I met my Mommy group at the mall today for some playtime. It was so wonderful to be out of the house and chat it up with some wonderful women! Rita was her usual shy self tho she did warm up after about 1/2 an hour and tear up the place. She can run really fast and she'll tell you she can too. "I'm wunning weally fast!" As she was announcing that to me and the other Moms she collided with a little boy and began to cry. The little boy was fine, which is a surprise if you've seen the size of my daughter's head. I bribed her with sugary fruit snacks and all was well.
My first outing with 2 children (alone) is officially behind me. It wasn't ridden with anxiety and tears as I had imagined. I explained to Rita how I expected her to behave and low and behold if she wasn't a little hand holding angel. She did get slightly upset when it was time to leave. I coerced her out of the play area with a promise of McDonald's french fries. Again, perfect toddler behavior.
Unlike what she does to me at home. Everything is no. Automatically. "NO!" I ask her if she wants a cookie? "NO!" It doesn't matter if you promised her Elmo covered in syrup, if we are at home the answer is "NO!" She is a very demanding young lady. She will grab you by the hand and tell you "Come this way." If you don't jump up immediately there will be hell to pay! She insists on us reading her the same Mickey Mouse book over and over again. Which reminds me, I need to find that book and hide it. Mickey Mouse is also on her diapers. With every diaper change I hear three things. 1. Wook! It's Mickey's clubhouse! and 2. Fresh diaper! and 3. All clean!
She still hasn't touched her baby brother, who(m?) is officially one month old tomorrow. BUT! and this is a BIG BUT! When we were leaving for the mall this a.m. I was going to load her into the milfmobile first then come back for Baby John. Rita would not leave the house without her brother. "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIITT!! Baby John!!!" I think she loves the little blob afterall!

Today was an amazing day. Rita has moved into her big girl room. She still sleeps in a crib but it is a very girlie girl room. She won't nap, whether it's because it's a new space and there is too much to look at or maybe it's too bright and in need of curtains.

I gathered all her girlie hair thingys together and put them in her jewelry box today and we proceeded to play beauty parlor for the first time EVER. She found her baby comb with Piglet on it and to her it was GOLD! She then said "Comby de hair?" and combed my hair. She'd grab a barrette and says "Put in de hair?" She was so seriuos about it all. I can't wait for her father to get home so we can "put in de hair" to him too.

Rita experienced her first 4th of July this year. We sat on the end of the dock with her and showed her what fireworks are. She was so excited she couldn't sit still. Her little arms flailed and her legs kicked. She yelled "WOOK! Pretty!" and "WOOK!! I SEEEEE IT!" At one point she could no longer contain her excitement and she sang her ABCs as loud as she possibly could. Not once, but twice. Her sweet little voice was echoing across the water and making the neighbors laugh.

When the Treasure Island city fireworks started she had already lost interest and went off to play. We couldn't get her interested in the ones we lit off ourselves. Then off to bed she went.

I checked my blood sugar on Monday and said "Ouch." Rita came over and asked me if I was o.k. Rita's other new favorite saying is "What happened?"

Friday, my Mom watched Rita for the day. I needed to run errands and it is much easier and faster without a toddler in tow. John & I went to pick Rita up around 5 p.m. As the Grandparents were saying their good-byes to Rita, I said to her: "Just think Rita, in 4 more months you'll be this many months old" as I held up my fingers making the peace sign. To which Rita replied emphatically; "TWO!"

Happy 20 Month-a-versary!
Dear Rita Marie,
Today you turn 20 months old. You are talking up a storm. You pointed to sunscreen on the table and said "I would like some of that." You have so many words and sentences I should make a list. Today we went to the Play Zone and you pointed at an Elmo pinata and said "Elmo" without the "m". So much has happened recently that my mind is spinning trying to remember. You drank from a straw for the first time. You rode a merry-go-round for the first time. Daddy went with you and you went around twice without crying. The third time around you were done. You can sing the Barney song, some of the ABC's, and many other unintelligable songs. Some of them sound like the ones I made up either for you or about you. Like the Elmo and Pooh song. I used to sing it and make them dance on the crib rail, now I do the singing and you make them dance. We ask you: What does a cat say? You reply with Meow. What does a dog say? Arf Arf. What does a bird say? You reply Peep peep. What does a cow say? Moooo! What does a train say? Choo choo! What does Mommy say? You say: Daaaaddddyyy!
You have also started to climb on everything. I have found you on the dining room table on more than one ocassion. I have found you inside the lazy susan cupboard. You love to play outdoors and/or at the park. I took you to gymnastics and you were so overwhelmed and excited you screamed the whole time running around a Home Depot sized gym. We only lasted 20 minutes before I had to take you home after your 3rd temper tantrum! Everyone tells me what a "busy" girl you are. You don't seem to ever stop moving. You love to dance. You love to sing. You love to give hugs. You cover your eyes with your forearm when you are trying to hide or are being shy.
If you see a box of crayons you yell "CUL-LAH" at the top of your little lungs. I get paper for you and you sit your little bottom on the floor and color away. You have also colored the couch. the wood floor and the kitchen tile! You still love books. Reading is still in your top 5 favorite things to do.
If I think of more things I'll add them to this note. You've grown up so much in the last month it just blows my mind.
One day we were playing in the backyard and I heard you say "Hole" I looked over and you had your little finger in a hole in the cement. I said to you: "That's right, that is a hole. Who taught you that?" and you replied "Hole!"
I love you!Mommy

We went out Friday night to Spoto's Steak Joint for my birthday dinner. I had never been there before and it had been years since John was there. I walked in and immediately felt like I had walked into Bellagio! There were canopies over the tables, just like the blackjack tables of Bellagio, I swear the window treatments were the exact same fabrics. It was quite creepy. We had a 7:30 reservation. They told us it would be a while so we bellied up to the bar. I had a Buckler, by far the best non-alcoholic brew and John had a Bud Light. We chatted with the couple next to us and 45 minutes later we were seated. We sat on the same side of the booth as we usually do. I was freezing (as always) so I sat on the inside and John kept me warm. I had french onion soup for an appetizer that was just so scrumptuous. John had tuna sashimi - it was average. I then ordered the 20 oz. Porterhouse. I was in desperate need of a red meat fix. John ordered a sirloin. When they brought this 20 ouncer to me, it was HUGE and DEEEElicious!! Holy smokes! It was exactly what I was craving. We don't eat red meat at the house b/c Rita is allergic. So what a treat this was! Both John and the waitress were VERY impressed at the dent I put in that steak! I think dinner took us almost 3 hours total. It was so nice not to rush through a meal. Because we had to wait so long (we didn't even complain) they bought John another beer and me a piece of chocolate cake. (which John ate of course). It was such a great experience. The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. You just don't find service like that anymore!
We then proceeded to Gator's to see a band called Buffalo Strange. There were quite a lot of people there. We stood near the dance floor to watch the band and I can't tell you how many times I got shoved in the tummy by drunk people. Then one drunk woman had the nerve to say "You can tell she's had kids." in my direction. Being drunk sure gives people gigantic balls! She was so wasted I happily ignored her laughing to myself about what a horrible hangover she'd have in the morning. I can honestly say I don't miss the bar scene! I like my quiet family life on the beach!
I'm almost out of my first trimester. I've been feeling pretty crappy and not able to accomplish much and it's driving me crazy! John tells me not to worry, I was this way when I was pregnant with Rita and it eventually went away. I'm feeling a little depressed just because I can't do squat. I don't have any energy and I'm nauseous all the time. It gets worse at bedtime! Most of all, I'm SICK of hearing myself complain about it. (Right Kath?)

The Hug Game

Rita saw her Daddy last night for the first time since Sunday. John and I are were laying on our designated sofas (we have two and they face each other.) John asked Rita for a hug so she ran over and hugged him. Then she ran over to me and hugged me. Then back to Daddy, then back to me, then back to Daddy, then back to me. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. She went back and forth at least a dozen times, hugging each of us.
Rita is now telling me when her diaper is dirty. She will get a diaper and the wipes and lay down on the living room floor. Potty training is near! Yippee!

Toddler Fun


John: "Can you believe I worked 67 hours this week?"
Me: "Holy Cow!"
Rita: "Mooooo!"

You know who you are

Thank you for the 2 hour hysterical phone call yesterday my little George Costanza! You talked me off the ledge and didn't even know it. You made me remember to not take life so effin seriously. I needed that!
I'm glad you are doing so well. Your creativity is amazing, even if some of it does lack moral fiber.
You rock! Thanks and call again soon!

Happy 19th Month-a-versary!


Two days ago you reached another monthly milestone. It is hard for me to believe that you are so big. You were once a pink ball of flesh that just laid there and slept. Now you are into everything, talking all the time and running around like a mad woman. A few more months and I won't be able to catch you! It was a big month for all of us, including a car trip to Ohio and Michigan for the holidays. You refused to sleep for longer than 5 hours. You were so interested in what we were driving past and of course, the Little Einsteins dvds we brought along. It was very hard for Mommy and Daddy to catch some Zzz's with you wanting to constantly play and talk and fuss because you wouldn't sleep. I've never seen you look as tired as you did on the way up and again on the way back down to Florida. Seeing you with our far away family was a riot. You acted like you had just seen them yesterday, running right up to Grandma & Grandpa. You even loved your Aunt Leslie's in-laws. You made them each read you book after book on Christmas day. Sadly, you didn't grasp unwrapping a present until we were at your Aunt Connie's. Then you tore that paper with a fervor and a yell, almost like a "HI-YA!" I'm sorry we couldn't make it snow for you. We really wanted you to see snow. Oh well, there is always next year.
The cutest thing in the last week is you are repeating any word we ask you to. With the exception of Daddy asking you to say "booty". You won't give that one up. My favorite by far is "pasta" which comes out of your little mouth and lips as "papa". I ask you to say it 50 times a day. By now you must wonder why Mommy makes you say pasta all day long. This morning you began to meow back at Tigger the cat with a boisterous "Now, Now, Now!" Last night Daddy whispered to you that it was time for your bath. You looked at him very puzzled. He then said with another whisper: "It's bathtime." You pointed towards the bathroom and asked him quite clearly "In there?" and when he replied "Yes" and you took off running!
Another cool thing you will do; if we ask you if you need your pants changed you head straight for your room and wait for us at your changing table. I also gave you whole milk this month and you tolerated it without a fuss. Mommy is so excited! I'm hoping one day you will completely grow out of your dairy allergy.
Lately you don't want to go to sleep at bedtime. We used to be able to lay you down, close the door and not hear from you until morning. Now you are putting up a fuss, usually crying. We don't know what to do with this! It is very foreign to us. I think it's because you miss your Daddy so much now that he is working. I want you to know punkin, I miss him too. I know you love your Daddy more than green beans, and yes it totally sucks he is gone so much. We all have to make sacrifices sometimes. They aren't always easy either. We just need to make the most of the time we do have together.
I love you.Mommy

Haiku it is not

Raging hormones scream "Distance" "Change" "Purge" none of which come quickly enough.

Sick and tired.

Serenity NOW!

Quick! More prozac.