New Thing #8

I am always looking for dishes that both my man and I enjoy. These are hard to come by, as I would rather eat Thai, Indian, sushi, or vegetarian dishes, and he tends toward steak & potatoes or Mexican. But yesterday, I made something new that satisfied my taste buds AND his!

I made beef stew!

My man went back for seconds, and even said that he wants to take the leftovers for lunch! Score!!!

What are your favorite dishes as a couple? I could use some more ideas...

New Thing #7

Why oh why is it necessary to become an emotional mess after becoming a parent? Do the nurses hang a bag of Crybaby Serum to the IV while you're asleep in the hospital bed? Ever since welcoming my punk into the world, I have been unable to control myself whenever I hear any stories about people who may be sad or sick. Besides being a complete mess over actual heartbreaking events that some friends have had to endure lately, my poor maternal heart can't even handle it when I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. And when my baby was a week old, I happened to see a man with a disability trying to hustle across an intersection in the snow, and I started crying right there in the passenger seat of my car as we drove by. Before giving birth, I would have felt for the guy, but the tears would have stayed where they belong. In my eye balls. At least, I think that's where tears are stored... right?

So, for my new thing this week, I cried while taking a tour of the Make A Wish Foundation.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This psychedelic, purple room is magic! It is called the Wishing Room and it is at the top of the Wishing Tower in the Make A Wish building. As you can see, my little buddy was enthralled with our private tour. 

He's a tough little guy; he didn't even cry when we read a book about what it's like to have Cancer, illustrated by a 5 year-old Cancer patient and written by his mother. And I even managed to hold the tears back until, at the end of the book, my friend and tour guide informed me that the little boy died a few months later.

Can someone get me a tissue?

New Thing #6

This year, my man was in charge of planning Valentine's Day. (I get the anniversary - any ideas?) So on Saturday, after I fed the punk at 5:45 am, my valentine and I threw on hats and sweats and got in the car for our

Valentine's Day Breakfast!

We drove through the early morning snow to a place called Doug And Emmy's, which is a little cafe housed in a building with white siding and red brick; it used to be an old railroad station. It's the kind of place that serves dishes named for the regulars, like Bubba's Short Stack or Big Tom's Bacon & Eggs. I very much enjoyed my pancakes. They were cooked on a griddle filled with flavorful, fattening butter. I could tell because of the crisp, marbled outside and the almost-gooey inside. Mmmmm. And my hot chocolate came with about 6 inches of whipped cream on top! I couldn't ask for a better Valentine's celebration. I think we've found a new tradition! 

Hey, if I declare it an annual tradition, I won't have to plan our celebration of love next year! Done.

How did you celebrate your jour d'amour?

New Thing #5

I learned how to post a video!

New Thing #4

The verdict is still out on whether this new thing is a good idea. I've been a bit frustrated with my morning schedule because I've been lucky to get in the shower and be ready for the day by noon. That's one of the things that worried me about being a stay at home mom. I didn't want to be the pajamas-at-4pm type. But I can see now how it would be so easy to get there. Sometimes the punk just doesn't like to be patient while his mama does her own thing. So...

This morning, I got up at 5:00 am.

Usually I get up to feed the little guy at this time anyway, but then I go back to bed until he eats again at 7:30 or 8:00. You see, I'm a girl who likes her sleep. No, I don't just like it. I need it. I neeeeeeeeed it! I am not a happy lady when I'm tired. Some people handle a lack of sleep with grace and dignity. Me? I just feel like crying. Even now, at 10:59 am, I just might cry. I've been walking around like a zombie for the last 6 hours. Holy cow! I've been up for 6 hours? That's just not right.

The good thing is, I was able to work out for 3o minutes instead of 20 because the guy gets restless after about 15 minutes of playing by himself, and by playing, I mean staring at the wall. And I even had a small conversation with my man before he left for work. It actually consisted of more than, "Hav-mmm-gudday," mumbled in my sleep.

So my friends... I'll give it until the end of the day to decide if I want to do this again. If you have any good suggestions on how to work out and get ready before noon without having to get up 2 hours before the sun, please - share!

New Thing #3

My fabulous friend Shanel just cut 10 inches off my hair! Don't worry. I asked her to. And all I can say is, "Aaaaaahhhhhh." It feels good. Now, I've cut 10 inches off before, and I've donated said 5/6 of a foot to Locks of Love before, like I'm going to do now. But I've never had this hairstyle before. Short hair with straight bangs is unexplored territory. 

If you're a guy, you're probably thinking, "You've had short hair before. This is cheating. This isn't a new thing." And if you're a guy, you're probably not even reading this blog. Unless you're married to me and therefore contractually obligated to read my words and be prepared for pop quizzes. But if you're a chick, you know that short hair with the swoop bang is completely different than short hair with the straight bang. Am I right, sistas? Can I get a whut-whut?

New Thing #2

Little Sis was off school on Friday due to Parent Teacher Conferences and the end of the term. We decided to have a slumber party on Thursday night. (These cookies were consumed during said slumber party.) So, for my new thing this week...

I picked up Little Sis from school!

We had a fun day planned, including snarfing the "student special" (cheeseburger, curly fries, small drink) at Woody's, the local burger place, and spending the rest of Sister's Christmas money at the mall. She bought jeans and a jacket. No luck finding a white skirt, however.

Before the festivities began, I arrived at the school parking lot early so I could feed the little punk in the car. He was not employing the table manners I've spent hours teaching him, however, as he tooted his way through his meal. I chose to look the other way. But when he was finished, I was alarmed to see that he had blown out of his diaper - not only all over himself, but all over his mama as well. It's not usually my style to start a luncheon/shopping outing with poo on my skirt. This is my life now. Glamorous, no?

New Thing #1

This week, I did something I've planned to do ever since my childhood. I became a Stay At Home Mom! Officially! Tim went back to work on Monday after three blissful weeks at home with me. (Blissful for me - not necessarily for him. I can't speak for that dude.) On my first day at home with the guy, we ventured out of the house, in the snow, to visit the post office and the grocery store. We even stopped to get a sandwich from the local donut shop. And yes, we bought a donut too. I can say "we" because the punk ate it too, just a little bit later, and a little bit liquid-ier. Then I made a scrumptious dinner for the man who brings home the bacon. I made BBQ chicken sandwiches and parmesan potatoes. Boo yeah! I totally rock as a homemaker. And I will never use that word again. Because it makes me feel like going to bed early. Very early. And never getting up again. Goodnight, forever.

Anyway, I have had a full week of feeding, changing diapers, making meals like a good homemaker (doh!) and cuddling with my little man. I've even managed to get together with some friends, watch a bit of TV, work out a couple times, and take a couple naps. I think I can get used to this new life.

P.S. The punk has started smiling. It explodes my heart each time.

The Year of New Things!

I never make New Year's resolutions. I think it's my way of rebelling against the expected. I don't want to make personal goals just because I'm supposed to! Leave me alone and let me bask in the glow of mindless TV in peace! 

Well, this year I'm making an exception. I guess it's because I am now responsible to guide and direct a little person, and I want to be the best Meili I can be for the little man.

About a year ago, I came across the blog of a chick named Jen who decided that she was going to do one new thing every day for an entire year. Starting the day she turned 29, she chose one new thing to do each day, from leaving a nice note for a stranger to crushing a soda can on her forehead. I checked in with her blog daily during this project, and ever since then, it's been in the back of my mind. I want to do something similar.

I hereby declare that each week in 2009, I am going to do something I have never done before!

This is a year of many firsts by default, so a lot of my new things will be baby related. However, I could use some good ideas that don't relate directly to motherhood. Please help me compile my list of new things! And by the way, I've already been skydiving, bungee jumping, and skinny dipping, so you can cross those off your list. Okay, I haven't been skinny dipping. But you can forget about that! Skinny dipping went out the window with the appearance of these blasted stretch marks.

Here's to a Year of New Things!!!