A day in history...a birthday celebration.

This morning I was still in indecision on whether or not Bee + I were going to attend the Cabbage Patch Kids' 25th Birthday celebration at Toys R Us in Times Square; however, after thinking about the long extended day of Jason not being home until 6:00 PM and the impending rain in the later afternoon as well as Bee's happy, talkative mood I thought I would give it a shot. At 9:00 AM I began to get ready for our trek across the Hudson. Thoughtfully, I packed a condensed version of Bee's bottles, diapers, etc. and only had to make sure the two of us were presentable, the lady was fed enough to last us to the city, and strap her into her mei tai carrier.

By 9:30 AM we were hitting the streets for the bus and were in the city by 10:07 AM - Bee, thankfully, was awake and observant during our walk to the bus stop (since she normally wears a sunhat and doesn't get such large views of the nabe) and crashed into a deep slumber once on the bus. The gal woke up by the time we hit the streets out of Port Authority and began our three block walk to the greatest toy store on earth. After passing Jamie Lee Curtis on the street (random!), we had reached our destination and were greeted by CPK workers with goodie bags, brochures, and lots of pictures. It was not at crowded as I had anticipated. In fact, there were hardly any children there at all...so little that even 'Mother Cabbage' who was delivering babies in the cabbage patch had bumped into us while we were picking out the perfect CPK for Bee that she freaked out and cameras went ablazin'. She promptly apologized and said, "Omigosh! This is what this is all about! This is a true Cabbage Patch baby!". Then, with her stethoscope in hand we posed with our CPK, Bee and 'Mother Cabbage'. We also took our CPK pledge to be loving parents and earned our autographed Certificate of Authenticity by Xavier Roberts, the founder!

Afterwards, Bee and I ventured to the 2nd floor to visit the Babies R Us section and picked up some spoons and bowls in preparation for her big girl step of eating solid foods. She got a little fussy but I just took her out of her carrier in the restroom and fed her a couple of ounces. She promptly regained her heart-melting demeanour and smiles and even earned her some free schwag by the cashiers and security guard who fell in love with her, too!

Although I would have liked to viewed the Wii section and stick around to meet the Food Network's Duff of ACE OF CAKES who was serving the celebratory cake, I knew then was the best time to stop by Dad's work and drop off the goodies to free my arms (just call it mother's intuition). Unfortuanately, Mother Nature did not have the same thought in mind as the afternoon rain we were expecting turned into a two hour rain which, of course, was during our commute to Dad's office and home. So, me SANS stroller and umbrella, threw on Bee's sunhat and a burp cloth over her head and speed walked to Dad's office two blocks away. Of course, I am trying to be quick without slipping with flip-flops on and trying not to get the wee gal wet; meanwhile, she has her whole hand in her mouth more or less wimpering that she can't see anything going on due to my makeshift shelter (sure, she had no idea the lengths I was going through - LOL).

So, we reached Dad's office and got to hang out with him for about an hour as well KOB and to finally meet Uncle Frankie whom she eyed curiously with wonder.

Luckily, Dad had a spare umbrella and an hour later had fed the lady, changed her diaper, and got her just ready for a nap - meaning it was time to go. The timing was impeccable - we got to the bus platform, the bus showed up in one minute, and the babes was asleep. She woke up just in time to realize we were back in the bedroom and full of smiles and excitement.

Overall, she LOVED Toys R Us and I cannot wait to take her again...maybe this time with a visit to the Sanrio store to boot!

Oh yea...another monumental moment? Bee normally naps in my arms or co-sleeps; however, today I laid her down with the opportunity co-sleep in case she wakes up crying (like usual) but instead she winced a bit, turned on her side, and continued sleeping for about 20 more minutes! She then woke up, I co-slept for 30 minutes, and she unlatched and slept AGAIN for 20 more minutes....which I then woke her since I didn't want her to sleep too much since it was late in the afternoon and didn't want her to get her schedule too screwy!



For those not knowing what a Cabbage Patch Kid doll is - you must be living under a rock - LOL!

Nonetheless, they are dolls created in 1983 with such craze that they have been in space and even attended the Olympics! They had their worldwide birthday celebration at the Toys R Us in Times Square.

I remember getting my first CPK doll after much hesitation from my parents for the ungodly price of them and inability to find them since they were sold out everywhere. We finally convinced them to purchase one...seriously, ONE that my sister and I had to share and for some reason had blonde hair and blue eyes.....hmmmmmmm - media obsessed much - LOL. Anyway, we ended up getting two more - a newborn and preemie. Overall, they were my friends for a LONG time and I hope that Olivia Bee will find the same comfort and friendship that I found in my little girlfriends (even though at the moment of purchase Bee is the same size as her doll! LOL).

Anyway, they are currently offering Limited Edition CPK dolls that feature the original yarn hair, clothing types and names. They also come with a silver spoon commemorating this celebration. The Certificate of Authenticity was signed by the founder, Xavier Roberts, just for today and I am excited to offer this to my little girl as well.

I cannot believe that it has been 25 years since I was able to form such a bond with a lovely doll and hope that 25 years from now Olivia Bee will be able to offer this same gift to her son or daughter during their 50th birthday celebration.

A Mother's Love

My days during maternity leave have consisted of movies...movies via the library, Netflix, and our cable's OnDemand feature. They afford me the ability to become committed to something while still having the capability of pausing when the wee lady beckons more intense attention then being swung on the rocker or cuddling in my arms. Recently I stumbled upon the cutest movie which I find to be the truest of heart. (Might I add that it had Jason crying at the end as well!)

It is the late Adrienne Shelly's masterpiece, WAITRESS. Thankfully my situation does not consist of the main character's strifes of a crappy marriage and an affair (I am at the other end of the spectrum with a magnificent husband but was pretty miserable carrying the baby in the belly though not for emotional reasons like Huffman's character); however, I believe it does identify the true lengths a mother will go to for her child as well as the sudden change in life's perspectives when you finally get to hold your baby in your arms.

So, to those pondering pregnancy or that feeling of motherhood check it out. It's probably the closest you can get [besides your intense love for your pet] you can get to.

xo

We have been in denial...

...of the dreaded 4-month sleep regression and growth spurt. I knew the first month growth spurt was a long and awful experience and thoughtlessly convinced myself that as she got older the 'pain' of the spurt and development would not be so tedious.

I WAS WRONG.

This week she has been waking thru the night for feedings. The first night was for three feedings and the last couple of nights was for one. I was sure it would digress. Apparently - not.
We even checked for teeth and purchased some organic rice cereal in case the introduction of solids had reared its ugly head.
Nope.
She is definitely growing and showing more personality, attentiveness, curiosity, and speech by the day.

This evening it took Jason and hour to get her to sleep. Sure, she was tired. She was not hungry. She does not take to a binky- ever (we've tried every kind out there on the market) and did the normal ritualistic crap (swaddled, lights low, lavendar lotion, etc. etc). During the course of the hour she grew quite fond of two shirts drooling and pecking on them that Jason had to change into in the midst of his attempts of feeding her, swaying, and shushing in the dark nursery.

The 4-month sleep regression will supposedly make its ugly return in 6 and 8 months - just about the time when the baby is about to embark in some hardcore growing or milestones - like teeth, crawling, walking, etc. They will fight sleep and yet be tired. They will refuse the bottle and yet be hungry. And, all in all, only want to be fed by the nipple...when you have already given all you can give for that hour and need time to generate some more milk in the tired old ladies.

So, wish us luck for the remainder of the week.
This may be the decision breaker on whether we go to the Cabbage Patch Birthday Celebration at Times Square tomorrow. Why? Because I am going to be EXHAUSTED and will be home with Bee until about 6:30 PM. Oy vey.

So....future moms - be WARNED because they don't tell you these things in the books, you have to Google it and hope someone else used the same adjectives to describe your blunders.

Growth spurts and sleep regressions....yea, they're a bitch.

Welcome to the valley of malls...

STATUS: first full of hour of honest to gosh laughing, giggling, etc.

Today Jason, Olivia Bee, and I ventured into the Wayne/Clifton/Passaic area of Jersey. We tend to stop around the area about once or twice a year. It is, afterall, home of THE Fountains of Wayne. Anyway, we went to the Wayne Towne Center and picked up some duds for the girl at Gymboree as well as two separate stops at Costco and Sam's Club....

I know, I know, I know.
How domesticated of you.
How suburban of you.
Honestly, they have some pretty good + cheap prices and selection of organic goods that we stock up on...and, hell, you can't beat the price of their Similac (for those supplementing with breast can I get an AMEN?!?). So, today we got some chicken, a pork loin which I cut half of into cutlets for a total of about 8 meals (Betty Crocker - here I come!), and some organic spring mix lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, + multigrain bagels.

So, this definitely has me excited. Why, you ask?
On so many levels it shows how life is getting easier. Believe me, I LOVE TO COOK...and the tiring feeling at the end of the day with a newborn, lack of time, and the full but disgusting belly from eating out for about two months can really get you down. Not to mention...we went to a variety of places today and Olivia Bee maintained her loveable, giggly, talking composure we've grown so accustomed to in the privacy of our own home....gypsy baby, she is!!!

This weekend also had us purchasing goodies or, as Jason likes to call them - school supplies for Olivia's daycare in October. Oh, and call me simple but I am STOKED about my new BPA-Free water thermos (since I threw my old one out promptly after discovering BPA was in my bottle while I was pregnant - sheesh)...I tell you, I am so low maintenance it's scary. LOL. We also went to Ikea to window shop for some new bedroom furniture for the Mister and myself...it's getting to that annual time where he and I basically throw out oodles of junk and redecorate a room in our home (finally our bedroom!).

Anyway, since I know I won't be able to hit this up until the middle of the week or so....here's a list of the coming's + goings.....

MONDAY: Jason works til 4 [boooooo!], dinner menu: pork piccata [yayyyyyy!]
TUESDAY: Jason works til 6 [booooooo, again!], Olivia Bee and I venture to Toys R Us in Times Square to meet Xavier Roberts and help him celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Cabbage Patch Kids (oh, and snag her one while we're at it...and stop by the Nintendo Wii section for some possible new games for the big kids - yes, that would be us, and the Muji store, oh - and the SANRIO store....derp
WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: relax with Daddy in Hoboken, dinner menu: chicken + sage/mushroom gravy, library
FRIDAY: Grandma is visiting us!

Just a reminder...

all NEW photos + videos are on the Flickr site. I will still post pics here and there but the majority will be located here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/underneathmytree

xoxo
jmo

Ghost stories...(not a baby story...really)...

Jason and I both believe in ghosts and the supernatural. Hell, this would explain Jason's infatuation with Sci-Fi channels' GHOST HUNTERS and why we're going to Philly for our anniversary to relax, get pampered, thrift, and ummmm, visit the Eastern State Penitentiary? LOL.

Anyway, we have lived in our apartment going on four years now and sometimes wonder if our apartment is haunted. The building is over 100 years old located across the street from some of Hoboken's most historic houses. Anyway, it all started with what I like to try to say may be electrical 'glitches'. When our bedroom was located in what is now the den our television would do some strange things without the remote control. For instance, we would be laying in bed watching a show and suddenly the volume would go up and down...and the two of us would freeze knowing that the remote was by the television. Other times the channel would change or the power would shut off with perhaps the time we were listening the the NYC Marathon in the kitchen and Jason running to the set to view the winner and the set shutting off right when he rounded the corner being the weirdest!

So, naturally, the 'glitches' have followed us to our new bedding location (of which, this room NEVER had these problems). The first began with the cable box which has POWER light. Well, sure, the light remains on; however, how do I explain that the timeclock disappears at/around 4:00AM for five minutes several times in the past few weeks? I know this because Jason has to wake during this hour and and the cable box is the first thing I see when I open my eyes for a clock....OK, whatever.

Still not sold? I try not to be, too.
Until, little Bee arrives. Of which I try to explain her crying (which you learn to distinguish your own child's cries from others) outside my window in the trees at 2:00 AM on a Wednesday?
Or, on mornings when it is just me and Bee co-sleeping in dead silence...and the bars of her baby monitor are going berserk as if there is a raucous in her bedroom?
Probably the strangest was a 2:30 AM feeding...
Jason is holding Bee in his arms in the rocker just to the right side of my bed. Her eyes are shut and the bottle is still in her mouth. Suddenly we hear HER cry coming from her bedroom. Jason looks down, I look at the baby and simultaneous we look at each other with the WTF expression in our eyes.

And the most recent...
Jason's cat, Buddy, knows that Jason wakes up about 4ish - meaning he gets some love and food as Jason prepares and showers for work. Well, some mornings Jason is afforded some time to sleep in and Buddy, being a creature of habit, will meow until the cows come home in the kitchen. If this does not work, he goes into Bee's room to meow and wake her up (a smart and yet asshole move on his part in my opinion). Well, most nights we catch him when we hear the creak of the door opening. One particular morning, we both awoke to what we assumed was Buddy in all of his glory. It is dark and I see a shadow of a cat move in - but no meow sounds, the shadow is just sitting in the doorway. Jason does his normal cat call that Buddy responds to; however, the shadow does not move. Jason, grumpy from having to get out of bed, gets up (meanwhile, keep in mind that my eyes have not moved from the shadow)...and in pops Buddy's head from the entrance of our door to the rest of the house! Ummmm...WHAT THE HELL opened the babies' door HALF WAY.
You tell me...

As for me....as long as Bee doesn't get all creepy and starts crying staring off into the distance or, daresay, begins talking crazy talk to an imaginary friend about things she would never know about....I think we're OK.

The Secret Life of Bee's

STATUS: 15-1/2 weeks; approximately 23 inches + 12-1/2 lbs.

I know, I know....where the f*ck have you guys been?
Honestly? Nowhere special - and, yet, EVERYWHERE? We still enjoy our walks around Hoboken and even paid a special visit to NYC to meet Daddy and introduce Bee to all of his coworkers. We have been to Virginia to see Grandma, Great-Grandpa, and even a special visit to Grandpa at his house on the river. We have been to the mountains for some thrifting
...but mainly just enjoy our private family time here in our little city.

Olivia Bee is truly a pleasure and today on the cusp of Tropical Storm Hanna's arrival I lay here in bed and finally blog. Jason is actually up and in the den catching up on the old tube (I find nothing really interests me except the news and Jeopardy!...and the 2 movies I fit in while Jason is at work. Movies because they allow me to press PAUSE when the little lady needs to have her way).

The girl is sleeping through the night; however, I knock on wood at this since she has been going through a growth spurt - which means every two hour feedings. On the norm we have her in her Miracle Blanket (a TRUE must-have for any parent...along with a mei-tai carrier and Boppy feeding pillow). She still sleeps in the bouncer in the crib; however, has begun to sleep on her back when breastfeeding and co-sleeping with me during our early morning ritual from about 5:30 AM until about 7-8ish.

Other wonderful discoveries...
she is a talker, a squealer, a wonderful sense of humor...and truly gives out smiles to anyone who asks for one.
she is now fitting into her 3-6 month old clothes.
she LOVES to sit in her Bebe pod (aka: infant chair) and can for a few seconds sit by herself tripod style.
she loves stories, books and cartoons.
she hates the carseat and long drives because she can't see everything going on all around her at all times.
she loves mirrors.
she cries real tears (started after her 2-month appointment with vaccines which went off without a hitch meaning sans fever, irritability, etc.).
she, unfortunately, still naps 90% of the time in your arms and fights sleep because she's afraid she will miss something even if it's completely dark inside.
she is beginning to travel in her big girl MacLaren stroller.
she's extremely observant and emotional through her facial expressions.
she has no interest in tummy time and went straight to sitting up - also shows no interest in crawling, already wanting to get pulled up to stand....sheesh.

This month is her 4-month doctor's appointment and more vaccines. Yes, time does fly...and, yes, it does get easier. I think the most important thing for any parent to know is that with a baby - there is no schedule. One month they will sleep through the night or like to be carried and the next it's all out the window due to their teething or whatnot. Obviously, my OCD has gotten pretty toned down around the house but we're happy and the light at the end of the tunnel shows it's all working out and getting towards a balance.
Unfortunately, return to work on October 9th. This, I know, will be the most difficult time for me. Besides the adjustment of a new schedule (earlier waking, co-sleeping, get her to daycare, go to work, get home with an hour to play then bedtime...), I know it will be an emotional adjustment. Everyday I spend with her I discover more and more wonderful things about her and in many cases takes days sometimes weeks for her to share these special intricacies with Jason. Breaks my heart but I know that in the long run this is what is best for her socially, emotionally, and, of course, us - financially....hell, I know I'll even be able to begin to read again and catch up with the world.

Oh well, that's my rant and catch up. I did add a few posts that I had lingering in limbo from months ago....so holla back. I am here and hopefully back with ATLEAST one post a week. I am sure once I get back to work they will overflow with goodies about life with Bee (to keep me from missing her too much to the point of tears...and to show her, 18 years from now, that I never really left when I went back to work).

Good night.
m.