June

has begun- but the typical blistering heat that marks the beginning of summer here in the san fernando valley has yet to show.

I am feeling good today- strong, healthy, rested. both kids are sleeping- one in a new to her room full size comfy bed, the other temporarily in his crib until he wakes and comes into our bed. In the quiet of the 9 to 10 pm hour, I did some production work for the nashville star site, and am snarfing down amazing chocolate chip cookies that rachel made with sophie today. The chocolate chippers are really me weakness. Yes, pizza is super yum when I am really hungry. Yes, Old McDonalds medium fries have got me good recently but the c chippers are the true bring me to my knees food item.

Sophie. Happy generally but God so whiny sometimes. Everything is an argument- she wants it all her way, and I am definitely picking battles. Tonight in the tub, she wouldn't give me her filthy little hands and feet to scrub and I said, "Hey. I am the parent, the grown up, the adult. I am the one in charge and you are in the tub to get clean. Now give me those hands." It kind've worked- she gazed at me with those chocolate saucer eyes listening intently, processing. She is such a physical child and not always in a good way. She tries to climb on me and I tell her, I am not a jungle gym- I am a person and you are not allowed to hurt me. This last weekend at her grammy's she truly physically hurt my mom and enough is enough. We will be having a big talk about how she treats gram and mom and I have to get on the same page about what is okay and what is not. It is like she is just pushing limits and waiting for the boundaries to get put up. Until then, all is fair game. She must have had 4 timeouts today for getting physical with Alex. There is just a zero tolerance policy for that- she is going to learn quickly that he is not to be hurt.

Took her to see her first play last weekend- The Three Little Pigs at the Bubble Gum Playhouse in Sherman Oaks. She fell in love with Polly pig, because "she cried." Hysterical. She went on and on about this play for 2 days and so I bought us another round of tickets for this Saturday as this is the last showing before they start doing Rapunzel for two months. I sent an email and found out I can bring my camera- I will sneak a movie of the Polly crying scene for sure.

My dad stopped by for a visit last night-bearing stuffies- Daisy the dog and Tony the Tiger. It was his first time in six months which is twice as long as usual. He normally pops by once per quarter on his way up to Carpinteria on business. Good to see him-my dad consistently has really good energy. He is such a level and humorous person too. I think he enjoyed seeing the kids. It is funny to watch people who are not around kids much- you see the quick impatience for the whiny-ness and misbehavior. It is an acquired thing-being tolerant of the three year old environment.

Alex still has an ear infection - his 10 day antibiotic did not clear it (Cefdinir) so when I brought him for a recheck they gave me a scrip for zithromax. Christ, I just wish it would go away. I have stopped side nursing so that milk is not draining down to the side at night, and I am propping him up on a pillow a bit to get his head higher than his hips. Maybe with those changes his body can flush it out. If not, I will get the new antibiotic by the weekend I think. We are heading out to Denver on Thursday and don't want him to still have this thing. He is truly all over the place - getting into cabinets now, starting to gum some cheerios and small pieces of small pasta. He is getting the hang of his sippy cup I use to give him water. Thankfully he is still nursing (my right side only as the other guy stopped working a couple of months ago. I am way lopsided to say the least.) He is getting banged up too- bumps here and there, little scrapes as he is making his way. Such a musical little guy - loves the little shaker instruments and drum. Very rhythmic.

Excited to see my brother and the kids, Gabe, Quin and Camille. It will be their first time meeting Alex. will take tons of photos.

geoff and I saw Swervedriver this past Saturday in Hollywood- the last time we saw them was in '94. jeez. Good to get out and get a little loose, some cocktails. We were out til 1:30- hm. almost like the old days. one big difference - geoff slept on the guest bed as I told him Alex did not need to be sandwiched between two drunk people in our bed. Being next to just one was plenty...