Another Get To Know You Thread

[Christi]

Each person who posts has to answer a question and then ask another.


First question: Are there any names you LOVE but would never use for your children?

Now, answer my question and then post another... and so on.

[Hayes]

Yep, lots!

I love names that are virtues, Truth, Honor, etc. but wouldn't use them. Also, lots of nature names, River, Reed, Earth, yeah, I'm weird like that.

When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?

[etorres]

Yep, lots!

I love names that are virtues, Truth, Honor, etc. but wouldn't use them. Also, lots of nature names, River, Reed, Earth, yeah, I'm weird like that.

When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A tornado chaser :)

What will you do when your kids are grown and it's just you and dh?

[guest]

When I was 10, I had plans to become an OB (I had no idea about midwives back then) and I was going to make tons of money and build a big house. In this big house I was going to run an orphanage and convince would-be abortion clients to let their babies live and I was going to take care of these babies and adopt them out to suitable families.

I used to tell everyone I met about my plan, lol!

Names-There are lots of names I think are really cool but would never name my kids. I'm just too tired to think of them right now.

Okay, my question-

How did you meet your dh or SO?

[Amy]

When my kids are grown dh and I want to travel.

and

I met Shan through some mutual friends. He was married and his wife was in the middle of leaving him. I didn't like him much at first, because he was such a sad sack (and rightly so, his wife was leaving him). When she actually moved out he needed a roommate to pay the bills, and my roommates happened to be moving to a house that was too expensive for me. I had 6 months of school left and needed a cheap place so we arranged to be roomies. The roomie arrangement didn't last long- I pretty quickly discovered how awesome he was and started proposing :lol:

My question:
If you could live anywhere in the world, and money was not an issue, where would you live, and what kind of lifestyle would you persue? (loft condo in the sity, farm, suburbs, etc.)

[Christi]

I'll answer both since you guys posted at the same time.

DH and I met in 10th grade English class.

I'd buy a fancy RV and travel.

My question - Are your parents still married?

[MotherMoon]

My parents are still married. 35 years! My DH's parents were married 56 years when they passed away.

I love traveling in an RV.

Oh, question -

What is your favorite local store, not chain?

[etorres]

This is fun!

I met dh in 11th grade AP History.

and

I would live in Washington state in a big, old house and work part-time as a doula. I would spend the rest of my time playing with dd and reading. We would take lots of vacations and cruises :)

and

Mr P.'s deli on Bluff Park

and

parents are married 27 years this december

My question:

What does your dh do for a living?

[willngrace]

So many questions Here goes:

Name I love is Jasmin Eve (went with Gracie, we are done with kidos so..)

When I was 10 I wanted to be an artist.
When the kids are grown and out of the house dh and I want to open a bakery.
I met my husband through the guy I was dating, I liked him better;)
If I could live anywhere I think I would want to live in Ireland for a bit.
Parents are not married (divoreced when I was 7)
Favorite local store would be The Little Cabin in Pell City.
DH is the Economic Development Director for St. Clair County.

My question:
If there was one thing you could change about yourself what would it be?

[herc]

I would be more organized, and more able to stick to a task.

What is your favorite food?

[Erin]

My favorite food real food is most likely Seafood. Non-real food is Chocolate.
My DH is a web based computer programmer.
I met my DH on E-Harmony.
My parents will have been married 35 years on the 18th of this month.
When the kids are grown, we would like to travel.
If I could live anywhere, I think it would be England living in a castle richly. There is so much history.
My favorite non-chain store is .... well, I don't know that I have one here. In FL it would be Peterbrooke chocolate.
I wanted to be a secretary when I grew up.

My question...

How many siblings do you have and how are you different?

[guest]

I have 2 siblings. Younger brother, older sister. my sister and I are both mamas and have that in common but have different personalities and style and temperment. I'm different from both because I'm a weirdo!!! haha. My brother is somewhat of a 26yr old, never had a job, dropped out of college, married and divorced in the same year, been in rehab, shall i continue.

Ok, I want to answer all the questions I can remember

My favorite name that I don't know if I could use is...Tallulah, always loved it but can't see myself using it.

My hubby and I were brought together by fate. He lived next door to me (same house I'm in now) and I was friends with his brother. His brother coersed him out of the house one night to go out with us and we hit it off immediately. Prior to meeting him I didn't like him because he stole my parking space from time to time. I live in Southside and we are very crazy around here about our parking spaces!

My parents are married, though they divorced when i was in 7th grade and remarried when i was in high school. Personally. they should have never remarried!

When i was 10 I believe i wanted to be just what i am....A mama and a teacher!



Hubby and I have always planned to retire in Jamaica. Buy some land (wish we had the money to do it now) and live in the heat. We love it there and try to go visit every year but living there would be a dream come true.

Favorite food...Sushi...from my favorite restuarant...Surin West

My husband owes his own business...Pet Stop underground fencing...Those lovely underground fences that keep your dog (or cat ) in the yard! His brand REALLY works unlike some of the over the counter ones.


Ok...Did I get them all
My question....
Are you done? How many kids do you have and do you plan to have more?

[Amanda]

Here goes..quite a list going now...
I have 1 kid, want 4 more.
DH is a "software applications analyst" (computer programmer) at a hospital.
When I was 10 I wanted to be a pediatrician.
We wanna travel all over the world when we are older.
We would LOVE to live in Ireland, that's where we went on honeymoon. But I would like to be close to my parents who have been married 34 years next month, so we would probably end up in the southeast in a big farm house with our own animals and garden etc.
I met DH at a bar..his band was playing and I loved 'em.
I have 2 brothers..one 18 mos older and one 18 mos younger. My older is the black sheep of the family...got kicked out of my parents house for growing shrooms in their basement..I'm the only family member he talks to. My younger brother is a super smart weirdo.

[bearsmomma]

But i am brand new so maybe i am missing something...also, we are just looking into alabama- we live in fl. most of dh family has relocated to alabama after Katrina. so we are just beginning to check it out and this seemed a good place to start.
so i will answer a question i did see?....i am an only child, an adopted ophan, so dont know if i have any siblings. dont even know what my actual bday is.
my question, if u have/dont have siblings, how does it affect your decision on how many children to have? we plan to have just my son, i liked being an only, hubby has a younger brother and did not like it.

[dakarimom5]

I'll take that question....I'm an only and I grew up so lonely. Sure there were good things about it, like being able to sit with the adults during get togethers but I never really knew how to play with other children and share...still not one of my strong points. I always wanted a big family and I guess with 5 children I have it!! My DH tells me that I don't understand the sib relationship because I'm an only...I think I just don't understand the need for our boys to be wild all the time.

My question..Who, if anyone, made the biggest impact on the way you parent?

[granolamommy]

Biggest impact on my parenting:
My best friends Kym (GentleOceanWind) and Steph (Ardenzmom) as well as my Grandmother and Mother (both in positive and negative ways):hbeat:
Siblings:
I have 1 brother who is 11 years older than me (mom had 2 miscarrages & breast cancer before I was born). Although I have a brother I grew up lonely because he married when I was 6. We are different in the fact that we are at very different stages of life. I have a 6,4, and 1 year old. He has a 26 and 19 year old, and an 8, & 6 year old grandchildren! So, my great niece and nephew are almost the same ages of two of my children! We do have the same core values though!
Children:
Since I felt much like and only child I wanted my children to be close and to have more than one other sibling. We currently have 3, and I would LOVE to have 1 more, but dh has me pretty convinced that we are through having children. Notice I said "pretty convinced" not completely convinced.:neener:
Names:
I've always loved the names Hannah and Shannon. But since my last name is Shannon those just won't work for us. Hmmm... Hannah Shannon..aaa no!
And Shannon Shannon, do I even have to say it?
DH:
We met my first day of high school outside for orientation (I was a freshman, he was a new student and a junior). I fell in love immediately (for the first time:lovies: ) I knew we would one day get married and have kids. After several months of being friends he had broken up with his long time girlfriend, and asked me to be his girlfriend right there in front of her and all her friends!:eek: we've been togher for 20 years this May 22 and married for 14 years!:confetti: (14 was how old I was when we started "dating", I couldn't go out on a date alone till I was 16!)
He is a computer systems analyst for Southern Progress, publishers of Southern Living Oxmoore House, etc
When the kids are grown we'd like to travel the world, but still take our grown kids and grandkids with us! Is that wierd? :rofl:
Me:
When I was ten, and throughout my life, I ONLY wanted to be a Veterinarian. Halfway through pre-med school I FINALLY relented this dream because I was too allergic to pretty much ever species of animal. If not to them, then their environment (such as a large animal practice where I'd work on horses and such in a barn where I can't spend 2 minutes due to being allergic to the hay!). My last resprt was marine biology, which I couldn't practice here in my beloved Birmingham area.
My parents are still happily married for 45 years, and dh's for 38 years.:couple:
My favorite food is Chinese, specifically Chichen with Broccoli.
One thing I'd like to change about myself is my height. At 5'2" I feel very vertically challenged many times.:bounce: <- That's me trying to get stuff above the second shelf in my cabinets! Second would be becoming more organized by nature!
My favorite local store...:scratch: probably the Big Saver Thrift Store in Roebuck! We have a rule, I we go there we have to take a bag of stuff to drop off! Another favorite is "Our New Baby" in Dothan, AL (not local to me , but we visit there often)
If I could live anywhere it would be on a big patch of farm land still in the B'ham or surrounding areas, and I'd love to grow organic veggies and plants to sell. I'd also like to have enough land around us that my parents and dh's parents, and any other close family who wanted to could have a home near us. It would be the Shannon Commune!! :muahaha:

Whew! I think that's all!

My question:

What do you feel or wish you could/should change in order to make yourself a better parent?

[heidi_m]

Wow! I don't think I can keep track of all the questions but I will try to answer the ones I remember... sorry, they won't be in any kind of order!

When I was 10, I wanted to be a television news anchor. :rofl:

My parents are still married, 39 years this year. :highfive:

My husband and I met at Church; I knew the second I saw him that he was why I was there. :smooch:

I am the oldest of three; I have two younger brothers. My mom is the oldest of eight; my dad is fourth of five; DH is second of four. We have three and will likely have two more, but at least one. My mom said when her parents died she was SO grateful to have siblings to share that grief with, and she can't imagine being the only person to have been her parents' child and have shared all that family stuff with, and I've always remembered her saying that.

I love the names Lachlan and Declan, but we both think they would sound pretty goofy with our last name, McFarland! :crazy:

When the kids are gone, we'd like to travel all over, and do some humanitarian service and missionary work somewhere too.

If we could live anywhere, it would be in my grandparents' old house (three stories, pool, library, land, rural farm area) with horses and goats and dogs and cats, and we'd have all the family holiday gatherings at our house. I miss them! :hbeat:

My DH is in graduate school.

My favorite food is Mexican, but fondue runs a close second, and I love spicy food like Thai and Indian, too... ok, basically I just love food!

If I could change one thing about my parenting it would be my tendency to forget to be joyful with my precious little ones! My mom was probably my biggest influence on my parenting, for good and bad.


And if anyone can handle one more question, here is mine: Do you get along with your in-laws?

[ebutterfly782]

Let's see if I can remember them all:

1) Names that you like and would never use? Xavier

2) What did I want to be when I was 10? A pediatrician, I then discovered I hated memorizing things.

3) When it is just DH & I? We will farm. DH will start as soon as he retires, 6 years.

4) How did you meet DH/ SO? I was a waitress at a rest that he went to eat at all the time. He asked for my number and the rest is history!

5) Could live anywhere? I would have a house on the beach (SC) and one in the mountains (TN). That way I would have somewhere to go when they are calling for a hurricane. Not big on foreign countries.

6) Parents still married? Yep... 27 years I believe

7) Fav local store? Ummm.... Deb's Bookstore. She sells used books and buys your old ones.

8) DH's living? He works with a natural gas company. He locates lines for when people have to dig near them.

9) 1 thing to change? I wish I could be more patient.

10) Fav food? Bread... Any form (except sweet)

11) Siblings and differences? 1 brother (9 years older than I) He is a big spender, I'm a saver. He wanted 1 child. I want 3.

12) Kids? I want 1 more. DH doesn't right now though. I'm working on it though!

13) Parenting skills? I guess my parents. They weren't very affectionate, so I learned to not do that.

14) Change to be a better parent? Patience again...

15) In-Laws? Yep, pretty good


My question now... Can you do it? (I had 2 tabs in firefox going. :) )

Okay... How are your kids different, if you have more than 1?

[boscopup]

Copying and pasting Kym's question list and replacing with my answers, since I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago. ;)

1) Names that you like and would never use?
Some of the earthy type names I like but wouldn't use (we're pretty traditional with names). And I really like the name Jarod for a boy, but DH vetoed that when we were thinking of names for baby #1. Oh well. Joshua fits him well anyway. :)

2) What did I want to be when I was 10?
Veterinarian... I later realized that wasn't a good choice for me because I can't stand watching needles go into the skin or watching skin get cut. I even fainted when my puppy got a painful shot at age 9 (the vet had said it would hurt for a bit).

3) When it is just DH & I?
Well, we plan to stay here and raise various farm animals. We already have goats, and I'd love to get some cows and horses too. We want to buy the land nextdoor to us as well - it's about 30 acres and currently has cattle on it (the owners are elderly). And I'd probably also want to have more dogs, since I'd actually have time to train them again.

4) How did you meet DH/ SO?
We met in the Madison Community Band. He played tuba, and I played trombone. A couple trumpet players kind of pushed us together, as they'd been conspiring and one told DH that I wasn't seeing anyone and that he should go talk to me, so he did! We clicked right away. :hbeat:

5) Could live anywhere?
I'm actually quite happy where I am, although if I were to live anywhere else, it'd be in Alberta. I spent 2 years in Edmonton, and it was wonderful.

6) Parents still married?
Yes, I think it's been 39 years or maybe will be this June? I'm not sure. My sister is going to be 37 this year, and I know they'd been married a couple years before she came along.
DH's parents have been married 36 years... DH was a honeymoon baby.

7) Fav local store?
Saddlerack feed store in Elkmont - really nice folks, they have animals outside that Joshua can look at, and they have free range eggs for $1.50/dozen (they were $1/dozen last year - what a steal!).

8) DH's living?
Software developer

9) 1 thing to change?
I'd be a better housekeeper.

10) Fav food?
CHOCOLATE :)

11) Siblings and differences?
I have a sister who is 7 years older than me. She's a big reader and into things like folk dance and lots of crafts. While I do sew (and really enjoy it!), I'm not as much into most of the things she does. And I never was big into reading much. Sis and I are alot closer now, and we e-mail each other alot.
I have a brother who is 5 years older than me. I was really alot like him in high school - he was heavy metal dude with long hair and into public mayhem. :muahaha: He went to school and *really* settled down. Now he's more of a socialist (borderline communist) history professor... WAAAAAAY different from me (I'm very conservative and very much not the academic type). Although we still get along great. :) He married a great girl and they are both professors up in Ontario, and they have a 1 year old boy. So we enjoy spending time with my brother and his family, even with the widely differing political views. And they are receptive to the crunchy things that I pass along, although I still haven't gotten them cloth diapering yet. They were interested, but didn't have a washer/dryer until recently.

12) Kids?
We originally agreed to 2. DH didn't want to be outnumbered, but he did want baby #1 to have a sibling, as he was an only and didn't like it. I wanted 3, and finally talked him into #3 while still preggo with #2. I really wouldn't mind 4, especially since I LOVE natural childbirth, but I'm thinking it will probably end up being 3.

13) Biggest parenting influences?
I think my biggest influences have been some parents at church who have college aged kids that are just the best kids around. My own parents are also a good influence, as I think they raised 3 great kids. ;)

14) Change to be a better parent?
Need to spend less time on the computer <insert bag over head smiley here>

15) In-Laws?
We get along well. MIL is very... "active" (hyper?), so I have to take her in short bursts. But she is the sweetest woman around, and she loves me, so that helps. ;) FIL is very quiet and doesn't like to get out of the house much. He's nice though.

16) How are your kids different, if you have more than 1?
Well, the youngest is not even 5 months yet, so it's kind of hard to tell at this stage, but... Aaron doesn't nurse as often as Joshua did and also doesn't like to comfort nurse (weird!). He's quick on and off, get down to business type baby. He also doesn't like to be held facing me - he wants to face out (love my wrap!). Joshua used to be a snuggle bug, doing the upright tummy-to-tummy carry in the sling all the time. Joshua spent 4 weeks in the NICU (29 weeker preemie) not being able to be held much, so I think he kind of compensated for it when he came home (or MOM was compensating because I could finally hold my baby!!!). Aaron enjoys being held for a while, but eventually he does better laying on the floor or in the bouncy chair. Aaron also goes to sleep easier than Joshua did... Joshua nursed to sleep, but Aaron tends to wake up after nursing and then go to sleep after I lay him down wide-eyed. Both kids have always been great sleepers. I think Aaron has been a bit quieter of a baby, although that's starting to change... he was happy squealing through church last Sunday evening.

Ok, if you can handle another question... What's your ideal living environment - city slicker or country gal? :)

[lovingfive]

OH man, I'm going to cheat too and copy the list of questions.

1) Names that you like and would never use?
noah, patty, nicole
2) What did I want to be when I was 10?
I wanted to be a nurse when I was 10.
3) When it is just DH & I?
When it's just us we would like to travel and take lots of mission trips with the teens from church.
4) How did you meet DH/ SO?
Highschool

5) Could live anywhere?
New Hampshire

6) Parents still married?
My dad died when I was 14 and they were married 20 years then.

7) Fav local store?
Natural Gourmet
8) DH's living?
Banker

9) 1 thing to change?
Be more patient with the kids

10) Fav food?
CHOCOLATE

11) Siblings and differences?
I have one sister who is 2 years older then me. We're really not that different.
12) Kids?
We have 4 and dh is so FINISHED :(
13) Biggest parenting influences?
my parents and my pastor and his wife
14) Change to be a better parent?
Stop and listen more
15) In-Laws?
No comment
16) How are your kids different, if you have more than 1?
My oldest is a boy and the strong leader type. Emily is my oldest girl and bossy, mommy type. Clean and neat is her game. Kate is my creative free spirit and plays and makes up stories all the time. And Becca is my messy impatient youngest. She's impatient cause she knows there is 5 other people in this house that should service her every need.
Ok, if you can handle another question... What's your ideal living environment - city slicker or country gal? COUNTRY GAL
I'd love not to have neighbors. Not that I don't love my neighbors but the country would be lovely.

My question: Are you an organ donor?
__________________

[MadandERsMomma]

Let me see if I can keep up.
Names: Jade, America, Marley, Machayla, Rosemary (close), Ireland, Faith, I could keep going for hours. I love names!!
I wanted to be a mom and a teacher- DONE!

I want to travel and see the world (USA done by motorhome)

I met him through his best friend which I met through Steph (she is 3 years younger). I was dating his BF for three years. I had a crush on DH for over 6 months before I ever acted on it and left the old one. Steph too had a crush on my DH. hehe I have to say he is quite a catch and easy on the eyes!!!

I would live here in B'ham but spend as much time as I could in Jamaica in my second home (hut). We would be there from Nov till Jan, then return again in the summer. We also would have to make frequent trips to our Chalet in Beaver Creek for boarding. Can you tell I have thought about this many times before!!

Parents are remarried to each other. I know wierd. They were divorced a total of four years but dated for two of those while I was in college and Steph was in high school. Our parents defintely have issues!!

Rhapsody is the best store ever.... I love it!

P is a painter (house painter)

I would love to be skinny, I mean a size two!!!

CHOCOLATE!!!!! and chips and salsa

My turn.............
Who do you admire or look up to? NOT FAMILY!

[anneboyd]

OK -- so do I answer all these? Here goes...

Names I love are Zoe, Emerson, Lili and a bunch more I can't think of right now.
When I was 10 I wanted to be a poet.
When the kids are grown and out of the house dh and I want to be together.
I met my husband at a Mexican restaurant; I was drinking $1 beers at the bar; he was applying for a job. I saw him at the chip bin the next day.
If I could live anywhere I'd pick rural Virginia or Mexico Beach, FL.
Parents... is this a noun or a verb? I was given up by my first parents, given back to an adoption agency by the next set and adopted by the ones who raised me a few months later.
Favorite local store would be O'Henry's in Homewood.
DH is a tax manager for a local bank.
If there was one thing you could change about yourself what would it be?
I have ZERO self confidence, I'd believe in myself.

My question: What ONE trait do you value most in a person? What ONE trait drives you nuts?

(My answer: I value intelligence & forthrightness (I know that's two but...) People who don't think things through and keep making dumb mistakes drive me nuts. )

[lisawheeler]

Names I love are but wouldn't use for my own children are Shalom, Salem, Finn.
When I was 10 I wanted to be a mother.
When the kids are grown and out of the house dh and I want to audit classes together at the closest college.
I met my husband at ... we never met. We're both from Montgomery and went to Birmingham-Southern, never really hung out but knew some of the same folks, just always knew of each other. We got better acquainted when I bought my condo and someone brought him along to help me move!
If I could live anywhere I'd pick Charleston, SC. Or Fiesole Italy!
Parents have been married for 36(?) years
Favorite local store is Whole Foods.
DH is a nephrology fellow.
If there was one thing you could change about yourself what would it be?More patience. That, or thinner thighs.
What ONE trait do you value most in a person? What ONE trait drives you nuts? Hey, that's 2 questions! I value someone who will make time for me. I am driven nuts when someone breaks my confidence.
What is something that you wish you were better at? I wish I were a better cook. No, I wish that I liked to cook. Then I'd probably be better at it.

[Lilymama]

Sandwiches - simple and versatile

What is the worst movie you've ever seen?