bitty bird

It has been done

2011-07-16T20:31:00.003-04:00

And he looks like a totally different kid!

2011-06-09T18:10:00.002-04:00

Evan will be 2 in August. I can't bring myself to cut his hair. Am I nuts to think it looks cute?

Hello Heat!

2011-06-07T18:18:00.002-04:00

So nice of you to show your glowing yellow face. You forced me to buy a mommy swimsuit today. My last bathing suit purchase was 6 years ago and it was a tiny little bikini. Today's purchase would be considered more of a dress than a swimsuit. But you know what? I don't really care. It allows me to sit my butt in the kiddie pool with my babies and soak up your glorious rays. So, thank you sweet sunshine. Hope to see you again tomorrow.

Stay tuned...

2011-06-05T23:43:00.003-04:00

I haven't had reliable internet service in nearly a year. But I'm back and ready to share all the happenings of the last year. Let me gather my thoughts and I'll be back! See you soon.

This is how city folks enjoy wildlife

2010-03-22T08:19:00.002-04:00

For three days Lane and I have been completely obsessed with watching this barn owl sit on her eggs.

http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Live_Owl_Nest_Box_Cam.html

Her name is Molly and she's beautiful. One of her eggs has hatched and we are anxiously waiting for the others to follow. Lane brings her toys and books to read while we wait. He kisses her through the computer screen. Every morning the first thing he says when he wakes up is "Let's check the owl."

Her man McGee shows up from time to time to bring her a rat. What a good daddy.

2010-03-12T09:39:00.008-05:00

I've been meaning to write more but days are kind of meshing together and before I know it, another week has passed.

Evan is officially 7 months old. Time is passing much more quickly than it did when Lane was an infant. Evan sleeps pretty much through the night now. I put him in his swing at around 8pm when Lane goes to bed. He'll sleep there until Ryan gets home from work, usually around 11pm or midnight. That's when I head to bed and Ryan will change and feed him and put him in his bed for the rest of the night. His bed is right next to my side of the bed so if he stirs in the night, I just have to reach my hand over and touch him. He grabs my hand and falls right back to sleep. It's the sweetest feeling in the world to have such a tiny little hand hold onto yours. He grabs my fingers and holds my hand up against his face. I love it. He'll usually wake around 6am and I take him into the bed with me and he falls right back asleep laying on my chest. As much as I hate mornings, I look forward to that time. We both fall back asleep until around 8 when Lane wakes the whole house up.

Lane is amazing. He's such a smart little guy. He can count to 20, knows all his colors, shapes and letters. He's a very complimentary kid too. Every morning when I get him out of his bed he says, "Mom, I love your shirt (or pj's, or glasses, or hair, etc.)." He always finds some way to compliment me. Yesterday as I was getting dressed he told me he loved my underwear. What a sweet boy! He's very loving to Evan too. He'll bring him toys and sing to him when he's upset. And Evan is totally captivated by Lane.

Check out these comparison pictures. You can definitely tell these guys are brothers.

Lane at 6 months:

Evan at 6 months:

Evan can sit!

2010-02-16T14:12:00.002-05:00

I'm ashamed of how long it's been

2010-02-12T11:55:00.009-05:00

Hope some of you are still around.

We have been stuck inside, buried under lots of feet of snow. I decided to give this blog another shot.

I should update. Evan is 6 months old now. Seems like I've always known him though. That's the funny thing about being a mom. There is a real familiarity about your kids.

He has two teeth, eats peas and sweet potatoes and loves his Whoozit toy. He's a very cuddly baby and would live on my hip if I let him. He's so yummy sometimes I want to bite him.

Lane had developed quite a personality. He cracks me up all day long. We got a Wii for Christmas and this kid is hooked. One of his favorite things to do it make Mii's. For those who don't know, they are characters you can make in your likeness to play Wii games. I've given him free range on the Mii channel and here are some of his creations. Notice the names.

bvcx is a female, by the way.

This one is my favorite.

He seems to have a thing for dark skin and red shirts. Hmm. Once the little men are in bed, Ryan and I go through Lane's daily creations and have a good chuckle.

Lane's also into yoga, thanks to Wii Fit. He's pretty darn good at it too. Every morning he tells me he needs to do his workout. I love that kid. I can't believe how fast he's growing up. He really went from a toddler to a boy in the last few months. We can have real conversations now. And just look how handsome he is!

Percocet makes me a better parent and other observations from the first two weeks.

2009-08-28T12:26:00.004-04:00

The last two weeks have taught me quite a few things. And here I thought I already knew it all.

-When presented with the choice of showering, sleeping or eating; sleeping always wins.

-Flossing, shaving, vacuuming, dusting and cooking are optional.

-You know you need to get your 2 year old out of the house when he keeps saying "I want to have a good time, mom".

-As soon as you brag that your baby is a good sleeper, he'll make a liar out of you.

-Newborns poop more than they pee.

-Nipples need to be broken in. They bleed easily.

-Toddlers can live off of gold fish crackers and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

-There is nothing in the world better than the feeling of your newborn baby falling asleep in your arms.

Welcome to the world!!

2009-08-22T17:11:00.006-04:00

Evan James was born on 8-11-09 at 10:23 am. He was 8 pounds 6 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long. He is the most beautiful little thing and I am madly in love. He looks just like his big brother but with red hair! He is a great baby who never cries and sleeps all the time. I have to wake him up to feed him or else he'd sleep all day.

The birth was uncomplicated. All went well except the allergic reaction I had to the tape they used on the bandage over the incision. Of all things that could go wrong, leave it up to me to have a tape allergy! We spent three long nights in the hospital and were home on Friday. My bed never felt so good.

Things are going well minus the bladder infection and nasty case of mastitis but I'm on the mend and should be back to my normal nutty self in a few days.

Lane is loving his little brother. He brings him toys and kisses his head all day long. He is such a sweet boy.

And just to complete the series, this is me at 39 weeks, right before I left for the hospital.

38 weeks

2009-08-05T08:53:00.002-04:00

6 more days!! I am so ready to get this baby out! My hips and pubic bone feel like they are on fire, I'm having contractions throughout the day, and I can no longer breathe. I went to the grocery store yesterday to stock up and when I got home I felt like I had just run a marathon. I was completely worn out. I have one more doctor's appointment and one more non-stress test this week then next Tuesday is the big day.

He loves me too!

2009-08-03T17:09:00.001-04:00

He told me so.

I melted.

The final countdown

2009-08-01T15:29:00.004-04:00

10 more days! I've been going for non-stress tests at the hospital to make the baby is doing ok. Today they told me I was contracting the whole time. I didn't feel a thing. Same thing happened when I was pregnant with Lane. I couldn't feel the little contractions. It wasn't until I was 5 or 6 centimeters dilated and they were intense that I felt them. They checked me and my cervix is still closed. Thank god!

All I know is this baby doesn't get his walking papers until the 11th. He better read the fine print. My mom isn't in town until the 9th and we are going to a baseball game that day. We have those Presidential Suite tickets again and I'm not missing it. If he's lucky, I'll let him out on the 10th.

Oh, and apparently I'm so big the nurses in the labor and delivery ward thought I was having twins. They were expecting a mom with twins today and thought it was me when they saw me!

37 weeks

2009-07-29T22:47:00.003-04:00

These pictures are getting embarrassing. I'm huge.

I'm officially full term!! This baby could safely come any day now. My doctor told me to be prepared to go into labor before my scheduled c-section date. That scared the shit out of me! What does he mean? Why did he say that? There's no way I'm letting this kid out before August 11th.

Oh, and I woke up to a lovely note from Ryan. It read: "You must pack a bag for the hospital today or risk the possibilities of your loving husband's selections." He's honest and he knows me well!

Conversation with a two year old

2009-07-23T09:22:00.002-04:00

Me: Are you ready to get your pj's on and go to bed?
Lane: Five minutes.
Me: Excuse me? Do you even know what five minutes means?
Lane: Calm down, mom.

Baby news

2009-07-23T09:14:00.005-04:00

The doctor says this is a "big" baby. He couldn't tell me how big but said if I were closer to 38 weeks he'd send me to have him now. Lane was 8 lbs, 6 oz. I'm thinking this guy is going to be around 9 lbs. I'm a southerner. We make 'em big!

He's still breech and it's looking more and more like I'm going to have a c section. My doctor is hesitant to try a version since he's so big and there's not much room to move in there. Plus, he'd want me to stay in the hospital after the version until I delivered. That would be about 2 weeks. Can't do it. I'm dreading the three days I absolutely have to be there. No way could I do two weeks. Plus, who would watch this guy?

36 weeks

2009-07-23T09:10:00.002-04:00

I don't think it's possible to get any bigger!

Smart Ass

2009-07-16T13:13:00.002-04:00

My son told me to "calm down" today. I was trying to get his pacifier from him. He knows he only gets it when he goes to bed but he somehow snuck one into the living room. I made kind of a big deal over it, hoping he'd realize he didn't need it and hand it over. That's when I got the "calm down" speech. What the hell is going on around here?

Groupies

2009-07-15T23:33:00.002-04:00

35 weeks

2009-07-15T23:30:00.003-04:00

I'm getting worried.

2009-07-10T21:07:00.003-04:00

So, this baby is breech and stubborn. I've been reading all I can about how to get him to flip. Basically, I need to stand on my head all day. Yeah, that's happening.

Other suggestions are to put an ice pack where the baby's head is. They will move away from the cold. Also, play music where the head should be as they will gravitate toward the sound. I've also read that stimulating the pressure point on the outside your pinkie toe flips the little suckers.

Being an over achiever, I of course attempt all techniques at once. I wish I had a picture to prove my craziness. I've been hanging myself upside down off the sofa with an ice pack on the top of my stomach, Lane's musical mobile at the bottom of my stomach and clothes pins on my pinkie toes. So far all I've achieved is a throbbing headache from the blood rushing to my head and a severe case of indigestion. Note to self: next time do this on an empty stomach.

I have an appointment next Wednesday and I plan on talking to the doc about attempting an external version. That's where they try to turn the baby from the outside by pushing on your stomach. The problem is that it can be painful and you need to have it done in the hospital as it sometimes results in an emergency c section.

I'm against having a c section. It's not the surgery itself that I'm against. I want to do what is best for the baby and I realize that in some circumstances, a c section is necessary. It's more that a c section seems disappointing. I won't be able to see what they are doing. Ryan won't be able to cut the cord. They won't put the slimey little mess of a baby right on my chest. I won't be able to breast feed right away. Plus, as crazy as it sounds, at some level, I enjoyed labor and pushing Lane out. It just felt right. I felt like I accomplished the impossible. I want a chance to do it again.

So please send me some good baby flippin' vibes. The clock is ticking.

34 weeks

2009-07-07T17:28:00.003-04:00

Are you sick of seeing me in the same clothes yet? Here is the official list of things I own that fit:

-one pair of jeans

-one green shirt

-one grey shirt

-one blue dress

-one black dress (this one only sort of fits)

That's it.

33 weeks

2009-07-03T10:35:00.002-04:00

Ocean City

2009-07-01T15:51:00.005-04:00

Our first official family vacation!! It was only a day but it was a good day.

I'm 32

2009-06-29T18:01:00.003-04:00

Ouch!

Matching Game

2009-06-25T20:42:00.004-04:00

My genius is obsessed with letters right now. Every time we see a sign, he must stop and read off the letters. I saw this on some one's blog (I don't remember who's so if this is your idea, thanks!!) and thought Lane would enjoy it. It took all of 10 minutes to make and I'm hoping it will be hours of fun.

As you can see, the markers were loads of fun too.

I just realized that there are a lot of pictures of Lane with no shirt on this blog. Hmmm. Maybe I should start dressing my kid.

Greetings from time out...

2009-06-25T20:40:00.002-04:00

I'm getting to know this corner pretty well.

32 weeks

2009-06-24T22:09:00.003-04:00

Father's Day

2009-06-22T12:53:00.003-04:00

I had Lane paint a picture for Ryan for Father's Day. I'm really excited about how it turned out. Check out my little guy working his magic:

And the finished product:

Ryan loved it! I have to say, I outdid myself this Father's Day. He also got new hair clippers, a couple of shirts, a new hat and two giant boxes of Sweetarts (of which I already ate half). But to be honest, I'm setting the stage for my birthday which is next Sunday. I figure if I make Father's Day something special, it'll guilt him into going overboard for my birthday. Great plan, huh?

I'm a proud mommy

2009-06-22T12:51:00.002-04:00

A lady at the playground told me you can tell Lane is a kind boy. It made my day!

31 weeks

2009-06-17T15:47:00.001-04:00

baby updates

2009-06-13T14:43:00.003-04:00

I had an ultrasound on Thursday to check the baby's growth. Since I have a history of hypertension, my OB wanted to be sure the baby was growing on target. Babies born to moms with high blood pressure tend to be on the small size. Well, we showed them. My bean weighs 3.6 pounds, above the average of 3 pounds. I think he's going to be a big boy, possibly bigger than Lane. Lane was 8 pounds 6.6 ounces and I think this guy will be closer to 9 pounds. But here's my question: If this baby weighs 3.6 pounds, why oh why, have I gained 35?

The other news is the baby is still breech. My doctor isn't concerned since he still has 2 months to flip but I'm a little freaked since Lane was never in the breech position. I've been reading up on techniques to flip him and I'm trying them all. You should see some of the positions I get my big butt into. I've also tried putting clothes pins on my little toes and putting an ice pack on the top of my stomach while playing music at the bottom. If I get to 36 weeks without him flipping, I'm going to an acupuncturist. They have a great success rate in flipping babies. Last resort will be a chiropractor. I'm dead set against having a c section so I'm willing to try anything to get this guy to turn.

I just finished going through all of Lane's old baby clothes. I also pulled out the swing and bouncy seat. I feel ready for this baby. I'm in the agonizing waiting stage now. I'm ready to get this show on the road. The next two months are going to drag.

Bad mommy moment

2009-06-13T14:40:00.003-04:00

I rolled the car window up on Lane's head this morning. Thank God I caught what I was doing before I rolled it all the way up. It could have been bad.

30 weeks

2009-06-09T20:41:00.009-04:00

I can't believe I'm already 3/4 of the way there. Actually, I'm even closer than that since my doc will probably induce me early. Besides the enormous amount of weight I've gained, this has been a pretty uncomplicated pregnancy so far. By this time with Lane, my feet were swollen, my blood pressure was starting to creep up and I had terrible hip and back pain. So far, my blood pressure has stayed in check and I feel great. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant.

I've been trying to do lots of fun things with Lane in these last few weeks. I'm so worried that he will think we are replacing him or ignoring him.Today we went to Chuck E Cheese. Besides getting hit in the eye with a skee ball, Lane had a blast. I have to say I did too. He had cotton candy for the first time and loved it. He took a bite, said "yum", then took off running around the entire place.

We also went to a Washington Nationals baseball game on Sunday. Ryan was able to get us seats in the presidential suite. We were in the 4th row directly behind home plate. Let me tell you, this is the ONLY way to see a baseball game. There's a full buffet to stuff yourself on before the game then once you're in your seats they bring you anything you want. Hot dogs, drinks, popcorn, ice cream, peanuts.....all for free!! I was in pregnant lady heaven!

Check out my boy with his popcorn. It was as big as him.

And pooped out at the end of the day.

Oh, and my little man pooped on the potty for the first time yesterday! He's growing up too fast.

The cutest kid on the playground

2009-06-03T16:39:00.003-04:00

And possibly the whitest.

My baby is a big boy now

2009-06-03T16:29:00.006-04:00

Lane decided to potty train himself! I'm shocked. I wasn't even going to attempt potty training him until he was closer to 3. I hear it's a nightmare, especially for boys, and wanted to make sure he was really ready before I pushed it.

A couple of nights ago I took his diaper off after dinner and didn't want to put another one on him since he was about to get a bath. I just told him if he needed to pee he had to go on his potty. I never in a million years thought he would do it. We put on Max and Ruby and he sat on the potty watching it. A few minutes later I hear, "Mom, a sound!!" He was talking about the sound of the pee going into the potty.

He stood up, said "water" as he pointed at it and we all did a happy little dance. The rest is history. He's gone in the potty every single time since then! Well, except for at night.

Check him out. This is great blackmail for when he's older.

And here it is. His very first pee on the potty. Something only a mother could be so proud of that she would actually publish a photo.

29 weeks

2009-06-03T16:22:00.000-04:00

and one day.

28 weeks

2009-05-26T16:52:00.002-04:00

27 weeks

2009-05-26T16:45:00.000-04:00

26 weeks

2009-05-13T11:08:00.002-04:00

and one day.

See that look on my face? It's because I've already gained 25 pounds. That was my goal for the whole damn pregnancy. I'm a beast.

25 weeks

2009-05-05T21:15:00.004-04:00

It's flying by now. I feel great, but huge. I'm already starting to waddle.

Today is quite a significant day. First of all, it's Cinco de Mayo. Second, three years ago today, Lane was conceived. Third, I paid off my credit card today, making us free of debt except for our mortgage. So have a margarita for me!!

24 weeks

2009-04-28T22:07:00.003-04:00

Earth Day

2009-04-21T23:31:00.002-04:00

With Earth Day being tomorrow, I took the opportunity today to get all the earth unfriendly tasks I need to do out of the way.

-I dyed my hair with chemical laden dye. I must say though, I do look good.

-I cleaned out my bathroom closet, throwing away numerous plastic bottles of half used face wash, shampoo, lotion and various other beauty concoctions that promised miracles and never delivered. I didn't wash out or recycle a single one of them.

-I drove the car to run errands to places less than a mile away.

-I made a purchase and didn't use my reusable cloth shopping bags. One of the purchases was a rug made of recycled materials. How ironic.

I'm feeling rather guilty over all of this so I promise to make it better tomorrow.

-I'll keep the lights and tv off all day. I can't promise I won't use the computer.

-I won't drive the car.

-I promise to remember my reusable bags when I grocery shop.

-I'll skip my long soaking bath and opt for a quick shower.

-I'm buying new containers for my recyclables. The ones I have now are too small and it often deters me from throwing a bunch of things in them.

Ahh, I'm already feeling better.

Bummed

2009-04-21T21:53:00.003-04:00

I'm getting really frustrated with the apartment search. Why is DC so expensive? We have 6 weeks until the end of our lease and it doesn't look hopeful.

I won't be devastated if we have to stay here. I love it here. I love our neighborhood, our neighbors, our building. I can walk to just about any store and numerous playgrounds. The bus is literally steps from my door. Ryan's commute to work is less than 10 minutes. And the view! Oh, Lord, the view. I stare out of the window most of the day.

Every place I look at just doesn't compare. Plus, they all cost too much. I just wish this place was a little bigger. Honestly, it doesn't even have to be bigger, it just needs an extra wall. A wall to make an extra bedroom. Even the two bedrooms we are looking at don't have as much square footage as this place does.

I'm bummed.

23 weeks

2009-04-21T21:47:00.003-04:00

Mr. Personality

2009-04-16T21:46:00.009-04:00

Now that he's talking more, Lane has really become a quirky little kid. His personality is shining brightly and I love it. Here's a few nutty things he's done lately.

He hates when Ryan and I are having fun. Especially if we are singing or dancing. Although he used to be amused and would giggle when I sang to him as a baby, he now puts his hand out as if to say stop, and says, "Whoa! Whoa!". Like he's saying, "Hey lady, it's time to cool it." Break out into a little dance and he screams, "Noooooo!!" and stomps his feet angrily. Weird. I guess we're already the embarrassing parents.

I made some bunny paw prints and taped them to the floor leading up to his Easter basket on Sunday. When he woke up and saw them he stopped and stared for a minute, taking it all in then said, "A mess. A mess." and shook his head back and forth. Then pulled them up and threw them away. Apparently, he wasn't too pleased with the bunny for leaving his dirty prints on the living room floor. I was able to capture it in pictures.

He thinks his name is you. I can't blame him. We're the ones who kept telling him that. When we look at pictures we'll say "That's mommy, that's daddy, and that's you." So now every time he sees a picture of himself he screams "You, you!"

His newest "game" is pretending to cry and telling me he's sad. Then he asks for a hug. It's really sweet and I kind of like this game because it always ends up with him letting me hold him and kiss him to make him feel better. It backfired on me today though. I thought we'd reverse rolls and I pretended to cry. Then he started to really cry because he didn't know I was pretending.

What a sensitive, quirky soul.

I've kissed my baby a million times today

2009-04-15T22:27:00.004-04:00

I've mentioned before I belong to an online community of women with babies born the same month as Lane. Although I've never met any of these women in person, I feel they are some of my closest friends. We've shared birth stories, milestones, and frustrations. We've talked each other through those rough first months with a newborn when we had no idea what we were doing. We've encouraged each other when one of us was trying to conceive and cried with each other when it was once again "not our month". We've celebrated the births of siblings. We've vented about our husbands or our rough day stuck at home. We've laughed at the funny things our toddlers say and do.

And now we are collectively crying and broken hearted. One of our friends is fighting a battle no mother should ever have to face. Her sweet baby boy was diagnosed with high risk stage 4 neuroblastoma (cancer). He has several tumors and it's also in his bone marrow.

When she wrote, "He was diagnosed with cancer", it took my breath away. I can't even imagine how she felt when she heard those horrible, terrifying words.

What do you say when there really are no correct words?

I suddenly see Lane with brand new eyes. That frustration over him throwing his toys or not wanting to eat dinner seems so wasteful now. What silly, insignificant things to get upset about.

Hang in there, Garrett! Fight hard. Your MMT mommies are rooting for you.

ETA: When I ran spell check on this post, neuroblastoma came up incorrect with no suggestions for a correct spelling. Even blogger thinks that word shouldn't exist.

22 weeks

2009-04-15T22:24:00.003-04:00

This was taken after eating an enormous dinner so I look a little bigger than I actually am.

2009-04-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

21 weeks

2009-04-07T16:01:00.000-04:00

And here it is.

2009-04-07T15:56:00.003-04:00

Made from scraps I had laying around. I knew that fuzzy yellow fabric would find it's calling one day.

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's on it's Way!!

2009-04-05T16:45:00.002-04:00

I have a tradition, if you can call it that since this is only the second year, of making a stuffed animal for Lane's Easter basket. Some of you might remember the mutant bunny from last year. I'll do myself a favor and not dig that post up.

I was smart this year and instead of just winging it and pretending I am actually creative, I found a cute pattern. This year I'm making this chicken, or at least my interpretation of it. I'm working on it tonight and will post the pictures tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Aww!

2009-04-02T22:22:00.002-04:00

This is so sad.

2009-04-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

I started filling out the new baby's book. Just the basics like the family tree, about the parents, our hopes and dreams for the baby, blah, blah, blah..... I get to the current events page and started filling out things about world leaders, famous sports teams, movies, celebrities, etc. Then I get to popular songs. I draw a blank. I have no idea what's being played on the radio right now. I mainly listen to NPR and other talk radio shows. I'm so lame. And old.

Half way there!

2009-03-31T21:53:00.003-04:00

20 weeks

Congrats, Sue!!

2009-03-31T15:49:00.005-04:00

I'm so proud of my good friend, Sue, the talent behind Giant Dwarf, that I actually squealed when I read her latest blog entry. She is an ingenious designer and seamstress and her goods are now being sold on the Anthropologie website!! Please take a minute to check her out and pick up a Primrose Fascinator. You'll be the cutest chick on the block this Spring!

We have a ghost!

2009-03-30T15:58:00.002-04:00

I love flea markets!

2009-03-30T15:37:00.003-04:00

This little vintage matchbox car has triggered a new obsession. I picked it up at a flea market this weekend and now I'm on the hunt for more, more, more! I'm starting a collection. The best part is Lane and Ryan are down with it too. Funny thing is that I would have easily overlooked this little jewel before becoming a mom to a boy.

I'm being a good mom and letting Lane play with it, even making sure he keeps it out of his mouth because I'm pretty sure red paint from 1966 is loaded with lead.

How exactly did this happen?

2009-03-27T22:06:00.004-04:00

I never thought I would be the mom of two boys. See, I was a girly girl as a kid. I played with dolls until I was 11 and even then had to be coaxed to give them up. I liked Barbies and My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch Kids. I wore dresses and loved pink.

My sister was the polar opposite. She was a tomboy who loved fishing and played soft ball. She liked taking things apart to study it's mechanics. She wore baseball caps and had skinned knees.

But life has a way of handing you what you need. Perhaps it's nature's way of making you a well rounded human. A way to make you see both sides of the coin. I was given two boys. My sister is now the proud mom of two little girls. Life is balanced.

Another 19 week shot

2009-03-27T13:33:00.002-04:00

It's a.......

2009-03-27T13:31:00.002-04:00

What to do with all that artwork

2009-03-24T21:25:00.004-04:00

I have stacks and stacks of Lane's artwork and like any proud mom I can't bring myself to get rid of a single scrap of it. I want to display as much of it as possible but I'm running short on wall space. Here's my latest idea on how to display it. Make one of a kind canisters. Bonus: extra storage.

My little squirrel is already thinking about what to hide in them.

19 weeks

2009-03-24T21:23:00.002-04:00

Only 2 more days until the big ultrasound!!

Lane's Head vs My Lip

2009-03-22T21:56:00.001-04:00

Head wins.

We've been working on getting rid of the pacifier.

2009-03-20T20:17:00.004-04:00

It's not going so well.

I think I'm raising a squirrel

2009-03-19T21:06:00.007-04:00

Lane's newest obsession - hiding random items in random spots.

It dawned on me one night as we were picking up toys that I was picking up less and less each night and some things seemed to be missing. It started a scavenger hunt that has lead to the discovery of numerous hiding spots throughout the apartment.

I believe it started with him putting his small trains in an old ceramic pot I made in college. Then he started hiding things behind the couch. Next, I found things stashed in the double stroller I bought for when the baby comes.

I guess he got bored hiding his things because in the past month, I've found my cell phone and charger, a bottle of lotion and some Vicks vapo rub hidden behind our bed. I also found some refrigerator magnets under the living room rug.

The amazing thing about it is that he keeps a mental inventory of every item in each spot. If you ask him where something is, he goes right to it.

Just for fun, let's check out the ceramic pot. This seems to be his favorite spot.

And the loot:

He seems to have gone with a theme here. Dogs, trains, and balls. Plus a Mardi Gras doubloon, a Target receipt and the embarrassing tube of KY that I thought of editing out but decided it would ruin the integrity of our little experiment.

Good Lord, I love This Kid!

2009-03-19T17:01:00.003-04:00

18 Weeks

2009-03-19T16:58:00.002-04:00

The Cycle of Life

2009-03-19T16:28:00.003-04:00

What an emotional yet productive day. Yesterday started off with awful news that Ryan's uncle died after a long battle with diabetes and all the complications that come with it. It was a phone call he'd been waiting for and dreading.

It was a sad day for Ryan but we managed to make it fun none-the-less. I could tell Ryan was making an effort to remember the day and enjoy being with us. We spent the day outside with Lane at the playground, swinging, sliding, playing in the sand, kicking and throwing balls. Lane really knows his way around the playground now and even goes down the big slides all by himself. I love and hate at the same time that he is growing up so fast.

We also checked out a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment only a half a block from where we live now. I love our neighborhood and am dreading having to leave it. But, two bedrooms around here will cost you an arm and a leg. The apartment was huge and the building was nice and believe it or not, in our price range. I'm not ready to jump just yet but I'm glad to know we have options.

Strangely, the day ended with a call from my grandma telling me my cousin had a baby girl. There couldn't have been a more appropriate ending to the day.

11 Days and Counting...

2009-03-15T23:37:00.008-04:00

until I find out if this bladder kicker is a boy or a girl.

I'm at it again.

2009-03-15T23:18:00.007-04:00

Sorry, I'm not ignoring you. Life has just been boring.

I'm feeling good. Finally hitting my second trimester stride. This is where things get enjoyable. Except for this damn cold. Lane gave it to me. Who knows who gave it to him.

We are looking at places to move. A one bedroom apartment is hardly cutting it now and adding another human to the mix is going to suffocate us. Either we get a bigger place or I throw half the stuff we own out. Hmmm, option 2 actually sounds enticing.

Because I'm a compulsive planner, or maybe because I'm morbid, I often think about what I would grab if this place catches on fire. Besides the obvious two year old, I can't think of a single thing I would want to take. Everything just seems so replaceable.

Yesterday was a rainy day so we decided to spend it indoors at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. By far my favorite exhibit was this incredible doll house.

Here are a couple of close ups:

I would have spent hours and hours playing with this thing as a little girl. Hell, I could spend hours playing with it now.

Yeah, see. I told you life's been boring around here.

17 big fat weeks!

2009-03-15T23:16:00.001-04:00

2009-02-03T22:24:00.003-05:00

Smells I used to love but now make me sick:

Baby powder

Dove soap

Baby wipes

Pantene shampoo

Suave deodorant

Downy dryer sheets

Smells I used to be able to tolerate but now send me running from the room:

Coffee

Cat food

Vinegar

Olives

Ketcup

Any food that has been out for more than 10 minutes

Any trash in a trash can for more than a day

What exactly is the benefit of this pregnancy symptom? I've heard that cravings and nausea serve as a way to steer you in the direction of foods your body needs. Sore breasts are a side effect of expanding milk glands. Headaches can be a clue to blood pressure issues. I have yet to figure out why we have an increased sense of smell. I think it's one of those medical mysteries like the appendix or the pinkie toe. Sure, there are theories about their existence but does anyone really know for certain? Someone solve this for me. I'm running out of choices for hygiene products.

2009-01-24T20:45:00.006-05:00

Finally, I'm feeling a little bit like my old self again. I'm about 75% there. I can't believe I forgot how bad morning sickness can be. Well, I didn't really forget but I somehow convinced myself it wouldn't be as bad this time around. Ha! I'm not religious but I found myself praying out loud every night that I would wake up feeling better. In my delirious state I vaguely remember some bargaining with God going on too. I may have even offered to baptize my kids. Hmm, maybe I should uphold my end of that deal for good measure.

Tonight I was feeling so good I was even able to cook myself dinner for the first time in three weeks. Sweet and sour chicken stir fry. Yum. I ate two huge bowls then polished off half a box of crunch berry cereal. I'm thrilled to have my appetite back.

Now, if I could only get Lane to eat. We ended up in the ER a few days ago because he couldn't stop throwing up and I couldn't get his fever down. He was diagnosed with a nasty stomach virus, re hydrated, given Tylenol (which actually raised his temperature), given Motrin (which lowered it) and sent home with instructions for his mom (that would be me) to be aggressive with pushing fluids. That part proved fairly easy as he is a drinker, which makes me worry about his college years, but that's a different post. Since then he's only eaten a few crackers and a bite or two of pasta. The doctor told me not to worry about the food, he'll eat when he's ready, but I can't help but worry. How can one go three days on four crackers?

I'm beginning to think he's on a hunger strike to prove a point. Maybe he's protesting my choice of lounge pants and t shirts as standard attire for the last few weeks? Maybe he's tired of me telling him to go color a picture while I lay on the sofa? Maybe he's sick of his only outings lately being trips to the grocery store? Eh, who knows? He's probably just afraid to throw up again. Poor fella.

Check out my celebrity hubby

2009-01-24T20:41:00.002-05:00

Ryan's picture is popping up on all the trashy tabloid sites! Who knew I was married to such a celebrity?

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2009/01/hudson_restaurant_lounge_capta.php

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

2009-01-19T10:45:00.002-05:00

Today you turn two. I can't believe how time has flown. You are the sweetest, smartest, most handsome little guy I know and I am thrilled to be your mother. Every day you amaze me with how much you know and how caring you are. You always seem to know when I need a hug or for you to make me smile. I never thought I'd be the mom of such and incredible and sensitive little boy.

I am savoring these last months that it is just you and I. Soon you will be a big brother and no longer my only baby. I will miss these days.

Enjoy your special day, son! I love you more than you can fathom. You are my world.

1st ultrasound

2009-01-16T19:20:00.003-05:00

Look at my little bean. Isn't he/she the cutest blob you've ever seen?

I'm starting to feel a little better although most of my day is still spent on the sofa. It's been bone chillin' cold out so I don't really mind staying in. This pregnancy has gone pretty routine so far except since I'm considered "old" I've been given the option to see a genetic counselor for some testing. I had a simple Downs Syndrome test done when I was pregnant with Lane so I'm opting for that one again. Nixing all the others.

There is a strange smell in my apartment and I can't seem to find the source. I've searched high and low to no avail. Ryan doesn't smell it and I'm sure it's my bloodhound nose playing tricks on me. I just can't stand it so I'm sitting here with the window open and the heater on.

I got a new camera!

2009-01-04T21:34:00.014-05:00

Feeling pretty pregnant now. I'm sick most of the day and haven't left the sofa for a week. Here's what it looks like:

Notice I can't even get up to dress my kid.

Lane has been watching way too much tv and I feel so guilty I even cried about it yesterday. You can see in the picture that he can't even look away long enough to smile for the camera.

I've been letting him take his Thomas and Friends tub toys to bed with him. Oh how he loves them. He kisses them and takes them for rides in his wagon. The other night I snuck in to check on him and this is what I found:

He had them lined up on his pillow. Then last night, this is what I found:

They were lined up at the foot of his bed. Kind of creepy but oh so cute.

And I'm sure I'll regret this but here's a belly shot:

I'm two months along now and look as big as I did at 4 months with Lane. I started that pregnancy out with a tiny waist though and this one, well, there's nothing on me you can consider tiny.

Embarrassing but True.

2008-12-25T21:42:00.008-05:00

A new pregnancy symptom has shown it's ugly face. Once I get hungry, I'm STARVING and must eat immediately or all hell breaks loose. Last night, after putting together the train table we got for Lane for Christmas, hunger struck and I browsed the near empty shelves of my pantry for anything that looked appetizing. Then, out of the living room came the voice of an angel. "I'll go get McDonald's," he said. Before the words left his lips, I had his coat in my hands and I was shoving him out of the door. I jumped in the shower hoping that would occupy the time while he was gone.

As I'm drying off I hear the door open and my mouth starts watering. I try to avoid fast food, especially at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve, but being pregnant does something to you. Hormones replace willpower. Then I see Ryan's scared face and empty hands. "They were closed," he said nervously. See, he's no fool. He remembers what it's like to be around me when I'm pregnant. It's really surprising he agreed to do it a second time. Trying desperately to control myself, I just said, "Well, it is Christmas Eve." Then I shut the bathroom door and cried.

I ended up having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What a sad substitute.

I can't say I'm not impressed

2008-12-22T09:54:00.002-05:00

I'm sure you've all seen Bush dodge the flying shoes by now. All jokes about our current pres. aside, I'm extremely impressed with his cat-like reflexes. At least one of those shoes would have hit me square in the face. And I'm not even a drunk.

Apparently I'm old

2008-12-22T09:35:00.004-05:00

I've joined a new online mommy group. After having Lane, I discovered a group of supportive ladies with kids the same age as mine. I still check in with these gals every day and was hoping to find another group just as lovely to talk about this pregnancy with. Well, surprisingly, every group I found was filled with drama. Except one. Pregnant Moms OVER 30. Yep, I joined the old lady group. Some of the ladies were talking about how their medical charts at their OB were stamped "Advanced Maternal Age". Gasp!

2008-12-17T14:22:00.002-05:00

I had my first bout of morning sickness this morning. It lasted all of 5 minutes but was enough to have me questioning my decision to do this all over again. I know it's all worth it but man, it's terrible while it's happening. Lane was banging on the bathroom door while I was dry heaving saying "Maaaa, Maaaaa!!" in his little munchkin voice. What a sweet boy.

The only other symptom I have is my super human sense of smell. Opening my pantry door and smelling all the spices knocks me back. I also keep thinking I smell fire. So now I have to add worry about the building burning down to my long list of things I'm already worried about. I'm worried about this unborn baby's health, about how Lane will adjust, if he will be mad at me, if we can afford this baby, where we will move, if we can sell our house in North Carolina, if I will be able to manage two kids with no sleep, if I will be able to breastfeed, if I will gain too much weight, if my blood pressure will go up again, blah, blah, blah.....

Sorry about the somber tone of this post. I'm blaming hormones.

I passed up 15 seconds of fame today

2008-12-15T18:48:00.003-05:00

All because I had dirty hair. I rushed out of the door this morning, unshowered, in order to get to the post office before the lunch time rush. Today is supposedly the busiest shipping day of the year and I was determined to avoid the long line I had to endure last year. Proud of myself for even getting out of the door before lunch time, I loaded up the stroller with boxes and cards to be mailed and of course Lane. I walked the half mile to the post office, stood sweating in the relatively short line (yes, I sweat even in 50 degree weather) and mailed my packages. I turn around to see a local news channel camera in my face wanting to ask me a few questions. Embarrassed, I declined because all I could think about was my dirty hair and sweaty face. Talk about a lesson in hygiene.

I've been busy. Really, really busy.

2008-12-10T12:05:00.003-05:00

This is my official apology for neglecting you. But I have a reason. A good one....

I've missed you guys

2008-11-06T10:35:00.003-05:00

I know I've been gone a while but I'm back and we need to catch up. I've really missed you invisible internet people.

My little guy is getting so big. He's a real kid now, talking and having opinions and all. It's amazing and frustrating at the same time. He's slowly entering terrible toddlerhood. He's a very easy going guy but when he wants something, he MUST have it. He's also quite quirky. He's in love with Thomas the train and pretty much all things motorized. He screams "toot" when he sees a bus, which is every 30 seconds around here. I live on a main street in DC so lucky for him buses make regular appearances. I see so much of myself in him it's scary. Who knew I'd make such a pretty boy?

I'm still not pregnant. We've been at it for 6 months and I'm starting to lose hope. Six months was my cut off before I made that dreaded appointment with my OB to talk about "options". Ugh. I'm scared of those options.

Oh, and now for the best news. I've made a discovery. Shapewear. It's like a bra for your jelly belly (or whichever body part needs holstering) and I don't know how I've lived so long without it. I would have let myself go long before now had I only known about shapewear.

Yes, I did!!

2008-11-05T09:14:00.001-05:00

The way it was

2008-08-27T20:07:00.006-04:00

All of my family is in the New Orleans area. I don't have to tell you what that city has gone through lately. Now Gustav looks to be heading their way and the city is once again in an uproar.

Maw Maw called me yesterday. Some of my family members have already booked hotel rooms outside of the city and she was worried about where she would go. "Robin, we never used to run every time a storm was coming." she said. "We just got a lot of canned goods."

This is so true. I grew up in New Orleans and have seen my share of hurricanes. In the 25 years I lived there, we never left the city because of a storm. Katrina really did a number on the people in that city. In pre-Katrina days, instead of fear, we felt excitement. Schools were closed, grocery stores shelves quickly emptied. We stocked up on booze and food and above all, we had fun. Yes, fun.

As soon as the rain settled and the streets were nice and flooded is when the real party began. People would gather outside, some surveying their house for damage, some trading stories. Once the dust settled, everyone was outside PLAYING in the water. The kids would ride their bikes and float on rafts. At least one neighbor would pull out his pirouge, seizing the chance to finally use the little boat. Streets became giant public pools. The only warning our parents gave us was to stay away from the snakes. Good advice. Don't worry about the feces you're swimming in, just stay away from the snakes. Oh, and floating red anthills. It's truly amazing that not one of us sprouted a third eye.

Now I just feel sorry for the residents of New Orleans. All the excitement has been replaced by fear and as much as I'm rooting for them, I just don't think it will ever be the same. I think Fay claimed 12 lives in Florida last week. 1800 died in New Orleans alone when Katrina hit. It's really hard to fathom that sometimes.

This picture cracks me up.

2008-08-23T22:14:00.006-04:00

Lane seeing himself after finger painting for the first time.

And here is the beautiful art he created.

I really did it this time

2008-08-22T14:44:00.004-04:00

Is my kid the only one who finds it necessary to take EVERY SINGLE toy he has out EVERY SINGLE day? He's at the point now that he doesn't even play with them. He pulls out a toy, examines it, throws it to the middle of the room, repeats. It's like he's taking inventory. From the hours of 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, my living room looks like I run a daycare. I'm talking kick toys out of the way to get out the front door mess. I'm pretty embarrassed by this and as a result, no one is ever invited over. When a package is delivered, I open the door a crack and quickly snatch the package in fear that the delivery person will see the disaster I'm living in. It's sad really.

The mess has now become dangerous. I'm not known for gracefulness but yesterday really took the cake. In my effort to save Lane from plummeting off a chair, head first, I dislocated my toe tripping over a damn toy. Today I'm limping around like an old man. If that wasn't my lesson in keeping things tidy around here, I don't know what is.

So tell me, perfect moms, how do you get your kid to pick up his mess?

Score!

2008-08-17T23:16:00.006-04:00

I'm on a bargain high. Today was Beautiful. Yep, with a capital B. I had no destination but had to get out so Lane and I just started walking. We came across a garage sale. Oh, the joy! I picked this up for $10.

A Kinderkram fire truck in perfect condition. It was thrown in with a bunch of junk toys and it almost leaped out of the pile when it saw me. It still had the $100 price tag on the bottom. The nice lady also threw in a potty time Elmo book and a Thomas the train toy. Good for Lane 'cause he ain't playing with this.

I also scavenged this from the trash room of our building.

It's the perfect size for my tiny apartment and I love the clean lines of the mid century modern look. Now if someone would just throw out a dining table I'd be set.

I'm it!

2008-08-16T21:57:00.004-04:00

Lucky me. I've been tagged by If It Isn't One Thing, It's Another! and windycityvegan. Just when I thought everyone forgot about little old Bitty Bird.

7 things about me, numbered, which is almost as good as bulleted:

1. I'm trying to get knocked up. I'm on month 3. While I'm generally a patient person, this is taking way to long.

2. I'm addicted to the babycenter message boards. As soon as I sit down at the computer I have to check them. I literally can't stop myself. Sometimes I wind up there without even remembering clicking on it. I told you, I'm truly an addict. I hate myself for this.

3. I won MVP of my 8th grade soft ball team. I'm the most athletically challenged person I know. That's how pathetic our team was.

4. I almost lost Lane is a labyrinth because I'm afraid of bees. He walked right through a mob of them and I froze. Before I knew it he took off and I was still there, frozen. I don't know where this fear comes from since I've never been stung by one.

5. I was in 6 car accidents in 6 years. None of them were my fault. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

6. I'm pretty sure I have psychic abilities. Sometimes I'll think of someone I haven't seen in years then I'll run into them the next day.

7. I auditioned to play Susan Sarandon as a teen in Dead Man Walking. I made it to the final 6 but didn't make the final cut. I got to meet her and Tim Robbins. He's tall.

Now the hard part. 7 bloggers I'm tagging:

1. Chickens and Hens

2. Tiffany

3. Winter Wonders

4. The Toby Show

5. Is This What You Do All Day?

6. Pillows vs. Pincushions - please start posting again. I miss you.

7. DemandaBanana - start a blog. I know you have some funny shit to say.

You mean you've been gone this long and you come back to talk about chickens?

2008-08-06T14:41:00.020-04:00

Hello, friends. It's been a while hasn't it? I wish I could come back after all this time with something exciting to say but nope, not much has happened lately. That would explain my absence. Nothing to write about.

Passport to DC aired but they only talked about the drinks at Hudson. Nothing about Ryan or his wonderful food. It is sure to bring some business through the doors though. It's also restaurant week and they are insanely busy so I am a single parent for the time being.

We went to the Montgomery County Fair this weekend. I love animals but was conflicted. I hate to see them in cages. Couldn't have affected me too much though since I ate a big ol' hamburger right after.

Did you know there are like a million types of chickens? If you're anything like me, you think of this when you think of a chicken.

Well, just look at all these chickens. I got quite obsessed and had to take pictures of them all . They're so pretty.

This guy was by far my favorite. He was posing for pictures.

I was also shocked by these KKK sheep. I'm sure there was a reason for the hoods and robes but I couldn't help but think farmers are being insensitive. I mean, do they have to be white?

Why couldn't they have more fashionable attire like this guy? He definitely was the best dressed one of the bunch with his mock turtle neck. He knew it too.

Once Upon a Time, There Were Three Girls From the Westbank.....

2008-07-03T15:21:00.006-04:00

I have two of the very best friends a gal could ask for. What makes them so special? Quite a few things and for that they deserve a bulleted post, my favorite type of post.

-No matter how long we go without talking or seeing each other we easily slide right back into place. Just like pieces of a puzzle, we always fit.

-They know more about me than some of my very own family members. And they better keep their mouths shut.

-They remind me of who I am. Sometimes I forget.

-They are two of the most beautiful women in the world and they don't even know it, making them even more beautiful.

-Being friends with them is effortless.

I had a nice day, ladies. Hope to see you both again in September.

Confessions

2008-06-30T13:18:00.003-04:00

-I used disposable diapers while on vacation and have yet to go back to cloth since I've been home. I'm dreading washing those stinkin' things.

-I bought a bottle of Lysol kitchen cleaner and I think my kitchen is cleaner than it's been in months.

-I use the TV to babysit my kid.

-I've been taking naps with Lane.

I feel much better now.

The Vacation Post

2008-06-26T12:58:00.006-04:00

I've been going over in my head just how this post should be organized but since nothing about my trip down south could be called organized it's fitting that this be a random mess of a post. Bare with me. I'm still recovering from all the mayhem.

First of all, let me get this out of the way. Lane is awesome. He was so good on the plane and in the million hour car ride to and from Houston that at times I forgot he was with me. I also want to apologize in advance to my family. Some things may be said that you would rather not be publicized but it's all in the name of entertainment. Get over it.

Some highlights from our trip:

-A long standing family feud, one so bad it actually involved one family member throwing underwear at another, has been put to rest.

-The funniest thing I've ever heard: Maw Maw (age 81) and her sister (age 79) went to a party where they struck up a conversation with a new friend. Maw Maw's sister asked how old do you think I am? Even at almost 80, looks are extremely important to my dear aunt. The lady replied, "About 72.". My aunt ate it up. Can you imagine being flattered that someone thinks you're 72? We'll all be there one day, ladies.

-My grandma's favorite saying "If God says the same." For example, "We'll make this trip again if God says the same.", "If God says the same, I'll be able to see their faces again." God sure had a lot to say on this trip.

-You could not pay me enough to go back to the Galleria. After lugging my 30 pound baby plus my 15 pound diaper bag around the entire Galleria TWICE trying to find a place to rent a stroller only to find one who demanded a $60 deposit, I have had my fill of the place. Never again!!! That journey ended in me saying, "I'm going to the car. Find an exit and I'll pick you up when you're ready!". Oh, fun times.

-After staying in a hotel room with 3 babies and one 81 year old, I know why investigative reports always find urine and feces throughout the rooms. We definitely left our share.

-My high school friend was beautiful at her wedding. She looks exactly the same, in a good way.

-I am a control freak.

-My mother's new nickname is "The Stealth Cleaner". You turn around for one second and the whole place is clean, mopped and all. She has yet to share the secret of how she does this with me.

-My poor baby suffered a few injuries on this trip including ripping his knee open on a carpet tack strip and running head first into the corner of a table. I also looked up from shopping to find him drinking a cup of coffee he found on a shelf in Walmart. That one made me throw up a little.

-My three year old niece's favorite word is "Why?". I swear I heard this 2,458 times while I was there. Now that I'm home, I sort of miss it.

-Upon returning home I realized that men and women do not mean the same thing when they say "I cleaned up". Let's just say some things had to be thrown away and some things will never smell the same.

I'm Back!!

2008-06-26T09:06:00.003-04:00

Boy, I missed you guys! I have lots to talk about but for now I'm just announcing my return. Stay tuned for vacation details. There's so much to talk about that I have to wait for the little one to take a nap to write it all out. See you soon.

See ya!

2008-06-08T14:00:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't been around too much lately but life is not handing me much to talk about. Fortunately, I'm heading down south to visit the family so I'm sure I'll come back with a story or two to share. My family is a constant flow of humor and insanity. We are the definition of dysfunction.

Maw Maw being the ring leader of the gang. Seven of us, including 3 kids under 3, are loading up in a van and driving 6 hours from New Orleans to Houston. Take this as a warning to stay far away from I-10. Maw Maw called me the other day extremely concerned that there would be no refrigerator in the hotel room we are staying in. I answer the phone to hear her mid-sentence "The babies need cereal in the morning! Robin, do they have a refrigerator? We need to at least have cereal."

So, wish me luck on my trip down there. Ryan is smart enough to stay home so I'm trekking alone with Lane. I'm beginning to panic. I've flown many times with him and each time gets harder and harder. That kid is strong and heavy and a professional wiggler. He's also been practicing his temper tantrums, waiting for the perfect audience to perform his show. I'm praying there is an extra seat on the plane I can park him in and strap him down. Of course I didn't buy him his own ticket. We've discussed this before - I'm cheap.

A bunch of words about nothing really

2008-06-03T21:03:00.003-04:00

I have nothing to write about today. I guess I'll just start and see what comes out. Sometimes I surprise myself.

We went to a playground we've only been to a couple of times yesterday. It was packed. I felt like I was the only one supervising my kid. Lane had a great time exploring all the new toys. I was able to sit on a bench and watch him from afar and it made me want to cry. He's getting so big and really doesn't need me following him around anymore. I did notice every couple of minutes he would look up from playing to see if I was still sitting there. I guess he does need me a little.

I still haven't heard from pampers. I know I should drop it but I'm way too stubborn. I feel like all these big corporations get to do whatever the hell they want and walk all over their customers. It really pisses me off.

Speaking of pissed off, I have a list of companies that I will never do business with for various reasons. I guess I'll share.

1. AT&T. I had an account with them years ago. When I moved it was out of state so I couldn't just transfer my service. I needed to get a whole new account. My old account had a 25 cent credit on it. They wouldn't credit it to my new account and since it was such a small amount they wouldn't send me a check for it. So every month I would get a statement showing this 25 cent credit. What a waste of paper and postage. I guess they lost track of me eventually because the statements finally stopped coming.

2. Verizon. When I lived in NYC I worked across the street from a Verizon office. Without fail, every single Verizon truck always had a parking ticket on it. Many times I saw the driver just take the ticket off and throw it on the ground. You know they never paid them and I'm sure if they did they passed the bill on to their customers in some way. So irresponsible.

3. Traveler's Insurance. I was in a horrible accident 9 years ago. I was rear ended and got whiplash and 2 herniated disks in my neck. Every year the pain gets worse and worse. The driver of the car that hit me had Traveler's. I was negotiating with them for a settlement and in the middle of it they sent me a letter from their lawyers saying that the statute of limitations for a settlement had passed and they would no longer negotiate with me. So I didn't get a cent from them except for the ER visit. I'm now stuck with paying for any doctor's bills I've incurred due to the accident.

4. American Express. I opened a new card with them and transfered a balance from another card to get 0% interest that they were offering. They said they never received my very first payment and raised my interest rate to 27%. Funny how I mailed a stack of other bills with that one and it was the only one lost in the mail.

5. Exxon. My car was leaking oil and I took it to Exxon to see what the problem was. They said the car obviously hit something and I had a cracked oil pan and it would cost $650 to replace. I filed a claim with my insurance company and asked Exxon if they would deal with the insurance company. They said they would but insurance companies never pay the full amount and they would have to bill me for the rest. Yeah, right. I took it somewhere else. In the end I actually had a cracked oil pan, cracked transmission pan and a broken bolt on the engine. All this costs $800 to fix. I find it hard to believe that all that was only $150 more than just the oil pan. No wonder they just reported a $40 billion profit. Easy to do when you're riping people off.

I'm sure there are more that I'm forgetting now but this post is getting too long. That's one thing I hate about reading other people's blogs. They get too wordy.

Ridiculous

2008-05-30T16:39:00.003-04:00

Today at the playground I saw a mom wearing these sandals in black. No wonder I don't fit in with anyone around here. I honestly feel a deeper connection with the nannies these moms have following them around than the moms themselves.

Learn from my mistake.

2008-05-29T18:28:00.003-04:00

ALWAYS have a back up of the pictures you have stored on your computer. If not, you will lose them all and sit in front of your computer for hours crying while searching through every file on the damn machine for the missing pictures. Then you will pray that your husband is smarter than you and can find them. And you will say over and over to yourself "I knew this would happen. I just knew it!". Then you will have to ask everyone you ever emailed pictures to if they happen to have saved them because you are a moron and lost them all. Then you will kick yourself for being lazy and only printing out the pictures of your baby from birth to 5 months. Then the rest of your life you will have to explain to your lovely son the reason no pictures exist of him from 6 months to 16 months. Then he will come up with a theory that he was adopted and you will have to break out the gory videos of his birth and possibly have to take a blood test to prove that he is indeed your biological child. Save yourselves this trouble and have a back up of all your pictures!