3 days

In 3 days I go to Las Vegas for what may be the most highly anticipated (and needed) girls weekend of my life. Anticipated because this has been in the planning now for 7 months and needed because, well as you know, I have a 4 year old and an 8 month old and I work from home. Mama needs to recharge her batteries.

Also because 5 years ago this month, I joined an online community of women all expecting babies in March 2004, and 60 months later, 20 out of 80 of us are converging on Sin City to drink, lay by the pool, shop and hang out IN REAL LIFE. I'm actually one of the lucky few has met a dozen or so of the women on previous occasions, but this is the first time many of us are meeting face-to-face. I mean, I can tell you the names of all these women's husbands, kids, animals, their political views, if they work and what they do and the brand of last pair of jeans they bought. And most of them I've never given a physical hug to.

It's crazy to think about the relationships that we develop online in our communities and how they can touch you in real life. I consider my mommy group, as a whole, my best friends. When I get new make-up or Zoe wont stop crying - these are the people I tell first. I'm thrilled to be meeting some of them this weekend.

Almost as excited as I am for 3 days of not having to give anyone else a snack or a juice box.

Not to turn an anxious note on this heartwarming post, but I'm also leaving Zoe for the (kinda) first time. We did a practice run a few weeks ago when I spent the night at Carin and Hillary's after their bachelorette party, both of us survived. But that was 12 hours, and I was only 30 minutes away. I'm trying not to concentrate on that right now though. She will be in GREAT hands with her Dad for the weekend.. but it's still leaving me a little on the verge of freak out side of the things.

Alas, I'm sure its nothing that a Mandarin Absolute and Red Bull wont help me to forget, right?

Using Technology to it's FULL Advantage

We took a family trip to the grocery store tonight. Apparently we drank too much wine water at dinner and thought that it would be a fun, family outing. I guess Jason just really didn't want to be left home alone with the two kids.

As soon as we get there, Lucas announces that he has to go potty. Jason takes him while I start the coupon scavenger hunt in a desperate attempt to save a few bucks ($43 tonight - not too shabby! Or as I like to call the savings, "mommy's new shoes"). About 5 minutes later as I'm figuring out which soda's to purchase in the "buy 2 get 2 free" deal (pepsi max - ginseng AND caffeine! Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Sierra Mist for my 2 point margaritas, and light lemonade. We are actually a "Coke" household, so it was a harder choice with the Pepsi products), I get an IM on my blackberry. It's from Jason.

"Dude, this kid takes the biggest shits.."

"Here, let me take a picture and send it to you..."

I immediately replied back:

"NO! Don't! Please, don't teach him that! He'll be wanting us to take pics of all his poops now!"

See, it was nothing that my dear husband was going to take a picture of SHIT and MMS it to me, I just didn't want him to do it in front of the impressionable 4 year old.

When one should really shut up

The other night, before seeing the estrogen explosion that is the SATC movie, my friend Maria (who is 8 mos pregnant) and I went into this little OVERPRICED boutique and encountered this woman who really needed to learn how to just keep her mouth SHUT.
We were talking about dresses - one for me for my dear friends Carin and Hilary's wedding (thank you CA State Supreme Court!), and one for Maria, for a wedding she has to go to 3 weeks postpartum. This shop girl over heard us talking dresses and looked at us and said "Oh, are you two sisters?"  While not an insult in anyway, the only thing we really have in common is our hair color.. we look at her and asked,  "Oh, no. Why? Do we look alike?" She then looks us up and down and asks "Oh, are you are both pregnant?" and I look at her and kinda half laugh, and reply "No, I'm just recovering from pregnancy.. haha" (muttering "bitch" under my breath and cursing her for making me regret my decision to eat movie popcorn for dinner).

Then she looks at Maria and goes "Wow, are you having twins? You are so big!" Which, if you have never been pregnant, let me tell you RIGHT NOW - this is something YOU NEVER SAY to a pregnant woman. EVER.

Maria's like, "HAHA, No, just one.."

At this point we are trying to walk away from the saleswomanofinsults, and she calls after Maria.. "Well, I bet its a boy - you are carrying so high!" Glaring now, Maria is like "Actually, its a girl..."

Of course, neither of us bought a thing. And we both decided, over movie popcorn WITH butter, that we would have really been insulted had she not obviously been such an idiot.