We saw the movie "Sicko", and it was the most depressing thing I have seen in a very long time. I understand that there is only a finite amount of resources out there, but our current system of not encouraging preventive medicine, the stranglehold of the drug companies, and the ever growing profit demands of stockholders has tipped the balance. Perhaps the time has come for me to finally admit defeat with America and move. Love it or leave it, as the saying goes.

In brighter news, Dexter found his hands over the weekend. This new ability to shove his hands in his mouth and suck them whenever he wants has made him the happiest baby ever. He almost would rather suck his hands than eat, it feels so good.

We went to our first "Mommy and Me" movie at The Grove yesterday with pal Carol Binion, and Dex was a champ. He hung out, fed and slept through entire movie, then was a good boy while we had lunch and walked around the American Girl Doll Store. If he had a chart on the fridge, he would have gotten a big, gold star for the day. He made me so proud!

I had never been to an American Girl Store, and with a boy child, I probably will not visit too often, though I may have found Ground Zero for niece presents. It made my head explode with unrequited Doll Desires left over from my childhood.

I had read about these places when there was a bit of a scandal at the NYC store last Christmas. These dolls are not cheap, and some little girl brought a knock-off version to the store's Doll Hair Salon, but was refused service. The uproar on the blogosphere was swift and loud. Ultimately, they could have just brushed the doll's hair and stuck a bow on her head, but instead it escalated into class warfare.

But once inside the store, I could see how one could get totally sucked in, whether your doll is "real" or not. We saw girls as old as 11 with their moms and grandmoms having a blast with these wholesome dolls. A far cry from those child whore Bratz dolls.

I like that the Bratz are well designed as dolls. Beautiful big eyes, and you change their entire foot and ankle when you dress them, so you don't lose tiny shoes. Racially ambiguous, you could be any ethnicity and see yourself in the Bratz. As a brunette, I especially love their hair. But they are dressed like strippers at best, and it descends down to Thai child prostitute from there.

These dolls span the rainbow, but they look like nice little girls, or Little, Bitty Babies. Dexter was a hit in that department, as his is a real, live little, bitty baby, and the salesgirls coo'ed over him. American Girl dolls have plastic heads, arms and legs, but soft bodies. Perfect for pinning into, say, if you were the kind of little girl who might like to MAKE clothes for your dolls, like we were.

Besides retail spaces, there is a theater with a live stage show and cafe. The cafe blew me away. It looked like a fancy tea room, and you BRING YOUR DOLLS TO TEA. The dolls all sit at the table with you, in chairs that hook to the edge of the table like a baby seat.

It is probably a good thing life has presented me with a boy. I might go off the deep end with princesses, fairies, Barbie and American Girl. We would soon be buried under pink and purple tulle.

This week in Babyland...

We had our first Date Night!! Our pal Keelie came over and watched the precious tot while Steve and I were able to go out and take in a movie. We saw "Knocked Up," so it wasn't a completely baby-free evening, but it was a very funny movie, and more of the kind of light hearted entertainment we wanted on a Tuesday than "Sicko," which we are going to see today, thanks again to Keelie, who had offered us a two-for-one with the babysitting.

It was nice to leave the house in a regular bra, no maternity or nursing clothes on, carrying a small purse and even wearing heels. Heels made by Aerosoles, but heels none the less.

While we were gone, Dexter slept the entire time, snoozing away in his Moses bed on the floor of the living room. Keelie reported that Schmedley also kept a close watch, periodically getting off the sofa to go over and peer into the basket, as if was also on babysitting duty. Schmed has really taken to the baby. I have noticed that if the baby starts to fuss in the other room, the cat comes over to herd me in that direction.

I even had my first audition this week, for some VO work on an audio book. Brought the boy in a stroller and he charmed the casting lady with his big eyes and good behavior. Great in public, screams in the car.

Now that Lindsay Lohan was arrested today, with a lovely photo, I have decided that a mug shot is this year's crotch shot. These starlets are only getting arrested for the publicity. None of these women have any political ambitions, so who cares if they have an arrest record? It's not going to stop them from getting a job or whatever.

I'm a huge fan of Kathy Griffin's show, Life on the D List, and this season she has made it a priority to get the paparazzi to take her picture. She has a STAFF OF THREE trying to make it happen. She is not a young sexy thing anymore, so it's a bit of a challenge, but it does show the machinations that must go on behind the scenes to keep those gals constantly in the press.

The ultimate goal is getting in just enough trouble to get you booked, and your mug shot everywhere. If they looked like shit in those pictures it would be a different story. I know they all know how to pose for the cameras, and I'm sure they had their makeup professionally applied at the beginning of the evening. A professional makeup job will last for two days, literally, if you didn't wash your face. I want mug shots like Dana Plato and Gary Busey. A MUG shot, with crazy eyes, spittle and a sneer, not a glamourous photo booth shot.

I had a "No O.J." rule, and I think I might have to have a "No Lindsay, Paris or Nicole" rule as well. What is Pam Anderson up to? Andy Dick? That douche who owns American Apparel? Trump? The Heir and the Spare?

(I don't want anything more about Brangelina either!)

SOLD THE HONDA! Put the ad up on Craig's list last week and within an hour, offers started coming in. I wasted the whole weekend waiting for flaky people to not show up, but by 8pm on Sunday night, the car was sold to a very nice guy, who happened to have be the first response to the ad. Sold it for $1400. Much lower than the Blue Book, but almost double what CarMax offered at $750, and better than the $1000 we were willing to sell it for to Eugene's friend. E's friend is a grad student, and wouldn't have the money until October. I just couldn't hang around that long. Mama and Papa got a little mouth to feed!

I was a little sad to see it go. I really loved that car, even with the stupid seat belts and non-working A/C. It was a very pretty car, and an end of an era for me. I bought that car right around the time that Steve and I started dating, and it even had the "Shag" sticker on the back that looked like Ernest. Now Ernest and the car are gone, and Steve and I are a couple of old married folks with a baby. And it's 2007. And stamps are 41 cents. And these kids with their Rock and Roll music. Get off my lawn!

Dexter and I spent a few days up in Santa Barbara with Betty, my MIL and his Nana, getting us a little quality time with her before she heads out to the east coast for two months. The funniest thing happened at dinner, under the Out of the Mouth of Babes category...

Dana, myself, Betty and Finn are sitting around after dinner chatting and relaxing. All of a sudden Finn exclaims, "Nana! You have splinters on your chin!" At this point we all start to giggle, but Dana can't take it and scrams. Finn gets out of his chair to examine Betty closer. He's absolutely fascinated with the little whiskers (aka Hag Hairs) on Betty's chin. She's mortified, but as a gal who doesn't embarrass easily, she's still able to somewhat keep her composure. After Finn finally wanders away and Carolyn comes back, we tell her the story and the three of us laugh about it the rest of the evening. Betty decides it's about time to step up her beauty routine, and the next day we all trouped down to the salon where she got her first eyebrow and facial wax ever. Can a spray tan and hair extensions be far behind??

She looked great and perhaps she will meet that wealthy older man yet.

We almost made it to Mommy and Me yoga this morning. We were up, dressed, fed with an entire hour to spare for one last feeding before we had to leave. Except it took more like a hour and twenty minutes. Too bad, so sad. We'll try again on Monday. Instead, I have finally posted an ad on Craig's List to unload the old Honda, and hope to make it out to Target for trash bags.

It's been a couple of weeks...things are starting to settle into a routine. I'm still on the feed/bottle/pump cycle, but at least everyone's Thrush has cleared up (which I didn't even mention) so that has helped to eliminate a couple of steps as well as make it more pleasant for the both of us.

Dexter has finally put on weight and is "thriving" as they say. He's a little peanut, but healthy and good looking. I may not be getting a full night's sleep, but piecing something like it together most days. We are managing to leave to house almost every day to do something like doctor's appointments or little errands. Still no pedicure yet, but Steve and I hope to go out for our anniversary. Sans bebe. Even my baby weight is coming off, or so the scale tells me, though I fit into nothing from my former life that isn't sweatpants. And so the Summer of the Newborn Baby goes.


Yesterday's little outing was to the Kwik-E-Mart in Burbank. 7-11 stores have outfitted a select few stores around the country to look like Apu's store on the Simpsons to promote the movie coming out in a few weeks. Steve got a Squishee and I got a bright pink frosted donut with sprinkles, the iconic Simpsons pastry. There was a line out the door with security letting people in and out. I'm sure if corporate 7-11 realized what a hit these stores would be, they might have opened a few more. This particular location is normally a low traffic store. The employees looked a little overwhelmed.