Oh, the Irony.

When I was growing up, there was always another Julie. Usually, there was another Julie R. I hated never knowing if someone was talking to me or some other Julie. So, I decided to name my kids odd names. In my opinion, Crimson has the oddest name. This is due to the fact that she has one of the most common last names possible. Her cousin Jasmine has had to be identified by birthdate once in the doctor's office waiting room because she had the exact same first, middle and last name as another child in the waiting room at the time. I figured with a name like Crimson, this scenario would NEVER happen to my child.

This is not to say that I've never met another Crimson. On the day Crimson was born, I met a two year old named Crimsun and 9 months later another Crimson was spotted in my small town in CA. I figured maybe it would be like Amber or Madison. Ya know, a random name that just all the sudden jumped in popularity for an unknown reason. My fears never came to fruition as I have never encountered another Crimson since 2001.

Until today.

That's right kids. In my dink town in South Dakota, there is another Crimson. For now, it's not a problem. This girl is about 2-3 years older than my Crimson. But it was brought to my attention that they have the same last initial. This means my poor daughter will have ANOTHER Crimson S. to deal with for at least one year of high school. Who knows, maybe they'll be buddies. Of course, being besties with another Julie is how I ended up getting called Velma in high school. Yup, cuz people like to be able to know which Julie they are talking to or about, right? *sigh*

Poor C. Who would have thought there would ever be another Crimson S in the same school some day...

Random Stuff

Okay, California, I've finally settled on two things I miss about you. First, the constant availability of lebni and Indian food. Out here in SD, I have to wait about three days from the time I start making lebni until I can eat it. It is also far more expensive to make it than to buy it. Oh lebni, how I miss you. As for Indian food, my dishes are NEVER as good as the cheap-o Indian buffet. So sad.

Oh well, at least Crimson and I got to eat at the Chinese buffet last night for less than $15. Good times. We also went to the movies and the book store and Orange Julius. It was a good mom-daughter day. I saw Last Airbender with her expecting to suffer through it and I ended up really liking the movie. Go figure. I miss having mom-daughter day every day that she is here. She's been enjoying reading a lot and playing with her friends though. She's a great sister too. Cyrus and Rejeanne both spend a decent amount of time playing with her, but she says that it is hard to get Rejeanne to play.

We've also semi-purchased a different car. I say "semi" because it's really not purchased until the bank funds the loan. Until that point, they can take back the car. I actually know someone that happened to years ago so I'm trying to not get attached to my kids having leg room and me having a driver's side window with some A/C and cruise control. Hopefully I'll know by Friday if we get to keep it. If not, it will be like having a free rental. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and have this weird feeling that I'm going to have to give it back. I think I just feel that way because I haven't had a car loan since 1997 and it feels really awful. I don't like car loans. It sure is a cozy car though...*sigh*

I start the freakishly early morning schedule tomorrow. It's the only way I can work out and my back is very unhappy from lack of swimming lately. I think I have to be up by 5am for my new regimen. I hope I can do it because I'm starting to feel like I don't have a choice! My back needs love. At least I've lost 10 pounds since the 6th. That's bound to help.

Cyrus and the Brownie

So, I decided to sneak some fat girl food this morning. Of course, this means I'm going to go eat a brownie in the restroom (don't judge).

I'm on my way to the bathroom and I very quickly and stealthily grab the brownie container and try to get into the bathroom without Cyrus.

He saw me grab the brownies and sped up to join me in the bathroom. I locked him out. Here's the conversation that ensued through the locked door:

Cyrus: "MOM!"
Me: "Cyrus"
Cyrus: "What is that?"
Me: "None of your business"
Cyrus: "Is that a brownie?"
Me: "Yes"
Cyrus: "Gimme one!"
Me: "I'm not giving you a brownie"

Cyrus runs away screaming. Thirty seconds later, he comes back:

Cyrus: "MOM!"
Me: "Cyrus"
Cyrus: "Let me in!!"
Me: "I'm not letting you in"

He runs away screaming again.

About a minute later, he comes back to the door.

Cyrus: "MOM!"
Me: "Cyrus"
Cyrus: "I want a brownie"
Me: "No"

Cyrus runs off screaming for a third time.

At this point, I'm done with my fat girl moment and feel bad about not sharing my brownie. I come out and find that his sister has graciously given him a piece of chocolate. Sometimes, it's good to be the littlest one.

grrrrr

Dear Cyrus,

Does every day REQUIRE a poopscapade? I'm really sick of cleaning up your poop. I'm pretty sure your dad is sick of getting it out of the vents too. Are you trying to tell us something? You have now smeared poop more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. We surrender.

The Cool Part of Autism

In the split second it took me to click the comment link on Flying Tomato's page, Rejeanne saw the critter in the fern. I've never seen someone find a hidden object so fast in my entire life. I clicked away from this image so fast, I would never have even thought she could have seen the picture, much less the dragonfly! How did I know she saw it? As soon as I clicked away, I hear Rejeanne say "Wormy the Butterfly under the tree". The second I heard her say that, I clicked back to the pic and said "Where is it?" and she hopped on my lap and put her finger right to the dragonfly, then ran off.

My child is AMAZING! :)

Here's the pic (somewhat cut off by blogger uploading for some reason) for the curious.

Three Crappiest Days of My Life

If Cyrus doesn't magically potty train himself in the next day or so, I think we may have to keep him outside in a tent. He has decided that waiting until he's put down for bed or nap is a great way to let us think he is sleeping while stripping off his diaper, crapping somewhere in his room and playing in it! In the last three days, we have cleaned his ENTIRE room (including the vents) twice and the hallway once. Oh, and Rejie decided it was a great idea and slathered herself in poop and white out two days ago. Yesterday's pooptacular events took Cyrus about 30 minutes to do, and took us about FOUR HOURS to get completely cleaned up. Cyrus hasn't pooped in his diaper in three days. He waits until he's alone, then takes it off, then poops. Why can't he just yell "poop"??? Why does he have to play in it???? He's even eaten some. Yummy.

I figure he's either ready to potty train or he really, really likes to get covered in poop then sit in a bath. I'm going to just try to potty train him and use the "cold shower" method to clean him up. Apparently the cold shower has stopped many little poop monsters from continuing the parties during nap time. I'm also going to let him play with playdough for an hour before his naptime. Maybe that will get it out of his system?

Oh, this morning he also dropped his diaper and dropped a deuce on my bedroom floor. Of course, he picked it up and set it on Lee's leg because it was too hard to smear on anything. So, I guess really we've cleaned up five poop adventures between the two kids. Plus he peed on the floor 4 times and once in the drawer.

At this point, I have to say that I'm really really blessed to have a friend with a shampooing machine because we don't have the cash to have carpet cleaners come in here.

Cyrus' poop can also take the paint off the walls.

So, how happy is everyone that this post has no pictures? Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this madness? Should I rent the boy out as a tool of revenge? Will he do this in hotels during next week's road trip? Will my mother-in-law's meditation room survive the Poopulon? Should I take him out to choose some underwear?

I'm so sick of poop. First the giardia, now this!

Lightning!

I'm pretty sure my friend's tree was struck by lightning last night! We had one of the most major storms I've seen in my entire life last night. Wind was over 70 miles an hour and the lightning was so bright I had to turn away from it because it was hurting my eyes. Super cool storm.