Ellie and I spent Saturday morning together, doing what girls do best... shopping! We went to the grocery store super early (around 8 am) because we found NOBODY is really there except other mommy's with small babies. We like that just fine. We had almost the whole place to ourselves. The only con... no baggers. Eh, I'm pretty quick at it, and Ellie got a kick out of watching me work.
After her morning snooze, we headed on over to the shoe store to get my girl a new pair of kicks. She JUST started wearing shoes this week since the weather turned (of course, it turned again this weekend; it was hot and humid - icky!) I decided to go to Payless because they do actually make some decent kids shoes (I used to work there eons ago, so I know these things:) With their new Airwalks and Champions lines, I knew I'd find something. I was actually hoping to get her walking shoes, but, alas, the girl there said they hadn't been sent any in months (we checked the other Payless in town today and they had them; man, are those shoes fugly!) I ended up finding a pair of Champion sneakers with thin, flexible soles. The shoes are made out of leather, they have velcro straps, AND they're wide-width (poor baby inherited Mommy's Flintstone feet, unfortunately). The price tag said $14.99; I can handle that. So we get to the register, and... woo-hoo! They ring up for $4! I love a bargain.
When Harry got home, we ventured out to this little toy store that specializes in toys made locally. We picked up some great wooden toys guaranteed non-toxic (very old school) and a Lambchop puppet. Yes, Lambchop! "This is the song that never ends" Lambchop. Ellie loves puppets, and I just had to get it for her.
We went to one of the Halloween stores, too, looking for the Wonder Woman costume we want to get for Ellie that's been on backorder. No deal. Sadness.
Last night, after Ellie went to bed, I decided to do a little online investigation, hoping I'd find the WW costume somewhere else. And I DID! We should have it in 6-10 days. Now I just have to make a costume for myself. I'm a big kid like that; I love Halloween. I dress up just to give out candy. The kids in the neighborhood get a real kick out of it.
Today, we did a Home Depot run, and we hit the other Payless in town, like I mentioned. I got Ellie another pair of sneaks for $5. So we should be good for a few months unless she has a massive growth spurt.
We finally got around to putting all of our video tapes of Ellie onto DVDs today, too. I've been watching all evening, getting all teary-eyed. I popped one in for Ellie, and that girl was completely glued to the TV. She was thrilled and amazed. She was laughing at herself whenever TV Ellie stared into the camera, and she clapped for TV Ellie when she did something clever. So freakin' cute.
We ended the evening with some comfort food... Salisbury steak, mashed baby red potatoes, and peas. Mmmmm. It came out delic, if I do say so myself. Harry talked me into making meatloaf next weekend (yuck - I hate meatloaf!) What have I gotten myself into?
That's all for tonight.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I'm a bad, BAD blogger!
I've been so busy reading things on Maya's Mom (the "where parents share" forum I joined a few months ago and have become extremely addicted to) that I haven't set aside time to keep up with blogging. What's worse, I actually have a journal on there, and I update that a few times a week. For shame!
Things are going well. I got to hang out with Jess and Lea last weekend for some coffee talk. Joyous! Had an absolutely wonderful time. Ellie's getting ready to turn 11 months old next week. Good Lord! We're getting ready for the big ONE! We're gonna have a little party the weekend after she turns one, mostly family and maybe a friend or two.
We're gonna be shopping later on today for new kicks for the babe (she's gonna be a-walkin' any day now, I think), some toys for the b-day, and maybe a few more pieces of fall clothing. I LOVE shopping for her, so much more than shopping for myself. At least with her, every FITS and looks oh-so-cute. Not so much when I'm looking to clothe my own strange after-baby body. Grumble grumble.
And speaking of after-baby body, this woman needs to get into shape, as does the hubby. We decided to invest in a Total Gym for the house, and it should be here in the next week or two. It's time to shed some of this weight, damnit!
That's about all right now. Ellie just woke up from her nap. She's patiently talking to herself until I go get her.
Things are going well. I got to hang out with Jess and Lea last weekend for some coffee talk. Joyous! Had an absolutely wonderful time. Ellie's getting ready to turn 11 months old next week. Good Lord! We're getting ready for the big ONE! We're gonna have a little party the weekend after she turns one, mostly family and maybe a friend or two.
We're gonna be shopping later on today for new kicks for the babe (she's gonna be a-walkin' any day now, I think), some toys for the b-day, and maybe a few more pieces of fall clothing. I LOVE shopping for her, so much more than shopping for myself. At least with her, every FITS and looks oh-so-cute. Not so much when I'm looking to clothe my own strange after-baby body. Grumble grumble.
And speaking of after-baby body, this woman needs to get into shape, as does the hubby. We decided to invest in a Total Gym for the house, and it should be here in the next week or two. It's time to shed some of this weight, damnit!
That's about all right now. Ellie just woke up from her nap. She's patiently talking to herself until I go get her.
Friday, September 21, 2007
In the now
So everyone's been reminiscing today about past loves, myself joining in the conversation here and there. It was nice to know that I am definitely not alone in that category. We all seem to have a story.
But I've realized that I am done with the past. I've gotten my closure. It feels good. I feel healthy.
So instead I'd like to talk about the now.
My husband, Harry.
I love this man with every inch of my being. He is amazing in so many ways, and he makes every day of my life better than the one before. He's my best friend, my confidante, my partner in crime. He's the one person (besides Ellie, of course) I WANT to see every day. He's my couch potato bud, my walking mate, my shop-til-you-drop helper.
And he cooks, cleans, vacuums, and does laundry, too.
He makes the most delicious pepperoni bread I've ever tasted, and he'll run out to Dairy Queen for me whenever I get a craving. He's a hard worker and takes pride in what he does. He's handy with a hammer and can landscape like nobody's business.
And he's a fantastic lay. Heh heh.
I don't know what I'd do without this man. I don't know what I did to DESERVE this man.
Friend, husband, lover, father... he's good at it all.
But I've realized that I am done with the past. I've gotten my closure. It feels good. I feel healthy.
So instead I'd like to talk about the now.
My husband, Harry.
I love this man with every inch of my being. He is amazing in so many ways, and he makes every day of my life better than the one before. He's my best friend, my confidante, my partner in crime. He's the one person (besides Ellie, of course) I WANT to see every day. He's my couch potato bud, my walking mate, my shop-til-you-drop helper.
And he cooks, cleans, vacuums, and does laundry, too.
He makes the most delicious pepperoni bread I've ever tasted, and he'll run out to Dairy Queen for me whenever I get a craving. He's a hard worker and takes pride in what he does. He's handy with a hammer and can landscape like nobody's business.
And he's a fantastic lay. Heh heh.
I don't know what I'd do without this man. I don't know what I did to DESERVE this man.
Friend, husband, lover, father... he's good at it all.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Me and the girls
My friend, Jess, came back to CT this weekend for a wedding... and some coffee talk. We've known each other for 20 years now; THAT blows my mind. How did 20 years go by that quickly? Weren't we just playing Barbies at her house and taking walks to the local WaWa's to feast on Nerds and FijiFruits? Weren't we just at Saturday catechism class, racing home to watch Dr. Fad? Weren't we swooning over the 2 Corey's and listening to Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet?" (Ok, I still listen to that, but now find the 2 Coreys extremely lame).
Lea was also with us for coffee talk. I've known Lea even longer, possibly 25 years. I can't exactly remember the first time we met. Maybe kindergarten? Yeah, that long. Crazy. She's still living here in CT, and I get to see her maybe once every 2 months now that I've had Ellie. Before I got pregnant, we made it a point to get together every month. We talk about work, our marriage, taxes, a new bar or restaurant we've been to, you name it. She's my hometown girl:)
Here we are, me and my girls:
Me and Jess
Lea and Jess
Lea and Me
Who knows when we'll all get together again? I cherish these times, knowing that they come along so seldom.
Lea was also with us for coffee talk. I've known Lea even longer, possibly 25 years. I can't exactly remember the first time we met. Maybe kindergarten? Yeah, that long. Crazy. She's still living here in CT, and I get to see her maybe once every 2 months now that I've had Ellie. Before I got pregnant, we made it a point to get together every month. We talk about work, our marriage, taxes, a new bar or restaurant we've been to, you name it. She's my hometown girl:)
Here we are, me and my girls:
Me and Jess
Lea and Jess
Lea and Me
Who knows when we'll all get together again? I cherish these times, knowing that they come along so seldom.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Three things I want to remember about Ellie
The first time I got to hold her in the hospital.
I ended up having a C-section, so I didn't actually get to hold her until about 3 hours after she was born. Once she was put into my arms to nurse, I was hooked. She was so tiny, but her eyes were already so unbelievably large and wide-open. We looked at each other, soaking each other in, until she fell asleep.
Playing the "oh" game.
At 5 weeks, Ellie started repeating the sound "oh" after I said it. It was a game to her. We'd do this for 5 minutes at at time. We even got it on video. Not only was it so cute, but it was also when she started to officially smile. Two for the price of one! And even more, she loved an audience. Everyone got to hear her play her special game.
Our time at the ER.
Why in the world would I want to remember something so horrible, you may ask? It was the first time I really went into Mom-mode. Ellie had her first cold at 2 and a 1/2 months, and it got really bad. So bad the doc told us to go to Yale New Haven Childrens' Hospital immediately. Ellie was mis-diagnosed with pneumonia that night. I, fighting off the same cold she had, never left her side. My husband and I slept on the floor of her room, and I checked on her every 15 minutes that entire horrendous night. We were told the next morning that someone had made an error reading her x-ray, and she was good to go home. We couldn't have gotten out of there faster! But I will remember it... for the rest of my life.
There will be many more things to remember in the future, and I look forward to them all. This is the greatest adventure I've ever been on, and I don't want to miss a thing.
I ended up having a C-section, so I didn't actually get to hold her until about 3 hours after she was born. Once she was put into my arms to nurse, I was hooked. She was so tiny, but her eyes were already so unbelievably large and wide-open. We looked at each other, soaking each other in, until she fell asleep.
Playing the "oh" game.
At 5 weeks, Ellie started repeating the sound "oh" after I said it. It was a game to her. We'd do this for 5 minutes at at time. We even got it on video. Not only was it so cute, but it was also when she started to officially smile. Two for the price of one! And even more, she loved an audience. Everyone got to hear her play her special game.
Our time at the ER.
Why in the world would I want to remember something so horrible, you may ask? It was the first time I really went into Mom-mode. Ellie had her first cold at 2 and a 1/2 months, and it got really bad. So bad the doc told us to go to Yale New Haven Childrens' Hospital immediately. Ellie was mis-diagnosed with pneumonia that night. I, fighting off the same cold she had, never left her side. My husband and I slept on the floor of her room, and I checked on her every 15 minutes that entire horrendous night. We were told the next morning that someone had made an error reading her x-ray, and she was good to go home. We couldn't have gotten out of there faster! But I will remember it... for the rest of my life.
There will be many more things to remember in the future, and I look forward to them all. This is the greatest adventure I've ever been on, and I don't want to miss a thing.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Where were you?
Today is a day of rememberance. Today is a day to be thankful for the things you have. Today is a day to voice your hopes, your wishes, your dreams… for yourself, your family, your friends, your fellow man, for this country, for this world.
On September 11, 2001, I was at a turning point in my life. I had just started dating my now-husband. I had a full-time job. I was enrolled in the Fall semester at my college. Things were moving along.
I was at work that morning, sitting at my desk, talking to my friend, Kim. We both got in at 8:30am and usually chatted before the day’s rush of work came in. We were talking about nothing special, possibly the Labor Day weekend that had just past, plans for her birthday, which was in the next few weeks, where my new relationship was going, seeing as I was dating her former roommate. You know, the usual blah blah blah.
We had been chatting for awhile when all of a sudden, Kim said, “You won’t believe this. We’re listening to the radio, and it was just reported that a plane hit one of the Towers.”
My response, “Are you kidding? Don’t they have people that monitor plane activity? How did that happen?”
There wasn’t anything else in the broadcast, so we resumed our mundane and inane conversation.
15 minutes later, and Kim stopped in midsentence. “Another plane just hit the other Tower.”
Both of us were silent. She was listening to the broadcast; I was waiting for her to report what it said.
I got one of those bad chills down my spine and that metallic taste in my mouth.
“Oh my God, one of the Towers collapsed.”
“Oh my God, the other Tower collapsed.”
And the world changed.
She had to immediately get off the phone and call everyone she knew in New York working at the Towers. She works in Finance, so she knew quite a few people.
And I sat in silence in my office with no windows, no internet, no radio, no television, no link to the outside world but my office phone.
The phone rang, and it was Harry. “Have you heard what’s going on?”
Work came to a screeching halt. Radios were found in the office and tuned in. People called their family and friends to make sure they were safe. We were only a short hour and 15 minute train ride to the city; it felt like it was going on right in our backyard.
Around 2pm, they sent us all home to be with our families. We all left in silence, trying not to run to our cars and get home as soon as possible to our loved ones.
I found Harry after seeing my parents, sister, and niece. He was at his local bar, drunk but somber. He was let out of work early too, but because he doesn’t really have any family, he went to his surrogate family instead… his bar friends.
We all sat and drank, but the bar was eerily quiet for a change. The TV was tuned into CNN instead of one of the games, and every head was turned to watch it.
The day ended with tears and fears. Questions. Hypotheses. Anger. Loss. Confusion.
6 years later, and all of that is still here.
We felt the blow a month later still when the company Harry had worked for for 7 years closed down. They manufactured aerospace parts, and after the plane attacks, their biggest client canceled a million dollar order. For a small-town company, there’s no way to bounce back from that.
I was also laid off the end of that year (not due to the attacks, mind you).
We started 2002 unemployed, pretty much penniless, and scared.
We got through it.
And now, on this day of rememberance, I am thankful for all I have. I am thankful that I live in this country. I am thankful for my wonderful family. I am proud that we’re still standing. I’m also still scared about the future… mine, my child’s, my country’s, the world’s.
But I have hope. I’ll always have hope.
On September 11, 2001, I was at a turning point in my life. I had just started dating my now-husband. I had a full-time job. I was enrolled in the Fall semester at my college. Things were moving along.
I was at work that morning, sitting at my desk, talking to my friend, Kim. We both got in at 8:30am and usually chatted before the day’s rush of work came in. We were talking about nothing special, possibly the Labor Day weekend that had just past, plans for her birthday, which was in the next few weeks, where my new relationship was going, seeing as I was dating her former roommate. You know, the usual blah blah blah.
We had been chatting for awhile when all of a sudden, Kim said, “You won’t believe this. We’re listening to the radio, and it was just reported that a plane hit one of the Towers.”
My response, “Are you kidding? Don’t they have people that monitor plane activity? How did that happen?”
There wasn’t anything else in the broadcast, so we resumed our mundane and inane conversation.
15 minutes later, and Kim stopped in midsentence. “Another plane just hit the other Tower.”
Both of us were silent. She was listening to the broadcast; I was waiting for her to report what it said.
I got one of those bad chills down my spine and that metallic taste in my mouth.
“Oh my God, one of the Towers collapsed.”
“Oh my God, the other Tower collapsed.”
And the world changed.
She had to immediately get off the phone and call everyone she knew in New York working at the Towers. She works in Finance, so she knew quite a few people.
And I sat in silence in my office with no windows, no internet, no radio, no television, no link to the outside world but my office phone.
The phone rang, and it was Harry. “Have you heard what’s going on?”
Work came to a screeching halt. Radios were found in the office and tuned in. People called their family and friends to make sure they were safe. We were only a short hour and 15 minute train ride to the city; it felt like it was going on right in our backyard.
Around 2pm, they sent us all home to be with our families. We all left in silence, trying not to run to our cars and get home as soon as possible to our loved ones.
I found Harry after seeing my parents, sister, and niece. He was at his local bar, drunk but somber. He was let out of work early too, but because he doesn’t really have any family, he went to his surrogate family instead… his bar friends.
We all sat and drank, but the bar was eerily quiet for a change. The TV was tuned into CNN instead of one of the games, and every head was turned to watch it.
The day ended with tears and fears. Questions. Hypotheses. Anger. Loss. Confusion.
6 years later, and all of that is still here.
We felt the blow a month later still when the company Harry had worked for for 7 years closed down. They manufactured aerospace parts, and after the plane attacks, their biggest client canceled a million dollar order. For a small-town company, there’s no way to bounce back from that.
I was also laid off the end of that year (not due to the attacks, mind you).
We started 2002 unemployed, pretty much penniless, and scared.
We got through it.
And now, on this day of rememberance, I am thankful for all I have. I am thankful that I live in this country. I am thankful for my wonderful family. I am proud that we’re still standing. I’m also still scared about the future… mine, my child’s, my country’s, the world’s.
But I have hope. I’ll always have hope.
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