My friend Linda has always bemoaned my love of Target. When we were living together in St. Louis, I'd drag her in "just for a couple of things" and we'd end up spending hours - and a lot more money than we'd planned. I've loved that place since college.
Well, I've found a way to get me in and out of Target in 15 minutes, spending less than $40 in the process.
Go shopping with my son.
On Tuesday afternoon we went to Target to get a handful of small household things and a birthday present for Chad. I timed this perfectly: It was that sweet spot after naptime and before mealtime when Jackson is usually at his most charming. I figured I had an hour to browse the aisles, pick up a few snacks and cleaning supplies, peruse for the perfect gift and make it home with time to spare.
But that didn't happen. After about ten minutes in the store, Jackson decided he absolutely had enough and proceeded to have a complete meltdown in the shopping cart. We're talking about a gasping-for-breath screamfest. For absolutely zero reason, other than he apparently hates Target.
You've never seen me pick out a birthday present so fast.
My favorite part ~ Upon checkout, the very well-meaning clerk was trying to diagnose his ails:
- Ahh, he must be hungry.
No, he's not hungry. He just ate.
- He must be tired.
No. He just woke up from a two-hour nap.
- Maybe he needs a hug.
Ok, seriously lady. I'm about to ring this all up myself.
At that point I must have looked at her with the exhaustion and frustrations of a new mother, because she stopped with the grand inquisition...and proceeded to ask me if I'd like to save 10% on my purchases for signing up for their credit card. (Umm...no thank you. And pretty sure the people in line behind me don't want me doing that, either.)
As the proverbial icing on the cake, as soon as the doors opened up to the outside Jackson stopped screaming, looked straight at me, and...smiled. Hmph.
This is why I shop online.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Reality check
I've been spending my days trying to unlock the mystery of a three-month-old, battling spit up and diaper duty and the inexplicable changes in personality that come from being too tired/too hot/too hungry or any litany of assorted things. It can be hard to remember in the midst of this tunnel vision that most of us are pretty damn lucky.
The father of a friend of mine, who is more like a sister than a friend, was diagnosed this week with pancreatic cancer. I don't know how bad it is, but pancreatic cancer is not good. They're going to fight like hell to beat it and, if anyone can beat it, they can. He's a wonderful guy, and my friend has such a palpable connection with her dad you can feel it when you spend just a few seconds with them.
Even though we've had a few friends recently who have lost parents - and a few more whose parents were very ill but pulled through - this news hit me like a ton of bricks. I've spent more minutes than I can count this week thinking about her and her family, wishing there was something I could do and praying for God to give them strength to help them through this.
This horrible, wouldn't-wish-it-on-anybody-in-a-million-years news has offered me a bit of a reality check. Instead of bemoaning my desperately-needs-a-refresher wardrobe or that pile of laundry in the corner of my bedroom or those last few pesky pregnancy pounds, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what we do have. And I've been consciously trying to take advantage of all the good in my life.
Join me in making a mental list of everything you have that's amazing. And, if you've got an extra minute, please send some positive thoughts to a friend going through a rough time.
The father of a friend of mine, who is more like a sister than a friend, was diagnosed this week with pancreatic cancer. I don't know how bad it is, but pancreatic cancer is not good. They're going to fight like hell to beat it and, if anyone can beat it, they can. He's a wonderful guy, and my friend has such a palpable connection with her dad you can feel it when you spend just a few seconds with them.
Even though we've had a few friends recently who have lost parents - and a few more whose parents were very ill but pulled through - this news hit me like a ton of bricks. I've spent more minutes than I can count this week thinking about her and her family, wishing there was something I could do and praying for God to give them strength to help them through this.
This horrible, wouldn't-wish-it-on-anybody-in-a-million-years news has offered me a bit of a reality check. Instead of bemoaning my desperately-needs-a-refresher wardrobe or that pile of laundry in the corner of my bedroom or those last few pesky pregnancy pounds, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about what we do have. And I've been consciously trying to take advantage of all the good in my life.
Join me in making a mental list of everything you have that's amazing. And, if you've got an extra minute, please send some positive thoughts to a friend going through a rough time.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
This is too funny
Since Jackson and I have been in Illinois, I've been chastised for not blogging (hi, Janice). We've taken a lot of pictures and done the rounds for all the relatives, so blogging has most definitely taken a back seat. While I promise pictures when we return to DC, here's a video from the other night when Jackson got to giggling after watching his grandma stick her tongue out.
Ah, what grown-ups will do to make kids laugh...
Ah, what grown-ups will do to make kids laugh...
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tricks and treats
A few days ago, my sisters and I surprised my mom for her birthday. She had turned sixty a few days before so was absolutely not expecting the three of us - and Jackson! - to come sauntering in for a weekend of fun.
His aunts went home, but Jackson and I are now in Illinois for almost two weeks. He's going to meet uncles, aunts, cousins, seven great-grandparents, and even a few great aunts and uncles. And second cousins. (Phew! Did I get all that?)
Earlier today during Jackson's obligatory tummy time, I mentioned to my dad that I thought he'd roll over before we went back to DC. Little did I know that just a few hours later, during the 90 minutes I spent driving Rachel and Janice to the airport, Jackson had a few tricks up his sleeve for his Grandma. By the time I got home, a whole room of people had gathered to witness Jackson's latest performance. You'd think a child had never rolled over before given the response.
Jackson, it's like you're doing this to me on purpose. You give your first smile to one grandma and roll over for the other. Can't you give your own mom a little love?
His aunts went home, but Jackson and I are now in Illinois for almost two weeks. He's going to meet uncles, aunts, cousins, seven great-grandparents, and even a few great aunts and uncles. And second cousins. (Phew! Did I get all that?)
Earlier today during Jackson's obligatory tummy time, I mentioned to my dad that I thought he'd roll over before we went back to DC. Little did I know that just a few hours later, during the 90 minutes I spent driving Rachel and Janice to the airport, Jackson had a few tricks up his sleeve for his Grandma. By the time I got home, a whole room of people had gathered to witness Jackson's latest performance. You'd think a child had never rolled over before given the response.
Jackson, it's like you're doing this to me on purpose. You give your first smile to one grandma and roll over for the other. Can't you give your own mom a little love?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Things, they are a'changin
I might just jinx myself. And if I do, please don't say I told you so.
For the last several days Jackson has been, well, fun! He's happy when he's awake, he's been sleeping fairly well (just need to do something about those 5 a.m. wake-up calls...) and he is fairly content to spend a little quiet time sitting in a chair watching me do things or hanging out on his favorite mat.
I was telling a friend the other day that I'm not sure if the 12-week point is a mile marker because of the child's development or because parents have just started to figure things out. Either way, I'm enjoying it. Today, I managed to accomplish the following: ate lunch, made dinner and put it in the fridge, washed all the dishes, washed and folded a load of laundry, started packing for our trip home (yeah it's not for 10 days but I'm excited!), gave Jackson a bath, went on a three-mile walk with the stroller and the dog, and picked up dry cleaning on the way home. Oh, and, ummm...took a two-hour nap. (And here I am updating the blog!) I'm starting to feel like Super Mom.
Jackson, meanwhile, is changing every day. In the last few days he's started talking and laughing - or at least the three-month-old version of talking. Something tells me this child will have big stories to tell someday!
For the last several days Jackson has been, well, fun! He's happy when he's awake, he's been sleeping fairly well (just need to do something about those 5 a.m. wake-up calls...) and he is fairly content to spend a little quiet time sitting in a chair watching me do things or hanging out on his favorite mat.
I was telling a friend the other day that I'm not sure if the 12-week point is a mile marker because of the child's development or because parents have just started to figure things out. Either way, I'm enjoying it. Today, I managed to accomplish the following: ate lunch, made dinner and put it in the fridge, washed all the dishes, washed and folded a load of laundry, started packing for our trip home (yeah it's not for 10 days but I'm excited!), gave Jackson a bath, went on a three-mile walk with the stroller and the dog, and picked up dry cleaning on the way home. Oh, and, ummm...took a two-hour nap. (And here I am updating the blog!) I'm starting to feel like Super Mom.
Jackson, meanwhile, is changing every day. In the last few days he's started talking and laughing - or at least the three-month-old version of talking. Something tells me this child will have big stories to tell someday!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
One step forward...
On this, Jackson's 12-week birthday, I want to shout from the rooftops "We made it!"
But I can't. I'm too tired.
Why? Because our little pipsqueak slept like a charm from about 6:30-10:00 last night and then decided to wake up at 10:18, 11:06, 12:30, 1:20, 2:08, 3:12 and 4:04. And I got up for the day at 5:30. At some point after an all-nighter like that you just have to say good riddance to the past six frustrating hours and look forward to the daytime.
It was so bad that Lucy left our room and slept on the living room couch all night. This morning Chad called her a traitor. He was right!
The optimist in me thinks Jackson was just giving us one last all-night hurrah before turning the corner for good. Because I have racked my brain for every single other possible explanation to why he wouldn't sleep for more than 45 minutes and absolutely nothing else makes sense.
Unless he was hungry. This child is a bottomless pit.
We went back to the doctor yesterday for another check up on his growth and he's plodding along. He's a superstar in height (24.5", so 75th percentile) but puny in the weight category (just 11 lb, 2 oz...or the 13th percentile). He may just be destined to be tall and skinny his whole life, but our doctor's orders for the next few weeks are to fatten Jackson up as much as we possibly can. After pumping him so full of milk this morning that he looked drunk, I think we are making real progress. Why? Because Jackson has been asleep since 9 a.m. - nearly three hours.
Wish I could say the same for his parents.
But I can't. I'm too tired.
Why? Because our little pipsqueak slept like a charm from about 6:30-10:00 last night and then decided to wake up at 10:18, 11:06, 12:30, 1:20, 2:08, 3:12 and 4:04. And I got up for the day at 5:30. At some point after an all-nighter like that you just have to say good riddance to the past six frustrating hours and look forward to the daytime.
It was so bad that Lucy left our room and slept on the living room couch all night. This morning Chad called her a traitor. He was right!
The optimist in me thinks Jackson was just giving us one last all-night hurrah before turning the corner for good. Because I have racked my brain for every single other possible explanation to why he wouldn't sleep for more than 45 minutes and absolutely nothing else makes sense.
Unless he was hungry. This child is a bottomless pit.
We went back to the doctor yesterday for another check up on his growth and he's plodding along. He's a superstar in height (24.5", so 75th percentile) but puny in the weight category (just 11 lb, 2 oz...or the 13th percentile). He may just be destined to be tall and skinny his whole life, but our doctor's orders for the next few weeks are to fatten Jackson up as much as we possibly can. After pumping him so full of milk this morning that he looked drunk, I think we are making real progress. Why? Because Jackson has been asleep since 9 a.m. - nearly three hours.
Wish I could say the same for his parents.
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