Saturday, October 25, 2008

Something about a very small violin

I hate it that I haven't been blogging this month. October has been, like, a billion times better than September. But I'm going to be a wimp and go ahead and blame it on the move. I know, I know. It's weird: for the first time in 7 years, we're actually living somewhere that we plan to stay for more than a little while, so there's plenty of time to unpack wisely. Make sure that things get put in the place that makes the most sense and not just shoved in a closet to be dealt with "later." We can pick nice looking furniture that will last, and we can take our time doing so, instead of doing a frenzied IKEA run that inevitably ends in Swedish meatballs and tears. But I still feel so rushed, so pressured to unpack the boxes and buy the dishes and whatever else needs to be done. To do it NOW. Not easy with a one year old (almost!) who's as close to walking as I am to becoming an alcoholic. Not easy with a one-eyed cat who all of a sudden is nice to me, actually likes me and just needs to sit in my lap for another ten minutes, please, thank you very much. Yawn. Purr.

I know it's because Max is leaving in a few days and won't be back for three weeks, and I want to have the whole house ready by the time he gets back. After all, he works hard all day and earns money to pay our shiny new mortgage, and what do I do? I stay home. So the least I can do is make the house look perfect while I'm here. Actually, the least I could do is prevent the baby from falling down the stairs by laying my body on the floor to block his attempts while I watch the Today Show. Anyone with a baby at home knows that they are exhausting, I mean EXHAUSTING. After caring for a tot all day (and night, sometimes), there's not much time left for other things, say, like laundry and vacuuming and cooking. There is only time for napping and booze, and not necessarily in that order.

If it sounds like I'm making a lot of excuses, well that's because I am. It's hard to be the non-earner in the family, especially when you're the primary spender (something I am very very good at, by the way--like, stellar good). Which is totally retarded when the reason you're not earning is so you can stay at home and raise a demon child that feeds on your soul.



Tell me that your soul doesn't feel a little big soggy from being sucked on just now.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Samson: Month Eleven



It's almost time, big guy. There will be cake and presents and singing and cake. Did I mention the cake? But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I think month eleven was tough for you. Scratch that. I know month eleven was tough for you, what with all of the screaming and whining and crying. Turns out it was the teeth--four big ones on the top--that made life so difficult for you this month. We're past that now, but it was touch and go for a while there. Your father and I considered many drastic things, like having your aunt Chen come over to baby sit, and then never coming home. Fortunately for you, we're kind of hooked on you at this point.



You spent a great deal of time in the realtor's office this month. There were many papers to sign, hundreds of thousands of papers, and you passed the time by crawling around on the conference room floor and dumping the trash bin over. Luckily, the realtor really wanted our money and put up with your shenanigans time and time again. Everything worked out for the best, and now we have a place to live.



The Richmans came for a visit from Minneapolis this month, and you got a brief insight into what it might be like to have siblings. Siblings who will take your stuffed animals and then glare at you with furious intent. We also went to the zoo, and this time you really noticed the animals, especially the otters and the monkeys.



You got pretty close to walking this month--there were a couple of times when I thought you were standing unassisted, but your hand was just out of view. Of course, I started pointing and yelling and totally freaking you out so you just fell over and started crying anyway. You're also trying to very hard to speak. Still. You can make all kinds of sounds and string them together into nonsense sentences, but no real words yet. We all know your first words are going to be "Our UAV is online" and "Friendly airstike on the way!"



We did lots of other fun stuff this month--we went to the Aquarium of the Bay, we celebrated Rosh HaShonah, you rode your first street car and your first carousel, you had your first Swedish Meatballs at IKEA--and we spent a lot of time at home this month, just the two of us. You've gotten really good at crawling on me and climbing over me, and every so often you'll crawl up into my lap and just sit there, eating a waffle or letting me read you a book. This is my favorite part of the day.

Friday, October 03, 2008

It's Official



We're homeowners! Behold, the key.