Billytea! I thought of you this weekend, because we went to the petting zoo at the county fair, and they had a wallaby and a baby wallaby hanging out in a Trader Joe's bag. So cute! Also, llamas, deer, baby goats, a pot-bellied pig. Fun little petting zoo, even if the deer would chew on just about any bit of clothing they could reach.

I am dog-sitting the Big Dog, who is Very Large. And drooly. I have drool all over my furniture and my good wool skirt I wore to work today. Tomorrow I think I'll wear jeans...

I did wind up making large blenders of smoothie (loaded with yogurt and banana) to stave him off. It was belly filling and tasty and with yogurt you get protein so it sates them.

David I make him packages or waffles with fruit for breakfast for him, and a smoothies seems like filling, cold mini-meal.

msbelle, my housecleaning brain did a memfault: is this for hoys boys? M wears a 14/16 pant/ shorts, and a M or L shirt.

If's that what you meant?

I cannot believe I'm having a panic attack about my trip to Vegas. I've got my itinerary printed out, I'm packed, and everything, but I'm certain something horrible will happen if I leave. Which means that I probably have to go, to tell my still traumatized brain that it's OK to move on, that the world is someplace I need to be in, that I can't hide in my little hole. Stupid, stupid brains.

That's so exciting, Pix! How fun.

Belize trip sounds like a great time, Pix!

Connie, you're probably right, deep breath, Vegas will be fun and when you come home everything will be fine. That's my mantra when I'm starting to panic. Everything is fine.

Thanks, all! I’m super excited for so many reasons.

Also, I adulted my butt off today by actually getting our Christmas travel booked -- flights, car and even a dinner and show evening cruise in Fort Lauderdale with my parents as a present.

Connie -- it’s perfectly normal to get nervous before a trip, and it’s okay to feel anything you’re feeling. Maybe Vegas will help to convince your brain that getting out of town is a good thing.

Connie, better a panic attack now rather than tomorrow. It'll all be okay, but it's hard to convince your lizard brain of that.

Oh, and Pix, Belize sounds amazing!

I am dog-sitting the Big Dog, who is Very Large.

Aw, who's a Big Dog? YOU ARE.

Which means that I probably have to go, to tell my still traumatized brain that it's OK to move on, that the world is someplace I need to be in, that I can't hide in my little hole.

It's perfectly understandable and normal to be feeling these things. Is there anything you can occupy your mind with so it's too busy to panic and you can go to Vegas and have fun, already?

Some strategies for dealing with worrying: [link]

Oooh, Belize! I want to go one day.

We've been doing the smoothie thing for the wee one, my child who is underweight and eats like a very picky rabbit. I do worry that it has the ancillary effect of increasing the weight of the kid who is doing just fine, but as you all have just reminded me, he's not very far away from Eating. All. The. Things.