Holy Cow....

so....toddlerhood is a busy busy time in my life. We spend our days making water balloons, going to the grocery store or Target or gymboree for play or music or Mother's Day out or on a play date or something almost every day. I wonder sometimes if we should just stay home and do nothing and enjoy it. sometimes I feel guilty because we are always on the go..... I can't even imagine how busy we'll be when she's a little older and doing more organized activities.....

On a happy note - we are officially trying for baby #2! I broke down and purchased an ovulation kit last month. Why? Well..... let's just say until this month I had no idea about my "mucus cycle" and thought I was ovulated 48 hours before I am..... anyway, with a small window of opportunity - and my husband's travel schedule.... yes, I'll be disappointed if we aren't pregnant next month - but I at least feel sort of empowered to time it correctly. As in with the little bambina - ultimately it is up to God. If he feels that we are ready for another, He'll give us one. If not, I adore the one I have and will continue to spoil the heck out of her! :)

Strep Throat....

So the bambina had strep throat last summer like 3 times. I kept thinking she had it over the fall and winter only to find out that she didn't and maybe I was being paranoid. The past couple days she's had quite a runny nose and since I'm kind of feeling under the weather and nasaly, I figured the lack of appetite was due to the drainage and the slight headache (maybe she doesn't have these same symptoms...)

Anyway, her half birthday is today - she's 18 months old and had to see the Dr. for shots and general health. (She's 31 inches long and 22 lbs. 10 oz.) So the Dr. sees the little rash developing on her shoulders and tummy. She says she thinks it looks like a sweat rash/heat rash, but she's going to swab her for strep anyway.

Of course, my daughter has strep throat because I didn't even think she was that sick. No fever, no other symptoms. It's just crazy. I feel like the worst mother in the world. And of course we had all the friends and their kids over for dinner last night and a playdate yesterday morning......

I guess this is a new one in the Murphy's Law of hubby leaving town. Sick kid. :(

Multiplication - kid style!

So here's one for you.... how is it that one child can breed so many toys? Somehow, must be while we are sleeping, they are going off in pairs and coming back in families of 3 and 4 and 5. How does this happen? Where do they come from? Do I have someone's permission to give them away so the next kid (God willing) gets a few new things, too?

While I'm not sure where they come from (aside from Santa and a few weak moments in the toy section at Target) I get to pick them up. I pick up behind her while she's playing, I pick up during nap time, I pick up when she's in bed at night. I sing the clean up song, "Clean up, Clean up, everybody everywhere. Clean up, Clean up, everybody do your share" in an attempt to motivate her to do it herself - and yet I still pick up 90% of them on average 5 times a day.

I know I have to keep this in perspective. Not too long ago, I was complaining to my sister MLM about how she (the little one, not my sister) likes to dump her plate on the floor when she's done with her meal. She is especially fond of this practice when she's eating something like blackberries or avocados or cottage cheese - you know, stuff even the dogs can't clean up entirely. MLM kindly reminded me to be glad that she's just dumping her plate. "Just" dumping her plate????? Of course. Just dumping her plate when she could be 17 and smoking pot. (Well, she is kind of a wine-o but that's a story for another day....)

There will be a day when I miss picking up toys, right? Like when I have to start picking up school books and car keys and i-pods or whatever other expensive little electronic gadget she HAS TO HAVE RIGHT NOW!!!!!

I guess I can wait a little longer for that while I pick up "Tomas the Choo Choo" and "Burt and Oiney, Elmo and Cookie Moster" a few more times.....today.

Facebook Fanatic!

Well..... I have to thank K.S. for her encouragement to play around with Facebook. I spent 2 1/2 hours on there last night finding long lost friends and family members. It was wild! I have to say.... much cooler than myspace - and surprisingly I've had my facebook account longer! Ha!

Today is Monday and I had to get up at 4:32 to register the little bambina for Parent's Night Out at the YMCA. They open up online registration about that time of day for Saturday night. Kind of cool that this week is Valentine's day - even though we won't be celebrating that holiday. (Here's a funny story: When my spouse and I were dating, I was working as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. He went to Japan for a couple weeks and came back with all these cute, romantic little gifts.... before he could give them to me, I opened my big fat mouth and told him how, since I had worked at the AHA, everyone thought I would appreciate all the heart shaped stuff - I meant paper weights and candle holders and the like - which I just had so much at that point, I certainly didn't need more. I also told him how I could really give 2 craps about Valentine's Day and how I think it's a "Hallmark" holiday. This conversation took place on February 4th; and my husband, not even missing a beat - hands me a daintly little heart shaped pendant with a beautiful Mikimoto pearl in it and says, "Well, Happy UN-Valentine's Day" and we've been celebrating UN-Valentine's Day ever since.....Can you believe he still asked me to marry him????? :))