So my attempt to start a separate site ummamama isn't working out too well... maybe because I don't blog enough.  Whatever.  Maybe I'll use just susiesuperstar.  Here's my recent blog:

cellphones

Colin loves cell phones (as all babies do).  He'll put the phone up to his ear and pretend like he's on it.  It's adorable... sometimes.  He thinks everything is a phone... or he just likes it when we say "Yobosehyo" when he does it.  Maybe he likes the praise/attention.  Whatever.  My favorite is when he sticks the banana in his ear.  He looks like his dad. 

I gave him my old phone to play with.  He loved it for the first day.  The novelty has since worn off and he knows that that phone is not in commission... I don't get it though.  When he plays with my phone, I turn my keyguard on and volume off so the buttons don't even beep.  So why does he insist on mine?  Like with the remotes... we gave him two remotes that we no longer use but he wants the ones he can't have. 

Sometimes he wants demands my phone while I'm using.  This sucks because he'll fervently push the buttons while I'm on the phone, and more often than not, he'll hang up on the person I'm trying to talk to.  Lately when I put Colin on the pot to poo, he needs something to do, whether it's the NY Times crossword or just reading the latest bestseller, but today he wanted my phone.  I stupidly obliged.  I should have known better but I was half asleep for Pete's sake (who's Pete?).  As Colin is pushing buttons, calling all sorts of people I don't want to talk to (I forgot to turn activate the keyguard), in one deft move he plunges his hand holding the                                                                 v phone straight down.  I yelped and grabbed his hand but when it emerged from between his pudgy little legs, to my dismay, there was no phone.  It lay there in a pool of fresh, yellow pee... buttons (and ear/mouth piece) down.  I ran to the bathroom to wash the phone in the sink.  I knew I'd probably do more damage than good, but how can you not wash a pee-soaked phone?!

So now, if you call me I won't be available to answer because my phone is in the ICU (on my bed) drying off. 

bodyparts

Colin has learned a few body parts.  Ear, head, nose, eyes, feet, belly button, belly, and of course... penis.  Colin's ped cracked me up because she was like, "Did he find his penis yet?"  I laughed and said, "Yes" to which she replied, "Once he finds his penis, he's never letting go."  hahaha


shithappens

I have to say, Colin and I are awesome.  In the last two weeks, Colin's only shat in his diaper 3 times.  Once when he was taking a nap on my watch.  There's nothing I can do about that.  He woke up and I put him on the potty and noticed he smeared poop all down the back of the potty.  Then he pooped when some people were sitting for me.  Then he pooped in his diaper a couple days ago when the ajumma was taking care of him.  Today was rough because he was a bit constipated but about an hour ago he finally pooped.. in the potty.  Now I just have to figure out how to train him so we can eliminate the diapers.  Kind of hard when he can barely talk.  He says eunnnna but not necessarily when he has to poop.  What to do what to do?!

My ajumma is good because she loves Colin and she always does what makes him happy.... which is not always what is good for him.  She cares more about making sure he doesn't cry than making sure things get done... the way I want things.  I admit I'm probably overbearing and overly/needlessly demanding at times (what mother isn't?), but I do believe that I am pretty flexible too... and so when she doesn't follow simple instructions it bothers me.  Like when he poops through his clothes... for pete's sake, spray the stain remover on it... don't just stick it in the washing machine and not tell me so it sits there and cakes for a week!  And when I say he needs 2 naps for a total of 3-4 hours a day or else he's cranky and doesn't sleep well at night... then please... oblige.  Should I fire her because she doesn't fully please me?  The thing is she is good with him... and he likes her.. she plays with him and makes him laugh.  What if the next nanny doesn't even play with Colin... what if she just watches tv, or reads the bible, or talks on the phone? 

Should I just suck it up and deal?

Colin's bag of tricks:
dances when he hears the Old Navy commercial
finger walks
waves hello / byebye
clicks his tongue
does manseh / gonji gonji / jam jam / jjak jjak kkeung
gives high fives / ppoppos
feeds himself finger foods
pees when I go "shhhhhh" (either in the sink or now in his potty)
says "mamma" during meal times
puts anything within reach to his ear (most often it's his dinner) if you say "yobosehyo"
jabs his finger in my belly button when I say "bekob"
jabs at the light switch when I say "bul kyu/ bul kkuh"



Feeding Colin solids is sort of fun, sort of a headache.  I have to admit it was much easier to just pop out a boob... less cleaning, less mess, less things to pack.  I'm sad I stopped nursing him.  I really wanted to nurse til he turned one.  Oh well.  I guess technically I could have started again when I came back from China because I was still producing but my body was toxic.  haha




Doesn't his face look great?  I mean, I know he's a good looking boy, but doesn't his skin look great?  He had /still has sebhorric dermatitis since birth... back of his head, in his ears, in the folds of his arms, and ankles.  His eczema became a problem from early on but really got out of control when he was about 3 or 4 months old. 

The picture of Colin in the car is when we weren't using any steroids, just TONS of lotions and obviously that wasn't the right treatment plan for him.  I think we've dropped over $300 in lotions just in the past 6 months.  Expensive kid.  Aquaphor is the best between steroid treatments, but since it's so greasy we use Cetaphyl cream on his body instead.  If your child has bad eczema, Cetaphyl lotion isn't recommended because it has a higher content of alcohol than the cream... hence it dries out the skin faster. He's currently on Elicon which is a level 6 steroid.  We have been reducing the frequency of use and even tried to replace it with fluticasone - stage 5 - but as soon as I switch his skin starts to act up again... and apparently I have to go back to the stronger stuff to nip it in the bud or else it'll keep getting worse again.  we'll see what the dermatologist has to say next week.

And yes, if you have allergies and/or eczema, the likelihood of your offspring having it is significantly greater than if you don't have these problems.  I had both as a kid, but not when I was a baby.  Poor unfortunate Colin.




I can't wait til I'm done with school.  Seven more classes to go.  It's going to be the longest 6 weeks of my life.  I've got so many write-ups and papers and presentations, oh my!  I am going to enjoy this summer with Colin.  My goals - get caught up and finish whatever I have been meaning to do but haven't been able to because of school, make the most of my time with the little guy, and work out!



I love my new xylophone.  I mean, Colin loves his new xylophone.  Toys are such a waste of money.  Sure kids like playing with them but the novelty wears off really fast.  Kid toys are for adults to try to distract their children from wrecking their adult toys.  Colin's interests lie in slobering on my cell phone, pounding on the keyboard of my laptop, banging the remote control on the dining table, and incesantly pushing buttons on any electronic device, ie. air purifier, tv, printer, stove, etc. 




Colin could probably win "cutest girl" contest.  lol. 





Yesterday, for the first time ever, Colin actually gave me some of his food.  He had cheese in his hand.  When I put my hand out and said "joosehyo' he put it in my hand!  Then he looked at me, smiled, and took it back with the other hand.  Indian giver. 

You know, I didn't want to be an obsessive parent and only talk about my child... but honestly not much goes on in my life other than school and Colin so I don't have much to write about!  But in all honesty, this stuff is probably more interesting than anything else I have to say.  So without further ado, here are some recent video clips...


Feb 26, 2008 - First time Colin crawled.  I actually caught it on camera!  yay!
it's amazing how it just clicks one day...not the camera, the milestones. 
 
Constipated  Part Un

Constipated Part Deux.  Is it bad that it cracks me up when he cries like that?

What better way to start off the new year than with rice cereal!  Starting life with a silver spoon in his mouth.  He doesn't care.



Our cable hasn't worked properly since Monday.  We are unable to use any of the DVR features of the cable box.  I'm very VERY upset because none of my shows are recording!  Not to mention the fact that Dr Evil and I have to compromise in what we watch since we can't record!  Oh the horror!  [what did we do before dvr and how on earth did we hold out so long before getting it?].  Anyways, there is a message that pops up telling me to call the number on the screen if the problem persists.  Well the problem has persisted...

I called.  an automated service answered my call.  All I wanted was to speak to a service rep.  Irking.  I said "1" to continue in english.  Then "4" to speak to someone regarding the cable TV.  Then 3.  Then 4.  Then 2.  Then 2 again.  After about 15 minutes of "trying to help them better assist me" Colin started chiming in.  You see, I was holding him while on the phone so when I said 4 or 2 he would look at me and reply "ooohwowu" or "abubuduh" or "pshtebeb".  As I spouted out more numbers he got all riled up and babbled louder.  The next thing you know the automated lady was telling me she couldn't understand my entry and that we'd continue with the previous question because it was replying to Colin's sounds and not my answers!  This happened about 5 times before I got mad and gave up.  My cable still isn't working properly.  




Colin got sick last week.  He's been sniffly and snotty and for a while he was spiking fevers.  He got me sick too... right before I had a case due, a midterm, and 2 papers.  No more fever for either of us but still sniffly and snotty.  He's such a baby these days.  I wish he'd act his age... geez!  Since he wasn't feeling well we spoiled the hell out of him.  We let him co-sleep... nursed him on-demand, rocked him to sleep.  Can't wait to Ferberize him... again.  All the screaming and crying was so fun the first time around.



When I was pregnant, those 7 months went by soooo sluggishly.  The last 7 months with Colin have been a whirlwind!  In the last month he's cut 4 teeth and currently working on his 5th!  He's sitting on his own.  He's balancing on all fours [getting ready to really crawl and tear up the apartment!].  He's eating solids (rice cereal, carrots, sweet potatoes, nutterbut squash, peas, avocados).  Next bananas

Speaking of solids... I love my food pureed.  I've been making Colin's baby food.  It's easier than I thought it would be.  I was stressed at first as to whether or not I'd be able to do it... or do it well for that matter.  Me no cook so good.  Turns out I'm Top Chef when it comes to baby food!  The other night I made dinner too spicy and felt I shouldn't eat it cuz it might irritate Colin [since I'm still nursing].  We didn't have anything else to eat so I unfroze Colin's carrots, sweet potatoes, and nutterbut squash.  Yum!  A couple years ago, I went to Aquavit and thought Samuelsson was a damn fool for pureeing my broccoli.  Now I think, he was a culinary genius! 



I am waaaaay fatter than when I was pregnant.  When I was prego, my "fat" was actually the little piggy that had taken residence inside of me.  Right now... there's no one... just me... 3 cupcakes, a piece of cake, a box of chocolates, and a slice of bacon cheese pizza.  I have a disease.  I think I eat as many desserts in a single day as I used to smoke cigarettes during a day.  I'm about two twinkies away from dentures and a trip to Lane Bryant.  I look like I'm 4 months pregnant.  Maybe worse.  How embarrasking.  I need to start working out and eating better.  I used to care about what I ate and how I took care of myself... Now I let myself use the fact that I had a baby and that I'm still nursing as excuses to eat 4 donuts and a piece of cake for breakfast.  My sweet tooth is ferocious!  I want to be skinny again.  Ok my goal for my birthday is to lose 2 lbs.  I will only eat one thing sweet a day and getting some exercise at least 3 times a week. 






Ok I think I have caught you up about our lives.  Thank you, you've been a beautiful audience.  And now for your viewing pleasure....

Nobody beats daddy!