A Little Piece of Quiet

It's Tuesday afternoon, my second day off in a row after working several, including a long, long weekend. Birdy is asleep in her crib although I'd love to be holding her right now. Hammer Guy did a stellar job with the kids while I worked this weekend, but now that I've been home with Birdy for two days, tomorrow will be like coming back from maternity leave all over again. I've enjoyed these two days enormously. Yesterday Bird and I spent a lovely hour and a half at Target and then spent the rest of the day cuddling and playing -- she's so interactive now and has the most adorable smile. Today we shopped for groceries on the computer (http://www.shop.lundandbyerlys.com/) and had two visitors.


My new friend Amy came over today with her five-week-old son. She is on maternity leave from the grocery store where I buy most of my natural food items, which is where we met. She then started shopping at the Baby Store and we've since become friends. We have a lot of the same ideas on baby raising and food and we both love to cook, so yay for new friends! Then my friend Kimberly who happens to also be my chiropractor brought me Caribou Coffee --now there's a good friend. I love coffee.


Going back to work hasn't been too horrible but I would prefer to be at home with my kids, writing my books and keeping up with the laundry.


Here are some recent photos:

Frog and Birdy are Friends

Birdy in the Bouncer

Bird and Toad

Right now...

...Birdy and Puppy are sleeping. Toad is at school and his laundry spins in the washing machine. Hammer Guy had a major mud accident yesterday at work and I got the stain out. The dishes are done. I'm just finishing my first cup of coffee (so late!). I'm trying to be positive about yesterday's return to work -- it was nice to see my friends again and be surrounded by adults all day, I was glad to listen to NPR on the way in and the way home, Birdy and the Nanny had a terrific day and Bird even slept for an hour and a half in her crib! Those are all wonderful things, but let's just say nothing has changed at work in the last three months.

But here's the great news: My short story that was published in November is now available on the internet! Oh, it's great to be a published author and it reminds me of how hard I've worked in the past and how hard I need to work to make this dream come true. Here's a link:

http://www.upstreet-mag.org/upstreet_2.html

UPS just delivered a new book yesterday: This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley and maybe it is.

Tonight HG is on his own with both kiddies while I close. Wish us both luck.

Sadness, Pt. 2

I'm overcome with sadness that my maternity leave is coming to an end. Nanny started on Monday and I've been putzing around the house while she plays with Birdy and changes diapers (I'm still doing most of the feeding). I pumped the other day so that I could leave for a few hours on Wednesday -- I went to the library and did a little shopping. It was the first time I've gone to Target without Birdy since she's been here and it felt like I was missing a limb. I'm not worried at all about leaving her with Nanny (although I fired her twice today :), I just can't bear to leave Birdy -- especially to return to a job that -- let's face it -- I despise.

On a happier note, the Special Visit/Outlet Adventure with Cousin Frog and Auntie was delightful. It was so nice having them here! (I have one picture that still needs to be uploaded.) Frog was a bit of a No-Nap Nelson, but the first night she did marvelously well sleeping in Bird's crib. The second night presented a few challenges but it all worked out in the end and I believe that Frog has settled back into her routine without too much trauma. I hope they will consider visiting us again someday. As for outlet shopping -- while brief, it was a much needed diversion for me. Hopefully I will be able to drag myself away from the house and Birdy tomorrow to get back up there to buy some work pants. None of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit of course.

Toad has been back into the swing of things at school for a couple of weeks now and he told me yesterday that he was so happy to be there. I guess staying home with Mama and Baby was a bit of a drag for him, but at school he gets plenty of opportunities to get his stinkies out (meaning, run around and play outside with his buddies).

Hammer Guy spent the first part of the week in Idaho, of all places, on a business trip. We survived but let me tell you, we are so glad he's back. He's even taken a bit of a break from the basement since he found out our "deadline" for the permit is slightly on the flexible side.

So it's our last weekend of freedom and next week will present new challenges -- getting up earlier to make it to work on time, being away from the kids for 10+ hours a day, etc, etc, oh the horrors. Wish us luck.

The countdown has begun

Saturday's hail storm

My return to work looms on the horizon like a thundercloud. It's less than two weeks now and I haven't even found the "to-do" list that I made for my maternity leave, let alone gotten around to doing those things. I've been much too busy cuddling and nurturing and bonding with Birdy, not to mention the fun (and stress) that came from having Toad at home. Next week Birdy's darling Nanny starts -- we'll try to break her in gently -- and so hopefully I can get some work done while Nanny is here.

This week we're having a special visit from Troy's sister and Cousin Frog. We can't wait! Not only will the girls get some Baby Playtime, but it will be so great to have Auntie here for some adult conversation -- and oh, yeah, shopping at the Outlets. It's supposed to be stormy on Thursday but hopefully it won't ruin our Outlet Adventure.