Random Cuteness

When I saved this photo, I titled it "Bowlhead." It sounds like an ethnic slur.

Edited to add: Yes, the girl has more toys than you can shake a stick at, but her FAVORITE is this bowl. (See picture <-- for more evidence.) She likes to pair it with my shoes or slippers. Just wait, next year bowls will be all the rage. She's a trendsetter, my little bean.

My Little Houdini

I was awakened yesterday morning, as I am EVERY morning, by the sounds of Sophie in her crib. There were equal parts hollerin', crying and chattering. I rolled over and snuggled up to Neil, praying that she would go back to sleep. Then things went quiet. After a minute of suspicious silence, I grabbed the video monitor to reassure myself that she had gone back to sleep.

When I turned the monitor on, THERE WAS NO SOPHIE!

Despite the fact that her little eyes can't even see over the edge of the rails, she had managed to get out of the crib. I have a picture in my mind of her taking a running start and vaulting over the side like a miniature Olympic athlete. When I opened the door, she was just standing there looking dazed. Not sure if she was stunned from the fall or just amazed that she had gotten herself out.

This is not a development I am especially happy about. I was looking forward to at least a few more months of keeping her safely trapped in her crib. So now I'm forced to get creative on ways to keep her in there.

A few of my ideas:

1. An invisible fence. Sure, she'll have to wear a collar and might get shocked, but she'll learn real fast not to climb out.

2. Pigeon spikes. I'm betting I wouldn't even have to put these bad boys on. I could just show them to her and that would be enough. Scare her straight, so to speak.

3. Laying a screen door over the crib. (This was suggested by my mother, who was evidently kept in her own crib via this slightly inhumane but inventive method. Yeah, we're classy.)

4. Bourbon. For her. Not me. I'm thinking if she's passed out, she's probably not going to be doing much climbing.

5. Two words: Duct tape.**

Any other suggestions?

*Obviously, I am joking about all of these!

**Thank you, Kristi!

Wild Things

I am and always have been a big reader. I remember curling up in bed with a book, staying up late, praying my mom wouldn't find me. I don't have any active memories of my parents reading to me, but I am sure they did. They are both readers and always encouraged it in me. It is definitely something that I plan to do with my daughter.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is one of my all time favorite children's books. I remember reading it when I was young and fantasizing about playing with monsters. Although the book only has 10 sentences in it, it has captured the hearts and imaginations of people throughout the world.

So you better believe that the realization of this beloved book into a movie has captured my attention.



If the preview is anything to go by, I think I'm going to love it.

Random Shiznizzle

A bunch of random stuff that I could probably twitter if I were so inclined, but I feel like laying out as a list instead. Because there are few things I love more than lists. Truly.

-Why, oh why, do the OLD guys at the gym feel the need to wear skimpy little nylon shorts while working out? In what world could you possibly think that it is acceptable to wear clothing so small that we are in real danger of your grizzled manparts coming into view?

-We went out to dinner last night and despite the fact that shrimp were the likely culprit for my intestinal troubles on Monday, I had them again. It's like playing Russian Roulette with my stomach.

-How is one piece of sandwich bread a serving? Doesn't a sandwich by definition require two pieces?

-We had a code brown* while bathing Sophie the other night. It wasn't that long ago that I didn't even know this sort of thing happened. I wish I could go back to that.

-Why are all of the voices in cartoon movies famous people? When did that become a requirement? I remember when Aladdin came out with Robin Williams and it was like "wow, crazy, can you believe he's doing something like that?" What happened to all of the non-celebrity voice actors?

-I have seen five spiders in my house in the last 24 hours. Do they come out in the springtime? I always talk to them on the off chance that one of them might be related to Charlotte.

-After almost two years in my maternity underwear, I finally went to Victoria's Secret the other day and bought some girlie roos. I want my grannies back.

That's it for me. Anything random going on in your life?

*Another fabulous MEPism. It's when the wee ones poop in the tub.

I Have It Bad

I generally don't eat leftovers. It's not that I don't like leftover food, it's just that I get tired of food and don't feel like eating the same thing again until after it has expired.

Last Friday I went out to lunch with a friend and former co-worker. We went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants and I got one of my favorite dishes, the Pane Rotundo, a bread bowl full of shrimp in a creamy, buttery, garlicky sauce. It has about 7 gillion calories and a week's worth of fat. It. Is. So. Good.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish it. I know, I know. Me? Unable to finish a dish? Not possible. But it's true. So I had the waitress box it up, knowing that I probably wouldn't ever eat it, but just in case...

Well, this afternoon I looked in the fridge and thought to myself, "Self, I'm going to eat that leftover Pane Rotundo." So I did. And I enjoyed it. Then I went about my day.

Somewhere around three hours later, I started to feel uncomfortably warm. And then a little clammy. And then a little crampy. And then my mouth started watering, not in the good way. And then the tsunami of nausea hit.

I'll spare you the details of the rest of the day, but suffice it to say that I had to call Neil to come home early to watch the Bean while I spent some quality time in the bathroom praying for a quick death.

Needless to say, I don't think I'll bother bringing the food home with me next time.

When I Think I Have It Bad...

Sometimes I feel kind of down. Sometimes I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. Sometimes I feel like nothing is going my way. As my mom would say, that if it weren't for bad luck I wouldn't have any. It's on these days that I go check out my new favorite website:

F My Life

Because the fact is, compared to the people that write in to FML, I really have it pretty darn good.

My Child, The Artist

Sophie has gotten the coloring bug lately. There are more than a few creative types in my family, so I am not at all surprised that she might gravitate towards the arts. I had been trying to find those really big crayons for little hands, but these largish triangular ones were all I have been able to track down. She's really starting to get the hang of it.

Obviously, I drew the face there. But look at the mighty fine beard she added! I'm seeing dollar signs.