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Friday, July 31, 2009

TGIF

It's been a long week
- Monday work all day, rush home in evening to relieve husband so he can go to work, pack while baby demands attention

- Tuesday - Wednesday, LA trip - wonderful trip! I read Sophie Kinsella's new book "Twenties Girl" on the plane, it made me cry! Imagine sitting in a middle seat, crying over the ending, big heaving tears. Very tired from getting home at midnight but excited to find Jillian Michaels' 30 day Shred DVD has arrived from Amazon (inspiration goes to Suburban Turmoil)

- Thursday morning - jumped right into Shred DVD, went to work, later that night stayed up till 11 chatting with CeCe and really glad I did because she talked me out of getting up at 4:30am to Shread again, that would have been really stupid

- Friday - woke up at 5am to get ready for 3 hour drive to Orlando, we had our meetings from 10am - 3pm and got the heck out of there, no park visits, no downtown Disney visits, just Starbucks and home. On the way home my entire body began to ache from Shread. Really super glad CeCe talked me out of doing it again this morning. I probably would have cried through every meeting.

Disclaimer: due to all the chatter of bloggers posting about products for money or freebies I feel compelled to add Shred, Starbucks, Suburban Turmoil and Sophie Kinsella's books are my preferences who all happen to start with S and I'm not mentioning them for personal gain.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

This day is awesome

I'm at Manhattan beach pier with coffee and Jen Lancaster's latest book. This goes a long way towards making up for the long hours I put into my job. Special thanks to my boss for letting me plan my own business travel where I opted for a mid day return flight so I could enjoy the beach this morning.

This is me loving life.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

This week has got to be awesome

I've done all laundry, ironed all clothes for the entire week, and re-seamed my favorite dress pants while watching drop dead diva. Ready for trip to LA, trip to Orlando and back on the weekend to pack for following week to Maryland.

And for no better reason then to show off a photo of Charlotte I give you my best attempt at a Mohawk

Friday, July 24, 2009

Commitment to dress better for work

One of the perks at work is DirecTV. We are supposed to watch cartoons but Nickelodeon replays the same SpongeBob & Madagascar cartoons over and over every day. You'd think that out of 10 years of SpongeBob they could show a little variety??? So we've moved on to shows like Cash Cab, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, E News, Discovery channel, Animal Planet and our all time favorite - "What Not To Wear". We've become hooked on this show and due to watching 3 shows a day, I've started to get self conscience of the claw clip I wear in my hair every other day, pony tails, generally not wearing my hear down because I haven't had a hair cut in 4 months and with super curly hair it means it's out of control and looks crazy when down. So tomorrow I'm getting a hair cut and hopefully next week as I travel to LA and Orlando I'll look sharp and pulled together with all the tips I've learned on "What Not To Wear".

Now if I could just get someone to nominate me for that show! A $5,000 shopping spree in New York City would be awesome and I wouldn't cry for my current wardrobe, throw a giant fit that nothing fits and beg the hair stylist to not cut too much like the current ungrateful participants.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I didn't know they could do that!

Charlotte can now see over the top of my nightstand. She likes to reach for whatever she can grab from the top, which happened to be Tylenol today. Knowing it would really piss her off, I take it away and shove it behind a picture frame. I didn't expect her to grab the edge of nightstand and swing her little legs off the ground while trying to climb it??? In her fury, she turns into a baby hulk.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Minor Altercation with neighbors

I live next to the party condo; their friends and neighbors gather to drink and laugh regularly. Before I had the baby they would stay up VERY late and get obnoxiously drunk. By day they are very sweet and I really like them - I just don't have a life where I can join in the merriment. Since having they baby they've been really responsibly quiet until last Friday night.

Coming off a rough 3 day cold, husband gets up at 6am and I can't sleep. I've already taken one sleeping pill and it's not working. The music pounds next door - actually it wasn't that loud but I was freaking out as I always do when I can't sleep and have alot to do really early!

So I went out and yelled "hey, can you turn the music down?" and they did.

The next day was awkward, whereas I may not normally not smile and wave after every single pass of their porch today felt odd, how do I tell them I'm not upset, I was just really sick and couldn't sleep? I couldn't tell if they were studiously ignoring me.

A week went by and finally yesterday I caught my neighbors eye and she profusely apologized and swore to never play the radio again to which I said it's okay!

And now things are back to normal.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Just when I thought I had the parenting thing down

She pulls a hanging plant on her head ... well she pulled hard on the hanging plant, which brought it crashing to the floor and the base hit her head.

9 years

Tomorrow is our 9th year wedding anniversary! I'm hoping I get picked up from work to have a beach picnic complete with sushi (Fashion Roll) and key lime pie (from Bonefish).

Anyone else get married in 2000?

PS.
I got my wish; husband and Charlotte showed up at work to whisk me off to the beach. We didn’t have a baby sitter and I’m kinda glad because she made us laugh really hard by having a great time with my new ring box. In fact I think she showed way more enthusiasm for the ring box than I showed for the ring – kids don’t hold back on joy! I have to post this photo because it’s one of my all time favorites – such sheer joy!!! I wish I were more openly joyful for the things I love and cherish.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Saturday - random thoughts

my pets don't get much mention on this blog, it's because their life is routine - not much changes. But this week we got some photos of their attempt to change things up a bit.

Sharing baby's new water toy - hmmm better move it before it gets holes like the last water toy


Zorak has lost enough weight to jump up on the garage stool - does he still look fat to you? well he's lost 3+ pounds and that's 20% of his body weight!


Oooh and now he can fit in the Amazon box! Don't ya just love it when weight loss let's you wear slimmer things?


***
Today I went shopping with baby to try clothing on my newly slimmed body - it was far more fun then 1 month ago - bought 3 blouses for under $50 total!

I might add that since I've been sick for 3 days, missed 12 miles of walking and been eating comfort mac n' cheese and chocolate eclairs. Monday I'll jump back on the work out wagon!

I have a business trip to LA soon and was desperate for some decent clothing. Here in S. Florida we dress really casual to the office, sandals, tank tops (the nice kind from Ann Tailor) so I'm not in the habit of dressing "well". I tend to freak out a bit every time I have to fly somewhere. Hence the emergency shopping trip.

***
Went to Pearl Vision today to fix my glasses after baby head butted me, crushing them against my left eye.

***
Baby has taken to bouncing her face off the bed (we have a mattress on her floor), it's kinda disturbing. She finishes with a big grin so it must be fun.

***
I haven't tried my SoniCare toothbrush yet - chronic laziness rules my life! Will also start Monday.

***
Baby is napping now, I think I will join her while there is still time.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Sick day

Today was one of those days where I slept in, husband benefited by getting a shower while I kept watch for baby to wake from 10am nap, got to eat lunch with hubs and baby, got an afternoon nap, tagged along on grocery trip and got a Cookies and Cream milkshake from Chick Fil' A and got a lovely dinner. Very nice day, don't mind the sore throat and lost voice much.

I used to be one of those employees who would work through every sick day, I could not fall behind, the world could not function without me, etc. Then one day, 3 weeks into my maternity leave, I received a phone call from Boss saying he didn't think he should have to pay for a week of sick leave as part of my maternity leave. Fortunately human resources was paying attention and found it stated in the employee manual that employees are allowed to combine sick days with maternity leave. Something snapped, I've since determined to take sick days and leave work at work.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

The Dental Hygienist VS me

I must admit, I'm not a model citizen when it comes to tooth care. I'm reminded of this every time I visit the dentist. I put it off as long as possible, cringing at the guaranteed tongue lashing but too lazy to actually try to impress her by flossing daily.

Nidya was in rare form today; Chinese born Venezuelan she speaks with a sweet kind Latin accent but with the steely command of woman in charge. She's not prepared to take another day of my lazy crap. First she shows me a Sonic Care toothbrush while I yawn and pretend to be interested, then she combs through my 3 year history and points out my gums have bleed on every single visit, she then commences with the cleaning while holding up a mirror and pointing out every single pocket that is 3-4mm deep!?!, she pulls out a DVD player to demonstrate the horrors of gum disease, I tell her I'm considering adult braces and she recoils in horror and says I MUST FIX MY GUMS FIRST! She actually tells me I must prove to her that I can take care of my teeth before I can get braces. Oh my!

Nidya wins this round - I buy the Sonic Care toothbrush and vow to make Nidya proud.

disclaimer - I was not paid by SoniCare to promote this product, I see I didn't even spell it right above.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

4th of July 2009

Today is a fun day for me because I can finally compare photos from Charlotte's first holiday to now!

4th of July 2008 (Charlotte was 15 days old)
- 15 days post birth, I was home by myself, husband working, family hadn't visited yet and I was finally getting into a routine of feeding, naps and diaper changes. I hadn't planned on a festive outfit so a flag over the baby was all I managed.


4th of July 2009 (Charlotte is 1 year, 15 days)
- For the last 6 months I've loved dressing her in hats but she appears to be done with this phase, I couldn't keep her flag hat on today.


She did have alot of fun with waving the flag!


pre 4th of July

This year 4th of July falls on a Saturday, which means the government mandated holiday (to all companies with full time employees) is null and void. There are two types of companies in this country: 1 - is a kind generous company who feels their employees should still get a day off and 2 - does not give a free day off (probably grits it's teeth and says I give too much anyway). I work for the latter type.

In a fit of mid-day desperation to be anywhere but work I called husband and requested a 5pm picnic on the beach complete with vanilla cheesecake with fruit on top. Would you believe that lovely man of mine complied? He's the best!

Evenings at the beach are lovely. We saw a rainbow, set up the umbrella when it rained lightly, once it stopped one of us went snorkeling (the one who brought the cheese cake of course) and baby had a smashing time playing in the wet cool sand. Oh and I had the opportunity to do my first Reach-inside-her-mouth-and-scoop-out-a-shell! I did quite well thank you, no panic, just reach, finger swipe in circular motion and comfort crying baby afterward who has mouth full of sand.

On with the photos:


Who says Mohawks are for boys?

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

We survived

1. Two solo flights with a one year old
Surprisingly going & returning flights were each delayed two hours, a fact that almost sent me into panic mode because I'd timed her naps to the original fight time but found myself desperately hungry (probably due to stress) and had a chance to eat at the airport before launching myself and baby through security and into confined seating of plane. Miraculously she delayed her nap time and slept on both flights!

2. A reunion of family I haven't seen in 5 years
We picked up my 94 year old aunt from the nursing home and put her in the back seat with Charlotte. Surprisingly, baby was pleasant for the hour drive! While standing in line for food, the host sprayed a can of bug spray around the perimeter of food - nothing like bug spray on your picnic food! I don't remember much after that point until an aunt relieved me of Charlotte who shockingly sat quietly with her for an hour.

3. A trip to my mom's church
Not surprisingly Charlotte had a little too much fun (more on that in the post below)

4. Sunday with my family and two 9 year old second cousins
This day was particularly exhausting. First church, then lunch where baby got overwhelmed with 9 people at the table. I only remember wolfing down my food while holding Charlotte and leaving to changing a dirty diaper or maybe it was giving a bottle while everyone had dessert. Fortunately they saved some for me - my aunt's blueberry cobbler is NOT something to miss!

After lunch, Charlotte took a two hour nap during which I played Monopoly with two 9 year old second cousins, first cousin and brother - I can't begin to describe the chaos that ensued. My brother and I are Monopoly sharks but no one else had a clear grasp of the rules so the entire game was spent with our tutelage. I think with all the shouting I'd have preferred a nap with Charlotte. I remember telling one 9 year old he would lose a turn if he continued belching.

Once Charlotte woke up my stress level sky rocketed as both boys insisted on holding her, giving her a bottle, playing with her, etc! She didn't want to have anything to do with them and tried repeatedly to escape. Poor baby, we lead such a quiet life down here in South Florida, this was most unexpected. I thought 9 year old boys would be slinging mud and balls at each other - well the latter did happen but I wasn't expecting they'd both be so sweet and wanting to spend time with the baby.

5. Baby proofing my mom's house
Where do I start? I've barely finished baby proofing my own house, let alone more holes to plug, gate to set up so she doesn't hurl herself down the basement stairs, glass front door to keep locked so she doesn't push it open and get stuck, etc, etc!

Despite it all, my family is a treasure to be around and we'd love to have stayed longer. Also enticing is the soft grass, bunnies, squirrels and fire flies in my mom's neighborhood! How cool is that!?!