my monday afternoon

Getting this:Took going through this:Which was awkward.Not that I’m complaining. Because I’m not. Pedicures are fabulous.Now they’re just fabulously awkward too:“Here, rub these. They’re swollen and puffy and they hurt. Also, could you perform all of the maintenance on them I haven’t been able to for the last 6 weeks? Thanks.”

saelee oh letter press print at tiny showcase..

500 of these bad larrys by saelee oh are available for a mere 10 clams, peeps. yeppers. it's the first installment of tiny showcase's 'tiny tiny print series'. so get on over and get up and get down and hit "add to cart" to help sing in the inaugural series. help them, help you! RUN!

while you wait for your print to arrive, you can check out saelee's new blog.

and then she was like

The reason of the week that I’m glad I’m not in high school:Not having to care when peers arbitrarily don’t like me.I’m just gunna put it out there – I have a minimum wage, part-time job. It’s kind of my guilty pleasure, my “do something lame and menial before I spend the rest of my life pouring my whole self into teaching”, my last hurrah.This job also happens to be a bunch of 16 year olds first hurrah. This fact certainly keeps the workplace banter interesting. Some of the spectacular things I’ve been asked by (high school) co-workers: “What’s the difference between like a Jew and a Christian?”, “So like Michael Jackson was actually part of the Jackson 5?” or a personal favorite from a 18 year old: “What’s leap day?”But by far the most frequent question I get is “What do you think of So-n-so?”. It doesn’t take a college degree (3.5 weeks!) to know that that is a mine field of a question. I almost universally answer that “I think she seems nice” and that “I enjoy working with her”.Today, however, I received my own results on the “What do you think of Allison” workplace poll. The results: They didn’t like me. When my co-worker told me that, I was astonished at the extent of apathy which I felt. 6 or so young women (according to this self-proclaimed drama authority) weren’t my biggest fans. Why didn’t I care? Well, I knew I had done nothing to wrong them, I had never personally taken a disliking to a single one of them, and I certainly didn’t answer in kind when asked what I thought of any of them. So, I realized, if someone wants to dislike me for having a super hot husband or too many freckles (this is what I had narrowed the possible reasons down to) I give them all the right to, in-as-much as they are aware that I don’t care.“Don’t you want to know why they didn’t like you?” She asked.No, I thought. “I guess, I dunno” I said.“When you first started here, they thought you worked too hard.”That was all the validation and flattery I could handle in that moment! Not only had I not cared initially that I hadn’t won the praise of a handful of girls who don’t know what leap day is, but the reason they hadn’t liked me was for an attribute I am glad to have!And so, on this day – exactly 24 days before I receive my college degree – I officially declare myself victorious over the high school social paradigm! I, like, feel, like, totally untouchable!

the only bump I will be talking about today

That? Is my bump at 15 weeks.This? Was my bump last time at 22 weeks.GAH! SEE?!?! I told you I look embarrassingly pregnant!(I should also apologize for the impossibly messy front hallway behind me in the current picture. It’s winter here in Minnesota, which means we have coats and boots up to our blue Swedish eyeballs… which would explain the coats and the boots, but not DanO’s flip-flops there on the ground. For those I have no excuse.)ANYWAY. I know that you ‘pop’ sooner in subsequent pregnancies, but as of right now I am a good 7 weeks ahead of myself. SEH.VIN. Almost 2 months. More than half a trimester. Nearly 50% of my present gestation duration.Which is kind of ridiculous.To put it another way, I look 150% more pregnant than I am. (Right? Did I do the math correctly on that? It’s never been my strong suit. (Please disregard the fact that I used to teach 6 year olds how to add and subtract, the foundations upon which they would build their entire math knowledge. It’s a disconcerting thought. (PS: I like parentheses.)))

because the native americans used them

Welcome to the O My Family household, Pee-Pee Teepee.OBaby, may you find it in your heart someday to forgive me.Amen.

Always remind me..

(picture taken by the beautiful and talented Mrs. O, herself!)

On my parents last trip to California, they brought back a few wooden word signs that my sister bought us.

They’re cute and displayed right by the front door.

But one says “I love being a mom, but please remind me”

Most days I walk past that sign and chuckle. Some days that sign is enough to collapse me.

Today was one of those days.

Today was one of those days where it felt like some of the very first days.

I’m not going to lie, I am STILL dealing with PPD 2 years later. I’m still not over it.

I STILL have thoughts I shouldn’t have. I praise the Lord that I know the difference between those thoughts and actions, but when I tell Aaron I just can’t do it anymore, I need him to jump in quickly.

Days like this, that sign brings me to my knees. Who needs to be reminded that they love being a parent?? Obviously, me.

So please don’t ever stop reminding me.

Caleb Neelon X MFA Boston..

Photo Credit: Photos by Damon Beale for the Museum of Fine Arts.

Over the past year my friend Caleb Neelon has worked with over 125 kids from all over the city of Boston to create "Signs and Symbols," now on display (through September) at the Museum of Fine Arts. The process involved showing children, ages 7-12,  examples of how people have used text throughout history in all shapes and forms of artwork. From 4,000 year old hieroglyphics to a scrolling LED text piece by Jenny Holzer. Caleb may have had more fun than the kids, when asked he remarked his favorite piece by far is "Who farted."

Caleb will be giving an artist's talk on May 7th. See more information about this colorful and inspiring project here.

Photo Credit: Photos by Damon Beale for the Museum of Fine Arts.

Photo Credit: Photos by Damon Beale for the Museum of Fine Arts.