valentines day almost failed this year. jack and i don't really celebrate valentines day (there are just way too many other present giving events too close together before february), plus we think its kind of silly. but we took advantage of the excuse, brought merit to her nana and grandpa's and headed to pescado's (my FAVORITE resturant on the southside).
because it was v'day weekend, i called to make a reservation. the recording said they do not take reservations. me, being a logical person did not take this to mean i should call back and speak to someone b/c maybe, just maybe, they would take a reservation. because surely if they did, they would have this on their recording. right?! right. i checked the website which said IF you wanted the special 4course menu for v-day you could make a reservation. i didn't want that. i just wanted voodoo shrimp and crab empanadas. so saturday evening we head to pescaods. early, b/c i knew it would be busy. here we are met by the rudest host.
host: "do you have a reservation?"
me: "no...."
host: " well, we're only taking reservations tonight"
me: "but i called and was told you don't take reservations"
host: "we ONLY take reservations on valentine's day. did you talk to a person or the machine?" (this in the tone that i was a complete idiot)
me: " i got the recording which said you do not take reservations. why would i call back and talk to a person after hearing that?"
host: "well, you should have talked to a person. you can wait for a seat at the bar but it will be an hour and a half"
at this point jack had to physically pull me out of the resturant b/c i was getting extremely angry. booooo pescados. the worst part was, i really like that resturant and now i don't ever want to go back.
so then we drove to this asian "bistro" nearby that has thai, chinese, japanese. i thought they might have sushi and at that point decided i really wanted sushi. we get there. nope. plus, no one came up to seat us while we were standing there looking at the menu. double fail.
finally we ended up at suhi o. there we were told it would be a wait, but there was room at the bar and they WOULD seat us even though we didn't have a reservation. we ended up getting seated early (they had a cancellation), had some great wine and good sushi and i was totally happy.
and merit did ok with her grandparents. cried for a good hour, wouldn't take a bottle and then was fine. i don't know how soon they'll be willing to watch her again but at least we got a night out.
Friday, February 19, 2010
RIP toshiba
It happened! My computer DIED. but luckily I saw it coming and managed to get all my documents (dissertation!), pictures (merit's birth, showers, etc), and most of my music off before it happened. So now I'm wondering - do we get a new laptop and spend the money now or get a netbook and wait until Jack's computer dies too? We really only need a netbook with maybe an external hard drive. But a new laptop would be so nice. So I'll be shopping around. In the meantime, I can't upload any pics on here (and I have some good ones), so you'll just have to deal with links and words. And we can't skype which is a major bummer. Hopefully by the end of the month we'll have something new to play with.
i went to visit Niya's new bundle of joy - so freaking cute and SOFT. oh man i love babies. i forgot that merit was once that small with the same little alien hands and feet. he's absolutely adorable. congrats!
Merit has decided she ONLY likes bananas. She actually gags up apples and squash until it is all out of her mouth, and then will happily eat some more bananas. is it bad that we fed the apples to her repeatedly just to watch her yack them up (it was kind of funny)? it might be a texture thing and not a taste thing though, i couldn't get the apples and squash blended as smooth as the bananas. I'm not super worried though b/c 1) its still a bit soon for her to be on solids and 2) "they" say that you have to keep feeding them food (at least 10 times) before you can really say the baby won't eat it/doesn't like it. so the attempt at solids contiues slowly but surely.
She has also decided that her new bedtime is 10:30. This is good and bad. good b/c now we can hang out a bit longer (either just with each other or out with friends, which is nice). But MOM misses her 9:30 bedtime. surprisingly I'm not overtired (although by friday it really catches up with me). she still gets up at least 2-4 times during the night to eat which is fine with me. but she also likes to kick and swing her arms while she's eating which is not all that fine. ah well. one day we will sleep again. But then I think, as soon as we get back into a normal sort of routine, we're going to do this all over again! I love my baby but I love sleeping too.
I am slowly but surely working on some really great embroidery projects. and getting better with each one (and within each one). hopefully, i'll be able to post pictures soon. although a few i won't be able to b/c they're gifts. i'm also wanting to do some cross stitching/embroidery projects inspired by things such as this and these. I know a few people that would enjoy it. And is it sad that i am really itching to make that cross-stitched rpatz i posted a few weeks ago? yea, i'm going to buy the thread this weekend. and sarah, i'm thinking of you to send it to....
i can't wait for merit to start doodling her own little pictures i can then turn into threaded works of art. i've got some tracing paper, a transfer pencil and i am ready! i guess i have a few years though. but i do have some nieces and nephews that may be interested....
and speaking of in-laws, my sister in law has her annual st. patty's day party coming up and i've asked to make the desserts (we compliment each other so well - i make the sweets, she makes the savories). irish coffee cupcakes with whiskey-flavored frosting (trust, i've had whiskey flavored whip cream before and it is delicious!) and double chocolate stout cake. you have to keep the drinking theme going!
can i just say i am so excited this weekend and the next week are snow free?
i went to visit Niya's new bundle of joy - so freaking cute and SOFT. oh man i love babies. i forgot that merit was once that small with the same little alien hands and feet. he's absolutely adorable. congrats!
Merit has decided she ONLY likes bananas. She actually gags up apples and squash until it is all out of her mouth, and then will happily eat some more bananas. is it bad that we fed the apples to her repeatedly just to watch her yack them up (it was kind of funny)? it might be a texture thing and not a taste thing though, i couldn't get the apples and squash blended as smooth as the bananas. I'm not super worried though b/c 1) its still a bit soon for her to be on solids and 2) "they" say that you have to keep feeding them food (at least 10 times) before you can really say the baby won't eat it/doesn't like it. so the attempt at solids contiues slowly but surely.
She has also decided that her new bedtime is 10:30. This is good and bad. good b/c now we can hang out a bit longer (either just with each other or out with friends, which is nice). But MOM misses her 9:30 bedtime. surprisingly I'm not overtired (although by friday it really catches up with me). she still gets up at least 2-4 times during the night to eat which is fine with me. but she also likes to kick and swing her arms while she's eating which is not all that fine. ah well. one day we will sleep again. But then I think, as soon as we get back into a normal sort of routine, we're going to do this all over again! I love my baby but I love sleeping too.
I am slowly but surely working on some really great embroidery projects. and getting better with each one (and within each one). hopefully, i'll be able to post pictures soon. although a few i won't be able to b/c they're gifts. i'm also wanting to do some cross stitching/embroidery projects inspired by things such as this and these. I know a few people that would enjoy it. And is it sad that i am really itching to make that cross-stitched rpatz i posted a few weeks ago? yea, i'm going to buy the thread this weekend. and sarah, i'm thinking of you to send it to....
i can't wait for merit to start doodling her own little pictures i can then turn into threaded works of art. i've got some tracing paper, a transfer pencil and i am ready! i guess i have a few years though. but i do have some nieces and nephews that may be interested....
and speaking of in-laws, my sister in law has her annual st. patty's day party coming up and i've asked to make the desserts (we compliment each other so well - i make the sweets, she makes the savories). irish coffee cupcakes with whiskey-flavored frosting (trust, i've had whiskey flavored whip cream before and it is delicious!) and double chocolate stout cake. you have to keep the drinking theme going!
can i just say i am so excited this weekend and the next week are snow free?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
blizzaaard!
yet another weekend trapped inside because of snow. Its not so bad for me, but I know jack and the baby are going stir crazy! it looks like a blizzard outside (but apparently i say this with every snow). normally, i love the snow and would be super stoked on this. but we don't have a good sled, none of us have snow clothes/boots, and of course merit is too young to fully enjoy it. and she's too young to sit outside with us while we build a snowman. so here i am, stuck indoors, weekend plans ruined! and of course, i still have to go to work. at least we have cable and power. and internet. although my computer is on its last little bit of life - the power cord doesn't quite make a connection any more. so i'm hurridly trying to burn everything off of this computer before i can no longer use it. and i'm doing our taxes. fun day!
we've tried to start feeding merit mashed bananas (mooshed boonoonoos). she doesn't seem all that interested - she's more into the spoon, the bib, the bowl. but she eats it. but i don't think i'll be forcing the solid food issue for awhile. i thought she'd be really into it b/c she's so interested in what we're eating and drinking. but i really think she just likes the cup or plate or whatever the food is in. and speaking of food, these are the major changes i've seen in my own eating habits with the baby here:
1. i've learned to eat VERY fast
2. i've learned to eat lukewarm food. a lot.
3. i've learned to eat with one hand, with the baby in the other
none of this bothers me much, but i think it really bothers jack. he has this weird thing about not being disturbed while he eats and therefore refuses to eat while holding the baby (he either waits for me to take her - therefore we don't eat together often, or sits her in her chair). ah the joys of parenthood!
she has learned to sit up by herself rather well, which means she can play with her toys by herself for a good period of time, letting me embroider, be on the computer, cook. and shes very into her toys - she has a stuffed penguin named spartacus she loves, a cabbage patch doll she likes to poke in the eyes, and she's into her books which is cool.
we think she may be teething a bit too. so we've started putting some clove/glycerin paste on her gums to soothe them (1tbs vegetable glycerin to 1 tsp clove powder, chilled in the fridge). she loves it and it makes her smell yummy. like christmas.
we've tried to start feeding merit mashed bananas (mooshed boonoonoos). she doesn't seem all that interested - she's more into the spoon, the bib, the bowl. but she eats it. but i don't think i'll be forcing the solid food issue for awhile. i thought she'd be really into it b/c she's so interested in what we're eating and drinking. but i really think she just likes the cup or plate or whatever the food is in. and speaking of food, these are the major changes i've seen in my own eating habits with the baby here:
1. i've learned to eat VERY fast
2. i've learned to eat lukewarm food. a lot.
3. i've learned to eat with one hand, with the baby in the other
none of this bothers me much, but i think it really bothers jack. he has this weird thing about not being disturbed while he eats and therefore refuses to eat while holding the baby (he either waits for me to take her - therefore we don't eat together often, or sits her in her chair). ah the joys of parenthood!
she has learned to sit up by herself rather well, which means she can play with her toys by herself for a good period of time, letting me embroider, be on the computer, cook. and shes very into her toys - she has a stuffed penguin named spartacus she loves, a cabbage patch doll she likes to poke in the eyes, and she's into her books which is cool.
we think she may be teething a bit too. so we've started putting some clove/glycerin paste on her gums to soothe them (1tbs vegetable glycerin to 1 tsp clove powder, chilled in the fridge). she loves it and it makes her smell yummy. like christmas.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
mommy n me
(my quilting adventures adventure)I had this brilliant idea to enroll merit and me in a mommy and me pilates class. so i enlisted my fellow mom mel and her son fiver (merit's boyfriend) to join me (plus it was a buy one get one free class so we split the cost). I didn't really consider that the class started right around her nap time but we got there and she was in a great mood so i figured it would all be fine. right. i didn't get one leg exercise in before she started fussing. and fussing and fussing. so i fed her. then i tried to do something else. fuss. so i changed her. cried. we did a little baby yoga and she liked that. we did some face to face time with the other children in the class. she LOVED that. she even loved the babydoll the teacher had to demonstrate on. but she did not love mommy doing pilates. she's just starting to sit up on her own so i had her sitting next to me for some of the excersies. and of course, she got tired and her pumpkin head connected with the hard wood floors before i could catch her. and she SCREAMED (and i almost cried i felt so bad). which made this other kid start screaming. then fiver started screaming. needless to say, i'm sure the other moms in the class were pissed we ruined their pilates time. and i felt like a bad mom for having her pacifier out the whole time, no toy for her to play with, no soft blanket for her to lay on, letting her hurt herself.....needless to say, we will not be going back. i'm not going to pay someone for me to hold and feed my baby when i can do it at home for free. plus the little bit of pilates i was able to do absolutely wrecked me. i could barely walk yesterday. i'm still sore today. man i'm out of shape. BUT i got a new entry card for my gym. my goal is to start back this week. but that means getting up very early. we'll see how that goes. i'd like to do a pilates class there (sans baby).
one thing i did realize after pilates class is how much merit likes to be around other kids her age. they cracked her up. even the baby doll, being around her size, fascinated her. unfortunately we don't have many friends with kids her age. so i'm looking for some sort of play group that she and jack can go to (b/c jack is also going stir crazy and needs some adult human contact). being home with us all the time is not helping her socialize. so, like blair, we will be scouting for some good baby hang out spots. just probably not at CTC after her experience.(sorry blair)
i've been participating more in the patrick henry charter school, working in the meals committee and the curriculum committee. i'm very excited to be involved and think i can even get jack involved, which will be fun to work on together. we're getting great feedback from the new governor, but not so much from the mayor so this wed i'm planning on going to the city council meeting were they'll be discussing the school to see what he has to say (along with the real estate tax assesments. should be interesting) its a great opportunity for richmond city schools and its a shame that the school board and the mayor can't get behind it as much as they should.
i'm also trying to be a more involved alumna of my high school. chesterfield county had threatened to cut funding from GSGIS, which would essentially force the school to close (b/c they are a public school and get their money from the students' home counties). so far it looks like they won't be cutting funding, but letters are being written and donations being made to try to keep my high school going.
i had my own quilting adventure (if you read fleur's blog post). i found this incredible alice in wonderland fabric. so incredible that i just want to frame it. they also had great embroidery supplies. i found exactly the two sublime stitches patterns i wanted (with no shipping and handling!) i'm even getting requests for tea towels! and i agree with jenny, we definitely need a sewing circle started. (see above for my first attempt at embroidering a bib.)
and speaking of fleur - congrats on baby number two on the way! i'm very excited for them! and congrats to erin over at baby danzig for her new bun in the oven! like i said, all these babies are giving me baby fever. please pass the condoms.
and welcome jack to the world of blogging. its good to see something come out of the soccer obsession.
and an update to the name change: b/c i've purchased airline tickets in my present name, i will not be changing anything for awhile. so Dr. D it is for now
Monday, January 25, 2010
D to L
i'm changing my name. there: i said it, i posted it, its out in the virtual world so now it must be done. i'm usually pretty good about making decisions. and pretty happy when i've made one. i felt for sure when i got married that i wanted to keep my last name. sure, its difficult to spell and say and its long. but its unique and people love to say it and call me by it (why i don't know b/c if you say it wrong, you aren't my friend) and i do love it. but then i had a kid. and we're trying to travel and eventually she'll be in school and she'll have to learn how to spell it and explain to people why mommy and daddy's names are diffierent (not that that would really matter much). maybe i was just being lazy and didn't want to go through the process. or i was falling back on my feminist ways where i really wanted to keep my own name and be my own person in our marraige, until i realized (and i'm stealing this from a friend) that being a family is being a team - you need a team name and a team motto and a team shirt. and i'm not really part of the team if i don't have the team name.
the part that i was the most worried about when making this decision was telling my dad. he was so happy i was dr. d. but when i told him, he didn't seem to care much. i don't think he was actually listening. or maybe he really didn't care. at least my diploma will still say it. and he has two sons.
so i'll keep my name as my middle name (i'll probably keep my middle name too or else there would be no more AND and i love the AND). so you can still call me d. b/c it will still be my name. i'll just have another after that.
the part that i was the most worried about when making this decision was telling my dad. he was so happy i was dr. d. but when i told him, he didn't seem to care much. i don't think he was actually listening. or maybe he really didn't care. at least my diploma will still say it. and he has two sons.
so i'll keep my name as my middle name (i'll probably keep my middle name too or else there would be no more AND and i love the AND). so you can still call me d. b/c it will still be my name. i'll just have another after that.
Friday, January 15, 2010
cross stitching rpatz
holy crap. team edward anyone? I am SO making this. who wants one?! just me? yea, probably.
last night mom and dad and baby got to go hang out with our favorite other nancy mom and dad, sam and mel. merit was fascinated by her boyfriend (or best gay, b/c sam predicts broadway camp in his future), Fiver. she just laid on the blanket with him and stared, in between bonking herself in the head with the hardest plastic toy they had. i think she was just confused that there was actually someone around that was her size. she's used to her cousins all being much bigger than her. sam made us "american" size sushi (read: enormous, barely fit in your mouth but delicious!) and we had cupcakes from carytown cupcakes. the reese pieces cupcakes were incredible! in fact, i'm going today to get another. the red velvet and chocolate weren't too shabby either. so a good night. its nice to be around people who are also first time parents with a baby nearly the same age as ours with the same sort of philosphy on parenting we have (sort of ghetto crunchy with a little bit of bougie thrown in). and mel and i are going to take the babies to mommy and me pilates next week - i'm very excited!
speaking of pilates i swear i am starting the gym...next month. NO! just kidding. I have to go get my swipe card replaced and then i am so going back to the gym next week. i feel like a bum. especially since i'm able to get into work a bit earlier, i'll be able to leave earlier to go to the gym thereby beating the crowd at 5pm and getting home at regular time to hang with the baby before daddy goes crazy.
i made my major joann fabrics run last weekend with my mom. the new one out 60 off of 288 - ridonkulous! its the biggest, most fantastic craft/fabric store i've seen. i spent way too much. i kept seeing cute fabrics that i had no project for but had to buy. but i got supplies for my little felt projects, a baby quilt and a baby bag. i'm very excited to get started! i'm also going to order some more embroidery patterns and some tea towels and napkins to embroider (b/c thos ethings i cannot find. suggestions? just plain linens?). and we've cleaned up the back room so i actually have room to start sewing. the sewing machine was being used as a storage space for awhile.
and in other news, we got cable!! and a dvr!! i get to watch bones twice a night, robot chicken, jersey shore, nip/tuck....its very exciting. i'm neglecting my netflix, but i was doing that anyway. i don't know how i lived almost three years without it. dear cable, i love you. love, amy.
last night mom and dad and baby got to go hang out with our favorite other nancy mom and dad, sam and mel. merit was fascinated by her boyfriend (or best gay, b/c sam predicts broadway camp in his future), Fiver. she just laid on the blanket with him and stared, in between bonking herself in the head with the hardest plastic toy they had. i think she was just confused that there was actually someone around that was her size. she's used to her cousins all being much bigger than her. sam made us "american" size sushi (read: enormous, barely fit in your mouth but delicious!) and we had cupcakes from carytown cupcakes. the reese pieces cupcakes were incredible! in fact, i'm going today to get another. the red velvet and chocolate weren't too shabby either. so a good night. its nice to be around people who are also first time parents with a baby nearly the same age as ours with the same sort of philosphy on parenting we have (sort of ghetto crunchy with a little bit of bougie thrown in). and mel and i are going to take the babies to mommy and me pilates next week - i'm very excited!
speaking of pilates i swear i am starting the gym...next month. NO! just kidding. I have to go get my swipe card replaced and then i am so going back to the gym next week. i feel like a bum. especially since i'm able to get into work a bit earlier, i'll be able to leave earlier to go to the gym thereby beating the crowd at 5pm and getting home at regular time to hang with the baby before daddy goes crazy.
i made my major joann fabrics run last weekend with my mom. the new one out 60 off of 288 - ridonkulous! its the biggest, most fantastic craft/fabric store i've seen. i spent way too much. i kept seeing cute fabrics that i had no project for but had to buy. but i got supplies for my little felt projects, a baby quilt and a baby bag. i'm very excited to get started! i'm also going to order some more embroidery patterns and some tea towels and napkins to embroider (b/c thos ethings i cannot find. suggestions? just plain linens?). and we've cleaned up the back room so i actually have room to start sewing. the sewing machine was being used as a storage space for awhile.
and in other news, we got cable!! and a dvr!! i get to watch bones twice a night, robot chicken, jersey shore, nip/tuck....its very exciting. i'm neglecting my netflix, but i was doing that anyway. i don't know how i lived almost three years without it. dear cable, i love you. love, amy.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
why is a raven like a writing desk?
Everyone is pregnant! I can count 5 close friends due this summer and about 3 or 4 other people I know having babies soon. as some nosy lady at joe's asked us "is there something in the water?" Congrats to everyone! I'm actually jealous - I loved being pregnant. But I have a sweet little baby to enjoy for a couple of years before any ideas of brothers/sisters starts creeping in my head. In fact, at my annual checkup my ob/gyn kept pushing the IUD on me. Literally said the word IUD or some form of it about 10 tens times within the 10 minute span he was in the room with me. Does he just not want to see me any time soon? Did Nancy ask him to give me one to guarantee she wouldn't see me? I started getting a complex.....
enough about my lack of birth control methods.
Merit went to the doctor this week - 75% for everything (yup she's still a fatty, but she grew 2 inches in 2 months!)! She also got her first hep b shot which did not agree with her. fever, poor eating, really poor sleeping. i had the fleeting thought that we had ruined her and she was going to be autistic. but she's back to her normal cheerful, chatty self and all is good. I like that our pediatrician has her on a slightly different schedule (its their own delayed schedule, no dr. sears or anything). I considered doing a delayed/dr. sears schedule but we decided to go to south africa and I didn't want her a) unvaccinated or b) bombarded by vaccines right before our trip. Also, the scientist in me knows that vaccines are important and good, and the risk of adverse effects is miniscule. but the protective mama in me still sometimes has apprehensions about what we chose to do.
i finally got out of the house to hang out and drink. We went to Varietease - a burlesque show hosted by Ms. Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside - whose champagne opening number i will be looking for on itunes (along with the boobies song that narrated the game during the show). It was quite fun, but i will never look at aunt jemima the same way again. I want to go back!
i'm itching for some new tattoos. its good that i can't get anything until after i'm done nursing b/c i want a few and this will give me time to consider what i want carefully and save my money. i'm undecided as to whether i want to discuss what i want or keep it to myself. why are tattoos like baby names?
As my schedule continues to allow me free time (not as much as i'd like, but enough), i went on a major shopping trip to joannes today for sewing and crafting supplies. now i just need a few more embroidery patterns and textiles and i'm good to go for quite some time! pictures of projects to come......
and speaking of being crafty, here are some new crafty links - i can't wait for her to get older and make some things herself, or request her own projets for mama to do:
-ornaments
-magic lanterns
-crafty site
(i think this is my new favorite site)
-embroidery blog
-another embroidery blog
-alphabet pillows
enough about my lack of birth control methods.
Merit went to the doctor this week - 75% for everything (yup she's still a fatty, but she grew 2 inches in 2 months!)! She also got her first hep b shot which did not agree with her. fever, poor eating, really poor sleeping. i had the fleeting thought that we had ruined her and she was going to be autistic. but she's back to her normal cheerful, chatty self and all is good. I like that our pediatrician has her on a slightly different schedule (its their own delayed schedule, no dr. sears or anything). I considered doing a delayed/dr. sears schedule but we decided to go to south africa and I didn't want her a) unvaccinated or b) bombarded by vaccines right before our trip. Also, the scientist in me knows that vaccines are important and good, and the risk of adverse effects is miniscule. but the protective mama in me still sometimes has apprehensions about what we chose to do.
i finally got out of the house to hang out and drink. We went to Varietease - a burlesque show hosted by Ms. Magnolia Jackson Pickett Burnside - whose champagne opening number i will be looking for on itunes (along with the boobies song that narrated the game during the show). It was quite fun, but i will never look at aunt jemima the same way again. I want to go back!
i'm itching for some new tattoos. its good that i can't get anything until after i'm done nursing b/c i want a few and this will give me time to consider what i want carefully and save my money. i'm undecided as to whether i want to discuss what i want or keep it to myself. why are tattoos like baby names?
As my schedule continues to allow me free time (not as much as i'd like, but enough), i went on a major shopping trip to joannes today for sewing and crafting supplies. now i just need a few more embroidery patterns and textiles and i'm good to go for quite some time! pictures of projects to come......
and speaking of being crafty, here are some new crafty links - i can't wait for her to get older and make some things herself, or request her own projets for mama to do:
-ornaments
-magic lanterns
-crafty site
(i think this is my new favorite site)
-embroidery blog
-another embroidery blog
-alphabet pillows
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