Y.O.G #22

February 16, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. I’m thankful that my dad still gives me Valentines. This one had fishing trivia on the back, too.

2. I’m very grateful for this weird early spring we’re having. No Snowpocolypse here. It’s going to be almost 60 all week! I keep thinking that any day the weather gods are going to snatch it all away, but flowers are blooming everywhere and all the trees are budding. Check out these crocusses from my walk yesterday!

3. I’m thankful for free art. FREEEEE! There was this spot in the living room that really needed some art. I knew I wanted something in mostly oranges or reds, probably some kind of letter press-y or etsy find. I’ve always really liked this, but despite my desire to decorate, we’re in a bit of a spending freeze at the moment. But then! The other night after a late happy hour I found the new Beautiful Angle poster! And I happened to have the PERFECT sized frame just sitting in a closet, containing something I’d decided not to hang up in the new house. Huzzah!

4. Once again, I’m thankful for my child’s health. I’ve seen blood twice in the last two days, but he’s a strong and healthy boy and he’s fine. Both times, Clark fell and smacked his face into unforgiving objects, both times he was within my reach. It’s a good thing he was with me for both injuries. I’m sure I would assume that anyone else hadn’t been watching him closely enough.

I give you, Black Eye Baby.

That’s right, for weeks to come, as it changes to all of it’s myriad shades, I’ll have to tote around a baby with a shiner.

Good thing I took these really cute pictures of him just before:

The soul would have no rainbow, if the eyes had no tears.

January 31, 2010 | Clark, Year of Gratitude

The title is a quote from the cover of a girly hippie journal I bought because I thought it was pretty. Unfourtunately, I failed to notice the hilarious, Guffman-esque quote before purchasing it.

Speaking of souls and tears, however, YOU MUST HELP ME. We are in all out sleep refusal around here. I’m desperate and I’ll take any advice. Maybe a combination of ideas will work, so let me have them. Here are the stats. I await your diagnosis. Before he got sick a couple weeks ago, he always went down easy. He had two long naps per day, and went to bed at 7 every night. (He still woke up 3 times per night, but now I realize how good I had it. Depressing.) Now, we fight and fight and fight for all sleep. This whole day has been an unsuccessful nap attemp. He just cries and cries! Or, falls dead asleep repeatedly, only to spring up and start crying the second you lay him down, like some sort of weird reflex. We’ve tried everything, including letting him cry for up to 5 minutes, but you guys. You guys. He gets so upset that he barfs. BARFS. Which is of course, the most soul crushing scenario. (Am terrible parent! Also, Barf to clean up. A baby to change, etc.) Anyway. Please help me.

So, this YOG thing. A friend of mine logged into her google account from my iPhone and didn’t log out. When I next went into my Reader, I was of course actually in hers. There, in her feeds, was Zesty Enterprise with like, 15 unread posts, all YOGS. It looked really boring to me, and not like something I’d be super motivated to read. Not only that, I don’t like feeling like I HAVE to do something because I SAID I would, you know? Instead, I think I’ll just stop making dumb rules for myself and just make an effort to post about good things, under the YOG category.

In other navel gazing news, today I’m starting a six week yoga class called Resolve to Evolve. I’m supposed to bring a journal. I hope to report that it helps me to stay on my health and exercise wagon, all while calming and centering me and whatnot. I’ll let you know.

Y.O.G #21

January 30, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. Obama. You guys. You MUST watch Obama at the Republican Retreat if you haven’t already. It just blew my damn mind. I can’t believe I just watched a politician of any sort speak so frankly, much less the president. As my friend Erik said, if you want to feel really good about the vote you cast, just watch it. Obama totally called out politics! He pointed out the pink elephant in the room, the tailchasing, obstructionist rhetoric that is Capitol Hill. I can’t freaking believe it. What a fantastic and honorable leader we have! He is So. Awesome.

2. A fun night out with friends. Last night a group of 8 of us went to see Kathy Griffin. She was SHOCKINGLY funny. I’ve gone to many a comedy show of someone I adore, only to feel a touch let down. But she BROUGHT IT. I laughed so hard and so much, I know I missed out on a lot of funnies. I’m so glad we went!

3. Next weekend, we’re going to a friend’s 20s themed thirtieth birthday party, so today, SB and I went to Northwest Costume and found fabulous things to wear. I’m so excited! It was really fun trying on the surprisingly large collection of fringey dresses they carry, as well as pawing through drawers labled “Flapper Headbands”. So, hooray for dressing up and huzzah for having friends who throw fancy dress parties!

YOGs aplenty #18-#19-#20

January 28, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

I keep staying up way too late watching the Sookie Stackhouses and not YOGing before bed. Speaking of which, if anyone knows a way to see Season 2 before May, legal or otherwise, let me know.

#18
1. Long snoozy walks with my boy,

2. that include giant iced tea mommy treats,

3. wherein I get to enjoy these cute little monkey feet.

#19
1. My BICYCLE! I love to ride my bicycle! I love to ride my bike. I love to ride my bicycle! I love to ride it where I like.

2. Jamie, my hair lady. I’ve been with Jamie longer than I’ve been with SB. I got a much needed hair cut yesterday and she can always tell me exactly what I should do.

3. Watching the kids across the street. I get SO much enjoyment from watching the kids on the playground across the street from my house. It’s like an ant farm or a fish tank or something.

(BTW, imaginary internet friends, that is most definitely NOT my SUV parked out front, for the record.)

#20
1. Writing. Writing brings me so much joy, so much clarity. Whether it’s here, or in my journal, whether it’s making a list or keeping a fitness diary, I looooove writing.

2. My friend Marguerite.

3. My morning nap. My boy still does not sleep well. From 7-9 am most days, I get to put in earplugs and throw the covers over my head. I smile from ear to ear, as I sink into a delicious, delicious sleep, unlike any other sleeping, where I do not have to listen for Clark. I swear, it feels like the only real sleep I get.

YOGs #16 – #17

January 24, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

#16
1. Today, Clark and I invented a game called BOO BOO Cuddle. It goes like this. He peeks around the banister one way and I go, “Boo!” and make a funny face. Then, he peeks around the other way, and I go “Boo!” and make another funny face. Next, he staggers all open mouthed and giddy into my arms and we hug. It rules. We played BOO BOO Cuddle for at least 20 minutes today and it was JOYFUL. Full. Of. Joy.

2. Thanksgiving Dinner in January just because.

3. True Blood on DVD. Um, yes. This is a really good show.

#17
1. The Grocery Store. Sometimes, I dread it! I am such an idiot. The grocery store is a wonderful place.

2. Playdates with Jess and V.

3. The hard and the good. It was SO HARD to put Clark to bed tonight for some reason. He’s usually pretty easy, but tonight it took an hour and a half, a barf, a pj change, and a dose of Motrin to get him to sleep. But we WON. HE IS SLEEPING. And it’s so good.

Friday Night Ramblings – YOGs #14, #15

January 22, 2010 | Bits and Bobs, Year of Gratitude

SB is out on a man date so I’m blissfully alone with a sleeping baby. I have various things I’d like to address.

SB and I have planned a weekend in San Diego in February with another fun couple. I’m super looking forward to it. I mention this because did you know you can download individual chapters on the Lonely Planet website? I paid $2.10 for the San Diego chapter of the California guide. Isn’t that rad? It’s also great for when you haven’t decided your destination so you don’t want to commit to the whole book. This came in handy when we were investigating islands off Honduras. I downloaded just the chapter for the little island we were considering and learned, oh hey! While the beaches are pristine, you need ALL 5 MALARIA SHOTS to go there. Valuable information gained, no book required.

Moms among you, tell me about your kid storage. I must admit, I’m finding it so satisfying to pack away stuff for Clark’s little brother. Last night I packed away all of the 6-12 month clothes. Here’s what I do. I have a drawer where I just shove things that don’t fit anymore. When the drawer’s full, I go through all the stuff, decide what to keep, then pack it in the appropriate rubbermaid. I feel like this system is a nice combination of lazy and organized. I also made an accoutrement tub where I managed to shove all the infant toys, the changing table pad, the boppy, and a bunch of baby blankets. I rule.

Lookie what we got a screaming deal on:

I guess I better figure out how to use it. I think you’re supposed to run behind it.

Today, I had to go up to Seattle to pick up a photo order, then just turn right back around and come home again to avoid the friday afternoon traffic. I did pay for 20 minutes of parking, though, so Clarkie and I took a little walk before getting back in the car.

He was absolutely transfixed by, and a little afraid of the Seattle Center fountain. I realized as I stood there holding him close, watching the water shoot so high into the air, accompanied by the shocking, air rifle-like, PHOOT of the hydraulics, that I hadn’t stopped to watch that fountian since I was little enough to run in it. It’s pretty neat!

Y.O. G. – #14, #15

1. Bike Rides.

2. Beer.

3. Hanging out in my house by myself. I can sit at the dining room table with my laptop, it’s perfectly quiet, and no one’s watching TV.

4. Burt’s Bees. I have those lovely post-plague, mouth breathing, cracked lips, and making out with my tube of Burt’s Bees is the only thing saving me.

5. I’m super thankful that the trip to Seattle and back went well with Clark today. He pretty much hates being in his carseat, no matter how many times we call it his Adventure Chair. (There’s a song, too, of course.) He was in excellent spirits for all but the last 10 minutes or so, when he would no longer be plied with graham crackers or sippy cups.

6. The ease in posting pictures with the flickr iPhone app. This little YOG project would feel so much more cumbersome to me if I couldn’t just snap a picture and upload it to flickr so easily. That way when I sit down to YOG, the photos are all ready to post.

Y.O.G – #13

January 21, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. An early evening stroll with my boys and the dog.

2. Unseasonably warm weather.

3. Looking in windows while out on said walk. Oh, how I love to see inside people’s houses. It’s the best. I especially love when I can see a cozy, well decorated room, or a cat in the window.

Y.O.G – #12

January 19, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. Clark is feeling better. What a difference 24 hours can make! Last night, he was a limp, hot rag doll. Tonight he’s back to his busy, sqirrelly, self. Unfortunately, we still have to give him medicine twice a day for a while, which, all that screaming you hear? That would be Clark. You’d think that stuff tasted like MEDICINE and not pink bubble gum.

2. The Tomato Gorgonzola Soup and Corina Rosemary Bread my dear husband brought me for lunch from Infinite Soups.

3. Cough syrup with codeine. Good night.

Y.O.G. – #11

January 18, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

Can you handle it? Can you handle looking at the saddest baby ever?

Today, it’s a little harder to YOG than usual. I mean, I usually YOG about less obvious things. But today has been a hard enough day that the things I’m thankful for are bigger than coffee.

It should be noted that I haven’t slept in 3 nights and am really sick myself. Puffy-eyed, feverish, nose throbbing, mouth breathing SICK. I’m feeling quite pathetic, obvs. Please feel very sorry for me.

1. Once again, my child’s health. I got pretty scared for a bit this afternoon. Clark’s fever was 102 and he wouldn’t stay awake. Then he started barfing. So, off were we to our first Urgent Care visit as parents. He’s going to be fine. But GAH. I kept thinking about what if he WASN’T GOING TO BE FINE? These kinds of crazy thoughts were of course intensified by the aforementioned fatigue and fever.

2. Convenient access to a washing machine. I was barfed on twice today. And we’re going through towels like crazy.

3. All the amenities available to me for dealing with this crisis. You know, access to health care, access to Target for medicines and tissues and frog shaped humidifiers, a warm and safe house to recuperate in, etc etc etc. In light of these things and recent tragedies, I’ll be all done whining about this now.

Y.O.G – #10

January 17, 2010 | Year of Gratitude

1. My child’s health. Clark is sicker today and it’s so hard to watch. He’s in relatively good spirits most of the time, but he’s so lethargic and clumsy. He’ll be playing, and just lay down for a few minutes. His nose runs like a faucet and he has a tiny smoker’s cough. But he’s going to get better. I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it must be to have a baby with a real health problem.

2. SB’s been making dinner every night for a week or so. Something good and healthy. It’s nice.

3. My bedroom. I’ve gotten almost zero sleep for the last two nights, and my mom actually took my sick baby today for a little while so I could rest. I spent the time in bed with my laptop and my lists, just enjoying my comfy nest, the nice light, and my pretty view. I never get to just hang out in bed in the middle of the day, so it was a lovely treat.