Six shows you should be watching, but probably are not!

I was going to entitle this post "Six television shows you should be watching..." but I just realized that I don't watch any of these shows on my actual television anymore. Who needs TV when you have Hulu and Netflix, and you can carry around your iPad with you from room to room while you put away laundry?

Most shows on actual broadcast networks are total garbage. To find groundbreaking "television" you must turn to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime or obscure actual networks like FXX.

There are so so so many good smart "television" shows out there right now, and I bet you aren't watching them, nor have you heard of them in some cases, so I watched them for you and made this list!

In no particular order, here are the things that you need to start watching:

1. Master of None (Netflix) - I feel in love with Aziz Ansari back when he had a very minor part on Scrubs in 2009, and again as Tom Haverford on Parks & Recreation. Anyone who has an affinity for 90s hip-hop is a friend of mine. His latest show (that he created and wrote), which was just released a few weeks ago (all 10 episodes are streaming now) is freaking amazing. AMAZING. I think I watched all 10 episodes in one day. It is smart, relatable, hysterical, moving, relative...you need to be watching this masterpiece, especially if you are a human in your 30s (30 year old horses need not watch). It is honestly unlike anything else out there. Turn off that Big Bang Theory garbage, and treat yo self to Master of None. (I am currently listening to his latest book on Audible as well! All Aziz all the time apparently.)

2. You're the Worst (FXX) - This show is my husband's worst nightmare. He cannot stand to watch a show where the cast is full of horrible selfish people (he will leave the room if I am watching any Housewives episode). I don't think I could ever get him to watch this show, based on the title - and the fact that everyone is this show plays a despicable character - but I love every one of them. The main characters are self involved 30 somethings afraid of commitment and change, who are also alcoholics and drug users, as well as clinically depressed narcissists (well, one is depressed, but all are narcissists). It is so well written, and honestly laugh out loud funny. The first season is all on Hulu right now (and for $11 a month you can watch anything on Hulu without commercials now - have you tried watching television on On Demand? Is there anything worse than not being able to fast forward commercials??????? NO!! - for some reason I just said this whole parenthetical in Aziz' voice in my head - yikes.) The second season is currently airing on FXX.

3. Jessica Jones (Netflix) - Holy bejesus. I love love love a show where things happen that you totally don't expect. I won't give anything away but after the first episode I just stood there staring at my iPad (while in my closet putting away laundry - again, who needs tv?) in total shock. This show was ten times better than I could have ever imagined. A dark, scarred and emotionally damaged female super hero? Sign me up!

4. Fargo (FX) - I can't say much about this, as I have only watched the first episode as I am waiting for Hubs to be less busy to watch with him. But having seen the glorious first episode I am waiting with breath that is bated to continue watching it. I have heard nothing but praise for this season of Fargo.

5. Transparent (Amazon Prime) - I watched this series when it came out last year, but in anticipation of the second season starting December 11th, I had to add it to this list. It is groundbreaking, it is heartwarming, it is heartbreaking. It is a must see. Moppa!!!!

6. Difficult People (Hulu) - I love watching Billy Eichner acting a fool while running all over Manhattan, and now I love him even more after watching his latest endeavor, Difficult People, in which he costars with Julie Klausner. Here is another smart, well written and laugh out loud comedy about generally horrible celebrity-obsessed people - and I can't get enough of it!! Especially Andrea Martin, who plays Klausner's mother. That lady gets funnier the older she gets.

I beg you to stop watching Shonda-shite on TV, and cancel that Scream Queens series recording and start watching one of these shows...at least so I have someone to talk about them with!!!!!

#MamaJSays everyone needs to watch Derek

I haven't written in a few weeks, mainly because I haven't had anything of value to share...until now.

I love all things Ricky Gervais. I've been a huge fan ever since I saw the original Office series when it first came out. I loved Extras. I read his Flanimals books to my kids. I've seen all his movies, his stand-up and listened to every single podcast of his at least 10 times (this includes all five podcast series, the Best of XM Radio and the Guide Tos). I consider listening to the podcasts over and over like watching reruns of Seinfeld - they never get old.

This all may sound funny coming from a 35 year old stay at home mom who lives in the suburbs, but it is true. I love all things Ricky Gervais (even when he hosted the Golden Globes - gasp!).

When I happened upon Ricky (if I may call you Ricky) on the Charlie Rose show talking about his new creation, Derek, I was immediately interested of course.

So, last year, Hubs and I sat down to watch the first episode of season one and were surprised when we realized it wasn't as funny as we thought it was going to be. Not to say it wasn't funny at all, but it was much more serious and sad that we had expected - not a bad thing, just unexpected. We never got around to watching the rest of the first season, until...

Fast forward to two days ago. After reading online that the second series of Derek had come out on Netflix, I figured I should finish watching the first, so I sat down at my computer after the kids went to bed and dove in. Two days, a box of tissues and a bottle of wine later I have finished both seasons of Ricky Gervais' masterpiece, Derek.

I am not even sure where to begin. Everything about this show is perfect. It is the perfect balance of humor and drama. It is beyond perfectly cast (my only gripe is that Karl Pilkington left in the beginning of season 2 - who knew that "round headed twat" could act so well!) It is beautifully shot, beautifully scored and should win every award possible (Ricky was nominated for a Lead Acting Emmy this year - how Kerry Godliman and David Earl were passed over is beyond me).

Kerry Godliman as Hannah

Ricky plays the title role of Derek, a special man with a heart of gold and abundant love of all earth's fuzzy creatures. He does not judge. He is never negative. He sees the good in every human being, and is able to bring it out for them to see as well. We should all take a page from Derek's illustrated book (on cats.)

Derek works in a nursing home called Broadhill, which is lead by over-worked and under-paid Hannah, brilliantly played by Kerry Godliman. She is the type of woman that your heart aches for, you want to have a drink with and you want to give all your money to because she has dedicated her life to the lives of the elderly people living in the home. She is a mother figure (although younger in age) to Derek, and loved by everyone she works with and takes care of. She is passionate and kind, but not afraid to hit someone over the head with a rolling pin (well deserved of course).

David Earl as Kev

If you thought Jim from the American version of the Office was the master of the "looking into the camera" face, wait until you meet Kev, an unemployed alcoholic pervert who spends his days and nights at the home with Derek, his best friend. At first you want to put a hand through the screen and slap Kev, but as the show goes on he wins you over and you all of the sudden want to hug him...and give him a shower.

The rest of the cast - Vicky, Tom, Dougie and all of the elderly residents - are just brilliant.

Maybe I am so touched by this show because just two months ago I lost my grandmother, who spent her last few years in a home much like this one. I picture her sitting in a room, much like the common room at Broadhill on the show, surrounded by other residents of the home, talking about her family and enjoying a cup of tea or serenading the residents on the piano. The episodes that featured family members coming to visit their eldery relatives touched my heart and brought me to tears because I only got to see my grandmother once in the last 5 years before she died (she was in Denver to my Boston - still not an excuse.) I wished we were closer so that I could have shared more quality time with her before she passed.

I know my grandmother would have absolutely loved this show too. She had that same dry British humor and loved all British television. I wish she was alive today to talk about the cast of characters - I know she would have loved Kev!

There are so many heartwarming moments in the series - the husband that visits his wife with alzheimer's every day, a young girl with a bad home life finding a love and support while working at Broadhill, Derek reuniting with his father he never wanted to see, Dougie cursing out a money grubbing daughter of a dead resident, Hannah and Tom trying for a baby, Derek learning to ride a bike and possibly my favorite, Kev building the sculpture of Oliver for Derek...tears! (Don't worry! I didn't spoil anything for you!)

We could all learn something from watching Derek. We should all be nicer to each other. We should all be honest and tell each other how we feel. We should forgive. We should send that letter we have been meaning to send, or make that call we have been meaning to make before it is too late.

So go! Go watch it on netflix, now! Be prepared to laugh out loud and cry at every episode. And let me know what you think.

Sheriff Callie's Lying West (Why I loathe the Disney Junior show and why I think Doc McStuffins is the best show for kids)

Phew...that was quite a title.

I have to be honest - I have been crafting this post in my head for almost five months now, ever since the first episode of Sheriff Callie's Wild West aired on Disney Junior back in January. Previews for the show started airing last year during the holidays, and the first time my girls got a peek of the pink-ten-gallon-hat-wearing, talking female cat, they were hooked. I was looking forward to a new show in the mix, and knowing Mandy Moore was the voice of Callie (whom I absolutely adore in everything she is in) I had high hopes for the cartoon.

And then I watched the first episode...and I wanted to punch all of the characters in the throat.

Ok, that might be a little harsh, but I was annoyed from the very beginning - not only by the whiney characters, but by the terrible plot lines of each episode.

If you haven't seen the show, here is how Wikipedia describes it: In a western town called Nice and Friendly Corners, everyone is an anthropomorphic and cute animal. They all get along and are friendly to each other. However, there are times when the townsfolk get into problems or don't get along with each other. The series follows Sheriff Callie, a female Calico cat and the sheriff of Nice and Friendly Corners alongside her friends Deputy Peck, a male red Woodpecker and keeper of the town jail and Toby, a male Saguaro Cactus. Together they all solve problems and teach the townsfolk to get along with each other while working hard to make the town the friendliest in the west.

Yeah, you read that right, one of the main characters is a cactus. Before I even get into why I no longer let my kids watch this show, let me tell you about one of my main gripes about Sheriff Callie's show. I cannot stand a show where animals are made to seem human, but still have animals for pets. Why do all of the animal characters talk, but Callie and Peck still have pets that don't speak, and are actual animals (I speak of Callie's horse and Peck's donkey)? It will always be my main issue with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...why can Goofy speak but Pluto, who is also a dog, can only bark and acts like an actual dog? I think they should have humans as pets...now that would be a show I would watch...maybe. 

Back to my point. 

The real reason I don't like my kids watching this show is because most of the episodes feature a storyline where one of the characters is lying about something, trying to trick someone into doing something or just being a terrible person (woodpecker, cactus...whatever). I kid you not, the majority of the episodes are about someone lying: the stork character making up a story for the newspaper, Farmer Stinky lying about having more peppers than he actually does, Toby the cactus lying about being sick, Peck lying about losing Callie's golden nugget, a salesman lying about the a shirt making people more powerful (yeah this one is a doozie)...every character at one point or another, besides the always-honest Sheriff Callie, is featured in the episode where their storyline is about them not telling the truth. 

The moral of all of these episodes is, or course, that you should always tell the truth. But are my kids getting that at 4 1/2 and almost 2? Heck no! Do they really understand what is going on in these shows for the most part? Probably not...but I know M, my 4 year old, is starting to get it for sure. A few months ago I heard her fake coughing and then she went on to tell me she was being like Peck from Callie and pretending to be sick. That was the end of Callie in our house. 

Now every time it comes on tv M goes "oh mom! Callie's on - the show you do NOT like!" 

Now, Doc McStuffins? There is a show that every kid should be watching. 

I credit Doc McStuffins with my kids loving to go to the doctors. No joke, they love everything about the doctors, and even constantly play doctor when we are at home. Every episode of Doc has a true to life message that my kids actually understand, like "it's ok to ask for help," or "everyone get's hurt sometimes," or even something as simple as the fact you need to brush your hair and teeth every day. 

The other day we were playing in the backyard on a hot day and M quickly ran up on the deck under the umbrella. I asked her what she was doing and she said to me, "I have to take a break in the shade for a bit and have some water. Doc said you shouldn't be in the sun too long, and you should take breaks in the shade...and I need to hydrate like that fire truck toy on doc did." 

Come on now!! The writes and creators of that show should be proud!!

The writers of Sheriff Callie should be smacked. I'm just saying is all...

My Not-So-Real Housewives Rant

My Real Housewives tag line:
"I used to be the Lady of the dance floor, but now I am Queen of boogers and poop."

I have watched every single episode that has ever aired of every single Real Housewives franchise.

Phew. Felt good to get that off my chest. (Queue husband shivering in disgust.)

I have been watching since Lori was working as a receptionist at Vicki's company back in the first season of OC. I remember Nene as a brunette. I also remember Bethenny living in a tiny one bedroom apartment and dating some bald dude named Jason (not Hoppy). I even suffered through the madness that was RH of DC - and secretly wish they brought that franchise back because those ladies were highly entertaining (who doesn't like a White House party scandal!)

I could resist this photo of RHoA season 1. Yikes!

I used to really enjoy watching each season. The characters were so much more normal than they are now. Sure they went to extravagant parties, but that wasn't the focus of every episode. You saw their every day lives, and their struggle to raise normal kids, or to seriously find love. It was entertaining, and unlike anything else on television.

Of course, I still watch today, but I don't enjoy it. I actually loathe the show, and everyone on each franchise. My husband says this to me all the time, "how can you watch something when you hate everyone on it? It doesn't make sense!?" It doesn't make sense! But I cannot miss an episode for some reason! I need to see what insane hi-jinx these nut jobs with weaves get up to each week.

The shows have gotten seriously ridiculous. They are so set-up and scripted these days they are like a completely different show from the first seasons. Each week they set up the ladies (and now the husbands/boyfriends play a big part) in some ridiculous scenario and tell someone to bring up some bit of juicy gossip that will ignite a huge fight between the cast mates, which lately sometimes even comes to blows. It is a train wreck.

Each season the ladies get more plastic surgery, looking more and more like middle aged Barbie dolls who can't close their eyes. They all now drive Range Rovers - have you noticed that? They all wear so much make-up - what is it with the fake eyelashes??? Why do they all have to wear them every moment of each day? Do people in real life do that? Not in Boston, that is for sure.

When does a reality show stop being a reality show? When you are paying the cast mates up to $1 million per season. It was just released that Nene Leaks (Bloop! I still love her!) is the highest paid housewife, raking in one million per season. Teresa Giudice (the most painful to watch I think) comes in at second making $650k a year!

Hey Bravo, how about this for a show - you actually show what a REAL housewife does during the day! For instance, I am on my second load of deep-sanitizing laundry because my dog won't stop peeing on our beds! I took my daughter to school this morning while wearing sweatpants, crazy hair and yesterday's mascara. I just flushed some tiny poops that were in my daughter's diaper down the toilet, but when I opened the diaper over the toilet one poop went rogue and bounced off the seat onto the floor. Now that's television!!! It may not make for great television but it is what REAL housewives do.

Nothing about the show is real anymore. Women don't fight like that in real life. Women don't really fight! I have gotten in one fight with a friend in my entire life, and an hour later we were hugging and crying over how ridiculous it was, and we never fought again. I guess that is why my life would make terrible television.

Here is a question for you - if you have a sketchy past or have done anything illegal in your life, why on earth would you go on a reality television show? There is no way you are going to be able to hide anything now that your life is an open book! It is just sad how all of these cast member's skeletons are coming out of their closets now.

And what is even sadder is to watch marriages implode every season (PS. I called it from day one that Bethenney and Jason Hoppy were never going to make it as well as Ramona and her husband - next up to divorce are Phaedra and Apollo - you heard it here first!) Vicki and Don. The Countess and the Count. Nene and Gregg (only to be remarried in a later season). Adrienne and Paul. Porsha and Kordell (everyone saw that coming!) Frasier and Camille!

I could go on...I could talk about the ridiculous attempts at singing careers made (Kim Zolciak is still the worst, with Gretchen Rossi a close second - never mind they are tied for first - who told them they could sing?), the silly attempts at launching their own product lines (Gretchen Rossi again here - holy hideous bags, and Lynn with those insane cuff bracelets) and all of the cast members who are now bankrupt, but I must go watch last night's RH of Bev Hills because I need to see what the crazy pants Carlton is upset about now. Actually I shouldn't bring up her name because she might cast a spell on me!

Thanks to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

At 3.4 years old, I have no problem with M watching television. When she was born however I had a different opinion: I was not going to allow my kids to watch television more than a half hour a day, max. I was going to enrich their lives with flash cards, reading books, drawing, singing, playing instruments - as mother I would keep them entertained every waking hour, so they would have no need for the television. That was before I found out how exhausting being a parent can be. Sure, I do all those things I just mentioned with both my girls, but sometimes a Mama needs a break, and sometimes kids need to just veg out in front of the tv.

"Disney" has been a huge part of my life, so I knew I wanted to introduce her to Mickey and the gang before she got to know any other television characters. Around a year old I showed M an episode of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Mickey had her at his first "Meeska! Mooska!" Here we are two years later and we have seen every episode possible, know all the songs and have done countless "Hot Dog!" dances in our living room (and car when she watches it on the iPad).

It is a silly show when you think about it: two mice, two ducks and two dogs (one that stands on two legs and talks, and the other who can't talk and acts like an actual dog) convene at a "clubhouse" and hijinks ensue. Oh and they are also joined by a very sneaky-but-misunderstood rotund cat named Pete (who has a pet bulldog) and a yodeling cow in capris (who has a pet dog) that owns a convenience store.

Why does Donald the Duck wear a shirt, but when he goes swimming he only wears swim trunks? And why do Mickey & Minnie look exactly alike? Minnie is basically Mickey with a bow in his hair and a set of false eyelashes (which could be what he looks like Saturday night for all I know :). Don't get me started on Goofy - he brings nothing to the show if you ask me.

The clubhouse is also an interesting place, where apparently the laws of gravity don't apply: there is an UPslide, where all you do is sit on the slide you are magically dragged up the slide, and there is a switch you pull and the kitchen spins into a bathroom, or a variety of other rooms that have been stored upside down (but where you can still take a bath upside down).

I know, it is a children's television show, and I shouldn't nitpick (now other shows - have you see Gaspard & Lisa? Why are two giant bunny families going to school in Paris with humans? Are they bunnies? Are they dogs? Who knows...) but when you have seen or heard it as much as I have you can't help but analyze...but to get to the point of the post...

There is actually a pretty great show for children underneath all this silliness. I am giving MMC full credit for teaching M three dimensional shapes (Show & Tell with Shapes episode). I will also give them full credit for teaching her the days of the week (Minnie's Calendar episode). It has helped her understand how to sort things by size, to differentiate patterns, to follow a list of directions, to count backwards and most importantly to solve problems.

I will never forget when she was on the playground (over a year ago now) and she said she was stuck at the top of the slide and she screamed "Oh Toodles!" to bring her a Mousketool to help get her out of the predicament. If only you could actually yell "Oh Toodles!" in real life and have a magical floating Mickey head bring you the tools needed to help you out of a jam!

So Mickey & Co. I thank you for entertaining and teaching my baby M over the last 2.5 years. If only I could get the Hot Dog song out of my head!!

Rosie Pope, I'm Not Mad at You...for now

She's back! And pregnant again,
with less of a lisp!

Tuesday night the second season of Pregnant in Heels began on Bravo. For research sake, I decided to DVR it, even though I compare watching the first season to having a hot poker shoved in my eye. I found Rosie Pope, who is a pregnancy "concierge" to rich diva a-holes (that is the best way to describe these wretched people) in New York City, to be incredibly annoying - her voice like nails on a chalkboard. But I sat down yesterday with my fancy grilled cheese and diet Pepsi (my lunch of choice as of late) and decided to suffer through it. To my surprise, I did not suffer at all...

The first episode profiles two couples: Helena and Svet, whose sex life has dwindled in her third trimester of pregnancy (it is actually Helena who is looking to spice it up believe it or not,) and Christina and Fritz, probably the kookiest couple I have ever seen (he wears clown clothes, and she has a Velma Kelly hair do in the front, with a crazy long ponytail in the back), who need help finding a Midwife to prepare for a home birth.

Even though Helena and Svet were first introduced on the show as the typical rich douchey couple that Rosie caters to (I drive a Maserati! I have someone come over every day to do my hair! We buy whatever we want!), they quickly normalized and grew on me as they talked about how their sex lives have changed since having kids. For Svet, sex had taken a backseat to his fatherly duties as he couldn't picture himself sexually with his wife while she was so pregnant. He felt like he had lost his mojo as he had let himself somewhat "go" and gained extra weight, and his needs had taken a backseat in order to provide for his family and care for his wife and kids. He now perceived his wife as more of a mother than a sex object. Helena would have been happy getting it on 2-3 times a day...she is crazy pants. In the end Rosie set them up with a life coach/trainer, a Kama Sutra specialist and a night at a swanky hotel, and all was right in their world again.

Now, let's talk about the kookie hipster doofuses...whom I loved. Ok, at first I wanted to smack that Ringo Starr wig (ok it wasn't a wig but looked like a wig) off Fritz's goofy head. Did I mention that he used to rap in Chinese in the subway? Wow. He came off a bit controlling in the first few segments - it seemed like it was his decision to do a home birth, not his wife's, and it also seemed like he wouldn't even let her consider going to a hospital because "hospitals are where you go when there is an emergency, not to give birth." Rosie, and I, wanted to kick him in the junk so he would realize what a douche he was being. He quickly changed his tune to one of wanting to do whatever his wife wanted as it was her going through all this, and he showed some serious emotion by getting choked up on many occasions when talking about the birth and being a father.

But then he said he didn't want to put his baby in diapers, but to use the elimination technique (or whatever it is called when you try to potty train your baby that should be in diapers). Rosie put him to the test by taking him on an outing to the grocery store, with fake baby in tow, as well as two turkey basters - one filled with a yellow liquid to represent pee, and the other (you guessed it) with something that resembled thick gravy, or "poo." I was horrified by this whole segment, but relieved when Fritz finally came to his senses after getting the fake baby to "poo" in the garbage can on the street. What a clown.

So they have a home birth, it is very emotional and gave me flashbacks to the pain I am going to endure again in a few months (but I will be the sane one in the hospital with the epidural that hopefully works this time around). But then something terrifying happend. Christina ate the placenta via a smoothie that Rosie made for her. She threw that blood and guts concoction back, and dribbled it all over her face, which "thank you Bravo!" was shown in a close up! Eating lunch while watching this show is a horrible idea. Horrible. Their baby boy, named Keats, could not have been cuter though, and I actually love his name believe it or not.

All in all I was not nearly as horrified by this episode as I was by all the episodes in the first season. After watching the "this season on Pregnant in Heels..." segment at the end of the show I am guessing that they put the best and most "normal" couples in the first show to draw the viewers back in, because there were some crazeballs clips from upcoming shows. There were at least two women that I wanted to throw a shoe at, and I only saw 5 seconds of their episodes. At least Rosie is getting speech lessons to try and get rid of her lisp!

We will see how many more episodes I watch...probably all of them, as I for some reason I watch a lot of shows that I detest.

Did anyone else watch this?

Parenthood is the best show on TV...hands down!

SPOILER ALERT! IN THE FOLLOWING POST I WILL BE DISCUSSING THE 9/21 EPISODE OF PARENTHOOD. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED, DO NOT READ FURTHER!

Every week I look forward to Wednesday afternoon. I wait until M is down for her nap around 1, grab my box of tissues, and settle into the couch to watch last night's episode of Parenthood. Because I am an old lady I am unable to stay up on Tuesday nights to watch it live, so I must watch it on DVR the next day (thank inventors for DVR!), plus who watches live TV anymore? Anyhoo...

Every week I am taken on an emotional roller coaster by the Braverman clan, and this week was like no other. Holy crap, can we talk about all the madness!! Let's start with what I think was the most gut wrenching story line I have ever seen on tv - Julia adopting Zoe's baby.

I knew from the first moment they introduced this story line that Zoe would change her mind and Julia and Joel (her amazingly awesome hubby) wouldn't get the baby. Of course I was rooting for it all to work out in the end...and never did I think that Zoe would wait until the very last minute to change her mind. When Julia saw Zoe in the nursery holding the baby I seriously lost my breath, and then started sobbing uncontrollably. I don't blame my reaction on the pregnancy hormones, I blame amazing acting, writing and direction. Those couple seconds where the two of them are just looking at each other, and Zoe looks away and looks back, but Julia never takes here eyes off of Zoe - you could feel Julia's heart being crushed. And then when Joel and Sidney come up in the elevator - forget it. That look that he gives her. Oh my god I wanted to jump through the screen and hug her. I think I used 5 tissues for those 5 minutes.

Now if I was Julia this probably would have gone down a lot differently - there would have been some screaming and some hair pulling for sure (well, maybe just some screaming and some security involvement.) I know they had to do it for the story line, but who would do an open adoption in the first place! If ever I am to adopt a child it will be closed for sure. I don't want to meet the parents, and I don't want the birth parents to have any involvement in my child's life (until at some point the child would want to meet them). Knowing the birth mother from the beginning, before she has the child, is just not something that I would want - especially having such a big part in their lives. They were way too good to Zoe throughout the whole thing.

And didn't they have a contract that Zoe and her boyfriend had signed? Isn't the baby legally theirs?

Let's move onto my adorable Crosby - love that Jasmine finally admitted to herself that he is the one! Two tissues for that scene alone.

Amber coming into her mother's bedroom at the end and saying "I just wanted to see my mom..." and then crawling under the covers with her. Two tissues. I just pictured M coming to me when she is grown up, and needing some advice and having no one else to turn to but me...sniff sniff.

I won't even bother talking about Adam - I wanted to throw my tissue box at the TV during his scene this week where he shakes the guys hand and agrees to the deal to sell the Luncheonette. ARGH! I know he needs the money, and he can't legally do it without Crosby, but he shouldn't have been at the meeting in the first place.

I know I am talking about these people like they are real, but they feel so real to me! The writing is so amazing that I feel like I am watching my friends on the television, and the acting is just beyond. How is this show not nominated for awards? And I read a rumor that they were thinking about canceling it! They better not still be thinking that, or Mama J is going to be writing some letters and making some phone calls.

If you are a parent, and you are not watching this show, you are crazytown! Go on Hulu.com and watch the back episodes, and get caught up. You will be sorry that you haven't been watching it these last two years!!

I want an Ooopa Loompa now Daddy!!

I have created a Monster.

I want an iPad now Daddy!!

M is obsessed with the iPad. It has gotten to the point where I have to hide it from her. She knows where it charges in my bedroom and will make a beeline for it when we go upstairs. She will go over to the diaper bag and say "Mama's bag! iPad inside?" I have a fancy gold frame case on it, and when I was cleaning up some stuff in our basement, I came across a sparkly frame the size of the iPad and she said "ohhhh! iPad!"

The problem is that when she thinks the iPad is within her reach, and doesn't actually get to use it, all hell breaks loose. It is even worse when she is using it, and I need to take it away from her (see the post below for a kicking the dog incident).

It is totally my fault too. I wanted an iPad to enjoy with M, to download apps and play games with her on it. I introduced it to her when she was just 12 months, and would put it in front of her to show her things before she even knew what it/she was capable of. But then she started realizing how much fun it was to use, and she started craving that feeling of excitement of making things on the screen move with a touch of the finger (I know how she feels!)

And then in June we put Toy Story 3 on there, and she learned that she could watch her boyfriend Woody basically wherever, whenever, and instead of putting up a fight, I would just let her. She spent an entire 6 hour drive back from Syracuse with the iPad on her lap, watching TS3 over and over. I didn't care, she seemed happy and she was quiet...but little did I know that I was feeding the hungry monster growing inside of her. I then put on a few of her favorite TV show episodes (Sid the Science Kid, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street) so she knew she could have those "on demand" as well...big mistake.

My husband and I got in the habit of bringing it with us out to dinner to use as a worst case scenario form of entertainment, which of course was immediate because at this point she had iPad-dar and was able to spot it at 100 yards...in a closed bag...in the car. I think she might actually be able to smell the iPad from afar.

This morning's behavior has brought me to a breaking point though. I had to go to the docs early, with M in tow, so I got myself ready and put the iPad outside her room on the railing so that I remembered to grab it on the way down. I dress M, pick her up and start to bring her into my bedroom to say goodbye to Dada. She spots the iPad out of the corner of her eye and starts with the usual "iPad! iPad Mama!" and I say no and bring her into the bedroom. Queue the drama...

Hands flailing, whining, fake crying, screams of iPad!! iPad now! And this was after being out of her crib for a total of 5 minutes, tops. She wouldn't even give my husband a hug and kiss goodbye until I had to bribe her with talks of watching the iPad in the car in 5 minutes.

Of course I gave her the iPad in the car, because I can't stand the drama (don't save it for your mama please...I hate that saying), but then when I took it away from her to let the valet take the car, the hysterics began...and this time with that crazy high pitched scream that I detest. The poor valet guy was just staring at her as I struggled to get her out of the carseat and said "is she ok?"

"Yes, she has just become a spoiled brat that can't be without her $700 electronic device, that was actually intended for me, but I don't even get to use it until she is asleep anymore, and there is hardly any room on it for anything I want to do, as I have spent a small fortune paying for applications that I wanted her to use to broaden her language skills, but she just wants to watch movies and TV shows on it now and it drives me crazy, but the alternative is a screaming hysterical child, so I just give in and let her use it 10 times more than I would like her to use it, and now I don't know what to do because I hate that I have become one of those parents who sticks their kids in front of an electronic device for peace and quiet, but I totally have, and I hate the looks that I get from people when I am pushing her in the stroller and she has this expensive device on her lap like she is a teenager and not a 20 month old, and I totally feel like I am being judged by everyone around me, so I am thinking about not letting her use it anymore, but then there will be so much screaming and yelling, and sometimes she uses it for good things, like to read books, and do puzzles, but most of the time it is just to watch the same 5 episodes over and over, and if I hear the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song one more time I swear to God...oh here are my keys. "

Ok, so I didn't say all of that...

But I have begun Operation iPad Out of Sight, so wish me luck. I will probably cave by lunch.

The Electronic Babysitter

M watching Wuddy on the iPad

Before I became a parent I totally judged other parents if they let their toddlers watch TV. My kid will never watch TV! I will spend every waking moment stimulating her brain with puzzles and art and books! Parents that put their kids in front of the TV are just lazy! They must not love their kids enough to spend time with them! Man do I wish I could go back in time and slap my ignorant child-less self.

Around the time M was 1, she started to really pay attention to the TV. She would dance to Yo Gabba Gabba, squeal with delight when Elmo came on the screen and say "choo choo" when the Dinosaur Train zoomed across the television. I didn't see anything wrong with letting her watch a few minutes every day...I was sitting there with her, she genuinely liked it. What was the harm?

It was at that same time (Christmas) that I received an iPad as a gift (aka the best gift ever). I loaded it with applications for toddlers and M was immediately hooked. She was learning her alphabet, her colors, and even learning to say words out loud. I was shocked by how much she picked up so quickly - by January she was even able to turn it on and unlock it, and flip right to her page of Apps. One of the first words she said perfectly clear was "iPad." We had created a monster.

Then came the infatuation with Toy Story that I told you about a couple weeks ago. (What began as a curiosity, has now blown into a full fledged obsession. There will be fits had when we are out and about if she asks, "Wuddy?" and I say, "no, Woody is at home sleeping." Cue the screaming and fake crying.) We have TS3 on the iPad as well as cued up in the living room. And we watch it twice a day practically (not always in it's entirety.)

I am will be totally honest and say that I sometimes use the television or iPad as an electronic babysitter. If I really need to clean the kitchen I will turn on Woody and let her watch a few minutes of it. I am in the next room, I can see her on the couch from where I am in the kitchen, and she doesn't move from the couch when her boyfriend is on TV (she actually sits there with her Woody doll next to her - I told you, obsessed!)

If I am totally behind with the laundry and need to do a few load, I will plop her on my bed with the iPad  for a bit.

Now, she isn't alone doing these things for hours at a time, nor is she in front of a screen for hours at a time, unless we watch a full movie, which does happen quite often, but that is never alone. But I feel totally guilty that I do this.

Yes I spend a good chunk of the time she is awake with her playing, or drawing or singing or some other brain stimulating thing, but sometimes I just need those 10 minutes to get something done. Queue the iPad or TV.

Am I a terrible mother? Are people reading this thinking, "how could you let your 19 month old watch tv? Or play with an iPad?" Do any of you do this too?
Be honest with me Mamas...

You've Got a Friend in Me

I was always one of those judgmental people who couldn't understand why people let their young kids watch TV. Then I became a parent and quickly changed my tune, as TV became a good distraction for M when I was out of entertaining ideas. She watches a bit in the morning when my husband is feeding her breakfast, and one episode of something with her before-bed milk. Well, that was until I introduced her to Toy Story 3. 

About a month ago, on a cold rainy day, when we had already gone through our list of indoor activities (twice) I plopped her down on the couch with me and put in the Toy Story 3 DVD (I debated whether or not to start on 1 & 2 first, because she would want the backstory right? :). About one minute in she was introduced to Sheriff Woody...and he quickly became the love of her life. Whenever he was in danger, or in a toy-related predicament, M would place her hands on her cheeks and say "oh no wuudeeee!"

Multiple times she climbed off the couch, scooted over to the tv and stared up at the screen and said "mama mama, wuudeee, mama, oh no wuudeee!" And the first time we watched it she sat through almost the entire thing. The next day we walk in the living room and she looks up at me and says "wuudee?" and we haven't watched much of else since. 

I have the movie on my iPad, on my iPhone, on my computer...and we have watched it multiple times on all three, in addition to the television. She will go around the house saying "Wuudeee? Wuudee?" and I will have to find some sort of electronic device for her to see her boyfriend on. 

My mom thinks it is so cute that she even bought her a true to life Woody doll (as in the same size as the one in the movies - 16 inches). She screamed with joy when she got it home, but as soon as it came out of the box she was terrified of it, and now it sits perched on a shelf in her playroom. She knows it is there and admires it from afar by giving it a "hi wuudee!" when we are doing our laps around the house. We also have Woody wipes and all sorts of Woody books that she reads over and over and over. 

When she is upset, I can just say "Do you want to go see Woody?" and she is all smiles and "OK!"

I remember hearing stories from friends about their kids watching the move Cars ten times a day. I thought that was insanity! My kid will never watch the same move over and over! And here we are, with Toy Story 3 on repeat.

I haven't come to the point where I am annoyed by it just yet (so close though) as it is such a fabulous movie. The last 20 minutes make me cry every time I watch it, even though I know exactly what is to come for the fabulous cast of plastic characters. It, and the other 2 Toy Story movies, have made me take better care of toys in general (because I know they come alive when I am not looking)...and led me to ask the pooch what hijinks the toys get up to on a nightly basis. So far she has no report for me. 

Do your kids have a movie or TV show they like to watch over and over and over and over? 

Dearest Oprah Wiiiiiiinnnnnnfffrrrreeeyyyyyy, (UPDATE AT BOTTOM)

I didn't realize how much I would actually miss you until you were gone. Such a silly thing to say about someone I have never met, and only saw on television. I just sat and watched your final show, with my 17 month old daughter drinking milk from her sippie cup seated on my lap. Normally we watch Yo Gabba Gabba or Sesame Street, but I wanted her to be part of this momentous occasion, so that when she is older she can say that she actually witnessed the last Oprah Show. We had to pause you several times to take "wok" (walk) breaks as my daughter can't sit still very long, but she actually sat and stared at you in your gorgeous peach dress longer than I thought. I think she knew she was watching something special.

M watching Miss O

I am not one of your Ultimate Viewers by any means, but I do consider myself a fan. It wasn't until your final season that I actually could say I watched every episode in a season (thanks in large part to DVR :). I have seen a handful of the shows over the last 25 years, and have always thought of you as an inspiration to women every where. When asked who I would have at my imaginary dinner party, you are always on my list.

One of the shows I happen to catch years ago was about the Women for Women International group - which I immediately joined and have sponsored multiple women around the world for years now. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't known not to put my mascara wand back into the tube multiple times - something you showed us on one of your beauty shows when I was in high school. I know this is so trivial, but I seriously think about it every morning when I put on make-up (who am I kidding - every third day of the week I put on make-up!).

You have opened your viewers eyes to so many issues and shattered ignorance about so many things going on around our world today. I hate that my daughter and future children will not grow up with your show in their lives like I did. There is nothing else like you or your show out there, and because of that I am truly sad.

Yes you did get a little preachy now and then, and yes you do have this habit of repeating things your interviewees say all the time (which drives me crazy) but you have a heart and spirit like no one else I have ever come across. I can only hope that my daughter grows up with your compassion and generosity. I will do my best to be half the teacher you have been to girls everywhere.

Your final show was just perfection. Not going to lie, the anti-penultimate and penultimate shows were a bit much for me (yes I know you are friends with all these fabulous people, yada yada), but this last show was a gem. I could see the sadness in your eyes that this was the final time you were going to grace that stage (why was the chair there? :)...I wanted to jump in the screen and give you a big hug, as I am sure everyone of the millions of viewers did too.

I am not a religious person at all (I have been very religious in the past, but don't feel like I have a place for it my life now, or a need for that matter), but I loved what you were saying about the energy that surrounds us and is within us all. Something to definitely think about further...

If you asked me a year ago if I would be writing something about Oprah on my blog, I would have laughed at you (well I would never laugh at you Oprah). And here I am writing a love letter of sorts to this woman on television...but there is no one else like you, and we are lucky to have had you in all our lives for the past 25 years.

Ok, I must go clean up the kleenexes (from my ugly cry during the last 5 minutes of your show) on my living room floor before my dog tears them to shreds. You probably have your dogs trained to pick things up and throw it in the trash themselves, or have someone you pay to do those things for you...ahhhh, to be Oprah.

Thanks for the entertainment, and lots of tears,

Mama J

PS. My husband thinks now that your show is over you are going to "pull a Mariah Carey." And by that he means leave Stedman and go with someone younger...not get pregnant and name you kid something like Yemen Ann . He has his money on Usher. Prove him wrong Oprah!! Stand by your man!

PPS. So I sent this to you in an email, Oprah, and for the love of God you wrote me back! I am speechless! This just further proves how great a person you are. One little email from you made my day - my week!! Of course it could just be a form letter but to see an email from "Oprah Winfrey" in my inbox is pretty effing cool. See photo!

Mama Rant: Pregnant in Heels

Can we talk about the ridiculousness that is the show Pregnant in Heels on Bravo? I don't even know where to begin.

Let me start with the positives. I love Rosie Pope. She seems to be a very down to earth woman, who spends her entire life devoted to the craziest, self-absorbed, detestable pregnant woman I have ever seen in my life. From the two episodes so far I get the feeling that she knows that the women she works with are wackadoo, and I am sure that for ratings sake they are showing the extreme clients, but why does she put up with these crazies? If I could virtually punch people in the face on this show, I would have punched each of her clients over 10 times throughout the 45 minute episodes.

In the first episode we meet a couple who is 4 weeks away from having a baby and in complete denial about what is about to happen to them. They refer to the baby inside of her as a "life force sucking parasite." Lovely people, huh? They say at one point that they don't want a baby who is all "I'm the center of attention" and whatnot. What? Hello? That baby won't just be the center of attention but will be the center of your universe from the moment they are born. They are this terribly annoying couple (I swear the husband is actually swimming in the fella pond) who refuse to buy anything for the baby that looks like it is for a baby. They want everything in the babies room to match their modern, mid-century loft decor - nothing with colors, bright patterns or sounds. When Rosie decorates their nursery (with a fabulous wall decal of Space Invaders) and places on the floor a tummy-time mat that has bright colors and animals on it, they actually freak out. And then we find out they name their baby Fox...good lord.

The other couple on the first episode actually made my husband irate, and he only heard about 30 seconds of the dialogue while passing through the room. He got so mad that these people were featured on a tv show, even more mad that I was watching it. I laughed at him and went back to the nutjobs...

So the woman is a "best-selling author" (no idea who she is) and he is some high powered business man. They have 2 kids already and have hired Rosie to help name their third child, their first boy. The actually say that they want Rosie to "brand" their baby. Why not save $1000s and buy a baby name book.

They want Rosie to help them find a name, with the help of a panel of powerful professional New Yorkers, and a focus group, that sounds like he could be president in 2052. Throughout the episode they keep coming back to this group of names they had already liked from the start, and ignoring everything that every professional they had hired said or commented. They end up naming their child Bowen, the name they had originally decided on...is that even a name? Sounds like a prep school, or a brand of toilet bowl cleaner. At one point they have a private dinner party for their closest friends, to get their honest opinion on the names, and one of their guy friends says something like "Bowen sounds like a douche." Buddy, I couldn't agree more.

The second episode was also full of detestable human beings - a type-A business woman who was a trying to throw herself a baby shower 2 weeks before she was due...who does that?? And a couple having their first baby who hadn't had sex since she got pregnant...who cares??

Rosie, if you are out there reading this (ha), you seem to be a good person. Do not waste your time with these she-devils! Show us the normal people that you work with. Educate first time moms about what they are in store for. Show us some of your fabulous products! Us normal folks cannot relate to these wealthy freaks of nature. We will not be having hair and make-up teams come and fix us up for our first shots with baby in the hospital. We will not be paying someone to give us their opinions on our baby names. We are of sound minds and bodies...we are normal, and you seem to be too!! Of course you wouldn't be making the big bucks like you do, and no one would probably watch the show, but I would have more respect for you. Not that you care. :)

Yes Gabba Gabba!

About a year ago I wrote a post entitled "No Gabba Gabba!" about my disgust with the state of television shows for children, specifically with Yo Gabba Gabba. I had only seen one or two episodes, and was more upset with how tv shows are so different today than they were when we were young, than the actual show itself. The trippiness of the show overwhelmed me, and I was immediately turned off by the low-budget 70s feel of the whole thing. Well...

Fast forward to today and I can recite every word to every song of every episode of Yo Gabba Gabba. My daughter's name is M and she is addicted to the characters of Gabba Land.

For some reason it is the only television show that she has shown ANY interest in at all - except of course for the last 5 minutes of Sesame Street that are devoted to her boyfriend Elmo. She hears the first notes of the theme song and she is screaming and shaking her butt with excitement.

We now have about 30 episodes on DVR that we cycle through, watching one episode each night as she has her before bed milk. We are the proud owners of both of the soundtracks, and listen to them every day in the car. She actually has favorite songs that she will recognize and sing along to ("All my friends are different," "Everybody wash your hands," and "All my friends are insects" to name a few). We own a handful of board books about the Gabba Land characters. We also own paper dolls that she will hold onto with a death grip while scooting around the house.

Her favorite part of the show though is Biz' Beat of the Day. She will try her hardest to beatbox along with him...till her face turns purple and drool is running down her chin...but to her it is the best time ever!

I have tried multiple times to get her onto Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with no success, which kills me a little because I was raised on Mickey and all things Disney. Hopefully someday in the future that will change so when we go to Disney she won't be searching for Muno and his friends!

Although some episodes are painful, overall I enjoy watching along with M. Each episode has a clear positive message - don't be mean to your friends, sharing is fun, try it you'll like it - and because of the catchy (most terribly annoying) songs, kids can hear the message loud and clear. But they do have a tendency to get stuck in your head for days and days so watch out!

So try Yo Gabba Gabba, you'll like it!

Mickey Mouse Fix

Up to this point, my daughter’s TV exposure has pretty much been limited to Sesame Street and Movie Night Mondays, when we make popcorn, turn off all the lights, and watch Disney classics or a Pixar movie.

But over the holidays I introduced her to some classic Disney holiday cartoons and she was absolutely hooked. Her favorite character is Donald Duck, which warms my heart because he was always MY favorite. He’s clearly the most complex of the original Disney characters – he’s cranky and has a quick temper but he is also quick to apologize and has a good heart in the end…kind of like me…and my daughter.

So I was actually pretty happy that she embraced these cartoons, especially since we did a fair amount of traveling over the holidays and they were a nice bit of entertainment for her.

But now the holidays are over, and, in an effort to wean her off the Christmas video, I did a quick onDemand search and found a show called Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – a show featuring the standard Disney characters: Mickey and Minney, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. It is in many ways the exact opposite of the classic Disney cartoons. Rather than the old school hand animation, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (MMCH) uses the most basic of computer animation. Instead of a classic old school Disney cartoon storyline (with the occasional smoking scene or drinking reference), MMCH is borderline educational - in that it is interactive. The characters engage with the audience as if they are helping to drive the story forward. And maybe that is part of the appeal. Because I have no doubt, though the animation may be basic, that Disney has invested in and perfected the art of capturing a young audience. And damn, my daughter is hooked.

Hooked like a drug addict. When she wakes up it’s the first thing she says: “Mickey show?” When she gets home from daycare she refuses to take off her coat and hat, clutches her Donald duck stuffed animal to her chest, demands Mickey immediately, and will refuse all food and drink until I tell her that she cannot watch it until she eats.

If the 24-minute episode ends while I happen to be in the kitchen or bathroom, she will begin rocking back and forth chanting “Mickey”, and then will immediately jump to full-on crying mode, breaking with all previous tantrum protocol that usually involves a quick but stepped process to full-on crying.

She clearly relates to this show. In addition to answering the questions that any character may ask of her, she seems to feel as though this show is portraying her life. Every minute or so, when something happens on screen, she will turn to me and say, “that’s just like me, mommy!” And I have to put a smile on my face and quickly come up with some sort of connection to her life, however tenuous, even though in my head I’m saying “oh really, Hannah? You own an elephant too?”

I don’t have very strong feelings or opinions on TV restrictions. My daughter is very active and bright, and my husband and I were both raised with fairly unrestricted access to television. We both went to college and have good jobs and, in my opinion, are both pretty intelligent and creative people. However, I don’t want my 2 and a half-year-old sitting in front of a TV all evening.

So, as is standard with a toddler, we have a new phase and a new routine to work our way through it. Two episodes of Mickey after daycare, followed by the lengthy and tearful process of tearing her away from Mickey, doing things like bath time and puzzles and reading books – all of which she is fully engaged in once there. But to get there, we need to give endless reassurances of “you can watch Mickey tomorrow…you’ll get your next fix tomorrow…”

Sunny Days, Sweeping the Clouds Away

I love the Muppets and I especially love Sesame Street. I watched it every day growing up. Before I was even putting sentences together I was saying "sunny days...sunny days." I had a very fantastical childhood, thanks to my magical mother (and her special closet full of fabulous costumes), and anything Jim Hensen created was a big part of it. My favorite toy for a while was a Miss Piggy puppet (until I left her out in the rain and she was ruined...tear). My brother and I had big wheels with Muppets on the back of them (mine Miss Piggy, his Kermit, until I broke the Kermit off the back of his because I was a total jerk as a kid). We had posters of characters up in our rooms, we knew the words to every song (C is for cookie, it's good enough for me) on Sesame Street, knew every word to every Muppet Movie, and watched Fraggle Rock religiously.

Now that Baby M is of the age where she is actually paying attention to things on the television, we have started watching Sesame Street occasionally with our morning meal or for a distraction on my iPhone. And damn has it changed...not for better or worse, it is just different (except for Maria - how old is that woman???). It still appeals to people of all ages, and has that subtle adult humor here and there - have you see True Mud or the Mad Man sketches - but it is not your Mama's Sesame Street.

In the late 70s and 80s the stars of "the street" were Grover, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Bert & Ernie. Super-Muppets, like Kermit the Frog (Hi-ho!), also made frequent cameos back in the day. Guy Smiley was hosting game shows, The Count was counting up a storm, Don Music was playing his piano (and then banging his head on it), Telly was being whiny, the Honkers were honking...it was wonderful.

Thanks to advances in technology there are a lot of different things happening than just puppets from the waist up! I am assuming that the old timers have retired to Florida, as you don't see much of the stars of the 70s/80s/90s. Bert & Ernie are still kicking around, but are now claymation detectives? Much of the show is done with computer animation now, and resembles most other kids shows on TV. There is a whole new cast of characters as you probably know...Abby, Rosalita, Zoe, Murray...and the king of them all is Sir Elmo.

After doing a Google search, I discovered that Elmo was actually created in 1979, but didn't really become a main character until the mid-80s, which is probably why I don't remember him from when I was young. And now you can't go ten feet without bumping into some product with Elmo's face on it.

Why do kids love him so much? Don't get me wrong, I love him very much. What is not to love? He is cute and furry, and has an adult sense of humor, but why is he loved so much more than all of the other main characters now on Sesame Street? Is it because he is so adored that he is all over everything everywhere, or is it because he is all over everything that we have come to love him so?


I can tell you this that ever since she was 5 months old, Baby M has gotten a huge grin on her face every time Elmo is in front of her. Whether it is on the cover of the book (we have 3), in teether form (we have him on a key ring, as well as a stuffed version with plastic teething hands), on my iPhone (post to come about our favorite apps next) or on her clothing. I got her this long-sleeved Elmo tee from Old Navy and when she wears it she looks down at her shirt and starts to smile and giggle and then tries to give him kisses. Cutest thing ever.

When Sir Elmo comes on the television she starts to giggle and clap...just for him, not anyone else. We even have a Zoe puppet that she loves, but she doesn't recognize her on the television or in books for some reason. Elmo is her first crush.

Do your kids love the red, furry, ticklish Muppet too??

Whoa Gabba Gabba

My daughter has not been napping the usual 2-3 hours like she used to. She has also refused to nap in her bed for the last week. I think she got used to napping in non-crib locations while we were away from home for a good 10 days straight. So now we are lucky to get 20-30 minute stretches 3 times a day, which means that Mom the Entertainer is working a lot more hours that she is used to!

I have exhausted our toy collection...she can only knock over the stacking cups, chew on Taggy the Elephant until he is soaking with saliva, and look at herself in a mirror so many times a day. I have dangled all sorts of objects from rings in front of her until I am blue in the face. She bounced in her bouncy exersaucer until her legs got tired. I put on not one, but two puppet shows today (thank God for my mother and her attempted golf club head cover collection). We went for a long walk. And then went to Costco for another long walk indoors. We tried to ride Ellie, our dog (she puts up with a lot, but wasn't having this). And finally we had dance party. Which consisted of me holding her in my arms while I attempted to conjure up some of my old dance moves. Needless to say, I am mentally exhausted.

And after all of that, she was still ready to party, so I brought her in front of my computer and played an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba that I had downloaded last week for a long plane ride, but had since forgotten about. I had heard the hype, and seen the commercial with that one eyed creature in the car with the sock monkey, but had never been witness to an actual episode. I had no idea what I was in store for.

Whomever created that show was definitely on the dance floor with me and my glow sticks in college. There is no way this show was created by a sober person. I couldn't even get through an entire 30 minute episode. The characters mouths don't move?! There is some dj fellow in a fuzzy hat and kids pajamas?! And who is that child molester-looking fellow with the glasses?! My baby (and I) is not ready for this show.

I know kids love it, but it is way too whacky for me. Maybe it is because I am a muppet-lover, and grew up with Disney animation, that this show didn't sit right for me. I know it isn't made for parents, and is supposed to be whacky, but give me Handy Manny over Yo Gabba Gabba any day.

Of course I still have the "Baby...remember when you were a baby!" song stuck in my head...and my daughter will probably be obsessed with the show later on in life, but right now NO Gabba Gabba for me.