Riddle me this....

I tend to keep my politics out of this blog.... simply because I know most of yous guys don't agree with me -- so, why rock the boat, right?

Well, I'll make an exception this one time..... well, okay there may be others, but I'll try to control myself.... I happened to notice that George Clooney & Matt Damon are endorsing Barrack Obama for the 2008 presidential campaign.

I find this curious for many reasons -- and not to disparage anyone, because in this great country everyone gets a vote -- and if these guys can help raise some cash for "their guy" well then go for it. But, why the hell does anyone care? Should I vote for a presidential candidate because a handsome college-drop out who played a handyman on the Facts of Life told me to?

Jennifer Aniston campaigned for John Kerry, which of course she is entitled to do -- good for her for being politically engaged -- but, should I vote for him because a high-school graduate who is famous for her hair and her failed marriage told me to? Her hair is certainly very shiny, but I'm not sure that's enough of a reason.

Sean Penn, never went past high school -- Janeane Garofalo, dropped out of college -- Barbara Streisand, never went past high school -- Michael Moore, dropped out of college, I could go on, and on and no, it's not just lefties either -- what makes these people qualified to influence my vote?

I realize lots of smart people don't have an advanced education -- and I also realize that many stupid people are extremely well educated -- but do Americans really vote based on what celebrities tell them?

Just wonderin'

Separated at Birth?

We just got back from Disney World yesterday -- so many posts, so little time..... I'll definitely be filling you all in on the details, but.... figured I'd throw this out there while it's on my very cluttered & tired brain. While sitting on The Seas with Nemo & Friends, it struck me.... Pearl looks very much like Blinky from PacMan.

Look Out Disney, Cause Here We Come

Okay kids, taking a little Memorial Day blogging break so that we can hit Disney for a few days with Aunt P and Mr Tall Guy......

Should be a fun weekend -- we'll be celebrating Aunt P's birthday on Monday and the 'lil man's getting his first hair cut in the Magic Kingdom on Friday

Behave yourselves while we are gone.... and if you get bored, there's a new assignment up over at The Whinery.

Bar Number

The thing that's really funny..... when I was in college (okay, and maybe for a few years after that) I used to get drunk guys to buy us drinks and then give them this number when they asked if they could call..... I know, I know.... I wasn't a nice girl!

Holland?

The sister of one of Aunt P's friends passed away, geez.... probably 10 years ago now. She was only 16 or 17.... maybe she was 18, I don't remember now. She had been battling some serious heart problems -- very common in Down Syndrome kids.

She was a lovely kid -- full of love and life...... and man, could she try your patience -- oh, boy. But, like any child -- she brought her family joy, laughter and yes, tears.

Aunt P's friend is like part of our family -- they've been best of friends since kindergarten, served as bridesmaids in each others wedding. I've watched this child grow into an amazing woman -- she's one of the kindest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I sometimes wonder if amazing people are born or if they are shaped by their life experience -- probably some combination of the two. I think having had and then losing a special sister has helped mold this girl into an extraordinary person. I was telling Mr Big Duyba last night that I think of her when I hear the term "steel magnolia" -- hard to imagine such strength could reside in such a delicate person -- but it does.

I remember at the funeral, someone read this story -- I always think of it when I see the parent of a special child. I wonder where they find the strength, the patience, the courage..... but they do. I thought of it again when I read Chag's post yesterday morning, and the Big Dubya's comments yesterday afternoon. I can't begin to imagine what's running through their heads and their hearts -- but this story helps me a little.


Welcome to Holland
By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to help people who have not shared this unique experience, to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this. When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo David. The Gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland." "Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean, Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around. And you begin to notice that Holland has windmills. And Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy. And they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there.

And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain will never, ever go away. Because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss. But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to go to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things. About Holland.

Just wanted to extend a warm welcome to our newest blogger, my sister, Aunt P -- go on, stop by -- pay her a visit -- show her some love.

Aunt P's been commenting here and here since the beginning -- and now she's diving in herself and has even joined our little wine club us as a contributor.

Speaking of wine club..... thanks a million to Kara and her dashing hubby (yeah, I have a school girl crush on him, but that's a post for another day) for getting their review up already!!!

Go check it out!

The Whinery is Open!

Hey there --

So, I launched the Wine Club Site and posted the first "assignment" this morning -- a lot of the names suggested were already taken by other blogs, but I like this one -- so..... here it is :)

The Big Dubya's going to make the site nice & spiffy for us -- so, you'll see some changes in the coming days/weeks.

Check it out and feel free to join -- either as an official contributor or just come along for the ride.

Cheers!

Wanted: Free Stuff

Just wanted to let you all know...... I like free stuff..... I'm willing to work for free stuff....

I have a lot to offer you people that give away all the free stuff..... I've got two babies, a full time job, a house, a car...... a college education (from a party school)..... a Masters degree (from a sorta reputable university) and some other academic crappy credentials that don't matter much in the real world, but would make me a terrific recipient of free stuff.

If you want me to review a book -- send me one.....

Want me to try out and rate a baby-product? I've got two babies...... send it along, we'll put it through its paces.

Cleaning product??? Like I said, I've got two babies under two years old.... cleaning products earn their keep in our house.

All the cool kids get free stuff...... so c'mon send me some free stuff, okay?

By the way.... I'm still accepting submissions for the title of my wine club -- so come join the fun and bring a nifty name too.

And don't forget..... bring on the free stuff

Wine Club

See Update Below for a list of potential club names

A few months ago, Kara started this nifty book club. It's not so much that I'm little-miss-intellectual, but I was very excited to join.... I love good books and having other people to chat with about them is great incentive to read more and to read books that I wouldn't have necessarily selected on my own.

Yesterday, I was visiting Sarah's site and reading about the wines she enjoys on a regular basis. I L-O-V-E wine -- and was excited to see that I've never tried any of the ones she recommends.... will be looking for those on my next trip to the wine store. It got me thinking.... I even sent her an email suggesting we start some sort of wine club.... and then I realized, Hey.... I don't need Sarah to do it..... I can start a wine club!

So, here it goes.... I'm starting an on-line wine club (Yaaayyy me!). Hopefully Sarah will join, and Kara, and Arwen, and Insurance Mom, and Clare's Dad, and Mr Big Dubya of course....... maybe some of the cool DadCentric guys and our friends at Dad Said Mom Said.... it'll be huge, I'll be famous!.... um, okay -- back to reality.

I'm still not sure I've figured out all the mechanics -- but the gist of it is...... people who are interested in being members will post recommendations of wines that they like and warn of ones that they didn't.

Because wine availability is pretty regional.... It probably wouldn't work to insist that we all drink the same wine -- but, we can try and see how it goes.

Personally, (I'm poor and cheap) I tend to purchase wines in the $8-$12 range for pizza nights.... a nicer dinner might go as high as $14 and then wines with prices north of that are typically reserved for special occasions or to be brought to someone else's house.

So..... who's in?

and

Any thoughts on a sassy name for us???

Update:
Potential Club Names
The Cellar
Uncorked
Tipsy on Vino
Varietals
The Cask
veni, vedi, vino!
decanter
Cask 'n' Flagon (why not?)
jeroboam joy
Bunch of Grapes (after a cute 'lil pub in Galway)

The Whinery

Cow-tipping is for sissies

Seriously, what's wrong with these kids

What can go awry when you throw your husband a surprise 40th

5. Your guests can get lost (the restaurant's directions suck)
4. Your brother-in-law can get stuck at work, and miss most of the party
3. The room you've booked isn't ready on time
2. The restaurant doesn't have ample parking
1. As you are trying to find a place to park, your husband sees your Dad in the parking lot

Sorry honey, I tried....

Sunday is the Big Dubya's 40th...... stop by and give 'im some love :)

What can I say? I love this man so much, I'd get carved in half to give him a child.... oh yeah, I did that....twice.

What more can I give????? okay, so besides the big TV...... I had an in-ground Olympic size swimming pool put in...... and it's being filled with Guinness as we speak

Happy 40th Big Guy!
and Sláinte!

So, it started with a little granola and some salad dressing

A while back, I posted my commitment to losing the remainder of the baby-weight.... 7lbs of pre-pregnancy weight, coupled with 5lbs of actual pregnancy weight. I began a couch-to-5K program and was eating healthy.... loosely following a Weight Watchers diet.

I was doing great..... I'd gotten to within 6lbs of my goal.... I was feeling really good and fitting into a lot of my pre-baby clothes and then THUD.

Did you hear that? That was Mrs Big Dubya falling off the diet wagon and leaving a big old dent in the ground.

Looking back, it's pretty clear that it wasn't one thing that caused my diet's demise.... it was a serious of what should have been little things.... but string 'em together and UGH diet disaster!

See, first -- we had a contractor working on our basement (this is where the treadmill lives), and given our extended winter here in CT and the fact that it's dark when I get home from work.... let's just say there was a little more couch than 5K in my evenings.

So, that leaves diet.

I had been having oatmeal for breakfast every morning -- it's WW-friendly, good for you, high in fiber and the cafeteria at works makes big vats of it, sells it for cheap. Sounds harmless, right? Well, of course when there's a big vat of it -- you take way more than they'd give you in one of those packets -- AND, they don't just have oatmeal..... they have a "hot cereal bar". You can top your bland bowl of mushy oatmeal with yummy less-diet-friendly items like granola (couple of scoops) raisins (sprinkle a few of those) dried cranberries (you know, for a splash of color) and some brown sugar (just a bit to sweeten it up)..... and if it's clumpy (oatmeal gets clumpy you know) throw in a splash of whole milk.

Then there was lunch..... I had been having a salad from the salad bar. Sounds good & healthy, right? Sure does! Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, carrots, broccoli....... and then I decided to add a few croutons, some of that pasta salad..... and I can have a little of the good fatty dressing right? (Parmesan Peppercorn.... yummmm..... I could bathe in the stuff)

Lastly, the Big Dubya and I dutifully gave ice-cream up for lent..... so for the first two weeks after Easter, we just had to reward ourselves with some frosty treats.... not small ones either, large with toppings, lots of toppings!

Yeah, let's just say...... I gained a good 8lbs putting me 2lbs above where I started! UGH!!!!!

My name is Mrs Big Dubya and I'm a great big FATTY!

Well, after realizing that I couldn't zip several pairs of my pants..... I got back to the diet.... and am back to being down 5lbs (7lbs to go for those of you keeping score).

The basement will be done later this week or early next week, so I'm recommitting to the couch-to-5K and, to keep me honest, I plan to join my good pal Kara for this in September.

A few of my favorite things....

A close friend of Aunt P's had a baby last week.... a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Mother and daughter are doing fine.... Dad's probably freakin' out, but.... that's to be expected, right?

After you've had a baby, lots of people look to you for advice on what a good baby gift is -- so, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite gifts..... I loved some of these so much that I gave them to other people (their own.... I didn't regift, duh!).

The Cape Buffalos gave the little man an enormous one of these with his name embroidered on it -- it was his first piece of mail. Let me tell you, this bag is so versatile -- it has served as a weekend bag and as a toy chest -- yet, no matter how much stuff you jam in there (even the awkwardly shaped stuff like toys, books, diapers and wipes), it's still compact, easy to carry and not heavy!

Aunt P got me one of these, I'll admit it -- I was skeptical. And although my kids both were able to figure out a way to propel themselves out of it..... it's a nifty little thing to have around. It works great for those early feedings when the baby's too small for the highchair -- and it's small/light enough that you can take it to Grandma's if you need to.

My cousin, who recently had a set of twins herself, sent me a set of these. Her rationale was that everyone is so focused on the baby..... she wanted to do something nice for the Mommy. These pajamas were great -- pretty, yet comfy -- and they had a built-in-nursing bra, making those late night feedings less of a hassle.

We got these 'lil guys from a neighbor of the Big Dubya's parents. At first, I thought they were kind of impractical -- the kid can't walk, what's he need shoes for? But, I was wrong. These are fantastic because they keep the socks on!!!! And, as the baby gets older and starts to stand/walk -- they keep his/her feet warm, but still give them the benefits associated with being barefoot.

A former colleague sent the 'lil man this -- and it is so lovely. It's a book, but it's also a keepsake and tells a personalized story -- I love it.

Miss America gave the 'lil man this and the 'lil lady this and they are awesome.... although, the 'lil man's favorite tag was the one with the washing instructions.....

These are a few of my favorite baby gifts...... have any you'd like to share/recommend?

It's so un-lady-like

Apples, pears, chicken wings, corn on the cob, lobster......

I hate stuff that has to be eaten with your hands -- it's just so messy and there's no polite way to do it. I'm sitting here at my desk eating an apple and it's getting EVERYWHERE.

There's another angel in heaven today

I believe in heros

Rest in Peace Professor Librescu

So.....

What do ya think of the new site??

Pretty spiffy, huh?

Thanks to the Big Dubya for all his hard work....

Guess What Aunt P and I learned today?

So, Aunt P and I were chatting on the phone today.... she mentioned that she had used her extended car ride as an opportunity to return a phone call to her mother-in-law. I found that kind of funny because when my mother calls our house, I speak to her -- when Dubya's mother calls -- he handles it. We rarely deal with each others' parents.

The discussion took a turn to what we call our in laws -- we both call them by their first names, whereas our husbands still call our parents Mr & Mrs........

I then commented that I wanted the 'lil Dubyas to call adults Mr & Mrs -- it's good manners. Aunt P agreed, but then said.... well, we never called this one Mr & Mrs..... or this one, or that one, or this other one. I responded that we DID call this one, that one and another Mr & Mrs. Aunt P then keenly observed that we called friends of our parents by their first names, but parents of our friends Mr & Mrs. This seemed to make sense.... until we realized that the children of our parents' friends called our parents Mr & Mrs while we called their parents by their first names.

OH MY GOD!
WE WERE RAISED WITH BAD MANNERS!

I'm not sure what the rule is -- or what it should be. I think the children of our very close friends should be able to call us by our first names (Miss America's Kids, Baby Buffalo, etc.). But, the friends of our children -- kids at daycare, etc. should call us Mr & Mrs.

Does that make sense?

Are there Cliff Notes for this?

So, the other day the 'lil man started gesturing that he wanted to go into the bathroom -- this is where we change his diaper -- so I assumed that he was telling me that he needed to be changed. I asked him "Did you poop?" and he said "yes" so we went into the bathroom.

I put him up on the changing pad, checked his diaper and discovered that it was both clean and dry -- so, I joked with him, called him a big faker and sent him on his way. Two minutes later, he's in the corner grunting.....

DURRRRR Mrs Big Dubya, he wasn't telling you that he HAD pooped, he was telling you that he HAD TO poop.... well gee, that never happened before.... how exciting!

I know he's young and that this might pass, but several times in the past week he's indicated that he needed use the bathroom and he's exhibited similar behavior at daycare where some of the older kids are currently in the throws of potty-training. But, I don't know what to do -- I was always under the impression that kids (particularly boys) don't do this until much later.... he's only 22 months and although I'd be thrilled to leave the diaper days behind us, I've read no books on the subject..... I find myself desperate for the Cliffs Notes version... or at the very least Potty Training for Dummies.

Yesterday he asked again -- we went into the bathroom and I sat him up on the toilet -- yes, okay now I know how stupid that was, he almost fell in.

After that unsuccessful outing, I went to BabiesRUs.com to see what they had in the potty category..... oh dear. I had no idea there were so many options --

Okay, so dear readers -- HELP!!!!!

What books/products/methods have you used/found success with? And, do little boys train sitting down? and move to standing up? or do they stand from the get-go?

Our Debut Post is Up

Check out our debut post on Dad said Mom said

And tell Mr Big Dubya to give in already and agree to #3

Happy Weekend!