I love Valentine’s Day. I LOVE Valentine’s Day. Back in grade school, I used to love the holiday so much that it physically made me sick from excitement. I’d pick out my fanciest, sparkliest, flounciest skirt and/or whimsical animal top and spend possibly too much time choosing necklaces, bracelets and earrings (after second grade) that screamed hearts. Okay, I still do. Back then, I’d painstakingly craft Valentines for every member of my class, every teacher, librarian and Room Girl. (Did {Read More}
Reluctant parrots, Double bears & Nekkie wombats
Nora and I are currently on Day 4 of a four day work week. Granted, compared to my past schedules that used to total 50+ hours a week, it’s positively relaxing- but we’re used to the One Day On One Day Off workaday life. This kinda feels like bootcamp. (However, as I type this, 2-year old Lil is stirring in her bed for the day and Nora Jane is snoozing in her car seat, clutching Otto the otter like a {Read More}
Sigh.
Sundays are fabulous. Sunday mornings at my house are a study in perfection. Seriously. A glimpse, if you will: 7:45am: Nora rolls to her side and pokes me in the face until I wake up. (Yes, DCFS, she still sleeps with us in the mornings. Please do not remove her from our home- she has tons of things here.) When I do wake up, she gives me an appreciative grin that makes me wonder why I didn’t wake up hours {Read More}
Housewivery, unfortunate pants & inconsequential rage.
Things that bother me this week (settle in, we could be here a spell): Pants. I tried to buy my first post-preggo pants this past weekend. It was an epic fail on all fronts, mostly the posterior. Silly me, I’d thought it was high time to ditch the elastic-waisted maternity jeans. It is clearly not time. It may never BE time. (Sure, some of you keep telling me that it’ll HAPPEN, you just HAD the baby! This is false. She {Read More}
A new year, a new pack o’ Pampers.
Week ten, back to work! Armed with a diaper bag the size (and shape) of Guam, Nora and I set out to see what needs doin’ in the world of two to seven year olds. Apparently, a lot lot. Eggs need scrambling! Hair needs to be braided- evenly- and/or clipped back with appropriate bows (but not too matchy-matchy.) The stegosaurus’ tail needs to be found…on a puzzle piece the width of pencil eraser. Stories need to be performed with the {Read More}
Y2k10! That seems more like a ‘captcha’ than a ‘year.’
In honor of the impending new year- and in consideration of the wee babe in an aquarium bouncer by my knee- I shall jam out a brief review of the year that was ’09: January- We failed to buy a house. This was sad. I began taking Pilates lessons to combat the “extra ten pounds”- ha HA. (I would KILL for an extra ten pounds right now. Well, not exactly. Rather, I’d kill to only have ten pounds to lose. {Read More}
Survivor’s "Vital Signs" on vinyl? Yeah, she digs that one, too.
How on Earth has it been seven weeks since Nora arrived and filled my dryer with hundreds of miniature pastel socks? (They’re printed with Mary-Janes on the toes- she has about fifteen different colors, quite a feat. HAH.) Other big changes: our upstairs is now outfitted with a cool mist humidifier (no one ever gave a damn about MY nose in the winter!), various play areas in brightly contrasting hues are present on each floor (okay, only half are Nora-specific), {Read More}
Five weeks! I’m thinking ‘ice cream cake.’
Last week, we saw our heroine attempting to baste a turkey, clean a house, soothe a newborn and prepare for partygoers. Did she succeed? (You bet your sweet mushroom gravy she did.) The key? Help. LOTS o’ help. A task-oriented dude, for one. Really, really good friends bearing yum dishes. Showering also gives a nice li’l bit of pep. Also- a baby who decides to prolong her morning nap for three hours. Nora Schoeny for the win! P.J. and I {Read More}