Mom 2.0 Inspired

Since it would surely be sacrilege to attend Mom 2.0 and not post something about it on my blog, here goes.

This conference, geared toward mom bloggers, celebrated motherhood, talked about maintaining authenticity in the face of marketing endorsements and encouraged this influential market to use its collective voice to its full potential. Talk of how the community of mom bloggers (though built in cyberspace, it really is a community) raises their audience up by sharing their experiences was another recurring theme. It's true. No doubt. Reading and relating to a story feels good. It reminds me I am not the only one whose life feels like this.

And that’s just the most concise way I can offer the gist of what was covered over two days. There’s plenty more, but what I really want to get to is the feelings my time among these amazing ladies elicited. I left the Four Seasons hotel Saturday afternoon, empowered, inspired, high, mindful, grateful, warm AND fuzzy. I wanted to figure out how to bottle the mix of emotions. I hardly remember driving home, I was so lost in thought. I came straight to my keyboard to put down some notes. Anything to capture the essence of the day. And then I remembered what drew me to the event in the first place. This feeling had already been bottled!


No wonder this video has gone truly viral. More than 50,000 hits last I looked. This piece by Katherine Center is, to me, the essence of what keeps me going when I feel like this motherhood gig is too much. This is important work, and it is work. The line “what you’re doing matters” was a theme of Mom 2.0. It’s a phrase I will repeat to myself again and again.

I’ve been a little hoodoovoodoo about this whole thing since I stumbled upon it about a month ago. It just seemed like the universe aligned to get me there. I am so glad it did.

It actually started last summer. I was in Kinkos dropping off a Fed Ex. A little girl approached me and said,

“My mommy wrote a book. You should read it.”

She handed me a card. I smiled at the girl and her mom and walked out the door having a little conversation with myself about how a mom would find time to write a book and how cute it was that the girl was so proud of her mom…. I put the card in my wallet.

Flash forward. About three weeks ago. I come across the card. I start bumping around and see the video. I watch it twice (and 20 times since) and tear up. So good! At the end I notice the mention of Opmom. Opmom.com (now http://www.thetastefullife.com/) is the site my friend Carrie Pacini started… It is a small world after all. Hmmmm? Wheels turning, already inspired and I hadn't even registered yet.

When I got to the speaker list, I was floored. The lineup was truly incredible. The more I read, the more excited I got. Admittedly, what excited me the very most was a bit of star power. One of my absolute favorite bloggers, Heather Armstrong, was booked as a keynote.

For my grandparent readership, Heather Armstrong was on the list of Forbes Most Influential Women in Media in 2009. Number 26. If you read her post at dooce.com about being number 26 you’ll get a sense for why I love reading her blog. Her success as a blogger is groundbreaking. She also just penned a deal with HGTV. Quite a case study. Above all, she makes me laugh and sometimes I really need a laugh. She writes (for all the world to read) the kind of things I only say in my head. I relate to her. We’re a lot alike. Only she’s on the Forbes list with Oprah and Barbra WaWa.

And here comes the point. The source of some of the empowerment that came for me personally at Mom 2.0 is the fact that we are alike. I sat there in awe of Heather Armstrong, and so many other ladies I met. So many. And guess what? They aren’t so different from me. Short of the long: I left reminded that I can accomplish big, cool and powerful things, too. I don’t know what big things I am out to accomplish, but being reminded I can is a start.

It’s easy to get busy getting by. Day to day. Hamster wheel syndrome. “Time to make the donuts”… Time to feed the baby. Time to go to work. Doldrums. It happens to me and I am one of the lucky ones who really loves my husband, kids and work. I can’t imagine what it’d be like to be unhappy in any of these areas AND live in the wheel.

This is not to say that the daily grind isn't part of "what matters." It all matters. Cooking dinner on a weeknight can be a chore, but sitting down to the table as a family matters. It all matters. The good. The bad. And the ugly. It's all part of life and very necessary.

It's just that to set out to do big, cool and powerful things, I need some time to focus on something besides the things that are required. Getting up and going to work is required. Doing laundry is required. The store. Picking up the house. The good ole todo list. It should be called the have to list. By the time all the perquisites are done, there’s not much time left (if any) to dive into the higher level coursework so to speak. The want to list.

Time to move up from Life 101. Step one: make and take time to daydream and formulate full thoughts, theories and ideas. Time to be me. Not mommy me. Not wife me. Not marketer me. Just me. So, I can be open to and look for inspiration. I love being all those other versions of myself. But after Mom 2.0 kids, I need to be the first version of myself from time to time.

I am one of bajillions of women desperate for some time to herself. I get it. I am not saying anything new here. I am just saying, this event reminded me how powerful taking the time can be. By taking time to find passion and enthusiasm we live bigger, better lives. When I go out and get empowered, I bring it home to the dinner table for the boys to see. The "time out" I took last week is really all it took to stop fussing, breathe, get inspired and fired up. Battery charged. It was so worth it. It was so simple. It was super special. I am still flying!

the story changes daily

THAT WAS THEN – bittersweet. more sweet than bitter.
January 7, 2010

It was inevitable. The tears would come.

So, I was feeling “ready” for a few hours without little B. A few errands ALL BY MYSELF (I sound like G) seemed like a really good idea. A couple hours away and a short stint for B to spend his first day at “school.” Start with baby steps, so to speak.

And then I was in the classroom giving detailed instructions to three women who probably know thousands more baby tricks than I do. I was lingering and hovering –finding it hard to walk out the door. Eventually, I did. Thanks to a lunch date with Sarah (at which we had a glass of wine. It helped).

Couple hours later, I returned to find B was fine. We both survived.

When I did this, nearly four years ago with G, I truly thought it was the end of the world. I thought I was already failing at the motherhood gig, because I didn’t consider it a viable option to totally change our lifestyle and find a way to make it work on one income. Possible? Sure. People do it all the time on far less. But right for our family? Not so much.

Still, I worried that daycare would not be good for G. He’d wind up with abandonment issues and he’d be confused about who his “primary caregiver” was…blah, blah, blah. Oh the trauma and the guilt. Drama mama! Truth is, G’s going to daycare had more negative impact on me than it ever had on him. I never would try to convince a first time mom of this. I couldn’t have believed it before. But, I think school has helped make G the social butterfly he is.

The child introduces people… is the life of a party… knows a lot of stuff I couldn’t teach him myself and is a super caring kiddo with a generous heart. He’d be all that anyway, but when it comes to how he interacts with others and his comfort level with himself – I think school has given him a lot we couldn’t have offered him at home.

So this time around, I know B will benefit in many ways. I know he knows I am the mama.( I know because he snuggles me different than anyone else and I do love that!) I know he’ll be entertained, rocked, fed, changed and talked to. And I know we’ll find a routine that works.

I am not misty with worry. I am misty because he’s going on 12 weeks old. These precious weeks have gone by too fast. And he’ll never be two days, two weeks or two months old again. The moments are so fleeting! And the photos don’t capture the smell or the emotions attached to these moments in time. I am already forgetting little details I want to remember. Like how huge his cheeks were when he was born, the hair on his hears, the size of his little hands and feet… I already can’t think of what else I want to list…

On one hand I am tired of anticipating the end of maternity leave. It’s weighing on me really. Just get here and get it over with already. On the other hand, I am clinging to every moment. Taking liberty to hold him through entire naps because I can… It will be a real luxury to find time to do that on a weekend when we’ve got birthday parties to go to, errands to run and life to get in order before we begin again on Monday. Besides, before long he’ll be too big to hold for an entire nap… before too long, he’ll look up at me and say, “I don’t need you to cuddle me tonight.” As G does now from time to time… (thank goodness he also says, “I want you to carry me.” )

I knew it would go by too quickly and I knew the list of things I really wanted to do was unrealistic from the start. I haven’t done the craft projects I had in mind, read the books I’d planned to, or even watched a bunch of good movies. Days have gone by quickly just keeping up with laundry, running to the store and preparing for and celebrating the holidays. We live in three hour increments between feedings, on no real nap schedule.

I was tired some days. At my wits end on occasion (especially during those few weeks of crying jags). I snapped off several heads (and apologized). But I also soaked it up. I noticed when I felt totally happy. And I did. Quite a lot of the time…

How often do you get to feel totally and completely happy? How often does the joy totally and completely override the worries and todos and todon’ts? For me, it’s not that often….I am more often glass half empty. A great devil’s advocate. Slightly pessimistic. And I am not a morning person. This is my nature. I am not unhappy. I just view the world with caution and I am slow to wake up.

But when he smiles, it’s total and complete happiness. The joy overrides EVERYTHING. It fills the air. In the morning, (early morning) when he’s stirring and ready for a change and bottle, I appear over him in the pack and play at the end of our bed and he smiles a huge gummy smile – a smile that wrinkles his nose and reaches all the way to his eyes. That’s a great way to start the day.

When there’s a baby around, the world just looks different. It’s harder to ignore all that is right.

******

THIS IS NOW - It’s not quite so sappy today… a little snotty, in fact.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

What a difference a few days makes. Focus shifted.

So, G started with the fever on Saturday. Sunday appetite disappeared, fever remained and he threw up in his bed, the hall and then finally, the toilet. Monday morning, the doc said she didn’t think it was the flu. Until she tested anyway out of concern for Baby B and confirmed G has type A flu. “Could be swine flu,” she said, “we’re still seeing some of that in the community.”

It’s Tuesday and the fever only just let up tonight. High was above 103. Tamiflu seems to be kicking in and I have a filled scrip in the fridge ready in the event B shows any signs… Every spit up, sneeze or cough makes me feel like he’s a time bomb. Not to mention the fact that every little something I feel in my body has me thinking, “Oh Sh**! I’ve got it.” I wouldn’t be surprised, I have been sneezed on a few times. Lots o' snot r us. And despite cans of Lysol stationed at key points with sanitizer and Clorox wipes, it’s just hard to contain the germs.

Meanwhile Deeda continues to recover from his elbow surgery last Thursday and it seems we discover something else he can’t do each day. (Some way to spend your 37 birthday. Happy Bday Deeda. It's 12:15. The day is officially yours.) Having your right arm wrapped and immobilized requires help putting on pants that don’t have an elastic waistband, deodorant, serving food, putting on shoes, etc… Oh! and no driving! And he’s in this bandage until next Friday (at least). I get cabin fever for him just thinking about it. Meds seem to help with pain but that could also be because shortly after he takes them, he goes to sleep…

Thank heavens Nana is a real trooper and (once again) extended her trip. She has literally been here more than she’s been home in the last few months. I can’t be thankful enough. Her physical and moral support are a tremendous help. Ready at standby, too, is Grams who drove C to the doc today and will return tomorrow for appointment "part deaux." Strategically, I don’t want to expose her to our germs because we need her even more if I “go down” or Nana goes down. Seriously, you never know...

Maybe we’re over reacting a little but I feel like some strategy is important… It’s kinda funny and inconvenient right now, but it could get ugly fast if this flu starts making the rounds about the family.

So, none of this is what I had planned for this, the last week of maternity leave. This week was to be the start of some routine… B going to daycare. Me going to get a haircut and my teeth cleaned, maybe squeeze in a fun project and finalize Bday party prep for G (festivities are scheduled for Saturday morning a joint party with pal Brooks). Once again, I had visions of homemade cakes, aprons and pearls. Wrong! once again. Just not in the cards.

48 hour no fever school rule means, G could, maybe, go to school on Friday if he stays on the steady upward swing. Friday sounds VERY far away this Tuesday night. AND now that he’s feeling human again, it will only be harder to keep him quiet and in recovery mode. Meanwhile, I want to watch B with my own two eyes so I can administer tamiflu the second he does anything out of the ordinary. He is not going to school and getting used to it as we’d carefully planned. From what I read online we're not really in the clear until the weekend is behind us.

I have managed to regain some perspective since this morning when I felt sorry enough for everyone, including myself, to have a little cry and pick a fight with Deeda. It’s just bad timing. C’s surgery alone would have been enough… add flu to the mix and the emotion surrounding the big back to work day and we have a “tilt” situation. BUT I was able to keep the ball in play. Where are all these silver linings are coming from these days? Who am I? As I sat in G’s bedroom with him watching the portable DVD player… in our PJ’s at noonish, I did remember that I said wanted to sit around and watch movies ( I was thinking something other than Cars again, but it still is a cute show, even the 750th time). I do want all the time I can get at home with the kiddos. So, in some ways, maybe this ordeal has made me slow down and do some of that… So, I did it with a can of Lysol on my hand. Still counts.

Gotta laugh, really. Not much else you can do between baby feedings, sterilizations and wrapping C’s arm in saran so he can shower. I’ll finish by saying, I so know it could be worse. I recognize none of this is serious. And I know how fortunate I am to have the help I do… but still. Really?

p.s. no photos for these posts because I still haven’t sorted through the photos or made any uploads since thanksgiving… eventually. There are some good ones. I got a new lens for my birthday!

'Twas just days before Christmas

G said before we went to a Hanukkah party Friday :

“ I am excited to celebrate ‘harmonica’ with my friend Tal.”

A Christmas classic was born. The second of the week…

Tuesday evening, G stared as Chicken Cacciatore in the Christmas Pageant at school. It was a priceless performance complete with 2 -4 year olds picking their noses, crying and waving to their parents from the stage. Our little chicken (dressed in a mighty fine homemade costume) projected his two lines perfectly over all the noise. Ironically, the play was called Starry Night, Noisy Night.

Annual wrapping and wine drinking with gal pal Sarah was excellent. All wrapping is done... Just moved Halloween and Thanksgiving photos to computer to make room for the thousands that I am sure to take in the next few days. Bought a coffee cake at Costco and am calling brunch done. Need to make some jezebel and buy several blocks of cream cheese and boxes of wheat thins. Hostess gifts almost done… Things are shaping up. And there is a day or two to spare.

“Free and Easy down the road we go” into the Heart of Darkness… eh-hem, I mean, this joyous season.

No, really. I am looking forward to it… it’s always chaotic but in the best way possible. I know I would be miserable if it were any other way. Shrek the Halls (which we’ve watched 25 times so far) reminds me so…

Some of the fondest memories where once described as "incidents." Like the time mom went flying down the driveway and into the ditch on my new bike one beautiful Christmas day in Colorado. Or the time Laura nixed EVERY SINGLE gift that came out of the stocking Nennie thoughtfully put together for her. OR the time we stuffed like 17 people into our apartment for brunch... what were we thinking?

Yes, there was an “incident” (or two) last holiday where I totally flipped. Namely the "f’ing casserole"… Isn't at least one freak-out tradition?

How about an early New Year's resolution? When I start to lose perspective and worry about any of the things that can overwhelm a control freak just trying to make reality match the mental image of the perfect Christmas dancing around with the sugarplums in her head – I will embrace a three step method for dealing...

First, I will look to Deeda. My rock and smile store. I will perhaps roll my eyes or open them super wide. This unspoken "venting" may simply be required to ensure my head doesn't explode. He’ll smile and we’ll laugh but no one will know why… And I will remember why I love him and his total zest for the holidays so.


Second, I will look to my big little boy G. I will take in his enthusiasm and wonder… To see Christmas through the eyes of a four year old is such a treat!


And last but not least, I will look to baby B. Miracle. What a miracle! ‘Tis the reason for the season. In just nine weeks (time is flying by) he’s come so far. 13 lbs now. Smiling. And such a snuggle bear.

Happy Holidays! I will report from the flip slide on the success of the system. :)

what's the formula for success?

Friday

Quote of the day: “Jesus lives in the sky with God and Santa Claus.” We needed that giggle... it's been a long week.

Let’s hope this new formula brings some change about the casa. This is how it goes presently: B eats, spits up a bunch, hangs out briefly and then the gas starts. It comes over his face with the saddest most pitiful expression and then the crying. It’s horrible. Poor kid. Was seeming like he was crying a lot… wondering if it was just my perception or true, I started logging our days specifically...he officially cries if he’s awake. Long story short, today we made the formula switch.
Happy seven week birthday B! You’re growing waaaay too fast. You hold your head up like mad and you’re starting to share those smiles that take away all the frustration the crying creates.

G is on his best behavior these days. MOST excited ‘bout Santa’s pending visit. He keeps telling us he’s being a good boy… and he is all about the mams and sirs. It’s borderline kiss-ass… but I’ll take it. We should have been leveraging this all year long. At any rate, he’ll do just about anything we request right now. Let the dog in, go fetch a bib or burp cloth… Bedtime still leads to some stalling but the screaming fits we were encountering a couple months ago seem to be behind us (for now). I’ll say it again, that boy is soooo sweet.

Thanksgiving was excellent. Mellow for the most part and it was great of the fam to trek down to H-town this year… I learned some super trade secrets from Nennie (Master of the shrimp dip, cornbread dressing and sweet potatoes to mention a few of my favs). Deeda made the most excellent turkey in some new fangled ultraviolet cooker… We topped off our dinner with the Football game of the year and pie, followed by a New Moon movie brunch on Friday. A little dose of that Cullen vampire I adore… I think we should make it a holiday tradition forever more.

On Dasher and Dancer – Christmas is practically here. The tree is decorated. Tomorrow is tamale Saturday and my Amazon shopping cart is getting full. And as if that wasn’t enough, it snowed today in Houston. All day! Big flakes. Real snow, not freezing rain.

It was Halloween just a minute ago… time flies when you’re on maternity leave. Our days (and nights) are busy but not, if that makes sense. I mean, I am not napping or eating any bon bons… I also haven’t even managed to sign up for Netflix, much less watch all the movies and TV shows I had grand visions of catching up on… And I haven’t read any of the books I have on my list…or done anything with the thousands of corks I’ve been collected for some craft. I did take a day on Tuesday. I let the laundry go unfolded, skipped the shower, decided we’d eat pizza for dinner and put my crackberry away… I watched a whole movie (Marley and Me) with baby bear in my arms. It was perfect! Soaking up that baby smell.

Saturday

Uhm, this new formula stinks. No yummy baby smell. Smells like dog food. Literally. I gagged and nearly vomited when he spit that smell up on me overnight.

So we switched again. (shhhhh don't tell the doc) Now let’s hope this one works. Soy (play on word) far, soy good.

Welcome Barrett

I’ve started to do this at least five times and left the cursor blinking to tend to you know who…today , I picked back up about 10 a.m., it’s 2:10 p.m. and three interrupted sittings later, I am calling it done. It’s not complete. It’s not even close… but the blog feels like this big “to do” right now.

Barrett is 25 days old and catching up with the last 3 and a half weeks seems impossible in the windows of time I have. There are so many details in every day I’d love to record....from the dimples on the child’s hands to the fuzz that covers nearly his entire body…

Maybe later I can post details… for now, I will offer up the basics in hopes that I can mentally cross “blog” off my list of things to do for a few days.

Barrett Christian was born Friday, October 16 at 10:33 a.m. He weighed 9 lbs and 12 oz and was 21” long. Big boy! Beautiful boy (though I may biased). My regular doctor had the swine flu (I bet we laugh about that some day), so we didn’t know the delivery docs but it worked out just fine in the end.

Biggest baby on our hospital floor. But he didn’t look big to me. He looked tiny… ten tiny fingers. Ten tiny toes. Robust arms and a round face. Tons of dark hair- it’s nearly a mullet… Extends about ½ an inch down the back of his neck. I have to get a photo of that…

In the first few hours he looked totally different than G. By day two it was like déjà vu. I even kept calling him Grant. By week two, he’d transformed yet again… related to Grant but not his twin.

The hospital stay was a bit of a blur. But I have to make note of the first time the little Bear and I locked eyes. He stared at me for a long while, as if to say, “hi mom.”

We came home Monday to a sparkling clean house and a pumpkin cake baking in the oven. Proof that mother’s know what their kids need. Thanks mom. The coming home couldn’t have been more perfect!

Generally speaking, recovering from this C-section has been easier than carrying a nearly 10 lb baby around in my belly. I had good meds, which I realize now made me a little loopy. But they also allowed me to happily welcome a steady stream of visitors. At one point the day on the birthday, I counted 12 people in my hospital room. And it was a tiny, tiny room.

We are so blessed with family and friends who have come with gifts, food and hugs. So many people made special efforts to meet B, feed us and help big brother feel special ,too. I also can’t help but recognize with a big warm fuzzy heart how our circle of friends has grown since the time Grant was born. I’ll say it again, we’re so blessed!

G is about the best big brother I can imagine him being. He runs to get things we need, he asks to hold his brother, kisses him gently, talks to him and perhaps the cutest of all, brings him toys to play with… The moment we put our eyes on Barrett was tearful and amazing and all that you can’t even begin to really imagine. The moment Grant met him was equally as wonderful.



I believe it was day 7 or 8 that I officially gave up breast feeding. In actuality, I think it was day four. It just took the extra days for me to admit it to myself. For some readers this may seem like TMI, but it’s an essential part of the story of the last several weeks.

I didn’t want to give up. I had studied up. I had called for consultants. I had promised myself we’d give it the old college try. I also promised myself, I wouldn’t make myself crazy about it… and then I found myself going crazy about it. It was making me and Barrett cry. So I had a talk with myself (and several friends) and gave it up along with that cloud of guilt that somehow appeared again, even though I thought I knew better this time around.

And to all that I just have to add that this motherhood gig is complicated. The animal instinct to protect, feed and nurture is intense. And it kinda messes with your mind… I think it’s because it overrides your mind. It’s instinct to some degree, which can feel out of control sometimes. And let’s face it, this mama has some “issues” with” out of control”... but motherhood has really made me better. Really. It has. Really.

We had the most wonderful Halloween. As per our usual, it was a week-long celebration. We paraded in the park, attended G’s school performance, the annual Bromley block party and trick or treated in the hood. G’s Spiderman costume got plenty of use. And he had some awesome Spidy moves to go with it.



Grammy got to meet B on Sunday after Halloween (special thanks to her taxi service). Then, they left on Tuesday. And here it is a week later and I don’t know what we’ve been up to… days fly by. I planned a quick outing to the office the other day. Planned to go around noon, thinking it might be fun to grab lunch with the girls and catch up… It was four before we made it the 2.5 miles down the road to the office. Four! Such is life with a newborn. Gotta roll with the flow.

Saturday we took both boys to the zoo and later took in a movie thanks to an impromptu babysitting offer from Grams. It was a great day! Though I was totally exhausted Sunday, it was a glimpse of “normalcy.” I am still looking for my groove… trying to figure out how to feed baby, bathe baby (and myself), take a walk or do some of a handful of other projects I’d love to cross off the list. But I am also working to take time to breathe, to stare at B, watch a little daytime television and soak up that baby smell…it’s a special mix: part spit up, part J&J lotion…I don’t know how or why it smells so good!

catching up before baby brudher arrives

Getting ready around here.
This is a photo of G testing the infant seat. Wow! He's grown up. It's gone so fast. Bet the next three years go equally as fast. Fastening our seat belts...

Two people have asked in the last few days if I am carrying twins. Uhm, no. But Friday is the big day so I guess the lower and humongous belly is what’s throwing them.

Finished up at the office on Monday. Spent yesterday at the doc and hospital doing pre-op blood work and so forth. Friends of Red hosted the fall community meeting last night…A success!

So, as of this morning, I am officially done with obligations outside of my own personal agenda which includes puttering around the quiet house, resting up and taking in the U2 concert tonight .

It’s 11:25 a.m. on Wednesday, I am still in my P.J.s. I have organized the pile of papers in the home office (makes me happier than you can imagine). I have burned the last 6 months of photos to a DVD and I am cleaning up the computer desktop (almost makes me as happy as cleaning the actual desktop) to make way for MORE PHOTOS! AND I am catching up on the blog. Bliss.

The recap of recent events:

Elbow Blues
Deeda busted his elbow in a freak dog/opossum wrestling match on our fence line. He tripped over the gas meter in the dark… He never fell, but waving his arms so crazily is apparently all it took to create a couple hairline fractures likely caused by immobility resulting from two sizable bone spurs on the right elbow. Too many throws from home to second base in the earlier years perhaps? Who knows? What I do know is that a subsequent injury was created when he was feeling well enough to forget his elbow was hurt, which led to an apt. with the orthopedic doc and recommended surgery. So, we have a lame duck who, I will say, is getting better about taking his Advil.

Occasions, Classes & Secrets
G got dressed up fancy for Cousin James' Baptism. And Grammy came in to stay the weekend for the same occasion. G was so proud of his tie. It really was nice to have Grammy here.

G also attended big brother class at the hospital where he learned to hold a baby doll, put a diaper on and all about being a “Super Sibling.” Perfect for our little superhero lover… He had a blast! At the end of the class each child got to go to the front of the room, receive a T-shirt and certificate, and then say if they were having a brother or a sister and what the baby’s name would be.

We were anxious to hear the name he tossed out since we’d been talking with him about two different names. The child didn’t hesitate. And the name he said is the name we’ve chosen… G has been far more consistent than mom and Deeda, who mulled on it for several more weeks, but the deed is done. He has a name.

Keeping this secret has proven difficult for little man. Couple weeks he ago he thought he was alone with Nanna and he blurted it out. Little did he know I was within ear shot in the kitchen... He didn't have time to repeat himself before I arrived in the living room with wide eyes, and I don't believe Nanna heard correctly... Then, just yesterday, he was alone with Grams in the car and he told her he knew a secret. Good for Grams for telling him it's important to keep secrets... That's some real willpower. All will be known in due time!

Back to sibling class... To finish the class we took a tour which included a peek inside the nursery. G saw a new, new, new baby getting a bath and kinda made a face at it, like “that’s not cute at all.” Had to giggle. He was right. They all look a little alien at first. What was cute is what G said when we loaded back into the elevator with the class.

He asked, “Are we going up or down?”

“Down,” I said.

“We’re downloaded,” G said.

Priceless! "

Mission Float Test Accomplished.
G passed three float tests at Houston Swim Club this month! He officially graduated his dolphin class and we’re on swim class hiatus until further notice. We have to admit we’re happy to be done… Wednesday nights have been chaos for a long while…

I am not sure who was the most proud, G, his teachers or his parents. He floated bravely… His teacher Charlie had told him to think “happy thoughts.” So when he finished the first test, he told us that’s what he did. Water would splash over his face and he would quickly wipe it away and then put his hand right back behind his head. By the third test he was floating in long sleeves, pants, tennis shoes and socks! We have video of that too but it's too large to upload...Need to work on that... G got a certificate, ribbon and the Houston Swim Club bell (like the one they ring when you pass the float test).

Kidnapped!
Last Saturday I was kidnapped for a surprise non shower-shower / girls night out that totally rocked. Mani, pedi and dinner among all my best girls was such a treat. Erika and Andrea masterminded with Laura and Christian's assistance... So fun! Thanks to everyone who came and collaborated. It was a special night.

No Line on the Horizon.

Picking up where I left off. Writing this at 9:58 a.m. Thursday… T-minus 24 hours to “show time…”

It’s been the year of concerts for the Dionne’s. First George Strait. Then, Depeche Mode. Last night was U2. In a last minute decision we bucked up and bought tickets. I am so glad we didn’t miss it! Amazing! Wow! Never seen anything like it. Love the music and the band themselves…

Add to the memories I associate with their songs that range from junior high to the the present day, the fact that the band uses their stage/voice positively and you can’t deny U2 is incredible. And add to that the most amazing set, lights and imagery ever … and add to that a shooting star in the sky nearly on cue… I mean, it was an experience.

G stayed with Grams and Pops while we took in the show. Grams had some classic G’isms to report this morning.

“When my mommy’s belly pops baby brudher will be here.”


They have a fish named Shamu and one named Shamwow (as in the as seen on TV product) in their pond. G apparently named a third Shampoo last night. He’s quick!

And with that, I will sign off for now.

Baby updates to come soon!

Proof of Belly

I promised. I hate to put it here now, but someday I'll probably be glad.

A belly shot from a really nice girl who took my photo at Depeche Mode and actually emailed it yesterday. That was August 30. So, I was 32 going on 33 weeks. You can see the band in the background... :)

Photo two. Significant because this green shirt is maybe my favorite maternity shirt and one of about three things I can wear at this point. This photo was taken at about 36 weeks.

And thought it's not doing me any favors, I can't leave out this photo from last night. 39 weeks at U2. T-minus one day until scheduled delivery.