I can't wait until football finishes. This season started in August after Sophia's birth, and it ends next month, thank the good Greek gods above. Hubs was involved in fantasy football with his buddies, who really go all out and award the winner with a trophy, embossed with the winner's name. The loser wins a golden vent (an actual vent) so they can vent about all the should haves and would haves. Hubs won in fantasy football this year! Now, if only he would admit that I chose like 45% of his players! Ha! But honestly, I'm okay with Sunday football...but Monday night football and Thursday night football as well?! How much football can I really handle in our small 700 square foot condo?
This week was a busy one. I made a concerted effort to go out and about with Sophia each day. On Monday, we went to the Promenade. On Tuesday, we went to the Promenade. On Wednesday, we went to the Promenade. On Thursday, yes, you guessed it, we went to the Promenade. And by Friday, I was so sick of the Promenade, we stayed home. Ha. Okay, not entirely true.
On Mondays, I meet up with my mommy friend and her daughter, who was born just two weeks after Sophia. We grab a muffin and a mango juice from RichTree and then we attend Mommies for Movies at Rainbow Cinemas. We can bring our babes and watch a film there. We park our strollers in the front near the screen. We can change diapers at the back of the theatre. There are other mommies there with young infants. So, it's a crying fest. A loud crying fest at times. But Sophia is lovely, and I just breastfeed her the entire time, and she falls asleep on my nip, so I can watch the film.
This week's feature: "American Hustle." Let me tell you, I feel I was hustled royally out of my $9.50. I think this movie was nominated for some ridiculous amount of Golden Globes. Ummm...perhaps I missed something, but the only thing mildly entertaining about this film was Amy Adams', no...Isla Fisher's, no...Amy Adam's (I think) risque wardrobe and her ravishing wavy red hair. We walked out mid film. I couldn't take anymore. Is this supposed to be a comedy? I couldn't figure out whether the chick was Amy or Isla. Can anyone else really tell these two leading women apart? Or maybe I walked out because I just wished I was watching Leonardo play the Wolf. Anyways, wait for this one on Netflix folks. So, mommy friend and I left with our sleeping babes, got a salad at RichTree and thereafter, decided to stroll around the mall.
Umm....whoever said window shopping is fun, must never have had been window shopping during maternity leave, on maternity leave benefits. Thank heavens I qualify for maternity leave benefits from the Government, I don't know what I'd do....but goodness, it just doesn't even make sense to go into a retail store to peruse the latest season's gear, as it's just a temptation. Is this making sense? The chardonnay is heavy.
Tuesday was fun. I took Sophia to "Songs and Stories" at the Thornhill Library. We'll be there each Tuesday afternoon now, singing up a jam. Anything from "Five Green and Speckled Frogs" to "Where is Thumbkin?" My life has turned into song. Diapers. Dimples. And song.
Wednesday was lovely. We attended a trial "Play and Learn" class at Gymboree. Then, strolled around the mall. Thursday we attended a trial "Music" class at Gymboree, and then, you guessed it, strolled around the mall. Where is the consistently warm weather? Is a few mild sunny days in January too much to ask?
By Friday, I was so fed up of the mall, I wasn't sure what to do, so we just stayed home. And that's when the spiritual upheaval came about. But that's another blog entry! I'm kinda drowning my ups and downs in chardonnay tonight. Does anyone else feel that their emotions resemble this whack weather we've been experiencing? Up. Then down. Frozen like ice. Then chilled out like Pharrell. Is there any consistency these days to how you're feeling? I'm gonna bet my money on you saying no. We're in this together. This crazy upheaval called "You think the emotional rollercoaster from 2013 is over, but wait...no it isn't! It's back like a bad Freddy Krueger film." Thoughts? Anyone? I've got over 1600 readers of this blog. Who are these 1600 people?! I'd love to converse with you....ha.
Speaking of conversing....
Being a new mom kinda feels like I'm dating again! Weird, I know. As a new mom, I can't hang out with my friends, because they are...working! So, I find myself strolling the mall, awkwardly smiling at other moms with their babes in hand. They just look at me like I'm strange. Making mommy friends is the hardest thing ever. And if you know me, really know me, I thrive on meaningful interaction. As a new mom, your priorities, and thus conversations, change. All that men-dating-career drama that seemed so important and entertaining is just trifling fluff. Like the extra garnish you don't care for on your much anticipated main dish. I don't care to hear fruitless blabber about who did what, and when it happened. I'd rather know about baby led weaning, and where I can get onesie extenders in town, and how to strip cloth diapers. And, if I'm feeling really dramatic, I'll blog my insanities! Or, I'll talk about how (insert a name here) loves to grab Sophia right out of my arms and pass her around like she's a toy; or, how (insert a name here) never asks how I am doing, it's all about how Sophia is doing. Or, I'll watch The Bachelor on Monday nights! That's the extent of my dramatic indulgence.
So, I am feeling the sting of making other meaningful mommy friendships. Ones that go past the lines of judgment. That's one thing that I've learned. We are so quick to judge! I guess anyone is. But I never imagined the mommy community would be so judgmental, of all of the choices that moms make. I see it all the time on online mommy forums. Separation, instead of a sense of community and belonging. You would think that in the vulnerable state that being a new mom brings, a safe, open, nurturing community would emerge forth. But no, moms just love judging other moms all of the time. From your dishevelled look and those dark circles underneath your eyes, to clothing your baby with a jacket inside her car seat straps, to the way you gave birth and your choice to vaccinate (or not). I'd love to see judgment eradicated this year, and a new sense of community and oneness emerge. Then, I can go around freely attempting to befriend other mommies and their babes, confidently singing that Carly Rae Jepsen tune, "I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number, so call me maybe."
