Cue U2.

It's a beautiful day!

That's all I have in my head right now.

It is another gorgeous day here in CT and I fully intend to enjoy it. No more computer for me today. I think Lovey has a trip to the park in her future.

Peace out homies.

Are you there blogosphere, it's me, Cora?

I am automatically in love with anyone who caught my reference to Judy Blume. Wasn't she just the best for all us girls who grew up in the 80s? An adult who actually got it? I digress.

To say it's been awhile is an understatement. And an inrony given my last post was about being deep in the motherhood. Ok, everyone has goals, doesn't mean we always meet them. But I try. And now that school is out, I'll try again. But I make no promises. That would just be setting myself up for failure.

I know I have one subscriber out there that isn't my husband. I actually have no idea who you are, but if you'd identify yourself (and accept my apology for my absence) I'd be grateful. It might actually help me write more if I knew I had an "audience". Oops, I digressed again. I'm always doing that.

There's been a lot going on around these parts lately. Most importantly the clan gave up gluten. Huh? Say what? Back in April I got diagnosed with a gluten allergy and we all decided to give it up. The results? I was drug free in allergy season for the first time in 15 years. I have more energy, no ecexema, and an undying craving for all things chocolate chip cookie. Honey's adult acne is gone, and Lovey's itch till she bled ecexema is gone. I repeat, gone. After a week of not eating gluten. So clearly we were all unknowingly putting something in our bodies that didn't make us feel very good. Being gluten free has been challenging and much more expensive, but also totally worth it. One of my many summer goals is to start another blog all about this experience and complete with recipes and product reviews. (I know, my one reader thinks I'm crazy. "She can barely keep up with one, now she's gonna have two?) But I try, I just make no promises. Look for a link to the new one later this week.

Deep Into Motherhood

Before I start my story I have a confession to make. My story won't make sense unless I confess. I am a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers. I actually worked for WW for about 9 months. Although I am not currently at my goal weight, I will say that the program works. I've seen so many people (myself included) find success through the WW program.

Alright, now onto my story.

The phrase "deep into motherhood" was said by my wonderful WW leader, Cindy F., on her last day as leader. She was sharing that when she became a WW leader she was deep into motherhood and needed an outlet-desperately. WW became her source of outlet, her circle of friends, her support system. Her words jumped out at me like a skydiver jumping out of a plane. I was "deep into motherhood". As hard as I tried, I couldn't shake the fact that I put my kid, my husband, my house, and my job, before myself. It was starting to drive me insane. Cindy saying that was like a wake up call. I had just started working for CAbi at that point and although I didn't see it as an outlet for my mommy-deepness, it quickly became so. CAbi has helped and so has making myself more of a priority. I've gone out with friends more, I've left Lovie home with Honey more, I ever joined a book club. Which also forces me to read. Something I did pre-kid but largely abandoned post-kid.

Getting out of the depths of motherhood is why I so enjoyed reading the book Lift, by Kelly Corrigan. I stumbled across it about a month ago when I had a rare morning to myself while my Toyota was getting the recall fix [isn't that just a story for anohter time]. I meandered around Borders like I was single and childless (translation: heaven) and found the book. Kelly Corrigan is a cancer survivor and mother of two. She is well-known for her website www.circusofcancer.com. I picked up the book because I liked the first page, which is always my test of a book.

Believe me when I tell you if you are a mother, run, don't walk to get this book. It spoke to me on so many levels. It was funny, it was heartfelt, it was truth. Any mother could've written this book about their own experiences, and I'm so glad Kelly did. The best part is it was obviously written by someone who knows that moms have no time on their hands because it's only 80ish pages long. Check it out and let me know what you think.

All the ladies in the club put your hands up!

Honey has been trying to teach Lovey to do a fist pump since she was old enough to stand up on her own two feet. Well folks, this week, she got it! He asked her for the usual high five which she happily granted and then he asked her to pound it. She put her little hand into what could only loosely be called a fist and touched Honey's fist. All with a big smile. Clearly one of Honey's proudest Daddy moments.

My proud Mommy moment came shortly thereafter. Honey spontaneously said to Lovey, "Raise your hand if you're beautiful!" and both of Lovey's arms shot up into the air. It was so wonderful I could've cried. Now this is a daily routine: high five, fist pump, and raise your hand if you're beautiful. I wonder if Honey knows that he is giving our daughter something so few women have, pride and self-worth, in this small little gimmic. I plan to enjoy every minute of it, and raise my hand every chance I get. Who's with me?

Spring Healing.

As March draws to a close, I have been thinking back on the month and realizing that a lot of it has been about healing and repair. Not cleaning and repair as is typical. (Yeah, I need to do that, too.)

March is Honey's birthday month, and also his mom's birthday month. Their birthdays are actually 2 days apart. This has made celebrating his birthday the last two years a bit difficult. March also signifies the start of spring. Coincidentally, Honey's mom was born on the first day of spring. Which begs the question: Is that why she has always loved flowers? It's a chicken/egg thing I guess. The start of spring makes me miss her. Even though like most mother in-laws she had her moments, she was still a generous, out-going, effervescent person who had an amazing gift of bringing people together. Perhaps that's why the Friends of Elizabeth Park dedicated a plaque in her honor last May that coincidentally was put in place quietly a few weeks ago. (Did I mention that I believe fully that in life there are no coincidences and that everything happens for a reason?) Honey has some pictures on his blog if you're interested in taking a look.

Thank you Donna for bringing your beautiful boy into the world and sharing your youthful exuberance and love of the outdoors with him so he could share it with me. We love you and miss you.

Sunny Day...

Sweeping the clouds away...

The sun is out! This makes me very happy because the East Coast has been dealing with an angry mother nature for a few days now. Thankfully my little bubble of the world was spared major damage, but some other bubbles were not so lucky. But rain is yucky, I hate it. I'm much happier on a sunny day. Even though it means allergy season is fast approaching, I'm looking forward to the start of spring and more sunny days.

A Day in the Life of a Working Mom.

This morning I read a blog entry about a Day in the Life of a SAHM (sorry I don't remember who it was). I thought, hmm...I could to that. Only I'm not a stay at home mom. But I think the life of a working mom is just as interesting, if not more.

5effing:00: Honey's alarm goes off because he intends to work out.
5effing:05: Having gotten up to pee, Honey returns to bed, deciding to save the workout for another day.
5:45: Honey gets up and showers.
6:05: Freshly showered and soapy smelling Honey wakes me up with a kiss. (If it weren't for coffee-see below-this would be the best part of my morning)
6:08: Grumpily roll arse out of bed and head to shower.
6:11: Shower begins to run out of hot water, begin to rinse conditioner out of hair faster.
6:13: Hot water turns to cool water, abandon hair rinse, leave shower more grumpily than when entered.
6:15: Haphazardly dress in work appropriate clothes, some of which may or may not have been picked out of a pile on top of the dresser.
6:30: Down stairs to turn on coffee and stare blankly at the maker until the hot caffeine is ready to be poured. Savor sweet coffee love. (Ahh...grump subsides)
7:00: Lovey begins rattling the cage to signify her waking. She then begins to cry "MAMA!!!"
7:15: Wrestle Lovey into her clothes and brush her hair, while she screams "No! No!" and runs away while bribing her with Cheerios and Handy Mandy. On the way out the door Lovey chants until I give her a granola bar, which she happily chows in the backseat of the car.
7:45: Drop off at daycare. Lovey quickly runs off to play with her friends and gives me a casual, nonchalant wave as I leave.
8-3:40: Attempt to make myself useful at work. Check email, blogs, plan summer vacation, talk to friends, see some kids, write a report, teach gym class.
3:40: Attend staff meeting, the highlight of which is my principal reading us a picture book about test taking.
5:15: Home to dinner with Honey, Lovey, and Father in-law. Play with Lovey.
7:00: Put Loveyto bed, spend 5 minutes talking to Honey after Father in-law leaves, spend the next two hours plopped in front of the computer "doing work".
9:30ish: To bed, where Honey falls into a deep sleep, snoring included, in 30 seconds. I eventually fall into dreamland just in time to start it all over again at 5effing o'clock.