Forgive me as I use this outlet as a way to express some fears. My brand new laptop, less than 30 days old, has broken.... Really? How does this happen? I was so careful not to let Emma touch it, despite the temper tantrums that ensued after every disciplinary "No" I gave her to not play with Mommy's computer. And I never set a drink near it, or even typed with greasy fingers, nothing! But yet, somehow, it's on the fritz. The function keys (speaker on/off, volume up/down, wifi on/off) aren't working and the mousepad area has hit or miss functionality. So I'm hoping maybe there is just some setting I accidentally put it on and with a click of a button they can fix it.
But what's looming in the back of my mind is how we decided to opt out of the Best Buy protection plan (>$300) that would replace/fix any problems we had for the next three years. Our thinking being, what could happen in just three years? We've had the same computer since college and have never had problems with it. So what's the point of spending money for a protection plan that we'll probably never use? Oh God, famous last words...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Birthday
Yesterday I said goodbye to 27 and hello to 28. And oh what a birthday it was!
I moved my work schedule around so that I'd have the day off. So me & Emma started the day with a trip to the gym. Emma played in the nursery while I went to my Power Punch class - that I love! It so empowering to punch the crap out of something. :) Then we met Cody for lunch and had some great family time together. Then it was afternoon naps (for the both of us) and then to get ready for the evening's festivities. Thanks to my wonderful hubs for letting me take a night off from my Mommy duties and join some girlfriends downtown for dinner & drinks. A delicious dinner turned into entirely too many drinks but oh what a night... So many great laughs, so many fun stories, and, oh, did I mention - so many drinks!
So to my girls I say pass the salt, swallow the cake, give me a big cup, and oh yeah, salud! Thank you for helping make this birthday one of the best ones yet. I heart you. ~Eduardo
I moved my work schedule around so that I'd have the day off. So me & Emma started the day with a trip to the gym. Emma played in the nursery while I went to my Power Punch class - that I love! It so empowering to punch the crap out of something. :) Then we met Cody for lunch and had some great family time together. Then it was afternoon naps (for the both of us) and then to get ready for the evening's festivities. Thanks to my wonderful hubs for letting me take a night off from my Mommy duties and join some girlfriends downtown for dinner & drinks. A delicious dinner turned into entirely too many drinks but oh what a night... So many great laughs, so many fun stories, and, oh, did I mention - so many drinks!
So to my girls I say pass the salt, swallow the cake, give me a big cup, and oh yeah, salud! Thank you for helping make this birthday one of the best ones yet. I heart you. ~Eduardo
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I have arrived!
After 18 months with a little one, I've finally come to the realization - I have arrived as a Mom! What brought on this grand epiphany? No, not the 9 months of growing a human in my belly, not the 11+ hours I spent in labor, and not the past 18 months of having a mini-me clung to my leg. Nope, it was a missing carrot, well a toy carrot, actually only half of a toy carrot.
It's one of those pretend foods that the kids "cut" with a plastic knife. The food is already cut, they're just held together with velcro. But it's one of Emma's favorite toys - and for some reason, the carrot especially. It would capture atleast 20-30 minutes of her undivided attention, she would cut, put it back together, cut, back together... whilest I was cooking supper, cleaning, or just enjoying some "free" time. So to me, it was priceless.
So this whole week I have looked through couch cushions, under furniture, dug through toy boxes... meanwhile Emma keeps pulling out the other half, trying unsuccessfully to cut it, then turns to me and pleads "Uh Uh", which translates into "Mommy fix it!".
Then I thought to myself, have I really hit that point in my life where I'm stressed over a toy carrot?? Then it dawned on me... holy hell I've become a MOM!
There were signs. The interest in buying jeans with a higher waistline so that when I'm bending over with Emma they don't drift so low that I start resembling a plumber.
Or the fact that when I did my annual "clean out the closet" (i.e. - if it hasnt been worn in a year, donate it to Goodwill) I cleaned out every high heeled shoe - even the ones I kept after college in case I ever wanted to get glammed up one night - and left the clogs and tennis shoes and other shoes of comfort. And why didn't I notice it was strange when I passed the mom in a minivan and found I was envious of her spacious vehicle with its built-in DVD player and doors that close with a click of a button.
Gone are the days of driving around in my Daddy's pickup truck and blaring some Bellamy Brothers (little shout out to my redneck girls there). The cowboy boots and hat that were once a staple in my bar hopping, NC State tailgating, frat house partying wardrobe, are now collecting dust in the basement (no haven't brought myself to Goodwill them yet).
But it's funny, I remember in college when I'd make an early morning (probably 10am) grocery store trip - half hung over, wanting to buy every munchie in there but since I was flat broke from last night's bar tab, only getting Oodles of Noodles & Gatorade - and passing Moms with their adorable rugrats strapped into the carts and thinking, I can't wait till thats me. When I wasn't worried about grades and school and what I was going to do with my life. When life would just be simplier. (Yeah right!)
I happened to catch a re-run of Sex & the City the other day. The one where an old friend of Samantha's who used to match her step for step in the... ahem... man department, was now married, moved to the 'burbs and was having the gals over for a baby shower. All of the girl's new friends had names like Mary Beth, Mary Kate, & Mary Jane (Martha Rose?) and were dressed as plain as possible and couldn't talk about anything other than how wonderful their kids were. Of course Carrie was mulling over how could someone change so much and could she ever see herself in this suburbian life. This difference between me and Carrie (amoung other things - glameous wardrobe, fabulous hair, big city life) is that I could always see myself in the 'burbs with a family. I always knew I was destined for this, eventually.
So here I am, I have arrived at last! I am a Mom - in all it's glory. So while I say a bitterweet goodbye to my days of being young & dumb, I say hello to my Mom Jeans, comfy shoes, and missing toy carrots.
It's one of those pretend foods that the kids "cut" with a plastic knife. The food is already cut, they're just held together with velcro. But it's one of Emma's favorite toys - and for some reason, the carrot especially. It would capture atleast 20-30 minutes of her undivided attention, she would cut, put it back together, cut, back together... whilest I was cooking supper, cleaning, or just enjoying some "free" time. So to me, it was priceless.
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| Pic from Small World Toys |
So this whole week I have looked through couch cushions, under furniture, dug through toy boxes... meanwhile Emma keeps pulling out the other half, trying unsuccessfully to cut it, then turns to me and pleads "Uh Uh", which translates into "Mommy fix it!".
Then I thought to myself, have I really hit that point in my life where I'm stressed over a toy carrot?? Then it dawned on me... holy hell I've become a MOM!
There were signs. The interest in buying jeans with a higher waistline so that when I'm bending over with Emma they don't drift so low that I start resembling a plumber.
 |
| Saturday Night Live |
Or the fact that when I did my annual "clean out the closet" (i.e. - if it hasnt been worn in a year, donate it to Goodwill) I cleaned out every high heeled shoe - even the ones I kept after college in case I ever wanted to get glammed up one night - and left the clogs and tennis shoes and other shoes of comfort. And why didn't I notice it was strange when I passed the mom in a minivan and found I was envious of her spacious vehicle with its built-in DVD player and doors that close with a click of a button.
 |
| Yes that's me, several years ago, with beer spilled on my leg and holding the poll so I don't fall over. But aren't I cool with my boots & NC State belt buckle? Classy. |
I happened to catch a re-run of Sex & the City the other day. The one where an old friend of Samantha's who used to match her step for step in the... ahem... man department, was now married, moved to the 'burbs and was having the gals over for a baby shower. All of the girl's new friends had names like Mary Beth, Mary Kate, & Mary Jane (Martha Rose?) and were dressed as plain as possible and couldn't talk about anything other than how wonderful their kids were. Of course Carrie was mulling over how could someone change so much and could she ever see herself in this suburbian life. This difference between me and Carrie (amoung other things - glameous wardrobe, fabulous hair, big city life) is that I could always see myself in the 'burbs with a family. I always knew I was destined for this, eventually.
So here I am, I have arrived at last! I am a Mom - in all it's glory. So while I say a bitterweet goodbye to my days of being young & dumb, I say hello to my Mom Jeans, comfy shoes, and missing toy carrots.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Christmas
So can you tell we've been busy?? 5 weeks since my last post! Whew, it's been unreal, but hey, I'm here now, so let's get this ball rolling....
So Cody, Emma, and I had a wonderful Christmas!! After our whirlwind Thanksgiving, I decided I wanted Christmas to go a little differently. While I know Emma hasn't really learned the joys of Christmas & Santa yet, I still wanted to spend Christmas morning in our own home. Last year we went down to NC on Christmas Eve and she spent her first Christmas in my parents' house. We had a great time and loved spending that momentous occasion with family.
However, when the day comes that Emma learns about St. Nick, it'll be hard to explain how he'll find her at Grandma's house. So at some point, we'd have to make some changes. So why not this year? So I did it. I coordinated with family so that we could spend the morning here. And I'm so thankful I did!
Growing up, our tradition was going to Christmas Eve Mass. Now typically this is a "Midnight Mass", but over the years my family & I have went to 10pm masses, 8pm, 9pm, etc. but never actually at midnight. But since this is our first year going to one in Roanoke, I didn't know what to expect... but to our surprise, they were holding a 4pm mass in which the nursery would be open too! Score!! So we dressed Emma in her adorable Christmas dress and off we went. Unfortunately, what we didn't know was that you have to get there early to get a seat... oh well, we'll know for next year! But here's a couple pics we took after returning home:
So there are several things I've learned about parenthood that no one ever tells you. Most of them have to do with things being alot harder than what you thought they'd be, but let me know you... Christmas is one of those glorious secrets that turns out to be so much more FUN once you become a parent!! I had a blast setting up all her toys/gifts after she went to bed. No wonder Santa is so jolly! It's the best job ever!
And I was so giddy the next morning that I woke up a whole 2 hours before Emma or Cody. But this video of Emma's first reaction says it all. It made it all worth it...
So Cody, Emma, and I had a wonderful Christmas!! After our whirlwind Thanksgiving, I decided I wanted Christmas to go a little differently. While I know Emma hasn't really learned the joys of Christmas & Santa yet, I still wanted to spend Christmas morning in our own home. Last year we went down to NC on Christmas Eve and she spent her first Christmas in my parents' house. We had a great time and loved spending that momentous occasion with family.
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| Christmas 2009 ~ 6 months old |
Growing up, our tradition was going to Christmas Eve Mass. Now typically this is a "Midnight Mass", but over the years my family & I have went to 10pm masses, 8pm, 9pm, etc. but never actually at midnight. But since this is our first year going to one in Roanoke, I didn't know what to expect... but to our surprise, they were holding a 4pm mass in which the nursery would be open too! Score!! So we dressed Emma in her adorable Christmas dress and off we went. Unfortunately, what we didn't know was that you have to get there early to get a seat... oh well, we'll know for next year! But here's a couple pics we took after returning home:
So there are several things I've learned about parenthood that no one ever tells you. Most of them have to do with things being alot harder than what you thought they'd be, but let me know you... Christmas is one of those glorious secrets that turns out to be so much more FUN once you become a parent!! I had a blast setting up all her toys/gifts after she went to bed. No wonder Santa is so jolly! It's the best job ever!
 |
| Christmas Eve |
And I was so giddy the next morning that I woke up a whole 2 hours before Emma or Cody. But this video of Emma's first reaction says it all. It made it all worth it...
But we had the best, most laid back Christmas I think I've ever had! And it was wonderful! Emma got several other gifts, including a backpack and a potty (that we hope to begin using soon!).
We then ventured down to NC (in the snow) to have a Christmas day supper at my parents.
The following day was spent at Great-Grandma Herman's and finally at Cody's parent's.
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| Stockings @ Great-Grandma Herman's ~ ages range from mid-60's to 1 y.o. |
Christmas is one of those times you sit back and enjoy the many blessings you have. This year, I thank God for new traditions, a beautiful White Christmas, laid back family gatherings with wonderful people, delicious food and drink, and, of course, my darling daughter and her loving father.
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