When mommy's sick

Ain't no body happy.

(From two days ago,  caught Gavin and Chris' stomach bug).  Photos taken to use as my bat signal that Chris needed to come home from work.

Luckily for the three of us Chris did.

Enough already

We headed outside as the forecast said the snow was going to transition to sleet soon. I wanted to clear the driveway so Chris had somewhere to park in the morning.

I shoveled the whole driveway filled with 6 inches of snow.  They look cute, but those two clowns thought it was the greatest fun in the world to leap into the mounds of snow I cleared, sending it tumbling back on to the driveway. I sent them to shovel a very important section of grass to keep them busy.

Finally it was cleared. The neighbors came and played while the snow continued to fall heavily. When I walked them home 45 minutes later I couldn't see the driveway! Ugh! ! The picture with Chris' car in the backround was an hour later at 5pm. It's 8 pm now and a few more inches have fallen and still at it.

Sorry Chris, your turn in the morning. I tried!

I'd take being sick any day

Over my baby being sick! 

The cold turned out to be strep.  Who knew strep was accompanied by vomiting? Apparently that's par for the course along with his fever, chills, aches, and of course, very sore throat.

Three days out this week, two days out for pink eye a week ago. Remember what I said about how do parents keep their jobs?!

I had one very nauseous snuggly boy and another very active boy who wanted the couch cuddles to end and "TACKLE!" 

Sorry Gavin.  I promise we'll play football tomorrow.

I'd have lost my job by now

After about two weeks off of school where I'd likely have used all my leave, there's been 6 scheduled school days.

Out of those 6, there's been 1 snow day and 2 delayed openings (2 hours).

And when I picked up Ethan from school today, Hellllooooooooo pink eye. One doctor appointment later, one prescription eyedrop later, and one more day of missed school tomorrow for the books.

How do families of elementary school children do this when both parents work, and no family in the area?  REALLY, I want to know because I'll be returning to your ranks one day and this question keeps me up at night.

Grateful for the opportunity to be here to handle all of these unexpecteds but anxious about the future.

Washington Trip Wipe Out

This morning Gavin and I took a train ride to DC. Being downtown made him want to sleep, it made me want to get my suit and heels back out!

Took Chris 5 1/2 hours to get to work!

WashingtonPost During what's usually a 30 minute drive. Florida humidity doesn't look so bad today.

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Last Day!

Today is my last day working outside of the house full time!  In one week, we received 180 very qualified applicants for my one position!  Eeep!  I'm pretty confident they'll find a great staffer to replace me and while this huge change to full-time momma is a big one- I know it's one where I can't be replaced!

"Just 3 More (business) Days 'Till I See Mommy ALL the TIME!"

(how many more days until she stops thinking it's funny to spike my hair though?)

Highlights from Last Week Working in Our Capital (for now!)

We attended a legislative briefing in the Senate building on indigent representation issues.  A gentleman in the front row of the panel had recently been released from a Florida prison on a murder charge he hadn't committed (DNA tests exonerated him after decades in prison).

Outside the Senate office building. (no, I'm not wearing white pantyhose, thankyouvermuch ;)

Anti-death penalty rally held at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Here's a "birther" driving by.  It's hard to see, but the bumper stickers are different ways of saying, "Show me the birth certificate Obama!" lol.

Inside our Senator's office building.

Where I picked up some tickets to view the Congressional and Senate galleries- these are for your visit Grandma and Grandpa!

These events were a great way to spend my last week at my current position before entering the next phase of my career (SAHM!).

Turned in my resignation to accept a "promotion" of sorts!

I just gave notice to my boss to accept a new position... a stay at home mom!  

Instead of paychecks and sick days, I'm getting paid in hugs, kisses, and round-the-clock on-call responsibilities.  This is a major life change for me and my family, but one we are very excited about and Chris has worked many, many, many hours of hard overtime to achieve!

Not working opposite shifts anymore, 

these three people will get to see a lot more of each other finally!

(although with not as beautiful of a background anytime soon without any money for vacations ;)

My last day is July 7, one week before Ethan turns 1.  Now I just have to convince him to hold back those first steps until I'm home.  I'd die if I missed them my last couple weeks at work.  

They say having a child changes everything, and every day I'm learning more and more what that means.  And so far, it's only wonderful discoveries. 

Put a kid in overalls...

and he goes all Tallahasee on ya!  Or is it Pennsylvania?  Oh boy.  

And Ethan, if you think growing up with parents who met working as a Hall Director and a Campus Police Officer gives you a chance at underage drinking in your house?  Oh buddy!  

Get ready for some seriously un-cool teenage years, son.

It's a White Wednesday!

Pushing the stroller to the metro this morning for the great DC Baby Exchange (when I'm getting to work in DC, and Chris is leaving work in the city, and we pass off the little man over a little family breakfast) was quite an adventure!  Several inches of snow blanketed our neighborhood and no one else was crazy enough to be outside, nevermind to shovel their walk.  Do they sell strollers with mini-snow plows on the front?  This Floridian isn't used to this!

Our home looked beautiful on the outside, but it would have been nicer to have been toasty on its inside!

Here's a view of the park in our backyard after the overnight snow.  And there's more to come, so says the groundhog anyhow.

And the sweetest husband award goes to...

When I awoke to change Ethan's morning diaper... I found a surprise in his nursery.  Spot it?

Chris had surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses that he ("and Ethan helped") picked up for me.

Last week,  I had felt so left out.  Ethan had his big 6 month well check up with his pediatrician and being at work, I wasn't there to join him and his dad to find out how big he had grown or ask my thousands of questions on sleeping, nutrition, development, (and much more!).  I knew Chris had it more than covered, but I couldn't be part of the process and had to wait for a summary.  (It was a pretty great summary, including the doctor calling him the "Picture of health"!)

My heart melted when I saw this unexpected surprise and I thought the sentiment behind it was just a little pick-me-up.  Chris then explained at length that it was to show the appreciation for what a wonderful mother I am and how I he recognizes all I put into being the best parent I can for Ethan.

I'm so grateful for Chris and that Ethan has such a good role model.

Ethan typing to his mom

It's been hard leaving the little man every morning going to work, but we've both been adjusting.  Today he just made my heart melt.  Chris put him to the computer to write his mom a message and he pounded away.  "yvt 7thnivt c ftd," he said.  I read that as, "Mom, I love you, thanks for working hard for us and I understand."