Sippy Cups and Blackberries

Honestly, what's not to get?

Really, people, how could you think that me traipsing around with a 2 year old and 6 months pregnant is easier than you doing it?  (You, being the ones that don't have a child and are not pregnant, for those that have children and/or are pregnant, you fall into the it's harder for me to do it category....). I just don't understand how they don't get it ... Let's take this week for example.

My awesome parents came up from NY to help my sister buy a TV and TV stand yesterday.  They, of course, wanted to also spend some time with their grandson (note: they really could care less if their oldest daughter and only son-in-law came along with that package.  After 2 years, I have come to terms with this, barely).  So, Tuesday at noon, I call them to find out what the heck the dealio is.  I wanted to make sure that they may be coming out here so that I can 1) straighten up the house and 2) complete the grocery shopping so that I could make dinner.  The response I got was, it was easier if I dragged my pregnant ass and my 2 year old son over to my sister's 1 bedroom apartment in the city while fighting rush hour traffic so that we could go to eat dinner at some two bit pub.  Well, that wasn't the exact wording, but it was the gist of it.  Awesome.  Have they forgotten what it is like to go out to dinner with the 2 year old?  Do they not recall last month when I got to eat 0 bites of food while he climbed all over us?  Yep, that is so much easier than not waking up my child from a nap after I complete work for an entire day and sitting in my kitchen with a baked rigatoni with eggplant and sausage that I cooked while working and the 2 year old free to run wild through the house, but at least my pregnancy hormones didn't have me so stressed that I was close to tears and then I could actually eat some dinner.  Uh-huh... Sure guys, no problem. 

Hey bartender at that two-bit pub would mind sneaking some vodka into that sprite I am drinking and getting the 6 month pregnant lady tipsy so she doesn't have to deal with her crappy evening?  So that the stares of the other patrons can be more easily ignored? So she doesn't have to watch her parents judge her that she has no control over the 2 year old?  (Mind you, I am guessing that it is very infrequently that they took me out to dinner when I was 2 - being that I had a 4 month old sister at the time....)  So I backed out at 4 pm, over much angst and very upset that Michael wouldn't be able to see his grandparents.  And I know that they are pissed at me, but you know what, I rather feel guilty than stressed and pissed....

See, but they are not the only ones that just DON'T GET IT.  Take my in-laws.  To go see them I have to pack up all of the baby crap that is needed to travel with a toddler, drive 1 hour to an airport, park a car, take all the baby crap out of the car and check it into  luggage claim, load us up on a plane, fly 4 hours, land, locate car, drive 2-3 hours to arrive at their house.  This in total could take us 8 hours, IF THERE ARE NO DELAYS.  All with a 2 year old.  But, I am constantly told that it is easier for the 3 of us to do this then the 4 of them. Because, there are only 3 of us. 

Uhm....  ok - but you have to pack 2 suitcases and are done.  WE have to pack, 3 suitcases, a stroller, a car seat, a blankie, a snuffy, a pooh, a diaper bag, a computer bag plus dvds, a toy bag, do you see the list growing???? We are almost at the point where we have to pay for all the extra checked items.  AWESOME!!!

So, can someone please explain to me how these people can be so dense? I mean really, it isn't like they haven't had kids... (Ok, so our siblings haven't had kids yet, but still, our parents are around, ya know?)

I am fighting back to urge to snap at all them and tell them if they want to see their grandkids/nephews they have to haul their asses out here. Otherwise, we can live a nice peaceful existence just the 4 of us...

P.S.

I have 579 unread blog entries in my google reader right now.  And I hate not to read each and every one of them. I hate not to comment on each one, but that seems to be be the case.  So, I would like to put a memorandum down no more blogging for the next week. Hmm.. not going to work, huh?  Well fine, I guess I must hold off on Twilight until I catch up - or maybe I will just never catch up  :(

I Jumped on the Bandwagon

And there is no way I can get off of it now. Lula talks about it...  Mrs. R gave it its own genre...  Heather battled a Wal-Mart employee for it.... Misty stayed up all night for it ...  And I am sure that there are so many more of you. Friends have recommended it and still I resisted. 

But...

I was desperate for something quick and easy.  And finally, my interest was piqued.

What you may ask?  Well...  The Twilight Series of course!!

I usually try to refrain from reading "Sci-Fi".  I am not all that into vampires, etc (although Buffy may be one of my favorite TV Shows, only to be followed up with the spin off Angel...) I usally try to refrain from Pre-Teen reading (if you don't include Harry Potter). Call me a snob.. But a wonderful chick lit is my indulgence.  But I could not escape the raves about this book....

So, I bought it first for my hubby.  As a sci/fi-fantasy geek he introduced me to Buffy and Harry Potter, (as well as tried to get me to view Battlestar Galactica - I put my foot down - and read some of his books on wizards and such).  Do I figured, if he loved it then maybe I would give it a try.

Well, he didn't love it and actually said -I think that you will hate it - but you should give it a try if you want.

Well, he was damn wrong.  I mean, I wondered if he actually knew who he was talking to when he said I would hate it.  I read the first book in 2 days.  2 DAYS!!! I work full time and I have a 2 year old and I read a book in 2 days!!! Now, granted book # 2: A New Moon has not quite grabbed my attention as fast, but still, I have read 200 pages in 1 day. 

I could enter a bunch of curses in here to help explain how ridiculously good this book is. But, that would defeat the purpose. I just have to say it has brought back an absolute love of reading since my desperate need to find a book that I love.  And this I love.  Oh the romance, oh the suspense. But, oh the romance. Oh the love story. Oh it may bring you back to the days of Buffy and Angel... Or it may bring you back to the great love stories of literature. I know - right a pre-teen book to be categorized as one of the great love stories of literature - maybe i need to read some new literature.  I shall not tell you anything about the books as they build on each other. But I shall tell you this...

GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW - if you haven't already.  That is all that I can say.

I was so engrossed that I almost, almost forgot to drink a glucose drink and go to my 27 week dr appointment.  Holy cow.

I forget to eat dinner.  Or for that matter cook it - the boys were left with scavenging for left overs in the fridge.

I forget to sleep...

Digital scrapbooking - sorry you are on hold.

Childcare - sorry you are on hold.

Wifely duties - down the drain.

Luckily there are only 4 books left in the series....

Then, life should return to normal, huh? If only I had known - I would have waited for maternity leave.  Then at least I wouldn't be cutting work and reading a book on the sly...

Of course, Aidan may be left floundering in a pack and play crying for food and I may be too engrossed in a book to notice...

I just bawled my eyes out watching the Olympics

I mean, bawled my eyes out - as in tears streaming down my face and dripping off my nose.   Ever since I saw Nadia (The TV Movie) when I was 6, I have been enthralled with women's gymnastics. I am amazed by them. I watched that movie almost every day (luckily my mother had the forethought to record it on VHS).  Anyhow, I even tried to enroll in gymnastics and after realizing the utter clumsiness of myself had to give it up.  But I, a day before my 31st birthday still have dreams of being the next Nadia.

So, today after a crap day, I sat down during Michael's nap and watched my previously recorded (aka. DVR) of last nights women's gymnastics.  To watch Natasha Liukin win the gold was just so absolutely wonderful that I just sobbed for her.  To see that girl and her father actually show some emotion made just made me cry.  I have no idea why.  Maybe it was because I had a crap day. Maybe it was because my b-day is fast approaching. Maybe it was because I am hormonal or

maybe, just maybe it was because she was such a beautiful gymnast and to watch her win the gold was watching a girl fulfill her childhood dream.

Hot and Tired

Hey, what week is this?  Oh, it is week 27.  Hmm, yep - that third trimester has kicked in - hasn't it. Well, that explains it.  I am so effin hot and so effin tired. 

Yep, like that whole so hot you are thinking that you may combust into flames at any second? Hmm, last week I wasn't so hot, but this week. God help the person that touches me.  They may come away with burn marks. I didn't even know it was possible to sweat in some of the places that I am sweating - like between your toes when you have no socks or shoes on or on your elbows. I could get more graphic - but figured G is best.  God, now I remember why I didn't want to be pregnant in the summer.  With Michael I was outside in 17 degree weather in a short sleeve shirt and jeans. And it felt refreshing.  Now what the hell am I supposed to do.  I was just commenting on how nice it is not to be so hot this pregnancy. HA!! Funny joke up there.  Can you please cut it out?  I may have to resort to putting the central a/c onto 66 degrees. Standing in the one room of the house where it comes out of the vent like a wind tunnel and lieing in front of it in my undies. Dear god, what do you girls do if you didn't have air conditioner? Stick your head in the freezer?

And tired. First of all, NBC, who the heck thought that it was a good idea to show the most exciting parts of the Olympics between the hours of 10 PM and midnight?  Yes, you must have forgotten about us good natured east coasters?  I mean, really, we could miss an hour of extra and and the other star paparrazzi stalking shows.  But then again, does it really matter?  Because by 10 PM, I am lying awake in bed wondering when the sleepiness that has been swirling around all day will return.  I am actually considering having some caffeine again. I am in desperate need of something. I mean, really, my 2 year old can't tell me to wake up all the time, can he?

PS - In case any of you are Sesame Street watchers, the new season finally started. Finally - no more reruns. I swear they have been showing the same ones for the past 10 months.

Sorry, Digital Scrap Booking

Ok, so John Deere Mom, Debbie @ Finding Normal and Heather K have all been raving about Digital Scrapbooking.  I mean, RAVING!!!  So of course, rather than catching up on the 300 emails I have, unpacking our luggage, rewashing all of our linens in hot water with bleach due to my son's rash, rewashing all of my son's clothing, etc.  I decided that I really must check this out.  What can I say - procrastination at its best.  EXCEPT ..... I AM SO ADDICTED!!!!!

Yes, this has to be the most fun I have had in quite a while.  I am just teaming with ideas. I am going to make Michael's baby book into a digital scrap book (especially since I don't have one at all....).  And then I am going to start one for Aidan James.  (YES, we finally decided on a name that everyone loves. Actually Michael got to choose. We asked if he liked Dylan or Aidan and he chose Aidan. Done Deal.). 

John Deere Mom and Debbie having been using www.scrapblog.com.  They love it.  They call it the poor man's solution to photoshop, since it is free.  And that combined with www.picnik.com does a lot of what photoshop can do.  But me, I am a person looking for a reason to use photoshop. I have been dying to get my hands into it but that HUGE price tag that goes along with it - hubby says ABSOLUTELY NOT.  So then, Heather K gave me the heads up about Photoshop Elements. I like to call it the blue collar of Photoshop as it runs about $100 but has everything that I need to try and figure it out. I have downloaded the 30 day free trial and since now I am in love, I am working on hubby to dish out the funds to get the full thing.  Since I opened it and was at a total loss, Heather also introduced me to Jessica Sprague and now I am addicted.

Check out what I got to do...

And I just went out and bought a book on Elements.

And signed up for a refresher photography class.

And now I am full force back into a hobby from 13 years ago.

Wowser...

Home, Home on the Range...

Oh, I am totally suffering from the vacation blues.  You know, the ones where you are totally miserable that you are no longer sitting around playing, drinking (well, not so much drinking...) eating, going to the beach?  Now, you are back to being a responsible adult and your kids are going to daycare and you are sitting down to work....  And all you want to do is climb into bed and sleep - or better yet, get back into the car or on the plane and return to the happy days of vacation...

Well, that is what we want to do.  Even though we got back on Friday, 2 days of a weekend at home where we did NOTHING didn't help.  I still haven't gone to the grocery store and we still don't even have milk. The good thing was that the house we had had a washer and dryer - so although we are not unpacked, we do have only clean clothing sitting in the suitcases getting stinky ...  Oh, well.  Maybe motivation will hit me today while I am "working".

Martha's Vineyard is a wonderful place.  I mean, it is an island and we didn't stay in the best town, but we stayed in a great town. The house was a little crazy funky.  The woman who rented it out lived there except for the week that we were there.  So ALL of her stuff was there - the closets were chuck full, the pantry, fridge, freezer, etc - so it was kind of odd.  But, we basically woke up, went to the beach, came home, made dinner, went to bed. Rinse and Repeat. Sorry - but that is the BEST kind of vacation ever.

Of course, a vacation isn't complete without a trip to the emergency room. Nice, gotta love it - one per family.  Awesome.  What happened you ask?  Well, let's see - my awesome son broke out into a terrible rash. Nasty.  Gross, purple and red and "postules"  nice.  So, we go over to the walk-in hours for the pediatrician where the nurse practictioner says - and I quote "I have no idea what it is, possibly it could be scabies, but it doesn't itch. So, I don't know - just put some calamine lotion on it and come back if anything changes."  Uhmmmmmmm...........

Now, here is the thing I love about both my OB and Pediatrician.  Neither will plant a seed in my head unless they are positive that it is something.  For example, the word SCABIES would never ever ever be thrown out there, unless it was SCABIES!!!!

So, we leave. And I research scabies.  And then I want to throw up. And I am completely freaked out as I watch this rash spread. And I am totally paranoid as the medicine isn't recommended for use if you are pregnant.  And by the way, I am pregnant and so is the other mom travelling with us.  And gross, bugs are burrowing into your skin and making you itch. Gag ME!!!

So, needless to say, the very next day we are in the emergency room hoping to have someone rule out scabies.  And, we see an er doctor. This was getting better and better. Now, I recall at some point our pediatrician telling us if we ever had to go to an er - to use these 2 hospitals and not the one closer because they don't have a pediatric er.  She said something to the effect that a dr for adults can't diagnose a child.  Hmm, thought that was an odd thing to say - but then again, I haven't had to go to an emergency room (excluding the time he rolled off the bed at 3 months...).  So, off we are at the ER, with a dr that confirms it is NOT scabies (thank the holy person that we pray to) but she has NO IDEA what it is.  She then walks away to "get a colleague" and I can hear her telling the nurse that she has no clue what this is and what should she do.  Uhm, ER DR - here is a clue - don't talk in front of a curtain.  WE CAN HEAR YOU!! This is not a wall and a door jackie!  (That is what I call jackasses to prevent the cursing in front of the 2 year old.). She then returns to tell us that her colleague is working on a critical patient and she thinks it is a bacterial infection and she is going to prescribe both a oral and topical antibiotic.  Uhm, ok.  Wait right here.  Uhm, ok.  So she then returns to the other side of the curtain and has a 30 minute conversation on what the CORRECT DOSAGE of the oral antibiotic would be.  As the conversation goes back and forth and she grows more and more confused, James leans over and states: We are soo not giving him any of this medication. Uh, ya think!  5 minutes later, er doc returns and says: Well, we decided that less is more and we are only going to have you use the cream and not the oral antibiotic. You know? Hmm, is that code for I have no idea what dosage to give so we are going to skip it?

Nice.  Needless to say, we are going to be seeing our pediatrician today.  Well, she is on vacation and we are going to see her backup - but better than nothing. Since, there is still a rash and it is still spreading.

Awesome.

Otherwise, pictures soon. I am posting them on flicr so you can check out the sidebar to see more fun!

Back Home..

At about this time, I have been kicked out of our vacation home and I am bumming around the island with the hubby and the kid in tow. We have quite a few more hours until the ferry ride back and hopefully we are enjoying the last of our time together.  Hopefully, we had fun... hopefully we haven't killed each other yet... hopefully hubby hasn't figured out the new camera was bought... hopefully we had a brilliant time.

On to next week, pictures and stories and all

Flashback time.....

Can you tell that I am running out of things to to.  Scary Mommy last week suggested instead of doing the 6 random things about yourself post, you leave her a comment about 1 random thing.  Well, I figured, that one random story could make for a great post when I was on vacation. How about the time that my father threw a tow truck driver up against a wall at a bar ... when I was 17 and boy, was I ever ever in the deep shit. I mean, unbelievably...deep shit.  AS in, I am still damn surprised that I lived to tell the tale...

So, what is that tale? Hmm, I wonder if I should actually even tell this story!  I should probably be safe and talk about how I met my husband dancing on a bar in Tampa, FL.  But, then again, I can save that for our 5 year anniversary. ok, but remember... I was young and very very stupid...

So, I was 17 years old, and I was rebelling. I was a senior in high school and there was a group of 8 of us that could get into more trouble in 10 minutes than most people could get into in 10 years.  I mean, we were 8 young, hot, full of themselves 17 year olds.  That lived on Long Island and was surrounded by young hot guys and underage bars.  You can imagine the trouble a girl could get into. Ok, not that kind of trouble.

Anyway, one night, I was the designated driver and we were at one of our usual haunts. We walked out prior to our curfew to find my car GONE!  And the sign in the dunkin donuts parking lot read something about being towed at the owner's expense. I had honestly been inside for no more than 20 minutes.  We had no choice, we had to be home in the next 20 minutes and my car has been towed to about 45 minutes away.  The phone call was made to my father. I needed him to come and get us from the dunkin donuts.  I swore to him (TO THIS DAY) that we were in the bathroom of the dunkin donuts.  The tow truck arrives at the dunkin donuts. My father gets him out of the car and watches him just tow cars without checking if anyone is actually IN the store.  My father gets him out of the car and starts to ask the driver what in the world is going on.  Next thing I know, my father has him slammed against a glass window by his neck and is spitting mad. I scream, he releases and we all go home. 

And that, is the short story that will forever be scarred into my head. And completely random...

Day Care, My Way

So, I promised to update you guys on the day care situation... So here it is.  I waited a month to talk about it because I wanted to make sure all the other junk about change was out of the way and that we were really going to enjoy this change.  And you know what?  I  LOVE IT!!!  and more importantly, so does Michael.  I mean, loves it so much he doesn't want to leave. Loves it so much that he kicks and hits me as I drag him out of the house. I mean, he loves it so much he asks to see them on Friday and Saturday and Sunday.  And when I mentioned that we were on vacation this week, and he wouldn't see them .... he cried hysterically.  Uhm,  hmm....

So, this is how it went down.  Transition period went awesome.  He was a little teary, but he was excited to go and play with his friends.  Helped that he knew the kids and the new sitter from being in the neighborhood and attending playgroup for the past year.  Then we took that fatal Seattle trip.  you know the one where I thought the entire world was going to come crashing down on my shoulders upon our return. The one that meant we would not have 3 weeks of sleep from our son as he thought we were leaving him for ever.  Yep, that one...

So, needless to say, the return to daycare was not welcomed with open arms.  There may have been many hysterics by many many people - me included.  The first day, he was crying so hard they had to take him inside. She called me about 1 hour later to let me know that despite one helluva good hour long fit, Michael had finally calmed down and was happily playing with her daughter.  Uhm, one hour!!! Holy SHIT!  Day 2 rolls around and I am thinking this might be better.  We go around to the back of the house and they start playing in the pool. I say bye to my son and walk away (we had walked the 2 blocks to their house that day).  I literally walked four houses down and I hear my son screaming at the top of his lungs in hysterics and crying. I turn around to see this little child go running around the house and down the street after me. Sitter close behind. And god knows where the 3 and 1 year olds were. I go running back so she can watch her kids and catch him.  I smother him in kisses and try to calm him down for 20 minutes.  Then I finally just have to go.  I watched as the sitter carried my son away as he called for me over her shoulder arms spread out as if I was leaving him for ever. I could literally hear his screams carrying to my house.  OMG, it was like a lifetime movie.  Got the call 30 minutes later that he had calmed down. Oh boy, I wasnt sure if this was going to work.

And then she did something miraculous.  She took him to the pool.  And that, my dears, was the end of the child care saga.  It was like the light bulb went off in his head - wait, you mean if I go there, I can go swimming, and to the playground, and do arts and crafts and go to the organic farm and feed scallions to goats, and have dance parties and bake cookies and do pottery.  Wait a minute, why the hell do I want to stay home.

And that is when it turned into him standing at the door every morning at 7 AM telling me he was leaving to go to Mrs. S. He telling me he loves Mrs S soooo much.  A screaming with excitement child as we pull up to the house. Mommy, Mommy, Mrs. S house.  I see her. She waiting for me.  For my arrival to be greeted with a running child screaming mommy and a hug and then he is running away from me screaming that he wants to stay. 

So, that is the story. I think we are going to stay here forever...  And I will try not to pretend that my son actually loves it there better than here!