Book Review

I am a total bookworm. I have been since I taught myself to read in first grade. I went to visit my dad's family in NY with him. At that point I was working on the basics in school (I totally remember this!). Think Hop on Pop ...While I was there, Dear Daddy didn't realize that I wasn't really reading. He bought me a chapter book about Helen Keller at a used book store to keep me from being bored. Out of sheer boredom, I read it, and understood it! Since then, I have been a voracious page turner. Lately, I have been working my way through the collection in our local library. This past trip yielded two books to note.



1.) The Almond Picker by Simonetta Agnello Hornby. It was certainly a deviation from my usual mindless fiction. I was drawn in especially by the descriptions of Sicilian life. I myself am 1/2 Italian...and lately have been wanting more information about my family's experiences back in Italy. I also enjoyed the story-part romance-part mystery-part mafia-part socio economic.

2.) Momzillas by Jill Kargman. This is a funny-ass book. Showcases the rat race of motherhood with all the traps of material and paternal (or maternal I should say) competition. It is a nice reminder that our children are totally FINE with just the basics. I love the definitions in the opening of the book...Here's one:



"AFFLUENZA: Malaise of the extremely wealthy; symptoms include panic over which color Bugaboo to buy and night sweats about which $20,000 pre-preschool to apply to. Common occurrences of dissatisfaction despite comfort of riches."



Just thought I would share! Go find these books people and READ!

Ice cream for 31 cents?

It's a great day for Bargain Hunters, Budgeters, and Ice Cream Lovers! (Perhaps not for those of us trying to maintain personal diet and weight goals....)

Anywho, Baskin Robbins is having 31 cent ice cream today....and I for one plan on helping out with their fundraiser. Who wouldn't wanna scoop of ice cream for such a great price and for such a great cause? It is a win win for everyone!

Hmmm, now the hard part...what flavor will I inhale tonight?

Secret Plans....

I have a secret....For fear of blowing a 2 part secret I cannot write about WHAT it is....or WHEN it is....or even WHERE I will be. I get occasional hits that the recipient of all this happy surprise reads the blog.

However, I will say that I am super excited! It is big, and will require some serious planning. My girls and I will be transporting ourselves and the stuff that a 1 year old and a 3 year old will need for 5 days away from home. hmmm did I say too much yet? My momma says I have trouble keeping secrets bottled up inside.

Suffice it to say, that I had better end this post rapidly before I blow it completely....I will of course, update with a follow-up to share with all of you the results of this very cool secret. Happy wondering!

Comments Permitted Please!

Hey faithful readers....

I am soo excited! I was reading with my mom under the archives of my posts. APPARENTLY, if you read my posts by the clicking the title under archives, instead of as it comes up when opening my blog you will be presented with the ability to POST A COMMENT!

So, I ask:

If you are reading my blog, please say AYE! ROLL CALL of my few regular readers! (ANDI THANKS FOR HANGING IN THERE ARE COMMENTING VIA EMAIL! YOU ROCK!)

Happy Monday!

A Gal named Rose. E. Ola

I was feeling so lucky with E having missed many of the baby ailments. Short of a random Ear Infection at 4 mos and the few bouts with cold and flu, our worst was what I suspect as having been rotovirus. Whew! I know....we have a long road ahead with school related ickies. BUT, so so good...


Not so for B. This has been a pretty rough week for us. For Mama and B specifically. She is teething just about all her teeth due by 1 (minus the 2 bottom ones which are already glistening). On Tuesday early in the morning, she developed a pretty high fever, which lasted to Thursday at about 3 am. Tylenol held it's own against the blazes, the fever got as high as 104.6 at one point on Wednesday. No other symptons.....I waited, and waited for the other shoe to fall so to speak. She was sooooo clingy and soooooo miserable it was horrible. A kinda damned if you do and damned if you don't miserable. I could not make her happy in any area of basic needs. She was hungry but not once I got her in her seat to eat. She was tired but wouldn't sleep in arms, on bed or in crib. Played with Sister but would collapse out of nowhere and start crying. UGH.


Yesterday we had our garage sale-Fishman and I each earned about 50 buckerooos. BIG yield! B was like velcro on me or Daddy. She played some, but it was cutting it. I gave her Tylenol, the teething tabs, and cursed the damn teeth which I ASSumed where the culprit. Later, about midday, she was eating a strawberry. Not her first. She had red dots all over her neck and face. We did a body check and lo and behold, her back, her tummy a scattering on her legs and arms. DAMN! That started my phone attack on Kaiser's advice line. Basic message" I ----NEED ----AN ----APPOINTMENT---- NOW! An hour later, I had the girl loosely dressed (did I mention the weather was abso gorgeous? High 80's?) and in th car and we headed to the clinics abuot 30 mins away to see an urgent care dr. Diagnosis? ROSEOLA.

AH-HA! We have some freakin answers. A little Benedryl, Tylenol and some teething tablets and we were on our way to a better night's sleep! Seriously, I had a 6 hour block after I fell asleep. Sounds like nothing? Try 3 hours and some broken up blocks....that's what we had been dealing with all week.

This morning looks soo much better-in rash, in behavior, in appetite. Yeee haw!

Operation Repossession of the Ta-Ta's

I have breastfed my child for the past year. Tonight, it's OVER. I had the last feeding, the bedtime one left as of today. I had planned to begin this earlier in the week. Poor B has been feeling icky with a fever and teething. SO I decided to postpone the weaning process until she was feeling better. She still was feverish this morning, but throughout the day has made great strides to being healthy. (She also is the proud owner of her 2nd tooth).

Bedtime went easily. There was the bath, the stories and into the crib. No tears, no battle. She fell asleep after about 10 mins. I suppose it helps that we have established the bedtime routine and sleep training.

Guess I can get rid of the funky old nursing bras! Good riddance! Hmmm, maybe now without nursing as part of the evening ritual, I can have a girls night out (and a margarita!)

1st Birthday Party for B

For the past 4 months I have been in party planning mode. The first event was a celebration for my Grandmaother's upcoming 80th birthday. One week following that was E's party and then the last, this past Saturday was for B's 1st birthday.

She was a clingmonster for sure, but I can imagine that 40plus people (kids and adults) could be daunting enough to drive her into Mommy's arms. We had yummmy food-Fishman cooked his usual spread fit for a king. We had tri tip and chicken featuring his homemade marinade, salad, fruit, veggies, rice, and chili. Costco loves us after the past week! The kids all had a blast jumping in the princess castle jump house.





She seemed to enjoy getting into her cake, it was chocolate, who wouldn't!
















Then E got to open her sister's presents because the Birthday Girl decided to take a nap.


(Auntie Shelly holds the sleeping girl)



Overall it was a smooth flowing, happy people party. Yea! I am DONE with party planning for a whole year. Next year, the girls can have a dual party since their birthdays are 3 weeks apart and Easter falls in them mix.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO MY LAST BABY!

To most people, today is TAX DAY. To our family the day has a happier meaning (we do our taxes as soon as all of our tax paperwork is collected). This day, April 15 represents Baby B's birthday. Today, she is 1! Our 1st year of babyhood (and actually our last once since she will be---most likely---the last baby) is complete.

As she gets bigger we are already anticipating the FUN stuff of having 2 girls. We also look forward to seeing her personality develop into the person she will be. Let me tell you, she is already proving to have a strong opinion on life. She has a set of lungs that produce the screechiest scream ever-especially at 3am! (commonly referred to in the house as the Banshee Wail). She is increasingly more agile. Since learning to walk at 10 mos, she is now running and climbing with huge success. She has a few words, but clearly her efforts are all physical and not language based.

Of course, with all the fun things we are watching, there are the never-ending frusterations. SLEEP continues to elude us. We are working on it, got 5 hrs straight last night, but the night before we were up every hour. I personally watched the digital clock meet each and ever hour. Yea Me! Her favorite places to get into are the toilet, sister's anything, my wallet, the diaper bag, tupperware cabinet and more!

Today we have a normal day. We will do a small hurrah at dinner tonight, but our big celebration will be Saturday. I will add pictures later in the day....

Miss Junior Idol....

Today was picture day. We went to JC Penney's for the 1 yr and 3 yr portaits. Those went splendedly! I was good and kept my purchased photos to a minimum of 3 poses each (It's easier to not go crazy when there is more children in the sitting-makes the order get HUGE if you choose with wild abandon!)

Also on the agenda for today was gathering evidence of my E in some semi professional portraits. (I am not sure how to qualify them otherwise). Let me explain:

A few months ago, I took the girls to Penney's for B's 9 mo picture. Our photographer (whom we always ask for) approached me about bring E back the next day to participate in a photo shoot to work up an special theme event coming up. This was to be American Junior Idol....I agreed and set out for the right outfit that was fitting for a 3 year old to wear in the idea of Hannah Montana.

The shoot went very well, with a total of (2) 3 year olds (E and a little boy), 2 elementary schoold boys, 2 teen girls, and 2 teen boys. There was a karaoke machine, lots of teen music, lights, glitz, a microphone prop, funky hats and jewels. Much to my combined pride and chagrin, Miss E soaked it all up!

Today we were able to see the final pieces being used to promote within the stores. Supposedly, it is up in "all the portrait studios". I am not sure if that is locally, or regionally, or what.

Wanna see? Here goes....

Regarding comments-Thank you Andi and Lizzie for some ideas, sadly all is enabled and done from my angle, but still no comments. I have questions in on the help board, but with no help. Time will tell I guess. So in the meantime, email me with any comments. I will press on until I get it resolved.

Tata, Happy Friday!

Blogger Bummer

I am comment-less all of a sudden....For whatever reason the ability to leave comments has disappeared. I have explored all of the preferences and setting options. Everything seems to be enabled that needs to be. I also have posted questions on the help message boards...nothing.

I look forward to comments....it is my inspiration lol, anticipating what my friends and family are thinking.

Any ideas? I guess you can't post a comment regarding this, but you could email me I think.

Well-Meaning Biddies, BUTT OUT

So yesterday, after naps (which BOTH girls took..horray for me!), we left the house for a fun filled hour and a half of shopping errands. We had some birthday clothes to exchange for E, and some sippy cups and pacis to get for B, and COSTCO. We were making excellent time (while I chatted to Lizzie of The Brown Brigade). I made my way picking up my few items-yes, I said FEW--only had dogfood, frozen shrimp, asparagus, Danimals yogurt, and string cheese in my cart. I fed my kids graham crackers and goldfish and bottled water to keep 'em happy as we encroached dinner time. So I sign off with Lizzie, and plant myself in line. All of a sudden E finds the water bottle cap we had lost which prompted me to chug 2/3 of a bottle to avoid spillage. NICE timing....Next thing I know as I am putting my things on the check out counter, an older lady behind us says "Oh no! No Baby, don't put that into your mouth!" She says to me as I go to investigate "She shouldn't have that in her mouth it's dangerous!" I pull out.....the water bottle cap. UHM yeah....not going into her gullet, just a tad too big.....I told her "Thanks, but I don't think it's going anywhere....". To oblige her, I pulled it out and dropped it into the diaper bag. But really, it was a harmless way to keep her mouth off of the cart handles and out of her sister's hair....Besides, she wasn't screaming either...much to many other patrons pleasure I am sure.

Please do know I will be much more concerned if smaller, truly chokable items manage to get into B's mouth and hands.....I am dilligent and careful as needed.

Amazingly Crafty and Talented Folks

So this Birthday Season has been marked by phenomonal homemade gifts for both girls.


1st, my mom, Grandma Vicky sent these adorable outfits! She had been planning them for a long while and wanted to get them out in time for E's birthday. Of course, I had to snap pics as soon as possible-thankfully we had a fanastic day last Wednesday to to use the front yard for backdrop.


2nd, Kellie made her a birthday shirt (not pictured) and this letter shirt. She is embarking on a new business with very original ideas for baby burpcloths, tanks, and onesies...

3rd, my grammy knitted the girls these AWESOME sweaters! I have been on the recieving end of these treasures since I was itsy bitsy. Now my sweet babies get to have them too.

Finally, our neighbor has been practicing her sewing...and turned out this very cool blanket! E as many of you know is a Dora fan-so of course the blanket is a Dora Special.

Baby doll blanket to match


We are so lucky to have friends and family making such nice things for us. Definitely things to take special care of....

This is Why I have been such good friends with Dreyers, Breyers, Ben and Jerry

So my child, just now only 3 and a week old has now been in 3 situations where she was locked away from me. Not intentionally.....and none the same. The 1st, when I was grossly pregnant with B, on a foggy winter day while in my pajamas. I locked myself out of the house and had to have the neighbor help me break in. The 2nd, just a month or so ago, I locked myself out of the truck (kids and groceries and wallet inside). Had to get some stranger to help me break into the 3rd passenger window-literally broke the window latch too...

Now, THIS time, I had NO part in it....lol. I was happily making mac-n-cheese for the kiddos, planning dinner for the adults, when it got eerily silent. E had gone off and she wasn't to be heard of towards the back end of the house. hmmmmmmm

I go exploring (meanwhile the noodles are done, the freezer is attacking me-as in crap falling out-and B is starting to melt in hunger.

I find out that my darling child has locked herself in her room. The key-not sure we ever got one when we bought the place. So I called Fishdaddy for a coaching session in taking apart a door handle. I got it apart, but couldn't figure out the catch....called the neighbors pre-teen and his friend. WELLAH! Done....she comes out with some of her hats on her head, books in her purse....like nothing ever was amiss....STINKER!

I guess it could be worse-she hasn't yet shoved anything up her nose or in her ear....no swallowed pennies... (I repeat YET).

6! six! Seis! 3+3=!

So as you can see I am super excited about the number 6 today...I am proud to annouce that I was able to sleep that many hours in a row, and even more proud to say that it means my B slept that long too! Of course, good things are often tempered with the lesser evils...and that is true here too.

5am was the boobie wake up call. I was so hoping I could knock out the beast with a good healthy dosage of my wonder liquid and then snuggle back to bed (without her!) for the next 2 hours. NOT SO.... She was sleeping when I went to drop her back into the crib, but lo and behold, awake and Pissed to be out of my arms the minute her sweet face felt the sheet. Ok, so redirect her with SLEEP TRAINING tools was the next step. I was able crawl back into bed at 5:30 thinking I would get a nice 2 hr nap....NOT SO.....

At almost 6 the beast started to fuss. Then the garbage trucks came, and went. Then the heater vent started and stopped. All of that was enough to mess up my so well deserved plans. Back I went to my post cribside to soothe and shush and pat and rub.

I started to wonder about the ever present teething pains (she still is only sporting 1 bottom tooth). Tried the teething tabs. Worked for about 5 mins. Tried Tylenol. Worked for about 3 mins. See the problem is more than likely an underlying teething nusciance, but more so the Velcro Baby Syndrome.

Finally, at 6:22 I came out to the front room. I brought the beast with me and we snuggled on the couch in the dark while I played laptop. She seriously conked out and I padded soflty to her room and ever so carefully places her into her crib! VICTORY!!!???? Only for about a half hour. Up again at 7:15. Which is fine....I opened the blinds and made a big hurrah of the WAKE UP. We came back to my laptop and couch, and she fell back alseep, until E woke at 8:15.

I think I can see some movement towards the sleep, without child, in bed, for more than 4 hours reward. It will come in baby steps. Whatever, as long as it comes. If we are still battling by 1st birthday week, we will be doing a more intense push then. Fishdaddy is off again that week, and he can suffer too since work won't be comprimised by a long night......

Tag Teamed!

8:30 Baby girls go to bed
11:00 Mommy and Daddy are in bed
11:30 E is awake and fussing...I resolve that
11:45 B is wailing bloody frickin' murder... I cave and bring her to bed
12:15 B is crying next to me
2:00 E is having problems...stuffy nose and insisting on getting it blown...to no avail several times...finally I get it straight
2:00 go back to bed and B is freaking out because I dared to leave the bed.
2:30 Sleep..........
6:00 B is awake and looking for a feed...I nurse 1 side, and plug the paci back in (we are trying to wean....)
6:15 Sleep..........
7:30 E is awake...so as I am getting dressed and trying to leave a sleeping B...she too wakes up.

ARGH-can it get any worse? I am seriously not sure how many more nights of 3-4 hrs of sleep I can hack-poor Fishman trying to rest before his 4:30 am wake up call and 5:15 am 1 hr drive to work and following 8 hr driving day job to be completed with another 1.5 hr drive home...and more than likely another crappy night.

SOME consolation comes from the fact that E is coming down with a cold-hence that bad night (usually her pattern). Hoepfully it will scoot thru fast and leave no more snotty noses. We are skipping Mommy and Me-hanging on the couch with Clifford on the screen and hopefully naps for the whole lot of us.