tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58762782008-08-27T08:45:39.453-07:00Improv comedy requires you to think on your feet and make up stuff when you have no idea what's going on. Both good qualities for motherhood, as it turns out.ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-53003833470796968572008-08-27T08:29:00.000-07:002008-08-27T08:45:39.461-07:00

Just when Doug and I had had another talk... (We want more kids, but I'm an admitted failure at the best-sleeping-practices thing which makes life a bit rough, what with the sleeping craziness here at times.) Just when I said, as I prepped a bottle for bed... Oh well, she might wake up every night for a bottle for the rest of her life. What's so bad about that? Just when we wondered if this

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-45122506857328946962008-08-14T10:48:00.001-07:002008-08-14T10:49:14.856-07:00

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-48684147513389232532008-08-04T03:05:00.000-07:002008-08-04T03:32:07.134-07:00

On Saturday Marisa lost her first tooth! It had been wobbly for a while and since she is only 4.5 and all of the website say kids start losing teeth around age 6 I called the dentist. Girls lose them earlier. This is the perfect time, and the perfect tooth. (They fall out in the order you get them, bottom middle first.) So I have set her up for a dentist appointment for her incoming big girl

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-61777686915003975522008-07-22T11:25:00.000-07:002008-07-22T11:34:37.750-07:00

Seems it wasn't enough that I took both kids to three vacations in six weeks... (San Diego, Tahoe and Michigan) - and two of those (the 9 hour car ride and the plane trip) by myself.... In between visits we went house hunting. Now I have two small kids at home, a cold and I'm packing to move on SATURDAY. Eyup. Because I hate to linger in long goodbyes, when the rental agency called to say

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-53513805341142329132008-07-06T23:02:00.000-07:002008-07-06T23:06:29.572-07:00

Marisa doesn't cuddle much anymore, unless you count the times she jumps on top of you, slams her head into your nose and wiggles around on you until you are one big bruise. But when you read her a story she reaches out and puts one small, warm hand on your arm. Her little hand just rests there as you share a story together. It is the sweetest thing ever.

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-54569109303238549732008-06-13T17:31:00.000-07:002008-06-13T17:41:13.181-07:00

"This is why I need printer paper to stay in the printer", I say to Marisa as we print out lyrics to "The Farmer In The Dell", a song Lily was singing on our visit this weekend. One page doesn't print. "I'll use this one!" Marisa runs off with the coveted white paper. Moments later she waves a new drawing in my face. "Marisa, I LOVE your new picture! I do! I love it!" "You should,

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-43170298331405384862008-06-13T15:07:00.001-07:002008-06-13T15:15:07.984-07:00

On Wednesday it happened. I had to get up. No longer able to just sit on the sidelines, holding the baby, I scootched, crawled, dove over, protected and otherwise assisted my 9 month old daughter in exploring the indoor play area at the mall along with her rambunctious sister. Damn. I mean, yay! Yay, she's learning how to pull herself up. (Thank you to a four day stay at my friend Elaine's

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-75206967743725834752008-06-13T14:56:00.000-07:002008-08-03T20:22:03.490-07:00

Because people ask... Because I get great ideas when I don't need them (AKA not near a birthday or Xmas)... Here is the gift idea list for our family. Updated August 3, 2008 Marisa dress up clothes size 6 and up (check out the thrift stores) a princess pink castle alarm clock from Target (seen yesterday, coveted) books notebooks - she LOVES paper - blank notebooks, fun notebooks of any size

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-27029580986558175842008-06-02T12:02:00.001-07:002008-06-02T12:16:49.923-07:00

Around May 22nd and the days thereafter Melody crawled. Not the scootch-scootch. Not the Downward Dog, not the one-knee scootch. The full on, knee, knee, knee, knee she is crawling! Dear husband, on your way out to the front yard to check on the weather could you just stop and pick up some baby gates? Like three of them? Like NOW? So now we lived in a gated community. Things on top of the

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-80402164667087360282008-05-05T20:35:00.001-07:002008-05-05T20:40:28.779-07:00

So today Marisa was explaining to me how to play chess. Doug has been teaching her. Why? Because she keeps asking. I was glad for her tutorial because I had totally forgotten how to set up the board. I forgot one was called a Bishop and one was called a Knight (not horsey? no, Knight) and while I did remember that the Queen was the most powerful one, I did not know the King was the loserest

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-64529543614236885112008-04-23T00:06:00.000-07:002008-04-23T00:07:40.219-07:00

Chain Letter Alert! Four Jobs I've had in my life: 1. Librarian 2. Internet Project Manager 3. Professional Psychic 4. AMC Theatre Concessionist Four movies I've watched more than once: 1. The Princess Bride 2. French Kiss 3. Sahara4. Conan The Barbarian Four places I've lived 1. San Jose, CA2. Ashland, OR 3. San Diego, CA 4. Los Angeles, CA Four T.V. shows that I watch (I don't

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-10343740743521861602008-04-21T17:52:00.000-07:002008-04-21T18:00:08.850-07:00

On April 12 I did the improv show - MomMom, PopPop, my inlaws, my hubby, Marisa and Melody all attended. They sat in the front row and Marisa pounded popcorn with that ultra-concentrating look on her face the entire time. We won - but that could be because my mom group friends come and bring their kids. The kids all get their own "Wopners" to wave about and vote with. I watch the mom's hold

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-4492201885536052182008-04-21T10:32:00.000-07:002008-04-21T10:41:26.253-07:00

Teeth! On Saturday Melody's first widdle tooth popped through! Just a teeny bit of white on her bottom, middle gum. Food! Then, yesterday at Uncle 38's birthday dinner Melody loved her baby-food carrots, making it her official first food! (The bananas and peas we had tried the week or so before were met with pursed lips and unhappy face.) Melody sat in her little chair learning how to open her

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-20928168230523994632008-04-08T14:25:00.000-07:002008-04-08T14:33:38.363-07:00

Just now Melody got up onto all fours and stayed there long enough for me to marvel, cheer, tell Marisa to look, and marvel some more. Melody was working very hard - Ahhh! She's up on all fours again! Down she goes. - but when she heard us cheering and watching her she started to smile one of those "Oh, yeah, I got it goin' on" smiles. I would have a photo but I'm not that kinda mom. In fact,

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-18405712373699697872008-03-31T08:22:00.000-07:002008-03-31T08:28:38.222-07:00

Milestones! Just yesterday or the day before Melody started the sounds... "Da da da da da da" and I swear, honestly, it's true, that sometimes she says, "I want my mama!" It sounds like "aaayayayammamaa" but I know what she's really saying. A few weeks ago Melody clocked in at 18 pounds. Marisa at 43 pounds. The other day at the Children's Museum Marisa measured 3 feet 5 1/2 inches tall in

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-35392413210135332822008-03-14T20:04:00.000-07:002008-03-14T20:08:42.478-07:00

I can't remember what I was apologizing for now (I'm behind on my posts) but there was this one time I was in the car with the girls and I was wanting to apologize to Marisa for something (who, at this time, is 4 years old).... While I don't remember my part I certainly remember hers. It could have gone something like this: Me: I'm sorry about yesterday, sweetheart. Sometimes this happens and

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-77400046387687180012008-03-14T20:02:00.001-07:002008-03-14T20:04:12.569-07:00

One of my favorite things that Marisa does right now is what she calls 'yesterday'. "Last tomorrow we went to the zoo."

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-62282375995666158612008-03-14T19:56:00.000-07:002008-03-14T20:02:28.699-07:00

I'm behind on my posts. In January the girls and I dropped Grammy off at her Santa Cruz retreat on the beach. Did you know that lugging an infant in a car seat across the sand is hard work? How about trying to keep your having-fun-4-year-old from flinging sand in her face by accident? So I thought I was brilliant when I said to Marisa: Me: Hey! I have an idea! Why don't, sometime this

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-11662428139398411182008-02-27T13:30:00.000-08:002008-02-27T13:32:42.463-08:00

This just in from Facebook: Social News for February 27, 2008 Here is what your friends think about... ... your strengths: #2 bravest #2 most kiss-able #3 best dancer ... your weakness: #35 person with the best taste in music (In case you were wondering, my taste in movies suck, too.)

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-45763744645034701702008-02-06T20:54:00.000-08:002008-02-06T21:01:40.017-08:00

8:00pm tonight: Marisa: I want to get ready for bed. Me: Huh? Marisa: I want to go to bed. Me: *blink blink* Months ago, so long I don't remember, it occurred to me that maybe Marisa didn't know she could ask to go to bed if she was tired. So I told her. "You know, you can always ask to go to bed when you're tired." She just looked at me. I let it drop. Now, I didn't actually expect

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-65468836812665920892008-01-24T11:59:00.000-08:002008-01-24T12:06:56.100-08:00

What's the point of having a personal blog if you can't put in stuff like this: Got this from Linda in L.A. Can't believe I answered it. No pressure, just do it for fun when you have the time. Love you all. Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your friends. What you are supposed to do is copy (not forward) this entire e-mail into a new e-mail that you'll send. Change all the answers

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-19917423462074288862008-01-13T20:45:00.000-08:002008-01-13T20:50:59.195-08:00

Since we couldn't carry all of our Christmas presents back in our suitcases from Florida Grammy sent them to us in a big box. As we opened it I saw that she had put an old dish rag on top before she taped it shut to protect the contents. Marisa grabs the dish rag. "Ooooh! What's this?" "It's an old dish rag." "I love it!" she clutches it to her. "I love the fruit on it!" Never mind the

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-36409222341919253942008-01-10T23:28:00.000-08:002008-01-13T20:51:36.336-08:00

No more holding Melody under my arm while I use two hands to open a bag of chips or spread some cream cheese on a bagel... ...she's got the power to grab! "Ouch! My hair!" I hear Marisa yelp. Now she knows to... "Steer clear! The baby knows how to aim and fire!" "Hey! My chocolate cupcake!" And why Rupert? Because Marisa loves her Scooby Doo movies. Don't call her Marisa, right now

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-24072612031138192912007-12-29T15:19:00.000-08:002007-12-29T17:05:37.583-08:00

I am so glad that I got frustrated with Marisa today as we were making bread and she scooped some flour the size of Montana onto the spoon and aimed it at the already overflowing measuring cup perched over the flour-mounded floor and I said "no" and she kept moving that spoon towards that tower of flour and I said... "no" and she put it on there anyway... ...and I, in my frustration, said to a

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5876278.post-24017611623903520522007-12-26T18:30:00.000-08:002007-12-29T17:13:48.666-08:00

Did you get my Holiday Letter? Are you coming here to read about our family secrets? Ha ha! That is the ONE line Doug put into the letter as I struggled to find a way to explain "blog". So the big secret is: I didn't write that.

ImprovGalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641685268964448909noreply@blogger.com