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• See Me on TV!

  Yes, the world will be watching me on TV.  And by "the world" I mean my mother and my Hugo... details to follow this cute pic of them I snapped at the park this past weekend. Actually, Hugo doesn't watch TV* so it might just be my mother.  But maybe just may you will see me too if you tune in and/or know how to work your DVR.  In short, I will be appearing on CNN Headline News Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Not Just Another Cable News Show.  It's sort of like Best Week Ever meets CNN.  And I will be giving hilarious pithy commentary.  Also, I'm hoping I look good.  Or OK.  Or just not like a tranny Shamu. Further links, airtime details and more can be found at this post on my personal blog. If you do watch, let me know how wonderful I am, would ya?  Or, at the very least, let me know that you think I am funny for a cross-dressing killer whale.  Thanks kids, yer the tops! No video tonight because I am being a shameless self-promoting mamacita.  Well that and the videos I have are not up to the caliber of "NAPTIME" -- my recent arresting Toddler Tube trilogy that is so visually stunning, it makes LOTR look like cold Alpo. See you soon Interbuddies and hope to see you watching me on the boob tube! xoxo, me * Re: Hugo not watching TV -- I'm not against it at this point (I was, for right or wrong when he was super young), but since he has never "met" the TV, I don't see a reason to introduce him to it.  It's kind of nice he's blissfully unaware that it exists.  No?  Yes?  I'm not sure.  Maybe if he misbehaves I'll force him to watch mommy's reel. (shiver!) Posted Jun 06 2008, 11:33 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: baby, early intervention, CNN HNN, naptim, baby watching television, not just anouther cable news show

• Wait, Your Baby Does What?

  I was reading a new feature article on Babble tonight called "The Little Man" about a woman who wanted a girl but got a boy and was stopped in my tracks by this sentence: "Now, at a year and a half, he gets what I call his "work face" on as he takes the filter out of the vacuum empties it in the garbage, puts it back, replaces the cover and then proceeds to vacuum." Now my year and a half old is supposedly, according to the state of New Jersey's early intervention program, advanced in all things but language.  However, he does not empty and replace my vaccum and then proceed to vacuum.  I mean, sure he's never seen me vaccum (OK maybe once or twice but it's not my slobitude, he was scared of it so we stopped it) but even still, I can not see him happily and competently completing this task from start to finish.  I see Hugo taking the filter out, waving it in the air, banging it on a table to see the dust come out, laughing at the dust, and then running around the house like a maniac with it before playing with the fallen debris in a determined manner while mommy calmly cleans it all up.  So what do you think, dear readers? Does my child need housekeeping intervention?  Or does this woman perhaps, overstate the babe-ilites? Well you know what my child is good at?  Watch this video taken this morning on our ugliest couch (one from Ikea that I married into) before the make lunch, get dressed, get to daycare scramble.     As Daddy is in the UK, we're missing him but we're hanging loose. And thanks to technology, he's watching what happened in his living room across the ocean. That amazes me. Maybe I'm old?  Heck, the television still amazes me.  So does the lightbulb, magic lantern and the Cotton Gin.  See ya soon Internet.  Lovings on you. xoxo, Susie  Posted May 29 2008, 10:44 PM by Susie Felber with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: baby, early intervention, ugly ikea couch, vacuum, housekeeping

• Total Balls

  Is the title of this post perhaps about Hugo's early intervention assessment?  No, not really.  I'll tell the whole early intervention story soon, but the long and short of it is that: #1 I liked the women who showed up this morning much more than I expected.   They were kind and they were pros.  Until recently I had forgotten that I was in speech therapy from age 5-12 and somehow couldn't get sprung from it once in.  So I've bad memories of being trapped against my will, missing regular class in a land of dull dittoes and dull children, "taught" by sincere speech teachers I wanted to run screaming from even then. And due to this I've a chip on my larynx about the whole speech business, ya dig? #2 I liked them speech ladies even more when I found out that Hugo is advanced in most areas, and just has a "33% speech delay." What exactly that means I'm still not sure.  But I've a piece of paper declaring him a social and developmental star and that's nice.  The fine motor skills of a 28 month old?  The social/emotional skills of a two year old?  The cognitive skills of a 33-year-old genius?  Well slap me with a flounder, and call me Cedric!  Thats fantastic!  Oh and that last one was a bit of an exadggeration, but only slightly. Speaking of balls, Hugo is obsessed with them.  Here's two days in a row of ball kicking action. The first soccer ball you see wasn't his, he simply swooped in and stole the ball from a group of sweet Hispanic kids.  The kids were really kind and also distracted by the dogs who had joined us in the park.  Ever since the basketball net broke, the park has blossomed with all ages and genders and species and sports.  We're all hoping the net doesn't come back.  When the basketball net went up, this little park became for men 18+ only and there was no room for little girls, kids skating, playing handball, playing with their dogs, playing soccer, etc.  Note to self: Call the Mayor's office tomorrow to request the net not be fixed... G'night Internet. Lotsa love. xoxo, Susie Posted May 08 2008, 09:33 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: weehawken, speech delay, early intervention, babble, balls, basketball, speech therapy

• Late Early Intervention

  It's late right now.  At night.  I had a rare night out with an old friend.  Bouley Bakery.  Fantastic.  The company, if not the grub.  And this friend so tender and genius-y and fun, recently got a book deal based on her This American Life story that aired on the radio and was so good I had goosebumps and kept driving around and around the block (with Hugo in the back) just to hear the whole thing.  And I'd love to tell more but it's near midnight and -- oi -- the NJ early intervention team is (finally) coming tomorrow way early to stare at Hugo and listen and take notes on his talking and/or lack of it.   I know this is a big issue because my first post about this has gotten many search engine hits with things like: http://www.google.com/search?q=my+son+does+not+speak+at+all+and+he+is+18+months  Also "speak 18 months boys" and "how many words should child speak at 19 months" and "my baby is 28 months but does not talk full sentences" and on and on and so the site stats reveal the full neurotic spectrum.  Stuff a parent might've silently worried about now gets poured out to the all-knowing oracle that is the internet.  And the interweb sends them to me?  Poor things. I'm a bit peeved because even if he isn't using a lot of words, I know he's normal and smarter than normal and I'm not saying that because he's mine.  He understands everything, he's delightfully social and ever since he turned the babble back on, the fact that he's got his own language doesn't bug me.  However it's the early intervention folk I'm worried about. I had to call them the other day.  This 34 second video will explain all or some, or my annoyance.  Awesome, ya? Ya. OK pals. More on this fun tomorrow. For now, xoxo & I remain, slightly cranky and also, Susie Posted May 07 2008, 11:47 PM by Susie Felber with | with no comments Filed under: speech delay, early intervention, spanish, neurotic parents, babble, things I wish I didn't have to do, nj early intervention, baby talks but not enough

• Wheel Good Grub

  Going out to dinner with a baby is hard. This is probably why we never ever did it until recently. You never know when you might suddenly need to stop sipping your Shiraz and slip out the back door if -- nay when -- Jr. starts making enough of a fuss to make the other patrons hate you. And as I was someone who wasn't so fond of the babies before having one, I feel Hugo's every public peep like a thunderclap. But now, with the nice weather, outdoor cafes are calling.  Dining al fresco, you needn't worry about baby's squeals bouncing off of the walls.  The occasional piece of bread that flies?  Well it's not a scandal, it's a pigeon's repast!  And if there's a diaper smell, it's a cinch to blame it on any one of the homeless lads that waft by. But seriously, the very bestest part of eating on the sidewalk, is the free floor show.  Because for Hugo, nothing beats vehicles for pure entertainment and as you can plainly see, he's a bus groupie.  Please note how he literally stops breathing -- stops mid-cough -- when I mention the word "bus."  Note: I'm thinking this bus and car worship might not work for little girls.  Am I right? In other news, Hugo is having his early intervention assessment on Thursday.  Actually, it was to be last Thursday, but they cancelled on us that morning.  I know fellow Babble blogger Rebecca can relate. I'll tell you and show you more on this NJ state-sponsored speech nonsense tomorrow.  And in other other news, I may be doing a little something something exciting in the comedy/performing world next week.  Sorry to be vague but I guess I'll report more on this when it actually happens.    All the best Babble friends and big xoxo, Susie  Posted May 06 2008, 09:59 PM by Susie Felber with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: speech delay, early intervention, drinking wine, dining with baby, outdoor cafes, wheels on the bus go round and round

• Muy Cuteness!

  (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More) I forgot to mention that on top of losing 20 pounds by 6.17, getting in shape and holding down a full time job and more from home, I'm currently trying to learn Spanish.  It's been my broken New Years resolution for ages, but I've finally found my dream learning tool in the form of a free podcast done by two chirpy Scottish people. I now see that I am not alone and that this Coffee Break Spanish is very popular on iTunes.  I love it because they seem to be having a great time repeating dull phrases back and forth.  I smiled across Manhattan today from 8th avenue to 3rd as I got in one 15-minute lesson.  Also, it's just adorable/hilarious hearing Spanish from Scots.  I've one very good friend who is from Scotland and she's just eternally warm and open so I embue these faceless Spanish phrase phreaks with the very best wits and charms.  Also, there's a subtle sexual chemistry between teacher  (Mark) and student (Cara) that can't be denied. Hmm, maybe I need to get out more... Oh, why was I in Manhattan when I work from home?  Well speaking of coffee breaks, I spilled a dram of coffee on my laptop yesterday and it went all screwy.  So off hoofed to bigtown to get one of the genius boys in PC suport to help me. And speaking of podcasts, I feel my weight goal is easy peasy ever since I randomly found Dance Rock Radio with C.B. Lyon.  It's just amazing.  While my taste in music usually runs to sensitive ultra folky or anything black people do, this is an exercise mix dream come true.  The music is so exciting I had a hard time not shouting while on the treadmill like I was 14 again and sneaking into a club.  Instead of shouting I clapped like a spastic seal which is OK as I'm the only one in the gym (more on this gym that was a prayer answered soon). So speaking of cuteness:  This video of Hugo ignoring all his toys for... a Q-tip and plastic cup.   More on the speaking thing soon (what a can of autistic worms I opened by even mentioning it!) but honestly, ever since the doctor  seemed concerned, he hasn't stopped talking.  Almost none of it makes sense, but he is yapping again and that's good.   So now I want to share pics and stories about a friend I saw this weekend but I want to keep you wanting more so I think I'll save that for tomorrow, Internet. Hasta manana Web superfriends. xoxo, Susie Posted Apr 02 2008, 10:53 PM by Susie Felber with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: speech delay, early intervention, coffee creak spanish, c.b. lyon, scottish people rock, podcasts, dance rock radio, spanish, autism scare, autistic

• Speak No Evil? Speak No Nothin'!

  Hugo is a normal happy baby and perfect in all ways.  But he's all but turned off his talking apparatus.  He's just hit 17 months and he talks less than when he was 12 months.   Am I worried?  No, the doctor said he's obviously an alert, social and happy baby and it's no sign of his intelligence and that he is absolutely not autistic do't even go there and that it is probably because my husband was a late bloomer.  My man went to Oxford with some sort of special designation for being a brain bucket.  But as a baby, reports from his mother (who should be biased as she thinks the sun rises on his left shoulder and sets on his right) are that he was late in everything.  I think she said he was a blonde blob of a baby who didn't walk until he was 22 -- years old.  Or something. But anyway, awesome, blaming his genes sounds fab. Again, am I worried?  OK, yes.  But only because the doctor uttered dreaded words "early intervention" and then she reminded me again that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him and then asked the nurse to leave and asked if I was OK.  Wait, you said there was nothing wrong with him?  So why are you expecting me to be not OK? Would you, dear readers, be OK?  How can you both not worry and yet look into "early intervention"?    Yes so to illustrate this post I intentionally picked the one video I have of him acting a bit like an autistic potato.  Enjoy!  And I'll let you know how the talking and intervening and all that comes along. See you soon Web lovelies, xoxo, Susie Posted Mar 28 2008, 09:56 PM by Susie Felber with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: baby, autism, speech delay, early intervention, oxford