Hot Rod Wagon

Oh, right, almost forgot. There was also this amazing Christmas gift for KC from her Daddy. Pure Ted through and through! She loves it. Watch this video for the inaugural voyage of the “Hot Rod Wagon”. You’ll notice it has green flames and a modified, racing-style car seat. Ted plans to add a wheely bar on the back. The thing is so back heavy with those big wings that it tips if you go up a steep enough hill. Good thing she’s strapped in.

Vroom. Vroom.

For those about to rock, may I issue a warning.

It’s completely addictive. Ted and I got Guitar Hero III for Christmas from his sister and her husband. It might just be the coolest gift ever. We have a Wii already, and had been seriously considering buying this game. We were happy as hell when we opened the gift. We started playing on Christmas day after all the visiting was done. We played quite a bit on Friday, and over the weekend. Mostly while KC took her naps, but I admit to rocking out while I was supposed to be watching her.

Daddy had gone to buy us beer. heh. heh.

I caught weird movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned, (after finishing the song of course) and found that she had scaled the highchair and was sitting in it. Holy crap. Bad mommy. Bad.

But, I so totally rock. I do. It has actually been a fantasy of mine to play electric guitar. I even went so far as to buy one during my college years. I gave it a good year or so of almost no practice time at all. I finally sold it. I just don’t have the dedication to practice that you need to become a real musician. Maybe if I had started earlier. Who knows. I’m too old now. Actually, not too old, just too busy with the rest of my life.

Ok, fine. I’m too old.

But, Guitar Hero. Holy shit, people. If you ever dreamed of rocking out, or played a mean air guitar, you must, must, MUST buy this game. Obviously it isn’t as difficult (or nearly as cool) as playing for real. However, the feeling of rocking out is totally there. The illusion that you are, indeed, responsible for those wicked cool riffs is totally there. Isn’t that the important part?

I played a Motorhead song all the way through while headlining at Ozzfest last night. I rule.

Ok, I’m playing on the easy level, but still. It’s actually pretty challenging. After only 4 days, Ted and I are both doing pretty well. We play in tandem. He opts to play the bass guitar so it’s much more fun. I am excited to see how well we are doing in a couple of months. It’s gets pretty tricky on the hard/expert levels from what I can tell. On the easy level you only push 3 out of 5 “fret” buttons to make the notes and chords. I’m a little worried that I’ll never get up to using all 5. No matter. It’s still loads of fun.

You also get to pick whether to play guitar, bass, drums or vocals. Of course you have to buy a second guitar controller, and the drum set, and the special mic to do all those things. We went out and bought guitar #2 on Saturday. (What? It was my birthday present a week early. Shut up.) We almost went for the full band package that had drums, a 2nd guitar and a mic. I had to draw the line. For now. A special version with all Metallica songs is coming soon for the Wii.

We will be buying that. Oh, yes. We will be buying that.

Cookie Overload

Well, I missed another blog day. So much for my Sock Zombie. It’s tough logging on and writing from someone else’s house. I’m comfortable at my parent’s house, but still. It’s just easier to blow off the blogging.

We are having a great time. We had “Christmas Eve” on Sunday night and “Christmas Morning” yesterday. Lots of gifts, coffee, and waaaaaay too many cookies. I made cookies. The neighbor made cookies. My Aunt made and mailed cookies. I just had cookies for breakfast. Too many cookies. I totally love it.

My cousin and her son are here. He and KC are totally into each other. It’s really cute. He’s 2 and a half and very sweet. I’m impressed. Usually older kids are rough and kind of mean to littler kids. It’s just the way they are at that age. Not him. He’s just as sweet as can be. Seems to want to hug her and be near her all the time. Sweet. I may get cavities from more than the cookies before I get back home.

We have taken a ton of photos. Unfortunately I have to be home to share them, so you’ll have to wait. We are here for one more night, then we go back to Daddy for the real, and for us, the second, Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning. Not a bad life. Not bad at all.

Now, where are the rest of those cookies?

Oops.

Well, it happened. I missed a day of blogging. Yesterday was filled with present wrapping, cookie baking and tree decorating. I also had to do a ton of laundry and start packing for our trip today. The disgusting amount of domesticity would have made me puke if it weren’t for the beer I was washing it down with. I was very tired last night. The tree looks great, however, and KC just loves it. She also slept the entire night. Of course, she stayed up until almost 10 pm.

I figured if I was going to miss a blog day this month it would be right about now. Although, I honestly figured it would happen at my parent’s house instead. I won’t let it faze me. I’ll try for every day in December except the 20th. That’s still pretty good, right?

She’s just getting warmed up.

KC is really taking to the holiday festivities. She’s in love with the tree at her Grandma’s house and all the decorations. She wants to read the holiday cards like books, and one of them is a small advent calendar that she sits and opens with me each night. We kiss all the figures in our nativity set each day, and she quickly caught on that “Ho, ho, ho” goes with Santa. She now says this whenever she sees his likeness. I even got her to say it into a small ornament that records sound. It took 10 tries, but I got it.

It was totally fitting that she got to meet “Santa” last night at Ted’s company party. She was too scared to sit with him alone, but was perfectly willing to be next to him in my lap, and accept her present. She ate, ran around with other kids, and basically, had a ball. There is nothing sweeter than little kids dressed up. Especially little girls in holiday dresses.

All Dolled Up

Meeting The Man Himself

It was fun for us too. Probably the most fun I’ve had at this party so far. It’s nice that they include the kids of the employees. Somehow it seems more like Christmas that way. Toward the end, KC felt the need to run around like a crazy person. Going in circles, waving her arms and yelling. No one seemed to mind at all. In fact, they seemed amused by it. Hard not to be amused by a kid her age. I’ll enjoy it. I know there comes an age when kids cease to be adorable when yelling, and running willy-nilly in a public place.

At one point she and some other kids were dancing. Twirling in holiday dresses and sweaters. I caught some of it on video.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday this much. We are off to see GG and Gramps this Sunday. Then it’s back here again for more Holiday cheer with Ted’s family. KC is in for a lot more socializing, but something tells me she can handle it. I’ve got two more holiday dresses still to be worn, so she’d better keep those patent leather toes tapping.

Fleeting Moments

KC is so hard to catch on film these days. She moves constantly. I dressed her up a little for our appointment the other day, and tried to get some good shots. This is by far the cutest. Although, as usual, it’s fuzzy with movement.

Pretty Baby

It’s the story of our life right now. Fleeting, flashing moments and activity. I will love looking back at all these photos. It will be necessary. She’s growing so fast I can hardly remember the earliest days without looking at the photographic evidence that it all happened.

Ahh. Here we go. This is as still as it gets. Zonked. Off to dreamland. Visions of sugarplums, etc.

z z z z z z z z z z z z

I should be doing the same thing right now. It’s very late. Goodnight.

Say, WHAT?

Oh no, it does NOT say Dec. 18th on the post I just did! It is the 17th here on the east coast. I so totally did NOT skip a day. Do you hear me? I did not.

See that date up there? My blog time settings are crazy. Crazy I tell you.

Just for the record. Seriously. I’m not cheating. I’m not.

Ok, NOW I’m going to bed. Goodnight. Again. On the right day this time.

No fair.

I’m going to do a little good with my post tonight. A little pass it on. I got word of something kind of uncool via some other blog sites. If you think really beautiful, handcrafted toys that are made in the USA are a good thing, and you believe in the “American Dream” of starting a successful business with your God-given talents, then go here, or click the cute image below. You’ll read about some new regulations that will, most likely, put a lot of talented people out of business for no really good reason.

I have already printed a letter to send to my congressman. You can too. The page I linked above and below will tell you how to do it. It’s super easy. Hey, the letter is even done for you! All you have to do is insert your info and your congressman’s (congressperson’s?) address, print, stamp and mail. I think there is even an online petition somewhere.

It’s Christmas, people. Save some toys.

Pregnant Pause #3 – It’s All in the Hips

Ok, that sounds kind of sleazy doesn’t it? I have a way with obscure headlines. Got your attention though didn’t it? A doctor’s appointment today brings up another subject from KC’s early days. Here’s a rather important story from before the blog.

****

The hips were a big thing when KC was born. Her hips that is. Or rather, ONE of her hips. One of them was out of the socket when she was born. Caused by the way she held herself in the womb. Sounds a lot worse than it is. The baby doesn’t feel any pain. Not like if you, or I suddenly got a joint yanked out of the socket. If the baby’s legs are in such a position that the hip “ball” joint doesn’t get to sit up close in the socket for long enough, it won’t begin to form, or grab onto that joint like it should. Luckily they check those babies over pretty thoroughly at the hospital these days, so they saw it right away.

KC’s cousin had the same issue, but in both hips. And, get this. That tendency towards a certain position in the womb…it’s genetic. Weird, right? I kind of thought so anyway. I didn’t question it too much to be honest. I almost wouldn’t have believed that explanation except for the fact that it happened to our niece too. That would be too big a coincidence not to be genetic. Isn’t science fun?

Both girls had to wear a harness for the first few months of life to help coax the joints up where they belong. A whole lot worse for the parents than the baby, let me tell you. It’s tough enough being a new mom and totally unsure of yourself. Now add the fact that your baby has an “issue” that you have to deal with by taking her to Children’s hospital. Even if that issue isn’t so horrible when compared to other possible problems a child could be born with, it’s still a tough pill to swallow. I cried. A lot. Part of it was the hormones, but part was the fear that she was in pain, or that I’d make things worse while holding her.

The doctors assured us it didn’t hurt, and we couldn’t do any harm by handling her normally. Babies are very soft and squishy when new. This particular problem, when caught right away, can be easily fixed due to the fact that they are soft, and bone is still forming. Once we got her in that harness, and we started to see that she didn’t cry or seem to be uncomfortable, we were ok.

The harness is a fabric thing with lots of velcro straps that goes on a bit like a halter top and has cloth stirrups that hold the baby’s feet up toward the chest. When laying there, she looked like a little froggy. It didn’t seem to bother KC too much. I guess that’s the benefit of being very small and new. You really don’t know the difference yet, do you? She had to wear it all the time. That was tough. We were allowed to remove it for the occasional bath or to wash it when it got really funky. Pretty much all she could wear was a onsie. Pants of any sort (including footed sleepers) are just impossible. A lot of blankets were used and a lot of cute clothes went unworn in those first few months.

At first it seemed like the time she had to wear the thing would stretch on forever. Even now, I have trouble remembering exactly when we got to say goodbye to it for good. At some point we got to scale back and only put it on her while she slept. I think it was around the first week or two of January of 2008 that it was over. I don’t think she wore it for more than 4 months total. We were lucky. It did it’s job well and they gave her the all clear. Of course they wanted to see her a few more times to watch and be sure.

We went back in yesterday for the first time since June. It was the first time since KC started walking. An obvious milestone the doc wanted to check on. They thought she looked great and pretty much said she’d continue to be fine. One final visit in a year. That should be the last.

Just for the record, KC’s older cousin is fine too. She wore her harness a bit longer due to it being both hips, but the outcome was also a good one for them. We even saw the same doctor after my sister in law helped to get me my first appointment. She was a definite lifesaver. Ted and I were really lucky to have she and her husband to talk to. That made it so much easier to deal with. I can just imagine how stressful it was for them, not really knowing what to expect.

Our doc and his assistant were fantastic. We were all sad when both of them left the hospital over the summer, but the new doc we saw today seems just as nice. I have a lot of gratitude to the staff at Children’s. Talk about a hard job. KC is lucky. Her problem was nothing compared to some of the issues they see every day. Seems unfair that children have to suffer at all. Definitely makes you stop and give thanks for the blessings you have.

Here are some pics. I remember how amazingly different it felt to hold her after she got to take the thing off. Long legs, everywhere! She felt so compact in the harness with her legs held up all the time. An easy little bundle to tote around! I can just imagine how good it was for her to be able to stretch out. She was well out of it before she was at an age to want to crawl. Luckily.

You can see the top portion, or the “halter” here (I guess she was having an angry moment):

and a better view of what the leg stirrups were like:

See? She’s smiling. Not so bad.

Traditions, loss and newfound joys.

I’m almost done with my shopping for the holiday. KC and I hit Target today and got a few more things. Now I need to start wrapping everything so I’m not caught in a rush. Going up to my parent’s this coming weekend means I have to get it together early. In addition to gifts, there’s the normal packing required when away from home for more than a day.

Diapers? Check. Wipes? Check. Sippy cups and little plastic forks? Check.

We still don’t have our tree. It may be the first year we’ll do that part so close to Christmas. Ted’s gone all week, so I figure we’ll buy it Friday and decorate on Saturday. I guess that isn’t so odd. From what I’ve heard, some families decorate a tree on Christmas Eve as normal practice. I think one of my parent’s told me they used to open all the presents on Christmas Eve instead of in the morning. (Sorry, mom and dad, if I’m mistaken.) If that’s true, I kind of have to wonder how Santa worked in that case? Never really thought about it.

Some of my favorite traditions: opening one present on Christmas eve (usually new pajamas), eating tempura, putting out cookies for Santa and carrots for reindeer, going to midnight mass with my mom, my brother and my best friend, reading “The Night Before Christmas”, hearing my mom read the story of Jesus’ birth while we each got to open wrapped parts of the nativity scene during the story, watching “The Nutcracker” ballet on PBS, looking through the “wish book” from Sears for the toys we wanted, putting out the luminaries with neighbors and driving to look at lights…just to name a few.

A couple of my best memories of believing in Santa: the year I insisted on sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace so I could meet him. The year I insisted that Santa would be able to produce for me a babydoll that was no longer sold in stores, because, he’s Santa. He can do that. (I didn’t get her, but I don’t recall being sad. I must have gotten something equally good.)

There are a lot of good memories for me when it comes to Christmas. Now that I’m an adult a lot of those things don’t happen anymore. You feel a little silly leaving cookies out for Santa as an adult with no kids. Plus, as you get older, you just kind of stop doing certain things. Things that seem childish. Not stupid, mind you. Just a little childish. A lot of the magic goes away, and it’s just extra time spent with family, too much food, and too much money spent on presents no one really needs.

Some of the traditions in my family changed due to us kids growing up, and all of us, including my parents and a lot of our friends, moving to new places. No more old neighborhood, or Christmas Eve gatherings with old friends. However, some of the traditions changed due to a very tragic loss back in January of 2003. When we lost my brother, Scott, it kind of changed the joy that surrounds a lot of things, especially holidays like this one. I haven’t talked about Scott yet in this blog. Truthfully, I don’t have the energy to elaborate now either. Most of you know the story. Those that don’t, someday I’ll tell you. I most definitely will be telling KC about him when the times comes.

As hard as it has been for my parents and I since he died, we do ok. We still gather together and celebrate. Marrying Ted was a great thing that happened during a sad time. His addition to the family helped to give us material for new traditions. Now that KC is here, there will be even more. When she’s old enough, I will do for her some of those things my brother and I used to enjoy. I think she will bring that joy and magic back. No, scratch that. I know she will. Plus, her Dad is a gigantic child who now has a perfect excuse to go crazy with toys and holiday tradition. Lord help us all.

Oh, and another new tradition seems to be forming. This weekend when I drive with KC up to see my mom and dad, my sweet, sweet cousin will be there with her adorable little boy. This is the 2nd year she’s made the trip all the way here from Minnesota. I give her lots of credit! Not an easy trip during the holidays. Even if she doesn’t manage it every year, I hope it becomes something we do fairly often. In the summertime, Ted and I plan to return the favor by taking KC up to see them. Lots of memories from way back, and lots of new ones just waiting to be made.