Gronk. So much gronk.

I woke up at 9:30 after a lot of strange dreams and have what feels like no motivation. And no coffee. I should really do something about that. Will coffee bring my motivation back? Or pie. Pie would be good too.

Dave just got back from the grocery store. He stumbled in the door, looked at me accusingly and said, "I must love you a lot."

That's DH and me today.

And it worked too, Jess. In the past, he has also prayed that Nana would take him to Maine. We, of course, told Nana, but then she did take him to Maine, and another time for Nana to give him a toy rocket ship. Who's to say that's not how it works, says I?

Dave just got back from the grocery store. He stumbled in the door, looked at me accusingly and said, "I must love you a lot."

Heh. Scott is grocery shopping, or at least, the last time I talked to him, trying to find a parking spot at the grocery store. I just posted in Natter a little while ago that I'm feeling a little guilty over being--if not grateful for, than at least--mindful that the anxiety attacks I've had recently are probably part of the reason he volunteered to go shopping today, in the first place.

Speaking of, I'd better get myself ready and make it look like I did something around here, because shopping today is going to be a bitch. I haven't watched the weather, but we're supposed to get the blizzard too, and I think Scott said we were in the 18" zone.

Timelies all.

It's snowing like mad here, too -- we probably have a good few inches already and it's only been snowing since 10 a.m. We're supposed to get 12-16 inches before it's all over, and naturally one and all are reacting with panic at the White! Powder! of! Doom!

However, honest to God, the simplest solution is to change the baby on a big changing pad on the floor.

Betsy is wise. We don't have a changing table for Sara (and didn't for Ben either after a while, come to think of it). Use the travel pad from your diaper bag if you can. And definitely try the ankles-in-one-hand trick -- that's what I did with all three, and Sara is a super-squirmer. I change her on the floor most of the time, and I always have everything ready -- new diaper unfolded, wipes already pulled out, something she can play with -- before I open the dirty diaper.

Also try giving Annabel something usually forbidden, like Cindy suggested -- anything not breakable or dangerous, but something she's usually not allowed to have. This, too, shall pass, though.

I've seen a lot of lethal cuteness

This definitely qualifies. I love this story.

Sara's cuteness right now is this: When she's crying and I pick her up, she pats *my* shoulder first. Whether she thinks it's supposed to be reciprocal or she's asking for the back pats she gets when I'm trying to soothe her, I don't know, but it breaks my heart every time.

Morning all. I was listening to CNN this morning and I heard (more than once) the words "Hurrican force winds", in reference to the winter storms out east.

I don't know if the story translates

I need to grocery shop too. Maybe I can send the cats... Of course then I will end up with kibble and other randomness.

I love that, AmyLiz. My kids all did this. Ben still reflexively pats me during most hugs. My mother says I did the same thing. It's most deadly when they're the ones in need of consolation.

Cass, I prefer cats, but would send a dog shopping before I sent a cat shopping (as if cats would be "sent" anywhere--I mean, clearly that's the fantasy part of it all).

Is Ginger around? Did you get anything from me in the mail? Just checking...

We went grocery shopping last night and did laundry early. Now we can curl up and watch the snow come down.

Money is certainly a control issue in my parental dynamic. But while it makes things tougher, financially, for me it's way better to be on the side of not taking any money and doing your own thing, because it cleans up a lot of issues. You're responsible for your self, and ultimately, only to yourself (in the big picture).

I am also in my bathrobe surfing the internets while Tom makes butternut squash soup for lunch. Mmmm.

My kids all did this.

I don't remember the boys doing it at all. But yes, when she's hiccup-sobbing at whatever indignation a 14-month-old has suffered, and she's patting *my* shoulder, I melt into a puddle.

"Hurrican force winds"

Our weather guy was saying something about "thunder snow" last night, which sounded very wrong, but also kind of cool.

Thunder snow is the coolest. I've only seen it a handful of times, but the lightning up in the clouds combined with the thunder is incredible.