A Few of my Unfavorite Things...

I'm tired of Zombies.  I feel like they've had a top reign for the past few years and I'm sick of them.  Unfortunately, Brendan just got hooked on watching "The Walking Dead" which means that I'm about to start blogging a whole lot more.  

Anyone else sick of mustaches?  If I see one more kid's party with stick on mustaches or a super rad mustache purse, I think I might puke on it.  It's facial hair.  

Twilight.  The books, not the time of day.  I haven't read any of them and yes, maybe they are great, but I'll never know.  I already had my friend tell me the ending, so I'm set, without the side-effect of actually wanting to become a vampire.

Betty White.  I'll keep this one to myself.

I don't get the whole thing with cupcakes.  It's a cupcake.  


Anything on your not-so-favorites list?

 

Hunger

Yesterday was one of those days where I got so caught up in things that I didn't take time out to eat.  We got up late, unpacked from our trip and then decided to get the Christmas tree and decorate the house.  Around 4 pm, still not having eaten, I went to the store for eggnog, firewood and a somewhat long list of needs.

As I'm sure you know, going to the grocery store while crazy hungry is a bad idea.  A very bad idea.  While I did manage to get some fruits and veggies into the cart, some ice-cream, an apple pie, Oreos, chips and cheese also slipped their way in there.  When I got home, I enjoyed a few tasty treats while I unpacked the rest of our groceries.  

I was hungry. 

You hear things again and again in life.  Treat others how you want to be treated.  Don't eat yellow snow.  Tip your waitress.  Finish your food, there are starving people in China.  

That last one there, the one about the starving people?  Yeah, I've heard it.  I've heard it when my stomach was full, my cabinets were full, my fridge was full.  It's hard to connect with hunger these days.  Hunger is an inconvenience, a passing feeling, a gnat buzzing in your face.  It is easily taken care of.  

Here.

Standing in my kitchen, I had a moment.  I was really hungry and I could do something about it.  I could have my fill of a wide variety of food and if nothing at my house suited my cravings, a store down the street would offer more.  If I ate something that didn't taste good, no problem, I could just throw it away and try something different.  

But that person, those people that we use as a cautionary tale, can't.  They will remain fixed in their hunger, experiencing the pains, the weakness, while I gorge on apple pie and eggnog. My trash could sustain them for days and that's despite my best efforts to not be wasteful.


Don't get me started on the kids, the mothers desperate to feed the tiny babies, their own babies that they love just as much as I love Brixton, as much as you love and hold and comfort your own children.  What if that starving person was me or you?  Wandering the streets with Brixton in a blanket, he's tired and weak, I'm looking for anything to keep him going.  One more day.  Just one more.  


We live in a bubble of history.  A time when we have food in easy supply, so easy that we take it for granted and assume it's here to stay.  What if it wasn't?  (Bubbles pop)

Next time you're hungry, think about not being able to "fix" that feeling.  Think about your child telling you they are hungry and you have nothing for them.  

Let's not take it for granted. 

California Love

California.  We've been here for about 10 days.  10 glorious days of sand, sun, friends, Mexican food, Oma, hot meals eaten without a baby sitting on my lap and gluttony.  I lost about 2 lbs last month.  Guess what?  I found them again. *sigh* (Though while writing that I'm contemplating what to snack on during family movie..choices choices).  

I'm still lacking any real inspiration for writing, so I'm going to do a lot of pictures.  Hang in there, friends.  I hope to be normal (if I ever was) soon.

Early morning, jet lagged, discovering the excitement of a French door.

 Finally in Grandpa's arms again.  I love you Grandpa!

Naptime with Oma.  Is this not what love is?

My second mom.  And while yes, she loved seeing me, something about my 20 lb. turkey gives people a little more incentive to visit. xoxo

 Brixton meets the Pacific Ocean.  And in case you couldn't tell, this face let's us know he thinks it was rad.  

The water was pretty cold, but that wasn't stopping us from subjecting our 6 month old son to it.  

 What this picture doesn't reveal is my big rookie beach move.  We carried our (super awesome) stroller down on the beach and left it a ways up from the shoreline.  I laid my honey bran muffin on it while we did pictures.  Anyone who goes to the beach knows where this is leading.  Our stroller was covered with seagulls (probably within seconds) fighting over the muffin and also sticking their disease ridden and sandy beaks into my coffee.  

Totally. Dude.  Brendan went surfing, which was a hilarious idea.  I didn't actually see it, but it was one of the worst surfing days to go out.  I give him credit for trying though..

A little park time after being trapped in the car all day.

He didn't actually go down the slide by himself, but there was something so cute about the way he just laid there at the bottom of it, flailing his limbs around and peeking at me.

This is Brixton's friend, Blake.  They are 12 days apart, Brixton being born closer to Blake's due date and vice-versa.  

Friend love.

Brixton's first sink-bath.  As with all baths he loved it.  His stomach looked rather flat that day.  On a side note, if you stuck a cigar in his left hand and added a bit of facial hair, we can almost see Brixton sitting in a hot tub in 40 years.  Hmmm.  Hoping fate actually can be changed.

I love this picture.  It kind of has it all.  Uncle Kevin holding Brixton for the first time.  Brixton looking like crying in the mouth, while the eyes look rather smiley to me.  My dad in the background holding Kevin's week old baby, Aidan.  (The cutest little guy, only 7 lbs.  Brixton was never that small, as he was born 8.16)

Holidays are best when some sort of low-grade disaster occurs.  Minutes before our Thanksgiving dinner was set to begin, my mom's garbage disposal went out.  Then a huge tsunami of water mixed with potato skins shot out of the bottom of the sink, flooding the kitchen and causing my mom to almost utter some very non-Kathy words.  I just stood there, taking pictures and trying not to laugh out loud.  I also fetched towels, just so you can't accuse me of being unhelpful.  Although my mom wanted to cry at the moment, I assured her it would be funny afterwards. It's afterwards and it is funny.  

The cranberries boiled over at the same time that the sink tsunami happened.  I have never seen my mom's stove this dirty.

More park time with Brixton. 

My mom's going to pop a vein that I posted this picture, sorry.  If you are a 60-something year old Grandma and you slide down the slide of your own accord, I might think that is fun enough to post a picture of.  

Something tells me there's going to be a lot of missing going on after we leave...

No-vember

Can you tell I'm totally not into writing lately?  It's a mixture of busy, apathy, nothing interesting to reporty (oh..but there is..biding my time my sweets...) and waiting for our trip to commence.  I had a heck of a time packing.  I'm a super-organized packer.  I write out all of my outfits, including accessories, and which day I'm wearing them.  I did the same for Brixton.  I just felt like I didn't have anything cute to pack.  Seriously everything felt frumpy, dumpy, old.  And I'm going home.  Not only to SD, but to my childhood..'hood in NorCal where I haven't been in about two years.  And I just had a baby, so you know I want to look my bestest.  I'm not really excited about my outfits, but I did get some new jeans (pre-pregnancy size with a little friendly stretch to accommodate holiday girth).

Brixton's first tooth broke through today.  Completely took me by surprise.  I swear one minute he was gummy smiles and the next minute he bit me and made me yelp.  Those teeth are sharp y'all.  And time keeps marching on...

Is it me...

...or do the days feel really  l o n g  lately?

I was up last night until 11:40 locked in the bathroom.  I was practicing my winged eyeliner and busy putting a toilet paper roll in my hair and attemping a beehive look (fail).  I wish I was kidding, but I got one of those 11th hour energy bursts and some ideas from the interwebs and off I was, all back-combing, hair-spraying, bobby-pinning.  

*yawn*

And wouldn't you know it, Mr. Brixton decided that his wake-up time was 6:30.  So there we were.  Me with the remnants of what looked like a fun night out still smeared on my eyes and Mr. Pickle, thinking 6:30 is the new party-time.  Today was just as rotten as the weather, and let me tell you, it was craptastic out there.  Brix and I drove 30 minutes to the shops to do some Christmas shopping (or me shopping, whatever).  I went to one store, tried on a bunch of cute clothes, decided on a skirt and waltzed up to the register.  Then I realized that I hadn't seen my wallet lately.  Or I had, except it was sitting at home, not in my diaper bag where I clearly thought it was.  I was so mad.  SO MAD.  Day ruined (but money saved).  To console myself (and to facilitate stress eating) I baked some sugar cookies.  Baked? Oh, I'm sorry.  Burned.  I meant to type burned some sugar cookies.  So I'm sure you can imagine the fury one has when they want to eat sugary sweets to make themselves feel better/worse and then they can't.  Sigh.

Brixton has been, hmmm, how does a mother put this delicately?  He's been a real jerk lately.  Okay, okay, he's probably teething, or sick, or has a poo that's giving him sting ring, or SOMETHING, but I almost am unable to politely tell you how excited I am that soon he will be placed in Oma's arms and then we are leaving.  Up to here (pointing to neck).  He's in that awkward stage of not being mobile yet, but wanting to play with things out of reach and getting really, really mad.  He can't sit up yet without help, lest he topple over onto his face (sometimes funny, of course not if he hurts himself). 

*Secret:* I've thought about getting a job just to get a break from him.  I think I'm just having a moment though.  Haven't gone to the gym in 5 (6?) days..so no break and no exercise..not good.  I'm just feeling antsy, unorganized (per usual) and unmotivated..a triple threat. 

And on that positive note--hope you have a great week!

Stuff Lately II

I haven't felt bloggy lately, so I just don't blog.  Why force it, ya know?  I've been a busy bee though. 

Halloween:

Brixton went to his first baby party.  Tons of costume cuteness in one place.  All these tiny babies just reinforcing the sheer fact that my baby is huge.  On actual Halloween, I got dressed in my Cleopatra costume at a quarter to four.  The doorbell rang at 4pm sharp..is it me or is that really early?  Guess what..I totally ignored it.  Sorry, but I was in full Cleo-mode, caking on a thick smudge of eyeliner and making sure my hair was as long and straight as the Nile itself.  Plus, hello?!  It's 4!  People aren't even home from work yet!  Anyway, Brendan got gussied up in his "Sea Captain" costume and around 5:30 we took a family walk around the neighborhood.

Lola was the star.  It's not everyday you see a 70lb. banana-split toddling down your sidewalk.  There were lots of people out and I was glad.  I had 5 bags of candy at home, waiting patiently in a big mixing bowl to be handed out.  After walking for about 20 minutes, I couldn't feel my hands anymore in the 40 degree weather, so we trudged home (and Brixton-the-Lion fell asleep).  We waited anxiously by the door..waiting..waiting.  Got a few trick-or-treaters..waiting..waiting..waiting.  It was 7pm.  And you know what?  No one else came.  NO ONE.  Not even a lousy group of teens.  I had 5 bags of candy sitting there. 

The next few days were spent in a sugar coma.  Candy for breakfast.  Candy for lunch.  Candy after my candy lunch.  Why do I feel so tired?  (Grabs a roll of Smarties).  My tongue had cuts on it from the amount of Smarties and Tootsie Roll pops I ate.  Finally, on day 3, I had to throw it out.

Curse you, Halloween!  (Shaking fist).

I'm Old(er):

My birthday was the 5th.  Thank you.  I had wanted to do "Birthday in Bed" where the whole day I would lay in bed while Brendan fussed over me and fixed me food.  Unfortunately, there's this other guy who lives here named Brixton, who apparently doesn't know it was my birthday and the day was supposed to be all about me.  So Birthday in Bed didn't happen.  I did, however, sleep in till almost 10 (heaven).  Brendan fixed me French Toast (with white bread, considered a treat in our house) and coffee.  Then we raked some leaves (because nothing says 'Happy Birthday' like using a wonky rake to rake up dog poop along with seven tons of leaves).  Then we went to a car dealership where I fawned over a way too expensive car (But it's my birthday!).  Then we went to the mall.  Holy smokes, the mall was crazy busy.  Brixton had a blast in the Nordstrom purse section, screaming over a creamy yellow bag,  while flirting with the salesgirls.  Later, at home, Brendan made me steak, potatoes, broccoli and mushrooms, followed by a red velvet mini cake. Happy Birthday indeed.


Christmas Shopping:

My cards are 80% done, a new record for me.  My Christmas shopping is 60% done.  And my wrapping is coming along nicely too.  I just want to get in front of it this year.  I know after we get home from our trip, the weeks are going to buzz by and I don't want to try to play catch up during the busiest shopping days with a 6/7 month old in tow.  It feels pretty great to be ahead of the game for once.  Now I'm just waiting for the first weekend of December, when we get out our decor, get the tree, begin the celebration.  And to top it off we will go into the city to the Christkindlmarkt (German Christmas Market) to snack on some Bratwurst and sip on some Gluehwein.  A new tradition is born.

I got the idea for 'Baby in a Pumpkin' from Yellowlovesquare.  They did it with their adorable baby. It didn't work quite as well with Brixton.  First of all, I couldn't find a pumpkin big enough to accomodate my huge baby.  Second, in order for us to even have a shot at shoving him in there, we had to cut leg holes in the pumpkin.  Oh well.  They turned out cute (ish).  

Fall is slipping by isn't it?  You know what that means.  It's coming.  Can you feel it?  Remember, we were all just posting our 'Welcome Fall' posts, looking forward to the leaves, the chilly temps, the coming holidays.  I haven't seen any 'Welcome Winter' posts.  Can't imagine why.

Brixton Keeps Growing: 6 Months

Brixton, Brixton.  Can you please stop growing?  Other babies your age are so much smaller, so much babier.  You are a monster.  You wake up every day around 7:30 with a huge grin on your face.  You love your bottle and freak out if it doesn't cross the threshold of your lips fast enough.  You eat with gusto.  Your favorite new activity involves crunching wrapping paper or chip bags.  You are starting to sit up more and more on your own.  Your love for Lola is growing day by day.  You are reaching out for things, including mama's face, which you like to squeeze really hard and then gum.  Your first tooth is making its way out.  Pulling hair never gets old for you. 

This is you with Dr. Mike.  You love Dr. Mike, he makes you laugh and smile and has nothing but positive things to say about you.  You weighed 19.8 lbs. today and are 28.5 inches long.  Good thing we already got a new carseat for you because the infant one just isn't going to work much longer. 

This month you get to do so much.  Your first plane trip.  Your first time in California.  Meeting the grand Pacific.  Visiting lots of friends.  Hugging Oma and Grandpa.  Meeting Uncle Kevin.  Your first Thanksgiving.  I am so excited for everything, including (hopefully) a date night out with Daddy.  

I love you, little-big man.  

Football

My name is Kelley and I am a Chargers fan.

Hey, at least I didn't say Raiders.  Oohh...

I can't believe I'm even doing this post.  What?? A post about football??  Somewhere, somehow, I became a fan.  It started when we moved to Denver and were so homesick for San Diego. It was fun to go to our local sportsbar/restaurant on game days and cheer on the Chargers, while the Broncos fans booed us.  After we moved back to San Diego, Sundays turned into lazy game days for us. 

Soon we started knowing things.  LT being traded.  So and so having an injury.  What in the heck?

Now, living in Bears territory, we had to take it to the next level.  I am now the proud owner of a Chargers sweatshirt.  I wore it out to run errands on Sunday--game day.  A million Bears' fans were out in force.  Entire families covered head to toe in blue and orange.  And me in my SD gear.  I looked like an alien.  San Diego?  Where's that?  A lady even pointed at me (but I'm not sure why..I was wearing those darn rainboots again and I swear they stir a reaction in certain people).

I think liking football works for me because it also involves really bad-for-you food.  Nachos.  Wings.  Potato skins.  Chips.  All that good stuff that makes lounging in front of the TV on a Sunday afternoon in the freezing winter totally awesome.  

Brixton may be growing up in Bears and Packers territory, but he will be a Chargers fan (or he's grounded).  Brendan would also accept Jets fan.  Raiders fans never.  And I will end this post by stating that Tom Brady looks like a hippie.