better than a red rabbit’s foot

Last weekend was a fun but busy one. Besides being the first easter for the little man, it was also his first ever Cards game. We lucked out with a beautiful, sunny, Saturday afternoon and arrived at the stadium just in time for the first pitch, decked out head to toe in Cardinal red. By the way, I do believe Henry has more Cards gear than Tim and I combined.

Although it would be a memorable event for our little family regardless, of course we hoped we would see a good game. However we never guessed that we would be treated to an 11-2 victory, complete with a Pujols grand slam and 3-run homer! I think that Henry might just be luckier than the red rabbit foot keychain that I brought along every baseball game as a child. Looking back, it doesn’t seem to make sense to give a child a dead animal apendage dyed red for luck, but I digress. Our little lucky charm had quite a day and we had so much fun introducing him to the best fans in baseball.

this post is for Tim

honey, I just know you have something wonderful planned for my first mother’s day, but in case you need any help, here are a few gifts that i would not secretly return when you aren’t looking…

baby birthstone necklace – its extravagant, but i’m sure you think i’m worth it.
adorable little dish – customized with my little man’s moniker of course
new momma tea
gift card for a massage or mani/pedi

oh and here are some more ideas in case you plan to get your own mom a gift for a change. don’t worry I’ll get a backup gift just in case you still forget.

ps. mothers day is sunday, may 10th

solid

Henry enjoyed his first taste of solid food on Saturday, if you call runny rice cereal mixed with milk a solid. He didn’t quite know what to expect when we got out his bowl and spoon, but I think he could tell it was something to eat. He got really excited, started kicking his feet and huffing like he does whenever its time to eat. He even opened wide for the first spoonful, which isn’t that surprising since he likes to put everything in his mouth lately. After that he powered through the whole bowl, smiling after each bite. I think I might have a little foodie on my hands, but we’ll wait and see how vegetables go.

more pics

facebook is killing my blog

Well that’s only half true. Working full-time, caring for an infant, a dog, a cat and a house (and a husband), takes up most of the day. However even with all that, I used to post during my lunch hour at work. Now I split that hour between expressing milk (that’s a whole other story) and facebook.  Initially I fought against joining facebook, thinking at the time that it was just for the kids, but my persistent brother kept on me until I finally caved. Now over a year later it seems like everybody and their brother is on it and very active at that.

I do enjoy the opportunity to keep up with old friends and new ones, share stories and photos with my family and get updates from groups and businesses that I’m interested in. I’ve become as addicted to it as anyone, and it seems that so have my friends. I don’t even get regular emails anymore, only facebook messages. I login to facebook and reply to their message so that they get an email that requires them to login to facebook to reply back. Geez. Its no wonder I can’t find time to blog.

So until facebook has finally run its course and is no longer the favored method of communication amongst my friends next to texting – don’t even get me started on that – it looks like my little blog might be limping along for a while. In the meantime, you know just where to find me.

congrats brother!

I’m very excited to announce that my baby brother proposed to his girlfriend this weekend! (and she said yes of course). I think they are one of the cutest couples ever and have hoped Molly would be part of our family not long after I met her. My brother had planned a whole weekend trip for Molly’s birthday to one of her favorite places, Galena, Illinois, and proposed on a beautiful snowy drive in the woods. He even planned a dinner to celebrate with a surprise appearence from Molly’s parents.

You might remember that my sister was engaged in August of what was a very eventful 2008, and it looks like 2009 is off to quite an exciting start as well! Our family is rapidly expanding with no signs of slowing down, and we’re sure keeping mom busy with all the big events.

Congrats Dave and Molly! Love you guys.

itchy and scratchy

Well by yesterday I had finally recovered from a weekend cold that kept me from hanging out with my sweet baby and husband and from enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. The day started out well, Tim left the house on time with a full, clean, dressed and happy Henry in tow and I got on the road in enough time to stop by Starbucks on my way into work. It was already really warm by then and was going to be the warmest day of the year so far. I had a quick morning at work and was focused and efficient. I had just finished reading a creative review of the new Pepsi logo and the subject matter and warm weather left me craving a soda. I scrounged up enough cash, yes cash (1.50!) for a Cherry Coke Zero and went back to my desk. Little did I know I’d regret that overpriced soda for days. About 15 minutes later and halfway though the bottle I went into the restroom and noticed a raised bump on my cheek that looked like a bug bite. I didn’t really think anything of it and left for lunch, but on my way my left eye felt strange and I looked in the mirror to find it was swollen. Shortly after, my stomach started itching and by the time I grabbed a quick drive-though lunch and returned to work, I had hives all over my body. I took some benadryl and drowsily made my way through the rest of the day at work thinking that it was no big deal and would be gone by dinner.

Wrong. Its over 24 hours later and despite rounds and rounds of benadryl, calls to my internist and Henry’s pediatrician, an office visit, more meds and even a prescription for steroids, I’m still a blotchy, itchy mess. Hives stink.

To top it off, I feel like a rotten employee and a neglectful mother. How ridiculous is it to call in sick to work and miss an important meeting because you drank a soda? How silly do I feel that I have to use up my whole emergency milk supply because I can’t feed my baby on steroids, because of a SODA? My doctor doesn’t think my newly found allergy to Splenda is all that funny, after all your body does all sorts of weird things after being pregnant, but days of hives from a soda? really?

This feels like one big practical joke. A very itchy, scratchy, miserable joke. I just pray it doesn’t last much longer.

snow report

Of course we didn’t even get half of what was predicted, so I grumpily steered the sled, I mean car, into work today. On the bright side, my lucky little sister who is a high school teacher does have the day off, so Henry gets to spend all day with his Aunt Anna.

snow day, pretty please?!

So we just got an email reminding us that our offices plan to be open tomorrow, despite the fact that they’re predicting 6″-8″ of snow tonight, and if we decide not to come in we would have to take a vacation day, boo. Of course they did leave open the possibility that they’ll send out a company email if they decide to close.

Oh how I wish I could be snowed in with my little munchkin. I haven’t wanted snow this bad since I was in elementary school.

little rookie

Doesn’t he have the cutest little smile? Although its still over a month until spring training even starts, we’re getting baseball fever around here and I had to share our latest photo shoot. We were surprised to find that much of the 6-9 month size Cardinal gear that we’re saving for this summer already fits our little 3 month-old slugger. So we took advantage of a sunny day to deck him out and get some shots before he’s too big for the clothes. Obviously we still have some time on the ball cap.  Go Cards!

back to work

It’s official. I’m back at work. I’m typing this entry as I sit at my desk eating a bowl of soup, and its old soup. Of course canned soup doesn’t go bad, but its still feels odd to eat a lunch that had been planned for a cold Friday back in October. It has been sitting on a shelf by my desk since the day before Henry was born.
That is about how I would describe being back at work right now, like an old can of soup. It’s warm, familiar, comforting and full of good stuff that I’ve always liked, but it’s also old and the same and not too exciting. However, you have to eat to live and soup is good for you, so I’m sure in time I’ll learn to love the old soup again.
Until then I’ll just be looking forward to breakfasts and dinners.