a little late, but just as thankful

Good things. Good things are happening all around me - to my friends, family, and myself. Some are extreme, life-changing milestones and others are just everyday little blessings that may not look like much but they mean a lot to me. Despite having four days off to relax, I really didn't stop to smell the roses until late last night. Hence the late late thanksgiving post!

In the rush of chaos that has come to be my life, the one thing I know I need to mash into my schedule is to just stop. Stop and look around - take it all in, because this is it, so I might as well enjoy it! I have so much to be thankful for this year. While most people are already getting to their Christmas wishlists, I still need to be completely cliche appreciative and do my Thanksgiving thank you list. A fulfilled wish list, if you will.

- Mr. Gobbles. My little boy appropriately hit a major milestone on a holiday I declared to be his all those months ago. After spending last year's holiday pouting about how miserable I was that my baby was taking his time, my chunky little turkey redeemed himself tenfold by walking, even strutting around the living room on his first Thanksgiving. Sure, he hammed it up a bit by doing it in front of both sets of grandparents, all of his aunts, and both uncles, but I'm still proud of my little showoff. And on the days he's not making major breakthroughs in development, he's still making me the happiest mom on the planet. I am eternally grateful that we have been blessed with such a happy, healthy, handsome little guy.

- Hubs. Not only did my husband spend last Wednesday, his vacation day, ticking off the last of my Thanksgiving prep to do list (including cleaning bathrooms, brushing dogs, and cutting vegetables), but he also has put up with me and shouldered my stress that I dump on him day in and day out throughout my working mom journey. Without his support, I know I would crumble under the challenges I face every day at work, at home, and at play. I'm so thankful for him and everything he does for me.

- Family. By blood and through marriage, I have a wonderful supportive family, who embrace me for who I am... I hope.  They all love Gobbles so much and treat him like the crown prince. I sometimes feel guilty for the overwhelming amount of love, attention, and gifts that are showered upon this little man, hoping that I can someday return it to his cousins and siblings.

- Friends. I consider myself very lucky to be able call on my girls about anything, no matter the time passed since our last visit. I always fear that in time we may grow apart, but so far every one of you has proven me wrong. Every day, each one of us is dealing with her own life, her own pressures, or her own milestones. It is a privilege that I get to share in your joys, be a part of your journeys, or just be a sounding board for some venting that you need to get off your chest.  For you ladies I am thankful, and you know who you are.

- Health, Food, & Good fortune. I know I take for granted the fact that my family is healthy.  That we have jobs (optimistic that hubs will find one before his tenure at current company ends in April).  That we have a decent little home in a friendly neighborhood with a yard to mow and puppies to play in it.  That we have food on the table and beer in the fridge (I can be thankful for alcohol... right??).  That we are happy with our lives and still find time to curl up on the couch together for a moment or two on the weekends.  When I complain about everything going on around me I need to stop and express appreciation for these things.  The things you don't notice unless they're gone.  That's what matters the most.

- Completely random shit.  Thank you weight watchers for helping me make goal the weekend before thanksgiving!  Now just 6 weeks of maintenance through the holiday season until I can call myself a lifetime member!  Thank you Walt Disney for creating the happiest place on earth because I cannot wait to come for a visit in a few days!  Thank you Amazon.com for my free prime trial, because I now buy everything cheaply and on short notice!  Thank you B101 for starting Christmas music before Thanksgiving this year - it got me into the holiday spirit extra early!  Thank you indoor soccer facility for renovating so you don't smell like a foot anymore!   Thank you Kohl's for my 30% off coupon!  Thank you yahoo local for allowing comments on the Philly daily news and Delco times articles - it's always a self-confidence booster to read what these crazy people have to say!   Thank you, bacon, for keeping my Thanksgiving turkey oh so moist while it roasted, and for adding that extra little touch of yums!

And, thank you, reader, if you're still here.  As a token of my appreciation, please enjoy some Thanksgiving pictures of my son:


It says "Grandma makes the best turkey", but really, it's my momma!

 

Wanna see me walk?  OK!

YAY! I'll entertain an audience anytime!

The puppies put their noses on the window, why can't I?

My first Thanksgiving, but SHOULDA BEEN MY SECOND!

See ya!

not quite ready...

Last weekend - I mean ten days ago, not two  (always playing catch-up on this blog), I was ready to put to the test the age-old question.  Am I ready for baby number two?

I've mentioned quite a few times that my affinity for beer and wine has precluded me from even considering 9 months of sobriety for at least 2 years.  But, as the last of the pumpkin ales are being cleared off of the store shelves and we restock our winter alcohol supply, I realize that every season comes every year.  So if I miss it one year, I'll be able to have my fill the next.  With my body back to normal and having had my fill of alcoholic treats, I mentioned to my husband, you know?  I think I can handle it again.  I think I'm ready.

Um, sure.  My body can handle it again, but could the rest of me?  Could our family?  Could our firstborn, used-to-getting-all-the-attention son?  Back to the aforementioned test.

One of my girlfriends was looking for a babysitter for her son, Gobbles' Lil Buddy, six months old.  I happily obliged because 1- he's friggan adorable, 2- I've been wanting to get into some kind of baby-swap / co-op thing with our friends so hubs and I can get a night out without dumping him on my mom all the time, and 3 - Hubs was out of town for a bachelor party, so it was a perfect time for me to "test" my ability to handle two kids.

HA.  ha.  HA. 

Ok.  It really wasn't that bad.  Save for the one hour time period during bedtime, it was actually very pleasant and a lot of fun.  The boys played together for over an hour after Lil Buddy arrived, exploring everything in the living room, reading books, and talking to the puppies, each other, and themselves.  Lil buddy was having a lot of fun, but there was something I started to notice about my Gobbles that bothered me. 

My son is a bully! 

He did a few little things throughout the duration of their playtime that made me cringe at the thought of him shoving kids into lockers and stealing their lunch money when he's older.  When I first sat them down together and was talking to Lil Buddy, Gobbles reached out and gave him a little smack.  I took his hand, laid it at his side, and gave him a firm "No!".  I then distracted them by putting them into the ball pit.  I should note that this is the first time I ever really had to try "discipline" on him.  He's too young for time out, but everything I've read said that they do understand NO and to just be firm and then move on with a distraction.  Seemed to work, he didn't touch Lil Buddy again.

But, as we moved on to the ball pit, Gobbles displayed a little bit of brattiness a second time.  Every time Lil Buddy picked up a toy, Gobbles would mash his hands into the balls and knock them all around (that's what she said. sorry. so sorry...) in sort of a mini temper-tantrum.  Then with the book, Gobbles would pull it away as if to say I'm reading! 

Ok, maybe not so much of a bully, but definitely a little brat.  When I got into daycare the following Monday I asked the teachers about it, and they were dumbfounded.  Apparently my boy is an angel for them, so they say.  So the way he acted must have been because it was so unusual to have another child on his turf, with his toys.  Hmmm... am I really ready for child number 2?  Wait - there's more!

Anyway, playtime was going swimmingly until the signs of weariness became apparent.  With that, I fixed the boys their bottles and began to feed.  At 6 months old, Gobbles still didn't hold his bottle, so I held Lil Buddy's for him.  He kept grabbing it as if to say, "gimme gimme, I got this!"  What a smart guy!  On the floor, Gobbles tanked his bottle and tossed it aside as usual.  He crawled over to where Lil Buddy and I were on the couch, realized I was feeding another baby, and started pulling on my leg. 

Lil Buddy finished his bottle and I lifted him to my shoulder to burp.  Suddenly, chaos erupted.

Let's just say he did a little more than burp and there was pre-eaten formula all over the couch all of the sudden.  Cannoli leaped up in happiness and began to clean it up, having not seen this for months.  Free milk, just for me!  In his process of leaping up he knocked Gobbles over, which normally would have been fine but tonight it caused him to erupt into tears.  Meanwhile, Lil Buddy not feeling so hot after loosing half his dinner decided he wanted to let me know how he felt too.

I dashed into the kitchen with Lil Buddy in tow leaving Gobbles where he was and grabbed a towel and some cleaner.  I gave the couch a quick wipe with one crying baby in hand and the other back on my leg. 

Uh oh! here we go... I thought. 

I dropped Buddy's mom a quick text to see if the spit up was ok, scooped up both babies, and took them upstairs for pajama-ing.  One baby screamed in the crib as the other one wailed on the changing table.  Switch.  Repeat.  

With both guys in their pjs I got their pacifiers and figured we could quiet down until we fell asleep, considering between screams both babies were nodding off. Hahaha not quite.  We got back downstairs and I tried to soothe Lil Buddy, who seemed to quiet every time I stood and rocked / bounced him.  Gobbles on the other hand, did not like this.  He grabbed on my leg and cried the biggest crocodile tears ever.  I will NOT share my mommy!  So I sat down on the couch, pulled Gobbles into my lap, and held both babies. This worked for about ten seconds when Lil Buddy realized he was not bouncing anymore and started wailing.  

Finally I stood up, bouncing two giant babies in my arms.  Then, a moment of silence.  It was great until I realized that I wasn't going to be able to keep bouncing for long, as my arms were beginning to feel like jello.  Before my arms could give way, Gobbles again realized that he was sharing me and started crying, triggering a chain reaction from his new bff / nemesis for mom's attention.  After a minute or so, Gobbles calmed down so I put him down.

Then, the reason for his calm revealed itself.  Pllllthhhplllllllhhhhpbbbbb.

So we all made our way back up the stairs to repeat the last 15 minutes this time with a poopy diaper change.  Only this time there was some spit up in the crib when we were done.  Not enough to write home about, but enough to require a sheet change.  What now?  

Then it hit me, god invented pack and plays for a reason!  I ran Gobbles downstairs and left Lil Buddy in the crib, ran back up and grabbed the pack and play and set it up downstairs.  I ran back upstairs to get Lil Buddy, brought him back down, put him in the pack and play, grabbed Gobbles to come upstairs with me so he wouldn't try and climb the steps.  I changed the crib sheets with lightning speed, and got Gobbles situated for bed. Have I mentioned through this WHOLE ordeal both kids are screaming? 

I gave Gobbles a quick hug and kiss, apologized to him that I was going to hang out with another baby, wished him goodnight, and laid him in his crib.  Of course, he popped right back up screaming, but I quietly gave him one more kiss and closed the door, grabbing the monitor and heading back to Lil Buddy.  He was waiting for me in the pack and play, wondering what kind of crazy place this was where his mommy left him.  I picked him up, rocked him a bit more, and we listened to Gobbles settle in to sleep on the monitor.  (He has been doing great with crying it out for bedtime and naps.  It now takes him between 2 and 8 minutes to get to sleep, but sometimes it's only 30 seconds!). 

Suddenly, after about 5 minutes of bopping around the living room - much easier with one baby - the house was silent.  I laid Lil Buddy in the pack and play and settled down on the couch.  I was shocked as I looked at the clock and realized that this whole ordeal from spit to sleep was less than an hour. 

It was then, in the quiet of the living room where I could hear two little boys snoring away, that I decided no, we're not quite ready for number 2.  Gobbles needs to be walking and able to get up and down the stairs safely before we can deal with a second.  He also needs to learn to share!  The could take another year, or just a few months, but for right now, I can be a little patient.

Again, the night really wasn't that bad, just a whirlwind of an hour that gave me a nice workout.  Look at all the fun they had!

Welcome to the Paci Club!

Hey Lil Buddy, if that is your name, just havin my dog check you out, make sure you're cool.



So what is your business at my house?  With my blanket??


 

Hmmm... Well you do smell good!  Wanna play? 

Ok, you can have the green one, but the yellow block is all mine!

And I think I'll hang on to the blue and red ones while I'm at it!

Lil buddy, it's not that I don't trust you, but I'm going to have Scout hang out with you while I go hide the rest of my toys...

Ok!  Let's have a story! But only I can turn the pages!

You know what Lil Buddy? You can help me turn the pages after all.  I like you and I think we're going to be good friends!

tricks, treats, and sweet-teeth

See? I told you I'd get to a Halloween blog.  Only 2 weeks late, when the decorations are all taken down and sitting on the guest bedroom floor packed up and the candy is long gone.  It was Mr. Gobbles' first Halloween and he made the most of it.  We devoted an entire weekend dedicated to one little boy and his Mickey Mouse costume.  Just don't ever tell him that I found the costume for 5 bucks at a church sale.  We can pretend I searched for it for weeks like his Christmas present.

The costume extravaganza started off with his fall festival party at daycare.  My mother tagged along as lil Mickey and his friends -a giraffe, a dinosaur, twins - a monkey & a dog, a butterfly, a pirate, and more showed off their adorable costumes.  I can't say that any child was particularly happy about being dressed up, but there weren't any major meltdowns.


Not the face of someone who is exactly enjoying themselves... am I right?



Definitely a lot more fun outside where I can play!

 

I love halloween about as much as my Daddy does.  Candy = good. Costumes = meh, not for me.

okayy, here's your smile. now take this thing off me and let's go home!

The next day was the annual Halloween bash at our friend's house.  This year, babies were welcome and we were happy to accept the invitation, as it had been awhile since we'd seen some of our friends and some of the babies.  When we first arrived Gobbles was happy as a clam, snacking on goodies, playing with friends, and stealing the dread pirate robert's sword.  It quickly turned when he decided he had enough of this costume and started whining.

When I picked him up to soothe him, I must have pulled on the costume a little much, because the next thing I knew I was soaking wet.  Boy, when my little man wants out of something, he'll just resort to anything.  Luckily, I brought an extra outfit for him - cardinal rule #1 of parenting - a mess will be made, so have a 2nd outfit on hand at all times.  Unfortunately, I missed the second part of that logic, that the mess will likely go on mommy as well.  Oh well, it probably enhanced my costumes as "bumbling Disney tourist" to have a nice little pee spot on the hip. 

So, by the time Gobbles' pal showed up dressed as Mario (with Dad Luigi and Mommy Prendie gal in tow), Gobbles had no cute costume to show so he continued to pout.  And though the babies were quite adorable, the costume of the year definitely went to Isrut.  Because not only were Beaker and Bunsen beautifully made, but she actually was so committed to accuracy for the costume that she left no eyeholes and removed her glasses in order to get the head on.  Beautifully made my dear!

Ok, what can I do to get out of this thing???

No FAIR!  Look at that, he's go facial hair AND a paci!

Finally, Halloween itself arrived.  I decided it was time.  Time to introduce my baby to one of my most favorite things in the world, chocolate.  Since we can't let him have beer and wine for quite some time, and he's already shown quite an affinity for pizza, chocolate is a great choice.  Deciding to go easy on his taste buds, we opted for a miniature three musketeers bar.  I unwrapped it and showed it to Gobbles, and he hesitantly leaned forward for a lick.  Upon taste, he lurched forward him my arms and bit off the top of it!  He ripped the rest from my hand and shoved it into his mouth, thus confirming a great fear of mine - my son has inherited my incessant need for sweets.  God help us all.  I have not given him another piece of candy since, for fear that he will blame me for his delightful little Buddha belly in the years to come.

Gobbles was thoroughly sick of wearing his costume, but since I made the effort to wash it from the night before, he complied.  Probably because he would do anything to get his hands on more chocolate.  Too bad I refused candy from the 3 neighbors I took him to.  But somehow, we still came home with a box of animal crackers and a hand-me-down 2T sleeper.  Score!  We spent the rest of the night greeting trick or treaters and hanging out with the well-wishers that stopped by to see my boy model his first of many humiliating Halloween costumes.  All in all, a great little holiday!



Not AGAIN!

  

This is SO humiliating!

Ohhh!  We have the same ears!  Is there chocolate in there??

No more chocolate?  Forget it! I'm blowin this joint!  Later!

and so it begins!

It's here!  The most wonderful time of the year!  Nothing but positive blog posts from now thru the new year, because I feel my holiday joy coming on strong this year.  Yes, I know I still owe a photo-filled halloween blog, but every november comes the feeling that I just can't shake... the warmth and happiness that comes with the twinkling lights, cozying up at home on the couch with a big warm blanket, a pile of puppies, the hubs, now the baby, a glass of spiced wine, and watching It's a Wonderful Life. 

I anticipate this feeling year round, and when it arrives I bask in it for a good 6 weeks- from the time I start looking up recipes for our thanksgiving feast to the last crack of a firework on new years day.  For me, this is my time of year to celebrate and be thankful for everything I have.  My husband and I met this time of year back in 1999 (wow).  We got engaged the day after Thanksgiving 5 years later and got married the first weekend in December the year after that.  And most importantly, just last year smack in the middle of the season, our son was born. 

Being that he was 10 days late, I was not my typical chipper holiday self last year.  I didn't get to cook thanksgiving dinner because we anticipated me being hospital-bound, and I grew more and more miserable as weeks 41 and 42 of pregnancy crept up.  After he finally arrived, the pure elation and exhaustion of a new baby overshadowed my typical exaggerated holidaying- I think Christmas day was the first time I was able to walk without flinching (I'll leave it at that. Let's just say recovery was a lot worse than 40 hours of labor and delivery of a 9.3 pounder.  a lot worse). 



Regardless, I did spend a little time getting Gobbles into the Christmas spirit.  He was 8 days old when I stuffed him into a santa suit and made him pose for the holiday card.  (My original idea, of putting him in a manger and dressing the puppies up as Mary and Joseph was vetoed by my husband, with fear that Grandma would not approve.  Likely because I was going to make the male dog Mary.)



If I had known this was why you wanted me out so bad, I would have waited a little longer!



this is not a smile.  it is the straining and frustration that comes with what you call tummy time!  Look at how red my poor face is mommy!.

Anyway, moving on, the reason I'm all hyped up in the Christmas spirit already is that the season has officially begun for me.  Not just any season, but my first crazy-mother-I-will-fight-you-for-that-tickle-me-elmo-Christmas-season!  I know it's not "baby's first Christmas", but last year the poor kid didn't get any gifts from his mommy & daddy.  But I gave him life, I remember saying to my mother-in-law when she expressed her dismay at us not giving him a gift, he doesn't know the difference anyway. To make up for last year, I knew I wanted to find the perfect gift for my little boy this year. 

And that's when I saw the commercial:

What could be more appropriate?!  My kid LOVES to dance and LOVES Disney!  At least his parents think he does, dressing him up for halloween as the big mouse (pics to come, swears), going to the World for his first birthday, and investing lots of their hard earned cash to ensure we go back there for many celebrations to come... Dance Star Mickey, you will be ours his!

So I mention to hubs that I think I've found Gobbles' gift, only $59.99 in the target catalog! He hesitates for a second.  Um, you know that's on the HOT toys list, right?  Damn.  So I start my search - not available at amazon prime, target online, walmart online, in any of the stores within a 50 mile radius.  It's only November 9th people!  Toys aren't supposed to become unavailable until people line up at 4 am on black friday morning.

Not wanting to resort to buying it bootleg from some scalper off the street (Mom, have I ever told you how much we appreciated our Cabbage Patch kids? Now I finally realize why you went to such great lengths to get them- you are the best!), I headed to the amazon marketplace, where for only $89 plus eleven for shipping, this contraption will soon be on its way to our home.  Just like that, I purchased the first Christmas present in a slew of hundreds over the next decade that will bear the tag Love, Santa.  Yes, I know he'll probably be more enthralled in the wrapping paper than the gift itself, but the cost is well worth the smile that Gobbles will have on his face and the little shimmy he'll do with his shoulders the minute he hears mickey start to sing.  Only 44 days to go!