The Force Is Strong in Our family...

Haven't posted anything in a while, and I am really bad at uploading pictures. Here are some from Halloween. Yes, that is Myla in the Darth Vader costume. She was great in it, and totally requested it. Emmy is in our old Yoda costume, and was the cutest Yoda the world has ever seen. =) Those of you who know us, know of Myla's love affair with Darth Vader and how she loves him and says he's just grouchy? My funny little Mim.

Thankful for...

After losing Lolo Ben last week, our week has been a little upside down. It's Thanksgiving week and I am thankful for a few things: 1. My WONDERFUL family. I love that my girls and husband are gifted, healthy, and just all around great people. I love them more than anything. 2. Roof over our heads 3. The rest of our family... and for having me get this far in life. I will have pics soon, and there will be pictures. Many, many pictures. In the meantime, enjoy yourselves and let's take care of each other.

Love You, Lolo Ben.

Info about Lolo Ben

more info on him...

Today I feel like a scared little girl. Now that Lolo is gone from where I can see him, I have to grow up. This fear will pass, I know. Loben (as Myla called him) and Lola have blessed me with the gift of strength and practicality, knowing that life is always made of change. We can't avoid this stuff, so we might as well meet with it -head on, guns a-blazing.

On my yearly visit, when it came time to say goodbye, Lolo always ended our trips the same way. One of the last things Lolo always said to me, was, "You know I hate long, emotional goodbyes. Just kiss me on the cheek and know you will see me again." And I didn't dare look back at him, until I knew I was out of his sight. I always felt a little bit stronger every time I did it. One time, I looked, and he was looking too, with wet eyes, and I pretended not to see. Even though, in the back of my mind, I knew one day, this would come.

(deleted letters to family members)

I wanted to write something profound and exquisite about a great soldier, journalist, a great mentor, editor-in-chief, boss, and writer. I wanted to write an epic story with special effects and CGI, and fireworks and a 21 gun salute, and a procession and parade and LARGE headlines, and a day of mourning and a holiday, but this isn't how I feel.

Instead, my heart is heavier than it ever has been my whole life. I have cried some quiet tears, while I think about him. I think about our talks about life, and love, and work, school, politics, and the mornings when he got ready for work and we listened to Botticelli and Pavarotti. I think about soft bread and butter and coffee and piles of pineapple that made our lips itch. And anything he saved in a napkin from a luncheon he had the previous day. Im thinking of fried eggs for breakfast and how I ate the yokes and he ate the whites, and our egg system: if he got there first he'd leave the yolks for me, if I got there first, I would do the oppsosite- eat the yolks and save the whites. I think of his uncanny ability to make me laugh in the face of adversity, and to never be afraid of people. Also he taught me to depend on other people for something either.

I never told you about the one time, at the airport, I DID look back, Lola was crying, and Lolo had tears in his eyes, (although he told me later that it was allergies.) And one of the very last things he told me (besides jokes about everything) on our last visit, (he was sick and I looked worried)

"Never mind, it's all part of life. Can't change that, I just don't want to be ugly and drooling on a rocking chair like some of those old people you see. Just shoot me instead." And we shared a laugh over it. I'm glad, my dearest Lolo, you are the handsomest, non-drooling Lolo in the face of the earth, and I will never forget you. Thank you so much.


Love to you all,

Melissa, Andy, Myla & Emily


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http://www.balitapinoy.net/journal/599238/EXEDITOR_OF_MANILA_BULLETIN_DIES

When Girls are A Napping, It's Time for A Blogging...

Here are the girls when we roll Pedro's windows down... it's hilarious.

Growing, growing, growing... as they should be. The thing that astounds me about Myles is the things she says to show how cognitive and intuitive she is to her surroundings. Which, proves my point that you shouldn't ever underestimate the intelligence of any child, and dismiss them as "just kids." We watched Harry Potter (1st One) and she seemed to understand everything that was going on, (including the fact that Harry's parents died and that sucks for a kid.) Also, we just watched Kitt Kittridge and she cried when her Dad left for Chicago. So, me n myles can watch a good movie together and have a cry. She's only 2! =) Also, for those of you who haven't been to our apartment, the master bedroom window looks down on any passers by coming and or going to our house. So, if you leave our house and head towards your car, you can see through our window heading towards the parking lot. Myles LOVES this. Like a cat. So, the other day, after my dad and sister left, she screamed, "Bye! Bye! You be careful down there! Love you!" Like an old lady. It was HILARIOUS.

And Memmy... oh where do I begin with Memmy? We like to call her, Destructo, or our little Raccoon. Because more than likely, you'll see her little butt sticking out as she rummages through something she is not supposed to. Since, both my girls walked at such an early age, I really feel like I missed out on some 3-4 good months of baby time. Where they snuzzle with you, and sit on your lap, and you can put them on a blanket on the floor while reading or doing somehing peaceful.

But, no at 9 & 10 months, I was and have been a nervous wreck. Mems, seems to be the naughtier of the two... today for instance, I opened our "I Love Lucy" washing machine (it's a front loader, and low to the ground) and ran into our room to grab the dirty clothes. Then I hear, "Mama! Mama! Em-UH-LEEE went IN there!!" and I run out, sure enough, Emms had placed herself in the washer, with the cylinder sort of moving as she did... door open of course, and she was pretty pissed at the fact that she had gotten herself in the predicament. She was stuck. I wanted so badly to get a picture, but she is very sensitive about being embarrassed. So I pulled her out and scolded her, and she smiled her Damian smile. She ALWAYS does this when she knows she did something she wasn't supposed to. She doesn't fuss or scream when you pull her out of something... she just sits very still and looks at you... with the smile.
(Ring in dramatic Omen Music...)
Sanguis bibimus
Corpus edibus
Rolle corpus
Satani, Satani, Satani
Ave, ave Satani

After the washer incident, I pulled her hands out of both out toilets (no more if it's yellow it's mellow! Sorry water shortage!) and pulled her out of the fireplace at least three times, wrestled her off the stairs and also kept her from spraying some 409 in her face. YIPES! Baby proofing the house... she will always find a way...

Halloween was cool.

Myles is truly understanding the whole trick or treating thing, and truly understanding the candy thing. She was Darth Vader and all the storm troopers and Clone troopers on the block were bowing to her. (Haaa!) She enjoyed that. Darth Vader and Myla is a whole other post, as we know the ongoing saga with those two. We went to the pumpkin drop, Myles has been going to them her WHOLE life, as Emmy has as well. This year, two pumpkins were dropped. Please ask Myla to tell you about it next time you see her.

Emmy was an ADORABLE Yoda, and she was hot a lot, but she loved just being a part of it all.

For Papa, it's still the same ol' grind at Elsevier... which as much as he complains, I know he loves. He got a window seat where he can see Coronado and is moving from floor 20 to 17... kinda excited about the move... =) We will visit and post on that.

I have been taking writing classes at UCSD Extension on Saturday mornings. It gets my head together and helps with the creative juices that make me grouchy if I don't release them.
Also, I have started part-time seasonal employment at Build A Bear... working from my friend LG! It's fun, it's retail, it pays shit, but now we can have a Christmas!! =) I'm sure I won't see anything I haven't seen before working with all the moronic customers out there.

And, Papa and I have joined a Martial Arts school so now, I can kill someone with the "Killer Fist" really. Also, I learned how to chop a corroted artery, but I haven't learned how to spell it. So, when we get in shape and train how to kill zombies with weapons with out bear hands, we will be ready.

Til next time...
Peace!

GAP CASTING CALL

Here are the pics we are entering in the Gap Casting call, I don't know what they would win, but it's great exposure. This is like the mother of all photo shoots for kids under 3. VOTE FOR EMILY. VOTE FOR MYLA! There have been some folks that have been entered for awhile, but that doesn't mean much, you can still vote every day! Anyway, hope all is well with everyone...

The Salt Mines With You! Some updates and news...

It's official, the girls have an agent. Yep. They are gonna be baby models. We get our first tiny paying gig in the next few weeks for some random online catalog. Ill let you know where and what it's for, because I don't really know. haha! There are so many rules (as a few of you who read these understand about SAG dues and baby and child labor laws in the state.) For instance, the girls can only work 4 hours each, for each day of work. This is fine for baby modeling, since a lot of the stuff takes only a few hours anyway. We were turned on to this when a family we love recommended their agent to us. She is based in LA but has a handful of clients in San Diego, and also lives here and commutes there. Since, Papa and I are really trying hard to make ends meet, we decided that this would be the only way we could pay for the girls school in the future. And any kinds expenses they have now. For instance, we Myla's soccer and Kung Fu and Emily's Gymboree Classes...

So, also, next week, we are opening an account (this is also required by law in California) where at least 15% of any money they earned is put in this trust account, where only they can receive it when they are 18. I am really excited about it, but also a bit worried about working my kids too much. But, I know when to say enough is enough. Especially when it comes to my kids.

We don't really plan on putting the girls (mostly Myla) into pre-school as of yet, because we like the way things are going now. I will continue working part-time in the evenings, while Papa works full time in the day. I will have to be the one taking the girls to auditions to LA, which will probably be once a week or something, but thank goodness my parents live down the street. I haven't researched the difference between private and public school education- and how it will affect my kids. Also, we want to have the private school option in case Andy gets assigned somewhere that's not where we live now. This is always a possibility.

As far as socialization and structure goes for my kiddos with no preschool, neither I or my siblings went to preschool. And the girls will be so active and involved that I am not worried about them being socially deficient in any way.

In other news...
We are going to participate in this annual consignment thing to see if we get rid of a bunch of clothes that the girls have outgrown, or if the clothes just aren't what the girls are wearing. I have, about 12 trash bags full of shoes, clothes and accessories. I am hoping to make about 200 USD with it. If it's more, than I certainly will be pleased. This consignment fair works out of a mall here in San Diego three times a year. (You sell the clothes for the next season.) You register with the company, they give you access to their tagging system, and your tags and prices are put on your clothes. You have to separate everything by outfit and put on specific kinds of hangers etc. You also name your price (there are guidelines on this too). You get 50% of the price you put on the tag. There are of course, guidelines and suggestions on how to price something. For instance, Myla got this same fleece Carter's outfit, with tags still on it (pants and a top) the tags read 12.99. So you name a price, I put 8.00. I would get 4.00 of this sale. They recommend, unless you see a tag on there and it's cute, to make of course, a selling price. Everything of course has to be cleaned, and pressed and ready for a sale.
I would recommend if you are on a budget, and don't mind slightly used clothes, to go to one of these things, because I am pretty sure you could find some great deals on kids clothing. There is a HIGH demand for clothing for school age kids, as I can imagine they go through clothes quickly if they aren't lucky enough to wear uniforms.

Before you stop reading, there is one important thing I wanted to mention...we are seriously considering that I be a gestational carrier for someone in the near future. So, please, don't be shocked when and if you see me pregnant and I say, "Don't worry! It's NOT MINE!" Haha! But really, this is a possibility. We are 99.9% sold on the idea. But of course, this is a whole other post.

Overall, I think we are pretty much over the whole newborn, baby thing. But that doesn't mean I still don't have a place in my heart for third baby (our third) in the future.

Just stuff to think about. Happy week ya'll.

Nothing much

Hello ya'll!! So, we are abuzz-buzz about this month of October because we have so much going on again. We just dropped off my parents at LAX for their 2 week long trip to the Philippines, just in time for the Typhoon that has ravaged Manila. It looks like a BUNCH of our friends and family are going to be able to attend the 2010 Holy Land Cruise! So very excited about this... more on it later, when we know more about the who's who and what's what.

Emily is up to 9 steps! She is almost always standing, and just in time for her ten month birthday! What a character this Emily Mairin. I feel like she has been so neglected by me... not really. But in comparison as to how we were with Myles, she is. For instance, we used to fawn over every little thing Myles did. And with Emmy, we kinda expect her to already know more than she might. For instance, if the girls are going to play with blocks, with Myles, I would have sat down next to her and showed her the colors and how to stack them etc. With Emily. we just kind of dump the blocks there and watch her... she doesn't seem to mind us deeming her independent. This is where I think the Oldest, middle and youngest behaviors are born. Is Emmy a middle child or a baby? We will have to see, only time will tell.

Soccer & SAG

Myles is growing like a weed. We signed her up for Rascalz soccer, which is like, preschool for soccer kids. We wanted to get her out in the sunshine, with kids her own age group (2-4 years old), and have her attain a good set of social skills. Now, there aren't any organized games until they are about 4 years old, this is pretty much Myles and a bunch of other toddlers running around on the pitch, with a few soccer balls, having fun. We went today to get her some new shoes for rascalz soccer, (just flatter, softer, athletic shoes, no cleats). She has been walking around in size 6 toddler shoes, and it turns out after getting fit properly, she is actually a size 8! We bought these New Balance shoes, that she LOVES and seems to be super comfortable in. We will see how Myles likes or dislikes soccer for the next 8 weeks.
As far as her diet goes, she is absolutely in the picky toddler stage. It's rough. But I am pretty sure she will be fine. We found a chicken nugget in the stroller today, from when she was stuffing them in places.
Mentally, she is speaking in full sentences already, and today, she surprised me by using the word "either" in a sentence. She said, "Wanna go to Sea World, Mama. Myla sad now." (because we weren't getting ready fast enough.) then she added, "Emily is not happy either." Geesh. Tough crowd.
Another thing that surprised me about Myles is that a few months ago, she was looking at the pages of the book and she goes, "oh an R!" and she was able to identify all the letters she saw. She can also identify numbers and can count to 20. So she's on her way!

Now Emmy!!! Okay, Emmy took her first steps yesterday, she weighs about 20 pounds, and is just crawling everywhere she can possibly crawl. She eats anything she is allowed to eat, as well as things she isn't allowed to eat. She is 9 months old, and loves to figure stuff out on her own. I'm gonna take her to Gymboree classes individually. Emmy loves everything her sister does and gets angry when she is not included. We have to make sure we always ask her if she wants to do it too, otherwise, she gets pretty cranky. She eats table food, has four teeth and doesn't like baby food in jars. She sleeps through the night and has for awhile, and is an overall delight to be around. I can't be apart from her for very long, or I start to get the shakes.

One thing we love about having number 2 baby, is that we are basically pros at what used to be, the cariest parts of parenthood. You know when you have your first baby and you are suuuuper careful about everything? Like sterilizing everything, and you freaked out when he/she ate a day old cheerio from under the couch? Or when you time the formula feedings so precisely, that when it goes a minute past the hour and you haven't refrigerated it, it goes down the drain? Well, with a second baby, those days are gone my friends. I think we are pretty secure in our paternal pants. (Hey! That was a free plug for our friend Jack!) We now know the unknown, and no longer freak out about stuff that is totally unnecessary.

In other news, we decided that it was a good idea to enter the girls in some modeling gigs, on the suggestion of my friend, whose daughter had done it also. They were able to save a pretty substantial amount of money for their daughter's college, and she only did it when she was 2-3 years old. We took their agent's phone number and are hoping with enough jobs, college won't be a huge worry for our family. We will see how this all pans out. We got a permit to work, and a few meetings and I will update about that once we know. We also, will be opening a trust account where 15% of the gross paychecks from any gigs they get are put away also, which is great. This sounds good in theory, and we are aiming for adverts for clothing and baby and toddler products. I feel it best to start small in this business, and then if something more comes out of it, and it suits one or both of the girls, then fine. If not, no biggie. The only problem is me, being able to stand other stage moms who take this shit very seriously. Again, I will have to say, "we'll see."

So, we are a busy bunch of bees. I am really not so sure what to make of this busy-lifestyle, but I cant seem to slow it down any right now. Mostly wanna take everything one day at a time, and we will share our adventures with you as they go! I love the fact that our heat wave has dissipated and we are moving on to cooler weather.

Anniversary Weekend, Kind of a Feel-Good, Long-Ass Post

Okay, before I forget everything about our Anniversary weekend... We are going to go private on this blog so that our closest friends and family will only have access to it and the handful of trusted and readers I am fond of. =) I am going to be on a few websites soon, and want to keep AMPAM for the exclusive few. More on that one day.
I am going to write about the weekend first (before I forget), and then, within the next few days post pictures. Really. I HAVE to because it's on the to-do list before we leave on the big road trip. First off, on the day of our anniversary itself- Friday, August 28- we went to a Luau at the Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island. It was GREAT!! I tried on my Tommy Bahama dress and it zipped up, but man, I am waaaay to porky to be wearing it. So, me, Chelly and the girls set out on a mission to find me a new cheap dress... since our budget does NOT call for another Tommy Bahama dress. Plus, the last one was a gift.
We dropped off Andy, and set off on our errands. First errand? Stop at the Labor Department and apply for entertainment work permits for the girls to work in the state. (more on this in another post.) Then we went to the mall. Oh, and I forgot to tell you it was probably 100 degrees outside. Girls were cranky, and so was I. We found the PERFECT dress at Target of all places, it was Luau-ey, but a little too long. So, we cut the dress when we got home. I didn't bother sewing it up because, well, I can't sew and because it was that material that looks shredded in the bottom anyway. Emmy wore Myles' old Roxy Teeny Wahini dress, and Myles wore the Ralph Lauren Hawaii dress she got two years ago.. it was an 18 month size, but she squeezed in it quite cutely. Papa wore his quiksilver Hawaiian shirt (Magnum PI shirt lost the coin toss, thankfully, we would have been too loud.) We get down to the place, and turns out, we were at the Bali Hai. Whoops. Back in the car! To Memmy's dismay (she is seriously outgrowing her rear facing car seat and we are moving her to forward facing this week.) And we drive about a block down to the Kona Kai Resort. We are greeted with plastic lei's (kind of a disappointment to me, but Myles was stoked.) Papa gets a nice, shell necklace, and they seat us on tables that are laid out on the sand. I gotta tell you, the girls are stoked to be outside in the duskey sun, drinking mai-tais with us. A Kahlua Pig ceremony kicked off the festivities, conch shell and all. We sat next a couple who seemed to be kindred spirits right away, Crystal and Steve- from Dallas. They chartered a boat in San Diego and were sleeping in it for two weeks. The MC announced our anniversary on stage, and people clapped. =) We were table Oahu. And there was an older couple a few seats down celebrating an anniversary also, and they were drunk as skunks. Oahu, is called last. The food was great, but not served on paper plates like a real hawaiian party would be. =) And there was no spam. Sad about that. We took pictures, Myla danced, Emmy didn't cry because she wasn't bored. We left a little early. It was great.

Saturday: Girls went to Grammy's house, or we like to call it, "The Spa," They have a wading pool on the stone platform between some plummage in their backyard. Poppy puts a black tarp over it while it waits for them so it heats the water to a perfect temperature. When he removes the tarp the water on top, like a skin, is so hot, but then the water underneath is cold. So you swirl it around and then you have the perfect water. They always have cold, fresh fruit, juice, water, pretty much any food they want, and they don't have to do anything they don't want to. There are toys and books everywhere, and let's face it, they never want to leave. So, Andy and I feel great about leaving them for an overnight. Thanks to Grammy & Poppy for hosting the girls again and letting us go on our activity filled weekend.

Andy and I head towards the Huntington Library, By the time we get there, it's probably 110 degrees and just opening. We are afraid if we leave the car, it will melt. Not knowing what to expect we get there and buy our day tickets, 20 USD a person, and we enter.
Looking at it from the outside, and not knowing what to expect, we went in like a kid unwrapping a present. A hot present. Since this post isn't going to be about the Huntington Library, but a piece of it is about our experience in it. We met a nice guard who told us which direction to go and we ended up going counter clockwise... kinda. Anyway, the Huntington's house was amazing. Andy found stained glass by Morris & Co in their chapel that was interesting and their libraries was something to drool over. The furniture and the artwork- just really cool. We saw Pinkie & Blueboy, by 2 Thomases which are the stars of the Huntington exhibit. Anyway, we saw poured over art, then we saw the Gutenberg Bible. For those of you who need a refresher course in Art History, Gutenberg Bible was the first printed Bible that made it accessible to more people.
If you ever get a chance to see these exhibits, do so. It's wonderful and also, not as overwhelming as when you go to the Louvre or another big museum we have seen.
We didn't go to the famous Tea Room but we went to the Tea Room Cafe instead, (the cheaper, cafeteria version of the Tea Room) and in the Chinese Gardens we stopped for some fried wontons and egg rolls. The gardens were exquisite- if it hadn't been so darn hot, I would have enjoyed them more. We will go back in the fall when the weather has cooled down.

Okay, so fast forward after we are done with the Library, we check in to the hotel- oh, I forgot, this whole time- there is a fire in the background in the mountains ravishing LA. Which incidently, is still going right now. I'm a little jaded by fires now since the big ones we had a few years back. The ticket guys at the HL were all, "yah... it's close...:" all cocky and stuff. I then came up with my David Letterman top ten...

Top Ten Reasons you know the fire is close:
10. You have all your belongings in the trunk of your smallest car.
9. Grandma all of a sudden won't leave her chair.
8. Your waiter is a guy from the National Guard.
7. Your dogs and kids are sleeping on the same sleeping bag.
6. You have an extra cat that wasn't yours and a mangy dog that was possibly no ones, because you suspect it's feral.
5. You just realized how dingy your local high school gym is.
4. While watching the news from a safe location, you see firemen busting down your door.
3. You and The red cross workers are on a first name basis.
2. You're constipated from the MRE's you had to eat.
And finally the number one reason you know the fire is close...
1. You live in Julian.

We wanted to go to a Hooters for dinner, and before you all go blaming Andy about taking me to a Hooters, Hooters is almost 98% my idea every time. I love the wings. When I was 8 months pregnant with Myla, it was my craving on Valentine's Day. We used google maps GPS app on my iphone, and it lead us to an old, closed down Hooters. The other was 13 miles away in Hollywood... and so, we made our way that way. Another option was to catch Inglorious Bastards at a theatre nearby... and we ended up looking for Hooters because the movie theatre was so ghetto and scary, we decided against it.

Ahhh, as parents to two small children, we value our time alone with each other so much. But before you go scrolling down because you think I'm gonna talk about something private... Andy and I went on this weekend getaway to do two things: To sit down and read, and to sleep. Yep.

We went about 6 hours of uninterupted sleep. Until our clocks woke us up, and I missed my babies. Go figure.


More on the next post... Anniversary Part Deux

What's going on? Kind of a depressing post.

Hi everyone, I have been so MIA lately, and with good reason... I am now getting licensed by the State Attorney's office to be an individual who sells travel, because before I guess... I wasn't an individual. Whhhhaaa? Anyway, I'll get it right in the end. the beauty of this is that I get some time to blog- because I have to shut down for ten days while the application is processing. So no more clients for ten glorious days! Anyway, I am going to talk about how much I hate working from home right now. People tend to think I am an overcomplainer, but hear me out before you judge.

The downsides of working from home as a travel concierge?
1. My attention is NEVER fully on my babies. I am talking to clients, airlines, hotels, GTI... from 9am-5pm.
2. If I have a stressful day, I can't call it a day and go home. I have to call it a day and, walk to the bathroom or something.
3. As an ITA, I am a ticketing agent, a reservations department, an accounting department, a refunds processing agent and a customer service rep, whereas storefront agents only have one task to do.
4. I am inevitably responsible for people's trips. Now think about that, that's a duh no brainer right? But, if something goes wrong with an airline or a refund- who gets to try and fix this? Me! I don't have an accounting department, I don't have a reservations agent... it's just me... calling all these airlines (and if you have ever done that without wanting to rip your own head off I salute you.)

I think the worst of these is 1 and 2. I mean honestly, with that going on 8 hours a day, and then when Papa gets home I go to Barnes and Noble or something to work a few more hours, while juggling a very tight budget, and trying to manage a household with two babies, I think I'm having a hard time. the worst part is, I think I'm missing my babies lives and really, I cant do anything about it right now. I also, don't really like the job to begin with.

I try so hard to separate work and home, but you can't really. My outlet used to be writing, and I don't have any time for it, although I yearn for the day when it will be possible again. I am not really happy with how I look because I am always tired and thrashed. Basically the saddest part is that I feel like I've lost myself somewhere... and I don't think I can really get myself back.

Wow this has been a downer if I have ever read one. Sorry guys, please keep reading. I'll post more cute pics of my kids. In the meantimt look at my facebook page for more pics.

CONGRATS TO CHRIS & CARRIE!

We have a new cousin! Francis Declan Ghormley! He was a WHOPPING 9 POUNDS! Born a couple days ago! WOW! We can't wait to meet our new cousin one day! Congrats guys! Take care!!

Emmy & Myles

Emmy just got a job teaching Physics at MIT, her first job ever! We are so proud. Myla, has mastered the violin and invented a cure for Parkinson's Disease... but in their spare time...Miss Emmy, at 7 months- crawling, pulling up on things, clapping. Myles is really into Yo Gabba Gabba and Jack's Big Music Show. And a select handful of movies. (Flushed Away, Scooby-Doo Series, Jungle Book, Ratatouille & Monsters Inc.)

Shout Outs & A Diet??

Congrats to Uncle Eban & Aunt Mary on the birth of their first Baby Boy, Jack! He was born on 07-08-09! We can't wait to meet him!

Tia Bina & Uncle Perci & Gani! We had so much fun on Saturday doin' the Sham Slam with you! We need to do more!

Mr Walt J ! Thanks so much for the formula! Memmy would have starved that day if it weren't for you... how about next Friday we do Sea World??

Last week Papa & I started a diet, that we have done surprisingly well on. We decided to cut our portions in half, and try to just eat generally healthier... so no more fast food, and not as much red meat and no desserts. It's been kinds tough, but nothing I can't handle. It's been a week and I already feel better. =)

I Thought I Posted This...

So, I'm lookin' at my blog stuff and I noticed that our annual Del Mar Fair review wasn't on there... there it was, waiting in the queue to be published. Here it is, sorry so late...

Reminiscent of the Old...
For those of you who know my husband from his Magnum PI Shirt wearing, "Andy Keith Eats Some of Everything" fame, you will know that our main reason for going to the Del Mar Fair is to consume all the new and unusual (and a handful traditional) foods that the greasy, roach coach infested trailers put out. Everything from Deep Fried Coke, Deep Fried Avocado, Deep Fried White Castle Sliders, Deep Fried Spam, Deep Fried candy bars (invented by the Scots a thank-you) to deep fried tennis shoes....
We don't everything deep fried... there's funnel cake, ten pound buns, Orange Julius (now a novelty in California), baby donuts, (Myla's favorite.) and those f-ing awesome bbq brisket sandwiches. I took pics of the food, but am lazy now. Here's what we ended up eating...
First and foremost:
1. The roasted corn on the cob with butter and lemon chili seasoning (YUM!)
2. The baby donuts (not that good this year- Myles loved em).
3. Dippin' Dots for the girls (Emmy loved these.)
4. Brisket Sandwich (andy drinks the sauce)
5. Homemade chips
6. Orange Julius (yum)
7. Burgers (okay)
8. Deep-fried reeses (had to)

Traditionally, as a child, and being born and raised in San Diego- (Andy) and being a toddler when I came here, it has and always be called in my heart, The Del Mar Fair. They changed the name about 6 years back- to the SD County Fair. Lame. I don't know why it's lame, I just don't like that kind of change. Anyway, we would go and see the free concerts... (another, LAME- not all the concerts are free anymore.) I saw John Denver, Little Richard, Taylor Dane, Expose, Belinda Carlisle, and Weird Al.

The rides and the games: here is my review on the rides and the games... we rode the elephant last year. That's pretty much it. I might be getting old and kermudegeoney, but I find the popping of balloon darts, while you have ex-con, toothless meth addicts yelling at you to shell over your money so you can throw a ring around an old coke bottle for 8 bucks and win a PVC pellet filled Sponge-Bob unappealing. Also, winning a half dead ten cent goldfish doesn't make me want to shell over 5 bucks.
Don't even get me started on the rusty old rides that don't and haven't had any safety inspectors near them.

My brother had a good tip... he bought the giant fair cup and found out you could get it refilled with Orange Julius for three bucks. Although, we couldn't put together and eating team this year, I can always try for next year. =)

Useless Fair Item bought this year: The ShamWOW! =)

Blogging from my phone

Hey peeps! Have to blog from my phone dont have much time because today is Sunday Funday. Between packing the giros up, morning routine and trying to get ourselves ready its a zoo at our house. Anyway, luckily (and sadly) we are over all the newborn stuff at our house. Maybe one day in the near future...:). Anyway, we are packin' up to see some cousins in seal beach. We just saw ganzuzu last night- what a fun time!!!! I thought i could post pics from here but i guess not. Ill be able to later tonight.

Quick Update...

Memmy is CRAWLING. No more pillows can contain her, she is a crawling machine. Only problem? We have hardwood floors. I am a wreck. Try to put pillows everywhere, and give her free reign in our carpeted bedrooms... but, she can't avoid the living rooms. Anyway, hopefully she'll start walking like her sister and I won't have to worry.

Myles says, "Gracias." Dunno where she got it. Haven't heard it on any of her shows. She just speaks spanish now. Cool!

Also, we are waiting for the arrival of our lovely Jack, Uncle Evan & Aunt Mary's baby... Aunt Mary is being induced as we speak and if he's not born yet... he will be born by morning! YAY!!!! Can't wait...

WARNING: DEATH BY CUTENESS... CAN CAUSE PREGNANCY

We have been told: "We had our baby because of yours..."
"Your babies are so cute and funny! Makes me want to have one..."

You know how some other baby's are just not as cool? And when I say that, I mean, well...just some... not talking about anyone who reads this blog... just strangers baby's. Well our are babies are COOL. I can safely say, that when our little bumble nuggets were born, they were both adorable and full of personality...


There it is...



LOVE IT.



Take It.



LIVE IT.

The Girls Together and Other Updates...

Thought I would give you guys the news about how the girls are around each other. Well, at first, Emmy was OBSESSED with Myles and Myles kinda went on her merry way. The last month, this has changed. Myla knows exactly what to do to make Emmy laugh and Emmy knows how to get any kind of reaction from myles, by kicking and touching her face. There is still a ways to go on the gentle factor, but Myla is very careful around her sister. And I can tell they genuinely love each other. We are going to introduce the two sleeping in the same room thing next weekend. Only because, they have woken each other up. Myla is a loud sleeper and talks in her sleep and gets up and yells. (She gets this from me.) Emmy, luckily, is a pretty heavy sleeper once she is asleep. So we will see.

Vigi's Donuts...

I just wanted to share what is and will be one of my favorite memories of the girls growing up.  On a weekend day, we pack the up girls early- and throw them in our car and drive up north to Solana Beach and get donuts.  First of all, the donuts at Vigi's are DELICIOUS- really top rate above other donut places we have been and we have tried everything.  They are in their pajamas when they go.  Myla is old enough to appreciate donut weekend-morning now.  We get donuts and coffee and Myla gets donuts and milk or water.  We sit at a table for about 20 minutes and enjoy our food and each other's company.  She gets to pick, and I think it's just awesome watching her as a two year old, just see the giant case of delicious baked things... here are the pics...

Update on Life...

Hey Everybody!  Just wanted to give you guys a short update on the girls and the family...because I have 55% energy on the computer before it dies.  The battery is gone and Crywolf is crap.  Because it's been two weeks since they said the battery would come in.  But, I digress.  

Myla just turned two, and you will get pics and a pot of that soon.  She is crazy, and energetic, and brilliant and just plain good for this world.  Emily is five months, and doing the almost crawling thing... I give it two more weeks.  She is also behaving like teeth are coming in, but don't see any.  We start potty training soon for Miss Myla, and I just don't know where to begin but I have gotten lots of good advice from all the other moms out there.  Thanks a bunch btw.  

Ummmm, Papa still works at Elsevier, and is going back to hitting a golf ball more frequently.  I'm still doing the work from home thing, which is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do with two babies in the house.  It's just not working out as smoothly as I would like.I work about 50 hours a week on travel stuff, if I could add it up and have both kids full time with me until about 1pm when my sister and Dad get here to help a little.  Sooooo, I am making some slight adjustments because my clients are getting kinda neglected and so are my kids.  Plus, my sister is going back to Rome in a few weeks.  =(

Working at night when Papa gets home and also trying to do it in the wee hours of the morning.  I think this is the best way.  I also cut a bunch of clients and am refusing new ones until August.

Our place is great.  We need a dog,   

Can't think of anything else.  

Much Love to everyone!

ALL ABOUT EMMY!

I just realized that our poor Memmy is seriously underrated.  No one knows who she is.  So I thought I would give everyone the privilege of knowing some facts about her...

Memmy is her own person.

She is cranky right before she falls asleep.

We call her, Emmy, Emily, Memmy, MAMI (by Myles) Mem, Bumbles, and Buddy.

She is cranky more often than you think. 

She has mind powers, and she uses them on the weaker minded, which is mostly everyone.  

She adores her older sister.  To the point of obsession.

She looks exactly like my Lola Naty.

She is snarky.

She LOVES being carried.

She has the cutest, deepest most adorable dimple I have ever seen, on any of your kids and on the ones that will be born.  Sorry.  

She is SO proud of herself when she rolls over and looks at you for validation, and if you don't praise her, she gets bored with herself and you.

She LOVES going places, but she doesn't like the carseat.

She has legs you want to bite. 

She is in the 85th Percentile for weight, 75 percentile for head size and 86th for length.

She does not like to be cold.  Opposite her sister.

She LOVES food. 

She LOVES papa. 

What a Messy House!

Typical night when Papa's in charge?  Lack of clothing.  Here are the girl's watching The Jungle Book.  Memmy looks like she is going to write a review on it, while Myles looks like Mogley himself!  As you can see, our house is a disaster.  I got to vaccume this morning, but that is the extent of the cleaning.  I also did a load of laundry, that I didn't really get to put away.  I have to decide which of Memmy's things I can put away... the jungle gym?  The Blue bouncy chair?  She already has her bumbo sitter, and a walker.  So all that clutter on the floor is dumb.  Anyway, I have a feeling that Memmy will be crawling soon at the rate she is going right now.  BTW, Happy Five Month Birthday Miss Memmy!  

In the very faraway future, we are pondering a new sibling in the form of a canine, and the house will get even smaller.  But by that time, Emily will be walking also anyway.  Next post?  Emily gets her own post and Bring Your Daughter to Work Day with Myles and Papa!

MOTHERHOOD ACCORDING TO... MAMA

READ MAMA'S LATEST POST ABOUT MOTHERHOOD...

http://peavesblogofdeath.blogspot.com/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MINI-PEAVES!!

Hurricane Myla turned two today.  Two years ago today, we were in the hospital wondering when the heck she was going to come out.  I had to wait two weeks of her kicking and turning at a full grown size in my belly.  We couldn't wait to meet her, and see her and see what she was like.  And of course since then, the voids in our hearts were filled even though we didn't know there were holes to begin with!  

Yesterday, I was kinda weepy... but overall, elated we get to nurture and know this wonderful human being that we made!  I can't believe it's already been two years!  Celebrations were complete with cupcakes and a chocolate mousse cake from Lola.  Myles got 3-D Street Chalk, Sidewalk Paint (from Chelly!).  So we spent the cold and rainy day on the patio, drawing with sidewalk chalk.  I am sick with a 102 fever and a horrible sore throat.  Yuck.  But we still had a fun day.  We spent it with family and had such a great time.  MP's face when we sang her Happy Birthday was the best.  We love you Mim!  Many, many, more to come!

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www.120dayslater.blogspot.com

Have 30 Minutes Tops to Blog Today

Hi peeps!  I can hear Myla squirming around and it's just a matter of time.  Oh, I mentioned my kid's real name.  I don't care.  Dunno why their first names, even their last names have to be secret if I really think about it.  Suri Cruise.  Violet Affleck.  Kingston whatever the hell his last name is, Myla Keith... what's gonna happen?  I was worried about preverts, but if they find something disgusting to do with a name, WTF??  Preverts can find anything anyway.

So, it's been awhile and I can't find the pictures from the Philippines... they are lost between our desk top, the back up hard drive and the other camera.  If I tried really hard, I could find them.  Hmmm, brush my teeth or look for those pictures?  For the sake of mankind, I brush my teeth.  

We have been so busy as usual.  There are a few things in the works, and I am working on Myla's Birthday party (it's so liberating to say her name) which is going to be just family, picnic, giraffes and cake.  We plan on doing the Wild Animal Park for the day.  FUN!  Anyway, I haven't done any planning.  But I will.  

Few things:  I hate working from home, when it isn't writing.  I'm transitioning everything now.  Travel business, although lucrative is going in the direction I did not want or plan which is booking airline tickets.  Yuck.  I have a lot of transitioning to do this year, and by next year, should have it all squared away.  I deleted the Myles To Wander Blog, and am going to reboot.  Everything.  

Emmy:  She is growing so fast!  She is rolling, laughing from a few months ago, playing with toys and soon I think, will be crawling.  She is also a big girl!  We started her on rice cereal the other day and she ate it like it was 1999.  She has her own, pensive little personality and when I look at her, she looks like my Lola Naty.  

Although I know this conversation "on the shelf" I can't help feeling there is someone missing from our family... not really in a bad sense of missing... but there is still room in my heart!  A dog maybe?  I dunno.

Don't want to jinx it by saying it by saying too much.  But...

BIG NEWS.

Don't ask, I won't tell for awhile because there is a lot of work involved.  No I'm not pregnant again.  Have a nice day ya'll.

      

I loved the Philippines... it agreed with me.  First I write on this silly machine to explain to you, that before I left for this journey, I was but a meek 2 month old.  I came back, a strong- vibrant and alert 3 month old.  I am ready to take on the world.  I started with the Philippines, this will not end well for mere mortals.   Of course, I'm not that stupid that I would divulge my taking over the world to this pitiful little band.   -Emily Mairin Keith

Philippines Part 2 By Mini Peaves

Oh my!  I had such a great time, I wasn't sure what I wanted to tell you...anyway, the plane stopped and we got out right before I freaked out about being in it too long.   I was sleepy the whole way and I ate a lot of the yummy airplane food.  I also watched Stitch a couple times on the plane and slept a lot.  Anyway, when we got out, two guys in suits were waiting for us, and kept trying to help Mama & Papa with the boxes and the bags, out of the merry go round thing.  Mama was getting stressed out because she doesn't like to be helped like that at first.  We were waiting for a bit, and I couldn't help but notice how different it smelled in the Philippines, it was this humid, tropical smell that I liked right away.  I kept on looking around and I saw an eepis underneath the pay phone when Mama tried to call Lola Naty.  The first week, all I did was sleep at weird hours and we visited the mall called Trinoma a lot.  There were horses on a Merry Go Round that I rode about 6 times, and Mama and Papa kept making funny faces like they were going to barf.  (My parents are weird.).

Anyway, Memmy didn't make a peep and I got to hold her on my own, sitting on the bed this first trip.  Sol, the lady who helps my Lola is very nice and Uncle Raul has a giant German Shepherd named Max, who was always dancing.  My Lolo Ben kept on teasing me that I am going to live there in the Philippines and I was a little worried about that my whole trip.  Mama seems very happy because she tells me that Lola Naty is MY Lola at home's Mama, and I don't believe her.  Mama tells me she loves to see her Lolo & Lola, and snd she cries when she has to go home.  I don't believe Mama cries- she only cries as a joke sometimes.  I got to meet my cousin Miguel took me to the park in Tagaytay, and he made sure I was safe when I was playing in the playground.  I got bitten by mosquitoes no matter how many times Mama sprayed me and put lotion on me.  I also got bitten by Papa.  (OUCH!).

I also got to meet my cousin Bianca, who has a big basket of toys, that she was instructed to share with me.  I just couldn;t take them too far out of her site or she would get mad.

At the Tagaytay Zoo, a man put a bird like AFLAC on my arm, and when it crawled up, I got scared and threw the bird into the bushes.  Mama says, the bird's face was confused.  I said sorry to it, because I felt embarrassed that I threw it and felt sad for the bird.  But Papa said, the bird was alright.  Auntie Nora kept taking pictures of Papa when the man put a green snake around his neck and a bird on his shoulder. 

We saw Sea Turtles and I got to touch a baby that had just hatched out of its shell about 12 hours before.  We took a picture with the baby tiger also.  Papa keeps saying, "only in the Philippines..."

Anyway, I made friends with relatives I had never met before, and I loved them.  It was a great time and I can't wait to come back next year.

I also saw Crocodiles, and those were my favorite.  I am going to have Memmy tell you what she saw next...

Philippines Part 1 By Mama

We are back!  This is going to be a long post because there is so much about our trip we want to share.  We left for our trip on: January 29th and luckily, our flight departed from LA at 1155pm, which meant that the girls were somewhat on a good sleep schedule.  We got to LA, my parents drove with us up in a rented minivan and there was barely any traffic.  Memmy was cute and not fussy at all, and MP was her usual adventerous self.  I kept telling her we were going on a plane and we were flying across the ocean, and she nodded in understanding.  Weeks before, she would hear or see a plane and say, "Plane? Ride?"  Anyway, we got there 5 hours early, so my mom and MP and I went to go snoop around the gift shops.  MP is at the stage where she is starting to put two words together, sometimes three... and here is the conversation I heard her and my mom having at the gift shop...

LOLA:  No baby, I don't think you can have that...put it back.

MP:  Uhhhhhh, no....

LOLA:  Can you even eat those?  I don't think you even know what they are... (holding up a bag of Jelly Bellies)

MP:  Yes!

LOLA:  really?  your mom let's you eat those?

MP: Yes!

LOLA:  Are you sure?

MP: YAH!  I LIKE IT!!

She said, "yah I like it" so clearly, and so determined all my mom and I could do was laugh.  This is the first time she has spoken a full sentence- of course, we were mean and didn't buy her the jelly bellies.  But, we suck like that.  Anyway, believe me, she got enough stuff.  

We checked in to China Airlines without any problem, except that the airlines noticed my passpoert expired in July and informed me that the Philippined immigration was going to charge me 200 USD because I wasn't traveling within six months of my passport expiring.  This pissed me off.  Anyway, it was fixed later on in the ride.  But just an FYI for those of you traveling.  Just check your passports.

So, we said goodbye to my parents who were hesitant in letting go of the kids and we assured them we were coming back in three weeks.  

We rode a shuttle bus, to get to the terminal where our plane was, and there were two monks clothed in a vibrant, bright orange.  MP was dazzled and they smiled and waved to her.  I instantly felt at ease about the flight.  I don't know why- it just felt like the passengers' chis would be in order.

We finally boarded the plane after waiting a couple hours, and Memmy was sleeping in the carrier, which we ended up checking-in along with the stroller.  MP was all over the place but we made a pen where she could run in circles, dressed her in her pajamas and she finally settled down.

People kept on asking me before we left if we were going to give the girls' bendaryl or something to make them sleep during the plane.  I am very weary of this, only because I am a very paranoid mom- as far as dosages are concerned.  Anyway, we were trying to go this ride as drug free as possible.  We packed MP a small backpack that she could carry like ours and filled it with magic pads, stickers, a fuzzy worm puppet, a disposable camera, snacks, crayons and small books.  We didn't let her look in it until we were on the plane.  Oh, and we also bought the portable DVD player when we had a good deal for it.  So, we were set.   

During take off, Memmy was asleep and didn't bat an eyelash as we took off.  MP drank a baba, and fell asleep- the ride was 14 hours from LAX-Taipei.  The girls slept about 8 of those hours, and another two by the last 6.  We barely opened the backpack, they were absolutely brilliant during the ride.  The last five minutes, while the plane was in taxi-mode, MP started to freak out.  She cried a little, but was acting more like she was clausterphobic (as we all were.)  

Taipei layover (was about 8 hours).  Everything (except the vending machines) took US Dollars, and we ended up at a cafe eating noodles.  MP enjoyed this, and the baby carrier/carseat was a hassle to lug around.  The stroller came in handy.

All the restrooms in the Taipei airport were clean and the baby rooms had nice, hot water out of a water dispenser.  This came in handy for Memmy's bottles.  The duty free stuff had tons of Scotch and it was tempting not to buy any of it.

Anyway, our layover was over and we were two hours away from landing on Philippine soil.  I was really excited and couldn't wait for my Lola & Lolo to meet the girls.  The flight from Taipei to Manila was nearly empty and they moved us to two rows of our very own.  MP ate her in flight meal and was happy.

We landed and right when we got off the plane, two guys in suits with Ninoy Aquino International Airport tags were holding up a sign that said, "Melissa & Audi Keith."

LOL!!  My husband, the middle-eastern car.  

They immediately took our stuff and our landing card and passport and we got front of the (very long line) priveleges.  I never knew what to do in this situation, only because they are so fast, I am not always sure they are people who are helping and sent by my Lolo or people stealing our stuff.  At any rate, as long as we had the girls I didn't really care.  They waited at the baggage carousel with us, bypassed the customs officials and we walked out for our ride.  One problem, we had no cell phone.  No one was there to pick us up.  I only had the house number memorized and wasn't sure really who was picking us up.  I called the house and Lola said my Uncle Raul was going to be there... and that he went to the wrong airport.  LOL!  So we waited a few extra minutes, kids tired but in control.  And we finally saw Uncle Raul with our family driver, Nelson.  And so our adventure in the Philippines began...

Next post?  Our first week as told by Mini Peaves herself with pictures!

I am OFFICIALLY...

a stay at home mom!  Yay!  I am doing the travel biz thing at night and working out of my loft...and Barnes and Noble when I feel too cooped up.

Great things about my new job?

1.  Pyjama Uniform!

2.  Food on hand.

3.  Get to hang with my Mumbles & my Munkers.

4.  The Chiller channel.

Goin' To The Motherland...

We are travelin' again.  Going to the Philippines from January 28-February 21... the girls are going to meet my Lolo & Lola, we will get some well-deserved R & R.  Here is our flight itinerary:

Depart LAX for an 8 hour layover in Taipei, then go to Manila.  The flight is about 11 hours from LAX to Taiwan and then 3 hours to Manila.  I chose the long layover... because I thought we could get the kids out and stretch out for a bit.  We are very excited and started the packing process. Any suggestions for long trips?  I am against baby Benadryl thing... only because it seems a bit dangerous.  I am hoping the girls are like me and the minute the cabin is pressurized they will knock out.  But who knows?

Anyway, I think we have made the concious decision that travel is always going to be in our family lifestyle.  We will just have to make it so-  not get that extra TV or have two cars and we will go on one or two big trips a year, depending on how much time Papa can get off.  

Here is what we are packing in our new Dadgear Baby Backpack...

20 diapers for Memmy

15 Diapers for MP

A big Package of Wipes

Sunscreen

tissue

diaper rash cream

first aid kit

Mama's Twilight Book

Mama's Dexter Book

Cash

Passports

a pair of pajamas for each girl

matching purple velour outfits for the girls

hair ties for me and MP

Formula

Bag of toiletries

crayons

small books

object cards

mirror

coloring books

hooter hider

lanolin

three disposable bottles

extra nipple

bottle liner

in papa's back pack:

DVD Player

Ipod

Camera

I am writing an article about travel with young babies and young children.  This seems to be the best forum for it since most people who read it either have kids or are expecting kids.  I started to pitch it because i haven't seen any articles, even on the internets.  So, I will be reporting on what kind of formula, diapers and stuff you should bring and what stuff to leave behind.  Anyway, hope all is well with everyone.  

Baby Gear and The Buttholes Who Use Them

That title, actually tells people that I am a butthole.  Read on, and you will see what I mean. 

Newest baby gadgets and some old ones I can't live without...

1.  Breast Milk Alcohol Testing sticks...Made by Milkscreen, 6.95 USD, comes with 2-3 sticks (depending on if you get the "try me free" box.)  Instead of "pumping and dumping," you can pump and stick one of these baby's in there and it will let you know if there is too much alcohol in your milk.  Very cool.  Found it at Babies R Us, and heard about them from the lactation consultant.

2.  Any JujuBe baby bag.  I find them to be a little heavy, but I have 3 now... and they are pretty much indestructable.  The compartments are perfect.  And most of them come with stroller clips.  Also, you won't find every mom out there with the same brand... like, er... Petunia Pickle Bottom.  (cute, but too trendy).

3.  Backpacks by DadGear.  They have a built in wipes container on the bottom, lightweight and lots of easy to get to compartments.

4.  The Boppy Pillow.  Best thing ever, support when feeding, or holding and newborns' tummy time, naptime and many other things as the baby grows up... just buy lots of covers for yours!

5.  MacLaren Strollers, lightweight, comfy UK made, umbrella strollers- shell out the 180 USD for this thing, because they weigh next to nothing, recline nicely for a napping kid and look great.  Also, easy to clean, and they handle like a dream.

6.  Joovy Ultralight Caboose.  This is for peeps with more than one kid.  The Ultralight Caboose is for two kids, and it has a bench on the back for your older walking kid to stand on, and then there is a seat in the front that hold your baby carrier.  It's lightweight, folds very flat and has a neoprene parents caddy for your weed.  

Butthole Awards:  Yes, this complete stranger has won a butthole award.  She is such a butthole, that I created an award just for her.  So, the family and I are walking out of the parking lot at Target a coupled days before Christmas.  First off, let me tell you, that I am not, by any means a mom that scoffs at the expensive baby stuff.  In fact, I like the expensive baby stuff because I know it works the best.  It just depends on what you are buying.. for instance, shoes.  I am cool with an infant wearing Vans, or any other kind of shoe label... if it matches an outfit or something.  But, I am not opposed to Target and Payless Shoes more often, because for practical purposes babies and toddlers go through shoes about once a month or so.  I am digressing once again.  

Anyway, here is this lady, with some botox lips, a boob job, perfect salon painted skin, 600 dollar Dior glasses, and pushing a Bugaboo Stroller (for those of you who don't know, this is an 800-1000 dollar stroller), with her Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag. Both Her Douchness and her baby had Juicy clothes on and this blanket (I can't remember the brand, but we have one- anyway it's a 50 dollar Baby Blanket) with this Babies R Us Employee behind her, pushing a cart with a small package of newborn Pampers and a small bottle of Dreft.  The Designer Mom Asshole, looked lost because she probably couldn't find her Hummer in the parking lot because her 600 Dior Glasses and her botox lips were obstructing her vision.  The employee was pushing the cart, and looked like they had been pushing it awhile, because she looked wrecked.  The asshole kept looking around, and looking around... and thought it was kind of funny that she couldn't find her gigantic car.  I didn't bother to keep looking because it just made my blood boil.  

Why? You ask did this piss me off?  I feel like if you are going to carry the mom card, you should be a little tougher than this ballerina-necked designer bimbo who can't fit a damn tiny bottle of Dreft in the useless basket of her 1000 dollar stroller, so you have someone else slave away and push your crap around for you and look like an even bigger asshole in the process. Then, while you are doing it, be so fucking stupid that you can't find your semi-truck car in a fairly small parking lot, besides what's the point when you are going home to your nanny anyway, so you can go back to the spa and say what a hard job being a mom is.  

Yeah.  That's why.     

True Love.

The Christmas Photo Shoot...

Let me take a break now, from travel agent stuff to tell you about our photo shoot at JCPenney.  The day was going great, Memmy was 2 1/2 weeks old, MP was in fine form that day.  First off, the photo shoot we originally scheduled was on Saturday at about 11:00am.  We got up at 7am and realized we would be late around 9am.  Yep.  2 hours.  2 hours to get ready.  Not for a new parenting couple of two kids.  8:30am First off, I had two outfits for the girls all picked out.  They were these little Fall School Girl style outfits that were immediately shut down by Papa.  Correction, Papa shut down MP's outift, so I had to find a new outfit for Memmy too.  This sets us back a good ten minutes.  8:40 Memmy gets hungry.  Whip out the boobies- 15 mins left, 15 mins right, burp 5 minutes.  9:15 Find new outfits for the girls. 9:23 Papa takes a shower while we wait and play, hold Memmy and change her into her outfit. 9:33 Papa gets out of the shower, gets ready.  I change MP. 9:55am we decide we want to take a wardrobe change for the pics, in their Christmas pyjamas, I have to repack the baby bag of plenty and put even more inside it.  10:05am Memmy gets hungry.  I call and cancel the appointment.  But I reschedule it for the following day... and we repeat this process once again.

Fast Forward to Sunday at 3pm at the JCPenney Portrait Studio.  MP has this new thing where she says, :Mine! Mine! Mine!  Over everything she sees that she would like to claim ownership to.  Only, it sounds more like she is saying... MYNA! MYNA! MYNA!   She does it to waitresses in restaurants, she does it to kids...  she does it to Poppy.  

The portrait studio play area had Finding Nemo playing there, and her favorite wooden toy thing.  So, as she sees other kids playing with it she starts her yelling... "MYNA! MYNA! MYNA!"  We divert her attention with Nemo, and then she sees kids with lollipops.

MYNA!

We walk her around the studio to look at the rooms with kids taking pictures.

MYNA!

At this point, we realize, Memmy is hungry, and MP is hungry and if we don't remedy this in a few minutes we were going to have, a disaster.  I wasn't even thinking about how the photos were going to turn out, much less the scheduling anymore... we just had to get food in these kids.  Memmy was easy, whip out a bottle of formula, and insert.  Now MP was a little different, getting a two year old to eat when she is having a tantrum, is well... impossible.  Now, for those of you who don't have kids... you can't help it, you just forget that two hours goes by so quickly and it creeps up on you.

So, the lady calls us up for our pictures Memmy is still having her formula and MP is crying.  She calms down for pictures with tears streaming down her face.  But they manage to capture some cute pics.