F is for Fall and Festivals Too

Learning bit by bit how to be a working mommy. You two are amazing. I went away this past weekend for my annual beach shopping trip and I came back to a preschooler who can dress/ undress themselves and put herself to bed. And to Lucy who no longer nurses (did I just type that?!?!?! on a side note, she finally fully weaned on 10-10-12, two years after she was conceived and 12 years after your father and I met). She is walking and talking and dancing and playing and is just a budding independent little soul who seems to have gone from baby to toddler overnight. 

Nora you have exploded with attitude and ideas and imaginative play. You strap on your backpack and you are off into your Dora-like adventure around the house and outside into the yard. You and Lucy play together and she can sort of follow your very elaborate scenarios. You have been enrolled in mini-gymnastics where you are an all-star but will scream if I leave the studio. You are quite body-aware and because of it, you can mimic the teacher and the moves almost exactly. Most of the other parents are quite impressed with your advanced skills for a 3 year old since you are better than the other kids including some 6 year olds. But you are so sensitive and when you get overwhelmed you become emotional. I understand. And you're 3. You're supposed to be emotional and irrational at 3. And you also take 'pee wee princess' ballet with Ashley every Sunday. Hopefully, I will have some pictures next week as it is your class "performance" and parents are allowed to watch and record. Each week you learn ballet through the method of storytelling. Dancing and using your body to tell a story about various Disney princesses. For the most part, you and Ashley have loved this class and love seeing each other and you love even more having lunch after, just us girls. 

Lucy has personality coming out her ears which I am most certain she is picking up from you. She is obsessed with shoes, baby dolls, belly buttons (show me your button!), and food. Lots of food. However, even with her obsession with eating all.the.time. she is quite petite for her age and is growing slower than the pediatrician would like. I don't think we can put more food into her. She is just an efficient little machine. Lucy is also slightly bow legged (according to our pediatrician) and it requires special support shoes which tie. Ugh, that's an extra 2 minutes every morning that I don't have and add in coats since it's gotten chilly and now we are waking up 15 minutes earlier just to compensate for all the extra wears.

So here in 20 pictures have been our Fall adventures so far. 

Rained on our parade. But we still had fun!

Fall Fest rides!

And Nora chooses.... MARY! to ride the bumper cars with her.

Cotton Candy high.

Enchanted pumpkin farm. Sitting in a whale's mouth.

Humpty Dumpty. You are protectively holding onto Lucy and Teddy.
Humpty doesn't look too happy, I would be protective too.

Walking with Nonna

Pony ride, you went three times
because Lucy and Teddy were too scared to take their  turns!

Pony petting.

Let's touch a chicken!

Hay ride to the patch.

I adore this picture.

Pumpkins for everyone!

Nothing says "Happy Birthday Aunt Molly" more than a bunt cake.

One of Lucy's  favorite snacks.
An apple. Not cut, not peeled. Just give her the apple. Now. 

Bouncing ball fun until someone launches into the side
of the chair and bruises their face. 

future computer engineer. Or junk collector.

Breakfast with Marta.

Lucy with the "bruha" hat.  

M-i-c-k-e-y M--o-u-s-e
and new special shoes.

I can't promise when I'll update again. But I will update when I get the chance.

Where We Are

It's hard. Being away from you two for 10 hours a day. I try to treasure our weekends and nights together. But we are all tired and very cranky during the week day evenings. On Saturday night after a birthday party and visit from grandma and grandpa and a very fun block party, I was asleep for the night by 8:30pm. You and Daddy stayed up past 9pm.  At least Lucy fell asleep before me!

Four of Lucy's molars are erupting through her inflamed gums and we all hurt. But especially Lucy who lives on eating popsicles. 

We had awesome weather and awesome friends/family at our annual MD Wine Festival. 12 consecutive years for your father and I. It was your 5th year, if you count your year in the womb. It was Mary's first wine festival. Of course Ashley and Skyler PRICE Were there to celebrate with you. This week, Skyler's adoption was finalized and he is officially Jessica and Jerry's son and Ashley's little brother. How cool!!! 

Our garden is over run with tomatoes. We didn't get many squash, a few eggplants and cucumbers and a ton of green peppers. But oh the tomatoes! Lucy will pick and eat them right off the vine. Once upon a time I knew a little beagle who did this too. 

I broke down and bought an iPad. So far I am not using it much for work, but more for play. Hopefully soon I will focus on learning how to utilize it in my classroom. Which I love my classes. I forgot how much I miss teaching and students. I think my most favorite class is my upper level tech course with two juniors. They are alot of fun and it's only the three of us! 

I wish I could be more eloquent and explain how I now stop and smell your hair and play with your little toes and breath in your soul. How I savor your hand when you hold mine. How I enjoy your sleepy breath on the back of my neck when we share a bed. How I just watch and soak up all of you. I marvel at your knowledge and giggle at your silliness. Going back to work full time has made me appreciate the wonder of you even more than I did before. It boggles my mind. 

There's so much more... but this is all I have for tonight. I am slowly figuring out our schedule. Stay tuned. 

This is what I look forward to all week!

Going, Going, Gone

Another birthday, another year. Except, this year my new school which is this insane utopian  micro-community were so incredibly generous. A cake was made, a gift, good wishes, taken out to lunch. I worked 5 years in one school and not so much as a happy birthday was thrown my way. I've been at this school all of 5 minutes and I have been embraced and welcomed like I've been there for 20 years. It's a surreal place to work. The culture they breed is contagious and it gives me hope for the future.

Then home and a steak dinner and cupcake from J-Cafe for dessert with the Wagmans. And then a phone call from Nonna to wish me a happy birthday and to tell me her mother, my grandmother died that morning. She was old and sick and had been under hospice care for almost 3 months. But still. My grandmother died on my 31st birthday.

Daddy had prepped you in the bath the night before my birthday to wish me a happy birthday the next morning. I had little faith you would remember through the night. When I woke you up at 6:30am, right away you stretched your arms and little body into a long arch and exclaimed: "It's your birthday momma. Happy Birthday!"

Why would I have doubted you? I shouldn't be surprised anymore. When walking down the stairs, you asked me how old I was. When I thought about it, I said: "I'm 3 like you and 1 like Lucy!" I don't think my age will ever match you and Lu again.

Each moment, everyday is like a birthday candle...

Going,

Going,



Gone.

I love you girls.

Surviving

Going back to work has been a whirlwind of activity. Early mornings and late afternoons. Dinners and playing in the yard. You and Lu are doing well being full time in daycare. You both seem to gravitate toward the routine. Lucy is so busy and blossoming everyday. 

Nonna came to help with the consignment sale this past weekend, I was a co-chair. The sale was insane and crazy busy and oh! our aching feet. Daddy worked his butt off and so did Nonna. It was long days and stressful situations. You and Lucy were running around for most of the sale being passed from person to person, whoever was on break. Thank the Lord this weekend is consignment sale free and we can rest. Do a little birthday celebrating and just be together as a family.

So far, mornings are hectic but I love the job. I love the commute. I love the faculty. I'm glad I took the plunge and jumped back into working. But still, during the school day I go and I watch the pre-k class and think longingly of you and your sister. Of lost storytimes and picnics in the park. Afternoon naps and snuggles on the couch. I sure miss all of it.

God, I hope this is the right decision for us. There is nothing more important in my life than you and Daddy and Lucy Lu and that all three of you are happy and healthy. Nora, you like to say grace at dinner time. Tonight you said: "Dear Lord, thank you for salad and thank you for dressing. Thank you for spaghetti and bread and for Daddy and Mommy and Lucy. And thank you for cheese balls."  Since your father and I are working full time, we have become somewhat lax on the snack situation.... but after a long stressful day, I am thankful for the cheese balls too.

Sweet sisters. And among the invasion of black-eyed susans, Brandy's rose still blooms over Lucy's shoulder.

Lucy's first time enjoying a moon bounce while walking. At the twin's 2nd birthday.

Maybe they are related?

Lucy's first day at Ms. Patti. I love both expressions.

Playing after daycare and work. Poor Stan misses you girls too.

My goal is to post one more time before September starts. I know there are only 2 days left. Afterall those are the days to celebrate Nonna and me, entering this world 30 years a part.

Unexpected Turn

After my last post back in July, I commented how this blog would be more of a priority in my life. I should have known that it would cause an unexpected turn of events. I saw a job posting for a Director of Educational Technology position at a local private school (less than 8 miles away). The job description fit my skill set perfectly. This job was made for me and in a school I always admired. The position is almost exactly what I was previously doing in my old school system. Three weeks ago, going back to work wasn't even in realm of possibility. Let alone full time work. But then I made the very savvy move to ask Uncle Kevin (the marketing shark) and Aunt Katie (the interviewing diva) to help me get my resume and cover letter together.

I sent in my application (resume and cover letter which Uncle Kevin revamped) on a Monday morning at 9am. By 2pm the same day, the school called me for an interview. 48 hours later I was interviewed and hired on the spot. I signed the contract this past Monday and my first day working as the Director of Educational Technology was today. 

I am exhausted and my head is spinning. I am still chairing the consignment sale. I am still a full time mom to you and Lucy Lu (duh, like that would ever change). Except now I also work full time too. You and your sister start daycare at Ms. Patti's full time on Monday 7am-5pm. This is not the life plan I thought our little family would follow. I thought I would have more time being a stay-at-home mom raising the two of you. But the opportunity fell into my lap and I couldn't turn my back on it. And a year from now, you Nora could possibly come to work with me and be able to attend one awesome school that we would not be able to afford without my employee discount. So we have changed the plan, we have made some sacrifices so that your future (and Lucy's too) are filled with choices and opportunities to develop your childhood and academic career in a unique setting that previously only our dreams would allow.

Now, I pray I won't drown. But coming home to you two will always be the highlight of my day. The smiles, the giggles, the chocolate goatees, the silliness, the lost lollipops stuck on Lucy's back will keep me afloat.