T-minus one day and counting
Swim Diapers? Check
Sunblock? Check
Bathing Suit? Check
Towel? Check
Check for $40.? Check
Swim lessons start tomorrow! Yikes. I'm nervous.
All this for fifteen minute increments of swim time, three days a week. When I was a kid, my parents gave me floaties and jumped in the pool with me. That was all it took. Sheesh.
Juicy Juice mishap
Today, jack wandered off to the dining area of our house, where his baby items bag sat on the floor. He started playing quietly and I breathed a sigh of relief and watch "What Not to Wear" on TLC for five minutes. Then I realized he was really, really quiet.
I looked over and saw that he'd found his juice box and proceeded to wave it around like a flag, or something, because there were little puddles of juice all over the carpet around him and himself.
Darn.
On the top of the grocery list for this weekend: More Resolve carpet cleaner.
Firstborn Survey
My friend Kelly had someone pass her this survey and I saw it on her blog. I just had to do it, too. I'm yet to meet any mother or father who don't like to tell their birth of their child(ren) stories, it's just fun and validating (like, hell, yeah, I really did all that). Anyway, feel free to disregard if you already know all this stuff... I just couldn't help myself.
My First Baby... Here you go mommies - a different kind of survey for a change - it's all about your first born!
1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? No... we were... surprised.
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? No.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Complete and utter shock and worry.
4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Some may say it's an option for any woman... but, no, no, that was not a road I was interested in going down. I think it's a weird question anyway... who's going to say yes?
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 27
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I took two pee pee tests... they were both very positive.
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Well, I guess I told Keith first... but then the first person we told together was Sunny, Keith's sister. The first person I told myself was my mom.
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes... we'd already had enough surprises.
9. DUE DATE: September 27, 2005
10. DID YOU DELIVER EARLY OR LATE? Twelve days early, on September 15.
11. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes, for about two months... only once was I actually sick. The rest of the time I felt that I would be sick at any minute. Like Kelly, I too, had saltines by the bed at all times.
12. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Sleep! Also, we went out to dinner a lot, knowing that we wouldn't be once the baby was born and we kept ending up a Ruby Tuesday's where I would order a burger... I don't know if I really craved it or it was just chance. Ruby Tuesday's was about thirty seconds from our house at the time.
13. WHO IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? I would say that my coworkers made me crazy although they were wonderfully supportive.
14. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? BOY!
15. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? In the very beginning, I was hoping for a girl... then we found out he was a he, and I just kind of forgot about that... another weird question, I think.
16. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Twenty- nine.
17. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? We had four! And we were truly lavished with gifts. That was awesome.
18. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? We knew about all four showers... like I said, we'd had enough surprises already.
19. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? No, it was a dream pregnancy.
20.WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children in downtown O-town.
21. HOW MAY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? Eleven and a half
22.WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Keith, of course!
23.WHO WATCHED? Keith, my mom, Dr. Crofoot, and Shirl, the most hated nurse ever.
24.WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? It wasn't no c-section, that's for sure.
25.DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Hell, yeah. Epidural!!
26.HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7 lbs., 5 oz.
27.DID YOUR CHILD HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS? Nope!
28.WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Jack Isaak
29. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 20 months
Of course, there's more to the story, the water breaking in the middle of night, Keith eating a bad tomato and having a stomach ache, my parent's driving up from Ft. Lauderdale at four o' clock in the morning to be there in time, and pushing that baby out in twenty minutes when they finally told me to... but this all is probably enough for now....
Love you, Keith and Jack!
Oui!
Some very exciting news... Keith and I have begun to seriously talk about our trip to Europe. When we first started dating, Europe was a place we were planning to visit together quickly... it got postponed when we became three, but now that Jack is all grown up (hee hee) it has become a topic of conversation yet again!!
We are talking about going in late April/ early May of 2008. Jack will be two and a half. That was my first thought... how old will Jack be if we go then? Is he old enough to hack it with Grammy and Gramps for over a week?
We've decided for him: Yes.
Destinations: Paris and Italy (where in Italy, I don't know for sure).
Rendevousing with: Aunt Jane and Uncle Rich (hopefully) who are going to be in Italy and Spain (maybe) at the same time.
We have found a flight to Paris that is remarkably cheap. It's so far in advance that we can't buy the tickets yet... but rest assured, when we can... we will.
Extreme disappointment
Not in Jack, he's fine.
A few weeks ago, K., J. and I went to a nearby park and played in the lake. I foolishly left my watch on and even though it says water resistant, it got all foggy. I left it alone for a few days and it cleared up... and then stopped working. I thought, Dead Battery, although, deep down, I feared worse because this watch is only three years old.
Today, I took it to a jeweler who pronounced my watch Dead On Arrival. Apparently, it got water damage and has no chance of being fixed.
I almost cried.
Now, I'm not a snob or a "labels" person, but this is an extremely nice watch... a Movado. And I LOVED it. I just think it's so beautiful. I hardly even wear jewelry and this was my favorite watch I've ever had and I wore it every day.
It was a gift from my ex husband, and we've been split up for years, and that might be considered as weird or awkward by some and I STILL wore it every day.
The jeweler suggested I consider sending it back... Hmmm, I'd love to, but when it's a gift from your ex husband, how do you go about tracking down the warranty and receipt? I can't find it and I have no idea if he has it. I REALLY don't want to call or email and ask.
But, it's my favorite watch and that's my only hope of getting a new one. Sigh.
In other news, we are fine. Jack's been a bit testy this week. Is he getting sick? We've been keeping him busy with lots of activities, so I don't know... he's eating and sleeping and playing, so I'm not going to worry... yet.
Summer is upon us!
Grammy came with Jack and I to music class this morning. A very fun time was had by all. Jack is doing great and is much more comfortable than in past months. He is currently napping, but the busy day will continue later when we drive out to Orlando for a retirement party for one of me and Keith's coworkers.
Tonight is my last night at our tutoring business!! School is almost out and we are getting ready to close our doors for the summer. I will miss the kids but am ready for a break. I am excited about having the three of us together in the evenings for awhile.
Ahhh, summer...
Mother's Day Heaven
First of all, I would like to mention that Mother's Day (as if we don't all know this, but I feel the need to say it all the same), much like Father's Day, can be a very emotional holiday for people. For those of us that are wanting to become moms, but aren't there yet or for those of us who have lost their moms, Mother's Day is tough. For those of you that are having a rough kind of Mother's Day, I'm thinking of you today and hoping for a good day for you.
I'm lucky, lucky, lucky. I have a great Mom... she's strong, smart, funny, and loving. I also have a wonderful Mother in law... she's all the same things as my mom. They are so different, but both so wonderful. I also have Aunt Jane, who's been kind of Mommish to me... so I'm really really lucky. I love all of my moms.
I also had a terrific Mother's Day weekend. Keith, Jack, and I went to Miami to visit Keith's family and we had an amazing time. We had so much fun and Jack was GREAT. He was wonderful in the car, he ate well, slept well, and was extremely well behaved. We had a wonderul weekend.
I also got messages and cards from my Mom, Valerie, Stef, Joe, and an old friend Melissa, so that was awesome.
And guess what else? The old Saturn got an incredible upgrade. Keith and his dad were in cahoots and while we were gone, Richard took my car and got a cd player put in!!!! I was totally surprised and am very excited. Not only is there a new cd player, but Keith had them put in new speakers, and stereo... years ago, the radio broke in my car, so since 2004, I've been driving around with only enough reception to get two radio stations... the rest of the time it's just static. NOT ANYMORE!
In addition to that major gift, I also got the new Beatles cd and a travel journal to write about our family adventures. It was such an awesome weekend. I love my family so much.
Thanks Keith and Jack... love you guys. And thanks Val, Richard, Mom, Joe, Stef, Jane, etc... Love you all, too.
Been a good day
Today, we went to toddler music class. Normally, this seems to cause anxiety in Jack, who like his mom and dad, so far, appears to be an introvert. Today... little Jack got comfortable.
He played with the toys, didn't hide from the kids, didn't lean up against the wall and watch the kids play... he actually got in there and truly participated. Now, mind you, instead of banging the sticks to the beat, he chose to march by himself, and when we all danced in a circle, he ran around the circle in the opposite direction, laughing at us, but he truly seemed to enjoy himself.
We also made it all the way through until the end of the class. Usually Jack gets through about halfway and walks to the door and says, "Bye, kids", and cries until I take him out. Today, there was only one brief episode of "Bye, kids" before he got distracted with a book that the woman was reading.
Yes!!
I think the two group teachers were as proud as I was.
Then, we went home and had some lunch. Jack ate peas. YES!
Then, I put him down for a nap. He did not scream. Did you get that? HE DID NOT SCREAM.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where to get the best shoes.
A few weeks ago, Jack, Keith, and I went to a playground in the downtown Orlando area, the playground at Lake Eola, to be exact. At some point, Keith overheard two moms talking about where to find the best shoes... it was decided that this was at Nordstrom's. Well, Keith told me the story and I rolled my eyes because 1. Lake Eola is known for having some well to do and snooty moms, dads, and kids running around it's playground and 2. because I have been wearing the same Target flip flops for four years now.
Mostly I rolled my eyes because I just really cannot stand snobs... and maybe I'm a little jealous of not being able to afford very nice shoes. OK?
Well, for the past few weeks, Jack and I have been going to Florida Mall on Friday mornings. Today was no exception. There we were, trucking through Nordstrom's to use the changing table (hello, I wear Target flip flops... it wasn't like we were shopping) and we passed the shoe section.
Those moms were right. Nordstrom's has the best shoes.
Damn.
Sick AGAIN!!!!
Well, jack and I both have colds again... sort of. This seems to be a very mild combo of a sore throat and runny nose (on my end). We don't know if Jack has/ had a sore throat but he definitely has a runny nose.
We are still sort of without a pediatrician, so I'm hoping this clears up on it's own. Keith did find us someone that sounds great, but we haven't met him yet or anything.
May is finally here and for people like my husband and I, this is great news. Our work lives revolve around the school calendar and we're so close to our work loads lightening up, we can almost taste it. I am very much looking forward to summer, if for nothing else, the chance for Keith and I to become a little more rested and relaxed for a few weeks.
No real summer vacation plans for us. We are hoping to visit my family in North Carolina at some point and Keith and I are supposed to go to Animal Kingdom for our anniversary (which was in March) and Universal with Stef and Jay. Jack would not be joining us at Animal Kingdom or Universal but will definitely be going to North Carolina.
Gotta go... I'm being summoned! Mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyy!
