It's been quite a while

Well, blogging definitely didn't stay on my list of "musts" while thing got busy. Sorry 'bout that!

In the past few months, I've been a part of an amazing journey. Along with 11 other women, Sofia's Angels, we walked the Boston Susan G Komen 3-Day, 60 mile walk for breast cancer. When I decided to sign up for the walk, and the huge feat of fundraising $2300 in order to participate, I never would have imagined what a life-changing event it would be.

I've had a chance to get to know my teammates over the past year through Facebook, texts messages, etc but coming together really formed a bond that has exceeded all my expectations.

The journey was amazing through sweat, tears and some blisters (luckily none for me) we have truly formed a sisterhood. We were all brought together in memory of Sofia, the mother of our team captain. In her memory we bonded, we walked, we raised awareness and we opened our hearts. I will forever be grateful that I was a part of it.

Sadly, the SGK walk will not be held in Boston next year - but our team has spread to other locations. Not even a week after the walk, I had already registered to walk Philadelphia. That my home turf, yet the areas we will walk will be new to me!!

I cannot wait to make more memories over the next year, and meet new people as our team expands!

Already a hiatus

When I started this blog, I thought I would take a different approach. I would post when I could but try not to make myself feel like I needed to post all the time.

Well, I just looked and realized that after 4 initial blog posts, I've taken nearly 2 months off!

It has been a crazy two months, an entire softball season has come and gone - my little slugger really enjoyed it and will be playing Fall Ball in Sept/Oct and she will be finishing Kindergarten in less than 2 weeks.

Time really does fly! My husband seems to be really enjoying his new job and my son is showing more & more personality every day... the fun Threes where we want to pull out hair out because he's just difficult!

I'm also now only 7 weeks away from one of the biggest things I've done in my life - the Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. I cannot wait to go to Boston to walk with my amazing team, trekking 60 miles over the course of 3 days. To meet fighters, survivors and loved ones who are walking in memory of those who have lost their battles. I cannot wait to finally meet all of the ladies on my team - I know it will be such a bonding experience. We will laugh together, cry together, deal with blisters together... make memories that will last a lifetime.

A tiny Mommy victory?

Some days, okay – MOST days, I feel like a failure as a parent. Or in the least, that I’ve failed my kids or my husband in some way. I guess that’s what “mommy guilt” is all about, right?

Most days I feel that I stay at work too long, interact with the kids too little, and just plain don’t do all those super-fun, great, amazing things that most stay at home moms do. I’m just not that put together when it comes to my home life. Maybe it is because I use up all that energy at work that when I get home I’m simply exhausted, especially on the days that I need to rush from work to daycare because my husband is already at work for the night. I guess it’s just a combination of many things – with my workload that was crazy for a few months, a schedule opposite of my husband’s at least a few days a week, and until recently, schoolwork hanging over my head as I was working towards my MBA. Lately, my load has lightened since work isn't as crazy and I am finished with school, but I still feel exhausted.

At any rate, I feel like I should be doing more arts & crafts, taking more trips to the park and initiating more play dates for the kids. I also should do more around the house and just be more productive in general. My husband and I often joke that we have switched roles in our family, because for the past few years he was a (mostly) stay at home dad. He did the laundry, cleaned the bathrooms and even started cooking dinner most nights.

Now he’s back to work full-time (but still home twice during the week with the kids due to his schedule) and things have to shift a bit more and most days, I feel like I just don’t make the progress I should.

Then there are days like today. There was 10am softball practice, followed by a much needed coffee run. I didn’t get my workout in and thought we were going to have a “movie day” because I wasn’t feeling that great.

Well, things took a turn for the better and while the kids did their little crafts and played for a while, I did lots of laundry (you’re welcome hubby!), cleaned up in the kitchen, baked homemade bread which then turned into homemade French toast sticks with a delicious banana compote, I made progress on a baby blanket that I had an order for and now I’m about to tackle the project that I’ve been putting off: cleaning out and organizing our desk.

While that may not seem like much, I feel so accomplished. I’m especially proud of the French toast sticks because it was a very delicious “breakfast for dinner” night! I don’t think I’ve raised my voice once today and everyone seems to be getting along fine. Now I’m just waiting for my husband to call and tell me he’s leaving work so I can make him some hot & fresh French toast (his favorite), minus the banana compote because he’s a little crazy and thinks bananas are disgusting.

Losing Teeth

Recently my daughter has started losing teeth.
Honestly, I don't remember it being this gross when I was a kid. Maybe that's because I was too excited for the tooth fairy and to come and I was the wiggler, not the tooth-puller.

You know, teeth don't just magically fall out. They wiggle and loosen until there's that one last piece stuck in your gums. That's when mom or dad, also know as the tooth-puller, needs to help it out. For some reason, I am the parent that is the tooth-puller. My husband said it's because his fingers are too big to get the teeth -- whatever the reason, I don't like it.

I didn't remember that losing teeth could be so bloody. I don't like having chunks of gums stuck to the newly extracted tooth, or having to clean out the hole left behind from said extraction. Also, in the process of getting ready to lose teeth, your mouth apparently changes. I started noticing a gap between my daughter's two front teeth and the adjacent teeth. Now that she's lost one of those teeth, she looks completely silly. I'm sure the next tooth won't be far behind.

Now, while I think this so kind of gross, my daughter is thrilled. The tooth fairy has visited twice now and she knows another tooth is not too far behind. She even requested that I take a picture with my phone to send to her grandparents, then she asked if I could put it on Facebook. *Sigh* She's really growing up.

Here's a peek at the notorious cell phone picture - it's not the best quality, but it gives you a visual of what I've been describing:

Lessons from the Playground

Today I had the joy of taking my kids to the playground and meeting up with a friend and her kids. It was such a great time being able to actually have an outside play date for once, that we rejoiced in the sun.

The best part of this particular play date is that my two children and the older child of my friend were able to run free and play, since we had strategically placed ourselves on a blanket near the entrance/exit of the play area. The baby was all smiles and cuddles and was very content sitting with us. This was perfect because it gave us time to relax and chat about all sorts of things, and to do some great people watching.

While we were there, I learned a few lessons:
1. I will never fit in with the trendy moms who prefer to wear 4 inch wedges to chase their little ones around the busy playground. I'd chose my comfy sneakers, or soon flip flops, any day over breaking an ankle in those types of killer shoes. In my opinion, there is a time and place for those hoes and it makes no sense to wear them to the playground unless you're trying to impress someone. Obviously I wasn't!

2. Even though I will never again be pregnant, I envy those pregnant women who look great. You know the ones, the women who have that perfectly pronounced belly that shows they are obviously pregnant and don't look like the beached whale I did during both of my pregnancies. Oh, and the women who actually have the energy to chase their kids around the playground while obviously pregnant with the next little one.

3. It is perfectly acceptable to have a full fledged conversation about beer while sitting at the playground. After all, we weren't drinking it right there!

4. It's finally sunny springtime. That means we need sunscreen. Oops.

I'm sure I will learn something new every time we go to the playground... I have a feeling it is going to be an interesting summer and I am really looking forward to it. It's so nice to be able to sit and enjoy the company I'm keeping while the kids can run and play and enjoy being kids!!

- A

A Clean Slate

Hello There, How are you doing today?
Me, I'm doing pretty well. Exhausted, but doing well.

I've decided to start over with my blogging adventure after my previous attempts have been seemingly abandoned. I even went so far as to delete all my old entries in a way to really start over. I'm still contemplating a name change for my blog, so don't be alarmed if that comes in time.

This time around, I'd love to share a glimpse into my every day life, the wonderful and not-so-wonderful things that are going on. The real picture, not the rainbows and gumdrops view that most people like to portray in a blog. Now, don't get me wrong, I won't be down in the dumps all the time, but every once in a while, you might get a reminder that life is not perfect and you shouldn't pretend that it is!

Life is hectic, it is crazy but amazing, and most of all: Life is what you make of it.

I saw a great quote in the bathroom at my kids' daycare yesterday. I actually think I may print it up, have them doodle some awesome designs on it and hang it in my cubicle at work as a daily reminder. That quote was "Your day will go the way the corners of your mouth turn". I'm not sure who the source of that quote was, but I'd love to thank them for that reminder. Start your day with a smile and the hope that your day be uplifting!

-A