We had a Very Merry Christmas

I hope your familes did as well!

it will never make sense....

.....but the love I have for these two makes nothing but sense.

To say I was rocked to the core by Friday's events would be an understatement. Something like this a mere 30 minutes away. It sends chills up my spine.

cute baby saturday...

spent the past 36(ish) hours in NYC doing this...

New post here

out of the mouths of babes

Funny things that come out of K's mouth...

• (during one of her ridiculous tooting episodes -OMG did something die in there? ) UtOh. I think the toot man came last night and filled my butt with toots.
• (screaming from back seat) MOMMY!!! can you calm down a bit (I was singing along to her music in the car)
• back when I was two i liked that, but now that I am three and a half it is yucky.
• Yawnnnn...I not tired, that was a wake up yawn
• Yawnnnn...guess I didn't sleep well. Must have been those night dreams

connections

My kids, I want them to have connections. Connections to family, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins....during my life I had a couple connections to family. I was always close to my Grandma (dad's mom), and Aunt S (his sister), but that has pretty much been it.  Now let me explain that I have a large, actually quite large, of a family.  On my dad's side (immediate) I have a living Granddad and Grandmom (step), 2 aunts, 3 uncles, 8 cousins...I am in "regular" as in monthly contact with 1 Aunt. Maybe once every three or four months with the Grandparenrs, and otherwise FB friends with some of the others.

On my Mom's side there are zero Grandparent's, 4 uncles, 3 Aunts, 9 (+) cousins, with regular contact only with 1 Aunt that I have never met. Semi regular, as in once every few months via email with an Uncle's wife.

Today we spent the day with one of my uncle's and cousin's on Mom's side. Said cousin and I tried to connect several years ago but his drinking problems got in the way.

He's been sober (per his own admittiion) for 4 years now.  He has a son that is 2. He is a doll. I would
love for our kids to grow up together, just as we did, but he and I, we had a bad experience when he
was drinking.

I have made a couple of efforts to connect with him again though. Extended invites to him to a pumpkin patch, to a childrens museum, things like that. You know, to get the kids together. Once he came and brought along his cougar girlfriend.  Don't get me wrong age is no factor here. but the point was for he and i to get together with our kids.

I am the kind of a person that will make numerous efforts at trying, but there comes a point when you either continue forward with a connection or you walk away, knowing, or hoping, that our kids aren't the ones that are going to lose out from me walking away.

The thing is, you hear all the time "you can't choose your fanily"...this is how you "can" choose them!!

Cute Baby Saturday

cute baby saturday....the countdown to christmas begins!

Listen here San.dy

I really have zero desire to deal with the BS that is hurricane San.dy.  It is expected to make landfall here in CT sometime between Monday morning and Tuesday night(?)!  The weather people have no clue.  therefore I have no clue.  Towns are already cancelling school and halloween. 

Yesterday I was in town for a hair appointment, and as I drove by the grocery store at 8:30 the parking lot was already packed full. FB was blowing up with people posting that stores were out of water, bread and batteries. Gas stations out of gas.  While I needed everything (I normally grocery shop on Sundays) I decided to wait.....I am so glad I did!  I hit the store at 10:30 last night to find almost fully stocked shelves and a gas station with a new delivery of gas.

The only thing left on my list to buy today....beer and wine!

Northeast folks-stay safe!

Friday Night Leftovers.....the it's been a long time edition

• This boy...he is a laugher.  From the belly, deep gut laugher.  K never did that.  She still doesn't.
• This boy...he doesn't sleep well.  Obviously he isn't mine, or his father's.  We are sleepers.  If he didn't look JUSTLIKEME I would think he was switched at the hospital.
• This boy...he is a tank!  At his 4 month appointment he weighed 18.6lbs!  Like hello!  He hasn't even started solids!Now at 5 months he must be at least 19lbs.
• This boy...he is a jumper.  I know the Johnny jumper is not good for babies legs, but blah, he LOVES it!  And he won't spend more than 10 mins in anything/doing anything else.
• This boy...he loves his momma.  Oh the smile he gives when I walk in the door.
• This boy...he completes our family. (K is lucky he was 2nd, cause if he were first....well, we'll leave it at that)

• This girl...is filled with sass.
• This girl...she says some funny shit.
• This girl...she is so smart.  For real.  She is not even 4 and can play solitaire! Can work a laptop, iPad and iPhone like nobody's business.
• This girl...she is so emotional.  She cares so much about other's "feelings".  If she sees someone sad she cries. If you discipline her then snuggle later she'll ask "are you happy now? Do I make you proud?"  Really?  Your 3 let me yell at you and then get over it.
• This girl...she farts like nobody's business.
• This girl...she wants to marry me, and I her.  She is my love, my heart, my #1.

• Me, this momma...is tired, so tired.
• Me, this momma...finally found 10 mins to get my eyebrows waxed for the first time in 5 weeks (aren't you glad you didn't have to look me in the eye during that time).
• Me, this momma...started my new job.
• Me, this momma...I love my new commute of 35-45 mins 3 days a week....and 2 days STILLATHOME!!!!!
• Me, this momma...misses hanging out with my friends.
• Me, this momma...misses relaxing.
• Me, this momma...is loving that my favorite shows (Dexter, Homeland, American Horror Story) are back on.

Thanks for letting me catch up during FNLO's! I read and comment when I can, but life is busy and frankly I wish it weren't.

Swing over to see Danifred.  Her Blue is moving WAY too fast! (I mainly say that because he is just a couple months ahead of S.  but in all seriousness, he is freaken adorable!!!)

photo dump

photo dump

A contribution....

One year ago my friend E lost her almost 5 month old son, Sam, to SIDS.  This Sunday, she and her husband are hosting an anniversary benefit in honor of "Sam I Am".

All proceeds will go to First Candle.  If you are financially able to do so, please consider making a donation in Sam's name: go to the website, scroll down and select calendar of events, select October, and you will see Sam's event.
http://www.firstcandle.org/

Change is on the way

I got a new job!  Yup that's right!  Woot Hoot! 

It is no secret how unhappy I have been in my job for, well forever.  We re-orged last year and I got a new boss that takes zero interest in what I am doing.  The team I am on is very clique' and I do not fit in.  I am the only one on my whole team that has not been promoted since forming.  The writing was on the wall that if (when) we had another layoff I would be next.  So out my feelers went.

I meet with a leader in our company bi-weekly as part of a mentorship.  She mentors me in leadership behaviors, situational things, and reviews presentations and what not for me, providing feedback and guidance.  During these sessions we have discussed my unhappiness, my desire for something new.

Two weeks ago during our session she closed out with a job offer to come work for her, well not directly for her, but on her team.  Basically a Process Analyst.  Establishing and driving process improvements for work intake, prioritization and release.  Best part.....NO DIRECT REPORTS!!!!!  I have been desperate to find more of an individual contributor role.  I need a break from management.  Oh wait, that is one of two best parts....it is also in the Home office which is 22 miles away (vs. my current 60 mile one way commute!).  I will most likely lose my ability to work from home twice a week initially, but think I'll be able to get it back once I am up to speed.

The transition plan has not been worked out yet, but she wants me to start ASAP.  I am very nervous, but really excited to try something new. 

(for those of you that I know IRL - Shhh this is not public knowledge yet)

Cute baby Saturday - 4 months

Life is a bit crazy....Two kids is a bit like 10.  How those of you with twins cope, NO IDEA!  Although I suppose having two at the same age may be a bit different than 2 at very different stages.

S is 4 months now (technically he is 4 months 10 days).  He is a TANK!  Here are his stats:

• 18lbs 9oz (a full 4lbs bigger than K at this age)
• 27 3/4 inches
• Wearing 9 months clothes
• Size 3 diapers
• Eats 6oz bottles every 2-3 hours though out the day
• Can hold his own bottle - when he is in the mood
• Terrible napper (we are lucky to get 2 30 min naps out of this kid all day)
• Generally sleeps through the night (8 - 5ish)
• Is an early riser (yawn....)
• Is fully capable of rolling, however isn't all that interested
• Can sit unassisted for 30 seconds or so (tripod position)
• Requires CONSTANT stimulation while awake - EXHAUSTING
• Chatter box central
• Raspberry blowing champion
• Giggle giggle giggle machine!
• Perpetually in motion, seriously this child moves moves moves

So much to say...so little time

I'm sorry for being absent. Life is busy. Busy busy busy!

Here are some pics and a short, cute video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wsTqdmeSaM

cute baby Saturday

New Perspectives

2012 Fair Season Begins!

Cute baby Saturday

Friday Night Leftovers.....the long weekend edition

*The plus to working in the corporate world is the long weekends.
*I am only working 2 days next week and then I am off for 11 days.
*4 or 5 of those days off I will be playing single Mommy.
*I am slightly freaked out by this. Not because I think I can't handle it, but because it means I will get NO breaks.
*I have an end of summer cold.
* K was sick Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It started with blue puke (we had ice cream cake with blue icing that night) all over her bed and shag carpet and proceeded into a raging fever for the next 36 hrs or so. Today she has no fever but still isn't quite right.
*I hate doing laundry, yet enjoy sitting in bed at night folding it.
*I had to pay ~$900 for our car taxes today.  T has to go get a temporary registration to bring the camper my Mom is giving us and he wouldn't have been able to get it with us having taxes owed. They were only due a month ago, not like owed for years, but it sucked that I had to take even more money from our tiny savings.
*I had my mid year performance review. It didn't suck, but it wasn't stellar either, and well if there is one thing I know over the past year or two it is that you need to be stellar or you are GONE.
*It is fair season. I wish they didn't cost so much.
*I think I am going to stockpile some wood this weekend and start enjoying me some bonfires again.
*I am pretty sure S weighs close to 16lbs. I will jump on my MIL's scale this weekend with and without him to see. Keep in mind he is not even 4 months old yet.
*I looked in K's baby books and at 4 months old she was 8oz heavier than he was at his 2 month!!  Seriously, we may have a line backer.
*Did you all see Clint Eastwood?  What a train wreck that was huh?  I mean for those of us that are not republican it was pretty comical, but for you republicans it was a total let down of a guest speaker.
*I am not looking forward to the next couple months. People become mean and angry around election time.
*T made a really funny comment today..."Many people worry about their kids growing up and being gay/drug addicts/criminals. Not me, I worry about my kids growing up and being republican".  Funny to us since we are pretty liberal.

Talking Tuesday

(T and I are in teh kitchen putting away groceries - K is in the TV room playing)

K (in a sing song voice) : Damn It Damn It Damn It
Me : K, we don't say that.  It is a bad word for kids.  Please don't use it again
K : Damn It!
Me : Where did you learn that word because it's not one we use here.
K : You Mom

(LIES!!)

(K's response after I have told her she can't do something, shouldn't do something, etc)

K : Mom you are such a pain in my head

Cute Baby Saturday - A little overload

This girl is obsessed with all things creepy...just like her Daddy

Practicing belly time...I am certain he puked seconds after this picture

What ever the baby is doing Sister needs to do too, even if it is just laying on the floor

Big sister telling little brother the secrets of the world...

Hanging with Mom at the splash pad...cause girl time is very important