07.30.09

Theta Mom Thursday

So Theta Moms, my planned time for this past week actually has been planned since the beginning of the summer. My husband and I reserved two nights down in Atlantic City, NJ.

The master plan was to drop the kids at my parents’ house since they live within an hour of AC (so in the event of an emergency, this would be an adequate driving distance). My husband and I needed this getaway more than ever before. You know the deal…when you need to re-group, re-energize and just get some quality alone time. Staying at a posh hotel with a pool was certainly an added bonus! So here’s what we encountered as we embarked on this magical journey…

We were running so late. Trying to pack for a couple of nights for two children (one of whom is a baby) is like packing for 5 weeks for 5 children. Seriously! I needed two gates, the bouncy, the portable high chair, the stroller, the entire crib ensemble, diapers, formula, bottles, and the list goes on and on…As we finally packed the car, we buckled the kids in and we were off. And yes, that’s just about the exact time when the rain began to fall. It was beyond ridiculous how hard it was raining.

My parents’ home is about an hour away from ours, and although we were already 45 minutes into the trip, we were nowhere near their house. The traffic that evening on the Garden Sate Parkway was horrendous. This typical one hour drive was about to easily turn into three…

And then it happened.

My little baby girl, all comfy in her car seat (still facing backwards)…vomited.

Everywhere.

More than once.

Her entire lunch of sweet potatoes and green beans now decorated her shirt and piles of it could be found from her neck down to her toes.

We immediately pulled over to the side of the highway. Frantically, I opened the door to make sure she was alright. In doing so, I was instantly soaked from the heavy rain that was falling. She appeared to be ok, but was obviously shaken and upset. I ran to the trunk to find some wipes or anything that I could find to try and clean her up. My feet were surrounded in puddles of water and at this point, I was completely drenched. Aside from the rain hitting the car, the only other sound I could hear was coming from the harsh cries of my daughter.

I finally found some wipes through the mountains of baggage shoved in the back and I did the best job I could to clean her up under those lovely conditions. As I was wiping her down, cars were slowly driving past and the rain continued to beat down my neck and back. This was the moment that I thought, even when you have a “perfect” plan, children seem to have another plan for you…

Needless to say, we eventually made it to my parents’ house, but I wasn’t comfortable leaving my baby girl. I had to be sure the vomiting incident was just a moment of car sickness and not something more….So, we ended up forgoing our first night of paradise.

We were so disappointed.

But I knew if we had gone, I wouldn’t have enjoyed myself because I would have been preoccupied and worried about her…so what fun would that be?

Luckily, she slept through the night and she woke up happy as a clam, looking just perfect! My husband and I quickly packed up shop and darted out the door, knowing everything was a-ok.

Upon arrival to Atlantic City right down to the time we left, we soaked it all in and had the BEST time. We spent quality time together away from the kids. It felt like we were back on our honeymoon, it was that good…So, aside from the hiccup we experienced the day before, the time spent away together was totally worth it!

So, how did you spend your ONE hour? If you didn’t get to it this week, what do you plan to do for next week? If that’s too much to think about, have you ever experienced this craziness with your own kids when you’ve tried to plan a fun night out?

{ 33 Comments }
07.29.09

Wordless Wednesday

Hey, I know I’m a cutie…

I’m a SUPER cutie!
I recently purchased some of these korker bows and headbands from Rockin’ Ella Grace Creations. Thanks to Lisa for making my baby girl look so rockin’!!!
{ 38 Comments }
07.28.09

Fabulous Blog Baby!

This must be my lucky week! I recently received a Fabulous Blog Award! It comes from fellow blogger, Modern Mom from How to Survive Life in the Suburbs. Her blog is an absolute must read and I am honored that she thinks my blog is worthy of such an award! So, the rules with this beauty are:

List five current obsessions and pass the award on to five more fabulous blogs. On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then “add image” in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the “picture” widget. Also, don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by leaving a comment on their blog.

5 of My Current Obsessions:

1. I am completely obsessed with blogging. I began this blog just one month ago and I am completely hooked. I love meeting new people, connecting with other moms and reading other blogs! It’s soooooo addictive!

2. I am totally digging the Black Eyed Peas hit, “I Gotta Feeling.” I listen to it at least twice a day. It totally puts me in an instant good mood! I gotta feeling… that you probably like that song, too!

3. Coffee, coffee and more coffee! Ever since my daughter has been sleeping through the night, I find myself staying up later to have some “me” time. Isn’t that funny? I begged, pleaded, and cried for some extra hours when she was first born and now that I actually have the time to sleep, I’m staying up. Go figure?! So I definitely need that extra cup of coffee in the AM to get me going…

4. Twitter. Alright, I am such the twitter newbie, but I can already see how this will be an obsession similar to blogging. I have a link on my blog (to the right), so tweet with me!

5. My J Crew black flip-flops. Seriously, I live in these things and will never give them up! If I could wear them in the winter I would. They are the most comfortable flip-flops I have ever owned. Ever.

So, here are my nominations for the five blogs that are simply FABULOUS!

{ 15 Comments }
07.26.09

Jellybeans

When I changed the design of my blog only two short days after I entered the blogosphere just under a month ago, I actually lost my very first post, which many of you may also have missed. It’s my recollection of when I returned to work for the first time after my son was born. I remember this as if it was yesterday…

Pulling up to the parking space I tried to catch my breath. Desperately wanting to keep it together, I unbuckled my ten month-old from his car seat, grabbed a million things from the trunk and held him tight in my arms. I glanced at his face and held back the tears. We began to walk toward the building. I reached the front steps and slowly opened the door. Nobody told me it was going to be this hard.

Together, we entered the day-care.

I waddled down the long hallway still carrying my son and what seemed to be all of his belongings. I reached his room and one of the care givers smiled at me and put her arms out toward us. “Welcome.” This was a defining moment for me. We locked eyes and I took a deep breath. She replied, “Don’t worry. It will be ok.” After a few moments, I handed her my son and placed him in her arms. Nobody told me it was going to be this hard.

To keep myself busy, I went toward the back of the room and aimlessly searched for his cubby. Once I found it, I soon packed his little cubicle with all of his favorite things including Sweet Potato Puffs and Cheerios. I made sure his little area was organized and clean. I placed a photo of my husband and I directly on top. This day-care was about to be my son’s new home every day, and the reality of that was hitting me hard. I soon hung up his jacket and properly aligned his comfy socks. I stepped back toward the front of the room and knew the time had come. I would have to say good-bye.

This is the kind of love only a mother would understand. It’s the kind of love you have for your own child that is irreplaceable and cannot be described in words. Leaving him at day-care for the first time was one of the most difficult things I ever experienced. I knew I had to let go, but every cell in my body was telling me otherwise. Eventually, I mustered up the courage and got out the words, “I love you sweetie. Mommy will be back real soon.” My heart was breaking. Nobody told me it was going to be this hard.

As I started to walk out the door, he cried. He cried harder and harder. His cries quickly turned to screams and before I could even turn around, the Director of the day-care grabbed my hand. “He’s going to be fine, Heather. It will just take some time. Don’t go back in there, it will only make it harder for the both of you.” My mind was racing and my hands were shaking. All I could think of was that my son wanted me, the only person he’s ever known to spend every waking hour, minute, and moment with. He needed me, my hugs and kisses, even my breath.

“Go. Now. Call us in a bit, please don’t worry,” she said.

It took so much willpower not to go back in that room. I found myself staring at the bulletin board just outside the door. It was a Fall theme filled with leaves and trees, the typical back-to-school mantra and I wondered how I was ever going to get through this.

“Heather, would you like some jellybeans?” she asked. “Or some candy? I have some in my desk.”

Jellybeans? Was she serious?

The only jellybean I wanted was in that room and I couldn’t have him.

Jellybeans. If only life was that simple.

{ 22 Comments }
07.23.09

I’ve Received an Award!

I know it is Theta Mom Thursday, but I just had to share some really exciting news! I have received another ‘lovely’ blog award! I am especially honored for the fact that although this blog is still very new, I have made some real connections with other mom bloggers, particularly those who frequent my blog. I truly value your support!

This award has come from fellow blogger, Cailin Marie from 5 Kids, 2 Labs, 1 Lizard and a Hermit Crab. Go check out her blog! She has given me this lovely award:

The rules of the “One Lovely Blog Award” are:
Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

So here are my 15 ‘lovely’ blogs…

1. Guessing All the Way
2. The Five Fish
3. The Attic Girl
4. I’m Living Proof That God Has a Sense of Humor
5. The Confused Homemaker
6. My Take on Mommyhood
7. The Wanna Be WAHM
8. A Woman’s Life Stages
9. Motherhood, Among Other Things
10. Super Mommy to the Rescue
11. Resident Mommy
12. My Cup 2 Yours
13. Night Owl Mama
14. Great Fun 4 kids
15. Momma Michie

Thanks again to Cailin for giving me this award, and thanks to all of you bloggers for sharing a piece of yourselves, making the blogosphere a better place!

{ 23 Comments }
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