Back To Me

Well. I'm here.

Greetings from Offsite Workplace!  I survived the night away from my child, and I think it was strictly from pure exhaustion that I didn't fall into a crumpled heap on the floor.  I'm still exhausted as we were working until about 1:00 in the morning, and I know that will be the case again tonight.  So as a quick tip:  when leaving  your baby for the first time, burn yourself out.  It will be a much easier pill to swallow.

Absence

I have to go out of town this week for business and leave my child for two whole days.  I have never done this.  I have only been away from him for twelve hours or less, not 48.  I might feel a little better about this whole situation if it weren't forced upon me.  Like, if I were going away with my girlfriends for some me time.  Or if Bryan and I were to steal a weekend away at a bed and breakfast up North.  Not because of work.

I'm trying to look on the bright side:  hotel room with cable and Wi-fi!  Expensed meals! An uninterrupted full night's sleep!  But man, my heart just doesn't feel ready for this.

When I start to freak out a bit (who, me?) I think of when I went back to work.  I felt like I got punched in the stomach, and I sobbed and sobbed.  But really, Theo and I are both doing fine, and I come home more rejuvenated  and ready to handle the evening.  I appreciate my son more, and I have more patience.  So maybe going away for a few days will be the refresher that I need.  Aaaaaand if not, then when I come home I will chain myself to his fat little wrist until he goes to college, in which case I will then be his room mate.

Things you will have to pry from my cold, dead fingers

There are a handful of things baby related that make our lives so much easier and wouldn't you know it, I'm going to talk about them!  Shocking.

Thing The First: the el cheapo box fan. This brings the gift of WHITE NOISE, and white noise brings the gift of a sleeping baby.  This is especially crucial since we live in an apartment so his room is off the living room and kitchen.  I personally like this better than a white noise machine because it also A FAN.  Two purposes!  When called into action it can go anywhere in the house if we're too toasty.  I just point it at the wall in Theo's room if I don't want it any cooler in there.  Works like a charm.

Thing The Second:  The almighty activity gym.  Theo has been going ape over this thing since he was two months old.  He can obviously interact with it a lot more now that he's older, but even from the get-go this has been a lifesaver.  He loves the mirror (I'll admit it--he gets that from me), the music isn't annoying, and all the dangly animals do different things so he's never really bored.  Bryan dubbed it "The Office" since Theo gets so fired up when he's playing in it; screaming and screeching and batting wildly.  We're always so sure somebody is going to get fired, and I've got my money on the purple elephant.

Thing The Third:  Theo's snuggly blanket.  I can't even tell you just how soft this thing is.  Picture a baby bunny fresh out of the dryer.  Or, a cloud covered in kittens.  I'm sure you get the picture.  Anyway, this is Theo's lovey and we're TOTALLY getting a second one as a back up.  It comes in pink and natural so all your gender color palates are covered.  We've gotten tons of compliments, it washes and wears well and keeps the kid happy and warm.  Two thumbs up.

Thing The Fourth:  The bottle warmer.  Oh I can't even tell you how much this thing has helped my poor hungry child.  At first we just warmed water in a glass and put the bottle in.  It took approximately 6058794 years to warm it and my starving child had a MAJOR problem with that, thus the bottle warmer was employed.  I sing to it, kiss it good night, and wash it with loving care.  You should too.

I'm sure there are a million more things out there that I will think of later, but for now, those are my Top Four.  What can't you guys live without when it comes to maintaining sanity and a happy baby?

If I Had A Hammer

I don't know how clear it has been what I exactly do for a living, and really, sometimes I don't even know.  I am in outside sales for a corporate furniture company, targeting mainly apartment communities and corporate housing.  I solicit business, put together a furniture package, and try to close the deal.  Once the deal closes I project manage the entire process from purchase orders, delivery dates, to invoicing.  With every install comes my supervision, and with every install something invariably goes wrong.

Take Tuesday for example.

Installing a unit in the city, blah blah blah.  Same thing as always as this is a repeat client, so we're all going through the motions to get in and get out.  With this particular job, it is also my responsibility to hang the art work.  Normally I never have to do this for any of my other clients but it's part of the contract so I do.  (Oh, and did you know that I have the inane ability to find the only portion of concrete wall IN THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING when hammering in a nail?  I do!  I think it's my super power.)

My delivery crew had left already so I was alone in the unit with two mirrors left.  No problem.  One of them was over a dresser.  Again, nothing new.  So, per usual, I climbed up on the dresser to make my measurements and hammer in the nails.  Except this. one. time. upon trying to get down I fell backwards and landed on the platform portion of the bed with my tail bone and my back extended across the mattress.

FYI:  not as fun as it sounds.

When I finally pulled myself together (again, all alone!) I gimped to the elevator, rode it down 47 stories, trudged two blocks to the parking garage, and drove 50 miles in rush hour traffic to get home.  And I may or may not have been crying.

Workplace obviously insisted I get medical attention and nothing is broken.  I did score doctor mandated time off of work and hefty doses of ibuprofen.  Whee!

So this is all to say that if you ever come over to our apartment and don't see much art hung on the walls, you'll know why.

Employee of the Month

At Osco Pharmacy filling a prescription:

Enthusiastic Employee:  "And if you fill your next five prescriptions here you'll get a coupon for 10% your grocery order!"

Me:  "How long do I have to do that?"

EE:  "Until November 1st!  Then you'll have until November 15th to use the 10%!"

Me:  "Oh, well, I only get my thyroid meds once a month so I guess I won't meet the quota in time."

EE:  "Maybe you'll get sick and need antibiotics!"

Me:  . . . . . .

Me and The Boy edition

First time in the big boy pool!

How we like to pass the time:  I am a human teething ring.

When he leans like that, my back breaks a little more each time.  And also?  Check out that color coordination with the blankie and his outfit!  Oh SNAP!
 

Half way there

Happy 6 month birthday, little chicken.  I can't believe you're such a big boy already.  As of today, you can: roll over back to tummy, do a mini push-up, respond to your name, hold your own bottle if it's not too full,  stand for long periods of time with assistance, suck your thumb, eat your toes, sleep for a 9-10 stretch before waking up at night, reach for a toy and bring it to your mouth, touch our faces, belly laugh, and chatter up a storm.

I know parents all over the world say this about their own children and it's true:  you're growing up way too fast.  I'm so excited to watch you get older and learn more things, but when I see a newborn baby and remember holding you in the crook of my arm, my heart breaks a little.  Were you really that tiny?  Were you really that helpless?  I want to savor every second with you all the while being eager to hear you talk and see you thunder around the apartment in your footie pajamas.  You're our perfect little man, and getting to know you for the past six months has been a blessing.  I love you bunches.

Mama