Friday Random

-On Wednesday, Sammy wanted a milk box. I told him to wait just a second; I would come downstairs and get one for him. By the time I got down, he'd grabbed the box, unwrapped the straw, thrown away the wrapper and put the straw in the box himself. Huh.

-One month, people!

-I sold my wedding ring (from my first marriage) this week. Well, kinda. I took the store credit option since it was twice as much. It kinda kills me how little they buy rings for considering the cost to begin with. Really enforces my "man I wish we hadn't bought those rings" regret. Store credit to a jewelry store will be fun, though!

-Even after all my buffers this season, I still have a favorite on American Idol. I tried so hard this time to not like anyone!

-I'm starting to plant some herbs over the next couple of weeks. Parsley, basil, mint, chives. I feel I'm missing something obvious, though...

-I finally watched Twilight last weekend. Man. That was one bad movie...I'm so glad I made Isaac suffer, I mean watch with me!

-However, we also watched Lost in Austen. Loved it.

-I think Sammy has an imaginary friend named Micha. Isn't he a little young for that?

-Ring of the week:

I bought this last weekend to specifically go with my new shoes (!) and the shirt I was wearing to my neice's wedding. The shirt was the same color blue / green. At first I didn't think it would fit (the ring) since it was a size smaller than I normally get, but I bought a different ring at the same place and noticed their sizes ran a little big. It's a little tight, but I got it on. I'm so happy; I love it.

-Isaac has it really good considering how happy I get with $8 rings...

-Speaking of. He already bought my mother's day present. I love it (pics pending), but at first I told him to just get me the aforementioned $8 ring and I would be good. He refused to spend so little on a present for me. I'm pretty spoiled...

-Song of the week:

Nicola and I were talking music over lunch. She hadn't heard of the Kooks; I knew she would love them. So I made sure she heard this before she left.

There is No Footnote for This...

We're big Healthy Sleep Habits fans in this house. We cried it out with Sammy and have followed the suggestions in the book as he's grown. It works for us.

That said, Sammy's always been a good sleeper. We sometimes forget to adjust things as he gets older, but for the most part he just goes to bed and stays there. Yay! So a few weeks ago, he started getting out of bed a lot: asking for hugs and kisses, to watch t.v., etc. It started getting to be a struggle at bedtime which, in turn, made him get up earlier. We clued in a couple of weeks into this that maybe a quick refresher course from the book would help us figure it out. We read, realized it was an age thing and read over what we should try. The next night we implemented the changes. Every time he got up, we wouldn't say a word or look at him, just take him back to bed - the thought being any attention was good attention to him and if he didn't get any, he'd stay in bed and go to sleep. It worked like a charm and after a day we were back in business.

However, a funny little thing has developed in the aftermath. When Sammy DOES come down now after we've put him to bed, he tries to one up us. He'll come straight to the couch, hold up his arms for us to pick him up, but he won't look or talk to US the entire time we're going back up the stairs. I wish you could see his little face: all screwed up in a smirk, arms folded, twisting his head to look at the ceiling or walls (anything but us!) the entire way.

I didn't check, but I'm pretty sure there wasn't a section in the book on how to deal with sarcasm fallout from a two year old...

Best Friends

I met my friend Nicola for lunch yesterday. Nicola and I (and our friend Amy) have known each other since our freshman year of college...so, 17 years, now (WOW). Nicola and I were roommates; Amy lived next door. We had a rough start. I was dating the not nice boyfriend and they all hated him. Luckily, our friendship really took off once the boyfriend was out of the picture. We did everything together for the next couple of years. Looking back, I think it's amazing that our friendships stayed together after we all moved to different states after our sophmore year. We wrote (these were the days before email...), we called, we visited. It seemed to be enough.

Nicola and Amy have been there through everything with me. The BF and all of that craziness, the ex-husband, Isaac, Sammy, moves, everything. After my divorce, I moved in with Amy for a little bit. While we were in San Diego, Nicola was living in L.A. and it was so nice to be back in the same state. Ours is a friendship that doesn't matter how long it's been since we've talked or seen one another in the flesh - it is simply a constant and unchanging. How refreshing that is.

Yesterday we talked about how difficult it is to make friends the older you get. I'm still trying to work my way though that with our move this past year. I've made friends, but it's tough horning in on an already established group, feeling you're just in the way or trying to find a good friend outside of your immediate area. Add kids and husbands and differing schedules to the mix and I'm surprised anyone can establish those good friends that are a constant anymore. Not that I don't have friends, I do. It's just difficult to forge those same bonds the older and more set in your ways you become. It's good to recognize the good friendships in your life.

We started making plans for a girls weekend this summer. It's so needed. I need to be around people who've known me forever and love me anyway. There's something about a friendship like that that is truly priceless.

SHOES!

I don't have a lot of time this morning (I'm off to meet up with one of my best friends who is in the state for a couple of days...I'm sure there will be pics and stories to come!), but I wanted to show off my new shoes. I LOVE them. I swear I'm done buying new shoes until I get around to spring cleaning my old ones, but these had to happen. I mean...look at them! And they are super comfortable. And just really my new favorites. Ok...the fact that they are sandals and I wore them last Saturday at night and it wasn't cold at all heightens the love, I'm sure...