Ball!!

 "Ball!" he says, grinning. It's his newest word, and the ball is his favorite toy.

 I'm relieved he likes playing with a ball, instead of one of the plastic and loud toys that lay dusty and forgotten under the train table.

 He throws it over his head and laughs when it lands behind him.

 He gathers up all the balls on the deck and throws them over the railing. The Mermaid goes down into the yard to get them for him, each time telling him "This is the last time, Tadpole, so don't throw them over again, I won't get them for you." We all know he'll throw them over, and when he does, she'll laugh and run down to get them again.

I watch the three of them bounce and laugh and giggle, and I think about how lucky I am. And how Life Is Good.

Ball!!

Giveaway! Disney on Ice!

It's that wonderful yet sometimes stressful time of year again. And for Disney to come give us a break from it all with a night of great entertainment!

This will be, I believe, our third Disney on Ice show and it never gets old. The girls LOVE the show, and I'm looking forward to getting The Tadpole's reaction too, now that he's old enough.

"Discover endless riches when Disney on Ice presents Treasure Trove! Get tangle up in Disney's 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn, then enter the worlds of Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan, and Snow White. Set sail with Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook & his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Netherland! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon. And don't be late to a very important date with Alice & the Madhatter as they march with the Queen of Heart's Army of Cards. Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime."

Opening night is December 26th, and we can't wait to tell the girls on Christmas where we will be doing the next day!

GIVEAWAY!!!!


I'm giving away a family four-pack to the 7PM performance on Monday, December 26th at the TD Garden in Boston. To enter, just leave a comment telling me which Disney character is your favorite! The lucky winner will be randomly chosen on Friday, December 16th. Good luck!

Giveaway! Disney on Ice!

Just Saying.

Just coming on here to say that I've been really busy. In a good way.

And...my kids are totally awesome.

Have a great Thursday everyone.

Just Saying.

No Wasted Time

My client had her beautiful baby girl on Nov. 5th.

I missed the birth.

She called me at 9:35PM and told me her water had just broken. I asked if she was having any contractions and she said she wasn't, but that she was feeling a little uncomfortable and was going to head into the hospital to get her antibiotics for Group B, would I mind meeting her there? Not a problem.

I called my mom to come watch the kids. I kind of took my time. I mean, she wasn't even having contractions yet, right? I ate before I left, thinking that it was going to be a long labor and I needed to fuel up.

I drove to the hospital and walked in her room at 11PM. Right as they were placing the baby on her chest! Total labor from rupture of membranes to birth was 1.5 hours! She did awesome, and of course baby is beautiful!

I'm also working with a postpartum client right now, starting today. I worked with this lovely family previously when their baby was first born, and now they have called me back for a few more days.

I'm spending this month really working on expanding my business. I'd like to eventually get up to two clients a month. We'll see how it goes!

No Wasted Time

Dusting This Thing Off

I haven't really been around here much. Life has been so busy! I'm homeschooling two now, and still trying to figure out the logistics of that. Plus The Tadpole is certainly keeping me busy!

I've also been spending all my free time studying. I'm applying for a nursing program. I'm going to become an LPN so I can qualify for the IBCLC exam in 2014. The program I am applying to only accepts 30 students out of the 200 that apply. I'm taking the TEAS V exam on Saturday and I need to do well!

I could always just take the college courses required to qualify for the exam without going through nursing school, but I figured if I have to take that many courses anyway I might as well get some credentials to go along with it. That way I could also get a nursing job as well, or go back for the bridge program to become an RN.

Doula business is doing well. I'm on call now for a client due in November. I still don't have as many clients as I would like to have, but this year I've had more than I've ever had in one year.

That's about it over here. Hopefully this blog won't be so neglected now!

Dusting This Thing Off

Till My Legs Give Out

This past weekend I ran my second 10K. It was the Devil's Chase in Salem, MA, and it was actually a little longer than 10K, 6.66 miles (get it, 666? yukka yukka).

My first 10K I ran in September, the 5th Annual Lone Gull. I was still only about halfway through the Couch to 5K program and had only run three miles at the most. It was HARD and I walked a lot of the course but I managed to finish. Boy was I sore!

After Lone Gull I finished the Couch to 5K and immediately started a 10K training program. I finished that just in time for Devil's Chase. Boy what a difference between the two races! I ran (slowly) the entire 6.66 miles and beat my Lone Gull time by 6 minutes!

Devil's Chase was a blast to run. It was freezing but once I started running I warmed up quick. I did not run in costume, but everyone else did and it was so fun to see how creative people got! Next year I will be sure to run in costume.

I'm now starting a half-marathon training program. I'm thinking of running one in February. In May, I'll be running the Run For Your Lives 5K Obstacle Course. I'm really excited, I think it's going to be a blast.

Can you tell I'm addicted to running?

Here I am, right after finishing Devil's Chase:

Till My Legs Give Out

Sweet

My dearest Guppy,

Just like your sister's letter, this one is embarrassingly late. So sorry, my sweetheart.

You are now five years old. And still a total sweetheart. You love to cuddle and hug, you love praise and affection. You get so upset if you even suspect that someone might be upset with you.

We've officially started homeschooling. You're learning reading, writing, and soon we'll be starting math. History and science you are learning just by listening to The Mermaid's lessons in the background. I didn't realize this until you started blurting out the answers to the questions I was asking her.

You still love playing dress up, and being a princess. You are so girly, I love it!! If it has bows, ribbons, or ruffles you must have it. You love dance class, and I love watching you blossom on your own, in the one activity that you don't share with your sister.

You are so sweet to your little brother, although sometimes you do lose patience with him. I think you want him to stay a baby more than I do, so you can keep "mothering" him like a newborn. Since The Tadpole has become less cooperative, you've started to mother your dolls more, putting them down for naps and nursing them when they are hungry.

You crave alone time with me or your father. It doesn't matter if we are just brushing your hair or your teeth in the bathroom, you beam and light up. I'm sorry we don't get more chances to have alone time, my love.

You're not shy, but you are an introvert. Having time to yourself is simply how you re-charge your batteries. So different from your sister!

We love you so much, our little sweetheart, and we are so lucky to have you in our lives. Happy Birthday.

Sweet