Minnie

Mouse, that is.

Loogy Nation

I have been sick for about two weeks. Just an annoying and pesky cold. I thought it was over with about 5 days in, and then it reared its ugly head AGAIN and I can’t seem to shake this dark junk in my nose, throat and lungs. My eyes are itchy and I don’t know how to hock up loogies. I’m gross. What can I say, it's a loogy nation at home.

Sonya still has a crackly cough, had a bout of horrendous diaper rash which I think was sparked by spaghetti I gave her. Maybe too much acidity? I used Bordeaux Butt Paste, didn’t work. Desitin burned her tooshy too much (poor thing) and Aveeno cream was just too gentle. My mom finally dropped off some Rosebud Salve which seems to be working. An oldie but goodie!

I recently discovered an awesome toy store in our town. It has the coolest things. I went in yesterday on my lunch and wanted to buy everything but had to contain myself since Miss S’s birthday is this weekend! That is a whole other post.

It has been hard for me to blog at work lately due to my new flat screen monitor which easily displays Blogger when I in it. So what I just started was writing my posts in Word and then dropping them right into Blogger to cut down on the time I am in it. I know, so sneaky folks. Who am I fooling? And blogging at night after Miss S is in bed is just not realistic lately. I have been running errands at the night hours or working on unpacking or just sitting my ass on the couch to sip on some Carmenere.

Aight fools. I need to post pics from Halloween. I will do that before this weekend because I have a monster of a post coming up in just three days... In THREE DAYS I will be posting her 1st Birthday Post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things I Learned Traveling with My 11 Month old

1) Coordinating flight times around nap time is money
2) Take advantage of the airlines and request a couple extra plastic drink cups for your baby to play with
3) Bring plenty of useful toys. Not just lead laced ones from the dollar store such as a pink pig sponge.
4) Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize
5) $12 umbrella strollers from Target are not made for anyone taller than 4 feet tall
6) The Family Line at the Security Check Point is not that VIP-ish. In fact it is sometimes more of a pain in the ass depending on the number of squirrelly kids and sleep deprived parents are in front of you slowing things down.
7) Traveling with other people (i.e. other family members) is a life saver
8) Pack n’ Plays are a pain in the ass to carry folded up
9) McDonalds French fries taste like heaven on earth to your child
10) Your “no bare feet on hotel room floors” goes out the window immediately
11) Sticking to nap times is money
12) Bring a thermometer in case your baby has a raging fever at midnight the night before you are supposed to fly back
13) Raisins are the gift from God.
14) No matter how hard you try not to be, eventually you will be “that family” that childless passengers glare at on the plane. Heck I used to be one of them.
15) Airplane bathrooms are not contusive to changing your baby’s diapers
16) Check your baby food or else you are going to get grief, I know big DUH, but I forgot folks, I forgot!!!
17) Despite a hectic trip, my little one still was a doll and beautiful all dressed up for the wedding. Despite being sick and getting another tooth, she was the ultimate trooper.

Baby Steps

Wow. A week and a half. That is how long I have been absent from the blogosphere? A whole lot has been going on. Maybe the reason why I have been MIA.

1) Sonya took her first steps. And we got to witness it TOGETHER and clap together as a family. Just like I had always pictured it. Has she walked since? Not so much. One step here, one step there. I think she prefers crawling at this point as she can really pick up speed on all fours.

2) we moved. All in and settled. Except I still can't find where that Baby Einstein DVD went, and how did this tube of cat medication end up in the same box as my face cream? Why are dishtowels in with my shoes? Apparently, there was no rational when packing. It was all in and whatever can fits in the box is getting packed up!

3) All three of us are now sick. Hubbs has a sore throat. I have a nasty cold and Miss S has a bad cough and nice thick snot.

4) We are due to fly to Orange County on Saturday for a family member's wedding. All I care about is getting Miss S better. I am home today with her. The two of us are peas in a pod. sniffling and feeling like crap.

Okay, she's up from her nap. Off to Babies R Us to get her a walker. Can't believe I haven't purchased one yet.

Pandemonium Larry!

I am in a panic. Full on panic. This Swine Flu business is making me sick with anxiety. What the heck is a mom to do? Normally, I don't give a rats ass about the regular flu, but this???? Has me freaking the f^&* out. I don't care if I get it, I will kick it's flu-ass, but I am worried about my girl getting it. Plus, we are Flying.On.An.Airplane in a mere two weeks to So Cal. We will have to be in the dirty airports, in a stuffy plane with recycled air spewing in our faces. Sonya will want to mouth everything in her site. There is not enough Purell in the world to keep up with that one. I am totally not one of those people against vaccines. But I am a bit uneasy about this vaccine they have (which they don't have yet for her age in our city). Today on Good Morning America they were discussing how they would be looking for side effects on the first users of the vaccine. Um... no thanks. She hasn't had her flu shot yet either because our office ran out. WTF???? Are you moms out there freaking like me or am I just getting my knickers in a knot?

Jiff- You know health care- are you giving Bayley the shots????

Fall All Around Us

-Within a week we have used our air conditioner and our heater. Sonya is back in her sleep sack at night and we have thrown an extra blanket on our bed.
-The new season of SNL has started up. Sat night belonged to my heartthrob Ryan Reynolds. So hot. He might be in my Top 5.
-Saturday we moved a load of crap over to our new house. On Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch with my bro and sister in law and my nieces and my mom. It was fun. Miss S enjoyed looking at the cows and chickens.
-I had an important meeting I was stressing over today at work. A lot of the Big Wigs were there and I thought I would have to "talk numbers" about some of my brands, but my boss did majority of the talking, so I didn't sweat much. Although, some serious thought went int what I should wear. I was going to wear a gray and black shift from Target with some patent faux Croc pumps, but figured that might be a bit too sexy, so I settled on a very Michelle Obama-ish outfit. very cute. Wide leg black/gray slacks, tucked in fitted black collared blouse, open bright blue longer cardigan, long black beaded necklace and those same heels. My motto with work attire is dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Which I pretty much do, if I do say so myself.
-Miss S is standing unassisted. UNASSISTED!!! When did this happen? Overnight! It was Overnight! Hubbs thinks she will be walking within a couple of weeks. We'll see.
- I mailed out invitations for Miss S's FIRST BIRTHDAY party. She is almost a toddler!!! This must of happened overnight too. I can not believe it. She is such a doll.

Alright, I'm out!

The Cuddle Club

On Monday nights I snuggle with my daughter. Because the rest of the week the Cuddle Club only lasts for 5 minutes.

Miss S is a limited snuggler so any chance I get to be in the Cuddle Club, I jump at it. I think that on Mondays she may go through withdrawals of not having her mom around while at daycare. So on Monday nights, she takes a long time to get to sleep. Instead of dozing off quickly, she hollers and whines until I go in there and get her out of the crib and she immediately rests her head on my chest. I of course, can't resist this so I sink into the rocker and snuggle with her. She dozes then wakes up, looks at me, even touches my face, just to make sure I am there. She does this over and over for about 20 minutes, before I put her back in the crib and she falls asleep.

My niece Ava, who is exactly one month older than Miss S, is a total cuddler (both go to daycare, so that is not an argument). She rests her head on her parents shoulder all the time and will even fall asleep on them even when there is activity going on, whether it be a party, tv, etc. Not Miss S. She would rather be all into everything. She pushes off Hubbs and I and no matter how hard we try to snuggle, she does not want anything to do with it..... Unless she is super sleepy in her room before bedtime, she will cuddle. I think she is slowly getting better at mellowing down. It hurts our feelings sometimes, but I recently realized when I googled this, that, heck, tons of kids don't cuddle! Apparently, this is normal. Kids either cuddle or they don't. I just hope, she will be a more active member of the Cuddle Club someday. Anyone have tips?

"What's all this talk about cuddling?"

A Walk Down Memory Lane

So as I mentioned before, we are moving. And this time I am really going through stuff to toss. My mom is notorious for dropping off boxes of stuff for me. Not boxes of useful items, but boxes of crap. Crap consisting of old keepsake items such as: prom corsages, old school notebooks, diaries, projects, dress up jewelry, nick knacks, etc. Yesterday, while rifling through one of the many crap boxes, I came across a good stack of letters. Letters from old friends and boyfriends. I read through some of them and realized one thing.

1) High school was full of petty crap. I found some notes in response to notes I HAD WRITTEN to friends that were just ridiculous! And the best part? I don't remember any of this crap happening, which basically means I let things roll off my back very easily. Which, I guess is good yet somewhat rare for a girl to do in high school.

So I kept some of the ones that are petty, just for whenever I want a good laugh. I kept all of the letters from Hubbs in the early days, but tossed all the other crap out. I felt guilty at first, but realized, I just couldn't see myself pulling out a box or two on a rainy day and going through all of it. I always told myself I would, which is why I passed them along each time we moved. Now, I am purging.

Do you typically toss or keep?

It's Pouring

Why does it seem that when it rains, it always has to pour? Right when we decided we are settled in our house, we get up and and decide to move!!!! Move in three weeks to be exact. Move the weekend after my niece's first birthday and the weekend before we go to Orange County for hubbs' uncle's wedding. Weekend after that is Halloween followed by Miss S's birthday weekend! Before you know it will be time to gain 5 pounds at Thanksgiving, we'll be getting a Christmas tree and I will be trying to keep a walking baby (not yet walking but I am sure she will by then) from pulling the tree over, unwrapping all the presents and eating ornaments.

Phew! Did everyone get all that? Yup, Fall always seems to be crazy. I love the fall but there is always so much going on that it whizzes right by. I could go on and on about the mayhem mentioned above but instead have decided to fill you in on the following:

1) I am skinny. Very skinny. I regularly get comments from co-workers and family that I am skinnier than before I had Miss S. I have always been thin with a nice rack. Now I am just thin with a mediocre rack. My waist is narrow, my ass non-existent and my abs, well, they have never looked this good. My secret? Quiet simply, having a kid and crazy job. Eating just isn't a priority for me and some days it gets to be 2 or 3 in the afternoon and realize I haven't had lunch, then eat something and since it was so late in the day I don't get hungry at dinner time. However, most days I eat regular meals. I have really good metabolism. My parents and brother are thin (well not so much my dad these days due to his appreciation for his nightly micro-brew(s). I know I need to add on a couple L B's. however, it just doesn't' seem to happen. Not sure if that my metabolism is extra fast now or something. I am not going to go out and binge on fast food just to add some junk to my trunk, that just isn't healthy, but I do indulge now more than I used to. Maybe it is going to slow down eventually. Until then, you will find me at Baskin Robbins enjoying that extra scoop.

It's a Feeling

I peared through the smudged windows, craning my neck to see the skyline tucked below the plane as we descended into JFK. The sky was gray with bright sun rays poking through the clouds. I was sitting on the wrong side so I didn't see much, but I still had goosebumps with the excitement, visualizing the skyscrapers below, the bustling city that I had always dreamed of visiting, and now I actually was.

My boss told me "Your going to New York" and I didn't blink an eye. It would be the first city on a trip of whirlwind meetings, and I got to go along. There were a couple other colleagues going as well. I hadn't flown by myself before and wanted to try to go with someone else, however, they were going out later in the day and knowing that I only had two nights in the city I didn't want miss out on any time to explore. I took the first flight out of SFO on that Sunday which brought me in to JFK around 3:00.

I was nervous with anticipation as I got into the Town Car I had arranged with the car service. The entire trip from the airport to the city, I was nervously peering out the windows, at all the other drivers racing past us. My driver talked angrily on the phone but I didn't care. I only cared about seeing that skyline I had been waiting my whole life to see.

We came around the bend. There it was. Gleaming before me next to the bright Fall Sky. It almost took the breath right out of me. I will never forget it.

My hotel was right next to the W and Waldorf Astoria. I immediately checked in and barely was in my room 5 minutes before I went back downstairs and out on to the street. Having no direction or even a map. Just my purse.

It was blustery cold. The first weekend in November. It was the day of the New York Marathon. Runners were all over the place as they finished up, the dispersed out on to the streets in Midtown. I went to a cafe where I ordered a sandwich and coffee. I sat by myself and watched the people walk by on the streets. I set back out. I actually looked like I belonged there. Wearing some great jeans, brown heeled boots and a dark green tweed pea coat with a ribbon belt.

I dug my hands into my pockets and pressed ahead. The wind kicked my hair in all directions. It was getting dark, but people were all around. I had no idea where I was headed but have never felt safer.

I noticed some bright lights ahead. It was Rockefeller Center. I picked up my strut and raced ahead. I took my camera out and in my moment of excitement took a couple of pictures of the Radio City Music Hall/ 30 Rock Sign. That moment, I will never forget. It was a moment of independence. No one knew me. I was alone in the big city, all by myself. I felt such adrenalin. Such excitement, I can still feel it to this day, and every other time I go to my city, my love, New York. I was only 24. And I felt like I had the world ahead of me.

I didn't have much time so I headed back to the hotel where I was to meet with my boss and some executives who came in early. We were going to dinner to Nobu in TriBeCa. At dinner we noshed on the best Japanese food I had ever had and drank bottle after bottle of the finest Sonoma Cabs and Burgundy Pinot Noirs. At one point at dinner I noticed Claire Danes eating with a friend. And a couple seats over, George Lucas and his girlfriend.

We met up for drinks a the bar at the W the next night. We were amongst "Suits" of Wall Street. The waitresses were straight off the runway. We drank champagne and enjoyed the sights.

The next day we were off to Chicago. I bid farewell to the city that I knew I would get a chance to meet someday. Vowing, I would be back soon. And I did, barely six months later I was back for a week for more business.

It has been a year and a half since my last trip. I want to go back. I need to go back. This time with the Hubbs. He needs to see how the city makes you feel. The city that has the greatest energy. The city that makes you feel at home.

Back to the Grind

Friday:
Trying to work from home while handling conference calls and work fire drills, indigestion, diarrhea all over crib, doctor's appt. for me, doctor's appt. for Miss S, dinner at our favorite pizza place, pass out on couch, bed.

Saturday:
Donuts, bagels, laundry, park, tantrum on train at park, back home, nap, mom naps, dad naps, burritos for dinner, State of Play (good, had to pause it three times so Hubbs could explain what the heck was happening), pass out on couch

Sunday:
Blueberry pancakes, Target, Safeway, long naps, cleaning bathrooms, more naps, Ribs at brother and sister in laws, Pinot Gris, endless toys for Miss S to play with, Miss S in the bath with her cousins, home and pass out, followed by more indigestion

Monday:
Tortillas and eggs, mall with mom and Miss S, naps, off to hubbs' grandparents for pizza and salad, Miss S was bored with the lack of baby things to get into at their house, home, Mad Men on TiVo and more indigestion

Tuesday:
Up at the crack of dawn, get self ready, Miss S ready, Hubbs is long gone on to work, schedule cat to get into vet, back at work playing catch up, wearing cute dress, great hair day, more indigestion.

You Know You Are A Mom When....

-You show up to work and realize your underwear is inside-out
-You have to explain to your co-worker that the diaper in your car really is clean and fell out of the diaper bag en route to daycare
-You get teary eyed when you drop off your little one to daycare and notice a toddler crying because he wants his mommy

Since giving birth I have had a hard time digesting really big meals, or they go right through me. This usually happens after we go out to eat and I order a hamburger. Something about the grease has been bugging me. A couple months back I got sick from eating a hamburger and fries and assumed it was food poisoning. Yesterday at a work lunch, I ordered a gigantic burger with fries and immediately following I felt like I was ridiculously stuffed. I had no appetite at dinner and sometime in the evening I got nauseous and ended up puking for four hours off and on. I woke up today feeling horrible, slightly nauseous but was able to pull myself together to get myself and Sonya ready to get to work since hubbs left super early. I have splitting pain across my back shoulder blades. Could I have gallbladder issues? Has anyone ever heard of symptoms like that?

Current Events

Sonya has a cold with yellow snot and everything. Glad I am working from home with her today so she can take it easy and rest up.

I have a 3 year old's birthday party to attend with Miss S tomorrow, we'll see if we end up going, guess it depends on if she still has a cold. Don't want to get other kiddies sick too. Hubbs will be attending a golf extragaganza.

My big toe nail has cracked half way down. It doesn't hurt...yet, I am sure I will stub my toe on something which will then yank back the crack thus resulting in serious F-Bombs.

We are going to Target today to get more toys. Miss S is starting to get bored with a lot of her toys so it is out with the old, in with the new!

I finally got my eyebrows waxed yesterday. Phew! They look so much better and I don't look like I have been living in the Amazon.

It is hotter than heck around these parts, the worst part, it's H-U-M-I-D. Our heat is usually dry so I don't know how to handle myself around this moisture.

Aight, the little one is up from her midday nap. Enjoy the weekend!

"I want more toys!"

Green with Envy

I have noticed many bloggers out there who have incredible photo taking skills. I mean, they should be paid for taking such fine shots. How come I can't have skills like that? I am green with envy. I try to be artistic with my photos but after a couple attempts decide that heck, I might as well pay someone to do that.

It was decided this past weekend that I am to refocus energy into meal planning. Lately, as I bitch about a lot on this blog, I have been doing such boring and uncreative meals. How many times can you do raviolis? And the kicker? I am a good cook. Seriously. I am. You eat at my house? You are eating comfort foot. No gourmet shit here. I cook things that stick to your ribs, dammit. Stuff that you can walk away from the table and say "damn, that was grub!". Last night I busted out Tamale Pie, straight from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, but the 1963 version!!! The book was my grandma's and the recipes are so funny, and sometimes horrifying (Spam & Noddle Casserole?) but there are some great tried and true recipes that are timeless, such as Tamale Pie.

Sonya now says Dog, Cat and today she said Tractor when she was watching the Baby Einstein Old MacDonald DVD. So cute.

I think my eye site is going downhill. I have worn reading glasses since I was 7, but being back at work has shown me that my eyes really suck now, especially when I look into the distance. So today I am wearing these Versace glasses in silver and already I feel so much better. I have an appt. in a couple weeks to get my eyes checked out and see if I need a stronger prescription. Exciting, I know.

My Eyebrows Need To Be Waxed & Other Things About Me

My eyebrows look like overgrown shrubs in front of an office building, okay, an exaggeration, but still, they are annoying the shit out of me. My lady can't get me in until Weds. Apparently there are a lot of other hairy people out there too.

I always have an orchid in the kitchen and toss and replace it as soon as the blooms fall off. Orchids make me feel for a minute like I am somewhat sophisticated. Plus they will bloom for a couple of months at a time so I totally get my bang for the buck.

I think I should invest in GAP Inc. as I seriously think I can shop for the entire family from Banana, GAP and Old Navy without having to go anywhere else.

Our house needs to be deep cleaned so bad, but I keep hoping that one day I am going to come home from work and magically a fairy maid has cleaned the house.

I finally got caught up on all of the MAD MEN Season 1 episodes. Now I need to cram in Season 2 so I can actually watch the Season 3 episodes now that they are airing. It is such an awesome show for the clothes, the culture, the language, the way it captures the era and of course, I don't mind watching me some Don Draper, ah har har har.

Grilled cheese sandwiches have crept into our weekly dinner menu a lot more lately. It's usually on Thursday nights that I do the whole head scratch, realize that I forgot to take chicken or something out of the freezer and resort to good ol grilled cheese.

I think I yelled at Hubbs in the middle of the night last night because he was breathing loud. I was sleep talking, of course :)

I weigh three pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight. I have been at this weight since 4 months postpartum. I actually think I look better now than before minus the fact that I am now a whole cup size smaller and smaller around too. Weird how childbirth does that to you.

Peace out!

Happiness

I met up with an old friend yesterday for lunch. We had a falling out back in our college days and recently reconnected at a mutual friend's wedding. He was one of my best pals back in high school. Looking back on it, I had three close guy friends which I rotated through the years. Of course I had girl friends, but I just got a long better with the guys. They didn't get jealous and catty like those girls did.

So anyways, it was fun seeing this old friend. He used to be a heavy drinker, would be a jerk when he was drunk (which I think is why we stopped talking) and could be just obnoxious, but the most of the time he cracked me up with his humor and wit. It was nice to see he has really matured and has settled down with his long time girlfriend. He asked me what it was like now being a parent, and it made me think for a minute.

This is something I think about all the time, but it is just so hard to get the words right and out correctly. But it just came to me.

Each day I wake up happy. I am happy about the day ahead, week ahead, even months and years ahead. Because now that we have Sonya, problems I might of stressed over a year ago, just don't faze me as much anymore. I look forward to everything. When I get down, I just think of her smiling face and the three of us as a little family unit. It is so strong, it is what makes me happy. After dropping Sonya off at daycare, I pass by an elementary school where parents hold their kindergartner's hands as they prance up the walkway. Watching them, brings a smile to my face. Such a simple thing, but just so wonderful.

Someone is Lagging in the Blogging Department....

.....and it is MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I give myself a big fat "F" for sucking at updating and posting. How are you all so good at getting on everyday? I just 1) feel like my happenings are barely fodder enough for a post 2) Just don't have the damn time to write, read and comment. Work has been busy, home life has been busy, and oh yeah, we went to VEGAS!

Yes, my friend(s), we went to Vegas. First trip away from the little one. We spent two nights in the City of Sin where we ate, gambled (I was hot at Black Jack!) saw Le Reve @ The Wynn, lounged at the pool, ate more, had massive indigestion, walked, walked, walked, ate and sipped on cocktails.

A couple things I noticed and thought about in Vegas:
1) What Recession?
2) I thought things are supposed to quiet down on Sunday & Monday nights?
3) Damn, someone turn down the heat!
4) People still smoke? What is this '86?
5) The skanks come out at night....the skanks come out at night.
6) I did not realize that kids were aloud in casinos at 11 p.m. at night when other babies and toddlers are nestled in their cozy beds, oh wait, that is just due to irresponsible parents trying to have an adult vacation but brought their kids along because they couldn't find a babysitter. Jerk offs.
7) This must be a really expensive cut of canned tuna for this sandwich to be $15 at a food court.
8) Sweet Toby Keith Bar & Grill at Harrahs! Are you serious? Wow. Only had to walk through Harrah's due to the Monorail stop letting us off their. Three minutes too long if you ask me. No offense to those who like a) Toby Keith b) Toby Keith's Bar & Grill c) Harrah's
9) I wonder if I could pull off clear heels outside of a strip club. No, we did not go to strip club. It wasn't THAT kind of trip.
10) Is that a man or a woman?
11) Craftsteak, where have you been all my life, your filet mignon is divine!
Okay, I really will try to be better at being a more neighborly blogger. I have been losing my mojo. I am now back at em people!

9 Months

Dear Sonya,

I can't believe you are 9 months old today. How the time has flown by. Each day my heart is so full of love for you. Each day, I can't believe how much fun you are. Oh, the things that crack you up. When Puss or Lucy are in the room, you crawl right over to them to pat and pet. Your love of peek a boo and hide n' seek is hilarious. Your squeals of delight when you find me around the corner and when I sneak up on you are just priceless. I could listen to your giggles all day long. Today you said Dog as I pointed Lucy out to you. You are so smart.

You not only love to giggle, you love to play and get into everything. I know when I see that twinkle in your eye and you purse you lips, you are about to take off crawling to find something you shouldn't play with. You are constantly on the go. Pulling yourself up to the couch is your hobby. You eat anything and everything, even if you don't like something, you will at least try it. Your favorites are peaches and avocado, and you recently discovered ice cream.

I recently was watching some home videos of you when you were a newborn. How little you were! With those big cheeks and black hair and your steel grey/blue eyes. Now your cheeks are a little less pudgy but a dimple has appeared on your left cheek and your hair is a honey brown with a hint of red in the sun. Your eyes are a beautiful green hazel. You have two teeth on the bottom and two teeth on top. And your favorite toy is the squeaky wood monkey your Gigi got you for Easter.

Your dad and I are so in love with you. You make every day something to look forward to. Everyday brings a new adventure. You are my love, my life, my girl.

All Up in a Nutshell

Fair with the family, Sonya's first ice cream cone, messy faces, dinner with the in laws, visit with my sister in law, strategy meetings, corn flake chicken and smashed red potatoes, stacks of laundry lined up in the master bedroom, a constipated baby, shopping with my mom and Sonya, working late at night on the laptop, ignoring laundry in dryer, planning meetings, Rigatoni at a Italian restaurant with hubb's dad and brother, working at home with a mischievous 9 month old who can't get enough of testing her mom. How I love her.

My New Addiction

I never, ever, ever, ever thought I would be writing this.... I have an addiction and I will blame it on my hubbs who purchased my XM for my car. The drug of choice? Howard Stern. I am a closet addict. Yes, I am. There are days I am appalled by what I hear, days that I thoroughly agree with his opinions, and days that I simply have to change the channel, but I continue to go back everyday to get my fix.

I used to hate him. Hubbs listened to him and I thought he was revolting. And really, he is. There is no denying it. However, he has some really good points, funny side kicks and I love the guests he gets. How many times am I bored with the canned answers of celebrities on Live with Regis and Kelly but as soon as they go on Howard, they are funny, crass and say things that make me like them more or less.

You should of seen the face my mom made when I told her I listened to him. "Howard Stern is disgusting Stef". I know he is, but once you start listening you can't turn away. Is it sad that hubbs and I discuss the guests and happenings of the show at dinner time? Do I need an intervention? Obviously, I don't listen to him with Sonya in the car. I don't want her first words to be Whisky Tango Foxtrot if you know what I mean.

So there you have it. The cat is out of the bag. I am hooked. Anyone else a fan? I know it goes against what a lot of women stand for, but I know it is in good fun and figure I could listen to someone way worse, like Rush Limbaugh or something :)

A Woodchuck, Could Chuck, Could Chuck Wood... or a Crib Rail

So, we have a wood chuck on our hands, in the form of a plump, dimpled and grinning 8 month old. We discovered our little creature in the act on Tuesday when I came in and found her standing up in her crib. I noticed white flecks all over her face and assumed it was maybe some dried formula? How lame am I? Then I looked down at the railing and saw bite marks all up and down the railing. Pour thing is teething like crazy. She has three, THREE!!!, teeth coming through on top and probably a fourth right behind them. She has been pissed, and so would I. I have been giving her Orajel and teething toys, but the only things that seem to work are baby Tylenol and Motrin.

Daycare was closed all last week. Hubbs did Daddy Daycare 2009 on Monday and Tuesday and I was home with her Weds-Friday. I worked from home intermittently, but really it was nice to stick my middle finger up at them for awhile as I am getting burnt out. Back to the swing of things tomorrow. Yuck. I think Sonya will be ready to go back too. I think she is way more stimulated at Daycare, even if I take her to the park, on walks, around the mall, Target, etc. to get her out. She still prefers hanging out with her kiddy friends.

This weekend has come and gone so quickly once again. We went to a graduation party, out to breakfast, ran errands, used up my Gymbucks at Gymboree (they must have the smartest marketing team ever) and did my regular Sunday grocery shopping. Enchiladas for dinner followed by some play time and then the Next Food Network Star!

Gettin' All Girly

My Girly Peanut at 8 months.

Lists

Things I have done this week therefore requiring me to not blog:

1) Started vacuuming the downstairs but stopped when Run's House came on t.v. thus leaving Dyson vacuum in living room for two days
2) Watered outside plants over and over to prevent them from drooping during the intense heat
3) Went swimming with hubbs and Sonya at the brother in law's house after work
4) Started one load of laundry when in reality I needed to do 10 loads- that one load is still sitting in dryer waiting to be folded
5) Admired the new rug for Sonya's room that I got on sale at Pottery Barn Kids
6) Played with Sonya on new rug
7) Engaged in countless games of Peek a Boo, Hide and Seek and cuddle time with the Sonya girl
8) Made spinach and Parmesan ravioli's that were a bit too rich for me
9) Sat on couch
10) Washed 547 bottles
11) Made a batch of baby food
12) Watched Sonya make faces at homemade chicken, peas and carrots dinner. Who knew she would like Nature's Best better?
13) Left cat's puke sit on carpet for two days until my mom saw it and was so disgusted that she took care of it herself
14) Read Rattled! before bed and was not impressed
15) Sat on couch again
16) Oh yeah, I worked.

Four Years

Four years ago today, I was 23 years old and walking down the aisle to the man of my dreams. I remember the way he looked at me as he got his first glimpse of his glowing bride. I will never forget that moment- his look of awe and genuine love. That's my hubbs, and he hasn't stopped showing that for me ever since.

I have to admit I am quite lucky. I found my soul mate at a young age. We made it through the trials of college together, a nasty car accident, insecurities and just overall stress that it seemed natural we would get married to each other. We have now been together for over 9 years. It's crazy to me to realize that some people get married barely after a year of dating. I think about how I am still learning about what makes the hubb's tick and him too, learning about me.

This past year we have gone through so much together. Our marriage has been tested but we have become so much stronger from the obstacles we have encountered. Maybe a little blessing named Sonya had something to do with it :) Having a baby together has been the most exhilarating thing I have ever experienced. To watch her grow and know that the two of us created her with our love, just fills my heart.

So enough of the sappiness. My man is my rock, my shrink, personal trainer when I want him to be, partner in crime, food critic that rarely criticizes, reality tv watching confidante, best friend, but most importantly my love.

Here's to many, many more together!

Someone slap me now!

Want to sleep right now. The last few nights have been interrupted either by Lucy barfing, Lucy barking at something super scary outside, like a leaf blowing by or Hubbs running down the stairs after Lucy to get her outside before she barfs. I am tired. So tired. I have gotten back onto drinking caffeine in the morning, only by accident. I bought regular instead of decaf the other day and have been drink the jet fuel since. I swear caffeine makes me more tired. It picks me up drops me before I can even say "damn!".

Our original plans for the 4th were to go up to the coast to our family's house. Then we changed our mind and decided to just keep it local. We both have Friday off so figured it would be a fabulous weekend to do all kinds of exotic and glamorous things, like get baby gates installed in the house (to prevent little snicklefritz from terrorizing), or wash the windows, pull weeds, scrub the grout on the kitchen tile or brush my hair 500 times. You get it. Realistically we will only get the baby gates up and then I will spend the rest of the weekend returning items at either Target or Macy's that Sonya has already outgrown, maybe going swimming, and then doing 357 loads of laundry and still not be done. The house will be partially cleaned and I might get some baby food made. But whatever, as long as I get to spend it with my girl and man, then I am happy!

Happy 4th of July!

A Shout Out

I was born in 1982. It was also the year that the greatest album of all time was released. We all know it as Thriller. Despite the fact that I was only a tiny tot when it was put out, I grew up listening and busting out MJ moves to "Beat It", "Billie Jean", "Human Nature", etc. I loved watching the "Thriller" video, it not only scared me but also was amazing to me to watch the choreographed dance moves- something I had never seen before.

I danced many a high school dances to "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and can't help but crank up "PYT" when it is on the radio. To this day I still get chills as I hear "We are the World". His music was legendary, it was the backbone to so many great childhood memories. Despite his troubles in later years, I will always remember the King of Pop for his revolutionary dance moves, style setting fashion, and groundbreaking music, but most importantly for enhancing so many of my life experiences and memories.

Summer is Here

Well, we all know that by now, but it has really just sunk in. Maybe it is finally having warm weather, the pool parties, the AC running in the evening, the sound of loud ass birds chirping in the early morning or just the late evenings of putting off the "to do" list to just relax and sip on some Sauvignon Blanc (from New Zealand preferably).

Last weekend was fun filled and packed. Saturday was spent at my cousin's son's Luau Birthday Pool Party. Sonya was all dolled up in her Hawaiian dress, then went swimming with her daddy in the huge pool, was a total natural and kicked her feet around in the water, and then she changed into her hula skirt and lei. We then were off to dinner with the hubbs' dad for Father's Day.

On Sunday we hosted breakfast for hubb's step dad and mom and grandparents for Father's Day. That evening we were off to my parent's house for a BBQ rib dinner to celebrate Father's Day with my dad. I am still recovering!

It was really fun to celebrate hubb's on Father's Day. It being his first, it was nice to reflect on all that he does for me and Sonya. It is crazy at how much of a natural he is. Really, I think he was brought to earth to be a dad. I love him so much, he always is there for me and Sonya and I couldn't imagine not being with him.

Speaking of dads.... sweet Jon Gosselin for being excited about the next chapter in your life. You are an ass and need to get over your early life crisis and pull those ridiculous earrings out of your ears. Kate, you know you were nasty to your husband, so don't act all surprised that he is over it, although he still should man up. They should of taken the damn show off the air and tried to work out their marriage. Seems kind of like they are giving up.

Word.

Collar Poppin'

What a worldwind lately! This week has been full of work, drinking glasses of wine to forget about work, cuddling with my girl, Real Housewives of New Jersey finale, and finally getting over my questionable stomach flu/food poisoning from last weekend. Here is a pic from a couple of weeks ago of my collar poppin' petunia.