I asked Jon to purchase a new trash can for the kitchen, since our old one is pretty banged up. I was picturing a nice, normal standing can with a foot pedal, nothing fancy. Instead, I got a trash can with a motion-detecting electric eye thing, that senses when I want to throw something out … [Read more…]
I feel bad for our cats. Sam and Horace used to be moderately pampered. They ruled the roost, were no strangers to tuna, and they went to bed in our room ever night after much petting and purring. These days, our cats seem to be less companions and more obstacles to climb over when rushing … [Read more…]
It’s a great big colorful world out there! Everything’s got a color that it can wear. Hand! Green hand! Yaaaay clap clap clap clap clap. I am starting to dislike our Laugh and Learn Puppy dog. Of all our toys that talk, sing, giggle and snort, the Laugh and Learn Puppy is the only one … [Read more…]
2009 has been an eventful year. In May, Maddox Jaesun Heller was born, and he is amazing. The other significant (but not quite as) event occurred in November, when Jon and I finally bought a house after over a year of searching. Both events have taught me a lot. Here are 5 lessons I learned … [Read more…]
I’ve always wanted the power to smite people. You throw your arms up in the air, call on the powers of heaven and lightening, and fry the offending party where they stand. Generally, this urge comes on when I’m driving around Salem. Now I hear that Sony has developed wireless technology that sends electricity through … [Read more…]
Jon and I were driving to pick up Maddox from daycare when I thought I heard Jon say “eight” and then a moment later, “seven.” Thinking, gee, this is a weird game, but okay, I’ll play too, I started counting down from six. From Jon’s confused reaction, I gathered that I had misheard him, and … [Read more…]
The Back Story: It took awhile for me to trust our baby monitor. I didn’t believe that the voice-activate setting would work, and pictured my poor baby crying his head off in the other room. Note: We live in a 2 bedroom apartment, and there is virtually no room in the house where you could … [Read more…]
I hate to wait for things. I also hate to wait for people. Sometimes, when someone is explaining something, I yell at them to talk faster. I adore Jon’s Dad, because he and I can actually have conversations in which we both talk and listen at the same time. Seriously. You can quiz us afterward … [Read more…]
The History: Alleluia, Let’s Get Walking Around 1212, a large amount of poor country folk joined up to form a mass movement of followers intending to carry out the will of God. Depending on your source, God’s will was that they A) Bring Christianity to the Heathens Across the Water, B) Follow a Miracle Worker … [Read more…]
I’ve been blogging via the Guide to World Domination for about a year and a quarter now. Thanks to Google Analytics, I’ve realized that while I enjoy writing about the Life and Times of Leanne Heller, all of my popular posts contain useful, non-personal information. When I learn about something that I think would be … [Read more…]
The fun part: I like to pretend I can garden. I have a lot of green leafy things in pots, and I occasionally water and feed them. I don’t grow complicated things like flowers, because they require too much maintenance and also because I can’t eat them. Yesterday, I finally had time to do my … [Read more…]
Why I Went There I feel kind of arbitrary about birthday gifts. Some years I get people things, other years they’re lucky if they get a voice mail of me (and whoever I can coerce into joining me) singing happy birthday. This year, I breezed over my sister’s birthday (sorry Kristy) in May but covered … [Read more…]
Jon and I have been looking for houses lately, since our rent is going up 25% in August and we figure we might as well take advantage of the $8K tax credit courtesy of the President. It’s exciting to be thinking about moving into a house, especially now that we officially need that second bedroom … [Read more…]
I was holding Maddox in our living room when Jon started playing a series of song clips on his laptop. Man, I thought, those are some great songs! I listened to them for a moment more, and realized that there was something…familiar about them. It turns out, our friend Paul had sent Jon a link to … [Read more…]
Since I’m all about the baby lately, but don’t want to turn this into a baby blog, check out baby updates at maddoxheller.com. I’ll be updating this blog periodically with similar content to before the pregnancy, but for all baby-related news, pictures & video, head over to the new site.
I’ve been having contractions throughout the night and into this morning. I’m not sure if they’re the real kind, or if they’re a false alarm – darn those Braxton Hicks. In any case, I haven’t called the doctor yet because 1) we’re still in the process of recording the time between contractions 2) I’d rather … [Read more…]
Well, we’re at T-minus 5 days and counting, and here are some random thoughts that have been collecting in the empty space that used to house my brain: 1. I feel like a poser every time someone wishes me a Happy Mother’s Day. My Mom, who is amazingly talented at the right gesture in any … [Read more…]
The Baby Right now, we’re playing the waiting game. We’re half past week 38, and the baby could come any time. I’ve got a few thing to wrap up at work, but am feeling pretty good about having things in order. Our bag is packed, the house is tidied up, and a kind co-worker has … [Read more…]
Today, I had a “non-stress test,” a.k.a. being hooked up to a fetal monitor for 2 1/2 hours in a hospital bed. It is more fun than being shot in the chest and left for dead, but you know, most things are. I figure that it’s better to be safe, and all those doctors must … [Read more…]
Pregnancy Weekly’s post Nesting Instinct describes the phenomenon of nesting, common to pregnant women. Italicized text is excerpted from the post. Here is how I measure up: Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the “nesting” instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one’s house brought on by a desire to prepare … [Read more…]