My Favorite Things of 2007

All Adither, one of my new favorite reads (check out some of her published work too while you wander over to her site; it's fantastic) had a post up about some of her favorite items. I picked up a lot of good information for my lifeless, dull pregnancy locks, and may even pick up a new mascara while at Target later.

It prompted me to think back on this past year, not on resolutions I didn't keep, weight I've gained or lost, surgeries I've had (three in case you're keeping count), nights I've spent up with a teething toddler, dates I've had with my husband, weekends out with friends, holiday gatherings with family, making new friends, creating new life, or other important emotional things. Nay, nay. Let's get material and talk about my favorite stuff of this year. Not of all it is new stuff to 2007, but I may have just discovered it this year. I'm a little slow sometimes. ;)

(click on the pics to take you to more information about each thing)

1) Tea Tree Oil Facial Scrub from the Body Shop

I am not big into using chemicals on my face so was always on the lookout for something natural that actually worked. This stuff is amazing. I use it once a week (it's a heavy exfoliator so you don't want to use it more often than that) and can actually feel it cleaning my pores. Less blackheads, smoother skin - score.

2) Cetaphil moisturizing cream.

I already recommended this to Kellie, who complained of dry hands in the winter, and this is a miracle magic lotion. Little elves pop out and inject moisture right into your dry, lifeless skin. Well, not really, but still, it should be magic. It is thick, but not greasy, is non-comodegenic and has no fragrance or anything added. In the winter, I use it everywhere, including my face and it makes a huge difference.

3) Bare Escentuals makeup.

I never used to wear what I called "face makeup." I have a rosy hue as it is and thought that most foundations and such just made me look fake, and overdone. But, I am getting older and with my life as busy as it is, I am getting these purple bags under my eyes as well as a weird uneven skin tone. Then my sister came over one day and her skin looked great and I asked her what she used. I went out and bought this the very next week. I had remembered the infomercials and laughed it off as I do most other products that people hock on TV. But, seriously, I love this stuff. Not only does it go on easy and look great, but it doesn't look like you're wearing makeup. It just looks like you have great skin. And it's all natural and since I've been using it, haven't had a single blemish. Maybe if I'm brave enough one day, I'll post a before and after picture of my face with and without this makeup.

4) Neroli Jasmin by The Body Shop

I guess I like a lot of Body Shop products, huh? This one is also one of All Adither's favorites too. It is light and calming without being too overpowering. There's a very subtle hint of vanilla and sandalwood. Love love love love it.

5) Lighter Bake by Sunsweet.

My first thought was that it would suck and never replace butter, but I've gone through three jars since then. I use it in all my muffin/bread recipes in lieu of oil/butter and it is so good - moist and yummy without the fat. I use it in my famous non-sucky healthy whole-grain Gut-Bustin' Banana Muffins o' Glorius Goodness (click for recipe).

6) The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

and

The Woods by Harlan Coben

Two very different, but very great books. I've read probably 100 books this year, and these two stick out in my memory. Harlan Coben has been a favorite suspense/mystery writer of mine for a few years and I've read every one of this books. Click them to read more about them.

7) My Zune

Like an Ipod, but if you live with a man who hates Apple, this is what you get instead. I love it. It was a surprise Christmas gift and he spent days loading it with over 200 pictures and created a playlist of our life together - chronological and everything - from our first months together to our wedding song to the birth of our daughter and to the memories ahead. How fricken cute? "Am I a dork because I gave you a more expensive version of a mix tape?" he asked me. No. It was incredibly thoughtful and one of my favorite gifts ever.

8) The Gossip.






One of my new favorite Bands. I love Beth Ditto and what she stands for and love their music. Fan-fricken-tastic. Click, listen, follow me....

9) Adele





Her voice is phenomenal. She has a throwback to Etta James, Roberta Flack, and Ella Fitzgerald. Almost like Amy Winehouse, but with less crack and more heart and soul. Plus, Perez Hilton likes her too; that must mean something, right? If you can listen to either of those songs above and not tell me she has one of the best voices you've ever heard, we may have to break up.

10) Chuck

(Copyright NBC Studios)

I fricken love this show. I literally laugh out loud at least twice an episode and none of the characters are sore on the eyes. It has action and drama, a love triangle, a goofy best friend, and it's funny. I'm go glad NBC picked it up for at least the rest of the season.

So, what are your favorite things of 2007?

Psychic Child

She must know I'm pregnant. She must know that in six or seven months, I will be up at night with a wailing infant. She must know I will need to function on little, interrupted sleep.

Because every night for the past week or so, she's been up at least once, if not two or three times a night.

I know a lot of parents have children with sleep issues, but with everything I went through with her as an infant (GERD), and as strong of a personality as she has (nice way of saying she can be incredibly difficult), sleeping was one thing I had on my side, in my corner.

We've had a pretty strict nighttime routine almost all along. She gets dinner at 6, bath and jammas at 6:30 or so. Then we read some books in between commercials while we watch "Jep-iddy" at 7. At 7:30, she gathers her blankie, bippy, and a teddy (luckily, these three things are interchangeable with any blankie, bippy, or teddy, but all three must accompany her to bed) and heads for the stairs. "Ni-night?" she asks for her bed. She pulls on the gate at the foot of the stairs whining for her room. She hugs and kisses everyone in the room, says "loveyouloveyouloveyou" and goes in her crib happily. She has a mobile that she can turn on with lights and stars and hits it a few times while talking to her animals, and falls asleep by 8 pm. She has had this routine for more than a year, and other than during a cold or teething, has slept through till 6:30-7 every night. She also takes a 2-3 hour nap every day without argument, asking for her bed when she gets tired after lunch.

She used to just wake up in the morning and talk to herself or her toys until I went in to get her. But lately, not only does she wake in the morning with this whining/crying thing, but she does it ALL NIGHT. It seems that she rouses during one of her lighter sleep cycles, and rather than go back down on her own, she sits up in her crib and whines/cries. If we go in there, give her a hug, hold her for a second, explain it's still night-night time, and tuck her back in, she seems satisfied. After a night or two of this, I figured she is playing us so we decided not to go in and let her cry. She did that whine/cry thing for HOURS.

She's also been really whiney/clingy during the day. She has a full-on melt-downs over small things, like if I won't let her hold her ginormous blanket while she has her oatmeal, or if she can see her binky, but can't reach it. Little things that she used to let go are now a Chernobyl-like nuclear situation. Strangers are starting to freak her out and she hides behind our legs until she warms up to them, which is unlike her as well. This is a kid who tried to hug and kiss the tellers at Target.

I'm not sure what's worse - the night waking or the clingy/whiney thing all. day. long. You can call me a bad mother, but I don't like being "needed" in this way. I don't like being the only source for comfort or not being able to leave her with the babysitter because she freaks out. I don't like her clawing at my legs or pulling at my shirt, demanding "up up up UPPPPPPPPPP" in a whiney teary voice. It is grating on me.

I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm freaking exhausted and am in a current phase in this pregnancy every little thing is pogo-sticking on my last nerve, which is already frayed.

I figure this is separation anxiety and I figure like all other phases, it will pass. But does anyone have any advice for me so I don't set myself on fire? How long before it passes?

Haiku Friday

The stores afterward
All the people with gift cards returns gift cards returns
I want to beat them

They complain loudly
About the length of the line
You should have stayed home

The last time I checked
Bitching doesn't change too much
Except annoy me

I just wanted books
To read while the baby naps
And you pissed me off

Yapping on your phone
Three inches behind my head
Wish I could trip you

Where's my Christmas love?
Not at the Barnes and Noble
Pregnancy rage rocks.

Holiday Hangover

I suppose I should tell you all how wonderful my Christmas was and how many wonderful things Charlotte got and how my living room looks like Toys R' Us had a rough night with Jose Cuervo and puked in my living room.

But I'm a little burnt out from Christmas and quite frankly, would like to move on.

Mike and I have off together through Sunday and I go back to work on Wednesday. We're taking turns sleeping in, napping, shopping, cleaning and basically doing a whole lotta nothing.

And it is fan-frickin-tastic.

Oh, and if you have a Wii and a bunch of competitive people, I suggest you go buy Cranium's Kabookii - it's fun as hell.

And how random is this? Mike went to Best Buy yesterday to get a new phallic object of technology universal remote and they had Wiis there. So, he bought one. We already have one but my sister had been trying to find one for my nephew like everyone out in the world, and they just happened to be a shipment when he walked in. Nuts, huh?

Wordless Wednesday

Even in her Christmas dress, she would not take off the boots. That's my girl.

P.S. I added my 10 week shot to the slideshow. I am wearing the same maternity shirt I was wearing at 16 weeks in my first pregnancy slideshow and was smaller then. I am going to be a house. Seriously.

The Good Things

Time to remember the things that make the holidays so special:

Sharing a snack with a friend:

Sleeping nephews:

Good food and drink:

Hot toddies:

Scaring your friend while her boyfriend laughs at her:

A wonderful marriage:

Friends gathering for Bill's annual Christmas party (14 years so far!)

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Haiku Friday

She loves her Daddy
She watches his every move
And now says "Damnit!"

Her timing's perfect
When she drops her toy or juice
She mutters the curse

We try not to laugh
So, we straighten our faces
And tell her "Not nice!"

She wrinkles her nose
And then she points her finger
And tells us "No, no!"

Usually, we're good
And keep our potty mouths clean
I guess some leak in

Guess it could be worse
A more colorful word choice
One that rhymes with "duck"

In between

I laid out an outfit for myself last night for work this morning. Monday had convinced me that I look like I'm smuggling a throw pillow under my normal clothes, so I busted out my Tupperware bin of maternity clothes hiding in the back closet.

I picked out an outfit that couldn't go wrong. A black and gray wool skirt and a black turtleneck sweater. I was going to wear my knee boots and look hip, young, and fun - because I believe that moms, even pregnant ones, don't have to look like a sack of potatoes (unless they are home and no one can see them; then potato sack-dom is okay!).

After my shower, I put on the outfit. The skirt was too big and was sliding up and down and the shirt was too baggy in the middle. So I went back upstairs to tear apart the pile of maternity clothes. All were too big, too wrinkly, no time to iron - UGH! I found a pair of pants that fit decently and went through my closet until I found non-maternity shirt that fit over my belly. Of course, though I loved the top two months ago, I felt frumpy and bumpy in it today, but it was the only thing I had that fit.

I hate this - this in-between stage when nothing fits. Regular clothes are either too small or just make me look fat and frumpy and maternity clothes are still a little too big. I am not thrilled to be this big this early because this stage happened last time around 4 months, where everyone already knew I was pregnant.

So I did what any other vain woman would do. I told everyone at work today I was pregnant. I'd rather them know I'm pregnant than think I'm getting fat again. Isn't that awful? I care that much about what people think of me. People complimented me on my weight loss - both before Charlotte and all the weight I lost that I gained from her. That made me proud. I didn't want people to think I was giving up - that I was letting myself go. Pathetic, huh? I wish I didn't give a rat's ass what people think about me - and in many other (almost all) other aspects of my life, I really don't. But weight's a sensitive issue for me and I do care what people think, because in my head, it's a reflection and a gage of how I think and feel about myself.

Yes, I'm sure I need therapy.

Anyway, here's Week 9 picture. I added my little slide show on my sidebar over yonder now that I have more than one to scroll. You can click it for the full view.

Wordless Wednesday - Hands

“What can you ever really know of other people's souls - of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? One soul in the whole creation you do know: and it is the only one whose fate is placed in your hands”

-C.S. Lewis

Pregnancy Brain + Blond = Dumbass

I got up this morning, got the baby dressed and fed. I showered, got dressed, ready to go to the supermarket. Got snacks and juice all ready, sneakers on, baby in her coat. Went to get my purse. No purse. I left it in Mike's car from our errands we ran last night.

Now I'm stuck in the house with clothes to return (why did I buy anything non-maternity when I knew it probably wouldn't fit me in the time it took to drive home), baby shoes to return (she outgrew a 5 1/2 in literally two weeks before she could even wear a few pair I just bought), and groceries to buy. I have casseroles, lasagna, and cookies to make for the Children's Hospital. I have ingredients to buy for Mike's butternut squash ravioli for Christmas Eve. We need chicken and veggies, fruit and milk and cheese.

But we will not be buying them today. Because I am a giant doofus and can't remember what I walked into a room for at least three times a day, let alone that I left my purse somewhere other than on its hook.

Instead, I will be making 78 pounds of cookie dough and freezing it to make next week.

And maybe eating some.

This needs words

I contemplated saving this for Wordless Wednesday but decided it warranted a post.

Last night was Mike's office Christmas party. We got in late. I let Mike sleep in this morning since I can nap and he can't. When he got up at 10 or so, I went back to bed. I'm snuggling under my electric blanket (whom I've named Sealy), and hear Mike disengage the house alarm and muffled voices. I get up, and pop my head out the door. It's our neighbor. Mike asks me what the name of the tree guy we used last time? The tree guys we used to take down one of the neighbor's trees before we put our fence in because it was dying and leaning on our property. The tree guys who said that many of the neighbor's trees (as well as the rest of their property) were not taken care of and were either dead or dying and needed to be taken down. Which they did not.

And this is why the neighbor was asking.





Awe. Some.

Told ya!

I have a belly already! UghhfreieruhiubwcuibeuvcheisancxownxhqvkinrfoMcLOVIN!



It's not the cute-oh-look-shes-pregnant-how-adorable belly yet. It's the uterus-pushing-the-fat-up-and-out belly. And the hey-it-looks-like-AndreAnna-is-letting-herself-go-again-she-should-go-back-to-weight-watchers belly.

When I was pregnant with Charlotte, I took a picture of me in the same poisition every week. I'd send the pictures to friends and family who didn't see us very often and it was a great way to remember such an amazing time. I also created a slideshow which you can see if you click the link here or on my side bar over on your left.

I started taking the pictures at 13 weeks last time. I had to start earlier this time since I'm showing as much at 8 weeks as I was at 13 last time. Oh well. I'll just alert the Coast Guard now, that no, there is not in fact a whale washed ashore and living in the Jersey suburbs.

Each week, I will add one to a new slideshow I'll add to the sidebar. (As of now, there's only one so it doesn't warrant one just yet).

Haiku Friday

Last time the world stopped
I could rest when I needed
This time, not so much

Used to love seafood
Shrimp, lobster, crab, salmon, sole
This time, not so much

I was past three months
When my belly popped last time
This time, not so much

Still wouldn't trade it
This new life inside of me
Not for one second

Say Hello to my Little Friend

Today I went for my first OB appointment. I don't know why we women always convince ourselves that something is wrong, that something will be wrong, but we do. So, I spent the last few nights dreaming in spurts that there'd be no heartbeat, that there'd be two, or ohmysweetbabyjeebus, what if there's THREE?!?! Or what if I get there and I'm not pregnant anymore? Irrational thoughts, in retrospect, but thoughts of a woman and mother nonetheless.

But there was a heartbeat. Only one. And the worm you see above is due on July 23.

Wordless Wednesday (Mmmm-Cat-For-Dinner?)

I wrote...

I wrote this whole post this morning about how wretched Charlotte was being. I wrote that despite her fever being gone, she was still inconsolable and irritable. I wrote that every little thing would set her off into sobbing tears, no matter how small.

I wrote that sometimes I don't like being around her when she is like that, so much like me. When we both feel terrible, like crying, and whining over small things. I wrote about how patient and soothing I was trying to be with her, despite a rising electric storm inside. I wrote about how I knew she was still getting over being sick and must have had a headache or something. I wrote that I gave her Motrin and was anxiously watching the clock for nap time. I wrote that I don't like her company very much on days like this.

These things are all true.

But then, as I was on the phone with Mike, she crawled up in my lap with her blanket, put her head down and fell asleep. An hour before nap time.

Somehow, holding her sleeping in my arms for the first time in months and months, I forgot why I was so annoyed with her. I remembered her pudgy little fingers wrapped around mine as an infant, and reminded myself that this day will pass, this week will pass, this year will pass. And it will all pass a little too quickly.

House of Hotness

What's sexier than an already nauseous, fatigued, grumpy, hormonal pregnant woman in her first trimester? One with a stomach virus!

My stomach felt a little weird on Saturday night, so I skipped dinner and opted for a chocolate chip cookie and popcorn. While you sane people are probably thinking that such food choices on an already weird stomach is a bad idea, I apparently lack any common sense and am driven purely by the need to stuff my cake hole with salty buttery goodness while watching Hairspray (by the way, I totally loved that movie - I am such a dork).

Went to bed under my new toasty electric blanket (best thing I've bought since...well, since something good I bought). I had fitful dreams, flashes of being in a musical with Zac Efron. In retrospect, I am sure it was the fever. Woke up groaning at 2:34 am. Yes, I know the remember time because I was sure I was dying and someone might need this pertinent information. I lie there for a couple of minutes, hoping I was still dreaming and that the pain and cramping I was feeling was pangs of love for my musical partner. Finally, I realized I better get up and get to the bathroom since it is on the bottom floor (We live in a Cape Cod style house with no bathroom on the top floor). I spent the rest of the night inand out of the bathroom, dozing on the couch until the next wave hit. I was sure I was losing the baby. Surely, no one can have cramps like this and not kill anything trying to live inside them. And yet, fetus holds.

By 7 am, I was empty and starting to feel a little better. Thankfully, Mike was off this weekend so he got up with the baby while I went back to bed. I got up at 10 and felt better but all day long, I had this throbbing headache, where I was sure if I bent over to pick up one more Lego, my head my actually pop off my body, roll independently away, and go take a nap under the table.

What's better than an already nauseous, fatigued, grumpy, hormonal pregnant woman in her first trimester WITH a stomach virus? A baby with a fever!

Charlotte woke up from her nap yesterday with 102.5. Motrin brought it down and she was back to her normal self. Last night she slept fitfully, crying in short jags, calming herself before I could even get in there. I went to work this morning while Mike stayed home with her. When I called to check on them at 7:45 and she was still sleeping, I knew the fever was back. And it was. 102.5 again. And she doesn't want to eat. He gave her Motrin again and hopefully, it will come down soon and she will feel better and up to eating. The weirdest thing is that other than a clear normal-toddler runny nose, she has nothing else apparently wrong with her. She had some funky diapers on Saturday so my only thought is that she has a different version of the same thing I had. Or she has something totally different and with no symptoms, we are left to just the Motrin and then the pediatrician tomorrow is she doesn't get better.

So today I sit in the office awaiting our holiday luncheon at noon where I will try to eat my own weight in food to make up for the fact that they work us to the bone and don't have the decency to give us a real holiday party. Corporate wankers.

An early Christmas gift

Mike and I don't buy each other gifts anymore for Christmas. I also don't buy anything of substance for my parents, sister, or anyone else in our family. Once we had Charlotte, we all decided that the holiday should be about the kids, so we spend all our efforts on my nephew Colin and Charlotte. We also try to adopt a local family and buy gifts for them. Last year is was through Oceans of Love, where a little girl was being treated for cancer and the family didn't have the time or money to celebrate. We bought toys for all the kids, diapers, toiletries, and gift certificates for gas and food stores for the parents. This year it was groceries for the food pantry.

As adults who both work full-time jobs, truth be told, if Mike and I want something, we go buy it if we can afford it. We don't wait for birthdays or holidays, usually giving each other different types of gifts on these days. Sleeping in. A favorite home-cooked meal and clean-up. A weekend of video games or a girl's night out or a mall trip without a peanut-butter coated toddler running wild. We don't give each other things on hoildays so much as we give each other time.

That being said, last night Mike stands in the doorway, something behind his back and a guilty look on his face.

"Promise not to be mad at me. It's something you really wanted and we really needed."

"Oh geez, what did you buy now? You know we're tight on cash and it's just gonna get worse with this next baby. I didn't need anything"

"You really wanted it and we can both use it. And I got free financing on it with no interest for a year."

"Oh great, more debt. Just what the hell is it, already?"

And he pulls out this:

and this:

already installed on our camera. I have to admit, they are nice. He started spewing off all the specs, telling me what they did. Most of it went over my head. I have a decent eye for pictures and have always taken pretty good ones, but I really know very little about the mechanics behind it. I keep saying that when both kids are in school, I'm going back to school myself just to learn the stuff I want to learn - photography, web design, graphic arts - stuff I wish I had done the first time around.

I had been complaining that the regular flash on our camera was too bright and whitened out faces. And it did:

(gonna kick your ass face)

And the old lens that came with the camera (A Canon Rebel EOS digital SLR, by the way) (I also have a little Elph that I keep in my purse and use for quick shots), wasn't that great. We have a pretty decent 70-300 lens for it, which is great for outside, but it too long of a lens to use in the house. The new lens is much better, with image stabilization and other things I haven't quite figured out.

Anyway, I digress. I have to say that though I was upset for Mike for spending more money, when we have bills coming out of orifices I won't mention here, it was thoughtful, and was a great gift. And just look at the difference.

(awesome hair)

(Have I mentioned she never wants to wear clothes?)

(I love this shot - so her.)

(Don't mind the snot. We're all fighting colds.)

So yes, a huge improvement. But so far this week, the best thing Mike has bought me was this:

It's Twinings Revive Lemon and Chinese Ginger tea that he picked up when he went food shopping. I usually go with him but I couldn't get off the couch that day so he found this and I've been drinking a cup every few hours and what a difference! If I remember to drink it, I don't get nauseous, and have a distinct amount more energy. So, any sick preggos out there, try this. It's been a lifesaver. I put a spoonful of honey in it and it immediately calms my stomach and gives me a burst. So, yay!

Thanks babe, for my gifts - the camera, the tea - and for all those that you can't buy.

Haiku Friday

"Daaaaaaaaaaady, whereareyouuuuuuuuuuu?"
She keeps watch by the window
Checking all day long.

Once Daddy is home,
Momma is invisible
Always Daddy's girl

Ground is glistening
Snow sparkles in the sunlight
Beautiful, but cold.

"Ow-side Momma, peas?"
She pleads to go out and play
But it's way too cold.

So, inside we bake
And color and watch Elmo
For the millionth time.

The one where I whine

Ok, seriously, I hate people who whine. Most likely because I am one of them.

This is too heavy. Well, go to the gym more.

I am too tired. Well, sleep more.

I am so fat. Well, eat less.

My head hurts. Well, go to the doctor.

These are the retorts I always have for people who complain. Or I call them sissy bitches in my head. I've always been a tough woman. Always in charge, controlling, leading, annoying the masses with my demands. But that's who I am; it's who I'll always be. Either you love me or you don't, and that's fine too.

Unless of course I'm knocked up, because then? I become a sissy bitch. A sniveling, whiney, useless empty shell of my former self.

The house is on fire, you say? Eh, grab the pictures, baby, and cats. We can rebuild.

The baby is hungry and we're at the mall? Wendy's. They use all white kitten chicken, right? Oh, and get some greasy fried potatoes while you're at it. And hey, don't forget the giant frosty. Charlotte likes chocolate.

The laundry needs to be done and the dishwasher needs to be loaded and the bathroom needs to be scrubbed and the summer clothes need to be put away and the floor needs to be mopped and the linens need to be changed? Yeah, all that will just need to be done again next week. Why bother?

Work is piling up? Call out sick and veg on the couch, alternate between snoozing and reading.

Who am I and what has this fetus done to my normal self? I don't even have the energy to care. And when I do have a spurt, I waste it riding the bike 10 miles a day at the gym.

Apathy is so boring. I'd rather be bitchy.

I feel fat, tired, and my head hurts. Oh, and I'm either puking, wretching, or trying not to do the former.

You don't want to hear me whine? Suck an egg. That's the kind of mood I am in today.

P.S. I'm very lucky to have a husband who has not tied me to an office chair and wheeled me into oncoming traffic, a child who has been surprisingly un-seed-of-chucky-like, and a mother who came over today to take care of the baby even though I didn't go into the office.

P.P.S. I'll stop whining soon.

P.P.P.S. And if I don't, find another egg to suck.

Wordless Wednesday

But, Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! I need to call my BFF Elmo!

"The" Spot

Apparently, this is a happening spot and I am just too unhip to get it.

Hark

Yesterday morning and my father and nephew came over around 10 so Poppop could spend some time with Charlotte while Mike and I put up the lights outside and put away the Halloween stuff. Of course, we waited until the coldest day of the winter. I wore fleece pants, a sweatshirt, and even dug out my awesome Dolphins Starter jacket from 1994 since it was warm. I was still cold. I think my nipples may still be outside somewhere, possibly in the garage.

But, we got them up and after a trip to Home Depot to buy new lights since one of the strings we put up had dead spots in it (yes, we tested them but when they're rolled up you can't tell if a few icicles are dead) we had completed the minimalist outdoor decorating: one row of icicle lights along the first roof, and rope lighting along the front walk. Pretty, and simple.

We also got our tree up. Every year since we've been together, we've done a classy Martha Stewart-esque tree. Long flowing ribbons, tiny clear glass balls, small sparkly stars with tiny little bows. We of course have the few ornaments that I've had since childhood, as well as our First Home, Expecting Parents, and New Baby ornaments. But this year, with a toddler, no flowing bows - I had visions of her pulling them and with it comes the tree and she would be suffocated under a blanket of pine and holiday cheer. No glass balls - obvious reasons. And very little decorations below the 3 foot mark. We tried and Charlotte kept taking them off the tree, handing them back to us, saying "thank you" like she was doing us a favor by making our tree look like it was naked from the waist down.

Our biggest problem, however, was this:

What? You can't see it? Look again:

Oh yes, Leonardo DiCatrio spent so much time getting squirted at with the water bottle and running for his feline life that by the end of the day, as we all wound down, he was the first to pass the hell out. It's a hard life being a cat.