Little Lady's First Birthday

My little bitty baby just turned ONE... and her turning one meant that this Momma got to throw a birthday party. Being one of the unfortunate women who was married before the creation of Pinterest, I decided to take full advantage of this milestone and have been "pinning" ideas for about half of my baby's life, and last Saturday, I got to bring her rainbow party to life!

The Birthday Board.

We turned the built-in into a birthday-scape... 

Made the simplest and cutest little monthly banner.

Created a moderately successful version of Whisk Kid's "Super Epic Rainbow Cake"

And printed up some custom coloring book covers for favors.

I'm so excited with how everything turned out! I really hope next year my little bestie can help me pick out the theme!

Random thought: dressing a baby girl allows a woman to get a glimpse of what it would feel like to have unlimited funds, no fear and perfect body.

This hat = ridiculousness!

Lovin' Me Some Home Improvement

As one of my favorite bloggers from Younghouselove would say... "woo to the hoo"!

One of the aspects of our house that has bugged me since we moved in was the media nook in the living room. Ah, the media nook... An invention of builders in the early 2000s meant to create a space for a large tube television. What a great concept, until flat screens came out and everyone decided to hang their televisions on the wall.

My media nook was home to a 30 year old book case, and was screaming for some attention. We decided to get a built in for the area, and it was up to me to decide what it would look like. I scoured the old Internet, and pinned ideas on Pinterest, and then hand drew my concept.



We took the drawing to a couple places, but ended up a locally owned furniture store we love in Thousand Oaks, Padavo, where they do custom work for great prices.

Today, less than a month after my drawing was done, they came to install it.



I can't WAIT to fill up those wonderful shelves this weekend!

Mixing Boobs with Business

So I recently found out I'm not talking to myself... So for anyone who may be reading (e.g. My Dad) who would be uncomfortable with a discussion of pumping... Fair warning, you should stop reading!

One of the biggest adjustments to going back to work has to be pumping. I had though it would be easy enough:
1) Bring the pump
2) Schedule time to pump
3) Go to the Mother's Room
4) Pump

Wrong.

My office has one pump room and LOTS of nursing mothers. So the only available time to pump is 9:30 a.m. Not very helpful, considering the consequences of not pumping regularly are losing your supply, leaking, clogged ducts, and mastitis (basically the flu).

I, luckily, am friends with two administrative assistants who's managers were out of town last week, so I was able to pump in their offices. But next week they're back, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

Also, even when you can find a space to pump, there's the odd experience of whipping your boobs out in an office environment, and having to discuss the fact that you need to excuse yourself for a 20 minute break from your all day meeting with your male boss.

Good times.

I know an option is to feed my baby formula... And that feeding my baby formula isn't the end of the world. But I'm sort of liking that she's never had it. And somehow, it seems as foreign a concept as giving her a Coca Cola or something.

And I always thought it was about a boy...

When I see a woman crying while in public, or driving down the road, I have always assumed that there was some some romantic loss she was mourning. I look at them and think, "oh honey, any guy who makes you feel that way isn't worth it."

As I pulled out of the daycare parking lot this morning I realized I have been waaaayyy off base.

Those women weren't sad because some stupid guy stomped on their heart - they were bawlin their eyes out because they had to leave their itty bitty, wonderful, bright, sweet, perfect little baby in the arms of a stranger.

Damn you, bills! I wanna live in a money-free world where the highest priority is cuddling my little lady!

Change of scenery

Today I had to go to work and leave this precious, perfect baby at home with her daddy.

My view changed from my perfect girl, to this lovely grey cubicle.

But at work I received two surprises. First, flowers from my awesome coworkers, and then flowers from Daddy and Baby Girl!
Life ain't fair, but at least I feel all loved!

All Good Things

Today is my last day of maternity leave. I have had four and a half months at home to get used to my new title of Mommy. Tomorrow, I get to put back on my title of 9-5er. But I can't help but think that it will never be the same... For the next 20 years I won't just be working, I'll be a Working Mom.

I have so much anxiety about whether or not I can do it. Can I keep my baby fed and happy, keep the house together, keep my husband happy, keep my projects on track, keep up my sanity... I know it's possible. My mother did this times four, and she managed all of the above (well, I can't vouch for her sanity!)

But all of that starts tomorrow. I need to carpe diem the hell out of today. My one last day of yoga pants, drive-thru lattes while baby girl sleeps, living life in the "Eat/Play/Sleep" cycle of a four month old, and without any idea what kinds of projects and craziness are waiting for me tomorrow.

Viva le yoga pants!