Well now!

Before adding a The End to my contributions on Harry’s World, I decided to go for a run. Running reminded me of a time when I was “less intense.”

I thought back to that time when I exercised with friends for several hours each day, followed a proper yeast-free zone diet day, burned sage, only read People at the dentist’s office, enjoyed the company of neighbors, and had time to sleep. I didn’t worry so much about being fired, being fat or being unfriendly. I didn’t worry so much about failing. I suppose I didn’t have as far to fall. If I did, I had the energy to climb back up. And the time.

Unbeknownst to me, or perhaps not so much, I have let “The Negatives” slip in and affect me.

At work, it’s easy to think I am not doing a good job. After all, I work in a vacuum. I’ve been too busy to check in with others to find out what obstacles they are dealing with.

Physically, I weigh what I did pre-Harry, but I do not feel “in shape.” My chiropractor swears I am, and I am told by certain instructors I am a “star pupil” but I seem to be butting heads with my fitness regime, and acquiring injuries in the process. My advice to others would be “slow and sure” but that method is frustrating. Marathoners shouldn’t struggle to run a mile.

I’ve been letting the foods I eat fatigue me (yeast and dairy). I eat what I tell others not to. I’ve almost given Harry fries on several occasions (thank you, Kevin, for stepping in and guiding me in my moment of weakness!).

Worst of all, in my weakened state, I’ve let “The Negatives” get to me. These are the people who obviously are not as comfortable in their own shoes as they would like to be. These are the people who like to bring others down. J.K. Rowling might call them “Dementors.”

I’ve decided to be rid of them once more. Healthy foods for Harry. Healthy thoughts for me. Warm fuzzies all around. So, don’t talk to me if you are going to be glum, unless you want a hand up. Don’t question my beliefs, unless you want an explanation. Don’t offer me pizza, because it is kryptonite to my body and soul.

Kevin, Harry and I had a blast at Disney World last February. With all of the busy-ness in our lives, we need more quiet time together. I was sober for my 30^th birthday, and stuck in a car all day at the close of it. This year I plan to be on a beach when the winter solstice rolls around and leads me to the year 32. Keeping Harry’s needs in mind, I think I will check out Beaches Resorts. This won’t be the first December I’ve spent with Elmo.

We also plan to be home for Christmas.

Cookie Monster!

With the recent addition of Mushu, their one month old bearded dragon, the Brockways are looking for new homes for their other pets. Victoria (bunny) gets to stay, but the birds have to go.

Anyone looking for a parakeet?

Harry was the lucky recipient of their goldfish, Cookie, newly named Cookie Monster McDermott.

As hard as you try...
Blog's almost always become misinterpreted by someone.
I guess you can't please everyone.

I think it is very important to have differing opinions. I just get annoyed that there are one or two people out there that really bring me down. One of them, I have to see nearly every day.
This person is just very rude about her own views, making me dislike evrything that she represents.
I guess I should take a lesson from her about what not to do. And pass THAT lesson on to Harrison.

***This blog is not intended to offend, in any way, any friends or relatives who may happen to be Democrats. This does not necessarily make you a freak. Although, if you are a friend or relative of ours, THAT may make you a freak, but in a different way. The freaks in question are those who sit cross-legged at the student union, in the path of those of us using sidewalks.

Random Thoughts for a Person Named Kelly

While I have often been accused of thinking in loopy/twirly/Phoebe-like circles, I am a huge fan of the outline and believe I actually think in straight lines. Very FAST straight lines. I tend to speak in highlights, leaving out some of the dialogue. It works great when you don’t have a lot of time, which I never seem to have, but it’s not so good when you are giving presentations, or speaking to folks who value a good story. I know it is rude to finish people’s sentences, but lots of things are rude these days and people seem to overlook them. Wearing flip flops at the airport has got to be up there.

I am in Atlanta at the moment. Many of you may recall Atlanta is my least favorite airport. I like the African Art between the concourses. There is always good shopping (you can buy ipods from vending machines!). Plenty of flights if you miss yours. But, of course, that is the problem. Lots of missed flights from Atlanta.

I actually was at the Medical College of Georgia today, in Augusta. I drove. It is over 2 and a half hours, but flights into Atlanta never fail to be delayed. I like to get home.

Along those lines, I applied for a new position in my company at 2 AM this morning. I don’t know exactly how long the position would be for, but it is advertised as a home based position reviewing reports (primarily). May sound dull, but I entered Maryland as a Journalism major, switched to English…I actually LOVE this kind of stuff! And I would still have the flexibility of being home based, and also keep ALL of my PTO time. PLEASE do whatever you can to get me this job. I may have to work some Wiccan Magick. Or maybe schedule a time where everyone can think white thoughts and stomp out the other candidates. How about July 21, 9 AM. Is everybody free? This would mean I could see my little Bug, and my big Muffin, every single day! And Bailey.

If this doesn’t work out, perhaps we can open a B&B at our house. We can call it “The Dulles Inn” and maintain an open door policy for all friends and relatives trapped without a flight! Yes, we had the pleasure of entertaining yet another who was stuck in the area. This time, Meg’s boyfriend Ian from Seattle by way of South Carolina en route to Philly. This was the first time Kevin got to meet them. I got to say hey, and then grabbed a cab to DCA, conveniently giving the boys some alone time to bond.

Apparently sister in law Meghan made it to town by 7:15 AM this morning. Seattle time, she must have woken up at midnight to get to our house. I missed her, but if all goes well we will all be meeting up on Sunday in PA before they head home. And after a trip to Point Pleasant. No swimming in Creeks there though. Too close to Matawan Shark attacks.

Browsed the book store again…found yet another intriguing Boynton book: Yay, you! It reads like Oh, the places you’ll go and is obviously a book for grads. I don’t seem to know any at the moment though. Maybe I can stash a copy for CJ? I still may pick up a copy for the little bug. It is also a story about how people choose different paths. It kind of tells a story about how it is okay to be a freak if that is what you want to be, and it is also okay if you choose to be successful.

I think success is a choice. I also think freaks are mean. Here are my thoughts on freaks: They tend to be very judgmental, and subtly nasty. There is so much talk about Mean Girls and Queen Bees and Frat Guys and Jocks…I think it is the freaks who make the world a bad place. They are usually the ones complaining about the president, complaining about Americans wearing shorts, complaining about cheerleaders and complaining about moms who work…but know what? It’s never the football team that blows up a high school (I am sure any freaks reading this are probably thinking the football team could not build a bomb). As far as I can tell, there aren’t many prom queens who grow up to be suicide bombers. I am not interested in creating some brave new world where everyone thinks the same, but I think maybe there should be socialization camps for freaks. Start them early. Teach people it is okay to be happy.

Maybe it is the Republican in me. I have two cows, my neighbor has none. So what? I worked hard for those cows, and feeling guilty about it will only shorten my life span. Eating strawberries and blueberries and spinach will improve it, and also help ward off Alzheimer’s. So will exercise. Both physical and mental. So, the title of this blog is to get your brain working and keep your brain strong. And because Kelly was complaining it’s been a while since I’d posted ;-)

In case you didn't see the link, check out Harry in the sprinkler

Quicktime Required... 2.3 MB File, so it may take a while on a slow connection.

New Stuff

Harry can now kick/dribble a beach ball.

Did I mention he can clap his hands and say “Yaaay!”? It’s been a while for that one.

He can remind me to “Go” when the light turns green.

He also says “Okey, dokey” and “Okay.”

This is fun!

The Green Towel

It took me a few hours to figure it out, but now that I did, I think it is the cutest thing ever!

There was a green towel lying on the floor by the door.

The towel is usually only used to dry Harry off at the pool.

Today he insisted that this towel be used to dry Bailey off.

I ordered her to cooperate, as Harry was becoming increasingly irritated, and she reluctantly followed suit.

She was already dry, so I could understand her reluctance.

I helped Harry pat her with the towel, and a big grin spread across his face.

I feel like I need to wake him up now and apologize for not realizing his genius at the time, or at least his recollection.

This morning I had used the towel to dry Bailey off while Harry watched.

It was first thing this morning when she usually dashes in for breakfast, so she was not in the mood to be sidetracked.

I had an irritated tone of voice and ordered her to remain still.

This is precisely what Harry did this afternoon!

How cute is that! My little sponge! He’s so smart!

And we are in so much trouble!

If we don’t start being more careful, we may soon be living with an Osbourne!

In other Harry news, he is still able to climb up the back of his slide and go down all by himself, but now he is able to climb into his swing by himself as well!

He’s the greatest!

We also spent some time chasing Bailey in circles, and Harry falling in the grass. He loves it. Makes him giggle.

Hello from BabyCenter!

The folks at Babycenter.com say that "Ball," "dog," and "cat" may be your child's favorite — and only — words at this point, though some early talkers may have as many as 20 words in their vocabulary. This information is for a 14 month old. Obviously, then, Harry is an early talker. Cool! He may have waited to start walking at a textbook age of 13 months, but he definitely knows at least 20 words. If your toddler can use the words she knows at the right time, that's a sure sign she's beginning to articulate what's going on around her. Oh, he knows what’s going on around him. I just hope Kevin and I are smart enough to direct his powers towards the side of good (we’ve not been so lucky with Bailey. She uses her skills primarily to steal pizza). For instance, if you pass a dog on the sidewalk and she points and calls out "Dog!" in delight, cheer her on. Though my dad will not admit it, Kevin and I each heard Harry say “Hi, PopPop” a couple of times while talking to my dad on the phone the other day. He says things like “Milk” for his milk. He’s been saying “Night, night” in association with his crib for some time (usually with a “No” in front of it). He also pointed to the river the other day and the golf course and said “River” and “Golf.” I should think Grandpa Magoo would be please about the latter. Harry usually gets, um, antsy as we go through the construction and traffic delays in Old Town, so I started pointing out familiar spots to show him we were close to home. He then would point to the river and say “river,” and the golf course and say “golf.” I was quite pleased. Don't be discouraged if she sometimes uses the same word for other furry animals with tails. That's an indication that she's learning to group things together. Harry definitely says “Hi” to everyone…he also sometimes says hi to stop signs and trashcans as we pass. Just say the correct word in a matter-of-fact tone ("That's a horse, honey. Horses are bigger than dogs"), and she'll soon pick up on it too. In fact, pointing to an object and saying its name out loud is a great way for you to help build your toddler's vocabulary and comprehension. We are working on this a little bit…but I confess, I don’t see the point in a complete knowledge of farm animals. Having him sit in the executive chair and type on the keyboard seems far more practical. Soon, I can train him on my computer system, and he can do my typing while I lounge on the porch swing with a tasty beverage that may or may not include Kettle One.

He’s Got It!

To begin with, you may have noticed the new format. Rosie O’Donnell said seomething stupid a few months ago and her blogsite was on the news. Same template as ours. Kevin finally got around to changing it. I like the new format!

Where am I? On the way to Warwick, RI where I will work for approximately one hour putting labels on 10 bottles of medication that will expire in October. This is what I went to grad school for, and why I make the big bucks!

But, while at the airport, I picked up a few books. A Boynton book about hippos for Harry. The hippos talk on the phone. Another for Harry about airplanes so he can see where I am when I am gone (although, he has also been expressing interest in the noisy things that fly above him at the park. May as well explain them). I got another for Shelly about bunnies. Funny bunnies. We are into bunnies at the moment. Sarcastic ones, like the ones on Showtime. It is Shelly’s birthday very soon. I also got one for me. Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom. One review reads, “Shows you what would happen if Buffy got married and kept her past a secret.” Carpools. Crabgrass. Creatures from the depths of hell. Might be just what I need to get me back to Krav! That, and my shorter commute time from the new house!

I took Elliot past the casa nueva yesterday. He liked it, but like me, was amazed at the 90,000 churches that border us on King Street and Braddock. Well, at least I should be safe from demons.

As Kevin noted, Elliot is in town for a brief while. I treated him to lunch at Thai Pepper and tried to refresh his knowledge of English. Lots of “How do you say?” and “Do you have a word for especial?” Elliot is from Maryland, so I can actually understand his confusion, though it was curious. He’s been away too long! It’s nice to have him back. Can’t wait for him to meet Harry.

Another thing I explained to Elliot was Harry’s “Elliot arms.” Laura and Amber refer to Lance’s as “T-Rex arms.” I believe one of the Matt Groenig bunnies used to have them as well. Whatever…it’s something to bond the two of them.

Speaking of Harry…the kid’s just got it! He never ceases to amaze. Kevin was grilling yesterday while I focused on boiling water. I left Harry in the living room, and came back to find him sitting politely at his picnic table enjoying his soy milk. It was as though we’d placed him there!

His table manners have improved a great deal. He now hands you the food he doesn’t want instead of putting it on the floor. He chews very nicely. And his pincer grasp is perfected. He noshed on a bowl of cheerios the other day as though it were a bucket of popcorn---actually, he noshed on it better than I would have, as I normally put handfuls in my mouth. He did it one at a time. Very cool!!!

Other birthdays (along with Shelly) this month include Hannah Brockway and Jenn Wagner, who share the 11th. Happy Birthday! Dubya’s was also yesterday. I forgot to send a card, but he seems a bit busy at the moment…Bike crashes. Train explosions.

Big sigh from Kim.

I had finally started to get over my flight anxiety. I guess two weeks on land and the recent events have thrown me off again. I’m tired of terrorism. Foreign and domestic. Do I really need to say more? Just tired of it. Happy though that Matt and Glenn are not in England yet. Poor Glenn was stuck in Hawaii/California with us when 9/11 hit. He is who we drove home with. Hope they make it to and from UK in one piece.

As for me, I may be buying a tripod for the video camera so Harry will have something to remember me by…just in case….not sure if I should say this out loud….he’s just a really cool person and needs to have a mom. Even if it is just a video version. More motivation for going back to Krav. You never know when you need to fight those demons, literal or figurative.

Wow…this has become my worst blog ever. I’m such a downer…

Better re-read that bunny book.

So apparently today seemed like a good day from someone to try to blow up the world again, only this time they decided to strike on the other side of the pond.

It's made for an odd morning to say the least.

You may recall that Kim and I were in Hawaii (Lihue, Kauai to be precise) the last time this happened, so yet again, an 8-hour plane trip away from the chaos. Doesn't really seem to matter. Chaos and fear and general unease spread very far very quickly. Was relieved to find out that the friends I immediately thought of traveling to England aren't leaving the States until tomorrow.

So what happens next?

Our day goes on, and we hold our collective breath for a while to see.


On a much lighter note, you may have noticed a bit of a facelift on Harry's World. Hopefully over the next few days you'll also be delighted to see a new front page on harrymcd.com as well.

Hi everyone.

As you can see by the recent posts, it's been a busy last few weeks. By nature of the insanity that is the DC metro area housing market, we've managed to successfully find, see, make an offer on, and win a new house, and clean, list, show privately, have an open house for, receive multiple offers for, and approve a contract on our existing house, all within a matter of 9 days.

You may not have noticed, but June was a month in which Kim's travel took her out of town for 1/3 of the month.

Follow that up with a typical travel/visit/formal event-laden holiday weekend over the 4th, another heavily traveled month for July, and the aforementioned real estate settlement meetings and subsequent moves, and I'd say we've got ourselves a relatively busy summer.

Wrapped up in this whole home-buying fun was my 2nd Father's day. It was a bit of a blur, as that's the day we found the new digs, and Aidan's whirlwind engine kicked in, but without her, none of this would have gone off as well as it did.

Oh yes... we also had a few house guests in there. A former Caps co-worker Matt Charbonneau spent some time with us while he visited friends and colleagues in DC. Unfortunately for him, his visit coincided with my own whirlwind house cleanup. Cousin Zoe Dowd also spent an unplanned evening with us... hopefully nice for her to get to spend the night with familiar folks rather than on a bench at Dulles Airport!

So really, I've been trying to unwind from all of this (contrary to popular belief), but there's still so much more. A BBQ for great old friend & roommate Elliot who's in visiting from Uruguay, closings on the houses, the impending move, and finally... vacation in NC.

I'm looking forward to NC, but it seems so far off, yet with everything else going on, I know it will be here very quickly.

How much will Harry have changed by September?

Thankfully, a late draft of the compilation that I had been putting together from Year 1 of Harry's World was still on Magoo's computer when my laptop died last weekend, or a lot of the changes of note would have had to be reassembled from scratch.

Looking over it, I see the progress he's made. Even the difference from his 1st birthday until today. It's amazing how much he has assimilated himself into our lives, and us into his. Walking, running, laughing, talking... all in his own inimitable way that every "sentence" seems to end with that little dimply grin that will make anyone melt.

I then think about Bryan and Anna, and hope for them that they're having this kind of fun with Patrick, that May & Gene and Dave & Mikki realize how much cooler their lives will be when their kids arrive, that everyone else who's getting things in line so they can raise a family. I can't wait for when Harry gets to be friends with our friends' kids.

The circles that we run in now are very tight, and intermingle quite a bit (being told that I'm someone's link for "6 degrees of separation" is an interesting honor). Some day we'll look back on where the roots of the new crowd are from and get to enjoy it all over again.

But like vacation time in September, that future will be here all too soon. I can only hope that I was able to get everything done in time to enjoy it.

I need a holiday…

Another busy holiday weekend! My guys are exhausted, and Bailey is glad we are home to protect her from the fireworks. Here’s a recap:

THURSDAY

My weekend began early. I had a painful visit at the day spa followed by an even more painful visit to the dentist to have a cavity replaced. Solage, the International Day Spa in Old Town is where I decided to go once I replaced Circe. I love Rafik, who is down in Georgetown, but it was becoming such a hike. Although…perhaps now that we are moving closer to the city….now I’m thinking! Tomorrow, I will call Rafik to fix my hair. Solage did a good job last time, but this time my hair is choppy and the highlights are streaky. My eyebrows are not even and my pedicure looks like I did it myself. I think I might check out the spas in Delray to correct these errors. (Postscript: I made an appointment at Anne Welsh in Delray. We’ll see how that goes.)

I am still deciding on the dentist. He’s also in Old Town. We were waitlisted for about 6 months before getting in. I had still been seeing my dentist, Anne Barrett, in NJ. I love that office. They are very high tech. The new guy, Les Ratner…he hurts my mouth! Dr. Barrett never did…but they are far away…I still have not ordered up my records, though. I just figured since Harry has so many teeth (12-16 at the moment!) I should find someone local. Although, there was a little girl screaming while I was getting my teeth done. Perhaps I should keep looking…

I picked Harry up early so we could hang. I don’t think Menike was ready to be Harry-less for a 4 day weekend as well as an extra two hours! She told me I should go relax (until my face returned to normal). I thank her but gathered Harry up just the same.

I had to wait until 5 to pick up my Ogre-green bridesmaid dress at the cleaners, so we went to the park to swing and then swung by Starbucks for some big boy soy milk (with a straw!) and a very sticky butterfly cookie for Harry. I kept myself busy trying to pour water into one side of my mouth (dentist, remember). I have been dying to take him to a book store, and my favorite Barnes & Noble is right there, but it was such a nice day out, I thought we should take advantage and do some outdoor activities instead. And based on [Sunday’s] near escape from his car seat when we passed the park, I think I chose wisely!

FRIDAY

Harry and I spent the morning playing with his new BBQ grill. He had such fun on Isabella’s stove that I decided to get him some role-playing toys of his own (in addition to my cell phone and laptop). He loves his BBQ. He can wheel it all over the house, and he is careful to only put the designated corn, chicken leg and Boca burger on the grill. He knows what the pieces are all called as well. He is so smart.

His buddy Lance came over at 10:30. The two boys are the same size and have the same personality (future CEOs of America we have been told by the experts of Gymboree). I was waiting for them to wrestle each other for the phone! Lance’s aunt, Amber, came by with him to meet Bailey. She watched her for the weekend for the small price of a flight to Vegas. I am glad those frequent flier points can make themselves useful!

Kevin was home by noon and we headed up to NJ for Melissa & Pete’s rehearsal dinner. We went to a very cool Japanese restaurant. Dinner was fabulous and the chefs entertained us well. I did not catch any lobster in my mouth however. I do believe I ducked. Kevin caught his. Was there any doubt?

Little man did not join us. He stayed back at the hotel, where my dad foolishly asked Harry if he wanted to go for a ride. Guess who got to push a stroller around a hotel for an hour? Hah! I thought he learned his lesson with Bailey! (Speaking of Bailey…Amber told me Monday that Bailey helped herself to a slice of pizza from the box on the bottom shelf while Amber had the refrigerator door open. Is there no end to what this dog will go to for pizza???)

SATURDAY

Woke up by 6. Harry got to play in the hotel room while Kevin and I watched the Action News report on Live 8. (Still seems silly to hold a free concert to support erasing debt in third world countries. Why not charge people and pay off the debt?). As the crowds gathered by the Art Museum steps, we gathered our energy to head downstairs for some breakfast (no room service at this hotel L). Breakfast was followed by a swim with the little bug. Although, he doesn’t swim as much since he discovered cannonballs. He still likes to climb out of the pool, walk away, and then turn around and run back. Kevin entertained Harry by going underwater and popping back up. I splashed tidal waves at him, thereby soaking the pool room, which he thought was very funny! Old guys (his favorite) played peekaboo with him as he stared out of the indoor windows.

By 9, Harry was ready for a quick nap. I got myself ready for the hairdresser. I shouldn’t have bothered. I have never had worse wedding hair in my life. What is it with my hairdresser karma these days? I really need to speak up when I don’t like something! The hairdresser certainly voiced his concerns over other peoples’ bad haircuts (though strangely, he complimented mine). I shouldn’t have been concerned with his feelings so much.

We went back to Melissa’s sister Staci’s house to get ready. 9 year old Brielle was not ready to watch us all get dressed in front of her. Her dad was, but we politely escorted him out. Photographers arrived and we snapped away behind them. I am still working on the Shutterfly editing, but due to a hard drive crash, we may not be able to post any on the website.

Kevin entertained Harry during this time by taking him for a walk through Haddonfield, with a stop at Starbuck’s of course. There is a giant playground near The Mansion, so they also hung out there for a while. PopPop returned to watch Harry before Kevin headed back to The Mansion to sit in the hot sun and take photos.

Having had my own wedding out of doors, I would be the last person to suggest anything else, even after the fact. It was a gorgeous day and I am glad Melissa and Pete chose to exchange their vows under blue skies, BUT…well, a big shout out to the makers of those bridesmaids dresses. Those were some hard core liners underneath! We may have been soaked inside them, but looked (literally) as cool as cucumbers to the “congregation.”

Later, we dined, danced, and chatted with some of Melissa’s relatives that I haven’t seen in a dozen years. It was still weird to see her 1 and 3 year old cousins look like college kids! And I’m not afraid to say that I cried when her 90 year old grandfather danced with her grandmother…but then stayed on the floor dancing to hip hop! I can only imagine his hearing is impaired!

The guys actually invaded our late evening girl music (beginning with Dancing Queen). My neck still hurts from dancing with Pete. I think I am literally HALF of his height! Melissa looked beautiful in her dress, and neither Nicole nor I popped out of ours, though her other grandmother was very understanding of the pain I suffered from my strapless bra. Ouch!

SUNDAY

Stopped by my mom and Allen’s for some strawberry pancakes before heading to the beach. They’ve expanded their deck, and it looks great. Harry got to play with the big dogs. Poor Nugget. She’s always loved attention, but she needs it so badly she even puts up with Harry’s poking and prodding (P.S. I got some great footage of Harry chasing Bailey in circles on Friday! She paid attention when I told her she can walk away from him. We will need to work on a new plan now that he is mobile…and NUTTY!)

Made it to Cape May before noon. Too tired to actually go to the beach, so we hung out with the old folks and then went to the pool. I took Harry to the park while Kevin dozed. Uncle Chollie pushed him in his stroller while we enjoyed a fabulous dinner. What would we do without Chollie around to cook and entertain the little ones?

I also finally got to read CJ’s poem. It’s amazing! One of the best I’ve ever read. The last line, “I am my own worst enemy” clarifies and astounds. I think this realization of CJ as poet surpasses Billy Decker diagnosing my allergies!

Harry stayed up way past his bed time listening to stories, driving in golf carts and playing with his cousins, but he still woke up bright and early. THIS IS WHY WE PUT HIM TO BED AT 7:30!!!! I am sticking to my guns from now on! (I am sure Kevin is reading this saying “Who’s guns?”).

MONDAY

Headed home by 8:30. We didn’t hit too much traffic. Checked in with Amber and she said Bailey had been a good dog. Checked in with Tara and made plans for BBQ and pool day. Took quick shower and packed up Harry’s pool toys in the cool giant pink bucket I received as a bridesmaid gift. Melissa lived at the beach until recently, and we spent summers together at her grandparents’ beach house in Ocean City, NJ, so the beach theme was very appropriate. We also received awesome sandals (she correctly guessed all of our sizes!), photos and beach towels. Mine was Kim Possible. I absolutely love it!

Hung out in the baby pool at park Fairfax. Several other little people were in there, and some bigger kids during adult swim came in to play with Harry’s toys. This was a good thing, because Harry seems to play well with bigger kids. They amuse him.

Tara and I realized that the baby pool, with it’s two inches of water, is hugely reflective! I’ve been missing out on an even tan all of these years! And for those of you naysayers who think tanning is bad…we had sunscreen on, and the experts say the body needs Vitamin D as derived from the sun to improve mental health and potentially protect you from Multiple Sclerosis. People who live in colder climates are actually more susceptible to MS. MS is far more prevalent in Canada then in the southern states. But I digress.

Went back to Tara’s to BBQ…Harry busied himself in the garden for a while…by 6:30 we had eaten dinner and Harry started to get tired, so Kevin took him home for the evening while I enjoyed some Coronas with Tara and talked about when we might run again in order to get through this next marathon (off to the old Chiropractor this afternoon for some heat and stim).

Now I am off to busy myself looking for the perfect Dead Head Stickers for Dan’s Eldorado and my new minivan. We have not bought the minivan yet. I was hooked on the Chrysler Town & Country with it’s stow and go seating, but we were fortunate to have a guided tour of Lorraine and Brian’s Honda Odyssey this weekend. It doesn’t have the stow and go, but it is pretty amazing. We may have to shop around a little to further decide. I think May bought the Honda too. Even though minivans seem to be what all of the cool kids are driving I decided a nice Stealie might improve upon it. And then a little voice inside my head said don’t look back, you can never look back. Bye bye convertible, hello cup holders!

And so, we return to the work week, and Harry returns to Menike’s. Once again, I think he is looking forward to his routine, and his friends. He loves the start of the weekend as much as we do, but by Monday (or Tuesday) morning, he’s ready to relax. So is Bailey!

Soooooo...house is under contract! It pretty much sold the second it went on sale...which is very cool but not unexpected in this neighborhood. The house sold to a family that is 7.5 months pregnant. We loved Geoff and Corey, the first people who looked at it, but it does seem like these other folks need it more. I hope they enjoy themselves here.

Soooooo, now I can go buy the mini van that I need. I need cup holders. I know there is an SUV commercial making fun of people who need cup holders, but that's okay. May just bought one. And K&K and G&B love theirs as well. What's so derogatory about being a soccer mom anyway? Sports are important. It is important to be well rounded. Sports provide stress release and improve focus and aid in good mental health. Soccer good. Plus, we have images of Stacy's Mom to aim for. Plus, 90% of people surveyed think SUV drivers are un-patriotic. Pete still has the Merceds SUV on his lot...but it doesn't have as many cupholders...or seats, or cargo space...

We enjoyed a casual dinner with Dan & Janie tonight. We all cooked. I almost literally Chickened Out and stop there for my broccolli and rice...but I dug in my heels and boiled some water. I think my portion turned out excellent, as did teh others. We do need to look into getting a bigger dining room table now, though. We started pricing porch swings and adirondacks for the new place...WAY ceaper than I thought, so we may be able to afford dining room furniture after all.

Harry was very well behaved during dinner. This is not atypical, but he had already eaten his dinner when we started ours. Normally when he is done eating he wants OUT of that chair. Plus, someone packed up his crayons so we didn't have that option. He has been into drawing lately. He has created quite a few works of art.

Recent news...cousin Zoe came by for a visit while stuck in DC on her journey up the east coast...I remember 16. Do you? Zoe is great, and we were glad she got to meet the little bug.

Harry is way into straws right now. Have to remember to keep those diet cokes away from him. He drank down my lemonade this weekend...but it entertaind him for an hour at the Gnats game where we got to hang out with Mikki and Lynchie for the first time in a while. Hopefully we will have some more time to interact once Harry's new friend is born.

Uncle Dunkey stopped by tonight to prove he can show up while I am at home.
:-)
He usually only stops by when I am away.

Uncle Dunkey is funny. Meant to post a month or so ago last time he baby sat...he was very worried about doing a good job, or at least suspecting we thought he would not. Very funny. I suspect anyone who is worried about doing a good job doesn't need us to worry. He has energy and common sense. And a cell phone. And he likes the little guy. He gets my vote for the best baby sitter award (no small thanks to Mrs. Uncle Dunkey---who just started her new job! Hope it went well!!!).

Took some time off today to go to the pool with H and A. H likes to jump in. No fear whatsoever. We are going to need to work on that for those times when no one is looking. He also spent about half an hour sharing a rock with the lifeguard. Poor kid. I don't think he knew when he could stop (the lifeguard, that is). Luckily, no one else was in the water!

Melissa and Pete Deacon get married this weekend. I pick up my Shrek Green bridesmaid dress this today. $80 worth of alterations for my size 16 bridesmaid dress. I wasn't a size 16 when I was pregnant. I'm 5'1". It's pretty hard to be a size 16 when you are my height, but they insisted. The color makes me look like Princess Fiona (not the most attractive of teh princesses), but I am the one who pushed for Kiwi. Shhhh! It's still better than raspberry!

The dress is actually a great cut. ANd I LOVE bridesmaid dresses in general! Really. Did you read above? I also like Mini Vans...and the weather channel. Storm stories rock! Harry likes teh weather maps.

What I don't like? Rude people who are hateful and negative and attempt to suck the life out of you. Ugh! I need to go running and release some negative energy befor my Karma gets all messed up. It's been shaky lately. I try to give myself the advice I would give others, but that's no fun! The situation is being corrected. I need to let it go. I don't want it to rub off on H.

Well, it looks like we bought a new house! We had the home inspection today, and NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT! Whew! Let's hope it stays that way!

We had not been planning to jump into anything quite so soon, but after looking at a few and seeing how much work most of them needed, we decided we really like the one we found! (See photo below). Walking through, it wasnÂ’t too hard to picture how most of our things would fit in, because we seem to have most of the same things as the people who already live there (the bikes & wetsuits, the computers, the dog,even the 1 year old!). Other aspects of the house, such as the new kitchen, have all of the features that we would add if we were to design it ourselves (the stainless steel appliances, the undermount sink, even the drawer pulls). The gated front porch is a great feature. I canÂ’t wait to add some Adirondack chairs, a porch swing, and a couple of hanging ferns! We also love the flagstone patio and pathway in the backyard, as well as the magnolia tree. I am going to miss the hydrangea I have been nurturing over the past year (we got it to turn blue & purple!), but hopefully we will find a good spot to plant a new one.

We lived in Delray for a while, and somehow ended up further down the parkway when we bought our current house a little more than 2 years ago. We are now looking forward to moving back to the City of Alexandria, where we will be closer to our friends, our jobs (no more commuting through Old Town with it'’s bridge construction and 25 traffic lights) and even the Rec. Center (Chinquapin) & dog park. A few of our friends are now even in walking distance!

The neighborhood appears friendly and well cared for. The current homeowners confirmed that, and friend Kelly added that a few of Hannah's classmates live close by to the new place. We will miss a couple of our current neighbors, but we are looking forward to gaining back the sense of community with left behind in Delray.

I think we would all be very happy there. It was also the only place we looked at that Harrison seemed to feel comfortable in. It also doesnÂ’t hurt that there is a playground right across the street.

I guess in a way we will be ending a chapter of our lives. The house we are leaving is the first house weÂ've owned. It is where we first brought Harry home to, and celebrated his 1st birthday. It'’s where he learned how to walk. It's also where we've spent hours chatting with friends over dinner and drinks. It's close to where Kevin plays hockey, Harry swims, and I run. But, the floors are crooked, the roof leaks, the dishwasher only opens halfway.

QUOTE OF THE DAY - When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922)

Looking forward to the first champagne toast. Oh, and by the the, we met the dogs today. Turns out there are 2. I heard them barking as I approached. Could have sworn it was Bailey...and it was. A beagle named Bailey who looks just like our chick (maybe with a few extra pounds) and her pal Ginger! Ginger is a rescue and Bailey, ironically, is a 7 year old pedigree. I am assuming they have the same quirks. So, this means the house is not only baby proofed, but Bailey proofed!

Keep your fingers crossed! I think we bought a house!



P.S. Hope all of the dad's out there had a great father's day!

Coppertone Kid

Is it bad that one of my subconscious goals is to lighten Harry's hair and tan his skin?
He makes such a cute beach baby! And he LOVES to be outside!

Spent another day at the pool. Made a new friend on our block (Ella. She's one, too!). Got to see Janie, who's been very sick for a while. Also enjoyed the beautiful evening in Old Town. Some music from the Waterfront Festival filled the air.

New molars are coming in. Ouch! Sad, drooly, and a little bit attached to Mommy. Just Mommy. Except I am "Mammy." I shoudl start calling Harry Scarlet. I think Kevin is "MaMa." Food is called "Yummy." All food. ANother new word is "Bwah," as in: "Bwah, bwah, bwah." It is possible that it is translated to mean "Blah, blah, blah," as in "All you people say is 'Blah, blah, blah!' " Or, it could be the sound made when he covers his mouth with his hand, something else he learned to do last week.

Did I mention he is the cutest? And so sweet!

All By Myself

Everyone said once Harry started to walk, things would get harder. Once again, everyone was wrong.
Finally, I am able to take care of Harry by myself for extended periods of time. Things are SO much easier!

For the past year, I have blamed my back for not being able to take care of Harry alone for extended periods. Well, my back is on the road to recovery, and I can put Harry down when I need to...this single parent stuff is a snap!

Granted, I am still rarely a single parent. Today I picked Harry up to go to the pool early, and tonight Kevin was out house hunting. Aidan got to spend the entire day with a McDermott!

I was able to take care of Harry at the pool, get him home through very bad traffic, feed him, bathe him and put him to bed. No pain. No anxiety. No problem!

I have praised Kevin all along for his ability to take care of Harry alone while I traveled. I told him that if things were reversed, I would not be able to swing it. Physically, I could not carry him around. It was a little bit sad...well, maybe it wasn't, but now that things have improved, I am a little sad that I didn't get to this point sooner.

Next time I am pregnant, no sneezing! That is how I threw my back out to begin with. I am done with sneezes.

It also helps that Harry is better able to communicate. That helps whether you are at home or away. We called Kevin while he was at his second house. Plain as day, Harry said "I love you!"

Wow...so much easier!

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Spoke to soon...

It seems my apology to Pooh may have been unwarranted.
Harry's new words of the week include yummy, happy, and baby.
"Yummy, yummy, yummy" is oft overheard at dinner.
The rest of the time "Happy, happy, happy. Baby, happy, happy, happy."
I shake my head at teh little weirdo. But I do so with a big grin on my face!

The cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon…
(What I was doing last week while Kevin was home with H)

That’s the song that runs through my head whenever I travel. Especially on long trips. Like last week in Boston.

Here’s the story behind Harry Chapin’s song:

http://www.harrychapin.com/circle/winter04/behind.htm

Here’s the story surrounding Harry McDermott:

It’s been over a year now since Harry arrived via C-section. Almost 14 months!

Some people give you a “that’s okay, maybe next time look” when they hear about the caesarean…except for my urologist who can hardly contain her joy. Less kegels for me!

Although I panicked for ten minutes leading up to the event, I originally wanted one (a C-section) - actually, it has been my preferred method of childbirth since I learned of it in the early 80s. I KNOW how wide my hips are. I can do some math.

I think the surgery went very well. Tiny scar, healthy baby. Why would anyone want a natural child birth? Why would a woman CHOOSE to feel like she is being ripped apart from the inside out? I just cannot understand it. Sure, women have given birth naturally for many, many years. Many, many of them died. I am sure many, many of them would have preferred to be sedated, and in a hospital, and with nurses to take care of them. This is the abridged version of my rant. Most of you are familiar.

I had a few weeks off after Harry was born, but soon it was back to work. I wouldn’t exactly say panic ensued, but I was a bit nervous about the planes I had to catch. From the moment he was born, Harry was the greatest person, and he deserves to have a mom. I don’t have a whole lot of control over whether my plane stays in the air, but I do try to weave some Wiccan magick.

There are bills to pay. Student loans, mortgages, credit cards…but I think I would work regardless. On the days when I spend 24 hours with Harry, I feel like I miss out on quality time. I feel like I spend so much more concentrated time with him when we only have a few hours together in a day. I also think vacations are important, a bigger house, and lots of opportunities. These things might sound materialistic to some, but I think these things make our lives better, especially the vacations. I treasure the time we spend together as a family.

I think it is okay if Harry misses us a little. I think it is okay if he experiences things without us. I think we are all well suited to the life we currently lead. I think spending a little bit of time apart helps us appreciate each other more.

Harry learns some new things while he is at school, or during the times I am away, but most things he learns develop over time. He didn’t learn to walk in one day. It’s been a process. He plays a lot of things very cool anyway, so it’s not as if he gets that excited over new things anyway! Often, when he does something new, he acts as though it is no big deal and life’s always been that way. I can understand that.

I also think I set a good example for Harry by going to work. I have stated these things before. If you want my entire view on this, shoot me an email. Happy to discuss. Also, for the record, I have the utmost respect for people who choose to stay home with their kids and enjoy the time spent with them. The utmost respect. The same is not true for those who seem miserable with their choices and take it out on their kids. Big difference.

Back to Harry...

He’s been talking as long as I’ve known him. You just have to listen. Being away hasn’t ruined that. It’s made me listen harder. He doesn't always use consonants, but he goes on and on and on and on...

He’s already so much like me, but with his father’s passion for cookies! When I was a kid, I craved adventure. I didn’t want to stay home. And I was independent. I remember the thoughts I had as a very young child. Harry is fine. I have few worries about Harry.

I’ve liked Cat’s in the Cradle for a very long time. It’s run through my head for a long time, even when I was a child. I decided back then what kind of life I would have, and what kind of parent I’d be. Things have turned out pretty much as planned. Only, when I was younger and I heard the song, I worried that I wouldn’t make time for my family. I now think I make a very conscious effort to have lots of quality time together, and to make up for any lost time as much as possible. I think I may be neglecting Kevin a little, tiny bit.

I know Harry misses me when I am gone, but we do have a good time when I get home. He still has boundaries to follow. I don’t spoil him to make up for lost time, unless you consider crawling around on the floor together spoiling. Harry knows he is loved, and he is thriving.

I will need to work on that part of the equation. I think the song has made me very aware of what can result from our choices.

Cat's in the Cradle
by Sandy & Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day,
He came to the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day.
He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play.
Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today,
I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok."
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmmed,
Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head, and he said with a smile,
"What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired and my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time.
You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu,
But it's sure nice talking to you, dad.
It's been sure nice talking to you."
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man in the moon.
"When you coming home, son?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then, dad.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Cannonball!

Spent the weekend meeting social obligations. Not complaining. Happy to do it!

(Especially when it doesn't involve bridesmaid dresses!)

Friday Harry and I swam with May & Kelly...Saturday Tara and I got to stop at Starbuck's for snacks before our roadtrip to Mikki’s baby shower while Kevin & Harry hit the new Caps facility in Ballston for fun and games…Sunday we all made it up to Marlton for Isabella’s 2^nd birthday.

Very hot weekend. Sticky. Becoming addicted to $4 iced tea from Starbuck's...broke down today to make my own from the water cooler I've been ignoring in my kitchen and the $2.00 crate of tea in the garage from Costco...

Toni had pools and sprinklers for Isabella’s party. And lots of little rowdies around. I think the rowdiest of all was Julia, a tiny 4 year old with the biggest splash to her cannonball!

Lots of group cannonballs in the wading pool. 4 at a time. Guess who decides to join in? Didn’t seem to matter that he can’t run or jump. He had heart. I think Vince Lombardi might agree that heart is what it takes to make a champion...

As the others were running towards the pool, they swerved out of the way as Harry ran towards them, only to turn around and start running back towards the pool and hit the soft side at full force. Then giggle!

Harry seems to have outgrown his crowd anxiety. (Remember at his Baby Blessing? Sure, he was only a few weeks old...). He does his best to keep up with the big kids.

Ari helped him bounce in the blow up bouncy thing, he goes nuts for cake (yeah, the non-vegan variety that turns his face different colors from the dye), and he goes nuts when Uncle Charlie brings out "the claw." He also likes his quiet time on the swing, sitting quietly with Pop Pop in lieu of a nap, and cooking on Isabella's stove. He scambled up something. I don't have any idea where he learned to do such a thing...maybe he's been paying attention to the TV afterall? Bam! Must be Emeril!

Harry has been waiting months to be able to walk. I am so happy that he was able to run and play with the kids this weekend! He was almost as giggly as he was at Disney World!

A few random thoughts, as I've not posted in a while. Not that anyone's indicated as such lately, but just some things to get out...


I've been reassured repeatedly by Kim that Harry's newfound bully-ish behavior at daycare is to be expected of a 1 year-old boy who is apparently quite a bit stronger (of mind AND body) than the others in his class. Others seem to find it amusing, but it certainly concerns me... I've always (yes always... For this whole entire year) wondered how I'd react if my son turned out to be a bully. Of course these same "others" are even more amused watching me try to reason with him that the swing isn't really "his" and that he needs to share with everyone. Anyone who knows me knows how much I sincerely appreciate a good laugh at my expense.



Have been doing the single dad thing quite a bit this month, as Kim's unfortunately been hammered with work trips. This week has been particularly tough, but she finally gets to come home tonight... I know Harry and Bailey are both absolutely sick of me by now, so it should be a welcome break. For me, I've come to rationalize it by another amongst many reversals in our lives together... Since Kim and I never really "dated" while living apart (living in sin from day 1), this must be what it's like. You spend most of the week apart, talking on the phone or over email, then the weekend is a whirlwind of compressed social activity whilst you try to get everything accomplished and see everyone you're supposed to before Monday comes, and then it all starts over.

that being said, I'd say it's a pretty sure bet that if we were in fact dating at this point, Kim would certainly have kicked me to the curb quite some time ago. It seems that all of this time apart has made Kevin at best, a very sour & cranky individual. I'd like to take a moment to offer as public an apology I can for my behavior lately.

I'm sorry.

I'm not going to offer any excuses for it, so we'll leave it at that and I will do my best to move on and be a happier person.



While we're on the subject of apologies, I'd also like to offer one to my late grandmother, Stella McDermott. Certainly one of the more vivid memories I have of time spent at the McDermott house in Uncasville CT, is sitting at the table trying in vain to finish off a lunchtime staple of Ham & brown mustard on pumpernickle bread. I never could stand the taste or texture of any of it, but that's what was for lunch, and that's what you were obligated to finish. Fast-forward to lunchtime, Wednesday, June 8, 2005. Kevin heads across Leesburg Pike to the New York Deli for a sandwich, and orders, you guessed it, the selection that includes none other than Ham (and pastrami) and asks specifically for brown mustard and pumpernickle bread?!?! As I headed back to my office to polish it off, I suddenly thought of myself sitting at her kitchen table choking it down as a kid.

Grandma... I'm sorry for never finishing my lunch.

Who knew.

Talk about full circle...

Not It!

“Not it!” seems to be what Harry picked up over the Memorial Day Holiday.

With an extra day of diaper changing duty to share, Kevin and I began calling out these words the second we smelled something not-so-good.

More often then not, it was nothing…but we shouted “Not It!” just to be safe, just to avoid having to change one more #2 diaper.

I guess Harry caught on, although not completely. After saying “Hi” to everyone showing up at Daycare on Tuesday (everyone refers to me, another mom and Menike’s husband, and if I recall correctly, Sid, who popped out from behind some playground equipment), he called “Not it!” as we were leaving. Maybe he felt a little grumble action going on? Who’s to say.

So, Tuesday afternoon, after much fun had over the weekend, we headed to Aidan’s for a play date (yes, Aidan is 32 but we can still have play dates). Harry brought his tea set. After a couple of years of rolling my eyes at Paul’s little buddy’s “Mermaid Hair” and Dominic’s Ruby Slippers, I decided there was nothing wrong with a pink and purple princess tea set (still searching for the Starbuck’s mini barista set). Harry really liked Isabella’s set, so I picked one up at Target. It didn’t come in GI Joe.

Harry likes that he can open the lid of the giant tea cup and put things in and take them out. He likes to stack the cups. He likes to pretend he is eating and drinking. He gets to practice using a spoon. Nothing girly about it. I’ve said for a while now, give him a newspaper and drop him off at the coffee shop and he’ll be happy for hours. I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Harry also developed a fascination with Mardi Gras beads. There was a Mardi Gras dance at the Wiley’s Beachcomber campground, as well as a Mardi Gras themed bike parade, so there were lots of beads hanging around. Harry learned how to put them on himself and seemed to enjoy wearing them. But, with a little Hawaiian shirt on, he looked more like Charlie Sheen than a little girl playing dress up.

A little Charlie Sheen…sure, the connotation has its drawbacks, but Charlie always plays the cool guy that everyone wants to hang out with. Harry strikes me as this type. I can’t seem to get the image out of my head of our next vacation taking us to Ireland, where we find Harry in a bar, surrounded by a crowd of happy old guys with long eyebrows, telling stories and singing. Kevin asked if this was really how I wanted to picture my son…maybe we’ll wait a few years to take that trip! Meantime, he can just practice the choreography to "Tommy K."

Harry spent the rest of the Memorial Day holiday on his bike. I’d guess a good 12 hours. At least twice he fell asleep while riding. He would start at 7 in the morning. It was a good way to get him out of the house so the Deckers could sleep undisturbed. The first lap would usually take an hour, with several other jaunts mixed in throughout the day.

A good portion of the weekend was also spent at the playground. The swings are cool, but nothing beats the slide, sitting up or lying down. We gave Harry the freedom to climb the large flat steps himself. Once at the top, he didn’t have the patience to sit. Down he went! The purest joy I’ve ever seen.

I enjoyed the slide as a child, but my favorite was the swings. After watching Bobby and Cindy Brady attempt to break a World Record on the Teeter Totter, I figured it could be done on a swing too. I was fed so much candy back then, I probably could have done it.