Saturday, September 27, 2008

Those Fightin' Phils!

Yippee! The Phillies clinched the National League East tonight, and Bry and I were there. Mo stayed home w/Grandma S. While we missed our Mo-Mo, it was nice to actually watch the whole game. Next up, either the Dodgers or the Brewers. Bring it on! We're on our way to the World Series!
Go Phils!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Walnut Revisted

We went to visit Walnut Ave. yesterday, and it wasn't quite as strange as I thought it would be. I always thought I'd be teary or awkward walking back into the building, but it wasn't that strange. I guess part of my brain still hasn't processed that I won't be back teaching this year. I also did not go into my old classroom. Just walking past the door, and seeing someone else standing up front was weird enough.
I did see a bunch of my kiddies from last year. I always seem to have the class of characters! Now even though they're big second graders they still seemed excited to see me and Mo. I even got a few hugs out of the visit. One girl whispered in my ear, "I really miss you". It made me miss it for a moment, but then Mo started crying and I realized that I was where I need to be. Regardless of whether I ever go back to teaching there or not, it will always remain a special place, for me. (and Mo too!)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Houston, we have a problem!

Today was a busy day! Not only did Mo and I shop til we dropped with Grandma, Aunt Ash, Aiden, & Mrs. K, but Mo decided today would be the day that she learned how to pull herself up!


Can you believe it? We were able to catch her first real pull up on tape!


We had a fabulous time shopping at Philadelphia Premium Outlets. Technically, they aren't in Philly, they're located in Limerick. Anyway, we spent the day shopping and bought lots of cute stuff. Mostly for our kiddies of course. I love the fact that Mo will wear hats. I got her three! I did pick out a few things for myself too.
Last yeat, we decided to go on opening day. I think only half of the stores were open, parking was ridiculous, and since it was the first weekend in November it was chilly. I was a few months prego, and Aiden was still just a little guy. This year, what a different story! As our little crew walked into Carter's, or Baby Gap, or Osh Gosh, it was amusing. Mom, Mo, and I went one way, while Mrs. K, Ash, & Aiden went the other. On multiple occasions, we would hear Aiden's little voice calling out "Mo-mo?". Too cute! We then would meet up in the middle to pay. What do you expect when stores have boys things on one side, and girls on the other?
We plan to make this a bi-annual event. We figure the kiddies need new clothes for the winter and summer!
Aiden also enjoyed some time riding his horsie and was all smiles.
Mo, meanwhile, was exhausted by the end of the day! Shopping can wear you out!

She did recover enough on the ride home to practice her pulling herself up.
Later, we brought out a new toy, and she decided to practice her standing too.
Look Mom, no hands!

What a day!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Hmmm ...what to do? What to do?

I am a multi-tasker. I always, throughout my life, juggled a bunch of different things at once. High school- clubs, sports, a job, school. In College, it was crazy! At Seton Hall, I swam (on the Division 1), was vice-president of the Varsity Club, student senator for the college of Education, maintained a good enough GPA to graduate Magna Cum Laude, (As I type this, I look proudly at my diploma!)have a relationship w/Bry, and do all the pre-service student teaching stuff. Once I graduated and starting working, I took it easy for a year or two, but then I was back to my old ways: teaching, graduate school, planning a wedding. As I mentioned before, I kept this up until I graduated (7 weeks after Mo's birth) from Rutgers with my Master's in education. For the past months, I've had one job- Mom. There has been something turning in my head though. I may continue college. Yup, I'm thinking of pursuing my doctorate! GASP!

I should put it out there, I love school! I enjoy reading and look forward to the dialogue and discussions of class. It's only been 4 months since graduation, but I already miss it. I've talked it over with Bry and he's 100% supportive. I'm planning on contacting my favorite professors from Rutgers to bounce some ideas off of them.
Who knows!?!? Perhaps, Mo will have a "Doctor" for a mommy someday!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Beach Blanket Bingo

We have survived our first family vacation!


We spent last week in Wildwood NJ. We rented a lovely, new condo in North Wildwood. Those summers before Mo, our trips down the shore would be quick little weekend jaunts. We'd head down on a Friday after work, stay at Bry's mom's house, and come back on Sunday. We'd have late dinner reservations, like 9 or 9:30 in Cape May. We'd go out to
410 Bank StreetEbbitt Room or The Pier House where we'd wine and dine. Or, if the mood hit us, we'd go to Duffer's for ice cream sundaes at 11 O'Clock or Westy's for beer and burgers. Fast forward to this year. We ordered in, 3 nights- cheese steaks, pizza, and cheese steaks again. (Second time, I ordered a pork sandwich w/provolone & broccoli rabe! YUM!) We did make it out for dinner a few nights. We thought we'd be able to take Mo to Duffer's for sandwiches and the best ice cream sundaes around, but lo and behold, they were closed. We ended up at Westy's. Yes, we took our 5 month old to a bar for dinner, though they do have actual dinners and two highchairs. Granted, they both were broken, so we had to pass the baby between Kathy (my Mother-in-law), Bry, and I.
We did get the chance to dine out just the two of us. Thankfully, Kathy watched Mo on Tuesday night, as I had a reason so I got all dressed up. As Kathy played w/Mo, we went to dinner at the Pier House. Delicious calamari w/3 dipping sauces and out of this world crabcakes. On Thursday, Mo not only had Kathy babysitting but my parents too, who just so happened to be enjoying their own little vacation in Ocean City. I was so excited! Twice in one week I got to dress up! I actually put on a little make-up. We went to one of my most favorite restuarants, 410 Bank Street where I had ceviche (Yes, raw scallops w/lime, cilantro, tomatoes, and avacados) and the most delicious divine catfish w/tomatoes and bananas. Not a typo- tomatoes and bananas! Seriously, they work together! Our conversations in the past focused on our future- and a lot of what if's. Now, as parents, most of our conversation revolved around Mo. I mean, she really is THAT awesome.
Our beach trips in the pastwould include the following items: towel, book, and wait...that's it. We'd leisurely read our books and sun ourselves for a few hours. I, of course would have my SPF 15 on, while Bry would forget that he's not a local anymore and fry himself as crisp as a lobster.

This year our bag was far heavier. Besides the obvious...BABY, we brought a blanket, 3 towels, chair, 2 plastic toys, extra swim diaper,(remind me later to tell you the swim diaper story!), sunscreen, hat, camera. I am so grateful our rental was only steps away from the beach, because it could have been dangerous attempting to balance said items & child! She tolerated the beach. We also were lucky enough to have a pool in the condo unit. She is defintely my baby! She loved the water.

Overall, our vacation was a success! Moira slept well. That's actually an understatement. She now sleeps through the night- no more 5:30 am feedings! I kept telling Bry that next year will be crazy because she'll be running around and getting into everything. This year, though, was great! While our trips to the beach will never be as simple as they were for those years before Mo, I know we'll never have as much as we will with her.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

I Am Thirty!

Can you believe it? I am 30 years old today. Bye-bye twentysomething, hello 30! WOW!
Of course, now that it's my birthday I was thinking about what I did this time last year. I was only about 9 weeks pregnant, and trying to figure out how to tell my principal. My mom was still keeping it a secret, which I know killed her, and I was preparing to take two classes at Rutgers, supervise a student teacher, and teach first grade.
This year, I spent my birthday at "Mommy and Me" class this morning, and then a quick trip to BJ's for more diapers and baby wipes. What a difference a year makes!
I do have give Bryan his due. He did plan a lovely surprise dinner for me on Saturday night. I thought we were having a quiet dinner with Lynsay and Steve, but to my surprise, there were four other couples who came from all parts of the Garden State & Baltimore to celebrate! We had a fabulous meal and great conversation. I am so lucky!

Monday, September 1, 2008

WOW! Five months already.

My girl is five months old!

This summer has flown by and Moira is five months old. She is amazing, what can I say. She sits up and actually plays with her toys. She wants to stand up....all the time. She loves her jumperoo and loves to chew things, especially Bry's fingers. She loves the Phillies and enjoys going to the games, which her grandparents love. But, much to her Grandpop's dismay, she LOVES peas and greenbeans! She is generally a happy baby.









We are so lucky to have her!