Monday...

So I was super excited that in less than 1 week I completed one whole thing off my list!  I made my own vanilla extract, it's super easy!  Just slice your vanilla beans in half, leaving a half inch unsliced on each end, and then add 1/3 cup of vodka per bean.  Put in a bottle, shake occasionally, and in 6-8 weeks tada! vanilla extract.  The vodka is already turning brown, so I can't wait to try it sometime between Memorial Day and M & I's wedding anniversary.  Apparently once you use some, you can keep adding vodka and make some more vanilla.  I used Madgascar Vanilla Beans from Penzeys in Pittsburgh's Strip District, but did you know that there are a bunch of different types of vanilla beans?  I could make all kinds of crazy vanilla extract if this goes well...

So that was my super good news, this weekend was great, met up with some of college friends at Burgatory for lunch, and went for some delicious Thai to celebrate my birthday.  But you know how you know you've become a parent?  You say after we go to the nice Thai place for my birthday lets stop at Home Depot to buy laminate floor for the kids' room, because it would be really nice to just look at floor samples and not have a toddler get grumpy because they want to make a mess of all the not free flooring samples. And your husband goes, are you sure this is how you want to celebrate your birthday?  I assume in about 25 years C will be really good at shopping at Home Depot, but until then maybe its better to sneak out when we can.  Its not like IKEA when I can say if you're a good boy I'll buy some playfood for your kitchen or we'll get meatballs...

In other news, does anyone else feel like as a first time parent you're getting ripped off?  Buy this incredibly expensive thing your kid will love it and you'll be an awesome parent because blah blah development.  Yet somehow our parents, grandparents, etc made it through without it.  For some reason lately my newsfeed has been blowing up with pictures of learning towers.  Do you know what one is?  Neither did I until today.  Doesn't a learning tower seem really cool?  The first time I saw one, I was like where is all the stuff?  Only to learn that its a giant wooden $200 chair.  Does it keep your kid safe while you cook?  Sure, but only from falling off a chair or stool.  Did I miss a memo?  I survived on chairs somehow, C helped me cook pancakes from out step stool.  Okay he pretended to stir in the empty measuring cup while I made pancakes.  But he's 18 months old, do you really want him actually helping with food yet?  I also signed up for one of those Citrus Lane boxes (they did it a deal where your first box is only $10).  Its a neat idea you get age appropriate toys and gear.  Was I super impressed with the box?  Not really.  We got a squeezy pouch of bananas, which we already have 3 boxes of since a certain mommy though the woot deal was a really good idea.  Good thing C likes bananas...We also received organic combined shampoo & body wash,  a Melissa & Doug watercolor pad, a place mat, and a thing to hold juice boxes so your kid doesn't squeeze them and get juice everywhere.  All at a value of $25.  The juice box thing seems cool, but the rest I could care less about.

Alright maybe this post is a bit grumpy, but C was up every hour or two half complaining half just being grumpy and only wanting to sleep in our bed last night.  Despite using some time off from work this morning to catch up on sleep, I'm still tired.  Pregnant ladies don't sleep well, and apparently pregnant ladies with grumpy toddlers sleep less.

C is also going through a big attachment phase right now.  Apparently, I am not suppose to go anywhere without him.  Good thing I leave for work before he gets up.  The last two times he's been in a childcare like setting he's pretty much cried the whole time, and then I get to pick him up early.  He did okay with my sister on Saturday night but still wasn't a fan of me going without him.  Luckily for him, we were buddies all day yesterday while M painted the kids's room.  I curious to see how today went...but also really tired.