More answers

Nancy asked: How do Grant and James interact?

Well, to answer that, let me explain that Nancy is James grandma but not my mother-in-law. That clears everything right up, yes? Anyway, she has a vested interest in what Jamesie-boy is up to. The answer is that most of the time those two are together, it's a sure bet they've both eaten a heaping serving of silly topped off with a goofy cherry. They LOOOOOOVE to make each other laugh and will go to great extremes to do so, even though usually all James has to do is stare at Grant for a few seconds and then Grant loses it. No one can make Grant (16 months) laugh as hard as James can (9 years). Nothing makes Grant happier than making his big brother laugh either. They're crazy about each other. That's not to say that Grant doesn't make his brother slightly crazy by getting into his stuff or drawing on his homework or babbling when James is trying to do his spelling, but for the most part, they're pretty delighted with each other. James is a fantastic big brother.

Erin asked: Why can't I be as good of a writer as you? And is it bad to covet talents?

Um...thank you and yes. You've officially lost your place in heaven. As have I for coveting the talents of writers far better than me like DeNae at My Real Life Was Backordered or Debbie at Suburb Sanity who currently would be on "Repeat" if they were a song on my iPod. And besides, Erin, I really like your blog. I think you're a good writer and have no need to covet anyone else's talent because you have plenty of your own.

That Girl from Brazil asked: What is your favorite time of day to exercise, and what do you do with your kids?

If I don't exercise first thing in the morning, there's a 93% chance it won't happen at all, so it's the A.M. for me. James is in school so I don't have to worry about him. What I do with the baby depends on what I'm doing for exercise. If I'm going to the gym, I stick him in the stroller, we walk the three blocks down to 24 Hour Fitness, and he goes in the Kid Care. He loves it because he doesn't get to play with other kids that much. If I'm doing an ocean side walk, I just stick him in the stroller and he cruises with me. Did you know you burn about 20% more calories that way? If I'm doing a DVD or Wii Fit at home, I let him run loose unless he's getting underfoot too much and then I stick him in the Baby Corral until I'm done. Most of these options are probably not so readily available for you with two little ones so close in age and the whole no 24 Hour Fitness thing in Brazil, but I'm super lucky it works out for me.

And I do believe that's it. I'll scour my comment trail from the last week for any questions I missed and take care of them tomorrow, but I do believe you guys have gotten me through a whole week of blogging when I desperately needed the help due to time/sleep deprivation. You guys are the BEST.