SASSYlicious Living

Another day in paradise

2011-02-22T20:09:00.000-05:00

{I hope you noted the deep sarcasm in those words}

What. A. Day.

Just another one of those long, exhausting, mentally draining, overwhelming days in the Mommyhood.

Sigh.

Nico has been TERRIBLE! He's has me all over the place emotionally. From sweet and loving, to outrageously pissed of, so f-ing mad I ....almost started crying of overwhelming f-r-u-s-t-r-a-t-i-o-n.

I blame it on this STUPID cold, wintery, wet weather. He probably feels like a jailed little man on house arrest. I don't blame him. I do too, but worse. I'm like a barely sane inmate confined to a mad house some days. This IS a mad house. I am this close to losing. My. Freakin. MIND! When the hell is Spring going to arrive? I was through with Winter the day it started back in December. When you have little ones (two under the age of 3 in my case) when winter comes you do nothing but hibernate.

Repeat: Hibernate.

That's right. Any planning you want to do gets squeezed into the Spring part of the calendar. And that feels like light years away!

Most Moms I know feel the same way. Unless there is pretty much absolutely n-o-t-h-i-n-g, and I mean NOTHING in the house to eat. Ok, ok, at least nothing you would want to eat, which in that case probably should be thrown out or donated, depending on its edible status which can be questionable sometimes. There are few plausible reasons to even think of leaving the house with two kids. Most reasons are simply not important enough to leave our warm cave. We're like bears. If you don't believe me ask my thighs, and belly... they're piling up some extra goody stuff that aren't going to sit well with my bathing suit {or the public} come summer. Ha!

{Note to self: Diet and exercise ASAP!}

Sigh.

Today alone, Nico has...

Among a very long list of things, had 3 potty accidents.

There was the one, first thing in the morning. How could I forget it? It was 6:53 am! He woke me up, half undressed with his arm trapped half way over his head, and all winy told me he was stuck and wet. It was pitch black. {What's he a freakin rooster? GO BACK TO SLEEP! I thought to myself...} After changing his diaper and clothes and a failed attempt to put him back in his bed, of course it was wet too, I brought him back to our bed in what turned out to be yet another failed attempt to catch more zzzs. It was not even 7 am yet. Sigh.

He never fell asleep again. Neither did I. His incessant squirming around, poking my back with his feet and knees, and little voice {as cute as it is, I don't care for it at the crack of dawn} repeatedly sounding like a broken record saying, "I can't sleep Mommy, I can't" was as torturous as knowing the hour # was still on 6 when my beautiful precious sleep came to an end.

I could have cried. But I was too busy trying desperately to fall back asleep.

Then there were the two others. Intentional ones, I say. Potty accidents. Remember we're still really talking about that. The fact he decided not to tell me he had peed and pooped in the potty at some point led me to not wiping him... which led to noticing after it was way too late that he left me a big gift in the potty, and a soiled underwear on the floor (and later a repeat story but that time it was a pull up), all while he ran around naked. I was only too late each time I realized he was sitting all over our family room leather sofas with it all hanging out, spreading the poop love all over. It was a poop fest!

At least the leather sofas were easier to clean than if they would have been cloth.

I should mention a tiny detail, which really adds to the seriousness of these events. Nico's stools have been very runny and deadly stinky (smelling like worst than something dead) the past couple weeks. Yeah, that made the entire ordeal just that much more fun.

Besides all the poop... Nico also spent the entire day throwing stuff at me, hitting me, and screaming at me. Also defying me. Talking back. You name it, he done it.

Then there was little Victoria. You'd think she's just so darn cute nothing bad could ever come from her... Then came the moment she woke up from her nap with the biggest, runniest, STINKIEST poop EVER! It was greenish. And it was SO disgusting I gagged and literally almost threw up. Her's too smelled like something far beyond dead.

What have my kids been ingesting???!!

I don't understand how something so horrendous could come from something so adorably cute. I guess it is what it is. Sh*t happens.

Yes, there’s more. Victoria wouldn't stop squirming around while I tried changing her diaper, so of course she got poop all over my hands, arms, pants, and all of herself as well. I swear she needs to be restrained and heavily sedated to accomplish a simple task like changing her diaper. This would have been a wonderful time to do just so. ARGHH!

The carpet and floor got poop on it as well. {No, I didn't use a changing table or changing pad.} Squirmy little ~~monster~~ princess. Dear God!

I guess I should be thankful she took a nice long nap at least.

But then she threw up on me after I took her clothes off. A thank you, perhaps? Uhg. Good thing it was all over my dirty pooped pants.

I thoroughly washed myself, and her, and changed both of us. My scrubbing was beyond what doctors do before entering the OR. That's how disgusting the whole thing was. And we STILL reek of poop! I bet Julio will love that when he gets home. His girls' lovely smell... of... eu de merde. {Welcome to the Mommyhood!}

Oh.

Another forgotten thought just came back to me. Because this day only kept getting better and better. {Note the sarcasm, please.}

The toilet got clogged when I tried flushing down one of Nico's nasty stools. Just fabulous! Luckily it didn't over-flood. But, I am not attempting to deal with that disgusting mess. That'll be another little surprise to welcome Julio home from work. ENOUGH POOP, I'M SO THROUGH WITH IT ALL!!!!! ARGHHHHHH!!!

Nico has also spent the entire day hitting Victoria. You name it he's done it to her. Poor princess. I've caught him in the act so many times, I've ran out of measures of punishment. I'm unsure if it's due to jealousy, or maybe he's got too much energy built up due to winter hibernation and isn't able to burn it off in a safe and productive way.

...Ah!!...

...my savior arrived!! Julio, brought home cheese slices for sandwiches. That may after all be what's for dinner tonight.

He also kissed me hello. Makes my world a better place instantly. :)

He unclogged the toiled immediately. Poop be gone... the toilet Master is home! LOL

He also took care of feeding and putting Victoria to sleep.

And played with Nico.

And gave me some much needed time to hear my own thoughts and write this out.

My ears are sore from all the crying that happened in this house today. That includes all of my mental cries. I also have a terrible headache.

I managed to not go completely insane, again. I don't know how though. Another notch on my belt.

And as the cherry on top...

The house is an entire mess. Again. Thanks to Hurricane Nico! :/

Ok… Off to have me a drink! Red Wine... here I come!

Cheers to this paradise called Mommyhood, and to us brave women who find the strength, the will and the mind to get up everyday to do it. All. Over. Again.

Salud!

Everyone is entitled to clean streets and access to their mailbox, thank you very much.

2011-02-07T14:59:00.000-05:00

The people at the Street Dept. must think I’m a nuisance… or maybe not. Well, probably. I have their phone # in my contacts; that’s how often I’ve called them to make inquiries or complaints about different issues.

In the past I’ve complained about the mess that WM has left behind when they’ve carelessly collected the trash. They’ve left part of the trash scattered across the street in front of our house and haven’t even bothered to pick it up. They expect us to clean up their mess? No way! Even now, they still fail to take it all, but at least what’s left behind is still in the container. They’re lucky I haven’t complained about that… yet. That said…

Snowmaggedon hit last week with a snow and ice mix that had us housebound and hibernating for a good two and a half days. We had snow up the wazu. We cleared the driveway and sidewalks, but clearing space to gain access to the mailbox proved to be an impossible feat. Honestly, the Street Dept. can’t complain when I feel forced to call them and complain about the sorry a** job they did, leaving roughly 6 ft of snow (2 ft deep at some points) in front of our home (taking up street space). Poor mailman must have today’s toughest job in the city, and God forbid someone might want to come visit us… uh, sorry, no parking available.

Today I called in to complain. I was very annoyed to have to call, after all it’s been well over 4 days since the storm hit the city and by now anyone would expect all roads to be pretty well cleaned up. Not ours. So I called, and the man I spoke to was on the defensive the whole time and almost dismissive, like he was annoyed I was complaining. Who do you think was more annoyed when he, in the Street Dept.’s defense, told me they have to put excess snow somewhere, especially after an intersection (our house is the second down from a curve, which he called an intersection ??) AND that they try to do their best at removing the snow up to 10 inches from the curb?

I think at that point I wanted to reach into the phone and strangle him, but I contained myself and in my nicest voice {really, I was nice} I told him that whatever excess snow they had could be placed on the curve where there is no home to block access to (not my home) AND that I understood one couldn’t ask for snow removal beyond 10 inches from the curb, but we were swamped with snow extending 6 FEET from the curb. I think I heard his sigh of disbelief, and he said he’d come over and talk to me after he took a look at it.

Sure, he thought I was exaggerating.

I was surprised an hour later when he showed up at my front door, and said he looked at the issue and said that they’ll “try to do a better job next time and get it 10 in from the curb.” He also said something else, which honestly just made me want to slap him (LOL) though I contained myself, after I told him clearing access to the mailbox was impossible (the 6 ft of snow was about 2.5 ft deep of pure ice), “Well, the neighbors cleared their mailbox… but I don’t think we can do anything here since it’s probably ice now.”

DUH. Ice. But not my fault. It was ice to begin with!

I took a good look at him and kindly but [very] seriously requested he send a big ol’ snow plowing truck just to try to clean it all up. I said, “After all, we can’t lose anything in trying, right?”

He half-smiled. It looked pretty fake. He probably hated me, who knows. Oh, and no apologies from the Street Dept.

Ten min after he left, low and behold a snow plowing truck came by and very quickly and easily cleaned up the street. Took nothing but 10 sec to clear the front of our house, and another min to clean up the rest of the street.

Apology accepted, thanks Street Dept.!

See? You just have to stick up for yourself and demand what’s right.

Make or Break: The urgent need for a permanent guest bedroom

2011-02-04T17:55:00.000-05:00

We frequently have long term guests at our house, and by that I mean a month or more at a time, even more than once a year. In the past we’ve ended up doubling Nico and Victoria in her bedroom and offered up Nico’s room since Victoria’s crib won’t fit through the doorway in one piece and disassembling it is not an option we want to even think of.

In the event of an even tougher scenario, we need both kids’ bedrooms for guests which means both kiddos are booted from their bedrooms, and with both being under the age of 3 we have no where else to put them other than our bedroom. This can happen, it’s not a vague supposition.

Don’t get me wrong, I love having visitors, especially since all our family lives out of the country and we don’t get to see them as often as we’d like. But the situation is tough when it involves shuffling the kids around.

If guests stayed a week or two, it would be a bearable sacrifice. But when they have extended stays, it becomes SO stressful I can barely handle it. Their sleep patterns are completely disrupted (leading to mine as well), they wake each other up, and that leads to a domino effect of chaos, that quite simply put, is intolerable. It’s a crazy situation and adds more stress to an already hectic household. All of that leads to a more bitchy me. So, I object! (I’m sure Julio would as well.)

^{image by staci0421_photo}

My Mom will be spending a few months with us starting in March. And it looks like she may be visiting us for long periods on a permanent and yearly basis. I’m also taking into consideration the fact that my step daughter visits us over the summers and some Holidays as well. We really do need a solution, and pronto!

So, I’m on a mission to find the {perfect} solution! The clock’s ticking… I’ll keep you posted on what I come up with.

My Review of Cozy Cub(R) Quilted Bunting

2011-01-27T10:15:00.002-05:00

Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

Our customers have tagged this "the best baby/toddler snowsuit," because it's warm without bulk and glides on with ease! Our secret: triple-layer technology (water-repellent shell/Thermolite(R) insulation/microfleece lining), paired with smart design features like fold-over cuffs and ...

Very warm and comfy!

By LenaMM from Indiana on 1/27/2011

Fit: Feels true to size
Pros: Cute, Very affordable, Soft, Colorful, Durable, Good Quality, Lightweight
Cons: Difficult To Put On
Best Uses: Toddlers, Infants
Describe Yourself: Parent of Two or More Children

Very cute, well made, and especially warm and comfy. So comfy, I have been surprised several times by my 9 mth old falling asleep in it, even in the stroller! She NEVER sleeps in the stroller. Apparently she must feel like she's on a cloud in it. I just wish it was a little easier to put on, but all buntings are like that with an infant, so not that big of a deal. I love that the hands and feet can be opened or closed, of course my little girl doesn't walk so I keep her's closed. So great I don't have to think of putting/keeping shoes on her this winter, AND she's warm for sure. It's too long for her (arms and legs), but since I carry her anyway it's not a problem. VERY GOOD price for the quality and compared to other big brand names. Beware on the wrong sizing on the item itself- but they warn about that! Very satisfied! Highly recommend!

(legalese)

The power of WHY: Coo-coo-cachou land is only one question away, really

2011-01-26T15:12:00.000-05:00

So, it has begun.

I don’t know if this is the right time. Could it ever be the right time? Who are we kidding? Little things can be more annoying than the broken record of a little 2 yr 9 mth old boy {my son} repeating over… and over… and over again:

“Why Mommy? Why?”

The subject is never relevant. Sometimes, it’s an out of the blue question. “Mommy, why is this?” Other times, it doesn’t even make sense, and it’s oddly hilarious. Like when I jammed my toe into the foot of the sofa, and while I screamed hurting he asked, “Why Mommy?” Ok, so in the middle of my pain, I cracked up laughing. That must have been the silliest most stupid question, ever.

There are moments where this sassy Mama loses it, due to over-heated “why, why , why?” malfunction… it is those moments when I wish someone would just put me out of my misery. And then something cute happens; Nico will do something so adorable I completely forget the insanity, and just realize how adorable he is and how crazy I’m about him.

Craziness! I know. Us Moms can be so weak.

Nico is asleep as we speak, and somehow I still hear his voice saying, “Why Mommy?” {Haha.} Yep, losing it probably. It was cute the first time he asked why. Ok, the first two times. After all, Nico is so darn cute it’s hard not eating him. But in reality after that… dear God! I could really go insane, any day now. Whatever dismal bit of sanity might be left in me, may have just gone out the window a few minutes ago.

SOS! Anyone?

So, how long does this stage last, exactly? Of course, I’m sure that like everything else, once Nico grows out of this phase, Victoria will fall right into it. It’s like the whole diaper thing and cleaning poop everywhere. I could pull my hair out! But that’s a whole different story.

So, in keeping positive thoughts about this crazy and silly situation, I see the good in the, err, crazy. My son is a learning machine, always wanting to understand everything.

Wow! He’s SO smart.

Yeah… SO smart he’s figured out another way of driving me insane, and then bringing me back from coo-coo-cachou land instantly by hugging and kissing me spontaneously, out of the blue, all while he tells me “Mommy, I loooooove you!”

I mean, could you resist this face?

{oh, I just melt away…}

2011 Own Your Beauty - January’s theme: Adventure

2011-01-24T16:50:00.001-05:00

Along with many women, I too pledged to become part of this yearlong movement through BlogHer. Why not? It’s something to keep you thinking and motivated to strive to be the best you can be, love yourself, and do your part in encouraging and influencing others’ lives.

Own Your Beauty is a groundbreaking, year-long movement bringing women together to change the conversation about what beauty means. Our mission: to encourage and remind grown women that it is never too late to learn to love one's self and influence the lives of those around us - our mothers, friends, children, neighbors. We can shift our minds and hearts and change the path we follow in the pursuit of authentic beauty.

In keeping with January’s theme, Adventure, I thought I’d write about my 2011 [projected] adventures.

Life is an adventure… mine is a mix of adventures with my kids, husband, marriage, long To Do lists, projects, friendships, and conquering even the worst health issues. I vowed 2011 would be filled with good things, positive thinking, completed projects, all wrapped up in a bundle of happy feelings with a big bow of joyful life. This, after the very stressful and heart-wrenching experiences we went through as a family in the last quarter of 2010 with Julio’s kidney cancer. I know our love and God was what got us through it all.

So, what adventures await in 2011?

1) Back to blogging. Because I simply LOVE it! I started off January by getting back to blogging, after what seemed like an eternal hiatus. I’ve vowed to become a serious blogger, and have been doing tons of research and work on that matter. I’m getting ready to pimp up both my blogs AND move to Wordpress once and for all. Blogging has become one of my most enjoyable hobbies since I started last year, so why not dive into it? Of course, I never have enough time to devote all that I’d like to it with the kids and life in general. But, when there’s a will there’s a way.

2) Travel with my hubby, sans kids. Or you can call it mini-honeymooning. Luckily my Mom’s spending some months here with us, so that will facilitate this, we hope. I just realized, more strongly than ever before, that Julio and I need more ‘us time’. We love our kids, but life can (and has) become mostly about them, and working all around them. And that’s ok. Most of the time. But we just cannot neglect each other, or stop enjoying ‘us moments’ for so long. We need time alone with each other. We deserve it, we want it and we’re making it happen. After all, we know life is too short, and every second counts.

3) Renewing our vows. Because after all, our love and family is what makes life worth living. This year marks our 5th Wedding Anniversary. I had always told Julio that when we married we’d renew our vows every 5 years. It was never written in stone or anything, but after 2010 came and went, nothing seems more appropriate than to renew our vows, and promise our love to each other once again. I’m sure whatever way we do it, wherever it ends up being, it’ll be as special, if not more, than when we promised each other the world the first time around that 21st of Dec. of 2006. Now, wearing my wedding dress might be too long of a stretch and an impossible feat, but it’s an interesting thought. I have it stored in the closet.

4) Complete projects. Because I’m addicted to projects. But, I have had an ever growing list of projects that keep piling up. Some I’ve started and never finished, and some have remained simply ideas as they’ve failed to launch. In any case, I’d like to renew the efforts to complete them, the most I can. My personal and cooking blogs are two ongoing projects that really need a lot of attention and work put into them. Others are mostly [our] home design/décor and organization projects including but not limited to: painting the house interiors (very big project); transitioning Victoria’s baby room to big girl room; basement kids/tv room; basement game room; garage organization; back yard gardening; etc.

5) Empowering ourselves with knowledge of our health and risks. Some adventures you simply don’t look much forward to, but nevertheless, they’re adventures. Live and learn. Julio will be getting check-up CT scans every couple mths or so, which I’m sure will not come without the added stress and anxiety of finding out results and praying everything is a-ok. But, like they say, “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”, right? Sigh. It’s hard not to worry. We’re also thinking of getting genetic testing, for both of us, to assess the risks (or lack of) getting certain cancers for us and our children. VHL genetic testing for Julio because of his bilateral kidney cancers (which were successfully removed with negative margins in late 2010), and BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing for me because of my family health history (Mom’s ovarian cancer and Dad’s breast cancer). Knowledge is empowering, no matter how you look at it.

So, many adventures set forth in 2011. I hope to be able to accomplish most, if not all of the things I’ve projected. There’s also the cliché New Year’s Resolutions that always seem to be lost in translation or fall through the cracks much before half of the year is even over: lose weight and get fit; clear the clutter; get organized; stop procrastinating; be on time to everything; etc. I hope to be successful at keeping those as well. Good luck to me!

…and good luck to all of you in all your 2011 adventures!

"Just The Way You Are"

2011-01-24T12:51:00.000-05:00

"Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars, is a current hit song that plays often on the radio, and I cannot help but think about my sweet husband Julio every time I hear it. It just reminds me of how he makes me feel, because he loves me just the way I am. Makes me happy every time I hear it!

Just thought I'd share some cheesy love with you... because it's Monday... why not? Enjoy the song (courtesy of ElektraRecords via youtube.com)! :)

Bruno Mars: Just The Way You Are [Official Video]

Own Your Beauty!

2011-01-23T18:13:00.001-05:00

Sounds like a {fabulous} plan! It's on! :)

{{ New found LOVE on BlogHer.com }}

If it were a headline it would read: “Smartest kid in the world goes potty flawlessly in less than 2 days!”

2011-01-17T23:51:00.000-05:00

Ok, so maybe I shouldn’t brag. Or, maybe I should. I mean this is up there in the ‘greatest news ever’ department when you’re a parent.

Nico finally used the potty all on his own. Multiple times, all day long. Did I mention he peed AND pooped? FLAWLESSLY! OMG!! I’m so thrilled I could cry. But I won’t. Save that for the chaotic days when I wish I was on an island, by myself, finally able to hear myself thinking. Ok, so that’s another whole different issue we’ll get into in another post, someday. LOL

Ok, so the potty process isn’t super perfected yet since I still have to wipe him when he poops, AND I also have to go to the bathroom every time he goes after he emphatically shouts “Mommy, I peed/pooped”. {oh, for heaven’s sake… I can’t complain!}

He did it all on his own, when he decided it was time, and has never looked back. I mean, seriously, the transition has been for three days FLAWLESS. Not a single time has he had an accident. That’s my boy! I think he takes after me. Actually, yes, I’m sure of it. He’s got determination and is independent in all his ways. Well, darn it, finally something he got from me! LOL Oh, he’s so darn cute, I could just eat him. Often, he suddenly stops whatever he’s doing and says to himself (or sometimes to me) “oh! do peepee/poop”…sometimes with an added “go, hurry!” to himself. Hahaha. Ahh, good times!

Here’s the gist of how it all went down.

1/14/11 - Day 1:

Julio and I explained to Nico that he was going to start wearing underwear while in the house (sans bottoms, until he learned to deal solely with the underwear), and that he was to pee/poop in the potty when he needed to; NEVER in the underwear.

Nico claimed he understood the situation and agreed to do as told. Yeah right. Four wet underwear later (caught by checking him – not that he ever told us - and after finding a huge wet spot on the carpet - beh!), day 1 came to a close with no success. Luckily he’d done a major poop early in the morning before we started our training process, and didn’t feel the need for a second #2 all day long. Phew! With each oopsies we never reprimanded/punished him and always talked nicely explaining each time he’d made a mistake, and repeated that the potty was the place to do everything. Though in all honesty, I thought at some point, eventually, I’d lose what little mind and patience I had left. Who are we kidding? I mean, after all, I was the one who’d have to clean every mess, and wash every wet or filthy pooped underwear. Beh!

1/15/11 – Day 2: (…and beyond)

First thing in the morning, off with Nico’s overnight diaper (no poop, just pee), and on came the underwear. Again, we explained how he had to go about it all. I was preparing myself mentally for that impending #2 that would sooner or later come, expecting a big horrible mess sometime, somewhere, just hopefully not on the carpet or fabric sofa. Sigh. {to my delight it would never come in that horrific way}

Not too long into the morning I noticed Nico running towards the bathroom. He seemed in a hurry, opened the door, turned on the light and after a few brief seconds of silence he shouted “Mommy, I peed!”

I was ecstatic! Could it really be true? I found him sitting on the potty, and though he assured me he peed, it was clean. I then noticed he’d made the attempt to get to the potty but had peed in his underwear and then sat on the potty. The same thing happened twice in a row and both times I told him he did a good job trying but he still didn’t have it quite right. Clearly he was making progress with his training since he’d made the attempts to use the potty.

Like they say, third time’s a charm! He peed in the potty for the first time and has never looked back. I admit I’d never been so happy to see pee in my life until that moment. I shouted what a great job he did, what a big boy he was, did a little dance, a woohoo!, and high fived him. At his 2 yrs 9 mths old, I’m his biggest fan. And I’ll always be. Definitely.

He got a special reward every successful time, a cracker at first, until we noticed he kept running to the bathroom way too often and not doing anything but still requested a cracker. That’s when I switched the reward to dinosaur stamps, which was not only better but proved to be way too cool. In fact SO cool, he pooped successfully! …In retrospect, rewarding him with food was probably not the best idea, so I’m glad I switched to a non-edible reward. Besides, what kid doesn’t love dino stamps all over their hands and arms? Too cool! I feel like a super cool Mama for offering such a super cool reward. ;P

I’m such a proud Mama! I must have the smartest kid in the world. Right?! Of course! {giggle}

Oh the joys of the Mommyhood!

More English from Nico…

2010-10-19T23:38:00.000-04:00

Nah, that i’ mai tain, Vitorita. (10/13/10)

That almost sounds Chinese or something… LOL

I no see et Mami. (10/19/10)

I can only laugh…

I’m so amazed how quickly he’s picking up English. I’m so proud of him!

A funny side to shitty healthcare. Just this one time.

2010-10-13T22:33:00.000-04:00

I came across a brilliantly funny (and honestly true) blog post today, by Daniel Evans (aka Dad Gone Mad) regarding a referral for a sleep study he needs, but which his insurance denied. He posted the series of letters exchanged by him and Mr. “[illegible signature]”, Medical Director at his “Piece Of Shit Healthcare”. That’s what he called them.

I cannot tell you how HILLARIOUS the entire exchange of emails is, and how much I LAUGHED! I mean, I really LAUGHED MY ASS OFF! I even cried tears of laughter. You cannot miss reading this!!

It’s TOO good not to share, so here’s the link: A New Approach To Healthcare

:D :D :D

Laugh a little.

2010-10-13T09:51:00.001-04:00

Just got a silly fwd from my friend Nikia titled Why men aren’t allowed to take phone messages. See the image below. It made me chuckle. Happy hump day! :)

Yes Mom, I HATE soy formula even when you try to disguise it. That is my final answer.

2010-10-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

So as you know I’m banned from milk and all milk products. Yes, it’s torture! Victoria seems to be allergic in some way to the milk protein. Or at least that’s the conclusion I’ve reached. You don’t even want to know what a devil child she becomes if I have any. The poor thing. Not only that, but she poops waaayyy too much and has horrible colic if I have any.

Victoria’s now 5.5 mths old, and I’ve been trying to introduce formula at her last meal of the day in hopes it’ll hold her better through the night. She’s been waking up every night famished at 4:30 am for the last week and frankly I can’t take it anymore – I need my sleep!

But… she HATES the bottle!

I’m unsure if it’s the fake nipple or the taste of the stinky soy milk (oh my God it’s SO stinky!), or a combination of both. For sure she seems to HATE the taste of the soy milk formula from her facial expressions, gagging, and spitting it out.

I don’t blame her.

If it tastes anything like it smells I must be pretty dreadful. Personally, I hate the taste of soy milk and I have an idea the soy based baby formula isn’t any better.

With the failed attempts at feeding her soy formula, I’ve tried introducing rice cereal (made with a few tsp of the prepared soy formula milk). Again, I was thinking it might help filling her belly for longer. But, the following sequence of pictures pretty much sums up her verdict on that as well:

All attempts have failed. I’ve struck out at every single at bat. Sigh.

What am I going to do? What is my baby going to eat when I no longer breastfeed?

Does this mean I’ll HAVE to breastfeed her until she’s 1???!!!

NO WAYYYYY!!!!

I have set the cut-off date for 6 mths! (and it’s a magical 2 weeks away… if I actually follow through with it)

Sigh… oh the worries…

The ladybug

2010-10-07T17:41:00.000-04:00

As Victoria, Nico and I enjoyed this perfect Fall afternoon in the back yard, we watched the trees and shrubs changing colors and all kinds of insects flying around. A ladybug happened to land right on the siding of the house, after it flew in my hair first. Here’s the little conversation Nico and I had following the incident.

Me: “Ahh!” (I screamed as the ladybug flew into and out of my hair)

Nico: “Wa’ happen Mami?!” (he said quickly and with concern – he’s too cute)

Me: “Nothing, there was a bug in my hair, but it’s gone.”

Nico: “Mami look, a be-u bug.” (Mami look a big bug - pointing at the ladybug on the siding after he looked around for the bug that had been in my hair)

Me: “Where Nico?”

Nico: “Err theu Mami. Wakala!” (over there Mami, ‘wakala’ which means ‘yuck’ in Spanish) At this point he was getting ready to smoosh the poor ladybug with the end of his plastic bat. I didn’t let him though.

The ladybug got smart and not having a death wish it flew away before Nico could get it and without us noticing. When Nico noticed it was gone he asked me:

“Wu les it Mami?” (where is it Mami?)

Me: Gone Baby. Gone. :)

Banned off caffeine. Again.

2010-10-05T22:45:00.000-04:00

Julio was gone for a few days last week, so for those few days I didn’t drink my usual half espresso. Can you believe I actually coach myself to throw away the other half? Daily. And I suffer having to do it. Every time.

Anyway. During that same time, I noticed Victoria behaved pretty well. She didn’t seem as needy or clingy as she’s usually been, even to the point where she enjoyed being for long periods of time in her different stations: the jumparoo, the swing, the bouncer, the highchair, the floor. I found myself having ~~more~~ time for other things. And who knew, I had arms!? She also didn’t have as many poopie diapers as usual. I’ve got to wonder…

Coincidence? Perhaps, not.

Today I drank some espresso again, but only a quarter of it. I had been thinking about these coincidences. Could the caffeine be doing the damage? Hmmm… So, later in the afternoon, after the caffeine had surely made its way into my milk I started noticing my little velcro baby gone bad was back. Wining, crying, clingy, super needy and oh so poopie! I must have changed 6 diapers in like 4 hours.

Could just a little bit of caffeine have been the root of all evil all this time?

So, starting tomorrow I’m totally off caffeine, once again. I’m talking not even Diet Coke. We’ll see what happens in the next few days. If Victoria doesn’t become the velcro baby gone bad again, I’ll know we found the cure to all hell. O:)

Projects. The finished and the unfinished.

2010-10-05T14:41:00.001-04:00

I came across a wonderful article today about Recycled Cardboard Playhouses at Green Your Decor.

image from the article itself at Green Your Decor

It reminded me of an idea I’ve had for many months to build exactly that. I thought about that one day when Nico was playing with an empty cardboard box. He had undone both ends and was using it as a tunnel, having the time of his life. That’s when it dawned on me. I’d build a house out of cardboard boxes for him (I have a ton in storage in our basement from when we moved). I never got to making it happen though. Shame on me. :/

Anyway, I LOVE finding inspiration like this, unexpectedly. Must be my creative designer alter ego. ;) Lets see when I actually have some time to follow through with this project. I know it’ll be super fun making it, I’ve always loved arts and crafts projects, and I know Nico will really LOVE it. Like. A lot. In time, Victoria will too.

I’ve officially added this project to the million others on my Projects list.

===

Have I ever told you I LOVE projects!? Well, I do. Always have. Ever since I can remember back to the 4th grade. The problem, now that I’m older, is that I find myself starting a bunch of them but never finishing them. The excuse: lack of time. You know, with 2 kids and such, I’m lucky I have gotten a shower daily. So far. Also… I’ve realized I’m SO scattered in my thoughts, in recent times. I’m just all over the place in my head. Juggling a million things, doing one thing now and thinking about a million others I have to (or want to) do at the same time.

Just last night, for example, I was folding laundry that was in the dryer. Suddenly I stopped to go hang something, only to remember I needed to sort the mail and throw the junk in the recycling bin before I had to put out the recycle and garbage bins on the curb for morning pick up. Oh, that’s about the time I remembered I needed to go to the post office to check the Association’s PO Box. At 11:30 pm. Yeah weird, I know. But it was the only time I could go without having to drag two kids under 3.

Somewhere in that crazy timeframe, I realized I was all scattered in my thoughts. I found that neither of the things I had started doing had been completed. I had to finish folding the laundry, so I could put the wet stuff in the washer to dry (I forgot to mention that earlier), and then finish sorting the mail, throw the junk in the recycle bin, and place the recycle and garbage bins on the curb. Oof! I was tired just thinking about all that.

So… a special thanks to the Mommyhood, and Momnesia, for making this Mama a little crazier everyday. :) Now, where that glass of wine I need? Sigh.

The stick

2010-10-04T13:14:00.000-04:00

I found the stick and cord for our kite outside the house by the garbage can. Nobody knows how it got there. Anyway… I brought it inside to show and tell Julio about the random occurrence, and when Nico saw it he pointed at it in surprise and said:

Tha’ ta kick, Mami. (that’s a stick)

“…i’ broken Mami.” (it’s broken)

I didn’t even know he knew the words stick and broken. :)

“Come on” is getting popular

2010-10-02T18:22:00.000-04:00

Here’s a couple more sentences Nico said today that came as a surprise. The best part is how silly and cute they sound as he pronounces them in his own way. I’ve spelt them out just like he pronounced them…

“Why da doin’ Tyson? Come on!”

Nico said as he played around the house with Tyson. Again, he used “Come on”. Seems to be getting pretty popular in his talking repertoire.

“Ewas, e at this.”

That translated to “Edward, look at this.” That’s what Nico told his older brother as I put his yogurt snack on his picnic table.

Nico may be a mind reader

2010-10-01T23:01:00.001-04:00

“Come on, move it!”

That’s what Nico shouted out when he saw the line of cars in front of us. And he repeated it several times. Again, it caught me totally by surprise. And I cracked up laughing, thinking he read my mind. I wonder where he picked that sentence up? lol ;P Hehe… Too much driving around with Mommy here, there and everywhere. It was only a matter of time.

Strangely, afterwards out of nowhere he started saying the same thing only adding something to the ending. And I really don’t know why he was saying it, it was only Victoria, him and I in the car…

“Come on, move it Papi! Come on!” (Papi is Daddy in Spanish)

LOL!! Clearly, the kid knows Daddy’s a slow driver and Mommy drives better. ;P

“Shupp”…said the little boy to his Mommy. Not good.

2010-09-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, after I potty mouthed to myself in the kitchen for some reason, he came running through the family room saying,

“Oh, oh, Mami! Wo happen?”

Today while waiting to see the Ped in the waiting room, I was telling him something and he said,

“No, shupp.”

Huh? Where the hell did he get that from?? Well, thank God no one was around… to laugh.

Later on today, while goofing around in the house he came running to me and said,

“Mami, where is Tyson?… [then he sees Tyson walk by] …”Tyson, go. Go, Tyson. Go, go!” [poor dog ran for his life, lol]

Oh, and he’s singing Happy Birthday to himself as we speak…

“Happy Birday to you. Happy Birday a Nico. Happy Birday to you.”

then I asked him to repeat it, to which he responded,

“Shupp.” (shut up. wth?? sigh.)

8 years on a roller coaster of dreams come true. It’s been wonderful!

2010-09-28T17:25:00.000-04:00

Happy 8th Anniversary of Togetherness to my better half! (4th Wedding Anniversary coming later this year). Julio, you are truly one of a kind. And you’re mine. Let’s not forget that. Of course, I’m yours too. You shall not forget that, how it happened, or how lucky you are. ;P

Sure. Relationships, and especially marriage require tending, just like a plant needs to be watered and cared for. But our garden is beautiful, beyond the scattered weeds (which btw have taken over part of our back yard because of my inability to exterminate them, or honestly to even go and actually do something about them). Everyone’s garden has weeds here or there, even if they don’t want to admit it. But I do. And it’s alright, the tending will come soon enough. Hopefully before our kids go off to college, hehe. ;)

Joke aside—you are my better half and you complete me. :) You had me at “Senorita”, and I thought all that sifting you did with the 12 yr Scotch at TOTS that night 8 yrs ago not only got me happy drunk but also was awesome and very cute, in a smart (ok, not geeky, but engineering) kind of way. Hehe. ;P

So cheers to us, the past 8 yrs of our wonderful life together, and to the many more to come!! I can’t wait to see what lies ahead on our journey through life, and couldn’t ask for anyone better to walk it with.

Thanks for making my dreams come true, for loving me tenderly and beyond my defects, and putting up with me even on my worst days. You are my rock! I love you SO much! XOXO

Our first trip together almost 8 yrs ago to the day, Thanksgiving Nov. 2002

Photo taken at Central Park in New York

If you’re a hair model, pregnancy may not be for you.

2010-09-28T17:05:00.000-04:00

I have lost SO much hair, I’m seriously on the verge of baldness. I’d like to thank my selfish and temperamental hormones who have taken over my entire system and made a party with it. In case you didn’t read the sarcasm in every bit of that, please, re-read.

With my first pregnancy, I started losing hair towards the end of the first trimester and that went on for probably a month or two. By the end of that pregnancy, to my amazement, my hair looked unbelievable awesome. Then came the feared 3rd month post-pregnancy. Like an unexpected earthquake, it all began to fall out once again. For the life of me, I can’t remember how long it fell for, but it sopped. Eventually.

Now with baby #2, oddly I lost no hair during pregnancy. But, I didn’t think it looked as great as during my first pregnancy. That aside, I gained much less weight with this pregnancy, only 27 lbs! With Nico, I gained 34 lbs. So maybe it’s a give and take kinda thing. Can’t have your cake and eat it too, I guess.

Oh, but again that dreaded 3rd month post-pregnancy came. And it came with a BIG BAMM! My hair started falling out like never before. And now at 5 months post delivery, it still is, and in masses. At least it seems that way. I’ve never had tons of hair, and it’s thin and oily. But I guess this time around the cocktail of events contributing to my hair loss is that much greater than the first time around. Try this for a drink, and it’ll make anyone lose more than just hair.

Hair Loss Cocktail

Ingredients (sizes are marked within {} )

{Tons} Naturally oily scalp

{Even more} 3rd month+ hormonal wackiness

{Torture with} Can’t drink milk or milk products (so I’m probably not getting enough calcium --- Idk if it even has any relation)

{The more the merrier} STRESS of a 2 yr old toddler

{More than with the toddler} STRESS of 5 mth old baby (make sure it is overly needy, teething, has what I call ‘mommy-itis’, is SUPER demanding, wants to be held 90% of the time, etc.)

{Upsetting, but I don’t really care most days} STRESS of having a dirty house (hint: I need a freakin’ maid!)

{Simply brutal, makes me wanna cry sometimes} Not having time for ANYTHING! Repeat: No. Time. For. Anything. How I write these blogs, you ask? Don’t. ;P

Try that for a drink and we’re talking very serious hangover. ;)

“Mami, it cuck!”

2010-09-26T18:55:00.000-04:00

Today’s new English sentence.

“Mami, it cuck!” (Mami means Mommy in Spanish)

“It what?” I asked Nico.

“It cuck!” he said.

Ohh, it’s stuck. He was trying to close a drawer from the cd cabinet and it was stuck. Wow, this may sound silly to most people, but my little boy has learned another phrase in English, and I don’t even know when, where or how. :) Lets keep in mind his first language is Spanish. Sure, he’s now in preschool, once a week. So after 3 preschool days, he can speak a few things here or there in English. Every new word or sentence he says in English simply amazes me, and is always catches me off guard. The element of the unexpected is like a breath of fresh air. Marvelous! He certainly understands waaaay more than he talks. He’s so smart, hehe. ;)

From now on, I’ll try posting some of the things he says in English. I think it’ll make for cute reads when I look back on memory lane. Plus, isn’t mispronounced toddler talk just adorable? I think so.

Here’s a pic I took today during our lazy Sunday. Good times! :)

===

We decided from the get go that we’d speak Spanish at home all the time so our kids would learn it. And I mean really learn it. I don’t want them to be those kind of Spanish speaking people who can understand it but talk it with what seems like a horrible foreigner accent. As if it was really their second language, or something they just picked up along the way. I want them reading, writing and speaking proper Spanish. Truly bilingual. Anything less is simply unacceptable.

Then came this summer. At Nico’s first lesson of Kindermusik I realized he needed to learn English. And pronto. He was acting like a totally different child, petrified among all the other kids. Where was my outgoing little extrovert? I figured it out. He had no clue what anybody was saying, or why. He must have thought he was in another world…

Lesson learned. I began talking both Spanish and English to him pretty much all the time. Just like an episode of Handy Manny; first in Spanish, then repeat it again in English. Sometimes I do it the other way around. Never ceasing to amaze me, he always gets it. Kids are like a sponge, they absorb so much and learn so fast. It’s amazing! :)

It’s hard being 5 months old

2010-09-25T23:53:00.001-04:00

Poor Victoria. A day shy of her 5th birth-month, she’s quite the little package. SO demanding. SO needy. She’s a totally different baby than Nico was. I should have listened to what all those moms were always telling me during my second round as an incubator. My little precious princess, I LOVE her to pieces! Oh, but she wants to be held 90% of the time she’s awake. And a lot of times she will be at peace ONLY when held by me. Sorry Daddy. (And sorry to myself as well.) Add to that the times I hold her while breastfeeding and while putting her to sleep, and voila… there goes pretty much my entire day. I hope I’m not neglecting my son; he’s such a trooper!

Mommy needs a break at times. Make that several breaks, please. And her arms. And back. And silence. And sanity. And less of the added stress. I can’t even hear myself think at times. Oh, did I mention all the hair pulling? Add to that the loads of shedding I’m experiencing thanks to the post-preg hormone changes and we’re talking about being at the verge of baldness. Fabulous. :S

It gets worse. Victoria is also in the teething process. That’s right. Itchy gummies; chewing on her fingers, my fingers, everything she can; slobber all over everything and everyone; crankiness; and just general Mommy-overly-neediness. I guess that’s an excuse to be held all that more. I wish she would take a pacifier. She won’t. She thinks I’m the real thing, pacifiers are so fake (well, duh!). Sure, chew me up, why not. Ouuuuuch! Isn’t that why those things were invented?! God. Give. Me. A. Break. Please. :/ Sigh.

I guess it’s hard being 5 months old… Hmmm, wait till your name becomes ‘Mommy’, hehe. ;)

Say yes to the popcorn, but no to fb???

2010-09-24T21:58:00.002-04:00

Today, I talked to a mom who came by the house with her kids selling their annual boy scout popcorn. Every year I’ve said no. Of course that comes with a bit of remorse since I believe in good causes and in helping others. Yet, her poor kid never really cares, but nevertheless there’s always a bit of awkwardness. I can be really stingy when it comes to solicitations, and frankly have even thought of putting up a sign on my door to avoid such situations. I mean, can you imagine giving in to… Every. Single. One? Sigh... But, I gave in, just this once. I couldn’t say no this year, I was weak. Blame it on the hormones, my falling hair, or the excessive amount of explosive diapers I changed today. Whatever. I’m $18 bucks down (Julio dislikes), and a bag of nuts and caramel popcorn richer (ah! Julio likes). Wait, is it just one bag or two? Damn, I have no clue. Momnesia! We’ll have to wait and see when it’s delivered in November...

In the short time we spent sealing the deal, somehow we got to talking about fb. (Facebook, for those of you mainstream-impaired, lol). This lady admitted she does not do fb. \o/ I was in utter shock. I mean, really?! My in-laws have fb, and they're in their 70s! When I asked her why, she candidly responded, "I don't have time". My response: "Lady, nobody does!" LOL! :D