Now for something completely different...

I did say this was a mom blog, right?

All of a sudden, it got cold, just when M's shorts all started getting a bit snug. So, that means shopping, getting stuff out of drawers, and hoping you guessed right.

We hit the outlet mall, Labor Day weekend, I may be insane. It overall was worth it, but in my rush due to "oh my fuck, all of the people", I got some wrong sizes. Which means I'll be going back. Ugh. Here is what I learned this time.

Hanna Andersson still has great jammies, (organic cotton, yay!), but their shirts seem to run wide for their length. With an abnormally tall kid, I think we'll get our shirts elsewhere. M seems to run tall in the body more than anything. We're getting 2T shirts and 3T sweatshirts. Her jeans are still 18-24 month, but jersey and khakis that can be rolled are 2T.

Speaking of the jeans, um, her thighs are took big for Gap/Old Navy boot cut, and they make like one pair of "relaxed" fit jeans between the two. So, either way too long, or so restrictive, she can't climb anything... well, maybe she can wear them sometimes, when mommy's tired.

She's in the last size of Carter's onesies (so far no tag reactions, but if you want to see something, scary, see Z Recs). However, the short sleave are 1/2 to 3/4" longer than the long sleave ones (just barely long enough for the monkey arms). We also got 3T onesies from Children's Place, which are very stretch and should already fit her. Same monkey arm issue from what I can tell though.

Last year when there was still snow on the ground here, she sprouted up and when I went looking for stuff, it was all spring already. WTF? So, I'm having trouble guessing what to about it this year. I know that her walking means that promised slow down of her growth may actually come. If it doesn't, someone has a lot of explaining to do. So I think when the fall stuff goes on sale, I'll buy ahead on shirts, since that seems to be what we outgrow first.

Ok, I need some assvice

In about a week or so, the fam is packing up, sitting on a train for 8 hours, then spending around three days or so in Chicago.

That would be right, we're traveling with a toddler.

We used to travel a bunch, and we've kind of been going nuts not being able to travel. So we put our stimulus check to good use and planned a little getaway to the windy city.

Thing is, we've never done this before. Last trip I did with M of any length was when she still slept the entire time. She's like, walking, and talking now, and not following directions very well.

We had enough forethought to get a roomette, basically a little two seater room that has two fold down bed things (one made of the seats) so that we could nap/contain as needed. Not sure if it will work however. It only an itty bitty room.

So, for the assvice. Anyone done a train trip with a toddler? Any other travel tips? Anything special you think I should remember? Forget? Help?

Is it over yet?

While I found a closer bus stop, the buses have been seriously backed up because of the buses of conventioneers (who came up with that? Makes them sound like pirates, then again, maybe appropriate) are clogging things up. No protest issues on my side of the river, just too many people burning gas.

Speaking of the people, this isn't aimed at the republicans, just um, rich convention goers in general. Even the Mary Kay ladies do stuff like this.

Seriously dude, I'm waiting for the bus, holding my toddler, to keep her from running into traffic. I'm not what you think I am, and even if I was, you need to learn how to find a look that at least fakes respect. I'm taking public transportation because I believe global warming, in doing my part for the environment, and because I'm cheap. I want to have money to send my kid to college. I'm not loitering, again, just trying to keep the kid safe. While you're at it, you, and the rest of the people at this bus stop, should consider stopping smoking, or at least holding your breath for half a block. If another one of you walks by and blows cigar smoke in my general direction, I'm go all crazy lady on you. Just ask the last old dude who triggered the momma bear in me, it isn't pretty.

So, tomorrow things should be closer to normal, still have to get all of those people out of town. I'll be driving so I can drop some stuff at work, and because the thought of having to corral an energetic toddler in heavy traffic again makes me break out in a cold sweat.

Back, sort of.

I'm back, and slowly getting over having my life disrupted. One more day, just one more day. The bus stop situation turned out to not be nearly as bad, but still not good. I'm annoyed, but I'll live. If you want a laugh though, the Lifetime fitness in the Target Center closed at 4 because they were afraid the Rage Against The Machine concert goers were going to riot. Um, that is pretty close to daycare, looked pretty mellow to me, just scalpers.

I'm not sleeping much, a combination of a cold, maybe some allergies, and ongoing worries about my tooth. I'm sure I'll get to writing about that soon enough. Just need to figure out how much of my somewhat irrational fear of people judging me based on my teeth I should put out there. There is also some work stuff going on, nothing horrible or earth shattering, just lots of thinking keeping me up. Thank goodness for benadryl.

M had a good holiday weekend, she saw her Nana and Grandpa in Red Wing, and her momma went and got plastered for a good hour or two with her girlfriends. She's getting a new word every few days or so, which is fun, funny and terrifying all at once. Especially since the new one is shirt, and well, it doesn't come out sounding quite like, shirt. She's also learned her first color, and it shocked us all that it is purple. Damn is it cute, if I wasn't so intent on keeping her face off of here, I'd upload the video.