I need the sunshine and palm trees of Florida...

Remember that TV ad from the '80s? "When you need it bad, we've got it good, come to Florida!"

....Taking Sam to Naples tomorrow. I'm both excited and nervous. I've often shot looks at women with babies screaming on planes, and now I'm potentially that woman. God will get his revenge.

I got my hair highlighted yesterday, and I had to feign ignorance when asked, "What in the world did your last colorist do to your hair?" I was way too embarrassed to admit that my mother was my last colorist (and equally embarrassed that I still refer to "colorists" as "hair dressers"), and that she talked me into letting her color my hair. Oh my God, disaster...it was orange in places. It's fixed now, and I just shrugged and said, "I have no idea what she did." heh heh heh.

I've packed 2 huge suitcases for Sam and me for 6 days. So very me.

So, now that crazies can't see, here are some family photos. : )

Correction

I love sentimental men. I emailed Matt "Happy three years of knowing me," and he replied, "Wasn't it yesterday?"

He's right. I'm a mom and I've lost my mind and its knack for remembering dates.

*sigh*

Three Years With Matt

We met three years ago today! My, but a lot has happened. : )

I made my blog private because of the "crazies." If you know someone who reads this, or would like to read it, send me their email address and I'll invite them.

We've decided to go to California wine country for our honeymoon instead of Mexico; I can't be away from Samuel for that long. We're going in April because we'll be in Cali for Matt's friend's wedding, anyway. California wine country is more my bag. Yeeeeah.

Sam is 18 pounds and is breaking my arms and back. Kids are for the young. I never hear about Eric's sister complaining about her back, and she has a big boy too. She's young. I hate her (just kidding). I feel the full depth of age lately, but I'm getting my hair highlighted today so all is right with the world.

Ta ta...

Music Choice

Favorite song today: Amy Correia, California

Favorite Baby: Always Sam

Man Bank

As a kid, everyone had piggy banks; I had this. My mom owned a children's clothing store and she brought this home for me on what I considered a sullen afternoon, saying, "Some day you'll appreciate it." I always kept it in the back of my closet because I was embarrassed to have a weird man-head as a bank. Now I love it. You'll not find him on E-bay. ; )

Coffee Shopper

Sam entertained the masses at my dad's house last night while Matt and I snuggled at our favorite winter bar, the Wellington, for a bit. It's nice to get a break, although we always end up talking about Sam and all of his wonders. He really enjoys being up at my dad's because there's a lot more chaos than we can produce.

Matt's cousin Maggie is our new "sitter" and she's home with the rugrat right now while I freelance at a coffee shop. I can make a lot more hourly than we pay for babysitting, so it's time for me to get out once in a while and work. This freelance life just may work!

After several years of hording, I discovered yesterday that I have almost 100,000 airline miles collected on my credit card (yikes - isn't that a mile per dollar??). One word to Matt: Italy. I'll buy!

Matt asked me last night if I'd like to move to Dubai for a year. I said, "Let me think about it. No." I'm afraid I wouldn't feel safe with a baby in a Middle Eastern city. Plus, the money there is mostly from Russian mafia and the like, and I know I'd mouth-off to someone with whom I disagreed and get imprisoned for life; then Sam would be forced to let a stranger hold him 18 hours a day and make his bottles. No way.

Anyhoo, time to work.

Hi Alex - I'll call you soon. Thanks for reading.

Dinner Late Again

Matt is grilling something called "Beer Butt Chicken." You don't want to know. I kid you not, we're regressing. White trash cooking - gotta love it.

I chatted with my friend tonight who's trying to decide his next world trip. I said, "Well, I'm feeding Sam and watching Ghost Busters on VH1, so it all sounds good to me. A good moment for me is when Sam burps, and a good day is 2 dirty diapers."

He laughed and said, "I hear it's temporary."

Yes it is, and it's all great anyway you slice it (except dirty diapers, which we just fold and discard).

Oh, bama

Last Friday Sullivan's, this Friday pizza ... and Susy & Andrew's company. Yea guests!

Not only do Matt and I (and now Sam) look alike, but now we have matching phones. Matt brought home 2 new HTC "Touch" last night, Germany's version of the iPhone. It's very super cool and I must learn to use this weekend!

Naples very soon. Mexican honeymoon in February. California April. The travelin' life's for me.

Hillary looks like a fish under a magnifying glass. I told Sam to watch out for women who vote only because the candidate is a woman. A rich, political-grubbing, man-eating, fish-under-a-magnifying-glass whose only real emotion is anger. Hold tight Obama.

January is a month made of granite, ice and darkness. February's not much better, though by March I feel the sun rising and living things awakening again.

Go Barack!!

Go Go Go Go Go! Win New Hampshire! We're cheering.

Juno

I ventured outside the family unit today. I went to see Juno at Keystone Arts, ordered a diet Coke and found a seat by myself. I had never been to a movie alone: it was fantastic. I found a two-seater and sat on the outside. When late-comers arrived in pairs, I could honestly shrug and say, "Sorry, only one seat here." Awesome!

Juno was not only the best movie I've seen in a long time, but the only movie I've seen in a long time. I bawled (quietly, secretly, the lonesome dove), and I missed Sam and Matt. Honestly, the prospect of giving a child up for adoption had me so slippery sentimental that I almost couldn't make it through the second reel (hint: when watching a movie, look for the black dot to appear in the right corner screen; this means that it's time to change the reel).

I've read a lot about the author of the movie, a former stripper. She seems pretty flawless to me. The little girl in the movie, Ellen something-or-other, deserves an Oscar.

Soundtrack was cheerful; a little immature, but they did slip one Belle & Sebastian in there (band from Glasgow that I love).

Anyway, Matt said, "Take as much time as you like."

I raced home after the movie.

Wish I Was A Sylvia Plath

I bought Matt a chef's hat for Christmas with his name embroidered on it. He needs to quit law and open a restaurant. Law sucks the marrow from the soul. He made brussel sprouts for me tonight - the best ever (my fave, I'm quite strange, this much I know).

We listened to Ryan Adams, who Sam loves (the song Sylvia Plath...a favorite for you fellow iTunes junkies: buy it!). Ryan has many masterpieces.

Matt is giving me the entire day off tomorrow. Huh? What?! I'm going to see the movie Juno, probably followed by a quick trip to Target and an hour or so immersed in literature. All will be done alone, which doesn't happen much anymore (but the trade off is so worth it).

One of the best things about having a baby is reconnecting with people from my past. I have great friends. Gord S, especially, sends me the most positive insight on parenthood; I can feel that guy's smile stretched across my computer screen. Everyone is so kind telling me that I'm a good mom, which feels good after a long day of holding my 15-pounder. Whew, he's a biggie.

Shari P. stopped by today and met Sam. She's a waif herself, and after holding him for a few minutes, she interupted me, saying, "This kid is so freakin' heavy." Funny.

Creativing writing is striking; goodnight.

Sam's Growth Chart from Aunt Angie

Click photo, make bigger (I'm beginning to speak like Elmo).