1. Which of your stories have you probably told the greatest number of times to the most people?
This is a hard one this week. I don't really have any stories that have ever been worth sharing, so I don't. For the sake of having some kind of actual answer I'll go with the story of my first ever hockey game. My bio-dad took me to the San Jose Sharks first ever hockey game as an expansion team in the NHL. I was no more than 2 years old at the time. In his enthusiasm he stuck my head in the mouth of the team's mascot, Sharkie, which is pretty darn terrifying for a little toddler. But somehow it didn't turn me off to the sport because it is now my #1 favorite.
2. What’s a story someone else often tells about you, much to your chagrin?
I don't really have anyone to talk to these days, let alone be annoyed by the over-telling of particular stories, so this question is moot.
3. What oft-told story from a chapter in your life seems to be remembered differently by different people who were there?
It's not something I talk about a lot, but talk of the 74 days that I spent in the hospital while I was pregnant with Emmett does come up and Rob and I each have our separate memories of the nightmare that it was.
4. What are some of the details, without retelling the whole story, of a story you’ve told often but never to your parents?
I have no idea! I don't tell my parents anything, really. But it has more to do with the fact that we don't talk.
5. What song would be an appropriate soundtrack to the story of your most embarrassing moment?
If I had an embarrassing moment that I could remember, I would have an answer. But I don't.
~*~
Okay, today's 5 sucks as far as my answers are concerned. What can I say, I'm not a story-type person when it comes to me doing the telling. I'd rather read something.
My precious EmmBear is 6 officially 6 months old. It's been an incredible journey full of the highest and highs and the lowest of lows from getting that positive home pregnancy test, through the months of hospital bed rest, finally holding you in my arms for the first time, and even watching you eating your very first foods. And to think the journey has still only just begun. I can't put into words how much you've changed my world for the better.
I love you for now, I love you for always!
He has his 6 month well-baby check-up on Monday, and I'll be sure to post updates on his weight then!
1. Birthdays. Who doesn't love them? Alright, so there are times when the prospect of growing older probably stops being as exciting as it was when you were a child, but that doesn't make them any less special. They are meant to be all about you. My birthday this year is considered a big milestone for most people my age: I will be turning 21 on December 27th (you got it, two days after Christmas). Legal drinking age, FTW!! Except for that tiny little part where I am not a fan of alcohol - at all. The only upside this year is that I will be one more year removed from my teenage years and maybe closer to that age when people will begin to take me seriously. In other birthday news, we are celebrating Emmett's half birthday today! I cannot believe that he is 6 months old. Some days it really feels like just yesterday that I found out that I was pregnant again, let alone that I am constantly hugging and squeezing this little dude.
2. Bella Swan. I, Heather-Lynne, and a Twili-holic. I honestly don't think I can begin to describe to you how much I am obsessed with this series. And one thing that I absolutely love about this character is that she's just like every girl I went to high school with, which makes her so much easier to relate too. One of the big complaints that I hear from Twilight haters is how un-inspiring Bella is and how far away she is from being a good role model. Why? Because she doesn't excel at everything in her life? How many of us are really like that? I know I've had my outsider/wallflower moments. It's a nice change to read about someone completely normal every now and again.
NOT an Official New Moon poster, this was from a designing contest
3. Band-Aids. I am a huge klutz. 99.99% of the time I cannot walk from one end of a room to the other without finding some way to hurt myself (accidentally, of course) whether it be tripping over my own two feet, knocking something on my head, or plain old running into a wall. Did you hear about the time I ran through a glass door? Yeah, I don't recommend it. It's usually a good idea to keep a god deal of Band-Aids on supply because sooner or later I will need them. Right now my supply consists of Disney Princess and Cars designs. I love having something to smile about when it comes to bodily injury.
4. Barnes & Noble. This is the first store that comes to mind when I think of books. I even came close to applying for a job there after I got out of high school because I just love to read, but thought better of it. I don't shop there much anymore since I would rather not pay for their membership in order to save money, but when desperate times call for desperate measures (such as Rob going out to buy each of the different EW covers for me when the cast of Twilight is featured) I'll make a little pit stop.
5. Borders. My #1 place to buy books (and yes, I realize I should invest in a Library card one of these days). My loyalty to Borders really stems from some people that I met at the store back in my hometown. We all just clicked after a couple of Twilight Discussion groups in the months leading up to the midnight release party for Breaking Dawn. It's a more sociable place to be in my opinion and who doesn't like to be a social butterfly every now and again.
6. Border Collies. The dog of choice in my family. My step-dad's last two dogs were both Border Collies. No idea why this is on my list (probably because I can't think of any B's today) seeing as I am not a fan of dogs - nor they me.
7. Bagels & cream cheese. Quite possibly the best breakfast food EVER!
8. Bagpipes. The general feel that I get is that you either love them or you hate them. Me, personally? I love them. But I've also grown up around them. My family is Scottish and between the Games and just spending time with my Grandparents means you hear a lot of it. The sound of them just brings out an emotional response in me more than any other kind of music out there.
9. Blue Bloods. I have the strangest feeling that I have mentioned this book series before! That may be because I have, lol. I'm telling you - if you loved Twilight, you'll love these books. And I dug up that trailer for the next book (The Van Alen Legacy, comes out August 6). Who comes up with these things?
10.Beauty & the Beast. One of my all-time favorite Disney movies! Then again, there's hardly a Disney animated feature that I don't include on my all-time favorite list. I just wish this would be re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray because I don't own it and I would really love to.
11. Barbra Streisand. Guilty pleasure.
12. Bonkers. Does anyone else remember this cartoon from the early/mid '90s? Talk about a totally random thought that popped into my head.
There isn't much I want to do that has to do with the outdoors today of all days. Being sick makes me miserable and what I really want is to go curl up in bed and pass out until I feel better. But since that option is currently unavailable to me ...
Horseback riding!
There's something that I haven't done in I can't tell you how long. Horses are amazing creatures and I always felt at home visiting the Ranch where our neighbors boarded their three horses. They moved away when I was in Jr. High and that was the last time that I clearly remember climbing into the saddle although I am sure there is at least one or two more memories that my brain wont recall since then.
But one of my favorite memories (and one of the earliest that I can remember clearly) was during one particular family reunion, camping in a forest in Colorado. The whole family ended up going on a guided trail ride and I think it was my first experience on horseback, ever. I was riding with my Uncle Scott, and if you can believe it I still remember the name of the horse, Pedro. Keep in mind I had to have been only about 4 years old at the time, if that even. What an amazing experience it was! I wish I could even describe how fun it was for me, and how amazing it was to be riding through the mountainside, over fallen trees, through rivers. It makes me skin tingle a little thinking about it.
There's something I would love to do outside. Today. Tomorrow. Any day. I just wish we were in a position to own a horse of our own. Who knows, maybe someday it will happen.
The old me would be camped out on a couch, bundled up in every comforter I could stand to be buried beneath, with a mug of hot cocoa and a bowl of soup at the slightest hint of a runny nose - let alone a cold. The old me would be able to take the day off from school and lounge about watching DVD-Marathons (like finally watching and enjoying all of Battlestar Galactica even though I roasted my family for watching it) or maybe even take a sick day from work.
Gone are those days, my friends. What are you supposed to do as a mom, home alone with an infant, when you get sick? And I am, of course, sick. I've steadily gotten more congested since Saturday, my head feels like someone's gripping it to the death in a vice, my throat is raw as Hades, and nothing will stay settled in my stomach for longer than 20 minutes after I eat. This really makes me just want to step outside and scream for whoever can hear me: Why me?!?! How many times have I been sick now in the last year? Normally I'm the one who hardly ever gets sick save a few sniffles once the cold weather officially kicks in. But not any more.
But all I ever want to do right now is keep my little body curled up in bed and sleep and sleep and sleep some more. And it's not like I have the family reinforcements who I would be able to call up if I was still back home in California. The only family that I have to call is my dad and step-mom and for two people who also have lives and a family household to run, something like a 2 hour drive is a little much of me to ask from them. There is, of course, Rob. Thank the stars I can count on him to come over and pick up Emmett for a few hours while I try and catch up with some of the sleep that my body is screaming at me that I need.
At least it's easier now. I can't imagine what ti would be like the farther we get from the family back up and as Emmett gets older and gets mobile. I don't see how any parent can possibly do it! Taking care of themselves while sick when there's a rambunctious child at home as well. One day I'm sure I'll have to figure that step out too. Right now I'm just thanking my lucky stars that (a) we've found a small solution for the time being and that (b) whatever I have has not been passed down to Emmett.
I came to a sad realization yesterday afternoon: I live in a sty. Not that I'm a stranger to messy surroundings. I lived with 3 men, who didn't know the right end of a broom stick or what it was to be used for, in a small apartment for a couple of years. It used to bother me so much back then how dishes would pile up in the sink for days and never make it to the fully functional and empty dishwasher unless I had a spare moment to get to if between classes and homework, or my two jobs. Or how about the empty bags and cartons of food lying in a pile next to the couch? Once while cleaning I decided to make a pyramid out of their empty beer cans. If only I had thought to take photos of it. Of course the mess never bothered them so long as they could still get to the fridge and the bathroom they were right as rain. I wont go so far as to say I am this huge clean freak but I definitely have my OCD tendencies in that department.
I have come a long way since then.
This house is a disaster and I can't keep using the excuse that I don't have the time to clean it up. Really, what is it that I'm doing all day other than taking care of Emmett? Not much, to be perfectly honest with you. And not only that but I have no idea where half of this crap even came from. When Rob and I moved out here we barely owned enough to fit in the back of his truck and now all of a sudden there is just stuff everywhere. It's like our possessions are breeding or something. Even when you take into account the few things that Rob took with him when he moved out. Ahhh! It's driving me insane.
So screw the whole Spring Cleaning idea, I've got to get the Fall Cleaning underway and I need to start it sooner than later. The Holidays may still be a couple of months away but that is still super close and I would like to entertain the possibility of doing some good old fashioned entertaining myself, if only to have my dad and step-mom along with my half-siblings down from Maryland. The sooner I get started on this endeavor the sooner normal cleaning will be that much easier. So wish me luck. I'm hitting the trenches tomorrow!
Provided I can take my nose away from my book for long enough ...
