Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Bloggin' Eve

Contemplating not going to the New Year's party in Berkeley tonight. I'll feel like a loser being at home alone, but at least I'll be asleep and happy.

We went to Napa for a little family get-away the last few days. Hence, the whole non-blog thing. But I have some great pictures, plus a fun little guide for doing wine country with your toddler. And I'll post it later. In 2009!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

A Toddler's Organizational List

Yeah, yeah. No blog in two days. Get over it.

My son is very helpful when it comes to keeping our home neat and tidy. In fact, his first words were "A place for everything and everything in its place, woof woof banana." Helpful and smart!

Here's an idea of where, in his twisted little mind, our stuff belongs:

-the electric toothbrush: in the toilet.

-jar of cinnamon: in the toilet.

-dad's wallet: why, in the toilet, of course!

-chanukah candle: toilet!

-dog food: first mouth, then toilet.

You get the idea. On my wish list: a toilet lock that isn't big and ugly, and doesn't leave four inches of room for toddler sized hands to drop things through. Alternatively, tiny handcuffs.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

So Sue Me

In my first week of trying to blog every day--even a tiny blog--I was unsuccessful. Technically. Even though the reason I didn't blog yesterday is because I was busy with this guy:



Can you blame me? I was also visiting the cheeseworm and getting a pedicure. And when I wasn't toddler-wrangling or melting from sheer foot-rub-induced ecstasy, I was on date night, consisting of Shabu Shabu and 7 Pounds. Screw you, internets, I'll take date night over blog night any day of the week. But I will feel guilty about it, and make it up by whining about it on the blog. Everyone wins!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Mother of the Year



You can't see the cookie in his mouth or that he's watching porn. But at least he's got socks on!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

It Takes a Strong Man to Like Pink



While making a last-minute-gift-run at Marshall's last night (we're not proud), Samson found and proceeded to fall madly in love with a hot pink child-sized wheelie suitcase. He grasped the handle and walked all over the store, pulling the little pink suitcase behind him.



It was surprising, really, watching him expertly maneuver around racks of ugly sweaters and adult legs and plexiglass shelves overflowing with banged up electronics and Oakland Raiders alarm clocks, all at low, low prices. And my heart shattered as I had to pry the handle from his tiny--yet incredibly strong--fingers and carry him, screaming, from the store. Like, SCREAMING.



Saturday, December 20, 2008

Glutton for Punishment

There are so many animals in this house that Max has to lie on the floor while we watch a movie. There are so many animals in this house that I serve four bowls of kibble in the morning before I even make coffee. There are so many animals in this house that we have more dog towels than we do people towels.

I want a kitten.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Obvious Knowledge

If it is on the floor, it is a dog bed--unless it is a dog bed, in which case it is a cat bed.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Disciplined Blogging

Remember when I used to blog all time? Looking back, it doesn't seem like I had much to blog about in particular, but I was really good about blogging nearly every weekday. And posting pictures. I wish I could do that again. I can blame the kiddo all I want, but the truth is that he goes to bed around 7 pm now, and I have a whole evening to cook, eat, relax, veg, tidy up, whatever. AND BLOG. Even if it's just a couple of sentences about the weird dream I had the other night where my husband's name was Mike (his name's not Mike) and as he made fun of me for calling him Mike, he nearly hit a police car, I will make a very honest effort to blog every day. And hopefully post a picture. Of something other than the kiddo. Like this picture from Galway, I think:



I'm not Catholic, but I do love me some tiny candles.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Five Finger Discount

List of items I have accidentally shoplifted in the past year due to the plethora of pouches and baskets on Samson's stroller:

1. Sugar-free seedless strawberry jam (what? yuck.)

2. Door-latch-stopper thingie to impede Samson's entrance into the downstairs bathroom on which the lock is broken

3. Protective corner pads for the dining room table

4. Organic maple syrup

5. Three pair of size 12-24 month socks in red, gray and navy

Friday, December 12, 2008

Samson: Month Twelve



FINALLY.

Yes, I am exactly six weeks late in writing this post. Life with a toddler is hectic; get used to it.

So month twelve was pretty much all about moving into the new house. You were very helpful, of course, and made sure to climb inside of every cabinet make sure we didn't forget anything, and to empty every box in order to determine whether or not we had packed it correctly. To my joyous surprise, you had no trouble at all adjusting to the new house, and maintained your nap and sleep schedule as if you weren't sleeping in a brand new room that smelled totally different form your old room. That's more than I can say for Ozzy and Nanna.



We took countless trips to IKEA this month, and half of the time you were so patient and engaging and cute that I wanted to tell every person in the cafeteria what a terrific baby you were. Half of the time, I wanted to toss you into the ball pit in Smaland and NEVER LOOK BACK. That was pretty characteristic of month twelve, the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde baby syndrome. And with you, I think it's especially pronounced. You've always been able to go from adorable to rotten in the blink of an eye, so this month you were just honing your skills. You know, preparing for your teen years. Shudder.

Your Israel Grandma had to head back to the holy land this month, which was sad for all of us. However, we did get to have a little practice birthday party before she left, so you got to have your first birthday cupcake a little early. And boy did you go to town on that thing! I think it's safe to say that you are now officially cupcake pro.



Then of course there was Halloween. For some reason, I was honestly surprised when the costume I had bought you at the beginning of the month no longer fit when Halloween rolled around. You were still cute, but there was definitely a hint of street urchin going on, the way the feet of your turkey costume came up to your knees.



Towards the end of month twelve, we joined a nanny share--also known as the day that the sun got a little bit brighter, the grass was a little bit greener, and my head became a little more sane. And you LOVE going to the nanny share, which makes me so, so happy. In fact, this morning when I dropped you off, the little girl who shares the nanny with you ran up to you and gave you a hug and a kiss, and you just beamed, grabbed the nanny's hand, and walked away without ever looking back at me. I've never been happier.

Conversely, the end of month twelve saw the departure of your father and beginning of The Longest Business Trip in the History of Business Trips, and Also the Farthest Away a Business Trip Has Ever Taken Someone. That sucked for all of us, to be sure. But many of our friends came to keep us company, and it was one of those times when we're reminded of how kind and giving our friends and family truly are. The hectic pace of daily life can make it easy for us to temporarily forget how lucky we are.



It's been a long year, kiddo. Did I say it's been a long year? Because I meant that this year has gone by faster than a bad Woody Allen movie. It's funny how that works. We've been through a lot together, and I get tingly when I think of how much more we have to explore in the next year. Originally, I had only planned to write these monthly posts for the first year, but being six weeks into year two, I already have to reconsider. You get more and more curious every day, and you're capable of so much more every time I turn around. And who am I to deprive the Internet of tales and revelations of your life?



Here's to months thirteen through twenty four...onward and upward!

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Womp womp womp womp womp womp

I finally found a dentist that administers nitrous oxide for routine cleanings. And for fillings, of which I need two. So although I may be lying there on a sticky vinyl chair with ten thousand metal thingies and fingers and tubes in my mouth, at least my brain thinks that everything smells like whipped cream and I can focus on the seemingly demonic Christmas music coming through the overhead speakers.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Their UAV is online

A couple of dear, dear friends had a perfect little baby boy on Thanksgiving. A week and a half overdue, after 30 hours of labor and an eventual C-section, an adorable little cheeseworm has joined our extended family. A few years from now, he and Samson are going to cause SO. MUCH. TROUBLE.

I've been breaking into their house every chance I get just to sit and hold the baby. I drop Samson off at the nanny share and then promptly drive to Cheeseworm's house and grab him from his sleep deprived parents--they're far to weak and wonky at this point to protest or even know what's going on--and I sit in the arm chair and hold his tiny little head in the palm of my hand and cuddle him and tell him how perfect I think he is.

Sounds like somebody's ready for another baby.

Which I'm totally not though. Samson is walking now, damn near hugging and cuddling us, and nice, friendly and fun. I'd be an idiot to ruin this dynamic now by adding another baby, let alone nine months of tired, anxious and moody. I can definitely see why some people choose to have only one child. And I can also totally see why some choose to have twelve.

Monday, December 01, 2008

Still here

Just busy with things like a walking toddler, a friend's brand new baby, and strawberry cupcakes. Which are all really, really good things to be busy with.