Future Rock Stars?

Here are the boys goofin' around with Dylan's sunglasses.



Smiley boy. 14 weeks old in this photo. And to think that this time last year he was a little bean inside of me. Crazy.

Date Night

Going out in 2008 vs. Circa 1998

Date night circa 1998:
-spend a leisurely day shopping for the newest fashion to wear on my night out. Get a mani and pedi.
-maybe go by Mac cosmetics and have a professional apply my make-up
-6:00 pm to 9:00 pm usually take a short "disco nap"
-shower or bath with candles, playing fun music at top volume (usually House music to get into the party mood)
-shave my legs, 'cause you never know if you're going to get "lucky" later
-wear push up bra
-scarf down a bite and mix up a cocktail
-can't decide which shoes to wear
-No purse necessary. Grab $20 for gas (that will last me a least 2 weeks). No other money really needed, I always got in free at clubs and free drinks - I knew "people", bring a quarter (days before the cell phone), my ID and my lipstick, stuff into my bra and head out the door

Date night now, 2008:
-spend two weeks prior to date night calling everyone we know to see if they can babysit two "easy going boys" (Yeah right!)
-day of spend the whole day cleaning the bathrooms and house so that babysitter doesn't think that we are total disgusting slobs
-spend last minute before sitter arrives trying on clothes to see if I have anything dressy enough that still fits me postpartum, forget about fashion. Comfort is key!
-tip toe around the house for fear of waking boys up from their nap, so that I can have a shower in peace and quiet
-forgot to shave legs, but really, what is the point these days!
-make up and hair consist of taking scrunchy out of my hair and throwing on some eye-liner and lip gloss on my face, even still, I already feel glamorous
-wear support bra with extra nursing pads
-feed baby and hope that he doesn't burp up all over my black ensemble, feed Dylan.
-take out an insane amount of money to cover parking, gas, babysitter (practically had promise her a small fortune to babysit at such short notice), dinner, play and drinks (no free booze at bars when your a married girl).
-Type up a page worth of instructions for the babysitter ie, emergency numbers, cell numbers, the number to the restaurant and theater, how to mix and heat up "baby cocktail" consisting of formula and breast milk, how to get Dylan ready for bed. How to soothe the baby when he cries. Where the first aid stuff is, etc. you get the idea.
Note to self: type instructions up later and laminate for future use.
-Try to find an elegant purse still big enough to hold my cell phone, wallet, camera, hairbrush, powder/concealer, lip gloss, playbill, instructions to the restaurant, cough drops, photos of boys, a pen, bubble gum and eye drops. Life just isn't that simple for me!
-Still can't ever decide which shoes to wear
-Sneak out the door to avoid separation anxiety (now-a-days Dylan is a champ at separation, it is mommy that still has problems!)
-Get in car and jump for joy, laughing and screaming, feeling like we just won the lottery or got away with something big. We are free at last - well for at least 6 hours anyway!

We went to see my friend's play. Even got to sit next to the playwright herself. I suppose I still "know people". Even got a free drink at the bar! It was a really nice night out for Joe & I. We need to do it more often.

Patty Cake Bacon's Man

Dylan: "I want that one" as he points to a plate of bacon that I just fried up.

Me: "You want some bacon?"

Dylan: "Yes. Bacon." Then he starts singing and patting his hands together. "Bacon's man. Make me a cake as fast as you can. Roll them. Pat them. Mark them with a B. Put them in the oven for baby and me!!".

Me: "Dylan, it is actually baker's man. But I think I like bacon's man better. Anything with bacon is better."

Joe got Valentines Punk'd

Joe's coworkers punk'd him good. They got a singing telegram for him on Valentines Day. 5 "mature" women sang "let me call you sweetheart" to him in the middle of the newsroom. He told me that the song was "really long". He was truly surprised, totally red faced actually, at first thinking I had organized it.
Joe is the perfect person for a prank like this, since he is always pranking everyone else. They really got you good this time Joe! I am just sad that I didn't think of it.

Happy Chinese New Year and Chicago Auto Show

We had a fun day in the city today. First going to Chinatown for dim sum to celebrate Chinese New Year and then to the Chicago Auto Show. It was the 100th show, and Matthew, Dylan and my first time going. The temp outside was like 20 below zero, brutal, but we managed ok.

Dylan is a very picky eater, actually he pretty much doesn't eat anything except cookies and candy, but he LOVES dim sum. He'll eat anything we put on his plate as long as he can stab it with chopsticks!

My favorite car at the Auto Show was the new Saab concept car (the last photo, the white car). Joe and I both really liked the Nissan Amada (sp?) and the Volvo station wagon/SUV. Dylan loved the trucks the best.

Here are some photos.

Matthew at 12 weeks old.

Hello, here is a current photo of Matthew for everyone that has been asking. We don't take enough photos of him!
He is doing well. Just today we think we made a break through with the bottle. We have been trying different bottles and nipples and the day care ladies discovered that the kid actually likes the cheap bottles that you can buy at the Dollar Store. Go figure. All those expensive, Gerber, Evenflo and Advent bottles I bought will be going to Goodwill. The next hurdle is to start introducing formula to him.
Here he is at 12 weeks old. He is filling out well, sleeping well for the most part, still nursing through the night (my little vampire!) and doing much better every day at day care. He is still really gassy which causes him to be "fussy" at times so I will talk to the doctor about that at his 4 month check up. Also, the crying is much improved, thank goodness. He coos and smiles more and is very ticklish.


One of my favorite blogs, Sweet|Salty, wrote in her post today about her newborn son "When he wakes up at night I giggle with him when I should be remote and unengaging for the sake of sleep. I can’t resist."
I have done the exact same thing too when Dylan or Matthew wake up in the middle of the night cooing and smiling at me. Sleep is so overrated! I am so glad I signed up for motherhood, when I look at these boys I practically pinch myself for my good luck. I am so blessed to have them in my life.

Change is a comin'

I am still on the fence as to who to vote for come November 4th. But Obama's speeches and this video http://www.dipdive.com is making it a little easier for me to decide. He ain't no George W (thank God!).

Super Bowl Sunday

Note to self: never go grocery shopping on the day before Super Bowl. The checkout lines were 3 or 4 carts deep yesterday!


We are all under the weather. Dylan with a horrible runny nose and low grade fever, Joe and I with a hacking cough that just won't go away (I have had it since November!). The baby is the only one doing well today, hopefully he won't catch our colds.
Maybe if the snow would quit we could all get well.