Still Singing Along

The other day I was driving home from drop off, when Stay by Lisa Leob came on the radio. Even though I have next to no voice at the moment, I couldn't help but sing along, taking me right back to high school. I don't know what it was about the lyrics that spoke to me back then when life seemed especially angsty and drama-filled.

High school was a very volatile time, as I am sure that it was for a lot of people. With the break-ups, make-ups and changing friendships, everything seemed to be vitally important and the absolute end of the world. Honestly, I can't think of a relationship at that time that this song fit perfectly, although I thought that it had been written for me.

And now, twenty years after it came out, when I hear this song I am still that high school girl freaking out over what's his name and changing friendships. I am still that college student having issues with her boyfriend. I am still that young woman in her twenties, not sure where she is going in life.

There are a few songs that just need to be belted when heard, and Stay is one of them. I remember countless drives with girlfriends blasting this song into the night. I remember a karaoke bachelorette party, our entire group singing at the top of our lungs even though we were taking time out from singing to eat cake.

Karaoke about seven weeks pregnant and trying to keep that secret. Fun times.

So while this song might not fit my life now, it will always hold a special place in my karaoke (or car or shower) repertoire.

Linking up with Mama Kat
6. What was your favorite song when you were 16 years old…is it still a favorite?

Are You Ready?

While there were a few years back when I was in high school and college where it meant cheerleading, cool Saturday afternoons and pep rallies, in general football has a different meaning for my family.

Soccer.

We have a family history of playing as well as having a history of watching. While we dabble a little with the Premier League, the team that we really cheer for is the national team. This past summer, we watched our team in the World Cup, very excited that Brazil wasn't too far from us in time zones. That did not go so well for us.

Oh well, there is always 2018.

Linking up with Mama Kat

3.) Write a blog post inspired by the word: football

In a Sea of Orange

In the past week, we've gone pumpkin picking twice. First, while visiting my husband's grandmother, and second a little closer to home. Peanut was thrilled with both trips, and Munchkin is very much looking forward to when we carve and decorate. We are slowly, but surely, working out way through our fall list.

Linking up with Mama Kat

5.) Show us your pumpkin patch.

Preschoolers in the Mist

Tuesday was the start of fall. A new season. A fresh start. And while things around here might no longer feel like summer, the leaves have not yet started to change, and we aren't overrun by pumpkins. Yet.

But fall is a great season to be outside. The air is a little cooler, but not so cold that everyone is bundled up to the point of not being able to move. So in fall, we spend more time outside. Eventually, we'll make it to the pumpkins, the orchards, and the yellow, orange and red trees for miles. But on Tuesday, we headed to the zoo.

And if this is what the boys think of when they think of the beginning of fall, I will not be upset.

Linking up with Mama Kat

1.) The first day of Fall is September 23rd, take a photo and share what the first day of Fall looks like in your next of the woods.

Remembering the Sun

This past March, we tried to get away from the snow and cold by visiting family in Florida. It was our first trip, as fate had conspired against us in the past, and it was a wonderful time. While I failed at getting pictures of Peanut's first trip on a plane (camera was in the overhead compartment the entire flight), I did not miss his first trip into the waves.

He is completely different from his brother, who still doesn't want to go in. But Munchkin did enjoy the pool, there was a lot of water play by everyone.

We tried to make the trip as relaxing as possible, with our most exciting adventure being a trip to the zoo where we fed the giraffes.

For the most part, we just let them play and be outside, since the weather at home definitely had been preventing that.

The best part of the trip for me was definitely the quiet time that we got to spend with each other.

We flew home to frigid temperatures, but that week of sun recharged us when I didn't even realize that we needed it.

Baby on a plane... flying home

Linking up with Mama Kat
1.) Let’s reminisce about the last trip you took…pictures please!

Deep Freeze

We've been in a deep freeze here. Winter has not been kind, although not as bad as three years ago. That winter, we had so much snow, that it was February before Munchkin got a chance to get out in it and he was not a fan. Peanut has already tested out the snow, and he had no problems.

The boys had fun posing with our neighbor's snowman.

Then they convinced Daddy to make one for them.

Munchkin was excited to make footprints in the field near school.

All this happened in December, and I am sure the rest of winter will be more of the same. While it has snowed a lot since then it has been too cold to stay outside and play. I have also been slacking on the photos, something else that I need to work on now. In other news, Munchkin has gotten over his dislike of the snow, and made his first snow angel the other day.

What is winter like where you live?

Linking up with Mama Kat
5.) Show us what winter looks like in your neck of the woods!

Pumpkins and More Pumpkins

Over the weekend we made or annual trip up to the pumpkin patch near the boys' great-grandmother. We've always had fun, Munchkin would run around while I got great shots of him surrounded by orange before heading off to lunch and quality time with his great-grandmother.

This year did not work out exactly as planned. The weather wasn't on our side, and while I did get one decent family photo, which was very needed, Peanut didn't get to experience the pumpkins and I didn't get any pictures of just the boys since I couldn't put Peanut down on the wet, muddy ground. Munchkin still enjoyed himself putting pumpkins into his wagon, but I was disappointed in the pumpkin part of the morning.

So yesterday I took advantage of the weather and brought the boys to a local patch. It was perfect, the ground was dry, it wasn't crowded and there were pumpkins everywhere. I was able to get my shots of the boys surrounded by orange.

Peanut was fascinated by the leaves and barely looked up, and once again Munchkin was more interested in filling a wagon, but I love the pictures that I got. They are perfectly imperfect. Over the weekend most of the pictures focused on Munchkin, and Peanut seemed to suffer from Second Child Syndrome (which is a post for another time). Yesterday I was able to focus on Peanut and give him the attention that he deserves.

Linking up with Mama Kat.
5.) Pumpkin patch post!

Ten Things to Smile About

Sometimes the days are long, but here are some things that make it all worth it.

1. Sleeping with the windows open.
2. Nursing and snuggling Peanut in bed first thing in the morning.
3. Reading and cuddling with Munchkin while Peanut is napping.
4. Sunny days that aren't so hot that you melt when you go outside.
5. Picnics in the park with my two favorite boys.
6. Watching the boys play with each other.
7. Flowers. Just because.
8. Peanut falling asleep in my arms while nursing.
9. A new book to read (even better when it is a friend's first novel).
10. Cuddling with Hubby on the couch and watching True Blood (even if we are a season behind).

Linking up with Mama Kat

1.) 10 Things to Smile About (inspired by Things I Can't Say)

To The New Royal Parents

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave hospital by The British Monarchy, on Flickr

Your Royal Highnesses,

Welcome to the wonderful world of parenting. While I am sure that you are getting tons of advice from all around the world, here ten things you will need to survive the little prince's first year.

1. A Thick Skin - There is a steep learning curve when you are new parents and unfortunately for you, you are doing it under a microscope. You will make mistakes, and you will be judged for it, however unfair that may be. You need to learn to ignore those who are trying to make you think you are doing it all wrong.
2. Advice - While there will be people who criticize you, there will also be people with good advice. You need to listen to this advice and figure out how to make it work for you.
3. A Village - I understand that you want to raise him yourself, and you should. But raising a baby is hard work, don't turn down help when you need it. It really does take a village to raise a child, so take advantage of the village you have.
4. A Sense of Humor - Sometimes the only way to deal with things is to laugh. For example, the other day Hubby was noming on baby thighs when he got poop on his face. On. His. Face. When things like that happen you have to look for the funny in it. 
5. Each Other - At the end of the day, you need to support each other.
6. A way to transport him in a car - Which you already have.
7. A way to transport him my foot - Be it a stroller or a carrier, he needs to get around.
8. A way to feed him - Breast, bottle, or a combination of both.
9. A place for him to sleep - Or your arms will get very tired.
10. Clothes and blankets to dress him - Pretty self explanatory.

There is a ton of additional gear which you will think that you will need. It is hard to tell you what to get as each baby is different and each family has a different way of approaching things. You will need to do a bit a trial and error to figure it out for yourselves.

So best of luck to all three of you, and if you want any more advice, I'm here for you!

Linking up with Mama Kat
4.) 10 Things Will and Kate will need to survive baby's first year.

Nine Little Words

It is summertime. Take me out to the ballgame.

Linking up with Mama Kat
2.) 9 pictures. 9 words. (inspired by Bits of Bee)

Summer Views

We had just gotten back from getting his hair cut (his first!). Peanut was asleep in the stroller, so we had a little time to kill. Sitting there and watching him blow his own bubbles was even better than watching him chase bubbles that I blow for him. He was so proud that he could do it himself, I don't think anything could have made that day better. For either of us.

Linking up with Mama Kat. 

3.) Your favorite summer view so far.

Writer's Workshop a few days late

While I'm busy working on the behind the scenes work here, I thought that I would get another post up this week. Of course, I had every intention on getting it up on Thursday, but life got in the way.

3.) Married? Tell us the story of how the question was popped.

It was the holiday party time of year, and on Tuesday I decided that I had nothing to wear to my boyfriend's office party that Friday. So off to the mall we went.

But I was not having a good night, it felt like the fates were conspiring against me. First, my boyfriend was late coming home from work so we got a very late start, then I couldn't find anything that I liked. It felt like everything I tried on just made me look awful. So when we returned home empty handed, I was in full pout mode.

That was when my boyfriend said to me "I'm sorry you couldn't find anything, but I hope that you'll wear this," and he knelt next to me with a closed box in his hand.

I was not sure what to think, after six years I had convinced myself that since he wouldn't open the box it had to be earrings.

That was when he asked me to marry him. Turns out he was late because he was meeting with my dad.

I may have worn an old outfit to the party, but I was busy showing off my new ring all night long.

Linking up with Mama Kat

Writer's Workshop: A Vacation to Remember

It wasn't so much a vacation, as it was a trip. Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, and this was anything but. It was the Baby's first time on a plane, and it wasn't even a short ride. Traveling from New York to London with a nine month old was interesting to say the least. The fact that we flew out after one of the big January storms, but thankfully not the biggest, made it all that much more stressful. Our flight wasn't canceled, which was great since we had a very important reason to be traveling.

My grandmother's one hundredth birthday.

Yes, she turned one hundred years old. And she did receive her card from the Queen.

More importantly for me, she got to meet her fourth great-grandson. And he got to meet his great-grandmother.

And they loved each other.

Linking up with Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

Writer's Workshop: Rewind to Summer

It isn't the typical summer vacation, but the only tropical vacation that we've taken was our honeymoon and that wasn't summer. We have taken two summer trips to England to visit family. In fact, my husband has only ever been there in the summer, when the weather was gorgeous. He might think that it's like that all the time.

Perfect day at Windsor

 We've been lucky with our trips so far. We've missed the rain, and while we did catch part of the heat wave two years ago, it wasn't nearly as bad as a heat wave in New York.

Blue skies over London

Our next trip to England will be the first with the Baby, and it also will not be in the summer. I am not anticipating blue skies and fluffy clouds. I'm also not sure how the flight will be, but that is a post for another time.

Writer's Workshop: Lost Friendship

I came very close to writing about the TSA. The only thing that stopped me was that I am going to be traveling to England in the next few months (with the Baby, first time he'll be on a plane), and I don't really want to think about that right now.

So instead, I'm thinking about a friend who left my life over thirteen years ago, let's call her L. (Thirteen years? When did that happen?). She was one of my best friends from high school, but when we all went to college, she decided that she wanted a clean slate, and got rid of all her friends from high school.

One of our friends (S) was dumped because L didn't like S's boyfriend. Another friend was cut off because she was still friends with S and me.

She stopped speaking to me because when I came home on a break, that happened to be her birthday, I didn't make enough of an effort to see her. My calling multiple times and leaving messages just wasn't good enough.

I know that that was just a lame excuse, and I'll probably never know the real reason she didn't want to see me again.

I did see her once, about nine years ago, while on a date with my (now) husband. She was having dinner with her parents, brother, and who I assumed was her boyfriend. I spent the entire night flipping out about being there in the same restaurant. I never spoke to her, and she never spoke to me.

Then about four years ago, I was catching the train to work, and was thrilled to find an available seat. It wasn't until after I sat down that I realized that I was sitting next to L's father. This time I wasn't able avoid a conversation, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I asked how everyone was doing, and I was thrilled to be at a pretty impressive place in my life.

I still have not spoken to L. I don't know what I would do if I did. I do think that way too much time has gone by for us to ever really be friends again.

I think about her every once in a while, and I miss her. But then I think about how she got rid of me and I realize that I am better off the way things are now.

Writer's Workshop: Creepy Crawly Creations

I am not the most creative person. Especially when it comes to Halloween costumes. My costumes tend to be of the store bought variety. There are a few years in recent memory where I tried to be a bit more creative than "Sexy Alice" (although, I rocked Sexy Alice last year at four months pregnant).

A few years ago (a few more than I care to admit), I convinced two friends to do Josie and the Pussycats with me. It wasn't that long after the movie had come out, so there were the licensed versions available for purchase. We did not go that route.

Melody, Josie and Valerie*

The three of us went shopping at off-the-beaten-path stores to get the perfect outfits and accessories. The ears and tails were generic tiger accessories, but everything else I thought brought it all together perfectly. And even though we didn't have the generic movie costumes, people still recognized who we were.

We had ears! And tails!

That was an awesome Halloween.

* Masks have been added to protect the innocent.**

** I'm (apparently) not that innocent.

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This post is also part of the Celebrate Halloween SITS Contest.

Writer's Workshop: About Me

This week, I decided to try Mama Kat's second prompt. I figure that it is something that I need to do anyway, and maybe it will motivate me to finish the redesign (which I think is taking me way too long). This is definitely a work in progress, but at least it is a start...

About Me

In April, everything changed. In April, I changed, so I'm not sure where to start. Who I am now? Who I was then? What I'm trying to get back? I guess I'll start at the beginning.

I was a bit of a princess.

At my bridal shower

I'll admit it, I was always a bit of a princess.

At my seventh birthday

And at twenty-one, I met my prince. Seven years later, we got married.

The big day

Life was blissful. We had a wonderful apartment in a luxury building. We had friends who we went out with regularly. We even had a pub where we were regulars. Then came April.

An even bigger day

Now I stay at home with my baby boy. We don't get out with friends, and I doubt that they would recognize us at the pub anymore. We have had to cut back on a lot of expenses since I'm not working (for a paycheck, you can't tell me that I don't work), and that includes moving to a place that doesn't have granite counter tops and gorgeous sunset views.

So now I'm trying to navigate this new world that we live in, and not loose my self along the way. This blog is about me, where so much of my life is now about someone else.