Conversations with my two-year-old: Snack requests

Have you seen the convos with my two-year-old videos on youtube? I love them so much. Probably because I can relate:

9:30 am in our apartment.
"Mama? I hungry. I anna burger." - Eiley
"You want to eat a burger?" - me
"(Smiling) Nooooo. I an rice!" - Eiley
"You want to eat some rice?" - me
"YES!" - Eiley
"Seriously? You want some rice right now?" - me
"Yes Pease! Rice!" - Eiley
I walk over to the fridge, pull out rice and show it to her. 
"This? You seriously want this?" - me
"(Smiling, like she knows she's messing with me) Nooooo. Crackers! Crackers! Crackers!" - Eiley
"You want to eat some crackers?" - me
"No, Mama." - Eiley, who then opens a book, clearly done with this discussion.

End scene.

anything once: making an indoor play tent

My mom is addicted to Pinterest. If she hears an interesting quote in real life, she thinks about which of her boards she could pin it on. She has 52 boards and 1409 pins, and I've mocked her more than once for her addiction. However, she also discovers such fun ideas, like making an indoor play tent for Eiley's room! 

We decided a few Saturdays ago to move full force on this idea, and we headed over to Hobby Lobby. I absolutely hate to admit how much I like that store. I mean, they play muzak versions of CCM. On one trip there I endured an instrumental version of Michael W. Smith's "Place in this World" played entirely on sax and synthesizer. So basically the place is like a giant Christian elevator filled with craft and decorating supplies, but I can't deny that it's magical. My mom and I went without a firm plan on how we'd create the tent (how hard could it be, right?), and we walked straight over to the fabric section where there was...a free pamphlet with ideas on how to make indoor play tents. What?! MAGICAL. 

Steps to creating a play tent:

1. Purchase super cute fabric. Guys. I actually used the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out how much fabric we'd need. I still had that in my head from Geometry, which was in my sophomore year of high school. Please at least pretend to be impressed (except you, Manny. You may say something like "pshaw" and return to being a genius). Anyway, to make a tent that was 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, we'd need a little less than 4 yards of fabric. 

2. Purchase 4" wide ribbon, at least 4 yards.

3. Purchase embroidery thread and needles and an optional fancy threader thing to make threading the needle easier.

4. Purchase wooden dowel. We chose one that was about 3 feet long and 3/4 inch in diameter. The diameter isn't super important, as long as it's strong enough to hold the weight of the fabric.

5. Sew the ribbon onto the edge of the fabric so it has a bit of a finished look. We did this by hand, which was the only time consuming part of this process and wasn't totally necessary. We watched some fun movies though, so it didn't really matter.

Shhh...she's concentrating!

6. Cut two holes at the center of the fabric, where you plan to hang the tent.

7. Wrap ribbon under wooden dowel and through the holes in the fabric.

8. Affix something to the ceiling in two places that correspond with the ribbon locations. My husband used something that enabled him to screw a metal hoop into our ceiling.

9. Tie the two ribbons to the hoops or secure them to the ceiling some other way.

10. Attach the sides of the tent however you choose! I thumbtacked one side to the wall, then used Eiley's crib to hold the other side down. You could also use carpet tacks or think of something else.

11. We hung string lights over the tent for some extra lighting in there, added a couple pillows and a cushy blanket as a carpet, and voila! Awesomeness.

This was a success (even though I admit I've been enjoying the tent more than Eiley)! And, of course, you can find it on my mom's Pinterest board, "we saw, we pinned, we DID."

anything once: planning ahead for a toddler activity

I love doing activities with Eiley. We enjoy reading, looking at plants outside, singing, hanging out in the Eiley-sized pool in the backyard, playing games, etc. So maybe this first sounds like it's reaching, but it was a medium big deal to me because it required forethought. I mean, we went to a store, returned from the store, filled something with water, opened a freezer door, put something in the freezer. That's effort.

I'm starting to realize that this post is proving my lazy nature, but I am pressing on despite all of you judging me. 

Here's the activity, which I found by googling "art activities for babies":

1. Purchase popsicle molds. Really, this could work with straight up ice cubes, but the popsicle molds have handles so there's no risk of your kid getting frost bite or cranky. I bought mine at the 99 cents store. 

They look like little closed umbrellas!

2. Fill the popsicle molds with water and stick them in the freezer.

3. Once they're frozen, remove your ice pops, and use them to draw on the cement outside.

An alternate to this is putting Jello powder on a paper and letting your kid use the ice pop to make the color brighten on the paper, but that sounded like it would require clean up. I'm not that advanced yet.

Here's how it turned out:

1. Eiley enjoyed taking the pops out of the mold and putting them back in. Over and over and over.

2. Eiley and I both enjoyed feeding the ice pops to Buster. Can you imagine wearing a thick black sweater in 80 degree heat? We were happy to cool him off, and he thought he was sneaking a treat. Sucker.

Poor puppy!

3. I enjoyed writing on the ground with the ice pops, although the markings would evaporate in mere seconds. 

In conclusion, this was a simple, fun activity, even though Eiley in no way participated in the manner whatever website I found the idea on intended. And there was zero clean up. I suspect this first of planning ahead for a toddler activity is one I will repeat often in the next few years, and I'm cool with that.

and then my [sister's] life flashed before [her] eyes.

I asked my sister to write out her life flashing before her eyes, and she delivered! You can see this post and other life observations on her blog here. You'll notice that I added a couple extra pictures, and that I picked the ones with my daughter in them. 

The other day, my sister blogged about what she hoped/thought she would see if her life flashed before her eyes, then instructed me to do the same after I commented on it. I'm going to try to do the same now.

- Waiting all day at the hospital for Eiley to be born and then finally getting to hold her.

- My wedding day. I just started to list way too many things from it, so I think I'll put those in another blog.

- That perfect summer day when we went to the beach, rode bikes, got frozen yogurt, and barbecued.
- That random summer night when we tried to pass out sandwiches to homeless people in the Back Bay and got pulled over briefly by a cop because he thought the sandwiches were drug paraphernalia.
- That perfect winter day in Kentucky where we had a snowball fight, drank hot chocolate, watched Faerie Tale theater, and played Scrabble.
- That perfect winter day in Virginia when school was canceled, so Andrew came over for watching HIMYM, kissing, going to the mall, and dinner at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
- Andrew and I sitting on the couch at my old apartment and him telling me that he'd had dreams where we were getting married and I was holding our daughter.
- Late night talks with Robyn Boyd (not any specific ones, but there have been so many that I'm sure I'd have a picture of it in my mind).
- Emmy punching me in the stomach when she was 5 and I was 8 because she was mad at Tiffany (this isn't a happy memory, but it's always been so vivid that I'm sure it would come up at the end of my life).
- Experiencing a huge summer storm while camping in Lake Havasu and watching people try to take pictures of the lightning... then watching them realize how it's next to impossible to take pictures of lightning (this was before digital cameras existed).
- Watching one of the counselors and 2 of the little girl campers at Royal Family Kids' Camp dance to "In Your Presence" by Charity Von. 
- I'm sure that I would picture at least one of my fancy birthday dinners with my dad. I think this year will be our 21st year of doing that, so there would be tons of memories to choose from.
- Watching the sunset in Mexico while doing devotions with Andrew.
- Going with Eiley and Emmy to take pictures during Eiley's mini-monthly photo shoots.

- One of those days when Andrew and I go to Busch Gardens and Zaxby's. Those are always wonderful!
- Seeing my dad walk my sister up the aisle and watching Jeff openly weep upon her entrance.
- Vahdan giving me a toast and singing to me on my 28th birthday.
- Going to Haiti with my mom and getting to hold babies at an orphanage there.
- Watching Disneyland fireworks.
- Taking long walks in Newport Beach with various friends.
- Having a HIMYM party on Monday nights at the Canal House and crowding my green couch with a bunch of my favorite people.
- Having a Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad party every Monday with Andrew.
- I'm certain that I would see something random that Emmy had instigated (Scrabble at Downtown Disney, Tabitha's birthday scavenger hunt, various theme parties, etc.).
- The April Fool's Day when my mom almost convinced me that there was an ejector seat in the car or the one where our parents surprised us with a night at the Disneyland Hotel.

That seems to be a lot and I'm sure I wouldn't see all of those things, but it would be great if I did.

and then my life flashed before my eyes.

Last week, my mom and I were pondering what our lives flashing before our eyes would look like. What scenes would appear, what moments would be plucked from our memories. I immediately began listing the happy stuff. I think I'd see:

• Jeff smiling and weeping profusely at the end of the aisle on our wedding day.
• A group of about eight people crowded around a long table in the camp dining hall at midnight, playing a vicious game of Rat Slap.
• Running around with Tabitha in a parking lot in the pouring rain during a hurricane.

• Slow dancing with Jeff next to a waterfall by Disneyland and sharing our first kiss.
• Reading High Fidelity aloud to Zoe and replacing the f-bombs with the word monkey our sophomore year of college.
• Hanging out at Denny's with my sister and our friends from camp and realizing that my sister and I were becoming - gasp - friends.
• Slamming down one perfect kill in volleyball my junior year of high school.
• Singing and dancing with a group of women in Tanzania.

• Mikkele randomly bringing over a cake, insisting that Jeff serve it, then crying laughing as we realized she'd baked in the clock.
• Gazing into Eiley's eyes the minute she was born, while trying not to look at all her gooey yuckiness.
• My parents surprising my sister and I with a night at the Disneyland Hotel when we were very young.
• Eating chicken nuggets and swimming all day when my Grandma would housesit for her friends each summer.
• Watching Derek Fisher sink a game winning 3 pointer with .4 seconds on the clock. I realize this didn't happen to me, but the amount of joy I felt watching that at Lamppost Pizza amongst a bunch of sports bar dudes was immense.
• Dancing the night away with Jeff at his senior year theatre banquet, aware that we were lanky and silly and not caring a whit.

• Tiffany and I playing with a cheap little toy after kid's church one evening and finding it hilarious to yell at it. 
• Making Eiley belly laugh.
• Hearing the distinctive thunk of an arrow hitting the target on the archery range at camp.
• Reverse trick-or-treating with Chad, Mikkele, and Jenna. Specifically, shouting "HALLOWEEN HAPPINESS!" in a terrible old lady voice. 

• My eighth grade Algebra teacher telling me to pack up my bag and go to the office because my parents were there to take me to Disneyland and the subsequent writhing jealousy that emanated from my classmates.
• And, of course, this:

My mom mentioned that it probably wouldn't all be happy memories flooding into one's brain. I agree, but I hope we're wrong.

What would you see?

don't read this if birth stories give you the jeebies.

This time last year, my water broke. 3:30 am. Your father had just climbed into bed after spending a long evening playing awesomely nerdy games with friends downstairs in our townhome in Virginia. He stayed up until 3 am because you were already three days late and we were convinced you weren't coming until the doctors forced you to. We were wrong. So, even though he only had half an hour's sleep, we woke Daddy up and I told him it was time to go.

I was pretty nervous. Everyone says that childbirth is painful and that you don't get to sleep much afterward for the rest of your life. I hate pain and I love sleep, so I wasn't terribly thrilled to get the day started, no offense. I did take comfort in the facts that I would most likely live and that the pain part would most likely be over in 10 - 30 hours. I was a little annoyed that Daddy hadn't slept because I knew he'd need rest to be able to help me make it through everything. I was also annoyed that I was leaking weird fluids. 


We checked into the hospital, and I started feeling contractions about ten minutes after they hooked me up to monitors. We went into a nice large labor room, which was great because then Fee Faw and Grandpa and Auntie Jenna could visit. I was in labor for about eight or nine hours before the pain became unbearable and I asked for an epidural.


Eiley, some mommas power through labor with no medication. That's just not how I roll. I wasn't trying to be a hero.


The drug dealer arrived and told me that I'd feel a pinch of a needle and then I wouldn't feel anything. That guy was a liar. I felt the pinch then relaxed and focused on sitting the way he had requested. And then I felt the most horrible, searing pain of my life. I'd say it felt like someone stabbing me in the back, but if you think about it, he was actually stabbing me in the back. Daddy had to leave the room and cry a little bit afterwards because it hurt him to see me hurting. He's nice like that.


I was comfortable for eight whole hours. I napped, listened to music, hung out with my family, drank juice, breathedbreathedbreathed. Then you decided you wanted to join the party, so I had to push.


Daddy and I had gone to a childbirth class about a month before you were born. We learned techniques about how to breathe, how to focus, how to make everything easier. I threw all that out the window. My eyes were shut for the nearly two hours that I was pushing. (In fact, I learned afterward that there was a nurse who arrived right as I began pushing who I didn't see until about 20 minutes after you were born.) I'm embarrassed to tell you that I screamed for my last few pushes. The nice doctor gave me a little talking to, gently reminding me that I could use all that screaming energy to push you out of there. I listened to him, and he was right - I focused and you plopped right on out. (I later apologized to the staff for the cliche childbirth scene. No one wants to go to work and listen to a fat lady scream at them.)

You were the most disgusting, perfect, beautiful, slimy, giant little thing I'd ever seen. I stared into your eyes for a good five minutes, shocked by you, you living miracle. It was so nice to meet you, and I love getting to know you more and more each day. Daddy and I adore you. Happy birthday!

   

excuses, excuses.

Here's my version of "the dog ate my homework":


I have been M.I.A. on here for over a week now for a variety of reasons. I'm sorry to report that cable television at my parents' house is a main distractor. There is a reason Jeff and I choose to live without cable. We simply can't resist the temptation to watch it all. the. time. I occasionally watch Home Improvement, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Boy Meets World. There's often some Backyardigans, as I write we're watching a new show starring Eric McCormack, and my dad tends to watch tennis a lot, which somehow pulls me in as well. I mean, did anyone watch Murray's emotional speech after LOSING winning second place in Wimbledon this week? Eat your heart out, reality TV - that stuff was real drama. 

Gawww. Picture of Murray CRYING borrowed from The Sun

Anyway, my other distractor was Eiley's birthday party and dedication. Eiley turns one on Thursday, and Jeff's mom was able to come visit from Idaho, which was awesome, but meant squeezing in lots of quality time. Also, Jeff and I generally do not stress out when hosting parties, but I somehow let a very simple gathering at a park cause my blood pressure to rise and my head to ache. I think I was too focused on making everything look ideal. Plus connecting people is not my strength, and there were people from six different areas of my life, and I felt pressure. I was able to have some fun though, thanks to the almost 40 people who came to help us celebrate Eiley and the one person who brought me a bottle of water and a painkiller halfway through the shindig (thanks, Ani!). Plus seeing Eiley smash her way through a cupcake was delightful.

Photo stolen from my lovely cousin, Brandi. If Eiley ever has another birthday party, Brandi will be deemed official party photographer.

My third distractor was Eiley's dedication. Okay, this didn't actually require much planning, but I was pretty stressed out just about standing in front of the church. A mild case of stage fright. Who knew?

Photo stolen from Drake, who was totally peeking during prayer

My fourth distractor was work. It's taking a lot of effort to keep up with that. More than it used to. I don't know why though. Maybe it's just the combination of everything else with it.


My fifth distractor was so much more than a distractor. It was learning of a tragedy. The 32 year old wife of my Virginia Beach pastor passed away on Sunday. She was beautiful, loving, welcoming, gracious - seriously, choose a positive adjective and it would apply to her. At my sister's wedding, she toted my sleeping Eiley around for a good half hour, lamenting that her babies were growing up so fast. She has three children, all very young, and she was an adoring mother. While I didn't know her super well, my heart is hurting for my East Coast church friends and pastor.


And that's where my mind has been. I'd like to say that I'll write more often, but I can give no guarantees. 

everything is different. nothing is new.

I have been absolutely frozen trying to think of what to write recently. Too much has changed to tell it all, yet I don't really have much new going on. I moved from Virginia to California, but I'm working the same job and living in the house where I grew up for now, so I don't have a whole lot to write about here. It's oddly disorienting. I'm going to have to go with random thoughts, otherwise I may end up with literary paralysis:

• I feel like I'm on a weird vacation, except I'm working full time so it's not a vacation at all. This is unsettling, but not in a bad or good way. It's neutrally unsettling. I have no idea when this feeling will end, but I suspect it will align with moving out of my parents' house. 
• Since arriving in California, we have gone to In-n-Out four times, Rubio's three times, the beach once, Disneyland once, Downtown Disney once, Balboa Island once, and zip-lining in Big Bear once. I've seen two grandmas, one Grandbob, two aunts, one uncle, two cousins, one second cousin, and (obviously) my parents. I'm just saying that all the California dreaming I did in Virginia is coming true. And the weather here is just as amazing as I remembered too.

Proof of beach and nice weather!

• So You Think You Can Dance is the best reality show on television. Please try to disagree with me. I will cut you.
• I miss my sister something fierce. Like, I can tear up a little bit if I think too hard about it.
• Last night, Jeff and I were following a truck with a neon pink stuffed monkey hanging off the back. It was hanging on for dear life, its long skinny legs were bouncing against the tailgate, and it was smiling. It really made me happy and I don't know why. 
• To clarify, when I said "I will cut you" earlier, I just meant with my words. 
• I'm currently reading two books: Rules of Civility and Hatchet. The former was a gift from Jeff's aunt, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly, though it doesn't seem to have a plot. It's basically just the story of a woman's life in New York in the 30s. The latter is a book my dad reads with his fifth grade class every year, and every year he asks if I've read it and I say no. Well, next year I'm going to say yes, darn it!
• I recently read a couple of status updates from friends who have babies that are close to Eiley's age. One talked about her child walking for the past month. The other talked about her child identifying pictures in a book. I found myself immediately comparing Eiley to these milestones, fretting that she hasn't walked yet or that she doesn't seem near identifying objects. But let me tell you what I've already told myself - babies develop at different times. Eiley is probably doing other things faster than those two (though I am still so super impressed with Baby B and Baby C if you're reading this, ladies!!!), and she's certainly not dim or inactive or anything. Comparisons are dangerous, that's all I'm saying. And, as my husband said last night, we're going to love her no matter what anyway, so comparisons are also pointless. 

For example, how many babies can pull off this look?

• A couple of years ago, I wrote myself a syllabus for a semester of life (which basically got thrown out the window because I got pregnant and my energy went from a 7 to a 0.5). I'm working on a new one pretty soon here - does anyone have any random suggestions?

That is all.

Happy First Father's Day, Jeffrey!

Dear Jeffrey,


This year, I have seen you persevere through 18 hours of me laboring when you'd only had about 2 hours of sleep. 

I've seen you have patience with me as I totally did not keep my cool when I had trouble learning how to nurse.


I've seen your forearm get ripped from constantly bobbing ten pounds to sleep.

I've seen your pinky get pruny from pacifying Eiley.


I've seen your face light up every single time you greet our daughter.

Photo by Sarah Grice

I've seen you willingly change diapers. Even the ones you knew would be icky.


I've seen you take the baby exactly when I was at the end of my rope.


I've seen you proudly display pictures and talk so positively about our little girl.

I've seen you carry so many bags that I was compelled to refer to you as a pack mule.


I've seen you work tirelessly to make our comedy connoisseur giggle.


I've seen you take the lead on remembering when to feed Eiley, when to change her, when to put her down for a nap, when to entertain her, and when to just let her cry. 


I've seen you love, love, love your daughter, while loving me and loving others. 

And it's safe to say she loves you back. And so do I!

You really are the tops.


Happy Father's Day!


[Oh, and to my own Daddy: I still think you're wonderful too! You may read last year's post to remind yourself of that fact. I will also add that you are an amazing Grandpa now too. Eiley would like to add "YAHYAHYAHYAHYAH!"]

a poem for miss eiley

Last night, my mom got home from work and was playing with Eiley. "Eiley, you need a song," she said. Then Eiley scooted across the room, and Mama started typing furiously on her computer. I thought she was composing an email or playing Typing Maniac, but then about five minutes later, she read this:

I know a little girl named eiley
Who most of the time is smiley…

she plays and talks and naps
she sits on peoples laps

she gives high fives and waves hello
and crawls determined, steady and slow.

On some occasion she might be a grump
There could be a reason, perhaps a head bump?

A load in her pants or too little sleep
No one could expect her temper to keep.

But the smile that wins out on this little face
Is the smile of ALL smiles, it’s our eiley grace.

It's not a song just yet, but it's a lovely little poem. Feel free to write music for us, someone.

Eiley and her Fee Faw!

[Best of Year One] and now it's time for another good idea, bad idea.

[Originally posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2012]

I've realized recently that maybe we're not always the most conventionally good parents in the world. Evidence!


Good idea: Letting baby chew on an appropriate baby toy, like Sophia the Giraffe from Babies R Us.
Bad idea: Letting baby chew on an appropriate dog toy, like a giant red rubber bone.

We do take it away as quickly as possible,
but this child has a future in ninjary.

Good idea: Using the stroller or car seat for storage when shopping.
Bad idea: Using the stroller or car seat for storage when shopping for wine. 

She's never been soused. So that's a point for us, right?

Good idea: Inviting baby to a party.
Bad idea: Keeping baby at a party well past her bedtime.

Come on, though. How freaking cute.

Good idea: Kissing baby sweetly on the cheek.
Bad idea: Trying to eat the baby. 

Yum.

Good idea: Bringing baby along to a busy restaurant.
Bad idea: Spinning baby around on the giant Lazy Susan on the table at a busy restaurant.




The good news is that Miss Eiley is fiercely loved. And it seems like that can make all those bad ideas still pretty okay. 


Except eating her. I never condone eating babies.

Happy Birthday Blog!

One year ago today, Emily and I launched our very first post here at Long Distance Lobsters, and we've posted at least once every day since. Happy Birthday Blog! My life is better with you in it.

Here's a silly video we made to celebrate. Enjoy, and feel free to mock us mercilessly in the comments.

You'll be seeing some changes in the new Lobster year:

1. The next two weeks will be devoted to revisiting our favorite posts. We hope you enjoy rereading them too (or reading them for the first time if you're new here). This is partly to celebrate a whole year of uninterrupted fresh blogs, but mostly to give ourselves breathing room to since I am moving and Zoe has her hands full with a very energetic toddler.

2. We will still update regularly, but we won't be quite as diligent about making sure it's daily. (I write this for my sister who was concerned for our wellbeing when we posted very late one day last week.)

3. Those are the only two changes I can think of.


As always, we welcome your input and reader requests. Thanks for giving our little project an audience!

In conclusion, hurray! 

Sabbath Sunday

Today I am stuck in the house with a sick Eiley. Luckily I have the best sister ever who brought me lunch and hung out with me for the afternoon. Fun! Now I'm listening to a Shane and Shane Pandora station and watching Eiley play in her nursery with epic volumes of snot pouring from her nose. It's not a bad day!

Movie Review Monday: The Hunger Games (Again)

Jeff had rehearsal last week when I saw Hunger Games, and he made me swear that I would see it a second time with him. We found ourselves with an evening open, a small window of opportunity. We hadn't planned ahead though, so we had to find a babysitter at the last minute. Jeff put out an APB on facebook to see if anyone could do it, and after about an hour, our friend Whitney texted and said she was free. (Actually, after about ten minutes our pastor's wife offered to do it too, but she disclaimered that she'd been sick all week and we didn't want her to have to do any extra work on top of caring for her own three children!)

This was amazing on several levels:

1. Come on. One hour of a status update on facebook, two babysitting offers. Our community here provides excellent customer service.

2. Whitney brought her dog, so Buster was also wholly entertained. 

Buster and Winston are totally BFF.

3. Most importantly, less than one year ago, Whitney was at our baby shower and she held a sleeping baby Rhett. As soon as he woke up, Whitney looked a little uncomfortable and gave him back to his mother and we all laughed about it. But tonight - oh, tonight. Tonight, Whitney willingly gave up her evening to hang out with Eiley. She fed her, changed her, played freaking peekaboo with her! Amazing. Whitney, you are so brave, and I tip my hat to you. Or I salute you. Or something. 

Whitney and Eiley, back when Eiley was still rather fetus-like.

In conclusion, Hunger Games was just as good the second time. I even started to warm to Josh Hutchinson. My three claws remain up.

and now it's time for another good idea, bad idea.

I've realized recently that maybe we're not always the most conventionally good parents in the world. Evidence!


Good idea: Letting baby chew on an appropriate baby toy, like Sophia the Giraffe from Babies R Us.
Bad idea: Letting baby chew on an appropriate dog toy, like a giant red rubber bone.

We do take it away as quickly as possible,
but this child has a future in ninjary.

Good idea: Using the stroller or car seat for storage when shopping.
Bad idea: Using the stroller or car seat for storage when shopping for wine. 

She's never been soused. So that's a point for us, right?

Good idea: Inviting baby to a party.
Bad idea: Keeping baby at a party well past her bedtime.

Come on, though. How freaking cute.

Good idea: Kissing baby sweetly on the cheek.
Bad idea: Trying to eat the baby. 

Yum.

Good idea: Bringing baby along to a busy restaurant.
Bad idea: Spinning baby around on the giant Lazy Susan on the table at a busy restaurant.

The good news is that Miss Eiley is fiercely loved. And it seems like that can make all those bad ideas still pretty okay. 


Except eating her. I never condone eating babies.

and now it's time for more weird toys with eiley...

These blocks come from FeeFaw and Pops (my parents), and Eiley plays with them every day. We can only hope that Zombie is one of her first words. 

In conclusion, I filmed it like that on purpose. You know, better view of the kid and all. You're welcome.

and now it's time for weird toys with eiley grace...

In this segment, we'll join Eiley Grace as she enjoys one of her oddest toys. 


Don't be afraid. While we're 100% certain it would be hanging out with that abomination with the baby head and spider legs if it was in Toy Story, we take solace in knowing that it only seems possessed. 

resolution'd!

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions. I once read appalling statistics about the failure rate of resolutions, so I just figured it would be dumb to even try. But this year, something strange happened.


On January 1, I read this: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationship/blog/27720-a-new-yearwithout-facebook (Summary: Girl decides to give up Facebook. Oddly enough, I saw this on Facebook. Hi, Caitlin!)


On January 2, I read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/opinion/sunday/the-joy-of-quiet.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1 (Summary: Dude is more creative and happy because he takes time to be quiet and avoids things like social media. Oddly enough, I saw this on Facebook too. Hi, Meredith!)


On January 3, I saw this:
(This was on Netflix. Nothing odd about that.)


You might be thinking that I interpreted this as "It's time to give up Facebook!" I didn't. Facebook is generally a positive thing for me because my family lives far away. I currently use it mostly to keep them updated on all things Eiley. I would be terrible at emailing pictures, but for some reason throwing them on Facebook is manageable. I feel no inner tug (which I like to call "Holy Spirit") telling me to quit it. 


My resolution, instead, turned to Eiley. Working full time and having a full time baby is not the easiest thing in the world, even with a husband who pitches in constantly. When Eiley is napping, I have to make work calls instead of taking a break myself. Therefore, I tend to be not the most attentive mother in the world. I'm not neglecting her or anything, but I just know I could be more selfless and offer her more attention. Instead of browsing Facebook several times a day, I could limit my intake to times when she is asleep and I'm not working. Instead of distracting myself with a TV show when no one else is home, I could turn on some music and find creative ways to interact with my child. Instead of going shopping for myself, I could stay home and read a book with Eiley. In return, I'm fairly certain she'll whine less since she enjoys an audience, just like her daddy. (That was a joke. He's not whiny - he's an actor.) 


So there you go. An official New Year's Resolution, though it's admittedly a little fuzzy since there is no measurable outcome. But it still counts. What are your resolutions, Lobsters?

Dear Emily,

Dear Emily,

Why thank you for your blog-letter! I loved hearing all about your life. There is so much that falls between the cracks, even as much as we try to stay in touch. It is a relief to know some of these delightful tidbits can be salvaged.

Do you ever just wonder what is going through Eiley’s mind as you read to and play with her? What do you sing with her? Does she have a favorite song? Sofia has always been a surprising fan of the ABC’s, and Manny has a magical ability to put her asleep with “Hush Little Baby.” I hear the later so often that I meditate on its meaning and implications way too much.  I’ll probably have to write a blog post about it some day.

Sofia is saying “Mama” a lot lately and it is the highlight of my life.

Instead of plants and flamingos, you should just focus on what you already do so well and build your gnome collection. Did you ever see that Gnomeo and Juliet movie?

I remember random things and use those memories to develop an odd list of life-goals/dreams. One of them is for you to have a white picket fence some day. I’m sure I probably made awkward threats to Jeff while y’all were engaged that involved him promising to make this happen for you. I’m glad you are getting closer, who knows, I could die at any moment, what with the wild meese and falling snow and fire-red clawed creatures roaming all about around here.

I am very sorry that Jennifer Johnson didn’t do it for you. I also judge books by their covers. This often means I purchase pretty ones, but I apparently do not have such luck as you, and so there are a lot of pretty books on my shelves, but a whole different collection of books I have actually enjoyed. What is going to happen to cover design in a world of iTunes and eReaders?!?! Tragic.

I am in a book club for the first time in my life. I hated the first two books we read, but rather enjoyed the most recent one we discussed. It was called The Imperfectionists. It was about a newspaper in Rome or more thematically, about the evolution of journalism over the past several decades. My family never subscribed the paper when I was growing up, so I find journalism and newsprint to be an exotic art form, not in the least bit discouraged by Dave Eggers The Panoramic. Are you familiar with that? I texted you the night I heard him speak about it at Berkeley, fascinating. But I’m getting carried away on this topic so I should move on.

Please do away with your shame because I LOVED Drop Dead Diva. I believe I may have recommended it to you several months ago? Lol. I also recently discovered a male version of the show with the love interest from the movie version of Mansfield park. It is called “Eli Stone” and it is available on Netflix Watch Instant.  It has the dad from Alias doing lots of song and dance numbers. Eat your heart out.

I can only imagine how amazing Jenna is with Eiley. Y’all are so blessed to have each other and get to be close by. Jenna is just an amazing human being! I am so anxious for Thanksgiving because that means my sister is coming to visit. I keep getting so excited at the thought of her seeing Sofia for the first time since July, because I feel like EVERYTHING has changed for Sofia since then. Lauren is not going to recognize her.

I have indeed played Bananagrams and when I did I thought, “Emily would love this!” I, as you know, am a horrendous speller, therefore I am not a huge fan but enjoy playing it for the sake of the people I play with.

Bah! No diaper bag?!? Disasterous! I kind of hate my diaper bag and wouldn’t mind an opportunity to change things up, but would totally freak if I lost all its contents. I hope you didn’t lose anything too valuable.

Um, wow. Christian swingers party?!?! You and your parties, amazing. This should be an ongoing series on our blog because you are part of the most creative parties I ever hear of. Also, you as Olive Oyl iis just so perfect. I love it! And the fact that you can pull that off so soon post-pregnancy deserves a big kudos, way to go!

I haven’t been to any parties that come close to that one lately. But we did participate in this town Halloween parade. It was so awesome. It took me back to my own childhood when we would decorate our bikes for Fourth of July and have a city-wide parade around the entire city. [the “city” I lived in was about eight blocks deep and one block wide] Here, all the kids in town [and several more brave parents] dressed up, gathered in the town green, and followed the high school marching band a few blocks around to the Rec center. We saw most people we know in town and I got to meet the dads of all these mommy/baby pairs I’m getting to know. So much cute stimulation. It wore us all out, but it was great fun!

I was checking out Sandy Kay Salsbury’s blog [http://viewfromtheroadsofar.blogspot.com/] and am playing around with the idea of doing the Nanowrimo [http://www.nanowrimo.org/]. Didn’t you do that a few years back? I should probably be more committed from day one, but we’ll see. Anyways – thanks for giving me lots to write about with your lovely post!

Talk to you soon! Lahve!