Winter is here! Nice and cold today, it's after noon and still only in the 40s.
We had a nice, low-key weekend - spent yesterday going to some Open Houses to check out what's for sale in the neighborhood. Not that we're selling, but more to get ideas for what we can do with our house. We're meeting with yet another general contractor/builder tomorrow morning, and hopefully he'll be "the one." Finder a builder is like finding a husband in a lot of ways. Except I don't care if my builder has a good sense of humor and nice eyes.
This is also Catholic Schools Week so there is some type of celebration at D's school every day. Today was Have Lunch With Your Kid day, so we went and everyone got to see what an experience eating with Baby A is. He just doesn't like to sit still and hates in when I try to eat. Finally, one of the other moms took him so I could wolf down my burger. It's kind of a shame, because we were supposed to be there for D, but I hope she'll be happy that I was there anyway. Wednesday is Grandparents Day and all of the grandparents are going to be there - pretty cool! They have a fun day planned, starting with Mass in the morning and then a reception and tour of the school. It should be fun for D and I'm going to stay home with A so that she can have a day with her grandparents all to herself.
I think A is getting ready to pop another tooth, at least I hope he is, because that would be the best explanation as to why he is acting like a complete psychopath. Waking up 2-3 times at night, screaming when I put him down for "naps", fussy, fussy, fussy. Chewing and drooling and his cute little face is all chapped. Poor little guy. Of course, I'm not quite as sympathetic as I'd like to be since I've been up since 3:00 a.m., but I try.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Slow news day
Not much happening right now. Baby A has his six-month well-baby check up this morning, I actually have to wake him up from his nap [frown] in just a few minutes. We've been practicing sitting up and playing "Wheels on the Bus" and "Patty-cake" and there are some days where I'm so happy and others where it's kinda mind-numbing and it's hard for me to get excited. The perils of being a SAHM.
Last night D had me stretched to the breaking point. It was pouring rain so we couldn't go outside so she got busy glueing pom-poms onto popsicle sticks. I was trying to make dinner and entertain A, and she kept waving these crazy decorated popsicle sticks in my face, asking if they looked like birds or fish tails or something and I was half-answering in a distracted way because I was, well, distracted and finally she just yelled "You're not listening to me!" It made me feel so bad, and like a bad mom, for not taking three seconds to check out her artwork and say, "Yeah, that DOES look like a fish tail, nice job!" which is all she needed to make her happy but instead she felt ignored. Then at dinner she asked me why I spend all my time playing with A and never with her anymore. Good thing we all have such bad short-term memories around here and we wake up every morning pretty much fine and happy and loving each other and totally forgiven for whatever happened the day before.
Last night D had me stretched to the breaking point. It was pouring rain so we couldn't go outside so she got busy glueing pom-poms onto popsicle sticks. I was trying to make dinner and entertain A, and she kept waving these crazy decorated popsicle sticks in my face, asking if they looked like birds or fish tails or something and I was half-answering in a distracted way because I was, well, distracted and finally she just yelled "You're not listening to me!" It made me feel so bad, and like a bad mom, for not taking three seconds to check out her artwork and say, "Yeah, that DOES look like a fish tail, nice job!" which is all she needed to make her happy but instead she felt ignored. Then at dinner she asked me why I spend all my time playing with A and never with her anymore. Good thing we all have such bad short-term memories around here and we wake up every morning pretty much fine and happy and loving each other and totally forgiven for whatever happened the day before.
Friday, January 19, 2007
A first
Baby A has his first little tooth! All the signs have been there... fussiness, not napping, spitting up, biting me while nursing.... but I didn't quite catch them. So this morning we were playing and he gave me a cheeky little smile and there it was! He looks so grown up.
I've got a crapload of laundry to do this morning and then A & I are off to find onesies that fit. He's going to have to go with at least 12 month ones to fit around his big baby legs. D is at school all day today, but I promised her I'd do a science project after school, so I better prep for that too.
BTW, hands up if you watched "Scrubs" last night. They did a musical show and it was hilarious. We also watched "The Office" and we (I) were most pleased to see Jim & Pam reconnecting. I'm not too involved with my TV set, am I?
I've got a crapload of laundry to do this morning and then A & I are off to find onesies that fit. He's going to have to go with at least 12 month ones to fit around his big baby legs. D is at school all day today, but I promised her I'd do a science project after school, so I better prep for that too.
BTW, hands up if you watched "Scrubs" last night. They did a musical show and it was hilarious. We also watched "The Office" and we (I) were most pleased to see Jim & Pam reconnecting. I'm not too involved with my TV set, am I?
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
M is for...
Mudpie, which was what D's teacher had them making yesterday at school. Guess what? They even got to bring their project home with them. So yesterday, thanks in part to Ms. W. and in part to the 80 degree weather, we made mudpies all afternoon in our "yard." Despite having a huge lot, we have very little usable yard space, so D & I were crammed onto a small paved area in back of the house and Baby A had to be content with lying on a towel on a weedy patch. Our yard is utterly useless, a travesty, a shame, a waste of space, and a constant visible reminder that M & I simply cannot make decisions when it comes to major home improvement projects (unless something is broken, leaking or smoking). We should have had this place sodded, fenced and patio-d years ago. But no. Now I could kick myself, ourselves, because we desperately need a place to play and sit outside with the kids that is marginally more comfortable than crouching on an ancient 3 x 3 concrete pad that used to hold the boiler. So, I drew up some plans and maybe I can get M to agree to it before Easter when our whole family comes to visit. I'm even willing to forgo a pool (too much hassle, too much upkeep, too much of a frog attractor) in favor of a covered porch area and a nice, mulched area for a playset and D's sandbox. With such nice weather it's a real shame not to be able to use your own yard. We can't even let the Dog out there because she comes back in covered with weeds, dirt and bites. We might as well live in a condo.
And surprise, surprise... A just woke up from his 20 minute morning nap.
And surprise, surprise... A just woke up from his 20 minute morning nap.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Manic Monday
So Mondays are my designated day to clean up, straighten up, put everything away from the weekend. I'm hampered a bit today by D being home from school for the MLK holiday, but will do my best.
Right now, I'm trying to get her to talk quietly since we're in the art room/office, which is right next to the bedroom where Baby A is trying to take his 25 minute morning nap. D, meanwhile, is doing mazes and speaking in, what seems to me, an unnaturally loud voice. While I repeatedly try to get her to speak softly. I think it's all really a ploy to get me to turn on the TV, but I swear I'd rather wake up the baby than have her sit in front of that thing all morning. I don't mind her watching a few shows - Curious George, The Upside Down Show, Little Einsteins, Backyardigans - but I'm also trying to encourage her to play by herself, use her imagination, etc. Kinda hard to do when the TV is on.
We had a nice weekend here. Saturday M & I went out for our first real restaurant dinner alone since the baby was born. We went to Pacific Wave and it was awesome. Sunday we had a nice Family Day and I made a really excellent Chicken Pot Pie for supper. Since I'm still in my PJs at 10:30 a.m. I guess I'm feeling relaxed. I better go try to get a shower before A wakes up.
Right now, I'm trying to get her to talk quietly since we're in the art room/office, which is right next to the bedroom where Baby A is trying to take his 25 minute morning nap. D, meanwhile, is doing mazes and speaking in, what seems to me, an unnaturally loud voice. While I repeatedly try to get her to speak softly. I think it's all really a ploy to get me to turn on the TV, but I swear I'd rather wake up the baby than have her sit in front of that thing all morning. I don't mind her watching a few shows - Curious George, The Upside Down Show, Little Einsteins, Backyardigans - but I'm also trying to encourage her to play by herself, use her imagination, etc. Kinda hard to do when the TV is on.
We had a nice weekend here. Saturday M & I went out for our first real restaurant dinner alone since the baby was born. We went to Pacific Wave and it was awesome. Sunday we had a nice Family Day and I made a really excellent Chicken Pot Pie for supper. Since I'm still in my PJs at 10:30 a.m. I guess I'm feeling relaxed. I better go try to get a shower before A wakes up.
Friday, January 12, 2007
And you thought you knew me
Some little known (and well-known) factoids about us...
1) We love to read. I average 5 books a month (when not caring for an infant). M can read 2-4. I'm reading Little House on the Prairie to D right now. Baby A likes books too - but mostly just to chew on.
2) I have an obsession with sour cream. I see many foods as mere vehicles for the consumption of sour cream.
3) I can, and will, eat cake for breakfast. I'm eating a piece of M's birthday cake right now!
4) I especially like cakes made with sour cream.
5) Baby A's favorite song is "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." I make funny faces for him during the "bring back..." part.
6) D's favorite song is "Hush Little Baby." I sing it to her every night at bedtime.
7) Both M & D hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
8) I buy organic milk (BGH scares me).
9) I'm terrified of frogs and lizards. Not too much else.
10) M & D are scared of spiders and spider-webs. We saw one of these once on a walk and D almost passed out from fright. I'm sympathetic because if it had been a frog in our path M would've had to carry me.
11) I can say the alphabet backward almost as fast as I can forward.
12) I think I photograph better from my right side.
13) I'm still in love with my husband.
14) My original college roommate is still one of my best and closest friends.
15) Someone at M's old law firm asked if D's hair was a wig. I hope because she had unusally beautiful, curly hair for a child, not because it looked like plastic.
16) D started talking when she was about 10 months old.
17) I try really hard not to compare D & A. I know they will develop on their own timetable. But is it weird he can't sit up yet?!
18) I am interrupted while blogging 9-out-of-10 times. A is crying for me right now.
19) D's favorite food is pasta.
20) We've been talking about trading in the MomMobile for something a little larger. I want a minivan, although the new Saturn Outlook is very nice too.
1) We love to read. I average 5 books a month (when not caring for an infant). M can read 2-4. I'm reading Little House on the Prairie to D right now. Baby A likes books too - but mostly just to chew on.
2) I have an obsession with sour cream. I see many foods as mere vehicles for the consumption of sour cream.
3) I can, and will, eat cake for breakfast. I'm eating a piece of M's birthday cake right now!
4) I especially like cakes made with sour cream.
5) Baby A's favorite song is "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." I make funny faces for him during the "bring back..." part.
6) D's favorite song is "Hush Little Baby." I sing it to her every night at bedtime.
7) Both M & D hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
8) I buy organic milk (BGH scares me).
9) I'm terrified of frogs and lizards. Not too much else.
10) M & D are scared of spiders and spider-webs. We saw one of these once on a walk and D almost passed out from fright. I'm sympathetic because if it had been a frog in our path M would've had to carry me.
11) I can say the alphabet backward almost as fast as I can forward.
12) I think I photograph better from my right side.
13) I'm still in love with my husband.
14) My original college roommate is still one of my best and closest friends.
15) Someone at M's old law firm asked if D's hair was a wig. I hope because she had unusally beautiful, curly hair for a child, not because it looked like plastic.
16) D started talking when she was about 10 months old.
17) I try really hard not to compare D & A. I know they will develop on their own timetable. But is it weird he can't sit up yet?!
18) I am interrupted while blogging 9-out-of-10 times. A is crying for me right now.
19) D's favorite food is pasta.
20) We've been talking about trading in the MomMobile for something a little larger. I want a minivan, although the new Saturn Outlook is very nice too.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
100!
Whee! This is my 100th post. I should celebrate, maybe make some hot cocoa on this chilly, chilly night. I wish I had something momentuous to write about. oh well.
Funny follow up to the big Kindergarten registration day. First, D's school does not guarantee re-registration until the child is in Kindergarten, so every year there's a lot of suspense - will she get in or not, what will we do if she doesn't, are you sure you did all the paperwork, blah blah blah. So. This year, I'm like the first person in line, fill out my forms in double-time and hand in all my paperwork. Because she's a current student, they don't need her birth certificate, ss card, etc. Or so they tell me. One day later, the school secretary calls informing me that D's medical forms expire on February 1. Impossible I say, her birthday is in July, so her current forms should be good until next summer and I'll turn them in as soon as school starts next year (providing we get in). I had to ask her to recheck them and sure enough, I was right. But I hope she made a note that our stuff is on file anyway. I'd hate it if our Kindergarten application was marked incomplete because of a clerical error.
And speaking of clerical errors, it seems like Aetna forgot to sign us up for dental coverage when we became eligible for benefits at M's new job. Of course we only found out when M's dentist called to say that his most recent visit wasn't covered. Stay tuned here for more follow up on this impending saga.
I've got a load of things to do tonight - cook dinner, fold laundry, pay some bills. Better get to it.
Funny follow up to the big Kindergarten registration day. First, D's school does not guarantee re-registration until the child is in Kindergarten, so every year there's a lot of suspense - will she get in or not, what will we do if she doesn't, are you sure you did all the paperwork, blah blah blah. So. This year, I'm like the first person in line, fill out my forms in double-time and hand in all my paperwork. Because she's a current student, they don't need her birth certificate, ss card, etc. Or so they tell me. One day later, the school secretary calls informing me that D's medical forms expire on February 1. Impossible I say, her birthday is in July, so her current forms should be good until next summer and I'll turn them in as soon as school starts next year (providing we get in). I had to ask her to recheck them and sure enough, I was right. But I hope she made a note that our stuff is on file anyway. I'd hate it if our Kindergarten application was marked incomplete because of a clerical error.
And speaking of clerical errors, it seems like Aetna forgot to sign us up for dental coverage when we became eligible for benefits at M's new job. Of course we only found out when M's dentist called to say that his most recent visit wasn't covered. Stay tuned here for more follow up on this impending saga.
I've got a load of things to do tonight - cook dinner, fold laundry, pay some bills. Better get to it.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
More kitchen adventures
I'm trying to ease myself back into baking. Since we try to have a big Sunday Supper at our house, I wanted to make a nice light, healthy apple crisp for an after-dinner treat. Not sure where exactly I went wrong, but it was probably when I tried to substitute Splenda for the sugar in the topping. Or maybe because the Granny Smiths I used were too tart. Or that I put in two tablespoons of cinammon instead of two teaspoons. Or perhaps because I was nursing while it baked so I didn't notice that it was burning on top. Whatever. D & M said it was good anyway, but I had to add three scoops of vanilla ice cream to make it edible.
The meatloaf and mashed potatoes, however, were fabulous. Even D ate the potatoes, which she normally hates. They were loaded with mozzarella and parmesan though - two of her favorite foods.
A bit cooler this morning (or is that the a/c blowing on me?) Had to get up at 5:45 to get myself showered and dressed to take D to school - today was registration for Kindergarten. So I'm back in my pjs now, trying to get motivated for the rest of the day.
Baby A is still completely nap-resistant, despite a whole weekend of trying to get him on schedule. I can hear him lying in his crib, sucking on his hands and chattering to himself about it.
Tonight is the big game - UF v. OSU for the National Championship. All my Gator friends are watching tonight -- even M is going to watch with me -- although Sister Debbie will probably have to flip back and forth since the pressure of watching the whole game is too much for her. Also. Since it's on after the kids' bedtime, I'm going to treat myself to a bottle of beer to go along with my popcorn. Woohah. Party on.
GO GATORS!
The meatloaf and mashed potatoes, however, were fabulous. Even D ate the potatoes, which she normally hates. They were loaded with mozzarella and parmesan though - two of her favorite foods.
A bit cooler this morning (or is that the a/c blowing on me?) Had to get up at 5:45 to get myself showered and dressed to take D to school - today was registration for Kindergarten. So I'm back in my pjs now, trying to get motivated for the rest of the day.
Baby A is still completely nap-resistant, despite a whole weekend of trying to get him on schedule. I can hear him lying in his crib, sucking on his hands and chattering to himself about it.
Tonight is the big game - UF v. OSU for the National Championship. All my Gator friends are watching tonight -- even M is going to watch with me -- although Sister Debbie will probably have to flip back and forth since the pressure of watching the whole game is too much for her. Also. Since it's on after the kids' bedtime, I'm going to treat myself to a bottle of beer to go along with my popcorn. Woohah. Party on.
GO GATORS!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Al Gore is right?
Not much going on this weekend. I've been spending a lot of time on Martha Stewart getting ideas, recipes, tips, etc. I know she had a Handmade Christmas issue of her magazine, but because I spent so little time in the stores prior to Christmas (kids sick, remember?) I never even saw it. I wonder if I can order a back issue. I should really subscribe, but I gave up all my magazine subscriptions except for National Geographic about five years ago and I don't want to get back into it. Not only were they getting expensive, but issues just seemed to pile up without my ever reading them, or if I did read them and wanted to keep them, there was always a storage issue. So. No more magazines, except for Nat'l Geog, which I've got 14 years worth exploding out of two shelves of our precious bookcase space. Note to self: I really need to get some magazine holders for them.
I've got to plan for M's birthday this Thursday - I'm making either red velvet cupcakes or a white cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting - and on Saturday, Sister Debbie is coming to watch the kids while M & I hit the town. If by "hit" you mean tapas and a movie.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Guess I'll have to try them all
If you like cupcakes (I do!), baking (I do!), reading other people's blogs (I do!) and eating (I do!), then you must take a moment to check out cupcakeblog.
Great recipes. Great photos. Really interesting reading.
Great recipes. Great photos. Really interesting reading.
Me... A to Z
A - Available or taken? Taken, heart and soul
B - Book you are reading? The Keep by Jennifer Egan
C - Car? Nissan Murano, aka MomMobile
D - Drink of choice? Water, coffee (no alcohol yet - still nursing)
E - Essential daily item? Aveda's Shampure
F - Favorite color? Pink
G - Gummy bears or gummy worms? Bears
H - Hometown? Naples, FL
I - Ice cream flavor? Peanut butter chocolate
J - January or February? February, January is too "new"
K - Kids names? D & A
L - Life is incomplete without...? Love, family, chocolate
M - Marriage date? October 9, 1999
N - Number of siblings? Three
O - Oranges or apples? Oranges
P - Phobias? Herpetophobia/ranidaphobia
Q - Favorite quote? "If you're not a Gator, then you're Gator Bait!"
R - Reason to smile? Cuddling with the kids after their baths
S - Season? Winter
T - Tag Aiden's Gift and Suburban Cupcake
U - Unknown fact about me? I still bite my nails
V - Veggie I don't like? Olives
W - Wish for 2007? That Jenn and Just Shane will get hitched
X - Last x-ray? Ultrasound on 7/24/06
Y - Your favorite food? Baked potatoes
Z - Zodiac sign? Scorpio
B - Book you are reading? The Keep by Jennifer Egan
C - Car? Nissan Murano, aka MomMobile
D - Drink of choice? Water, coffee (no alcohol yet - still nursing)
E - Essential daily item? Aveda's Shampure
F - Favorite color? Pink
G - Gummy bears or gummy worms? Bears
H - Hometown? Naples, FL
I - Ice cream flavor? Peanut butter chocolate
J - January or February? February, January is too "new"
K - Kids names? D & A
L - Life is incomplete without...? Love, family, chocolate
M - Marriage date? October 9, 1999
N - Number of siblings? Three
O - Oranges or apples? Oranges
P - Phobias? Herpetophobia/ranidaphobia
Q - Favorite quote? "If you're not a Gator, then you're Gator Bait!"
R - Reason to smile? Cuddling with the kids after their baths
S - Season? Winter
T - Tag Aiden's Gift and Suburban Cupcake
U - Unknown fact about me? I still bite my nails
V - Veggie I don't like? Olives
W - Wish for 2007? That Jenn and Just Shane will get hitched
X - Last x-ray? Ultrasound on 7/24/06
Y - Your favorite food? Baked potatoes
Z - Zodiac sign? Scorpio
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Happy New Year!
Happy 2007! We're back to our regularly scheduled programming today. D in school, A napping, M working, me blogging. We stayed in for New Year's Eve this year, made a special steak dinner for all the solid food eaters in the house, and then watched some movies. New Year's Day it rained, which didn't deter us from visiting the zoo. It was a perfect day, despite the rain, as there were hardly any other people there and the cooler weather made all the animals pretty active. Unfortunately, M locked the keys in the MomMobile so we had to wait 45 minutes for AAA before heading home. But the locksmith who came out was very nice and got the job done quickly. After a lovely two week Christmas/New Year holiday break, I'm rested and relaxed, full of patience and over the baking disasters, etc. I had a bit of a lapse yesterday (D's last day of school hols) when I had to spend the afternoon fending off questions like, "Is this just squishy? Or squishy-sqooshy?" and D's new favorite game "Ask a Parrot a Question!" - she repeats that phrase, in a decidedly parrot-y voice, until you ask her a question which she repeats back to you, and it goes on and on. If you decline to ask a question, she keeps repeating her request over and over until you feel like tiny bits of your brain are being slowly etched away with each repetition. She also learned to play two other games - Sorry! and Whac-a-mole. We all love Whac-a-mole - it's very stress-relieving. She's pretty good at Sorry! too. M's the Grand Champion though, taking two games from me on New Year's Day.
So, I've made some resolutions this year:
1) Lose the rest of the baby weight - from both D & A, through sensible diet and exercise, of course
2) Be more patient, especially with the kids
3) Remember all important friend & family birthdays
4) Write more letters (fewer emails)
I've got 5 birthdays in January, so I better get cracking.
As far as diet and exercise, I'm doing more of a home-fitness regimen this time around. M & I have wasted thousands on gym memberships that we never use after the first few months, and my favorite workout is swimming, so I'm going to try to get to our local pool more often and eat sensibly and see how that works. To kick things off, yesterday morning M & I made a No Cookies pact (we'd been indulging in this tin of delicious European chocolate biscuits). But by 1:00 I was in a frenzied rage of imaginary cookie-deprivation and had obvious withdrawal symptoms, so it's not going to be easy.
A and I are off to the Library this morning, then my sister is coming over to hang out this afternoon and play princess tea-party with us. So, as you can tell, I'm just busy, busy, busy.
So, I've made some resolutions this year:
1) Lose the rest of the baby weight - from both D & A, through sensible diet and exercise, of course
2) Be more patient, especially with the kids
3) Remember all important friend & family birthdays
4) Write more letters (fewer emails)
I've got 5 birthdays in January, so I better get cracking.
As far as diet and exercise, I'm doing more of a home-fitness regimen this time around. M & I have wasted thousands on gym memberships that we never use after the first few months, and my favorite workout is swimming, so I'm going to try to get to our local pool more often and eat sensibly and see how that works. To kick things off, yesterday morning M & I made a No Cookies pact (we'd been indulging in this tin of delicious European chocolate biscuits). But by 1:00 I was in a frenzied rage of imaginary cookie-deprivation and had obvious withdrawal symptoms, so it's not going to be easy.
A and I are off to the Library this morning, then my sister is coming over to hang out this afternoon and play princess tea-party with us. So, as you can tell, I'm just busy, busy, busy.
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