crazy night...

We just got back from the emergency room. After a couple days of Esther running a fever and coughing but otherwise not bad, she had a seizure. there is nothing scarier than when your child (who has never had a seizure before) seizes. And the odd thing is we had NO IDEA what was going on. She wasn't doing the shaking, gurgling, foaming at the mouth kind you see on House. It was the completely shut down, eyes-wide-open but unfocused, un-responsive, barely breathing kind. TERRIFYING. It was fever induced and called a febrile seizure.

she has RSV. we are quarantining ourselves. if you've had contact with us recently, i'm very sorry.

Asa's Birthday Letter

Dear Asa,

Today, my son, you turn one year old. I cannot believe it’s been a year, in some ways it feels like you’ve always been with us. I was just noticing how I do not have any pictures of you up on the cabinet part of the desk where we have several of Esther and other folks. This, along with the fact that I planned your party late and we are not making nearly as much fuss as we did when Esther turned a year, is making me feel extremely guilty. But in my defense Esther’s big one year party was not really my idea or plan, Lali and Grandpa got in on that. And more in my defense, between you and your sister we are kept so incredibly busy that I haven’t had the time to print up pictures of you to put on the desk. We have, rest assured, taken plenty of pictures of you. You’ll know at some point, how much I like to plaster them on the internet for all to see.

It’s been a crazy year. Crazy, sleepless, nerve-shattering, hilarious. You have seven teeth already and more on the way. You are probably about 18 lbs by now, bigger than your sister was at a year, but also smaller than most babies your age. You keep teasing us with saying a word once and then not saying it again… ever. You’ve said, clear as day: grandpa, hat, mama, Esther, Lali, open. The only word you seem to be able to say on a regular basis is “Dada.” You aren’t walking yet but you are standing on your own. You get on your hands and feet and then slowly lift yourself into a standing position and then you clutch your hands together and shake them about like you’ve just won the Olympics. It’s hilarious. You smile a lot. You laugh a lot. Esther can make you chuckle even when you’re crying. Granted she’s pretty funny, but it’s so amazing to have such a good-hearted, happy-go-lucky, sweet boy for a son. You are cuddly and a true adventure loving wild man! You are fearless, curious, and thankfully, very hearty. You are also a mama's-boy. Which, i take full blame for. I am with rare exception wrapped around your little finger. Even in the most frustrating of moments (like when i catch you playing in the potty chair) your impish grin and gigantic innocent eyes have me, despite myself, grinning even as i'm trying to scold you.

You have recently developed a penchant for getting in things, boxes, baskets, bags, under the kitchen table, inside the potty chair (which is hopefully clean...). You are impossible to keep still. You are always on the move. Especially as soon as i get your diaper off you for a diaper change, you somehow, at that moment develop super-human speed and strength and manage to get away from me shrieking in glee all the while.

Asa, you are an amazing boy. We love you so very, very, very much. Thank you for choosing us.

-Mama

One Year Ago Yesterday...

One year ago yesterday...

today...

Happy birthday little man... you turned 01 on 01.10.10
(yeah, yeah a day late...) We love you IMMENSELY!!

coming soon: your birthday letter post. i am working on it... i'm a slow poke and a procrastinator

Asa Gerbil

not sure when or who took this video of Asa but i found it uploaded on Ben's you tube channel so thought i'd share here too...

belated thanksgiving video

Esther's Preschool Thanksgiving pageant

two thousand ten...

hello and happy new year everyone.

the holidays are finally over and now begins the tedious and somewhat comforting if extremely mundane business of getting back to normal.

i feel like so much has happened recently that i ought to mention... but faced with this blank screen i can't seem to recall much of it...

a good friend of mine was in a bad car accident on new years eve but is doing fine last i spoke with her (if you're reading this i'll call you soon... i hope i'm right in assuming no news is good news...)

r&r were in town (still are for a few more hours...). it was wonderful to see them again. also awful cause it's such a whirlwind of craziness i never feel like i am in a good place to just sit down and visit properly. Rae, with her extreme kitchen goddess-ness initiated a donut making frenzy on new years eve. which were a big hit. and were fried in my x-mas present THE fry daddy.

yes, folks. a fry daddy... and so begins my journey to the land of "This is Why Your Fat"
by next new years i will be 400lbs (hey, all you australians - what is that in metric?)

we got to see the McGuires in all their glory and hilarity...

my grandmother's flowerbox burst into spontaneous flames...

my sister and andy were not able to come this christmas or new years but we're looking forward to having a second christmas at the end of the month with them. It will also be a mass birthday celebration for Miah (2/2), Casey (2/9), Asa (1/10), and Ceci (1/11). Speaking of birthdays, my father turned 58 on 12/30. I made him the traditional batch of buckeye chocolates. And we had a small celebration eating large gelatinous mass of deliciousness that is snow pudding.

Asa turns a year on Sunday. We're looking forward to a small gathering, some cake eating, and watching Asa try to pop balloons by biting them. He's growing like a weed... though a smaller variety of weed than some... not to name names (ah-hem LOGAN). Also, Asa finds himself betrothed to another baby beauty (sorry, Hannah you'll have to share) by the name of Logan Sky Walker. yes, SKY WALKER, no joke, awesome, right!!?? The enormously funny thing about both Hannah and Logan is that they're both going to be rather tall and Asa, i'm sorry son, but you come from midgets. and if i can get ceci to teach me the ropes (ha! get it ROPES -- she does trapeze) we'll be circus midgets. i'm so so so sorry my hippo-teethed circus midget boy. good luck getting a date some day.

And because i am prone to rather lengthy posts and do not have any pictures to share (yes i'm a horrible mother for not wielding a camera at every photogenic or even unphotogenic moment and rely solely on others to send me the pics they managed to snap) and also cause you're all dying to know, though over half of my readers (of which there are a total of maybe 3) saw her over the holidays, about Esther.

Esther is a three year old. She is LOUD (earlier today she was riding Asa's little car/cart/walking thing around the house while simultaneously banging on a pot with a spoon and singing rather far off key and in nonsense language.

The other day she asked me "Mom, you remember when Asa was in your belly? well, did he come out through your belly button?" Now, i'm telling you this because i'm hoping someone will leave me a comment to really grind in what a horrible mother i am... but i was COMPLETELY taken off guard.

My first impulse was to tell the truth, then i realized that that might either really freak her out OR fascinate her and lead her to telling all her preschool friends, teachers, and random folks in the grocery store what daddy does to mommy... with that in mind i decided it could probably wait at least a year before we begin that adventure... my second impulse was to change the subject, which i gallantly tried to do, more than once i might add. but to no avail.

Then Ben jumped in and tried a new tack "he came out the same way he got in" but this did not satisfy her at all. So i finally conceded and agreed that he came out through my belly button... i know i suck... i should have told her the truth... and i will, but i'm thinking i'll wait until she asks again, which knowing Esther will be sooner than i hope.

Ben has started work on a business venture which is definitely NOT a scheme. I am trying to stay out of it but be supportive (particularly by staying out of it). But i'm ashamed to say, i'm not very good at being supportive and i'm an awful wife.

i guess that about catches you all up on things in our dank little sour milk and gold fish cracker world.

New Year's resolution: NO MORE KIDS.

party-on wayne...

Holidays, despite the fact that i still had to go to work today, are still in full-swing. Well maybe not full swing. We're currently in a little lay period between holidays. But starting tomorrow the celebrations continue on.

I'm taking the kids to visit cousins tomorrow and bringing R&R back with me. Then it's food and fun all through the new year celebration. Bring it on 2010!!!! I can take it... i think... maybe...

I'm glad christmas is mostly over... still have a few gifts hanging around that need delivered to their rightful owners.

I have several out-of-towners i still need to see... and in-towners (we miss you j&i!!!).

On a positive note, that week i spent working my butt off has paid off. so yippie!! my first big win... (if you're peeking in my window right now, you'll see me preening).

bonfire (weather permitting) and booze on new years eve in the hollow. all are welcome... bring stuff if you want stuff... and don't count on me to make it to midnight. i'm old. and tired. and will be curled up on the sofa in Esther's and Asa's room.

have i mentioned i miss you? i miss you.

4th day of christmas...

we're very tired and fussy...
tis the season for greed...
next year santa is only bringing apple sauce for the kids.

more later...

are IOUs acceptable xmas presents?

It's been an insane few weeks. I worked a 48 hr week (as opposed to my normal 20 hr work week) not last week but the week before. Patrice came to visit (hi patchop!!!). and we now have two feet of snow burying us... we have dug tunnels to essential places like the car park, the shop, and my parents' house...

i'm still feeling like a pissy little ingrate about christmas though. it just does not seem humanly possible to finish everything i need to in the next couple of days. i should have picked some less labor intensive presents (and probably things that don't involve needles to make...) but i'm not sure if there is anything i'm capable of doing with little people attached to my limbs, aside from whining of course.

The snow makes me happy though... but again, since i'm so good at whining, it's hard to go out and play in it. Esther's good in the snow, hours of entertainment making armies of knee-high snowmen (it's wicked cute!!!). But Asa doesn't keep his mittens on and freezes and won't let me just hold him... i need one of those snow suits like maggie from the simpsons has, the star one. And maybe a deep sea helmet for over top his head...

i kind of want to post pictures but it will take forever with our slow as @ss connection (the dish is under two feet of snow) and i should really get back to poking things with needles, baking little people, and supergluing my fingers together. ahhh. the christmas spirit - stress and panic. nothing like a good holiday to make you feel like you're running out of time.

Evolution of the hipster

My cousin charlie sent me this
I know at least one person that fits into each of these years, and depending on the day, several of these years. My brother is 2008. My sister is 2009. As for myself, i think i'm still stuck in 1999...

now if only i looked like claire danes...

daydreaming....

Still day dreaming about getting a motorcycle... and now, one of these wonderful helmets...

Singles Ad

Enjoys sushi and quiet nights at home. Loves walks in the woods and doesn't mind the rain and cold. Prefers comedies and karaoke over drama and stylishness. Loves dancing, swimming, and making goofy faces at myself in the mirror. The ultimate "bad boy" that you CAN take home to mama! Looking for my ultimate soul mate.




(photo courtesy of Laura Mae)

ba hum bug!

ok, so you've all heard this before. everyone feels this way... yeah, yeah, yeah. but it's my blog and i can abuse it if i want to.

the thanksgiving turkey is still warm in it's grave... and already the lights are out and i've seen like 20 cars with trees tied to the roof. why is everyone so ready for christmas this year?? i see that sh** and i start to panic.

now this could be because a couple years ago my family decided to do "handmade christmas" where everyone makes the presents and it takes WAAAY more time to make cool stuff than it does to order it off amazon.

or maybe it's because with the little ones, and work, and life time has sped up to twice it's normal speed while i have consequently slowed down by at least half. you do that math ... it all equals "i suck"

and yes today, at work, i was thrown no less than three new proposals all due before Dec 21st. so yippie...

but that said, i am looking forward to snow...

ps: do you think hanging a xmas tree upside down is the christmas equivalent to hanging a cross upside down?

Hope your giving of thanks is good...

So much to be thankful for. glad we've evolved to just you know, saying thanks rather than throwing virgins into a volcano.

I will be stuffing myself stupid. hope you will all be doing the same.



And as a treat i have a quote for you. My cousin's husband, or cousin-in-law if you will had this to say:

"...I am making the sides and prepping our turkey. Trying a secret turkey reanimation recipe. It enters the oven dead but exits as a fresh zombie turkey. Still pondering how one would kill a zombie turkey that's already headless."
(thanks CJ)

one day at a time...

you're not an alcoholic until you find your drink. mine: gin and ginger. yes i am an old lady. a very old lady with a smoker's voice, tin-roof helmet hair, clackety shoes, and watery eyes. I will wallop you with my purse the size of a crown vic. and i will drink my gin and gingers. so there!

Blog Hopping

I like to blog hop while nursing Asa to sleep in the computer chair (which is actually an exercise ball - he likes to bounce... maybe this post should be called Blog Bouncing??)

Anyhow. I found a couple i think i'll add to my reader.

http://owltattoos.blogspot.com/
and
http://uglyoverload.blogspot.com/

Happy Belated Veteran's Day

Turns out the traditional gift for the 6 year anniversary is ketchup

Turns out the traditional gift for the 6^th wedding anniversary is ketchup.

I carefully, and very enthusiastically, planned our long-awaited 6^th anniversary date. Ben’s sister, Jes, set up a babysitting tag team between herself and eric, and j&i. (Jes, thank you SOOOOOOO much for having this idea and thank you and Eric and j&i for all the hard work watching our crazy-ass children. I promise to repay the favor when you guys produce tiny people hell-bent on being insane).

I carefully planned the time of day so the kids would be at their almost best. I planned the places we would go so there wouldn’t be too much driving or logistical issues to overcome.

Our oh-so carefully planned out date schedule:

2:00pm – jes, eric, and j&i arrive

2:00-2:30 – we give them the run down and do our quick how are you’s

2:30 – ben and I head down to the city

3:00 – arrive in Charles Village and look for parking

3:10 – enjoy some hot beverages and crepes at Sophi’s Crepes

4:00 – saunter the 30feet down the block to the Charles Theater

4:10 – “A Serious Man” begins

6:10 – leave the theater and go next door to Tapas Teatro

6:20 – order, drink, eat

6:45 – pay

6:50 – head home

7:20 – home and put the babes to bed.

Jes and Eric, and j&i showed up right on time. We arrived at our first destination with 15 minutes to spare. Parking was easy peasy.

We went to Sofi’s Crepes and ate a Crepe Suzette and a Banana and Nutella. Got hot chocolate (on which we totally burned our tongues) and Hot Cider (so chemically different as to have such a significantly lower boiling point???). We sat out on the sidewalk and watched people walk by. My new friend (see older post) was supposed to swing by for bit but didn’t (long story for which she totally feels awful about and is not, I repeat, is NOT a flake). Sitting on the sidewalk watching people walk by made me feel so very voyeuristic. We didn’t have too much to talk about which was weird… the quiet was weird. The fact that both of us had empty arms and no little people attached to our legs was weird. Truth be told, it made me a little antsy… I didn’t know what to do with myself. Luckily there were crepes. Crepes make it all ok.

We sauntered over to the theater. Bought tickets. Debated popcorn… decided against it… went and watched “A Serious Man” laughed and cuddled and laughed.

Left the theater right on time. Went to Tapas and found it very, very crowded. Was a bit intimidated by the people in there. Decided to walk back to the car and come up with a contingency plan. Drove to the roof of the parking garage. Walked to the edge and stood on the little wall looking down on the city. Called j&i to check on A. He was sad and cranky… so we decided to just go home.

After smooching on the roof ledge a little, we got back in the car and drove. Decided that we’d be hungry and should at least pick up food to take home. Went to the Charles Village Pub. Ordered carry-out, drank beer while waiting. Got a text from j&i that they managed to coerce A into sleeping. So we decided to drive home slowly and eat along the way. For this endeavor Ben stole the brand-spankin'-new bottle of ketchup off our table. i fed Ben curly fries slathered in ketchup and we shared a GINORMOUS burger, aptly named the "big daddy." my car still smells like fried food.

We came home to this:

beautiful, no?

Lessons learned:
1. next big date night out, we're going to Fraiser's or other pub like place
2. the kids will be FINE!!! ("stop worrying Jones, you weirdo!!" -- this is how i talk to myself in my head, yes i address myself as "Jones")
3. get drunk early and stop feeling so self conscious
4. always wear the garter belt and stockings

ps: don't congratulate us yet. our actual anniversary isn't until this saturday. we have to make it 5 whole more days before it's official... not sure if we'll make it...

Shameless plug for my brother...

My brother.
bicyclist. artist. photographer. ex-rock climber. inventor. seamster (the male equivalent to a seamstress). baby magnet. babe magnet.

he's a freakin' genius.

he has invented these things that go on your pedals to hold your feet.
they're primarily for fixed gear riding and i'm not sure, but i guess for trick stuff in particular. (don't ask me. i'm a complete idiot when it comes to bicycles. the phrase "like riding a bicycle" was not said with me in mind).

anyway. check him out!!!

Friend Crushes

I have a new friend.

Can i just say, i love new friends.

Have i told you about Terri? I met Terri during what i like to think of as a "desert" since my move home. I worked for AAI for three very awful, very scary, very eye-opening months. During this awful time (where i would cry all the way home from work) I met Terri. She was one of my more senior team-mates on the proposal team. She rock climbs, and drinks more tea than i do (i know, right!!??), and probably pees more often than me too (double "i know, right!!??"). Well, i developed a HUGE friend crush on her and was all "ok, jones, don't f---- this up. you know you come on way too strong. just play it cool. don't let her know what a dork you are" meanwhile, i'm all "wanna be my friend? you're so freakin' awesome. let's go get some tea... oh and some cookies... and bread... and more pastries... oh and that gelato place is kickin (actually i think she said that)"

anyhow, long story short, i did not (by some miracle) frighten her off with my super enthusiastic need to be her friend. And now she has a baby too. and a blog. go visit her. now.

ok, so Terri has a friend. i think i've only met her like twice in person. no wait. three times i think. and i think she's pretty cool so i stalk her blog. and she (apparently) stalks mine. because check this out. ok, so like weird degrees of separation and ta-da i'm obsessed with being her new friend. i slack off and gchat with her on a very regular basis (well at least this week). and the cool thing? she's totally not turned off by my lapdog yapping and "be my friend. be my friend. be my friend. you're so cool. oh man. you're just soooooo cool."

so i have two GIRL friends. no really. girls. that's awesome. most of my friends throughout life have been guys. i have a select group of women that i really adore. many of them live far away (rae-rae, becks, kit, heidi, west...) and up here... well i know no one. and i'm lame. and we live kinda far out of the city where most of the people we do know live... ok, so my two new friends live in the city too... and both are probably moving far away in the not so distant future (boo! hiss!) but hey. i made new friends. i'm not a scary old shut-in with 80 cats who doesn't take care of their front yard properly.

oh and have i mentioned this? my brother and his fiance have moved back to this area!! so i know them. they're awesome. and if you happen to be in ny for any reason this month you must go see Ceci's circus act. comment for more info.