The short list

I could use another one right about now
Originally uploaded by riblet.

Reading:
The Definitive Guide to Body Language (interesting)
The Nasty Bits (again)
New York Magazines (always)
my study guide for the Notary Public Exam

Watching:
Bad kids' shows that Ira likes
Unknown White Male (hated it!)
Inside Man (loved it!)
Shear Genius

Cooking:
Farfalle puttanesca
My frijoles de la olla
Ira's tofu-rice balls (which I eat, too)

Consuming:
Hitachino beer (love it)
Box wine (drinkable and it lasts so long)
Coffee, coffee, coffee
Rosemary-lemon water

Freebies:
Library books
Ira tickles
Children's wading pool at Bertha Henschel Park
Free life jackets today at CSUS Aquatic Center!!!! I got one for Ira.

Free to good home

The serious cook
Originally uploaded by riblet.

Anyone need a gently used toddler? He's real cute. Will sell or trade! Ira has been running me ragged this week. He's hit the terrible twos like the Kool-Aid man busting through the wall. I end each day feeling like I've just run with the bulls. When he's happy, ain't no one happier. When he's sad, ain't no one who can make him happy. I try, I do my best. I do what the books tell me (looking at you Drs. Sears, Karp and Brazelton). I do what they don't. But sometimes, It seems that anything I try just doesn't work. Before you know it, he's screaming, I'm crying and poor Heylove is cowering somewhere under the furniture because the bad vibes are too much for her. Sometimes I wonder if it's Ira's plan to convince me that having another kid is a supremely bad, bad idea. He's so self-centered!

Little dude has started alerting me to when he has, or is about to, drop deuce. I've even gotten him to sit on his tricked-out Diego potty chair a couple of times in the past few days, though he does prefer to try to go standing up. He says "paw-ee" (potty) and "wee-ee" (weenie). My fingers are crossed for a speedy and clean transition out of diapers.

Today's mantra: This too, shall pass.

Rinse, repeat!

Home Sweet Home

White House
Originally uploaded by riblet.

We are so glad to be back in town. This weather isn't even phasing me. Bring it on, I say! So long as it is not as humid as it was in DC, I can take it.

I love the West Coast. More than you know and for so many reasons.

Did you know Les and Oscar got married? It was such a nice ceremony.

And super fun party.

We were able to see some sights.

And meet up with some other friends, too.

We stayed in a really nice area in a cute hotel. But the staff sucked.

Ira had only one tantrum per plane. Not too bad, I was expecting much worse!

Busy signals

A little thirsty
Originally uploaded by riblet.

We're getting ready for our trip this week, which is making for a very busy scramble around here. Cleaning, planning, thinking of what to pack.

This weekend we did so much. Ate, rode bikes, yard saled, ate, napped, hiked, ate, ate, ate. I also managed to get a fat lip twice...on the same lip! I felt like a duck-billed platypus (or Meg Ryan), but only looked slightly vamped. The first blow came last night as I settled into bed to finally read Eats, Shoots and Leaves. I know, it's an oldie, but I can no longer pretend to be interested in grammar if I go on a day longer without reading this book. So anyway, I pull the book off of the shelf above the bed and my latest New York magazine (the hefty design issue no less) comes barreling down at the speed of light (or faster, possibly) and nails me, spine first on the left side of my top lip. The pain was so shocking that I thought it had taken a lateral incisor out. Luckily my tooth was fine, but man did that hurt! And the mag left quite a bump. By morning it was not as noticeable, but still there. Then sometime around lunch, Ira and I were playing and he fully head butts me on the right side of my top lip. That kid! I wanted to cry, it hurt so much, but he was totally cracking up and well, that boy's laugh is so contagious. Well, at least my lip swelling was symmetrical.

Ira is so funny (when he's not causing major contusions). It seems like this past week, he's really had a language break through. He's been picking up a lot of words and saying them more clearly now. On Sunday morning before our hike, we were all running around the house, packing back packs and getting food and gear together. Ira comes up to me and grabs my shorts in both hands, looks up at me and says "coppeeee?" Copppppeeee?!" COPPPPEEE?!!" And I'm like, "wha? Ira, use your words, what are you saying? Oh, well. Yes, baby, 'coppee." I turned around and headed into the kitchen, where my mug was on it's side, coffee spilled all over the table and floor. Oh, he meant "coffee." Today, as we sat down to eat breakfast, he with oatmeal ('meaaal!') and me with cereal and coffee, he looks at my mug and clearly says "coffee." What a dear!

Okay, wish us luck with our travels! I am totally going to be that person on the plane with the crying baby. I'm already feeling the evil eyes from my fellow passengers and it's causing me so much anxiety.