Bitter Witch

Traveling with children is usually fairly stressful, but almost getting into an altercation with an obviously barren, bitter woman within two minutes of taking my seat on the plane…that’s a first.

Cory, myself, our daughter Winter (4 years 3 months) and our son Ledger (20 months) all took a flight tonight going from Salt Lake to Washington DC, Dulles. Things seemed to be going well as far as getting through security, waiting to board, and even getting to our seats without a meltdown. I had everything ready. Winter and I traveled quite a bit before she turned two and we made the trip to Virginia at least twice just the two of us. I am not a novice at this trip. I got special surprise toys before the trip, packed sweet snacks, salty snacks, got a drink in the terminal, brought the car seat on the plane (toddlers travel better restrained), I even went as far as to ask the woman at the ticket counter to see if there was an empty seat so both our children would have a chance at riding more comfortably. LUCKY ME, there was two empty seat the row across from ours. The ticket woman changed Cory’s seat to the one across the aisle (so she said.) All on board and ready to go is when the trouble started.

“You’re in my seat” is what the woman said who was standing in front of Cory as we both were getting things stowed under seats in front of us. I started saying “we are a family sitting along here…” but before I could finish she cut me off saying “Oh no, I booked this tickets months ago and I am not going to get stuck riding in the middle because of YOU.” I understood her frustration, especially I recognized the uppity, I am a Delta passenger attitude. I waved my hand in a dismissive manner and tried to explain again “the actually is supposed to be two empty seats over there and you…” Cut off again, she said this was her seat and proceeded to begin sitting down on top of Cory. In such a shove over way, Cory hadn’t even had the chance to grab Ledger shoes he had put in the seat-back pocket. So there she sat, Winter, Ledger, and me on one side and some awful woman, an empty seat, and Cory on the other. Ha ha that is just the set up!

As everyone else around us files in and get into their seats, the woman makes a call. Instead of over hearing (she is after all less than two feet away) her tell her loved one somewhere along her travels, she is well and getting ready to take flight, she launches into telling the person on the phone about the terrible trouble she has had with people on the plane. She tells them that they tried to take her seat and “after she booked it months in advance!” Oh brother, was all I could think. Cory looked over her at me and was really beginning to fume. WHO DOES THAT?!

Then, she starts talking about how bad the flight is going to be because of Ledger and Winter. I looked right at her and said “I hope he screams the whole freaking flight just so YOU have to be bothered.” HOW DARE SHE JUDGE MY CHILDREN?! My mama bear came out so fast, I would have gladly ripped her fat, ugly head off her frumpy fashion accident body. She then repeated what I said into the phone to whomever she was speaking to, who I assume told her to mind my own business because this is how it played out…

Bitter witch “mind your own business”

Mama bear “you are talking about my children, who haven’t done anything”

Bitter witch “you are just made because this is my seat, go away”

Mama bear “I can’t go away, THIS IS MY SEAT” the ridiculousness of it all made me laugh which really pushed her over the edge and she yelled back

Bitter witch “I AM TRYING TO TALK TO MY HUSBAND!”

Mama bear “THEN STOP TALKING ABOUT MY FAMILY!”

Bitter witch “I am getting the flight attendant”

Mama bear “GOOD!”

I brood! I could have easily jumped up and down on her head and not stopped to think about jail time. I am not going to sit there quietly while you bad mouth my children. Had she just heard what I had to say in the beginning, the whole mess could have been avoided. Or if she hadn’t been so rude about it, or I don’t know, not talked about me like I am so unworthy to even be known in her existence.

She then disappeared for a few minutes. When she returned she grabbed her bag and was asked to move up a few rows. The guy across from me and one aisle up waved goodbye to her with me and then winked at me. Thank goodness there are some understanding people in the world!

As I write this on the plane I seriously contemplate mowing her down with our car seats on the way out. I guess her never knowing the joy of her son or daughter loving her unconditionally is punishment enough.

How do they grow?

Winter is now 4 years old. She weighs a whole 30 lbs. I know she is really packing it on :) She lingers in the bottom of the 5th percentile for weight. While as a babies she was always long, she now is in the 50th percentile for height measuring in at 39.5 inches. Doc says keep the whole milk coming for my bright girl. She has impressed her pediatrician since she was first surpassing her developmental milestones. He said this visit was just like the others, he was so glad to see her and to know she is still ahead of her peers. (Shiny star for her parents!)
Ledger is growing very similar to what you would expect from a child produced from Cory and I. He is 19 mo. old with his weight in the 5th percentile and his height in the 95th percentile. Tall and thin so whole milk for him too. Ledger is right on track for his development with his communications skills beginning to peak earlier than Winter's. He learns new words all the time. He favorites are cracker, pop pop, roar, hot dog, and down. Ledger weighs in at 21.9 lbs and is a towering 34.5 inches tall. (Another shiny star for his parents!)
Highlights:
Winter can write her name, read and spell lots of 3-5 letter words, can sound out most words, knows all her letters, numbers, colors, shapes, vowels, she can count to 50, and just way to much to list. Her most recent accomplishment: she gave the talk in primary all about baptism. Her leader said she was the only sunbean to be able to give a talk and was better than some of the older children. Go WINTER!

Ledger can climb just about anything, open and close doors, says about 20 words, shares food and toys well, shows concern when people (read Winter) cry, can swing belly down on a swing, sleeps well through the night, and so much more. He is a very happy go lucky little guy most of the time and laughs often. His latest accomplishment: he has learned how to log on the computer and open applications. He also knows how to text message using my phone. I am sure these are good things, even if they doesn't always seem like it.

Summer time and the livins easy

Yard projects complete! This is the little spot in front of our house right next to the entrance. I love flowers and herbs, so that is what we filled it with.
Complete with mulch, this is our new curb appeal. We will be adding bulbs to it that will bloom next spring and by then the grasses and shrubs will have filled out more too. Best part about this project...finding mulch for $10 a scoop (cubic yard). Seriously, there is green recycling at the city land fill.
The play place aka: Jones' Sky Fort has been finished for a while but I am just now getting around to posting picks.
Looks just like the picture on the box. We plan to add those trees in the corner and a few more along the back to keep it nice and shaded.
Come over and play!

He sleeps...

Bouncin' Baby Photography

I admit quitting my job at the credit union was scary. To go from something stable and reliable to a career that is art based was pretty much against everything a good wife and mother should be doing. I felt like I was possibly making a mistake. Even with as much thought as I had put into it, I still thought maybe I should just stick it out, maybe I should get over myself and figure out how to stay. In my mind a responsible person doesn't quit a decent paying job with benefits in a down turned economy. But that is exactly what I did. Besides being totally miserable with the work I was doing and completely drained and frustrated with the child care situation, I really felt sad in life.

There were several things that added to making things worse rather than better.

1. My attempts to be greener at work were pretty much laughed at.
2. The work itself was draining and it's usefulness had none of my input, all creativity had been under-minded until it was out of my system within a year.
   
3. My co-worker and I found an injured bird on break outside one day. Having saved a couple of birds in the past, my mind set was 'of course everyone else would want to save it and help it to be on its marry way.' Boy was I wrong! So wrong that it truly made me open my eyes to things in a whole new light. We saved the bird and it felt good to doing something like that, but it hurt my feelings to be made fun of for being compassionate. I am not like most people and more importantly, I LIKE NOT BEING LIKE MOST PEOPLE!!
   

I had forgot that. Since coming to Utah more and more I feel like I have been expected to make and keep friends, fit in, and always be what everyone else expects of me. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am not fond of being told what to do. It makes me sound very confrontational and I am to a point, but I think most would also agree I am a nice, honest, agreeable person. Even if I were to say something offensive, I most likely didn't mean to be mean. Sometimes the filter doesn't work right, we have all been there.

In any case back to what prompted this whole blog post. In search for a balance of life and happiness my desire to be creative and return to my art blazed. I tried very hard to resist but the pull was too strong. Finally, missing my kids growing was the final draw. So I quit my corporate job! I got back into my very missed photography about six months earlier and set myself up with a good stream of clients. So far so good. I have been able to stay home with my children most of the day, I have good enough income that we don't have to move or anything like that, and more than anything I am HAPPY! Bubbly, spring in my step, really makes my skirt blow up, smiley, HAPPY!

Now I have the best job I could ever imagine. Seriously, if I were to put together the perfect job for myself, I think business owner is it. Photography has been this wonderland of learning and doing and creating like I have never been allowed to excel in before. Right now I have been blessed with capturing new born babes, and beautiful maternity sessions. The one-on-one experience with someone when seizing a moment in time for them is very rewarding. I know and honest to goodness feel (like the universe is telling me) like I am on the right (and better) path now.

The web is an amazing way to share:

Website - http://bouncinbabyphotography.com
Blog - http://bouncinbaby.wordpress.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/BouncinBabyPhotography?v=wall&ref=ts

Just a little thing that I have been lucky enough to give wings. And soon I will really make her fly.

Thank you for all the love and support from my friends and family. Without it I would be lost.