Thoughts on Motherhood

Just over two months ago (two months and a day!) my entire world changed, and while I now all of a sudden feel like motherhood defines me, I don't want it to take over this blog. With that being said, I will most definitely have numerous posts on this new adventure I'm on. It is, after all, the most exciting thing in my life these days.

It is amazing to me that for twelve years I was a teacher first and foremost. It was the biggest part of my being. Then, on May 27th, my water broke and I began the final transformation from pregnant teacher to mother. It wasn't until Tuesday the 29th that Little Man joined us here in the world, but at 7:22 a.m., my identity changed completely. I did look at the clock when Little Man emerged and think to myself, "Oh, look school's about to start. I should be there. We have three weeks of school left, I have so much to do." It was actually a kind of surreal moment. As cheesy as that thought seems, it is exactly what went through my head. And then, as quickly as it flashed through my mind, my focus on being a teacher vanished. There was this tiny wiggly being in  my arms and I was ready to give up everything I spent the last twelve years building for the human being I'll spend the next eighteen plus years raising.

Images from Pinterest.

When I was pregnant people told me that I would love Little Man more than I could imagine. I just nodded and smiled. What did they know? I already loved the kicking, hiccuping, squirming baby inside of me. We had bonding time on the way to work when I would talk to him and he would move and kick in response. I'd rub my belly at night and tell him all I hoped for him. I loved him. There was no way the love I felt for the little being inside of me could be bigger or more intense.

And then I met him. I can't even describe the overpowering waive of utterly unconditional love I felt at that very moment. Nothing else in the world mattered.

First picture of my guy. Thirty-seven plus hours of labor couldn't make this moment less perfect.

And so now, two months and one day later, my love grows bigger and bigger each day. Even on horribly reflux-y days when there is more time spent crying and fussing than gazing lovingly at his mommy, Little Man is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Both Beau and I wonder what took us so long. We finally feel like we have found our purpose in this world. So it seems that all of those people were right.

Life, it seems, is made up of stages. What stage are you in? Does it define you?

Ten Girls to Watch

I have a Goodreads profile--just what I need, another digital forum to keep track of--because I thought it would be a good way to see what books my friends are reading, what titles have gotten good reviews, etc. I had no idea that the site had other benefits to it. One of those benefits is giveaways of advanced copies of books. The idea is that Goodreads members get them, read them and review them and then followers want to read the book. It is good old fashioned word-of-mouth marketing in a digital forum. So I entered a few contests and I won a book! It is Charity Shumway's Ten Girls to Watch. (Actually, I won two books, but I haven't touched the second one yet...)

I was a little doubtful when I got my copy of the book, but i gave it a chance during my many, many, many hours of breastfeeding. (Awesome opportunity to read, BTW.) I ended up liking it quite a bit. It is a pretty good summer read if you're looking for a mindless chick-lit type book. Think something along the lines of a Jennifer Weiner book or The Devil Wears Prada and you've got a pretty good idea of what you're in store for.

Here's the review I wrote for Goodreads.

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Of there was a 3.5 star option, this book would have that, I'm feeling generous, so it got a four rather than the three it probably should have earned. Here's why:

Ten Girls to Watch is classic chick lit: Nice girl goes to NYC to make it big as a writer and finds herself struggling. She fumbles through relationships, friendships and work with equal parts self-deprecation, snark, and earnestness. Astute readers can glean where this book is headed from page one.

Here's the thing- In all of its early predictability, the book shifts toward plot developments that aren't as expected as that first page suggests. That's not to say there is a whole lot of depth or literary merit to it (it won't be up for book awards), but it is an absolutely enjoyable summer read. Shumway has written a novel that will sell well and will entertain readers even if it doesn't win literary awards.

Shumway has created a very likable protagonist who, through a really cool writing assignment, gets to come of age with some advice from successful, accomplished women. This is woven into the plot very effectively and never once hovers in the land of preachy-ness that it very easily could have landed in. 

This is a book I'll recommend to girlfriends who are off to the beach or on vacation. Like other titles of this genre, it is a feel-good departure from the world. Unlike those others, it manages to end pretty realistically without some gag-worthy, sugary sweet group hug that is often the norm. More importantly, though, Dawn is carefully crafted into a character I could see myself being friends with. Shumway managed to make this reader want to see Dawn through all of the ups and downs of her early twenties.


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In my defense, I wrote that on my iPhone while breastfeeding a baby, so I know it could be a little bit better, but these days I do the best I can with the time I'm given by the little man.


The book comes out this week--Tuesday (July 31) to be exact. Go ahead and preorder it, then go lounge by the pool or at the beach and enjoy some mindless (but well written!) summer reading.


What's your favorite summer read?

I'm back...

May 3rd was my last blog update. What the what? Did you think something horrendous had happened to me? I'm not one to make excuses, but here goes...

See, what happened was...I got busy trying to get everything done so I'd be ready to have a baby. I had to finish up the class I teach at the community college, get my exams made and approved, have grade books updated, 1200 yearbooks to adoring and expectant high schoolers, clear out my classroom, finish a nursery, prep meals and freeze them, wash and organize newborn clothes and pack hospital bags. See, busy.

I was working like a crazy person. I got the college class finished and grades posted. I did the laundry and almost got the nursery finished. I even packed a bag! Then, three weeks early, my little guy decided to join us on the outside. My mega long to-do list got pushed to the side as he got pushed out. (Sorry...it just typed itself...)

I've got tons of interesting things to write: books to review, products to discuss, sunshine to spew, etc. (Beau tells me that sometimes my posts are a little too cheesily sunshiny. At least he's reading!)

But first, enjoy gazing at my belly the day before I went into labor and, more importantly, the beautiful baby I get to spend the next eighteen years embarrassing. I'll tell you all about the amazing photographer who shot those two pictures in the next day or two (or certainly before a few months pass by!)

So, what have you kids been up to over the past few months? Anything as exciting as having a perfect baby? (Ten fingers! Ten toes!)

Hobbit Feet and Hearburn

I know you all think that some tragic fate has taken me out of this world. Fortunately, you're wrong. I've just had a gazillion things to do and updating my beloved blog has been pushed to the end of the to-do list far, far, far too often.

I know a void opened in your world without me. I will try harder to remedy that!

Today I am going to post about something that consumes my world: pregnancy. This pregnancy has been blissfully easy and fun. I'm one of those freaks who really enjoys pregnancy. I've not really had any of the aches and pains associated with pregnancy yet (knock on wood) and as I enter my 34th week of pregnancy I can really only complain about two minor discomforts.

Yes, Hobbit feet and heartburn. Fortunately for me, I don't have the other dreaded "H" that is often associated with pregnancy. (Again, I'm fiercely knocking on wood.) If you've been pregnant, you know which "H" I'm referring to.

Tuesday was my last day going straight from work to my second job at the community college. Those Tuesdays were my 14 hour days, and as I got further and further into my pregnancy, they got harder and harder. Tuesday night I was wiped out, and when I propped my feet up on the coffee table at home I saw not the cute little feet I am used to, but Hobbit feet. (Minus the disgusting hair, obvs.)

(BTW, a Google images search of "Hobbit Feet" results in some really gross images. This one, from here was the least disgusting one I could find.)

Basically, since Tuesday my feet have been puffy, square appendages that are in desperate need of a pedicure. That's why the image above is not of my own feet. (Well, that and I don't want to become one of the gross images that comes up in Google images when people search "Hobbit Feet." What? People search for that. Trust me.)

Aside from staying hydrated, another "remedy" to Hobbit feet is to elevate them. I try to do that as frequently as possible. I'm currently teaching Hamlet and Macbeth  in the two different levels of 12th grade English I teach. Instead of standing, I have been sitting in front of the class and propping my feet up in another chair to keep the swelling to a minimum. I find that said posture also keeps my professionalism to a maximum... Or not. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm hoping that at some point in the next six weeks the swelling goes down and I can have ankles and cute feet again.

My other ailment is good old-fashioned heartburn. Prior to this pregnancy I'd never experienced heartburn. Now, it is a daily occurrence. It doesn't matter what I eat, it's going to light my esophagus on fire and slowly burn until I pop my new favorite product, Tums.

The Assorted Berries are pretty dang good. Once upon a time, the 96 tablet size above would have lasted me years. Now I'm lucky if I can make them last a month.

But, like I said, I am so very lucky and thankful that aside from these minor discomforts, this pregnancy has been an absolute pleasure.

At this point our little guy is big, healthy and head down. I like to say he's locked and loaded and ready to greet the world. (But hopefully not until I finish the school year...)

Over the next few days I'll (hopefully) have posts about my AMAZING baby shower, some great reads, some products (other than Tums) that I have loved over the past 33.5 weeks, the nursery, my trip to CA, etc.



Until then, have you guys made it though experiences that should have been majorly taxing with only minor complaints? More importantly, have you missed me?

Babymoon

My friends, it has been nearly a month since I last posted. That is unforgivable. I am so very sorry. I really don't have any god excuses for the time that has passed except for the last four days.

Beau and I took a wonderful babymoon.

We were toying with the idea of going away while we still can, but nothing really came to fruition. As the days leading to the week we decided would be best crept up, I started to worry that we were just going to call it a wash and stay at home. Fortunately, beau is an expert last minute planner and found a wonderful resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and booked it lickety-spit.

So, on Tuesday morning when the temperatures here were in the high 30's, we hopped on a plane headed south. We arrived in balmy Punta Cana in the afternoon and were so, so, so excited to be getting away together.

We went to the all inclusive Paradisus Punta Cana and enjoyed our four nights away thoroughly. The one thing I forgot to do before leaving home was charge the camera, so I was a little stingy with the photos. I wish there were more, but you'll get the idea from these. (Two nights before departure we discussed how anti-photo we both are and how we need to step it up to chronicle this babymoon. Figures.)

Here's what we arrived to.

The lobby has these raised wooden pathways over koi ponds. It was all open and breezy. Over to the left was the check-in, and over to the right was the lobby bar and seating area. We were greeted by a very freindly staff member who upgraded our room to a beach-front building near the pool and dining area so that we (read: I, the pregnant woman) wouldn't have to walk far to get to all of the important areas. A waitress soon brought us two non-alcoholic, tropical beverages to welcome us. Clearly we had arrived in paradise. The name of the resort is no accident.

Our room was absolutely lovely. I, of course didn't take any pictures of it, but thanks to the resort website, I can share our garden view room with you.

The weather wasn't perfect while we were there. The first full day we were there was too windy to sit on the beach. (I tried and got sandblasted...) The second day we woke to rain, but by the time breakfast was done and we went for a short walk, the weather was perfect. (When I say we went for a walk I mean we walked to the gym where beau worked out and  I got kicked out because I didn't have a doctor's note allowing me to work out.  I then took a nice long a walk around the resort to get some exercise.) By then the weather was pool\beach worthy and that is where we spent a good amount of our time.

Isn't beau about the cutest thing you've ever seen?

 There are multiple pools on the resort, but this one is a meandering lagoon type pool that I enjoyed greatly. There are plenty of sunny spots to sunbathe, and when that gets to be too much, there are tons of shaded and covered areas to lounge and read.

I flaunted my preggo belly in a bikini. I thought I might be a little uncomfortable, but no one seemed to really be concerned about it. At least no one made audible gagging sounds or pointed and laughed.

Somehow, though, when I went to the pool bar and ordered my virgin margaritas, they always made me the real thing. I'd slide that one over to beau and he'd make a big deal about making me stand up to bear my belly, point to it and say "no tequila, she has a bambino." The bartenders would look shameful, smile and make me sugary sweet virgin beverages that probably had our little guy doing flips in my belly.

Like I said, we also spent some time at the beach. The water was this magnificent color that I can't quite describe. It was somewhere between aqua and teal, but further out it was this deep midnight blue. Absolutely stunning. The photo below doesn't do it justice, but the photo we took on the beach right before we left comes a little closer.



Paradisus Punta Cana is all inclusive. There were numerous restaurants and bars that we enjoyed, but the food wasn't quite what we had hoped for. I've never been a huge fan of the buffet, and that's what breakfast was every morning. When we figured out that some of the restaurants were menued for lunch and dinner, we went to those. Despite being a buffet snob, there was nothing wrong with the food, and the location and feel of the restaurants was wonderful.  

While we dressed a little better for dinner (above), lunches were casual enough that we could leave our chaise at the pool or beach, cover up, and dine. Beau enjoyed the Presidente beers that they would keep bringing when his was empty. My water was almost as refreshing!

I am so very glad that beau wanted to do this. It was a wonderful chance for us to get away and relax. There is no one else in the world I'd rather be sharing these experiences with. To anyone who is undecided about the merits of a babymoon, I say give it a try. It may be a thinly veiled excuse to blow money on a vacation, but it really was worthwhile for us. We got to hang out together, do nothing and forget about the stresses of life for a few days. There was also much reading involved. Two book recommendations are coming soon...

When's the last time you were totally relaxed? Planning a vacation soon?

Feeling the Love

Most of us can agree that babies = love. That seems like a given.

What I didn't realize was a given was the love that is extended to an expectant mom. Everyone under the sun wants to know if I'm feeling OK, if I need help with that, if I need anything done for me, etc. The affection and concern shown to me over the past few months has been incredible.

My friends, family, and co-workers have already been so overwhelmingly helpful and generous, and I know that there is still more to come. Beau, this little guy, and I are truly blessed.

It would be obnoxious to lay out and photograph all of the physical gifts that our little peanut has already been given, but here's a sampling of the clothes, goodies and toys that have arrived on our doorstep and in my classroom because people we love are that excited for us.

The love and support that has been extended to us has been amazing and heartwarming. I'm not typically an emotional person (even with my hormones going haywire...) but this has me absolutely weepy.

Not that I would ever have favorites among the gifts we have been given, but I had to show you all this one. If you know beau and I personally, you know the significance of this little onesie. It goes beyond being simply "punny." A big thank you goes to beau's family in Massachusetts who included this in the valentines care package. The whole box was such a wonderfully thoughtful surprise, but this made me giggle.

I can't wait to see our little guy in this and all of the other super adorable little outfits he's been given.

Beyond all of the cuteness and generosity, what does this first time mommy absolutely, positively NEED? (We're getting ready to begin our registry and shopping madness and frankly, my head is spinning!)



Movie Night

So, since I don't have cable and was feeling too lazy to leave the house this evening, I decided to watch a movie instead of watching the big game. I'm not good at watching movies. I tend to fall asleep. Twice I've fallen asleep to this particular movie.

I'm not very discerning about which movies I'll sleep through. I sleep through Academy Award winning films and Razzie award winning flicks. They're all the same to me when I'm tired.

Tonight, though I decided I'd really like to stay awake for this. In part because the first time I slept through this I was really bummed. I'd really wanted to see it. Also, every time the title comes up in conversation, beau insists that I've seen it. He forgets about my narcolepsy.

So, tonight, five months pregnant (and five months from my last glass of wine) I watched Bottle Shock.

It was very good. It also made me proud to be a California girl. A California girl who drinks California wines. (Um, but not exclusively. I actually will drink wine from anywhere. Did you know Virginia has some very good wineries?)

I must admit, Bottle Shock would have been better with a glass or two of wine, but I guess I'll just have to wait another five months for that pleasure.

Perhaps I'll have to watch it again when I can enjoy a glass.

(Images both from IMDB.)

My favorite quote from the film was this: "'Wine is sunlight, held together by water.' The poetic wisdom of the Italian physicist, philosopher, and stargazer, Galileo Galilei. It all begins with the soil, the vine, the grape. The smell of the vineyard - like inhaling birth. It awakens some ancestral, some primordial... anyway, some deeply imprinted, and probably subconscious place in my soul." - Steven Spurrier Bottle Shock

What's the last good movie you've seen? Anyone else out there get movie induced narcolepsy?