Tori’s Writing Hole

Well, for the last few days, we’ve actually been able to be outside! A temp of 80º means plenty of sun and fun for Julia. Who is afraid of swings. I thought it was a fluke, something that was just in need of a little encouragement - but no… she has a deep seeded fear of the swingy equipment. With two park visits in two days, you think she’d be able to handle it - or at least, humor her mom with a small smile. We put her in the “baby” swings (the ones that have leg holes/bucket shape) and she should have been safe and snug. Any little motion though provoked screams and wails. A nine month old baby, barely able to keep his arms, legs and head in order, was heartily enjoying the experience.

Eh. I guess I should have known my lil’ bookworm/speech giver/singer wouldn’t be into the great outdoors. I just don’t want her to end up like me - I was totally disinterested in “outside” and I think I spent the first 18 years of my life as pale as bleached flour.

Technorati Tags: park, swings, toddler, baby, outside

I have begun to re-glutenify myself in preparation for a visit to a gastroenterologist. He/she will hopefully be able to take a sample during a happy-fun-time endoscopy and let me know if I really need to eschew wheat forever. Two separate sets of blood work showed no gluten intolerance/Celiac disease, so I’m still wondering about whether there’s a problem with the wheat at all. I am still ill most days to an extent, but even upon adding in the gluten again, I’ve still got more stamina than I’ve had in many a year.

As for my computer… ha! I’m on my desktop (well, the family desktop) due to the fact that my iBook kernel panicked two days after the last time I wrote about her. She should be on her way back now, from a third visit to the computer hospital, and hopefully all is well. If not, you should be able to hear my screams from space.

Technorati Tags: gluten, celiac, desktop, computer

So, I went to what could very well be my last family wedding on Saturday. Hubby’s littlest bro got married, meaning there is no more of his hunky (ahem, yes I wrote that) genetic pool left up for grabs. Unlike other weddings I’ve been to, the food was great, I didn’t get drunk, and I sang. Yep, I sang karaoke for the first time ever. “Your Song” by Elton John. It was at the end of the reception, so I’m assuming most everyone thought I was great, or was too drunk to care. I, on the other hand, have been constantly critiquing my performance. I wish my perfectionism would just go to sleep sometimes.

Julia had a lot of firsts this weekend - her first swim in a pool and a dip in a not-too-hot tub, her first time in a bathing suit, and our first trip to a hotel where she was aware enough to not like it. She also danced with me for the first time, and interrupted her first important event (she screamed through part of the wedding ceremony). As weekends go it was jam packed, and my feet still hurt from dancing. But it’s over now, and weddings shall soon be a distant memory.

Technorati Tags: wedding, swimming, hotel, karaoke

My computer - lifeline, lap warmer, work device - she’s back. I shall call her … well, I can’t think of a good name for a laptop right now, but I’ll work on it. After two trips to the computer hospital (aka Apple), and two separate replacements of the hard drive and motherboard, I am finally able to write again.

I missed you, my friend. Now to catch up on two weeks of work that have piled up due to your absence.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, laptop, computer

Ok, not really… but finding her some friends to play with is a priority. When I was a child, I had a built in playmate/punching bag in my brother, but Julia’s an only child - she’s going to need someone else to make mud pies with and to accuse of hitting first. I know she’s only 2, but I don’t want her cowering in a corner come school time, afraid of interaction.

So, via the wonders of the ‘Net, I’m trying to set up dates for her. Or at least group outings. It’s more nerve wracking than I remember my own dating to be. Will the other kids like her? Will the moms like me? Is she dressed right (in this case, not worried about sluttiness as in adult dating, but is she warm/cool enough, will other mothers judge her non-Gap Kids clothes?) It’s horrid. I thought kids just found other kids, the way migrant dogs form packs, but no… if you’re not right next door to a family with kids the same age, you’ve got to work for it! Julia has plenty of cousins, but I know she’ll need to associate with non-relatives as well.

I guess the first step is getting there. Right now, she’s trying to feed her baby doll with a bottle, but poking it in her stomach. Faster, I suppose. I love my silly pumpkin, and I have to trust others will as well.

Technorati Tags: mom, playdate, child, toddler