Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
life with simon...
life with simon means...
...tons and tons and tons of love...
...spending most of your evening hunched over, holding simon's hands as he learns to walk (run??)...
...chasing a little boy who is chasing a little dog...
...having an 11 month old continuously trying to bite your nose (apparently, biting mommy's nose is the funniest thing ever!!)...
...laughing more than you've ever imagined...
...always hearing nursery rhymes and jingles in your head (the wheels on the bus go round and round... a, b, c, d, e, f, g...)...
...manicures don't last as long as they used to...
...forfeiting half the food on your plate to a little boy with a big smile...
...toys, toys everywhere!...
...chaos...
...joy, joy, JOY!
...tons and tons and tons of love...
...spending most of your evening hunched over, holding simon's hands as he learns to walk (run??)...
...chasing a little boy who is chasing a little dog...
...having an 11 month old continuously trying to bite your nose (apparently, biting mommy's nose is the funniest thing ever!!)...
...laughing more than you've ever imagined...
...always hearing nursery rhymes and jingles in your head (the wheels on the bus go round and round... a, b, c, d, e, f, g...)...
...manicures don't last as long as they used to...
...forfeiting half the food on your plate to a little boy with a big smile...
...toys, toys everywhere!...
...chaos...
...joy, joy, JOY!
Monday, January 19, 2009
resolved: to play a game of tag
I mentioned recently that Jennifer had tagged me (again) and I promised (resolved) that this time I would really respond (ya know, as opposed to the last time I was tagged and promised to respond but never actually did)... so here goes.
Jennifer blogged about her new year's resolutions and wanted to know what others had resolved for 2009. I didn't make any formal resolutions, because I am not good at keeping new year's resolutions (hey, at least I admit it). But there are definitely a few areas I'd like to focus on in 2009 - so here are my non-resolution resolutions:
1) To figure out how to fit 4-5 workouts back into my schedule each week.
Back in the day, this was no problem. But as I have entered motherhood... and now working motherhood, I have to say, I am struggling with how and when to schedule gym time. I have always been an evening workouter, but now that I'm away from Simon for so many hours each day, I can't really imagine leaving him again for an hour or so to go to the gym when I get home from work. I didn't get to the gym once during my first week back on the job. So last week I thought I would try morning workouts - even though I am NOT a morning person - because Simon usually sleeps until 8:30-9am. But then as soon as I set my alarm to go off an hour earlier than usual, Simon decided he was going to become a morning person, waking up between 6:30 and 7am every day of my second week back on the job. I don't know if I can wake up at 5am to workout. This is going to be a tough one!
2) To limit the number of bad tv shows I watch (Ryan will be thrilled!!).
This is probably one of my worst habits. What can I say? I just find that after a long, often stressful day at work, I need mindless, silly, doesn't-really-matter-if-you-pay-attention television. It helps me unwind. The second problem is that I like the background noise of the tv. I hate silence (it actually makes me nervous) and music just doesn't usually relax me the way the buzz of a television does. I can't explain it, but I am somehow soothed by the "white" noise of a tv. Other than Ryan rolling his eyes at me every time I turn on some pathetically bad reality tv show, I never really worried about my bad tv habit. Then came Simon. I don't want Simon growing up addicted to the tv, and I definitely don't want him watching some of the trash I watch. So I need to figure out a way to ween myself from the big black box that has been a permanent fixture in my life for many, many years.
3) To learn to cook something (well).
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that Ryan is the resident cook. He enjoys cooking and does it well, so this has worked out just fine for us. But I feel like I should probably be able to do something in the kitchen other than make coffee, heat things up in the microwave and generally get in Ryan's way while he is making something fabulous.
4) To make a difference.
I know this sounds cliche, but more than ever before, I really find myself wanting to find ways to help others, and in an active, meaningful way. I have blogged about our efforts to raise money for Gladney's foster care centers in Ethiopia, something we believe in deeply and that obviously is very close to our hearts. (Thank you to everyone who has donated and/or helped us spread the word - as always, we are grateful for this wonderful blogging community. I will keep you posted about our efforts and results) This is definitely going to be an ongoing effort, and not a one time gig, so I hope you won't mind if I continue to post about it. We also had the pleasure of meeting with some of the folks from Gladney while they were in NYC this past week. Gladney is involved in so many great humanitarian aid projects in Ethiopia and elsewhere, and I hope that Ryan and I can continue to work with them in different ways going forward.
5) To raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted kid.
Okay, so this one isn't a 2009-specific resolution, but it's certainly something I aspire to and something I think about all the time. Probably be my number one goal for a long time to come.
And there you have it... the things I want to accomplish and work towards this year. Anyone else want to play a game of resolution tag?
Jennifer blogged about her new year's resolutions and wanted to know what others had resolved for 2009. I didn't make any formal resolutions, because I am not good at keeping new year's resolutions (hey, at least I admit it). But there are definitely a few areas I'd like to focus on in 2009 - so here are my non-resolution resolutions:
1) To figure out how to fit 4-5 workouts back into my schedule each week.
Back in the day, this was no problem. But as I have entered motherhood... and now working motherhood, I have to say, I am struggling with how and when to schedule gym time. I have always been an evening workouter, but now that I'm away from Simon for so many hours each day, I can't really imagine leaving him again for an hour or so to go to the gym when I get home from work. I didn't get to the gym once during my first week back on the job. So last week I thought I would try morning workouts - even though I am NOT a morning person - because Simon usually sleeps until 8:30-9am. But then as soon as I set my alarm to go off an hour earlier than usual, Simon decided he was going to become a morning person, waking up between 6:30 and 7am every day of my second week back on the job. I don't know if I can wake up at 5am to workout. This is going to be a tough one!
2) To limit the number of bad tv shows I watch (Ryan will be thrilled!!).
This is probably one of my worst habits. What can I say? I just find that after a long, often stressful day at work, I need mindless, silly, doesn't-really-matter-if-you-pay-attention television. It helps me unwind. The second problem is that I like the background noise of the tv. I hate silence (it actually makes me nervous) and music just doesn't usually relax me the way the buzz of a television does. I can't explain it, but I am somehow soothed by the "white" noise of a tv. Other than Ryan rolling his eyes at me every time I turn on some pathetically bad reality tv show, I never really worried about my bad tv habit. Then came Simon. I don't want Simon growing up addicted to the tv, and I definitely don't want him watching some of the trash I watch. So I need to figure out a way to ween myself from the big black box that has been a permanent fixture in my life for many, many years.
3) To learn to cook something (well).
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that Ryan is the resident cook. He enjoys cooking and does it well, so this has worked out just fine for us. But I feel like I should probably be able to do something in the kitchen other than make coffee, heat things up in the microwave and generally get in Ryan's way while he is making something fabulous.
4) To make a difference.
I know this sounds cliche, but more than ever before, I really find myself wanting to find ways to help others, and in an active, meaningful way. I have blogged about our efforts to raise money for Gladney's foster care centers in Ethiopia, something we believe in deeply and that obviously is very close to our hearts. (Thank you to everyone who has donated and/or helped us spread the word - as always, we are grateful for this wonderful blogging community. I will keep you posted about our efforts and results) This is definitely going to be an ongoing effort, and not a one time gig, so I hope you won't mind if I continue to post about it. We also had the pleasure of meeting with some of the folks from Gladney while they were in NYC this past week. Gladney is involved in so many great humanitarian aid projects in Ethiopia and elsewhere, and I hope that Ryan and I can continue to work with them in different ways going forward.
5) To raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted kid.
Okay, so this one isn't a 2009-specific resolution, but it's certainly something I aspire to and something I think about all the time. Probably be my number one goal for a long time to come.
And there you have it... the things I want to accomplish and work towards this year. Anyone else want to play a game of resolution tag?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
a new start
I made it.
To my surprise, my first week back at work was much easier than I imagined. Simon did great, and I was able to enjoy getting back into a work routine and catching up with friends and colleagues, without too much guilt and anxiety.
I suspect that being a working mom and getting used to less time with Simon will all hit me a little bit harder in the coming weeks, as the novelty of going back to work wears off and the daily grind starts to take more of a toll on me... but I am glad to have taken the first step - leaving Simon as I walked out the door and headed for my office for the first time was something I had been anticipating and fearing for a while.
Thank you to everyone who commented/emailed with good wishes and support. It's funny how sometimes even though you know that you are making the right and best decision for yourself and your family, you still crave the support of others. It means a lot to know I am not alone in this effort to embrace my new role as "working mother" and search for balance in my life.
To that end... I know that I have been tagged by Jennifer who wants to hear what I and others have resolved to accomplish in 2009. I've been thnking about that for a while and I will definitely post my thoughts soon - yeah, I know, I've promised to complete tags before and never did... but this time I really, really mean it. I resolve to do it ;) After all, one of my resolutions is to get back to being a better blogger.
To my surprise, my first week back at work was much easier than I imagined. Simon did great, and I was able to enjoy getting back into a work routine and catching up with friends and colleagues, without too much guilt and anxiety.
I suspect that being a working mom and getting used to less time with Simon will all hit me a little bit harder in the coming weeks, as the novelty of going back to work wears off and the daily grind starts to take more of a toll on me... but I am glad to have taken the first step - leaving Simon as I walked out the door and headed for my office for the first time was something I had been anticipating and fearing for a while.
Thank you to everyone who commented/emailed with good wishes and support. It's funny how sometimes even though you know that you are making the right and best decision for yourself and your family, you still crave the support of others. It means a lot to know I am not alone in this effort to embrace my new role as "working mother" and search for balance in my life.
To that end... I know that I have been tagged by Jennifer who wants to hear what I and others have resolved to accomplish in 2009. I've been thnking about that for a while and I will definitely post my thoughts soon - yeah, I know, I've promised to complete tags before and never did... but this time I really, really mean it. I resolve to do it ;) After all, one of my resolutions is to get back to being a better blogger.
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