (well, sorta)

A baker in the making (who snitches chocolate chips when mom isn't looking)

Christmas decorations are up on the mantel

My mommy brought over two great ornament she chose--one especially for Ava and one just for Alex. Aren't they precious?

Sisters behaving badly

Someone's got a toothy in his mouthy!

Can you see it? (Click on the picture to enlarge it)

Love is in the air

Do you ever feel like wherever you look, everyone is lovey dovey?

Do you feel like everyone around you is twitterpated?







Does it seems like the sun is shining and the birds are chirping?

Love is indeed in the air.

Look at mommy's big, big boy!

Xander loves to sit up in the middle of the floor and worm his way around the carpet. He tries to be on the go much more than his body will let him developmentally. Isn't he so handsome with his shirt off? He's a chubby lover if I ever saw one.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And Birdie LOVES to watch him play!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And she's good to our planet!

This little chicky doo LOVES to help mama recycle. Check her out in action!

The Projectile Vomiteer

Besides her nightmarish GERD (reflux) until age six months, my little baby made it to two months past two years old without ever having vomited. Due to a suspected stomach virus allegedly transmitted by her cousins Baby B and Logo, Ava is ill with what she calls the "ookie pookies". The distance of projection, sheer velocity, wretched stench, and mammoth amount amazed both her father and I. Never having seen her vomit in the past and thus unable to predict her reaction, I am pleased to note that so far she has taken the events in stride. She is even carrying around a "puke bowl" in case of need. If her cousins' course of illness is any indication, this is going to be one long night.

I swear that Paul Shaeffer did not father my child

The Ritchie Band

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day..."

I'm a proud Democrat because I believe in the Declaration of Independence and all it stands for. I believe that it is essential for government to have a role in helping Americans reach a certain standard of living that includes wages that keep families out of poverty, good and timely medical care, and the opportunity for an education.

From my understanding, most Republicans follow a "free market" kind of philosophy, and that the government should not take a role in matters such as those I just mentioned. In my limited insight, I feel that the Republican platform is often based on the premise that "hard work reaps financial rewards". While I feel that this is sometimes the case; in my opinion the world is all about shades of grey and has little to do with black and white. For example, it angers me as much as the next guy when someone abuses the welfare system and lives off my tax dollars. However, I refuse to see the world as one full of those looking to abuse the system. I try my best to see the inherent good in everyone, even those who have been dealt a seemingly impossible hand in this life. In fact, I have always been the bleeding heart type. My entire career has focused on serving the mentally ill population, many of whom live off Medicaid. Their world and its challenges are very different from mine, and I can tell you that living off $9,000 for the year doesn't leave one with much extra cash for the frivolities that life has to offer. I urge anyone who hasn't learned about generational poverty and the inherent struggles of certain American citizens to pick up a book by Jonathon Kozol or Ruby Payne. You might be enlightened and you might feel that your load is just a little lighter than you thought it was.

I'm not writing to bore you with my raging liberal ideas that many of you don't agree with, such as why I think that you should be able to marry regardless of your sexual orientation, or why I feel that stem cell research is both morally and ethically sound, or why I believe in positive diplomacy over a "you're with us or you're not" style of foreign policy, or why I think that women should make decisions regarding their own health and bodies. I am writing this because I can completely grasp why someone would vote the way they do because of any of the above "hot button" issues. I do have a harder time understanding how we can overlook our neediest citizens and reject social conscience. And that is why I am a proud Democrat and hopefully more than just the raging liberal I am often labeled to be.

Glitter Witch and Tiger Boy

I pose a simple question to the pro-lifers out there....

If the fetus you save is gay, will you still fight for its rights? Would your choice be any different if you knew ahead of time that the fetus would grow into a serial murderer or a rapist? If you think that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, is your own heterosexuality a lifestyle choice? Are you pro-choice and also support the death penalty? Are you pro-life but don't believe in many welfare programs that would financially support the baby once its born?

An Ava Sized Tantrum and the Gamma Geeka Effect

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Good Luck and Bye Bye B-way Partay at Cactus!!

It's truly the end of an era..and the start of a new one

Jeremy has started his new job as a Correctional Counselor for the state of Iowa and so far he LOVES it. While I am so proud of him and happy for him as well, I am also a bit sad. I am used to talking to Jer several times a day while we both worked at Bridgeway. We would either talk by phone, IM, or text throughout the day, and ALWAYS had lunch together. Today I drove around town at lunchtime, then headed back early because it was rainy and cold outside. Jeremy and I met and fell in love at Bridgeway and for that reason it will always be dear to my heart.

Do you want to know what really gets on my flipping nerves?

Well, since you asked or didn't..
Here is what drives me insane in my membrane:

I am really bothered by people who walk around with obvious black or whiteheads on their face. Pick it. Please.

I get really annoyed when people overly touch their food. My sister not only takes apart her sandwich, but touches everything a ton and I have even seen some people smear catsup with their finger.

I don't like the overuse of apostrophes.. especially in store signs! The "excessive use of quotation marks" is also annoying!

Littering really irks me. I feel like it's just laziness in many cases.

Another pet peeve is the sound of styrofoam rubbing against anything. It makes me cringe!

I get so annoyed when people don't tip. Really people, do you know what it's like to make $3.50 an hour? Do you really know what it's like to serve a random stranger's every whim for ranch dressing, more mr. pib and then more ranch dressing?

I hate when I hear "she didn't have enough money to go to school". She can take out a loan.

Why oh why oh why oh does it ever make sense to drive in the fast lane when you are clearly a slow lane kinda guy or gal?

Socks + sex never make sense.

Egg sandwiches. Possibly because they are often served with catsup or catchup or ketchup.


Why do old people think it's ok to say anything on their mind even when it's insanely offensive? That is so annoying.

I can't take it when someone doesn't follow the basic laws of the land in regards to taking turns in the line at McDonald's. I believe in karma, and you will be peeling off your own toenails in hell.

He's eating big boy food..and I betcha he never looks back!

Yummo! This rice-y concoction sure beats my milky concoction!

Another Trip to the Unkin Thatch!

Today we traveled to Woodland View Farm. Ava rode a mini pony and even went hands free! She got her first bee sting today (on her hand) but only cried for a few minutes. She also had a great time dancing with the Indians. A horse and carriage ride topped off the special day.