Could they be any cuter?

 

In the O.R.

Oh my god...my belly is totally sliced open here. The doctors are still putting me back together. Weird... 

there are no words...

 

Best Quote Ever

Upon meeting and holding his baby brother, Luke, for the first time...

"Look Mama...I'm being very gentle. I'm not even punching or kicking him." 

It's Go Time

Okay people...let's get this show on the road. Think good, painless, healthy thoughts for me...especially Tuesday at 9:30AM.

Wish me luck...


xoxoxo

As the Toe Turns

I think it's getting better...at least a little. We've taped the little piggy who had roast beef to the little piggy who had none...and then taped those two to the little piggy who went wee wee wee all the way home. Seems to help a bit. I guess the point is to keep it still so it can heal.

I've been walking on the side of my foot since I fell...and now at least I can put my foot flat on the ground. Although it takes me, like, ten minutes to get from the living room to the kitchen...and that's a trip I make many, many times during the day. You do what you gotta do...

Also...
I ate four peeps this morning....



And I'm not sure how many malt ball eggs..

This Little Piggy Had None

It's probably broken. Doc says she could send me for x-rays...but all they would do is tape it up, so I may as well just do that myself. It's bruised. It's swollen. It fucking hurts!

Here are more kind words from my family:

• "You'll get some good drugs after they slice you open on Tuesday. You won't even notice your toe then."
• "If you don't hurry up and get up these stairs, I'm going to push you down."
• "You better be nice...or else I'll take your wine and run away with it. And you won't be able to catch me."

For the past few weeks...when people would see me walking around in public...like in a store or something...they would look at me with these pained expressions on their faces. You'd think they'd never seen a pregnant woman before. I can't even describe the looks I'm seeing now that I'm limping too. I've never seen such expressions of pity aimed at me...

Bring Out The Gimp

So...I fell yesterday. It wasn't a big fall. I didn't end up spread eagle on the ground or anything. I was in my driveway when my ankle turned, my foot slipped...and I ended up on the ground. The baby is fine. Everything is fine. Except my toe. Somehow I managed to hurt my left, fourth (the little piggy that had none) toe. It's either sprained or broken or something...because I can barely walk.

I'm a few days away from having a baby...my belly is sticking out to there...and now...I can't put any weight on my left foot. That is pathetic...

Comments from my helpful family:

• "You have to be able to walk. Walking is all you have left."
• "Alan says he feels sorry for you. I think it's funny."
• "Mama, just hop like this...like hopscotch."

**UPDATE: I wouldn't be a true Corral if I didn't acknowledge how funny it is that I fell. It really is.

One More Week

Three weeks ago...I thought I would have to resort to drastic measures to get this kid out of me. Now that his delivery is just a week away...I'm starting to wonder if I'm ready for this. Already? He's coming already? How the hell am I going to take care of TWO kids? I'm not even a grown up...and I'm gonna be the mother of two???

On the other hand...I feel like a cartoon. My belly is so huge...my back so arched...that when I walk around I feel like a caricature of a pregnant woman. It's hilarious...

Whatever. Bring it on.

Hobbies

Things I'm doing since going on maternity leave...and not getting up at 2AM:

1. Taught myself how to knit...and am almost finished making a scarf.
2. Do the New York Times crossword puzzle most every day.
3. Practice sewing with my sewing machine.
4. Keep the house clean. Well...mostly.
5. Sorted through all the crap and clutter...making it surprisingly easy to maintain house.
6. Make breakfast for Rune and Ole every day.
7. Pack lunches for Rune and Ole every day.
8. Spend way too much time (and money) at Target.
9. Spend way too much time on the internet and watching tv.
10. Paint my fingernails new colors several times a week. I can't reach my toenails.
11. Stay up late enough to watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report...on the day they are meant to be seen.

33

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Two More Weeks!

i crossed out the stretchmarks...

Gemini

Sunday:



Monday:

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

 

As if you need more evidence...

...that he's my son. Here's the conversation at the breakfast table this morning.

Rune (in norwegian): "Ole, let's go on a bike ride."
Ole (in english and whining): "Noooooooooo. I don't want to."
Rune (in norwegian): "Why not? What do you want to do?"
Ole (in english and still whining): "I want to go buy something. I want to buy a new toy."
Me (whispering to rune): "That's my boy."
Rune (in english and sounding horrified): "Yes...he sure is."

nesting

I am so out of control.

Today...I cleaned the living room, the dining room, the kitchen...and MY CAR. I even vacuumed my car (with a little help from Rune...thanks honey.) And when I say cleaned...it wasn't my usual rearrange the piles of crap. I actually went through the piles and got rid of them. They're not even hidden in other rooms!

I guess this is what they call nesting...

options...

So...what should I do today?

• I could join my friend for a walk.
• I could take a nap and not get dressed until 4:30 in the afternoon (although that's what i did yesterday).
• I could make a cake.
• And then eat it.
• I could do laundry (who am i kidding?).
• I could continue to nest...organize my house, wash baby clothes etc...
• I could lounge around in my sweats and read magazines (thanks diana!).
• I could knit.
• I could go to Ross.
• Or Target.

crafty corral

So...I'm teaching myself how to knit. Can you believe it?

Rune took this picture of me the other day. It is so Corral...

I look pissed...but I'm not. I'm just concentrating.




Now check this out. Here is a picture of Ole concentrating.

Think we're related???

raindrops keep falling on my head

rain rain go away
come again another day
actually...don't.

"There are a lot of fools in the world."

Man oh man...truer words were never spoken. Thanks Hal!

HAPPY APRIL (FOOLS DAY)!

new date

It may only be one day sooner, but I'll take whatever I can get at the moment. My c-section is officially scheduled for April 25th.

i don't think i'll survive that long though.

bedtime stories

This is Ole's favorite book at the moment. I think it's mine too...

I do not recommend this...

...spending the entire day in bed except for the time when you have to hurry to the toilet to puke your guts out.

To make matter worse...my mom brought brownies AND two different kinds of cake to my house. Thanks mom. Thanks for torturing me.

The good news? I'm feeling all better today and I see cake and brownies in my future! Woo hoo...

oh. my. god.

I just found out...my mother-in-law and father-in-law read this blog.

So...if you can't beat 'em...join 'em.

Ha det bra!

haiku

falling from the sky
food for the flowers and trees
FUCK YOU FUCKING RAIN

he is SO my son...

Check out that look on his face. If that ain't all Corral...then I don't know what is. 

so annoying

I hate that Tanya Roberts commercial. It's for some kind of scam time share in Vegas I think.

It's on the radio a lot...especially during the hourly.

I HATE IT.

YUMMY

I'm eating cake right now. Just thought I'd let you know.

chatting with ole

Here's the scene:

Ole and I...in the car...driving home from school this afternoon. KCBS is on the radio. A Geico commercial comes on.

Ole: "Geico?! I wish I could step on that lizard."
Me: "Why do want to step
on that lizard?"
Ole: "Because I like stepping on lizards."

Okay...a few things:

- He clearly watches too much television. The radio spot had no mention of lizards, but he recognized Geico as the company that uses the gecko (lizard) in the tv spots.
- Should I be concerned that he says he wants to smash small, innocent creatures? Isn't that one of the early signs of a sociopath?
- Instead of being concerned that he's turning into a serial killer...perhaps I should be rewarding his precocious awareness of annoying spokes-animals.

napping strong

I woke up less than two hours ago.

I'm going back to bed now.

To take a nap.

spring?

Today is supposed to be the first day of spring...but it's pouring rain right now! ENOUGH ALREADY. I so enjoyed the sunny, warm(ish) weekend...and now this.

Major bummer...but I do love spring. I only have good feelings about spring. It's been dark and cold and now...the flowers, daylight saving time, my birthday, Ole's birthday...and Luke will also be a spring baby. If you look on the right side over there ---------> you'll see a countdown clock because the doctor scheduled my c-section! It's should be on April 26th, although I'm hoping he'll decide to show up earlier than that. There is a chance that could change, because the nurse told me the hospital could already be booked up for that day. Can you imagine? Anyway...I'll keep you posted. Oh look at that...I managed to totally change the subject without even realizing it. It's hard not to talk about my pregnancy...because it's practically all I think about. I am so sick of it.

Can I complain a bit? My back hurts. I can't breathe. I wake up every couple hours at night because there is no comfortable position in which to sleep. (is that grammatically correct?) I wear the same three outfits all the time because nothing fits right anymore. I'd rather just wear sweatpants and a giant t-shirt anyway...but if I do...that would just be giving up. Let's see...what else? I can't bend over, so if I drop something on the floor...it's just staying there. I can't put on shoes that require me to tie or buckle them because my HUGE belly gets in the way. That's okay though because my feet are hot all the time so I only want to wear flip flops or sandals anyway. Ole can't sit on my lap anymore because there's no more room. He just slides right off. And the boobs. Don't even get me started on the boobs. They're huge and sore. Man oh man. Alright...I'm done now. Thank you for listening.

because it's my blog and i can!

i'm posting the ole preschool report IN IT'S ENTIRETY.


Child’s Name: Ole Iversen
Teacher’s Name: Lynne Hollingsworth

Language Development: Expressive--vocabulary, sentence production, articulation, social usage, expression of feelings and needs. Receptive--understands expressions and directions of teacher and others.

Comments: Ole’s receptive language skills are very good. He is able to point to different body parts, carry out two related commands given at once, knows his colors, and is able to discriminate three to five prepositions. His organizing process tasks--those involving auditory and visual association and memory and closure--are quite good. He is able to associate body parts with their functions, when told the use or action of an object is able to name that object. Conversely, he can tell you the use of an object, when told that specific object’s name. He is able to make analogies, identify a removed object from a group of three, and repeat a sequence of three items.

He has excellent expressive language skills. He is able to use adjective and noun combinations, use pronouns, make negative statements (The man cannot...), form a question, and use plurals. He also knows both the day and month of his birthday. When asked, he is able to describe objects while naming them, using 3 descriptors (use, color, shape, size). He understands the expressions and directions of teachers and peers. He will ask if he needs help getting or finding a toy or an item. He very much enjoys talking about Batman, Spiderman, and his pirate belt with us. He has a wonderful imagination when it comes to making up scenarios for play. He can be quite exuberant and loud when excited! He expresses his feelings quite well. He understands directions and expressions from teachers, but they need to be repeated several times before he acts on them. He frequently says, “What?” when asked to do something. I’m not sure if he’s half tuning out, or doesn’t actually hear us because he is involved in his play.

Motor Development: Gross--large muscle movement, coordination, ability to run, jump, climb, hop, skip throw catch; enjoyment of gross motor play and movement class. Fine--stringing, tearing, cutting, pasting, manipulating puzzles and toys.

Comments: Ole performed most of the tasks on our gross motor assessment. He is able to stand and walk on his tiptoes and walk the length of a balance board. He can stand on one foot and balance momentarily, hop, hop on one foot, 4 to 6 hops, jump, jump in place with feet together, jump forward with both feet together. He can open a door by turning the knob, pedal a trike, and throw a ball in a forward direction. He is very interactive in the Jim Beatty class. He is emerging with doing a heel to toe walk. He is full of energy, very physical and seems to love any rough and tumble type game.

His fine motor skills are completely age appropriate. He has good manipulation (release and grasp of objects) skills. He is able to build a tower of eight 1” cubes and can tear paper. His visual perception skills are good. He is able to stack in order of size and can imitate closing his fist and wiggling his thumb, both right and left hands. He is emerging with being able to imitate spreading of hand and bringing thumb into opposition with each finger, right then left. He has good eye-hand coordination. He can string beads and cut on a both a straight and a curved line line. He uses two hands to hold the scissors and needs help holding the paper. He is also able to copy the drawing of a circle. We don’t see him at the writing table or easel that much, he seems to prefer building with blocks, legos, or playing with the trucks outside. Although he is quite capable of building a lego ship, he prefers to have someone else build it for him. He seems to doubt his ability to build or make things. We are encouraging him to build his own, telling him that his designs are fantastic. He appears to be left-handed and is beginning to write his name. He enjoys playing in the sandbox.

Adaptive Behavior: Self-help skills--dressing, toileting, hand washing, organization of materials and possessions, eating, napping/resting, use of tools. Problem Solving--Application of independent skills, use of resources, helpfulness, initiative, cooperation, common sense application, application of learned concepts (safety, etc.). Cognitive Growth-- recognition of letters, numbers, colors, shapes (in and out of context), ideas, concepts perceptions of the world.

Comments: Ole’s self-help skills are good. He is able to eat with a fork, cut with a knife (we use playdough and plastic knives), pour from a pitcher, remove his jacket, and wash/dry his hands unaided. He understands and stays away from common dangers. He verbalizes toilet needs in reasonable time and cares for himself at the toilet. He is articulating his toileting needs and seems more comfortable using the bathroom here. He tells us his full name is Ole Phillip Iversen. He knows he lives in Berkeley but is not sure of the street name or house number. He can zip and unzip a jacket and needs some help with buttoning.

His cognitive skills are excellent! He is able to match identical familiar objects, name an attribute of an object (texture, shape, size or weight), discriminate between large and small objects, and sort ten objects by size. He is able to count ten objects and answer “How many?” point out small details in pictures, match circles, squares, and triangles, and is able to use several objects to represent other objects and combine them in his play. He is able to imitate building a bridge with three cubes and can match circles, squares, and triangles. He has a keen knowledge of the world around him. He is able to work independently and initiates play with others. He recognizes his name, numbers, colors and shapes. He asks lots of questions and wants to know the why of everything! When told something he doesn’t want to do, or when he wants more of something there is no more of, he is rarely satisfied with the answer or response to his question. He quite possibly is colorblind.

Personal/Social Behavior: Image of self--reflections of self in language, art, and construction, image of self in play, and demonstrations of capability. Social interactions--with peers and teachers, during play and at group times. School Adaptive--separates from parents, greets peers.

Comments: Ole arrives at KNS and leaves his parents without fuss. He has a nice routine with his father when arriving. They’ll converse in Norwegian and we know he is talking about his shirt, or shoes, or belt that he is proud of and wants us to see and comment on! It’s so cute! He greets adults, peers and begins to participate in some activity. He’s a happy kid! He is present and participating in both smaller group settings and larger ones. He’s attentive and tries to use the materials. Initially he will say he cannot do something until he actually tries it. He follows directions and understands the tasks at hand. He is generally quite cooperative and helpful with the teachers. He responds to cues for snack and circle time and stays with the group. He needs and likes lots of praise. He appears to be a competent and creative little boy. He is serious, yet playful, and he is quite thoughtful and loving. He is very interactive with both peers and teachers—always telling or showing us something with great enthusiasm, a warm smile and a friendly greeting. He enjoys playing with Otto, Nicholas, Riley, Bo, Ben, Miles, and sometimes Marshall and Noah. He enjoys imaginative superhero play very, very much! He seems very much excited by the prospect of a little brother! We are excited for both him and his parents!

mind if i gush a little???

we had our first parent/teacher conference yesterday. here are just a few excerpts from the preschool conference report on my brilliant son...

- "He has excellent expressive language skills."
- "He very much enjoys talking about Batman, Spiderman and his pirate belt with (the teachers)."
- "He can be quite exuberant and loud when excited!"
- "He expresses his feelings quite well."
- "He is full of energy, very physical and seems to love any rough and tumble type game."
- "His cognitive skills are excellent!"
- "He has a keen knowledge of the world around him."
- "He asks lots of questions and wants to know the why of everything."
- "When told something he doesn't want to do, or when he wants more of something there is no more of, he is rarely satisfied with the answer or response to his question."
- "He's a happy kid!"
- "He is serious, yet playful, and he is quite thoughtful and loving."
- "He is very interactive with both peers and teachers - always telling or showing something with great enthusiasm, a warm smile and a friendly greeting."
- "He enjoys playing with Otto, Nicholas, Riley, Bo, Ben, Miles and sometimes Marshall and Noah."

i wonder where he gets it...NOT.

that's ole...about to take the big plunge into the half pipe.

it makes my stomach hurt just to look at the picture... 

"don't do anything stupid."

that's what i told rune before he went skiing a couple weekends ago.

you see that skiier (between the arrows) dwarfed by the giant rocks? that's rune...on his first run of the day. DOING SOMETHING STUPID! 

thanks mom.

"Look at your stomach. You act like it's normal to walk around like that..."

overheard in the newsroom

"It's not harassment if you're asking for it."

-tc

oh my god!

How come nobody told me I'm THIS pregnant?! 

angela and the tea cups

Look...it's Luke and me and Dane and Lucia...could those two be any cuter? 

it's not me...it's the dress

Ole: "Mama...why are you wearing that dress?"
Me: "Because I like it."
Ole: "But Mama...that dress is so FAT!"

bathtime fun

his dad was giving him a bath and ole was squeezing that little toy and squirting his dad in the face.

it was as if it was the funniest thing he had ever seen...

i wish i could post the sound of his laugh here too. it was even better than this smile... 

becky...this one's for you! the anchors at the end are HI-larious.

so much funny here...

my second favorite commercial

what? you got a problem with chocolate?

 

i didn't think so...

 

Little Jerry Seinfeld

this might be my favorite headline...EVER.

More suspected fighting cocks found in South County

you can click on the headline to read the story...but does it really matter?

hot feet

My feet are so hot today...and I don't mean in the sexy way. DAMNIT!

so hot...

i wish i was barefoot.

this is god damned funny!

handsomeness (is that a word?)

It was haircut day for the Iversen boys yesterday. I don't think I know two better looking guys.

I know. I know. I'm a sap, but come on...look at them. 

i'm so technologically advanced...

Hey...I'm working on a web page! Check it out...

www.runeandangela.com

climbing the walls...

 

...literally

 

paper folding

I got a page a day origami calendar. It is fun.

So far today...I've made a swan and a cup. Diana made a sailboat...and she's working on a horse's head. (we had to work our way to the fifth...) I can't wait until tomorrow...when I'll get to make a magazine box out of a "beautiful page from a magazine". I will look forward to coming to work every day now...with fun like this ahead of me.

By the end of the year...I'll be a paper folding goddess.

guess what i heard on the radio yesterday?

Cryin' on the corner
Waitin' in the rain
I swear I'll never ever wait again

You gave me a word
But words for you are lies

Darlin' in my wildest dreams
I never thought I'd go
But its time to let you know

I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna turn and leave you here.....

All of my lifeI've been waitin' in the rain
I've been waitin' for a feelin' that never ever came

It feels so close
But always disappears

Darlin' in your wildest dreams
You never had a clue
But its time you got the news

I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna turn and leave you here.....

Darlin' in my wildest dreams
I never thought I'd go
But its time to let you know

I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears

Harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
Oh oh oh oh

Harden my heart
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears

2006