I am...

Prior to being a Mommy, I thought I'd be the Mom who had it all together. What did that mean...

The Mom with her nails done.
The Mom with a fresh, pretty face every day - make-up on, hair done.
The Mom who has a great relationship with her hubby and holds hands, takes time for date nights and rarely fights.
The Mom who keeps in touch with her girlfriends and goes out for girls nights every once in a while.
The Mom who cooks dinner during the week.
The Mom who can balance her work life and do really good things professionally.
The Mom who has a clean, tidy home.
The Mom who doesn't realize she is running out of diapers on the last one.
The Mom whose baby sleeps all night (in her own crib) and wakes up fresh and happy, after I've taken a shower and have gotten ready for the day.
The Mom who keeps up with the laundry.
The Mom who wakes up a little earlier to get some things accomplished before her baby girl wakes up for a new day.
The Mom who has a chance to read her Real Simple magazine with a glass of white wine.

What the hell was I thinking?

That shit was so unrealistic! Really. They don't give you a manual that says, "ok here is what it is going to be like every day and here is how you can prepare and do well at this whole motherhood thing." Nope, that manual doesn't exist. Every day is unpredictable. Hell, every night is unpredictable.

When I went back to work my baby was sleeping through the night (in her own crib) and didn't wake up in the morning until after I was already showered and half-way ready. Once I even woke her up before I left for work because I wanted to see her and snuggle her before I left for a 9+ hour work day. I used to even be dressed when my babysitter came every morning. That went out the window, some time a while ago, actually.

I love this shot of Molly on the go - she's fast!

So, really what is the point of this post?

Well, I'm defining myself as a Mommy and that will take me some time. It's funny because so many people (in the blog world) give themselves a title, "Mommy Blogger". Is that me? I'm not so sure. I am a Mommy. I am a blogger. I am so much more. Do I even want a title?


Sometimes I get my nails done - and it is a treat!

I wear minimal make-up every day and I like it that way.

My relationship with my hubby has changed as we have both taken on the new role as parents. We're working on it. Our love is not simple, but I would never want it to be.

I go out with the girls every so often, even though I'd like to be home with my baby girl. I've listened to the advice. It's important to get out and have some "me" time.

I still hate cooking. I am trying to be better about thinking about weekly meals, but I'm failing here too. It is important to my husband and so it needs to be important to me. I'll take slow improvement over no improvement.

All I can say about balancing my work life is, being a working Mom is hard. I've accepted the challenge.

My house is our home. We love it. We look forward to coming home to it, even with some Irish lace in the corner, dog hair on the rug, leftover baby food on the countertop and laundry over there.

Molly has everything she needs. She will never go hungry or cold or without a clean diaper on her cute little bum.

The fact is, I like when my baby sleeps in my bed. Do I sleep? No, not really. I'm too worried about her. I know she is better off sleeping in her own bed. I do. Waking up next to her with her little breath on my face is pure Heaven though.

Laundry - bleh. Screw you laundry!

I just cannot wake up earlier. I'm tired. Maybe one day a week could be a goal...? We'll see.

The Real Simple magazine gets read (maybe not in one sitting) before the new edition comes for the next month. These days I'd rather sip tea than wine. Girl still loves a nice, cold glass of white every now and then.


So that's where I'm at. I'm still growing into my new role - Mommy. This, I know, is going to be the best adventure of my life. Glad your along for the ride.

monday, monday

I'm linking up with one of my favorite bloggers, Lisa Leonard today for a little "hello Monday" and Carissa at lowercase letters for Miscellany Monday. A little random writing today!

Hello new week with sunny skies and a chill in the air.

Hello to this mild Winter weather we are having on Long Island - so ok with me!

Hello to a pretty, red "happy valentine's day" banner hanging in my kitchen.

Hello to my new Real Simple magazine that I plan to read cover to cover.

Hello to a new project I have in mind. I'm getting inspired, now I just need take-off!

Hello to a few new, cute items added to Molly's wardrobe - including an adorable wool coat for $1.97 from Old Navy. She just had to have it!

Hello to a baby girl with a little, white, sharp tooth sticking up!

 {I am trying to get the perfect picture of it!}

Have a good week!

What are you saying hello to today? 

Midweek Confessions

I was going to title the post "Confessions of a Working Mama" or something cute-sy like "Just Another Manic Wednesday" or something stupid like "You Chance to do the Hump" in honor of Wednesday/hump day, but alas I stuck with the norm Midweek Confessions, partly because I'm not feeling super creative tonight and partly because my confessions can come from a working mom or a stay at home mom or someone who is not even a mom at all. You be the judge of that! Off we go....

I confess that I have rewashed a knife in the dishwasher 3 times now and the darn thing will not come clean. So now, it sits in the sink. Damn you knife!

I confess that I love warm, sunny 53-degree weather in the heart of the winter. I wish I would've taken a walk today, but Tuesday are going be my crazy days at work this semester, and so I was tied down in the office today.

I confess that I would rather drive ten minutes out of my way to find an ATM rather than pay the ATM fee.

I confess that the President is giving a State of the Union address in a few minutes and I would rather go to bed than watch it.  Sorry Mr. Obama, I'm tired this evening. I did vote for you though!

I confess that since I became a mommy I love staying home on the weekends more than ever! I've always been somewhat of a homebody, but now more than ever I just love staying inside and spending time with my hubby and my little girl. I love my home and I love the memories we are making here.

I confess that sometimes I fake online shop. Yup, I do. Fake online shopping means you go to a web site of you choice and fill your cart with all kinds of things you would want to buy and watch the price tally go up and up and then you just exit the site. X right on out and move along. Stupid, I know. But I do it sometimes. Oh well!

I confess that I am already thinking about my baby girl's 1st Birthday party celebration. I have a theme. I have a date. I have ideas. She is only 8 months old, but I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm not rushing it by any means, but I do love hosting parties and gathering with loved ones and having a theme. I'm all about that!

hello Monday

Linking up with the fabulous Lisa Leonard for a little "hello Monday" today. Here is what I am saying hello to today...

Hello to a new, fresh week with ideas streaming through my head.

Hello to a new semester and a whole new batch of students back from intersession break.  

Hello rainy Monday with rubber rain boots and a bright pink umbrella!

Hello eight-month old baby girl {so super cute} standing up all the time!

Hello to a little sugar pick-me-up in the middle of the day.

Hello to Mom's delicious barley soup for dinner. {I love soup and bread for dinner}

Hello to clearing my head, writing a short and sweet blog post and kissing my hubby good night.

Have a great week!

Liebster blog award

My friend Michele over at Imperfectly Wonderful World gave me a blog award. Michele is the best! She has two of the cutest little boys with super cute names. Michele taught me that blog friends are real friends! I hope to meet Michele in person one day soon if {when} her hubby and her take a trip back to New York! Thank you my friend!

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers, in the hopes that it will bring many new friends/followers. Liebster is German and means 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'.

There are some rules when given this award:


1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking  back to them.
2. Reveal your pick(s) for the award and let them know. {It's really supposed to be "5" picks for the award, but I sometimes make up my own rules! Yup I'm like that! }
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.
5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

I am giving this award to Allie of A Couple A Baby A dog Their Blog. Love the title of her blog! And, her little boy - super duper cute!

I'm also spreading the love and fun and giving the award to my friend, Kathleen of Simple Silly Life.

Midweek Confessions

It's Wednesday again, and it's time to confess all the craziness that runs through your head that you {may, or may not} tell anyone else, except the loyal readers of your blog, and then you feel really great to put it out there and link up with some other cool bloggers here, on the E Myself and I blog!



SO without any further ado, I confess...

...that I really love reading the confessions of the other blog mommies that link up with E.

...that I laugh out loud at some of them because they are SO true!

...I got this really super cool video camera for Christmas and I tape Molly every day (just for a few seconds, sometimes even a minute) and I have yet to upload about 20-something videos. Yes, they are short! Yes they are so fun. Yes, I will get to it - soon!

..On that note, I really need to back up some of my photos. Cause if I lose any of them (knocking on wood as I type) I will cry!

...I have to work on Sunday and I'm not thrilled about it!

...If we went through this entire winter with no snow, I'd be fine with that. I love living in New York and experiencing the seasons, but to me experiencing winter on Long Island is wearing a heavy, bulky, warm coat with gloves and a hat and scarf, and starting your car early in the morning to warm it up. Yup, I'd be ok with doing all that and not seeing any snow.

...I fell asleep on the couch with my baby girl last night at about 8:20pm. Loved it too!

...I really wanted to get a haircut before Thursday. See, we are taking professional head shots at work on Thursday morning, so I would love my hair to be super shiny and be sporting a great new cut. Bottom line, it's just not going to happen.

This next one is BIG.

...after I had a baby, I was so lucky to stay home over the summer and extend my maternity leave to a four-month leave. Unfortunately it was unpaid, but we won't go there. Anyway after I had a baby I started wearing less makeup, keeping it very minimal. And I really love it! I am comfortable with the amount of makeup {or lack of} I apply these days. I do love a great lip gloss and cannot walk out of the house without curling my eye lashes and applying mascara. Now that we got that straight,  I feel the need to practice my make-up before my photo shoot at work tomorrow. Is that a little crazy? Yeah, I thought so too!

Have a great week!

dear baby girl...

It's been a while since I've written to you a little love letter. You are growing so big, so fast. Like too fast! It is unbelievable to see how you change each day. With each month that you get older, it becomes my new favorite. At seven months you are eating, crawling, smiling lots, pulling yourself up to standing position and being quite an active little girl. You don't have any teeth yet, but the Pediatrician suspects one of those little white boogers is going to pop very soon!

I'm writing this right now after I've just put you down to bed. For a while, it was a bit of a tough go, bedtime that is. First Daddy and I let you sleep with us. We loved it so much, snuggling in our big bed with you right next to us. But in the end we knew t wasn't best for any of us. We knew the best place for you was in your crib. So, we tried and tried, and tried some more, but we just couldn't bear the sound of you crying and being sad. Then we got stronger. I assure you, baby girl, it was only in your best interest. Placing your little body down in the crib every night and hearing you cry was the hardest thing (so far) that we've had to do as your parents. That lasted for about a week, like they all said. And with each night it got better, as in less time that you cried. The first night was gutt-wrenching. I had to go to another ara of the house because I was so sad to see you go through this. Daddy was even worse! By the middle of the week your cry time was only about  twelve minutes. Go baby girl! And then by day seven, you just went down for bed in your crib like the amazing little girl that you are.

I love every.single.little thing about you.

I love...

...your little toes - that I kiss every time I pull them out of your jumper, even when they have toe-jam!

...when you do raspberries, even when I'm feeding you and your food goes all over!

...when you wake up in the morning ever so peacefully and just make a little sound to let me know you are ready to start the day!

...when you laugh at our dog, Auto when he barks!

...when you go super fast in your walker.

...when you crawl around the furniture I've made as a blockade so you don't go any further.

...when you open your touch and feel book and start running your little fingers over the furry animals in the book.

...when I lay you down on your changing pad to change your diaper and you look into my eyes and give me a little smile as if to say, "mommy, I sure do love you."

...when you go right up to the baby gate and it looks like you are in jail!

...when you sit in your new wagon.

...when I put the Backyardigans on and you watch it as if you love that show! Pablo is our favorite, right baby girl?

...that you go to church on Sundays with your Nanny (and Chuckie too!) and listen to the music and look around at the pretty stained glass.

...that you love to play peek-a-boo these days!

There is so much more that I love about you. You have made my life complete. I am blessed to be your Mommy. There is no other place in the world I'd rather be than with you.

I love you, Molly. I look forward to watching you grow each and every day. You mean the world to me and Daddy.

Love,
Mommy xo