still thanking, three days later...

So, now it's Sunday and a lot has happened in the last 5 (or so) days. Since the last post, Ben's mom and her husband, Dave, came to town. We all went to Palmdale on Wednesday, then had our annual Thanksgiving feast on Thursday at Ben's Dads place. All so sweet and delicious. Turkey, pies, cornbread stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce... yes, please. The only not-so-sweet part was that Chloe and I got really, quite sick. Her first and then, inevitably, be from holding and smooching her little face so much. It's kind of irresistible to me. Anyway, that started at the beginning of last week and is just now fading out. coughy and coffee this morning. Anyway, here we are at Sunday, my crossword is here, we came home to a fresh apple pie (I love our neighbors) and I still have so much to be thankful for.

something I just realized...

Just learned something about the blog I thought I'd share. Those weeks where there are lulls... it's a lack of imagery... just no photos. That's the key. If I have a good photo to share I can blab on and on about it. No photos, no blabbing.. .. I am going to go take some photos. Type soon.

Grateful List

1. warmth

2. our cozy nest

3. my snuggly loves

4. cashmere

5. alpaca sox

Last night, we spent the night in Ojai...amazing party at our brother Canons place. Canon joined me at thirty. It's a fun place to be... so far, so good. So, great company, great food, conversation and dance. Followed by bitter cold. Down. Right. Freezing. I could not feel my toes till around ten this morning. This solidifies the fact that I would not make it in the east. I am a California native and could not stand a transplant. There's a joke there somewhere, but I'll leave it for you to find. Snow is lovely, I like to visit it, but going home from it, I have to type, is one of my favorite parts. Hence, the grateful list of warm things.

does the dental ever end?

Today started with me in the dental chair... two and a half hours and six hundred and eighty some dollars later and I was driving home... sad. I hate that money (or lack there of) has that effect on me. So, after that I was off selling things... Took an two strollers, a chair, a table and a really unique game table off to the consignment/antique place. Hopefully, I will get a call soon saying that these things sold for lots of money and I recoup some of my much needed, hardly earned monies. For now, I will post some photos of the interesting things... enjoy.

looking ahead a bit...

still Thursday. Yes, twice in one day. Chloe is sleeping, Benny is painting and I am finally just breathing, reading and blogging. Ahhh... This week has been filled with paperworkings. Too, too much filled out paper. "me no like it that one" as Chloe would say. Most of it was for the school... emergency contacts and things I don't like to spend much time thinking about. Some dental stuff, again... more and more. Applications, as part of her going to school will be my returning to work... at a job. Yes, I am looking for work. Seeking employment. Also, as if that weren't enough to set up for our near future, I am thinking about finishing up some classes and setting up some kind of real future with some sort of "career". There is an eight week dental assisting program offered near us. Eight Saturdays, all day. Seeing as how I have had just about every type of dental procedure done in my head, it seems like a good fit. That would certainly tide me over till I could finish up and focus on the Psychology pipe dream.

skip to Thursday...

Weeks have been moving fast lately... maybe because I've been squeezing so much into them. I am in the midst of getting Chloe into a really sweet preschool. I won't type which one, only because it seems unsafe to post where exactly I am going to be leaving my amazing, beautiful child for the day, but it's a really great one, close by, that offers enrichment classes ...more to come

oh, sweet weekend, I'm gonna sum you up!

Saturday we woke, got dressed and Chloe and I got dropped off at the train station just in time to jump on the train and head down to Long Beach. It was a really pleasant ride down this time, with friends we knew on the train and some new ones too. Mom and Mike picked us up and that night we went out to dinner at a really great italian place in Belmont Shore called Papaluccis. Chloe was so good, just sitting in her seat and eating noodles. Sunday was about hanging out with Grandma and Great Grandma. We shopped and lunched and walked. This is why the women of our culture are the storytellers, the passers on of the traditions and customs. We get together like this and just can't stop talking. It would drive the men crazy, so we go without them. I cherish these outings, this time I get to spend with my daughter, mother and grandmother... four generations... it fills me with gratitude and pride. That night it was take out Thai and Pay Per View. These nights are also fun. The only downfall of the weekend was a literal down fall. Chloe fell out of the bed in the middle of the night, causing a near heart attack in me and a small "ouchie" on her head. Monday was the train ride home, delayed and crowded, but fine and brought us back to our loving, warm little home. Papa was eager to greet us and we were so glad to see him. So, that's it weekend! That's you in a nutshell. Thanks for having us!

anniversary party

I last left you on Friday, the anniversary... That evening we went to a little gathering up on the mountain. It was sweet and heart felt.
There were tears in eyes and smiles about the future...
It was so good to see all our neighbors on the green mountain again.

a year ago today...

This day, a year ago, was a Thursday. It started with Ben doing his Thursday morning deliveries... Chloe and I waking up, cleaning the house and getting ready for the day. That's us, up there, that morning after Chloes bath, on the front porch.

The other photo is less than 24 hours later... the same porch. It was a sweet, peaceful day and the evening was nice. We had planned to go to a potluck over at a friends that evening. Ben was baking corn bread and feeding Chloe dinner in her high chair when I left. I grabbed my cell phone in one pocket and car keys in the other and left for frisbee. While babysitting at Oakleigh, around 5:45pm, we noticed a (then small looking) fire up at the tea gardens. I called Ben and asked him to bring Chloe and her diaper bag and come to where I was. The fire spread quickly and we evacuated from there. Never a chance to go back up, but we probably wouldn't have even if there was. Within an hour of leaving there we knew it was gone. We received this, slightly ironic, if not down right silly, reverse 911 call to evacuate around 8pm... anyway, It's a miracle that the only people hurt in that massive, insanely fast fire were the young couple, Lance and Carla Hoffman , who were pretty badly burned. My heart goes out to them today. They will never be able to fully recover and forget this fire. I also want to spend some time today thanking all of the people who helped us get through it. Our friends and family really came through and we were and are still continuously amazed by all the love and support we have. Thank you friends, thank you family, thank you universe!

getting back to grateful... again

Five, out of endless, things to be grateful for:

1. modern dentistry

2. the means to get ourselves and our child what we need when we need it

3. brothers from other mothers

4. sisters from other misters

5. amazing truths and insights given and heard at just the right moment

phew...

This week happened faster than I could say "uncle"... Come with me as I take a few steps back. Last Friday, as I typed before, Uncle Tony came for a super sweet, several day visit. He left Monday day, Ben worked that night, then Tuesday came and POW... another uncle visit. This time it was Uncle Johnny. His visit was also several days and super sweet. The super sweetness of both was in the fact that it did not feel like we had a visitor, just totally normal life happening as it would were it just us. They are family to us, comfortable, easy. I didn't feel the need to be constantly sweeping up Chloe bits from around their feet or putting out the "guest only" things (which was great because we don't have any "guest only" things). Our brothers from other mothers. So, Uncle John took off today, leaving a bowl of his incredible buffalo chili for me to gobble for dinner. Thanks Juan!

(that's an old photo up there, hence the small baby head, but one with both of said uncles)

Slow sunday...

Today has been about helping out and hanging out with good friends, as most sundays are. This one began with Uncle Tony and Chloe, Ben and I laughing, eating, sipping lattes. Tony, Chloe and I decided to go visit a friend building an Earth Dome in our old neighborhood. These would be our ideal living situation if given our choice. Upon deciding to go visit Andy and getting in the car, I received a call from a friend in need... She needed some babysitting help, fast! She explained that a friend had dropped a motorcycle and needed to be picked up about an hour away. His girls were there too, so it was actually (counting Chloe) SIX girls (12, 10, 9, 4, 4, and 2) yeah. Turns out, though, that these particular girls are six of the most well behaved of the species. We played, we snacked, we trampolined.

Juxtapose, I suppose...

Sweet and Sour. Friday was more of the toothing worry. At friday morning lady breakfast, however, Fate sat a pediatric dentist right down at the table next to us. He introduced himself and answered all my questions. What are the odds? Pretty high if you realize that the universe loves and supports you. He made me feel a little better about the whole thing, but not enough to stop me from researching more hours of my life away. Anyway, Friday ended sweet enough with a dinner of friends up the hill. Complete with a slumber party with Uncle Tony...

(photo from over a few months ago)

dental DAMN!

The last several days have been, pretty much, spent inside Chloes mouth cavity. The prognosis: ECC - Early Childhood Caries... A.K.A. Bottle Rot... gross. Even though she's never used a bottle, other than for fun. I've been reading a lot about it and wishing a lot that I would have read the lot about it a lot sooner. There are/were things I could/should have done differently if I had known. Starting in the second trimester of her gestation I could have had more Calcium and Vitamin D. I could have given the Fluoride when it was prescribed. I could have taken her to see a dentist at the first sign of a tooth, instead of waiting till she had a full set. The important thing though, instead of blaming myself and wondering what should have happened is figuring out what to do now. The good news, I got just today, is that we can prevent this from happening to her adult teeth. I was concerned that this meant she would have problems her whole life, but I think we can take measures now to insure she's got a good start with those guys. The good, the bad, the gnarly. Things are going to get good in there. She has to be put all the way under for the procedure, which will be harder on us than her. We are going to do whatever it takes though to make it right. Poor baby teeth.

Dentisting

All the sweetness of Chloe's little life so far has, apparently, been building up in her back molars. Her first dental exam did not go as hoped. It started out decent enough. Reading books and playing with the toys in the lobby. When they called us in, though, and we walked down the hall... she caught on really fast. She went stiff and would not move her legs. The crying, basically, did not stop until we left the building, after being told that she probably has a cavity in a back molar and being referred to another dentist that specializes in toddler teeth. We headed straight over to that office to set up her next appointment, which is tomorrow. So, more of this to post on then, only not as negative (there I go hoping again). After that whole experience, we went for a quick little lady and baby day at the foggy, but not too cold beach. Foggy is actually my favorite ocean day atmosphere. Very Lemony Snickets.

"no."

a lot of this today. It's monday. A new week and new ways of figuring out the beautiful and trying mind of a two year old. Notice the arm crossing and claws on the boots. She's got a bit of bear in her, that one. Today was mostly about testing limits: how many banana chips in the mouth, how long can I whine before mommy gives in, how many times (in a row) can we watch Dr. Seuss video before we go insane? The answer to that last one is three.

Oh my...

It's, suddenly, November. I just noticed it. Also, falling back, the time changed this morning. Lighter earlier and darker sooner... Funny phenomenon. Seems like a good time, albeit an hour earlier, to be grateful for some things. Five things:

1. Daylight Savings

2. this cinnamony season

3. getting to see my Mom and Mike so often

4. chocolateirs

5. our fun, quirky friends

sweet toothing...

We packed this weekend like sugar in a molar. Friday, after morning lady breakfast, my folks rolled into town. Chloe and I picked my mom up and went straight to the store to buy things for pies. We baked two pumpkin pies and one extra little pie filling with no crust (to snack)... Mom went to pick up Mike (step Dad, but Dad all the same) and came to our place as the pies cooled. Late afternoon and Benny and Chloe were suiting up for a costume contest and parade at his work. We went, we saw, we cleaned house! Benny and Chloe took first place with a 1960's Japanish style thriller.... he was a giant robot and she was a little dinosaur attacking him. We went from there to Harry's, an old timey steakhouse complete with velvet wallpaper and black and white photos of the area a hundred years ago. From there, we took the pies and whipping cream to our dear friends for a pumpkin carving party. All the nearest and dearest with babies were there and cheery. Sweet dreams. Saturday met us with sunny crispness. Chloe, Grandma, Grandpa and I found a pumpkin patch first thing. We were the only ones there which meant we got to all get in the bouncy castle together... what better way to start Halloween? We had a great lunch at the harbor, where we saw a Michael Jackson figure dangling a fake baby out of a window across the way (you, hopefully, don't see that everyday)... then it was State street to see all the little fairies and monsters and tiny things trick-or-treating at every store. There was excitement blowing around in the breeze (along with candy wrappers). Friends met at our place in the evening to take our small ones trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. I'm counting five candies in her bag (counting the empty wrappers), so we didn't get very far. My folks, then, offered to watch Chloe while Benny and I went to a costume party. This was our second date in two years. We felt giggly and giddy when we dropped her off. We played and danced and laughed our selves silly... To commemorate our fifth year knowing eachother (we met Halloween 2004) I went as a nerd. We kissed more than any usual night. After picking up a sleepy Chloebear, we headed home late, happy and full of high fructose corn substances.