The Devil wears Carter: the reason we must baby proof

I was told early on to wait and see "what type of baby I had" before "wasting" my time with buying baby proof items and installing them. Maybe I wouldn't have a mischievous boy who loves anything he is not supposed to touch. YEAH RIGHT. As you can see ...my kid learned how to open the cabinets and kitchen draws this week...time for some proofing. I took a video of it and will post it at a later time. But here is the time line of pics while Rylan got caught!

MAKE IT STOP

I thought...silly me...that after the infant stage I would know exactly what my kid wanted and how to soothe him immediately. Then he hit the glorious toddler stage ...and I am swearing like a truck driver again (at least in my head that is!). This kid is sooooooooooo thick. He knows what he wants alright and if you don't allow him to have or get what he wants you are in some big freaken, nightmare-of a trouble. I try to give him the bennifit of the doubt when he is even more...ummm...how do you say it nicely..."emotional", "stuburn", ..or just a pain in the ass. Yes I said it...even a little tiny guy that I love sooooo dearly can infact be a pain in the ass...and if you have a kid or know a kid...don't kid yourself...they can be too! I am positive my mom said the same thing about me many times and probably still does. The past two days...for as much as I love him, and I am so happy to see him when I wake up....MAN OH MAN I have been SO happy to put him down for the night. He has been a MONSTER. Maybe it is because his dad is in Dallas and he misses him...but I am banking on teeth and a cold. All I know is for some reason it is getting to me and I am praying tomorrow he won't be such a wreck. Yesturday it was mere whining ...today...even after tylenol ...it was SCREAMING (my mom's group can attest to this...as he literally screamed (minus 10min in the pool) through the entire group...I think because he was pissed off I took him out today. Yep that too...I grew a home body. If it was up to Rylan our day would consist of staying at home all day with an occasional walk around the hood. I am hoping their is some relief light at the end of the monster-crank tunnel...if not I am going to be drunk soon! (kidding of course----well sort of!)

A lil bit of NYC with a bit of hometown charm

Today was an Aimee day! Pete is out enjoying his fantasy football draft and my in laws were kind enough to take Rylan for the day while I get some stuff done. The stuff started out with my ol' time favorite that brings me back to my NYC days everytime....yup...you know it...STARBUCKS. Even though this little piece of joy has franchised its way into everyones hometown now a days, it still reminds me of my young-hip days as a New Yorker. The same days when wearing high heels for 20 blocks was NO big thing...but to wear them for 5 min. now are a killer. It is nice to sit there and reminisce about those times and enjoy a specialty drink with their reduced fat banana-chocolate chip cake (if you haven't tried it YOU MUST!). Then I went to the 2nd stop that always follows this particular Starbucks that I love....TRADER JOES. This is the part of living in Bethel, CT instead of NYC I am happy about. NYC didn't have this little piece of joy (Boston does however), and this place...if you have never been is AWESOME. I stock up every time I am there on frozen meals to make that take 5-10min, that are actually very tasty and HEALTHY! Susanne got me hooked on the Chimichurri rice and ginger carrots, Christina got me into the chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels (not so healthy but ooohhh so yummy), and Emily and I used to feast on their pizza when we were roomies in Boston. I am a big fan of their Balsamic veggies that they don't always have in stock(needless to say i bought 3 packages today--just in case), and their Carne Asda Beef that is SUPER spicy but is amazingly tender on the grill. Can you tell my love for food? Anyway... the point of my blogging is...these two things bring me great happiness...that I am considering making it a monthly routine. I think it is important to find even a little something after becoming a mom that brings you self satisfaction...and this happens to be mine.

What it is like to be an addict?

I am finding out.
Through years of counseling/supervising in the drug rehab field you would think I would get what it is like to be addicted to something. But I never did until recently!
I am a food addict....100% in love with food (hence the struggle to lose baby weight). I think about food all the time and will plan my entire week around what restaurant we are going to or what spectacular meal I feel like making...sad I know...but it is what I love the most in this world (minus the hubby and the kid).
But there is one thing I have been trying to kick but can't. Everyday I tell myself this is the day I am going to go without. I guess this is similar to when I went through complete overnight withdrawal when I moved here and I didn't have Starbucks on the corner of my street anymore (or on any corner on any block anywhere near here vs. NYC on everyone). So I am here to admit my new addiction that I can not stop....I have a Dunken Doughnuts close by...and as a substitute for my Starbucks loss...I am now an addict of there Iced Caramel Lattes WITH whip cream. Everyday...I must have (at $3.00 a pop). Today I told myself...(like i tell myself everyday...)"not today Aimee"...but I did it anyway and am sipping it as I write this to you and it is sooooooo freaken tasty! Hey it is a better choice then Lindsay Lohan's choice of addiction or Kate Moss...but the exercise I have been putting in and the eating a bit healthier doesn't equal a latte. Maybe next week I can cut down to 3 a week. Do they have latte counseling?...cuz they should. As i used to remind my clients...ONE DAY AT A TIME people ON DAY AT A TIME

Sesame Place

Here are some pics from our long weekend at Sesame Place!(beware of some no attractive pics since it is a water park!) Check out the extensive version of the trip in my Snapfish album at the end of the month!

The familes gives Rosita and Abby a hug before we leave Sesame!



Which of these things is more grouchy then the other?


Rylan and I on a ride


Ry checks our Dorthy the fish at Elmo's world live



My sister and her family at 123 Sesame Street



The Dos Fam and Cookie Monster

Sesame Place 2007

This weekend was filled with fun! We left on Saturday for PA with my sister, brother inlaw, and beautiful neice Ava for Sesame Place. The drive there was long with lots of traffice in Jersey.
When we got there we enjoyed the parade, and some of the little kiddie pools and sprinklers. We watched a fun show that included all the charcters of choice, Ava clapped along and sang, and Rylan....well he enjoyed for a little bit...and then fell asleep.
On Sunday we started our day off with I.H.O.P which made the parents happy since we haven't had it since college. When we got into the park we enjoyed a few rides, and watched Elmo's World Live (which Ry loved!). It began to rain and we decided to go home for a bit and let the kids nap. When we went back to the park it was raining even harder....and well...the park closed on us. However it was worth it because we got to see a bunch of the characters and Ava got to see her favorite Abby Kadabby!
Over all it was great fun that we all plan to return to! We ended our weekend getaway with a visit to Jimmy Buffet's Cheese Burger In Paradise which was outstanding and had fantasic drinks. While there we noticed a bunch of Sesame employees living it up since they got out of work early...and we got to see all the characters without there costumes!

Making new friends

Here is a picture of Rylan and his new friend Sydney!

The beat box

I just came home and HAD to post! I was in the car on the way to my usual Dunkin Doughnuts run (which I need to stop the obsession of lattes soon!), and the song I posted on this blog "Umbrella" came on the radio but it was the original version from Rhianna. So I turned it up and started singing (it is SO catchy), and I look in the rear view mirror to Rylan with a HUGE smile on his face clapping to the beat (which he has never done before). The next thing I know the chorus of the song comes on (If you know the song it is the part when she sings "under my umbrella...ella..ella..ey ey Ey ey") Well during a part of the chorus when she sings a bunch of "Ey" RYLAN DID IT WITH HER AND TO THE TUNE. I thought it was a fluke at first but every time the chorus came on ...he did again. Either that song comes on the radio way to much, or my son is also a huge fan of the hit!

Mandy Moore....WHAT?

Ok ok...I know this is a very sad sad day when I ADMIT 2 things....1. I love the show the HILLS on MTV even though they are all 10 years younger then me....yep...i do.. and 2. I ...like most this summer was obsessed with the song "Umbrella" from Rhianna...recently at the end of the "Hills" premiere and on my fav website Perez.Hilton.com ...I heard a version of the song from Mandy Moore...which I love so much I had to share it. I know it is lame...and I probably shouldn't admit such things...but hey...I am trying to stay young...some what anyway!

2 work or not 2 work...that is the question

Today was a working day. My friend and fellow mom, Kerri owns a organization business and was kind enough to hire me for a 2 day job with another friend of ours. We unpacked and settled in a couple that just moved to our town from Georgia.

It was a small feel for what it would be like if I indeed go back to work. Something that I struggle over constantly. Part of me misses having a career and something that was for just me...the other part of me doesn't want to miss a moment and feels guilty about possibly wanting to work instead of being with my kid. I know this is not an isolated experience...since after watching Oprah today (the topic: working moms vs at home moms), I realize that the guilt factor is a major drive for most. Prior to having Rylan there wasn't a problem imagining going back to work. Pete and I planned on it..but something changes when you have your OWN and you think...how could I leave him? This morning I felt horrible shipping him off...but soon realized I was probably sadder then he was....and soon once my day began I didn't worry anymore and adjusted.

I am lucky enough to have GREAT mom friends. Some who work and some who do not. One of my BFF's -Christina (and fellow blogger-- www.C3family.blogspot.com )....is a working mom even though at first she certainly did not want to be. I watched her go through the motions...very hard at first..and now she makes it seem VERY doable. Her son loves his daycare, but it doesn't take away from the love he has for his parents. Which is ultimately my fear...that Rylan will get attached to someone else more then me, because he is spending his time with another caretaker other then his MOM...but in reality...it is just excuses to stay home and be with him. It really isn't HIM it is ME and my apron strings! If Christina can do it I am sure I could too! But I am not there yet...full on ready to say "YES...sign me up". I would've been though if my accreditation was all set and I ended up with that DREAM job I almost got a few months back. So I am easing in slowly....I signed up this week to sub at the local elementary school...and hopefully Kerri thought I did ok enough to hire me again...so that after a year of some jobs here and there...I will be all set.

The grass is always greener...but I think in the end...no matter what your answer to this question is when parenting...your kid will always feel loved and you will always be loved and that is what matters.

Wishing to grow

I was thinking today as I was hurdling the stroller out of the back of the car in the rain...."I can't wait til Ry doesn't need this thing anymore". This brought on some serious conversation in my head (yes...you know you do it too so don't even front ya'll). Why is it that we all wish to "rush" life? When I was pregnant I couldn't wait til' he was here instead of focusing on the joy of pregnancy and having freedom without children yet. When he was born I couldn't wait til he slept through the night, or grew out of his reflux. Then I began yearning for him to smile, hold his head up, eat solids, and eventually crawl. I remembering thinking about how great it would be to hear him say "momma", which happened to be his first word...now I am anticpating for him to walk and be more independent, and talk. Instead of living in the moment, valuing what he does and who he is now, I am somehow pushing my kid to grow up fast....no wonder this year has flown by, and no wonder others tell me...watch out before you know it he will be 18. It isn't like I am doing anything different then what society sets up for us to do. We are handed milestones to meet (by 3 months your child should be doing....), and we compare our kids to others there age (well so and so is doing...), and when you bring them in for their Dr. visits they are asking things like "is he off the bottle yet?" or "he needs to be off the paci by 15 months". How about smelling the roses for today. Tomorrow I can worry about the paci and the walking and the talking...and his college fund.

A local request...and a new talent

The new stairmaster



There has been a request from a special blogger for Rylan's finished product hair...

Bermuda visits Bethel, CT

Rylan and Zay at the Park



Kim's 7 1/2 month Belly



Can you believe an almost 4 yr old took this pic? GO ZAYLA

My 1st haircut

Well we did it! We had to give up on Rylan's sweet baby curls (it was turning into a bit of a mullet)! He was an Angel about it and he now looks like an official toddler!

Dancing Nancies or Groupies?

So it has come clear to us that Pete and I are groupies, or in fact we could be stalkers. We have come to realize we religiously see the Dave Mathews Band at the VERY least yearly! As most of you know "we" officially began at one of those concerts and we continue along side many college kids...to be the old folk in the crowd :-) We know we are serious about this when we sat at the concert last night wondering how we could "sneak" by security and make it back stage. As we oo'd and ahhh'd over all those that were lucky enough to have a back stage pass...Pete developed a plan to get back and use me as a decoy! Yeah perfect idea Pete..but it is sort of Britney Spears of us to pull thoughtless actions like this when we have a child. For a split moment we might of thought if it was worth it and if our friends in Bermuda that are visiting and taking care of Rylan could bail us out...LOL Pete has also been a part of the fan club for a number of years...you know you are a TRUE fan when you are moving closer and closer to the stage every year and those around you are commenting of the same thing. Literally the people next and around us were comparing notes of when we saw them at ______. Most of the people in this area are also our age...the REAL FANS...the followers...the stalkers. And you know what they might even be a little more nuts over DMB then we are...as they were discussing traveling New England seeing them every weekend for a month!!!!! Crazy I know...but also tempting so very tempting. Instead I drive around with the Dancing Nancy on the back of my car and get asked 144444 times WHAT IS THAT? And I explain. I also could not pass up an opportunity last year to see them in NYC on my birthday...so it was officially Rylan's first concert when he was in my BELLY. We also could not pass up adding a DMB song on our Wedding CD....The question is...Will we be like the 60-70 yr olds going to the Grateful Dead someday or will this eventually grow "to old"? Just so you get a feel for our love for them...I am putting a clip from you-tube of the song from our wedding "Tripping Billies"...we can't wait til next year!

Whats in a lullabye...the kid isn't sleeping

Since Rylan was little I tried to perfect the art of perfect environment for sleeping. This of course included a classical music CD which he sleeps to each and every time from when he was 3 weeks on. We even travel with it! It worked for a LONG time. I also always had something for him to play with so as he wakes up he would amuse himself until I came in.
Now Rylan has perfect the art of standing in his crib, throwing things out of it, turning every toy on in his crib, and yelling---he wants out! It doesn't matter how bad he is sleepy...he still wants out.
My fantastic sleeper that used to take 2 -2hour naps a day and I would brag to my friends...isn't doing so anymore. And what used to be 7am wakes ups are now 5 or 6am (and he is awake and wants to EAT) Now granted his teeth are in fact coming through and bothering him...but I give him Tylenol and oragel and well...he still wants to party...even if he is whining because he needs a GOOD ol sleep.
Right now he is supposed to be in the pure bliss of a good nap (lord knows I wish I was), and I hear him on the monitor doing all the things I listed. Now it has been a half an hour already...and still he fights...the long hard fight...which everyday a different person wins......usually him. BOOOOOOOOO :-)

Abnormal is my middle name

Forget Lynn, my mom and dad surely could have called me Aimee "Abnormal" :-)
I went to the cardioloist this week and luckily everything came back normal...well sort of. Apparently my heart is abnormal by nature. He simply put "it is just who you are". So my heart doesn't exactly pump like everyone elses....I am clearly a leader not a follower :-)

Pete and I had a great anniversary this week. We went to the Newtown Inn for dinner and I was in heaven over my meal. Pete bought me sweet flowers that sat on our doorstep for 3 hours until he came home and I came back from my Mom's group. Luckily nobody in the neighborhood thought they would like to take flowers off of the step! This anniversary actually got me thinking...the first one was such a blur since I had just given birth and it was our first night away from him. This time round I was remembering a time I was living in NYC. My old roommate Katie inspired me to be a church goer, so I tried to go "religiously" (no pun intended) every weekend. It was great for me at the time, I was single and very reflective in my life. On one particular day I was praying in church that God would show me the man I was supposed to have a family with, one that was loving, and respectful and NOTHING like any of the men I have ever dated in the past.....ironically during that time God had already showed him to me...I was just the dumb azz that didn't follow through. Pete and I were friends during that time...which makes me laugh. Pete was ready...and I was looking the other way. I guess it was meant in due time...since I would never replace my New York years that made me grow into the women I am.