That is, as long as I don't forget to water it ...
December 30, 2011
green thumb
Even though the presents have long since disappeared, the glow of our (real!) Christmas tree will be warming our living room for a few more weeks.
That is, as long as I don't forget to water it ...
That is, as long as I don't forget to water it ...
December 29, 2011
aftermath
The living room (or the rest of the house for that matter) hasn't been the same since Christmas morning.
But Malcolm doesn't seem to notice.
For him, it's business as usual ... Another day to let loose and fully enjoy!
I think I'll take his lead.
Cleaning (and returning the house back to "normal") can wait.
Sweatshirt: Garanimals (gift)
Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (thrifted for $0.50)
Sweatpants: Garanimals (gift)
Socks: Circo (pack of six for $6.00)
Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (thrifted for $0.50)
Sweatpants: Garanimals (gift)
Socks: Circo (pack of six for $6.00)
But Malcolm doesn't seem to notice.
For him, it's business as usual ... Another day to let loose and fully enjoy!
I think I'll take his lead.
Cleaning (and returning the house back to "normal") can wait.
December 27, 2011
pink has no place at christmas
It just wouldn't be the holidays without someone getting sick!
Last year, it was my husband.
He caught such a nasty flu that he was bed ridden and completely out of commission on Christmas Day (and for a couple days afterwards) ...
This year, it was Malcolm.
On Wednesday night during his bath, I noticed that his left eye looked a little gunky (and, yes, "gunky" is a technical term) and pink.
By Thursday morning, things were not improving. Not only did the pinkness and gunk remain, but my baby looked like someone had punched him in the face ... His left eye was almost completely swollen shut!
So, a call to the doctor was placed and, much to my excitement, the nurses were able to diagnose him over the phone (no appointment necessary!!) ...
He had pink eye.
Although his happy-go-lucky attitude hadn't changed in the slightest, Malcolm was placed on twenty-four hour quarantine until he could be medicated and deemed non-contagious (and ready to enjoy the holiday festivities with everyone else).
And thus began my pink eye paranoia.
We couldn't really pinpoint where Malcolm picked it up (I'm thinking a trip to Walmart earlier in the week was the culprit), so, surely, someone else in our household would pick up his germs and only compound our problems!
Did I wash my hands well enough after administering his antibiotic eye drops?
Did he pass any bugs onto my pillowcase during his bed time story with Dad?
Did he contaminate the couch (and the many pillows and blankets there) during his daily jumping spree?
Should I just wash everything in hot water and call it a day?
Here, nearly a week later, and I'm still scrutinizing the whites of my eyes in the bathroom mirror each night.
So far, so good ... No signs of pink eye for me!
Still, it would be absolutely lovely to have a Christmas without any sickness or drama.
A girl can dream.
Last year, it was my husband.
He caught such a nasty flu that he was bed ridden and completely out of commission on Christmas Day (and for a couple days afterwards) ...
This year, it was Malcolm.
On Wednesday night during his bath, I noticed that his left eye looked a little gunky (and, yes, "gunky" is a technical term) and pink.
By Thursday morning, things were not improving. Not only did the pinkness and gunk remain, but my baby looked like someone had punched him in the face ... His left eye was almost completely swollen shut!
So, a call to the doctor was placed and, much to my excitement, the nurses were able to diagnose him over the phone (no appointment necessary!!) ...
He had pink eye.
Although his happy-go-lucky attitude hadn't changed in the slightest, Malcolm was placed on twenty-four hour quarantine until he could be medicated and deemed non-contagious (and ready to enjoy the holiday festivities with everyone else).
And thus began my pink eye paranoia.
We couldn't really pinpoint where Malcolm picked it up (I'm thinking a trip to Walmart earlier in the week was the culprit), so, surely, someone else in our household would pick up his germs and only compound our problems!
Did I wash my hands well enough after administering his antibiotic eye drops?
Did he pass any bugs onto my pillowcase during his bed time story with Dad?
Did he contaminate the couch (and the many pillows and blankets there) during his daily jumping spree?
Should I just wash everything in hot water and call it a day?
Here, nearly a week later, and I'm still scrutinizing the whites of my eyes in the bathroom mirror each night.
So far, so good ... No signs of pink eye for me!
Still, it would be absolutely lovely to have a Christmas without any sickness or drama.
A girl can dream.
December 23, 2011
merry christmas, mon
Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
I hope it's as enjoyable as a sunny (and warm!), Jamaican day!
I hope it's as enjoyable as a sunny (and warm!), Jamaican day!
December 22, 2011
food fight
As my last days of work before Christmas Break wound down this week, I was able to spend a little more time than usual playing (throwing plastic food down the stairs, what could possibly be better?!) with my boy.
He is such a little person now it is scary.
Personality galore!
(As you can see from the following photo.)
He is such a little person now it is scary.
Personality galore!
(As you can see from the following photo.)
Hooded sweatshirt: Carter's (thrifted for $0.50)
Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (hand-me-down)
Sweat pants: Garanimals (gift)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (hand-me-down)
Sweat pants: Garanimals (gift)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
I'm sure we'll have many more fun times (complete with plastic food throwing) as Christmas Break really gets going!
Bring it on, Malcolm!
Bring it on!
Bring it on, Malcolm!
Bring it on!
December 21, 2011
lackluster
Although I'm admittedly excited for:
The quality time spent with family ...
The delicious food (and LOTS of it) ...
The giving and receiving of presents ...
The visits from friends ...
The lazy nights spent in the glow of our Christmas tree ...
The time off from work (for me and my husband) ...
I find myself a little less enthusiastic than usual this year.
Christmas is almost here ...
But not my Christmas.
My Christmas will come about three months from now.
My Christmas will be the day (or night?) in March when Baby #2 decides to join us and turn our family of three into a family of four.
Then, I'll truly be excited with all the giddiness and anticipation that Christmas typically brings.
I can't wait to meet my little guy or girl.
The quality time spent with family ...
The delicious food (and LOTS of it) ...
The giving and receiving of presents ...
The visits from friends ...
The lazy nights spent in the glow of our Christmas tree ...
The time off from work (for me and my husband) ...
I find myself a little less enthusiastic than usual this year.
Christmas is almost here ...
But not my Christmas.
My Christmas will come about three months from now.
My Christmas will be the day (or night?) in March when Baby #2 decides to join us and turn our family of three into a family of four.
Then, I'll truly be excited with all the giddiness and anticipation that Christmas typically brings.
I can't wait to meet my little guy or girl.
December 16, 2011
little by little
It all started with an exclamation of "Bob Marley!" on vacation in Jamaica (or, probably more accurately, "Ba Bali!").
Then, little by little, more simple words started coming ...
"Whoa!"
"Wow!"
"Pop!"
"On!"
"Off!"
"Moon!"
"Ball!"
Add to that, just about every letter in the alphabet ...
I know it isn't much, probably not where a nearly 27-month-old should be according to doctors and books (and other mothers), but it's something.
Definitely progress from a mere month ago.
Exciting and different and new all at the same time.
And, interestingly enough, while the "real" words are beginning to leak out, the signs just keep increasing, too ...
There are various made-up signs to represent family members and real signs that he joins together (like "baby" and "cookie" to request the small sized cookie from his play food set). And every now and then he'll come out with a sign that I don't even recognize (luckily my husband can fill in some of the gaps with the ASL knowledge he acquired when he needed some language credits in college).
All in all, witnessing this growth of both verbal and nonverbal language is absolutely amazing. It makes me wonder how we even knew what he wanted or how he was feeling before the signing and talking began ... It makes me wonder how the next kid will be, and how our communication with him/her will be different the second time around.
Maybe we will incorporate the signing earlier (or not at all).
Maybe we'll have an early talker instead of a late one.
So many possibilities that I never even considered before I became the parent of a toddler.
I'm sure my mind will be blown when he starts asking questions and speaking in sentences ... But we may have a little while to wait for that!
But, then again, with Malcolm, you just never know!
Then, little by little, more simple words started coming ...
"Whoa!"
"Wow!"
"Pop!"
"On!"
"Off!"
"Moon!"
"Ball!"
Add to that, just about every letter in the alphabet ...
I know it isn't much, probably not where a nearly 27-month-old should be according to doctors and books (and other mothers), but it's something.
Definitely progress from a mere month ago.
Exciting and different and new all at the same time.
And, interestingly enough, while the "real" words are beginning to leak out, the signs just keep increasing, too ...
There are various made-up signs to represent family members and real signs that he joins together (like "baby" and "cookie" to request the small sized cookie from his play food set). And every now and then he'll come out with a sign that I don't even recognize (luckily my husband can fill in some of the gaps with the ASL knowledge he acquired when he needed some language credits in college).
All in all, witnessing this growth of both verbal and nonverbal language is absolutely amazing. It makes me wonder how we even knew what he wanted or how he was feeling before the signing and talking began ... It makes me wonder how the next kid will be, and how our communication with him/her will be different the second time around.
Maybe we will incorporate the signing earlier (or not at all).
Maybe we'll have an early talker instead of a late one.
So many possibilities that I never even considered before I became the parent of a toddler.
I'm sure my mind will be blown when he starts asking questions and speaking in sentences ... But we may have a little while to wait for that!
But, then again, with Malcolm, you just never know!
December 15, 2011
repeat performance
We went to a little Christmas party over the weekend (the same one as last year), and I had high hopes that Malcolm would warm up to Santa and pose for a picture all by himself this time around ...
No such luck.
(Although, to be fair, we did get a cute, but cheesy, smile out of him.)
No, Malcolm still wasn't excited to see Santa.
Khaki pants: Cherokee (hand-me-down)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
Shoes: Stride Rite (thrifted for $2.00)
It's funny what a two-year-old deems as "fun" and worthy of genuine smiles.
If only Santa could garner the same effect!
Maybe next year ...
No such luck.
(Although, to be fair, we did get a cute, but cheesy, smile out of him.)
No, Malcolm still wasn't excited to see Santa.
But he was excited about the preschool area that was set-up in the next room ...
Long-sleeved Shirt: Faded Glory (thrifted for $1.00)
Khaki pants: Cherokee (hand-me-down)
Socks: Circo ($1.00)
Shoes: Stride Rite (thrifted for $2.00)
It's funny what a two-year-old deems as "fun" and worthy of genuine smiles.
If only Santa could garner the same effect!
Maybe next year ...
December 13, 2011
tiny hiccups
My husband doesn't get hiccups (as in, plural, many, multiples) ...
He gets a single, solitary hiccup.
One and he's done.
That's it.
It's really the strangest thing I have ever seen ... I don't know anyone else who shares his hidden talent. In fact, in our over twelve years of being together (and spending most of our time with each other), I have never witnessed him deal with an unending set of hiccups that required any home remedies to squelch.
"Hold your breath! No, really hold it ... Push through the hiccups!" He'll coach whenever I end up with them (I'm normal, I get more than one!) ... But how I can really take his advice to heart, when he's never had to use it himself?
All this colorful back story about my husband's odd hiccuping abilities to say that Baby #2 had hiccups the other night and he/she definitely takes after me.
I never felt hiccups while Malcolm was hanging out in my uterus, so the experience was totally new ... And really, really cool.
So that's a baby hiccup!
Every couple seconds I'd feel it ...
A little twitch.
Far too rhythmic and small to be a kick or a voluntary movement.
Definitely a hiccup.
A cute, tiny hiccup.
Too bad the husband was asleep at the time and unable to bestow some of his anti-hiccup wisdom on our soon-to-arrive second child ...
Although I'm sure that there will be plenty of opportunity in the future!
I mean, who doesn't get hiccups (in multiples), besides my husband, of course?
He gets a single, solitary hiccup.
One and he's done.
That's it.
It's really the strangest thing I have ever seen ... I don't know anyone else who shares his hidden talent. In fact, in our over twelve years of being together (and spending most of our time with each other), I have never witnessed him deal with an unending set of hiccups that required any home remedies to squelch.
"Hold your breath! No, really hold it ... Push through the hiccups!" He'll coach whenever I end up with them (I'm normal, I get more than one!) ... But how I can really take his advice to heart, when he's never had to use it himself?
All this colorful back story about my husband's odd hiccuping abilities to say that Baby #2 had hiccups the other night and he/she definitely takes after me.
I never felt hiccups while Malcolm was hanging out in my uterus, so the experience was totally new ... And really, really cool.
So that's a baby hiccup!
Every couple seconds I'd feel it ...
A little twitch.
Far too rhythmic and small to be a kick or a voluntary movement.
Definitely a hiccup.
A cute, tiny hiccup.
Too bad the husband was asleep at the time and unable to bestow some of his anti-hiccup wisdom on our soon-to-arrive second child ...
Although I'm sure that there will be plenty of opportunity in the future!
I mean, who doesn't get hiccups (in multiples), besides my husband, of course?
December 9, 2011
December 8, 2011
christmas colors
Malcolm is all about colors right now.
He likes pointing them out to anyone who will pay attention, whether they be in the pages of a book or festively decorating a house in the neighborhood ... So, it is no wonder he absolutely loves the ceramic Christmas tree that sits in the family room in my parents' basement.
Striped sweater: The Children's Place (thrifted for $1.50)
Long-sleeved shirt: Jumping Beans (gift)
Corduroy pants: Sonoma (gift)
Socks: Circo (gift)
Shoes: Toddler University (thrifted for $1.50)
Long-sleeved shirt: Jumping Beans (gift)
Corduroy pants: Sonoma (gift)
Socks: Circo (gift)
Shoes: Toddler University (thrifted for $1.50)
I almost can't believe how gentle he is as he takes out the colored lights and birds and then puts them back in their original positions.
It's moments like these where I can't believe how quickly the time has gone ...
It's moments like these where I can't believe how quickly the time has gone ...
December 6, 2011
pain in the abs
I am a full 24 weeks into my second pregnancy.
Already more than halfway along!
Time is flying by, and as this pregnancy progresses, I can't help but notice how familiar it all feels ...
The little kicks and wiggles.
The taste for salty, savory foods (and some sweets every now and then).
The lack of any complications to speak of.
And the constant abdominal pain.
Yes, you read that right ... While many expectant mothers contend with lower back pain, I get to experience all of my pain directed squarely in the front.
As with Malcolm, I'm all belly right now, so all the built up pressure from my expanding uterus and resident baby (and let's not forget the elastic bands on my maternity pants) is pushed up against my abdominal muscles.
It's an annoying, dull ache for most of the day.
Mostly inconvenient in that I can't put a sock or shoe on my foot without sitting down and/or balancing myself against something steady. I almost fell over the other day when I tried to be fancy and get dressed without hanging all over the dresser.
It's the little things, I guess.
And forget rolling over in the middle of the night ...
Although I may not be as large (yet!), the motion is probably much like that of a beached whale, struggling to make some progress and get back into the ocean. My husband refers to it as "the big roll" and wonders how I can remain asleep while I'm making such a commotion on my side of the bed ...
But neither of us should be surprised by any of this.
As I said before, it is all very familiar.
Almost exactly what I experienced when Malcolm was in utero.
Hopefully, this means Baby #2 will be continue to take after his/her brother when he/she joins us on the outside ... And my current "pain the abs" is a sign of good things to come!
Already more than halfway along!
Time is flying by, and as this pregnancy progresses, I can't help but notice how familiar it all feels ...
The little kicks and wiggles.
The taste for salty, savory foods (and some sweets every now and then).
The lack of any complications to speak of.
And the constant abdominal pain.
Yes, you read that right ... While many expectant mothers contend with lower back pain, I get to experience all of my pain directed squarely in the front.
As with Malcolm, I'm all belly right now, so all the built up pressure from my expanding uterus and resident baby (and let's not forget the elastic bands on my maternity pants) is pushed up against my abdominal muscles.
It's an annoying, dull ache for most of the day.
Mostly inconvenient in that I can't put a sock or shoe on my foot without sitting down and/or balancing myself against something steady. I almost fell over the other day when I tried to be fancy and get dressed without hanging all over the dresser.
It's the little things, I guess.
And forget rolling over in the middle of the night ...
Although I may not be as large (yet!), the motion is probably much like that of a beached whale, struggling to make some progress and get back into the ocean. My husband refers to it as "the big roll" and wonders how I can remain asleep while I'm making such a commotion on my side of the bed ...
But neither of us should be surprised by any of this.
As I said before, it is all very familiar.
Almost exactly what I experienced when Malcolm was in utero.
Hopefully, this means Baby #2 will be continue to take after his/her brother when he/she joins us on the outside ... And my current "pain the abs" is a sign of good things to come!
December 2, 2011
December 1, 2011
last week at this time
It's hard to believe that just a week ago, we were vacationing on the sandy shores of Runaway Bay, Jamaica with the rest of my family.
The weather was warm and wonderful.
The resort was small, yet full of things to do and people to meet.
The end-of-the-week upgrade to a "beachfront cottage" was a fun surprise.
All in all (even with a two-year-old in tow) it turned out to be quite a relaxing getaway.
The weather was warm and wonderful.
The resort was small, yet full of things to do and people to meet.
The end-of-the-week upgrade to a "beachfront cottage" was a fun surprise.
All in all (even with a two-year-old in tow) it turned out to be quite a relaxing getaway.
Swim shirt: Land's End (thrifted for $1.00)
Swim trunks: Old Navy ($1.95 on sale)
Swim trunks: Old Navy ($1.95 on sale)
I wonder where our next travels will take us ...
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