Two Step...

Celebrate we will

Because life is short
But sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue
~ Dave Matthews Band

TWO STEPS!!  Once again, our lives are about to change.  Nicholas is standing by himself for longer and longer so last night I decided to see how long and how far he'd go.  With Peter behind him and me using Peter's phone as a bribe... he did it, two whole steps.  Giggling then clapping then giving up to go back to crawling.

Kinda surreal.

Sweater weather...

Dear Nicholas,

Tomorrow is the start of my favorite time of year.  Cool crisp air, crunching leaves beneath my feet, sweaters, pumpkin, and now add a special birthday.  In two short months I will be the mommy to a one year old.  Time definitely does fly when you're having fun.  And we're having fun!  Two days ago you started clapping and it seems like you haven't stopped.  I guess you're having fun too.  You're such a happy little boy and you bring sunshine to everyone you're with.

Last Saturday at Joey's birthday/Aunt Meg and Uncle Chris' block party you showed Meema you can stand with no hands.  Such a little show-off. =)

Meema and cousin Jessie were so surprised!  Joey didn't care. ;)

And check out your new 'kicks'.  Love you're little Chucks!

 

 



You're a crawling champ and getting braver.  Sunday you decided it was time to climb the basement stairs.  You made it all the way to the top.  I'm not ready for this independence.

10 months old today 'Mister, Mister'!  Mommy and Daddy love you so much and we may be just a little biased, but you really are the cutest little boy!

Yesterday I received a letter from my acupuncturist.  They're updating their website and want to include patient stories.  I'm excited to share my story about how your little sweetness came into this world.  Daddy and I truly believe that acupuncture played a big part in how you got here and why my pregnancy was easy.  I'm definitely going back when it's time to give you a baby brother or sister. ;)

I think that's it for now.

Love Mommy xoxo

Another "I'm a delinquent blogger" post...

I'm sitting here in my cube at the "green mermaid coffee company" for the second to last day.  My intuition was correct in my last post back in May (wow, I do suck as a blogger) and my manager's last day was June 26th.  June 25th, I applied to an architecture firm that turned out to be my friend's.  The interview process was via text and email and only one phone call.  No portfolio planning.  No worrying what to wear that looks professional... and fits.  No nervousness.  It was perfect.
My first day is August 15th (after some much needed R&R - and home organizing).  I'm excited for this new journey.  It was a paycut, but the work/life balance should prove to outweigh the loss in money.  The firm is closer to home and I don't have to rely on the LIRR to get me there.  Which brings me to the next new thing for us...

from toyota.com

Meet "Heidi" the Highlander.  I love it!!  It was a spur-of-the-moment purchase... what isn't for us. ;-)  I had to sell my "green mermaid coffee" stocks before I left so I wouldn't lose that money.  So we traded in "Ravioli" my RAV4 and upgraded.  It will make driving to work enjoyable.  Peter was always the one to get a new car.  I was content with what I had and planned on driving it into the ground.  But during my birthday dinner, he told me he was thinking about what to do with that money and told me that at 35 (ouch) I deserved a new car.  Something bigger for Nicco (and Oreo) and an upgrade from my base model RAV.  Who am I to turn him down.  So the following week we spent his birthday at Toyota.  He drove a hard bargain, but we got them to bend with the trade-in amount and drove home later that day with Heidi.  And yes, I name my cars.  Every car I've driven has had a name... "The Shaggin Wagon" (my beige wagon was named after the Dog mobile in Dumb and Dumber), "The LIPA Mobile" (my blue wagon was similar to what the people who worked for the power company drove), "The Rollerskate" (the Geo Tracker... need I say more), "Cory" the Corolla (may she rest in peace - I still miss her.  She was a great car and my first new car.), "Ravioli", and now "Heidi".

N is now 8 months old!  Time keeps ticking...



He crawled in on his own and Oreo actually followed to the "IN" command.  Please don't call CPS. ;-)

N's been crawling since July 9th and has been pulling himself up to stand for about a week.  I bet he's walking soon.  He's "talking" more and more.  He sounds like he wants to say "Dog" or "Oreo" (he mimicks us after we yell at Oreo for stealing something).  I bet "Oreo" is his first official word (besides mama and dada).  He hates to sit still and is always on the move.  Let the fun begin!!

something wicked this way comes...

Did you ever get that nagging feeling in your gut that something bad was going to happen?  I'm so nauseous it feels like morning-sickness.

I think my manager (my 7th in the 4 1/2 years I've been here) is leaving.  She moved up to NY from DC two years ago when the company closed the DC office.  Now, she went off and got engaged to someone from DC.  Besides this job, she has no ties to NY.  What's going to keep her here?  Me?  Yeah, No.  What's making me sick is the change.  Who's going to be my 8th manager?  My development has suffered because of the revolving door of managers.  There is no one in this office I would want to work under.  They're all micro-managers.  How I long for the days when I worked from home and didn't have to answer to 12 people... oh I'm sorry 8 (it feels like 12).  Those days were sweet.

Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions.  Maybe she's working out a deal to work from DC again.  But all these closed-door meetings with the seniors and the director usually mean change is coming.  She also seemed like she wanted to tell me something today, but couldn't.

I think I'm going to go all 'Peter Gibbons' on everyone and just not go in.

6 months!

I've been meaning to post since this past Thursday, so here's three posts in one...

Thursday, May 17, 2012:
I'm definitely ovulating today (sorry if that's TMI).  A year and 1/2 ago I'd be racing home to Peter to "catch that egg".  I'm actually kinda sad.  I forgot what it's like to not "try".  Today the ewcm and ovulation pains (forgot how bad they are) are going to waste.  Maybe in a year. ;)

I just saw my reflection in the window of a passing bus.  I looked old, unhappy and almost unrecognizable.  I have no explanation other than my usual suspects... work, commuting, work.  When will I change my stars?

Friday, May 18, 2012:
Six months ago today you were in my belly; happy as a clam and not wanting out.  I, on the other hand, was preparing for induction and your arrival.  I wish I remember exactly how I spent the day (most likely on the couch with Oreo) so I could get the whole picture, but everything before you is a fleeting memory.  Time before the moment I left the house for the hospital that Saturday night is vague.  You have changed everything and I love you for it!  You are the reason I smile.  I love you sweet Nicco!

Mommy and Daddy stayed home with you today.  You don't feel well.  Poor baby has a cold.  We both fibbed to our bosses ("my wife can't stay with him" "my husband can't stay with him") so we can have the day as a family.  This upcoming weekend is busy.  I hope we get to rest next weekend, Memorial Day weekend.  The unofficial start to summer!

Sunday, May 20, 2012:
Happy 6 Months Nicholas!!  I can't believe how much you've changed and have changed Mommy and Daddy.  We love you and can't wait for the next 6 months.  Ok, that's a lie.  We can wait.  We love the 6 month old Nicco.  You've got the greatest chubby thighs.  The smile that lights up a room.  The cutest little giggle when I "zurbert" your thighs and belly and when I tickle your neck.  You can roll from your tummy to your back (you seem to like being on your back best) and can sit up somewhat unassisted.  You've mastered the walker.  You can't quite get the sippy cup yet; you just use it to chew on.  You love all the fruits and veggies Meema has made for you and gobble them up.  Everything goes in your mouth!  Even my shirt, scarf, necklace, hair... anything!  You like covering your head with your blanket or bib.  You usually wake up stuffed in the corner of your crib.  And when you do wake up, you just lay there talking until we come in to get you.  You're such a sweet little boy.  I love watching you grow and explore.

My first...

Mother's Day.  It was kinda surreal.  It felt like every other day.  Nothing special but Peter took care of everything (but cleaning the bathroom and making dessert).  It was nice to spend time with Nicholas, just the two of us.

It was also the first time I left the house before 8:00 am that didn't involve work, a dance competition, or vacation.  Saturday, we went to Lowes to get our gardening supplies for the season.  We bought ten bags of mulch along with two more beach grasses, a new rose (since the existing stick in the ground didn't want to bloom anymore), a daisy, and some petunias.  We're going minamalist this year.

Some quiet time after a long day.

Yesterday we had both families over.  It was interesting to say the least but it was nice seeing everyone interact with N.

Meema and her boy learning to use pliers.  Getting ready for Opa to put him to work.

Mom Working... not Working Mom

I've been working for 20 years of my life. Sometimes with more than one job at a time. Then I was a working woman. But now my title is flipped. Now I'm a mom who happens to work from 8-4. I never saw myself as a "mom". But so quickly that has changed. The moment Nicholas entered my life, it happened. I might as well throw on a pair of 'mom jeans'.