Pea Pod delivery came tonight at 10:30.  He was running late and his manager called to let me know.  It was raining and windy and the wet leaves are not kind to the little box truck.
I understand and don not create waves to this delicate bit of my "housewife" role.
I know how good I have it.
However - in a way to make "nice" - did they have to give me 14 bananas?  I ordered 6.  And seriously - they gave me 14.
Was I the last stop?

I think I will put htose bananas to good use.
I am going to make banana bread.
From scratch AND from the Box.
And do a Taste Test.

Who wants some?

Wyatt is 75th percentile for height and 25th for weight.  So, he's tall and skinny.  His 18 months pants are too short but his 2Ts are too big around the waist.

He calls Winnie-the-Pooh, "Poop".

He has many words and sentences now and while not all of them are distinguishable to the outsider - they are definitely there.
Last night, clear as day he said, "Dada?  Maggie's a good girl."  Clear as day.

He is very sick right now.  Sicker than I've ever seen him (or Abby, for that matter) and while his 103.5 did frighten me a tiny bit last night, I snuggled and whispered and sang with him until he felt better, the Motrin kicked in and he fell back to sleep.  Put that one up with my other "Mom of the Year" trophies.
Today, he had no fever.  He still sounds and looks awful, but the fever breeds the fear, not the boogers.

Abby is clever, smart and fresh, fresh, fresh.  It's tough - because she's so stinkin' funny.
Here's an example - when she uses the potty we repeat the mantra "Wipe, Flush, Wash" over and over, infinitum.
She will tell you that she's done all 3 whether she has or not.  Is that a bald-faced lie or just a wish-it-were-true.  Usually, it's the latter, but not this time:
As we were putting her nightgown on, she was jumping around and dancing on her bed.  She had already brushed her teeth, washed up and I brushed her hair.  As she was dancing, her hand swung around and swatted my face.  I grabbed it (more of a reflex than anything else) and she was oh-so-apologetic.  Before I could address it, I realized her hand was stinky.  (She's almost 4, if you have kids, you know the stink I am referring to - if you don't, just wait.)
Here's the dialog that followed:
"Abby, did you wash your hands with soap?"
"Yes, mama."
"Really?  Just now, when you brushed your teeth and washed your face?  You washed your hands with soap?"
"Yes."
"Abby, your hand stinks!  You did not use soap.  You are fibbing to mama."
"No, mama, I did wash with soap!  Actually - your face stinks, and when my hand hit your face, your stink got on it."
Can you believe her?  How was I supposed ot respond to that?!
I had nothing.  Nothing.
So, I laughed and told her to go wash her hands again.
Again.
And to refresh your memory, this is the little princess (Snow White, to be exact):

A little update on my Fall Television post:
I never watched Melrose again.
Still love Big Bang and  How I Met Your Mother.
L.O.V.E. House.  That guy just gets better and better.
Christine is a little too neurotic this season.  She annoys me.  I like her, she looks great, but the writing is bad.
I miss the Henricksons.  Does anyone know when Big Love is back?
Never watched Flash Forward.  Then, I had about 4 or 5 on the DVR which I found too intimidating so I deleted them all.  Maybe we'll watch it on TNT or USA one day.
I wish I watched True Blood.  I missed the first season and it's not On Demand.  Maybe when the 2nd season is over they'll both be On Demand and I'll get caught up.
I did watch Hung for a while.  It stunk.
Glee is so much better than I ever expected.  And when I got this week's EW and saw Glee on the cover, I was so excited, I read the article immediately.  Apparently, everyone loves Glee, not just me.

When in the heck do we set our clocks back?  I love that.


Made apple pies the other day with Abby.  YUM.  We froze one for Thanksgiving and baked one.  Then, we ate less than half so I sliced it into large servings and wrapped and froze them individually.  Neat, right?
Want a little apple pie?  Pop one in the oven and you're good to go!


I generally don't "stress out".  I'm human, I get overwhelmed, I feel anxious, I snap when I'm tired - all that.  But I generally catch myself myself and am able to take deep breaths, evaluate the situation, prioritize and march on.
I am a talker, too, which helps.  When something is on my mind, I will talk to anyone and everyone with ears.  They don't even have to be listening.
But lately, I have had the sort of emotional stress that isn't really talkable.
It's family stuff - interactions, relationships that can't be described or defined, they just are what they are.  And they're far from perfect. 
It might not ever be what I want it to be, but I have to be in a happier place for myself.
When you get too wrapped up in what is bothering you, you stop seeing what is wonderful.
No, I'm not "perfect" but I really like me.  I like my life and the way I go about things. I am positive.  I am loving.  I am loved.
So, I am stopping my worry.  I am putting it in a box, on a shelf.  I can't be rid of it, but I don't have to look at it every day.

Also - I'm going for a pedicure, out to dinner and shopping with 2 of my favorite women on Friday.

We are leaving the kids for an overnight.  We have never done this before.  Abby is almost 4 so it's been 4 years (plus) since we have been alone in a hotel room.  I know there are plenty of people out there that have never left their kids overnight.  My sister is leaving her girls with us next month for one night (hopefully 2 but she might not make it!) and it is their first time and their kids are 7 & 8.
I also know plenty of people who have left their kids multiple times since they were tiny babies.
Whatever - this will be our first (hopefully not our last) "getaway" and I cannot WAIT!!

Do I need a new winter coat?
Probably not.
Do I really.  really.  really want a new winter coat?
Yup.

Are Uggs really, really ugly?
Yup.
Do I still find myself wanting a real pair anyway - even though I have a fake pair that I swore were "good enough" and really do serve the purpose (the purpose being a warm shoe that goes with everything and don't require tying)?
Yup.

Does my lifestyle require me to wear skirts with cute tights and some new, style-y black Maryjane pumps?
Definitely not.
Does the idea of wearing tights and pumps sound ridiculous to a woman who's days are spent chasing a nearly-impossible-to-contain 2 year old boy, wiping snot and cleaning up paint, play-doh or poop?
Definitely.
Am I buying the shoes anyway?
Yup.

Do ballerina flats look cute or really make me look like Henrietta the Hippo?

Am I excited about leggings and big shirts?
Yup.

Do I remember loving fold-over, black suede boots in high school?  So much so that I used to borrow Rachel's so often that she eventually gave them to me because I stretched them out with my 2-size bigger feet.
Yup.
Do I want a new pair this year, now that they are back in style?
Nope.
(but I might buy Rach a new pair.)

October 20, 2001

I promised to love and cherish you, in sickness and in health,

for richer for poorer, for better for worse,

and forsaking all others, gave myself only unto you,

for as long as we both shall live.

I promised in the presence of our friends and family that I would,

at all times, and in all circumstances, conduct myself toward you as your Wife.

I promised that I would love, cherish and respect you throughout the years to come.

With each year, we reach goals, make dreams come true and nurture a marriage inspired by love, maintained with respect, communication and kindness.

Eight years, 2 kids and countless memories later...

Happy Anniversary, Goob.

I love you.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

A few things I was reminded of this weekend 

as we celebrated my baby boy's 2nd birthday:

• I am so very blessed with a
  loving, devoted, faithful and gorgeous husband.
  
  
• We are so very blessed with two beautiful, smart, fun and loving children.
  
  
• My heart can feel so full of love, pride and happiness
  that it literally feels like it might explode out of my chest. 
  (and I love it)
  
  
• I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am and loved I am.
  (and so often dismiss it from worry of what is not right or not how I wish it were)
  
  
• I have the two best girlfriends in the whole wide world. 
  (they have been by my side for better than 20 years -
  and they don't have to be)
  
  
• We have the greatest friends and family. 
  
  
• Celebrating the day my children were born are the most satisfying, most emotional, most fun days I have each year.
  
  
• I actually can make a cake and shape it into a Dinosaur.
  
  
• Life is full of joy.
  
  
• No matter how organized I am, I am still a last-minute-Lucy. 
  (I was up until nearly 2am finishing favors
  that could have been done a week ahead of time)
  
  
• We take a lot of pictures. 
  (and I haven't even seen them all yet)

All of these pictures are courtesy of my "Tio".  
You can see his awesomeness here:  
http://picasaweb.google.com/roadking1989/Wyatt2ndBirthday101709#

Happy Birthday to my 

beautiful, adorable, loving, lovable, 

funny, smart, brave, curious, challenging, strong, 

AMAZING baby boy.

Every day that I am blessed with being your mama 

is the best day of my life.

My baby boy will be two on Thursday.
And I will be married to my husband for 8 years the following Tuesday.
It's a pretty exciting time of year around here!!

Wyatt.
In 2 years this boy has completely turned my world upside down.
My daughter was calm and sweet and peaceful and social and happy - from birth.

My son is wild and willful and busy and challenging and charming and moody.  He wants what he wants and he wants it his way and immediately.  Then, once he has it, he will throw it aside and move on to the next thing that he wants.  He will do something naughty, like toss aside said object - whether it is a toy car or a banana or his grandmother - and when I am about to reprimand him he will cast a glance at me with such charm and 'tude that my heart melts and I feel my mouth turning up at the corners before the words of discipline begin to form on my lips.
He is adorable.  He is smart.  He is funny.  He is a charmer as if he invented the term.  And I am so unbelievably, upside down and inside out in LOVE with him!  He completely owns me.

Yes, I know it is my job to teach him to use his powers for good.
And each day I am trying to do just that.  I want this beautiful and perfect boy to be just that - and I love learning how to work him and mold him and make him the perfect being that he is destined to be but Boy!  It is hard work with this one!
For example - if he is doing something that he should not be, such as playing with a decoration or sticking his finger int he outlet, I will say "Wyatt, that is not a toy.  Get away from there!  Wyatt...   One...    Two..." and before I can say it, he will yell "THREE!" and run to me with joy.
So, I know that works...  but is it working the "right way"?  Does that even matter?

And when it doesn't work, and he is getting away with it - he knows that, too.  He sees me coming a mile away.  I count, he ignores.  I lower my tone to that "mom growl", he giggles.  I begin to move toward him to "remove and distract" and he takes off running, laughing and cackling all over the house.

See what I mean?  He is hysterical!  And that is infectious!!  He has fun with everything he does.  And that is a difficult kind of "difficult" to reign in.
So, I find myself getting more and more patient.  More and more lenient.  More and more "he's-a-2-year-old-boy-this-is-to-be-expected."

That boy will sit at the table, pick up his fork and then eat with his other hand.

That boy will say "excuse me, all done" and get down from the table then come around the other side and eat from my plate.

Phew.  What a boy.  I love that little man.  And I find myself loving my mother-in-law in a way that is very different than anything I ever knew before.  I see my son and I picture her looking at her son...  and I know.  I understand.  And I am grateful to her for being as good to me as she is.
Because ladies - whomever comes along and wins the heart of MY baby boy!!!  LOOK OUT!

Marriage.
and Connecticut.
My wedding date was October 20, 2001.  I always thought that was cool because the abbreviation was "10-20-01".  Get it?  10-2001.

This was us the moment we were introduced as "Mr. & Mrs.", we burst through the doors into the reception and I was so excited - yes, I was literally hopping.

Anyway.  I grew up in Brewster, NY and lived with my parents until the morning I left to get married.  I love that I did that.  I love that we waited to live together until we were husband and wife.
When we got home from Aruba on Saturday night, a week married, I walked into our apartment for the first time I could call it "ours".

I officially became a CT resident.

With my parents on my Wedding Day.

Here we are, 8 years later and I have lived in Connecticut long enough to only kinda-sorta-sometimes still feel like a New Yorker.  When asked "where are you from" I no longer say "NY".  I say "Connecticut".  And I am proud of being a "New Englander".

But it's weird.  Because I am not, technically, a New Yorker nor am I technically a "New Englander".

All of a sudden, at 33 years old, I feel like a transient.  Like I don't have a "from" anymore.
I used to take a lot of pride in being a New Yorker.  And I resented people who moved TO the greatest state on the Earth and called themselves New Yorkers.
I had plans to move to the city, work in restaurants and audition until my big break came.
I even had a deal with my BFF that if we didn't get married by the time we were 30 we would move together and live like old ladies in the city, sit on lawn chairs on the sidewalk and love life.
We did get married, we did have kids and we're still BFF's - but we'll never sit in our lawn chairs on the concrete.

Anyway - October is a big month here at 131.  I love it.
I love my life, wherever I am...  it's who I am with that makes it amazing.  And I am with amazing people.

If you have an efficient washing machine (like my workhorse front loader is) then you have to try Purex 3-in-1 sheets.  They work amazingly well.  I don't recommend them for extremely stained clothing - like my son's wardrobe.  Unless you pre-treat.  I do, but I don't always get everything.  It's amazing what that boy can do.
Anyway - for average loads of laundry, these little babies do it all.  And they smell great.
No measuring, no spilling, no adding fabric softener - not even the sheet!  Add laundry and Purex sheet, move laundry and Purex sheet, fold laundry, use Purex sheet to scoop off lint from dryer catch and viola!
(Yes.  Viola.)

I am thinking about going into business.  Making and selling wreaths and other such "glue gun" crafts.  I find them to be very simple and very pretty.  Or very cute.  Or very creative.  Doesn't much matter.  They are also very fun and inexpensive.
When I think about how much "glue gun crafting" I have spent money on over the years before I knew what was going on behind the scenes, I could puke.
And the fact is - thinking of what to make is the hard part, not making it.
And when you are working full time, with or without kids, and you have a home to decorate (in addition to clean, feed, stock, care for etc...) you don't really think about $40 on a holiday wreath.  "I'll use it year after year!" you think.  And that's true.  And it is worth $40.  But it only cost $10 to make.  Plus some time.
That's one hell of a profit margin.
So, I'm considering it.
I know I can do it.  And I constantly clip cute ideas from magazines.  I see it, I think "ooh, I can make that, I love that!"  But I never get around to it.  But, if I wanted to make it, sell it and then buy myself something with my money...  well, maybe that will push me to the "get'r done" part of my plan.
We'll see.


This morning on Sesame Street the crew was struck with a bad case of "Mine-itis" where no one on The Street was sharing.  Only Elmo and the new girl who looks Indian and sounds British were unaffected.  And only Oscar could reverse the symptoms, which, with the help of Elmo of course, he did.
In the mean time the only lesson my kids learned from Sesame Street today was that Not Sharing was hysterically funny and far more fun than Sharing.
I don't think 15 minutes of television will override their sweetness but I hope to get some video tomorrow of my boy and his deep, hysterical belly laughs when I take his Woobie and growl "MINE!"
Wow, that was so stinkin' cute tonight, I almost peed I was laughing so hard.  What is it about baby laughs?

I bought a box of hair color today.  It matches my roots.  Of course, my roots are darker than my hair, everyone's roots are darker than their hair because the elements have not affected the hair yet.  But, in addition to my regular lighter-than-root-hair, I also have about a half of head of blonde.
Why?
Because last time I got my hair cut and asked for highlights, I basically got bleached.
Since then, I have switched hair salons.  I realized that I liked the women that worked in the salon more than I liked the actual services.
Two things - a) I am very low maintenance.  If I get waxed, it's because I happen to be there.  Otherwise, I do it myself.  And my hair is very simple, I blow-dry for special occasions - not on any sort of regular basis.  And I am happy with Suave, or whatever is on sale.
I also happen to like my hair color and hate wasting time.  And going to this salon would cost me a few hours every 8 weeks or so.  If I am going to use that sort of time, "child-free", there are a million things I would rather do then get my air cut.  This all falls into "a) low maintenance".
b)  I was never in love with my hair when I left.  Never.
And I would always say "once I wash it and see it I am sure it'll be great."  But it never was.  And it occurred to me that is looked its best only when a ton of product and styling was done by a professional - and I didn't even like it then.  So, how could I make it look better?
I couldn't.  It was just never a good hair cut.
Now, I go to a cute, little salon right here in town.  I bring my kids with me because Pat, the lady who does my hair, has 2 grown kids and understands that I have little choice.  My kids can get their hair cut there, too.  And we never have time to blow-dry or "up-sell" and I always leave there happy.
H.A.P.P.Y.
And, guess what?  It costs about a THIRD of what I was paying.  And I tip the same.


Back to my point.  I bought hair color today because I want my hair to be the color it is meant to be.  I will color it brown and let it grow, get cut, grow, get cut, grow and get cut.
I am no longer interested in highlighting it.  I don't care for the cost or the maintnenance and frankly - I look hot as a brunette.

On the sidebar of my Blog I keep a section called "Currently on my Night Table" with pictures of the books that I am reading or about to read.  I cahnge it as my pile changes but I rarely talk about it.  I thought you deserved better than that.
And since I haven't had much "blogging energy" lately, I thought I'd do a little review.

I have been watching a lot of movies lately.  As I am writing this, I can't remember all of them, but I can start with what's on right now, "No Country for Old Men" and tell you that it sucks.

Nanny Diaries  -  I read this one a while back, not sure why.  Actually, I am never really sure what draws me to a book.  I just know that if it doesn't grab me early on, I can't be bothered reading it.  And it happens a lot that I buy a book, read 30-50 pages and library it.  If I want to be bored, I'll watch bad tv.
Anyway, I liked the movie a lot.  This was not a re-creation of a literary masterpiece so it wasn't a real stretch.  But it was cute.  And Scarlett Johansson was really perfect in the lead part.

Haunting in Connecticut  -  The house that this story is *very loosely* based on was 2 streets away from our first house in Southington, CT.  We had seen more than one special about this particular ghost story and while I hold no real hope for a very good horror movie these days, I knew I would see this movie when it came out.
Also worth mentioning is my 25 year crush on Virginia Madsen.  If anyone wants to really make my day, you'll find me a copy of a movie she was in in the 80's called "Fire with Fire".  I can't remember who else was in it, I just remember loving it on Channel 11, Sunday afternoons, in the same time frame that I wanted to be Billie Jean.
This movie did not disappoint.  Call it my utter lack of expectations, or perhaps it's my considerably lower threshold of tolerance for scary or gross stuff since I became a mama (I know, it's so sad, I used to be such a horror movie fanatic) but - I was very scared, very engrossed and very glad that I watched this movie when it was over.


Baby Mama  -  this is one I DVR'd a few months ago and every time I pulled up the list of recordings (usually to flip on some Wiggles or Diego) I would see it and think "ooh, I wanna watch that!"  But I never felt like committing a whole 100 minutes to a silly comedt when, by the time time I usually get into my bedroom at night, I am very tired, already planning to watch something or I just want to read.  So, the other night, after watching some tv, reading a little and still feeling restless (Jay was away) I put it on.
It was a late start.  Almost 10:00.  So, I figured if it sucked, I'd just delete it and go on with my life.  But I watched it and found myself laughing - loud and hard.
I should have expected that.  I mean, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey?  They are 2 of the funniest, if not THE funniest, women of our generation.  And together?  Well, SNL Weekend Update was never better.
The movie was funny, sad, happy, hysterical and completely relateable.  Which, is not what you expect - the sad part nor the human, realteable part.  But I seriously laughed so hard I peed a little, and felt so sad I ached a little.  G.R.E.A.T. movie.



I have been on a reading kick, too.  I can go months without picking up more than a magazine and then something clicks and I read book after book with overlapping books - constantly.
I am not a fast reader.  I read, then re-read pages.  It takes me a few weeks to get through 400-500 pages.  I also don't usually read every day.  And I can't read during the day because if I should be so lucky as to get that sort of daytime quiet, there is usually a checkbook to be balanced or some sort of phone calls to be made uninterrupted...  and sometimes even a nap to be taken.
So, here are a few of the more memorable books I have read lately:

My Sister's Keeper  -  I liked this book.  It was very well written and I really felt like I got to know each of the characters.  It was written very objectively so I never felt sorry for one character over another.  Being a mother probably helped me read it because I was truly able to see it from all sides.
I can't say that I loved it, nor can I say that it made me want to get into any sort of heated debate about how or why science should be used for individual, personal medical reasons.  I have, and I do, believe that personal choice is part of being an American.  And my choice may not be someone else's but that is why it's called "choice" and not "law" or "rule" or "commandment".
I wish the characters of the dad and the brother were given a bit more attention but maybe they just weren't as important...  or maybe they're just men and there just isn't as much to delve into.  Women tend to have more layers.
That said - the book was good, I won't see the movie starring that ugly moron, Cameron Diaz and I will read another Jodi Picoult book.


The Solomon Sisters Wise-Up  -  Fun.  Cute.  Fiction.  Not unbelievable but not exactly realistic, either.  It would take an avid reader about 4 hours to read.  I would recommend it to the chick-flick crowd.  On that note, I would also recommend
 
I just finished the Sisters book and have a few on deck, not sure what I'll pick up now.
I still haven't gotten to/through the Danielle Steele book called "Sisters" but I think it's the book, not the story.  I have gotten so used to the paperbacks that are as big as hardcovers that a regular sized paperback is annoying.  Am I getting old?  Do I need glasses?

I may read the Dragon-Neighbor book.  Jay said it was hysterically funny and very quick.
I may read the new Picoult book, Second Glance.  It is November's Book Club book and since I am hosting November's meeting, I figured that, in addition to drinking gallons of wine, I could actually read and participate in the book-related conversation.
(Speaking of November's Book Club meeting - since it will be here at 131, I thought I might make a punch in my fancy new punch bowl - it has glasses that hang off the side and everything.  Something Autumn-y.  Fun, right!?)
I have a few others that I am looking forward to but I think it will be one of the three I just mentioned.  I will update my sidebar as time goes by.

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