My Work Here Is Done.

What is amazing is that he actually says each of these at the appropriate time (well, some of the time.) Oh little man, there may be a gentleman in you after all....Mommy's very proud of you.

Growing Up.

Despite my sincerest requests not to, the little man seems insistent on growing up (the nerve of some kids!) When I mean growing up, I mean literally growing up, up, up and out of all of his clothes. I swear that this kid has been taking steroids on the sly. The other day I looked at him and saw his little belly peaking out from under his shirt, and then I looked down and also saw his ankles from under his pants. Then and there I ordered a new larger wardrobe for the little guy (thank God for Gap and Old Navy.) I then apologized profusely to my man for letting him wear high waters around town, and I promised him I would try to be more on top of things like this in the future.

It's not that I don't want to get him new clothes, it's just that every time I do, I order them a size up and somehow the little guy seems to outgrow them in the blink of an eye. This leaves me with a lot of clothes and not a lot of space to store them in. I used to get by with a tupperware bin and a cardboard box. Once the rest of his clothes arrive I realized that a box would no longer do. It was time to get serious. This morning we made our way to Target (oh, how I love that store) and we purchased not one, not two, but three Rubbermade bins.

I spent the last hour sorting all of his clothes by size. While I was sorting it hit me that:

1. I can't believe he was ever that little.
   
2. Why the hell did I only dress my kid in baby blue. If we have a girl she better be a tomboy. That or she is not going to like us very much. 
   

I was surprised that all those clothes only took up three bins. I broke them up by:

1. 0-6 months
2. 6-12 months
3. 12-18/ 18-24 months

2 years worth of memories packed away under a rubber seal.

You never believe it when people tell you how fast time really does fly once you are raising a child. The clothes really are the surest way to see that. It feels like only months ago he was just a little blob in 6 inch pants. Now he is a walking, talking boy, in 20 inch pants. Where does the time go?

To all my friends out there who are still parents to be, after the next baby these are all coming to you, so you better make room!

A Faker.

Symptoms of Pregnancy:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Sore Bubbies
• Big Bubbies
• Minor weight gain
• Headache
• Mild cramping
• Increased appetite
• Frequent urination 

Symptoms of Clomid and Progesterone:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Sore Bubbies
• Big Bubbies
• Minor weight gain
• Headache
• Mild cramping
• Increased appetite
• Frequent urination

To say that this can really mess with a girl's head would be quite the understatement. At this point I am experiencing all the above symptoms, especially the hunger and fatigue. Is it the drugs or a baby? We should know by the weekend. I really, really, really, really would like this to work this time. Really. Of course, you will be the first to know. Ok, maybe the second after all my friends and family. 

Now I have to go and eat my second lunch and take a nap...let's hope it not just a "faker" in there! 

A Stroller Sent From The Gods.

We all know that I not so secretly want twins. For those of you who didn't know that you do now (ahem, husband.) My biggest concern is not so much the kids, but how in the world does one transport three kids under the age of three? You would think that there are quite a few triple strollers out there, but you would be wrong. Apparently, most manufacturers think that people with three kids don't leave the house. Ever. They also think that if they do leave then you would be happy pushing something the size of the minivan. We all remember this monstrosity, don't we?

Well, all that has changed. Behold the Uppababy Vista.

This stroller rocks. It can be a single with a bassinet (like the bugaboo), it can be a single with a seat, it can be a double (like the phil and ted) and oh my god, it can also be a triple with a simple skateboard attachment. This is something that neither the bugaboo nor the phil and ted can do (because of how the seats sit.) Amazing. 

Here is the seat attachment where one of the twins/ little man could sit. I die just thinking of how cute they would be. 

Not only can it hold your three kids, but it also can hold 6 gallons of milk (so says the brochure.) It comes with a UV shield, rain shield, bug shield, car seat adapter and it comes in a ton of different colors. Also, the bassinet is a separate piece, unlike the bugaboo where you can only pretty much use that feature once because you have to convert that into the actual chair. Even cooler, the company that makes this modern marvel is a local Massachusetts company. I love the idea of supporting anything local, so that is a huge selling point for me. 

As if they didn't already have me at hello, the woman who was demoing this baby for me pushed just one button and the stroller did this. Once my bugaboo saw how small this thing folded up it went to hide in the closet with shame (as it should.)

And travel, forgetaboutit. All three pieces fit into this bag. 

Did I say A.M.A.Z.I.N.G?

Even without the twins, I think with a second baby I will definitely be getting this stroller. I love being able to have one kid, two kids, or three kids at a time with just the simple click of a button. If you are pregnant and think you may have more than one baby, I cannot recommend this bad boy enough. You are able to just buy the solo and slowly ass from there as your family grows. It is almost too good to be true! I am so bummed this wasn't around when I bought (wasted money) on my bugaboo.

Ok, I found the perfect stroller. Now all I need are the babies (plural) to go in it!

Gypsy 05: Line I Am Totally Loving.

My absolute favorite thing to wear during Summer is a comfortable cotton maxi dress. I have a few in rotation and they are pretty much all I wear. That's why I was so excited to find this new (to me) company, Gypsy 05, a brand that I am totally loving.  

Strangely, I had actually stumbled on it twice in the past week, and either I am totally out of the loop, or me finding this very cool brand was meant to be. Last week I was walking down Charles street when I saw this super stylish girl in front of me wearing the cutest fitting maxi dress. My sister and I quickly crept up on her and I saw the label on the back of her dress said Gypsy 05. I made a mental note and didn't think anything of it again until I saw a similar dress in a different pattern in a boutique that I frequent, and this time I made sure to write down the name. Immediately upon returning home I jumped on their website, and I was so thrilled with what I found.

This company is awesome. They use organic fabrics, low impact dyes and water based printing in each collection. The clothes are super simple and completely fit in with the bohemian look I love. Based on their website, plenty of celebs have also fallen in love too. Even with all the press, they still have managed to keep their items pretty reasonably priced which I am very impressed by. Seems as though they are one company that remembers that we are still in a recession. Environmentally friendly, budget friendly, and ridiculously cute? Did I do something in a past life that gave me such great clothing karma? Yeah, hi...I'll take one in every color! 

Ok, not quite but I couldn't help snatching up this dress. 

Organic Neon Maxi Dress. 

Even more amazing, right now if you use the code USABDAY09 when you check out they will take 20% of your entire order. 

It is not lost on me that these clothes are very "maternity" appropriate as well. Maybe some of that good clothing karma can help my baby karma? 

Hmmmmm.....they do sell kids clothes as well, so it can't hurt!

101 Things I Have Learned From The Little Man.

# 98 There's A Reason It's Called The Kids Menu.

I have to admit, before I had the Little Man I was one of those moms who would say things like, "my son is only going to eat what we eat, no "special" dinners for him." Or, "we are not going to give him processed food, ever." Or even better, I actually thought I was going to make my own baby food, until he was like 5. Oh, and the best was that we were going to raise him strictly as a vegetarian. Ha! Yeah, you all can guess how well any of that worked out. 

Very early on I learned I neither had the backbone nor the patience to force the Little Man to eat anything other than what he wants to eat (within reason of course.) I know there are parents out there who can stand strong. I am not one of them. I simply cannot make him go to bed hungry, ever, for the following reasons.

1. He is so active that he is already so skinny, I am convinced I need to fatten him up.
2. If he goes to bed hungry he wakes up hungry, and early.
3. I am convinced it is my job to feed him. There has to be something out there he likes and it is my mission to find it.

Really, the last thing I need is a skinny, tired, and hungry little man. Therefore, I am ashamed to say that I have almost completely given in when it comes to feeding time. Don't get me wrong, he's not eating cake and jellybeans for dinner (not often anyway.) But I have given into his desire for a lot of different items on his plate, most of which could be found on any kids menu at any chain restaurant. Most of which were at some point frozen and all are pretty much completely processed. Ugh. The only thing that gives me comfort is that the majority of items are still organic, and he still drinks 20oz of whole milk a day so I know he is getting some kind of nutritional value. Barely. 

In the beginning I tried to keep things fresh, I really did, but he just gets so damn bored of the same thing (when I say the same, I mean anything served to him two nights in a row and within the same week.) He is constantly challenging me to find "new" things to feed him, and by challenging I mean throwing the old on the floor.  He seriously waits in his chair and when I present him with his entree he looks it over like he is some kind of food critic at a 5 star restaurant. If I don't buy frozen, than everything would go to waste. The only thing I hate more than a skinny/tired kid, is watching food spoil. Therefore, this is what dinner has come to. 

Exhibit A: Fish sticks, ketchup, sweet potato fries, peas, a mini pizza, and a waffle. Yep, that is whipped cream on top. 

Exhibit B: The little man surveying the spread.

Exhibit C: Success! After this picture was taken he even finished the peas. The peas with salt and some butter of course. The car was not on the menu, but still found its way into the ketchup.

I have also learned that he will eat anything with ketchup (case in point the car.) We seriously go through about a bottle a week. In fact, this morning he was having cereal and blueberries on the side, and while eating the blueberries he said, "more ketchup." Yep, I gave it to him.....I think it's a fruit right?

Let's just hope he outgrows this before he gets married. I would hate to see what happens if his poor wife tries to serve him the same dinner two nights in a row...hopefully by then he will have learned not to throw his food on the ground. I'm pretty sure most women find this to be a turn off, no?

How do you all get your kids to eat healthy? Or do you?

 

Rain, Rain Go Away...Come Again NEVER!

Rain = A Mother's number one enemy.

32 days of rain = A Mother's worst nightmare. 

Look, I hate when people always complain about the weather. I get it, we live in New England. One would expect about 8 months of winter, tons of snow, and sub zero temperatures. If you are living here and you are surprised that it is cold, than well, you shouldn't be living here. What is utterly and completely unfair is to take away the only thing that makes that 8 months of that crap bearable; Summer.

At least I can comprehend that someday this rain is bound to go away. The person who doesn't understand this? My little man. To say that he is cranky and miserable would be the understatement of the year. To say that he really, really, really wants to go outside, would have to be said while laying on the ground, pounding your fists, banging your head against the floor and screaming at the top of you lungs. How do I know this? Because this is ALL the little man has been doing for the past two weeks. 

Yes, I know we are in the throws of the terrible twos (dear God I hate this stage.) But somehow I think that we would be fearing much, much, much better if the little guy were to be able to run around the park to blow off some steam. Instead he sits here and whines and I pretty much think that both of us are losing our minds. I know one of us is losing our patience. I try TV, toys, forts, you name it but nothing seems to help. The only cure I fear is just a few days of sunshine. Oh, how I miss the sun. I miss it bad. 

Snow I can handle, a sled, a snowsuit and we are good to go. Heat. Heat is fine, that's why baby pools were invented. Cold, well that is why God created the brand patagonia. Rain? Well rain sucks. 

The view of my beloved park across the street, covered in water with no children to be seen.

How is one supposed to be in any type of good mood when the sky continually looks like this?

Yesterday we just couldn't take any more and took the bike to the grocery. I had to waterproof my child. Something that unfortunately he has become accustomed to. 

Rain, rain, go away....come again NEVER!

I Think I May Be Too Old For This.

Last Saturday was my big night out. My resurrection from mommyhood we will call it. I went out with a great group of friends and we went to see my best friend's band play. This used to be one of my absolute favorite things to do pre LM. When we did the math I realized it had been over 2 1/2 years since I last saw them, and I really was looking forward to a night like I'd had way back then. Well I learned you can't recreate the past anymore than you can predict the future. 

Don't get me wrong, I had an awesome time and would totally do it all over again. To begin the evening I met some of my girls (and 2 husbands) out for dinner and then we headed over to the bar. I had a kick ass lemon drop martini with my dinner and was feeling pretty good on the way over. It was about 9:45pm which is later than I had been up in months, but I was so excited to be out that I barely noticed the time. We got to the bar, and within minutes I realized that I may be too old for this. That or just too out of practice.

We waited for about 15 minutes in a completely arbitrary line to get into an almost empty bar. I had completely forgot how annoying this could be, especially in the rain. Once we were in the bar I was soon surrounded by drunk 20 somethings and a few bachelorette parties. The music was awesome so I didn't notice right away scene that was unfolding, but after about an hour I realized that I, at 30, and my friends, at 30, may have been some of the oldest people in the bar. How does that happen? I sang, I danced, I had a few beers, and around 11:30pm I was ready to go to bed. But I couldn't. This was my big night out, I had to make it until at least 1am I told myself.

At some point I ordered a drink which a drunk fraternity guy managed to immediately spill on my new suede wedges, I got bumped into more than a few times, and got hassled about "being over the line" by some aggressive bouncers. Soon I noticed my friends had left and at 12:30am I was the last 30 year old standing. Around this time the band broke and I was able to say my goodbyes. On the way out the door I asked my friend, "how do you do this every other weekend? I just feel so old." He said that if it wasn't for the band actually playing there, he too would never go out to a place like that. 

I was home by one, and up at 6:45 with the LM. The Hubs had to work, but thankfully my sister saved my life by taking the little guy for a walk to get mama some coconut water and McDonalds (the hangover cure from God.) I couldn't believe how bad I felt. I only had one drink and 3 beers over about a 5 hour period. In my old days that would have been like an appetizer. Yes, I am a wuss and I can no longer hang with the big boys. 

I loved going out back in the day, not all the time, but a lot more than I do now. I guess things have just changed. My ideal night out now consists of dinner with good friends, a few glasses of wine, and a 1opm bed time. That may make me a fuddy duddy, but hell, I'll wear that title with pride. I have the feeling someday I will again get the itch to stretch my party legs again, probably in another 2 years, and I also have the feeling that I will again utter those words, "I think I may be too old for this."

Thanks to everyone for supporting this old lady on her big debut. I really did have an awesome time, even if it kicked my ass! Just make sure you keep telling me about all your nights out, at least I can live vicariously through you.

I'll Take Two Please.

The first picture of SJP and her new baby twins was released today and I have two things to say.

1. This photo melts my heart and completely gives me hope.
2. Where can I get mine?

I remember hearing a while back, from a friend who heard from a friend, that so and so spotted SJP at a fertility clinic in Manhattan. While I never really thought about it, I also wasn't that surprised. Her son was about 4 or 5 and given her age and the fact that she hadn't yet had another baby and would openly talk about wanting one, it completely made sense. I think I had just had the little man, or was possibly pregnant at the time and infertility was the farthest thing from my mind. Yeah, well times sure have changed, and given my current situation and my own trips to the fertility center I am so thrilled to see that even if I never get pregnant myself (let's hope that's not the case) I could still have two wonderful little babies just like Miss Carrie Bradshaw (yes, I know she isn't really Carrie Bradshaw, but in my mind she will always be.)  

It's funny, in all this time I have never even considered nor even thought of surrogacy as an option. I know we are a long, long way from this type of decision but up until now I have somehow convinced myself that if I can't get pregnant, than that's it, no babies for us. I think this is what has had me so consumed and down for the past few months.  Of course I know adoption is always an option, and we have thought seriously about it for baby number three, but I don't know why, perhaps because I don't have a natural sibling, I just really want the LM to have a 100 percent flesh and blood mate. I know none of that matters, as my half sister and I are closer than she and her full sisters, but still I just really want just one more. To be honest after seeing this picture, I want two. If I were to get pregnant again, and for some reason not be able to carry that baby to full term, I would absolutely consider surrogacy. Seriously, just look at those perfect babies. Who knows, perhaps I should give another look at adoption as well, if it were to ever come to that. The point is I just need to keep reminding myself that we are lucky enough to have options. Maybe some of you could remind me of that too, just if I seem to be heading off the deep end?

Another of my irrational concerns has been a "timeline" that I seem to have in my head. I get panicked when I think that the LM is going to be almost 3 if/when I were to have another baby. And that would be only if I were to get knocked up in the next three months. I keep thinking that they won't be "close" if I don't have them less than two years apart. I have no idea why I am so concerned about this. My sister and I are 10 years apart and I don't think two siblings have ever been closer than we are. Yet still, I find myself adding up months trying to figure out if they will be in High School, or College together. Crazy right? I look at this picture and I think, "what am I so damn worried about?" That little boy really had the best of both worlds. He got to be the only one for about 6 years and now he has two amazing little sisters that he can be a great big brother to. Even more, he likely understood what was happening versus a 2 year old and will probably be better able to adapt to having two new babies in the house. Seems like a win, win all around. Again, what the hell have I been thinking? 

While all of this may seem completely obvious to most of you out there, those of you who are struggling with infertility can likely relate. It really does make you go a little out of your mind. Throw in some fertility hormones and you have the perfect storm for a little bit of crazy. Seeing this happy family, celebrities or not, really makes me see things much clearer. From now on when I am about to have one of my "no baby meltdowns" as I call them, I am going to look at this picture and remind myself to CHILL OUT. I realize that this is what everyone has been saying all along, but like most important lessons you sometimes just have to figure them out on your own. Note to self. Relax. 

Congrats to the Broderick/ Parker family. As was said on my favorite Sex and the City episode, "Your girl is lovely, Hubbell." (as quoted from The Way We Were)  In this case, both your girls are lovely. 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

We have a winner in our Designer Bag Giveaway! Before I reveal the winner, I would like to thank all of you for participating and I hope you were able to make it out to support the Alzheimer's Association this weekend. I'm truly saddened by how many people and their family members have been affected by this devastating disease and appreciate you sharing your stories. Please know that you are in my thoughts. 

Now on to our winner. The little man tried to participate in the selection process but alas "drawing" a winner was too large of a concept for his itty brain and he left me with 5 winners.

So with some help from random.org (thanks to Julie Q) our "real" winner is...Kiki!! Congratulations to you. Thank you for supporting this cause and I hope you enjoy your new Debbie Brooks Bag!