My mom is here visiting for her spring break.
Wednesday night she was not feeling good and went to bed early. Before 8 pm.
Then yesterday she seemed much better. She went to Elizabeth's school for the day and watched the kids while I went out to karaoke last night.
It must have been too much because the poor girl woke up today sooo sick!
I took all the kids out of the house so she could get a good nap. It didn't work. She was having trouble catching her breath so she went down to the Urgent Care.
Turns out she's got bronchitis. So sad.
Now we're not sure WHEN she'll be able to travel back home, since she has to drive NINE hours to get there.
Poor Nani!
Showing posts with label nani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nani. Show all posts
Friday, April 17, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
My Mom Went Home
And of course, I miss her.
It really stinks to be so far away from the kids' only real grandmother. She loves the kids so much, it's crazy ridiculous.
We do get to see mom a lot. Every Christmas, Easter Break and for a long visit in the summer and more recently we've added the Columbus Day four-day weekend to our itinerary.
But it's never enough.
Dylan cried buckets this morning when she left, and last night while we were preparing the kids for her departure this was the exchange....
Nani: I'm going home tomorrow. Back to *my* house.
Dylan: I will go with you to your home.
Nani: Oh no, you can't come with me. I have to go back to work. What will you do all day when I'm at work?
Dylan: I will watch TV!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
"You're ruining Christmas!"
That's what my mom just told me over the phone.
And here's why...
In September my mom first asked me what the kids want for Christmas. Yes. September. What can I say, the woman likes to plan ahead.
"They don't need any clothes or any toys," I told her.
"What? No toys?!? OK Scrooge. Good luck with that," she said.
"No mom, seriously. No toys. They have waaay too many toys. My whole house is covered in toys. I wake up under a blanket of toys. No toys. Please, I beg you, no toys."
Through her supreme Grandma powers she guilted me down to no INSIDE toys. All outside and REMAINING OUTSIDE toys would be permitted.
"But mom, I swear, if an inside toy comes into the house it's going right back out. I don't care how much they cry."
She proclaimed me heartless, but I stayed strong.
Cut to tonight...
We've worked out a handy arrangement where no inside toys will come here and the kids will get a big brand new OUTDOOR playhouse with a little kitchen area and I'm very happy with that.
But, of course, Nani isn't giving up that easily.
"What am I going to get these children? What will be under the tree?! They have to unwrap something! What will they unwrap? Socks?!"
"Yes, mom, socks. They need socks. I swear, I swear to God, no toys. No. Toys."
"But, just some little toys..."
"No! No toys! I will take a picture of Dylan's overflowing closet of toys and send it to you. There are so many toys you can't step into that closet. The only way that ONE toy is coming into this house is if you get rid of 20 in its place. No TOYS!"
"Well, they're going to have this new kitchen play area..."
"Mmm hmm," I said, sensing the negotiation beginning.
"...well, do they have pots?"
"Yes mom. They have play dishes, play pots, play food, play spoons, play everything. They will have no trouble furnishing their playhouse. No. Toys."
"Jessica Lynn! You're ruining Christmas! You're breaking Santa's heart."
"Mom, he's not real."
"Oh, you Scrooge!"
"Jessica Lynn! You're ruining Christmas! I'm a grandmother for Chrissakes!"
And here's why...
In September my mom first asked me what the kids want for Christmas. Yes. September. What can I say, the woman likes to plan ahead.
"They don't need any clothes or any toys," I told her.
"What? No toys?!? OK Scrooge. Good luck with that," she said.
"No mom, seriously. No toys. They have waaay too many toys. My whole house is covered in toys. I wake up under a blanket of toys. No toys. Please, I beg you, no toys."
Through her supreme Grandma powers she guilted me down to no INSIDE toys. All outside and REMAINING OUTSIDE toys would be permitted.
"But mom, I swear, if an inside toy comes into the house it's going right back out. I don't care how much they cry."
She proclaimed me heartless, but I stayed strong.
Cut to tonight...
We've worked out a handy arrangement where no inside toys will come here and the kids will get a big brand new OUTDOOR playhouse with a little kitchen area and I'm very happy with that.
But, of course, Nani isn't giving up that easily.
"What am I going to get these children? What will be under the tree?! They have to unwrap something! What will they unwrap? Socks?!"
"Yes, mom, socks. They need socks. I swear, I swear to God, no toys. No. Toys."
"But, just some little toys..."
"No! No toys! I will take a picture of Dylan's overflowing closet of toys and send it to you. There are so many toys you can't step into that closet. The only way that ONE toy is coming into this house is if you get rid of 20 in its place. No TOYS!"
"Well, they're going to have this new kitchen play area..."
"Mmm hmm," I said, sensing the negotiation beginning.
"...well, do they have pots?"
"Yes mom. They have play dishes, play pots, play food, play spoons, play everything. They will have no trouble furnishing their playhouse. No. Toys."
"Jessica Lynn! You're ruining Christmas! You're breaking Santa's heart."
"Mom, he's not real."
"Oh, you Scrooge!"
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Our Scottsdale Weekend, Part II
Previously...
We arrived at the hotel and rested then enjoyed a morning at the zoo!
Before we go further I should add that I love the Phoenix Zoo. It is great for kids. But it is a LOT of walking, especially when you are pushing 70+ pounds of kids in the double stroller and they won't walk for NOTHING!
I kept trying to tell them to walk over to the very next exhibit, they would have none of it.
They preferred their conveyance, thankyouverymuch!
We were very lucky though, in that we got to see the zoo employees give the jaguar a jack o'lantern stuffed with lemongrass as a toy. That was hilarious. We got there early enough that we hit most of the exhibits before it got mad crowded. We did save the zoo trifecta (lions, tigers, giraffes) for last though and that got a bit insane.
By far the most favorite exhibit was the walk through monkey habitat. Dylan is still talking about it.
Ok...after the zoo we went to the BK Lounge for lunch then back to the hotel. I forgot my bathing suit, so my mom took the kids swimming in the jacuzzi. I tried to put the baby down for a nap but he wasn't having it.
After a hotel restaurant dinner we were all tired and ready to sleep. We were scheduled to check out on Sunday morning, but my mom decided to stay one more night so we could go to the RailFair on Sunday.
Dylan LOVES trains and we skipped the zoo train ride causing him to wail "my traaaaaaaaiiiiin" all the way out the gates...so yeah, we sort of owed him a train ride.
RailFair was close by, right up the street, and after our complimentary breakfast we headed to the traaiiiiins!
There were tons of model train enthusiasts with their trainscapes all set up. We were checking out one HUGE model and because I'm so funny I said...
"Look, I can see where Beetlejuice lives."
Ha ha ha. Oh boy. That was a good one.
Then we stumbled onto a Thomas the Tank Engine setup. Holy moses. Thomas is the second coming of Christ apparently. Dylan went berserk!
"IT'S THOMASSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So we stood there looking at Thomas go around and around for about 10 minutes.
We finally convinced Dylan to leave Thomas and we rode the miniature train that travels around the park. It was about a 10 minute ride, totally worth the $2 fare.
During RailFair I was only pushing Ben in the little stroller, but I had damaged myself so badly at the zoo the day before that as I'm walking I hear this "POP" and my leg wants to die.
Then I got shooting pains in my hip and was forced to sit down for a second. I have no idea what happened, pinched nerve, pulled muscle whathaveyou, but I limped around like Dr. Gregory House for the rest of that day. At some points I just could not walk at all and had to sit. It was kind of lame.
My mom took the kids over to the bounce houses (free!) while I sat with Ben at the playground and tried not to fall COMPLETELY apart.
And Ben napped while the biggers rode the giant carousel.
We also got to tour a train that was used by four (or five) presidents, mostnotably FDR. Here's my mom and the kids being presidential.
And Ben and I in front of the train.
We spent about three hours there and worked up quite an appetite. Elizabeth decided we should feast on the sumptuous menu items featured at the local Denny's. And so we did!
Next installment: Cocktail party!
We arrived at the hotel and rested then enjoyed a morning at the zoo!
Before we go further I should add that I love the Phoenix Zoo. It is great for kids. But it is a LOT of walking, especially when you are pushing 70+ pounds of kids in the double stroller and they won't walk for NOTHING!
I kept trying to tell them to walk over to the very next exhibit, they would have none of it.
They preferred their conveyance, thankyouverymuch!
We were very lucky though, in that we got to see the zoo employees give the jaguar a jack o'lantern stuffed with lemongrass as a toy. That was hilarious. We got there early enough that we hit most of the exhibits before it got mad crowded. We did save the zoo trifecta (lions, tigers, giraffes) for last though and that got a bit insane.
By far the most favorite exhibit was the walk through monkey habitat. Dylan is still talking about it.
Ok...after the zoo we went to the BK Lounge for lunch then back to the hotel. I forgot my bathing suit, so my mom took the kids swimming in the jacuzzi. I tried to put the baby down for a nap but he wasn't having it.
After a hotel restaurant dinner we were all tired and ready to sleep. We were scheduled to check out on Sunday morning, but my mom decided to stay one more night so we could go to the RailFair on Sunday.
Dylan LOVES trains and we skipped the zoo train ride causing him to wail "my traaaaaaaaiiiiin" all the way out the gates...so yeah, we sort of owed him a train ride.
RailFair was close by, right up the street, and after our complimentary breakfast we headed to the traaiiiiins!
There were tons of model train enthusiasts with their trainscapes all set up. We were checking out one HUGE model and because I'm so funny I said...
"Look, I can see where Beetlejuice lives."
Ha ha ha. Oh boy. That was a good one.
Then we stumbled onto a Thomas the Tank Engine setup. Holy moses. Thomas is the second coming of Christ apparently. Dylan went berserk!
"IT'S THOMASSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So we stood there looking at Thomas go around and around for about 10 minutes.
We finally convinced Dylan to leave Thomas and we rode the miniature train that travels around the park. It was about a 10 minute ride, totally worth the $2 fare.
During RailFair I was only pushing Ben in the little stroller, but I had damaged myself so badly at the zoo the day before that as I'm walking I hear this "POP" and my leg wants to die.
Then I got shooting pains in my hip and was forced to sit down for a second. I have no idea what happened, pinched nerve, pulled muscle whathaveyou, but I limped around like Dr. Gregory House for the rest of that day. At some points I just could not walk at all and had to sit. It was kind of lame.
My mom took the kids over to the bounce houses (free!) while I sat with Ben at the playground and tried not to fall COMPLETELY apart.
And Ben napped while the biggers rode the giant carousel.
We also got to tour a train that was used by four (or five) presidents, mostnotably FDR. Here's my mom and the kids being presidential.
And Ben and I in front of the train.
We spent about three hours there and worked up quite an appetite. Elizabeth decided we should feast on the sumptuous menu items featured at the local Denny's. And so we did!
Next installment: Cocktail party!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Our Scottsdale weekend
The kids and I left Friday morning for Scottsdale.
It took about three hours and it's a 160 mile trip, but before you think I am the world's slowest driver...the part from Payson, Ariz. all the way to Fountain Hills, Ariz. is steep, rocky, one-lane, twisty, down the mountain, scary-ass road.
Plus it was super windy that day, and I am extremely cautious while conveying my precious cargo.
We had to stop in Payson (about 80+ miles from our house) to get lunch for the kids and specifically to feed Benjamin. He was HOWLING!
After that, it was no stops all the way to Scottsdale.
Our hotel - Hospitality Suites Resort - was really cool, it was set up almost like my college dorms. All the room doors facing inward on a courtyard. All the courtyards were poolside...no grass-side, shucks.
We happened to be in the A Building, which housed the lobby, restaurant, the sole jacuzzi in the place, a ramada bar (where there were free cocktails every night from 5 to 6:30 pm!), BBQ areas and of course, the pool.
Across the parking lot were B and C Buildings and a tennis court/basketball court, shuffleboard, ping pong, two more pools, more BBQ areas and more guest rooms, naturally.
There was ample parking, day or night AND we were right across the side street from a Food City (a grocery store) and a Big Lots!
The actual room itself was also super cool. There was a living room area with a fold out couch bed and a dining table area. There was also a FULL kitchen with a small stove, microwave, fridge...even DISHES and pots and pans! Perfect for traveling with kids!
There was a HUGE closet for storing our clothes, suitcases, strollers...seriously, I could have set up the port-a-crib in there and given Ben his own room. But I didn't. I swear I did not.
The bedroom (which had a closing door separating it from the living area, awesome for naps!) had two double beds, built-in dresser, a smaller TV and the bathroom was off of that room and was also a great size, lots of counter space.
So, we were beyond pleased with the accomodations, especially since it was only $105 a night! Incredible! The kids also enjoyed riding in the elevator multiple times per day, since we were on the third floor.
Friday afternoon, after our arrival, we just unpacked and settled in. Of course we visited the cocktail party. The kids had Shirley Temples, mom and I had margaritas. Very nice.
Saturday morning was ZOO day!
We were only about a 10 minute drive from the Phoenix Zoo. No freeways! Yay!
There's free parking at the zoo too, so, that's awesome.
Mom was so smart and bought our tickets online so we whisked by the lines forming at the ticket booths and jetted through the Advanced Ticket Sales line and bam! Zoo time!
Thank goodness it was an unusually cool weekend in Phoenix. The temps never got into the 80s during the day. We went around to all the exhibits, the kids loved every single animal they saw, even the sleeping giant anteater.
I was particularly in love with the baby orangutan. So cute.
We arrived there around 9 am and were finished with our tour of the zoo by just after noon. It was a LOT of walking, but totally worth it.
And without further ado, zoo pics!
Next installment: RailFair!
It took about three hours and it's a 160 mile trip, but before you think I am the world's slowest driver...the part from Payson, Ariz. all the way to Fountain Hills, Ariz. is steep, rocky, one-lane, twisty, down the mountain, scary-ass road.
Plus it was super windy that day, and I am extremely cautious while conveying my precious cargo.
We had to stop in Payson (about 80+ miles from our house) to get lunch for the kids and specifically to feed Benjamin. He was HOWLING!
After that, it was no stops all the way to Scottsdale.
Our hotel - Hospitality Suites Resort - was really cool, it was set up almost like my college dorms. All the room doors facing inward on a courtyard. All the courtyards were poolside...no grass-side, shucks.
We happened to be in the A Building, which housed the lobby, restaurant, the sole jacuzzi in the place, a ramada bar (where there were free cocktails every night from 5 to 6:30 pm!), BBQ areas and of course, the pool.
Across the parking lot were B and C Buildings and a tennis court/basketball court, shuffleboard, ping pong, two more pools, more BBQ areas and more guest rooms, naturally.
There was ample parking, day or night AND we were right across the side street from a Food City (a grocery store) and a Big Lots!
The actual room itself was also super cool. There was a living room area with a fold out couch bed and a dining table area. There was also a FULL kitchen with a small stove, microwave, fridge...even DISHES and pots and pans! Perfect for traveling with kids!
There was a HUGE closet for storing our clothes, suitcases, strollers...seriously, I could have set up the port-a-crib in there and given Ben his own room. But I didn't. I swear I did not.
The bedroom (which had a closing door separating it from the living area, awesome for naps!) had two double beds, built-in dresser, a smaller TV and the bathroom was off of that room and was also a great size, lots of counter space.
So, we were beyond pleased with the accomodations, especially since it was only $105 a night! Incredible! The kids also enjoyed riding in the elevator multiple times per day, since we were on the third floor.
Friday afternoon, after our arrival, we just unpacked and settled in. Of course we visited the cocktail party. The kids had Shirley Temples, mom and I had margaritas. Very nice.
Saturday morning was ZOO day!
We were only about a 10 minute drive from the Phoenix Zoo. No freeways! Yay!
There's free parking at the zoo too, so, that's awesome.
Mom was so smart and bought our tickets online so we whisked by the lines forming at the ticket booths and jetted through the Advanced Ticket Sales line and bam! Zoo time!
Thank goodness it was an unusually cool weekend in Phoenix. The temps never got into the 80s during the day. We went around to all the exhibits, the kids loved every single animal they saw, even the sleeping giant anteater.
I was particularly in love with the baby orangutan. So cute.
We arrived there around 9 am and were finished with our tour of the zoo by just after noon. It was a LOT of walking, but totally worth it.
And without further ado, zoo pics!
Next installment: RailFair!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Trippin'
Today is Elizabeth's first official school field trip!
The kids are getting a tour of the Show Low Fire Department, so fun.
Of course I'll be going along as a parent volunteer. The brothers will come along too, I asked Elizabeth if she wouldn't mind first!
Respect!
After all, she does say that her favorite part of school is "getting away from my brothers"...
Kindness!
She's in her closet right now picking out just the right outfit for the field trip. There ARE potentially hunky firemen involved! I don't blame her for wanting to look extra fly.
And that's not ALL the excitement going down this week either!
On Friday the kids and I are packing up and heading down to Scottsdale for the weekend. My mom is meeting us there and we're all staying at a hotel and going to the zoo and hanging out.
My mom had this three day weekend and she wanted to actually go and do something instead of just staying home. So after ruling out a bunch of trips she could take by herself, she decided it would be the most fun to visit us! The drive all the way to our house is like nine hours from Simi though, a bit much for just a weekend.
But Phoenix/Scottsdale is only about five to six hours, totally doable.
We've done the Phoenix Meet-Up trip before. It's fun. My kids love staying in hotels.
In fact, the last time we did this, they thought the hotel was my mom's "other" house.
Elizabeth went on and on about how Nani has two houses...her regular house and her hotel house!
She's crazy!
So anticipate some cool field trip photos AND ZOO PIX!
Whoo hoo!
In other news:
Did anyone else watch the VH-1 Hip Hop Honors last night.
Dude. It was RAD.
I like all kinds of music, but I really love the hippity hop.
Snoopy Snoop-a-Loop is my dogg.
Anyway, they bestowed the Hip Hop Honors to, among others, Cypress Hill...ah memories.
My freshman year roommate and I would study for finals and listen to Cypress Hill. We were totally Insane in the Membrane.
In OTHER news:
I got my hair cut. Whoo wee! I had to take both the boys with me. Ben sat on my lap chillin'. Dylan spun around in a "salon" chair, illin'.
(I say "salon" because it was at WalMart, hey, $13 haircut. Can't beat it!)
Anyway, I'm just surprised that it came out straight considering all the "one-two-three-ing" I had to perpetrate on Dylan. The kid is crazy. He had this old lady getting a perm cracking up with his antics though.
Sidebar question: Why do all the old ladies get perms? Hmm.
The kids are getting a tour of the Show Low Fire Department, so fun.
Of course I'll be going along as a parent volunteer. The brothers will come along too, I asked Elizabeth if she wouldn't mind first!
Respect!
After all, she does say that her favorite part of school is "getting away from my brothers"...
Kindness!
She's in her closet right now picking out just the right outfit for the field trip. There ARE potentially hunky firemen involved! I don't blame her for wanting to look extra fly.
And that's not ALL the excitement going down this week either!
On Friday the kids and I are packing up and heading down to Scottsdale for the weekend. My mom is meeting us there and we're all staying at a hotel and going to the zoo and hanging out.
My mom had this three day weekend and she wanted to actually go and do something instead of just staying home. So after ruling out a bunch of trips she could take by herself, she decided it would be the most fun to visit us! The drive all the way to our house is like nine hours from Simi though, a bit much for just a weekend.
But Phoenix/Scottsdale is only about five to six hours, totally doable.
We've done the Phoenix Meet-Up trip before. It's fun. My kids love staying in hotels.
In fact, the last time we did this, they thought the hotel was my mom's "other" house.
Elizabeth went on and on about how Nani has two houses...her regular house and her hotel house!
She's crazy!
So anticipate some cool field trip photos AND ZOO PIX!
Whoo hoo!
In other news:
Did anyone else watch the VH-1 Hip Hop Honors last night.
Dude. It was RAD.
I like all kinds of music, but I really love the hippity hop.
Snoopy Snoop-a-Loop is my dogg.
Anyway, they bestowed the Hip Hop Honors to, among others, Cypress Hill...ah memories.
My freshman year roommate and I would study for finals and listen to Cypress Hill. We were totally Insane in the Membrane.
In OTHER news:
I got my hair cut. Whoo wee! I had to take both the boys with me. Ben sat on my lap chillin'. Dylan spun around in a "salon" chair, illin'.
(I say "salon" because it was at WalMart, hey, $13 haircut. Can't beat it!)
Anyway, I'm just surprised that it came out straight considering all the "one-two-three-ing" I had to perpetrate on Dylan. The kid is crazy. He had this old lady getting a perm cracking up with his antics though.
Sidebar question: Why do all the old ladies get perms? Hmm.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The week in review
Gosh! Has it really been a week since I posted??
I'm so busy lately...wonder why?
I haven't left the house in almost two weeks, since the baby's first checkup appointment. This afternoon I'll leave again (this time I'll drive myself, yay!) for another baby checkup appointment. Didn't you know, he's two weeks old now!
Operation New Hotness is going great.
I'm not really watching what I'm eating, unless you count me watching it fly from the plate into my mouth! Ha ha ha...no seriously. I'm trying to be sensible on food choice and portions but breastfeeding makes me dang hungry. And it makes me want to eat half a carrot cake that I made from scratch yesterday. Well, maybe not half, but more than my portion should have been. I couldn't help myself. Not to toot my own horn, but DANG that was some good carrot cake!
But for reals, ONH (Operation New Hotness) is so far a total success.
Here are the tactical successes so far:
* I have lost an estimated total of 19 pounds (estimated because my scale is one of those broke-down rotary style, note to self, buy digital scale!) in the two weeks since Ben was born. Yes, most of that is baby, baby's accessories and fluids and bloat. But hell, I'll take it! Total weight loss gets me down to two pounds over my weight at my first prenatal check, which is awesome. I also have another six days to peel off one more pound, thus reaching my goal of DW-20 by three weeks postpartum.
Kick ass!
* Because of the awesome weight loss, I can fit into my REGULAR jeans! I'm wearing them right now!
They are not the size I was wearing when I GOT pregnant, but I've still got about eight pounds to lose to get back to my last summer low weight, which for reference purposes only is DW-27. I'll get there, and then some.
* I had Bob set up the exercise machine in my bedroom. For me to get from my side of the bed out of the room I have to scooch by that machine. Motivation! Since I'm still not technically cleared for exercise at all (or driving for that matter) I have started out just doing 20 minutes at a time, very slowly.
Next week at my checkup I should get cleared for some exercise and I'll start working up to 45 minutes a day.
In other news:
My mom left Sunday morning, which made me very sad. Both because I would be braving the world of three children all alone during the day, SCARY, and because of course I'll just miss my mom.
Whenever she visits it always makes me wish that we didn't live so far away. Not just for the free childcare services, but you know, I just miss my mom.
And the kids just absolutely love her. She's crazy like them, so it works out. One morning I happened to get to Dylan's room first and he climbed out of his crib, took one snotty look at me and said:
"Where's Nani?"
Ouch.
Anyway, the pain of her leaving is dulled by the fact that we're traveling to her house in mid-July for a visit. Nani's got the big SoCal house and the pool and she takes us to all the cool attractions like the zoo and the aquarium. We have access to none of these things at home. We usually make the trip a good long visit when we go so we can fill up on interesting activities before we return home to no mans land.
I know we're going to the Santa Barbara Zoo and the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks and probably the beach at the Ventura Marina, because we always do. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I'll have to scope out some cool new places to go. Last summer we went to the Long Beach Aquarium, which was cool, but sort of small for the admission price.
I'm a beggar though, and should not be so choosey.
Any SoCal kid-friendly suggestions are welcome! You'd think I'd already know having grown up there but I haven't lived in SoCal in almost 12 years, things have changed, a lot.
For instance, where there used to be huge empty vacant lots down the street from my mom's house, there's now a giant movie theater and a TGI Fridays. And a big giant police station.
The little farm where we used to buy fresh berries and pumpkins is now senior living condos and a shopping center. Feh.
In just the last year a little vacant lot on my mom's street was bought and someone started building a house on it (but didn't finish!) So the lot where we all used to play as kids (and was vacant for upwards of 25 years) is now a half completed house. Bummer.
Anyway...
The other major news of this week was that we finally got our garden planted! Yay! Then it snowed for two days. Booo.
Yes. Snow. And hail, and thunderstorming rain and all that fun crap that was supposed to be OVER!
We think we only lost one eggplant plant, but we'll see. Gah!
On the cuteness front, Ben is an awesome baby. He sleeps great, he's an excellent nurser and I think he's growing just fine. We'll see this afternoon!
Here are some pics in which he appears to have an alien head.
I'm so busy lately...wonder why?
I haven't left the house in almost two weeks, since the baby's first checkup appointment. This afternoon I'll leave again (this time I'll drive myself, yay!) for another baby checkup appointment. Didn't you know, he's two weeks old now!
Operation New Hotness is going great.
I'm not really watching what I'm eating, unless you count me watching it fly from the plate into my mouth! Ha ha ha...no seriously. I'm trying to be sensible on food choice and portions but breastfeeding makes me dang hungry. And it makes me want to eat half a carrot cake that I made from scratch yesterday. Well, maybe not half, but more than my portion should have been. I couldn't help myself. Not to toot my own horn, but DANG that was some good carrot cake!
But for reals, ONH (Operation New Hotness) is so far a total success.
Here are the tactical successes so far:
* I have lost an estimated total of 19 pounds (estimated because my scale is one of those broke-down rotary style, note to self, buy digital scale!) in the two weeks since Ben was born. Yes, most of that is baby, baby's accessories and fluids and bloat. But hell, I'll take it! Total weight loss gets me down to two pounds over my weight at my first prenatal check, which is awesome. I also have another six days to peel off one more pound, thus reaching my goal of DW-20 by three weeks postpartum.
Kick ass!
* Because of the awesome weight loss, I can fit into my REGULAR jeans! I'm wearing them right now!
They are not the size I was wearing when I GOT pregnant, but I've still got about eight pounds to lose to get back to my last summer low weight, which for reference purposes only is DW-27. I'll get there, and then some.
* I had Bob set up the exercise machine in my bedroom. For me to get from my side of the bed out of the room I have to scooch by that machine. Motivation! Since I'm still not technically cleared for exercise at all (or driving for that matter) I have started out just doing 20 minutes at a time, very slowly.
Next week at my checkup I should get cleared for some exercise and I'll start working up to 45 minutes a day.
In other news:
My mom left Sunday morning, which made me very sad. Both because I would be braving the world of three children all alone during the day, SCARY, and because of course I'll just miss my mom.
Whenever she visits it always makes me wish that we didn't live so far away. Not just for the free childcare services, but you know, I just miss my mom.
And the kids just absolutely love her. She's crazy like them, so it works out. One morning I happened to get to Dylan's room first and he climbed out of his crib, took one snotty look at me and said:
"Where's Nani?"
Ouch.
Anyway, the pain of her leaving is dulled by the fact that we're traveling to her house in mid-July for a visit. Nani's got the big SoCal house and the pool and she takes us to all the cool attractions like the zoo and the aquarium. We have access to none of these things at home. We usually make the trip a good long visit when we go so we can fill up on interesting activities before we return home to no mans land.
I know we're going to the Santa Barbara Zoo and the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks and probably the beach at the Ventura Marina, because we always do. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I'll have to scope out some cool new places to go. Last summer we went to the Long Beach Aquarium, which was cool, but sort of small for the admission price.
I'm a beggar though, and should not be so choosey.
Any SoCal kid-friendly suggestions are welcome! You'd think I'd already know having grown up there but I haven't lived in SoCal in almost 12 years, things have changed, a lot.
For instance, where there used to be huge empty vacant lots down the street from my mom's house, there's now a giant movie theater and a TGI Fridays. And a big giant police station.
The little farm where we used to buy fresh berries and pumpkins is now senior living condos and a shopping center. Feh.
In just the last year a little vacant lot on my mom's street was bought and someone started building a house on it (but didn't finish!) So the lot where we all used to play as kids (and was vacant for upwards of 25 years) is now a half completed house. Bummer.
Anyway...
The other major news of this week was that we finally got our garden planted! Yay! Then it snowed for two days. Booo.
Yes. Snow. And hail, and thunderstorming rain and all that fun crap that was supposed to be OVER!
We think we only lost one eggplant plant, but we'll see. Gah!
On the cuteness front, Ben is an awesome baby. He sleeps great, he's an excellent nurser and I think he's growing just fine. We'll see this afternoon!
Here are some pics in which he appears to have an alien head.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Going crazy, taking you with me
Nine days left.
Nothing I need to do is done.
I'm too tired.
I've had some "issues" the last day or so. Private issues. Issues which make me glad I'm not having a regular birth...you know, with all the pushing...
Let's just walk away from this conversation now...together on three. 1-2-3
Baby is still sguiggling inside all the time. You'd think that HE'D get tired, but no.
Yesterday I watched some of those baby shows where the baby gets born and the parents take the baby home and fumble all over themselves. That made me laugh.
One mom was actually going to voluntarily get induced at 39 weeks (as in, not late yet) because she was "uncomfortable" and "couldn't sleep"
Uh, yeah, cause a newborn is all about comfort and sleep.
Stoopid.
Another couple, lord bless them I hope they got smarter, was planning to raise their baby vegan (which is fine if you do it right...see House last week) and also was cloth diapering and nursing, Yay!
But, the mom and dad were dumb, dumb, dumb.
The mom was feeding the baby and the dad kept asking when he was going to get to burp the baby. She said, "when I switch sides"
Then, like a five year old he starts telling her "Just switch now, switch now. Just switch now."
Ugh.
Bitchslap to that dad.
She was trying to get a one-day old baby on a feeding schedule too, so was keeping track of the minutes he nursed. It was after seven minutes that the dad was begging her to switch. Moron.
Then later on, the baby woke up from a nap and dad's first order of business was not change diapers or feed baby, but take baby out into the sunshine for a walk.
Are you kidding me????
Seriously.
I watched that show saying out loud "Where is that child's grandmother? Hurry up and visit!"
Oh boy, were they something else.
Anyway, I feel much more confident in my newborn parenting skeelz after having seen that total train wreck.
My mom will be arriving here next Friday, to take over Dylan and Elizabeth duties and also scrub my house. She's got a whole plan. She can't wait to get me out of here and safely trapped in the hospital so she can rearrange my pots and pans cabinet, launder all my curtains, clean out my freezer and all her other diabolical schemes. She's crafty like that. She'll probably figure out in two days how to get Dylan to clean his room AND poop in the potty, and then I'll have to officially canonize her and get a portrait of her on velvet to hang over my fireplace. Saint Nani!
Dare to dream!
In other news:
Last night we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. As Elizabeth warily eyed her serving (which was SMALL to begin with) I told her...
"This is the food you will eat for dinner. There is nothing else. There are no substitutions. Do not think that there are cookies, ice cream, cakes and candies waiting for you on the other side of this dinner. There is nothing. You will eat this dinner. This is all there is for you to eat until breakfast time tomorrow."
And she said (the little brat)
"I will think about that."
And proceeded to not eat one single bite of food.
Nothing I need to do is done.
I'm too tired.
I've had some "issues" the last day or so. Private issues. Issues which make me glad I'm not having a regular birth...you know, with all the pushing...
Let's just walk away from this conversation now...together on three. 1-2-3
Baby is still sguiggling inside all the time. You'd think that HE'D get tired, but no.
Yesterday I watched some of those baby shows where the baby gets born and the parents take the baby home and fumble all over themselves. That made me laugh.
One mom was actually going to voluntarily get induced at 39 weeks (as in, not late yet) because she was "uncomfortable" and "couldn't sleep"
Uh, yeah, cause a newborn is all about comfort and sleep.
Stoopid.
Another couple, lord bless them I hope they got smarter, was planning to raise their baby vegan (which is fine if you do it right...see House last week) and also was cloth diapering and nursing, Yay!
But, the mom and dad were dumb, dumb, dumb.
The mom was feeding the baby and the dad kept asking when he was going to get to burp the baby. She said, "when I switch sides"
Then, like a five year old he starts telling her "Just switch now, switch now. Just switch now."
Ugh.
Bitchslap to that dad.
She was trying to get a one-day old baby on a feeding schedule too, so was keeping track of the minutes he nursed. It was after seven minutes that the dad was begging her to switch. Moron.
Then later on, the baby woke up from a nap and dad's first order of business was not change diapers or feed baby, but take baby out into the sunshine for a walk.
Are you kidding me????
Seriously.
I watched that show saying out loud "Where is that child's grandmother? Hurry up and visit!"
Oh boy, were they something else.
Anyway, I feel much more confident in my newborn parenting skeelz after having seen that total train wreck.
My mom will be arriving here next Friday, to take over Dylan and Elizabeth duties and also scrub my house. She's got a whole plan. She can't wait to get me out of here and safely trapped in the hospital so she can rearrange my pots and pans cabinet, launder all my curtains, clean out my freezer and all her other diabolical schemes. She's crafty like that. She'll probably figure out in two days how to get Dylan to clean his room AND poop in the potty, and then I'll have to officially canonize her and get a portrait of her on velvet to hang over my fireplace. Saint Nani!
Dare to dream!
In other news:
Last night we had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. As Elizabeth warily eyed her serving (which was SMALL to begin with) I told her...
"This is the food you will eat for dinner. There is nothing else. There are no substitutions. Do not think that there are cookies, ice cream, cakes and candies waiting for you on the other side of this dinner. There is nothing. You will eat this dinner. This is all there is for you to eat until breakfast time tomorrow."
And she said (the little brat)
"I will think about that."
And proceeded to not eat one single bite of food.
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