Reliving My Youth Through Keri Russel's Hair

 I've become Felicity obsessed after re watching season one on ye olde Ipad during my vacation week.  Yes, the Felicity starting Kerri Russel and her head full of glorious curly hair.  (Don't worry, I already I realized how pathetic I am when I shouted, "That's where Felicity lives!" when we passed NYU on our trip to New York City last week.)   My obsession is not so much due to the gripping story line, but because the show is helping me come to terms with the fact that I am getting a tad...ahem...old-er.

Granted, thirty isn't exactly O.L.D the way Demi Moore's left buttock or part of Meg Ryan's face is old, but it's gotten to the point where the Nineties is starting to look...ancient.

And we're talking late 90s too....approaching the millennium, in fact.  I already knew from listening to "The Greatest Love of All" and watching Fresh Prince reruns that the early 90s were ridiculous.  But 1998?!  Shenanigans!

I used to watch John Hughes movies in high school and laugh at the 80's fashion trends.  Molly Reinwald what did you do that pink dress?!?!

In my mind there was no way my era could ever look outdated.  After all, the way we dressed was just normal.

Oh, how wrong I was!  If nothing else, Felicity has reminded me of that.

Super wide-legged jeans?  Ankle-length, shapeless sack-like skirts?  Millions of sparkly butterfly hair clips all in the same hair?  Over sized, chunky ski sweaters?!  Yup,  I had them all.

My freshman year of high school I got a giant, red sweater covered with snowflakes and another navy blue sweater with reindeer across the chest.  I probably could have fit three of me into one of them.  Oh, how stylish I thought I was.   Damn, I wish I still had those sweaters so I could wear them to an ugly sweater Christmas party.  (Although I think I MAY still have the matching reindeer hat and gloves floating around someplace.)

Oddly enough, not the sweaters to which I was referring, but this'll have to do.  

And the technology gap between the world of Felicity in 1998 and today?!  Epic.

On Felicity no one has cell phones...which could have totally remedied the whole situation where Noel has an allergic reaction to  beet powder and starts wigging out because he thinks Felicity is ditching him to go make out with Ben in the stacks.  Um, hello?  Just sext her and be done with it!   (Are people still sexting, or is that, like, so 2009?)

Furthermore, the only person who even seems to have his own computer is Noel.  They make a lot of references to how nerdy he is because he has his own website...www.noelcrane.com.   Flash forward to the future: My neighbor's cat has a blog.  (Just kidding.  My neighbor doesn't have a cat.  At least, not that I know of...I'm still sorta new.)

The last time I watched Felicity I was seventeen and in high school, so probably the biggest difference is the fact that my emotional intelligence has shifted (I won't say grown) since then.

It used to make total sense that Felicity would follow the boy she loved across the country to college.  Girl took a chance on love!  Now, it seems crazy and awkward as hell to watch this young girl follow a boy she doesn't even know across the country.

The episode where Felicity loses her virginity to Eli used to blow my mind.  How could she do such a thing?!  Now, I'm like eh, what's the big deal.

Which brings me to...HOW IN THE HOLY UNIVERSE DID IT GET TO BE 2012?!

Seriously?  Twelve?  Twelve.  Twelve!  Really.
 (That's how they'd say it on Felicity.  They end every sentence with "Really."  or "Really?")

A child who was born in 1998 is now 14 years old.  I've basically lived two whole lives since Felicity first aired.  Madeline will view 1998 the way that I viewed the 1960s....as older than dirt.

La sigh.

I'm starting on season two tonight, but I'm not really looking forward to it because all I remember is that she cuts her hair and the show starts to suck.

At least Downton Abbey starts up again next week.  Talk about back in the day!  I wonder if there are any centenarians out there watching PBS reliving their youth...

Look at those corsets!  What were we thinking?!

A Year with Our Little Baby

2011 was a good year for our family.  Madeline went from a loaf of bread to a full-fledged toddler, we said so long to Lowell and bought a new house.

Other highlights?  I thought you'd never ask....

(P.S.  I totally stole this from here, here, and um...here.)

January:
In January, I went back to work and Madeline started daycare.  It was a big transition for us, but it went smoothly thanks to Madeline's cheery disposition.  She had her first cold and her first taste of solid food. We discovered she loves watching football, and we delighted in Madeline's giggle.   We got 2.5 Madeline's of snowfall, which led to a lot of cozy snow days.

February:
February started off badly when our cat pulled a nutty on me and the baby.  Madeline ended up with stitches in her ear, and I got staples in my head.  Ouch!  Meanwhile, Madeline started sleeping in her own crib.  She didn't care, but Mumma did.  And I experimented with making baby food for Madeline to eat.

March:

In March, Madeline turned six months old!  I stopped my love affair with breastfeeding.  Madeline became a bit of a diva. (Not MY daughter?!?)   We celebrated her first St. Patrick's Day with a burrito and a walk with drunken corner people.  And we took Madeline to the aquarium for the first time.  She still loves fish.   

April:

I continued experimenting with making baby food, and Madeline ate it all up...except for avocado.  We began Early Intevention services because Madeline wasn't rolling over yet, and her Mumma may or may not be a worry wort.  We went on a lot of adventures including visiting Nana and Poppy in New York, taking a day trip to Rhode Island, and a Mumma-Dada day in Boston.  Also, Madeline met the Easter Bunny for the first time.  She didn't cry.  I bet money that this year...she will.  

 

May: 

In May, it rained a lot.  (We also happened to meet our house for the first time on that same day, but I didn't mention it on the blog at the time.)  Madeline finally learned how to roll over and stand with support.  Around the same time, I resolved to stop comparing my child to other (less awesome) children.  Meanwhile, I came up with a brilliant business idea for baby-drool anti-aging face cream. (Still in the works, P.S.) Meanwhile, I shared pictures of Madeline's old nursery. 

 

June:
In June, Madeline helped cheer on the Bruins.  Eric and I realized we are the worst parents in the world when we forgot our child at daycare.  Madeline learned to clap and wave.  I made Eric the sappiest father's day video ever!  (But it's still pretty awesome.)  Madeline got her first passport at the ripe old age of seven months.  And I passed on a valuable life-lesson to my ginger-haired daughter: Always wear sunscreen!  

July:  

Madeline celebrated her first Fourth of July.  We introduced her to Ben and Jerry on our way up to Vermont where we visited with Grammy and Bob.  She learned to crawl and to say her favorite word, "baby."  We Marched for Babies in Ellis' name, and thanks to my amazing family and friends, we were one of the top fundraising teams in our area!  

August:

As Madeline became more mobile, we found ourselves spending most of our time trying to prevent her from doing herself serious bodily injury.  We packed up our old apartment, and Eric and I once again realized we're complete opposites at most things in life.  I shared what we keep in our diaper bag.  

We went on an amazing cruise to Bermuda with Nana, Poppy, Auntie Carol, and Uncle Kevin.  

Most importantly, we became the proud homeowners of our current little piece of the rock!  Then we tested our survival skills during Hurricane Irene.  

September:  

We brought Madeline to her first Red Sox game.  Madeline learned to walk!!!  My mother took Madeline's final bunny picture to celebrate her first birthday.   We had a big pink party in our new house.  Our family noted the third anniversary of Ellis' birth.  Meanwhile, Madeline learned to say "No" and hasn't stopped since.  Finally, I practiced my baby-tossing skills after a child bit Madeline at daycare.  

October:  

Eric and I left Madeline overnight for the first time, and realized we should probably get out more often. (Although we still don't much. Boo.)   We celebrated my favorite season in our new house, and brought Madeline apple picking for the first time.  Madeline finished Early Intervention, scoring above her age range in nearly all categories.  Maddie dressed as Winnie the Pooh for her second Halloween, but sadly, the holiday was ruined by a freak blizzard and the plague that keeps on giving.  

November: 

Madeline made a mess of herself when she discovered how much she adores spaghetti.  I shared my thanks.   We had a visit from Nana and Poppy.  Grammy and Bob invited us over for Thanksgiving, and Madeline refused to eat anything but corn.  Last but not least, my sister gave me the gift of the Baby Jesus.

December:  

Madeline and Mumma did some killer arts and crafts projects.  Madeline visited with good ole Saint Nick.  She did not like him.  Meanwhile, she developed an unhealthy obsession with another man in red...Elmo.  (He's taking over the world; don't say I didn't warn you!)   I discovered the complete awsomeness of  Yo Gabba Gabba.  Eric and I shared our picks for the worst Christmas songs of all time.  And we celebrated Christmas with our family, and then drove to New York to celebrate with the rest of our family.   

Which brings us to....

Happy New Year's Eve Everybody!!!    

This Christmas

I've been so busy getting my Christmas on that I've been neglecting my blog.  And since Madeline currently has a double ear infection and pneumonia, and since we will be spending the rest of the week visiting with family, I probably won't be posting for a while.

In the meantime, a look back at our Christmas:

Worst Christmas Songs

Eric and I have a lot of "debates" over Christmas carols.  Mainly, I love all songs about the Baby Jesus, and he hates them.

I leave the radio set to holiday music all season long.  When we're in the car together, I sing loudly and bop around to the music.  He groans and rolls his eyes a lot.  I'm not sure if it's me or the music.  

Granted, my favorite Christmas carols are the likes of "The Little Drummer Boy," so maybe I don't have the best taste in holiday music.  And I must admit that Eric's right; there are some pretty God awful songs out there.  Even I have to change the station on occasion.

Which brings me to an exciting game of....

Question: What are the top five worst Christmas carols of all time???

He Says:

5. Happy XMas (War is Over)- John Lennon

As a Beatles fan, I feel like I shouldn't hate this song as much as I do, but it's just really annoying.

4. (Tie)  Christmas Don't Be Late and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

Both of these songs are like MacDonald's.  When you're a kid, you think it's awesome, but as an adult, it's disgusting.

3. The Twleve Pains of Christmas

Need I say more?

2. All I Want for Christmas- Maria Carey

Cheesy 90's Christmas music at its worst!

1. Anything by Mannheim Steamroller


I hate to sound like a music snob, but in what world do electric guitars and orchestras go together??


She Says:

5. Last Christmas- Wham!

Oh, Wham!...Sigh... I think the real reason I hate this song so much is that every time I hear it, it gets stuck in my head for days on end.  And it's just so, so, so terrible.

4. Merry Christmas, Darling- The Carpenters 

"The logs on the fire fill me with desire."  Really, lady?!  Really? Karen Carpenter, you get a "That's what she said!" for that one.  Vomit.  

3. Do They Know it's Christmas?  - Band Aid 

There are so many offensive lyrics in this song I'm not sure where to even begin.  The whole thing wreaks of colonialism if you ask me.  No Christmas?!  Wait.....no snow?!  That's horrific.  Wait...Miami doesn't get snow either?!  Get a bunch of rich white guys to write a song for the Floridians too!  (However misguided, this song did raise A LOT of money for the crisis in Ethiopia, and that, my friends, is the only reason this song is not number one on my list.)  

2. The Twelve Pains of Christmas- Bob Rivers 

As if the "Twelve Days of Christmas" wasn't already obnoxious enough, they just had to add "Hangovers" to the mix.  

1. The Christmas Shoes- New Song

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:  I'd rather be hit in the face with a frying pan than listen to this song.  It's like someone took the Lifetime Network, a sick puppy, Oprah's ovaries, and country music and put them in a blender together to create this song.


P.S.  I'd just like to point out that I have both "All I Want for Christmas" and "Happy XMas, War is Over" on my Ipod, and I listen to them daily.  I also happen to have the Mannheim Steamroller version of "Carol of the Bells."  Suck it, Eric.  Merry Christmas, ho, ho, ho! 

Now it's your turn:  What Christmas songs do you find most obnoxious?

Late to the Party

Certainly not late to the cookie party last Saturday, and certainly not late to the potluck we had at work today. I'd never be late to a party where food is involved.

No, I am late to the Yo Gabba Gabba party!  Cause this show?... is pretty Yo Awesome Awesome!

I realize that I'm several years late to this phenomenon, but I've never had a child (or a drug abuse problem) up till now (the child, not the drugs) so I'd never watched it.  

On Monday, I was feeling sick and Eric was making dinner and Madeline was fussing.  Since I'm a bad parent, I turned to ye olde Netflix Kids to entertain my child for me.

Out of sheer desperation, I clicked on Yo Gabba Gabba, and found myself rolling around on the floor with laughter.  Madeline was mesmerized, but also confused.  Yet, she dutifully tried to jumpy-jump along with the show when they asked her to.

I assume Yo Gabba Gabba works on children's brains the same way crack works on adults' brains.  Then again, maybe it works on adults' brains in a similar fashion because I've been singing "Party in My Tummy" all week.  

A Painting

I finished my art class last night.

Behold, my beautiful art work....

It's a little crooked, but that's okay....so is my house.

So glad Eric forced me to take this class.  I had so much fun.  He's getting me another round of classes for Christmas.  Hizz-ahh!

Meanwhile, Madeline was sick last week, which means that I'm home sick this week, which means she will probably be sick again next week.  Round and round we go.

How come Eric never gets sick??  His daily regimen of a glass or orange juice must really work wonders.  Not that I'm complaining.  It's nice that at least one of us is healthy...

We won't be sick for Christmas.  We won't be sick for Christmas.  We won't be sick for Christmas.

Around the Mighty Internet

Some cool things:

This Nutcracker App looks pretty amazing.  I haven't downloaded it myself, but I would like to.  I watched the preview and the illustrations look beautiful.  I can't wait until Madeline is old enough to appreciate stuff like this.

http://blogs.babble.com/family-style/2011/12/14/a-whole-new-nutcracker/

Becoming Sarah had an interesting take on vaccinations this week after her daughter caught Whooping Cough from a family friend.  Scary.  Vaccinations are an interesting debate, and one worth having I think.

http://becomingsarah.com/index.php?/becoming_sarah/comments/1474/

Baby Rabies is having an Inappropriate Elf on the Shelf contest.  That's a contest I can get behind.  If only I had an elf....There are a lot of dirty-minded people out there.  Pretty funny.

http://www.babyrabies.com/2011/12/inappropriate-elf-contest/

My mother is hosting a cookie swap this weekend so I was looking at the Decorated Cookie's blog for inspiration.  She always has such cute ideas, and she makes it all look so easy.

http://www.thedecoratedcookieblog.com/2011/12/bite-size-holiday-cookies-in-jar.html