Stroller Addict: Tales of Stroller Hell

Let's put it this way:  Matt and I bought a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI (a diesel) last fall.  I have put more time, energy, research, agony and arguing into our strollers than I did over the brand new car.

As you all know, I have one son.  He is 17 months old.

Today I bought our 5th stroller.  Yes, our 5th.

Here's how it happened (I'm writing this to come to terms with myself but to justify my reasoning as much as possible to my husband):

Stroller #1:  2009 Uppa Baby Vista.  I love this stroller.  Daniel was comfy.  I had numerous random issues (turns out Matt was closing it incorrectly causing it jam) and the amazing customer service took care of us each time.  2 problems:  it's heavy and the seat didn't go completely upright so Daniel would kind of be leaning back which became an issue when he was about a year old.

Stroller #2:  Because our Uppa is heavy, we decided to buy a lightweight stroller to take in the car, on the subway, etc.  It was between a Maclaren Triumph or the City Mini.  We went with the City Mini and basically stopped using the Uppa simply because the City Mini was pretty much perfect and lightweight.  When we were in Atlanta in September Hertz decided to "upgrade" my rental car and gave me a huge SUV.  It was so big I could barely get into my parent's garage.  I hated it.  I ran over our City Mini accidentally (I literally bumped it while reversing but the SUV was so big that it literally popped the stroller in half).  I hate that damned rental.

Stroller #3:  In Atlanta with a snapped-in-two City Mini, I ran out and, being such an Uppa Baby fan, bought their lightweight umbrella stroller, the G-Lite.  I loved it.  So light, so easy to carry, folds up into nothing.  I thought I was golden.

Stroller #4:  I knew I would end up doing this, but I recently started running (my friend Lauren Stout signed me up for a 10K) and I wanted to run with Daniel.  I bought a BOB Revolution and it honestly inspired me to run and I've loved it.  Decided it's the best stroller ever made.  Handles like a dream.  Daniel is so happy in it.  Makes me run.  ALMOST perfect.  Bad part:  so heavy and very hard to get in and out of our brownstone as the doors are narrow (will be great when our renovation is done in a few months and I have a garage).  I decide that I should have just bought the BOB to begin with.  We use this every day.

Stroller #5:  Over the last 2 months, we've realized that Daniel HATES the G-Lite.  It's actually quite small and we can't adjust the straps so Daniel doesn't fit very well.  Now that it's winter and he's in his coat, we can't even get the straps around him.  UGGGGHHH!!!  So what do I do?  Refer to Stroller #2.  I buy the Maclaren Triumph and it's perfect.

And that's where we are today.  Matt totally annoyed with me.  I'm totally annoyed with strollers.  If I get pregnant again soon and need a double stroller I'm going to take a shotgun and shoot every (empty) stroller that I see. 

Oops! Looks like I misplaced this data card!

I knew I had some amazing pictures from October.  Good thing I finally found them.  Reminds me that our photo storage is totally out of whack right now and we must get this fixed.

We went to a really cute farm with our friends, the Kriegsmans, and that's really when Daniel started calling all animals "Kitty" (he's not really doing that anymore, by the way).  I also love the love-fest going on with Daniel and Benjamin at the end of the day.

Also found - the Halloween pictures.  Honestly, how on earth did I let this happen? In any case, here was Halloween in all of it's rockin' cuteness.  On top of the Daniel pics, there are a few that showcase the fabulous park that we live on and it's kind of obvious why I love my neighborhood so much (future post).

Better late than never, right?

Baby

Daniel loves babies and today he finally said it!

"Baby"

Damn cute.  Sadly, I think he knows the word not from me saying it all the time, but from Elmo asking what a baby does every morning.  

Teething for Real

Remember when I used to post about the fact that Daniel's teeth were taking their time coming in?  Well, my little boy is now getting his molars... all at once... and it sucks!  He is crying.  A lot.  He wakes up crying.  He wakes up in the middle of the night crying.  He cries when he eats.  He cries when he drinks.

Matt and I are heartbroken for him.  He goes from being the sweetest and happiest little boy in the world to being so sad and hurting.  He takes my hand and pushes it into his cheeks, bites his fingers and just whines.

Moms - how long is this going to take?  I cautiously stick my fingers in his mouth, feel all those teeth and I know it must feel like hell for him.  All at once?  What are the odds?

Where We've Been and What's Been Up With Us

It's obvious when things are so hectically out of control that I don't even remember the last time I posted anything substantial.  I've actually felt the absence of posting to my blog but haven't been able to pull together the time to do anything about it.  So, here I am - months and months later with much too much to say for one blog post.  So, I'll begin to make up for my absence with a little catch up on what's been happening with us.

Part 1:  Daniel Bing
One word:  INCREDIBLE.
Daniel is now close to 17 months old and my little baby has transformed into a full-blown, cute-as-can-be toddler.  He's close to 25 pounds and got his 4th (yes, 4th!) haircut this morning.  He is definitely classified as a "lover" and not a "fighter".  Daniel hugs and kisses almost anything and anyone.  He is a still crazy over anything fluffy and soft.  Today we were hanging out at the Union Square holiday market with Lauren and Richie and while we were looking at some hats, Daniel literally started cuddling with a furry tablecloth.  Strange, but adorable.

Physically, Daniel acts more like a 2 year old than a 17 month old.  He skips the baby play areas and heads straight for where the older kids are playing.  He shows no fear... well, except for today when he wouldn't stand on a sewer grate (I don't blame him).  He's still very much into music and loves it when Matt plays the bass guitar at night.  He loves to dance and the moves he pulls out are quite impressive... especially while he's in his carseat... he has some serious arm moves.

He still isn't saying many words.  Only a few... kitty, uh-oh, mama (this means that he wants something), dada and he did say up and apple last week... but nothing since.  He understands everything so I think he's just being lazy.  I love being able to say "go give the baby a kiss" and watch him walk over to a baby or a toy and kiss it but I really can't wait for him to start saying more.

The big news is that he just spent 3 weeks in Atlanta with my parents (Nana Max and Papa G).   10 days of the 3 weeks were spent alone with my parents while Matt and I were in Argentina.  Daniel was spoiled beyond belief and he had an amazing time - we're so proud of him (and so beyond thankful to my parents!).  My parents had him booked up with more activities in 10 days then he does in a month in Jersey.   He picked up some very cute new things:  holding his nose and saying "pee-yew" when we change a poop, sweeping, helping with the dishes, covering his ears when the coffee maker grinds the coffee beans and, our favorite, spitting after he brushes his teeth (this really is just a pretend spit so it's really cute).  Daniel is also officially a dog lover.  While he had to defend his food at all times, he loved spending 3 weeks with my parent's crazy dog, Jake, and we can't wait to get him a puppy.  He was also allowed to have his binky and his blanket ANYTIME (something he doesn't do at home) so now we're dealing with a very attached little boy to his bink and blanket as you'll see from the piano video below.

Matt and I are, like all parents, ridiculously in love with this child.  My friend, Heather, always says that her favorite age is 18 months so I've been anxiously waiting for this time and I couldn't agree with her more.  When Daniel sees me come into a room and runs over to me and hugs me tight around the neck, it takes everything to not cry.  He is enamored by Matt and seeing my boys run around the house can keep me happily occupied forever.

Here are few recent pics and clips:

I mean, it doesn't get cuter than this

Tickling fit

The Family Pic (note that Jake is probably looking for food and Stella is trying to get out of the picture)

Security threat at Newark

Cuddling on the way to the Atlanta airport.  Already sad to say goodbye to Nana, Papa, Andi, Gabe, Stella and Jake!

This was so fun that I got in there with him

The Cantilo family got new kittens and Daniel LOVED them

 
Part 2:  Marni & Matt

I'll make this close... 10 days without Daniel in Argentina.  It was not easy (I know.. those of you with older kids are laughing at me now).  I think 7 days would have been fine, but 10 was simply too long.   However, the trip was amazing for us.  There were many times (in between talking about what we thought Daniel was doing) that it felt like it did before we had Daniel.  Just funny and fun and nothing to do but relax and be together.

We are incredibly lucky that we were able to go on this trip but I think we're happy to stay put for a little while.

The wonderful thing about the trip was also the timing... my best friend, Jody, gave birth to her 3rd little girl, Lila Claire, right before we came home... and 6 weeks early.  Loving on that little girl was a perfect addition to our trip and Daniel may have his first crush.

A view to die for in Bariloche

Our little rental car in Bariloche.  The scenic drives were absolutely unreal

Perito Mereno Glacier in El Calafate.  We hiked on this glacier for 4 hours and it was amazing!

Eolo Hotel in Calafate - view from a hike we did.  This place was heaven.

Another view of Perito Mereno

Matt, my glacier man

Me and baby Lila.  She's a peanut and we love her!

Last Will & Testament

Matt and I signed our wills today.   Quite the intense morning.

The actual signing wasn't intense or stressful.  In fact, it's always a pleasure to hang out with our lawyer.  He's hysterical and happens to be the president of our synagogue so I actually feel a little more Jewish after spending time with him.

The rest of the day was fairly intense, though.  We had to get these wills signed because we are going on a very long trip without Daniel.  Signing them was a last minute "G-d forbid" action that we've been meaning to do for 15 months now and those papers have now made the whole "what would happen" so real.

I'm feeling excited, yet incredibly nervous/guilty about going on this trip.  10 days in Argentina without our little man.  My friends all say that this is good for all of us.  While I've been on business trips (max = 4 days), Matt and I have only been apart from Daniel at the same time for 2 days.  I've been working so much and traveling so much that any free time I have I want to spend with him.  So, you can understand the guilt.  BUT, Matt and I need this trip and I know that Daniel will be in good hands (with my parents in Atlanta probably mixing Gin & Tonics by the time we return).  So, we find ourselves signing wills.

Anyone who has gone through this understands what a mind trip it is.  We're not going to die on this trip... but we could... but we won't... but we could.  But really we'll just be eating delicious steak and hiking on glaciers and Daniel will be spoiled rotten by my parents.

Happy 70th Birthday, Daddy (Papa!)

Today is my father's 70th birthday.  OMG!  70th!!!

I've always been a daddy's girl and today is just another amazing reason to tell the world why I love him so much (and why Daniel loves his Papa so much):

1.  My dad puts his girls (me, my sister and my mom) before anything in the world... especially himself.
2.  My dad has treated Matt like his own son since the day I introduced them (my dad likes to tell the story of Matt skating up to a bar on his skateboard).
3.  My dad gives the best infant massage.  This started with Julia Guiness when she was one day old and still holds true today.
4.  My dad tells ridiculously bad jokes.  Mind you, he thinks they are hysterical (and, sometimes they are pretty funny) but most of the time my sister and I tell him they are lame and he laughs anyway and says, "I know".
5.  My dad fixes everything.  Nowadays it might take him a little longer to complete (cue my mom to complain that he's not finishing everything on time) but the man has put more energy into making his home up to date than anyone else who doesn't remodel homes for a living. 
6.  My dad works harder than most people I know, even though the outcome isn't as lucrative as he probably hopes.  My dad is a contractor and, at 70, still does a lot of manual labor.  He deserves to win the lottery but still takes pride in helping people out every single day.  His can-do spirit is absolutely inspiring.
7.  I learned the following important life lessons from my dad:
- How to drive offensively, not defensively (and how to stop short)
- Talk to strangers and be super nice to everyone - whether they are paying your paycheck or bagging your groceries
- Love your family and tell them that you love them every day (I learned this from my mom & Dad, but being a Daddy's Girl, I'll give credit to Dad today)
- Love food and don't feel guilty about it (I could also blame him for the 20 extra pounds I have right now, but I won't.. or did I just do that?)
- Never say "shut up" to your mother.  Ever.
- Drink whiskey to get rid of a sore throat
8.  My dad is an INCREDIBLE grandfather.  His eyes light up when he sees Daniel and watching them together melts my heart.
9.  My dad is an INCREDIBLE husband and he still opens the car door for my mom and buys her flowers.
10.  My dad is the MOST INCREDIBLE father of all time and I love him with all of my heart and soul. 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!