Infant 2

At daycare, they have two infant rooms. One for little babies and one for babies who are more mobile maybe even walking. Michael is the oldest one in Infant 1 and his girlfriend Charlotte is the second oldest. Every once in a while when the numbers are low in I2, Michael and Charlotte will go over with "the big kids". I like when he's over there; they are able to do more fun things because the kids are a little bit older. (I also like the teacher better.) This morning when I dropped him off, the teacher from I2 was there and told me that two of her kids moved up to the toddler room and that they would start transitioning him into her room next week. That's great, I said. She explained to me about what would happen and I looked at my boy and said, cause you're a big boy! And he smiled and giggled.

Part of me feels like I should be said about this. That I should want him to be a baby forever. But I don't want him to be a baby forever. I love this age and I will love the ages coming up. While I don't look forward to the temper tantrums and atttitude, I am looking forward to doing things with him.
I am looking forward to enjoying him grow up.

Wednesday

Our power came back on Thursday. Four full days without. You never really realize how reliant you are on modern convieninces until you don't have them. You also never really realize how thankful you are to have them. Heat, hot water, a working refrigerator. Its amazing that there are people in our country who live without them, every day.

Tomorrow, November 10th, is our anniversary. Four years ago, I walked down the aisle of my childhood synagouge, hand in hand with my parents, tears running down my face, and married a man I had only known a year in a half, but who I knew was going to be my husband for the rest of forever. We rode in an old car to the reception and danced and danced and had a wonderful time.

On Saturday night, Michael's going to stay at Bubbie and Poppie's and L and I are going to have our second childless night in nine and a half months. We have reservations at Ruth's Chris, where we got engaged. Maybe we'll go to a movie, maybe we'll just sleep. I do miss the sleep.

The Beaner cried when I left him this morning. I hate when he does that. I waited down the hall a bit so that he couldn't see me, and I tried to hear and comfort him with my thoughts. Stop crying bud, I'll be back after your nap. Go play with your friends, play with the toys. I love you, bud. I snuck back over and peeked through the window. Ms. Diane gave him his binky and he was better. Please don't let him keep the binky once he gets over it, I wanted to say to her but couldn't for fear that he would see me. I don't want him to have the binky if he's just hanging out and playing, I said to her in my thoughts (and have said to her many times out loud). I hope he got over the crying. I hope she took the binky away.

Power

Saturday we watch the snow fall and fall and fall, and counted our blessings that we still had power. We grocery shopped and visited with cousins and played with babies. We rented "Limitless" staring the beautiful Bradley Cooper OnDemand. And then, boom, ten minutes from the movie's ending, the power went out and we haven't seen it again. The husband and I sat at the front window and watched the branches on the trees droop and wondered how the lady next door had her lights on. (Generator, it turns out) Then an hour later, snap, half our tree fell and took down the electrical wires. We grabbed the Beaner out of the crib and brought him in bed with us for fear the tree would fall on our house and certainly all hope of power was lost. When the sun came up in the morning, we looked up and down the street to see so many fallen branches, so much damage. Michael had a sweat shirt and sweat pants on over his pjs but still his nose was so cold. My parents had power, so we packed up the car, doofy dogs and all and headed for the shore. And we've been camped out here ever since.

My week

Last Thursday, Michael and got up and got ready and got ourselves in the car at exactly 7:45 as we do every morning. I must have been preoccupied thinking about the two crock pots full of chili I had in the back seat for soup day at school that I was paying enough attention to the sides of my car as I pulled out of the driveway. It was like slow motion when my driver side mirror bent backwards against the side of the garage. Trying my best not to swear in front of my child. I got out of my car and picked up the pieces. Also trying not to cry as it was only 7:45 in the morning. You don't realize how much you rely on your side mirror until it isn't there.
On Friday, Michael and I got up and got ready and again got ourselves in the car at 7:45. Click, click. Jeep won't start. Click, click. Still won't start. I call the husband. Take the key out and try again, he says. Click, click. No go. So at 7:55, Michael and I got out of the car and spent the day together. Stranded. Thank God for AAA. First guy came at about 9am. He tried to jump the battery. Nothing. Your battery is good, he said. Should I have it towed, he said. No, not yet. Thankful for a family in the car business, I called my brother. No it has to be the battery, he said. Have your husband buy a new battery and it should work, he said. So the husband comes home on his lunch break with a very expensive new battery. Click, click. Its not the battery. Second AAA guy comes about one o'clock and tows it to my father. You don't realize how much you miss your car until you don't have it. But, I did get to stay home with Michael.
(I have terrible luck with cars, and that goes way beyond these two incidents. Did I ever tell you how my car go towed the night before the first day of school a few years ago? Or how my first accident I hit a parked car? Or in college when I hit a moving firetruck? Or in college when I made a u-turn and hit a van and broke my arm? Or...there's many more)
On Saturday we attended our first kid's birthday party. The husband said it felt the we were welcomed into a secret society of parents and kids. I felt like we belonged there. I can't wait to go to our next children's party. (And Michael's in just three months!!)
On Sunday the husband drove me down to the shore so I could get my car. Oh how I missed her. Then my sister and I went bridal gown shopping. My sister has the body of a model. Evey dress looked stunning on her. She will certainly make a beautiful bride. It made me remember how much I love my wedding dress. It made me want to wear it. Our anniversary is in a few weeks. Maybe I will try it on for old times sake.
On Monday my mom picked Michael up from daycare early and they spent the afternoon together. My mother in law called before I got home and my mother answered the phone. Later, we had to listen to and come up with answers for "why can't I spend the day with him?" (You can, just ask) "Why does she always get to be with him?" (She doesn't, you are insecure)
On Tuesday I stayed home from work because Michael had his nine month check up. (Nine months!!) He weighed in at 21 pounds and 28 inches. (Good thing we bought the new carseat!) I cannot believe my guy is going to be ONE YEAR OLD in just 3 short months! After the doctor we went out for a much overdue lunch with Ms. D and her posse where Michael threw three french fries and about fifty cheerios on the floor.
To summarize, last week ended on a bit of a low note, but this week is looking pretty good thus far. I am optomistic that the rest of fall will be fantastic.

Penny's learning to share

This is what happens when Daddy's in charge.

School

Never before in the nine years I've been teaching, have I felt more like "just" the music teacher than I do this year. I could be invisible and no one would know the difference. So long, of course, as the classroom teachers get their prep. To the adults in this building I feel that is my sole purpose. To provide them with a break. To the students, I know that I do matter. I will never be as cool as the gym teacher, but I will always be cooler than math. And of course, that is why you become a teacher; for the students. But wouldn't it be nice to be recognized and appreciated by your peers?

I wish I loved my job more, I really do. But its never because of the students.

So it turns out raising a baby, working full time and living a life take up a lot of ones time. But I am back and I promise to update at least once a week, hopefully more.

The Beaner is no longer a Bean. He is a little boy. He's crawling, and babbling, and getting into all kinds of things that he shouldn't. He's apple picking, and dog tail pulling, and making friends at daycare and being all kinds of cute.

He's had his first Rosh Hashannah, his first Yom Kippur. He tried gefilte fish (he loved it, I knew he would) and matzoh ball soup. Our first Mother's Day and Father's day. He celebrated his aunt's engagement. In a month he'll have his first Thanksgiving. And before we know it, his first Channukah and his first birthday.

He's amazing, this little man of ours. The best part of my day used to be laying in bed with him in the mornings. Now its walking into daycare and watching him grin from ear to ear and squeal with delight at the sight of me. Or maybe its when he crawls over to me and tries to climb up my leg. Or maybe its when he puts his arms out for me to pick him up. Or maybe when I blow raspberries on his belly and he laughs and laughs. Or...

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." ~ The Beatles