A Good Day

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Trips alone with children. Some mothers are frightened of this, I embrace it. Every day I appreciate what has been given to me in the form of these two amazing children. One who is a massive help, is entirely selfless and wants nothing but to please empathically. The other is an easy-going child capable of making me laugh and smile no matter what he gets into. He also has a generous heart and is reflective of everything he does. He is alert, aware and enjoys absorbing his world. Their personalities are like night and day but they complement each other so well, despite the five years apart, they very well could be twins. Here sets the background information for how or why I find it immensely enjoyable just to travel with them.

Today was a good day. We have taken trips together in the past, Florida for a week, then Seattle for the first airplane experience for the tot. Yes, every day is an experience! If I think about it as less of a mustdo and more of an adventure, adding an element of fun and joy, everything is a stress-free, immensely enjoyable experience! Drove to Atlanta to possibly meet up with someone I met over Twitter, as I have done in the past with WoW guildies, and if not, cool. The main purpose was to stuff my cooler full of goodies!

The night we arrived, ordered excellent fish & chips, vegetables, blackened chicken pasta, and a fruit salad for Ian and had it delivered to our room. Also wanted a slice of chocolate cake, it was faux fancy with the pre-streaked lines of raspberry coulis and chocolate sauce on the clear glass plate and two gobs of fast melting canned whipped cream. The top was gateaux which was fine, the cake moist and deep in chocolate flavor, when it got too much, the acidity of the swipe of raspberry kicked in and tempered by the cream. The cake was utterly ruined for me by the effects of the mini chocolate chips present at the cake end. I really don’t like chocolate THAT much to have raw chips in my mouth, it just seems like such a lazy way out! I prefer crust crumbles, or even cocoa powder!

On to the food, the fish and chips were thick slabs of cod in very thin batter. A slap and a shake on this. I like thin batter because they aren’t selling you starch for money, but it has to be done right. It wasn’t. The plating was done where the fish was tossed onto hot fries, causing the moisture to leak and coagulate the batter skin to a mush in every spot it sat on a chip. Fail. Next time, partition and use wax paper. The fish was thick, fresh, flaky, cooked and seasoned to perfection. Peel off batter, consume. Chips were regular. Nothing to write about.

The blackened chicken pasta was an oily mess! The saving grace was the warm and potent spice which I liked and the two generous slabs of toasty crispy savoury garlic bread! I had to sacrifice a slice to the tot :(

Sleep was had, and in the morning we woke up a little late, and headed to the Decatur Book Festival. On the way, I developed a serious need to take a dump. That taken care of, we set off again for the festival. Parked in a church lot (Southern Baptist) and hoped they won’t tow me for being a heathen witch. Walked maybe a block to the festival, it was almost 11am and getting really warm. First thing we did was get stopped by this lady manning a POD reserviced into a library full of wallpaper books, to which she cheerfully asked me, “What are you reading?”

“Snow Queen’s Shadow by Jim Hines. Heard of him? I am a super fantasy nut.”

No she hadn’t, that sounds interesting, what about you, young man? Stewie ignores her, he is too hungry at this point and we set out for legitimate food. Rounded the corner and found illegitimate food in the form of frozen chocolate bananas. Now Stewie has had one in Disney World but he was years ago. Got one each, with peanuts, and without. Started to pay …

“Crap, this is for the baby and he can’t have peanuts. Can I switch it to no nuts? I don’t get to pick what I want anymore.”

He looks at me, smiles. Here’s your change, sure I will switch that, and don’t tell me anymore sob stories because this looks like a person who doesn’t care. I smile back, grab the banana pops and park under a tree. In the distance, a crowd has gathered of kids around a sweaty, hassled man making balloon animals.

Price of admission: $1 and your soul + 1hour.

Stewie got himself a dragon which was pretty impressive, so I swallowed my curses and fed the baby the frozen banana.

We took off searching for floating balloons and fans next, found a booth with a spinner thing and “I wanna spin it!” happened, got a bike bottle for his school, a paper fan and a smile from a cute guy. Something for everyone! Wandered up the second level where the more serious book booths were and paperback novels printed to look like leather tomes are like catnip to me! Plus there was a really cute chick in a homemade archer-type outfit. I was a moth to a flame. Purchased the book, had a chat with the author, she signed my copy :)

We found floaty balloons run by these dear little girls, who inflated and tied them off themselves. They sat in the sun and you who know me know:
A) I absolutely love good children
B) Girl children omg!

So embracing maternal instincts, as they were inflating my kids’ balloons, I whipped out the fan and tried to cool them off. Poor dears! Wish I had an umbrella too.

Sat down by some steps to listen to a very charismatic black gentleman retell his own version of The Three Little Pigs! It was fantastic! Shame Stewie didn’t find it to his liking. Started to pick up my new book to read, what little I did, I enjoyed. Then I was asked to fill out a survey by a sweet old British lady. In the end she said, “I’m British, you know?” Yes I did. Her accent was so thick while she read questions, and yet turned it off during conversation, it was adorable!

Decided we had enough of the heat, sipping on lemonade, another survey taker asked an Asian couple nearby if they would take it. When they declined, he pointed over to me, all big smiles and thumbs up, declared loudly, “She’s already taken it!” I gave him my cheesiest smile and a thumbs up back.

I felt like a hero for all of a minute.

Hit my second target destination next – it was glorious. Like pigs with jewels glorious, like all this thirst and so much seawater glorious!!!

Dekalb Farmer’s Market. Please go there.

“Wow there are hundreds of people here.”
“Good, that means this place can stay open forever.”

The cook in me wanted to pack and move down the street. I taught a family how to properly eat fresh sugar cane.

Overheard a lady say, “That’s what a coconut looks like?”

OMG, the pain in my heart.

Bought and consumed goat’s milk, delicious and sweet. No funny bitter aftertaste like cow’s milk. Accompanied by cheese curds! We nuked a handful in the microwave at the hotel, to recapture that delightful squeak. It was pretty close.

“Mommy has to get out of here before we have no more money.”

We head back to the hotel for a swim in the saltwater pools. Ian floats away from me, led by his brother, with two paws in the air waves and giggling pronounces, “Babaiiiiii!” as he is happily being tugged. I felt a twinge of sadness, as that part wars inside me. You know, the “OMG he doesn’t need me anymore! How can he be happy to leave me? Is he not worried?” irrational twinges. Then I am glad that he is such a well adjusted, intelligent child.

We shower, all three of us. All at once, in the large shower. Gotta love Hilton Garden Inn! And we snack on tabbouleh and garlic flatbread. Then veg out, watch some tv until we head out to Yakitori Jinbei for dinner. It is our MUST stop in Atlanta. Especially Saturday night as they have the binchotan (special charcoal) out for their kushiage (grilled skewers)

They are famous for their tonkotsu ramen, which is inhaled by both children. Ian absolutely loved the soup! I ordered torikawa, sunagimo, ika shio (just salted) and tsukune (chicken meatballs) with tare (sweet glaze). Stewie and Ian fought over the meatballs, fork tender and sweet. Got some yaki onigiri for Ian but it was a little too salty for him.

Yeah, my children eat well.

Tomorrow, dimsum yay!, HMart yay! and home. Boo.

Thousands of Years Later

And we are still no closer to solving the mystery of

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s Murder.

Murder. And it tastes good.

I have been busy, teaching and mommying is a full time JOB! The last time I had luxuries like this to hash out some thoughts was a million years ago, and then some. But you know what? It is all worth it.

Just like tomorrow. Once a year.

It is all worth it. And it tastes good.

Dear Child

Dear Child #1,

I really don’t understand why you are so ungainly on your feet that you would trip whilst putting on your own shoes and consequently knock your chin against the side table at the Hyatt Place Atlanta Airport South last night. Also, you bit into the right side of your tongue so that I freaked out because I thought you were bleeding so badly due to the loss of one of four molars you have. Just the other day you injured your hand by somehow scraping your palm against the shower door handle. I don’t understand it, that has barely healed and you have acquired another injury.

You really enjoyed playing and rough-housing with your PohPoh the entire time she was here. You would both race around the house after powering up like Sonic and you would designate as to which character she and yourself would be next, Tails, Sonic or otherwise. You and KungKung were best buddies, we nicknamed you his Shadow because you pretty much trailed after him everywhere! He had an iPhone which you relentlessly demanded from him to play games on. Which brings me to my next point, you really do play video games a whole lot at age 5, but I have only myself to blame because I’m like that too.

I love you, Child #1 and wouldn’t trade you for the world! You are and forever will be my best Stewart. Ever!

Love forever,
Mommy.

Dear Child #2,

You amaze me by how you cry and fuss in your carseat, I whip out a breast for you to feed on, and as soon as you feel it against your cheek you fall right asleep! Mommy’s boobie is NOT a pillow! That said, Daddy really super loves you because that man has been taking such amazing care of you through diapers and burpings.

The fact that you look like a 4 month old while just being a month old has led me to believe that you are capable of eating newborns for breakfast. I also have reason to believe that you have the face of a cherub and your daddy can’t get enough of how cute you are! You are exactly what we wanted. Your big brother keeps hanging around you like flies over honey, waiting to carry you when he’s able, calling you “My baby Ian!”, stroking your head at every oppurtunity, even while you’re asleep and waking you! He talks to you a lot, and you would smile that toothless grin up at him and make his day. They say you don’t social smile as a baby until much later, but we believe you already knew how and just felt the love from everyone who was near you. You are such a wonderful, happy baby. I love you so much my heart is bursting!

My darling little tubster. I only wish for the best for you, and I am so glad that you and your big brother get along. Please be good to him too!

P/s: wow you have real explosive poops! One time, the poop was all around the sides of the diaper and blasted out the back, but there was not a single yellow mustard seed poop in the middle of the diaper where it should usually be. That was a fun day for me.

Love with all my heart,
Mommy
± From My Blackberry ±

Love and Boom Boom

BB: I only love mommy or yee pohpoh. I don’t love daddy.
Me: What?! Why???
BB: Because daddy has angry eyes.

BB: I only love Yee Poh Poh and mommy, but when daddy tickles me, and it makes me laugh and I’m happy, THEN I love daddy.

(as said to me in the car while waiting for LB to get back from Lowes)

So LB at dinner asks why BB’s belly isn’t full … and he responds:
“It’s coz I haven’t eaten enough food! Boom Boom!”
and he wiggles his hips at the Boom Boom part.

I laughed so hard I was crying because it was so random!!!

Me: Soon it will be 7 people in the house, you, Mommy, Daddy, Yee Poh Poh, Ian and Poh Poh and Kung Kung too. Kung Kung is coming to see you in 2 weeks!
BB: Kung Kung is coming? He is bringing me a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG present!!!
Me: (omg I hope they are coming with a big present for him, the kid doesn’t forget.)

BB: I missed you and I started crying because I was sad. I looked everywhere for you, but you went to work. I was calling “Mommy! Mommy!” but you didn’t hear me. I was so scared. Then I was at school, and my teacher said time to go home, and I took the bus and came home and opened the door and mommy said “There you are!” and I gave mommy a biiiiig hug!!!

(as told to me after he had a bad dream almost verbatim)

Amazon.com: Gwen Cross and Sean Cross: Baby Registry

While I’m At The Hospital …

I wonder if they’d let me have a waxer come in to give me a Brazilian while I’m under the effects of an epi. Just a thought.

S-win-suit

Stefanie at Mommymusings (a guilty pleasure of mine) is offering up the chance to win a swimsuit from GiGi and it looks amazing, but the price tag is a bit cringeworthy. It just doubly strengthened my want to find a classic white swimsuit for this year, I love halters and I miss my green one.

Tick Tock

Cleaning up the kitchen, done with the dishes and disinfected the countertops. Mended the dining chair cushion and patched the hole in BB’s Diego comforter. Had my facial steam with LUSH vit E toner tabs, the remaining liquid sits happily in the fridge for later spritzing. Little Stewie Betta fish has a clean bowl of water.

We went bowling, 3 games, lunch and fun! BB picked out the earrings he wanted me to wear; silver skull and crossbones. My hair is tied into two low pigtails which is the acceptable style for anyone over 10. Cherry lips and kohl eyes. I look like a goth hippie, its so cute but my Nine West bag and silver sequined FitFlops throw my fashion into a whole different ballpark.

The Angus hamburgers are thawing for tonight and the laundry is going.

All in a day’s work. Now I’m sitting here contemplating taking a soak in the tub, and getting my hands and feet pampered. I still smell of seared beef from yesterday’s beouf bourginnone feat. It’s one of those lazy Sundays with nothing to do. Maybe I’ll just stare at the ceiling for awhile. Tick tock. ± From My Blackberry ±

Getting Addicted To Weeds …

Yeah, it says it all. It’s made me feel better and better about my own life, just like the MJ. I particularly enjoyed the episodes with Guillermo Diaz in it, frankly because he’s bad-boy cute. And latino.

Took the L&D tour today of Trinity. It’s a Christian hospital, and there is a giant statue of an archangel in the waiting room. I was tempted to pull a Doug Wilson and use it as a growing lamp. Since I’m going to schedule a C-section, the Day Surgery area is all I need, and the post-partum rooms which they call Mother-Baby rooms are all private and are just right for our small family. I did ask about jaundice, which is an almost surety seeing as it runs in the Asian blood, and they said that they can do it both ways, either have him on a cot with his UV light like BB had or move the light and cot to the room so the baby can be with me still.

This baby is going to come out looking like a lizard. I haven’t ballooned the way I did with BB. Hoping for an average sized-weight baby. Oh, and they put blue and pink ribbons on the post-partum doors. That was so adorable!!!

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