Monday, December 11, 2006

I forgot how much I like Spandau Ballet.

I am now obsessed with '80s music circa 1983. I'm listening to Spandau Ballet's "True", and yep, I still like the album. And who could forget the sample of the song proper in P.M. Dawn's "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"?

Friday, December 08, 2006

typical Chicago winter

the house in winter
the house in winter,
originally uploaded by urban mama.
The first snow this year was not benign. We had about four inches or so, but it sure does make the house look purty. The lights around the porch and the wreath that is on the door (which is not visible in the photo) is all we've done so far as exterior holiday decor. I think that's just peachy.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

rolling into the holidays

I'm excited about the holiday season this year. The one cloud is that my father passed away during Thanksgiving weekend last year, so it will forever be a melancholy time of year for me. But, I am happy that the babies are doing well and are as happy as they can possibly be. They are such swell kids.

The big joint present this year is an old school style rocking horse similar to what D-Money had when he was wee. I think they'll both like it, and they'll both fight over it. Other than that, they'll get the usual assortment of books and fun things. Zee is getting the FP Kid Tough digital camera for her birthday and probably a small paul julius t-shirt. And a stuffed penguin that's two feet tall. I fear that she'll take it into her tiny and already overflowing with stuffed animals toddler bed with her. She's learned how to walk like a penguin and will perform on demand for a change. It is good stuff.

Intellectual strengths: Zee is excellent with puzzles and games, patterns, logic. O is excellent with problem solving (physical and mental) and building Duplo structures, and he's a charming little guy to boot. They have the makings of being evil geniuses if we don't instill any ethical standards with them.

Friday, October 20, 2006

I should be working.

It's slow today, and I'm spending my time messing around with Flickr and stalking home prices in the SFBA. Then I'll go home and coddle Mr. O, who's been stricken with a nasty illness that combines a super-stuffy nose, raging ear infection and scalding hot fever. Poor little man!

In related news - I came across a house in the LS that looks decent and that we could've afforded. Drat! I don't dare bring it up to D-Money. I can hear the groans of disappointment already.

Mr. O's birthday bash

cakes for all
cakes for all,
originally uploaded by urban mama.
Mr. O turned 1 on October 1. Amazing. We had a few of (my) friends over + one set of grandparents. It was the first party I've hosted in the house, and it went very well. I am now emboldened to hold future gatherings.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

the uniform

Today I am wearing:

Wide-legged grey wool pants
Black cashmere turtleneck
Robert Clergerie black platform wedges from a few years ago

I still have my screaming pink wool dufflecoat by Isaac Mizrahi for Target, though I should cycle that out and keep it as a weekend coat. It's great for the playground and doing errands. The pockets can manage a big sippy cup. Don't tell me that's not handy.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Ssshhhh, I'm trying to read.

Am reading "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett, finally, and the book follows me around everywhere. Next is "Longitude" by Dava Sobel and then that Calamity Physics book that just came out. I wish I could still take public transportation so I can maximize my reading time.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

it's the plank for the likes of you.

Zee has been into pirates lately. She goes around the house chirping, "Ahoy, mateys!"

I finally ask her, "Is that what pirates say?"

"Nooo."

"Then what do pirates say?"

"Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr".

Friday, August 25, 2006

well, it's been a while, hasn't it?

A friend who is positioning herself to become the next Marisha Pessl (or someone similar) has shamed me into posting a blog update. I am not going to make excuses, but I will say that there has been a significant amount of deep thought and reevalution. Basically, that means I've gotten myself a new job, one that hopefully will give me some management experience (I've got a staff of three, woohoo!) and more of a work/life balance.

I'd like to throw out there that Jane Austen is the first celebrity chick-lit author. Of course I'm right.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

when books go bad

There have been an alarming number of recently released books dedicated to the occupation of motherhood. Books detailing the "war" between stay-at-home and working moms, the agonies of raising a child in upper middle class society, and so on, and so on, and so on.

I've made the executive decision to neither purchase nor borrow any of these mommy books because all they will do is cause self-doubt. Parenting is hard enough without the background chorus calling into question your every decision. The best feedback? Hearing your babes laugh every single day, and really laugh.

In other news, Mr. O is now the proud owner of one emerging bottom tooth. We have lift-off! He loves the outer space sticky on his wall. I was delighted to see that it had glow in the dark stars. It rocks the free world.

I caved and bought Zee a Dora the Explorer dvd. This one features a pirate episode with tons more music than usual. It's pop opera for the minis.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

okay, now back to the house

we did buy a house! I was going to chronicle the process, but there really wasn't much to talk about. We're moving to a neighborhood in the city called Portage Park, which no one knows about and there's not a Starbucks in walking distance. So what it lacks in sheer hipness, the house more than makes up for it. It's a 1909 American 4-square - well-proportioned, a tasteful blue-grey in exterior color and with some original woodwork inside. It's not a huge house at 1400 sf or so, but it's just enough house for us and it felt good.

We've been talking up the blue-grey house to Z, and though she seems excited by it, she'll probably bunk with us for a week. She's been more clingy than usual lately and gave the new (and probably never returning) babysitter a lot of hell yesterday. D-money thinks she was disappointed that she wasn't spending the day with Mommy and was acting out. Good grief. Can I do anything without her freaking out?

The unfortunate, or maybe not, thing is that she is so dialed into my moods that they affect her more than I'd like. I've been tired and pensive lately and probably not the fun mommy of legend and lore.

I made some little Easter baskets for Z and O. Very modest with a few toys and books and candy that D-money and I are going to pilfer for ourselves. For D-money, I got a chocolate Peeps egg, which has to go down in history as one of the best ideas EVER. Did you hear me? EVER.

Friday, January 20, 2006

rollin' OX

OX's latest project is rolling over from his back to his belly. I let him have at it last night on our bed. He made all kinds of loud noises - yelps, squeals and grunts. He's almost got it; he just needs to get that one arm out of his way. And, when he does get close, he seems angry that his body betrayed him and flipped him over without his permission.

In other news, Zee went on her first field trip yesterday to the Shedd Aquarium. I had no feedback other than she was in a great mood when I went to pick them up. She likes these excursions, and on Saturday we may go to one of the children's museums or the nature museum in Lincoln Park for some mommy and Zee time.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

he does NOT.

D-Money just said that OX looks exactly like...Yul Brynner.

No comment.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

new topic: The Househunt

We've decided to become fully functioning adults by purchasing our first house. Now, said house has not fully presented itself to us yet, but I will be journalizing the process because it thus far has been what we call "very interesting".

Friday, January 06, 2006

oh, my baby boy.

Today is my last day of maternity leave. I'm sad. O did a series of Greatest Baby Hits today - spat up three times all over my clothes, pooped through an outfit, batted his eyes at the Baby in the Mirror - and we ended the day with him snoozing in my arms. He's my Ferdinand the Bull.