The Armadillo Tales

Sharing from VOX

Let's make a list.  What are 20 things in your life that you're grateful for? 
Inspired by wyndslash.vox.com.

1. my first born

2. my 2nd born

3. my husband

4. my family back home

5. my friends

6. my animal companions (2 dogs, 2 cats and especially my beloved Lucy who passed away a year ago)

7. financial comfort

8. double strollers

9. affordable and stylish diaper bags

10. Fisher Price swings

11. hair color

12. TIVO

13. bite size chocolate chip cookies from The Cookie Corner

14. Netflix

15. video IPod

16. my car

17. my Baby Bjorn and Moby Wrap

18. pacifiers

19. epidurals/pain killers

20. TARGET!   TARGET!   TARGET!

Back from Vacation

Will update later with photos, stories, etc ...

2 Days and the Flab is Getting Flabbier

I haven't been to the gym since Monday and I'm starting to feel lazy.   Ugh.   Since we've joined I've been to the gym at least 5x a week.   Pretty good huh?   Though I have to admit that it's not really to get buns of steel, but more to get the armadillo comofrtable with the daycare.    He's getting there which is a welcome relief for me. 

Getting back to my absence, we're all going to my hometown paradise and I have a number of errands to do.   Unfortunately those errands seriously cut down on my gym time.   What a true bummer!   I may be able to get there tomorrow but I'll wait and see.   The boys have their music classes but they both have been sniffling, the armadillo more so.   So if the armadillo is still congested tomorrow, I'll be taking him to the doctor.   Poor baby.  I don't want him to be uncomfortable when flying.   Last time we went back home the air pressure in the plane was painful.   The armadillo was not a happy camper.   Hopefully his nasal passages will clear before then, otherwise we'll have to load him up on decongestant.    Bring out the heavy drugs baby.

The Armadillo's Christmas Present

Today was the unveiling of the newest Elmo doll from their "Tickle Me" series.   It is the TMX Elmo.   He is still red and adorable, but now has laughing fits that have him slapping his knee, rolling over, falling to the floor and pounding his arm.   The "X" in TMS stands for extreme.   

Now of course this means a trip to Target to see Elmo in action.  I hope I will be impressed.    Naturally if I do like it I'd better order it soon.   Gee I hope I can keep it hidden until Christmas.   Past holidays I've been so excited about the armadillo's future presents that I end up giving it to him before Christmas actually comes.

For more information click here.

The Armadillo Grew a Little Yesterday

Last night we took B-Dad's car to pick up dinner.  We don't usually take his car because it has just enough room for the four of us and the stroller in the trunk.   If there is even a remote chance that we are going to buy something, all of us plus the newly bought goods just won't fit.    But since we were only picking up dinner we rode in B-Dad's car.   B-Dad's car is somewhat snazzy compared to mine.   He has a lot of the bells and whistles you'd expect a guy to want, which of course includes the dual DVD screens.   One on the back of each headrest.   This of course entitles the armadillo to his own screen.   So as we got settled in the car, I was double checking with B-Dad ... "Is there a DVD in?" ... "Yes, there's Madagascar in the player." ... "Do we need to turn it on for him?" ... "Nope, he knows how." ... "What? He does?" ... "Yes, he does it by himself all the time."   

I turn around and lo and behold.   There is the armadillo, sitting with his uber cool shades holding the remote and pressing the power button.  I hear a brief noise.   "There it's on." B-Dad says.     "You turned it on by yourself?" I ask the armadillo.   "Yep.", the armadillo replies, without looking away from the screen.

Holy Sh1t.

Diaper Bag Expert

Today we headed into Walnut Creek to do some general shopping.  Nothing important, you know, just looking around.   Of course we all head to one of my favorite stores Giggle.   Fabulous stuff, just terrific items for mama, baby and little ones.   Naturally I head over to the diaper bag selection.  I pick up a Skip Hop Dash in Kelly Green and peruse over it.    A salesperson comes over to me and starts to tell me all of the great qualities of the diaper bag.     "I know.", I tell him.   I own a number of these bags.  "Oh wow", the salesperson responds.   I then ask him if Giggle is going to carry the new Skip Hop Glam bags (shown above).   He wasn't sure what I was referring to.    Me, being the diaper bag addict, began telling HIM all about the bag, its features, etc ...

I think I should be the one to work at Giggle.     Hmmm ... nah, I'll just buy more bags.   

Playmate

Well we are definitely hitting the milestones at daycare at a rapid rate.   I saw the armadillo playing with another little boy.   It was a fabulous sight to see.   Granted he may have been playing with other little ones before but this is the first one that I got to witness.    The two of them were throwing padded cubes to each other and rolling on the ground.   Typical boy behavior I assume.    Oh the delight!   

To add another jewel to my day, the boys were in the daycare facility for almost 2 hours!   Yippee!   Going to the spa and getting a one hour massage is looking more and more like it's becoming a reality.

A Peculiar Bit of Music

Today was our first day of music class for both the armadillo and the sumo baby.    The boys are in their own respective classes which are held in the daycare facility at my gym.    It's convenient, not as expensive as other places, but it's just a little different.  I don't know what I was expecting but I guess like the armadillo and sumo baby, I need time to adjust too.   I mean it's no Gymboree Music, but it's alright.    Maybe it's because it was the first class and the fact that we missed the first half of the armadillo's class (traffic and no parking), but I was expecting more instruments.   So far it's just been shakers and sticks, with a few scarves thrown in.   I'm hoping in future classes that the instructor will incorporate more instruments.   She also was playing cassette tapes.  Did we enter a timewarp?   What happened to CD's?    Also something the instructor should note for upcoming classes.    Don't wear skirts ... especially if all you are wearing underneath are your skivvies.    When you perfom the songs and you roll backwards we can all see your underpants.   ... When you do the donkey-kicks, we can all see your panties.   Hello?!    It's a good thing there were no daddies in class.   But then again, even I don't care to see that.

One thing I have to note is that I have to make sure that the sumo baby is well rested before hand.   His class is at a time where it was not very convenient for him if he did not take a nap.   Poor thing was fussy and I felt that he didn't get to enjoy the class too much.   He's normally a happy little one, but not today.    Yikes!   

That's My Stuff!

Now that the boys are going to the daycare facility at the gym I have joined the ranks of other mamas in labeling their children's possessions.    I didn't think about it at first till a staff member suggested I label my baby's bottles so there is no mix up.   Of course that makes sense.   I wouldn't want my baby getting another baby's breast milk.   Sorry but yuck.   I started off with a Sharpie marker on one bottle then quickly placed an order at a fabulous site called Mabel's Labels.   

The labels are easily seen and tough.   I ordered the Combo pack for both the armadillo and sumo baby.   The pack comes with a set of sticky labels, iron-on labels, and a set of shoe labels.   So far I've used them on the sumo baby's bottles, bottle bag and the armadillo's lunch pack.   I need to whip the iron out and start putting the iron-on labels on their jackets, socks, bib, etc ... especially when the weather starts getting colder.   

It's a weird feeling at first.   To see their names printed out on labels and adorned on their possessions.   I know it sounds bizarre but it gives me the feeling that my boys exist and are real.  That I can prove that my boys are bona fide just by having a branded bottle.   ...  See I told you it was peculiar.   

But I have to admit that it is a bit exciting.   Every day I think, "Where can I stick a label?".   Fun!

No Tears

Well today we hit another milestone with the daycare saga.    I was able to leave the toddler area without the armadillo shedding a tear.   YES!    He did put out that bottom lip for just a couple of seconds but then quickly recovered.   Whew!    I just hope that it gets easier for the armadillo as we go forward.  I know it's getting easier for me.    I have a feeling that I had a harder time dealing with the separation than the armadillo did. 

Later that day, we met up with B-Dad so he could take the armadillo to the pool.   This was after B-Dad finished work, around 6pm.    B-Dad took the armadillo and I dropped off the sumo baby at the daycare.   I then sat in the cafe reading a book.   I was there for about an hour and went back to pick up the sumo baby.  As I was getting my number tag to give the girl up front I could hear the sumo baby crying.   I went into the baby room and saw him sitting on the floor with some toys around him.  He was crying, the poor thing.   The staff girl in the baby room was sitting in the rocking chair with another child on her lap.  Granted I'm not sure how long the sumo baby was crying but I started getting resentful towards that girl (the employee).    I wanted to say to her, "Gawd dammit!   Why haven't you gotten your a$$ off that chair and tended to my baby?!"   I mean the child on her lap was content.  Just put him down for a minute to comfort my baby.   Of course it was the staff girl that has the personality of a dirty rag.   I seriously wonder how she got hired.   I have seen there before and have yet to see any sort of spark or energy.  She pretty much sits like a toad on a log and just sucks in oxygen and exhales hot air.      I'm going to find out what her schedule is and make sure that she's not around my baby when I drop them off.   I don't want my sumo baby in the same room with that wart in a Kids World uniform.   

I didn't want to make a production of it, but the more I think about it, hell, they are my babies.   I want the best care and they deserve the best care ... especially for the money we're paying on our membership.