Happy Birthday to Grandpa C

I find myself getting caught up in the numbers of things. I always thought it was neat that my sister's birthday was exactly one week before my dad's. Now with Tessa there are three weeks of birthdays (13th, 20th, 27th) in a row. Then with my birthday exactly one month before Tessa's you can imagine my excitement. Oh, and I can't forget to mention my mom, who, though she doesn't fit into the 7 day category does have the distinction of having her birthday on George Washington's. So, at the end of this birthday jubilee Tessa has some words to say...



*if you are interested in a then and now comparison, the last time Tessa sent out birthday greetings was for her Grandpa U, in September.

Finding Happiness at the Gym

I went to the gym today for the first time since December-ish 2006. Believe it or not I really like running on a treadmill. So I was looking forward to doing that today.

I realized something while I was grinning away (during the first half of my run, the second half I had that look on my face that makes other people wonder WHY people like running). What I realized was that the last time I went to the gym regularly it acted as an escape. It was one of the two settings that I wasn't completely aware of my infertility. The other, oddly enough was when I was holding a baby. So, holding a baby and running while listening to a CD and reading the captions on the TV were the only times I didn't feel overwhelmingly infertile. I remember knowing as I entered the gym that I would be getting 40 minutes free of worry, anxiety, envy, and sadness, and of course I looked forward to that. I had forgotten this past function of the gym but, with that learned response in my psyche, no wonder I felt giddy as I entered the gym today.

The memory I have of what it felt like not to have a baby, my baby, is something I think about so often when I see my sweet girl smiling at me from her crib.

I lost it...

My yellow notebook. I hadn't realized how much of my life revolved around that thing until now... There is one more place to look... Oh, what if its not there!?

I WON'T KNOW WHAT IS ON MY "TO DO" LIST(S)!

Actually...its fairly likely that not having it allowed me to post so much today...so there is one silver lining for you, I'm sure...but for me...well, its not good.

Not good.

Life of a One Year Old

Wake up:

Take a bath:

Bust some chops at the office:

Fight traffic:

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes

For Tessa's party we had a few friends over and took funny pictures with bug bodies and decorated cupcakes. As you can see, Tessa takes after her Dad in more than one way!

Then on Tessa's actual birthday I took cupcakes (and Tessa) into Aaron's office. She was swarmed by coo-ing women who, among other things, loved her shoes.

Finally that night I decorated an official "birthday cake" cupcake for Tessa.

She was very excited to have one of her own...

but upon sampling the frosting...

gave Dad a look and said "I can't believe you actually EAT this stuff :P !"

and quickly turned her attention back to her (low sugar) Cheerios.

Good girl...I don't know where she got it, but good girl!

Ready, Set, Shoot

I found our old digital camera - so get ready! Aaron told me it was just in time because the blog was getting "off topic."

I'll show him off topic..


We are back in business!

Team Tessa

So many people supported us a year ago when Tessa was born and we continue to be grateful for the care shown by each and every person.

I hope then, that its not to presumptuous of me, this year, on Tessa's 1st birthday, to ask for your support in the March of Dimes - March for Babies.

I plan to participate in the walk held

Saturday, April 26, 2008
at 12:30 pm
in Lowell, MA.

Why am I doing this? It is because among the many people that supported us at the birth of Tessa was the Walk of Dimes organization.

Every year, half a million babies in the U.S. are born prematurely. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many life long disabilities. The funds we raised in March for Babies supports research that saves babies' lives.

Over the years there has been a lot of improvement in the care for premature babies. Not too long ago Tessa may not have made it and so we are grateful for every advance.

In addition to funding research March of Dimes provides in hospital support to families. Our hospitals March of Dimes rep was literally beside me many days providing support, and sometimes just company.

I am grateful for both the large scale work of the March of Dimes and the personal care they gave to my family.

Click here to support my walk by donating, or if you are local consider joining me (and Tessa) in the April March for Babies!!

BBB Charity Report This link has information on how the March of Dimes spends their money and reports that in 2005 they funded 517 research grants for prematurity and birth defects.

Luv Bug Birthday

Here is a sample of an activity we did today for Tessa's Luv Bug Birthday...

1 up, 19 to go

First, a question - how many teeth do we have? Well, if you are a baby (and are reading this ?!) you will eventually have 20 teeth, known as deciduous teeth. And if you are Tessa, you just got your first one. It does me no good to complain about not having a camera because you can't see it yet, but if you put your finger in her mouth, trust me, you'll know its there.

2 down 7 to go

For those of you waiting, full of anxiety, you'll be excited (and proud, like I am) to know that Aaron passed his second architectural licensing exam. Now on to Structures.

Beef Stroganoff

I need to write down a recipe that I made yesterday but I am too lazy to get up and get a pen. So I think this is an appropriate time to add recipe postings to my blog. I know you've all been waiting with garlic'd breath for this moment...

...and we are starting with

BEEF STROGANOFF (in the crock pot)

1 lb stew meat or ground beef, uncooked.
1 can of cream of celery soup.
1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup mix.
1 cup of water.
2 teaspoons minced garlic.
4 oz. cream cheese.

So, I'll admit, it was the morning of fast Sunday before I thought about using the crockpot to make the meal OR taking the stew meat out of the freezer. So I plopped the meat and other ingredients into the crock pot at 10:30, frozen solid. When I got home from church at 4:30 the house was bathed in a rich aroma of yumminess.

I added some milk to desired thickness and served over egg noodles cooked al dente.

Aaron and I had to arm wrestle over the leftovers...well actually, since he knew he would beat me he was nice and we just split them evenly.

An Upset

I haven't watched a single football game this season. I'd have to say the largest reason is the fact that we don't get a television signal, or at least we don't get a clear signal.

Last night however, that didn't stop us from rigging the antenna so that we got a fuzzy black and white picture of the Superbowl. It was reminiscent of my childhood in the late 50s. The audio was only fuzz so we turned it down and listened to the game on the radio.

I think that proves we are real fans, after all, we didn't get to hear the commercials or the half time show.

The first quarter I was futzing around in the kitchen so I missed the points scored in that quarter. Then the second quarter I was putting Tessa to bed, and nothing happened in the game. Aaron slept through half time and we both fought sleep through the uneventful 3rd quarter. Well uneventful unless you count Tom Brady getting sacked nearly every play a non-event - come on defensive line! (Is that what they are called?)

Then the 4th quarter - the Giants scored and were ahead. Finally the Pats started playing the game and drove the ball up the field for a beautiful touchdown. There was a little more than two minutes left and it should have been New England's game (oh, the "should haves") but the Giants managed a touchdown with 40 seconds to go - and WON! I went to bed with a stomach ache. I didn't actually know I cared so much. 18-1. 18-1.

18-1.

Home Movie Time

I haven't posted pictures lately and I have a sad excuse. I dropped my camera a few weeks ago and therefore haven't taken any pictures. Luckily, we recovered our hard drive that crashed in September and so I've had a chance to go through Tessa's baby pictures, which of course are darling, and found a video I'm going to share.

When I watched this (long video) I understood what my dad meant when he said he was "scared to hold Tessa" in July when they came to visit. At the time, I thought she was so big and so tough, but watching this, well, I can't remember her being so tiny and helpless. In fact, to be honest, if someone dropped the tiny baby in this video in my arms, I'd be afraid also.


(Don't you just want to say "Be careful with that baby!")

P.S. If I mention that Tessa is nearly one, does it explain the nearly constant trip down memory lane that is, of late, my life?