Off I go

I leave tonight for the other side of North America.

I intend to sleep in tomorrow, so don't bother me.

I promise not to call home every 5 minutes to see how AJ is doing.

I will not write out detailed menu selections for each of his meals.

I will not panic if his Gammy feeds him nothing but ice cream and/or cookies.

Perhaps I won't even ask about that.

I will have a fabulous time with my two favorite women in the entire universe -- Mom and Sis.

I am serious, I really won't call home all the time. Really. Maybe just twice a day.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

THIS time, I knew what he was doing when he snuck out to Walgreen's at 9pm "to get some Q-tips." And the greeting card on the kitchen table this morning confirmed my suspicions. :) Today is our fourth anniversary. FOUR YEARS! FOUR YEARS sounds like a long time to me. It's the length of high school -- God knows THAT is a long time! The length of college -- a very IMPORTANT time. So, we've survived school once again. We are so, so blessed to have each other. The two words I must say after this year of learning so many new things, of horomonal imbalance to the Nth degree, of love beyond all loves for a tiny little wailing creature... this year of making less money and spending more (on necessitites like formula and diapers), this year of more laundry than we ever thought possible, of never having enough time in the day, of falling asleep at 8:30pm instead of 11... of a dirtier house, a more annoying dog, a banged-up car, and a lot of washing of bottles... of trying to find the balance between work and life and home and church and singing and video games and yardwork and the (very) occassional dinner out.... you have been my lighthouse and my comfort, and still are my very best friend... and the two words that I owe you are Thank (and) You.

Wisdom and wine

It turns out you don't need any member of a Book Club to have read the book, in order to have productive, enlightening, funny, fabulous conversation. Maybe Certainly, it was the wine that made us all feel so philosophical last night -- but I am consistenly amazed by the women in this group. They are friends in every sense of the word, and role models to me. They are educated and professional, but never intellectually puffed up. They are mommies (almost all of us now!), and shining examples of what it is to be good at that important job, no matter how they choose to do it (at home full-time or while working careers). Last night we talked about all the different kinds of motherhood, and the role of women in society, and how that role has changed (and yet, stayed much the same) throughout history, and that women today have so much power that needs to be used for the greater good. And how our generation is a pivotal one, we think, for the role that women will play in the future, because we were the first generation to be told, "You can be whatever you want to be." And other such mind-expanding topics. I'm so, so, lucky to know each of them.

P.S. Is it telling that the book we were supposed to have read was The Man in the Iron Mask, written by a man, about men (the ever-swashbuckling Musketeers), with one female character (the Queen Mother) who was basically powerless in her life and the lives of her sons? Hmmm?

Fun meme

I picked this up from Buffalo Wings and Vodka, and I like its spunk. Not your average, tell-me-about your-childhood-meme. You actually get to be opinionated in this one. What could be funner?!

Caesar’s Bath meme! List five things that people in your circle of friends or peer group are wild about, but you can’t really understand the fuss over. To use the words of Caesar (from History of the World Part I), “Nice. Nice. Not thrilling . . . but nice.”

1. The Apprentice. Someone actually said to me last night that she "learns things, you know, for the business world," by watching this show. Wha-huH? You have got to be kidding me. Wanna-be TV stars sucking up to The Donald? What's to learn? It's all about team dynamics and besides the fact that I dislike, and have always disliked, team projects, all you need to know is do your part, don't make waves. Oh, but there are always plenty of waves on that show. Drama-this and "I don't want to work with you anymore, so there" -that. It's fake, fake, fake, and besides that, stupid. I can't believe it's lasted more than one season.

2. Chai tea. Everyone's drinking this stuff but it tastes like crap to me. It's hot, watered-down milk with some kind of spicy, clove-like "zing?" Yuck. Wait, it isn't even milk, it's SOY. Double Yuck.

3. Safari for Mac OSX. Okay, in general, I will wholeheartedly agree that Mac products rule. But Safari… ? The Bookmarks feature sucks. I don't even understand it. Also, I always get the "Stop" button, an "X," mixed up with the plus sign right next to it, which is for Adding a Bookmark. I will say the Google bar at top right is a nifty feature, but still. I give Safari a 4.5 out of 10. Big woop. (Admittedly, I can only name one person who's said she's "wild" about it. But there are several who "like it better.")

4. Southern Living at Home products. I mean, really. I have a lot of these products and they're lovely. . . they're just not all that much nicer than what I could find at Pier One. Or, even better, Target. And I don't like having to invite my friends over to buy exorbitantly priced serving trays and flower arrangers. (For useful, inexpensive Pampered Chef kitchen items? Yes. Come spend your money at my house and I'll get free stuff. But not hoity-toity candle-holders.) Give me the well-produced magazine, and you can keep your home décor.

5. The Wiggles. (This one is really for AJ's sake.) All the little ones go ga-ga over the Wiggles, dancing in the aisles when they see a live show, waiting all morning for their 22 minutes of Disney air-time. AJ says, "Eh, whatever. They're not all that." He couldn't care less. Perhaps this will change in the future but I swear, I try to entice him with the bright colors and wacky Australian songs, and he'll watch for about 5 minutes, then goes back to being interested in the leaf I tracked onto the rug with my wet shoes. That goes for any kids' programming, really. Especially Baby Einstein. And I so wanted him to like those.

purpose

Today I have a purpose. Whew. I'll be making client edits to some copy and then proceeding with the site buildout, hooray. I feel better. I guess I felt down the other day because our work is always just so unpredictable. Although we set timetables, rarely do our clients keep every deadline, so we can have real "droughts" on every project. Sigh. Anyway, I guess I'm not so useless today.

Concert and singing updates: Everything went fine (got paid my hundred bucks for the wedding -- score!), and in truth, I'm just glad it's all finally finished. I even have the week off from Wednesday choir practice, since I'll be out of town on Sunday. After it was all said and done, I had some pretty extreme guilt about being gone most of the weekend, this one and last (it didn't help that I was pms-ing, either, and more moody than usual). My family needs to come first and this weekend, it really would have looked, to the outside observer, like music was my #1 priority. I'm still feeling a bit guilty because I'll be gone again THIS weekend, out of town (just me, not the hubby or baby).... but this is a very important occasion, and the ONLY thing important enough for me to leave town without them -- my sister's bridal shower. (Hubby assures me, by the way, that I must not obsess about the guilt. It's okay to feel it, but not to let it take the fun away from the things I'm doing. And he's right.)

So, the shower! We're so excited. Mom and I are both flying out to Sissy's to celebrate with her. We're going to "visit" her dress, and hopefully shop and do girly things. :) I'm definitely looking forward to it. I haven't seen Sis since, let's see... January! Too long! That's number one on my list of ten things I want to do before I die: Live close to Sis again. (I stole that from other people's blogs, but it's true for me, too.) I haven't finished my list but here's how it starts:

1. Live close to sis -- in same town
   
2. Be a stay at home mommy
   
3. Grow tomatoes
   
4. Give money to all the causes I believe in, including St. Jude's Children's Hospital and NPR
   
5. Write something that gets read, by me, on NPR (you know, a book review or commentary)
   

That's it so far.

Mind if I spruce up a little?

The place needed a pick-me-up. It's much better Pink. Brighter, bolder. Me likey.

What am I doing awake at this hour? AJ wakes up in less than 6 (especially since he went to bed at about 7:30 tonight), and therefore I Should Be Asleep. But I'm all keyed up after our rehearsal and although my eyes are sorta burning, I'm awake. Have lots of thoughts running through my head.

Thank you God for getting me home during the Major Thunderstorm that started as we were walking out of the church. I was directly in it the majority of the ride home. Had visions of tomorrow's concert being a really sad affair since we're performing "Lux Aeterna," part of the Requiem funeral prayer. "We deeply regret that one of our members, Soprano MySelf, was blown off the road last night after rehearsal. Evidently her eyes were burning and the pitch black of GA 120 didn't help, especially after that transformer blew at about 10:35...But all the more reason that The Show Must Go On, so that we can all sing for her Eternal Rest and Perpetual Light...sob, sob, sob."

Must remember to change the changing table cover (dirty) before the babysitter comes over tomorrow night, and remember to go to the grocery store and buy something for said babysitter to eat. (I always loved sitting for people who said, "Help yourself to the Stouffer's French Bread pizza in the freezer." Mmmm.)

My head hurts. PMS and singing for 2.5 hours. On a Friday. After work. Ow.

Wish that one post hadn't sparked someone to be negative in the Comments. Then again, why do I care so much what other people think? My best friend and I were discussing this the other day -- we predict (and have been told by others) that by the time we turn forty, we will cease to give a rip. That'll be better.

Wow, did I have a hard time at work today. Am feeling a bit useless in my job. Which is my doing, totally, but is kinda hard to deal with. Before taking the writing job, I could have been considered one of 2 things: The Boss' right-hand man, or else, his Secretary. (I prefer the former, thankyouverymuch.) Either way, he consulted with me a lot. It felt like, even though it wasn't the case, I was Quite Important. Now, he rarely comes to me for advice, or to share the "insider" secrets he knows about the company. Not that I care about being Important, but besides that, I just don't feel "central" to any of the projects going on. I feel very non-contributive. Or is it "contributory?" Whatever, it isn't good. Problem is, I'm fairly unmotivated to do anything about it. Don't know what to do about that. Hope no one notices? (Except the 2 coworkers who read this blog, of course... eeks. Hi, ladies.)

That one was deep. Much too much for 11:46pm on a Friday night. I'm beat. 'Night.

My Friday Five

Time to do some thanking for these blessings:

1. AJ no longer displays fits of crying and despair when I drop him off at daycare. I leave him in a highchair, ready for Cheerios (I think Cheerios ought to be paying me for all this free publicity), and he swings his little feet and happily observes the goings-on in his classroom. He'll even let me wave "bye-bye" without getting upset. This is a major feat and I'm so proud of him! And relieved. I love walking to my car and peering in the window to see him just watching his teacher and swapping morning babble/conversation with her.

2. Yesterday I finally got the (annoying) task of buying new carpet for our dining room finished. Now, several people have pointed out to me that new carpet + young child (not to mention dog) don't always add up right. And I know there are risks of muddy feet and spit-up involved. However, we are pretty sure the current carpet is mildew-y, and it refuses all the chemical fixes we have tried (well, admittedly we've only really tried one or two things)... it's just not worth messing with anymore. I don't want AJ sitting on, and rubbing his hands on, and rolling around on, years-old, leftover mildew from the previous owners. Yuck. Besides, new carpet will look nice and smell new. So there. I'm grateful. All that's left is scheduling it, and voila, happy new room.

3. I am privileged to be singing in a concert this weekend that I think will be fun for me and hopefully enjoyable for whatever audience shows up. If you're at all interested in choral music, please, for the love of Pete, go buy Morten Lauridsen's CD "Lux Aeterna" and listen to the first 5 tracks. Heaven on earth. In fact, it's used at conferences for the study of Near-Death Experiences; some claim it's the exact music you hear in heaven. I'm not kidding! Anyway, it's gorgeous and completely makes up for having to also sing Mozart's Missa Brevis (gag).

4. Lunch plans today with 2 girlfriends and I'm very glad we finally coordinated our schedules.

5. I'm grateful that DH's appointment with the doctor went extremely well yesterday.

Benedict XVI

We have a new Pope!

What will be strange is, this Sunday, during the Eucharistic Prayer, hearing the priest say, "...together with Benedict, our Pope, Wilton, our bishop..." In my whole life, I've never heard anything but, "John Paul, our Pope." The four syllables fit so nicely: da-dum, da-dum. Benedict sounds .... different.

But, hooray, we have a new Pope!

well I DID major in it

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?

I think this is funny because: a) I did study French for a long time, and felt all special and "connected" to what I was studying, with half of my ancestry being Cajun/Acadian/French.... and b) most of the actual "from France" French people I've known (versus the Louisianans), really DO think they have the best of everything. Or know the most of anyone. Or [eat, drink, smoke, converse] better than anyone. This used to drive me batty in the French department at college. I really tried to keep my distance from those snobs..... and finally, c) I reluctantly must place myself in the same category, since I often feel myself to be smart, sophisticated and superior. What is it they say? The things you dislike about other people are usually the things you dislike about yourself? Yeah. Um, true in this case.

The hell of it is, I can't speak a dang word of French. If someone asks me a question in French, my cranial translation software boots up VERY slowly. The verb conjugations flicker and bounce around in my brain, I can't remember one iota of vocabulary, and all I can do is say "je parle un peu," then quickly clam up, embarrassed to sound like such une idiot(e?) (It doesn't look right with the "e" but I'm female, right?). See? Not very sophisticated at all.

Singing

On Saturday, we had a marathon rehearsal for the Archdiocesan Choir concert that's coming up in 6 short days. I'm so glad we worked the Lauridsen piece TO DEATH, because it desperately needed such focused concentration (3.5 hours). I hope that the tenor section can pull it off. They sounded pretty scary from where I was sitting. (Sopranos, of course, were wonderful. As were the altos; seems like just the men could use more work. Sorry, folks, them's the facts. Meow.) I think part of the problem is that so many of the singers in that choir are stretched thin, musically. They sing in this or that concert ensemble, plus their parish choir, plus the Arch Choir. It's too much and no one has time to concentrate on that much music unless they don't have day jobs. It was frustrating, to say the least, but again, I'm glad we got the practice-time in.

Speaking of practice, I have just been going over the Ave Maria for a wedding I've been asked to sing. A paid gig, people! And $125 extra dollars fit very nicely into my budget plan for a whole new wardrobe. I hope I will do the song justice. My paternal Grandmother, "Peachy," was known in her little town for singing at weddings, in every church and every denomination. :) I wonder how many she did in her lifetime? I am using the same music she did, in all its tattered glory. My Dad saved it for me after she died. I am soooo thankful to him for giving me that little piece of her. I love seeing her markings (in pen!! eeks!) among the notes. She had a beautiful voice. She taught me two of the lullabies that I sing to AJ, which are the large majoiry of what I sing these days.

This weekend, besides lullabye-ing, I also got to cantor the 5:30 vigil Mass, just me, alone, with the microphone, as loud as you please in front of a congregation who NEVER joined in. Can you see my big grin all the way from over there? I was thrilled to be asked; apparently the regular guy was on vacation. It actually went very well; the things I screwed up were only really audible to me and probably to the pianist. And I learned, I think, that little mistakes (or big ones) are just God's way of keeping my ego in check. (I promise you, it's in check. I don't claim to be the greatest singer out there by any means.) There was also a flutist, about 40 years old or so, who hadn't played in front of anyone since she was 18. She was uber-nervous, which silenced the butterflies in my tummy, since, thank heavens, I have performed in front of people much more recently. (She did great, by the way.) Another little gift though, for which I was grateful.

The only drawback to all of this was that DH was designated babysitter for most of the weekend. I know he doesn't mind -- as a parent, one of the things you crave most is time with your little one -- but I also felt bad for taking away time that he could have been doing something for himself. I don't know what... mowing the lawn? He doesn't play golf or have many hobbies that require him to be out and about. But he deserves some time. Problem is, with the wedding and the dress rehearsal for the concert, and Sunday morning Mass, next weekend will be much the same. I have scheduled a babysitter so that DH can go to hear the concert himself (oh yes, choral music is SO his thing, not)... maybe we can go have a drink afterwards. I'm sure I'll be quite thirsty after all the music-making.

fresh air

It is gorgeous outside today. No... let me think... that doesn't do it justice. It is magnificent. Stunning. Glorious. Spectacular. It's about 67 degrees, the sky is blue, the birds are chattering. AJ and I, wanting to take part in it, sat in the grass and threw the ball for Napoleon about a million times. While he fetched, we pulled at the weeds and grass and AJ tried to eat them. We watched a young kid skateboard through the neighborhood. We felt a slight breeze blow by. We smelled cleeeeen dirt underneath the green. We saw the very definition of "dappled sunlight" teasing our azaleas, and the brightest, best green of the tops of the trees in spring. Can we just call it heaven on earth? Because that's what it was. I could have stayed there lying in the grass all afternoon.

energy shortage

I want to post something so that something besides "diet update" appears at the top of the page. I don't like to think of myself as a "chronic dieter" or even as someone who cares that much. I don't know why I'm embarassed by the headline but I am. So here's a post. I am not promising that it will be a good one.

I want to talk about work, as it's getting to me today. All the conversations and meetings about "taxonomies" and "compliance" and "architectures" and "prospectives" and blah ba dee blah blah corporate language is giving me a headache. Actually, no, it isn't a headache... it's the dread disease, ennui. Bore-dom. The Kingdom of Bore. I'm just not interested today. There are more important -- more interesting -- things in this world.... but, actually, no.... I'm not even interested in them at the moment. I'm tired of reading and absorbing everything that the world, the media, and (especially) our clients are putting out there. Do you know that we never stop absorbing? In the car, we listen to the radio. When we get home, we read our mail. Then check our email. Then our favorite blogs. Then we watch our shows, and of course, the news. I habitually pick up a magazine when I stand in a line, when I wait at the doctor's office, even when I go to the bathroom, just because it's sitting there. It just seems like, with so MUCH information, nothing really means anything. Not even the deep, theological opinions I read online, with interest, this morning. They're just self-absorbed people typing to see themselves in print ("talking to hear themselves talk"). And they obviously tired me out.

(So, here I sit, contributing to the information assault, both in my work and in my blog! I wish myself would shut up and go home.)

five minutes to post a diet update

I am not doing very well with keeping calories low. I have excuses, though -- my parents were in town and we ate out once or twice. :) HOWEVER, I have sore muscles because I've been doing some Pilates when I can. My hips and stomach muscles are workin' it. Today I'm motivated and going to "be good."

Can't stay long because I'm taking the little man to his doctor's appointment (check-up) this morning. Gratitude journal: 1-fitting into old "skinny" pants, 2-AJ took a nap at the perfect time this morning, 3-he's relatively healthy, 4-my parents are awesome, and 5-it might rain today and water my new little garden.

table manners

As I type this, my little boy is having his breakfast -- a pancake (ripped into crumbs) and banana-strawberry baby food. He's actually holding the pancake and putting it into his mouth himself! Figured it out yesterday, with toast. Of course, it's all over him and in between his little fingers, but who cares. That's definitely the way to eat a pancake -- with your hands. :) Wish I could get away with it! Of course, then I wouldn't be able to drown it in syrup like I do. Anyway, I'm eternally grateful to Grandmommy because she's the one helping him not get it in his hair, while I sit here and type.

We planted our flowers, finally; the daisies and dusty miller look great. And Mom and I got to go shopping, Dad and DH grilled steaks out on Saturday, and we went out to dinner on Sunday -- it was such a nice weekend.

The best part has been watching AJ interact with his grandparents, often at mealtimes. Yesterday at breakfast he remembered how to "pretend cough." My Mom and Dad got such a kick out of that. They sat there coughing and laughing at each other for at least 20 minutes. And he knew he was making them laugh -- he discovered what it means to be a ham. Today he's not much interested in the coughing, but he is talking up a storm. Ba-ba-ba-abb-ba. BA. It means everything. Bottle, Banana, Ball, and Hey guys, look over here. :)

When we went to the restaurant, he was so good. (We're lucky that he usually IS very well behaved. In church he never makes one peep.) Except about halfway into our dinner soiree. . . AJ decided it was time to test his volume control. LOUD seemed to be working just fine. So he used it: AH AHA AH AH AH AH AH AH! And AH-AHA-AAHHHHA--AHA-AH! Constantly! We thought it was pretty cute, as he's usually very quiet, but the other patrons did start glancing our way. I knew it was time to try to hush him by distracting him with a spoon, which I assumed he'd put straight into his mouth. Was all prepared to relieve the entire restaurant of his noise. Instead, he managed to reach over to my plate and, after all the shouting, banged the spoon several times for a complementary CLINK CLINK CLINK!! Hilarious.

from quite happy to not, really. . .

A friend of mine is going through cancer treatment. All of us probably have friends or family members who've gone through cancer treatment. I think that's why I have been fairly numb to it since it began for him; because it's just so common, because "they caught it early" (a frequently used palaver), and because I have heard this friend talk confidently about how he will kick this shit, if anyone can. And I know he will, of course he will. But…. Cancer is still a monster. Cancer, partnered with its evil twin, chemo, is still capable of sucking away 30 pounds of human in 1 month. Cancer still takes away the hair on otherwise hairy people! Cancer still makes lips seem pale, and faces seem gaunt, and hearts seem very heavy. Even for strong guys like this friend.

I wasn't aware. I'd think that, with all the damn money going into research for it, we could have advanced so that cancer doesn't DO these things to people. Also, I wasn't prepared. I wasn't ready to stare it in the face when he stopped by today. I feel really bad about not being ready. I feel bad about being surprised at how he looks. I feel bad about joking with him that he is so svelte, when really, it made me sad to see him that way. I just feel bad. I want this hard part to be finished for him.

9-month milestone

Happy 9-month-i-versary, Big Boy! Let's see, 9 months ago right this very moment, I was at the hospital, patiently (thanks to the epidural) waiting for you to appear. I remember watching each contraction on the monitor, and being amazed that I didn't feel anything but a strong pressure each time they came. I remember feeling like each contraction was a fast ride in an elevator. "Going up?" What a strange sensation. I snoozed a little, too. And then. . . then!! At 9:46a.m., when you arrived. . . whammo and pow! A new day dawned, the angels sang (oh yes, they did!), and nothing would ever be the same. *Grins at the absurdity of using cliches to describe such a moment.*

AJ at nine months is very busy. He will crawl across the floor in 2 seconds flat, if he sees something he very much wants, like the dog's squeaky toys. If I'm sitting with him, he'll crawl right over my leg -- just another bump in the floor. The best part about crawling is that he'll crawl up into my lap when he wants to be held. Cue the music, and watch Mommy turn into a lovey-dovey hugging machine. As fast as crawling caught on, AJ has also decided he'd like to stand up, if you please, so items that are about 2 feet high catch his attention lately. I could watch him all day, as he wrestles his little feet into position and then uses alllllll his strength to push and pull and wobble and balance and.... stand! (He did it!) He still needs someone to hold him up, but I don't think we're going to wait very long before he starts to cruise around the house using every piece of furniture for stability. Gulp.

Now, for posterity: his favorite toys are (Napoleon's) Squeaker and Wiggly Giggly ball, as well as his own little blue "planes, trains and automobiles" puzzle. Whatever toy he's playing with, the first thing he wants to do is turn it over onto its side or its back. He loves his "Bathtime Touch and Feel" book, especially the page with the squeaky purple turtle, and when he's finished reading all the books on his nightstand, the best part is knocking them all down to the floor, one by one. (Somewhat like our cat, Sasha, used to do with candies on Christmas.) He's eating all kinds of baby foods, and 1 or 2 table foods when I catch him in the right mood (toast, diced pears, macaroni). The last few nights, he has actually wanted to get into his crib before he falls asleep, rather than letting Mommy rock him to sleep with a lullaby. (Ouch! My heart!). He'll curl up with his blanket and chew on the end of it, watching his fishies in the Fisher Price Aquarium that hangs inside the crib.

The Mommy and Daddy, 9 months later, are finding our way in the dark. Just when we get it figured out, something new crops up to test us. Save for a little fatigue, a little later dinner hour, and a much less-vacuumed house, I think we're faring quite well. God's blessed us beyond measure and we love our new life, our little one.

all my boys are sick

Man, we can't go one fortnight (I guess that's about right -- 2.5 weeks or so?) without having sickness around here! Someone has put a pox on my house. Not cool!! DH has been suffering with fever every day for 4 days. What's up with that? He is very aware of when it comes, with its aches and chills, and when it goes, usually after taking Advil, and he sweats it out. Bizarre. Why won't it quit? Why every day?

And AJ is having a bit of the poopy pants again. We started the Pedialyte regimen right away so let's hope that kicks it. In general, he's happy. So at least there's that.

I'm feeling just fine, myself. Except I'm hungry. Off to find something to munch on.

. . . and speaking of joy. . .

We are picking up my new furniture today! I have carpet samples in my possession, all we need to do is pick one and schedule the Lowe's installation. Then, I can start decorating around the new stuff. Yoo-hoo! -- Garden Ridge, Cost Plus World Market, Pier One, and Target....? Get ready 'cause here I come!

five things I'm grateful for:
1. giggles
2. Einstein Brothers' bagels (yum)
3. tax refunds
4. my husband's kindness and gentleness (as opposed to Ron last night on Amazing Race! I so wanted to like him...but snippy remarks under your breath are a big ol' strike against, in my book)
5. beautiful spring in Georgia

joy

Yesterday I picked AJ up from daycare and had a pleasant conversation with the afternoon teacher, who said he'd had a really great day. Apparently, he'd been playing with another little boy on the floor, crawling around and talking to him, and just generally in a good mood. It was so nice to hear -- I worry, often, that he's the kid they all talk about at home after a long day of crying and clingy-ness. Only because he's at that age when separation anxiety becomes an issue. And I don't mean, just separation from me, but separation from any adult. They tell me at daycare that he does prefer having the "body heat" of people sitting with him, even when he's playing. Not sure if that means he's spoiled, or just very social. (Anyone?) But back to the story, his good mood was confirmed when I put him in his carseat -- typically seen by him as one of Mommy's torture devices, so that he throws his head back, straightens his legs, and refuses to sit down. Yesterday, though, he plopped right into place and immediately looked at me and smiled as I buckled him in and "washed" his hands with antibacterial gel. (Yes, I do this every day when I pick him up from daycare!) We stayed there in the parking lot an extra five minutes, at least, because he was giggling with every move I made. I don't know what was so funny to start out with, but when I realized he wanted to play, of course I couldn't resist tickling him.

His favorite games are "I'm... gonna... get... you!" (where my fingers tiptoe up his leg and tickle him at the neck), "Peek-a-boo," and "Pat-a-Cake." I love that when I say, "AJ, wanna play patty cake?" he lights up. He knows words!! Other than Mama and Dada! (He's a genius.) And, unless I'm making this up, he gets his hands ready when I say that, too. So cute. Oh! Another nice recent development is that he's finally formed a tighter bond with his Daddy. They have their little games, too, and he giggles like crazy when Daddy flips him upside down and gnaws on his tummy with a growl. "Arrr-rrr-rrra-arrr-rrrrrrrr!"

I can't wait for my parents to get here this weekend. They are going to be amazed at all his new tricks. It just goes so damn fast. I'm telling you, this year of his life is flying by. Pretty soon he'll have cake all over his face and "1"-shaped candle to make a wish on!

**slaps head**

Should I not have posted that comment on that person's blog? Oh, yiyiyi, am I going to be tasting foot in my mouth the rest of the day? I don't think I said anything inflammatory, and I enjoy reading the person I think I said it to.... but oh, I do hate confrontation, and WOW, do people on the Internet get nasty! I have been reading waaaaaaay too many Comments strings today. I'm not going to link to anything or bring any of the discussions here -- although I do think that there are valid conversations and debates going on out there in the blogosphere, and there's nothing wrong with honest debate -- but this is a Note to Self: Don't comment on blogs / issues if you don't want to invite confrontation. You hate confrontation, remember? You are not good at debate, so Stay Out Of It. **slaps head again, for good measure**