It had been in the works for just over 2 months but it felt like forever to finally arrive: The Great Mommy Getaway, to celebrate our 35th birthdays this year, with 2 of the best college girlfriends a girl could ask for. This past weekend, Ali, Liz and I left the dads, kids and dogs at home and escaped to Atlantic City for two nights.
Saturday morning, I prepped both kids, fed them breakfast, gave Dad a few instructions, packed myself up and kissed all goodbye. I headed towards Newark Airport to pick up Liz, who flew in from Chicago for this weekend of fun. We then drove (in slightly ridiculous traffic) to meet Ali in AC and begin our girls getaway beach weekend.
While sparing you the details so as not to make you jealous, we had lunch on the boardwalk, took many walks along the boardwalk, ate a few too many ice creams, dined in amazing, non-kid-friendly restaurants, sat by the pool (and read!) and shopped. A girl's dream come true! We slept until 9 on Sunday, which felt like a world of difference from our typical 6-or-7 am wake-ups. We actually TALKED, like real adults, and enjoyed each other's company without interruption. There was very little drinking and no gambling that occured and I have to say, it was much-needed and very appreciated break from being mommies.
Kudos goes out to the three husbands, 5 kids and 2 dogs that missed our presence this weekend, but it was a quick, easy way to feel refreshed from mommy duties and remember what it was like to have girlfriends again. Yes, I missed everyone at home, but sometimes a little break is all that is needed to rejuvenate and feel missed.
Let the planning begin for our 40th birthdays!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A Fourth to Remember
We just returned from 5 days at the beach, living in the same house as my MIL, FIL, Grandmother-in-law, SIL, BIL and their two kids (ages 5 and 2.5). We went to celebrate MIL & FIL's 40th anniversary, and quite a celebration it was.
While we arrived on Thursday afternoon and had an enjoyable afternoon and evening, the REAL fun started at 5:40 am Friday when my 2.5 yr old niece woke up screaming. Apparently she had a fever and had thrown up, and this threw our whole day into quite a nightmare. Abby woke up from the commotion (her room was next to where my niece was sleeping) and in her state of confusion, she tried getting out of her room but she locked herself IN to her room. After many attempts at having her try to unlock it (which failed b/c she was hysterical and wouldn't listen), my FIL called a locksmith who said that because it was a child locked in the room, the cops had to be called. So, at 6 am, two of Ocean Grove's finest came and were able to successfully break through the lock and get her out.
But the fun didn't stop there. At 1:45 pm, I called our dog walker Karen to check in on my third child, Sadie, who was alone in our house with the dog walker coming to walk and feed her while we were away. Karen's reaction? "What? I thought I was coming tonight!" at which point my heart stopped beating when I realized Sadie had been alone in the house with no food or walks for over 26 hours. Thank goodness Karen raced over there and Sadie was fine and there wasn't so much as a drop of pee or poop anywhere. My little furball was hungry and thirsty and happy to see her, but she was ok. I, on the other hand, was not. I cried and cried and finally calmed down when I knew she was ok and the vet reassured me that dogs were ok for 2 days without food/water.
Thankfully, the trip improved from there out. Of course there were bumps in the road - my SIL caught what my niece had and Abby somehow caught an ear infection out of nowhere - but the kids all got along and had fun. I ate too much BBQ and ice cream (the ice cream shop was literally 500 feet past our house) but between the beach, BBQs and boardwalk, we had a nice time and perfect weather. And my IL's absolutely were blown away by our gift, which was a photo album with photos and facts from every year they've been married.
But then there was Abby's lovely behavior. Just when I thought we had turned a corner with her turning 4, boy was I wrong. She was a nightmare. Whining, not listening, totally rebelling. I assume some of it was due to her early wake-ups and short (or no) naps but most of it was due to her personality. She purposely defied us in everything we asked of her, as simple as taking a family picture, getting her feet wet in the ocean or wearing certain shoes to the beach. (If you only see pics of Zach during this trip, you will know why - my pouty 4-yr old refused to smile when a camera was nearby). It was challenging, frustrating and exhausting at best.
On the opposite spectrum was my happy, easy-going 14-month old, who just a few days before we left finally pulled himself up to stand (yay!). Zach was the easiest baby and most well-behaved. His only issues came when mommy wasn't around or tried giving him to someone else - he is a total mama's boy. But with his boyish good looks and delicious behavior, I didn't even mind. He slept great, napped well and overall was such a pleasure to be around. I am sure he'll change soon but I am enjoying it for now. And he LOVED the beach! My little guy happily entertained himself in the sand AND ocean, having so much fun with it all. For his first official vacation, he did great. While I had previously been considering taking Abby to Disney World this fall and leaving Zach at home, I am thinking that maybe I have that backwards!
Now that we are back at home - without Cora, who is on vacation this week - I am hopeful that we all get back on track in every way. We had a great, long Fourth weekend, but now it's back to reality and hopefully, a well-behaved 4-yr old. I can only hope as much!
While we arrived on Thursday afternoon and had an enjoyable afternoon and evening, the REAL fun started at 5:40 am Friday when my 2.5 yr old niece woke up screaming. Apparently she had a fever and had thrown up, and this threw our whole day into quite a nightmare. Abby woke up from the commotion (her room was next to where my niece was sleeping) and in her state of confusion, she tried getting out of her room but she locked herself IN to her room. After many attempts at having her try to unlock it (which failed b/c she was hysterical and wouldn't listen), my FIL called a locksmith who said that because it was a child locked in the room, the cops had to be called. So, at 6 am, two of Ocean Grove's finest came and were able to successfully break through the lock and get her out.
But the fun didn't stop there. At 1:45 pm, I called our dog walker Karen to check in on my third child, Sadie, who was alone in our house with the dog walker coming to walk and feed her while we were away. Karen's reaction? "What? I thought I was coming tonight!" at which point my heart stopped beating when I realized Sadie had been alone in the house with no food or walks for over 26 hours. Thank goodness Karen raced over there and Sadie was fine and there wasn't so much as a drop of pee or poop anywhere. My little furball was hungry and thirsty and happy to see her, but she was ok. I, on the other hand, was not. I cried and cried and finally calmed down when I knew she was ok and the vet reassured me that dogs were ok for 2 days without food/water.
Thankfully, the trip improved from there out. Of course there were bumps in the road - my SIL caught what my niece had and Abby somehow caught an ear infection out of nowhere - but the kids all got along and had fun. I ate too much BBQ and ice cream (the ice cream shop was literally 500 feet past our house) but between the beach, BBQs and boardwalk, we had a nice time and perfect weather. And my IL's absolutely were blown away by our gift, which was a photo album with photos and facts from every year they've been married.
But then there was Abby's lovely behavior. Just when I thought we had turned a corner with her turning 4, boy was I wrong. She was a nightmare. Whining, not listening, totally rebelling. I assume some of it was due to her early wake-ups and short (or no) naps but most of it was due to her personality. She purposely defied us in everything we asked of her, as simple as taking a family picture, getting her feet wet in the ocean or wearing certain shoes to the beach. (If you only see pics of Zach during this trip, you will know why - my pouty 4-yr old refused to smile when a camera was nearby). It was challenging, frustrating and exhausting at best.
On the opposite spectrum was my happy, easy-going 14-month old, who just a few days before we left finally pulled himself up to stand (yay!). Zach was the easiest baby and most well-behaved. His only issues came when mommy wasn't around or tried giving him to someone else - he is a total mama's boy. But with his boyish good looks and delicious behavior, I didn't even mind. He slept great, napped well and overall was such a pleasure to be around. I am sure he'll change soon but I am enjoying it for now. And he LOVED the beach! My little guy happily entertained himself in the sand AND ocean, having so much fun with it all. For his first official vacation, he did great. While I had previously been considering taking Abby to Disney World this fall and leaving Zach at home, I am thinking that maybe I have that backwards!
Now that we are back at home - without Cora, who is on vacation this week - I am hopeful that we all get back on track in every way. We had a great, long Fourth weekend, but now it's back to reality and hopefully, a well-behaved 4-yr old. I can only hope as much!
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Fours are Here!
I am one day into Abby's 4th year and already am breathing a sigh of relief that the 3's are over. I mean, you always hear about the "terrible twos," but I, for one, was not exactly prepared for the "torturous threes"! Granted, Zach was just 7 weeks old when Abby turned 3, so a lot of changes happened at once for her, but it's been a rough year, to say the least. Abby has always been a hot/cold kind of gal, but the hots were scorching and the colds were frigid this year. She could go from the happiest girl on the block to a screaming, crying mess in the drop of a hat if something didn't go her way. I was told this is what 3 is like, and it did not disappoint.
The good news is that we seem to have moved into a calmer (albeit still whiny) phase as she gets older. She is able to clearly express her needs/wants/desires and we encourage her to choose words over tears when possible. I am hopeful that each day that she gets further away from 3 and closer to 5, her words and emotions will be tied up neatly in a little gift-wrapped package.
And speaking of gifts - oh my! Her birthday party on Saturday was fun-filled 1.5 hours of painting, dancing and eating. Abby seemed to have a good time in the group activities (painting, dancing, eating) and became shy and pouty when the focus was on her (limbo, parachute, singing happy birthday). I don't know why she gets shy when the spotlight gets on her, but I hope she gets more comfortable. She has a lot to be proud of and I want to try to help her grow into herself. Her friends and family all love her and it makes me sad when she gets mopey or shy.
Our task now is to find room for all the wonderful gifts she received, from lots of great princess dress-up costumes to dolls, beach toys, a picnic set, a huge dollhouse and her first big girl bike. Jason and I can't wait to watch our little girl begin her fourth year of fun!
Happy birthday, Abby! We love you!
The good news is that we seem to have moved into a calmer (albeit still whiny) phase as she gets older. She is able to clearly express her needs/wants/desires and we encourage her to choose words over tears when possible. I am hopeful that each day that she gets further away from 3 and closer to 5, her words and emotions will be tied up neatly in a little gift-wrapped package.
And speaking of gifts - oh my! Her birthday party on Saturday was fun-filled 1.5 hours of painting, dancing and eating. Abby seemed to have a good time in the group activities (painting, dancing, eating) and became shy and pouty when the focus was on her (limbo, parachute, singing happy birthday). I don't know why she gets shy when the spotlight gets on her, but I hope she gets more comfortable. She has a lot to be proud of and I want to try to help her grow into herself. Her friends and family all love her and it makes me sad when she gets mopey or shy.
Our task now is to find room for all the wonderful gifts she received, from lots of great princess dress-up costumes to dolls, beach toys, a picnic set, a huge dollhouse and her first big girl bike. Jason and I can't wait to watch our little girl begin her fourth year of fun!
Happy birthday, Abby! We love you!
Friday, June 3, 2011
2 Weeks Til 4 Years
Hard to believe that nearly 4 years ago, I only had a puppy, husband and myself to worry and think about. As Abby's 4th birthday approaches, I realize that in the last 4 years, my life has migrated from relatively calm, somewhat boring and highly organized to slightly chaotic, always-on-the-go and highly disorganized - some might simply call it "Parenthood."
Abby's graduation and last day of her 2nd year of preschool was this week, signaling the official start of summer and that her birthday is right around the corner. As I was talking with her head teacher at the Moving Up Day reception, she said that she usually notices a few kids each year whose tremendous growth is noticeable from the beginning to the end of the year, and this year she wanted me to know it's Abby who she saw amazing growth from. She said she started out the school year one way and ended it mature and glowing - I liken it a little to how my life has changed in the last 4 years. She said it's been such a pleasure having Abby in her class and watching her grow up from an un-potty-trained toddler who didn't know the meaning of sharing to a fully-potty-trained, sharing and caring little girl. I had a very proud parenting moment and tried to take it all in. While I have my struggles with her at home, it's reassuring and so nice to hear that she is doing so well in school.
Abby still has mini-camp and regular camp (and don't forget about post-camp!) until she embarks on her last year of preschool, but I am anxious to see what this coming year brings for her and us. On the top of my list would be pre-reading and less whining...only time will tell if that will happen! In the meantime, we are taking her for a special end-of-the-year trip to Hershey Park tomorrow with our Maryland friends to celebrate her accomplishments this year and let her know how proud we are of her. I can't wait to see what her 4th year brings!
Abby's graduation and last day of her 2nd year of preschool was this week, signaling the official start of summer and that her birthday is right around the corner. As I was talking with her head teacher at the Moving Up Day reception, she said that she usually notices a few kids each year whose tremendous growth is noticeable from the beginning to the end of the year, and this year she wanted me to know it's Abby who she saw amazing growth from. She said she started out the school year one way and ended it mature and glowing - I liken it a little to how my life has changed in the last 4 years. She said it's been such a pleasure having Abby in her class and watching her grow up from an un-potty-trained toddler who didn't know the meaning of sharing to a fully-potty-trained, sharing and caring little girl. I had a very proud parenting moment and tried to take it all in. While I have my struggles with her at home, it's reassuring and so nice to hear that she is doing so well in school.
Abby still has mini-camp and regular camp (and don't forget about post-camp!) until she embarks on her last year of preschool, but I am anxious to see what this coming year brings for her and us. On the top of my list would be pre-reading and less whining...only time will tell if that will happen! In the meantime, we are taking her for a special end-of-the-year trip to Hershey Park tomorrow with our Maryland friends to celebrate her accomplishments this year and let her know how proud we are of her. I can't wait to see what her 4th year brings!
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Working Mommy Debate
Every now and then, usually when the weather gets better, I find myself aching to ditch my full-time job and work part-time or be a SAHM. While this isn't exactly feasible at the moment while my husband looks for a job, I feel the need to weigh the pros and cons of being a working mommy - maybe you have these feelings, too, or perhaps I just need a reminder every now and then:
Cons of being a working mom:
- Missing out on many "firsts" and fun activities: Zach's first time on a swing, numerous storytimes, lunches, playdates and classes
- Only seeing my kids for 2-3 hours at MOST each week day
- Squeezing in valuable family time on the weekends, in-between birthday parties and errands
- Not really knowing your kids' daily routines/activities - who they play with, how they play, etc.
- Saying goodbye in the mornings and seeing the look of sadness on the kids' faces when I leave
Pros of being a working mom:
- A paycheck! i.e. not having to worry what my husband will think if I want to buy a new pair of shoes or get a manicure
- I get to eat lunch, make a call and check emails in peace and quiet
- "Me time" - usually when I'm commuting, but time to myself that I wouldn't have if I were at home
- Being able to leave work at a certain time to get home to relieve the nanny (whereas you ARE the nanny as a SAHM!
- Seeing the pure look of joy on my kids' faces when I walk in the door after a long day of work
- Showing your kids that you are a super-mommy - able to do it all
There are many more pros and cons but these are the first that came to mind. While I enjoy all of the pros of working, I hope that one day I'll have the chance to have some more flexibility in my schedule and test out what being a SAHM is like (maternity leave excluded - being completely sleep-deprived doesn't really count)!
Cons of being a working mom:
- Missing out on many "firsts" and fun activities: Zach's first time on a swing, numerous storytimes, lunches, playdates and classes
- Only seeing my kids for 2-3 hours at MOST each week day
- Squeezing in valuable family time on the weekends, in-between birthday parties and errands
- Not really knowing your kids' daily routines/activities - who they play with, how they play, etc.
- Saying goodbye in the mornings and seeing the look of sadness on the kids' faces when I leave
Pros of being a working mom:
- A paycheck! i.e. not having to worry what my husband will think if I want to buy a new pair of shoes or get a manicure
- I get to eat lunch, make a call and check emails in peace and quiet
- "Me time" - usually when I'm commuting, but time to myself that I wouldn't have if I were at home
- Being able to leave work at a certain time to get home to relieve the nanny (whereas you ARE the nanny as a SAHM!
- Seeing the pure look of joy on my kids' faces when I walk in the door after a long day of work
- Showing your kids that you are a super-mommy - able to do it all
There are many more pros and cons but these are the first that came to mind. While I enjoy all of the pros of working, I hope that one day I'll have the chance to have some more flexibility in my schedule and test out what being a SAHM is like (maternity leave excluded - being completely sleep-deprived doesn't really count)!
Friday, May 13, 2011
EI Update
This just in: Zach will be getting physical therapy once/week at our house for 45 minutes to help with his delayed gross motor skills. While the evaluation report said his other (i.e. verbal, fine motor, social, etc.) skills were all age appropriate or better, his gross motor skills are still significantly delayed, and the state apparently agreed. I look forward to getting him the help that he needs so that he can run and play this summer! More updates to come.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Little Man
With the hoopla of the first birthday come and gone, it has been fun looking back on what I was doing this time, last year (just had his bris, was about to miss out on Mother's Day due to a horrid allergic reaction to my c-section strips...) and being very relieved that I'm on to new and different things this year.
Zach's first birthday was a lot of fun - he had a great time listening to the music (he was very intently watching) and had the most fun shoving an entire piece of cake in his mouth for the first time. Probably the highlight of his whole year! Abby loved watching him, too, and I just sat back and took pictures while marveling at my baby boy turning into a big boy. Oh, and not to worry, he is still "little" in some ways - he measured in the 3rd percentile for height and 6th for weight at his 1-year check-up!
Of course, I have some sadness at the fact that he is no longer a baby as he is most likely my last child (I say that with a 1% chance of changing my mind, never say never!). I know that in no time, I'll be chasing him around the park, telling him to stop bugging his sister and complaining about the "terrible twos" (or threes, in Abby's case). But in the the meantime, I am just so happy to have my little boy, who delights in the littlest things (balloons! paper towel rolls! Sadie's kisses! his sister's tickles!) and makes my world that much better.
I am so lucky to be Abby and Zach's mommy and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel blessed to have these two little people in my life, who make my life complete.
Happy Mother's Day to all the great mommies out there!
Zach's first birthday was a lot of fun - he had a great time listening to the music (he was very intently watching) and had the most fun shoving an entire piece of cake in his mouth for the first time. Probably the highlight of his whole year! Abby loved watching him, too, and I just sat back and took pictures while marveling at my baby boy turning into a big boy. Oh, and not to worry, he is still "little" in some ways - he measured in the 3rd percentile for height and 6th for weight at his 1-year check-up!
Of course, I have some sadness at the fact that he is no longer a baby as he is most likely my last child (I say that with a 1% chance of changing my mind, never say never!). I know that in no time, I'll be chasing him around the park, telling him to stop bugging his sister and complaining about the "terrible twos" (or threes, in Abby's case). But in the the meantime, I am just so happy to have my little boy, who delights in the littlest things (balloons! paper towel rolls! Sadie's kisses! his sister's tickles!) and makes my world that much better.
I am so lucky to be Abby and Zach's mommy and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel blessed to have these two little people in my life, who make my life complete.
Happy Mother's Day to all the great mommies out there!
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