I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I miss writing here. I really, really miss writing here. It’s not for lack of topics – because, boy you me, there is a lot of shizz to write about.
We, well, I’ve gotten myself caught up in the world of insta-tweet-booking, or more accurately, stalking celebrity chefs (ahem, Tyler Florence) who are insta-tweet-booking and so forth.
I briefly had the lofty goal of reinventing this space, really focusing on a topic, area of interest. But, really, that wouldn’t be reflective of me (or anyone really) – because, yes, I am that random…and got gobbled up by life.
So, in the last 18 months:
*we’ve done the (partial) summer in Europe thing – which has been fabuleuse!
*the youngest has graduated from day care and will be starting first grade this coming Fall – what the what?!
*Sonoma Raceway is quickly becoming a second home for us – #teamhelloclarice (see the 24 hours of LeMons)
*orthodontics made an early appearance in our lives
*I’ve become a soccer mom in theworst way – and am having flashbacks to my own elementary sports nightmares
*the kids have been introduced to winter sports – and I am skiing again after almost 15 years! Ski boots are still very uncomfortable.
*I’ve trained for and completed a half-marathon – woot!
Here’s to hoping that I’ll be back here before the 18 month mark…
The first day of school is nearing and I cannot hardly wait for my “summer vacation” to begin! Schedules and scheduled activities – yes! No more worrying about what to do with the kid/s on certain days – though, we’ve had a wonderful relative stay with us this past month to watch the kids. Since our relative doesn’t drive, they’ve been public transporting it around this past month. My daughter is now the public transportation expert – she’s got her own Clipper card and, I think, has a pretty good idea of which bus lines will get her home. Fabulous.
So, seeing where we left off…
*In early April, The Husband and I, along with friends, took a FABULOUS vacation to Italy. Tuscany & the Italian Riviera, to be slightly more precise. Florence is just absolutely breathtaking – by far, my most favorite city. Well, it gives Paris a run for its euro. The weather was a bit to be desired – gray, cloudy, rainy – but the food, the wine, the sites, the markets, the shopping, ahem Prada OUTLET, were all wonderful and I am hoping I am able to return to this region again.
with blossoms in tact, too!
*After a failed attempt at the mud run last Fall, I was determined to make a comeback. I was still training with a trainer twice a week, though not really running at all. Have I told you how much I do not like running? Ugh. Despite all that, I still signed The Husband and I up for the Bay to Breakers. I am embarassed to say that this was the first year I participated in the run. It was great fun – even though it’s not quite the B2B of yesteryears – and I look forward to doing it next year, too! Oh, so The Husband backed out and I ran it with my brother. Seeing that I had not run in preparation for this race, I gave myself a realistic goal of finishing within two hours. Even though I walked most, if not all, of the Hayes Street Hill – I exceeded my goal, by 15 minutes! Phew!
*The next couple weeks were busy with a quick getaway to Sea Ranch, end of school activities, and a festive send off for friends who have moved to Vietnam.
*We all know that famous Mark Twain quote about winter, summer, and San Francisco…so, to give my kids a real “summer” experience, we flew out to Minneapolis to visit friends. Boy, did they experience summer alright! We happened to arrive in the midst of a heat wave! (Try temperatures in the high 80s/low 90s at 5pm!) We managed to survive and enjoy ourselves a lot! Plus, it was great to see our kids get along and play together! This was my second time visiting Minneapolis. I didn’t think that I would like it, but it’s a great city, very family, kid-friendly, and lots to do. Now, about those mosquitos…
*After Minneapolis, the kids and I met The Husband in Chicago. It was just as hot there as it was in Minnesota, minus the mosquitos. I just about doomed myself as I walked Peanut into the American Girl store on Michigan Avenue. Thankfully, Grandma was with us and subsidized Peanut’s need for a starter doll and starter outfit. Peanut went for a “historical” doll named Ruthie. Though not a “main” doll, Ruthie is BFFs with Kit, who is a “main” doll – both girls are growing up during The Great Depression. Peanut has started to take Ruthie out with her. Who’d’ve thought that Ruthie would enjoy wakame, edamame, soba, and udon at Mifune?
*So, as we’re wrapping up yet another fun summer – I am realizing, yet, again, how much my kids listen and understand. There have been two instances where my six-year old AND my two-and-a-half-year old have corrected me on the lyrics for the annoyingly, addictive song by Carly Rae Jepsen.
“No, mommy, it’s ‘try to chase me’!” -Peanut
“Mommy, it’s ‘call me, maybe! not baby.'” -Ringo
I know. I even have abandoned posts. A couple from two years ago, too.
Okay, so this post is a cheat. More to come, I promise. Non-cheat posts, that is. 😉
**
Here’s my most “recent” post, titled “Grasping”
As spotted on a (most-likely Toyota) mini-van
The other day, I was packing up my gym bag, mindlessly throwing in clothes, until I had to search for a top to wear. I own maybe four “performance” tops, but it was a tee shirt day. (Tee shirt sweat stains are like a badge of honor for me – visible proof that I indeed, worked my ass off.) I grabbed my lavender Hello Kitty and as I was packing it into my bag, I had to wonder – am I getting too old for Hello Kitty tee shirts? Should this best be left to Peanut to sport this particular feline? I mean, I am well into my 30s, how much longer can I wear this tee shirt and not look ridiculous?
So, yes, I have been grasping on to my youth to counteract all the not-quite-coolness that comes with being a parent.
The Husband and I are now those people with a bike trailer (not for the cars, but the one that attaches to the bike to cart the kidlets).
(If you feel you’ve lost your cool-factor, you can purchase this sticker here.)
It was probably enough to end there, huh?
**
The next abandoned post was written two years ago – Peanut was about 3 years old when this happened. This is titled, “As Relayed to Me”
A bit late posting this, but lately Peanut is getting a lot better about talking on the phone. Yes. Talking on the phone.
She also wears pink nail polish on her toes.
She’s become such the little girl – sigh.
On Labor Day, The Husband & Peanut took Lucie for a quick run at Glen Canyon. (I was at home prepping food for the potluck pool party we were headed to later…)
[To preface, Peanut left the house wearing her necklaces (mardi gras beads) and carrying her little pink purse (old cell phone and other accoutrements were inside)].
I imagine, in a rush to get Peanut to leave Glen Canyon, The Husband told her that they needed to leave because Mommy & Grandma were going to leave for the swimming pool without her. Mads then pulled out her “cell phone”, made The Husband carry the little pink purse (while holding Lucie on leash) and proceeded to “call” Mommy and Grandma.
Mads: Hi Mommy…mmm…yes. Wait for me for the swimming pool…Hi Grandma…yes…okay…wait for me…okay…bye.
She did this in front of everyone at the park – imagine a 3yo, talking on her “cell”, while her “butler” follows behind, holding the dog and the precious little pink purse. A riot!
**
This last one was a book “review” when I was using Goodreads like a madwoman.
The World Treasury of Children’s Literature : Book 1 by Clifton Fadiman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Apparently, my mom had bought volumes 1 & 2 for me when I was younger. When word got out that we were expecting all my children’s books were all of a sudden at our house. I quickly shelved this one, not bothering to look through it. Mistake. I could have saved money knowing that a lot of children’s classics (or at least my faves growing up) have been reprinted in this handy collection: Curious George, Babar, Make Way for Ducklings, The Little House, A Kiss for Little Bear, even Goodnight Moon!
Dear Kellybean’s iPhone,
I know that I wasn’t an early adopter. (The Husband chides me about this every once in a while.) Truth was, I detested your very existence. But, yes, over time, I have come to appreciate you oh so much.
While I was jet-lagged, I had episodes of The Tudors or Friends to watch. Killing time in waiting rooms playing bejeweled. Yup, you have been a life saver.
When I need to distract Peanut for a few minutes, she deftly flips to the Angelina Ballerina app, or watches one of her favorite movies, or even plays her memory game…in Cantonese.
Even Ringo can somewhat appreciate you. Well, actually he appreciates the cover you are wrapped in. He is teething now and the silicone Paul Frank cover is one of his favorite things to play with, rather, gnaw on. That is, if grandma’s Neverfull is not available.
nothing beats LV leather handles
But lately, probably after the upgrade to iOS4, you have been one disappointment after another.
First and foremost, you are a phone. Would it hurt you to make a call? Would it hurt to make a successful call when the AT&T bars are completely full?
I would also appreciate it if the Maps app would not crash when I am trying to locate a birthday party venue; especially when the venue is in India Basin, which really is Bayview-HP. Luckily, the phone was working enough in the ‘hood that I could call for directions (the old-fashioned way) and assure my daughter that, “no, we are not lost”.
Sadly, my patience wears thin lately. More screw-ups like this and I will be kicking you to the curb sooner than later.
Consider this fair warning.
Best,
Kellybean
*iPhone is of the 3G variety
500 weeks ago I was living in Belmont and only 1 month into the job that I have now and I had been dating The Husband for about 3 months.
500 days ago I was chiding The Husband for his horrendous grammar.
500 hours ago I was celebrating The Husband’s birthday with friends at Nightlife.
500 minutes ago I was happily sleeping in my cozy bed – enjoying what would be a “full night” of sleep since Ringo managed to sleep through the night. (yay!)
500 seconds I was munching on a tarragon chicken salad sandwich while reading HuffPost.
500 posts ago, I posted my first blog entry, circa March 19, 2004.
Here’s to the next 500!
Crap. January is well under way and I already have a “catching up” post.
I’ve been on m-leave since Thanksgiving and sadly posted nothing. Nothing substantive, at least.
So here’s how I’ve been spending my m-leave…
S’ nesting project
About a month before I went on leave, we took it upon ourselves and decided that our kitchen needed to be remodeled. Granted, our kitchen needed to be remodeled when we moved in x years ago, but taking on a project of this type about a month, month-and-a-half before a baby is due seemed like too much to me. But, really, when would be a good time? I’m just glad it was all finished before Ringo made his/her appearance.
Though our contractor said everything could be finished, inspections and all, in about 4 weeks, the project only ran over by 2 weeks (or so) – which is pretty good, no? I was only home for one inspection – the final one – and it was quite interesting. The inspector arrived, met with our contractor and before really “inspecting” anything, she was quick to comment on our backsplash. How she’d hadn’t seen anything like it before. Honestly, I think she had more questions about our backsplash then the overall construction of the kitchen. Though, she did check one bedroom for smoke detectors, or CO detectors, or whatever they’re called these days.
Once everything was painted, closed up, installed, we could start finding homes for our kitchen stuff. Though it’s been a month since the project finished, we’re still figuring out the flow of the kitchen and where things should be placed, functionally.
French Toast
So, not even 48 hours after the kitchen was completed, the constructions guys gone, my water breaks. Good timing, huh?
Before you know it, S and I are en route to the hospital, and in less than two hours (with NO drugs) later, we welcomed Ringo into this world!
The funny thing is, within 15 minutes of giving birth – this supposed amazing, life-altering, moment in one’s life – I was back in bed, eating hospital french toast for breakfast. Okay, maybe 25 minutes, after this momentous occasion it was back to business as usual. French toast. Just like that. French toast. And caffeinated coffee. Mmmm…
And yes, Ringo turned out to be a boy.
Though, I do not recommend birth au naturelle for those who are faint of heart, or any woman, really, there has to be something said about the recovery time. Within two days, I was up and about and feeling just fine.
Perhaps it’s the lack of pharmaceuticals, but there’s this rush of adrenaline one gets (at least I did) postpartum that leaves you, eh, not so tired. I’m still waiting to hit that wall of complete and utter fatigue, but, knocking on wood, I haven’t gotten there yet.
You’re a Big Sister Now
Due to a H1N1 flu scare precaution, Peanut wasn’t allowed in the hospital. No peanut under the age of 16 was allowed in hospital for that matter.
Two days had passed without me seeing her – she was informed that the baby here, though, and she did call me regularly to see how the baby was doing. I didn’t realize how excited she really was until we we were all home. Happy to see me, happier to see baby Ringo. So happy, that she was jumping up and down and smothering Ringo with love. And, I really mean smothering him with love. She is really in his face. It’s a matter of time before [1] Ringo gets sick or [2] Ringo punches her in the face.
Despite this summer just zooming by for us, pregnancy #2 can’t go fast enough for me. It’s like – okay, I’ve been there, done that, let’s just cut to the end. It seems flat-out crazy to want a chaotic household with a preschooler, a newborn and Lucie. Of course, I am guessing it’ll be chaotic – it probably isn’t if one is uber-organized (which I am not, at this moment).
The BIG 0-3!
Before we left Maui, I was telling Mads that her birthday was coming up and that she was going to be three. She seemed more excited when I asked her what she wanted for her “special” dinner. Her reply, “pancakes”.
Like a “good” mom, I had stayed up late the night before to make cupcakes for the preschoolers (with a few extras for home). The day of, we also had a small celebration dinner: above said pancakes and chocolate cupcakes (with chocolate frosting and sprinkles) for dessert. When it came time to light the candles, Mads was so excited to sing “Happy Birthday” – we sang three times – once in English, once in French and once again in English (the way I had placed the candles on her cupcake looked like there were only two).
A day or two after her actual birthday, we finished off the cupcakes that were left over. Before she started eating her cupcake, she asked me for candles and to sing…again. Though I explained to her that her birthday was a few days ago, she was insistent on having candles to blow out. Mads 1, Mommy 0.
Happy Birthday to ME!
Also, before leaving for Maui, I decided that Mads needed to have a birthday party. We were able to reserve a picnic table at the neighborhood playground and sent out invites before and after we left. It’s always fun to see Mads interact with her preschool friends. She really does get along with everyone and everyone seems to like her. And again, we all sang “Happy Birthday” with Mads leading the charge. She received even more toys and gifts, S & I are going to have an extension to the house built just to have a place to put all the stuff she had received!
The search begins
I admit that I dropped the ball on this preschool “thing”. This fall, a LOT of Mads’ friends were leaving to bigger and broader horizons. Only one other child is staying the course in her current preschool (with new children coming in, of course). We’re torn between keeping her there, as to not disrupt her routine before #2 arrives, and taking her out and placing her in a bigger, more school-like environment. So, we’d decided to stay the course, but do some research in the meantime. But we’re also looking at other preschools with rolling admissions and availabilities, of course.
With that said, S & I went to our first open house last week – which put us more in the “let’s put her in another preschool soon” camp. Though impressed with the curriculum and method of teaching, the director of the school was, as S would say, “special”. I was impressed with their ecology program and their commitment to the environment, but for the director to go as far as telling every little girl who walks in with a plastic headband how long it will take that plastic headband to disintegrate back into the earth and speak “down” to prospective parents, turned me off. When talking about the kindergartens that the graduates were attending, she mentioned “a lovely and wonderful new Quaker school that just opened in the city,” S was trying very hard not to laugh. After reading parent reviews online, I wasn’t too surprised to read that there were many openings because many unhappy families had left (unfortch, specific reasons why the families were leaving weren’t disclosed – a lot of help when reading reviews, huh?).
Finally…
The weekend of the Outside Lands music and art fest, I thought it might be a good opportunity to check out the Academy of Sciences, thinking most people would stay away from the park that weekend.
We headed out in the am, found a parking spot on 9th avenue and walked into the park (a good idea, at the time). The crowds weren’t too bad. Then again, the Academy has been open a while and we’re just finally getting there. As soon as we entered, Mads told me, that she had been here already – it was one of her summer field trips. We checked out the Africa hall first, ending with the penguins and Mads bugging us to see the crocodile. I wanted to check out the children’s play area, but Mads wasn’t interested. The rainforest was quite impressive (tip: dress in layers, it really is a rainforest, humidity and all). Forgetting to pack a lunch, we had lunch in the posh cafeteria. This isn’t your school cafeteria, for sure: posole, pho, Vietnamese spring rolls, pasta with shrimp & pesto, goulash, Indian curry with lamb…no French bread pizza, hot dogs or burritos here. (Tip: pack a lunch, lunch for 3 was almost $50!) After lunch we explored the aquarium and the ever impressive Philippine coral reef exhibit. (We skipped the planetarium, as the show was recommended for kids 6+.)
I was pretty pooped after exploring the Academy, so you can imagine my pregnant dismay when we had to walk back to the car.
Borrowed from The Poop:
“…an admissions counselor at an elite private high school once (said)that it is harder to get into a ‘good’ preschool in San Francisco than it is to get into Harvard…”
Sweet!
Sitting at the dinner table the other evening, I was left dumbfounded as to how the little baby girl who was not even walking, talking or eating solid foods was now, wiping her hands & mouth with a napkin (after a reminder, of course), hopping off her chair and disappearing around the corner into her room. Just another dang reminder that I need to get jumpin’ on preschool tours, apps and interviews.
Then again, we get to do this baby thing all over again. Some of my other friends that have already gone through pregnancy #2 all say they were too busy to even think about it. Unfortunately, not the case this time around – it’d be safe to say what didn’t happen with #1, is happening with #2. Already this kid is giving me headaches and heartburn. Not a good sign. Not a good sign at all.
Don’t forget to storm the Bastille today!
image borrowed from here.
…as in Screenjelly.
S’ company has just launched a new service and they were featured on CNN by this guy…
…as well as NBC 5 Chicago’s Web site of the week!