Who are you, and what have you done with my child?!

We're fine! The barfing was limited to twice on Sunday... and didn't make a reappearance. Flukey, weird? Yes. Thanks for the well-wishes. :)

But, seriously? The was he's been behaving for the last few days... it makes me want to RUN AWAY FROM HOME!!! Or, at least (kinda) wish he was a little sick so he'd CALM THE EFF DOWN! To call him demanding... well that would be like calling Napoleon short. Really. I can't so much as LOOK toward the keyboard. And heaven forbid, I actually try to type anything. He's right here... pulling at my hands, whining, pushing, scratching.

I put him in his room twice yesterday and closed the door. The first time for 1 minute, and the second for 3, except he kept opening the door and coming out, so maybe that last one was only 2 minutes, tops. I had to. He was screaming, clawing at me... throwing a tantrum of EPIC PROPORTIONS. And if I didn't put him there... well... I was going to go to a VERY BAD PLACE. Like Vegas.


He FREAKED OUT the whole time I made dinner last night. No show, or toy or project would hold his attention. He just stuck his legs through the baby gate blocking off the living room from the kitchen and made this ambulance-sounding screaming the ENTIRE TIME.

And we FINALLY got to watch most of 24 last night... so we went to bed at 12:30. Travis had been asleep on the couch for awhile. We changed him, went to bed, as usual. Then we went to sleep. I was awakened no less that 5 times between 12:30 and 2:30. He was whining, kicking me... demanding to nurse. Then I would nurse him. He'd latch on... nurse for a few minutes. Pick at all my moles. *shudder* And he'd unlatch, and roll away. I'd get resettled. Only to have this whole cycle start over not 15 minutes later. So... yeah. between 2:30 and 5:00am.... I couldn't get back to sleep. I tried the nature sounds, meditation Podcasts on my iPod. I tried breathing, relaxing. Nothing worked.

So, yes. I was a very tired mommy today. But, I took a nap with Travis this afternoon. Hopefully he's good tonight... hubby and I want to go out to dinner. I am playing out the scary scenario in my head. Relaxing? HA! I am having a cocktail, diet or no diet.

I don't know what to do. His behavior... well, it's 2 year old stuff. I know that. But he doesn't pull this crap with Jeff. Just me. The screaming, freaking out tantrums.... they're a multiple times a day occurrence.

SO, I want to figure out how to cope with his craziness... and I really want him out of our bed soon. And, I want my boob back. Bitch. Whine. Moan.

Thoughts?

Some Disassembly Required....

I'm holding my breath..... Travis threw up twice yesterday, and has been filling diapers with especially fetid material at an increased rate. He has been a little more poopy than normal for the last couple of days... but that happens, sometimes for no explicable reason. But, yesterday - early afternoon - after a lovely brunch out with my dad... He threw up his Mickey-shaped pancake and sausage all over the backseat. Yeah. Lovely.

Luckily, most of it was contained by his car seat. Unluckily, those bastards that make the Eddie Bauer car seat we have made it damn near IMPOSSIBLE to remove the carseat cover in order to launder it. Meaning? The harness straps needed to be completely unthreaded, and much wrestling and swearing ensued trying to take the damn thing apart.

AND the straps are not removable... which means I was Googling "how to remove vomit smell from carseats" at 7:30 last night. And taking a special drive to Whole Foods shortly thereafter for BacOut, and Green Mountain Gringo Salsa. (They work separately, not together!) ;)

So, I poured that Bac-out all over the straps, and let it soak in. It worked!!! Now it smells a LOT less like barf. YAY!

Don't even get me started on re-assembling the damn thing. Ugh.

Anyway... no barf yet today. Sigh. It looks like The Wiggles will be on in an endless loop today. Hooray!

Video Madness!!!

Upon realizing my camera takes pretty good video, thereby eliminating the need to fuss with the video camera.... here ya go! Travis is making his internet debut.... playing with Play-doh, and shaking it to the Wiggles. For some reason, the last two are upside down for the end of them. Dunno why!! I'm sure it's 'cause I'm a huge dork. Enjoy!!



Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos



Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos


Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos

Thursday 13. At least I'm up!

Thirteen Things I've Done Since I Woke Up, and it's Only 9:30am 1. Cuddled with Travis. 2. Nursed him twice. 3. Checked email. 4. Signed up for The Grocery Game. 5. Perused the online sales at Old Navy. Found out the Children’s Place has their “Monster Sale” starting tomorrow. 50% off clearance-priced merchandise!!! Vowed to drive out to Gilroy tomorrow due to this fact. 6. Decided to make Blueberry Coffeecake with the Trader Joes Multi-grain baking mix, and the gorgeous fresh blueberries in the ‘fridge just waiting to be used. 7. Looked at the label, and realized that even though it is MULTI GRAIN, it’s not WHOLE GRAIN. So, taboo on the Sonoma Plan. 8. Eff, it…. decided to do it anyway. 9. Crap! No buttermilk in the house. Made a substitute by heating up a cup of milk in the micro, and added 1 ½-2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Curdled quite nicely, which is really what I was after. 10. Cut back on ½ cup sugar (also taboo) by a few tablespoons. Feeling virtuous. 11. Mixed up recipe, popped in the oven. Threw dishes into the dishwasher. 12. Poured Travis some “ceceal” for breakfast. Kashi Go Lean The kid LOVES this stuff. Cleaned up soggy Kashi, and spilled milk from toddler, chair, table, carpet, and self. 13. Procrastinated on folding laundry!

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I'll take "Car Wash" for $200, Alex!

The bastard that effed up my wiper!, originally uploaded by tjsmommabear.

I am NEVER going through one of those drive-through car washes again!!!

I am a bit culpable... I accidentally turned on the delay wipers when my car was being dried off. The passenger one got stuck in the dryer thing... and I had to back up to avoid having it snap off completely. I should have just gone to the $30 hand-wash. Eff it! I could have had my car DETAILED for the cost of this damn thing!!

It's going to cost $50.00 for the part, and about $100 in labor to repair it. Which, the part won't be in until Monday. Yay! Also, we've got to drive Jeff's smaller car up to the Bay Area this weekend, if it rains. UGH!

Crouching knit, hidden purl!

Crouching knit, hidden purl!, originally uploaded by tjsmommabear.

Here's the scarf I'm knitting. It RAWKS!

Knitting fool!!

Well, not even a week into learning how to knit on needles, I think I'm officially obsessed. I taught myself how to purl. Now, it's all over. Heh. ;)

My Boyd Needlemaster Set is on its way to me as I type! Normally $70.00 with a sale and coupon code, $35.00!!! YAY!!!

Working on a cute scarf for myself right now.... I'm using Paton's Twister yarn in Fruit Loops. It's SO cute!!! I will post in-progress pics when my camera battery has had a chance to re-charge. For now, here's a yarn swatch from their site:

Love it! The best part is, I got the yarn on sale marked from $6.00 a ball to $2.00 each. Woohoo!!!

Anyway... been so excited about this newfound ability.... I haven't even watched much on our new T.V. We finally took the plunge and got a 42 inch Plasma. It seriously rocks. Travis is watching The Wiggles right now, and they seem almost life-sized! LOL!

Anyway.... going to try and get outta the house soon.

Bumpin' the BEP!!! (Black Eyed Peas!)

Bumpin' the BEP!!! (Black Eyed Peas!), originally uploaded by tjsmommabear.

I made my first project today!!! A cool Cozy for my iPod. It matches my hat I made on the Knifty Knitter. Not too bad, considering I only knit my first stitches on needles Wednesday night!!! :)

13 Things to (Hopefully) Keep Me Sane...

13 Things to (Hopefully) Keep Me Sane...

While It Pours Rain all day long... and I'm stuck inside with a toddler!!!!

Edited: 3:50pm

1.Play-doh extravaganza!
2. Choo-choo train table madness! Re-configure the track, and let him go nuts!
3. Fingerpainting masterpieces!
4. Make a dance playlist in iTunes and video Travis shaking his booty!
5. Bake some whole wheat bread, using my Kitchenaid dough hook, and not my breadmaker. Not happenin' can't find a recipe without SOME AP flour, butter, or sugar... ALL no-nos right now on my diet. Bleh....
6. Let Travis play on the computer.
http:www.playhousedisney.com, http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/?scrollerId=games, http://www.kneebouncers.com More like.... let Travis watch an embarrassing amount of The Wiggles on TiVo.
7. Work on knitting my very first gauge swatch while Travis (hopefully) naps. DONE!!!
8. Look through my new Circle Loom knitting books. DONE!
9. Manicure. Ugh. Cuticles are SO dry! Nails look like crap!DONE!!! Beige shimmer. Nice cuticles! Thank you Sephora and Burt's Bees!!!(and MIL for the BB kit in my stocking!!)
10. Set up pop-up tunnel in the living room
11. Books, books, and more books.
12. Blocks, balls, MegaBloks galore!
13.If all else fails.... Drink wine.... lots of wine!!!!




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107 in 2007 - My Overachieving Uberlist

UBERLIST 2007

1. CRAFT – Learn to knit. With needles!!!
2. CRAFT – Find some knitters to teach me!!
3. CRAFT – Knit a hat and matching scarf for myself by next winter.
4. CRAFT – Get some panels made for my Mei Tai Baby Zippy!

5. CRAFT – Do a digi-scrap layout every month.
6. CRAFT – Do something crafty with Travis at home once or twice a week.
7. CRAFT – Take Travis to Young at Art once a week when possible
8. CRAFT – Make salt-dough Christmas ornaments
9. CRAFT – Get away while Travis is hanging out with Daddy… and do one of those paint-your-own pottery project thingies at Synchronicity.
10. CRAFT – Find a storage solution for Travis’ crayons, markers, paint, play dough, cookie cutters, etc.
11. CRAFT – Decorate for Valentine’s, St. Patty’s, Easter, July 4^th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Maybe find a seasonal tree?
12. CRAFT – Learn paper quilling
13. CRAFT – Learn how to fold something with origami.
14. CRAFT – Make Play-dough monthly. Get some more paste cake dyes for colors, or use Kool-aid.

15. CRAFT –????
16. CRAFT – ????

17. CRAFT – ????
18. FINANCIAL – Keep doing the meal plan/shopping lists before the grocery store.
19. FINANCIAL – Go to Starbucks less!

20. FINANCIAL – Use some of the extra money saved from coffee out to buy more YARN! ;)

21. FINANCIAL – Start getting coupons on eBay again for groceries.
22. FINANCIAL – Spend less, save more.
23. FINANCIAL – Throw all change into a jar for Coin Star. Do something fun with the $$.
24. FINANCIAL – Talk to our FA about the 529 account for Travis.
25. FINANCIAL – Continue to reduce our credit card debt.
26. FRIENDS – Make some new ones! Put yourself out there. Talk to people…. Take risks, and follow-through!! Give out those Mommy cards!
27. FRIENDS – Try to connect with those cool hipster military wives (the young-ish tattooed-pierced ones who KNIT and BAKE!)
28. FRIENDS – Start a birthday file… send cards – from now on.
29. FRIENDS – Playgroup once a week. (Tues?)
30. FRIENDS – Do a cookie exchange at Christmas

31. HEALTH – Do yoga and/or Pilates 3 times a week
32. HEALTH – Sonoma Diet get back on the wagon… get as close as possible to goal weight before getting pregnant again. (Need to lose 60-70 pounds)
33. HEALTH – More water!!! Less coffee!! Drink green tea!!!

34. HEALTH –Discovery Body Challenge
35. HEALTH –Walk with Travis every week day.
36. HEALTH – Take a kickboxing class at least once this year/ Take a yoga class
37. HEALTH – Make hubby’s lunch at least once a week.

38. HEALTH – Make sure everyone takes their vitamins each day. (Me too!!)
39. HEALTH –Visit the dentist.

40. HEALTH – Have a blood panel taken. Find out if blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. are normal.

41. HOME – Organize cabinets/ Organize closets

42. HOME – Set up Travis’ room.
43. HOME – Frame photos, hang up!
45. HOME – Bake something yummy and healthy once a week, when possible.

46. HOME – Bake bread once a week. Find a stellar whole wheat recipe.

47. HOME – Make the most of my limited kitchen space.

48. HOME – Become a better housekeeper. Really try and do FlyLady.

49. HOME – Get our DVD recorder repaired.
50. HOME – Herb Garden on porch
51. LOVE – More personal time with hubby.

52. LOVE – Flirt with my husband like we did when we were dating.

53. LOVE – Do something great for our 10^th wedding anniversary in October!!

54. LOVE – Take video of Travis once a month, minimum.
55. LOVE – Find cool, free or inexpensive things to do as a family year-round.

56. LOVE – Romantic, candle-lit dinner at home for Valentine’s.

57. LOVE – More snuggles with hubby.

58. LOVE – Have lunch with hubby once a week. Fridays?

59. LOVE – Leave Travis with MIL once every month or two for a few hours so hubby and I can go on a date.
60. LOVE – Get up and watch the sunrise together at least once this year.

61. LOVE – Work on making Travis a big brother by 2008.
62. LOVE – Smile more. Say hello to strangers.

63. PERSONAL GROWTH – Learn some Spanish before Mexico trip.
64. PERSONAL GROWTH – Meditate daily…. Even for just 5-10 minutes.
65. PERSONAL GROWTH – Look into a photography class

66. PERSONAL GROWTH – Become less cynical. Little eyes are watching me.
67. PERSONAL GROWTH – Forgive my mother for anything lingering from our past. For good. For once and for all. Let go of it all. It’s time.

68. PERSONAL GROWTH – Go easier on myself. I am my own worst critic.

69. PERSONAL GROWTH – Continue to work on patience. It’s a daily challenge.
70. READING – Read a bedtime story to Travis every night.
71. READING – Read to Travis 15 minutes a day. Every Day.
72. READING – Get a library card.
73. READING – Take the time to actually read the magazines I subscribe to.
74. READING – Get a subscription to Real Simple.
75. READING – Read Heidi again. It was my favorite childhood book. I’ve read it dozens of times, just not for more than a dozen years.
76. READING – Start compiling list of favorite childhood books to buy for Travis. Get him a bookshelf for his room ASAP.
77. TRAVEL – Mexico in April!!!

78. TRAVEL - Do something big for 30th birthday
79. TRAVEL - Take a day trip. By myself. Try not to get lost!
80. TRAVEL – Visit my Grandma again this year.
81. TRAVEL – Visit Hearst Castle.
82. TRAVEL – Take Travis to Disneyland.

83. TRAVEL – Wine tasting & Napa overnight.
84. TRAVEL – Go to Alcatraz with the family. I’ve never been there!
85. VOLUNTEER – Find out about how to become a La Leche League leader.

86. VOLUNTEER – Operation Shoebox @ Christmas

87. WHIMSY – Find the perfect lipstick
88. WHIMSY – Wear makeup whenever possible.
89. WHIMSY – Take Travis to the park twice a week. Swing on the swing.
90. WHIMSY – Try a new recipe for the first time… then keep it in the rotation. Make a new favorite.
91. WHIMSY – Try a recipe from each of my cooking magazines each month.

92. WHIMSY – Use our new picnic basket at least once a month.

93. WHIMSY – Paint toenails more!

94. WHIMSY – Get all dolled up… for no reason at all! Take lots of pictures.
95. WHIMSY – Update my panty drawer.
96. WHIMSY – Wear earrings again.
97. WHIMSY – Update cosmetics.
98. WHIMSY – Sing more.
99. WHIMSY – Find new music for my iPod
100. WHIMSY – Parasail or Paraglide while on Vacation in Mexico.
101. WHIMSY – Get dressed up and go out for a Girl’s Night
102. WHIMSY - Get a massage, manicure, and pedicure this year.
103. WHIMSY – Learn how to make Crème Brulee. Buy a pastry torch!
104. WRITING – Start a paper journal. Find a nice one here.
105. WRITING – Get a nice stationary set. Write letters.

106. WRITING – Start making a monthly newsletter for Travis a la Dooce.
107. WRITING – Blog more.
EXTRA: Pierce something new (above the waist!) ;)

Yummy Yummy Sonoma Salad! AKA: Today's Lunch!

Yummy Yummy Sonoma Salad! AKA: Today's Lunch!, originally uploaded by tjsmommabear.

The boy even napped, so I could enjoy in peace. Ahhh!