Category Archives: Afternoon Humor

(Solid) Food Fight!

Today, we finally decided to give Lucas his first taste of solid food.  He was getting so interested in my food that I started to feel like I was teasing a puppy by eating my lunch in front of him.  So before I felt like a bad mom who starves her kid, I decided that it was time to put something other than my boob in his mouth.

He was not interested.

And I had enough sense to take his shirt off and put him in a seat that’s easy to clean because I may as well have just stood back and thrown the food all over him.  He probably would have eaten the same amount.  But it’s not like it matters anyway since he threw it all up 20 minutes later.  So maybe we’ll just try again in a few days

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Once A Sun Devil…

I’m not sure if I posted it yet or not, but Angel and I finally got our Michigan license plates in the mail.

A little background- my adorable husband ordered a custom license plate in Arizona saying “GO B1UE” to represent the University of Michigan.  So when we moved here, I jokingly told him that if he gets a UofM license plate in Arizona, than I get an ASU plate in Michigan.  So that’s exactly what happened.  I have to represent the University that gave me both a BS and an MBA so that I can stay home and sew and talk to my baby about his poopy diapers.  You know those stories about people with a Masters degree who don’t use it?  Yep.  Living the dream.

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The Rivi (Plural) In The Windy City

So as promised, I have about 30 minutes to tell you all about our weekend in Chicago before Lucas melts down and it’s bedtime.

We had a BLAST, though!  We stayed on Michigan Avenue at the Marriott.  The highway was flooded going into the city thanks to all of the crazy weather that we’ve been getting, so we had to detour though the awesome parts of Chicago on the south side that you hear about on the news.  Luckily, we did that with everyone else traveling on I-94 so it only took us 3 hours to go 4 miles through the ghetto.

When we got to the hotel, we had a few minutes before we had to get ready for dinner.  Everyone was tired, but Angel and I and his aunt, who all bundled up Lucas and put him in a stroller and went wondering around Michigan Avenue.  We made it to the Disney store before we picked up a cute onesie and pajamas and “Wreck it Ralph” picture book and then we called it a night and went to get ready for dinner.

With the time change, our 8:30 reservation at a super nice restaurant meant a 9:30 bedtime for Lucas, and wa-lah!  We had a peaceful dinner and completely forgot that the baby was sleeping next to us.  Lesson learned for the future!  But it’s really good that he slept because this isn’t the kind of establishment that caters to families, children, or anyone not in a tie.

On Saturday we walked all. over. the. city.  A total of 6 miles we calculated.  We walked to Millennium Park and took many of the photos that I posted earlier, and then we walked to Buckingham Fountain (which sadly was empty for construction), and then we walked to the Field Museum and through the exhibits there.  Then we walked back to Michigan Avenue and went to lunch before we decided that our feet were tired and we hitched a ride back to the shopping that was a little bit closer to the hotel.  A few rounds through a pair of our favorite stores (Nordstrom Rack and Nike) we went to the hotel to change for dinner.

Another 8:30 reservation, another quiet dinner at the City Grille which was another not-meant-for-children establishment.  Luckily, we have the World’s Best Baby who was a trooper and probably fared the poor service the best out of our table.  I’ve had poor service before, but I’ve never had a steak knife dropped down my back before, so that was new and probably sums up the service.

Because the place was so poor and because we ran out of time to tour the observatory at the top of the Hancock building that we were staying next to, we had Sunday Brunch on the 95th floor at the Signature Room viewing out over Lake Michigan and the city.  It was beautiful!  But when we were done it was time to get in the car and make the drive home.

Vacations are always too short.

Those are the Cliff’s Notes version of the weekend because I have an early melt down on my hands and need to run.

Have a great week, everyone!

My Week

Well, I’ve been sick for a little more than a week, and haven’t left the house very often as a result.  In fact, the last time that I did leave was on Easter and only to go to Urgent Care.  Yep, it’s been a great week and not really the memorable first Easter that I wanted to share with my little man.  Obviously, he didn’t know any different but that’s not the point.  Ugh.  Mom fail.

I still feel like crap, but at one point I had a fever, the dog was throwing up, and Angel was suffering from food poisoning while Lucas was screaming and coughing.  A family who shares everything.  That’s what we’ve become.

In odd news, I’m losing hair by the handful over here.  Seriously.  By.  The.  Handful.  Maybe I’m taking chemotherapy that I wasn’t aware of, because it’s scary the amount of hair that’s coming out of my head at the rate that it is.  I should be bald by the end of the month.  Secretly I’m hoping that it’s just the end of the drop in all of the crazy pregnancy stuff since they say that you stop losing hair when you’re pregnant because of the hormones and you lose it all after you have the baby.  I mean, it’s bad enough over here that even the house cleaner made a comment about how worried she was about the amount of hair I was losing.  Yeah.  I’m not kidding.

And speaking of the end of all of these crazy pregnancy things, I’m happy to report that I finally put myself on the scale and I’m under my pre-pregnancy weight.  Having never lifted a weight or started a diet.  Go me!  That doesn’t, however, mean that I don’t look like I’m carrying around a flotation device around my belly still and have boobs out to here.  Why doesn’t anyone tell you these things?  In my mom’s defense, she did try and I stupidly thought to myself “but I’ll be different” and I’m here to shout it to the blogging world: No.  You won’t.  What was flat will now be round, what was small will now stick out, and what was perky you will now trip over.  “But you’ll have this little baby that makes it all worth it” or strongly suggest surrogacy to anyone who asks- which they don’t but they totally should.

Do you boobs hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?

Can you tie them in a knot?  Can you tie them in a bow?

Can you throw them over your shoulder and then feed your son a 7 course meal that will only hold him over for 3 hours before he starts screaming for more because he doesn’t know how much of a job this is?

Do your boobs hang low?

And since I’m already talking about my boobs, I’m going to throw out into the world that my son now BITES and PINCHES.  Yep and yep.  It doesn’t matter if I yell at him, flick him in the mouth, stop feeding him, or call him names (yes, I have done these all).  Now I can tell when he’s about to and I look at him and say “don’t you even think about it!” and then he either smiles at me, or gets this devious look in his eyes, bites me, and then smiles while I’m yelling.  He knows exactly what he’s doing.  That little punk.  But my 6 month goal of breastfeeding is in serious jeopardy over here unless he stops immediately  because this is no longer enjoyable and I don’t want to hate my baby and we’re on that path when he bites me every few hours and then started pinching this afternoon.

As a result of being sick, I don’t have a ton of photos to share for my week, but I do have a few while I was feeling under the weather and before I was hit by the proverbial Mac Truck of sickness.  I’ll type morewhen I feel like I’m not knocking on death’s door.

At the Chicago Bulls game with the family

At the Chicago Bulls game with the family

The car ride home from Chicago.  Molly has decided that Lucas is okay and can stay in the family

The car ride home from Chicago. Once again, proof that dogs take on the personality of their owners.

Morning play time

Morning play time

Morning nap in our (still) unfurnished family room with his butt up in the air.  Sidenote: our new couches should be here the first week in may- FINALLY

Morning nap in our (still) unfurnished family room with his butt up in the air. Sidenote: our new couches should be here the first week in may- FINALLY

we're still working on sitting

we’re still working on sitting

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Getting ready for Easter

Getting ready for Easter

Proof that there IS sun in Michigan.  Even if it was only for a day.  Angel took us to South Haven, which is a small beach town on Lake Michigan for the day.  We walked around the shops, had lunch, and spent some time soaking up the vitamin D that we so miss from Arizona

Proof that there IS sun in Michigan. Even if it was only for a day. Angel took us to South Haven, which is a small beach town on Lake Michigan for the day. We walked around the shops, had lunch, and spent some time soaking up the vitamin D that we so miss from Arizona

Baby's first Easter basket!

Baby’s first Easter basket!

Sick momma with her babies keeping her company on the couch

Sick Momma with her babies keeping her company on the couch

Look at all of these colors!

Look at all of these colors!

But MOM, are you SEEING these colors?!

But MOM, are you SEEING these colors?!

My little Easter bunny with his little Easter basket

My little Easter bunny with his little Easter basket (thanks for the outfit, Grandma!)

First Easter

First Easter

Angel got me a desk for my craft room and it's finally done!!  So here is my craft room in all of its crafty perfection

Angel got me a desk for my craft room and it’s finally done!! So here is my craft room in all of its crafty perfection

The first output from my new craft room: baby TOMS (which are shoes) for a friend of mine who is expecting any minute now!  Even made with custom tags for Liesel (what they will name her).  Between these and my diaper cakes, I should open an Etsy shop

The first output from my new craft room: baby TOMS (which are shoes) for a friend of mine who is expecting any minute now! Even made with custom tags for Liesel (what they will name her). Between these and my diaper cakes, I should open an Etsy shop

My Week According to My iPhone

That's cool, I don't need any luck

That’s cool, I don’t need any luck

That's more like it

That’s more like it

It appears that my genius child is on the fast track to crawling.  I believe that my days of setting him down and walking away are now numbered

It appears that my genius child is on the fast track to crawling. I believe that my days of setting him down and walking away are now numbered

We have a little bit of an attitude this morning, do we?

We have a little bit of an attitude this morning, do we?

What you can't see, is that he's staring at the TV while he eats the chair of his jumper

What you can’t see, is that he’s staring at the TV while he eats the chair of his jumper

...and then we had a dinner guest join us at the table!  Every night now, Lucas sits in his highchair at the table with us for dinner.  Not too long now and he'll get something other than milk

…and then we had a dinner guest join us at the table! Every night now, Lucas sits in his highchair at the table with us for dinner. Not too long now and he’ll get something other than milk

Play, play, play, play, play, crash.

Play, play, play, play, play, crash.

He got his shots at his 4 month well visit at the doctor so we spent all day Monday in our jammies cuddling in the big bed and watching the DVR and taking baby tylenol every 4 hours (a little but for baby, a lot a bit for mommy).

He got his shots at his 4 month well visit at the doctor so we spent all day Monday in our jammies cuddling in the big bed and watching the DVR and taking baby Tylenol every 4 hours (a little but for baby, a lot a bit for mommy).

Lucas thought diaper changes were too easy, so he started rolling over when we set him down.  Thoughtful of him to add a new challenge to a poopy diaper

Lucas thought diaper changes were too easy, so he started rolling over when we set him down. Thoughtful of him to add a new challenge to a poopy diaper

If you can't have fun with your kids, they are of no use to you for at least 18 years.

If you can’t have fun with your kids, they are of no use to you for at least 18 years.

Uncle Miguel bought Lucas an "Oball" that he loooooooves.  In fact, he loves it so much that he plays with it, sleeps with it, and we had to find a way to attach it to his car seat so he can travel with it.  If we ever loose this, we're in trouble

Uncle Miguel bought Lucas an “Oball” that he loooooooves. In fact, he loves it so much that he plays with it, sleeps with it, and we had to find a way to attach it to his car seat so he can travel with it. If we ever loose this, we’re in trouble

A little morning play time on the floor

A little morning play time on the floor

Best.  Sheets.  Ever.  (baby not included).  Have you ever tried to change a crib sheet in the middle of the night?  Or at 2 o'clock in the daylight?  Doesn't matter when it is, you have to take everything out of the crib and the sides, physically pull the whole mattress out, and then change the sheet and try to get the mattress in without shifting the bedskirt or the baby monitor sensor that goes below our mattress.  It's a 2 person job.  But then I found this gem that changed my life.  It's a big pocket that goes around the whole mattress with a zipper around the outside.  Now all I do is reach in the crib, unzip the top and zip a new one on.  Why doesn't anyone ever gift these at baby showers?!  I'm giving it every time now.  Moms: after the first time you're forced to change a crib sheet in the middle of the night, do yourself a favor.

Best. Sheets. Ever. (baby not included). Have you ever tried to change a crib sheet in the middle of the night? Or at 2 o’clock in the daylight? Doesn’t matter when it is, you have to take everything out of the crib and the sides, physically pull the whole mattress out, and then change the sheet and try to get the mattress in without shifting the bedskirt or the baby monitor sensor that goes below our mattress. It’s a 2 person job. But then I found this gem that changed my life. It’s a big pocket that goes around the whole mattress with a zipper around the outside. Now all I do is reach in the crib, unzip the top and zip a new one on. Why doesn’t anyone ever gift these at baby showers?! I’m giving it every time now. Moms: after the first time you’re forced to change a crib sheet in the middle of the night, do yourself a favor.

I started scrapbooking again.  I'm still looking for a desk, but that hasn't stopped me from spending some quality time doing what I love alone during nap times.

I started scrapbooking again! I’m still looking for a desk, but that hasn’t stopped me from spending some quality time doing what I love alone during nap times.

And then it snowed, which is really weird because it never does that here (eyeroll)

And then it snowed, which is really weird because it never does that here (eyeroll)

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Just for the record, Lucas fell asleep an hour ago and I’ve spent the whole time trying to figure out how to use this new computer so that I could actually update my blog and not the 3 photos and 5 words that you all got a few days ago.  My last personal computer was purchased in 2002 and didn’t have wireless internet and “Windows Home” and the work computer that I had been using was rocking Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2007.  Now that I’m on Windows 8 with Office 2013, I feel like I’ve been driving a 1976 VW Beetle for years and Angel just handed me the keys to a Lexus with self parking capabilities.  I know this machine can do so much more then I’m giving it credit for, but I’m spending hours trying to figure out where the gas cap is.

So an hour later, I at least know how to edit my photos and add my little website tag to them, which is more then I had the other day after I spent 30 minutes in Photoshop trying to open a file.

Two days ago, I took my little pooper to our “new” house and we got the keys!

Keys

I was excited to talk to the homeowner because she was a stay at home mom who was apparently extremely involved in mom groups and I wanted to pick her brain about where these such groups meet.  A few minutes later, I learned that the group she was involved in was through her church and was a bible study with an elaborate day care that takes your kids for an hour or two while you’re in the study group.  That’s not quite what I had in mind as a “mom group” so I politely passed and decided that I would just Google my options as soon as I learn how to use the internet on this computer.

Yesterday I went back to the house with Pooper and we had a few ladies from La-Z-Boy come by to measure the living room and give us some options for a couch to replace the disgustingly dirty one that came with Angel when I acquired him.  Bachelor couch is not dog and baby friendly and we’ve been so impressed with the rocker from La-Z-Boy that we have in the nursery (or storage, whatever) that we decided to go see what they had.  I’m pretty sure that the ladies didn’t take us seriously, but that’s the theme for this crap hole that we’ve moved to.  Perhaps I’m just in the wrong parts of town (which is possible because I don’t know any better yet), but everyone looks at me and automatically assumes that I’m a struggling teen mom playing house.  Most of the time it doesn’t get to me, but some times I just can’t take the looks and whispers because Angel and I have worked really hard for what we have and the ability for me to comfortably be a stay at home mom.  But I digress.  So yesterday when the ladies were leaving the house, the one was trying to see how serious we were about purchasing a couch and asked what our budget was and immediately started talking to me about financing options.  When I said “I don’t think we’re interested in financing.  We would just pay cash.”  She was trying to suppress a laugh and then spent 15 minutes asking me how old I was without actually coming out to ask.  I finally said “I’m 28.” and she replies with a “Wow!  You look great!”  And you look old.  What’s your point?  If I wasn’t getting this kind of discriminating looks and comments everywhere I went here like I’m living way beyond my means for purchasing both spaghetti noodles and spaghetti sauce at the same time I may actually be offended by the way that the lady was acting.  But instead, I think I’m just (sadly) getting used to it since we’ve moved here.  I miss the area we lived in and friends that we had who were all in the same position.  I’ve never felt like I was in an elite income bracket until I moved here and it’s a really uncomfortable feeling.  And then I get mad for feeling uncomfortable for what I have because again, we’ve worked really hard!  So I just turn the other cheek and then try not to be snobby because I hate people like that, but it’s hard not to come across that way when the lady from La-Z-Boy is standing in my living room asking me how old I am and commenting on how nice the house is.  Listen, bitch, sell me a couch or get out of my house.  This feeling is really what I’m struggling the most with here and I hope it gets better when we move into the house which is supposed to be in a nice area full of families and stay at home moms.

In a lighter note, Lucas has been waking me up earlier and earlier and refusing to go back to sleep.  Going are the days of sleeping until 10 and feeding him and going back to sleep. This morning I was looking for the snooze button on my human alarm clock and spent 5 minutes pressing his forehead but he wouldn’t shut up and go back to sleep.  I’m going to have to take this back to the store.

So instead, I got up, made coffee, and dared to put Lucas in his Valentine’s Day outfit early.  I call this a “dare” because he’s been blowing out his diaper and staining his clothes nearly every day.  Angel and I assume this is a sign that we either forgot how to properly put on baby diapers, or Lucas is outgrowing them.  I’m guessing option 2, so we’re going to finish up what we have, and then finally move on from the newborn diapers.  In the mean time, here’s a photo of Lucas on his first Valentine’s Day (before he poops out of the outfit) while he lays on a changing pad without a cover because he pooped all over that and it’s in the washer.  At this point, a drop cloth would be more appropriate for my house.

vday

 

Angel is taking the three of us to dinner tonight in Kalamazoo and I’ll be sure to tell you all about it tomorrow because I need more practice on this computer and because I don’t have much else to do while I’m living in temp housing.

 

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<—– Look what I learned how to do!

TGIS

TGIF? Screw that.  I still have to wake up in the middle of the night, change 1,000 diapers, go to the grocery store, cook, clean, and have dinner ready by 6.  How about TGIS when I have a hubby who takes the baby into the family room to play at 8am and lets me sleep until 11.  Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Here’s what my new normal looks like in photo montage:

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1. Wake up the sleeping beast

2. Get screamed at while I attempt to change a dirty diaper and get the baby dressed

2. Get screamed at while I attempt to change a dirty diaper and get the baby dressed

3. Feed the baby

3. Feed the baby

4. Baby peed in the process so change his diaper again

4. Baby peed in the process so change his diaper again

5. Time for morning cuddles.  Eating is a lot of work

5. Time for morning cuddles. Eating is a lot of work (creepy sleeping but awake eyes)

6. (No photo) Mommy has 30 minutes to shower before the baby wakes up

7. Time pauses for a while because the baby is smiling.  Everything else can wait

7. Time pauses for a while because the baby is smiling. Everything else can wait

8. Use the phrase "dig out" in reference to your vehicle

8. Use the phrase “dig out” in reference to my vehicle

9. Bundle up the baby

9. Bundle up the baby

10. After all of this is done, I have roughly 30 minutes of sleepy baby (as long as I don’t try to take him out of his car seat) before he starts screaming and it’s time to start this whole process over.  Realize that you can’t get anything done in 30 minutes.  Turn off the car, don’t dare touch the sleeping baby, and enjoy 30 minutes of peeing in peace, brushing my teeth in peace, pretending like I was ambitious enough to read (in peace), and picking up after the baby.  In peace.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

35 Weeks of Maternity Monday

My time together with “Maternity Mondays” is coming to a close in only a few short weeks.  Yesterday marked the 35 week line, and I think I can almost see the finish line from here.

I just got into the office from the doctor.  My appointment was just how I like them at this stage: uneventful.  In and out in 20 minutes or less with nothing more than hearing the heartbeat, confirming that the head is still down, and letting me know that he submitted my short term disability paperwork.  He confirmed what I already knew: that it’s going to be a photo finish for Thanksgiving.  His exact words were: “It’s going to be close.  You may be spending Thanksgiving in the hospital so I hope you don’t have any plans.”  I told him that I don’t care when I deliver the baby so long as he’s healthy.  He laughed and said “remember that” which I’m sure means that I’m going to need some affirmations written in lipstick on my bathroom mirror starting soon.

This week my baby is big.  Weight guesstimates seem pretty useless at this point since all he’s in there doing is gaining weight.  And since “normal” weights for newborns are anything between 6 and 10 pounds, I’m just going to label him as “big” and we’ll leave it at that.  He’s probably right around an acceptable weight to come home from the hospital if he could breathe without help, which he probably can’t quite yet.

I, on the other hand, am the very picture of motherly grace and beauty.  Also: waddling.  Mini Me seems to be awake at night when I get up to use the bathroom so I can only assume that he enjoys late nights and long walks on the beach.  I could use some more sleep, but he doesn’t agree and he pretty much already runs my life.  I may punch the next person who cheerfully reminds me to “get some sleep!” because I SWEAR I’m trying but it’s actually impossible to get the same slumber that I got before this experience because if it’s not the acid reflux it’s Mini Me kicking and if it’s not that, it’s my hip hurting because of the weight and if it’s not that, it’s one of the 1,000 other fun things I have the joy of dealing with.  I’m ready to not be pregnant anymore but this morning my doctor told me that “the baby and I don’t agree” so it sounds like I’m stuck getting fatter and slower, and more uncomfortable until the three of us can get on the same page.

I started packing my hospital bag this weekend because I’m still convinced that my Little Man is going to come early, in the middle of the night, and when I’m least prepared.  This must be the source of the mental need to nest, which I have a feeling will get stronger next week when I will no longer be working.  I also feel the need to decorate for Christmas before all of this happens because it’s going to be the baby’s first Christmas.  Seriously, the need to nest is so odd.  Baby clothes aren’t folded properly, so I must refold those clothes for the 8th and 9th times before he’s born- DUH.

So yep, things are uneventful and I’m still knocked up.  Angel’s just about on call now and every time I call him for something and he doesn’t answer I have a slightly embarrassing melt down along the lines of “What if I was in labor and you just missed it?!” or my personal favorite of “I WILL STAPLE THAT PHONE TO YOUR FOREHEAD IF I HAVE TO!” but then he just reminds me that I’m crazy and should probably sit down.  Both of which I usually have to agree with.

4 days of work, 5 weeks of pregnancy.  That’s all that’s left.