Letters For Lucas

Wonders, Mishaps, Blunders and Joy.. commentary on my life as a mom in the form of letters to my son

My Favorite Day Of The Week #3

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Ah, Friday, my favorite day of the week and my favorite activity… flipping stuff off!

And so, without further adieu:

#1 Why is it that in the dead of the night when all is quiet and I should be resting my weary eyes and body, my mind is racing and I can’t relax, let alone sleep? It’s completely stupid! Flip off brain, know when to say when!!

#2 LAUNDRY get s a big ole “F*** You!” Why is it so incessant? Enough said.

#3 I have special Flip Off to my tiny bladder… seriously, you are driving me crazy! I don’t have the time to spend in the bathroom that you require. What gives? Are you shrinking with age or something, because I used to pride myself in being able to hold it for a lot longer than I can nowadays. Of course, I did have a serious bout of bladder infections there for a while, but that’s besides the point, so Flip Off!

#4 I am so NOT a cat person and there are four (I think) that live in our neighborhood and they enjoy using our patio furniture to lounge on and that would be fine (not really), but they leave tons of fur behind and as someone that is allergic to felines, all I can say is Flip Off, go find another comfy $500 couch to destroy.

#5 I’d like to Flip Off people that think their cars are so much bigger than they are and either take up more than one parking space and/or take forever to get out of one. If you can’t handle the gas guzzling SUV you’re driving, get a Prius!

I always feel a lot better after these weekly purges, thanks Gigi at Kludgy Mom.

Happy Fourth of July weekend, everyone!

The best is yet to be.

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Miles Of Smiles

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Sometimes it’s the simplest (and silliest) things make me the happiest. A pretty color of nail polish on my toes, an extended lunch with a good friend, receiving flowers for no reason at all, or a beautiful blue sky without a cloud in sight.

In no particular order, here’s a list of ten other things that always make me smile:

1. Half a dozen times a year, when I’m having a REALLY bad day, I’ll get a McDonald’s Happy Meal and I don’t know if it actually works or not, but I sure do feel better after having one.

2. I discontinued many of my magazine subscriptions once I became a mother, but I held on to In Style and each and every month it arrives in my mailbox, I can’t wait to find the time to devour it.

3. I love playing Scrabble on my iPhone and at any given time have 6-10 games going with various friends, but I also play against the computer and whenever I win, I get a huge sense of satisfaction!

4. I adore reading and wish I had more time for it. I love getting lost in a good book and hate finishing one, but thoroughly enjoy crossing another title off my list. The bookstore is one of my favorite places to pass the time and my book club is an absolute joy to be a part of. I’d rather read than watch TV any day.

5. I love living so close to the ocean and I try to take advantage of it as much as I can. I love taking long walks along the beach most of all and looking out as far as I can see. Nothing can put life more into perspective than when you think about just how small we really are.

6. Music alone can put me in a completely different state of mind and I love it for that. It can make me want to get up and dance, sing my heart out and twirl like a top or sit quietly, relax and remember.

7. Witnessing random acts of kindness make me elated! I enjoy seeing people looking out for one another; holding doors open, smiling when they pass you, or helping carry heavy loads. It restores my faith that humans are good and kind.

8. My husband. He is good, honest, caring supportive, level headed, a terrific father and puts up with all of my shit.

9. The euphoria you experience when done exercising. Physical activity is something I’ve done my whole life and I can’t imagine feeling healthy or happy without it. Don’t get me wrong, I am not jumping for joy to go to the gym, however, I am smiling REALLY BIG when I leave the gym sweaty, tired, triumphant and planning my next meal.

10. My son… I love watching everything he does, but his smile and laughter make me the happiest. Hearing him jabber away in his crib in the morning is a very close second.

The best is yet to be.

I wrote this post for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – Prompt #3: Write a list of 10 things that are sure to put a smile on your face when you are not happy.

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You Know You’re A Mom When-sDaze

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You know you’re a mom when:

  • You wander the aisles of Target in order to kill an hour or so and hopefully get a couple of things marked off your grocery list in the process, not to mention, blow $100 on stuff you didn’t know you needed.
  • You would PAY for extra time, sleep and privacy.
  • Your favorite author’s latest book is sitting on your nightstand… collecting dust.
  • You wonder how on earth you are going to get through the day when every last nerve is already fried and it’s not even 8 AM yet.
  • Family and friends give you anti-stress gifts in the form of neck pillows, relaxing foot creams and gift certificates to spas from here on out.
  • You consider getting a fresh diaper, new change of clothes and socks and shoes on your tot a mini workout.
  • Your son’s smile lights up a room.

Thanks, Arizona Mama for creating this meme. Visit her blog, Our Daze in the Desert.

The best is yet to be.

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Desperately Seeking Mary Poppins

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I am so frustrated with our nanny search that I am ready to pull my hair out!! See photo demonstration at right.

If you haven’t been following along… Up until last week, we had a wonderful young woman named Angel help care for Lucas two days a week for 5 hours each day and less than a month ago, she gave us her notice. (Saddest. Day. Ever.) She and her husband decided to move to Idaho so that he could go back to school. We were/are genuinely happy for her, supportive of her decision and had hoped that she would find us a replacement. She had previously placed nannies as part of her career and we had every confidence in her abilities.

Angel brought us ONE candidate that seemed like the perfect match, but in the end decided to devote more time to the family she is currently with, a widower and his two daughters. We can’t really blame her for that… they need her more than we do.

It was an interesting interview though. It turns out that she recently discovered that she can’t have children and broke down in tears while we were talking. My heart goes out to anyone that is unable to have children of their own and something inside me knew that she would be perfect with Lucas. This outward display of emotion and honest disclosure was refreshing.

Alas, it wasn’t meant to be…

It was shortly there after that Angel decided “it would be best if I hand over nanny search responsibilities to you. I still have a lot of packing to do and want to make sure that I get it done on time.” Um, are you kidding me? With only days until you are leaving, you drop this all on us? Great! Angel, I know you read this and I’m sorry, but that was super crummy and very disappointing.

Okay, never one to back away from a challenge, I immediately signed up for Sittercity.com on the recommendation of several friends and instantly had an In Box full of applications. Girls that clearly can’t read or comprehend the words LONG TERM AVAILABILITY IS A MUST. We don’t want to be in this situation again in three months.

I have had ten phone interviews in four days and two face-to-face interviews and still no one very promising. Here are some highlights for your amusement:

  • One girl is three months pregnant and wants to bring her baby to our home with her once she delivers.
  • One girl currently lives in Cleveland! We live in San Diego. She is moving out here, but not until next month.
  • Many girls are teachers and are waiting with baited breath for a teaching job offer. PLEASE READ THE AD!
  • Others are students and are looking for summer-only work. AGAIN, READ THE AD!
  • There has also been a plethora of applications that have been downright illegible, riddled with spelling errors and incoherent sentences. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET VERY FAR WITH ME WITHOUT GOOD GRAMMAR!!

Ugh! This is so much harder than I thought. It’s like trying to find a mate, but WAY worse!!

Maybe it’s a sign. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me to suck it up and be a 40 hour a week Stay At Home Mom. Who needs 10 hours of “me time” anyway?

I DO and I shutter at the thought of giving up those 600 minutes up each week. Nanny Gods, please, please, please, send someone fabulous our way!! Thank you.

The best is yet to be.

This post is for the word game, Word Up, Yo! hosted by Natalie (Mommy of a Monster), Kristin (Taming Insanity) and Liz (a belle, a bean and a chicago dog).

If you like words too, you should play along!
This week’s word is plethora.

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Birthday/Update

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I have been trying to write and post this ALL. DAY. LONG., so forgive me if it just turns into a hodgepodge…

I had a wonderful birthday weekend filled with some of my favorite things: pancakes, a big fat juicy cheeseburger, Berry Happy frozen yogurt, a champagne brunch with good friends, Lucas’ first swim lesson, some great laughs and quality time spent with my little family.
Oh, and a couple of SUPER frustrating phone interviews with (not so) potential nannies. More on that in another post!

I also saw not one, but TWO movies at the theater! What a treat. I LOVE going to see movies at the theater; the giant screen, the dark room and the incredible surround sound. It’s enveloping, albeit expensive. My husband and I saw Get Him to the Greek on Saturday night and I saw Knight and Day with my sister yesterday afternoon. Both are very entertaining, but definitely worth waiting for on DVD.

My husband, who has been working from home (or a nearby coffee shop) for the past
several months (89 days, but who’s counting?) is supposedly moving into his new office this week and I am giving him my old industrial desk for something prettier. Remember this from my post, A Place To Call Her Own?
Guess who reads my blog? What an awesome birthday gift!! It arrived today, in three enormous boxes, which will probably sit in our foyer for a week, but it’s here and it’s mine and I love it. Thanks, P. xoxo

Second best birthday gift? My sister got me tickets to see Lady Gaga in August at Staples Center and I can’t wait for that show!!

I am a lucky lucky girl!

I’m looking forward to what’s in store for me at 38. Whether it’s a growing family, move to a new city, another exciting trip across the Atlantic or even if things remain status quo, hopefully I will gain a greater sense of self and my place in the world as a wife, mother, sister and friend.

No matter what the future holds, I know that the best is yet to be.

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Flip Off!! #2

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It has been a L O N G week and I have really been looking forward to Friday Flip Offs:

In no particular order:

#1 Okay, adult acne, I’ve HAD IT!! I had clearer skin when I was 15 and ate junk. Gimme a break already! What is it gonna take? How much tea tree oil can one person use? And by the way, I have seen you pop up on several other Flip Off lists lately, so you might just want to watch your back.

#2 To the birds that have all of a sudden started showing up outside our bedroom window at 2:00 in the morning, let’s just say I’m looking into shot guns. WTF?!

#3 Speaking of being rudely awaken at night, will the case of the hungries, the growing pains, teeth trying to bust their way into my son’s mouth, tempting toys and perhaps even, the monster living under the crib, just FLIP the hell OFF?! Let the child sleep, for God’s sake! More importantly let his mommy (and daddy) sleep… a full 12 hours. Thank you!

#4 No Friday Flip Off list of mine could be complete without me bitching about traffic, but this week it’s my fellow motorists, okay, cyclists to be exact and point a (middle) finger. What the hell are you thinking?! You lycra-wearing snobs aren’t above the law and you don’t always have the “right of way”. Follow the same rules as I do in my car or you’re gonna hit. It’s the law, oh and while you’re at it, FLIP OFF!!

#5 With my (gulp) 38th birthday tomorrow, I would be remiss if I didn’t give the big ole bird to AGE and growing older. I firmly do believe as Honest Abe is quoted as saying In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years, but I would swear since I had a child, I have more gray hairs and more defined crows feet than ever before. Plus, there are new aches and pains cropping up here and there and my mind is not what it used to be. This can’t all be the baby’s fault, so I have drawn my own conclusion that getting old SUCKS!

Whew, I feel so much better and it’s all in part to Gigi at Kludgy Mom for creating this awesome meme.

Happy weekend, everyone!

The best is yet to be.

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Time Well Spent

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We don’t own a piano, but I have always dreamed of having one simply to display dozens of photos across. Instead, we have this beautiful side board that does a pretty nice job.
I couldn’t choose just one photo to write about, so I chose all 15. As I reminisced and went back in time, here is what I thought:

  • What a goofy grin on my face! I can’t believe my husband not only took that photo just moments after I had completed my first (and only) half marathon, he had it blown up and framed so that I would always remember that pain… and pride.
  • My perfect wedding.
  • My husband and his parents – they are my family now too:
  • I have the best friends a girl could ever hope for:
  • I’m sad whenever I remember that this is the last photo that I ever got to take with my parents:
  • My dear, sweet sister, whom I sometimes feel a million miles away from, but always hold very close to my heart. Here we are after our first grueling day on the 3-Day Walk:
  • The joy and hopefulness in my eyes as I rest my hand on the new life in my belly:
  • My perfect baby just four weeks old:
  • My oldest and dearest friend in the world and all of our children together at last:

And then I actually did become inspired enough to write a poem:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words…

What if a thousand pictures were worth just one?
I’d say much easier said than done.

One word that fully encapsulates smiles, fun, tears and laughter,
Hopes, dreams and the happily ever afters?

Would it be: Happiness? Joy? Blessings? Love?
Ah, love, that’s fitting. After all, isn’t it the only word to speak of?

Photographs take us back and remind us of travel and distant places,
Moments with family and friends in possession of warm and familiar faces.

Our snap shots are displayed like treasures,
Out of love, in memory and for pleasure.

We capture, frame, post and share with everyone our two dimensional grins
But mostly, our photos are for our own selfish whims.

Whether they are in color, black-and-white or over exposed,
The images are not always of what is being proposed.

Were we just smiling for the sake of the lens,
Or were we truly satisfied with our lives and friends?

A sense of mystery can lie in each and every one,
“Why was I wearing this or that?”, “Look at my hair!” and “I didn’t know what was about to be done”.

Protect your memories and your photographs as if they were gold,
Something that can never be traded, bought or sold.

And remember, L-O-V-E is what they represent
And just gazing at them is time well spent.

The best is yet to be.

I wrote this post for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop – Prompt #2: Write a poem about a picture.

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You Know You’re A Mom When-sDaze

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How many of these can you identify with?

You know you’re a mom when:

  • You have no clue if Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are still a hot Hollywood couple and frankly don’t care as much as you once did.
  • It takes you (on average) up to three nights to finish watching a movie because you keep falling asleep.
  • You think your child should be as excited as you are when he gets a piece of mail addressed to him. All I ever get anymore are Land of Nod catalogs, Gymboree coupons and bills!
  • You swear if you have to go to the grocery store one more time this week you may need to be committed.
  • You make sure your kid has three square meals a day, ample snacks and plenty of liquids, but you can’t remember the last time you drank a full glass of water.
  • Your child is slathered in sunscreen and wearing a hat, but you forgot all about your own sensitive skin.
  • When your child’s music or favorite television program is on, all is right in the world, but God forbid you try to catch up on the news or play a little Top 40!
  • It might take you all week to do one load of laundry because you keep forgetting that you started it and once wet laundry sits in the washer for over 24 hours, it needs another round.
  • Your child uses your boob (either one will do) has an arm rest.
  • You want better for your child than you ever had it and you had it pretty dang good.

Thanks to Arizona Mama for creating this meme. Visit her blog, Our Daze in the Desert to join the fun!

The best is yet to be.

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Patience

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My husband is a very patient person.

I, on the other hand, hate waiting in lines.

I hate red lights.

I am not good at dealing with my son’s temper tantrums.

I have several of my own temper tantrums each week.

I want things done N.O.W. and I have ZERO tolerance for people that dawdle or indecisiveness. I don’t like to “wait and see” or “talk about it again later”. I want to make a decision and move on.

They say patience is a virtue. Well, I don’t get it. Clearly, I don’t have very much of it and while I’d like to think I’m working on it, I don’t really know that I am.

What makes one person more patient than another?

How do you develop patience?

What is so virtuous about patience anyway?

Does being patient really make you a better person?

Ah, patience, you slay me!

Webster’s dictionary defines [being] patient as:
1. enduring pain, trouble, etc. without complaint
2. calmly tolerating insult, delay, confusion, etc.
3. showing calm endurance
4. diligent; persevering

Well, no wonder people (I) have such a difficult time with it. If being patient is equated with enduring pain without complaint and calmly tolerating insult, then you can keep it. It does me no good.

It sure makes patience sound like taking on a martyr “suffering in silence” role, doesn’t it? No, thank you!

But, if I think about patience in terms of showing calm endurance, being diligent and persevering, then MAYBE I can SORT OF see a different aspect of patience and one that for a mommy like me, should aspire to be.

Yesterday was one of those days that particularly tried my patience.

Thank goodness my husband is a very patient person.

The best is yet to be.

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Sumertime

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Get your buckets, pails, sunscreen, wide brim hats and bathing suits ready, it is time to hit the beach, summertime is here!

We spent Father’s Day at the beach yesterday and Lucas had no fear of the sand, ocean or waves, so something tells me that we are going to be spending a lot of time there this summer and I for one can’t wait!
Today I am guest posting over at Mommy of a Monster and I’m talking about one of my favorite things on the planet (next to my adorable son and summertime) and that is of course, wine, glorious wine! Check it out.

Happy first day of summer, everyone!

The best is yet to be.

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