MoMonkey MoMonkey

HELP WANTED: FULL TIME COOK, HOUSEKEEPER & ACCOUNTANT. MUST BE WILLING TO WORK FOR FREE!

I love being a Mom...there's no doubt about it. Madeline has been an absolute blessing and brings such joy to our house!

Adjusting to motherhood is quite a different story though! I am so busy these days that I can't even think straight anymore. I can't tell you the last time I balanced my checkbook, or paid my bills on time. In fact, I don't even know if we have any money left in our checking account. We just spend and spend without ever having the opportunity to see if there's anything in there. Thank goodness nothing has bounced yet. And house work? Forget it! Laundry can sit for weeks before I have a chance to get to it. And dishes can pile up for days and the only reason they're attended to then is so I have clean bottles to feed Mo. And cooking? Well, let's just say I didn't cook before Madeline, and I sure as heck don't cook now! I don't know what I'll do when Mo passes the formula and baby food stage!

For those of you who know me, this is a very difficult adjustment. I'm a perfectionist and an absolute control freak. I'm used to having a very orderly house, with everything in its place - and I'm used to having everything done in a timely manner. Of course I know that in the grand scheme of things, having a perfect house doesn't matter. But the sanity an orderly house would provide for me would sure go a long way!

For those of you who would like to lecture me about how housework doesn't really matter.....save it! I know that the most important thing is raising a healthy, happy, well-balanced responsible child! But none of that will do any good if my child is going to the babysitter's naked because I can't get to her laundry!!!

The burp heard 'round the world

We had a fun weekend. David's long time friend, Cheryl, and her mom came to visit from Pittsburgh. Her mom is like another mom to both David and I...she's really quite the wonderful lady! And since we call her Mom, Mo will eventually learn to call her Grandma!

After a few schedule mix-ups (ahem...whistler), Friday started off with dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant. On Saturday, amongst the shopping, we took Mom on a tour of the QVC studio. She's a huge QVC shopper and watches the channel religiously. The entire tour took about an hour and 15 minutes and Mo was an absolute sweetheart during the entire thing. At one point we were allowed to go out into a little balcony to see the show recording live, but were asked to be very quiet when doing so. Since Mo was being such an angel, the tour guide insisted that I take her out onto the balcony with me. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop...that is until Mo decided to leave out the loudest belch possible! And after her burp, she gave me a huge smile. It was as if she knew exactly what she was doing! After we left QVC, we met David's parents at a restaurant called Crawdaddies (which is a really great Cajun place in West Chester). Then we called it an evening with a movie at home! Mo was an absolute sweetheart during their entire visit.

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

While away in Georgia, Mo learned how to do something new. She started talking with her mouth shut. As simple as it might sound, it's quite humorous! She can spend a half hour just saying "mmmmmmm..." And sometimes she even makes herself laugh while doing it.

MG thinks that Mo will say "Mommy" first because she has her "M's" down pat. I say "dream on"! She'll learn to say Daddy first - especially since she knows she's got Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

Batting Clean Up, Number 72

Changed my first poopy diaper today all my myself. I have done others in the past, but they were minor and I had some form of assistance.

Is it alright to use at least 20 baby wipes to get the job done??

I have to give a bit of backgroud on my aversion to changing diapers of the #2 status. As a kid, I would change my younger brother; It made me sick to my stomach everytime I had do it. I would get so sick to my stomach that I would almost puke my guts out. I said way back then that I would never change another diaper again until I had a child of my own.

During the years inbetween I kept true to my word. Countless nieces and nephews and not a single diaper change. In fair exchange, I never complained when someone had to clean up after the dogs. MG didn't have the stomach for it, so I stepped up and batted clean up. (get it?! clean up? oh nevermind).. I don't know why doggie doo and vomit never had the same reaction as baby poop.

Just to make things clear, I may have changed a poopy diaper today, but that does not mean that I enjoyed it. I dont' know who was more annoyed during the changing, me or Mo.

The face that launched a 1000 ships

Coming home after a week, it was good to see my little Mo. I tried to feed her part of her bottle but she didn't want it. I laid her on my chest and attempted to watch some television. Note, how I used the word attempted. I looked down to see what she was doing and at the very same time she looks up at me with her incredibly beautiful eyes. My heart melted instantly. This happened about 4 or 5 times in a matter of minutes.

Isn't it amazing how something so small can change your life in a big way??

OUR LITTLE FASHION VICTIM

Y'all know I love monkeys! Well, neither David nor I could pass up an opportunity to buy clothing for Mo that sports the cute little creatures! Isn't she cuuuute?

Two Rights Don't Make a Left

Lately, Mo has mastered the art of sucking her thumb. MG thinks its the sweetest thing ever. I have to agree, but I have noticed something a tad more interesting.

It appears that everytime Mo sucks her thumb it is with the left hand. Does this mean that she is left handed? Neither MG or I is left handed, there is no one on MG's side of the family that is a left either. The only person that claims southpaw status is my dad.

Is it too early to determine this? I'm curious...

MESSY MARVIN

On Saturday we gave Mo cereal (from a bowl) for the very first time. Let's just say she spent more time playing than she did eating!! She enjoyed grabbing handfuls of cereal with her hands and wiping it all over her face and pj's - as well as me. And every time I tried to feed her from the spoon, she grabbed the spoon out of my hand and tried to feed herself. She's very determined to be independent! By the time she was done eating, we both needed baths!

The Lights The Smiles The Excitment

Last night we met up witih some friends to check out Community Days. It's basically a mini-carnival with lots of food stands and an area where they have shows and various activities. Saturday they'll have fireworks and lots of traffic parking up and down my street. (insert grrr here). One of the best things about community days is that we can walk to it.

MO was an absolute sweetheart. She totally loved the lights of the carnival rides. She was totally zoned out on them. As we walked around people would stop and smile at MO. She was such the happy baby.

And now for your moment of MO goodness...

What's a girl to do without HGTV?

Well it's official. Our kid is a TV addict. I hate to say that, but it's true. I always said that if I had a child, TV would be off limits. But after a long day of work, I really enjoy watching HGTV or TLC! And Mo just happens to be in the room while I'm watching those programs. If Mo doesn't show a strong interest in decorating someday, I'll be really surprised!

Anyway, it's gotten so bad that the other day I had the weather channel on mute and was reading her a book. I had the book right in front of her face so she could see the pictures, and she actually peered around the book to watch the TV!

I guess I'm going to have to limit my TV viewing!