Mid-August Update

Smokes: The Bean has been paci free for a solid week now. Other than one bad night (which was probably also due to heavy teething) she's been pretty cool with it. Well, she's not napping so much, but maybe she's downsizing?
Personal Grooming: Crazy times. The Bean had a bath 2! nights in a row to make up for the fact that we couldn't remember the last time she'd been bathed. Did you know her new MO is to stand up in the tub at all times? Today, her mom and dad both got their hairs cut and one of them had a pedicure and an eye-brow wax.
Weather: It's been HOT here, baby. Hot and humid. It's kind of beastly, but I'm trying to enjoy it since it's gonna be cold and gray before I know it.
Reading: I'm still reading Three Cups of Frakin Tea! But I'm going to finish it before we go to Adks on Monday. Then I have to read all the essays I'm assigning for school. Ugh. Maybe I can sneak something light and juicy in though. N is reading my manuscript, which he printed out today. Besides that I don't think he's read a book in like five months. In heavy rotation for Miss Bean is Good Night Gorilla, Dog and That's Not My Pirate, which N has also read so I guess he has read some books lately.
"Mad Men": I thought the season opening was pretty good. N liked it more than I did, but that's par for the course.
Pizza: We kind of got cocky with our p-making skillz and then got a good come-down on Sunday. The humidity make it nearly impossible for N to roll the dough out well and we timed things most poorly so the Bean was a screaming lunatic because, gasp, it was five minutes after 5:00 and the poor thing hadn't been fed. Have I mentioned that The Bean is bigger than some 2 year olds we know? The girl does not want for food, but try telling her that when you're late with supper. Her screams stressed us to no end so that the first pie was undercooked and not so tasty. The second pie was better, but whole wheat dough depressed N to no end and he ending up scrapping it and ordering Chinese.
Puppies: OMG! The puppies next door had 8! puppies and they are so cute, I want to vomit every time I see them, which is not often enough.

Getting the Baby Off The Smokes

Now that The Bean is a 1-year and 1 week and 1 day old, N and I have decided that she stop smoking. She goes without when she's playing during the day, but naps and nighttime? She's a fiend.

I had the honor of putting her in the crib san ciggies this evening and it didn't go well. I was so nervous about the whole thing that I plopped her down without singing to her or remembering to turn off her music. She was in hysterics so N went up, discovered the still playing music and turned it off, and soothed her. She's sleeping now---the crying thing wasn't too long in the scheme of crying babies, but we think she's going to wake up during the night a lot.

Oh well. What can you do? I have to say that the saddest sight was watching her look for, but not find the pack of smokes when I put her in the crib.

In other news, her bday parties were a success, she got some great gifts, and is really starting to toddle. She also knows the words balloon, banana, and royal flush although the lack of smokes might hurt her poker face.

We're excited that we found a new babysitter---she seems great and she can come on Thursdays during the semester so N can go to work early and I can have some hours in the day (AFTER teaching my 8 AM class) to get stuff done. Yay!!

We're grilling champs over here, too. Our neighbors/landlords just commented that we're "always grilling." I over cooked the zukes, but the chicken was nearly perfecto tonight. So, hooray for propane, babysitters, and Nicorette gum!

Well, Hello.

Hey, Loves,
We're back. And we're not going anywhere except our usual NH and VT haunts for like a month! Good times were had all over the East Coast this last month, but it's nice to stay put. Yesterday we went to our local(ish) farmstand where we do a CSA and stocked up on all kinds of delish fruits and veggies because we'll actually be here to eat them.

The Bean was a rock star on vacay. She did make the other, smaller baby cry at least once a day because of her fondness for loudly screaming in his face, but other than than she was pretty sweet. She loved swimming in the bay and playing in/ eating sand. She slept really well and, as usual, waved constantly. Other than the lack of trips to the ice cream stand, it's starting to feel like summer. Today is hot and humid and we've been swimming a lot! Yay! Swimming=Summer. Not only did The Bean swim most days in the bay at Shelter Island, she has swum in the Lyme Pond, the Lebanon Municipal Pool, and of course the rec center indoor pool.

Today, I managed to go to a yoga class for the first time in months. Yay!!

Oh, that gas grill is amazing and we haven't blown ourselves up yet. So far, we've grilled corn on the cob, salmon, and chicken. Tonight I grilled two zucchinis, 1.5 tomatoes, and a bunch of garlic and added it to pasta. Grilling is my new kick along with, to N's poor meat-loving heart, tofu and lentils in the salad instead of cheese and cranberries. At least I'm not making Brussels sprouts, honey.

This is kinda a busy week. My parents are coming up on Thursday night, Uncle Brobly arrives Friday, and N's parents arrive on Saturday because as you might know faithful readers, on Sunday, August 2, The Bean will be 1!! She's gonna cake it up this weekend and might even get a present or two. We're having the small fam BBQ on Saturday and a crazy double monkey party with The Bean's best bud Z who is a whopping 1 day older and will sadly be moving to Cali next week. All kinds of things need to happen between now and then so wish me luck.

Peace.

N.B.

This lady will not be invited to The Bean's first bday.
This is helpful.
Interesting twist.
The revolution will not be televised, but perhaps it will be twittered?
Can you really fall asleep while get a tattoo?

N. Wants Y'all To Know

1.) Although this blog might make you think otherwise, he's NOT a sicky in NH
2.) He got up at 6:30 last night and although he did not ingest the pasta with the MEAT sauce, he was able to eat some plain pasta
3.) He really is trying to help the economy with all his big box store buys
4.)His wife is very foxy and she does such a good job cleaning the kitchen that it makes him feel just a little bit bad that he cuts so many corners

Also,
The Bean wants you to know that she HATES cauliflower no matter how many different ways her mama tries to sneak it in her.

Ummmm.....

I don't know what to write about here. I'm kind over my funk over being friendless. At least for today I feel like this is just a time in my life; before I know it we'll all be really busy all the time. Plus, when I am busy I also feel bad about sacrificing the bebe's naps. Sooooo.....

I'm also happy because our babysitter came twice this week, which was wonderful. On Monday I went to Borders to work in the Seattle's Best coffee shop there and you know what? I got so much done! Know why?

No wifi.

I mean you can pay $6.00, but I didn't and wow.

Oh, I might be getting a job in the fall. Just teaching one class a week for the Fall semester at N's school. I'm kind of nervous about it because it feels like it's been forever since I taught, but I think it would be good for me to do something other than Bean-Care all day. We're hoping my schedule and N's schedule will work out so that he can be home with her while I work.

So that's something.

The Bean is having some rough days. She's teething and eating up a storm and also in the mommy-stage, which is not fun. She used to be real chill for others, but these days she's an inconsolable wreck. She took a three-hour nap this afternoon and while she was the cheeriest I've seen her in days when she emerged from it, she was yawning an hour later. What is up?

I've been craving a cheeseburger for three days now. N. was nice enough to stop by the grocery and pick up a chicken and 4! sides, but I wish I were eating here for dinner.

Give me some post topics, people. This is sad.

And Then You Realize That You're One of Those People Who Never Updates Their Blog Any More

But we've been away, kiddies. Got a touch of the cabin fever so The Bean and I spontaneously headed down to NYC for a few days. We got to swing in baby swings for the first time in Central Park no less and momma got to go shopping and out to dinner, practice yoga, see a movie and take long walks and all kinds of fabo things. Most importantly there was a lot of chillaxing with the grandrents and Unkie who even changed a diaper! It was nice to get out NH and see black people in addition to all our Upper West Side activities. N met us there on the weekend and then we came up to the country to the in-laws where we are now. So yes, this is a lame post, but at least I'm posting unlike some people.

This week (and next and next) we're attempting to sleep train The Bean. She's 7 months and eating three meals a day and while they may not be square (orange color food only!) she's getting enough in the belly to sleep through the night. At least we think so. For the last two nights when she wakes up at 2, N goes in and comforts her and gives her water in the hopes that she'll go back to sleep till 6 AM...6:30...7!!. For the past two nights I've nursed her at 2:30 and 3:30, but doesn't everything take time?

This week I realized with the help of my styling brother and mama that I've been dressing like a pregnant pilgrim for the last year and half. When Ms. Bean was in utero it was more forgivable, but no longer. Good by nursing bras! Hello my old friend under wire! Good by ill fitting pants and loose top! I can't tell you how happy I am to be packing up all my old clothes and either donating them to the local second hand store or putting them up in our storage space otherwise known as the death trap that is our attic. While N and I will be psyched to give the Bean a sibling to boss around in the future, I don't know what scares me more: the thought of going through labor again or having to wear awful clothing for another year +. Maybe the latter, since as far as I know, there's no epidural for depressing, pilgrim inspired, post-pregnancy New-England winter fashion.

Back in Town With Another Rambling Post!

We're back in snowy NH. And actually it's not too bad. Today is N.'s first day back at work in like a month! He got an extended break because his school was out of power from the massive ice storm that hit in December. He's not teaching, but the boy needs to get prepared for the start o' classes, which is next week. Today The Bean and I went to Mommy Doesn't Do Yoga Because Baby Needs Some Love and then to lunch with some of the moms. It feels good to be in a routine. I think once Beanie can sit on her own yoga will get more done. She gets cranky on her belly/back for too long because she want to sit or stand or bounce.

Even better than being home? We might be getting Miss Bean a babysitter! It's been hard to find one up here mostly because I suspect people don't like to share. Anyway, we're meeting her tomorrow and hopefully if all goes well N. and I could go out and do something one of these nights! Whooo hooo!

Less happy is that The Bean had her first fall yesterday. We were up at Winter Fest in Fairlee, VT. N. was wearing the baby in the Ergo when he took a spill on the frozen lake. She's fine and so he's but both were shaken up. Man, were there some tears. And some projectile spit up, which I don't think was related. But N. really needs to start digesting his food better.

Speaking of food, did you know Bean's mama is on a diet? Okay, not like a diet-diet, but I realized that eating with/without abandon (is that the expression? mom?) is not helping the tummy. It's still cool for me to eat alot (a nursing mom needs 1,000 extra calories compared to a pregnant mom who needs a mere 500), but I'm trying to just eat smarter. Like no more cookies or fries three times a week. Bummer for me, right? But still, bikini season is right around the corner....

How more random can we make this post? Oh! We bought chairs! 6 of them for our dining room! I can't wait for them to arrive.

And, last but not least, darling N. bought me a fabulous desk for Hannukah! No longer will I be blogging while slumped on the couch. I'm a lady writing at her desk. Thanks again, N. Best. Gift. Ever.