Happy Alice

Alice doesn't giggle very much. You really have to earn her laughs. Which is why tonight's giggle-fest made me OH. SO. HAPPY.



And one of these days I am going to remember to take videos with my iPhone in the other direction!

My Favorites

Oh my darling blog. How I miss you.

I'm sorry I've been so MIA this year. It's been a hectic few months, dominated by professional lives and sick babies. I spend a lot of the day running around right now, but I'm so happy doing it. Alice is at such a joyful age - spending lots of time giggling and smiling and gobbling down whatever food you put in front of her. She's starting to demonstrate preferences for certain foods (frozen blueberries and cut up grapes trump EVERYTHING). She's just such fun!



Today was a big day for me, professionally. I had two big meetings, with senior staff at the DOH, including the Commissioner. It's strange to realize that I'm at that point in my career where these events should happen more regularly. I'm no longer the youngest staff member in the office (though I was definitely at least 6 years younger than anyone else in the Commissioner's office today!). It's thrilling to be at such a fun level in my professional life - and thank God, since it comes at such a high price right now.

Another night I will write a longer post about this, and about how I'm missing Michael as he's off at a conference in Florida this week. But tonight I'm crawling to bed...

Goodnight friends.

Bliss

Valentines

It's Valentine's Day! We celebrated with chocolates from Cocoa Mills and carrot cake from La Casa Dunn. It has been a delicious evening, despite an attempt to destroy it by tossing a glass bottle full of olive oil on the kitchen floor. I feel like a very lucky lady.


I also celebrated by staying home from work! It has been a rough few weeks in our household, between all the sicknesses and stresses of work. So a day with a nanny and without an office to trek to sounded like a very good plan indeed. While I didn't get everything on my list completed (as evidenced by an actual picture of my actual list --- yes, I make lists of tasks for vacation days), I did feel like I had time to Get Things Done, as well as time to read and rest. My incredibly thoughtful brother bought me a gift certificate to get a massage for mother's day last May, and I finally redeemed it today. Heavenly.

The Redskins Wizard

The Touch

Here it is, the end of another long day. My list of completed chores is long, but the list of things to do is longer. How is that possible? No need to complain - life is good for an employed, happily married mommy! But a baby with an ear infection and a work life that never quits is exhausting as well as fulfilling.

In other news, our good friends John & Anna had another baby girl!! Penelope is adorable and, in the blink of an eye, our New York City family has expanded. Alice is incredibly curious about the latest addition, and was riveted by her today.



Alice seems destined for middle-child-syndrome during this phase in her life. She's in love with Naomi, John & Anna's older daughter (11-months Alice's senior). Alice chases Naomi all over the place, even as Naomi screams "No!" Penelope just seems like a new toy. It's so touching to watch these little babies start to learn about one another, to see their fascination with other children, other beings their size and shape.

What a joy to have other friends to share this stage of life with! We are so blessed.

(And, as I write this, another friend is in labor. Sending good thoughts her way...)

Munchkin!

Waterfront

Sunshine

Invasion

My house has been invaded by viruses! First Michael's dad caught the flu during a visit with us last weekend. Then Alice started running a temperature. And now Michael is stuck in bed.

It's exhausting to have sickness overrun your family! Alice isn't sleeping and Michael is barely keeping any food down. We are all just surviving day-to-day.

Thankfully Alice had some of her characteristic charm back on display yesterday, so things are looking up! Hopefully Michael will be better after another day of rest.

In the meantime, we had another snow storm!!

Status Updates

Alice is sick! I came home today to find an exhausted, warm baby. She fell asleep almost immediately, crashing before I even had a chance to put her in pajamas.

Michael is in Philadelphia for work. He's enjoying a restful night. In a HOTEL!! With room service!! And a maid!!

I baked chocolate chip cookies "for Michael" tonight and am resisting the urge to binge.

As an informed citizen, I should be watching the State of the Union. But instead I'm watching "The Bachelor." And binging on said cookies.

I've been taking more hot baths. And they are amazing - so comforting, calming, needed.

Apt 2.0

This weekend, Michael & I revamped our apartment! We created Apartment 2.0. Of course, I'm already planning 3.0, but the changes have left me beaming!

Our new couch:


And our new play room!!

Basking in the sunshine

In the nighttime glow

Sound Asleep

At 7:30 this morning, when I had to leave for work (note: this is not normal!)

I'll Take It!

Glass of Red Wine & "A Happy Marriage" =
Fabulous

Poll: Followed Up

Thank you guys so much for your words of wisdom regarding the early morning wake-up! As luck would have it, the same day I wrote this post asking whether people think I should be getting up with the first morning feeding, we put a (loud) humidifier in Alice's room. The white noise from the humidifier keeps her asleep until 7:30! So every morning last week I had a full hour in the morning before she woke up. Lovely.

As a result, I've made some progress in my fantastically gut-wrenching book "A Happy Marriage." It's a beautiful look at marriage - honest and terrifying, soft and real. I've found several passages particularly poignant, and thought I'd share a couple:

So much had happened in the twenty-nine years since his first disastrous gift. So many illusions dispelled. So much strength revealed. She had said things to him as cruel as anyone would ever say; and he had been crueler to her more than once. They had sworn love; they had endured hate. As children they had made children, one of whom was already a man, the other becoming one too fast.

He knew the statistics: most people who went into marriage counseling ended up divorced. It was a halfway house for the emotionally retarded: people like Enrique, too timid to tell the truth without a referee.

I love when a book touches me this deeply. I've found myself struggling to hold back tears several times, and think the story reflects the real challenges of living lives in marriage. I highly recommend it, if you can stomach the heartache...

The 9-Month You

Dear Alice,

Another lovely weekend drawing to a close. Bumpa came to visit, and we spent hours sitting on the floor in our living room, watching you crawl all around, play with toys and pieces of paper and shoe laces. You are growing like a weed, learning new tricks every single day. I'm loving this stage of your life, little one. You are such a joy!

Some things to know:
* You love Jack-in-the-Box! Every time the music starts, you crawl to your closest parent -- and then keep climbing! When Jack finally pops out, you jump and then smile, all in one swift motion.

* You are fearless. You're learning how to find your balance, pulling yourself up from the floor, shuffling from the sofa to the chair and back again. You are undaunted by falls and bumps and bruises. You just keep going, sweet love.

* Your favorite foods are squash, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and Chipotle quesadillas.

* You're starting to understand what it means to say goodbye, and that's absolutely heartbreaking. Weekday mornings, when I put on my jacket and get packed up for work, you crawl over to me, looking sad and unhappy about the separation that's to come.

* We cannot go anywhere, sweet girl, without you charming the pants off of strangers walking by. You love to flash your smile to anyone, anywhere. I've seen you melt even the toughest of men on the subway. It's spectacular.

I love you more than anything ever, sweet Alice!

Love,
Mommy

Alice - 9 months old!

Poll

Okay, so this may sound insane, but go with me for a sec...

Alice wakes up for a feeding at 5 AM. Am I insane to consider waking up for the day at this time? It would mean I would lose about an hour of precious sleep, but it would also give me some quiet time before I start my day. Back in my pre-baby days, I enjoyed about 45 minutes of reflective time each workday morning, where I would relax on the couch, drink my first delicious cup of hot tea, and just enjoy starring out the window. I miss this time. A lot.

So, the poll question of the day is: should I just wake up at 5 AM, even if it means losing sleep? There's not a chance that I'll go to bed earlier, so you can take that out of the equation. Thoughts? How do/did other mom's find some zen time in their hectic days???

Mostly Frequent Visuals

Okay, so I have thoughts swirling in my head, but it is Sunday night at 10:01 PM. I anticipate waking up nice and early all week and dealing with a hectic few days at work. So, for the time being, I'm going to have to stick with more visuals about life in our household.

Happy New Year!

Some pics of my sweetness to help keep up the New Year cheer!

Alice rode in the grocery cart for the first time this morning! She was very helpful.

A potential new routine: breakfast with Alice & Mommy at Deluxe!

Alice loved the raisins & oatmeal.

Bath time!!