Shopping with a toddler

I've decided that shopping with Baby E would be an EXCELLENT advertisement for birth control.  Picture this on your TV:
A not so young woman gets out of her giant SUV cute little car.  She walks around to the back of her car where you assume she is going to open the passenger side back door and take out her purse.  However, you hear this: NONONONONONONONONONONOOOOOOOO.  Whatever could that be you ask yourself?  Certainly not that adorable 16 month old in the carseat who is screeeeching because his hat has dropped below the acceptable level on his forehead.  Cut to the store:  Mom gets a cart and attempts to put child in the seat.  This is a no-win situation.  He will not sit in the seat when it is obvious that walking and pushing the cart is much more fun.  Cue the whining.
Produce Section: Child - apppo,  apppo,  apppo? Mom:  No, honey,we don't need apples, we already have some.  Child: APPO, APPO, AAAAPPPPPOOO!!  Mom: how about some bananas?  Child (in his adorable shrill pitch) AAAPPPPOOOOOO!  Mom: Where are the oranges?  Child:  Bana?   (banana).  OH. MY. GOD.  Other patrons who once thought he was cute are now rolling their eyes at me and wondering what kind of mother I am.
Deli is next:  Mom: you can look, but please don't touch the glass because other people want to see what is in there too.  Child is oblivious and puts not only all 10 fingers but also nose, mouth, tongue, cheek, forehead and ear on glass.  Oh I really hope they clean that thing regularly.  After he is away from the glass and in the personal care aisle (we needed toothpaste), he sees it.  The one thing he simply cannot live without.  That's right folks a box of condoms.  Why oh why do they put them on such a low shelf.  He hands them to mom and screams until she puts them in the cart.  Fade out...... Then your screen goes black and in big letters it says something about birth control.
So that was my exciting trip to the grocery store.  Some lady did stop me and tell me what a beautiful little girl I had.  I should have just said thank you and walked away, but instead I told her that he was a boy, not a girl.  To which she said "really"?  People are stupid sometimes.

Halloween!

 Now that fall is almost over and winter is getting ready to settle in, I figured I better post a few pictures of Baby E (who is really not a baby any longer but rather a toddler, but I'm going to keep calling him my baby until another one comes along).

This is the first year he was able to get out and enjoy the fun things that autumn in Wisconsin has to offer.  We played in the leaves almost every day  - too cold to even think about playing outside right now....at least until I get him some warmer pants!

I took on the task of making his costume for Halloween this year.  I can't tell you how many times I ripped parts of it out because I suck at sewing and haven't used a pattern since 8th grade home economics class  they just didn't feel right.  I must have worked on that damn tummy panel for about 3 hours and then realized that NO ONE WOULD SEE THE FRICKIN' TUMMY  because the vest would cover it up.  Rookie mistake.  Next year he's getting something made out of cardboard.  I gotta say, though, he really was cute!
I'll post some photos from his "Fall Photo Shoot with The Cousins" next time!

Where. Have. You. Been?

Now that's a question I used to hear a lot when I was younger: "your hands are all sticky - where have you been" (um, probably eating candy behind the couch). "your hair is all wet - where have you been (most likely playing in the sprinkler). You're limping - where have you been (fell off my brother's scooter).  "It's an hour past curfew, where have you been?"  (probably 'cruising' Main Street with my best friend). But now-a-days, I've been nowhere. And it sucks. I try to leave the house at least once a day to save sanity, but that doesn't always happen. So why, you ask, haven't I been blogging? Motivation. Or lack thereof. I've been trying to find some motivation to write, but can't...Of course, I DO have stuff to write about (mostly Baby E and his achievements), but it's hard to sit down and get geared up. So I'm going to try to do this more often - by more I often I mean at least once a week - props to all you bloggers who do this everyday!

So here is some of what I've been doing lately:

Estate Sales - OMG! I didn't think it could get any better than garage sales, but then I discovered Estate sales. When grandma/grandpa/aunt/uncle die, the kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews just open the doors to the deceased person's house and put price tags on everything. This is MY kind of place. I got the BEST photo from the 1920's of a little boy crying at the bottom of the steps who looks so much like BabyE that it's uncanny. I also got a fantastic old grate that I'm currently using as a welcome mat. My favorite find, though, is my new set of fall dishes! How awesome!
Took a trip to see Jason's family in Kansas City - had a great time and was SO glad to catch up with family that we regrettably get to see so little of!

Baby E: He's getting SO big and walking all over the place. He has decided that it's MUCH better to be outside on the "wheeee" (which is what he calls the slide), than pretty much anyplace else on Earth. He also loves to brush his teeth - screams when I try to take away his toothbrush. I sit him on the counter and we brush together. He makes a hacking-type noise when I spit - pretty funny! He has also started fake sneezing. I think it's hysterical. Also, I guess he has made the life-choice to be a vegetarian (at least for now) I CAN NOT get the kid to eat meat. I just hope he's getting enough iron. He knows where is belly, legs, eyes, teeth and hair are. He also knows things like: light, picture, baby, book, Delilah (our cat) and Orange (his stuffed cat). I'm loving watching him learn, and he's awfully cute, too!

So that's where I've been. Hopefully you'll be hearing more from me, soon!

FROM THIS:

To THIS:

ONE year ago, today:

The Monkey cake

ONE YEAR OLD!!

He's ONE, he's 1! HE IS ONE! My little monkey is one. I can't believe a year ago I was just bringing him home from the hospital. He had to use one of those billy-blanket thingies for his jaundice. He looked like a glow-worm. Now it's been a year and he's SO much FUN!
I know I haven't blogged much recently, but I'm getting back into it now. Unfortunately, I've been "recovering" from work. I had no idea that I would be so tired after working 198 hours in 11 days.....you do the math.
We had a little birthday party for him last weekend, but because his auntie and cousins couldn't come, we had ANOTHER birthday party for him on his ACTUAL birthday. You can read all about his first party here



The second party was less of an event, but just as fun. We spent the day with the three little girls (his cousins) at the beach, at the mall and running through the sprinklers - poor baby E was about to fall asleep in his highchair so we brought out his ice-cream cake and the girls took turns feeding him. Little Julia was the funniest (one bite for baby E, take a look around, make sure no one is looking, one bite for Julia, repeat).

He FINALLY got his top teeth in. It seems like within a week he got not one but THREE teeth up top. He's also mastered the art of standing on his own and "walking" along the couch. He loves bathtime, but HATES getting his head wet. It is a two-man job to wash his hair. He has learned that throwing a ball is a sure way to make mommy laugh and he does it ALL THE TIME! He will chase/throw/chase his ball for HOURS.

I really love this little guy! I've been so blessed to have this happy, joyful, fun, totally adorable little boy.

Mama Kats!

She sits lonely and forlorn in the back of the closet. I used to call her Whitney. I don't remember why. Every once in a while she gets played with by one of the kids, but generally she sits in her case and dreams of singing. I feel bad. I've neglected her and replaced her with things that don't require so much time and patience. I sometimes hear her calling to me when the radio is playing one of our songs. Someday, I promise her, I will have time. Time to sit down and get to know her a little better. Time to run my hands over her smooth, polished wood and tune her copper strings. I remember the first time I heard her mellow voice. And I remember the pain my fingertips endured as I practiced and practiced on her. I thought she'd be a perfect instrument for me - someone to sing with, someone to entertain with, someone to write with. But as it turns out, she's just an old guitar and I'm just not a musician!


This post was for Mama Kat's writer's workshop. I chose prompt #3 How long until you realized you had no time or patience for this: Tell the story (true or fiction) of trying to learn a new talent or hobby that you only pursued briefly.

What's new

Baby E and 2 of his cousins

My little boy was 11 months old yesterday! I can't believe he's going to be a year old next month - I've been working so much that I'm starting to feel really guilty about missing all this time with him. I just keep reminding myself that I only work 5 months out of the year!! I took last weekend off and we went down to the Air and Water show - Baby E had to wear earplugs the whole time - those Navy fighter jets are L-O-U-D, but SOOOOO cool to watch. Jason decided to party with Ryan and Co. (that's my brother and his friend) the night before, so guess who got to baby sit three old guys (who were just "tired and a little hungry"), plus take care of the little guy? I'll give you a hint - it wasn't my fairy god mother.

Baby E the rock star.

My intentions have been to get some scrapbooking done, but it's just going to have to wait until after August, when I won't be working and the weather turns too cold to play outside.

In the meantime, here is a brief synopsis of all his little tricks and talents that have popped up in the last month:

Dear Baby E,

Mommy wishes she could spend every minute of every day with you, but if she doesn't get some grown up time (like at work), she will go crazy, and nobody wants a crazy mommy. Right?

You have been such a sweet little munchkin this month. You have learned to pull yourself up on anything that is stationary and sometimes you try to lean on things that are NOT so stationary - like the cat. or the empty laundry basket. When that happens, you look at me and seem to be falling down in slow motion. I usually react with a laugh which makes you giggle back at me. You have learned to stay standing without support, but are not quite adventurous enough to take a step by yourself. Please don't decide to do that when I'm at work - - - I don't think I would be able to get over that!

You still only have TWO teeth! Are you EVER going to cut some teeth on the top? You've been working really hard at it this month and I have a feeling there will be a little edge popping through soon.

Your favorite toy right now is the blue donkey that Nana and Papa got you for Easter - you chew on it all the time.

You have been sucking your little thumb when you get sleepy - it is SO cute how you rub your ears while sucking your thumb.

My favorite time of the day is still "happy hour". That 1-2 hour stretch between dinner and bedtime when you are just the cutest little bug who loves his mommy. Tonight you thought my chin was a chew toy and you would not let go. I got the giggles, which made you laugh. and then I laughed harder. Pretty soon I had to lay on the floor cause I was afraid you might fall out of my arms! You are also a wonderful dancer. The moment any type of rhythm is made you get your groove on. You sway from side to side and close your eyes and bop your head. I call it "channeling Ray Charles". You are still such a little guy - about half the size of the neighbor's baby (who is only 2 weeks older than you). You are VERY gentle and cuddly and every time I take you out, there is always someone who comments on your beautiful blue eyes or your abundance of curly red blonde hair. I love you so much, my little peanut butter cup and I'm so glad that I am lucky enough to be your mom. Please don't grow up too fast!

All the love in the world,

Mommy

I confess.

This is a confession.

I have a bbbaaaaddd habit of thinking everything is funny. Even when things are NOT suppossed to be funny. I guess I was blessed with a wicked sense of humor and an evil mind. I generally can control my laughter when it's not appropriate to laugh, but sometimes I just can't help it.
I blame my mother. And her Father. And all the generations of Irish people with over-zealous senses of humor.
I went to a women's retreat with my mom and some of her friends (I'm not exactly sure WHY I thought it would be fun to hang out with people my mom's age, but it was). This is one of those retreats where everyone gets in touch with their "selves" and their God. It was also about how to make the best out of the hand you've been dealt and blah, blah, blah.
So day one goes by and everything is fine. Then comes day two. The day when the key-note speaker decides to really light a fire under us. She starts telling us about her uncle (or maybe her brother, I can't remember). At any rate, this relative of hers had been working under the car in his garage and it was getting dark, so he decided to light a lighter in order to see better. Can you see where this is going? Well, if not, I'll tell you. The guy started on fire. She was trying to make the point that even though he ended up being severly burned, he went on with his life and ended up being a motivational speaker or something.
All I could think of was this: "Who in the hell lights a lighter when they are under a car?" Apparently, my mother had the same thought and we made the mistake of looking at each other. Let the laughter begin. But, oh no! You have to laugh silently and try to cough to cover it up. Thank God we were sitting in the back of the room and at a table with people we knew (and who KNOW how we act). My mom got the giggles WAY worse than me. She had to put her head on the table, shoulders shaking, trying to be ever-so-quiet. I looked over and the woman to her left had put her hand on Mom's back in a comforting gesture. I guess she thought mom was crying. Which is when I TOTALLY lost it. We had to be seperated for the rest of the retreat. Sort of felt like Junior High School.
Lesson Learned? Make sure to sit wwwaaaayy in the back and near the door for a quick exit.


This post is for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop - go check her out! I chose the 1st promt for today's assignment!