day 26 NaBloPoMo: Listicle

Not a day goes by when I'm not grateful and thankful for my phone. It's not an iPhone but it is a smart phone with a nice little camera and man, what a godsend that handy little thing is... How lucky will Lovie be to have all these photos of her and her life to look back on (opposed to the not even one photo album from my youth... third child problems).

1= the sleeper part of our third "new" couch from Ashley Furniture in two months- the sleeper part constantly bottoms out and ends up on the floor. it's super hard not to get frustrated about this. the love seat is perfectly fine so I'm guessing it's just that this piece shouldn't be made as a sleeper, but the fact that Ashley won't just say that and rectify the situation with a new non-shitty sleeper, has really gotten on my last nerve.

2= Lovie on Thanksgiving night with 8 pony tails in her hair, napless, and about ready to pass out

3= Lovie putting ornaments on the tree the other night

4= Taye and Lovie watch Sofia the Princess

5= Finished Christmas Tree

6= Yesterday's "quiet time" results

7= Pancakes or Cheerios?

8= Christopher Pop-in-kins (cuter version-IMO-of elf on the shelf) has made his appearance

9= Miss "No I don't wanna nap" before a birthday party the other week.

10= Homage to Hostess

One truth

I'm gonna list 10 things and one of them is the truth, but only one. Can you figure it out? Come on and give it a whirl...

1.   I sucked my thumb till I was 12.

2.   I lost my virginity at at 17.

3.   I hate Nutella.

4.   I moved 10 times in life so far.

5.   I love living in the city.

6.   I love politics.

7.   I've moshed in a mosh pit.

8.   I get my hair cut every three months.

9.   I've only ever had one cavity.

10. I love having the biggest boobs in the world.

stick a fork in it

It's Monday so why not talk about stuff that bugs the crap out of me... more specifically, sounds that annoy me:

NAIL CLIPPING in a public area. Do it in the privacy of your own home, asshat.

CHEWING WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN. Come on. I don't need to wonder if that's peanut butter you're enjoying with your chips.

WHINING. Child or adult, or even cat. Young or old. STFU already.

DORA. If you tell me one more time to "Say it with me" I'll scream.

DIEGO. If you tell me one more time to "Shout it!" I'll cut you.

CAILLOU. See Whining.


HIGH PITCH, NASALLY TONES from the lady that sits behind me at work. I'm not sure how I haven't screamed at her yet.

MOTORCYCLE MUFFLERS. Too loud for my old ears.

COUNTRY TWANGY MUSIC. No thanks.

KIDZ BOP. Really?

before 40, again

In January I started thinking about things I wanted to try to accomplish in the nine months I had left before turning the big 4-0.

I updated the list at the end of April. And now, a month and a half before turning the big 4-0, I'm updating again because I have a hellacious headache and can't really think of anything else to write I can it's Monday and that means it's LISTICLES time! (comments in RED are from April, comments bold and in PURPLE are from today)

* finish Lovie's 1 year book (up to 9 months now) and 2 year book

 

* go down two pant sizes (not even close to this- ugh) (down one size and am pretty sure i'll make it down TWO! by my bday)

 

* get new wedding/anniversary bands for our 5 year wedding anniversary in June (we'll have been together 12 years) (this is happening but hasn't yet since it's not June so can't cross off yet) (done!)

 

* start being more active again- walking when i can, taking the stairs (haha. no... hahahahahaha. ugh) (it's been like a 100 every day for ever now- fuck activity!)

 

* do something ALONE at least once a month- even if it's running out to Target (this has happened a couple times! and even though i was home alone while the hubs and Lovie were out, it was still ... nice!) (ongoing/done!)

 

* get out to a dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with the hubs alone (it's our favorite and we haven't been since days before Lovie's birth) (done!)

 

* take a weekend trip to NYC to visit my BFF/cousin - alone - to celebrate our 40th birthdays (she's 6 months older than me) (should be booking this trip today as a matter of fact- WOOT!) (2 weeks from today, i'll be packing up to head back home from our Fierce and Forty trip to Paradise for a long weekend!)

 

* start knitting again- and reading more (reading more when i can but that knitting thing? not sure when the hell that will happen) (no. the only reading i do these days are blogs and no knitting either.)

 

* start writing more again (this is ongoing here on the blog- though not much fiction) (ongoing/done! including fiction!)

 

* and, again, the number one thing to do before turning 40 is get myself healthier (this is ongoing. i've already gotten a physical, gotten a mammogram and i'm trying to eat better.) (ongoing/done! lost nearly 25 pounds to date, eating healthier)

 

Mother's Day-isticle, the Listicle

one:

Lovie slept in late. Of course. The one day I demand I not get up with her, she sleeps in later than ever (8:30am!).

two:

The hubs brought me coffee in bed whilst Lovie and I watched TV in bed as he destroyed the kitchen made breakfast.

three:

I washed clothes (my own).

four:

Lovie took a 2 hour nap and I watched an entire Lifetime movie (can't even recall the last time that happened- before Lovie was born, I believe).

five:

Lovie woke hungry so I made her a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and sliced an apple while the hubs conveniently washed his car.

six:

We went to the park.

apparently the secret to getting a decent photo with your two year old is to contain them in a swing or as they eat

seven:

We laughed and played and my most favorite Mommy and Me photos were magically captured.

eight:

We visited the in-laws.

nine:

We came home just in time for Lovie's bedtime and she... went to bed without a fight.

ten:

We ordered Giordano's stuffed pizza and pigged out. YUM.

Booktasticle Listicle

Books are awesome. Period.

The written word is awesome. Period.

If you have kids, books should be everywhere in your home. Period. Please don't argue with me on this one. Just don't.

Some of Lovie's favorites (that she reads or requests I read):

Bark, George- This book was gifted to us by a woman who works in my department. It's a silly book about a dog named George who moos, meows, quacks, etc instead of barks when his owner asks him to bark. The owner takes George to the vet to get to the bottom of the situation. It's silly, it's repetitive, Lovie loves it.

You're My Little Love Bug- This books was gifted to us by an aunt of mine. It's a board book which is great for little hands, and its tale is sweet and fun to read. There's a heart shaped opening on the last page where you can slide in an image of your little Love Bug. I enjoy reading this one and Lovie does now, too.

Christmastime is Here!- I picked this one up during this past Christmas season to talk about the holiday with Lovie before it came. Lovie took to this one and asked that we read it several times a day. I had to hide it (on top of her bookshelf) after Christmas because I just couldn't take it anymore. It's a Fisher Price flap book and I picked up another one after her obsession with this one- and she adores it just as much. These are MUST haves for toddlers in my opinion.

Potty- I picked this one up during at Target run just a couple months ago when the thought of potty training started to seep into my thoughts. Lovie took to this one right away and loves when we read it and talks about wanting to wear undies all the time, as a result. Too bad the book didn't actually do the training part.

I Love You So...- This book... I just cannot say enough good things about this book. I've written about it before and it's a book that I will be sure to hold on to forever. I bought it the day I found out Lovie was a girl and I cried the first several times I read it to her while she was still baking away. It's not a short book, but the pictures and the flow is nice and easy- and it's just my all time favorite books for my Lovie.

Some of My favorites:

As I Lay Dying- I had to read this one a good 20 years ago in one of my fiction writing classes in college. And I quickly fell in love. There's just so much about it- particularly the way it's written, the way the story is told that always makes me say this is my number 1 favorite book. Ever.

The Help- I love this book. I just really love this book. It makes me smile, it pisses me off, it makes me teary. It's just an all around fantastic read.

Running with Scissors- This is another one that I just absolutely love. It's funny, it's crazy, it's bold, it's sarcastic, it's brave. Love it and love Augusten Burroughs.

Little Bee- Oh boy. This isn't a book I care to ever read again but it's one that will stay with me in a kind of haunting way forever, I'm guessing. Oh the tears shed whilst reading this book.

Room- Thinking of this one, again, moves me. I guess that's what a good book, to/for me, does: it moves me. And if it moves me, if it touches me, it stays with me.

Celebrity Crushes: the Listicle

Here I go showing my age again with a list of my very first celebrity crushes (that I can recall). I can tell you, hands down, who was the first crush (Nicholas on Eight is Enough) but after that, I'm not certain of the order. And yes, there's even a female on my list (I mean, how could I not include badass Jo from Facts of Life?! She was super cool, drove a motorcycle, didn't wear dresses, and wanted to beat the shit out of snobarrific Blair! What's not to love?):

(is that not an adorable photo of Bryan?!)

How come we stop?!

Lovie and I spend a lot of time together in the car as I take her to and pick her up from school Monday through Friday. The morning commute is normally not too bad- about half an hour long, tops. The afternoon commute is generally longer- about 45-60 minutes. We've been doing this together now for over 2 years and we're both still alive to talk about it! : )

That first year wasn't so enjoyable unless Lovie slept through it. Otherwise there was lots and lots of screaming and crying. Sometimes from her, too. ; )

Now that she's a talker (and oh me oh my what a a talker she is), our car rides are very different. 

10 things that can be overheard during our every day commutes to and from school:

"Sing, Mama!" (when a song comes on that she wants me to sing to.)

"Howcahm we stop, Mama?" (this one I get to hear about 100 times every single day on our way home, especially. I just adore living in the city.)

"Oh wow! Cars go fast!"

"That sound mean someone's in tuhble. It's Kacie, Mama! 'What's da problem, Kacie?'" (Yes. My child recites lines from her favorite TV shows. I swear we don't watch that much TV.)

"Hi stinky garbage truck."

"Anahder school bus, Mama?" (because I can fart out school buses.)

"Mama, we go to da farm? I give milk to da cows."

"Macaroni and Trees?! You can't eat that!" (Another TV show.)

"I wanna {bunny}, Mama. A pink one." (last week she wanted a bunny. Before that it was a bike.)

"Howcahm we stop, Mama?"

What's the point?

Last week I wasn't feeling too hot and that carried over to my motivation for this place; I just didn't really have much to say.

I still don't, really. : /

I mean, of course I do but... I don't know.

I'm in a bit of a slump lately, I guess. I'm in that mood where you wonder why you even bother blogging. I don't do it for money though I'd be more than happy to make some as a result. But I don't, so why keep going?

Why do I keep blogging?

* Free therapy.

* Connecting with others.

* To practice writing, my first true love.

* To gush about Lovie, the love of my life.

* To get a peek into others' lives. (Voyeuristic much?)

* To possibly learn about new things, see things from another perspective.

* To make the day go by faster whilst at work. (Let's be real.)

* To become famous. (You never know, right?)

* So that Lovie can become famous. (I mean have you SEEN this child?)

* Because I can.

Today's topic at Monday Listicles is really Guilty Pleasures, but since I've done that already and have been in a bit of a pickle of a mood regarding my blogging, I'm going this route instead.

on being aToddler: the Listicle

Toddlers and little kids have always brought a smile to my face. Their innocence and pure joy over the simplest things make it hard not to smile. Since having one of my own, however, I've come to understand that being a toddler can be tough work, too!

10 Reasons Why Being a Toddler is Rough

10. People are constantly looking at you, commenting on how cute you are, asking questions about you (What’s your name? How old are you?).

09. People are constantly touching your hair, squeezing your cheeks, wanting to give you hugs and kisses.

08. When you go to a restaurant, the wait staff gives you crayons or maybe even a balloon.

07. People love listening to you just to hear your sweet voice.

06. People are always smiling and laughing with you when you're in good spirits, and pouty when you're not.

05. Your parents carry you around when you ask, “Carry you?” with a smile.

04. People change your diaper and wipe your butt all while singing songs or tickling you.

03. People make you food, serve it to you, and cut it all up, and when you say, “Halp you peas,” and hold your fork to your Mama, she will even feed you.

02. The only thing to watch on TV is Team Umizoomi and Bubble Guppies.

01. And the number one reason why being a toddler sucks… you’re still waiting on that bike that you want. The pink one.

Rubbish-ticle Listicle

Rubbish... Rubbish... oh how I adore the word "Rubbish." :)

10 things I'm Rubbish at include ....

Leaving my kid. I adore being with her and get enough time away from her when I’m at work so scheduling something during my off time from work that doesn’t include her by my side just doesn’t appeal to me… no matter how good it might be for me.

Eating healthy. No matter how much I know most foods I eat aren’t good for me, I can’t stop eating them... even if I want to!

Staying up to date with current events. The news generally depresses me and I’ve found that since becoming a mom, I’ve become even more emotionally reactive to all sorts of stories. So I tend to steer very clear of any current events.

Cleaning the toilet and litter box. I can wipe my girl’s bottom just fine, but I absolutely refuse to clean the toilet or litter box. Thank goodness the husband does it (usually after I beg) or ... blech!

Competing with others. It’s too tiring to be in constant competition with others, trying to constantly one up everyone. I’m more than content with who I am and don’t feel the need to keep up with anyone (other than my 2 year old).

Dressing myself. I just don’t give a shit about my appearance. I’m fat, not much is flattering on me, I have big boobs I try to hide unsuccessfully. So I just wear whatever as long as it’s (pretty) clean. (I do fully admit that this is one thing I would change and hope to change once I come into some extra money and lose some weight. I'm not a fan of looking like a slob; I do tend to feel better when I feel as if I'm dressed "nicer.")

Shopping. I hate it. I hate the crowds, I hate looking at a bunch of shit I can’t afford. I’d much rather sit my fat ass in front of the computer and do my shopping that way.

Socializing. Holy hell is this the number one thing I’m rubbish at. I’m as awkward as they come when it’s time to socializing in person… even if it’s with people I’m comfortable with (except my husband).

Remembering. I have a shit memory. It saddens me sometimes when people talk about their youth, their past and have these awesome stories and I have very few and the things I do remember aren’t funny- or fun- for that matter.

Holding my liquor. It’s pathetic, really. I get buzzed really fast and then want to do nothing but sleep. And if I keep drinking, I’ll start puking. So I just don’t drink.

Lovetastical Listicle

Valentine's day is tomorrow... but these are thing I love all the time:

1. Her. duh!
2. Him.
3. My little family.
4. My Oma.
5. Hearing her say "Mama"... The way she looks and smiles at me when she sees me in the morning or for the first time when I'm not right by her side... How incredibly, incredibly sweet she is.
6. Sleep (photo is of her sleeping but I really love when *I* get to sleep this soundly).
7. Junk food.
8. Watching TV.
9. the Internet.
10. my "mom story." (please, please go check it out)

Passions: the Listicle

Passions. What are my passions? What am I passionate about? Hmmm.

Obviously she's my number one passion. Clearly that's pretty obvious around here.

But so is being a mom. I'm very very passionate about being a mom. I love it. More than anything- well not more than her, but yeah. I love being a mom. It's something I waited a long time to be and it's like a dream come true for me.

Writing is another passion. Without it, I wouldn't be. I'm pretty certain of that.

And then there's Bryan Adams. Yeah, I'm sure eyes are rolling and that's fine. You have your passions, I have mine. And he's one of them.

As is my Oma. I love this woman so, so much. I just... she means so much to me. So much so that she definitely belongs closer to the top of my list.

As does my passion for kids, in general. The pureness... the innocence... the wonderment. I'm very passionate about kids and wish I could do more with kids. Like ensure that every child grow up in a loving, nurturing environment with plenty of food on the table. Oh what I wouldn't do to make that happen.

Oh how it's good to be back to the Listicle way of Mondays! Woot, woot!

before 40

been quite ill the past several days and before that Lovie was sick. it's been a fun week and a half.

the past couple of days i've been doing a lot of laying around and it got me to thinking when i wasn't completely passed out.

i'm gonna be 40 this year- in less than 9 months. FORTY.

i never imagined seeing 21 let alone 40 so this is a BFD to me. and now that i have Lovie, things are different...  i have to care more about myself so that she has a Mama for as long as possible. and right now, i'm doing the opposite. everything has been all about her the past two years. all about her. and i'm not saying i'm regretful of that because i am absolutely not. it's just taken quite the toll on my health.

besides being obese (which i was prior to pregnancy so this is not because of her), i've been getting sick a lot. it's not right for someone to be as sick as me. sometimes it's just little colds, but more than not it ends up turning into something more debilitating. and it sucks. it takes so much out of me- and out of my time with and for Lovie.

so there's one thing i'm absolutely sure that's going to happen before i turn 40: i will haul my ass into a doctor and do whatever i have to find out what the hell is wrong with me. i will get a physical and keep hounding them until they can tell me WTF is up with my immune system (or the lack of it).

i'm pretty terrified to do this because what if there's something seriously wrong? i'm scared there is; i mean, why else am i sick like every other couple of weeks?!? but i have to do this. i absolutely have to. for me, for Lovie, for my husband.

some other goals to accomplish by my Fortieth:

* finish Lovie's 1 year book (up to 9 months now) and 2 year book
* go down two pant sizes
* get new wedding/anniversary bands for our 5 year wedding anniversary in June (we'll have been together 12 years)
* start being more active again- walking when i can, taking the stairs
* do something ALONE at least once a month- even if it's running out to Target
* get out to a dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with the hubs alone (it's our favorite and we haven't been since days before Lovie's birth)
* take a weekend trip to NYC to visit my BFF/cousin - alone - to celebrate our 40th birthdays (she's 6 months older than me)
* start knitting again- and reading more
* start writing more again
* and, again, the number one thing to do before turning 40 is get myself healthier

a day in the life of (when we're home): The Listicle

It's Monday Listicles Day!

I'm playing a bit differently than the rest and presenting a day in the life of (when we're home). Today's Listicle is immediately followed by pictures with greater explanation... I hope you enjoy!

1.       Smiles and snuggles in bed

2.       Cheerios (and milk!)

3.       Glue sticks and crafting fun while listening to Christmas music (I'm not even exaggerating one bit when I say that Lovie sat in her chair the entire time we made our wreath! I never knew a glue stick could hold an almost 2 year old's attention even more than Team Umizoomi!)

4.       TV break

5.       Time to make some cookies and eat lunch

6.       Nap time

7.       Snuggles and TV

8.       Daddy’s home

9.       Tuna sandwiches and chips

10.   Bath and bedtime

In greater detail...

Bedtime Saturday night was a tad later than normal so Lovie didn't get up Sunday morning till Daddy got up to go to work at about 8 (this is completely abnormal- neither of us work weekends). He brought her in to me and she was all smiles. What a way to wake up! (Normally I get her up.) We snuggled in bed for about half an hour, watching Chica on Sprout TV. Then we got up, had some cheerios, and started our day as Daddy went to work. 

After daddy got home, we all had tuna sandwiches and chips, watched Team Umizoomi (while I played on the computer) and colored. Then daddy gave Lovie a bath and we got ready for bed (watched an episode of Ni Hao Kai Lan before retiring to Lovie's room and reading for about 15 minutes).

I'm not sure what I would do with myself if every day was as awesome as this.  We could go on walks, to the park, visit the old folks (my dad's retired, his parents are retired, my Oma is ailing). We could go to the library and book stores, out for coffee and hot chocolate. Or we could just stay home like we did this day and do a lot of nothing- yet oh so much!

Thank goodness I have work to snap me back into reality.

Seriously, thank goodness for days like yesterday. I take NONE of it for granted and I very well realize how lucky I do have it- to at least be blessed with such an amazing little girl who calls me Mama.

Wish Listicle

I know this will come across as very foreign to many folk, but I don't think I've ever really created a Wish List for Christmas. As a kid, we weren't really asked to do this (I'm guessing cuz my parents wouldn't or couldn't really get us things off our list) and as an old fart, I just don't have a wish for many things I can't get myself.

I mean, I don't really give a shit about designer this or that. I abhor perfumes. I'm not into jewelry (I haven't worn my wedding band since August 2007... we were married June 2007). I'm fat and would never tell someone what my size is for them to purchase a sweater or something. I had a bone removed from my foot which now requires a custom made insole to be worn with shoes so I can't really ask for a kick ass pair of boots or sneakers since they never fit my insole.

blah blah Bah Humbug!

But I do love Christmas! I do, I do, I do! I especially love giving gifts to others! That, along with spending time with family and friends, is what the Christmas is all about for me.

But to appease the other Listicle Makers out there, here is my 2011 Christmas Wish List:

1. to wake up Christmas morning with brown hair instead of the silver streaked hair it is... BUT it would have to be brown naturally and not need any coloring to prevent the silver from coming back
2. a maid to cook and clean- paid for life (of course holidays would be off)

but seriously...

3.  to make the season as magical for Lovie as possible
4.  to spend as much time with family as possible
5.  to continue or create traditions (like making Untricky Sticky Buns Christmas morning)
6.  to give to people in need (I actually adopted a family thru work this year!) {if this wish was an unrealistic one like the first two on my list, it would read "that no person be left hungry, homeless, or in need of anything basic"}
7.  to play Christmas music as much as possible
8.  to snuggle with my girl as often (and then some) as she wants
9.  to kiss those cheeks as much as I can
10. to breathe in every ounce of excitement and energy I can from the littles like my Lovie

One and Done, the Listicle

I've talked about this several other times on this blog since starting it 20 months ago... why I'm most likely on Team One and Done. At first I harbored a lot of guilt about even thinking that we were on this team but as time progresses and as friends and family near and dear expand their families and we don't, I become more certain that the team we've chosen is most definitely the right one. FOR US.

Why the decision to have only one child?

In no particular order...

* I'm 39. I suffered one missed miscarriage before becoming pregnant with Lovie nine months later. I have absolutely no desire to go through the ups and downs of trying to conceive. No desire whatsoever. Yes, much of that has to do with fear- particularly the fear of miscarrying again or the fear of getting my hopes up only for them to be squashed.

* But more than the fear, I'm just tired. And the thought of getting pregnant again and staying pregnant for another nine months exhausts me. Just the thought of it exhausts me, imagine how I'd actually be if I were pregnant and caring for a 2 year old. No thanks. I mean, if it happens, it happens but we're not trying and ... just no thank you.

* Lovie completes me. As cheesy and cliche and whatever else you want to say as it is, it's true. The moment she was born, the moment I heard her cry out, the moment I laid eyes on her... I just knew this was it. She was the reason for life and my life was complete.

* I get to gush and gush and gush about her and only her and not feel guilty about doing so. I don't have to divide my attention between two or three or four other kids.

* I get to focus everything on to Lovie. Sure I could spoil her rotten with toys and clothes and other meaningless (when it comes down to it) crap, but I don't; instead, she gets my full attention and there's no guilt for doing so.

**********************************************************

Like what you see here at finally Mom? Then why not Come Play with Me?!?

Dreamsicle Listicle

10 things that make for a Perfect Vacation

1. Sleeping in- and sleeping in comfortably!
2. Room service
3. Crisp, clean air (the outdoors; in other words, keep the city life far away. unless it's Vegas. or NYC.)
4. Room must have a nice view- could be trees or a lake or the ocean (yeah right) but there must be something other than buildings to look at
5. Good food must be readily available
6. Places to explore nearby in case we want to go out
7. Place to play (playgrounds for the wee one, casinos for the big one)
8. Nothing ridiculously expensive (I know it's vacation but we still need to live when we get back)
9. Some place where my Loves can be by my side (yes including the little Love) 
10. No schedules, no deadlines 

High School Listicle

Why nothing- and I do mean nothing- could ever get me to go back to my High School days:

I went to four different high schools.

Freshman year was spent between two different schools with no friends.

Sophomore year was spent at one school with one friend. (I miss you Jackie!)

Junior and Senior year were spent at the same school with one friend. Sort of.

I never got asked out on a date.

I never got asked to any school dances.

I wrote a scathing Letter to the Editor of the school paper my Junior year of HS where I basically ripped apart the majority of students, telling them they were all the same, there was no individuality; telling them they were all a bunch of spoiled brats who would be in for a rude awakening once the real world hit. I would walk down the halls after the letter was printed and hear people bitching me out, not even realizing I was the author. I was completely invisible to these people no matter what I did.

I didn’t graduate on stage because being associated with that school repulsed me.

I’m in contact with no one from high school.

1986 to 1990 were some of the most depressing years of my life.

Spooktacular-icle Listicle

H a l l o w e e n  is...

       1.       Candy

2.       Scary movies like the original Halloween

3.       Kit Kat bars

4.       Creepy music like from the likes of The Shining, etc.

5.       Bubblegum

6.       Orange and black and purple and green

7.       Snickers bars

8.       Witches, ghosts, pumpkins

9.       Full size candy bars!!

10.  My little Monchichi