IT'S A BOY!!!!

Ok, I am no longer a bad mother if I admit I really wanted a boy this time. Now I'm intuitive:) I felt a little guilty wanting a boy in case it was a girl. Today, however, it was confirmed. By confirmed, I mean the ultrasound tech pointed to something with a little arrow and said "see that sticking out there? It's a boy". My first thought was just pure joy, my second: this picture with an arrow pointing to his, umm thingy, may haunt him for the rest of his life.
Ironically, on the way to the drs. office we all but picked a girl's name. However, when it comes to boys' names the choices are: Jochobed (submitted by Christin), Zerrubabal and Jereboam (both Georges) and Mommy still needs to think on this for awhile and read some baby name books (I'm leaning towards that one!).

I've got to run. More info and some adorable ultrasound pics to come!

You Know Shannon's Pregnant When. . .

her story's all start with one of the following, "on Regis and Kelly" "on Rachel Ray" or "Today on the View"

her children hear the music to Rachel Ray and say, "are they playing the game with the Mystery Taster today?"

her children don't bat an eyelash when midsentence she jumps up and runs to the trashcan/toilet to puke

were her children's stomach's examined the findings would look something like this: corndog, fishstick, french fry, pizza, apple, pizza, french fry, corndog, fishstick, pear

she's not embarrassed when people stop by and the door can barely be opened, because of all the toys, by the children still in their pj's at 1pm

she has to look at a calendar to see when she last took a shower

if she get's dressed the kids ask "where are you going"

and lastly, she hasn't blogged in forever because she uses blogging time to sleep!

Bring on the boys!

My girls aren't allowed to play with other girls. From now on they will only play with boys. They will be "those" girls that all the other girls hate because they think they are flirting with the boys when really they just know they make better friends. I know you're thinking, but all the other girls will hate them, doesn't that bother you? Nope, girls are mean and will hate other girls anyway so instead of spending time in their rooms crying that their best friends suddenly are snubbing them they can go play with the boys or their sister.
I know I sound a little jaded but that's just because I am! You see I remember everything being rosy until middle school. I have always thought it was something about turning 11 that made girls mean. Well it turns out that 5 is the new 11. Who knew?!?! A recent outing with other girls (just slightly older than Christin) gave me inspiration for a new movie: Mean Girls II: the elementary years. It sounds compelling doesn't it? Here's the general plot: An innocent but strong willed home-schooler meets some other girls. She asks to play with them but is told that it is Wednesday and they wear pigtails on Wednesday and since her mother cut off all her hair she can't play. Not one to be discouraged easily she notes that they are playing with stuffed animals. At the next chance encounter the girl brings not only a stuffed animal for herself but one for each of the girls. How can this plan fail you ask yourself? Thinking she will get her chance to play she skips into the room proudly displaying her animals for all to see. Unfortunately for her she does not have the right kind of animals, it seems that only people with Webkinz can play. Once again the child is shunned. . . I haven't decided which ending is better yet. Ending I wherein the girls are reprimanded and see the error of their ways and they all become life-long friends or Ending II in which the girl gets her revenge by having an acne free puberty will the other girls' faces look like peperoni pizza. . .
Ok, I may have exaggerated a little bit, we'll call it artistic license, but the story is loosely based on a true story that sort of happened one time. And that is what caused me to decide that my girls will only play with boys. Boys fight (which my girls are tough enough to handle) and move on with life remaining friends forever. That's what I want for my girls.

Now before my girlfriends start thinking I hate them I LOVE YOU ALL AND YOU ARE TERRIFIC!!!!!!! but I didn't meet you until later in life;) Well, I guess I did have some pretty wonderful girlfriends in high school and even middle school that I wouldn't trade the memories of for anything and and then there are my Haluwasa friends that I still love. I mean when I think about the sleepovers, jokes, pranks, shopping trips, wawa runs, late night talks. . . Crap, I need to let my girls make some girlfriends! Let's hope this turns out to be a comedy and not a drama!

There's starving children in china!!!!

You know the scene: A child is grumbling and complaining about the hot meal that has been put before them with little or no work on their part. A parent in frustration says what they never thought they would say, "You know, there are starving children in China who would love to eat" The child thinks, but does not dare to say, "you could send it to them but I don't think they'd eat it either because it's gross!" It all comes down to thanklessness.
Lately that has become a problem in our house. Christin doesn't want to brush her teeth, or clean up her toys, or brush her hair. Now the teeth I'm pretty sure it's illegal to pull them out but if you hear otherwise please let me know. The toys, well they're next but we wanted to do something big and drastic to show Christin we meant business. Some sort of announcement that said, "Let it be known from this point forward thanklessness will no longer be tolerated in the DeVol home." So we cut off all her hair. Crazy I know, the first lady that I told the story to at hair cuttery just looked at me with her own, ironically, unkept hair. However, we were blessed to have a hair dresser who also had a four year old and chimed right in with, "you know, if I cut it here (gesturing to a spot much higher on her neck then I had intended) we can donate it to Locks of Love." I thought for a second and then realized that was it. That was saying, "If you don't take care of your things (read hair, toys, teeth?) we will give it to someone who will appreciate it."
Now for those you that think I am a terrible, horrible, no good mother who's child will hate her for the rest of her life, you might be right, but trust me as much as Christin loved her long hair, cutting it did not destroy her self confidence. I still caught her looking in the mirror this morning and stating matter-o- factly, "I look beautiful today." So if all it takes to have a child that is both confidant thankful for the things she has is a few drastic moves lets pack up the toys and food and send them to China and while were at it we can pull a few teeth!