Le Sigh

Well, it's Friday. I opened this morning (fourth time this week) and I got my run in (also the fourth time this week) but DAMN am I tired now. I took a power nap, about thirty minutes or so, but the chill in the air is making me want to go fetal on the couch and watch TV all day.

However, today I need to:

1. Check out Costco (I hear they have a better selection of organics than BJs).

2. Get the last couple of pieces I need for my Halloween costume.

3. Clean up my office.

4. Prep dinner for the boys.

5. Check out running shoes (this is a maybe, depending on our finances).

Well poop. That seemed like a whole lot more stuff before I typed it out. Heh.

The Weekly Austin - 10.28.09

I Walk The Line - 10.21.09

Austin's striking out on his own more and more these days. He still circles back for a squeeze and a kiss every once and a while, but for the most part, he flies solo. It's a good thing, really; he's becoming a little more independent, a little more self-sufficient. I can see how it could make you sad, the fact that your baby needs you less and less as time goes by. But I'm not sad. I love watching this transformation from little helpless bug to little grown person. It happens so fast, faster than I ever imagined it would.

Pugtastic Tuesday - HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Generally, I'm not a fan of putting clothes on animals. Dogs are not people, they're not children, no matter how much you love and care for them. I make an exception for Halloween, mostly because the pugs just look too funny with costumes on.

When we had just Pugly, I didn't bother. But after Alabama joined our gang, I knew I had to do something with the two of them. On their first Halloween together, back in 2006, I dressed them up as Team Deviled Eggs (a chicken and the devil):

Doesn't Pugly look THRILLED? He later tried to attack the giant inflatable pumpkin seen behind them in this shot.

In 2007, we went with an insect theme, Beetle and the Bee:

This time Alabama looks mad; Pugly enjoyed his bee costume and the attention he got while wearing it at our Halloween party.

I'm really getting a kick out of these pictures today, mostly because I know our days of doggie costumes are done. 2008 was Austin's first Halloween, so he got all the attention. And this year, with Pugly still not at 100%, it seems a little mean to force him into a costume. I may throw something together at the last minute, just for a picture or two, but I don't think it'll be anything elaborate.

Anyhoo, the pugs have asked me to tell all of you HAPPY PUG-O-WEEN, and they're accepting candy donations if you have any to spare.

This IS Being Productive

Can't think of anything to do before 9 o'clock on a Thursday night? Why not surprise your hubs or housemate or whomever in the kitchen while they're making dinner? But, just as you're trying to be all paparazzi-ninja, realize there's no memory card in your camera. Then, for real fun, almost burn yourself while trying to take pictures. Hilarity will ensue, I assure you.

Once you finally manage to get a memory card in your camera, you too can capture AMAZING paparazzi-ninja quality images, such as these:

FLIED LICE! WHITE LICE!

Stop Making That Face. STOP! STOP! I'M GOING TO PEE!

Kissy Kissy (or, I MARRIED THE TICK! See the spoon?)

What? What do YOU do until your favorite show comes on?

The Weekly Austin - 10.21.09

More! 10.18.09

Since he was a baby, we've tried teaching Austin a few signs to help him communicate. The only two he's really picked up are "ALL DONE" and "MORE." I'd hoped that signing would help him express things to me before he could say the words for what he needed, but so far...not so much. He also doesn't really talk yet. I'm told it's nothing to worry about; lots of kids don't talk until they're two or even three years old. He interacts with everyone really well, he can identify all sorts of things from pictures, and he definitely gets his point across when he wants something (or when he's happy -- "SCREEEEEECH!"). His ears are fine, he's not autistic; so why do I worry? I don't know. I guess it's just my job as a mom.

The Charles

The Charles in His Natural Habitat

I'm having one of those days where I feel very appreciative of my husband. So, in lieu of Pugtastic Tuesday, I'm having a Hooray for Hubby day.

For two days in a row, he's taken care of Austin's bedtime and morning routines, just so I can go to bed early and get up early to run and go to work. And he rotated the laundry for me. And cleaned up the kitchen. When I came home from work this morning, I hardly had anything to do. It was an extra-nice surprise.

Sometimes it's easy to fall into the pattern of thinking only about his faults (few though they are) or the times when we don't always get along so well. I have to remind myself to focus on the good stuff, because there's so much of it. Like this:

The picture itself isn't much. But the fact that he still has it on his computer nearly six years after snapping it with a cell phone? Awesome.

My Triumphant Return to Teh Intarwebs

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...

EASY MAC.

I made Easy Mac as part of the kid's dinner the other night (yes, I feed my child uber-processed, microwavable crap from time to time -- so sue me!), and as happens every time I make it, I ended up staring at the bowl when it came out of the microwave. I love, and I do mean LOVE, how the noodles manage to stand themselves up on end. The picture above shows a pretty good arrangement, but I've had bowls in the past where all but one or two macaroni (macarono? I mean, if macaronI is plural...just sayin'.) are vertical.

I'm sure there's an explanation for it, probably something to do with the fiber in the pasta, steam, etc. But quite frankly, my dear fellow noodle-phile, I don't give a damn. It's a small, small thing that makes me smile. AND SO I SHARE IT WITH YOU, INTARWEBS!

Note: If you're looking for The Weekly Austin, it's been moved to Wednesday.

Hiatus

It occurred to me last night that I'd completely flaked and forgotten to post on either one of my blogs yesterday. I'm not sure if my priorities have shifted a bit, or if I just don't have anything to write about at the moment. Either way, I'm going to take a brief hiatus from actively posting on either blog (here or Foodie vs. Fattie). This'll give me time to deal with some changes around the house, including my return to work and a lot of computery switcheroo-ness (Hubs got a new laptop and thus we're reorganizing everything).

See you next Monday!

Monkey Business

My friend Melissa and her husband joined us for Taco Night last night. They brought their adorable bebe, and I can't even put into words how much fun it was to watch him play with Austin. They're about six months apart in age, but Little T is way ahead of where Austin was (in terms of physical development) at that age. He can also say "Uh oh," which, O MY GOD THE CUTENESS!

Austin had a little trouble being gentle with T, but that's age-appropriate I guess. Plus, well, Austin plows into everything and anything that moves. T took it very well; he's a tough guy, just like his daddy (his mommy's pretty damn tough, too!).

I picked both the boys up at the same time, holding one on each hip. It felt really, really good. I've had doubts about having more children, but last night sealed the deal. I want more. I know I have to wait, both because of my surgery and because I need to lose a significant amount of weight, but I am so ready to do this all over again.


Me & My Little Man - 5.17.2008

Pugtastic Tuesday - 10.6.09

Relaxin' in my Basket

Alabama has always enjoyed sleeping in her toy basket. Nowadays, she hides in it when she wants Austin to leave her alone.

The Weekly Austin - 10.5.09

Slide - 9.14.09