Exercise, Shmexercise

Okay, so maybe I don't really need to work out. I already have an exercise regimen, and it includes a lot of cardio. My fitness of choice? Running. Lots of running.

And she's off...

You can't catch me! I'm helping you burn off those cookies!

Holy Guacamole, 16 Days Left...

How is it there are only 16 days left before the main event? Good thing Santa has been doing online shopping this year because there are only a few gifts left to get, but unfortunately will have to brave the stores for. Shoot.

I know one person who hasn't done his Christmas shopping yet....and that would be Hubbs. To him 16 days is about 14 days more than he needs. He is known for the late night shopping on the 23rd just so he can say he wasn't out on Christmas Eve. Okay, some years that's the case, but usually when I point out EXACTLY what I would like, he takes care of things earlier.

Things I still need to do in the next 16 days:

- Get manicure/pedicure
-Start exercising so I can combat the holiday cocktails/cookies I have been indulging in lately
-Make some cookies. My favorites are usually good ol' Sugar Cookies, Special K bars and toffee.
-Wrap presents
-Watch Love Actually, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone and Elf
-Take Miss S to see Santa Clause

I was in a crazy rush this morning, but I had to show you my shirt. I busted out my  Canadian Tuxedo denim shirt  from 10 years ago. Seriously, I wore it in my SENIOR PICTURES!!! But, I never got rid of it. I had some sort of attachment to it, and now that they seem to be more popular, it is making its way back into the rotation.

This was taken at the end of the day. My skirt and belt looks messy at this point.

Skirt: Old Navy
Denim Shirt: GAP circa 1999
Cardigan: Kohls
Belt: Forever 21
Bracelet: Metropolitan Museum of Art NY
Tights: Hue
Socks: Hue
Boots: Entienne Aigner

Mom of the Fricking Year

Since Miss S started walking a solid year ago, I must of acquired about 500 gray hairs. However, I hi-lite my hair so you would never know. She is a wild girl. We have had our share of falls, scrapes, scratches, nose dives, face plants, etc. Good thing she is so tough or else we would of have had endless days of tears. However, since she is so tough, it is sometimes hard to distinguish when she really does hurt herself. Case in point Sunday.

I was fixing dinner (pulled pork sandwiches to be exact) when I heard her run full speed into the living and fall. Hard. So hard that she immediately started screaming but then wound up so hard that she let out no noise for a couple seconds then started wailing again. I asked her where her "boo boo" was but she couldn't tell me. She calmed down in a few minutes and acted like nothing happened. About an hour later in the bath a red line started appearing over the bridge of her nose indicating that it was the thing that took the brunt of her fall. I also noticed a little swelling. I immediately began to worry because I broke my nose in junior high and since then have a bump on it. Here she had a perfect nose and I didn't want her nose to be funky like mine. I know, such a shallow thought.

Hubbs assured me she was fine and that the doctor wouldn't be able to do anything anyways. Fast forward the next day and it was more blue. Yesterday it was really blue. Today it is better. However, taking her out in public is pretty embarrassing. People eye us up suspiciously. But I am used to that, she always has something on her. Come to think of it, this post seems very familiar. Seems like I just wrote a similar one a couple months back when she busted her lip open (which did leave a scar). I tell ya, just when I thought she was mellowing down, she starts falling again!

I definitely do not feel like the Mom of the Year.

Toddler Throwdown

My toddler tends to pull her diaper off when she is in bed. She likes to get undressed then redress herself. Even if it means two legs are in one pant leg or her head doesn't make it through it's hole but her arms do. She likes to put each leg through a swim diaper and keep them on her ankles so they look like leg warmers, or leg flotation devices. She spreads out her blankets, random rugs, towels and napkins on the ground and then places her dolls there for them to "shhh....sleeping" or she will simply lie down for a quick 2 second nap. When she sees her Play Dough she says "I make!!!, I make!!!". She dances with great rythm to California Gurls. She calls Grover, Groger and sings the Caillou tune over and over. When people start singing Happy Birthday, she blurts out "Happy Birthday Cupcake!" because she automatically assumes cupcakes will soon arrive when we sing that song. She plays dress up with my high heels. And prances around in front of our full length mirror showing off her new assecories. She bursts into tantrum with no warning from the weather center, but with great flourish and drama. Somehow, she can quickly forget what upset her with any slight ounce of distraction. She is the sweetest thing and she is so right about her love for cupcakes. She is my cupcake and I am so happy that she is my girl.

Keep On Truckin'

So my second job this week has been finding a new daycare/preschool for Miss S. So stressful, I tell yah. Despite the stress, I am actually excited for this next chapter in her life. The options I have been looking at are with more kids her age. She is so active and smart that I want her to be constantly learning new things and not be bored. So I think things will be okay.

In other exciting news, Miss S has pee peed on the potty! The first was on Wednesday night and the second tonight! I am so excited, I really think we are on the right path!

Elmo's Potty Time

Half assed attempts at Potty Training have been taking place for about two months now. By half assed, I mean putting Miss S on the toilet right before bath time and more frequently during the day on the weekends. I also bought her "Elmo's Potty Time" DVD since really, Elmo is like her hero. So I figured as soon as she watched it the first time she would race to the toilet, pee, wipe and flush and we were trained! Not so much.

While she will sit on the toilet at night, she is more interested in playing with the toilet paper roll and tossing the paper into the toilet. If I take it away she practically tries to yank the toilet roll holder off the wall and loses focus. Needless to say, no actual pee pee on the potty yet.

Miss S has accomplished most milestones early. I guess I figured I wouldn't need to do much and she would just get it. Granted, since this process began, she has learned to announce when she is going pee pee, just not before she actually goes. My goal is to have her trained by the time she is 2, which is four months away. I know she can do it, I just need to know of a better strategy, and I guess be better at making it a habit as something to work on harder. I don't want force her, but I just know she can do it and I know I can do it.

Any tried and true suggestions? I haven't really done too much research on this topic yet, but as of now I realize that four months away is really right around the corner.

Jell-Uh-Oh!

So my weekend was a warm and sunny. So warm that we had to turn on the AC, Miss S played in the sprinkler (so high class) and I went searching for summer dresses for the entire family minus except for Hubbs. It felt like the first real summer weekend we have had around here because our weather has been so crappy and January-like.

We decided we wanted to join a close by Health Club with a great pool and planned that yesterday would be a great day to test it out. Miss S was acting strange all morning, refusing to eat or drink even water and to the touch her head was warm. Not much of a temp, but as soon as 11:30 a.m. rolled around she was passed out for her nap, without even a bite of lunch.So she woke up her normal self and I offered her JELLO (I thought this was a genius idea) and blueberries, things I knew she would want to eat. She wolfed them down and we decided to pack up and head to the pool. I should of known she was still not feeling fine when she didn’t eat her goldfishies on the way over. This girl never turns down goldfishies.

Swimming was fine but when we got out she just sat on my lap and we lounged for a good 30 minutes. Which I totally loved because she never snuggles long like that. Notice my Happy Face!


I soon noticed her kind of grunting (or so I thought) until all of a sudden she spewed out bright red liquid Jello and blueberries, I am sure it was horrifying to see and so much for that genius idea. Turns out, super sweet things like that are not digested well. Who knew? We cleaned her up, got her home and into bed.

Needless to say, my lofty idea of BBQ-ing hamburgers, having corn on the cob and making potato salad went out the window and Hubbs and I ended up having Carl’s Jr. where I also learned they have changed up their recipe for French Fries, which I was completely disappointed about. But I was still able to shove them down.

Busted!

Miss S split open her bottom lip on Thursday morning. I was just barely into the door at work when I got the phone call from Daycare saying that she had tripped and fell and that she might need stitches. I heard her wails in the background and I knew it was serious because:

1) She is super tough and rarely carries on after she falls, and she falls hard ALL. THE. TIME
2) The word stitches. The thought of stitches on my little girl made me shiver and I immediately called hubbs to pick her up and headed over to the doctor's to meet her. I myself, received stitches to my head when I was a 5 and I still remember the pain. Not to mention the 40 or so to my forehead when I was 18 from a car accident. Stitches suck and are scary.

When I saw the lip I thought to myself there was no way she wasn't getting stitches. I pictured Hubbs and I holding down her flailing arms and legs as the doctor tried to administer the numbing shots. NO THANK YOU. I started tearing up at the thought when Hubbs told me to calm down and be strong for her.

Just then the doctor came in, inspected her and exclaimed "You are lucky! No stitches!". Apparently, since the cut was right on the top of her lip and not on her face, it would heal really quickly.

Unfortunately, every time I looked at her lip I got queasy. It looked like the frickin' Grand Canyon. And so the doctor noticed and told me I should sit down. Ummm.... so much for being strong.

So we hung out at home for the rest of the day. I tried not to look at her owie and I smothered her in kisses and hugs, and some Jello and ice cream.

Now it just looks like a grey blister right on her bottom lip, I still can't believe how quick it has healed. Still pretty yucky, but it seems to be healing nicely. The rest of the weekend was much less stress.

Although, Miss S managed to skin her knee and hand and take a couple other falls off the couch, etc. Good thing I hi-lite my hair or else I would be gray by the time I am 30!

Pampered Paula

Last Saturday I used up a spa gift certificate and got an 80 minute pedicure. It was somewhat relaxing, but the chair was tilted back like a recliner and after awhile I started getting a headache so it ended up not being as relaxing as I had hoped. I think I need to just stick with the $18 pedicures at the place down the street. There I can get in and out quickly and they still give you great foot massages.

Since the weather is due to be gorgeous this weekend and there is no rain the in the forecast I have decided it is time to bust out my self tanner regimen. I use Neutrogena Build A Tan. I am so fair that I notice a difference INSTANTLY. It takes a week or so to get my technique down. I tend to get streaks on my (bulging) biceps for the first few days. Then my base gets dark enough that the streaks aren't as noticeable. The scent of self tanner is pretty funky, but for some reason I don't really mind it. It reminds me of warm weather.

I have been binging on popcorn for the past week after dinner and while I am sitting my ass on the couch as I watch Real Housewives of New York City. Popcorn is my FAVORITE snack. Hands down. I can eat it plain, buttered, salted, caramel, Kettle style, home style. Heck I even find myself eating the bright orange kind that has been sitting in one of those cheap 15 gallon tins with pictures of kittens that usually are in the break room during the holidays. If it's popcorn, I like it. Disclaimer: As much as I love popcorn, I will not add that disgusting liquid butter at the movie theaters. I like it straight up.

Miss S has become quite the little helper. She likes to help feed Lucy, put her clothes away in her hamper and do the laundry with me and hubbs. It is quite cute and I love watching her get so excited.

I am Angry, Hear Me Roar

Yesterday the weather was gorgeous. It reached way over 80 degrees so to celebrate my mom and I took Miss S to the main park in our town. Once we got into the playground area a little girl came running up to Miss S, and I quickly realized that it was her friend from daycare who we will call “Hillary”. Hillary is just under 2 and quite bigger than Sonya. Miss S was so excited to see Hillary at the playground. I greeted her mom and introduced myself. She acted kind of aloof and then referred to Miss S by the wrong name which kind of put me off. We sat there watching the girls say hello when all of a sudden Hillary grabs a huge handful of damp sand and through it full force right into Sonya’s face. Seriously, Hillary was not even a foot away when she did this.

I sat there shocked. In fact we all sat there shocked. I then noticed that Sonya had clumps of sand in her mouth and in her eye. So I swooped in and picked her up and headed towards the stroller to clean her up. Meanwhile, Hillary’s mom didn’t do anything. She told Hillary to “Apologize to Sonya”. Like she even knew how to do that. She didn’t even discipline her or anything. Miss S is really tough and only cries from pain only rarely. I am not sure that since Hillary’s mom saw that Miss S wasn’t crying that she didn’t think it was a big deal. Either way, I was so incredible pissed that Hillary was not punished. The worst part of the incident was seeing Sonya’s face right after she took the sand to it. She looked at Hillary and you could tell her feelings were really hurt.
It breaks my heart thinking about that face. I stewed over it all day yesterday. My mom and I could not believe Hillary’s mom’s lack of punishment. I know she might have been embarrassed, but if Sonya did it to Hillary I would be of been checking to see if Hillary was okay, and would of then marched my daughter up to the car and left because Hillary knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

So this morning I told daycare what happened. Unfortunately, the main lady wasn’t in the room at that moment but I still told the helper and I will tell the main lady this afternoon when I pick her up. And if I see Hillary’s mom in passing, I don’t plan on giving her the time of day. Maybe that is immature. But this is about my daughter and she pissed me off. No one puts sand in my baby’s face.

The Naughty Corner

The Terrible Two’s are fast approaching; however, I just can’t see myself putting Miss S in the “terrible” category, ever. Sure, at 17 months old, she displays moments of anger and frustration, but even when she launches into a mini-fit, I can’t take it too seriously. When she has a mini tantrum (because they really are mini compared to others I have seen), she wails, plops herself on the ground and her face gets bright red. Then I distract her and we move on. I think she is just so cute when she has these, I know, I must have a serious face, but it’s so hard.

Last week at Daycare, she was put in the naughty corner for pushing a boy. I was mortified, especially since this came right when she has displaying some hitting. Just to me, before bed time. At first she thought it was funny when I held her arm down as she tried to lift it and thought it was a game, so she didn’t get it. Now I tell her to “Be Gentle” and then she lightly brushes my face with my hand and says “Shen Tall”. No more hitting for her, hopefully.
While I know there will be more days of her in the naughty corner, I just keep on hoping she won’t be one of those kids in Target having a meltdown. I was when I was her age. My mom is convinced I will have my pay back. Guess that’s part of being a parent.

Monday, Monday

So, I took pictures of my outfit today to kick off my Tardy Spring Fashion Week. However, since hubbs had already left for work and I don’t have the cool self picture taking capabilities of a Mac, I had to rely on the self portrait in front of a full length mirror. The images suck, and I still need to upload them this evening. But dammnit, they will be up. I promise.

At work on Friday, I burned my hand on scalding hot water from my instant soup. At one point I contemplated going home (it was that painful). I pictured large blisters that were going to appear. I Googled “How long does it take for blisters to appear on burns”. I couldn’t focus. I wandered aimlessly through the halls looking for someone to take pity on me. I texted Hubbs and got no response. By a couple hours later, the area was still red, but no blisters. And the next morning, no blisters. WTF? I am not saying I want a blister, but when I contemplate leaving work due to the pain on my HAND, you know it must be bad. All I am asking is for some proof, cause I rarely leave work for pain or illness. I am one of those stubborn jackasses.

I have a stiff neck today. Nothing makes me crankier than a stiff neck. Maybe it’s the years of physical therapy and chiropractors (from a bad car accident when I was 18) that make me sensitive to anything back or neck related. Or it could be the 8 weeks of excruciating sciatica when I was pregnant. I think I slept on it wrong. But damn, am I pissed today.

We had a lovely Easter weekend. Despite the weather being absolutely disgusting yesterday, it was still a great time. My mom prepared an fantastic dinner, Miss S looked like such a doll in her Easter dress with her cousins. I ate way too many chips and dip before dinner and proceeded to engorge myself on mashed potato casserole and ham, and maybe some chocolate Easter eggs too.

Chatty Kathy

Miss S is such a little sponge. She is in the faze of repeating every little item we say. So far my favorite things she says are “Ningo” for “Flamingo”. The door bell goes “Ning Nong”. The doggy goes “Row row”. Yellow is “Well Wow”.

The other morning, as we were running around trying to get out the door, I told her we needed to get her shoes on as she went running into her room. A couple moments later, she came running out with her pink Converse, carrying them by their laces. And hear I didn’t even think she was paying attention!

I love looking at everyone’s Spring Fashion Week outfits. And I am completely behind the ball, but I might have my own Tardy Spring Fashion week next week. We’ll see if I get my act together.

I am ready for a vacation. I am exhausted and burned out from work. I wish I could have my own Spring Break. It is moments like this this I think about becoming a teacher.

Easter Ideas

Aight, folks. I need some ideas on what to put in an Easter basket for a toddler. Growing up my Easter baskets were chalk full of goodies, mainly of the chocolate form, but usually I would get one legit toy, namely a doll. The toy would usually be hidden a la an Easter egg hunt. One year, my mom hid a Cabbage Patch kid in the oven. It wasn't on, of course. I remember bartering with my older brother to exhange his Reese's egg for my Peeps. It never seemed to work out in my favor. The Reese's eggs were prized possessions in my household and it would usualy be the first thing I consumed.

So now that I have a wee one to make holidays magical for as they were for me, I need some ideas. Miss S is too little to eat Whoppers, Jelly Beans, etc, so what kind of sweet treats are good? I was also going to toss in some new barrettes, maybe a bathing suit (although the reappearance of our wintry weather brings no indication that Spring will be back anytime soon, thus swimming in a pool is a bit far out).

As far as the Easter bunny is concerned, there will be no visits to see him this year. Each sighting so far at the mall has brought looks of terror and panic that I have had to beeline into a Disney store just for solice.

Word.

Spring Cleaning

Not that it officially Spring around these parts, I have decided to rid every last closet of unnecessary items. I have held on to too much stuff through the years with the thought that I would some day find that I need an oblong table cloth for a rectangle table, or need a pair of slacks I haven’t worn in three years but that I got on Clearance at Express and were a good deal dammit!, or the 478 dishtowels that have pasta stains all over them that I continue to store.

I think I will start in my closet first. I am finding that my work style has kind of changed through the years. At the early part of my career I wore collared shirts and sweater vests all the time, thinking that is what professional women wore. Since having Sonya, I think my style has been kicked up a notch primarily in an effort to make sure I still look fresh even though I am now a mom. So anyways, I will be tossing out a lot of collared shirts, cheap tops from Old Navy and slacks from Express that I just loath all of a sudden making my room for breezy blouses, my blazer & cardigan collection and skirts.

Then I will move on to the linen closets, Hubbs’ closet and finally our office closet. This past weekend I pulled out all of Miss S’s clothes that are too snug or too short and put them in storage. She has a little stash of Spring clothes going. I can’t believe she is moving into 24 months clothes. I think that half the reason she doesn’t have many warm weather clothes is because I have not wanted to move up from 18 to 24 months. She just is getting to be such a big girl!

Ode to the Irish

I am not Irish. I am German and Norwegion, however, I still wear green on St. Patty's Day. I dress my daughter in green on St. Patty's Day. I eat corned beef and cabbage and about 537 potato pancakes on St. Patty's Day. I like traditions, dammit, whether they really are relevant to me or not. Maybe I like traditions because basically they always involve wearing special items and consuming large quantities of food. Who really cares anyways.

I am about to embark on Budget Crackdown 2010. Not too thrilled about that one. Why? Well, I like to shop. I like Starbucks and I like spending too much on groceries each week. So basically, I just don't like the constraints of a budget. I figure, I work my arse off all week so that I can have a little fun now and then. But, I am back to brown bagging for awhile and maybe whittle down visits to the GAP, but come one I need to buy Spring clothes for not only myself but an adorable little girl whose little tee shirts from winter are so snug it is rediculous, but incredibly cute. Oh, and I am sure the hubbs needs some essential tee-shirts too.

And, to prove my non-existent point, it was 77 degrees today. Spring really is right around the corner. Why can't spring clothes grow on trees?

What's Goin' On PART DEUX

1) The weather is starting to hint that Spring might be just around the corner. Weekends are starting to be consumed with more trips to the park.
2) I can’t believe Easter is merely weeks away. I so need to get Miss S’s dress still and get her pictures taken.
3) I ordered some Girl Scout Cookies from a co-worker’s kid and quickly realized that I really didn’t need three boxes, so I gave one to my parents. I know super exciting shit.
4) I am really looking forward to warm weather. Typically I am a winter girl since I am fair and like being amongst the pale crowd, but now that I have a kiddo, all I can think about are long lazy days of summer, taking walks after dinner while it’s light out and Mommy & Me swim classes and BBQ-ing.
5) Miss S is getting her “Eye teeth” in on the top and bottom. They are causing her some pain but she still is not as cranky as when she got 5 teeth in all at once.
6) Miss S is such a book lover. I so get a kick out of her reading her stories out loud, gibberish after gibberish. It is so cute, I want to eat her up.
7) I am wearing a pencil skirt today without tights. Let me tell you my legs are white! Bring on the self tanner!
That’s all I got in me.

The Mean Aunt

On Saturday I brought Miss S over to my brother and sister in law’s house where my mom was watching their four year old and 17 month old. We decided to take the three girls to the park, with the little ones in the wagon and Leah riding her big wheel. I started getting stressed over the thought that my mom and I were outnumbered with three kids. I was especially paranoid about Leah riding ahead into the street. Even though my mom insisted that she knew to stop and wait at each corner (and she did) I couldn’t stop the agitation. It got worse at the park when both Miss S and Little Ava tried to scale the double slide at the same time while I was watching them. I just couldn’t handle two kids to myself while my mom was across the park with Leah.

It was barely 15 minutes in and I couldn’t handle it anymore. I told my mom “let’s go!”. Her being the calm one (and also a elementary teacher and the best grandma ever) tried mellowing me out so that the kids could play longer. It didn’t work. I was stressed. Stressed that one kid might fall off the slide while the other darted towards the street. At one point I even yelled at my niece Leah for screaming to get our attention. “Leah, stop screaming, you are FOUR!” Nice aunt I am.
I know I am confident while with Miss S, but the prospect of watching one more or two more, makes me sweat. I don’t know why I got so ridden with anxiety. Can’t figure it out. All I know is that I am sure my niece Leah reported back to her parents that I am the mean one.

By the time we got back to the house I needed a cocktail. But it was only 4.

What's Happenin' Hot Stuff

So when I go out of town, it usually takes me a long time to get caught back up when I return. I fell behind in my housework, grocery shopping, blog reading, and laundry and of course work. So although we have been back for over a week now, I just now am getting my bearings.

While I have been getting back on track…

1) Lucy has manifested chronic gas. We ran out of her fancy dog food one night and had to get her some Iams. So she has been gassing the house up. It has been so stinky I swear I am waking up at night because of it.
2) I received two new pairs of heels for work. I swear I went through a two year stretch where I didn’t buy any new work shoes. Needless to say this latest purchase was a score and both are cute.
3) I started reading Nanny Returns. It’s okay. Simple reading. Just like the first one.
4) Watched Inglorious Busterds and hated it.
5) My daughter refuses to eat chicken. No matter if I fry it, dice it, sauté it, drench it in cheese , she tastes it and spits it out quicker than I can sneeze. I am a poet!
6) I actually went on a three mile walk when we got a weekend of spring time weather. It was the most I have exercised in a long time. Well, if you don’t count chasing around a toddler which has kept my metabolism in check.
7) I have learned that CSI:Miami airs in Spanish right before I go to sleep. I was flipping the channels last night before dozing off and landed on the show thinking it was the real thing only to learn that it was in Spanish. I couldn’t stop laughing.
8) Brushing Miss S’s teeth has become a complete struggle. How do I get to brush them? She simply clamps her jaws together, turns her head the opposite way and grunts “no”! I need suggestions!

Doing it all....

What a week this week is. Did that even make sense? I am taking a quick second to relax, down a cup full of Lemon Lime Airborne, maybe download some iTunes and then call it a night. The cycle of sick continues to spiral around and around. Just when our house was free of the stomach flu, little Miss S got a nasty cough which has morphed into the snotty-humidifier on every minute- conjested-cranky cold of the year. I in turn seem to be getting it, however, I continue to battle it out with a crap load of vitamins.

On top of the nasty cold, work has been so hectic. After Miss S is snuggled in for the night I am working. I can't even find time to go pee. Thats how crazed I have been. I am surprised I actually remembered to brush my teeth this morning.

Aight, I'm done rambling. A couple things that bring me comfort when I get sick:

- I love, love, love the Old Fashioned glazed donuts at Starbucks. Seriously, they are pure bliss in my mouth and instantly make me feel better.
-Listening to "We Are the World". How awesome was that song? I mean, Dionne Warwick, Steve Perry, Cyndi Lauper, ? Come on. It doesn't get any better than that. By the way. I love anything '80's.
-Christmas socks.
-Green tea. Bigelow makes a Jasmine Green Tea. It is so light and exotic tasting.
-Snuggles with my girl and kisses and giggles
-How I Met Your Mother