come undone

peanut butter recalls

Here's a page from the FDA site so you can see what's being recalled:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm#PeanutButter

We live on friggin' peanut butter too...I don't have time for this.

Wednesday in the burbs

So, my son just came up next to me with a mouthful of soup. He spit it out all over the rug. That's the kind of day it's been.

We've got a layer of slush outside topped with a nice layer of ice. My husband took my all wheel drive car to work leaving the czar and I inside for the day. We are losing our minds. We did a few puzzles, watched some Imagination Movers and Wiggles, did more puzzles, spent some time "playing cars" and now here I am parked in front of the computer. The czar is parked in front of the tv just a few feet away. It's best, believe me.  And I thought there'd be a nice nap today. He got about a half hour in before I heard "Mommy. I awake."  What the hell is going on??  Since the start of the new year, my czar has abandoned his 2.5 hour nap and has been handing me this half hour/one hour business. Nu-uh. No way.

So there's adoption news all around me and I'm old news now. My circle of friends has children coming from Colombia, Taiwan and, a place close to my heart, St. Petersburg over the next few months. I'd be lying if I said the adoption bug wasn't flying around here. It's different from the pregnancy envy I used to feel — that was jealousy. The adoption news brings on excitement and good wishes along with a desire to do it all again...I just don't think I have the energy to do it all again. Oh yeah, and the money. And the space. That being said, I know I'll be the mom quick to offer her home for her son's parties for that opportunity to have a really full house. I probably wouldn't be invited, but I'll sneak in. I should start working on that now: "You're inviting mommy to all your parties. Mommy is cool."

Papa won't be invited because he'd ruin everything with boring trivia questions. Oh hey, papa is also growing a goatee for mommy. It's kinda porcupiney, but I think it suits papa well.

And that's all I've got today folks...I have to go hide in the corner.

Friday night

I have neglected my blog for Facebook one-line updates. There. I said it. And I love my blog. I just lack the brain cells to create sentences and paragraphs most nights.

Our days with the czar have been tolerable. He is exhausted by 6:30 every day and it's not uncommon to listen to 20 minutes of screaming and crying over nothing in particular. Now, for example, he is ranting about his blanket which he has named "mare"...and I have no idea where that name came from.

I can't do mare. I can't do it. Can't. Do. It. Eeeeeeh eeeeeeh...Mommy? Can't. Can't. Do. It. aaaaaaaaauuuuuuugh. I CAN"T DO MARRRE.

And I am ignoring him. I have no idea what it is exactly he needs mare to do, and I lack the desire and the energy needed to find out. It will stop and he will settle down and watch his Max & Ruby and life will be great once again.

Good news in the adoption arena:   My great friends "bean and peasant joe" have been expecting a bundle of joy from Columbia. Yesterday, they got a referral and will be leaving to go get their beautiful little girl in a few weeks. I cannot wait to sqush her...if the proud parents will release her from their grip. They're so happy and I'm so happy for them...moments like these make me forget moments like the one above. 

I'm off to order Chinese...no way I'm cooking tonight. And there are 5 projects sitting in my in box that are all due Monday morning.

just some bitching

My child turned three and has been driving me insane. We now dwell in a world of defiance, loudness and half hour naps. HALF HOUR NAPS - because God forbid we should miss something.  By the afternoon I am exhausted and he is so tired he's loony. All efforts to exhaust the child have backfired on me: Gymboree art class, Gymboree gym, Great Play gym class and free time at Great Play — all involving kids and running around and climbing and whatever else. Because my MIL is in town, he is constantly playing with his cousins. This kid is kept busy...or perhaps overstimulated. Who knows...I am simply drained by the end of the day, and I have every intention of blogging about what's happening, but I reach a point where I don't want to think about being a mother once this kid goes to bed. 

And if another person looks at me sympathetically and says "well, he's a BOY," I'm going to get violent.

Oh, and it would help if I took a break once in a while too.  Or drank more often.

29 and kinda sorta

We were at the pediatrician's office for 90 minutes. A good 15 minutes were spent FREAKING OUT on the scale. The czar does not like to be weighed or measured or looked at in the doctor's office...he takes after me.  Finally, it was determined that the czar is 36 inches tall and 29 pounds. 29...not the 30 I was aiming for.

"Don't worry, don't worry, he is fine."

"Yeah, but I really wanted that 30. It was my personal goal."

"Well...ok."

So it seems we are doing all the right things for this little person. Somehow, I've been making the right choices and, somehow, he has made great progress. The doctor was impressed. Being Russian herself, she was very interested in his story and is very happy with him.

The czar is relatively attached...he has a few social hangups but it's nothing that can't be handled. He runs, leaps and speaks. He draws, builds and pretends...and I'm patting myself on the back. 18 months ago I didn't know my ass from my elbow in the parenting department. Now I'm a pro. Kinda sorta. My son made it to three and we're functioning well. Kinda sorta.

For those interested in the computer story: techy boy returns tonight to make nice.

And what is this madness about 10 inches of snow coming my way?

shit

New computer...defective disk drive. We were able to install all the stupid, meaningless programs but when it came to the almighty InDesign — the one I desperately need ASAP, it died.  Techy boy just left. It's 2 AM and he'll be screaming and cursing at someone tomorrow morning. All of this means that I can't do any work until a new part or computer comes in on Friday and techy boy can return and make it all work.

I want to puke.

it's the end of the world as we know it...

and I feel fiiiiinnne. Not a fan of REM...but my computer died. DIED. So I've been homeless for three days now...unable to work...unable to access my wonderful address book that sits on my desktop (um, that's why no one has a thank you from the birthday party as of yet)...and I think I lost a ton of music...oh yeah, and everyone's blog and email address. The big deal is the work that's piling up. I begged a techy guy from my old office to fix everything and make my world better.

"Here's my Amex number. Order me something good because I can't think straight."

"Um....certainly."

"Then you have to come and reinstall all my programs...because I can't think straight."

"Baked ziti?" he asked.

"Baked ziti."

"NICE."

"I'll sleep with you if I have to as well. I just need my computer running."

"Well, the ziti should be enough. Just add extra cheese."

"I love you."

And a new system now sits happily in the corner of the foyer awaiting the techy guy's arrival this evening. With baked ziti. And I shaved my legs just in case...so what if my husband will be in the livingroom.

happy new year, etc.

Happy New Year, folks! 

It's been a week of: gifts, family, mother-in-law, food, mother-in-law, food, mother-in-law, food, mother-in-law, food and mothet-in-law.

And I have a pile of work due Monday while the rest of the world parties.

Today we are hosting the New Year's Day Festivities and that means I am cooking. At 9:30 AM. On the menu we've got tortellini salad, pork roast, the possibility of a london broil, shrimp cocktail, beef tenderloins with bacon (oh what a heart attack...), mini hotdogs and a tomato salad. It's way too much food for the group that's coming but as the token Italian I gotta show my stuff. Know what I mean? And this is the condensed version of what I would normally do. I was raised to believe you have to leave a dinner party 40 pounds heavier than when you arrived. I will definately raise some cholesterol, that's for sure.

The czar is doing well...there is lots of Greek around here and we have picked up a stutter. Great. I'm attributing it to excitement, thinking faster than he can speak and language overload...paranoid me will being it up at our 3-year pediatrician visit if I ever friggin' remember to make an appointment. 

We have aged-out Gymboree...can't believe that. I found a new place I think will suit his needs until he's in 5th grade. Until he is 5 it's all about motor skills and group play. Afterwards they will teach him soccer, basketball, baseball and whatever els...cuz I have $20 that says his father won't be able to do that.

And that's that. For now.  Have a great day folks...how many of you are starting diets on Monday?  I'm starting soon...gotta find a muzzle for myself.