mutterings of a mommy

K-ism of the day

2009-04-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Driving in the car, talking to her cousin:

"I am going to have a birthday party. It's going to be barbies and princesses and butterflies. I will invite you. Everything will be pink and purple. Those are my favorite colors. I am going to have a biiiiiiiiiig cake and a bouncy house. It's going to be so cool. I am ALL about birthdays.

Her cousin just looked at her like she is crazy (he is a boy, obviously boy's aren't all about birthdays)

Her birthday is in January. She has a long time to plan this shindig.

Shopping

2009-03-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

So, I gave up shopping for Lent. How sad is it that it is absolutely killing me? I see the cutest things all over the place...and I have to restrain myself. Does that signal an addiction? Do I have a problem? Do I care if I do?

Raising a well-mannered child

2009-03-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Can you tell me how it is possible? Is there a way to do it without going insane? Because I would really like a trick or two.
Yesterday K's teacher told me that she got in trouble at school for talking back to teachers. Apparently, she was told to do something and yelled "NO!" to the teacher. What? Am I raising a monster? So, as is our rule, when she has a "bad day" at school, she gets no movies in the evening. She knows this rule. It's something we have been very, very strict on. It always causes an nightmare, but we hold to it... always. I also told that today she needed to go in and apologize to her teacher.
Hopefully all of this will work!

One of those torn days

2009-03-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

As I was leaving the house at dark-thirty this morning, I was torn. Very torn. I didn't want to leave my baby. I know this feeling passes, it always does. And honestly, I am happy with my choice to be a working mom. However, there are days when I wish I could just say: You know what? For today I change my mind. Today, I am going to stay home with my girl and snuggle and play and enjoy her. Maybe teach her to bake my favorite cookies. I just wanted to spend a mommy/K day and soak in her innocence and youth...I know it's not going to be around for very long.

Monday!

2009-03-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

So, the weekend was good. We did a bit of birthday partying, a bit of shopping, a bit of seeing friends and the major accomplishment was getting the playroom cleared out and almost entirely painted. Go us! The only thing left is to paint the wall that I plan on doing multi-color boxes on. Of course I am in over my head on this one...but it may turn out well, who knows!

We hit Ikea last night and bought the storage unit that will house the endless supply of toys in the new playroom. Now we just have to build it. Bad part of Ikea - the building. We are also trying to get rid of the old desk, chair and bookshelf that were once in that room. We put an ad on Craigslist and had one guy say he was interested but then he emailed and "his ride got caught up with a flat tire" so he couldn't make it. Interesting.

Last night we went to dinner and K's meal came first and she was so kind, she shared a bite with each of us. She announced "I will share with you mommy! I will share with you daddy! Now I will share with my tummy!"

Watching the market today...intersting. Is it the turn around we need? I guess time will tell.

Annnnd Again! Again!

2009-03-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

I have been deathly ill for the last two days, so what better time to start blogging again? Yeah, I know, I am just kidding myself thinking I am going to keep it up. Oh well, doesn't hurt to try!

Watching the Today Show while sniffling and snorting and they just showed something called "bootie legs". They get a big WTF? Seriously, dumbest idea ever. Can't find a link to them, but they are basically a piece of fabric that zips over your leg to make it look like you are wearing a "boot". Really, there is no reason for that.

Happy first day of spring! K was very excited today because she wanted to pick flowers. I didn't really get to explain to her that it takes a while for the flowers to actually bloom in the spring. Why couldn't I tell her? Oh, because I have no voice. Again. Damn colds and my voice...I always get stuck with laryngitis.

Weekend plans: Nothing if I don't get better!

Daddy, it's not beer!

2008-11-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

Quick funny:

We were trying to get K to drink some medicine yesterday and Mike came up with the idea to tell her it was just like the drink he always drinks (he was talking about vitamin water) K looked at him and said "Daddy! It's not BEER!" Oh Snap!

Is it vacation time yet?

2008-11-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

I really, really need it. We have mmm....3 weeks left until we head to sunny Mexico and by that time I may very well lose my mind. K is a nut these days. Everything we tell her to do, she does the opposite. Getting her to actually do anything? Becomes a major battle. Even little things like oh, putting on her shoes? That takes 20 minutes of begging and pleading and bribing. Please, tell me it gets better.

In good news though, she is so smart and so lovely. She is just amazing (if crazy making)

Sick little girl

2008-10-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

When I went to pick up K today, she had a fever of 102.5 and kept saying over and over "I'm sick mommy, I'm sick". Poor bug, she looks so miserable. She hardly ever looks this sick. The problem is that I am in a total crunch week at work and absolutely, positively cannot take any time off this week...so Mike has to step up. He is thinking that he will stay home with her during the day and then go into the office at night...how awful is that? Ugh.

Here's crossing fingers that whatever it is that Miss K has clears up really, really quickly!

Starting up again

2008-10-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to keep this up, but I so want to. There are so many things in Miss K's life that I want to remember...and if I don't write them down I know I won't, so here I am. I have been slacking, and I am sure I will slack again, but this is an attempt.

Kaelyn is wonderful. Amazing. The light of our lives. I am constantly amazed that she is MY little girl. How did I get so lucky? She is smart, and funny, and beautiful... she is a miracle.

She loves ballet, macaroni & cheese, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, dresses that "twirl out", ice, fuzzy crocs, dill pickles, bubble baths, gymnastics, movies of herself, jumping on daddy, books. She has inherited my tendency to be cold all the time and tends to wear a jacket all day. She has a wonderful sense of humor, although we are trying desperately to teach her a new joke since the only one she knows is a horrible knock-knock joke about an orange and a banana.

Her imagination is vivid to put it mildly. Lately she has been telling us that she is going to turn her car into an airplane and on a vacation with her friends. We told her she needed to wait until she was 12 to do that, she did not appreciate that very much.

All in all, life is good. Mike and I are working too much...but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel there for both of us.

If nothing else, there is vacation to look forward to, we are headed to Mexico in 6 weeks, so that is a shining light!

I will be better next week

2008-03-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

K was just coughing. I asked her what was wrong and she said she was "wasn't feeling well" but that she would feel better next week.

Then she thought about it more and decided no, she would feel better when she started ballet lessons.

Have I mentioned that there are NO openings in any ballet class anywhere in our area? I guess she is going to be sick for quite a while.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting over a year for K to wear this dress. I bought it last year and fell in love with it then...thankfully it fit!

Word of warning - 3 year olds and Easter Mass don't go well together. Especially when you are a bit late and get stuck in the overflow room watching Mass on the Jumbotron.

Another word of warning - If your child has not been inside a church since his or her baptism 3 years prior (shush!) try to explain the whole "church" thing well before you actually go to church so you don't have a child asking "Mommy, what is CHURCH????" while you are walking into the mass. Talk about advertising that you are raising your child to be a heathen.

White Princess Mommy

2008-03-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

Kaelyn recently saw pictures from our wedding and decided that I was a "white princess" on our wedding day, which is adorable. Unfortunately, it also made her very angry because she wasn't there. She just doesn not understand why she was not invited and why she didn't get to dance with me when I was a white princess. Try explaining pre-life to a 3-year old, I dare you. Know how we got through it? We promised that if we get married again, she will get to be there...and not only be there, she gets to get married with us too.

mornings are rough

2008-03-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

One thing I can say is that my daughter and I deal with mornings in the same way, with great disdain. Neither of us are fans of birds chirping and waking us out of what was a sound sleep. We would both rather awake when WE want to not when the alarm (or in her case Daddy) tells us to. It would be so much easier if life would adjust to our natural schedules!

Add the fact that I have given up coffee again... Mornings are no my friend.

Big Girl Panties

2008-03-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well... who knew that all you had to do was put her in regular underwear to potty train her? Seriously, that's what just happened. On Saturday we said "No more Pull-ups" and put her in regular panties (which have princesses on the *swoon*) and since then, she has had ONE accident. One. And that was a small one when she was on her way to the potty. All these months of messing with pull-ups and being convinced she was goig to go to college in them...all it took was regular underware.

Left, right, Left

2008-03-12T11:03:00.001-07:00

My daughter recently learned her left and right. How? I don't know. I really don't. I do know that I was around eight when I learned mine. Does that make her really smart or me really dumb? Nevermind, don't answer that.

Why?

2008-03-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone warned me. I really can't say that it was unexpected...and yet, the on-set of the "whys" have me up in arms.

It starts in the morning:

mommy, why do I have to go to school?
Because Mommy and Daddy have to work sweetie.
Why?
Because it's what mommy's and daddy's do to make sure we can pay for things.
Why?
Because we like having a house and food
Why?
Because Iamlosingmyeverlovingmindandwillgiveanythingtoexitthisconversation...want some chocolate?

And so it goes, ever statement is met with a "why" and no answer is ever left without a "why" follow-up.

Hey, at least she is curious, right?

Kaelyn at three

2008-03-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

The people that admit that three is much harder than two are not lying. They really aren't. The drama, oh the drama! It's always there with a three-year old. K is our little drama queen, there are times when I am convinced she is going to be an actress, or that we need to invest in a fainting couch for her frequent over the top fits of indegnation.

In her world at 3:

she is 38 1/4 inches tall, and weighs 34 pounds (85th and 80th percentile respectively) According to her doctor she is on track to be 5'7".

She has recently learned her left and right. How, we aren't sure...but after much quizing by us to prove to ourselves that she knows it, she sure does!

She is starting to sound out letters and figure out that letters form words.

Potty training is slooooow going with this kid. She knows that when she uses big girl panties all the time she will get to start ballet (which she is desperate to do!) but she is just not ready to do it yet.

She is still loving dolls, princesses and books. Her favortie books are "Pinkalicious" and "The Belly Button Book". Those are read every night without fail. In fact, last night while I was reading to her she recited all of Pinkalicious to me from memory!

She is doing well in school, has good friends. She is talking about them coming to her house...so I would imagine that play-dates are around the corner for us.

All in all, she is a healthy, happy, fun and tiring little girl!

Ahhh... Life is always getting crazy

2008-02-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

The good news is, my new job is awesome. The bad news is it's taking up a lot of my life right now!

Anyway, just wanted to get a few K things down.

She is THREE!! Amazing. How did that happen??

We are still struggling with the potty thing, she just doesn't want to do it, and we aren't pushing it. I figure that when all of her friends are moving up a class at school and she can't because she isn't PT'd she will give in and do it.
Funny story, last night she was sitting on the potty and told me that she didn't want to poop because "the poop was happy playing in her butt" I nearly died.

We still have some "baby words", which thrills me:

Sliber = Licorice
Sank you = Thank you
Chorks = Shorts

She is doing great in school (even though she doesn't want to go every day...once we get there she is good!) She is starting to sound out words too! Amazing. She knows the sounds that most letters make and is starting to put them together. I have to admit though, she is a fairly lazy kid. She has no desire to do most things herself and is perfectly happy to have people do things for her. It's great when I want her to wear something, she doesn't question it...but I worry a bit about her lack of motivation and I am not sure what to do about that. She is super smart, just not motivated.

Anyway, other news is that we are planning our vacation in May: I am going to Vegas for 4 days, then coming home and we are leaving for Puerto Vallarta for 6 days, then we will got to Orange County (And Disneyland) for 5 days. It sounds pretty cool!

The last day of freedom!

2008-01-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day off before I start my new job. I am sad, but also excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. I really believe that I can do some good work in this new role and I am looking forward to the challenges.

Anyway...today I kept K home so we could have a mommy/Kaelyn day. It was great. We drove out and met Mike so we could go apply for K's passport. Amazingly, we were in and out of there in 15 minutes! How is that for expedited service? It was awesome. The funny part was when they were taking her picture she started sticking out her tongue and thought it was hilarious! It took us a while to coax her into putting it back in so they could snap the picture. Funny girl.

After we took Mike back to work K and I headed to the mall to have lunch and do a little shopping. I got some cute stuff for her to wear next year. I love the end-of-season sales for getting deals for the next year. Luckily for us K has been pretty steady in her growth pattern, she is right on with the sized for each year. That makes it easier to plan....watch, I just jinxed myself and she will be wearing a 4T in a couple months!

New Job!

2008-01-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have a new job. I am going to be the HR Manager for a Marketing firm that is based in London. I will handle the US operations for them (about 80 people in all) It seems like a great place so far. The people are nice, it's laid-back, they drink during the day and have fun. Just what I was looking for. And, it's not public. YAY! I really wanted to get out of the public company arena. And, no more working with engineers. Not that engineers are inherently bad, just a lot of them really lack in the social skills arena! This job should be much more fun.

It was weird to leave my old job after 5 years there. Thankfully I left under good terms, my boss said I was always welcome to come back (which is nice to hear!) and I didn't burn any bridges! That's a good thing. It was very odd closing the door for the last time. very odd indeed.

I start my new gig on Tuesday. Tomorrow we are going to get K a passport because part of this job will involve travel to London a couple times a year and Mike and K will join me for at least one of those trips. Our plan is to add on a week of vacation after a business trip so we can vacation somewhere in Europe. Did I mention that a major benefit of this job is the time off? I start with 4 weeks of vacation, 12 holidays and 10 sick days. Awesome!!

Holidays!

2008-01-06T11:23:00.001-08:00

We had a pretty good holiday season. It was filled with some drama of course (aren't they always?) Mike's parent's came up and K immediately got croup. Ugh. When we saw them last (in July) she had croup then as well. What, so they travel with it? Anyway, she was sick, Mike's dad is not doing well at all, he had no idea who any of us were at all. In fact, after they left here they went to Gary's and Sil got pnumonia and it was a wake-up call for Bea, She really recognized that she was in over her head trying to care for him at home and when they returned to California she ended up putting him in a home. I can't imagine how horribly hard that must have been...but it was the right decision.

Anyway, Christmas was good. Mike's parents left 2 days before...so we were relaxed and had fun. We had 2 other couples and their 4 kids over for Christmas dinner (prime rib, which if I do say so myself was AWESOME!) K got a kitchen from Santa that she just loves and it was all around great!

Kathy came up the day after and proceeded to make me crazy...but that is par for the course!

A post?? Ha!

2008-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am here once again. I swore that this year I would try to keep up more with my blog. Ha! We all know it's a lie...but whatever.

Anyway, the last few months have been an absolute whirlwind of activity. We vacationed, we holidayed, I got a new job, quit my old job....and K turns THREE on Friday! Whew!

Let's talk about vacations first:

We went to Maui again and it was awesome. K had such a blast! The weather was perfect, we missed a huge storm by just one day *whew* The highlight of the trip was the water slide at the hotel. It was 140 feet long and K went down by herself! Yes, that's right. By.Her.Self. At least 10 times a day! Mike would take her up to the top, send her down and I would catch her at the bottom. She got so excited that she literally could not speak. She would come down and just utter nonsensical stuff...she couldn't form words. It was hysterical.

All in all it was a wonderful trip. K became obsessed with ceasar salads while we were there and ate one every day. She still wants them all the time now. Odd little girl! We also visited a goat farm and got to milk the goats, she just loved that!

Pictures are here

Next up...the holidays!

A conversation with Kaelyn

2007-10-29T14:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we decided to take Kaelyn to the zoo..it was a lovely fall day, so it was a great time to go!

When she woke up from her nap she was SO excited because she knew we were going. Here is our conversation:

K- Mommy! We are going to the ZOO!
Me - Yep!
K - We are going to see the butterflies!
Me - Sure, we are.
K - I am going to bring one home!
Me - Well, I think if you did, the butterfly would miss it's family
K - We will go back and take it home tomorrow. We will have a butterfly slumber party tonight.
Me - Hmmmm
K - OR! We will bring her sister and mommy and grandpa with her!

Well, at least she understands families! Sad thing? The butterfly exhibit was closed for the winter. Thankfully we were able to calm her with two rides on the carousel!

The girl brigade

2007-10-16T11:51:00.001-07:00

Sometime in the past few weeks Kaelyn has become acutely aware that there is indeed a difference between girls and boys. And now, she is a huge proponent of girl power. Mommy and Kaelyn are a team, just by virtue of us being girls. This however, is a problem because Daddy is a *gasp* BOY! This means that he is not invited to our indoor picnics, or into the tent for secret reading sessions. It means that only Mommy will do when she wants someone to watch princess movies with her. Poor Daddy, he has heard way too many times "NO! Only Mommy and Kaelyn! We are GIRLS!"

I know this will pass, and soon she will turn on me and only Daddy will do. So, while I will never admit it to Mike... I am secretly loving every last minute of being the coveted girl right now.

Big Girl Haircut!

2007-10-05T10:39:00.001-07:00

Last night I took K to get her hair cut. Normally, she sits on my lap while she is getting it cut, but last night... she sat on the booster like a big girl! *sigh* I am getting to the point where I just can't deny that she isn't a baby anymore...and I don't like it. Not one bit. Don't get me wrong, I love it when she tells me that I am her best friend and that she likes me. I love that we can actually have conversations now. But, I am slowly accepting the fact that she is becoming her own person... she doesn't rely on me for everything now. She is smart and has an independent streak that will certainly serve her well, but it's tearing mommy's heart out right now.

Work Rant

2007-10-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

Grrr... I am pissed. I have been managing a program here at work for FIVE years and have been asking for someone for that long to come in and help and eventually take it over. Well, in the last 6 months the program has essentially been handed over to another person and I have been cut out of it completely (well, except for the shit work that they still want me to do). I am livid. Just livid. I have built up this program SO well, and it's just insane that they are handing it over to someone with NO experience. Ugh. I am ready to go to battle today about it... wish me luck.

Kaelyn Talk

2007-10-03T11:29:00.001-07:00

Something for posterity, a bit of Kaelyn speech that we are encouraging as long as we can:

Didn't - Didinet
Doesn't - Doesenent
Sun Screen - Sun Scream
Swim Suit - Swim Scoop
Exciting - It's so mexciting!

Headache

2007-10-02T11:44:00.001-07:00

I have a monster headache...the kind that makes it hard to think about anything else at all. You know, that kind? The kind that makes you want to hide in a dark room with the covers pulled over your head so you can avoid all sound an light. Yeah, that kind.

Pray for me.

Bedtime

2007-10-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Kaelyn decided to put me to bed tonight. She commanded the following:

"Sit in the chair with me mommy!"
"Give me a kiss, say I love you!"
"Drink your bottle" (and was very, very upset when I pretended to drink from the botttle)
Then she told Mike, "give mommy a kiss, then I am going to read her a story and put her to sleep in my bed and go downstairs with daddy and we will talk"
Then she read me There is a Wocket in my Pocket

That's when we ended the game and re-set the mommy/baby roles.

She kills me!

Baby Mommy

2007-10-01T14:24:00.001-07:00

So, I bought K a doll this weekend... a baby doll with a bottle, a diaper, etc. She LOVES it. She is very into mothering these days. Anyway, when Mike was taking her out to the car this morning she saw the box that the doll had come in and told him "that's my dolly" He asked her what her dolly's name is and she said "baby mommy" then she clarified that her name is "baby Chelslea" *swoon* My baby named her baby after me!

Between me and you

2007-10-01T09:55:00.001-07:00

http://www.sanddunebooks.com/

Winston Simmonds Jr. is President/Founder of Sand Dune Publishing Company and actually created the
Between Me and You™ Relationship Keepsake Journal series as a result of his own desire to have
something truly personal and meaningful from his parents. The very enthusiastic response he received
from his family after presenting them with his original hand-made question/answer journals as well as
the enthusiasm of friends as he recounted his journal experience, helped lead to the realization that
there are many people who are seeking more meaningful interactions with family and friends.
The Between Me and You™ series offers a helpful way to initiate that interaction.
"I just wanted to share this unique journal idea to help us all get a little closer to the people
we care about while having fun at the same time."

Cool idea, yes? No. Good lord, I don't want that much information about my family! I want to remain in the blissful fog I am currently in believing that there is some semblance of sanity in it. If I got answers to all of these questions... that fog would be lifted and I would be faced with the reality that these people I call my family are INSANE! Don't get me wrong, I already and fully aware of that fact, on the inside... but I put blinders on and pretend that grandpa and grandma being in love with each other 40 30 years after their divorce and subsequent marriage to other people was somehow normal. (really...they still made goo-goo eyes at each other every time they saw each other until my grandmother died, it was just weird)

So... bottom line. I prefer to make up my own reality about my dysfunctional family. I don't need any truth seeping in.

Dancing in the Rain

2007-09-29T20:57:00.001-07:00

First of all... I am not cut out to be a single mom. Nope.. I am not. Thankfully I don't see my husband going anywhere. Thank goodness.

Last night K woke up around 10:00pm, so I took that opportunity to put her in bed with me. I hate sleeping alone...and it was nice to have my baby with me all night.

Today was Baby Loves Disco. I can see how it would be fun...but holy cow it was crowded! And, unfortunately it was really loud. K has serious issues with loud noise. In fact, she is so bothered by them that I am going to ask her pediatrician about it. She goes so far as to cover her ears with her hands and flush the toilet with her elbow. She freaks when things are loud...she just gets scared and upset. I am sure that it is somewhat normal for a child her age?

Anyway, we didn't stay at BLD for very long... she wasn't happy so there was no reason to keep her there. After we left, we went and hung out at Pat & Meghan's house for the evening and K played with the kids. Good evening.

When we got home it was pouring rain and when I got K out of the car she said to me "come on mommy, let's go dance in the rain!" So, that's what we did. We danced on the driveway in the rain and it was wonderful. There was no music... just me and my baby being silly and having fun. It's the type of thing I don't do enough of and I want to change that. What will I remember when I am old and look back at my life? Hopefully I will remember many nights of dancing in the rain.

Weekend with my baby

2007-09-28T14:47:00.001-07:00

So, Mike is on his way to spend the weekend drunk with his brother in Oregon. They are going to the Cal game down there. I told him I am not bailing him out if he gets arrested.
That leaves me to have a weekend alone with K. Tonight we are going to Costco then out to dinner....just the two of us. Tomorrow we are going with friends to Baby Loves Disco and Sunday we are spending the afternoon shopping. Wee! Add in some trips to the park hopefully and it all adds up to a fun weekend with my baby. Tonight we are going to have a slumber party in mommy's bed too (don't tell K that part of the reason for that is that I hate to sleep alone... HATE IT!)

Funny of the day:

While having a video chat with my mother K decided she was done and said "bye grandma" and said to me "Mommy, turn grandma OFF now!"

Hmmmm....I wish sometimes I could turn my mother off!

No, it's a captain!

2007-09-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

K funny:

K: wait a second, I have a question
Me: Ok, what is your question?
K: Who flies the airplane?
Me: The pilot
K: No mommy, it's the captain

And later tonight Mike sprayed liquid badage on her scrapes. Ugh, poor thing was screaming her head off! Then she said to Mike "You are a big, mean boy!" poor daddy, he was crushed! He was tellling her how her PJ's said I love Mommy on them and then she said "I don't love you daddy!" Yikes!! Thankfully a few minutes later she said that her PJs said I love mommy on the front and I love Daddy on the back. Whew! We aren't ready for the "I hate you's" yet!

How?

2007-09-27T14:41:00.001-07:00

I came home early today... I wasn't feeling great, so I am working at home. And what do you do when you work at home? Watch Oprah of course!

Well, today's show is about kids of divorce... and there is this poor little boy whose mom left him and his sister and he hasn't seen her in over 2 years. I can't imagine. HOW can you do that to your children?? How?? Good lord, I am sobbing like a baby. I mean, I am a child of divorce...I GET divorce, I really do. I know that it is reality... but just leaving a child that you gave birth to? I don't understand it and I never will. Ever. I just want to give those kids a big hug.

Skinned Knees

2007-09-27T11:14:00.001-07:00

My baby skinned her knees this morning. Both of them. It's not the skinned knees that really got to me, she is going to get those... I realize that. What got to me was that I had to leave her at school with her skinned knees. She fell when we were walking into school this morning...so I had to pick her up, carry her into the class, clean and bandage her wounds and then leave her there. Don't get me wrong, she was just fine. I, however, was not. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and hold her there all day. I wanted to be there in case there was some pain later.
I know that you can't always be there when your children hurt, but it doesn't mean that I don't want to be.

2007-09-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

So.... a bit of a catch up.

We went to Victoria for our Anniversary with another couple (Jim & Tiffany) and their son Grayson. It was a great weekend.. we ate well, swam in the pool, drank...It was fun. We took up a bottle of Dom that we had from our wedding and ended up drinking it out of plastic cups...nothing finer! It was a blast.

Last weekend we went with 3 other couples out to dinner and then we went to hang out on a yacht... wee! Nothing better than wine, food and a biiiiiiig boat! We were all wasted, and it was SO fun!

And...in the down side of life, I had a D&C on monday, after having AF for 21 straight days. UGH! It wasn't horrid...but it wasn't great either. Hopefully things will clear up and life will be good!

Wedding Pictures~

2007-09-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

An idea of what a procrastanator I am.... we still don't have our wedding photos in an album. SIX years later. Yeah...
Anyway, I FINALLY sent away our negatives to be professionally scanned and the DVD should be here any day! YAY! Then I am going to make a coffee table book with them. Wish me luck!

Resurection

2007-09-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

Don't faint.

I am a waffler...I say blog! Then I don't blog..I don't know... I am fickle.
I really want to keep it up... so nudge me if you don't see me here!

Let's see, what is up? Mike is leaving me for the weekend... he is headed down to Oregon with his brother for a football game. So, K and I are going with friends to Baby Loves Disco on Saturday and then doing some shopping. I told Mike if he is going to leave me, he gets to pay for shopping. Sounds like a deal to me!

K is doing well, she is in pre-school now...amazing. She loves princesses and babies, she has a strong maternal streak and is always putting her baby to bed or feeding it. So sweet.

And now, I need to make dinner!

Hmmm...

2007-03-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I am a loser. So shoot me. I am slacking at the blog thing, I think that I warned that would happen!
We are good, life is good... K is awesome. She is SO full of energy and entertainment, I love it. Tonight she was holding "her" phone (an old phone we gave ther to play with) and she was having conversations with everyone she could think of. They ALL went like this:

H! Grandma?
Hey, how are you?
Oooooooooooooooooh!

Ok Grandma! Bye!

I was dying. Just dying.

A couple weekends we took her to Canada and saw the Wiggles. It was fun, but I don't really think she "got" that they were really there if that makes sense. We had a good time up there though, we stayed at the Fairmont on the water which was really nice and we had a good time.

And OH MY GOD... I am just now watching AI from last night. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT???? Seriously? Sanjaya? Freak.

Ok, I will come back when I pick my jaw up from the floor...

Amazing...a chance to post!

2007-03-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

The last month or so has just been crazy. I literally have been working until 10:00 every.single.night. How lame is that? Yeah...oh so lame. I don't get paid enough to do this, I really don't. Hopefully this week it will be calming down and I can breathe for a bit!

All else in life is good. K is wonderful, although she just started crying in bed and when I went up to see what was wrong I found that she had thrown up all over the place. I don't know what caused that... she was happy and content... there was just an amazing amount of puke! Weird. After we got her all cleaned up and back down Mike and I were talking about how his brother always is telling us to let her CIO... that you just should not go to a crying kid because they will never learn to sleep through the night. (Yeah, we don't listen to him at.all ) Anyway, Mike asked me what would have happened if we had been CIO parents, we would have never known that she threw up everywhere! I just can't imagine.

Last weekend we went down to see Mike's brother and his family for his birthday. As a souvenier I got a wicked cold. Wooo hoo! Lucky me! We did also get a bunch of shoes for K. My SIL's Sister has access to the Nike Employee store, so we go 5 pairs of shoes for $85. Score! Mike also got a new pair of running shoes for half-off. It's good to have good contacts!

Yesterday we had to go buy K new jeans. Why? Because her school told us no more jeans that have snap legs. Why? Because my nutty kid constantly unsnaps them and runs around with flaps for legs. Oy. She is the class nudist. How embarrassing is that?Any time they can, her clothes are coming off. Hopefully this phase will pass sooooooon! I am tired of saying "clothes back ON!"

And finally, a couple LO's that I did this weekend. Credits are on DST as always.

Time....I need more of it!

2007-02-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Work is insane at the moment. Just insane. I leave for San Francisco tomorrow and will come home late Wednesday night, Happy Valentine's Day! Hopefully after this week life will calm down a bit... just a bit!

Everything is fine at home, K is great... she is happy, fun and wonderful. In her words "it's good, I like it, it's very good!"

The weekend was relaxing, but as always too short! At least this next one will be a 3-day weekend! I have a dr's appointment in the afternoon on Monday, and Mike doesn't have the day off, so I am going to send K to school... get my hair cut, go to the dr. and then pick her up. A WHOLE day to my self! What will I do? I may even meet a girlfriend for lunch! *swoon*

And in a blast of creativity... what I worked on yesterday. Mike got me a new Photoshop program and a Wacom... so I am requiredto do some scrapping!

House Hunting

2007-02-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

I know, are we insane? Yeah... I guess we are. We are pretty seriously planning on selling our house this summer and moving. We are looking at a couple houses right now that would be built in the fall... so good timing. We have it narrowed to two at the moment:

This one:
We love the layout of this house, it's just perfect. The downside is the location. We would have to move K from where she goes to school now and we didn't really want to do that. And we would be moving out of our school district... the school district that we would be moving into on a district level isn't that great, but the school in the community is awesome, and there are plans to build a Jr and Sr. High school there within 10 years that would I am sure be just as good. It's a huge master planned community which I personally like (I know a lot of people don't) with tons of trails, activities, etc. Comute would be about the same. So ups and downs...

This one:
Great loaction, Pretty much everything we want in a house... about 90k more than the other one. Ugh.

So, that's where we are right now. We are pretty set on getting a new house that we build... so that definitely limits our choices.

Little Miss Personality

2007-02-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

Isn't it amazing to watch? Every day I see more and more of my daughter's personality coming out, right before my eyes. It's incredible.
Her little devilish streak I see when she looks at me out of the corner of her eye with that sly little grin... she knows exactly what she is doing, and she wants to see if she can get away with it.
Her compassionate side comes out when I say "ouch"... she runs over and says "are you ok, mommy? Mommy, need kiss? I kiss it!"
Her fun side is all over the place, when we tell her that we are going to do something she does this little crouch, then jumps up and yells "OK! Come on! Let's GO!!"
And there are times when she is very intent... she focusses on what she is doing so intently, you can see the wheels in her little head just spinning away.

So, it's amazing. Just amazing... she is becoming a PERSON of her own, and a great person at that!

Ruuub....CRATCH!

2007-01-31T09:27:00.000-08:00

So, my husband has taught Kaelyn about backrubs and back-scratches. And it is hysterical. She now walks over to us, lays down and demands "RUB!" then when she gets her fill of that..."CRATCH!!" then back to "RUB!" and so on...until she is done with us and walks away. Ah, to be two and have you own personal servants rubbing your back on demand! It is fall-down funny though, so it's all worth it!

A cheap way to pamper myself

2007-01-30T14:03:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting this for, well, since I knew it existed! Finally, I broke down and spent the TEN DOLLARS it cost and ordered it. It is heavenly. I am telling you..there is nothing like warm lotion after a bath. It's just lovely. I highly recommend it!!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F4Z9O8/102-9686802-4623337

Mental Health Day

2007-01-30T09:51:00.000-08:00

I am home today, for my sanity. After my rant yesterday do you think I need it??? What am I doing today? Nothing. Well, I am going to a friend's for a bit to hang out... but other than that, I am doing nothing. Sweet!

Sigh

2007-01-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am so over my job. You know those people that would rather find someone to BLAME than actually fix a problem? Those are my colleagues. And it's killing me. I am so stressed out at work right now it's making me literally sick. Like, I want to puke sick. My neck is so tense it's screaming in pain. I need to get out...I just need to get out. *sigh* The problem is, I can't quit and pay for K's daycare... and we can't give up her spot at daycare because I will not be staying home, it would just be until I found a new job (which I am hoping, praying will happen soon... I should hear this week from the company I am interviewing with) But if that falls through we just can't afford for me to stay home AND pay for daycare, well we could I gues, but it would suck. Ugh. I hate this. Your job should NOT make you sick!
This morning was not a morning that helped with the mommy guilt either. Mike brought K up to our room while I was getting dressed. She was in our bed so I snuck in to cuddle with her for a minute. She said to me "lay down mommy" I told her "I can't sweetie, I have to get ready for work" She started crying saying "no, no mommy... no work" OMG... tear my heart out kid! She just kept saying over and over "mommy lay down, mommy nuggle (snuggle), mommy no work" That working mom guilt was on overdrive this morning, and then to go to a job where I am treated like crap? It was more than I could take.

Well, I am a bundle of fun, eh???

Sleep, child!

2007-01-26T14:31:00.000-08:00

K has been having a rough go of it the last couple days. She has a mild cold and cough and is waking up every.single.hour. Oh my lord... I am exhausted. I just want a full night of sleep. I just want to get to the stage of sleep where you dream. Is that too much to ask? I know it's not her fault, and I know it will get better... but with the stress of my job right now, interviewing for a new job...etc, I am ready to LOSE IT. I have totally stressed myself out and my neck is as stiff as a board. I need a massage. Wait. I hate massages. Ugh.

TGIF!!!!

Interview...again.

2007-01-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Ah, I despise interviewing! Anyway, I just got back from the latest round. It went well. I like them, I think they like me... I got the two "good sign" questions "when could you start" and "do you have other offers". But, there is still at least one more round of interviews I would have to go through if they decide they want to move forward. *sigh* Which means, another week of waiting to hear if they want me to come back... then another interview... then who knows how long of waiting for an actual decision. Ugh! I hate this process. We all know I am the best person for the job, just give it to me!!!

It's a first!

2007-01-24T18:18:00.000-08:00

Kaelyn used the potty for the first time today at school. She has sat on it before...but never actually used it. We are still totally not pushing her to potty learn, but when she asks, we will put her on it. If she starts using it, cool. If not... that's cool too!

It was just time to document the FIRST!

Yum, yum. Mole?

2007-01-24T16:58:00.000-08:00

This is the conversation I just had with my daughter:

K: What's that???

Me: That's a mole on my foot

K: It's an owie?

Me: No, it's a mole

K: I eat it?

Me: No... you don't eat it

K: Ok, I eat it. Yum, yum! (and she proceeds to reach down to try to bite my foot as I pull away as fast as I can)

Yep, yum, yum Mole!

Family Rules

2007-01-23T18:17:00.000-08:00

I talked to my aunt (dad's sister who I have never spoken to before) last night, and I am not sure how I feel about that conversation. She was very intent on telling me all about my family history and what happened when my dad was a kid. I really don't know that I want to delve into that... I am just trying to get my bearings with the new knowledge that I have this whole family... KWIM? I don't know that I want to deal with WHY my father is so screwed up at this point.
Also, she is VERY outspoken about her religion. I am not. She didn't even ask if I was Christian or anything...she just kind of went into a tyrade about when she was "saved" and all sorts of stuff...it felt like she just assumed that I was born-again (as in, isn't everyone??) I don't know how she will react when she learns that I am Catholic.

It's kind of weird. I mean, we all have family that we love because they are family...even if they aren't the family that we would have chosen for ourselves, KWIM? But in this case...this woman is a total stranger to me...so do the same "family rules" apply???

Yum, snow!

2007-01-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

Kaelyn has an obsession. With eating snow. And apparantly my husband is smarter than I am.
While I was out of town, he took Kaelyn out to play in the snow. The whole time she was eating snow and just in heaven. When she was turning blue and it was time to come in the house she of course threw a fit... so super daddy came up with a plan! Bring in the kid, put her in her chair and feed her a big, giant plate of snow. Wham-O! Happy babby and peace is restored. Would I have ever thought of that? Nope. That's what makes me so happy to have married super daddy.
Now the snow has melted and it's time for me to put on my super mommy hat. Anyone know where I can buy a snoopy snow-cone machine?

The skirt

2007-01-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

So I went shopping today and I fell in love. With a skirt. It's not just any skirt. It's a skirt that when I put it on I feel amazing. It drapes perfectly. It looks amazing. It's wonderful. And it was only $70. For a skirt that is the one I will pull out when I need something I KNOW will look great? That's priceless. It's black jersey fabric. The perfect length and perfect fit. I love this skirt. I would marry it if I could.

And we are off again!

2007-01-20T22:58:00.000-08:00

I got a call back. For THE job. The one I REALLY want! Thursday I am going in for my second round of interviews. Eeek! I am hoping and praying I knock this one out of the park! Why? Because I want to leave my job before mid-February. Why? Because in one week I am supposed to be in San Francisco and two days later (on a Friday) I am supposed to be in Bostom. Boo! Oh, and did I mention that my first meeting is on Valentine's day? SWEET! Not.
So you see... I NEED to get out of there!

Wow...talk about a shock

2007-01-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

This is a very emotional topic. And a very happy, yet difficult post. It may be rambly...so bear with me.

Background: My father.
My father is not healthy. Mentally, he is not healthy. He was orphaned when he was 15 and it really screwed him up. He and his brother (Danny) lived on the streets together. My father ended up going to school, getting multiple degrees and is now what most people would consider a huge success in life... with the multi-million dollar house at the beach and the vacation house. He has owned businesses and made millions. He is your American dream come true. Except he is messed up. He can't keep relationships going. He left my step-mother and I for his current wife a week before my 18th birthday. In the middle of the night. He didn't tell me (his only child) that he was leaving and I did not see or hear from him for many years following that. I learned from a friend that he had re-married and had a child, and I contacted him. We re-connected and had a tenuous relationship for several years. At my wedding he walked me down the aisle, all was right in the world. He told me he would see me at the reception and never showed up. I never heard from him again. That was 5 years ago. The irony? He's a clinical psychologist.

Danny:
Danny is my father's brother. They were very close growing up. I had heard his name from my mother, but in keeping with my father's M.O. he had cut off contact with Danny before I was born. I don't know why, noone does really. He just refused to call or write him back and Danny eventually gave up I guess. That was 35 years ago. Last night I talked to Danny for the first time in my life. He has been looking for us for decades. He somehow got my step-mother's (dad's 3rd wife) phone number and called her looking for my dad. She didn't know how to reach him, but got his phone number and gave it to me. I called and for the first time in my life talked to a member of my father's family. It was overwhelming to say the least. We didn't say a lot other than "wow" turns out that after Danny talked to Kathy he found my father and knocked on his door. They met for a couple hours and that was good for Danny I think. He just wanted to know that his brother was ok. He has thought all this time that he had done something wrong, I told him that no, it wasn't him...it was my dad. He does this to everyone. He has no relationships with anyone that are older than 15 years. Not one single person. When he closes off a chapter in his life, for whatever reason he does that, he never looks back. Even when that chapter includes the people he "loves" (like me). Anyway, it was amazing to hear about this family I have that I have never known. Danny has been married for 35 years, he has 6 (SIX!) children and his oldest is 18 days younger than I am! He also has 6 grandchildren. We are going to try to meet when I am in California, he lives in Northern California. I also have an Aunt... that I never really knew about. She is two years younger than Danny and her name is Ona. From what I gather, she was sent to live with another family when my grandmother died. She lives in the midwest and is a teacher. Danny was going to give her my phone number so we can talk as well.

Obviously this is all overwhelming... it brings up a lot of pain because of the connection with my father. But it is also happy because I actually have a family... strange as that sounds. At this point my family literally consists of my grandmother and grandfather, that's it. I have no Aunts, no Uncles, no cousins.... until now. Well, I have my step-mother's family, which I love and am grateful for, don't get me wrong. But no family that I am really related to, that look like me, and share the same DNA if that makes sense.

So, that's the scoop. I am sure I will be talking about this more in the upcoming days and weeks. It is sure to be a rollercoaster!

Old Nodonow

2007-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

That's "Old McDonald" to those of you that don't speak toddler-ese. And that is what Kaelyn has deemed the appropriate name for EVERYTHING. Her dolls, her turtle, her horse...everything is named "Old Nodonow" It's hysterical. You can ask her what anything's name is and it's always the same response. Mike and I were discussing last night how sad it's going to be when this phase passes, because it cracks us right up every.single.time!

Yesterday we had her 2-year appointment. Now, I have to start by saying that Kaelyn is in love with her doctor. I kid you not. Every day (no exageration) she asks "I see Dr. Dave?" so yesterday we finally got to say, YES! You get to see Dr. Dave!! Oh the joy! Anyway, it was a good appointment. K stats are:

30.5 pounds (80th Percentile)
36.5 inches tall (95th Percentile)

I have a feeling she is going to be just like me. Tall and thin...until she hits puberty. I didn't grow an inch after 7th grade. Everyone swore I was going to be TALL... no, I just did all of my growing when I was a baby! I ended up on the short end of average.

The doctor asked us if she knew at least 40 words. I would at LEAST triple that, probably more. We lost count a long time ago. She has a very large vocabulary and is starting to make 4 word sentences. Verbal skills? Check!

She also got one shot (Hep A vaccine) and didn't cry at all. Wow! I don't think she even realized she got it! Wow.

Overall, she is a healthy, happy, smart little girl!

After the Dr. we headed to Costco, then home and had an interesting evening which I will expand on in another post.

Happy Birthday to my Baby!!

2007-01-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

Wow. I mean really, WOW. I can't believe that my baby is TWO! I am in denial I think. How in the heck did that happen? I swear, I just had her like 6 months ago! Sigh.

Anyway, it ended up being a great day. We all stayed home because of the snow and had fun! I made PINK cupcakes for the girl, had some neighbors over and did cupcakes, ice cream and presents. Kaelyn was positively bouncing off of the walls! Fun!

How did she go from this:

To This?

Anyway, it's all wonderful. Our little girl is amazing and wonderful and I am so, so, so very lucky to be her mommy!!

Snow, snow and MORE snow

2007-01-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, seriously. This is SEATTLE! We aren't supposed to have snow like this here! It's insane. We have like 6" in our yard! It's making me batty.
The good news is that we get to stay home with our birthday girl tomorrow because we aren't going anywhere!!! I will bake a cake and make nummy mac & cheese for her! Ok, so the mac & cheese isn't exactly gourmet, but she will loooove it!
My work however is not going to be thrilled. What are you going to do though? The weather is not under my control!

Sickies be gone!

2007-01-09T12:46:00.000-08:00

Argh. I woke up this morning with no voice. Again. Grrrr. I am so sick of getting sick and losing my dang voice! It's just horrid. Anyway, I sent K off to school and promptly fell asleep on the couch and slept for THREE hours! Amazing. It's days like this that I wonder how SAHM's do it. I can't imagine having to manage K feeling as crappy as I do. I am SO glad I was able to send her to school.

In K news... she is sniffly as well, but in good spirits. So that is good. I guess she is used to it for the most part...she has had snot running out of her nose almost constantly for almost all fall/winter. I guess it goes with the territory.
In other K interesting news, she has a weird fear of sleep. She starts crying when anything around her goes to sleep. If I say I am going to take a nap she FREAKS. If she sees a character in a book sleeping, she cries. What is that about? I am wondering if it has something to do with her night terrors...Poor bug, sleep scares her! Although she is fine going to bed at night, she doesn't act scared at all. I just don't know what the deal is!

And in job news, I got a call from a woman at an architecture firm wanting me to come in and meet with them. I will call them back once I have my voice back. Although I still want the other job!

Flowering Tea

2007-01-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

I am a HUGE fan of this stuff. Numi Flowering tea. Each pot is a little treat as you see the flower bloom. It's a wonderfully fun thing to watch. And the tea is yummy too!
Highly recommended!

That's Daddy's tutu!

2007-01-05T19:57:00.000-08:00

Huh? Does my husband wear a tutu?
No, but for some reason Miss K thinks that this odd Santa door hanger that Mike's aunt sent us several years ago is "Daddy's tutu"
Every morning she says "good morning, daddy's tutu" and at night she kisses it's nose and says "night, night daddy's tutu!"
It's odd, and cute and well, a little disturbing all at the same time!

And in another Miss K story... tonight she was yelling "Hi kitty" so I yelled along with her "HI KiTTY!" She leaned over to me... got up real close and whispered in an odd, low, gravely voice "Stop Yelling" looked at me in my eye to make sure I understood for a second and walked away. Ummm...that was honestly a bit unnerving! It was like she was channeling a crotchety old lady! Odd.

Death by email

2007-01-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

Possibly.

I did the dumbest thing EVERY the other night. I was working at home...on my home laptop (first mistake) and needed to send an email to my boss and another high-up person in my company. On my home laptop I had two files saved to my desktop:

1. the correct document I needed to attach to my email
2. A document a recruiter had sent me as an "opportunity presentation" outlining the specifics of a job she was trying to recruit me for.

Which one did I attach?

If you picked #2 you are a WINNER!!!!

Yeah, I am obviously a dumbass.

So, my boss calls yesterday morning and the conversation went something like this:

Boss: Chelsea, I don't understand this attachmet that you sent with this email

Me: Oh, I attached the wrong document by accident, I am sending the correct one right now. Sorry for the mistake!

Boss: But what IS this?

Me: Um, errr, ummm....

Boss: Is it work-related?

Me: Umm...ok. Here's the deal. A recruiter was trying to recruit me, butreallytruelyiamnotinterestedandIdon'twanttoleaveIamnot
eventalkingtothemtheycalledmeIdidn'tcallthem!!!

Boss: Well, I am glad that you are not looking to leave. I get calls like that also, they are annoying.

Me: Oh, yes! SO annoying. Nope, I am a happy worker bee! You know me! Sorry for the mistake!

Boss: Please be more careful with attachments, ok?

Me: Oh yes, of course!

Oy... so that was fun. Especially since I had an INTERVIEW (not for that job) yesterday afternoon. (that went well if you were curious, but I won't hear from them for at least a week)

I need a drink.

Tooooomorrow, tomorrow!

2007-01-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

I have an interview at 1:30. I really, really hope I like the people and they like me! It sounds like it's a perfect match so far and I would LOVE to be in a role where I was just focussed on Employee Relations and not all the other crap that I do on a daily basis (especially recruiting) And if the company really walks the walk on all the stuff they talk about being about it would rule. So far everything I have read about them leads me to believe that they are really about what they say they are, and that is awesome. I mean really, how many companies pay part of your kid's daycare expenses??

Anyway, wish me luck!!!!

Motivation? What is that??

2007-01-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

I would really like to know, because apparantly as of today...or maybe that was yesterday, I have none. I don't want to work. I don't want to DO things. I just want to BE. (preferably left alone) What is up with that? I know I am in a spin because of the job stuff (still haven't heard from the company I talked to yesterday with an interview time...on pins and needles for that) so really, working HERE is not something I am interested in doing at the moment. Don't get me wrong... I still rock my job, but I am just not loving it.

So, what is a girl to do when she has no motivation? Shop? Nah, no interest in that (I know, you are all shocked, shocked!!) I don't know... I just want to sleep honestly! How pathetic is that?

Work schmirk

2007-01-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

Today was interesting.

1. Mike got into a tiff with K's teacher. He forgot her bedding and when he said he would be back with it in a few minutes the teacher (miss Judy) said "you will just leave it at the front" The last time he forgot her jacket she totally treated him like crap when he brought it back and didn't leave it at the front and brought it into the class. The thing is the school has an open-door policy and we can go in her class any time he wants. I just don't get why she doesn't want him to come to the classroom... and the way she said it was just crappy. So Mike talked to the director about it who said that miss Judy has some issues with being too short with the parents, and she would talk to her. The thing is, she is great with K, so we can't complain there...we just feel that she is condescending to us soemtimes.

2. I applied for another job as an Employee Relations Manager and not 10 minutes after I emailed my resume the manager called me and asked me to come in for an interview. It's nice to be wanted! He didn't balk at my very inflated salary requirements (if I am going to a new job it will be for good $$) so that's one thing and after researching the company it looks like it could be just what I am looking for. that would rule.

3. Miss K won't keep her pants up. *sigh* she is constanty walking around with her pants down around her ankles. This sucks. I don't know how to get her to stop!

Can I get a WOO HOO??

2007-01-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

My boys won! What a wonderful game!

Now it's time to get ready to settle back into the reality of work and non-holiday life. Sigh. It's such a letdown.

Rant: What is UP with people that:

1. Can't RSVP for a function. Come ON it's evite for goodness sake, you just have to click a freaking button, not even pick up the phone!

2. Don't bother to show up or call to say that they aren't coming when they have said they would.

Seriously, I am starting to think we have cooties or something. We invited 8 sets of friends for football today and got 3 RSVPs and ONE person showed up. ONE! WTF?!?!?! I mean really, do we have the crappiest friends ever, or is everyone like this. Even my best friend that said last night (when we were at THEIR party that we RSVP'd to and showed up to) said the she would call this morning because she wasn't sure if they would be up for it after their party...no problem, just CALL!! Argh. Am I the only one that deals with this issue?

In other news, we looked at a house that we are seriously contemplating yesterday. It's in a great area, the perfect amount of space, a great lay-out. The downside is it's about 50k more than we wanted to spend, but in this market we may have to shell out for what we want. If we do decide to go for it we will most likely wait for the next phase so we can buy before it's built and customize more. Anyway, here is the model we are looking at:

http://www.burnstead.com/floorplans/talapus.htm

The floorplan doesn't show it well, but the master is actually on it's own level, so it's 4 stories... sort of. It's hard to explain! The master is a 1/2 floor up from the main living area, then 2 bedrooms are on the top floor and 1 is on the bottom floor. It's interesting. This site has pictures:

http://www.johnlscott.com/PropertyDetail.aspx?GroupID=34238344&ListingID=13030260&Sort=0

Happy New Year!!!

2007-01-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, the start of a new year, full of possibilities, an bright shiny newness. As I sit here with Kaelyn sharing the tradition of the Rose Parad with her it amazes me that this is my 33rd Rose Parade! I love that she is actually "getting" it this year. The horses especially get her all excited. (yes, I am a Rose Parade dork...I LOVE the parade and have to watch it every year!)

Today will be filled with food, floats and football. Awesome. That is MY kind of day!

GO TROJANS!!!!

Anyway, Last night was fun. First, we dropped off my step-mom at the airport (whew!!!) then headed to one friend's house for a little bit then to another where K was having SO much fun we ended up staying until 9:30! She was absolutely perfect all night, not a tantrum to be seen and just general goodness abounded. Those are the days when the buttons on our mommy and daddy vests are about ready to burst. Of course we all know that K is adorable, but when you add in angelic? *swoon* She is just amazing!

The countdown is on...10 days until K's birthday!

That's Kaelyn's world!

2006-12-28T22:13:00.000-08:00

What is UP with my daughter? Tantrums abound, she has one volume these days LOUD!!! And last night she decided to keep us up for over TWO hours because she just wanted to be held and the second you put her in bed she went ballistic. I am seriously at a loss. Is this really what being 2 is all about? Really? Please, please tell me the it's not like this for the foreseeable future! And the defiance! Holy cow! I do not want my mantra to be "no, Kaelyn!" but you can only say "you can't pull on the oven door sweetie, it can hurt you, ouch!" so many times before you break and a voice from a place inside your body you don't know screams "I SAID NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Of cours it's not all bad, it just seems that way at the moment. It may be the added stress of my step-mom being here with us...but I am at a breaking point and need a break. Deep breaths mommy, you get a night out tomorrow! Woo!!!

A successful shopping day!

2006-12-27T20:41:00.000-08:00

Kaelyn scored... tons of clothes, toys, etc.
We scored and got a new DeLonghi Convection Toaster oven... woo hoo! It's way cool.

On the boo side, I go back to work tomorrow. Can I get a BOOOOO!!!!???? I don't wanna. I may work from home for much of the day, but I do need to get out of the house because my step-mom is driving me crazy... it's just natural I guess, but ay ay ay....it's making me need some time alone!

And in final news... we are looking at houses. Just to see what us out there, but I would REALLY like to have a bonus room for K and all of her crap! We knew that we would be in this house for under 5 years, and we are on 3 1/2 now....so we'll see what happens!

The after-Christmas crash

2006-12-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

After all the work-up from the holidays, it's over! It's sad, and relieving at the same time. It was wonderful, K had fun, but it was also overwhelming for her. I hope that next year when she "gets it" it will be better.
The hit gift this year was her TJ Beary Tales, Mike and I are already ready to throw it out the window! It's annoying as hell, but she loves it.
Today we are headed to the mall with my step-mom who flew up yesterday and meeting up with my friend and her son, I adore post-holiday shopping!!! I hope to make out with some good snags! Tomorrow I am supposed to go to work... but I may work from home. It's going to be DEAD in my office.

In K news, we are getting ready to do Potty-learning. She is constantly pulling her pants down and saying "I take a potty???" Yikes! I was not ready for this yet, but she obviously is... so there you go!
In other news eating out is no longer fun with the wonderful Miss K. She has NO concept of lowering her voice. It's a bummer, we just love eating out but we are resigned to eating at Red Robin and the like for the time being. Hopefully this is a hurdle we can overcome soooooon!! To compensate we are going on a date Friday to a fancy-schmancy restaurant while grandma babysits!

Happy Holidays from us!

Smooth move, dork!

2006-12-24T18:01:00.000-08:00

That would be me starring as the dork!

So, I sliced off the tip of my finger on the mandoline this evening. I was slicing potatoes without the guide like an idiot. It wasn't bad enough for the ER, but trying to cook with no pointer finger is just impossible to I am giving orders and Mike is trying to cook, it's entertaining! I am an idiot!

Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

To all of my friends, I hope your holidays are magical!

Soon I will be starting on dinner. I was going to make cioppino, but I couldn't find the fish I wanted... so we are having prime rib, green beans and scalloped potatoes with goat cheese. Hopefully it will be yuuuummmy!! Tonight K will get to open her Pj's and then scoot up to bed and wait for the morning light to open gifts! She still doesn't get it... she sees the packages under the tree, but honestly, she has NO clue what is under that wrapping. Hopefully she will get the deal once she starts ripping!

Tomorrow's dinner will be a turkey feast, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, napa salad, sweet & sour cabbage and gravy. Desrt will be tiramisu, just because that's what I want. I just love tiramisu!

The wine of the night was...

2006-12-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

The wine of the night: Tefft Cellars Cab/Merlot blend. Yum!

Yes, I drank too much wine last night... I just started and before I knew it, the bottle was empty. Ahhh, it was fun though.

In good news, the Directv guy came this morning and fixed out satellite that had been blown out of alignment in the storm. We have tv again, woo!

Damn Fire Alarm!

2006-12-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

We have to have them most sensitive fire alarm in the world! Mike was putting K down and I was making dinner, I opened the oven door and of course the alarm goes off and scares the crap out of K and made her scream her head off for 20 minutes. UGH!!

Last day of work!

2006-12-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Woo hoo! It's Friday and I am not coming back her until next Thursday...and then it's only going to be for a little while! I love the holidays!
I have a lot to do still though. Mike decided that even though we agreed to no presents this year he was going to buy me something, so now of course I have to buy HIM something... ugh. Oh well, he is sweet and that's the important thing. The problem is that he is VERY hard to shop for. Anything he wants, he buys himself. He's a pain! I also need to get something for my girlfriend and her husband since they are coming over on Christmas Eve. Maybe I will skip out in a bit and run to the mall. Yikes...there is a scary thought! No matter where I go it's going to be a madhouse. I love the holidays, I hate the chaos!

Interview results

2006-12-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

It was interesting. It's for a smaller division of a very large company. They are looking for someone to join their management team and work on strategic planning. Not a bad gig, and scads more money for me. It's definitely worth looking at.
I have another interview next week with a VP of the parent company, they wanted me to meet with her in person tomorrow...but no way! Not before a holiday! So we are going to talk via phone next week after she is back in NYC.
Change isn't always bad, it's a bit terrifying though!

Kaelyn's world - 12/21

2006-12-21T10:38:00.000-08:00

I wonder if she has nay inkling of what Christmas is about yet. She is captivated by the tree, and yells SANTA! When she sees him... but I don't know if it's really sunk in how utterly COOL this time of the year is. Maybe after she gets to rip open presents it will hit her!

We are in a very hyper mode right now. It's like someone wound her up and she just has to spin off the energy. Every statement is made with MUCH emphasis (read: Yelled at the top of her lungs) every where she goes she needs to run, excitement abounds in her life. How cool would it be to be able to be oh-so excited about a banana that you have to yell at the top of your lungs "NANA!!!!!!" and do a happy dance to further illustrate your pure joy at having such a treat handed to you?

Apparantly at school yesterday the teacher said that K said "bitch". I am not buying it. We never say that in front of her. I think she most likely was saying something else and it sounded like that.

USA Today wants to interview me!

2006-12-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I can really give the interview... but it's still cool! They want to talk to me about hiring trends in the US. My company may nix the idea... I am checking on that. Either way, I got a request for an interview!

Gift Wrapping

2006-12-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

Does anyone really enjoy this? Really? Seriously? Because I am drowning in a sea of wrapping paper and I don't know if I will ever be able to get out. Really! And of course K has 5 bajillion presents to wrap (including the ones I had to buy for my grandparents that sent checks and said "buy our girl a gift!! )
Is using gift bags a cop-out?

Job front stuff

2006-12-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

I just got a call from a recruiter. She has a client that is looking for someone with my background for and HR Manager job. We are going to talk tomorrow about it more. Hmmm. I am not really sure I want to leave my current role, but at the same time I am underpaid, and my assistant is leaving which means my life is going to be nuts. It may not be a bad time to bail.
I guess I will know more tomorrow. I just hope it's not a job for the EE, because I just can't work there, I just can't. Although their benefits are outrageously awesome! (which is why I want my husband to work there!)

Kaelyn is...

2006-12-20T12:00:00.002-08:00

Healthy today! Wooo!
Sleep - it was an all-nighter (can I get a woo-hoo?)
Food - Oh, this obsession with Mac& Cheese, will it ever end? Anything else that is put in front of her is pick, pick, picked at.
Activity - As her teacher stated, Kaelyn has two volumes: Loud and Louder. She likes her feelings to be known and is not afraid of yelling them out to anyone who passes.
Phase: We are in an ownership phase at the moment. Everything is "MY!" even songs if you can believe it. We will start singing a song to her and she will yell "MY TWINKLE TWINKLE!!!!" Good Lord child! How can you own a song???

Oh Elmo...

2006-12-20T12:00:00.001-08:00

How I hate thee. You have turned my daughter into an obsessed little girl. Everything is about Elmo. All day she sings your song, all day she wants Elmo, and of course who am I do deny her the thing she wants most? So I buy your crap, she does the happy, happy, joy, joy dance and I smile the weak smile of a mother that has been beaten down by an annoying furry red monster and the twinkle in her daughter's eye.

Maui Memories

2006-12-20T11:59:00.001-08:00

Our vacation was amazing, wonderful, warm, beautiful...everything a vacation should be! Kaelyn had the time of her life in the pools, she loved the sand "snow" in Kaelyn language, she tried to eat it and found it wasn't quite the same as snow! She wasn't a fan of the ocean, but who cares.
The hotel was awesome, I highly recommend that if you are headed to Maui you look at the Kea Lani. What was absolutely perfect was the fact that the rooms are suites, so Kaelyn slept in the living room and we were able to have the lanai and bedroom to ourselves and not have to go to bed at 7:00 when she did! Awesome. They also had a fridge and microwave in the room. Just perfect for a family. The service was of course wonderful, everyone was friendly and made sure our stay was just great. We rented cabanas at the pool a couple days and that was fun, sure it's a splurge but it's vacation! It's meant to be a splurge! The best meals we had were at the resort itself, the fish we ate there was some of the best I have ever had. We also wandered up to Ka'Anapali for a luau, which made me glad we were staying in Wailea. Wailea feels much quieter and more mellow. The luau was pretty fun, the food was "eh" and we didn't stay for the whole thing because K was just at the end of her rope.

Pictures are here: http://web.mac.com/chelseag/iWeb/Site/maui.html

On the down side our trip home was a bit harrowing. Apparantly when we were gone Armageddon struck Seattle. There was a HUGE storm that ripped through the area leaving 2 million people without power, us included. So, our flight was delayed (which was ok...we went up to the winery and bought wine to take home and took K to see Santa!) we finally got home at 4:30 in the morning...dead tired. When we got to the house we learned we had no power, no heat... and it was 45 degrees inside. Ugh. So, we all piled into our bed and tried to stay as warm as possible. The next day we were numb so we headed out to try to find somewhere with power and heat. We ended up downtown and had a late lunch. That evening was another coooooold night of sleeping in our bed and trying to keep warm. Luckily our power came on Sunday morning! Our friends have not been so lucky, they are on day 6 of no power and are camping out at various friend's houses. Poor things! They have a 9 month old and there is no way they can stay in that freezing house with him.

Anyway, we are back in the reality of work and home and getting prepared for the holidays. It's a bit of a let-down after such a wonderful trip...but it's life and life for the most part is just great!

Intro...

2006-12-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I stink at journaling. I have tried many times, I have failed many times. I do however, have a reason for wanting to succeed. Her name is Kaelyn, she is almost 23 months old and she is my lovely daughter. I want her to be able to look back at what I was thinking and feeling as she grew. Sappy? Yep. But there you go.
Anyway, that's my intro. Short and sweet. I anticipate that more will be told in the future.