Mamma!!!

After so many months of listening to Dadadadadada…over and over and over (I wasn’t jealous at all). We finally have Mamma!!! He started a couple days ago and now it’s all we hear (Tra la la hee hee ..that makes me so happy), I love the sound of it. FINALLY!! Daddy had his day…..Move over for Mamma!!!!

Sophie

This is Sophie the Giraffe. She's a teether, best damn teether in the world. She cost $20.00. I forgot to hide the reciept when I brought her home and Mike wondered aloud "why the hell anyone would spend $20.00 on a teether".
I think he would change his song now. She is relief for all teething babies. Do you have a teething baby? Get Sophie! You can buy her on Amazon.
Here's a picture of Erik with her. You can see her in many of Erik's pictures - she is never too far from his hands.

Dad in Charge

Mike has been unemployed for about 6 weeks now and while that sucks, the hidden blessing in the whole thing is that he gets to be a stay at home Dad. He's doing GREAT except sometimes when I come home - the outfits Erik has on are......interesting.
Today I came home to Erik in a pair of thermals and socks. When I asked Mike the reason for the outfit (since we don't live in Alaska the thermals aren't really necessary and it was 70 here today) he stated the it was the one with the least amount of snaps....."because all his clothes have so many snaps!!"
As long as he's dressed then I can't complain - but it does make me chuckle to see what I come home to each day.
Erik seems happy either way so that's what matters.
Here was today's outfit choice.

Parenting Choices

++WARNING++ Star Wars and small children rant....be warned!

I know better - TV is NOT good for children. I know this better than anyone, I have often wondered about parents who allow 2 year olds to watch Star Wars or Sponge Bob and then say to me, "I have no idea why my child wants to sword fight all the time, he's so aggressive", and when I ask what he does at home their answer is "watch Star Wars and play video games" (and we're not talking about Sesame Street games, they are usually watching Daddy play aggressive games)and they don't understand why their child is aggressive, I want to say "really? You don't see it"?

Now, will I allow my 2 year old son to watch Star Wars? Maybe...we'll see when the time comes, at this point I surely can't say no - I've gone back on a few "I'll never's" since giving birth. I promise however NOT to be shocked when my child, afterward he begins to act aggressively. I will expect that behavior and know that it is my karma for allowing him to watch it.

Anyway, the reason for the title of my post is because I have done what I used to call bad parenting.

I have put my child in front of the TV.

I swore I'd never do it. But, I need 1/2 hour every now and then to get something done!!!!!! 1/2 hour, a couple times a week is my limit, and I of course didn't choose Star Wars - I chose Yo Gabba Gabba (which is lots of colors, annoying singing and silly dancing) I allow Yo Gabba Gabba because my child adores it. How I found it I don't even know - just came across it one day and it put a spell on Erik.

I thought perhaps it was just the TV that was putting a spell on him so I tested him on other shows...he's completely uninterested in them. But, Yo Gabba Gabba - is my 1/2 hour savior - Thank you DJ Lance, Foofa, Brobee, Rex and Moono - Mommy appreciates the help - even if it does cause me to sing ..."Don't, don't, don't bite your friends" for the next three hours.

As you can see - Erik is completely hypnotized. I filmed him because he doesn't even move during this show - whatever position he's in when it comes on is where he stays till it's over. Silly boy!!! I'm sure there is Star Wars in my future....but until then I'll allow 1/2 hour every so often.

Bath Time

How can you not just gobble him up?

Super Ta Ta’s

Yesterday was an interesting day at work.  As you may have seen on the news, a plane crashed in East Palo Alto cutting off electricity to the whole city.  We managed to get through the day with all the children in an “adventure/camping” kind of day. 

It didn’t dawn on me until mid-morning when I usually do my pumping that I wouldn’t be able to pump.  Since it was Wednesday it was my long day and I knew I wouldn’t be home from school until 8:00pm so not pumping for a few hours was NOT an option.

I went into my office to pump and then remembered…..no electricity…..I thought about what to do with my engorging boobs when it dawned on me that my wonderful pump had a car outlet charger…..ta da!!!!!

I did have to be creative though, there are two construction projects going on where we park so there are LOTS of construction workers milling around.  I couldn’t just sit in the car, boobs to the wind and pump.  I had to cover myself, or their ability to see in. 

I used the super hero capes from the dress up area, to cover the windows.  While I sat inside I wondered what the people outside must think about the Honda on the street that had a different colored cape hanging from each window.  Something super was going on inside!!  Super Ta Ta’s to the rescue!!!!! 

Erik has a tooth!

That’s what all the crying has been about!  He’s been waking up screaming and I couldn’t figure out what was up. His gums were not swollen or red which is what I was told to look for so I was surprised when I felt a little something in his mouth today on the bottom gum.  There’s another one coming in right next to it!

I don’t have a picture of it because he won’t move his tongue out of the way to get a picture…but, it’s there.  Woo hoo!

Mark off another milestone – now if he could just get that rolling over down.  His doctor told Mike that babies with large thighs sometimes really struggle to turn over……glad I wasn’t there to hear that one.  Poor guy, got the Maguire big thighs.  Hope they thin out before he has to walk!!

First day of Yoga

Today was my first day of Yoga (the required PE in order for me to graduate). Now, if you know me you know I am of the fluffy kind of people (extra fluffy) and I don't love PE classes....in fact I hate them.

I used to get up at 5:00am every morning to take my friend Steve's aerobics class - that went on for a couple years, and I HATE these classes because I can just feel the snickering behind me...but I was a good friend so I went. I was so happy when Steve stopped teaching those damn perky 5:00am classes.

But.....I avoided all the PE requirements in order to graduate which is why I am stuck with them now. Dammit - someone should have told me that they would have been much easier 20 years and 20 pounds ago, they probably did - I didn't listen because all I could envision was 6th grade gym coming back to haunt me.

I arrived with a few minutes to spare (can't be late because then I would be stuck in the front with the teacher and the mirrors!! (Horror) and noticed that I was the only person wearing work out clothes and everyone else was just all laid back and in loose stuff...I was also the only one in tennis shoes - Yoga is apparently done barefoot. I was reprimanded for wearing street shoes on the floor.

I was not the oldest in the class by far - but I was the biggest....ugh ugh ugh!!! We really didn't do much today but go over the syllabus and do some simple breathing and relaxation techniques. They weren't very relaxing since all I could think about was how much my back was hurting due to the cheap ass yoga mat I paid 9.00 for at Wal-Mart. They should have a sign on them that says "If you're an old fatty might want to get the extra thick pad!" I saw some girls with those (girls whose entire body was the size of my thigh) and I wanted to trade them SO bad. But they were too busy texting and giggling their way through class. I tried to give them some annoyed "have some respect" looks but they were too into themselves to notice.
Sheez kids these days! Now I sound like my father.

We did one exercise where we had to bring our knees to our chests and I've never had any problems doing that and was surprised when I went to do it and it didn't happen!! I then realized that I have had a child and my muscles that used to be are no longer, and they were not responding to the commands from my brain - they were obviously on a lunch break. I had to cheat and pull behind my knees to get them up there. And all the while trying to breathe.....yea

I will survive the class - but my ass hurts like hell right now so I'd better find me a thicker mat before the next class on Thursday.
To my Aunt Vera who teaches and loves her Yoga - I will try to like Yoga - I will at least try to breathe my way through it - and find my own personal zen. If I can figure out how to ignore all the pain it may cause.
NAMASTE