... follow-up to yesterday's post...
Thanks to an already-planned vacation day, the lucky Doo had both Mama & Daddy with him all day yesterday (Tuesday). J ended the day with a MUni ride at Battlecreek Park, which meant he left at 5:30 for a few hours.
I am not exaggerating to say that Da-Doo cried for hours, wanting his Daddy!
This was the first time he has ever played favorites. It broke my heart.
He refused to go to sleep, elevating his already-high level of crabbiness. There was nothing I could do to make him happy, and so carried him around, bouncing him like a tiny baby for what seemed like hours. I don't know how Mamas of chunky babies can do it!
By the time 9:00 rolled around, the two of us were both at our wit's ends. We saw Daddy's car roll up to the curb, and there were two huge smiles to greet him as he walked in the door. Da-Doo refused to walk to Daddy (see above note about carrying him for hours), so I carried him over and passed him off, so eager to finally eat dinner.
Then... ready for the very predictible punch-line??? ...
Da-Doo cried and cried and CRIED for Mama. He refused to go to bed, because Mama wasn't holding him. Sigh.
'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence', or, in Da-Doo's world, 'the favored parent is the one not holding you'.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Welcome to Summer, Minnesota!
We approached this weekend with the goal of maximizing our fun as a way to 'Welcome to Summer, Minnesota!' J actually took Tuesday off of work as well, so that we could all have a four day weekend.
We did the best we could, given a really sick Doo.
Friday, we walked as a family to the neighborhood liquor store. The nice Chinese lady offered the Doo a Dum-Dum (what is it with liquor store and these tiny suckers??? I remember these from when I was little!), we kept the wrapper on, and he happily used it as a teething tool. I finally brought out my cobwebbed martini glasses, and made most delicious cosmopolitans. Enough said.
Saturday, J had Part One of his weekend hands-on motorcycling class. He was the class loser until the instructor discovered a problem with his bike's brake. Once fixed, he became the class star. The Doo and I took walks, talked about "neighbor's stairs", and played with said neighbors. 'Twas a pleasant day.
Sunday, J had Part Two of his class, and left the house earlier than a typical workday. Unfortunately, the Doo woke up on the crabby side of the crib. The seriously crabby side. In a big puddle of drool. Have I mentioned he's teething his Two-Year-Molars?
I really wanted to go to my yoga class, though, so I dosed him with teething medicine, and asked him if we should go to yoga. "Yoga! Yoga!" was his excited reply, so off we went. When we arrived, we discovered that this was the last weekend with yoga childcare, so we were glad we went!
Though happy at yoga, the crabbiness returned once we arrived home, which made for a seriously long day. Just about everything made the poor little guy cry, and he refused to eat even his beloved cranberries or Happy Cookies. He also somehow managed to get his entire fist in his mouth (apparently, the vast amounts of drool he was generating provided the proper amount of lubrication for this feat to happen). And... uh oh... after I realized that he was feeling really warm all day, we discovered that he had a small temp. His first! This was also the worst he has teethed, so I wasn't too surprised.
By nightfall, I felt victim to the Serious Crabbies. J shoved a martini glass in my hand, and pushed me out the door with my laptop and a book so I could enjoy the evening sitting on our patio. Away from crying babies. Another home-remedy cure for the Crabbies was Good Neighbor L, who hung out for awhile :)
However, the temp continued throughout Sunday night, no fun for any of us.
Monday, the temp continued, but the Doo was now enjoying great amounts of Tylenol and Motrin. We all needed to get out of the house, so we decided to go to the "Airplane Park" to watch the "big airplanes". Since I was completely burnt out of Doo Care from the previous day, I rode to the park to meet the Boys. It was the first longish ride since my knee issue, and everything felt great. In fact, better than great. We're talking first-rate, glorious, brilliant, exceptional, marvelous, delightful, and wonderful! I had forgotten how riding in the sun makes me giddy with happiness!
Later that evening, more riding (this time on a 20" wheel) was done as I had to sub at ShowGroup practice. The Boys came with, and the Doo had a fun time watching Mama and the "Noo-nees". Plus, Echo the Dog was there! And she wasn't scary!! And she allowed the Doo to pet her!!! However, the temp continued.
Monday night, the little guy learned how to say "HOT" in regards to his condition, as he was burning up. This is when we realized that this was not a teething fever.
Tuesday, we went to see his pediatrician, who discovered an ear infection in his right ear (or, in medical speak, OM AD). Then came another first for the Doo: his first antibiotic. He took that shot of amoxicillin like a young man doing his first shot of tequila -- with a look of disgust and a shudder. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had pounded his fist on the table!
Welcome, Minnesota, to Summer!
We did the best we could, given a really sick Doo.
Friday, we walked as a family to the neighborhood liquor store. The nice Chinese lady offered the Doo a Dum-Dum (what is it with liquor store and these tiny suckers??? I remember these from when I was little!), we kept the wrapper on, and he happily used it as a teething tool. I finally brought out my cobwebbed martini glasses, and made most delicious cosmopolitans. Enough said.
Saturday, J had Part One of his weekend hands-on motorcycling class. He was the class loser until the instructor discovered a problem with his bike's brake. Once fixed, he became the class star. The Doo and I took walks, talked about "neighbor's stairs", and played with said neighbors. 'Twas a pleasant day.
Sunday, J had Part Two of his class, and left the house earlier than a typical workday. Unfortunately, the Doo woke up on the crabby side of the crib. The seriously crabby side. In a big puddle of drool. Have I mentioned he's teething his Two-Year-Molars?
I really wanted to go to my yoga class, though, so I dosed him with teething medicine, and asked him if we should go to yoga. "Yoga! Yoga!" was his excited reply, so off we went. When we arrived, we discovered that this was the last weekend with yoga childcare, so we were glad we went!
Though happy at yoga, the crabbiness returned once we arrived home, which made for a seriously long day. Just about everything made the poor little guy cry, and he refused to eat even his beloved cranberries or Happy Cookies. He also somehow managed to get his entire fist in his mouth (apparently, the vast amounts of drool he was generating provided the proper amount of lubrication for this feat to happen). And... uh oh... after I realized that he was feeling really warm all day, we discovered that he had a small temp. His first! This was also the worst he has teethed, so I wasn't too surprised.
By nightfall, I felt victim to the Serious Crabbies. J shoved a martini glass in my hand, and pushed me out the door with my laptop and a book so I could enjoy the evening sitting on our patio. Away from crying babies. Another home-remedy cure for the Crabbies was Good Neighbor L, who hung out for awhile :)
However, the temp continued throughout Sunday night, no fun for any of us.
Monday, the temp continued, but the Doo was now enjoying great amounts of Tylenol and Motrin. We all needed to get out of the house, so we decided to go to the "Airplane Park" to watch the "big airplanes". Since I was completely burnt out of Doo Care from the previous day, I rode to the park to meet the Boys. It was the first longish ride since my knee issue, and everything felt great. In fact, better than great. We're talking first-rate, glorious, brilliant, exceptional, marvelous, delightful, and wonderful! I had forgotten how riding in the sun makes me giddy with happiness!
Later that evening, more riding (this time on a 20" wheel) was done as I had to sub at ShowGroup practice. The Boys came with, and the Doo had a fun time watching Mama and the "Noo-nees". Plus, Echo the Dog was there! And she wasn't scary!! And she allowed the Doo to pet her!!! However, the temp continued.
Monday night, the little guy learned how to say "HOT" in regards to his condition, as he was burning up. This is when we realized that this was not a teething fever.
Tuesday, we went to see his pediatrician, who discovered an ear infection in his right ear (or, in medical speak, OM AD). Then came another first for the Doo: his first antibiotic. He took that shot of amoxicillin like a young man doing his first shot of tequila -- with a look of disgust and a shudder. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had pounded his fist on the table!
Welcome, Minnesota, to Summer!
Friday, May 22, 2009
I'm no Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, but... LA CHAYA!
Last night, I went out to dinner with my group of fabulous Mamas. Our monthly dinner dates are always packed full of good conversation, good food, and fabulous friendships. We make a point of trying out small and local restaurants, and visit a new one each month.
La Chaya was the chosen restaurant for the month of May. It is a restaurant in south Minneapolis, somewhat near Uptown, and looked intriguing enough from a drive-by to warrant a visit.
And, WOW, what a restaurant! The ambiance, the wait staff, the FOOD.
You may recall the weather this past week to be absolutely beautiful. Bright blue skies, a slight wind, warm temperatures. As our reservations were at 8:00, though, we reluctantly passed on a table on the back patio in fear of the evening becoming too cool once the sun set. However, we were delighted to see that the indoor seating area had two large doors that were flung open. Light muslin curtains hung over the open doorway, permitting us to experience all the delights of outdoor eating without feeling the nighttime chill.
La Chaya's menu is small, but exquisite. There were more than enough options for the carnivore and "snobby vegetarian" alike. The Mexian-Mediterranean fusions created fun twists on old favorites.
However, it was the Daily Specials that really generated excitement. With the first mention of the herb-infused crab cakes, all of our eyebrows raised, and by the time the host described the final item our jaws had dropped to our knees and our laps covered in drool.
I started with the spinach salad that was served with carmelized apples, magical walnuts, and a truly sensational balsalmic reduction vinegrette. It was even more phenomenal than it sounds. I ended with the artichoke soup that quite literally was HEAVENLY. I have never been more stunned at a first taste. And my delight grew with every bite, so much so that by the time I was scraping the bowl, I was nearly swooning. I could desribe the soup as liquid velvet seducing my every taste bud, but even that description would do the soup a disservice. My mouth is actually watering right now as I type this. And, while La Chaya is not the cheapest restaurant I have dined at, that bowl of soup was $4. FOUR dollars! It was, very literally, the best $4 I have ever spent.
I can't describe myself as a foodie, and I am a far cry from being a food critic. Additionally, the audience of this blog is quite limited. However, I feel I must do everything I possibly can to promote this restaurant and increase their business. If only because it is the best way I know how to ensure future bowls of artichoke soup and other delights will cross my palate.
Check out their website for more information: http://www.lachaya.com/
La Chaya was the chosen restaurant for the month of May. It is a restaurant in south Minneapolis, somewhat near Uptown, and looked intriguing enough from a drive-by to warrant a visit.
And, WOW, what a restaurant! The ambiance, the wait staff, the FOOD.
You may recall the weather this past week to be absolutely beautiful. Bright blue skies, a slight wind, warm temperatures. As our reservations were at 8:00, though, we reluctantly passed on a table on the back patio in fear of the evening becoming too cool once the sun set. However, we were delighted to see that the indoor seating area had two large doors that were flung open. Light muslin curtains hung over the open doorway, permitting us to experience all the delights of outdoor eating without feeling the nighttime chill.
La Chaya's menu is small, but exquisite. There were more than enough options for the carnivore and "snobby vegetarian" alike. The Mexian-Mediterranean fusions created fun twists on old favorites.
However, it was the Daily Specials that really generated excitement. With the first mention of the herb-infused crab cakes, all of our eyebrows raised, and by the time the host described the final item our jaws had dropped to our knees and our laps covered in drool.
I started with the spinach salad that was served with carmelized apples, magical walnuts, and a truly sensational balsalmic reduction vinegrette. It was even more phenomenal than it sounds. I ended with the artichoke soup that quite literally was HEAVENLY. I have never been more stunned at a first taste. And my delight grew with every bite, so much so that by the time I was scraping the bowl, I was nearly swooning. I could desribe the soup as liquid velvet seducing my every taste bud, but even that description would do the soup a disservice. My mouth is actually watering right now as I type this. And, while La Chaya is not the cheapest restaurant I have dined at, that bowl of soup was $4. FOUR dollars! It was, very literally, the best $4 I have ever spent.
I can't describe myself as a foodie, and I am a far cry from being a food critic. Additionally, the audience of this blog is quite limited. However, I feel I must do everything I possibly can to promote this restaurant and increase their business. If only because it is the best way I know how to ensure future bowls of artichoke soup and other delights will cross my palate.
Check out their website for more information: http://www.lachaya.com/
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Boys with Sticks
This past weekend, we had a family good-bye / good-luck party for Sgt K (have to differentiate him from all the other millions of K's I'm related to, thank you Mom and Dad).
My favorite image from the evening is one that I feel will be a lasting memory.
Da-Doo asked Sgt K to go on a "walk!" and presented him with the big blue eyes and earnest expression that is so hard to deny. I glanced up to see Da-Doo and Sgt K heading down the sidewalk. The top of the Doo's head was barely above Sgt K's knee, Sgt K was moving his legs slower than a turtle, and Da-Doo was booking it so fast his bottom was waddling, but they somehow looked natural walking together.
They returned a few minutes later. Both carrying sticks. Da-Doo was waving his in time to his excited babbling. Sgt K was carrying his more demurely, with his head bent down to listen intently to the gibberish story.
It really was an "awww" moment.
My favorite image from the evening is one that I feel will be a lasting memory.
Da-Doo asked Sgt K to go on a "walk!" and presented him with the big blue eyes and earnest expression that is so hard to deny. I glanced up to see Da-Doo and Sgt K heading down the sidewalk. The top of the Doo's head was barely above Sgt K's knee, Sgt K was moving his legs slower than a turtle, and Da-Doo was booking it so fast his bottom was waddling, but they somehow looked natural walking together.
They returned a few minutes later. Both carrying sticks. Da-Doo was waving his in time to his excited babbling. Sgt K was carrying his more demurely, with his head bent down to listen intently to the gibberish story.
It really was an "awww" moment.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Please, Please, Please
For those of you who live with a domestic partner of some sort:
Please, please, please...
when you place a sticky bug strip in the basement in hopes of trapping the little crawlers,
please, please, PLEASE
warn your parter that you did this!
This will save your partner a heart attack, a bump on the head where it contacted the ceiling, and injury to the vocal cords caused by the shrill shreak in response to viewing sticky bug strip covered with very hairy bugs literally LARGER than MARBLES.
Thank you.
Please, please, please...
when you place a sticky bug strip in the basement in hopes of trapping the little crawlers,
please, please, PLEASE
warn your parter that you did this!
This will save your partner a heart attack, a bump on the head where it contacted the ceiling, and injury to the vocal cords caused by the shrill shreak in response to viewing sticky bug strip covered with very hairy bugs literally LARGER than MARBLES.
Thank you.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Happy Mama's Day
It would have been more appropriate to make this post yesterday, but my Boys gave me permission to only do what I wanted to do yesterday. Not that I didn't want to post, but it just wasn't in the schedule. And, while I did do some things that I didn't want to do (SO sick of making baby food!), but I still had a day filled with good yoga, good food, played in good dirt, avoided getting attacked by the not-so-good ants again, and had a good Doo until he woke up crabby on the wrong side of the crib... but then it was time to go have dinner with MY mama!
Here's a call-out to all of the mamas out there, especially those who haven't seen their baby's face yet (you know who you are!).
Love,
K
Here's a call-out to all of the mamas out there, especially those who haven't seen their baby's face yet (you know who you are!).
Love,
K
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
What Kind of Nerd Am I?
This was a question asked of me this past weekend, at a friend's birthday party. It is one of those questions I should have had an answer prepared for (similar to the "What's Your Theme Song" question that was recently directed my way; the situation that followed that question is too embarrassing for me to share!).
My friend VC is married to someone quite famous, in the right circles. Also in attendance was their very good friend, someone else who also has the ability to make jaws drop. So many nerds would have willingly peed their pants to attend this party! However, I didn't know who these celebrities were, beyond their association to my friend.
J, of course, knew who they were, and enjoyed meeting them. He spent the better part of the evening sharing travel stories with them.
At one point, VC leaned over to me to whisper, "Isn't J totally nerding out that he's talking to KM right now???" The conversation then progressed to the point where I admitted that I really didn't recognize VC's husband's or KM's names. She was shocked. "I thought you were the type to watch Mystery Science Theatre 3000!"
"What kind of nerd are you, then?" VC and I then spent a few moments dredging up all the nerdy things in my past and all of my nerdy personality traits. I probably should have been quite embarrassed, but in that crowd it was as if I was pinning different shiny gold metals to my chest.
The conclusion was that I was indeed that kind of nerd, and it really was just an abberition that I was not intimately familiar with MST3k.
* * *
And now, to further publically document my own nerdy status, I have to share what I found when I looked into the word 'nerd' at http://www.thesaurus.com/ : "a geek is any smart person with an obsessive interest, a nerd is the same but also lacks social grace, and a dweeb is a mega-nerd."
Apparently, it's not bad to be a geek - being smart is a flattering personality trait, and who doesn't have at least one obsessive interest? The definition of nerd, though, isn't quite as appealing. Do I fit that definition? Unfortunately, the "What Is Your Theme Song?" situation cited above is demonstrative that I do lack social grace.
So, I am a nerd. What kind of nerd am I? The kind that should be watching Mystery Science 3000, but hasn't.
And, at least I'm not a dweeb!
My friend VC is married to someone quite famous, in the right circles. Also in attendance was their very good friend, someone else who also has the ability to make jaws drop. So many nerds would have willingly peed their pants to attend this party! However, I didn't know who these celebrities were, beyond their association to my friend.
J, of course, knew who they were, and enjoyed meeting them. He spent the better part of the evening sharing travel stories with them.
At one point, VC leaned over to me to whisper, "Isn't J totally nerding out that he's talking to KM right now???" The conversation then progressed to the point where I admitted that I really didn't recognize VC's husband's or KM's names. She was shocked. "I thought you were the type to watch Mystery Science Theatre 3000!"
"What kind of nerd are you, then?" VC and I then spent a few moments dredging up all the nerdy things in my past and all of my nerdy personality traits. I probably should have been quite embarrassed, but in that crowd it was as if I was pinning different shiny gold metals to my chest.
The conclusion was that I was indeed that kind of nerd, and it really was just an abberition that I was not intimately familiar with MST3k.
* * *
And now, to further publically document my own nerdy status, I have to share what I found when I looked into the word 'nerd' at http://www.thesaurus.com/ : "a geek is any smart person with an obsessive interest, a nerd is the same but also lacks social grace, and a dweeb is a mega-nerd."
Apparently, it's not bad to be a geek - being smart is a flattering personality trait, and who doesn't have at least one obsessive interest? The definition of nerd, though, isn't quite as appealing. Do I fit that definition? Unfortunately, the "What Is Your Theme Song?" situation cited above is demonstrative that I do lack social grace.
So, I am a nerd. What kind of nerd am I? The kind that should be watching Mystery Science 3000, but hasn't.
And, at least I'm not a dweeb!
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