OMG You Guys...I've Missed YOU!

Ah, life. It's been a little hectic lately. Ok, well for the past few months. I can tell you that every single day I think to myself "I've got to write on HSCOOC, I've got to blog about something FAB for all of my 16 readers." And then I get a call or someone is leaving town, or coming into town or hey, I'm gonna leave town or I'm working an event, and hey, the girl left the show, OH WAIT THE CACTUS LIGHTING IS ALMOST HERE. And in between all of that time, I get to do school work. And yell at Gordon.

But I promise to get back on track, I've got so much to say (as always).

In the meantime, will you forgive me if I post some really cute pictures of Jordyn Love? You see, I babysat the little cutie a couple weeks back and have been waiting for her to sign this release so I could post pictures of her (her career as a struggling artist is really blowing up big time).

She has been super busy with a number of important things, like learning how to count to four, getting ready for BH2 and potty training. Maybe she could come over and teach Gordon a thing or two since we're REGRESSING.

And, just for the record, I did not think she could possibly stick the whole banana in her mouth but THEN SHE DID.

Babysitter's Club: Life at 18 Months with a Tongue

I was putting this post together and picking out my favorite photos when I realized that they all feature Jordyn and her tongue. She and her tongue hanging out on the giraffe, she and her tongue reading Eclipse, she and her tongue just being cute.

But I digress.

I babysat for my favorite toddler weekend before last. Now, you should be pleased to know that she was already fed by the time I arrived. Her mom wasn't too keen on my whole new pricing plan after our last "incident". Fine by me, more time to play and watch YO GABBA GABBA.

Do you have a toddler? Do you know what Nobbin is? If not, you need to call up your local cable provider and order today. Why couldn't Yo Gabba Gabba be on when I was a toddler? Not that I don't just take it upon myself to enjoy it now and I probably would've been way too crazy about it and would've never learned to read or write and then HSCOOC wouldn't exist and OMG that would be the worst thing ever. Again, I digress. Hey, BFFs, remember these guys?

The Aquabats? YEAH THEY ARE ON YO GABBA GABBA. Hey, BFFs, remember Nathanial who likes to dance from The Soup? YEAH THAT WAS ON YO GABBA GABBA. Do you see what I MEAN??? Best show ever. Next to Gossip Girl. And Lost. So anyways, I had requested Stacy DVR some episodes of YGG for Jordyn and I to enjoy and boy, did we. We danced along with those kids all over the living room.

Afterwards, we were pretty pooped and so we took a seat on the couch. This is when Jordyn pulled out my mac book and told me "we need to talk".

I have to admit, I got pretty nervous. I was thinking, 'Ok, she could be pulling up her Facebook page to show me some boy from daycare and his current status update OR she could be pulling up the New Moon trailer since we haven't watched it together yet (but like 1,000,000 times on our own).' But do you know what she pulled up? THIS BLOG. Yeah, she went to her favorites and clicked on Heart Shaped Cut-Outs of Cheese. I was flattered we were on her favorites but knew I was about to get an ear full.

For the most part, she had very nice things to say. She liked the way I posted about our first experience together, she liked looking at the photos but she did not like the fact that I posted photos of her trying to stab me with a plastic fork. She asked me if I remembered having to eat baby food and I said "Oh, don't even go there, sister." To which she replied, "I'm just saying, maybe you could cut me a little slack."

Fair enough, little J, fair enough. I told her I was sorry, that sometimes I just write for humor and forget that little people have feelings too. Before I knew it, we were BFFs again and that is when I remembered that I brought Eclipse for us to discuss for our book club. Oh yeah, we are in a book club now together, I forgot to tell you. Hopefully, she'll be more active than her mom was in our last one (kidding, Stace, I love you!) So we discussed the third installment of the Twilight series, Team Jacob vs. Team Edward. I totally can tell she has the hots for Jacob. Look how googly-eyed she is here when I brought him up.

Afterwards, I asked her if she wanted to head to Don't Tell Mama to sing on the piano. She was all about it. So we got all ready and then just as we were putting on her shoes while sitting on the counter (TOTALLY SAFE, DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT), we hit a giggle fest...

So then we decided just to ride the giraffe instead.

I know, SO adorable. Great times, as always, just the girls hanging out on a Saturday night. This time was even more exciting since we recently found out that little Jordyn Love is going to be a BIG SISTER!!

Congrats, Stacy. So happy you're bringing another one into this world. If we're lucky, BH2 will be just like her/his big sister. With better eating habits. KIDDING, JOJO!

Babysitter's Club: Part Deux

Last night, I went to see my friend Jordyn. Now, I hadn't sat for her in two months so I figured some things had changed.

Things that changed:

Her haircut (very cute, btw)

Now can do the chicken dance

Says 'dada' non-stop

Likes to try to open doors

She is moving to the "big girl room" in daycare next week

Things that have not changed:

FEEDING TIME

Here you see, she is actually trying to STAB ME WITH A PLASTIC FORK...

I actually have photos of her tray from this two-hour (on and off that is) feeding FIASCO but it might make you throw up a bit because it looks like a WAR ZONE.

But no worries, we made up in no time. This gossip session consisted of: TWILIGHT. Apparently, she has been hearing about all the buzz building over the New Moon trailer and how CONVENIENT that I just happened to have the book with me.

I think someone has a crush on Edward....although she was intrigued by Jacob and his whole werewolf thing...

Now, I know what you are thinking..."isn't she a little young, Katie, to be reading about vampires and werewolves??" First off, people, IT'S A LOVE STORY and second, it's better than what her mom has her reading...check out the shopping cart.

Really, Stace? A book about a serial killer? Can you imagine if THAT was a pop-up?

Also, if you're interested in hiring this AWESOME sitter, my rates are as follows:

$10/hour basic

+$25.60 for each meal

+9.00 for every additional minute over the initial 30 minute mealtime

Babysitter's Club

Week before last, I rejoined the babysitting world (the first time since the '90s) as I spent two evenings with Miss Jordyn Love Hamilton. Jordyn is the daughter of my boss (and dear friend) Stacy and is honestly, one of the cutest babies EVER. My own mother once said, "She's even cuter than you were!" Ouch. But true so touche.

I sat for her once before, a few months back, before she was walking. Let me tell you something, walking makes it a whole new experience. You know what else makes it a new experience? That also in those three months, this little one learned how to SIGN. The girl was signing stuff to me that I had no clue about. I could figure out 'eat' and 'more' and picked up a few others from watching 'Baby Signing Time' with her but there were a few that flew right over my head.

Speaking of eating...now I know why I am the way I am. Feeding babies is HELL. Anytime I put any kind of real food in front of her (i.e. green beans, chicken, etc.), I would get this face...

And no, you're not imagining things, she really is looking at me like I'm crazy. But I tried on, did the airplane noise, pretended to eat some myself and also pretended to enjoy it, etc. Anytime that spoon would get near her mouth, she would throw up her hands, causing food to go EVERY WHERE. Eventually, I went for the fruit cup and fig newtons and she was much happier. See?
A girl after my own heart, who can blame her? Most nights I'd much rather have a fruit cup and cookie than green beans and mystery meat. After dinner, we hung out, gossiped, I told her all about what was going on with the Jonas Brothers (I have to keep on them for Gordon's sake) and asked her if she'd seen the new Miley Cyrus video. Then I got a text and she looked at me like, "say wha???" So I introduced her to the iPhone.
She was FASCINATED. The moment she laid her eyes on it, you could see the spark in her eye. It was the same one that I got when I purchased the phone two years ago. Before I knew it, she was ready to text.
She hung like that for awhile and then proceeded to try to eat the phone (to be expected, watching a kid is very similar to having a puppy). I let her get a taste for a few and then had to take the phone back in to my possession. Well, that didn't go over well. So I simply explained to her that she could have one all to herself, just ask her mommy for one for Christmas or 4th of July (sorry, Stacy!). After all that excitement, it was about time for bed. I have to give props to Stacy here, she dresses that girl in the CUTEST CLOTHES EVER. I fell in love with her penguin pajamas. I just eat that stuff up. She picked out a few books and off to reading/sleepy land we went.
I like being a part of the Babysitter's Club. It was good to be back. And certainly nice to go shopping (guilt-free) the next day :)