I want my mommy.

My family left this morning, and I'm bummed. I miss them when they're gone, and I wish they could have stayed longer. Yes, I even wish my baby sister Mary (who I think absolutely qualifies as my baby sister, even at almost seventeen) was still here, even though she kicked my butt in Push Rum several times over the course of the visit and hoarded so many cards during our last game last night that I threatened her with no birthday presents at all for the next six years. At least.

It did no good.

Anyway, my parents like late nights, especially on such a short trip, so I'm tired. I have no good stories. And I still haven't gone through my 'real camera' pictures from Christmas.

But, well, I do have these...






Have I mentioned that Brigid's favorite movie is Nightmare Before Christmas? I don't know how it happened, but she is obsessed with the opening number. She claps along with all of the Halloween townfolk when Jack Skellington emerges from the cauldron of green goo. She will sit through the next five minutes of the movie, just to get to the 'What's This?' song. It's the only thing I've seen (non-Elmo related) that will keep her entertained for 20 minutes when we're in the car. She loves it so much, she forgets to be pissed that she's strapped into her car seat. That doesn't happen very often.

Also? There's this...

Steve went to the American Girl store, of his own volition, because he wanted to be the first to get her one of these dolls. We are never the first to get her anything, because the grandparents are nuts, but gosh darnit, Steve won this round. I still haven't been to the American Girl store, but I guess we have some time ahead of us. I love that place. I feel like I will be giving them a lot of my money in the coming years, just as much for things that I want as for things that Brigid wants.

How do you make sure your kid isn't spoiled, when her parents are basically big kids, themselves?

New Year's Resolutions: Family Edition

This isn't so much a list of resolutions as it is a 2011 to-do list. But I think 'resolutions' sounds less like nagging and more like things I want to change for myself, even though some of these are technically for Steve...

1) Fix the backyard. Or, more accurately, get a backyard, since 'yard' is not a term I'd use to describe what's behind our house. Hill rising out of a mudpit, might be more appropriate, due to the ridiculous drainage issues we currently have. Seriously, you should see the river that runs through it when it rains. This will be the year we change that! Brigid needs an outdoor play area that doesn't involve the street, I think.

Of course, this all hinges on money, but I will find a way to make it better, somehow.

2) Organize Brigid's playroom. This is already in process, but I want to put something on this list that I know I will accomplish this year. Because that's how I roll.

3) Organize the office. We've lived in our house for almost three years now, and that room is still kind of a mess. It's our dumping ground, and that's probably not a good thing. That will change!

4) Organize the kitchen. For the love, I am an unorganized mess. This little project would involve cleaning out the kitchen cabinets (which need to be emptied of old stuff like nonstick skillets with the nonstick peeling off to make room for the new nonstick skillets with the nonstick intact) and the pantry (which needs to be emptied of small kitchen appliances that are not used on an everyday basis. I can find a better location for these things. I know I can!!).

5) Fold all laundry when it comes out of the dryer, not a week later, after it's been sitting in the laundry basket so long that I need to finally fold it because it is time to do laundry all over again, and I will be refilling said basket. This is an annoying personal habit of mine that I am determined to change. Also? The fact that I have had a load of laundry in the dryer, waiting to be folded, for almost 24 hours now does not count.

6) Stick to the budget! We do not need all of the miscellaneous crap that we buy on a weekly basis. I currently have 305 unused candles at my house, but I will not hesitate to buy more, if the price is right. The problem? The price is never right! Because I have 305 unused candles already! Unless you are paying me to buy anymore damn candles, I DO NOT NEED THEM! You could probably replace candles with just about anything else you find at Target, and it would work in this situation. I buy too much crap. Please note, this does not mean I want you to stop buying these things for me, I will just no longer be buying them for myself.

7) Enroll Brigid and I in some sort of mommy and me activity for our Fridays together. I am lazy. Brigid will get bored with me. I should probably do something about that. See also: get a frackin' library card so my mother-in-law can finally take Brigid to the toddler activity hour at our local library, like she has been wanting to do for months...

8) Institute some kind of weekly or monthly date night with my dear husband (details to be determined, obviously). Because just sitting on two separate couches in the same room after the baby goes to bed while watching tv or perusing the internet does not quality time make.

Oh, 2011, you think you're so tough? Bring it on, buster.

I'm ready for you.


If you're at all interested in my personal, non-family, related goals for 2011, feel free to visit me here.

Oh, hello there...

Well, Christmas happened. 

And I absolutely meant to record all of the happenings here in my little corner of the internet, but...well...I absolutely didn't get around to it.  Instead, I went on vacation, and I got all wrapped up in celebrating the holiday, and I didn't feel like stopping the celebrating to write about any of it.  So, I guess I will now wrap it up with the following list of Things That Happened Over Christmas...

Presented in chronological order:
1) We went to the outlet mall and Wal-Mart two days before Christmas...and we lived to tell the tale.

2) We went back to the outlet mall on Christmas Eve, because we are gluttons for punishment.

3) We went to the early evening Christmas Eve mass for kids, thinking all of the other kids around Brigid would give her enough entertainment to keep her from acting up.  And they did.  Up until the closing song, when B threw her snack container halfway across the church.  Which occurred shortly after she presented me with a diaper full of poo during the Lord's Prayer.  I guess you could call it a success...

4) Brigid got waaaay too comfortable with the unwrapping of presents.  Need a present unwrapped?  She's your kid.

5) We were snowed in at the in-laws' house.  First white Christmas since 1882...I was not as thrilled with this as the rest of the greater Atlanta area appeared to be.  I MOVED AWAY FROM SNOW!!!







Or not.  Whatever.  Bastards.  It's getting harder and harder to convince my parents I moved south for the weather when this is going on...

6) Speaking of parents...my parents are visiting!  Time with my parents, without having to entertain B in the car for hours in order to get it?  Sounds like the perfect Christmas to me.

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and that Santa was as good to you and your family as he was to mine!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Who goes to the outlet mall, two days before Christmas, with a toddler, and no stroller?

This guy, that's who!

Who subsequently spent the next hour plus peeling said toddler up off of the floor of various stores, where she had thrown her pissed off little self down in protest after mommy dared to pick her up, or considered putting her down, or tried to get her to not touch EVERY. SINGLE. THING. within reach?

That would be my sister-in-law, while I tried to pretend I didn't know the screaming child in the corner.

Totally kidding, of course.  There was no screaming, but Brigid was most definitely on the floor, making her displeasure known.  When she wasn't trying to wriggle out of my grasp and run away from me as fast as her little toddler legs could carry her, of course.  And I did pawn her off on my sister-in-law long enough to complete my shopping errand, at which point Katie took her outside to run around without fear of breaking anything.  Because, as she later said, 'I don't know what people not associated with Brigid were thinking, but I definitely needed to get out of there.'  So, there's that.

Next time?  I am absolutely bringing the stroller. At least she can't escape from me when she's strapped in...

The Nanny Diaries, Part 367

Well, hello. What's that you say? Nanny interviews? Again? Sure, why not! I never get tired of asking strangers questions about what kind of childcare activities they've participated in over the last few years, how they feel about watching a toddler and two ridiculously poorly behaved dogs all day, whether they're happy with their current living/employment situation, and what additional strangers I may call to verify that they're not feeding me a line of bull just to get into my house and neglect my child while stealing my liquor (or whatever it is that bad nannies do).

I don't have a lot to complain about when it comes to this whole parenting process. Seriously, Brigid is a dream child right now...she's cute, she's funny, she gives me an excuse to listen to Christmas music around the house twenty-four hours a day. Sure, she's just starting to touch the toddler tantrum stage, but it hasn't reached the point that we've been subjected to any full blown meltdowns (yet), so it's still manageable. I could do without the whole diaper part of the equation, but it's not something that I wasn't expecting.

However...trying to find someone to pawn my childcare responsibilities off on one day a week is really starting to wear on me. A lot. I already feel guilty for working Monday-Thursday, since I was raised by a stay-at-home-mother (a very good one, I might add...hi, mom!), and having to go through this process every couple of months? It kind of stinks. It's like I get a quarterly reminder that I am cheating my child out of the full mother experience by not being home. And have you met me? I am an experience she needs to not be cheated out of...

I miss my kid when I'm not at home. But I also enjoy going into work (most of the time). I like my company. I like finance. I like spreadsheets.

I like having an excuse to wear a skirt and heels a couple of days a week.

(Yes, I did just admit that I like working in an office because of the clothes. So what of it?)

So, I don't want to be a mom who works outside the home. But I don't want to be a full-time stay-at-home mom, either. But sometimes I do, actually. Because I go back and forth on this at least once a week. Usually internally. But sometimes, not.

And I'm beginning to see why Steve referred to me as his headache box a couple of days ago (long story...but it totally made sense in context, I swear). I understand. My head, it's an exhausting place to be.

Oh well, I suppose it's all about making the best of what's in front of you. Maybe someday, the ideal situation will present itself, and I will be head over heels in for it, and I will be the happiest person in the world.* In the meantime, I will continue to pull hope from my back-up plan, the one where we just win the lottery, move to the beach, and no longer worry about any of this stuff because we won the lottery and live on the beach. I like that plan.

　

*Or, I will just find something new to complain about, which, if I'm being completely honest, is actually the more likely of scenarios.

Brigid's Future

So, who wants to help me buy a piano?

Steve and I have decided that we need to have one in the house, because Brigid...well, I don't want to seem like I'm bragging or anything, but Brigid is a music prodigy! I mean, how many 14-month olds do you know that love music and will sing and dance along with almost any song that comes on the radio?

Wait, what? That's pretty common? Damn it! And here I thought we were heading for Juilliard...

No matter. I am still a big believer in music having a place in a child's development, and besides, Brigid will need a hobby as she gets older, plus a talent when she starts the pageant circuit in a few years.* And to be completely honest with you...with Steve and I as parents, the kid will most likely be lacking in the coordination and grace department, which rules out almost all sports and any form of dance. And then you throw in our complete lack of artistic ability and my inability to carry a tune in a bucket, and there you have it...

Musical instruments it is!

Or, chess, I guess.

No, I'd much rather sit through a piano recital than a chess match, I think. Although, I've never actually sat through a piano recital or a chess match, so maybe I should do some more research on this? No. Definitely a piano. I've played the piano. I understand the basics of the piano. I can read music. This is something we can do together. Chess? Waaaaaay over my head.

Piano. Definitely piano.

Now who has several extra thousands of dollars lying around that they'd like to donate to the cause?

*So, so, so totally joking here. Unless, you know, she can earn herself a whole (one-time) $100 scholarship for being the smartest Jr. Miss contestant or something, like some people she might know (*cough*me*cough*) or win the same scholarship for writing the best essay in that same Jr. Miss 'scholarship competition' (albeit, 5 years later) like some other people she might know (*cough*Auntie Jess*cough*). Then we might consider it.

Who asked him, anyway?

So, last week was exhausting.  Between my current job,* my attempt at a new job,** and finalizing our holiday plans, I knew I would have no time to write anything at any point over the course of the week.  So, I sat down, and knocked out five posts on Sunday night, all heavily centered around cute little baby pictures, because it's hard to write five different and entertaining (I hope) stories all in one night.  And also because who doesn't love cute little baby pictures?

And then, on Tuesday or Wednesday, my dear husband looked at me at the end of the day, and said "You've gotten awfully lazy on the blog this week.  There are a lot of pictures, and very few words.  Ten pictures and two sentences just doesn't cut it."

And then I threw my computer at his head and went to bed.

The end.

Yeah, this is my way of apologizing for mailing it in last week...I miss the writing part of this whole thing, and I will most definitely be bringing it back with a vengeance this week.  No more cheating with images from the camera!  I will be painting pictures with my words!  Or something like that...







*I imagine December in the corporate finance world is a lot like April in the accounting world.  It might not be quite as bad, but it's a lot of deadlines, a lot of last minute requests, and a lot of late nights (if I don't care to be home before Brigid goes to bed) and/or a lot of working from home (if I'd like my kid to remember who I am at the end of the week).  And I'm glad it's over.  I still have one or two things that need immediate attention, but this week will be nowhere near as crazy as the last two weeks have been.


**No dice on the new job.  I am ridiculously disappointed, but I keep telling myself it will all work out the way it is supposed to.  I knew I was a little light on some of the experience the job needed, but I was hoping they would overlook that based on my potential to rock the job.  They didn't, apparently.  Ah well...my current boss took it awfully personally that I didn't get hired, and I think it should open me up for some new experiences in my current position that might provide the change I'm looking for.  So, silver lining, and all of that...

First Snow!

This is another one of those moments when I should have grabbed the video camera instead of the regular camera, but then you would have been subjected to my weirdly high-pitched 'Brigid voice' instead of just silently adorable baby smiles, so it may have all worked out in your favor.

We had a good, heavy, Atlanta-style snowfall last weekend, meaning it snowed a little, it stuck to our deck for about 20 minutes, then it melted before the end of the day.  It wasn't the midwestern type of snowfall I grew up with, or anything, but it was still Brigid's first real experience with snow of any sort, and Steve wanted to take advantage of it.

I'd like to interrupt the picture progression for just a moment to apologize for the Ohio State hat Brigid is wearing in the photos.  It's a leftover from our time in Cincinnati, when Steve and I went to Columbus with the lovely Lynsey and some other friends to tailgate for the Ohio State - Michigan game one year.  Not 'Steve and I went to Columbus to go to the game'.  We went strictly to tailgate.  Good times.  With ugly hats.  Because, let's face it...nobody likes a Buckeye.  Sorry, Lyns!
  

Also, I'd like to note that Brigid does, in fact, own a winter coat, as well as a hat of her own, but she went outside for literally 25 seconds, and it takes an hour and a half to get her into her own winter clothing.

She was fine with our decisions.
 

Especially once we got her outside...

Imagine how excited she'd be if we actually got some real snow down here?  I'd have to go out and buy her the darn boots I told Steve she didn't need this year...

Wacky-Tacky Christmas Extravaganza

The cookies:

The clothes:

 Enough said.

Holiday Diet

We are raising Brigid up right, here in our lovely little household.  We know how to celebrate the holidays, and we're passing everything we know on to our little angel.  Music, books, decorations, seasonally appropriate outfits...we've got it all covered.  Diet?  Oh yeah...

Cookies?

Check.

Giant sausages?

Check and check.

Advent calendar chocolate, St. Nicholas Day tangerines, meatballs in barbecue sauce, various dips, they've all gone over like gang-busters.  The only holiday staple we've missed so far has been the egg-nog, but I expect that to go over just as well as the rest.  We'll have to give her the straight stuff, though...she needs a couple of Christmases under her belt before we let her graduate to the spiked bottle.

We save that for the professionals.

Bumble

My favorite Christmas cartoon has always been Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  Don't get me wrong, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a good one.  So is Frosty the Snowman.  But Rudolph?  It's just always been number one in my heart.

And my favorite character in the cartoon?  Totally the Bumble.  So, it should come as no surprise that Steve thought this purchase was a good idea...

And I have to say, Brigid seemed to agree...

We have this stuffed Bumble and Rudolph toy that sings Holly Jolly Christmas, and the kid is a little obsessed with it.  (Not quite as obsessed as she is with the stuffed snowman and snowdog that sings Jingle Bells, but it's a close second, I think.  That's what I tell myself, anyway, when I'm pushing it on her every time we start to play with the Christmas toys.  I am not above a little bit of toddler brainwashing, when I can get away with it.)  Once we put her in this shirt, she spent the day walking around the house, randomly looking down at her belly, and laughing every time.  She'd point to Bumble, look at us expectantly, and wait for someone to start singing her Bumble song.  One of us would always oblige, because of course we would, and she'd start dancing and singing along.  It's something I need a video of, actually, for proper explanation purposes, but of course I don't have one.

What I do have, though, is more pictures!

It seems that the whole brainwashing thing might be working perfectly, after all!

Our Christmas Weekend

Get ready for some pictures here over the next week. Lots and lots and lots of pictures, in fact. To say I went a little crazy with the camera this weekend might be a little bit of an understatement.

But, in my defense, we did quite a few picture worthy things in the last few days, so it's not really my fault. It's the Christmas season.  Brigid's almost first Christmas season, actually, since she wasn't much more than a baby lump last year. And everything we do? I feel the need to document it.

Plus, she's just so darn cute. Always.

Anyway, for Christmas this year, my sister got Steve a gingerbread kit, so he and Brigid could build a house together, and he decided Saturday morning was construction time. Notice Brigid is still in her pjs?  We get a slow start on the weekends around these parts...

Brigid was much more concerned with the decorations than the basic construction of the house.  That's my girl!

She's very helpful, that kid. She wanted to make sure her dad was doing it right...

...and I'm not so sure she thinks he is!

But she got him back on track.

It's not quite what the box promised, but I'm impressed with the effort on the finished product, anyway.  Apparently, the icing is a lot tougher than it looks. In fact, after all of the work I saw go into it, I'm almost afraid to eat it.

Almost.

When mom's away...

...Brigid plays with trash!

She looks comfortable, no?

Actually, this box is not trash. It was emptied out solely because Brigid was fascinated with it. And while I've been working late this week, this is what has been occupying her time, I guess.

I am so glad I bought her things that I wanted for Christmas. She is obviously easily pleased with anything...

Bath Time!

Tuesday night, as Brigid sits in a draining bathtub, making as much of a mess as she can in the little water that is left:

Me: Ready to get out, Bug?

Brigid: Na (accompanied by a very emphatic head shake)

Me: Come on, kiddo.  It's time to get out.

Brigid: Na (more head shaking, this time accompanied by fake splashing)

Me: Aren't you cold, Bug?  There's no water left!

Brigid: makes Brigid kissing faces at me...

Me: Aw, does mommy get a kiss?!?!

Brigid: Na (now with head shaking, fake splashing, and giggling)

Me: Do you want to go get your monkey?

Brigid: turns and immediately reaches for me to get her out of the tub.

Moral of the story?  Brigid is rotten, her first word is apparently no, and mommy gets no kisses, but the monkey gets priority response.  And on a completely related note...I maybe need to look into picking up another damn monkey or two.  Think it will have the same effect when we're discussing curfew sixteen years down the road?

This and That

Anyone know of a good recipe for this?

Oh, white elephant gift exchanges...you slay me so!

---------------

Ever tried to give a toddler an angry look after she hits you in the face with a toy, only to find it impossible not to laugh at how funny she thinks she’s being?

Yeah, me neither.

---------------

I think we should all try to be more like this guy:

And I really think your neighbors would agree.

---------------

Once again, dad needs to step away from the business of toddler fashion decision making…

---------------

I went out twice this weekend. Twice! Friday night, Steve and I went to the Cirque Dreams holiday show with his mom and sister, as part of our Broadway series in Atlanta season ticket package. I have to say, this is not on my list of shows I’d like to see again. It was like a compilation of cheesy basketball game halftime shows, with a quick change act, some jump-ropers, and a bicycle thrown in for good measure. All we needed was a dog chasing Frisbees, and my night would have been complete.

The highlight of the night? Well, for those of us not sitting next to him, anyway? The crazy man in our row who became just a bit too involved in the show (in every show, basically…he’s a season ticket holder too, so we’ve had some experiences with him), to the point that he jumped out of his seat at the slightest provocation, while shouting ‘COME ON!’ (loudly, I might add) at every change of clothes the quick change artists presented to the audience. Seriously, has he never seen America’s Got Talent? This stuff is old news, man.

Saturday night, I went out with some friends for what was supposed to be dinner and drinks at a small Mexican restaurant. Except that we had an hour+ wait for a table, so it turned into drinks and dinner. And by the time we finally sat down to eat, I was so hungry, I basically ate my weight in chips and cheese and guacamole, in addition to my dinner order. And when I finally came up for air, I was so tired and full that I wanted nothing more than to be magically transported to my bed, no travel necessary. In fact, my car was at my sister-in-law’s house, and I legitimately considered sleeping on her couch or calling Steve to come get me because I couldn’t fathom how I was going to stay awake for the three mile drive back to my own house. That’s how tired I was after dinner.

So, imagine my shock when I got in the car and realized that it was only 9:30! On a Saturday night!

My college self would be so embarrassed of me right now.

Decisions, decisions

So, as I was going over the journal I kept while I was pregnant, I realized something...

I was a whiny, obnoxious git.

This whole flashback thing might not last very long.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I went to the doctor today, and the forms I had to fill out asked me if I had any new medical information to add…surgeries, illnesses, etc.  I wrote that I thought I was pregnant.  After I peed in a cup and the nurse came in to take my blood pressure reading, she said “Happy birthday and congratulations.  You are definitely pregnant.”  Good times.  She also proceeded to ask me if this was a good thing or not.  She looked relieved when I said yes.  I’m supposed to go back on March 13^th for all of the baby tests, so that’s something to look forward to.  The only problem is that my doctor doesn't deliver at Northside Hospital, which is apparently the only place I should ever consider giving birth, according to everyone I know who has ever given birth in the city of Atlanta.  So there may be a change in doctor in my future…

I decided to tell immediate family, once I received the official confirmation, and since everyone would be calling to wish me a happy birthday anyway, today seemed as good a time as any. All in all, everything went pretty well.  My family is excited for me (apparently, Mary is in a little bit of shock, too, but that’s just because she’s used to being the baby, I think), and I have some people I can call and complain to. Only 2 more months before I can tell everyone else!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I was fine in the morning, followed by nothing but nausea all afternoon.  I hate progesterone. 

Friday, February 20, 2009

Morning sickness today, perfectly fine this afternoon.  Oh, the unpredictability.  Mom called today to see how I was feeling.  She’s mad because I won’t let her tell the rest of the family the news yet, but apparently she’s made up for it by telling some of the teachers she works with, instead, because she said she had to tell someone.  Getting a little antsy, that one...

Asleep on the couch at 9:30pm.  I told our friends Steve was sick, so we couldn’t go out with them. I am a rockin’ good time these days.

  

Saturday, February 21, 2009

We toured Northside Hospital this afternoon.  I was the only member of the group who wasn’t due in the next month or two, so when it came time for my introduction, I made sure everyone knew a possible doctor switch was involved, so we were getting a head start.  I’m sure they all thought I was a complete tool.  I blame Steve.

Asleep on the couch at 10:30.  My sister is going to have an awesome time when she comes in next weekend!

The Month That Was - November

Brigid can point out her nose, her eyes, and her belly button.  She can also show you mommy and daddy's nose, eyes, and belly buttons, if you ask her.  She poses for the camera.  She asks for nom-noms when she gets hungry or thirsty.  She can open doors without any help from anyone, which stresses me out to no end.  It's a lot harder to corral her these days, what with all of the walking and the houdini-ing out of belts and straps and entire rooms now.

Brigid made her fourth (Maybe?  I can't quite keep track these days...) trip to Indiana.  She celebrated her second Thanksgiving, in much better fashion than her first.  We decorated for Christmas and visited Santa Claus, and generally set the poor kid up for a lifetime of over-excitement regarding my favorite holiday.  She loves the Christmas tree and the Nativity set and all of the singing stuffed animals.  Her dancing?  Maybe the funniest thing I've ever seen.

We've officially  moved from baby to toddler, which is a little more than I was ready for, but once again, I haven't been ready for any milestone we've hit, so this shouldn't come as a surprise.  

Steve and I snuck in a date night at the end of the month, leaving Brigid with his mother so we could go see a movie together.  This whole date night thing?  It might be something we need to start doing more of.  For people who are always in the same area at the same time (and I do mean always, since he works right down the hall from me), we really don't see that much of each other.  It's kind of weird...

But November, it was a pretty good month.  This next month?  There are parties and presents and a children's mass on the agenda.  A possible visit from my parents to look forward to.  A couple of days spent at the lake with all of Steve's family. Another new year to start.

I can hardly wait!

FYI - I finally set up a Twitter account for the blog, if you're interested...@taralynn404.  Stop by and say hi!

Thanksgiving Pictures

Oh, Thanksgiving.  So much food, so much family.  So much fun!  The drive is a little long (or, a lot long, if you ask Steve, as he is responsible for all of that driving...), but so worth it.

We spent Thanksgiving lunch at my Grandmother's (on my dad's side) and Thanksgiving dinner at my Great-Aunt's (on my mom's side), and Brigid did not stop walking the entire day.  Back and forth and back and forth.  Over and over and over again.  In fact, that's pretty much what she did the entire week.  We just walked circles around the house.  I wish my pedometer wasn't broken, because I'd like to know just how far I walk in a given day with that crazy kid.  This whole mobility thing is exhausting.


Not exhausting enough to help Brigid sleep much on the ride back to Georgia, unfortunately, but we made it home without too much trouble anyway, thanks in large part to a steady stream of children's videos on the Durango tv.  Of course, Brigid now starts pointing at the screen and grunting the minute we get in the car, even for a five minute drive, and the only videos that seem to calm her down are the Sesame Street performances by Jason Mraz and Feist, or the opening number from The Nightmare Before Christmas, but I guess that's just the price we pay for family tranquility in enclosed spaces.

This kid would be a lot of trouble if she wasn't so ridiculously adorable...

My nerdy little heart is so full of joy right now!

Today is a big day for me.  Huge, in fact.  H-U-G-E!

What, besides the first day of the Christmas music season, could cause such joy in my life?  Well, tonight is the night that I finally go to see the new Harry Potter movie.  Oh, for the love, I am ridiculously excited!  I mean, it's been out for almost TWO WEEKS!!  How could I have waited this long?!?!?

True story...when the last book came out?  Steve and I were at a party the night of the release, and we left around midnight to head home.  We passed a Kroger along the way, and Steve thought it would be funny to stop by and see if they had any copies of the book.  Oh boy, did they ever!  We each picked up a copy (because of course we did), and I went on to read until 4am, before waking up early to spend all day Saturday finishing the damn thing off. 

Life before Brigid...did I know how to live it up, or what?

Back in the day, we were the midnight showing people.  I didn't dress up like a wizard, and I didn't fake a scar or anything, but you'd better believe I was in line early to make sure I beat all of those people who did dress like wizards and fake their scars to the good seats.  Brigid is just lucky I didn't try to take her to opening night this year...I mean, honestly, what toddler doesn't want to sit through a three hour movie in the middle of the night, right? 

Damn common sense takes the fun out of everything. 

But I waited, and I made the appropriate toddler type arrangements, and now I'm finally going to see it.  I just hope it lives up to the hype...


PS: Steve would like me to note that he got a new dutch oven from my parents for Christmas, and he made me a very, very tasty butternut squash soup for dinner in said dutch oven.  That's really all there is to this story, but Steve wanted to make sure he got credit for it.  

It was pretty fantastic soup...

Cheeeeese!

Brigid started posing for her pictures this past week.  She apparently recognizes that when the flash goes off, mommy and daddy are hoping for a smile out of her.  And she is more than happy to oblige.  Most of the time, anyway.

So, it seems that I have a lot of this to look forward to in the coming months...

And I think I'm ok with that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday! I'm off to watch the snow/rain mix Indiana has chosen to bless me with this Thanksgiving day...and to hope it is the extent of the snowy weather I have to deal with this winter!