Pumpkins

I feel kind of like Cinderella when 5pm rolls around. That is when I am in a frenzy, trying to get Hagen fed, bathed, dressed, and then fed again before getting to bed at 6. Somehow, if I miss the 6 pm window (as I did tonight), I have a completely overtired, overwrought monster who screams but won't sleep. So we are currently undergoing the pain that is "crying it out"-- something Carmen NEVER does with him. She watches him two days per week. She rocks him and sings to him before nap time, basically until he is completely asleep, and earlier today, I saw her feeding him a bottle IN his crib. No wonder it seems he prefers her to me. He is 8 months, and is definitely showing no signs of separation anxiety, unless it is for Carmen. Yes indeedy, he does seem sorry to see her go. But that is a completely other story. Lately I am obsessed with making sure he doesn't like her more than he likes me. So I am really trying to limit the time she watches him-- when I go to work and run a few errands, and to boxing. But I am trying to work out more at home, because I just don't want to leave him. Can't stand the thought of him bonding with anyone but Mommy (or Daddy).

So today we went again to the pumpkin patch, and in fact took Carmen's two kids. It seems I see a pumpkin patch now on every corner-- with not only pumpkins but petting zoos, rides, race painters, cotton candy, and pony rides. I don't recall anything like this when I was growing up. The closest I can recall is going to a faux-patch with my Brownie troop, and getting to pick out a pumpkin when we demonstrated we could tie a square knot. We also got a patch for our uniform (?knot tying? don't remember which skill this would represent) But no petting zoo, pony ride...and this was on a real farm, and only the Girl Scouts were there, it was not really open for commercial use. I am not sure when this frenzy of pumpkin-mania started. I almost expect to see a "pumpkin-man" to get one's photo taken with, kind of like Santa at the mall. In my day we got our pumpkins at Vons (actually, I think it was Alpha-Beta), and our costumes too.

All over the magazines are the photos of celebrities with their kids at the pumpkin patch. Now, if I was in the 'biz, this is the last place I would go-- obviously, this place (there must be only one in Hollywood, since it is in every October issue of Us, People, Star, etc and it appears that only famous people go there) is crawling with paparazzi, and I really wouldn't want my kid all over the tabloids. Whatever-- doesn't stop me from reading it.

And we'll probably hit the patch this weekend again! No celebs at mine, that's for sure. I am gettting to know the staff there pretty well though...not a bad thing though, maybe if I get in good with them they'll give me a good deal on a Xmas tree...since come 11/1 the pumpkins make way for Santa and the Elves.