This month has been challenging. To date, we have attended two weddings, traveled more than 1,000 miles, and now are attending a funeral. My sister said it best this afternoon; I’ve had my work cut out for me. Between sitting quietly for marriage ceremonies, behaving at a funeral, and traveling from point A to point B to point C and back to point A again before traveling again to point C, I think some of my blond hairs are looking slightly silver. Any one of these events on its own can be challenging, let alone so many things happening within such a short time span. Feeling as though I needed some normalcy, I borrowed my grandmother’s computer this afternoon. Yes, my Nana is the kind of grandma who is on Facebook. She is THAT cool. But what I found when I re-connected with the rest of the world was hundreds of emails, a neglected blog, and the realization that the rest of the world has been happening without me. A pause button would be nice. With the first wedding that we attended at the beginning of the month, my son was very well behaved and seemed to enjoy himself. With [...]

You have to be a special kind of person to live in or near Washington, D.C. You can expect to pay a lot of money for the smallest amount of living space, you can never take parking for granted, and traffic is a guarantee. But Washington, D.C. is an area better suited for the type of person who likes to go out and do things. You can jog the National Mall, take advantage of one of the bike trails, or visit countless museums, exhibits, or other attractions. In addition, this is an area with no shortage of special events to take advantage of. Last night, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums hosted its annual Capitol Hill Advocacy Day and Reception. If you are interested in the AZA or their policy positions, please visit their website here, otherwise I’m skipping to the animal ambassadors who were on hand. Yes, the cute stuff.   Share:

Whenever I mentioned in a conversation that I was pregnant, the reaction was usually the same. They would offer their congratulations and well wishes, but then they would make some comment about how much sleep I would not-be-getting for the rest of my life. With a newborn at home, their warning seemed very true. Children are not automatically programed to know the difference between night and day and they have other late night needs too like bottles, diaper changes, and a little love. I totally appreciate that my son did not have any issues that made night time difficult or stressful. Like me, he likes routines. He only cried when he wanted something and averaged two or three feedings a night. The effort of a nighttime feeding was enough to pacify him until his tummy wanted more hours later. Burping was never an issue either. After mom adjusted to being responsible for putting someone else to bed before she could do the same, we developed routines and other sleeping cues. Occasionally we make adjustments, but a night or two later the routine becomes habit. We have adjusted feedings, bedtimes, evening activities, and bedroom set-up. One of the most important changes [...]

Here are 10 special Instagram photos I hope you enjoy. You can follow my Instagram feed HERE or check out my latest photo in the sidebar widget. Share:

My son attended his first wedding this past weekend. Like any proud mother, it makes me very happy to see others enjoying his company, offering their compliments and praise, and remarking on how much he looks like his father (yeah, lucky kid). Although it seems like another lifetime ago since I had kids, I can sometimes remember the way I used to think about children before I had my own. I would silently question why some parents parented the way that they did. I used to be that single girl attending a wedding and wondering why someone would think it was a good idea to bring their child. Nowadays, I am that person who thinks it is a good idea to take your child to a wedding. Children should and shouldn’t do things on a case by case basis. All children and parents are different and it is the responsibility of the parent to determine whether or not their child should attend or not for whatever reason. I made a judgement call and determined that my son would be adequately well behaved and took precautions should he prove me wrong. Overall, he was very well behaved and had a wonderful [...]

I have enjoyed shopping for a very long time. Years ago it was combat boots, stone-washed jeans, and nerdy graphic tees in my shopping bags. Nowadays it’s Converse sneakers, a dry pair of pants, and more nerdy graphic tees. But my shopping bags aren’t for me anymore. They’re usually for my son. My personal style habits have certainly changed (thank goodness); no more blue hair for this momma. But one of my worst shopping habits has not improved. Send me to the grocery store for bread, eggs, and milk and that’s what I walk out with. Send me to a clothing store for a pair of pants (for baby or momma) and I’ll walk out with shoes, sunglasses, and some clearanced clothing item I’ll sadly never take the tags off of. Shopping is not a word I usually associate with focus. After getting domesticated and slightly more mature and responsible, I have become a more reluctant shopper. I worry about things like quality and bargain. Long ago I bought things for the sake of buying them, but now I usually talk myself out of purchases before making the major commitment to actually buy. Shopping is no longer spontaneous. If i [...]

Exercise; one of the few subjects I have little to say about. I have avoided regular or vigorous exercise my entire adult life. When I was in high school, I picked a maximum weight and vowed to diet and exercise if I ever reached it. Fortunately, the only time I ever reached the maximum weight, I was eight months pregnant. I was disappointed that my pregnancy cravings (and reasonable excuse for eating sinfully bad) did not include chocolate or fried food. Alas, I don’t think my heartburn could have handled it anyway. Instead, I craved the texture of vegetables and the sweetness of fruit. Suddenly broccoli and strawberries became an essential item for the shopping list. Now, modeling a responsible diet for my son that includes healthy choices has become a teachable moment. I’m also less stubborn about trying new things and giving others a second try. In the past two years my diet has mostly corrected itself without much conscious effort, but work days behind the desk or stuck in traffic negate whatever progress I may have made with my diet. Whenever others talk about their exercise routines, I am always intimidated and a little bitter. It seems like [...]

Here are 10 people, living and not, whom I would like to meet. Doctor Who – Who wouldn’t want to travel through time and space? q Julie Andrews – She is a talented woman and has starred in films like Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. a Luke Skywalker – He was my first love. a Jane Austen – The characters and stories she created are timeless. Also, I am in love with Mr. Darcy. a Alan Rickman – If you’ve ever seen a movie, chances are you’ve seen one with him in it. Whether he portrays a good guy or a bad guy, he portrays it so well! a Bob Ross – The hair says it all. a A Dinosaur – I want to have that dramatic Jurassic Park moment; not the raptor-fences-are-out kind of moment, but a they-move-in-herds kind of moment. a Tom Hanks -I would probably converse with him quoting only the many movies he has been in. a Chuck Norris – Now my list is AWESOME! a Napoleon Bonaparte – I would live to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and declare myself taller! Also, Hollywood has indicated he likes bowling, ice cream, and water [...]

Soapbox Mommy: Celebrity Moms … wherein I complain about celebrity moms, the media, and kids on my lawn. Also, I might be whiny. Visiting the grocery store accomplishes three things: 1. I get out of the house 2. I get food 3. I catch up on the latest celebrity gossip Yes, I can finally declare myself old because more often than not, I am oblivious to who these ‘celebrities’ are. Further, I have the tendency to complain about them bitterly. I am officially an old lady… now get off my lawn! What irks me nowadays is celebrity moms and their fair or unfair portrayal by the media. I applaud any woman who is 9 months pregnant and brave enough to pose on a magazine cover. What I don’t appreciate is the make-up and airbrushing. A pregnant woman is a beautiful thing. Save the make-up and airbrushing for a Cover Girl advertisement. While I can say I didn’t feel so beautiful with swollen ankles and engorged breasts, other moms offered encouragement. To be a part of the mom community, you must earn your place. Becoming a mother, in whatever way it happens, is not easy and the job that follows is [...]

Back before online forums or social media, communities shared relevant information by utilizing the space available on telephone poles; dance at the fire-hall, we buy houses, missing dog. But today, telephone poles are being utilized for sheer awesomeness. Enjoy and pin! 5 Funny Telephone Pole Signs … and yes. You may want to try this at home. # Share: