Archive for February, 2010
That’s what friends are for!
Feb 15th
This weekend we had a houseful! My best-est college bud and her family came from New York to stay with us for a few days. I treasure these visits and always look forward to the next time we’ll see each other. Having your best friend live 250 miles away is rough. We always have so much fun together and make awesome memories. We reflect on our past and look forward to our future. It’s crazy how much we’ve changed since we first met. Kelli and I were college roommates junior and senior year at BU. We were studious, carefree, crazy girls. We knew how to have a good time while keeping up with our studies. There was never a dull moment at 6 Buswell. We were together during the tragedy of 9/11/01 and left each other with tears in our eyes after graduation day in 2003. Though our college days were over, our friendship was growing stronger. We’ve spent many New Years Eves together starting back in 2004.
We make it a point to see each other a few times each year. It’s crazy though how much we’ve changed, yet stayed the same, since college. Kelli has been with me through all of my life changes. She was the first one I called when Scott proposed to me. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding, traveling to and from Boston for my bachelorette party, shower and pre wedding planning, never missing an event. She was the first one to know that we were expecting a child and one of the first ones I called after Brinley was born. Kelli never misses a birthday or event, even if she can’t be there she always sends something extra special. Now that we both have families, our friendship only grows stronger as we share our happiness and struggles and work them out together. Our days of dancing on bars and getting sick in cabs might be over, but our friendship will never end! Now if I could just get her to move back to Boston…
Bad influence?
Feb 11th
I like to think that I’ve embraced motherhood to the fullest extent possible. I’ve wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember and I can’t imagine my life any other way. I’ve given up sleeping in on weekends though I miss rolling out of bed at noon on a Saturday immensely. I’ve given up going out to the movies and out to eat on a whim. I’ve given up some of my more stylish clothes for more appropriate, everyday wear (though I’ve yet to succumb to “mom jeans” and I don’t think I ever will). On a daily basis I’m a snot rag, butt wiper, high chair crevice cleaner, short order cook, and chew toy. My identity also changes daily. I’m everyone from Mama Bear (of the Berenstein Bears) to Boots the Monkey (from Dora) to Sunshine Bear (from the Care Bears) and God forbid I forget who I am on a certain day! My house is crowded full of toys and brightly colored, enormous plastic contraptions. My pantry is stocked with Gerber products and my fridge is full of Yo Baby and Motts for Tots (though there is still room for some beer and wine in there).
But, there one thing in my life that has remained constant despite having kids – the music I listen to. Now I don’t listen to anything crazy like NIN or Korn or anything, just pop/rock/top 40 stuff. But I enjoy it. I’m not saying that I don’t let my kids listen to Toddler Tunes, Ben Rudnick, and Laurie Berkner here and there but they have not taken over my radio (yet). So am I a bad influence because my three and a half year old loves Lady Gaga and proclaims her favorite song to be Poker Face? Should I hang my head in shame when my nine month old starts rocking and bobbing her head to Sexy Chick by Akon? Is it wrong that my daughter learned the days of the week from The Black Eyed Peas song I’ve Got a Feeling? At least my kids are skooled in Pop Culture, right?
Wish List Wednesday
Feb 10th
I saw this on another mommy blog and I thought it was a cool idea so I am going to go with it.
I wish that my girls could be cold-free. This winter has been a crazy one in terms of sickness. Luckily none of it has been serious, but its hard having sick kids. What is even harder is taking care of sick kids when you’re sick yourself. We’ve had the flu, head colds, the croup, fevers, sore throats and coughs. Both of the girls have runny noses and coughs right now. My wish this Wednesday is for the entire family to just be healthy for a while, especially since we have very important guests coming this weekend!! 
Conversations with Brinley
Feb 9th
Just a few snippets from the past two days. This kid is just too funny!
Last night after I had cleaned up the kitchen I told Brinley that it was time to head up to take a bath. She looked right at me with the most serious face and stated, “I hate my life. Life stinks!”
I started laughing so hard. She proceeded to tell me that it wasn’t fair that she had to take a bath because she was still reading her book. Ah, to be three again!
Every Tuesday and Thursday Brinley has school. I usually use the car pool lane to drop her off so that I don’t have to get Nora out of the car in the morning. There is a message board set up by the door to let the parents know of any up coming events or due dates. Brinley always asks me to read it to her. It usually says things like when the book orders are due or when they have gym and to bring sneakers. Today it said:
Valentine’s Party this Thursday.
Book orders due today.
School vacation week next week. No school all week.
Brinley asked me to read it to her and I did. Then she started to cry and I was confused. I asked her what was wrong and she said, “Mom, I don’t like vacation. I WANT to go to school next week.”
It was so cute! This is HUGE for us too because Brinley took about 4 months to get used to going to school. She cried pretty much every day when I left her. The fact that she is crying because there won’t be any school is a big step!
In 65 days..
Feb 8th
We will be closing on our new house in 65 days. In some ways that feels like a long time. It’s over two months away. A lot happens and changes in two months. Nora will be almost a year old (yikes!) and Brinley will be just over three and a half (OMG!). In 65 days the weather will be nicer (we hope) and the days will be longer. April seems lifetimes away right now with snow still on the ground and bitter cold in the air. But then again, 65 days is not very long at all when I think about all of the packing I have to do and cleaning and organizing and purging and… Aaahh! When I look at it that way two months does not seem like enough time.
My feelings are very bittersweet. I am SOO excited to be moving into a HOUSE. A single family, stand alone house where we won’t be sharing walls with anyone else. A home with a yard, with grass and a swing set. A home where the girls will each have their own bedroom. A home in a neighborhood with kids and friendly (I hope) neighbors. At the same time, I can’t help but feel a little bit sad about leaving our townhouse. This place hold so many memories for us. We moved here six years ago, back when it was just Scott and I. It was our first home together. We went through so many life changes while living here. We got married in July 2005, Brinley was born in September 2006, Scott started his new job in February 2007, and then Nora was born in May 2009. But the time has come where we have simply outgrown this space and we need to move on.
So, in 65 days we’ll sign all the papers and get the keys to our new house. It will be a new beginning for us all and I am so excited. Who wants to help me pack?
