Lost my phone rant

Am I the only person left on the planet that doesn't want a smartphone? Okay, I get they are nifty and handy to have at times, but frankly LCD already has one and I already have two computers and am pretty much stuck at home a lot of the time (hello naptime) so we certainly don't need to be paying for one more monthly data plan.

Anyway, I lost my phone, which was a pretty good phone and had the added bonus of taking decent pictures. Plus you could not only open and close it, but totally swivel the top part and turn it around to make into an insta-camera. Not a great camera or anything but good for on-the-go moments where I wasn't ready with a real camera. It's what they used to call a "feature phone," which apparently doesn't exist anymore. Also it was virtually indestructible without looking ridiculous. And, finally, it was free.

So I lost it last week (on my dang birthday by the way) and at first I wasn't too worried because it's been a couple years so I was due an upgrade and I figured they probably have something even niftier now.

They don't.

Everything they have now has a less-impressive camera, is clunkier-looking, and is NOT free. Oh unless I want a smartphone, which they are giving away. For your firstborn. She can be a pain, but mostly I like her, so no.

I know, I may as well get some dentures, because I am living in a previous decade.

(Oh, my brother told me about Virgin Mobile plans for the smartphone-averse. Would have been a great idea if I hadn't recently locked myself in my contract for another year for some bonus minutes. Dang Verizon!)

80's theme song for #2

For some reason I have started calling the baby "Mister Mister" a lot. It's not clever but it does make me dredge up this song from the 80's into my brain, and if you listen you will find that that can not be a bad thing:






I also learned that this group sings "Take These Broken Wings" which is also pretty good, but doesn't have the stadium rock uumph that you really need for rocking out with your baby.

Colorado, we love you a little

You probably know that I went to graduate school in Colorado and am definitely a fan. However, LCD says he is neutral toward Colorado. He said something like "Take away the mountains and there's not much there." To which I said something like "No duh. But why would you take away the mountains?" Mostly I think he doesn't like dogs that much or dog-loving culture. There is a lot of love for dogs in that state. And we went to a lame area of Denver to go somewhere obnoxious and kid-friendly so he figured the whole place must be lame. Overgeneralize much?

That said, he quite liked our vacation there. Whatever, I don't have to understand everything about him. Here's some pictures:

Hiking with the wee one

A got some good Grandpa time

"5-4-3-2-1 . . . Gondola!" was our family chant each time we left a gondola station.

We went on an old-timey train.

No, we don't have triplets. LCD just likes to mess with photos and make them eerie/fun.

The cabin was pretty superb.

After tantruming for a while A walked a LOT of this hike to a glacier. It was pretty rocky and tough.

This guy was there, too.

The eldest cousin found the geocache near our cabin.

This machine is somehow involved with mining.

So we hiked, we toured, we rode things, we ate, we hot-tubbed, we played a couple games, we took naps, we tantrumed, and we swam. It was a great trip and we voted to keep having these little family reunions every year. Oh, A slept in a room with bunkbeds for all her cousins. It. Was. Insane. Hmm, I think I might add some more pics later. Uncle Dk should have a photo of the whole group that I can steal.

Life is the coolest

I felt awesome today. Why?

Positive Mental Attitude.

Hormones normalizing, maybe?

Baby's in his fourth month!

Our power was back on after two days of wilting like the privileged modern first-worlder I am. In the words of my oldest, it was "soooo bootiful." Who knew I had such a thing for electricity? I do. Oh yes, I swoon for you. Just being able to open the dang blinds instead of keeping everything shut to maintain the cave of slightly-less-unbearableness is so awesome.

I finally told off super-annoying-won't-give-up used car salesperson when she called this morning "to see how our search is going." I was not particularly cheeky or particularly flustered. I think I said, "You know what? Every time I talk to you, you are very antagonistic toward me. I am not enjoying this experience and I don't plan on continuing our relationship. Also, my baby is crying. Good luck and good-bye." For some reason this made me feel very pleasant. Fist pump!

I sang to the baby all day. Every time I did he smiled like the oldest smiles when you say the word "cake."

Anyway, I have to take a pic of the little one in his bumbo chair while the two-year-old plays with him. Weird how it makes so much difference, but I think she really SEES him in that thing. After a sweet beginning, there has been a LOT of jealousy in the last few months. I think she is finally starting to come around and see him less as a mom-monopolizer and more as a potential friend and ally. The coolest, I tell you.