What NOT to See

Stepbrothers. It's as dumb as you'd think but worse.

Even if you have a babysitter and you have planned on seeing a movie forever, and Dark Knight it what you really want to see, but it's not remotely at any sort of time that works. But you really want to see a movie, out , with adults, and popcorn and sodas and NO Steve from Blues Clues. And your heart is just SET on it.

And Stepbrothers is there, like a beacon, starting 10 minutes after you get to the theater.

Even then. Just. Don't. See it.

Hot Topics in the Muldrow Household This Week

Bernie Mac passed away. We really liked him. We got into his Bernie Mac show reruns for a while. Did you ever watch them? "America, I tell you ..." this is a loss, and he was only 50, geez.

The Olympics. I love that they're on now ... if baby girl hurries up, they officially will mark her birth, but either way, I'll connect the two. Also, clearly Mike and I both love flopping down to watch TV after kiddo #1 goes to bed, but usually it's a fight on choices or sadly, we may retire to separate areas. Suddenly we're not only -

OKAY PHELPS JUST GOT HIS WORLD RECORD AND THE GREATEST OLYMPIC RECORD OF ALL TIME. HOLY CRAP!!!

Ok, back to it ... now we automatically agree on what to watch - volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, whatever! I have to say I'm loving it all - and God knows this is not an athlete typing. I just find it really inspirational and just, cool. I scheduled my night around women's gymnastic finals. I am teaching Matthew the difference between Kerry Walsh and Misty May. We are passing out in bed at night to medal ceremonies, and waking up to all this great, positive coverage on the Today show (such a nice change from war coverage and gas hike stories, isn't it?). What a positive, cool thing we get to witness every four years. (Yes, definitely biased for Summer over Winter games, sorry ski bums.)

The baby flipped! Guess my sad little homegrown baby flipping stretches worked. Either that or she really is a good baby after all. I was shocked when two seconds into the ultrasound, the tech said, "Okay, the head is ... DOWN." Well I'll be. I don't think my womanly senses are honed because I had no clue when she flipped, either way. Are there people that know this? Perhaps you also know how to do your hair and pluck your eyebrows properly. I must have missed a few How to Be a Lady classes along the way.

A lovely white vinyl fence now exists around our yard. Dogs are contained, toddler contained, yard looks good, neighbors happy with fencelines, all is well on West Old Watson. Except for my checking account after I write yet another giganto check associated with our move/this house. But if this ends our constant dog walking/dog in the yard monitoring, it is worth like 20 gabillion dollars more than we're paying. The idea of opening the door and letting dogs out to run around aimlessly for an HOUR if I want ... oh, I am just giddy at the thought.

And none too soon ... because our final family topic is our induction date, August 26th at midnight, we jumpstart the process to bring about the newest Muldrow. I'm certainly hoping it could happen spontaneously sooner, but if not, I am totally fine. Because now, there's an end in sight, and if it goes as smoothly as Matthew's did (KNOCKKKKK ON WOOD) it shouldn't be too bad going through an induction again.

Basically, we're doing it because I'm dying to be done and my doc is happy to let me, once I cross 39 weeks and since she's so healthy and it's my second and blah blah. I know some people aren't into induction, but I'm loving this plan. It gives us two weeks to mentally prepare, get in all our "last time" events with just us and Matthew, take advantage of a KICK ASS babysitting offer from TPD and EEJ this Sat. night, wrap up work (for me) and start the school year (for Mike). Oh and choose the name ... though I think we already did; they certainly are returnable, but we DID purchase some initials to hang on her wall. OOOH THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING YOU, I know, I know.

Da Duh DUH

How many Law and Order reruns can one person watch while beached whaling it on the couch in late summer, late pregnancy?

Answer: A LOTTTTTTTTTTT.

To be clear, this is a step up from what my husband would select if allowed (he's not). Which on Tuesday nights, are all the new (and probably not long past this summer rerun season) Japanese game show related shows.

I suppose he considers them a cultural version of America's Funniest Home videos (his fave, YES, I know) given there's lots of falling down. I am not a huge physical comedy person myself, and could do without.

Though Matthew is pretty funny pointing out every 30 seconds, "He fewl down! He fewl down, Mama!" Yep, they all do, honey, it's in the contract.

I Thought I Grew Up When I Stopped Watching the Real World

But I realize I have not because I am still addicted to bad reality TV. As evidenced by the fact that I just got up, left the room where my husband's watching TV, so I could come into the bedroom to watch the second episode of the night of Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.

It's odd how simple demographics can make you feel like this (crossing my two fingers together, ala we are tight) with B list celebs you have never met. They have a toddler son and are expecting (well, now have, as of June I guess) a new daughter just like us. Also they were moving in the middle of her third trimester.

Thought interspersed with discussions about Tori's jewelry sales on QVC and what color to choose for their real silk tailored curtains and how many millions they can afford for the new house...well, the rest of the discussions could be right out of house.

When you're pregnant no matter who you are or what hot sh*t life you lead, there's a lot of boring and leveling talk about contractions, doctor visits, eating too much, gaining too much weight, and, if you're pregnant with #2, how are you gonna manage it all. Former 90210 mogul daughters are no exception apparently and I find some odd comfort in that.

Though I do know, oh yes, that it's so wrong to watch it and especially to justify it and philosophize about it.

Why You Need a Flat Screen

Because even the scary awful shark show looks so cool I'm forced to watch it and learn stuff.

So far I've learned how to not buy a bathing suit with a pattern that tempts sharks to eat me.

On My Mind

I wanted to tell you guys something I've been thinking about a lot lately, that I've come to realize is actually really very important to me. I don't know if you'll agree or not, but I feel I have to share.

Here goes:

SUMMER TV BLOWS AND IF I SEE ONE MORE MADE UP "WATCH PEOPLE EAT KETCHUP THROUGH THEIR NOSE" REALITY SHOW OR THE SAME G.D. CSI WE'VE SHOWN YOU 8 TIMES OR ANOTHER UPDATE ON HEIDI AND SPENCER, I'M GOING TO SMASH MY FANCY NEW TV THAT I SWEAR TO GOD, HASN'T VIEWED ONE GOOD PROGRAM SINCE WE BOUGHT IT LAST MONTH.

I hope you are with me, but if you are not, well, we will just have to agree to disagree. I feel very strongly on this important matter to myself and my family. Thank you for listening.

And if it's a help to you and yours, my husband and I find comfort knowing that, with September and the blessed arrival of my daughter, the just as blessed arrival of new fall TV will shortly be upon us, praise be to NBC, Tina Fey and Steve Carrell.

I Rock and So Does Snapfish

So according to my scientific poll, you're all as delinquent as I am at actually printing photos on actual paper for actual frames or God forbid, actual albums. It's a virtual world and we are virtual girls. But allow me to inspire you: tonight I ordered real live photos - a disgusting 186 of them - from Jan. 1 through my last July download.

So NOW when my computer crashes or I spill coffee on it, I won't have to throw myself off the nearest bridge. Because I will have my child and family and friends captured on PAPER not just megabytes. At least, the last six months. We won't talk about the lion's share of Matthew's first two years of life, just right now.

First, let me point out that at $.o9 a photo, vs. $.19 a photo, Snapfish beats the pants of Shutterfly. EEJ, I know you already are a fan...

Second, let me note that I love Picasa enough to marry it. Was SO easy to run through hundreds of photos, tray the ones I liked, connect to Snapfish and one short Visa order later, have our last 6 months of existence be put in the mail within 3 to 5 business days.

Third, do I have any takers on how long I'll procrastinate to actually PUT them into an album? I say if I can do this pre-baby, I'm a hero. Realistically, if I do this within 2008, I could die happy.

Either way, that's hardly the point, people. I can at least take 2-3 and put them in frames. Because judging by what you see displayed around our house, Matthew is still a newborn and Mike and I are still appily engaged to be married.

Okay, to wrap it up with a bow on top ... in my photo search/queue/order process, I ran across some kiddo shots too adorable not to share:

Matthew and Bridget, Superbowl, acting like goofy little kids (not babies) for one of the first times that I noticed.

Matthew and Max, our frienda Steve and Renae's son, during their last visit to us in June. Acting like the sweet angels they always are. Uh huh.

And the entire Steve/Renae clan - Anna, Aidan and Max - on an earlier visit this spring, at their old favorite haunt (before they became Little Rockians), Kirkwood Park.
The utter boredom of meeting Baby Shane at the hospital forced both kids into the closet, apparently?

Oh come on, you kids don't know from fun. Just LOOK AT HIM!

Naturally, I finally post a newborn photo right about the time he's turning 1. Ok, two and a half months, but might as well be 1, this kiddo has already grown more than I care to think about. Stay small, little guy, stay small ... you break mommy's and aunties' hearts when you grow too fast.

Miss Amelia, that all goes for you too.

I have to say, Matthew appears a little more lively visiting you. Guess he just likes the pretty ladies, and who can blame him. Though I certainly did not take a close enough picture of this baby girl, and I will be rectifying that when I can. Trust me, she is gorgeous.