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I love the holidays but, boy am I glad they're over! We are a Chrismukkah family...so it was pretty much non-stop gift-giving, over-indulging and routine upheaval for a solid month! Chanukah was super early this year, so I felt by the time we reached New Year's Day, the holidays had overstayed their welcome. I think the whole family was ready to get back to the good 'ol routine.
But, holidays 2010 were also pretty amazing. MDB really "got it" this year. He was able to express the gifts he really wanted and it was fun to see his face when his wish came true. And, thanks to him, we are now the very proud owners of every single Thomas train and Cars movie car! Santa the grandparents definitely didn't disappoint! Ellie (for some reason, Lulu, my nickname for my daughter didn't stick and I now call her Ellie or Ellie-bird...I know, poor kid) had a great time just soaking it all in. She LOVED opening presents and we loved hearing her say Happy Hak-ulah (for Chanukah) over and over again! And, personally, as a Jewish mom, I got a kick out of hearing MDB tell us on Christmas morning that he couldn't open his presents until we lit the candles.
And, what did the hubs and I get for our trouble? Yep, we are now the proud owners of a VERY LARGE train table...which now serves as our very formal and completely non-functional coffee table! Next year, I am asking Santa for a playroom!
So, what will 2011 bring? I'm not a big New Year resolution person...for some reason, they never seem to stick. And, my resolution has been the same since my teen years -- lose weight, get in shape. Whatever.
So, instead, here's what I am hoping my blog post in January 2012 looks like:
Wow, I can't believe how calm, patient and less anxious I was in 2011. I'm so proud that I accomplished my goal of making subtle and meaningful changes in my life to be a better wife, mom, family member and friend. I spent more time with my niece and nephews, even when planning was difficult and I made sure my friends and family know how much I care about them, deeply, more often. And, I never let a day go by when I didn't remind AMB how much I adore and love him!
This year, I watched with joy as my wonderful children turned 4 and 2. I'm eternally grateful that I spent more time living in the moment with them, knowing how quickly time passes. I'm so proud of the amazing human beings I'm helping to raise and continue to love them more and more every single day.
In 2011, I helped dozens of women realize their true birth experience and even helped some accomplish their goal of having a drug-free birth. And, I got to witness the most amazing miracle -- my new baby niece enter this world! I can't thank her parents enough for letting me be a part of their momentous occasion.
Professionally, I'm so proud that I lived up to my new title as VP and continue to love my job as much as I always have!
I couldn't be happier with the decision the hubby and I made of where to live! I knew we would make the right decision, the one best for our family.
I loved being a part of D & L's beautiful wedding, helped celebrate AMBs 35th birthday to make up for my supposed lackluster effort for 30, laughed a lot, spent more time in the 'burbs, had some amazing, life-changing vacations, blogged more, worried less, held my friends' new babies, read more and made sure to see my friends as much as possible!
Oh, and how could I forget, I did it...I am officially in shape and healthy. I worked out when I didn't want to and made choices that better reflect a mom teaching her children a healthy lifestyle!
Here's to you 2011...I love new beginnings!
In all honesty, this post was supposed to come on December 6. Instead, I've spent the week with the flu. Not just a bad cold or a wacky virus...but the real deal, can't-get-out-of-bed, feel-like-I'm-gonna-die, watch-18-hours-of-consecutive-Food-Network flu. I'm pretty sure this is first time I've ever had the actual flu...AND THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR I'VE EVER HAD A FLU SHOT. Yes, I'm yelling. I'm not a big fan of flu shots, but needed to get one this year so I can qualify for my doula volunteer work at the local hospital. Needless to say, a week of my life down the toilet. Annoying.
Anyway, December 6 was Lulu's 21st month and 27th day birthday. This was the exact age MDB was when she was born. For some reason, I remember MDB being older. Perhaps it was wishful thinking at the time, bringing a newborn home or the fact that I'm not ready for my baby girl to turn 2. I also don't really know how I did it. As fun as 22 months is (and it truly is...oh, the things that come out of her mouth!)...it is NON-STOP (yelling again!). She plays by herself for about 25 seconds at a time and is needing a lot of attention in the bedtime department. Being the ever-so-calm person that I am, how I did this stage and a newborn is beyond me.
The older and older they get, the happier I am that they're so close in age. Just today, Lulu woke MDB from his nap with hugs and kisses and MDB wouldn't leave for school without a hug from his sister, just precious. MDB tells people his "very best friend" is his sister and Lulu never gets a snack or a treat, without getting one for her big brother. My heart literally melts when I see them interacting like this. I had a friend, who also has kids 22 months a part, tell me "if you can get through the first year, life will be amazing." She was SO right (and, annoyingly, usually is about this stuff).
For some reason, I felt it very important to mark the milestone. So, to commemorate, let me share some of my most precious memories of my beautiful daughter:
1. She is the most verbal child I've ever met (which is scary, since my Mom said the same thing about me). She tells you to "top it" when you are bothering her and said to her brother the other day, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME...TIME OUT, when he was misbehaving. She will repeat ANYTHING you say and speaks in full sentences, it's actaually shocking sometimes.
2. Woa, does she have a sweet tooth. Just tonight, when I put her to bed, she asked me for cookies, candy, cream (ice cream) and posicles (popsicles). I also know this will be the first thing she wants when she gets up tomorrow. She also NEVER forgets.
3. She gives a mean dirty look (she may or may not have gotten this from me).
4. Still bald as can be...I seriously cannot wait for pigtails.
5. She is such a snuggler, which I love, of course.
6. The child is a bookworm. She knows most of her books by heart and always wants to read. She even sleeps with books in her bed and I find her hugging them in the middle of the night.
7. She is starting to show interest in things...like her new obsession Abby Cadabby. It's funny to me that she found Abby in some of the Elmo books we had. MDB never noticed her, not once.
8. She flirts her way through the grocery store, batting her baby blues, capturing the hearts of pretty much anyone that passes her by. And, to top it off, she gets visibly annoyed if someone ignores her. She will literally start yelling "HI" and her name until they turn around and wave to her. And, when they do, she will put her face in her hands, acting shy. I know, we're in for it with this one!
My plan is to cling tight to the next two months while I still officially have a baby. I can't bear the thought of her graduating out of her sleepsack, crib, footie PJs and yes, even the diapers!
Things have gotten out of control at our house and Thomas The Train is to blame. My sweet little boy, as are most of the little boys I know, is OBSESSED with Thomas.
To clarify, I do love the little wooden toy trains (even though I know they are probably laced with poisonous paint and other toxic chemicals). He plays with them for hours and hours which forces him to use his imagination and exercise his brain putting the tracks together.
It's the television show that I worry about. I actually can't believe it's on the air. The trains are SO mean to each other, always in the worst mood, condescending, angry and use words like "stupid" and "hate." There is never a lesson learned, a catchy tune or anything even the least bit teachable. I know what you are thinking, that's my job. I get that and I limit the TV time to an hour or so a day, but there are times (like 5 a.m., don't even get me started on how much I dislike Daylight Savings Time...that is another post entirely) when only the TV will do. He used to love shows like The Backyardigans, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny and Special Agent Oso...but now, it's all Thomas, all the time!
Any tips out there for introducing some new programming in our house before my son starts being as grumpy as that annoying little blue train and his so-called friends?
I met "the one" in high school. I actually remember the day AB, a senior to my junior, came up to my locker to talk to me. AB was a cool guy...he was popular (whatever that means now, but it meant a lot then), a macho hockey player, was known for his amazing parties during school hours and a ladies man. He was the kinda guy that teachers loved to hate...he would get in trouble and then talk himself out of it with his charm and wit. And, he liked me! We dated for one blissful week and then he broke up with me in a note. Just like that.
To be honest, I didn't think too much about AB during college. But, I remember so well the summer of 1999...when I ran into him at the gym. Since I'm not...and have never been...a gym buff, I think it's fate that put me on that elliptical trainer that day. I remember rolling my eyes to my friend, as I saw him across the room. And, giggled to her when he started making his way over to me to chat. But, after all, he was still charming, funny and cute, and he coaxed my phone number out of me. After a few weeks of making him beg, I finally agreed to a date. And, the rest is history!
Today, November 5, is our five year wedding anniversary. What a wild, amazing, perfect adventure it has been. And, on a side note, fate also never let me throw that "break up" note away...which I ever so gently reminded him of in POSTER SIZE at our rehearsal dinner!
I can't help but smile when I think back to the party guy, with the bangs, who picked me up for our first HS date in a white, old-school Chrysler Fifth Avenue...
...to the amazing man I married, who along with being the best husband and Dad in the entire world, never lost that charm and wit that attracted me in the first place. And, now here we are, 11 years later, happily married with two amazingly, beautiful and perfect kids. Me, I still feel like that young girl when I look at him, thankful and lucky that he picked me.
Happy anniversary to the love of my life.
When I started my blog last October, I had high hopes. It was kinda like when I was in college and assumed that just because I was at a top rated journalism school and was semi-cute, I could just bypass the normal progression of working your way through small town TV stations and just be the next co-host of The Today Show. Yeah, no. Same as when I was waiting to get "discovered" in my early years as the next child movie star prodigy. Guess they were looking for someone a little taller?!? I just assumed that my blog would gain instant popularity. In reality, I guess you actually have to, you know, write...on a regular basis. Not sure once a month is gonna fly.
I've been giving myself a lot of grief about my sub-par blogging efforts. There's so much I want to say and remember. Sometimes it's hard to put my feelings into words, other times I think things are too silly and trivial to put out there and other times I'm just downright lazy. Then tonight it hit me that the thing I started as an outlet, a keepsake and my personal therapy was turning into just another thing to feel guilty about for not doing. So, moving forward my promise is first cut myself a little slack and be proud of the days I DO post. And, second try to do a better job updating -- not for any other reason than I know I'll want to remember and relive these memories as the kids get older!
So, here is what has been going on in my world for the past month:
1. We had our first (and g-d willing last) trip to the ER with Lulu. Why, you ask? Well, my darling daughter put a dried blueberry up her nose. Oh yes, she did. I couldn't get it out -- you try telling a 20 month old how to hold one nostril closed and blow out the other. I figured it would come out on its own and it didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. Just in case, I called the pediatrician and the nurse told me I needed to take her to the ER immediately. Really?!? I guess because the back of the nose and the airway are connected, you can't mess around. I obliged and after an hour of sitting in the waiting room, it came out on its own. (I couldn't believe how much a dried blueberry reconstitutes with snot...yes, the mental image is just as gross as the real thing). Thank goodness it did, because I couldn't decide which was worse, the heartache watching all the families coming in with very sick kids or worrying that I had my perfectly healthy child around all those germs. And, I also wouldn't be me if I didn't admit that I was slightly panicked because my baby was an hour past her bedtime.
2. On the same subject, my Mom rocks! My hubby wasn't home during operation-blueberry-extraction-so-we-don't-have-to-go-to-the-ER. When I realized that we had to go, I couldn't reach AMB on his cell. So, I called my Mom so she could come over and stay with MDB. A few minutes later, I heard from the hubs, so I called my mom back and told her not to worry. She evidentially heard that ever-so-slight panic in my voice and even though she was SO tired and was just getting home from work, she came with me to the hospital anyway! She never ceases to amaze me, with her deep kindness and calming presence. Thanks Mom!
3. Oh, and I come to learn that someone's big brother (not naming any names) had spent lunch that day teaching his baby sister, who mimics EVERYTHING, how to stick food objects up her nose. The big brother in question acted so innocently when informed of his sister's misgivings...
4. One of my very best camp friends came to Chi-town for the weekend. It was so incredible to see her and spend quality time just the two of us. It was also so heartwarning watching her interact with my kids and how they took to her instantly.
5. On the doula front, I've officially joined the ranks as a volunteer doula with the amazing Chicago Volunteer Doulas group. It's perfect for me since I can pick and choose my 12 hour shifts monthly. And, to do it for women in need, I can't imagine anything better and more fulfilling than that. I'm hoping to get on the schedule for December and I honestly can't wait to be a part of my first birth.
6. MDB has reached an epic infatuation with Disney Pixar Cars. Our house has been taken over by little cars with eyes and his ongoing Chanukah/Christmas list will keep The Disney Store in business for a long time to come.
7. Halloween was a big success for my pirate and my ladybug. Unlike every other child in America, MDB wasn't very excited about putting on a costume and trick-or-treating. He was finally coaxed out of the house in costume with a mini Milky Way bar and seemed to enjoy. And, Lulu...well, she loved every moment!
8. Speaking of Lulu, it seems we have a girl with a serious sweet tooth. Her new favorite words are cookies, cake, candy and cream (for ice cream). She starts every morning by opening the freezer, grabbing the "cream" and climbing into her highchair. I try to explain that ice cream isn't appropriate at 5:45 a.m., but I'm not sure she agrees.
9. We went to Vegas in early October with four other couples -- just like last year. We had an incredible time and, after a weekend of losing, literally on the way out of the hotel to the airport I won $1,000, hitting a spin on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. What a way to end an alreay perfect vacation!
So, that's it for now. 'Til next time...which could be tomorrow or could be next month!
