Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

I have been once again whipped up into the vortex that is middle school.  The first time around I was a sixth grader myself.  I remember that I was completely panicked and self-conscious about how I looked but too tired to wake up early enough to ensure that I had brushed my hair and dressed myself in matching clothes each morning.  I was completely overwhelmed with the busyness of   my new schedule at Jamestown Middle School.    I was dumbstruck by the school lessons about atoms and molecules, communism and the Holocaust, and I was dazzled by the vast assortment of different kids whose approval I so desired. I spent the entirety of my sixth grade year simultaneously feeling both confused and excited; lost and found; idiotic and brilliant.   I experimented with fashion, with friends, with study habits, and with personal identities.   It was exhausting. Meredith, age 11 Rocking the Swatch watch, of course Finally, after many ye...

Here is a news flash:  I love babies.  Babies are little, innocent, cuddly people.  Everything in this world is a novel discovery for a baby, and having a baby around makes mundane tasks seem new and exciting again. Something crazy has happened, however, since our third little bundle of fun came along.  Sometime while I was changing diapers and playing peekaboo, my two other little kids decided to grow into big kids. And guess what? Big kids are hilarious and fun in a different way.  Big kids make jokes that actually make sense.  If you aren't careful a big seven year old might, while at the local lake, announce to everyone who is within earshot that she is going to go and dip her "ass in the water."  The ass to which she is referring is, of course, a donkey- (a.k.a "ass") shaped animal cracker because a nice seven year old would never use that word in its naughty context, right? Big kids have their own taste in music and fashion.  A big ...

My pregnancy has taken over my brain and my blog. Blogging isn't happening as regularly these days simply because I am big and tired and a bit uninspired, but all is well. I saw the community midwife this morning, and she confirmed what I already knew...the baby is still breech. I am trying to maintain positive thinking. There is still time for her to turn, so hopefully she will somersault soon. Sophie has been cheer leading to her through my skin, "Baby, get your head down! Head down! Feet up, babe! And STOP kicking my mom in her platter ." She means 'bladder,' of course, but the baby doesn't know the difference, and apparently she's already not into obeying her big sister. She hasn't budged from this head-up position in over a month... but we are maintaining that positive attitude! I had coffee this morning at a friend's house with several other local mums, and it was really lovely...and not just because she served carrot cake (which t...