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I have never had such a desire to choke the living snot out of someone as I have when someone threatens the Tater Tot’s nap time.  Sometimes it’s the garbage guys.  Other times it’s the gardening guys.  Yet other times it is just some poor, unsuspecting soul playing their music way too loud.  Today it was this poor, poor man who came to my door and rang the doorbell (gasp!) at 9:30 am after Tater went down for her nap at 9:00.  He seriously must have thought I was the most paranoid, unfriendly person on the planet Earth from the reaction he got when I opened the door.  It doesn’t help that our dog barks like she’s losing her head when the doorbell rings.  So, between trying to quiet the dog so she doesn’t wake Tater up, looking out the peephole to decide whether or not I should open the door, and actually opening the door, the man got a face and reaction like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean.  All suspicion and cocked eyebrow, one eye closed and “what the hell are you doing here”.  He was not trying to sell me anything.  He was not the boogeyman and did not wish me any harm.  He just wanted to know if he had the right house for some handyman job he was supposed to do.  But little did he know that he dared to enter The Mommy’s Treasure Trove that is Tater’s Nap.  Beware all ye who enter here!  Aarrgh!  I’m going to get myself an eye patch and hang a pirate flag on our house.

Yes, I’m writing about the topic of snot again.  It has been a constant in my life since The Tater Tot got sick on Wednesday.  Most of the time I feel perfectly fine (well, okay, a teeny bit guilty) letting her sit around the house with boogers.  But if we’re going to leave the house, of course, I bust out the wet washcloth, snot sucker and any other tool I can get my hands on to clean The Princess up.  The reason I don’t particularly want to feel guilty about not cleaning her up as much when we’re just going to be around the house is that it is a battle royal to get her to submit to it.  I figure now is as good a time as any to start letting her be her own person, snots and all.  Instead of infusing our day with screaming and crying just so she looks presentable for The Mommy (who doesn’t care what she looks like…The Mommy will love her no matter what!), I’ve chosen to attack the snot only if it becomes a problem.  If there’s streaming, booger blockage of any kind, or if it’s causing irritation to her I will by all means bust out the tools and go to town.  But if she is happily playing, eating and otherwise doin’ her thing, I’m going to leave her be.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not the Mommy who runs from a challenge.  There will be times when I will stand my ground.  Just not this time.

On a related note: I think I’m doing particularly well for not having had a cow over The Tater Tot getting her first cold.  As a “protective” mother of a preemie, not having taken her temperature 10 times a day or called the pediatrician 5 times already is quite a feat!  In fact, I am quite surprised and pleased that I’ve been able to “wait and see” so far.  Who knew I would be so calm?  I think I owe a lot to The Tater Tot’s disposition for that.  She’s been so agreeable through the whole thing, playing, laughing and eating like normal.  That goes a long way to reassuring a new mommy.

On a totally un-related note: I was able to get out to the JoAnn’s Veteran’s Day sale  today and got some card stock and other scrapbooking supplies at 50% off!  And, as a “preferred customer” (aren’t I special!), I got an extra 10% off!  I noticed that they had clearance fabric at 50% off clearance prices as well but I just didn’t have the time to browse.  It’s not like I don’t have 5 or 6 sewing projects lined up that I haven’t gotten to already!  Ya’ gotta love a JoAnn’s sale.  Now if I only had the time and energy to actually use the scrapbooking supplies I bought…

I had a revelation today.  Are you ready?  Here it is: cheap mascara is, well, cheap.  Yeah, I know, earthshaking.  I realized this as I’m standing at the bathroom mirror applying what feels like the 30th coat of mascara to my teeny weeny little lashes trying to get them to stand out the least little bit.  I bought the least expensive mascara the other day in an effort to save a little cash but, I’ll tell you, it was not worth the $2.39 that I saved.  No luxurious, curved wand.  No rich, thick mascara just waiting to make my eyes the center of attention.  Just a teeny little brush with a teeny little bit of thin black goop that ended up getting all over the place.  Huh, I guess you get what you pay for.  Word to the wise: do not skimp on cosmetics.  They are the only things that make you not look half-dead.

On a totally unrelated note, Tater is still sick and now The Mommy is sick too.  Blech.  Not fun.  She doesn’t seem to be affected by the runny nose and occasional cough.  She’s happy as a clam!  The Mommy, on the other hand, is fairly miserable.  Add to the equation that my neck and shoulder are tweaked from lugging around the 20 pound sack of potatoes that is the Tater Tot, and you have a recipe for Cranky Mommy.  Season with bitchy to taste.  Serve hot.

The Tater Tot has gotten her first cold.  And The Mommy has gotten to experience snot bubbles and rabid avoidance of naps and the snot-sucker.  Every time I try to get that thing anywhere near the Tot’s nose, she manages to twist and turn to avoid it, blowing snot bubbles all the while.  Useless.  Fortunately, she’s not necessarily fussy, she just has a runny nose and does not want to sleep.  So she sits wearily and happily with snot running all over the place.  I do what I can to keep her sans snot but I am only one woman. 

I’ve pulled out every trick in the book to get her to nap, knowing that she’ll feel better if she does.  Unfortunately, I’ve only managed to achieve two 20 minute naps, one of which was in the car.  Currently she is drowsily making noise in her crib after I danced with her until my arms were going to fall off.  She is fighting the good fight with such a valiant effort and she’ll probably win.

I feel fortunate that it’s not worse.  And maybe it will be….who knows?  But until then, I think I’ll count how many times I used the word “snot” in this post.

The Mommy’s afternoon surf report: It’s HOT and the waves look fun!  There’s a swell on the way for this weekend!  Maybe The Mommy will get her land-locked Mommy Butt in the water…

Blah Blah Blah Blah Tired Blah Blah Blah Blah Sleepy Blah Blah Blah Blah Need Ice Cream Blah Blah Blah Blah Laundry Isn’t Done Blah Blah Blah Blah Dishes Aren’t Done Blah Blah Blah Blah Looks Like A Bomb Went Off In My Office Blah Blah Blah Blah At Least The Baby’s Asleep Blah Blah Blah Blah Lazy Post, I Know

No surf for me this weekend…it just didn’t work out.  The Daddy said it was pathetic on Saturday and “fun” on Sunday.  Next weekend…

I have officially reached my pre-pregnancy weight!  Hallelujah and pass the Cheese Whiz!  “How did you do it?” you ask.  I don’t know.  Really.  Perhaps being too tired to figure out what to snack on.  Maybe being focused on trying to get the Tot and myself on a healthy sleep schedule.  Definitely NOT any organized diet or exercise! 

Even though the scale says the “right” number, I’m sorry to say, things just aren’t quite where they used to be.  Y’all know what I’m talkin’ about, right?  That’s a whole other post…

The Mommy’s Surf Report: I can’t see the surf.  There’s too much fog.  It’s just as well…

Yes, there is a history of ice cream.  Whole books are devoted to the subject.  Imagine that.  I just wanted to know how they came up with my favorite emotional crutch, I mean dessert, and found out that there are even myths and folklore surrounding it’s invention.  Who knew?

The Ocean Woman is a ferocious animal

Without her morning coffee

She is a cranky sister thing

Do not bug this wild beach child

Well, The Daddy says that this morning it’s 1-2 with the occasional 3 foot set but poor conditions.  Light onshore wind and broken up–desperation surf.  Luckily I’m not desperate.  I’m too busy trying to get the Tot on a “healthy sleep schedule” to be desperate.  For surf, at least….