Happy New Year!
My big plans involve hors d'oeuvres and Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve. In my pajamas.
I was home from work for the last week and it was delicious. Ron, Rolo and I did a lot of lounging around, sleeping slightly later than normal (sleeping late is virtually impossible with an infant around) and visiting people. Last week we visited our jeweler and I'm getting a new wedding band. Merry Christmas to me! I'm referring to it as the little-known "year and three-quarters anniversary band". Apparently I have a nickel allergy, something commonly found in white gold, which began causing a nasty rash on my finger. We tried to come up with some solutions with our jeweler, but some weren't very feasible (like creating a platinum sleeve around my old band) and I have sentimental attachment to my wedding band, so trading it in wasn't an option. In the end, we decided to take the diamonds out of my old wedding band and plop them into a new platinum band. Since the diamonds, though small, were a majority of my old band and were blessed by the priest who married us, I'm okay with this compromise. I think we go back next week to see and approve the mold of the new band. Happy, shiny things.
I also got to meet my friend Meg for drinks twice last week, which did wonders in allowing me to feel like a normal adult for a bit. Ron being home with Rolo was a beautiful thing.
I can't say I have very specific resolutions for 2008. But what I can say is that 2008 is the year I'm taking my body back. One month from tomorrow, I'll start weaning little Rolo, which is really just me weaning myself off the damn pump. A very small, super competitive part of myself wishes I could continue to breastfeed until Rolo was a year old. But since I'm pumping, it's just not feasible and the rational part of me knows that and cannot wait for the glorious day when I do not have to pack a pump everywhere I go. The game plan is to give Rolo a combination of breastmilk and formula for a couple of weeks until he's solely on formula. Once I'm done with that, I'll have about 2 extra hours in my days and with any luck, I can squeeze some sort of exercise back into my schedule. Also, caffiene, which I have had in only small quantities for more than a year. Most importantly, I can get sloppy drunk again. Ooops. Maybe not so much that last one, lest Rolo wind up with a diaper strapped to his head.
But yes, I know it seem trite to say I'm going to exercise more for the new year. Doesn't everyone say that? But I used to exercise and it will be time to get back in the game. I sort of handed all my time, energy and body over to my kid, and I do so happily, but now I'll be taking back charge of my body. I wish I had loftier plans, but no, that's about it.
What do you want to do this year?
Labels: baby, peeps, Rolo
'Tis the Season to be Jolly
So just a quick post to let you know what we've been up to. Ron, Rolo and I went to Ron's parents' for Christmas Eve dinner and I actually ate 3 of the fishes. And by "ate" I mean I tasted super-tiny bites. One thing, salmon that was encrusted with pistachio, I actually enjoyed. Oh and Ron made a crab dip and I eat that because anything with mayo, cheese and spinach is a good thing. Here's Rolo with all his cousins:
On Christmas, after opening all the gifts Santa brought, we skipped going to my sister-in-law's because her husband has a stomach virus and after
our recent problems, I wanted none of that. Instead, we headed to my parents' house earlier than we planned. There, Rolo made some new friends:
Then Rolo got swamped with presents:
Yes, by the way, those are argyle socks he's wearing. Anyway, he had a great time and so did we. Probably most importantly, at least for me, is that my parents seem to have a new lease on life each time they spend time with little Rolo. Miracles really do happen, people. Today, however, it's back to the ol' grindstone and we have a full day of cleaning planned. My apartment looks like a tornado blew through.
Merry Christmas!
Labels: Living, random
Merry Christmas
So I haven't been posting much huh? I've been busy, busy, busy, but I can't tell you with what. Living, I suppose.
The Christmas season seems to have passed me by this year. It just doesn't feel like the holidays to me. I'm not sure why. I thought I'd be super excited, particularly because of Rolo, even though he has no clue what's going on. And I have dressed him in Christmas-related attire every day since December 13th. Because what good is having a kid if you can't torture him in holiday-wear? I'd post a picture except that all recent photos live in a place called my camera card. And I'm too darn lazy to download. Sad, isn't it?
We did crazy shopping on Saturday and left Rolo with my in-laws. And even though the mall was crowded, it wasn't unbearable and it was nice for it to be just Ron and I strolling through the crowds, sipping eggnog lattes. Okay, I had an eggnog latte, Ron doesn't try any of the holiday flavors they introduce. I, on the other hand, am a holiday-flavor whore. Bring on the peppermint mochas!
Now the real madness begins. Later this afternoon, we head to the parents-in-law's house for the whole 7 fishes thing (I was up until 11pm last night making myself lasgna rolls to bring). At some point, Ron will head over to his best friend, Mike's house to play Santa for Mike's nieces and nephews. During that time, I'll try to head to church with my sisters-in-law. With any luck, we'll get home by midnight. Then whenever Rolo wakes up tomorrow, likely at about 6am, we'll open presents (yay, presents!). Then we'll trek back out to my sister-in-law's house for a breakfast, which is really just an excuse to watch her kids open their presents from Santa. I'm pretty much hoping this is the last year we're doing this part, because really, I have no intention of rushing Rolo through opening his presents, just so he can go watch his cousins open theirs. THEN, we need to hit the road to head back to NJ to my parents' house. We have to leave Ron's sister's place by noon, and frankly, I'm doubting that will happen. Because I love his family, but I swear their houses are like vortexes of time where you never, ever leave. Every "quick visit" turns into about 5 hours.
Anyway, 'tis the season to be with family, so really I can't complain. But next year, I really need to have all my shopping done in November. Merry Christmas to all!
Labels: i like stories, Living
Not Really Surprising
I am in no way suggesting
this litte girl did anything wrong here. But can someone please explain to me why her mother had her going to a party "just after midnight"?
Labels: society
Plague
So on Friday, I was convinced I had food poisoning. I have never, ever been so ill. I don't get sick often, but when I do it's usually just a cold, maybe a fever. In 10 years of working for my company, I've taken 19 sick days (not including maternity leave). So you know, I'm just generally not sickly. So when I was laying on the floor of my bathroom Friday night, praying for death, I was convinced it was food poisoning.
I had sampled my cookie dough earlier that day, the thing you are not supposed to do, but everyone does do and I thought the years of getting away with tasting raw egg finally caught up with me. There was stuff coming out of both ends simultaneously and I know that's gross but it had to be said. Simultaneously. Is that even spelled right? Anyway, I did not know such a thing could happen, so consider yourself warned. I was so dehydrated that I started getting pins and needles in my hands and feet. And suddenly it occurred to me that I was going to pass out. I had to will myself not to faint. It was the weirdest thing.
The only thing that brought me relief was taking literally one sip of Gatorade every 15 minutes for about two hours. It was torture, only taking one sip because I was so, so thirsty but apparently my system couldn't handle anything more than that. I was feeling somewhat better the next day, when Ron came home sick with a similar, but not as severe illness. Now since Ron worked all day Friday, including Friday night, he and I ate none of the same foods, thus tossing out my food poisoning theory. I felt well enough to attend my friend Meghan's brunch yesterday, during which I had my first real piece of food since Friday, an egg frittata. It was delicious and I thought I was on the road to recovery.
Last night, though, the baby had a fever again, which is how I think this whole thing started to begin with, and now today I have a fever and feel like utter hell. So this plague continues. I'm beginning to wonder if Ron, Rolo and myself have created a Bermuda triangle of sorts, an absyss of virus within our household.
Labels: i like stories, random
Weird Pairing
So people are raving about the pairing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. I had no idea they were teaming up until I saw
this video this morning. And while some people may love it, I find it disturbing mostly.
What the hell is it? They seem to be walking on treadmills in a disco winter wonderland? And then they're hanging out those weird inflatable windsock people?
It all disturbs me and I don't like the song either.
Labels: music
Power Lunch
So despite my
earlier claims that the holiday spirit had overtaken me, right now, nothing is further from the truth. Well, I mean, I am glad it's the holiday season, like yay! But I've lost my desire to bake. Part of the reason there is that I've had virtually no time to do it during the week and we've been booked virtually every weekend. I managed to throw together a pathetic tray of like three varieties of cookies for a party this past weekend, but other than that, nothing doing. Plus what little cookie stash I had left over from that baking seems to be mysteriously disappearing. Into my husband's stomach.
Now I've got other parties and events coming up and so I might try to squeeze more baking in this week. I don't know how realistic that is because I'm actually going home each day at lunch time just to find the time to clean the apartment. That's right, I'm so desperate for spare time that I'm going home on my lunch hour this week to mop, vacuum, clean bathrooms, etc. BIG FUN.
I think I need a better organizational system.
Labels: Living, random
Party Hard
Now I have a blog and, therefore, an online identity where I vomit up all sorts of information about myself. But
this trend is disturbing.
Labels: society
Currently On My Shit List:
BPABack in August a report came out that this chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA), was in most baby bottles. While you would think, just having a baby that very month, that I would be very interested in this information, the truth was that I was so overwhelmed that I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and thought "What are you going to do?"
Today, another report that BPA is also in cans of formula. Now, when I switch Rolo to formula, it will be to the powdered kind, which is less likely to have BPA in the packaging. But all this got me thinking about what the combined effect of the chemical in the bottles and in the formula is. The FDA, which frankly has lost some creditability with me over the years, thinks that the level of toxins in both the bottles and the formula is not harmful. But the fact remains that
there are toxins in the bottles and formula. Then came the lead in all the toys. And although it totally irked me that no one seems to be monitoring the safety of toys, I again sort of shrugged my shoulders and thought "Well I'll do some research, but really, what can you do? Every freaking toy is made in China."
I know I could drive myself crazy worrying about every toxin out there. But I've really starting thinking about what the cumulative effect is of these toxins over the span of a lifetime. I mean when you actually read the ingredients in soda and think about how much soda you drink, that alone could cause you to run screaming into the night. As I've lamented
before, it's no wonder that cancer is such a large problem in this country. We live on chemicals. The reality is that for all these recalls and reports about toxins, I could shrug my shoulders and think, "Well there's nothing I can do about it." Except that there is. I can make small changes.
Am I starting to sound like a hippie-dippy yet?
Honestly, though, I'm starting to feel like one. I've been on a campaign to limit my soda intake in the last couple of months. And I'm going to look into BPA free bottles. I think Ron and I need to make a lifestyle change so that Rolo learns to live a more toxin-free life. I'm not sure how exactly to do that or if we'll be successful, but at this moment, I'm determined.
Labels: hippie-dippy, Living, society
It Is Only December 4th, Right?
So I stopped home at lunch today, picked up my mail, noticed one envelope had a snowflake sticker on the back and immediately thought "Who is the LUNATIC sending out Christmas cards already???"
I assumed it was from some crazy aunt--we have a few of those. But it turns out, it's from a couple of my best friends, Michelle and
Christy. And it's a beautiful, beautiful handmade card, which they likely started sometime last month. So, maybe they are not lunatics, although they are a TAD early and making me feel like I really need to get jumping on this holiday thing.
Much love, ladies :)
Labels: peeps
Oh Please
Seriously, what are the odds that
all three of these guys would be suicidal? Why do I think they all probably have the same lawyer?
Labels: society
Strapping It On For Santa
Between the title and subtitle of
this article, you know it was written by men even before you get to the byline.
Labels: random
Four Months
So over the weekend, Rolo turned four months old and this was celebrated with much hacking, vomiting and phlegm. Rolo has a lovely daycare-induced cold and since he doesn't know how to cough on purpose to clear his throat, the result has been much mucus build-up and choking. Poor thing starts to choke and you can see him panic, like he's seeing his very short life flash before his eyes. There has been much time with nasal aspirators and steam baths. Rolo despites the former and my hair despises the latter.
Anyway, with little regard for Rolo's condition, we got together with my girlfriends, Hope and Kim, their husbands and kids over the weekend. And let me tell you what a different experience get togethers are with kids. Mine pooped on Hope. Still we had a great time, albeit a sober one.
Over the last month, Rolo has really started grabbing things in a purposeful way. Unfortunately, my hair is often on the receiving end of the grabbing. His head control is pretty good, but he still refuses to put any weight on his arms when he's on his tummy. In fact, he still views tummy time as some sort of ancient torture ritual. Which of course, I'll have to ask his doctor about because by this point tummy time should be a sort of natural thing and you know, I don't want my kid being the slowest in the class, so to speak.
Rolo has also developed an even greater love for the sound of his own voice. He's constantly talking to himself and lately has taken to screeching at high volumes. I'm pretty sure he just likes the way it sounds. I'm also pretty sure I have damaged ear drums.
The greatest accomplishment this month is that Rolo is sleeping through the night on a regular basis. Of course I'm not sleeping through the night, because I set an alarm for 2:30am so I can pump. But good for Rolo for sleeping for like 10 hours straight. Can you tell that I'm bitter? The good news is that the ol' milk supply is back up again
for reasons I can't explain either. I'm really, really happy I got to four months without having to go to formula. Now if I can manage another two months, I think I'll be completely satisfied and resume my normal, pump-free life.
Actually, now that I think about it, it seems maybe I took the dedication I used to apply to working out and applied it to breastfeeding. Because Lord knows I'm not working out. It's been 5 months since I've been to a gym. Really, I haven't even done yoga, or even stretching at home. Most of the time, I'm really okay with that, convinced that at some point I'll get back on the bandwagon, but sometimes when I really think about how out of shape I am, it really gets on my nerves. Mainly because I'll be starting all over from ground zero to get back to my formal level of fitness.
But this post is supposed to be about Rolo, right? Overall, I can say that he's turning in a pretty happy, pretty social baby. Later this month he'll go for a doctor's appointment and I can't wait to see how much he weighs and how long he is. Because he seems huge. Not really chubby, but long and solid.
I'm excited for Christmas too, because although he has no idea he's done it, Rolo's arrival has made Ron and I a little family. Despite the lack of sleep and the pumping of boobs, and the times I can't go have fun with my friends and the times I've wanted to throw him out the window, I can't help but look at Rolo and Ron and smile. Especially now at the holidays and although I didn't know it before, this is exactly what I've always wanted.
Labels: Rolo
Charming Me
Now, whenever Ron and Rolo are about to enter a room that I am in, I hear Ron say, "Okay, let's go see our best girl."
I love being their best girl.
Labels: i like stories
