bits o’ this and that
hmmmm…. I don’t really have a cohesive post tonight. Just some random things.
First up: I updated my computer the other day and now everything is screwed up. Don’t you hate that? WordPress is giving me trouble. I hate this type in code bit. I always type with code. I don’t need those fancy buttons. AND WHY does it reformat my text for me and take out all the paragraph breaks? Frustrating! I’m sure it’s some dumb user error but I can’t figure it out.
Second: My new IKEA shelves are the BEST!!!! I love them. I often go in Baby Bug’s room just to admire them. They are so neat and tidy. You would have no idea there is all kinds of crap in there. Out of sight, out of mind and my mind is feeling better already.
Also! See all those books on top? That’s what Baby Bug got for Christmas from my in-laws (along with the motorized 4-wheeler that had to be sent back to the factory because of a defective battery). My mother-in-law has been saving books for her grandchildren since 2003! Baby Bug wasn’t even born then! How sweet is that? She’s thoughtful like that. The books are the best too. They are all the classics: Curious George, Madeline, Corduroy, Paddington Bear… all of them. All the books that I would have bought if I was more on top of it. I’m so happy for Baby Bug.
Our nightly reading routine has gotten about five thousand times more interesting for me. Of course Baby Bug is only two so that means she likes to read the same books over and over again. She is very suspicious of new books but I’m breaking her into the new ones slowly. The other thing is her obsession with green. She only wants to read the green books. Good thing the Paddinton Bear book is green. We read that one every night.
Third: it’s been raining like crazy here. A bit depressing really. It’s not that I can’t handle the rain it’s just that I miss the sunshine. A lot of our daily routines (like taking walks and taking pictures of the ocean) have been curbed to the indoors. We took a walk in the rain today. It was kind of fun. Baby Bug likes wearing her frog boots.
She likes wearing them so much she insisted on wearing them to the grocery store. Of course that was an issue because the boots are two sizes too big and they fell off while she was dangling her feet from the cart seat. And then it was bloody murder trying to talk her into putting them back on again. Now she thinks it’s fun to wear just her socks while grocery shopping. I ended up letting her because I’m choosing my battles and that was not one of them.
I did win the battle over buying everything green. “That’s Baby’s green juice!” she says leaning half out of the cart and trying to grab a bottle of grape juice with a green label. “That’s Baby’s green butter!” “That’s baby’s green cookies.” Everything is green. You never realize how much green is used in packaging until you have a toddler who assumes that if it’s green then that must mean it’s for her. This green obsession is so exhausting.
The other day I bought myself a new green shirt. I wish I had a photo of it. It’s pretty. It’s made in India so that means it will probably shrink, run and fall apart if I ever wash it but it is still very pretty. It has little green and purple flower pods and tiny purple beads sewn on it. The beads might be sparkly also.
When Baby Bug saw me wearing my shirt for the fist time, her eyes widened with lust (for the shirt, not me). I was scared for a minute that she was going to demand I take it off. But instead she hugged me. Or I should say she hugged my green shirt while I was wearing it. It was a sweet moment that made me want to wear my green shirt every day. Too bad it’s sure to be dry clean only.
I hate clothes made in India. Nothing against India as a country. It’s just the dies and fabrics… they are beautiful but not meant for longevity (or wearing to death by me). I vowed I’d never buy another item of clothing made in India after the great disaster of the brown shirt with dark brown ribbing that ran all over and ruined it. It says “hand wash” on the label but who hand washes? That’s what I used to do when I was single and I was “waiting by the phone” for some boy to call who never called. I’ve got no time for such silliness now.
Whatever. It’s still pretty. I just won’t sweat in it. Ha ha ha. I’m so funny.
Fourth: the power went out the other day. It was quite strange. No storm really, just some sprinkling and kabamao no lights, no microwave no space heaters. It was dinner time and I’m proud to say I lit some candles and continued with cooking as if nothing happened. I’m such a girl scout. Thankfully we have a gas stove and I already had a pot of spaghetti bubbling. It was kind of fun and romantic to cook in the flickering candle light. I was actually a little bit bummed when it went back on.
I was way more bummed about our internet being down. It was down all day and all night. I’m a wreck without the internet. But you already knew that.
Lastly, (or “Fifth” if you are Bethany Actually and in touch with your gramatical bad self) there will be no birthday party for Baby Bug on her birthday next week. I repeat, there will be no birthday party for Baby Bug this year. Just so you know I’m not dissing you by not sending you an invitation. There were no invitations and there will be no invitations. And yes, a little part of me died inside.
It is so sad and horrible but I have been persuaded by my relatives (aka Toby the evil husband) that Baby Bug does not need the pomp and circumstance of a “birthday party” in such a fashion as I am accustomed to throwing. Yes, I admit last years was a bit over the top but I am sooooooo sad not to be doing it again. I live for these moments.
I gave in this year because our schedule was so up in the air. I thought we were going to be in Hawaii but those plans have been pushed back. So here we are a week away and I have no time to really put together what I wanted to put together. Also part of me doesn’t want to throw all that money at a party when Toby isn’t behind it. He told me I can throw a great big bash for her third party so maybe I’ll do that. Or maybe I’ll throw a party when we do get back from Hawaii.
I was planning on having a Hawaiian party anyway. I had all these ideas to make little “Pele the Volcano Goddess” dolls sort of like the Gumballs I made last year. I even tried to dream up a way that I could make a giant paper mache volcano with crepe paper flames that would blow up from a hidden fan inside the volcano’s lava pit. We could have twinkie cakes iced to look like pineapples and ham and pineapple pizza.. oh it was going to be grand! Like all my parties. I have trouble with the word “moderation”.
Instead we will have Gramma Pat and Uncle George over for pizza and a GREEN cake. And then we will go out to the sticks and have an all green food dinner with my family. It will still be fun. I think as long as there is a candle and we sing “Happy Birthday”, Baby Bug will be happy. And just think, I have a whole YEAR to plan her third birthday party. Paper mache doesn’t seem so outlandish when you put it in that perspective.
Sigh. I will be sad though. Pizza and green cake with two relatives is NOT a party. That’s like a regular thursday night dinner after I spend the whole day at the laundromat kind of night. My hair is more of a party than that.
Do you think she’ll care? Probably not.
33 Comments
Kuky
What very fun party ideas! But you’re absolutely right. Baby bug won’t care at all if she doesn’t have the big party. She’ll be happy with a green cake with two relatives. And just imagine how much fun she’ll have for her super duper planned for a year third birthday party. OOoooh I can’t wait to see the pictures from that one. Man that’s over a year away. Well the cute pics of baby bug will make me forget my disappointment.
And I can’t believe it’s already been a year!! Why do babies grow so fast?
Punchbugpug
I really loved having parties for my kids too. I think I enjoyed the planning as much as they enjoyed the party. I do think a BIG bash every other year would be perfect…maybe if you have another little bug baby, you could alternate them so you did one big party each year!!!! You’d get your party theme fix and no harm done!! Honestly, you could hire yourself out as a children’s party planner…in your free time of course!!!
bethany actually
You know, since BB will be two, I think two guests is actually perfect. When I was growing up, once my brother and I turned 5, my mom gave us a choice between a sleepover with one guest, or a party with our age number in guests (7th birthday=7 guests).
So you are ahead of the curve.
Angella
I smiled through this whole post :)
As for the party – she has NO CLUE. She will when she’s three, so put your energy into that one :)
Louise
I like smaller ‘parties’ at that age. When my kids were younger they would get overwelmed with all the excitement and end up crying or looking like scatter brains. Baby Bug has a whole lot of more birthdays coming where you can put your superb party planning to work. And hey, she has a name! I often wondered what it really was….
Have a great, and hopefully sunny day
alfredsmom
I’ve been wondering if you were going to have a party because we hadnt heard about the planning! She’ll care more next year anyway. And she’ll be THRILLED with the green cake!
Tara
I wasn’t able to have a 2nd birthday party for my daughter. I had purchased all the stuff, booked the location, made the invitations, etc. Then DD got sick and we wound up in the hospital the night before her 2nd birthday (actually, I guess it was early the morning of). They put her on strong antibiotics that said to keep her out of the sun and since her birthday party was outside, we had to cancel. She didn’t mind at all…didn’t even notice. We had a cupcake with a candle when my mom came out and that was it. Don’t sweat it, Mama, she won’t even remember not having a 2nd birthday party!
Meghan
I don’t know if you’ve fixed the rich text editor issue yet, but I know I hated it when I upgraded and that became the default. From the WP dashboard click on “Users” and then “Your Profile.” There’s a tiny box under the Personal Options header, un-check it and save. You’ll be back to normal, good as new! That is, unless someone has already emailed you or you’ve looked around and figured it out yourself.
sizzle
she probably won’t care one bit but i’m sad for you nonetheless. throwing a party is so much fun and your idea is great. twinkie cakes!
kiki
I love the Ikea shelves! Never been there but I have heard great things about it. I always ask for books for b-days and Christmas for my kids. What could be better? And as for the 2nd birthday, My son did the same thing that Louise said her kids did. Big parties are a lot of fun to prepare and create for. I think if you start out small at such a young age, they will appreciate all the hard work and effort more at their older birthdays.
bluejaye
Cousin Becky had a green cake for her 12th birthday. We replaced some of the water the recipe called for with about 1/3 of a big bottle of food coloring. Then two shades of green frosting.
We pooped green for a couple of days. TMI, just be aware of the side effects.
mama bear
What no party? You live for those things and it’s only once a year! nooooooo! I’ve been waiting for your ideas and pictures since the last pink party. Sigh.
Maybe you can do a scaled down party at the sticks?
OMSH
You turned on the advanced (visual) editor under your user.
Turn it off. :)
Believe me – it sucks to have it on.
nicole
LOVE the IKEA shelf! I was just planning a trip to our big IKEA store yesterday with my mom for next weekend.
As for the party … what a bummer, but you are right, Baby Bug will love whatever b-day celebration you give her as long as there is a green cake, a candle, a birthday song and some gifts to rip into. Happy 2nd Birthday to her (and you)!
Where are you going in HI?
Natalie
My favorite line of the day (and week, month and possibly decade)? “My hair is more of a party than that.”
The Chatty Housewife
Have you read her Green Eggs and Ham? You could serve green eggs and ham to her after. Just put food dye in the eggs and scramble them. :)
Gretchen
I have the same Ikea shelves in my craft room! I prefer the clear bins, so I can see what I have stashed.
The Boy went through an orange phase for awhile.
Loralee
I love throwing amazing parties, too…I would be sad if I wanted to and got talked out of it.
And…WISH I was as artistically talented.
I struggle to draw stick figures.
Sigh…
familymclean
I love your jacket/sweater and touque!
BeachMama
I love the bookshelves. We are eyeing the same ones for toys in our basement when it is finished. I don’t think that BB will notice or even remember the lack of party. Save up your ideas for when she is older and will remember. We have always done just family but, this year with the addition of school friends it could be a lot bigger, I am already putting thoughts in to action for it :).
margalit
Bug won’t care about the party, but what is WITH Toby? He’s such a misanthrope. It’s a birthday. The only second birthday she’ll ever have. OK, you tend to go a teeny weeny big nuts with the parties, but still. She’s TWO.
Love the idea of the Hawaiian party. As long as you don’t make Spam and Poi. THAT would be carrying things way too far.
my3boys
Okay, I’m delurking, I started reading your blog last year when you were preparing for Baby Bugs first Birthday! Here it is a year later…wow!! Your posts always put a smile on my face :-)
Mrs. Wilson
I didn’t have a birthday party for my daughter until she was 6. We always did a small family thing, but didn’t do one with friends.
I LOVE what you did with her first birthday! You are SO creative!!
Marilyn
I shudder to imagine what’s in store for her 16th… ;) I know whatever you do, it’ll be FABULOUS.
Toni
Hi there! Maybe taking out the check box in visual rich text editor can help! I hate those automatic formatting stuff too. I type in codes as well so I understand. I hope you get to work it out!
Those IKEA shelves? I LOVE them. Super.
pinky
Those frog faced boots make me so happy. I have had to restrain myself from buying similar wee boots at Target a number of times, because I have no understanding of how child shoe sizes work, and I didn’t want to buy a size that Peanut could never possibly wear.
(I did almost buy a pair of adorable low-top All Stars at babygap – I thought of your advice – but again, I had no idea what size to buy for later!)
ps – I have less than eight weeks to go :-)
Amanda
Man you have such great ideas!! I love the hula party idea… even if you don’t do it for baby bug’s 2nd birthday. Definitely the third though. And a green dinner followed by a green cake. HI-larious. She’ll love it. Even if it isn’t the party you were hoping for. ps. I love how green everything is there… our grass goes dormant in the winter – which means brownish/tan grass. Blah.
Gramma
Your second birthday celebration was family only…Great Aunt Lois, Grandma and Grandpa Mc, Auntie K and Grandma A. You sat in the corner of the sofa and merrily tore open the pretty presents until you came upon a small squarish flat one…A BOOK!! That did it. A pile of presents waited on the coffee table. You didn’t want to open any more, just read, and read, and read some more. I believe Grandma Mc made a pink cake (she always did EVERYTHING pink).
aunt kathy
Those IKEA shelves look like a great idea for my yarn stash. Do you think the yarn would catch on the wicker?
justJENN
Hey I sketch out all my party ideas too!
Man, I love parties. Sorry to hear that.
jaqa220
She won’t notice. Even at 3, as long as there’s a cake and the singing, some presents and balloons, she won’t care.
That said, our 3 year old is already planning her 4th birthday. Her birthday is in MAY.
There will be, according to her: balloons, a chocolate cake, more balloons, a pinata and a “table with toys”. She would like to receive a scooter and some “doctor tools like sabine’s”. She has a guest list and a top five list of preferred locations.
So don’t worry, soon enough baby bug will morph into a pint-sized party planner and paper mache assistant.
LaurenC
My mum always gives books to the new arrivals in our family and friends circle. And she too has been collecting books for years for future grandchildren.
She says that they are for ‘Ron’ as in ‘Later on’. I have informed her that neither myself nor my brother are likely to call a child Ron.
Her saving books habit has even worn off on me. I have started picking up books I really love. And the occasional puzzle.
Thankfully for mum, my brother will be a dad in 6 months or so….so there is finally someone for the books to go to.
bethany actually
I don’t even remember why I came back to this post in the first place, but this time I caught a line which I think I missed before:
“My hair is more of a party than that.”
You are too funny, lady. :-) I am glad the dinner with Uncle George and Gramma Pat was more fun than you expected it to be!