So I think I’m going to start something new on my blog called “Top Three.” It will, in essence, be a list of my top three…of anything I happen to want it to be that day - books, movies, songs, snacks, who knows what, and then an invitation for you to add your list in the comments. And I am not assigning it a day because that will just stress me out. I may try and stick to Fridays but it is possible that Top Three will be random, so you’ll just have to keep a look out.

I decided to start this today because I was driving with Sam and listening to a totally awesome CD. I was lovin’ it and I just thought to myself, “I have to tell someone about this totally awesome CD! Who can I tell? Who else would love this CD?” My first thought was Mama D, which I thought was cool in a lot of ways. It’s funny how much blogging has permeated our lives, I think. I mean, I’ve never met D in person but I truly believe I know her well enough to know that she’d probably like what I was hearing, and she came to mind just as easily as any “in-person” friend would have. And then I thought of a few other CDs I’ve really loved as of late and how it’s rare for me to find music I like because I just don’t have access to what is current, you know, with my only human contact being a toddler and all. So I thought that maybe I could share some music picks with you guys, then you could respond with your own list, and then we’ll all have a few new ideas for new possibilities.

So here goes, the first ever Top Three: Best CDs to listen to in the car. And let me just emphasize that with the exception of D you should probably listen to some songs on itunes or amazon or something before spending any money because jeez, I don’t know what you like, this is just me.

1.The Killers - Sam’s Town. This is the one I was listening to today. I’m not very familiar with their first release which, according to reviews, was their masterpiece. This new one just happened to be in the car because my husband just got it, but he did let me know that he knew I’d like them. Well, he was right. Great driving music with a really nice 80’s influence I’d say. In fact, I’m pretty sure there is a synthesizer involved in the 3rd track. It’s nostalgic but not in a depressing way, and there is a chain of songs, I think tracks 3-6, that are just about the best songs I’ve heard in months.

2. Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way. This is pretty uncharacteristic for me because I’m not a country fan. But when I heard all the hype about what they said about Bush and all that my interest was piqued so I decided to give them a shot. Besides, I’ve always loved me some good sing along with the ladies driving music and this most recent release of theirs fit the bill. For me, about half of this disc is really great and the other half I could take or leave. But the good part is really very good. Track 2 is chillingly lovely and bookended (tracks 1 and 3) by the strongest sing your guts out in the car songs since the Indigo Girls, hence its inclusion in the list.

3.Stellastarr - stellastarr. Talk about your 80’s Brit pop influence! I love this album. Love it. In this case I am not going to recommend the most recent release from this band because their new one really left me wanting…wanting more of the female co-singer! I’ll admit I am hugely swayed by female singers, probably because I love to sing in the car and singing along with a woman is somehow more fun for me. That said, this is a rockin’ band very reminiscient of Pulp in my opinion, who I would like with or without the alto, and she just makes them that much cooler.

So there you have it - my first “Top Three.” Now, if you will be so kind, please let me know what your favorite driving CDs are and maybe we’ll all find something new and wonderful. Only rule: no kid music. Nope, sorry. That would totally defeat the purpose here. Adults only - I mean, kids can hear all of this stuff, it’s just not written for children. And for the record, these all are my more recent picks. I didn’t include things like Rites of Passage and Check Your Head because I figure if you’re gonna listen to that stuff you’ve certainly already found it by now. So if you need a way to narrow your list down you could always choose the more recent music/bands so that we can all learn about the new music that we may not yet have encountered.

Labels: Bloggy Stuff - Memes/Links/Business

At long last…long, long last…my child is officially verbal. For the past few weeks Sam has been imitating our speech more and especially our intonation. Every so often we’d hear a vowel or consonant that was very similar to what we’d just said. As usual though it was never certain when he would make these sounds that he actually meant them as words. He would yell, “Mamama!” when pissed off at me, like when we’d stop nursing before he was ready (well, excuse me but he was going off and on over and over again and was looking away - God forbid I cover up the nummy!), but that seemed like more of a random expletive, if you will, as opposed to a word with an intended meaning such as, “Mommy, please do not cover your breast yet for I am not quite finished feeding.” But this morning that all changed.

As we prepared to go grocery shopping I told him we needed to put our shoes on so we could go out. He went and got my sneakers and brought them to me. I said, “Thank you so much for bringing me my shoes.” And he said, “sho.” “Did you say shoe?” “Shess.” “Shoe!” “Shs.” And then we called Hubby on the phone because his word was deteriorating quickly. “Say shoes to Daddy.” “Shiss.” Works for me.

And so it’s official - a first word. I was sure it would be car, but shoes are cool too. I’ll take it.

Labels: Pictures, Talking, Toddler

Green

White

Red

Green and White

Unfortunately I am now in no mood to write anything because it just took Blogger over TWO HOURS to upload these measly photos. Seriously dude, seriously, do I have time for that? No. The answer is no. It is now time for bed.

I will say this though - is this not the cutest hoodie you have ever seen in your life? One of the many benefits of visiting in-laws: designer gifts that we could never ever afford nor would ever buy if it were up to us but since someone else bought it this time I guess we should just keep it because secretly it makes me salivate and I know it’s a little big but I care not because it is so cute and fashionable and hip and unique and no one else will have it at the park and I get to have one really cool thing just this once so there!

Labels: Pictures, Toddler

So we’re visitng my in-laws for the long weekend right now. When I came to check my site here I saw that my banner is not up when I look at my blog from their computer. That’s very strange. Can ya’ll do me a favor and if you are here at my blog let me know if you see my banner up there? It should have pictures of Sam in a swing and the title “Total Mom Haircut.” This is really annoying. Can a bunch of people not even see the title to my blog? Does anyone know why this might be? Thanks for responding - I appreciate it.

Labels: Bloggy Stuff - Memes/Links/Business

So I went ahead and joined that gym with the childcare that I mentioned last week. I thought for just a few days a week Sam and I should have a little time away from each other, and the idea of getting to listen to some music while walking or do a yoga class was just way too tempting. I was only slightly worried about how he might respond to being left with strangers. I mentioned before that we’ve never left him with anyone other than family, but he’s always been fine when I’ve gone away. I have no idea why. Mommy leaves less than an hour after Grammy and Grampy arrive - fine. Daddy tries to put him to bed with no Mommy - definitely not fine.

I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect upon leaving him the first time, especially since it would be in a new place, and I was nervous. But when I walked him into the room he struggled to get free so that he could run over to the car toys (big shocker). I had to walk up to him and touch him to get his attention to let him know I was leaving for a bit, in case he turned around and all of a sudden I was gone. Yeah right, like he cared. There were cars, different cars, cars that were exponentially better than any cars that I could ever buy for him ever. He didn’t care that I left and hardly cared when I returned. I checked in periodically to look through the window and make sure he was ok. Once he was pushing a car back and forth with another girl about his age. Once he was playing peek-a-boo with another kid under the slide. Once all the kids were doing something in the corner and then they all ran, herd-like through the rest of the room. I made sure he couldn’t see me through the window in case it might upset him, but frankly I don’t think it would have mattered. He was having a good time…without me.

I was about to start talking there about how torn I am and how deep down I wish he missed me and couldn’t get on without me, but that’s not really true. I was so proud of him. He’s a little independent boy who can play with other kids and run in the herd. And I’m really happy that he can have fun with new people in new places. I’d like to take credit for his adaptability but I realize it’s really not mine to take.

When I came to get him he wanted to show me all the great things in the room (ie. cars, a toy airplane, the play kitchen, the slide…and cars). One of the women said he’d been dancing for them a bit and that he’d been great, even laughed at her some. He’s gone twice now and both times had the same response. He loves it, and then I go through the rest of the day feeling like I havn’t gotten to see him at all because I walked on a tread mill for 30 minutes. Could he talk he’d probably be telling me to go to the gym, where it is more fun and far more exciting.

Labels: Mommyhood, Tales, Toddler

So we took Sam to his first concert this past weekend. It was a free concert at the zoo and one of our favorite bands happened to be playing, Lunch Money. Sam really likes their CD and I’ll admit, it is not offensive to the parental ear…ok, so really I like a few of their songs. So although we’d really be pushing nap time we ultimately decided it was worth the trip. Hubby and I recognized that we would probably enjoy the concert a lot more than Sam would, but how can you turn down a free concert at a place where you have a membership, making the whole thing free, free, free?

Well, we were totally wrong - Sam loved it. As soon as they started playing music he was dancing. I so wish we had the video camera because the pictures just don’t do his moves justice. It was cute, really cute. When they were having the kids all jump during a song Sam tried to jump by going up on his toes over and over again. I have to admit I got a little misty from all the cuteness going around. I was really glad we went - very worth pushing back the nap a bit.

Clapping for the band…while eating a cracker…and sitting in goose poo.

This is his head bopping move, in which he bops his head to and fro while keeping the rest of his body totally rigid.

Waving back and forth move, in which he sways from side to side.

Squatting move, in which he stands immobile and bends his legs repeatedly.

Carefully approaching the stage.

Yes, I realize these pictures all look exactly the same. I told you, we didn’t bring the video camera! We suck!

Labels: Pictures, Toddler

One of the best things that has ever happened for the relationship I have with my mother was becoming a mom myself.

After Sam was born my mother came and stayed with us. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I will never forget the overwhelming love I felt for her and my baby.

The way that everything comes full circle in those first weeks home with your new baby - it’s so hard and yet such an amazing milestone. You are there, a mother yourself, but needing so desperately to be mothered. My mom was there through some very difficult times, fulfilling every need, feeding me as though I were a child, helping me heal from a very difficult surgery followed by an infection, and assuring me along the way that I could do this mothering thing too, that she did it and had “done a damn fine job of it,” and so could I.

This is my favorite picture of her. I love her smile. Beautiful.

When I look at these pictures I see myself in her and Sam in me. I am struck by how much I look like her, how much I act like her. She’s the one who taught me how to be a mother, and I’m doing a damn fine job of it, if I do say so myself.

Today is my mom’s birthday. She is probably one of your lurkers - she subscribes to bloglines, because she’s cool like that, but she probably has never commented, because she’s shy like that. But she knows who all of you are and even asks me about you specifically in her emails. So if you are here, please join me in wishing her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Labels: Birthdays, Pictures