Some thngs I've learned recently . . .

The past couple of weeks have been full of "learning experiences" for me, so I thought I'd share some of the more interesting ones!

• Part of President Obama's stimulus package includes money to remove all of the kilometer signs along the highway by us. Yes, we do live along the only Interstate in the country that has kilometer markers - it was part of some experiment a while ago to see if it would work better than using miles like the rest of the country. For some reason it didn't take off - go figure! Not too long ago they went through and added mile marker signs that were turned at a funny angle, so that they would be there but not too distracting and interfere with the kilometer signs. So now Arizona has received federal money to take out the kilometer signs and rotate the mile marker signs. I'm so pleased to see our tax dollars being put to good use! (The other sad part of the story is that this article made the front page of our local paper 2 weeks ago! It must have been a slow news day!)
  
  
• I must be a bad mom because I think I've been starving my poor child! Tanner had his 9 month check up two weeks ago, and in the 3 months since his last check-up he's only grown 1 inch and he lost a pound. Nate and I are so worried about over feeding him (he'd eat himself sick at every meal if we'd let him), which tends to aggravate his spitting, that we cut him off before he acts full. Apparently we've been underfeeding him. So now I've got 3 weeks (we're down to one week!) to put weight on him or the doctor is going to start him on acid-reflux medication. But now I'm worried I'm over feeding him - in just 2 days he's starting to put on quite a belly! I just don't think I'm ever going to win this one!
  
  
• On a somewhat related note, I've discovered that blueberry yogurt comes back up a kind of a turquoise color, as my carpet, tile and clothes can attest to. Everything else seems to come back up the same color it went down.
  
  
• A whole bottle of mouthwash will not stain your carpet, even if you let it soak in for 5 hours while you take your kids to the zoo. Nate knew the day was off to a good start for us when I I called him at work at 8:30 am to ask him what he thought about me not cleaning the carpet right away since we were already late leaving to meet some friends at the zoo. He just laughed. All I know is, thank heavens for steam cleaners! Oh, and by the way, in case you are wondering - that was Tanner, not Kiersten, who got in the mouthwash and spilled a brand new bottle!
  
  
• I think my least favorite word in the English language (as other Mom's of 3-year-olds have said!) is the word, "why." "Why mom?" "Why is that a dog?" "Why is her name Michelle?" "Why do I have to have to have quiet time every day?" I especially want to scream when I'm on my 10th "why" question in a row, and we're going no where but in circles!
  

I think there was more, but I can't remember what else I was going to share. It must be real important, right? :)