The Burger Family

Time flies when you are having fun, I guess, because it has been 7 months since I last wrote on my blog! Not saying that I am surprised. Seeing as to how I have about a weeks worth of good journal entries a year, this is in perfect line with my event recording character. But, as part of my New Year's Resolutions, I am going to try to be better. Kayla even gave me a writing prompt challenge- and I never like to turn down a challenge from Kayla :)- so expect great things to be showing up on my blog shortly. Until then!

(This is the official preview of Nicole's better blogging habits)

So it has been almost two months since my last blog entry. Whoops. Last year, after I came home from teaching and supervising the education of 20 or so juveniles, and as I sat surrounded by lesson plan materials for my four and a half hour history lesson for the following day, I would fantasize about all the free time I would have once I became a full-time mom and all of the things I would do with that free time. Yet it takes all of my mental and physical capabilities just to care for my gorgeous little daughter, keep my house in a somewhat orderly fashion, and stay on top of my day to day responsibilities. I need to work on developing my super mom powers I took for granted in my own mother growing up. Time to spring clean (well, summer clean now I guess) my life. I'll keep you updated how it all goes :)

Anyways, back to my intended topic: Leviathan, the fish who would not die. I thought that I could possibly make that into an inspirational children's book title, but its morbidity prevents me from doing so. I was the one who brought Lev into our family two years ago as a "ask Andrew to a dance" prop. Leviathan was an...um, how should I say it...intense fish in his prime. I would walk pass him on the way to the kitchen, and he would follow me, fins flared in attack mode, biting at the glass with this look in his eye that said, "If we were in the open ocean, I would gnaw your toes off." (I think this gives backing to my fear of water. Fish just don't like me.)

For the last 6 months, though, Lev has been an ill, decrepit fish. Andrew has offered him life support through lovingly administered medicine, but everyday I would have to shake the tank to see if he would twitch or show other signs of life. It was creepy. Finally, this last week, Lev gave up the ghost. (Phew)
We have decided to cremate the little guy and give him a proper warrior funeral down at the river. So here's to you, Lev. Enjoy the big fish bowl in the sky, little buddy.

Although my parents might feel differently, I always thought that I was a relatively easy child to be raise and handle. Sure, I had my moments just like anybody, but overall I don't ever remember putting my parents through an extensive amount of hassle growing up. And from the praise and good reports I've heard from Andrew's family and friends, I picture him being about the same, if not better. So because of that, I do not know where my sweet, innocent baby has picked up these new tricks she has learned the last few days.

Two mornings ago, Emma was running around in her walker while I was getting her breakfast together. All of a sudden she has this coughing fit. I run over to her and pat her on the back and it immediately stops. I go back to breakfasting and she starts at it again. I grab her sippy cup, pick her up, give her a few gulps and the coughing stops. It goes on like this for a good portion of the morning. She coughs, I look at her or go to her, and it stops. Hmmm... I started to get suspicious when we were putting away her clothes in her bedroom. She started coughing, but I since I was putting clothes away I didn't pay attention to her right away. Just then she lets out this squawk! I look at her then and she does this pitiful little *cough cough*. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I then made some coughing sounds, and she made them back at me. My crafty little baby has figured out the fake cough, which she is very convincing at. Now she does it in the grocery store, at enrichment activities, etc. People probably think we are the worst, most heartless parents in the world because Andrew and I either laugh at her now or ignore her (which causes her to really get into it!). Don't worry, we got our little actress on film!

Her second trick happened this morning. She was fussing in her chair while I was straightening up the kitchen, so I gave her a pear in her little gadget (It is this amazing little eating tool that looks like a large plastic binky with a handle, but instead of a nipple it has this mesh sack that you can put food in and the baby can chew on to get the food out. You never have to worry about them getting to big of a piece and chocking. It's great!). She took it from me, looked me straight in the eye, thumped it against her tray, then threw it at me with surprising force. Naughty baby!

Now those of you who are parents are laughing right now, and I know this is perfectly normal baby stuff and just the beginning (she hasn't even hit the terrible twos yet!) Parenthood is going to be one crazy (and hilarious) ride!

Blogging, day two. I am proud of my resolve to start blogging since my beautiful and talented friend SarahLynn created this page for me, but last night I got to thinking. Is it a good idea to publish the random thoughts and activities of my days on the world wide web that during my childhood would have gone in a locked and carefully hidden "My Little Pony" journal, and, let's be honest, who would really want to read them? Well, I guess you would since you are in the process right now. In that light, I am going to put a disclaimer to this blog sight: I write this for my own personal entertainment and to fulfill a goal, so read at your own risk. With that said, here it goes...

Who would have thought the day would have come when I, Nicole Jana Burger, would blog! It looks like pigs do fly, it's been a month of Sundays, and that one place has frozen over. I am making a goal of keeping this one entry streak continuing. We'll see how this goes...