I’ve got a few items on my purchasing mind and am in need of your assistance.

First up,

Shampoo/Conditioner

Currently, I use Redken as my main product of choice, and Back to Basics for a change of pace here and there. After doing my research on this site, I decided I needed something a little bit more, you know, better for you?? Same thing goes for Back to Basics products as well. They just don’t cut it regards to having bad crap in them. So, what to do?

Yes, yes, I can go over this site with a magnifying glass with all the free time I have looking for a great working shampoo that doesn’t carry a lot of extras in it, but I don’t want to. ha.

What do you use for shampoo and conditioner? Does it work well? I have fine hair, but lots of it. It’s more dry than not and I live in dry CA. Naturally wavy, but enjoy wearing it straight as well. Oh, and it’s hightlighted. Yee Haw.

2#

Vacuum

Hubs and I want to take some of our tax incentive and buy a kick ass vacuum. We have a hoover wind tunnel that should have rocked our world, but I bought it on Overstock.com and think I got a lemon for a bargain. #$@%$%!!!

I am interested in a Dyson. Anyone have one? Or another kind of vacuum that scares you to bits on how much gunk is actually IN your carpets?? Do tell.

#3

Traveling Toddler Bed

We are headed to Tahoe this summer for a week and need something for Rt. Since he still uses a crib rail at home, sticking him in a twin bed and seeing if he’ll fall off or not doesn’t seem ideal, so does anyone have a bed for toddlers they are thrilled with? Do tell.

e

I told hubs yesterday I felt like someone who is off their meds.

But I’m not taking any.

Saturday, I got to sleep in. I felt fine. Yesterday, I got up early with the boys. Not so fine.

Only thing I can think of is I forgot to take my Omega-3 pills the last few nights. They do say getting your Omega-3’s can prevent/fight off depression.

“They” could be on to something.

Normal things are irritating. People are irritating. Little people are irritating.

(Actually, come to think of it, I haven’t showered today. That might be part of the problem. Dirty AND pissy.)

Until I have something to write about that isn’t irritating, I’m going to pop a pill and see if my mood makes a change for the better.

Hey, at least their is Wimbledon to watch and my house is clean. Score.

e

**Hola update: He has started to bat at the elephant dangling from his playmat. Go Hola! He even coo’s at it for quite sometime. Now that does make me smile.

Hola - 10 weeks from little miss mel on Vimeo.

please ignore me. I’m annoying. Focus on babe.

There aren’t many, but one that comes to mind is free travel.

Hubs has been traveling for his job for about 2 1/2 years consistently. If you told me 2 1/2 years ago that he’d be traveling once a week from here to eternity, I would have run for the hills and never looked back. But, one week turned into a month, a month turned into a year, a year, well, you get the picture. Honestly, I’ve kept my head down and have tried not to focus on the big picture.

Hubs is a remote employee and has been since we lived in LA. I don’t know a life without him home during the day. If he has to be gone a day or two a week to have this kind of setup, it is worth it in the end. I know Rt has benefited from it immensely, as have I.

Since hubs travels via Southwest for his business trips, he earns free tickets as he goes. These last two years he traveled so much, he earned a SWA Companion Pass. Basically, whenever we flew together, I flew for free. Not bad, huh? It’s a bummer we really didn’t take advantage of it last year besides holiday travel, but we did take a trip to New York and San Diego the year before.

This year, we are headed back home to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. Since Rt is 3, he has his own seat. Hola will be on our laps (oh dear God), so in total we need 3 tickets.

Yesterday was the first day you could book holiday travel for Southwest. You should have seen me stalking their website waiting for them to update their reservation page. I knew I had to pounce on reserving our free seats, cause they only have so many available for each flight. Luckily, I was able to reserve all 3 without much of a hiccup. (Phew!) The flying times were less attractive than I had hoped, (hello, landing at 11:30p.m.) but booking the tickets was my first concern.

Southwest also has these fabulous things called blackout dates. For the most part, you can’t fly anywhere around the actual day of Thanksgiving with free tickets. (That’s where they get ya.) Now that there are 4 of us, we won’t be traveling home, but once a year, so staying a good long week or so isn’t much of an issue. (until we pass out on day 5 from taking care of two kids outside the comforts of home.)

Of course there are taxes and fees when you purchase any ticket, so the total for all 4 of us to fly over the holidays this November is $22.50. This trip is bittersweet. This is probably the last time we will have this many free tickets, so next Christmas will be a rude awakening. So, I will revel in our last free holiday travel and start saving my pennies asap.

Ho…ho…ho.

e

1) Sweet, Savory, & Tart Trek Mix

Oh me, oh my. This mix is to die for. Dark/white chocolate chips, peanuts, cashews, cranberries and yellow raisins. Enough said.

2) Organic Creamy Peanut Butter/Organic Fruit Spread/Multi-Grain Bread

This trio is the ideal main item on Rt’s lunch plate. I have even made myself a sandwich or two. Ok, I have one at least twice a week.

3) Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks

Great snack for Rt. Thicker than regular pretzel stick. Perfect for on the go. Easy to hand to the backseat while driving. Multi-tasking!

4) Noodles in a Box

Kung Pao and Peanut flavors are fabulous. Mix noodles with sauce IN box and heat in microwave for 2 minutes. Now eat! (I only use half the sauce to cut down on sodium. Still enough!) Perfect for when I don’t want to cook while hubs is out of town. Not the best nutrition, but quick, easy and delish!

5) Soy Orange Dream cicles

Have you had an orange dream cicle in your life? Did you love it? Well, you’ll love these then. Only problem is, they come 3 to a box. They don’t last that long in our house because of ME! I heart them.

Ok, so I have posted about Trader Joe’s findings before, but these are my latest, latest favs.

How about you? Have anything else to add to this list? How about dinner items? I seem to lack dinner supplies every time I leave the joint.

e

Parenthood, the movie, came out in 1989. Back then, I was in the 9th grade. Well, if it were Spring of ‘89 that is. By Fall, I would have been in the 10th…..sorry, moving on.

Anywho, the movie, the story, the theme, the subject was good, really good, back then.

But, NOW?

Watching this movie is HILARIOUS. Have you seen this movie lately? The commentary between parents? SO CLASSIC! Totally finding myself in similar instances now that I am a parent. And NO, I haven’t dressed up as Cowboy Dan, nor has my husband. Well, not for a birthday party…..

My girlfriend mentioned she saw this flick the other day and had the same reaction. I happen to catch it on HBO this weekend and taped it for hubs to see. Currently, I am watching the last bit of it and am laughing my ass off. By now, I do know every scene, but I am find myself nodding in agreement much more often than I did at 15. (19 yrs ago, agh!)

Speaking of movies, if it weren’t for my DVR, I know I would be much more of an grouch as a parent. While watching this flick and typing this post, I have had to pause the movie twice to tend to two different children supposedly napping. I haven’t had this wonderful feature, the DVR, for that long, but it sure is a delight. Can you imagine being in the middle of fabulous tv watching only to have to leave the room and miss out?? Sounds so barbaric. ha.

Gone are the days when a cell phone in high school was a large ass component that was used only in your car. Gone are the days when computers in college only existed at a computer lab. Gone are the days when tv viewing only happened when you’re not busy.

Now, you can literally do it all, at once.

(Currently, typing, talking on the phone, and watching my dvr’d show all from the comfort of my favorite spot on the couch.)

e

My wonderful friend and photographer, Caroline, sent Hola these darling moccasins in the mail. All the way from a Navajo store in Arizona! He rather enjoyed his first footed experience. Can’t you tell?

*band-aid courtesy of 2 month shots

I burnt my baby.

With a sunburn.

Accidentally.

(Insert photo here after babe wakes from nap.)

I am the worst mother of the year. Pardon me while I submit my application. I should receive top honors for this.

Yesterday, I met my mother-in-law at her country club pool 45 minutes up the road. Rt was lathered to the hilt with 55 SPF sunscreen, a hat, a swim vest and water sandals. Hola, on the other hand, was in a onesie. The difference between the two?

ONE WAS IN THE SUN. THE OTHER WAS NOT.

While Rt “Swam” (walked along the step and threw water torpedoes into the pool for the older children to fetch, over and over and over again.) (Clearly, it’s going to take more than one visit to the pool to get this water baby reacquainted.) Hola was wrapped loosely in an extremely lightweight blanket (to help him nod off).

So, all that was exposed, for I don’t know, HOURS, was his face.

UNDER THE TABLE UMBRELLA.

ON CONCRETE.

Clearly, concrete has just as much reflective power as the water. Of course I knew water was reflective. HELLO, I used to be a competitive diver, I know the water basics.

Guess not.

I didn’t get burned because for the 15 minutes I was in the pool with Rt, I lathered on 55 SPF sunscreen. So, I was protected in the SHADE. Poor Hola the Alligator. Just snoozin away while his little cheeks turned to the color of beets.

The real kicker to all of this? Hola had his 2 month well-visit today.

GREEEEEAT!

Hi Dr. Wong! No, my baby isn’t burnt? I was just trying out this new baby toner….um, ya….so……

Actually, my doc was really cool about it and mentioned something like Cortaid for his cheeks, TO HELP WITH THE BURN.

WHAAAAAAH.

Ok, moving on.
Hola’s STATS:

Now remember, he was 8 lb 1 oz and 20 inches at birth.

Currently, at 9 weeks…..

13 lb 8 oz = 86%

23 1/2 inches = 68%

Big Head = 85%

(No wonder my arms are getting so ripped. ha. This babe is hefty!)

I talked to the doc about our spitting up sagas and he gave us a prescription for Zantac, a tiny dose. So, we’ll see if that makes Hola sit better with his meals. It won’t cure the spitting-up, but it will help ease what pain he has.

He did mention starting to feed Hola solids, like cereal, at 4 months! YIKES! He said the solid food would help keep the liquid down. Good Lord, this is all happening so fast.

All in all, it was a good visit filled with Rt having to go potty in the middle of the appointment and Hola getting 4 shots in the thighs and 1 orally for Rotavirus. Hola fell asleep hard in the car, but is refusing to nap in his crib. Currently, he is making silly smiley faces in the swing and Rt has cried 3 times from his room telling me he has to go poop. (For the love of God boy, OPEN THE DOOR, go to the potty and LET ‘ER RIP!)

e

With his hand down the back side of his underwear, Rt said, “uhhh ooooh”.

In a major case of fear, I said “Um, Whaaat?”

He smiled and said,

“Wedgie.”

**************************

After Rt took a sip of milk I gave him he said, “Mmmm, that is deeelichious. Thank you mommy!”

**************************

Rt turned to me and said, “You’re the best I’ve ever seen.”

*************************

I was walking past Hola’s room the other day only to find Rt sitting in the glider. The room was dark, the fan was on, the sound machine as well. Rt had his feet resting on the ottoman pushing himself backward and forward in the chair. I asked him what he was doing. He immediately put his finger to his mouth and said, “shhhhhh.”

I hadn’t noticed, but Rt had his two hands cupped together in his lap.

He told me he was “rocking the baby” with a whisper.

Hubs walked past the room a moment or so later mentioning we needed to get in the car and go. He came over and swooped Rt up. Rt got very concerned until I told him he should put the baby down in the crib to go nite-nite. Hubs tipped Rt over so he was able to lay down “his sleeping baby”.

My heart was truly filled with joy seeing such a thing, I had a hard time taking a breath.

******************

These are all definitely perks to the job.

e

We’ve made it. 2 whole months yesterday and 9 weeks old tomorrow. Ahhhh. Doesn’t that sound nice? It sure does to me.

Instead of writing long winded paragraphs filling you in on all the little details of the past week or so, I’m going to bullet point myself silly. (For some reason, my bullets aren’t showing up……interesting.)

• the fact that this little boy can still get in a good snooze on my chest or in the sling is priceless. So many times a nap in the crib is just not feasible. I am grateful.
• the smiles, the coos. They are a comin’ and they are a joy to witness. If he is anything like his mother, he’ll be a chatty charlie before we know it. Rt sure has made himself known in the verbal department.
• one poop a day. How nice is that? And usually it’s during the day. How thoughtful of him. Thank you Hola!
• He still has hair. Or he has new hair. Rt didn’t get ANY new hair on his head, I swear, till he was a year old and this little guy had little hairs growing under his george castanza ‘do at 5 weeks old. Will it go curly like his father and brother, or stay stick straight and whispy like his mother’s did? We shall see.
• Giggles. We must be that hilarious cause Hola thinks we all are a riot. That or he feels he needs to make more noise to get noticed in this house. Did I mention we were chatty? Poor hubs. Doesn’t get an opportunity to talk much.
• Sucking. He has found his fist, knuckles, fingers and even his thumb. When he gets his thumb in there, it’s the cutest thing ever. When he gets his fingers in there it’s the beginnings of a gag fest. We really don’t need more opportunities to spit up, now do we?
• Sleep. We got a late start on bedtime last night, so Hola went to bed at 9p.m. and woke at 4am to feed, then up again for another feed at 6:45am. I didn’t have to be “on” till 6:45am this morning. Loving it! (Thanks hubs for 1st shift!) (EDITORS NOTE: see below)
• As for me, I’m 7 lbs away from my starting weight. 33 lbs down!!! Now, if we could just talk to my current mushroom top, and tell it to beat it, I’d be a lot happier with the scale.
• As for Rt, he has officially placed larger than life poops in the potty ALL BY HIMSELF. Guess it took a little privacy to get the guy going. Such a typical male, huh?

Oh, one more thing regarding Hola. As far as the spitting up goes, we still make a mess of the place, but it seems to be getting better? Maybe? Fewer and fewer hosing incidents, so I will call that progress, but the boy does have trouble keeping a meal down, even hours later. Depends on how many leg kicks he performs, really.

So, on that note, I have question for you:

If you had/have a spitter-uper, how did you get them to sleep without barfing all over the place? Our hospital swaddles are on their way out, (the only ones that keep his legs pulled in making it somewhat impossible to spit-up, well, tight enough to put him to sleep/keep him asleep.) So, we are soon at a loss. The Swaddle me’s give his legs too much room to move, so he won’t stay asleep once we lay him down. WHAT TO DO???

Anyone have any suggestions?

I need help stat!

e

*****Editor’s note: Seems if you just briefly mention decent sleep in passing it will bite you on the ass in such a way that you can’t sit down for days. Between Hola waking at 1:45am, 4a.m. and 5:45am, and Rt waking 3 times in the night mentioning something about “flying away” (not anywhere near the same time as Hola, mind you) and hubs leaving for the airport at 5am, I am a BITTER BEAR right now. I will get over it, but at 6:36a.m. I am bitter.