for the love of...

SLEEPING!

I may have mentioned a time or two that I am sleep deprived. 

Not to be confused with insomnia.

What baby expert, doctor citing, mommy handbook advisor

said "TO SLEEP WHEN BABY SLEEPS"?

Because, frankly, they are delusional.

Actually, my first adjective was "full of shit". 

What am I missing?

Do they have a nanny, maid, and another mommy living with them?

I will sleep in 2029.

Not that I am counting.

Nor am I wishing.

I am just stating the OCD obvious.

Alexandra really does have a crib.  A place to sleep.

It's just that some days are entirely on the go...

that she just falls asleep as soon as we return home.

Wish I could do that!

OCD = obsessive compulsive disorder

time

Eight months old.  Next week.

2028 is her high school graduation year.  And I only know this because I am always counting, making lists, and procrastinating due to my OCD capabilities.  However, my OCD seems to worsen in my foggy state.

I am cherishing my days.  No matter how sleep deprived.  And even if I occasionally call my husband by the name of John.  Which is clearly not his name.  Nor his middle name.  Nor is it even the name of an ex.  It is just a name.  I can claim temporary insanity. 

My little "little" is teething.  For six months now.  And this past week has been the absolute worst.  baddest.  horrendousliest.  You name it and it was it.  She screams.  And there is nothing I can do short of rubbing whiskey on her gums.  So, sleep is something I am currently not familiar with.  Truly, I see no end in sight. 

Please God grant me the serenity to maintain my sanity, hourly.

And the ability to remember what day it is.  And make lunches.

And Please God help me to remember my husband's given name!

And the ... awww, hell ... A-f-n-MEN.

ps  no children were given whiskey although you may have been rubbed down with whiskey if you were an infant in the 60s!

there are some things in life

... that make me think that I really want to have more little ones in the home.  The baby stuff that exists today is so fantastic.  So fun.  So non-birth-controlling!

Start wiring children for their college destination while they are in the crib! 

Hell, Baby Einstein did it with "Listen to Mozart and your child will be an amazing genius!"  (by the way, if you have any of those DVDs collecting dust in your home -- you can send them back for a full refund because chances are your child didn't become a genius by the age of 3.)



Plays the MSU fight song!  I love it!




the perfect pacifier



Start your college savings

Awwww!



Every girl needs a cheerleader outfit.  And boy, if needed.



Would totally push Nebraska... look at these adorable Cornhuskers!!

And adorable Aggie dogs!

And... whose mascot is this?  Is it Old Miss?  Tennessee?  I don't know, but I think these old men are kind of cute!!

I sure would like to decorate with these cute university items.  Can I justify a "Mascot Mobile" for my 8 year old?  Or too small university booties for my almost 3 year old? 

Actually, I probably can justify buying these cuties!  The children won't know that not every teenager doesn't have a Cornhusker Mobile in their bedroom ... because I will avoid "play dates" for the next ten years. 

Actually, I can justify buying any item.  Just ask my poor hubby.  Because I have an ongoing very long list of answers for ANY question he might toss in my direction. 

"Why exactly do the girls need Mascot Mobiles at their ages?" asks hubby.
"Well, you said we should begin introducing the children to different universities/colleges at a young age?" I reply with one answer from "the list".
"But did you really need to buy 25 Mascot Mobiles?" whines hubby.
"I couldn't decide which university to push, so I thought that with 25 Mascot Mobiles, they would have a good selection!" I diplomatically counter.
"But these are Mascot Mobiles, how are they going to help in deciding which university to attend?" questions hubby.
"Whatever Mascot Mobile they like the best, DUH!"  I proclaim.
"Huh?" ponders hubby.
"We are females!  Haven't I taught you anything about how the XX chromosomally proud make their decisions a.k.a. the 'cuteness factor' effect!?"  I announce.

I SPY ... a baby, a hospital, and a doctor

a man in uniform

Today started like any regular, normal, ordinary day in the "T" household.  One attending full-day school, one napping, one working, one day-dreaming and one playing.

The doorbell rang.

Which in itself is an oddity.  Since we were doorbell-less for nine years.  Something about "cutting" the wrong wires when I was cleaning.  Yeah, don't ask!  In those nine years, we didn't miss the bell.  Really.  So, when it does chime I barely recognize it.  Usually I think it is the kids playing with their electronic toys.   And since the wire mishap in 2001, technology has advanced itself in the form of WIRELESS DOORBELLS.  Yipee!!  We have been saved from a big re-wiring project that involved crawling around in a one-hundred degree attic!

So, the wireless doorbell chimed.

And it was Mr. Fed-Ex.

Since I was armed with 3 month old baby, Mr. Fed-Ex offered to bring my boxes inside the foyer (new testing shoes have arrived; one for walking and one for running!!)  And that is when it happened!

"P" came around the corner to see who was "visiting".  She had been playing whatever it is two year olds play ... not sure she even realized what she was playing. 

Mr. Fed-Ex:  "Well, NOW, I have SEEN everything!"

Me:  "Yeah, well, I uhhh...."

Mr. Fed-Ex:  "This is great."

Me:  (silently) "Could it get any worse?" 

Mr. Fed-Ex:  "My sister-in-law is pregnant, do you mind if I take your daughter's picture and send it to her?"

Me:  "Go ahead.  I am not sure if I should be embarrassed or not?!"

Mr. Fed-Ex:  "This has made my day."

"P" is sporting her ball-baby-belly; announcing to Mr. Fed-Ex that she has tummy-sick and she goes to her pretend kitchen sink and vomits. 

Me:  I smiled as if to say that this play was exactly what happens daily in our house.

(internal conversation) "Glad it made someone's day because I am in dire need of a double shot {espresso, people}!" 

Toddler Lesson #1938:  one can never quite know what to expect from a precocious personality.

recaps of the last six weeks

17.  A new baby to hold... to watch... to adore... to love...

Babies in hats are adorable!   I cannot get enough of her littleness.  Her softness.  Her sweetness. 
The days go by all too quickly (and sometimes, very slowly) - I want to hold onto this moment for a lifetime and never forget how it feels to hold her.   

recaps of the last six weeks

16.  Favors for any occasion

We love celebrating all special occasions.  And having a baby is one of those special moments!  For visitors at the hospital, we handed out PINK baby bottles filled with M&Ms and tied with "It's a Girl" ribbon. 

At home, while supplies lasted, visitors to the house received Jumbo Pink cookies inscripted with "It's A Girl".  Each cookie was placed in a PINK goody bag, tied with "It's A Girl" ribbon, and adorned with a mini-pacifier!

Victoria helped create tea favors by writing "It's a Girl" and sealing with a baby sticker!  These were sent to my husband's work in lieu of cigars! 

Basically, we are Favor Junkies!  Possibly with too much free time! 



recaps of the last six weeks

13.  More of my favorite blessings:   BABY FEET !!

Booties, and Socks, and Tights.  Oh My!

recaps of the last six weeks

11.  Ruffled Bums are a few of my favorite things:

recaps of the last six weeks

4.  The nursery is ready.

I wanted to change the room I call "nursery" because it has been almost exactly the same since 2003.  The monograms have changed.  The wall letters have changed.  The photos in the frames have changed.  But mostly, the room has not changed. 

Blue walls
Stars
Claire's Check by Waverly (blue/green/yellow plaid fabric)

I thought about adding a "monkey mural" -- I had the perfect one selected but I decided not to change the entire room because really it is a nursery for such a short time.   And in 18 months, I will be redecorating on a whole new level:  a big girl room. 

I did add vintage 1972 Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy prints.  I love this duo.  They are classic.  It reminds me of a simpler time. 

This is the mural I would have painted: 

nesting neuroses

Once upon a time, girl meets boy

boy falls in love and proclaims "the one"

so girl falls in love and claims "this is it"

Girl and Boy get married

Buy an old historic home to renovate

and test their "love" during demolition and restoration

Boy wonders where "his space" is placed

Girl informs said boy that he has "a drawer"

And luckily for said boy and small drawers,

said boy gets "two"

side by side

also known as:

The JUNK drawers

Occasionally, girl enters boy space and cleans out the JUNK