We went to visit DH's grandmother for Memorial Day weekend, and I was sitting on the back porch in gorgeous 75-degree sunshine on Sunday afternoon, holding KT baby for a few minutes of peace and quiet. Enjoying her cooing – she’s really picked up the back and forth of conversation, and loves to answer me when I go, “Ooo,” or “Mmm,” – and staring into her pretty little blue eyes, I just kept telling myself, “Remember this. Remember it.” Because I know that I sat staring at AJ and cooing with him in the same way, 3 and a half years ago, I know it… but it’s hard to recall the exact moment. The way the sky looked. What outfit he was wearing.
I can remember ONE time, and I’d better write it down now before it slips away again: it was the day before I went back to work. I have pictures of it, even, so I DO know what he was wearing – a little green onesie. We sat on OUR back porch that time, and it was fall, and I guess we talked and laughed and blew raspberries in the same way, but that part’s fuzzy.
Anyway, KT and I sat there “bbbb”ing at each other in rhythm, one after the other, and she had on the adorable orange gingham outfit from Aunt Jane that says “Love” on the knee. My legs were propped up on the chair in front of me, and she lay on my legs. I’d alternate between pulling her up to sitting, and letting her rest on her back. We stayed out there for about 20 minutes. I kissed her soft cheeks every other minute. She is so smiley.
Remember this.
---------
I had a nice morning today. Well, nice, and a little funny/frustrating. I’d intended to work from home. Got everyone dressed and out the door, got the first load of laundry in and my coffee poured. Opened Firefox…. Nothing. No Internet. I should have known, since Comcast cable was out this morning, too. Bother. I decided I’d better call to see what the deal was, and Comcast’s automated lady told me there was an outage in my neighborhood but technicians were working on it.
So I decided I’d go for a walk. Actually I wanted to do an aerobic workout On Demand but, whoops! No On Demand without cable! So, a walk it shall be. I had planned to do this anyway today. Got my shoes on and out the door… without my key. THAT made me say “Frak!” Luckily my neighbor has a key and I did have my cell phone with me, so I called him. Took my 20-minute walk. UP and DOWN the big hills in my neighborhood – my heart got pumping! Felt great. AND it was my favorite kind of morning – really cool, damp even, and cloudy. I call those kind “Walden mornings,” because the week when I first read Walden, the weather was like that and I loved to read it out on my balcony. And it seems to me the weather at Walden Pond must have been like that a lot, too.
Anyway, that’s all. I finished my walk, got my spare key from the neighbor, went in and got dressed. Oh, during the walk I found the 4 Comcast trucks in the neighborhood. “You guys have an ETA or should I go into the office today?” “Ummm…. I’d go in to the office.” “Okay, thanks.” Heh. Traffic wasn’t too bad since I didn’t leave until 9:00.
It was just… nice. A little gift.
Thursday, May 29
Wednesday, May 28
Smell me
One thing that a long commute is good for, is radio listening. If you are not getting enough friendly DJ banter in your life, go out and find yourself a job located 35 miles from your home. You can thank me later for that tip.
Radio can also be good for blog fodder, like today on my radio station of choice, they were doing an interview with the woman who wrote this brand new book about perfume. What fun! This is a topic I've enjoyed once before, in fact; I wonder if it's an Obsession? Hardee har har har!
I don't buy a lot of perfume but I have had scents that were my hard and fast favorites at a particular moment in time, and everyone knows about the olfactory-memory connection. This morning they were talking about the scents of the '80s, which were much stronger than most other decades. I can think of several -- Lauren, by Ralph Lauren, Beautiful by Estee Lauder, Chanel No. 5 of course, Fendi, Elizabeth Taylor's Passion, and one of my personal favorites, Liz Claiborne in the triangle bottle. The boys wore Polo or Drakkar Noir.
Remembering Liz Claiborne made me remember high school, naturally, where my best friend and I and our circle of cheerleaders wore this bold combo: Aussie hairspray (grape!) + Liz perfume, plus a little Liz purse slung over our shoulders. (It had no scent but carried an AURA!)
Someone called in to mention Gingham, by Bath & Body Works. Yes! I wore that! And everyone had to try Exclamation when it came out. The one I really adored, but only bought once and have never found again, was called "Etages," and I think Limited Express made it. You know, the bastion of parfumerie excellence that they are.
Today I forgot to wear perfume. Yesterday I was wearing Island by Michael Kors, from a tiny sample I am saving. I'm having fun playing on this website. Too bad my brand-new computer doesn't come with scratch-n-sniff, though.
Radio can also be good for blog fodder, like today on my radio station of choice, they were doing an interview with the woman who wrote this brand new book about perfume. What fun! This is a topic I've enjoyed once before, in fact; I wonder if it's an Obsession? Hardee har har har!
I don't buy a lot of perfume but I have had scents that were my hard and fast favorites at a particular moment in time, and everyone knows about the olfactory-memory connection. This morning they were talking about the scents of the '80s, which were much stronger than most other decades. I can think of several -- Lauren, by Ralph Lauren, Beautiful by Estee Lauder, Chanel No. 5 of course, Fendi, Elizabeth Taylor's Passion, and one of my personal favorites, Liz Claiborne in the triangle bottle. The boys wore Polo or Drakkar Noir.
Remembering Liz Claiborne made me remember high school, naturally, where my best friend and I and our circle of cheerleaders wore this bold combo: Aussie hairspray (grape!) + Liz perfume, plus a little Liz purse slung over our shoulders. (It had no scent but carried an AURA!)
Someone called in to mention Gingham, by Bath & Body Works. Yes! I wore that! And everyone had to try Exclamation when it came out. The one I really adored, but only bought once and have never found again, was called "Etages," and I think Limited Express made it. You know, the bastion of parfumerie excellence that they are.
Today I forgot to wear perfume. Yesterday I was wearing Island by Michael Kors, from a tiny sample I am saving. I'm having fun playing on this website. Too bad my brand-new computer doesn't come with scratch-n-sniff, though.
Friday, May 23
Day in the life
Thursday, May 22, 2008
(I've been wanting to do one of these, to remember how our days go right now, with a 3 yr old and a 3 month old. Someday I'M SURE I will want to re-live it. Ha!)
5:50 am -- Wake-up time. Someone needs to get in the shower, I guess it will be me first. :) Try not to wake up AJ as I crawl out of bed over him.
6:07 am -- DH enters bathroom. His turn. I put on robe, go wake up AJ. He's compliant this morning, thank goodness. Wants to go downstairs and get his breakfast.
6:10 am -- Stand in front of (mostly empty) pantry. I have intended to go grocery shopping all week but haven't yet. Offer AJ a waffle (Eggo, obv.), Frosted Flakes, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch because we're out of his 2 favorites, Oatmeal and Pop-Tarts. He pouts. Doesn't want any of that. Try to cajole him, to no avail. Fine. I go back upstairs to check on KT baby and put on jeans and a blue shirt.
6:20 am -- Change KT's diaper. She always wakes up so agreeable. Stretches and yawns while I'm changing her. Then I hear AJ calling me, saying "Mama, I waaaaaaant breakfast." SIGH. Go back downstairs, with KT and her warmed-up bottle. Get waffle into the toaster (one-handed) and scowl at Mister Whiney Pants. Get him V8 Fusion juice from the fridge. He gripes about that, too. I ignore. He has no choice in the matter, he'll drink it and LIKE IT.
6:33 am -- KT swallows the last of her bottle. She is FAST when she's hungry.
6:40 am -- Head upstairs to change her clothes and finish getting myself dressed/dry hair/put on makeup. DH says, "Don't you need to get dressed? I thought you weren't going into the office today." But I am. So I hand baby to him and he gets her dressed while I finish up at the mirror. He chooses a lavender Winnie-the-Pooh outfit and coos at her while he changes her. So cute.
6:50 am -- I start rushing around. Not pleased with my own outfit, I put on a skirt instead. Better. Get a bracelet. Get clothes to take downstairs for AJ, since that's where he gets dressed lately (in front of TV).
6:55 am -- Rush around the kitchen. We need to be ready to leave in five minutes (7:00 am). Get KT's bottles, already labeled by helpful DH, into her bag. Throw leftovers into a grocery sack for my lunch. Thanking the gods that I remembered to set my coffeepot last night, I pour a cup for the road. 3 Splendas + fat-free Half-n-half. Perfect. Grab a granola bar, too.
7:02 am -- Okay. AJ's dressed, he wants his Nemo vitamins. Gets mad when I don't lift him up so he can reach them. Man, is he grumpy! DH comments that I'm funny when I'm rushing around. Ha, ha. (Luckily I'm in a good enough mood that it doesn't bother me.) I realize I won't get to see KT all day, again, and want to hug her. CLASSIC MOM MOMENT: already late, dressed, pick up baby and what does she do? Spits up on my shirt, of course! I wave my fist and tease her about her sneakiness, and run back upstairs to change.
7:11 am -- Finally in the car and on the road. It was DH's turn to take the kids to daycare. HOOray. Listen to five minutes of NPR but decide it'd be better for my still-frantic morning mood to turn on the iPod. Choose U2.
8:04 am -- Traffic is getting worse near my office bldg, which was built nearly 2 years ago in what was then a pretty remote area. Now there are strip malls galore and more office spaces, too. Crawl along at 4 mph for about 2 miles. Still listening to U2. "Elevation" got me pumped up earlier, and "Peace on Earth" reminded me to be grateful.
8:15 am -- Begin workday. Voice Mail from a client who wants a live chat service. Start Googling. :)
8:45 am -- phone call on my cell -- it's Mom & Dad from Vienna! They're having fun, but Mom sounds tired. I know she is ready to come home. They've been gone nearly 2 weeks already. But I'm looking forward to the pictures when we see them next, and jealous 'cause they're going to a Mozart concert tonight. In VIENNA. Pretty cool.
... work continues... I check both Facebook and the daycare webcam 2 or 3 times today, which is unusual. I typically forget or don't have time. Start this blog post. I wish I had time to check Google Reader but I resist... 'til later... :)
11:30 am -- Realize it's lunchtime. Will I walk or eat? ... Eat. I'm hungry. Enjoy tetrazini, steamed broccoli, and Diet Coke. Still think I might walk 30 minutes after my food digests.
12:40 pm -- I manage to walk 15 minutes. Almost 1 mile. LOOK LIKE A DORK in my skirt and tennies, and worry the entire time if someone I know is going to drive by and see me. (Vain, much??) But BOO-YAH for getting out there anyway to get the heart pumping. Think maybe I can fit in another 15 minutes after work today. (Then wonder if I can, REALLY, when I said that yesterday, too, and didn't manage it...)
1:43 pm -- Answer some email. Hear this tragic news and feel very, very sad for the Chapman family.
... work continues...
3:00 pm -- Ruin the good I did walking by taking a trip to the vending machines. Although I did resist chocolate and had Welch's Fruit Snacks instead. I could feel my blood sugar dropping and just NEEDED something. I don't know why kids, or specifically my kid, thinks Fruit Snacks are the bee's knees. After about the third one, it's just a big bag of pectin and disappointment. Not like brownies, which continue to deliver all the way to the end of the pan...
3:47 pm -- Start wishing for 4:00 already, so I can leave. This day has been unusually longer and more boring than most, since my return to work. Maybe because it's a holiday weekend and people have already left town? Or maybe because I'm detailing it so faithfully?
3:48 pm -- Look at workitmom.com and Google Reader some more.
4:00 pm -- Quietly leave the office and start the long drive home. Or, more specifically, to the daycare. On the drive I make a few phone calls, confirming lunch plans with a friend, making KT her 4-month well-baby appointment for June, and trying to catch up with my sis before she goes to Copenhagen this evening, for a week.
5:00 pm -- Pick up kids! Best time of the day. :) I am stressed, however, about dinner because there's really not much to eat at the house, AJ needs a haircut, and it's bath night. Lots to do tonight. I decide we can have pizza at SteviB's, which is right next door to Great Clips, and DH can meet us there. Call DH.
6:00 pm -- We opt for Mexican instead, next door to a different Great Clips. Either way. I have a spinach quesedilla, yum. AJ behaves but doesn't eat, KT mostly sleeps through dinner, we get AJ's hair cut (and he goes ALL BY HIMSELF to the chair, which is a first, and talks to the stylist with such charm and confidence that I'm beside myself), then it's time to head home. ACK! I realize the poor dog got forgotten and is probably crossing his legs and starving. But I still have to fill up my car which is on Empty. SIXTY DOLLARS LATER we're on our way.
7:00 pm -- Bath time for bozos. (Hubs always says this to the kids -- "Bedtime for Bozos! Who's a Bozo?" I don't know where it came from.) AJ of course wants to help bathe KT baby, and he does. Then he gets in his bath and enacts wild, drawn-out Ninja Turtles scenes, telling us what's going to happen in detail before doing it. By the way, he looks SO CUTE with his hair cut short. :)
8:00 pm -- Daddy reads stories to AJ (A Ladybug magazine and then some book called "Barnaby the Baby Bear" which we all think is dumb but AJ picked it anyway) -- he manages to stay awake even though he's dead tired and says his blood sugar is low. (Mexican food!) Meanwhile, I pick up a few stray dirty clothes items and put away the bath stuff. Then it's bedtime. We put AJ down (KT's already in her crib for tonight, but this is unusual) and 5 minutes later, he's back in our room. We surprise him by being there -- typically he just sneaks into our covers and stays there 'til we come upstairs. I convince him to go back to his room by putting his pillow at the foot of his bed instead of the head. He thinks this is funny, and makes his room "good," where before it was "not good." ?! Who knows.
9:00 pm -- I'm a little fuzzy on the rest of the evening (it's the next day as I type this, obviously), but I think we watched Season4 Episode4 of Battlestar Galactica. We are FINALLY caught up with this show, and we can't believe it! We had more than 10 episodes DVR'd from Seasons 2 and 3, for the longest time. It's a super-good show, I hope you're watching it.
10:00 pm -- I decide to go to bed. Had already been dozing anyway. Grab the cooler and 2 bottles and place them quietly in baby's room. She's still out like a light. Wash face (Mary Kay bar facial soap) and brush teeth (Colgate Total). Turn on "Ace of Cakes" to fall asleep to. Duff needs to stay shaved, he looks like a Tool with his beard. That's the last thing I remember. KT sleeps until 4:15 am, which is awesome.
(I've been wanting to do one of these, to remember how our days go right now, with a 3 yr old and a 3 month old. Someday I'M SURE I will want to re-live it. Ha!)
5:50 am -- Wake-up time. Someone needs to get in the shower, I guess it will be me first. :) Try not to wake up AJ as I crawl out of bed over him.
6:07 am -- DH enters bathroom. His turn. I put on robe, go wake up AJ. He's compliant this morning, thank goodness. Wants to go downstairs and get his breakfast.
6:10 am -- Stand in front of (mostly empty) pantry. I have intended to go grocery shopping all week but haven't yet. Offer AJ a waffle (Eggo, obv.), Frosted Flakes, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch because we're out of his 2 favorites, Oatmeal and Pop-Tarts. He pouts. Doesn't want any of that. Try to cajole him, to no avail. Fine. I go back upstairs to check on KT baby and put on jeans and a blue shirt.
6:20 am -- Change KT's diaper. She always wakes up so agreeable. Stretches and yawns while I'm changing her. Then I hear AJ calling me, saying "Mama, I waaaaaaant breakfast." SIGH. Go back downstairs, with KT and her warmed-up bottle. Get waffle into the toaster (one-handed) and scowl at Mister Whiney Pants. Get him V8 Fusion juice from the fridge. He gripes about that, too. I ignore. He has no choice in the matter, he'll drink it and LIKE IT.
6:33 am -- KT swallows the last of her bottle. She is FAST when she's hungry.
6:40 am -- Head upstairs to change her clothes and finish getting myself dressed/dry hair/put on makeup. DH says, "Don't you need to get dressed? I thought you weren't going into the office today." But I am. So I hand baby to him and he gets her dressed while I finish up at the mirror. He chooses a lavender Winnie-the-Pooh outfit and coos at her while he changes her. So cute.
6:50 am -- I start rushing around. Not pleased with my own outfit, I put on a skirt instead. Better. Get a bracelet. Get clothes to take downstairs for AJ, since that's where he gets dressed lately (in front of TV).
6:55 am -- Rush around the kitchen. We need to be ready to leave in five minutes (7:00 am). Get KT's bottles, already labeled by helpful DH, into her bag. Throw leftovers into a grocery sack for my lunch. Thanking the gods that I remembered to set my coffeepot last night, I pour a cup for the road. 3 Splendas + fat-free Half-n-half. Perfect. Grab a granola bar, too.
7:02 am -- Okay. AJ's dressed, he wants his Nemo vitamins. Gets mad when I don't lift him up so he can reach them. Man, is he grumpy! DH comments that I'm funny when I'm rushing around. Ha, ha. (Luckily I'm in a good enough mood that it doesn't bother me.) I realize I won't get to see KT all day, again, and want to hug her. CLASSIC MOM MOMENT: already late, dressed, pick up baby and what does she do? Spits up on my shirt, of course! I wave my fist and tease her about her sneakiness, and run back upstairs to change.
7:11 am -- Finally in the car and on the road. It was DH's turn to take the kids to daycare. HOOray. Listen to five minutes of NPR but decide it'd be better for my still-frantic morning mood to turn on the iPod. Choose U2.
8:04 am -- Traffic is getting worse near my office bldg, which was built nearly 2 years ago in what was then a pretty remote area. Now there are strip malls galore and more office spaces, too. Crawl along at 4 mph for about 2 miles. Still listening to U2. "Elevation" got me pumped up earlier, and "Peace on Earth" reminded me to be grateful.
8:15 am -- Begin workday. Voice Mail from a client who wants a live chat service. Start Googling. :)
8:45 am -- phone call on my cell -- it's Mom & Dad from Vienna! They're having fun, but Mom sounds tired. I know she is ready to come home. They've been gone nearly 2 weeks already. But I'm looking forward to the pictures when we see them next, and jealous 'cause they're going to a Mozart concert tonight. In VIENNA. Pretty cool.
... work continues... I check both Facebook and the daycare webcam 2 or 3 times today, which is unusual. I typically forget or don't have time. Start this blog post. I wish I had time to check Google Reader but I resist... 'til later... :)
11:30 am -- Realize it's lunchtime. Will I walk or eat? ... Eat. I'm hungry. Enjoy tetrazini, steamed broccoli, and Diet Coke. Still think I might walk 30 minutes after my food digests.
12:40 pm -- I manage to walk 15 minutes. Almost 1 mile. LOOK LIKE A DORK in my skirt and tennies, and worry the entire time if someone I know is going to drive by and see me. (Vain, much??) But BOO-YAH for getting out there anyway to get the heart pumping. Think maybe I can fit in another 15 minutes after work today. (Then wonder if I can, REALLY, when I said that yesterday, too, and didn't manage it...)
1:43 pm -- Answer some email. Hear this tragic news and feel very, very sad for the Chapman family.
... work continues...
3:00 pm -- Ruin the good I did walking by taking a trip to the vending machines. Although I did resist chocolate and had Welch's Fruit Snacks instead. I could feel my blood sugar dropping and just NEEDED something. I don't know why kids, or specifically my kid, thinks Fruit Snacks are the bee's knees. After about the third one, it's just a big bag of pectin and disappointment. Not like brownies, which continue to deliver all the way to the end of the pan...
3:47 pm -- Start wishing for 4:00 already, so I can leave. This day has been unusually longer and more boring than most, since my return to work. Maybe because it's a holiday weekend and people have already left town? Or maybe because I'm detailing it so faithfully?
3:48 pm -- Look at workitmom.com and Google Reader some more.
4:00 pm -- Quietly leave the office and start the long drive home. Or, more specifically, to the daycare. On the drive I make a few phone calls, confirming lunch plans with a friend, making KT her 4-month well-baby appointment for June, and trying to catch up with my sis before she goes to Copenhagen this evening, for a week.
5:00 pm -- Pick up kids! Best time of the day. :) I am stressed, however, about dinner because there's really not much to eat at the house, AJ needs a haircut, and it's bath night. Lots to do tonight. I decide we can have pizza at SteviB's, which is right next door to Great Clips, and DH can meet us there. Call DH.
6:00 pm -- We opt for Mexican instead, next door to a different Great Clips. Either way. I have a spinach quesedilla, yum. AJ behaves but doesn't eat, KT mostly sleeps through dinner, we get AJ's hair cut (and he goes ALL BY HIMSELF to the chair, which is a first, and talks to the stylist with such charm and confidence that I'm beside myself), then it's time to head home. ACK! I realize the poor dog got forgotten and is probably crossing his legs and starving. But I still have to fill up my car which is on Empty. SIXTY DOLLARS LATER we're on our way.
7:00 pm -- Bath time for bozos. (Hubs always says this to the kids -- "Bedtime for Bozos! Who's a Bozo?" I don't know where it came from.) AJ of course wants to help bathe KT baby, and he does. Then he gets in his bath and enacts wild, drawn-out Ninja Turtles scenes, telling us what's going to happen in detail before doing it. By the way, he looks SO CUTE with his hair cut short. :)
8:00 pm -- Daddy reads stories to AJ (A Ladybug magazine and then some book called "Barnaby the Baby Bear" which we all think is dumb but AJ picked it anyway) -- he manages to stay awake even though he's dead tired and says his blood sugar is low. (Mexican food!) Meanwhile, I pick up a few stray dirty clothes items and put away the bath stuff. Then it's bedtime. We put AJ down (KT's already in her crib for tonight, but this is unusual) and 5 minutes later, he's back in our room. We surprise him by being there -- typically he just sneaks into our covers and stays there 'til we come upstairs. I convince him to go back to his room by putting his pillow at the foot of his bed instead of the head. He thinks this is funny, and makes his room "good," where before it was "not good." ?! Who knows.
9:00 pm -- I'm a little fuzzy on the rest of the evening (it's the next day as I type this, obviously), but I think we watched Season4 Episode4 of Battlestar Galactica. We are FINALLY caught up with this show, and we can't believe it! We had more than 10 episodes DVR'd from Seasons 2 and 3, for the longest time. It's a super-good show, I hope you're watching it.
10:00 pm -- I decide to go to bed. Had already been dozing anyway. Grab the cooler and 2 bottles and place them quietly in baby's room. She's still out like a light. Wash face (Mary Kay bar facial soap) and brush teeth (Colgate Total). Turn on "Ace of Cakes" to fall asleep to. Duff needs to stay shaved, he looks like a Tool with his beard. That's the last thing I remember. KT sleeps until 4:15 am, which is awesome.
Tuesday, May 20
Health kick post
I'm trying, I really am. I mean, insofar as that includes eating a good bit of chocolate every day (HELLO STARBUCKS CHOCOLATE, NICETOMEETYOUmmMMRMFFF!), and not really counting calories or points or what-have-you. I AM trying to make better decisions -- like having a salad instead of 10 wings -- and having vinagrette with that salad instead of RANCH, duh. Those were the bad habits that I reintroduced during my pregnancy just because I could. But my overall energy level about this whole health-kick, lose-weight thing (...and can I just say: it's LOSE weight (v.), not "LOOSE" weight! ...People! Grammar! Sorry...) my energy level is just not quite there. I want to lose weight and get fit but I don't have the desire to log in to Fitday all the damn time.
Today I knew I would arrive to my Tuesday meeting site at least 15 minutes early, so I tossed my shoes and socks in the car. I HATE all the "Sneak Exercise In Wherever You Can" tips. Walk up the Stairs! Park far Away! Do butt-crunches while you shower! And yet... that seems to be the only way I'm going to get any exercise in, ever, until my kids are grown up and moved away. Time is just not on my side about this. And yes, I suppose I could wake up an hour earlier. I've considered torturing myself that way ONE day a week -- I don't think that would officially kill me, although trying to do that EVERY day most definitely would.
So. Yesterday I did one 10-minute all-over-body-sculpt via the ON DEMAND menu from Comcast during KT's first nap of the day, and then a 12-minute one later in the day. Last Friday I did step aerobics (10 minutes) on my living room staircase while trying to "rock" KT to sleep. Then the two kids and I took a 20 minute walk later. And today, I took my little morning walk (20 minutes) around the midtown Target where we meet. I was wearing my khakis, my pearls, and my running shoes. GAH!! Hate! I am that girl! Work clothes with athletic shoes! (At least I wasn't wearing a skirt and hose, but oh man, was I ugly in that outfit.)
I'm trying to go at this EASY, because I know, I know, I just had a baby 3 short months ago and I should cut myself some slack about losing weight. I have lost only 1 pound since starting to consider weight-loss about 3 weeks ago. Mostly I just want to claim to be a smart person. And smart people know that you HAVE to exercise. Period. And you can't eat potato chips and brownies all the livelong day.
I wonder if I do this kind of slackery health kick for a while and really try to DO some exercise regularly, will I ACTUALLY WANT to start counting cals again? Sigh. I probably will. Let's hope.
Sigh, again.
Today I knew I would arrive to my Tuesday meeting site at least 15 minutes early, so I tossed my shoes and socks in the car. I HATE all the "Sneak Exercise In Wherever You Can" tips. Walk up the Stairs! Park far Away! Do butt-crunches while you shower! And yet... that seems to be the only way I'm going to get any exercise in, ever, until my kids are grown up and moved away. Time is just not on my side about this. And yes, I suppose I could wake up an hour earlier. I've considered torturing myself that way ONE day a week -- I don't think that would officially kill me, although trying to do that EVERY day most definitely would.
So. Yesterday I did one 10-minute all-over-body-sculpt via the ON DEMAND menu from Comcast during KT's first nap of the day, and then a 12-minute one later in the day. Last Friday I did step aerobics (10 minutes) on my living room staircase while trying to "rock" KT to sleep. Then the two kids and I took a 20 minute walk later. And today, I took my little morning walk (20 minutes) around the midtown Target where we meet. I was wearing my khakis, my pearls, and my running shoes. GAH!! Hate! I am that girl! Work clothes with athletic shoes! (At least I wasn't wearing a skirt and hose, but oh man, was I ugly in that outfit.)
I'm trying to go at this EASY, because I know, I know, I just had a baby 3 short months ago and I should cut myself some slack about losing weight. I have lost only 1 pound since starting to consider weight-loss about 3 weeks ago. Mostly I just want to claim to be a smart person. And smart people know that you HAVE to exercise. Period. And you can't eat potato chips and brownies all the livelong day.
I wonder if I do this kind of slackery health kick for a while and really try to DO some exercise regularly, will I ACTUALLY WANT to start counting cals again? Sigh. I probably will. Let's hope.
Sigh, again.
Monday, May 19
Deprived
I keep doing this: Saving the "cute" outfits of KT's for daycare days, and opting when she's home with me for the plain onesie. I deny myself, as if she has to get "dressed" for "work" like I do -- because I save my "good" t-shirts for office days, too. Heh.
Thursday, May 15
First quarter
Little KT Baby,
Or should I say, “Big KT Baby,” because you are a big girl even in your infanthood! Twelve pounds already on your 3-month birthday, and growing still, despite the fact that you seem to eat so little. Two ounces here, 3 ounces there... you have your own way of doing things, Little Miss, not letting your parents fuss over you to any extent and knowing what you want and don't want already.
Can it really be three months already? I find it so hard to believe. The pictures are telling, though – where before you were a squirmy little thing, light practically shining through your willowy fingertips, now you’re sturdy and confident, holding your head up just like a big kid.: You are a high achiever, sweetie-girl. You're meeting every milestone right on time, and we're somehow more aware of them all this time than the last. First it was following objects with your eyes, then oodles of smiling, now cooing and talking, wanting to grab and hold things, and standing right up on our laps. It's so fun to watch you take shape and Become! We're determined not to miss a moment.
With each day, whether I’m with you at home or entrusting you to our good friends at school, it sinks in a little more that I’m really, truly, a Mommy now – a Mommy of two. It’s a title I’ve wanted since I, myself, was a child, and I couldn’t be happier to share the privilege of Mommyhood with you and your brother.
And, oh, the two of you together. He wants to know you, KT, and he loves you already. He wants to help raise you, even – he’s always “helping” me, and “very strong.” I know because he tells me. ;) And I can tell he’s becoming more interested as you change into someone he can relate to. He can’t go a day without “getting his smiles” from you; if he doesn’t, he tells me he’s sad. I am eager for the day you and he will interact as friends, on the one hand -- the happiness that will afford me is exciting. On the other hand, I just want you to stay little and cuddly and so, so smiley for as long as possible. Your dad and I can say with confidence that you are a happy baby. An easy baby. We say all the time, yesterday and today, that you are a precious baby. A treasure.
Three months!
Love,
Mommy
Or should I say, “Big KT Baby,” because you are a big girl even in your infanthood! Twelve pounds already on your 3-month birthday, and growing still, despite the fact that you seem to eat so little. Two ounces here, 3 ounces there... you have your own way of doing things, Little Miss, not letting your parents fuss over you to any extent and knowing what you want and don't want already.
Can it really be three months already? I find it so hard to believe. The pictures are telling, though – where before you were a squirmy little thing, light practically shining through your willowy fingertips, now you’re sturdy and confident, holding your head up just like a big kid.: You are a high achiever, sweetie-girl. You're meeting every milestone right on time, and we're somehow more aware of them all this time than the last. First it was following objects with your eyes, then oodles of smiling, now cooing and talking, wanting to grab and hold things, and standing right up on our laps. It's so fun to watch you take shape and Become! We're determined not to miss a moment.
With each day, whether I’m with you at home or entrusting you to our good friends at school, it sinks in a little more that I’m really, truly, a Mommy now – a Mommy of two. It’s a title I’ve wanted since I, myself, was a child, and I couldn’t be happier to share the privilege of Mommyhood with you and your brother.
And, oh, the two of you together. He wants to know you, KT, and he loves you already. He wants to help raise you, even – he’s always “helping” me, and “very strong.” I know because he tells me. ;) And I can tell he’s becoming more interested as you change into someone he can relate to. He can’t go a day without “getting his smiles” from you; if he doesn’t, he tells me he’s sad. I am eager for the day you and he will interact as friends, on the one hand -- the happiness that will afford me is exciting. On the other hand, I just want you to stay little and cuddly and so, so smiley for as long as possible. Your dad and I can say with confidence that you are a happy baby. An easy baby. We say all the time, yesterday and today, that you are a precious baby. A treasure.
Three months!
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, May 13
One day this, next day that
Two weeks ago all we could DO outside was play golf with these little plastic clubs that we got when AJ was about 1 year old. This week it's playing "Bad Guys," and, "Ninja Turtles with Bad Guys," using weapons of all sorts made from the various branches that have fallen into our yard. We fight Shredder and "Goliath" and "Vampiro."
Two weeks ago we were watching KT just begin to smile at us when we'd appear in front of her. This week she wants to stand on her feet a little bit, and gets excited about using those muscles. AND she's starting to want to grab at things dangled in front of her.
It all goes so darn fast.
So fast, I can't seem to keep up with blogging, or anything else, either. My days start with an alarm and a wish for just fifteen more minutes, and once I get to work it's all business, whip this stuff out, until time to go (OH, right now it's time to go!) and then we get home and dinner-bath-another bath-TV and bed. Last night I was so useless to my husband that he took the dog out, folded laundry, made bottles, probably waxed the cars, and massaged my foot that's hurting, which I don't even remember because I had begun my nightly snooze -- no, my nightly semi-conscious-state -- to the tune of Dirty Jobs on Discovery. And, man, do I love that show. Such a bummer that I always miss half of it. (not to mention the massage)
I realized this morning I haven't played hardly any music for KT -- no lullabyes or the 8 CDs of baby music I have stocked in her room. I guess because she doesn't need it -- she's so agreeable she goes to sleep and I don't have to lull her. But now I feel like she's "behind" on her music. Or, I am behind in teaching her -- see, baby? Music! Is nice! And comforting! Oh well.
I'm sure we'll look back fondly on this time of our lives one day. Right now we're just motoring.
Two weeks ago we were watching KT just begin to smile at us when we'd appear in front of her. This week she wants to stand on her feet a little bit, and gets excited about using those muscles. AND she's starting to want to grab at things dangled in front of her.
It all goes so darn fast.
So fast, I can't seem to keep up with blogging, or anything else, either. My days start with an alarm and a wish for just fifteen more minutes, and once I get to work it's all business, whip this stuff out, until time to go (OH, right now it's time to go!) and then we get home and dinner-bath-another bath-TV and bed. Last night I was so useless to my husband that he took the dog out, folded laundry, made bottles, probably waxed the cars, and massaged my foot that's hurting, which I don't even remember because I had begun my nightly snooze -- no, my nightly semi-conscious-state -- to the tune of Dirty Jobs on Discovery. And, man, do I love that show. Such a bummer that I always miss half of it. (not to mention the massage)
I realized this morning I haven't played hardly any music for KT -- no lullabyes or the 8 CDs of baby music I have stocked in her room. I guess because she doesn't need it -- she's so agreeable she goes to sleep and I don't have to lull her. But now I feel like she's "behind" on her music. Or, I am behind in teaching her -- see, baby? Music! Is nice! And comforting! Oh well.
I'm sure we'll look back fondly on this time of our lives one day. Right now we're just motoring.
Thursday, May 8
Product Reviews: Bottle Warmer & Heart Warmer
Was I a complete moron as a first-time mom? YES. Yes I WAS. I did not think about the potential benefits of this bottle warmer. Thank God I got smarter between then and now. UM, HELLO? Do YOU own a 2-story home? Do YOU keep a microwave -- or even better, a stove and a pan of hot water -- on the same floor as your bedrooms? No, neither do I. And this bottle warmer has SAVED my aching KNEES, my almost-34-year-old KNEES, for the love of God, from having to stumble downstairs at 2:00 am carrying a hungry baby. So, Five Stars, Bottle Warmer. You are AWESOME.
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You need this Mulberry Whoosh. Seriously. Got kids, around 4 years old? You need this. It is so fun -- a book with a CD, which, in our house, makes it automatically the BEST BOOK EVER -- and is a darling updated take on "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." I never could remember the words to the original song anyway. Was it a "cold and frosty morning?" or "so early in the morning?" No matter -- now I have plenty of silly verses to get stuck in my head.
The narrators/singers on the CD use all these wacky, nasaly or strangely-pitched voices, which at first made me wrinkle my nose, but once again: AM I A MORON? Kids eat thar stuff up. Funny voices? COOOOOL. AJ laughs and sings along and mimics said voices from start to finish. Besides that, the illustrations are bomb-diggity -- a real work of art. AJ loves this book. And so do I. And I wanted to share.
------
You need this Mulberry Whoosh. Seriously. Got kids, around 4 years old? You need this. It is so fun -- a book with a CD, which, in our house, makes it automatically the BEST BOOK EVER -- and is a darling updated take on "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." I never could remember the words to the original song anyway. Was it a "cold and frosty morning?" or "so early in the morning?" No matter -- now I have plenty of silly verses to get stuck in my head.
The narrators/singers on the CD use all these wacky, nasaly or strangely-pitched voices, which at first made me wrinkle my nose, but once again: AM I A MORON? Kids eat thar stuff up. Funny voices? COOOOOL. AJ laughs and sings along and mimics said voices from start to finish. Besides that, the illustrations are bomb-diggity -- a real work of art. AJ loves this book. And so do I. And I wanted to share.
Wednesday, May 7
For Mother's Day
I really liked Arwen's thoughts about motherhood and about sharing the burdens and joys of it, instead of throwing them at each other in a useless competition for Best Parenting. For me, this part hit home:
Oh, Yes. Amen, sister. There's one particular mom at our daycare, Amy, who works for a large red soda company based here in Atlanta, and whose son is in AJ's class. She's never been anything but nice to me and yet, I have this mental block about her. Like maybe she's doing things better than I am. Or maybe she makes more money than I do and therefore fancies herself better than me. I know from AJ's teachers that her kid often gets in trouble and sometimes it secretly relieves me. I don't know where these thoughts come from, but I'm taking Arwen's wise advice and putting a stop to them today. I know in my heart that she has the same struggles as I do. The same hurt when she can't pick her boy up as early as she'd like to. The same sadness when he's sick or badly behaved. The same tired wish for him to LISTEN to her, and for him to grow up happy. Anyway, Amy, wherever you are today (probably on the connector right now, wishing traffic weren't such a PITA), I'm thinking of you in SOLIDARITY and FRIENDSHIP. :)
And for my own mother, who's headed off to visit Croatia (!!! brave woman, goodhearted wife !!!) this weekend, I wish a very happy Mother's Day. Because you, as I've always said, have given me such a gift in yourself. I'm blessed and lucky that you chose to be my Mom. :) ...Also because your Hallmark cards may not arrive before you leave the country. From one mom to another, I'm sure you understand.
"I'm guilty of it too, absolutely. It is true that I feel confident in my relationship with my daughter, but I am not without my moments of self-doubt. More than one time I have looked at another mother and felt relieved that she was not measuring up in some way, because it took the (self-inflicted) pressure off me."
Oh, Yes. Amen, sister. There's one particular mom at our daycare, Amy, who works for a large red soda company based here in Atlanta, and whose son is in AJ's class. She's never been anything but nice to me and yet, I have this mental block about her. Like maybe she's doing things better than I am. Or maybe she makes more money than I do and therefore fancies herself better than me. I know from AJ's teachers that her kid often gets in trouble and sometimes it secretly relieves me. I don't know where these thoughts come from, but I'm taking Arwen's wise advice and putting a stop to them today. I know in my heart that she has the same struggles as I do. The same hurt when she can't pick her boy up as early as she'd like to. The same sadness when he's sick or badly behaved. The same tired wish for him to LISTEN to her, and for him to grow up happy. Anyway, Amy, wherever you are today (probably on the connector right now, wishing traffic weren't such a PITA), I'm thinking of you in SOLIDARITY and FRIENDSHIP. :)
And for my own mother, who's headed off to visit Croatia (!!! brave woman, goodhearted wife !!!) this weekend, I wish a very happy Mother's Day. Because you, as I've always said, have given me such a gift in yourself. I'm blessed and lucky that you chose to be my Mom. :) ...Also because your Hallmark cards may not arrive before you leave the country. From one mom to another, I'm sure you understand.
Monday, May 5
Contents
I think my last post was lame.
This one, The Continuation, might not promise to be much better, but hey, I'm a slave to the subject matter that the Internet demands at this moment. ;)
So, inside the Diaper Bag, a visual:
clockwise from left:
- $10 bill because I'm too lazy to put it IN the wallet
- wallet, OLD
- gift card to Ann Taylor LOFT (thanks, Mom!)
- program from AJ's Spring Program (can't decide whether to file it under "Heartstrings" or "Excess Crap")
- aforementioned burp cloths, onesies, formula, diapers, wipes, & changing pad
- oh! a hanger! leftover from this weekend's baptism of KT, which I have to tell you about -- the "custom" at our church (evidently) is NOT to dress the baby in the White Garment until After the water part of the rite (yes...! interesting... and weird!)
- yellow toy cell phone, or so I thought, until AJ informed me indignantly that IT'S A CALCULATOR. From a Wendy's Kids' Meal (mom of year award!)
- Welcome envelope of coupons from my new hair salon
- raisins in mini boxes. For emergencies
- gum in 2 flavors
- missing from photo: Fave lip gloss. Where is it? Not sure. Also, bottle of water, which I realized right after taking the photo but had already put everything else back in, and, not going to re-create at 10:00 pm.
My other bag is smaller, pinker, and perfect when I go to work. I just transfer the wallet and a few other important Ida., and can JET!
- Target gift cards. Still have 2 to spend, around $30 each! Wooohoo!
- purse itself. A Tommy Hilfiger I got at Marshall's for cheap.
- nail file, nice and dusty (eww)
- Palm Zire. I loved this when I first got it but it doesn't hold a charge for crap. It's an electronic address book since that's the only feature I really use. Bummer.
- iPod nano in handy carrying pouch. MWAH!
- more raisins. (I don't love 'em that much, but they are served so rarely at our house that they're a great diversion when AJ is Extrememly Pissy-slash-Hungry.)
- pen, lipsticks, and more gum. I am a bit obsessed with gum lately.
So. Fun for you? Fun for me. Oh, I forgot my cell phone because I often keep it in my back pocket like a teenager. I also chose not to photograph all the gum wrappers, used grocery lists (several), and various other detritus that just gets lost in the big bag. It's a shame when a pretty bag becomes a Receptacle. Pennies and expired coupons are the BANE.
This one, The Continuation, might not promise to be much better, but hey, I'm a slave to the subject matter that the Internet demands at this moment. ;)
So, inside the Diaper Bag, a visual:
clockwise from left:
- $10 bill because I'm too lazy to put it IN the wallet
- wallet, OLD
- gift card to Ann Taylor LOFT (thanks, Mom!)
- program from AJ's Spring Program (can't decide whether to file it under "Heartstrings" or "Excess Crap")
- aforementioned burp cloths, onesies, formula, diapers, wipes, & changing pad
- oh! a hanger! leftover from this weekend's baptism of KT, which I have to tell you about -- the "custom" at our church (evidently) is NOT to dress the baby in the White Garment until After the water part of the rite (yes...! interesting... and weird!)
- yellow toy cell phone, or so I thought, until AJ informed me indignantly that IT'S A CALCULATOR. From a Wendy's Kids' Meal (mom of year award!)
- Welcome envelope of coupons from my new hair salon
- raisins in mini boxes. For emergencies
- gum in 2 flavors
- missing from photo: Fave lip gloss. Where is it? Not sure. Also, bottle of water, which I realized right after taking the photo but had already put everything else back in, and, not going to re-create at 10:00 pm.
My other bag is smaller, pinker, and perfect when I go to work. I just transfer the wallet and a few other important Ida., and can JET!
- Target gift cards. Still have 2 to spend, around $30 each! Wooohoo!
- purse itself. A Tommy Hilfiger I got at Marshall's for cheap.
- nail file, nice and dusty (eww)
- Palm Zire. I loved this when I first got it but it doesn't hold a charge for crap. It's an electronic address book since that's the only feature I really use. Bummer.
- iPod nano in handy carrying pouch. MWAH!
- more raisins. (I don't love 'em that much, but they are served so rarely at our house that they're a great diversion when AJ is Extrememly Pissy-slash-Hungry.)
- pen, lipsticks, and more gum. I am a bit obsessed with gum lately.
So. Fun for you? Fun for me. Oh, I forgot my cell phone because I often keep it in my back pocket like a teenager. I also chose not to photograph all the gum wrappers, used grocery lists (several), and various other detritus that just gets lost in the big bag. It's a shame when a pretty bag becomes a Receptacle. Pennies and expired coupons are the BANE.
In the bag
I win I win I win! Surely you heard that I won one of Swistle's fabulous contests. :) I am so excited for her new writing gig. And happy about my PRIZE from this artist!
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love purses. When I go to Target, it's all I can do to avoid that purse area, which is always RIGHT UP FRONT in every different Target I frequentwhyIS THAT? The lovely bags at Target are usually $24 or less, which is good for me, but I still don't buy as many of them as I would like.
...Unrelated Aside: Oh, dear, my baby swing is dead of "C" batteries this morning. I do not have four Cs in the house, not even if I strip them from AJ's other toys, and ACK, I am working from home today. Can't be done without a baby swing! A trip to Target, therefore, will be made here SHORTLY.
Anyway, I thought, in light of my new bag, it'd be fun to show you my old bags, and what's in them (a good ol' fashioned Internet trick).
My Diaper bag:
... is not very fancy. It's one of your general choices at Babies R Us and it's really a prettier chocolate brown than this photo indicates. But I like it a lot. I wish two things: that it had TWO side pockets for bottles, and that the buttons on the front were sewed more tightly on (one of mine has already come off). BUT! It's pretty much just what I wanted. PINK trim helps. :) Inside, for baby:
- a nice changing pad (came with bag)
- diapers (although I discovered we were down to ZERO on Saturday when KT was in her white, heirloom christening gown and I thought she'd pooped... thankfully she hadn't)
- wipes
- an empty bottle
- a thing of formula powder
- a bottled water
- 2 onesies, a burp cloth, and a light blanket
...for me:
- Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss (LOVE!)
- some other lipsticks in case of emergency
- my iPod nano, when I remember to charge it
- cell phone
- gift cards and coupons for diapers
...aaaaaaand KT's woken up from my second attempt at a morning nap. This will have To be continued when I get back with batteries. Up next, we'll view INSIDE the purse(s). WOooooooo! Cliffhanger!
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love purses. When I go to Target, it's all I can do to avoid that purse area, which is always RIGHT UP FRONT in every different Target I frequentwhyIS THAT? The lovely bags at Target are usually $24 or less, which is good for me, but I still don't buy as many of them as I would like.
...Unrelated Aside: Oh, dear, my baby swing is dead of "C" batteries this morning. I do not have four Cs in the house, not even if I strip them from AJ's other toys, and ACK, I am working from home today. Can't be done without a baby swing! A trip to Target, therefore, will be made here SHORTLY.
Anyway, I thought, in light of my new bag, it'd be fun to show you my old bags, and what's in them (a good ol' fashioned Internet trick).
My Diaper bag:
... is not very fancy. It's one of your general choices at Babies R Us and it's really a prettier chocolate brown than this photo indicates. But I like it a lot. I wish two things: that it had TWO side pockets for bottles, and that the buttons on the front were sewed more tightly on (one of mine has already come off). BUT! It's pretty much just what I wanted. PINK trim helps. :) Inside, for baby:
- a nice changing pad (came with bag)
- diapers (although I discovered we were down to ZERO on Saturday when KT was in her white, heirloom christening gown and I thought she'd pooped... thankfully she hadn't)
- wipes
- an empty bottle
- a thing of formula powder
- a bottled water
- 2 onesies, a burp cloth, and a light blanket
...for me:
- Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss (LOVE!)
- some other lipsticks in case of emergency
- my iPod nano, when I remember to charge it
- cell phone
- gift cards and coupons for diapers
...aaaaaaand KT's woken up from my second attempt at a morning nap. This will have To be continued when I get back with batteries. Up next, we'll view INSIDE the purse(s). WOooooooo! Cliffhanger!
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