Happy Birthday Girlie!

I can't believe our little girl turns 3 tomorrow! It seems like yesterday that I was laying in a hospital bed - after 5 weeks of the same - watching her heart rate drop as I contracted, 11 weeks from her due date, only to be wheeled away the next morning for an emergency C-section.

I'm sure I will relive those days, both before and after her birth, each year on her birthday. One does not soon forget when you come so close to losing both your baby and your own life (though at least I was out cold for it - can't say the same for hubby & Jenny & others!)

So, NO, I'm NOT having any more kids!!

But this one, my God, she's a keeper. She's very chatty, a little on the "peanut" side, but otherwise, luckily, a very normal, very silly, 3 year old.

She makes me laugh every day... especially when she says things like, "settle down, Momma, settle down" (hand gesture included) and when she sits on the toilet in these first days of successful potty training and picks up one of my women's magazines, flips through pages, throws it on the floor, then another, and another, until there are 4 magazines thrown on the floor. Then when I ask, "what are you doing?" Says, "I'm just reading a story."

So now I'm worried that she's read How to Drop a Dress Size in 2 Weeks. Then, to make matters worse, as we're innocently singing the lines from Finding Nemo, "they'll be no eating here tonight, no, no, no eating here tonight, you're on a DI-ET"... she only latches on to the last part, changes up the words, and sings, "I'm on a DI-ET" over and over again. So when social services comes to take me away for starving my child and/or inducing an eating disorder at the age of 3, please tell them it was Nemo's fault.

Target in Five

Ran in to Target today while hub waited in the car with the kid. It's 7 degrees out, so he tells me to hurry, he'll drive around while I shop.

Well, let's just say this, the moment I walk through the door at Target, some magic dust must get sprinkled over me, because I cannot just get what I need. But knowing I had to hurry, I start acting like I'm on one of those crazy shopping spree shows.

Valentines Day shirts on sale for $4 - grab two... jeans for hubby on sale, grab a pair... off to the milk, ooh, Valentines Day towels on sale, grab those, ok, oooh, cashews, need cashews, ok, milk, yep, got the milk, ooh, a super cute lion DVD cover for Lauren's movies, ok... diapers? no, can't carry them... but a toothbrush, Lauren needs a new tooth brush!! GRAB, oooh, cute new container of Clorox wipes, grab those... then, the SLOWEST. CASHIER. EVER. And I'm out the door. Now only if I hadn't had to pay for it all.

President Obama

What an amazing day, President Obama. I was very moved by his speech, the man can speak! I know Lauren is only 3 (almost) and she won't remember, but I am doing all I can to try to get her to understand. And what's the best way to do that? SING!! So I taught her this song:

Ow. Ow. Ow. I have a pain in my side. MUST be appendicitis, right? MUST be. Too high. Wrong side. Can't be due to sitting for about 14 hours out of this day. Can't be.

Yep, spent another day home with my little booger factory. Tried to work, but this morning, was wiping boogers ever 30 seconds. But then, finally, a 4 hour nap and yes, I sat through the whole thing, working. Then she was perfectly happy watching Tinkerbell AGAIN, so I sat and worked more...

Ow. Ow. Ow. Oh WebMD Symptom Checker... please tell me what's wrong with me. They want to know if the pain is made worse by alcohol. Hmm, didn't realize I should have been drinking to try to fix a pain in my side. Guess I'll try that next time.

Ok, not much luck. I think it's a sore kidney. From sitting. So as Hannah Montana might say, "YA THINK?"

Out, damned spot

Here's why I almost didn't blog tonight. Because I'm FREAKING ADDICTED to the Word Challenge game in Facebook. I can barely log in, then I see that little icon
and I can't. stop. myself.

"Just one game," I tell myself. I LIE. It's never just one. It's, "just one more," and then, "just one more over 15,000," then "just one more over 20,000." Forever on a quest to get better than the Shakespeare guy.

Next thing I know, I've missed the Daily Show and half of Colbert Report and, instead of being wound down and ready to call it a night, I'm all jazzed up and ready to run a marathon. Well, not really get up and run. Just sit there for another hour playing Word Challenge some more.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

Lauren takes on Mickey Rourke

Stayed home today with a very sick little Lauren, coughing like the Marlboro man and talking like Bea Arthur, boogers running off her face. At first she'd tell me, "Mommy, I have boogers" and let me wipe her nose, but she got tired of that and just started wiping her face on her jammy sleeve to get that nice layer of booger crust.

And watching lots of TV. Elf, Sleeping Beauty, Elf, Baby Einstein, Elf.

WARNING: if you don't like to watch the same movie over and over and over again (with a safe bet that it's not a movie in one of your favorite genres), don't have kids.

I want to express my sincerest thank you to the folks behind the kids movies that interject over-their-heads adult humor for those of us they know are stuck in repetition hell. I can handle most. Horton Hears a Who - NOT SO MUCH.

We were waiting for Daddy to get home from his golf vaca in sunny, warm florida - to come home to 1.5 sick chickies (I'm just half sick right now) and a dose of arctic air. Just before Daddy got home, Lauren had me paint her nails. Then before they were dry, she did the booger sleeve wipe, only to spread red nail polish on her nose, cheek, eyelid, and forehead. And it looked EXACTLY like bloody scratches. And it didn't wipe off. So here I am with my little one who looks like SHE was in the ring with Mickey Rourke. Daddy was going to freak.

So after trying to take some pics, I tried again to get it off... had success, kinda scratching it off. So other than a little bit of red, she looked like a porcelain faced doll when Daddy got home. A porcelain faced doll covered in boogers.

Oh Deer

Since my sleeping disorder is in full swing, thought it's be a good time to post.

It is going to be freaking freezing this week. 5 degrees on Thursday. That's crying-because-I'm-so-cold weather. Last night on my drive home, after quite the accumulation of snow, there was a deer walking down the middle of the road... not crossing the road, walking up it. I'm sure it's because he had no sense that there was a road, since it was covered in about 5" of snow.

I pass way too many dear on my routes to home - since I live in the almost-country burbs. Sometimes I pull over and yell at them, "get back into the freakin woods, you're going to get yourself killed!" Most of them listen and run, the other night, one just stood there, rather close to the road, and looked at me. Like, "hmmm, you're interesting but not scary." When I realized he wasn't going to run away, my bunnyhugger side took over and I tried to entice him over to my car with a cashew dropped from Lauren's latest bowl 'o snacks, but he didn't budge. Not even with my cutsie, high pitched voice, "c'mer... c'mere little deer". Bastard. Either run or humor me.

Anderson Cooper and the Great Puppy Debate

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Road to the Doghouse - Puppedential Debate

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Ok, this is one of the freakin funniest things ever. I LOVE The Daily Show!

Flight of the Conchords

Looking forward to the new season of Flight of the Conchords They made the premier available online early, I've watched most of it... but then my addiction to Word Challenge in Facebook... or my addiction to looking for coupons and online sales... kick in and I get drawn away.

I just adore their humor though and will watch on Sunday nights when my laptop is safely sleeping in it's sleeve.

Spit Spot

So it's 2009. I was a very bad blogger for most of '08... then, the first comment of the new year on my last post, from Prissy - "You should blog more often, I miss the daily bite of the daily bite!"... so with that motivation (thank you Prissy), here I am, trying to be a better blogger.

I will try not to be ALL about Lauren, but it's hard not to be when the little cracker jack just does funny stuff left and right... like strip the clothes off her Mary Poppins doll faster than you can say, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

So this is what I come home to. Naked Mary Poppins dolly. And as Bridget Jones would say, "it's kind of pervy, really."

Lauren Acts

Happy New Year! Perhaps this will be the year I become a stage Mom and Little Miss pays the bills with her acting skills. Or perhaps not =)

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Lauren dancing with santa

Whoa! The little one is channeling her inner Elvis!!

My girl has an accent. Not sure how or why. She is saying, "Let's in park the car."

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At Strong Museum

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A Great Meal

Catching up on email today, I found one arranging for dinner with The Golf Channel at Marcello's in Ridgewood NJ (this all was while in NJ for the Barclays Golf Tournament).

It caught my eye because it was a memorable evening with VERY memorable food. I had one of the best steak dishes I'd ever had and I'd be remiss if I didn't post it in case any of you ever find yourself anywhere near Ridgewood, NJ.

It was the "Marado" - Filet Mignon stuffed with smoked mozzarella, prosciutto
and spinach, portobello mushroom, port wine.

I am salivating just thinking of it.

Six years today

...

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Lauren has FINALLY started politely asking for things instead of demanding them. What was formerly, "I want a Cereal Bar!!", yesterday morning became, "Mommy, may I please have a cereal bar?"... in the sweetest voice. Imagine my dismay when I did not, in fact, HAVE a cereal bar to give.

Yesterday Daddy took Lauren to the new Wegs on Calkins. Today when I picked her up from Daycare she said, "Mommy, I want to go to Wegmans and get a cookie." The marketing genius of this free-cookie per kid idea finally truly hit me. I believe Lauren will be asking to go to Wegs every day. And I had half a thought to make it a routine. Wegs, cookie for Lauren, Brie and Bread for Mommy... sounds like a nice idea to me.

And a note to TRISH: fun things to do with an 11 month old in Rochester - I recommend the Zoo, always safely fun (there is a creek she can dip her feet in)... the kids go crazy for Strong Museum - especially the mini Wegmans... and a nice walk along the canal at Schoen Place, feeding the ducks, followed with a Ben & Jerry's ice cream, is good too. Very near Schoen Place is the Pittsford Dairy - I havent' been there this year but Jenny goes often and I believe they have cows in front for the kids to pet. Good luck, I hope it is a very nice visit for you! Direct Message me on Twitter if you want to ask more.

Baby Bumble Bee Song

I taught Lauren the Baby Bumble Bee song, and she was singing it quite sweetly. We tried to get in on video, but then she got very quiet. So I asked her to sing it loud... here's what we got:



She says, "Bumble Bee Song! Won't my Mommy be so proud o me cause I'm throwin up my baby bumble bee. Won't my Mommy be so proud o me cause I'm throwin up my baby... do it loud. (me: you do it loud). YOU do it loud!

Just sent this to Jenny. She finally got me to read Twilight... then I read New Moon... now I'm 10 pages away from finishing Eclipse... and will be running out tomorrow to buy Breaking Dawn.

Lauren learned to sommersault a while ago and loves to do so, she also loves jumping. So when the Olympic Gymnastics came on, she was enthralled. She said, "Mommy, she's wearing her babysoup (bathing suit)" - she demanded to have her bathing suit on, then started sommersaulting around. She copied other movements (arms in the air) and at one point just dropped from standing to sitting position (this was pretty damn funny).

I got a little nervous that she'd try a no handed cartwheel or something, but she stuck to sommersaults (probably did at least 20).

I guess it is certainly time to enroll her in a gymnastics class!

Taking a walk down to the river. Before the bee attack.

How lame am I, I barely blog anymore - none in July. Twitter like crazy, but blogging seems to take so much more time.

June flew by... we announced the Kodak Challenge and I went to the Buick Open and the AT&T National golf tournaments.

FINALLY ate at a Melting Pot, Shruti had urged us to go there while in Chicago 2 years ago, but I insisted on The Cheesecake Factory (before we had one in Rochester). Well, let me tell you this, the Melting Pot immediately jumped to the #1 spot of "Restaurants that if I were ridiculously rich, I would charter a plane weekly to get to a city with a Melting Pot." They have one in Buffalo, and Shruti, Jenny, Denise and I went last weekend... they are thinking of opening one in Rochester. We begged, pleaded, and are about to bombard the guy with email weekly, urging him to open here ASAP.

Other than all that, my little one is at a very fun stage. She says things like, "OMG" and "Hello Mommy Honey, you want some dinner?" and "I no like to go to cool [school]" (though I did get her English corrected to say, "I DON'T like to go to cool"). She daily makes requests to visit people, "I want to go to Jenny & Aaron's house". Definitely a fun stage, except when she doesn't listen (she may grow up with the nickname "Brickwall").

So this post has no pictures and is lame, so I'll try to do better next time.

Lauren has become an all out Mary Poppins addict. She will actually sit in front of her mini-dvd player and watch the ENTIRE thing (if Daniela only knew what a lifesaver this gift would be when she got it for me while I was on bed rest in the hospital, pregnant with Lauren!!).

She attempts to say Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, but basically says superalishus, it's a start.

Honestly, I never though a non-animated film would hold her attention, I could not have been more wrong.

She also managed to pick up on our conversation last week where I said, "he drives me nuts"... next thing you know, "drives me nuts, drives me nuts". Miss Repeater in action. Hub got her to say, "Mommy drives me nuts".

LLC spelling her name

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I wanna have...

The other afternoon, in the car after picking Lauren up from daycare, she started saying what sounded exactly like, "I want s e x, Mommy. I wannna have s e x". I almost passed out, until I realized she was talking about her favorite little fruit snacks - "I want snacks, Mommy. I wanna have snacks!" She's a repeater too (aren't all 2 year olds?), so she kept saying it over and over. Then I found it to be quite funny.



The next morning, when she was asking again, I said, "no, Lauren, no snacks, you're going to have breakfast at school." To which, Hubby said, "It's ok Lauren, Daddy doesn't get snacks either."

Isn't he HILARIOUS. NOT.

new Glasses

new Glasses
Originally uploaded by tostina.

Lauren's new glasses - Disney.

Go Tiger Woods!

Now that Lauren is at that stage where she repeats almost anything, I had some fun today getting her to cheer for Tiger Woods during the Masters golf tournament. She is saying, "go Tiger Woods, go Tiger Woods, get a birdie, get a birdie, get a hole in one!"



I am still working on, "whatchyou talking bout Willis?" and "may the Schwartz be with you".

Well, as I search for a playset for Lauren for the backyard, I'm starting to see what rich people can do with all that money - this castle is $7400!!

Now I don't want to sound like a bitter, self-righteous middle class person, but seriously, if you spend $7400 on a castle for your 3 year old, you should question your morality. OK, so you're not killing anyone or cheating on your wife or anything, but when there is so much famine and struggle in this world, it just doesn't seem right.

Now if you build it yourself, and it costs a couple grand in supplies, that's different. Then it teaches your kids more than just "Mommy & Daddy can buy me whatever I want".

ok, off my soapbox now. will continue to look for a playset that does not cost a few months' salary (or even a week's salary for that matter)

My favorite golfer, Adam Scott, defends his title starting today at the Shell Houston Open. As of this moment, he is in the lead with three birdies through five holes (if you don't know alot about golf, just know this - that's REALLY GOOD!)

He also did this PSA comparing surfing to golf. Adam Scott in a wetsuit is not a bad thing.

On that note, I think there is a missed marketing opportunity within golf right now. There are many rather good looking guys on the Tour and while Natalie Gulbis "gets it" over on the LPGA, I'm still waiting for the "Hot Men of the PGA" calendar to come out.

Orange Monkey Face

As Jenny pointed out on Sunday at Sprague's Maple farm, while we were eating pancakes with fresh maple syrup, fresh maple syrup is more expensive than oil, and we probably ate over $30 worth of the stuff that morning. Yummy delicious amber goodness, but not cost effective as an alternate fuel source.

Also doing my best to raise Lauren as a goofball. I think she has inherited my silly side. Daddy is not very silly, but then again, he did show up at Jenny's halloween party one year wearing spandex leopard print pants and a mask (and some strategically places socks). So he's definitely got a silly side.

Added my twitter stuff over on the right, so maybe my blog won't be so lamely out of date.

Lemme see... quick updates...

GOLF GEEK - becoming a golf geek as I work on the PGA Partnership team... went to Miami for one day of the CA golf tournament last week... sweet ocean breezes...



LITTLE PICKER - when I went to get Little L out of her crib this morning, she had picked the little hemangioma (booty mark) over her eyebrow and there was dark red blood smeared across her entire eyelid and on her hand. It looked like she had started to make herself up as a clown. Mommy almost fainted, she wasn't fazed.

OMG - then, on the way to daycare, as we drove by an accident with a car off the road, she exclaimed, "oh my goodness! oh my goodness!". She is funny.

Photo Shoot

Originally uploaded by tostina.

Took Lauren to Portrait Simple tonight to pose with a bunny. She was actually pretty scared of the bunny, clinging to me like it was an alligator or something. But we did get some seriously adorable pictures. I put them up on my Gallery page too - http://www.kodakgallery.com/tina

NOT me

So even though we have the same name, and she also likes Mika, and she also uses a Mac (I heart Mac), and she loves Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves and I like Robin Hood - Men in Tights, this is NOT me: http://www.tinamclark.com

Delayed no more

Lauren gave us a scare last week with a 103 temperature. Looks like she had the one day flu I had the week before, but she was feeling mostly better by Friday. On Friday, she had her 2 year developmental follow up appt. They track preemies for research purposes. They had her do various tests, like stack blocks, point to a dolly's various parts, find hidden toys, etc.

She was still pretty subdued, so she barely said a word, but she warmed up to the tests.

After the session, the doctor came to tell me that in the 8 years he had been doing these tests, you could count on one hand the number of kids doing as well as Lauren. I about burst in to tears. It's just such a relief to know that given such a rough start that Lauren is doing so wonderful.

We are truly blessed.

Then tonight I come home and she and Daddy both have has pants on her head as hats - her idea. Will her genius be used for good, bad, or ridiculous. You decide.

(oh, and just to be clear, the doctors did not imply that Lauren was a genius, just very caught up developmentally. But hey, that's a parent's job to assume their kid is a genius =)

So the video shows what Lauren did NOT do for the researcher,

My Movie selection ran the full spectrum this weekend. Friday night we FINALLY watched Superbad, which was supergood. Wrong. Hilariously wrong.

Then last night, Shruti took us to see a Bollywood film - Jodhaa Akbar. It was in Hindi with English subtitles and was over 3 hours long, which flew by, because it was fantastic. It had a great story and was visually beautiful... and then there were the stars, Hrishik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, who were both also visually beautiful. I'd have to vote Hrishik as having the 2nd most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen (Hubby has the first).

Oh yeah, added all his other movies to my Netflix Queue! Hrishik Roshan film festival, coming soon!

Fire Insurance for Ladybugs

Since she was little, I've sung the first verse of the "Ladybug Picnic" song to Lauren - not remembering all the words from my early days planted in front of the tv watching Sesame Street...

But then I realized, HELLO, this is 2008, EVERYTHING is on YouTube, EVERYTHING!! Sure enough, I found it.

Well, Lauren is obsessed. Every night, grabs my hand and pulls me to the computer, "adybug icnic Mommy, adybug icnic".



I also know ALL the words only TOO well now and can rattle off the entire song when needed.

Oh, and you can just imaging how excited she gets when we actually find a LIVE ladybug in our house (because, apparently, they are making babies in my walls or something... something I choose not to think too hard about and am only thankful to GOD that it is ladybugs and not bees... for if it were bees, I'd be moving out... "Honey, I'll be at the Hyatt, let me know when our bed is set up at whatever new house you buy in the next 3 days.")

American Idol

Well, hubby and I have a new tradition. At the start of each season of American Idol, we each pick twelve people. At the end, whoever has the winner on their list wins a week of fancy, home made dinners. (Yes, this gives away the fact that we are not good about making dinner).

Hubby won last year - BARELY. Jordin was the last person standing on his list for many weeks. So even though he won, I correctly assessed the most talented top 6 or so.

This year he is as SMUG as ever. First pick for him - David Archuleta. He also has Sayesha.

I am pinning alot of my hopes on Michael Johns and Ramiele Malubay.

Can't remember who else has who, but I do know that 3 of the 4 voted off in the first week were mine. It's ok. Ramiele will save me.

Birthday Video

Jenny created this video montage from Lauren's birthday.

Lauren officially LOVES cake and LOVES birthdays! Between the pink piano from Jenny & Aaron (HOW FREAKIN CUTE IS THAT?!!) and the music class at Hochstein she starts next week (Music for Tiny Tots), by this time next year she will be my Mini-Mozart.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

Dear Lauren,
You turn two today. It is hard to believe that two years ago you were struggling for life (and Mommy too) and today you are full of life - intelligent, beautiful, funny, creative, and entertaining. It is amazing how you've grown, and how long it has taken for your hair to grow ;-)

Mommy and Daddy love you so much, sometimes it is overwhelming how much, I just want to hug you and never let you go.

This year has been so fun, watching you learn so many new things and start to be able to communicate. I know this next year will be amazing too, but I don't want it to go too fast my little peanut butter cup. I treasure every moment with you while you are too little to talk back and to ask for money and the car keys.

My only sadness is that your Grandma, my Mommy, is not here to share all this (though I am sure she is watching) - you are very much like her, very thoughtful and very silly. She would eat you up like a piece of pie!

So Happy Birthday my little babe, and as my Mommy said to me and you may say to your little girl someday,

Momma loves you! xoxo




More pix at my Gallery

My favorite pro golfer, Adam Scott (ok, yes, he's my favorite because he's cute) won the Qatar Masters yesterday by shooting a 61! But I am most amused by the GIANT trophy that is about as big as he is - a giant clamshell where the golf ball is the pearl. Clever.

Vegas, baby!! 19!!

So this year has started off as a whirlwind of travel, first to Vegas for CES, then to Orlando for a PGA Golf show... and great stories from each trip. Here's the first one:

On the way to Vegas, the security guy at the airport told my coworker, "Vegas? 19, trust me!"... so even though I figured the guy said that to everyone, my Vegas Superstition kicked in and I urged Terry to get to the roulette table (not that he needed urging, he had every intention of playing 19!).

So it was our last night, a bunch of us are at Caesar's... he puts $10 on 19 and $10 on red. As Jenny, Brie and I stood and watched, "tink, tink, tink", the ball landed in 19. We were in shock, he hit on the first bet!! He won a good chunk of change (the straight up bet payed 35 to 1) and then let us gamble some too. Jenny stood in her "lucky spot" at the other end of the table willing the ball to go to the right number - and it worked! I won on at least six spins in a row... won straight up three times, and then won a few combination bets (I was spreading my bets around more though, so I didn't win as much).

The only joy better than gambling with someone else's money is winning with someone else's money!

Let me tell you, I've only been lucky at gambling one other time in my life (and mind you, I am in Vegas 1-2 times a year as I have family there), so I was in SHOCK. And Jenny was the voice of reason, she'd mouth, "CASH OUT! CASH OUT!"... so before our luck could turn, we cashed out up quite a bit. It was exhilarating.

I don't think I'm due for another winning streak like that for another 20 years!!

TEE NA!!

Somewhere along the way, Lauren picked up on the fact that my name is "Tina" and decided to address me this way. I always reply with the correction, "Mommy", so she knows it doesn't thrill me... so now she does it to get my goat...

and I finally captured it on video... Jenny says it looks like "Lauren TV"...

In the video she even gives a very stern look - one I must give her when she calls me "Tina"... the things kids pick up is scary!

Now I don't really know my ABCs

All that crap about blogging more and making lists and I've still been horrible about both. Today I am actually in Orlando for the PGA golf show for work. Met Omarosa and she is so nice. Can't say I'm shocked because I know that they edit the crap out of TV.

Lauren turns two in a couple weeks, the girl is cracks me up. I finally captured video of her singing her ABC's (somewhat) but gets stuck in a loop at the end - qrstuvwy tuv wx tuv wx tuv (and so on)... This particular time, I thought she was going to go on forever, but then she noticed the camera and asked, "I see Lauren Clark?" which she says when she wants to see pics of herself.

Now that we have a Sephora nearby, hub has a no fail spot where he can shop for me (between Sephora and Parkleigh, he really can't go wrong), so one of my Christmas gifts was Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot perfume. Yum.

Speaking of Sephora, my sis had requested "the stuff to make your eyebrows thicker". At Sephora, that's Anastasia's NuBrow - but at $35, both sis and I thought that was a little ridiculous. But then I read on a discussion board about Ardell Brow & Lash Accelerator Treatment Gel - for less than $4 bucks!! Needless to say, I ordered it for her and me (haven't gotten it yet)! Hoping that the little bare patch on my left eyebrow grows back.

Happy New Year!

The Magic of Writing it Down

While driving around last weekend doing some last minute shopping, I heard a story on NPR about making lists. It featured Sasha Cagen, who has written, To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soulmate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us (based on her To-Do List blog).

Jenny does this alot (writes lists but not about finding her soul mate - she found him years ago!). She writes lists in her hipster-pda -> gifts given, gifts received, movies to see, appointments, etc. She also collects "found" grocery lists, which I never realized could be so fascinating!

My Mom used to write lists alot - mostly little quick notes on tiny pieces of paper. I saved many of these notes, I love looking back and imagining what she was thinking. One of particular note, she carried around with her a list of animal baby names - kangaroo - joey, skunk - kit.

I've done lists in fits and spurts, but in '08, I'm going to be all about the lists.

I am going to start with lists of major things to do:

- plan (and make) meals
- finalize the decor of Lauren's room
- donate 50% of my wardrobe
- use reusable bags more often than not
- eat more vegetables
- clean the basement
- blog more
- write lists

Well, this one was a little rough. I won't go in to it because I will sound too much like Debby Downer. Suffice it to say - illness was the name of the game for many people (shingles, bleeding ulcer, bad colds... and one passing... my Step-Grandmother).

Little L had a blast though and dug her new retro kitchen. She sang Jingle Bells alot - or at least this much of it - "jingle bells, jingle bells... HEY", though it sounded a little like, "Stinky butt, stinky butt... HEY!". And she also learned a little bit of the Miser songs - or at least this much of them - "I'm mister, I'm mister, I'm mister".

Though she says most of her words very clearly, she's definitely at the stage where Mommy has to interpret.

Oh, and she's been counting to 10 and saying "later alligator".

I want her to stay little and cute forever.

Merry Christmas!

Visit with Santa

Saw Santa this weekend. She didn't freak out, but she wasn't thrilled either. She didn't manage to tell him that baby wants a new pair of shoes. She just looked a bit petrified and said, "Mommy? Mommy?" as I tried to snap a pic with my cellphone because I didn't have my camera with me.

"Santa" did, however, get her a new pair of shoes. Turns out she needed a size and a half bigger than what she was wearing. As the sales clerk was trying on a new pair, she commented that Lauren was "curling her toes because her other shoes were so small." Nice. So I replied, "Thank You. Would you also like to point out that her ears are dirty and her nails need clipping? OK, SO I'M A CRAPPY MOM - but I'm awesome where it really counts - like loving her and teaching her new things - BeeAtch!"*

*I didn't really say this. I just looked away in embarrassment.

Got bebe a pair of boots too. They were on sale (so were the shoes) and were too cute to pass up. Both pairs were on sale in the store, but not on sale online. I hate when they do that!

Just Friends

As I'm checking out the latest sales online, I am also watching Just Friends on tv. I was 5 months pregnant and confined to bedrest when this movie came out in theaters (in nov 2005), so I don't really remember it then, but I've seen it on cable many times now and it is one of my favorites. I love the use of comedic screaming throughout the movie. Ryan Reynolds is hilarous, along with Anna Farris, Chris Klein and Chris Marquette who plays the younger brother who's constantly having slapping matches with Ryan.

In looking for some video, I found that Chris Marquette's next movie is Fanboys - about "Star Wars" fans who travel to Skywalker Ranch to steal an early copy of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" for their dying friend. Seth Rogan is in it too. It looks pretty funny and I think I know a few Star Wars nuts who are likely looking forward to seeing this movie.

So if you need some laughs, I found a youtube video with some of the funniest moments from Just Friends:

What a Girl Wants

Yep, ordered this KidKraft Pink Retro Kitchen for Lauren. I think it might possibly be the cutest non-human, non-animal (stuffed or real) thing that I've ever seen. Even if she doesn't love it (though I'm sure she will), I will enjoy looking at it.

I ordered it from Costco.com - it was $179 including s&h (+tax and a 5% non-member fee) - pretty awesome since I saw the exact one on another site for $249 plus $43 shipping!! And similar ones from Pottery Barn Kids are also crazy expensive. I am just praying that I don't get a "sorry, we're actually out of stock on that" email, which will then ruin Christmas - because an almost 2 year old is SOOO aware of gifts.

I am being sarcastic of course, because at this point I could wrap up her shoes (yes, the ones she's been wearing for months), some of our pots and pans, and the sleeve to the Shrek DVD and she'd be the happiest little camper ever.

Elfed Lauren

While playing on my in-laws laptop over the new wireless I had just set up, I got an email from my brother with his "elfed" family, so I elfed Lauren. This pic had her head just the perfect size - she makes a darn good elf.

Still in Florida - at The Villages - a golfer's dream retirement city.

We went to The Christmas Parade yesterday - drove over in the golf cart, which Lauren loved as much as I do (they are so damn fun!). The parade consisted mainly of golf carts and many of the various clubs they have here - including the Belly Dancer club and the Village Cheerleaders! The retirees here are not usually sitting around watching tv, they do more in a day than most people do in a week. Lauren loved the parade, she waved and waved and waved. She would make a good parade marshall.

We got her the little piggy backpack / leash for the trip (I used to think leashes on kids was cruel, then I realized how fast they can run away from you in a crowded place) - it is wonderful. She loves having it on - I say, "let's put your piggie on" and she puts her arms out. She would be Gone, Baby, Gone without it!!

We've gone to a few stores here - Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx - I can't get over how nice, neat and organized they all are. Even Walmart was enjoyable - and they had the CUTEST line of organic baby clothes (George baby), but only in itty bitty baby sizes (including preemie, which reminded me that Lauren was once too tiny even for that size - which now is hard to believe she was so SMALL!!).

Grandparents are just reveling in Lauren - and her in them. It will be hard to leave. Luckily they will be up for Christmas this year.

The weather here is gorgeous, actually "hot" - low 80's each day. But we will be happy to have a white Christmas.

Off we go!

We made it to Florida. Lauren did very well on her first plane trip, though she did very much try to kick the seat in front of us (which was actually first class), so we had to hold her legs down a bit, but other than that, she did very well. Watched some Shrek, pushed the radio buttons, no ear problems, all good. She didn't sleep at all though and was awake until midnight!

Hug, Mommy?

The little one has been quite the handful. Her new thing is to kick or hit at me, then immediately ask, "hug, Mommy? hug, Mommy?" (she's very actively requests hugs these days). It's pretty slick of her, I mean how can I stay mad that she just cracked my kneecap with her size 5 stride rites when she's asking me for a hug? I am trying to teach her that she doesn't have to pop me one to get a hug, but I think she knows it and just finds it all entertaining.

Off We Go

Thursday we fly to Florida. First time flying for Lauren. I have been soliciting and looking up advice. I found this piece of advice very amusing:

Wear spunky clothes and dark glasses so that other passengers think you are someone famous enjoying quality time with your kids.

As if.

Besides, even if I were on a flight with Julia Roberts and Hazel was kicking my seat, I'd still be highly annoyed.

Other than that, lots of other good advice - like lollipops, crayons, portable dvd (we MUST have Shrek), colorful band aids, valium (for me, not Lauren)...

When we got the tickets, Lauren was a couple months younger, we didn't get her a seat, figured she'd be fine on our laps... in this short span she has become more defiant, more vocal, doing that "I will straighten out and stiffen up like a board so you cannot strap me in to my carseat" thing... so we got scared... and bought her a seat... but we are still scared. I may need to be medicated, since Daddy won't let me give Little L Benadryl for no good reason.

More advice is welcome!

PMS

+
= purchase of a 3lb box of 600lb Gorilla Frozen Cookie Dough

Mac Happy

The Black Friday sale at Apple seduced us and Christmas came early - we finally got an iMac (though I've been using a Mac at work for years, I had a pc at home). I LOVE it. I barely want to leave the house, I just want to play with my Mac. It was so ridiculously easy to set up. I mean RIDICULOUS! It found our wireless router and I was on the internet within 5 minutes. Just TRY to do that with a PC! Our PC takes 10 minutes just to boot up!

Someone else loves it too. As I brought her downstairs Saturday morning and she saw it (set up on the kitchen table) she said, "oooh, Mommy, pretty!" That's my girl! We spent most of the weekend on Shrek.com - her favorite thing at the moment. Though I held it off for 22 months, I now have a child who just constantly wants to watch "baby Shrek", so as of now, I've watched Shrek 2 and 3 about 20 times each. She wakes up saying "baby Shrek", then says all the names, "Shrek, Donkey, eeona, puss". I downloaded the wallpaper and she can barely pull herself away from the screen, she just wants to stare into Shrek's eyes.

We also listened to the theme from Spiderman - another one of her favorite things since her class made a Spidey scarecrow for Halloween. I always sing, "Spiderman, Spiderman" and then can never remember the rest (Lauren shortens it and sings "spider, spider" as she sways) . So now I am reminded of the rest and she can learn more than two words to the song.

Now I have to pull myself away from the screen and get ready for bed!

I fear that my child is showing "unique" tendencies. Really I don't fear it, I revel in it. I want her to be unique, creative, funny.

The other night, just after I got home and peeled off my high heeled boots and put them in to the closet, she walked over to the closet and said, "Mommy, boots" as she pulled them back out. I said, "no, honey, Mommy doesn't want to put on her boots now", but as she repeated, "boots", I realized - she didn't want me to put them on - SHE wanted to put them on.

She's been pretty obsessed with shoes since she was very young - it was one of her first words. If I start saving now, maybe I can buy her a pair of Christian Louboutins for her high school graduation.

Here is video of her after she had just put on one of my shoes.

Vegas Baby!

Had a great trip to Vegas last week with Jenny. Celebrated my Brother's birthday. Shopped alot. Saw, "Menopause, the Musical" (thanks to free tix from bro - it was cute).

Also went to In-N-Out Burger. If there were an In-N-Out Burger here in Rochester, I would be FAT. Not PHAT, but straight up FAT. And I wouldn't care, because those burgers are soul food and I'd rather have a happy soul than a small ass.

We met my brother there and as we stood just inside the door, couldn't find him anywhere. Finally, after about 5 minutes, we saw this - just the top half of his beanie'd head peeking over a seat - as he wondered why we weren't coming over to him. For some reason, this was hilarious.

So, about my brother. He is not your average person. He is different in so many ways, I can't even begin to explain. For starters, he is a CHARACTER. Always telling stories, always making people laugh (when he's not violently angry and beating someone up). Always having weird things happen to him (like the time he got robbed at gunpoint but still "swooped" the guy, then kicked him and almost got shot).

He drives a cab in Vegas - which to me is one of the coolest jobs - and perfect for him - because he's such a people person and racks up the stories. He told Jenny and I one summarization of his experiences. He says that "married women from 25-35 are the worst"... "I have a pulse. I say in shape. they're tipsy. It's 4am, it's a little dark, does me a little justice..." in other words, they hit on him alot... but his delivery, just too funny.

Looks like we might be back in Vegas in January too!

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Stuffed Animals are the new Black

As I begin to plan for Christmas, and wonder what I can get Lauren that won't be laced in lead, I come back to my favorite things - stuffed animals. I surrounded myself with them. I slept with them. I took them with me on trips. I hugged and kissed and loved them. Most are "put away" now that I am an, ahem, "adult". But now I have an excuse to get more. Now I can live vicariously through Lauren, so the stuffed animal collecting has begun!

Yesterday I got her a huge Jellycat sheep. I got him at Parkleigh, my favorite store (with my 30% off coupon!!). I also found Jellycat animals at this great site called Oompa toys - I love the look of their site and their selection, thought they seem a bit pricey.

The sheep is currently stuffed rather unceremoniously into a box too small for his body. I thought about him as I lay awake last night. Is he sad? Is he lonely? Is he having trouble breathing in there? I may have to let him stay with me until Christmas eve, when I can wrap a red bow around him and place him gently under the tree for Lauren to find in the morning.

Big Bang Theory

I just think the new show Big Bang Theory is hilarious. I think my inner geek is finding Sheldon annoyingly cute.

Those greedy studios better give the writers more $$ and end this writer's strike or I'm not sure how I'm going to feed my tv addiction!

Oh No, Stinky Butt

Ignore the video but listen to the audio. Lauren's new favorite thing to say when getting her diaper changed (or to Mommy if Mommy is laying on the floor), "OH NO, stinky butt". She learned this in part from me, who throws around the word "stinky" when changing a poopy diaper, and from her daycare teacher, who says to the kids, "who has a stinky butt?".

Elefant and Daddy

IMG_5228.jpg
Originally uploaded by Matt_Bernius.

We had a wonderful Halloween, I think it will be Lauren's favorite holiday from here on out. She LOVED pumpkins, loved seeing "scary" things - "Mommy, cary?" she'd say about skulls and pumpkins and ghosts. But I think her very favorite part was handing out candy to the other trick or treaters.

On Halloween Eve we attended Jenny's dinner party, Leetle Elefant had quite a good time - especially eating Aaron's Grandpa's super secret, super delicious Spaghetti.

Thank you to Matt for the wonderful picture!