Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
I am sure I do not know what I was thinking when I decided to return to work after maternity leave just a few short weeks before Christmas. I clearly did not consider how this decision would contribute to making an already hectic time even more challenging.
Right before I went back to work, I had ambitious plans to get all our Christmas cards personalized and addressed. This plan was thwarted when I realized that the cards we had bought required an assembly line. They needed a photo attached to the front.... WHAT? Seriously? What was I thinking?
There was some sense of relief when I remembered that I had scheduled a private photo shoot for the boys with Santa. So, at least there'd be a decent photo. Of course, this also tossed us into the category of people-who-send-Christmas-cards-with-photos-of-only-their-kids; but that is a topic worthy of a post unto itself.
So last Friday, I was able to pick up the disc with photos. I spent much of the following day having photos printed and working on the Christmas Card Assembly Line. This was the most labor intense Christmas card in the history of ever!
Seriously, there was the affixing of the photo perfectly, and the stamping of the address, and the sealing of the envelope, and the placement of the envelop seal, and the addressing of the envelope and lather, rinse, repeat. Over and over and over again.
I was about two boxes in when I realized that WHOOOPS, uh, I had forgotten to write anything in some of the cards. No signature, no Merry Christmas, not even a good luck in 2012.
That's right friends, I skeedadled right on past mistake and slammed head first into CHRISTMAS FAUX PAS.
If you are on our Christmas list and you get a card with a pretty return address stamp, a perfectly placed gold seal and two pajama clad kiddos hanging with Santa. Its from us and I wish you a merry Christmas and a faux pas free new year!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Slipper-less in Sarasota, redux
Some of you have been wondering about my slipper situation. I have to tell you, I am so flattered that there are so many concerned with my feet being warm and comfy.
And, since I did find the camera (in my make up bag????) I thought I would add the photos I teased you with.
As you can see, I am not the only one walking around with one slipper.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Slipper---less in Sarasota
You may remember my rant about the dishwasher during which I mentioned that I frequently walk around with one slipper because Cooper takes and then taunts me with the other one.
Well, it seems that MRA has taken notice and begun to copy Cooper thus leaving me slipper-less. And, yes, I mean copying Cooper exactly. I have a photo depicting this. Cooper sitting with one slipper hanging out of his mouth and MRA sitting next to him with the other slipper, you guessed, hanging out of his mouth. But, the camera has disappeared (insert loud sigh here).
The camera, also held this Wordless Wednesday's photo. I am sure it will turn up but probably not in any timely fashion and as soon as it does, something else I need will disappear.
The good news is I did find the spare keys under the sofa cushions this morning. I found them while looking for my slippers.
Well, it seems that MRA has taken notice and begun to copy Cooper thus leaving me slipper-less. And, yes, I mean copying Cooper exactly. I have a photo depicting this. Cooper sitting with one slipper hanging out of his mouth and MRA sitting next to him with the other slipper, you guessed, hanging out of his mouth. But, the camera has disappeared (insert loud sigh here).
The camera, also held this Wordless Wednesday's photo. I am sure it will turn up but probably not in any timely fashion and as soon as it does, something else I need will disappear.
The good news is I did find the spare keys under the sofa cushions this morning. I found them while looking for my slippers.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Elfin Magic
Last Sunday morning an elf appeared in our house. MRA named him Jacques.
In case you are not familiar with the Elf On a Shelf concept, he returns every night to the North Pole to report to Santa how the bambinos have behaved and then magically flies back to our house and perches in a new spot every morning.
Jacques has not done anything mischievous, yet, but he did bring breakfast with him the day he appeared - snowballs and reindeer kisses. A child's dream breakfast, a parents nightmare, especially when that elf put the snowballs in a glass jar not suspecting that MRA would want to devour about 100 of them. And whilst reaching for said glass jar would drop it, sending shards of cheap but terrifically sharp shards of glass across the tile floor, thus bringing a prompt end to the first annual North Pole Breakfast and the beginning cleaning up the floors.
We are really hoping that we can use Jacques tobribe encourage some better behaviour in a couple of areas that have been a struggle lately, like getting out of bed at 5:30 a.m. (or earlier), coming into our room, uncovering me and saying (very sweetly might I add), "Mama, up. Mama up."
Of course, if there is no immediate response the sweetness goes out the window and turns into a full volume scream, "MAMA UUUUUUUPPPP."
Hopefully, Jacques can assist. If not, I might just say eff the elf and start drinking from the bottle.
Merry Elfin Christmas!
In case you are not familiar with the Elf On a Shelf concept, he returns every night to the North Pole to report to Santa how the bambinos have behaved and then magically flies back to our house and perches in a new spot every morning.
Jacques has not done anything mischievous, yet, but he did bring breakfast with him the day he appeared - snowballs and reindeer kisses. A child's dream breakfast, a parents nightmare, especially when that elf put the snowballs in a glass jar not suspecting that MRA would want to devour about 100 of them. And whilst reaching for said glass jar would drop it, sending shards of cheap but terrifically sharp shards of glass across the tile floor, thus bringing a prompt end to the first annual North Pole Breakfast and the beginning cleaning up the floors.
We are really hoping that we can use Jacques to
Of course, if there is no immediate response the sweetness goes out the window and turns into a full volume scream, "MAMA UUUUUUUPPPP."
Hopefully, Jacques can assist. If not, I might just say eff the elf and start drinking from the bottle.
Merry Elfin Christmas!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Parents say the damnedest thing, part deux
Something you need to know to understand this story:
I love smocked clothing on infants and toddlers. I wish smocked clothes were more practical than they are and also less expensive. As a result of my obsession, I have discovered several sites on facebook and on-line that sell new, smocked clothing in an auction type setting at reduced prices.
There are more of these sites than one think. There is Southern Tots and Smock It To Me and also Smocked Auctions. See how cute...
You have to like thier Facebook page to get the auction info.
This revelation was pretty exciting and a little expensive. You see, they started posting photos of the items for bid and the available sizes and I started bidding; partially because of the obsession and partially because of my addictive personality. I would say my competitve nature played a role but, its not really competitive - its kinda first come, first serve.
So my parents came down tocelebrate Thanksgiving and the big four uh-oh with me see the bambinos. The following conversation took place:
Me: Oh, mom. You aren't going to believe what I found on Facebook. I have got to show you this.
Mom: What is it?
Me: Hold on. I have to show you. (I pull up my facebook wall with the 84,000 fabulous outfits available for bid.)
Mom: What's that? Clothes? Oh, I thought it was going to be porn.
Uuummmm, there is so much wrong going on here, all I could say was, "This story is going up on the blog."
I love smocked clothing on infants and toddlers. I wish smocked clothes were more practical than they are and also less expensive. As a result of my obsession, I have discovered several sites on facebook and on-line that sell new, smocked clothing in an auction type setting at reduced prices.
There are more of these sites than one think. There is Southern Tots and Smock It To Me and also Smocked Auctions. See how cute...
You have to like thier Facebook page to get the auction info.
This revelation was pretty exciting and a little expensive. You see, they started posting photos of the items for bid and the available sizes and I started bidding; partially because of the obsession and partially because of my addictive personality. I would say my competitve nature played a role but, its not really competitive - its kinda first come, first serve.
So my parents came down to
Me: Oh, mom. You aren't going to believe what I found on Facebook. I have got to show you this.
Mom: What is it?
Me: Hold on. I have to show you. (I pull up my facebook wall with the 84,000 fabulous outfits available for bid.)
Mom: What's that? Clothes? Oh, I thought it was going to be porn.
Uuummmm, there is so much wrong going on here, all I could say was, "This story is going up on the blog."
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Parents say the damnedest things, part 1
About a month after ASA graced us with his birth, my in-laws came to stay with us for a week and help out. Their timing was perfect for me as Jonathan was away on a business trip and I was still crazy shedding pregnancy hormones.
After they arrived, but before Jonathan left, we were chatting with them. My father-in-law (who I will refer to as Fil and my mother-in-law as Mil) made a comment that left me on the floor. Fil said that if he were a child, he would want us to be his parents.
This may be the greatest thing anyone has ever said to me. They also brought me pumpkin spice lattes every morning after dropping MRA off at school (I have I mentioned that Fil and Mil are all kinds of awesome?)
Holy crap, that's a lot to live up to! But, at this point in my life, I really cannot think of a higher compliment.
After they arrived, but before Jonathan left, we were chatting with them. My father-in-law (who I will refer to as Fil and my mother-in-law as Mil) made a comment that left me on the floor. Fil said that if he were a child, he would want us to be his parents.
This may be the greatest thing anyone has ever said to me. They also brought me pumpkin spice lattes every morning after dropping MRA off at school (I have I mentioned that Fil and Mil are all kinds of awesome?)
Holy crap, that's a lot to live up to! But, at this point in my life, I really cannot think of a higher compliment.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
What you sayin'?
MRA has a large vocabulary and just the other day, his new teachers commented on his speech, in particular, the clarity of his speech.
So, I sometimes forget that other people cannot always understand all of MRA's words.
The other day MRA grabbed my cheeks (as I was talking to my girlfriend) and said something that sound like mocknche. Of course, I knew that Daddy had bought him mac -n-cheese for lunch and figured out that he wanted some.
When I responded by telling him that we would get more mac-n-cheese in a few minutes, my girlfriend said, "Oh, mac-n-cheese. I thought he was telling you that you had monkey cheeks."
Which made me wonder what monkey cheeks look like and whether or not I need new blush?
So, I sometimes forget that other people cannot always understand all of MRA's words.
The other day MRA grabbed my cheeks (as I was talking to my girlfriend) and said something that sound like mocknche. Of course, I knew that Daddy had bought him mac -n-cheese for lunch and figured out that he wanted some.
When I responded by telling him that we would get more mac-n-cheese in a few minutes, my girlfriend said, "Oh, mac-n-cheese. I thought he was telling you that you had monkey cheeks."
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The limits of my maternal sacrifice
I have a pet peeve. It is a fairly recent peeve. One that arrived shortly after the onset of motherhood. I have told no one of this peeve because it seems so trivial but today... today, I have reached my limits.
For those of you that are moms, you know that there are numerous things that you give up after becoming a mother. And, I feel that I have handled many of these things fairly well.
1. I cannot remember what it is like to eat without a person sitting on me.
2. I have taken the attitude that my clothes are much more interesting with cheese, pudding, and/or ketchup all over them. This a direct result of #1 above.
3. I don't need styling products for my hair anymore as I only get to wash it two or three times a week and inevitably those are the days that ASA spits up, almost always in my hair. Who knew that spit up was better than Bumble and Bumble and FREE, no less.
4. I regularly walk around wearing only one slipper because Cooper, in an effort for more attention, takes the other slipper and usually sits on the stairs with it hanging out of his mouth, taunting me, as if to say, "Come and get it - I dare you - and as soon as you make a move toward me, I'm gonna bolt." Its easier just to walk around with one slipper.
5. My house used to be clean, no, actually immaculate. Now, hahahaha.
6. These days, any reference to being dirty in the bedroom refers to the fact that there are usually several dirty diapers on the bed or dresser (and not because I left them there) as well as chocolate milk stains on the pillows and maybe some muffin crumbs in between the sheets -thank you MRA. But all this is ok because now clean sheet night is so exciting it is almost a reason to open a bottle of wine.
But I have my limits and they start with the dishwasher.
You see, there is a little shelf on the top rack that folds up and down. Before having children, I did not know what to do with the rack. But, then again, before children we probably ran the dishwasher one a week - tops.
After said children arrived, I discovered that the little shelf was perfect for holding bottle parts, random toys, little bowls and all those little things that we now wash. The problem is that no one else has figured out that if you put short things on that side of the dishwasher you can use the shelf. So I find myself re-organizing the dirty dishes in the dishwasher - moving the little pieces and parts and short things from one side to the other to maximize space.
Why am I the only one that gets this?
It may be trivial but it sure is annoying.
For those of you that are moms, you know that there are numerous things that you give up after becoming a mother. And, I feel that I have handled many of these things fairly well.
1. I cannot remember what it is like to eat without a person sitting on me.
2. I have taken the attitude that my clothes are much more interesting with cheese, pudding, and/or ketchup all over them. This a direct result of #1 above.
3. I don't need styling products for my hair anymore as I only get to wash it two or three times a week and inevitably those are the days that ASA spits up, almost always in my hair. Who knew that spit up was better than Bumble and Bumble and FREE, no less.
4. I regularly walk around wearing only one slipper because Cooper, in an effort for more attention, takes the other slipper and usually sits on the stairs with it hanging out of his mouth, taunting me, as if to say, "Come and get it - I dare you - and as soon as you make a move toward me, I'm gonna bolt." Its easier just to walk around with one slipper.
5. My house used to be clean, no, actually immaculate. Now, hahahaha.
6. These days, any reference to being dirty in the bedroom refers to the fact that there are usually several dirty diapers on the bed or dresser (and not because I left them there) as well as chocolate milk stains on the pillows and maybe some muffin crumbs in between the sheets -thank you MRA. But all this is ok because now clean sheet night is so exciting it is almost a reason to open a bottle of wine.
But I have my limits and they start with the dishwasher.
You see, there is a little shelf on the top rack that folds up and down. Before having children, I did not know what to do with the rack. But, then again, before children we probably ran the dishwasher one a week - tops.
After said children arrived, I discovered that the little shelf was perfect for holding bottle parts, random toys, little bowls and all those little things that we now wash. The problem is that no one else has figured out that if you put short things on that side of the dishwasher you can use the shelf. So I find myself re-organizing the dirty dishes in the dishwasher - moving the little pieces and parts and short things from one side to the other to maximize space.
Why am I the only one that gets this?
It may be trivial but it sure is annoying.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
I Rock
MRA turned two years old on Tuesday. Its amazing how fast those years have gone. Its also amazing how much a child changes in such a short time.
Its easy to forget this but having ASA in the house provides for a constant reminder.
Anyway, Nana and Babba A. gave MRA a rocking horse for his birthday. Apparently, this is a hot item as it took me more than a month to track down a white one (I still didn't get the one with the white mane!).
The gift came a day late, which was actually more fun as it was a bigger surprise for him.
We assembled the horse (with a freaking allen wrench - why, oh why, can't these manufacturers just use a regular screw) and snuck it into MRA's room while he was sleeping.
This morning, as soon as he saw it, he was excited. We made coffee this morning so we were with it enough to take a little video.
After the initial ride, he figured out how to rock without touching the rails. We had a hard time getting him off it to do things like, ooooh, uh, get dressed. Seriously, the kiddo would have stayed in a wet diaper all day to ride the horse.
And, being the sweet little guy that he is, he kissed it and petted it and said hi to it every time he walked back in the room.
Its easy to forget this but having ASA in the house provides for a constant reminder.
Anyway, Nana and Babba A. gave MRA a rocking horse for his birthday. Apparently, this is a hot item as it took me more than a month to track down a white one (I still didn't get the one with the white mane!).
The gift came a day late, which was actually more fun as it was a bigger surprise for him.
We assembled the horse (with a freaking allen wrench - why, oh why, can't these manufacturers just use a regular screw) and snuck it into MRA's room while he was sleeping.
This morning, as soon as he saw it, he was excited. We made coffee this morning so we were with it enough to take a little video.
After the initial ride, he figured out how to rock without touching the rails. We had a hard time getting him off it to do things like, ooooh, uh, get dressed. Seriously, the kiddo would have stayed in a wet diaper all day to ride the horse.
And, being the sweet little guy that he is, he kissed it and petted it and said hi to it every time he walked back in the room.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Pumpin Pants
So last weekend, we went to the pumpin pants or, actually, the pumpkin patch. Personally, I think the pumpin pants is a lot more interesting but does not sound very family friendly.
This trip began so joyfully. MRA jumped in the petri dish they call a bounce house. He did not want to get out.
He climbed on tractors
He played.
He had his first ice cream cone.
We picked out pumpins in the pumpin pants.
We missed lunch time and our nap-ortunity. MRA screamed for mo' trator (another hayride) the whole way home. This woke up ASA, who had been napping the entire time (which is why we have no pictures) who was then very hungry and who also cried the whole way home.
MRA continues to ask for mo' trator every day. He, apparently wants the whole family to ride.
Mamma trator, Daddy traator, Morgan trator, Anderson trator, Babba trator, Nanna trator.
Guess where we will be next Sunday. You have 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count.
This trip began so joyfully. MRA jumped in the petri dish they call a bounce house. He did not want to get out.
He petted goats and sheep and ponies, oh my!
He went down the other petri dish - the giant inflatable slide - a bunch of times (sorry about the sideways video).
We went on a hayride (pulled by a trator - tractor) which was MRA's favorite (who knew - he did not seem all that excited).
We missed lunch time and our nap-ortunity. MRA screamed for mo' trator (another hayride) the whole way home. This woke up ASA, who had been napping the entire time (which is why we have no pictures) who was then very hungry and who also cried the whole way home.
MRA continues to ask for mo' trator every day. He, apparently wants the whole family to ride.
Mamma trator, Daddy traator, Morgan trator, Anderson trator, Babba trator, Nanna trator.
Guess where we will be next Sunday. You have 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sometimes a step back is all you need
When I was studying art in college, I often worked diligently up close to my piece. My professors constantly reminded me to step a few feet back from my work periodically so that I could see the whole.
Without fail, whatever I was working on looked different from that perspective and I usually had an idea of what I then needed to do to make progress.
It seems that stepping back from your work (or taking a break) works for more than just creating art. Sometimes one just needs to take a break and when you return to the task at hand, you have a new perspective and know exactly the direction to go in.
MRA experienced this for the first time last week. He had taken ISR swim lessons over the summer. Although he loves swimming under water, he HATES floating on his back and whenever he went to turn, he would do so like a somersault rather than turning on his side.
We took a break and last week he returned for a one week refresher course. This may not look like much to you but trust me, HUGE progress and I am soooo proud.
Without fail, whatever I was working on looked different from that perspective and I usually had an idea of what I then needed to do to make progress.
It seems that stepping back from your work (or taking a break) works for more than just creating art. Sometimes one just needs to take a break and when you return to the task at hand, you have a new perspective and know exactly the direction to go in.
MRA experienced this for the first time last week. He had taken ISR swim lessons over the summer. Although he loves swimming under water, he HATES floating on his back and whenever he went to turn, he would do so like a somersault rather than turning on his side.
We took a break and last week he returned for a one week refresher course. This may not look like much to you but trust me, HUGE progress and I am soooo proud.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A letter for Christie
My dear friend Christie,
I cannot believe that in just a few short days you are going to be a Mom! It seems like just yesterday we were living in Charleston, spending Saturday nights hopping from bar to bar and Sundays on the beach at IOP - being lazy and recovering from the night before.
I actually don't want to think about how long ago that really was. I prefer to think of it as just yesterday. Now, here we are, all grown up with wonderful husbands and starting families. Who'd a thunk it?
There is so much I would love to tell you about the journey you are about to start. You have been told, I am sure, that your life is about to change.
It is.
And, I am sure you are aware of all the obvious ways that is true. You are going to be up all night and more tired than you have ever been. Date nights will become more important and yet much harder to organize. Your bedtime will get earlier and holidays will become more fun. Your priorities are going to be different, of course. Blah, blah, blah. No revelations there.
There are, however, the ways that being a parent will change you that no one tells you about. They don't tell you because there aren't enough words. These are the deep, profound changes that occur and are unexpected.
Its the way that suddenly you cannot tolerate to hear any story that involves a hurt or hungry child. And probably even more startling is the way your husband who formerly may have thought those stories were sad but now hears them and it brings tears to his eyes.
Its that you don't think that your child's shit stinks... well, at least until s/he starts eating solid foods.
Its that you can contemplate driving your car into a tree after hearing your baby scream for thirty minutes while you are stuck in traffic and NOT be the least bit suicidal.
Its when you are in line at the grocery store and the woman in front of you dressed in what looks to be pajamas is holding a baby dressed only in a diaper and she is buying formula and a six pack of beer and you don't judge her because you can actually come up with a scenario in which you could see yourself doing the same thing.
Its when you you applaud the guy who got on his kid's school bus and threatened to beat the crap out of the boys who were bullying his daughter and after he was released from jail said he would do it again.
Its when hearing the words Hi Mamma and Hi Daddy become your favorites.
Its when you realize that Dr. Seuss books have really thin plots but you will read Go Dog Go 84,000 times because your baby squeals with delight when you get to the part about the party in the tree.
Enjoy it my fiend. You will be great!
XOXO
I cannot believe that in just a few short days you are going to be a Mom! It seems like just yesterday we were living in Charleston, spending Saturday nights hopping from bar to bar and Sundays on the beach at IOP - being lazy and recovering from the night before.
I actually don't want to think about how long ago that really was. I prefer to think of it as just yesterday. Now, here we are, all grown up with wonderful husbands and starting families. Who'd a thunk it?
There is so much I would love to tell you about the journey you are about to start. You have been told, I am sure, that your life is about to change.
It is.
And, I am sure you are aware of all the obvious ways that is true. You are going to be up all night and more tired than you have ever been. Date nights will become more important and yet much harder to organize. Your bedtime will get earlier and holidays will become more fun. Your priorities are going to be different, of course. Blah, blah, blah. No revelations there.
There are, however, the ways that being a parent will change you that no one tells you about. They don't tell you because there aren't enough words. These are the deep, profound changes that occur and are unexpected.
Its the way that suddenly you cannot tolerate to hear any story that involves a hurt or hungry child. And probably even more startling is the way your husband who formerly may have thought those stories were sad but now hears them and it brings tears to his eyes.
Its that you don't think that your child's shit stinks... well, at least until s/he starts eating solid foods.
Its that you can contemplate driving your car into a tree after hearing your baby scream for thirty minutes while you are stuck in traffic and NOT be the least bit suicidal.
Its when you are in line at the grocery store and the woman in front of you dressed in what looks to be pajamas is holding a baby dressed only in a diaper and she is buying formula and a six pack of beer and you don't judge her because you can actually come up with a scenario in which you could see yourself doing the same thing.
Its when you you applaud the guy who got on his kid's school bus and threatened to beat the crap out of the boys who were bullying his daughter and after he was released from jail said he would do it again.
Its when hearing the words Hi Mamma and Hi Daddy become your favorites.
Its when you realize that Dr. Seuss books have really thin plots but you will read Go Dog Go 84,000 times because your baby squeals with delight when you get to the part about the party in the tree.
Enjoy it my fiend. You will be great!
XOXO
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
"Wearing a hat is like having a baby or a puppy; everyone stops to coo and talk about it." (Louise Green)
Six months ago, we could get a hat on his head... now we can't get it off. Last weekend we lost the favorite Polo ball cap. Tragedy was averted, however, with the rediscovery of the Burberry cap.
What is the masculine form of the word DIVA?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
One month
Its so hard to believe that ASA is already one month old. It seems like we just came home from the hospital. Of course the past few weeks are really just a big blur.
I know we have made some progress with the routine and breastfeeding. And the nights have gotten easier. That is not to say EASY, just not as terrible. I figured out that if I go to bed sometime between 8 and 9:30 (whenever ASA finishes nursing and goes to bed), I get a bit more sleep. Of course, I sacrifice seeing/talking to my husband or watching anything on TV but at least I get a couple consecutive hours of sleep.
My best friend recently told me that, "This is the hardest it is ever going to be." That phrase has become my mantra and I recite it 84,000 times a day.
On a positive note, ASA gets more beautiful, alert, and strong every day. He is growing like a weed (likely because he eats non-stop) and is, most importantly, healthy.
I know we have made some progress with the routine and breastfeeding. And the nights have gotten easier. That is not to say EASY, just not as terrible. I figured out that if I go to bed sometime between 8 and 9:30 (whenever ASA finishes nursing and goes to bed), I get a bit more sleep. Of course, I sacrifice seeing/talking to my husband or watching anything on TV but at least I get a couple consecutive hours of sleep.
My best friend recently told me that, "This is the hardest it is ever going to be." That phrase has become my mantra and I recite it 84,000 times a day.
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