Dancin' With Ducky

Make sure and notice the fancy foot work! Can my kid shake it, or what?

15 Month Newsletter

Dear Rory,

A few days ago, you turned 15 months old, but you've already developed the defiant attitude of a 15 year old. You want so badly to be you're own little independent person right now and you just love to push at the boundries we've tried to set up for you. (Notice the key word there is TRIED.)

I hate the fact that I'm constantly having to say NO NO NO to you all day long, but unfortunately, you haven't learned to distinguish between what is just fun to bug Mama with and what is actually dangerous. And being the total dare devil that you are, most of the things you find to get into these days have danger written all of over them. Like trying to climb up onto the oven door so you can turn on the stove (which is "child-proofed" by the way, but it's not like that actually STOPS you). Or trying to pull wires out of the wall and chew on them with your new mouthful of teeth. Or trying to "walk" down the stairs by yourself like a big person when your chunky little legs just aren't long enough yet so you go tumbling down head first. Or getting into our dishwasher and shoving knives in your mouth (see charming video of evidence below.)



Rory, you should know that there is only so much of this a mother can take in one day (one hour, one minute...) without wanting to tie you down to a chair to keep you safe from yourself. But since we obviously can't do that (can we????), then we should talk about trying to channel your abundant energy towards something else, like maybe putting you on a treadmill and having you provide the electricity for the entire city of Camarillo. Ha ha.

But on a positive note, you're ability to communicate has absolutely exploded this month. It's amazing to be able to say to you, "Hey Rory, let's go upstairs and get in the bath" and then actually have you get up and go! When that happens I feel like running out the door and shouting your praises to the neighborhood. You are also signing like a maniac (your latest signs are "milk", "thank you" and a Rory-version of "Where is it?"). You also have a bunch of new words that you say this month, including:
- Tree (pronounced "Tee")
- Please (pronounced "Peeeez" and only when prompted)
- Ball (or "A Ball" as you say it)
- Keys
- Fish (pronounced "FSHHHHH")

Besides trying to talk to us, your newest obsession this month is the Teletubbies. We Tivo it for you (thank God for Tivo!) and as soon as you hear the music come on, you run right over to TV, get as close to it as you can, and then smile and giggle as each Teletubbie pops up on the screen. You get so excited that you dance around in a circle and clap your hands. It's probably the cutest thing I've ever seen you do. (And it's the only way we can get you to sit still for longer than 2 minutes these days.)

So, you're a handfull. Okay, a BIG HANDFULL. But when you grab my face and give me a big slobbery kiss, or walk around the house wearing your Daddy's shoes, or chuckle a fake little laugh just because you hear us laughing and you don't want to be left out...well, I can't imagine loving you any more than I do right now.

Happy 15 months to my Busy Bee.

Love,
Mama

Just for Fun...

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

What do you think? Is this me? Hmmmm...

Puke Girl

So, I did a really stupid thing and ate a sandwich from work that I KNEW wasn't that fresh. And then six hours later I got sick. REALLY, REALLY SICK. Take me to the hospital, I want to die sick.



So sick, in fact, that my husband and child were afraid to come anywhere near me for a full 24 hours. So sick that I can't even TYPE the name of what I ate because just the thought of it will make me start hurling over again. So sick that I may never be able to eat chicken again. Yup, THAT EFFING SICK.

And it's my own fault...

What's worse than that?

What Is This World Coming To?

This past week, I have run into some pretty strange people. Actually, maybe I really just mean RUDE people. The streak started on Wednesday when I was shopping at a thrift store. I was trying to manuever Rory's stroller down a small aisle of clothing and there was a woman in the way. I politely asked her if she could move over a bit so that we could get through and without even looking at me she says, "You'll just have to figure out a way around me, honey." Thanks, lady. How about if we just wheel OVER you instead?

Then, later that day, Rory and I were at the mall in the children's play area when a woman rolled up with a stroller that not only had her daughter in it, but also a small dog in the basket. The fact that the dog was wearing a diaper should have been my first clue that something was weird, but hey, hind sight is twenty-twenty, right? Anyway, Rory saw the dog right away and started running towards it going "Whoof Whoof!" so I went over to ask the lady if it was okay for him to pet it. I was a little hesitant because the dog seemed sorta high strung, but the Dog Lady says, "Oh, she's just great with kids, here let me show you." So she grabs Rory's hand and brings it over to pet the dog, when all of a sudden, the dog jumps up, snarls, and bites Rory's finger! The damn thing BIT MY SON!!!!

It wasn't a bad bite, but it was bleeding a bit and Rory was totally hysterical. And as my baby was sobbing in my arms, all the Dog Lady says is, "I wouldn't really worry about it, it's not like the dog hasn't had it's shots." EXCUSE ME? Shouldn't you be saying something more along the lines of SORRY?! Can you believe that bitch never even apologized? She just went on acting like nothing had even happened, and here's my son, practically hyperventilating because he's crying so hard. He could be traumatized for life, for God's sake! I grabbed Rory and got as far away from Dog Lady and her little monster in a diaper as I could. Then I made a panicky call to Rory's pediatrician to see if I needed to bring him in, which thankfully the bite turned out to be so minor that it didn't require medical attention. But my poor guy spent the rest of the day clinging to me and repeating "Mama, Whoof Whoof" and then crying uncontrollably. Shame on you, Dog Lady. Shame, shame, shame!

And as if that wasn't enough, today this guy came into The Mother of All Coffee Houses while I was working and rudely demanded a free drink just because both of our bathrooms had been occupied when he wanted to use them. Yes, Sir, you're right -it's totally our fault that other customers needed to relieve themselves at the same time as you. We obviously planned it that way just to spite you...

What is this world coming to???

Luckily, my day ended with this, and everything was better: