Tabs has a number of nicknames…and they’re all completely ridiculous!
I don’t even know where half of them come from. His latest one, “Needy Sandwich,” is like a turkey sandwich, except without the deli meat…
So he’s been extra Needy Sandwich today, following me around, basically “supervising” (air quotes) me very closely, and, for the life of me, I can’t get anything done.
He likes to drape his hefty girth across my forearms while I sit at my desk, which makes it darned near impossible to type. He also likes to rub his face all over mine and basically get all the way up in my grill.
Part of me is like, “Tabs, mommy has to get stuff done,” but another part of me is like, “Aww!” I gotta give him as much attention and lurvies as possible before Baby Girl arrives.
To be honest, I’m kind of worried about him because I don’t know how he’s going to handle sharing the spotlight with BG.
I’ve read a lot about pet/baby introductions, and I just hope — I really, really hope — it goes smoothly, because Tabs has been our only “child” for such a long time, and I don’t want him to feel like he’s being replaced. I have to find a way to let him know that he’ll always be my oldest child. He’ll always have a special place in my heart.
Um…you know what else has a place in my heart? Tom Ford’s eyeshadow palettes. 🙂 A bunch of new ones just came out for spring; here’s a few of them.
I could seriously pass out…
Clockwise from the upper left, that’s Lilac Dream, Honeymoon, Last Dance
Starry Night and Disco Dust ($80 each).
I may skip my nap today to hang out with them, but I don’t know about that. Something happens to my body these days in the late afternoon. I’ll be all set to do something, but then it’s lights out. Zzzz…
The first one I want to play with is Honeymoon, the warm one with the bronze, wine and purplish shades. Or, Last Dance. I’m lovin’ that sparkly blue… Well see!
How do you feel about Tom Ford’s palettes? They’re expensive as all heck, but gurrrl! — kind of amaze. The powders practically blend themselves.
My all-time fave is Cognac Sable, which I think might be discontinued (NO!), because I can’t find it online anymore. I also love Cocoa Mirage.
OK…transition time. You might laugh, but we’re all friends here, so laugh away. 🙂 Whenever somebody gives BG a book, I get a little verklempt…
She just got a few from some friends in NY, and when I opened the box, I got, like, super teary.
I dunno… I just hope she likes reading and writing as much as I do. I can’t wait to put a bookshelf in her room and fill it with all of the books she loves to read.
I got it into my head to read her the entire Harry Potter series when she’s old enough to appreciate them. I’ve actually never read those books, and neither has El Hub (I know, so late on that train), so I think it’ll be a fun family thing for us to do together.
Speaking o’ books, I just started reading these…
I’m hoping to make it through as many of them as I can over the next two weeks. They were all recommendations! My friend Jen got me the baby book, the breast feeding book was recommended in one of the newborn classes I took, and the happiness book was a rec from the therapist I’m seeing.
I’m reading all three at the same time. Plus, I’m still listening to the Red Queen on Audible.
I wish there were, like, four or five more hours in the day dedicated to reading — that is, on top of an extra four of five hours dedicated to sleeping. 🙂
What’s on your reading list this week? Anything interesting or exciting?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Elena says
I just bought Face Paint by Lisa Eldridge and a fun workbook on hand lettering. I also have this book on crows I need to read.
My mom read to me when I was still in the womb. Do you read books out loud for Baby Girl, Karen? I remember tackling the Hobbit in like Kindergarten with my mom to help me through it. I bet she will pick up your passion for reading and books! I know I got it from my mom and when I was young and had all the time in the world I would practically devour books I would go through them so fast!
By the way TF Honeymoon looks gorgeous! I really want the cream eye color in Sphinx but it sold out everywhere! Ugh Tom Ford is so expensive but so luxurious.
Lulle says
The Illustrated Happiness Trap looks like something I should read! I’m not reading any book right now, I just finished a crime story in French a few days ago and I’m not sure what to start next.
Tracey says
Rosie Revere Engineer is THE BEST BOOK! I love it! Such girl power, & super well-written. (Iggy Peck Architect is also pretty cool, but Rosie. Love her. 🙂 )
Kids books are so much fun — one of my favorite parts of mom-ing. 🙂
Jamie Lynn Palmer says
A word to the wise on breastfeeding: it can be difficult and not everyone succeeds. Formula isn’t the devil and both you and baby will be happy, healthy and bonded if it’s not in the cards for you. I wish someone would have told me how hard it may be to get latched, supply etc.
Amanda says
I was just thinking the same thing. If I, a dear reader, can impart any advice, let it be this, straight from the heart. Do what’s right for YOU. We can all agree that breastmilk is best, but the pendulum has swung so far in the opposite direction these days, there are people (doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, other moms, guys((really? oh yes)), all the randos who mean absolutely nothing) who will assert that THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION than breastmilk. There are a multitude of reasons why parents may decide to supplement or switch to formula. You don’t have to justify it to anyone. I was deeply affected by this issue, so I want to spread the word. Breastfeeding is just one part of motherhood.
Kalli says
Those books for BG are so great! They cover all the bases, how thoughtful of your friends 🙂
I don’t really have anything I’m reading right now, but I need to get back on it. I got pretty far into this random YA fantasy book I got free on my Kindle, but I think I’ve lost interest in it. I’ve got a pile of books to take to the used bookstore, so maybe I’ll do that this weekend and check out what they have. You’d love the store, it’s locally owned and called Nine Lives, with a resident kitty of course! I keep my distance because of my allergies, but the store is so great!
Laarni says
I got teary eyes! I remember the first time our kitty Pixie met our bb girl, she was all eyes to her as if she was a threat lol.
xx
Erin says
I wonder how my pets would take to a baby. Elroy loves kids but he also loves his mama, so I think he might be a bit needy. He’s not always the most gentle with me but he is with children. It’s just a question of a child around all the time that his mom is attached to. I think my cat Weedgie would be fine with it. She already has to share with that minke dog anyway.
As for TF, those latest quads Honeymoon was the for sure stand out!
Kiss & Make-up says
Awwww, cutie Tabs!
Honeymoon looks sooooo pretty, major want.
Chris25 says
Can’t wait for your review of those quads. I’ve read good things about Honey Moon.
Also, those books look wonderful! BG’s literary collection is off to a great start.:)
Kwmechelle says
Yeah, Honeymoon & Last Dance make me wanna refinance my WHOLE life just to purchase them. I’ve seen online swatches of Honeymoon. Gaw! Can’t wait for you to swatch Last Dance so I can drool all over it. I vote for 4-5 extra hours in the day for sleep. 🙂
LindaLibraLoca says
Your daughter will mimic what you do, so if she sees you reading, she will most likely pick it up and grow to love it herself. My daughter really enjoy joining me on the couch for “book time”, even though I don’t really get any reading done while she is around. But the again, she is just about two, so there is way things can improve.
Fran says
Karen, I hope, too, that Tabs loves BG as much as you do when you bring her home, but I know it can be really tough for older kitties to share the attention. You never know, though, it could work out well. He might decide that he needs to watch over and protect her as part of the family. It sounds like he’s been very aware that something’s up for a while, so he might be relieved to find out what it’s all about.
Love the look of those new quads — Starry Night is calling my name.
Baby books are so much fun. My son *loved* his board books when he was an infant — less than six months old, he’d lie on his belly in his playpen, turning the pages of his board books, babbling at the pictures of the babies in them and patting the pages! He had terrible asthma when he was little, so every four to six hours, when I held him for his nebulizer treatment, I read to him. In school, he had a lot of trouble learning to read — dyslexia — so we’d take turns reading out loud to each other — the Harry Potter books were just coming out — he’d read a paragraph, I’d read a couple of pages, he’d read a paragraph, and so on. We spent a lot of time in bookstores trying to find books he could read. The size of the print, the width of the columns, the shininess of the paper, the arrangement of pictures on the page all mattered almost as much as what the book was about. And what he wanted to read about was history — he’d struggle with adult-level books if the print was large enough and there were enough pictures — because his knowledge exceeded what was in the books for kids. Quite a challenge! Thank goodness there were still lots of brick-and-mortar bookstores back then! Now, you give him an amazon gift certificate for his birthday, he’ll buy an 800-page book on the 30 years’ war. And one on the Italo-Turkish war. And one on the war between Poland and the brand-new Soviet Union right after WWI. And tell me all about what’s in them. So, he loves books and reading as much as I do even though learning to read was a terrible struggle for him. I just wish I liked history as much as he does! At least he’s got me reading historical fiction.
jessica says
When Daya was born I had a cat- my Sigynn…that cat was my BABY. She didn’t like anyone except me. Just treat them the same, don’t ignore them, and let Tabs check out the baby. Make a point of not ignoring Tabs and all will be fine.
All was fine with Sigynn and Daya until Daya got into the toddler years…and they had a jealous rivalry thing going on. But my kitty knew she was just as special to me as ever, until she died in 2012.
She was a really neurotic and terrible cat though, totally different than Tabs, so I’m sure he will be Baby Girl’s protective guardian.
Jane says
Reading to your baby is so important. My husband and I always read to Zack every night. I miss those books like Goodnight Moon or Brown Bear. He is not much of a reader these days, what teenager really is? I read most of the time. The last book I read was The Rent Collector which is based on the people who live in a dumpsite in Cambodia. I found it hard to realize that people survive in that kind of environment, although the story was beautiful.
Anyway, Tom Ford’s makeup looks amazing but way over my budget. As I said before, I am saving my money for something more practical.
Rest up my friend!
Jennifae says
How’s the pigmentation on those Tom Ford eyeshadow palettes? Are they worth the $80 price?
Christine says
You can never get enough information. Enjoy all the books!
Still, don’t neglect your instincts. 😉
I love the crazy nicknames that come up for pets. Needy Sammich is awesome. I had a cockatiel named Kafka and his various names included McChookee and Chooch. Also once had a dog named Sandy but I usually called her Ongee. I guess that’s what happens when you grow up in a culture where nicknames are the norm — Tita Tata, Uncle Boy, etc. lol…
TBH, I got more excited over the Too-Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly palette than over these TF palettes. The colors remind me of drugstore palettes I bought when I first started wearing makeup. And for $80 a pop–OUCH.
Ruchita says
In case you’re in the market for any other books, “Starting from Scratch: How to Correct Behavior Problems in Your Adult Cat” by Pam Johnson-Bennett is a good resource. I’m pretty sure there is a chapter in there about introducing your cat to a new baby. (Unfortunately I can’t seem to find it after our last move) She also has a book titled “Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat–Not a Sour Puss”.
I find it kind of handy to have a book I can easily flip through when I need to look something up. Luckily, there haven’t been any major behavior problems with the kitties recently.
I love the term “hefty girth”! Mingus is currently draped across my lap, but at least I have my arms free! 🙂
Jennifer Lauren says
When I was pregnant, my shih tzu, whom I was never the closest to in my family, would not leave my side. He always preferred to be with my sister, brother, or mother, before he would hang out with me. It all changed during my pregnancy. I liked to think of it as him being protective over me. He would even sleep on my bed at night, which he rarely did. Who knows…maybe we give off hormones or phermones that other animals can sense during pregnancy? I can totally understand why Tabs wants your undivided attention!
When I first brought my daughter to my parent’s house after she was born, I initially gave my dog one of her blankets to sniff. After that, I held her in front of him so they could formally meet. The rest is history. Though my daughter is now 3 years old, our family dog is still jealous lol. We always try to include him any time we are engaged in playtime. I can say that my daughter is quite fond of him now — though, he has a love-hate relationship with her! lol!
Carol in a Page says
OK, that Honeymoon palette has just stolen my heart. Luckily for my bank balance, I don’t have access to TF here in Italy.
‘Not All Princesses Dress in Pink’… love that title!
Lupe says
Hehe cute nickname! Those Tom Ford palettes are gorgeous!
denise S says
Tabs probably senses a upcoming change. And feels extra clingy because cats hate change. But he’ll adapt and soon have a new ally. Reading to my kids was so much fun!! They loved bedtime or anytime reading. And we took many trips to the library for books and story time. They are adults now and both avid readers. I bet baby girl will be a cat and book lover just like her Mom! Tom Ford palettes look good but not feeling the $80 price tag, lol.
Tatiana says
I wonder if Tabs’ neediness is because he senses BG’s arrival. How much longer do you have to go?
Did you seriously get everyone of the new Tom Ford quads?!! I am so jealous!! I started with Honeymoon because I was afraid it would sell out. The only one that doesn’t float my boat is Starry Night. Yeah, I heard that Cognac Sable was discontinued. 🙁
If you read to baby girl a little bit every night (even before she can read or really get what’s going on) she will pick up the reading bug. We read to our girl every night once she got home from the hospital. She’s a voracious reader now. We even managed to work through the bump of finding out she was dyslexic.
I just picked up a copy of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. I’m also rotating through Nick Hornby’s Funny Girl, Judy Blume’s In The Unlikely Event and rereading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone. I think I probably have at least half a dozen books in my Amazon cart as well.
Happy reading and happy nap time to you.
Alyse says
Tabs- soon to be big sibling! Before I came home from the hospital my Mom gave her cat something that smelled like me, and basically treated her as the older sibling, with equal cuddle time and treats when I ate! The cat was quicker to acclimate to my arrival than I was when my younger sister was born!!!
Very excited for all of you.
India says
80 dollars for those quads, that’s making me sweat haha! Right now I’m reading Anna Karenina again.
Nicole - paleandfreckled says
We thought about doing the formal introduction but it ended up just being bringing the baby home and they dealt with it. 🙂 The only issues we’ve had are now that Colin is 2.5 and is being very stubborn about the rules and keeps chasing the cats, pushing them, poking ears etc.
I’m currently rereading Caliban’s War by James SA Corey; the Syfy series The Expanse that’s based on this series of books just finished (though with the new baby we haven’t found time to watch the 2 hour finale). I should finish reading 1-2-3 Magic which is a book about timeouts to address said kitty terrorizing issues. 😛
Debbie says
Question re the Honeymoon palette – I bought Congac Sable but took it back as I had glitter ALL over my face. Broke my heart to return something to TF 🙁 Does Honeymoon have the same fallout? Hope not as the colors are all me :):):)
Heather L says
Disco Dust is really appealing! If only the price were half as appealing… Are they worth it? If I sprung for it, that would be the highest I’ve paid for an eye palette, and the fact that only 4 shades are included means it would have to be REALLY special. Tough sell at that price point!
Kim says
Um, Honeymoon and Disco Dust? So beautiful! Of course, I would not be able to rock DD but I’d still love it on someone else.
We read the Harry Potter series with the boys when they were young (I hadn’t read them myself prior to that). We all loved them and have read them multiple times since. I probably already told you how the kids were roaring and making fun of their father for saying “Her-mee-own” instead of Hermione. They still mention it whenever HP or Emma Watson comes up. Good memories. 🙂 I’ve been netflixing lately, and watching Showtime (one year free) so I haven’t been reading, sadly.