Who am I........

Sunday while watching Mad Men my new favorite show, I was taken aback with the profoundness of a line from a character who was getting fired for drinking too much on the job....he had some serious issues..... But he simply said......

"Who am I if I don't go into the office everyday?"

I think this could be me talking. Before I was Sarah Cate's mom, I worked. I had a good job, made good money and worked with some fun people. I worked on projects so it was obvious when we launched the project if I had done a good job or not...depending on how many issues we had. Not to brag, I was pretty good at what I did. Plus we had 2 reviews a year, so you always knew where you stood with your boss. I guess alot of my self esteem came from my job.

So I had Sarah and decided to stay at home. Guess what, I have no reviews...not that I would want to get one from Andy. I don't work on projects, one day just rolls into the next....even weekends are pretty much the same as weekdays.

Who am I? .....I am a mom. Its not the easiest job I have ever had. I don't always like hanging out with other moms as things can get competitive and well downright stupid in my opinion. We all parent our children differently, so no one should expect another person to be exactly the same or think ill of that other person. Today I was at the park with Sarah and these two moms from a playgroup were going on and on about some other mom whom they were putting down. Of course I don't know the history, but I didn't like how superior they sounded talking about her. Then they had a discussion about birthday invitations that went on way too long. I guess you could say I am not a playgroup person.......or I have never found the right group. Now, I have some great moms I do hang out with or meet for coffee.....so I suppose you could say I have my own playgroup, but when I tried to hang with other moms with kids Sarah's age, it wasn't so much what I wanted or expected.

Anyway, I don't want to go on and on about how motherhood for me can be very challenging. It is incredibly rewarding when Sarah smiles or hugs me or kisses me. She is very clingly lately so I must be doing SOMETHING right. I do love being a mom, but its sure not easy sometimes. While I would love to be working, I sure wouldn't give up a second with Sarah!

I love Mad Men. Those male chauvinist pigs from the 60's really make me think about alot of things......and of course I have my Don Draper crush.

Forty Four

Here is a picture of me 43 years ago at my first birthday...cutie aren't I?

Well today I am 44.....actually right about this time also. Forty Four years ago, Jack, Jill and Mary Beth were playing at Peachtree Hills Park waiting to meet their new sibling.

I had a fantastic morning......went to my Familia Group facilitator meeting. Familia is a fantastic group of women at my church who meet to focus on our roles as Catholic Moms and Wives. We do Gospel reflections and study the Catechism of the Catholic Church along with papal encyclicals and documents (things written by our Popes) focusing on family life- which is kind of neat reading the teachings of the church and figuring out how to apply it to your daily life - it ain't easy days!

We started off the meeting with the celebration of the mass. What a great way to start any day let alone a birthday. I learned that St Francis of Assisi was 44 when he died.....wow, what wonderful things he did from his little village in such a short time. Put my 44 years in perspective and made me think about my life right now and where I am.

I got the best gift at mass, when it was time to kneel during the consecration, Sarah dropped down and kneeled with me both times for the duration. What a big girl!!!! Its nice being able to share my faith with her, sure she is a total copycat right now, but who would think seeing a 2 year old kneeling in church was cute. The angels were smiling and dancing for sure.

We had a great meeting after mass talking about John Paul's apostolic letter Mulierus Dignitatem; which deals with the Dignity and Vocation of Women. Good stuff to ponder!

I came home stoping by my favorite bakery/sandwhich place Henri's which has been around Atlanta for 75 years. Love those poboys! Yes I know this is totally NOT heart healthy eating, but I have been an Henri's poboy fan as long as I can remember. We got home and I had a beautiful bouquet of roses from Andy.

We ate, played with Sarah Cate - since I put her in the nursery while I was in the meeting, and then watched an episode of Curious George.

As for the rest of the day, who knows what we are up to. I think my big birthday dinner will be monday night at the Fish Market in Buckhead.....so tonight we will just probably catch up on TIVO'd shows.

Thank you God for a wonderful day with my family. Its been a very happy day and I am truly blessed.

What a Man Wednesday.....To Africa We go

So we start the 17th season of Survivor Thursday night in Gabon and I am so excited. I love this show. While I haven't watched every season, I have totally been hooked the past few. You think it would get old, but the casts are entertaining and the Tribal Councils are fun thanks to our man Jeff Probst. Sure its all in the editing - I mean that is what "reality" shows are about, but who can resist that smile and those dimples. I think Jeff is great at getting those castaways to talk and perhaps turn on eachother. I bet he is fun to hang out with.

So Jeff.... here's to another great season of Survivor. Survivors are ready and the tribe has spoken.

Pony Rides

Went to the Sandy Springs festival this weekend with my neighbor and her kids while our darling husbands enjoyed a guys weekend.....that culminated in viewing the Chiefs get clobbered by the Falcons.

Debbie's beautiful girls are 7 and 4. When we got to the kids area the first thing they wanted to do was ride the ponys. And escorted jaunt around the grounds of the William Payne house. So Debbie forked over the $5 per child and off they went. I swear, not a minute went by and they were done. It was truly the biggest rip off...I am mad now I didn't comment to the man in charge that it was a shame the rides were SO short.

For $5 I can get approximately 1.25 gallons of gas in my van. That will at least get me 15miles or as many as 24 on a good day. I think the festival pony rides were only like 100 feet. I know the pony's have to be fed, groomed and then you have the people who walk the ponies with the kids on them which I am sure are not volunteers.....but come one....let the fun last a little longer.

While Debbie and I were kind of PO'd - and I was SO glad Sarah was too young, those girls were SO happy about their pony rides. They talked about it all weekend with pure joy. I mean, what can I buy for $5 that will give me no guilt and pure joy to surely last for days if not weeks. I need to find my own special pony ride. Maybe it was a good $5 investment afterall.

Goodbye layette....

Today I dropped off 135 items to a consignment sale. They were Sarah's baby clothes. I know they are just fabric, but there are some wonderful memories attached to those clothes. I was hoping to use them for another baby, but well you guys know at my age...almost 44....and the fact we have been trying since Sarah was 6months...she is now 22months, I think its time I just let go of the things and enjoy what I have.

I do feel better, that is alot of clutter gone, but it was very hard for me to go through all that stuff and get it ready for the sale. I take joy in knowing that some people will get some really cute things at a great price. All of the stuff I sent was in great condition.

I ran out of hangers last night and saftey pins, so I still have a few things. Its funny how we can get so emotionally attached to things.

What a man in a skirt Wednesday

Little known fact, I am 1/4 Scots on my dad's side.......the Smiths came from Scotland and I am also a part of the Macleod clan.

As homage to my "people" this week I give you a most excellents Scotsman.... another incredible actor and seemingly nice guy IRL - in real life. Whether playing a herion addict, singing a love song at the Moulin Rouge, portraying the happy go lucky man's man of the early 60's Catcher Block - oh how I love a clean cut man in a suit - or training Jedi with Yoda, this man totally grabs my attention. What an absolutely fantastic face and I would love for him to sing love songs to me, lucky Nicole!

He is totally gorgeous to me. You know, I can see similarities to the man and Andy my beloved husband who fully supports my need to share good looking men in my blog.

I give you for your viewing pleasure....Ewan Gordon McGregor

Ewan, the force will be with you.....

ALWAYS!

Sarah See, Sarah Do

You think kids aren't paying attention, and then something wonderful happens to show that they want to be like you.....

Yesterday at Mass we went straight to the crying room. I know we are getting a bit old for the crying room and I need to teach Sarah to be quiet and reverant, but I went to noon mass which is lunchtime and I didn't have my bag of tricks to keep Sarah occupied so I decided to take the easy way out and just go to the crying room which has toys and other kids. Many a protestant friend has commented on how we Catholics go up and down during mass. There are 2 times during mass we kneel, so I go down on my knees as did the other adults in the crying room and next thing I know, Sarah Cate was on her knees with her hands in front of her face in the prayer position. What a huge smile I had - of course she got right back up after a minute, but the next time we knelt, down she went and stayed down. Even the older girl next to me smiled. We are well on our way to explaining transubstantiation. Its fun having Sarah with me at mass, if only my husband would go with us....he is missing alot of cuteness.



Today Sarah had "school". I dropped her off, walked down by the school for about 30 minutes and as I was leaving the parking lot after my walk, noticed Sarah in the wagon on the way to the playground. She looked so happy to being pulled by her teacher. When she got home, she put her big Curious George doll in her wagon and happily pulled him around.






Sarah loves George

Sarah loves Riding in the Wagon

Therefore George will love Riding in the Wagon.

We have an analyst on our hands!


Life is so fun as a mom.

GEORGE PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE PBS Kids Website





I am having a great day today and am happy... Yippee!

Proverbs 23:25
Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

Yearbook Yourself

Through my friend Kathryn I found the app Yearbookyourself.com which will allow you to see yourself in a yearbook photo from 1950 to 2000. Its fun. Here's my family

Andy, class of 1956

What a cutie with hair. I think he would have been class President.

Julie, Class of 1972

I actually love my hairstyle in this photo. Too bad it would never do this in real life. I think if I wasn in the class of 72 I would have been hot.

Sarah Cate - Class of 94

I hope permed big hair is NOT in fashion when SC is in school. I think of New Jersey when I see this pic.

Go Ahead and Yearbook Yourself! Its alot of fun and a total time waster.

Why I love Wednesdays

1. Mother's Morning Out....finally a break from Sarah Cate. Sure I miss her, but she loves school so much its great to know she is happy and well cared for and mommy can hang out with friends, exercise, go the the chapel....or do whatever she wants without having to watch Sarah Cate.

2. My Christ Renews His Parish Group at church. We meet on Wednesday nights and its wonderful getting to know these women and preparing for the next retreat. I cannot put into words the blessings I have recieved from this group....plus it gets me out of the house.

3. What a Man Wednesday Blog. Its fun to find pics and to share on the blog....plus I find myself thinking all day like a teenager how hot or good looking or why I like the guy in my blog. With some of my lifelong crushes, it can really take me back also!

I know its Friday, which I am so happy about as its our family dinner out....BUT Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.

What a man wednesday.....super

Superhero, Millionaire, Yuppie Psycho, Rancher and yes, even Jesus of Nazareth. This guy can play anything...and he plays them all VERY well. Gifted actor with an incredible face that can convey so many different types of characters. I give you......

Christian Bale , you could tell in the 1987 film Empire of the Sun, this kid had talent. He has evolved into an incredible actor...and he can wear the heck out of a suit. If you haven't seen The Prestige....its got 2 of my Wednesday men AND its a great flick - check it out.

First Day of "School".......

OK, so technically its Mother's Morning Out, but it went great. SC was so happy she didn't want to leave and fell asleep in the car on the way home. I enjoyed my free time by taking Dad to the grocery, Enjoying some coffee and a donut at Krispy Kreme and I spent a few minutes praying in the Chapel at church. A VERY good morning! What a big girl I have.





Dad missed seeing Sarah but enjoyed our shopping time together.















While I was praying in the chapel, I was reminded of the following scripture from Isaiah 43:

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.
When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. 4

Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you, I give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life.

Fear not, for I am with you.

I was feeling pretty unattractive the morning...haven't showered and feeling blah and dowdy - I even asked Andy who said, "You are looking great" . OK, the donut didn't exactly make me feel any better....but the chapel time sure did. I was reminded that in God's eyes I am always beautiful and that he has plans for me. I may feel right now like I am kind of drifting into my new mommihood life of a toddler, but God has planned this for me all along. I may feel sad because I haven't given Sarah a living sibling, but God has a plan for me and I shouldn't be afraid or down and I need to know that to Him I am beautiful and precious and will always be loved no matter what. Not bad and def better than a donut.

Plus Dad told me "You look pretty today" even with no makeup and my dirty hair up. You know, I really need to spend more time with him as he has always seen my beauty and talents, a gift he has received from God.

Babywearing in the heat......

With SC approaching 2 my babywearing days are numbered....heck, she is not a baby anymore its toddler wearing now. When we went to Hilton Head, we did a sidetrip to Savannah and I wore her on my back thinking it would be easier than a stroller, which it was...but MAN THAT WAS HOT! Savannah in late August is not the smartest idea, but we enjoyed it despite the humid heat. Thought I would share some pics, proud mom and semi attached parent that I am.

In one of the many squares we walked through....looking relatively happy but hot. Perhaps Forrest Gump was eating chocolates here.

Starting to get hot and tired of being on my back.

Hmm....What can I do to get down from here?

Free at last, one sweaty girl.

At the beach........

We had a great trip to Hilton Head with granny!

First view of the Atlantic Ocean....on mom's back in our Kozy carrier of course!

Susie enjoys the beach for the first time!

"Look, Pelicans!!!!!"


With my mommy.
Hate the sand, must stand on blanket...but like putting basket on my head.
"Which way is the pool?"
A whale of a good time!

What a man wednesday......started as a Cutter....

I first noticed this fine man when watching the classic 1979 Breaking Away way back when. LOVED him in The Right Stuff but I think the very steamy oozing appeal in The Big Easy is when I really started to dig him. Lets face it, I will pretty much go see ANY DQ film for the nice eye candy.

I give you Dennis Quaid, he ages quite nicely and darn for 53, he looks good still. What a fabulous smile also, one of the best in hollywood IMO. Lets face it, I will pretty much go see ANY DQ film for the nice eye candy.