There is a Silver Lining

I hadn't even had a chance to write about my new gig before it was over. After three years at Best Buddies, with various levels of frustration, I finally dedicated myself 100% to finding a new opportunity. It seemed like the dream job - a 20% salary increase, no travel, and working for a cause I was passionate about - the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is an epidemic, a completely preventable (in the case of Type 2) epidemic. My mom is blind, my uncle an amputee, my father-in-law suffers from bleeding in his eyes, another aunt and uncle, insulin dependent, my husband and I, overweight! If I was going to be away from Myki, what better thing to do than work to improve his future, to help bring reality to a world free from diabetes.

Unfortunately, it wasn't all I'd hoped it would be. The Miami office is in Doral, quite a commute from my Pompano Beach home and they are going through their own growing pains and transition: no real leadership for years, falling short of budget, a complete lack of office procedures and a clique that was hard to penetrate. So in the words of my boss, it wasn't the right fit.

I should have cried, kicked and screamed, told them to fuck off! But I just said thank you and good luck and gathered my things. I think she was right, it wasn't the right fit. I'm sure she and I would disagree on why, but that doesn't really matter. So for the first time in my working career, I find myself unemployed. The instinct is to panic. We have a son, bills, no significant savings account, more bills. And although I've had moments of weakness, moments of whoa is me, I'm trying to keep my head up.

My friends and family have helped, presenting me with incredible support and silver lining proposals:

- God has something bigger in mind for you.
- Good riddance, who wants to be aggravated every day
- It has nothing to do with you, you know that.

So I'm going to take my time, find that perfect opportunity - near home, good pay, security. And while I'm searching, I'll be able to focus on the important things that have fallen to the wayside....the 30 lbs I need to loose to be below my at-risk weight for diabetes, reading books to my son, maintaining a clean and safe home for my family, calling my relatives, sending email updates to the world, being the best, mother, wife, sister, daughter, in-law, friend I can be and hopefully, writing in my blog! Hopefully I haven't lost all of my audience.

The American Way

Jacquelynne Powers, of the Miami NewTimes, pointed out some grease-laden irony in a recent blog post: From now until May 23, KFC is launching Buckets For The Cure with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which promotes breast cancer awareness. The fast-food outlet will donate 50 cents for every pink bucket of chicken, with the ultimate goal of raising $8.5 million dollars. All of this sounds very admirable...until you look at KFC's other newsworthy launch this week.They introduced the world to the Double Down "sandwich": an artery-clogging extravaganza that replaces buns with deep-fried chicken filets, with melted cheese and bacon strips in between. It has 540 calories, 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium. So the Colonel is raising money for cancer while selling food that increases the risk of diabetes, heart attacks and all manner of other health problems.Maybe ironic isn't the best word. Hypocrisy might be a better fit.
From Slashfood Tweets
www.slashfood.com

Wal-Mart

Intellectually, I know that Wal-Mart is evil, that although everything is cheaper, it comes at a cost. And when I first moved to Florida, I did not shop there. My husband was adamant that we would not support Wal-Mart, no matter what. But as a Mami, I have to say that Wal-Mart has persuaded me to look the other way at their questionable practices. I'm not proud of that fact, and I wish it weren't so, but it is the truth.

First, as everyone knows, mother or not, babies are freaking expensive! And when you've only go double digits in the bank account and need a laundry list of things, it only makes sense to hit up the local Wal-Mart.

Their latest invention for moms is INGENIOUS! Check out this little seat. Usually, if you go out with Baby, you pretty much have to count on not being able to pee, praying the shopping cart fits in the family bathroom or, when desperate, using the bathroom while holding baby on your lap. Do you have any idea how hard it is to hover, hold and control a 10 month old with just one hand and ensure he doesn't touch anything gross in a public restroom? I was in Wal-Mart for some weekly necessities and had to go so badly. Tried to bring the cart in - wouldn't fit. Fine, I guess I'll hold him. Well pop into the family stall and there it is. It was strategically out of reach of anything gross, had a belt that held his shoulders in place and he actually seemed to enjoy the thing very much! Amazing. I hate to say it but kudos to Wal-Mart.

Highlights from my One-A-Day Mommy Calendar

"In the final analysis, it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings."
- Ann Landers

"Your child is unaware that you serve on two community boards, work 30 hours a week, and volunteer at the animal shelter every other weekend. She is acutely aware, however, that you swear when you drive by a police car, wear your pajamas to walk her to the bus stop , and don't always pick up the phone when you see that your mother is calling."
- an important point for a mom who works 40 hours a week, commutes 10 hours a week, goes to school 8 hours a week and is involved in both the grad and undergrad chapters of her sorority...

Nostalgia

Brushing my teeth!

Whew...what a whirlwind it's been since the 5 month update. Since then, Myki has grown and GROWN! He is walking with support, pushing anything that moves through our living room (see below). He has FIVE teeth! And last week, we started brushing them! He gets a kick out of that. He is literally off the charts in height at 32" and in the 90th percentile in weight at 23 lbs. The height we were expecting but he's so lean....who knew the child of voluptious and robust would be so skinny.

Myki turns 9 months next week. This time has flown by so quickly. My best friend just had a baby last week...Christian James. And she sent me pictures of his birthday...those first groggy moments when they bring you the baby, he lays on your chest, you just breathe him in...he looks at you serenly. Ugh it was so bittersweet...I was so happy for her, happy that she had opened that door in her life and just so nostalgic for those moments with Myki. As amazing as it is to see him grow, it is sad to know I won't ever have those moments back...

It's been so long

My publico! Hopefully you haven't lost faith in me. November 20 and a five-month old Myki were such a long time ago! But I've been a very busy bee (yes, I now watch children's cartoons). Some highlights from my last few months:

Myki turned 6 months old! And then 7 months old! Time is just flying by. He is so perfect and learning something new each and every day. He's eating 3 meals a day now and has sprouted two more teeth. He's going to walk and talk any day now. The babbling is becoming increasingly coherent - na ta da da, ga! And he has stood a few times by himself...and then he realizes he's not holding on and falls on his butt, it is super cute. He hasn't been to the doctor in a while (yay!) but my experiments with our bathroom scale tell me he's 23 lbs...so big! And he's probably around there because he's wearing 18-24 months and the clothes fit to a T!

Our first family Thanksgiving and Christmas were also tons of fun and totally busy! ....

Myki Update - 5 months

There has not been a Myki update in quite some time. The role of mother, wife, employee is much more demanding than I'd anticipated and extra energy for blogging is a blessing I rarely have....never mind energy for the other hats I wear - friend, daughter, sister....it seems those things have fallen to the wayside.

Part of that is the situation - nighttime events really aren't my friend and no one is all that interested in doing things centered around a baby. Plus, we have some liquidity issues and entertainment is far from free. But some of the isolation is most definitely self-inflicted. I'm happy to be in my house with my bebo. If we go out, he has to remain strapped into his car seat or stroller or in my arms...a position we both love but one he is quickly outgrowing.

Which brings me to the actual Myki update...well, many updates since it has been so long. Let me go in order.

1. He has two little teeth! 5 months old and he has teeth...the time is flying. His dad and I were equally elated and devastated when we discovered this development. Wow, he's growing! (smile) Wow, he's growing so fast! (frown)

2. He is fully also mobile...crawling, getting into absolutely everything, sitting up, launching from a sit-up, trying to climb up Mami and Daddy and lastly, standing with support! That last part is just such a shocker to me.

So, here is a new photo of my little Speedy Gonzalez.

In other news, Mike and I are working on professional photos for his 6 monthday and a Christmas card - stay tuned!

Supermom!

Working in special events is simultaneously wonderful and horrendous. It's great to never be bored and to always have a new goal to reach (because the goals just get higher and higher.) But now that I have Myki, sometimes I long for a boring job, a job I could just leave at the office. Intellectually, I know that a boring job, a bare minimum kind of a job, could never fulfill me but again, the demands of a 4 month old are persuasive.

The positive is that my 4 month old does not only persuade but inspire. He let's me know that I can do it - I can be his mom (a good mom) and excel at my job, I can keep my house clean and prepare good food for my family, I can exclusively breastfeed and endure a two hour commute to the office, I can even wake up at 5 AM each and every morning to help my husband get some extra overtime (after waking up at 3 AM to feed my son). And I can swim (see photo!) I can also coax out giggles with the best of them and I can always, always get a smile.

Some recent displays of my supermom abilities:

- today I endured the stench of a Tri-Rail bathroom to pump much needed milk for my bebo

- on Friday, I nursed Myki on one knee holding my boob with one hand, held the phone to my ear with my shoulder and actively participated in a conference call while balancing my laptop on my other knee and typing with the other hand. For those of you who have seen me, holding my boob is a feat in itself, never mind conference calling, holding a 16 lb baby and typing.

- I navigated the grocery store on Saturday with an inconsolable 3 month old - by the time I was done, I had gotten all of the groceries I needed and soothed my baby to sleep with a finger and a washcloth, yes, I am like the McGuyver of moms!

Myki Discovered his Thumb!

What an eventful couple of weeks. I have been overwhelmed (my new favorite word as a working mother) the past few weeks and oh how I have missed sharing my life and Myki's special moments on this blog!

So I've promised myself I will try to post on here every few days, even if it is a short entry!

Not sure if you remember my workout post a few weeks ago. The following week I did an excellent job of going to workout, walking with Myki, eating right (lots of fruit and salad) and lost 2 of those pesky 12 pounds. Unfortunately, my budget and my life smacked me in the face and the past two weeks have not been so successful. I will persevere! Starting today I'm going to track my calories and see if I can keep chiseling away at the baby weight.

This past Friday Myki rolled over! I kept putting him back on his tummy and he kept rolling right over. My eyes filled with tears, I yelled, I laughed, I put on a show - and he just looked up at my like, what Mami? this is how we roll - literally. Video to come of this precious moment. Unfortunately he hasn't rolled over since but as his Grandma said, he's focused on some other things...

Like his thumb! He has found his thumb and it goes straight in his mouth. Although my brain knows this is a pesky habit, my heart thinks it's the cutest thing ever - his thumb is so little!! And it's given Mami a bit of a break because he can now soothe himself with his thumb. He's had much more tummy time as a result. He tries to roll over, walk even, gets frustrated and starts sucking. Again, super cute!

We are t minus a week and a half to our big work trip to California. Myki will be serving as my personal assistant for the week! (toted around by his Grandma Fuller :-)

Other highlights since the last posting included our first dip in the ocean, and an encore at the pool (I think the pool made more of an impact!), graduation to size 4 diapers (the largest size is 6, potty-training must begin quickly), testing out the exersaucer and succeeding! and meeting our Auntie Crystal for the first time!

Time is flying!

Myki's Video Debut

This was fantastic. It was the first time Myki really SAW the toys hanging down.

We sing, we eat, we sleep.

This is how we spend our days. I usually get a much better reaction from Lindas Manitos but of course, no so much when I video tape! :-)