aberrant | undulating | relative

At 19 months, Ryan is a riot. He’s got a ton of words, tricks and silliness I had to blog. Bobby and I were looking at pictures from when he was a wee lad, and surprised again at how little he used to be. So in honor of my growing boy – a snapshot of him today:

Ryan’s vocabulary:

His standards: Dada, daddy, bob, bobby, bobbydaddy, mama,mommy (at least I rate two names) nana, pees (please), uncool(uncle), ena (AUNTIE edna), emme (Amy) tia, Piia (because I talk about her so darn much), elmo, ernie, wo-wo (lolo lising), updown (he only says the two words in combination). This morning he pointed out my eyes, nose, ears …..ahahhhhhh.

New words: outside, play, sit (though nana swears its something else) yesssss! (includes handslap) and noooooooooo – though thankfully we don’t hear that too much yet. we’re working on the “k” sound ….K-k-k-k-k-k ……

Kisses – he knows what they are, how to turn his cheek to receive kisses, and how to give them(very selectively), he’s working on the word – sounds like ki-eeees)and Chris. There’s a bunch of other words that crop up but those are his favorites right now.

But what melts my heart is the fact that he breaks out in song all the time. He sings E-I-E-I-O at all hours of the day, sings nana’s pong-pong song complete with feet clapping – that’s right I said feet clapping. The other thing he does all the time, particularly when he’s in his carseat, is strip off his shoes and socks and then take his toes and puts them on top of his head. I call it monkey feet. The boy and his toes!!

The other day the boys picked me up from work and we ran errands, ending with a trip to Arby’s for some grub. Ryan’s gnawing away on a chicken strip and I turn around to check him out, he’s sound asleep and actually snoring a little tiny bit, but…. why is he STILL CHEWING HIS CHICKEN STRIP? There is no funnier sight than your child sleeping and eating at the same time. I’ve heard of crying and eating, and pooping and eating, but sleeping and eating was awesome.

The last funny (at least today it’s still funny, and not mind-numbing) is his passion for Ernie, of Sesame Street fame. It’s ususally one of the first things he says in the morning and it’s definitely one of the last things he says before closing his eyes. So even though Ernie comes up at least 150 times over the course of the day, we laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh together…

We are blessed.

I was startled to hear a plaintive wail (NOT from Ryan) coming from the dining room table Saturday morning. Bobby was anguished over his laptop installation. In trying to illicitly (Apple strictly prohibits owners (even as talented as Bob) messing with the innards of their laptops) change out his 40 Gb hard drive to a super duper 80 Gb one, he managed to mangle the keyboard, break off the connection point to the logic board, disconnect the power button and in a fit of tugging, scratch his LCD screen. Hence the wailing… Now many of our gentle readers know that next to Ryan and me, that laptop is Bobby’s lifeblood. It’s his workhorse, play toy, connection to the outside world, his universe to control, the baby that actually listens to him…

And God being good and merciful in all things great and small, my mum popped over for an unexpected visit and we were able to hop into the car and sit at the mac store for 45 minutes at the “genius bar” to talk to Scotty – Mac expert extraordinaire. As he looked at Bob as if he were a martian – “You did what? and then pulled what off?” I knew this was going to be a pricey experience. Dr. Scotty’s talking about a full keyboard replacement ($100-150), soldering to the logic board (labor charge), replacing the entire logic board ( at $700!!), all kinds of things that sound incredibly painful and expensive …. But at this point, both of us are glad that it can potentially be resuscitated. So we handed off the baby to the doctors and popped over to a scrapper store on the border of Palo Alto me as my treat for sitting interestedly at the bar and chatting up the techs, Bobby in hopes of getting his laptop back in the same trip.

$30 later, yes on stickers and crap, (note to Lu: better than the Fremont one, not as good as the San Bruno one) we get a call from the doc saying come and get it. Bobby is ecstatic, until he asks good old Scotty if he powered the laptop UP AND SAW IT START. Oh, he forgot. So we begin our trek home, Bob moping, and me trying to hide my ecstacy at purchasing a bunch of 50 cent metal letters for Ryan’s birthday scrapbook. As we were getting ready to cross the bridge over 101 back to our part of the world, on cue, Bobby’s phone rings and Scotty says, it really works, come and get it.

We charge back down the tree lined avenue to the mac mecca where the baby lives and breathes and the happy blue mac screen shines again. And the reason Scotty rocks, is he finagled the whole thing so it didn’t cost us one thin dime! Just more dough for me to spend on scrapbook stuff! Ahhhhh how our hobbies take control of our lives (well that little piece that’s still belongs to me at least) But it was a great Bobby and Ellen afternoon, capped off with a yummy and healthy dinner from Plutos (across the street from the mac store, of course!)

It’s been so very long …. since I held you in my arms so tight …. and now that you’ve been gone …. something or other …

Anyway, a good 80’s schlock ballad as a welcome back to me and my blog! Thought I’d dash off a quick note just to get the feeling back, and the words flowing. Last 3 times I tried to blog, got all hung up on trying to capture what had gone on since my last post way back in April or June. Which was overwhelming to say the least, let’s leave it at – Very busy and very good, for the most part.

Now, off to fun and future things. The boys and I are off to a sunny, windy, and sorely needed vacation to the tropical isle of Maui. Along for the ride is Auntie NaNa, friend Jeff, Uncle Rexie and “friend” Amy, and Joel and Inez. Woo hoo, more fun than you can shake your kulo at.

The big question is when the boys rent scooters, who’s gonna wipe out? And what is the probability of all the girls getting drunk off mai tai’s and/or pineapple rum? ….. How much recuperation are Rexie and Joel gonna need? (leave for Vegas on Sun, return home on Tues, leave for Maui on Thur and back on Tues) And what about Ryan’s sand-eating capacity?? Enquiring minds wanna know.

On other fronts, work has been challenging for me, shifting managers, priorities and even cubes (they seriously moved me over 1 cube at a cost of approx $1200) insane corporate stuff….. And Bobby too, it’s been a roller coaster ride with his boss. Ryan does well 95 % of the time, but let me tell you that other 5% of the time, I hand the boy right back to him and say uhhhhhh…. I’m not worthy. And Bob is amazing with him. Direct when he needs to be, sweet and patient most of the time, and just able to handle him with true aplomb. The boy does spectacular in public, and really makes us out to look like all around parents of the year, which both Bobby and I contribute to, but really is due to baby Ry’s easy-going-ness. He’s a blessed babe.

Other stories abound, but this is enough for the comeback tour =)

Appetizer dinners. Yum
End of Sex in the City. Boo
Baby Ry still snuffling and snorkeling. Ahhhhh
Good friends to share it all with. Priceless

I know the mastercard device is used to death, but it just works…..

Last night was an impromptu farewell party to SITC. How rockin’ is TiVO and Direct TV that we were able to call Piia and Greg, they drive from SL, I unearth the dining table from the masses of newspaper it was buried under, Bobby grocery shops, P throws assorted appetizers into the oven and Paulie whip up a 7 layer dip all within an hour so that we could all sit down and watch a TiVO’d episode of the East Coast Direct TV feed at 5:45 pm.

We watch both pre-shows, the final Sex episode, the SNL where Christina Aguilera plays Samantha, got Piia pretty buzzed, wiped down Ryan’s little nose at least half dozen times all before 8:30. With drink breaks and a refill of Soy Chorizo taquitos. Yeuuuuummmmm.

Now that is good times.

My opinion on the episode?? Pretty formulaic and expected, nothing really outstanding. It seemed a bit rushed and closer to network tv sitcom plots than SITC writing, but then again what do you want. I’m just a sadling that it’s over. The big payoff for me? Big’s name is John. Cute, very cute ….. Better episode shared with friends than watched alone.

Piia and I agree that it’s better that Carrie and Big don’t end up necessarily living happily together, with a picket fence and 2.5 children. Cuz let’s face it, that would be too much of a fairy tale and anyone whose in a relationship knows that’s a farce. Relationships are messy, and weird and you gotta work at them and make compromises (like living on opposite coasts) everyday. But when you and your SO are willing to work it out, it’s a great place to be.

Hey Bob, I love ya.

Happy Monday

In the case of Robert Ryan Armijo, I have been proved wrong!

So for the last couple of weeks we had gotten into a pretty good groove, our feeding was good, pooping was good and sleeping wasn’t too bad. Then when I went back to work, we were adjusting and Bobby was working well with Ryan. So I thought we had it under …. (what, kids? say it with me) CONTROL.

How wrong I was. All of a sudden the kid is eating every hour on the hour, or not eating for like 5 hours. What gives?? Oh, I forgot, he’s not a little robot to program. This kid has his own agenda and whether or not it agrees with ours, we are responsible. Fooooooouuuuurrrrrr-eeeeeevvvvaaaaahhhh. Again, dpn’t get me wrong, I love that baby boy ry ry like there’s no tomorrow. I just have to let go of (say it again…..) CONTROL

So those are my musings. Other notable notes are Bobby and Ryan have been taking walks around the block in the pram-type stroller. The first outing was quite memorable for the husband. Why — after changing the diaper, double wrapping Ryan in warm jumpers, getting the stroller setup, making sure he had keys and his assorted accessories — does he finally step out into the sunshine, and only 5 minutes into the walk have Ryan start crying nonstop because he’s hungry. Bobby had surpassed the golden hour between feedings and after all that prep had to go back home. The best.

But their next outing was quite successful. How cute are they all bundled up and strolling in the sunshine? Ahhhhhh my boys. I’m sure Bob’ll post the pics soon.

You’re Not the Boss Of Me (PART 2)
So I’m back at work, and it’s the same as it ever was. I have waaaaaaayyyyyy too many people to “serve” and let me tell you what I’d like to dish up……People are complainy about their current situations nonstop………..I think I attract that in general. My “How are you’s” must be too inviting or something. The best one (soooooo corporate) is the one where an upper mgmt. type declares himself an excellent communicator, really into “team” activities and collaboration and such. Said upper mgmt type does not, DOES NOT, return emails or phone calls from their own direct reports. Just cuz. The best……. I could go on about the holiday activity. But let’s just not go there.

Oh if only someone would pay me to sit on the couch with my kid.

I’m back at work. Wow. The first two days were jam packed with emergency things to do so it was fine. I was busy, and didn’t think too much about “my boys” being home. Today’s the first day that I’ve had time to breathe at work and it’s not boding well. And it doesn’t help that Ryan woke up at 4 am and wanted to eat, then I decided what the heck and went to work early… Yikes! Bad idea since I’m so sleepy now it’s silly.

Everyone’s been so nice and so happy that I’m back. This company is all about the people. I’m a little worried to delve into the state of my projects . . . something about going to a warm place in a handbasket. But ahhhhh well. After one convo with a co-worker, the parting comment was “Hey Ellen, great to hear everything is going so well” and my response being “At home at least ….” So we shall see what the workday brings.

It is hard to get back into the swing of things when one part of your brain is wondering what’s going on with the little guy and the big guy. Did they eat? Is it too cold for a walk? Are they playing nice together? Yesterday’s report was the lil guy proceeded to try to “box” (Ryan of the uncontrollable flailing arms) with his papa but was more settled on Tuesday than on Monday. Monday night was a fiesta of the yummiest dinner with sweet potato fries and marinated chicken and rice. Bobby can cook like nobody’s business! He’s the best. It’s such a joy to come home to my guys ….

So many other pressing things to do too, like xmas shop, and visit our new mommy friends. And yet you find me conked out on the couch with baby Ry just chillin’. The best is when the entire family cuddles up together (ever mindful of Belle not trying to sit on top of Ryan) and we just sit on the couch posed like a studio picture. Makes me laugh. And for all of us to sit still for that long is amazing. Things are things and I’m sure most folks understand….

Anyway – you can contact me at work. Please. Anyone? well, in 15 minutes, as I’m off to pump! ha ha …..

Make appointments for Ryan ……DONE
Make appointments for Ellen’s: dermatology (yuck it was a tiny wart on the inside of my arm), dentist, and followup ob/gyn appt. …….DONE
Double check dermatology appt (yup, Tues at 2:15 pm), don’t bother to check dentist appt ……..DONE
Show up at Dentist Office at noon on TUESDAY instead of THURSDAY (when the appt was supposed to be) ……..DONE
Realize mommy brain is in effect …….PRICELESS

Ahhhhh, the ever laughable and laudable quirks of being a mama. So many things to talk about I don’t know where to start. I’ll just go with a laundry list of fun:

My dad, after mentioning at EVERY visit that Ryan was not as fun as Belle (yes indeed he was saying his not quite two month old grandson wasn’t entertaining him as much as the chihuahua) finally saw Ryan at peak performance Monday night when we visited them at home for dad’s big 6-0 birthday. Ry was in perfect form, eyes wide wide open – he’s a totally different looking kiddly with his whole face lit up from his little roving eyeballs, and cooing and responding and craning his neck around to see everything and take a look around at everyone. It was swell.

And speaking of the little guy with the cutey eyes … he is too funny. He can lift his head and hold it up for long stretches of time when he’s laying on my chest. It’s like a little dinosaur trying to learn to roar. Ahhhhkghghg. His newest tricks are cooing when he’s happy (i.e. well fed, preferably twice, with a clean nappy and rubbed and patted to a burping finale) his little baby noises are the best ever. It’s like there’s a warm and gooey little chocolate cake inside of you and then you hear his little chitter chatter sounds and the little cake mushes all in your insides. Weird analogy but true. At least for this besotted mommy….

Ryan is sturdy now! His head feels fully formed now, a perfectly round (no matter what Auntie Edna says) round little pea pod head. His little torso is filling out nicely and feels solid and substantial instead of squishy and “floppy”. I think it’s from all the rounds we go thru while nursing. He cranks his head back and balks at me telling him it’s time to eat. Even though he’s screaming that he’s hungry.

And I know I’m not supposed to say it out loud (for fear of bad bragging karma) but Ryan is a great baby. He really only squawks in protest when he’s wet or hungry. Most other times he is a chill little dude. But when he’s hungry – watch out! He comes from a complete and total sleep (both arms thrown up over his head, head drooping to the side, little body stretched across the bed) to full decible yelling in under 3 seconds. I’ve been trying to tell him that he doesn’t have to get angry to wake up, he can just open his eyes and poof! you’re awake. We’re still working on that one…

Our latest thing is I’m trying to get him to the photographers for his Christmas pics complete with full Santa velour outfit of course, but have had to reschedule 2 times already. And then there are only two times that he is “good” so gotta plan around those times. And I go back to work on Monday soo boo hooo!!!!

I’m excited to go back just because it’s been so long, but oh gosh how I will miss seeing every little nuance of Ryan’s growth and development. I’m sooooo pleased that Bobby will be able to stay home with him and am trying to curb my already looming jealousy of their time together. But Bobby is so good with Ryan, he’s just a great daddy instinctively and isn’t worried or tentative with anything. He’s a take charge kinda guy…. And it eases my mind and transition back to work knowing that Baby Ry’s home with Daddy instead of with strangers. Boy, oh boy oh boy.

So many more stories, but I gotta catch a 20 minute nap before mister double r starts roaring for his next meal.

ta ta for now – mommy of the cutest boy ever

Paradise Hotel
Suck’d in – Why did double ii Piia call me and we had to dish during the show, and then I spent a half hour catching Lu up on all the crying and retardation after the show.

I like the fact that three guys fought over the ugliest and oldest chick on the show (sorry Toni lovers, but come on) 2 got rejected. 2 guys fought over Amy (the strangely tomboy-ish professional cheerleader) and then had to pick from the 2 girls who weren’t picked at all (who were the “pretty” girls, but guess in PH personality DOES count, go figure)

The rejects picking from the rejects, and then one of them got the boot from the island. Yeah, uhmmm so not worth anyone’s time. And yet we watch…..

Potter, Harry Potter
I prepped for Book 5, by re-reading the 734 page Book 4 “Goblet of Fire” courtesy of Na. Took me two days. Hmmmmmm….. Now I don’t know if I’m gonna jump into Order of the Phoenix or wait a day or two …. Don’t tell me who dies!!

Pardon!
A big belated birthday to Leyla! Missed her B-day last Thursday…. We’re all just waiting for Lil Lamb to come down here to celebrate. We’ve almost got your room cleared out and ready for you. Hope you had a good time girly =)

Persnickity
I’ve been lagging on the posts as I’ve been feeling persnickety. A little more nauseaous and achy, but as my midwife isn’t worried, neither am I, just a little laggard. Every weekly appt. they press on my tummy and they’re like ‘Yeah” that’s a good size uterus. Yay for me and my bun-baking capacity….

I don’t care if everyone uses it in their blog (oh okay, Bobby and Lu) ….. prrrrrrrrr-TOW ….. prrrrrrrrr-TOW …..

MONDAY, 6/30

Preggers week 19
Bedrest week 8

I’ve been completely validated by my eBay experience. So far I haven’t spent more than $40 (sans shipping) and have procured:
* 9 assorted Maybelline/Covergirl eyeshadows (approx. retail $27)
* 1 Stila powder compact ($15)
* 1 Avon set – eyeliner, lip gloss, nail polish and makeup remover ($11)
* 12 preggers magazines ($36 if current)
* 10 preggers books (roughly $80)
* 1 “gently used” maternity denim mini skirt and pair of shortalls (guesstimate $35)
over $200 retail dollars worth of gear for a fraction of the price. Uhhhh, works for me.

I’m okay with “gently used” clothing items, ’specially the preggers stuff (how long can they wear it anyway??) but criminy, people sell USED makeup. They have scary descriptors like 80% left in bottle, alcohol-hygiene sanitized, tested only 6x, AND THEN THEY SELL IT. ON EBAY. And there are multiple bids on this stuff.

The best propaganda for buying new makeup on eBay, was an auction description that said something to the effect of “You only have one face, why take the risk and buy used makeup?” Obviously, my many makeup bargains are NIB (see below)…..

Random acronyms that are now part of my regular vocabulary:
NWT – New with Tags
NWOT – New with out Tags
NIB – New in Box
NWOP – New without Packaging
MIB – Mint in Box
TS/FS – Trial Size/Full Size
and my stumper, took me a couple days to figure it out …
GWP – Gift With Purchase (size cosmetic)

Why am I into makeup? I have no idea. It’s not like laying in a bed all day is conducive to the full palette of face color, but I dunno it’s a cheap and fun auction thrill…..

And the killer thing is I currently have 100% approval ratings. I don’t even wanna dwell on the pschological ramifications of your self esteem being buoyed by being favorably rated for buying things. Soooo not going there.

The intrepid shopper finds a way to keep on keeping on with her quest for retail bargains…. One would think I would use this time for useful or productive endeavors, well…… whatever….

Friday, 6/27

FRIDAY FIVERS

started on Friday, but well…. not posted on Friday …..

Things I …..Shoulda done:
1. Find out about the neighborhood garage sale thing
2. Send Pia the RE book email/Jeff the passage email
3. Blog, and keep up on the hilarious friend blogs
4. Start the magic photo archive …
5. Called Aunt Rhonda, and most likely, YOU….

Things I Did instead …..
1. eBay, of course. Latest bargain? 7 preggers magazines for $1.99 (s/h $3.95)
2. Waited around for the mailman to come with my eBay stuff
3. Watched Sex in the City Season 2, courtesy of Piia. Is it possible to SITC-out??
4. Lay around in air-conditioned bliss, listening to my brain slow down
5. Consider if you really can go 4 days in the same pajamas. Ye-uckkkk!

Special Guest Stars
1. Aunt Rhonda and her ever patient teaching of crochet, to the all-thumbs BRPG, Mama Debbie with Subway lunches for all …
2. Rexie and Gia, bearing funnel cake (yes, Mel, I ate a WHOLE one sans strawberries) and caramel apples from the fair.
3. Lu, and our sneak for pearl drinks and condensced milk toast, partial watching of PH and Euro-photo review
4. Bob, at 6:45 am with my brand new Whirlpool Air Conditioner – had that baby installed before he went to work, told you he was the man ….
5. My parents, gram, Piia and Gabe, and Renee all within 30 minutes of each other. Woo hoo. Party over here, Bed Rest Party …. although that was a bit much traffic for a body.

Misc. Media
1. Next batch of Netflix: Sum of all Fears ( Bob watched it, I read) Punch Drunk Love (sorry Rudy, I accidentally turned Bob off it so neither of us ended up watching it) National Lampoon’s Van Wylder. WHY was this movie hella good and funny?? By the end of it, I was in love with Tara Reid too. And I HATE her…..
2. Dawson’s Creek – Why did I have to turn the sound off on two or three episodes? The angst, the angst, is more than I can bear. Except I missed the one episode that Rex says he always turns off – the PROM episode. Darn
3. Dara Joy’s “Ritual of Proof” This is one of the weirdest books I’ve read. It’s a romance, set in the future, where women colonized some planet and the society is the exact same as Regency England except the chicks are in charge. Add a bunch of sci fi mumbo jumbo creatures and you’re all set…..
4. Digital Pics -We’ve got a ton of cutie patootie pics of Gabe, and baby Ava (who during her brief Fri am visit was won over- finally-by some Trader Joe chocolate chip cookies) and a whole photo shoot of boneless Belle doing glam shots, but we haven’t gotten them off the cameras yet ….
5. Pancakes. I know it’s not media, but I made pancakes the other day and I just wanted to mention it. Yum.

Things that make me smile:
1. Leaning up on Bobby as we both surf the net, with the dog draped over the small of my back
2. Feeling blessed with my kind, thoughtful and crazy friends and family
3. Realizing, again, that it’s not gas. It’s the baby!
4. I’m on doctor’s orders to eat, and NOT WORK OUT.
5. Made it through another week. Yippee =)