So tired

I want time:

• for a back rub
• for a foot rub (for both feet)
• for a vacation
• to watch 1000 shows I've recorded (uninterrupted)
• to finish my book
• to visit my chiropractor/masseuse
• for a car wash (because really? It's just gross.)
• did I mention the back rub?
• (and money) to hire a personal chef

Okay. That should do it.

HELP!

Natalie is tired. VERY tired. And as soon as I saw that first swipe of the hand across her delicate brow, I brought her upstairs for her afternoon nap. Usually, it's that simple: change the diaper, read a story, sing a song, put down sleepy but awake. Our darling girl usually falls asleep within mere moments. Who knows why today is different?

One thing is for sure: Natalie is quite competent with her rolling over skills and now she's not afraid to use them in her crib. She just spent the better part of 20 minutes testing my quads on the stairs by wailing like a banshee and flipping over into crawling position to really send her point home: "I'm NOT happy so what are you gonna do about it?!"

Fortunately, on my last visit I realized that she just had a new tooth (that makes seven so far!!) pop out on her bottom left side. I'm thinking its right sibling might be a tenacious one and that could be painful. Out came the teething drops and down went baby. Oh, she let me hear a little more about it, but she did finally stay on her back. Let's hope this one lasts enough to allow ME to come down from the craziness.

Army of WHAT?

So Keith and I took Natalie to Disneyland yesterday. She slept well during her morning nap, allowing us to indulge during the afternoon. Unfortunately, it kind of backfired. She feel asleep on the car ride home and didn't awaken until about 6:30. That's usually the time of evening after dinner when we're drying her off after her bath and getting her ready for bed. Change of plans! We think she may have thought it was bedtime when we put her in the car. As a result, we put her to bed at about 8:20 and she woke up (for the day) at 4. Fun. Anyway, that's not the reason I'm posting, although it does speak to our need for the rituals and schedule Natalie has set for us.

This post is related to the large group of teens and adults we saw at Disneyland upon entering the line for the carousel. They were all dressed in various goth-looking outfits: black shirts/pants with dark purple and red accents; chains on their necks and wrists; tall, laced black boots; some wearing long trench coats--you get the idea. Keith surmised that they might have been a group of white supremacists, what with their shaved heads (there were also others with spiky do's).

Something they all had in common, though, was a pair of patches on their clothing. One was yellow and black and featured a toy soldier. The other was a picture of a mad scientist-looking guy on a red and black background. I was dubious that these were "skinheads", given that some appeared to be wearing goggles like the ones on the scientist patch. This goofy wardrobe addition just didn't jive with white power. (The pictures below are representative of what we saw--not actual pictures from the House of Mouse.)

It wasn't until later when I Googled the description of the patches that I found this site. Apparently, according to the FAQ page, these "Toy Soldier" enthusiasts are not only NOT white supremacists, but they are committed and united in their zest for life and fun. How totally interesting.

This just goes to show that the people-watching at Disneyland is indeed the best in the world. (Or at least in Orange County.)

Disturbing Dreams

I had a horrible dream last night. I think it was induced by the one Benadryl (yes, breastfeeding makes it impossible to take much of anything!) I took before bed.

How crazy is this:

From what I remember, Keith and I were climbing a mountain, but it was in a building. And then from over the summit, we saw a huge wave coming towards us--presumably a tsunami. We crouched into the mountain, hoping that the water would break against the rock and avoid us. (Yes, we're still inside a building.) We hunkered there, taking deep gulps, terrified, as the wave crashed and enveloped our bodies which still clung to the mountain. When the tide began to lower, we swam into another room and found a group of people that we had to save. Then I woke up.

With these kinds of dreams, I feel like I wake up exhausted rather than rested. No Benadryl tonight.