The Armadillo Tales

BFF Away on Vacation

My poor armadillo was in a depressing mood this morning when I dropped him off at school this morning.   His BFF is away on vacation and will be out of school all this week.    I knew the armadillo would be affected by this absence.   The armadillo wasn't in the mood for his usual morning routine at school.   He wasn't interested in playing with the trucks in the sand nor getting hugs from his teacher, whom he adores.   THe armadillo repeatedly asked for his BFF, wondering where he was.   

I tried to prep the armadillo for this starting from yesterday.   We talked about how his BFF is away in Mexico with his family and that he wouldn't be in school this week.  It seemed to be okay and that the armadillo was fine with it.   That is until we got to school.   

After a few minutes trying to cheer up the aramdillo he decided that he wanted to play with the trucks in the sand.    He found one he liked and started to play with it.   That was my cue to leave.    I got my hug and kiss from the armadillo and headed out.    As I was walking towards my car I saw the armadillo by the fence.   I walked up to him and he asked me if I could honk the horn as I left.    I sighed inside and that was a good sign.   He told me goodbye and I went indside my car.    As I was pulling out I honked and he waved.   What a trooper!

No Commuting

It's a good thing I don't work in the city anymore.   Traffic is going to be a b*tch for months to come.    Click here for more info.

Photo credit: SFGate

Peek

"You can't see me right?" - Sumo Baby

Firecracker

Does the behavior of other children affect the behavior of your own children?   Apparently it seems that it does, a bit.   The armadillo has a friend that is a little of a firecracker.   He is a sweet little boy ... when he is not hitting, pushing, stealing toys, etc ...    When the armadillo and the firecracker get together sparks fly.   It's either pure love or pure wickedness.   The armadillo has another friend from school and those two are ideal together.    There is rarely any fighting.   I have yet to see any hitting or stealing of toys.   It's very remarkable considering the armadillo's other friend.   

It's almost like day and night with the armadillo's two friends.    I'm not bothered by the volatile relationship the armadillo has so much.    The firecracker's mommy is terrific with the disciplining and watching his actions.   I know that she will step in when it goes too far.   So I'm not worried about the armadillo getting hurt.    I'm just fascinated with the differences between the two relationships.    How one is smooth sailing and the other is turbulent waves.   

I also speculate as the armadillo gets older, will he choose not to want to play with the firecracker anymore?   Will the armadillo decide that he just doesn't like him anymore?     What would I do?   I hope not.  I would seriously miss my mommy friend.     But I won't stress now.   I'll worry if and when we have to cross that bridge.

Put those Germs Away

I don't know why this happens, it just does.    The family headed on down to San Jose for dinner at my MIL for B-Dad's birthday.   In attendance was the usual, which included B-Dad's brother and his family.    B-Dad's brother and his family are delightful.     We enjoy their company and the boys love playing with their cousins.   However it seems that the majority of times we see them, one of the boys gets sick.   This time it's the sumo baby's turn to catch something.  He's been sporting a fever for a couple of days now and it's just annoying.   Thankfully though he's not sporting any other symptoms other than a fever and a slight loss of appetite.   The armadillo fortunately seems to be a-okay and no bugs have caught a ride on his immune system ride.   With any luck he'll stay away from any yucky bacteria.

But I wish that with future visits, we can all arrive without our germ purses.

Wanta Matcha

I am tired.    Yes, like other mommies, I am tired.    I have 2 boys under the age of 3 (for a short time as the armadillo turns 3 soon!) and taking care of them is exhausting.   This holds true especially for the armadillo.   Paired with a rambunctious friend the armadillo turns into a huge hemorrhoid.       A big one that for the life of me I cannot dissolve.   Today at lunch he was yelling, spitting, and throwing food.    I cannot accept this as typical toddler behavior.  I should not have to agree to it as a rite of passage for toddlers.  I refuse.    The armadillo did too ... refuse ... refuse to listen to me that is.   

Everytime I asked him, politely, to stop yelling I got barely a glint of recognition that mommy was talking to him.   This went on and on.   Finally I gave him a time out.  That, of course, didn't work.   He started up with this intolerable behavior again.   I sighed and looked at him.   That was the turning point.  The point where I was just so dog-tired of saying the SAME thing over and over and over again.  I just looked at the armadillo and said, "I don't know what to say to you."      I looked at my mommy friend and told her that I was wordless.    I didn't have the energy to tell him to stop doing this and stop doing that.    She sympathized with me and told me that she's been there before.

The future of listening looks bleak ... I don't see any light at the end of this tunnel.

I needed a boost of something, alcohol preferred.    But realizing that wasn't part of the good mommy mantra, my mommy friend told me that she used to get wheat grass shots when she was pregnant.   So we headed over and I got a Matcha Green Tea boost from Jamba Juice.    It is a mixture of Matcha green tea, soymilk and orange juice.  It is supposed to contain a bunch of antioxidants, natural caffeine, and theophylline for that much needed energy lift.   When I got it, it was green but it smelled like orange juice.   I took a sip and it didn't taste bad.   Mixed with the orange juice that was all you could basically taste.   Not bad. 

... So 2 hours later, I'm not so tired but I'm not bouncing off the walls either.

Photo credit: Jamba Juice 

My Favorite TV Family

Have you watched "Little People Big World" on TLC?  If you haven't yet, I highly suggest you do.    The Roloff's are a family composed of little people and average-sized people.    They are into their second season now and I look forward to watching the latest episode every week.   Usually on a reality show involving a family there is always one person that I dislike, but not on this show.   There is no high and mighty drama, spoiled children, or absentee parents.    The Roloffs are shown to be pretty much the typical American family.    Despite the phsyical limitations of the parents and one of their twins, these people are just like you and me.    Set your TIVO or DVR to record this season.   This show is an absolute joy to watch.

Photo credit: TLC

Happy Belated Birthday B-Dad

This is just a little late, but happy birthday to my husband and daddy to the armadillo and sumo baby.   You are a wonderful father and loving husband.   

We love you Pappy!

Help Me ... I'm a Tokidoki Addict

I couldn't help myself.   It was all just sitting out there.   Displayed in a way that I could not miss it.    The new prints ... oh how adorable the new print is.    I had to have it.   Damn Macy's ... they knew I was stopping by.   They knew I only meant to stride on in and stride on out.   It was an ideal trap.  Stack the bags on a stand closest to the aisles.   Stack them and hang them so I wouldn't miss it.     I fell for it ... hook, line, and sinker.    I layered the bags on my shoulder one by one.   How many do I have?   I lost count.   Do I need all of these bags?   Of course not.   Do I have to have it?   Of course.

It's Been Bittersweet

I can't say that I wanted Sanjaya to make it to the finale but I can say that it wouldn't bother me if he did.   This season of American Idol is the most boring yet.   I predict either it will be either Melinda or Jordin, but I wouldn't get upset if it's not either of them.    The show has just gone downhill since last year.   How can you compare with the likes of Chris Daughtry?    Now he's the man.    But getting back to Sanjaya.    The poor boy was exploited by so many.   I just hope that something good comes out of his whole experience.   I expect that he'll get offered some endorsements or a television gig like some other past contestants.   Howard Stern I'm guessing will probably have him on his show, though I'm not sure if Sanjaya will go on, but that would be interesting.   

Sayonara Sanjaya and I hope that we see you again.    For some reason I know I'm not the only one that feels that way.