Top 10 Baby Stuff - Part 2: The Toys

Here's Part 2 of 3 in my series on All Things Baby...

So last time I wrote about (mainly) all the big stuff, The Gear.

Here's my list of Top 10 Toys my baby has taken to during his first 6 months of life.  Some are already on their way out as he discovers new things.  It is really incredible how quickly babies grow and develop and change.  One week, they're obsessed with their hands but can't pick something up from the floor to save their life.  The next week, they're obsessed with their feet and passing blocks between their hands like it ain't no thang.  As much as I didn't want to be one of those parents who filled their home with toys upon toys - something has to be said for keeping a baby stimulated.  Something also has to be said about keeping a baby occupied long enough for Mommy to get some stinkin' (literally!) dishes or laundry done!

Top 10 Baby Toys

(prices are MSRP)

Wimmer Ferguson Infant Stim Mobile, by Manhattan Toy, $28.

When Baby Loves It:  Months 2 to 5
Why Baby Loves It:  Once H really began to "see", he was MESMERIZED by the high-contrast, eye-catching, & colorful graphics. And if he kicked his feet just enough to make his crib shake a little, the objects lightly danced - which helped develop his tracking abilities.  H especially took to the face graphic.  I named it "Bobby" and some of the first coos I heard from my baby were directed at Bobby.
Why Mama Loves It:  This was probably the first thing I was able to "park" my kid in front of (actually, under) for a prolonged period of time.  I loved that the cards were interchangeable so I could switch them out as H got used to them (except, of course, Bobby who was always in the center spot).  I also liked that you could adjust how low it hangs, so as your baby's eyesight develops and his range increases, you can move it farther and farther away from him.

Ring O' Links, by Sassy, $4

When Baby Loves It: Months 2 and up
Why Baby Loves It: I can't remember whether H was just learning to mouth things or was full-on teething when I bought this toy for him - regardless, he loved it from the get-go! At first, since he hadn't fully developed fine motor hand skills yet, I took all the links off the ring and strung them together.  He would play with them when in his car seat or infant chair, just grabbing onto one of the links and trying to bring it up to his mouth. He also liked just shaking the bejeezus out of them, especially if I strung them across the crossbar on his infant seat. Now that his dexterity is better, I've put all the links back on the ring (as pictured) and he enjoys going through & mouthing/gumming each one individually. It does also function as a rattle (apparently one of its main intents).
Why Mama Loves It:  It seemed to stimulate Baby's sight, touch, dexterity, and curiosity as he grasped, shook, mouthed, flung, and gummed the different textured & colored links.  The black & white ring, which is a slightly softer, more rubbery texture than the hard plastic links, made for a good first teething toy for him too because it was so easy to grasp.

Sophie the Giraffe Teether, by Vulli, $25

When Baby Loves It:  Months 5 and up
Why Baby Loves It: Who knew a giraffe was the ideal shaped teether? The French, apparently.  H, and I believe most babies who take to it, love that there are so many different shapes, nooks, crannies, and body parts to mouth, gum, drool on, and eventually gnaw.  The fact that it squeaks (although a little too akin to a dog squeeze toy for me) helps distract a crying baby, alerting him that Sophie has arrived to assuage his frustrations and/or discomfort.  Although, the manufacturer says Sophie is fine for babies from birth on, it really becomes invaluable once your little one has the manual dexterity to properly hold and manipulate Sophie - oh, and once he/she is teething, of course.
Why Mama Loves It:  Sophie is apparently a status symbol now. If you're baby doesn't have a Sophie (or two or three...) you and your (unborn) baby should just crawl back under the rock you've obviously been under for the past 1-2 years.  If you don't have a Sophie, it also means all the people who know you and knew you were having a baby, and STILL didn't buy you a Sophie probably don't like you and want you to be the pariah who asks at Mommy Group, "What's that giraffe thing?" Other than all that, it's a pretty darn good teething toy. Enough said.

Vanilla-flavored Teething Rings, by Vulli, $9 for 2

When Baby Loves It: Months 4 and up
Why Baby Loves It: These are great because they're a lot easier to grasp and manipulate than Sophie, so Baby can play with them much earlier.  My baby loved the vanilla scent/flavor and the harder material (they're not as bendy soft as Sophie).  The lamb one is especially fun for them to mouth, I think, because of their extra bumpy texture!
Why Mama Loves It: Gives Baby something to chew on! They are especially good if you have an early teether who may not be able to hold/manipulate more complicated teething toys.

Jacques the Peacock, by Lamaze, $17

When Baby Loves It: Months 4 and up
Why Baby Loves It:  It crinkles, it's brightly colored, it's got taggies and a menacing stare.  My friend (who actually gave us Jacques as a gift) and I laugh at how our babies tend to beat up on Jacques. Oh, how we Americans like to beat on the French - eh?
Why Mama Loves It: Jacques is a great Distraction Toy.  I call something a Distraction Toy, when its primary purpose is to calm or distract a fussy child.  You pull out a DT in an emergency or as a last resort.  You don't want to have your baby play with a DT for too long lest they grow tired of it. You have to maintain its novelty for as long as you can, thus DTs must be used sparingly and at strategic times and under very specific circumstances. DTs are great for long car rides and in any other situation where you know ahead of time that it will be difficult for your child to stay occupied, calm, and/or content.

Baby Banana Bendable Training Toothbrush, by Baby Banana, $8

When Baby Loves It: When s/he starts teething.
Why Baby Loves It: It's made of that bendy, soft rubber that teething babies CRAVE.  Like Sophie, it's got lots of different angles/ends to gnaw on - the brush end, the nubby end, and even the handles!
Why Mama Loves It: It keeps fussy teething babies content (at least for a while), and it supposedly gets your baby used to the feeling of a brush on their teeth & gums, which theoretically will aid in better dental hygiene down the line.  Only drawback: It attracts lint like a belly button. So be prepared to wash it off regularly. I usually rinse it in hot water and immediately wrap it in a paper towel or napkin if we're going somewhere and I need to put it in the diaper bag.  You think dropping a toy on the ground is how it gets dirtiest? Try just putting it in one of the diaper bag pockets. I guarantee it will pick up just as much dust & dirt in there as on the restaurant floor.

Musical Motion Activity Jumper, by Baby Einstein, $90

When Baby Loves It: Month 5 (or whenever they have the neck/back strength) until walking
Why Baby Loves It:  "Exersaucers" and "Jumperoos" give babies much needed (I think) & much appreciated freedom and the feeling of mobility they just can't get on their tummies, backs, or behinds before they've learned to stand/walk.  Even babies who crawl still get a kick out of these types of toys because they have the vantage point of being upright.  Of course, all things in moderation.  Many doctors/parents/specialists don't like jumpers and the like because they can disrupt the natural development of a baby's muscles and posture that lead to proper standing and walking.  Of course for every guy who poo-poo's it, there's another one who says these toys give your child a sense of independence and builds confidence.  Plus, it just plumb makes 'em smile!
Why Mama Loves It: It keeps Baby occupied for minutes!!  And minutes are a long time when you're at home with a baby all day. Anything that allows you to go to the bathroom, check your email, answer the phone, etc., is pretty much a god send.  And like I said before, the babies LOVE it.  HHP ADORES this thing. I try to limit his time in it, in favor of tummy time and (now) playing on the floor sitting up - but I see his gaze drifting over to it now and again...

Take-Along Mobile, by Tiny Love, $25

When Baby Loves It:  Months 3 to 6
Why Baby Loves It:  It does a lot more than his other mobile!  I got this after seeing it attached to another baby's car seat handle at Gymboree.  H absolutely loathed being in his car seat, especially during Months 3 and 4, so this was a god-send.
Why Mama Loves It:  It's so versatile! It can clip to his crib, his car seat, even his stroller! It can rotate with or without music.  I definitely used it as a "last resort" distraction in the car... I'd only turn it on as a last resort.  These kinds of toys you don't want to over-utilize from the get-go because then Baby gets used to it too soon, and it's just a waste.  You have to use it sparingly - in only the direst of circumstances - for best results and longer lifetime of efficacy.  There's even one in a pink palette for those who prefer pink!

Oball, by Rhino Toys, $10

When Baby Loves It: Months 3 and on
Why Baby Loves It: He can mouth it, grasp it, shake it, throw it, squeeze it, gnaw on it... pretty much abuse the thing and it always just springs back to its original Buckyball-esque shape!
Why Mama Loves It:  Lightweight = Great for on-the-go.  Inexpensive = Easy on the pocket book.  Versatile = Keeps Baby occupied longer.  Colorful = Stimulating for Baby & easy to find for Mommy.  They even come shaped like footballs!

Wee Sing series, by Wee Sing, $10

When Baby Loves It:  From birth on!
Why Baby Loves It:  It helps Mama remember fun songs, finger plays, nursery rhymes, etc!  I've never come across a baby who didn't LOVE being sung to.  The Wee Sing series helps grown-ups remember or learn age-appropriate songs to sing to their little ones. It's never too early to surround babies with music!
Why Mama Loves It:  Well, this Mama grew up with Wee Sing - so she was soooo happy when she discovered they still existed! Of course, when I was young, you got the booklet and a cassette tape.  They're so modern and hip, they've gone ahead and updated to CDs.  My favorites were Wee Sing Around the Campfire (which is now Wee Sing Sing-Alongs), Wee Sing Bible Songs, and Wee Sing and Play.  I think I also had the Wee Sing Around the World... I started out with Wee Sing for Baby since, well, my baby's still just a baby!  I imagine as my baby grows, and I get some of the other CDs, it'll be fun to listen to in the car.


So I (finally) got this posted!  I'm back working full-time now, so I figured if I didn't stay up late and just finish it, I never would.  Part 3 will be the "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" portion of my series on All Things Baby.

"Stay tuned!"

Top 10 Baby Stuff - Part 1: The Gear

This is the first in a 3-part series on All Things Baby.  

A friend of mine, who is expecting her first baby in the early part of next year, has been asking me about all the Baby Stuff (and there's a LOT of stuff when it comes to babies) that's out there. I remember when I was pregnant and trolling through Amazon.com, Target.com, & Giggle.com (who actually goes to stores these days??) trying to figure out what to buy, register for, and add to wishlists.  It was definitely overwhelming.  To start, I'd like to present the Top 10 baby-related furniture, gear, and accessories I have found indispensable during these first 6 months of Baby's life. I've tried to break it down, explaining what I was looking for in each item and how they met or exceeded my expectations.

Top 10 Baby Gear

(in no particular order; prices are MSRP)

 

"Robin" crib, by Oeuf, in white, $590.

What I Was Looking For: Solid construction, can convert to toddler bed, built to last (if you plan on having more than one kid), attractiveness
What I Was Avoiding: Drop-side, parts made of particle board (off-gasses)
Why I Chose This One:  Yes, this is an extremely expensive crib. But I fell in LOVE with it the instant I saw it on Giggle's website.  I had seen Oeuf cribs on AllModernBaby.com and knew they were way out of my price range.  But after a hand-me-down crib fell through, I ended up having to look for one.  And since my mom said she'd pay for it and to "buy a good one" (very dangerous words to say to me, by the way) - I decided to take advantage and ordered this one right away.
Why I LOVE it:  Let's face it, once you get to a certain price point or level of quality in an item, you just go with what looks good to you. I love the minimal design (of all Oeuf cribs really). I love the white. I love that Oeuf is a European brand that uses all solid wood parts.  I also love how unisex it is.  Even the toddler conversion kit looks good!

 "Modo" changing table, by Babyletto, in espresso/white, $379.

 

What I Was Looking For:  Solid construction, good-quality drawer extension hardware, had to match the rest of the furniture in our office-turned-nursery

What I Was Avoiding: Too big (I had a very specific spot for it)
Why I Chose This One: I had been pining for this online, but thought it was out of my price range. Imagine my pleasure when I saw it at a Million Dollar Baby warehouse sale in Montebello - for, get this, only $80! What a steal!!  My mother-in-law was with me on this trip and wanted to buy something for the baby, so it worked out perfectly! It also matches the rest of our furniture in the room since half the stuff is this dark brown and the other half white. Although a lot of the parts in this piece are probably particle board or MDF, at least it's not something my baby sleeps on/in and none of those surfaces are exposed (all the pieces are painted on all sides, even the ones you don't see).
Why I Like It: Other than loving the fact that I got it for such a bargain, my favorite features on the dresser is the top-quality drawer hardware and soft close.

KeyFit 30 infant car seat, by Chicco, in "Adventure", $190.

What I Was Looking For:  Reliable, easy to install/use, lightweight but sturdy, LATCH system

What I Was Avoiding: History of recalls, unnecessary bulk/weight, lesser known brand that may be hard to find compatible strollers/frames for

Why I Chose This One: Since my first choice for an infant car seat (based more on aesthetics than anything else) turned out to have a history of recalls (thanks M!), I started anew.  Two names kept coming up in all my online research: the Graco Snugride and the Chicco KeyFit.  I saw & "tested" out both car seats at my local Target store and just felt like the KeyFit was a bit sturdier and the padding a bit more comfy.  Plus, it had the LATCH system and levels in the base to help with installation.
Why I Like It: Although I've gotten to the point where I curse under my breath whenever I have to pick it up (with my baby in it) these days - this is more due to the fact that my baby is so heavy than any fault of the car seat itself. I have been VERY satisfied with the ease of use and I feel very confident in its ability to keep my baby safe in case the unimaginable occurs (knock on wood!).  Looking back, though, the Snugride did have something else going for it - the fact that Graco makes their own snap-in frame compatible with all its infant car seats.  But more about that later...

"Swing" single electric breast pump, by Medela, $150.

What I Was Looking For: Dependable brand name, electric, portability

What I Was Avoiding: Too high a price point, bulky, noisy, too many parts (to wash)

Why I Chose This One: I debated for months whether to go with Medela (which has the most brand visibility out there) or another brand (Ameda, Playtex, Phillips, Lansinoh, et al.), but after reading countless online reviews I decided to just go with the flow (no pun intended).  I decided I only needed a single electric (rather than a double) because I probably wasn't going back to work right away therefore my pumping needs didn't warrant the extra $50-$100 a double pump would cost.  The icing on the cake was that the Swing can run on AA batteries when on the go!
Why I Like It: It's small, it's portable, it gets the job done. I have had a couple issues - a little nonessential piece of the pump broke off and I've already had to toss one tubing & valve because of milk getting to where it shouldn't.  I heard that if I had called Medela I probably could have gotten new ones (maybe even a new pump) for free, but I'm too lazy.

 "Sport" baby carrier, by ERGObaby, in black, $115.
  

What I Was Looking For: Ease of use, versatility, good weight distribution, quality construction

What I Was Avoiding: Complicated wraps

Why I Chose This One:  I had already heard great things about the Ergo and decided to register for it since it had more positions to hold the baby (front carry, back carry, & side/hip carry - always facing the adult) than the Baby Bjorn, which really only has one (front carry). Then, at my baby shower, a friend of the family RAVED about the Ergo and it's weight distribution versus the Baby Bjorn, which she claimed made her back hurt once the baby got bigger. That cemented it for me.

Why I Like It:  The weight distribution IS awesome. I've used it in the front & back carry positions so far, and both me and my baby have been satisfied with either. Added bonus: It's my last resort when I can't get the baby to fall asleep. Without fail, after 5-10 minutes in it (especially with the aptly named "sleeping hood" on and some walking, or bouncing, about) he is out like a light! At times, I will admit, I've wished I had the Bjorn so that H could face out, especially on walks or at the store when I want him to stay awake. If I had to do it all over again, I would get both - even though I'd probably only use the $80 Bjorn for 3-4 months.

Infant to Toddler Rocker, by Fisher-Price, $43.

What I Was Looking For: Affordability, dependable name brand
What I Was Avoiding: Not much...
Why I Chose This One:  Extended usability (Baby can use it from birth to 40 pounds), Fisher-Price is a known & trusted name brand, good online reviews.
Why I Like It: Removable activity bar, can be a rocker or a stationary seat (with a nifty kickstand).

Candela "Tooli", by OXO, in yellow, $25.

What I Was Looking For: A nightlight that wasn't just a tiny bulb in a socket.
What I Was Avoiding: A tiny bulb in a socket.
Why I Chose This One: It's fun! It's cute! It has easy on/off function! The baby can use it when he's older! And OXO is a long-trusted name brand in this household...
Why I Love It: It's so small, compact, and useful - I even travel with it.  I love how it just sits in it's cradle (off), then when you need it you simply pick it up and it's on - and you can take it anywhere.  It's just the perfect amount of light for diaper changes, to make sure your baby's breathing, to tiptoe through the room to turn off the computer, etc.

The Miracle Blanket, by Miracle Blanket, in green (pictured in beige), $30.

What I Was Looking For: Something my baby couldn't break out of as easily as he was breaking out of his swaddle blankets and the Kiddopatamus SwaddleMe
What I Was Avoiding: An actual straightjacket
Why I Chose This One: It was a gift! (Thanks again, M!)
Why I Love It: Even though H technically outgrew it about a week after we got it (supposedly its only for babies up to 14 weeks old. Pshaw.), I still swaddle him in for every nap and bedtime. He manages to get his right arm out almost instantly, but he needs it to self soothe anyway (big thumb-sucker). This may not be the wisest option, but it keeps my baby asleep. End of story.

Itzbeen baby care timer, by Coast Innovations, in blue, $25.

What I Was Looking For: Something to keep track of diaper changes, feedings, naps - without the use of graph paper, pencil, and a protractor (remember those??).
What I Was Avoiding: Carving notches on a stick, tying strings around my finger, or writing on my hand.
Why I Chose This One: It was exactly what I was looking for!
Why I Love It: The Itzbeen has, at times, been a godsend. In those first 6-8 weeks when day blurs into night and you have no idea what day of the week it is, let alone which way is up or down - the itzbeen is here to bring rhyme and reason to taking care of your baby. Just push the appropriate button when you perform the action and rest assured.  TRUST THE ITZBEEN. It even has a little switch so you know which boob you last fed the baby with (that is, if you're awake enough at the time to remember to use it!).  It's especially fun to take pictures of it as your baby starts sleeping longer stretches at night.  I still have photos from our first 8 hour, then 10 hour, and - more recently - 12.5 hour stretches. Yeah, baby!

 Assorted bibs 10-pack, by Koala Baby & Babies R Us, in "Safari" and "Boy Brights", $12.99

What I Was Looking For: A good-quality absorbent bib, affordability, quantity

What I Was Avoiding: Clever quips written on the bibs, cheap materials

Why I Chose These Ones: Bang for your buck, thick absorbent terry

Why I Like Them: They've stood up after many many washes & dries, they do shrink a bit but not too much, perfect for drool, spit-up, snot, and rice cereal... if one gets stained beyond repair I won't mind tossing it (but that hasn't happened yet!).  You may think it odd that I have bibs on this list, considering most of the other stuff have been big-ticket items.  But you will also find it odd that it's virtually impossible to find a good freaking bib out there. Oh, there are pretty bibs, big bibs, small bibs, lacy bibs, bibs with all sorts of stuff embroidered on them, snarky bibs, bibs for when they start solid foods (the plastic-y ones with pouches in the front), etc... But I looked far and wide before finally finding these bargain multi-packs at Babies R Us one day, and I haven't looked back since.

There's a ton of other stuff that I couldn't have done without and am so glad I bought or received.  All said and done, my husband and I have very generous friends and family, who showered us with an enormous amount of gifts - for ALL of which we are VERY thankful.  But lists work best in groups of 10! 

Stay tuned for my next post on the Top 10 Baby Toys!

Choose your battles

A good friend is getting married this weekend and I've been considering what I'm going to write in their card.  Most people give or pass on advice, so I was racking my brain trying to think of what I would consider the best advice for newlyweds.

But when I think back on the 2+ years I've been married to my husband - most of our "big" arguments have been over extremely little things, such as:

   * Toothpaste - how to squeeze the tube, Colgate vs. Crest, putting the cap back on & how
   * Ice Cube Tray - which water to use (Brita vs tap), how much water to pour in the tray (I apparently pour too much, he too little), how dare you empty the tray into the bin and not refill the tray?!
   * Fans - ceiling fans, small portable fans, leave them on all night or no, if you put it by an open window as night falls on a hot day should it face in (to blow in the cooler night air) or out (to blow the hot air out)
   * AC/heater - when is it too hot/cold, leaving it on for prolonged periods of time
   * Sock balls - they're all over the place... wtf?

Of course, my spouse & I don;t always see eye to eye on finances, long & short term plans, child rearing, and other typical sources of marital strife - but when we disagree, we discuss.  A compromise or joint decision is made.  The stuff in the list above is stuff we bicker about.

Isn't it funny how stubborn we get about the little things?

Sigh.

Just got choked up watching this trailer:

Big Miracle trailer

My mom said becoming a mother makes you look at EVERYTHING from a mother's perspective.

Apparently that applies to whales too.

A beer and an ice lolly

It's Friday night,
And the moon is bright.
Gonna have some fun
Show you how it's done...
TGIF!

Ah, Friday nights. The gateway to the weekend.

Even as a child, you knew Friday nights were special. You could stay up a little later, watch a little more TV. Then as you got older - maybe as a teenager - you began going out on Friday nights. It's when most movies premiere. It's a great night for a first date or a group date. Some high school dances were on Friday night.

When you went to college and/or began drinking, Friday nights took on a whole new dimension. You didn't have a (serious) job yet, but you definitely understood the merits of taking a break, putting on some dancing shoes, or meeting up with friends at a bar.

As you began to enter the Real World and work a full-time job, maybe start a career, the weekends became all the more valuable. Going out after work on Friday was almost an imperative. A necessary expenditure of pent-up energy and paychecks.

Then people started getting significant others, getting married. And the Friday night outings became fewer and farther between. At the same time, we got older and staying up late after being up at 6 or 7am wasn't as easy (or fun) as it used to be. Saturday nights were better suited for proper partying so our slower metabolisms and achier bones could gear up all day Saturday, get a good night's rest on Friday in anticipation of Saturday's high jinx.

Then you have a baby.

And Friday nights kinda blend in with every other night at first (if you can even discern between night and day). If you're the mom and you're at home - either for good or on maternity leave - you do begin to look forward to Friday nights again because your spouse/partner will be home over the weekend, which will be a welcome relief from flying solo. As much as you fall crazy in love with your little one, it's hard work. Anyone who feigns otherwise is either lying or has a nanny hidden in the closet. Yes, motherhood does come naturally to many - but that doesn't make it easy to run on fragmented, non-restorative sleep. It doesn't make you deaf or indifferent to your baby's cries (my baby's in pain and I'm helpless), screams (my baby hates me), coughs (is he choking?), or countless other noises and idiosyncrancies that keep you on your toes 24/7.

So it's Friday night here in our household and I'm just getting settled on the couch. My husband just texted asking if he can go to happy hour (of course!). My cat just vomited twice (lovely!). And I finally put my overtired baby to bed (his cries are like a chorus of angels!).

I've got my eye on a Bitmeister and a Trader Joe's frozen Fruit Frenzy Bar. If I were French and/or this was 1972, I'd probably add a cigarette to that list. Also, in exchange for my spouse coming home later, his admission through the front door will be In N Out for my dinner.

This is my life. This is my Friday night now. I wouldn't trade it for any other, of course.

TGIF.

Some things just sound better in another language.

cien besos cada dia
mi hijo
mi vida


happy 17 weeks, HHP.

Ah, sleep deprivation...

The other night...
Me: Are you looking at my... collage?
Husband: You mean, cleavage?
Me: (beat) Yes.
Husband: Yes.

Soup's on!

So both my babies were home with me today - HHP, who is home with me every day since he's only 3 months old, and my husband, who was home sick with a mysterious fever.

I figured a good project for the day would be to make some chicken soup for my ailing spouse.  So just before HHP was to go down for his morning nap, I stuck him in the Ergo and walked down to Elat Market - the local Iranian-Jewish grocery store.  The butcher there kindly skinned and cut up a whole chicken (just a lil' 2-1/2 pounder) for me.

Since I've made stock a few times before, I consider myself a pro (insert "ha ha" a la Nelson from The Simpsons). So I decided to wing it today.  I took my smaller stock pot out, placed the chicken pieces at the bottom, filled it about 1/2 way with cold water, then added a bunch of other stuff...

Including an onion, a couple stalks of celery with greens, a couple carrots, a couple cloves of garlic, a couple chunks of fresh ginger, fresh parsley, fresh rosemary, whole coriander, allspice, cloves, bay leaves, and peppercorns.

After an hour or so of simmering...

I let the pot simmer for a little over 3 hours - at one point, the liquid dipped to about a 1/3 full so I added some more to bring it back up to 1/2 full.  I think it's ok to do this so long as it's not in the last 30-45 minutes of simmering.

Once I felt it was done, I used tongs to pick out the chicken (which by now was fall-off-the-bone tender), and a Chinese fry basket to get most of the big chunks of debris.

Chicken pieces

Debris

Once the chicken had cooled a bit, I picked all the bones & grizzle out, and broke apart any large chunks.  I then poured whatever was left in the stock pot through a sieve and into a smaller pot...

I put the shredded chicken in the pot, along with one chopped onion...

One whole medium onion turned out to be a bit much - next time I'll just use one-half.

And some chopped celery...

I would have added carrots too but I ran out

I brought the soup to a boil again, then simmered until the celery & onion were soft.  I also seasoned the soup to taste - with kosher salt, white pepper, and fresh-ground black pepper.  

We happened to have a ton of leftover rice...

Q: Who puts away this much leftover rice like this?
A: My husband.

So I heated some up, then put a little scoop in each bowl just before serving...

I roused my husband out of bed...

And had a nice early supper together!

Too bad we're out of ice cream!

Nose, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Grindstone

One of the symptoms, and drawbacks, of being a habitual procrastinator is the "Missed Opportunity"... Or, more specifically, the "Stare Blankly at that Ideal Window of Time as It Passes You By."

For me, one of those windows was when I was unemployed (then later, unemployed and pregnant), sitting at home twiddling my thumbs. At that time, I could have been studying for the final step in obtaining my license to practice architecture - the California Supplemental Exam (CSE).

In February 2010, the California Architects Board - allegedly under immense pressure from several lawsuits brought on by disgruntled candidates who had repeatedly failed the CSE - decided to convert the long-standing oral format of the test into a computer-based multiple choice format. The original version of the CSE involved candidates being individually grilled by a panel of three architects.  It was an extra step towards getting your architect's license in California, necessary to make sure qualified candidates understood the legal and geological idiosyncrasies that make being an architect in this great state that much more complicated. The exams were conducted twice a year over several days, usually in a hotel, and if you failed you had to wait six months before trying again. About half the folks passed on their first try, the rest on their second, third, and then some...

I became unemployed, for the first time, in March 2010. I got my letter telling me I was finally eligible to sign up for the new computer-based exam in July. Now why didn't I dash to the nearest computer and schedule myself for an exam? Because I am a habitual procrastinator!  Here are the other excuses I kept telling myself as the months ticked by...

- In October/November, I realize I'm pregnant and am finally holding down a full-time job.
- In December, I lose my job AGAIN.
- In January, we move.
- In February, I start another new job.
- In May, I had the baby.

So, now, it's August - over a year since I received the letter telling me to get my act together and take the CSE already (in so many words).  And with every parenting book I read and every person that asks me when I'm going back to work... I realize that it would be REALLY AWESOME if I could work from home.  One thing that would substantially increase the chances of me doing that would be to finally get my license, so that I could start my own little practice and do little residential remodels and the like while being a stay-at-home mom.

Today, I signed up for the CSE.

(beat)

AUGHHHHH!!

Saturday, October 29th, Ladies & Gentlemen!

Mark your calendars! 

Cuz it's Doomsday!

And, maybe, finally I can call myself an Architect!

Day 100

You stole my birthday, breath, and heart - in that order... And you can keep them all, my love.

Happy 100 days, HHP!

Milestones today...
:: you finally noticed that we have a cat
:: you have now outgrown, broken free from, and resisted every swaddle blanket and aid on the market. tonight will be your first night with nothing, so I'm having a beer right now. it's going to be a long night, methinks.
:: you had your picture taken by a professional photographer at jc penny's
:: your fist is finding your mouth and your mouth is finding your fist!
:: we played peek-a-boo like we do every morning, and you giggled for the first time

xoxo,
mama

Baby's First Road Trip

SAN FRANCISCO!

Dutch Windmill at Golden Gate Park

Ocean Beach - first time by the water!

The de Young Museum at GG Park

  

California Academy of Sciences at GG Park

Music Concourse at GG Park

Some Irish guy...

Enjoying fine art at the de Young

The Bay Bridge

officially obsessed

Not good to be reading this stuff at 3 in the morning, famished.

The Adjustment Bureau - #fail

My husband and I watched The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, tonight.

It is easily one of the worst movies I've seen this year.

The plot/story definitely had potential and the writing/dialogue wasn't horrible. And I'm pretty sure Matt Damon and Emily Blunt aren't horrible actors. Was it the directing? Unfortunately for Mr. George Nolfi, by process of elimination, It appears so. To his credit, it was his directorial debut...

I guess everyone's got to have a first!

Some day...

If I ever have so much money, a $500/person meal sounds mildly sane - I want to eat here.

Songs for HHP, Track 4

"That Was Your Mother"
Written and performed by Paul Simon
(c) 1986

A long time ago, yeah,
Before you was born, dude,
When I was still single
And life was great!
I held this job as
A traveling salesman
That kept me moving
From state to state.

Well I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
State of Louisiana
Wondering where a city boy could go
To get a little conversation
Drink a little red wine
Catch a little bit of those cajun girls
Dancing to zydeco

Along come a young girl
She's pretty as a prayer book
Sweet as an apple
On Christmas Day
I said "Good Gracious!
Can this be my luck?"
If that's my prayer book
Lord, let us pray!

Well I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette
State of Louisiana
Wondering what a city boy could do
To get her in a conversation
Drink a little red wine
Dance to the music of Clifton Chenier,
The King of the Bayou

Well that was your mother
And that was your father
Before you was born, dude,
When life was great.
You are the burden of my generation
I sure do love you -
Let's get that straight

Well I'm standing on the corner of Lafeyette
Across the street from The Public
Heading down to the Lone Star Cafe
Maybe get a little conversation
Drink a little red wine
Standing in the shadow of Clifton Chenier
Dancing the night away...

(That's right!)

tuesday quickie

High point of the day:
Second stab at Gymboree Play & Learn class with H - he was much more cooperative than he was at our preview class last week. Only had a couple mini-meltdowns. And everyone commented on how cute and BIG he is. :)

Low point of the day:
After H's 5:30am feeding, he spit up a doozy. It was all over his face, foot, bib, my shirt and arm... As I reached for a clean burp cloth to mop it all up, he sneezed. Twice. Which meant there was now spit up on my chest, neck, face, glasses, and hair too!

Songs for HHP, Track 3

"Father and Son"
Written and performed by Cat Stevens
(c) 1970

(Father)
It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want, you can marry.
Look at me, I am old - but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now,
and I know that it's not easy
To be calm, when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot
Why, think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

(Son)
How can I try to explain,
when I do he turns away again
It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go...

(Father)
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to go through.

Find a girl, settle down.
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old - but I'm happy.

(Son)
All the times that I cried
Keeping all the thinks I knew inside
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree,
But it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go...

I (heart) BABYMAKINGMACHINE

I'm loving this blog so much, I couldn't wait 'til tomorrow to post (Two posts in one day?? It MUST be important!!)...

Mamas, Mamas-to-be, and Anyone who loves babies must check out this blog:

www.babymakingmachine.blogspot.com

It's excellent! It's hilarious!! And it has great photos of a chubby baby!!

(The only not-so-great thing about the blog is that when you click on any link, it opens a new window.)

Songs for HHP, Track 2

"Kooks"
Written and performed by David Bowie
(c) 1971

[CHORUS (x2)]
Will you stay in our lovers' story?
If you do, you won't be sorry
'Cause we believe in you
Soon you'll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks
Hung up on romancing...

We bought a lot of things
To keep you warm and dry
And a funny old crib on which the paint won't dry
I bought you a pair of shoes
A trumpet you can blow
And a book of rules
On what to say to people
When they pick on you
'Cause if you stay with us you're gonna be pretty kooky too!

[CHORUS]

And if you ever have to go to school
Remember how they messed up
This old fool
Don't pick fights with the bullies
Or the cads
'Cause I'm not much cop at punching other people's dads
And if the homework brings you down
Then we'll throw it on the fire
And take the car downtown

[CHORUS (repeat ad inf.)]

Time to get my coup-on

We don't have cable service so I can't watch TLC, but this new fascination with "extreme couponing" has leaked into daytime network television (which I can watch). And being newly unemployed (again, but by choice this time) and being a new mom who is at home for most of the day -- I am inclined to try out new ways of saving the household money, even if it involves a little more thought and legwork.

After seeing some of these couponing gurus on Rachel Ray and Nate Berkus (alas, this is my life now...) - I ventured to this site, www.savvycouponlady.com, the other night.

I was quite intrigued by the philosophy, as outlined (very thoughtfully and concisely, I might add) on the site.  Extreme couponing involves changing the way you shop altogether.  Rather than going to the store once or twice a week to buy the ingredients or supplies you need in the immediate future.  The idea is to compile coupons for the items you regularly buy, then keep your eyes peeled for the in-store deals to align with the coupons you have so you can take full advantage of the discounts from the store and the manufacturer's coupon. This is called "stacking" since you're compounding the power of the lone coupon for extreme savings.

For example, let's say you clip a coupon from the Sunday paper for $2 off when you buy three 12-packs of Coke products.  Let's say you're an avid couponer so you regularly get 4-6 Sunday papers and you end up with 4 of those $2 coupons.  Then your local grocery store has a sale where if you buy four 12-packs of any Coke products, it's only $10 - and that store also regularly doubles manufacturer's coupons - you could "stack" the savings and get four 12-packs for $6 (that's $1.50 a 12-pack!).  However, the ideal would be to stock up on 12-packs to last you 12 to 18 weeks, which is the normal cycle for in-store sales (i.e. If your household drinks a lot of soda, take advantage by getting twelve 12-packs for $14 - the in-store sale would add up to $30, but you use the $2 off coupon four times since each was for three 12-packs which means, with doubling, you deduct $16... That's $1.17 a 12-pack!!).

Using this philosophy, extreme couponers are also usually borderline hoarders since the way to get the most for your money is to buy in bulk. They usually have a whole room in the house filled with shelf after shelf stocked with obscene quantities of paper towels, cereal boxes and the like that they have bought for dirt cheap. They also have to dedicate hours upon hours - every single day, for some - to couponing (clipping from the newspaper, organizing them in special binders, and searching online for even more deals).  Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I don't have the space or the mental fortitude to take it that far, but I definitely like the idea of changing my approach to grocery shopping in order to save some money! And I could probably tuck some economy-sized jars of Pace Picante under the baby's crib. ;)

Maybe this coming weekend I'll go out and buy a couple Sunday papers, start amassing some coupons, and see if I can at least be a "moderate" couponer... Wish me luck!

Songs for HHP, Track 1

"In My Life"
Written by J. Lennon & P. McCartney
Performed by The Beatles
(c) 1965

 

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone, and some remain.
All these places have their moments,
With lovers and friends I still can recall -
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you.
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new.
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them -
In my life, I love you more.

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them -
In my life, I love you more.

In my life, I love you more.

Boob vs. Booze

Or why my baby is like a raging alcoholic...

So, my little one is now 5-1/2 weeks old. And he's already got a drinking problem. Here are the telltale signs I've noticed:

1. When he partakes, there's a very fine line between having just enough and imbibing more than he can handle.
2. When he drinks not enough, he gets mean and violent - thrashing around, scratching me, and howling and grunting like a maniac. Nothing can sate him except more drink. He will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
3. When he drinks just the right amount, he's very giddy and has a tendency to subsequently pass out.
4. When he drinks too much, he throws it back up - sometimes just once and then he feels better. But sometimes, it can be hours of misery and mess. Drinking too much also makes him cry.
5. Drinking makes him very gassy - he belches like a sailor. The gas also makes him weepy and/or mean.
6. I tried to tell him he has a problem and he ignores me, acting as though he can't hear or understand me.
7. His addiction has affected his life and the lives of those around him. It has even affected my and his father's careers.
8. He prefers to drink in private. When he wants to drink in public, I sometimes enable him by hiding it.
9. There are half-empty bottles all over the house.
10. He has trouble staying awake during the day. And sometimes he has trouble falling asleep at night.

Ok... So he's only addicted to breast milk & formula right now. But the patterns of addiction are there, I tell ya! I'm going to be keeping a close eye on him!

"Breathtaking"

There's an episode of Seinfeld, where all the main characters go to visit one of Jerry and Elaine's friends who recently had a baby. While there, Elaine meets a handsome, single pediatrician who calls both her and the baby (who apparently isn't that great-looking), "breathtaking." This, of course, miffs Elaine because it undermines what she thought was a deep compliment from a potential suitor.

I preface this post with this tidbit because the word "breathtaking", especially in regards to babies, now has new meaning to me too. For those of you who don't know already, I had my baby the other day. He was a little early, but considered full-term - and he's doing great. We just went to see the pediatrician for a second visit today, and he gained twice as much weight as was expected of him over the past week, and is now back in the 50th percentile - where he was for most of the pregnancy.

(Sidebar: Interestingly enough, I always thought I would want my baby to be the best and biggest and strongest, but after the dramatic start this baby had - I am over the moon at average-ness and middle-of-the-road health stats.)

Apparently, newborns like to hold their breath. Like, they LOVE to hold their breath. They do it when they're eating, pooping, sleeping... and, well, since that's pretty much all they do - that's pretty much all the time. This breath-holding is quite alarming to new parents, understandably.

My baby held his breath for four-and-a-half minutes at birth. You can imagine the "alarm" this caused me and my husband. Although I'm pretty sure I didn't hold my breath that entire time - the ordeal definitely took a lot of my breath away. Those 275 seconds are now easily the worst 275 seconds of my life thus far. You can imagine all the things that race through your mind... Or maybe you cant imagine. Either way, I wouldn't wish this experience on anyone else. Just take my word for it. If you're really curious, try sitting quietly and still for four-and-a-half minutes. As the time ticks by, imagine that the whole rest of your life is in limbo during this time. People say your life can change in a second. Actually, it takes longer - and each second seems like an eternity.

That's why when people describe my baby as "breathtaking" now, it has a different meaning to me than it probably does to them. Not that the word has a bad connotation or anything like that. Just a deeper meaning than the user may intend. Yeah, I know my baby's good looking... But did you know he's life-changing as well?

Wah-wah

Tonight, I replaced our Brita filter.
Our Brita pitcher has a dial feature on the lid for you to remind yourself to replace the filter again. The directions suggest doing that every two months. So after placing the new filter in the pitcher, I dialed the numbers around until they read 06-04 (for June 4th).

That's when it hit me.

The next time I replace that filter, I'll be a mom.

An ambivalent flood of anxiety and hope washed over me. I looked at the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, the disorganized mess of groceries I'd half unpacked from yesterday's Trader Joe's trip still sitting on the dining table, and the huge cardboard boxes from Amazon that had arrived today strewn across our living room floor. I also remembered the ENORMOUS pile of gifts, clothing, and baby gear we had just received at my baby shower on Saturday - still sitting untouched in the baby's crib in the nursery.

Simultaneously, I wondered what our baby would look like. Would he fit his 99% designated name of "Henry"? Would he be healthy? Chubby? With lots of hair or bald? Would anything be wrong with him? Would he have all his fingers and toes? What if he's disfigured in some way? What if he can't see or talk? What will he look like? Who will he resemble?

Then I sighed, and thought to myself: Silly Brita, getting me all worked up!

I did as many dishes as I could before my back started hurting (for some reason the kitchen sink is kind of deep set into the counter, plus my belly prevents me from "bellying up" right to the edge of the counter... So I basically have to lean forward in this awkward way whenever I do the dishes - which leads to excruciating lower back pain after about 15 minutes). I asked my kind husband to break down the cardboard boxes in the living room, as I put away the rest of the groceries in the pantry.

As I walked to our bedroom, I shut the door to the nursery so I couldn't see the mountain of stuff that still needed my attention (hey, a girl can only do so much in one day).

And as I settled into bed, I realized it had been an egregiously long time since I'd posted anything on my blog. Sorry there's no formatting or pictures... Why, yes, this post was created on my iPad.

Anticipation

My EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery, a.k.a. "Baby's Due Date") - May 21st - coincides with what many believe will be the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Apparently, it's all in the Bible... if you do some reading between the lines and a little number-crunching:

May 21, 2011 = Judgement Day. 

I find it exceptionally intriguing that a whole group of people are looking forward to May 21st, like my husband and me, but for a very different reason.  The symptoms are probably the same though - an increasing sense of excitement and nervousness as the day approaches... We're probably asking ourselves very similar questions: "Did I do enough to prepare?" "What have I gotten myself into?" "What if everything (everyone) goes to all hell?"

We're looking forward to this day, but we have no idea what to expect.  Will it be the end of something? The beginning? Both?  Will my life become filled with a joy I've never even conceived of before? Will it bring disappointment?  Will I just discover that I'm a big fat failure?

So much pressure.  So much anticipation.  So much hope and fear and curiosity...

And, in the end (no pun intended), none of us will even have the wherewithal to realize the result.  We'll probably all just be in the mix, enjoying the ride, not able to think objectively and judge whether it was a success or a failure. 

That is, until it's too late.

Appreciation

 

Why is it we only appreciate things when they're about to be ripped away from us or - worse - after we've already lost them?  Is it immaturity? The value of something increases only because we can't have it anymore? Or a minor form of hubris?  We get too set in our ways and take for granted that it may not last forever?

The other day I was griping to my husband about how being unemployed and having nothing to do all day isn't what it's cracked up to be.  After a while, it is possible (although it took a REALLY long time with me) to get tired of doing nothing.  What do they say? "Be careful what you wish for"?  Or to turn it around -  

"Be careful what you complain about."

Tomorrow I start a new job.  Back to the ol' 9 to 5 (actually, 9 to 6).  

Sigh.

This is good news. 

I know deep down it is.  I like spending money - and in order to spend, (ideally) you have to make money. In order to make money, you have to have a job.  And hopefully that job is something you don't suck at, hate, or causes bodily/psychological harm.  And that's what I've been handed. On a silver platter, in fact.  A contract position (so I don't feel THAT guilty about hiding the fact that I was 5 months pregnant at the interview), paying exactly what I was making at my last "good" job, working at a small ARCHITECTURAL firm (I put that in all caps b/c my last job was NOT at an architectural firm, and - frankly - it sucked), doing residential and commercial work.  It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for in a job.  And since it's contract, I won't have pesky deductions for 401k's or medical insurance - so in fact, I'll be bringing home MORE than I was a year ago.  Pretty darn awesome.  

I am grateful, don't get me wrong.

So... why do I feel like someone's told me I have to lose my left arm?  OK, maybe that's a little melodramatic.  But it definitely feels like an END.  My Life of Leisure is coming to a close, and although the benefits (I know, I know) outweigh the negatives, I don't think shedding an imaginary tear is overreacting. 

So long, sleeping in.  Bye bye, vegging out.  Adieu, punching at the iPad for hours surfing the net, playing Solitaire and Scrabble, and checking my personal email every 3 minutes.

Hello, again, Career.  

Did you miss me, Commute? (OK, it's only 15 minutes away)

Alas, Appreciation. Why is it you're always the last guest to arrive at the party... just before the cops break it up?

JT

Last weekend, my husband and I decided to get away to Joshua Tree for a couple days.  Partly to extricate me from the apartment that I've been stuck in for weeks straight, day in, day out, unpacking and cleaning etc.  And partly to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary.

My husband's maternal side of the family owns a "cabin" just a couple miles outside the entrance to the Monument.  I put cabin in quotes because when I was first dating him, and he'd speak about this cabin - I imagined something much grander than what it ended up being... which is a perfectly respectable, albeit humble, one-bedroom abode.  Hey, it's got indoor plumbing and a garbage disposer in the kitchen sink. I certainly do not take for granted said amenities considering the boony-esque locale of the place.

Actually, I really enjoy our trips out there - so long as we avoid the hot season (May through September), there is definitely something priceless about the ability to just pack an overnight bag, drive a couple hours, and feel like you're thousands of miles from civilization.  The cabin has no TV or telephone.  It's near some great terrain for rock climbing, hiking, and just plain wandering.  And - as I mentioned - it's minutes away (by car) from the Joshua Tree National Park.  Within the Park, there are even more and better opportunities for hiking, camping, and rock climbing.  Not to mention the stunning vistas. 

I think there's something ingrained in all Americans brought up west of the Mississippi where we get weak in the knees just looking at truly awe-inspiring landscapes.  The harsh beauty of crags, boulders, and canyons seems to ignite a primeval tie to the land and how it's shaped our universal subconscious.  Yeah, snow falling on cedars is pretty and dew-dampened meadows are serene - but give us the Red Rocks of Colorado and Utah's magnificent Bryce Canyon any day.  Tahoe/Mammoth vs. Stowe/Sugarloaf is no contest.

Aside from the gorgeous land-based scenery in Joshua Tree, my husband is an avid stargazer.  He has a very nice amateur's telescope and one of our favorite things to do out in the desert is flip through a recent Sky & Telescope or our DK Astronomy book, find constellations, then study a specific star, cluster, or - our favorite - nebula.  This past visit, we enjoyed looking at Jupiter and four of its moons, the Orion nebula, and the Pleiades cluster. We could have sat out there into the wee hours had it not become overcast.  What little we were able to view was nonetheless exciting and thought-provoking.

Landscapes have an uncanny way of grounding you, but only the stars can take your breath away...

FLOR-ed

As my husband says, I've become one of "those women".

Those women who sit at home all day, of which the high point consists of receiving the packages they ordered for themselves online.

Yes, I have become one of those women.
Over the past 7 days, I've been on a spending spree - both online and in person. I've bought baby stuff, rugs, bathroom accessories, kitchen organizers, a vacuum, and more rugs. I don't even want to know how much I've spent in all. But let's just say the highlights were probably the $300 trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the ridiculously expensive crib bedding set I bought at AllModernBaby.com. I also purchased stuff from Ikea, esalerugs.com, cb2.com, potterybarn.com, Target (of course), and Amazon.com.

Today, I'm excited because a bathroom hook, 2 runners (rugs) for our bedroom, a bathroom rug, and a slipcover for our big blue sofa (the one pictured in my blog titleblock) are due to arrive. Yesterday, we got the coat hook and kitchen sink mat. The day before that was my BB&B run, and the crib bedding arrived.
It's like Christmas every day, I tell ya!!
I was also delighted to receive an email from flor.com, saying that my carpet tiles (for the dining area and hallway) have shipped! Woohoo!

I don't know why I've been in such a buying frenzy - could be hormones (isn't nesting supposed to start in the THIRD trimester?), the move (new apartment deserves new stuff - yeah!), or sheer boredom (online shopping beats American soap operas any day). I think it didn't manifest itself last time I moved because the last time I moved was when I got married and we were getting stuff from our registry for weeks. Every day, whoever came home first had the privilege of looking out our front door to see if there were any black and white boxes from Crate and Barrel, or brown boxes from Sur La Table. That, hand in hand with some good old fashioned registry-stalking must have sated my appetite for binging via pocketbook. Ah, the good old days. Now I have to create my own consumerist bonanza...

So back to my carpet tiles.  I am really, REALLY excited about my carpet tiles!  This company, Flor, has been manufacturing them for years - and it's supposedly a great company (watch its CEO/Founder on The Corporation if you want to know why) with a green streak and a heart of gold.  I originally wanted ALL my area rugs to be carpet tiles - I loved the idea of its flexibility, creativity, and durability.  Plus, for some of the styles anyway, the prices are quite affordable.  Alas, my husband got his way and we got our two large-size rugs (for the living room and the office/nursery) from Ikea.
I have to admit it was for a steal.  We had a $150 Amex gift card, so when it was all said and done - we got a 7x10' and 5x8' rug for $175 out of pocket.

I had ordered the bedroom rugs (two 2.5x9' runners for either side of the bed) online very early on because esalerugs.com was having a "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" sale, and I knew even the carpet tile prices couldn't beat them.

So instead I was left with the dining area (about 7x7') and the hallway (about 3.5x7.5').  I went to the Flor showroom in Santa Monica twice - playing around with their swatches and full-size samples (ALL of their tiles are a standard 19.7x19.7", but you can have them cut into half, thirds, or quarters for a nominal surcharge).  It was so fun! Maybe because I haven't gotten to use my creative side in a job for so long, but being able to mix and match carpet tiles became the highlight of my week... month... maybe even, year!

Granted, I wasn't doing this in my actual apartment - so it'll be a nice "surprise" when the actual tiles come (via FedEx) and I see how the colors work in their actual designated spots.  Until they do, I'll just have to make do, playing with my new slipcover and bath mat.

Welcome to the Sunny Side

There was a song I learned at summer camp when I was young.  I think it's called "Stay on the Sunny Side".  The refrain went something like this:

Stay on the Sunny Side,
Always on the Sunny Side!
Stay on the Sunny Side of Life!
You'll feel no pain
As they drive you insane,
If you stay on the Sunny Side of Life!

I think it's a song about denial. Or promotion of anti-depressants. I find myself humming that tune as I stumble through the pseudo-organized chaos that is moving.  Maybe it's calming me down.  Maybe it's a sign that I've completely lost my marbles.  Either way, here's an update on how our move went!

Firstly, the packing.
I think I already made it abundantly clear how much my body and psyche do not like packing.  But after my nervous breakdown on Friday, there was definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.  After all, admitting you have a problem is half the battle - right? So over the weekend, with my husband's help, we purged, piled, and packed.  It was good that the weekend was broken up with two family dinners - one with my brother, sister-in-law, and cousins on Saturday night (Bistro 45 in Pasadena); and the other was dinner with my parents and my husband's parents on Sunday night (Lawry's in LA).  Those meals definitely gave us something to look forward to each morning - and it always helps to have good food & (just a little bit of) wine in your belly as fuel/reward for all the hard work.

Come Monday morning, I was ready.  My headaches, although still there, were definitely bearable - and my only concern now was "supervising" the movers.


Second, the move.
The movers were supposed to show up at 8am on Monday morning.  They came at noon.

Yes, that's right.

They were FOUR HOURS LATE.

At one point, I just gave up on the idea that we'd be moving that day.  I calculated in my head how difficult it would be to put the bed back together, dig up the sheets, pillows, and comforters and find our toothbrushes.  I also wondered whether it would even be possible to get another moving company to come out the very next day.

Allegedly, the reason for the delay was a scheduling mixup.  The company had two moves that day - and they accidentally sent both trucks and both sets of movers to the one address, and nobody to mine.  And allegedly that other job was way across town - so by the time they realized the mistake, decided who to send to us, and (probably a stop for some chow and a beer since now their day/shift had been extended by 3-4 hours) got to our apartment - my husband had left for work and my mom had driven up from Orange County to help out.

I will say that once they got to our place, they were very courteous, clean, professional, and fast.  The whole move, from when they pulled up in front of our old place to when we shook hands and they drove away from the new place, was under 6 hours. That may sound like a long time, but I'd like to emphasize at this point that we have a LOT of stuff.  Furniture-wise, I'd say we're slightly above average.  But Stuff-wise, I think we could win a record.

I am actually not a hoarder by nature - but I am lazy.  So even though I have stuff that I know we don't use or need anymore, I'm too lazy to do anything about it.  My husband is more diligent than I - but he has trouble letting go of things.  Yeah, it's a great combo.

But that's what moves are for, right? It gives you an opportunity/excuse to go through all your belongings and really ask yourself:  Really?  Do I really need this? Do I use this? Do I even LIKE this??

Lastly, the unpacking.
This is still a work in progress - but it's SO much better than packing and moving.  My headaches are virtually gone (the ones that remain I'm realizing are more associated with how often I eat/drink rather than stress-related).

I enjoy the feeling of a blank slate - which is what a new place symbolizes to me.  There's no clutter (yet).  There's no mess (yet).  The shelves lay bare, eagerly awaiting my ingenious method of organization and storage.

Granted, there are a TON of boxes. But I take comfort in the thought that every single thing in those boxes will eventually find a home in this, our new home.  And if it doesn't - well then it's going in the trash.

Cuz that's how we do on the Sunny Side.