Posted on

My Baby Turns 3

 

3 years ago, at 4:20 AM, my sweet Tabby made her grand entrance. Even completely blitzed from a very long labor and C-section, I was elated to finally meet the little lady who had been bee-bopping inside me for over 9 months. There is a lot I don’t remember about that day, but I do remember how tiny and warm she was, and how amazing and beautiful I beheld her to be. It was without a doubt, one of the greatest days of my life.

 

In 1095 days, we’ve seen her change from a sweet, smiley baby into our sweet, firecracker of a preschooler. The teeny changes along the way, a fraction of an inch, a new word, were hardly perceptible on a daily basis, but suddenly we’d glance up and there she was – smiling, walking, kissing, talking, running, reasoning, singing, loving, helping! I am so dang proud of her it practically makes me teary to think about. Every day she belongs a little less to just us and a bit more to the world. She goes to school. She interacts with people I don’t. I feel like she’s gotten an excellent start in her young life and I will be there to help her as best I can to continue to be sweet, smart, inquisitive and confident.

Everyday she makes me smile and amazes me with her humor and ingenuity and kindness. She’s some of Matt, some of me, some of the various amazing people she interacts with, but she is all Tabby and she is incredible! Continue reading “My Baby Turns 3”

Posted on

Chick Trip

This weekend, I abandoned my family. But it was just temporarily. Swear. Friday at 4 PM I picked up one of my besties (Holly) and we (after a short pitstop to buy me new mittens) headed for the hills. A relatively easy 1.5 hours later, we arrived in Vail, home of gorgeous alpine views, ski slopes to die for and excellent girl time.

Two other friends (L&J) arrived a couple of hours later and we had dinner — the kind where you don't pick up things off the ground, don't cut up food for anyone and all of the drinking vessels are actually made of glass (no lids, either!). Then we talked. And talked. In fact, talking was our primary leisure activity of the weekend.

We were up late, and then even up pretty early since we didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to make bottles or calm fears. Holly, L and I went skiing while J (who is pregnant) went to the spa. After glorious days at our selected pursuits, we had a very happy happy hour and then went out to dinner (on top of a mountain) like grown ups, even if most of us ate burgers and fries. But we all smiled wistfully when we spied a sweet little boy asleep on his daddy's shoulder.

After dinner there was, of course, more talking. We're all moms with two (or almost two) kids. We all have husbands that we love to pieces and yet find completely irritating at times. Most of us have day jobs. We talked for hours. We could have talked all night.

Morning came quickly and after a leisurely breakfast and some more talking, we packed up our things (in about 5 minutes) and headed for home. It was a wonderful trip. I enjoyed everyone's company immensely and it was a break I desperately needed — I was notably less irritable and stressed when I got home. I can't speak for everyone, but as much as I enjoyed my time away, I missed my family hugely and I was so so glad to see them.

PS – I'd show you pictures, but we were having way too much fun to take any.

Posted on

SuperGirl

One of the songs on my running playlist is from the Power Puff Girls' Soundtrack (an all-time favorite), by Shonen Knife called “Super Girl.” It's Buttercup's theme, I think and it always energizes me.

It's been playing in my head this week, even though I haven't been able to get much running in. See, I've been Super Busy. My partner in crime has been absent, doing his duty for the good of our family on a business trip. I have a giant freelance project due the middle of next week. Between work and commuting and getting the kids to bed on time and household maintenance (cooking, cleaning, etc.) plus being out sick on Monday, I would normally only be left with about an hour to get anything else done. Luckily, I have excellent help right nearby.

My sis came over and helped out with the kids on Monday night when I was still sick and having those terrible achey chills. My mom came over last night and took over from the end of dinner until bedtime so I could use those hours on my freelance project (coming along nicely!). And because she's Super Grammy, she and my dad are having the kids to stay Friday night and a good part of Saturday so Matt and I can have a date night followed by a work day (when I should be able to finish the oft-mentioned project).

What's my point? My awesome family are my superpowers and superheroes. Also? I need to use that song as my ringtone.

Posted on

Dude, Where’s My Weekend???

I am a lucky lucky lady. I have worked it with my job so that I almost always get long weekends. This is a total lifesaver, especially on a weekend like this where even 3 days went “poof!”

Thursday Matt took Ben to the doctor’s office because he had been running a low-grade fever all week and hadn’t been his usual charming self (he was a complete whiny, grumpy mess, actually). We expected them to say “it’s a virus, let it run its course …” but to our surprise he had an ear infection. I ♥ antibiotics. Brave soul that my mom is, she agreed to take him and Tabby anyhow so we could do pub quiz night with my cousins, which was scads of fun as usual, though as usual we also stank it up with our 40th percentile score. To our delight and surprise, when we went to pick up the kids, my mom suggested we let them sleep over and before she could change her mind, we scooted out of there and got the first 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep we’ve had in … umm… well at least a year for me, 8 or so months for Matt.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday blazed by in a blur of gym, basement and errands. We are so close on the basement, but even so close takes a lot of time. My awesome cousins kindly came over this afternoon to give us a hand and we are that much closer to having it done!

The big surprise of the weekend has been Ben. I had no intentions of working on his sleep training this weekend with him coming off having an ear infection and all. But we had a couple of moments where he WOULD.NOT go to sleep, no how and no amount of cuddles or bottle or whatever would help, so we ended up letting him (yikes!) cry it out a bit and it has really worked – and it didn’t even take too long! 15 minutes at the worst. He is going to bed on his own without a bottle and we even got him BACK to sleep last night without one. I am crossing my fingers and holding my breath that we are on to something good.

Also – that boy LOVES spaghetti.

Posted on

Christmas All Wrapped Up

 

It has been a frantic week or so since I last posted. On Tuesday, our Nashville family came to town, along with some snow. Wednesday evening we went to see Zoolights in the snow. It was chilly, but so beautiful! Thursday, Christmas Eve, we spent most of the day cooking and getting ready for Christmas. That evening, Matt’s dad and stepmom took everyone to their favorite restaurant, The Fort. Christmas was a fun flurry of activity. The kids got a ton of awesome gifts … toys, books, clothes and Matt and I did pretty well too! The kids had a lot of fun, didn’t get too overwhelmed or hyper on sugar and even got midday naps. It was fun to spend it with just about all of our family and it was a very nice day. We spent Boxing Day with our Nashville Family and they left today.

 

Christmas is hard for me photography wise … I get too caught-up in the action and forget the camera. Not a bad thing overall, I suppose, but I’m always a little bummed when I see my photographs. This year I even apparently had a lovely smudge on my lens all day. Awesome.

Posted on

So Very Thankful

In no particular order, one for every day of the month of November … things that I am thankful for.

1. my amazing husband
2. jobs that we like that pay our bills and allow us to save for the future
3. our awesome libraries!!
4. living in the land of the free and the home of the brave
5. my darling, clever little girl
6. my charming, sweet little boy
7. our family who are fun to be with and give us unparalleled support
8. PTO (need i say more???)
9. a dog who is so patient with the kids and still loves us even though he doesn’t get nearly as many walkies
10. good health
11. our babysitter and her family
12. DVR (Tivo)
13. online shopping
14. excellent health insurance
15. great friends that make me laugh and keep me sane
16. my treadmill and gym membership
17. Colorado: awesome weather, extravagant beauty
18. audio books!
19. our awesome camera
20. my food processor (which kept me from having to chop like 10 cups of onions for stuffing last night)
21. my kickass Android Phone
22. our sweet little house filled with wonderful memories
23. freelance work
24. running water and electricity (particularly as it applies to hot showers and clean clothes)
25. excellent food and even better people with whom to share it
26. Google Reader
27. weekends
28. our charming little neighborhood
29. a basement remodel that seems to be going well
30. my sweet ride that gets me around in snowstorms and looks cool with a pirate sticker

Posted on

So Long Summer

*sigh*
I know we officially have a couple weeks of summer left on the calendar, but it is feeling very much over in this corner of the world. Today the pool closed and tomorrow I start back to work full time. I have had such a nice summer with my little people. In many ways I hate for it to end.

It feels good to hardly have spent any of Ben's first 4 months away from him. I've gotten to have the pleasure of watching him turn from newborn into baby. And I have loved the extra time with my sweet and sassy little girl. She is such a joy to be around and really makes me laugh and keeps me on my toes. I will take away some very good memories from this summer with my kiddos. I have a stack of photos from this summer all ready to bring with me to work to decorate my office. Maybe in the future (perhaps before Tabby starts kindergarten), I can have another summer with them. One can dream, right?

Of course, there is some good about heading back as well. I do thrive on routine and going back to work means more consistency with that. The money is also nice. Got to keep building those college funds and paying off the house. And it will be nice to have more adult interactions and some (relative) peace and quiet in which to check my email and have a cup of tea.

I have no doubt that the transition will be a bit difficult … we will all be getting up earlier, for one. Matt will be getting both kids ready on his own. I will have to fit the tasks that I have had lots of week-day time for this summer into the few hours between work and bed every evening or on the weekends.

I remember when I went back to work after Tabby was born. I'd feel completely together one day and completely in over my head the next. In time it got better. This time I'm more experienced, but I also have twice the number of kids. Wonder how long it will take this go-around before I really feel confident in the role of working mom. We shall see …. Wish me luck!

Posted on

Happy 60th!

My beautiful mom turned 60 years young today. That sounds like a cliche made up to make people feel better about getting old, but with my mom, I feel it's especially true. I think it's her absolutely infectious laugh and kind nature (with an edge) that keep her young. She doesn't look 60 and she sure doesn't act 60!

It is a distinct privelege to have her for my mom and so amazing to watch her with Tabby … she's a wonderful wonderful grandma. To know her is to love her. Here's to many many more lovely ones, lady!! May we ALL be as vibrant, healthy and happy as you are when we're 60. Thanks so much for all you are and all you do.