Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Why not?


Cheese!
Originally uploaded by riblet.

If Ira ran for president in October (humor me, here), I'm sure he'd secure a decent vote.

Political party: All Night

Running mate: Heylove

Platform: Snacks, trucks, balloons, milk, juice, squirrel watching, and a general "more" of everything delightful. Also, major funding for all parks to get new slides (even Yosemite).

Campaign slogan: On your marks, get set, go!

Qualifications: Can more or less count to ten forwards and back, can make the sound of several animals including elephants and dolphins, easily identifies the color orange (important for security alerts), can put dirty clothes in a hamper when asked.

Ira Jake, '08!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Take a patriotic dip



We had a pretty fun 4th of July. Ira may not have had the best time. He took a couple of spills (into rose bushes), man-handled a cactus (the cactus won), got his hand stuck in a dog door, and had his wits scared out of him by our block party's fireworks. Leon and I however, enjoyed a cool pool party, mexican beers and a new cocktail made out of tequila and Tang. Refreshing!




I'm doing pretty good. I've been studying for my notary exam and hope to take that in August. By September if you need me to notarize your last will and testament, please call! I will also notarize any and all declarations or affidavits stating that Zelda's pizza rules, free of charge. Other than that, I've been worried about all the smoke in the air. It's making me feel awful! Headaches and dry nose, not fun. I've been staying indoors as much as possible, but with Ira and my 9-year old ADD niece to take care of all day, it's giving me cabin fever and a real short fuse. You don't want to run into me before 5PM or I will totally "mom" you some how.




With all this inside time, I've been watching a lot more children's programs. Now every song stuck in my head is a kid's song. Right now, it's the Wow Wow Wubzy theme song. This is what my life has come to.



I've even learned to draw some of the characters, much to the delight of Ira. Not only can I draw most of the Yo Gabba Gabba characters, I can also draw the afore mentioned Wubzy, a crude Boots and a passable Zee.

It's enough to make me want another one of these:



The other night I went to the Weatherstone/Old Soul, grabbed a cup of iced coffee and settled into an uncomfortable chair for some much needed non-mom time. The coffee was great, but I should have gotten decaf. Instead of relaxing, I got a little wound up. When I got home, Leon tried to pry me off the ceiling with a crisp, cool mojito, which tasted great, but ended up goofing with my stomach. I was up all night worrying about everything. Will our front porch collapse? Do I need to start looking for work? What if Ira is not getting enough omega-3s? Does my wrist feel swollen? What is this cramp in my rib cage? OMG, is my face-eating tumor getting bigger??! I finally had to drown my worries with a podcast catch-up session. I fell asleep finally after two Radio Labs, two Legal Lads, two Grammar Girls, one Mighty Mommy and one Good Food. I hate nights like that!

Friday, June 27, 2008

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!