katie allison granju

come visit me December 14, 2008

No, I haven’t stopped blogging; in fact, these days, I’m doing more blogging in more places than a rational human should attempt. So even though I am not updating this blog too regularly at the moment, you can come visit me several different places online, and I hope you will.

Here’s where to find me:

I’m at MamaPundit - My regular ol’ personal blog

I also keep up a parenting blog called Home/Work over at Babble.com.

I manage to irritate conservatives on pretty much a daily basis over the political blog I do for the Knoxville News Sentinel (this one is worth adding to your feed reader just to enjoy the comments the blog generates, which are quite often more entertaining than the blogging I do)

And last, but not least, I have started a blogging project for women (and the men who love them) who are dealing with the issue of pregnancy loss. It’s called - not unexpectedly - The Miscarriage Blog. This new site is really dear to my heart, and I hope it becomes something that a lot of people find helpful. Please consider sharing the URL with anyone you know who has experienced a miscarriage or miscarriages.

If you like reading my writing, but don’t feel like checking 42 different blogs each day, you can follow me on Twitter, where I’ll let you know when I’ve posted something new and noteworthy. You can also add me as a friend on Facebook, where I often share specific blog posts.

As always, feel free to e-mail me. You can reach me at katie.granju-AT-gmail.com

Thanks!

-Katie

the big move November 24, 2008

You can now find katieallisongranju.com over at my new online home MamaPundit.com. Come check out the new digs, and go ahead and adjust your bookmarks, etc.

Thanks!

Katie

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

MY ‘HOOD.

And so it begins

I think today is the first day I actually feel DIFFERENT - meaning, pregnant. Just spacy, and a bit dizzy. It would be unpleasant but for the fact that, given my medical history, I actually welcome pregnancy symptoms, one and all. Bring ‘em on.

triviata November 23, 2008

C. got a new coat. It has reflective stuff on it, and when you take her photo, the flash makes it look like she sparkles (see above).

H. thinks he broke his nose “at a party” Friday night. But it apparently hasn’t bothered him enough to want to interrupt the rest of his weekend plans, which involved staying with a friend until Sunday afternoon. I offered repeatedly to come get him and take him to the ER if he really thinks it’s broken, but he declined. So I’ll be very interested to see what we are dealing with when he arrives home later today.

It’s so cold that I am moving at half-speed.

J. and I went with a group of mother and daughter friends, plus cousin E., to see Twilight. May I simply say that Edward is the most swoon-worthy movie character in ages? It’s not surprising I’d find him pretty appealing, since I was obsessed with Byronic heroes (and Lord Byron in particular) as a teenager myself. He was my type.

The worst baby name ever November 21, 2008

I am completely confident in declaring Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson’s new baby to have THE WORST baby name ever.
Bronx Wentz.

Just say that out loud.

Bronx Wentz.

Congrats to the new parents. I’m sure he’s gorgeous. And I’ll bet he’ll insist on being known as “Will” or “David” or “Ben” by about fifth grade.

Twilight and baby vomit

I first heard about the YA vampire literary sensation, “Twilight,” when my friend K. blogged about reading it. Since then, of course, it’s been all over the place, because the movie comes out this week. And then my 13-year-old daughter brought the book home from her father’s, and was raving about how much she loved it. Personally, I am not much into vampire lit. I never could get all the way through an Anne Rice book, for example. But Twilight was lying on the coffee table last night after J. went to bed, so I picked it up and read a page or two. And then another page or two. And within a few hours - past my bedtime - I’d read half the book. Shakespeare it ain’t, but any girl who has ever decided to take a risk on a guy who is really, really, very dangerously bad for her will identify with the tale. And I love the Olympic Peninsula setting (I lived there for several years as a child, and still have incredibly strong memories of that location as a dark, broody, and slightly menacing place). I hope to finish it tonight, and I promised to take J. and a friend to go see the movie late Saturday afternoon (anybody wanna go with?)

Once I did finally go to bed, I had a hard time falling asleep. I finally drifted off, dreaming of - what else - fabulously hot vampires - when C. awoke in her crib next to her bed and asked to come into bed with us. That’s normal - she does that every night at some point - but she sounded a bit pitiful as I snuggled her in beside me. Within an hour, I realized why. She has a stomach bug, likely the same one the cousins had all last week. She vomited copiously three times before morning - in our bed. We went through many towels and blankets before the sun came up. I felt so bad for her I an hoping she has a mild case. Her daddy stayed home with her today.

Oh, and I’ve also got a new blog post over at Babble.

a little family news November 20, 2008

LINK

E. and J. at the Magic Kingdom

E. and J. are home from their trip to Disney World. They had an incredible time. It was so nice of their stepmother’s parents to plan this special trip for them. E. had never been.

A few of my favorite… November 19, 2008

…PARENTING BLOGGERS.

baby’s disembarking from the fuss bus November 18, 2008

LINK

the coldness

I do not function well in the winter. With the first blast of grey and cold - which we are having now - I feel like my body goes into semi-hibernation. I move more slowly. I go to bed at ridiculously early hours. All I want to do is sit on the couch in front of the fire and read or write. I tend to avoid social events in wintertime because that would involve leaving the warm indoors, even if that’s only to walk to the car and drive to another warm indoors.

I also hate figuring out what clothes I can wear that will keep me warm without making it hard to move. I do like good sweaters and my favorite jeans, but beyond that combo, I am stumped. I find it especially difficult to figure out how to dress up - when the need arises - in cold weather.

The only saving graces of winter are A- snow (when we get any, which we haven’t in years) B - the fireplace (I’m addicted) C - Christmas (Have I mentioned how much I love Christmas?)

warm baby leggings? November 17, 2008

I need to find some size 18-24 month leggings for C. in some sort of warmer fabric (warmer than plain old cotton jersey) — like maybe velour or fleece. Anybody got any suggestions where to find this item online? I want actual slimfit leggings - not just pants.

Is it too early to decorate for Christmas? November 15, 2008

-Job —->> stressful right now. And any stress with a job is extra intense these days, for those of us who work in media during this period of mass bloodletting. It’s a scary time in the industry. Good reminder to always have a Plan B.

-H —->>> He loves, loves, loves his new school. That makes me happy. But I rarely see him lately. I miss him. He’s growing up. His father gifted him with a used mountain bike, so now he has a way to get around town, since he doesn’t drive yet (he hasn’t shown any inclination to become a licensed, insured driver).

-J&E —–>>>> At Disney World (!!!) for a few days with their father and family. Big treat for them. They even get to miss a few days of school. Ten-year-old E. has never been, and I think it’s going to be one of the most fun things he’s ever gotten to do. I can’t wait to hear all about it when they get back. J. toured two private high schools this week for next year. She didn’t like the one she thought she would like best as well as the one she’s less likely to get into. So now she has a Plan A and a Plan B. I also explained to her that you always need a backup plan in life I hope so much she gets in where she wants to get in.

-Baby C. —>> At 15 months, she’s a talkin’ fool. She says well over 30 words quite clearly. None of my other have talked this much, this early. Yesterday she spoke a sentence: “I don’t want doggies,” referring to the fact that Fiat, Mabel & Leo would not quit barking. She may be a child prodigy. She’s definitely very cute.

In other news: I have some, which I cannot share yet, but will later (how is that for cryptic?). And last but not least, I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas! Can I start today or would that be tacky?

Did you know you can find out what I am blogging about by following me on TWITTER or FACEBOOK? And I’d be wildly grateful if you subscribed to my BABBLE BLOG, or considered adding a link to this blog or my other one to your own website or blog. Thanks!

a box of shoes November 14, 2008

Sorting my father’s things: LINK