Grace in Small Things 4/17/2011

1. Rex is 13 months old today.  It literally seems like just yesterday that he was slathering his face with green icing.  He celebrated his 13th month birthday by standing unassisted for about 5 seconds, before he realized that he was standing and plopped down.
2. We took my parents to the airport this afternoon for the start of their summer exile.  It was much easier to say goodbye this year than last year.  There were no tears, just promises to have a good summer.  This is a promise I intend to keep.
3. I am ridiculously excited about getting a coupon organizer that I can take with me to the grocery store.  Half the time I have coupons and don’t remember that I have them. Maybe now I will be able to make use of them and save some moolah. Gotta pay for the kitchen renovation!
4. Some friends of ours just had their second baby.  I am thrilled for them and not the least bit jealous.  It feels amazing.
5. I had dueling Crock Pots going this afternoon making the house smell fantastic. Meatloaf and Spanish rice.  Yum.

Grace in Small Things 4/16/2011

1. Got woken up this morning with Rex climbing all over me.  The most fabulous way to wake up, bar none.
2. G had his annual check up today at the Vet.  Is it wrong that my vet takes more time with my dog than my primary care physician does with me?  Is it even more wrong that the appointment cost less? The good news is that he’s old but in good health.
3. Rex napped for an unheard of total of 2.5 hours today. Bravo!
4. The sunburn acquired in Honduras while snorkeling is itching like crazy. Hopefully this means that we’re about at the end of the nasty part and the peeling and healing will begin soon.
5. Just once, I want to be able to say “Live from New York, it’s Saturday NIIIGGGGGGGHHHT!”  on national television.

Grace in Small Things 4/15/2011

Posting early in anticipation of a computer sabbatical for the next day or so.

1. It’s my parents wedding anniversary today.  39 years of wedded bliss that is so easy to remember because they thoughtfully got married on Tax Day.  Awww.
2. I was reminded today of the great job my parents did when I was a kid in hiding my Easter basket in the house for me to find.  It was a ritual growing up that I had to hunt for my basket and one year they almost stumped me by putting it in the microwave.  I ended up begging for hot and cold clues to help me find it.  I suspect they gave in because they really just wanted to get to the chocolate rather than because I was still looking.
3. Walked G this morning while listening to Poker Face by Lady Gaga.  I love that she rhymed “bluffin” with “muffin” and “glue-gunnin” but she was totally serious about it.
4.  The most thinking I will have to do this evening is to decide what to have for dinner and what wine to pair with it and that is a fabulous thing.
5. Got the babysitter booked for next Saturday night so that Mr. X and I can have date night.  It’s been a while since we’ve had a date night (well, giant vacation notwithstanding) so we’re really looking forward to the dinner and a movie option.  With summer around the corner, though, our repertoire of choices expands to include minor league baseball games and miniature golf.

Grace in Small Things 4/13/2011

1. If I had to sum up how I felt today, it was … masterful.
2. We finally had to snip a lock of Rex’s bangs off so that they wouldn’t get in his eyes.  I was surprised at how hard it was to snip it off. I felt like I was cutting an appendage off.  He didn’t notice, though. He was already screaming from being tired and wet.
3. Rex is having PE tubes put in tomorrow.  Please keep all of us in your thoughts tomorrow. It’s going to be a long ass day.
4. I’m finally admitting to myself that I’m not looking forward to my parents leaving next week for six months.  It’s been so wonderful having them around that going cold turkey will be rough. Admitting it, though, feels really good because now I can make plans to get over it.
5. I was able to listen to Beethoven’s entire 9th Symphony on YouTube while at work.  It certainly helped with number 1.

Grace in Small Things 4/12/2011

It’s Back!!

1. Eight years ago today, I married my best friend and have reaped the best benefits ever since.  I have never been more in love with my husband than I am now and I only see it getting better.
2. I’m very much enjoying Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsey.  It’s a fascinating look into how a restaurant kitchen works and I love watching him tell it like it is.
3. Rex has started to try to climb in my lap and I AM LOVING IT.  I love to cuddle with him, but he’s such an independent little guy that he’s always squirming away to go exploring.  So, to have him actively trying to get in my lap is heaven.  I’m like a Venus Fly Trap, though, when he gets in my lap – my arms close and I begin to kiss him within an inch of his little blonde-curled life and he struggles to get away while I hold on to him dearly.
4. I woke up in the middle of the night last night to find a gray rectangle of fur next to my pillow that vibrated when I petted it.  Kitty wedged himself between our pillows like he does just about everynight, except this time he was respecting Mr. X’s boundaries and not wedging his kitty butt in Mr. X’s face.
5. My parents brought us a nice cold bottle of champagne to help us celebrate our anniversary.  The only problem with this plan is that Rex has reached the stage where he sees a glass and he wants a drink out of it.  We can no longer hold Rex in one arm and drink drinky-drinks out of glasses in the other.  He lunges for the glass and wants a taste.  I have tried to explain to him the dangers of underage drinking, but he doesn’t want to hear it. So, on the floor he went while we sat around sipping our champagne.  This arrangement suited him fine as he simply crawled under my chair to get to the window and had a fabulous time looking out on the backyard and trying to sit on the dog.

Grace in Small Things 3/21/2011

Sorry to have skipped last night. It was the Big Love finale, I was tired from hosting guests over the weekend and I just wasn’t in the mood.  But, I’m back!

1. I could not stop giving Rex kisses tonight while he was having his evening bottle.  Maybe it was because he snuggled under my chin or maybe it was because I just love to hold him, feel his solid (and I mean solid) weight in my arms and listen to him contentedly drink away on his bottle.  I love this child more than I could have ever thought possible.
2. I think I made someone’s day today.  That makes me incredibly happy.
3. Looking forward to my mom coming over for dinner tomorrow night.  It’ll be just the two of us since Mr. X is out of town and my dad is taking a brief trip overseas.  We’ll have a good time.
4. Mr. X is out of town, but told me this evening that he loved listening to my voice.  What a wonderful guy!
5. I realized today how happy I am. There’s nothing really left to say.

Onwards and upwards, always.

Grace in Small Things 3/19/2011

Rex’s birthday party day!

1. I can’t decide what was more hysterical about Rex’s birthday party: the dog drinking my margarita out of the glass or the fact that Rex had two green poops within 15 minutes of each other.  But, everyone had a good time, had good margaritas and enjoyed themselves and the kid took in a major HAUL.  Lots and lots of toys!
2. Doorbell, gate and towel bar in the bathroom have been fixed thanks to my father-in-law.  All hail handy people!
3. Rex’s birthday cake was super yummy. Tomorrow we might even give him some.
4. Had a lovely lunch with Mr. X and Rex during which not one but two grandmas came up to praise Rex for his adorable good looks and blonde curls.  They could not keep their granny hands off of him!
5. Rex is feeling soooooooooo much better than he was yesterday.  Happy Rex makes for happy parents.

Onwards and upwards, always.

Grace in Small Things 3/18/2011

Day started with a semi-panicked yell from Mr. X in the garage as he was getting ready to take Rex to school that Rexfelt “a little warm”.  Ended with a diagnosis of yet another ear infection and a cranky Rex. Bless his little heart.

1. Everyone loved the pictures I took of Rex with his green cupcake.  I should have gotten a shot of the green icing that was still up his nose this morning, though.  That was just classic.
2. Despite having an ear infection, Rex was in a fabulous mood at the doctor’s office.  He serenaded the pediatrician and charmed the office manager to the point that she declared that he was an “angel”.  Yes, I made that!
3. I had one of those perfect moments this evening.  It was dusk and quiet in the house as Rex was already in bed and Mr. X was on his computer.  I had seen our house in this light so many times over the years, but never before had I seen it knowing that our house was full.  My heart felt full too.
4. Rex’s grandparents are coming in to town tomorrow for Rex’s birthday party.  I can’t wait to see their joy at seeing Rex and how much he’s grown in the whopping month since they last saw him.  Bonus: margaritas for the adults!
5. Bought myself some gorgeous handmade jewelry from my best friend.  A total win win.

Onwards and upwards, always.

Grace in Small Things 3/16/2011

Rex Birthday-Eve! This time last year I was really, really ready to be able to breathe normally again without something stuck under my ribs.

1. Absolutely gorgeous sunny springy-summery day.  I celebrated by returning the plants that I purchased yesterday since Mr. X determined that they were not in fact the same species of plant we were planting.  They looked ridiculously alike, so I feel no guilt for getting them mixed up.  But, Lowe’s – take note – everyone’s life would be much easier if you would let me return plants in the Garden Department.
2. Rex is experimenting with attempting to stand on his own.  Last night this manifested itself with him sitting on the ledge of our back porch and scooting his bottom toward the edge ever so slightly before taking the plunge into the grassy deep.  Mr. X reported this morning as he was attempting to dress Rex for school Rex insisted on wanting to stand up for the procedure, thus making an already difficult job that much harder. But, it was good practice for both of them. And, it was great for me since I got to stay in bed!
3. I’ve started reading The Emotional Life of Toddlers and it is absolutely fascinating.  Rex is on the cusp of this world and I need lots of guidance on getting all of us through it the right way.
4. Ken Rudin, the Political Junkie on NPR.  He reminds me of why I was a political science major in college.  I just love listening to him.  Or, maybe its that they always have the Dean Scream at the beginning of the show that cracks me up every time I hear it.
5. I am so, so proud of myself for making it through Rex’s first year.  His birthday celebration is my celebration for making it through PPD and coming out on the other side.

Onwards and upwards, always.

Grace in Small Things 3/15/2011

1. Mah Jongg last night was fabulous.  Despite having been out of practice for several weeks, I managed to win two games much to the consternation of my fellow players.  It was also a lovely evening of wine, catching up and evening breezes from the open windows.
2. I scored a free $15 iTunes gift card just by getting ink toner that I already needed.  I’m thinking of using it on the new Adele album.
3. My mother has returned from Back East bearing gifts (in our family known as “sussies”) of a crab onesie for Rex (OMG, SO CUTE) and awesome chocolate cookies for the adults.  She graciously pointed out that she and my father limited our ability to over indulge by leaving us just two cookies.  Isn’t she nice?
4. Got a question on FB from an old high school friend who with his wife will be welcoming their first child in May.  He wanted to know what kinds of restrictions we placed on people having access to Rex those first few weeks home, i.e. who could touch him, etc.  I was frank with him and explained that at the time, I had a raging case of PPD and practically begged other people to hold my baby, and regardless of who held him, he ended up getting his first illness at daycare, so their mileage may vary.  I told him about my PPD because I wanted him to know, subconsciously, that if his wife has the supreme misfortune to have PPD, I can help.   I really, really hope that she doesn’t.
5. Looked at pictures of Rex when he was first born, almost one year ago, and I’m tickled at how much he has grown during that time.  It’s so hard to remember now when he was an infant and couldn’t even hold his head up when compared with the singing, squealing, whirling dervish of activity that he has become.   What will this next year have in store? I’m so excited to find out.

Onwards and upwards, always.