Merry Christmas

One week and counting til little Lucas' first Christmas... We opened our family presents yesterday and he was more interested in the boxes and trying to eat the wrapping than the gifts themselves. Next year, perhaps we'll give him empty boxes and save some money.

I hope that everyone is able to slow down and enjoy time off with their families and loved ones. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to 2006. May the new year bring you peace, joy and prosperity.

Domestic Spying

What?! Bush oked this??? A chill is sent down my spine.

Actually, I could care less. Read my email, listen to my phone calls. I've got nothing to hide. I think that in the interest of keeping this country safe, it is ok to do this with just cause. Get over it and stop always looking for something to criticize our president for!

Smoky

We enjoyed our fireplace last night for the first time in a year. Now our house smells like a campfire. Mike tried to get the smoke flowing upwards by holding a lit newspaper in the flue. It seemed to go up, yet after awhile our place was filled with smoke. And yes, the flue was open. Any suggestions?

Party Pooper Part II

Here is the worst "party" that I was ever invited to... Our old neighbors asked us over to dinner. They told us that some other neighbors would be there too. We were so happy to have evening plans. And how nice of them to cook us dinner! We got dressed up like we were going out and went across the street only to find a strange man in the kitchen with an array of pots and pans on display on the counter. WHAT?!

So we were scammed into attending a sales presentation on these $1000 cookware sets. Slimy jerks! We were ticked!

Note to all party throwers: Call it what it is and don't trick people.

Party Pooper

I cannot stand sales gatherings that masquerade as parties. Tupperware, Party Light, cheap, crappy jewlery, Pampererd Chef. You name it, I've been to it or been invited.

I used to go out of politeness, especially when it was a friend hosting it. Then to be nice, I would feel as if I had to buy something. Something turned into 4-5 things and I was spending $75+ on crap that I never use and didn't need.

Now, I turn them down whenever I am invited. Recently, I was given an invitation to a purse party. What the heck is that?! I thanked the hostess (a neighbor who I had just met) and proceeded to throw the invitation in the trash right in front of her. I did this without thinking and it only dawned on me after I had done it. Guess I probably blew my chances of being her best friend.

Having a candle party? Don't waste the stamp on me. Count me out.

11.5 hours

That is how long my boy slept last night! Ahhh, sweet sleep.

Westward Ho!

The Crockers are slowly migrating to California. First it was Aunt Linda way back in the sixties. Then it was me about a year and a half ago. And now, my sister Katie is joining us out here in the wild west after the new year. A recent college graduate, she has just been offered and accepted a position at The Academy of the Sierras in Reedley about 3.5 hours southeast of us.

I AM SO EXCITED to finally have more family nearby!!! We will be able to see her relatively easily on occasional weekends and for holidays and whenever.

Now, she and I just have to work on the eldest Crockers to make the move. Their excuse... it's too expensive. But hey, who needs money for retirement anyway?

Yipee! What a Christmas present!

Food Restrictions Update

My diet is improving weekly. I am back on everything but dairy. For those who don't know what I am talking about, I have been on a terrible, "If it's good, I can't eat it," diet since the end of June because of Lucas' food intolerances. I was off of soy, nuts, berries, citrus, wheat, eggs, and dairy and it's only down to the milk products now. Guess what I will be treating myself to on Christmas? Give up? A raspberry hot fudge sundae with lots of whipped cream. I hope that he doesn't react and I can consume my precious milk again. I really miss my ice cream and pizza and normal tacos, and the list could go on and on. It's been a rough few months. Between lack of good food and time to myself, I've really been hating life at times.

Nuts

I lied unintentionally. There is still one more person to buy for. DANG IT!! Maybe he deserves coal this Christmas. That would be easy as we've got it in the garage. Well, back into the shopping frenzy I go. That is what I get for gloating.

It is finished

My Christmas shopping, that is. I am done and Christmas is still 2 weeks away (minus a day). That is the most on top of the shopping I have ever been. I love being organized. If only I could say the same about the rest of my life (the dishes, the laundry, the filthy house). And now I have to wrap them all. Well crap, I'm not so great after all.

Messy

In efforts to fatten up my skinny son, we have been giving him lots of food off our table to try. This morning it was french toast for breakfast. He gleefully sucked the syrup off of it and then proceeded to rub the sticky goop in his hair. I watched in amusement. Boy, have I mellowed out. We finally stopped him and put him in the tub when he started spreading the stickiness into his ear with a toothy grin. He loves to eat and make a mess. Such a boy.

Buzzed

I have been all jittery lately, like I am on speed or something. I think that it has to do with my excitement about giving out Christmas gifts this year. Last year, we sent boring gift cards to most everyone, as we were in California.

Don't get me wrong. I like gift cards and would often prefer that over someone picking out something that is entirely not me or two sizes too large, but they are just not exciting to give (or open for that matter).

Mike and I didn't even exchange with each other last Christmas because of lack o' dough and our spontaneous trip to Yosemite. But this year, is different. We will be with our Florida family AND we have a baby to buy for.

As a child, I would show my mother her present as soon as I bought it and ask her to forget it so she would be surprised on Christmas. And one year, I told my dad what my mom bought him as soon as he came home from work. I couldn't stand to wait then and things haven't really changed. Eeeeek. Only 18 days to go...

Automation

I am all for technology. I love when things are easier, more streamlined. It makes sense. I am not a technophobe. But, at the expense of sounding like an old fogy, I am going to rant a little about all of this new fangled crap that isn't working for me.

You go to the store now and there is a self checkout line. I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, yet every time I use this line, I get furiously angry. The damn computer is always yelling at me to place my item in the bagging area and when I do, it still seems unsatisfied. I pick up the bag while paying and the thing says, "Place your items in the bagging area." I scream, "Shut the HELL up!" in my mind.

Yesterday, I tried calling Lucas' GI doctor about his lack o' weight and my concern about it. I got dumped into a phone tree. "Press 1 to schedule an appointment, Press 2 to call about a prescription, Press 3 for an anal probe." You know the routine. I waited patiently for the instructions to leave a message for the doctor or doctors assistant. It seemed to take 5 minutes of listening to the stupid, unrelated prompts to get there. Finally, I pressed 4 as instructed and was immediately disconnected. Well, shit. I called back and was dumped into the main mailbox..."if you know your parties extension, press it now, otherwise enter the parties last name using the keypad." My doctor wasn't in the system. I called back. There was no prompt to talk to a REAL person, so I dialed the appointment desk. Surely, they can direct me. And wouldn't you know it, the freakin' person's voice mail came on! I left a message and never heard back. What ever happened to customer service? Where is this world headed?

Everything is becoming automated and it is starting to royally piss me off. Where are the real people these days? Oh wait...they are stuck in the self checkout line being yelled at to place their items in the bagging area.

Maybe I hate technology. It keeps my husband in the office after I go to bed almost every night. Damn computers.

9 Months

The time that Lucas spent in my belly (really it was more like 10, but 9 is the common misconception). And his age today. It's been a wonderful, impossible, joy-filled, sleepless roller coaster of a ride. I love him so much it hurts. I never realized I had that much more love to give.

We found out at this mornings sadistic doctors appointment that he weighs only 15 pounds, 15 ounces and is in the 1% (remember that 50% is average)!! My son is severely underweight. I am at my wits end and don't know what else to do--he is refusing to eat solids lately. Perhaps I will wean him now afterall, as formula has more calories.

I need a vacation!

Two Weeks Notice

If I was working a real job, I think that today I would up and quit. Throw in the towl. Walk out. Resign. Sometimes I feel as if I am just no good at this mothering business.

In the past 24 hours, I have been bit, screamed at, disobeyed, puked on, and had my hair pulled repeatedly. Too, I was awakened at the ridiculous, sick early time of 5:30 am by a whining, crying alarm clock that has no snooze button. These working conditions are unacceptable and the pay (and the diapers) really stink!

I am such an idealist. I always thought that being a mommy would be fun. Playing with the children all day. Laughing. Good stuff. I didn't envision the projectile vomit and early mornings. I hate reality!