Your Questions Answered

UPDATED

Here are my answers to the meme I posted last week. Thanks for playing, ladies!

Dena asked:

1. How would your friends/family describe you?
People who don’t know me well think I’m “hard to read” and perhaps a snob. I’m one of those misunderstood shy people. But those who know me, I think, see me as loyal, straightforward, unconventional, friendly, diplomatic, driven, intelligent, conservative, funny, into health and fitness, and into music (contemporary rock and R&B, mostly). My three siblings probably see me as a little spoiled, too. I’m the baby of the family, and I've had it good.

2. What do you consider your best physical feature?
My health. Other than that, my eyes are O.K. And my small waist.

3. What do you consider your best personality trait?
Probably that I'm diplomatic. It’s a Libra thing. The results don't always show it, but I do usually have diplomatic intentions, and that's what matters most, isn't it? Our intentions? It helps me in political discussions, to understand the issue and to communicate with people who I disagree with. I tend not to hold grudges. On dictionary.com, it defines "diplomatic" as "skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or people." It's not that I'm a sensitive person, because I'm not. In fact, a lot of the emotional "crap" of life goes right over my head. So ignorance is bliss I guess. Shannon's turn:

1. Describe yourself as a teenager.
Overweight, smoker, looking to party, looking for a boyfriend but not ready for intimacy -- emotional or otherwise, introverted, hated the way I looked, had no idea how to dress, sedentary, insecure -- afraid of everyone and everything. Boy, do I miss those days. Yeah.

2. Do you think you are a good example to your children? Or are you a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do Mom?
I try to be a good example, but as a recovering perfectionist, I have to admit to myself that my kids will see me warts and all. My biggest problem is yelling. Sometimes, I yell before I even realize I’m going to do it. Not a shining mommy moment. And, yes, I then tell them to use their "indoor voice."

3. What do you think are the main differences in raising boys vs. raising girls? Do you have any double standards?
So far, the main differences are the clothes: boys' have footballs and tractors on them and girls' have butterflies and flowers. But our girl has been here just two months, so I’m sure more differences will appear. As far as double standards, not really. Although I bet my husband does. He tends to want to be strict with the boys; I will enjoy seeing him become a marshmallow with his little girl.

One more thing about going from two to three children. Since we're already so busy with the boys, having Ava doesn't seem like such a hardship like it did with the first two. It's more of treat to have a little baby to tickle and make funny faces at, in between giving time outs and playing Hungry Hippo.

And last but not least, Halloween Lover :

1. What is the biggest change from pre-kids to post-kids? I know your first was a while ago, but I still want to know! How about from 2 to 3 kids?
The biggest change is that I can’t spend several hours a week working out, writing, cooking, reading, eating out and shopping like I used to. Most days, I can’t spend any hours doing these things. Going from two to three kids so far has been a bit easier than I thought. But Brian and I are outnumbered now, a fact that strikes fear in our hearts. Plus, my God, the laundry!

2. Does your family know about your blog? (this would influence what questions I'd ask too)
No, and my friends don't either. The one notable exception is my mom, but I don't hide anything from her anyway. When I started my blog, I hoped to become a DotMom. I knew if I did become a DotMom, I would put it on my resume. And, I knew that DotMoms would link back to my site. So I always wanted to keep it professional. I write it as if all my friends and family were reading. But if I knew friends and family really were reading, I might become self-concious, so I keep my mouth shut.

3. What is your favorite "Me" thing to do? A perfectly selfish day, lets say.
Ah, the fantasy:
Sleep late. Drink coffee while I check email and a few blogs. Hit a few yard sales or antique dealers. Go to the bookstore, gather some books and sit in the cafe, eating a chocolate croissant and drinking an oversized coffee concoction. Come home, go for a walk, take a shower, maybe do 15 minutes of decluttering, read for a while. Take a nap. Cook a complicated, delicious dinner to share with my husband while listening to some choice music, or order in from our favorite Chinese or Thai place. Watch a movie, have a few beers, stay up too late. Yep, that sounds just perfect!

Andrea didn't ask a question but wondered in another post if I took pictures of Ben's first day of Kindergarten. Here are two of my favorites: