Losing track of time.

The women's organization in my church hosted a dinner for women ages 18 to 118. (Those of you who happen to be 119 years old are out of luck. Sorry.) As the dinner ended I looked across the gym and noticed a gaggle of young girls walk in. Wait a minute, this isn't a youth activity. Who invited the teenagers? With another glance I saw that a couple of them were pregnant, so I am going to assume that they were indeed high school graduates. I leaned over to my thirty-something friends and sister (yes, Melissa, that means you) and said, "Why do those girls over there look like they are still in high school? Are we that old?"

It's impossible.

Aren't I the mother of little babies? The newlywed? The college co-ed? A high school student?

Really, not much has changed. Oh sure, there are a few more gray hairs (nothing a good bottle of L'Oreal Superior Preference won't handle), some wrinkles (I am not entirely opposed to Botox these days), and several extra pounds (ok maybe forty), but really, I'm pretty much the same person I was twenty years ago.

• I'm still bossy.
• I still never make my bed.
• I still want the approval of my parents.
• I still try to control my sisters' lives.
• I still think U2 rocks.
• I still go to bed way too late and get up way too early.
  
• I still think trombone players are cute.
• I still wonder how Billy Ray Cyrus became so famous.
  
• I still live with the Loud Family.
• I still make a lot of pizza.
• I still don't have much fashion sense.
  

You know this picture was taken last week, don't you?

I really don't want to relive the high school days. I'm good being a happily married mom. I am just fine with not worrying about homework, boys, and not having anything to do on Friday nights. I prefer worrying about housework, my two boys (and three girls), and whose turn it is for pizza and movie night on Friday nights.

It's just that all these long days have made the years go by really really fast.

I'm still just a Downey High, Downey High royal knight in blue. Whose body just happens to be losing the war against gravity.

Those young whippersnappers from the dinner will understand soon enough. Too soon, right?

Change my name, change my name?

No, not Callie's name.

Her name is perfect.

I'm talking the name of this blog.

Like to Callie 24/7. Or I Can't Stop Taking Pictures of My Niece. Or An Aunt's Obsession. Or Keep An Eye On Your Newborn Because Her Aunt Just Might Sneak Off With Her. Or How A Person Can Be So Totally In Love With A Baby That's Not Even Hers.

Just a thought.
The kids got to meet the baby today (finally!) and I was having a hard time sharing the baby.
I like visiting during the school day much better.

I get to be very selfish.

Just one question for you...

Does this look like a normal, loving woman holding her newborn niece?Or an obsessive, crazy woman with serious addictions her her sisters' kids?

If one day this blog pops up as Can't Get Enough Of Callie, you'll have your answer.

Callie Sue, I ♥ you!

Say my name, say my name.

Introducing....

"The Sister"
September 8, 2009
2:31 PM
7 lbs. 14 oz.
19 3/4 inches
As perfect as can be...
...yet to be named...
...with 2 aunts and 7 cousins just waiting to get their hands on her baby yumminess.

PRE-Labor Day Weekend

There was no labor around here this weekend.

There was the air show.
There was a crazy lady who forgot she wasn't holding her Shaggy Dog's leash and told us to leave him alone when he was getting all up in our bidness.

There were the Thunderbirds, one of which buzzed us so close I thought 9/11 was happening again 7 years and 359 days later. Seriously.There was the arrival of Grandma Brooks!

There was a big family dinner on Sunday.

There was a cousin sleep over Sunday night.

There was a lot of time spent with the PS3 and Wii.

There was a BBQ in which we tried to recreate the deliciousness of Brown Bag Burger turkey burgers. And came pretty close.

No, there was no labor around here this weekend.

The real labor starts tomorrow around nine, when Jill goes in to have her baby.

I need me a new Baby Barnes!

Ohm my.

I was scared and sweaty before I even started.

But I got in the car anyway and drove to my first yoga class.

I have done yoga DVD's on my own before, but never in an official, organized setting. With other people. But Emma and Leah will be starting a diving class next week and the rec center offers a yoga class that coincides, so I thought I would take the plunge.

I was late. I was nervous about my attire. I was nervous about twisting and posing and showing my--how shall I say--imperfections.

And while I didn't exactly do this:
...I did break a sweat (duh) and got an amazing workout. My legs were burning and shaking. I am pretty sure I am going to be sore tomorrow. But it just felt so good. At first when I looked at myself in the mirror I thought "Ay yi yi," but the next time I looked I smiled. I was doing something hard and kind of doing it well. I felt better about my body than I have in a long time.

So I'll go back next week.

And maybe someday I will be able to do the above. Wouldn't that be awesome?

On cloud nine.

A special girl had a special birthday today...
9 years old in the 9th month of 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROOKE!