No, Mom, You CAN'T Put Up Your Christmas Tree Today....

... or subtitled, "Let the Freakin' Turkey Have His Day Too.."
Yes, this is an actual conversation that I had with my wonderful Mom this weekend. In all fairness I do have to say that the comment was directed to her very Martha-like boyfriend (but that's a story for another day), yet I'm still shaking my head days later. I'm not bah-humbuging the holidays- I love decorating my house for the holidays, but the earliest that IMHO it should be permissible is mid-November at the earliest.
    Seriously- there is at least a few more celebratory occasions between Day 'o Candy and Christmas that should at least be given a cursory nod before you put up the evergreen tree and toss some tinsel on it.
    I mean the holidays are overly commercialized as it is, but holy moly, to actually have Christmas stuff out in retail stores BEFORE Halloween is just a bit more than I can understand. Yes, really.  I had to take MiniLatte to pick up some sparkles for her Tinker Bell costume and there right next to the giant light-up Jack 'o Lantern were CHRISTMAS trees galore and a display blasting carols. On October 30th. OCTOBER. That's a full 56 days before Christmas. To say something nice about it, MiniLatte did exclaim, "Christmas Tree!," so I can imagine that it's going to be a fun December. Emphasis on December.
    I love, love, love Fall- the colors, the cozy fireside afternoons; baking cookies; pumpkin, vanilla, falling leaves, apples.... I like to celebrate those little things before I jump into full-swing Christmas. Maybe it's the fact that we've only had one week of Fall so far here (70 on Halloween, and then 50 the next day followed by the first storm- seriously, a late Fall) and I'm a bit behind schedule. (Um, yes, carved pumpkins done exactly one doorbell ring into the trick or treaters!) or the fact that I was used to a delayed start on Christmas until after college finals. (It doesn't matter that excuse is losing merit so five years ago!)  I just can't relate to Christmas preparations before Thanksgiving...
    It's like retail is setting the tone for letting us enjoy the holiday season and each store is trying to one-up the other with it's first Christmas sale. It just bugs me.... and don't get me started on Santa. Jolly Old Saint Nickolaus was already sitting court at the mall center court- and it was just November 6th. The mall was already decked out in it's holiday finery (they probably just had Pumpkins and spiders glued to it and ripped it off when the clock chimed midnight on Halloween...) Seriously... Santa... day after Halloween. It just doesn't seem right to me. But it's retail. Now, my mom?
    She has managed to keep the Christmas elf from putting up the tree so far. It might be an argument for her in a week or so, but so far, so good. As for me, I'm digging out the Fall-ish themed decorations and will soon replace the red, white and blue. Just kidding- it's more like bunnies and eggs...

Terrific Tuesday: A Dilema of Sorts

Fresh off a family vacation (the first in over two years!) to Disney World and being bombarded at every turn by opportunities to purchase souvenirs of all sorts, we ran into yet another display at one of my favorite stores Target. By this time Little Miss K had mastered the names of most of the classic Disney characters and this is the result....

She did get to take home two of the lovely toys: "Nonalds" and "Miiinie Mousssse." And Mommy is excited because the two combined still cost less than one from the theme park!

Say What?!?

If anyone ever tells you that toddlers are not smart; you better challenge them as to why they think that. Just because they are little and compact and have been on the earth for such a short time doesn’t mean a thing. Take Kiera (of course… you’re reading this blog, it’s got to be about her!!)- at a mere 16 months is probably a tad smarter than most people that I have to deal with on a regular basis, and her comedic timing is priceless. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t make my head spin with the things that she picks up (even the *S* word that Mommy accidentally spurted out when burning her hand on the cookie sheet). She is talking up a storm- I can’t believe how fast that she is learning and WHAT she is learning.
   Just last night she had Jason and I cracking up in the car. I love to play “Boo” with her when I’m driving- I turn around and say boo in a funny voice and enjoy watching her giggle. Over the holidays I decided to let her Daddy in on our secret little game since we were all together quite frequently. And last night on the way home from dinner I turned around to see if the lack of noise from the back seat meant that she had fallen asleep (fingers crossed) and in the cutest little voice she said, “BOO!” I wish that I would have had it on video- it was priceless. 
   There are then a few times where she even outsmarts me with her logic: the other night she accidentally scratched me. I said, “Ouch baby you scratched Mommy- time to cut your claws!” She looked at me and said, “Danta!” (which is toddler speak for the round man in the red velvet suit). “Santa,” I said puzzled. And then lightbulb- CLAUS is what she thought I meant- as in Santa Claus. That logic was amazing. And speaking of Santa, although his blow-up replica has been taken down from our front yard over a week, she ran out front on Thursday looking for him. Mind you that the lawn décor was not up for more than 10 days but she still remembered!  Like I said, just amazing!  I love it.
   And since we're on the subject of Pooh.... she was sitting in her high chair a few days ago and was in the process of starting to go... well pooh- but not as in Winnie- and she looked at us and said, "poo poo."  Although I do think that she is still a bit too young for potty training, the fact that she knows what that is will likely make our jobs somewhat easier. 
   Kiera has also learned several animals and their sounds- cow- mooo; dog- woof (she says it wa-ooof- love it!); owl- who; cat- meow and horse- heeee; as well as parts of her face- eyes, mouth, ears, and nose- which sound like ice, mouf, ers and nuh-nuh.  The latter she particularly likes to practice when she is trying not to fall asleep or just wakes up; she also is fascinated with pointing out when Mommy has a blemish on her nuh-nuh.....  so honest, I tell ya!
   I need to do some research on the learning curve of a toddler- or maybe not; for now I'll just be biased and think that she's a little prodigy.  I think this means that I also have my work cut out for me in trying to keep her stimulated; and we need to pad her college account just a teeny bit more for out-of-state tution to an Ivy League school.....

Fun with Baby Kiera- Food Style and HER First Word

Brain Freeze! Brain Freeze!

The past few days weeks months have just flew on by; each day seems to come to a close much faster than the previous one and I often go to bed at night thinking, "Exactly what did I get accomplished today??!!"  Aside from the 9 to 5, household organization is finally coming to fruition (thank you, thank you flylady.net!), I'm feeling more balanced, and I think I'm getting the hang of this "MOM" thing (it's only taken 350 days plus prego time??? LOL)!  Now if I can finally balance momblogging, viola!  ( :  Well... 4 out of 5 isn't bad, right..... 

I've neglected to take the advice of my dear friend Katie and have not written down the daily events of life with Kiera and have had to glance over my Facebook page to see what we've been up to (and even then, I'm inclined to leave off some details... like her falling twice in one weekend... )  Don't worry, I won't forget- yeah... so, Kindle, dear so-pregnant friend- I know you are reading this (and probably the only one who does!)- please make sure that you note the days' events with your two (yes, two!)  bundles of joy when they finally make their blessed appearances in November- you will get mommybrain and forget the little details that will be important to you later in life!  Looking back it seems like the only thing that we do is eat (posts on donuts: 9 in the last 2 months; posts on pancakes: 5; coffee:  um, decline to state as the price tag might be shocking!; fun pictures of Kiera eating- well, those are PRICELESS and hence, good blogworthy fodder!)

Me likey pasgetti Mommy!

Kiera loves to eat- she gets that from her dad- and has been "mooching" our food for months... a sure sign that she's ready for 'big girl' food!  And the next sign? That her first recognizable "word" was MORE. (07/11/10) Yep, not 'mommy,' but more.  (I'm sure that she's been saying 'dada' for awhile, but it's interchangeable to both of us) However, her use of the word 'more' is clearly an attempt to ask for what ever we are currently eating/ drinking.  It's very comical!  Except for when it is followed by a "Heeeeyyyyy" in a larger-than-life-'outside'-voice inside of a restaurant.  (I'm a huge believer in table manners- but ask me that when she's two!)  On her yumm list so far: pasta (she gets that from me); cauliflower (I know- right?!); french toast; pancakes; crumb donuts (hey- she ate them when she was bakin' in the belly, why not now in limited sample sizes??); eggs; mac-n-cheese; watermelon; bacon; pears; applesauce; carrots; corn; beans; cereal; hamburger.  I'm-so-gonna-get-shit-for half of the stuff on the list so I might as well:  but she also loves soda and ice cream too, and certainly didn't make a yucky-face at Mommy's frappacino.  (Yep, peoples, I'm dosin' her up with massive amounts of sugar and caffeine, call CPS on me...). 

Mmm... Popsicle. (07/04/10)

We basically let her try our suitable food... and she's lovin' it; the downfall is that she wants NOTHING to do with the store-bought baby food now (read: save money!).  The added benefit to Kiera's dinner time, is that Jason and I actually sit at the table to eat now; previously it was just another unused flat surface!  Dinner time is family time and definitely chock full of entertainment value- those faces are priceless.  And to watch her contemplate whether she likes a new texture/ taste or not is also quite amusing.  There have been quite a few 'lemon- faces' too, and now when she doesn't like something, she sticks her tongue out until you wipe it off.  (Not spitting it out yet- thank goodness!)   I love watching her pick up the pieces and put them in her mouth; she then uses the side of her hand to ensure it's completely in her mouth and give her six little teeth a workout.

No honey, that's not an edible bowl!

The family dog is also beginning to love her- rather her leftovers- the ratio of ingested food to what winds up on her, in the high chair or on the floor is about 1:4.  A tasty puppy treat indeed.  Clean-up is always an adventure as well- shake the baby off over the sink and wrestle with her to clean hands and face!  Fun times.  Amazing- before I used to love to catch a movie or dinner with friends, and now I treasure feeding time with the little one.... ahhh.. mommyhood!

One of her first "finger food" experiences.. pureed carrots!

An Update on Resolutions/ Some Friday Humor

An update on my resolutions:

So far, the resolution to be a good mom is holding true (yay!)- but not that it is hard work when it’s to such a sweet little soul like little our Kiera. She’s even teaching me how to be more patient ….. as she’s recovering from a little head cold, the teething is also heating up and she’s a little fussy….. and ravenous. Have you tried to reason with an infant to tell them that 9 oz is too much for their little 5 mo. old stomach to hold? Yep, that works real well…. I’m just prepared that the excess is coming straight back out right on Mommy’s cashmere sweater.... patience, my dear! (Resolution: wear non-work clothes when in proximity of your little angel…)


I am trying to save money…. Thanks to some of my fave mom blogs, they’re helping- I am going to update on my legalized stealing tomorrow because I left the receipts at home and can’t provide the actual proof without concrete numbers! ( :

I’ve been eating relatively healthy until today and I have to blame it on an e-mail that I got yesterday with advice from Dr. Oz: He says the way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished. So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Rum, a package of Nutter Butters, the remainder of my Zoloft prescription, the rest of the Sugar Smacks, some Cheesy Poufs, and a box of scotchmallows. You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now….. He- a little Friday humor for you! Have a great weekend!

Hello, Feet... It's Me Carol....

As difficult as it was to get pregnant with BabyW, I've been 'blessed' with a rather easy pregnancy. Not free from the random and usual symptoms, but pretty easy none the less. I'm sure that there's some good breeding stock somewhere up the genetic line, but tell that to my progesterone-lacking ovaries.....










Sure, I had the morning, I mean, noon, make that ,10-week sickness during the first trimester that was icky (if I would have known that it meant losing nearly 30 pounds, I would have found a way to bottle it to be the next Jenny Craig empire!!). And I was lucky enough to NOT look totally pregnant until about 6 weeks ago, but this just sucks:












I have .....




















CABBAGE


























PATCH DOLL


























FEET!

Yes, I can still see my feet.... and my pedicure looks great! ..... but I almost wish I couldn't! They look like I have marshmallows stuffed under my skin.....and I was wondering what the ER doc said when she told me, "You still have ankles!" Nuh-uh. I have















TANKLES.








Not cankles cuz there is still some definition between by legs and feet......















So, it's normal? It's edema.... excess fluid collecting in my tissue (of course- I'm drinking gallons of water a day- what do you expect!) and I'm retaining more water due to my growing uterus.... can this baby belly get ANY bigger? (Yes, every day my profile gains an 1/8 of an inch.... LOL)







It's worse in the 3rd trimester and during the summer.... well, check, third trimester, but it's barely been 85 here lately!






















After discovering the enlarged appendages last night, and the fact that my thumb indent was visible minutes later, I simultaneously laughed and cried all the way to go get ice cream. I'm, cancel that, was- rather fond of my feet.... but OMG I really wish I COULDN'T see them now!










And the skin kind of hurts, too! Once I got home, I went to bed at 9 (!) and propped them up as high as I could pile the pillows and covered them with a cool compress... Phew- this morning they looked better..... well, that was this morning- the tankles are back! Please tell me that this will go away soon!?!?!













Says my dear husband.... "I still love you...." Tanks, I mean Thanks....
























By the way, BabyW has dropped.... we're getting closer! ( :

I Am a Zoo....

I've progressed from being the walking science experiment to my very own private zoo. Do you know those little flip books that have the three little sections that you can flip around and make funny-looking characters? That's me when I look in the mirror!

• Duck- I waddle when I walk.... not by choice.. Quack, quack


• Whale- I am beginning to feel like a beached whale..... ugh and the baby is just starting to 'bulk' up for delivery!


• Orangutan- fruit- that is my craving- all the time- I therefore am a frugivore. Orangutans' diet is 65 to 90% fruit, I, however do not like bark. I also posess great intellect! LOL! BabyW is going to come out with seeds all over her, or DH says looking a bit like a Fruit-of-the-Loom character! LOL


• Cat- If only I could nap all the time (I envy that they can curl up in a little ball) and although not by choice am nocturnal


• Horse- Have to sleep standing up!


• Giraffe- I have to assume a giraffe pose to bend over to pick something up


• Elephant- Although it has only been 8 months, it feels as if it will be the elephants' standard 22-month pregnancy- hopefully BabyW will not weigh 250 lbs and be 32" long! Holy Animal Kingdom Batman!


• Gremlin- Feed me every two hours, but never, ever after midnite (heartburn!)..... and if I don't eat, and turn pregzilla- it's a bit like Spike and his bad gremlins have taken over!

But, please, don't mistake me for a PETTING zoo- do not touch the belly. I am not (although beginning to mildly resemble) Buddha and will not bring you good luck if you rub me.

Fun with the Parents

Random phone call from my Mom on Saturday:

ME: "Hi Mom!"

Her: “What am I going to be called?” Note: Um, Hi! is applicable here!


...Um... "Mom?”


No, I mean what will the baby call me?


What do you want to be called?


Well, she is going to have three grandmas, so what am I going to be called?


Well, I have a choice name for you but it won’t sound very cute out of the mouth of an infant. TeeHee.


Very funny.


Well, you tell me what you want to be called and call me back when you think of it….


That was Saturday and she hasn’t called me back yet. LOL!

And let's not forget the phone call to Jason from his Mom: “How’s BabyW? I mean how are Carol & BabyW?” LOL.

Sunday: As GrandmaL informs my Dad that we’re coming over for dinner on Sunday: “Oh good, we get to see the baby!” Forget the walking petri dish that is hatching BabyW.... LOL

But the best? Not from the parents but from some random stranger in Starbuck's that should be worrying about more important things than my baby bump...



"When are you due? (I should have just said that I was fluffy and not pregnant...)

Oh, early September!

"Wow- congratulations!

"Thank you!"

Do you think that you should be drinking that coffee?

"Actually, it's a Frappacino, and you shouldn't be so worried about the caffeine, but instead the Bailey's that I'm going to put in it when I get to my car......"

If I were a smoker, I would have lit one up as soon as I got out the door. Stupid arse people, mind your own business.

What Was That?

So, I was standing by the office water cooler, and there’s a bubble…. Wait no, that was my tummy! And actually I was lying in bed, but there was an unmistakable first feeling of movement of BabyW last week. It was quick, but no other explanation… and then the next night I felt it again! The medical term is called ‘quickening’ and according to wikipedia, I can no longer be held responsible for a capital crime. WHAT?!?!
So, as you can imagine, I’ve been waiting and waiting to feel this again…. It’s not like further when you should be doing a ‘kick count’ but, its just such an odd feeling. Anyways, come Wednesday morning, and I’m not talking sunrise… let’s say 3:30 a.m. and BabyW decides she wants to Dance with the Stars- the Conga, to be exact- and simultaneously pop popcorn in there! Since she’s throwing a party, and I love a party, I get to wake up to join her! I can’t help but laugh a little until I look at the clock; and then I realize that these little wake-up calls are now going to be a major part of my life for the next 4-5 years- AT LEAST! And between the little party, my new kitty, and my wonderful husband snoring, I’m up for two hours! Good thing I had some reruns of Cold Case to watch off of the DVR or I would have bought a Snuggie and a GT Express and sold my extra gold for cash!

Oh, and then yesterday my BFF is kind enough to tell me that my little beans’ party time schedule inutero is going to be similar to the schedule that BabyW keeps for the first few months. Gee, thanks, BFF! ( :

I Could Probably Sleep Standing Up!!

I had to drive to the Bay Area today for a meeting; actually had to wake up to an alarm clock (oh- the horror!) and be there by 9 a.m. Okay, in a *normal* world, piece of cake! In a preggo world, not so much- right now it's mostly because I feel so fatigued- later, I'm sure it will be because I'm impersonating a Macy's T'giving Day Parade Balloon! Doh!

Luckily my drive home was quick (can I say that preggers hormones makes it very hard to tolerate idiot drivers) but, sans daily afternoon siesta, and this pregnant chick is wiped out! I pull up in my driveway and try to muster up the energy to get out of the car and go into the house (first clue); the thought of cooking dinner (corned beef and cabbage and all of the trimmings, but insert chicken for the corned beef! LOL- you ever smelled corned beef while preggers???) was a challenge. Fast forward to me sitting at the desk checking e-mail while I wait for DH to return from a jog; and I'm startled awake by him coming in the front door! WTH? This makes the second time that I've fallen asleep at the computer!

I have had to start taking my afternoon nappys in my car at work- I've never been so tired- even in my college hey days (Katie?- sleep when you're dead?!), I can't remember sleep so welcoming!

Although I do have to say that I am so thankful for the morning sickness subsiding to a non-existent level- the fatigue seems to be elevated.

My DH just giggled when he woke me up and said, "you're going to be sleeping standing up pretty soon!" Maybe so.... LOL. Just another day in the life of Pregnant Chick!

Oh, Happy St. Patrick's Day- drink one for me, will ya?