And so...

I learned today that I am woefully out of touch with the world around me.  In preparing for an Oscar night party (to include only myself, my 8-month old son, a dog, and Uncle Chris), I realized that I had not seen any of the movies that were nominated for Best Picture.  Then I realized that I had no desire to see any of the aforementioned movies.

Furthermore, I realized that the only category I had any opinion on was Best Soundtrack - hoping that Sherlock Holmes wins.  But that is because I thought the music was cool and that Hans Zimmer is a stud muffin with a piano.  The man is so full of talent.

Then I realized that the movie buff in me has traded those fun times to watch such riveting adventures as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Thomas the Tank Engine and Scamper the Penguin.  And I know the theme songs.  And I sing along with them.  And I have them running through my head all day.  And I don't mind because they bring joy to my son.

Hans Zimmer would be ashamed.  If he knew who I was.

First Haircut

Aiden got his very first hair cut.  About the only way to fix it is by doing a "faux hawk".  But it was getting unruly.

So we trimmed it!

And lucky with the ladies!

So last night was haircuts, Harry, and habits.

Aiden had his first haircut.

We watched Harry Potter #6 as a family (including the dog)

And one of my dearest, closest friends asked me to help in breaking habits that aren't healthy for this person.  Very big habits.  Thank you, my friend, for trusting me to help you.  I am honored and will do my best!

Showtunes - my Guilty pleasure

I know that I posted a short 10 hours ago, but here I am.  At work.

Monday mornings are for the birds.  I miss my son.  I miss my bed.

So, since no one is at the office yet, I turned on my "Showtune" playlist on Pandora that includes the soundtracks from musicals, Disney shows, and Glee.

And who can't be happier with lyrics from a show that starts like this:

And I know things now, 

Many valuable things, 

That I hadn't known before: 

Do not put your faith 

In a cape and a hood, 

They will not protect you 

The way that they should. 

And take extra care with strangers, 

Even flowers have their dangers. 

And though scary is exciting, 

Nice is different than good. 

Ah.  I will sit back.  Drink my Diet Pepsi and enjoy my secret guilty pleasure.

By the way, if you can name this musical, you get 10 points in my book.  Leave me a comment.  Let's see who guesses first!!

8 short months

Aiden is 8 months old today.  To celebrate, we went to the zoo again yesterday and had green bean fries at TGI Fridays.  Okay, he had pureed green beans, but it was fun.  I bought an annual membership to the zoo, so we can go whenever and we don't have to feel bad when Aiden falls asleep after just seeing one or two animals.  It gives me a good walk up and down the hills and he gets to see fun animals.  It was much warmer than the last time we were there and the big cats were leaning against the warm glass, so we were able to see them VERY close and personal.

He doesn't do much, but I can tell that he is really thinking. He is such a thinker.  On the drive home, he would make this chesty guttural LOUD noise.  We figured out it was Aiden's version of "what does a tiger say?"  He was doing his ROAR.  Darling.   He also does an impression of a horse when he spits.  He is getting so big.  One thing he still does, though, is cuddle up to Mom at bedtime.  I love my little furnace sleeper.

I love my boy.

CABIN FEVER!!

Aiden's Poem:

I will have some fun at the park.

I will hide and seek in the dark.

I will gag when Mom feeds me chicken.

I will cry when Mom cleans the kitchen.

I will play when it's time for bed.

I will throw a fit and bonk my head.

I will spit when you try to feed me peas.

I will smile and laugh when you sneeze.

I will melt your heart when I smile.

I think I will stick around for a while.

We went to the park this afternoon!  It was a bit chilly, but Mr. A loved the slide.

Thanks, Uncle Chris, for coming with us!

Mr. A and Mom playing Hide and Seek while we watched the Olympics.  

Darn the Americans today.  So many disqualifications.

My Homey!

Epic Fail

Epic, epic fail.  Dinner.  Failure.  Okay, the curry rice was great.  The Thai Cucumber Salad was fantastic!  But. The Chicken.  Oh, the chicken.  I hang my head in shame.  But to deflect the blame, it was a recipe I 'borrowed' from the internet website I love and trust.  I think the author made a typo.  Maybe not.  It was Thai Peanut Chicken and anyone who knows me knows I love my Thai food.  Especially something including garlic, cilantro, hot chili sauce and peanuts.  I think the 1 cup of soy sauce should have been my first clue.  It was so salty that I ended up throwing the whole thing away.  Chris did the same.

I even envied Aiden's sweet potato rice poofs and canned ham at that point.

I do have to say that one point of my day was fantastic and, believe it or not, it included the federal government. I went to find out why I have never received Aiden's Social Security Card.  I walked in.  I took a number.  I sat while my boy was asleep on my shoulder, sweating all over my neck.  Twenty minutes later (which involved the waiting room being silent except the ONE lady who would not get off her cell phone to her neighbor and talking loudly), my number was called and I made my sweaty way to the window with my son still asleep.

The poor employee looked haggard.  He was twenty-something, probably in college.  Hating his job, looking awkward in his tie.  I explained the situation.  He asked if I had identification for myself.  I did.  He asked if I had identification for my son.  I told him I did.  I handed him the birth certificate.  He looked at me and said, "I need a second form of ID for him.  Sorry."  With a twinkle in my eye, I said, "I know.  I read the website.  I have his hospital records signed by the doctor.  See? Page 3."  I handed him a stack of hospital records.

Poor kid looked like he was going to cry.  "You read the website?  Thank you for reading the instructions before you came here, waited and then screamed at me for something I have no control over.  Thank you."

Sad that the high point of my day included government and the low point was my own cooking.  Something is wrong here.  Very wrong.

Tech Junkie

Mister A. is finally feeling better today.  The antibiotics are kicking in and his cough is starting to abate a bit.  He has been so pleasant and I will never complain that I have such a happy child.

Today, Mom is more worn down than baby.  I think it is a combination of events and sleep deprivation.  Insomnia is back with a vengeance and the 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night are just not working for me.  When I go to work, it is with bleary eyes and a generally bad attitude.  Good thing I work alone most of the time.  Also, there have been more than a handful of events that have conspired to make me feel less than adequate.  Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and strangers have all aligned this last 2 weeks and it is getting really exhausting.

I just have a feeling that God is trying to teach me something.  Darned if I know what it is.  Is it to take it on the chin when people are intrusive and rude?  Maybe.  Is it to trust my decisions and not apologize for my little family?  Maybe.  Is it to learn to be a little less sensitive?  Maybe.

But I want to be a sensitive person.  Can I have the sensitivity to know when someone needs help, a listening ear, or a kind gesture without being sensitive when people are mean or thoughtless to me?  I am trying to find a balance.  One of my favorite lines from "You've Got Mail" is "don't take it personally" and when Meg Ryan responds "It may not be personal to you, but it is personal to me."  And she has a point.  What is life if not personal?

Then I am reminded of a friend that once told me, "you are a culmination of your choices.  You are exactly where your choices put you.  If you have personality flaws, you have only yourself to blame.   If you have joys in your life, you have only yourself to thank.  If you are unhappy, fix it.  If you don't want to fix it, shut up about it."

Painful to hear, but perfect.  And, in the words of Sid the Sloth "I choose LIFE!"