A Nice Day

I'd forgotten Kevin worked a later shift. Patrick fell asleep for his AM nap before I made it to the Farmer's Market. Bummed, I raced to Fred Meyer. When I got home, Kevin was still in his jammies and playing computer games. Patrick still slept.

Aren't you going to work? I asked. Yes, but not until One, he said. Yeah! Off to the Farmer's Market! I got there early enough to get tomatos AND strawberries!

Patrick does not enjoy a long drive after a nap. He's ready to play, not be stuck in his car seat. With great trepidation and a bucket of toys next to me, we drove off to Em's house in the boonies. Lena and Raissa would be meeting us there.


Patrick enjoyed toys for about 45 seconds each before complaining. I sang songs until he complained of them too. Then I turned up my podcast (Lipgloss and Laptops) to drown him out until we arrived.

It was a lovely afternoon. Patrick attempted to eat rocks the entire visit. Glad we skipped buying the sandbox this year.


However, he charmingly slept the entire way home. We had a great evening, with dinner, outdoor time, a bath, naked time and bed.

This is Patrick's hair after a bath.

Gawd, they're all so tall

This is my youngest brother, John Michael. Recent high school grad, hard working man, and all around sweet guy. Even though we are not nearly as cool as he is (being old and stuff), he stopped by the party anyway. Like all my brothers, I always feel pretty short around him.

And if there are any cool 18 year old girls reading who want his phone number, sent your application my way. IF you are good enough to date this tall drink of brotherly hotness, I'll consider it...

The Cake

Hello Mrs. Flinger! Thank you so much for saying hi! I'm always slightly amazing (and very touched) when people I don't know take the time to read AND comment.

Here is the obligatory "baby with a face full of frosting" video.



You can hear David (my brother), Kevin, my Mom (and how will she show her kids at school the video?), and Freya walking around the back.

Birthday Weekend complete

As I reminded my Mom, it's not that we have too many toys, it's that we have too small a house.

It was a good weekend, with pictures to follow.


This picture is for everybody who says, "Oh, he's such a happy baby!"

A birthday morning post while he sleeps

I sang happy birthday to Patrick when he got up at 615am! Of course, that's with TWO night feedings + Tylenol. He grinned, but really, this day is no different from all the other days his every wish is granted (other than playing with the dogfood).

But my nice, tidy plan for the morning is already shot. I shouldn't complain, but did the child HAVE to take a LOOOONG nap just as I want to leave for the farmer's market?

So I plopped him into the crib where he's been snoozing for 1.5 hours and counting. The car is packed and ready. While he's been sleeping, I've played with the puppies in the yard, drank coffee, read a book, listened to Bob Rivers, and surfed the internet.

Oh, the suffering.

At this time last year

6/18/07 10:25pm
I was resting comfortably after an epidural by my lovely colleague, anesthesiologist Dr. Kaleb Jensen. Kevin was watching the Food Network. Mom was chatting with everybody. After putzing all day, my cervix was finally changing! I was 9cm!


Here's our Patrick Michael, within the first hour of his birth.

51.5 weeks later, my baby is enjoying green frosting. He's kept those big blue eyes!

Currently, he sleeps. Exhausted after a difficult day of teething and clinging to his Mommy, my boy continues to (mostly) be a good sleeper.

It went so fast, this first year.

(...I guess it's time to start thinking about number two...)

Kevin updates

My main man wrote a fantastic blog entry. Please take a look, it's wonderful.

My baby kicked my ass today

Lord, I'm SO TIRED.

Patrick must be teething again, for he has his classic teething triad:
1. Fever
2. Drooling
3. Pissy as all get out

After being up and down, I brought him into bed with me at 2am. He proceeding to be attached to my chest for the next four hours. I called in sick to work, not knowing if the fever would persist.

Kevin said he was glad to go to work for the break. I wish I had gone to work and left him with the baby. Maybe I could have dealt with something easier, like a non-English speaking, drug addicted, schizophrenic teenager having triplets and refusing a C-Section.

He was irritable and irritating most of the day, with brief moments of being slightly pleased. Like when I allowed him to throw my salad over the floor. Or walk around naked.

To celebrate surviving the day, Kevin and I each ate a pint of ice-cream, shared a bottle of wine, and will hopefully get to sleep at least five hours uninterrupted.

But I did accomplish one task. I downloaded pictures to put together posters for Patrick's first birthday! Despite Kevin and I both being total shit at remembering the camera, we have a couple cute ones.

Such a big boy

My little boy....but always my baby.

Would love to post more, but child is needy and demanding.

Lord am I tired!

At least it's sunny...

Another First

Patrick is 51 weeks old today. He'd been teasing us with "practice" steps. Those halting, tripping lunges where their feet circumstantially move before they fall.

Kevin and I had decided that his official first steps would happen when we were together.

And today, it did!

From Mommy to Daddy, Patrick took five deliberate steps.

On A Mission

I'm on the hunt for used outdoor play equipment for Patrick.

The plastic gear that's completely overpriced new but fairly reasonable used. I'm searching craigslist (addictive) and watching for garage sales.

SO....

If anybody is out and about, sees a sale, give me a call! My boy needs toys!

Or else, I'll just keep showing up to play with them at your house. :)

Love a bargin

Fred Meyer had a box set for Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely fragrance.

Suggested retail price: $95

Retail sale price: $58

Fred Meyer price: $40

50% off coupon: $20

Plus other coupons: $15.57 (and that includes tax!)

So I'm still a rawther anxious little bunny (poor little bunny). I'm having difficulty making decisions, so for once I'm letting Kevin decide important things. Like whether to have pizza tonight for dinner.

But some wine, a sleeping baby, and a task (mostly) accomplished has helped. I tackled my piles of papers around the house. Lots of shredding. I'm not finished. I have to work tomorrow so the left-over filing and bill-paying can wait.

But I did buy a cute new pair of shorts today! Then I felt anxious about spending the money. If one glances at the meteorological forcast, it might seem a bit optimistic. But I had a 20% off coupon for the Gap, and the shorts were quickly disappearing online. Figuring I might not be able to find them in my size later on, I splurged.

Quote of the Day

Kevin and I are sitting in front of the computer. Patrick was asleep by 6:58pm. We were planning his birthday party.

So we are trolling the Margaritaville website, looking for food and drink ideas. Kevin finds one for a Bloody Maria, named since it uses tequila instead of vodka.

That sounds good, he says.

Wait, I reply, but you hate Bloody Marys.

Kevin pauses.

I've never actually had one.

What? If you've never had them, why did you say you didn't like them.

They had tomato juice in them.

Feeling it a little bit

I'm going a little bit crazy tonight. So anxious that I can see why Brit just up and shaved her head like that. Because anything is better than dealing with a brain that's drowning in stress.

I feel like adult life is pushing me underwater tonight. Drowning in an ocean of chores with no shore in sight. And while the time to tackle something might appear, the money to do it does not.

Too much of everything in this tiny house, but the paperwork is fit to kill me. Flyers, coupons, a pile to be shredded, bills that I'm sure are late by now. Surrounded by stuff to do that I'm paralyzed and do nothing.

And to top it off, I have nothing to wear and I hate my hair!

Wilde at home

Jay, you rock! Sure hope you and the family are able to be there!

For Jay and all husbands everywhere, I offer the quote of the day.

Me: Honey, I sent you an email from work with all the chores I want done today.

Kevin: Thanks Babe. I'll be hanging on your every word as if it was a meat-hook.

Get out your cookbooks, I need some help

I'd just post pictures, but I can't find out where they are now that Kevin re-did the computer.

Damn, now I have to write something.

Or I'll cheat, and ask for advice.

Patrick's birthday party this month, one year old. We have a theme:

A Pirate Looks at One, or Why is the Rum always Gone?

Don't pout if you weren't invited. It's down at Mom's, and I figured most didn't relish a drive at 4.09 a gallon. But if you are so inclined, drop me an email. Bam! You are now invited!

But I'm wondering what food people might like that I could loosely fold into that theme. A rum drink will obviously be included.

Any suggestions?