Friday, October 19, 2012

Flip-Flop

Really?  Really!  Really.
I am risking completely jinxing myself...but Lucy has turned a corner.  That probably sounds bad as I don't want to say that she was a terrible, nasty, whining, mess.  But if the shoe fits...  If you know James and I, you know Lucy has been our "challenge".  But the past two weeks, she has been an absolute joy.  If I ask her to get dressed, she does.  Brush your teeth, ok Mommy!
But fate is cruel.  Oh yes, as Lucy transitions to a kind human again...Greta appears to be diving head first into the terrible 2's. 
Really?  Really!  Really.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Hard Knocks

I know I generally use this blog to post about all the craziness that happens in our lives.  But today...I'm going to use it as a place to vent a new frustration; one that is generally not part of my normal grievances.  Today, I'd like to talk about my job (What you say...I actually have one). 
For those who don't know, I'm an Audit Manager at Wells Fargo.  Specifically, I work on the Financial Crimes Audit Team which ensures business groups within Wells Fargo are in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations stemming from the USA PATRIOT Act, Global Sanctions (generalization), and FACTA.  Most days, I love my job.  I'm really good at it (hey...my blog...my horn tooting).  I earn a good salary and I work really hard.
But last week, I got passed-over for a promotion.  A promotion I didn't even really know I wanted until I was told it couldn't be mine.  *tear*.  Truth be told, I've never been this affected by a set-back in my job before.  In years past, when a job I applied for was given to someone else...it made sense.  That person had more experience, better qualifications, etc.  But in this instance, I was more qualified (or at least that's what I think).  Apparently, my bosses-boss thinks otherwise.  In fact, I've come to realize that the current role I'm in will, in no way, get me to that next level (boo).  This is a hard pill to swallow.  So, to move forward...I have made the decision to leave my beloved job and take on a new role within our group (double boo). 
Life is full of heartaches; but this one seems to be more hurtful than most.  I know I will get over it.  I've already put back on my game face at work.  But in more private moments, I'm grateful Norm has a strong shoulder and warm words of wisdom.
I'm sad.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Ohh What a Difference a Year Makes

Last summer was hard.  One baby and one toddler.  Two different sleep schedules.  Bottles. Diapers. limited mobility.  Packing for a cabin weekend was a 4 hour marathon.  And by the time you'd gotten in the car; made three stops in two hours; unpacked and "set-up shop" at the cabin; spent 9:00am-4:00pm trying to put one of the kids to sleep; repacked the show two days later; reloaded the car; made four stops on the way home; and unpacked again...you wondered why?  (And I'm lucky because my in-laws decked-out their cabin home with cribs, toys, monitors, books, bouncers, swings, and sippy-cups.)  Why did I put myself through this?  What was I thinking?  Will it always be this hard?  How do those other families do it...traveling up to their cabin home every weekend of the summer?

But life goes on...and somewhere along the way we found ourselves with two toddlers; on the same sleep schedule; sans diapers and bottles.  Packing for the cabin is more like 45 minutes and we are completely mobile.  Cabin weeks have become something that I genuinely look forward to these days.  James and I talked about how things would change last summer...but I guess I just didn't really believe it.

They say you shouldn't look back.  But I can't help but remind myself how hard it was...and how much better it is. I see my pregnant friends and I want to share my small tidbit of wisdom with them.  Warn them that it's harder, more exhausting, and more challenging than they could ever imagine.  And all these crazies who prattly-on about how rewarding it is to suffer through those first two years of a childs life can quite frankly, kiss mine.











Ohhhhh, What a Difference a Year Makes! 

Monday, February 6, 2012

2012...Already!

Wow! Time sure flies when you're busy! And boy have we been busy lately. I shake my head in disappointment as I realize my last post was in early fall, 2011. Ekkk! Since that time, so many crazy, exciting, and well, not so exciting things have happened. Here is the CliffsNote of the past 5 months...
1. Lucy turned 3
2. The girls moved to Macdonald Montessori School (and love it)
3. Thanksgiving in Missouri
4. Christmas at the Cabin
5. James still recovering from throwing his back out
6. I had PRK surgery on my eyes (also still recovering)

Ok...glad I got this post out of the way!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The 9-1-1 Pull-up Emergency

This afternoon I received an exasperated voicemail from our daycare provider. Lucy had used-up the last of her Pull-ups after nap time and no one else in the classroom is her size (i.e., your daughter is a mini-giant). She wasn't sure what they were going to do for the remainder of the day (2 hours).

I understand Lucy is big for her age, but really? Let's think outside the box ladies. I'm sure someone in the next room (3-4yr olds) rocks a 4T-5T pull-up. Are you really telling me that Lucy wears the biggest size pull-ups of all the kids in the entire school? Really? Really.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Mundane at it's Best

James and I had a moment. Well, not really a moment; more like a weekend. A weekend filled with little family moments at home. We spent time at the park, the Children's Museum, and the dinner table. In this day and age, weekends like this are too few and far between. But, I will remember this one for awhile. Thanks family for a memorable one!















Monday, August 29, 2011

You Complete Me

It seems when you have two kids, the life you once knew begins to slip away. You don't mean for it to happen; but the truth is beer-bonging, all-night benders are replaced by errand-filled weekends that start at 6:30am and end at 10pm (if you're lucky). You become a hermit...a slave to sleep and routine. And for the most part, you revel in the quiet comfort of the mundane.
Shockingly (yes, that's sarcasm in my voice), friends who don't have kids find this new lifestyle boring (a fair assessment). And you hear lots of stories about couples who find new friends...the parents of your child's preschool friends. People who can relate to the munchkins you love to brag about (despite the fact that you promised yourself you'd never be like that).
But Norm and I don't have to woo new couples to be friends with us. For some unknown reason, our friends continue to love us and include us in their fun adventures (no matter how many kids we poop-out). Who knows, maybe their keeping us around as their fallback couple in case they-too, find themselves with-child one day? Or would miss the verbal abuse they receive when "Jane" comes to visit. Possibly, they just haven't thought of a good way to break-up with us. Whatever the reason, Norm and I continue to find joy and happiness in the friendships we have. What a blessing to have such a great group of people in your life who support and love you no matter what. Thank you friends...you know who you are. "You Complete Us"! (glistening tear and cheesy moment, I know).







A special thank you to Blake and Stephanie for hosting Christmas in July year after year...it's one of my favorite summer events. And to our besties for always making the supreme effort to come up to the cabino in August for our annual friends weekend. We love you!

Random Acts of Life

Greta...stop eating paint!

The photographer thought this was the best family picture...EEK! Will there ever be a Norman Family picture we can frame?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

My Neice is a STAR!

I can't believe Marina is such a big girl. Check out the following clip posted on her Dance School's website! She is the little girl on the right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyWNxVjkExs&feature=player_embedded

http://www.janetsdancestudio.com

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Love this Picture of Greta

Taken at Megan and Justin Lohr's wedding in Pittsburgh this past weekend.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Holy $H!T

One of my favorite times of the day is the early morning hours when I can hear the girls waking up. Talking to themselves and each other is both sweet and comical. So when I heard Lucy saying over and over again, "no-no Greta...no-no", I giggled a little in my sleepy haze as to what Greta could be doing. And in true "good mommy" form, elbowed Norm in the ribs to go get the girls; mumbling something about it being his turn.
But a little extra shut-eye was not in my cards. No sooner had he rolled out of bed that I heard him yell, "BETHHHHH....GET IN HERE"! As I tried to untangle my feet from the sheets and stumble out of bed, I see Norm holding our sweet baby out, like a disease, crying for Mommy and covered in....POOP. Poop in her hair. Poop in her mouth. Poop all over her face and suckie. Poop EVERYWHERE! Norm, like a deer in headlights, looks to me for direction. "BATH TUB. BATH TUB. GO. BATH TUB", is all I can manage to utter. Its so disgusting...and the wafting smell of poop is starting to seep out of there room. As Norm races Greta (still at arms length) to the bathroom, I bravely step into their room to survey the damage! HOLY $H!T! No really...there is $H!T everywhere. The back story to my rude awakening is beginning to unfold in front of my eyes. As I lean over her bed I see a diaper cast aside and a huge poop with little Greta finger prints all over it. It appears that Greta (that little stinker), removed her poopie diaper and played with it. Smeared it in the crib walls, sheets, blankets, and suckies. She also tried to eat it. No wonder Lucy was yelling No-No! YUCK!
In the end, both Greta and crib survived no worse for wear. But life lesson taken from this poopscapade...always make sure Greta is wearing shorts or pants to bed!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Arnie Palmers

I fear I'm becoming, well, one of THEM! You know the type. The ones that drone on about the amazement's of their children and the endless joy their little munchkins bring them; giving new meaning to the phrase, "so sweet it gave me a toothache". Well, at the risk of alienating those followers who enjoy my "cup-half-empty" blathering, I will just come out and say it....I LOVE MY GIRLS! There...I've put it out there for all to see. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH IT HURTS!
This current state-of-mind is not my fault (for the record). I put the blame entirely on my obliging ObGyn who up'd my dosage of happy pills to the point where, apparently, I can't find anything wrong with my life. I disgust myself.
I want to puke at all the sentimental thoughts that run through my head when thinking about Lucy's pigtails or Greta's dancing. And what's worse, if I did puke on myself, I wouldn't even be upset about it. I'd probably just shrug it off with a smile and revel in those crazy mother-moments when you get puked on!
ARG!
What is wrong with me? I suppose I could chalk one up to, "time heals all wounds". But then I have to ask myself...was having Lucy and Greta really a wound? In a word....YES. (Can someone please remind me to delete this posting when they learn to read). Having a child is like a self-inflicted wound that, like anything else, takes time to heal. The wound is the loss of the person you once where. The freedom you once had. The body you once loved. But time heals and a different person emerges. One that doesn't take what little freedom she can find for granted. One that proudly shows-off those imperfect lumps and bumps as war wounds. Gotten in battle. Healed, but forever changed.
Life is full of lemons and I'm sure father-time will chuck a few more my way before years end. And don't fear, my blog will once again be filled with "glass-half-empty" Arnie Palmers! But today...today my cup runeth over!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Planner...How Could You?

I love my planner. I always have. It's small, compact, and a lovely shade of blue. I love it so much that I still keep the 2009 & 2010 inserts and flip through them from time-to-time in a quite moment of reflection! I once thought I lost my planner and was devastated. Inconsolable. Thought my world was crashing down around me. When finally it resurfaced from the depths of my "mom purse", I promised never to be so careless again.
But these days, my planner and I have had a bit of a falling out. I suppose it's not entirely the planners fault; what with those bossy Egyptians and Romans dictating it's basic outline. But, who else can I blame for the horror that has become the months of June, July, and August? Me!
Hardly my fault. Each weekend "box" had been carefully color-coded (by me) with cabin weekends, play dates, company picnics, and family weddings. But despite all my loving attention and organization, my planner viciously turned its back on me. White-out stains of abandoned engagements have turned my color-coding system to a blurry mess. Careless reschedules have been, of all things, penciled in leaving unattractive lead-smears in their wake. In short, my planner has allowed hasty planning to run amok and allowed my summer to completely become out of control. I suppose it was inevitable, but still. I feel my planner owes me an apology (and possibly a massage gift certificate) for all the stress its caused. Only then will I consider allowing it back into my life, my purse, and my favor.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Greta!

Greta's 1st Birthday!

You're such a big girl and we love you!

Thank you for making our life better!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxjw6vtlI1Y





I'm still amazed that one year has gone by since Greta came into this world. I can't help but reminisce about her birth and how quick and intense her labor was. I said it the moment I saw her red little face...Greta came into this world and slipped into our pockets; like she's always been there. Greta is a true miracle and I'm proud to say I'm her Mommy. Happy Birthday little one! Happy Birthday to my sweet, wonderful Happy!


Monday, April 25, 2011

Happy Easter!

What an Easter! James and I had a blast building-up and playing Easter Bunny with Lucy and Greta. He came, ate his carrots, and left a crazy amount of eggs for the girls to find. And find them they did. On the stairs, in the sunroom, at Auntie Molly's house. Eggies were everywhere.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwDCyOTr3Nk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcwgOLek5ss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuysbfnXOpM
p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRRhSPSAN_o

We attempted a family picture but getting all four of us looking at the camera at the same time is like trying to herd cats. Oh well, glad it was a lovely day and almost all of us are are looking.



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Rachel Song

Lucy loves Ms. Rachel at school and we've heard this song on more than one occasion! We're not entirely sure what Rachel has done to wiggle her way into Lucy's heart...but Thank you Rachel for all you do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0X74veFQyQ

Talking, Walking, and Singing

Things are moving at warp speed these days. Greta is walking and starting to talk. Lucy loves to sing, sing, sing. It's so much fun! I apologize that I don't have a lot more to say...but I think the recent video's speak for themselves.

Greta's first true word...BALL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsC4s-ostS8

Lucy's ABC's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwXpNKXlWQ

Greta's walking skill's keep getting better!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdTkE2BaVkA

Daddy Bars & Fruit Snacks...

Are we creating a good girl or foodie monster? Yes, I have stooped to rewarding (bribing) Lucy with goodies in order to encourage "good girl" behavior (it worked for Skinners rats). I know there are well-meaning parents out there that feel I'm creating a bad life-long food habit. Phewie! I feel I'm finally putting that B.A. in psychology to good use.
Research tells me that positive reinforcement is the most effective way to modify behavior. I want, more than anything, for Lucy to get dressed in the morning without throwing a temper-tantrum (is that so much to ask?). Since introducing daddy bars and fruit snacks to the mix, I have a happy, smiley two year old who is dressed without as much as a mild protest. But does the end, justify the means? Am I really doing Lucy a service by rewarding her with food? HECK YEAH!
To all the worry-warts and nay-sayers who feel that I am ruining my daughter by using food/stickers/etc to reward good behavior need to pour themselves a LARGE glass of wine and chill-out. This wine drinking, full-time working, loving mommy throws caution to the wind and trusts that genuine love, encouragement, and lots of "suckie kisses" will far outweigh the long term effects of a few "daddy bars".