Viral Video Never Got Funnier Than This!

Video Countdown:

#3: This is the first official video I have of Little Miss walking unassisted. She usually only walks when the camera is not filming.

#2: This is the second official video I have of Little Miss walking unassisted. She walks like a champ in this video. She's gotten so good in the last week!

#1: Tonight, Little Miss got some pudding for dessert. At one point, she didn't want to eat anymore so Husband started doing airplane motions and sounds, and she thought it (or he) was hilarious! I dare you to watch this and not at least smiling.

Weekend Update - Lots of Pictures Coming At You!

Last Friday, we had a nice quiet evening. We all had dinner together. Then, after Little Miss fell asleep, Husband and I watched Talk to Me. We popped popcorn and hung out. It was a nice quiet evening.

On Saturday, we woke up early to celebrate Christmas just the three of us. Because we're spending the holiday away from home, we didn't want to trek our presents and wanted to celebrate with some quiet quality time. It was a lot of fun. Little Miss received a couple of ornaments, a book, and a toy. Husband received Scrubs, a new wallet, an XM Sound System which I paid a lot less for and shared the cost with Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law, a book and chocolates. I got a new iPod which I so desperately wanted, the Shamwow, an engraved Mommy photo frame, and a couple of gift cards.

After presents, Husband made waffles for us. They were delicious! We lounged around in our pajamas for awhile. Then, we got ready to go grocery shopping. Little Miss ate her way through the grocery store with free samples of cookies, ham, cheese, sourdough bread, and cantaloupe. She also got a red balloon. When we got home, she took a brief nap which wasn't unusual. Her new routine is taking a very brief morning nap of about 30-45 minutes. Then, she stays awake most of the afternoon with exceptions (see the section about Sunday).

On Saturday night, we went to Mass with the In-Laws. Little Miss was good, but she does get restless. Husband took her when he received Communion. After seeing him open his mouth, she looked at him and said, "NUM NUM!" - her word for food. At the pew, I gave her some goldfish crackers. After church, we went to the In-Laws' apartment for dinner and more presents. Everyone was very generous, and we loved all our presents. The picture to the right is right is Little Miss and me in her bedroom right before we left for Mass.

On Sunday, Little Miss and I slept very late. Therefore, I was late getting to my friend's house. The three of us went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch. Little Miss was a little bratty because she was exhausted. We then walked around and went shopping. We went to Target along with some other stores. I mentioned I got new jammies, but I also picked up new shoes.

After, we went home to a cranky household. Husband had a bad football day/season. I made a yummy shrimp over pasta dinner. Then, we hung out with Little Miss until her bedtime. After, Husband read his book while I played with my new iPod. Then, we went to bed and face out 2-day work week before our 12-day vacation!

How have I gone so long...

without flannel pajamas?

OK, that's kind of a lie. I got a long-sleeve shirt and short set years ago. This is my first long-sleeve shirt and pants set. They're so warm and fuzzy and cozy. It's just in time because this year it seems colder than it has been in the past. It's cold, but it's a kind of cold that cuts through you. It's even been cold in our apartment that is almost always warm. These pjs are adorable with little snowflakes on them. A co-worker gave me a white mug with a band of red with white snowflakes so it was a nice compliment to my pjs last night (and a good night for cocoa).

If you're interested in your own, they are on sale at Target right now. I'll also tell you that they are cheaper in the store.

Weekend Update - Christmas shopping is done!

Last week was super crazy. On Wednesday, I took the day off. I had some extra vacation time that I couldn't take any other time. Plus, Little Miss had a doctor appointment for her booster shot. So, we actually went to work (yes, on my day off). Little Miss hadn't visited my office in awhile. After, we dropped off a gift for a friend and then visited Filene's Basement to pick up a purse I had my eye on. I had a 20% coupon so it was super cheap, and I've been looking for a purple purse for quite some time. Then, we met a supplier for lunch at P.F. Chang's. Little Miss hadn't napped all morning. So, she played for the camera and then passed out right after our food came.

After lunch, we head out to my parents' house to visit with Mom and Nephew. It was fun. Both kids had a ball with each other. We stayed for a couple of hours and then head to the pediatrician.

Little Miss is a trooper with her shots. She had stopped crying by the time the nurse disposed of the needle. She actually was more mad than hurt, too. We then rushed to the grocery store. Little Miss finally fell asleep when we got back to the apartment, and I cooked dinner for my parents who came over to celebrate my Gotcha Day.

On Thursday, it was my office holiday party at McCormick & Schmick's. It was fun. Husband couldn't make it, but I did get chatting with a lot of the office people - mostly the ones I talk to everyday. Why branch out?

On Friday, we mostly hung out at home. Saturday was more of that. On Sunday, we ran around to Target, Carters, and the mall. However, in all our errands, I finished picking up my last Christmas present. So, productive weekend by the end.

Oh, I also baked! I baked these without the lollipop sticks and Peppermint Chocolate Cookies. The peppermint chocolate cookies took a little longer because I didn't realize they'd take so long to make. So, they were a two-night task. I finished them tonight.

It's my Gotcha Day!

Today is my Gotcha Day. I was adopted, and today (33 years ago) is the day my parents picked me up from the airport. So, it's like a second birthday. It's just as important as my birthday as it is the day that our family came together (unless you count my sister's Gotcha Day in June).

Last night, we had my parents over for dinner. They spend the night with Little Miss. It was a lot of fun. Plus, there were presents.

Tonight, I had my office party and, when I came home, there were more presents! Husband got me new jammies. I've been wanting them, too. He didn't know I wanted them so they're even a nicer treat. He also got me 2 ornaments from Little Miss. One is a Mommy ornament and the other marks Little Miss's second Christmas with us. I didn't even know they made second Christmas ornaments!

Anyway, it's a very special night in our house. Who knows what would have happened if there was no Gotcha Day!

Happy Holidays - TV Style

Much like Thanksgiving, I found a list of the best Christmas episodes on TV. (The two worst episodes are here, but it's a lame list.) I can't say I agree or disagree, but I will say that I do like the M*A*S*H episdoe a lot. I was always a fan of the cheesy, very special episodes around the holidays. I refuse to name any to avoid any teasing though I will admit I don't go as cheesy as the Growing Pains Christmas special with Leonardo DiCaprio's introduction to the Seaver family.

Another site lists their favorite Christmas specials. I'm not a huge fan of any of them, but Husband loves A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I do think it's sweet. I recently watched a bunch, and they didn't age as well as I had hoped. I do enjoy How the Grinch Stole Christmas! though.

What are your favorite Christmas episodes or specials?

Just Say No!

I read this article. Then, are homemade cookies and ice cream gateway drugs to harder drugs like candy bars and lollipops? Halloween must be the equivalent of Woodstock.

I'm waiting for Sugar Anonymous. "Hi, my name is april. I love diet soda, Kit Kats, and I recently sunk to the level of Godiva truffles. I mean, it starts with a Godiva truffles. I mean, it starts with a hot chocolate in the morning and a Diet Coke at lunch.

P.S. I bought 4 truffles yesterday, and it may be less expensive to have a coccaine habit though I'm not sure of the going rate of coccaine so I can't be sure.

Is There Something on my Nose?

Last night, my meal looked nothing like that photo. Actually, it was a yummy one, but I took some shortcuts because it was a weeknight. It's a shrimp, tomato and basil dish over linguini. So, because Little Miss can't have shellfish yet, we just cut up linguini and put some leftover red sauce on it for her. It's her favorite meal. She ate like a champ.

Later that night, I was changing her diaper to put her to bed, and she started coughing... for like 10 minutes. So, Husband thought she swallowed something. We had been watching her get drowsy for awhile so I didn't think she swallowed anything. Then, he thought we weren't careful enough and she had some shrimp or something that touched shrimp and was having an allergic reaction. So, we continue to thump her back while she coughs while coming up with worse and worse scenarios. Meanwhile, her eyes are watering, she's getting overheated and her nose is running. So, then, we decide to clear out her nose which is a trial because she hates when we go near her nose (even if this will help her breathe better). So, I sit down on the rocker to calm her down and ask Husband to wipe her nose again. He does. Then, I notice she has something huge on her nose, and I ask him what it was (well, I was a little more hysterical and may have used a curse word albeit a mild one). So, he discovers that she had a piece of linguini stuck. We usually cut the linguini pretty small, but she started slurping it last night, and it was so cute. So, some of the pieces were a little longer. Last night, one of the longer pieces came out her nose. Once free of the torturous pasta, she was fine, but she was sweaty and a little confused.

We gave her a bath to calm her down and tire her out, and all was right in the household once again, but it was scary! Today, however, it's kind of funny. Comedy is tragedy plus time, you know...

Season of Giving

This is inspired by my friend Brandi. During this season of giving, I thought I'd list the charities which I support. I only donated to one this season as a gift, but I often give to charities instead of giving a gift throughout the year. I also try to donate as I am able to causes which I support.

1. The Ronald McDonald House Charities - Brandi specifically mentioned this one as well. I know that it helped her family, and ever since, I've tried to give a donation annually.

2. Autism Speaks - When Nephew tested on the autistic spectrum, we all got a little crash course. It looks like he may test closer to average children because of all the strides he's made at school though. His speech is improving so much, too. Even I can understand him now! Even still, there is so much to learn about this disease and whatever we can do to educate people and eliminate it is crucial.

3. Habitat for Humanity - I've donated both time and money to this organization. I think it's a fantastic organization that really helps people help themselves.

4. Holt International - This one may be a little more obscure, but it's the adoption agency from which I was adopted. I've donated to them on behalf of my parents for Mother's or Father's Day. I always thought it was a great present because it helps provide for children but also gives back to an agency that helped make our family possible.

5. This year, I also donated my parents' local chapter of The Humane Society. My mom donates a lot of items to her local shelter so I thought donating to the local chapter of The Humane Society would be something she'd appreciate. (Edited: The Human Society totally different than The Humane Society. What a difference a letter makes!)

6. One last non-profit to mention is The Parkinson's Action Network. To quote its website, "PAN serves as the voice of Parkinson’s on numerous public policy issues affecting the Parkinson’s community. In addition to continuing our work on NIH funding and research, the Parkinson’s community is now a powerful voice on many crucial issues including Parkinson’s-specific programs at the Departments of Defense and Veteran’s Affairs, FDA drug approval issues, HHS programs (Medicare and Social Security), and our continuing struggle to achieve research freedom for stem cell research." I have yet to donate to PAN, but it is where Husband works so I like to think we donate time.

There are others that come and go. I often support various health-related charities and also support a lot of walkers in Walk-a-Thon fundraisers throughout the year.

Who are your favorite charities or about what group would you like to educate me?

This Little Piggy... Goes on the Floor

Little Miss likes her stuffed pig. She doesn't love it as much as she used to (see photos), but she does like it enough that its tail doesn't curl like it used to, and it's a little matted and nasty.

However, the other night, there must have been a night-time spat. Little Miss fell asleep. I left her in her bedroom and she was down for the count. We turned on the video monitor from the other room. She was standing up in the crib. I groaned, figuring I was going to have to go back in and get her to sleep once more, but I waited because she wasn't crying so she could just settle down by herself. She bent down, picked up Pig, threw him out of the crib, and then laid down and fell back asleep. It was the funniest thing we ever saw. We had to hold laughter in because we didn't want to wake her up. Too funny and really the moment that made the video monitor worth it. Well, that and we didn't miss the first time she ever rolled over.

What Type Are You?

I got this bit of fun from Susan Wiggs's Blog. If you go here, it will anaylize your blog. Below is my result:

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

Weekend Update - Cold!

It was a good weekend. On Friday, I went to Sister's house to celebrate her birthday. She made dinner. I left around 9PM and met a friend to see Four Christmases. I guess I wasn't alone as it was #1 at the box office. It was a lot of fun. I'm glad we went even though I wasn't sure I would stay awake the entire time!

On Saturday, I got together with two friends and we hung out all afternoon. It was a lot of fun. It was a yummy lunch, too. We exchanged Christmas presents and had a good time. During the day, it also snowed. That helped get into the Christmas spirit. Saturday night, I decorated the tree. So, it's all set.

Sunday, I slept late while Husband took care of Little Miss. Then, when football starts, I get up. We also took a walk to pick up some things at CVS. She had about a half hour of sleep all day, but she doesn't get too cranky when she's tired. She's too stubborn to admit she's tired. So, we kept her up. She got finicky with dinner, but she did eat. Then, she basically went right to bed. Within the last week, putting her to bed has become pretty easy. She doesn't nap much, but I'm ok with that as long as she's not cranky. She'll sleep if she's really tired. So, I just updated my iPod, tidied up the apartment after Little Miss and am ready for bed.

Time for another week to begin...

It's been awhile since I've uploaded a video. I've been trying to get Little Miss to walk for the video camera, but she won't. She doesn't walk too much because she's a super crawler and walking slows her down. She can though. In the video, she crawls for a couple of steps and then drops down to crawl and grab for the camera. Enjoy!

I’m holding you as you sleep

I get this feeling of peace

I know that you’re going to be all right

‘Cause heaven is in my arms tonight

And I know that someday girl

You’ll be the one to change the world

Believing and seeing your wishes all come true

~ Brian Wilson, "Dream Angel"

Last night, I did our new routine. I gave Little Miss her bottle. I rocked her. When she started getting drowsy, I put her in her crib. She did stand and start to babble, but eventually, she sat and then reclined. After only about 15 minutes, I put on The Nutcracker Suite and left the room even though she was still kind of awake. She slept through the night, but she did wake up at 7AM versus 8AM when she usually does. Still, I'll take 7AM over 2AM (or 3AM or 4AM). Even though we have a routine, she doesn't have a set bedtime. She goes to bed whenever she starts rubbing her eyes (which is usually the same time). I like to wire her up and run her down before then.

Tonight, Husband is taking over bed duty while I go out. I hope she's as good for him as she has been for me.

'Tis the season... of over-eating!

It's begun. We work in an industry that deals with vendors who give gifts. They occasionally take us to lunch or bring us to hockey games or host happy hours. During the holidays, all of this reaches a whole, new level. The food starts arriving. Usually, it arrives all at once. This year, I know people are cutting back which actually is a good thing. I don't know how much they're cutting back yet though. Either way, the first tin of cookies arrived today. They're calling to me. And you know... if you give an april a cookie, then she'll want milk...

As the Barenaked Ladies sang, "Who needs sleep?"

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one. ~Leo J. Burke

Ever since Little Miss was born, she's been an amazing sleeper. As a newborn, she'd sleep 4-5 hours at a time. She'd eat a ton and then go right back to sleep. She was born right before Halloween. We had both sets of family over on Halloween, and she slept through all of the noise and celebration and trick-or-treaters.

A couple of weeks later, she went with us while we walked a couple of blocks and voted. She slept through Election Day. Granted, it wasn't a very exciting Election Day, but she slept through it nonetheless.

Later that month, she slept through her first Thanksgiving. She slept while we ate dinner. She slept while we ate dessert. She napped with Papa. She slept through almost the entire day.

In December, she was wide awake when we dressed her to meet Santa. When we left the house, she was wide awake. By the time we walked two blocks to the mall, she fell asleep again. She was sleeping while she met Santa and sleeping while we walked home.

Little Miss has always been a great sleeper.

Then, over the summer, that changed. During vacation, I think she was used to sleeping with us in the same room as she. It must have been comforting to wake up, see us, and go back to sleep. When we got home, she'd wake up and the room would be empty. So, in order to get some peace and quiet, she'd fall asleep with me in our room. When Husband came to bed, he'd move her to her room. She'd sleep through the night. We'd all be happy. Later, she'd actually fall asleep in her playpen or on the couch. We'd let her and finish eating dinner or finish doing whatever it was we were doing. Then, it got to the point she wouldn't sleep in her crib at all. So, something had to be done.

Starting at the beginning of this week, she gets her bedtime bottle in the nursery and she doesn't leave the nursery until the morning whether she is asleep or awake. It does make it so one of us may have to eat early or late, but it was what we had to do. We made our bed so we had to lie in it (or, in our case, not lie in it and lie on the floor of Little Miss's bedroom).

Monday night, it took two hours of her screaming. Husband went in there for a couple of hours. She screamed like her crib was a pot of boiling water and we placed her in there to cook her. However, she settled down when she realized Husband wasn't leaving. He dozed on the floor, and she finally gave in to sleep. She slept through the night.

Tuesday, Husband went to put her to bed while I ate dinner. He was in there for a half hour. When I finished dinner, I went in there so he could eat. He was dozing on the floor and she was standing up in the crib. So, we switched spots. It took about an hour, but she did not cry. She just took awhile to fall asleep. She woke up during the night and Husband slept on the floor of her bedroom for 2 hours.

Wednesday night, I put Little Miss to bed. It took an hour. She was good and didn't cry at all. She just took awhile to settle in the crib and would only cry if I tried to leave the room so I rocked in the rocking chair while she settled in. When she was asleep, I crept out. She woke up at 3AM. Husband went in from 3AM-4AM. When he left her room to go to the bathroom, she started screaming like her crib had turned into a giant bear claw and snapped shut. So, I went in there from 4AM-5AM. She fell asleep quickly, but so did I which is why I stayed so long.

So, that brings us to tonight. She settled down without crying within 15 minutes or so. She wasn't even sleeping yet when I crept out of the room. We'll see if she sleeps through the night, but I do consider this great progress. Of course, we'll be consistent and she'll get into a nice routine and then we'll travel for the holiday. Then, everything will be all out of control again. Thus is life.

Sidenote: When Husband woke me at 5AM to get me to come back to bed, he startled me out of a dead sleep, and I screamed awake. Amazingly, Little Miss only briefly stirred but did not fully wake up. I stayed for 5 minute in case she woke up, but she did not. She'll sleep through me screaming and sirens outside, but the quiet of the nursery will keep her awake. Nutty!

Another meme from LiveJournal

This is edited to be Blogger-friendly.

Here are the instructions:
You answer twelve questions about yourself. You enter each answer into Flickr's search engine. You pick a photo from the first three pages of results and put its URL into this rather cool mosaic maker.Then you post the resulting mosaic in your blog.

The questions are:
1. First Name
2. Favorite Food
3. Hometown
4. Favorite Color
5. Celebrity Crush
6. Favorite Drink
7. Dream Holiday
8. Favorite Dessert
9. What I Want To Be When I Grow Up
10. What I Love Most In The World
11. One Word That Describes Me
12. My Blogger Name (in this case, my LiveJournal name and my Blogger name are the same)

Credit to: 1. Always Marry An April Girl, 2. 14th August 2007 / Day 226, 3. Old Burying Ground, 4. lavendar skies, 5. FNL2, 6. Cosmopolitan, 7. 1983... (a merman I should turn to be), 8. three is not a crowd, 9. Girasoles para los amigos / Sunflowers for the friends, 10. Soft Like A Baby, 11. as a fairy, 12. god of small things

Wasting Time on a meme from LiveJournal

01. My uncle once: got me a Cabbage Patch Kid on Christmas.

02. Never in my life: have I drank a beer.

03. When I was five: I celebrated my birthday in DisneyLand and got a copy of The Wizard of Oz.

04. High school was: 15 years ago.

05. I will never forget: um, I forget, what was the question again?

06. I once saw: a man walking down the street dressed like a Pirate on International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

07. There’s this girl I know: that is obsessed with The Office - actually, I know a couple...

08. Once, at a bar: I threw up on another person, wanted to start a fight with someone who spilled a drink on me, and got thrown up on (oh, pick your own response).

09. By noon: I needed a nap.

10. Last night: I couldn't fall asleep.

11. If only I had: a brain... a heart... courage... whatever.

12. Next time I go to church: lightning will strike and God will go "is it Christmas or Easter?"

13. What worries me most: is that I'll worry too much and lose focus or perspective.

14. When I turn my head left I see: the tv and the Little People Nativity Set.

15. When I turn my head right I see: a basket of clean laundry, a toy and a wrapped present for my nephew.

16. You know I’m lying when: you have facts on your side. It's pretty hard to catch me. I'm either believable or will blank and tell the truth.

17. What I miss most about the '80s is: the amount of disposable cash I had.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare, I'd have no idea what the words that come out of my mouth mean.

19. I have a hard time understanding: most things.

20. If I ever go back to school: it'll be so I can take over and become the smartest person on the planet.

When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars...

OK, it's not the dawning of the age of Aquarius, but did you get a chance to look up to the sky tonight?

Jupiter and Venus were shining bright right next to the moon. I couldn't find a very accurate photo, but it was so cool! I never see stuff in the sky. Plus, in the city, I rarely see stars. So, when I left work and saw the bright shining planets next to the moon, I was puzzled. Then, I heard on the radio that the planets are in view tonight for the last time in quite awhile (though the accounts varied depending on where I did my research).

Hope you got a chance to see the planets and moon!

Some of the Best 'Out of Office' Automatic email Replies

This was sent to me by my friend, Lori. I've gotten it by e-mail before, and it's always made me laugh so I thought I'd share.

1. I am currently out of the office at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position.Please be prepared for my mood.
2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office.If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.
3. Sorry to have missed you,But I’m at the doctor’s having my brain and heart removed so I can be promoted to our management team.
4. I will be unable to delete all the emails you send me until I return from vacation.Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.
5. Thank you for your email.Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.
6. The email server is unable to verify your server connection.Your message has not been delivered. Please restart your computer and try sending again.
7. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system.You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
8. Hi, I’m thinking about what you’ve just sent me.Please wait by your PC for my response.
9. I’ve run away to join a different circus.
10. I will be out of the office for the next two weeks for medical reasons.When I return, please refer to me as ‘Kate’ instead of Dave.

Books Read in November 2008

The only book I read this month was Flat-Out Sexy by Erin McCarthy. I wasn't making any progress reading anything so I thought I'd pick up something fast and light. Flat-Out Sexy fit the bill. It was a fun book, better than I expected seeing as I'm not really into car racing.

Weekend Update - It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas

On Wednesday, I mailed about 68 Christmas cards from work. Then, the weekend really started Wednesday at 1PM when I got early dismissal from work. I stayed a little later to finish up some little tasks I knew I didn't want to be waiting for me on Monday morning. Then, I head home. It was a rough night. Little Miss woke up every couple of hours so it was challenging. She slept in bed with us for a couple of hours. Then, Husband slept on the couch with her and then I took the last leg on the couch with her.

Thursday was Thanksgiving. The photo of her sleeping was the only photo I took that day. That was before the guests came and the only brief sleep she got all day. She did sleep very well Thanksgiving night and the next night. She was great on Thanksgiving despite no nap. She loved sweet potatoes and tried everything else.

Friday, we went for our Christmas tree. We went to breakfast at IHOP. Little Miss had her weight in pancakes and French Toast. Then, we chose our tree. When we got home, Little Miss and I took an extremely long nap. Then, we woke up, ate dinner and pretty much went back to sleep. Before I went to bed, I also did 90% of our Christmas shopping, too. I found a couple of fantastic websites and did all my shopping for everyone but Nephew, Husband's godson, the inlaws and Husband.

On Saturday, it was Family Day or rather turned into Family Day. All three of us went to The Carter's Store, to Babies 'R' Us and Harris Teeter. On Saturday, we also knocked out Nephew's Christmas gift. Later, Saturday night, we watched Harold & Kumar 2: Escape from Guantanamo Bay. It was silly fun like the first one.

That brings us to Sunday. Little Miss had another challenging night last night. Today, she had breakfast with Husband while I tried in vain to get some more shut eye. We did go to the mall and picked up Inlaws' Christmas presents though. So, we only have one more to buy. Plus, I might have picked up a few things for myself. Typical football Sunday though. And onto another work week...

Gratitudes during Thanksgiving

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to compile a list of things for which I am grateful. I wanted to be inspired by Susan Wiggs, but I was too much into procrastination to get out a post a day. So, here are 30 things for which I am thankful, one for each day in November. These are in no particular order.

1. my family
2. Diet Coke
3. Friday Night Lights which is the best show on television. I love Kyle Chandler. However, it is worth noting that Gaius Charles was outstanding this year as well.
4. macaroni and cheese - I'm really not a snob. I make my own sometimes, but I love the blue box, too.
5. my friends
6. second frames in bowling because sometimes you can't hit all 10 pins down the first time (or the second for that matter...)
7. hand santizer like Purell and my favorite scent, Cucumber Melon.
8. sales and coupons
9. new book smell
10. my co-workers
11. Jim Henson's legacy
12. smart, imaginative, clever people (I don't want to name any specific names because that might make the unintelligent, non-creative, dull folk feel bad so you can all just think you're a person that fits into this category.)
13. matchbox twenty for writing lyrics like "I'm sorry 'bout the attitude/ I need to give when I'm with you/ But no one else would take this shit from me/A nd I'm so/ Terrified of no one else but me/ I'm here all the time/ I won't go away" from "Long Day" and "You've been so composed/ But we all know there's/ Always something/ Tearing you apart/ Always so much longer/ Than you counted on/ It hits you so much harder/ Than you thought/ But you don't worry/ Don't worry/ Cuz you got soul" from "Soul". They aren't actually my favorite matchbox twenty songs, but they always make me feel better.
14. Aaron Sorkin at his best. I have been quoting this quote lately from The American President - "Oh, you only fight the fights you can win? You fight the fights that need fighting!"
15. Wii - now, I don't own one and probably wouldn't use it if I had one, but I love how it really brings people together. 4 generations of my family played last summer. I've been to parties where we've played. It's a lot of fun and still can be social.
16. the Internet for letting me look up things which I do not know, for giving me new recipes, for being a great resource for new parents, and for connecting me with friends with whom I had lost touch
17. Supernatural because I'm not far from being a total fangirl for Jensen Ackles
18. indoor plumbing because it's genius
19. Target for having everything I need and then some...
20. my digital camera for allowing me to take photos, delete the non-keeper photos, and for being almost indestructable
21. manicures/pedicures
22. my quilt - my quilt is 15 years old, a graduation present, and I sleep with it every night. It's the perfect balance of light cover in the summer and super cozy in the winter.
23. author websites - without naming anyone specific, it's a great marketing tool for authors to have a website and even have contact with readers. It's great for new information as well as a connection.
24. iTunes and my iPod - even though my batter died (or is close to it), I listen to my iPod every day. I love that I can have a crazy eclectic playlist and never know what song will pop up next while I'm working.
25. hot chocolate with real whipped cream
26. Bones - this show just makes me happy. The ickiness and murder appease my morbid side and the writing just makes me laugh. I felt last year wasn't its best season, but it's been really enjoyable so far this year.
27. contact lenses - not that I don't love my glasses, but I love having contact lenses
28. books
29. handbags - seriously. I love how all purses fit. I don't have to worry about size or if it'll make me look fat. It's perfect just as it is. There are big ones, small ones, casual ones, formal ones, and all sorts of colors and patterns. The one to the left is not the one I'm currently using, but it's the closest I could find. I was obsessed with the Pink Elephants pattern by Vera Bradley. Living outside of D.C. and during an election year, I was afraid the pattern would associate me with the Republican party, but I sucked it up and bought it anyway. It just makes me happy.
30. USA - which is lame, but I love living in this country, and I wouldn't live anywhere else. It's not perfect. I disagree with a lot of things going on now, in the past and, I'm sure, in the future, but its diversity is why this country is so strong.

So, there is the list of things for which I am grateful. There are things that I'm leaving out, but I wanted it to be a list of all sorts of items. Right now, I have to say I'm grateful for an empty (and almost clean) apartment and being right on schedule with the holiday planning and decorating as well as my work agenda.

Thanksgiving TV

If you know anything about me, it's that I love tv. Seriously. It makes me happy. It gives me topics of conversation. I just love it. I can't say I like good tv, but I love tv.

MSN has a list of Top 5 Thanksgiving episodes. It was a pretty good list actually. I will add that the Thanksgiving episode where President Bartlett calls the Butterball hotline was also great (Season 3) as well as the Cheers Thanksgiving episode and How I Met Your Mother and its Slapsgiving episode.

All in all, The West Wing has my favorite in Season 2. It's one of MSN's Top 5 and it is one of mine as well. Every year, Husband and I watch it. It is the only season of the show we own. Good stuff.

I Love Your Blog!

After receiving the award you are supposed to pay it forward:
1) Add the logo of your award to your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

I was nominated by Sanna for the I Love Your Blog Award. Normally, I would nominate her, but I didn't think it was fair to tag her again. However, her blog is always fun, and I love it when she posts her sewing projects. I'm very jealous of her talent.

So, here are my 7 favorites (in no particular order):

1. Brandi's Blog - a friend from middle school/high school. Blogging has a great way to catch up and see photos of the kids.
2. Jill Shalvis's Blog - Jill Shalvis is a romance author. Her books are very funny. Her heroes are yummy. Her blog is very entertaining and a great way for her to connect with her readers by sharing stories of her personal life as well as her professional life without it being only a marketing tool.
3. Kristin Hannah's Blog - Kristin Hannah is another fiction author. Her origin is with the romance genre, but nowadays, you can find her books shelved almost anywhere. Her blog is relatively new, but she spends time posting and responding to her fans.
4. Naomi's Blog - Naomi's blog centers on her writing and reading. It's nice to see which books we have in common and also on the progress of her writing. One of these days, perhaps she will inspire me to write more though I'm fairly certain procrastination will win out.
5. Stacy's Blog - Stacy's blog centers around her family and travels while her husband is stationed in Germany. It's always fascinating to read about all the things they are up to in Europe.
6. Susan Wiggs's Blog - Susan Wiggs is a romance author who blogs about books, hers and others, as well as life in general in Washington State. It's very thoughtful and always has great photos or links. This month, she is posting all things for which she is grateful. I'm hoping to be inspired to post my own gratitude post, but again, procrastination is a strong and evil force.
7. Tess Gerritsen's Blog - Tess Gerritsen is a mystery author. I was fortunate enough to see her during a booksigning tour over a year ago. Her books are fascinating. Her blog is mostly notes on her writing and travels. I really enjoy the behind-the-scenes tidbits on her books and all the things that interest her.

Cranky Cranky Cranky

Trust me, the title was worth repeating three times. Little Miss wasn't feeling well yesterday and woke up a few times last night. She would only feel happy and safe if she slept on me. If I moved her off me, she'd wake up and crawl on me again. So, I started my day very tired. It's always a short jump from very tired to very cranky. Then, today at work, I'm getting everything I need wrong. It's making me more cranky because it's not like I have a deadline (or three) coming up soon. The short week is not helping either. You'd think the short week would be a good thing, but it basically makes me do 5 days worth of work in 3 days (or 2 and a half days if we get out early on Wednesday). So, if you see me today, steer clear!

Weekend Update - I am full of the Christmas Spirit! (Does sarcasm show?)

On Friday, we decided to just hang out at home and not do our weekly grocery shoppoing. Then, we had the genius idea to have leftovers so the extra time in our Friday night was decadent. I even started to tidy up the apartment since I knew that I would have a busy weekend.

On Saturday, Husband got the oil changed and went grocery shopping while Little Miss and I hung out at home. We received her Nativity set, including The Little Drummer Boy and the Thanksgiving set. So, I've started decorating. Little Miss had has fun throwing all the Little People around. On Saturday night, a friend and I met at Ballston Mall. We ate at Chick-Fil-A which was yummy. Then, we walked around and shopped before a movie. I picked up, among other things, a penguin candle and soap dispenser. After shopping, we saw Zack and Miri Make a Porno which, if you're a Kevin Smith fan, was a pretty funny movie. I don't think it's my favorite of his, but it was a fun night out.

On Sunday, I woke up to head out to Target and then to Fair Oaks Mall. I can't even list all the things I purchased, but I did need most of it - gifts, necessities for Thanksgiving, and a CD. I met the Parents and Nephew so we could take photos of the kids. The photos were really cute. The photo studio was backed up so there was a huge possibility that the kids were going to melt down, but they didn't. So, we got a couple cute shots. I didn't purchase many because I took the above photo last week. I stayed for dinner at the Parents' house and met up with Sister. Then, I head home, tried to tidy up some more to get ready for Thanksgiving, and went to bed early. Little Miss had absolutely no routine yesterday so she was a little off.

And so concluded the weekend and transitioned into a dreaded Monday...

Shock and Awe

I decided against two posts in a row featuring a photo of a toilet.

Last night, I gave Little Miss a bath. Her new favorite thing is to splash, splash, splash. We still bathe her in the toddler tub even though she could use the big tub. I have to get a bath mat though. So, she's sitting in the toddler tub. She grabs my hand and stands. Then, she steps out of the toddler tub into the big tub, grabs the side... and poops. POOPS! I knew from the look on her face what was going on, but I didn't want to move her because it would have been worse. Meanwhile, Husband was laughing and laughing and laughing. Not helpful. After he caught his breathe, I had him take Little Miss while I cleaned and bleached.

I'm actually pretty happy she got out of the toddler tub to do her business because the bath was salvaged. Husband brought her back into the bathroom when it was sanitized. She looked at me and went, "HA!" I only wish I was joking. So, I plunked her in the toddler tub again and we started over.

Is this what everyone means when they say life is never boring after you have a child?