Conquering Evan’s Legos

Hey everyone—look at what I did. I built a Lego fire truck, and, admittedly, I haven’t felt a sense of accomplishment this strong since I finished grad school.

 

So what if the box says for ages 5-7. The piles of small parts, pages of instructions and an attention-seeking infant made the prospect of assembling the Lego fire truck seem daunting. After days of my little guy’s requests, I bit the bullet and started stacking Legos. Lo and behold, we have a fire truck. So what if there is a small bag of "leftover parts." They apparently don’t serve a crucial purpose. The ladder works, the wheels turn and my little guy is having a ball playing with it.

 

Just look at those moving parts!

Is it wrong that I feel a bit territorial over the fire truck and keep telling Evan to be careful while playing with it? 

Five Tips for Public Speaking

While I was in Florida, I stepped outside of my comfort zone and took on a little public speaking assignment. Believe it or not there is no photographic evidence of me standing behind the podium, but—scout’s honor—I did get up there and speak to 150+ people.

It is probably better that there was no one there snapping pictures, as the flash may have made me forget all that I had planned to say. Now that my nerves have settled, I can truly say it was a wonderful event. I haven’t had any public speaking events in quite some time and it was great to stretch my muscles. In case you’re going to be speaking to a group anytime soon, here are my top five tips:

Use bulleted notes. For me, having a list of the highlights I want to cover works far better than drafting up my full speech. With a full speech, it is easy to lose your place, then you’re palms start sweating and you’re left stumbling over your own words. Or, even worse, you end up reading the full speech word for word without looking up from your script. I tend to stick to bullet points that will jog my memory. If there are specific numbers I need to remember, I make notes beneath the bullets so I can find them quickly. 

Know your subject matter. Yes, it is obvious, but it is true. If you’re unsure of what you’re speaking about, you won’t be confident or comfortable up on stage and it will show. At this event I was speaking on government regulations that are creating opportunities in shop repair and other areas for highway-based businesses. I’ve researched and written about the topic enough to know that I had good information to share. I think that is key.

Practice in front of the mirror. You’ll feel ridiculous, but it helps. Believe me. The night before the presentation, I used my bulleted list and gave my full speech in front of the mirror a few times. I stumbled and stammered, but better to do it there than in front of the group. 

Find a friendly face in the audience, or better yet, find the people who are taking notes. It will help put you at ease. I knew several of the people in the audience, so I turned to them when I started feeling nervous. I especially loved the note takers and those who nodded in agreement at the event. Thank you to all those kind souls.

Relax. Smile. Take a deep breath. Remember that people are people and even if you mess us, your audience will probably be forgiving. If worse comes to worst, crack a joke, laugh at yourself and invite your audience to laugh with you. Luckily, this didn’t happen to me.  

Florida (Without Kids)



It has been about four years since I’ve traveled without my kids, so heading to Florida last month was bittersweet. I was sad to leave my little family behind, especially since it is the first time I’d been away from Miss Madelyn and only the third time I’d been away from my little guy. On the plus side, it was a nice change of pace to only have to worry about myself. Here are a few things I realized from traveling alone again.

Security is a breeze without kids. I normally have milk, bags of toys, snacks, lollipops and at least three coloring books with me. That is in addition to my laptop, changes of clothes, car seats, a stroller, diapers, wipes and my own reading material (because even though I know I will never have time to read for pleasure, I hold out hope and bring something along anyway). That is a long way of saying I am THAT person—the one you try not to get behind in the security line. This time, I just had to whip out my laptop and slip off my shoes (and no one else’s). I did have to go through the full-body scanner at the airport, which I really don’t like, but then again, after nursing Madelyn for the past nine months, I’ve probably shown more inadvertently when my little lady flipped off my nursing cover.

The lavatories on airplanes suddenly seemed larger. The last time I flew I navigated the lavatory with Evan by my side and Madelyn strapped on my front in the Baby Bjorn. It was tight. Really tight.  

The odds of getting upgraded to first class are much greater when traveling solo. Somehow I found myself in first class on the first leg of my trip. That definitely would not have happened with a preschooler and infant in tow. I’m not quite sure how it happened and, even as I was sipping my pre-takeoff Diet Coke, I kept expecting someone to direct me back to coach. No one did and I loved every minute of my first-class adventure. Unfortunately I was back in coach with the masses on my way home, but it was nice while it lasted.

Looking out the window was not nearly as much fun. As I looked down on the clouds, I suddenly longed for my little guy to be sitting on my lap. His little face would have lit up when he realized we were above the clouds. He would have asked questions and soaked it all in. As we neared the ground, he would have pointed out the houses, trees and swimming pools that all look so pristine from the air. I love seeing the world through his eyes and missed having him with me. Luckily, we’re heading back next month for a family vacation and I can’t wait to see my guy’s reaction when he gets to meet Mickey in person and check out the superheroes at Universal Studios. 

 

Four Years Ago Today

My Dear Sweet Evan,

Today you are four. This is a very important day for you—one you’ve been talking about for at least six months. You know, as do I, that four year olds are big kids. You welcome that fact, while I resist it. I know that you are meant to grow and change, but the time is going by so much faster than I could have imagined.

It has been said that the days are long but the years are short, and it is true.  It seems like just yesterday you surprised me by arriving five weeks ahead of schedule.

You’ve been surprising me ever since. When I look back at the pictures from our first few days together, I think about all that I’ve learned since then. I had no way of knowing how much you’d love Oreos (pronounced eeerios), Tic Tacs or superheroes. I would never have guessed that you’d fall in love with hockey and turn the rest of us into fans right along with you.

I didn’t know how much time we’d spend dancing in the kitchen or negotiating over bedtime.

You adore mornings and wake up treating each day like the gift it really is. You rise before dawn each day and find your way into our room asking if it is morning time. 

I know I am going to forget so much about these early years. I’m grateful to have written notes and digital reminders of the things I adore about you. I love that you blow me kisses from across the table and that you fall asleep while we read bedtime stories. You can only drink milk if you have your special bear, which is so tattered and worn. You love Band-aids and request them for every bump and scratch. They make you feel better, so I oblige. In all honestly, I give in to most of your requests because in the grand scheme of things, they are really quite small but mean the world to you right now. 

When you were a baby, I had a hard time seeing the little boy you’d become. Just like right now I can’t picture you as your eight-year-old self or, gasp, the "growb up" you are so eager to become.

I love watching you grow. I love the ways you surprise me. You’ve made me love, laugh, worry and think more than I could have ever imagined.  Thank you for making me a mama and for being such a joy.  

Love you,

Mommy 

Happy Monday

Yeah! Monday again. I love Mondays because they get me back in a routine after the weekend free-for-alls we tend to have around our house. Do you keep a schedule on the weekends? I would like to, but it is impossible. This weekend was especially busy as we celebrated my little guy turning four. It involved lots of baking, lots of noise and a REAL bike with a bell (thank you, thank you, thank you Grandma Betty and Papa Stu for giving Evan a bike for his birthday).



Between a hectic work schedule and birthday prep, I’m still recovering. I always think of things I plan to do "when things slow down," but it seems like they never do. All in all, I think that is a good thing. Life is meant to be lived. I prefer to pack in as much as I can, even if it means I’m a few weeks behind on those blog posts I’ve been carefully crafting in my head. They make it up here sooner or later! 

Happy Birthday Bryan

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

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.