Happy Anniversary to my parents!

The parents have been married for 35 years today! As I told my mom, that's like forever! So, happy anniversary, Parents! Thanks for getting married and then winning the adoption lottery and getting me!

Weekend Update - Summer Fun

Last weekend was fun. On Saturday, the boys all went golfing while the girls hung out at the pool all day. Baby loved the pool. As a matter of fact, she would only sleep in the pool. She'd splash and giggle. Then, she went to In-laws' house while we all went to the comedy club.

In the evening, the three couples went to Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse to see Gary Gulman. It was a lot of fun and made me wonder why I hadn't gone before! Then, we ran some errands after the comedy show and went home.

On Sunday, I hung out with friends and we played Scene It and ate and chatted all afternoon. It was a lot of fun. Then, another weekend came to a close. I can't believe the summer is half over already!

Baby is crawling!

Baby actually started crawling a week or so ago with little fits and starts. There were a lot of face plants. This weekend, she just sort of got how it all worked. She's been crawling all over the place. So far, she mostly just crawls to things that will get her into trouble so she's a little frustrated. I took a few seconds of video. Enjoy!

P.S. I'll mention that she doesn't fall or break the camera. It only seems that way at the end of the clip. No babies were harmed in the making of the film.

In the kitchen with Baby...

I was cooking dinner while Husband went to the driving range. Baby was getting fussy in her play saucer so I put her in the back carrier. It converts to a front carrier, but I don't really have the shoulders to carry that off. So, I have her on my back while I clean the shrimp for dinner. She starts to fuss a little so I start swaying back and forth and sing ("100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" - hey, it made her stop fussing). I notice that she stopped fussing. I go into the bathroom to take a peek at her because she's still on my back and I can't see what's going on. This is what I saw:

Weekend Update - Fourth of July

First, I should mention that the Christmas tree is a tree my mother keeps up all year round. She changes the decorations to match the current or upcoming holiday. If you click on the photo itself, it will enlarge it. You can see that the tree is decorated all red, white, and blue with red, white and blue garland shaped in little stars. Just wait until Halloween. The decorations are easier to see.

Last Thursday, we got out of work and headed to Maryland to spend time with my family. We met my parents, Sister, and Nephew there. We left on Thursday so we could be there in time for the parade on Friday. As soon as we hit the county, it started to pour which was a sign of the weekend to come. It rained all Thursday and looked pretty grey on Friday. Luckily, the parade went on. We found a bakery with a covered area from which to watch the parade. So, most of us stayed dry. The rest of Friday was kind of a wash... literally. The fireworks were postponed. We mostly just went to Walmart and most hung out around the house.

On Saturday, it rained most of the morning, but it cleared up in the afternoon so we went on the neighbors' boat. It turned out to be beautiful. Nephew wanted to go in the lake so Sister had to go in with him. The water was cold, but once they were in, they enjoyed themselves. Plus, they had a big inflatable hot dog connected to the back of the boat, and Sister and Nephew loved being pulled along.

On Saturday evening, we all trekked down the mountain to see the fireworks despite overcast skies, and the fireworks went off without a hitch. Baby loved the fireworks. She stared at them, and the noise didn't bother her at all. She was a great trooper.

On Sunday, the kids went into an inflatable pool in the backyard. Because we were in the country, Baby wore her camo bikini. They had a blast. Then, we took them in the hot tub (on summer mode which means it was cooler than my average bubble bath). Both kids enjoyed that as well. Then, it was time to pack up and travel home. Baby was definitely overtired and extremely tired of being buckled into the car, but she was a good girl. She seems to be back to normal today so good weekend had by all.

Every mother thinks her child is the cutest...

...but I swear mine really is. Plus, combined with Nephew, it's just cute squared. I can hardly stand it.

I'm just running out of people who will listen to me tell them how cute the kids are. I mean, come on! Look at those little faces! The little bare feet! I just want to eat them up.

Plus, they were both so good that day. There was minimal bribing with some snacks. There were a couple of tears in the beginning, but it all worked out.

We took a lot of photos. I'm still amazed I didn't buy all of them (though the 90 day period to reorder isn't over so I may still buy more). Plus, Baby just started sitting up right before we took the portraits so that was great luck.

I also really think the photographers who take pictures of children deserve a medal. They're so patient and really willing to try anything to get a smile or a giggle. They're patient with the repositioning and the bribing and the changing of diapers. I can't imagine what happens when they get a subject who won't cooperate. Our kids were amazing, but they were still all roly poly and needed some time and attention between photos.

I'm like the weirdest, too. I love sharing photos of the kids. I have all my photo albums updated and dated with a little description of all the photos. However, I don't carry many around with me. I did order many photos from this day and will be better so I can turn into the obnoxious parent who takes out photos to everyone. It's bad enough I showed the nail salon even though they didn't ask.

Books read in June 2008

1. Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward. (NOTE: This book is book 6. Book 1 is Dark Lover. Book 2 is Lover Eternal. Book 3 is Lover Awakened Book 4 is Lover Revealed Book 5 is Lover Unbound.)
2. The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn. (NOTE: This book is book 1. Book 2 is Mr. Cavendish, I Presume which comes out on September 30, 2008.)
3. The Marriage Spell by Mary Jo Putney.

I liked all the books I read this month, but after I read these three in rapid succession, I found it hard to get into another book. This is partly because June was a busy month. It’s also just that I found it difficult to concentrate. I did switch genres up a little so I am reading a couple of books currently that, I presume, will show up in my July summary. So, here’s hoping July will be when my reading groove comes back.

Weekend Update

This past weekend, we has Husband's extended family in town. We had everyone over on Saturday evening for dinner. This was the first time they have seen Baby in person. She was good. She didn't mind being passed from one person to another. She did sleep a lot which is typical when there are big crowds. She usually defaults to a nap.

On Sunday, we all went to brunch at The Front Page. Baby didn't really take much of a morning nap so she cracked out by the end of brunch. She fell asleep and then napped when we got home. So did I. Napping is good.

Later, Sister and Nephew came over. We all walked to the Inlaws's pool. It was perfect. Baby was super cranky so having her cousin and grandparents and a pool helped a lot. Baby was a little fussy in the pool, but she liked being walked around and really liked the water. Then, she just fell asleep. She didn't wake up until we tried to take her wet suit off. It was the cutest little thing.

When we got back home, Husband gave the two kids a bath. They played very well. Nephew decided to squeeze into Baby's teeny bath. They both chewed on the bath toys. Then, Nephew poured water over Baby which would have been fine if she didn't have her mouth wide open. She was fine. She coughed it all out. She loves the water. Then, we all had dinner before Sister and Nephew went home.

The rest of the night was fairly quiet. We watched a little television. Baby woke up crying twice this weekend and needed a little comfort. After she had a snack and some cuddling, she went to bed, and we followed very shortly afterwards. Everyone got a good night's sleep. Plus, for the 6th day in a row, I've gotten to work at 9 o'clock. That's on time, folks. This means, I get to leave at 5 o'clock. It's a new experience for me, but I'm trying it out. I should be good until Fall/Winter. When it's dark and/or cold outside, it's harder to jump out of bed.

Oh, Happy Day!

Now, it is no secret that I love Kyle Chandler. So, when I was browsing Barnes & Noble, imagine my surprise and delight to see that Early Edition is coming out on DVD! Everyone teases me for watching this show, but it was just a happy show and good things happened on it. Now, if they only released Homefront, all my dreams will have come true.

So close (we're counting it anyway)!

Baby crawled! Well, sort of. Every night, we've held crawling lessons where I moved her limbs and said, "knee, knee, hand, hand". She'd giggle, collapse onto the floor and roll. Tonight, she did it! She went knee, knee, hand, hand and then collapsed onto the floor. So, she's crawled, but she's not crawling. We're totally counting it.

Note: This photo is from two nights ago. She got on her hands and knees, but no crawling. Her crawl was so brief tonight, there are no photos so this one had to do. Oh, video when she gets the hang of it!

George Carlin

In honor of George Carlin, here are some quotes. When someone passes away, I always find remembering the good times helps, and we've had a lot of good times with George Carlin.

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.
George Carlin

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Weekend Update

This weekend, friends came in from out of town. I should say Husband was great. He watched Baby all weekend while I got to have some time with my friends. I know I could have brought her, but it would have been difficult and I didn't want to her to be away from home so long or being a bother to my friends.

It was a weekend of all things we loved. Three of us were free on Friday night, and we had dinner on Friday at Whitlow's on Wilson and then we parted ways. Two went to the city to pick up one friend, and I drove to Dulles to pick up another. Then, we hung out in the hotel and chatted.

On Saturday, we went to The Silver Diner for breakfast and then hit the road for some fun. We had cupcakes from Cake Love and went to C&W Used Books. I mean, what gets better than cupcakes and books? I actually bought one cupcake and one crunchy foot. The crunchy feet are little pound cakes that are crunchy on the outside and soft and heavenly on the inside. It was topped with whipped cream and raspberries and blueberries. It was so good. I bought a bunch of books I didn't need. Then, we went to another local bakery. I bought a Death by Chocolate and a chocolate and strawberry tart. Then, we hung out and chatted, went to DSW and went to Cafe Deluxe. We finished off the night chatting in the hotel until I got very sleepy.

On Sunday, we went to The Liberty Tavern for brunch. I brought Baby so she could be introduced to the group. They had only previously seen pictures. She never got her morning nap so it was possible she would melt down the minute we got there especially with new people thrown into the mix. She was pretty good. She did get fussy, but she fell asleep as we left.

Baby and I walked home from brunch, and she slept the entire time. She actually woke up as soon as we got home. I fed her lunch, and she went down for a nap. She woke up and played with Husband while I took a nap. Then, she went down for another nap. She woke up shortly after to eat and is currently sleeping again. It was a busy morning. Plus, she really wants to crawl. She's been getting so angry and frustrated. She'll get it sooner or later. If it was up to her, it'll be sooner. Plus, we also figured out a cure for her hair which has been hanging in her face.

Beauty Blog (HA)

This is from Teble's blog. Keep in mind that I am rarely brand specific so this is answered in the here and now.

My Foundation: I have Clinique foundation, but I rarely use it, only for special occasions when I need my make up to last. I've also been known to use Cover Girl's liquid powder.
My Blush: Some free sample from Clinique. I also have a weird blush from Clinique that you just rub on with your finger. I like it a lot, but I haven't wanted to get my hands dirty lately.
My Day Cream: When I remember to put it on, it's the CVS brand SPF 15 anti-wrinkle cream. At night, I use that or the Aveeno equivalent.
My Lipstick: Right now, it's a Clinique, but I don't know the shade because it's rubbed off. I think I have a Black Cherry at home.
My Essential Beauty Product: lip moisturizer
My favorite Make-up product: does nail polish count? Otherwise, I wear it everyday, but I have to admit to not wearing any/much make up this week at all.
My Perfume: I've been using a body mist (it's like a step up from the body spray) from Bath & Body Works in Moonlit Path. It also sparkles when I wear it. I don't think they sell it anymore. At least not the sparkle one.
My Nails: It's flaky, but it's purple sparkle. I'll redo them tonight either purple or pink sparkles.
My Feet: I'd love a pedicure, but I probably will do them myself. They're really flaky and were pink sparkle. I'll redo them tonight to match my fingernails. It bothers me when the fingers and toes don't match.
My hands: I have a Crabtree & Evelyn Jojoba Oil Hand & Cuticle cream at work. I love it. At home, I use whatever I have in the bathroom. I have Bath & Body Works body butter (Moonlit Path and some pink one) and Cinnamon Bun scented.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: lip moisturizer, body wash, and shampoo/conditioner
Women I admire for their beauty: I really think Salma Hayek is pretty.
Women with the best Sense of Style: I like Katie Holmes's style a lot.
My ultimate dream: A beauty dream? I can't say I dream of beauty, but I wish I could blink and have my make up just magically appear, never smear and come off completely and easily at the end of the day.
My favorite fashion Publication: I subscribe to Glamour so I guess that's it though it's more than a fashion publication.

So what are your beauty secrets? Share them in the comments or post on your own blog and link back to me.

Weekend Update - Father's Day

This past weekend, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew, Husband, Baby and I trekked down to the local portrait studio and had formal portraits taken of the kids. They were supposed to be Baby's 6-month portraits, but we were too busy last month so they are her 7-month portraits. Plus, we had some photos taken of her with her cousin. The kids were so well-behaved, and the photos came out adorable! It was so hard to decide which prints to buy. We made our final choices, but we may pay the additional money to buy more. After that, we all tried to go to the pool, but it started storming so we all went our separate ways.

For Father's Day, Husband woke up early with Baby. They have their morning time. I know he'd rather sleep, but it's worth getting up because she's her most happy in the morning. Big smiles. Then, he goes back to sleep for her morning nap, and I get up and do what needs to be done and get her when she wakes up. It's a routine that works most lazy weekends. I had to run out briefly to complete some errands and get my eyes checked. Then, my parents came over for dinner and to spend some time with Baby. After my parents left, we had some quiet time with Baby. She was quite tired, but the photo to the right is during a brief alert period.

And so ends another weekend...

Feeding time!

Baby is getting to be a pro at eating! In this short clip, you can also tell that she loves sleeping. Unfortunately, it's sideways so you have to tilt your head to the left.

Let's go to the fair!

It was a good weekend even if was crazy busy. On Friday night, I finished a great book. Then, Husband and I made a huge mistake. For Baby's last meal, we usually wake her between 10-11PM. She eats, plays briefly and then goes back to bed a little before we do. On Friday, we decided to see what happens if we just let her sleep. Well, if you let her sleep, she wakes up around 1:30AM - wide awake and smiling. Luckily, I just fed her and she went right back to sleep. I went back to sleep around 2:30AM. This wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't wake up shortly after to start our Saturday.

On Saturday, it was a zillion degrees plus the heat index and humidity so it was roughly the temperature of the sun outside. We woke up with Baby and left the house after she had her breakfast so we could go to Celebrate Fairfax! with Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew. We got there and felt like eggs just cracked into a fry pan. Needless to say, we didn't last long. Poor Baby was so hot. She was so well behaved. After the festival, we went to TGIFriday's for lunch. Then, we had to run back home because we were expecting Husband's family for dinner. I took a brief nap while Husband gave Baby a cool bath. Then, Baby napped while we started dinner and did some last-minute cleaning. It was a nice dinner to celebrate our birthdays and Fathers' Day - even though our Fathers' Day present didn't arrive on time.

On Sunday, I met friends at Gordon Biersch again. It was yummy. Plus, we got cupcakes at Cake Love. I haven't eaten mine yet, but I can't wait! We celebrated my birthday in Vera Bradley style. I had been eyeing this one pattern, and my friends gave me separate pieces in the pattern I love. Plus, I stopped at a store and picked up another purse 50% off. Then, we went to paint pottery. I'm not very good, but it was something different to do. I don't think I could afford to go walking around the mall one more weekend!

So, it was a good weekend. It went quickly as they all do.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Well, it looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Baby loves books!

OK, Baby loves chewing books, but I'm sure if she could read, she'd love reading as much as chewing on them.

Walk Out

Have you ever walked out on a movie? Entertainment Weekly compiled a list of movies from which viewers walked out. With movies being $10.50, I rarely walk out of a movie. Even when movies were cheap, I never walked out. However, my college roommate and I went to Dante's Peak. Our friends came in and told us to leave and join them across the way to see Scream instead. So, we did. Now, before you all start talking about jumping theaters, it was a special deal where the college rented out the movie theater. We got to see the current releases for like $5.00. The only catch was that the movies were at midnight. So, it wasn't a huge deal to skip out on a bad movie. Turned out, we almost walked out of Scream, too, but we stuck it out. I'm a big baby and that opening scene with Drew Barrymore creeped me out. Once I got past that, I was fine. I've seen bad movies before, but those were the only ones that I almost left.

Big Girl!

This morning, as I was getting dressed, I propped Baby up in our bed. She watches me and hangs out. This morning, she sat up off the pillows so she could play with the blankets. She has been able to sit up for awhile while propped or for short periods of time, but today she sat up so strongly. She only wobbled when she tried to grab for something. So, I put her on the floor to see if she could sit up there, too. And she did! She seemed pleased at her progress. Such a big girl! I wonder what milestone will be next...

Weekend Update

We had a great weekend. On Saturday, Husband went to play golf. So, Baby and I had a whole day together. Husband changed her diaper, fed her breakfast and put her down for her morning nap before he left. Baby had other plans. So, I took her into the bedroom to hang out while I tried to wake up. Next thing I knew, it was 10:30 and we were both sleeping. I decided to get ready for the day and put her back into the crib. She woke up and started to get very sad so I gave her some toys which made her happy. Then, I showered and we got ready to start the day. Baby got lunch and promptly threw up all over her outfit. So, we had to change even though she looked adorable. Then we took a walk to Chipotle. We started to hang out in the mall, but it got really dark outside so we ran home to miss the rain.

On Sunday, I met friends for lunch while Baby had the day with Husband. We met super duper early because I'm an idiot. We talked about going to the 2:15PM movie, and then we changed it to 3:20PM. So, when I thought of a time for lunch, it was based around the earlier time. So, we had a lot of time to kill between lunch at Gordon Biersch and Sex and the City. It's a good thing we were at the mall. We found a way to pass the time.

Baby also almost fed herself this past weekend! She had the food in her hand and brought it to her mouth, but she didn't open her hand to feed herself. She opened her hand to find out why she didn't have food in her mouth and then the food dropped onto the floor. So, I would hold the food in my hand for her to grab and she'd lean forward and eat it off my hand like a pet. So, we're working on it, but she's still the smartest baby ever.

from Naomi's blog

Empire Magazine has revealed its list of the "50 Greatest TV Shows" ever.

Below is the list and here be the rules:
1. Bold the shows you've watched every episode of
2. Italicize the shows you've seen at least one episode of
3. Post your answers

50. Quantum Leap - though I may have seen almost all of them
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek - the original used to scare me
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers
40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation - I've seen a lot of episodes but not all.
36. Father Ted
35. Alias - just watched 1
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood - watched 2
30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet - watched 2-3
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel
20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park - though I've seen almost all of them
16. Doctor Who
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld
10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons

That's not even counting a lot of my actual favorite shows!

Books read in May 2008

1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. (NOTE: This is the first book in the Twilight series. Book 2 is New Moon. Book 3 is Eclipse. Book 4 is Breaking Dawn.)
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. (NOTE: This is the first book in the Twilight series. Book 1 is Twilight. Book 3 is Eclipse. Book 4 is Breaking Dawn.)
3. The Hollow by Nora Roberts. (NOTE: This is the second book in the Sign of Seven trilogy. Book 1 is Blood Brothers. Book 3 is The Pagan Stone.)
4. Just a Taste by Deirdre Martin. (NOTE: This is the seventh book in the NY Blades series. The Book 1 is Body Check. Book 2 is Fair Play. Book 3 is Total Rush. Book 4 is The Penalty Box. Book 5 is Hot Ticket. Book 6 is Chasing Stanley. Book 8 is Power Play.)
5. 3rd Degree by James Patterson. (NOTE: This is the third book in the Women’s Murder Club series. Book 1 is 1st to Die. Book 2 is 2nd Chance. Book 4 is 4th of July. Book 5 is The 5th Horseman. Book 6 is The 6th Target. Book 7 is 7th Heaven.)
6. The Perfect Bride by Samantha James. (NOTE: This is the first of a trilogy about the Sterling siblings. Book 2 is The Perfect Groom. Book 3 is The Perfect Hero.)
7. The Perfect Groom by Samantha James. (NOTE: This is the second of a trilogy about the Sterling siblings. Book 1 is The Perfect Bride. Book 3 is The Perfect Hero.)
8. The Perfect Hero by Samantha James. (NOTE: This is the third of a trilogy about the Sterling siblings. Book 1 is The Perfect Bride. Book 2 is The Perfect Groom.)
9. Passion by Lisa Valdez.
10. Dear Santa by Karen Templeton. (NOTE: This is the first book in the Guys and Daughters series about the Vaccaro siblings. Book 2 is Yours, Mine… Ours?. Book 3 is Baby, I’m Yours.)
11. Yours, Mine… Ours? by Karen Templeton. (NOTE: This is the second book in the Guys and Daughters series about the Vaccaro siblings. Book 1 is Dear Santa. Book 3 is Baby, I’m Yours.)
12. Baby, I’m Yours by Karen Templeton. (NOTE: This is the third book in the Guys and Daughters series about the Vaccaro siblings. Book 1 is Dear Santa. Book 2 is Yours, Mine… Ours?.)
13. The Seduction of an Unknown Lady by Samantha James. (NOTE: This is second of a series about the McBride siblings. Book 1 is The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell. Book 3 is Bride of a Wicked Scotman – due out in 2009.)

I am thrilled that I was able to read so much this month. Granted, most of the books were quick reads. Also, I had the flu for what seemed like forever. I don’t think Twilight lived up to its hype, but I still want to finish the series and see the movie this December. I was shocked at a plot development in 3rd Degree and even though the series is very different from the tv show, I liked both and am glad I can continue on with the books even if the show was cancelled. Last, but not least, Samantha James is a new author to me. She mentions that she is a fan of the tortured hero on her website which must be why I enjoy her books. They’re enjoyable if not a little predictable. Still, they make me happy and that’s really the only requirement I have.

Memorial Day Weekend

I love long weekends! I mean, really, what's not to love?
I really wanted to use the weekend to do some much-needed Spring Cleaning. So, on Friday, I tackled my bookshelf. I sell/give away a lot of books, but there are some that no one wants - me included. So, I put those aside to donate. On Saturday, I walked to CVS to pick up a few things and then mostly napped and read. It was a relaxing start to the weekend. Then, Sunday hit.

On Sunday, we woke up early to meet a high school friend for breakfast. His wife and baby were supposed to be there, but they were sick. Their baby is only 6 weeks younger than Baby is. Then, we went to Husband's parents' apartment. Their apartment is across the street, but their pool is outdoor whereas ours is indoor. We were really curious how Baby would take to the pool. She does love her bath. She had her sandals, her hat, her bikini, her cover up, her sunglasses. We got the water diapers and sunscreen. We were all set. We even had a pack-n-play for the outdoors. It has a canopy to keep out the sun. Well, she was overdue for a nap and just fussy all afternoon. She was very clingy and fussy and hated the pool. She screamed and cried the minute any part of her touched the water. Overall, it was a fun day - lots of food, drink, and sun. I got a little sunburned and a couple of bug bites, but that just means it's officially summer! Also, in celebration, I wore my white pants today.

To recover, she spent almost all Monday sleeping off the trauma while I finished Spring Cleaning. I didn't completely finish, but I did the closets, main room, and bathroom. I also switched Baby's clothes in the nursery. I packed away all the 0-6 month clothes and hung up all her new clothes. So, only the 6-9 month clothes are in the closet. It's much easier to pull out clothes when you don't have to pick through 5 different sizes!

I should finish the rest of the Spring Cleaning tonight... even if it kills me. I've been recording movies for months to help the process along. The bedroom is always the room that is done last. No one sees it so it's easiest to forget. Tonight, I will finish it.

My friends are so talented!

This is my friend's website. She's so talented with a needle and thread. It makes me wish she lived closer. As it is, I'll have to be content to shop online... well, once I figure out how to log into the website. The site is now in English. There's an extra step on which I'm stuck - you have to log into the site to move forward with your shopping cart. I did, but my information was sent to my personal account which is at home. I can't access it at work. So, in the meantime, I do the equivalent of window shopping. Sanna asked everyone to post information on his or her own blogs, but it took me awhile because I'm a procrastinator.

I'm wishing you all the success in the world with your new project, Sanna! As soon as I figure out the technical end, I'm totally adding you to the places I spend all my hard-earned money.

Embarrassment!

So, I may have mentioned in the past that Nephew loves Thomas the Tank Engine. For his third birthday, it was a Thomas the Tank Engine party. During the party, I put on a Rosie temporary tattoo. Then, after the party, I forgot all about it. Yesterday, I had an appointment with the doctor (the type of doctor that would notice a Rosie the Tank Engine tattoo on my ankle). He asks me if I'm planning on getting any more tattoos. First, I was embarrassed that I still had Rosie on my ankle. Second, I told him it wasn't real! There is no way I would get a tattoo. I'm too chicken. Even if I did, it wouldn't be of a tank engine. It was funny.

I must remember to take Rosie off before pool weather.

Worst Mama Ever

OK, after reading an article on Dina Lohan, maybe I'm not.

The above photo is from a couple of days ago... before I tortured her. Yesterday, I was in a hurry. I had to run to the Social Security office about which I will not write because it aggravates me. So, I cleaned Baby's ears quickly before I left. Then, I decided to trim her nails before I ran out the door as well. I happened to nick her finger. Then, I realized that I nicked three of her fingers. She kept bleeding. So, I handed her to grandma with a washcloth and ice cube to help stop the bleeding and numb her fingers a little. Baby wasn't crying so I gave her a kiss and left the house.

I came home and went into the bedroom to get Baby ready to leave the house. There was blood all over her crib - on the bumper, on the sheet, all over the doll and soaking through to the mattress pad. She, meanwhile, was laughing at me the whole time. So, Grandma takes her while I strip the crib of the biohazardous mess. I presoak everything and then realize I have no idea how to work the washing machine. I've never done it before so I had to call Husband to walk me through the process.

Such drama! So, Baby had no morning nap. She took a ride to visit friends of mine and fell asleep just long enough for me to eat lunch. Later in the afternoon, she had 3 shots. She was such a good girl. She hardly cried... then. She slept through a brief trip to the store for some new items. Then, she woke up when we got home and wouldn't go back to sleep. She was crying in her sleep. Then, she was crying while awake. Then, she was screaming while awake. Poor thing was so miserable. There was a lot of Mommy cuddling and rocking. She was not feeling Daddy love last night. Quite the opposite. This is always surprising because she's a big Daddy's girl. She loves her daddy. Husband is the one who gets the rare giggles and the big smiles. Last night, no one got smiles. She was very clingy. Later, she finally gave in and slept for 10 hours.

Today, she's not quite herself. She's quiet, but we did get some smiles. My arms, however, are not fine. Between the lifting of the carrier, the baby and the stroller, my teeny little arms are killing me! We'll see if she is still Mommy's girl at home or if she's back loving her Daddy.

I should mention that Baby usually wears clothes. In the above photo, she was just hanging out in there while her bath was being prepared. She's not, as we like to say, ghetto baby - wandering around all dirty in just a diaper.

The best weekends contain...

birthday cake, pizza, and a lot of junk food. I would actually count all of those things as junk food, but junk food deserves to be categorized.

Anyway, on Saturday, we went to Nephew's third birthday party. I think it went well, but then again, it's not my house. The cake was good. He seemed thrilled that the house was all decorated with Thomas the Tank Engine decorations and balloons. Even his cake had Thomas on it!

Later, after all the excitement died down, we stayed and had pizza. We stayed through bath time and storytime. Then, Baby was in Nephew's big boy bed. He thought it was hilarious! It was the cutest thing.

Because there were so many guests (mostly family) and noise and things going on, Baby didn't sleep much all day. She took little cat naps, but she was mostly awake. She was really good though. However, a girl's gotta sleep sometime. At the end of the evening, she was pooped so I had to snap a photo. She slept all the way to the next morning around 9:30AM! She's such a good sleeper which was good because Husband and I were both exhausted, too.

On Sunday, we went to Taste of Arlington. I used to think it was a bit overpriced, but they've changed it slightly. Plus, since the last time I went, a ton of new restaurants opened in the town. So, it was great to try out some new restaurants and grab some menus. It's a cheap way to sample fares without learning you don't like a place after dinner for two. Plus, it all goes to charity. I mean, it is a little pricey because you don't get that much food for your money, but it is great to get outside and walk around and check out places. There was a lot of community booths. It's a shame the weather wasn't a little better, but we managed to avoid most of the rain.

While we were leaving, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew, Baby and I walked over (Husband met us there shortly afterwards). Nephew was instructed that he needed to hold a hand while we were on the sidewalk and crossing streets. We meant he had to hold an adult's hand, but he grabbed Baby's hand. Well, technically, he did hold a hand. So, we couldn't scold him. The cutest thing is that he didn't let that hand go once. He held it so tightly that Baby's fingertips turned white. She didn't pull her hand away once though.

So, good weekend, but I'm definitely looking forward to the long weekend coming up!

I *heart* TV!

I LOVE television. I have tried to cut out some in the last few years, but I love it. I love the shady business-end of it. I love the gossip and spoilers and ratings versus sponsorship game. I may not agree with any of the decisions, but I love following along at home.

So, this week marked the very low-key upfront presentations by the networks. In years past, the networks have paid big bucks to unveil their Fall schedules to reporters and, more importantly, sponsors. This year, because of the Writers' Strike, the networks had subdued releases and did not roll out the traditional red carpet though I did hear NBC had a green carpet. Green is universal, I hear.

This year also marks a milestone. Almost all of my shows were renewed for another season. All of my favorites were. The ones that were not renewed were not a surprise either so, all in all, it was a successful season for me.

I am back off CSI: this Spring. I often am on-again, off-again with this show. Last year was the only year I watched every episode. I enjoy it, but it's not one of my must-see shows. I also gave up on Reaper. It was cute, but I think the quality went downhill. I think the post-strike episodes improved, but I found myself not looking forward to them.

However, I have found myself back on the Grey's Anatomy wagon. This is only hilarious because I know so many people who have bailed on the show. I think my expectations sunk so low that I had to be impressed. During the strike, I also added Criminal Minds to my rotation.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Friday Night Lights is coming back or Bones. Bones has become one of my favorite shows. I love that it's a crime drama, but it's funny. Plus, it's characters are quirky and unique. I wish they would film more in D.C. and less green screen, but it's still a great show. Its special effects are usually well done. I just recognize it more when it's somewhere familiar to me being recreated.

I know there are a lot of people who are indifferent to TV (*gasp*) and those who are unhappy with how things played out, but I'm relatively happy. Of course, I really think that the networks will have no patience for shows not performing well next Fall and will have a ton of midseason replacement shows waiting in the wings so I hope my shows survive the Fall. Being picked up was only the first battle...

Happy Mother's Day!

This year was my first Mother's Day (well, the first Mother's Day with an actual baby outside of the body). It was a good one. It was a busy one. I got to sleep in a little bit. Husband came in with Baby and two big, red bags. Both wished me a Happy Mother's Day. Baby and Husband bought me a gift certificate and robe from Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa. I can't wait to spend my day there!

After I woke up and Baby went down for her morning nap, we got ready to meet my parents, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew and Brother-in-Law's father for lunch. We had a nice lunch during which Nephew and I took a walk around the mall. He helped me pick out some nice outfits for Baby as she has outgrown much of what she owns. We drove home. I took a brief nap in the car and at home before we turned around and went to Husband's parents' house.

We had a big dinner with the inlaws, Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law. It was a good night. Baby was overly tired and fought the sleep until the very end, but she finally surrendered. We expect she'll sleep well tonight after her big day.

It was a great Mother's Day. It's so amazing to look down into that little face and see it light up with a smile that's just for you and just think, "Look, we did that!"

L is for Little Baby

When Baby came home, Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law gave her a big letter "L". It was just as big as she was. I took a photo of her during that first week home. For a long time, it was my favorite photo of her. I have that photo at my desk at work as a matter of fact.

Today, just for kicks, I took a photo at 6 months old with the same letter "L". It's amazing how big she grew in such a short amount of time. It's even amazing how different she looks. It's hard to believe she's the same baby. She still has a lot of dark hair though.

I almost wish I had taken a photo each month, but as it is, I'm sure she won't like holding the "L" at 17. I can picture her now rolling her eyes with the "L" framing her face.

From Naomi's blog...

What Your Handwriting Says About You

You are highly energetic. You are a passionate, intense, vigorous person. You are somewhat outgoing, but you're not a natural extrovert. You think first before you act. You tend to be independent, rational, and logical. You are very detail oriented and meticulous. You are a careful thinker and a true intellectual. You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well. You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart. You are a good communicator. You work hard to get your ideas across effectively.

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Is it better to be correct or like everyone else?

Everyone has his or her own pet peeves about the English language. Some dont' have any at all. I've written about this before, and I'm sure the subject will come up again. Today's pet peeve is something I happened upon while surfing the Internet. This site states the word origin and pronunciation of the word "sherbet". I've never pronounced the "r" to make it "sherbert". I don't know why. It always bothered me when people did it when clearly there is no second "r" in the spelling. Beyond this example, I despise it when it becomes acceptable English when people mangle a language rule long enough that it just becomes the rule. I mean, what's the point of having grammar when, if we wait long enough, the rule will become obsolete if enough people ignore it?

That said, I will continue to create my own words and make words that are commonly nouns into verbs. I will occasionally, if I can't help it, end my sentences with prepositions. However, I will stick to my guns and never use shorthand or slang when text messaging. I will never use a number instead of an actual word. And I will never, never say the word "sherbert".

...And they're off!

Last Saturday was the Kentucky Derby. We had our first annual Kentucky Derby party. The women wore hats. The men drank heavily (well, that wasn't just the men). It was a lot of fun. Husband had his best friend and his family from out of town, and we had a lot of our local friends as well. As I wrote somewhere else, we had 20 people in an apartment that fit 10. There was food and games. Unfortunately, the horse that I supported was the one that had to be put down. I am not a horse person, but it is so sad when a horse has to be put down. It makes me so sad.

The party, of course, would have been loads of fun if I hadn't been so sick. I had the flu most of the week before and was making progress. However, I was still very congested (as you can see from my red nose).

On Sunday, we went to Day out With Thomas. We got to take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, see a bunch of trains close up. Of course, I was still sick. Still, I think everyone had fun, and that's all that counts.

While we were out, Baby's grandparents and great-grandparents babysat her. She was an angel though I think she had too much fun. She didn't want to sleep. It even took awhile for her to wind down and get to sleep after we got home... an hour after her bedtime! So, very busy weekend! I'm going to need all week to recover and shake this flu-thing.