Fits

Oh my sweet child. Or not so sweet at times. Brynlee is a great baby for the most part. She plays on her own, will be held or fed by anyone and is generally happy to just hang out. She loves running errands, going to eat or anything like that. As long as she has people to look at she is a happy camper.

However, she has developed quite the baby attitude. While she is still content to sit and hang out, she needs someone to be sitting with her. Anyone really, it could be the cat for all she cares as long as it's someone. Otherwise the baby tude comes out, and she screams/squeals/fake cries until someone pays attention to her. If I ignore her temper tantrum (as I sometimes do, after making sure that she is absolutely fine and just being a pill) it escalates to an octave even higher, in that the dogs in the neighborhood start barking and wailing.

The power struggle has begun already. I knew it would happen eventually, but I am surprised at it happening this early. While Jimmy and I are not on the same page with a ton of things it seems, we are united on this. We will not have a brat child. Not happening. These baby fits are not here to stay, that is for sure.

I'm a fan of tough love, but I'm not a fan of being mean. I think there is a balance there, and that is what I strive to achieve. I can admit though that some days when my patience is thin, and the baby fit starts I wonder yet again what I got myself into. I'm so grateful that Brynlee is forgiving and is still excited to see me even if I've lost my patience and had to leave the room for a while.

Usually by the end of the day I'm counting down the minutes until it's her bed time and I can have some alone time or fun time for myself. Then I look at her sleeping and wonder how I could have been so frustrated at something so beautiful. I get disappointed in myself and vow to be more patient tomorrow. But the cycle repeats the next day and then I'm quickly reminded that she is cute for a reason. Otherwise no one would deal this crap!

Look at this face. It's impossible to stay frustrated with something so cute for long.

One More Thing

Last night, I saw my first Imax movie. Jimmy and I went to see Tron. As you can imagine I did not pick that one. I'm not really sure what Imax means exactly. Better picture quality? Louder? Of course the movie was in 3D as well, so we were stuck wearing those stupid 3D glasses that pinched my nose for 2 plus hours.

I've never seen the original Tron, but I did enjoy this one. Some of the concepts were way past my humble knowledge of computers, but the whole idea was interesting.

However, my enjoyment of the movie was constantly put on pause as I pondered on the cost of seeing this movie. $18! Per person! We had free movie tickets and gift cards, so we didn't actually pay any of that. But it really left me baffled. Had the movie been playing in regular 2D normal sound/picture, we would have seen that. But nope. Only in 3D with all these crazy bells and whistles.

In my mind, nothing short of the hot Tron man jumping off the screen and materializing before my eyes would make that movie worth the $36 we had to pay to see it.

As we watched the previews, it was one movie after another in 3D and Imax. Cartoons, nature movies, Disney movies. Are there no normal movies anymore? I don't want to see a cartoon in 3D, I want to see a cartoon in 2D and save my extra $6 or so ( and avoid a pinched nose for that matter). I remember when it used to cost $3.50 to see a movie. Now, it's $18. You can buy a movie for that much money and watch in endlessly!

But this is how things work now, and it's a shame. I used to love going to the movies, but at this rate my time of going to the movies is coming to a close. I can't pay $18 to see a movie. It's just wrong. Even if I have a gift card or free ticket, it's a principle thing. I won't do it again.

I want my 2D poor picture quality movies back!

Ode to a Man

There is a man out there who is unlike any other.

A man who offers me his Albertson's pots for pennies stickers because he knows I've been saving up and want that Dutch oven something fierce.

A man who watches Brynlee several times a week with excitement and vigor. When it comes to meal times or changing diapers, he is all to happy (freakishly so :)) to do it.

A man who I've seen lose his patience maybe a handful of times in 26 years (hey is human after all!).

A man who is commonly adored by all who meet him. His laughter is so contagious he can bring you out of the worst mood with just one chuckle. Or cackle. And he laughs, a lot.

A man who is humble, despite his many talents which include: kid/baby whispering, wood working, Microsoft Excel use, helping with math homework, helping with French homework, helping with just about any homework..., staying optimistic when life gives you lemons, smiling and most of all listening. He has to be the best listener I've ever met in my life.

The man who I so fondly refer to his none other than my Dad, aka Papasaur!

Seriously. Have you met this man? If not, you are missing out. He is phenomenal. :)

Challenge Extended

... and challenge accepted! So far, I've gotten dressed with make up and jewelry everyday this week. All 3 of them! Especially considering today I don't plan on leaving my house, that is pretty good. Not even to check my mail (hmmm.. wonder what's in there....) because it's raining and cold out.

I've also gotten back on my diet. Yes, yes I know not the best time of year to diet. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do. A plus of starting this time of year is that in the beginning when you have that just started motivation cakes/cookies/candies/Christmas goodies don't have the allure they do when you have been dieting for a while and are tired of it.

I'm going to tap into my stash of gift cards and purchase some clothes that are totally not me. As it not something I would ever in 1 million years buy. I just bought a new pair of boots this morning. I'm not really a boot person, but on Dec 28-30th(depending on how quickly they get here) I will be!


Next stop, skinny jeans. Yes skinny jeans, my former nemesis (as in I hate them). I'm going to give them a try for a couple of reasons. One, they are all you can find anymore, and I'm tired of spending 5 hours trying to find jeans. Two, they are out of my norm and that is what I'm trying to do. Break out of this rut I've landed myself in.

If there are any other skinny jean wearers out there (bless your heart you brave souls) I could use some tips on how to wear those pants. Because I have giant feet, and having a tapered ankle makes my giant feet look even bigger. The memory of being called "boat feet" in elementary school is all coming back to me...

I love the beginning of a resolution, when you feel so motivated and inspired. Let's see how long I can keep this up.

A Housewife's Ambitions

I used to laugh when I watched those Suave commercials where they show the mom with her hair in a ratty bun. Then she uses Suave and her hair is clean and shiny. The point of the commercial was that Suave was supposed to help those poor mothers out there who have let themselves go and have no time to fix it.

I remember thinking, how hard is it to keep your hair out of a bun? That itself is ironic considering from the age of 12-15 I wore my hair in a bun everyday. But that's besides the point. I had this unruly crazy curly hair, and didn't know what to do with it.

Anyhow, now I'm starting to understand those commercials. I'm blessed to be able to work from home, but to be 100% honest I don't like it. I'm not someone who can sit in the house all day and feel fulfilled. Any face book friends know there are quite a few days when I don't even bother to get dressed! I mean what's the point? If my only time outside is to check the mail, who cares? I love checking the mail now. I feel like one of those old retired people who sit all day waiting for the mail to come.

I feel my appearance slipping, and I hate it. It gives me anxiety when I think about it. I think about how I hardly every do my hair anymore, wear make up maybe 1 a week if that, and am pulling from my large supply of souvenir tee shirts to wear when I do in fact get dressed. And I only have 1 kid! What happens when the rest come?

Despite the vow I made to myself, a nice layer of extra padding still continues to reside upon my midsection. I keep telling myself it's baby weight, and that it will go away. The problem is the baby is 7 months old now. So that excuse is shot. And the fact that most days my exercise is running to my mail box ( hey in my defense my mail box is not right in front of my house, and I do run to it rather than walk because I'm excited for what awaits me inside the box) is my only form of exercise.

This is not how I envisioned myself looking as a Mom. Especially at 26 none the less. I always thought I'd be one of those "Cute Moms". The ones who wear stylish clothes, and stay in shape, etc etc.

Ok yes maybe I'm being a bit dramatic here. I'm lucky that most of my baby weight did naturally fall off with little effort. My weight is actually the same as it was pre baby, but the distribution of my weight is ALL wrong...

So things are not that bed, yet. But this is how it starts. Baby steps. If I keep going like this I'll be one of those Moms who takes their kids to school in a muumuu with curlers in their hair!

So, I'm setting a goal for this week ( we'll take 1 week at a time at this point). I'm going to get dressed, put on make up and jewelry ( oh boy, getting crazy here!) everyday. And not just get dressed in a souvenir oversized t shirt either! And, I'm going to go somewhere everyday. Not just the mailbox! I'll report in and let you know how it goes (I think I might of just lost some of my few readers at the idea of checking back to read about how my getting dressed everyday is progressing! :)) Wish my luck, day one is today!

Oh Baby, Baby

Brynlee just had her 6 month check up (I know she is 7 months old next week, we are a little behind).

She is growing like a weed!

Weight: 17.5 lbs, 60% percentile
Height: 27.5 inches, 90% percentile
Head Circumference: 43.2 cm, ( I think this one is 60% percentile)

She can roll all over now. Front to back, back to front. She kinda rolls where she wants to go now. She has gotten up on her hands a knees a couple of times, but is in no rush to crawl. And I'm not really in a rush for her to crawl either!

She eats just about all her baby foods now except meat. Every time I try to give her the baby food meat she looks at me like I'm trying to kill her. One time she proceeded to spit it out at Jimmy, and then puke all her other food up. I can't say I blame her, that stuff is NASTY!

She ate the paper off of a stick a bow the other day. Stupid me I gave her the bow while I was wrapping to try to keep her entertained. When she put the bow down, the whole paper backing was gone! She didn't eat the staple, but we've had our first baby eating something she shouldn't incident. I'm sure it will be the first of many, many to come.

Here she is laying on Uncle Robe while he is sleeping. What a trooper he was to let her drool all over his Iphone! :)



We tried about 10 times to take a family picture. Of course the one I liked the best of me the cat is looking at the ground, the baby is making a weird face and Jimmy's eyes are closed. *sigh*. Isn't that the way it always goes?



I love this kid!

Wild Ride

As 2010 draws near to a close, I find myself reflecting on this year and how it has changed my life. It's really crazy to think of how many things can happen in a year.

We had some bumps, but it all seems to have evened out now. So we are left with some new experiences and some fun stories to tell. Here is my 2010 in a nutshell:

1. Work was so crazy I can't believe I lived through it! Unplanned, my co worker and I both got pregnant within like 4 months of each other. So, at the end of Jan she was out for 3 months. We worked together for the end of April, but then I went out starting in the end of May. Did I mention there are only 4 people in my little division? Yeah. Having only 3 makes a huge difference. I think I literally worked until like 8pm every night... But I made good money and made Presidents Club. And, more importantly found out what I was capable of. I now consider myself a pretty seasoned travel agent!

2. My living situation was a little strange for a while this year, with puppies etc. I've never owned a dog before. They sure are cute, but good grief they are so high maintenance. They are worse than a baby (no joke). By June Mitzie was the only 4 legged animal in our house again. But at least I have some dog experience now? Yep, I was right. I'm a cat person. :)

3.Baby! Obviously the most important one. We went from a 2 people family to a 3 person family, and it's been nuts. Truly. There have been lots of good times, and a few bad. Sometimes I think back to the days when I would get off work and be able to just sit and read. Or go to a movie. *sigh*. Guess those days are gone! But for the most part I love being a Mom. Sometimes I miss my days of freedom. But then I'm apart from Brynlee for more than a few hours and I miss her like crazy. Anyhow, we are so happy to have a healthy beautiful baby girl.

4. Jimmy's car got stolen. How many people can say that? That morning, the poor guy was supposed to leave for work. Goes out to where his car should have been, and the space is just empty. Empty! Such a strange feeling. I can still picture his face when he came back in the house to tell me. He looked so confused...I was confused too. I thought maybe he forgot where he parked it or something. Nope, it was gone. But, 1 week later we got it back! In decent condition none the less. Now really how many people say that? I though for sure that car was on a 1 way trip to Mexico never to be seen in 1 piece again. It's truly a miracle!

5. I went from never having stayed in the hospital prior to 2010 to staying there for 2 and 1/2 weeks between giving birth and when Brynlee got sick. Not my favorite place. However now I could give a guided tour of Kaiser Woodland Hills!

It's hard to imagine that 2011 will top this year, but I'm looking forward to seeing what life has to throw at me. Bring it on!

Why Thank you Mr. President

No I'm not going to talk about politics. Not in this venue anyway. To be honest I'm not very educated with them anymore, and my political beliefs seem to be all over the place and don't usually coincide a majority of my readers (no need to lose some of my following!).

I am going to discuss the award I received at my company Christmas party last week though! As I said last year, I'm not much of an award winner.

Athletics have never been my strong suite. While I consider myself intelligent, I'm not intelligent enough to be recognized over others for it (there is always someone smarter than me!).

So, most of the awards I've won have been ones that everyone gets, ie those don't make anyone feel left out awards. Or attendance awards.

But this year, I made Presidents Club again. To be 100% honest, what needs to be done to make Presidents club is unclear to me. It has to do with making the company a lot of money, which they naturally appreciate. Not too many people make it, only like 30 out of 900 or so. And I, was one of those 30! I get my name on a poster that is all around the office, and I get another inscription on my trophy (yay, a trophy!!!).

They count the amount of money your bring in from Oct of one year to Oct of the next year so even more exciting is that I still made it with being out on maternity leave for 3 months! Ah success. President's club members get to go on an all expenses paid trip in June, this year we are going to the La Costa resort and spa in Carlsbad. Ok it's not a trip to Europe, but it's something.

Now, after my good news I'm going to rant a bit. I'm not going to name names as my blog is able to be seen by all. But I am so tired certain types of people I am forced to encounter daily.

I don't understand why people who have money think they are better than those who don't. I'll never understand. Even if I was rich I don't think I could ever treat anyone that poorly. Starting in 2011 the self confidence bash that has been the relationship I've had with these people is coming to an end. At this point, I CANNOT wait. They have not been all bad, but unfortunately the bad over shadows the good. All I have left at this point to say to them is don't let the door hit you on the way out!!!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Yay!!!!!!! Who doesn't love Christmas time? The people I live with that's who. We'll just call them Grinch #1 and Grinch #2. Not that the Grinch Brothers can put a damper on my Christmas loving. I will not yield!

Jimmy and I put decorations up last weekend while Robbie hid in his room (probably trying to find a happy place) and it's looking mighty festive at my house. I forgot what a complete terror my cat is during Christmas time though, she is into everything already, and we haven't even gotten the tree yet.

I'm so glad Brynlee wasn't born just a few months earlier, because then she'd be crawling all over the place, wreaking havoc on my decorations just like the cat. I put something up, the cat tears it down... seems like I really do stand alone when it comes to decortions. Even Mitzie is against me.

I remember being in school, and this being the worst time of year. All those finals. It is nice not to have those anymore.

Each morning I wake up and get excited to move magnets, open doors and pin things on my advent calendars. I know, it's sad that I get excited to do that. But I do. I have so much shopping to do it freaks me out a bit if I think about it too much. One of these years I'll be smart and start in July or something. I find myself saying that every year.

I really do love presents, giving and receiving. Yep, I said it. Who doesn't love getting presents? I know we are all supposed to pretend that that part of Christmas doesn't matter to us. But it matters to me. It's nice because you can ask for stuff you wouldn't normally buy yourself. Jimmy is a pretty good gift giver though. Mainly because he doesn't really deviate from the list too much. Which isn't a bad thing. :)

Lastly, I played hangman on Sunday with my class of 13/14 year olds. I got the ball rolling by doing a nice Sunday puzzle, "Sabbath Day". I hope none of the kids stumble upon my blog, but here are some of the hang man puzzles they came up with:

1. Unicorns are cool
2. Asians love rice
3. Football is awesome
4. I love money
5. ______ is the king of the world ( insert boys name were blank is, I left it out to protect his privacy)
6.Hamsters are fluffy

Yes... that is the youth of America right there. Good grief. Safe to say I had some good laughs on Sunday.