Some confessions

1) I used to watch much edgier TV. Then...I had Harper. (And some other big life events happened, I s'pose). And my brain got filled with a whole new world of fears and worries and realities. Which = I don't like to spend my escapism time on things that could make me anxious. So I'm pretty much a sitcom junkie now. Modern Family, The Middle, reruns of The New Adventures of Old Christine (dude, I'm sorry but that show is really funny) and on and on. I've always loved old school comedies (Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, etc.) but this straight up, regular person viewing feels...so normal?

2) We've barely recycled since moving to Denver. We had valid-ish excuses (having to do with weird pick-up schedules and busted recycling bins), but it wasn't good. We always apologized to Al Gore ("I'm sorry, Al!") when we threw away a cereal box or soda can (I feel genuinely guilty even typing those words, uh blame my childhood), even tho...I'm pretty sure he isn't the earth's spokesperson for recycling? Anywho. We got a brand new, HUGE recycling thing last month and we're back on track. Whew.

3) My baby's clearest two syllable word is Elmo. (P.S. Did you know this guy does Elmo? MIND BLOWN.)

4) Even though I'm a crunchy-ish mom and probably draw my own eye rolls for my paraben fears etc, I gave this uber crunchy mom an evil evil look at the airport yesterday, when she said to her 4-year-old (trying to watch Scooby Doo in the kid's play area) "No no! No! Let's uh...go somewhere else! That's just...weird!" Lady. Get a grip on your life. But best moment was when the girl comes back at her with: "But I love Scooby Doo!" Ohhhhhh the look on her face when she realized her daughter knew a 70's icon. Made my night.

5) I cannot walk away from a Baby Gap sale rack without at least three items.

6) I'm eating veggie lo mein from the container.

7) I can't remember the last time I showered?

8) I let my child climb into and get stuck in this thing while I played Words with Friends:

Buh bye, Maine

Harper's main activity: Pushing her own stroller everywhere, always.

Tonight, my sidekick and I board a plane and head back to the Rockies. Trying to feel unsad about it, but it's hard. Why and how do these weeks go by so fast? Till next time, ocean breeze! We love you.

How come I don't buy face masks like my mom does?

You know... the tubes of herby clay or cucumbery peels or apricot grittiness? They line her bathroom window and each night I try a different concoction, letting them dry as I watch a Brit mystery and snuggle into my brother's sweats. But I never remember to buy them for home and I don't know whyyyyyy.

Here's a few pics of our (continuing, soon-to-be uncontinuing) week in Maine.

My beach baby bum. She lives for the water and the sand and the waves and the seagulls and the sailboats and the bucket and pail and washed up crab shells. Screams "yay!" over and over and runs in and out of the waves and waaaaaay down the shore without looking back for us once. She'll probably grow up and live on a houseboat.

Goodwill bathing suit. A...little low cut. But also a dollar?

My mom and I snuck out during H's naptime yesterday, leaving my bro T with his niece. We had two hours in downtown Portland before she'd probably wake up (and he was a little nerv about that), so we rushed around. Amazing what you can pack in when you're baby free... I'll post a couple pics of the cutie things I bought, but most important was our lunch and the drink we split. (We're serious lightweights, but they also only had enough fresh mint for one...)

Mojito in a mason jar. Oh yes, ma'am. 

This pic is crazy dark, but her hilarious yoda look made me post it. (I actually have more where she's smiling, but those aren't as funny...) My mom's neighb brought this baby backpack over for us and HJ LOVES it. Like, goes over to it on the floor and starts to climb in it. She let me cook scramble eggs while I wore her, which is a plus. Brings me back to my babywearing days, which she stopped letting us do once she could crawl...

We are busy, stop looking. 

And here's Harps with her Uncle T, playing a little piano with her feetsies. She loves when he does anything musical with her, melts like a pat of butter in his palm. I think they were playing the Charlie Brown theme here...

(With sugar from a Tony's donut on her face.)

And with that, I head up to my book and my bed and cry myself to sleep my trip's almost over fall asleep. Goodnight, sista.

Here in Maine and loving Maine

A few minutes to type while I eat my peanut butter toast and soak my toes in the sun. Harper's down the street at the ocean beach with my mom, barely sending me a wave before they headed off. It's a little bittersweet to see my big girl so okay without her mumma...but *crunch crunch* I'm handling it just fine.

I'll try to grab some pics of all her new tricks and routines and craziness. She's gotten super chatty here, a constant commentary of nonsensical mixed with real words, and wouldn't I just love to know what the what she thinks she's saying? She's happy, though, that's for sure.

And how's it already Thursday? Wishing I could slow down time as our week tic tocs along.

Oh hi, also

If you wanna follow me on the Twitters?

My name is: smushharper

I've had a new account for a few months, but kept it private because I wanted to try out that route. But it was all sorts of random and half-assed and the implied exclusion hurt a few feelings which oy, was not the intention at all. And I feel weird tweeting for 12 people? So come read what I ate for lunch! If you want to. Or don't? Or okay. The end.

Aaaaaaand we're back.

Always with my necklace, guys. Always.

Guys. No real Internets for 12 days or something is basically living like cavemen. Semi traumatized. Tho I sure did read a lot... I'll ponder on that another time.

For now! Thanks so much for all your cc shout outs. Made us both smile. Crazy 6 months around here... Fingers crossed for a bit of a break, mmmkah?

As I said, tomorrow Harps and I are off to Maine for some serious hang time. Ocean, ice cream, guitar, the bizarro Catholic channel I'm so obsessed with. Really looking forward to it, tho we'll miss dadadada back at home. (He'll be watching shows about pickers and auctions and cars and sleeping in a wide open bed minus a major flopper, so he might miss us a little less...)

H and cc packed in some fath/daughter time before their week apart. Here's some outtakes from their oatmeal date, Saturday morning. (Looks like we're making this mums sleeping in thing a traditionnnnn cue Fiddler)...

A little short post

 Asking for a few shout outs to mah man cc...who just finished something major. (And unpretty.)

We're so proud of him and love him so much. xoxo infinity!

(And hey! Monday I head to Maine where they have real Internets! Luxury!!)

Happy weekend, lovahs.

I've been banish-ed from the webz

By Qwest...aka THE WORST COMPANY EVAR. An account mixup  (back from our move in March...?!?!) has us booted with no easy fix. Traumatized.

And I can't even make recent cute pics big on this stinky app. But here's one, nonetheless. (Completely covered in markers and filling up a plastic foot with dirt before dumping it in the dump truck.)

Anywho. All good here, nothing too crazy happening, except I love Greek yogurt now. Hopefully I'll be back sooner than later...?

Friday friday fridayyyyy

Weird week over here, wrapping up... Clay's been gone since Monday and won't be back until tomorrow, my Internets are only working through my stinky phone, and things are definitely Lonesome Town around here.

But it's forced me into starting a new writing project and a shirt repurposing/sewing adventure and lots of reading. And Harps sure is enjoying the extra Elmo I'm allowing...

Here's to a peaceful weekend!

My Internets are busted

So I can't really post a real post. Tho I'm eternally grateful for fakey phone nets...

A vid.

  

A few words on this:

1) Yes, unfortunately I really am that strange.

2) I'm saying "off with your head" while throwing a piece of paper? No idea.

3) This was over a month ago and she already seems so much bigger than this. Heavy sigh.

4) Her hair!!!!!!!!

5) I mostly needed to capture her saying my favorite thing of all time forever and a day. "One more?" with the little hand gesture. Kill me dead I'm dead dying.

In chronological order

Saturday morning, I slept in (joy of joy of joys) while Harps and cc hit up the hoppin early morning Denver scene on a brekky date. (I love how he always takes her out in her jammies.) She ate a big bowl of berries and picked out all the mushrooms in his omelet and I snored.

Now, hopefully only like 3 people from Denver read this and none of them are parents of toddlers? Because I'mma tell you what I've discovered: the Children's Museum on the weekend is superunbusy. It's the perfect thing to do with her when the heat is unbearable and we're still lots of hours away from naptime. Above? That's us in the "Apothecary" asking dad if he'd like some apothecary things.  

This last pic is one of my favorites in a long while. Sums up the...weirdness of being a toddler mama. What's happening? We're out to brunch (we really like to eat out OKAY?!) at this veggie place I want to live inside and we've been waiting a long time. And she's beyond hungry and we've already had to take away the crayons (munch munch crunch) and hide the salt/pepper (pour pour pour), but she somehow grabbed the sugar shaker and dumped a bunch out. As I'm cleaning it up, I drop a little on her tongue. She's so into it, and finally happy after many moons of being restless, that I just hold out my hand for her and let her... eat sugar. Mother of the year, guys.

(Oh and my nails? A delicious purple called "I'm a Belieber" because maybe Justin Bieber did something to it? No idea, but I love my nails.)

That was our little weekend, frands. Sweet and simp and now, as we pair up lonely hearts socks and sip herbal teas, coming to a sleepy end.

Summertimes

Oooo eeee these summer days are long, my friends! And not necessarily in a good way! I kiiiiid I kid. We're actually having quite a bit of what the kids call "fun", but dude -- it takes orchestrating. I alternate between pulling my hair out over her tantrums and impressive constant stubbornness and crying real tears because I love her so and ohmyno she's not my baby anymore and slow down, time, slow dowwwwwwn!

After her nap today, I pulled off her jammies and dipe and handed her a ripe peach out on the back deck. Her little naked self running around and giggling and gurgling and patting her chest "baby baby baby" and the juice dripping down her round belly and the wet kisses... Oh, it was just 100 million percent why I spend all my hours with her face. To live inside those moments and add them to my brain to come back to again and again and again and forever.

Thank you, Veronica Mars (yes, I'm only now watching season 2)

For:

1) Having THE BEST theme music of all time. And I know and love a lot of themes. It's like, I want to dance and then kick ass and then be awesome at life and then kick more ass and also it somehow perfectly evokes the Southern Cali vibe.

2) Just being incredibly smart and creepy and snarky and emo.

3) For perfectly timing (on ... my DVD playa?) an episode about wanting to get even with another girl for doing something shitty, but rising above it. Because I battled so fiercely with that today. (Hi, girls! You read this blog! Stop talking/emailing shit behind people's backs! What goes around comes around!) And it almost taught me a lesson.

4) Logan and Veronica aka EYE CANDY CENTRAL DOT COM.

I have lost track completely of the days

 So I wasn't going to blog because I thought it was Saturday? But no, it's Tuesday. Hi, Tuesday! Been nice knowing you.

 Moving onnnnn. Remember when I mentioned we succumbed to the pressures of toddler begging back in Steamboat? She desperately desperately desperately wanted these:

Nothing gets between me and my Muppets.

 And since I'm technically a Mean Mom and she's not exactly overflowing with toys (and specifically not recognizable, brand-y ones), we (Clay) gave in. She was beyond overjoyed. As in, she kept looking at us and literally saying "thank you thank you thank you" while she hugged and kissed and chatted to them. And now, she sleeps with Grover (and Woof Woof and Lamby) every night and takes Big Bird on walks or to brunch. (He's a major star when we take him out. Most kiddos are toting around Elmo, methinks, so the old school stars get lots of love from the general public.) 

So yeah. It's pretty fun to buy your kid stuff when it's not always and they really dig it. 

My next apropos of nothing thing is how much I'm loving sun tea these days. I found this glass jug at Goodwill and I fill it with water and 6-8 tea bags (usually just Lipton, since I have an overabundance, but sometimes I put the fancy stuff in) and then let it steep for 2-3 hours on the back, blazing deck. Adding sugar makes it insanely scrumptious, but I'm trying to lower my sweet stuff intake, so not this round. Cool it way down in the fridge, pour it over ice and glug glug glug glug. Perfect antidote to these insane summers.

What else what else? Oh, I have so many delicious books to dive into right now. Three from the lib and a couple from Amazon used and a couple loaned from a friend. I haven't been taking note, really, but I've actually powered thru quite a few reads this year even with all the craziness. And only some of them trashy chick lit! Bravo!

I've been in a mood mood mood these past couple days, so I'm grateful to this little blog for keeping me talking about the happy stuffs. And now, for a cup of chocolate milk and some snuggles.

As the week begins

This is what my baby lady looks like when she's sick.

And all that purple? That's what our mystery plant became. Not bad!

Hope you had a nice weekend, people pants. I liked ours: Buncha meals out in our little 'hood with a well-behaved todd, long walks around (and around) the block while H pushes her stroller, sun tea on the back deck with mint from the garden, fresh lettuce dropped off by a neighbor who had extra, eucalyptus salt baths, and sleeping in while my loves had a date.

The week ahead probably won't be a super fun one, but the weekend has properly refreshed me to take it all in stride. And I'll make sure to plan some treats along the way, of course. Here's to rollin with it!

Baaack in the Rocky Rockies

First off, thank you mightily for all the condensed milk suggestions! Except...now I want to make key lime pie and put it in my coffee and spread it on my toast and make shortbread and little dried fruit candies and. And and. A few extra cans/cases might now be in order.

One of my true, true loves in this world: Crissy Field.

So SF was great. We got away from the blazing Colo sun and hurdled into the cold and wind and fog. We caught up with old friends, ate the food we can't get here (La Boulange! Barney's burgs! Salted caramel ice creams from Bi-Rite!) and took in all the looks/smells/sounds (holy mother, fog horn -- you were out of CONTROL last night) we miss from our perch in this mountain town.

En route to a spaghetti dinner with our boys in the Castro.

We went all super touristy and stayed down at Fisherman's Wharf. Which honestly? Was semi-rad. I loved being away from Union Square (where most hotels are) and smelling the water and hearing the aforementioned fog horn. I loved looking back behind us, up the hill to Pacific Heights and all its mansions lit up at night. And I l-o-v-e-d walking to Trader Joe's. (Not a one in Colo?!?!) So did Harper.

I mean...no words.

Of course, four nights sharing a room with your toddler is less than ideal... And there was a lot of sitting around, silently in the dark, while she napped or slept. So I'm more than okay being back in our own beds and cribs, with my housey and yardy to let her run wild and free (and wild).

But yeah. We miss that place (and its people) (and its foods) sumpin fierce.

xo, SF.

While ma slept in a bit

cc and hj hit up the croissants in North Beach.

A few for Friday

My fav little summer dress. A very Harps moment right here.

Helping cc's mom water the garden.

- A couple Tejas pics I've been slow, slow to upload.

- Last night, Manj and I had a really fancy date. We ate dinner at Chili's (this was genuinely exciting to us both) and then a late (10:30 -- who am I?!) showing of Bridesmaids. Oh em gee, was it hilar. Neither of us could remember the last time we really belly laughed at a movie. Tho the two other people in the theater with us were silent...? Inexplicable.

- The "song" section of Caillou makes me want to die. I could write better "songs" in my sleep and I'm pretty sure I do.

- Tomorrow, we leave for SF thru Wednesday. Semi last minute trip, tagging along with cc who has a work thing. I'll get to see friends and walk along Crissy Field and sip a spicy hot chocolate and wear long sleeves and hopefully visit Billy the Doorman. We definitely miss the BayArea and my heart is panging just thinking of it.

- What should I do with a can of sweetened, condensed milk? I randomly bought a can the other day and now it keeps taunting me.

- Sleeping from 1-6 is not enough for me anyzmlerj zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sometimes I come upon a picture like this

(from a little pool party in our backyard)

and realize I DON'T HAVE A BABY ANYMORE I HAVE A LITTLE GIRL.

Carry on while I cry.

Long weekend recap and now I'm spent

Happy America Day! Tonight we headed to the 'burbs for some eats and fireworks with our 'burbs friends. Last year's 4th it was pouring rain and we had a tiny babe and I'm pretty sure we just sat on the couch and watched Keith Lockhart be dweeby. So things are on the up and up! It can be a pain to pack up the babe and hit the road and all that, but I'm glad we went; she had such a blast almost-getting-trampled by all the big kids and eating watermelon and watching the little fireworks go off in the backyard (I thought she'd freak from the sound, but she was wholly delighted) and chasing a balloon around and around. Girlfriend is so busy and brave and outgoing -- we have no idea where her personality came from (seriously).

But backing up a little.

We totally pulled our acts together on Friday and were leaving the city by 1. 1! Drove to Steamboat, a little ski/resort town up in the Rockies. I didn't know much about it, but dude. Dude. It was really, really beautiful out there. Mostly undeveloped (except for the tres cute/very out-Westerny downtown), a fetching combo of mountains (with snow still!) meets farmland meets rivers and deer running around. Felt so different from the city, just a few hours away, and not all schmancy icky like some of the mountain resort towns in Colo.

Our hotel room was nice, with actually a very lovely mountain view and balcony, but no little alcove for H's pack 'n play. So...we put her in the bathroom? I felt semi-guilty about it, until the first night when we closed the door and she was silent (not one protest) and asleep in under a minute. And slept till 7:15 the next morning. At which point I started deciding how we'd fit her home crib into our home bathroom... (I kid. Mostly.)

Here's cc and me, hamming it up on the balcony, while Harps slumbered next to the toilet.

The next day we ate brekky at the hotel (Harps ate and then squashed every other blackberry in her bowl, while watching the crazy trampolining nut jobs at the festival out the window) and then headed up the mountain in a gondola.

Harper hamming in said gondola:

Why must sunscreen turn her into a ghost?

 Then we got to the top and ah, beauty! We ran around in the yellow sunshine and blue sky and green grass and felt like we were in a coloring book. There were a bunch of neat hikes up there, but "hiking" doesn't really happen with toddlers. Maybe in one of those backpack things, but...my child doesn't do backpacks. So we went down a trail for a little bit and we picked some flowers and kept saying "Ah, beauty!"

 

Woah.

Wait, sucka! I'm just a kid!

 Oh and...this:

Yeah.

And then we went baaaaack down the mountain, ears a'popping, and took some naps. (Some of us next to the shower.) Then! Back in the car for some hippie sandwiches downtown and some shopping at the old-fashioned drugstore. (I'll tell the story of what we bought her/her reaction in a future post. Oh, the sweetness of that squish.) Next, a little drive to Steamboat Lake State Park. More beauty, etc! I pulled up my skirt bottom while Harps waded (deep) into the lake and successfully dodged teenage boys' watergunning and stole another baby's shovel and had a grand old time. Until she pooped. Then it was bye bye water... We changed her and then let her hang topless for a bit, while she ate some pine cones and picked dandelions.

May I help you?

 We wrapped up the day with a dip in the pool and a pizza party over Caillou (he's just a kid who's four!) in bed. She fell asleep hard again, while we ate some BBQ corn nuts and chocolate cake and tried to spy on our neighbors and watched a show about Gypsy weddings in the UK. It was actually fairly romantic.

Well, and now my contacts are really crunchy in my eyes and the fireworks have finally stopped pounding outside and my bed is smelling really good. So I'll wrap this up... We ate a huge a%$ cinnamon bun and coffee in big green mugs at a cute diner for breakfast the next morning, then zipped home, HJ snoozing most of the way back, us quietly listening to podcasts and enjoying the green green green of everything outside our window.

It's crazy how 48 hours away can feel like a real little holidee when the weather's right and the scenery's gorge and the company's fab. So glad we went..and I think cc and Hmoney are, too.

Happy fourthy

I'm proud of this photo because my hair is clean.

I'm tiredpants. Cleaned all day (things weren't in a good place to begin with) getting ready to host playgroup (holy gods, I hate hosting playgroup) and then only 2 people came (it's a summer thing) and they're sort of in a fight and it was alternately tense and dull. At 5 on the dot, I started making rice in the kitchen, giving them the not-so-subtle hint to, uh, leave. I don't even feel bad about it.

And Harps napped too much today (I let it happen because I needed to clean and work on a guest post and watch Family Ties) and so she didn't fall asleep until 10:15 tonight. I...have no words. I'm certain she'll be awake by 6, so tomorrow morning should be a delicious crab fest.

We might take one of our famous last minute road trips tomorrow, just to do somethin fun for a couple days. Steamboat Springs, perhaps? I don't even know where or what that is, but it sounds old timey so sign me up!

Delirious = me = bedz!

Happy fireworks! <3

I just flossed

And it made me almost euphoric. Huh.

Also,

I...have no idea.

Tomorrow, we start a new music class session. We have a dude teacher, which should be interesting? Harps loves little boys and teens (I kid you not, there's a few guys in our 'hood that ride around on their bikes shirtless and every single time, she stops what she's doing, whips around and stares with a little smile...) but men she's wary of. I don't exactly want to overcorrect her on this one (creepos abound in this world, sadly), but I also don't want her bawling whenever a friend's husband enters the room. You's know?

Okay, I'm in bed and too sleepy to think of anything else. Ni ni, lovers.

Some Monday things

Mondays are weird as a stay at home ma. (Did I tell you that Harper mostly calls me "Ma!" these days? I mean, she'll do mama still when she's feeling kind...but if I've turned the corner to do, well, anything she yells "Ma?!" I'm trying to see it as a cozy, Laura Ingalls Wilder type thing instead of a smoking-five-packs-a-day-wearing-a-house-dress-and-curlers type thing.)

In that, everyday is basically the same, so MONDAYS dun dun dun aren't really all that intense. The weekends are better, yes, because I can sleep a bit more and I've got extra hands and such, but let's be honest here. My main job duties are still in full force. It's cool -- I said at the interview I was cool with weekend hours and I'm not one for bailing on a promise.

Today's a doing things kind of day. I've got a docta's appointment in a couple hours and I'm hoping to get some solutions to the crazy wrist pain I still feel (from snowboarding...two years ago) and the weird hand pain I thought was pregnancy related, but I'm not pregnant? (Really, I'm not.) Then we need to fill our cupboards with provisions. Then we need to survive the hours 4-bedtime, which just shouldn't exist. And then, I'm going to hot yoga. It's kind of modified hot yoga, actually, as they keep the room in the 90's but not 105 or whatever those traditional Bikram folks do. Makes me feel all flexible and detoxy, but not nauseous and questioning my life.

The inbetween hours will be filled with...avoiding the sun? But ultimately failing and going out and then both sweating all our organs out and collapsing inside again with a sippy of milk/mint julep. I'm not quite sure why I'm such a whiny b during Denver summers. I actually don't mind heat and I've traditionally been a huge summer fan...It just has to be the devilish, high altitude sun, blazing blazing blazing into my delicate flesh. It's so intense I can't stop talking about it, even to the natives in my playgroup who look at me like I'm loco pants, pass the jam, ignore that sweaty girl with the sweaty ears.

Ideas on what to do that's not-outside? We're starting music summer session this week, do our toddler yoga class, and like the children's museum. Then there's always the scary indoor play structure at the mall...Thoughts? Ideas? Should we just roast and smother our skins with marshmallow/choco/graham crackers?

This one goes to my baby daddy

Just realized she's missing a shoe? Also, I don't know what that expression is -- but I want it.

Harps and ccdada after our lobstah dinna in Maine (I miss you I miss you!) last month. She was in heaven -- running around, trying to dive into the ocean, rocking her skinny mini jeans.

Anywho.

Today was busy, lots of back-and-forth and all around the city in my Subie. (Or should I call it a 'Ru? Some people call it that. I think maybe I can pull it off...) So tomorrow, Harps and I have put on our calendars: Book reading and toast (toe-ahst) eating. Maybe a little cornmeal mush making. (Please tear me away from my new veggie cookbook and its strange, strange ideas.)

Oh, but right -- my point was to give a little high five shout out to my boo. He deserves it.

And happy Friday to y-o-u!

Okay, you plant people

What in the what is this thing?

I know it's hard to ignore the candy to the left, but...focus to the right.

Our landlord (who actually lives next door and would just tell me if I asked -- but that's not fun, duh) explained to me early on that our front yard was landscaped to be a no-mow, low-maintenance, desert type look. When I got back from my trip, a lot of the elements had started to grow and bloom.

We have tons and tons of lavender (if I get my act together, I'll try and make something yummy tasting/smelling with it) and roses (I can't see how those are low maintenance, but okay?) and other things I don't understand, but are clearly supposed to be there. Then there's the thing up above.

There are huge, huge spurts of it and it just looks weedy to me. Maybe because it's grown so quick and there's just so much? And maybe because I've only seen it in one other person's yard and that person's yard was a little overgrown? But on the other hand, it's a pretty color and the leaves smell really delicious. I have a feeling I'm being really nimwitty about this one -- it's either a super obvious weed a la dandelion or a super obvious real plant like a nasturtium. (I actually know what those look like, somehow.)

So! Tell me, tell me. Am I shaming my family by keeping these suckers growing? Or am I a totally awesome gardener lady. And....go!

*edited to add* Alright, I was just out in the garden on our morning walk and saw a teeny tiny maybe-purple thing showing up one on stalk...could THIS be lavender and the other thing just a pretty purple flower that looks just like lavender, but isn't? Because, I mean, this one really does smell delish and the other doesn't...I'M CLUELESS. Bye!

Monday morning

Sitting here, more than a little damp, after a morning "wa! wa!" through the rain. Because it gets so flippin hot and sunny here once it hits 11ish, I'm trying to skew our outdoor time to the a.m. She's picked up on the routine (after a diaper change and some milk, we grab our shoes and hit the tough streets) and doesn't want to let it go now, even when it's monsooning.

I guess the thing is, why not get a little wet and soggy when there's nowhere else to go and nothing else to do? She just looks so dang happy, splashing in the puddles and eating the garden...

And of course, I might be suffering from just a tad lump of guilt, after leaving her screaming with the sitter last night so we could go enjoy a delicious din and then rock out to Rock of Ages, starring oh yes -- my long term beloved -- Constantine Maroulis. I was worried he might not show, since the leads often rest up for Sunday performances, but oh my! He was there and scrumptious and if it hadn't been for the crowd between us and my husband beside me, I might have thrown some undergarments.

Ah but excuse me, I'm getting all sweaty and off-subject. Point is, she was m-a-d when we left and as good a time as we had, my heart was a little heavy knowing she was sad. According to the sitter's report, she eventually simmered down and watched some Elmo ("Elm! Elm!") before falling asleep hard. And she appeared to have forgiven all when I scooped her up and smothered her with sugars this morning... But an early morning splash on the sidewalks definitely didn't hurt.

My (formerly) nomadic eater

Before our trip, I was in a bad place with Harps' eating habits. In the manner of a few weeks, she'd gone from happily eating in her highchair to only eating little small amounts as she ran around naked. And I was so burnt out/fretting about her eating enough that I'd chase after her, putting little pieces of string cheese or broccoli in her pie hole. She was constantly grazing and never sitting and always making my house a huge mess. I knew it wasn't good, but it had all changed so fast and I wasn't sure how to bring it back.

Ze new chair in action. (My mom made that bib -- design shout out!)

When I had a second to catch my breath (and, ahem, get a bit of a schooling from my mom), the rules came together and she went with it. But it quickly became clear she'd only go with it, if "it" was in a chair. (Or my lap.) I hemmed and hawed and looked up a million different seats and read reviews and wrung my hands over prices and finally landed on the Stokke chair. I shuddered at the price tag, but it adjusts all the way up to an adult chair, it's really cute/slim and blends in with our stuff/style -- and we do plan on having another kiddo person one day.

And it's working it's working! People! She sits and eats! (And looks so dang cute doing it. Like today, when we shared a coconut/pineapple scone from the bakery-down-the-street and just shared giggles and crumbs like a couple'ah girlfriends.) It's not as secure as a highchair (tho it does have straps), so I can't like do a load of laundry while she's in it. But it forces me (and dada) to sit down and eat, too -- which I don't do enough of throughout the day and which helps shape the fam habit I'd like to keep. (Eating together, same time, not-in-front-of-the-TV.) Win win!

Stoked about Stokke = me. (Sorry.)

Happy Friday, sista!

A little vacay recap

A day that will live in infameeeeeeee.

 

 

Okay, so first thing's first. I completely forgot that the pregnant lady across the aisle snapped this shot 5 seconds after H had cried so hard she just collapsed onto me (I wish this better captured her complete look of sad clown, although maybe not since it really was heart wrenching) and 5 seconds before we touched down and she bolted awake, screaming for another 20 minutes. It was an awesome 10 seconds of peace! 

(Side note, said plane photog was a couple months away from her first baby. She spent a good amount of that time telling me how much labor was going to be a natural and easy kind of pain and how back labor can be "easily soothed" in the birthing tub. Wow! If only I'd known this simple trick, I wouldn't have suffered so! I desperately wish I could be a fly on her birthing room wall...)

Moving on!

I like how there's a cute little bib bow in the back. Fashion first, ladies!

 We already know about the love triangle that is Harper + T + guitar, but who couldn't use another shot? Look at them hold hands! (She might have been trying to steal his pick...)

She wrecked a good amount of these measuring cups, via shoving them down the disposal.

Next up, sink baths! For some reason, H was scared of my mom's bathtub. (We think it was the drain, which is a little louder than ours, maybe?) After a couple days of sunscreen and sweat and toddler filth piling up, we tried for the sink bath instead. And then she was utterly obsessed. She'd ask for one throughout the day and sometimes, ohwhatthehell, we just gave in. She averaged 2.5 a day.

Tried my best to hide the naughty bits.

Aside from the out-of-character tub protests, my baby is a water baby. Hardcore. Mom lives walking distance to the ocean (heaven!) and so we'd trek over there and let naked baby go crazy. She was absolutely fearless, storming into the sea without a second glance back. And that stuff is chilly, yo! Thanks to my dad for the water shoes, she could keep her footing throughout her little nautical adventures. I love how brave that little nut is!

I look like a giant! It was the shoes, unfortunately.

And lastly, here's a weird and ghostly shot at Becky's Diner in Portland. Four generations of ladies rocking out after supper! I loved watching H play with my Gram -- she absolutely loved it when she'd kiss her little fingers.

And that was a mini-shot of Maine, m'dears. I've got some good Texas pics on the real camera that I'll upload soon -- didn't forget about ya, oulaws-of-mine!

Breakfast time for me, made by me. Turns out my mom's not here anymore to make me tea. Blergh!

Home plate

Alright, so. Yesterday was hard. At times, really really hard. The first half of the day was totally and completely fine. She'd just come off her nap and had a dose of Advil for her teeth and milk in her belly and the first flight was short and we shared a burger and fries and lemonade in a booth in Cleveland. She pushed her stroller up and down the floor and watched some Caillou on the apple device thing and flirted with every man in sight.

But then...the layover went on and on. There was no afternoon nap. The Advil wore off and I didn't have more. She didn't eat enough to stay full. The second flight was long long long and we were jammed next to an enormous man person. People were judgey and face-makey around us. Soon, it was 3 hours past bedtime and after a long, long day of being a sweetie and sitting in my lap when she wanted to run and humoring me with toothy giggles at my same old jokes, she just lost it. Lost it lost it lost it can't be found it is lost. By that time, I was starving and my back felt broken from all the carrying and bending and hauling and I wasn't allowed to wear my glasses because it threw her into even worse screams and my fear of flying was creeping in and well, only deep breathing and realizing this couldn't last forever kept me un-crying.

And then hey, look! It actually did end and cc was waiting for us at the gate and whisked us home and ran out and bought me my favorite Cafe Rio salad and all three of us cuddled in close (well, she in her crib with Woof Woof) and fell hard asleep the end.

So there's some new rules for traveling with Harps. No layovers unless absolutely totally has to happen necessary. And if there is a layover and a long flight and sleep issues, she will get her own seat. (Which they don't legally need till 2.) And I'll wear contacts. And bring more treats. And possibly drug her with Benadryl? And probably drug myself with something a little harder. Don't tell the baby police.

Today went surprisingly smooth. I thought I might weep in a puddle on the floor, but I really did get refreshed/revived/rejuvenated on my trip and felt ready to take on my real life and all its full array of real life stuff with calm and happy. I've realized that while I'd like, in my perfect little fantasy, to be living on a farm in New England with my own chickens and a hound dog -- we're just not there yet. And there's no point pining for things that aren't, when we can be living in what is -- and soaking up all the good we've got.

(About to be) a basketcase

Best toys are not toys, duh. And hello, bumble bee jammies I love thee.

Our morning ka-tivity a couple days ago was...the laundry basket. Seeming endless entertainment for my bumble bee bum and her newly blonded locks. (I've got a seriously golden skinned and haired lady on my hands; playgroup babies won't know her. Sorta like how I grew 7 inches over summer break once?)

And: sob sob sob, H and I are hitting the skies tomorrow, heading back to the Rockies and our little bungalow. My mom has given me a M-A-J-O-R vacation these past bunch of days and hoooo boy, did I need it. I'm feeling much more ready to take back the household tasks and toddler duties and such, that had me oh-so-burned-out a few weeks ago.

Please send up a prayer to the baby Buddha for my baby Buddha and me as we endure a loooooooong a%s day of travel tomorrow? Muah!

H and T

Staring into space for a good 20, completely mesmerized.

One of my fav things about this trip is watching my little bro and Harps get to know each other. She was nervous around him at first, but soon started pointing and coyly chirping, "T-t!" Asking to be picked up and grabbing his shock of dark hair.

But once he busted out the geetar, forgetaboutit. He became a full-on rock star.

She felt the love last year, too, but just totally gets it now. Last night, instead of dancing like a mad woman per usual, she wouldn't stop fussing until he played AND held her. You could tell she was loving actually feeling the music vibrations of the strings and his voice and instantly went into a semi-hypnotized state of baby bliss.

Pretty much a full-on heart 'splosion for me, too.

4:15! Wakey wakey!

Hey guys? Whenever I get the urge to merge again and have número dos, please remind me how delightfully insane my toddler is? How she's currently waking up at 4:15 for the day (a vacation sleep thing, I'm praying) and rarely stops moving thereafter? How yes, she's hilarious and too smart and such a ham, but with that, super independent and strong willed and thinks she can drive a car?

And did I mention IS WAKING UP AT 4:15?!

But vacation rolls on and Grammy takes second shift now score yea woot snore!