Saturday.
September 6th, 2008 @ 6:56 pm | Comments
Filed Under: life, motherhood
We went car shopping today- to get me one of these. We have test-driven everything under the sun (or at least that’s what it feels like) starting back in April. And this? Is definitely The Car For Us. I’ve had a Honda Civic since 2001 and I love it. I’m not a big Brand Loyalty Sucker or anything, so we definitely explored our options. In the end, it came down to the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V. The Rav4 is much more attractive body-wise, in my opinion, but the CR-V not only has a bunch more nifty little features (the hard-surface shelf in the back that gives extra storage space over top of a stroller? SIGN ME UP, BABY.) but it’s also a few thousand cheaper. SOLD.
We had a great experience at the dealer too, which left Dan feeling like we were forgetting to do something… like beat down a salesperson (or in our case, a saleswoman) Everything was very straightforward, they offered us nearly the full amount we were hoping for as a trade on Dan’s Ford Mustang, and we felt no pressure to sign anything today. So we’re taking a few days and sitting on it… but I’m pretty sure by next week, I’ll be driving my brand spankin’ new (2008) Honda CR-V. Tango Red. With Leather Seats. And a Moon Roof. AND A CD PLAYER. (You’ll have to excuse my excitement. I have lived 7 years without a CD player in my car, and while I realize that CDs are SO 1999, I feel like I’m finally one of the Cool Kids. Please don’t burst my bubble and tell me I’m not. The car also has an IPod Jack! Now I just need an IPod. heh.)
My mom was watching Maggie for us while we did our wheeling-and-dealing, so we took the opportunity to do some other necessary errands while we were child-less. Like carpet shopping. The carpet guy is coming to measure on Friday so hopefully in a few weeks, we can start the proceedings with moving The Office/Spare Bedroom to The Basement and moving TOYLAND from my living room into the new Playroom (formerly The Office/Spare Bedroom). I am looking forward to getting my living room back… at least a little bit. Plus, I cannot wait to put these up on the wall as decoration!
We also had a nice, leisurely lunch that was missing something: a screaming toddler. Last night we went out for a family dinner and for the first time, we almost had to leave because Maggie was having A Fit. Her mac-and-cheese only kept her occupied for so long, and by the time we got our food, she was totally ready to get out of her chair and play. We distracted her with anything we could think of- a straw, some broccoli (thrown on the floor), and a lemon (this one actually worked for a while, and MAN I wish I’d had my camera with me. The faces were just classic.) But lunch today was SO MUCH NICER. Although very uneventful.
After lunch we headed to ToysRUs to add to the TOYLAND in my living room. Well, actually, more accurately, to replace some of the toys in TOYLAND. Half of the crap she plays with lately is baby stuff- and I think she’s bored. And since Christmas is still months away, we knew we couldn’t wait until then. So we picked out a few simple things we knew she’d like: a bucket of blocks (BIG hit this afternoon!), a pink Barbie purse (she carries it towards the door and says ‘Buh-bye!’), a set of dishes and utensils (this one we haven’t gotten out yet, saving it for later when she’s bored with the other new stuff), a little work bench thing (also saving for later) and a MatchBox car that goes on its own when you pull it back/wind it up. She loooved one like this on vacation (there were boys there with Boy-Type Toys) so we knew she’d love it, and we were right. We have the perfect hallway for it too. It was funny wandering the boy aisles of ToysRUs with a pink Barbie purse in our cart.
Dan of course kept saying ‘So let me get this straight: She keeps us awake all night and is miserable all week, and we come to buy her TOYS???‘ I assured him that a) She has no idea she’s being spoiled yet, a few more months and THEN we need to worry and b) One of the reasons I think she’s been so cranky lately is that she’s bored. She needs more to stimulate her. Mommy’s dish towels and old Tupperware can only entertain for so long.
The only non-toy we bought her was an Elmo Potty Chair. I KNOW. She’s not quite 18 months yet (end of the month!) but seriously, I think she might be ready to at least be introduced to the concept. A few times in the last week or so, she has said ‘Poop!’ about 5-10 minutes before I was like ‘oh my, you POOPED!’ So I really think she’s already starting to notice the feeling. I really didn’t think we’d be doing this for a while, and I don’t have ANY hopes that she’ll be fully trained anytime soon, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to get a chair and keep it in the bathroom where she can get used to it and see it regularly. Plus, it’s ELMO. She loves Elmo.
We finally got home around 2:30 and I crashed. I’ve been fighting a sore throat for a few days, and I think all the running around we did this morning wiped me out. I spent a few hours on the couch while Dan played with Maggie and her new toys (who liked the blocks more? Maggie or Daddy? hm…) and for a while this afternoon, my throat was ON FIRE and my head ACHED SO BAD. But it seems to have gotten a little better in the last hour or so. I hate germs.
Now all I want to do is lay around in my pjs all night. Aaaah, Saturday nights. How you’ve changed since a few years ago…
More posts like this:
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- videos and snot and teeth November 27, 2007
- greetings from sleeplessville. May 19, 2008
- finding her voice July 10, 2007
- Sunday. November 2, 2008
September 6th, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
Glad it went so smoothly with the new car… I love the CR-V. And in RED? With LEATHER seats and a moon roof? I’m living vicariously through you now.
We bought Oliver a potty chair 6+ months ago and while he seems to know exactly when he has to pee or poop, he does NOT want to interrupt his play time to go in the bathroom. *sigh* We’re going to start actually training him later this fall, when the weather gets cold and we’re indoors more anyway. I’m reeeeally hoping he’ll be at least DAYTIME potty trained by the time baby #2 arrives (he’ll be 2 yrs 9 mo by then). But everyone says girls catch on much earlier and more quickly than boys, so you never know, Maggie may surprise you! Wouldn’t that be nice? (A bit heartbreaking, of course, since it means she’s growing up… but still nice!)
I hope you feel better!!
September 6th, 2008 @ 8:35 pm
Also, eeee! I’m so excited you’re using the Nerdy ABC cards in the playroom!! :) :) :)
Melissas last blog post: budget zen: FAIL
September 6th, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
@Melissa: Yeah I am SO EXCITED about my new car! I drove one again today, just to ‘make sure’ and it’s really a great car. We really loved the Pilot too, but a) too much car for us right now (also WAY too much $$$$!) and b) crappy crappy gas mileage. The CR-V is a great smaller version, plus since it’s like 10K less (!!!) we can spring for the fun extras! I’ve never had a ‘fancy’ car- like I said, not even a CD player in my Civic, I was way too ‘practical’ for that when I bought it after I graduated- and now I’m all ‘pfft! CD PLAYER! MOON ROOF! GIMME!’ Such a dork, I am. And our procrastination paid off- they’re having a financing deal on the CR-V right now, which they NEVER have. Hurray for putting stuff off for 3 months!
I have no idea what to expect as far as potty training goes. I’m not ready to devote much time to it yet, and I think that’s okay- she’s not quite 18 mos after all! But just the little signs lately that she’s even RECOGNIZING pooping is kind of exciting! I’ve heard that can be a big thing with kids- not wanting to interrupt their playing- so Oliver sounds normal as far as that goes :) That’s a relief, huh? hehe And yes, like you said- a little sad :( I’m actually kind of anxious about not having diapers anymore… like, I’m gonna have to REMEMBER to ASK her if she has to go pee? WHAT??! I can’t even remember to go pee myself half the time. heh. Should be interesting :)
September 6th, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
Congrats on the new car, it’s cute!
Potty training started at 2 for us with both girls and ended at 4, with them both totally trained. The youngest was easier as she watched her sister and wanted to imitate her. :)
September 6th, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
I do agree with Melissa, girls are usually much easier than boys to potty train. It took Chuckie much longer than Jada to be fully potty trained.
After the toxic diaper I changed today, I am looking forward to potty training.. ;)
I saw a CR-V today in the tea green color and thought of you! I would love a moonroof….Chuck has one in his truck and I love it!
September 7th, 2008 @ 2:07 am
I got so excited when I read your entry. I just got the CRV in May and I am in love love love love love with it. I had a 1997 CRV for 5 years and when I got the 2008 - I feel like I’m in a luxury vehicle!! I got the dark blue EX model and the moonroof and steering wheel controls are the BEST. I’m so glad I sprung for them. I get so many compliments from strangers. They ask me what car it is and are shocked when I say it’s a Honda. YAY - can you tell I’m excited for you? I am….yay!
September 7th, 2008 @ 2:09 am
http://flickr.com/photos/lesliejeanne/2519219177/
:)
September 7th, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
@Leslie: Cool! It seems like a really great car, I can’t wait to get mine later this week (hopefully!)
September 8th, 2008 @ 10:45 am
We have the same problem with the toys! Christmas and Jackson’s Birthday are less than 2 months apart so he gets bombarded with toys and then bored with them way before Christmas comes around again. I’ve tried saving a couple to open at later dates, but that only works for so long - now he knows what’s missing from his pile if I try to do that!!! Like a steel trap, I tell you! No worries though - at 3-1/2 years old, he still doesn’t know that he gets some “free” (not for birthday or Christmas) toys now and then. You’ll be good for awhile! Plus they are learning so fast and so much, they need more stimulation and discovery.
September 8th, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
@Athena: Good to know that they don’t realize they’re being ’spoiled’ for a while! I told Dan, it’s not like we went out and bought her a pony or something- just a few little things to keep her occupied so Mommy doesn’t go insane. So really, they’re for me :)
September 11th, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
Yay for the new car. Also, I got Allie a potty around the same time. She just seemed interested in training, and it worked out. She loved it and soon after we were done with diapers.
September 11th, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
@Shamelessly Sassy: Well that is GREAT to hear :) I haven’t put forth any effort at all yet with the potty chair, that’s probably going to be the hardest part, heh- Mommy remembering to try it now and then! hehe