Voodoo Child v. 17: Welcome to the One Woman Show

It's 25 minutes until the new year. My daughter is asleep. My husband is chatting with his family on gtalk. I'm in the kitchen supervising the new toaster oven and dining on some fine fine S'Mores by Ben & Jerry's. I know, I swore it off, but shit, it's so damn good, and it's New Years, right?

I guess this would be a good time to look back on the year, discuss what went right, what went wrong. That's life. But I'm looking forward to the new year. I'm not one to be overly optimistic, but I'm thinking that 2009 will be an incredible year, and I'm going to take you guys me.

I have been bustin' my brain to think of what this year's resolution is going to be, but I'll be sufficiently vague: this is the year of exponential growth. I plan on making huge strides in my new position. (Side story: 9 years ago when I applied for the job at University, this was the position I originally wanted, but I was given the "don't apply for that, apply for this" speech, and I wound up sticking around for 8 years. Now I finally get my dream job). I plan on making an unprecidented impact. Huge words, I know, but that's the plan, and I will do it.

Since we started our little family, I think we're set...for now. When Bambina turns 1, we'll discuss her sibling, but not before then. Who knows where this will go. I'm excited about the leaps and bounds she will make, and I'm even more excited for the ones we'll take as parents.

I am looking forward to being a more active blogger...once I get back to work, heh, I'll be able to sit down and crank out some stuff for you more often. I'm working on a Conversations with God piece that should drop in the next month.

I'm always open to the newness that a new year brings, and I'm looking forward to the exciting changes that my life has in store for me. As I write this, this is my 8th year blogging. It's been good and it's been fun, and it's always been wonderful to have good readers, all 1 of you, here to cheer me on.

Well, here comes the new year. Blessings to you and yours, and may your year be amazing.

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today we took Ms. Bambina on her first fun field trip: the California Academy of Sciences. As a child, I grew up on trips here when my parents were on vacation or when we had guests from out of town. It's always been a magical place for me to see the animals, learn about critters, plants, and such. See the animals in habitats (my dad always told me they were plastic and/or robots). It's a place full of fond memories, and I love it.

I haven't been there since the renovation. I didn't go to the Howard Street site, well, because it's not the academy I know. So I went ahead and waited. Got a a family membership when Bambina joined us (natch), and headed out today for the first time. I debated between joining the MoMA (I used to be a member here), or De Young, but this felt more natural, since Husbandido is a nurd of sorts.

So holy moly, I thought it wasn't going to be crowded but oh lord was it ever. We arrived there around 10:45ish after looking for parking (the garage was already full). The iine for ticket holders (LONG) was deep on JFK drive, and the line for the Members was about 1/4 that line, and holy crap, we still had to wait a few to get in. I had to nurse young Ms. while standing, and OMG she's heavy now. 14 lbs or so is what we're guessing.

The place was rampant full of kids. I shoulda busted our family out earlier, but it was so warm in bed. Can you blame us? I am so kicking myself too because I didn't anticipate it being so cold, and we sort of underdressed her. Not that she was in a onesie, but it was just a warm, we thought, thick jumper, so we kept a blanket on her the whole time we waited outside, but it was still cold. Husbandido had her in the Bjorn, so at least they had each other. I felt like a bad parent, but that's just me.

I loved the exhibits but what was more exciting was her reaction to the exhibits, especially the fish. She got up close and personal with a penguin, and she jumped. It was really cute. We didn't stay too long, but we were there long enough to know that we were going to come back and come back soon so we can see everything again. I'll most likey renew my membership there next year.

We had lunch at B-Star, but Bambina wasn't having it. It was near her nap time and we kept waking her up to get out of the car to eat, to go to Best Buy to pick something up for Husbandido's busted computer. We had such delish food: triple mushrooms, fish and fries, tea leaf salad (holy god it's so good), samusa soup, won ton soup (it was a soupy kinda day), and I had a lychee mint smoothie. We came home and took a nice nap. Speaking of which, it's time for me to sneak off to bed.

A note about breastfeeding: I am really happy to have had a positive experience so far. I guess, it really was hard starting out, but it's natural enough that I don't have much of a problem doing it when I need to do it. I'm just trying to brace myself for being away from her in less than two weeks. At any rate, had to do it quite a few times today, in the academy, at the restaurant, whew. I'm thankful that I'm in a progressive enough city that people don't trip off of it. Even knowing moms will see me and give me that "shit i shoulda brought my cover with me too." Yep. It really did help!

Okay kids. Be good. Get out of the house, but god's sake, dress the kids up warmly!

Voodoo 

 PS: pics are on facebook or on bambina et. al.'s page. email me for deets.

Posted by Voodoo Child at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Good evening all. It's late, but I'm here in Sacramento. Everyone is playing a game, and I'm sitting on the couch playing around with my computer. It's not that I don't want to play, but the baby is asleep, and I'm on the monitor listening with half an ear to see if she'll sleep through while I'm out in the living room.

Christmas was nice. I really mean nice. It's been good to be with my family and Husbandido's family. I really wish that there was enough energy in me to spread between the two, but after a late night session with my family, it's hard to stay up with Husbandido's family. I'm trying hard, and I don't want to be a poopface about it.

We made the big drive up to Sacramento with Bambina. Originally, we were really scared to do that, well I was, because she didn't like her carseat like I mentioned before. We wound up taking a drive to Redwood City last Saturday, and she did really well during the drive. We took that as a benchmark to see if she could handle a long drive. About 45 minutes into the drive, around Fairfield, she started to fuss. We pulled over and I nursed her. Another 10 minutes into the drive, in Vacaville, we pull over to nurse again. After that, she drowses away. I learn too, that I get car sick in the back seat, but I pass out around Dixon, and I'm good to go after that.

Here, we are with all of Husbandido's brothers, his parents, and his brother's significant others. It's a close group, and I love being here, but they have such energy that I don't feel like I have. Also, it's hard to eat food here when my dietary needs are a little different than everyone else here. I usually find myself eating pretty poorly, but I do eat.

My mother in law loves Bambina, and insists on holding her constantly, refusing to give her to anyone else because the baby won't like it. I can see what she's saying, but everyone deserves to have some quality time with the baby, and even everyone here calls her a babyhog. I have to agree. But what are you going to expect from the first grandbaby's proud grandmother?

By the way, Bambina is sick. She has a little cold, and it's pretty sad to hear her sniffle so much. It's cute though, but I hope she inherits my ability to bust out of a cold in two-three days. Unlike my Husbandido who gets manflu and goes down for at least a week. 

I'll be here until Sunday. I'll be able to check in from here a few times. I'm looking forward to the return to blogging. Hopefully she'll sleep earlier and sounder, and I can update you more.

 Merry Christmas. Hope you had a good holiday.

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

aight suckas..homemade cards t is...but you ain't gettin' them til new years. chinese new years.

thank the apostle. girls neecd to hear stuff like that to keep going. holler.

ps:http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/audio/detail.asp?=Boss-Deeper&ID=1241 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)