Score!

At the start of every week, I try to deny myself visits to the vending machines at work. If I'm not successful on Monday, the rest of the week is shot (I'm not about to do this half-assed- every day of the week or none at all.)
So, this morning, being Tuesday (Monday was a bust) I stop at the machine on my way to my office. I pop my 50 cents into the machine and make my selection (peanut m&m's). I grab my fix and turn to leave when I hear the machine behind me making a familiar cha-ching sound- as if it was making change for me (change that was not due as I'd given EXACT change)
I inspect the change slot and there's 4 quarters. I've not only gotten my m&m's for free, but now I've even made a little money. I decide to try my luck again and put in 2 more quarters. This time I purchase Reeses pieces and I wait for the machine to yield my prize. But no luck, the machine spits out my candy and nothing more. Oh well, it was a fun stretch. And for all you kind spirited, honest people out there- don't worry, karma will find me and kick my ass- or at least add a dimple or two...

For Teri and Tessa

It's that time of year again....

When I follow my husband into store after store Christmas shopping. I hate Christmas shopping. My husband is always trying to find just the right gift for our loved ones. I'm trying to get in and out of the store and get home. I wish there was such a thing as a "get out of Christmas free" card. Since there isn't, I'm stuck in line behind my husband at the department store.
It was in this line that my memory, which usually sucks, decides to shine and throw out a nugget of recollection. We had finally decided on a gift for my brother in law and his fiance. After what seemed like hours of shopping, we had decided that a gift of Ralph Lauren towels (on sale, of course) would be an appropriate gift for the young couple. I was thrilled to be standing in line, imaging what the rest of my day might be like now that this shopping excursion was almost over. But that's when my memory, which I thought for sure I'd destroyed years ago, starts to tug at my conscience. I start having memories of another holiday, maybe a birthday, that we'd given this same brother in law the same gift. Motherfucking towels! Ugh! I'm in line, almost at the check out, almost free, but we're about to give him the same lame ass gift again.
Damn my memory, but if you think I was giving up this tid bit of info, think again! I had worked too hard to get to that check out line to just give up. I feel guilty over this omission, but at the moment, I had no other choice but to tuck that turd back into my memory bank, hopefully to never resurface again. So, we're giving the gifts of towels (again) but really... can you ever have too many towels??

My poor poopy pants

My poor little girl has been having adult sized shits and she's not too happy about it. It started about a month ago when we were all cuddling on the couch and she let out a scream as if she'd just been stabbed, turns out she was trying to pass a GIGANTIC turd. I figured she'd been eating too many veggie puffs or too much rice cereal, so I cut back on starchy foods and added some more fruits (prunes, mostly) and some juice (again with the prunes.)
So, her shits return to normal for a few weeks, but we had a bit of a set back this week. Twice already myself and raising 2 kids has had to "assist" in her bowel movements. I never thought I'd be holding onto to a piece of poop, guiding it from someone's bum. I suspect there are going to be lots of things that I never thought I'd be doing throughout the course of my daughter's life. That's the love of a mother, I guess.
I called her pediatrician who recommended a sitz bath, they said it would relax her muscles and let her go more easily. I don't think she'd have a problem relaxing her muscles if she wasn't trying to push out the titanic, but I'll try it. I'll also continue to give her lots of fruits and veggies and other things that might make her poop...
My poor little girl. To see the look of fear and confusion on her young face as she bears down just breaks my heart. She's got to be thinking WTF?? I know I am.

There's a moment in the middle of the night when I can hear the rustling in the crib next to me. I freeze and wait for the moment to pass or force me out of bed. I freeze because I think if she doesn't hear me move, she won't know I'm there and maybe she'll return to a peaceful slumber. That almost never works because she knows where ever I am her cry will summon my appearance. When she truly needs me (or simply wants me) I am there for her and I love those moments. It's those twilight times that I especially enjoy, even though I'm exhausted, it's when she's the most still and therefore the most cuddly. She's not squirming to get down and practice her new mobility skills or wanting to explore her environment. She's sleepy and wanting the comfort of my squishy lap to help get her back to sleep.
That's not to say that I don't love her waking moments- I do, they're just different. When she's awake and discovering something new (which is all the time) I love the amazed look on her face.
I love to see her crawling about and stop at a spot on the rug and touch it with her finger. It's usually not anything but a slight variation in the carpet itself, but she noticed the difference and has stopped to investigate.
She is becoming such an individual with very defined likes and dislikes. To think that just a year ago, I was only 6 months pregnant, barely showing and now I have this little person who only wants to eat these wagon wheel things that Gerber makes. It amazes me everyday.
She loves peek-a-boo also. She likes to take a blanket and pull it up over her face. I ask "where's A?" and she drops the blanket and I act all surprised- she gets the biggest kick out of that... I love it.... in the words of Bob- any better, I couldn't stand it... :)

Spelling Bee Chump

Another new girl at work. She's very nice, like the mean talker, but much better on the phone. Her particular area of weakness is spelling. Here are some examples: (see if you can decifer what she's trying to spell- she's fa-net-ick-ly correct, but oh so wrong!)
skruws
rumitoid
thurst
dabites (diabetes)
mentalpause (menopause)
There are more, but I can't think of any right now..... must be a mentalpause moment!

I was cut off by a pedestrian this weekend which nearly caused the person behind me to crash into my backseat. I was driving through lovely downtown Dover when this man walking on the sidewalk crossed the street in front of me. He used the crosswalk like a good pedestrian, but didn't even look to see if anyone was coming. I think that's a rule for successfully crossing the streets- looking both ways.
He did it so seamlessly, too, without missing a step- from the curb to the crosswalk. I had to slam on the brakes so I wouldn't hit the stupid fucker causing the car behind me to also slam on their brakes. This caused their tires to squeal at which point the pedestrian looked up and gave me a nasty look because I had apparently interrupted his day dream. Argh!