Going out in my 30s

Love it. So much less pretense, so much more fun.

L to R: Beth, Shannon, me!, Larina, Michelle.

I met Beth when Aidan and her Sophia were 9 months...we connected immediately. Shannon and I are kindred spirits and also perfectly compatible going out companions. I have NEVER met someone who makes me feel shy, until her! Love it! Larina, who I met ten years ago when she worked with Dayna at Joe's Market on 15th and Como...and just figured out our kids go to the same school. And Michelle, who is flat out the most courageous person I know.

Crying makes me weary

Cole has a little bug and has been very whiny and crying pretty much non-stop today. Oh. My. Goodness. I am just absolutely spent. There is something about attending to a whiny toddler that wears me out like nothing else.

I have to admit that it does remind me of when I was so depressed with Aidan while he simultaneously was going hungry and colic-y, crying all of the time. Maybe it's just a trigger that sends me to I-need-to-leave-this-living-hell-land. And maybe it is just that I had a bona-fide night out this past weekend. And I am still hung over. Ok, maybe not a traditional alcohol-related hangover. I did have my share (and then some) of gin and tonics, but mostly I think it was the 3:30 a.m. arrival home. My theory is one hour before midnight is worth three after (it used to be worth two, but I'm not getting any younger). I primped for more than an hour, scrubbed my skin within an inch of its life, donned a new (thanks weight loss!) top from my favorite store, Nordstrom, and (gasp!) sprayed on a bit of bronzer. I love getting prettied up, not a lot better as far as I am concerned. I would make an excellent celebrity or model.

I got blisters from the pointy-toes heels and waited for a ride (with my girls) outside for more than hour (can you say hy-pppppp-o-ther-mia?). Then, a very sweet, very young gentleman loaned me his sweatshirt while I waited (and they say chivalry is lost on the gen-nexters). The point is, the farther the departure from my everyday life, the more time it takes to get back into it. Worth it? Yup. Every second.

Year One of Preschool: Over

As many of you know, Aidan was in his first year of preschool at St Anthony this year. He is one of the younger children in his class, as he will not have his birthday until August. Which brings me to start asking questions about Kindergarten. Will he be ready? I asked a friend today and she said that out of three moms she knows with kids with August birthdays, two held their children back and the other wished she had.

The issue is really not academically will he be ready, but socially. And Aidan does well socially, but there are the issues of self control, sitting still, and the always popular plays well with others when you get to the big K. He will be continuing on to the second year of preschool in the two-year program that St A offers, after this year, with a teacher change mid-year and all, went well. His teachers had many good things to report, including a love and vast knowledge of how things work, many stories and ideas to contribute, and an ability to stick to it (sometimes rearing its head as stubbornness). So, the issue is not weather he is smart. So, we will see how next year goes. He will increase the number of days from 2 to 3, which I am looking forward to the most. Coleman and I will likely take Cole's first he and I only ECFE class during one of the days that Aidan is at school. With Cole's birthday in July, we will likely come to the same crossroads in 2011 when he goes to K.

I am excited to take an ECFE class with Coleman alone. And the good people that plan the St A schedule make it a point that the classes coincide with preschool so you can.

Today we had a preschool picnic at Central Park in St A where there is a lovely pavilion, covered picnic area, park, and water park. The water park is a small but super fun series of fountains and conical water-dumping mechanisms that enchant and delight children. It is not at all scary, too large, and there is no pool for drowning. This is good for the mothers (and dads, too), because there is virtually no poolside worrying involved and you never need to roll up your pants to get in and save the ball that went too far. Needless to say, I love it. And so does Aidan. He has gone from circling the whole thing and not getting wet at all last year to letting the water cones dump on his head and the fountains splash up from under his feet. He is becoming a brave little boy.

On being brave, I am reading an excellent book titled The Last American Man by author Elizabeth Gilbert. It will take a place as one of my top ten favorite books. I do not not fancy myself a book snob, and my top ten is not a list of Pulitzer prize winners. But I do like a certain kind of book, and I know within the first ten paragraphs if it will garner a purchase of the title.
I used to buy all my books, until I realized how silly I was for doing so, since there is this perfectly useful institution called the public library. And not just that, but the libraries' book request system, that I have come to adore. Ooh! An email from the HCL--what book will be waiting for me this time?

I have started writing. I am a writer, some would say. Not just the blog but writing essays and articles for publication. I was encouraged by a friend who writes for a living to do so. I find it exhilarating. Which is a pleasant surprise. I don't think I have ever said that about anything and my current SAHM status means that I do much of the same day in and day out. And parts are fun, even inspiring, but this feels like it is purely for me. And that is the best thing ever.

Saturday, October 28th

We worked in the yard today, it was a bit nippy. Putting the yard and house to bed for the season is work, but it is so nice to have such a lovely yard and house, we are grateful. Speaking of grateful, Aidan is really doing well on his manners. I read something written by a teacher that said the students who come to Kindergarten prepared are the ones who can play well with others and are courteous, absolutely not the ones that can recite their ABCs forwards and backwards.

Why is our tendency to shove academics down their throats when what we all know that what matters is kindness? My family was into talking, playing music, laughing and hanging out when I was growing up. And I never had a lot of luck in school, and never saw the point of all that homework. Oh well, I guess with this, like anything, all in moderation.

Enough about that, I had dinner with some of the moms recently at the 112 Eatery. For those of you who have been there, you know it was a treat, and those of you who haven't, run don't walk (but make a reservation, the place is small & popular). Not small uncomfortable-sitting-on-the-laps-of-that-uptight-couple-next-to-you small, but small cozy I-wish-I-wasn't-nursing-and-could-have-a-gin & tonic-and-make-this-an evening small. After running about 20 minutes late, which is really on time when you have a four month old, I started with the bibb lettuce salad with fine herb vinagrette, then had the Nori Encrusted Sirloin with Ponzu sauce for dinner. SO DELICIOUS, every last bite.

Coleman cut two teeth, the bottom front ones. So far, no problems nursing.

**Pics: Coleman today!, Aidan's first day of school, working elevator made from TinkerToys, Elizabeth (my friend Adelheid's daughter) and Cole side by side, and Joel and I going to the reception.**

Time to cozy up the house!

Aidan started preschool about 6 weeks ago. He goes T and Th mornings from 9-12 and is loving it. He knows a lot of his "classmates" from ECFE, so that made the transition go well. He is emerging as a very articulate youngster with mad art skills. He lives for Cole smiling at him, balloons, marbles, and strangely and passively enough, loves Teletubbies.

We have been busy the last few weeks, but still spend most of our downtime as a family. It is our favorite pastime. Cole is 3 and one half months old! He started cooing, ah-gooing, and he laughed for the first time. He is also using his stomach muscles to try and sit up. He was sick with an ear infection and is just starting to feel better, which means Mama feels better too. It is so hard to have your tiny one sick, what am I saying?, it is the pits when anyone is sick, for different reasons.

I am doing a little part time work caring for friends' children and organizing homes. I enjoy staying at home so much, but a girl needs a break! Turning chaos into order does that for me.

We went to our friends' wedding reception (they were married earlier this year) on Saturday night, the 14th, which happened to be our 6th wedding anniversary. It was the most wonderful time. Great location, food was fabulous (Fabulous Catering did the food), and best of all, I wore "real" clothes! Kate and John were darling and are such a loving couple. Our anniversary was mentioned in the groom's speech, which was touching and thoughtful.

We are looking towards the holidays and not doing one "should" thing. Feel free to do the same, mix it up, and donate or save (gasp!) money instead of shopping and stressing.