My Apologies

Dearest Blog Readers,

So sorry or the lack of content lately. Thing have been chaotic at best. Packing our home, chasing after a very mobile Normy, Smoochy's interviews, and not one but TWO births have kept us all very busy over here. Thankfully the light is visible at the end of the tunnel. Tuesday we fly to my parents home in beautiful Naples, FL for a little R&R and regrouping. Once we have a moment to breath I will fill you in on the last week's happenings. Until then, enjoy these pictures!

How we entertain Normy while we pack...

Putting him in things works well too!

Normy and L. are so sad that they won't live close any more!

Air time for a nasty diaper rash!

The packing is under way!

Normy wants to help just like Dad!

Trying to spend as much time with our friends as we can!

Crawling...

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The Countdown to Florida

Just a quick update!

Life here at the Smoochy house has taken on an amazingly stressful and chaotic feel. Pictures are off the walls, clothes are out of drawers, and there are boxes as far as the eye can see. Our last day in California is less than two weeks away; and I can't imagine how we are ever going to cram in all the things that must happen or be accomplished between now and then.

Yesterday Smoochy flew to Atlanta for an interview and then tonight he flies on to the D.C. area for still another exciting prospect! His job hunt is full steam ahead.

And of course, as soon as his plane was no longer visible on the horizon my client's water broke. If it wasn't for the kindness and generosity of some incredible friends here, I wouldn't be making this birth.

However, now 19 hours later her labor is still a sort of prodromal, rambling, and non-progressing. Luckily for her, there is only a small tear in her membranes, and so there is plenty of amniotic fluid cushioning her baby, and protecting her from threatening hints at induction. So far she has been steadfastly refusing intervention from the comfort and safety of her home...

Well, I've got to run... Normy and his friends just got home from their walk...sorry, long story.

He He He!

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Peek-A-Boo!

Happy Monday!

At Last!

OK, I'm feeling better about moving now that I've seen THE Golden Gate Bridge. Shoo. I was pretty freaked out that we have lived here a year and never seen it. However, my mommy buddies and I organized a little jaunt across the bridge today. The view was spectacular and it is something I'm glad I have done. Once. Just once. It was a little intimidating sharing the bridge with all the automobiles. There was one jack-ass in particular who thought it would be fun to blare his horn as he hurtled passed a group of ladies with their buggies. Jerk. Or maybe he was just defending himself from an errant driver? Anyway, after that I couldn't get over the irrational fear of being smashed by flying debris from the passing cars. I visualized how I would fling Norman out of harm's way and shield him with my body. *sigh* How do I come up with this stuff? The bigger danger was probably getting beaned by a speeding bike. The cyclists were helpfully screaming, "On the left! On the LEFT! ON! THE LEFT!" But the din of hundreds of engines drowned out their cries until they were right on top of us. Seriously though, the view of the city on the bay and of the Marin Mountains made it all worth while. It was THAT beautiful.

I'm bummed, my pictures do not do the view justice!

On the Go?

My husband and I have a problem. We are different in one fundamental way that often causes friction in our relationship. I am a spontaneous, fly by the seat of my pants; let’s go DO something kind of girl. Where as Smoochy is a planner, a homebody, and itinerary maker. I can’t tell you how many Friday’s I have picked him up from work and said, “Isn’t it a gorgeous day? Let’s go to San Francisco and take a walk!” He would rather claw his eyes out. The thought of Friday rush hour traffic, parking in the city, and dealing with an off-schedule baby makes such a suggestion sound ridiculous to him.

How Smoochy would like to spend his weekend.

It’s not that he is opposed to all my suggestions, he would just prefer we plan our weekend adventures early to mid-week. And here is where the break down happens, because I have trouble thinking that far in advance on a Wednesday while I’m folding the wash. I never think about how lovely it would be to have a picnic at Half Moon Bay until Saturday morning when the sun is shining! Needless to say, in the year we’ve been here we haven’t exactly gotten out in the Bay Area.

My ideal weekend.

It makes me sad to think that we will leave here before seeing Yosemite or taking a trip to Napa Valley. Not to mention all the wonderful sites to be seen from San Jose to San Francisco. Of course it is all a matter of timing. We moved to Fremont when I was six moths pregnant. And since then we have been learning the ropes of parenthood. Who wants to visit Napa when you can’t taste the wine? And I can’t see hiking Yosemite with Normy in his stroller (or back-pack). Not that it isn’t possible…just not my idea of fun. Can’t you se me changing a diaper by Old Faithful? Photo Op! Whatever, you know Normy'd be down for it!

How Normy likes to spend his weekend!

I guess when you put it in context of my pregnancy and Norm’s first year…we’ve done more than most might. Thanks to our good friends Matt & Jen we’ve had the opportunity to see the beauty of Monterey and Carmel. We’ve taken a couple trips in to San Francisco, heck; we even saw a Dave Matthew’s Band concert! Not to mention Normy's been on six airplane trips since he's been born! All and all it’s been great.

This past weekend, Smoochy and I tried to work out our differences on weekend adventuring. Sunday we found ourselves with the time and inclination to do a little gallivanting. So Smoochy asked, “What do you wan to do?” It was a great step towards spontaneity on his part. We agreed on a low-key trip to Alameda Island to walk the shoreline of the Bay, window shop, and just generally check it out. What a perfect day! Our walk was beautiful, we found thrift store treasures at a little second hand boutique, and we had the best margaritas either of us has had in a LONG time!

Here’s to us: taking life one weekend at a time!

Get this boy to Florida!

Do you see the skyline of S.F. in the background?

Normy deserves some margarita too!

Just kidding! It's water!

Kissing Daddy!

Kissing Mommy!

As Good As It Gets

April Fool's Day...

I thought I might log-on and post: "I am taking down the blog due to my complete lack of interest in it, bla bla bla, thanks for reading, I'll miss you all." and then come back with a big "HA HA! April Fool's! Gottch'ya Suckas!" But I decided that I'm just not that cool and no one would buy it any way. Besides, I bet all across the internet fellow bloggers are pulling the exact same gag. However, I bet there are some wacky and original Internet-pranks going on right now. If anyone comes across a fun one I'd love to read it!

As for us. Get this: Smoochy quit his job. This is NOT an April Fool's Joke, folks. This is the real deal. The Smoochy Family is leaving California and heading East. I'll have to fill you in on the details as they unfold. Right now Smoochy doesn't have another job lined up though he is checking out possibilities through a head-hunter. The real plan however, is to get into the electrical contracting industry and eventually own his own company. We shall see. I feel like it's all pretty up in the air right now. Some of the recent jobs the head-hunter had put under his nose smell rather inviting. In any event, we will all be Florida residents as of May 1st. Look out Sunshine State, here comes the Smoochy's!

In other news. I am officially "on call" for my client as of today. I am so excited, nervous, giddy, anxious, and generally thrilled that at any moment I could get called away to help her through her labor! When we get to Florida, I want to get a vanity plate that says: "Go Doula". How cute would that be!? I'm getting ahead of myself now. I suppose I should at least get though my first birth before I start decking out my birth-mobile. Anyway, my birth bag is packed, I have a cute doula-tee to wear, and my birth-ball is ready for action, as you can see:



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