One Dog Two Dog Red Dog Blue Dog

Those of you who know me ( I love when I act like there are actually people who DON'T know me reading my blog), know that I am not a fan of anything 'character' or 'licensed' if you will when it comes to baby. This means no Winnie the Pooh nurseries, no Dora swim suits, no Elmo overalls and no Sponge Bob lunch box. Maybe it stems from seeing one too many healthy (uh-hum) women at Wal-mart flaunting Tinkerbell shirts a size or so too small as to show off the tasteful tweety bird tattoo peeking out from under them and man handling an unkempt toddler clad in a pair of dirty sweatpants and a seriously stained Barney T-shirt as they make their way back to a smoking 'Paw' figure who is showing off his suped up Chevy with the Yosemite Sam decals clinging to the back windshield.

Maybe that's where it stems from, maybe.

Wherever it stems from, I get anxiety when I'm presented with character themed items. I even forbade them at my baby shower. Now, I have made an exception or two. Like an authentic Disney Store or Theme Park item that's made of quality materials and is more of a souvenir than a bargain purchase. For example, a nice vintage Mickey Mouse print on a modern cut t-shirt or a sweet little generic princess gown (not to be confused with a scratchy poorly made replica of an actual disney princess gown) that makes my daughter feel like royalty. And, as my daughter gets older and has favorite shows and cartoons, I'll allow her to choose interactive toys and books based on these shows. I'm not going to deprive her because of my own hang ups.

Hang ups, which are not, after all, even the point of this post. The point of this post is a story of growth. In me. As a mother. As a person.

When Liliana was about 1 she picked up a little blue stuffed dog at a Carter's store. It became her favorite toy. She carried it everywhere. And everywhere, people would comment on the dog, saying, "Oh, you have Blue from Blue's Clues". Now, yes, this dog was blue. But, no, it was not THE Blue. And I made sure everyone knew. "Oh, this dog? No, he kind of looks like him, but we got him at the Carter's store". And everyone usually wondered why I was ruining the fun by refusing to let the dog be the Blue's Clues dog (the horror!!).

Well, a year or so went by and she moved on to other toys and had her favorites. Until about 2 weeks ago when Nana brought her a get well soon gift. A red dog. Made by Ty. Not made by the folks who market Clifford the Big Red Dog. BUT, as soon as she laid eyes on the dog, she called him Clifford. And, as soon as ANYONE lays eyes on the dog, they call him Clifford. And, while it is so very obvious that his snout is wider than Clifford's, his tail is shorter, and he's an entirely different breed, I too call him. . .Clifford. Why? Because my daughter loves Clifford and loves her Clifford stuffed dog and who am I to take that joy from her by revealing that it is a Clifford impostor?

Just don't expect me to send her to school with a Yo Gabba Gabba back pack. Its not happening.

My guest review of American Idol for onemattDOTcom

The following is a blog entry from onemattDOTcom. I joined Matt last year on several occasions to review American Idol and he's asked me back this year to do the same. I'm excited to get this thing going! Here's the review from last night's Top 12 girls.

 

Greetings all you Idol fans out there!  It’s time for this week’s Idol recap and review to begin…this year, I’m being joined by Jill Miranda, most recently of the Variety Show Blog.  Check her out when you can…she’s got some hilarious insight into life and many other things.

So last night was the first live show of the year, with the Top 12 girls performing.  Let’s get to Jill’s opening thoughts…

I never start to watch American Idol until it’s down to the top 12. However, I’m making an exception this year. I wonder how this will change my rankings. I know after watching tonight I will be amazed if some of these girls make it to the final 12. In fact, I’m not sure 12 of these girls have the talent to make it to the top 12. See? That’s why I don’t like to watch this soon. I don’t think they are yet showcasing who they actually are. They’re all trying too hard or either not hard enough. To me, it’s awkward for the most part.  And, well, it’s hard to break my attention away from my 3 year old and deny her the use of our living room TV for awkward. Yes, I DVR things. But, sadly, I don’t have enough time that is my own to leisurely view said DVR’d show. After all, I have a 3 year old, it’s hard to break my attention away from sleep for awkward just the same.

Let’s give it a go nonetheless.

Okay then Jill, thanks for that…my thoughts are a lot like Jill’s here…to be honest, I wasn’t really blown away with any of the performances from last night.  But still, I do think some of the girls have some talent.  I’m not with Simon here, I don’t think this is the girl’s year.  I can think of at least 3 or 4 guys I think could run away with this thing.  We’ll get to them tonight and tomorrow, but for now, let’s break down the performances in the order in which they performed, and let you know how we think they did!

Paige Miles

Song – “All Right Now” by Free

Jill – Simon thinks she the best of the girls. Eh, I don’t think I agree. She was good as far performances go tonight, but nothing stands out to me about her. I don’t see her making it to the top. Surry (In a short choppy British accent). Score – 5/10

Matt – I have to sort of agree here, although I was clearly a bit more liberal with the scoring that Jill was…she was good, but I didn’t absolutely love the “runs” during the song.  Cute girl though.  Score – 7.5/10

Ashley Rodriguez

Song – “Happy” by Leona Lewis

Jill – When she started out, she kind of came across as being a poor beggar about to make it big in a Come into your own dramatic musical. . .or Disney Movie. Her performance also seemed rather short to me. I think she’s good, but I don’t know if she has it in her to do something “different” like the judges recommended of her. I think the old school big voice area is her forte. Not sure she can stray from that, so she better start measuring up. Score – 5.5/10

Matt – Whoa…sort of brutal there…I think Ashley has a lot of talent.  In fact, of these first two performances, I think Ashley has the way-better voice.  Her voice did seem to go out on her a bit when she tried to really crank up the volume, and it was better (IMO) when she was singing softer.  I like her though, again, another very pretty girl… Score – 8.1/10

Janell Wheeler

Song – “What About Love” by Heart

Jill – I try not judge based on past performances and rate the contestants on a week by week basis. I will say, though, that I loved when she sang the Estelle song during try outs. I don’t think she pulled off Heart, though. But, that’s a really hard thing to do. Heart pretty much rocks. Score – 5.8/10

Matt – Dude…I’m right with you here, Jill.  Nothing spectacular.  This song was WAY out of her comfort zone.  Sure, pick a song you like, I’m with you there…you can easily relate it to the audience if you have a belief in the song you’re singing, but be smart.  Ann Wilson is sort of untouchable…almost anyone that sings that on Idol won’t even come close. Score – 7.2/10

Lilly Scott

Song – “Fixing a Hole” by The Beatles

Jill – I like her. I do. She’s kind of kickass. I’d like to see her with darker hair though. I’m a little tired of the “I lived in my car and sang on the street” story. Call it cynicism. It probably is. I agree with Simon on this girl. There are lots of people on the internet doing this same thing. She has the drive to be different and stand out. She needs to go for it. Score – 7.4/10

Matt – So every time she had her name called, I kept thinking I was watching One Tree Hill and this was some sort of storyline with Nathan having a second wife or a cousin or something crazy like that.  Lilly was good and I enjoyed her rendition of this song.  I gotta admit though…never heard the song.  So I have nothing to base it on.  Score – 8.2/10

Katelyn Epperly

Song – “Oh Darling” by The Beatles

Jill – I really liked her tonight, minus a couple of hip moves and shimmies. And I like her hair. And she pulls off that lipstick. That is all. Score – 8.3/10

Matt – Quick and to the point, I like it, Jill.  I’m with you here…a decent performance, and I think she’s marketable as a pop star…nice voice, big voice…Score 8.3/10

Haeley Vaughn

Song – “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles

Jill – Oh my. Oh, oh, oh. Hayley. I wasn’t impressed. What the hell was that? You lose. Sorry, sweet girl. Score – 2.1/10

Matt – Oooh….my wife isn’t going to like that score at all.  Yeah, there were some things about her performance that could be better, and yes, she might well be going home on Thursday, but I like this girl…I think she has a quality that several of the other contestants lack…originality!  Score – 7.9/10

Lacey Brown

Song – “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

Jill – She’s a little pixie fairy. I like pixie fairies. Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Jenna Elfman, girl named Lauren I worked with at Landry’s, Liliana before her hair grew longer—all pixie fairies. I agree with Ellen, I like her and she is waaaay better than that. And it made me giggle when Simon pretty much said, “Everything about you sucks. . .but you have nice eyes”. Hehe. I’m pulling for her. If she makes it through, she needs rock it out next week. Score – 2/10 with lots of potential

Matt – Nice one…Christy made the Martina McBride comparison (in looks) last night…I was expecting more from Lacey with her performance, and based on that and that alone, I think she might be in trouble. Score – 7.1/10

Michelle Delamour

Song – “Falling” by Alicia Keys

Jill – I think she’s gorgeous! And I think she sang the song really well. I think that’s her knack and she should stick with it and give it more and more and she’ll be good to go! You can’t expect everyone to create a completely different sound and vibe. Score – 8/10

Matt – Agree on the gorgeous for sure…it is a big song, and Alicia Keys is slowing making her way into the “maybe you shouldn’t sing her stuff because there’s really very little chance you can sound remotely good while doing it” category.  Did well though… Score – 8.4/10

Didi Benami

Song – “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson

Jill – Is that Brook White? No, wait, when I close my eyes, it sounds like Meghan Joy. Please don’t be another Meghan Joy. No, I think she’s better. I don’t think she will make it to the end, though. I think she’ll make it through, but no more than a couple more weeks. Score – 4.5/10

Matt – HA!  Very nice…yeah, again, apparently Jill and Christy are of one brain when it comes to this thing…she also made the Brooke (with an “E”) White comparison.  I didn’t get Meghan Joy out of her though…I enjoyed this actually, although like with Crystal who would sing later, she’s going to struggle to get out of that “coffeehouse” mentality and into pop superstardom… Score – 7.9/10

Siobhan Magnus

Song – “Wicked Game” by Chris Issac

Jill – A Dark Horse, indeed. This song has the potential to be haunting. Not sure she was haunting. I can’t quite figure her out just yet. I was surprised that the judges liked it so much. I’m a little with Simon, on this one. Didn’t love it, liked it though. Oh, hey, she just said she sang it because it was haunting. There you go. Score – 5.8/10

Matt – How quirky is this girl?!  Very much so…she’s got a big voice, here’s my thing…she’s so quirky that I don’t think she’s got what it takes to earn the votes of America for very long.  I’m sorry, but she’s just too dang quirky!  Score – 8.2/10

Crystal Bowersox

Song – “Hand in my Pocket” by Alanis Morrisette

Jill – I like her because she said “Mama needs a bigger paycheck”. We’re kindred spirits already. And I like her because she has a harmonica and dreadlocks (that are clean looking might I add). When people sing songs by Alanis Morrisette, you almost expect them to sound like they’re at a karaoke bar. Wait, or is that just when I sing Alanis Morrisette when I’m actually at a Karaoke bar? Anyway, I’d like to see her go through because she is so anti the typical Amercian Idol, and I think she can be good. And I think she would take her baby on the tour bus with her. More artists should do that...Britney!!!! Score – 7.3/10

Matt – Well, I’m not sure about the whole “raising kids on the road” vibe here, but I like Crystal.  Again, she’s original.  My problem is America doesn’t typically vote for “original”…but I loved her performance.  Who couldn’t see her singing this song way ahead of time though?  Kind of predictable, but good nonetheless.  Score – 8.4/10

Katie Stevens

Song – “Feelin’ Good” by Michael Buble

Jill – I thought she was good. Reminds me of a young Kathryn McPhee. Her voice is almost bigger than her, though. She’s young and she needs to hone in her look, get a style, come into her own. Merge that big voice with her young innocent look and somewhere in the middle, Boom! There’s a star! Score – 6/10

Matt – Ah, the McPhee…I miss her.  I miss that yellow dress.  Katie has a HUGE voice, and I think she did well.  I hate that the judges pulled the whole “you’re too old to sing that song” crap on her.  She picked a song that would help showcase her voice, which is great, and I think the judges are just giving her some negative criticism because they know she’ll make it through.  Damn judges.  Score – 8.9/10

And now, Jill’s wrap-up…

Whew! That was kind of tough. But I’ll see you again tomorrow to do the thing with. . .The Boys (In a sexy enthusiastic I can’t wait voice).

Yep!  Until tomorrow, we shall see you then!  Oh yeah, almost forgot…what are YOUR thoughts, America?!?  Who’s going home?  Who’s staying put?

New Blog Segment: 'And then I remember, I'm not mentally ill'

Not so long ago, I was disturbed by a story I read during my daily digging into the Crime and Justice portions of CNN.com It seams a young mother struggled to gain weight during her pregnancy. Once the baby was born, the baby struggled to gain weight on her own. However, after the baby was hospitalized, she was placed with a foster family and seemed to put weight on rather quickly, despite the mom's claims that the baby previously refused to eat and spit up the little bits that she did get down her. When confronted with the information regarding the baby's weight gain, instead of becoming overjoyed with the news of a thriving child, the young mother, filled with horror, exclaimed "What? I have a fat baby?! My child is fat?!?" The mother was granted visitation 3 times a week and the foster family began to notice a change in the babiy's appearance and a strange odor in the baby's mouth after the biological mother would visit and feed the baby. Turns out, she was adding laxatives to the bottle to prevent the baby from gaining any more weight and thus enduring a life of obesity. . . or something to that effect. See the full story here.

So, fast forward about a week to me browsing children's clothes online and coming across this adorable little swimsuit.

I mean, how cute is that?? And how cute would it look on my fiesty little alligator loving, full bellied, wild haired bambino?!?!

The problem? It only goes up to a size 3T. My daughter is 3. Most 3Ts fit her fine, but I tend to buy a little big, Her budding spring wardrobe is all 4T, and with the belly, elastic in the waist is a must no matter what size! So, what were the chances of a 3T swimsuit fitting my daughter around May or June? Slim to none. . .unless . . . (mind briefly recalls the story of the mom who starved her baby). . .and then I remember, I'm not mentally ill.


Footnote: I bought the swimsuit anyway because I couldn't not. It arrived today and fits her perfectly. We will be enrolling in Swimwell classes asap and checking in to the Embassy Suites as time and money permit, solely for the purpose of justifying my swimsuit purchase.