Category Archives: Living

Happy Birthday Bryan

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Today is my sweet hubby’s birthday. Here is a little look at just a few of the things I love about him. 
 
He is smart. I secretly love to hear him talk accounting. Every so often I get to listen in when he takes a call from home and I am always impressed. 
 
He takes care of our family. He always has a plan and I love knowing he thinks through all of our major decisions.
 
He loves Cops and will watch it anytime it is on. 
 
He creates Excel spreadsheets with our family budget and quizzes me on it weekly. I actually think its kind of cute. 
 
He is funny. He makes me laugh and I love his sense of humor. 
 
He let’s me entertain my every whim. When we lived in Illinois he tried to teach me how to play baseball. It was my idea, and he patiently pitched over and over while I swung away without ever actually hitting the ball. He didn’t complain when I hung up the new bat and put away the ball never to get them out again. 
 

He has boys’ days with Evan. They usually involves Dunkin Donuts, ice skating and/or the Lego store. Evan loves it. 
 
He let’s me steal the covers. Sometimes he takes them back, but more often than not, he let’s me have them.
 
He always shares his Twix. He doesn’t mind when I steal a sip of his Diet Coke and he always brings me home dessert when the company takes him out for a nice dinner.  
 

Happy birthday, Bryan. Thanks for being such a great hubby and an excellent daddy.  

What’s Brewing at Our House

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Work: 

–The past month has been the busiest I’ve ever had as a freelancer. All of my project that are brewing right now will be complete and turned in by Wednesday afternoon next week. I’m going to celebrate by writing for fun, reading blogs and watching some junk TV (Jersey Shore, here I come!). 
 
–The tech-heavy article I am writing on alternative refrigeration power sources is finally coming together. I’ve learned so much and can’t believe the amazing things scientists are doing. Did you know you can use waste heat from a truck engine to create cool air? 
 
–Yesterday I packed my bags and flew to Florida. Today I’ll be speaking on a panel about trends in fuel and freight, and growth opportunities for highway-based businesses. I can’t wait to learn from everyone else and share what I know. I’m also as nervous as can be. I need to practice my presentation about 50 more times in the next few hours. 
 
Home:
 
–We’re starting the much-dreaded (on my part) process of breaking Madelyn of her pacifier. I’ve suspected it was a problem, but both the pediatrician and a pediatric dentist told me this week we should give it the heave-ho. While the paci didn’t cause the growth issues with her mouth, it isn’t helping things. 
 
–On the bright side, I’m in Florida for four days, which means I won’t be here for the worst of the paci-detox we’re sure to endure. Part of me is sad that I won’t be here to comfort my little sweetie, but I won’t lie, I’m looking forward to missing all of the crying. I’m hoping Bryan will take this opportunity to re-train Madelyn on the sleep front. Hint, hint. 
 
–My mom and brother flew in to watch my kiddos while I work. Thanks, mom, for coming to the rescue! And, Uncle Duane, you know how much Evan loves to play superheroes with you. Thanks.
 
–Birthday prep for my hubby and my little guy is underway. I have to wrap up Bryan’s shopping before I leave since I return home on his actual b-day. By next weekend, I need to whip up 17 superhero capes for Evan’s four-year-old birthday bash. That may or may not happen.  I’ll keep you posted. 
 
–My friends have been in the news lately! My friend Marie is quoted in this Time article on Why Biofuels Help Push Up World Food Prices (it is an interesting piece). My cousin’s hubby is featured in this article in the Wall Street Journal on watching the Super Bowl via DVR.
 
Stay tuned. I’ll be posting more next week about flying without kids for the first time in almost four years (those airplane lavatories seem so much bigger when there isn’t a preschooler and infant tagging along with you), speaking in front of a large group and, of course, the birthday plans. 

Life Lessons from Evan

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This morning Evan asked me what day it was. I told him it was Friday, and he looked up from his breakfast and said, “It just keeps going around and around.” He’s right. It does. We wake up, have breakfast, get dressed, take on the day, eat dinner, have a bath and go to bed—all to wake up and do it again the next day. Day after day. 

It can seem monotonous, even to a three year old. But really it is day by day that we build a life. The seemingly meaningless moments that shape our days really do affect who we are. I think that that is what excites me and scares me the most. It is so easy to squander away a day instead of using it to its fullest. Yet, at the same time, we have a clean slate each day. Fixing dinner, wiping noses and finishing a work project can all take on more meaning when we realize that they are moving us closer to our greater goals.  

So, yes Evan, it’s Friday. Friday means ice skating and lunch at the food court. We’ll sit at our table by the fountain. You’ll ask me for pennies and I’ll slowly dole out five that you’ll toss in the water. Madelyn will sit on my lap and watch your every move. You and Madelyn will both fall asleep on our way home and, fingers crossed, stay asleep when I carry you in the house. Later we’ll read books, play cars and fix dinner. I’ll coax you to eat four more bites while Madelyn gobbles up everything in site. You’ll have a bath, we’ll read more books and I’ll lie in bed with you until you fall asleep. I’ll tuck the covers under your chin and sneak out of the room—just so we can wake up tomorrow and do it all again. 

But, it isn’t just a Friday—it is a stepping stone. 

It is our little routine that is shaping us both into who we’re meant to be. Thinking of our days reminds me of my favorite Ernest Hemingway quote: "There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are simple things, and because it takes a man’s life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave." 

My biggest hope is that I can find a "little new" in each of my days. 

 

 

Red Hearts, Sources and Special Occasion Planning

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This week:

–I am bound and determined to add some Valentine’s flair to our house. I love the 3-D garland above from Pottery Barn Kids. It isn’t available anymore, so I might tackle it as a DIY project. 

–I hope to find sources to talk to me about resonant macrosonic synthesis for a feature due next week. It is turning out to be even harder than I thought it would be. Any recommendations are welcome.

–I will catch up on e-mail and phone calls. I can’t thank my friends enough for being patient with me! You know who you are!

–I have to clean like crazy. I think every room in my house needs attention. 

–I might shed a tear when I attend an open house to learn more about kindergarten options for Evan. When did my baby stop being a baby? 

–I am going to try not to get distracted by the new-to-me blog the Nie Nie Dialogues. 

–My little guy and I will pen Valentine’s cards for his class. 

–I will plot out birthday plans for the special boys in my life. Their special days are coming up fast.

 

Kid-Friendly Office Space

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This corner desk for my little guy is one of the best features in my home office. As much as I try to avoid working with my kids in the room, there are times when it is unavoidable. This desk and the Fisher Price Cool School Computer were gifts from my in laws, and now Evan has his own place to work. We spruced up his "office" with his original artwork that we can rotate out as new creations come home from preschool. Now he gets right to work when "we" have important projects we’re trying to wrap up.

Madelyn’s workstation is her Jumperoo, which is positioned between my desk and Evan’s. Now I can get a solid 30 minutes of screen time in when necessary. Phone calls, however, are out. Between the music from the computer and the Jumperoo, it sounds like you’re in the middle of a Chuck E Cheese. But for sending e-mails or proofreading a final draft of a story, it’s perfect! 

 

The Power of a Snapshot

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Ten years ago, I stood in this spot and shot broadcast stand ups for a CBS station in Vermont. With the Capitol as my backdrop, I told stories about Sen. Jim Jeffords switching political parties and Paul McCartney lobbying on Capitol Hill. I tracked bills and told the folks back home how the latest legislation would affect them. I was obsessed with news and loved that I got to be on the front lines.  

Today I stood in the same spot and held my baby girl. I pulled her hat over her ears and put gloves on her hands. I kissed her chubby cheeks and wiped drool from her chin.

With the Capitol in the background once again, I thought about my life then—in broadcast—and my life now as a mom and a freelance writer. How very lucky I am to have already had three of my life dreams come true. Sometimes I forget to count my blessings. Sometimes I need a simple reminder, and a snapshot can be a very powerful tool.

Why is it that most of my photos live in my computer or buried in a box? Do yours, too? I think it is time to go on a little archeological dig and unearth the photos that have special meaning and put them out where we can see them. Reminders of all that we’ve accomplished and the things we hold dear can be powerful things. 

 

Snow.

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Last week the D.C. area had its first major snowstorm of 2011. We lost power for 24+ hours. We searched for flashlights and replaced batteries. We piled blankets on our beds and wore layers. Evan got to wear his Spiderman snow boots. We had peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast. I learned how to cook pasta and chicken nuggets on a gas grill. Bryan shoveled the driveway and Evan helped. We played Candyland and superheroes. I realized that no matter how long the power is out, I will still flip a light switch when I walk into a room. And I decided that we should unplug and stay in just a little more often. 

The Rush

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I love the rush that comes with pending deadlines and trying to beat the clock. I think that is what drew me to journalism in the first place. I am in the zone this week as I just picked up a high-priority project for one of my amazing clients. Starting Thursday I am leaving the comfort of my home office and heading to my old stomping grounds to work on-site with my former co-workers. I am thrilled to be in the trenches with them again and working together face-to-face instead of via e-mail.

Blog posting likely will be light (i.e. non existent) as I focus my efforts on coming through for my client and prepping my family for the week ahead. Now that someone else will be reaching into the pantry to fix my kids’ lunch, I suddenly realize how disorganized it is. But there is no time to worry about that now! I’m too busy focusing on the task at hand. Luckily those who will be taking care of my kiddos for the next little while love me as much as they love my kids and will overlook my household imperfections.

I hope the rest of your week is as exciting as I think mine will be! Happy weekending, if I don’t touch base before then. If you’re free on Saturday night, check out America’s Most Wanted. The best man from our wedding, who is also an FBI agent, will be working the phones as AMW tries to help him track down a criminal from one of his cases. I’ll be watching, which means I’ll be looking over my shoulder and sleeping with the lights on for the next two weeks. 

Interruptions

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I just found this quote and I love it–what a wonderful way to look at the interruptions we all face every day (and throughout the night, which is the case in my house as of late).

"When you are exasperated by interruptions, try to remember that their very frequency may indicate the value of your life. Only people who are full of help and strength are burdened by other persons' needs. The interruptions which we chafe at are the credentials of our indispensability. The greatest condemnation that anybody could incur – and it is a danger to guard against – is to be so independent, so unhelpful, that nobody ever interrupts us, and we are left comfortably alone." -Anonymous from The Anglican Digest