Happy Nine Months!

Oh, how time flies. She is nine months today. It's hard to believe how much and how quickly she's changed; yet, I see those changes daily. She sits up on her own, she feeds herself crackers, she attempts to stand and has done so just a couple of times for a second or two before she lands on her rump and cries for me. She's so big and still so small. She's still my baby but she is on the cusp of being a toddler soon. She's also impossible to take pictures of. She was super busy trying to peel off the sticker so she can eat it...

That is, until she saw me with the camera and came charging towards me

Happy Big Girl Day, Baby!

What the Freaking... WHAT?

I'm sure everyone knows about the Similac (powder) formula recall. Yes, they were recalled because apparently, there were particles of beetles and larvae during production. Oh, but don't worry because it's "ONLY the ones purchased in Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States and 'possibly' some of the surrounding islands". Not my words. Abbott's. Anyway, I'm gifted and always really brighty? I didn't realize I was running out of Similac Sensitive for my Little (but have 2 cases of the Similac Regs - go figure) so I take a drive out to Babies R Us to pick up just two bottles to hold her over until our next shipment gets delivered which will probably be in a few days. I'm waiting on line and yes, it was taking forever but I'm playing with Little patiently waiting my turn. Behind me is a lady with a boy of maybe 2 years old. He's holding a bottle, but he's not really drinking out of it. Just sort of playing with it in the way babies do when they're full. I guess he spilled some on the tray of his stroller since all of a sudden I hear the mom say "stop SPILLING! You put it ALL OVER THE TRAY!" and keeps hollering/shrieking at the poor kid who is staring at her with no expression on his face. He looked maybe 2 years old. Gee Lady, I think he got the point after you SCREAMED IN HIS FACE the first time. Sheesh! After the little episode, we were just back to waiting on line because yes, it was moving that slowly. She begins yelling again. I turn around to see what the problem is this time, and *shock* she's yelling at me! I'm sure she meant to yell TO me, and not AT me, but when you're starting to walk towards me with your face all red and well, yelling profanities, chances are I'm going to think it's directed at me. Turns out she was yelling about how poor the *bleep bleep* service is and how they should get more *bleep bleep* people working the counters *bleeeeeep*. I couldn't even respond in that I was trying not to laugh in her face. I don't know if that scenario sounds at all funny in writing, but it was pretty hilarious in person. I was waiting on a line behind what was probably about a half a dozen people and there were about a dozen other, maybe more, standing in the customer service line and everyone including the clerks and the people who were still shopping went on freeze mode with the exact same expression on their faces. It took all I had in me not to start cracking up, but wow, talk about public rage. And I just happened to be the lucky person standing in front of crazy mom person. She actually said 'Bye' as I was done paying for my things while she was literally shoving her stuff on top of the counter before I was even done collecting my shopping bags. Why do I always get stuck with the crazies? Fun-ness.

P.S. this is how much my Little loves her puff snacks. She wears them on her butt butt =)

Oh, honey bunchkin...

Bronx Zoo

Another one down, the zoo, from my list with just a few more places to go and only a few more weeks of nice enough weather to take advantage of to get there. Not many pictures of our day in that when you go alone, there's only so many pictures you can ask strangers to take of you together, but plenty of Little with silly hats on at the Zoo store, because, you know, I'm crazy and she can only do with looking funny for so long. Oh, by the way, I spent $7 on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, $9 on a hotdog with nothing on it and a $4 (?) iced coffee for lunch. Next trip, must remind self to pack self's own stinking lunch. When did everything become so expensive? Maybe I was just less aware of it before, but for about a 3 hour (possibly 4) day trip to what is just a really big park with a bunch of animals living in it, I spent $16 on admission, $20 on what barely passed as lunch, $13 to park my car myself. Holy cow. The $4 spent at the children's zoo, however, was worth it. If the lunch were for Little and not myself, that would have been worth it too except it wasn't. I should have waited until I got home. I could have bought her a bunch of hats with it instead. No, I didn't buy any of the ones she's wearing. Just 1 normal-ish one. :) I was good.

Yummers

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"Life's Not The Breaths You Take~~"

...the breathing in and out~~ but the moments that take your breath away". It's a song lyric (that's right, I'm a country girl at heart), and it was what I was listening to going to and coming home from here

List of things to do before end of 2010.

Beach

It's one of my favorite places to be any time of year, but mostly on days like today. The sun, the breeze, the sand, the water. There are few things in this world that can make you feel this great. To lay in the sun that isn't hot with that slight breeze floating around you, listening to the crash of waves and watching your Little taking it all in with a look of wonder because she's never seen, felt or known anything like it. I've kept a list of things I wanted to do with her before the end of the year. I haven't been very good about keeping it. The crossing off begins.

Idiot Talk

Real conversation I overheard getting out of my car, "Yo, nigga, where's you goin'?".  I turn around and there's a super pale white dude with blond hair yelling across the street at his other less pale but still blond headed friend. Anyone else see anything wrong with this picture? I get it, we live in New York and everyone speaks some form or matter of slang. So the less pale dude responds with something I couldn't quite make out and the first one says back "Word, son?". I was cracking up. First of all, I'm not big on slang. Yes, I go along making up my own words, but there's a huge difference between silly and plain old stupid. Anyway, back to the two imbeciles. First of all, the term "nigga" is derogatory in every sense but I'm not all insanely "proper" so whatever, but there is that. What's worse is that it's actually beyond ridiculous when there's a white boy calling another white boy "nigga". I bet they had blue eyes to boot. I also get that the term "word" is something equivalent to "really" in real people language. Then just say that because when you look like you're somewhere around 30+ years old saying things like, "where's you" (they obviously got too lazy to stick the 'are' in there) and "word"... it just becomes idiot talk and someone is laughing at you. Probably me. I would hate for Leah or any of my future children speaking that way. Idiots. I may sound snooty saying this, but it sure beats sounding like an eee-deee-uht.

Can you picture the sound of that coming out of this little girl? I would die.

That's a "mommy, I'm stuck, help me" face.

Our Day

Her first bottle -- still sleepy eyed

Then we change into play clothes -- and well, play

A little time out for some snacking after lunch

Then we go play some more

Of course, there's Little's nappy time

And then we do it all over again until bedtime. In exactly that order. I don't always remember what day it is. This is why. Time flies when you're having fun!

Yay! to the Future Mister and Missus

To start, a big fat drool oozing congratulations to Manny and Amy. I truly wish you guys only the best in everything. Leah agrees.

P.S. someone needs to update on the pictures taken at the engagement party like, now.

Baby Coming Through!

Never in my life did I imagine I would be living in a home that looks like the rainbow alphabet threw up all over every inch of the floors. I've arranged and re-arranged, then re-arranged again our living room hoping something decent would come of it. It didn't work, but it is definitely functional so I suppose I can't complain. The most important thing is that I can keep her from rolling herself down a flight of steep stairs. What I can't keep her from is husband's PS3. I debated on letting her eat it, but I can't imagine "Modern Warfare" having any nutritional value. Besides, I have to change the poopies diapers. She surprises me with enough foreign objects i.e. tissue, wipey pieces and magazine or something colorful print pieces. Oh the joys~

Disclaimer: I do not let my baby play with wires on a regular basis (only for photo taking purposes and for proof when one day the playstation no longer works - husband can't say it was I who destroyed his prized possession)

P.S. Husband, we may need a new CD player because the one we have isn't going to last very long and I don't want to move it.

Po-Tay-Toes

Anyone need any? I ordered from Fresh Direct and somehow 3 different types of potatoes got added on to the cart and if I cancel the order I get charged the full price and not get any of the potatoes but still have to pay for them (did that make any sense to anyone? who with the boggled mind makes up these rules?). Yes, they charge you full price if not cancelled before their time "window" which is 11:00 PM the night before deliver date, which I obviously missed by 2 hours. What in the heck am I gonna do with all them 'taters? Another one of my brilliant moments. Photos and funner (maybe) stuffs tomorrow perhaps. But seriously, someone come take some potatoes home for dinner. This is what I get for being lazy and not going grocery shopping myself. All I really wanted was some milk, juice, yogurt and pork chops. Where'd the potatoes come from and 3 kinds of them? Dammit.

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What? Huh? Oh.

That seems to be my response to many things as of late. I remember n.o.t.h.i.n.g. I mean, I still have a great memory as to things relative to the past, but as far as anything recent (recent being the last 8 months or so) I haven't a clue. Noggin no worky so goods. Unless somehow it has something to do with the Little. I guess that's what it means to become a parent? I derno. I do know, however, that being a parent means your memory compartment becomes... well, compartmentalized. Know what I mean, ... jellybean? I know what time my baby had all her bottles this week (never quite the same time everyday), what time she ate her solids (never the same time), what time I changed her last diaper before putting her to bed (this entire week), I can answer you without having to shuffle around my memory noggin long. Ask me what I did this week, and I can tell you what I did... today. Yep. Just today. Maybe a little of yesterday, but beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. It's not a far stretch to say I feel pretty dumb around fellow big peoples because I feel like my brain went through shrinkage, but it sounds nicer when I convince myself that "I didn't grow dumb. My thoughts and memory boxes have just shifted". Yes. Shifted. It sounds a whole lot nicer than "Wow, I'm losing it" which is mumbled to self daily. That is another purpose of this blog. I can actually READ back to what I did should I need a memory refresher. On to more important things: Photos.

I am pretty rigid about putting Little to bed and keeping to her schedule. Almost to a fault. (Almost. Not quite). Anyway, it was after all Labor Day (yesterday), officially marking the end of summer so I thought it might be okay to bend the rule for the night (which basically happens nearly, well, never) to join everyone at Tommy and Julia's for our last summer barbeque. Her bedtime is 7PM. We left the house at about 7:30 and didn't get back until close to 10PM. And you know what? *GASP!* The world didn't end. She clung and wouldn't let anyone else hold her the entire night, but the world did not end. And for as long as she was stuck on me, she was pretty content as well. Would I do it again? Ehhhhh......

This is her a little upset because someone tried to hold her and walk away

This is her reclaiming her spot on me and clinging. Content here, but clinging.

Here's Daisy (pup) trying to eat Hunter (human baby). Why we have photos of Hunter, but none of his face, is a question to be answered by husband. We have 3 photos of Hunter from the neck down or just the top of his head. Why, husband? Is it because he tried to pet Leah?:

Here's Ryan trotting around the backyard. Yes, honey, we know you're the boss around here:

That marks the end of summer 2010 for us. It's too bad, but a part of me is definitely looking forward to some non-95 degree/200% humidity weather. Ask me when it's snowing out if I'm happy I got what I asked for and I will curse you, but I'm definitely enjoying what smells and feels to me like Fall approaching.

Labor Day

"C'mon mommy, we have lots of places to be today...!"

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day! We certainly did.

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What Are You Wearing?

What is your every day outfit? As I'm typing this, I am wearing something like an 8 year old pair of yoga pants I bought forever ago off the clearance rack at the Gap with an orange t-shirt I got for free because my friend is moving and gave them to me for Leah to chew on and drool all over. She's had it I don't know how long because I know for a fact her ginormous boobs (jealous) wouldn't fit into these. It's also faded and it's the best ever. This is my day to day look. Frumpy? Maybe. Do I care? I live behind four walls in what used to look like a home, but now resembles something of a nursery/infant playground. By the way, I re-arranged all our furniture, but that's a whole different kind of crazy to discuss possibly another day. Back to what you're wearing. Is it Theory? Is it Gucci? Prada? Ralph Lauren? Burberry? Yes, those exist somewhere in the back of my closet. No, not the entire closet (I am relatively sane in that area), but few that I do treasure even though I probably don't fit into them anymore. Realistically, even if I did, I now have nowhere to go wearing them. Are you one of those people who have to wear suit pants to go buy formula and diapers with your face and hair all made up? I'm not. You're lucky I showered. But I honestly do heart the finer things in life. More accurately, I did. For the most part, my clothes for work and play pre-baby, they were collected since I was 16 and really started to care about not looking like I was 16. Luckily (or unfortunately - depending on perspective), I've been about the same size since (I go with unfortunately, but that's neither here nor there so moving on). I did get to wear them for a good long time. Today, my Little has outfits that cost more than my day to day wardrobe combined. When I was pregnant, I collected every piece of hand me down clothing given to me from the older babies figuring I would just pick up some stuff for her if I really needed to here and there. Big, Huge, Very LOUD Ha-Ha. Jokes on me because you know what? That is so very not the case. Especially because she's a girl and baby clothes do not come cheap. I turned out to be that mom who (sometimes) goes and buys that ridiculously expensive (even for big people clothing standards) sweater/dress/top/bottom/hat/what.have.you. that's not on sale, that the Little will wear all of 3-6 months at best, that she really didn't need, but when you're walking by a store front and it just looks so damn adorable on some child mannequin, You (I) can't.help.it. For the most part, yes, I do buy things at a much, much more reasonable price (whatever that means by children apparel department definition) but I get tempted. Who doesn't want their baby looking all sorts of cute in the best of lines? I am guilty. Very. I have made some not too bright purchases in regards to this, but you know, I wouldn't have it any other way (sorry husband and future children). Even if that means I will be wearing these $10 yoga pants for another 8 years and my free t-shirt will by then have holes in them because I can't afford new clothes. Backwards? A lotta bit.

Leah: "My Godmommy is uber crajy .............................." (Really, she is)

And this...

...was my weekend. How was yours?

The Little Things Matter Most

Little woke briefly last night and while I usually don't run to her first yelp, I walked in, picked her up out of her crib to just sit and rock in our chair. Not sleeping. Just rocking, back and forth with her leaning against me, listening to her breathing and feeling her fingers play on my arm. Sometimes, sleep doesn't come, and when it doesn't, these are the moments that make you realize just how much the simplest things matter in life.

"Mommy, I can get it!"

"I can't get out..."

This little girl wants to stand so badly...

In 8 months...

she has learned to: crawl, to sit, to test mommy, to know the different tones of my voice, understand what she should and shouldn't be doing, understand what "no, please don't touch that" means (not that she actually listens to it, but she does know what it means), respond to her name, take things off lower shelves and bang them together before trying to stuff them in her mouth, feed herself, what "dirty" means because she will stop trying to eat whatever it is, crawl around the house and understands that she definitely owns this house (at least all of the living room anyway). She has become a person all her own. She is so expressive of her likes and dislikes. She laughs and smiles so so much it makes my heart swell. It's fun and exhausting. It's mostly filled with lots of smiles throughout the day. Some days a little less, but plenty of smiles nonetheless. It's a far different life than the 15 hour work days, the traveling and going out with hub or friends just because I feel like it. I schedule everything according to my little. My days revolve around her feeding, peeing, pooping, sleeping, napping, playing and cranky times. And you know what? It's a lot more fun. A whole LOT more fun. Even the bad days. On a different note, yes, I've been lazy. So here are some updates in the photo department:

This was the only way I can get a decent picture of little with her month 8 sticky. She's SUCH a squirmy, it's close to impossible to get a still photo of her.

Turns out little has also learned to read without my knowing

And of course, what's a day without her trying to eat what she's holding