Ho, ho, ho!

Yes, it's not even Thanksgiving. I know that. But when the Holidays come a knockin', I'm answering. I'm the type of person that has all her presents bought by December 1. Christmas decorations must be up the day after Thanksgiving (as much as I am tempted to shop Black Friday, I try to do it all online. I seriously cannot stand crowds.) Christmas Cards must be sent out by the first week of December. And Santa pictures? Practically as soon as Santa's sleigh pulls up to South Coast Plaza, I'm there with a screaming kid in tow. It's all about the Holiday magic, folks.

So this weekend, I'm at the mall as soon as they open on Sunday morning. We walk right up to see Santa (remember how I said I hate crowds?) My severe crowd aversion is the reason I get things done as early as possible. Plus I hate to procrastinate...I hate to leave things to the last minute. It's just not me. I like to get things done and check them off my list...you wouldn't believe the satisfaction I get from crossing things off my list. You want something done? Give it to a busy person.

Ok, I'm not trying to be naive here. I know it will not always be this way. But I will try my best to always keep it this way. I hate when there are things on my list that don't get done. It irks me in a deep place.

But one thing checked off my list! Here's our 2007 Santa picture...plus a retrospective:

And to Christmases past. Here's the kid last year with Santa. I think Santa might be pinching him:

And this is the kid's very first visit with Jolly St. Nick. You KNOW the kid is thinking, "What in the hell IS this?"


Just so you know, the outfit the kid is wearing in this year's photo is not what I envisioned. There's the cutest little black velvet blazer that goes along with it. I got it from BabyGap. But as I was struggling to get the kid into the button-up shirt and the blazer, he screamed, "NO! That's Daddy's clothes!" and refused to put them on. I finally wriggled him into the button-up because a topless Santa pic is just NOT going in our family album, but there was no way the kid would relent to the blazer. Sigh. And just for the record, Daddy would not be caught DEAD in a velvet blazer.

ETA - ok, I couldn't help it. Bonus pic. The kid needed a new diaper when we got home and refused to put his pants on after the diaper change (notice a pattern here?) So, a little "Risky Business" action going. Back when Tom Cruise was Tom Cruise and not Crazy McCruise. Anyone know where I can get Rayban Wayfarers for a 2 year old?

I love to shop

I do. I just LOVE to shop. I've loved to shop all my life...and the best part of it is the thrill of the hunt. Finding the best or most beloved object for a fraction of the price, it's an incredible rush. I'm just warning you right now because if you're visiting this blog often, you will see me shopping.

For the past 2 years, I did a LOT of shopping for the kid. That's slowed down a bit as I'm now getting back to shopping for myself. I have an addiction to designer purses. I love them so much. The craftsmanship, the style, the look and feel on your arm or shoulder. It's heaven. I currently have my sights set on some Louis Vuitton, but I haven't yet decided on a design or style. There's so much to choose from! Any purchase, of course, will be carefully researched.

But I did want to share a recent purchase for the kid that I absolutely LOVE. They are these shoes from Morgan&Milo The shoes are so cute and really well-made! In the dearth of cute boy shoes in larger sizes, these are a surprising oasis. I happened to find them for a good deal (almost 50% off!), so I bought 2 pairs. Tell me these aren't stinkin' cute:


Ok, so you know then, that mommy had to get some new shoes too. The kid was spending the night at Lola's house last night (he LOVES it there) and M was working late, so mommy went to the mall. Alone. With no rush to come home. I could browse to my heart's content. I was so happy.

Anyway, I did end up purchasing these fabulous boots from Guess. I totally love them, but now I'm rethinking - maybe they are too funky for me? Seriously, I work in a professional office and am the mom of a 2-year old. Where do I have occasion to wear knee-high patent leather boots? Blame it on the saleslady. She was wearing these exact boots with a black wrap dress and black tights. And she looked incredible. They are completely fabulous, though. Don't think I'm not going to make EVERY attempt to work them into my wardrobe before deciding whether or not to return them.

My poor baby...

is sick. I hate when the kid is sick. It's so sad. Thankfully, it's totally manageable, a cough, a sore throat, a runny nose. Last week he was vomiting, but that's all righted itself at this point. Only lingering cold symptoms. It's just that I feel so badly for him when he's not feeling well. As a parent, all you want to do is make him feel better and you just wish that you could be sick for him so he doesn't have to feel this way.

What's making this semi-tolerable, though, for mommy is the fact that the kid has finally learned to blow his nose! Hurrah! Joy to the World! Seriously, this is a milestone that is right up there with walking for me. No more of that blasted nasal aspirator. Both the kid and me HATED that thing. Mommy could never get it to work the right way. The kid ran, kicked and screamed from that thing because he was SURE it was sucking his brains out. I mean, how can you blame him?

But don't think that a tiny cold is going to slow the kid down. No sir, no how. He's still running, jumping and playing, getting into as much trouble as he can muster. Yesterday, my sister was babysitting him and he managed to get a whole bag of miniature marshmellows from the kitchen counter (I warned her about the counter-surfing!) He proceeded to empty the whole bag all over the living room floor. I'm sure he ate about 25-30% off the bag as well. What can you do?

Eureka!

The potato is FOUND! Only five days later. Oy.

At any given moment...

I've got like 500 ideas bouncing around in my head. Seriously. When I was a gym/workout rat (trust me, those days are LONG gone), I loved attending all the different workout classes. I went to Step, Spinning, Kickboxing, CardioFunk, Hip Hop, Strength and Resistance, etc. I had a great time in all of them. But the one class I couldn't get a pulse on was Yoga. Don't get me wrong. I tried. And tried. Just didn't do it for me. You know why? Because I have extreme trouble calming my mind. And usually that's the basic tenet of yoga, no? I wanted so badly to be a yoga person...the clothing alone was awesome...but alas, not in the stars for me.

How I wish I could calm my mind. It's the main reason I don't get enough sleep. I can't fall asleep until I'm so tired my eyes won't physically stay open. Even if I can crawl into bed at a decent hour, I need to read or watch TV until sleep takes me. If I don't, I'll lie awake in bed thinking the most horrific thoughts. Mostly to do with my family or with the kid. I'll envision us in a car crash or some other accident...I'll imagine the absolute horror of losing a loved one...I can't even type here the thoughts that paralyze me if I allow myself the possibility of thinking of them. Is this common with all mothers? Your entire heart is embodied in your offspring. Should anything, God forbid, ever happen to them, then you, as you know it, are finished as well. It's completely terrifying. I have been known, on more than one occasion, to lie in bed and just pray to God to give me ONE more day with the kid. I am a freak, I know, but lest you go calling the looney police on me let me make it clear that I don't let these thoughts rule my life. I still live life as it should be lived. I'm just more careful now that I'm a mom.

A Day out with Thomas

Today we visited the fanatic craze that is "A Day Out with Thomas". For those of you unfamiliar with this spastic extravaganza, let me share with you. Basically, you drive out to the middle of nowhere, to a place that is easily 10 degrees hotter than the place you live. Once there, you join the massive crowds of boisterous children and cantankerous parents vying for the attention of an old passenger train made up to look like the much beloved Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas travels all around the country and is only in town for a few days, hence the popularity when he rolls into your neck of the woods. In all honesty, though, it's not as bad as I make it out to be. It was actually a semi-pleasant day and not at all as horrid as my expectations. Mostly because the kid decided to have fun and actually behave today. We made it through with nary a tantrum. Can you believe that? To top it all off, the kid did not nap today. He was dizzy-tired, though, but didn't nap a wink. Not even on the long car ride back home. So no nap AND on good behavior? I swear the heavens were shining down on us today.

Here are a few pictures from our day. Bad mommy failed to get a good picture WITH Thomas. Oh well. Here's the best I could do...the kid and M are watching Thomas come down the track:

This was easily the best part of the kid's day. He cracks me up. The kid won't sit in a stroller, but he LOVES sitting on his great-grandma's lap when she's riding in her wheelchair. It's really sweet...because he's getting heavy and he won't be able to sit there much longer...as he may outweigh his great-grandma soon. Usually he's an incredible wiggle-worm, but he sits nice and quietly in "Gammie's" lap. The ice cream helps too.

Here's a picture of the kid in the "Imagination Station." Basically, it's a large tent with a ton of toys for children to run around and play in. Kinda nice because they have benches for the adults to rest. Thank goodness someone was thinking. Here's the kid playing with a Thomas track:

All in all, it was a nice, but exhausting day. M put the kid to bed tonight (an hour earlier than normal bedtime) and he said as the kid was drifting off to sleep, he gave daddy a recap of his day. Went something like this, "Thomas train...ice cream stand...french fries...chicken nuggets." See? It was a good day.

I am vexed...

By a potato. A couple of days ago, I was laying on the couch in the living room with my eyes closed while the kid played in front of me. No, I wasn't asleep, because as anyone with a toddler knows, it's practically impossible to actually take a nap with them in the room because they are constantly trying to get your attention. Anyway, the kid comes right up to my face and says, "Mommy, wake up! Look!" My eyes fly open and I see that the kid is standing right in front of me holding a large russet potato. A word of explanation here. The kid is recently tall enough to reach the kitchen counter and the kitchen island. And he's been counter-surfing. BIG time.

Ok, back to topic. So the kid is showing me the potato and tells me, "Mommy, it's a rock!" I reply, "No, honey, that's actually a potato. Una papa." (this is my completely lame attempt to raise a bilingual child). I tell him to put it away and I close my eyes again.

Flash forward to this morning. I spent the better part of yesterday cleaning the whole house (in preparation to have house cleaners come and actually clean my house - that's another story.) I looked everywhere for that potato. This morning, the hunt continued. I cannot find that damn potato! I asked the kid and he looks at me like I'm an idiot. Well, he's right in some ways. I am going crazy trying to find a russet potato somewhere in my house. Lord, give me strength.

Wise words from a philanthrophic 2-year old

Today the kid found a dollar bill on our desk. He picked it up and proudly exclaimed, "MONEY!" I said, "Yup, that's money. What's it for?" His answer? "For the poor."

Dude, the kid is deep. Seriously, we are blessed 100x over. I laughed when he first said it, but really, he knows his stuff. During this holiday season - actually, all year round - he knows we have to give back. To those who are less fortunate than us - in wealth, in love, in spirituality. I am guilty of getting caught up in it all, worrying about if we have enough, when there are those out there who truly DON'T have enough. But this kid keeps it real. Thanks for the reminder, o tiny wise one.

Into the great unknown...

So I've been meaning to start a blog for AGES. Well, maybe not ages, but at least 2 1/2 years. I have a 2 1/2 year old and while writing things down in a baby book may be more traditional, it simply doesn't fit in with my lifestyle. So I have 2 1/2 years of memories that will soon be forgotten if I don't get them down someplace...and since I'm in front of a computer for much of my day...I figure maybe blogging is my best bet. Especially since mommy-brain has taken over my once finely-tuned mind. Who knew that witty repartee and captivating conversation I once held with my husband and good friends would be replaced with questions like, "So, did the kid poop today?" or "Do you need a time-out?". Ah, the joys of family life.

I'm just putting out the disclaimer now...I am by no means a wordsmith. Don't come to this blog looking for witticisms on family, love, children or what not. Some may creep their way in there, but it's definitely not by design, it's by accident. Only because raising a kid is funny. In fact, it's really funny. I have to look at it that way or I'd go crazy. I'd have to talk myself down from the ledge 4 times a day if I didn't find the humor in my daily life. Hence the name of this blog. Those of you that know me should get the lame play-on-words. Quint-essential Chaos (I had to put the hyphen in there because someone else already has a blog with the same name). Absolute bedlam. Perfect imperfection. Elemental pandemonium. Welcome.