The Dream Is Over

A lot of you everyones out there won't believe this, but: Up until about a month ago, Alina went to sleep without a fight - Every Night! One of us would sing her a song and we'd say Night Night and put her down in the crib. Simple. She'd roll over and just stay there. Quiet. Content. Drifting. We miss this so. For some reason, ever since we got back from my sister's house in Florida, nighttime has turned into a wrestling match. It may have something to do with the fact that she climbed out of her pack n' play (that's a portable crib to the offspringless) and onto the our adjoining bed while we were down there. I guess she thought, "Hey, I don't have to take this lying down anymore?!"

After asking around, people suggested it was time for a Toddler Bed. So, I took the fourth wall down from her crib and lowered the mattress. Alina's bed was meant to be convertible and even came with a curved slat of wood meant to stave off the rolley polleys onto the floor below. Sometimes she sits up and cries, sometimes she decides the fuzzy blanket on the floor is a better place to sleep, and sometimes she just runs into the living room and yells HI with a wide-eyed grin. I've spent at least one night on her floor using a stuffed duck as a pillow.

Chalk it up to teething, growth spurts, not exercising enough at daycare perhaps? Either way, I guess we're like every other parent now. Dazed rockings and careful escapes on the creaky floor. We didn't really brag when we had the chance. Coming out of her bedroom after three seconds and having someone gasp "She's asleep ALREADY??" was a point of secret pride between Katrina and me. Well, I can still say she can count to ten already. She's only two in February. Take THAT developmental pediatrician chart! Not that it matters that much. By the time she's old enough to go to college, they'll all be downloading lectures off YouTube - education pirating!

Them's Headstones, Not Speedbumps

Taxi drivers are striking because they don't want expensive GPS systems installed in their cars. Besides the cost, drivers are protesting their lack of privacy. Personally, I'm protesting the GPS system because it sucks! Here's a snapshot of the "expensive GPS" while on I-495, aka the Long Island Expressway.


The blue circle represents the taxi and according to the readout, we're driving through a cemetery. While on Lexington Avenue it thought we were on Park Avenue. At first, this wasn't surprising as the GPS in my own car isn't perfect when among tall buildings. The only time the taxi one was accurate was when we were at a stop light in Queens, away from skyscrapers. So, to recap: It doesn't work when you're moving and it doesn't work when you're near buildings ...(??)... way to go TLC!

The Chamber Pot

Katrina likes to order things online and have them sent to my office, as we don't have a doorman to receive packages. Last week, a little potty showed up. As much as I wanted to lament that toilets were being delivered to my office, I had to take the pragmatist stance that it just doesn't fit into our mail slot. I thought for sure it would need batteries or something. However, it turns out the kiddie crapper seems to be the only mainstay of child rearing that hasn't fallen victim to 21st century bells and whistles. No Dora The Explorer Outhouses with flushing sound effects, etc. Cowards. They put their brand on everything else. Montezuma's Revenge comes from Dora's home country, doesn't it? But no, the junior commode is the same as it was thirty years ago. No accessories like plumbed lines, disinfectant pouches, or mini-Charmin.

Apparently, the timing was right for delivery of this thing because Alina used it for the first time, this morning. Katrina had to work at 7am today so everyone was up early. Alina's diaper was dry so Katrina thought that this would be a good time for a test run. She sat her down on it and turned on the faucet. You know, to set the mood. And boo-ya! Success! Deposit! Numero Uno! Good job, baby! Of course, no one will find this nearly as exciting as we did. But I suppose it can be a different answer to the arbitrary 'How was your weekend' question I get at the office.