Metal Meredith

I am just not cut out for beige.

Since we have now decided to sell our house and find something bigger and a little more user friendly, I have begun the transformation from �house I love� to �house someone else will want�. And, it�s killing me.

I spent this weekend painting over my beautiful Mediterranean Blue dining room and covering it with this light beige color. It�s sad, boring and flat. This was the last room painted in this house. I spent many weeks with paint chips taped to the walls. Each time I would walk through the room, I would look at them and try to imagine a room entirely one color or another.

Soon, I began to pull a few off here and there until only one was left, my lovely blue. Then, I filled the room with prints with red as the prominent color. I got red cushions for the chairs, put up lime green curtains on a rod made from galvanized steel pipe. We changed the ugly dangling chandelier into brushed silver track lighting. Ahhh, our little modern art gallery. I was so proud.

For 5 years this room was used every way possible, a sitting room, an extra living room, a pantry, and an office for both Phil and I (each at separate times). When Vivienne was born, it became a multipurpose computer/ dining room. Phil and I used Christmas money to get a proper table and chairs. We moved everything else out and set up the highchair.

This weekend, I spent my evening using primer to cover old carrot baby food stains and high chair scuff marks. I scrubbed tiny hand prints off of window sills near the place where Vivienne has eaten for over a year now. I did my best not to sob the entire time.

I know that it must be done. In fact, I get almost giddy when I start thinking about having a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, and possibly a real laundry room. These are luxuries I haven�t had in 15 years. I want them so badly. But what I give up is my first home. The house Phil and I bought, got engaged and married in. I was proposed to on the sofa, Easter Morning in 2000. We had our baby here. She probably won�t even remember it and that hurts. So many things have happened in these rooms.

Will the next people appreciate it? Will they realize how cool the giant long-needled pine tree is in the back yard, with its own personal pedigree papers? Will they realize that it took 5 coats of primer to cover up the stupid ladybug ink stamps the guy here before me put on every windowsill? Will they know the happiness that Phil and I have known?

I suppose that when we do find our �more� perfect house, we will be just as excited to move into it as we were to move into here. Perhaps we will not look back with sadness but with fondness and thank this house for all it has given us. Meanwhile�..I have to paint my cave of bedroom beige next. This one might just kill me.

Until next week,
Meredith

Sweeter words have not yet been spoken in this house….

I suppose I should explain myself. We have been giving some preliminary encouragement in the potty training department. This started with the delivery of the hot pink potty that now proudly sits in the bathroom. It then moved on to using the “terminology” that would be easiest for a 2 year old to grasp (poo poo, pee pee, potty). Then, repeating it over and over and over and over and over and over, at every diaper change, each hint of a not-so-lovely fragrance wafting from the bottom, and every trip into the bathroom. Let us not forget the accompaniment to the toilet waving and saying “good-bye pee pee” after every one of my own trips into the bathroom.

Today, around 10am, I walk into my living room to find a diapered Vivienne squatting on the floor. She looks up at me, grabs her diaper and says “poo poo”. In this instant, you are either a mom or not, because I gasped, giggled, hugged her and immediately called Phil. We both giggled some more and then I changed her diaper. I mean, she can certainly wait a few minutes for me to brag on her, right?

On a “more exciting to everyone else” note, we had a realtor stop by and take a look at our humble cottage. If all goes well, and Phil can hack it, we might be moving sooner than anticipated. We are constantly on the lookout for new houses and will be starting the process to get ours ready. If, or maybe when, it’s all done, Phil will decide if we have to wait a year or go ahead and take the plunge now. If he ever questioned my faith in his business, he has an answer now.

It’s been a long week with Vivienne having a little cold and lovingly sharing it now with me. She has been a bear all week. I am sure that most of you don’t believe me, but she is lucky she is so cute. There were a few times she almost became our “outdoor child”. If you can do it to a cat, then it might work with a kid. At least, it’s what I tell myself to stay sane. All you relatives who complain that you don’t see her enough, it appears that we are quickly approaching the 2 year old “time to stay at the Grandparent’s” period. We shall see. The consensus of the new moms and dads appears to be that the terrible 2’s start with 2 year molars and end with college.

Now, someone tell me why I would consider another?

Have a great week and “beware the Ides of March”.

Meredith and “da Gang”

Oops. 2 weeks late.

I missed last week, please accept my apology. Phil went to Chicago and left me for 4 days alone with my child. I wasn’t sure I would make it through, but I survived.

On Friday, Phil went to Chicago with friend Carter to visit friend Dave. He had a blast going to some boring museums and the Chicago Auto show. I am sure there were many beers and stupid jokes involved.

While he was gone, Vivienne and I had one on one time, Mom came into town and we went to my church (IKEA) and visited with the Grandparents. Always a good time in Ikea. Thanks to my imaginary internet friends, I brought home a boatload of stuff and managed to have $100 of gift certificates left over.

Saturday night I got to eat dinner and spend a long night with my friend, Ronni. It was about 4 hours, we needed at least that long to catch up. Now that things are rolling again, I am sure I will get many more night away to visit with her.

Sunday, Vivienne and I stayed home and enjoyed each other’s company. We almost spent all day in pajamas, but I felt guilty towards noon. That night, the heat went out. We brought out the space heaters and made it through the night without suffering. I figured calling for repair at 10:30PM on a Sunday wasn’t the best idea while trying to save some money.

By Monday afternoon, my world was back to normal. Phil came home. We got to experience that scene in the airport when Vivienne yells “Daddy!” and runs through the terminal to him. Magic, I tell you!!! Our heat was fixed by 5pm, Michelle spent 2 hours with Mom and I on her way back out of town. Then my house was quiet, my child was asleep and my husband and I cuddled up and fell asleep.

Now, I ask you, when did a website update fall into that schedule? These upcoming weeks will prove to be much more normal.

Take a look at some new photos from just this weekend. We took Vivienne to Crump Park and had a great time on the swings and with the animals.

Love,
Meredith

Welcome to the Puke-atorium

A play by Meredith starring Meredith, Phil and Vivienne

Scene One: Wednesday afternoon

Vivienne wakes up at 3pm; Meredith is on the sofa by 4pm with a stomach ache and exhaustion. By 530, Meredith retires to the bed. Phil knows something is really wrong and looks on with concern. Vivienne and Phil play outside and then eat dinner. Phil gives Vivienne a bath while Meredith counts down the minutes until she can have the bathroom alone. (Such is life in a tiny, one bathroom house). Meredith hears Phil open the bathroom door then sprints in and revisits lunch.

Meredith: “Stomach Flu, How did you find me here?”

Stomach Flu: “Shut up and say hello to this afternoon’s spaghetti.” (Insert Evil Laugh Here)

Scene Two:  6 hours later

Meredith sleeps on the sofa until its time to get Phil up for the day. He goes into work for a half day.

530pm: Phone rings

Meredith: “Hello?”
Phil: “Hey, is there anything in the house you can eat instead of me bringing something home?”
Meredith: “Sure, why?”
Phil: “Tonight doesn’t look so good for me”

Scene Three: Same night 8pm

Meredith finishes up dinner and bath time only to be followed by the same scene as above. Phil will now take the part of the bathroom visitor and Meredith will be in the supporting role of well person caring for toddler. At 10pm, Meredith retires on the sofa and Phil to the bedroom (only to get up 4-5 more times).

Phil: “At last, Stomach Flu, we meet. I will teach you not to mess with a man!”
Stomach Flu: “(Evil Laugh Again)….Mwuhahaha….Silly boy…will you never learn!”

Scene Four: 230am, Vivienne’s Room

Meredith hears Vivienne cry and hopes that she will go right back to sleep. Upon hearing the noise she knows so well herself from the previous night, she goes in to find baby crying in a puddle of yuck. Mom, Dad and baby take a good hour to clean up, change sheets and get back to sleep. Vivienne rests comfortably the rest of the night and is otherwise unaffected.

Meredith: “Take that Stomach Flu!”
Stomach Flu: “Curses…Foiled Again!”

The End.