All abandon hope; ye who enter here. Me first mate will celebrate by shooting daggers with her eyes. Now dance the hornpipe smartly, me beauties! OR ELSE.
9.15.2011
Fire on Deck (or, "Coolest Toy Ever")
My super duper aunt and uncle got HD the coolest gift ever last Christmas. A full-on vintage style metal fire truck for her to ride around, complete with bicycle pedals, clanging bell with pulley, and detachable mini wooden ladders. Seriously amazing -- it's the kind of thing you see in photos of little kids in the 1940s. Only problem was that, at age 6 months, it was a tad beyond her capabilities at the time (despite the fact that HD is devastatingly advanced and mature for her age, naturally).
But this past weekend to celebrate her 15 month birthaversary, we busted it out.
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| It's so very shiny. |
And it was GLORIOUS. My girl is so on board with tools and rescue missions. Make-a me proud!
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| HD got a lesson in wrench-handling from Daddy |
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| Kid is totally ready to save the day |
9.14.2011
Piratical Nonsense (or, "Grateful")
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| Ah, the eyelashes |
And then it occurs to you -- wow, the people of New Orleans have no idea that I find their world so compelling. I don't think any average citizen of NOLA (still dealing with Katrina and oil spill aftermath) is currently wondering if some random woman out in California is slowly becoming entranced by his city's history/music/food and planning a future visit. The everyday culture of his world is simply a given, along with the problems that go with it. Nothing enviable about that. Why would someone removed from that reality fantasize about it?
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| Enraptured by Yo Gabba Gabba |
So of course it's even more surreal when you realize that there's a flip side to that coin. What if I'm the one inhabiting a world that someone fantisizes about? What if someone is thinking longingly, "Man, I wish I was married to my dead sexy best friend; had a crazy, brilliant, HEALTHY, funny little girl; worked a steady job; lived in a safe, (relatively) clean home; and was still able to occasionally see awesome friends and family...". When I think of it in that context, I realize that the mortgage, the commute, the bouts of teething and 1000 other little stresses are not as all-consuming as I sometimes make them out to be. That I am one insanely lucky pirate.
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| Enjoying one of the last bottles before we give 'em up for good! |
Thoughts like that are also what motivate me to start saying nightly prayers with HD. I hope that Hubs and I are able to instill in her a sense of gratitude for all we're given, as well as a good work ethic to try and keep it.
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| Eating "cack-ahs" (crackers) and "butta-butta bye" (peanut butter, but it also means butterfly?) |
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| Unfolded laundry aside, I heart this pic. HD sorta looks like a Beatle |
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| Blocks and Rowdy, HD's partner-in-crime |
8.25.2011
Sailing Solo, Part the Dos (or, "Mama Hits the Road")
This weekend, I'll be hitting the flipside of my previous Sailing Solo post. This time, I won't be the single parent at home with le bebe. Rather, jetting to bee-yoo-tiful San Diego for a girls' weekend with old college buddies.
There's been a lot of inner strife over this, y'all. As a fulltime working mama, I spend a max of 4 hours of waking face time with my kid each weekday (during which I'm also supposed to get us both dressed, bathed, and fed). I don't mind that I have to work, and I like getting the adult interaction each day. But I do relish a weekend of simple park hopping, games of chase, morning stroller runs to Starbucks, and picking flowers with my daughter. I love spending time with Hubs and HD. They're fun people, and I definitely feel that in the hustle and bustle of life, we have to slow down and remember to hang together, minus the TV.
But. Like all mamas since time began, I have to stop and actually, literally, remind myself that it's ok to do something that's just for me. Something that has absolutely nothing to do with Hubs or HD. That ultimately, a mama who knows how to be an individual is a good thing for her kid. You know, so I (a) teach her how to be a strong, independent woman and (b) don't freak out in a couple of years when the kid starts to desire a life of her own and I don't know what to do with myself. Not to mention the fact that Hubs is HD's numero uno, and I know they'll have a blast together without any mama interventions.
So bring on the Coronitas, the sun, the adult feminine chit chat. I'm ready. I may even manage to keep it down to one phone call to the fam per day, and one teeny kid gift in my carry-on. Hubs will be repaid by having Sunday evening to himself and his scotch.
We interrupt this tirade to announce that my baby brother and brand new sister-in-law had the Funnest Wedding Ever last weekend. And this terrible mother adores her in-laws for taking the baby so we could enjoy every last bit of it kid-free (besides, parents need nights off together to remember why they're married, right?). *Muah* to both families!
There's been a lot of inner strife over this, y'all. As a fulltime working mama, I spend a max of 4 hours of waking face time with my kid each weekday (during which I'm also supposed to get us both dressed, bathed, and fed). I don't mind that I have to work, and I like getting the adult interaction each day. But I do relish a weekend of simple park hopping, games of chase, morning stroller runs to Starbucks, and picking flowers with my daughter. I love spending time with Hubs and HD. They're fun people, and I definitely feel that in the hustle and bustle of life, we have to slow down and remember to hang together, minus the TV.
But. Like all mamas since time began, I have to stop and actually, literally, remind myself that it's ok to do something that's just for me. Something that has absolutely nothing to do with Hubs or HD. That ultimately, a mama who knows how to be an individual is a good thing for her kid. You know, so I (a) teach her how to be a strong, independent woman and (b) don't freak out in a couple of years when the kid starts to desire a life of her own and I don't know what to do with myself. Not to mention the fact that Hubs is HD's numero uno, and I know they'll have a blast together without any mama interventions.
So bring on the Coronitas, the sun, the adult feminine chit chat. I'm ready. I may even manage to keep it down to one phone call to the fam per day, and one teeny kid gift in my carry-on. Hubs will be repaid by having Sunday evening to himself and his scotch.
We interrupt this tirade to announce that my baby brother and brand new sister-in-law had the Funnest Wedding Ever last weekend. And this terrible mother adores her in-laws for taking the baby so we could enjoy every last bit of it kid-free (besides, parents need nights off together to remember why they're married, right?). *Muah* to both families!
8.17.2011
Sailing Solo (or, "The Weekend of the Single Parent")
Last weekend was my first full weekend as a single parent (Hubs was in the Vegas for his bro's bachelor party...don't worry, I dispense comeuppance in two weeks when I jet to San Diego for a bachelorette!). Things I learned:
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| HD, helpfully "brushing" her own teeth (i.e. teething on the rubber finger grip thing) |
- Group mentality ("takes a village to raise a child") does not necessarily apply to people who have kids that are grown. HD and I went to a former co-workers' house for a BBQ. After an hour, he looked at my plate and wanted to know why I wasn't eating. He asked me this while I was running after HD, trying to thwart her attempts to nom on their lovely flowerbeds. I just laughed in response (God bless his wife, who took over Toddler Watch for a good 40 minutes).
- Yo Gabba Gabba is AMAZING. It's also kind of the devil. Great learning for tiny kids, cool music, definitely dance-inspiring (HD's moves consist of bobbing up and down and waving her hands). We watched a grand total of 2 episodes broken into a few sessions throughout the weekend. HD is now mildly obsessed, and there are non-stop requests for "gabby gabby." We're attempting to keep it to 2 episodes a week. [HD says "we'll see".]
- Single parenting is the best diet ever.
- If you get the laundry done, you sort of by proxy consider the rest of your house to be clean as well. Clean undies = (practically) vacuumed floor.
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| I may have forgotten a couple of parenting steps in my attempt to keep her happy all by my lonesome. |
8.04.2011
Ye Piratical Nature of Me First Matey (or, "Ways My Daughter Is Actually Like a Pirate")
I submit the following as evidence that HD is, in fact, my child:
- Obsessed with mermaids (or, "mimis" as she calls them)
- Loves shiny jewelry/baubles
- Laughs when she inflicts pain (hair pulling, pinching, the occasional nibble or flailing kicks? all hilarious when they land upon a parent! needless to say, we're working on boundaries...)
- Hits the bottle multiple times a day
- Leaves a complete path of pillaged destruction in her wake (we're also working on the concept of putting things away)
7.28.2011
Yonder Bermuda Triange (or, "Why Did I Disappear for 3 Weeks?")
There was just too much fun going on the past couple of weeks since I've last written. Let's do a quick catch-up and get down to kid cuteness, shall we?
1. Vacay to my favorite port town: Charleston, SC. I'm lucky enough to have folks that live in this awesome city part-time, so we get a free place to crash and free babysitting to boot! Highlights of the trip were HD's trip to the South Carolina Aquarium (at present time, she deems any land mammal a "puppy" and any water-faring beasite is a "tuh-tuh" -- turtle), LOTS of beach frolicking at Sullivan's Island and Folly Beach (the warm water plants me firmly on Team Atlantic -- take that, majestic beauty of the freezing Pacific!), my father getting me slightly overserved, and HD got to meet her great grandfather and great Aunt Barbara :)
2. Last weekend we went to our first wedding of 2011 in a very cute winery...and it'll be a busy year on the wedding front. I get 2 sisters-in-law this year, people. Incidentally, we're not planning on taking HD to any of the weddings, unless the couple just really wants her there. Any reader thoughts on this? Hubs and I look at it as a date day for ourselves to be full dancing/drinking adults (in HD's lifetime, this has only occurred when we're at weddings!), not to mention that toddlers and Catholic ceremonies aren't very compatible. Besides, HD will prolly have way more fun playing with her grandparents than being shushed in a church.
3. The institution of Workout Wednesdays. Neither Hubs nor I are trying to lose any weight, but we do want increased energy to run after a toddler, plus the strength to man-handle her effectively. So we've begun working out together one day a week after she goes to bed -- a Jillean Michaels DVD here, some Netflix Watch Instantly pilates classes there (yup, I LOVE that Hubs is secure enough to give pilates a go...and he liked it!). We're adding in a second weekday in August, and then committing to a weekend day by September. Baby steps for couch potatoes, folks.
4. Hubs started a new job! He now works about 3 miles from our house, instead of 20. This new lack of commute was especially awesome yesterday, when I was so enthralled in my book that I completely missed my normal train stop on the way home. I have always vaguely assumed this would happen one day. Which meant I ended up 2 entire towns south of where my car was parked. Hubs busted a gut laughing on the phone, then lovingly came to retrieve my stranded ass 15 minutes later so we could pick up HD on time from daycare. I'm a lucky lady.
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With our catch-up out of the way, here's all news HD. Kid is running around all over the place now, usually with as much grace as a wino. It's adorable. Per her daycare provider, she is also now officially a flirt. One little boy kissed her goodbye after I had strapped her into her car seat, but apparently she likes to sidle up to a different boy regularly to bat her eyes and whisper "hi." Once she's able to speak in full sentences, I imagine she'll break all sorts of hearts. In addition to HD's array of animal sounds (horses have been added to that list), she can now point out a bunch of her body parts as well. She's particularly proud of showing off her round "nummy" after a meal. HD now is ridin' dirty in a big kid car seat (rear facing of course!) and we retired the infant car seat she first came home in almost 14 months ago. Finally, Hubs and I are in the super fun process of starting to wean away the bottle. Our opinionated little miss, who gave up the boob and pacifiers with minimal issues or fuss, has made it clear that a "baba" of milk is her one true love. She has zero problems with cups as long as they contain water or juice. Recommendations for process as welcome!
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| A Southern lady-in-training, complete with smocked seersucker and halo. |
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| Pop, Mammy (Admiral Granmadre!), HD, and the Cap'n -- 4 generations of devious. |
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| Our first all-looking-at-the-camera, all-smiling family portrait! At happy hour, no less! |
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| Sandpaper Pappy and HD in Waterfront Park, post-dip in the Pineapple Fountain. |
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| Wind and hilarity at Folly Beach! |
3. The institution of Workout Wednesdays. Neither Hubs nor I are trying to lose any weight, but we do want increased energy to run after a toddler, plus the strength to man-handle her effectively. So we've begun working out together one day a week after she goes to bed -- a Jillean Michaels DVD here, some Netflix Watch Instantly pilates classes there (yup, I LOVE that Hubs is secure enough to give pilates a go...and he liked it!). We're adding in a second weekday in August, and then committing to a weekend day by September. Baby steps for couch potatoes, folks.
4. Hubs started a new job! He now works about 3 miles from our house, instead of 20. This new lack of commute was especially awesome yesterday, when I was so enthralled in my book that I completely missed my normal train stop on the way home. I have always vaguely assumed this would happen one day. Which meant I ended up 2 entire towns south of where my car was parked. Hubs busted a gut laughing on the phone, then lovingly came to retrieve my stranded ass 15 minutes later so we could pick up HD on time from daycare. I'm a lucky lady.
__________________________________________________________________________________
With our catch-up out of the way, here's all news HD. Kid is running around all over the place now, usually with as much grace as a wino. It's adorable. Per her daycare provider, she is also now officially a flirt. One little boy kissed her goodbye after I had strapped her into her car seat, but apparently she likes to sidle up to a different boy regularly to bat her eyes and whisper "hi." Once she's able to speak in full sentences, I imagine she'll break all sorts of hearts. In addition to HD's array of animal sounds (horses have been added to that list), she can now point out a bunch of her body parts as well. She's particularly proud of showing off her round "nummy" after a meal. HD now is ridin' dirty in a big kid car seat (rear facing of course!) and we retired the infant car seat she first came home in almost 14 months ago. Finally, Hubs and I are in the super fun process of starting to wean away the bottle. Our opinionated little miss, who gave up the boob and pacifiers with minimal issues or fuss, has made it clear that a "baba" of milk is her one true love. She has zero problems with cups as long as they contain water or juice. Recommendations for process as welcome!
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| Our daughter, a sucker for the bottle. |
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