Back To My Roots

For the first time since the two months following H's birth, I have let my roots show. I was examining them in the mirror because, aside from the mousy blonde that just looks dull overall, I realized that I had a couple of hairs that were bright blonde. Upon closer inspection, I stood back quickly and then got close again...I have my first silvers!

I don't know when they first came, as my roots have barely been able to show their ugly face since I was a senior in high school. Whether it's high times with regular trips to the salon, or the as-of-late low times with a box of Feria or Nice-n-Easy, I have always held the upkeep of my hair at the utmost of importance. However, since there was a specific time when I last saw that dishwater blonde, I can say with certainty that raising children really does make your hair go grey.

Speaking of roots. For Christmas, we gave H the "Old School Sesame Street" series. It's various shows from the series' first decade. I was thrilled to watch them, and H has been loving them as well. A number of things struck me. Oscar the Grouch was actually grouchy, One of the human males actually told someone "You must be high" when they were acting inappropriately, and Cookie Monster actually ate cookies! At the beginning of the series, they actually put a disclaimer that said something to the tune of: "This video is intended for adult nostalgia and does not necessarily meet the educational needs of today's preschoolers." Funny, because I learned a lot from it, and I don't think my darling H is any smarter than I was at his age. He loves it, and I feel like the education piece is more subtle, which seems like he'll learn more from it.

It seems like it's harder and harder to be a parent who just wants to let their child enjoy childhood. It is obvious that many others feel that way as there is a plethora of books available (which I own, in order to enforce that I'm normal for wanting to be normal) with titles like Even June Cleaver Would Forget The Juice Box, Perfect Madness, and Reclaiming Childhood.

I am very happy with my childhood, and spend a lot of time each day trying to figure out just what my mom and dad did to make it so enjoyable on a daily basis. I've realized that what they did was very basic; encourage your kids to play outside and use their imaginations as much as possible, know that individual play is good, and establish boundaries and structure that don't have to include an Ivy League prep course from the age of two.

But maybe that's just me trying to get back to my roots.

Book Club Book Snub (a rant)

My mom's group holds a monthly book club, and part of the honor of hosting is that you get to choose the book that all the members will partake.

Because my assigned time was just after the holidays, I decided to choose a fun book and went with one that I'd already read. I am the queen of the "pool book" or chick lit, as my former job required that I have hours of mindless, light, reading so that I didn't turn into a completely cynical beyotch.

I had both read and listened to Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes in the past and loved it. The central character, Moi, is a London-born girl, whose American mother connected her with department store heiress Julie Bergdorf in childhood, and they became fast friends. Now, living in New York full-time, the Ivy League educated Moi has been reduced to finding a PH (Prospective Husband) and ensuring that her tresses were appropriately coiffed while her Chloe jeans were always flawless.

This book is no War and Peace, but it's not supposed to be. To me New York City is still this magical, almost mythical place, where everyone lunches at the Four Seasons and dresses like Carrie or Charlotte, working free-lance so that they have time to trot around the city as they please. Even the Mirandas have their evenings and weekends free for the most part, in order to take in all that their high-powered jobs afford them.

My table was set with three platters of Vanilla Cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery recipe, as they were mentioned several times in the book, and I was trying to be clever in my food offerings. I thought it would be a delightful evening with everyone strenuously agreeing what a fun book it had been...

Enter the negative nellies who just couldn't relate to any of the characters, and felt like they had to slog through the book. I went from being the consummate hostess to feeling like a silly 7th grader trying to hang out with the seniors. Believe me, I know that part of book clubs is that not everyone will like the book, but this was a fun book! It wasn't supposed to be relatable, unless your name is Paris or Nicky.

Here I was, finding the love triangle between Julie, Moi and the oh-so-cute and down to earth Charlie Dunlain very engaging, and then people asked questions like "How do they stay so skinny if they're eating at all those places?"..."Um, well, they talked extensively about anorexia and how they cater parties but don't eat anything, and there are also several mentions of the gym and personal trainers. Other than that, IT'S A BOOK! It's called suspended disbelief!!!"

Oh well, back to the rigorous schedule of books that rip your heart out and make you want to commit suicide. I bet none of them will have a central character who inspires the hostess to make fluffy, pink frosted confections that use an entire pound of butter! If we're lucky, at a future meeting we'll be eating Stone Soup and reading Mrs. Dalloway.

Hooter Hiders and other fun...

I was creating my baby registry on amazon.com, when I came across a product called "Hooter Hider Nursing Cover" made by Bebe Au Lait. It basically looks like an apron without the waist belt. It has a little bit of stiffness at the neckline so that there is a gap between the fabric and your body, alleviating any suffocation concerns that I had about nursing H with a blankey over his head in AUGUST! I never was able to coordinate the whole blanket thing, so I just used...well, nothing. I totally registered for it. So exciting! I'll give a full report when I get to try it out in the flesh so to speak.

While searching, I was looking for a bouncy seat and found one that glides! Can you imagine any better way to assure that your baby will sleep separate from you for more than 2.8 seconds that to be surrounded in cozy cushiness and gliding?! I can't believe how much in baby gear has changed just in the short two years since H joined our lives.

Of course, I couldn't pass up the Johnny Cash Folsom Prison onesie that was striped a la old-time prison garb, or the Willie Nelson "Outlaw Baby" onesie. It has been so fun doing a registry this time because I know the little things that I never used. Also, I have most of the boring big items already, so get to ask for more frivolous necessities (oxymoron you say? Oh, well.)

I had been feeling so tired the last couple of days, and couldn't attribute it to the pregnancy. I realized that it had been some time since I had regular physical activity, and there have been many a-cholestorol-filled calorie consumed in the last 3 weeks. While my sister was here, we made fudge, macaroons and sugar cookies (the kind that require a stick of butter in the icing.) I hosted book club this week and made the vanilla cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery (more on the book club in tomorrow's post), which had 2 sticks of butter each in the batter and frosting...but SO good!

Back to the realization; I decided that I needed to do some kind of physical activity EVERY day. I bundled up H and put on my little walking shoes and headed out into the brisk winter air.....only to find out that it was so warm it was almost muggy. I stripped down to my T-Shirt and tied my sweatshirt around my waist, took off H's coat (he still had two shirts on), put the blanket loosely over his lap and hit the road, well, path in my apartment complex. We went to the gym first and I chased H around, dribbling the basketball after him, then he got back in the stoller and we went for a nice walk. It was so lovely to get out in the fresh air.

Huge bonus? H fell asleep almost as soon as we got home...that's right folks, four out of the last six days, he has taken an afternoon nap! If the result of me getting my plus-sized booty in gear everyday is him taking a nap, I may not be plus-sized for long!

Tea for Two

One of my favorite Christmas gifts this year was my new Kitchenaide tea kettle from my mom. Prior to this one, we had a ratty old tea kettle that was probably second hand to my husband which he's owned the entire 8 years I've known him.

Everytime I look over at my stove, I just want to warm up some water and have some tea or hot chocolate.

Since becoming pregnant this time, I've switched out my daily coffee for some decaf tea. Not, mind you, that I don't still splurge on a latte from Starbucks every now and again, or drink Diet Coke. The taste of coffee is just not doing it for me right now, so I figured if I'm going to drink tea, it may as well be decaf.

It has been so odd being pregnant this time, because it seems like there are times that it occurs to me "Oh yeah! I'm pregnant!" It's not as if I forget, but I'm so busy chasing H around that I haven't had as much time to obsess about every little detail like I did when I was carrying H.

In the last week or so, I've really started to feel movement, which is the whole reason that I really enjoy pregnancy. I am not being sarcastic when I say that I like being pregnant. I am a larger person with a long torso, so that may be why it's not really an uncomfortable thing for me.

Of course, the last couple of weeks are not fun for anyone, but the majority of my pregnancy with H was really great. I remember sitting in the lunch room at work and looking down to see my entire torso shifting from side to side as space got more cramped. It was so weird to be part of this science experiment, but so cool at the same time.

I'm not saying I'd want to be perpetually pregnant, but this time, I'm a little more apprehensive about the baby actually being on the outside. I don't have reservations about caring for an infant, I know I can do that. I'm really nervous about making sure that H isn't left out too much and understands, as much as possible, that this baby is not a replacement.

But these are all tomorrow's worries. For now, I've got a nice cup of Earl Grey steeping in the other room...

Grey Anatomy

It seems that creating a child is all about watching for the lines. When you take a pregnancy test, you're praying for two lines instead of just one (because, I guess one really is the loneliest number). I learned yesterday that if you're determining the gender on an ultrasound, you look for three white lines for a girl.

Not that I have ever seen these mystical white lines, because we just found out that we are having another little boy. Throughout the ultrasound, the baby was laying with his knees clenched together, twisting this way and that, craftily avoiding the scrutiny of the technician's wand. He then flipped over onto his back and spread his legs for all the world; or just J, H the technician and I, to see his 'glory.'

Please do not get me wrong, I am not disappointed that we're having a boy. I wanted a boy the first time, and am more than happy to be a mama to boys. My reason for wanting a girl is really very shallow; naming boys is very hard! It seems like there is an endless supply of girl names that are lyrical and classic, while at the same time not overused or odd. We had our girl name nailed. I even had a witty nickname if she turned out to be a southpaw like her mom; Lefty Lucy (as in the mnemonic device for unscrewing and tightening objects).

My husband likes the good old, simple American names; Tom, Sam, James. I do not have anything against any of these names, but I just want something with a little more flair, without being weird. At the same time, he has vetoed any name ending in -er; Tyler, Buster, etc. Why?Probably for the same reason that he suggested that he become a certified locksmith, while he was in medical school because 'Everyone needs a trade to fall back on!' Why? Because he's weird.

What's in a name? Everything! So, if you have a great boy name that you'd like to pass along, I'm definitely open to suggestion! Comment away.

And yes, those are socks on H's hands...he loves it and I love him, so there you have it!