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Meal Patrol

Posted on September 4, 2013 Written by Tonya

Family meal time has always been one of my favorite parts of the day. Gathering together to unplug, catch up, inquire about each others days, laugh, share and nourish our bodies in the process, however, I’ve come to dread breakfast, lunch and especially dinner.

I loathe having to beg my son to eat.

I have grown tired of the negotiations that take place at our dining room table.

I hate being on meal patrol!

I know this is a common problem, but OMG, if Lucas would just eat, I would be happy. Honestly, I can handle the potty talk, drawl out bedtimes, and boundary testing if he would just EAT!!

All the sit up straight, face the table, stop touching your feet, watch your elbows, just two more bites, and try it, pleaaaaase aside, my husband and I struggle daily and nightly to get Lucas to eat anything. I understand his young palette is still developing, but he doesn’t even enjoy “regular” kid food. He won’t touch a French fry, chicken nugget, hot dog or dream of dousing anything in ketchup. What does he eat you ask? The list is very short.

Pasta.

Lots of pasta.

Tons of pasta!

But, it must be prepared a certain way; not too much olive oil, no fancy breadcrumbs on top or other garnish and he would prefer a cheese shaker on the side. Oh, and he likes to eat it with a spoon. So, in addition to being picky, he’s particular about his food too.

Carbs are his favorite food group.

Just recently he started asking for plain cheeseburgers from Old MacDonald’s (as he calls it) and as much as I hate fast food with a passion, I consider this a HUGE victory. It’s protein, right?

In talking to Lucas’ pediatrician, at the end of the day as long as his meals have been colorful (yeah, right!), she tells me not to worry, but I’m a mom and I will worry and I know that yogurt, a cheese stick and a half a banana can’t be all that nutritious for anyone.

I’ve tried a handful of recipes from Jessica Seinfeld’s cookbook, Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food and let’s just say, they didn’t go over very well. My sleuth son was on to my attempt at getting him to eat better.

I consider myself a picky eater and now I fear I’m raising one too. Any advice for me or better yet, make me feel better, what parenting challenges are you facing?

One Year Ago

Posted on August 14, 2013 Written by Tonya

I love the old adage, “the more things change, the more they stay the same” because in life there are many, many things that should never change.

For example and just to name a few: my favorite bagel shop should never under any circumstances stop making their scrumptious cinnamon sugar bagels because even though I don’t indulge in one very often, I love just knowing they are there and they smell insane.

I believe champagne should always be popped when there’s something fabulous to celebrate and even when there’s not.

I think goofy games should always be played at baby showers no matter how much the guests and typically the guest of honor bitch about them.

Sesame Street should never go off the air, even though my son has never been a fan.

I especially hope my husband never ceases to make me laugh and my son always prefers to sit next to me instead of across form me when we are at a restaurant.

Dependability is nice, tradition is comforting, being surrounded by people and things you can trust and count on is very good and support and unconditional love is priceless, but looking back just one year ago, almost everything in my life is different, some WAY better, some WAY worse.

Exactly one year ago today I posted Letter to my Blogging Buddies by Alison of Writing, Wishing as part of my weekly series, Letters For You, I was desperately in love with and getting to know our new puppy, Charlie Pasta, I was trying to find the good in myself and making lists. I wasn’t sharing much else.

Only six of the 11 posts I published last August were mine, all the others were guest posts. So far this month, I’ve written nine posts, including this one so I’m sharing more, which can only be healthy for my psyche.

I think.

Since August, 2012, we have moved and are now living ~~miserably~~ uncomfortably in a teeny tiny apartment as we search for our dream house and I’m still getting to know our dog, who turns out is A LOT more work than my four year old and I regret getting almost daily.

Charlie Pasta and I are NOT in a good place these days, although as he sleeps peacefully at my feet as I type this, I realize I really do love him.

How has your life changed in the last year?

And what are some things you hope never change? I asked this on Twitter the other day and all I heard was crickets, so won’t you please indulge me?

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop Prompt #3. What were you blogging about last year at this time? What has changed?

Why I Hate Clothes Shopping

Posted on August 6, 2013 Written by Tonya

We all have that friend that looks like she just walked off the pages of the latest magazine… no matter what the event, she is impeccably put together head to toe, wearing the latest styles, “in” colors and jewelry to match. As much as you want to hate her, you admire her, even envy her and above all wish you could either consult her before leaving your house or raid her closet.

I hate clothes shopping!! It is on my top five list of activities I despise the most. Just thinking about it causes me anxiety. I wander around clothing stores aimlessly, completely overwhelmed, purposely avoiding the overbearing sales staff, fingering through beautiful racks of clothing and getting more and more frustrated that I’m not a size two. I’m actually okay with my body and size, I’ve been every where from a size 6 to a 10 and back again. These days I’m somewhere in between, but shopping for and putting together outfits is not my forte no matter what size I am.

I always admire the flawlessly dressed, coiffed and accessorized mannequins in the windows, but as soon as I foolishly think for one second that I can replicate their look, I fall flat. Or the store is out of my size. Or (and this is more than likely the case) it NEVER looks as good on me as the display.

The other extremely annoying phenomena that occurs upon entering a clothing store is I get closet amnesia and can never seem to remember what I already have at home. Hence the reason I end up with more stripes or black shirts.

I never feel less put together, frumpy, clueless or out of my element than when trying to clothes shop.

And don’t even get me started on three way mirrors! They are seriously a cruel joke and because of them, I hardly ever try anything on in the store and therefore end up returning a lot of items. Last week alone, I’ve bought and returned four things. To four different stores! I ended up with nothing.

Once, I enlisted my fashionista friend (as described above) and owner of Inside Out, Wardrobe Rehab to help me overhaul my closet and I shared my experience here. I think it might be time for another session.

At least I’m not alone, according to a study I found online, only 29% of women actually admit to enjoying going out to buy something to wear.

However, I read another study that said, assuming a woman lives to be 63, she will spend 25,184 hours and 53 minutes of her life buying things. On a yearly basis, this adds up to just shy of 400 hours. 95 of which are dedicated to buying food, which makes sense as I know I’m at the super market at least twice a week! 170 hours are dedicated to buying clothes. 170 hours of clothes shopping?! I’d rather have a root canal every day for a week or have my friend dress me.

Do you like clothes shopping?

Just Thinking Out Loud…

Posted on August 5, 2013 Written by Tonya

Okay, so bear with me, this is a random post in order for me to purge… I have a lot on my mind these days. Stupid, ridiculous, trivial crap and big, life changing, important stuff too. I think it’s imperative to get it all out sometimes, so here goes:

First and foremost, how in the hell is it already August?

Only 34 days until my next Dave Matthews concert… not that I’m counting or anything.

Moving. Or more importantly, finding our (close to and within our budget) dream house. Open living space, big backyard, guest room (or not), Jack & Jill bathroom, two-story (or not) and back in our old neighborhood. It’s not that much to ask for, is it? And yet, we have looked at dozens of houses and haven’t quite fallen in love with any and if we have, they were bought within days or hours of us seeing them.

Dog training. Charlie Pasta is having a hard time and will be going away for training for two weeks later this month and I am absolutely thrilled!! He hates apartment living as much as I do and has decided to act out and turn skittish (AKA bark like a maniac at every noise he hears). We’ve become very frustrated and turns out are not the best dog trainers, so it’s time for professional intervention.

North West. When and how are Kim & Kanye going to introduce their daughter to the world? I’m so curious. Unless, they have already and I’ve been living under a rock?

I’m so happy America’s Next Top Model is back!! Cycle 20, baby!! This time it’s girls vs. boys. No judging… you know you watch it or something equally embarrassing, right? Right?!

Speaking of embarrassing TV, another guilty pleasure show that I have gotten sucked into this summer is Mistresses. It’s so bad.

How many times does a day does “Blurred Lines” play on the radio and how soon before it really starts to bother me that my four year knows almost every lyric?

There is more substance to me than bad television and pop songs, I am currently OBSESSED with This American Life, the weekly public radio show broadcast and I recently downloaded the app and have listened to some of the most amazing stories from learning how to count cards in order to beat casinos to the love of summer camp and an incredible story about babies switched at birth only to find out 40 years later. The host, Ira Glass is my new hero.

I’m looking forward to the day when I don’t have to hear “butt”, “poop” and “pee” 900 times a day or reprimand someone for using them in excess. Seriously, how do you make it stop?!

There is definitely a lot more going on in this brain of mine, but this really helped. For now…

What’s on your mind?

Search History

Posted on July 29, 2013 Written by Tonya

Sometimes I look at my Internet search history on my phone and I have to smile… or cringe.

Having an inquisitive brain myself and a very curious four-year old, I love being able to look things up in a moments notice in order to satisfy an urge to know, settle an argument or further investigate simply for the sake of knowledge. Kids ask a lot of questions and it’s nice to be able to deliver a response and often with photos.

The strangest request Lucas has had recently is to show him a picture of Dr. Laura. I know, I know, probably not the best car ride listening entertainment, huh? Well, maybe some of her wisdom will sink in?

Here’s what else I have researched lately:

In my defense (from top to bottom):

I highly suggest looking up Tom Cruise and his winning smile… there is something amiss. He has a tooth in the center of his face. It’s totally creepy.

I signed up for an upcoming 5K.

The Tijuana Dogs are one of my favorite local bands and I was checking out their tour dates.

My BFF is moving to Corsica and although she doesn’t know it yet, I’m planning a trip. Worth researching for the gorgeous photos alone!

I gave Charlie Pasta his first people food… popcorn and then freaked about about whether it could hurt him. He loved it and it’s okay for dogs.

I’m anxious to read Life After Life by Kate Atkinson.

Lucas wanted to know all about barnacles. Random, right?

I am bound and determined to make gazpacho before the summer is over.

What have you looked up lately?

If You Had Told Me 10 Years Ago…

Posted on June 24, 2013 Written by Tonya

If you had told me 10 years ago that…

I wouldn’t have a full time job, but would be getting paid to write,

both my parents would be dead and it would take me the better part of five years to sell their house,

I’d be the mother to a four year old,

I’d be battling secondary infertility and sharing my story in my own column,

I would consider going to the grocery store alone a mini vacation,

my family would be living in an apartment,

we’d own a dog,

my sister would live less than an hour away,

I’d be walking on average 600 miles a year (usually with the dog),

I’d be playing more games of Words With Friends than reading,

my closest friends would (thank God) remain the same,

and I’d be blogging,

I would have grabbed the closest chair or wall to steady myself and then told you were absolutely nuts!

It’s true, my life has been a combination of crazy, wonderful, sad and magical. I have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows over the last 10 years and in all honesty, I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Do you live with regrets?

What’s In Your Purse?

Posted on June 3, 2013 Written by Tonya

I finally took the time to clean out my purse tonight and a lot of mysteries were revealed; like why it has been so damn heavy!! I was carrying around a rock for God’s sake!!

I also realized that without a doubt I am indeed the mother of a boy. See above.

I also have a bit of a lip gloss hoarding problem and a weakness for gummy candy.

Other surprises included two packages of Wet Ones, an over stuffed wallet, a bunch of trash, two pairs of glasses (one case was empty!), a magazine I swiped from a doctor’s office and will probably never find the time to read, a toy car, a pair little boy’s undies (more evidence of being a mom to a boy), 6 bangles and a pair of earrings from my last date night, an empty(!) water bottle, and a very lovely (yet unnecessary) thank you gift all the way from Canada. Thanks, Robin!

When was the last time you cleaned out your purse? Any interesting discoveries?

10 Things Totally Pissing Me Off This Week

Posted on May 17, 2013 Written by Tonya

Call it hormones, the wacky weather, lack of sleep or just first world problems, here are 10 things currently pissing me off:

1. Toilet paper in public restrooms. Not only is it cheap and flimsy, why can’t I get more than one teensy square? I hate fighting with those damn dispensers!

2. Pharmacies. I wonder how much time I’ve wasted at the pharmacy this week alone; dropping off prescriptions, picking up prescriptions, arguing with pharmacists over prescriptions, waiting for prescriptions, coming back to pick up prescriptions. It’s enough to drive a person absolutely bananas!!

3. Bad parking jobs. Does anyone know how to park anymore? Twice this week I have had to climb into my car through the passenger door to get into the driver’s seat. The lines on the lot are there for a reason!!

4. Sunburns. Yep, I’m an idiot and before you ask, I was wearing SPF 55, but I guess it wore off after 5 long hours in the sun. Ouch!! Luckily, it’s only in my belly.

5. Apartment living. Enough said.

Actually, there is an entire blog post in that one, but I’ll save it for another day….

6. Poop. Specifically, people that don’t/won’t/can’t pick up after their dogs. O_o

7. Visiting blogs that make me jump through hoops to leave a comment. Math equations, Captcha quote and a check box? Just to prove I’m human? Are we still doing this? C’mon, already.

8. The punishment light. You know the one, your neighborhood has to have one, it’s the traffic light that is red no matter what direction you’re coming from and you always get stuck at it. Always!!

9. Services that just can’t be services. Regular every day, need to go places like the car wash or hair salon that have treats and snacks and ice cream and TOYS!!! Can’t I just get my car washed without having to argue with my son and say no 900 times?!

10. Customer, no service. It doesn’t matter where I go anymore, I can get no help from sales staff and they actually act like I’m just a huge burden to them. I know minimum wage is low, but please do your job.

What’s irritating you these days?

This Is Three

Posted on February 11, 2013 Written by Tonya

There was a time when I was cursing the terrible threes, when I was at wits end, confused and frustrated and wondered what had happened to my sweet little boy.

We do still have days like that, when even with his vast vocabulary, he doesn’t have the words to express his anger or disappointment, but those days are few and far between.

Thank goodness!

3 1/2.

Where does the time go?

We have turned a corner and this is really a great age.

Lucas is as curious as ever, insightful and astute, funny, polite and kind. He charms everyone from grocery store clerks and waitresses to his teachers and his father’s colleagues at work.

Like most three year olds, he loves playing games, especially Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Go Fish, Connect Four and Buckaroo. He also likes to win!

Lucas loves puzzles and is a master Lego builder.

If the house is quiet, he can often be found curled up in his bean bag with a book (be still my heart). His favorites right now are Do Not Open This Book, Ira Sleeps Over and Pirates Go To School.

He loves watching The Fresh Beat Band, Octonaunts, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Scooby Doo and Sofia the First.

But his greatest OBSESSION right now and for the two years has been with “Car movie cars”! It isn’t quiet out of hand, but close…

He has Cars Micro Drifters, Squinkies, Die-Cast models, tracks, carrying cases, magnets, puzzles, sheets, dominoes, towels, clothes and of course both movies.

Do you know how many Cars characters there are? He does!

Sadly, so do his dad and I.

What is your child(ren) current obsession?

Potty Mouth

Posted on December 18, 2012 Written by Tonya

If you’ve ever spent any time in real life with me then you know I have a foul mouth. Yesterday (after waiting to see my doctor for over an hour and a half and then finally deciding to get up and leave) was a particularly foul language day.

Cursing. It’s a deplorable trait.

I think I can count on one hand how many times I heard my mother use a curse word, which only makes me feel worse.

For me, cursing has become somewhat of a habit, whether it’s out of anger, frustration or to emphasize a point, sometimes there is just no substitute for “hell”, “shit”, “damn”, or worse. I have several four-letter favorites.

I have been noticing rampant potty talk in public lately too. It seems as though people have no sensor, no decorum.

Has cursing become more acceptable? I think over the years my language has gotten worse. I blame the challenges of parenthood and our six-month old puppy. But really that is no excuse.

I try to temper myself, especially around Lucas because he is a little mimic and I am ashamed to admit has dropped the F bomb more than once.

In an appropriate scenario.

In front of my in-laws.

Not one of my finer moments.

I’ve been trying to say, “what the H?”, “F this” or “F-ing that” and Lucas thinks it’s a letters game and will say, “what the K?”, “what the L?” and “J that”.

The twinkle in his eye tells me he knows better.

How do you mind your Ps and Qs around your tots?

Meal Patrol

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