One Sentence

I had an acupuncture appointment this afternoon, then took my Prius to a farmer's market and bought some locally-grown organic produce.

So if you don't know me otherwise....what do you think of me now?

Hi, I'm a New Mom and I Bought a Bikini

Someone needs to smack me or send me to a 12-step program.

Let's start with the premise I love a good deal. I LOVE a good deal. On anything. It's like a high for me. (Vices could be worse, right?)

So I stumbled across this new site that has designer sales, and some of them are just fantastic, killer deals. I signed up for the email...thinking, okay, we're on a budget at the moment because we're still recuperating from the reno. But they have kids' stuff, accessories...everything. I'll behave and be very selective if I purchase.

So a few days ago, I got a sale alert, and I bought a Syla swimsuit--a two-piece tie bikini. The one on the right. Except like a deep coral color (actually, the color I want to paint my front door). I figure, oddly enough, the tie bikinis usually work on me because you can adjust them, as I am somewhat short-waisted and it doesn't "cut" into any tummy or hip, since you tie it. Two pieces with fasteners never work because they are never tight enough under my chest based on my "size".

It's small. Let me explain...it fits, I chose the right size. It's just a small bathing suit. It didn't look that small on the model.

But then, the model doesn't have my tush. And probably hasn't had two kids.

I suppose it will provide sufficient inspiration for our upcoming vacation in Aruba. I guess I know what I need to work on.

G is SIX Months Old

...and has two teeth! It's all from Mama the paparazzi today.



She has on her Mets dress that Daddy bought for her at Shea. Which comes with "Mets underpants" as my son puts it.



Doing her new favorite trick, the raspberry. Which we think must somehow make those aching gums feel better.



And as always, looking for the best escape route.

Happy half-birthday, little baby girl.

Current State of Mommy

Or Mama, as my son puts it when he is working me for something. "MAmmaaa."

I have Mommy Track'd noted on the sidebar over there as a favorite stop for me. The articles, posts and content in general often brings a trickle of levity when I'm having a "working mom moment".

I stumbled across this comic by Betsy Streeter on Mommy Track'd during the week and absolutely loved it. I have often done the "Mom-on-a-business-phone-call-dance".

----

Took a spill today. I am going to chalk it up to old wood floors, leather-soled shoes, my clumsy nature, and lack of sleep. I scraped both knees and bruised them up (they STILL hurt!) after slipping in the hallway on my way into work. It actually hurt quite a bit. Finally beginning not to smart anymore. But I look like an idiot; no more skirts this week.

Remarkably, I only spilled about a 1/4 of my iced coffee. Go figure. (Open glass, too.)

So I entered the office, told whoever about my incident matter-of-factly, and joked about the fact that O would most likely encourage me to wear some of his glow-in-the-dark Sponge Bob band-aids. (He didn't.) Hit the First Aid kit, and cleaned myself up. Yes, I went out to the hallway and cleaned that up, too. Can't have someone else falling on my account.


This sounds kind of pathetic, but I realized that while I got some top-line sympathy...no one really cared much that it hurt like hell and it was a really shi**y way to start my morning. (Okay, maybe one person, plus the guy who offered me a plastic bag for my ice.) I took care of myself and that was it. I'm not whining about it...just a little sad that I spend all my time at this place, away from my kids, and when it comes right down to it...well, you know what I mean.

I think my expectations are too high most of the time.

That's Wack

Sorry for the lack of posts, we've been having a crazy week or two. And the Olympics are on! (I know...that's really no excuse. But the lack of sleep is taking a toll.)

A classic tonight from Oscar:

He's taking a bath tonight; I am "helping". Being a mom, you always need to make sure they clean behind the ears, and in them. Jeez, that sounds cliche.

So I'm washing his ears and he said, "I have a wack in that one."

"A what?"

"A wack."

"Wax?"

"Yeah, a wack."

So I guess he had just one.
We took care of it.

Evolution of the Olympic Personality

Well, who doesn't like to watch the Olympics?
I love watching the swimming, diving, gymnastics, and track and field in the summer games. It's addictive. We've been staying up way too late.

While it's subtle, you can see a bit of a difference as each Olympics passes. The US is famous for its hero worship and elevation of all sorts of folks--deserved or not--to a pedestal. The gamut obviously ranges from Paris Hilton to Al Gore to Natalie Portman to Pete Wentz to...professional wrestlers. Normally, most of it makes me a little sick to my stomach.

When the Olympics come around, the worship goes to the athletes, which is mostly a good thing. You have the great stories of courage, like Kerry Strug; the "rebels" like Elvis Stoyko or Surya Bonali, the uber-athletes like Mark Spitz. This year it's Michael Phelps.

Boy, is it fun to watch that kid swim. (Hello, age. Kid?) He's remarkable. And when they interview him, for the most part, he still seems grounded, though very confident. Likable.

Now, here's the weird part--and unfortunately I can't find this graphic to share--NBC has actually created a Michael Phelps "countdown bug". In case you don't know, a "bug" in broadcast is the little graphic they put in the lower right hand corner of your screen, usually to brand something or to tell you what's coming up.

"Michael Phelps: 5 minutes"

What? I feel like it's the Olympics on E! for crying out loud. Let me just hear it from the announcer. What if he's not the only reason I'm watching? Hasn't this taken our hero worship to a level that contradicts the principle of the Olympics a bit?

(Not that I'm not going to miss one medal race for men's swimming...)

(photo courtesy AP/David J. Phillip)

Dinner Surprise II

Just to recap for anyone who hasn't seen this before..."Dinner Surprise" is whatever the heck I come up with based on the ingredients in my fridge. We rarely plan a whole meal when we shop and it's decided when we walk in the kitchen every night. Usually, it's just a series of proteins and vegetables we come home with.

Had some good-looking swordfish as a start, tonight. I figured I could pair it with Stew's potato salad.

I made a mango salsa to go with the swordfish. It was great.
1/2 avocado
1/2 mango
1/2 tomato (cored)
chives
good slice of red onion

Chop it all up and put in a bowl. Add fresh lime juice and some salt. Stir and refrigerate. Mmm.


Vegetable. Needed a vegetable. Yellow and green squash in the fridge. Cut one of each up in long slices. Buttered a small casserole dish.

Melted some butter (2 tbsp?). Took it off the heat. Stirred in sour cream, about 3 tbsp, about 2 tbsp of grated pecorino romano, and a couple good shakes of seasoned breadcrumbs. Made it a little thinner with some milk. Threw the squash in the pot, stirred it all up, put it in the casserole. Baked it at 350 for, oh, I don't know. Until it was done.

(Of course I forgot to take a picture until we had eaten most of it. But you get the idea.)

We bagged the potato salad. Totally unnecessary.

What did you have for dinner?

Weekend Photos

Honestly, we're not really fancy folk. But you wouldn't know it...


My father-in-law got a new car. My husband was taking them out for a spin. Check out the movie star in the back.


Yes, the baby is wearing gold sandals. I know. It's beyond.

Domestic Combat

I am not a good creature-killer. By creature, I mean some sort of thing that has interrupted your domicile with its presence. A bug or the like. Usually I have C take care of it, if he's home.

Last night, with C still away on business, I had to take action on my own. A large moth flew upstairs into my bedroom.

It should be noted I have lost good cashmere to moths. They are evil, and must be destroyed once they enter my home.

The moth lands on one of our bedroom skylights, on the screen. I pick up a sock (C's, of course) and roll it into a ball. I aim...and throw.

Direct hit! The moth swoops down, practically hits me in the head - so much I have to duck, and dives toward the floor near my doorway.

I pick up a flip-flop and chuck it at the intruder, crushing it.

Me, 1...moth, 0.

I'm not sure why I'm posting about this; most likely because I'll venture a guess that everyone else out there has had some sort of twisted pride in a victory like this at one time or another.

Have you?

Oh, I just don't have time for this nonsense.

No, not blogging, silly.

I got some sort of virus--the less-than-24 hour variety--this morning. I'll leave the details as that I spent much too much time in the loo. Feeling better now.

Admittedly, I was slightly panicked because my C is away on business for a few days. Oh jeez, what if I drop J at the train (my nanny) at the end of the day and I'm sick? Like, really sick? O needs a lot of attention and G, well she's just a baby. And if they get sick I'll feel awful that I gave it to them.

Am I that inept, you wonder? What, of course I can handle my kids on my own. But I haven't had to do it sick yet. Thank goodness it was a quick one. Saved...thank you, fate.

I write this as I wait for G to wake up from her "last nap" for a night bottle, then I can go to bed.

Leaving you with a funny today that a good friend sent to me...hits the nail on the head. I didn't author it, as I do not have an official naturally-born "sister".

MY LIVING WILL

Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."

So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.

She's such a bitch.

Hee hee. Have a good night everyone.

G: Peas

Wow. This was fun tonight.

Tired. But I want to post, something.

Therefore, an easy picture montage.

G's first "swim" at our friends' (gorgeous) pool 2 weekends ago.


O's last day of camp (already!)...dancing while waiting for the bus in the morning.


I can't decide whether O was puffing up his cheeks to look like G, or whether they actually do have similar profiles.

Some days I just stare at the pictures. They are too much.