the binky game

image borrowed online. click here for more of the owner's work.

I laid in bed at 3am this morning observing my baby in the video monitor.

Why was I up at 3am?

Ask the baby.

Ever since her high temperature last week, she had stopped sleeping through the night again. So after the 3am feeding, I stuck a binky in her mouth and crept out of her room. (Ok, it took several tries before she took the binky.) I then laid in bed observing her ... what is it that she's doing that makes her wail every couple of hours?

Her head tousled left and right, left, right, left, right.

"Is she trying to get comfortable?"

Arms waving in the air as her head continued to tousle, trying to settle down.

"What is it that is making her uncomfortable? It's not like I can give a 5 month old a pillow."

Her right arm came swooshing down towards her face...

"What the?"

Her little fingers went grabbing for the binky.

"Darn these binkies have a loop handles!"

She yanked the binky out of her mouth, waves it around.

She then cries a bit ... head tousled some more.

Then she stuck the binky back in her mouth.

That game lasted for about 5 times...

Then she decided to just chuck the binky over the crib

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Head tousled some more ... followed by more wailing.

I sneaked in, re-insert the binky (again, after a few tries) and sneaked out.

Is my baby a hand-eye-coordination-genius?

** Ok, ok. I know all you experienced Mom know that at 5 months, it's typical that they grab stuff and lets go as a practice. But give me a break, it was 3am... let me indulge in that idea until I fell back asleep. **

YAWN!

recession??

I was in a spending money mood today and braved the high oil prices, drove my suv to the mall during my lunch break. I needed something new (it's been ages) ... I want to buy something for Ash to reward her for cooperating lately during the times I have to tend to Court... I just want to spend some money - in the sale rack.

Apparently so did everyone else.

As I pulled into the packed parking lot at 1130am, I circled around for a bit before finding the only spot free that I can tell - in the sun. "Screw it, I only have an hour." I thought to myself and bravely parked in that spot with no shade.

I quickly went into the mall, already knowing that I need to hit the Disney Store for something for Ash and maybe Ann Taylor for some work clothes. As I weaved in and out of the crowds, I got to thinking about this post that my friend Lisa over at Very busy Mom with Four wrote a few days back. (click here for her post regarding summer plans.)

So the point that I was thinking about wasn't about summer planning (which I totally should be!) But the point it being harder for budget due to high gas prices.

Isn't this suppose to be the recession?
Aren't people suppose to watch their spending?
Why are there so many people in the mall with shopping bags in this time?
Am I the only one paranoid about the recession?

I have been trying to think of ways to save money because even in recession, gas prices are still going up (kids still need to go places), food still need to be provided, utilities and mortgages still need to be paid, and the kiddos still grow and will need to replenish their wardrobes.

Are you paranoid like me too? What are you doing to help the family during this recession?

my baby is now the princess...

her school pix...

confirms my suspicion all along...

no longer the baby but now the princess..

Wordless Wednesday

I had to dig deep into the Ash archives for this one.

I wonder what she is looking at?

For more Wordless Wednesday go here and/or here.

sandwich

Ah... the past few days has been just tiresome with a sick baby at home. I have had to take off a few days from work (ah... the bosses isn't thrilled I'm sure) and the weekend was jam packed with activities for Ash and taking care of the high fevered Court.

On Saturday, Court came down with a almost 105 fever. That lasted for the entire weekend, with it only subsiding with Tylenol just for it to come back up when the drugs wear off. Luckily yesterday, Court's temp went from 101 to a normal 98.9. But she is so super congested that feeding is a huge battle and keeping her fussy self from being even more fussy was a challenge. Today, hubby will be staying home with her... I wish him luck.

Ash said something quite humorous this weekend. While driving in the car to a party, we were listening to her princess songs on cd and she said to me..

"Mommy, why is Pocahontas a sandwich?"
"What?"
"Pocahontas... why is she a sandwich?"
"She's not a sandwich, honey, where did you hear that?"
she pointed at the car stereo
I push the back button until we got back to the Pocahontas song.
"You think I'm a ignorant 'savage'...."
"There Mommy, she said sandwich!"
I laughed and said, "Honey, she said, 'saa-Vage'."
"Oh. I think ham and cheese sandwich is better."

I've missed you all! I can't wait to read up on your adventures these last few days!

peer pressure

"Oh look, we got an invite to Ash friends' (twin girls) birthday party!"
I always get so excited to get invited for birthday parties, even if it's for the kids.

I open the evite excitedly ...
I read the invitation ...
I re-read the invitation ...
And read it again ...
then I forward it to hubby to read ...

"Honey, did you get my email on that invitation?"
"Yeah."
"Did I read it correctly that there will be a pony ride and petting zoo in their backyard?"
"Yeah."
"IN their backyard!?" I exclaimed.
"Yeah."
"Oh Wow."
I hurriedly type in their address into Google Maps. Yup, they live in "The Hills" of our neighborhood.

Crap and here I am just thinking about throwing Ashley's party in the park with Daddy on the grill.

If I already feel this type of pressure for a 4 year old birthday party, what am I going to do come their sweet sixteen?

Wordless Wednesday - *GASP*

It's...

It's...

No, it can't be happening!

Are the aliens attacking?

Actually they were singing "Alice, where are you going?"

for Mother's Day at Ash's preschool.
This particular picture was taken when they were singing...

"Oh my goodness, bless my soul..."

For more Wordless Wednesday visit here and here.

teething remedies anyone?

ah... relieve!
*found this picture online *

With Ash, teething was nothing but crying every hour the night before the tooth/teeth came through. Somehow with baby C, things are alot more dramatic.

She's approaching 5.5 months old now and it already felt like she's been teething forever. I think at her last doctor's appointment at 3 months old, her pediatrician had already suggested the excessive drooling and the biting followed by screaming a sign of teething.

So when is the tooth coming? Beats me. There isn't any physical signs of the tooth yet.

Mommies, anyone have a teething remedy that worked for your child/children?