Bear with me

This post may end up being full of typos, and all over the road, so please bear with me.

Elliott's in the hospital with pneumonia. Her cold from last week turned real bad, and she went to the Dr a few times. Sat early day she was ambulanced over from the Dr office to Children's Memorial hospital, which is where she still is.

Fer's been taking nights, i've been taking days with family help. She is getting better, its just real real real slow. Shes on an IV and antibiotics, but she cant come home till she is off the oxygen, and eating and drinking on her own. The Dr's may take another round of lung x-rays tomorrow just to check and see how the progress is.

Sorry if we didnt call and this is the 1st youre hearing of this. Needless to say, we're hanging in, its rough. I feel like a zombie, and Fer's been amazing, but i am sure on the inside he's feeling crazy too. My mom is staying on this week to help us out, i am going to try and stay in school (since this is only my 2nd week) we'll see how it goes.

I will try to update when i can on here. Feel free to call, but don't be suprised if we cant answer our phones. Trust me, we'll love the thought.

feel free to comment on here and talk amongst eachother... there's something like safety in numbers, or something like that.

True Story

Hello, my name is dao, and I am a Tivo neeeird.

This conversation and email actually took place, and as I wrote it all out... I realized that I have a problem, but one that I am not going to do anything about. Enjoy my insanity...

My mom sent me this cartoon last week in an email:







To which I responded:

Ha ha, that's funny. True story, I was watching my Tivo'd episode of Gilmore Girls this week and Fer & I had been eating dinner at the coffee table. I paused the tv while I was getting up off the floor and moving back to the couch and Fer said, "What are you doing? Are you going somewhere?" And I said, "Nope, I just didn't want to miss anything while I was moving around."

He laughed at me, "What did you do before tivo? Think of all the tv you must have missed." To which I responded, "That's why I have Netflix... I can just watch it all over again on DVD, just to make sure."

So Fer caught wind that I was telling others of my tivo insanity, and thought he would throw his 2 cents in to really drive the point home:

"If you exhale too loudly around dao while she has the remote, you better be prepared to review the previous 30 seconds of the show. And, if you ask any General Hospital related questions she'll pause it and give you the full audio commentary. Don't even bring up the timers, she'll just start clicking into the bowels of the satallite, submenues, signal trajectories... whatever it takes."

All I have to say is true. BUT, what in the hell is the point of having the technology if you don't even bother to use it (ahem), or use it to the fullest advantage.

AND, I have been watching GH off and on for literally 20 years. What am I supposed to do with all those storylines and subplots other than subject you people to it?!?!

You asked for it, you got it, Toyota.

In Other News:

The comments have been blowin' up round here. Even if some of you can't stand suspense, I like to see all the activity. Makes me feel all warm & cozylike. Keep up the good work. ha ha.
Tomorrow starts school for me, I am off to cram as much stuff into my day as I possibly can!

-over and out-

Bean's 1st convertable

A Picture Share!, originally uploaded by nonobaddao.

Uncle Jason & Auntie Debbie got Bean her very first Mercedes convertable. At first she was a little overwhelmed by it, as anyone would be. But... within minutes of sitting in all the shiny plastic interior, she was beep-beepin' all over the house... movin' and a shakin' all over the place in reverse. (she has yet to figure out how to make it go forward)
Go baby, Go!

Ah, the Wonderful World of...

Disney? Babies? Parenthood?

Not sure which one of these headings I should be listing this post under. I think it invloves all 3. Well, to be honest maybe not Disney. But sometimes I think ALL brand development marketed for children is all their fault. That being said, I LOVE Mary Poppins, The Fox & the Hound, and Toy Story. It was really hard to find those Buzz Lightyear sheets for a california king size bed... but when price is not an issue, you really can get anything.

Right, the point. I seem to be losing focus here these days. Maybe thats a good thing, you'd have to tell me. BUT, lets get back to the wonderful world of babies, and therefore parenthood.

I think I may have mentioned here a few days ago that there was not much sleep happening 'round these parts. Well, save for Fer, who can sleep through anything. Elliott has been going through god only knows what. But the screaming and the crying fits were like those only experienced during our first few weeks having moved her to Chicago. When everything was wrong and nothing seemed like the only home she's known for 3 months.

So, I am sure you can figure that I have been a freak trying to figure out what the hell is going on with her, and now that I think I have, I feel like I am Queen of the Wonderful World of Babies. (or an idiot, but you have to guess which one is true) And, true to form, boring or not, I am going to share it with you.

1. Temperature change. Ok, so I know that I am kinda crazy with the heat control (or should I say lack of heat round these parts). Last year I went all winter with the thermostat set to a balmy 66. BUT, we were able to afford our heat bill, so there. AND i can only imagine that we were the only ones to see a decrease this year in our heating costs. Which I ruined yesterday when I upped the setting to 68 while we are home (and back to 66 while we are not.) Because, I think we may have been freezing the Bean.

I KNOW I KNOW. GET OFF MY BACK. She wasn't turning blue or anything! And it was only a few nights, and its not like I let her cry all night. I went to her, I made sure she could go back to sleep. I did not dose her with Tylenol like I wanted to! Once I realized that it was the temp, I fixed it. 2 layers of clothes for sleep (since she sleeps like Fer, all over the place/sans blankets), and upped the heat. Besides, it only just got cold here, so it took me a minute to figure out what was going on! And until last night, we kinda forgot that last year she had a space heater in her room as well.

Which being the good mom that I am, I did not want to put in her room again this year since we have added carpet to her room and I don't want to burn us down. And, in my defense it was kinda hard to tell what was going on with her since she is still teething molars AND was not eating much for dinner. Which brings me to:

2. Change in dinner time. I was trying to feed her at 6pm so that we could all eat together before putting her to bed and to coordinate with being able to pick Fer up at the train so he did not have to walk home in the cold. Well, she was not eating cuz she was too tired for dinner at 6, so now, its dinner at 5. So sometimes Fer is gonna have to walk.

Fer's comfort or Bean's comfort. You tell me. (and my guess is that you, sweet internet, are a 50/50 split. Bastards! ALWAYS pick the comfort of the baby!!)

In Other News:

Who knows if this is bad or not, but I am totally strung out on Arcade Fire these days. Its probably old news, or maybe even no news to some of you, but I just happened to click on it in Fer's iTunes a few weeks back, and now I just can't get enough. Until I do, and then I'll hate it, just like with everything else.

Except chocolate cake. There can never be too much chocolate cake.
yuuuuuummmm. chocolate caaaaake.

-over and out-

Quote of the day

"I'm already wierd enough, I don't need to be like... cat lady wierd."

Amen sista, amen. I mean, I know we've all known and loved some cat-lady wierdo (some might say, it could be possible, that Mombi is headed in that direction) but I mean, who really wants to become one?

Right.

So, that brought my friend & I around to the topic of New Year's Eve. Believing that if there is no one to kiss, or no one even kissable on New Years should you opt for just staying in with your mom? And don't get me wrong here people, I've had a few all-out party-of-a-lifetime-parties with my mother (and I CAN post photos to prove it) but still... some others mothers are not quite, as, well, how can I put this in a diplomatic fashion...

I think i am just going to stop here with this notion.

Back to the point: I made the suggestion that no matter what time in my life as far as with or sans boyfriend, husband, whatever, that if I had my dear, sweet friend Champagne with me on New Year's I most likely did not care for a midnight kiss regardless. I mean, when you have that warm glow on in the soft Champagne light... who really gives a fuck where you are or how you got there, or even if you are there with anyone you know? Ah, Champagne, sweet champagne. So in MY brillance, I suggested that she just come over here for New Years and we will drink sweet champagne together till the sun comes up. I guess that means that I should start looking for that overnight babysitter, and also, for the money to pay for it.

Um, Markovicious... any chance you aren't busy for New Years and you like... wanna watch a super cute baby? Just thought I'd try my luck. As payment I'll give you all my love and affection.

In Other News:

So apparrently all you people who have my number think that when I say DONT CALL ME ABOUT THE SECRET I WILL NOT TELL YOU must think that i did not mean YOU exactly. Well, I did mean YOU. STOP IT. Seriously.

That includes you Fer.

I think there's a baby that needs picked up somewhere.

-over and out-

Secrets

I'm sitting here, full of secrets. Deep, dark, dripping secrets, and none of them are mine, so I can't tell you. I am The Keeper of The Secrets that are not Mine. I guess that would make me The Keeper of Others Secrets, but I digress. If they were mine, I would tell you, I swear I would... but they aren't, so I can't, and I'm sure that if you did not before, then now, now you really do hate me.

It's so hard when someone tells you: Hey, wanna know a secret? You have to promise not to tell anybody until I give the go-ahead. kay? It's like saying, here... take a hit of this crack, ok? But like, not too much, ok? And, like don't ask me or anyone else for anymore cuz there's no more, ok? Or how about the way it really is: I want to tell you something, it may be really cool, or really crazy, or embarrassing or sad... and you get really really really interested, so of course, like with the crack, you just can't say no! And then it hits you. And all the weight is now on you. Like if you tell, they'll know it was you, being sworn to secrecy and all, and then you will become SHE WHO CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH THE SECRETS. And really, who wants to be that person.

So, in a way that I can let some of the pressure off for a while I will say this about the 2 best secrets that I am currently holding:

1. It appears that two people I know may be in serious like with eachother and i think its really cool, but I don't want to put any pressure on them by mentioning it here, so it's like keeping a secret even though its not a full-blown zipper-lipped situation. At least I don't think it is. Because if Fer knows, then like 1/2 the world knows, so like... right there its ruined. BUT, suffice it to say, i like this idea, and i hope it only goes good places. Thats it.

2. Someone I know may or may not be doing something very cool in an investment-type situation that may or may not be linked to realestate that may or may not freak some other poeple the fuck out. But all I think I may or may not be at liberty to say is that I think that if it all works out the way someone I know may be planning it to, then no matter what I AM POSTING IT HERE FIRST. AND SHOUTING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS SO HELP ME GOD. You know who you are and you also know that this is an exciting secret that you trapped me into and I am starting to crack. SERIOUSLY. SAVE ME. tell me when i can tell. I really want to tell.

To all of you who now hate me because i wrote all this and you cannot guess what is going on, do not call, I will not say. And I promise, tomorrow I will write about something else. And i promise that when I can tell you, I will. Amen.

In Other News:

It is freaking cold here people! And white flakes were falling from the sky today. This is the winter that will test me... i just know it. I can feel it in my bones... god has looked down and said: Woman, you seem to think this is all going to be fine, out in the elements. Let me show you just how much I expect you to take. Here, have fun with that.

oh me oh my.

-over and out-

Good Day

Today was the 1st day dropping off Bean that she did not throw herself at the door. Fer dropped her off yesterday while I payed the school tuition and he said she was fine fine fine with it, but I was skeptical. I was expecting horrible things this a.m. because last night when she came home she was cranky as all get out. The Little Fishies went on their first ever field tip on a real school bus. I think she just burned so many calories what with all the excitement over all the new things at the gym & library that she was just bustin a gasket last night when she came home. That kid ate so much food for dinner, and I still don't think it was enough because from 11:30pm to 1am she was up every 20 minutes crying. Sitting in the corner of her crib, holding elmo, crying for .... sunting. Who knows. No fever, no real new teething concerns, so 7 1/2 ounces of milk & 2 diaper changes later, Ellie finally let me get some sleep.

Fer on the other hand saw that as his opportunity to disrupt my sleep for the next hour by trying to keep me from rolling over because HEAVEN FORBID THE BABY FALLS OUT OF BED. Now, why does he have this notion that the baby will fall out of bed when THE BABY HAS NEVER EVER EVER SLEPT WITH US?!?!?!?! Personally I think its his excuse to test me and see just how far he can push me before I smack him. So far, its pretty damn far.

So, what am I doing up, coffee cup in hand, blogging and listening to Arcade Fire, on a cold & rainy November morning after a hard nights sleep with the husband & kid off and away? Because in only 1 weeks time, I too will be off and away, and I know I better freaking get used to this. Am I a glutton for punishment or what? Well there's that, but also it gives me the excuse to go to bed tonight as early as I want, and sometimes that's a card I like to play.

In Other News:

Elliott moved forward facing in her car seat yesterday! It's a big step. I imagine that we could have gone another 3 to 4 months before needing to turn her around, but seriously, I thought it was about time she got to see where she is going. It's not our fault that she refuses to grow like a normal child. I guess she just wants to stay wee for as long as possible.

Oh, and maybe I should mention that the kid got some Jesus this weekend. We finally had our heathen baptized. It was a quick and easy ceremony, and once I have a moment to look through all the photos, I will post some here, because you KNOW she looked super cute, and that's the most important thing, right?

-over and out-

Sleepy big lips.

A Picture Share!, originally uploaded by nonobaddao.

Markovicious, you know what I'm talkin' bout.

Life imitates art, imitates life?

So you know how on Desperate Housewives as soon as Lynette went back to work, Parker had an imaginary friend named Mrs. Mullberry? The cheap, Mary Poppins knock-off, complete with black umbrella, Mrs. Mullberry? And Lynette goes batshit crazy, all guilty for leaving Parker and making him turn to this imaginary friend? And because of all her crazy-ass antics Mrs. Mullberry is killed right before Parker's very eyes? You know all about this right? Just twist the story into Elliott & Elmo, and you got it.

So today was the 3rd day of "school" for Elliott. And I thought she had been taking it all in stride. No tears when I dropped her off, she is getting along, enjoying music time & reading, and really really really into all the Elmo dolls. Yesterday they told me that they had to let her sleep with Elmo during naptime because SHE WOULD NOT GIVE HIM UP. Fer and I thought it was cute, and we have a few Elmo's at home, so whats the big deal. But last night she would NOT go to sleep without an Elmo by her side. It was all AAAHLLL-MOOO! over and over and over again. So we took elmo's talking guts out and gave in.

This morning we go to "school"... she's cool as a cucumber. We walk into her "little fishies" room, and she spies Elmo. So starts the day, I say goodbye, hugs and kisses, and she throws Elmo down and starts screaming EEEELLLLMOOOO! EEELLLLMOOOO! Clearly... its not elmo she wants... but she is really confused. So I try to hand it back, say goodbye and leave... like they tell you to. And I am all smiles... Elmo is your friend, look at all the other friends you have here. Have a good day Bean, Momma loves you.

I walk out. She throws herself at the door, screaming Elmo!, and they have to pull her away. I feel like Lynette, I want to kill Elmo. I want to go back to the way things were before, before only 2 short days ago when everything changed. I mean, whats money in comparison to the tears of not only a little girl, but the bestest little girl in all the world?

So I spent the morning on the phone with Debbie, and we are going to walk around and get lunch somewhere to take the edge off. I know she'll be ok, that she was probably fine only a minute later, but it's killing me. For now, I am keeping my eyes on the prize, and its not a lofty goal... just to get through this 1st week. I guess we're almost 1/2 way there. There, another silver lining.

In Other News:
Honestly, until all this other stuff calms down, there is no other news. Sorry if this is not funny or bores you. I am a bundle of nerves, emotions, and upset stomach. I know it will be ok... I know we are not the first people to go through this, I know she is gonna like it, but i can't help feeling a little bit like WHAT THE HELL HAVE I DONE?

-over and out-

Well, there she goes.

Or, the first day of the rest of my life.

I just got back from taking Elliott to her 1st day ay "school". I can't seem to bring myself to call it daycare... because if it's only care that she is getting I want it to come from me. No, I need to think of her at school because it's like she is learning things in ways that I can't teach her. Like an organized curriculum of play, art, reading, and new ways to think. Otherwise I want someone to tell me why I can't just keep her at home with me.

I know sometimes I get waaaayyyy too frustrated with being a momma for my own good... but that's all part of it, right? I mean, I love that little bugger more than life itself, and I know it's supposed to be that way too. I just can't believe that after everything, every little step, move, movement, laughter and tears that I have been through in the last 15 months it culminated into taking her somewhere else for others to enjoy her. It's like all of a sudden I have become the most selfish person on earth, and only I should get to share in her joy.

Believe it or not people, I actually have a nerve center, and right now I am in tears. I know this will go away, every day will get easier and I will start to remember the person I was before my day was consumed by The Bean... and then I will start school. And then every waking moment that we are together will be consumed by her and having fun. I had a feeling I was going to like being a momma... I guess I am just suprised by how much I like it. I think this will most likely make me an even better at this crazy job. There, the silver lining.

In Other News:

Brett & Deb from Nashville came into town and spent one of the quickest, most enjoyable visits with us. In less than 24 hours we ate great food, had great wine, played with Ellie, saw the neighborhood, made memories (even if a camera was left inside on the table) and talked, talked, talked, talked. Thanks for coming guys, it was absolutely wonderful to spend time together, and hopefully we can do it more often.

On that note, I think I am done for today. If you want a funnier post, check out Friday's... heard it through the grapevine it was a funny one.

-over and out-

And I've got....

Nothin'.

Sorry that I have been so lame in my posting as of late. I guess there are a few things on the horizion... and then some. I've learned a few new things in the past week or so, and one of those you've learned with me, you just don't even know it yet...

When Elliott can see through a pane of glass, or say a plexi-glass front on the fake tree she climbed up in at the mall... she can't wait to mash her little face all up in it! (hence all the insane photos from last weekend).

And then we went trick-or-treating. Or as Ellie called it, "tiii-ti." But at least she learned to say Thank you (da-too) and Pumpkin (pu-kit! PUU-KIT, MOMMA! PUUUUUU-KIIIIT) Yes Ellie, I see it, Pumpkin! You're a genius!

Then we went to the Aquarium with Emily & Hazle, and now if its not pu-kit, its FISHIES! Oh, or AHHH-MO (elmo). Fer decided that since I have been teaching Bean (Bee-na!) all these new words, it was his turn to lay down some language skills. Elmo & Bee-na it was.

I mean, I know I go on and on, but even the Dr. confirmed it this week when she went in for her FIFTEEN MONTH check up. How we even got here is beyond me... but thats besides the point. Apparently its like, not that common for a 15 month old to have a vocabulary of like 50 words that she knows how to use, and her understanding is even greater.

So is she swearing you ask? I mean, she is my child, and early verbal can mean only 1 thing... have i screwed up yet? The answer is yes. Today, when my lovely, genius child-star stuck her hand into her shitty diaper while I was in the middle of gathering all the millions upon millions of wipes that were needed to contain the contamination, she pulled the poopy-covered, specked-with-kiwi-seeded hand away, smacked it against the wall and repeated "FUUUUT! FUUUUUT! FUUUUUTTTT!

Awesome. I held it together; elbow-deep in poop at the time, I was soooNOT laughing... and it just went away. Now if only I could go away... all our problems would be solved.

On that note, who wants to play Guess what The Bean is saying? I'll type it phonetically and you guess what she's saying. (and these are common use words... things she has been saying all the time these days, let alone the laundry list of names she's been spouting. Here goes:

Bub-bo, Baal, Kaat, Ap-po, Keey, Puuu-kit, Min-nah, Bool, Cuu-p, Hi-chi, Foo, and Laah-loo. Off the top of my head, those are all the ones that are kinda hard to decipher... the easy ones are Dog, Baby, Fishies, shoo-ss, Foot, Noos, mout, e-ah, tah-too, tye-tye, ni-nigh, moon & boo-bo, courtsey of the 3 shots she received.

Here's your list of names, and see if you are on it: Nana, Ta, Poppa, Hah-vee, Namma, dizz or livvie, ho, key, meee or meg, Debbie, Dada/Dadeee, Momma/Mommieeeee, lilah, and... uh, well, thats it for now. Sorry... we're workin' on it.

In Other News:

Ah Bartleby & Wife are here tomorrow... and for the first time in like, 6 years i think, we are all going to be together! Really people, these are the times when history is made.

DID YOU SEE THE TRAIN WREAK ON GH? Say it with me people, "Somebody's gonna DII-EEE". Holy new set, holy sweeps. (and don't you think for a second I couldn't tell that "smoke" was digital!)

ok, thats it for now. blame it on The Wadka Babblers.

-over and out-

A Picture Share!

A Picture Share!, originally uploaded by nonobaddao.