Finally!

After months and months of research and agonizing stress, we have finally purchased the second car for the family: a 2006 Honda CRX (and some other letters that I can no remember). To fully understand my excitement let me tell you my schedule from last Tuesday when I need it the car for some doctors appointments:
8:00am drive Alan to work in Smithfield (no public transportation there!)
8:30am get lost on the way back home (of course I did not plug in the GPS!)
9:30am getting to the dentist
11:30am back home
1:00pm drive Chloe to the pedi appointment
2:00pm get back home
5:30pm get back in the car and drive back to Smithfield to pick Alan up!
6:00pm arrive in Smithfield and wait for Alan
6:30pm driving back from Smithfield to Attleboro!

So, yeah, that day I felt that all I did was drive people around. Which I did!
Now that we finally have a second car I can plan to do and do grocery shopping on a Friday at 11am without having to think if the driving to and from Smithfield 4 times is worth the trip to Stop and Shop! Not to mention that now there is no need for several separate trips to the grocery store and to BJs. Honda's storage space is enormous (compared to what we have in the Ford) and I can still have my mom and C riding comfortably in the back!

And, since everyone asks me this: No, I do not care which one of the cars I get to drive. For all I care I could drive a bucket of bolts as long as I can do my thing... Though it will be nice to drive the Honda every once in a while.

Irreversible

Last night I got up (habit now) at about 2:30 am and waited to hear my daughter scream for food. Funny enough, I wished I could just go back to sleep, but my mind was racing, so it looks like I had one of those early morning, exhausted epiphanies.
I realized that since I had my daughter my life has changed. Completely, to the core and irreversible. And no, I am not talking about how your body changes from caring around another person inside of you (still can't wrap my head around that one, even after I went thru it). I am talking about the fact that my life is not my own anymore, my time is not my time anymore. My priorities are changed. And for someone who thrives on order bordering on OCD, it's a hard change. I love being a mom, I would not traded for anything, but the fact that I have to plan my life in 4 hours intervals so I can make sure that C eats enough, it's a hard adjustment. Picking up and going, is not an life option for us anymore. Everything takes thinking and planning! And don't even get me started on the packing for a short trip. Though I keep it to a minimum, it still amazes me the sheer amount of clothing that needs to be packed for a 4 months old baby!
I don't regret for a minute the transition to motherhood. I think it has been good for me. I am still working on learning that I do not need to be supermom (nor can I really be that), I am learning that it's ok to ask for help (always a hard one for me) and to be ok with not having everything perfect (aka, vacuuming every day...). The last 4 months had been a learning process for me, and I know it will continue in the years to come.

Christmas already?

If you are one of my friends, you already know that I love Christmas! I love the atmosphere, the trees, the lights, the cooking (thank goodness for my mom this year since she will be making all the yummy dishes we grew up with for Christmas), the spirit! I just love it all!
But, and this is a huge one, I hate that here in America we rush into everything. I can't believe that for the past month or so every time I go into a store I already see decorations and all the works! What happened to Halloween, or Thanksgiving? And it's like that with all the holidays! I mean, I get it, it's marketing strategy and all that, but do we really need to see Easter Bunnies in January? Or Christmas trees in July?

I hate that we are all so focused on getting to the next step that we forget to enjoy the now! Even in the day to day life, we are focused on the future. How to save more, how to plan the next vacation... (I am not advocating for no savings or no vacation plans), what college our kids will go to... you get my point!

So my decision? Is to really take time each and every day to stop and remember that today is about today and that I will worry about tomorrow when that comes...

I love fall!

If I would have a choice, life would be a perpetual fall. I love this time of the year and here are some reasons why:
1. The foliage. Unless you have lived your life under a rock, you know that fall in New England is amazing! I love the bright colors, the reds, the yellows, the orange! I love seeing whole trees looking as if they are on fire!
2. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, apple pies, hot cider... Need I say more?
3. Being able to wear cashmere and hand knit sweaters and soft fuzzy fleece!
4. Fall means that the holidays are approaching. I love Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have always been a sucker for the holiday, so the fact that they are fast approaching makes me so happy!
5. Snuggling under a blanket to watch a movie with some hot tea or cocoa in hand!

I could go on and on, but I should probably get going with work!

Freak accident, or happy nights coming?

I had to write about this! My daughter C, slept thru the night both on Friday and Sunday night! Ok, so she skipped Saturday, but what can I say, she is only 3 months old! Even if you are not a parent yourself, I am sure you understand my excitement for a full night sleep. Counting the uncomfortable last 3 months of the pregnancy, I have not had a decent, more than 4 hours stretch night sleep! And, yeah, I admit, if I am cranky, everyone get cranky!
So I am praying with all my might that she is finally getting to the point where 3am feedings will be a thing of the past!
Cheers!

Sort of random

Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping. Usually when I am very tired, which seams to be my normal state of being lately! So while I stay in bed and pray for sleep to come (knowing very well that I will heavily pay for my inability to fall asleep in just few hours when C decides she would like some food!), my mind spins. Last night, I was thinking that I have to do C's laundry. And then for some reason I started thinking of all the things you are supposed to pun on her mattress. So let's see:
1. The mattress protector. So that when she has accidents she does not wet the mattress. Mind you, she does wear a diaper...all the time, so accidents... not so much!
2. mattress pad. Not sure why and what this might do, but if you look at baby registries you have to get one!
3.the sheets. Ok, I get this one since you don't want to sleep on a bear mattress
4. a sheet protector. I understand that changing sheets is not fun (especially at 2am!), but really? Something will get ruined. Does it really matter if it's the mattress protector, the sheet or the sheet protector? If it's really bad, you have to replace it anyhow...!

I don't get it. But it's so easy to get caught up in all this craziness of getting everything under the sun for your child. So if you see me getting to that point, please smack me over the head and remind me that college is expensive!

What can you do in one minute?

As my life has become more and more hectic with a 2 months old at home, I realize that I have learned to do things quicker. Some are great, others not so great, but here is a list of things that I have learned to do in one minute flat!
1. eat lunch (hard to believe, but totally doable when the child screams bloody murder for no reason!)
2. wash 2 plates and 2 mugs (using lots more dish detergent than I used to, but none the less the dishes are done!)
3. fall asleep! This one is a given when you are sleep deprived
4. take a shower! Granted there will be no conditioner used, or exfoliate, or anything else fancy. Just plain soap and water
5. find the "lost, under the couch, the cat stole it" pacifier.

I am sure there are many other things I have learned to do in one minute. But my brain is way too fried from not enough sleep to think of some more.

Cheers!