The Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Ten

(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)

I almost didn’t do the meme this year, but that seemed a shame since this is my fifth year to complete it. I know you’ve probably read a million of these and written your own, so no hard feelings if you skip it.

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Had a baby boy, became a mother of two children, went to Las Vegas, got fired from a job via Fed Ex.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any. I don’t as a general rule. However, this year I’m participating in the BBL over at Jennie’s place so I’m resolving to win that bitch.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Me. And I’m pretty damn close to myself.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

5. What countries did you visit?
Do the themed hotels in Vegas count? If they do, I went to Italy, Ancient Rome, and Egypt.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Patience.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 13th – the day I gave birth to Sam.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting help for my depression. Starting to write for Food Lush.

9. What was your biggest failure?
As always, my less than stellar parenting moments. I lose my patience with Maddie far too often and far too quickly.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes. Nothing major, though.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The SodaStream for Gerald.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Creditors.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Going to Las Vegas with Shelly, Donna, Becky and Tracy. Giving birth.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I’m a cat, I’m a kitty cat.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? About the same? Maybe a little thinner.
– richer or poorer? Poorer. Fo’ sho’.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising. Money-saving. Playing with my kids.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Complaining. Shoving food into my pie hole.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family and then we traveled to my in-laws on the day after Christmas.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
Modern Family – hands down, no contest.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Holy moly. I’ve read so many books this year. I was happy to finish the Hunger Games trilogy.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Mumford & Sons, Cee Lo Green, Straight No Chaser

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Inception, How to Train Your Dragon, Tangled, Toy Story 3.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 34 and had a son. I ate some cake, had some awesome drugs and cried because my little boy was in the NICU.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, you know, HAVING EVERYTHING. Having more money and still being able to stay home with my babies.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Clothed so as to avoid jail time.

26. What kept you sane?
Prozac. My husband.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Don’t put off asking for help when you need it.

Photomontage

I was going to use this to illustrate the fact that my son is STANDING, but instead I'd like to draw your attention to the attitude Miss Priss is displaying. Pity me greatly.

Couldn't you just DIE?

Sam got some swanky leather moccasins from Alaska for Christmas. Guest appearance by Sofie the giraffe. Whom he loves more than me.

Maddie completely loves this creepy Santa at my dad's house. Personally, I'm afraid it's going to come to life and kill me in my sleep.

Trying to take a picure of Sam yields this result more often than not.

We started a new family tradition of Mexican food for Christmas Eve dinner. And look who's a big boy and sat in a high chair for THE FIRST TIME EVER.

Again with the dying, amirite?

Maddie and my dad about to pass out presents.

I hope your Christmas was filled with laughter, love and shrieks of joy. Or at the very least, a large quantity of alcohol.

Love from the Dressed Up family to yours.

Bah, Humbug!

Now that we’re crawling out of the wreckage of the Great Sickness of ’10, I’m realizing exactly how much I still need to get done before Christmas.

1. Make Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls. I intend to give some to my dad and his wife since they’ll be hosting guests for Christmas, I want to take some to my in-laws since they’ll be hosting us right after Christmas and I want some for us for Christmas morning.

2. Paint the salt dough ornaments Maddie and I made.

3. Make and decorate cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

4. Make either chocolate truffles or chocolate covered pretzels for little gifts.

I’m getting fatter just writing this stuff, much less eating baking it.

Ruining the healthcare system one copay at a time

I took Sam back to the pediatrician this morning. It turns out I wasn’t just being a worrywart. The doctor was unimpressed with his progress and decided to change things up. He wasn’t tolerating his liquid steroid and kept vomiting it back up, so we changed to a melty tab type one instead. She also added another steroid to the Albuterol for his nebulizer treatments. Which doubles the length of the treatment time. Yea. And his ears still look awful, so she took him off the Z pack and gave him a stronger antibiotic. We’re going to see if he’s improved by Friday and if not, then we’re looking at hospital admission because the doctor says she’s treating him at the maximum level she can.

He had a breathing treatment with the new steroids while we were there and immediately fell asleep afterward. He’s now napping in his crib for the first time in three days. I’d say this version makes him feel better, wouldn’t you?

Lucky Seven

Sam,

You turned seven months old yesterday. As a congratulatory present you gave yourself RSV, strep throat and an ear infection. We spent two and a half hours at the pediatrician’s office. She reluctantly let us leave with promise to return on Thursday for a recheck and a nebulizer, two different steroids, an antibiotic and a decongestant. You are a very sick little pumpkin right now.

Pitiful Baby: Exhibit A

Other than the dire situation at hand, you’re still your lovable old self. And still the laziest baby in the world. At seven months old, you still DO NOT roll from your back to your tummy, hold your own bottle or sippy cup. You do, however, sit on your own for extended periods of time and stand whenever you get the chance. You’re going to walk before you roll over, aren’t you? I’m fairly certain you’re going to be 12 years old and still asking for help when you want to roll onto your stomach.

You absolutely adore: squash, daddy talking to you in funny accents, your sister’s hair, being tickled, baths and being read to. You loathe: all green vegetables, having your nose suctioned, waking up on your back, the vacuum cleaner and being startled. Confidentially, almost EVERYTHING startles you. You are the most easily frightened little man I’ve ever seen.

You’re also incredibly happy and laugh all the time. You’re going to be a talker, which is bad news for daddy. He’s already got two girls who never shut up.  But you do so love the sound of your own voice. Unfortunately, your favorite expression is The Screech. A close second is The Howl. Not pleasurable for your listening audience.

Your sister is beginning to understand your permanence. This week, for the first time, she asked if we could get rid of you because, well, she just doesn’t like you anymore. I’m sure this won’t be the last time she wants to get rid of you. And I know you’ll be wanting to be free of her a few times in your life, but I’m certain that you two are going to be friends. You already worship her and watch every move she makes. Once you’re old enough to play and she realizes you can be bossed around, well, then I bet Maddie’s going to be glad we kept you around after all.

I know I sure am glad you’re here.

I love you as big as the sky,
Mama

An Epiffy-what?

So it’s been about a week since I told you all about my weight struggles. In that week I’ve made some very real progress. I’ve lost six pounds (of course it’s mostly water weight but a pound is a pound according to my scale, so shut up, naysayers.) and my clothes are fitting better. The most important change, though, is entirely mental. I am no longer out of control with my eating. I no longer mindlessly shovel food into my mouth when I’m not even hungry. Or comfort eat and tell myself it’s ok because I deserve it. What I deserve is to feel good about myself.

I got a little Christmas gift money in the mail and I think I’m going to save it and buy myself some snazzy new clothes when I’ve lost the rest of these 24 pounds. That seems like the perfect gift to myself.

Thank you all for the encouragement via comments and The Twitter. I couldn’t ask for a better cheering squad!

Holiday Spirit

So, what are you listening to that puts you in the Holiday Spirit? I’m looking for some new Christmas music and would love to know what you’re digging.

(I’m loving Harry Connick, Jr, and Barenaked Ladies Christmas albums as always.)

Seriously the most obvious complaint you’ve ever heard

You know what I’m pissed about? Being an adult is so damn hard. This is not how it was supposed to be. When I was a kid being an adult was all about being the boss, staying up late, eating whatever you wanted, having money and and choosing what to watch on TV. I call shenanigans on this not being as advertised.

…to sleep, perchance to dream…

Listen, I need your help. Sam still isn’t sleeping longer than two or three hours at a stretch. He’s almost seven months old and he weighs 20 lbs; he’s old enough and big enough to go almost all night, if not all night, without eating.

Here are the difficulties I’m facing:
1. Sam doesn’t self-soothe. He doesn’t take a pacifier and doesn’t suck his thumb or fingers. He wakes up and the ONLY WAY he’ll go back to sleep is eating.
2. His room is right next to Maddie’s so I try not to let him cry very long so that it doesn’t wake her up.

What can I do to help him learn to self-soothe? Maddie slept through the night at a very early age and I’m convinced it’s because she’s a thumb sucker. She’d wake up, but sucking her thumb would put her right back to sleep. I never really had to do anything for her. I’m at a complete loss with Sam. And, to be honest, so many months of crappy sleep is really starting to wear on me. I don’t know how much longer I can do this. (Ok, that’s a lie. I’ll do it as long as I have to because that’s what we do as parents. But that doesn’t sound nearly dramatic enough for my purposes.)

I’m not against CIO or Ferberizing or whatever if it helps the child learn to get to sleep. I firmly believe that each kid is different and some things work for some and not for others. Sam goes to bed awake and puts himself to sleep, but he can’t seem to put himself back to sleep. Does CIO work for that, or just going to sleep at the beginning of the night?

If you’ve had sleep issues with your kid(s), PLEASE leave me some assvice, k?

Sugar Free Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Come over to Food Lush and get this delicious recipe!

Also, leave me a comment so I won’t be lonely.