You know it is just so awesome when you hear the words, "We're going to need to do a bag check..." and you know that bag is yours. That bag that will soon be pawed through contains only two things- work clothes and your breast pump.Ooh, that scary black bag within a bag. Dun, da, da, dun dun.When the tech asked, "Ma'am is there anything in this bag that is sharp and could attack me?" Umm... you mean like a cougar? No. I really wanted to say, "No, sir! Just watch out for yer teets! There's some major suction in them there breastsheilds, they might just suck yer fingers clear to the bone."Note to self: Next time don't pack your panties in the breast pump storage space. Saving space isn't as important as keeping airport security from de-sterilizing all your gear and touching your … [Read more...]
A Star is Born. Heh.
I am not crafty by any means but when TD's 'dee-dee' (a.k.a. her pink security blanket) needed mending I skedaddled my butt over to the craft emporium known as Jo-Ann Fabrics. Stores like that just lose me. I circled the aisles looking for pink embroidery thread and just wanted out. The lines were not to be believed with some clever maze of candy for at least 30 feet before you hit the register. Need cute baby Easter socks? Only a dollar! Yes, please! I mean what else do you get a 5 month old for Easter?I digress though. As I stood there in line picking up a pack of Twizzlers and a Whatchamacallit to pass the time I noticed the woman in front of me staring at me. After a few minutes she said, "I know you from somewhere." I didn't recognize her at all. "You must have had a child in … [Read more...]
Why I Spat also known as My New Job
As if reviewing products, making vain attempts to make you all laugh on a daily basis, writing for other websites and more I've decided to take on yet another new job. In the coming months you will notice that at different times in this space there will be teasers regarding my adventures with my past pregnancies, being genotyped and a whole other realm of experiences I have had relating to both subjects. I'm working with 23andMe to help them establish their online pregnancy community. It is our hope that through this venue more patterns can be established, links built and research can be done relating to women's health and pregnancy.If you want to read my first post, 'Why I Spat', "Good genes or bad genes I am not sure there is such a thing. It is a vast lottery of our pasts and our future … [Read more...]
On Going Back to Work
Sometimes an opportunity presents itself in such a way that it cannot be resisted. That is exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago when we were in the thick of the evening ritual of sit-down-eat-your-dinner-now with holy-crap-the-baby-is-crying-and a side of we-still-need-bath-and-storytime-to-go-down-without-a-hitch followed by the cry of hurry!-where-is-mommy's-wine!! A friend called stating that she had a new position opening up in her company and it would be just perfect for me. I could travel! (think exciting locales like Boston, SoCal and maybe even Lubbock, Texas!) Sleep in a hotele w Polsce, eat room service and read a whole book like these History of Texas Books on a plane. Such bliss cannot be believed. Did I mention that it pays and pays enough to make child care … [Read more...]
I Want My Two Dollars!
If only it were that simple or even that insignificant amount of money. However, it is not. Here's the problem- some months ago I was hired to be a blogging consultant to launch a particularly new (and by new I mean, having no idea what the heck they were getting themselves into, all very obvious now) scheduling company to the DC Metro area. I was ecstatic. I completely believed in and loved the product. The company is woman-owned and family friendly too. It was proof-positive that going to BlogHer can get you work too. Rates were negotiated. Plans outlined. Contracts were signed. Work officially began.Then things started to go awry. Emails were missed and bounced back. Contact was a bit hard to make. I tried to hold to it all together and make the campaign as successful as I … [Read more...]
And We’re LIVE in 5,4,3,2,1!
It's here.The Graco, Ready for the Road Ahead campaign has officially launched today.For all of you (Hi Mom!) who have been waiting with baited breath for my big Graco debut you can view it in all it's glory here and my car seat demonstration here.I find it incredibly cool that while I hate watching myself and thinking, "Man! My face looks pregnant despite all that mascara and lip gloss!" that I still feel honored to be part of this whole shebang. The other bloggers are such naturals! I love Graco for their products but now also because the company and the people behind this whole project are just so wonderful and down to earth. They are the best to work with and there might even be more to come.So enjoy! Don't laugh too hard at my interviews and car seat demonstration. OK, laugh all you … [Read more...]
What Part of Vacation Do I Not Understand?
Holy Melting Hell.I'm in New England for a bit of a breather. TD and I did the solo flight up here yesterday and can I just say that if a plane full of kids can be fab then we had it? Yes, Virginia it really is possible to soar through the air with the greatest of ease and actually have a kid who thinks even the bumpy parts of the plane ride are fun. "More bumps," TD exclaimed and "Faster! More Faster!" I think I fell in love with her a bit more, if that is possible, in those moments.Now for the holy melting hell part. I'm up here chillin', maxin', wishin' I was at a pool or ocean but no, indeed I am glued to my hot box of a laptop working. Le Sigh.I am swelling and pissy.Not a good combo in even the non-pregnant.Thank goodness for grandparents who actually go on solo excursions with the … [Read more...]
Wish for a Day? Try a Week.
"If you could have one wish for the day, what would it be?" This popped into my head last week and I thought, "Ha! Easy! I wish H, and all other men, could know what it is like, REALLY like to be pregnant." However, a day would just not cut it. Give me a week. And no empathy bellies, please!A week for them to-Know that being hungry means I might seriously resort to cannibalism if we don't have dinner right now. There is no more snacking there is only dinner and I mean now. Do you value that arm? Do you want your kid with one less appendage? OK, then. Let's eat.Understand and truly feel what it is like to feel as if the weight of the world is falling out of your crotch and yet you are not even close to being in labor. Nope. You are about three months from that.To cry because your underwear … [Read more...]
At Least Someone is Working
Hello from the unemployed front! We are in week two of all being under the same roof all the time. And while H has turned his job search into a full time job and I'm plugging away at all my little unpaid, ahem! someone throw me a bone here!, gigs we are for all intensive purposes a dual no-income household. Kick ass.Except T.D.She is apparently working. All the time. Whenever I ask her what she is doing, be it playing with Play-Doh or helping me sort laundry she tells me, "I'm working Mama! I'm working!" I don't have the heart to tell her we can't pay her for her services.She thinks we are working too. Yesterday morning as I cleaned the shower she came over and inspected my workmanship, hands on hips and intoned, "Mama working. Mama is working..." Funny, I thought when I quit that … [Read more...]
Let’s Talk Graco, Shall We?
While I think that Joeprah said it best and the most comprehensive and Kelcey and Sheila were very funny with their portrayals and photos, which I am ashamed to say, I have did not take. Many of you have asked- "Just what the sam hill were you doing over there in Hotlanta with Graco?!"Well, aside from being treated like a rock star or royalty, seriously this lowly blogger had no idea it would be that good, Graco and LBi could not have been more helpful, generous or easy-going while we did the whole Car Seat Campaign shebang. After a day of pampering and good eatin' we arrived on the set early on Wednesday morning. First things first, I got a bit of hair and make up done as well as a wardrobe change. I quickly found that while I don't know jack about installing my own car seat Graco was … [Read more...]