Monday's Baby Fashion Trend (Drool included)

I'm honestly having a hard time blogging right now about things that wouldn't include delving deep into how I'm feeling at this difficult time for my family and I don't know if I have that in me right now. So for the time being, I might just post a happy baby picture once in a while or funny baby story, because lets face it - I don't think anyone can look at one of these sweet baby faces and not feel a little bit better about life - even during the most difficult "life" times.

PALTSKKJ more than ever right now.

And I wonder why she doesn't nap well during the day...

Why I shouldn't go running anytime between 5 and 6pm

Lately, the earliest I am managing to hit the streets "new mommy style" (baby in tow blaring my favorite hip hop from my ultra yuppy jeep - yes, it's a jeep - jogging stroller) is sometime between 5:30 and 6:30pm. This is probably the worst time to try and head out in my neighborhood for this one reason: these people know how to grill. Imagine running between that time or in my world "the hungry hour" and every street and corner brings a new unbelievable aroma of delicious food on a grill. It's so bad that I have developed a little game to keep me distracted from the mouth watering smells - It's basically just a guessing game of what meat or veggie is making that smell? Is it pork tenderloin? Chicken? A veggie packet? A bratworst - which I've decided has the most recognizable grill smell. It's just pure torture the whole time, but at least guessing the meat keeps my mind distracted enough from going right up to the perpetrators door and demanding that they let me and babygirl in for dinner.

Regardless, the whole point of this post was to tell you about the two funny things that happened today on the run/walk but I get so damn distracted thinking about grilling that it's all I can focus on...

Today, this hungry hour time must have also been a popular time for 2-3 year old girls to be outside because they were running rampant in the neighborhood. The first one I encountered on Spring Hill drive was walking up the driveway with daddy when she spotted me.

"Daddy -daddy, look at the baby"

"Yes, that's a cute baby"

This is where I luckily start slowing down so they can admire my gorgeous baby a little longer - just as the little girl decides to dart away from daddy directly into my path causing me to come to a very abrupt stop. As I look up, dad has a pretty nervous look on his face as he is leaping to pull her away from the eminent yuppy stroller squashing injury that is about to occur. Luckily, I stop just fine as she comes up to the stroller, stands on her tippy toes and and peers over the edge,

"Daddy - I want to pet the baby"

Laughing, the dad explains that babies are not like doggies and that you don't "pet" babies, you say "hi" to babies. She goes on to say hi about 10 times and I say hi back on Bridget's behalf and finally as we slowly say goodbye and start moving again I hear her say to dad as she is walking back up the driveway,

"Daddy, I don't know why that baby didn't have any shoes on."

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love this time with babygirl, but things like that certainly make me see that the future is going to be filled with so much fun, too.

I'll save my other funny little girl story to entice you with later in the week as I have already blown off way too much work already!

Happy Tuesday!


PALTSKKJ

The great toy uprising

Can you spot the baby in this pile of toys?

I wouldn't want to spend even one day in your head...

This morning Tim takes his car to Combs to get a "quick" tire rotation and check on the brakes before he and the boys head out to Memphis for Ehlert's big bachelor party. Fast forward 1/2 hour to a frantic phone call to me about car needing new brakes, has to leave it for 3 hours, meeting at UMSL at 9:45, need to print out instructions, the password is Tremco9435....yadda, yadda, yadda...

So, to give you a nice run down of how I spent my day from approximately 8:17 am (the time of the first phone call) to 12:23pm (the time I FINALLY arrive at Sydney's Closet for my work day) I've prepared a lovely numbered list for your reading enjoyment:

1. Drive to combs and pick up Tim - 8:45am
   
   
2. Drive up to UMSL and drop Tim off for some big roofing meeting (only after reliving all my *crazy* good old days at UMSL ALL the way up there) - 9:30 am
   
   
3. Drive back to Brentwood to meet client for 10:30 meeting at Bread Company
   
   
4. Stop off at Brentwood Target for no other reason then I had 15 minutes to kill and who doesn't love to go to Target when they have 15 extra minutes
   
   
5. $47 Target dollars and one Venti Mocha non-fat no-whip later, I wrap up my meeting and go back up to UMSL (surprisingly the timing could not have been more perfect as Tim was just leaving his meeting)
   
   
6. Drive Tim back to Combs tire. This is where apparently (somewhere between the Venti Mocha and after only approximately 5.5 hours of sleep last night, but that's a whole different Bridget entry) I apparently became a monster chatterbox about my surroundings and events as they were occuring in real time:
   

"Do you think we can live in a house like that some day?"

"I know she's going to bug the crap out of me today with all this ABS b.s."

"Wow that dog just went after that little kid - did you see that?"

"Oh man, I hope there's not a train - is that I train - do you see a train? "

"This satellite sh*t is cool - don't you love it?"

These are just a few of the ones I remember and they were in that order - rapid fire. So, my whole point about this last bullet point is this...no really, I think I have one... -I decided today (when someone was actually in the car with me during my usual "alone" time) that I have a complete constant thought stream - it seriously never stops. Actually as I am typing these lines I'm thinking at least 4 sentences ahead and listening to 30 Rock in the background. Anyway, I guess Tim picked up on it especially today since he was privy to my own little J.D. world, because when he finally could get a word in he said:

"I wouldn't want to spend even one day in your head...it's tough enough even being out here".



PALTSKKJ

the landlord

This is worth watching - disturbing, but funny at the same time... sorry if this offends anyone - blame Will Ferrell.

The Landlord


I have lots of pictures from the wedding and easter getting ready to go up on shutterfly. I'll post as soon as I get them all loaded!

PALTSKKJ

It's the big ONE!

I LOVE April 11th - I always have. I get a little fluttery inside when coincidentally someone on tv announces something taking place on "April 11th" or when Easter falls on "April 11th" and people say it over and over again. It's no secret people - I LOVE April 11th. I really do think of it next to Christmas as the best day of the year.

Now, I have gotten plenty of flack in my life for this love. "Birthday Season" jokes have arisen and much ado has been made over this little day, but I really don't care, in fact I think I like that a little. I think of it as just a testament to another aspect of my quirky, yet childlike at times personality and whether I'm turning 11 or 32, why shouldn't I still love this day? It's really not the self-serving "give me all the presents you can" reason that I like so much about this day, although I would venture to say that many people think that is it. It's really just more that there's just a nice little something special to a birthday. Like a little secret you can carry around in your pocket that no other stranger knows about you on that day. You are special that day and, for that reason, I've always walked around with a little spring in my step.


So, now that I am 32 and have been through quite a few of these April 11ths, I started thinking about why I love this day so much and I realized it's not about the presents or the cake (to be honest, I've never been the hugest cake fan - I know, crazy...) but what it is about is basically one great thing - my family and specifically, my parents. They are why I love this day so much. They are the birthday king and queen. They made each birthday, no matter how rushed of a time of year or how many times it fell on Easter, always a special day for me. It was all about me - although occasionally my mom would remind me that they really should give the presents to the mom's on birthdays since they did all the work and, I'd have to say, this is the first year that I would probably agree with her on that one.... But, really, I would like to say thanks mom and dad - thanks for making all those birthdays so special and for teaching me that life is too short to not have a piece of cake on your birthday and be grateful for another year in life with good friends and family.

Well, finally to this April 11th (the whole reason I started this post way back when) THIS April 11th is especially special. (Can you use especially and special back to back?) Well, it is, let's just say SUPER SPECIAL this year! I am so happy to be able to now share what was my secret & special day with a very deserving little man. Yes, one year ago today, Mr. Matthew Wellington Muldrow made his way into the world on the (second) best day of the year - April 11th. I remember going to see him in the hospital and holding those tiny 6 lbs of pure adorableness and thinking how cool that birthday for me was -here I was seeing one of my best friends go through a real "birth" day and, for the first time, I got a real appreciation for why we celebrate birthdays the way we do. It truly is a miracle to have Matthew in our lives now and what better way to remember that every year then to celebrate the day he entered the world. I remember feeling so excited that he and I would forever be connected by this awesome day - April 11th.

So, without further ado - to my main little man -

Happy FIRST birthday!!!!!

Here's to many many more awesome April 11th's to come for you. Because, just like my parents made this day something great for me, I have no doubt that you will be 32 years old someday and looking back on how special your mommy and daddy made every April 11th for you! Love you, little man - Happy First!


-PS- Aimee wrote a great blog entry (something I will undoubtedly steal come August 26th) about Matthew's arrival into the world one year ago today! Check it out here.

PALTSKKJ

Larry Birkhead is the Baby Daddy

Well, thank god we all know now. I don't think I could have slept one more night not knowing.

Sorry, just bitter as they have broken in, yes, I repeat, broken in numerous times to announce the "breaking news". America, please get a life!

-Easter pics coming soon! Stay tuned!

Everyone here is extremely gruntled...

This takes forever and is absolutely beyond cheesy (although, brilliant NBC viral marketing at it's best), but you know how I'm a sucker for a good lovey dovey video and the music just fits so well. Anyway, don't bother watching if you don't like cheese or don't have 4 minutes, but DO get PSYCHED cause tonight Roy is "gonna kill Jim Halpert" (well, hopefully not...)

Happy Thursday and FINALLY new office night!!!

Diversity Training Day at the [CWC] office

Come on everyone, gather around, you too Blue Octopus, we need to address the comments you made toward Yellow-Orange Fish on Wheels last week.

Wait, I have a question... if I know Pink Puppy is socializing outside of the workplace with Green Frog Lily - is it my responsibility to pass this on to corporate?

Okay, let's say there is a certain colorful male giraffe who happens to sport a lot of bling - if he doesn't tell, we shouldn't ask, right?

Diversity training is fun - let's all celebrate diversity!

PALTSKKJ

Tuesday Newsflash

Anne Curry still makes me want to jab my pretty silvery-blue metallic pen into my eyes.

I'm a complete sucker for physical comedy

happy only one more week until the new office where Jim Halpert gets it!

PALTSKKJ

We really did try to get them IN her mouth...

Tonight we tried carrots - oh the humanity!

She's not terrified of the dog, she's terrified of the carrots...

Is the torture over?

Thank you, this is all I need...

In case you didn't read the previous post...make sure you do to catch up on how much babygirl LOVES eating solid foods...


PALTSKKJ

Now miss Scarlett, you come on and eat juss a little honey!

All of a sudden babygirl has taken to not liking her solid foods. In the beginning she would tolerate it and appease us, but she has absolutely regressed lately, preferring to just grab her little bottle on her own and eat from that at her own pace and on her own time. Whether we try and feed her when she's starving or just barely hungry, try rice vs. oatmeal, carrots or squash, she throws a fit as soon as the bib goes on... and I swear she even knows what kind of bib - if it's the slicky, plasticy bibs that's when the Gone With the Wind type drama begins...

This morning, before I barely even touched her mouth with the spoon, her little nose wrinkled up, the hands flew up in protest and she actually started this little gagging sound as if she was choking even though absolutely nothing had gone in her mouth yet....of course, this was enough to make me double check since any remote little gag or cough strikes fear in me like nothing else can. After confirming there wasn't so much as a drop of milk left for her to choke on, I decide I'm sure she is doing this on purpose, that she somehow knows this fake choking will make me stop trying to feed her. Refusing to be mentally defeated by a 7 month old, I go back to trying again and immediately her little hands start rubbing her fists across her eyes and forehead with a type of despair equal only to Scarlett O'Hara's dramatic reaction as Rhett Butler is leaving her to go off to war..

As I do finally manage to get a spoonful successfully in her mouth (instead of all over her face, fists, and in her hair) she makes a face as if I've just wronged her beyond any and all reasonable mother/daughter expectations, it's a face that I swear said word for word,

"How could you do this to me? The pain, the anguish, the betrayal..."

After this, she sits in her little chair for a good 15 seconds in what I can only describe as shocked stillness until finally erupting with volcano-like projectile spitting that goes all over me, the chair her clothes and even Brogan, a perfectly innocent bystander.

Finally, after at least three rounds of this fake choking/flailing arms and projectile spitting, I give in to the queen and stop the apparent torture I am inflicting. Given this flare for the dramatic she is developing, I'm sure one day we'll be watching her portray Miss Scarlett with ease in a high school play and, right now, as far as this solid food business is concerned... frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn....



PALTSKKJ

friday night lights during wednesday night screaming

Has anyone ever watched Friday Night Lights? We've watched it since the pilot right after babygirl was born. I think she was home for a week and we saw the first show and since then each show I like more than the last. In the beginning it took me a while to get into actually understanding and appreciating the story line, but now I am hooked. It's not just about football and teenagers, it has more depth than that but still gives you the good teenage angst stuff once in a while that I love. And given that the beautiful guy from my all-time favorite (though short lived show) Homefront is in this gives me all the more reason to love it.

Article: why you should watch friday night lights


At the moment, Bridget is trying to prevent me from watching this by fighting her very predictable and reliable bed time. The past week or so she has been very particular about going to sleep often fighting naps and now even bed time. The screaming is as loud and awful as anything I've ever heard, but I have a feeling she would rather just be up playing and hanging out with us rather than getting the sleep she so desperately needs. So, were letting her go for a while. We have a routine that we've always used practically since she started having a regular bedtime, so I know she's okay, but it's sooooo not fun to listen to.

I know the Muldrow's can appreciate this as I went back and looked at Aimee's posts about Matthew's sleep problems and imagine my (not) surprise when I realized Matthew's issues took place when he was almost exactly the same age as Bridget is now. There must just be a light bulb that goes on in their little brains that says, "hey, sleeping is not as much fun as my elephant book or big bird bouncy, so i think i'll just scream at the top of my lungs 'til i get to do that stuff again..." I'm certainly not glad they had to go through this with Matthew, but it does help me realize that this is just a phase and I won't have to rock her until she is in college!

Thankfully as I've been typing this it's finally been silent for a little while now...aahhh sweet silence....


PALTSKKJ

Like father, like son and daughter...

Happy 60th Birthday Dad...

Here's a little video to celebrate his 60th and kick off where he'll be spending his next 60...it is in a home...a lake home that is!




Happy Birthday Dad!

We love you!

PALTSKKK

Welcome Cole Daniel!

Babies, babies everywhere!

Chris and Kristi welcomed Cole Daniel into the world yesterday evening at 5:40pm. After waiting months to find out whether we had a he or a she and what the name would be we are all so excited to finally have Cole here!

Aunt Charlotte gave the following update:

"The beautiful red-headed baby weighed in at 7lbs 6oz and is 19 and a half inches long. Although born by Caesarean, mother, father and baby are doing beautifully. Thank you God for this new and wonderful miracle."

Congratulations guys - Bridget can't wait to meet her new cousin and neither can we!

ps - Come on Gianino's - I know you all have digital cameras...how about a picture of this little red headed man - you're killing us!! Update 3/16/2007 7:32pm - retraction issued - thanks for the photos he's a cutie!!

Are you sitting down for these gems...

Get ready for about 200 pictures! Libby and I took "the kids/babies" (Bridget and Matthew) to the Jewel Box yesterday for some fabulous Spring inspired photos. The weather was just too nice not to sneak away, that and I really wanted some professional quality pics of babygirl to mark her 6 month birthday. Even tho these are like 6 1/2 month pictures, I think they'll do. They may not be perfectly professional, but I love them a lot! She was smiley and had a lot of fun with her pal Matthew. Some of my absolute favorites are when they are sitting about 8-10 feet apart from each other with one in front, one in back. We couldn't get them to sit happily next to each other as you'll see in the sequence below of the two of them where you can see Bridget goes down. It's hilarious.

Matthew isn't sure about sitting at this point and babygirl is about to be his first casualty...

There she goes...don't worry it wasn't bad. Not half as bad as when mommy wasn't watching her and she fall over backward and banged her head on the concrete...that was BAD.

This is my favorite. You can imagine all kinds of great scenarios for this little beauty. Bridget looks exhausted from the long day of modeling and Matthew looks like he's preparing himself to defend her with his cool new kung fu moves....

Want to see 'em all?

http://picasaweb.google.com/edelanty
Now before I hear any lip about the new photo site, I had to post them temporarily there since the files are so large, I can't upload them all to shutterfly. If you want any, just email me and I'll post them to wherever your little heart desires.

Irish eyes are smiling...

It's no secret that I'm a wannabe Irish-girl, so I thought I would get ready for the big holiday by using my daughter to create the cutest St. Patrick's day header ever. In case it's not clear the "name" I'm referring to in the header is mine - Erin. Some people thought that may not be clear, I think some people are just stupid.

Still busy working on the new going-ons at the CWC headquarters. It's really not too exciting so to ensure I don't create a bigger buzz than is warranted, I will give you a hint: it really just has to do with organizing and some new equipment. That's really about all, but there will be some good pictures to come hopefully by the end of the weekend.

In other news, my little 1/4 Irish baby or however much she is has been very busy lately (and not just working in the CWC offices). She is almost fully sitting - picture a weeble wooble that usually makes it back upright after wobbling forward back and side to side. She is also eating some rice cereal now, too. She's had a couple feedings and basically took to it like "what's the big deal here people? it's not rocket science, it's a spoon"... at least we're pretty sure that's what she was thinking. She is also training for the upcoming 5 miler downtown on St. Patrick's Day. So far she's up to about three miles run/walking, but really seems to be good at it... although once again, she's expressed that sitting in a stroller while someone pushes you up and down hills isn't really brain surgery, either.

Well, time for the best night of tv - except for the reruns, but most office's are usually worth watching again- Happy Thursday!

PALTSKKJ

Oh hi - we're vaccuuming, yeah that's fine

I've discovered something about myself that I find either interesting and a sign of high intelligence or disturbing and weird so since I have about 10 minutes for something to finish copying I thought I would share... I just opened up an older client file of mine to check a password and written in close proximity to the client's all important username and password was the following three lines: oh hi, we're vacuuming, yeah that's fine. You see, almost everytime I open up an old client file or thumb through some notes or project lists I've joted down, I will find these little areas on the page where I have written down aspects of a conversation. It then makes me wonder what the context of that conversation was and I'll spend too much trying to remember who I was talking to and about what. Seriously, why did I even need to tell the caller I was vacuuming in the first place?

You can always tell if I've been on the phone and there was paper and pen nearby because you can pretty much surmise what the conversation was and in a lot of cases who I was talking to - actually at times this is a borderline dangerous habit. Just last night I found the following chicken scratch at Tim's desk on the back of an envelope:

"annoying, so annoying...
irritating - why does he think that is funny?"

- now, to give you the full effect, picture the above text bordered with little hand drawn daisies and hearts and sprinkled around were my initials and full signature both Delanty and Jones versions ... am I ten? It took me a while but I remembered the conversation with Molly last week about how Tim annoys us when he says "get off my back jack"... funny now, but that little chicken scratch could have implied something much more sinister and my unconscious writing could definitely get me in trouble some day.

Anyway, without making this too long of a boring post about my idiosyncracies (some of you are already thinking "too late"), I was just wondering if everyone does that or that makes me odd in some way?

I am in the midst of some very exciting stuff right now and I really have so much to blog about that it's pretty ridiculous that I just took up some blogging time writing about my weird habits... but you'll have to stay tuned to find out what I (err...we... I guess Bridget is kind of helping) have got cooking up for Custom Web this week! BTW, that's called "pulling a Preszler" - when you lead someone on just to make them keep tuning back into you. Cindy Preszler that is - for those of you saying what the hell is she talking about now?

Happy Tuesday

PALTSKKJ

182.5 full days

Taking a cue from my parents, I decided to write Bridget little letters on whatever I deem a "milestone" occasion or maybe just because I want to. Her first installment was a private letter I wrote to her before I even knew if she was a she or a he. Beyond that, I thought I would share clips from future installments (yes, can you believe I actually wrote about double this to her?!) I really appreciated mine from my Dad and I hope that one day Bridget will appreciate hers from me/us.

One other note, at her 6 month checkup today she weighed 18 lbs 15 oz. - 97% tile on weight and height. "She's a big kid so far" said Dr. Betty, but then added "perfectly in proportion and perfectly normal" I'm sure tagged on to ease the "oh my god I have a giant baby" look that was written all over my face...

Dear Bridget/Babygirl/Bridgey,

I can't decide: It's either amazing to me that you've only been on this earth for 182.5 days or It's amazing you've already been here 182.5 days. I have both feelings on any given day - and sometimes both on the same day - about the length of time I've known you. Regardless of which I'm feeling at the time, one thing remains true is that I've never seen so much amazing change in any 6 month time span in my life before - not when I started school, high school, went away to college or even when I married your dad. In all the things I've done my 30+ years of life, I have never witnessed such a degree of constant and unbelievable change.

Now, when you get to know me even better, you will be amazed that I just used the "c" word that much - change. I've always been hesitant of change and apt to avoid it at all costs, however, you have taught me that change can be fun and unbelievably amazing. Without getting too schmaltzy - I'll teach you that word some day and you'll find I am, for better or worse, not that good at schmaltz - I did want to mark the past 182.5 days (your first 6 months of life) by saying you are so funny, so cute, ever changing and that you bring your dad and I a new kind of happiness and love that we hadn't known before.

One of the first things - no actually the first thing- I bought for you was this little lion palm tree rattle thing. I had to have it immediately when I saw it - 4 months before you were even going to be born. I mean, come on - it had lions, baby lions and a palm tree, is there really anything more you need? Anyway, I can remember when you were about a week old, maybe two, and I kept holding the palm tree toy up to you and trying to get any acknowledgement out of you. I think the best I got was in one of the following pictures where you were looking to latch on (I'll tell you what that means someday) to the lion and then you went right back to doing what you did best those early days (that would be the second picture). But look at you now! The other pics of you with the lion, taken on your six month birthday, show how far you've come in those short 182 days of life. You are amazing!

Bridget Ainsley - 5 weeks old

Bridget Ainsley
- 6 months old

Lastly, I hope that as you continue getting to know us better you will see how we are goofy and fun 90% of the time and serious about 10%, probably even less than that. We will continue to teach you goofiness and enjoying life in the moment and not sweating the small stuff as it really doesn't matter in the scheme of things. One thing that matters to us is love and although we may not say it enough or outwardly express it at all times, know that all that matters in life is the love of family and each other and everything else will work itself out. Thanks for showing us a new kind of love and thanks for being our babygirl. You are just too cute.

Happy 182.5 days babygirl! Here's one of the songs I always sing to you right now and pretty much sums up how I feel about you...

Cause you came and you took control
you touched my very soul
you showed me that
lovin' you is where it's at

You made me so very happy
you made me so very happy baby
I'm so glad you came
into my life

Every day of my life
I wanna thank you
You made me so very happy
Oh, I wanna spend my life with you
thank you baby
thank you baby

Love,

Mom
02/26/2006



PALTSKKJ

Tim is ruining my big night

Okay, so it's not necessarily MY big night, but I have to admit, there are two award shows that I get really excited about, 1) The Emmy's (I love all the tv stars!) and 2) the Oscars - not that I am well versed with the theatre or "pictures" as my dad said(??), but I do have to admit, my guilty pleasure is watching what everyone is wearing and their hair and the bling - I love it! Not to mention, my favorite celebrity in the world is hosting tonight - the funniest person ever - Ellen Degeneres!

So, he's pouting and going in and out of the room saying things like, "This makes me sick to my stomach", oh - a new quote just in from the kitchen was, "Why does he ask such [bleeping] stupid questions?" referring to Ryan Seacrest asking about what undergarments someone was wearing. Which, yes, was a stupid question, but can't he just learn to overlook that? He's totally ruining my pre-oscar moment. At least Bridget understands - she is concentrating intently on the beautiful dresses - her favorite so far is Beyonce. But unfortunately, her bedtime is about here and that means it will go back to being one on one. I'll keep you posted on the exciting Oscar events!

PALTSKKJ

Site Maintenance

I'm playing with finding a new look for the template and new ways to show label posts so if the site looks funny this morning, please excuse as we will be temporarily up and down with maintenance.

Just call me Miss Fancy Pants from now on.

Yup, we're big time now! We made it - two featured dresses and a GREAT mention from Phyllis' contact Katherine who did the segment. It was awesome. I can't even believe we just had two of our dresses on TODAY!! Well, lots of work to do on the website to promote this!

That Moulin Rouge one looked awesome on her! It was so funny they were playing that Moulin Rouge song in the background... the gitch gitchy ya ya da da. (I can't believe I just wrote that and this post has nothing to do with babygirl)... anyway, it's just funny cause we just picked that name for the dress and that's what influenced what they played in the background - after typing all that I think it probably only makes sense to me, but whatever I am so darn excited right now I think TPD would call this "typing outloud".

Here are the two dresses that were featured on the TODAY show:

https://www.sydneyscloset.com/asp/product.asp?categoryid=&catalogid=1083
Moulin Rouge

https://www.sydneyscloset.com/asp/product.asp?categoryid=&catalogid=970
Sea Goddess

I'll let you know if this translated into any sales for us soon! :)


PALTSKKJ

I know how to sit, play fetch and rollover, what I don't know is how I ended up here...

I'm glued to the today show this morning, more than usual as I'm waiting for *hopefully* a segment on "Oscar Fashions for the Plus Sized Woman" featuring dresses from Sydney's Closet. Well, pedigree must be a sponsor of the show because almost once a morning I see that heartbreaking commercial about the dogs in shelters. Here's an excerpt (I'm pretty sure I know this by heart, but it may be paraphrased just a bit.):

I know how to sit, how to fetch and how to rollover
What I don't know is how I ended up here
But I do know that I'm a good dog
and I just want to go home....

Ahhhh! Somebody pull the dagger out of my heart right now. Everytime I see it the tears well up in my eyes and my heart just aches and I think of my grandiose schemes to open a no kill shelter on 20+ acres of land somewhere out in Wildwood or Wentzville or wherever I can get a whole lotta land for a whole lotta animals. It is definitely my dream and I really believe I can do it one day. Anyway, I'm going to (sometime) set up another shirt shop for animal lovers and donate the profits to all the people doing such great work even here in St. Louis for strays and abandoned dogs. At least then I'll feel like I'm doing something for them. Baby steps, I guess.

Anyway, just a quick rant this morning as I couldn't take seeing that commercial one more time without saying something about it...I'm sure many of you guys have seen it and felt the same way. To learn more about pedigree's adoption drive and you can even buy dogs rule gear from their site. Watch out though even their homepage is heartwrenching! http://www.pedigree.com/


And If you haven't seen the commercial I'm referring to - you can check it out on their website - watch out - It'll get to you! watch the commercial here it's the first one, but archie's is a good one, too.

Keep your fingers crossed for the closet - I'll update with a post if we make it on!

PALTSKKJ

I am not as strong as I think I amAKA - How I just spent my lunch time

After seeing how my parents set up Bridget during the day, I decide to copy it for my office. Carrying a playpen up the stairs by myself wouldn't be so hard, right? I am strong (or at least I think I am). I once carried Big D's tv up three flights of stairs to her old apartment, surely I can carry this stupid playpen thing...

18 curse words later, a smashed hand and toe, two dogs freaking out, nearly falling down the stairs twice, and finally having to jam the thing in between the doors to my office I succeed in getting it up the stairs. It was only after all this that I decided it would have been easier had I actually taken the "stuff" out of the playpen before moving it. sigh....

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Here is the new setup. Pretty nice even after all the work.

See the aforementioned "stuff" on the couch to the right.
(click on any of the pictures for a larger version)

A picture of just the stuff...
Libby (aka my professional organization consultant)
I may need some help with this!

But ahhh.. doesn't that look cozy and inviting.
Either that or like a cage I'm going to keep my baby in
so I don't have to watch her as closely.. whatever...

At least someone thinks this is funny....

The payoff - baby in the cage.
Uh oh - I've fallen and I can't get up...

Thanks Mom - I guess you think putting 18 stuffed animals on
either side of me will help me to stay sitting up straight.

Problem -This is nice and all, but maybe you forgot I can't crawl yet
thus prohibiting me from getting to any of those great toys.
Solution - I think I'll cry to be let out 5 minutes after being in here.
Thanks for all your hard work anyway!

PALTSKKJ

Awwww dad....stop it you're embarrasing me...

Super cute pics of dad and daughter on Valentine's day - night. Both babygirl and I got flowers and cards from tpd and we had fun opening up and playing with all the swag. For some cute pics of how babygirl spent her day with her main squeeze, Matthew, you can check out Aimee's blog. Although they didn't seem to care about each other at times, you could definitely feel the love at other times. I think Aimee said it best when she said, "it's a stormy relationship"!




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Are you going to the bar or are you going to get the baby?

We all got a chuckle out of those words spoken by Kim as we were all gathering following the parade. It was just something that even last year seemed so far away - that we - Tim and I would have a baby. But it's not just that we have a baby, we are a family of three now and just like those commercials - that does change everything. Well, at least it modifies everything, let's just say I've always had issues with the concept of "change".

Mardi Gras has been my thing for over 10 years now. I love it for some reason. I don't know what it is but since my first MG in 1995 when I wasn't even legally allowed to buy a beverage there, I was hooked. That's back when the whole concept of Mardi Gras was new to St. Louis and even on a 70 degree night, you could walk up and down the streets easily and bounce in bar to bar. We celebrated Courtney's (one of my best pals and college roomate) 21st birthday there when we were finally all legally allowed to be there. I can remember MG's of the past where we actually wore shorts (as it was over 70 in February) to pouring down rain to freezing cold days where I couldn't feel my toes to snowy days like this past weekend where we got drilled with cold wind and snow.

As I've watched it grow over the past 12 years, never missing a year, each one is always unique and fun in it's own way, but always a predictable good time. This one was essentially the same except for the snow (but I personally liked that a lot), and we definitely missed our pals the Muldrows, but something else was different. Not different because of the weather or the parade or the crowd, but because there was someone new - someone who hopefully won't be going to any Mardi Gras before she is legally allowed to, but someone that innocently drives every choice and decision Tim and I make these days.

This year, instead of taking multiple jello shots or stocking up on beer, we imbibed in a few adult beverages, hung out with friends and jumped like crazy people to catch coveted beads. I got to have a great time at yet another MG and then I got to go home and get that someone new.
It was different, it was modified, but it was all okay. I wasn't sad it was different or upset by it, I actually liked the... dare I say it... change.

So, to answer Aunt Kim's question - we actually went to get the baby and then went to the bar (don't worry - it was just Llewelyn's for some warm soup, food and relaxing time!)

Fun MG snow pictures coming soon!

PALTSKKJ

Kiss me, Love me, How sweet, Be mine, Friend

Happy Valentine's Day!I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Author Unknown

ps- Erin - 4, Weather People -2


PALTSKKJ

After much ado...

is ado even a word? It is FINALLY snowing. I've been waiting all night (yes, peeking out the windows at 3am, 5am, 6am... for even just one ounce of the white stuff and it is finally coming down. The snow started around 8:30 am and even though last night they said it would begin tapering down around 6:30pm, they were obviously completely wrong about that seeing as how there is just one little back edge yet to come through. I predict the snow will completely end by 11:30am with only light flurries. I'm not totally complaining though, cause I love looking out the window at all the white stuff, so I'll take what I can get this morning.

Yes, we got some snow, but NO it was not nearly as big of a "winter storm" deal as they made it. I'll have to wait for final snow tallies before I decide the winner of this winter-off, but I'm leaning toward me being the winner... we'll see....man, I am weather people bitter... but at least the boys like the snow. We had a little fun playing with them this morning in the snow!




On another note, Tim and I - at last - got the most wonderful night's sleep last night. For a while now (three nights to be exact), we've been reliving the good old newborn baby days. At this point, I've decided a sick baby is worse than a one week old baby. She was up constantly for three nights straight, including two major meltdowns in the middle of the night that even Big D was privy to. The poor thing couldn't breathe (babygirl, not big d) and would try relentlessly to suck away on her paci, but to no avail with the stuffed up nose. It really might be one of the most heartbreaking things I've experienced with her to date. Regardless, it seems like she is rebounding with a full night's sleep finally and we are so glad! It was our first real bout with interrupted sleep sickness and it was definitely sad, but just another rite of parenthood passage.

Happy Snowy Tuesday to all....

St. Louis Prepares for Another Icy Blast

In case you haven't been keeping score, here's a quick update on the
2006-2007 Winter Weather Off:

Erin -4
Weather People - 1

So, they are at it again. Making a HUGE deal out of what sounds like mainly rain and possibly 1 inch of snow... hmmm... my prediction is that we will see maybe 1-2 inches of snow. Weather people are saying 3-6. Stay tuned....

No...No...No

okay, Sam and Diane, this is a bunch of crap... he loves her, she rejects him, he moves on, she wants him back, back and forth, back and forth... yuck. Give me a break nbc... don't promo about Pam fighting for love only for her to shriek away quietly with Ray Ray....

All in all, an okay office, but definitely not my favorite and I am highly disappointed in the Pam/Jim/Karen relationship drama this evening...

Well, at least it's time for my second favorite show of all time... Scrubs... pick us up!

Will Pam finally fight for love?

oh boy, oh boy.... it's 7:30 - I live for Thursdays!!!!

ba ba ba ba wa ba wa ba wa

Yes, this is the newest sound filling our house these days. It used to be just a stream of aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhh, but now we have some rhythm. I actually think I enjoy it a little better than the 20 second solid screeches, but I hope those don't go away just yet either.

The other funny thing that babygirl has taken up, no thanks to tpd, is spitting. Not the adorable little raspberry things (where did that name raspberry come from btw, I mean I've never heard a raspberry make a sound in my life personally, but I digress...) they are more like full-blown baseball player spits which makes daddy really proud. If you're not careful you end up with a face full of baby spit and formula, it's really appetizing, let me tell you. Not to mention that it immediately ruins anything I put on her.

Last night in the car it was back and forth between Bridget's lovely spitting and tpd's rebuttal. I swear, I felt like I was yelling at two kids, "tim, stop encouraging her, seriously.. she needs to go to sleep... stop it, that's the last one, seriously..." in between trying not to laugh the whole time as she answered every one of his spits. I'm sure this was just a small snapshot into future things to come as tpd continues to encourage whatever he deems "funny" behavior... should be fun.

Lastly, we had a great time routing for the colts/bears at the Muldrow's house this past Sunday. Lots of good food and good times and it was a pretty good Superbowl considering I would have been pretty happy with either team winning. The only bad thing was the mood of babygirl when she first got there. She especially was not a fan of her Uncle Mark, but I'm pretty sure we've rectified that problem:


PALTSKKJ

A thousand words...

I have a new picture collection for everyone! You can still access the old collection at: http://delanty.shutterfly.com, but the new one will contain all pictures from 2007. The new address is:

http://delanty07.shutterfly.com

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