Puerto Rico!

In twelve short hours we will be boarding a plane and bound for PR. My excitement is certainly tempered by the thought of eight days without my little sunshine. I know she is in the most capable hands. My frame of mind this week is inspired by expert mother and friend, Mandy...Enjoy this short week because the laundry, dishes, un-sold house and diapers will all be here when you return...the sand, the sun and the pina coladas will not. Looking forward to appeasing the travel bug within. Looking forward to some laughs and new adventures with my best friend. Also looking forward to squeezing our girl when we return.

20 Pounds of Fury

Well almost. 19 pounds, 14 ounces read the scale at Dr. Scott Mercola's office this morning. She is in the 10th percentile for weight and a whopping 29th percentile for height. More good news...no swine flu, avian flu or any other type of dramatic ailment. Just some major itchiness likely brought on by eczema and a nose that runs like a faucet.

Secret Confession I: In light of recent news headlines I just purchased 60 N95 respirator masks through Sam's Club. Preparedness not paranoia, right? I was a girl scout gosh darn it.

Secret Confession II: As I write, Ella is grabbing for the scissors. How's that for parental preparedness? She may impale herself in our kitchen but at least she won't have swine flu!

High School Reunion

Yesterday Ella attended a first birthday party while Jerry and I attended a high school reunion...actually, they were one in the same. Maissy, the celebrant, is the daughter of a fellow Glenbard South Alum. As I watched the birthday girl unwrap her gifts I couldn't help but chuckle as I overheard the focus of conversation amongst our friends: Disney on Ice, allergies to milk, nap times and runny noses. Fifteen years have passed and long gone are the murmurings about parent-free parties and the fallout of those parent-free parties. What would those seventeen and eighteen year olds think of us now? Just thinking about it makes me yearn for a wine cooler, my curling iron and Depeche Mode.

More Spring Activities!

Girl's Night Out

The Marion Street Cheese Market, Brazilian guitarist, Paulinho Garcia, sheeps milk cheese platter and a glass of superb wine...not a bad way to top off a 70 degree Thursday. Ella enjoyed the pre-bedtime guitarra and a generous plate of grapes. Who says bedtime needs to be routine?

The Island of the Misfit Toys

The toy box has been long neglected. I wouldn't be surprised if we found some Christmas wrapping still in there. Ella has decided to look elsewhere for entertainment, namely the cabinet beneath our kitchen sink. She has adopted a fly swatter and dust broom/pan as her latest pets. Those summer garage sales couldn't come quicker. This kid needs some puzzles stat. Looking forward to adding to our arsenal of already neglected toys. Perhaps we can pick up a dog brush and plunger to complete her current collection.

Crystal Ball Reads Road Trips in Our Future

Whoever said "getting there is half the fun" is a liar. Thoughts of future trips to Denver/Boston by car rolled through my mind this afternoon as we began our ascent out of Logan Airport. Certainly nineteen hours on the road outweigh the costs (emotional and physical) of flying. We spent a majority of the flight, once again, hanging out with the flight staff in the back of the plane. In an attempt to ease the tears, a kind flight attendant whipped up a concoction of dry ice and liquid soap. It bubbled and gassed...in my opinion, a bit too dramatic for an aircraft trick...but it held Ella's attention. Sitting still in a chair for over two hours is simply counter-intuitive for our daughter. In all fairness she did really well. Despite the rought spots, this weekend has restored my faith in man and woman-kind. Thankfully, we encountered knowing smiles and nods at every turn. Quality time with Allyn, Jon and Jo was certainly our reward. We always leave wishing we lived closer. Jerry and I have so much fun watching the girls get aquainted with one another. I know all four of their parents expect the best of friendships to emerge as they grow older. For now they will fight over teething biscuits and personal space as only true sisters would. As I write I am already planning our next trip out east. Perhaps memories of the flight will fade like those of child birth.

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Flight Attendants Prepare for Landing

I write from the beautiful Westin Hotel in Boston's Back Bay area. Boston is home to the marathon this weekend. Elite runners from around the world are gathering and I watch, pleased to be eating a chocolate croissant for breakfast and not contemplating a 26.2 mile run. No Cliff Bars here thank you. At least not this year.

Although we curse Jerry's job for the many nights he spends in a hotel room; we thank Gatorade this weekend for an opportunity to see family. We arrived last night, greeted by Allyn, Jon and Jo. We couldn't have asked for a better welcoming committee after a trying flight from Chicago. The pressure changes in the plane wreaked havoc on Ella's ears for the last 60 minutes of the flight...which in turn wreaked havoc on rows 15-40. Overall, Ella's cries in pain were met with sympathy. As we began our descent, cries were replaced with smiles and relief from the back half of the plane. We remembered her swim suit, snacks and sippy cups but we briefly lost our sanity somewhere over the Great Lakes. All was restored at the first sight of our niece and a welcome basket complete with Hacker Pschorr.

Looking forward to adventures with the girls, continued unapologetic eating and athlete watching. A perfect combination.

Hello Sunshine!

Ella easily passed the time today in the park just outside our local library...2 hours in fact. The tiny playground was packed. Kids smelling of sunshine were kicking up sand and making new friends. Parents, moms and dads alike, sat on benches playing referee while juggling phone calls. The beautiful weather made the constant re-directions tolerable for everyone. "Say thank you", "play nice", "don't throw sand". It was typical Oak Park with parents speaking Mandarin, Arabic and the emotionally in-tuned, politically correct language of the 2009 Robo-Parent. I felt right at home. I sat down next to Ella and aside from the gentle reminders not to eat sand, enjoyed the scene in silence. If this is a flavor of what summer has to offer, I can't wait for it to officially begin.

A Round of Applause

The choir at Grace Episcopal Church undoubtedly appreciated your applause today Ella. It seemed that you thoroughly enjoyed each and every song as not one went by without your enthusiastic clapping.

Spring

There is no better place to usher in spring than the Garfield Park Conservatory. Our latest visit included an added bonus of interacting with a lively group of nursing home residents. Both parties (Ella and the residents) trying to get their feet underneath them and so excited to see each other. There is something so very special about the young and old...I don't mean that to sound trite. They seem to get it so much more clearly than those of us in the "middle". They relish what we breeze past as we hurry to the next "thing". They are grateful for the legs and balance they are trying to maintain or in Ella's case, achieve. They have a way to get rid of all of the static that creates noise in our day. Life's pleasures are less diluted and enjoyed in their purist form. A smile, an extended hand, beautiful flowers and the opportunity to be there; they couldn't ask for more...and neither could I. Thank you for giving me the chance to view life through your eyes Ella. I forget how beautiful it can be.

Good Grief

Another script for Amoxicillan with Ella's name on it. Good grief! 102 fever today sealed the deal. The prescription given to me by the doctor yesterday was destined to be filled. Ella was swiftly picked up from daycare. Her teachers mentioned to me twice that they tried to call me but had to contact my husband...like his input is a conciliation prize? Grr. Anyway, off to the pharmacy. I was hoping she would do a little moaning and groaning for the pharmacist so that we would elicit some sympathy and they would hurry. The kid was grinning ear to ear...luckily our prescription arrived five minutes later.
Unfortunately the smiles didn't last. This evening, an hour after I put her to bed she was crying. Eyes shut, trying her darndest to stay asleep, crying out in pain. "Mama". Is it her ears, her throat, her teeth? I've discovered there is nothing worse than your child hurting. Nothing. Nothing. She put her head on my chest. She was listening to my heart beat. I wanted her to remember that heart beat...the one that we shared for nine long months. The one that breaks when she is sad. The one that beats for her (and you too JB). The one that wants so badly for her to feel better.
I guess that is where I came up with the title for today's blog. Good grief - my state of being tonight. Good because my heart is full and grief because she's sick...duh. I guess I didn't need to state the obvious. Good night little one. The sun will be up soon.

Tour de Americana

We were once again displaced this evening as hopeful home buyers trudged through our digs. It was round number two for these potential homeowners. Here's hopin they liked what they saw.
Trying to keep yourselves busy for an hour can be a trying task when it is 6 p.m. and you have a hungry/tired toddler in the back seat. The phrase, "perfect storm", comes to mind. We ended up at our local Chipotle where Ella dined on guacamole. We lingered as long as possible. Apparently it was not long enough as a drive home revealed that these meticulous buyers were still evaluating our place. A u-turn and two minutes later found us at the local McDonalds. At fourteen months and thirteen days, Ella had her first Happy Meal. It was the end of innocence. Twenty minutes later we wrestled her into her pajamas. She continued to grip on to those nuggets; one in each hand. Refusing to let go, these defeated parents let her fall asleep this way. Sweet dreams Happy Meal.

An Ode to Grandparents

"We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves" Henry Ward Beecher. We also never knew the true love of a grandparent until Ella and Allyn were born. Beautiful and perfect in every way in the eyes of her Lolo, Lola and Mimi. Gentle hands wash her face, bathe her, hold her and provide comfort. Patient ears listen to the lamenting and intricacies of her new parents instructions. Houses are readily surrendered to their granddaughter's whims. We don't say it often enough...thank you to the three of you for all that you are to us and our daughter.

My Baby's Baby

I would like to introduce Ella's baby (yet to be named). When prompted, she will coo, "Bay" and give her a wet and sloppy, open-mouthed kiss. I love seeing my daughter with her "Bay" as I know how dearly I loved my own "Baby". Ella's Mimi resurrected "Baby" on Ella's first birthday. "Baby" recently celebrated her thirty-second birthday. Limbs hang from her well-worn frame by a thread. Dust and dirt have settled into the creases of her mouth and nose. Her pink home-made pajamas are piling and greyed. She looked happy but certainly worse for the wear. Mimi has already admitted "Baby" to a Naperville doll hospital (no joke) for repair. I eagerly await our reunion. Ella will undoubtedly make her feel welcome as well.
*Pics of "Baby" will be made available after her discharge.

Reachability

I have a cell phone, a home phone with call waiting, a fax machine, a my-space account, a facebook account and a variety of email addresses. I am reachable by so many different avenues and it can be exhausting! Gone are the days of busy signals and unanswered phones ringing. Gone are the days of a letter and stamp. Here's the kicker, do we know each other any better? Are we more connected than we used to be? Looking for ways to unplug these days.