Welcome, 05

Happy New Year! If 2005 tops 2004, I'm one lucky, lucky girl. But then, I already am.

I'm not a typical blogger who dedicates the Dec 31st entry to a year in review - I try to be more forward thinking (and I'll get teary when I wonder where my little baby went and who is this toddler crashing around my house?). The coming year brings my career (that's a laugh) back, Ethan's days at daycare (or "school" as we call it around here), another year in this fixit house (with more fixits to come and thus more joy in our home); less money and learning to adapt to that with higher expenses; another year older and another 9 months or more of wine until Troy and I get back on the TTC bandwagon. And soon E will be walking, talking, and doing his times tables.

So much to look forward to.

I can't wait.

Today Ethan is spending most of the day (including nap time - cross fingers!) with M, our daycare "lady". The longest he's spent with her and her family is about 2 hours, and he's done wonderfully. I'm a little apprehensive about today, but I'm also confident that Marilyn has many tricks up her sleve and that she's a very competant mum to both her children and to mine when I'm not there. Packing his lunch today, I have included a note as to what the food is for his lunch (of course much of it is unrecognizable) in case he gets an allergy or what have you) and I wish he was old enough so that I can write "I miss you and love you, Doodie! Be back very soon!" to Ethan but of course I can't. Boo. Not sure how to spend my "free time" today - I'd love to just sleep and read, but my house is a mess, laundry needs doing, and a grocery shop. So instead I'll be doing that. And trying to aleve the knots in my tummy when my boy is away from me. *sigh*

Christmas was wonderful - really, really great. Ethan's first, and having my family all here along with Troy's was a true treat for me (and everyone else). The biggest gift was that Ethan started crawling on Xmas day - in front of all of his family. Very exciting, but now I'm running after him all day long! I'm sad Xmas is over, but to be honest I'm still feeling exhausted. And in less than a week I'm back at work. Don't have time to post much now - just wanted to give my readership a new picture of our boy under the tree.

Merry Christmas!

Ethan made this cookie for me today at daycare! He spread the green icing himself, apparently! My god my boy is so talented.

And so with this his most recent picture (and Christmas-themed, nonetheless) I wish you all, dear readers, a Happy Holidays from my Monkey and I to you and yours.

This is the last day before the holidays officially begin at our house. And a busy day it is: leaving E with Marilyn for a longer period today (so I can grocery shop for Xmas day); house cleaning, laundry, blah de blah blah. At least E let me sleep in (!) until 6:30 this morning. Thank you, darling. :p Now I must go dress and make breakfast for this hungry monkey boy.

You think my kiddo is cute? Check out the cuteness that is my brother and his sweetie. They're going to celebrate their little Christmas together today before Sophie heads "home" to the UK to be with her family over the holidays, and Bill will be coming to Victoria to spend Xmas with us! I hope they have a sweet celebration tonight together. In other news - E's had me awake since 4:30 am this morning. And he has spit up in his hair. And my coffee doesnt seem strong enough this morning. I have a feeling it is going to be one of those days.

so far so good

We played at Marilyn's this morning for a couple of hours (Marilyn will be Ethan's daycare provider come January) and it went REALLY well. Her two little ones were so enamoured with showing E all of their toys - K, her 2 1/2 year old daughter, calls E her little baby brother. Ethan had a grand ol' time gumming new toys and playing with Marilyn. I was really, really happy that this first step has gone so well. M is really great with him. Now he's sleeping, exhausted, IN HIS CRIB. I'm wondering if Mariyn is MAGIC!?

Tomorrow we'll go over after Ethan's morning nap - and then I'm going to LEAVE for an hour. Gosh. What will I do? Maybe go to Starbucks, get a big coffee and read my book. Wow. Then I'll go back at noon with Ethan's lunch and we'll have lunch together at Marilyn's before coming home for the afternoon. I'll probably take him again on Thursday so I can do my big grocery shop for Xmas - that would be helpful. Wish me luck for tomorrow! I hope he will be fine when I leave him. I'm optimistic - and have every faith in Marilyn's way with him.

So now we have a quiet day ahead of us to spend together. Soon they'll be the exception, not the norm. Gotta drink every little bit up while I can. xo

I've been baking all day - I'm exhausted! Just waiting for our dinner to cook - Ethan's been fed and 1 1/2 hours till I can relax with my book and a glass of wine. I can't believe Xmas is only a week away. Tomorrow - more baking, the search resumes for almond paste and cashews, and with any luck, a nap. But that's highly unlikely. By the way, is it bad to eat cherry pie filling straight from the can with a large spoon? Only if someone's watching, right?

It feels like the calm before the storm. Troy will be home this evening from his business trip; this weekend is full of errands and Xmas prep and baking, Monday is daycare visits and a few days before Xmas. I feel restless seeing all this stuff on the horizon - but am trying to harness the feeling of control. Ethan's slowly mending - getting ANOTHER diaper rash (what is going on there?) but so far its not as bad as the last one. And he's fussing because its time for his nap. So if you'll excuse me.....time to go nap for a bit. In the meantime, enjoy a picture of my son, looking cute despite the string of drool :)

the teeth!

bubba boo

My little buddy is on the mend. He had a fever on Monday - which worried the new parent in me but after a little research I learned that a fever during a cold can be a good thing as it can mean the body is attacking those germs and is in fight mode - on the road to mending. Or it can be bad. Luckily in our case, it was a good fever and I see Ethan getting a little better each day. He still has a cold but seems a little happier. So that's good.

Yesterday we had a nice visit with my dad - along with a sushi dinner (horray!) and just relaxing. I needed the company! Troy's away on business until the week's end so its nice to have some adult conversation for a while. Today its back to bababa dadada ta ta wa wa wa! Wa!

Just finished reading Mothers Who Think but you know I'm enjoying too much of a good thing. I need to back off the parenting books for a while. I still have to write my reviews of it and Bitch In The House for my book blog, but then its back to real fiction.

Doodie is calling - gotta start the coffee. I have a roll of film to develop so new pictures by later this week, hopefully.

What are YOU reading, these days?

Doodie isn't well. A bad cold, and a very painful, raw yeast diaper rash. Aww. We saw the doctor today so we got meds for both. Hopefully he'll start feeling better soon. He's so plugged up and his little bottom is sooooo sore he cries. Awww. I don't know who is sadder - him or me. :(

It's 9:30 pm...

and I'm heading to bed.

These final days are gifts - going way too fast. I wish I wasn't so preoccupied with Christmas preparations. I wish that it was a nothing month - January, or March - so that my last days at home with E were just filled with my smooches on his thighs, belly, the back of his neck, under his chin. He has the softest, sweetest, smoothest skin. Or days filled with naps cuddled together. Or playing with him on his play mat. Or pushing him on the swing at the park as he squeals in delight. Or patting the baby in the mirror. Or making big splashes in the rub a dub tub. Or laughing together at the cats as they saunter indifferently by us throughout the day.

These simple times are sweet and slow like honey. I'll never get enough.

My Christmas shopping is just about done. Christmas cards are sent. The house is decorated. Thank goodness. Now i have to plan and shop for Xmas day: start my xmas baking, make ingredient lists to shop for Xmas day luncheon and supper, and for the liquor store. The turkey is ordered. The rental dishes and table are booked. I can't help but try to be organized for the sake of my sanity - but my housework (MY housework?) is severely slack lately as I'm just too preoccupied and really. Lets be frank. Kinda hard to clean for an hour or two with a very needy toddler around who keeps forgetting how to sit himself up after falling over (he's done it a few times, by "accident" I think) and who cries whenever I leave the room. So the tub could grow frogs, the rugs need a vaccuum, the laundry is over flowing and I need to change the bed linens.

Who cares. I'm busy cuddling my little boy baby. Too soon my life will revolve around Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when I'm home being mumma. He'll be at an age where I can really plan quality time - our little family. Make the most of those days together.

My thoughts are all over the place. I think I'll go wash up and hit the sack and read for a bit. Goodnight!

for the tears

This picture was from last summer. I know this because 1) E's only dressed in a teeshirt; and 2) He's lying on the couch. He'd last about half a second today in that position before rolling off. And his hair isn't as thick as it is now. Ok that's 3 reasons.

The final straw today that life is speeding up way too fast and soon it will be January and that I've got to get my shit together regarding my return to work and Ethan's beginning of *sigh* daycare, is that I bought a new tube of mascara today.

Waterproof.

oh sure. Its like that.

So I wax on day after day about motherhood, my cherub boy and my dashing hubby. I get, what, ONE comment every 100 views, pretty much? Then I mention chicken wings to take you to the end of the earth and the requests come rolling in. So instead of writing that out for an email to a select 10 or so of you who requested it (thanks!) I might as well post it here out of interests' sake.

Best Damn Hot Wings - Sherocious Style

You need:

• 2 lbs of chicken drummies/wings
• 1/4 cup of hot sauce (We used Frank's)
• small dollop of ketchup (omit ketchup if you wish to set your mouth on fire)
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• paprika, salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar (you can use red wine vinegar if its all you have).

1. On a broiling pan (with slots/holes in it to let the fat drip off) place the wings in a row (they can be touching) skin side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and a liberal amount of paprika. Bake at 400 degrees for 45-60 minutes. (chicken should be done and browned).
2. Remove from pan.
3. Meanwhile, while wings are cooking, combine in a bowl all other ingredients. Whisk together to make sauce. Pour sauce in a large pot or huge pan (if you have a wok, I find it works well).
4. Toss in the wings, and stir to coat in sauce. Saute over medium heat until the chicken have absorbed all of the sauce - about 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

damn

I make the finest hot wings this side of - well - anywhere.

Want the recipe? Leave your email address in the comments and I'll send it to you.

Yum.

Dooced Again

You know, I'm not the only one who affiliates Tom Cruise in Top Gun with my "bathroom area". Priceless!

us, when 2

Photo by the one and only Julie Andersen.

ok I had a whole entry here and I deleted it by accident. Whoops. It was nothing earthshattering, I assure you. I think I've eaten too much chocolate chip cookie dough. Sorry.

freakin' house. :p

Gimme my ball!

After yesterday's whirlwind lunch and Xmas shop with my dad (which was lots of fun), its good to have a quiet day ahead. Ethan's presently fighting off his morning nap, but I'll lie down with him in a bit so he can sleep.

I'm also waiting for a plummer to show up as we have a leak in our water line, which we'll have to pay not only for the leaking water that we've racked up on our water bill (its HUGE and incredibly depressing) but for the repairs to the water line, which most likely means digging up our driveway to find the leak, fixing the leak, then hopefully repairing our driveway or else there will be a big hole there for god knows how long. If the superpowers that be could just give us one ONE ONE ONE freaking BREAK on the househould repairs and increasing expenses which we just don't have money for? Could not one thing go right? Exterminator. Roof. Now this. And we haven't even landscaped our backyard, built a deck, and most drastic, redone our sagging bathroom. Its almost comical - the financial drain of this house. *sigh*

Oh well. At least Ethan looks extra cute today. And I get to go lie down and snuggle with him now.

I need chocolate.