So, THIS is What Adults Talk About...

Sometimes I get to do fun things through my job. My company has a table for a series of Global Leader luncheons with varioius speakers. Some are great; some are boring. Yesterday, was a great one with Chris Matthews as the guest speaker. At first, I was a little bummed, because Tom Brokaw was supposed to speak and had to cancel, but I think I enjoyed Matthews' speech and subsequent Q&A much more than I would have Brokaw's (and we got a free, signed copy of his book Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked.)

The book is about the relationshop between Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill and how even though they were complete ideological opposites, they managed to work together and get things accomplished. Now, I was just a wee girl during that administration and haven't particularly studied it in-depth, so I'm taking Matthews at his word that things indeed got accomplished (outside of little stuff like ending the Cold War). Matthews' critiqued our current political leadership and their inabaility to do anything other than name call (and he was completely hilarious, doing so). If you know anything about Chris Matthews, you know he's liberal, but he was just as harsh on Obama as he was Boehner. He just ended his diatribe on Obama's inability to assemble a cohesive leadership structure in his administration by saying "and I like the guy." Boehner didn't get that hedge.

I won't go into a recap of recent Capital Hill showdowns or an editorial on why our governement is broken, because I think, left, right or moderate, most people agree we've got a pretty big problem on our hands and are sick of watching our elected officials not do their jobs. What I really want to write about is how much I enjoy going to these events--whether it's someone as recognizable as Matthews or the CEO of Archer Daniels Midland, whom I'd never heard of, but gave an incredibly thought-provoking talk on global food production and demand.  These talks give me a chance to think and feel like an educated adult. I rarely get to watch the news anymore and only occasionally find the time to scan a newspaper, so I often find myself feeling really dumb and unaware in group conversations these days. One could argue that I could be reading up on current events right now instead of writing this post, and it would be a valid point. But, this blog gives me a little creative outlet and I really enjoy keeping it. I'd rather be clueless on the latest in Syria, but have cute Halloween pictures of Nick and Lainey posted for my family and friends. So, my co-workers may not get dazzled with my insights on chemical weapon disarmament, but my loved ones get to see Nick as Eeyore. It's all about choices, friends.

So, I'll take my slivers of intellectual stimulation when they are conveniently offered to me and get the rest of my news from the Daily Show playing in the background as I fall asleep at night. Perfectly acceptable.

I am looking forward to reading the book,though. Just as soon as I get to Night Film by Marisha Pessl and NW by Zadie Smith...and finish Anna Karenina. I am embarrassed to say I started AK about a week before Nick was born. He will be eight months old next Friday. Again, choices my friends, choices.

Happy Halloween!

Well, our Halloween wasn't the prettiest of days, wet, wet and more wet, but luckily the temperatures popped back up into the 60s, so it made it bearable to get out to a few houses for Lainey's first trick or treat. Mark took her, while I hung back with Nick, waiting for the throngs of trick or treaters I had heard about in our neighborhood. Alas, either the weather kept them in or they all headed out before we were home, because we only had maybe 20 kids. It really bummed me out. I think I was expecting the excitement of my childhood with loads of kids roaming the streets all decked out in their costumes. Then again, in Delaware, we had set trick or treat hours where everyone goes out during the same two hours, so it's all very concentrated. In Chicago, there are no parameters--you could head out at 3pm or 7pm.

But, while trick or treating didn't quite meet my expectations, the party at Lainey's daycare was really cute and fun. I'm going to have to start entering these shindigs with my video camera rolling, because once I again I arrived to Lainey dancing her heart out in the middle of a big circle of parents and kids. There was my little Pooh Bear shaking her bon-bon and twirling 'round and 'round.  The rest of the festivities centered around controlling cookie intake and rotating potty-training toddlers in and out of the bathroom as quickly as possible (they don't exactly understand the concept of "holding it"). It's always fun to see Lainey playing with her classmates, whom we hear so much about. And it's nice to hear from other parents that their kids come home talking about Lainey all the time, and apparently in a positive way, which is reassuring given her problems with hitting and other aggressive behavior (oh, have I neglected to blog about that ongoing issue? Details, details).

Yes, there was also a party in Nick's room, but he doesn't know what's going on yet, so we kind of skipped it. We had planned to hang out for a bit with Nick's class before heading home, but Lainey was way too wound up from her festivities to be contained in the very crowded Koala room. Plus, we still wanted to get home for trick or treating. So, my smiling, happy Eeyore just got scooped up and carted away. I didn't so much as say "hi" to the other parents. I kind of felt bad about that, but got over it pretty quickly. And to future Nick, who may one day read this and think we cared less, please know that we never went to your sister's parties when she was your age either. Mom and Dad aren't "minglers," and the infant room parties are more about the parents than the kids. 

Finally, I am very glad we took time to dress the kids up on Sunday and do a little photo shoot, because amid all the chaos of yesterday afternoon and evening, we weren't able to get any good shots. Lainey refused to pose for any pictures at daycare and Nick was screaming to be fed when we got home, so his costume came off pretty fast and never made it back on.

Enjoy the cuteness of Pooh Bear and Eeyore!

Photo reel in action!

Cookie Time!!!

 

Someone's not done trick or treating!

BUSTED!

Seven Months (and 8 days)

Oh my beautiful boy, Nicholas! Sorry, but I fear I will perpetually lag on your monthly updates. But, better late than never.

Nick (aka Nickles, per Lainey's new nickname for him) is a grand 'ole 7 months! And other than some crankiness and sleeplessness around the onset of his ear infection, he continues to be a dream baby--Dr. Freeman actually wrote it in his chart at the doctor's office.

He's sitting up like a pro now and is oh-so-close to crawling. He's chowing on solids has stopped being so lazy about holding his bottle. He's got a mean grasp and will grab onto anything that gets within reach...time to start the baby proofing again.

He's really into the TV...which is not something I'm particularly proud of, but whatcha' gonna' do? We were really good about keeping Elaine off the tube until closer to 2, but we being a bit more lax with Nick. It's either deprive Lainey of her beloved Nemo (thus inflicting a lot of pain on ourselves) or keep Nick in another room while she gets her fix of the little orange fish. I've tried just turning him away from the TV to play with him, but he just cranes his head over his shoulder or works himself back around to watch. Eh, pick your battles, right? I'm pretty sure my parents put absolutely no restrictions on my TV viewing and I've managed to become a productive, well-adjusted person.

Lainey continues to be his favorite person. She could be smacking him in the face, and he'd just give her his huge, goofy grin. Mommy is in second place, and Daddy comes in third--even Mark will admit to this. And I don't feel even slightly bad about pointing it out, because Elaine was ALL Daddy's girl (and still is). It's nice to have Nick favor me a bit more.

He is growing SO FAST!!! I just bought a bunch of 9-month clothes and he's just fitting into them. When I bought them, they looked HUGE, but now I'm afraid he's going to outgrow them within a month. Slow down little guy...stop growing up so quickly! I need more time!!!

Oh, this guy...love him, love him, love him!!!

My Little Man

 

And a little live action clip...

 

 

Return of the Antibiotic

Well, we had a good run. Nick made it to 7 months without a sick appointment at the doctor. And the diagnosis is...an ear infection. I almost started crying in the doctor's office. Let's hope this is just a one-off and not the beginning of a chronic problem or the end of my dream boy's dream sleep habits (last night was painful for us both). 

Oh, my little Nick!  

Remember When Sick Days Were Fun?

Remember when, as a kid, you had a sick day from school? You got to stay home, watch as much TV as you wanted, and pretty much got waited on hand and foot. Sure, you didn't feel the best, but non-stop Nickelodeon and Popsicles for breakfast wasn't a bad trade. Unless, you were the parent who was doing the nursing and frantically trying to re-juggle your day.

And that is the perspective I relate to these days. Daycare called yesterday at 4pm with the news that Nick had a fever. Of course, yesterday and today are two days I cannot miss at work, because the Board of Directors' meeting is taking place (I'm currently on the 5:50am train to work after being there until 8pm last night). So, once again Mark has to throw his schedule out the window and stay home. Luckily, he has no meetings today. 

I always miss my mom, but on days like these I really wish I could talk to her, if for nothing else than to say, "I get it." I can remember hearing the tension in her voice when I would call her to come get me from school, because I was sick. And I remember thinking, "how can you be mad at me for being sick?" Well, she wasn't. She was probably freaking out about dropping everything at work. And in those days, she couldn't even do a quick alert to people via email or keep up on the basics of the day via remote access (the debate on whether our current access to technological connection is a good or bad thing is for another post). 

Aside from the logistics of getting everything covered, there is the emotional toll of not being able to be with your sick little one. It kills me that I can't stay home and cuddle Nick today. Or that when Elaine was so sick about a month ago, I was in an even more intense work situation and had to be MIA. And so, the debate of "to work or not to work" rages anew in my head this morning. 

At least Lainey is home to help Mark. He just sent me the below...

Should I Just Give Up Now?

Here are a few gems that have come out of my darling girl's mouth over the past week or so. Do I have any hope once she becomes a teenager?


When listening to Mark and me talking: "Mommy, let daddy talk for a minute."

When I got a little worked up over something, "Mommy, calm down."

When trying to overrule my authority:
Lainey: "Daddy, can I..."
Me: "I already said..."
Little hand held out as a stop sign to hush me
Lainey: "I'm talking to daddy."
Followed by a full-on eye roll.

And the one that really puts the fear in me...

When responding to my assertion that I'm the boss,  "No. Lainey's the boss. Mommy's just pretending."

The Pictures are In! The Pictures are In!

Hot off the presses, Nick's photos are in!

For a quick slideshow of the photographer's picks click here:

http://maggiekphoto.com/kylie-anderson

To go through all 100 images...and you KNOW you want to...use the below link and create an account. Access code is eae043b2.

http://maggiekphoto.com/photocart

We didn't hit a family picture out of the park, but there are a few decebt ones. However, there are some really amazing pictures of little buddy. Now we just have to decide what to order...and FAST! We only have a month before the cart expires.