Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thomas Intervention Needed


Things have gotten out of control at our house and Thomas The Train is to blame.  My sweet little boy, as are most of the little boys I know, is OBSESSED with Thomas.  

To clarify, I do love the little wooden toy trains (even though I know they are probably laced with poisonous paint and other toxic chemicals).  He plays with them for hours and hours which forces him to use his imagination and exercise his brain putting the tracks together. 

It's the television show that I worry about.  I actually can't believe it's on the air.  The trains are SO mean to each other, always in the worst mood, condescending, angry and use words like "stupid" and "hate."  There is never a lesson learned, a catchy tune or anything even the least bit teachable.  I know what you are thinking, that's my job.  I get that and I limit the TV time to an hour or so a day, but there are times (like 5 a.m., don't even get me started on how much I dislike Daylight Savings Time...that is another post entirely) when only the TV will do.  He used to love shows like The Backyardigans, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny and Special Agent Oso...but now, it's all Thomas, all the time!  

Any tips out there for introducing some new programming in our house before my son starts being as grumpy as that annoying little blue train and his so-called friends?

Friday, November 5, 2010

The One

I met "the one" in high school.  I actually remember the day AB, a senior to my junior, came up to my locker to talk to me.  AB was a cool guy...he was popular (whatever that means now, but it meant a lot then), a macho hockey player, was known for his amazing parties during school hours and a ladies man.  He was the kinda guy that teachers loved to hate...he would get in trouble and then talk himself out of it with his charm and wit.  And, he liked me!  We dated for one blissful week and then he broke up with me in a note.  Just like that. 

To be honest, I didn't think too much about AB during college.  But, I remember so well the summer of 1999...when I ran into him at the gym.  Since I'm not...and have never been...a gym buff, I think it's fate that put me on that elliptical trainer that day.  I remember rolling my eyes to my friend, as I saw him across the room.  And, giggled to her when he started making his way over to me to chat.  But, after all, he was still charming, funny and cute, and he coaxed my phone number out of me.  After a few weeks of making him beg, I finally agreed to a date.  And, the rest is history! 

Today, November 5, is our five year wedding anniversary.  What a wild, amazing, perfect adventure it has been.  And, on a side note, fate also never let me throw that "break up" note away...which I ever so gently reminded him of in POSTER SIZE at our rehearsal dinner!

I can't help but smile when I think back to the party guy, with the bangs, who picked me up for our first HS date in a white, old-school Chrysler Fifth Avenue...


...to the amazing man I married, who along with being the best husband and Dad in the entire world, never lost that charm and wit that attracted me in the first place.  And, now here we are, 11 years later, happily married with two amazingly, beautiful and perfect kids.  Me, I still feel like that young girl when I look at him, thankful and lucky that he picked me. 

Happy anniversary to the love of my life. 

Thursday, November 4, 2010

High Hopes

When I started my blog last October, I had high hopes.  It was kinda like when I was in college and assumed that just because I was at a top rated journalism school and was semi-cute, I could just bypass the normal progression of working your way through small town TV stations and just be the next co-host of The Today Show.  Yeah, no.  Same as when I was waiting to get "discovered" in my early years as the next child movie star prodigy.  Guess they were looking for someone a little taller?!?  I just assumed that my blog would gain instant popularity.  In reality, I guess you actually have to, you know, write...on a regular basis.  Not sure once a month is gonna fly.  

I've been giving myself a lot of grief about my sub-par blogging efforts.  There's so much I want to say and remember.  Sometimes it's hard to put my feelings into words, other times I think things are too silly and trivial to put out there and other times I'm just downright lazy.  Then tonight it hit me that the thing I started as an outlet, a keepsake and my personal therapy was turning into just another thing to feel guilty about for not doing.  So, moving forward my promise is first cut myself a little slack and be proud of the days I DO post. And, second try to do a better job updating -- not for any other reason than I know I'll want to remember and relive these memories as the kids get older!

So, here is what has been going on in my world for the past month:

1.  We had our first (and g-d willing last) trip to the ER with Lulu.  Why, you ask?  Well, my darling daughter put a dried blueberry up her nose.  Oh yes, she did.  I couldn't get it out -- you try telling a 20 month old how to hold one nostril closed and blow out the other.  I figured it would come out on its own and it didn't seem to bother her in the slightest.  Just in case, I called the pediatrician and the nurse told me I needed to take her to the ER immediately.  Really?!?  I guess because the back of the nose and the airway are connected, you can't mess around.  I obliged and after an hour of sitting in the waiting room, it came out on its own.  (I couldn't believe how much a dried blueberry reconstitutes with snot...yes, the mental image is just as gross as the real thing).  Thank goodness it did, because I couldn't decide which was worse, the heartache watching all the families coming in with very sick kids or worrying that I had my perfectly healthy child around all those germs.  And, I also wouldn't be me if I didn't admit that I was slightly panicked because my baby was an hour past her bedtime. 

2.  On the same subject, my Mom rocks!  My hubby wasn't home during operation-blueberry-extraction-so-we-don't-have-to-go-to-the-ER.  When I realized that we had to go, I couldn't reach AMB on his cell.  So, I called my Mom so she could come over and stay with MDB.  A few minutes later, I heard from the hubs, so I called my mom back and told her not to worry.  She evidentially heard that ever-so-slight panic in my voice and even though she was SO tired and was just getting home from work, she came with me to the hospital anyway!  She never ceases to amaze me, with her deep kindness and calming presence.  Thanks Mom!

3.  Oh, and I come to learn that someone's big brother (not naming any names) had spent lunch that day teaching his baby sister, who mimics EVERYTHING, how to stick food objects up her nose.  The big brother in question acted so innocently when informed of his sister's misgivings...

4.  One of my very best camp friends came to Chi-town for the weekend.  It was so incredible to see her and spend quality time just the two of us.  It was also so heartwarning watching her interact with my kids and how they took to her instantly. 

5.  On the doula front, I've officially joined the ranks as a volunteer doula with the amazing Chicago Volunteer Doulas group.  It's perfect for me since I can pick and choose my 12 hour shifts monthly.  And, to do it for women in need, I can't imagine anything better and more fulfilling than that.  I'm hoping to get on the schedule for December and I honestly can't wait to be a part of my first birth. 

6.  MDB has reached an epic infatuation with Disney Pixar Cars.  Our house has been taken over by little cars with eyes and his ongoing Chanukah/Christmas list will keep The Disney Store in business for a long time to come. 

7.  Halloween was a big success for my pirate and my ladybug.  Unlike every other child in America, MDB wasn't very excited about putting on a costume and trick-or-treating.  He was finally coaxed out of the house in costume with a mini Milky Way bar and seemed to enjoy.  And, Lulu...well, she loved every moment!




8.  Speaking of Lulu, it seems we have a girl with a serious sweet tooth.  Her new favorite words are cookies, cake, candy and cream (for ice cream).  She starts every morning by opening the freezer, grabbing the "cream" and climbing into her highchair.  I try to explain that ice cream isn't appropriate at 5:45 a.m., but I'm not sure she agrees. 

9.  We went to Vegas in early October with four other couples -- just like last year.  We had an incredible time and, after a weekend of losing, literally on the way out of the hotel to the airport I won $1,000, hitting a spin on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine.  What a way to end an alreay perfect vacation!



 
So, that's it for now.  'Til next time...which could be tomorrow or could be next month!