mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

I am not sure why this bothered me so much

Nathan received his first "reprimand" for improper language yesterday. It was a day i'll not soon forget. I was cleaning some stuff in the kitchen while he was playing with his new Thomas the Tank Engine Snow Globe and i heard him softly say to himself, "stupid, stupid." At first i didn't understand what he'd said...it sounded like he could've been saying "too big, too big".

But when i asked him to repeat what he was saying, he blantantly said it - "stupid, stupid". I asked him where he learned that word (trying to remember if it was on something i was watching on TV or if I had said it!) All he did was smile and say it again. I asked him to stop saying it because it wasn't a nice word. He didn't. I gave him alternative words (nice ones) to say. He didn't. Finally, i asked him to stop saying it and told him that if he didn't, he'd go to time out. He said it again, almost testing me.

So, while he was in time out, i sat on the couch thinking about where he'd picked it up. I knew it had to have been something he'd been repeatedly exposed to because he usually doesn't just shout out words like that until he's heard it several times. Then, it dawned on me. Monsters, Inc. (the movie)! It has become one of his favorites and it always did bother me that they say that word in there so much, but i never thought it would do this to Nathan!

So, we have banned Monsters, Inc. from the TV. I will be erasing it from our DVR today sometime. It saddens me because i know how much he likes that movie and asks for it constantly. David and i have grown to like it too. I guess we'll just hold off on letting him watch it for a while, as my sister is supposed to be giving us her DVD of it soon.

Needless to say, i went to bed feeling like a bad mom - that i had let my kid become "infected" with today's movie language, but i guess it would've happened sooner or later. David did make me feel better by telling me that i wasn't a bad mom; that a bad mom wouldn't have really been as bothered as i was about him saying "stupid" over and over again. Still, it just made me realize that my little boy will soon grow to a big boy and probably lose all the innocence about him.

Still, i will fight to the death to prolong it for as long as possible.

Baby’s Theme

I pretty much decided on the theme for Baby #2 the day we found out we were having a boy. I had kept the most recent Pottery Barn Kids catalog and dogeared the themes i like for boys and girls. Then, when we got the news, i came home that night and decided on the theme:

I figured since n8's theme was the Regatta Sailboats from PBK, i would just go ahead and stick with the same store. Anyway, i am really excited! I love the trains look and can't wait to figure out what we're going to do about moving n8's room so that i can get started on the new nursery. I know we'll be getting n8 a "big-boy" bed and re-doing his room a bit once we move the stuff out of the first guest room. I hope he'll be excited to help with the new nursery too!

Cuddle Time

Took this cute pic of n8 and David reading one of the new books i bought today. This one shown is "Clifford's Christmas" or something like that. I also bought "Santa Mouse" for n8 today while at the mall. Yes, i am crazy. I went to the mall today with the masses of people. Fortunately, i didn't have to take n8 with me and was actually able to get some shopping done...not for the holidays, rather for my wardrobe. I am finding myself buying maternity stuff rather regularly now since i have NO winter wardrobe anymore! My belly has completely taken over. Oh well, i am enjoying the shopping! I am still in the market for shoes and a new purse though. There's always tomorrow after church, i guess!

Thanksgiving Minus the Turkey AND I Had a Hot Date!

For Thanksgiving this year we stayed here in town and spent most of it with David's family. It was a nice, relaxing day! I made breakfast for David, n8 and i then we all headed to David's mom's place. We were able to leave n8 there to play and relax while i went on a date with my husband! :) David and i went to see Derailed starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen. At first, i was a bit skeptical about seeing it, but our original plan of seeing Walk the Line was shot because of the long running time.....2 hours and 30 minutes!

I am not really a fan of Jennifer Aniston, in fact would consider myself "anti-Jen" (and Brad, for what it's worth ), nor am i a fan of Clive Owen. With that being said, i have to give it up....this movie was undeniably cool. I enjoyed the big twist!!! David, of course, thought it was okay but predictable. When we talked about the movie afterward and what a cool twist that it had, he of course reminded me that he had figured it out early on in the movie. Somehow, i do believe him. I am so nieve - i never see those kinds of things coming in the movies! This is probably one thing that would make me a good candidate for MTV's "Punk'd" show.

Anyway, back to the holiday. (Although, i shouldn't forget to mention how i thoroughly enjoyed my buttered popcorn and Cherry Coke at the theater! :) ) After the movie, we headed back to my in-law's to pick up n8. We then headed to their church, the Greater Kansas City Chinese Christian Church for a feast and a crowd like i've NEVER seen!! Man, i thought my mom's place got packed on holidays??!! This crowd at their church made my mom's place look pathetic in terms of drawing in the crowds! We enjoyed all the hussle and bustle and people so enamored with Nathan. I don't think n8 had ever seen so many Chinese people in one place at one time though - he seemed taken aback at first, but then later became really comfortable with the crowd. They had a FEAST if I've ever seen one! There were all kinds of noodle and rice dishes, vegetables, stir-frys (homemade, people, not the ready-made kinds that come in the frozen foods section), seafood, spicy sides, and then TONS of desserts!

Happy Birthday Mom (N8’s Grammy)!!!

Although November 23 (tomorrow) is my mom's 50th Birthday, N8 and I celebrated it with her today since she is flying out later this afternoon.

We took her to one of my favorite places, Elephant Bar where i really ate like a pregnant woman! It was great! Our tradition is to start out with their Spinach & Artichoke Dip which is TO DIE FOR!! Then, I had a sesame chicken dish with crispy noodles and steamed rice (my fave!) and mom had the Crispy Teriyaki Chicken, which is usually my usual. N8 had the kids Chicken Quesadillas (the kid is a tortilla fanatic!) I really like their kids menu because not only do you get a free sundae (see pics below) but you also get a great selection of entrees and a cool kids cup!

Anyway, mom was ESCTATIC to get her Kodak photo printer, which she's been wanting ever since she got a digital camera eons ago. As you can see, she was thrilled. I also presented her with my homemade card (her fave) which listed "50 Things I Love About My Mother". I could've come up with more, but i'll save those for 60 or 75! Some entries were serious and sweet, some just plain funny like "(I love) Her corny jokes". Anyway, she cried. She made me cry. It was comical in a weird way.

As it turns out, mom didn't want her FREE birthday sundae, but n8 got his. As you can see, she was trying to share but it wasn't going so well!

FYI- if you want your kid to get the strawberry sundae instead of the hot fudge (like i do), all you have to do is ask....they gladly make substitutions! :)

Grammy Comes to Town

So Nathan has really been enjoying his Grammy who came to visit. I am posting some pics below of them making gingerbread cookies and decorating them. N8 had a ball! I actually just think he like saying the words "gingerbread man". Move over, Martha.....this kid's got talent!

Thanks Today……lost!

Okay, okay, i haven't done the best job that i could have with the daily posting of things i am thankful for this month, but neither has my friend whose original idea it was. She's only emailed me sporadically with her daily thanks. At any rate, suffice it to say that i am thankful every day for at least being alive and getting to see n8 grow each day.

I am going to be posting a few entries soon here about what we've been up to.

IT’S A BOY!!

My suspicions were correct! Nathan is going to have a little brother by next spring! We went for the ultrasound today and there is NO DOUBT that there is a tiny baby boy in my womb!

It was really cool....baby was kicking his legs for us so we could see it on the monitor at the doctor's office. He weighs about 8 oz (half a pound) right now and has luscious lips, which were evident in the ultrasound pic.

I am so excited....david is too, probably mostly because now i won't have to buy tons of hair accessories, bows, headbands, and other girly notions. Anyway, nathan has been reciting "brother, no sister" all day since we told him.

Baby looks good and healthy....and that's all i care about truthfully!

Post Halloween Costume

Ever since Bai Fu's (Gabe) 1st birthday party earlier this month, n8 has been obsessed with one of the items from the goody bag. It's the coolest little clown nose. Although it smells like stale plastic (probably from the wrapping), once you get past that, it's actually really funny!

Thanks Today

to all my FRIENDS. Thanks to all of you. Without sounding all wishy-washy, i have to say that i think i have the best friends in the world. Many of you read me here regularly, so you know who you are. You are blonde, brunette, strawberry blonde, tall, short, pregnant, not pregnant, older than me, younger than me, smart, funny, caring, moms, and not moms. But most of all, you're my friends! Thank you for being a part of my life.