From the category archives:

The Daily Grind

How to get a toddler into the bath.

May 25, 2008

Tell toddler his or her microscopic plastic monkey wants to ride in a boat. Hint: Make monkey whisper in your ear. Act alarmed and sad when plastic monkey tells you he’s never, ever been in a boat before. Ask toddler if he or she knows where the monkey can find a boat. Remind toddler of [...]

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“They Repeat.”

May 15, 2008

My best friend Mia mouthed this to me the other night while Benjamin and Sydney, her four year old daughter, were huddled beneath us eating cookies. I had been talking about another adult, someone everyone in the room knows and has contact with frequently. Bad mommy. And naive mommy. I may know a lot about [...]

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Mother’s Day = Pamper Time

May 11, 2008

No husband to pamper me + one adorable two year old son who has no concept of holidays = me, treating myself to a new ring, a new super cute hat and an even cuter new dress! (I know, I splurged. Oh well)

If you haven’t already – go treat yourself. Even if it’s just some new nail polish or a magazine!

And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY my single mamas!

Did you pamper yourself today too? Were the kids good? So far Benjamin has been especially pleasant, minus dumping an entire bucket of toy dinosaurs out at the store and locking himself in the dressing room. That was fun.

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Minor crisis or blessing in disguise? You tell me.

May 9, 2008

For the past three nights Benjamin has insisted upon sleeping in my bed.

Suddenly, after two years of sleeping in his own room, he wants to sleep in mommy’s bed. Last night, I went up and soothed him back down – four times – four times! Finally, I gave up and brought him downstairs.

Could this be a blessing in disguise? With Benjamin in my bed every night it would keep me from letting a man into my bed – prevent any flings with unworthy bedmates.

Or is it a minor crisis? What’s with this sudden need to sleep with me? How do I break the cycle? And what if I do meet someone, a potential boyfriend or even a fling? Future Alaina definitely won’t want Benjamin in my bed.

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A frog in a microwave.

May 7, 2008

Recently someone described me as a frog in a microwave. (I’ve been slammed with projects lately).

“What? What in the hell does that mean?” I ask, my eyes are probably bugging out of my head with stress.

“It’s like you’re in there, and you know – and if you’re in there much longer … you’ll explode.”

A few days ago I read a brochure about frogs dying off and rapidly nearing an extinction. Ampibiens, it said, are like canaries in a coal mine – the first species to fall victim to global warming. Is that true?

Feel like there’s something with this frog theme.

And last month Benjamin’s audio CD from Giddio was about frogs. About three kids trying to save some local frogs from a highway construction project.

Are the frogs trying to tell me something?

Warning: this is what happens to single moms who do not get enough sleep. Sleep single parents – STOP reading this blog and go to sleep.

This frog is definitely going to pass out and wake up with her two-year-old prince. How old are your princesses and princes? How do you manage to keep up with them?

[Photo Credit: Find this awesome photo for your destop, here at Vlad Studio]

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Dear Senator Obama: Please stop spamming me.

May 5, 2008

I am a long time supporter of yours. Months ago, I hopped onto BarackObama.com and joined your fantastic online community. Nice work on that social network by the way. Very nice. I have found lots of cute men in my area who are also card carrying liberals…and I feel like I am truly part of a movement with like-minded individuals.

However, I think you need to read this. Because I can’t help but notice, that as of late my e-mails from either you, Michelle or your campaign manager are increasing in frequency – as many as three a day! I hate to admit this, but like other brands (and, yes, you are a brand), I get a bad taste in my mouth for anyone who spams the hell out of myinbox.

Please, please, for the love of the Democratic party and all things holy – please stop breaking the e-mail laws of etiquette! It’s just bad form.

I still love you and will still be voting for you in November.

Sincerely,

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A sweet little reunion.

May 4, 2008

I picked up Benjamin Friday night.

He saw the car pull up my Mom’s driveway and stood there in disbelief. Could it be, could it be Mommy’s car? When he spotted me behind the wheel, his little mouth dropped open and just stayed open … hanging there as he ran to me in a stoic force of energy that only a two-year-old can harness.

“Mama!!! Maaaammmmmaa!!”

Big, deep hugs and lots of laughing and kisses ever since. It’s been a phenomenol weekend. And he hasn’t thrown a tantrum once. Not once. Oh, and that talking thing – you know when they say the babbles suddenly turn into sentences? It’s happening. Awesome by the way – when your little human starts spouting thoughts. Can’t wait to find out what’s in his little head …

And I’m thinking visits to Grandma’s more often might not be such a bad idea.

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Wild times.

May 2, 2008

I have found that my life – minus Benjamin (courtesy of my amazing mother) = Alaina at her most reckless. Fun. Fun. And more fun. With that said, tomorrow afternoon when I get off of work and Benjamin is home, I think I am going to explode.

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Men. Shopping. And FREE stuff (from under my couch).

April 30, 2008

Benjamin has been at my mom’s for three days now. I’ve been so busy…having fun! Lots of it.
Shopping

Tonight I worked late to catch up on some big projects, then popped into Ann Taylor Loft and found quite a few treasures on the sales rack. Two super cute summer tops, a necklace and a belt!
Men

Then I headed to the coffee shop. For the past few weeks Benjamin and I keep bumping into this guy. We’re usually in a hurry but there’s always quick small talk. Tonight, I’m a childless mama … so we could actually talk. I pay for my coffee and then see him … I fill my coffee with creamer and sugar and then just do it – I just walked right up and said, “Hi!”

Immediately we were chatting it up and then he asked me to sit down. We talked for about 45 minutes. It was like a spontaneous mini-date. Will it ever be a real date? Who knows. I’m indifferent. And honestly, after our mini-date, not sure if I want a real one. (Purple Octopuses).

That’s the funny thing about asking men out just walking up and talking to them. You might find that a “crush” really isn’t that crush worthy. Then you don’t waste time wondering about him. Would you rather have the wax ripped off in one quick flick or would you rather it slowly pulled, piece by piece?

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Mission Not Accomplished: the Thomas Lo Rider

April 29, 2008

This weekend Benjamin discovered that if he took his tricycle to the top of our front yard he could zoom all the way down the little hill, down the driveway and then take a hard right turn onto the sidewalk. He nearly flipped twice. So after his nap on Saturday it was off to Target – to find a safe replacement – one with rubber wheels and more weight.

Our pick: the Huffy Thomas Lo Rider Bicycle.

When Benjamin saw the box he started jumping up and down, “Train! Thomas! Traaaiinnn…chooooo…biiiikkkkkeee! More? More? More?”

“Okay, baby.” I know, I know – I’m a sucker.

But it’s only the Thomas obsession. Gets me every time. And the box said it had rubber coated wheels. It’ll do, and if not, I’ll just sell it on Craigslist and find a different one.

So we buy it. We come home, jump out of the car and open the box. His two-year-old ameba brain is, of course, expecting a bike to pop out. Mine is more prepared.I have my little screw driver, my hammer (don’t know why I grabbed a hammer) and some scissors.

And then, there it is. A pile of pieces. This is easy? I tried to breath, it had been a long day…a very long day. And for a split moment I actually wished I had a husband to help. But I sucked it up and dove in.

The two page instruction manual was useless. There weren’t even clear labels or illustrations of each part. Yes, guys, I need them to tell me what each little screw, nut and bolt is. Then Benjamin took off with the bicycle seat and two tires. He stopped at the front porch where he knelt down and started hammering the tires ferociously into the pavement. BANG. BANG. BANG. I think he was trying to help.

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