You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

Good god, these past few days have been exhausting. 50% wonderful + 50% puke covered = 100% good old fashioned insanity. I HAZ IT!

We spent the weekend (me, SOB and Fred) in the general Philadelphia area. It is, sad to say, emotionally grueling going there in many ways. I am always so constantly torn between wanting to move back as soon as we can pack up the boxes, to never wanting to leave my mountain lair. So many lovely, wonderful people, places, things, are there. People, especially.

Somehow friendship and wine make people want to pose on staircases as though it was junior prom. Go figure!

We ate at our favorite restaurant, with Freddie in tow. He was an angel baby, as you might expect, though that might have had as much to do with the insanely delicious frites than his disposition.

Maggie's first fry was at Burger King. Just saying.

Despite all of our fun, it was hard to ignore the awful cough Fred developed while we were there. When we got home, Maggie and Sam sounded just as awful. After a rendezvous at the pediatrician's office, we left with a diagnosis of four infected ears (two apiece for Maggs and Freddie) and one infected lung for Sam. Lucy, as always, has a iron clad immune system, and while she had been a little sickish previously, her amazing white blood cells showed those germs who's boss.

We hit up the pharmacy and headed home to administer medicines.

Home to three sick kids or den of iniquity?

Well, a few hours after dosing the kids up with their antibiotics, Fred started puking. And then he puked again. And then he puked all over me as he was nursing (so horribly sad). And then, just for good measure, he puked again.

This morning he woke up ravenous, and because I have ABSOLUTELY no sense, I fed him just after I gave him his morning dose of antibiotics.

Tow hours later? Cue turbo horking (tm Amalah) It was like, he couldn't just puke all at once. He had to do it in small, irregularly spaced intervals. Which boils down to, every mother loving time I changed the kid's clothes, he horked all over them. And then, when I was changing him for the 6th or 7th time, I noticed a rash all over his back and belly.

A quick google search later, and my parental mental instability had gone to eleven.

I made a quick pediatrician's appointment (the fact that they were so willing to squeeze me in on such short notice did NOTHING to quell my anxiety) and my dad came down to help out, only to become immediately covered with baby vomit. Thanks, Dad! You're the best! For throwing up on!

Luckily, the rash was not the kind babies get from an allergic reaction, but more likely the kind babies with sensitive skin get from being bathed several times in one day (and night) without being properly lotion-ed and oiled afterwards. What can I say? It was late and I was tired. (Name that reference for 50 points!)

Anyways, we got some new antibiotics, and so far (fingers crossed eleventy billion times) he hasn't puked. Or horked. Or upchucked. Or thrown up. Which is really lucky because I'm out of clean crib sheets.

Turn in for more tomorrow from the West Virginia Vomitorium!

Oh, Philly!

You make us do such patriotic things!

I miss you already.

Home Again, Home Again

This morning I was on the phone with my mother. Before we hung up, she said, "Drive safe on your trip home."

We both gasped. You see, this afternoon we'll all be piling into the car and driving to Philly. It's funny how even after living here for over a year, sometimes we all still think of Philly as our home. This trip should be fun, hot and interesting. We haven't been back since the dreary days of winter, and I was still waaaaaaaay pregnant with Freddie.

Summer there is different, though. It smells funny, but there is something a little magical about the funk. We're going to run through sprinklers, have a BBQ with friends, and eat some oysters. I'm going to try not to cry, but if I do, it'll be so hot I might be able to pass it off as sweat.

Philly in Photos

Preparations

Tomorrow we set out for Philly, only instead of all five of us it will just be three. Sam is coming with us, and my parents are staying with the girls. Hopefully this will be the first of many occasions when we can have extended one-on-one time with each kid.

Sam has been asking to do certain things, like go to the Please Touch Museum or see the city, for a long while now. Plus he's desperate to spend some quality time with his Aunt Yan. It's been a little difficult for me, because I don't think I anticipated how much he was going to miss it there. Occasionally he'll say things that hit me like a fist to the jaw. He's decided that we have to move back to Philadelphia by the time he is 8. He wants to go grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. So when given the chance to take him along for a visit "home" we couldn't pass it up.

We have a lot planned for the next three days. I expect there to be a lot of laughs, maybe more than a few tears, food, hugs and fun. Stay tuned for details!

Homesick

A week and a half ago we went to a movie. Multiplex theaters are pretty much the same here in West Virginia as they are anywhere, and when the lights came up and we walked outside, I was initially confused as to where I was. My brain though I was at the movie theater in King of Prussia.

That night, just before bed, SOB said to me, "Do you think that we'll really ever belong here?"

I couldn't fall asleep for a long while after that.

Since we've been here I haven't let myself do the thing I did in Atlanta, which was sit around and compare it to Philly to the point where I hated living there. I haven't let myself think much about Philly at all, because honestly, there is no comparing the two places. They are simply too different. We knew when we moved here that it was going to be a world apart from what we were used to. But knowing that he was thinking about it was all it took to open my mind to my memories.

The way the city smelled on a hot August afternoon, but not on trash day.

The way coffee with friends was always just a phone call away.

The way my front yard looked first thing in the morning.

The way a Vietnamese hoagie tasted.

The way we could walk to the playground, even though the sidewalk was cracked and heaved from the roots of 100 year old tress.

We have such a different life here. We see family every week. We have an amazing home. I want to be happy here, and I plan to work as hard as I have to to do so.

But sometimes, I just want to go back home.

Serendipity

SOB and I have been crossing items off of our Philly bucket list in the past few weeks in anticipation of our departure. Most of the things on there involve food and friends, but not all. Last weekend we visited the Barnes Foundation. (I've written about this place before, so I won't bore you about it again, but I will recommend checking out The Art of the Steal.) Then on Saturday I had dinner at Morimoto with my college girlfriends, where we consumed eight courses of amazing food, followed by a sleepover.

Some remnants of our meal

But on Monday, things really got crazy. SOB and I headed out to the Standard Tap, one of our favorite pour houses. SOB wasn't sure he wanted to go, because it's beer week here in Philly, and the crowds are unpredictable. But we lucked out, and we got our favorite spots at the bar.

After we ordered our first round, we were just checking out the crowd when in walked Ben Franklin!

Well, not exactly Ben, but The Colonial Brewer. Which honestly? Was even better. He took SOB out to the brewing site of the first American Lager, which was just down the block, and they talked shop all night. He also pointed out this abandoned brewery, which has a lot of local history.

On the way home it was almost sunset. The light at dusk made for the perfect photo of the Philly skyline.

All in all, it was one of those perfect nights. I hope we have a few more before we leave.

Now excuse me while I go and find some tissues.

Happy Distractions

On Saturday afternoon I went into the city to do some engagement photos for my cousin and her fiancee. It was a bit windy but I think we managed to get some good ones!

It was nice to have something so happy to occupy my mind.

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For more best shot Monday visit Tracey at Mother May I.

Whimsy

I had a lot of great ideas for this week's post that didn't come to fruition. For example, following in Miss Zoot's footsteps, I was planning to take Lucy out for a walk in her fancy dress-up dress, but she wasn't feeling entirely cooperative. And I took a bunch of shots of one particular subject, but I decided that they would make a better post on their own, rather than being Incorporated into Theme Thursday.

Luckily, with a two year old and a three year old, whimsy is often just around the corner, even in the most routine of settings. You just have to listen...

This is Sam the train, riding along the rails of our local playground. The exact same one he soiled on Monday! After he's had his fill of the slides and swings, he'll walk the wooden perimeter for as long as I'll let him, pretending to be a train.

This part of the playground has a bunch of tunnels that all lead to a central 'room' that my kids think is a spaceship. Sam often tries to chase Lucy away and then lure her back with a countdown to blastoff!

These are just a few shots from the same day. I was playing around a little and found the distortion in the mirror cool, and I was trying to mess with my face a la Apple's photo booth, but I was unsuccessful. This goofy shot of the slide worked out pretty well, though.

Last night we went down to south Philly for Wednesday Spaghetti and I snapped this photo of Lora's marbles, all present and accounted for.

And lastly, some early morning shots of our lone fairy tale pumpkin. We planted these purely for their whimsical appearance. Sadly, our yard seems to have more than its fair share of pumpkin pests, and the other two fruits that were growing along side this one have been completely decimated. We're keeping our fingers crossed that this one lives to see another week or two. I practically baby-sit it, looking for squash bugs or anything else that might be tempted to take a nibble.

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Was there some whimsy in your week? Share in the comments!

Passageways

The city of Philadelphia is filled with little tiny streets and alleyways. There are some parts of old city where you could imagine a horse trotting down the narrow cobblestones, because the road isn't wide enough to accommodate anything larger!

Up in center city, there are plenty of little streets, though some might argue they aren't quite as quaint. I've always enjoyed the kind of 'light at the end of the tunnel' effect you get from such tall buildings surrounding these narrow passages.

I know it's not typical, but even in dirty puddles there can be some kind of beauty.

Our time in the city on Monday was brief but fun. We got to meet Heather, and the kids got to enjoy a part of the city they've never been to before. There were experiences to be had, rites of passage, if you will, for both kids. Sam had never before had the pleasure of chasing around a flock of pigeons.

If you can imagine, the look on his face was something between shock and joy and fear. He enjoyed himself immensely!

Lucy, at the ripe old age of two, has finally figured out that pennies are for making wishes, and not for snacking. Thank god.

Wishes a-plenty!

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What do you have to share today?

The New York Times in Philly (Insert Eye Roll Here)

Wordless Wednesday

The City

A few weeks ago I suggested to SOB that we take an overnight or weekend away before the baby is born. Unfortunately it doesn't look like that is going to happen, but fortunately, we have been give some surprise opportunities to spend time alone together. Yesterday afternoon he got off of work early, so Allison came over to hang with the kiddies and I jumped on the train.

First, we had some big flavors at a little bistro we love...

Then we saw some massive buildings...

And then we found some gigantic deals!

And because my initial inspiration was my ever-growing belly, I'll leave you with this:

My son wanted to compare the size of his big, blue ball to my belly. Which do you think is bigger?

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Did you find anything gigantic this week? I can't wait to see how you all interpreted this one!

Philly Blog Map

Yo Philly peeps! Check this out, and add your blog if you're so inclined!

Memories of Cheeses Past

May, 2005

September, 2007

May, 2008

May, 2009

If you know me, either in real life or in virtual bloggy life, then you know that I love love LOVE these head hole photo things. Nothing pleases more than coming upon one that is particularly relevant to something else in my life, like this blog thing (which is approaching it's fourth anniversary!) 

Because we have a membership to the Philadelphia Zoo, we encounter this cheesy photo op with a good deal of regularity. One day I hope to assemble a photo album with this exact same shot through the years. I might have to figure out a new configuration once the baby is born, but that should just add to the fun, right?

What memories do you have to share this week?

Saying Goodbye

As far I'm concerned, these two have been friends forever. They were both in utero when I met LG's mom and one of Sam's first outings was a walk with the two of them. Over time locations have changed a bit...from Philly to Atlanta back to Philly for us. From California to Philly and then back to California for them. But we still keep in touch. Watching these two hooligans hang round together gave me a smile a mile wide. They left while Sam was sleeping, and he spent half an hour calling for his buddy before he believed me that they were gone. Then he looked at me and said, "That ok mommy. I see them later." It may take another year, but I'm guessing he's right!

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For more Togetherness check out Theme Thursday over at The Land of K.A. 

Cusp

Tomorrow this blog turns three.

Christ, that's old. In blog terms, anyway. I've amassed eight hundred and eighty some posts, put up way too many pictures, and generally wasted plenty of time, mine and yours.

My first year passed by without notice, but last year I managed to remember to send a card. I'm writing this today because life has been beyond hectic and I can't say for sure if I'll remember tomorrow. The baby, she is crawling. In addition, she's entered that phase where her greatest desire if for me (or occasionally dad) to hold her in a standing position. The child is dying to walk. If I dare to put her down even for the most basic of reasons (namely, I have to pee) the protests can be heard 'round the neighborhood. I can't say that I mind, however. She's a true delight to be around, other than the constant attention thing.

Sam has turned his attention outward. The warm weather has him clamoring for outside outside outside. If I didn't have a lap top I probably wouldn't post again until November. Thank the good lord in heaven we don't live in an apartment building anymore. We can just roll out the back door and have at it.

Anyway, three.

Household Hints: Garden Edition

1. English ivy is truly the enemy of mankind.

2. Digging holes is hard. Digging holes is harder when it's 98 degrees outside and you are trying to dig through eons of English ivy vines.

3. Always wear lots of sunblock, front and back. Especially on the back. Since I didn't, I ended up with a horrible tank top sunburn. Oh and I also got a bit of a burn on my ass crack.

What?!? Did she just say her ass crack?

Yes, I did. See, I was wearing some old gym shorts. During the endless hours of pulling ivy vines out of the ground they might have slipped down a little. Since my hands were covered in muddy gloves, I didn't bother to pull them (and my underpants) back up. Therefore in addition to the sunburn I have along the top of my back I have a strip of my low back and high butt, including the uppermost portion of the crack, that is burnt to a crisp.

Disturbing, isn't it?

Here. This should help cleanse the palate.





One of these is my BSM. I can't pick, can you? Visit Mother May I for more!

Kiss Me I'm Bloggish

Last week I was bestowed, by the fabulous des, this wonderful award:


I failed to acknowledge this in a timely manner because, as a recipient, I am supposed to send the love onto ten other bloggers! Ack! Are you kidding? Have you seen my google reader? I subscribe to at least 50 blogs, and I read all of the 'friends shards items' AND I am a prodigious reader of several hundred other blogish sites (Stroller Derby, TWOP, PBN, Philadelphia Weekly, ad nauseum). So cropping the list down to ten was keeping me up at night!

First, I would love to return this love to des. I feel a burning desire (no pun intended) to see her tattoos up close and in person. Plus, it's fun to live vicariously through her. She just up and moved from NYC to Detroit (home of the Stanley Cup Champions, boo.) FOR LOVE! How cool is that?

Secondly, I want to call out my Philly homegirl Lora. She's one of those ladies who is going to be a big famous blogger one day, I'm sure. Funny? Yes! Adorable spawn? Check! Read her, so I can be cool when I said I knew her when...

Amy from Chicken and Cheese. Quite possibly the front runner for 'blogger I want to meet in person the most' award. Seriously. When she announced she was pregnant and not coming to BlogHer '08, I was happy for her and then totally devastated that she wasn't going to be there. P.S. I'm totally not stalking you!

Suzanne from C.U.S.S. Any blog with the word 'snatch' in the title is a winner in my book.

(Sidebar: did I ever mention that 'Snatch' was my dad's nickname in high school? I don't care to speculate on the origins of that nickname AT ALL.)

Janet from every samurai needs a mommy. Here's to rekindling old college friendships! And cute as hell babies!

The High Heeled Mama, because ATL represents. I miss you guys! Plus it's her one year blog anniversary (I loathe the term blogiversary and refuse to use it in a sentence unless it referencing how much I hate it) so go over and wish her some happy more to come!

Catherine, because her and her lady parts need all the love they can get. Plus: new baby happiness!

Susan, over at Stuff and Nonsense. Write more, damn it. Our thursday phone dates aren't cutting it! I need the written word of Susan!

The New Girl. If you don't finish that birth story in the next few days, I will find you and force you to tell it to me in person. And I mean that in a totally fun, non-threatening way!

And finally, Miss Zoot and her whole brood. Again with the new baby deliciousness! All these bloggers having babies are really out to make me ovulate, I just know it. Plus she was the originator of the lovely pink and green template I used to use before I broke it.

So there it is. My ten. There are ten more, and ten more beyond that, but I am tired. Thanks again Miss d for your continued love and adoration of my cute-as-buttons offspring!