It has taken me over 3 months to think up something to write on this blog.
And I think the well is still dry. *sigh*
9.02.2010
5.16.2010
wouldn't it be loverly if.....
...10 Hershey's Kisses made up for a day of half-eaten meals, a 2 hour walk with a baby who refused to sleep (only to fall asleep 1 block away from home and therefore extended that walk by 30 minutes), and another "conversation" with my other about how his presence on the weekends around baby during naptimes actually IS disruptive. Realistically speaking, 10 Hershey's Kisses does not make things better.
*sigh*
Guess I'll have to eat the entire bag.
*sigh*
Guess I'll have to eat the entire bag.
3.28.2010
wasn't it sunday yesterday?
I think this is the first day since the bebe was born that I stayed up to post and futz on the interweb. Eliza is sleeping and so is her daddy and I'm okay with taking this time to get some stuff done. After all, I put her to sleep and had to get up 3 more times to calm her after she woke up. I deserve this.
On a different note, I want to say that this year the Easter Bunny is going to kick some ass. I just put together a beautiful basket for my daughter. It's filled with all sorts of goodies only an infant and her mother could love: stuffed bunnies, books, clothes, and a tummy-time toy. And I'm proud to say that all of her items are Easter and/or Spring themed (I rock!). It is also decorated in a most green way (from items I already had and all of it can be reused again). I'm also setting myself up for a few years of trying to top the greatness that I will be achieving each and every year (I'm just a little modest, aren't I?) but I'm up to the challenge.
Lastly, I love, love, love being a mommy and have an awesomely cute baby. I think that I work hard at making sure Eliza is happy, active and loved, but I didn't expect the sort of attachment that she and I have created. For example, because we're co-sleeping, she'll turn on her side towards me and with her eyes closed she'll find my nose with her hand and grab on tight to make sure I don't leave her. I think that's totally sweet, even if she inadvertently deprives me of a little oxygen every now and then.
On a different note, I want to say that this year the Easter Bunny is going to kick some ass. I just put together a beautiful basket for my daughter. It's filled with all sorts of goodies only an infant and her mother could love: stuffed bunnies, books, clothes, and a tummy-time toy. And I'm proud to say that all of her items are Easter and/or Spring themed (I rock!). It is also decorated in a most green way (from items I already had and all of it can be reused again). I'm also setting myself up for a few years of trying to top the greatness that I will be achieving each and every year (I'm just a little modest, aren't I?) but I'm up to the challenge.
Lastly, I love, love, love being a mommy and have an awesomely cute baby. I think that I work hard at making sure Eliza is happy, active and loved, but I didn't expect the sort of attachment that she and I have created. For example, because we're co-sleeping, she'll turn on her side towards me and with her eyes closed she'll find my nose with her hand and grab on tight to make sure I don't leave her. I think that's totally sweet, even if she inadvertently deprives me of a little oxygen every now and then.
I gotta put it somewhere
This is more of a Facebook profile post, but I just put something there so this will have to go on my blog...
1 avocado and 1/2 cold pita for dinner. Pitiful.
1 avocado and 1/2 cold pita for dinner. Pitiful.
2.23.2010
bad blogger, bad, bad!
I allow the baby to fall asleep while nursing and let her sleep on her Boppy on my lap. While she sleeps, I surf the internet on my conveniently located laptop (next to the couch). I Facebook stalk, catch up on the Times online. I comment, occasionally, on blogs and statuses with one free hand as my drowsy daughter holds the other one hostage. I don't protest.
Am I a bad mother for this? No. Am I a bad blogger for this? Likely. And I do feel guilty for not updating on either of my blogs.
When I think on this too much and am about to cross the bridge between being upset and being depressed I look at IPJ's blog. It makes me feel a little better when I see he hasn't written a new post in forever.
And then I think too much on this and I feel bad again, because I know he's been though alot recently and he has good reasons not to write, if he doesn't want to.
Thank goodness that pan of blondies I made this afternoon is in arms reach.
Am I a bad mother for this? No. Am I a bad blogger for this? Likely. And I do feel guilty for not updating on either of my blogs.
When I think on this too much and am about to cross the bridge between being upset and being depressed I look at IPJ's blog. It makes me feel a little better when I see he hasn't written a new post in forever.
And then I think too much on this and I feel bad again, because I know he's been though alot recently and he has good reasons not to write, if he doesn't want to.
Thank goodness that pan of blondies I made this afternoon is in arms reach.
2.06.2010
1.27.2010
1.06.2010
holy shit
That's it! I am officially one of those crazy moms. Not the type that ignores their children. You know, the type that worries about everything. I told my dad the other day that everyday I observe something about my daughter and I worry about it. Generally, my worries are around nursing; weight gain, gas, schedule, etc. For the last 3 days my concern is about poo.
Poo is a nice way of saying crap, shit, stool, feces. Even to her doctor, I can say the grownup word urinate, but I can only call her dirty diapers pooy diapers.
Anyway, I won't get into the details of her 'poo.' But I will say that so far all of the baby books I have, WebMD, BabyCenter.com, and my parents tell me that I don't have anything to be concerned with. My own instincts tell me there is not a problem. But her poo has changed, there has to be a problem, right?!
Look, I can handle the cradle cap, the baby acne, the crying at 1am, and I even was totally calm about her pink eye. But the poo has thrown me for a loop. I don't know what to say. I'm not the same girl you all have come to love. Or, I am the same crazy girl. I've just found a new level of crazy to share.
(in a small voice) Help me.
Poo is a nice way of saying crap, shit, stool, feces. Even to her doctor, I can say the grownup word urinate, but I can only call her dirty diapers pooy diapers.
Anyway, I won't get into the details of her 'poo.' But I will say that so far all of the baby books I have, WebMD, BabyCenter.com, and my parents tell me that I don't have anything to be concerned with. My own instincts tell me there is not a problem. But her poo has changed, there has to be a problem, right?!
Look, I can handle the cradle cap, the baby acne, the crying at 1am, and I even was totally calm about her pink eye. But the poo has thrown me for a loop. I don't know what to say. I'm not the same girl you all have come to love. Or, I am the same crazy girl. I've just found a new level of crazy to share.
(in a small voice) Help me.
12.30.2009
who's a super mom now?
Now that I have an addition to my family (aka: cutie-patootie baby) and money is a little tighter than before, I've been perusing sites catered to stay-at-home and working part-time mommies, looking for ideas to help make my money go further. The author of moneysavingmom.com is starting an "eat what you've got" challenge. Simple enough. Just try to use up the food that's in your pantry, minimize what you buy at the grocery, save money. I can do that. Of course my family can't do without a few staples, like milk, fresh produce, and fresh bread, but I would love to clean out my food cabinets and start fresh all over again. So, since goals that are written down are more likely to be actualized, here are my goals:
1. Start date: officially January 1st, but I can use up items in my pantry now, if I choose.
2. Duration: as long as it takes to clean out the cupboards. Afterwards the goal will be to maintain a pantry with a minimal amount of food to last through the week and/or month.
3. Output: make breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts out of what we have on hand and only purchasing what is absolutely needed to supplement our meals (ex: eggs for breakfast but can also go with items on hand for baking muffins).
4. Cost: I know what I could easily spend, but let's say my goal is to spend no more than $50/week on groceries. I know that may seem high for a weekly grocery bill for two adults and an infant who's exclusively breastfeeding (solid foods around the corner), but I base that on two factors; a. my dad spend $100/week on groceries for 2 adults and 3 growing children (and this was only 15-20 years ago) and b. I want to pocket what we don't spend and put it towards paying off debt.
5. Exceptions: we should be allowed to treat ourselves. One meal per week either eaten out or as take-out. Cost of meal does not count towards grocery bill nor can it be pocketed towards debt goal either (since I could easily spend $10 - $40 for a meal out). Entertainment spending goal can be created at another time.
So, I'll do my best to document our progress. It seems like a good resolution for the new year and like an obtainable goal. Other goals for the year:
A. Save up for next Christmas. I've done this one in the past with a generally successful outcome. I save up all of the loose change we collect throughout the year and make presents for family members only and holiday cards for everyone else. This year I'm counting on the sentimental factor to help us out since we have a baby (ie: customized photo calendars or photo mugs perhaps?). A small item that can be massed produced will cost less than previous years gifts (food baskets) and shipping costs will be cheaper, too. The rest of the saved money will be spent on our daughter and anything left over will either be saved for the next Christmas or be used to pay off a bill.
B. Pay off 50% of our student loans. This is a big one, because the bulk of our debt (and likely yours too) is student loans. Damn me and my other for getting a college education and damn the bureaucracy for making obtaining a higher education so expensive. My other and I worked while going to school, had daily living expenses to pay, and ended up with a large bill to show for our combined 2 bachelors and 2 masters degrees. Once this is all paid off we can seriously save up for a down payment on our own white-picketed American dream.
C. Begin and contribute to a college savings account for our daughter. I want her to hold a part-time job while in school, but I also don't want her to be burdened with years of debt that will postpone other life goals that she will want to pursue.
D. Take mini-vacations with my family. We just got a Zipcar membership and we have big plans for the car. Staycations galore (well, maybe not galore, but hopefully once a month) that will include seeing local sites and events only accessible by automobile. Being stuck in the city can make one feel claustrophobic. Of course we will take advantage of what the city has to offer, but it would be nice to drive somewhere too.
Wow! What a long post. But what a big year we have ahead of us. I hope you have goals that you'll work towards in 2010. I say goal rather than resolution because resolutions are meant to be broken and goals are meant to be realized. Happy New Year everyone!
1. Start date: officially January 1st, but I can use up items in my pantry now, if I choose.
2. Duration: as long as it takes to clean out the cupboards. Afterwards the goal will be to maintain a pantry with a minimal amount of food to last through the week and/or month.
3. Output: make breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts out of what we have on hand and only purchasing what is absolutely needed to supplement our meals (ex: eggs for breakfast but can also go with items on hand for baking muffins).
4. Cost: I know what I could easily spend, but let's say my goal is to spend no more than $50/week on groceries. I know that may seem high for a weekly grocery bill for two adults and an infant who's exclusively breastfeeding (solid foods around the corner), but I base that on two factors; a. my dad spend $100/week on groceries for 2 adults and 3 growing children (and this was only 15-20 years ago) and b. I want to pocket what we don't spend and put it towards paying off debt.
5. Exceptions: we should be allowed to treat ourselves. One meal per week either eaten out or as take-out. Cost of meal does not count towards grocery bill nor can it be pocketed towards debt goal either (since I could easily spend $10 - $40 for a meal out). Entertainment spending goal can be created at another time.
So, I'll do my best to document our progress. It seems like a good resolution for the new year and like an obtainable goal. Other goals for the year:
A. Save up for next Christmas. I've done this one in the past with a generally successful outcome. I save up all of the loose change we collect throughout the year and make presents for family members only and holiday cards for everyone else. This year I'm counting on the sentimental factor to help us out since we have a baby (ie: customized photo calendars or photo mugs perhaps?). A small item that can be massed produced will cost less than previous years gifts (food baskets) and shipping costs will be cheaper, too. The rest of the saved money will be spent on our daughter and anything left over will either be saved for the next Christmas or be used to pay off a bill.
B. Pay off 50% of our student loans. This is a big one, because the bulk of our debt (and likely yours too) is student loans. Damn me and my other for getting a college education and damn the bureaucracy for making obtaining a higher education so expensive. My other and I worked while going to school, had daily living expenses to pay, and ended up with a large bill to show for our combined 2 bachelors and 2 masters degrees. Once this is all paid off we can seriously save up for a down payment on our own white-picketed American dream.
C. Begin and contribute to a college savings account for our daughter. I want her to hold a part-time job while in school, but I also don't want her to be burdened with years of debt that will postpone other life goals that she will want to pursue.
D. Take mini-vacations with my family. We just got a Zipcar membership and we have big plans for the car. Staycations galore (well, maybe not galore, but hopefully once a month) that will include seeing local sites and events only accessible by automobile. Being stuck in the city can make one feel claustrophobic. Of course we will take advantage of what the city has to offer, but it would be nice to drive somewhere too.
Wow! What a long post. But what a big year we have ahead of us. I hope you have goals that you'll work towards in 2010. I say goal rather than resolution because resolutions are meant to be broken and goals are meant to be realized. Happy New Year everyone!
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