Daylight Savings and Losings

Daylight Savings is an ongoing argument in my house. Basically, I know that it's awesome because it means we all get to sleep in for an extra hour for the next six months, but my husband believes that it is only awesome for one day until we all adjust and don't notice the difference. I agree with him that we do eventually adjust (right around the time that we have to change the clocks again), but it doesn't happen overnight. I can look at the new numbers on the clock, but that doesn't mean that my body feels any different about the time. My body is smart. It knows what you did.

Well, apparently Ella's body is pretty smart, too, because it is not down with this whole daylight savings thing. When I said that daylight savings is awesome, I meant daylight savings was awesome before I had a child. Now, daylight savings means I'm getting up at the same time I used to, but I'm going to bed an hour later. Unfortunately, that's what Beezer is doing, too.

She has always gone to bed very early. We really cannot keep this girl up past seven o'clock or she turns into a gremlin after midnight. That means that we generally go upstairs at about 6:15 and she is in her crib by seven sharp. This is great for me because I can do all my grading at night. Unfortunately, it also means that she gets up between 5:30 and 6. Everyday. Including Saturday and Sunday. I have gotten fairly used to this, and pretty much go to bed early every night in anticipation of getting up at the crack of dawn. However, with the time change, I've been going to bed at the new 10:00 (the old 11:00), but still getting up at the old 6:00 (the new 5:00). I can't seem to get everything done by the old 9:00 (the new 10:00) because we're getting home an hour later than we use to, so I can't just go to bed earlier.

Beezer is feeling the effects, too. Because she is going to bed an hour later each night but still getting up at the old time, she is waking up grumpy as hell. She is also a basket case at night, so we've been trying to put her to bed earlier, but by the time we get home, eat dinner, and take a bath, it's the new 7:00, and she is a disaster.

I know we'll all adjust eventually, but I hope, if nothing else, my husband realizes that I was totally right about this whole daylight savings thing not just magically working out overnight. That would make it at least a little bit worth it.

Ella B in NYC

Phase three of embracing the disaster came in the form of a little trip to New York City. Jessica has been asking us to come to New York for ages, and I finally decided Ella B and I were ready for the excursion. It helped that Jess was home that day and we were all able to board the train together and head down. Ella loved the train. She spent most of the time staring out the window, or "ruining" the pictures Jess was trying to color. She keeps telling people she went on a big school bus, but it was definitely a train.

Once we got there, we headed over to the Central Park Zoo. All Ella cared about was seeing the polar bear, so we were really hoping he would be out and about. Mr. Polar Bear did not disappoint, and ever since she has been imitating his swimming style. She wasn't really into any of the other animals, so we went to the petting zoo where she could get her hands on some goats, llamas, cows, etc. and that perked her up, but what she was really excited about was the pigeons. This girl is a true animal lover and all she wants to do is pet and cuddle every animal she sees. Much to her chagrin, wild birds don't really like to be pet. So, she spent about ten minutes focused on chasing a pigeon. I assumed her efforts were futile, until, of course, she actually caught the pigeon! Everything about the trip paled in comparison to that.

 Another highlight was seeing a random guy dressed as Elmo. Ella just about died, and it wasn't until we snapped some pictures with him that I noticed his knee pads and fanny pack. Weird.

 We met Alan for lunch at a nearby pub that also has tables you can write on with crayons, a score for anyone trying to actually eat food with a toddler present. 

Finally, we headed over to Dylan's Candy Shoppe and blew Ella's mind once more with a lollipop the size of her head. The whole place is decorated with bright colors, booths shaped like giant cupcakes, and even a bar. I really think this would be the perfect place for a kid or an adult party.

As we headed back to the train station after a fun-filled day, Ella promptly fell asleep in the stroller covered in lollipop, sunscreen, and sweat looking so disgusting that people were giving me dirty looks. I didn't care. Her disheveled appearance was the mark of a truly great day. 

Date Night

Once in a while every mom and dad deserve a date night. Unfortunatley for my husband that meant heading out last night to the senior prom. For me it was a win/win. A chance to get dressed up and go to a fancy hotel for a free meal, and be able to spend a nice night with my kids before they graduate. For Michael, it was standing around in a hot room and taking pictures of me with random high school kids he doesn't know. Oh well, he was a good sport about it anyway. Normally, Christina and I would go together, but as she is awaiting the birth of her child literally any second (it will be tomorrow, Chris, I can feel it!) she refused to attend. I told her that a little bumping and grinding on the dance floor might shake that baby loose, but alas, she would not listen to me.

So, we asked Ella's favorite teacher from daycare, Miss Amanda, to babysit. This is a big deal since it is our first time leaving her with a real babysitter (by real of course I mean someone you have to pay) rather than her Nene and Pop Pop. I was really not nervous at all and excited to have a reason to put on nail polish and Spanx. Mike stayed for most of the night and then headed home. I stayed with my friend Wendy and we didn't get home until 2 am! I haven't done that in years, and it felt good to just pass out with my makeup on and a fun night behind me.

Of course, it was back to reality at 5:30 when Beezer woke up and wanted to cuddle up with me and her bottle and watch Wow! Wow! Wubbzy. So, I'm hurtin' a little today, but still glad we went and had a baby free night.

BTW, how cute is my prom date?

PS- Yes this is the same dress that I wore to Kevin and Laura's wedding and Chad and Holly's wedding. Ya know what- if it ain't broke, don't fix it.