A Mighty Update

The Mighty Car
So I am loving my new car, folks. Really. I can't tell you how much sliding doors have improved my quality of life. And I think we are going to appreciate our little starter minivan even more when the new baby is here. It doesn't feel like a van (and I am Experienced in this area), it hauls all the gear, we don't break our backs trying to load Jack in his car seat and because it's only as long as our old Jetta, I have absolutely no problem backing it into our tight driveway and garage. Go me. I shall now sit back and wait for the Mazda people to thank me with the iPod package we couldn't afford to install.

(Except I will also tell you the things I don't like. 1) The front bumper is so low that I keep driving it into things. Like parking spot curbs. Don't tell Phillip. 2) I can't figure out how to get the groceries to stay in one place in the back, although I hear this is a problem for all cars with open back space. Not a huge deal, but I grimace every time I hear a canteloupe thump against the side of the car. 3) The gas mileage. KILLING ME. I don't think it's horrible, and considering the car I used to drove (Ancient Ford Explorer) it stacks up rather well! But with my Jetta I could drive to my folks' house and back without the needle moving whatsoever. Now I watch it go down a quarter tank. SO PAINFUL.)

The Mighty Nap Schedule
We had a few weeks of one consistent nap. We had a few weeks of two consistent naps. We had weeks and weeks of a Well Adjusted Mother, because she was being Flexible and Easy Going. SHOCKING. And today we had one hard-won nap in the morning and no afternoon nap. Which: fine. Except I tried two different times to get him to go down and both times involved hollering of the horror movie sort and I am SPENT. Phillip got home from work and as soon as he scarfed down his dinner, I disappeared. I've been decompressing on all the posts I haven't been able to read today due to the screaming and the whining and the PICK ME UP PICK ME UP.

The Mighty Birthday
It was lovely, thank you. There was the silliest movie I have ever seen (silly and AWESOME), cheesecake, a gift certificate for a pregnancy massage (THANK YOU GOD. And Phillip.), a picnic in the park, sleeping in and a bowl filled to the brim with Hershey Kisses. There was also birthday money, some of which I spent on (AND KEEP THE SNICKERING TO YOURSELVES) another diaper bag. I KNOW. Some of you may remember that I agonized more over my diaper bag decision than I did over the new car. Shallow! I ended up with this bag in the "perky perennials" print, which I positively adore. It is, perhaps, a bit loud, a bit bright, a bit embarrassing for Phillip to carry when he's taking a cranky Jack out of church, but I LOVE IT. Also? Super functional. It has a place for everything. However! Certain people (HI MOM) have been telling me I'll need a new bag for the new baby. I am DOUBTING this, because can I even CARRY two diaper bags, plus whatever else I have to drag around? But, you know, new bag! Whee! I'd been eyeing this bag, (sans monogram, ugh) and when I tallied up those birthday checks I was all, "IT WILL BE MINE." And I went and bought it today. In red. Love. Of course, it's completely impractical. It has one measly barely useful pocket. When it gets dirty it will be a pain to clean. The top does not snap or zip or lock or have any way of making sure a toddler doesn't dig around for his goldfish crackers when you are not looking. BUT I BOUGHT IT ANYWAY. Why? Because I think I WILL need two bags (those full days at Grandma's house require a lot of stuff) and I think my laptop will look very cute inside. What? And it is a little more, ah, grown up than my other bag. For when I am concerned about such things. Not that I AM concerned about such things, sniff, but I HAVE noticed that my friends carry black Skip Hop bags or canvas backpacks or, you know, bags that are not smothered in hot pink flowers and maybe SOMETIMES I want to fit in. (But not too much. I did buy the red one. Pretty!)   

The Next Mighty Baby
Is still in there and still making me uncomfortable. I swear, her feet are inside my lungs. I couldn't even STAND in church on Sunday, I couldn't BREATHE. I had to hunch over the pew in front of me, like I was 107 years old. I'm glad I liked being pregnant so much the first time because now? I AM OVER IT. Oh! And I think we have a name. Even though I have one or two misgivings I think it is The Name. Oh, by the way, I am taking a poll. My best friend from school has, in my opinion, a beautiful name, I love it, I loooove it, I totally wanted to use it. I even ASKED HER if I could use it. But Phillip nixed my idea because 1) it's a [Of This Place] name and we are not [Of This Place] and 2) it's SOMEBODY ELSE'S NAME. He did not care that I loooove this name, so it's out. Oh well. I have moved on. But do you agree with Phillip or me? (Hint: AGREE WITH ME.)

Comments

[Shelby]

I agree with you 100% on the name thing. My husband has all these weird name associations, from this kid he didn't like in 2nd grade, or a terrible professor, or whatever. Also, names that are too "ethnic" are out - including many Old Testament names because they're "too jewish". I don't know how we're ever going to name a child!

[Elizabeth]

I am not even sure what I am agreeing to, but of course, I AGREE WITH YOU.

Also, I am ashamed to tell you how many diaper bags I have (five). Now ask me how many I use (zero to oneish).

[Lindsay]

Great to hear you had a nice bday and are spoiling the blogosphere w/ multiple posts/day.
I have 2 friends of whom I deem naming children after caliber/having awesome names and have never brought the issue up with the husband cause I know he will shoot it down with Phillip related reasoning.
My backup plan is to let him name all the boys (with names preapproved by me) and then I will swoop in with my names for the ladies....but who knows. Jackson is a wonderful name...not sure who came up with that but I am sure the sequel is equally lovely.

[ashley.marie]

Maybe your gas tank only holds like 2 cups of gas. THAT'S why you use 1/4 tank to drive to your parents. ;-)

I agree with you.

And I love that flowery diaper bag. Tres cute.

[Jess]

I don't mind the name being of a place that you are not of, but depending on WHOSE name it is, I might avoid using it. But really I just want to know what the name is.

Also, I love diaper bags, and am dying to be pregnant almost entirely so that I can buy one. Or seven.

[Lisa]

I do not understand why my husband can't get into my need for a newer and better diaper bag. I mean it's newer, and better! More pockets and gadgets. Come on!

Also, I agree with you, of course, and referring to a previous post, I think Jack will be fine in the talking area. He sounds just like my 16-month-old nephew, who has entire conversations consisting of "Da-ah-uh?", and I'm entirely certain he knows exactly what he's talking about. I think he'll start talking in complete sentences any day, he just hasn't figured out the whole forming words thing yet.

[Jen]

2) Milk crates. I have four milk crates in the back of my car (you know, those pretty ones from Target) and they keep the grocery bags from rolling around. Another plus is that you can stack them on top of each other if you run out of room in the trunk.

Oh, and I get much better gas mileage if I use my cruise control all the time. Maybe that will help with your new car.

I agree with you, not with Phillip.

[Charlotte]

Of course I agree with you. Sure it's an of that place name, but once you use it it'll become of your place. If all else fails tell Phillip that when he's getting his lungs kicked in, then his choice becomes first priority.

Now, out of curiosity, did the Louisa name or the Annie name make the final cut?

[Liz]

Hm. Of That Place, eh? I don't know... the truth is that it's excruciating not to know what you're thinking, and yet, we're not telling anyone our names either. I can't even bring myself to email them to Swistle to get another opinion because I feel like I'll be breaking a confidence with Adam. Ugh. Although, he did confess to telling the cute salesladies that helped him pick out a wallet.....

[Emily]

Milk crates! THAT IS GENIUS. Thank you, Jen. I am going to get some TODAY. I HATE hearing things rolling around in the back of the car, and I've always wondered about the Extra Space that's supposedly such a bonus with an SUV. Because I can't stack groceries! So there IS all this extra space, but it's UNUSABLE. Well, it WAS unusable, UNTIL NOW.

I also vote with you. If we have a girl, I have a name I LOVE, and although I associate it with someone (you would too, if you heard it), I don't think Dave does. So I'm in the clear!

[Becky]

I totally agree with you.

For the record.

:) Becky
http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/

[Tara]

Totally agree with you. We are in our own civil name-war over here.

Glad you had a good birthday! Mine is in a couple weeks and I would totally love a prenatal massage too. Time to start dropping hints.

[Phillip]

I agree with Phillip.

[annie]

I wanted to get a new diaper bag SO BADLY when we welcomed baby #2. When I bought my first one, I was very careful to pick something that my husband wouldn't mind carrying. But now? Now I'M OVER THAT. Now that I am the only female in the whole house, I want something PINK. AND FLOWERY. AND PRETTY AND GIRLIE. And yes, you will totally need that second bag. It's amazing how much more STUFF you'll be carrying around - not to mention that cute little bundle in her carrier!

[Lindsay]

I honestly think it depends upon who the person is. Since it's a really, really close friend, I think that's ok. I actually think it's kind of sweet. If it was just an acquaintance or someone you knew, I think that would also be ok. If it's someone who is kind of in the middle grey area there, I think that could be kind of weird. That probably makes no sense.

Glad you had a great birthday. :o)

[Katie]

I totally agree with you on the name thing. If you love it, you love it. My husband and I went through a zillion names before we finally agreed on one. I remember thinking, goodness gracious, if picking a name is this difficult, how hard is actually being a parent going to be? Oh, by the way, I just turned 29 a few months ago, and my little tyke is just over 11 months (we have so much in common)!