Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas everyone

I am enjoying some quite time home with my family. Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and I will be back in 2008 to hopefully entertain you more.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

and then there were 8

R started the month of December with only 4 teeth. He now has 8. The top two made an appearance in concert the first week of December and the bottom two came in within two days of each other on the 14th and the 16th. Thank God the teething is done for a brief period of time.

However, anyone know how to stop the biting on EVERYTHING? He bites when he nurses, he bites the couch, he bites my toes, he bites my leg, he bites the coffee table... if it is within teething distance he bites.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Oh crap...

I have a new fear...

Anyone know if your child has to be RE-tested when you move if they already have a IEP? L has been picking up words left and right and I am now scared that he is going to lose services if/when we move....

Anyone know?????

Also, when do kids normally start talking? Making sounds? I swear L was saying Mama, Dada and Bella by the time he was 10 months old, but R isn't anywhere near that. Now I have the fear that he is going to have similar delays. Oh well, guess the second time around is easier, huh?

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

the Joys of Commuting

One of the more entertaining parts of my day usually comes first thing in the morning. I commute. However, my commute also involves interacting - face to face - with thousands of people. It might be the worst part of my day, but it also sometimes is the most humorous part of my day.

It starts with the great art of creative parking. I believe this is a northeast thing, but I am not quite sure. Creative parking is finding or making a parking spot out of anything you can think of. When I used to drive a 4 wheel drive car, my favorite parking space what the mound of snow plowed off to the side. I could get up the mound and down the mound without a problem and it is usually located quite close to the train station entrance. This morning, my parking space was at the end of the row and would more likely be called the ROAD then a parking space, but since I wasn't blocking any more traffic than the car I parked opposite of, it is just a form of creative parking.

Then comes to push and shove to get on the train. There is a protocol here too, but it is a weird protocol. All outside seats must be taken before you can ask for a middle seat. The person who is asleep or at least pretending to be asleep gets asked only when all ther other seats are taken and the seats that face each other shouldn't be fully filled unless the train is short a car or you know the people. There is lots of sighing to be done during this part, especially by the women that you ask to move bags. It is a MAJOR inconveince for them and I just love to do it especially when the woman is looking at you all surly.

Finally there is the cell phone ettiquette. My best advice -- just don't use your cell unless it is a dire emergency. And if you NEED to use it -- whisper. I rarely if ever pick up my phone when I am on the train. When I do, my conversations usually last under a minute. My family and most of my friends know better than to expect me to talk on the train. Those that do -- well they end up in a shoving match and getting removed from the train like the two 40 year old, professional men did this morning because ONE was talking too loudly on the phone for the other. This happened within a foot of me and it was rather amusing.

I will not at all miss my morning commute when I leave NY!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Bah humbug

I have come to the realization that I am Scrooge. I don’t like Christmas anymore. It used to be my favorite holiday, but now it is just a pain in the ass.

When I was in college, Christmas was a few days that I would be able to come home and relax. I always had a job and I did not like staying the freezing cold Northeast for terribly long so, I would come home for about a week and then go back to Florida. Since my last two years in college also involved dating a football player (a mistake I hope no one repeats), it also involved attending New Years Day Bowl Games -- pretty much the ONLY highlight to dating that asshole. That is how I remember Christmas and New Years. At least when I want to fondly remember it.

Now what does it involved -- baking cookies for L’s therapists, me stupidly volunteering to do the toppers for our “special presents” (family tradition thing), trying to entertain kids during not one but TWO snow storms, realizing less than a week before you are to have Christmas with your family that you have nothing wrapped, also realizing that you need to still send a crap load of stuff to IL for your in-laws.

It also involves 8 nights away from home -- 4 in PA and 4 in IL. I don’t wanna be in a car for 4 hours each way (plus holiday traffic) and I don’t wanna fly during the busiest time of year.

I officially don’t like Christmas anymore. Bah humbug.

Friday, December 14, 2007

fluffy... part two AND a recipe

As I said some was in the wash, so here is the remainder of the stash arrival as of yesterday. B is even in love, which is a surprise!

Now if only I could get a few hours of quite uninterrupted time I could finish the pair of longies that I am currently knitting. Unlikely thought..

And some food for thought...

Slow Cooker Fiesta Tamale Pie


3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

1 cup beef broth

1 lb. extra-lean ground beef

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 (14 to 16 oz.) jar thick and chunky salsa

1 (16 oz.) can whole-kernel corn, drained

1/4 cup sliced ripe olives

2 oz. reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, shredded (1/2 cup)


In a large bowl, mix cornmeal and broth; let stand 5 min. Stir in beef, chili powder, cumin, salsa, corn and olives. Pour into a 3 1/2 qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 5 to 7 h

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Fluffy mail

I love days when the stars align and all your fluffy mail converges at your door on the same day...

Some is in the wash, but her is the vast majority....I also love that all but one of these was bought at a total steal!!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Lost that loving feeling...

I feel so uncreative these days. I try to remember cute things the boys did. Or things that drive me nuts and I come up with nothing. So, bullet points today!

  • R is now pulling up and letting go. It is damn cute, but he also has a gazillion bruises on his head from the constant falling.
  • L is still totally in love with the vacuum cleaner! As I type I can hear him up there cleaning the floor because The Wife brought it out
  • I have 3 Christmas parties to hit in the next week. I can't think of a single one that I actually want to attend -- although the "group" one is always fun. B's company one is in a week -- please wish me the patience to not slap his stupid, lazy boss!
  • R has cut 3 teeth in 8 days. It has been fun around here. One more to do.
  • L is getting super particular about how he lines up his cars. It is about the cutest thing in the world, but his OCD tendencies are starting to freak me out. Puppy HAS to be hanging on the back of his chair when he eats or he freaks out.
  • We are in the midsts of the introduction of some more fluff into my life. I am going to give prefolds/fitted and covers a shot again. Wish me luck -- esp on the prefold front because getting R to stay in one spot for 5 seconds is a chore.
  • I believe I may have a dentist appointment today. B tells me there was a call from the dentist office, but I can't seem to find their number. I have no time to go, so fingers crossed they fill the spot and I don't have to pay! Or better yet, I don't have an appointment.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Falling into place

Things seem to be moving forward on the "get the hell outta dodge" front. I have various interviews scheduled for Jan. 3rd and 4th and after that we will see where things go.

There are a lot of things that need to fall into place for this move to work for us. We need to pay off the majority of our credit card debt in 2-3 months, we need to find a house, we need to get a mortgage -- which I hear is much more difficult these days! -- and we need to break the news to everyone involved in our lives.

That is a lot of disappointment to go around -- one set of parents is going to be pissed, one set of friends is going to be pissed, two bosses will be pissed and one sweet and loving Nanny will be heartbroken. We want the Wife to come with us, but B and I both recognize that is a lot to ask, so we will ask, and we will be told no probably and then we will leave.

This whole idea just stresses me out. It is so much worse then telling the daycare center that L wasn't coming back. At least there they had other kids that they loved, in our situation, L and R love the Wife as much as she loves them.

We are doing the right thing though right? I mean, uprooting the kids to live closer to family is a good thing in the long run, esp when they are this young. Right???

Monday, December 10, 2007

It is finally happening

B and I agreed this weekend we would like for L to just SHUT UP for 5 freaking minutes. Seriously, the kid is non-stop these days. Too bad much of it is Mommy Mommy Mommy until he gets my attention, but it is unreal the amount he just jabbers on now. Tells you long detailed stories of half words and his own little language, but you can usually get the idea -- ie. R fall down and hit his head HERE.

Although, and I think this is a normal thing, the kid says no to everything. Ask if he wants a cookie and if the answer is YES, then half the time he says cookie and half the time he says no. If he REALLY means no, then you get, no no no. We are working on teaching him yes.

I also don't get the triple repeat thing, but that is becoming a habit too.

Oh and R is now ReRe. B and I both have started calling him that. Amazing how quickly HE picked up his nickname from his brother.

Friday, December 7, 2007

No food

Sorry, especially T, I just don't have the energy to find a recipe today. Yeah, the document that contains them is about a click away, but I tried to pull it up and my computer apparently hates me today, so can we skip the feeding info for this week?

Been a busy day -- pediatrician appts, swimming lessons, vet appointments. I need a nap.

Have a good weekend and I promise to be more interesting on Monday

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The Wife

Everyone knows how much I love The Wife. She is great. Boys just adore her, she adores the boys, etc.

However, I am starting to understand the nanny problems others have. The Wife does these little things that just make me bat shit crazy. In the grand scheme they are nothing and I know it, but OMG does it make me insane. B reminds me all the time that my requirements for a “good” nanny were -- flexible with her hours, patient, supportive of breast feeding and therefore feeding expressed milk and most of all, loves my kids! She has everything in spades and more. She cleans the house, does the kids laundry when she sees it needs done, has been totally flexible with the whole cloth diapering thing and is an awesome cook and loves to cook for B and I too.

What does she do that makes me nuts --

Can not for the life of her put the kids clothing in the proper drawer. Puts L’s clothing in R’s room and vice versa (I always keep them and wash them separately so there is no sorting to be done). If I go looking for a pair of pants I could find it anywhere from with the bibs or PJs to with the sweaters. L’s green sheets in R’s red and tan room, etc.

Feeds R desserts for breakfast. I understand she sees mango and thinks fruit, but it says MANGO DESSERT. I have solved this by HIDING the desserts. At least I think I have solved it.
Goes through an excessive amount of milk. Seriously -- sometimes as much as 30 oz when I am pumping 20! We end up dumping 2-3 oz each day. It is heartbreaking when you see your freezer stash waning as much as mine has (500 oz when I went back to work and is currently closer to 75-100 oz!). It would be one thing if we weren’t dumping any, but to see it go down the drain breaks my heart.

Vaccums our new ceramic tile kitchen floor with a regular vaccum cleaner! What the hell -- pull out a broom woman.

Doesn’t get -- change R before feeding. Therefore he falls asleep while getting his 930 bottle and doesn’t get changed until 11am -- 4 HOURS after a new diaper was put on. This IS a big deal since he is a heavy wetter and in cloth and results in a yeast infection every damn time she does it! Happens at least once a week. Never happens when I am home with R.

But as I said, she has accepted the change to cloth without hesitation because she saw it was best for R. Feels guilty about not washing them (I won’t let her touch that with a 10 foot poll because inevitably something will be lost in translation and I can’t afford for her to inadvertently destroy my stash).

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

What is a friend

I have varying levels of friends. I think we all do, right? I have friends that I barely keep in touch with -- mainly because I feel we don't have a lot in common -- some that I don't keep in touch with because I am an idiot but I do want to keep in touch with and then I have my good friends that I talk to pretty much every single day, even if it is usually over email.

Don't get me wrong -- there are other categories, like those that I adore, but live too far away from, those that I work with and see and bitch to every day, etc.

Then we have this weird, in between category called my internet friends. B says these aren't real friends because I don't know if they are 40 year old men playing the role of a 20 something or 30 something new mom. B is not a real believer in social networking on the computer. So here in lies the problem. Are they really friends?

One of these people I would consider a friend -- like a real friend that I honestly could see myself hanging out with and having my boys around (that is a big thing for me!). We have very similar parenting styles, although we also have very differing views on some issues. She has the same sense of humor I have and I can say with 99.9999% certainty that she is infact NOT an 50 year old man (if "she" isn't who she says she is, she has a full freaking time job in keeping up this alter-personality).

I think she is having a really rough time of it right now. Her tone is off -- even though it is through emails/posts/blog entries (I am purposefully being general here as to not "call out" the person). I found myself thinking of her while I was folding diapers this morning and I feel like I need to reach out -- but I don't want to overstep either. BTW -- if you know who you are and you need ANYTHING at all, please let me know! Seriously. Drop me an email or something.

This is when I HATE having "friends" I don't talk to in person. If it were W or N I would call them up and say - hey, I was thinking about you this morning and just wanted to make sure you are ok. For some reason I don't feel like I can do that. I am not her best friend, I probably am not even one of her close friends, I am someone she knows through pictures and through my words, but not someone she knows in person.

Does it matter though? If you thought one of your internet "friends" was in trouble what would you do?

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The daily grind

I worked late last night, so I only had about 40 minutes last night with the boys. Dragging myself into the office was much harder this morning than usual. I hate when I don't get a nice chunk of time with everyone in the evening.

Then about 30 minutes into the train ride there was an announcement that there is ice on the tracks and the trains ahead of us were sliding. Oh joy!

I also seem to have developed a plugged duct (Alicia -- am I having sympathy pains for you or something?) when I didn't nurse for more then 15 hours on the one side -- yes, I am an idiot! So after I got the boys to bed last night, I stood in the shower for about 20 minutes massaging my boob. What a pain -- both literally and figuratively. It was apparently so bad yesterday that even one of my co-workers, who is usually nice, walked in my office and asked "what the hell is wrong with you." What a pick me up!

Oh and to add to that, L decided to fingerpaint with his poop last night before going to bed. B freaked -- he is a total nut when it comes to cleaning up poop or vomit -- so I got to peel off each layer of L's clothing and try not to make the situation worse. That was my quality time with L.

Last but not least, I am headed to a 2 hour plus meeting where I say all of 10 words and get oodles more work.

I need starbucks.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Update on L

As I said before L started occupational therapy on Wednesday afternoon. Not surprisingly, the therapist came to the house and played with L. To any outsider, it was a play date and nothing more, however, to his mommy is was a huge sigh of relief.

The therapist asked multiple times as to why she was there. Complimented his pincher grip, laughed at his antics and told me what a smart kid I had. It was all music to my ears.

L has a long way to go with things, but for the expert to come in and not take one look at L and say -- oh, I see what the problem is, it lifted a giant weight off my shoulders. One that I didn't even know was there. I guess since he was evaluated and put on this track I have been beating myself up for not realizing there was a problem. Yes, I knew his speech was delayed, but had no idea about the SPD stuff.

Now I am just thankful that it is even taking the therapist time to see the problem too.

black bean soup

This is for you T!

1/4 lb. chorizo
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small red pepper, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 tbsp. dry sherry
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 bay leaf
15 oz can black beans, undrained
15 oz can FF chicken broth
juice of 1 lime
2 tbs. minced cilantro
1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper

Discard chorizo skin. Crumble meat and brown in a non-stick skillet for 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic, and peppers. Sauté over medium high heat 5 minutes. Add to slow cooker. Add sherry, cumin, bay leaf, beans and broth. Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours. Remove lid. Scoop out 1 cup beans and press with the back of a fork to mash. Return to pot. Add lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered just to warm through, about 5 minutes.