Allergies Blow. And Ache. And Tickle.

My sister N had a great post with my nephew, Fat Nate, making some awesome monster noises. She wasn't sure what he was saying, so asked me to show the video to Jenny to see if she could translate. Apparently, somewhere in the middle, Nathan is telling a pretty funny joke. That's all I got. Usually Jellybean loves to make monster noises, but Fat Nate totally silenced her. I haven't been able to get her to make one since.

We had a nice weekend after my FIVE migraines. Allergies were apparently triggering them rapid-fire, which was really super terrible bad. I recovered in time to drag The Ta and The Bean to a spring festival-type thing Saturday afternoon, which was a blast, and then The Ta and New Jen got their 'za on with her Saturday night so that I could go over-indulge in vicious killer margaritas. NJ gave her some cute personalized pins and necklaces and stuff, which was very sweet. Jenny Fingers loves the bribes. Sunday morning we had brunch with Aunt J for her 30th, and I made her cry not once but THREE TIMES. I don't have pictures because, uh, I was too hungover to deal. Hopefully her mother will share some.

Last night I put together one of those climber thingies, and since it was a lovely mild (although apparently hideously windy) evening, went out and threw Jelly on it. Surprise, surprise, our fearless climber was in heaven. Of course it's pouring rain today so she can't go out, but I can't wait til she gets another run at it. Apologies for the sound quality on the video.

Grumpy Mama, Cute Baby, Such is Life

I'm 10 months old!

Blah. Blah, blah, blah. And a grumpity-grump, for good measure. It's been a long week. I got not one but two migraines, which was NOT as much fun as you'd think. And since I was trying to be all smart and did an HSA instead of regular insurance, my migraine stuff is going to cost like $300. SUPER lame! And I cannot get my house refinanced, because my neighborhood is so crappy. And the weather is grey and damp, and I've been having night sweats (gross, irritating) so I haven't been sleeping, and we all know how THAT goes. I'm so grumpy I'm not even using spell check. So THERE!

To try to cheer myself up, since American Express screwed me over and I ended up having to pull $1700 from nowhere and am now forced to eat leftovers scrounged from Jelly's highchair, and nothing makes me happier when I'm broke than spending money I don't have, unless it's a run-on sentence, I decided to buy us a plane ticket to Cincinnati. Yay, Cincinnati! The Bean and I are gonna make that mistake again! It's been long enough to forget that trauma of the last trip, and my parents and my sister and my niece and nephew and brother and brother-in-law will be there, so it should be a fun, stressful, sleepless time. With too much food. In actuality I am just going so I can see my nephew, Fat Nate. He needs pinches from his Aunt Sparkles. And Beaner was just mentioning the other day how she was missing her Aunt N.

Yes, more of that, please.

Jennifer J, the Social Jellyfly, has been quite busy. She attended her first Renaissance Faire like the good little nerd she is, and had some delicious Goodberry's, and is going to have another party with The Ta this weekend while mama goes out and gets her drunk on, Mexican-house-party style. We also FINALLY got the patio furniture put together with the help and coaxing of Aunt J. Thanks, Wal-Mart, it looks like furniture twice its cost! I cannot wait to have people over, and get the cushions and umbrella out and have some drinkys.

This shall suffice.

It's April, which means that NEXT MONTH will be Jellybean's first birthday. CRAZY! Kids DO grow like weeds! Her latest thing is to make a constant 'monster noise', which my sister N says Fat Nate does as well, and she has promised to make a video as long as I then send a video of Jelly watching his video. We really like our kids and don't otherwise have lives, as you can tell.

Yes, bow before me, that's how things should be.

Jellybean is also very close to walking. It's going to totally freak me out when she does it.

Brain Has Left the Building, Sleep Yet to Be Found

Tired. Tired, tired, tired. Thankfully, Weekend is here to take me away to a place where I might be able to get some naps and replenish the sadly depleted sleep stores. That would be good, so I don't get fired for being as dumb as I was this week, after nights of baby waking up and migraines and bad noisy neighbors, and days of bosses yelling and babies and mamas crying and dirty clothes and so many things piling up.

No plans except for precious, elusive sleep.

Happy weekend to all, and to all a good night.

Dear Bed, I Miss You. Love, Me.

Saturday was fun – we went to the parade, and Jellybean thought it was the best thing ever. Of course, how could you go wrong with dancing and music and doggies, and people laughing and smiling and waving at her?! We set up camp right at the beginning of the parade, so scored all kinds of green beads and leis and candy and free t-shirts, which was very exciting. I was a little disappointed that there weren't more bands (no high school bands at all - Cousin J, you can explain why to me later). But there was a bonus crazy person beside us, which I thought was cool. Other people near us were a little freaked out by him, but I think it's good to have learning opportunities like that for Jelly ('See, he's a grown-up but he's very excited to get candy too!'). There's a lot of crazy in my family, both the medically documented and treated kind as well as the let's-never-talk-about-this-and-pretend-it-doesn't-exist kind. I want Jellybean to have every opportunity to be open-minded and sensitive to the fact that there are all kinds of different people in the world, whether they're challenged or the gays or that religion where you're not allowed to dance, and we shouldn't be freaked out or disapproving or scared or judge-y. Live and let live, man. Plus, I just like to talk to strangers, and like it when people talk to me, and I have better chances with the crazies.

Sunday was badness. I messed up dates and was hazy on locations, so ended up driving all over the place to find a couple consignment sales, one of which was over and one of which was just totally lame. Then I drove another zillion miles for a BBQ that had been cancelled without my knowledge. All in all, poor Jenny spent about 6 hours in the car, and we were both tired and grumpy and did NOT get birthday cake and the day was ruined. I didn't get to the laundry or the grocery store or my bed for a nap or to taking Jelly's 10-month pictures. However, that evening, in the cool quiet twilight, rocking her to sleep, I realized that any day spent with Jellybean was a good day no matter what, and that was nice.

Last night I totally jinxed myself by gloating to my sister about how awesome Jenny was sleeping lately, which resulted in The Gods of Gloating Mothers smoting me soundly. Jelly woke up screaming around 1am, and couldn't be soothed despite my rocking and singing for over half an hour. I assume it was a baby nightmare of the worst kind, since she wasn't sick and she had all her major appendages intact. I finally gave up and dragged her into bed with me, which I must remind myself is NEVER the right answer. After a handful of snatches of sleep interrupted by kicking and punching (not by me, I'm proud to say), I blearily crawled out of my small corner of the bed I'd been allocated to learn I'd started my period. Of course. So breakfast was a gallon of coffee, followed closely by fistfuls of Tums and Midol, and now I'm just grumpy and crampy and jittery and tired and barfy. Blergh.

The Bean seems to be having a good day (of course she is, SHE got a lovely nap and isn't working on Powerpoint slides that keep fuzzily sliding away from her). She is standing up like a champ, even better than just three days ago. As Nanny pointed out, it's going to be so bizarre when the two monkeys are walking around. I have to go out and pick up a Craigslist high chair (this one), which hopefully will replace the chair that makes them chew on the delicious kitchen table. Then I have to be done with my CL fixation, because my tax-spending frenzy went a little too wild, and I'm back to Dollar Store tuna and powdered milk.

I hope whatever you are doing today you are much more cheery than me. And showered.

I'd Love Some Pot O' Gold Chocolates Right About Now

The Ta says, "Don't you blog anything bad about me, I'm The Ta!"

I may have too many writing obligations now. In addition to the stuff I like, get PAID to write (some exceptionally boring technical articles for work), I also have my blog, Jelly’s website, the Triangle Mommies +35 REPRESENT!, and my favorite Choice Moms blog (if you haven't had enough of me by the end of this, read my 'What Ifs' post here). It just so happens that I really should have something for all those, today. Hurray for overextending oneself!

Jelly had a very fun Friday evening at Tata’s Pizza Party and Jellybean Squeeze Emporium, where she made some new friends. J-Jo and Nurse S. were astounded by Jenny’s mad eating skillz, and Jenny couldn’t believe her luck when The Ta was dumb enough to give her a delicious cannoli. After inhaling her own personal 7-inch cheese pizza and the aforementioned pastry, J-Jo and Nurse S. puzzled out the complex Pooh Jammies and got some snuggles. J-Jo is apparently now her #1 fan, since she is another Jennifer, and has plans to bestow upon Jelly all kinds of awesome personalized jewelry items. Jelly of course loved the attention, and has already asked to go visit all those nice food items I mean people again.

I can't believe they gave me this deliciousness!

Jelly and her newest fan base

While Jelly was jamming, mama was nerding out at CarolinaCon V (not to be confused with ‘V – The Final Battle’). My little hacker group hosts a technology conference every year, and while I generally find the talks a little too much like school (why would I want to LEARN in my free time?!), it’s great to get together with a fun, smart, very varied group of people every year. It’s always exciting to see what the kids are up to these days (I was offered 2C-I, a fun new experimental drug; while I was smart enough to Just Say No, I did make the mistake of tasting the homemade ‘Apple Schnapps’, which was nowhere near as tasty as Windex or as smooth as Ammonia). I also made yet another drinking mistake. Yes, tequila and House Nachos are bad, but a worse mix is a gallon of vodka and sushi. Sushi! Who gets tanked and decides to eat $300 worth of raw fish?!! Apparently, hackers. I also thought it would be funny to take another picture of myself, drunk, in a bathroom. I am such a moron.

"Say 'Hi' to the nice people, Baby Hacksalot!" says the soon-to-be-dad

Yes, those are glow sticks and a necklace flask around my neck. Yes, I am really lame.

Saturday morning I was definitely paying for my night of debauchery, with my vodka-tuna hangover and lack of sleep. I dragged us back to the Con so she could be exposed to extreme geekiness, but then Jelly decided to punish me further by refusing to nap, so the two grumpy girls went to bed early Saturday and missed out on some St. Patty's parties. We did, however, have a fun day Sunday cooking baby meals and running errands.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I realized just how much I hate green when I went through my closet this morning. I found an old sweatshirt of Cousin Jim’s, and a pair of capris (both olive), and that was it. Jenny had a sweater and one pair of pants and some Oscar the Grouch socks, and that was it for her. The only thing I hate more than green is purple – I own NOTHING purple (not even underwear or socks), and The Bean has one spanky suit and one onesie (and I think one hoody that no longer fits) and that’s about it for her. I wonder what kind of stuff she’ll pick out for herself when she’s older?

Lastly, I'd like to strike a stand for the non-breastfeeding-and-proud-of-it women out there. This article* is both hilarious and enlightening (and I'm sure my sister will want to do her own research to either support or refute it, since this is one of her pet projects). As a mother who was a low producer with nipple issues (sorry, TMI, I know) and had a terrible fear of starving her baby, I made the agonizing switch to formula and it has tormented me since, but in my heart of hearts I know it was the right thing for me to do, especially as a single working mother. Try to imagine the number of people who have either conciously or unconciously said horrible things to me, or around me, as a result. And don't post a comment that I am Satan Incarnate, because, duh, I know already! If you're a mother-to-be out there, reading this, you might as well start preparing for this trauma, no matter if you do or don't breastfeed. It's just one of many, many things you will somehow do wrong in someone's eyes, no matter how you do it. Might as well accept that and get use to it now!

Have a good week!

(*I found it really interesting that the La Leche League were totally Christian Crusaders)

Jellybean Learns to Clap

Man, is she ever cute.

I am worried she's got molars coming in though, she's had those fingers shoved in the back of her mouth all weekend. My baby, the incredible teething machine.

Just Being Jelly

I'm sorry I've been so derelict in my blogging duties lately, but I only have time for a quick pic and update before I've got to scurry (scurvy?) off and write an overdue post for the Triangle Mommies. I am going to be blogging for them as a decrepit spinster in the 'Club 35' category. It should be exciting. I will be using labels for the first time! (dunno why I never bothered here, just lazy I guess).

We had a playdate this morning with some very active and adorable twins, and while I learned you should never have a playdate with a professional photographer unless you're prepared to do your hair and plaster on some make-up, it was a lot of fun. The twins are a month older than Jellybean, and are big on giving kisses, so at one point Jenny was laying on the floor getting totally mauled with love. She looked slightly confused and slightly thrilled. I told her she might as well get use to it, since she's so freaking adorable. Until she's 14 and enters that convent, obviously.

Not much new, we got our second snow and it was just irritating - cold, made me worry The Nanny wouldn't make it, was a sign that I definitely will not be able to go to the beach any time soon. Jenny tortured me for three mornings in a row by waking up at 4:45, an ungodly hour that should only be seen by drunks arriving home from the bar or night shift people excited to be going home soon. I have been, uh, unpleasant, to be around, and have made myself go to bed earlier and earlier the past few nights. Which totally blows, because I work all day and take care of Jelly for a few hours and then go to bed. No fun there. I take that back, hanging out with Jellybean is always fun. But I miss my 'unwind time', watching movies or playing video games or WORKING ON THE DAMN SCRAPBOOK WHICH I AM NEVER GOING TO FINISH. *sigh*