Most of March

The March Update!
March started out with both Phil and I being home for the first week; but both being out of town the second week, followed by a family trip down south.
Phil was out of town for a work trip to Vegas.  The hardship...He left on a Monday returned on a Thursday evening.  My work trip took me back to Minnesota, from Monday to Wednesday.  I'm not sure what happened on Phil's trip, but I spent way too many hours in an office on mine.  By the time I arrived on Monday and made it to the office, it was 2:00; and I didn't leave until 8:00 - for a short dinner and stop at OfficeMax, then back to the office until 10:40!  I missed my exit for my hotel (too tired to drive I think), so wasn't in my room until a little after 11:00.  I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly, but was up early the next morning to head back to the office.  Tuesday was spent teaching, followed by a group dinner and another late night.  Wednesday morning was a very early morning, left my hotel at 6:30! After a day at the office, I caught the 5:20 flight home and was home for family (sans Phil) dinner by 8:00.   By almost 9:30 everyone was gone, Philip was crying in his crib and I was trying to get Natalie to bed.  I got her settled and tried to get Philip to bed, no luck.  Back to Natalie, got her to sleep by 10:00 and then walked Philip around until he finally fell asleep.  I put him in our bed and we got a few hours until Natalie joined us, which woke Philip up, which meant I was awake to walk him around.  Around 5:00 I put him in the stroller and took him on a stroller ride in his bedroom until he went to sleep.  I parked the stroller next to my side of the bed and slept in between pushing him when he stirred.  It was a long night!

Natalie riding a trike at my parents house

The next day, Thursday, I worked and started packing for the trip south.  We also had a friend of Natalie's over for dinner and play time.  Phil got home that night just in time to put Philip to bed and help me finish packing.  The next morning, we planned to leave the house by 8:00 am for the 4+ hour journey.  We got out of the house by 8:30 which was great and went off on our adventure.  Philip did really well on the trip down, only cried a little and we only had to make one stop on the side of the road for a pee break.  We got to my parents house in just in time for a Phil to go golfing and everyone else to eat lunch.  That night we had people over for dinner, followed by an okay night of sleep.  Saturday we left for Vegas, where my brother was playing in his tribute band.  We decided to spend the night in Vegas, and after a HORRIBLE night of very LITTLE sleep we decided we won't be making that decision again anytime soon.  The next day we drove back to my parents house and spent another two nights there before heading home.

The reason we went to Vegas.  Natalie couldn't get into the bar where the band was playing and she was NOT happy about it.  She keeps talking about the mean man who wouldn't let her into see her godfather

We decided to let Phil and Philip stay in our room, so Natalie and I slept on the pull out sofa.  Here we are getting ready for bed

February

The month started with a quick work trip to Boston.  I left Monday morning, arrived Monday evening (it's a long flight).  My friend Maria picked me up at the airport and we headed off for a quick driving tour of the city. She is a local so was able to navigate through the city streets and city traffic, in addition, she knows me, so she ended the tour with a stop at a local bar.  We each had a cocktail - hers was great, mine was a little too sweet. After the drink we walked to a local restaurant and had a great meal.  She put me in a cab that took me to the hotel - took me there after being confused about how to drive there and I called the hotel for directions.  Arrived safe and sound and was greeted by a colleague, who I proceeded to talk with until a little after midnight.  So much for a night away from home and sleeping as much as possible.
Tuesday I worked most of the day, then we straight to the airport to head home.  After a long flight, made easier by a seat in first class I arrived home a little after 7 and was greeted by babies and a husband.  Always nice to come home and sleep in your own bed and  be with them!

We were all home for a week, then got ready for another work trip.  Philip, Grandma and I headed to Philadelphia for an almost-week-long adventure.  We arrived Monday evening after a day of a lot of flying and little food and went straight to the small hotel bar for a beer and hummus appetizer while we tried to figure out what restaurants were within walking distance.  We ended up walking two blocks to China Town and eating at a local restaurant.  It was a LOT of food, which turned into another dinner a few nights later.  Normally when I travel for work, we stay at a hotel that is in a suburb, but on this trip we stayed right in downtown Philly which meant that my mom and Philip were able to see a lot of the city in the days they had there.  They visited the Masonic Temple, the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall, in addition to a few other places.  I was working at the Wanamaker Building, which is a really cool old building that happened to have a Macy's in the basement, so my mom and Philip would visit me on lunch break and walk around the store.  Overall it was a great trip, the bad was the sleep and the one night we tried to get dinner and were treated horribly at a local restaurant, McCormick & Schmicks.  It was HORRIBLE, we were greeted by a woman who didn't really know where she could "let" us sit because we had a baby and after her boss told her we could sit anywhere, she sat us at a booth, but when I asked for a high chair for Philip she said she didn't think she could let me have a high chair, so I asked that if we couldn't have a high chair at that table that we be moved.  She then never came back just kept staring at our table from across the room.  After sitting at the booth for over 20 minutes and never being greeted by a manager or server, I decided not to wait any longer.  Picked up our stuff and walked out.  We walked around the corner and ended up at at Capital Grille. This restaurant was clearly NOT a place to bring a child, but the three women at the door greeted us so kindly!  We told them we needed to go, they immediately took our order (even when I ordered something that wasn't on the menu) and told us we could wait at the bar.  The bartender was so friendly, gave us (bottled Fuji) water and was happy to fill the beer order we had!  It was AMAZING!

On the plane ride to Philly - he loves looking out the window

sleeping at the liberty bell

more snoozing

sort of awake at Independence Hall

seriously the face? lol

another priceless

"seriously grandma, don't put me on the floor"

At the Wanamaker building

We left on Thursday, getting home after 9:00 pm and exhausted!  To say that little sleep was had during this trip would be an over-statement.  In fact, the last night in an exhausted last ditch effort to get Philip to sleep I put him in the stroller and wheeled him around the room until he fell asleep then kept my hand on the stroller and woke up every time there was a peep and kept moving him around.  So we were both happy to be home and get some sleep!

After we came home, we had the weekend before I left again for a one night trip. Leaving on the last Tuesday of the month on the 5:50 AM flight, going straight to work when I landed.  By the time I made it to the hotel, I ordered dinner, ate most of it and fell asleep by 8:00 pm and slept until 6:00 the next morning when I woke up and went back to work.  I made it home by 2:00 the next day - quick trip, but glad for the sky miles!

That pretty much wraps up February! But, for good measure here are some photos

French braid

see her face in the mirror

13 months old

Technology is awesome

I know that internet on airplanes inn't new, but this is the first time in all my flying that I'm using it.  I had to respond to some emails and get some work done, so figured the $12.99 was worth it.

I'm on my way to Boston for a quick, one-night trip.  Natalie cried when I left, although, I think they were fake tears.  She is working on her powers of manipulation, because it is like watching a soap opera, she gets a scrunchy face, blinks her eyes until tears start to form and then sort of whimpers.  If it wasn't so sad, I would laugh.

I'll be back tomorrow night at 9:00, just in time to find both kids (hopefully) sleeping soundly.  We shall see...

Houston, we have a crawler

Philip has been toying with the idea of crawling for a while, but he officially started over the weekend.  It is funny, Natalie first crawled to get to a cell phone, Philip crawled to the stroller so he could play with the wheels. Difference between boys and girls?

This all happened on a trip for work to Boston the first few days of December.  My mom and Philip tagged along with me for the quick trip, but there wasn't enough time to do much other than hang out at the hotel and there was too much flying within the span of three days.  We left Sunday, traveling from here to Cincinnati then on to Boston.  Philip was wonderful on the plane, slept a little, played a lot, and made nary a noise.  We got to Boston, took a taxi to our hotel and were greeted by a friend of mine who lives near Boston.  She brought us a platter of cheese, hummus, carrots and grapes, crackers, lemon drop martinis and a bottle of wine. OH, and presents for Philip, Natalie, me and my mom. It was the best welcome I've ever had.

The next day I worked and then my friend met back up with us for dinner and more chatting.  Once again, she outdid herself.  She picked up dinner, brought wine and was fine to just sit in the hotel with us so Philip could play - much easier than trying to drag him out to a restaurant.  The next day, I worked a half day, then picked up mom and baby and drove to the airport.  We left in plenty of time, fearing lots of traffic and a busy airport...well, we encountered neither of those and were at the gate with two hours to spare.  We were able to let Philip take a cat nap, get some food, buy some water and then board the plane for the LONG flight home.  We took a direct, just over 5 hour flight.  That is a long flight sitting in first class, but put you in coach, with a baby?  Makes it feel like 10 hours.  But, as he always is, Philip was SO good on the flight and it was actually a pretty empty plane, so we had an entire row to ourselves, which made it easier.  He had his own seat, although he could be found more often either sitting on my lap or nursing.  This is the main reason he likes flying - he gets to sit on my lap and nurse whenever he wants.  He only slept for about 30 minutes on this flight, right at the beginning, and by the end of that 5 hours he was ready to be home and asleep!

My dad picked us up at the airport, drove us home and we crashed.  It was a great quick trip and I'm so glad I was able to see my friend Maria!  Only wish it had been longer, so I could have made it to her house to see her adorable dogs.

Sleep, blessed sleep

I spent my first night away from Philip on Tuesday night and although I knew it was going to be hard, I was actually looking forward to one night of uninterrupted sleep.  By the time I got to Minnesota and to the hotel it was dinner time.  So I ordered room service, and relaxed while doing some work.  I was asleep by 10 and I don't think I moved all night!

Ah sleep, how I've missed you

Traveling

We (Philip, my mom and I) just returned from a business trip back east.  New Jersey, specifically.  We left on Sunday, September 11 and stayed through Friday, September 16.  It was the longest trip I've been on since going to Europe last summer and it was hard to say the least.

Traveling in general is hard.  Not only do I have to pack everything I might need on a business trip - the clothes, shoes, stuff to make me pretty(ier), etc. - but I also have to pack everything for Philip.  My suit case is large and in addition to packing that, I have a laptop bag stuffed full of work stuff, my pump bag full of bottles and pump parts, a diaper bag of toys and my purse.  Oh, and the car seat, base and stroller!  I roll up to the airport and people probably think we are traveling for a month and often it is just a few days.   But the packing isn't the hardest part of the traveling.  It is leaving home.  It is leaving my first baby and my husband and my comfortable bed, my surroundings, my routine, my life.  That is the hardest part.

Don't get me wrong, I like having a job and I'm not looking to quit.  There are days, like everyone else has, that I wish I could live in a perfect world where I wouldn't have to work, because money wouldn't be a factor and I would have perfectly behaved children and we would play all day and dinner would magically be on the table at 6:30...ah, the American dream.  But, that won't be happening any time soon, so work I do and my work involves some traveling.  Last year, I started to really travel for work.  It started in February and occurred almost every other week through November.  It was a lot!  I was lucky that I didn't have to skip a night with Natalie until she was 16 months old, but at 16 months I started being gone a lot.  I missed a lot of nights and at first it was actually nice to be gone (gasp!), but it just got harder and harder as time went on.  Now, every time I travel I remember all the nights I missed last year and it makes me sad.  Which is why, I tote Philip along with me.  I'm lucky enough that I have a mom that is willing to travel with me and that I have the means to get her where we are going.  However, taking Philip and my mom doesn't ease the harder part of leaving everything else behind.

Motherhood in general is hard, then you toss in all the other decisions that you have to make as a woman and it is even harder.  Working outside the house, being a stay-at-home mom, traveling, not traveling, the list can go on and on.  And I find it amazing that men don't put themselves through it.  Even when Phil travels for work, I know he doesn't want to go, he misses us and would rather be home; but he doesn't have this huge sense of guilt that I have when I have to go.  Not only do men get to pee standing up but they don't put all this guilt onto their shoulders about raising a family.  I'm not going to be able to pee standing up (without getting all wet) any time soon, but I guess I can start to work on the amount of guilt I feel for traveling...

Balancing motherhood and a career is hard - it isn't so much balancing as juggling, and I'm learning to juggle better and better each day.  I recently had a conversation with a very close friend, one who I didn't call on her birthday, just sent her a text message as I was chasing kids and cleaning the house.  I called her the day after to explain that I'm really not a bad friend, just a late friend.  She, and here is the reason she is such a close friend, said to me, "You're doing a wonderful job, you don't need to call me on my birthday I know you were thinking of me and that is what matters."  Without bursting into tears I explained to her that she has no idea how much just that simple sentence meant to me.  She doesn't have kids yet, but she already understands that we as women can't put more pressure on each other.   It takes a village to raise a kid?  I think it takes a village to keep a mom sane while she is raising her kids.

We are all home for a few weeks and then back on the road we go...until then my suitcase is unpacked and things can get back to some level of normal around here.

Back to work

I decided to go back to work when Philip was 8 weeks old, which meant that I started back on Monday. Luckily for me, my boss is great and I'm able to work part time, from home. AND as if that wasn't awesome enough, I get to sort of pick and choose my hours. So basically, I work when I have stuff to do and when I have meetings. This has worked out to be about 4-5 hours a day and is awesome, because I'm still able to take a break when needed, so I can hold Philip or play with Natalie.

One thing I wasn't expecting to happen was that I would have to travel so soon...my first trip is three weeks away. I'll be gone for four nights, and my plan is to take my mom and Philip. I don't think I could leave him at his young age for so long and honestly, he probably wouldn't want me to. I'm hoping to book our tickets some time today...travel with a baby, haven't done that in a while. Hope it all works out.

"Daddy, Trip?"

This morning, Natalie woke up, looked at Phil's side of the bed, looked at me and said "daddy trip?" I said, "yes, Daddy went in the airplane. He is on his work trip." She must remember helping him pack last night, wearing his hard hat and seeing the suitcase that I normally take on the plane. She is so smart...

Phil left early this morning for a work trip. It isn't great timing, because lately I've been worried that I'm going to pop this baby boy out any minute. I just hope that he listens to his mama and stays put for another 5 weeks!

Last (work) Trip of the Year

At least that is the plan today.

I'm in Washington DC tonight, heading home tomorrow - another quick one-night adventure. We got to town around 4:00, to the hotel by 4:30, work out from 5:00 to 6:00, dinner at 7:00. We are on the club floor - which I thought was a fancy way of saying "ground level", but actually means the floor with the "club", or room with snacks in the evening and breakfast at night.

We decided to skip room service and went to the Jamieson Grille, which is the hotel restaurant, but the only decent place to eat within a 10 mile radius (according to Google maps). It was pretty tasty. I had mussels and a chopped salad and a glass of red wine. The three sips of the red wine were VERY good and exactly what I needed (truth, I needed about three glasses, but beggars can't be choosers). I'm now back in the room, getting ready for bed and hoping I sleep...

Wish me luck!

It has been a while since I've posted, because I've been traveling for work...traveling a lot. And there is no end in sight!

The last two weeks I was in Minnesota and Nashville. I leave for Paris and London on Friday (for 8 days!), I'm home for a week, then off to Boston, home for a week, then off to Minnesota. Madness I tell you, madness!

It has been so hard to be away from my precious family and it isn't getting any easier. I'm taking tomorrow off to run some errands and spend some quality time with Natalie.

Here is a photo my mom took during bath time. Her little pony tails are getting longer and longer.

I'll download a few more photos later.

Oh, and doesn't it just suck that the U2 concert was cancelled? Seriously, Bono, really? Back surgery?

It has been so long

But work has been incredibly busy!

I'm busy with projects and end up working most nights (boo). I'm also gearing up for another round of travel. Over the next 3 weeks I'll travel to Minnesota (again), Tennessee, France and Great Britain. It is going to be a whirlwind. Plus, I'm going to toss in a Memorial Day weekend and U2 concert for good measure.

You know those people who are always talking about how they are so busy and then you ask them what they are up to and they can only come up with one or two projects/visits/trips/etc. that they are working on? I have these people in my life too; well, they can all stop complaining :)

Also, we went in for Natalie's 18-month check up. She is healthy as a horse (knock on wood) and lucky us, we have only ever been to the doctor for well baby check ups! (knock on wood-again). She weighed in at a light 21.8 pounds (yea! we passed the 20 pound mark)! She is growing into a little girl. She is so busy, very strong willed and has a very happy attitude.

Last weekend we traveled to the cabin for a quick one-nighter. Natalie had a blast. She loved exploring, being outside, and being with family.

I'll post photos soon...

Perth

Do you know where that is?

It is in Australia and it is where Phil is right now. We found out Sunday night that he needed to get on a plane on Monday evening! So we prepped my parents for the babysitting that was in their near future. Packed Phil's suit case on Monday afternoon, dropped him at the airport and came home. Put Natalie to bed, then packed my suitcase - because I left for Minnesota Tuesday morning!

Luckily my parents gladly took Natalie for the two nights I was in Minnesota. I got back tonight and just got Natalie to sleep after dinner with the family. We are hoping Phil is home sooner rather than later...especially because I head back to Minnesota in a week!

Phil took the camera with all the photos from my mom's birthday party. So when he returns I'll post the photos.

487 days (or thereabouts)

Natalie is over her cold. It was a rough time, note to self keep her healthy for the foreseeable future. We are all sleeping better these days.

I just got back from another trip to Minnesota. Minnesota, where there isn't much more to do than drink and work. And when I say drink I mean, throw all caution to the wind and party like you are a 20-something college kid, not a 30 year old mother. I have a bruise on each hip and I honestly couldn't tell you where they came from. Might have been from sleeping on the floor one night or maybe I walked into the wall. A friend of mine, supposedly fell of her chair, she might have a few more bruises than me...

Anyway, back to life as a responsible mom, and no more drinking (for at least tonight).

Tomorrow we are hoping to get Natalie to the park, if the weather warms up. If so, I'll return with photos