pierce's one-year photo shoot

Pierce turned one at the end of November. We did a little photo shoot the week after in honor of the big occasion. Unfortunately it was the one bitter cold day in December. Poor little Pierce's eyes and nose were soon watering out in the cold so he didn't last very long.

But, I got to use my new lens and enjoyed capturing a few shots of the boys that I think are worth keeping. Hope you're okay with a total photo dump. ;)

(More coming on P's birthday and why we adore him so much in a future post. Shane and I had fun comparing his one-year photos to Christian's here.)

pros + cons of being a working mom (my take)

A week ago I packed up my stuff in the press office and said good-bye to my job as communications advisor in the U.S. Senate.

 Looking back it's hard to believe I worked there for 5 1/2 years. The longest I've stayed at a job by far. When I started I was a newlywed and when I left I was a frazzled mother of two. ;) But really, I'm so glad I had the chance to work for an office that was so supportive of staffers and their families. Sen. DeMint was more than generous with maternity leave and flexible office hours and for that I'll always be grateful, trusting me to stay on top of my workload from home when necessary.

 Working full time sure taught me that being a working mom is hard work. But during maternity leave and other times when I had a week off here or there I also came to the realization that staying home is just as hard, if not harder. Both lifestyles have their challenges. I feel I can now empathize with women in both situations.

But just for kicks, here are a few things I will not miss about working full time:

 - having to wake my kids up before the sun comes up (in the winter) rather than let them awake on their own

- listening to my older son throw a fit now and again because we can't just stay home and snuggle (this just breaks your heart when he says "but I need you!")

- having my baby follow me around the house bawling his eyes out because all he wants to do is be held and I have to finish getting ready so we can leave (and the guilt that comes with this nearly every day)

- trying to get out the door with one kid on my hip, one reaching for my hand and at least four bags on my arms as we make our way down two flights of stairs to the car

- spending nearly an hour and a half driving home each night, half of that time with fussy kids who are overtired and hungry and don't understand why there's traffic

- barely seeing your kids during the week due to work and all that time commuting

- worrying about what to pack for lunch every day (especially difficult when peanut butter is not allowed!)

- being tethered to my blackberry: it will take a while to break the habit but I'm so glad I don't have to stress about what might have happened once I get home at night or on the weekends and whether I need to login from home and work while my kids need me

- pumping and more pumping: I'm grateful I was able to breastfeed my boys but I really never want to see my pumping bag again!


- worrying about dropping off your kids when they are kind of sick but not so sick that you can justify another missed day of work

- feeling bad having to run out of the office at the end of every day even though everyone else is still working at full speed because you have to pick up your kids by a certain time

- coming home with fussy/hungry kids only to scramble for the next hour to put something on the table before they (or you) have a complete meltdown or feed them another peanut butter and honey sandwich

- basically, it all comes down to this: never feeling like your best is good enough because you can never give 100% to your work and your family -- at least that was my experience -- I know there are other women who handle the balance far better than I

 Of course, there is much that I will miss as well:

- the chance to drop off my kids after it's been a rough morning (let's be honest, some days it's a sweet relief -- especially if they decide to scream all the way to the babysitter's)

- having a separate time to myself, whether in the car or at my desk, where no little person is demanding my attention


- being part of something "bigger": while I realize the most important work I'll ever do will be inside the walls of my own home there's still something about being part of a team that you really believe is making an important difference

- going along with the last one, when I was able to take a deep breath and look around I realized how fortunate I was to be working for one of 100 senators in the heart of our nation's capital -- it was hard to see that go

- developing my professional talents/skills and taking pride in my professional identity which has been so much a part of who I am during my 20s

- daily chats and rants with my coworkers: I had fabulous, extremely talented coworkers, many of whom became like family to me and I will dearly miss having regular contact with them but I will definitely do my best to keep in touch

- the excitement: working in press on Capitol Hill meant every day was different, breaking news could change everything -- I'm sure it will be an adjustment to not live at the mercy of 24-7 breaking news


- the challenge: while stressful at times I will miss troubleshooting problems or rising to a new challenge as more responsibility was handed my way -- from building a new website to blogging to video editing to speech writing to scheduling and staffing interviews and writing press releases and coordinating press conferences -- it was such a time of growth for me and a boost to my self-confidence which I have struggled with throughout my life

- last but not least: my gorgeous surroundings -- the Russell Senate office building is amazing and seeing and walking to and from the Capitol itself regularly was always a thrill (not to mention having a staff i.d. that allowed me in the underground tunnels and in other "off limits to the public" places on the Hill)

Leaving the workforce was definitely bittersweet but I am more than ready to be home with my babies for a time. I got lucky too getting to "retire" at the same time as the senator. When I told him my plans at the office Christmas party he couldn't have been more excited for me. He lit up, patted me on the back and told me I was making a decision I would never regret. And I know he was right...I'll just have to remember that when things get crazy at home and I don't have anyone to blame but myself. ;)

one month down, four to go

Hi there.

We're still around. And surviving. Just in case people are wondering.

Shane's been gone a month now...a month!

But we've had the chance to visit him a few times so that sure makes things a bit easier.

Still, I'm losing the motivation to keep up appearances around here. Sad, I know. But I find I practically have to "bribe" myself to "recover" the house at the end of the night. (All the ladies out there know what I mean by "recover," right?) Like tonight, for example, toys are all put away but I really need to plow through a few more loads of laundry, wipe the table down and mop the floor. It really shouldn't take that long, and yet it sits. Of course, it doesn't help that Christian just snuck out of his bed for the third time in the past half hour...

So, I've decided my incentive tonight will be watching "While You Were Sleeping" -- one of my all-time favorite movies and a perfect warm-up for the holidays. (Okay, who am I kidding...we busted out the Christmas tunes this past weekend and haven't look back.)

Anyway, that's the status these days. Good thing I'm still working, that way at least I have something forcing me to shower and try to look presentable. ;)

Oh, and I've decided the toughest part of being a single parent (besides the fact that you have to take the kids on EVERY SINGLE errand run), is trying to get you and your kids ready and out the door for work all on your own. Let's just say it's a rare treat to get to shower in silence. ;) Although I am getting pretty good at juggling four bags (my purse, my breast pump, a cooler full of milk for Pierce, and a bag filled with lunch and extra clothes for the boys) plus a baby on my way down to the car each morning, so maybe there's hope for me yet.

Okay, time to sign off and put Christian to bed for the fourth fifth time.

he walks and walk and walks and walks

If you went to Primary you probably know which song I'm alluding to in the title of this post.
But even if you didn't, you get the picture: Pierce is walking everywhere these days.

This video is actually nearly two weeks old now so it's already out of date but it's better than nothing. I need to post the latest but I'm too lazy to download and upload it tonight.

Pierce is now pretty much an all-terrain walker. We went to the park after church and he made his way through grass, gravel and plowed through piles of leaves. It's amazing to watch him progress. He's come so far in the past month. He took his first steps just before he turned 10 months and today he turned 11 months.

Enjoy! And, as usual, pardon my rambling narrative. ;)

happenings

These past few weeks have been a little insane. Shane worked around the clock to prep for a big trial and his mother came to town to help us get through it all. But with my work being slower (thank you, 2012 elections!), I've had a chance to leave Pierce with Grandma and bring Christian into the office a few times. He's really enjoyed the one-on-one time and now begs to go to my work with me.

I love that the pics above capture Christian's newly developed cheesy grin. He didn't use to cheese it up so much, but had a more natural smile. Now I can't keep him from squinting up his eyes and practically clenching his teeth when I'm trying to take his picture.

The other week we enjoyed lunch together over at Union Station (side note: it looks SO MUCH BETTER than it did when I first moved to D.C.! And AFTER we ate lunch we discovered it now has a JAMBA JUICE!) It took twice as long to walk across the Capitol grounds because he was busy checking out the plants along the way. It was a simple reminder to me to enjoy the little things -- since I pass them each day without much notice. We shared the California panini from Corner Bakery -- my absolute fave -- and he gobbled up more than his fair share. Next time I think I'll make this kid will get his own. He made his vegetarian mama proud -- enjoying all the artichokes and peppers and spinach stuffed inside and even requesting carrots instead of potato chips. My heart was bursting. Of course then we topped it all off with cupcakes from Crumbs, you know, to keep things balanced. ;)



Can you see why he likes me office? My coworker hooked him up with this expandable "ball" and he could play with it all day if I let him.

Christian's still sporting his short summer cut as we battle through a round of ringworm. Yes, ringworm. Gross, right? Don't let you kids play with other kids...or mud. Ha! The pediatrician said it could have come from either one. I think it's the mud, personally. This kid has no fear of dirt and nearly every time we play outside he needs to bath afterward. For now we're treating it with anti-fungal cream around the clock because he refuses to take the internal medicine but it's pretty darn stubborn so he's still got a patch on the side of his head. Good thing he's a boy!

Shane spent his last week of work winning his trial in Charlottesville. When he returned last Friday night it was such a relief to know he'll never have to work at his old firm again! It's been a three-year nightmare, really, and we're both so happy to have it over and done with. I probably shouldn't say this out loud but I'm very grateful he never did get an associate position there, even though it meant extra stress and uncertainty this past year.

This week we've been trying to soak in as much time with Shane as possible before he reports to JAG Reserve training this Saturday. Shane's father arrived on Sunday night and it's been fun to have the boys get to know him. This is his first time meeting Pierce and they seem to get along pretty well. We've been carving pumpkins, touring around town, and just enjoying this gorgeous fall weather together.

We've been talking about Shane going to training all year but now that it's finally here I'm trying not to panic. We know we'll get to see him in a few weeks (we're allowed to visit when he's in Charlottesville, about 2.5 hours away) so I think that's what is keeping me from sobbing...at least for now...we'll see what happens this weekend since I've never been good at good-byes. I'm tempted to just kiss him good-bye at the door and let him ride to Richmond with his coworker. Wish me luck.

swinging into fall

This photo sequence snapped on my phone of the boys swinging makes me so happy. It's been a crazy summer -- actually, a crazy year -- with lots of ups and downs and big decisions to make but these happy boys are so good at putting up with it all. I hope to offer them more stability one day soon.

For those who haven't heard, Shane accepted a job with a D.C. firm last month. The offer came as a complete surprise and even though it's not what we really want, we couldn't really refuse. At the very least it gives him more experience as he tries to work his way to the kind of job we really want. And it gets him out of his current awful firm situation (now that he's quitting I tell you it's been a nightmare from start to finish). So -- he heads to Army JAG training at the end of October, where he'll study military law for five months now that he's joined the Reserves -- and then start at the new firm mid-March. At least that's the current plan. We welcome a new direction if the Lord has one for us but in the meantime, we're trying to work with what we've got.

In recent weeks we've actually been looking for a house to buy, believe it or not. We figure why keep paying rent which you'll never see again? Plus, we need more space and we get much more for our money as buyers than renters. Unfortunately, we've made two offers and still have no house to show for it. The good news is the D.C. housing market is alive and well. The bad news is you can see a house the day after it's listed, think about it over the weekend, and make an offer Monday morning only to find it's already been snatched up by someone else. So we're trying not to get so emotionally attached to things because there's no guarantee you're going to get it. I'm still slightly in mourning over the first townhouse we lost. It's been quite the learning process. It was fun at first but now it's really starting to feel like a chore so we may take a break till after the new year.

Other than that we're excited for another fall on the East Coast. We can already feel the change in the weather and look forward to pulling out our sweaters and boots. And -- I'll confess -- we've already busted out a pumpkin recipe to get us in the mood.

our extremely mobile nine month old

Pierce is nine months old -- and then some. I took these photos over a week ago. He's a happy-go-lucky kind of guy unless he's hungry or tired. He's especially happy now that he can get around the house on his own. He just might be the fastest crawler I've ever seen. He's in the kitchen one moment and the toilet down the hall the next (gotta train Christian to close doors behind him). He's cruising and standing all over the place. Getting more and more steady. And tonight he took two steps on his very own!

He's got six teeth now. That's right. Six. Four on top, two on the bottom. He chews on everything. If you aren't careful he'll get your toes when you aren't looking. He's a drooling machine. Shane teases that he's our little puppy -- chews things up, drools all over and crawls up your leg to stand up and beg. ;)

We still need to get him in for his nine-month check-up but I'm guessing he still weighs around 16 or 17 lbs. He's a skinny little guy but probably pretty average in the height department. He's not the biggest fan of baby food but begs to try anything we're eating. His favorite foods are sweet potatoes, carrots, black beans, avocado, and bananas. Oh, and those baby rice snacks that melt in your mouth. He still loves to nurse but he's also becoming a big fan of drinking water from a cup. In fact, he begs for my water whenever he sees me taking a sip.

Pierce is constantly smiling and loves to interact. But he's also good at self-entertaining. He's a sweet little snuggler and loves to nuzzle his forehead into yours. He loves to play with Christian. One of his favorite things to do is crawl in and around the "forts" Christian builds with couch cushions and pillows. Until he gets stuck, of course. He's also into legos and blocks -- at least when it comes to demolishing Christian's towers. And yesterday, for the very first time, he and Christian played catch. He'd throw the ball and Christian would retrieve it and hand it back to him. Maybe you just had to be there but it was one of those tender moments I won't soon forget.

P.S. One thing Pierce doesn't like these days -- the car. He starts screaming and wriggling before we can even strap him in. It's awful!

family night @ the nats game

We went to the Nationals baseball game for family night last week. It was the first game of their series against the Braves. We'd never been to the new stadium and it was fun to finally check it out. Just for the record, Nats won 5-4.

waiting for dad to meet us at the stadium after work

pierce was happy watching everybody else

three cheers for the home team

father-son moment

christian thought the cheering at times was too loud

a failed attempt to get a good picture with the boys

quick pic with mr. lincoln

happenings

We had a bit of a "staycation" in July. The boys' babysitter went to Morocco for three weeks so I got to spend some extra time with them. I took some vacation days and worked from home when necessary.

We had a great time together. Lots of outdoor fun -- parks, swimming, splash parks, playdates -- but also lots of time at home which we never really get enough of. More than once when I asked Christian what he wanted to do that day he said, "stay here." I think he really enjoyed not being scheduled. I forget that for much of his life he's been hurriedly dressed, fed and packed out the door so he really appreciates the mornings when we take things slow, he can play with his own toys and we make a big breakfast together. Let's just say we ate more than our share of pancakes and french toast in July. It was nice to be able to do that for him on a day other than the weekend.

Pierce was happy as can be to have all of us three together. July is the month he put crawling and cruising together. Now he motors around the apartment at full speed. Shane says he reminds him of a puppy. So happy and so quick to get into things if you aren't keeping an eye on him.

Not only was I home during the week but Shane was gone for three out of four weekends so the whole month really became a blur for me. I didn't know what day of the week it was half the time. We were glad to have him home on the Fourth of July for some celebrating with our good friend the Wittwers. After that, he was buried between work and travel for the rest of month.

Love that our boys are friends! I love that they enjoy playing together, bathing together, laughing together. They light up when they see each other. It's so so precious. Although now that Pierce is getting around so well, Christian thinks he can play a little rougher. I have to remind him to be careful when they are "wrestling."

Christian was SO excited to have Pierce start going to the babysitter's with him. And so proud to show him off. He was always saying that he needed "My Pierce" so I'm glad they've been able to spend more time together lately.

Christian refused to let me in his fort to take the above photos but he was willing to let me peak inside with the camera to see what they were up to. Be still my heart. Such sweet brother moments.

Lucky for me, right before I was burnt out on being a single parent (seriously, how does one person do it ALL the time? those who do AMAZE me), my sister Natalie arrived to save the day. She's watching little P for two weeks and we are so happy to have her here.

 

As for me, I kept my sanity intact last month by treating myself to TJ's chocolate coconut milk "ice cream" and dying my own hair (it was very two-toned from old highlights and summer sun). Sometimes you just need a little change.