p.s. I started a book blog. Well, I started it and then it kind of languished but I am seriously for reals starting it now.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Mr. Popular
Turns out it's true what they say--they grow up fast. Soren has been crawling around for a couple of weeks now, eager to find as many electrical cords, coins, receipts, clumps of cat fur etc. as possible and cram them in his mouth. He was recently felled by a double ear infection and the croup (no shit, apparently there is still croup in the 21st century), but even that didn't slow him down for long. He is a smiley guy. He smiles at strangers in the grocery line, on the bus, wherever. He is popular.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A little window
Getting Soren and myself out the door in the morning with clothes on and noses wiped has become a Sisyphean task. If you'd like a little window into my world, try doing your entire morning routine while carrying around a 20 lb. bag of flour. When you come to a task you just can't perform with the flour in your arms, no problem, just put it down! But at the same moment, play a recording of fingernails on a chalkboard. Turn the volume all the way up. Proceed with your task until you can't stand the noise anymore. Pick up your bag of flour.
This is an imperfect demonstration of how my mornings actually go because your bag of flour will not, it is to be hoped,* attempt to grab and swallow your mascara wand while it (the flour) balances on your left hip as you apply your eye makeup with one hand. (If it does, you'll probably want to go ahead and take it back to the QFC because that is the sign of either a very serious weevil problem or, only slightly less likely, haunted flour.)
*Does anyone else remember Claudia Kishi's annoying, know-it-all older sister, who once informed Kristi that "hopefully" is the most widely misused word in the English language? Don't say The Babysitter's Club never taught me anything.
This is an imperfect demonstration of how my mornings actually go because your bag of flour will not, it is to be hoped,* attempt to grab and swallow your mascara wand while it (the flour) balances on your left hip as you apply your eye makeup with one hand. (If it does, you'll probably want to go ahead and take it back to the QFC because that is the sign of either a very serious weevil problem or, only slightly less likely, haunted flour.)
*Does anyone else remember Claudia Kishi's annoying, know-it-all older sister, who once informed Kristi that "hopefully" is the most widely misused word in the English language? Don't say The Babysitter's Club never taught me anything.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Clever
The Year of the Whole New Me is going mediocrely so far. I'll have little bursts of enthusiasm or creativity, but they are quickly squelched by exhaustion/irritating emails/crying baby. Also, January in Seattle is generally what the scientists refer to as "shitty." It's cold and damp and DARK and what I'd really like to do is curl up somewhere drinking coffee until it's time to start drinking beer. But people keep expecting me to show up for work. (Also, it is my understanding that this would not be a healthy way of life.)
In news that's not about me, today is Mr. Awesome's birthday. Happy birthday Mr. Awesome! I was a clever girl to marry you.
In news that's not about me, today is Mr. Awesome's birthday. Happy birthday Mr. Awesome! I was a clever girl to marry you.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Flop scoot
Soren seems to have developed separation anxiety. Whenever Mr. A and I are out of his line of sight, he screams as loud as he can (which is about as loud as anyone) and then collapses into tears. He's also furious that he still can't crawl, so he'll sort of flop/scoot after us in a pathetic attempt to catch up, screaming all the while. It's fun for everyone.
Lest it sound as though we needlessly torture the baby, most of this happens when he's playing on the floor with his toys and I commit the heinous crime of, say, stepping into the bathroom to blow my nose. Our house is only 780 square feet total so it's not like I'm incredibly far away.
Other things Soren doesn't care for right now: putting on shirts, taking off shirts, putting on pants (taking them off is usually okay), putting on pajamas, drinking from a bottle, drinking from a sippy cup.
On the bright side, he's usually a pretty happy guy when we're not messing with him.
The separation anxiety so far does not apply to daycare--he always seems stoked to be there. In fact, there has been more than one morning when I dropped him off and his whole air was, "FINALLY, somewhere where people understand me."
Also, he does great in the car now. For months, he behaved as though his car seat were made out of fire, but now he seems to be as happy there as anywhere. We went away to the mountains for new years, a two-and-a-half hour drive each way, and he did just fine. Mainly because he is obsessed with these things, which I fed him steadily throughout the trip:
Creepy packaging, but apparently delightful to the baby palette.
Lest it sound as though we needlessly torture the baby, most of this happens when he's playing on the floor with his toys and I commit the heinous crime of, say, stepping into the bathroom to blow my nose. Our house is only 780 square feet total so it's not like I'm incredibly far away.
Other things Soren doesn't care for right now: putting on shirts, taking off shirts, putting on pants (taking them off is usually okay), putting on pajamas, drinking from a bottle, drinking from a sippy cup.
On the bright side, he's usually a pretty happy guy when we're not messing with him.
The separation anxiety so far does not apply to daycare--he always seems stoked to be there. In fact, there has been more than one morning when I dropped him off and his whole air was, "FINALLY, somewhere where people understand me."
Also, he does great in the car now. For months, he behaved as though his car seat were made out of fire, but now he seems to be as happy there as anywhere. We went away to the mountains for new years, a two-and-a-half hour drive each way, and he did just fine. Mainly because he is obsessed with these things, which I fed him steadily throughout the trip:
Creepy packaging, but apparently delightful to the baby palette.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Year end survey, 2010
Someone should make a new one of these that doesn't have that stupid one night stands question.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I made a person.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't even know about last year. I could look it up but that would require several clicks' worth of effort. I made some new ones, yes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Pretty close.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Does south Alabama count as a foreign country?
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A full night's sleep.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, there was that one sort of eventful day in April.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess I'll have to go back to making a person, although I'm not sure that really counts as an accomplishment. I'm having a hard time coming up with anything else, though.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sending out a few cards, of the thank you and sympathy variety. I writhe about it at night, but it seems too late now.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Um. The C-section wasn't great, but it wasn't exactly an injury I guess.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A glider! Not really, but I do like that glider. I think every beer I bought was the best thing.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All of the friends and family who brought us food, gifts, emotional support, and generally made the whole baby thing possible.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some of the boss type people in this here library system. That's right. I said it. You appall and depress me.
14. Where did most of your money go?
To the mortgage.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going snowboarding this past weekend! Also, we kind of looked forward to the baby.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
This song always makes me think of Soren being born. Although I guess it's really more or less about addiction. So there you go.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? happier
- richer or poorer? poorer
- thinner or fatter? thinner! What with not being pregnant and all.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. I have a new understanding of the phrase "not enough hours in the day."
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I'm tempted to say, "complaining about work," but the truth is I enjoyed every minute of my complaining. I wish there had been less to complain about.
20. How did you spend the holidays?
Christmas with the Awesome family in Utah, and New Year's Eve snowboarding at White Pass--a beautiful, clear blue day. Good times all around.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
0.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
My favorite tv program that we watch on the real tv is 30 Rock, I guess, although Community is a very close second. We're currently working our way through the entire series of Voyager on dvd, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes! Well, as my pious friend Mary in Catholic school used to say, "'Hate' is a very strong word." I am appalled and depressed by people that I was not appalled and depressed by at this time last year.
25. What was the best book you read?
The best grown up book I read this year was A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan. Wait, does this mean best book I read this year, or best book I read that was actually published this year? I always get confused. Anyway, Good Squad was good.
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Movies? What are those?
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Cheapskate Maternity transitioning into Aw Crap Nothing I Own Fits Me At All.
28 Whom did you miss?
My college friends who live on the Other Coast. My parents. My coworker who works at a different branch now.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
Soren is a pretty cool guy.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Sometimes medicine really is the answer.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I made a person.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't even know about last year. I could look it up but that would require several clicks' worth of effort. I made some new ones, yes.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Pretty close.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Does south Alabama count as a foreign country?
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
A full night's sleep.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Well, there was that one sort of eventful day in April.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I guess I'll have to go back to making a person, although I'm not sure that really counts as an accomplishment. I'm having a hard time coming up with anything else, though.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not sending out a few cards, of the thank you and sympathy variety. I writhe about it at night, but it seems too late now.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Um. The C-section wasn't great, but it wasn't exactly an injury I guess.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A glider! Not really, but I do like that glider. I think every beer I bought was the best thing.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
All of the friends and family who brought us food, gifts, emotional support, and generally made the whole baby thing possible.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some of the boss type people in this here library system. That's right. I said it. You appall and depress me.
14. Where did most of your money go?
To the mortgage.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going snowboarding this past weekend! Also, we kind of looked forward to the baby.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
This song always makes me think of Soren being born. Although I guess it's really more or less about addiction. So there you go.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? happier
- richer or poorer? poorer
- thinner or fatter? thinner! What with not being pregnant and all.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise. I have a new understanding of the phrase "not enough hours in the day."
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I'm tempted to say, "complaining about work," but the truth is I enjoyed every minute of my complaining. I wish there had been less to complain about.
20. How did you spend the holidays?
Christmas with the Awesome family in Utah, and New Year's Eve snowboarding at White Pass--a beautiful, clear blue day. Good times all around.
21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Yes.
22. How many one-night stands?
0.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
My favorite tv program that we watch on the real tv is 30 Rock, I guess, although Community is a very close second. We're currently working our way through the entire series of Voyager on dvd, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes! Well, as my pious friend Mary in Catholic school used to say, "'Hate' is a very strong word." I am appalled and depressed by people that I was not appalled and depressed by at this time last year.
25. What was the best book you read?
The best grown up book I read this year was A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan. Wait, does this mean best book I read this year, or best book I read that was actually published this year? I always get confused. Anyway, Good Squad was good.
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
Movies? What are those?
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Cheapskate Maternity transitioning into Aw Crap Nothing I Own Fits Me At All.
28 Whom did you miss?
My college friends who live on the Other Coast. My parents. My coworker who works at a different branch now.
29. Who was the best new person you met?
Soren is a pretty cool guy.
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Sometimes medicine really is the answer.
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