Feliz Año Nuevo

Happy New Year to all. Tonight we plan to stay indoors, make sushi, watch cartoons, drink wine, and recount all the happenings of the past year. There have been some big events, now that I think about it, crammed into the space of the past twelve months. Hopefully your year has been just as crazy and enjoyable, and filled with the blessings of family and friends. Cheers!

... and I'm a cookieholic.

Today I found myself going crazy over all the holiday sweets we have in the kitchen. Cookies, truffles, mini Snickers, biscotti. And all the holiday salties as well... potato chips, crackers, cheeses, olives. At this moment, the chips and the jam cookies are vying for my attention, and they are both winning. I'm not going too hard on myself about it, but at the same time I realize I've got to reign it in a bit. I suppose the very fact that I'm willing to admit I have a problem means I'm not too far gone. So that's a good thing.

I've been getting a little daring in the fashion department. Fitted long sleeve tees with leggings or tight jeans. This is a big deal for me, because I am still a little self-conscious about my tummy area. But it's a way to liberate myself, and helps make me more comfortable in my own body. It's also reminding me how to feel what my body is doing, and that I should pay attention to the ungraceful hips-forward, belly-out, back rounded walk and posture in which I've become so used to carrying myself. So that's the focus of the day.

Everything else is smooth sailing and things are happening. Wheels churning and whatnot.

Ugh

There's a lot to do today and this week. Phone calls and such, fill out day care paperwork. Take kids for check-ups and do many errands. I think I really just need to focus and get it all taken care of. Getting to sleep right now would be a good start. Technically it's Monday morning already (just after midnight). So sleepy. Night night.

How nice of you

There is one really nice thing that happens when my sister visits. She and my niece always take time to play with Nico and Livi. Just the few minutes of break I get from that is awesome, but really the nice part is that they all get to know each other. And I just love that.

Good and melty

I certainly can't claim to have invented the following sandwich combination, but I put it together yesterday and it was the best sammie I've made myself in recent memory. American cheese, a fat tomato slice (seeds taken out), and leftover turkey bacon. Slapped between two pieces of sprouted grain bread, and grilled in a pan under a lid to help melty the cheese. I could have eaten fifty of them, it was so good.

This is what happens when I spend too much time watching Food Network.

PC

I am a Mac user. In my world, PC stands for Piece of Crap.

For tonight, that is all.

A frosty Christmas Eve

Sounds like there's some crunchy rain out there. I'm already planning on spending tomorrow indoors, even though I had half a plan to take the kids to see Santa. Today was a little taxing, mentally. There was a switching of day care centers and a driving to and fro with Nico, a seemingly eternal visit from the plumber and eventually also from someone whose official title I believe to be "Municipal Underground Sewage Pipe Guy", and some wheeling and dealing with my once-again bosses.

For now, everything is calmed down and I can go to sleep without worrying about what I have to settle tomorrow. Things are as done as they will get for this week, so I'm kicking back and waiting to pop some bottles and stuff my face with homemade cookies. I'm hoping to continue with my Wardrobe Enrichment Program, and also get all the day care supplies in order before Monday.

I hope you all have a happy holiday and New Year's, however you choose to celebrate. I might take a little break for a few days. Haven't decided yet. So I'll see you when I'm back. Be well, be careful, and enjoy.

Storage container handicap

I'm considering holding a class in the kitchen tonight, which I'll call "How to Close a Tupperware Container All the Way". There will be instruction on how to press down all four corners of a food storage box and place it on a shelf without having anything crooked and spilling over the cusp. I'm going to invite my husband and tell him I'll waive the tuition if he would simply attend for thirty seconds and do one how-to demo with me. He will probably just ask why I'm inviting him, and I will continue to ask God why he sent me a man who refuses to learn how to properly preserve leftovers.

:(

I've just been informed by my son that I am NOT allowed to play with the new Thomas train set Aunt Jen got him for his birthday. Since Olivia is prohibited from playing with dancing Brobee, I don't feel so bad. Still, it hurt to be told, "No!" and have my train piece ripped out of my hand and thrown across the room. Terrible twos, indeed.

And now he is two

Nico is two. Aaah... Chiquitín-boom-bean. What a nice day it was. He had a great party with family and friends, and there are so many gifts that I am still googly-eyed looking at all the wonderful things everyone gave him. Tonight when hubby was tucking him into bed, it struck me how big he seems now.

I'll have to get some of my sister's party photos up soon. Thank you so much to everyone who was able to make it this afternoon. You all made it a really special day for Nico and for all of us. And I still have goodie bags for the kids, which I stashed under Olivia's crib, and which I discovered I had forgotten about a half hour ago while searching under there for her binky. A-duh.

Next week will begin with visits to local day care centers, then Christmas, and figuring out the back-to-work specifics. The load is starting to feel lighter. Still, it's all vaguely reminiscent of the first time I was a working mom. Frank was in Peru then, too. Just for two weeks. He's going this time to start his own animation studio. It's been a dream of his as long as I've known him, since before we were even dating. This is just finally his time to go for it, and I'm excited for him. Once he gets things set up, he can work mostly from here. There's not one reason I would ask him to hold himself back, especially now that I have my own opportunity to do something exciting. Plus, as "wife of the studio head", I get automatic first crack at the job of Graphic Design Consultant. Did I sleep my way to the top for that one? Absolutely.

Weird day

Has anyone been to Cherry Hill Mall lately? I swear if you blindfolded me and plunked me down there, I would have had no clue where I was. First of all, there's a parking garage where Strawbridge's used to stand. The food court is all the way down by Old Navy, and it's possibly two stories but I could only stomach a quick trot through the lower level. The entire mall has shiny new (and slippery) floors throughout, and the stench of Abercrombie cologne wafting to and fro. It was all so glossy, it was too much, and my head was buzzing before I could even get what I needed for pollyanna and run back out to the parking deck. It was my initial belief that the mall today literally sickened me on all levels.

I hit one more location on my way back to the office, after which I was stuck in traffic and honked at repeatedly for not being able to levitate my car across two lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. That, as the honker would tell you, is because I am an idiot and a bad driver. I beg to differ, but with some people, there's just no convincing. I was getting a horrible headache so I really wasn't interested in the opinions of others. I just wanted to go to bed.

Upon my return to the office, I felt some grossening nausea coming on. Stronger headache, chills, aches, the whole deal. I wound up leaving a bit early, coming home, and sleeping until 8pm. I still feel like crap now that it's midnight, but I have other things to strain my brain over. It'll all get done, but my one huge concern is finding a good day care for the kids. I have only a few free days left to find a place for them, and I'm worried. Maybe the stress and all the changes are the reason I feel ill. It's a lot. Maybe I'll just go back to bed. That seems like the best plan at the moment.

Exciting news on the job front

Well, well, well. It appears I will be rejoining my old design studio for at least a couple of months. Lauren, my friend and former art director, will be on maternity leave and I've been invited back to make my best effort at filling her shoes and warming her seat while she is out. Which, really, no one can do, but I will certainly give it my all.

A lot of things will be happening in the coming weeks. I'll finish up as much photocopying as possible at "the firm" before I cut out, find a suitable day care for the children to attend, get Frank packed and ready for three months in Peru, and update my wardrobe so as not to appear a total slob. Also, this week, finish up Nico's birthday party details, tend to our pollyanna shopping, figure out what to get the kids for Christmas, make an attempt to get a hair cut and brow shaping, and seek out appropriate baby food storage containers now that Olivia eats enough to warrant my efforts at preparing her fresh fruits and veggies for each meal.

Okay... that put me totally out of breath. Let me regroup. *OM* Okay. I am back. So yes, I will rejoin SEP, at least for a couple of months. And I'm simply delighted. Yay!

Bedtime story

Tonight we had the darnedest time putting Nico to bed. He kept kicking the walls, lying down on the floor to shout underneath the door, "MomMYYY! DadDYYY!", and screeching in a general state of mock-panic. Hubby went in to calm the boy down a couple of times. The third time he started up, we let him go for five or ten minutes and finally I went to the rescue. Or so I thought.

I picked him up, held him, and walked him around the room. I covered him with his blanket. We had a chat about our respective days, and about how it's nice to be a good boy for Daddy because that makes Daddy happy and then Daddy cooks a nice lunch and dinner for us. We agreed that Daddy is the best chef and the just plain best. I put Nico in his bed and he started fidgeting with the back of his knee, looking like he was trying to scratch an itch (he has sensitive skin and always gets rashy on the backs of his knees) but couldn't get to it. He started tugging at the ankles of his footie pants, and I asked if he wanted to change them. He nodded and said, "Mmm-hmm." After I switched him out of the pajamas, he pointed to his nose and made an irritated sound, then snorted. I asked, "Want to blow your nose?" Affirmative. I went to get a tissue and when I returned, Nico was grinning from ear to ear and giggling. It was then I realized I was being duped into performing a chain of pointless tasks, just so he didn't have to go to sleep. Brat! I started laughing, then I tucked him in again.

He went to sleep soon after that, and has been sleeping peacefully ever since. I'm at once impressed by his ingenuity and embarrassed that he was able to get two over on me before I caught on. I love that kid.

This week in the news, kid birthday trumps Christmas

I wonder if it will be like this every year. In 2006, we brought Nico home from the hospital on Christmas Eve. Last year, he was turning one and I was pregnant. This year his second birthday is overshadowing my holiday spirit again. Not that I mind, and not that I'm completely not feeling Christmas-y, but I have birthday on the brain. Planning the party, deciding on a gift, etc. This year is also a little strange because it's the first time in a long time that I'm not in my own home. So... there's that, and there are a few other things making me feel slightly... affected, I guess... working during the day (which cuts out most of the party-planning time I thought I'd have this week), figuring out our finances now that hubby's usual paychecks are conspicuously absent, and oh yeah, Frank is leaving for Peru for almost three months in January. More on that later, I don't have the oomph to explain right now. I'm-a get back to my new favorite water drink, which is filtered water with a squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice. I promise to get more spirited as the week rolls on, and once hubby and I can agree on which day is best to take the kids for their Santa pictures.

Easy on the ginger

I'm in a very reflective mood today. Just thinking about my friends, especially those I haven't seen in a while and who are far away. I hope they all know they're special to me. And I miss 'em.

Following today's afternoon drive, which I took alone and with inappropriate-for-children music blaring, I found myself longing for a beverage. Much to my dismay I had quite a bit of difficulty making my selection. It was like being in Craig's kitchen. We had peanut butter but no jelly. Cereal but no milk. And whatever other two things that don't match. Like vodka and Kahlua but no cream. Pucker and cranberry but no Crown. So I settled on gin and ginger with two limes and lots of ice. It's one of those drinks that suits all seasons, really. Cheers!

Lessons learned

While temping at my mom's office, which is a brokerage firm, I have made three decisions. They are as follows:

1. As far as careers go, I am sticking with the arts. Finance is way too dramatic for me. You should see how crazy people get over their money, or the money they could possibly have in the future. Fisticuffs, I tell you. Fisticuffs!

2. As far as winter wardrobes go, mine sucks. It's non-existent. I need to go shopping. Big time.

3. As far as investments go, I'm sticking with real estate.

I feel pretty!

Can I just tell you how goofy it feels to be putting on makeup at ten after seven in the morning? My cheeks and eyelids are in shock. My hands are fumbling with the eyeshadow cases, saying, "Malfunction! Malfunction!"

Silly hands, it's okay... we're going to work this morning, gals!

Getting my feet wet

Starting tomorrow, I'll be spending a few weeks as a professional photo copy maker at my mom's office. The up side is that I'll get to think straight, eat lunch on an actual lunch break, and walk to the ladies room at any moment of my choosing. All with the added benefit of being paid. Nice. Luckily hubby is able to stay home with the kids, thanks to his being laid off (or "on hiatus", as we like to call it). Unemployment just started rolling in this morning and as thankful as I am that there is at least some money to count on, it really opened my eyes to the fact that my little family is being seriously impacted by the crappy state of economic affairs in this country.

Being home for the past few weeks, hubby has been helping a lot with the kids and commented that while he was at the office, he had it a lot easier and now that he's here with the kids all day, he's really working. I'm already sad that I will miss being home, and I'll miss two moms' group activities I really wanted to attend. But I'm just looking at it as a sort of paid vacation, one that will either be painfully long, or not quite long enough. You'll certainly be among the first to hear any exciting details.

H2 - Oh!

Just have to share dorky news with you. After conducting a week long experiment right here in the comfort of my own (mother's) home, my finding is thus: I feel much better when I drink plenty of water.

If you're wondering how much water you should be drinking each day, divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water. Example: I weigh 125(ish) pounds, so I should be drinking about 63oz. daily. Simple, even for a horrible mathematician like myself.

Now go forth and hydrate.

That is all.

STFU. Seriously.

Screaming toddler. Wouldn't take nap today. Wants to go outside in 27 degree weather. In the dark. Won't accept any foods other than grapes and graham crackers. Continually insists on wearing sandals with socks as footwear fashion. Is doing that huffy-huff breathing from crying too much. It's only the beginning of winter and I'm already looking forward to spring. Something as simple as playing outside in the yard makes a difference when you're hurting for kid activities.

*fast forward two hours*
Screaming toddler. Daddy trying to soothe to sleep with little success. At a quiet point, Daddy leaves the room, and toddler ramps up crying to a full scream once again. Five minutes later, toddler is fast asleep.

So... I am a week deep in the search for a full-time job. I can tell you it's very, very exciting. And that's all I have to say. About that.

Screaming infant. Currently performing a slow cruise up and down the length of the crib. Repeated check-ins provide little relief, with the same end result, and I realize I am being manipulated. Bent out of shape, I have decided this first night of the beddie-bye game will result in the baby crying it out. Baby has somehow mastered her older brother's angry scream technique, which I do not deem a technical cry as tears are completely absent. Baby is now leaning casually on the side of the crib, and crying is coming in short bursts. My hope is that this will be a one-night-only performance. While I admire her spirit, I will not be the least bit upset to see her give in and go to sleep.

*fast forward five minutes*
Watching the video monitor, I see infant fall asleep while standing up leaning on the front rail. I go in to lay her down, she hollers briefly, accepts binky, shouts again, rolls over, and falls back to sleep. Mission complete. Sweet dreams. I-love-a-ya.

El Tree

We put up our Christmas tree tonight. It's not fully decorated yet, but it's the perfect size and fullness for the living room. With its single string of multi-colored lights, it's got a Charlie Brown quality that makes it really cute. I might just hug it goodnight on my way to bed.

This is dedicated to the one I love

My latest fascination is with little kids who are just old enough to start figuring out Christmas. Infants like Olivia may goo and ga over one holiday decoration or another (quite accidentally, if you ask me), but toddlers are the ones really starting to get into the whole scene. They don't quite know what to make of everything, and that's part of their charm. Example: Last night at the town Christmas tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Clause rode in on a fire engine. They climbed down off the back, and walked through the crowd. When Santa walked by us, Nico smiled and shouted out, "Opa!" (see Opa/Herb in the 4th photo) Now that he's talking, I'm getting the best insight into what Nico is really all about. His language skills are exploding right now. Awesome. Sometimes I see him doing the simplest, developmentally appropriate tasks, and I'm just in awe. You can practically see his world unfolding before him. Merry Christmastime, buddy. You are the coolest.

Brief tree hunt on a Friday afternoon

Serious lack of brain-finger coordination. Typing is actually difficult today. I'm having trouble hitting the right letters in the right order. It's bordering on painful.

Earlier today we picked out a Christmas tree, and the woman in front of us in line was making the poor guy cut the twine off every tree she wanted to see. As far as I am concerned, if it's a tree, and it's got needles, it's the perfect tree. Hubby and I have agreed that once we have our house, we will plant a baby tree and decorate it as our holiday tree every year, thus saving future tree lives and being thrifty all at once. Tonight is the tree lighting in town, and we are SO there.

Officially delicious

I don't know if there's an official name for what's going on at Wegman's today, but you have to go. It seemed like every department on the right hand side of the store had its own little treat to be sampled. At the entrance, Comice pears with a little bite of parmesan cheese. In the cheese section, brie on toastettes and a big, lighted Eiffel Tower behind the counter. Hummuses, seafoods, and one thing I couldn't see because there were so many people hovering, all de-lishy.

So today I am planning on making Nico a little trail mix type of snack for after his nap. Dried cranberries, raisins, and almonds. Tonight the adults (and let's face it, probably the boy, too, since he loves cheese) will snack on crackers with brie, and I'm going to make some curry for dinner. Last night was bath night, so it's a pretty chore-free evening which means I'll surely need to find something to occupy my time. Last night I was rebuilding something in Illustrator for Frank. Who knows what excitement is in store for me on this lovely Thursday?

Mister, obviously

Frank is still up in NYC. One day of errands and meetings turned into another day to burn DVDs, then another day to wait on some bank issues and work on his website with George. I wish I had the foresight to grab the stroller out of the trunk so the kids and I could go out for a walk. I'm not fully convinced he is really working up there, but rather joyriding around the city in the car he never gets to drive.

One other thing has just come up. I am listening to a song that has another one of my least favorite song qualities. You may recall that I dislike it when recording artists employ babies to cry/laugh/talk/babble during their songs, and I also hate spoken word. Add to that list of ear irritants (or earritants, if you will) all occasions where the singer mentions that he/she is singing a song, or when the artist refers directly to said song anywhere in its own lyrics. As if it were really necessary to use your voice to point directly to your song, or the purpose of your song, or the length of your song, as if we couldn't gather such information all on our own. The only way I wouldn't notice your song sucked to begin with would be if I were deaf, in which case your lyrics would be completely lost on me anyway.

Home fires a-burning

It must be cold out, because even Mom is turning on the heat. In the back living room there is a spiffy little wall-mounted gas heater that looks more dangerous than it is. Whoever built this room thought it would be cool to neglect running some heating ductwork under the floor. Cool, indeed, especially in December. The rest of the house is a chilly 74 degrees. Not my usual wintertime 76 to 78, but I seem to be surviving just fine despite having to wear my thermies every now and again.

For Mom it must be downright tropical in here when I am the one cranking the heat, because I think she usually turns it down to about 60 overnight. Might as well shut the damn thing off at that point. If it were up to me, I'd be typing this post in my underwear. I suppose this winter I shall learn the value of a dollar when I don't rack up those huge PSE&G bills every month, and Mom's not cursing me for claiming I have to keep Olivia warm in the back bedroom as I stand before the thermostat pushing the "up" button over and over again.

Same time, same place? Really?

In an unprecedented turn of events, it seems that my sister and brother will both be present at Nico's birthday party this year. I know, right?! Should the situation change, I will be understanding as always and I will not send out pictures of my child crying over anyone's non-attendance.

But let's hope for the best here. Given Nico's penchant for impromptu boogie-down, I think it would be appropriate to have on hand two of our family's greatest talents -- the musician (Franny) and the photographer (Liz). That's right, folks. This toddler party will have singing and dancing aplenty, and much of it will be captured on *film.

*side note: Not really film. It's a digital SLR. But you know what I mean.

Baby, you can drive my car

Frank is off to NY for a day or so. Picking up junk from the office, cleaning up files, and having a couple of short meetings. Busy, busy, busy. I am here working on my résumé while the kids sleep. He decided he wanted to drive the car (normally he'd take Greyhound), probably because he hardly ever gets a turn behind the wheel when we are together. I am a horrible passenger. When he does get in the driver's seat, I usually make such a fuss that he stops a block away from the house, gets out of the car, and lets me take over. Why bother, then? Because every now and again I do tire of the responsibility, and I guess it's nice for the man of the house to actually look like he's the one in charge.

So here we are, 3/4 of our little clan, napping, searching online job listings, and doing various other things throughout the day, not the least of which is me having time to make myself a late lunch. Cause I'm pretty darn hungry. I think I had coffee for breakfast. No wonder.