Foreboding Music
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sasha is going to be a duck this Halloween. I found the costume on Craig's List for ten bucks- Jimmy and I agreed that it would be frivolous to spend forty dollars on something Sasha was only going to wear a few times (boo). From the little white tufted tail to the feet which have "quack, quack" written on them, everything about her costume is just adorable. Unfortunately, Sasha does not share my absolute love for the plush ensemble. It must be itchy or unbearably stuffy or something because she screams bloody murder when crammed into it. The pacifier will only calm her for seconds. I don't know what to do because I really want her to wear it when we go out on Wednesday but I realize that makes me a terrible, putting-my-own-crazy-agenda-ahead-of-my-daughter type of mother. My sister keeps telling me that Sasha is not a Barbie Baby or Baby Patch Doll. What??!?!! Isn't dress up one of the fun parts of having a kid- especially one that can't yet make clothing decisions for herself? I did compromise yesterday for a costume party. I put Sasha in bunny ears my friend, Diane, knit me. Although I did receive tons of compliments for that hat, part of me was green with envy at all the super cute monkeys and pirates and spiders running around. However, for the time being, I'll let my obstinate bunny be.
Here is a pic of Sasha during the one time I was able to get a photo of her in her duck costume (during the New Mom's Group)- yeah, her (cranky) face is obscured by a pacifier.
Becoming a Grownup Starting with my Butt
Thursday, October 25, 2007
I wanted to start off this post by writing that while my parents, sister, & various pets had to evacuate for a few days, they are all safe and none of their homes were burnt. It was damn scary for a while as the Witch Fire got within a couple of miles of my mom's house (if the winds hadn't turned, it would have been a different story). Fortunately, all they have to do is clean up the layers of ash and debris now decorating the yard and driveway. My parents stayed with my brother (lucky guy!) so my dad was comfortable (although there were supposedly medical facilities at the Del Mar grounds, the temp shelter where the folks could have camped out in). I am also happy to report that Ma Goldberg didn't try TOO often to risk her life by sneaking through the barricades and police tape to get to her house so that she could collect non-replaceable stuff like my pop's favorite type of Kool-aid.
Jimmy has long been complaining about my underwear. I think it may be a combination of the rattiness (cracked, aged elastic, holes, stretched out, etc) and the type. While some sport their opinions on their cars or on the bulletin boards in their cubicles, I really like to wear slogans across my tukus. Nothing really political... just sayings, the days of the week, cute cartoon characters, or scientific names of flowers (I still miss that pair which I think was stolen by my roomate in Chicago in '96). These panties are usually very comfortable as they are super roomy and made of a soft but sturdy cotton. And, cheap! At Ross Dress For Less, they are like, five bucks for a hundred pairs. But, unfortunately these underpants do not amuse or arouse my husband. I think he dreams of uncovering a Victoria Secret model (complete with cellulite free and hairless legs) underneath my jeans as opposed to a faded picture of the cookie monster. I tell him to think of it as a Cracker Jacks surprise; you never know what you'll get. Jimmy responded that he thought it would be like eating half the box and then pulling out a crusty fingernail. Point taken. I guess I won't be wearing panties with Monday in huge letters on a Thursday.
Because marriage is a compromise, and I am worried about becoming the forty year old who wears pigtails and tries to fit in with her teenager's friends, and I am now nearing my pre-pregnancy weight, I have decided to buy mature but sexy underwear and throw away anything "age inappropriate". This is a huge undertaking as 95% are going in the trashbin (donating panties seems a bit icky and none of my friends who quilt have offered to make a wallhanging out of 'em- SIGH!). Most of the nice ones I do have are, strangely enough, from my mother-in-law. I wonder how she knew. Anyhow, I'd like my two or three readers to take a moment of silence as I say goodbye to the panties that have graced my bottom for over a decade.
Bad Me
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Yeah, it has been almost two weeks since I have written. I don't really have a concrete excuse; I have just been pretty tired and stressed out lately. I always thought being a stay at home mom was super easy and that I would be able to acomplish all the projects I have been meaning to do while my sweet little baby slept most of the day. I was terribly, terribly wrong. While Sasha is a delight, she only sleeps in half hour increments twice a day and I am usually exhausted from getting little sleep the night before. When my daughter is down, there are a billion things I would LIKE to do and a billion more that I NEED to do. Because I haven't tried to prioritize and organize a to-do list, I usually spend the time underneath our dining room table hyperventilating. When Sasha is awake, she needs to be constantly entertained. Like many of my former bosses, she really can only be by herself for five minutes or so before screaming hysterically.
I freaked out at the beginning of last week and Jimmy and I are trying to figure out ways to cope better. It's important for him to have a tidy and clean house and it is important for me to read for bookclub and work on my web design. We'll both go crazy if those things aren't done. So, we may hire a babysitter once a week for three hours and a housecleaner once or twice a month.
Jimmy was gone this past weekend on a retreat so I had my mom come down to give me a hand. I got a little more done but am still woefully behind on my thank you notes, homework, work, and blogging. I did manage to get a load of laundry done. Woo hoo! And, I went to Costco to spend Grandma Kathe's money on necessities like books for Sasha and mango.
1 Year Anniversary and Sasha at 4 Months!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Jimmy and I have just outlasted both of Drew Barrymore's marriages, one of Britney Spear's, and a couple of Shannen Doherty's! We made our first year of wedded bliss. Go us. Only fifty or so more years to go. I hope Jimmy can make it because so far it has been a pretty wild ride. I better start behaving and working my way up to being a B+ wife that I promised I would be. Maybe I should start by cleaning up the house.....tomorrow. To my perfect and wonderful husband, I salute ye!
The number 8 is very lucky for us. We were married on October 8th and 8 months later to the day, Sasha was born on June 8th. She is now four months old and I can't imagine ever living life without that kewpie doll. Her antics are adorable. In the last two weeks, Sasha has been contorting her face into the wierdest expression. I have no idea where she picked it up but she does it all the frickin' time. Resembles an old lady gasping over spilt tea and a slightly racy joke. This is now what her face looks like 60% of the time:
As for sleeping, Sasha has improved the barest minimum. She goes 5 to 6 hours most nights so we aren't the train wrecks of exhaustion we were. Our daughter so hates to be put down for a nap and will protest/scream for about ten minutes. She must resent Evil Mommy for making her do things she doesn't really want to do. And, for not treating her like the big girl she is. Sasha wants to STAND all the time though she has the balance of a drunken frat boy. After a few hours, our arms shake from holding her up (she ain't the smallest baby). We get that she wants to see the world but can't she do it for five or so minutes at a time? And, our daughter is upset that we don't let grab everything and put it in her mouth. This one definitely has a mind of her own.
Sasha continues to talk a lot and has a great desire to be heard. No "mama" or "dada" yet but she has started laughing. Unfortunately, she has to be tickled which my in-laws amount to torture. I have no shame because those uncontrolled giggles are the cutest!
Sasha has become more interested in toys. Her favorite is a brightly colored, crinkly firefly, "Freddy". We take the bug everywhere and our daughter is content to lick and scrunch him for long periods of time. It's sweet to see her asleep, tightly clutching the stuffed animal in her grubby hand.
Our baby has started to enjoy being read to and her favorite books seem to be those with rhyme and bold illustrations like Cat in The Hat. She is very focused on clawing at the pictures. We get through two books before she "announces" her boredom.
Sasha had her first long trip to Chicago. She did pretty well on the plane. I will write more about the fun we had in the next blog!
Wild Thing
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
This book might not be the best for Sasha. Our daughter's personality is emerging and it isn't a pretty sight. No demure little lady for us. Sasha has discovered her voice and she ain't afraid to project. I think I am now slightly deaf in both ears due to her piercing trills. She's not screaming for food or sleep but just wants to gab at decibel levels similar to those at a demolition site. Today, after an hour of unabated squawks, my teacher likened Sasha's sounds to those of a teradactyl. I could sense my fellow practitioners (all of whom had babies peacefully asleep or staring quietly at their moms' downward dog) adding under their breath, "yeah, a teradactyl on crystal meth." I wonder how I can teach my daughter about an INDOOR VOICE especially as my hubbie has often commented that I hardly know what one is myself. This would be a case of do what I say, not how loudly I scream it.
