Trading in the baby

It's not that we don't love our baby, but she's just not working out for us. Our lives are more complicated; our needs have changed. The baby has to go.

This evening, Webhamster and I are going to look at the stylish yet sensible Volkswagen Jetta TDI and will probably trade in the MR2 Spyder. Sure, a canary yellow two-door convertible with stiff suspension that tightly hugs the curves at 55+ mph is sexy and fun to drive; however, it is totally impractical for Isabel and her carseat.

Come on, now... It's not like we're getting a mini-van. And besides, we'll still have the BMW Rockster motorcycle to make us feel like we're flipping the bird to The Man.

On the MILF phenomenon

Stifler's Mom from "American Pie" must have helped elevate the appeal of mothers to young men.

Last weekend, Webhamster took my 19-year-old German exchange student brother and his two friends to St. Louis. There was a wedding at the hotel that was similar to the wedding and wild party-minded guests in "Elizabethtown," and so the four of them hung out and drank with the crowd. A 48-year-old divorcee with a 21-year-old son was flirting with them and actually went up to the Germans' room in the middle of the night and asked the oldest of the three, who just turned 20, to sleep with her. He obliged.

Yesterday, I was out for a stroll with Isabel. I was wearing jeans and a cap-sleeve tee that was form-fitting but not "painted-on." As I was pushing the carriage along the sidewalk on the busy street, two young men in a passing car leaned out the window and let out loud wolf whistles.

Hello?! I'm a Mommy! Here's my baby in her carriage in plain view!

The same thing has happened twice before in previous weeks, and those times I was wearing a cropped hoodie and sweatpants set! It was modest, not like the v-string and bust-bearing Victoria's Secret "workout clothes". The ensemble did not exactly scream "check out my humps, my humps, my lovely lady lumps."

What is the appeal? Maybe it's the idea that "she does it!"

Separation anxiety

Isabel started attending the child care center at the college this week. She's going two days a week during April, and will be there full-time when I return to work on May 1.

It was a bit difficult for me to leave her there yesterday morning. She seemed fine, and was probably fascinated by the other babies in the infant room. I have really enjoyed spending so much time at home with her during her early development, and I know I'm going to miss our time together when I am working at the college. Yesterday was a reminder that the date is quickly approaching.

At least I can take her to my office at lunch, and with the warm weather and longer days on the way, enjoy playtime and strolls with her in the evenings after work. And I won't feel a bit of guilt leaving the office when the offices close at 4:30 and everyone else (except the president, VP, one of the deans, and a handful of dedicated people) goes home. I used to be one of those people, working through lunch, staying an hour or two after everybody leaves. Fuhgeddit!