Uncontacted tribe sighted in Amazon

Did you see this? It almost seems fake? Why does the one person look like a gorilla?

Worst dream ever.

I exclusively have bad dreams, just ask Jake. Common bad dreams include being FURIOUS with Jake or my mom, just now realizing I was a few credits short of graduating from UNI thus invalidating my MA degree or forgetting to go to class and then having to take a test.

But, last night I had a real nightmare. I woke up with tears running down my face and soaking my pillow, unable to breath and feeling I was going to be sick. I dreamt that Norelle's birth parents decided we were not good parents and choose to give her to another family. They came and just took away from us. I was beyond devastated and crying uncontrollably. I was trying of figure out what I said or did wrong to make them do this. The agency bought us another baby but I was screaming "I don't want another baby, I want Nori!!" It was so real and so horrific. I don't think it takes Freud to interpret this one. For once, I was actually glad to wake-up.

yours,
Debbie Downer

Nori rolls ( the verb not the noun)

One minute she was on her back and by the time I finished brushing my teeth, she was on her tummy with a shocked look on her face. We had big day...in addition to the rolling she had her 4 month checkup. She weighs 14 lb 4 oz and is in the 60% for weight and at 24.5 inches the 40% for height. It was a good check-up, before too long we will be experimenting with baby food...

I'm Erin Brockovich this week, minus the Harley dude babysitter, cleavage and climbing in wells. Jake is in NYC at some finance-y thing. Today he heard Newt Gingrich speak and I guess he was bashing Bush. Better late that never. Newt (his name is NEWT!!!) said that Obama is attracting all the middle class except the educated feminists who like Clinton. Jake said "Oh, except you". I didn't know he thought of me as a feminist? I guess all these years of making him do the dishes while I chew tobacco have paid off.

Jana's fitness modeling career...

it has finally begun, see hard body on the left.

baby girl

Glorious three day weekend ahead!

First off, Jake is not dying nor is he going blind but I am sure he appreciates your concern. My non-blind husband and I are looking forward to a leisurely weekend at home with Schnookers.
Here's what's on the agenda for the next three days:

• cooking
• Mom & Baby Yoga class
• picnic
• sleep
• ice cream with friends
• walks
• Paul (Nori's birthfather) visits
• assembly of baby's new dresser

Mr. Sensible of Shoe

Mr. SoS is falling apart. He has been having one malady (as he calls them) after another. There is the ongoing hair loss (or development of the Steve Seltz Spot) that we try to ignore, carpal tunnel from holding the baby, the neck fungus and the big issue is his ongoing eye redness and irritation. He has been going to his eye doctor for almost 5 months trying new drops and not wearing his contacts but to no avail. Yesterday he went to a new eye doctor who is a cornea specialist and wrote the first textbook for Lasik. Anyway, this doctor says that Jake must have had a virus in his eyes back in December and his white blood cells attacked that virus leaving abrasions/proteins on his cornea that may never go away and almost inflammation under eye lids. So, it's back to more drops and only glasses. The doctor said that he may not be able to wear contacts ever again and that Jake is a good candidate for this eye surgery called PRK which is kind of like Lasik but different. Personally, I think this was caused by endless hours of reading boring financial research about companies no has ever heard of. The good news is that if he does go blind we can just train Dorothy to be his Seeing Eye Dog, although I think she would only steer him to places with food. For now, it looks Mr. SoS is going to be one of those dudes with prescription sports goggles strapped to his head running around the tennis court.

Can't every day be Sunday?

I L-O-V-E Sundays, I really do. We have already done a lot this weekend so I just know today will be MY day to relax and just be home. Nori's father is sleeping in right now but he is so waking up in time for me to workout and make a Target run. There's always Family Nap time from 1-3!

Yesterday we celebrated two important and big milestones. First Sarah & Ellen hosted a baby shower for Jeanelle who is due in early June. Jeanelle has waited for this day for a long time, ever since I have known her her dream was always to be a mom so I am thrilled she is finally going to be a mom. The girls had lots of good food and it was great to catch up with people who I haven't seen in too long. Sabrina, the new homeowner, did scare my child but other than that, it was great. Please keep my buddy Elle-Beau ( not to be confused with SIL Ellen) in your prayers as she prepares to undergo surgery to remove lymph nodes from her recurrence of thyroid cancer on Tuesday. Love you ED!




Also celebrating is JD who just finished Law School at William Mitchell. Stephanie organized a reception at Sweeney's in his honor so it was great to see all their family members who we met at their wedding last August. Stephanie's mom made quick friends with Norelle so my hands were free to eat as much guac as possible.




Here is the weirdest thing: My babbling "ah go , "ah gee", cooing baby totally clams up when around new people . She goes from Miss Nonstop Smile, laughing, noise machine to oh so serious. It is so bizarre. She is only 4 months old, how does she know to be shy? It's so cute that she feels safe at home with mom & dad to let it all hang out! By the way we took our first ttip to the Como Zoo on Friday after work. Most of the real animals were napping but Nori did pose with a few wild beasts...

Office finale tonight...

IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE - It's Toby's goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela, sick of Michael's unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight and Meredith haze the new HR woman, Holly.

Cue the cookie dough!

I feel like a Vlach

I made dinner for Kyle, er Jake, last night and I thought it was semi-creative. We had quesadillas made with refried beans and fontina and Swiss cheese topped with mango-pineapple salsa and roasted vegetables. Nori & I walked up to Whole Foods before supper where we discovered the mango salsa so it inspired the whole meal. Can I say that Whole Foods around dinner time is like the Old Country Buffet, only good. We sampled tomatoes in basil and olive oil, mango salsa, fresh pinneapple, onion dip, salmon dip, steak, baked cheese and other cheeses. I was actually full after I left there. Would they notice if we stopped by every day?

FIVE ♥

♥
5 Things I Can't Live Without Under $10:
1. coffee
2. Carmex
3. burp cloths
4. dark chocolate
5. sunglasses

5 Favorite Girl Baby Names:
1. Camille
2. Chloe
3. Georgia
4. Leighton
5. Perez

5 Favorite Boy Baby Names:
1. Johan
2. Carey
3. Calum
4. Grayson
5. Perez

5 Songs You Could Listen to Over and Over:
1. Geek in the Pink - Jason Mraz
2. Only Wanna Be With You - Hootie & The Blowfish
3. These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding
4. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
5. With Imagination - Harry Connick Jr.




5 Things That Stay In My Handbag At All Times:
1. lint
2. lipstick
3. gum
4. crumpled receipts
5. crumpled receipts with gum in them

5 Obsessions I Have Right Now:
1. Nori
2. naps
3. stoller rides
4. MBT's
5. dark chocolate

5 Places I'd Love to Go:
1. Slovenia
2. Italy
3. Kauai
4. South Africa
5. Japan

Leftovers

I was going to say something insightful about the presidential election but really I just keep thinking about how much I love leftovers. It's like an instant meal with all the yum, none of the cooking. We are still enjoying the beef brisket from Sunday which is so good on a bun with BBQ sauce and I just wish every week had it's own brisket.

I love this one!

Kiss the bunny!

No sleep, baby shower, Mother's Day, etc

So... last week was rough with Norelle out of her usual good sleep habits waking up 1-2 x night. I took night duty since Jake was only getting 4 hours a night himself as his companies were reporting and he had to "write them up". We were a pretty cranky bunch. But alas, a pink-eye outbreak caused a scare at daycare thus giving me a much needed day home with Nori. I heart conjuctivitis.

On Saturday my aunts Jill, Tracy & Wendy organized a fun family baby shower (last one, I swear) for Norelle in Winona where we had lots of good food & desserts and got some adorable summer rompers, an exer-saucer, a jewelry box and other cute stuff. After the baby shower Jake's mom watched her while we crashed, we had to get caught up on our sleep before driving home last night.


Today... ah, Mother's Day! My baby girl and her daddy let me sleep in AND workout this morning. They even got me glass storage containers so I can toss all my old plastic and a coupon to take Mom & Baby yoga classes. Mother's Day was really special for me because I am so proud to be Nori's mom and it was really difficult for us to finally be able to celebrate this day as parents. Norelle's birth parents each called too to wish me a happy day... isn't that cool?



Later we went for a walk and had the Ho's over for dinner (beef brisket which they cooked...the best kind of friends are the one who bring brisket) . I really wish the weekend was NOT over as I am not enjoying my job as much now that I have such a wonderful baby waiting for me. Oh well, I'll get over it!

Your blog can be group therapy

Report: Some 12 million people have a blog; many use it for group therapy
Experts: Blogging shouldn't replace face-to-face counseling
Study: Men blog about politics, technology and money
Study: Women tend to blog more about private lives

Read more...

Maui

Maui was so relaxing and wonderful! I don't think we even realized how exhausted we were until we got there. It was perfect timing for these new parents. While it was sad to say goodbye to Norelle we called her everyday and she was whooping it up in Winona.

Here' a peek inside our trip...

We stayed a night in Kahului after a quick bite at the Flatbread Pizza Co. in Paia. The next day we drove the windy road to Hana trying to find all the waterfalls and natural pools we could. Here Jake dives into a pool under a waterfall that we hiked to.

Another lovely waterfall. Apparently there is a big drought on the island so many of the waterfalls and natural pools have dried up. Our favorite, the Venus Pool, was nowhere near as gorge as last year but we swam in it any way. We ran across many local Hawaiians in the spots because it was a Sunday and they weren't trilled to see tourists. There is a movement to "keep Maui Hawaiian" and prevent the sprawl of tourists. Sorry dudes.

More Road to Hana sights...

Cottage in Hana where we stayed 2 nights. This place was amazing! We picked up some very expensive groceries in Kahului and made our own meals. We had 3 lenais, 2 bedrooms & baths and full kitchen all to ourselves. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone who wants to get off the beaten path. Thinks of it as your cabin on the volcano. And oh yes, we took long naps everyday!

Flowers at roadside stands. We also picked up some Pineapple bread since they were out of the Chocolate Banana.

Ah, the hidden Red Sand Beach. So beautiful except for the exhibitionist dude who was naked and kept flashing all the girls by moving his towel around to sit right in front of us, spread eagle.

At the Ritz Carlton in Kapalui for Wells Fargo's Concord Elite. Can you say extravagant? We had fresh flower leis, henna tattoos, games, photos with parrots and old cars, dancers, bands, massages, open bar and endless amounts of food... the crab legs and roasted vegetables were the best! Once night they had something called the Maui Food & Music Festival where they brought in the top gourmet chefs to set up sampler stations of yummy sushi or Asian ribs as well as many local musicians. It was brilliant (as the London Bachelor would say).

Our on the catamaran/snorkel adventure. The seas where very choppy so were unable to snorkel (thank God) but we hung out on the boat relaxing in the sun. We saw a mom & baby whale and they were splashing around, looking adorable. We met lots of WF people from all over the country.... I even took a cycle-yoga class with some ladies from Laguna Beach. Real life Newpsies! (who were actually very nice, I did not ask them if they knew LC but I wanted to).

Final night, East Meets West. Imagine the fanciest wedding you have been to and multiply it by 10. They had all kinds of East Indian inspired elaborate decor, dancers, and gourmet food. The West came in when we moved to the Dessert Buffet to hear the surprise band play. It was a Grammy-winning county band called Sugarland. We had never heard of them either but FYI the lead singer looks like a Southern Amy Poehler. Anway, it was fun! All week people were wondering who would be performing so there lots of bunk rumors going around about Bon Jovi or Jack Johnson.

It was an amazing vacation, thank you WellsFargo! We were so lucky to have this opportunity!
We missed you Norelle!

She's a machine...

The latest from Jana...

Just so you know, I competed in Richmond, VA this past Sunday and I qualified for Worlds in Italy!! This is will be on Sept 27...you and Jake should plan your next vacation in Rimini!
I will represent Team USA 2008. My rivals and I will all come together and represent our country along with 50 other countries in the short course duathlon. 10K run, 40K bike, 5K run.
Richmond was such a challenging course...but I left it all out there. I will send you a picture!
Love you!!
Jana

The REAL baby Liam