life, love, and the pursuit of an early bedtime

Trifecta

2011-11-26T22:25:00.010-06:00

2011 marks the third year in a row in which we have moved over Thanksgiving weekend. This one is different because it wasn't our choice. But we can't fault our landlord for wanting to move out of his kid's house and back into his own. It just would have been nice to not have to change our address on everything for the third year in a row!

Friends welcomed us into their home and family for a Thanksgiving feast. It was just the break we needed from moving and cleaning. And since this move prevented our own family trip east to be with my family, it was nice to sit around a crowded family table, pass plates around, and listen to the kids and parents tell separate versions of the same stories. The table was beautiful and the food was excellent. But I think my favorite part was that there were so many people crammed around the table that we were hip t0 hip in chairs from all over the house and patio. It was a "more is merrier" table that I am thankful my little family unit was able to be a part of.

We like the new house. Our stuff is everywhere, but that's to be expected. The house is a little smaller than the one we just finished cleaning today but it's in a nice neighborhood in a good school zone and it's clean and it has lots of closets and it has a back yard. I'm already planning our first party.....a 4-year old's 5th birthday coming up in 3 weeks.

Our neighbors on the left put up holiday lights this year. It's quite the display and they have at least another day's worth of work before it's done. Makes me think of this pic I found on Facebook a few days ago:

We'll get there. First we have to decide where the major pieces of furniture will live. We think we need to swap the living and dining rooms from where we told the movers to place things. You didn't think we'd do it any other way, did you Max?

Rapture? I think not.

2011-05-21T23:46:00.003-05:00

We got a last minute invitation to go to dinner with two couples, one of which we've known almost as long as we have been here and are about to say goodbye to (they're moving to New York). I call a friend and coworker to babysit. She's in. House cleaning frenzy - GO.

45 minutes before the sitter is scheduled to arrive, she calls. Her cat is puking up blood and has a cracked tooth. A quick vet visit later and the cat has a serious infection in its gum and needs to have the tooth pulled. Problem is the cat is almost 17 and has asthma so surgery isn't an easy option. Yikes.

Quick call to NY-bound friends....can't make it. Rain check soon please?

I didn't shave my legs and put on mascara for nothing. Fiona, go put on matching clothes. We're going out to dinner. As one of our favorite places to enjoy a family meal out, Settebello in The District never fails us. The special tonight was the Raphael with salame, basil, and roasted onions. Yum. Then we went to the Carousel for a ride. Or four. Free all summer. Sweet!

We had previously made the decision to forgo the gelato at Settebello and hit Ben & Jerry's instead. Fiona got her vanilla cone and we were happy to stroll through the shopping village. There was music; it was getting louder. Oh, look. Bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles. Fiona actually stopped in her tracks and leaned backwards to make sure she saw what she thought she saw. BUBBLES!

And dancing green lights. And kids. And....and....and a man giving out free bead necklaces. Preschooler heaven on earth. Fiona found the girl that was sitting at the table next to ours at Settebello. We did the adult thing and introduced ourselves to her parents while the girls ran all over the place. Hi. Are you originally from here? Do you have favorite playgrounds in the area? Do you come here often?

The dads indulged the girls with spinning and lots of Ring Around the Rosy. A thought ran through my head.....I hope we don't have to leave in tears again. The last time we left the dancing and music there was a meltdown. Another girl was practicing her cartwheels. All I saw was her foot whack my kid's face and two girls crash to the ground. Anthony rescued her from the play area and brought her to me. And then there was blood. Fiona had her first bloody nose. Awwww....her first bwoody nose....

Anthony has left the scene to gather paper towels from the restroom. I turn to follow and...oh..god...what is that warm.....PUKE! all down the left side of my body. And we're walking.....puking....walking.....bleeding.....all that fussing about not getting pizza sauce on her dress seems a bit ridiculous now. The other mom whom we just met followed us to the girls room to make sure Fiona was alright. She had wet wipes in her purse. Good woman. I would have asked if we could trade numbers if I wasn't covered in vomit. Hi. Can we be friends? I don't usually smell like this.

We get to the car and there's no way I'm sitting in a wet pukey shirt all the way home. The teenagers making out in front of REI won't mind if I take my shirt off in the parking lot. Like I care at this point. It's one of those moments when giving a shit about what other people think goes out the window because it's more important to minimize the spreading of the puke stink. I already happen to know how hard it is to get that special kind of stink out of a seatbelt.

Fiona did really well considering she got clocked in the face. She got a quick shower and a dose of Advil before passing out in the bed that she is making by herself these days (high five to Gran-E on that!).

At the end of the day, we have a clean house, we did not have to go to the emergency room, we did some serious family bonding, and we have a working washing machine. All's well that ends well. Or something.

Perspective

2011-03-03T22:48:00.005-06:00

I need a little writing therapy tonight. I've been a little too wrapped up in my own life lately. This week hit me like a ton of bricks.

A woman at my work passed away yesterday. We found out she was on life support on Monday. She went in for foot surgery and ended up brain dead. Rumor has it she had a stroke. During or after surgery is debated. But she was in her 50s and had been with the company for 6 years. I didn't know her very well but this is one of those moments that makes all the crap we complain about at the office rather meaningless.

Fiona has been sick all week. We took her to see her pediatrician this morning and the poor kid has the flu. Fevers, body aches, vomit, the runs - she has it all. So on top of the antibiotics she's still taking for an ear infection, we have to shove Tamiflu, Advil, and Tylenol down her throat so she isn't a 4 year old lump of sadness on the couch. The Tamiflu came to us in adult doses as free samples so we have to mix half a capsule into a spoonful of yogurt to administer it. Reminds me of coating a pill in peanut buttter and rolling it up in a slice of salami for the dog.

As we got out of the car at the pediatrician's office this morning a staff member told us to stay in the car as there had been a bomb threat at the office. We watched from across the street as fire fighters and policemen arrived and cleared the building. They suspect a parent of a patient from yesterday called in the threat. Apparently he called on his cell phone so the cops had a good lead and were off to arrest some kid's dad for a federal offense.

I watched an episode of No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on Monday. The Haiti episode. Then I did a little reading on the world's population, courtesy of National Geographic. I float through life on a cloud. I have health care. I have a roof over my head. I have two cars. I have a savings account. I don't have neighbors with cholera. I don't have to clean up rubble, debris, and trash so a truck bringing clean water can get down the street. I don't have to sleep in a tent that leaks when it rains.

I know I can't bring Gina back or stop people from doing stupid things or rebuild Haiti, but I can pop this bubble of over-stimulated, hyper-marketed, foolishly selfish existence and remember what is truly important to me, what I am grateful for, what lessons I've learned and forgotten, the kind of person I am, and the kind of example I want to set.

Persepctive didn't hide in a spoonful of vanilla yogurt or roll itself up in lunchmeat. It hit hard this week. I needed it. And I need to make some changes.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T10:34:00.005-06:00

This Thanksgiving marks the second time in a row that we have moved over Thanksgiving weekend. Yesterday we moved from a townhouse in Henderson to a house in Las Vegas. I think we will be very happy here. Once we aren't so sored and tired and everything is unpacked.

There are little things in a new house that make a girl very happy. Good water pressure in the shower, not having the office in your bedroom, kitchen drawers deep enough for parchment paper to fit, two linen closets....

The first night was a little rough though. As soon as the bedding was found, washed, and put on beds we all went to bed. Because of the orientation of our bed in the new bedroom and my need to sleep close to the bedroom door, Anthony and I switched sides of the bed. So when Fiona woke up in the middle of the night and came in to look for me, she went to the wrong side of the bed and got confused. I ended up sleeping in her bed with her. I clearly did not buy her bed for my comfort.

Anthony and I are groggy and sore today. But we are thankful for good friends who helped us move. Special thanks go out to Max and Deb who left the comforts of their own home in New Mexico to come help us pack out of one house and into a new one six miles away. And all on Max's birthday weekend. Thank you!

The Evil Genius of a Mommy Mind

2010-10-26T22:57:00.003-05:00

Her: Are we there yet?

Me: Not yet.

Her: Are we there yet?

Me: Nope.

Her: Are we there yet?

Me: Stop asking me that.

Her: Are we there now?

Me: Stop asking me that.

Her: Now?

Me: Mike Wazowski!

Her: Wahahahahahaha........

Diversion

2010-08-02T23:40:00.003-05:00

A sure way to create a diversion when brushing a three year old's sticky, knotted hair is to poke said three year old in the eye.

---

New flip flops are the most awesomest thing ever in the whole widey world. Much more awesome than the dinner in front of me at the table.

---

Nevermind about the black widow right outside our living room window. Spiders are special because they make webs. They are the only bugs that make webs. Kinda like bees are the only bugs that make honey. (shiver)

Fiona on 8-1-10

2010-08-02T00:09:00.003-05:00

Sunday morning projects

2010-08-02T00:07:00.000-05:00

Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Spring 2010

2010-08-01T23:46:00.001-05:00

Holy mother of all things scrumptious, that was some excellent guacamole.

2010-05-01T01:13:00.007-05:00

We went to Lindo Machaocan for dinner tonight. Believe it or not, this was our first time out to a Mexican restaurant since we've lived here. I do not count the quick-serve, everything taste like refritos, fake cheese, bottled salsa Mexican places as restaurants. You may sit where that food is served but they do not employ 237 staff who all have personalized name tags every night of the week and have a guy who plays music for your entertainment.

Back to the point....the guacamole is made to your specifications table-side and it's worth the $8.25 and then some. It was the best guacamole that has every crossed my lips. Sorry Chipotle, you've now been rendered useless. I was hanging onto you for your chips and guac, but you've been trumped. We took notes as Manny crafted the green goodness. We will practice in our own kitchen. Research trips back to the restaurant are in our future. I am sure of it.

So while we were eating, someone rang a bell. A lady shouted, "Tequila!" Then a group of staff, one with a guitar, surround said lady and her friend's mother who was having her birthday dinner. The birthday gal was turning, oh, maybe 80. She got a fancy hat, a candle, and a shot of tequila. She took one sip and when the waiter asked her what it tasted like, she said, "It doesn't taste like water!" Then her daughter took it away from her. Later she tried to steal it back, but her daughter's friend, the drunk hyena, ratted her out.

Dear Mom,

When we are celebrating your 80th birthday, I vow to you, on this day, May, 1, 2010, that I will never take away your shot of tequila. You will have earned that shot of tequila. Hell, you have already earned that shot, and many more. In fact, let's drink some tequila when we see each other again. Mother's Day shots? Good? Good. I'll wash the shot glasses.

Love, Daughter.

I've covered the guacamole. The house-made salsa was also very tasty. Spicy, smoky, deep flavor. The tortillas were excellent. Fiona's chicken was like mom's chicken - little bites of browned salty chicken goodness. My chicken was fair but the sauce was outstanding. I lapped it up with everything I could dip into it. Anthony had the carnitas. Flavor was good but the presentation was unexpected - the meat was cubed. Not what he was expecting but since the leftovers came home with us it passed the taste test. Sadly, there was no guacamole left to bring home.

Fiona had been dancing along to the music in our booth through the whole meal. After our plates were cleared, I told her she could go dance in the area in front of the keyboard player. I asked him to play a good dancing song. So he played and sang Macarena for Fiona. She froze. He kept going and going and going.....staff danced in and out of the area.....she just stood and stared at the silly man singing and making goofy faces and trying very hard to break her stiff stance. Finally she started twirling.....and then she wouldn't stop twirling. I had to carry her out to the lobby where she was distracted by the rubber bouncy ball machine that charged a dollar (!) for a ball. It was a win-win. We got some good laughs, the entertainer got a tip, and Fiona got a bouncy ball.

On the way home from dinner, we passed Chuck E. Cheese. From the back seat we heard, "Hey....I just saw Chuck E. Cheese." Heads in the front seat spun right into action. What the? We've never mentioned that place in her presence - on purpose. How did she.......Nick Jr. is sponsored by Chuck E. Cheese. And there you have it. No commercials trick us into thinking we like this channel. Blerg. Our reaction? Dead silence. The war against product placement has officially begun.

April 2010

2010-04-28T23:16:00.006-05:00

I find it hard to believe May starts on Saturday. I've been in Nevada for 6 months. To celebrate I got a hair up my butt and made Anthony help me hang things on the walls this week. Yes mom and dad, we have put things up in the first 5 years. I know, you're stunned. We even moved some furniture around. Should have listened to Max form the beginning - he knows how to lay out a room.

Fiona continues to surprise, motivate, and exhaust us. Last week she suggested that a bird we saw on a walk was a condor. We know she learned about condors from Diego, but it was quite the head-spinner when she said it. Her first visit to the dentist went very well. She has been instructed to floss between her molars every day. So I am now flossing. Occasionally. Since she is a mimic with a wicked memory, we have to be very careful what we say in front of her. Deep down, I knew all that Pig Latin practice in elementary school would come in handy. Though I know now that my teachers were also bilingual. And then there's the manipulation. She's really honing her stills. The stalling, the testing of limits - the latest technique is "I want to hug you and kiss you all over." Really? Oh okay, love me. Oh, that tickles and makes you giggle? Weeeee! More! Weeeee! Wait, what were we doing?

When it's quiet in the house we are never quite sure what we will discover. Apparently bears have to go potty too.

Easter present - a Little People camping set we picked up at a friend's garage sale. Score!

And the basket o' candy...

More booty from the garage sale: mega blocks. Check out the froggy picnic Anthony built.

No sweetheart, this is not a good hiding place.

This outfit includes pajamas, panties, a tee shirt, a sweater, pants, and socks. Hey, all the parts are there. Cant't see the tee shirt? It's under the sweater. Around her waist.

Huff 'n Puff

2010-04-04T12:04:00.002-05:00

This morning....

I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your cheeks up.

.......... ............. .............

It's not working.

Way to hold your own Dolly.

Just another example of the child sponge brain.

2010-03-27T10:19:00.001-05:00

Me: Would you like cream cheese or peanut butter on your bagel?

Fiona: Not peanut butter. That sucks.

A piece of the past, present, and future.

2010-03-02T22:53:00.013-06:00

Sunday we met up with a colleague of mine, her fiancée and his roommate's dog, Red. The guidebook says something like "if you've reached the Hacienda Hotel & Casino, you've gone too far." No kidding....the unmarked turn off is the last turn before the Hacienda's parking lot. Good thing we had that guide book - we'd have ended up in Arizona. But we made it to the parking lot just as Fiona drifted off to sleep in the back seat.

Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail in Lake Mead Recreational Area. 2 miles and change in each direction. 5 tunnels. Lake Mead. And a blue sky full of fluffy white clouds. The trail and tunnels were used to take equipment to the Hoover Dam construction site. Other than minor elevation from the parking lot, it's a level walk on compacted gravel. Four and a half miles is a lot to ask of a three year old so we didn't go beyond the tunnels. But you can walk or bike to the scenic Hoover Dam Visitor Parking Deck.

A view of the Lake Mead Marina.

Looking back at Tunnel 4. Notice how low the water level is on the lake.

Railroad tie from the old tracks.

Per Fiona, this is a volcano but it isn't exploding.

Thank you, climbing walls at every playground in the city. She was not pleased when we made her stop climbing so we could hike back to the car. But she got to have her first pee in nature shortly after this and was sufficiently distracted.

Four of the five tunnels have timber supports at either opening. Here and there you can see drill lines in the tunnel walls from where dynamite was placed.

Across the way on that ridge are old bootlegging trails. We've been told there's a peak from which you can see the Strip and Lake Mead.

A wee little rock cairn we found along the trail. I experimented with different camera settings. In the bright sun the night-time setting gave this lighting effect.

Interesting color and formations in the rock below the trail.

Again with the night-time setting on the camera. There were a few sailboats on Lake Mead that day. This one is for Anthony who is still mourning the sale of his Buc.

Should you find yourself in Nevada, this is a great walk, view, history lesson. Just make sure you don't leave the granola bars in the car.

Sadness is saying goodbye to your favorite jeans.

2010-02-18T00:16:00.002-06:00

It was the day after the day of love and it was a day of ripped hearts. And seats. I loved those jeans.

A new pair has been ordered. But as any woman who has ever found her perfect pair of jeans knows, even the same style, color, brand, size of jeans will not fit the same way the perfect pair fit.

Sigh.

Uncharted Territory

2010-01-18T22:56:00.004-06:00

There's a bit of uncharted territory in my life right now. First, I moved from Minnesota to Nevada and am getting to know my new homeland. A gimme in the list of things uncharted and unforeseen. Or so I thought.

Cocky as I was, I thought I had a handle on moving to the desert. I knew all kinds of things would be different - my allergies, the weather, the bugs. I would need to drink a hell of a lot more water. I would go through sunscreen like nobody's business. And I would still need my wool socks. Check. Check. And check. What I didn't know....what never occurred to me is that my skin would change three days after moving here. And I definitely didn't know it would change right smack in the MIDDLE OF MY FACE. On either side of my nose I now have flareups of eczema. Fiona got it from somewhere, right? All this time I thought her skin problems were from her father's gene pool - not mine! So now I get to use the same skin regime as my three year old. It seems to be working....which is a good thing as it seems to be harder to get a specialist referral in this town than it is to fill a rain gauge. More on that later.

Something else I didn't see coming is the weather-sensitive migraine. At three o'clock this morning I woke up with one of those throbbing aches behind my left eye. One of those that if I don't obey it, pound Advil, and go back to sleep, it would torture me for three days. I didn't have any meetings this morning so I slept it into quasi submission. You see, it started raining over night. Did you know that when it rains in the desert the humidity goes all the way up to 39%? Now that's moist. And did you know that when it rains in the desert everyone either gets a migraine, allergies, or some kind of upper respiratory infection? Like, me either! I walked into the office at 10am today and my boss took one look at me and said three words, "Barometric pressure changed."

Moving on to uncharted territory not related to my current zip code: raising Fiona. From this moment on, she shall be referred to as "The Preschooler" or "The Three Year Old" or "The Terror." Anthony has been playing the role of stay-at-home-parent since he got out here at the end of November. He has The Preschooler well on her way to fully potty-trained. I spent four months over the summer working on it. He gets it in one month. But it's cool. No skin off my parenting awesomeness rating. It's a good thing that Fiona is using the toilet and only wears a diaper at night. It's a great thing. What I never saw coming is that at any time on any day all three toilets in this house are just sitting quietly waiting for someone to flush them. Last night I found evidence that The Three Year Old indeed did go #2 yesterday. Took us until late today to figure out when she did it because neither of us knew about it. Good thing we use all three bathrooms or who knows now long that would have been in there. What really gets me though, is how she can be so thoughtful and enthusiastic and flush when I'm done and be so aloof and put off when she's done. Oh come on. You didn't think you could have bathroom privacy and a kid at the same time. Did you?

The last little story I will share tonight is about making friends. From birth through college I moved a lot. I knew how to make friends. It was no big deal. Moving out here where I knew nobody - no problem-o. In my first month out here I was by myself. I went out to eat alone. I talked to people I didn't know. I wandered into stores and chatted up the locals. It was liberating and exciting. What I didn't see coming is as soon as my family got here all of that activity came damn close to a screeching halt. I don't know why yet. Is it because I need to focus on them? Because I want to? Because it's easier than focusing on me? Is it because I'm less lonely with them here? A little of each, I suppose. I had no doubt that Anthony would find his niche quickly. And he has. I've been more worried about Fiona making friends than me. It was sad when she came to me at the playground and said none of the kids wanted to play with her. Then a week later she ran away from little Josh because, "I don't like him." Apparently this kind of behavior is common in the age group. Making friends as an adult is easy - no playground drama. And besides: I have the Internet. Not only can it find me people like me, it can keep me in touch with friends I've made since third grade! For a kid who moved around so much how did I manage to still know someone from third grade? That pleasure is reserved for people who never leave their home town. Not anymore - the Internet has brought some very sweet moments back to me. Maybe I don't have any girlfriends in Nevada yet. I will - when the time and chemistry are right. Until then, I have new, old, and re-newed friendships to keep me engaged. Guess I needed a little self-pep talk. Huh. Didn't see that coming.

Don't Jinx It.....Shhh!

2009-12-28T12:39:00.002-06:00

There's one last Pull-Up in the house but she doesn't know about it. It will be our trophy. shhhhhh......

Update 10 minutes later:
She peed in the hallway. Dag Nabbit.

It took my breath away.

2009-11-22T20:12:00.003-06:00

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. LaMadre Range. Mohave Desert. Western edge of the Las Vegas Valley. 30 miles from home. When I left I went to REI and bought some proper hiking boots. I will be back to this place.

Driving in along the 13-mile scenic loop, you come to this incredible vista quickly after leaving the visitor center. And it just kept getting better. The red rock, creamy sandstone, calico hills, and an absolutely perfect weather day for hiking.
Since I was only armed with my Blackberry, I couldn't take that many pictures. Here's a brief picture-story of my trip through the RRCNA today. My mission was to check out the easy hikes to see if we can take Fiona there this winter. So I skipped the crowded overlooks and pullouts and landed at Lost Creek Children's Discovery Trail. Just a few minutes in and I was looking straight up this rock face.

On the way there is a spring creek....actual running water in the desert. There is a snail restoration project going on. So tucked into this short hike is a whole habitat in and of itself - the only home on the planet for this tiny little snail!

The end of the trail is a dry (right now) waterfall. The rounded and smooth rocks tower over you. There was a climber above me - see him on the left edge of the rock?
I hiked back out to the trail head, turned left, and explored the Discovery Trail for kids. It ended up being a spur of the first trail I took, so I met up with some familiar faces and paws. But this part of the trail has more of a human element to it. I was walking right through the middle of a native American seasonal camp. I can't wait until Fiona is old enough to appreciate what that means.

On my way out I had to take a picture of this rock. Lime green lichen. In the middle of a desert. Now....I have a love affair with rocks. I'm not sure exactly when it started but I have distinct memories of being stunned by rock formations as a kid, a teenager, and time and again as an adult. I've been to some pretty amazing places in my life, when it comes to rocks. And since my geography field course in college I've been drawn to this part of the country. There's an energy here that makes me, well, giddy. It starts with the rocks. Then it's amplified by the magnitude of force and time it takes to move and shape these rocks. Not to mention the life that happens on them, around them, in spite of them....oh, I do like it out here.
And for my parting shot, I present you a cactus. "Touch me and I will hurt you" it whispered.

The next move.

2009-10-24T20:30:00.003-05:00

It's time to share my family's next move with you, dear readers. We are moving to Henderson, Nevada. Short version is that I got a job with a nonprofit services company based there and I start work on Weds. That's right - just a few days from now. Our house in Richfield has been on the market for 2 weeks. The 2 weeks before that were chaotic with projects and preparations for getting the house ready to sell. The garage is filling up with boxes and bins. And I am writing this post in a hotel room alongside I-80 in North Platte, NE. I left Minnesota today. Anthony and Fiona will follow me when the time is right. For the next 3 weeks my mom is with them to help with the transition. That's the short version.

I don't yet know how to write the long version. But you can believe it's full of emotions, to-do lists, and difficult decisions. It has been a whirlwind of a month since I accepted the job. So....I drove 640 miles today. I cried before I even got to the river just a few miles from the house. But then I saw a gaggle of geese flying south alongside the highway and I felt reassured that I was headed in the right direction. I am confident this is going to be good move for me and my family. It's just incredibly hard to leave.

As I drove south and then west I watched Fall go in reverse. There are still some gorgeous colors in western Iowa (which is much more hilly than I thought it would be) and eastern Nebraska. I drove by signs pointing to Nevada, IA and Henderson, NE. As I entered Nebraska it started to rain but soon I could see the back end of the front and made it through to the sunny side. Once you get west of Lincoln, the highway speed goes up to 75.....and just when you get excited about setting that cruise control there's one construction zone after another.....one stretch was the longest 9 miles of the day. I was behind a horse trailer those 9 miles. Nine. Miles.

High points: I played Monopoly at McDonalds for lunch and won a free breakfast sandwich. I had a surprisingly good dinner at Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant in North Platte tonight. And I saw license plates (excluding semis) from MN, WI, IA, MI, IL, NE, OR, MO, FL, CA, UT, CO, NJ, SD, and Ontario. I think it's a requirement that you spot an Ontario plate on a road trip in the U.S. I swear - every time there's someone from Ontario on the road.

Oh, and I saw some swans, shaggy ponies, and llamas....I think they were llamas.

Tomorrow I hope to make it to Salina, Utah. For now....I crash.

What part of the soul is chicken soup good for again?

2009-10-15T19:43:00.003-05:00

I love it when a post writes itself as I am washing dishes on a random night of the week. But let me start with a list of things one should not give a toddler to eat in a home that is on the market and has to be clean as a whistle at every waking moment.....breath.....soup, raisins, edamame, juice boxes, milk, goldfish, rice, and water. Did I mention soup? Yes. We had chicken soup for dinner. It was tasty too. Fiona even ate it. And then it crashed to the floor by way of the table, her pajamas, and the fabric covered seat. I really hate wasting good chicken soup. And I really hate wasting it when a prospective buyer is coming to the house at 9am the next morning. So I send her off to her room to take off her soppy pajamas and proceed with the clean up and dishes. This is where the post writes itself.....

Gayly she bounds into the kitchen in only her diaper.

Fiona: I'm naked! I'm naked!
Me: I see that. Please go put on clean pajamas so we can read stories. (To myself: I bet she'll pick the bicycle shirt. She loves that thing.)

Ever so proud of herself she re-enters the kitchen with her very large Tour de Cure team t-shirt (her bicycle shirt; the most favorite thing she has) and a pajama shirt on as pants - both legs through the neck hole.

Fiona: I have it on backwards!
Me: No hon, that's a shirt, not shorts. (I'm such a buzz kill.)

She hops off and back again, this time with her lime green Pancremaniacs team t-shirt (her other most favorite thing) on backwards, over the bicycle shirt. Her legs are still through the neck hole of that poor pajama shirt.

Me: Fiona, please put that shirt back in your drawer and pick out stories to read. (I hope she doesn't take everything out of that drawer and make a mess in there too.)

Back to the kitchen she flies with ALL of her pajamas in her arms. All of them. So I finish up the dishes and go see what else is out of the dresser. Fortunately the chaos is contained to only the 4th drawer with pajamas and burp rags. But her soppy soup pajamas are smack in the middle of the pile so now there are three sets of pajamas that have chicken soup on them.

She eats 4 bites of chicken soup....well, anything...for dinner and goes completely gonzo hyper. Every night. Anthony isn't home tonight so I was hoping for a quiet night sans the 3 hour bedtime routine we've gotten ourselves into. Child won't go to sleep until 10pm - I don't get it. Let's just say I was happy to give her Benedryl for her massive eczema flare up tonight. She's been out of bed 3 times since I put her in there. Sadly, that's an improvement.

Oh, and as soon as the showing is over tomorrow I'm taking up the candy bowl. So not worth the struggle every waking minute.

Paying in the yard on a crisp fall afternoon

2009-09-30T22:20:00.003-05:00

Jo liked the pumpkin. And yes, for those of you who were at Camp Bearberry in August, that is the raspberry hat I made for Fiona. She grew last week and it don't fit no more. Sigh.

Fiona was happy to have a friend to play with today. The neighbor boys are on vacation for 2 weeks and sitting in her stroller watching me weed the garden....well, that sucks. Those girls chased each other around until they got good and hungry. Aunt Heather came over tonight too. She has the Auntly touch I tell you. Both kids were calm when she was in the room. When it was me trying to put them to bed - I wouldn't call them calm so much as not calm.

And...she's making Fiona a new hat. It will match the new sweater she made for Fiona. It's good to have Auntlys who love you that much, isn't it?

Mind games.

2009-09-24T23:10:00.000-05:00

Fiona got out of bed about 6 times before finally falling asleep tonight. Twice she came to the top of the basement stairs to ask me to come up and lay down with her. Both times I said I would while fully intending to keep my butt planted right where it was. She will fall asleep on her own and I will be victorious.

I just came upstairs to go to bed and found my body pillow on her bed with her leg flopped over it. She thinks she showed me. Ha! Just wait until she wakes up and finds it gone from her bed. My body pillow! Mine!

The payoff doesn't always match the input.

2009-09-22T17:06:00.004-05:00

When you put energy into something, the payoff isn't always what you expect. Here are three examples from my home:

1. Canning tomatoes. A friend of mine gave me a huge bag of gorgeous tomatoes from her garden. Then my neighbor brought over 7 or 8 more. I had, from what I could tell, 4 different varieties. I washed them. I par-boiled them. I peeled them. I seeded them. I chopped them...and onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. I cooked them with red wine, bay leaves, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano. I pureed them in the blender. I cooked them down to a thicker-than-soup consistency. I added fresh basil. I canned them. And this is what I got out of it:

There's another jar only 2/3rds full. I was hoping to give a jar to each tomato-sharing friend, but again this is all I got! We're having pasta tonight with the non-processed jar. That was a lot of work. I sterilized 5 jars. Wishful thinking. But I'd never done this before and now I know it's not like pickles. With pickles you get a lot of jars. Oh. Before I forget, I had to go to 3 stores to find canning lids. Why no one carries canning supplies this time of year I cannot explain.

2. Potty training. Suffice it to say I've been living under a rock for several weeks. I have no idea what's going on in the world. But I can tell you what motivates my child to learn to use the toilet. In the last few weeks, we went from the big potty to the potty chair and back to the big potty. We're on our second style of tracking chart. We've used stickers, stars, balloons, happy & sad faces, and in moments of sheer desperation, candy. There has been a lot of laundry. A. Lot. Of. Laundry. And running errands with child in undies takes no less than twice as long as with child in diapers. But unlike the experience of canning tomatoes, this has a big payoff. We are close to only using one diaper or pull-up a day (night time protection). Wow, the dollars that aren't being deposited into the tills of big box stores! Fiona is learning about her body. Today she was leaning over herself so far to watch herself pee that she lost balance and fell into the toilet. Balance is one of those things that make a very big difference in one's life. And now that she sees where her pee comes out, I think she's more interested and impressed with herself. She is becoming more independent and has even gone to the potty by herself (without prompting and she washed her hands!) a couple of times. It's getting better. It's slower than I hoped it would be, but it's getting better. We have to be close to a toilet at all times so for at least the next several weeks I expect to continue looking at the underside of this rock.

And when you live under a rock, it's imperative to amuse yourself. Behold! I made a tutu:

2009-09-14T16:03:00.000-05:00

Too see more pictures from the Wandering Moos' birthday party, including the red velvet cupcake attack, visit their blog! There are some pictures from the State Fair visit there too.

Fog

2009-09-13T09:41:00.000-05:00

Put water in coffee maker.
Filter in.
Beans in.
Wait, that's not right.
Transfer beans to grinder.
Push button.
Oh, please no. Don't be broken.
Plug in grinder.
Lean against wall until coffee is ready.
Burn tongue.
Go back to bed.

So. Very. Tired. Today.

A Party in the Park

2009-09-12T20:22:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we attended Lincoln and Cooper's first birthday party in Stillwater, MN. The park, Washington Square Park, is a very nice city park. The story behind it a local man is using his own money to refurbish the city parks. He has established an endowment to support future upkeep of the parks. It was the cleanest city park I've ever been to. The bathroom door was arched. The picnic table tops were thick slabs of composite granite. The playground suited kids of all ages. And instead of plain old concrete sidewalks, they were paved with bricks.

The shelter was decorated in a "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" theme. It was very sweet and they thought of every details - even the boys' onesies were in theme! Their mom made red velvet cupcakes and it was the most entertaining first birthday cake attack I've ever seen. Red cake was EVERYWHERE!!

It has been really fun watching these two boys grow in the last year. And now I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that their mom, Christie, is the supreme party planner in these parts. I can stop trying now. :) Here are some photos from our day at the park. Fiona and Jo have become buds - shows, doesn't it? When Linc and Coop get a little older we'll do the blanket thing again.

The Great Minnesota Get Together 2009

2009-09-12T19:18:00.005-05:00

This year Fiona and I went to the State Fair without Anthony. I'm still paying for last year with him. We tagged along with the Wandering Moos on the twins' first birthday. We saw lots of animals, rode the Carousel twice, sampled fair food that wasn't all on a stick (!), and saw a cow get milked. Here's the photo log of our day....

Husband's birthday

2009-09-12T18:58:00.005-05:00

I planned a little surprise adventure for Anthony's birthday this year. Fiona and I picked him up from work early and took him to Theodore Wirth Park in the northwest part of the metro. It's the largest park in the Grand Rounds system and we'd never been there. So we stopped at a geographical marker along the parkway for a photo op:

Then we parked at one of the two golf courses, unloaded the bikes and pod, and went for a very hilly bike ride. Anthony had to take over pulling Fiona in the pod...ugg, that was hard. After the ride we drove over the Wirth Lake and had a picnic dinner on the beach. Putting aside the traffic in our view to the right, the mucky water in our view to the left, and the goose poop all over the beach it was a fun picnic. I made curried chicken salad and served it on croissants. Lemonade, strawberries, and marbled cheesecake squares rounded out the meal. Fiona got to check out two new playgrounds. It was a big night!

Anthony got a titanium link bracelet for his 37th. Looks good, no?

New crayons

2009-09-12T18:55:00.001-05:00

Again, I did not do this. I love that my child did.

I can't make this stuff up.

2009-08-28T22:23:00.001-05:00

More of FiG's organizational work. I did not see this being built nor did I do anything to it before taking its picture. If you are anything like me, you will notice that the stacks of bowls are not even. Symmetry is not always the goal. Clearly.
My next potty training strategy: a success chart on FiG's bedroom door. It went up tonight. We already have a system that rewards her a star for #1 in the potty and a balloon for #2 in the potty. So I explained tonight that we will start putting her stars and balloons on this chart and at the end of each day she will get a prize if she has stars or balloons on the day. Her first response: "What do I get?" A few minutes later she wanted to earn a star, so she did her deed and I taped a star to the chart. She freaked. FREAKED. Apparently a star on the chart is NOT the same thing as a star in hand. Oh, we are going to have to work on this.

How does the clean up song go again?

2009-08-23T20:24:00.008-05:00

During the final party prep, FiG was unsupervised in the basement for a little while. This is how she passed the time. Such an organized mess. TV, you're fired.

When asked to clean up her room, FiG brings everything from her room and commingles it with everything in the living room. This is just a phase, right? Right?

And for your entertainment (and mine): A-Mo, the Daddy Worm.

Hostesses to the Mostesses

2009-08-23T20:16:00.002-05:00

The Leo Leading Ladies: Julie, Heather, and me. And yes, we're already drinking and no, there aren't any guests at the party yet. Rawwwr!

Birthday Flowers

2009-08-23T20:12:00.003-05:00

Thank you for these beautiful birthday flowers Julie!

Chocolate Almond Cake

2009-08-21T22:05:00.003-05:00

This is my birthday cake for the 10th annual Leo Picnic, which is tomorrow. The cake is buttermilk almond. The frosting is milk chocolate. It's a tad lop-sided but it's tall and I can't wait to slice into it!

Vinegar

2009-08-19T10:36:00.004-05:00

Is anything in life ever really "all-purpose?" Apparently vinegar is.

1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar

My adventures in house cleaning with vinegar begin today. Gotta do something with all the vinegar in the basement...since I'm not making pickles this year.

Channeling Carrie Bradshaw

2009-08-09T20:11:00.003-05:00

I'm in New York sitting next to a window typing on a laptop drinking an Ubu Ale in the dark. The particulars are different, but it's the best impression I can muster. So let's see.....I'm on vacation with my family at Lake Placid, NY. We've rented a house that fits all 11 of us. It's right at the lake shore with a dock and pontoon boat to boot. We're here for a week. I have a feeling that time will fly by....especially if I take a 3-hour nap every day! My kid was the only one to have a (colossal) melt down today. As long as we can keep it that way, it will be a good week.

It's been a long time since I've posted to this blog and my two biggest fans happen to be my mom and her friend, who has known my mom since before my parents were married, so you can imagine the grief I'm getting over my Facebook activity and subsequent lack of blogging. See comments on my last post for reference.

Right.

Life has taken an interesting turn since my last post. I stopped working at the end of June and have spent time since then getting to know my life in a new way. It's my summer of fun: play dates, lunch dates, and vacation dominate the calendar. But there is still work. Sure, there's the potty and manners training, the Weeding Project of 2009, and the cooking and cleaning. What is perhaps the most surprising, though, is the work on me, myself, and I. It's nice to have some time to think about who I am, how I treat myself and those I love, and if I'm happy with me. So it's been an interesting summer.

I am looking for another job but have chosen to be deliberate about it. I spend most of my time in my search networking and interviewing people and organizations. I'm trying to find the best fit. My last job wasn't a good fit in the last year I was there, and it sucked the life out of me. I suppose this is my summer of recovery too.

Not to mention milestones: my last day of work was my 10th wedding anniversary and I turn 35 this week.

I think I'm having Facebook withdrawal....and I need another beer. Later....

Steely Danielle, this one's for you.

2009-06-01T21:17:00.002-05:00

On the way home after school today:

Me: We're having a salad for dinner.
FiG: Pizza!
Me: Oh, I know you like pizza. Should we have some rice balls?
----
Me: I like rice balls. Do you?
FiG: I like rice balls.
----
wait for it...
----
FiG: Does Daddy have rice balls?

Burgers: A Great American Growth Spurt

2009-05-28T16:28:00.010-05:00

Burger joints are popping up left, right, and center here....and I suspect all over the country. But in the Twin Cities these new burgers are a departure from what I've come to know as a classic TC eat - the Juicy Lucy. There's considerable debate over who makes the best Juicy Lucy. But since I've never eaten a Juicy Lucy and my homemade version is turkey stuffed with brie and a slice of Granny Smith apple on top, I won't comment more than to say the Juicy Lucy is a known standard throughout these parts.

So back to the new guys on the scene. A-Mo and I have recently tried Five Guys and Smashburger - two new suburban establishments peddling meat and potatoes in two very different ways. Five Guys is really about simplicity - to the point that their food is served in a brown paper bag even if you're eating at the restaurant. The cooking is open for viewing, which amuses and distracts cranky toddlers. The menu offers only a few choices; alas, no brie. They make a tasty burger, though next time I'll forego the lettuce and tomato as they just made things slippery and the grilled onions were too far to the raw side of things for my liking. Hot dog was split down the middle and grilled - yum. Fries aren't really worth mentioning.

Smashburger caters more to families and those seeking a different version of an old favorite. For example, they offer multigrain buns, veggie frites (carrots, green beans, and asparagus fries), salads, and malts. I built my own burger and it was good, but I swooned over those ordered by others in my party - those with gooey cheese and bacon to be exact. Perhaps the best part of the meal was the Smashfries. Knocking Twin City Grill off the top of the heap, these fries are my new favorite french fries. Tossed with olive oil, garlic, and herbs, they are indeed a different version of an old favorite. And they will have me going back for more.

The social experiences for my one visit to each are polar opposites from one another. Five Guys = my little family unit, shove it in as fast as you can because The Toddler is getting antsy. Smashburger = three couples, 4.5 kids, two men (we call them "uncles") for The Toddler to flirt with, and adult conversation not focused on our restaurant exit strategy.

I think we'll give both another shot. In the meantime, here are some pictures of our Smashburger outing last weekend, courtesy of Christie and her "new" camera.

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-25T21:20:00.002-05:00

A-Mo took FiG to a new park today. Check out their adventure here!

Extra - Extra! Read all about it!

2009-05-24T21:35:00.002-05:00

FiG pooped in the big potty tonight. Wait...what? She won't pee in the potty and now she's pooping in it? Well, yes. Once.

PARENTS magazine gave me an idea. I gave her the magazine to read on the potty. A little light reading...it worked!

Field trip to the Arboretum

2009-05-24T21:29:00.003-05:00

FiG and I went to the MN Landscape Arboretum today with Auntlyh. The iris and azalea gardens were amazing. I've never seen either flower in so many colors. A chimpmunk scampered right in front of FiG's stoller and stopped on a rock so we could watch him. We heard frogs and were buzzed by dragonflies. FiG played in every fountain she could find. It's really fun to have such an amazing place less than a 30 minute drive from home. Auntlyh took pictures - visit her blog to see some of our day.

Of late: Things that have come out of my mouth

2009-05-21T15:03:00.005-05:00

Fine. Lick your toes.

Do you like the taste of your boogers?

Have you been snorting dirt?

We do not eat popsicles for dinner.

Disobedient spawn.

That thing between your ears. Use it.

2009-05-20T09:02:00.002-05:00

Last night FiG threw all of her bedding and animals out of her bed as a protest for having to go to bed. When we checked on her later, we found her asleep on top of her duvet on the floor next to her bed. Since the entire evening was an exercise in going to bed my first thought was that we needed to move her up into her bed. So I moved the blankets, pillow, and animals and as I picked FiG up she woke up. I spent the next half hour rocking and soothing her before she fell asleep enough to let me put her in her bed.

So I'm sitting there, rocking 30 pounds of sensitivity, humming "Home on the Range" and only then.....THEN.....do I remember that you never wake a sleeping baby. Shoulda left her to sleep on the floor. Coulda avoided some whining. Woulda if I'd used my brain.

We have a raisin problem.

2009-05-18T20:23:00.007-05:00

They're everywhere. Just sit in one place and start looking around the room. You'll start seeing raisins all over the place. When I think I've got them all picked up I'll step on one and feel the wet squish underfoot. While making dinner tonight I turned around and saw a colony of them on the kitchen floor. Since then we've been finding sticky streaks of raisin guts on the kitchen floor. I swear I picked them all up! They're breeding. The raisins are breeding! We're going to have to call an exterminator soon. Or get a dog.

I actually had to think about the address for this blog tonight....it's been that long.

Pink Eye II has taken up residence in our home this week. Poor FiG. The Cough V settled in two weeks ago. Poor me.

This weekend the overnight low hit 35F. Today it was 81F. The lilacs, chives, and irises are blooming. And until this afternoon I didn't have any allergy symptoms. It could be a second cousin of The Cough V coming to visit, but it could also be retribution for openly bragging about how I've had no allergy problems this year and isn't that great for me and too bad for you suffering from hay fever?

Can a girl get a bicycle? Or at least a box with wheels?

From fully clothed to:

And then to:

It was Derby day afterall. We had an amazing meal on Derby Day at Supper Club. The most amazing bourbon glazed baby back ribs.....mmmmmmm......A-Mo was disappointed that there was only one rib in my leftovers. But that's all that was left!

FiG is playing more independently now. She is currently making soup with water in her sippee cup and her kitchen toys. She has started to be more deliberate with her coloring and drawing as well. She will color in shapes that we draw for her and instead of widly waving markers across the paper, she will concentrate on one area - all with tongue out. Of course.

FiG is also exploring her boundaries, exercising her "no," and expecting what she wants when she wants it. We have a raisin' problem.

Pancremaniacs

2009-04-20T21:04:00.006-05:00

On June 6th I am riding in the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure as a proud Pancremaniac! For my readers who don't know, I've had Type 2 diabetes for a little longer than two years now. Diabetes research, for all types, is an important personal cause. Seriously, when was the last time any of you saw me ride a bike? My fundraising goal is $1,500 - will you help me reach my goal? To sponsor me, visit my page. THANK YOU!

(Drawing by T. Wagoner.)

OMG.......STOP!

2009-04-17T21:18:00.001-05:00

Could news broadcasters stop saying "teabagging" please? Please?

Signs of Spring

2009-04-17T20:54:00.002-05:00

There are those tell tale signs of spring: maples glowing red with pollen pods, lawns switching from brown to green, birdsong (wait, birds live here?), and people and dogs out everywhere.

And then there are those tell tale signs of spring in Minnesota: the glare of pasty white skin on those people out everywhere, the sheer glee on motocyclists' faces as they buzz by, and the guy sitting on his front steps buffing his pasty white feet into flip flop shape with sand paper.

2009-04-08T15:34:00.001-05:00

One day, I will throw Cheerios across the dining room.

Pause. Rewind. Play.

2009-04-08T13:15:00.003-05:00

It was one of "those days" this morning. FiG woke up and chatted with her friends in the crib for a while. She was happy. She asked for cereal. We went to the kitchen, she sat on the counter, and I fixed coffee and cereal for us both. And so it began....

FiG: I don't want green spoon.
Me: Here's a silver spoon like Mommy's.
FiG: I don't want cereal. Want Mommy's cereal.
Me: Let's go to the table and eat our cereal together. Here's your coffee.
FiG: I don't want cereal. I don't want my chair. (I put her down on the floor and returned to kitchen to fetch my coffee.) (Thud.) I throw my banana.
Me: FiG, pick up your banana. Now, let's sit and eat.
FiG (in chair): I don't want scoot in. Push chair out. Push chair out.
Me: When you're ready to eat, I will push you closer to the table.

Silence....she threw her bowl of cereal off the table. I really would have prepared differently had I know we were going to be doing food art on the floor this morning.

Mind you, this whole time she's been whining and screaming. But now the alligator tears start to roll. She can't come to terms with what she's just done. I put her out of the dining room and clean up the mess. Then calm her down and go back to the table for a do-over. She eats two bowls of cereal, part of a banana, and drinks all of her coffee (warm milk). We dressed and did pig-tails and the only other flare up was when I had to chase her down to retrieve the potty seat from her after repeated requests to not remove it from the bathroom.

I got to work at 10:30. Crickey. I will be working late so A-Mo gets to negotiate the evening meal and the daily protest over the availability and timing of snacks and cookies.

A high note for the day is that for the first time in a long time I'm not wearing any wool - yippee!

Oh, is this where I post?

2009-04-05T21:32:00.005-05:00

It's been a while. Thank you readers, for continuing to check in. It's hard to remember all that has happened in the last month, so I'll just skip to last week and call this blog caught up.

FiG is learning to use the potty. She isn't interested in #2 on the potty, but she's getting really good at #1. She's wearing Pull-Ups and is getting better at pulling them up and down by herself. This is all very exciting. Except when she has to go potty at bed time....after being tucked in....after the entire routine. She's becoming a master staller.

She is really funny these days. Talking a lot, finishing sentences in her books, reading to herself in bed, doing art (it's best on a stool in front of her new art desk with the easel up), mimicing me and her father, dancing and singing, dressing herself, stripping when she's unsupervised, diapering her stuffed animals, and insisting on pig tails every day.

I have bronchitis again. Back on the triple cocktail of prednisone, antibiotics, and codeine cough syrup. The pred gives me energy - I've spent the whole weekend in the kitchen and just twenty minutes ago I was dusting the family room. Not normal behavior. The cough syrup works but I'm going to run out of it at this rate. No need for clocks....every 4 hours I need more. This shall pass.

Speaking of the kitchen, I stayed home from work 3 days last week and made dinner those 3 nights. Yesterday I worked on some time-intensive and fussy cookies for supper club. Today I finished them and made two loaves of Garden Harvest Cake. It's not a ringing endorsement, but the cookies aren't bad for low-carb cookies. The cake is relatively low-carb and it's really good. It's been nice to be in the kitchen so much. It is inspiring my vegetable garden fantasy.

While FiG and A-Mo napped today I sketched this vegetable garden and made a list of supplies. It's two raised beds so half the size of what I have been concocting in my head. But it's still quite ambitious. It doesn't sound like we'll be moving this year so I want to jump into this project come May. A few green things are coming up in the garden beds so our growing season is just getting started. I don't think anything suffered too much from this morning's snowfall. It melted quickly. It is spring afterall.

Watched Kung Fu Panda this weekend - very funny. Watching Madagascar right now. Also funny with a lot more going on. I do love me some animated movies.

I've signed up to ride in the ADA Tour de Cure in early June. I am officially a Pancremaniac. Opportunities to support the team are forthcoming. Stay tuned.

And now for pictures:

A creek in the woods during my knitting retreat in March.

Playing in the kitchen sink for the last time.

What? Mickey and Minnie need new diapers. Geez, dad.

Yes. I am paying attention to the story you are reading me.

Black Star Evening

2009-03-03T21:34:00.004-06:00

And then she peed on the bathroom rug tonight. Long blink.....

Gold Star Morning

2009-03-03T10:15:00.002-06:00

FiG did it! She peed in her potty today. She really really did it! She was so excited that she forgot to wipe and ran around the house bare butt with toilet paper in her hand looking for A-Mo to tell him the good news. I had to wrangle her back into the bathroom so we could have a cermonial flushing and double high five. I'm a proud mommy.

Spring! Come out, come out, where ever you are!

2009-02-28T20:36:00.003-06:00

February was the wrong month to try and do daily posts. Perhaps winter was the wrong subject matter as well. I thought the posts would help keep me positive and get me through the longest month. Alas....I lost interest in surviving a Minnesota winter about two weeks ago. Could spring please get here quickly this year?

My problems with winter started last year. I wouldn't go so far to say that I have seasonal affective disorder, but by this point in the season, I find myself more moody and sensitive. It doesn't help that December and January both averaged high temperatures 5 degrees below normal and we went through a stretch of 30+ days in a row of sub-zero temps. Then February arrived and so did the 40s. All the snow melted. Then it froze. Then it melted. Then it snowed 7 inches. And we're back to single digit overnight lows this weekend.

February also brought the sickies to my little family unit. Currently all of us are sick. FiG has it the worst with bronchitis and an ear infection. On drugs is she. I'm working though fever, nausea, and a bad sore throat. On drugs I am not. Stupid theories about over prescription of antibiotics. Bah. A-Mo has powered through congestion, aches, and fatigue this week.

Tomorrow is a new month. I will take on a new attitude. Spring is merely 21 days away. At least I don't have it as bad as the vole/mouse FiG and I found by the back steps yesterday. It allowed me to get close enough to it to actually pet it and pick it up by the tail. I moved it to the wood pile by the garage - away from the house. Poor thing only made it a few feet from the garage. I saw it on top of the snow last night. It's still there....with some tracks in the snow to suggest another critter came sniffing about.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota Winter

2009-02-19T09:56:00.001-06:00

14. Palm trees. When I see palm trees...truly no matter what time of year...I am instantly relaxed. From inside the pressurized cabin I can feel the stress leaving my body and the scowl leaving my face. Ahhhhh....palm trees mean there's an ocean nearby with it's salty breezes and lulling waves. Palm trees mean warmth and humidity, both of which are hard to come by in Minnesota in winter. Palm trees mean you aren't going to work the next day. Yeah, yeah I know that the descent into Riyadh International Airport brings palm trees into view but they do not indicate the presence of an ocean or humidity. I know. But let me have this one please. I didn't win enough (cough, any) money in Vegas last October to buy myself the diamond studded palm tree pendant I saw there, so I recall my memory of Punta Cana a year ago to bring me palm trees in winter.

15. Citrus. Clementines have kept me alive this winter. I've eaten so many of them I am becoming a clementine snob. Spain grows the finest. California is second. All others are crap. Fortunately just when the Spanish and California clementines are done, naval oranges and grapefruit step up to center stage - which is right now. Limes and lemons are also in my fruit bowl all the time. A little zest adds a new flavor dimension to any food any time of year, but it's really special in winter. I did a little experiment at work earlier in the winter. There were a lot of candy bowls around during the holiday season so I put a fruit bowl on my desk. Clementines and apples. The clementines were gone in a day and a half. The apples took three days. So it's not just me. Others feel the need to stave off winter scurvy with some fruit.

16. Color or Sparkle. I'm putting these together because they often come in the form of a fashion accessory, especially in the office setting. We wear a lot of black, gray, and brown in the winter, so it's fun to have a bright scarf, a big rhinestone broach, or funky socks to brighten the winter wardrobe. I bought a red boiled wool jacket this season. It's really red and the only reason I bought red is because the teal didn't come in my size. But I'm so happy with it. It's a snap of color that makes me happy and it's NOT A SWEATER! I can wear any broach on it too.

17. Winter beer. Some will disagree with me on this, but it's my blog so pbbtwwwsssttt..This one isn't so much a necessity as it is something that makes winter a great season. We've got some very talented brewers in the upper mid-west. And to bring in talent from other parts of the country we have some very fun to visit distributors. A-Mo and I are lucky to have so many friends who know their beer and who have inside connections in the beer world up here. Personally, I like beers from all seasons, but I prefer to drink beer in winter. Hand me a Hendrick's and tonic (with double lime) any summer day, but in February, make it a Surly please.

18. Alka Seltzer Plus Cold. The citrus flavor is my favorite. This stuff works. And it works right away. Confinement indoors + day care + an office full of people with kids in day care or school + anything touched by Joe & Joann Public = 6 months of germ warfare.

19. Immunity boosters. This is for avoiding #18, and because of #18. Store brands are less expensive and as far as I know just as effective as name brands like Airborne. None of them taste great so I find the "down the hatch" approach the best. And having to drink 4-6 ounces of water with each dose of #18 and #19 leads me to #20....

20. Water. Not only is there very little humidity in the air, but heaters in the car, office, home, skyways, etc. suck what little moisture is in your skin and eyeballs right out. We have small humidifiers in our bedrooms and we still battle bloody noses and ashy skin all winter. It's amazing how, during a winter thaw (which in these parts refers to 32F), I have great hair days and I can goa day without slathering lotion all over my body. I first crossed the border into Minnesota on September 30. Two weeks later it snowed. I didn't even own a winter coat yet. Because I moved here by myself in my car and I was trying hard to be safe and responsible I had a survival kit in my trunk - you know, flashlight, water bottles, crackers, blanket, etc. One day during that first winter I remembered that I had water in the trunk and I was thirsty. I had to laugh at myself on that one. Ice anyone?

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-13T09:30:00.003-06:00

13. Outside time. This is critical. Cabin fever sneaks up on you and WHAM! you've gone insane. I try to avoid skyways and tunnels on campus as much as possible during the winter. Sure, the outside track is actually quicker, but I really do it for the fresh air. Especially on sunny days. I love me some vitamin D exposure! But one of my absolute favorite times to be outside is during a snow storm. Not one of those crazy, windy, snow blowing sideways storms....one of those calm, serene, bit fat snow flake storms. Every time it snows I think back to when I was a kid visiting my Nana's house in Haddonfield, NJ for Christmas. I spent the night at a friend's house down the street. It snowed that night and we went outside to take it in. She didn't think it was great to be outside in the middle of the night in her pajamas, but I, in my red long johns (the kind with the butt flap), loved it. I stayed out there for over an hour and watched the snow fall from the middle of the street. I remember very clearly how quiet it was. How I couldn't even hear the snow flakes landing. In the true sense of the word, it was awesome.

Being outside in the winter in Minnesota isn't always easy. I give a lot of credit to those who bike to work every day of the year, play broomball through the arctic snaps, and sit out on a frozen lake waiting for the bait to take. It takes a special kind of dedication....crazy....for that. I am headed to the woods for my annual knitting retreat next month and am looking forward to the 4-mile walk, the snowshoe adventures, and the search for the wild turkeys. It's outisde time that is really good timing for me.

Possum Fur Nipple Warmers

2009-02-12T20:53:00.002-06:00

Ta-Da!! They can be ordered online!

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-12T15:41:00.000-06:00

12. Sense of silly/humor. Everyone is going through the same winter you are - they have dry skin, hat hair, dirty cars, cabin fever, and sweater fatigue. They've had colds, coughs, and the flu too. Everyone looks forward to the days when leaving the house doesn't involve outerwear. Finding a way to laugh about it helps get us through it. We put old man hats on our snowmen. We waddle like penguins on the ice. We joke about frozen snot. Winter in Minnesota isn't a completely horrible thing. It just lasts a long time.

Walks with Stink

2009-02-11T13:02:00.003-06:00

Last night it was decreed that J-Lo names are out and Indian Names are in. FiG's Indian name is: Walks With Stink. She wears it well. Thanks, T-Dog, for coming up with her new moniker.

Goodbye Earl

2009-02-11T12:58:00.002-06:00

Yesterday when I opened the living room blinds to say good morning to Earl, all that was left was a small mound of snow. FiG said, "Snowman, Earl." Then, "Snowman, dirt." Yes baby, Snowman Earl is dirt. Flakes to flakes, drops to drops, they all melt away. Maybe when it snows again Earl's cousin Pearl will drop by.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-08T21:29:00.002-06:00

11. Pothole radar. This is the land of 10,000 lakes and many, many more potholes. This time of year, after a couple of freeze and thaw cycles, the roads get really bad. A lot of the early winter patches have crumbled out and left even bigger craters. No road surface is immune. And just when you think you've memorized all the potholes on your commute, new ones show up and throw you off your game. So it's important to learn how to spot a pothole, judge it's depth and breadth, and even predict where the next one will be. Several years ago A-Mo's car had a tire that kept losing pressure. The mechanic told him he had a bent rim and asked, "What, did you hit a pothole?" Imagine the look on A-Mo's face after being asked such an idiotic question. I brought my car home from the dealer last month with a bent rim. Guess what he asked me? :)

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-05T10:10:00.002-06:00

10. Recipes for soup. And chili. And stews. I'm talking about food that a) makes your house smell great, b) doesn't break the bank to make - uses staples from your pantry and freezer, c) can be a one-pot meal, d) satisfies your need for a hot meal, and e) freezes well. I have my go-to recipes: tomato soup, black bean soup, turkey chili, chicken posole, chicken cacciatore. They're a little different every time I make them - that's part of the fun, imo. But when I want a new idea, I consult one of several soup cookbooks in my library. Those of you who live in the Twin Cities may remember, from the Pre-FiG days, Soup Night at our house. I'm a big fan of soup. Without waxing poetic about it, I will just say that on a cold winter day...and even on a 40F rainy day like today...a hot bowl of soup with a hunk of bread is a great way to wind down for the evening. You can get it all in a bowl of homemade soup, chili, or stew: protein, carbs, veggies, fiber - without the fat and sodium of something from a shelf in the grocery store. And there are more recipes that you can possibly make in a lifetime to choose from.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-05T10:09:00.003-06:00

9. Good winter gear - Now is not the time to be a pansy about wearing a hat or insulated snow boots. You need a good parka, mittens or gloves with liners, a scarf, a hat, ear warmers, water-proof boots, and long underwear. There are some excellent high-tech, man-made fibers now, but I have found that if you use what protects animals out in nature, you can't go wrong: wool, cashmere, mohair, angora, down, fur. Now don't go getting your silkies in a knot because I used the f-word. The only fur I own is a pair of possum fur nipple warmers, so leave your spray paint in your garage for another day.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-05T10:08:00.004-06:00

8. Polarized sunglasses. Yeah, but any old sunglasses will do, right? If you've ever worn polarized lenses you would agree with me that no, any old lens will not do. I got my first pair a number of years ago when I had laser vision correction. My eyes were even more sensitive to light after the surgery so I followed A-Mo's lead and got my first pair of polarized sunglasses. I just got my second pair last fall. You don't treat them like a $7.99 pick up at the gas station. They're expensive. They're nice. And they make a huge difference in the winter up here. With the low angle of the sun and the glare off the snow pack, you really need a good pair of sunglasses.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-04T11:14:00.002-06:00

7. Flannel sheets. I do love crisp cotton sheets and if it wasn't such a waste of resources I would love to have clean crisp sheets on my bed everyday. But in winter flannel rules. About the only downside to flannel sheets is that there isn't a cold side to the pillow. And they make it really hard to get out of bed in the morning....but that's not entirely a bad thing.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-03T22:09:00.003-06:00

6. SmartWool socks - These aren't just any wool socks. The wool is from Merino sheep raised in New Zealand, a country that will always have a soft spot in my heart. I got three pair of SmartWool socks this winter and they've improved my comfort level threefold. Other than keeping my feet noticably wamer than other socks, what I like most about SmartWool socks is that they don't lose their shape through the day. When I take my shoes off, the socks aren't flopping about and turning around on my feet - I have zero patience for socks that do this. SmartWool is an expensive product line (as high-quality, high-performance products tend to be) but I have found socks on sale or clearance at REI and Sierra Trading Post.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-03T22:01:00.004-06:00

5. Pho - Vietnamese meat and noodle soup. The steam coming off the bowl, the smell of the broth, the fixings, the chewy noodles....it's one of those food experiences you can get lost in over and over again. There's something medicinal about this soup. I eat it all year-round, but I crave it in winter. It makes me feel better when I'm sick. It makes me feel warm and full and happy every time I eat it. It's so simple and so, so good. There are so many great pho joints out there - find yours and go get some pho.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-03T21:56:00.003-06:00

4. Seat warmers in your car. This has to be the most brilliant advancements in car design in recent history. OK, that's over-stating it a bit, but seat warmers take the edge off. And when it's February and you've already lived through two months of arctic temperatures, the edge between keeping it together and going batty is razor thin. Every little bit of warmth helps.

Must Haves: For a Minnesota winter

2009-02-03T21:23:00.005-06:00

There are a few things that make living through this brutal cold possible. I plan to add something new to this list every day in February. So to catch up on the last three days....

1. Lip balm - you need at least 6 or 7 sticks of it for your office, coat pocket, purse, car, bedside table, bathroom, and where you blog/read/surf/knit/veg out at home, if not next to the aforementioned bedside table. I highly recommend anything by Nivea, Blistex Silk & Shine, Blistex Complete Moisture, and Blistex Deep Renewal.

2. Hand cream - again, multiples of this for your office, purse, bedside table, bathroom, and lounging space. We do a lot of hand washing in the winter around here (yet, we still get sick - weird) so hand creme is definitely a must have. I have recently fallen in love with two hand cremes. One is J.R. Watkins Ultra Rich Hand Creme. It has a light scent, is not greasy, absorbs quickly, and works equally well on feet! The other is Almond Oil Intensive Hand Rescue by The Body Shop. This one has more of a scent but it smells great. It's meant to be worn overnight so it's thick and a little greasy but it feels great so I don't mind it. A past favorite is Satin Hands Hand Creme by Mary Kay. Lovely smell. Excellent results. Great price.

3. Brightly painted toe nails. What can I say? Day after day of long underwear, black wool socks, and closed toe shoes...the pop of color on your toes draws the attention away from the blood vessels laying just below the surface of your cold, white, dried out feet. If you can splurge, spend the $5 and get a design painted on your big toes. It's about the only place you'll see flowers around here for months.

Potty time!

2009-02-03T10:28:00.002-06:00

FiG peed in the potty this morning!

Baby Jo

2009-02-02T22:35:00.003-06:00

Jo and her parents came over last night for dinner and the Super Bowl. She is so freakin' cute!

Why, why, why?

2009-02-02T22:25:00.003-06:00

I'm not exactly sure how or why it happened, but yesterday A-Mo and I had a battle of the wills over making a run for diaper wipes. All that really matters is that A-Mo took a sleep aid and was out of it so when FiG woke up at 11pm with a diaper full of green putrid poo I got to run the Chinese Fire Drill to the kitchen for paper towels - empty roll - to dining room closet for new roll - to bathroom to wash poo off finger from the zip-up footie pajama diaper check - to FiG's room to change diaper - to bathroom for air freshener spray and more hand washing - and back to FiG's room for Take 2 on bed time.

A-Mo made the run today. But we're so far from even on this one.

The elements are cruel

2009-02-01T14:41:00.001-06:00

Earl lost his face overnight. It wasn't the squirrels this time. Poor thing. He only has one eye left. I'll spare you the gory pictures.

Rookie move.

2009-02-01T10:04:00.003-06:00

FiG has had some redness at the top of her inner thighs for a couple of days. I'm sure it's because she really needs the next size in diapers but we're making her wear 4s until we use up the last two sleeves of them. Anyway, to protect the irritation I slathered Aquaphor all over her. It worked great and the redness got better. But......the oil slick gave her pee an easy route right out of her diaper into her pants and bed.

I am still a rookie at this.

Hello. My name is Earl.

2009-01-31T19:45:00.005-06:00

It was nice and warm today - 45F!!! That made the snow wet enough to make a snowman. Meet Earl. We're not sure how long he's staying with us.

FiG was in no mood for sharing the glory of my creation.

Snow Toddler, meet Earl. Earl, Snow Toddler.

Evolution of the midnight run.

2009-01-31T09:35:00.005-06:00

When A-Mo and I were in college we would occasionally make midnight runs to Super K. It was kind of a date...or an extension of one. Seven or so years later we were in MN with a new home and our midnight runs were to Home Depot. On Friday nights they served free ice cream novelties out of a shopping cart. Totally sweet, right? Seven or so years later our midnight runs are to Walgreens. Alone.

Last night I went to Walgreens for child cough syrup, a Vicks vaporizer, and a midnight conversation with an all-night pharmacist. FiG got so wound up and upset when we put her in bed that she coughed until she threw up in her bed. (1) New sheets and pajamas. We steamed up the bathroom, gave her honey and warm water, Vicks Vaporub, and a nebulizer treatment. Then back to bed. (2) New sheets and pajamas. We steamed up the bathroom, gave her honey and warm water, and Vicks Vaporub. Then to the couch. (3) New pajamas. Off to Walgreens where I heard the testimony of the all-night cashier. Right. Not. A. Good. Time.

Forunately there was one box of cough syrup with dosing instructions for a 2 year old. It worked. But she only slept for 7 hours. Right now she's dancing to the theme song for Bob the Builder. It took me WAY too long to figure out I could find it free online and play it over and over and over agian for her.

She's wearing A-Mo's knit hat....it makes her look like a storm trooper. In mismatched pajamas. Gotta love it.

Keeping up with the Germy Jonses

2009-01-30T20:53:00.004-06:00

FiG is sick again. This time it's bronchiolitis. Since several of the kids in her class are coughing and I know at least one of them has this exact diagnosis and it's a contagious virus, I'm pretty sure she picked it up at school. She seems to have a mild case but also has some pneumona-like rustling in her right lung so she's on antibiotics now. I just hope not too many other kids end up with this, but bugs tend to race through classrooms with speed and purpose. She should be feeling better by Monday.

Going to sleep and staying asleep have been easier with FiG for the last two weeks...of course she hasn't been feeling well for those two weeks. So we'll see what happens next week. We do seem to have fine tuned our bedtime routine and going to bed isn't as awful a proposition as it was a month ago.

I'm told that we could see temps at or above 30F tomorrow. It will feel humid and balmy. Can't quite plant veggies in the garden, but it's going to feel really good. And we'll be able to get our cars washed!

In other news I'm knitting myself a sweater. It's a challenging pattern and my first two attempts at adult sweaters (both for me) ended up as gifts for women much smaller than me. Two valuable lessons in gauge will hopefully lead to success on this third attempt.

Jailbird Chronicles

2009-01-23T09:52:00.003-06:00

My positive and calm energy made a big difference last night. FiG fed off it...until she killed it. I brought her into bed with me at 10pm when she still wasn't asleep. She fell aslepp quickly in my arms, but it took an hour and two visits to the rocking chair to move her into her own bed without waking. And then she was up an hour later at which point A-Mo put her in bed with me and he slept in the basement. FiG kicked me all night so I feel like hell today. I'm sporting the "I haven't showered in 3 days bed hair" today so hopefully people will leave me alone.

There's a cold wind blowing this morning. We're headed back down into the single digits for a few days.

This week's new trick

2009-01-22T18:32:00.002-06:00

Hiding from us under the dining room table when it's "bedtime."

Jailbird Chronicles

2009-01-22T18:06:00.004-06:00

Last weekend threw any progress we made last week into oblivion. FiG had a fever for three days and stayed home from school Monday and Tuesday this week. On Tuesday we took two 3-hour naps together. I think it helped get both of us caught up. She's better now and actually slept well last night, as did A-Mo and I. She refused to eat dinner so I was expecting her to get up in the wee morning hours asking for a snack. She didn't and was relatively pleasant this morning. Drop off at school was easier too. Sleep is a beatiful thing. It has a profound impact on her mood and behavior. Mine too, for that matter.

I've been talking to several moms and all of them currently have or have lived through sleep issues with their kids. I'm getting lots of ideas. Just tonight, MochaMom told me one of her kids likes to have a flashlight in his bed with him. She got one that winds up and doesn't use batteries - brilliant! I will try it with FiG.

It seems like this week our focus is on the amount of stimulation FiG gets. There's not much we can do about what happens at school....we aren't in a postion to take her out of school, so we have to work with it. But we've taken everything but one blanket, one pillow, and one "friend" out of her crib. MochaMom also suggested not having any music on. It could work...music doesn't seem to calm FiG anyway. Two nights ago we turned all the upstairs lights off so there wasn't any light streaming into her room. It's hard to know if it helped, but I don't think it hurt. The point is to help her understand she's not missing anything, that her audience isn't off somewhere not being entertained by her, and that it's sleep time in our house.

Well, tonight is girls night and bath night, so I'm off. Positive thoughts....positive attitude....positive.....

Jailbird Chronicles

2009-01-16T20:54:00.004-06:00

It's the end of the week and I think we've made some progress with FiG's sleeping. From entering the crib to falling asleep was only 30 minutes tonight. She has gotten up in the middle of the night every night for so many nights in a row but since the crib rail was re-installed on Monday night, she has woken up later each night and has stayed up for progressively shorter periods of time. Our work is not done, but we feel good about these improvements.

Two big pieces of news on the day: FiG had a bloody nose at school. No accident, just the dry air. Which leads to new piece #2: the temperature climbed to the positive side of zero today. We've had more than 80 hours of sub-zero temps and the kind of wind chills that make you feel like your sinus cavities are freezing inside your head. It's really messed up when you think 5F feels warm.

Jail Bird Chronicles

2009-01-15T23:30:00.007-06:00

It only took an hour to get FiG to sleep last night and she was only up for half an hour at 3am. The getting to sleep part, while shorter than it has been, was full of excitement: a near blow-out diaper, crying till she puked, new bedding, lots more crying, and lots of singing. It was a much more pleasant morning today though she still resisted getting dressed.

Tonight took less than an hour she skipped the stink fest and went right to the puke fest. Good thing we inherited 4 mattress pads and 6 sheets from Nan-C and my brother, Rae Rae. 5 back to back performances of "Hush Little Baby" and she was out.

The really big news today is that FiG got her first "P" on her potty report from school. "T" means she tried the potty and "P" means she used it! We celebrated with pudding sundaes.

This picture was taken last weekend, when it was tolerable to be outside. Behold the abominable snow toddler!

The Jail Bird Chronicles

2009-01-14T16:38:00.004-06:00

Last night FiG went to sleep with much less of a fight than of late but I'm convinced it was only because she couldn't get out of her bed. She woke up 4 times. I think it was 4. I'm a little fuzzy today. One of those times I made the mistake of taking her out of her crib to lay on the couch with her. Two hours later I'd had milk spilled on me three times and we'd both woken up maybe a dozen times.

I didn't hear the alarm until an hour and a half after it started going off. If "in your sleep snoozing" was a sport, I'd be a contender. I was late for my first meeting of the day and missed out on coffee and now have a headache, but I got to wake FiG up and dress her in her crib without much fuss so I will take some Tylenol and consider it a good day. So far. School pick up, the drive home, and bedtime without A-Mo home are still ahead.

Thank you to all my readers and friends who have shared their stories, techniques, and ideas with me. My favorite is from a coworker who told me that she would look around to make sure no one was looking and would spray her daughter with water when she was having a tantrum. She said she only had to do it twice. We talked about how people do this with their pets to train them and how similar it is to train a toddler to behave well and learn rules. Ha!

And then she went to jail

2009-01-12T21:06:00.003-06:00

Working back from tonight to my last post, most nights have been like this one. 2-3 hours of bed time routine with a defiant and hyper two year old. Tonight feels like things have reached an apex of frustration. I pounded a beer with dinner - yes, that's saying something. After countless trips back to FiG's room to put her back in bed, sing more songs, turn the nightlight off and then on again, I decided that enough was enough and I put the crib rail back on her bed. Sometime last fall, out of sheer frustration that she wouldn't go to sleep, we took the crib rail off thinking that being in a toddler bed would somehow make her grow up enough to go to sleep. She was close to climbing out of the crib too, but that wasn't the deciding factor. What did we know? We're only the degree holders in the house. So far she hasn't figured out that she can get out of it yet. And I'm officially letting her cry it out. Again. (For those of you wondering, A-Mo is dutifully dispensing with the 6" of snow we got today.)

It's been rough the last few months - as far as parenting goes. But it's been really bad since just after Christmas...roughly a week after FiG turned two. That's a big part of why I haven't been blogging. I thank my loyal readers for sticking with me through such an extended dry spell. It's 9:15 pm and she just stopped screaming. We started bedtime at 6:30pm. Not only has there been no time, I've been trying to find something to share that isn't about my toddler spawn of a child. But it's time to share - aren't you lucky? I'm not looking for pity....but some stories of other toddler spawn would be great.

Here's the download....she fights bedtime no matter how early we start, how soothing we make it, how stern we are. She turns into Super Toddler at the mere mention of pajamas or bed or stories or bath. Some nights we just have to wait for her to fall over or walk into a doorway and hit her head before she'll go to sleep. Benedryl doesn't seem to have an effect one way or another. Everything that used to work doesn't: warm milk, bath, massage, sings, music, humidifier noise, letting her cry. She still naps well though she's better at school than at home.

I instituted a time out chair right before Christmas. It worked for a while...and still does occasionally. But for the most part she asks for a time out so she can get out of her bed. Mostly we're using it when she hits one of us - correction - me. Most of my discipline efforts are funny to her. My mom voice, my mom look, my mom silence - hilarious. Spanking - ha! Yes, I'm admitting to you Internet that I have spanked my child. Once I even did it on her bare butt and you know what she did? She said, "More?" Slayed me.

A-Mo has only marginally more success than I do. His dad voice is booming and makes me want to sit up straight. I used to catch myself sitting down when he would use that voice on the dog. But FiG has no fear and no respect for either of us. Though she doesn't like it when we ignore her and it makes her really mad when we take time outs for ourselves. It's all about her audience.

For all the trouble we're having with sleeping, at least she's eating well these days. She likes asparagus. That was a pleasant surprise at Christmas dinner. Kid won't eat mashed potatoes, but she'll eat asparagus. Oakie doakie.

Christmas was great. My parents drove out here and we had a very nice visit. Friends joined our table for dinner. The place was decorated - I know! Crazy! FiG didn't get into her gifts as much as she did the boxes and ripped tissue paper. Once all of that was cleaned up she realized that she had some pretty fun stuff to play with. It was fun to watch her find her new favorite stuffed animal....every time she opened one.

You know, she's terribly cute. She makes us laugh out loud. She makes us giggle quietly from the other room. She makes us love in new ways. But we have never known this kind of frustration before. Sure, we've had to give ourselves time outs in the past....but not every week...every day. We're not alone. We know that most parents go through all of this and some even more. And we know we're lucky to be complaining about not getting enough sleep and a kid who laughs when we try to correct her behavior. There are far worse things to have to deal with. Far worse.

OK. I'm done. That last thought was what I needed to let this go and take a deep breath. It's all about my perspective. I think I'll go check on my little jail bird.

But it was only a wee little bottle.

2008-12-05T09:29:00.001-06:00

Walking into the office building this morning I passed a woman whose purse was flapping open to the world. Right there on top was a mini-bar-sized bottle of Smirnoff. I think it was empty. Yes, I looked that long at it.

Did they really mean it?

2008-12-05T09:26:00.000-06:00

Sometimes when you don't make an effort people around you notice. Take yesterday for example. I got out of bed, wet my hands, and ran them through my hair. I bruhed my teeth and got dressed. No effort made to look like I didn't just roll out of bed. And within the first hour of being in the office I got two compliments on my new hair cut. Ha-Ha-Ha...joke's on you suckers!

Thanksgiving 2008 Days 4-8

2008-12-03T19:24:00.004-06:00

Things got a little nuts at the rent's house when everyone else showed up! Gus is a beautiful dog. He's enormous and fluffy and playful. And if you chant "I wuuuv youuuu" enough times he'll howl it back! Gus and Cooper were totally insane together. They played outside a lot. FiG got to be pretty comfortable with them individually, but together there was just too much movement for her to tolerate. Actually, by the end of the trip, she was letting Cooper chase her around the kitchen island and she was approaching him on her own to the point that she needed to be watched for tail pulling and fur grabbing. She's been saying Gus and Cooper's names since we got home. I consider it a successful introduction.

The three kids got to pick eggs from the hen house and feed the horses at a friend's farm. G & O found the barn cat and got to play 52-persimmon pick up after the tree got a good shaking. FiG gave Tiny a carrot, held a fresh egg, tossed food into the chicken coop, and walked through a barn on her own two feet!

Thanksgiving dinner was a FEAST. Turkey, glazed ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pearl onions, peas, brussel sprouts with chestnuts, cole slaw, cranberries, and the all important gravy. Then there was apple pie and pumpkin pie and ice cream. It was a nice mix of ol' standby and new recipes. And the leftovers were excellent - I think all that was left by Sunday morning was some ham and the bones.

Since we're all going our separate ways for Christmas this year, we had our family's traditional Christmas Eve meal on Friday: pizza. The planets aligned just so and the dough turned out very well. It's always fun making pizza and everyone gets to have fun with the palette of toppings.

G & O and Aunt B decorated a cake for an early birthday party for FiG. Her face when we sang "Happy Birthday" was priceless - like we were singing at her funeral. But she blew out her own candle and happily ate the cake. She got some great gifts too: a tea set, a cupcake matching game, a birthday cake set, and an alphabet book hand drawn by G. Every letter has two examples of words that start with it. It's totally awesome.

I designed a scavenger hunt for G & O. They had 6 clues each for the outdoors and indoors. After they decorated their bags we hunted outside and their mom planted the inside clues. We all had a good time and their prizes were a big hit. Target, you make 6 year olds easy.

The trip back to MN on Sunday was fairly low key. We sailed through security at PHL (no jinx, no jinx) and our plane was a smaller jet from a partner airline. With leather seats, adjustable head rests, more leg room, and other kids in the back of the plane we had a pretty darned good flight home. FiG has been sleeping better since we've been home. She crawls into bed on her own and we leave her while she's still awake and she falls asleep all on her own - and quietly! I just heard something hit the floor upstairs....there's no screaming....huh.

Thanksgiving 2008 Day 3

2008-11-25T18:34:00.003-06:00

FiG slept well last night. I did not. She got a nap today. I did not. FiG did not go back to the yarn store today. I did. Just for one more hank of what I bought yesterday. But Gran-E bought a gorgeous chenille-like yarn to make a scarf for a friend. Can't wait to see what it looks like all knit up. We had a small world moment at the yarn store too - the daughter of the woman working at the yarn store bagged our groceries yesterday. You just never know when those moments will happen...when you can make someone's day just by paying attention and saying hello.

FiG and Cooper had a good day, for the most part. She still can't be down on the ground with him in the room. It's just not a good match up in size. Maybe when Gus gets here tomorrow there won't be so much focus on what's on the baby's face to lick off.

It was a busy day with a visit from the plumber, a couple of errands, walkies in the stroller, setting the table for The Big Meal, an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, three meals, leaves blown out of the front gardens, tennis, a double batch of walnut bread, play time, a bath, and three rounds of stories. I hope to sleep tonight! The rest of the fam arrives tomorrow starting at noon. Whew!

Thanksgiving 2008 Day 2

2008-11-24T20:59:00.003-06:00

FiG and Cooper began a courtship today. By dinnertime FiG let Cooper lick her hands and face and stand right next to her without screaming. So we made progress. She really enjoyed watching through the windows of the sun room while Cooper ran about outside. He settled down quite a bit so it's easy to see how well he does listen to commands. Maybe by the end of tomorrow he'll listen when FiG tells him to "git dowen."

While FiG napped, Gran-E and I went to lunch with her book club. Half the group ordered the steak wedge salad, and for good reason: flank steak marinated in bloody mary mix, bleu cheese dressing, and grilled red onions. For some reason I ordered the chicken quesadilla. It was good, but that red meat looked sooooo tasty.

Later us girls went to the yarn store up the street and I bought two hanks of a delicious hand dyed, hand spun wool. I can't wait to make something to go with my new brown coat. I may have to go back and get more tomorrow so I can make a hat-mitten-scarf set. Though I'm afraid I might blow my next month's allowance if I set foot back in there! They had some great felted bags - with all the work done I'd pay that price....you know I thought about it too. :) The store is small and their website begs for attention, but they had a cozy corner set up with comfy chairs and coffee waiting for you. Gran-E says they know their stuff when you ask for help there too. So I officially recommend it as a place to check out if one is ever in this corner of PA.

Thanksgiving 2008 Day 1

2008-11-24T20:34:00.005-06:00

FiG and I took a mid-day flight from MSP to PHL. The nice man at sky cap didn't charge me for the extra half pound my luggage weighed. He also didn't charge me for my second piece of luggage, a stroller. The security line was one-lane only with a short line so it was a breeze and I had all the time I needed to get me and FiG put back together again. The nice lady at the gate counter saved the last open seat in the plane for FiG so she could sit in her carseat instead of on my lap. We were in the last row, which as you know is the worst row on the plane, but....ahhhh. I sat next to one of the Golden Gophers' newest football players. He didn't want to talk much. He snores.

We met Cooper, my parent's golden doodle, for the first time when we arrived at the house. FiG was not amused. Cooper was all over us. He's cute and very fluffy and hyper. And we had all kinds of smells on us.

Halloween, Vegas, and some other stuff

2008-11-19T20:11:00.005-06:00

So much has been going on in the last month....it's time to take a break and catch up on it all. Let's start with Halloween.

Gran-E came to stay with FiG for a few days so A-Mo and I could go to Vegas for the weekend. FiG was in bed by the time the first trick or treaters arrived and she didn't feel like putting on a costume. FiG and Gran-E has a good time together. Dropping Gran-E off at the airport was a sad thing to do. Dropping FiG off at school after flying home on the red eye was a mean thing to do. Resiliency is strong in the young, right?

Vegas...we met our good friends who live in NM in the city of lights and sin. It was great to see them again. The weekend was a lot of fun and we've already decided that we will meet there again in a year! I'm glad I finally saw Vegas for myself. I had a specific image of it in my head from all the stories and advertisements I see and hear. But in personal observation it's not as gross and enormous as I thought it would be. Some people have said that's because we didn't spend any time off the strip. But we did - we had one fun night at the Golden Nugget and we drove around the city during the day looking for potato pancakes and swap meets. And yes, it's big. The buildings, statues, malls, hotels....they're immense and stimulating and opulent. I was just expecting something that I couldn't see the end of. I was pleasantly surprised to see the mountains around the city. We saw several casinos, had some great meals, did a little shopping, and laughed out loud with our friends - we're looking forward to our next trip.

After parting ways with our southwestern friends, A-Mo and I rented a car and visited the Hoover Dam. I found myself having to, again, adjust to what I was seeing with my eyes and what I had imagined it would be like. Damn you Hollywood for giving me warped expectations. The dam is truly more impressive in person. We did not do the dam tour but we did go through the Visitor and History Center - I highly recommend that you at least do this if you visit.

The new highway being built over the canyon is a feat of engineering in itself!

Since we've been home the main thing in our lives is FiG's, and our, sleeping problems. We've spent November working on getting her to sleep through the night without waking, to go back to sleep quickly if she does wake, and to stop fighting bed time. We've made progress but it's taken until now to see it. It's really awful what becomes of you when you're so deprived of sleep. Just last week I was scared I was going to get in a car accident I was so tired. I had to stop what I was doing at work and tell myself that I wasn't capable of making decisions. I was snippy with A-Mo and FiG. A few nights of good rest this week have made a huge difference. I have patience back. I feel human again. My blood sugars are better. I can make a decision....if you know me you know that I can't stand it when people can't make a decision so this is an important one for me! We've gotten lots of great advice and heard many stories from other parents who've been through sleep issues. To all of you: THANK YOU!

This weekend FiG and I head to PA for a family Thanksgiving with my family. A-Mo will join us next week. It will be a full house with 8 adults (plus 2 more for the feast), 3 kids, and 2 dogs. It will be a full week with lunches with my mom's girlfriends, trips to Peddler's Village, visits to the horse paddocks, a scavenger hunt, meals to prepare, dogs to play with, and an early birthday party for FiG, who turns 2 on December 18th.

Happy Thanksgiving dear readers.

Tree Rats

2008-11-14T13:30:00.000-06:00

Now do you understand why I hate them so much?

Hrmpfh....

2008-11-14T13:21:00.000-06:00

"You are only as big as the smallest thing that makes you angry."
~ Anonymous

I am in no mood for this today.

Goldy Gopher says "Get your flu shot!"

2008-10-28T15:44:00.003-05:00

Watch Goldy here.

I got mine and helped break the Guiness World Record of the number of flue shots given at one location on one day!

Nary a beat missed.

2008-10-22T11:45:00.003-05:00

From Al Franken & Senator Hillary Clinton last night to Elvis this morning, the building in which I work is a busy place! It's exciting to be in such a hub of activity, but I would have rather seen Hillary than Elvis, especially first thing in the morning. Yikes.

The Virus Express isn't slowing down either. Monday marked the last day of my antibiotics and prednisone treatment for bronchitis. Tuesday arived with a sore throat, chills, and aches.

Oh, and the weather forecast for Sunday includes words and phrases like "flurries," "snow", "falling temperatures," "cold front," and "highs in the upper twenties." I think it's time to dry clean the wool coat.

One great night

2008-10-15T19:12:00.004-05:00

FiG and I were having dinner (A-Mo is out) and as I was saying, "It doesn't work on that end hon. Turn your fork around to pick up food. It's not going to....." she stabbed a piece of hot dog with the handle of her fork. Never mind that she already had a piece on the stabbing end. She proceeded to eat the rest of her hot dog this way and was delighted to get one more bite when she found the piece on the proper eating end of her fork. She ate every single pea on her plate - in fact she ate everything save one apple slice. I had more tomato soup. Great dinner.

Playtime in the basement was cut short by a smell of the most foul order. Upstairs we went to spread the fumes through the house. Shortly thereafter was bath time. I've learned that if I just give her a few more minutes beyond what I think is enough time in the tub (meaning: prune toes) she will gladly help me put away the toys and end the bath. Lotion, diaper, pajamas. "I want cookie." OK. Sure. Cookie and warm milk greased the wheels tonight. She let me brush her teeth. She let me brush her teeth. Eureka - a breakthrough!

The sweetest part of the night happened after that though. She crawled into bed for one more reading of Amazing Airplanes. Two pages in she pulled the duvet over her head and started playing peek-a-boo with me. Her giggles make me squeal. Then she practiced tucking her bears in. She made her obligatory break for it but I've learned to close the door when we go in after brushing teeth. She quickly gave up and let me put her back in bed and tuck her in. She didn't dismiss me with a "Bye" like she did the other night, but she was going to sleep.

I love nights like this. She squeezed an extra 30 minutes and three snickerdoodles out of the day, but I don't feel manipulated. It was genuine and how could I ignore the spontaneous peek-a-boo game? Com'on!

Bouncing like a super ball....boing boing boing

2008-10-15T13:06:00.005-05:00

Who needs coffee when you're on prednisone?!

I left work early yesterday for an off-site meeting that didn't take as long as I thought so I headed home early. A-Mo suggest tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner so FiG and I stopped at the grocery store. It would have been easier to buy a couple of cans of Campbells but why go for the convenience of it when you're sick with bronchitis and have a tired toddler in tow who needs to be entertained for longer than normal on a weeknight? No.....make soup did I. It tasted better, was healthier, used what we already had in the house, and made leftovers. The panini-esque grilled cheese on ciabatta wasn't bad either.

After FiG was in bed we watched Frontline on PBS. If you didn't catch it last night, it's worth viewing online. It was their election year documentary of the presidential candidates and it was really good. Whether or not you're set on who'll vote for, it's a good show and the two hours with no commercials flys by. Then we watched the Jon Stewart Show and the Colbert Report. This of course was followed by discussion about the election, the economy, our job stability, and so on. About midnight we headed to bed. I was peacefully comfortable, concentrating on my breathing, and making a list of a thousand good ideas in my head when FiG woke up at about 1:30. As I stepped into the hallway I smelled burning plastic. Sometimes I smell things that no one else around me can smell, but I figured FiG could cry for another minute while I checked it out. Every step closer to the kitchen intensified the smell. I opened the dishwasher and a puff of acrid white smoke came out. Exhaust vent on. FiG tended to. A-Mo woken up. FiG back in bed. Fan in window. Open other windows. Find plastic wheel from lower rack melted to heating coil. Pick bits of melted plastic out of filer with tweezers. Find owners manual. Have snack. Bundle up in fleece (because it was 48 degrees and we were sucking the outside air in) and wait for smell to go away. It was about 3:30 before I fell asleep.

I may not be baking cakes at 4am like my aunt does when she's on prednisone, but it's only day 2 of my 7-day treatment and occasional manic behavior is in my gene pool. Wheeee....this is fun!

A few of my favorite things.

2008-10-13T20:32:00.002-05:00

Everything has its place. Things look neater in rows. She gets this from me.

12

2008-10-13T20:23:00.004-05:00

These are celebratory snickerdoodles. I made them to mark my mom's 12th year in remission from breast cancer. Part of my work is to raise money for cancer research so I took these cookies into the office and shared the celebration. Among the many congratulations and good wishes for my mom and family were two requests for the recipe and a one-year cancer remission story. Nobody seemed to notice that the cookies were boobies.

Wrist Warmers

2008-10-13T20:19:00.004-05:00

I made these wrist warmers for a coworker who took early retirement and moved to Anchorage.

I hate squirrels.

2008-10-13T20:10:00.005-05:00

I figured I would leave this pumpkin out there (secretly hoping it will rot and give the squirrels a stomach ache) and I've watched it move from one side of the stairs to the other and come to rest in the front lawn. I am amazed at how large the pieces are that these tree rats can bite off.