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I swear we didn’t put him in there…he did it all by himself. G said he played inside Lola’s crate for about 45 minutes today. As I type this, he’s trying to work the latch from the inside…good gawd!
Oh no, I have to go…he’s trying to do a somersault over Lola. This cannot end well. Long before Sam came home I started joining yahoo groups for my agency and general EAP forums. Then I started blogging (actually, I started blogging 3 days before Sam was born!) Via online groups and the blogging world I met all of you amazing APs. I’ve been thankful each and every day for your information, support, love, generosity and friendship. Along the way, I’ve started “real” friendships with several of you (you know who you are) as well. Some of you have literally become the closest friends I’ve ever known. I think of you more like sisters than mere friends. I have been privileged enough to meet several of you in-person already. I’ve seen your beautiful babies and broken bread with your families. Those who live further away I speak with on the phone often. Along with bringing Sam home, I have dreamt of meeting more of you guys. I have fingers, toes and eyes crossed that Amanda & Andrew’s new Army assignment is NW Indiana. Then our kids could grow up together (at least for a few years) and we could SEE each other frequently (because, come on, Hawaii is a long way away.) I have wanted to visit Kate & Meron in the frozen tundra (otherwise known as SD) for the longest time too. And next weekend we are meeting in the middle (Minneapolis) for a weekend of children’s museums and the Mall of America. I’m so excited I can hardly contain myself. Our husbands have been gracious enough to give us up on Valentine’s Day because I have Monday off work so I only have to use 1 vaca day for a 4 day weekend. Oh, and my miles allowed Sam and I to fly for FREE and upgrade to economy plus for the 1 1/2 flight. I have a client meeting in Seattle so I’ll get to meet Meghan & baby Julian in March or April. I want to plan a trip to Phoenix to meet the Browns and Adams. I NEED to get down to central IL to visit the Rogals again, along with the Weeks and McGruders. Boy, could there be a CO trip in our future to meet the Jaynes and sweet baby Sol? And the list goes on and on and on. Gawd couldn’t all of you just come to Chicago…it would be so much more convenient! Good golly…how lucky can one girl get? When we started the adoption journey we were only expecting a child, and I got all of you in edition to Sam. I’m one blessed girl. Sam now wants to sit on Lola. And Lola allows it. For perspective, this is a 22 lbs boy, sitting on the ribcage of a 27lbs dog. Bless you Lola!
 see Mom, I think she likes this And some misc. gratuitous cuteness:  my sleeping beauties  nope, I'm not chewing gum, those are all teeth! Gawd I hate admitting that. But you said (a collective you) that exercise would give me more energy and help me sleep more deeply at night. I fought you. I bitched about it. I made excuses. And then I did it. And I must say, you were right. Today I did 40 mins on the elliptical, a feat never before attempted because after 15 minutes my thighs were burning and quivering (and not in a good way, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.) But today I felt GREAT, and actually had energy to spare afterwards, which would have translated into time on the weight machines if not for the YMCA babysitting ending at 12 noon (it’s a work-at-home day in between a ton of suburban meetings.) Oh, and I’m sleeping deeper than I have in…well…forever. Now, part of that is the fact that Sam is sleeping, in his own bed, ALL NIGHT LONG. This has been going on for almost 2 weeks now and it is delicious. He does wake at 5:30-6 but he’ll go back to sleep for another hour in our bed, which I’ll do for the extra sleep. But the hours between 11p-6a are pure and utter bliss. Okay, so Sam may be waking up, but G and I don’t know about it because we are sleeping so well. I think we would hear him… The moral of this story? 2 points for you 0 for me. Maybe I’ll be right about something else fitness related in the near future. I’ve been working really hard on portion control lately…I had no idea how MUCH I had been eating before. I figured, brown rice is healthy…not realizing its 210 calories/cup & was eating 2 cups for dinner. Soy & eggs are healthy…but high in fat & calories as well. What’s an actual serving of nuts, which nut contains the most nutrition per calorie?? And the list goes on. Now I’m paying attention AND adding exercise back in. I’m not fond of the gym but its there (2.2 miles from the house) & we pay dues…so I NEED to go, at least until its about 30 degrees & I can walk outside again. So, by watching my portions, exercising @ least 150 mins/week & only drinking 1cup of coffee a day & tons of water flavored with lime juice (yum!) I lost … Like most people, we have ambitious plans for our tax return this year (thank you Adoption Tax Credit!!) We will FINALLY re-do the kitchen (think 1980s that we tried to fix with a bit of paint gone terribly wrong) and finishing the basement. We are considering a crackle finish for painted cabinets (so much cheaper than new ones), and doing a “french country” themed kitchen. We have the paint picked out, as well as the stone floor tile. Today we were looking at counter tops to match the paint color(s) and floor tile, while not being too “matchy-matchy” … here’s what we came up with:
(the photo is dark, it’s about 2 shades lighter and the flecks are beige, gold-ish, and a slate grey/blue.) It’s from Ikea and it’s a reasonable price for Corian. They install, and given the pathetically small amount we need for our postage stamp kitchen, they add a continuous drop sink with the install price. YEAH!! I’ve always wanted a continuous drop sink. Seriously. We are moving the TV & cabinets from the living room down to the basement, and will turn the living room into a more formal living room, with the basement being part living room, part Meg’s craft/sewing corner, part office. It’s an L shaped room that really lends itself to multi-functionability. Since we’ll be moving a lot of the furniture out of the living room, we want to add a credenza for storage, picture display, maybe a stray plant. Here’s what we found (Ikea again, they don’t have all the hardware on it…)
We are also going to have carpet in the house for the very first time (basement) and are really excited to be in a family room with warm floors. It will also be a much bigger play-space for Sam, as well as a good guest room (we’re getting 2 futon couches & there’s a 1/2 bath down there.) All-in-all we think we can swing it. Gregg and our friend Q will do the demo in the basement. We have a handy-man who will help Gregg w/ the drywall. We’ll paint ourselves. We’ll have the handy-man lay the tile and pull out the backplash. Otherwise it’s all us…which should save a considerable amount of cabbage, and of course, add a considerable amount of headaches. Oh well, such his the plight of home ownership! When life gives you lemons, Sam gives you lemonade. Truly this kid could be the answer to world peace. 20 minutes with him and Kim Il Sung would be changed man. Yesterday the endo pain was so bad I stayed home from work. I spent part of the time in bed, part on the couch. I couldn’t pick Sam up, but I could hold him if Gregg handed him off. At one point, Sammy looked straight into my eyes, put his hands on the side of my face, squeezed my cheeks together and gave me 1-2-3 big, sloppy-wet kisses (he still kisses open-mouth!) It was so sweet, so perfect I almost cried. Then, when I was laying on the couch, he ran over, squealing his “I’m so freakin’ happy” signature squeal, and clambered up on the couch to sit next to me, while holding my hand. Later that night, I was able to catch these cute-as-a-button Sam + Lola + Dad pictures:
Oh, and before dinner, Sam was playing “kitchen” with a metal bowl and plastic spatula. So, of course, when it came time to eat his mashed potatoes with peas, he wanted to use the spatula instead of his spoon.
Yesterday was tough. The endo pain hit me like a mack-truck out of nowhere. I was either in bed or laying on the couch most of the day (but for a trip to Home Depot to price out this years home improv projects.) I couldn’t lift Sam. This distressed him as much as it did me. He felt I was rejecting him. It broke my heart. G has said any plans for Sam’s little sibling are ON HOLD until we get my gyne health fixed (ie: hyesterectomy.) I understand. It makes sense…but still. That’s going to mean another 8 weeks not holding Sam & I don’t know if my heart can handle that. Hate to have a pity-poor-me day…but I’m sure you understand my anxiety as many of you (I’m finding out) have been through this too. This weekend included: 1. Mom logging another 7 miles at the gym while Sam played in the (wait for it…) YMCA daycare. Yup. No crying. No sniffling. Just off and running to play with their toy kitchen. For 45 minutes. When I came back into the room to fetch him, he waves and me and continued playing…wasn’t ready to go home yet I guess. 2. Sam attacking Lola. This has become a regular thing. Mr. No Fear gets up on the couch and basically tries to eat Lola’s face (ie: Sam’s idea of kissing.) He pushes her. He shoves her. He pokes her. Lola just sits there, bless her, until it gets to be too much:
And finally, Lola leaving:
3. Sam finding his own little hidi-hole.
4. Mommy lying in bed w/ Endo pain and daddy being the best and caring for Sam. These days lying in bed is the only thing that gets rid of the pain. If only I had a couch in my office. Mommy is now SO ready for a hysterectomy…just now need to figure out how to get 6 weeks off work out of 3 weeks of vaca, 2 of which are already booked up. And yes, I’m leaving the best for last: 5. Sam sleeping ALL NIGHT LONG IN HIS CRIB. Yes, you read correctly. ALL NIGHT LONG. IN HIS OWN BED. This means mom and dad slept ALL NIGHT LONG IN THE SAME BED TOGETHER JUST THE TWO OF THEM. WOW. I think if I can get the sleep, I’ll put up w/ the endo. good trade-off if you ask me. In the off-chance you don’t see the button to the right, the page entitled “AWBC” at top, or follow me on Twitter or FB, I’d like to let you know that I’m once again walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this year. It’s 40 miles, over 2 days. The training is tough, and I plan on logging 400 miles before Walk Weekend, which is June 5-6 here in Chicago. I’m walking with an amazing team: Breast Intentions.
You can see our FB page here. I’m walking for all women and for my family members who are survivors and currently battling this awful disease. I have 3 women in my family who have gone through treatment, or are currently going through treatment. They are all beautiful, strong, brave and courageous women with more moxie in their little finger than I have in my entire being. I OWE it to them to do whatever I can. I’m sure you have similar beautiful, strong, brave and courageous women in your life. I’ve didicated to raise $2000 this year. I’ve already raised $300, which is 15% (for those non-math majors): this is really encouraging as we still have 5 1/2 months until Walk Weekend. If everyone who reads this blog just donated $5, think what we could accomplish! The money raised funds research, PSAs, mammograms and treatment & support for those currenting in the midst of battle. Please visit my page to make a donation. THANKS SO MUCH!! |
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