Wordless Wednesday: Double-Duty Daddy

It's been awhile since I've posted a Wordless Wednesday.  This one's definitely going to be filed under "Best Of..." on my computer:

Lake Tahoe (Human Edition)

We're back from our road trip, and I'm still sane... or so I think!  The ride back home was a lot better. (less crying & we were able to pack our car so that Qori had more space - probably because we ate all the extra food over the weekend!)

I've sort of forced a tradition of heading east to play in the snow at least once a year.  This is something I started even before I had children.  One year, we even literally drove through a blizzard to get there (I was sans-children at the time of course).  Living in California, we're pretty much guaranteed never to witness snow unless we take a trip. 

I always make sure to invite my extended family, and we all stay in a cabin or lake house with our 7 dogs!  Here are my favorite pictures this year - human edition (although Qori snuck himself into one pic below). 

Pet edition coming soon! - Shirley

 

Soooooooo worth the stressful 4-hour car ride!

Road Trip

I tried everything to make sure it would go well. After all, no one enjoys being cooped up in a car for four hours. I let him cry all morning before the trip and I even gave him a warm bath just before hitting the road. We loaded up the car very remeniscent to the movie "How Does She Do It" where they pack their car to the brim only to realize that they forgot the stroller. (We opted to leave the stroller behind altogether). On the road, my efforts proved futile and for once my nurturing soul felt torn in every direction. Moms like to imply that there's enough love to go around, but I just didn't know where to start. (Mental check - baby is STILL crying, may need a diaper check. Remember to check on the toddler periodically in case he falls asleep while holding an unfinished McDonalds soda cup. Oh no- time to pull over, I think the tower of luggage may have toppled over and barackaded the dog in the back!) Whose idea was it to go on a road trip anyway? Oh ya - mine... On a weekend quest to find snow -Shirley

This is How We Ride

Diego is so obsessed with trains.  He says choo-choo every time we pass the tracks near our house.  My dad got him a Thomas and Friends DVD, and since we've been spending the days at his house while our house gets some work done, Diego is always asking for the movie.  He watched it about 3 times one day. I also downloaded a bunch of Thomas videos onto his Kindle Fire (don't worry, I didn't forget the Angry Birds videos).

So in the spirit of going out more, Hubby and I took him on an authentic and historical train ride 40 minutes from where we live.  Diego wasn't sure what to make of it at first and then he started with his "choo-choos".  But then the train tooted its real & authentic whistle, and it scared the bejesus out of little Diego. 

It did not sound like Thomas....

Hungry Eyes

Just having some fun today! The running joke is that Mateo looks at me like I'm his "lechera" aka: Milk Maid. He totally stares at me like I'm a piece of meat so much that it reminded me of the M&Ms commercial. So I thought I'd have a little fun.... at my son's expense!

Hope this gives you the giggles! Ever been looked at like a piece of meat/milk?

PS. He weighed in over 14lbs at his 2 month check-in. He basically doubled since birth! Those eyes have definitely been hungry!

One of these days...

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you - r dad, because he's a pushover.

Born this Way

Does anyone else have THAT friend whose child has been perfect since birth, while your children scream to the top of their lungs and attempt to lunge toy airplanes at you?

And your child becomes envious of this perfect child so much that he obliges you to bring him out the exact duplicate of a toy that your child long ago outgrew.  Because he suddenly NEEDS THAT particular toy at THAT particular moment? 

Do you have that friend who goes on and on about how perfect their child is?  You wouldn't acknowledge it if you didn't just see the perfection for yourself, over and over again. 

And then that friend goes on and on about the child-rearing tactics they are using.  So much that you begin to wonder if they are trying to slip in some not so subtle parenting tips directed at you.  And you think to yourself, 'yeah, like I haven't tried any of THOSE before - if my child were born perfect, maybe that would warrant me the right to tote my child around and expect everyone to heed my unsolicited advice.'

Let's face it.  It is pure luck.  Let me get Lady Gaga on you:  that child was just born that way.

What's that you say?  Oh, you DON'T have that friend?  So it's just me then?--- huh.

Click below if you're Gaga over this post.

Help

The great thing is that you're caring and devoted.  The problem is that you're a work-aholic and I'm a Libra.  I need balance, and it bothers me when priorities are skewed.  You've always been very forthcoming that work is first:  for your family.  And to further prove your devotion to your family, you've even designated Sunday as your sacred "Family Day", so how can I complain? 

View of the San Francisco skyline from Marin while having Sunday morning brunch.

The problem is that diapers don't wait to be changed until Sunday, teeth don't wait to be brushed, and alphabet letters don't wait to be learned. 

And after you work so hard, you come home to a wife that is struggling to be understanding while hoping for at least small reprieve (and a nap) with your presence.  Instead, your advent most often turns into just another plate to set and then wash, another space taken up on the couch, a tv station I care not to watch, candy, soda, or ice cream that I would not give out so freely which leads to cries and temper-tantrums that would not normally exist without your aura in the room.

Through the screams and cries, I tell myself that things will get better.  It's only temporary.  I need to be a strong woman, but the truth is that the Superwoman facade is deceitful.

I can't do it alone.

I need help...

You redirect my insistence for help towards other family members who are more available.  Even though this makes logical sense, it does not make emotional sense. There can only be 2 parents, and you are one of them. Yet I close my eyes when things get tough, and play pretend by placing myself in a single mother's shoes, and it gets me through the day.

And then you come home, ready for dinner....




Note:  I wrote this a couple weeks back.  I was definitely going through a little bout of depression.  It might have been the new birth control pills that the doctor prescribed me at my 6-week post pregnancy check up.  I'm OK now.  Hubby's mantra towards me has been, "whatever makes you happy", lately and that's why my house interior is finally getting painted and we're very close to getting our flooring installed.  LOL!

I don't feel this way anymore, but I wanted to post this because it was real when I felt it at the time... And it's OK to admit you need help as a mother sometimes.

Sub-super-woman....... Shirley

Hell on Wheels!

Diego on his older brother's skateboard

 Oh no we didn't!  For his two-year birthday we got Diego his own skateboard AND a Kindle Fire, and we are unapologetic!  How could we not?  Just look at how much fun he has on his older brother's skateboard! 

He's only allowed to "skate" on the carpet....

Swaddle Me

I don't usually do product reviews, but I need to RAVE about this Swaddle Me blanket I picked up at Target! And to think, I was so close to returning it because I didn't believe there was anything that could quiet Mateo's crying. I put a regular blanket over it in the picture because we're staying at grandpa's during the days while some painting and flooring gets done at our house (so excited!). Grandpa is pinching his pennies when it comes to heating. Can we say, "Antarctica"? Frozen-toed, Shirley

Masel Tov

Diego has found a correlation between nursing pads and yarmulkes. Don't look at me! I don't have a tendency to place super absorbant feminine products on my head... And I'm not Jewish.