This Friday we're going to one of hubby's clients' holiday parties. It sucks. 6:30-10:30 pm, on a godforsaken *boat*. So you have to stay the whole FOUR hours. And it's freakin December, so we'll all be huddled inside with our hot toddies, so we won't get to enjoy the boat part. It'll be like being at the Marriot ballroom, but that we can't leave early. Now we have to find childcare from 5-11. And try to get into Boston for 6:30. It all sucks. I think I'm going to schedule things such that we're "accidentally late" and miss the boat. I will know exactly 3 people there, one of whom I share my bed with. I just hope they have good wine.

I'm also trying to sort out Nino's birthday. I wanted it to be low-key, just family, but I wanted to have it at home so that his sitter could come. SIL wanted to do it, but she's an hour away, so sitter wouldn't come. And my family wouldn't feel as welcome. And then it's notsomuch my thing. Not that it's a big deal but I wanted it to be simple. Ugh.

I feel ten thousand times better about my projects. Slings will hit the mail tomorrow, christmas cards are near complete, I did some studying, finished one scarf, decided not to even get to the calendars for a bit, did some ironing, and the house smells fine again. Additionally, I'm really pleased with a new style of sling I made and can't wait to hear how Tru likes it. The only thing is that the cats are bothering my allergies.

After the single puke on turkey day, I thought we were all set. Nope. Yesterday was a puke filled day. Today was a sleep filled day. He slept all morning, has been awake about 4 hours, eating like a horse, and is asleep again. Poor bean. At least I'm ahead of the laundry and cleaning up for now (knock on wood). Nothing smells too bad anymore.

On another note, I have too many projects. I decided to make our christmas cards (done but for about 15 envelopes), calendars for gifts for family members (not even really begun), scarves for the girls (half done), doll for sophia (done) and am keeping on top of sling orders (1/3 done so far). I hope tomorrow is a productive day. I need to get these slings in the wash.

Our Turkey day was punctuated by a few fun things.

• Nino choked on some turkey, which caused him to puke good. He got a nice mid-meal bath. I didn't get to really finish up.
• He, who will eat fresh or frozen blueberries by the gallon, does not like blueberry pie. Or any pie, for that matter. He liked the crust.
  
• We were reading "who's hiding in the jungle?" and afterwards he asked me "who's hiding in momma's boobies? Momma milk!" He's a comedian.
  

Santa and the boy last year. I can't wait to take him this year. Probably not for a couple of weeks though.

I feel super bad, as Nino still has his ear infection. It seems amoxicillin didn't touch his particular infection. Now he's on bactrim, with a flavor shot of banana. It smells nasty but he seems to be fine with it.

I'm just thrilled that it's a short week, and I get to snuggle with him for several days in a row.

Last night he asked for yogurt drink instead of momma milk. :(

My day yesterday.

fruit_lover: I can't decide, apples or oranges. What do you like and why?
apple_farmer: Some people say oranges give them stomachaches, but they don't know not to eat the skin. If oranges give you a stomachache, try tangerines.
fruit_eater_1: I love apples. I didn't think I would but once I tried it, I liked it.
orange_farmer: Apples are ugly. You'd look better holding an orange.
apple_farmer: I have an orange tree, but my oranges don't grow so well, so I don't sell them.
fruit_eater_2: I had trouble with both apples and oranges.
orange_farmer: Mr Apple farmer, stop telling people how much better apples are!! My oranges are good and I love selling them!! Besides, you're not supposed to eat the skin!!

So at 8:15 this morning, Nino was still asleep. So hubby was like "he needs to get to bed earlier". Duh. At least we're now on the same bedtime page. You can't wrestle with him at 830 and expect him in bed within 15 minutes.

Not to mention, the boy is still sick. He pokes in his ears and tells me they hurt, asks for "ty-nol", and is running a bit of a fever. Not what I need.

I also called Ikea about having the chair-bed sent to us. It will cost $40 for the frame, I already have a mattress, and the cover is only available in store. Did I mention that shipping was $51.18? Ugh. I see a trip to the big blue box in my future. It's worth $51 for me to drive the 2.5 hours. Not to mention that it won't be exactly what I want. I just wish there were one more Friday between now and the big tree day.

Today was Nino's day. I love my Fridays. My house is clean, my laundy drying, and I feel really connected to my son. We spent tons of time outside, at the park, playing with the dogs, in our yard. It was just fun and a little mid November surprise. In fact, he's now sitting on my lap just not doing much.

I was in a rotten mood this morning and now feel like I took it out on hubby. I told him as much and I think he felt the same way. We get like this at the end of the week, as we haven't seen each other and we're at peak stress time. By Monday we'll be sore from all the laughing.

It seems that Nino now sleeps in his own bed. I don't want to jinx his sleeping through the night, but for a few nights now (barring the one hell night), I have laid him in his bed and he sleeps until 8 or so. For a while he was waking at 5 or 6, and coming into bed with us. Now, lately, I don't see him until after I'm up for the day, and he only nurses at bedtime. Both of which are making me very sad. I know that sleeping together wasn't actually "being" together, but now I feel like I haven't seen him much in the last few days. Not to mention that I hear as a child weans, hormones are nuts, and so that probably makes me weepier.

Yesterday was hell-day. After having no sleep, I brought Nino to the doctor. Infected, I dropped him at the sitters. I get to work, have all sorts of things to do, then call the place to pick up the boards. They were on white, not black. Thousands of boards in black, they will not accept my white ones. No charge is right, mr framer man. So I then drive them to another framer, to see if they can be salvaged. A waste of $50 worth of photos. En route, nosebleed. Have to then waste 2 hours, so I hit target (small victories). They fix it. I go to Boston, drop off, don't get a parking ticket. On the way home, I see blue lights. Not for me, thank god.

We all went to bed at 9. At least no problem sleeping for any of us. Nino is much better after 24 hours of pink yuck.

Nino has an ear infection. We had a hellish night last night which consisted of me being awake the entire time. At least he slept for a few hours. And this morning, the doctor could tell I'd been up.

Now I get to drive my sleepy ass into Boston to drop off some photos. Never a dull moment.

Boy has a sniffle. Not a big deal but I really couldn't justify taking him 5 hours in the car to meet the gals. Now I"m bummed. The pictures look wonderfully fun. And Ikea is always fun.

Meanwhile, he's been sleeping great at night. Like he never has before. I don't know who this child is who stays in his bed until 8:15 am. I don't remember the last time I could feel hubby and the blankets kept me warm.

Speaking of which, I'm freezing. It feels like January. The snow the other day is still here, which I'm not used to. Usually the first snowstorm comes and goes. We've had a fire for a few days straight. I like fire warmth. So do the critters.

I went to malden mills again yesterday. I really had a great time, although I found out they're having a *huge* remnant sale next weekend. Must figure out how to make everyone fleece christmas gifts, as I just love it.

Rach and I are going to do a business thing. I'm excited. God knows how long we'll be in it for or how big it'll be. But I can make slings, she can make diaper products, it'll be fun.

I bought bunches of socks and yarn last night. I want to make some more dolls for gifts anyway, and it will be good to have examples of different colors.

I'm such a coward. Tomorrow is veterans' day. This morning, boss said it's not a holiday for us. In previous instances if he says this, and we learn that last year we had it off, he'll give it to us. I looked it up and we had it off. But he was here for like 10 minutes and I didn't mention it. I don't want to be the one who's begging for days off, but I'd love to have a day off as a bonus. Not to mention I don't work Friday so it'd be a super long weekend. Oh well.

Maybe in the morning I'll mention it and he'll send me home early.

Sis came home this weekend. I love seeing that sweet baby of hers. Her man just got a new job and is working long days, and taking the car. She came back so that she could have a bit of help. We don't mind helping one bit. She got to do things like take a nap. Nino loved to see his auntie and Fia.

I went to the Malden Mills outlet Saturday. That place is a gold mine. The remnant bin is great. The only thing is, you have to be prepared to walk away with staticy hair and shocking every metal thing you touch. People make cute little things and sell them for mega bucks. Hats that take 3 minutes to make sell for $19.

Last night we went to see "I [heart] Huckabees". I enjoyed it. I haven't seen a movie like that in a long time, just silly and slightly artsy.

The entire state of Massachusetts is mourning today. Everyone knows why you have that look on your face. At least we still have great Senatorial representation, and all of my local representation is good.

And sad though it may be, the country decided, and we have to go with it. My gut feeling is that many of those who voted Bush did it for the wrong reasons, or were uneducated, or influenced by others. But still, the people decided, and that's how it works. I'm glad Kerry conceded early - Gore looked pitiful last time waiting so long.

Now it's up to us to decide if we want to stay and do all we can to make this a better place, or just take off and live somewhere fun for a while. We wouldn't be leaving only because of this - we'd talked about living overseas for years, and this is a great opportunity. Of course, I've already found homes on line . . .

Had a wonderful weekend. Friday was the big party at PaPa's work. Nino loved that - cookies, chocolate, kids, balloons. Saturday was a big rainy mess. We did lots of errands and cleaning. Yesterday we went North to house hunt. Found what we thought was ideal - dumpy waterfront camp. Turns out it was $1.5 million.

Nino really "got" trick or treating. At first, he wanted me to open each candy. By the end, he was running, full steam, to the next house, grabbing the air, yelling "mine". Thankfully, he's good at saying thank you too. ;o)

There are certain relationships that are too hard to maintain. Why would you bother to keep up friendships with people you hardly like and are ignorant and intolerant? I've got enough on my plate already. Goodbye marriage ladies, it's been . . . . something. Until then, I've got internet friends wth whom I can respectfully agree or disagree.

It's funny how I can consider myself friends with people all over the political/moral/whatever spectrum, but when it comes to intolerance, I've got you on mental "ignore". It seems this has been coming for a while, subliminally for me. It feels great.