Showing posts with label AMA random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AMA random. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The past couple of weeks...

So just a quick post to catch up on the couple of weeks. Let's see...Kelly's baby shower was the 9th of this month. I had planned all kinds of things to make for her. Unfortunately for my timeline (but not for our church), we had revival at church the week before, which kind of killed any crafting time I had. The revival was over Friday, but I had some errands to run Saturday and Nick was also working, so I didn't get any real time at the sewing machine until that night after the kids were asleep. One thing Kelly had actually requested was one of these:
I made one for both Faith and Melanie a few months ago, and they loved them, so I did one for Kelly too. Then I started on some burp cloths. A few months ago my trusty iron that I got for my wedding quit on me. I was going to go buy one, but my mom, frequenter of estate auctions, had several, so she just gave me one of her extras. It had been working great, so when I plugged it up that night I was expecting no trouble. But when I took my fabric to the ironing board several minutes later, it was stone cold. No amount of turning it off and on or cord wiggling or new outlet trying could coax the least bit of heat from it. So I found myself heading to Wal-mart at 1 AM to buy a replacement. I went back and forth and finally decided on one of the least expensive models. When I got back home and opened it, I was most irritated to find that the whole tip of the iron plate was broken off! I couldn't see myself making another trip, so I just used it as it was and decided to return it the next day.

I did the carrier handle cushion, two burp cloths, and three skirts. Nick, who had fallen asleep on the couch, woke up about 4:30, just after I finished the first skirt. I told him my whole iron saga, and he didn't seem terribly upset that I was still up. He headed up to bed, and I told him I would be up shortly. Unfortunately, shortly turned into 6:30. 

The next day at lunch Nick asked me what time I'd come to bed, and he wasn't happy with the answer, especially since we had all ended up oversleeping and missed church that morning. (Not entirely my fault I don't think. It was Daylight Saving Time change weekend, and he overslept too!) But I didn't realize I was in trouble until that evening.

Nick runs the sound booth during our church services, so it's rare for us to get to sit together. Occasionally we will shoot each other short texts (generally not during the preaching). This was the conversation we had:

(Me) So sleepy...
(Him) Maybe if you went to bed at 2 instead of 6:30...
(Me) Possibly
(Him) Probably
(Me) I'm unconvinced.
(Him) Later I'll show you.
(Me) Nah, I'm good.
(Him) Too bad. It's already been earned.
(Me) You're no fun.

He didn't get a chance to do it for a couple of days, but finally Wednesday night at bedtime he had me come up with him. There was some lecturing, and I did plenty of assuring him that I was sorry and that I understood why I have a bedtime and why it doesn't work for the family for me to stay up all night, but there was no real question that I would be getting a spanking. He got a new tactical belt for Christmas, and he decided to try it out. It was the first time I've ever been spanked with a nylon belt, but it was very thick and stiff, and every bit as painful as leather. It was also very loud. I don't know how many licks I got, but enough to make me very glad when it was over. 

The good news is that Kelly loved all her stuff. I was also able to make her a few of the other things on my list (before bedtime!) and take them to her at church Wednesday. All the pictures of the stuff I gave her at her shower include her in them, so I can't post them here, but I did think to snap a picture of the items I made later: another skirt, two pairs of shoes, a nursing scarf (the gray fabric) and a diaper clutch (to keep a few diapers and a small case of wipes in for quick changes on the go).

Friday I got to go to Melanie's house along with Kelly and one of her friends, and Melanie taught us the basics of crochet. It's something I've wanted to learn for ages, and it was a lot of fun having some girl time. 

On Saturday Morgan had her first soccer game. They lost, but only by one point, and her team is quite good this season. Afterwards we went to McDonald's and let the kids play on the play equipment. Jack and Daisy had a blast, and of course Morgan was too cool to play on it, but was gracious enough to climb up in there to keep an eye on Jack for us. Morgan has been struggling lately with some teen angst issues, and they've been manifesting themselves in some unhealthy ways. She's started doing a bit better, but I would really appreciate your prayers for her (and us as we parent her!). 

Saturday afternoon I did three month pictures for Brandon and Melanie's baby boy J, and it was exhausting! Fortunately my sweet husband fixed dinner for me. :)

Sunday night there was huge drama. Daisy...cut her hair! And I don't mean a little bit. She basically butchered it. Nick flipped out. He was furious! I wasn't thrilled about it either, but well, it's kind of something a lot of three and four year olds do at one time or another. I called Nick's stepmom (who does our hair), and she agreed to come and try to fix it the next day. When she saw it, she was kind of taken aback, but I told her we knew it was going to have to be pretty short, so she waded in. There were spots that were less than an inch long, so she ended up with a pixie cut, almost exactly like Maggie Gyllenhaal here, but a little shorter around the ears:
Guys, I wish I could post a picture here, because she looks so freaking CUTE! I was resigned to it because it was better than the cut she gave herself - I didn't expect to love it! She has these big huge Disney Princess eyes like Katy Perry, so she still looks very girly, and with her dimples she looks like a mischievous woodland sprite, or a miniature Audrey Hepburn (although Audrey didn't have those dimples)! I'm sure we'll let it grow back out, but for now I'm glad we were forced into a cut we would've never had the nerve to get on our own!

Today Elizabeth came over for a while. She had laundry she needed to do and no money to do it (they use a laundromat), and I needed help unburying my kitchen table (which is going to get me spanked again if it's not done by Friday). So I let her use our washer and dryer, and she helped me clean. 

I've got so much stuff to do in the next few weeks! A list:

Skirts (2) for craft exchange
Shoes for craft exchange
Ring for craft exchange
Pillow Cover for craft exchange
Acorn Pillow for craft exchange
Pack gnome figurine and ribbon for craft exchange
10 xl pom poms for cupcake liners/garland
Make cupcake garland
Make 15 makeup bags
String washers for washer necklaces
Make 15 Rosettes for necklaces
String Rosettes
Make 15 Leather Bow Barrettes
Make brush pouch for nail brushes
Make pillowcase shirt for Morgan
Finish J's pictures
Easter bunnies for Logan, A, and J
Make shirts into short sleeves for Maddox
Leather envelope, Knot Bracelet and leather barrette and bracelet for Kit
Mail Easter stuff for Maddox and Kit
Make Daisy's Easter dress
Mother's Day gifts - stitch markers, dish cloths (crocheted)
Order of three pillow covers for Faith.

Anyway, I'm off to bed so I can get some rest and got some of this stuff done!

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Answers!

You guys had some fun questions!

Ronnie asked: Who would you want to play the role of you in a movie?

That's a tough one for me. Maybe Emma Stone? Of course she would have to be playing a younger me, lol. But I really love her as an actress, how real and down to earth she is; I love Jennifer Lawrence for the same reason. Of course neither one of them looks like me.

Sunny Girl asked: You're always making or doing something crafty, what is your favorite?

I love this question! I love doing all kinds of crafty things, but I'd have to say sewing is my favorite. I'm far, far from an expert at it, but I do feel like I've come a long way from where I started. Kelly is due with a baby girl next month, and I made her some sweet little fancy skirts that I'm pretty proud of, along with some little baby shoes. It was my first foray into shoes, and while the first pair turned out pretty well, they really kicked my butt in the making. The second pair though was a much easier pattern. They went together like a dream, and they turned out so precious! I want to make a pair for every baby I see!

Anonymous asked: where in the world would you like to go most?

I would really love to go to Ireland, Great Britain, and many of the countries of continental Europe. I'm of Irish Heritage, so Ireland has been on my bucket list for a long time. The most beautiful place I've ever been is Hawaii, and Nick and I dream of going back there someday.

do you have a college degree? if so in what?

I do not. I did attend collage for a little while, but I didn't finish. Do I regret it? Not really, because I'm doing just what I'm meant to be doing right now, no college degree needed. I would love to take a few classes on things that interest me, but that will probably be down the road a few years.

what's your favorite movie of all time? 

The Notebook, hands down.

Princess asked: Do you have a spanking fantasy?

Most of my fantasies are pretty standard spanko fare - principal/student, boss/secretary, doctor/nurse. But in real life there are a few things I'd love to have happen someday. I think being made to stand in the corner would be an incredible turn-on for play. As part of a serious spanking (before, or during the middle of it) I think it would be very hard to submit to, especially if my attitude is not where it needs to be, and it would seriously ratchet up just how disciplined I feel by the end of it, which would probably be a good thing as far as achieving the intended effect of a punishment. Punishment spankings around here are no joke, and the last thing I feel before or during them is aroused. But when they are over and the pain has subsided, I'm often turned on after the fact by the feeling of being both taken care of and made to obey. I would really love, once the serious issue has been taken care of, to have Nick occasionally send me to the corner to "think about what I'd done" then spank me again, quite a long time, this time for play and ending in an orgasm for me.

Violet said: What is the worst job you ever had? What is the best change that has occurred in your life over the past year? What is your biggest pet peeve?

The worst job I ever had was probably a toss-up between the job I had when I got married, which was at a magazine distribution warehouse, and the last couple of years at my last job, in the customer service call center at a bank. The warehouse job was 20 miles from home and started at 6:00 in the morning. The warehouse was not air conditioned, and we actually had a girl pass out from the heat that summer. Add to that, I wasn't very good at it, and it was a pretty miserable few months. My last job I actually loved for the first few years. The pay was good, and they really took care of their employees. After the first six years or so though, there were some changes in management. Raises, which were once very regular, dropped to almost nothing, right as the cost of living shot up via gas and grocery prices. At the same time they greatly increased our workload. By the time I quit after 10 years on the job, morale was in the toilet. There was zero respect for the employees, and no job security either. Just before I left, a well respected department head who had been there for nearly thirty years was let go without warning because they decided they didn't want to pay her position any more. They combined her department with another (that really couldn't handle the extra workload), and when she came in on her day off to pick up something from her office, they told her she was fired and escorted her from the building without even letting her clean out her belongings. In my last three years there we lost 3 people from heart attacks and 1 from a stroke. One heart attack happened at the lady's desk, and the stroke happened in the parking lot. I started my maternity leave with Daisy three weeks before her birth because my blood pressure was through the roof and my doctor's office put me on bed rest. 

The best change that has occurred in my life in the last year...hmmm. There haven't really been any changes in the last year, but just over two years ago I had my sweet Jack, which has been one of the best changes ever!
As far as my biggest pet peeve, I confess to having a few - I'm kind of a grammar freak, I hate when people mispronounce things, and people who ride your bumper while driving make me nuts!

Thank you for all the questions - I had fun answering them! And of course it's still March, so keep 'em coming if you have them!

Friday, February 28, 2014

I should be sewing...

Or at least measuring and cutting fabric. I have an Etsy order that needs to go out tomorrow afternoon, and another that I need to start on this weekend. But I'm so, so tired, and I can do it tomorrow. Right now I just want to hang out for a minute and write. Nick was out of state at school for work this past week. He left straight after work Monday afternoon and got home about 8:00 tonight (or technically last night now, I guess. Thursday.) It's always a mixed bag for me when this happens. Of course I miss him terribly, and having the kids by myself for 4 straight days without a break is always exhausting. (I know, millions of single parents do it every day - I'm just saying it's tough!) But it's good for him at work to get to go and learn new things for his job. And he gets to stay at a nice quiet hotel and have the company pick up the tab for really nice meals every night, and it's just a nice break from his every day responsibilities.

While he was gone my friend Elizabeth came over on Tuesday and Thursday. She has two little girls, one of them 4 weeks older than Jack, and the other about a year older than Daisy. She also has an older son, but he didn't come with her. Tuesday she had both girls, and she came a little while before Morgan got home from school. Daisy was spending the night at my parents' house, but the girls had fun with Morgan anyway. She was very sweet to them both, giving them mani-pedis, and when they got done Jack was anxious to play with them both.

Last month I did a thing in my Etsy shop where if you bought a roll of ribbon at the store of your choosing and gave it to me, I would make you a big bow from it, add an embellishment in the center and put it on a lined clip. There was no charge for me to do that, and in return I got to keep the ribbon on the spool. It was a way for me to get my ribbon restocked for free and for my customers to get bows at a discount since Hobby Lobby's ribbon goes on sale half off every other week. I had a number of participants, and I ended up with probably 25 or 30 new rolls of ribbon for my stash. Elizabeth is one of my very best friends, so that's kind of an ongoing arrangement with her, although really I will make her the bows even if she just brings me enough ribbon for what she needs made. So Tuesday afternoon I spent mostly making hair bows for her.

Thursday she came over pretty early, and we spent the whole day cleaning while Jack, Daisy, and her youngest daughter kept each other entertained. We got a ton done, although not quite everything I wanted. Other than the time with her on Tuesday and then church on Wednesday, I spent pretty much all my waking hours this week cleaning. I got most of my crafting stuff organized and condensed, although I still have some stuff on the table to go through and organize (but not as much!) I also got the rest of the kitchen cleaned, the bedroom and bathroom upstairs cleaned (although this was mostly maintenance), the couches cleaned (vacuumed out, Febrezed, and cushion covers all washed), and the laundry on the big chair in the living room folded and put away (this was a Hurculean task even with Elizabeth and Morgan helping). When Nick got home I had dinner ready and waiting on him. He passed out on the couch not long after eating, but I'm awfully glad to have him back home safe.

A few months ago Hobby Lobby had this gorgeous mustard yellow and charcoal gray rugby striped knit in their fall fabric line. I happened to come across it in the form of a remnant that was all that was left of their stock back in September. I loved it like a small child, but I needed a birthday gift for Kelly, so I made it into an infinity scarf for her. Ever since I've been kind of in love with that color of yellow, and more than a little bummed that I could never find any more of that fabric, even at the other Hobby Lobby in town. Last week Elizabeth came over with some hair bow supplies for me, including a couple of purses she said were stained and I could take apart for the materials. One of them was this purse:

Relic wallet

I about died. I loved it! And I told her I was absolutely not taking it apart and I would be happy to make her hair bows from other stuff, but this purse was coming to live with me. There was a very faint, have to look for it, ink pen mark on the back, not at all noticeable, but she's very finicky about her purses. Any flaws at all and she passes them on. She was happy enough to let me keep it and enjoy it, and tonight I finally had the chance to change all my stuff over into it. I keep looking over at it and grinning like an idiot. I'm kind of a nut about purses/handbags, but they have to really catch my eye. I have several that I really, really love, including 3 or 4 that I've not even gotten to carry yet. They're all either gifts or were bought on extreme clearance ages ago, with the exception of two nice ones that were birthday gifts on separate birthdays. I tend to carry a purse for months at a time because I only buy ones that I really love, so once I start using one, it's hard to let go!

And now, because talking about my purses is making me happy, and I know you want to know (or if you don't just skip it), here are my favorites:


Tyler Rodan Kingston Cross Body,Pine Green,One Size

Tyler Rodan Handbag, Simple Satchel



I've got two more like the last one in different patterns that I haven't yet had a chance to carry. I've had them both for ages, but like I said, I have a hard time giving up what I'm carrying. Anyway. That's my randomness. Hope you all are doing well!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Chugging along...

It's been a while since I've posted, but it's just been so busy! We were snowed in, oh forever. Well, not really snowed in, but Morgan was out of school for almost a week straight, she had a friend overnight for several of those days, and it got a bit cabin-feverish. We did get our income tax return in on the 7th, which has been nice. We paid my parents back everything we owed them (for Daisy's dental work last year), took care of a few bills, and were able to get some things we needed. I'm planning to have another crafting slumber party for Morgan's birthday this year, so I got pretty much all the crafty supplies I needed for that. I also got to get an external lighting set up and a nice backdrop, which will be great for my photography! Nick had a few things on his list as well, such as his handgun carry permit, his next ASE testing registration, some new running shoes, and a new backpack. God always, always provides for us, but it's always fun when He provides a little extra. ;)

Monday night I got spanked. He told me Saturday night that it was coming. The plan was for it to happen Sunday night, but school was out for President's Day the next day, and Morgan had a friend spend the night. Nick didn't feel comfortable doing it with company in the house (nor did I), so he let me know he would deal with it the next night.

Monday night after all the kids were asleep he asked me to join him upstairs. I followed him up, then went into the bathroom to pee first. When I came out he had the Cane-iac Jr. with holes paddle in his hand.

The issue at hand was, as it always seems to be, the housework. I know it comes back to this time and time again. I've come to accept that it will probably always be somewhat of an issue for me, and though I really do make an effort, there will always come times when I need to be refocused and re-motivated. That was certainly accomplished with this spanking. I have no idea how many I got (well less than 100 I would think, but beyond that I can't guess). I do know that it was really, really hard to take right from the beginning, and I was no good at all at staying put for it. Finally, after telling me to bend over again 4 or 5 times Nick pulled down my jeans and panties. He told me that if I could stay put I would get 5 more, but if I moved again it would get a lot worse. Those last 5 were especially hard, and I've got a pretty bruised and sore bottom still a couple of days later.

But I feel better for having been spanked. I feel reconnected to my husband, and safe within his boundaries, and I've been getting more accomplished around the house. It's still far from perfect, but I'm working on it.

After the paddling we made love, something that doesn't always happen after a punishment, and he took his time making sure it was good for me too. Since then I've felt lighter and happier and just closer to him. 

Well that's been our last few weeks - how about you guys?

Thursday, May 16, 2013

A minute to breathe

I feel like it's been forever since I've put up a real post. It's just been so busy here. But right now Jack (sweet, busy, unstoppable, into-everything-even-stuff-you-didn't-know-you-had Jack) is passed out asleep on the couch, Morgan is at school, Daisy is painting a picture in the kitchen, the ground beef for supper is thawing in the microwave, and there's a load of laundry in both the washer and the dryer. So I'm going to sit down for a minute with my big tumbler of sweet tea and blog for a -

***We interrupt this peaceful moment to bring you the following real life sequence of events: Daisy got done painting and wanted a bath urgently. At this point my mom called to chat. Approximately one minute into the conversation Daisy got too impatient to wait any longer for her bath, so she began frantically yelling from the kitchen and leaning on the baby gate, which immediately fell, and the resulting crash woke Jack. I got off the phone with my mom, got Daisy in the bath, and got a fresh bottle for Jack, who of course showed zero interest in going back to sleep at this point. He wanted nothing more in life than to sit on my lap and drink his milk. So I attempted to pick the computer back up, but he wasn't having it, and at this point I could see Morgan walking home from the bus stop, so I had to go unlock the front door for her. 

She came in and started rummaging for a snack. She brought me our sole carton of strawberry yogurt and asked if she could have it, which Daisy heard from the bathroom and began loudly demanding that she wanted it for herself. She's honestly not usually this rude and demanding, but I guess every three year old has a selfish day now and then. I asked Morgan if she would rather have a brownie instead of the yogurt, which she was happy to do. 

This is when Daisy decided she needed out of the tub, so Morgan went and got her out for me since I had Jack. When Daisy followed Morgan to the living room wrapped in a towel and saw Morgan with the last of the brownies she decided to try to rip them out of her sister's hands. I immediately stopped her and made her apologize.***

 That's been up to the last few minutes. Currently Jack has allowed Morgan to settle him down with his bottle and blanket on the other couch, Morgan is playing music on her iPad, and Daisy is climbing back and forth from the back of the chair to the stairs. 

Me? I'm just trying not to attract any of their attention. I know that this is one of the hardest seasons of parenting, and just knowing that makes it a little easier. But I'm pretty stressed and exhausted these days. Nick has started going on bike rides after work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Wednesday nights we have church, and of course all day on Sunday. Saturdays if he's off, he's busy doing things like working on cars or taking off the trash, or mowing the yard, all things I understand and appreciate. He's also studying for his ASE tests right now, which takes up the rest of his free time, and it's absolutely essential that he has this time to prepare.

The truth of it though is that I'm seriously needing some down time.

***Just got back from cleaning up the mostly full cup of strawberry yogurt, which Daisy left on the entertainment center and Jack dumped completely upside down on the floor, splattering the whole side of the couch in the process.***

Money has been very tight lately, but what I wouldn't give for $25 and a whole kid free day to spend thrift store hopping! Less expensively, but no less costly, I know I could use a good spanking, but it's not in me to ask right now, and Nick has enough to deal with as it is. 

***Pause to put Jack's diaper back on.***

I'm not managing my time or my stress very well, although I have been sticking with my bedtime pretty closely, at least as far as actually getting in bed.

***Pause to put Jack's diaper back on again. Try to locate the ringing cordless phone. Try to locate the no longer ringing cordless phone. Page the phone. Find it in my pocket. Call my mom back. Pass the phone to Morgan and try unsuccessfully to convince Jack and Daisy that the other couch would be much more comfortable than Mommy's lap. Change Jack's diaper. Watch helplessly as Daisy knocks my Macbook off the couch. Get up and go put Jack on the other couch. Daisy runs off to try to climb the baby gate in front of the stairs. Jack gets up to join her. ***

On another topic, did everyone have a nice Mother's Day? Mine was good. Nick took us out to lunch after church, and Morgan helped me cook the hamburgers that night for dinner. I made all the gifts this year. Excuse my crappy photo backdrops - I was just trying to grab a few quick shots before bedtime the night before:

Infinity scarves for Mom and Nick's stepmom.
 Burlap wreath with handmade flowers for Nick's stepmom.
 Burlap wreath with handmade flowers for Mom using the fabrics from her kitchen makeover.
 You are my sunshine canvas art for Kelly.
 Upcycled mason jar vases for Mom (the blue one) and Nick's stepmom (clear).

***Pause to put Jack's diaper on......again, this time a fresh one.***

Pillow covers (I made one for both) for Faith and Melanie who are both due end of November/beginning of December.

***Pause to run upstairs to retrieve Jack, who bypassed the baby gate by wriggling through the banister.***

I sent Kate this leather and suede banner (which can also be found in my shop).

***Pause to get Jack down from the surround sound box and reset the controls so that the TV works again. Run to the kitchen to retrieve the bottle he tossed through the window.***

Not pictured was Nick's grandmother's gift, which consisted of a set of 16 blank notecards similar to these:
Except mine were bigger and a little more elaborate. I used hearts, flowers, and butterflies, and each one was unique with multiple shapes. I made her some for Christmas, and she asked me if she could buy some more from me (like I'm going to charge her). 

***Pause for Jack to climb up on my lap and shove his whole hand in my mouth.***

I also included a 3x5 magnet of Jack (free from Shutterfly) three singed satin poppy pins, and three 8x10 photo collages (free from Walgreens), one of my kids, one of Kelly's baby, and one of Kate's kids. I packaged everything but the 8x10s up in a handmade felt zipper pouch. 

We gave her stuff to her on Friday. We all had hair appointments with Nick's stepmom, and she always has the appointment right before us, so I knew we'd see her then. Speaking of hair appointments, I got mine cut short (which I always end up doing come spring), and we got Daisy's cut too. This was her first major haircut. It's just above her shoulders, and it's SO CUTE!.

In other news, I've got these in my shop now:

***Pause to answer the phone, which Daisy has just taken away from Jack. It was my mom calling to let me know that Jack had managed to turn the phone on and dial her.***





And it's now a solid three hours since I started this blog post, so I'm going to say goodbye and try to get dinner done before Nick gets home from his bike ride.


Thursday, March 07, 2013

AMA Post Two

This comes from Sally:


If you could have one do-over in your life, what would it be? What is your weirdest talent? What is the worst injury you've ever had? What historical figure would you like to meet the most? :) 

Thanks, Sally! One do-over? Gosh, it's hard to narrow it down lol! My initial thought is to say "not become so spanking crazy when Nick and I were dating and cause it to be an awkward subject for us for literally years." But that's not exactly a "one moment in time" sort of thing. And honestly, I'm not so sure that if I had done that we would have ever gotten where we are today. Sure, I wish I had been less obsessive about it, but I know for sure that to 20 year old Tracy that would have translated into bury-it-deep-and-pretend-you-never-brought-it-up-at-all. I think that the growing pains we went through were necessary to get us here. In reality I'd probably change things like "don't decide health insurance is too expensive your first year of marriage" or "don't park Nick's Suburban in the front yard - some chick high on coke is going to total it with a stolen car and you'll never get reimbursed."

My weirdest talent - hmmm. Well, I don't know that you can call this a talent, but I seem to have an uncanny ability to get products I really like discontinued. Shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, razors, food products - anything I ever fell in love with and vowed to buy forever fell prey to a sadly shortened production time. I do make phenomenally good sweet tea and spaghetti (not in the same pot). And my brain tends to take handy shortcuts when it comes to math.

The worst injury I've ever had would probably be the trauma from childbirth when Morgan was born. Daisy and Jack were out in 8 pushes and 1 push, respectively. But Morgan was born facing the ceiling rather than the floor (or sunny side up as they called it), and her little nose was caught on my pelvic bone. I pushed for 3 hours, at the end of which they decided to go with forceps. She was just beautiful, no more injury than a tiny break in the skin on her forehead. But 45 minutes later the doctor was still stitching up the tears in my poor lower region. I tore as badly as you can without tearing completely through, and Nick to this day won't really discuss what it looked like as it was happening (although my mother will cheerfully tell you it was like I just "exploded" down there). I lived in terror for weeks that I was going to glimpse my injuries in the reflection of the bathtub faucet, but I eventually healed up just fine.

Now, if you're still reading after that, the historical figure I would most like to meet would probably be Peter, one of Jesus' disciples. He was such a fascinating man, and I would love to sit and talk with him about what it was like to walk with Jesus. 

Any one else? More questions?