mamaloo

Time out

Wow, it's crazy-busy. I've been having issues with VideoEgg, the video hosting service Typepad is hooked up with. Every post in my head that's fighting to get out has accompanying videos, but I can't post the videos, so those posts must wait! So sorry, please don't give up on me. I just don't have time to troubleshoot squirrely freeware this week. Should be able to get back on track next week.

I am braindead

To the lady from Craigslist who drove all the way to my house to pick up that bath organizer I said I'd leave on the porch (and really, to everyone in my life because you will encounter this stupidity at some point):

OMG. I AM SO SORRY.

Saying I was going to leave it on the porch and forgetting once (the first time you didn't make it out to us) was bad enough. But three times--hooo boy. I was hoping beyond hope you hadn't made it out here again, when I pulled up to the house and remembered that I'd forgotten, AGAIN. I am so so sorry to read via email that you drove an hour in traffic to find I'd forgotten and that we were not home. Tail squarely between legs.

We just spoke on the phone and I mean it--you are getting that goddamn thing for free now.

Everyone else? I apologize in advance, it's going to happen, I'm so sorry. My memory is completely gone. Wait what were we talking about?

Oh, this is bad

I've become addicted to Coke.

I eschewed soda for years. People would tell me they were addicted to soda and I just could not understand that. What was the allure?

Well I believe I am now drinking my words so to speak. I am freaking ADDICTED, people. I could drink five a day--wait, I DO drink five a day sometimes. This is BAD! This is VERY BAD! How did this happen?

I know I have to stop, I know but I DON'T WANT TO! I LOVE MY SIN!! IS THERE HOPE FOR ME?

You are making me crazy

Exchanges like this are becoming typical in our household. This was a literal conversation:

(putting Loo to bed for a nap--no sheets on his bed)

me: Oh, wait, you need sheets!
loo: No, I don't like sheets.
me: Don't you want fresh sheets?
loo: No. I don't like.

(put Loo in crib with just mattress pad, no sheets. attempt to leave.)

loo: I want the fresh sheets.
me (confirming again): You want fresh sheets?
loo: Yes. Fresh sheets.
me: You want this sheet? (holding one up)
loo: Yes.

(attempt to put sheet on mattress)

loo: NOOOOOOO I don't LIKE IT!!! I don't want sheets!!!! (kicking screaming)
me: Okay. No sheets.

(attempt to leave room)

loo: I want sheets too.

I want the nanny gig

What would life be like if:

1. Someone else readied your child for outings--child dressed, fed,
   changed and snacks, extra clothes, and diaper change supplies
   collected and packed along.

2. You got to spend time with your cheerful child, doing FUN stuff
   like the zoo, children's museum, etc.

3. You were undistracted by any other task--free to devote undivided
   attention to your child.

4. When the child tired and became cranky/sleepy, you simply
   dropped them off at home to someone else's care.

5. Best of all, you were PAID to do it.

I'm tellin ya. Between us two, she's totally got the better deal. How can I convince her to switch?

Is it just me?

Or do the childhood snacks of yore kinda suck these days?

String cheese does NOT string like it used to. Am I right? It used to fray into lovely strands and was fun to eat. Now it's just sort of blah. And the fruit roll! Even *I* cannot get it to peel off the cellophane, it's so microscopic thin. Loo almost choked on some the other day--he couldn't get it off the plastic (of course he couldn't, if an adult can't get it off how the hell do they think a child is going to???) and impatiently ate it with the plastic on. Luckily he was able to swallow it but he did gag and what the hell!!!??? Do they test this stuff on the target market or what?

The end of possibility

The Munchakin has gotten big so fast I've had to unpack the next level of clothes for him. Which begs the question, what to do with the too-smalls?

My options are to keep them or get rid of them. I'm getting rid of them and it's bittersweet (more bitter than sweet actually).

Letting go of these clothes is admitting we're not having another. It means the end of possibility. I don't know why it's hitting me so hard but it is. It makes me ache.

And it's not because I want a bigger family. I really don't. Our two boys make a wonderful set, balanced in temperment (as far as we can tell). Bigger families mean bigger houses and bigger cars, bigger bills, and we're maxed in that area. I don't really want a bigger house and car anyway. And I don't think my body would take kindly to bearing another child--as much as I love being pregnant, I think I'm done. And as much as I love these babies so much that I'd just keep having them, I don't really feel like I want another child. It does not feel like anybody's missing from our family.

So why does it pang me so to pack these wee things up and send them to needy friends and consignment stores and Goodwill?

It just means the end of what's possible, the shutting of a door. I guess I don't like to shut doors. That's too definite for me. I like speculation, and anticipation, even if they must live in the deeps of my subconscious where I don't examine them daily, but they're there. I like the thought of "maybe someday"...

I keep asking E, "are we done? we're sure we're done, right? I mean, are we "give away the clothes" done?" and he says yes and I know he's right.

But still. My babies. They've all arrived, I won't welcome another. And that's a strangely sad realization.

I can't believe I love it. But I love it.

I've jumped on the clothwagon and I love it.

I'm so surprised at myself. Up until now, cloth diapering has seemed overwhelming, like a whole career I'd have to take on or an alternate universe or something. With Loo I just couldn't even seriously entertain the thought--becoming a mother was just too big a thing without any additional overwhelment. But with this new baby, I have this sudden burning drive to stop buying disposable diapers. Like literally, I don't want to buy any more.

With two kids in diapers, and the Munchakin a professional pee-er, the disposable thing has become even more overwhelming to me than the thought of cloth. I mean, the Munchakin pees all. day. long. He pees like it's his job. The sheer amount of diapers we're using just to keep that kid dry--and the landfill, I don't even want to think about it. I look at the diapers heading out to our curb on trash day and in my head I multiply that by about ten million families doing the exact same and my brain explodes. * And seriously, I am not even all that environmentally conscious, I'm really not, or haven't been until now. But it's this new thing sprouting up in me. I just want to be done with the whole disposable thing.

And as someone recently said, "it must be in the air" because my good mama friend AfrindieMum is on the same kick. You can read about her escapades into cloth diapering too. We're both really excited about it.

I can't believe me! I'm excited about cloth diapers!

I went out this weekend and bought a little starter kit. I bought three diaper covers, two by Zoom Baby and one by Bumkins. I have a short stack of pre-fold cloth diapers that I use for all-purpose baby cloths, so I started with those.

Here's the Munchakin in his very first cloth diaper.

I just freakin love it. It HAS to be more comfortable to him. That's really my main motivation, that and the waste problem of 2 kids in diapers.


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* Okay, if you use disposables I am so totally NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU bad like I'm disgusted by everyone using disposables. No, I am one of you, I totally get why people use them, I used them til now, I get it. This is totally a personal paradigm shift for me, that's the only person I'm concerned with here. I still love you.

About Fricken Finally

OMG! I have been waiting to tell you about my birthday for the longest time. I was blocked by one thing which I'll explain later.*

The morning of my birthday, I was awakened by a cheery E who said "Happy Birthday!" and scurried into Loo's room to get him out of bed. Remember, I knew I had a "surprise day" planned but didn't have a clue what was transpiring.

I was ordered to stay in bed for breakfast in bed! E prepared me a fabulous breakfast of perfectly-cooked bacon, perfectly-cooked french toast, fresh fruit, a cup of tea, and garnished with a fresh rose from our garden. I'd never been served breakfast in bed before!

After breakfast I was instructed to nap while E "ran errands". When E got home he told me to get ready and that we would be doing some walking. Into the car we went and off up to the Columbia Gorge.

After a scenic drive we arrived at the trailhead for a hike to Wahclella Falls. E pulled out a picnic basket with bread, wine, water, cherries and grapes. Surprise! It was a gorgeous day and perfect for the short hike to the falls. Even though it is not a strenuous hike, it was longer than E had remembered and we wondered if I should attempt it because of my foot (which is 97% healed, btw). I decided to go for it and it was beautiful--so glad I did. Put the baby on (via Baby Bjorn) and off we went through fairy-land woods to the most beautiful waterfall at the end.

After resting and snacking a bit, enjoying beautiful nature, we returned back down the trail and made a quick jaunt to the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. As un-exciting as that sounds, the fish hatchery is actually a beautiful spot, with lovely landscaping and picnic areas. We reclined on the grass for a bit, enjoying the trees and cool breeze before it was time to head back to the city.

On the way back to the city we got caught in the Biggest Traffic Jam of All Time. The traffic in the highway was at a standstill for twenty minutes. Turned out they were routing traffic off the highway in both directions, causing the backup. We never did find out why, but it made us almost late, too late to make our next phase of Birthday Fun which was

Hairspray!

Hairspray! was in town and E got some tickets, as an option in case I wanted to go. Well sure!! So we quick changed our clothes and hightailed it to the theater, with the Munchakin in a sling. I knew we'd get eye rolls and sure enough we did. Who'd bring an infant to a broadway show? Us. Because the Munchakin is the biggest Do Not Disturb baby ever. He's been to three movies, a concert, and Hairspray. Never made a peep.

So we sat up in the very last last row and saw Hairspray.

And then, as if that wasn't enough. When we got home we sent the babysitter home and then E brought out two presents for me.

This, and this. I jumped for joy!! I've wanted a digital camera for about ever, especially with a blog and 2 small cute children, it's a must-have. So you will be seeing more pictures from me.

Here are the first pictures I took with my new camera.

(Clearly why they call this shrub "butterfly bush.")

Didn't E do fabulously? It was the best birthday I ever had!

E, I love my new camera and you!! Mwah!!

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* Okay, what took so long is I had to install software to get pictures off the camera. No biggie, but finding time to do it with two children under two? Biggie. FINALLY got it done.