So I'm super excited today!!! I just found out yesterday that one of my dearest and oldest friends from high school is coming down to visit us in April!
Katie and I met during a time in our lives when we were both struggling to figure out what kind of women we were going to be. In fact, the night we met was when me, Steph and Andrea sort of crashed a little party that was happening at an old abandoned train station. The LoveShack we called it. That was also the night that I met Elijah and some other folks who ended up becoming pretty good friends through those years.
Katie was always one of the best of them. You know how in any group of hell-raising teens there are always a couple that you know are just going to "make it". No matter what else, I knew that Katie was one of those.
But before we got to that point, man, we raised some hell together! We had so much fun (and a couple of times, we didn't have quite as much fun...LOL). She and I were very close through most of that time, but our brief courtship with being badasses ended in a crash and burn event at Logan Airport in Boston. My one and only time in jail was spent with her and Stacey.
LOL - we grew up and like most old friends from high school, we lost touch for a while. During that time, she had a baby, fell in love with Jeremy (who was a guy in our little crazy group of friends) and got married. They have another daughter together now. And Katie did just what we all knew she would...she got into school, kicked ass and is now living a great life.
Amazingly, our friendship has endured through all this time.
And now..SHE IS COMING TO VISIT!!! And Jeremy may come too, which would just make everything so freakin' wonderful!!!!! They are also going to bring their oldest daughter with them...which will make it lots of fun while we sight see and catch up on old times. They will finally get to meet my Kelly and our Bailey.
I'm so happy!!! I've so needed some reconnection to my past. This is one of the people who knew me before I was the woman that I am today.
I cannot wait! I can't wait to see her, to hug her, to catch up, to show her around my city, to have her in my house, to be near her...but mostly, to just have a good time with someone that doesn't need me to pretend to be someone I'm not.
I love you, Katie!!! I can't wait...absolutely CAN NOT wait to see you!!!!
2/29/2008
2/28/2008
All is Forgiven
I was kinda mean to Kelly in my last post. I offer my apologies...
The thing is, I don't have anything against her desire to NOT go out. I mean, she spent lots of years doing the bar thing every night. While she was doing that, I was in high school. LOL.
Seriously, though, that is one of the biggest differences about us. I was always right on the "right" track. I never took time off from school - went straight into college from high school and then directly into grad school. After I dropped out of grad school, I was living with Kelly and we were busy being real adults. I never really got a chance to just party and enjoy myself.
On the other hand, Kelly did all that. She spent a couple of years before buckling down in college just working and partying. She's spent more time in gay bars than she would probably care to admit and she certainly doesn't find any humor or excitment in the drama of it all. Honestly, she's just over it.
And I get that. I do. I understand it from her perspective and I respect that she doesn't want to party with me.
BUT. (there is always a 'but', isn't there?)
The problem that I have is that I don't have friends that go out anymore. My Joce is in New Mexico. My Max is in New York. My Erika is in Maine. My Rodney is not with us anymore. The people in my life who REALLY know how to rock and have a good time are not around me. And I don't want to go out alone.
First, it's lonely. Second, I don't want to deal with anyone who may see me as fresh meat (I may be being optomistic here, but you never know...some one may find me attractive). Third, it's just not safe to walk around the streets of DC by yourself on a Saturday night. I do have to think about my safety. Because while I want to dance, I don't want to be mugged, raped or worse to make it happen.
So, when what I hear from Kelly is "nope, sorry"...I just get pissed off, because I'm not sure what my other options are except to just stay home. Which, as I think I established yesterday, isn't an option.
See where the frustration comes from?
So anyway. My momma - who is a wicked fun lady is gonna go dancing with me in April while they are here. I'm excited about that! We've been out once or twice before together and always had a great time. It always makes me laugh...because we dance the same! Hehehehe...
Anyone interested in going with us? Or going out before then? (Karen, this is directed at you. I KNOW you know how to party hard!).
So, honey, I'm sorry I was so mean. And I do understand. I hope you understand where I'm coming from too. I love you.
The thing is, I don't have anything against her desire to NOT go out. I mean, she spent lots of years doing the bar thing every night. While she was doing that, I was in high school. LOL.
Seriously, though, that is one of the biggest differences about us. I was always right on the "right" track. I never took time off from school - went straight into college from high school and then directly into grad school. After I dropped out of grad school, I was living with Kelly and we were busy being real adults. I never really got a chance to just party and enjoy myself.
On the other hand, Kelly did all that. She spent a couple of years before buckling down in college just working and partying. She's spent more time in gay bars than she would probably care to admit and she certainly doesn't find any humor or excitment in the drama of it all. Honestly, she's just over it.
And I get that. I do. I understand it from her perspective and I respect that she doesn't want to party with me.
BUT. (there is always a 'but', isn't there?)
The problem that I have is that I don't have friends that go out anymore. My Joce is in New Mexico. My Max is in New York. My Erika is in Maine. My Rodney is not with us anymore. The people in my life who REALLY know how to rock and have a good time are not around me. And I don't want to go out alone.
First, it's lonely. Second, I don't want to deal with anyone who may see me as fresh meat (I may be being optomistic here, but you never know...some one may find me attractive). Third, it's just not safe to walk around the streets of DC by yourself on a Saturday night. I do have to think about my safety. Because while I want to dance, I don't want to be mugged, raped or worse to make it happen.
So, when what I hear from Kelly is "nope, sorry"...I just get pissed off, because I'm not sure what my other options are except to just stay home. Which, as I think I established yesterday, isn't an option.
See where the frustration comes from?
So anyway. My momma - who is a wicked fun lady is gonna go dancing with me in April while they are here. I'm excited about that! We've been out once or twice before together and always had a great time. It always makes me laugh...because we dance the same! Hehehehe...
Anyone interested in going with us? Or going out before then? (Karen, this is directed at you. I KNOW you know how to party hard!).
So, honey, I'm sorry I was so mean. And I do understand. I hope you understand where I'm coming from too. I love you.
2/27/2008
Up and Down and All Around
So, my lovely wife has refused to take me dancing. "I HATE bars...it's all about breeding and sex." Lest I start to sound bitter (I am), I'll leave it at this:
I NEED to go out and dance. Need it. It's not a want. It's not a "oh shucks, I'm bored" thing. I need it. Need, need, need. So. I need someone or someones to go with me. I want to go to this lesbian bar downtown. It's a women-only place (or at least, men need escorts). I'm not into going to a bar with a bunch of boys trying to get laid and I'm not into the gay-boy scene. I just want to be surrounded by women, drink a couple of martinis and a couple of beers and just dance. Dance until I'm exhausted and tired and until my brain shuts down for a few fucking hours and gives me some GODDAMN HEAD SPACE.
Anyone interested?
Not to apply any pressure, but if no one is coming, I'm going alone. By myself. In to Southeast DC. On a Saturday night. Alone. To dance. Because it's what I need.
That's the down.
The up is that I took today off and declared it Momma Mental Health Day. I took myself to IHOP for breakfast and then I went shopping. Alone. Just me and a credit card. And low and behold, I found myself 8 new shirts, a couple of summer tanks and a new pair of jeans! It was a TOTALLY successful trip and made me feel like a million bucks (until I got in the car and heard some dance music...which reminded me that I'm trying to not hate my wife right now).
I digress.
I've never had a more successful shopping trip! I stepped outside of my comfort zone (think plain or striped button downs, or plain tee shirts) and got some stuff with color, designs and that is actually styled. I might have to think about what I wear rather than blindly grab a pair of pants and a shirt, but I'm proud of myself.
I'm actually excited about doing the fashion show for Kelly tonight!
I'm even more excited that now I have something to wear dancing. (insert bitter laugh)
That about sums it up for now. B Bear is lovely - she finally had a good night's sleep last night and woke up giggling in her crib. Nothing makes me quite as happy as hearing our daughter's tinkling little laugh. I'm going to make curry turkey and broccoli for dinner tonight. My kitchen's clean. Those are good things.
Enough for now. Happy Wednesday, everyone!
I NEED to go out and dance. Need it. It's not a want. It's not a "oh shucks, I'm bored" thing. I need it. Need, need, need. So. I need someone or someones to go with me. I want to go to this lesbian bar downtown. It's a women-only place (or at least, men need escorts). I'm not into going to a bar with a bunch of boys trying to get laid and I'm not into the gay-boy scene. I just want to be surrounded by women, drink a couple of martinis and a couple of beers and just dance. Dance until I'm exhausted and tired and until my brain shuts down for a few fucking hours and gives me some GODDAMN HEAD SPACE.
Anyone interested?
Not to apply any pressure, but if no one is coming, I'm going alone. By myself. In to Southeast DC. On a Saturday night. Alone. To dance. Because it's what I need.
That's the down.
The up is that I took today off and declared it Momma Mental Health Day. I took myself to IHOP for breakfast and then I went shopping. Alone. Just me and a credit card. And low and behold, I found myself 8 new shirts, a couple of summer tanks and a new pair of jeans! It was a TOTALLY successful trip and made me feel like a million bucks (until I got in the car and heard some dance music...which reminded me that I'm trying to not hate my wife right now).
I digress.
I've never had a more successful shopping trip! I stepped outside of my comfort zone (think plain or striped button downs, or plain tee shirts) and got some stuff with color, designs and that is actually styled. I might have to think about what I wear rather than blindly grab a pair of pants and a shirt, but I'm proud of myself.
I'm actually excited about doing the fashion show for Kelly tonight!
I'm even more excited that now I have something to wear dancing. (insert bitter laugh)
That about sums it up for now. B Bear is lovely - she finally had a good night's sleep last night and woke up giggling in her crib. Nothing makes me quite as happy as hearing our daughter's tinkling little laugh. I'm going to make curry turkey and broccoli for dinner tonight. My kitchen's clean. Those are good things.
Enough for now. Happy Wednesday, everyone!
2/26/2008
She Doesn't Know It Yet...
But, my baby is taking me dancing! Momma seriously needs to let loose a little...shake my groove thang...bust a move...whatever the fuck you want to call it, Momma needs to do it.
We're going to Phase 1. It looks a lot like the little bar I used to raise hell in when I was in college. I gotta dance. I gotta drink. I gotta feel sexy and get sweaty.
And I need a designated driver (hence, Kelly).
AND...who else would I want to dance for? I mean honestly? I can't go dancing without my sexy wife with me!
Not sure when...maybe a week or two from now? I've gotta at least let the idea sink in...LOL...and find a babysitter!
We're going to Phase 1. It looks a lot like the little bar I used to raise hell in when I was in college. I gotta dance. I gotta drink. I gotta feel sexy and get sweaty.
And I need a designated driver (hence, Kelly).
AND...who else would I want to dance for? I mean honestly? I can't go dancing without my sexy wife with me!
Not sure when...maybe a week or two from now? I've gotta at least let the idea sink in...LOL...and find a babysitter!
2/25/2008
Clothes and Mommy's Birthday
Once again, I'm having a clothes crisis. Not because I've grown out of or into a bunch of clothes, but just because I absolutely hate everything I own.
Anyone who knows me know that I hate shopping and I think spending money on clothes is stupid. I don't hold anything against anyone who feels different (in fact, I'm married to a woman who values nice clothes ALOT). I just don't want to put the time or the energy into finding nice clothes. And I don't want to pay for them. I'm a klutz and a mess and I'll just ruin them with stains or something.
This probably all goes back to having been a fat kid when there were very few fat-kid clothing options. And I'm not exactly stylish. Never have been. I can't match clothes at all - so I rely on all of my shirts matching all of my pants so that no matter what I select, it works. Perhaps not perfect, but passably. I own two pairs of work shoes - one brown and one black. On the weekend, I wear the one pair of jeans I own over and over again and then wash them through the week for the next weekend. During my pregnancy, I owned three pairs of maternity pants - one black and one tan for work and one pair of jeans for the weekend.
I buy Walmart/Target or clearance rack shirts. Why spend money on something that I'll stain anyway? Honestly? Also, I hate shopping. I hate it that fat-girl clothes are always stretchy (because that is what fat girls want...something that clings to their fat). I hate it that fat girl shirts are always too long - I'm not ashamed of my ass...If I wanted to cover it, I would.
Occasionally, however, I have a fit like I did this morning. I pulled all the clothes out of my closet that I don't wear (most of them) and that don't fit (some of them) or that are older than three years (quite a few of them) and threw them all on the bed. What I can donate, I will. Everything else (most of my clothes have rips or stains or something that will make them undesirable) will get thrown away. Hanging in my closet right now are 5 work shirts, 3 pairs of work pants, 5-6 beater tee shirts that I'll wear on the weekend, and one shirt that I bought for Valentine's day a couple of years ago. That's it.
Kelly and I have a date to (soon, I hope) take the day off work, bring Bailey to daycare and go outlet shopping.
Here's the best part of my wife - she can shop like a demon. She is a CRAZY shopper. She will pour through racks and racks of clothing and pull out the three things that I might actually wear. I will also pick clothes that are too big or too small (thus becoming extremely discouraged, extremely quickly)...but not Kelly. She can pick out a shirt that will fit me, that will look good and that is cheap every single time. The woman has talent.
I abhor shopping. I hate it. But Kelly makes it tolerable and the outlet malls make me feel less guilty about spending a couple hundred dollars on clothes. Because, after all, I do have a professional job and I do actually have to wear clothes that are somewhat nice to work.
Enough of that.
Kelly's birthday is just around the corner. My baby is going to be 33. Once again, I'm confronted with the maddening dilemma of what to get her. I always pick out shitty gifts for her. She's the shopper (as I've already established). To make it worse, I also have to take Bailey shopping for Kelly. Uggg. Any suggestions for gifts for the woman who needs nothing, wants very few things that are within my price range and what she does want, she wants to pick out herself? Something other than a gift card and a smack on the ass?
Lordy. I hate shopping.
Anyone who knows me know that I hate shopping and I think spending money on clothes is stupid. I don't hold anything against anyone who feels different (in fact, I'm married to a woman who values nice clothes ALOT). I just don't want to put the time or the energy into finding nice clothes. And I don't want to pay for them. I'm a klutz and a mess and I'll just ruin them with stains or something.
This probably all goes back to having been a fat kid when there were very few fat-kid clothing options. And I'm not exactly stylish. Never have been. I can't match clothes at all - so I rely on all of my shirts matching all of my pants so that no matter what I select, it works. Perhaps not perfect, but passably. I own two pairs of work shoes - one brown and one black. On the weekend, I wear the one pair of jeans I own over and over again and then wash them through the week for the next weekend. During my pregnancy, I owned three pairs of maternity pants - one black and one tan for work and one pair of jeans for the weekend.
I buy Walmart/Target or clearance rack shirts. Why spend money on something that I'll stain anyway? Honestly? Also, I hate shopping. I hate it that fat-girl clothes are always stretchy (because that is what fat girls want...something that clings to their fat). I hate it that fat girl shirts are always too long - I'm not ashamed of my ass...If I wanted to cover it, I would.
Occasionally, however, I have a fit like I did this morning. I pulled all the clothes out of my closet that I don't wear (most of them) and that don't fit (some of them) or that are older than three years (quite a few of them) and threw them all on the bed. What I can donate, I will. Everything else (most of my clothes have rips or stains or something that will make them undesirable) will get thrown away. Hanging in my closet right now are 5 work shirts, 3 pairs of work pants, 5-6 beater tee shirts that I'll wear on the weekend, and one shirt that I bought for Valentine's day a couple of years ago. That's it.
Kelly and I have a date to (soon, I hope) take the day off work, bring Bailey to daycare and go outlet shopping.
Here's the best part of my wife - she can shop like a demon. She is a CRAZY shopper. She will pour through racks and racks of clothing and pull out the three things that I might actually wear. I will also pick clothes that are too big or too small (thus becoming extremely discouraged, extremely quickly)...but not Kelly. She can pick out a shirt that will fit me, that will look good and that is cheap every single time. The woman has talent.
I abhor shopping. I hate it. But Kelly makes it tolerable and the outlet malls make me feel less guilty about spending a couple hundred dollars on clothes. Because, after all, I do have a professional job and I do actually have to wear clothes that are somewhat nice to work.
Enough of that.
Kelly's birthday is just around the corner. My baby is going to be 33. Once again, I'm confronted with the maddening dilemma of what to get her. I always pick out shitty gifts for her. She's the shopper (as I've already established). To make it worse, I also have to take Bailey shopping for Kelly. Uggg. Any suggestions for gifts for the woman who needs nothing, wants very few things that are within my price range and what she does want, she wants to pick out herself? Something other than a gift card and a smack on the ass?
Lordy. I hate shopping.
2/24/2008
Steps and Baby Love
Our Bailey is a walker. She has now taken multiple steps on her own multiple times. The first reported steps were at daycare, but since then (that was on Tuesday the 19th), she's taken several steps for both of us. Deliberate steps...not accidental ones. She will still always choose crawling as her means of transportation, but not for long. Her little legs are so cute.
Bailey's been a bundle of baby love recently. She just seems to be happy and comfortable in her world. Her schedule is predictable, she gets lots of time with each of us individually and together, she is sleeping great at night (between 10 1/2 and 11 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep at a time), and she is getting lots of of yummy, healthy food. She is growing, learning and moving rapidly toward her first birthday.
Speaking of food. Every morning, we drop Bailey off at daycare. We start the day by putting her in one of the high chairs and getting her started on breakfast. We do the same thing every day (our girl likes her schedule). Usually breakfast is a bunch of fresh fruit and a blueberry waffle (one of the Kashi kinds with lots of fiber and protein). Sometimes it's cereal, but not often. We are starting to give her some egg...but it's hard to bring egg to daycare. Anyway. Usually fresh fruit salad (comprised of sliced fresh blueberries, fresh strawberries, apples that we've boiled slightly to soften them up, pears that have been boiled slightly and sometimes raspberries or blackberries). Every day there are a couple of other children there at the same time, being fed by the childcare folks. As far as I can tell, no other parents of the pre-toddlers make their children food like we do. The facility provides breakfast, lunch and snacks...we just don't like what they serve or how the prepare it. We recently learned that they cook their carrots in a sugar water solution to get the kids to eat them. NOT what we want Bailey to be eating. So we have strict rules in place that she is not to be fed ANYTHING that we don't provide. Never. Nothing. I digress...anyway - so these other kids are being fed. Want to know what they are eating?? Graham crackers and fruit loops. Seriously. That is their morning breakfast. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list in regular graham crackers and fruit loops? The amount of sugar alone that these children are eating to start their day is HORRIBLE. And usually, it's accompanied by juice. JUICE!!! Which might as well be soda it is so horrible.
Anyway - every morning, the daycare providers say, "Bailey, you are so lucky." One day, the father of one of the other children saw me putting the fresh fruit on Bailey's tray and asked me if I actually cut the fruit up myself. LOL. After I answered "yes" he commented that it just takes so much time.
*sigh*
Here's my rant - you bet it takes time. Kelly and I barely see each other through the week. We work split shifts so that Bailey spends as little time in childcare as possible. The person who is at home in the evening is tasked with making her food for the next day, making dinner, hand-washing bottles, picking up, entertaining the child and getting our lunches for the next day ready. It's fucking work. Our day beings at 4:00 AM just so that we get a few minutes of personal space before everything else starts. We commute constantly.
BUT...here's the thing. This is what we signed up for. I am not going to feed my kid a bunch of shit just because it's convenient. I'm not going to cut corners and be okay with fucking up her schedule just because my life is busy. It's not about me. It's not about Kelly. It's about raising Bailey and doing our very best with what we have to offer.
So...yes, it takes a while to cut up the fruit. Every Sunday I spend a couple of hours cutting broccoli, carrots and cauliflower and getting it steamed for her. So that she'll have fresh veggies to take with her to daycare each day. You bet it's work. It's lots of work. But I do it because I'm a good mother and because Bailey deserve that.
And man, I'd feel like shit if I knew that Bailey was being fed graham crackers and fruit loops.
Bailey's been a bundle of baby love recently. She just seems to be happy and comfortable in her world. Her schedule is predictable, she gets lots of time with each of us individually and together, she is sleeping great at night (between 10 1/2 and 11 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep at a time), and she is getting lots of of yummy, healthy food. She is growing, learning and moving rapidly toward her first birthday.
Speaking of food. Every morning, we drop Bailey off at daycare. We start the day by putting her in one of the high chairs and getting her started on breakfast. We do the same thing every day (our girl likes her schedule). Usually breakfast is a bunch of fresh fruit and a blueberry waffle (one of the Kashi kinds with lots of fiber and protein). Sometimes it's cereal, but not often. We are starting to give her some egg...but it's hard to bring egg to daycare. Anyway. Usually fresh fruit salad (comprised of sliced fresh blueberries, fresh strawberries, apples that we've boiled slightly to soften them up, pears that have been boiled slightly and sometimes raspberries or blackberries). Every day there are a couple of other children there at the same time, being fed by the childcare folks. As far as I can tell, no other parents of the pre-toddlers make their children food like we do. The facility provides breakfast, lunch and snacks...we just don't like what they serve or how the prepare it. We recently learned that they cook their carrots in a sugar water solution to get the kids to eat them. NOT what we want Bailey to be eating. So we have strict rules in place that she is not to be fed ANYTHING that we don't provide. Never. Nothing. I digress...anyway - so these other kids are being fed. Want to know what they are eating?? Graham crackers and fruit loops. Seriously. That is their morning breakfast. Have you ever looked at the ingredient list in regular graham crackers and fruit loops? The amount of sugar alone that these children are eating to start their day is HORRIBLE. And usually, it's accompanied by juice. JUICE!!! Which might as well be soda it is so horrible.
Anyway - every morning, the daycare providers say, "Bailey, you are so lucky." One day, the father of one of the other children saw me putting the fresh fruit on Bailey's tray and asked me if I actually cut the fruit up myself. LOL. After I answered "yes" he commented that it just takes so much time.
*sigh*
Here's my rant - you bet it takes time. Kelly and I barely see each other through the week. We work split shifts so that Bailey spends as little time in childcare as possible. The person who is at home in the evening is tasked with making her food for the next day, making dinner, hand-washing bottles, picking up, entertaining the child and getting our lunches for the next day ready. It's fucking work. Our day beings at 4:00 AM just so that we get a few minutes of personal space before everything else starts. We commute constantly.
BUT...here's the thing. This is what we signed up for. I am not going to feed my kid a bunch of shit just because it's convenient. I'm not going to cut corners and be okay with fucking up her schedule just because my life is busy. It's not about me. It's not about Kelly. It's about raising Bailey and doing our very best with what we have to offer.
So...yes, it takes a while to cut up the fruit. Every Sunday I spend a couple of hours cutting broccoli, carrots and cauliflower and getting it steamed for her. So that she'll have fresh veggies to take with her to daycare each day. You bet it's work. It's lots of work. But I do it because I'm a good mother and because Bailey deserve that.
And man, I'd feel like shit if I knew that Bailey was being fed graham crackers and fruit loops.
2/21/2008
This Struck Me
Kelly bought me a desk calendar for Christmas of "Wild Words from Wild Women". Today's quote struck me. I think every person who is in love should think about it...
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing." ~Anais Nin
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing." ~Anais Nin
2/20/2008
Ho Hum
Life is pretty normal right now - not much to report.
Bailey has hit another plateu - not much new on the development front. She had a rough night on Monday, but other than that, everything is fine. She's still eating enough for two babies, but seems to be growing normally. Walking is just around the corner - every day she gets closer.
She's all about trying the food that we are eating...which is interesting given that she only has two bottom teeth on the front. The other day, I cut up tiny, tiny pieces of the curry turkey I had made and she had some while we ate. I think it makes her feel like a big girl to be able to eat the food that we are eating.
We've noticed a new behavioral issue that we're working on. You know how Bailey has always been a "slapper". She hits everything when she's excited or happy. Well, now, that has turned into hitting when she's frustrated. Each time she does it, we hold both her wrists and firmly tell her no and then redirect her. Problem is, she thinks it's a game. She literally laughs every time we do it. Usually right in our faces. We are being consistant and as she gets a little older, the consequences will increase. We'll never hit her...but timeouts will be used liberally.
Other than that, nothing new. We're just trucking along!
Bailey has hit another plateu - not much new on the development front. She had a rough night on Monday, but other than that, everything is fine. She's still eating enough for two babies, but seems to be growing normally. Walking is just around the corner - every day she gets closer.
She's all about trying the food that we are eating...which is interesting given that she only has two bottom teeth on the front. The other day, I cut up tiny, tiny pieces of the curry turkey I had made and she had some while we ate. I think it makes her feel like a big girl to be able to eat the food that we are eating.
We've noticed a new behavioral issue that we're working on. You know how Bailey has always been a "slapper". She hits everything when she's excited or happy. Well, now, that has turned into hitting when she's frustrated. Each time she does it, we hold both her wrists and firmly tell her no and then redirect her. Problem is, she thinks it's a game. She literally laughs every time we do it. Usually right in our faces. We are being consistant and as she gets a little older, the consequences will increase. We'll never hit her...but timeouts will be used liberally.
Other than that, nothing new. We're just trucking along!
2/17/2008
Trying SO Hard!
Our Bubbles is trying so hard to walk. She stands on her own regularly now - without holding on to anything. She's also gotten advanced enough that she can do other things while standing on her own (like dance, bounce, clap her hands, squat to pick things up). And she knows the basic principle. When she's holding onto our finger (just one hand is necessary), she will lunge forward and do the drunken baby walk.
She's very wobbly and just not confident enough. But it's coming. Soon. We're thinking within the next month, she should have gotten it mastered. As with everything else, we haven't pushed her...we're just encouraging and letting her do her own thing. We both wait with baited breath every time we're hanging out with her for those first few real steps.
She's recently gone through a major growth spurt. Let me give you a basic understanding of how much food she's eating right now:
Breakfast #1: 6 oz formula, half a Kashi blueberry waffle, half cup of berries (or apples, peaches, strawberries or banana)
Breakfast #2 (hour or so later): rest of blueberry waffle, more fruit
Mid-morning snack: 6 oz formula
Lunch #1: 6 oz formula, 3/4 of container of Pasta Pickups - Chicken & veggie ravioli, 6 meat sticks (chicken or turkey), 1/2 cup of broccoli
Lunch #2: rest of pasta pickups, leftover fruit from breakfast, couple handfuls of puffs, cheerios
Afternoon Snack: 6 oz formula
Dinner: 1/2 cup of peas or carrots, 6 meat sticks (or a veggie burger or beans), fruit (if she wants it), 3-5 oz soy milk
Right before bed: 6-8 oz formula.
That's a lot, isn't it??? Except that she is not gaining a bunch of weight. In fact, her weight has completely stabilized and she is exactly where she is supposed to be. I guess I would be worried if she was gaining weight rapidly, but she is not.
The thing is, we don't force her or deny her food. We offer her what we are willing to let her have. She eats tons of veggies. She gets fresh (we prepare it ourselves) fruits and lots and lots of veggies every day. We let her eat the meat sticks (because it is just pure chicken or turkey packed together). We've agreed to start weening her from her bottle when she's 10 months old. We'll begin by replacing one or two with soy milk. Or maybe, we'll start putting everything in a sippy cup, but give her the same amount. Who knows. We'll figure it out and go with what is right at the time.
For now, we are just sitting back and watching her grow. She's working so hard and learning things all the time. We love just hanging out with her, sitting on the floor and watching her discover.
We've talked about how sometimes it feels like we are wasting time. We spend every evening on the floor with her, interacting, reading, playing, dancing, singing and talking. We don't talk baby-talk, and sometimes we just ignore her. But we're down there with her and we get to watch her as she discovers things over and over again. Sometimes, the time crunch gets the best of us (by us, I mean me, of course).
But then, I remember that Bailey is already almost 10 months old. She is growing up so fast. And I refuse to say that the dishes being done is more important that this time with her. It's hard work sometimes, to prioritize. It really is. I like the order. I want my house clean. I don't like dishes or dirty counter tops. I can't stand clutter. And very simply, sometimes the decision to be made is to deal with those things and have time with our daughter or take care of those things and wonder what I'm missing when Kelly and Bailey break into peals of laughter in the family room. I choose them. And the dishes are still done, most of the time...LOL!
Wow - this post is like my mind recently - darting in and out of random thoughts constantly. Every day moves at warp speed. It only slows down in the moments when I'm with my girls, sitting on the family room floor, listening to Bailey's favorite music, dancing, laughing, being crawled over, watching Kelly over the top of Bailey's head and seeing that my life is truly a gift.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
She's very wobbly and just not confident enough. But it's coming. Soon. We're thinking within the next month, she should have gotten it mastered. As with everything else, we haven't pushed her...we're just encouraging and letting her do her own thing. We both wait with baited breath every time we're hanging out with her for those first few real steps.
She's recently gone through a major growth spurt. Let me give you a basic understanding of how much food she's eating right now:
Breakfast #1: 6 oz formula, half a Kashi blueberry waffle, half cup of berries (or apples, peaches, strawberries or banana)
Breakfast #2 (hour or so later): rest of blueberry waffle, more fruit
Mid-morning snack: 6 oz formula
Lunch #1: 6 oz formula, 3/4 of container of Pasta Pickups - Chicken & veggie ravioli, 6 meat sticks (chicken or turkey), 1/2 cup of broccoli
Lunch #2: rest of pasta pickups, leftover fruit from breakfast, couple handfuls of puffs, cheerios
Afternoon Snack: 6 oz formula
Dinner: 1/2 cup of peas or carrots, 6 meat sticks (or a veggie burger or beans), fruit (if she wants it), 3-5 oz soy milk
Right before bed: 6-8 oz formula.
That's a lot, isn't it??? Except that she is not gaining a bunch of weight. In fact, her weight has completely stabilized and she is exactly where she is supposed to be. I guess I would be worried if she was gaining weight rapidly, but she is not.
The thing is, we don't force her or deny her food. We offer her what we are willing to let her have. She eats tons of veggies. She gets fresh (we prepare it ourselves) fruits and lots and lots of veggies every day. We let her eat the meat sticks (because it is just pure chicken or turkey packed together). We've agreed to start weening her from her bottle when she's 10 months old. We'll begin by replacing one or two with soy milk. Or maybe, we'll start putting everything in a sippy cup, but give her the same amount. Who knows. We'll figure it out and go with what is right at the time.
For now, we are just sitting back and watching her grow. She's working so hard and learning things all the time. We love just hanging out with her, sitting on the floor and watching her discover.
We've talked about how sometimes it feels like we are wasting time. We spend every evening on the floor with her, interacting, reading, playing, dancing, singing and talking. We don't talk baby-talk, and sometimes we just ignore her. But we're down there with her and we get to watch her as she discovers things over and over again. Sometimes, the time crunch gets the best of us (by us, I mean me, of course).
But then, I remember that Bailey is already almost 10 months old. She is growing up so fast. And I refuse to say that the dishes being done is more important that this time with her. It's hard work sometimes, to prioritize. It really is. I like the order. I want my house clean. I don't like dishes or dirty counter tops. I can't stand clutter. And very simply, sometimes the decision to be made is to deal with those things and have time with our daughter or take care of those things and wonder what I'm missing when Kelly and Bailey break into peals of laughter in the family room. I choose them. And the dishes are still done, most of the time...LOL!
Wow - this post is like my mind recently - darting in and out of random thoughts constantly. Every day moves at warp speed. It only slows down in the moments when I'm with my girls, sitting on the family room floor, listening to Bailey's favorite music, dancing, laughing, being crawled over, watching Kelly over the top of Bailey's head and seeing that my life is truly a gift.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
2/14/2008
Barack, HIllary & Politics in General
To the extent that anyone gives a shit, I have to voice my opinion about the current democratic party and what I see happening. I come at this with some education, but honestly, this is just my opinion and feel free (and I'd love it) to disagree with me.
So, I don't honestly understand everyone's fascination with Barack Oboma. I remember listening to him speak at the Democratic Convention four years ago (Kelly and I were watching it together) and we both commented on what an amazing, charismatic speaker he is. And what a political powerhouse he is going to be. And how what he says is important - it has a place in our party and in our politics. I don't want, and would never, discount the man's ability to uplift and energize...something the Democrats sorely need.
What I take a major issue with is how it seems like many people in our party are just jumping on his party line and not looking below it.
(An aside here - having studied politics in college and in graduate school, I do understand that many, many people are sheep when it comes to political thought and just follow the herd. I don't understand that, and can think of very few things that are more dangerous...but I do get it).
Anyway. Back to my original thought. Barack is running on a message of change (we can be the change we seek, yes we can...blah, blah, blah). And while I LOVE the sentiment and really respect his ability to uplift the people...the hard, cold reality is that WHAT HE IS SAYING IS UNREALISTIC. He cannot (and I truly mean CANNOT) walk into the White House on day one and make radical changes in the government and in how the government makes decisions. As a nation, we have processes in place that actively PREVENT him from doing that (the whole seperation of powers thing for those of you who don't know). Seriously - one man cannot effectively change the face of our government by himself and just because he wants to. It doesn't work that...and we should all be damn happy that it doesn't (spend a couple of minutes thinking about the repercussion if one person truly could change everything just because he or she didn't like it).
Now, here is where my experience in politics changes some thing for me. First of all, the reason that I'm not a staffer right now on the hill is because I learned a lot during my graduate program in Legislative Affairs. I learned that in real life, politics is a lot less political than it seems. In order to make ANYTHING work on the hill, you've got to be able to work with everyone (on both sides of the isle) and you have to know how to deal. You have to know how to bargain, to negotiate and to compromise. If you don't, nothing happens. You hit stalemate. I found this out and realized that I could never be in politics - because I cannot work with Republicans. Honestly. That's why I changed my entire carreer objective. Because I couldn't be objective.
Now, put it all together and you can understand why I am not in love with Barack. First - what he's saying he will do cannot happen. He cannot walk in there all cowboy like (think W, here) and force the government to operate in a way that would please him. Second, without the skills (and we all know that skills are gained through experience) to create the kinds of coalitions that he'll need, it's unlikely that he'll be able to make real change at all.
That's why I'm supporting Hillary. She's not fancy. She's not a great speaker. She's a woman who is percieved as a bitch. She doesn't manage to spout rhetoric in a way that makes people believe her (an essential quality in a good politician), and in many ways, she's just cold and distant.
But. She's got experience. She's got years, and years, and years of experience in Washington. Whether you like the lady or not, she's know how Washington works and she knows how to get shit through an incredibly complicated political system. She is not promising earth-shattering change. Because she knows she (and nobody else) can deliver. What she is saying is that she's got 25 years of history, of coalition building and of actual, hard-earned experience with the best and the worst of our political system. And all of that comes with her on day one.
And, she's got Bill. And love him or loathe him...the man is one of the world's most talented coalition builders. He's a foriegn policy genious. And honestly, we need to mend some foriegn fences. W fucked us up pretty bad.
Hillary is my candidate. She is NOT the person who most closely aligns with my political philosophy. She's far to moderate for my liking. She doesn't support gay marriage (none of the candidates left do, though).
But she knows the game. And right now, after 8 years of a stumbling fucking idiot in office who made us look bad, I'm voting for a little finese. I'm looking for someone who can actually make our nation powerful again....not just strong.
So, I don't honestly understand everyone's fascination with Barack Oboma. I remember listening to him speak at the Democratic Convention four years ago (Kelly and I were watching it together) and we both commented on what an amazing, charismatic speaker he is. And what a political powerhouse he is going to be. And how what he says is important - it has a place in our party and in our politics. I don't want, and would never, discount the man's ability to uplift and energize...something the Democrats sorely need.
What I take a major issue with is how it seems like many people in our party are just jumping on his party line and not looking below it.
(An aside here - having studied politics in college and in graduate school, I do understand that many, many people are sheep when it comes to political thought and just follow the herd. I don't understand that, and can think of very few things that are more dangerous...but I do get it).
Anyway. Back to my original thought. Barack is running on a message of change (we can be the change we seek, yes we can...blah, blah, blah). And while I LOVE the sentiment and really respect his ability to uplift the people...the hard, cold reality is that WHAT HE IS SAYING IS UNREALISTIC. He cannot (and I truly mean CANNOT) walk into the White House on day one and make radical changes in the government and in how the government makes decisions. As a nation, we have processes in place that actively PREVENT him from doing that (the whole seperation of powers thing for those of you who don't know). Seriously - one man cannot effectively change the face of our government by himself and just because he wants to. It doesn't work that...and we should all be damn happy that it doesn't (spend a couple of minutes thinking about the repercussion if one person truly could change everything just because he or she didn't like it).
Now, here is where my experience in politics changes some thing for me. First of all, the reason that I'm not a staffer right now on the hill is because I learned a lot during my graduate program in Legislative Affairs. I learned that in real life, politics is a lot less political than it seems. In order to make ANYTHING work on the hill, you've got to be able to work with everyone (on both sides of the isle) and you have to know how to deal. You have to know how to bargain, to negotiate and to compromise. If you don't, nothing happens. You hit stalemate. I found this out and realized that I could never be in politics - because I cannot work with Republicans. Honestly. That's why I changed my entire carreer objective. Because I couldn't be objective.
Now, put it all together and you can understand why I am not in love with Barack. First - what he's saying he will do cannot happen. He cannot walk in there all cowboy like (think W, here) and force the government to operate in a way that would please him. Second, without the skills (and we all know that skills are gained through experience) to create the kinds of coalitions that he'll need, it's unlikely that he'll be able to make real change at all.
That's why I'm supporting Hillary. She's not fancy. She's not a great speaker. She's a woman who is percieved as a bitch. She doesn't manage to spout rhetoric in a way that makes people believe her (an essential quality in a good politician), and in many ways, she's just cold and distant.
But. She's got experience. She's got years, and years, and years of experience in Washington. Whether you like the lady or not, she's know how Washington works and she knows how to get shit through an incredibly complicated political system. She is not promising earth-shattering change. Because she knows she (and nobody else) can deliver. What she is saying is that she's got 25 years of history, of coalition building and of actual, hard-earned experience with the best and the worst of our political system. And all of that comes with her on day one.
And, she's got Bill. And love him or loathe him...the man is one of the world's most talented coalition builders. He's a foriegn policy genious. And honestly, we need to mend some foriegn fences. W fucked us up pretty bad.
Hillary is my candidate. She is NOT the person who most closely aligns with my political philosophy. She's far to moderate for my liking. She doesn't support gay marriage (none of the candidates left do, though).
But she knows the game. And right now, after 8 years of a stumbling fucking idiot in office who made us look bad, I'm voting for a little finese. I'm looking for someone who can actually make our nation powerful again....not just strong.
2/12/2008
Voting...
Gonna go vote with Bailey tonight. We are supporting Hillary. For some reason, I'm super excited about bringing Bailey and introducing her to the action of democracy. I can't wait until she's older and we can talk about the issues.
What a cool thing...to wonder what your child will believe and to think about how our actions, thoughts and beliefs will effect her.
For now, all I can say is GO HILLARY!!!! You've got this lesbian family behind you.
What a cool thing...to wonder what your child will believe and to think about how our actions, thoughts and beliefs will effect her.
For now, all I can say is GO HILLARY!!!! You've got this lesbian family behind you.
2/11/2008
The Stuff Of Life
Seems like it's been forever since I blogged. There really hasn't been that much going on...just normal, keep us running like crazy girls life.
Kelly was sick for most of last week. The awful flu that everyone seems to be getting hit her. Miraculously, it's missed me. Bailey ended up sick last week with a nasty cough that turned into a mild ear infection. She's just now finishing up the antibiotics. I wonder if that kept her from getting Kelly's flu? Not sure what kept me from the flu. Hopefully my luck holds.
On Saturday night, we celebrated Valentine's Day a little early with a childless trip to the Melting Pot (our all-time favorite place to eat!). It's a fondue restaraunt and we had fiesta cheese (a spicy mexican cheese fondue) to start, followed by pork tenderloin and twin lobster tails and then finished off with a white and milk chocolate swirled fondue. The whole meal is an experience that takes about 2 1/2 hours (if you do it right and enjoy yourself). We had a wonderful, wonderful time just sitting together and talking. It's been a while since we could do that without one of us distracted by Bailey or without us having to do something else (dinner, picking up, making lunches, prepping bottles, going to bed).
It was wonderful...and something we'll do again.
So, while we were out, Bailey stayed with her unofficial third mother, Karen. Karen has been our hero and a constant presence in Bailey's life since she was conceived. Whenever we need some advice or someone to help, Karen has been here, without fail. So, it goes without saying that we were comfortable with her having Bailey for a couple of hours. Of course, we worried just like any new parents leaving their baby for the first time. We fussed over her and made sure she had way to much of everything. I think that probably went a little overboard by writing and signing a medical release...but you know...you never know!!!
Needless to say, Bailey had an absolutely fantastic time. She hung out with Karen and Karen's good friend Carol. There were three teenage girls around, lots of good music and tons of energy devoted to spoiling Bailey. B absolutely thrives in high-energy environments and had an amazing time. In fact, when we arrived, she barely acknowledged us (which is exactly what we want to see when you leave our Bailey).
Now that we've gotten our feet wet, you can bet that Kelly and I will have a few more date nights. It was so wonderful. And after 9 months, it was exactly what we needed.
Thank you, Karen, for making it possible and making us feel so comfortable. And for loving our Bailey so much.
Playing With The Camera
Dancing Girl
The World's Most Wonderful Valentine
What??
Dirty Girl
My Reason For Living
Deep Blue, Need-You Eyes
Our Dear, Dear Friends Monica & Susanne with Their Darling Baby, Danny
Tired, Tired Girl
Flying With Miss. Karen
Kelly was sick for most of last week. The awful flu that everyone seems to be getting hit her. Miraculously, it's missed me. Bailey ended up sick last week with a nasty cough that turned into a mild ear infection. She's just now finishing up the antibiotics. I wonder if that kept her from getting Kelly's flu? Not sure what kept me from the flu. Hopefully my luck holds.
On Saturday night, we celebrated Valentine's Day a little early with a childless trip to the Melting Pot (our all-time favorite place to eat!). It's a fondue restaraunt and we had fiesta cheese (a spicy mexican cheese fondue) to start, followed by pork tenderloin and twin lobster tails and then finished off with a white and milk chocolate swirled fondue. The whole meal is an experience that takes about 2 1/2 hours (if you do it right and enjoy yourself). We had a wonderful, wonderful time just sitting together and talking. It's been a while since we could do that without one of us distracted by Bailey or without us having to do something else (dinner, picking up, making lunches, prepping bottles, going to bed).
It was wonderful...and something we'll do again.
So, while we were out, Bailey stayed with her unofficial third mother, Karen. Karen has been our hero and a constant presence in Bailey's life since she was conceived. Whenever we need some advice or someone to help, Karen has been here, without fail. So, it goes without saying that we were comfortable with her having Bailey for a couple of hours. Of course, we worried just like any new parents leaving their baby for the first time. We fussed over her and made sure she had way to much of everything. I think that probably went a little overboard by writing and signing a medical release...but you know...you never know!!!
Needless to say, Bailey had an absolutely fantastic time. She hung out with Karen and Karen's good friend Carol. There were three teenage girls around, lots of good music and tons of energy devoted to spoiling Bailey. B absolutely thrives in high-energy environments and had an amazing time. In fact, when we arrived, she barely acknowledged us (which is exactly what we want to see when you leave our Bailey).
Now that we've gotten our feet wet, you can bet that Kelly and I will have a few more date nights. It was so wonderful. And after 9 months, it was exactly what we needed.
Thank you, Karen, for making it possible and making us feel so comfortable. And for loving our Bailey so much.
Playing With The Camera
Dancing Girl
The World's Most Wonderful Valentine
What??
Dirty Girl
My Reason For Living
Deep Blue, Need-You Eyes
Our Dear, Dear Friends Monica & Susanne with Their Darling Baby, Danny
Tired, Tired Girl
Flying With Miss. Karen
2/05/2008
She Speaks
Yes, it finally happened. Bailey spoke her first easily understandable, obviously associated words last night. She also took a step. But that was more of an accident.
In the bath last night, as she was laying back on her cushion and I was washing her hair, she reached up and touched my lips and said "Momma" three or four times. It was clear. She wasn't babbling "mamamamama"..it was a clear "Momma" then a pause. Then again. Then one more time. On the third one, she smiled.
I looked at Kelly, Kelly looked at me and I said, "Well, I think that qualifies as the first word, right?". She smiled that beautiful smile of hers and said, "I think so."
It's official.
The steps - I was just playing with B right before her bath. Kelly was sitting on the floor next to her. I stood her up, just because she's been doing that a lot on her own recently. She just stands there and does other stuff (like eating broccoli...another new thing). Anyway. I stood her up and she took a step forward. Just like she's been doing it her whole life.
Kelly and I again shared that incredulous look. That look that says, "shit...did you just see that???" She immediately dropped to her knees after that step and took off crawling...so we're not counting it as the first official walking steps...but she's closer. Much, much closer...
Go, B, go!
In the bath last night, as she was laying back on her cushion and I was washing her hair, she reached up and touched my lips and said "Momma" three or four times. It was clear. She wasn't babbling "mamamamama"..it was a clear "Momma" then a pause. Then again. Then one more time. On the third one, she smiled.
I looked at Kelly, Kelly looked at me and I said, "Well, I think that qualifies as the first word, right?". She smiled that beautiful smile of hers and said, "I think so."
It's official.
The steps - I was just playing with B right before her bath. Kelly was sitting on the floor next to her. I stood her up, just because she's been doing that a lot on her own recently. She just stands there and does other stuff (like eating broccoli...another new thing). Anyway. I stood her up and she took a step forward. Just like she's been doing it her whole life.
Kelly and I again shared that incredulous look. That look that says, "shit...did you just see that???" She immediately dropped to her knees after that step and took off crawling...so we're not counting it as the first official walking steps...but she's closer. Much, much closer...
Go, B, go!
2/04/2008
9 Month Checkup
B Bear had her 9 month check up this morning. Kelly very, very happily reported that she didn't have to have any shots today (none again until the 1 year). I usually do these appointments, but Kelly took her today...and didn't have to deal with shots! Go figure, huh?
Anyway - she's 22.5 pounds and 29 inches long. They say that she is going to be "big girl". She's gonna be tall. Her weight is plateuing, which is perfect and her height and head are both getting bigger. Just as it should be.
Developmentally, she is at or above all the milestones.
All in all, we have a very healthy little baby girl! Or big baby girl, as the case may be...LOL!
The only sad news is that her cold from last week has settled into her ears and she has a mild ear infection. Kelly picked up a prescription on her way to daycare and that should take care of it. Poor baby girl...
Anyway - she's 22.5 pounds and 29 inches long. They say that she is going to be "big girl". She's gonna be tall. Her weight is plateuing, which is perfect and her height and head are both getting bigger. Just as it should be.
Developmentally, she is at or above all the milestones.
All in all, we have a very healthy little baby girl! Or big baby girl, as the case may be...LOL!
The only sad news is that her cold from last week has settled into her ears and she has a mild ear infection. Kelly picked up a prescription on her way to daycare and that should take care of it. Poor baby girl...
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