My friends are so talented!

This is my friend's website. She's so talented with a needle and thread. It makes me wish she lived closer. As it is, I'll have to be content to shop online... well, once I figure out how to log into the website. The site is now in English. There's an extra step on which I'm stuck - you have to log into the site to move forward with your shopping cart. I did, but my information was sent to my personal account which is at home. I can't access it at work. So, in the meantime, I do the equivalent of window shopping. Sanna asked everyone to post information on his or her own blogs, but it took me awhile because I'm a procrastinator.

I'm wishing you all the success in the world with your new project, Sanna! As soon as I figure out the technical end, I'm totally adding you to the places I spend all my hard-earned money.

Embarrassment!

So, I may have mentioned in the past that Nephew loves Thomas the Tank Engine. For his third birthday, it was a Thomas the Tank Engine party. During the party, I put on a Rosie temporary tattoo. Then, after the party, I forgot all about it. Yesterday, I had an appointment with the doctor (the type of doctor that would notice a Rosie the Tank Engine tattoo on my ankle). He asks me if I'm planning on getting any more tattoos. First, I was embarrassed that I still had Rosie on my ankle. Second, I told him it wasn't real! There is no way I would get a tattoo. I'm too chicken. Even if I did, it wouldn't be of a tank engine. It was funny.

I must remember to take Rosie off before pool weather.

Worst Mama Ever

OK, after reading an article on Dina Lohan, maybe I'm not.

The above photo is from a couple of days ago... before I tortured her. Yesterday, I was in a hurry. I had to run to the Social Security office about which I will not write because it aggravates me. So, I cleaned Baby's ears quickly before I left. Then, I decided to trim her nails before I ran out the door as well. I happened to nick her finger. Then, I realized that I nicked three of her fingers. She kept bleeding. So, I handed her to grandma with a washcloth and ice cube to help stop the bleeding and numb her fingers a little. Baby wasn't crying so I gave her a kiss and left the house.

I came home and went into the bedroom to get Baby ready to leave the house. There was blood all over her crib - on the bumper, on the sheet, all over the doll and soaking through to the mattress pad. She, meanwhile, was laughing at me the whole time. So, Grandma takes her while I strip the crib of the biohazardous mess. I presoak everything and then realize I have no idea how to work the washing machine. I've never done it before so I had to call Husband to walk me through the process.

Such drama! So, Baby had no morning nap. She took a ride to visit friends of mine and fell asleep just long enough for me to eat lunch. Later in the afternoon, she had 3 shots. She was such a good girl. She hardly cried... then. She slept through a brief trip to the store for some new items. Then, she woke up when we got home and wouldn't go back to sleep. She was crying in her sleep. Then, she was crying while awake. Then, she was screaming while awake. Poor thing was so miserable. There was a lot of Mommy cuddling and rocking. She was not feeling Daddy love last night. Quite the opposite. This is always surprising because she's a big Daddy's girl. She loves her daddy. Husband is the one who gets the rare giggles and the big smiles. Last night, no one got smiles. She was very clingy. Later, she finally gave in and slept for 10 hours.

Today, she's not quite herself. She's quiet, but we did get some smiles. My arms, however, are not fine. Between the lifting of the carrier, the baby and the stroller, my teeny little arms are killing me! We'll see if she is still Mommy's girl at home or if she's back loving her Daddy.

I should mention that Baby usually wears clothes. In the above photo, she was just hanging out in there while her bath was being prepared. She's not, as we like to say, ghetto baby - wandering around all dirty in just a diaper.

The best weekends contain...

birthday cake, pizza, and a lot of junk food. I would actually count all of those things as junk food, but junk food deserves to be categorized.

Anyway, on Saturday, we went to Nephew's third birthday party. I think it went well, but then again, it's not my house. The cake was good. He seemed thrilled that the house was all decorated with Thomas the Tank Engine decorations and balloons. Even his cake had Thomas on it!

Later, after all the excitement died down, we stayed and had pizza. We stayed through bath time and storytime. Then, Baby was in Nephew's big boy bed. He thought it was hilarious! It was the cutest thing.

Because there were so many guests (mostly family) and noise and things going on, Baby didn't sleep much all day. She took little cat naps, but she was mostly awake. She was really good though. However, a girl's gotta sleep sometime. At the end of the evening, she was pooped so I had to snap a photo. She slept all the way to the next morning around 9:30AM! She's such a good sleeper which was good because Husband and I were both exhausted, too.

On Sunday, we went to Taste of Arlington. I used to think it was a bit overpriced, but they've changed it slightly. Plus, since the last time I went, a ton of new restaurants opened in the town. So, it was great to try out some new restaurants and grab some menus. It's a cheap way to sample fares without learning you don't like a place after dinner for two. Plus, it all goes to charity. I mean, it is a little pricey because you don't get that much food for your money, but it is great to get outside and walk around and check out places. There was a lot of community booths. It's a shame the weather wasn't a little better, but we managed to avoid most of the rain.

While we were leaving, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew, Baby and I walked over (Husband met us there shortly afterwards). Nephew was instructed that he needed to hold a hand while we were on the sidewalk and crossing streets. We meant he had to hold an adult's hand, but he grabbed Baby's hand. Well, technically, he did hold a hand. So, we couldn't scold him. The cutest thing is that he didn't let that hand go once. He held it so tightly that Baby's fingertips turned white. She didn't pull her hand away once though.

So, good weekend, but I'm definitely looking forward to the long weekend coming up!

I *heart* TV!

I LOVE television. I have tried to cut out some in the last few years, but I love it. I love the shady business-end of it. I love the gossip and spoilers and ratings versus sponsorship game. I may not agree with any of the decisions, but I love following along at home.

So, this week marked the very low-key upfront presentations by the networks. In years past, the networks have paid big bucks to unveil their Fall schedules to reporters and, more importantly, sponsors. This year, because of the Writers' Strike, the networks had subdued releases and did not roll out the traditional red carpet though I did hear NBC had a green carpet. Green is universal, I hear.

This year also marks a milestone. Almost all of my shows were renewed for another season. All of my favorites were. The ones that were not renewed were not a surprise either so, all in all, it was a successful season for me.

I am back off CSI: this Spring. I often am on-again, off-again with this show. Last year was the only year I watched every episode. I enjoy it, but it's not one of my must-see shows. I also gave up on Reaper. It was cute, but I think the quality went downhill. I think the post-strike episodes improved, but I found myself not looking forward to them.

However, I have found myself back on the Grey's Anatomy wagon. This is only hilarious because I know so many people who have bailed on the show. I think my expectations sunk so low that I had to be impressed. During the strike, I also added Criminal Minds to my rotation.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Friday Night Lights is coming back or Bones. Bones has become one of my favorite shows. I love that it's a crime drama, but it's funny. Plus, it's characters are quirky and unique. I wish they would film more in D.C. and less green screen, but it's still a great show. Its special effects are usually well done. I just recognize it more when it's somewhere familiar to me being recreated.

I know there are a lot of people who are indifferent to TV (*gasp*) and those who are unhappy with how things played out, but I'm relatively happy. Of course, I really think that the networks will have no patience for shows not performing well next Fall and will have a ton of midseason replacement shows waiting in the wings so I hope my shows survive the Fall. Being picked up was only the first battle...

Happy Mother's Day!

This year was my first Mother's Day (well, the first Mother's Day with an actual baby outside of the body). It was a good one. It was a busy one. I got to sleep in a little bit. Husband came in with Baby and two big, red bags. Both wished me a Happy Mother's Day. Baby and Husband bought me a gift certificate and robe from Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa. I can't wait to spend my day there!

After I woke up and Baby went down for her morning nap, we got ready to meet my parents, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Nephew and Brother-in-Law's father for lunch. We had a nice lunch during which Nephew and I took a walk around the mall. He helped me pick out some nice outfits for Baby as she has outgrown much of what she owns. We drove home. I took a brief nap in the car and at home before we turned around and went to Husband's parents' house.

We had a big dinner with the inlaws, Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law. It was a good night. Baby was overly tired and fought the sleep until the very end, but she finally surrendered. We expect she'll sleep well tonight after her big day.

It was a great Mother's Day. It's so amazing to look down into that little face and see it light up with a smile that's just for you and just think, "Look, we did that!"

L is for Little Baby

When Baby came home, Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law gave her a big letter "L". It was just as big as she was. I took a photo of her during that first week home. For a long time, it was my favorite photo of her. I have that photo at my desk at work as a matter of fact.

Today, just for kicks, I took a photo at 6 months old with the same letter "L". It's amazing how big she grew in such a short amount of time. It's even amazing how different she looks. It's hard to believe she's the same baby. She still has a lot of dark hair though.

I almost wish I had taken a photo each month, but as it is, I'm sure she won't like holding the "L" at 17. I can picture her now rolling her eyes with the "L" framing her face.