Pink Rose Award

“Give the Pink Rose Award to those who inspire you or need to be inspired, to those who have encouraged you or those who need encouragement.”





The Pink Rose Award was given to me by Monica H at STILL HOPEFUL. I was touched by this gift, especially since she is the one who has touched me with her stories of her boys, and the strength and courage she has shown during her few last painful years. Monica, I truly believe you will get your happy ending, whatever that may be.

She asked that I also give this award to someone deserving. Since I am new to the blogosphere, I will give this award to 2 women who have inspired me with their stories. First to Larisa - reading your infertility story in the local paper got me started on reading blogs. Our infertility journeys were so similar, and it was comforting to me to know someone else out there was going through the same thing. You got pregnant right after I did and I followed your entire pregnancy on your blog. Elodie was born a month and a day after Jordyn and from viewing your photos and videos from her birth, I realized you were in the same mother/baby room that Jordyn and I were in - Room 213. I am happy that we both conquered our infertility together and have our beautiful little girls.


Next, I am giving this award to Jamie who also went through a parallel pregnancy journey. Her sweet Bo was born 2 weeks before Jordyn and I've enjoyed following along with his growth and development. I look forward to Jamie's blogs about Bo's food, activities, teeth, and she has been a tremendous help when I've had questions about schedules, feedings, etc. She also is a fabulous baker and I can't wait to make her French Silk Pie.


Thank you Monica, Larisa and Jamie for inspiring me with your stories, and for all the strength and encouragement you have all given me. Even if you didn't know it, you were all there when I needed you at different times and for that I thank you.


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1. On your blog, copy and paste the award, these rules, a link back to the person who selected you, and a link to this post: http://smartone.typepad.com/smartone/2008/05/pink-is-my-favo.html. You will find the story behind the Pink Rose Award and other graphics to choose from there.
2. Select as many award recipients as you would like, link to their blogs (if they have one), and explain why you have chosen them.
3. Let them know that you have selected them for an award by commenting on one of their posts.
4. If you are selected, pass it on by giving the Pink Rose Award to others.
5. If you find that someone you want to nominate has already been selected by someone else, you can still honor them by posting a comment on their award post stating your reasons for wishing to grant them the award.
6. You do not have to wait until someone nominates you to nominate someone else.

9 months

My sweet Jordyn is 9 months today. Where has the time gone? Here is a pic of her when she was less than one day old, followed by a pic from this evening.

Sweet baby, please don't grow up too fast. You are changing every day and I want to cherish every moment...

Frustration with Corporate America

I hate corporate America. After working in it for 10 years, each day I realize more and more how much I hate it. Its all about putting money in the head guy's pocket and not caring about the hard working employees who make the company successful. Decisions are made for the wrong reasons, without thinking of the consequences. And I've just about had it.

I have been working on this huge event for months. 67 guests are confirmed and others still pending. It is scheduled to take place in 2 and a half weeks. I have put my heart and soul into this event. I spent 2 weekends away from my baby to ensure the event would be perfect. I was informed today that the event might be canceled because the execs didn't think it would be "fiscally responsible" for us to hold it given our financial situation. Since we are within 90 days we are still on the hook for the full amount. 200k. They are debating what they want to do. Hello?? Are you there?? DUH?!? This should be a no brainer. You still have to pay the full amount. Doesn't it make sense to still hold the event?? I just don't see the logic in canceling an event where you still have to pay the full amount. How is THAT fiscally responsible?

I just don't get it. And I don't think I ever will. I am so over Corporate America...

Wordless Wednesday - bubbles

Jordyn was introduced to bubbles at Gymboree and loves them. Of course I bought the same ones so now we can have bubble time at home too!

Wordless Wednesday - swimming

Someone just loves her swim lessons!

Milestones

Jordyn has changed so much these last few weeks. We came back from NY on 7/29 and I feel like she has done so much since then. She started swim lessons 2 weeks ago and is definitely a little fish. Maybe she'll be in the Olympics one day breaking Michael Phelps' new record! Its so great to see her in the water, learning new things and socializing with other kids. I also took her to Gymboree a few times and will continue to take her weekly. On Saturday she had her first forward crawling motion while we were there. I was so amazed! I enticed her with a toy of course, but she was so determined to move forward and get it, and she did it! I was so proud of her! Then yesterday, she said her first word: mama. Of course, I don't think she's saying it for me specifically yet, but I love to hear her say it. "Mamama, mama" - she says it all day. Of course Daddy is jealous but she'll be saying dada soon enough.

Last night for dinner I gave her little pieces of chicken for the first time. She did great - chewed each little piece and didn't even gag! That's been an issue - sometimes she gags so bad her whole dinner comes up. Thankfully she kept it down and seemed to enjoy it. This past week she's also had diced up pears, cheerios, yogurt and Gerber puffs. Her spit up problem is much better, but she'll still bring up something with a burp every now and then, usually right after a bottle. Occasionally when she's playing on the floor something chunky will come up, and now that she has some yogurt in her system it stinks. Ugh, love regurgitated whole milk products. :-)

The Work Blues

When I was in high school, all I wanted for my future was to have a career. I was so anti-stay-at-home-mom and anti-wife taking care of husband that all I could think about was college and my future. I think its because my mom was a SAHM, although she did work in my father's pharmacy after all us kids were in school. It also didn't help that my dad (may he now rest in peace) was the type of husband who came home from work and expected dinner ready, and everyone to wait on him. "I need fluids" is one of my favorites. Um, hello, get up and get yourself a drink. I swore I would I would take care of myself and never have to have a man provide for me. I did that. I went to college. Moved to Austin to be with my honey. Got a job right away. Then when honey and I broke up, an opportunity came my way that I couldnt pass up. I moved across the country to San Francisco knowing almost no one and immersed myself in work. I then was able to move to Boston with the same company to start a branch of the company there. Then honey and I got back together and I moved back to Austin, got married, got a job at big computer company, hated it and then found another job in technology and have been here for 8 years. I worked hard, got promoted, had fun and then got in a rut. My priorities changed. I started to care less about work and more about having a family.

Hello, infertility. It consumed me for 7 years. Work was still there but all I could think about was this sweet little baby I may or may not have. When I was diagnosed with a kidney disease and found out I needed to have a transplant, my dreams of baby were put on hold. So I focused on work again. Moved to a new group in the company and had the best 3 years of work ever. Got to travel, do new and fun things, challenge myself, and work with one of the legends in the sports world. Then started fertility treatments and it consumed me again. Things at work were changing. Fun job was being eliminated, and boss did everything she could to get herself promoted, and those 3 years of the best and hardest work I ever did went unrewarded. F-in corporate America.

Then it happened. IUI finally worked and I was pregnant!! I had the most wonderful pregnancy and it resulted in the most amazing, sweet and beautiful little girl - who is 8 months old today, BTW. Where does the time go? But I digress. I had an extended maternity leave combined with a sabbatical from work. After 5 months, I went back to work. Luckily I was able to swing it so I am only in the office 3 days, and work from home 2 days. On the days when I work in the office, hubby watches her one day and we have a nanny for the other 2. Its working out well, and I'll post about the nanny some other time. She's good but I have my issues with her. Many people say I am so lucky because of the work situation I have. I know I am. But here's the thing - I could care less about work. I loathe it. There are aspects of my job that I really like, but overall, I am less than thrilled with the company right now, have no interest in learning about new products, and generally just don't want to be here. I need the job because I need the money. I like my house, my car, and occasionally getting a pedi or buying something nice. But is it all worth it? I feel like I am missing things with the baby because I am not with her all the time. Its total mommy guilt. Some days I am OK and others I just want to quit. I just don't know how to balance it all, but the main problem is I just don't want to.

Can't I just win the lottery?