Friday, June 30, 2006

WARNING!! TMI written below

TMI = Too Much Information. The following could be too much information about me.
Although it IS something we all have to deal with, I'd feel better about it if guys don't read this post. K? ok, great!

Women: Why does Birth Control SUCK? Cause seriously, I should have put this on my Top 20 list of things that I hate! Because I do. I hate it. All of it! Every single method of birth control sucks, and I've pretty much tried them ALL. None for very long, however, because they all suck. Why can't they make a pill that a GUY can take every day that like renders the sperm's little tails powerless or something like that? Doesn't that sound like a good idea?

I've never been on a specific birth control for any period of time. Basically I used the praying method. And since I'm not a religious person, the fact that I don't have like 12 children is a freaking miracle. So anyway, now I'm in that lovely period they call Post-Pardum, all I keep hearing from everyone around me is: "When they say that your the MOST fertile right after having a baby...THEY'RE NOT KIDDING!! It's no joke!! REALLY, you need to becareful!!!!" Sooo I'm attempting to be careful. And I don't like it!

Before Allie I was on The Patch. It wasn't so bad. I only had to remember once a week, which was good. It didn't make me feel sick to my stomach, which was good. Of course the Patch itself was a little annoying. It's like wearing a bandaid all the time, so it gets icky looking around the edges. Also, you have to move wear you put it which isn't easy during the summer. And you end up with square red spots all over your midsection. SEXY right? PLUS two girls in our area dropped dead of a blodclot to the brain with completely NO notice whatsoever right around the time I was on it. So I ripped that badboy off and didn't look back.

Then of course there is The Pill. Way back in the day I tried that. Hated it. It made me: gain weight, get headaches, be a total bitch, have PMS all the time, my boobs get bigger, wait....that was the only good side effect. EXCEPT the fact that even though they were bigger, they hurt so bad you couldn't touch them. So that pretty much negated anything good. Oh and of course the worst part of The Pill (as if those weren't enough!) I had to remember it every day. I'm horrible at that. Ask Mike, I can't remember anything! Lucky I remember to bring Allie with me in the morning. So I would forget all the time, and end up getting my period all the time, cause when you forget.....it comes.

After Althea my doctor asked me what kind of birth control I wanted. I kind of panicked, cause apparently I was supposed to have an answer for this. I searched my brain...couldn't think of anything....and Shrugged. Mike was there at the time (since it was my first post pardum visit and the doctor and the girls in the office wanted to see Allie) and he said: What do you got? So the doctor took this time to push the newest and greatest revelation in birth control that he just went to a conference about last week and pulled out The NuvaRing! THIS, he said, was the solution to all of our problems! We looked at each other and smiled. The package glowed, and I swear I heard little children singing opera behind it. He took it out and showed us. It looked like one of those plastic black Madonna bracelets (remember those? People would wear like 150 on each arm.) only it was clear and a little smaller. Doctor says: You put this inside of you for 3 weeks, and then out for one week and that's it. You can't feel it, he can't feel it, and you only have to remember once a month!! Mike grabbed it, and looked THROUGH the middle of it at the doctor and said: Ummm how is this thing gonna work exactly? Supposedly it has the hormone in it, and it goes directly inside of you so that you don' t have to take the pill and digest it. Sounded great! Sign us up! Except THEN it came time for me to use it. I got my period, and it wasn't quite over yet. I thought to myself.....ummm I have to do this NOW? While I still have my visitor? ( I call her "Stella" BTW). So Stella was still here, and I had to put this thing inside of me. Ummmm can we all say EWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Couldn't do it.

So we went back to the tried and true method. Condoms. *sigh* I'm married, and I have to use Condoms. I mean am I the only one that is having a problem with that?

So at my last visit my doctor said: So how's the ring workin for ya? Me: oh, ummm it's not. I never used it. Doctor: Ok, so now what? *looks at my chart* Do you want to try The Pill again? Me: Ummm not really. Then he proceeds to tell me how The Pill has changed so much since I've taken it, and it's so much better now....bla bla bla. He sells me. I take a starter pack. I start it that day (just so happened that it worked out) A week and a half into it....I'm a little late on a pill. Not even a WHOLE DAY late. Like 10 hours. I get crazy headaches like someone is punching me into my temple. And then of course......STELLA!!!!! (what I call Aunt Flow)

Moral of the story. I NOW have my period AGAIN. For the second time in 3 weeks. *sigh*

So my question to YOU all is.
What do YOU use?
Is it better than what I'M using?
Or do I just have to suffer until I'm done having children and I can talk Mike into "fixing" the problem for good!?
Posted by Jenn :: 1:00 PM :: # 21 comments

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Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Afraid of Monsters?

Well if your Althea, in my house you should be!!
This is Monster.

He is a grumpy old cat who used to be my baby before Mike and Althea came along. I've literally had him since before he was born. I owned his mother, and he was the cat I kept from the litter. He was the runt. His name is Monster because he is some deranged serial killer reincarnated. He would go out and kill everything in his sight. He's 9lbs soaking wet, and he would bring home dead animals on a regular bases. HUGE rabbits like twice his size, big birds like bluejays, tons of mice & chipmunks, and he came sooooo close to killing his squirrels nemesis. Not only would he kill things, but he would eat them and then leave JUST their organs laid out on the path in front of our house in perfect order as they were once in the animal. You'd walk outside and find a brain, lungs, stomach, all the way to and including the tail of a mouse in perfect order. Freaky! He just turned 15 years old on May 2nd, and he's not really happy with this new living situation at the house. He liked it when me and him were alone.

Fist of all when Mike started showing up he would stay over and take up his "spot" on bed. Monster would reluctantly move, as Mike mike PUSHED him out of the way. Then he would give Mike a major dirty look, shake it off and curl up somewhere else on the bed.

Then Mike moved in and brought Aiden (aka Midget, aka Stupid, aka Thumbies, aka Big Fat Stupid Midget).....Monster likes to call him "the orange thing". We call him thumbies cause the cat has thumbs. (can you see them in the picture?) You would think that would make him like higher on the intelligence scale or something, like he's an advanced cat, but no. He's stupid. A big stupid orange cat with thumbs and no claws. I love him though. (But don't tell Monster!) But Da Midget is enough for a whole other post. Anyway, Monster was really NOT happy about him moving in. I mean what the hell, HE was to be the only cat, the only thing to cuddle, the only thing to pet or scratch, the ONLY thing that gets any and ALL of my attention.

Well NOW Althea is here, and he's pissed! I feed HER at the table. I cuddle HER on the couch. I play with HER on the floor. And when I wake up in the morning, especially on weekends when I used to lay in bed for a while and cuddle with him, SHE comes in the bed!!! This was all very hard for him to deal with. Now it's getting worse. She MOVES now. And not only does she move, but she LOVES him. She gets soooo excited when he's around, and she smacks him repeatedly to show it. She wants to pet him all the time! At first he attempted to allow this, thinking: "Well, at least SOMEONE will pet me!" However, Allie is not really good at the whole petting thing yet. She grabs fist fulls of fur and pulls it out instead. She thinks it's hysterical. Monster is NOT amused! She crawls after him. He looks up at me with this look that could possibly burn a hole in my stomach like: "Are you effing kidding me with this THING!"

Aiden on the other hand just runs away. He runs away from everything. Sometimes he hangs out for a bit to check her out, but when he gets scared (which happens real easy) he runs. Monster, on the other hand is too proud for that. This is HIS house after all. He is NOT MOVING! This "thing" we call Allie needs to get over herself!

Well, recently Monster has started to swat at her. He has his nails still. He used to be an outside cat, plus I'm not a fan of declawing cats. Aiden doesn't have claws. Some ex of Mike's made him do it. Either way, Monster doesn't use his claws when he swats at her. In fact he doesn't even touch her most of the time. But he swats and he hisses, and then he slowly walks away with a sigh. Then Althea looks at me, with "The Lip" and cries. Like: "MOM!! Why does he hate me?!?!?"

Monster's list of things he hates would be short: 1. Aiden 2. Althea 3. Closed Doors 4. Empty food dishes. He deals with Mike now, he does feed him after all.

So is there a way for me to fix this swatting problem?

Posted by Jenn :: 9:10 PM :: # 13 comments

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Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Maniacal Bitch

Some people think I'm nice, but today I'm a Maniacal Bitch. Don't like it? Blame BBB (Black Belt Mama's alter evil ego). Cause her alter ego tagged mine........better yet, you don't like it? Too bad!

Apparently I'm supposed to list 20 things I hate. pffft 20? Don't make me laugh Sandy ah HA HA HA. Cake!

1. People who are fake - You don't like me? That's fine. Don't put on a fake smile and be all chipper and acting like my best friend. Chances are I don't like you either. Lets make both our lives better and ignore each other, mmmmkay?
2. People who pretend like you DIDN'T have a fight last time you spoke and everything is just fine now. - This goes double if your my significant other. If we are fighting, there is a reason. Just cause we slept a couple of hours doesn't make that reason VANISH! (for the record: Mike doesn't do this, hence why I love him)
3. When people feel like they need to be privy on when you are making major decisions in your life. (ie: getting married, having a baby, buying a house, having another baby, going on vacation, baptizing your daughter, oh the list goes on and on) Never mind the fact that they could be making you uncomfortable, but Helloooo NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. Your on a need to know basis...I'll let YOU know what you NEED to know, k?
4. People who complain just for the sake of complaining. You want to vent to me about something? That's ok. You want advice? I'm happy to give it. But seriously, if you are just going to do the same things over and over and over that is creating your problem and not listen to my advice or attempt or even WANT to do anything about it? Sell Crazy somewhere else...all booked up here!
5. When my husband needs to remind me to do things, because it reminds me what a scatterbrain I am. And I'm SUPPOSED to be perfect!!! DAMN IT!!
6. Dropping Althea off in the morning and coming to this horrible dreary cubicle every weekday.
7. People who are racist. I seriously do NOT understand how, in this day and age, people STILL don't see all humans as equal. Also, being racist is not funny. So don't tell me some stupid racist joke and expect me to laugh. OH, and along these lines, please do not use words that are used to put down groups of people in conversation with me. Cause that is where I stop paying attention to you. And by racist I don't mean just race.....I mean the use of grouping people together by stereotypes.
8. People who litter. And especially people who throw things out of their car windows. This is the first thing I broke Mike of when we first started to date. I mean as humans aren't we destroying this planet fast ENOUGH?!!? Do you LIKE looking at garbage on the side of the road? And why do I have to clean up your shit off my lawn?
9. WAR. Yea, I'm one of those silly people who actually wish there was peace in the world. I also do not think that everyone needs to believe what I believe, live like I live, and be just like me! *GASP!*
10. To go with #9, People who feel the need to push THEIR beliefs on ME. I don't do it to you, don't do it to me. See how that works?
11. RUSH. HOUR. TRAFFIC. Specifically the person in the left hand lane who doesn't care that there are like 115 cars behind them having aneurysm. Ya know what? I don't care if your going the speed limit or not. If there are 115 cars tailgating each other behind you and no one in front of you. MOVE OVER!!
12. Motorcycles. Cause they are dangerous. And because it's something that I have to tell Mike he can't have. I don't like doing that.
13. People who drive drunk. And especially people who are all "Gimme the keys, I'm fine!!" *stumble stumble slur slur* Idiots! First of all it's a death wish, and second your not the only idiot on the road! Have a death wish? Jump off a bridge.
14. OMG this should have been #1 DRAMA QUEENS!!! *rolls eyes* Ohhhhhh the drama of it allllllllll!!!!! Everything is just soooooooooooo horrible!!!! But don't worrryyyy about meeeeeeeeee I'll be fiiiine here aloooooneee!!!!! UGH!!
15. The defense "But Spiders EAT the bad bugs!" NO, Spiders ARE the bad bugs, and they should all die. ALL!
16. The association that everyone who plays Dungeons and Dragons is some weird freaky looser who is like 40 and still a virgin. We may be weird and freaky but in a totally COOL dark GOTH way not in a looser way. And I'm positive that none of my friends who play haven't been virgins for quite some time now.
17. People who think that just because they were too drunk to remember they were an asshole, means they weren't. (Blast from the past there....but STILL!!)
18. The fact that cigarettes aren't GOOD for you, like BROCCOLI!
19. That there can't be a piece of empty land more than 2' x 2' in NJ without someone attempting to squeeze some awful looking mansion on it.
20. Oh and last but definitely NOT least. Annoying chauvinistic GROOMSMEN!!

Since I'm Maniacal Bitch I don't care if you hate me for tagging you, so there! Jennster, cause it'll be easy for her to be a bitch =oP lol Mike, cause he aint got nothin to blog about anyway! Point, cause I just have this feeling that he has a top 20 list and all he's gotta do is paste it there. Annnnnddddddd RAD, cause this is one he could really get into I think.
(Back to your regularly schedualed un-bitchiness tomorrow)

Posted by Jenn :: 11:30 AM :: # 24 comments

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Monday, June 26, 2006

The Help, The Florist, Sweetheart

I'm tired. I'm sore. I really really really don't want to be at work today. Where is my weekend? Did I have one? Cause if I did, I swear I missed it!

I worked with my parents this weekend. They had a ridiculously large wedding to do. When that happens, I am called upon to pay my tab created by daily child care by making flower arrangements, and helping with wedding set-up! Go ahead, say how much fun that sounds. Ask me how is it that I could be tired and sore from playing with flowers. Cause if you do, I might take out my aggression that should have been pointed at a certain groomsman at YOU!

This wedding was stupidly large! $10K in flowers. Did you read that right? $10,000.00 in FLOWERS! A HUGE bridal party. 13 groomsman alone. They looked stupid up there at the alter. 13 men on one side and like 10 girls on the other, just standing there milling around on the sides of the Chuppah. It really just looked stupid. Anyway, there were 250 people at this wedding, and it was a black tie affair (gowns and tuxes on everyone). The crowd was hot, too. Rich, Hot, Young, Snobby, Spoiled, omg I could go on and on. The fathers (both groom's and bride's) had seats on the NYC Stock Exchange. So yea, there was a little money in the room....just a little.

Ya know what happens when you put 14 rich spoiled guys (boys) in tuxes together and hand them all drinks? They become sexist assholes that look down on you and call you sweetheart. Apparently there were 2 boxes of boutonnieres for the guys up in the room where they got dressed. Well one of these geniuses only brought down the one box, so about 4 of them were missing their flowers. I was on the lawn where the ceremony is going to take place covering iron posts with hundreds of dollars worth of off white organza.

Groomsman: Where's the florist? *snaps fingers in my direction* Hi, yea...we are missing our boutonnieres.
Me: Um, ok. How many are you missing?
Groomsman: *annoyed that I actually asked him a question* I don't know. 4 or 5.
Me: Ok *trying my hardest to smile* hold on and let me find out.
*walk over to my father who is covering a very nice natural wood arch in MORE off white organza and ask him about it. Walk back to the groomsman*
Groomsman: Yea, Hi....So, what's the deal here, hun? We are all missing flowers!
Me: *thinks, did he just call me HUN?* ok, there were 2 boxes of boutonnieres in the room where you got dressed. One had 5, which is what your missing. You must have forgotten to bring down a box.
Groomsman: Yea, that's not working for me, sweetheart.
Me: *Taking all effort not to knee this guy directly in the balls, I give him a look like "OH NO YOU DIN'T" and walk over to my cousin, who is standing there with my husband and my brother about to walk over and kill this guy, and ask: Can you go and look for the box with the boutonnieres for this asshole?
Cousin: What did he say to you?
Me: Don't worry, just go.

It made it all ok later when we witnessed the same guy getting verbally bitchslapped by his wife, while he was almost in tears saying "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...really baby..." We all just stood there and smiled, and my brother sarcastically laughed right in his face. Ahhh revenge!

Anyway, to make a long story longer....I also did about 200 squats as I had to pin the back of every chair cover with a straight pin to make it look ummm even more OVERDONE! *squat*pin cover*stand up*next chair*squat*pin cover*stand up*next chair* My legs? OUCH!!

THEN once we were finally done, we went to the bar/restaurant for something to eat. We had to stay around to breakdown the ceremony, anyway. We are now sitting in this poshy posh countryclub: hot, sweating, and in jeans. My brother asks if they have a bar menu after looking at the "Roasted Duck with Mango Salsa" type of menu they gave us. We all just wanted a burger and a Yuengling after all that work. And the waitress says to us: Yes, the 'lighter' menu might be the better choice for *looks around the table while searching her head for the word* you all. I think to myself: The lighter menu? Lighter meaning lighter on our pockets I guess. Since we are The HELP, and we are probably lucky they are allowing us to eat in the restaurant as is. We ALL decide that instead of being viewd as CAVEMEN we should order the "Roast Duck with the Mango Salsa" or perhaps just "not have an appetite anymore". Instead we get our sandwiches and burgers, and Yuengling, and make fun of everyone around us.

FUN TIMES!
*****if you can see the caveman commercial click on the "Change to Windows Media Player" on the bottom right of the TV, then "go back to commercial".

Posted by Jenn :: 9:27 AM :: # 19 comments

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Friday, June 23, 2006

Torture

Yesterday I took Althea to the nuero-plastic surgeon (didn't know they existed either) to discuss the flat spot on the back of her head. The tests that we went for before vacation were sent to the doctor and I was going there for a consultation. As Allie and I got out of the car I took great care in brushing her hair down over the flat spot as to hide it a little from the doctor. Because as the #1 pediatric specialist in in NY metropolitan area all he was going to do is look at her and say: "Eh, you can hardly notice it!" right? yeeea......not so much.

So while we were in the waiting room, I see another mother go in. She has a little boy about 3 or 4, and a baby girl probably about a year. Right after her, the nurse brings us into an office with a desk and two chairs while we wait for the doctor. While in this office waiting, I start to hear the other mother in the room next to me. And the little boy starts to cry. And when I say cry, I mean break your heart crying.
He's screaming, top of his lungs in fear: "I want my mommy!! Mommy help me!! Mommy, he's hurting me!! Ouch!! Please help me!! Don't touch me!! Stop touching me!! Mommy please help me!! Please stop!! Owwwwww!!! Someone HELP ME!!!"
And I hear the Mother trying to be strong: Timmy, it'll be over soon, try to keep still. I'm right here. Timmy Timmy, look at me. It's ok, try to keep still.
This goes on for at least 15 minutes. Now for those of you who have attempted letting your child Cry It Out, you know what 15 minutes of regular crying feels like. Imagine THIS.

I tense up. I look at Allie, her eyes are huge looking up at me, and I start looking for a back door to get the fuck out of that office, NOW! I'm not letting that animal touch my child. Are you kidding me? What is he DOING to that boy, and WHY didn't he give him some sort of pain killers or something. MY GOD! I start to envision some horrible procedure going on in the room next to me. My eyes start to tear up. The child is still screaming. Now his little sister starts to cry too. I think to myself: Deep breaths Jenn.....*breath* *breath* It's fine. Just then the screaming stops, and the little boy comes out of the room with mommy and I see (and hear) that he was having about 5 stitches removed from under his eye. SHEESH! Kid made me almost start bawling in the doctor's office cause he was getting a couple of stitches removed!! The mother looks at me as she's walkin out with a look on her face like: Sorry. I know he's a little dramatic. I smile. Take a deep breath. The doctor walks in.

He takes several measurements of her head and he's spouting off numbers to the nurse who's writing in the chart. I keep thinking in my head...that doesn't sound bad....I have no idea what the hell I'm talking about. Then he sits down and starts to talk to me. Allie finds THIS time perfect to use me as a human trampoline. The nurse takes over so I can pay attention. He tells me that the spot is totally cosmetic. No developmental issues will come out of it. *sigh of relief*

He tells me that the spot is slightly off center, meaning one side is a bit flatter than the other, and that she favors one side more. He gives me exercises to do with her to stretch out her neck at every diaper change. I nod in agreement. (Inside I'm hysterically laughing. I think to myself, has this guy ever attempted to change an 8 month old's diaper? I can barely get her to sit still for 15 seconds while I change her diaper with one hand and hold her still with the other.)

He tells me to limit the time she's in a carseat or carriage. I nod in agreement. (Inside the guilt, once again, starts to build. If I was home, she wouldn't need to spend 2 hours a day in the carseat.)

He tells me that we could put her in a helmet to correct the problem from now until she is a year old. I shake my head in disagreement. I tell him that I don't think we are going to do that. I tell him for the past two months since she's been crawling and sleeping on her stomach it's gotten better.

He tells me, Well.....it probably won't get any worse. *blank stare* Ok *silence* He says if I change my mind, I could have the actual films sent to him and he will write the prescription for the helmet. I thank him. *I go to the front desk*
Nurse says: $250. Me: huh? ummm ok. *hand credit card* *I leave* Althea may not need medication, but mommy feels like she needs a shot of somthin'. I decide that somethin' is a large coffee with REAL WHOLE MILK, and a Boston Cream Donut

*****Later that night Mike and I are laying in bed*****
Mike: Are we doing the right thing?
Me: I don't know? You think we should get the helmet?
Mike: Do you?
Me: Oh NO, I'm asking YOU!
Mike: I don't know.
Me: Me neither. Will we ever?
Mike: *shrug*

Posted by Jenn :: 8:06 AM :: # 16 comments

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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

How do you like your guilt?

Being a WNWNHM(Work No Where Near Home Mom), you get your guilt in a small daily dose. On occasion when your child is sick, crying, or even having lots of fun, you get an extra helping of guilt that you weren't there to experience this with them. The guilt, however, is because you feel bad that you are NOT with your child. Completely understandable.

Eventually, going through the schedule of getting up, getting the baby ready, getting yourself ready, dropping the little one off at daycare, getting yourself to work on time, going through an entire crappy day at work, getting home through traffic, making dinner, feeding the child, getting them to sleep, keeping the house half way clean, ect. ect. ect. finally gets to you and you go on a much needed vacation. Very rarely (at least for me) do you want to go on a vacation without the baby. You missed them terribly all week while you were being selfishly (ha!) working! So, you happily go as a family and enjoy every minute.

When you are a SAHM (For those of you living under a rock that's Stay At Home Mom) you are comfortable with the fact that you are there everyday to help and experience with your child every smile, cry, and first. All is well and no guilt, right? HA! Wrong. SAHM's get their guilt, just in different proportions. Because EVENTUALLY their daily schedule of entertaining, teaching, cleaning, and dealing with every mood that child has to throw at them also gets to you after a while. But....they don't need to get away from their boss, or their work, but their child. WHOA. Not as understandable in their minds. How could I want to get away from my child!?!?!? I'm a horrible mother!!! Insert boat loads of guilt here ->

You may be asking yourself, "What the fuck do you know about being a SAHM, you selfishly (ha!) work. Well, I don't. All I know is that I wish that I was a SAHM, and when I find reasons that being a WNWNHM is better, then it makes me feel better! LOL But seriously I've talked to a couple of friends about this, and it is hard for them to come to terms with this boat loads of guilt that comes with wanting a break from your children. But those cute little terrors are their bosses, and EVERYONE needs a break from their boss every now and again!

Am I way off here?

Posted by Jenn :: 6:45 AM :: # 19 comments

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Monday, June 19, 2006

Two Lives Becoming One

Last week, while on vacation, Mike and I attempted to merge our pre-parenthood partying lives with our post-baby responsible lives. This was not an easy task, but I think we did a pretty good job. We drank, we went to the bar, we played drinking games, I even smoked a cigarette or two (oh I know I'm gettin hate mail from that one). We also kept to a schedule, had daily naps in the pack-n-play, had only 1 leaky diaper, lots of baby firsts/smiles, and no catastrophes or sunburn!

I deem the entire week a success!

We stayed in a beautiful condo with 2 friends of ours right on the beach. All together there were about 10 of us who went, and we all had a blast! My friend Tara, helped us tremendously. It was like Allie had two mommies. Which meant, I only needed to be half a mommy, and the other half of me could have a good time! That went for Mike too! So basically I should have bought stock in Yuengling before leaving for vacation! LOL Of course my other friends who were there helped out too. Some lended their arm muscles to keep the human trampoline going. Others even kept Allie happy in the car rides to the boardwalk by making Zombie noises. Apparently Althea LOVES zombie noises. I'm planning on making a recording of my friend Mark, because the rest of us tried, and we don't make very good zombies. Mark IS the expert after all!

Some how, Mike and I managed to NOT have a hangover, get up at 6am ish for a morning bottle, and keep Althea from crawling off the bed while half asleep (it was a King Size which helped). I'm not sure you REALIZE how difficult this is. If you did, you'd be standing and applauding us right now. We hung out in bed until Allie decided to go back to sleep or until Mom and Dad could keep their eyes open. We got up made coffee (Coffee is very important in this equation) and continued with the day.

We either went to the beach, or the pool, or played minigolf, or the boardwalk, came back had another nap, met up with our friends and hung out at the pool bar, or went out to dinner. Then we put Allie to sleep and played a drinking game or two, or other various board games! We didn't drink every night.......I don't think. I'm sure there were one or two nights that we didn't....right?

And did I mention no hangovers!

Of course Miss Fearless loved the beach, the sand, the pool, even the ocean. She's a beach baby just like her momma! She didn't put the sand in her mouth, or freak out when it stuck to her. She was jumping waves, in a cold ocean, and besides maybe 1 squeal when she got wet for the first time, she thought it was really cool!

The pool was a big hit too. She hung out in her raft, swam with her daddy, splashed and giggled.

....and she had the wrinkled feet and sleepy eyes to prove it.

Mike and I needed the vacation, and we all had a great time!
I think we may see Ocean City, MD again next year!


Of course we are back to work and Allie is back with Grandma (which grandma is thrilled about).

Did I ever mention that I hated work? Yea....I think maybe once or twice.

Posted by Jenn :: 12:06 PM :: # 20 comments

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Thursday, June 08, 2006

8 months, does she ever sit still?

Yesterday, Allie turned 8 months old. This has been the most challenging month yet. She got her first tooth which came along with some sleepless nights for everyone in the house. She is not only crawling but she is pulling herself up on everything, which meant a furious redecorating of the house to remove all non-baby objects from her reach. And now that she's in that walker running all over the house, nothing is safe! We are having some sleep issues, IF she doesn't happen to fall asleep with her normal routine (nightly bottle) then it's a struggle to get her down. And of course during all of this my parents, who are watching her, are getting swamped with weddings.






However....with all the challenges, Mike and I are still amazed at her daily. How is it that we could have created something so cute! And SMART! And just an all around happy baby!









Her hair is getting so long. The bald spot is finally gone and her hair is filling in like crazy. She still has the long hair on the top of her head, and it's out of control. I've been having to put it up so that she doesn't look like Kramer from Sienfeld. And, on the contrary, it might very well be the cutest thing I ever saw! And thanks to Rockstar Mommy, I found the perfect little plastic bands to use on those delicate little wisps to hold, and not to hurt. Thanks RM, and Little Miss.




Due to my parent's busy schedule she's started to spend some time at my aunt's house as well. I'm not sure who is happier about this arrangement, my aunt, Allie or their dog Ky. All are pretty excited when she comes through the door. This is all part of my plan to get Mike to bend on the dog situation. If the cats only knew that if there was a dog there, that she wouldn't bother THEM anymore, they would be on my side too!





Althea is absolutely fearless. She wants to jump backwards off the couch. She wants to freefall from your arms. She wants to crawl off the bed. She wants you to LET GO! She wants to jump on the bed, or the couch, or the floor, or your lap, or the air.... And she thinks this total disregard for her safety is hysterical. She is going to be a rollercoaster lover, I can just tell. Cause to her, the rougher you play with her, they more fun it is. Throw her up in the air, spin her around, flip her upsidown, throw her on the bed, SHE LOVES IT ALL!

In addition to loving the rough stuff, she is also starting to really enjoy books. We aren't really sure where this comes from, cause neither of us are huge readers. We do, however, read to her at night. She's actually crawling over to the book shelf and grabbing or pointing at the book and whining till you read it to her. Her new favorite is: "Do Princesses where Hiking boots?" Just in case your wondering, the answer is "Yes! When they want to take scenic routes!"

We are leaving this Saturday to go on vacation for a week in Ocean City, MD. We may need a Uhaul to bring all of Allie's stuff with us. I'm starting to realize why people wait till their kids are 3 before taking them on vacation! I'm sure we are going to have a blast. Stay tuned the week of the 19th for Beach Baby pictures!

Posted by Jenn :: 7:56 AM :: # 24 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- Dear everyone on my blogroll plus all of you I haven't put on there yet,

I DID read your blog yesterday. They were all compelling entries that deserved comments, or advice, or a "ME TOO!", or a "I hear ya sistah!", or something thought worthy. I wanted to comment, but Blogger sucks ass. I tried. A couple of times. But I gave up and I'm going to start new today. Please don't leave me as readers cause "She doesn't really comment anymore, that bitch!"
Also, if you were actually able to comment on my site, you have so much more patience than me. You held those thoughts in your head while you hit refresh like a million times. Your so much of a better blogger friend than I. Please also don't leave me as readers because "She doesn't reply to my comment anymore either!". Cause, again, blogger sucks ass, and doesn't send me your comments via email until like 3 days later. In which time, my reply wouldn't make sense to you anymore anyway.

Most appreciated!
Maniacal

Posted by Jenn :: 7:42 AM :: # 4 comments

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Wednesday, June 07, 2006

They are finally IT

First I would like to thank everyone for their advise and support. I truely love you all! No, I'm not kidding, I DO!

I'll be out for most of the day today, but my Island tagees finally put up their lists. Go check them out!

Mike
Jennifer
Cheeky

Thanks guys!

Posted by Jenn :: 7:36 AM :: # 6 comments

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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Internal Struggle

Are things really as cut and dry as we'd like to believe when it comes to parenting? Is there really a right and wrong? When you get pregnant, you think about what kind of parent you're going to be. You think - This is going to be easy, I'm going to be the best mother ever! You read book after book after book telling you the right way to do everything. Then you realize, they all say something different. And then you have the baby. And you think - Well, the pediatrician will surely know what to do. He actually went to school for years for this shit! And you go, then you talk to other mothers and you find out THEY all say something different. Something as simple as food, they can't agree on. One will say - Start feeding them fruit at 4 months. Others - Feed them veggies first, if you feed them fruit first they will NEVER eat their veggies. Then - You can start meat at 6mo. Someone else - Oh don't feed them meat till they hit 10 mo! I mean what the hell? Was there no chapter on food in there text books? Does it say, pick from this list of things, whichever you like better? Us mothers sure think there is a right and wrong way to do things too. We actually have wars over it! How are you supposed to know what is the right thing? Instinct? *shrug* I guess, except I'm a new mother...what the fuck do I know?

We talked to the doctor yesterday about Althea's test. Good News! The doctor said that all of her sutures are still open and there is most likely no problem and it's completely cosmetic. BUT....he would go see the specialist anyway, just to be sure. And he would go THIS week. *sigh* Where did this come from anyway? Is it from sleeping on her back? Was she just born predisposed to this condition? Is it because she's in a carseat for 2 hours every day to and from grandma's house while mommy goes to work? Mike and I talked about this, and if it is completely cosmetic, we don't want to put her in a helmet that will correct the flat spot. Is this is the right decision? I have no idea. I know when I go to this specialist he'll probably try to talk me into it. But we are the parents, right? So we know best! We know better than a guy who is a specialist in this area and went to school for like a billion years. Right?

Althea has been sleeping through the night since she is 3 months old. Didn't take much, she's just a good sleeper. When I put her to sleep I go into her room, shut the light, put relaxing music on, read her a book, feed her a bottle, and she drifts off in my arms. So, she falls asleep while drinking her bottle. That's not good, right? Shouldn't do that. All the books say it! Well, it worked ok, but all of a sudden we are having a problem. If she doesn't fall asleep while she's drinking, then she doesn't want to fall asleep. I put her in the crib, and she stands right up. If I walk out of the room, she screams. So, I'm supposed to let her cry it out, right? It's the only way they will learn. If I do it a couple of days in a row, she will be happier in the long run, right? *sigh* Why, when I'm sitting there listening to her cry does it not FEEL like the right thing? Anyway, it's my fault in the first place. I miss her all day, and I enjoy holding her in my arms while she's all calm and sleepy and I watch her drift off. I taught her that the way to fall asleep is in my arms, and now I plop her in her crib and leave her there. Doesn't sound right. So instead I'm supposed to rock her to sleep for the rest of her life? That doesn't sound right either. Especially once she's a toddler.

She's only 8 months old. This is going to get harder isn't it?

Posted by Jenn :: 7:51 AM :: # 24 comments

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Monday, June 05, 2006

A Picture Essay....

.......on why mom can't seem to get the house clean....but on the other hand is loosing weight!

Posted by Jenn :: 8:20 AM :: # 13 comments

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Thursday, June 01, 2006

Baby Scan

I swear rafting pictures are coming. But for now we have "Baby Scan" on our brains. To kick off the Whilwind Extended Weekend, I brought Allie to the radiology place to get a xray of her head. She's had a flat head since she's like 3 months old. Like I said, stupid doctor telling me to put her on her back when she was perfectly fine on her side. Anyway..........

So Tuesday I get a message when I get home at 5:15 (office closes at 5) from the doctor that "We need to discuss the test, but I wont be in till Thursday. So call me back then" That's GREAT thanks for that. ASS!

Thursday comes, it's 8:30 can't call yet. I keep working. Phone rings. It's 10:00 am. SHIT where did the time go! I answer the phone. It's the doctor.
"Um...Mrs Manical?"
"Yes, hi."
"Did you get my call on Tuesday?" (in a tone like I'm being very lax about it. Why didn't I call him at 9:00:01!!!)
"Oh, Yes! I was...I just....I must of lost track of time." *thinks: I'm the worst mother ever...AGAIN!*
"Well, I see the test that was done, and I'm not sure but I think that she needs another test, but I have to see......cause it involves radiation...."(he's all over the place)
*thinks: HUH?!?! RADIATION?!?!?!*
"....well, basically I need you to come in so I can measure her head."
"oh.....well.....ok......whe..."
"I would like to do it now. Like today!"
"ohhhhhkayyy. um, well what appointments do you have. I need 4:30, is that possible?"
"I'll give you to the front desk, I'll make sure she gets you a 4:30."

Right. So now I'm a little confused. Cause she's had this flat spot on her head for ever...and it's getting better I think now that she's sleeping on her stomach and stuff....and all of a sudden it's NOW!!!! I guess she's getting older and if they need to do anything the earlier the better....but STILL! He's freakin me out here.

So Mike takes her, he was closer. When Mike was there, the doctor weighed her and measured her head. Said her head is in the right proportion to her body, 88% (yea, she's a big girl) AND turns out the doctor didn't even get the actual films from the X-Ray. But he thinks that we need to go for a catscan. So....um.....WTF was the point of doing the xray, if your just gonna order more tests without seeing them? THEN while they are in there the doctor keeps calling her 'him'. Mike keeps correcting him: HER. Finally after the 6th time he did it...he's like...."What am I doing? Am I saying him?" Mike: "yea" "Oh sorry...I have the pink piece of paper right in front of me." Mike said he was all rushed and disoriented. Think maybe after this head thing, a new doctor is in order.....

So we have an appointment tomorrow for the catscan. And Mike has to bring her, cause she's much closer to him and so is the place and the appointment is at 12:30, so he's gonna do it on Lunch. *sigh*

Mom, do I have to get a baby scan?

Look at her...she's perfect! How could she need a catscan?!?!?! SHE'S PERFECT!!!!

Posted by Jenn :: 7:18 PM :: # 16 comments

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