The Bad:

I got home late with horrendous traffic as usual (WTF who ARE these people? Aren’t most people on vacation?) and found that the post man had totally blown off my pickup request for my packages to go out for the holidays, and they were still sitting on the porch. On a whim I picked up the phone, found we had a message (WTF is with phones with no blinking lights that let you know you have a voicemail?) and listened. The IUD people STILL hadn’t received the prescription because the fax number I had was not working (GAH) and my appointment for the procedure is scheduled for 31 December - that would be insurance year 2007, where, thanks to a Cesarean section, I made my deductible and then some holy shit, as opposed to insurance year 2008. So while I fed the zoo, changed out of my work clothing (can’t feed the baby wearing corporate nicewear, because he spits up like damn) I called the doctor, the IUD company, the doctor again, the IUD folks again, and THEN ran out the door.

Stopped at the UPS store and begged them to please take my packages even though they were already postage paid (I printed out the postage online, though the USPS totally couldn’t bother to honor the pickup I also scheduled) and NOT being shipped through them. The nice man behind the counter was kind enough to do me a favor, so off my packages went. I hope they don’t sit under the counter, forgotten and sad.

Then arrived at daycare only to find… Freebird’s ulna was out of socket again and he wasn’t using his arm. He had been using it off and on all afternoon but music class at the end of the day made it obvious. Freebird can tell you the sound of one cymbal clapping, should you be studying up on your Zen music theory. 

So, gently I put on the jacket, convinced that they were going to call DSS on me as an abusive parent, and took his good arm and went to go pickup Baba. We got home, Hubby arrived, I reset Freebird’s arm - which he HATES because it does hurt, though I did get it back in joint on the first try - and we had a good dinner.

The Good

We’d been trying to give the boys their baths on alternating nights, but that means someone is always in the tub and that’s just exhausting for me. So I figured, Freebird could have his bath, then we’d put Baba in the tub with him, and let him help us wash Baba’s feet and hands. Freebird was SO excited to have his baby brother in the tub. “Lookit the teeny little toes!” he said. “Look! Little fingers!” And he took his washcloth and gently helped us bathe Baba, who LOVED being in the tub with his big brother.

The Merry

While I don’t personally celebrate Christmas, I used to, and I have to say, I love wishing people a Merry Christmas. Most holidays are “happy” something, but “merry” just sounds so especially joyous. More than happy - downright jovial! And “merry” isn’t often used with any of the Jewish holidays. I can’t say that most Jewish holidays and festivals inspire much merriment. Most holidays revolve around a theme of “They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat. “ Or, in the case of Yom Kippur, “Time to atone. No eating.”

But since I can easily get behind any wish for merriment and joy, I wish all of you a very Merry holiday, and an equally merry New Year. 

So yesterday when I got home with both boys, I was aching to hold Baba. Just hold him and smell his head and talk to him and listen to him coo at me.

And I realized that the reason I was so cranky yesterday and so glum was that I really, really missed my dude. I am used to not seeing Freebird all day, and I know he loves school. But I missed Baba O’Riley so badly, all I wanted to do was hug him and rock him and listen to him burp.

When I went back to work after Freebird was born, the 2nd day was the hardest. This time, it was the third day. This weekend Hubby and I are going far north to go look at cabinetry and countertops for the kitchen renovation, and we’re bringing Baba with us, because he’s portable for the most part. I’m going to have a hard time not carrying him every minute, because my arms miss holding him, my nose misses the smell of his hair, and my whole body misses the feeling of taking a nap with him sleeping on my shoulder. 

1. Freebird and I went grocery shopping tonight, and then went to “look at all the lights.” I posted a query to a local group asking where good houses with great light displays were, and one woman gave me a street in the next town over, and said it would be worth our while to get over there.

Oh my ever lovin’ electric bill. The whole house, the roof, the side yard - covered with lights. There were stars on the chimney and two nativity scenes on the lawn, light up reindeer, angels, stars and trees, and THEN their garage was open so you could walk in. Music! More light! An entire village of head-bobbing snowmen, and a big train going through a miniature town lit up with tiny lights, complete with big waterfall in the middle. Elves making toys, and going fishing in ANOTHER pond in the garage - I’m not even kidding. Freebird and I were staring at everything. He was SO stunned. I was too. It must have taken hours to set that up.

Then as we were leaving, Freebird saw a house with a few rows of blue lights outlining the windows, and he said in a really loud voice, “OH, look at THAT! BLUE lights! Go Mommy! Go see the blue lights!” So, want to impress my son with your electric holiday dazzle? Blue. It’s all about the blue.

And a giant inflatable Pooh bear will give him great joy, too.

2. Tomorrow I’m going back to work. I’ve decided not to think about it. Wonder how long I can get away with that. 

I’m in the living room listening to Hubby get both boys ready. Normally, like, say, Monday (*sigh*) I will be gone by now, on a bus into Manhattan. So I’m listening to the sounds of Hubby waking up, dressing, feeding, and talking to both Baba and Freebird, which normally I won’t hear.

It’s a weird feeling. Also sad. I don’t really want to think about Monday, but there it is, first in line on the next page of my weekly agenda. Hi there, Monday. I’m not terribly looking forward to you.

Time for coffee. Caffeine makes it better.

Good Things about Freebird that crack me up:

1. When we bring in the groceries, Freebird gets all excited about every bag. “Oooh! Look at that! Oooh! WOW! Look at that!” And when he sees the Lactaid, he says, “Oooh! Something for Freebird!”

2. After he’s done eating, which doesn’t take long because I think he’s cutting all his molars at once, he says, “Watch the ABC show with Mommy?” It’s not the request for tv that’s impossible to resist; it’s the request for me to join him. Smart boy.

3. When he’s in his crib and he doesn’t want to go to sleep, he begs to say goodnight again to “the Baby Baba.” Not just “Baba.” “The Baby Baba.” So we go say goodnight, and then, he wants to do it again. *sigh* It’s so cute and yet so crafty.

4. There is nothing better than Playdoh. Nothing. 

So can I tell you, I’m shopping NOW for Freebird’s birthday present? Yeah, I suck. But the truth is, with the recall and the lead and the who the hell knows, I don’t have time to sit and cross reference the toys with the recall lists, and damn if I can trust that it’s been taken off the online shelf in a timely fashion.

Freebird is going to be two. What the hell do I get him? So far I’m considering:

1. Geotrax starter set (the fire engine is the only thing I can find that’s been recalled - remind anyone of the red dye scare?) to see if he’d get into it or train tables or any of that stuff because Hanukkah? RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER NO FAIR.  Hanukkah this year is 5 December. Don’t even get me started. Freaking moving holidays.

2.  A pile of books and his own bookshelf with his name, plus a beanbag chair to read in.

3. I’ve got it! I’ll go to Australia and kidnap a Wiggle and have him live here with us! It’ll be like that kid who wants to keep the Verizon FIOS installation guy. Only better!

Freebird’s 2nd birthday party is coming up (and OMG when did time fly by such that I have an ALMOST TWO YEAR OLD OMGWTFBBQ?!) and I have to decide on food. We’re not hosting a big crowd - mostly family and a few toddlers for him to play with - but we’re busy, busy, exhausted people with an infant. Catering sounds very appealing.

But catered or managed by our capable hands, what would you serve? It’s from 2-4 pm so it’s going to be mostly snacks and such, but what would you serve?