Not Me Monday...isn't it always?

(Ok I am done posting after this...this is my 4th post today so I've been busy catching up on my blog today.)

I was so excited to see the sun on Friday morning I threwgently placed Tobi in her carseat and dashed over to Concord to hit the pool before the rain set in. I volunteered to walk Kayla and Andy to pool with Tobi while Sadie finished sleeping and Nate...well did whatever Nate was doing. As we rounded the corner I most definitely did not see Zebby the dog running in front of us right to the park. Because I didn't see him I certainly didn't call after him and pretend to walk back home with the kids to which his response would have been to run faster and further away. Then when we got within earshot of people I definitely did not tell the kids not to call his name and just keep walking to the pool and pretend we had never seen that crazy dog before in our lives. I knew he would probably go back home but I knew I couldn't force him...so I just let him run free (he's friendly enough) until Sarah joined us at the pool...er, I mean I would have done that if that had happened.

Once I got to the pool I did not walk in the public bathroom at the pool in bare feet. (When I said running barefoot..this is not at all what I meant.) I had no time (or at least that is what I was led to believe) to run all the way back to where my shoes were before an accident occured. I did not contemplate letting that accident occur and let the chlorine wash it away. I did not plop gently place an almost 3 year old on the toilet while tiptoeing in as few steps as possible and then run back to peek on Andy (and get off that nasty floor) then pull Kayla with pants down outside to pull up her suit to avoid having to stand on that floor for one second more... and all with Tobi in my arms. I totally thought that through so I could avoid a situation like that...yeppers.

I'm sure there are a ton more things to confess but this post is long enough already...I'll just have to claim the rest under absolution and start this week out with a clean slate. I did not just say that, did I?

You can read more things people didn't do here if you'd like!

ELEVEN!

Oh my! We are just one month away from a year! On one hand, it is hard to believe that at this time last year, Tobi was still a mysterious kicking, hiccuping, swimming, rolling, bundle of joy inside of me. On the other hand, could it be true that all these months have flown by already? Just for fun, here's a little comparison, one month to eleven months.

Then...
Now...
Then...

Now...
It has been a joy this month watching her become even more her own little person. Her favorite things by far are the soccer ball (pictured above) and Pesto kitty, who she meows at every time he comes in the room. She is crawling like there is no tomorrow...especially after the kitty or the ball. She LOVES playing peek-a-boo - BOOO! is her new favorite word, right up there with "ball" and "meow". As a matter of fact I think she is yelling "boo" at me from her crib right now.

Here's a little clip of a sample of it all ...Boo, Ball, (which are different, but the difference is VERY subtle) and another new word "NO" (which is just cute now and doesn't really have a lot of meaning yet)..all with some hiccups thrown in there. :)

Pool time

I have been excited about the pool all winter and spring... unfortunately the pools opened AFTER all the warm sunny days. Last Friday, the morning was sunny and warm...so a quick trip to the pool was a MUST! We had a good morning there, picnic lunch in the park...and back to swim for a few minutes before the clouds rolled in and the thunder, lightening and rain sent us running outta there!!!!

Tobi did make it to the pool last summer but she was only a couple weeks old. In just 11 months we went from this:
to this:And from this:
To this:
More pool pics here.

Finally!

Last Thursday we finally had a sunny day around here...so off to the lake. We went to Lake Sunapee with a bunch of moms and kids from our moms group. As you can see, everyone kept VERY busy all day.
It was a little cloudy in the morning, but it was FULL sun and blue skies by noon. Beach hats were a must.
Tobi took her first dip in the lake water. She is getting better, little by little, about water and sand...Sadie on the other hand seems fully acclimated :)
(Of course the battery on my camera died so I had to take this pic with my cellphone...again!)

Ahh...I remember that day...the one sunny day of summer...

more beach pics here.

Father's Day

I feel like I may not have been as quite as prepared for father's day as I wanted to be...I offered the roast in our freezer as a lunch option, but I guess I didn't think it through very well because I have never personally cooked a roast...I guess in my mind I was just planning to figure it out somehow. But I started asking Ben a bunch of questions since he is the real chef in the house and the next thing I knew he was making himself (and the rest of us) a roast. Oops...but it was delicious!

The boys picked out a gift that Grandpa would really like... or maybe something we all could enjoy! At first they found a big jar of peanuts which are truly one of Grandpa's favorites...but then they saw the trail mix with all the extras in it...like M&M's, etc. Andy really wanted to give Grandpa his gift all day...
I guess they were right...it looks like Grandpa is pretty excited!Everyone did get to share...and Kayla even made her own creative trail mix holder...


It has been such a joy for me to watch Ben as a Dad...I knew that he would be a great dad because he is great with kids, he is a genuine person with great integrity and he really values family...but what I hadn't fully anticipated was how much pleasure and pride I get from watching his interaction with our girl. I love how he loves her... I don't exactly know why that is so personally satisfying for me...probably because, instead of taking away anything from our relationship, this new dynamic actually adds to and deepens what we have between us. Also, I can appreciate him in yet another way...and I know how much a family has been his heart's desire and seeing that fulfilled gives me joy too.
I feel beyond blessed...I have a wonderful father who I appreciate more than words can express... and who I appreciate even more as I see the relationship my husband has with our daughter.

Not Me Monday .... it's been a really poopy week, literally!

Actually it's been a lovely week...just a little extra diaper issue than usual. Tobi has her worst diaper rash yet. When I called the nurse about it she said to alternate hydrocortisone and lotrimin cream with every diaper change, to let her air out as much as possible and to not use wipes. Between her more than usual share of messy diapers, letting her air out by crawling and sitting around diaperless, and running to the bathroom with bare-bottomed baby at arms length to wash off her bottom instead if wiping it...let's just say there has been more than one adult in this house who has NOT had to wipe poop off their own arm/hand/shirt this week. Not in this house... no way!

Wednesday was my birthday. My very kind and thoughtful husband surprised me by arranging to have my sister-in-law, Sarah, watch Tobi while we went out for dinner. Now because I am always immaculately dressed and ready for any occasion it could NOT have been me who asked my husband on the way to wherever we were going (still at that point a surprise to me...I thought we were eating in) if I should have changed out of my poop-stained shirt (hardly noticable...er...I mean if I had been wearing such an item). This certainly would NOT be the first time the two of us have gone out to dinner alone since Tobi was born 10 1/2 months ago...everyone knows that couples need to spend time alone from time to time.

Saturday we went out to our somewhat "regular" breakfast place, Andy's. It's a good thing I do NOT get slightly proud when we walk in and get special treatment and attention (I say we, but really it's the baby...we are just along for the ride) as all the waitresses ooh and say "Hello, Princess...oh look it's our Andy's baby!" I am really glad that it was NOT ME that spilled an entire glass of water all over the table..and then used my catlike reflexes to reach to save it from going over the edge and in so doing spilt a whole bowl of dry Cheerios (cereal dust and all) all over the seat and floor. It would have been embarrassing if the whole restaurant turned around while waitresses ran from all corners throwing gobs and gobs of paper towels all over the table while I sat motionless so the water would not run into my lap and thus destroy the Cheerios that covered my lap. And what terrible mother would sit quietly while one of the waitresses insinuated loudly that the "princess" had been responsible for causing such a spill...while knowing full well that it was entirely her own fault? NOT this mom...nope! I'm sure I didn't mumble something that no one could hear... like "Wish I could blame her..." in a feeble attempt to take the blame myself.

Well...that sums up just a few of our adventures from the past week. For more fun check out other NOT ME! posts here.

Happy Birthday Ben!

Yesterday was Ben's birthday. He took the day off of work and we had a great day at the beach. We started the day with a trip to the DMV to get our licences renewed which is always a better experience when shared with someone you love. It was a rather painless experience and we got to laugh at each others pictures while they were being taken.
From there we headed to Plum Island...a family favorite. Tobi has already been there several times , in utero and during her first 6 weeks after birth..but I don't think she remembered.

We thought it would be cool by the water so this is how we dressed...
But actually it was quite warm and fortuately we packed clothes for all possibilities.
This time was a lot different with Tobi being a crawler and into just about everything.
Ben even donned the Moby for a trek down the beach (so far its been a Mama only item). Tobi really enjoyed picking at all the "dots" on Daddy's back.
It was fun way to ride for a stroll on the beach.
We ended the day with dinner (and dessert...yum) at Not Your Average Joe's in Newburyport. And then we took a little walk along the pier. It was just perfect weather all day. We couldn't have asked for a better day. And I couldn't ask for a better husband and friend...

... and father to Tobi.
Happy Birthday, Ben...I love you!

Not Me Monday and Adventures in Eye Care

(Click on the Not Me! button to read other Not Me! posts)

Well...let me choose from among the many things that did NOT happen to me recently.

So, I definitely did NOT overestimate the number of things I could do in one morning. Tobi's followup appointment at the clinic, eye exam/new glasses, the gym, then home in time for lunch and nap. This WAS the plan.

When I arrived at the clinic and I took Tobi out of the car seat my arm quickly absorbed some moisture. (No, not what you're thinking.) I guess she didn't feel like finishing the bottle she was enjoying on the way to the appointment. It was tipped upside down in her chair, slowly leaking and pooling under her. She absorbed quite a bit of it herself, one side of her outfit was completely drenched. No problem. She had to get undressed for the appointment anyway.
The appointment went fine but I couldn't put her back in that milk soaked clothing...well maybe if I left off the long sleeve onesie I could salvage the rest of the one piece pants suit (which I had originally chosen for the ease of getting it off and on again). Much to my disgust I noticed at that moment for the first time that there were definitely NOT big gross looking stains all over the front and back of said onesie. I had washed it but apparently had not examined post washing. Hmmm...Gym daycare? Could I? No, it was just too yucky and damp on top of that. I was heading to the mall anyway to get my eyes checked (just in time I guess!). Just a quick stop at Old Navy and I could pick up a cheap change of clothes. (Why do I always have extra clothes when I don't need them and never when I do?)

As I took the corner leaving the Dunkin' Donuts drive thru (which I had to utilize due to the absolutely undrinkable coffee from the day before that I had tried to heat up and put in a non-spill proof travel mug) I certainly did NOT spill the "old" coffee (my life's theme) onto my pants...well, more accurately onto my seat which my pants quickly absorbed... I mean, did NOT absorb. I had already been pushing the limits of a public acceptability in appointment appropriate clothing, since my plan was to hit the gym on the way home. I tried my best to find clothing that would span the activities of the day...but the coffee stain down the back of my leg (starting at my lower back and heading toward the back of my knee) might have pushed me into another category...and then some.
No time to change. No extra clothing. No choice. Good thing I did NOT walk into the mall with coffee stained pants, head directly to the bathroom and do my best to wash up and then stand backside toward the hand dryer...desperately hoping to at least make the stain less obvious. And if "good enough" is your motto, then I guess it was successful.

Next stop, Old Navy. Good thing I did NOT spend 45 minutes (or more) there on my quick stop trying to find the cheapest acceptable clothing on the clearance rack...something worth buying...warm enough for a cool day...not too small...not too big...3 for $15...well she could wear it this summer...but not white...doesn't match...cheap but not cute. Good thing I did NOT get to the counter with 5 baby items and a shirt for me (especially when it was my pants that needed replacing). Oh...and it is a good thing the SAME sales guy did NOT pick up Tobi's shoe, burp cloth and sock at 3 different times at 3 different spots in the store and ask "Is this yours?". That would have been a little embarrassing.

On to LensCrafters. Oh my. Big stroller, little exam room, unhappy baby, stained sweatpants, buried snack...good thing this was NOT me. The preliminary eye exam (before the actual eye exam? No idea.) man actually said to Tobi, "You're being a good baby. Keep up the good work." Umm...Tobi did not listen. When we got to the actual eye exam room I did NOT empty out the entire contents of the under carriage storage to find a manageable snack, only find Cheerios, throw said Cheerios on the chest of my baby (who was still in the baby carrier in the stroller so ... no snack tray) as the Dr. came in. And I did NOT quickly shove everything back under the carriage and pop up and say a quick nervous "Hi" as if I had been caught rummaging through the office drawers. I also did NOT sit helpless as the eye Dr. offered to keep feeding (or putting more on Tobi's chest...just like Mom) handfuls of Cheerios to a whining, back arching, not interested in snacking baby, while I mumbled "It's okay. You're okay..." with my chin and head pressed into that head-vice eye machine thingy. It's also good that I did NOT prolong the exam by 1) continually confusing left and right and 2) darting my eyes over to Tobi, involuntarily, every time she squawked, instead of focusing on the little light (or little house, or earring, or WHATEVER...).

Finally out of the exam room I was cleared to pick out some new frames. I'm glad I had NOT been using a pair of glasses (which I recently lost anyway) with a 6 year old prescription. If I had I may have been slightly chided by the LensCrafters man, who thus would have encouraged me to get glasses as soon as yesterday. Good thing I did NOT have to continually walk around the store (size of a postage stamp) 18 times minimum every time Tobi would get restless. And after all that I certainly am glad I did NOT leave the store without any frames, only to come back 5 hours later so Ben could help me decide on a pair of frames, then return all of the clothes I bought at Old Navy since I totally did NOT miss the daycare hours at the gym and void the need for a change of clothes for Tobi after all.

Wow, that was just one day of things that did NOT happen to me last week. Imagine what the rest of my life is week was NOT like.