Sigh...

A couple of cute pictures from today that make me love my family.

We got a GREAT new chair at the flea market for 10 BUCKS!
Finally, payoff from the last 20 visits that turned up nothing.

A Day in the Life

I sometimes take the time to think about how great life is for a toddler. Let's take this past Saturday as an example of V's life:

7:30 a.m. Daddy gets me out of the crib and gives me some milk and a granola bar. We immediately go "side, side, side" on the back porch to play.

8:00 a.m. Help mama make scones for breakfast.

9:15 a.m. Nap for an hour.

10:15 a.m. Ride a few blocks to the neighborhood elementary school for a neighborhood family party.

Participate in an early 4th of July parade.

Eat some watermelon.

12:00 Try out my new potty. Just testing it so far, no actual results just yet. I'm just getting used to the idea of it being in the bathroom.

12:30 Lunch from Neomonde Deli. Pizza, hooray! After acting really excited about it, I eat 4 olive slices and nibble all the crust off 3 mini-pieces and proceed to yell "fwuit, fwuit, fwuit" until I get some peaches and blueberries.

1:30-3:00 Nap #2. Very refreshing. Get up, get dressed for guests coming over for the afternoon/evening. Have a few chips while I wait on them to show up. Model my monkey socks that I have refused to take off all week. Please note that band-aid is for looks only, I refuse to start my day without either a band-aid or sticker.

3:45 Kids come over! Eavan (5) and Emmy (20 months) entertain me for the next 5 hours.

I am a great host and show Emmy where the good beer is on the screened in porch. We eat enormous quantities of (dirty) ice.

8:45 p.m. 2 hours past my regular bedtime and I am trying to give Daddy the hint that I need to go to sleep. Eavan tries to keep my spirits up.

9:00 p.m. Dissolve into tears from over-stimulation! What a great day. Let's do it again next weekend in D.C.

hair

V has so much hair it is ridiculous. The nurse at her 18 month appointment the other day actually suggested weighing it separately to get a more accurate weight (I'm pretty sure she was kidding). Summer time is not helping her situation. Add a dash of humidity and you get the nap hair pictured to the right.

Or add a new babysitter that hasn't had recent experience with kid hair and you get Jersey hair:



Sprinkle in a rushed morning and you get scary hair:

However, I think this video sums it up best of all. Watch it and hum your favorite KISS song (might I suggest Rock N Roll All Night?) and imagine Virginia as the front woman to her own glam metal band. Gene Simmons has nothing on her hair.

P.S. We acknowledge that this jumping game is cute now, but will be the bane of our existence in just a few short months. She's an only child, we've got to bend some rules, right?

Weekend Update

V had her 18 month check up on Friday and we got some "bad" news. She is falling off the chart on weight...weighing in at 20 lbs, 7 oz. she's only in the 4th percentile. Her doctor said he wasn't concerned...yet...but that he wanted to see her gain some weight in the next 3 months. So I'm loading her up with peanut butter (which despite my nightmares, did not cause her to immediately break out in hives) and ice cream in hopes that she can put on a POUND in the next 3 months. That's right, she just needs to gain ONE pound and the doctor will be happy. Toddler life is really tough, isn't it? And what about that childhood obesity crisis we are in? Shouldn't moms like me get a certificate or something when our kids are skinny?

The good news at the check up is that she is way ahead on her verbal skills. According to the handout the doctor gave me, the typical 18 month old is using 10 to 20 words. V's WAY ahead of that milestone so it is only a matter of time until she is speaking French and Spanish fluently. I can feel that college scholarship coming her way! Another milestone listed on the 18 month handout was the ability to make a tower of 3 to 4 cubes. Well, as you can see, V has far surpassed that goal as well. Maybe she has a career in architecture ahead of her? Georgia Tech, here she comes!

PEEK-A-BOO!

Ch-ch-ch changes...

So I thought it would be interesting to take a walk down memory lane and reflect on what we thought was "exciting" last year this time:

Compared to what we find exciting (well, really only V finds it exciting but we are obligated as parents to cheer on) today:

And yes, before you even think it, I DO let my child play in the street. You'll be glad I did when she writes her million dollar rap song or tell-all memoir about it.

P.S. What a difference a year makes in the hair department, eh?

Nanny Report v. 1, issue 2

Sooooo, I am a picky, picky mother (which is my right, I did GROW this child inside me and CARRY her around for 10, not 9, months) and I have not fallen in love with new nanny Jordan. There's not one specific thing* I can pinpoint that's "wrong" so to speak...I just don't LOVE her and V doesn't really seem attached either.

Our neighborhood has a yahoo listserv and as I was reading it last week for the latest tidbits on who was hauling dirt and who needed a plumber in the 'hood I saw a post from a kindergarten teacher from the school that is in our backyard saying she was available for summer nannying. So I emailed her and today she came over for her very tough interview that included a trip to the park, playing with trucks, coloring and checking out the contents of our fridge.

She is coming over tomorrow for a trial run...keep your fingers crossed. She asked all the right questions, V pulled her all over the yard and house and I got a good vibe from her.

Maybe she's the ONE!

*Well there was one thing that my husband thinks isn't a big deal but I was the sick one so I found it annoying on two counts. On the morning I was on my deathbed, sound asleep, trying to cling to life while fighting off a 102 degree temperature, she had the nerve to throw open the door to my bedroom and announce that SHE was sick and about to vomit and had to leave. #1 WHY IS SHE COMING TO WORK if she is that sick? #2 NEVER WAKE A SICK PERSON

Race for the Cure

Saturday morning was V's first ever Race for the Cure! I have been walking the race with my mother for 7 years in celebration of her beating breast cancer in 2001. (Go Mom!) This year was different, not only because V was with us, but because I got to experience the race as a pretend breast cancer survivor.

Keep in mind, I had NO intention of masquerading as a breast cancer survivor! My mom registered us online and must have clicked something somewhere on my registration because when I got my race number it was PINK- so everyone would know I'd had cancer. Well I spent the whole morning getting "meaningful" looks from strangers, especially when they looked down and saw my toddler. I almost wanted to yell out - I'M A FAKER- but it just didn't seem appropriate, and quite frankly I was doing everything in my power to hide my pink race number. I thought it was going to be OK until we crossed the finish line. That's when it happened...just as a woman with no hair, clad all in pink, rode her tiny scooter across the finish line I hear a booming voice announcing MY NAME and then saying 10 YEAR SURVIVOR!!!...to thousands and thousands of people standing around. Meanwhile, my mother, the actual breast cancer survivor, got NOTHING. No announcement, no carnation, no special flavored water at the end of the race.

What would you have done? Well, I looked down, grabbed a water bottle from the nearest girl scout and pulled that stinking race number off and put it in the trash as soon as possible.

It was a memorable morning. Next year I think I'll do my own registration. Just in case.


P.S. Speaking of "cure"...here are 2 more items to share: 1) I am working on day 5 of some weird virus. I've been nauseous, achy, tired, feverish and sweaty since Saturday evening. I've chalked this illness up to lots of different things and now I'm just going with my doctor's diagnosis of "some virus that's going around." Doesn't it seem like they should have to be more specific than that? 2) This stupid illness caused me to miss a long-planned trip to see The Cure on Monday with my Richmond BFF April and her hilarious best friend Kelly. This has got to be payback for the pink race number. 10 YEAR SURVIVOR!

What is the definition of "exciting" anyway?

Big, exciting news in the Bruce household. V has a NEW CHAIR. I know, I know, this doesn't sound exciting to most people, but to almost 18 month old V it was a monumental occasion.



The chair arrived on Monday, after a great, albeit way too hot, weekend visit to Grandma & Pawpaw Bruce's house in Ashland, Virginia. (where she was presented with a cute and tiny tricycle, thanks Pawpaw!) Her favorite part about the chair? Being "up high"! Her mother's favorite part of the chair? Being able to empty the dishwasher or cut up stuff for supper without her demanding "mama sit". It is the definition of a win-win situation. Now, if I can just train her to say "Love you, too" instead of her sassy molassy "I know" response to "I love you" things will be perfect. Well, almost perfect.

Sign of the Times

T and I got a babysitter and left the house at 9 p.m. on a Thursday night for the first time in a LONG time. It was Lori's birthday and we had been summoned to the Hibernian for some fun. We forced ourselves out the door and yawned all the way to Glenwood. Then we drove around searching for a parking spot while watching the Glenwood wildlife. I can tell I am officially a mother now because when I see girls in their twenties in tiny dresses with cheesy guys with polo shirt collars turned up I start to imagine V at that age and shudder. Please, please, PLEASE let her be too nerdy (and/or punk rock) to ever go bar hopping with boys named Tad that drive BMWs.

At any rate, we had a great time screaming over the loud, mostly bad music at the bar. T made a new friend and I got to see my favorite Raleigh ladies Lori and Sarah. We got home at 11:30 and felt like we'd accomplished something for making it out of the house. I wish I could pinpoint the moment in time when it became an "effort" to go out and have fun. I could blame it on V but that wouldn't be fair because I think I was on the road to fuddy duddy before she was born.

So happy birthday Lori and thanks for having an event that got us out of the house!

Reproduction Madness

Tons of friends are having babies! I guess we're in that stage of life. While T & I are still struggling to get over the trauma of the first 6 months of life with screaming V many of our friends are taking the plunge to start their own families...or braver still- working on baby #2 or #3. These are very brave people. So, without further ado, let me give a shout out to all the preggie ladies I know (and their spectacular significant others!)

Steph and Brian (sure to have twins this time, just to prove they can handle any challenge)
Noel and Curt (I'm sending girl vibes since they have their hands full with 2 boys)
Erin & Peyote (growing a playmate for Zane)
Amber & Billy (1st member of the December baby playgroup to make a go at baby #2)
Chip & Blair (I never thought they'd get married, much less reproduce so a baby girl on the way is very exciting news for me!)
Damien & Stacey (braving pregnancy for the first time and battling lots of nausea)

We're sending you love...

New Nanny Report

We had fallen into a very comfortable routine of Nanny Claudia coming to our house 2 days a week and V going to Queenie's house the other 3 days while I work 8:30 to 2:30 downtown. That routine died along with Nanny Claudia's car almost 2 months ago.

First we tried alternate transportation. A cab ride was quoted at $12, but actually cost $27. No good. We tried getting up earlier, making the haul to N. Raleigh, then returning Nanny C to any number of destinations. We found fill in babysitters while we waited for her car to get repaired. None of it did any good. The car is just dead and we couldn't face an unknown future of having to import a nanny for V.

So I embarked on nanny search 9000. First I tried the sisters of friends. V loved it- somehow anyone younger than her mother is very intriguing to her. Sara in particular won her heart and mine. However, being a great babysitter means everyone wants a piece of you and some church camp lured Sara away from me. Argh. I shouldn't complain, but really, a church camp is more important than my perfect child?

I started eyeing every college student as a potential babysitter. I seriously considered asking the woman behind the counter in our favorite Mediterranean restaurant who always makes a fuss about V if she'd ever considered a career as a nanny. I kept telling myself what an easy stage V is in and how anyone with half a brain and a willingness to blow bubbles for hours on end could be a summer nanny. I just kept coming up short.

Then, miracle of all miracles, I asked my beloved college student intern at the theatre if she knew of anyone who would make a good nanny and she immediately told me about her roommate. Someone she's known since elementary school. Someone who lives not 2 miles from my house. Someone who's in school studying speech pathology and volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club.

After 2 days of rigorous interviewing which involved afternoon playtime with V (note that it was raining one day and she kept my toddler happy inside for 3 hours straight), Jordan was hired.

She's already taken V to the park (Claudia's knees wouldn't let her walk uphill) and got 2 naps a day in so I think we're in good shape. Now if I can just teach her to recycle and to clean off the highchair tray we'll really be back in the swing of things. Keep your fingers crossed for us all.

Videos to Share

T is a professional videographer. This comes in handy. Check out his documentation of Saturday afternoon with V.

Pool Time
Note: Despite what you might think after watching this, there was not a motorcycle gang in our backyard. I was tilling up a garden space. Gotta love the Mantis.

Here's a great morning we had a few months back that's worth watching:

Morning Madness

And a cute one he made back in the winter.

Park

I love my husband.

This is T

Little V

and E with V!

Welcome to VeggieBruce

Here it is...our entry into the 21st century; our very own blog! Today I proclaim my intention to write enthusiastically about our life, post pictures of the babe and try to stay in touch with friends, family and those of you with nothing better to do than to read our blog. Tomorrow I'll regret adding another thing to my to-do list, but today I'm feeling great.

Here are a few of the things that are shaping our lives right now:

1. Seeing life through the eyes of our 1 1/2 year old daughter, V.
2. Settling into a new home.
3. Trying to live a "greener" life. (All those disposable diapers have to be offset by something. The least I can do is bring my own grocery bags to the store, right?)
4. Vegetables. Eating them, growing them, buying them. We're the Veggie Bruces. T, E and V.