happy birthday, baby D!

I can't believe she is already a year old. These last twelve months have flown by. Seemingly overnight, she went from a tiny helpless baby to a big girl with three teeth, who stands up all by herself and laughs at anything and everything.

I love this precious girl.

25 things

Originally posted on Facebook, because I was tagged by 8,467 people to do this. I confess: I actually found it kinda fun.

1. I have always lived in the suburbs of Southern California, but I fancy myself somewhat of a city girl.

2. When I was little I was obsessed with horses. Really obsessed, like to the point that when I would come home from riding lessons, I would refuse to take a shower because I wanted to smell like horses. (Grown-up me says “Um, gross.)

3. I am a klutz. Bella Swan’s got nothing on me.

4. I am a former competitive swimmer. In fact, swimming represents the entirety of my athletic talent. See #3 above.

5. My diehard addictions include coffee, Diet Coke, shoes and J. Crew.

6. I also really like wine.

7. And salty snacks. Especially chips. That are dipped in guacamole. And also dark chocolate.

8. Evidently, I am hungry right now.

9. I watch too much TV.

10. All three of my most embarrassing moments involve glass being broken in humiliating circumstances. Did I mention my klutzitude?

11. I won a spelling bee when I was in third grade. No, seriously. I am an excellent speller.

12. My musical taste is, how shall we say, eclectic. Some of my more random likes include the Rent soundtrack and Anne Murray. I’M NOT ASHAMED.

13. I have never really been a kid person, but thank God I have two of my own. They are fantastic.

14. I hate being cold.

15. Reading is my life’s passion and I am never happier than when I have a stack of unread books on my nightstand.

16. My favorite books are The Brothers K by David James Duncan and A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.

17. I love going to the movies by myself. Actually, I love going to the movies at all and never get to, because of my aforementioned kids.

18. I love for things to be uncluttered on the surface, but don’t open a drawer or closet at my house because you will be showered in junk a la Monica Gellar. Out of sight, out of mind!

19. I have a terrible memory, but I usually remember people’s middle names. I find them intriguing.

20. I am not good at using chopsticks. I’M JUST NOT. This one, I actually am kind of ashamed of. In fact, my awkward chopstick skills were once very nearly exposed on national television! True story.

21. I also cannot shuffle a deck of cards properly. So being invited to a party with card-playing and sushi would strike anxiety into my heart. Although I really do love sushi.

22. Ketchup is an overrated condiment.

23. I will go to extreme lengths to avoid vomiting.

24. I feel guilty about the fact that I rarely work out.

25. I am an introvert at heart and hate being the center of attention, although I am not particularly shy.

What would you do...

… if you thought it was a good idea to take both your kids to Old Navy, or “Old Maybe” as your child may have called it, and your child threw a big old fit and wouldn’t listen to anything you said, and then when you got down on his level to talk to him about it, he then proceeded to HIT YOU?

… and then, if you took away your child’s toy car because of the hitting, he started throwing a screaming fit while still in the store?

… and then he hit you again?

… and you then dumped your armful of clothes on the nearest display, did the extra-firm upper-arm grab to remove him from the scene and alert him that YOU MEAN BUSINESS, all while pushing the stroller with the other child in it, and he reaches out and hits you AGAIN?

Now, mind you, these are all HYPOTHETICAL examples, because my children are perfect ANGELS, especially the one who happens to be THREE and fiercely INDEPENDENT.

I am just wondering, in the off chance that one of you unlucky saps has been through this. Because I have this friend...

update

So! It was a double ear infection – can you believe it? All this time I was convinced that my poor little baby was suffering from bronchitis or pneumonia, or had somehow turned into a 30-year smoker with emphysema overnight. But no. Instead, both her ears are infected, and her head is so full of mucus that it is draining and making her cough.

SAD.

These kids, I tell ya. They are a mystery. Anyway, she is now loaded up on Amoxicillin and I’m sure will be back to 100% healthy in no time.

Onward! I’m back in the office today, thankfully, because usually when I’m here I can control my desire to eat everything in sight. Don’t get me wrong, everyone who knows me from Twitter is well aware that I crave Fritos regularly, but when the Fritos craving hits me at home, I will rummage through my pantry and eat half a box of mint Joe-Joe’s or See’s molasses chips instead.

(Yes. That really happened.)

Obviously, being at the office has its drawbacks too. Like people in the restroom stall next to you, who are tapping away on their BlackBerry WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SITTING ON THE TOILET. Now, that doesn’t seem as bad to me as the person at my old office who would floss her teeth in the stall every day after lunch, earning herself the nickname of The Pot Flosser, but GROSS.

(Yes. That also really happened.)

With that lovely sentiment, I will leave you to your Tuesday. Enjoy. And thanks for stopping by. But mostly, stay classy.

good, bad, ugly

The bad news:
I'm home with the poor sick little Delaney today. She is coughing so much, it's just sad. In fact, she coughed so hard over the weekend that she made herself hurl. Twice. It was truly disgusting. Anyway, I got her a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so until then, we are chilling together and spending a mellow day at home.


The good news:
Even though my baby is sick, I got dressed instead of schlumping around in yoga pants and Uggs. (Side note: I now have that song "Humpin' Around" in my head. Thanks, self. Who sings that?) Anyway, the good thing about that is that I am getting so much more done and feel better wearing jeans, a sweater and flats rather than a spit-up stained sweatshirt. I guess those people (e.g. MY MOTHER) who always lecture you about how you feel as good as you look might actually be onto something. Go figure.

Case in point... check out my new flats that I am wearing today. Do you love them? I do!














The Ugly:
So far, I have eaten a cereal bar, a bagel with cream cheese, three See's molasses chips and three cups of coffee. Somebody, help me stop consuming the contents of my snack drawer QUICK.

Conversations with 3-year olds: Inauguration Edition

Yesterday was an amazing and historic day. Even at my son’s preschool, they watched the inauguration on TV. When I picked him up, we had a conversation that went a little something like this:

Me: “What did you think of the inauguration?”

Evan: “I saw Barack Obama!”

Me: “What was he doing?”

Evan: “He was talking!”

Me: “What did he do when he finished talking?”

Evan: “He got in the car and drove across town. Mommy, did you know that Barack Obama lives in a white house?”

Me: “Yes.”

Evan: “We live in a white house too!”

Me: “Yes, we do. But Barack Obama’s house is special because that is where the President of the United States lives.”

Evan: “Our white house is special too.”

Me: “Um… yes it is.” (I can’t really argue with that one.)

I hope he remembers this day… I know I will.

call me crazy

Last week there was some chatter on Twitter about the proper way to eat a grilled cheese sandwich.

(Extra grilled, preferably with tomatoes inside, dipped in hot sauce. OBVS.)

But this made me think. Despite my many food vices – love of Diet Coke, chocolate, Fritos and all things salty – there are a couple of things that I could easily live without: ketchup and ice cream.
Don’t get me wrong, I like ketchup and ice cream. But I could happily live my entire life without eating either one. Ketchup is not necessary for French fries. In fact, I am a French fry purist. Just the delicious potatoey goodness with a light sprinkling of salt, please.

And ice cream? Sure, it’s good, and we usually have it at home because my husband loves it. It’s just not my dessert of choice. (Let’s not talk about cupcakes and brownies, because CANNOT. RESIST.)

What about you – what could you live without?