Emily Tatum Roth

Yesteryear Wednesday #4 and Cyberguilt

I know, it has been a week since my last post.  The hits to this site are at an all-time low; only nine views yesterday.     *gasp*     Given the recent lack of comments, I have concluded that your silence, faithful blog reader, is your protest.

But Abuelita is here!

Frequent posting will resume after Sunday.  Promise.  In the meantime, I continue my Wednesday tradition of remembering yesteryear with some pics of 'the girls,' since Abuelita is visiting and Adriana is still abroad.  These pictures were taken six years ago at Abuelita's home in northern Virginia, on Christmas, I believe. 

I miss sweater weather...

 

For Michelle H.

I came across this picture of my 8th birthday party.  I am in the middle of the bottom row, and Michelle H. is to my right (blue eyes, red cardigan).  She and I have been close friends since the 2nd grade--that's over 20 years!!  Michelle, I know you wanted me to post a picture of Kevin's black mohawk, but this will have to do instead.

I love that the headband has made a comeback, but the 80's bangs were my worst nightmare and better not come back in style!

The second picture is self-explanatory.  Hey, I like to stay connected!  At least I don't match my phone to my outfit anymore...And the socks with sandals?  Definitely my mother's doing.  I see this time and time again in our childhood pictures and shudder at the sight.

No more yesteryear pictures until next Wednesday!

Yesteryear Wednesday #3

Remind me next year to take a vacation around this time.  These past few weeks have been a bit rough, for a variety of reasons, so of course some key players on my support team go AWOL.     *grin*     David V. traveled to Indonesia, Joolye to Chile, Leane to Minnesota and The Person That Shall Remain Anonymous is otherwise busy.  Now, my sister is flying out of the country today.  Come on, people, can't you stagger your trips and satisfy your wanderlust at the same time?!   

I'm okay, though.  The grass is blue and the sky is green.

*grin*

I must say, I have amazing friends and, albeit small in number, an amazing family; I am truly blessed.

Adriana, I will miss our daily conversations and your frequent grumbles over how many minutes you have left!  I hope you and others enjoy the following pictures.  You were always there to read to me (love the matching nightgowns) and be silly with me (love the matching pajamas over the clothes plus the shower caps), and you are wonderfully supportive now.  I miss you already.  Gute Reise!            

 

July 14th--Not Just Bastille Day

Today is Tio Kevin's birthday!  Happy Birthday!!!  I love you and miss you.  xoJonah

***Mommy also sends birthday wishes to her little brother!

   

 

For David J.

Well, I thought I would have kayaking pictures to post today, but my trip was canceled.  This is the closest I can come to posting a picture of nature:

My brother-in-law got my sister into organic cleaning products, and now I've caved.  I use this to clean Jonah's booster seat and our kitchen table and placemats, and I love knowing that the product I use around my little love's eating area is safe and organic.  Plus, it smells so fresh!

Man, what a bland post...

First Brawl

This is what happens when things get ugly in the sandbox:

In the last picture he looks like he is thinking, "But I defended myself, Mommy.  You should see BOTH his eyes!"

DON'T mess with my son on the playground!    

*grin*

What you are looking at is actually what happens to Jonah when he gets a bug bite.  Each bite turns into a large hive (about two inches), and his pediatrician has instructed us to give him Zyrtec and Benadryl around the clock at the first sign of a hive until symptoms subside.  We knew it was only a matter of time before he was bitten on his face.  You can see the actual bite to the right of the swelling, and the swelling extends across the tissue plane under the eye. 

Cold Hands, Warm Heart?

Well, that one might be true!     *grin*

It has come to my attention that one of my frequent readers (one of, uh, ten maybe? *grin*) is very superstitious and could not bear the sight of Jonah in a wheelchair (see MOSI post).  Apparently, I have increased the likelihood of Jonah winding up with some sort of condition necessitating this apparatus.  Whatever! 

Listen, I am probably one of the least superstitious people on the planet.  I will walk out of my way so that a black cat crosses my path.  I don't frantically look for a piece of wood to knock on.  Ever.  I have opened my share of umbrellas inside.  I step on cracks (sorry Abuelita).  Friday the thirteenth is just another day.  Before Jonah was born, I had every baby item that I could possibly need, and then some, AND everything was unwrapped and washed, if necessary.  You get the point.

Jonah is fine.  Jonah will be fine.  I have enough to worry about already, like potty training.

MOSI

Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry has an fantastic children's science center called Kids In Charge.  Jonah loves the Kids In Charge area, and we love to watch his imagination run wild as he learns about science through play. 

One of the things I miss the most about Washington, D.C. is the plentiful museums that the city offers, and the free admission to them!  I am fortunate to have experienced and enjoyed the cultured atmosphere of D.C., and I hope to pass on to Jonah an appreciation for the arts.  We bought an annual family pass to MOSI so we can go often, and the museum changes the Kids In Charge area from time to time, so Jonah never tires of it.

Tio Kevin will be proud to know that Jonah spent a lot of time at the music stations this past Sunday (the picture of him playing the drums is for you, little bro!).  He also enjoyed the butterfly garden adjacent to the museum and had a hard time leaving it (the last picture shows him waving goodbye to a turtle--he is such a sweet boy).

Yesteryear Wednesday #2

I said there are only two pictures of Jonah and I together that I like from his first year, and here is the second one:

Some members of Rob's family were in Naples for a last-minute mini vacation, so we drove down and spent the day with them.  I had to get out of my pajamas for that!     *grin* 

Jonah is four and a half months old here.  Poor thing looks like he can't take a deep breath with my hands squeezing his little chest cavity...

Mommy & Me

A few people have asked to see recent pictures of Jonah and I.  As I mentioned in a previous post, he is increasingly more willing to pose for pictures, so I am taking advantage of this, lest it be a phase! 

These pictures were taken last month during our ever-lengthening bedtime ritual (how do toddlers pull this off?!?).  Who am I fooling?...I cherish this time with him.