Recently I read a moving facebook update by one of my friends in a same sex relationship.
"On our way to get our taxes done with tears in our eyes as we hope and wish and pray that this is the last year that Lauren and I have to file taxes like strangers. Marriage equality bill is being debated today in the House in Maryland. Call your representatives of you haven't already if for nothing else but so that [our daughter] can grow up knowing her family is as valued as others in our State."
I have several friends in a same sex relationship (and have even been to a committment ceremony). But, I never considered something as basic as this post by Rene as what it's like for same sex couples.
Later that night, I learned that Maryland House of Delegates passed the bill. Seeing the Governor, and so many others elation, made me excited for equality.
I grew up Catholic. The church was always very important to me. It's heartbreaking when you discover that what you grew up believing may not be what's right. Following the announcement, one of the newest Cardinals (in my archdiocese) said,
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
You can dress him up
I can’t take Grant anywhere by myself anymore. I took him to meet a friend for lunch yesterday. It took FOREVER for the food to come out. He was good considering. Then we went to Tiny Town in the mall. But I had to go to Sephora! That little sh*t pulled all of the samples from the end cap and had them in his stroller. He wouldn’t give up the lipsticks! I was like, Grant, unclench. Those aren’t even good colors for mommy!
My friend wanted to go to the Gap so we wondered over there with her. I slipped into Papyrus to buy my husband a valentine. Grant started screaming as soon as we walked in so I just grabbed the first card I saw, read the message which was nice, then ran quickly to the register. The woman scanned the card and said “$7.49” (ummm no…just the ONE card I was thinking). What was I gonna do with that baby screaming in the store? Good lord!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Pending, pending nuptials
A few weeks ago, my friend from work, AM, told me she wanted to join Weight Watchers. Our work group disbanded, so I suggested she try it online. This was about the same time that she told me she knows her boyfriend is going to propose. (possibly before Christmas).
On Monday, we went to lunch and she ordered a salad. I said, "did you order a salad because you want to loose weight for your pending engagement." AM, "yes, I don't want to feel bad about myself in a wedding dress." I said, "no matter what, you'll like a princess on your wedding day." AM, "I took your advice on going online." I said, shopping for wedding gowns? "She said "no, for weight watchers." Me, "oh, yeah, that makes more sense."
She said that she doesn't want anyone to know at work when she gets engaged. I said it can't be avoided. All it took was an email to our boss explaining that AM would be out from work because her sister had a baby, and he circulated a department wide email congratulating her on becoming an aunt.
This is going to be good!
On Monday, we went to lunch and she ordered a salad. I said, "did you order a salad because you want to loose weight for your pending engagement." AM, "yes, I don't want to feel bad about myself in a wedding dress." I said, "no matter what, you'll like a princess on your wedding day." AM, "I took your advice on going online." I said, shopping for wedding gowns? "She said "no, for weight watchers." Me, "oh, yeah, that makes more sense."
She said that she doesn't want anyone to know at work when she gets engaged. I said it can't be avoided. All it took was an email to our boss explaining that AM would be out from work because her sister had a baby, and he circulated a department wide email congratulating her on becoming an aunt.
This is going to be good!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Training Recap
I attended a training last week with a man first thought to have some form of untreated ADHD, but I think he just liked to hear himself speak. I apologize to my friends with ADHD for giving them a bad name. In one breath, 'Guy' was asking the trainer for advice on how get staff in the field to access the sight when most of them did not have computers. Later he was asking if the portal could be configured with Flash because it was "too boring."
The trainer was showing us how to upload photos to the portal and used a Steelers jpg as a demonstration. (Earlier in the class we had all established that we all grew up in Pennsylvania. Trainer now in Atlanta, me in Baltimore, Guy in Chicago). Trainer asked if I was a Steelers fan (yes!). Asked Guy if he was a Steelers' fan. "No, he replied."
Trainer - "Eagles?"
Guy - "No."
Trainer - "Bears?"
Guy - "No".
(crickets).
Guy, finally, "I don't follow any sports. It's too expensive." Then, a breakout discussion about the cost of attending a baseball game (tickets, concessions, parking, merchandise). I roll my eyes and tell him instead of Cubs, maybe he should go to a White Sox game.
At the end of the day, we're talking about our rental car experience. I was talking about the base model economy vehicle I rented, a Yaris. Said it was weird that I had to manually lock all of the doors. Guy said, "I requested a premium vehicle, but was upgraded to luxury. It wasn't a problem until they put me in a Mustang Convertible. I don't drive soft top convertibles, because they're too noisy. I had to get another car."
This is just an abbreviated version of the other observations, remarks, exclamations and discoveries by Guy throughout the training.
The trainer was showing us how to upload photos to the portal and used a Steelers jpg as a demonstration. (Earlier in the class we had all established that we all grew up in Pennsylvania. Trainer now in Atlanta, me in Baltimore, Guy in Chicago). Trainer asked if I was a Steelers fan (yes!). Asked Guy if he was a Steelers' fan. "No, he replied."
Trainer - "Eagles?"
Guy - "No."
Trainer - "Bears?"
Guy - "No".
(crickets).
Guy, finally, "I don't follow any sports. It's too expensive." Then, a breakout discussion about the cost of attending a baseball game (tickets, concessions, parking, merchandise). I roll my eyes and tell him instead of Cubs, maybe he should go to a White Sox game.
At the end of the day, we're talking about our rental car experience. I was talking about the base model economy vehicle I rented, a Yaris. Said it was weird that I had to manually lock all of the doors. Guy said, "I requested a premium vehicle, but was upgraded to luxury. It wasn't a problem until they put me in a Mustang Convertible. I don't drive soft top convertibles, because they're too noisy. I had to get another car."
This is just an abbreviated version of the other observations, remarks, exclamations and discoveries by Guy throughout the training.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Things I learned from my son
Things I learned from my son -
1) Ignorance is bliss - Good thing no one told me how much he weighed until after he was already out
2) Patience is a virtue - I actually have more than I thought
3) Time flies - I can't believe he's a year old.
4) It's all Greek to me - I think I'm starting to understand baby talk
5) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree - Watching my husband and my son together
6) Practice makes perfect - especially when it comes to bathing, feeding, diapering and dressing
7) Make the best of both worlds - I can be a good mom and have a career too
8) Rome wasn't built in a day - I'm not always going to get everything done, and that's okay.
9) Every cloud has a silver lining - when my baby smiles at me
1) Ignorance is bliss - Good thing no one told me how much he weighed until after he was already out
2) Patience is a virtue - I actually have more than I thought
3) Time flies - I can't believe he's a year old.
4) It's all Greek to me - I think I'm starting to understand baby talk
5) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree - Watching my husband and my son together
6) Practice makes perfect - especially when it comes to bathing, feeding, diapering and dressing
7) Make the best of both worlds - I can be a good mom and have a career too
8) Rome wasn't built in a day - I'm not always going to get everything done, and that's okay.
9) Every cloud has a silver lining - when my baby smiles at me
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Grandparents Are Coming
My son turns one on Friday, and we're having a birthday party for him this weekend. The grandparents are coming. My parents "Gigi and Granddad," and my husband's mom, "Grandma." Thankfully, my mother in law was fine with "Grandma." My mother, who could never be happy with Grandma (not sure if it's the age or the stigma), looked at every list she could find and tried out countless names before arriving at Gigi. (I think it was harder for her to come up with a name for herself than it was for us to name the baby!).
One of the name combinations she proposed for herself and my dad were, "Kiki and G-daddy." My parents are in their 60s. They wear glasses and sweaters and drive a minivan (my mom doesn't even own jeans). They are not a man going through a mid-life crisis who married a woman with fake boobs and long bleached blonde hair. Oh, and my dad - he wants to be called Grandpa. My mom won't let him.
My mother in law lives in San Diego. I've only met her 4 times. Last year when she came to visit, she burned herself microwaving soup. I know she's going to try to show me the scar sometime on this trip. She's arriving on Friday at rush hour. My husband wants to send a car to pick her up. I said that's fine but he has to be the one to tell her. He said, "why do I have to tell her, the driver will have a sign. I"ll tell him what she looks like."
"Gigi" said not to worry about her because she'll just give her jobs to do to help prepare for the party. This is the woman who uses a ruler to cut brownies the same size delegating to the woman who burns herself with microwave soup. All the while telling me that I should let everyone know I'm serving lunch at the birthday party because I didn't specify as such on the invitation.
*Please refer to my last post where I said I would be on the deck if anyone is looking for me.
One of the name combinations she proposed for herself and my dad were, "Kiki and G-daddy." My parents are in their 60s. They wear glasses and sweaters and drive a minivan (my mom doesn't even own jeans). They are not a man going through a mid-life crisis who married a woman with fake boobs and long bleached blonde hair. Oh, and my dad - he wants to be called Grandpa. My mom won't let him.
My mother in law lives in San Diego. I've only met her 4 times. Last year when she came to visit, she burned herself microwaving soup. I know she's going to try to show me the scar sometime on this trip. She's arriving on Friday at rush hour. My husband wants to send a car to pick her up. I said that's fine but he has to be the one to tell her. He said, "why do I have to tell her, the driver will have a sign. I"ll tell him what she looks like."
"Gigi" said not to worry about her because she'll just give her jobs to do to help prepare for the party. This is the woman who uses a ruler to cut brownies the same size delegating to the woman who burns herself with microwave soup. All the while telling me that I should let everyone know I'm serving lunch at the birthday party because I didn't specify as such on the invitation.
*Please refer to my last post where I said I would be on the deck if anyone is looking for me.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
R&R
R&R
Yesterday my boss was asking me about my son's sleep schedule. He'll be 1 in a week. (which I can't believe. I told 2 friends that if they were looking for me at his birthday party I'd be sitting on the back deck steps crying into my sangria- more on that later). He goes to bed at 6:30 and wakes up at 6 for the most part. I don't know why he's such a good sleeper (& yes I realize I'm very lucky). At 5 months he just started doing it. He also gave up his pacifier around the same time - just didn't want it anymore. I put it in his mouth before bed one night & he spit it out. I thought it was by accident so I tried popping it back in, but he just spit it back out. Never wanted it again.
The first five months were more difficult than the next five. I went back to work fulltime when he was 8 weeks old. Cried the first time I dropped him off at daycare. Walked the 2 blocks back to our house sobbing carrying an empty Baby Bjorne. Tried pumping at work so I could continue breast feeding. Was up twice during the night for feedings & my husband was traveling 3 nights a week. We also bought a house. I don't know how I did it.
My boss doesn't have any children. She said she can't imagine that sleep depravation & stress. I told her I've heard people say "you just do what it takes to make it work." It sounds cliche, but it's true. She told me the only thing she can equate it to is working in an emergency situation where there's adrenaline & harmony of everyone working together to get through it. And when you're done, you take R&R.
Really? R&R? Where the company pays for your plane ticket & 5 days salary for you to relax & recover. Yeah boss...sounds similar. When's my expense paid R&R from motherhood?
Yesterday my boss was asking me about my son's sleep schedule. He'll be 1 in a week. (which I can't believe. I told 2 friends that if they were looking for me at his birthday party I'd be sitting on the back deck steps crying into my sangria- more on that later). He goes to bed at 6:30 and wakes up at 6 for the most part. I don't know why he's such a good sleeper (& yes I realize I'm very lucky). At 5 months he just started doing it. He also gave up his pacifier around the same time - just didn't want it anymore. I put it in his mouth before bed one night & he spit it out. I thought it was by accident so I tried popping it back in, but he just spit it back out. Never wanted it again.
The first five months were more difficult than the next five. I went back to work fulltime when he was 8 weeks old. Cried the first time I dropped him off at daycare. Walked the 2 blocks back to our house sobbing carrying an empty Baby Bjorne. Tried pumping at work so I could continue breast feeding. Was up twice during the night for feedings & my husband was traveling 3 nights a week. We also bought a house. I don't know how I did it.
My boss doesn't have any children. She said she can't imagine that sleep depravation & stress. I told her I've heard people say "you just do what it takes to make it work." It sounds cliche, but it's true. She told me the only thing she can equate it to is working in an emergency situation where there's adrenaline & harmony of everyone working together to get through it. And when you're done, you take R&R.
Really? R&R? Where the company pays for your plane ticket & 5 days salary for you to relax & recover. Yeah boss...sounds similar. When's my expense paid R&R from motherhood?
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