D.J. Times

Elliott is Here

2008-03-18T16:46:00.003-04:00

Both children are sleeping, and I actually feel rested enough to not nap with them! Yeah! I doubt this means that I've returned to the blog world, but I definitely thought Elliott deserved some attention here. Our son, Elliott Brinin Vila, was born on Feb. 16th. He was 9 days early, but still managed to weigh more than his sister did at birth. He has brought a whole new joy to our family, and Eric and I are just overwhelmed with the love we have for both of our children.

Summer '07

2007-07-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

I've really fallen out of the regular blogging mode. Sorry. I guess I've been on an unofficial break. To be honest, I don't think I'm capable of keeping up with the volume of blogs I wrote prior to starting my job. Even though I've been on summer break, I still don't feel like I've have too much free time. I've been working on picking music for next year, going to Hawaii for a friends, wedding (ok, so that's not work, but still ...), leading the music for VBS, planning a huge trip with the choir to New York, attending a workship on how to teach AP Music Theory, and participating in the Texas Choral Directors Association conference. I can hardly keep up.

Still, I have been able to spend some amazing time with Charlotte. She is so much fun!! She loves to hug, play peek a boo, giggle, and run away from me in the hopes that I'll catch her. There is so much more cuteness that goes on in this house, I can't even begin to share it all with you. Every day I thank God for giving us Charlotte. I love her more than I ever thought possible.

As if there weren't enough love going around, Eric and I found out about a month ago that we're expecting another little Vila! This news caught us by surprise, but we couldn't be happier. He or she is due February 25th, which means my school year will be cut short for a very good reason. It also means, unfortunatley, that I won't be able to go to New York with the choir in April. I was really looking forward to seeing all of my New York friends. Ah well, we'll have to come another time, with our two children!!

I can't believe I'm going to be the mom of two!

Charlotte Turns One!

2007-06-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

Happy first birthday Charlotte! One year ago today you were only a few hours old, and our lives have never been the same – in fact, they have never been better. Everyday it is a blessing to wake up and see your sweet face smiling back at me. Recently, you’ve learned how to give kisses, and your kisses are the sweetest I’ve ever received. You like to linger on my cheek or my lips and make sound effects, a drawn out “mmmm” sound. True, you won’t kiss me when I ask, but when you do I know it’s because you really want to show just how much you love me.

To quote the Beatles yet again, “I love you, I love you, I love you. That’s all I want to say.”

I'm Not Shocked

2007-05-16T22:16:00.000-04:00

I'm not shocked that Melinda Doolittle went home tonight on AI. In fact, I predicted it after her performance last night. I didn't want to be right, but I thought I would be. She didn't wow me like she usually does, and she forgot her words to "WOMAN" (or whatever the real title is). I've loved Blake from the very beginning, and can forgive him for going overboard with the beat box thing. Jordin is great too - and she's really improved vocally since the beginning (with the exception of Bon Jovi week). Still, Melinda was the best singer on the show, and she deserved to win, but when does that really work out? I can't speak for Season 2 because I did not watch it, but it always seems that the best singer does not win. Even Kelly Clarkson, who is an amazing singer, did not show us what she is now capable of doing when she was on the show. She was usually vocally tired, and pushed her voice to the point where I thought she would do some serious damage.

Just had to comment on the show tonight.

By the way (for those of you who know Merle), have you noticed that Jordin has similar mannerisms while performing? I have, and if you're reading this Merle, it makes me miss you all the more.

Busy

2007-05-12T17:08:00.000-04:00

Whew! This past week is over! We had our spring concerts at Marshall HS this Thursday and Friday, and had either rehearsals or performances every other night this week. I had been dreading last week since I started the job, and am so glad it's over. It was, however, enjoyable in the end. Our choirs performed very well, soloists were amazing, and our tech crew did a seamless job with transitions. I'm so proud of the kids - they are really incredible.

Charlotte is wonderful. Here is what she is up to:

1.) Crawling - She has become very good (and fast) at crawling. One day she climbed all the stairs (with me close behind) and didn't even seem tired at the end.

2.) She is sporting one crooked tooth, and hopefully more are on the way. She loves chomping on anything with her tooth.

3.) Says "mama" - finally. Oh, it just makes my heart melt.

4.) Disobeying us on purpose. She understands what no means, stops to take it in, and then continues on her merry little way.

5.) Eating grown-up food like there's no tomorrow. I don't understand how such a little person can eat as much as she does.

All of this working and mothering has left me a little behind in the world of American Idol, Lost, blogging, and current events. Just to give you some idea, I still haven't watched American Idol Gives Back night, but it is waiting for me on our DVR. I have resorted to listening to the news on my way to work (thank you NPR), but have not watched the world news or done much reading on my own. That's one thing I miss about public transportation - at least I could read on my way to work.

One final thought. Something strange has been happening in Texas since we moved here. It rains all the time. Seriously. We haven't had to water our lawn since November, and it's greener than green. Everything down here is green, which is kind of freaky for South Texas.

Well, that's all for now. I hope to be a better blogger in the near future.

Oh yes, and here's Charlotte in all of her cuteness.

A Little Time

2007-04-18T12:04:00.000-04:00

I have a little time this morning because the entire school is in testing mode, and for some reason (for which I am very happy), I have no testing responsibilities today. Yesterday was spent with the highly entertaining task of sitting in a hallway and occasionally sitting in classrooms to give teachers a break from their equally entertaining task of watching students who have nothing to do because they weren't scheduled to take a test that day. Sounds like fun, right?

Anyway, I feel compelled to say something about American Idol. Last week I actually enjoyed Sanjaya. His spanish on "Besame Mucho" was quite good, and he delivered the song in a subtle way, which was effective. Like Randy said, he was very smart with his song choice, and with the smirk he gave to the camera at the end, making me laugh and every pre-teen swoom. This week, however, he quickly returned to the Sanjaya that more than deserves to be voted off. Please, oh please, let this be your last week, Sanjaya! Still, he may stick around for yet another week. Chris gave a very poor performance last night and may be the next to go. I've never been fond of his nasal delivery - planned or otherwise!

In Charlotte news, she is happy to be out of daycare and is thriving with her grandma, and I mean that literally. She has put on roughly 2 pounds, is crawling everywhere, talking her own special language, and eating rice dream (rice based ice cream, since she's still allergic to dairy). She loves to eat peas, and often won't eat anything else until she sees peas with it. She is the funniest, sweetest, fiestiest little girl, and I just love her so much!!! I still miss not spending every minute of everyday with her, but I'm relieved that she is doing so well now.

Still here

2007-03-31T17:26:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Eric, Charlotte and I are doing fine, but this working mom thing is tricky. I have been feeling so guilty every morning when I leave Charlotte at daycare. The first two days were fine - I think she was enjoying the novelty of it all - but once reality set in, she was not having it. She has become ultra clingy and cries every time I leave her, which in turn makes me cry and doesn't lead to the start of a very good day for either of us. I love being able to see her at lunch, but then comes the inevitable moment when I have to leave and she starts to cry. It is just so heartbreaking. Add that to the fact that the number of babies in the daycare has just about doubled since the time I enrolled Charlotte and you can probably guess that I've been second-guessing the whole daycare thing.

Thankfully, a much better solution has arisen. My mom has volunteered to drive in to San Antonio on Sunday nights so that she can watch Charlotte Mondays through Wednesdays. On Thursdays and Fridays she will be going to the home of a caregiver that comes highly recommended and lives close to my school. I think it's going to work out beautifully. I will still be able to see Charlotte for lunch, and I'll know that she is receiving the attention and nurturing she needs.

In other Charlotte news, she has finally started crawling (but she still prefers to scoot), is sitting and standing up in her crib (which makes me nervous), waves at everyone and everything, and is all about eating big people food. She still hasn't sprouted a tooth, but I'm sure we'll see one soon.

Day One

2007-03-19T20:45:00.000-04:00

Day one of work for me and daycare for Charlotte went well. A few tears were shed this morning (only by me), but I knew she was in good hands. My mom visited a few times during the day, I came by as planned on my lunchbreak (which was awesome), and Eric came by in the afternoon to say hi. The report was that she did very well. The only part that worries me a little is that she only took 2 thirty minute naps - not long at all. Oh yeah, and school went well too. The day flew by.

St. Patrick's Day

2007-03-17T13:16:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Growing up, I was never a fan of this holiday. I would always forget to wear green, and the kids at school would have a little too much fun pinching me. But now, I have a reason to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Seven years ago on this very day, Eric and I had our first date. He showed up at my East Village apartment with flowers and chocolate chip cookies that he baked himself. The cookies won me over. He then drove (a rarity in New York) us to Tequilla Sunrise, a Mexican restaurant in New Rochelle. The food was pretty good by New York standards, and the atmosphere was great. I was recovering from ACL surgery on my right knee and was visibly limping, but Eric didn’t seem to mind. He was such a sweetheart the whole evening. When we were riding home later that night I remember thinking that this was it, that I had found the man I was going to marry. It was strange, really, but I just had this vision of us in the future driving in his car. It all seemed so right. Weird, isn’t it?

So, does anyone else celebrate the first date they had with their spouse? If so, what do you call it – Dateaversary?

(BTW, in response to my previous post – I had no idea how many Bucky fans there are out there. That was my first semi-controversial post.)

Why? (for J-Wild)

2007-03-16T12:24:00.000-04:00

Does anyone remember Jim Verraros, John Stevens, Kevin Covais, and Bucky Covington? There were all former American Idol top 12 contestants who lingered on the show a little too long. Better singers and performers were voted off before them, which was puzzling to viewers and even themselves. Sanjaya Malakar is that contestant this year. I can only hope that he’ll be voted off this coming week, but something tells me that he may be around longer than we’d all like (actually, he shouldn’t have even made the top 24 – Simon, Paula and Randy could have saved us from all of this from the get go.). What Sanjaya has going for him (I think) is his appeal to the tweens, who are most likely VERY faithful voters. Unfortunately, if past AI shows are any indication, he’ll be around much too long and someone we love will be voted off much too soon. Still, you gotta love AI. I’m rooting for Melinda and Blake.

In case anyone is in need of some cuteness, here you go. Isn't her hair getting long?

News

2007-03-13T17:31:00.000-04:00

I have some rather big news. Starting on Monday the 19th I will be returning to work. Yes, it is a bit sooner than I had originally planned, but this opportunity is too great to pass up. I will be the assistant choir director at Marshall High School, which has one of the best vocal programs in the city and state. I was asked to work with the non-varsity women’s choir as part of the interview process and was very impressed with their technique and sight singing abilities. I was also impressed with their enthusiasm and the contagious energy they passed onto even the most unlikely students. It was quite something to see even the gothic girls singing and dancing to “I Enjoy Being a Girl”. Anyway, I’m looking forward to returning to the world of choral music.

The only thing I’m not looking forward to is leaving Charlotte for most of the day. I looked into several daycare and nanny scenarios and finally decided on a daycare center that is almost literally right across the street from the high school. It is a really nice, clean, friendly place that is owned by a former nurse who smartly decided to make the space completely open, which helps keep the children healthy (and the daycare smell out). I did find a stay at home mom who could watch Charlotte at her house for a reasonable rate, but I decided on the daycare so that I could continue to nurse her. My plan is to nurse Charlotte first thing in the morning, then once again at the daycare before leaving, on my lunch break, and once again right after school. We’ve been practicing this schedule at home and she seems to be doing well. She certainly doesn’t NEED to nurse more than that, but she WANTS to nurse more than that if I’m around. I think she’s going to be fine – in fact I think she’s going to love the stimulation of being around other children – but I’m still a little worried that she’s going to miss me the way I’m going to miss her. Please pray that this transition will go smoothly for both of us.

American Idol & Popular Music

2007-03-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

If you’re watching American Idol you may have noticed a contestant that is from San Antonio - Haley Scarnato. It turns out that my brother went to school with her, so she is the first AI contestant that I am in some way connected to. I did, however, see one of my fellow actor/singers from New York briefly during the first few episodes. He didn’t make it to Hollywood, not because he’s bad, but maybe because he’s not different enough. Anyway, back to Haley. She’s good, and I think she should make it to the top 12, but I’m not so sure about how far she’ll go. There’s some pretty tough competition this year. My current favorite girl is Melinda Doolittle, and my favorite guy is Blake Lewis, but Chris Sligh is way up there too. But why, or why are Antonella and Shanjaya still there?

If you’re not watching AI, then all of that means nothing to you. That being said, I’m just wondering how many of you would consider yourself up to date on popular music? I’ve come to realize that I’m definitely not. So far, I haven’t recognized many of the songs that the contestants have chosen to sing, and I hate to admit that I didn’t know many of the Grammy nominated artists this year either. I just don’t listen to the radio anymore, or watch MTV (not that there is much music there anyway), so how am I suppose to stay current? I’m sure I’d like a lot of the stuff out there if I gave it a chance, but I don’t want to spend money on something that I might not like. Where to begin? Advice is welcome.

That being said, I came up with what I think is a pretty good idea for a CD. It should be titled “What the Kids are Listening To” . It would be a mix of the most current music and would be marketed mainly to parents, youth workers, and teachers. This CD would not necessarily be liked by the people purchasing it, but would serve as research – a way to attempt to relate to teens today.

New Do

2007-02-26T12:22:00.001-05:00

Charlotte got a new do yesterday. It had become clear in the last few days that Charlotte needed bangs. Why? Well, Charlotte is sick again, but this time it’s the flu, which makes her very miserable, and her nose very runny. Her hair inevitably would get in her face, especially at night, and then get glued to her upper lip by all the mucous. (Yuck, I know) It was awful trying to pull her hair free every morning, so Eric and I decided to cut bangs on her. We strategized about the best way to do it, and then gave it a try. They’re not perfect, but they got the job done. Now she can always see in front of her, and doesn’t have to worry about her hair getting in the way.

Challenge

2007-02-19T11:05:00.000-05:00

Could you live without your cell phone, e-mail, and blackberry for a week? That’s exactly what one man attempted to do after accepting a challenge by the Today Show. I can’t remember his name, but he is the managing editor for Forbes magazine, which implies that his job is pretty stressful and demanding. He also has a 6 year old daughter that he is obviously very close to. After nearly making it 2 days without any connection to the world except by his landline phone, he broke down and begged to get his cell phone back. He was crying. What caused this breakdown? I’m happy to say that it wasn’t over a business matter that needed urgent care, it was the thought that his daughter couldn’t get a hold of him if she needed to. That was really sweet to me.

I have been forgetting to take my cell phone with me quite often lately, and my only concern is that I won’t be able to contact Eric or my parents if I needed to, and that they wouldn’t be able to reach me if something urgent happened. I think I could live without email, and I don’t have a blackberry, so that’s easy. But a cell phone? No, I think I need that. How did we ever manage before?

A Great Idea

2007-02-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

This picture was taken around Christmas time. Charlotte has been in a pre-crawl state for nearly 2 months, but still, she hasn't begun crawling. She gets on all fours, rocks back and forth, and sometimes gets up on her hands and feet, but can't seem to figure out how to move herself forward - unless you count her lunges (it's a good thing we have carpet).

Recently, however, she has figured out how to move herself forward. No, it's not a crawl, but a scoot. We're calling her scooter now. She puts crossed arms out in front of her, digs down, and scoots forward. She's gotten very good at scooting, and has managed to find herself in every corner of our house. This gave Eric a great idea.

Why not attach a swiffer like material to her belly and let her loose in the kitchen and dining room? She would do an excellent job cleaning, and have fun all the while. Better yet, we should make an outfit out of swiffer material and then let her loose.

Napping with Charlotte

2007-02-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

Charlotte and I have gotten into a wonderful routine together. Every morning she wakes up at about 6:00 - not the greatest, but still, things could be worse. I slowly get out of bed and make my way to her room. When I peer over her crib, she smiles her cutest smile and extends her arms out towards me to be picked up. This completely melts my heart and any thoughts of sleeping in quickly subside.

The next part of our predictable day happens at around 8:30 a.m., when Charlotte is ready for her first nap. Rather than put her in her crib, we nap together in our big bed. What's really funny is that she manages to take up 3/4 of the bed and I'm left with the rest. But, sleep comes and it couldn't be better. I periodically wake up and take a few minutes to stare at my angel pie. I love it - our morning naps last almost two hours, which is more than enough time to make up for what was lost with her early rising.

Ah yes, napping with Charlotte is good. If I'm really tired, I join her for her afternoon nap as well.

Sick Again

2007-02-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

Charlotte and I have colds again. Very annoying, but she is handling it better than I am. She's very much into talking now, and continues to say "da da da da da" through a dripping nose. I especially enjoy the mucus bubbles she creates. The only time she complains is when I try to wipe her nose clean, or suction out the mucus - she hates that!

I didn't get sick the entire time I was pregnant with Charlotte, but now I seem to be getting sick every time something goes around. Why? It's probably because I'm no longer on those gigantic vitamins they prescribe to pregnant women. I wonder if I passed this cold along to Charlotte or if she passed it along to me. It doesn't matter. I guess we're destined to be sick at the same time since we spend all of our waking hours together. Which leads me to wonder, when is she going to say "ma ma"?

An Update

2007-01-25T10:42:00.000-05:00

I realize that it's been awhile since I've posted, but there's not really not too much going on here. We survived the ice storm of the season, but I developed a pretty strong case of cabin fever by the time it was all over. At the first opportunity, Charlotte and I left our house and headed for the movies. Many may think that she's much too young to enjoy going to the movies, but Charlotte is unique. If the movie has music in it, she loves it! So, I took her to see Dreamgirls. All I can say is my daughter has good taste. She took a break from nursing to listen to Effie's song , "And I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going". I guess even the smallest of people have to stop and really listen to that one. Once the scene was over, she quietly went back to eating.

In other interesting news, I stumbled upon a wild animal orphanage in our neighborhood, right next to our church. I was testing a new route when I looked over to my left and saw a beautiful bengal tiger. At first I was a little scared, but then I noticed the tall, sturdy looking fence and was able to fully admire that beautiful animal. Since then, I've driven by several times and spotted a grizzly bear, chimps, and a group of cheetahs. I'd love to volunteer there, but at the very least, I'm going to take the guided tour of the facility. They charge a small fee for the tour, but all of it goes towards the mainenance of the animals.

And finally, last night we were able to spend a few hours with a friend of ours from New York who was here on business. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the greatest, but we were able to show him the highlights of San Antonio, which incidentaly didn't take long at all. We walked by the Alamo, admired the older architecture of downtown, took a stroll on the Riverwalk, and ended the evening by eating at possibly the most famous restaurant in San Antonio, Mi Tierra. The best part of the evening for us though was spending time with Kenny. It was so nice hearing about what is going on with him and his family, and about the church in Manhattan, which I still refer to as "our church". I really miss so many people there!

Well, that's about it. I'll leave you with a picture of Charlotte that was taken yesterday. She was in a stellar mood for most of the day.

Ice Days

2007-01-17T08:49:00.000-05:00

We're entering day three of ice lockdown. All schools in the surrounding area are closed, and so are most businesses. Even the branch of Enterprise where Eric works is closed. The news has been covering the ice storm non-stop since Monday, which if you ask me is a bit of overkill. How many times can you warn people to stay home, tell the weather (which stays the same), and then show video of the streets? We get the picture, ok? San Antonio can't handle a bit of winter.

I have to say that I was right about the snow. Despite predictions of snow, it still hasn't snowed. It rarely does, and I'm not sure why that is. The temperature is cold enough, but all we get is rain and sleet. Growing up I always wanted it to snow, and I actually believed the weather man when he said it would snow, but mostly I was disappointed. I've learned my lesson now.

Still, it's been nice having Eric home for a few days during the week. We've stayed indoors and have had fun playing with Charlotte, who is loving it!

MLK Day

2007-01-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

I wanted to attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Walk today with Charlotte, but two things kept us from going. First, Charlotte is just getting over a cold - her first. It has been very unpleasant around here for the last week. She has never experienced congestion like that, and it was easy to see how uncomfortable she was. The first night, she was waking up every half hour because she having a hard time breathing through her nose. Rather than keep Eric up with this, I decided to sleep with Charlotte in the guest room, but there was not much sleep to be had. She's finally getting better, although it's all settled in her chest and sounds actually worse. The good part is that she's more herself and is once again having fun playing and rolling around on the floor. She should be crawling soon.

The second thing that kept us from going to the walk this morning is the freakishly cold and wet weather down here. It's in the mid 30's right now, and the temperature is expected to drop to the 20's tonight. They say snow is in our forecast, but I'm not so sure. I grew up hearing plenty of predictions for snow, and only once did we actually see snow.

So, Charlotte and I will stay home today, and stay in our pajamas at that. Should be fun.
__________________________________________________

My mom requested that I post more pictures of Charlotte from Christmas at their house. I'd post just about every picture I have of Charlotte if I could, but I've tried to restrain myself. But, since there has been a request, here are 2 more adorable pictures of my completely adorable child.

Our House

2007-01-12T12:46:00.000-05:00

I was reminded last night by Jared that I have yet to post any pictures of our new house. I was waiting for things to be more in order, and then I just forgot. Things are pretty much the way they are going to be for a while, but we still have things we need/want to do to the house. So, here it goes.

The front of our house. I can't wait for the trees to grow! (there are 2 trees that I couldn't get in the shot)

The dining room is the first thing you see when you walk in (to the right). It opens up to the kitchen.

A view of our kitchen - I wish I could cook!

Breakfast nook with a door to the outside patio. Eric broke one of the chairs last weekend while installing a fan in the living room. He also hurt himself a bit, but is doing much better now.

Our backyard. It's big and bare, and again, I can't wait for the trees to grow!

Living room. We got the couch for $350 because it has a slight tear on one end. We decided we could live with that.

Upstairs is the master bedroom, which we love. Our bathroom has a beautiful garden tub and window.

There's also a gameroom upstairs, which is handy for storing Charlotte's growing collection of toys. The house also came with a built in tech center, which is where I happily blog away.

Down the hall is Charlotte's room. It's small, but cute.

And here's a shot of the guest bedroom, ready to accept anyone willing to travel down to San Antonio.

That's just about it. Does anyone watch "What You Get for the Money" on HGTV? If you don't, it's a show that travels across the county showing the kind of home a person could afford with the same amount of money. I feel like we lived an episode of that show. What we found is that for less than the cost of a one bedroom apartment in the Bronx, one could own a spacious home in San Antonio. Yipee!

Anniversary

2007-01-10T11:46:00.000-05:00

Today marks 3 years since Eric and I got married. I remember it was a very cold day in New York, with a high of only 9 degrees. But, as a friend pointed out, our hearts were full of warmth. We've had a great time as husband and wife, and I couldn't ask to be with a more perfect life partner. He is a wonderful husband and father to Charlotte.

Almost a Millionaire - Twice

2007-01-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

My grandmother was cheated out of a multi-million dollar family business long ago. My great-grandfather started a very successful chain of grocery stores in the valley called Valley Mart and left the business to the daughter and son he had with his second wife. My grandmother, and the two other siblings from his first marriage (to Dionides, my namesake) were left out. There is more to the story, but that's general idea.

I also just found out that my family was cheated out of another fortune - this one worth 13 billion. I remember hearing stories about the land my great-grandfather's family use to own in Texas and Mexico, but I had no idea the legal battle that had been going on for 40 years and just what was at stake. In the early 1900's land was being taken from Mexican ranchers, much like land was taken from the Native Americans. One day, some men came to my great-grandfather's property and told him to hand it over to them, threatening to kill his sons if he didn't. There were no papers saying it was his, so he gave the land over to save his family. That land was rich in oil - very rich in oil.

Fast forward to the 1960's. Many Mexican families began legal battles to regain their land and my family was one of them. Our case was taken by a very prominent lawyer named Luther Jones, who was also served as a lawyer for LBJ. When he took our case, my grandfather thought we would surely win. And we did - three times, but the case kept being appealed and Luther Jones seemed to give up - he didn't even bother to show up for the last appeal.

As recently as 10 years ago my dad went to court to sign some paperwork stating who the remaining heirs of the land were. He alone would receive 17 million if the case were reopened and won. But, even if the case were reopened, it would probably be appealed and appealed until some future generation decided to stop fighting it. So, we remain where we are - not poor, not rich, but content and happy with our life. It's not worth getting upset over.

That being said, if there are any lawyers out there who want to look into our case, you're welcome to it! :-)

Christmas in Vilaland

2006-12-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

I just put Charlotte to bed for the night and Eric is out buying an LCD TV that is seriously discounted, so I have a few moments to blog about our Christmas.

Charlotte made Christmas amazing this year. It is so much fun celebrating with a new baby! She loved looking at all of her beautifully wrapped presents and once they were opened, she loved putting them right in her mouth. The look on her face as we opened everything for her was so precious - she was full of wonder, glee, and a touch of confusion because she didn't know what she wanted to play with the most. Eric and I didn't buy her very much, but her grandparents (mainly my mom) went a bit over the top with gifts. I think I'm going to have to ask them not to buy so much next year because there's no way she needs everything she got. But, since this was her first Christmas, I guess it's ok.

On Christmas Eve my mom and stepfather cooked our traditional feast: prime rib, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The only difference was that this year they invited their neighbors, Robbie and Charlie (Robbie is the girl), over. They were quite the trip - very Texan to say the least. Here are a few conversation highlights from the evening:

"We would have been on time, but Robbie shot a 10 point deer and we've spent all day guttin' it."

"Yeah, I was in Vietnam. We were killing communists and lovin' every minute of it."

"Ellen Degenerate. She's a dike, 'ya know."

I was at a loss for words most of the evening. I told my mom that next year we should just stick to a family dinner.

One last thing. Eric and I saw Dreamgirls today. I was not disappointed - it was wonderful, and Jennifer Hudson should win a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her performance. I do have a question though. They showed a clip on Oprah of a love scene between Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and Curtis (Jaime Fox), but that scene was missing from the version I saw today. Did they decide to cut it, or is there a special version for more conservative states? I'm just wondering because I felt like that scene was needed to establish a relationship between the two. If you've seen the movie, please let me know if that scene was in or out.

Well, that's all for now. I've got to try and find a place to put all of Charlotte's new things. Hope your Christmas was wonderful.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-23T18:19:00.000-05:00

Have a wonderful Christmas!!

Happy 6 Month Birthday

2006-12-20T16:27:00.000-05:00

Happy 6 month birthday to the best thing that has ever happened to me!!! She's grown so much. I remember the days when she was swimming in newborn size clothing, now she fits perfectly in her 6 month outfits - right on schedule.

Small Revelation

2006-12-18T17:43:00.000-05:00

What I miss most about New York (aside from my friends of course) is the unexpected. I miss waking up each day and knowing that anything could happen. Ordinary days were plentiful, but there was always the possibility of something different happening. Perhaps you would be offered tickets to Letterman while walking down the street, or maybe receive a pass to a movie screening, or literally bump into a celebrity. Maybe CSI would be filming on your street, or your church was being used as a holding/catering center for a film. All of these things were possible, and in deed did happen.

Interesting things just don't happen like that in San Antonio. I've heard about a few Eva Longoria and Tony Parker sightings, and once George Strait came to the drive through of Bill Millers Barbeque while I was working, but overall, things here are more predictable. That's not a bad thing, it's just different from what I became use to.

When I Grow Up I Want to Be

2006-12-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I was going through a box of stuff from my childhood that my mom saved for me. In it I found a book called "School Days". Inside there are pages for each year of school with places to paste a school picture and write about the highlights of the year. There is also a section titled "When I Grow Up I Want to Be" where professions are listed with boxes to the left of them. You could check as many professions as you wanted. Unfortunately, my book doesn't go past 5th grade, and the last time I filled out that section was in the 2nd grade. Apparently I wanted to be a lot of things. Here they are:

astronaut
Actor
Artist
Doctor
Mother
Nurse
Teacher
Actress
Singer
Model
Attorney
Secretary
Writer

Handwritten in the 'other' category: Vet, Seqtery.

Isn't that funny? I wanted to be an actor AND and actress. I'm not sure what a Seqtery is, but I have been a secretary. All in all, I have been a large number of my desired professions. I've been an actress, artist (in the musical sense), mother, teacher, singer, and secretary, and if you count blogging, a writer too! I don't think I have a career in modeling, and it's far too late to become an astronaut (although I'd go on a commercial flight to space anytime), and I have no desire any longer to be a doctor, veterinarian, nurse, or attorney. So, my dreams have come true. Yeah life!

Cute Pictures

2006-12-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Since all of my babies are sleeping right now (Charlotte and 2 cats - Chester and Henry), I thought I'd post some more pictures of Charlotte. It seems that many of you can't get enough of her, and for good reason. So, here goes.

Being Green

2006-12-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

Al Gore was on Oprah yesterday talking about global warming. I haven't seen "An Inconvenient Truth" yet, but I can see that we are heading for a serious catastrophe in the relatively near future if we don't do something soon and start taking care of our environment. That being said, I'm having a hard time living a green life in San Antonio. It was much easier in New York.

Recycling is the law in New York, and it was very convenient to recycle. All I had to do was walk down the hallway of my apartment building and put all my recyclables in neat plastic bins that were provided for us. Now, we pay $20 a month for garbage collection that doesn't offer any kind of recycling. Trust me, I called and asked them about this and they said that they do have recycling available in some areas (not ours) but that it costs more per month. So, I asked them what we should do if we wanted to recycle, and she said she would send me a list of drop off locations. Fine. The only problem is that all of these locations are halfway across town and each center recycles different things. I would have to go one place for paper, another for plastic, and yet another for aluminum. How inconvenient is that? (but I guess that's the point)

It was also much easier being green with regard to transportation in New York. This reason is obvious, and I don't think I need to say much more here. Instead of using public transportation to get around, I now own an SUV. I wanted to get a small car, but when I saw the huge monsters on the street here, I decided it would be smarter to get something that stood a chance were it ever to get in an accident with one of those monsters. So, we have a Mazda Tribute, on the smaller side of SUV's, but still an SUV.

Those are just two main reasons why I'm having a hard time being green in San Antonio (I keep thinking of Kermit). I could say more, but I keep getting pleasantly distracted by Charlotte. All I can say is, at least we have plans to plant trees this weekend!

Eating Solids

2006-12-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

Charlotte is eating solids! She loves rice cereal mixed with a little applesauce and applesauce all by itself. Her first reaction to 'real' food was adorable. She looked kind of shocked at first, until she realized it tasted pretty good. Now she happily opens her mouth to eat. I even came up with a mealtime song so she knows what is about to happen. Whenever I sing it, her legs and arms start going in all directions.

The only downside to this - her poop is thicker and smellier. Yuck!

Getting Too Old for This

2006-11-29T14:18:00.000-05:00

I've always loved roller coasters, or any ride that feels semi-dangerous were it not for the harnesses. I remember crying at Diseneyland when I was ten because my dad wouldn't let me get on Space Mountain by myself (he wouldn't ride with me). When I finally was old enough to ride it, I loved it and rode it as many times as possible. My dream back then was to be at an amusement park with just my family so we could ride all the rides as many times as we wanted without waiting in line. This weekend, that dream came true.

Eric's mom and her boyfriend were in town for Thanksgiving and we decided to take them to Sea World. Lucky for us, there were very few people there. We were able to catch every show and ride all the rides as many times as we wanted. Only problem was that I couldn't handle riding them more than once. The Steel Eel and the Great White did me in. I came off of them with both a headache and backache, not to mention the mild nausea. I can't believe it - I'm officially old. I even thought to myself "I'll never let Charlotte ride this" a few times, but I know I'll end up letting her. All I have to do is think of the young me.

Apology

2006-11-21T11:05:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday night Eric and I went out on a date. We saw "Casino Royale", which is the first movie we've seen together on our own since way before Charlotte was born. I let Eric pick this one because the next time we go to a movie, I hope it will be to see "Dreamgirls", which will definitely be my pick, not his.

Anyway, we left Charlotte with my dad and went off to the neighborhood theatre only 5 minutes away. My dad actually gave us money for the tickets and we joked that he is the only babysitter we'll ever have who will pay US to babysit Charlotte. Anyway, Eric and I both enjoyed the movie, but I was constantly checking my phone for missed calls (even though it was on vibrate) from my dad about Charlotte. No calls came so I thought all was fine.

When we left the theatre, I called my dad to check in. He said he had been rocking Charlotte for over 2 hours because she cried and cried after we left, but that now she was asleep. I jumped to the conclusion that she had been in her mechanical swing for over 2 hours and got upset at my dad for leaving her there that long. I asked him why he didn't put her to bed once she fell asleep and he said he was afraid that she'd wake up again and start crying.

It was a long 5 minute trip home. I felt bad that Charlotte cried herself to sleep while we were at the movies. Once we got home, my dad had successfully transferred Charlotte to her crib without incident. He told me that he enjoyed rocking her for over 2 hours and I was confused. Wasn't she in the mechanical swing? How could you enjoy that? It turns out that I had misunderstood him. She wasn't rocked in the swing, she was rocked in the glider - in my dad's arms for over 2 hours. Now that's a completely different story. I immediately apologized to my dad for getting upset with him for not putting Charlotte to sleep in her crib.

I hope I didn't alienate the only babysitter that pays. I apologized again and again, and yet I still feel guilty for getting upset with him. He did us a tremendous favor and the first thing I did was criticize his care taking method. I over reacted and misunderstood the situation. I know my dad has forgiven me, but I thought I'd apologize yet again. It couldn't hurt. Sorry Dad.

More Adventure

2006-11-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

Charlotte is taking a nap right now. I'm trying to be better about having her on a schedule. We've been moving around so much lately that I think she needs routines right now. We have no plans to travel anywhere for a long time, but we are accepting visitors (hint, hint).

There was another family wedding this past weekend by the water. My cousin Robbie married his longtime girlfriend Leslie in a beautiful ceremony at the church where his parents were married. We all thought that was a wonderful way to honor his parents and their marriage. I sang "Ave Maria" and "No Greater Gift" (1 Cor. 13 text) during the wedding from the choir loft. (I like singing but not being seen, especially when I don't have my music memorized.) Charlotte decided she wanted a solo of her own and could be heard through the cry room for a good portion of the service. I sat in the choir loft aching to comfort her, but knowing I couldn't until I finished the second song. My dad and Eric said that she stopped crying when I was singing, and that after she cried herself to sleep, she woke up again briefly when she heard me sing the second song. Isn't that sweet?

Sunday night Charlotte got sick for the first time. She vomited twice and it was pretty messy, but she didn't seem to care too much after we gave her a bath and settled her in again for the night, this time in our room. It was brief, but still awful. I hated seeing her sick.

On a completely different note, I saw for the first time since moving back to Texas a truck with a gun rack and rifle in the back. Frightening. We also drove by a store called "Guns and Gold." Even more frightening. You can go jewelry and gun shopping at the same time! I was reminded about a woman from Texas who called the Manhattan Church of Christ wondering if it was ok to bring a gun with her when she visited New York. I calmly told her that it wasn't. It's a good thing she couldn't see the look on my face.

Puttin' on the Ritz

2006-11-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

That was the tune Eric and I were singing the entire time we were in Puerto Rico. You see, we ended up staying at none other than the Ritz Carlton - something we didn't plan on, but we were very happy to adjust our plans. Eric's dad had booked a room there and decided to let us enjoy it. It's a long story, but basically the wedding was moved from another hotel to the Ritz and all the guests who booked a room at the previous hotel were moved to the Ritz as well, at no additional charge. All I have to say is that there were many happy guests at Erika's wedding, and Erika got a dream wedding by the sea.

We took full advantage of the pool area and direct beach access. Charlotte swam for the first time and loved it. She started kicking instinctively and had a great time. All that excitement must have tired Charlotte out since she napped every afternoon for about 2 hours - and we napped with her.

We got back to Houston late Monday night and decided to stay in a hotel before traveling back to San Antonio. Any guesses to where we stayed? Motel 6. The difference in accommodations was stark. I have now officially been spoiled and will only accept 5 star accommodations in the future - yeah right!

Still Unpacking

2006-11-01T11:40:00.000-05:00

Howdy ya'll. Just kidding.

We're still unpacking, but are nearly done. The main thing we have left to do is put up our pictures, which I think will make everything feel more homey. They're finishing putting in the grass today (finally), but the downside is that now we have to start watering it. I already got frustrated this morning with the hose because it sprayed me more than the yard. I've got to figure out how to get the hose better attached to the faucet. Ah, the joys of home ownership. I'm kind of missing co-op living at the moment - we had no yard to stress about.

In other news, we're leaving for Puerto Rico tomorrow for a wedding. Eric's sister, Erika (yes, she's named after Eric), is getting married on Saturday. We're looking forward to introducing Charlotte to her Puerto Rican relatives, and the Caribbean scenery will be pretty nice too.

Still haven't taken any pictures of the house, but I promise I will soon.

The Update

2006-10-25T10:09:00.000-04:00

Wow, a lot has happened in the last few days. We closed on our house on Friday - hooray! The closing process was so simple compared to what we went through in New York for our co-op. We were in and out of there within 40 minutes, and no lawyers were involved. We moved in over the weekend and have been unpacking since. So far, only Charlotte's room is complete, which is very fitting since she's the main reason we decided to move here in the first place.

On to other very exciting news - Chester is back! I got a call on Friday from a woman who said that Chester was hanging out in her backyard. She has cats of her own, so food was available. She said he was stuck on her roof the previous Saturday and had decided to make her backyard his home. I was so thankful for her call (and thankful that we had purchased a collar and ID tag) and went right away to pick him up. He's so happy to be home, and so are we.

The last bit of exciting news is that I joined the San Antonio Mastersingers. They are a group of about 120 singers who serve as the resident choir of the San Antonio Symphony. I auditioned last night, made the cut, and proceeded straight to rehearsal. We're working on The Messiah right now and ended our rehearsal with the Hallelujah Chorus. The sound we made was absolutely thrilling. I'm so excited and honored to be a part of this chorus.

Well, that's about it for now. I'll post some pictuures of our house once things are a bit more settled.

Bits and Pieces

2006-10-20T10:32:00.001-04:00

* Charlotte loves for me to sing to her, but this morning while singing "Somewhere Out There", I hit a bad high note and she raised her eyebrows and looked at me like it was the worst thing she'd ever heard in her life. I burst out laughing. She already has a discerning ear!

* I love Tim Gunn from Project Runway. He's co-hosting with Kelly Rippa today and I just think he's adorable. He's so prim and proper, but still warm and down to earth. I know he'd shun just about everything I wear, but I still think we'd get along.

* We're closing on our house today. I did the walk through yesterday and there were still some things that need to be finished or touched up. I'm going by before the closing to make sure they're done, and hopefully, all will be well and we'll move into our new home tomorrow.

* Because we're moving, I won't have internet access for a few days. We hope to be up and running by Tuesday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

ACU Homecoming

2006-10-16T22:38:00.000-04:00

We went to back to ACU this past weekend for homecoming. Dawne, one of my best friends and former roommate, choreographed the homecoming musical and we decided it would be great to see her and the show at the same time. We had a wonderful time, and it was great being in Abilene again and seeing all the progress/change the campus and city have undergone. I hadn't been back since 1999, and Eric hadn't been back since 1990. Amazingly, I still remembered how to get from San Antonio to Abilene, and also remembered how to find everything we needed to find while in Abilene.

Let me start by saying that the show was wonderful. Dawne is a wonderful choreographer and managed to turn a group of non tappers into tappers, which was a good thing since the show was "Singing in the Rain". It was also wonderful seeing some of our friends from New York. Dawne's family was there. Dave and Karen have become very dear to us and her brother, Ryan, and I have known each other since ACU - we even did a few shows together. Soeuraya, a teen from the Manhattan Church, was also there checking out the school and the theatre department. I hope she ends up going there so I can see her in future ACU productions. She's extremely talented.

All in all, it was a great weekend. I ran into several professors and friends while there and it was great hearing about what everyone has been up to. One major theme - babies! I was more than proud to show my little Charlotte around to new people.

For those of you who may know some of the people I saw, I'll recap.

Mike Scarborough (A Capella director) - looks exactly the same and seems to be doing well.

Cherly Lemmons - looks even better than before (if that can be possible) and seems very happy. Her daughter Jessica is in the chorus, and Austin (now 15) was her page turner. Austin didn't remember me (my feelings were slightly hurt). Jessica (19) is a sophomore at ACU. Heather (now 23) was there too. She graduated and now lives in College Station. Thom was there too - he's living in College Station as well.

Stephanie Key and family - I met her sweet little girl, Mattie, now 6 weeks old. Stephie looks great and I couldn't believe that she's already back at work. Teachers only get 6 weeks of maternity leave, which is a crime if you ask me!

Vivi (Matta) and Kendall Massey - They look exactly the same, and Vivi's had 3 kids! She teaches tap with Teri Wilkerson. Kendall works at ACU and produces Sing Song, Freshman Follies, and manage/directs the singing groups. I didn't meet their kids, but I did see pictures and they're all cuties, and all boys.

Oh, and I heard that Jay Mendl was there but I didn't get to see him. He's a freshman, and was helping with the technical side of the show, but I'm sure he'll be starring in a homecoming musical before he graduates.

It was a nostalgic weekend.

Get a Life

2006-10-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

In an ever so kind way, my dad has been telling me to get a life. He says that I need friends, and I say "I know." He says Eric and I should go out sans Charlotte on dates, and I say "I know." But, Charlotte is still nursing, and I'm horrible at pumping milk. I've been encouraged by a few people to try formula, and I thought it would be ok on the very rare occasion that Charlotte and I are separated. My doctor in the Bronx seemed to think that would be ok too, but I still didn't really want to try it. Nearly one month after the go ahead from my doctor, we decided to try it.

Last night we prepared a bottle of milk, warmed it up, and tried to feed it to her. She didn't like it (which was very expected), but she had a few drops from the bottle. Then, she started crying this pitiful, cute cry, and I broke down and nursed her. She was content breastfeeding and was making cooing sounds while she ate. Then, she finished and looked up at me and I was in shock. She had broken out in hives around her mouth! It was very alarming for us, and I felt extremely guilty for trying to give her formula. I didn't even want to think what would have happened had she finished the entire bottle. I would have called the doctor, but she didn't seem to be bothered by the hives, and they got better relatively quickly. In fact, there are no signs today that anything happened last night.

So, I guess Charlotte is allergic to something in the formula, which means I will happily continue to solely breastfeed her. I have a life - Charlotte is my life right now, which as I see it is pretty awesome. She's cute, friendly, fun to be around, and undeniably hugable, squeezable, and lovable.

Plague of Butterflies

2006-10-06T11:31:00.000-04:00

San Antonio has been hit with a plague of butterflies. I don't know where they came from, or why they're here, but they're here, and they're very annoying. We noticed them a few days ago while driving home. Eric asked me what they were, and I said they must be little leaves (it is theoretically fall, right?) blowing in the wind. But then, they splattered on our windshield and we knew they couldn't be leaves. Once we got out of our car, we could tell they were little butterflies. Sounds cute? Well, they're not cute butterflies, they're more like insects, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are literally millions of them flying around Northwest San Antonio. I must kill hundreds of them every time I take the car out for an errand. There is no point in washing the car until they decide to leave the area.

Picture Time

2006-10-03T11:44:00.000-04:00

This post if for those of you without the privilege of seeing Charlotte on a regular basis.

Surfing on her tummy time mat. You can see Chester in the background. Still no sign on him.

After bath time - before her hair got brushed.

With her friend Dora, who is still bigger than she is.

Working on hand-eye coordination. She's getting pretty good at hitting the toys - her expression of surprise when they move and make noise is adorable.

Chester

2006-09-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

Our beloved cat Chester has been missing for two days. I keep hoping to hear his little meow outside our door, but so far I've heard nothing. This morning, Charlotte and I went for a stroll through the neighborhood to try and found him, but still nothing. I'm getting very worried that something has happened to him. His brother is very lonely without him - he keeps looking out the window and has even shown an interest in going outside, which is completely unlike him.

Chester has always been the more adventurous kitty. He's the one who loved to go outside on our balcony in Riverdale, and he even managed to catch 2 chipmunks and bring them into the apartment as gifts. We knew he would love being able to explore the outside world in San Antonio, but were worried that he'd get lost. I put a collar and ID tag with our number on him for this very reason. His first trip outside in San Antonio was very brief, his next a little longer, but now I fear we've lost him forever.

Hopefully someone will find him and call us.

Too Much of a Good Thing

2006-09-26T17:53:00.000-04:00

When Eric and I visited San Antonio from New York we always came back about 5 pounds heavier. My family loves to eat - in fact, we're known to plan our next meal while eating the previous one. Sometimes, we plan our meals days in advance. And, San Antonio is known for amazing Mexican food, barbecue, and Southern delicacies like chicken fried steak, or chicken fried anything. So, when we were here on vacation, we ate at all the best restaurants, and my mom cooked all of my favorite foods - hence the 5 pound minimum weight gain.

We thought things would be different once we lived here. We thought we would get over the novelty of good Mexican food and barbecue, but we haven't - not yet anyway. Since we're living with my dad, he loves to take us out to eat, and I can't pick the 'sensible' meals when enchiladas or chicken fried steak is on the menu. So, I've been eating what I want, and so has Eric. We've also rediscovered the incredibleness of Blue Bell ice cream. Every flavor is amazing and I can't seem to say no to a little dessert every night.

I guess I'm writing this blog to confess that I've been overeating and that I hope to get better. "Willpower, it's now or never."

House Hunting

2006-09-22T17:59:00.000-04:00

When Eric and I moved into corporate housing in White Plains I discovered a television show that quickly became my favorite - HouseHunters. It airs every night on HGTV at 7:30 EST, and I was completely hooked. In the anticipation of becoming a house hunter myself, I watched the show every night and loved to see what house people chose. Inevitably, they had to compromise on something. There was, in essence, no perfect house.

Still, Eric and I had been dreaming of our perfect house. Ideally it would be a one story (although Eric prefers 2 story homes) in an established neighborhood with a recreation area that included a swimming pool. Oh yeah, and we wanted a home with trees in the front and backyard. We found that the first week we were here. The home is 31 years old and we knew it was in need of repair. We fell in love with the neighborhood, and yes, there was even a recreation center. So, we made an offer and it was accepted. We started planning where we wanted furniture to go and what kind of furniture we wanted (since we have none right now). Then, the inspector came and shattered our dreams. Turns out, this house needs more than cosmetic updating. It needs a new roof, major landscaping adjustments to prevent flooding, a new patio (which means drilling out a few feet of concrete over a wide surface), and a few other major things that I can't even speak about because I don't understand them. All in all, it would have cost somewhere between 20 and 30 thousand to brings things up to standards, and that doesn't include any of the cosmetic needs it had. We decided that was just too much to spend.

The next week, we found another great place. This home was also a single story with trees and a beautifully landscaped backyard. The previous owners had even installed a very expensive solar energy system that was bound to help with electricity costs. It too had a recreation center, so we were sold. We made an offer, but someone else made an even better offer that same day. Bummer.

I continued to look at homes, but nothing was measuring up. I was beginning to feel like we were never going to find a home. We decided to start looking at new homes because we would then know that at least we wouldn't need to put any money into fixing it up. I found a great possibility, and got very excited. Eric came by to see it after work and didn't get excited. While it was over 2000 square feet and a one story, Eric though it lacked curb appeal and pointed out that this neighborhood didn't have a pool.

We had plans to go on a 'romantic dinner' that night while my dad and his fiancee watched Charlotte. I told him we could still go out to dinner, but that I wasn't feeling very romantic towards him at the moment.

Then, we decided to visit the neighborhood we were interested in last January. It's new development with 2 recreations centers, a playground, and a 9 acre park with hiking and bike trails, and picnic tables complete with barbeques. Turns out they had a few homes that were ready for a quick move in, and one of them had just about everything we wanted in a home. The only thing it doesn't have is mature trees, but they're going to plant two trees as part of the landscaping package (we'll see them grow over time, right?). Anyway (sorry this is such a long post) we decided to buy this home, and we're anticipating an October 20th closing date. It's a large 2 story (I was willing to compromise), 3 bedroom home with a gameroom. We can't wait to move in.

And, here's the kicker, we will have a very Texas sounding street - Buckskin Spur.

They'll be plenty of room if anyone wants to visit us.

The Latest

2006-09-18T22:31:00.000-04:00

This is the last picture we had on our digital camera, and it's a cutie. Charlotte had soiled her outfit, so my mom put her under the covers while we took care of things. She looked so cute and I had to take a picture. Thankfully, we had the camera handy because I think this will be one of my favorites.

We're Here

2006-09-09T19:28:00.000-04:00

After what seemed like quite a journey, our entire family made it to San Antonio. We closed on our New York apartment on August 31st (which is a blog all too itself) and left that evening for Cape Cod to spend a few days with Eric's mom. The Cape was wonderful and relaxing, but it ended too soon. On Tuesday morning, the Vila family woke at 2:30 a.m., packed up, and headed for Providence, RI to catch a plane to San Antonio. Actually, it was just me and Charlotte on the plane. She is quite the jet setter and didn't fuss too much. Naturally, everyone adored her. After dropping us off, Eric and our two cats continued their three day journey by car to San Antonio. Eric was fortunate enough to find hotels along the way that allowed cats, so Chester and Henry were quite comfortable. Late Thursday evening, our family was reunited and it felt so good (yes, I'm quoting a song).

So far, we are enjoying San Antonio. It's so wonderful being around family and I can already tell that Charlotte is going to benefit from all the love and attention she's getting. We don't miss the city (sorry New Yorkers), but we do miss all of our friends and church family. We really look forward to visiting you guys with Charlotte in the near future. I don't think I'll be able to completely get New York out of my system.

As I end this blog, here are a few adjustments that will have to be made now that I live in San Antonio:

1.) I can't judge what the weather is like by watching what Matt Laurer is wearing on the Today show every morning.

2.) Central time means that the evening news is at 5:30 and that prime time shows starts at 7:00 p.m.

3.) "Fall like weather" is a high of 86 degrees. I kid you not, that's a quote from the local weather man.

4.) The stores are soooo huge - they all look like Costco.

5.) You can buy 3 liter Coke bottles instead of 2.

6.) Trucks, very big obnoxious trucks and SUV's.

7.) Driving everywhere. Nothing is within walking distance, and there are very few sidewalks even if you wanted to walk.

8.) Smooth roads. Charlotte prefers bumpy ones, so she's been a little grumpy on car rides.

9.) No tolls, which is a great thing!

10.) Easy parking, which is also a great thing!

Can't Sleep

2006-08-30T02:19:00.000-04:00

I'm very annoyed with myself right now. It's 2:12 a.m. and I just finished nursing Charlotte and I can't go back to sleep. The same thing happened last night. I was up from 2:00 to 5:00 tossing and turning and thinking - thinking about our imminent move to San Antonio and looking back on the last 7 years of my life in New York. I came to New York mainly because I wanted an adventure, and I got it. I came here knowing no one, now I have many friends who are dear to me. I've made so many wonderful memories and New York will always be special to me. So, I might as well write out some of the highlights since I can't sleep anyway.

1.) Meeting Eric, getting married at our church, and giving birth to our beautiful daughter. I can't seem to separate them all because one lead to the other, and I can't imagine my life without Eric and Charlotte.

2.) The Manhattan Church of Christ and all of the amazing people I've met and come to love.

3.) My first apartment in the East Village. At first I thought the neighborhood was kind of sketchy, but now I recognize it for what it was - cool, edgy, and trendy. I paid $1,000 in 1999 to share an apartment. That was 3/4 of my salary as a teacher.

4.) My choir at Rice High School in Harlem. It was an all boys high school, and while things got off to a rocky start, I loved those kids and we ended up having a great time together. The highlight was taking them to Hershey Park and performing in a competition and receiving top scores. They were so proud of themselves, and so was I.

5.) Returning to Rice to visit the kids after I left to do a theatre tour. It was their Christmas Mass, and word got to me that the kids wanted me to sing. Alton Fitzgerald White, who was playing Colehouse Walker in Ragtime on Broadway, was their guest performer. He is an amazing singer, but the students still wanted me to sing. Alton was very generous and allowed me to do an impromptu performance of "The Lord's Prayer", to which I received a standing ovation. Then, Alton and I led Christmas carols while everyone joined in.

6.) Driving in a U-Haul with Merle through Harlem when all of a sudden a rough looking group of teens stormed the vehicle to say hi to me. Turns out, they were my former students. Merle was a little frightened at first.

7.) My roommates - Dawne, Jared, and Beverly. We had so many great times together.

8.) Tex-Mex food prepared by Chinese people. Who knew they could do such a great job? Sometimes the restaurant was Tex-Mex and Chinese, so you could take your pick.

9.) Broadway shows. I'll miss knowing that I can see a show at a moments notice.

10.) Paul McCartney. I saw him twice with Eric at Madison Square Garden and he was amazing. I also saw him at a small Catholic Church where he read a poem for a classical concert. That was the closest I ever got to him. I (along with almost every other female in the building) walked out into the aisle and slowly started walking towards him. It was like being drawn to a magnet. I'm sure Paul was getting a little nervous because he made a quick exit after his reading.

I'm sure there will be a part two to this post, but I'm actually getting a bit sleepy. I hope sleeps comes because I know I could use it.

First Photo Session

2006-08-24T17:32:00.000-04:00

Charlotte had her first photo sitting on Tuesday, and she did pretty well for a 2 month old. We had an 11:00 a.m. appointment, but we showed up at about 10:45 because Charlotte was in a good mood. By the time everything was set up in the room, Charlotte was in a bad mood. It turned out she wanted a nap, so we let her nap for a good 30 minutes. The photographer thought we should start with the sleeping shots (good idea), so I laid her on a blanket and she snapped a few pictures of our sleeping angel. Then Charlotte woke up and was hungry, so I nursed her for about 20 minutes (it's a good thing no one was in a hurry). Then, she was in a good mood and we got some cute shots of her smiling. Next was the tummy shots. Charlotte does not like spending too much time on her tummy, but she did pretty well for a while. I thought that was going to be it, but there was still one more pose to do. The photographer set up a basket with a white sheet in it and then placed flowers all around it. This was by far my most favorite look. We placed Charlotte in the basket and she looked so cute, but her disposition was starting to change to fussiness. While she wasn't the most cooperative during this final pose, we still got some great pictures. How could you go wrong with someone as cute as Charlotte?

So, here is a sampling of the photo shoot, from beginning to end.

Crime in the Bronx

2006-08-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

When people think about the Bronx, they often think about crime, and an abundance of it. Riverdale, while it is a part of the Bronx, is not known for a high crime rate, and the area we lived in was very peaceful and even suburban. Our apartment building was clean and well maintained and the residents were nice and generous. That's why we were so surprised to find that we were the victims of a crime. Before you get all worried (Dad), it was a small crime, and a pretty silly, and even funny one at that.

Before I was pregnant with Charlotte, Eric and I would enjoy the occasional bike ride through our neighborhood. Our building had a bike room and we stored our bikes there. It seemed very safe. We hadn't checked on our bikes since last October when we found out we were expecting Charlotte, but we assumed everything would be fine. We were wrong. When the movers came, Eric went into the bike room to get our bikes. Yes, our bikes were still there, but someone stole Eric's nice bike seat and replaced it with a beat up one. Who would do that? Did he/she think we wouldn't notice? Maybe (and this is me seeing the best in people) they just planned on borrowing it for a while and were going to return it in the near future. But now that we've moved, they'll never get that chance and will have to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives.

So you see, it was a small crime, but still worth noting. Truth be told, it is the only experience I've had with theft in the entire 7 years I've lived in New York. That's pretty amazing. Plus, it's not really theft when you think about it - just a swap of bike seats.

Temporary Residence

2006-08-12T09:04:00.000-04:00

The movers came yesterday and took 70 boxes of our stuff. We had estimated 30 - boy were we wrong. It's amazing how much stuff two people can have in a one bedroom apartment. So, the cost of moving doubled, but it's still well worth it, and cheaper than U-Haul. We're one step closer to moving to San Antonio.

For the next three weeks we will be living in corporate housing in White Plains. While it was a pain moving all of our necessary items to a new place, I can't complain about the accommodations. It's billed as "luxury apartments" and they really are nice. I couldn't have been happier setting up shop here for a while. The nesting instinct continues to thrive. Eric was amazed with how quickly I got things in order.

You may be wondering why we're here instead of on our way to Texas. It turns out that Enterprise couldn't do without Eric so soon. They basically begged him to stay and are paying for this apartment, which is far from cheap. Pretty generous of them and I'm sure it feels good to be wanted.

The biggest perk to this apartment is it's close proximity to MetroNorth, malls, a movie theatre, and Target! I'm looking forward to taking Charlotte out on a strolls through our new neighborhood. We were in need of new surroundings.

Speaking of Charlotte, here we are a few days ago. She's actually smiling for this picture! I love it!!

Love Songs With New Meanings

2006-08-04T09:58:00.000-04:00

This week, Charlotte began smiling at me. It's the sweetest most heart-warming experience I've ever had. She loves me, she really loves me!

It's gotten me to think about love songs in a new way. All of those great romantic loves songs can also apply to a love between a mother and her child. Here are some of my favorite lyrics from love songs that now have a new meaning to me.

1.) "When I see you smile, I can face the world."

2.) "You are so beautiful to me."

3.) "You are the sunshine of my life."

4.) "How wonderful life is now you're in the world."

5.) "Cherish is the word I use to describe you."

6.) "You'll never know how much I really love you, you'll never know how much I really care."

7.) "Maybe I'm amazed at the way I love you all the time."

8.) "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray."

9.) "My endless love."

10.) "Love you forever and forever, love you with all my heart. Love you whenever we're together, love you when we're apart."

I'm sure the list could go on and on. If you have any song suggestions, pass them along. I love singing to Charlotte, and she seems to enjoy it too.

Happy One Month Birthday Charlotte

2006-07-20T18:14:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it, but our little girl is one month old today. To celebrate, Eric and I took her to our local pizza place for lunch. OK, so that was more for us. Charlotte slept through it all. Here are a few pictures that show the many faces Charlotte made today.

And then she slept.

Sit-Ups and Grandma

2006-07-16T21:01:00.000-04:00

I did two sit-ups tonight. I had planned on doing about 25, but I couldn't. I was completely astounded with how hard it was. It's going to take some doing to get back into shape. One step (or sit-up) at a time - that's my motto right now.

I haven't had much time to blog or even think about blogging lately. My mom went back to Texas this past Tuesday so now I'm living in the full reality of motherhood. She did so much for me and Charlotte while she was here. I started missing her the second she walked out the door. That night she left I had to interrupt my dinner to feed Charlotte and Henry (our dog-like cat) decided to eat my dinner. I was completely helpless and just watched him enjoy my food. If my mom had been there, Henry would not have gotten away with it.

And of course, no post would be complete without a recent picture of Charlotte. Here she is with her grandma.

Charlotte on the Go

2006-07-07T09:25:00.000-04:00

OK, so all I can blog about is Charlotte now. Go figure, right?

Charlotte has been quite the little trooper lately. Last Sunday we took her to church for the first time, and dedicated her. She was only 12 days old at the time, but handled herself like a much older baby. The above picture was taken on the way out of our apartment. She looks like she's ready for anything. Once we got to church, I nursed her in the hopes that she would peacefully sleep through the dedication, which is exactly what she did. The dedication was wonderful, and very emotional for me. The congregation prayed over us, and Eric and I renewed our faith in God and our promise to each other in marriage before dedicating Charlotte. I also made a brief video in iMovie for Charlotte and used the song "Baby Mine" as the background music. As anyone can tell, I'm very proud of our little girl.

After the dedication, we decided to try dining out for the first time. Applebee's seemed like the best choice since it's close to our apartment and usually pretty fast. She did great. We asked for a corner table so that nursing would be more private, and it worked. I successfully nursed in public for the first time! Yeah! After lunch, I put her in the sling and we all went to Target. She did great there too.

On the 4th of July, we decided to try going a movie with her. Eric had been dying to see Superman, so Superman it was. It was a lengthy movie, and I did miss part of the climax, but all in all, Charlotte was wonderful.

This week, we have no plans. Perhaps Charlotte needs a little break from all the excitement.

The Transformation

2006-06-29T22:23:00.000-04:00

I have never been one of those people who goes gah gah over every baby they meet. I've never been one to volunteer to hold a baby. As a teenager, I never thought babysitting was a good or fun option for making extra money. Instead, I opted to work fast food. I always thought that my life would be just fine if I never had any children at all. After all, I had my cats. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked children, but from a comfortable distance.

All of that has changed. Shortly after marriage, I found myself actually wanting to have a child. During my pregnancy, I felt myself falling in love with the little being moving inside of me, but nothing prepared me for the love I felt once I saw her. In an instant, I was transformed into a mother. All the emotions I had heard about came pouring out from inside of me as I looked into my daughters eyes. My first words to her were "you're beautiful" as she was placed on my chest. I felt an immediate need to protect her and make sure she knew she was loved for the rest of her life.

So, I am a mother. And I probably will go gah gah over every baby I see from here on out. I am fully transformed.

PS: I'm posting a picture of my precious Charlotte, like a typical mother.

Our Little Burrito

2006-06-25T11:17:00.000-04:00

I just love this picture of Charlotte. When we were still in the hospital, I asked one of the nurses to show me how to swaddle her with her blanket. After she showed me, I thought "Oh,it's just like wrapping a burrito." Since then, we affectionately call Charlotte "Our Little Burrito" when she's swaddled. We also ask her if she wants to be swaddled burrito style. She seems to like it.

Charlotte Annalise Vila

2006-06-23T14:25:00.000-04:00

Born June 20, 2006 at 3:23 a.m.
7 lbs, 20 inches long

Here are a few pictures of our gorgeous baby girl!

For All You Cat Lovers

2006-06-14T23:17:00.000-04:00

First, let me just admit that I'm getting a bit restless waiting for this baby to come. I am easily annoyed, and can easily burst into tears or laughter. I guess it's normal. Just thought I'd confess on my blog and publicly apologize to Eric. It's a good thing he's such a patient and loving husband.

There is something that I heard about that I think is just too cute to not share - a reality show that features cats. Yes, it's true. Meow Mix has come up with what is basically Survivor/Big Brother for shelter kitties. Ten cats have been selected from all over the country to move to New York and live in a fabulous cat crib together. They will compete in kitty contests (who can purr the loudest, clean the longest, etc.) and then be evaluated by judges. Every day, one cat will be eliminated from the home. The good news is that every cat who is eliminated will go to a new, hopefully loving home and get a year supply of Meow Mix. The winner gets to work for Meow Mix as a taste tester, in addition to getting a new home.

The best part is that if you are in New York, you can go by the cat crib and see the kitties in action. If you are so inclined, the address is 435 Madison Ave., between 48th and 49th. I think I may just have to take a trip into the city if I get the chance. You can also visit www.meowmixhouse.com and read bios on the kitties, or see them live via the webcam (although I'm sure they're sleeping most of the time). The show airs this Friday night at 9:10 p.m. on Animal Planet. I'll most likely be watching.

The Final Countdown

2006-06-13T13:27:00.000-04:00

Only five days until my due date. That means ... absolutely nothing really, but I have to have something to focus on. So, Saturday it is. If she decides to come late, as most first babies do, then I'll have even longer to wait. Since I'm no longer working, I have much more time on my hands, which is good, and bad. It's good because I may not have this kind of alone time for many years, and I've always loved my alone time. It's bad because I have a hard time thinking about anything other than the delivery of this baby.

For the past two nights, I've had semi-regular contractions that really got me and Eric excited, but then they just stopped. I wonder if every night is going to be like this until the real thing. Part of me wonders how I will know the real thing, but I guess it will be pretty obvious. The pain factor will likely kick in and I'll just know. That's what I'm counting on anyway.

So, I'm spending my days working on little projects - mainly cleaning and organizing projects. They say the nesting instinct gets very strong in the days leading up to delivery, and I'm certainly living up to that. I still could use some ideas for how to spend my days, so if you have any ideas, please pass it along. There's only so much cleaning and organizing that can be done in a one bedroom apartment.

Last Day of Work

2006-06-09T10:24:00.000-04:00

Today is my last day of work at the Manhattan Church of Christ. It has been wonderful working here, and I am grateful for the opportunity in so many ways. Before I started here, I was waiting tables at Planet Hollywood in midtown Manhattan and trying to get a job in musical theatre. I hated working at Planet Hollywood and expressed my hatred of it whenever I had the chance. Then, I found out from Larry Mudd, our Music Minister, that someone was needed in the church office and that the hours were pretty flexible. I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back.

That was around April of 2002, and I've been here every since, well, almost. I took about a year and a half off to work at the Carousel Dinner Theatre and then for the national tour of the Music Man. When I came back to town, I still had a job. Once again - grateful.

So, I"m a bit sad about leaving here, but I know it is time. I'm ready for a new chapter in my life, and having a baby certainly qualifies as a new chapter. I will miss everyone I work with and I'm sure I'll never again experience such a pleasant work environment. It's been great, but I must say "adios".

Weight Gain, Part II

2006-06-05T20:27:00.000-04:00

I recently filled out all the pre-registration forms for admission to the hospital for the delivery of our baby girl. One of the forms was for her birth certificate. It was really cool to fill out her name and see it on paper. It looked so official. I was, however, a bit surprised at some of the other questions they wanted to know about me and Eric.

I expect them to want to know our race, but why don't they have "Hispanic/Latino" as a main category. I had to check "White" because it was the most accurate and then specify "Mexican" in the ancestry section. That was weird.

What was even stranger (and why I've titled this post "Weight Gain, Part II") is that it asked what my pre-pregnancy weight was and what my current weight is. Why is this relevant? I certainly hope this won't be printed on her birth certificate. I'm sure it's just for statistics, but can't they get that information from doctors? And, what makes them so sure that women are going to tell the truth? I admit that I was tempted to fudge a little, but decided against it because if they are compiling statistics, I would like them to be accurate.

Anyway, just a random thought. I'm really not as concerned about my weight gain as I may seem, especially now that I have just 2 weeks to go. What's done is done and the most important thing is that I have a healthy daughter to hold in my arms. She's been very dramatic in her movements lately, which I'm interpreting as "it's getting crowded in here, I want to come out." Soon little girl, soon.

Weight Gain

2006-06-01T13:47:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I will officially be 38 weeks pregnant. At 37 weeks, a baby is considered to be full term and can arrive at any times. I'm trying not to think that our baby will arrive earlier than 40 weeks, but a part of me hopes. It's been a nice pregnancy, but I'm ready for it to be over and for the mothering to begin.

I will be going to the doctor every week now until the baby is born. I can't say 'my' doctor because I'm being rotated among the other doctors in the practice just in case my doctor is not on call when I deliver (which will most likely be the case). So far, I have liked every doctor I've met, but I have noticed a small difference in male verses female doctors. All the male doctors (with the exception of mine) want to bring up the issue of weight gain, and that I'm a little over what is recommended. The female doctor I saw today told me that my weight gain was "fine" (without any prompting) and more importantly, that the baby's size is good for where I am. She estimates that the baby will be born somewhere within the 7 lb. range, which sounds good to me. Delivery will be tough either way, but it's gotta be somewhat easier to deliver a 7 lb. baby than a 9 pounder.

Anyway, I'm digressing from my main point. Why are the male doctors so concerned about weight gain? Is a female doctor more sympathetic to the stresses of pregnancy on a body and to a woman's view of her body during pregnancy? After all, I don't need anyone else verifying what I already know - that I've put on a lot of weight.

Scardy Cats

2006-05-30T11:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure of the correct spelling of Scardy, but my 2 cats are scardy cats when it comes to rain and thunder. It's actually quite cute because they are so predictable.

Whenever it begins to rain, or thunder is heard, our cats crouch really low to the ground and run into our room to hide under the bed. And, they stay there until well after the storm has passed. Chester, who is usually the more adventurous one, goes first and stays the longest. There was a very brief storm last night and Chester hid under the bed until early this morning. Poor kitty.

Henry is much funnier in his attempt to protect himself from the rain. Maybe it's because he's a little fatter than Chester, or maybe he's just not as smart, but he doesn't quite make it all the way under the bed. He gets part of his body under, but the rest of him sticks out from under the bed skirt. It's very cute, but I wonder why he thinks he's safe in that position.

Our kitties are very entertaining to say the least. And for now, they get so much attention. Little do they know (or maybe they do) that a new little person will soon become the focus of our home, our energy, and our time.

PS: I think Chester knows that something is up. Sometimes he rests his head on my belly and feels the baby move. His eyes get big and he looks curiously up at me.

Positive Thinking

2006-05-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

I'm trying my hardest to be positive about these last few weeks of pregnancy. In fact, I had intended to write a post about all the great things about being pregnant, but right now, I'm just a little annoyed about some things.

First of all, as I type, I'm loosing feeling in my right hand. This is because many women develop carpal tunnel syndrome in the last few weeks of pregnancy due to fluid retention. Enough with the fluid retention already! When I wake up in the morning, it takes nearly an hour for the feeling in my right hand to return, and I have to compensate by using my left hand to open the toothpaste, feed the cats, pour a glass of orange juice, and so on.

My latest complaint is an itchy belly. I guess my stomach has stretched out so much that it itches ... like crazy. I think I may go crazy trying to not scratch it!!!

Enough complaining. Now on to the positive things.

Baby Vila has now 'dropped', although it was so gradual I didn't really notice it was happening. The doctor said this is a good sign because she definitely will 'fit' through my pelvis (hooray for that, right?). I think he was just trying to be funny, but it's still reassuring.

I love the dramatic movements our little girl makes at night. Sometimes it like my entire belly is lopsided because she's decided to move more to one side. It's really cool to watch my stomach in motion, knowing that our little girl is causing it. I love rubbing my belly just to get her started.

A little positive to go along with the negative is always a good thing.

The End of Unlimited Metrocards

2006-05-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

I think I may have purchased the last weekly unlimited express bus metrocard of my life. I always try to have at least 2 in my wallet just in case I can't get to a vending machine when my current card runs out. I now have three cards, just enough to get me through June 9th, which will be my last official day of work. It feels weird, but it will save us $41 a week. But then again, I won't be making any money, so that won't help us too much.

In any case, what this really means is that our little girl will soon be born and our lives will change in ways we cannot imagine, though we keep trying. I'm looking forward to it!

When He's 64

2006-05-18T09:29:00.000-04:00

When Paul McCartney turns 64 on June 18th of this year, he will be single again. I am extremely sad for him. I really wanted his marriage to Heather to work out. I was not among the nay sayers, but I truly believed that he found someone to love and that would love him for the rest of his life.

After all, Paul McCartney is not the kind of celebrity who jumps in and out of relationships at the drop of a hat. He and his first wife, the very "Lovely Linda", were married for 29 years. He loved her till the end, when she lost her battle with cancer. Over their 29 years of marriage, they only spent one night apart. They were devoted to each other, some might have said too devoted. He even let her play and sing in Wings and with other bands while he was on tour - not because she was good, but because they wanted to be together. I always admired that about them and thought it was a smart move. It's not easy to maintain a relationship when you're not together.

So, when Paul announced that he was going to marry Heather Mills, I was happy for him, and like his first marriage, I thought it would last. I'm sure they both thought it would last, and that's why it's so sad that they have announced their split. Why? They say they couldn't handle the pressure of being in the public eye constantly, but there has to be more there. All I feel is sadness for the both of them.

It makes me wonder if Paul already had his one, amazing, true love in life with Linda. He wrote some wonderful songs for Linda that pretty much sum up his feelings. I'll leave you with a snippet from "Maybe I'm Amazed".

Maybe I'm amazed at the way I love you all the time
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you pulled me out of time
And hung me on a line
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you

My Take on American Idol

2006-05-17T10:54:00.000-04:00

I admit that I am a huge American Idol fan, and have been since the first season. I missed the second season entirely when I was on the Music Man tour, but I remember watching portions of it one night(when I wasn't onstage) with the security guard for a theatre since he happened to have a small TV. So yes, I'm a fan.

This year has been no exception. I was sad when Chris went home last week because he was one of the better singers there. Elliott has grown on me, but he has this annoying fluttery vibrato most of the time. I think part of his popularity (certainly for me) is that he has gotten better, and he has a quirky charm about him. Taylor Hicks also isn't the greatest singer, but I love him because he sings from his heart and always has a good time. He's confident, but not overly so, and he knows what he's good at. Katherine is my least favorite of the remaining 3, not because she can't sing, but because I think she tries too hard to be something she's not. Why can't she just sing the song instead of noodling around every note like a Mariah Carey wanna be? Her version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was exceptional, but she even tried a few unnecessary riffs in that song. Why does she think that in order to be original she has to riff at every possible opportunity? Case in point - Taylor Hick's version of "Something" and "You Are So Beautiful" were wonderful. He didn't try to add to the already beautiful melody, but he still made the songs his own.

All that being said, I would prefer a Taylor Hicks and Elliott Yamin finale. They are more endearing and more communicative with their voices. And, they're both unique, where as Katherine can be forgettable. Am I being too hard on her?

A Little Courtesy Please

2006-05-11T09:25:00.000-04:00

I have to start this blog by saying that I love taking the Express bus to and from work. The seats are cushioned, the people are nice and quiet, the schedule is predictable, and the ride is smooth and efficient. That many nice things cannot be said for the subway and regular city buses. But, sometimes the drivers are not very courteous.

Before I was pregnant, I didn't care that they started driving to the next stop while I was walking to my seat. Now, I do care. I have a fear of falling and hurting my baby, and when the bus is moving and I'm still trying to get into a seat, I'm a little concerned. Thankfully, I haven't fallen, but I was a witness to someone else's fall recently, and I hope it served as a wake up call to the driver.

The victim was a sweet little elderly woman with a cane. The fact that she was walking with a cane should have been enough to alert the driver that she had problems walking. Plus, her daughter, who was not riding the bus, helped her up the steps of the bus. I decided to let her on before me because I knew she needed more time to find a seat. After I got on, I was right behind her and the bus started moving. The nearest available seat was still a few rows away, and she continued walking. Next thing I knew, she fell. It was one of those slow motion things. I felt so bad for her.

The bus driver was oblivious to the situation. I had to tell him to stop the bus because she fell and needed help up. Two kind passengers helped her into a seat once they saw how pregnant and useless I was in that particular situation. I then told the driver that he should have waited until she found a seat before driving off, and several other passengers echoed the sentiment. He told us that someone at the front should have given up their seat. Way to pass the blame! He could have asked someone to please give up their seat, or he could have simply waited for her to sit down.

Sometimes a little courtesy goes a long way.

Pregnant Avatar - Pajama Lover

2006-05-10T09:36:00.000-04:00

Check out my latest Avatar. She's pregnant!! Finally, a more realistic version of the me I am right now. Thanks Little Light for letting me know about this. I also love that she's wearing pajamas.

Ask anyone who knows me well, or has been my roommate, and they will let you know that I wear pajamas every chance I get. I don't understand people who lounge around their own house in actual outfits. Why? Why not put on your most comfortable pair of pj's before deciding to relax on the couch?

My mom traditionally gets me a pair of pajamas every Christmas. This year, I got maternity pajamas, and I have worn them out - literally. The pants have a hole in them (thanks to one of the kitties), and the top has been washed so many times that it barely fits me (I'm sure my growing belly has some blame in this too).

Anyway, I love my new Avatar - I may never change her until after the baby is born!

Wonderful Week

2006-05-02T14:46:00.000-04:00

I've just come down from the high of a wonderful week. Last Tuesday, my mom and aunt came up from Texas to visit me and Eric, and to attend our baby shower. It was so incredible having them here. It wasn't a pleasure trip for them, but we did manage to get some fun in. Mostly though, we got things ready in our apartment for our little girl. Since we only have a one bedroom, our dining room has become her 'room', although she will not sleep in there. We're using the dining table as a changing and storage area, with additional storage underneath. I brought in my nightstand and lamp for her room too. It looks cute and cozy now. It's amazing how much stuff a little baby needs!

On Thursday night we went to see my good friend in "Tarzan" on Broadway (visit www.merledandridge.com). She played the role of Tarzan's ape mother, and had several solos and duets including "You'll Be In My Heart". She was amazing, and so was the show. It was great seeing her in her element, performing and sharing her gifts with the audience. She had some of the most tender moments in the show and made me cry twice.

Then, Saturday was the shower. Many of my friends (LaCanas, Emily, Merle, Beverly, Jenny, and Hylma) got together and planned something really special. The food was great and so was the company. The hostesses laid out onesies of various sizes on tables and asked people to decorate one using markers and stencils that they provided. We got some really cute outfits out of that! And, of course, we got some great gifts. Eric and I were overwhelmed with the generosity and thoughtfulness of our friends. I tried to properly thank everyone at the shower, but I was so overcome with emotion that I could hardly get out more than "Thank You."

I'll try to post some pictures from the shower soon. I've given up on trying to look thin in pictures. There's just no hiding the fact that my belly is huge, as well as just about everything else.

5 Things I Read Happen to Pregnant Women, but I Didn't Think Would Actually Happen to Me

2006-04-24T09:54:00.000-04:00

Like most first time mothers, I've done a lot of reading about pregnancy and birth. The main books I've read are "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" and "What to Expect When You're Expecting." I found both to be great, the first more funny and light-hearted, and the second more medical. But, for some reason, I thought I was special, and therefore would not suffer from many of the common symptoms (or maybe side effects is a better phrase) of pregnancy. So, here are the ones I was most surprised about. Don't worry, I'll leave the yuckier ones out of this post.

1. Frequent Urination - OK, so I knew this was going to happen, but I had no idea just how frequent it was going to be. It's so frequent that I annoy myself! Sometimes, I have to go right after I've just gone - literally!

2. Forgetfulness - I didn't really think this would happen. It doesn't sound like a very scientific symptom. I mean, how exactly do they know this happens? But, it IS happening to me. I have to write myself little reminder notes now, and that doesn't always do the trick.

3. Clumsiness - Yet another symptom that doesn't sound very scientific, but it really has happened to me. I'm always dropping things while performing simple tasks. I curse myself outloud (without using profanity - most of the time), and Eric thinks something major has happened like I've injured myself. Usually, I've just dropped something and made a mess of things.

4. Hemorrhoids - This is the only yucky thing I'll mention, and I don't need to say anything more on the subject.

5. Swollen Feet/Increase in Foot Size - I can't believe it, but my feet have actually grown a half size. I had to buy a new pair of closed toed shoes this weekend because I can't quite get away with wearing sandals yet (when will Spring actually come and stay?) and the rest of my shoes don't fit. My mom says she grew a half size with each pregnancy and that her feet never went back to their original size. I think I better stop with 2 kids because I don't want to be anything larger than a size 10.

Commute from Hell

2006-04-19T10:52:00.000-04:00

Last week I thought I had experienced the commute from hell. As usual, I took the express bus home from the corner of 79th and Madison at 4:50 p.m. I can count on getting home between 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. - that is until the Yankees started playing again. Had I known that there was a Yankee game getting out at about the time I was leaving work, I would have found another route home, but since I'm not a Yankee fan, I was clueless as to their schedule.

Needless to say, the traffic was horrible. Our bus would go 2 blocks every 15 minutes or so. At one point, I had to go to the restroom so badly that I begged the driver to let me off in Harlem, even thought that wasn't a stop. I told him I would find another way home. He seemed sympathetic, particularly when he noticed I was pregnant, but he wouldn't let me off the bus because the next stop wasn't until the Bronx and he isn't allowed to let people off anywhere but an actual bus stop.

I finally made it home at about 8:00 p.m. I thought that was the commute from hell.

My story in no way compares to the 69 passengers who were stranded on two trams between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island yesterday. When I got home last night, I turned on the news and found out about their predicament. That night, Eric and I went to our birthing class. When we got home at 10:00 p.m., I turned on the news again and was shocked to see that those poor people were still stranded in the air, and it looked like they would be there for even longer. When I woke up this morning, I found out that the last passenger was removed at about 5:00 a.m. - I couldn't believe it. That has to go down as the worst commute ever - THE commute from hell! My little saga is nothing compared to that!!!

Racial Profiling

2006-04-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

It happened to me yesterday, and it has happened before, but it's always disconcerting.

For reasons I really don't want to get into, I had some time to kill while going through some tests at the doctor's office (don't worry, nothing serious). My doctor's office is on East 60th and Madison Ave., so there is some great shopping in the area, and I decided to take advantage of it.

I walked casually into Calvin Klein and thought I could at least look at shoes and accessories. The security guard welcomed me and I proceeded to browse, but he followed me around and made me very uncomfortable. Then, after I had been looking for a few minutes, he asked me if there was anything I was looking for. That's not his job, right? He's not the sales person. So, I told him I was just looking at shoes because that's the only thing that would fit me right now. I was trying to be causal and funny, but he kept following me. I couldn't take it for much longer, so I walked out of the store.

So, is that racial profiling? It sure felt like it. I am a little browner now from our trip to Puerto Rico, and Eric told me that security guards are trained to look at pregnant women more suspiciously because some women want to appear pregnant just so they can stuff things under their shirt.

Anyway, I hated feeling like I didn't belong in a store - whatever the reason. Maybe I just didn't look posh enough.

Walking Slowly with a Limp

2006-04-06T12:53:00.000-04:00

I'm longing for the days when I first noticed that I was walking slowly (People Passing Me By) because now not only do I walk slowly, but I also limp around. Right before we left for Puerto Rico, I noticed that my right foot was swelling more than my left and that the top of that foot hurt when I walked or put any kind of pressure on it. I tried to ignore it, but it didn't get any better the entire week we were in Puerto Rico, and it still isn't better now. I was sad that I couldn't bare the pain enough to walk through some of the hiking trails of El Yunque (the rainforest), and that I quickly ran out of steam while shopping in Old San Juan. How annoying is that? Just two days ago, I limped my way home from the bus stop and burst into tears when Eric asked me how I was doing.

From all accounts, what I'm experiencing is quite normal, so I guess this is something I'm just going to have to endure. And, I realize that I am blessed and privileged to be carrying this child. I continue to feel more and more love for her every day.

Back from Puerto Rico

2006-04-04T09:40:00.000-04:00

We are reluctantly back from Puerto Rico. It was so beautiful down there, the food was amazing, and we didn't really want to come back to New York. But, real life beckoned and we obeyed.

It was so nice to be in a very warm climate, to go the beach, and to hang out at the pool of a yacht club that Eric's dad belongs to. The picture above was taken on one of our beach days. We found a great spot that was virtually our own where a row of rocks blocked the waves and kept the waters pretty calm. This was great for me because I'm somewhat fearful of big waves and don't like salt water anywhere near my mouth. As you can see from the picture, I was on cloud nine. There's nothing like feeling weightless when you're 7 months pregnant!

The main reason we went to Puerto Rico was to attend the wedding of Eric's cousin. It was a beautiful reception, but I can't say how the wedding was because we missed it. I quickly found out that everyone in Puerto Rico is very laid back about time.

The wedding was set to start at 3:00 p.m. on a Sunday. We spent the late morning and early afternoon at the Eric's aunt's house, which was wedding central. At 2:00 p.m., we finally left to get ready ourselves. They hadn't even started working on the bride's hair, so I wasn't worried about being a little late. So, Eric and I got ready, but Eric's dad didn't start taking his shower until 3:00. By this point, I was a little concerned. We finally left the house at about 3:20, but then made a stop because Eric's dad wanted to introduce us to some of his friends. Can you believe it? Then, just blocks away from the wedding site, we got a flat tire, but were still able to make it to the wedding by 4:00 p.m. Right as we entered, the wedding party was recessing. So, we flew all the way to Puerto Rico and missed the wedding! Had we been 45 minutes late, we would have been fine, but an hour late was just too much.

Remarkably, no one was upset that we were late. In fact, we weren't the only late comers. The reception was, by all accounts, the highlight of the wedding anyway. Everyone knows how to party down there. Another thing I quickly found out was that the party never ends.

Don't Hate Me Because ...

2006-03-24T17:36:00.000-05:00

Remember those commercials? "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." I always wanted to finish the sentence with, "Hate me because all I care about is being beautiful."

Anyway, don't hate me because I'm going on a vacation to Puerto Rico. Tomorrow Eric and I will be leaving NYC for San Juan to go to his cousin's wedding and then to relax and enjoy ourselves. So, I will be out of commission for a week, but I hope to come back with pictures and highlights of our trip.

Unrelated Thoughts and Events

2006-03-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

I went to the doctor yesterday for my monthly prenatal exam. I don't want to explain the reasons why, but I had to get a shot. I was shocked when the nurse told me she would give it to me in my butt. I haven't had a shot administered in that way since elementary school.

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One good reason to have a husband when you're pregnant: He's there to hoist you up after a long bath!

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Everyone should see the documentary "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price". I always knew that Wal-Mart was evil, but I never knew just how far they go to make a ridiculous profit. They are the true 'Evil Empire' and I take back everything negative I've said about the Yankees (well, almost).

People Passing Me By

2006-03-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

I'm officially a slow walker, and I'm completely blaming this on my pregnancy.

This morning, I nearly missed my bus. I left at exactly the same time I usually leave, but I managed to loose a lot of time on my walk there. Most of the time I was thinking about the ache in my hips, lower back, and feet (from swelling), and about having to go to the restroom even though I had just gone right before I stepped outside my door. Very annoying.

Anyway, I turned the corner and saw my bus approaching, but I was still about a half block away. I tried to run, but my feet failed me, so I flailed my arms about in an attempt to get the drivers attention. I must have looked ridiculous, but it worked! Thankfully, the bus driver came to where I was and stopped to let me in. What a nice guy. My old bus driver was such a meanie and would never have done that.

Once I got to my stop in Manhattan, I noticed (as I've been noticing lately) that everyone keeps passing me by on the street. I use to be the one with a swift stride, now I must look like I'm out on a leisurely stroll with no place in particular to head towards or be. It's a little unnerving to see old men and women pass me by, but it's even more annoying when I see young girls with a bounce in their step pass me by. Why? I guess because I remember when that use to be me, and I never thought I'd be the one with the slow gait.

Wise Words from John Lennon

2006-03-17T09:50:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the Beatles. My interest in their music began in the 8th grade and has remained ever since.

This morning I was listening to John Lennon during my commute to work and was reminded of one of my favorite quotes of all time. Now, I'm not much for quoting, but this one is awesome. And no, it's not from "Imagine". It's actually from a song called "Beautiful Boy" that John wrote for his son, Sean. In it, he sings about how beautiful his little boy is and how he's looking forward to seeing him grow up and experience all the stepping stones of life. In fact he says "I can hardly wait, to see you come of age, but until then we'll have to be patient." In a lyric buried in the middle of the song, he later says "Life is what happens to you when your busy making other plans." That's the line that gets to me.

I've often thought about how true that is, and it's especially true now. In the midst of all of our planning and dreaming about our baby, I really don't want to miss out on the everyday joys of life right now. I want to enjoy every kick I feel, every call from my parents who want to share in the excitement of this time, every conversation with a good friend, and even every bus ride to work. Because, after all, we really don't know how much time we have on this earth and life truly is the everyday things that happen to us.

Sadly, within one year of writing "Beautiful Boy", John Lennon was shot dead in front of his apartment building. He wasn't able to see his son "come of age". Still, I think he was wise enough to recognize the beauty of and fully enjoy the time he did have with his son.

Are You Having a Good Time In There?

2006-03-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

I've been wondering lately what my little girl likes to do in the womb. I often feel her moving around, but I'm not sure why she's moving. Is she uncomfortable? Did she hear something that scared her or peaked her interest? Does she aspire to be a gymnast? I just don't know.

I also wonder if she's bored in there or if the sounds of my digestive system and the beating of my heart keep her sufficiently entertained. Eric and I talk to her sometimes - maybe she finds us amusing. I certainly do my fair share of singing - does she like it? Hopefully, she'll find our voices familiar when she enters our world.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could remember what it was like to be in the womb? But, maybe it's better that we don't remember. Maybe we were completely bored and didn't know it.

Bravo Ann Curry

2006-03-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

Precious little has been said about the genocide that has been taking place for years in the region of Darfur, Sudan. I, for one, stumbled upon hearing about it quite by accident nearly one year ago. Once I found out some details about how many people have died and have been displaced, I immediately wondered why this was not at the forefront of our news broadcasts, and why so many powerful governments seem to be letting the violence continue unchecked.

I still don't have an answer to the latter part, but at least we're starting to hear about Darfur in the news. Yesterday, Ann Curry delivered a special report within the first 30 minutes of the Today Show (and later on the evening news) about the genocide in Darfur and how it is now spreading to the bordering country of Chad. I thought to myself "finally we're hearing about this in a prominent way". Katie Couric even thanked Ann Curry for relentlessly pursuing this story even when their network discouraged her from covering it.

So, that's way I say bravo to Ann Curry.

www.savedarfur.org

The Perfect Husband

2006-03-11T15:18:00.000-05:00

Could it really be true? Do I have the perfect husband? While I know there is no such thing as perfection, Eric comes pretty close.

As of late, Eric's work schedule has been a little unusual. For example, he had Thursday and Friday off this week rather than Saturday and Sunday. What does he choose to do on his days off? Clean the house, do the laundry, clean the litter box, go grocery shopping, and run errands for both of us. Isn't that amazing? And, if that weren't enough, he even tried two new recipes and made sure that dinner was waiting for me when I got home from work on both nights. Plus, in anticipation of my birthday (which is today, by the way), he bought flowers and displayed them on our dining room table with my present and a card. He is just too wonderful for words. He would make an awesome househusband!!

Of course, leave it to me to think of an ulterior motive for his perfectness. Could it be that he is modeling what he expects from me when I become a housewife? I mentioned as much to him and he just laughed. Not exactly a denial, right? I did remind him that I'll have a newborn to take care of as well, so hopefully he'll cut me a little slack.

The Runner

2006-03-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

Somehow I inadvertently took off the ability to post comments to my last two entries, but it's fixed now. So, comment away!
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Since I moved up to Riverdale, I've noticed a woman who runs regularly. I usually see her in the mornings when I walk to my bus stop. She's not like most runners who look like they enjoy running. She always has a look of extreme pain mixed with determination. Actually, she looks rather comical. Do you remember in Rocky (I think it was in Rocky), when he runs up and down a huge outdoor staircase as part of his training? Well, she does that, only we don't have huge staircases, so she runs up and down the two or three steps that lead up to apartment buildings and nursing homes. How much does that really help her workout?

Still, I can't help but admire this woman. She has consistently run for about two years now, and it certainly shows. She is disciplined in a way that I have never been. Right now, the only thing I'm disciplined about is taking long, hot showers twice a day and applying a honey butter lotion to my belly that is suppose to prevent stretch marks. Does that count?

My Kitties

2006-03-09T10:19:00.000-05:00

I love cats, and I can't understand people who don't. Over the years, I've had the privilege of having many cats, and they have all been special to me. Right now, Eric and I have two precious kitties - Henry and Chester, pictured above. Henry is to the left, and Chester to the right. Eric was initially hesitant about adopting cats, but has since called our kitties "the best investment we've ever made". They truly bring joy to our lives.

So, here are some of my favorite moments with Henry and Chester:

1.) The night Chester brought in a chipmunk from our balcony and gently presented him to us in our living room. The chipmunk, naturally, ran to find a hiding place behind our TV, and Eric and I had the pleasure of coaxing him out of there and getting him back outside where he belongs - no easy feat!

2.) Watching Chester and Henry groom each other. It's so precious to see the bond they share as brothers.

3.) Watching Chester and Henry fight, which is another part of being brothers I guess.

4.) Coming home every night and seeing Henry jump up on our bed and roll over in the cutest way just to get attention.

5.) Waking up every morning to Chester's hunger meows. He always thinks I'm going to forget to feed him.

Soon, Henry and Chester will have to get use to a little baby in the house and I'm sure they won't appreciate the lack of attention they'll receive from me. For now, I'll just smother on the love!

Mourning

2006-03-07T14:11:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that I've been having a hard time dealing with the changes in my growing body. So, I've decided that I should just mourn over the youthful body that I am losing. Yes, it sounds silly, but it's true. I am fully aware that this is a trivial matter.

A few nights ago, Eric 'caught' me looking at old pictures of myself from college and earlier New York days. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was looking at old pictures because I was sad about how big I've become, and how much bigger I'm going to get. He reminded me that this is all for a good cause, which I completely recognize and am happy about. And yet, I can't help but feel sad for what I'm losing.

I use to be thin without even trying, but I think I'm going to have to start working for it after the baby is born. From everything I've read, most women do lose the baby weight within a year of giving birth, but their bodies never return to the way they were before. True, some women look amazing after having children, maybe even better than they did before, but their bodies will never be exactly the same again.

So, I think it's time for me to mourn. I think it's ok to do that.

2006-03-06T15:12:00.000-05:00

Eric and I spent a wonderful night at the Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY last Friday. The hotel, which is registered as a historic hotel, is absolutely beautiful and is actually on the grounds of the military academy. Our room had a gorgeous view of the Hudson River. Despite the cold, we were able to enjoy ourselves. For me, it was just great getting out of the norm to enjoy each other in a different setting. Plus, we really want to take advantage of these last 3 months before the baby comes and do things we probablly won't be able to do for quite some time. Hope you like the pictures.

From Yellow Cabs, to Gypsy Cabs, to ???

2006-03-03T10:17:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking this morning about my first apartment in New York. I lived on East 12th St. in Manhattan, which was a very cool place to be. Since then, I've moved on up (geographically, that is) to three other apartments. My second was on West 113th St. in Harlem, my third on West 157th St. in Washington Heights, and finally, my fourth in Riverdale, at approximately 256th Street in the Bronx.

It's amazing the differences in options for cabs in each neighborhood. When I lived on East 12th St., I was always able to find a yellow cab, which meant that I was assured a fair (relatively speaking) rate and a reliable driver. Once I moved up to Harlem and Washington Heights, it was difficult to find a yellow cab. You see, they didn't like traveling to these "undesirable" neighborhoods, but preferred to stay in the land of tourists, which is anything below 110th St. So, if I wanted a cab from my apartment in those days, I had to search out a gypsy cab. Gypsy cabs are easy to find once you know what to look for. They're basically full-sized, dark colored cars like a Towne and Country. It's completely illegal for livery cab drivers to pick up passengers from the street, but it happens all the time. The downside to gypsy cabs is that you have to negotiate the fare BEFORE you accept the ride if you don't want to over pay. They don't have meters in their cars like yellow cabs do.

Now that I live in the Bronx, I've encountered a new phenomenon. There are no yellow cabs, and gypsy cabs are scarce. So, creative thinking Bronxites have taken it upon themselves to solve this problem. Many 'regular' people bring their 'regular' cars to the last stop on the subway and discreetly offer their driving services to anyone who needs a ride past where the subway goes. This is extremely illegal, but I think they provide a valuable and necessary service. Last night, for example, I was not keen on the idea of taking the city bus to my bus stop and then walking 10 minutes to my apartment. For one, it was cold and it had just snowed. Two, I'm 24 weeks pregnant and I just didn't feel like walking. So, I took the ride offered me.

This experience is not new to me, but it always feels a bit strange. The drivers want you to sit in the front passenger seat so it looks like you're a friend, not a paying passenger. Sometimes they'll take a few other people with them as well, to maximize profits. I'll admit, the first time I took one of these ??? cabs, I was a little scared. After all, why should I trust these people? Now, however, I'm so grateful to them. They are there in all kinds of weather, and they offer a reasonable flat fee to anywhere in Riverdale.

What to Say?

2006-03-02T16:07:00.000-05:00

This is (obviously) the first entry of my blog. I'm not sure exactly what to say, so I'll just start blogging about things that are happening.

The most important thing going on in my life right now is that I'm pregnant - 24 weeks to be exact. We've found out that we're having a little girl, and I can feel her moving inside of me now. It's such a wonderful feeling. I can't help but think that this is how my mother felt when I was inside her. Life is so cool that way.

OK, I'll keep the first post short. Maybe I'll be inspired to post again soon.