Matt has taken Gracie with him to visit his family in Chicago, so aside from a dog, this is the first time I will be alone in a long time.
And I am starting to get excited about it.
I am going out for a beer tonight. Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to do without a lot of pre-planning, followed by the anxiety of a crabby baby that night as my punishment for going out.
I am going to paint our powder room bathroom that has been driving me nuts since we moved into our home three years ago. Normally, this is forbidden due the combination of paint fumes and baby hands on wet pain.
I am going to sit on the couch and watch girly movies. Normally, Matt pouts and leaves the room when I watch anything that isn’t sports, food or news related, so his absence means I can camp out for an all day movie marathon.
I am going to take a really, really hot spa bath. Maybe I'll even add bubbles. Normally, the noise of the tub is guaranteed to piss off Grace, so our beloved tub has only been used 3 or 4 times in the last 15 months.
Ahh, finally a happy weekend of doing nothing.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Gracie's Grace's
Gracie L-O-V-E-S shoes. Which, frankly, makes me very happy. 'Shoes' (pronounced Sue) was one of her first words and is a constant object of playing, piling and taste testing in our house.
So, as of next week, these are her new shoes.
Since she has started walking though, the extra room in her first pair of shoes has disappeared.
Pretty much overnight. I checked to make sure that she had plenty of wiggle room everyday, but as of last weekend, the constant pressure on her tootsies have removed every centimeter of toe space.
Cute, huh? My mom was very pleased at the opportunity to be the one to purchase these sweet little things.
Their style name? Grace.
Loving the Love
Yesterday was Gracie’s 15 month doctor’s appointment.
The official word from Dr. H?
"She’s 30th percentile across the board for weight, height and head, but she has been that way since birth so she is right on track. Her verbal and motor skills are above average, and she is very social and outgoing which is a wonderful trait. She’s a beautiful, healthy, intelligent girl and you should be very proud of yourselves as parents."
Really. That is what he said to me, and that is why I love him.
So the statistics…. Grace is officially 21 pounds, 8 ounces and 29 1/2 inches long. My little weed.
She powered through the two immunizations and was rewarded with two lollipops and an Dora sticker. Not that she know who Dora is (thank God!) but she does appreciate anything that is sticky (which I think is her main attraction to the lollipops too.)
In all, it was a successful trip. See you in 3 more months.
The official word from Dr. H?
"She’s 30th percentile across the board for weight, height and head, but she has been that way since birth so she is right on track. Her verbal and motor skills are above average, and she is very social and outgoing which is a wonderful trait. She’s a beautiful, healthy, intelligent girl and you should be very proud of yourselves as parents."
Really. That is what he said to me, and that is why I love him.
So the statistics…. Grace is officially 21 pounds, 8 ounces and 29 1/2 inches long. My little weed.
She powered through the two immunizations and was rewarded with two lollipops and an Dora sticker. Not that she know who Dora is (thank God!) but she does appreciate anything that is sticky (which I think is her main attraction to the lollipops too.)
In all, it was a successful trip. See you in 3 more months.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Breathe
My parent’s were here this past weekend. They stayed with us for 72 hours.
Maybe the problem is me and Matt.
We get so used to doing things our own way. We get so used to the freedom one gets from living 700 miles away from family. We get so used to be able to breathe, and while I love my parents, when they come it feels like I can’t breathe.
There is never a break when they stay at our house.
There is never a plan, unless we create it. If you give them options, they say ‘Oh, I don’t know / I don’t care, you choose.’
The problem with that is WE live here. IF we wanted to do these things we do them without the ordeal. Then everyday mundane things that I need to / want to / would be doing if they weren’t here also become an ordeal.
I start to get snippy. I start to shut down.
My mom, on her own, I can handle. I can go about my daily activities, with her in tow, much more easily.
My dad on the other hand, is a challenge.
We like to think of my dad as a cat. You know, the whole 9 lives thing. He has been given more chances at life that most people could ever dream of.
My dad is a Type 1 diabetic also. I will cut him some slack under the notion that he was 6 years old when diagnosed – 1957 – and the technology looks like something the Flintstones would have used compared to today. To add to it, from the stories I’ve heard (second hand), he and his condition, with blamed for a lot of what was wrong in his mother’s life.
I get that things were hard. I get that he was treated horribly. I do. I have sympathy.
What I don’t get is why he is in his current state. So much of it is preventable with a little bit of responsibility and proactivity. Neither of which he has ever attempted.
That is where my patience wears thin.
Your bored because you had to take early retirement? Get a hobby. Read the newspaper. DO something besides watching TV 12 hours a day and sleeping the other 12.
Physical activity is still hard for you? Go for a short walk. Go to the gym. Ride the recumbent bicycle that is 2 feet away from where you are watching TV. Pick up aroudn the house. The surgery and all it’s complications was over 3 years ago. So something besides sit there and complain.
You feel ill because your sugars fluctuate so much? Check your blood sugar! 10 times a day if you have too. Take responsibility for what your are putting in your body. Learn the effect that CARBS have on you. Learn the names and doses of the medicines that your take everyday, 3 times a day!
My mom made a comment to me that she hasn’t seen my dad so happy in a long time. That Gracie was having a wonderful effect on him. He also got visibly emotional when saying goodbye to her.
My gut response to this? Anger.
They are always welcome to come visit, but I am tired of feeling like I’ve been kicked after every visit. I cannot make their lives better. Grace cannot make them feel more fulfilled. More importantly, we shouldn't have to feel like that is on our shoulders. Shouldn’t that come from taking care themselves? I am tired of feeling like I have to fill some sort of unfulfilled void in their lives, especially in my dad’s case.
He has opportunity. He has gotten and keeps getting so many second, third, fourth … chances. He does nothing with them though. I don’t understand the point of wanting all the things that he wants, and then doing nothing with it when he gets it.
----- Stop ranting. Just breathe. Keep breathing. -----
That was my weekend. We did nothing. We went nowhere. We talked about nothing.
It should have been nice, huh? Normally I am lamenting that I don’t get to do those three things.
Maybe the problem is me and Matt.
We get so used to doing things our own way. We get so used to the freedom one gets from living 700 miles away from family. We get so used to be able to breathe, and while I love my parents, when they come it feels like I can’t breathe.
There is never a break when they stay at our house.
There is never a plan, unless we create it. If you give them options, they say ‘Oh, I don’t know / I don’t care, you choose.’
The problem with that is WE live here. IF we wanted to do these things we do them without the ordeal. Then everyday mundane things that I need to / want to / would be doing if they weren’t here also become an ordeal.
I start to get snippy. I start to shut down.
My mom, on her own, I can handle. I can go about my daily activities, with her in tow, much more easily.
My dad on the other hand, is a challenge.
We like to think of my dad as a cat. You know, the whole 9 lives thing. He has been given more chances at life that most people could ever dream of.
My dad is a Type 1 diabetic also. I will cut him some slack under the notion that he was 6 years old when diagnosed – 1957 – and the technology looks like something the Flintstones would have used compared to today. To add to it, from the stories I’ve heard (second hand), he and his condition, with blamed for a lot of what was wrong in his mother’s life.
I get that things were hard. I get that he was treated horribly. I do. I have sympathy.
What I don’t get is why he is in his current state. So much of it is preventable with a little bit of responsibility and proactivity. Neither of which he has ever attempted.
That is where my patience wears thin.
Your bored because you had to take early retirement? Get a hobby. Read the newspaper. DO something besides watching TV 12 hours a day and sleeping the other 12.
Physical activity is still hard for you? Go for a short walk. Go to the gym. Ride the recumbent bicycle that is 2 feet away from where you are watching TV. Pick up aroudn the house. The surgery and all it’s complications was over 3 years ago. So something besides sit there and complain.
You feel ill because your sugars fluctuate so much? Check your blood sugar! 10 times a day if you have too. Take responsibility for what your are putting in your body. Learn the effect that CARBS have on you. Learn the names and doses of the medicines that your take everyday, 3 times a day!
My mom made a comment to me that she hasn’t seen my dad so happy in a long time. That Gracie was having a wonderful effect on him. He also got visibly emotional when saying goodbye to her.
My gut response to this? Anger.
They are always welcome to come visit, but I am tired of feeling like I’ve been kicked after every visit. I cannot make their lives better. Grace cannot make them feel more fulfilled. More importantly, we shouldn't have to feel like that is on our shoulders. Shouldn’t that come from taking care themselves? I am tired of feeling like I have to fill some sort of unfulfilled void in their lives, especially in my dad’s case.
He has opportunity. He has gotten and keeps getting so many second, third, fourth … chances. He does nothing with them though. I don’t understand the point of wanting all the things that he wants, and then doing nothing with it when he gets it.
----- Stop ranting. Just breathe. Keep breathing. -----
That was my weekend. We did nothing. We went nowhere. We talked about nothing.
It should have been nice, huh? Normally I am lamenting that I don’t get to do those three things.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ten.
During a hissyfit last night, I made a discovery.
Gracie has sprouted two more teeth, with an additional just days away from popping through the gums. (Normally she tries to bite me when I stick my finger in her mouth to explore for new teeth.)
We have all four front teeth on both top and bottom (eight total), and now the next two top right teeth have joined the party.
This brings the number up to ten. Ten teeth. And one is a molar. Hurray grinding!
Gracie has sprouted two more teeth, with an additional just days away from popping through the gums. (Normally she tries to bite me when I stick my finger in her mouth to explore for new teeth.)
We have all four front teeth on both top and bottom (eight total), and now the next two top right teeth have joined the party.
This brings the number up to ten. Ten teeth. And one is a molar. Hurray grinding!
OK kid, we are half way there! Only ten more to go!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
But It Dangles
Yesterday was a two-fer for the milestones.
The first, the official declaration of toddlerdom is major. The second, is a milestone that I’ve been thinking about already, but had no idea we would hit so soon.
Body parts. Interest in them. Discovery of them.
When I thought about this though, it was her own. Or mine. And she would be able to talk and ask questions.
Nope not my kid. At just shy of 15 months old, what did she do last night?
Barged in on her father in a non-dressed state (not a big deal), walked right up to him (big deal but only because of the newness of the walking) and grabbed hold of his … ahhh …. umm … manhood (big deal.)
No. No. In all the conversations we’ve been having about what to do when curiosity about body parts arises, we have decided to use actual names.
Grace grabbed Matt’s penis last night.
There. I said it.
Well, I typed it. It was still hard, even through my snickering. It is so hard to stop snickering.
At this point there is nothing to do. She doesn’t understand the concept of ‘private areas’ yet and I doubt there is even any point in trying to explain. She has a whole new perspective (literally) on life. There is so much more in her line of sight.
There was a thing dangling right in front of her. She’d be crazy NOT to grab, right?
While I know not very many people read this, any suggestions Internets? (Aside from Matt putting clothes back on faster.)
How do you handle this? How do we prepare for the questions to come?
The first, the official declaration of toddlerdom is major. The second, is a milestone that I’ve been thinking about already, but had no idea we would hit so soon.
Body parts. Interest in them. Discovery of them.
When I thought about this though, it was her own. Or mine. And she would be able to talk and ask questions.
Nope not my kid. At just shy of 15 months old, what did she do last night?
Barged in on her father in a non-dressed state (not a big deal), walked right up to him (big deal but only because of the newness of the walking) and grabbed hold of his … ahhh …. umm … manhood (big deal.)
No. No. In all the conversations we’ve been having about what to do when curiosity about body parts arises, we have decided to use actual names.
Grace grabbed Matt’s penis last night.
There. I said it.
Well, I typed it. It was still hard, even through my snickering. It is so hard to stop snickering.
At this point there is nothing to do. She doesn’t understand the concept of ‘private areas’ yet and I doubt there is even any point in trying to explain. She has a whole new perspective (literally) on life. There is so much more in her line of sight.
There was a thing dangling right in front of her. She’d be crazy NOT to grab, right?
While I know not very many people read this, any suggestions Internets? (Aside from Matt putting clothes back on faster.)
How do you handle this? How do we prepare for the questions to come?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Officially Official Now
We are the official proud parents of a Toddler now.
Yep, you read that right. At 14 months, 4 weeks and 3 days old, Grace has upgraded from four legs to two.
While yes, she has been walking for quite awhile, I kept telling myself that cruising isn’t quite the same thing as toddling. When she can cross a room like some crazy looking Japanese robot, then and only then, will she get the title.
That moment came tonight. My baby, I mean toddler, made the long walk from the front door all the way to the kitchen table.
Watch out world. She’s coming for you.
Yep, you read that right. At 14 months, 4 weeks and 3 days old, Grace has upgraded from four legs to two.
While yes, she has been walking for quite awhile, I kept telling myself that cruising isn’t quite the same thing as toddling. When she can cross a room like some crazy looking Japanese robot, then and only then, will she get the title.
That moment came tonight. My baby, I mean toddler, made the long walk from the front door all the way to the kitchen table.
Watch out world. She’s coming for you.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Whee! Wii! Whew.
Matt and I have been so good about limiting our spending lately.
Well, good for us anyway.
Since we started our spending crack-down in November, I don’t think I have spent more than $50 on things that I don’t “need” (yeah, I know, totally in quotes.)
Now we are getting itchy.
On Sunday we went to NES’s house for a Wii play date. We keep hesitating on the purchase of this pricey gaming system, because let’s face it, we loose interest in things quickly. (Ahemm… can you say Elliptical Machine that is collecting cobwebs in our basement.)
We loved the Wii though. How often, as adults, do you get to hula hoop? How often do you get to hula hoop in your living room? How often do you get to hula hoop in your living room with full knowledge that you look like and idiot, but just don’t care??
NEVER.
That’s how often.
But we did. We hula hooped! We skied! We Yoga-ed! We battled with NES’s family. And it was GREAT. We, as adults, actually PLAYED.
It was so much fun and as a couch potato slug, I love the idea of another source of motivation right in front of me to get off that couch after Grace goes to sleep. Sure, it’s not the same as getting on that said Elliptical or doing crunches, but I wasn’t doing that anyway.
So now we are facing some spendy dilemmas. The suckers are $300. Plus $130 for the Fit. We’ve been SO good. Now we are falling into a big time hissyfit of WANT WANT WANT. ME ME ME. NEED NEED NEED.
We will see my little Wii, I’m sure we will figure something out. If nothing else, I know where one lives and there is a fat little character with my name all over it.
Well, good for us anyway.
Since we started our spending crack-down in November, I don’t think I have spent more than $50 on things that I don’t “need” (yeah, I know, totally in quotes.)
Now we are getting itchy.
On Sunday we went to NES’s house for a Wii play date. We keep hesitating on the purchase of this pricey gaming system, because let’s face it, we loose interest in things quickly. (Ahemm… can you say Elliptical Machine that is collecting cobwebs in our basement.)
We loved the Wii though. How often, as adults, do you get to hula hoop? How often do you get to hula hoop in your living room? How often do you get to hula hoop in your living room with full knowledge that you look like and idiot, but just don’t care??
NEVER.
That’s how often.
But we did. We hula hooped! We skied! We Yoga-ed! We battled with NES’s family. And it was GREAT. We, as adults, actually PLAYED.
It was so much fun and as a couch potato slug, I love the idea of another source of motivation right in front of me to get off that couch after Grace goes to sleep. Sure, it’s not the same as getting on that said Elliptical or doing crunches, but I wasn’t doing that anyway.
So now we are facing some spendy dilemmas. The suckers are $300. Plus $130 for the Fit. We’ve been SO good. Now we are falling into a big time hissyfit of WANT WANT WANT. ME ME ME. NEED NEED NEED.
We will see my little Wii, I’m sure we will figure something out. If nothing else, I know where one lives and there is a fat little character with my name all over it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Into the New Year
Aahhhh.
The holidays are officially over.
What do we have to show for it?
A wonderful Christmas with my brother and Gracie finally getting the concept of tearing at wrapping paper.
The holidays are officially over.
What do we have to show for it?
A wonderful Christmas with my brother and Gracie finally getting the concept of tearing at wrapping paper.
She did decide to start climbing the many large presents sent to her by Grandparents though, after getting tired just two presents into the pile.
A decadent New Years Eve. OK, Matt and I did go to bed at 10:30 on New Years, but hey, you have to be practical. That did not hinder our dinner of giant fillet mignon, shrimp that tasted just like lobster and two bottles of champagne though.
A holiday party with the best people we know. Due to the rescheduling, a good portion of our friends were still out to town, but the crowd that came was fantastic and delightfully low key.
So low key in fact, that pants were optional.
Well, only if you were age three or younger. Were pretty open, but don’t roll quite like that.
Now, things will slow down, right?
Oh, except for my parents flying out here this Thursday-Sunday, Matt & Grace flying back to Chicago the Friday after through Monday, then Matt's Uncle and cousins coming to visit the weekend after that.
How does February look for slowing down??
Friday, January 2, 2009
Time Marches On
Happy New Year!
I am excited about this New Year, and I think it is because I made a point out of NOT making any resolutions. What is the point?
We all want to loose weight.
We all want to do good things / be better people.
We all want our family and friends to prosper and be happy.
So what is the point of making resolutions that will only feed guilt and disappointment when I inevitably fail? We all falter, so why put quantification on the next 365 days?
I still have goals for 2009, though they are much more flexible and subjective this year.
1) I want to remember to spend more time living in the moment.
Grace is learning so fast and growing so quickly. Her vocabulary is ever expanding and each day she is steadier on her legs.
Yesterday she took 12 consecutive steps a few times. Tomorrow it will be even more. A few months from now she will be running around the house and into my arms. A few years from now she will be running out of the house and away from us.
Yesterday Matt and I were discussing plans for our basement. He thinks we should build another bedroom down there so when Grace is older she can have more space.
I freaked.
More space? More space!! Hell no. She is staying upstairs.
I want to slow down, calm down and appreciate that she is tugging on my pants to be held.
2) I want to drink more water.
OK, that does fall along the lines of a 'resolution', but I really don't expect myself to. I won't feel like a failure if I don't.
I hate water and am a Diet Coke junkie.
However, I am starting to see creases in my face (I refuse to call them wrinkles at 30) to accompany my ever expanding colony of silver hair and figure that if I can just start drinking A LITTLE bit more more during the week they will fill in and go away.
I am excited about this New Year, and I think it is because I made a point out of NOT making any resolutions. What is the point?
We all want to loose weight.
We all want to do good things / be better people.
We all want our family and friends to prosper and be happy.
So what is the point of making resolutions that will only feed guilt and disappointment when I inevitably fail? We all falter, so why put quantification on the next 365 days?
I still have goals for 2009, though they are much more flexible and subjective this year.
1) I want to remember to spend more time living in the moment.
Grace is learning so fast and growing so quickly. Her vocabulary is ever expanding and each day she is steadier on her legs.
Yesterday she took 12 consecutive steps a few times. Tomorrow it will be even more. A few months from now she will be running around the house and into my arms. A few years from now she will be running out of the house and away from us.
Yesterday Matt and I were discussing plans for our basement. He thinks we should build another bedroom down there so when Grace is older she can have more space.
I freaked.
More space? More space!! Hell no. She is staying upstairs.
I want to slow down, calm down and appreciate that she is tugging on my pants to be held.
2) I want to drink more water.
OK, that does fall along the lines of a 'resolution', but I really don't expect myself to. I won't feel like a failure if I don't.
I hate water and am a Diet Coke junkie.
However, I am starting to see creases in my face (I refuse to call them wrinkles at 30) to accompany my ever expanding colony of silver hair and figure that if I can just start drinking A LITTLE bit more more during the week they will fill in and go away.
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