This blog is annoying to write in because the software is so out-of-date. But when I try to update it, everything goes blank and has to be restored from backup. Yikes!

Recently I tried an experiment to see how many hours of work I could get in while watching Jax. My hours were dwindling because he now needs a lot more interaction and playtime. I was coming in at around 24 hours a week and I really needed to be at 30. I decided to overshoot for a week and try for 40. I didn’t make it, but I figured out the best schedule for us right now.

At night, I bring my laptop up to the bedroom. That way, I can get in an hour or two of work while Jax is still asleep or just waking up. Around 9 we start getting ready for our day including my shower, getting us both dressed and making breakfast. We’ve been enjoying having time for scrambled eggs and pancakes! From 10 – 12 we play, do learning activities, run errands and I might clean a bit (if Jax is okay with playing in the playroom on his own for 15 minutes.) At noon he has a snack, but is generally too tired for lunch. He takes a nap and I get back to work. When he wakes up around 2 or 3 (depending on when he got to sleep), I usually take a short break so be can have a larger snack/mini lunch. After that, he plays beside me as I work. He can watch a  couple preschool shows we’ve recorded, play with toys and books, or do letter and number games on the iPad. I finish work around 5. If I haven’t made it to 6 hours for the day, I work in bed after Jax is asleep to make up the rest of the time.

This past weekend we visited my dad in his new apartment. He has Parkinson’s and it was becoming difficult for him to live on his own in his townhouse. His new place is in a great community with a lake view and plenty of amenities. He no longer drives, so it’s a big help to have so much at hand, plus rides to shopping. Eventually he can move up to assisted living if needed.

I’ll post again about my nearly 2-year-old! I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone. To quote Jax, “So Saaaaad!!” Heh. I’ll also share his birthday party – a sushi theme for my little sushi lover!

2. I don’t feel anywhere near as old as I am. That’s a good thing, right?

3. I’m really good at leaving sippy cups behind.

4. Babies grow up too fast.

5. I still hate making phone calls for work, but I’m getting better at it.

6. It’s hard not having family close by. I’m a little jealous of those that do, but I’m grateful for what I have.

7. I don’t think I could ever kiss my sweet son enough.

8. I’m not as nervous about flying with a little one now that I’ve done it.

9. I can change a diaper super fast. Even when that baby is running away from me!

10. Bubbles are amazing when you’re one.

11. I’m more materialistic than I’d like to be. When I lose a favorite thing, it really pains me.

12. It doesn’t need batteries or licensed characters to be fun. This wooden kiddie car has been in our family 100 years. Jax adores it!

13. I’m actually glad that co-sleeping keeps me from turning the tv on in bed. I barely watch tv anymore, and I don’t mind. I read instead! Also, toddlers fill an entire king-size bed.

14. Sitting quietly in a morning sunbeam can brighten your whole day.

15. I need to make more friends.

16. Nightly toddler baths may take up my evenings, but I know I’ll miss them when they’re gone.

17. I’m pretty sure I won’t have the time or money to do all the creative projects in my head until Jax is off on his own. I’m trying to find a balance.

18. I hate cilantro. It tastes like day-old garbage to me. But I might be broken.

19. Teething is hard.

20. I’m trying to practice cooking more, but I’m really not good at it. Probably because I grew up with just my dad and his very limited culinary skills. But, I do love to bake! Let’s live off cookies!

21. I run errands when I’m lonely for adult interaction.

22. I’m really going to miss nursing when Jax weans. It exhausts me at times, but I couldn’t feel more bonded to him.

23. It’s weird and amazing when your child starts to talk.

24. I didn’t feel like myself in the months my hair wasn’t in braids. I chopped it all off to start fresh then hid it under hats until it was long enough to braid again.

25. I’m not sure anyone lives more in the moment than an almost-2-year-old.

26. I am always wishing I could buy myself new clothes and accessories, but I buy Jax clothes instead. After all, he’s the one constantly growing.

27. My baby loves “sushi”! (He eats miso soup soaked rice with heaps of tofu, crab sticks and edamame.) If you ask him what he wants for dinner, the answer is always “sushi”!

28. Aim high. Higher than you think you can reach. You may surprise yourself.

29. Time speeds up when you are a mom.

30. I wish I had more time to clean and organize during the times I am full of energy. I find it satisfying. I used to offer to clean friend’s rooms growing up.

31. Dogs are expensive. Benny’s current ear infection will likely cost us $1k we can’t afford. It’s a doozy.

32. I’m a little overwhelmed but the tantrums that are beginning to happen. But I try hard not to let them frazzle me.

33. Acknowledge and respect your children when they have something to say – even when they are just starting to talk. I was hushed often as a child and I realize now it hurt.

34. I love the iPhone I got this year. I don’t miss my Droid a single bit. And now that my whole side of the family has either iPhones or iPads, Jax gets to do FaceTime with them.

35. Make some time to get messy and creative. I always feel better after creating something beautiful.

We ended up with some medical fsa to spend before the end of the year, so I started thinking about fun glasses. I always go into my eye appointments saying I want funky frames, but then leave with “safe” ones because I know they need to go with everything. Well, I already have my safe, every day glasses. And I can get prescription glasses with anti-glare for between $12 – $35 a pair online. From trial and error I know the narrow range of frame measurements that will work on my face. But what fun frame should I pick?

I was thinking of getting the gray version of what I have now, but it isn’t very funky, and is darker than I’d ideally want for a gray pair. Still in the running though.

What is your favorite? If I’m getting them, I have to order before the year ends. I couldn’t get their frame previewer to center the glasses, so use your imagination!

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To read about our family portraits, click here.

But first a note for all our online and far away friends. Jax (and I!) love mail. He especially likes cards that open and kids’ drawings. If you’d like to send him a holiday card or drawing, he’ll return the favor! Make sure to have a clear name and address we’ll be writing back to. I only have a few extra holiday photo cards, so you’d likely be getting a custom Jax creation.

Jax Segall, 43300-116 Southern Walk Plaza #234, Broadlands, VA 20148-4463

Jax’s Wishlist is an Amazon list of ideas I’ve put together. You could shop from it or just use it for ideas. Here is some of what is on it: I am making him a wooden play barn (for scale, it is being made out of a dollhouse) so any wooden farm animals/vehicles/etc would be great to go along with it. Our “little chef” has a play kitchen and LOVES anything to do with play food. Wooden food sets or kitchen accessories would be a big hit. He loves drawing, painting and stickers. Building with blocks, climbing and sliding. He’s started playing more with musical toys and loves to “dance” to their tunes.

Jax is wearing size 18 months. We are buying larger – 24 months to 2T. He really needs winter footie pajamas in size 24 months that he can wear right away. Sweaters, hoodies and fleece tops. A snow suit and boots. Spring/summer clothes should be 2T. He wears shoe size 6 toddler right now, so I’d go with a 7. He’ll be growing out of his brown loafers soon and has outgrown his black shoes. He loves hats, but has a big head. Go for hats for 2 – 3 year olds! He likes to wear Washington Capitals gear and will say “hockey” and “let’s go Caps!”. He has outgrown his infant jersey and hat.

Random useful things: socks, tableware/cups, place mats (to phase out his highchair tray) and  iTunes gift cards (for educational games).

If you want my wishlist, it’s here. But, Christmas is all about the little ones!

First, the plane rides: We had non-stop flights both ways on Virgin America. Dan booked seats in the back since we were installing a car seat and we didn’t want to be in the way. It took a lot of time to install, so that turned out to be a good plan. Security was fine. In VA I had to take Jax out of the baby carrier and he cried going through the metal detector. In CA he was asleep in the carrier and they let me just walk through the detector with him in it as long as I agreed to have my hands tested for bomb chemicals. That took less than 2 minutes. Of course Jax woke up as we were packing the carry-ons back up because it was so loud between the bags being slammed on the the belt and the carts full of trays. Jax slep 3 hours on the nearly 6 hour flight to CA. He didn’t sleep much on the 4 hour flight home, but never cried on either.

We stayed at a rental apartment in Manhattan Beach for the week and hung out a lot with our dear friends M & J.

On Sunday we drove down to the San Diego area for the 4th birthday party of Dan’s cousins. Jax had a great time and played non-stop from 10 am till 4 pm. He loved all the girl’s play food and kitchen items, especially this teapot (I wish it came in a gender neutral version!) Jax’s great grandparents were there which saved us a drive out to Indio. He loves them so much and spent much of his time playing with them.

On Monday we went to Venice Beach with M & J. I love walking around and looking at all the shops and tables of hippie-friendly goodies. I planned to visit Master Tony for a new bracelet and necklace and I wanted to find Jax a rasta beanie. Master Tony even made a tiny protection bracelet for Jax, but so far he just takes it off and hands it back to me when I put it on him. Heh.

Tuesday was Aquarium of the Pacific day with M & J. We arrived just before lunch and some ladies int he parking structure told us about a restaurant next door that was giving free aquarium tickets with sustainable seafood purchases off their menu. Since we needed to eat and the tickets cost $25 each, we figured it was worth it. We got all 4 of our tickets with the meal (I didn’t have seafood, but they got an appetizer to cover mine) plus the boys each got 2 free beer glasses with their beers. The aquarium was great, despite Jax going into serious toddler excitement overload. I knew he’d be into looking at the fish. He insisted on walking the whole time and had a blast.

On Wednesday we went to the California Science Center. Jax wasn’t as into that as the aquarium, but he enjoyed pushing the buttons and playing in the “Discovery Room”. He also like the rose garden. He wore out before we saw everything though.

On Thursday we drove out to the LA Zoo to meet up with Dan’s brother and his wife. They had passes for us all to get in free. Jax was woken from a nap when we got there so he was grouchy in the the carrier when we first arrived. He is still pretty young for zoos. He didn’t really see the animals that were just standing there. After lunch with the family we headed back to the beach.

Thursday afternoon the boys napped and I worked. We walked to dinner nearby then took a long walk on the strand. When I got back my laptop screen wasn’t working anymore. Yikes! A quick search brought up a known issue with my particular laptop. There were no morning Apple Store Genius Bar appointments available at the nearby location, but first thing in the morning one opened up.

Friday we headed to the mall for my Apple appointment while M & J went to an appointment for J. I checked in early for my 10:45 appointment. The store was packed! Like line-out-the-door packed. They finally called me at 11:30. By that point, Jax had insisted I nurse him in the carrier and then passed out for a nap. They ran a test on my computer by plugging in an iPod Shuffle programmed with a video card test to confirm the issue I’d suspected. It was confirmed and the repair was approved as I’ve had the laptop under 4 years. Repairs generally take 24 – 48 hours, but the Genius said he’d try to have it done that evening as we were flying home early the next day.

Friday afternoon we went to M & J’s house to hang out. Right after we ordered lunch we heard a big crash. We rushed out to the intersection to a pretty serious crash. We spent about an hour helping comfort with 16-year-old girl who had been driving alone and was beside herself. It was a scary situation, but it looked like the worst injury was a possible concussion in a boy who’d been a passenger in the SUV that did a complete flip.

Int he evening I called the Apple Store and my laptop was ready to pick up. We got it on the drive back to the apartment then we all hung out there while we ate dinner and froyo and I packed up Jax’s and my stuff for the flight home. Saturday 4am came way too early, but our trip home was uneventful.

Big props to our friend and house-sitter Ivan for picking us up and taking care of the dogs and house while we were gone. I hope you enjoy the Cali beers we got you!

Here are a bunch of photos from the trip. Hopefully I can steal some of the photos our family and M took as well.