Dr. Oz

Dr. Oz's resolution advice is very interesting, and available here.

Snow!

Situation Rectified

Today I:

• Stayed in my PJs until 11 AM (granted, I was calling places about life and rental insurance, but still!);
• Baked chocolate chip cookies in my spacious, sunny kitchen;
  
• Returned some wedding gifts (that's right --- wedding gifts! three years later!) and came away with $300 to spend without guilt at Crate & Barrel;
• Talked to Melissa for a good long time;
• Took a nap; and
• Went to the gym!

I had a wonderful day, made enjoyable not only by the events of the day but by the people with whom I was able to spend time. I talked to Melissa, who is one of the most amazing people ever, and then enjoyed Christine's strength training class at the gym. Both of these ladies just lift my spirits and make me a happier person. Now I'm just so excited to see my hubby and enjoy a healthy, delicious dinner at home.

Hooray!!

27-week Baby Bulge!

It's just too funny!

Stress

The past six weeks have been some of the most stressful Michael and I have faced. But that's a reoccurring theme here. What I'm wondering is when I am going to let myself calm down. Today was madness - and my list of chores for tomorrow remains dauntingly long. I didn't read. I didn't go to the gym. I didn't cook anything. I didn't talk to Melissa or Austen. I just ran around the Upper West Side, scarfing down a hot dog and some water for lunch.

And this is me on VACATION.

I think tonight I'm going to let someone else cook Michael and I dinner (hopefully with a vegetable or two somewhere in sight). I just took a bath for the first time in God knows how long. And I'm listening to one of my favorite classical CDs (Horowitz in Hamburg: The Last Concert) to calm my nerves from the long day. Michael will be home soon, and we'll just curl up in front of the TV, order in some dinner and relax. I've earned this... right?

Getting it Done

Joyously, I don't have to work today. Or at all this week! I took the whole week of to focus on chores around the house, to help us get settled into our new apartment. I'm so grateful to have the time, and amazed by the growing list of things to do... I don't know how relaxing the next few days will be, but at least I don't have to spend my Saturdays and Sundays for the next two months doing them.

Today's list includes a visit to the doctor, to Best Buy to recycle some old computers, to Bed, Bath & Beyond to return a shoe rack that is too big for my shoes, to Apple to get my iPhone fixed, and then cleaning up the kitchen pantry.

Christmas 2009

Today Michael and I celebrated our first Christmas in New York. Between his parents' move to Austin, our move to the new apartment, the pregnancy and my brother's trip to Armenia, it didn't make much sense for us to travel this holiday weekend. While it was sad to be without extended family, I loved celebrating this Christmas in our new home!

Michael and I picked up a our tree last night and decorated it with lights and about 14 ornaments while listening to Christmas music. Most of our celebrating has focused on food: lasagna for dinner last night, popovers for breakfast today, and beef brisket for our Christmas dinner. We also made it to church, and to the movies. Overall, the focus has been on enjoying some relaxing time in this empty city of ours.

I love my husband and this family we are creating.

Michael hiding behind out tree:

My first attempt at popovers:

A delicious Christmas dinner of beef brisket, mashed potatoes, asparagus and salad:

My New Morning View

Sitting in our beautiful guest room to enjoy my first cup of tea.


Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Hope work days are short and travel nightmares few. Love to all!!

The View

I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to get to work, but one option is to catch the 1 train at 125th. Here was the view from the above-ground tracks this morning:

The Weekend in Pictures

Starting on Friday morning...


Friday Night...



Saturday morning...



Saturday night...


Sunday Night...






Oh, and I heard it snowed this weekend!?

Barrow

Michael and I moved into Barrow Street four years ago. We were engaged, though not yet married, and this made both of us a little uncomfortable. We were nervous about moving in together, having heard from many friends that the transition from dating to being roommates was a rough one. And we were making it harder by moving into a tiny studio in the West Village.

And two weeks after moving in, we looked at each other and said, "Isn't this fun?!" We spent our first New Years dancing in our new place, celebrating with champagne and Mariah Carey.

And then we got married, and had the Honeymoon from Hell, and worked through graduate school, and found jobs, and faced our first marital hurdles. We found regular walking routes, and made friends at the book store and at the gym and at Chipotle and at the dry cleaner and at the laundry. We got to know our neighbors.

In short, we made a home on Barrow Street.

Leaving this weekend was emotional and difficult. But I look to the future, remembering that (God willing) Michael and I will bring our first child into this new home. We will find new routes and make new friends. Our marriage will grow here, mature here, continue to thrive here. We will celebrate new milestones and savor this home as well.

The Messiah: Year 10

Tonight, I attended Handel's Messiah with my dear friend Jordana. This is the tenth year I've seen this concert - twice in Charlottesville, once in Madrid, and seven times in New York. It holds special meaning to me now, having become an integral part of my Christmas celebrations.

I managed to record the last few minutes of tonight's performance. While the Hallelujah chorus, by all accounts, should be my favorite number of the night, I actually far prefer the Amen at the very end of the night. I love its simplicity, and the way it always feels like a prayer of thanksgiving for a beautiful evening.

Daunting

Tonight is the night. We have to start packing. The movers arrive at 8 AM on Saturday morning, and we have to be at least a little ready.

And yet, I'm sitting here on the couch, utterly overwhelmed at the thought of packing up this glorious little apartment that has served us so well. I think this entire week will be devoted to soaking up every last minute in our place, in our neighborhood.

On my walk home from the office yesterday (which I will miss so, so dearly), I walked by a party for wholesale rose sellers! The party was held inside a dark, comfortable, neighborly bar just around the corner from our apartment. It's the perfect spot for the winter - warm and cozy. And yesterday, it was covered in roses! Lovely! This was the best I could do as far as photos:

25-Week Baby Bulge

This Just In

The most recent production from my office, in an attempt to discourage too much soda consumption:


Oh, and 30 Rock is filming on our street right now!

Colors

Michael and I spent this weekend painting. It was exhausting, but I think it turned out very nicely!

What do you think?

Pink in the Baby's Room

Yellow for Our Bedroom & the Guest Room

Weekly Inspirations

I listened to Obama's Nobel remarks on Friday, and thought I'd share my favorite lines:

So even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries, America will always be a voice for those aspirations that are universal. We will bear witness to the quiet dignity of reformers like Aung Sang Suu Kyi; to the bravery of Zimbabweans who cast their ballots in the face of beatings; to the hundreds of thousands who have marched silently through the streets of Iran. It is telling that the leaders of these governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation. And it is the responsibility of all free people and free nations to make clear that these movements -- these movements of hope and history -- they have us on their side.

24 Week Baby Bump!

Fun Times!

Remembering some laughs enjoyed in Cambodia!

Plans Change

This week has been a long one. I spent four of the five work days visiting elementary school classrooms all over the city. This has required many early mornings, despite late nights, and I'm pooped! Visiting kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classrooms was mildly terrifying - and at times rather sad. Teachers continue to earn my total respect. I don't know that I could ever work in such chaos. But I'm also amazed at how negative school environments can be. Every day at lunch I heard a new group of teachers complaining about their students, fellow faculty, principals, administrators, testing, etc. etc. etc. It's tiring passing day in and day out in that kind of workplace.

In addition to my crazy schedule, Michael has put in very late hours this week. Wednesday was his office's Christmas party, so we enjoyed an evening together. But he got home at 9 or later every other night (including an arrival around 1:40 AM this morning) and now will be working over the weekend.

I'm leaving for my grandmother's funeral alone... I don't think this weekend will be quite as rejuvenating as I had hoped. But perhaps the time with family will help heal some of the sadness.

Things I Should Be Doing Right Now

1. Going to the gym
2. Figuring out what to cook for dinner
3. Shopping for more maternity clothes
   
4. Writing a thank you note
5. Calling the host of friends I miss talking with
   
6. Christmas shopping
7. Walking around the neighborhood
8. Needle pointing
   

And instead I am lying on the couch, listening to Christmas music and debating my next moves. And wondering if The Biggest Loser will still be on, despite President Obama's address on Afghanistan...

This is not a high point for me, is it? :)