Some Call It Parental Abuse. We Call It Bedtime.

Happenings
So, 3 days ago E started refusing her pacifier. We think she figured out that it makes her fall asleep, and she'd rather stay up with us. She used to occasionally do that, but now she's quit, cold turkey! She won't go to sleep without it, so I've been on a mad hunt to find a transition object quickly... Bunny, bear, dog, blankie... Nothing has worked -- except passing out from exhaustion.

Tonight I think I found the perfect combination of factors: Radio on pretty loud (U2 was most successful -- Daddy's girl!), rocking fast in time to the music, her big toe stuck in my armpit, one hand holding onto my shirt collar, and the other around my neck, holding onto my ponytail. Success!

Quote of the Day
CW: Wow, your hair is huge today.
Me: I've been listening to 80s music.

Listening To
We Belong, Pat Benatar

Weather in VT
Sunny but cold! First snow yesterday!

Happiness is...

Ottoman by Vampire weekend... "Today is for you." Yes, I think I'll take today. Just for me...

Last night I got about 4 hours of interrupted sleep. Mark tried to get up with E, and she screamed hysterically until I woke up and got her. Dada just wouldn't do -- I had to calm her down first.

Though I'm far from perfect, I am the mom who will sing all the songs from Blues Clues to my daughter at 2am to calm her down, and lay awake with her for hours (even while saying, "E, this is ridiculous!").

Mark and I wrote this song for her the first day we heard her heartbeat, a mix of all my anxieties about parenthood, and a few promises to her that I intend to keep!

Rain keeps a-fallin' on this dreary day

But I can't stop smilin' 'cause I met you

And sun keeps a-callin' me from far away

Promise of happy days with you

And I... will wait for you

And I will stay awake with you

And I will be right by your side

And I will start the day with you

And I will run away with you

I'll be yours, and you'll be mine

But rain keeps a-fallin' on this dreary day

And I'm fallin' more in love with you

And sun keeps a-callin' me from far away

Promise of happy days with you!

50% of the Time It Works Every Time

Happenings
It's just been a busy week so far, so no exciting things to share.

Well, that's not entirely true. I finally cleaned all the main rooms in our apartment and made them much more baby friendly! That was nice!

Today I was exhausted and not quite so productive, but I realized something: if I only have my life together 50% of the time, that's not so bad. I'm a "glass is half full" kinda girl, and this week that meant that at one point half the dishes in the sink were rinsed, half of my clothes were folded, and half of my dining room table was cleared.

And that's good enough for me right now!

Quote of the Day
The world feels heavy today...

Listening To
Early Mornin' Rain - Peter, Paul, and Mary!

Weather in VT
Cold and rainy...

Crockpot Love Poem

Happenings
Today was just a regular day... Except that, I'm in love with my crock pot. I can't even begin to explain to you how much I love that thing. Tonight I made our favorite meal (meatloaf) in it (see the glorious pic on Instagram). So, tonight I think I'll express my crockpot love in a poem!!


When the house is cold, and my love is working late,
When my home is so dreary, I question my fate,
I lift up my chin and say, "You know what?!"
I think I'll make love to my dear, old crockpot!

It's not the kind of love making with tender caresses,
But one of peeling veggies and measurement guesses!
Then a broth starts to brew, and my worries I've forgot,
For I've poured them all into my dear, old crockpot!

In ten minutes flat, I've made something of a stew,
I've added my entire pantry, and some other things too:
I've filled it with love, fears, dreams, and sweet wishes,
And, if anything cooks long enough, it's delicious!

When my husband comes home, the house smells so sweet,
His eyes grow wide, his belly aches with defeat!
He asks me, "What did you make? Did it cost a lot?"
"Only five dollars, for I've used my crockpot!"

When it comes to cooking, I'm somewhat of a beginner,
But my crockpot and I can make a candlelit dinner!
Green beans, squash, chicken, melon of honeydew,
Just throw it in the crockpot, and call it a "stew."
  
Quote of the day
Me (before hanging up the phone): Wait...
Mark: What?
Me: I just... wanted you to know that I know that I'll never meet anyone in my life like you.
Mark: Aww, that's so sweet... you know, I feel the same way about you.
Me: You do?? But I feel like I'm just crazy half the time...
Mark: Well, that's what I mean! :-)

Listening to
Hey Jude, the Beatles

Weather in VT
Cold, rainy, overcast -- foliage!

My Mind is Blown...

Almost every weekday for the last 5 years, I've driven by the same house on my way to work. You know the cliche Vermont Victorian with the perfect lawn, neatly trimmed hedges, plants hanging on the porch.

I always wondered who lived there, what they were like. I imagined (by the look of their all-American dream home) that they were conservative, self-made millionaires. They were Steve Martin and Diane Keaton in Father of the Bride, the loving father in his white cardigan playing basketball with his daughter in the driveway, Mom weeding the garden. Nice cars in the garage, porch swing, blooming flowers bursting out of every crevice of their perfect Victorian estate.

I never actually saw these people... They must have left work before I did and come home after I drove past in the evening. I never saw what kind of car they drove either or Super Dad mowing the lawn or playing with the kids in the driveway. I had to leave the daily happenings of their life up to my imagination.

Then today, out of the blue... a clue! Finally, a hint as to who these people really are! As I was approaching their house, I saw that (for the first time in 5 years), they had put something new on their porch. From down the street, I could tell that it was a porch flag. It looked like Super Dad had spent hours constructing the flag pole with an architect's eye for angle and optimum light reflection, probably using a protractor, measuring tape, and a level... simultaneously.

I thought, "Here it is... they've finally added the cherry to the top of their American-dream-home sundae... the American flag!" I imagined Super Dad saying, "We're not just a family any more... we're an American family..." as his wife, son, and daughter stood back to applaud his handiwork.

But as I got closer, I realized it wasn't an American flag, but a... Bernese... mountain dog... puppy flag. Wait, what??

WHAT???