If You Were Stuck On A Deserted Island.......

You know that game that goes, "if you were stuck on a deserted island what are the five things you would bring?" Well yummy mummy had her very own version, airport style, on Saturday. Let me give you the story. 

We were on our way back from a very long week of Thanksgiving festivities. We had made very good time during our 3 hour drive back from the country. Such good time that yummy mummy had the brilliant idea that rather than going through security myself I would wait and return the rental car with the Husband, that way he could help me and the little man through. Great idea right? Um, not so great. Returning the rental car took much longer than expected and by the time we got to the check in line we had 46 minutes before the scheduled flight. I know flights close 45 minutes before takeoff so I was relieved. That sense of relief lasted about 10 seconds. Yep, you guessed it, they had already closed the flight. One minute early.

Cut to me. Frantic. Even more frantic when they told me my only option was to fly standby for a flight that was 6 hours later. Tears, lots of tears. Then screaming. Then hysterical begging. More tears. Eventually I was directed the to the woman who closed the flight. After 10 more minutes of tears she had a solution. I could fly standby for my flight, the only catch my bag could not get on the plane. My 50lb shared bag. The bag that contained almost every piece of clothing that Liam and I own. The bag that had our life in it. That bag.

Luckily my husband was flying to Chicago for a meeting and had yet to check in for his flight. I made the decision, we would take the flight he would take the bag. This decision left me with literally 3 minutes to pull out every single thing that we would need for 5 days. The only catch? It all had to fit in my already full diaper and carry on bags. 

Here is what I grabbed.

1. Little Man's music box (he can't sleep without it so this was numero uno).
2. 1 pair converse sneakers (luckily I was wearing my boots).
3. 2 ovulation kits (yes two, I want to get it right this time).
4. 2 bottles for little man.
5. 2 pairs of flannel jammies for little man.
6. Macbook power cord and Blackberry power cord.
7. 3rd and 4th book in the twilight series (my new obsession that deserves its own post).
8. Makeup bag (leaving behind every lotion and face related product)

Here is what I wish I grabbed.

1. Toothbrush.
2. Deodorant.
3. A pair of jeans (I was wearing leggings and forgot all 5 pairs were packed).
4. Yoga pants (this is going to make today's class interesting).
5. Tweezers. Just looked at my eyebrows in the mirror and realized tweezers would have been nice.

Luckily I am not on a deserted island but rather back in the big city so a number of these things can be bought. I think I did pretty good considering my stress level. We made it to the plane overflowing bags in hand just minutes before takeoff. The surprise of the day was that the woman who got me on the plane apparently felt so bad for me that I was given a seat in business class, making our flight much smother. 

Needless to say I now hate traveling with the little man. No matter how hard we try it seems as though nothing goes our way. I'm thinking that maybe we should ground ourselves until I can reason with the little guy. I know, not likely to happen but for now we are happily home and anxiously awaiting the Husband's return Wednesday with our luggage in tow. 

Hope everyone had a nice holiday and much less stressful travels.

Time To Give Thanks.

It's that time of the year again. My favorite time of the year. Time for the famous Husbands' Thanksgiving. I am not an original ********, I happily married into the name. Along with the name I also inherited a giant family. The type of family I always dreamed about when I was a little kid. The type of family that I thought only existed in the movies. I never knew it but such families do exist and this time every year the 25 + ******** all head down to a small country town in the middle of nowhere Maryland to grandma's house. We spend our days fishing and walking in the swamp. There is kayaking in the creek (for those who are not afraid of the snakes) and lots of video rentals from the neighborhood store. As with any traditional thanksgiving there is a TON of food and equal amounts of booze. Families come with their dogs and kids and not one person is ever missing (missing thanksgiving would be the equivalent to committing a major felony). We spend all year traveling to various parts of the world but for the husband and myself this is probably our favorite trip of the year. 

The only problem? No Internet access. As frustrating as this is, I also find it a bit amusing. I have been able to write from the middle of the jungle in Central America, yet 3 hours from Washington DC I've got nil. This also means that the husband has nil, and given his workaholic tendencies this is not such a bad thing. Of course this means a week without the blog and this also means that the next time I am writing to you we will be in Christmas countdown. I have been waiting to share this with you so not to scare you off but the fact is I LOVE CHRISTMAS, love love love love love love love love love it. But we will save that for later. 

For now I would like to give thanks. I have had an amazing year, and these are just a few of the things that I will be toastingr.

1. My little man. I realize now that I never had any idea what love was. I love every hair on his head and every little finger and toe more than anything else in the world. I am so thankful he is my baby.
2. Our house. Thank god we got it when we did. Had we waited another few months we never would have qualified given the credit dive. As much as I still obsess about every unfinished detail, I am very thankful that I live here.
3. I am thankful that for almost a solid year I have been able to sleep through the night (with a few minor exceptions.) I never realized how amazing sleep is until I had the baby and wasn't getting any.
4. I am thankful that my husband works in medicine. This seems to be a recession proof field.
5. I am thankful for all my friends, new and old. Especially my new blogger buddies.
6. I am thankful for the trench. Need I say more?

It's going to be a long week without being able to post everyday. I'll be back Dec 1. 

I hope you have a very yummy Thanksgiving!

Prince Charming.

The other night while the whole yummy mummy family slept something very unusual happened. In the middle of the night the little man let out a loud cry. This sent me into a state of panic that remains deep down from those long sleepless nights when the little man used to get up every two hours for feedings. That was a low point in my life, my marriage, and for my sanity. After a year of sleeping through the night any noise is not a good noise. 

So the little man yelped and I immediately asked, "should I go in there, oh God what do you think is wrong?" My husband rolled over and sleepily resplied, "No, he's fine he probably just lost his Binky." Of course he was right and I the little man went right back to sleep. I was left laying there almost in tears. Happy tears. For some reason that got me. It's been almost a whole week and I still melt when I think of it. 

Here's why:

1. I love that the word Binky is part of his vocabulary. Even at 3am. This is coming from a man who had never even held a baby prior to the birth of our son. 
2. I love that he truly knows our son. He knows what he needs. He is at work all day and spends nowhere near as much time with him as I do, yet he still knows him. Sometimes better than me.
3. I love that we are a family. I love having a partner to ask these questions to in the middle of the night.  
4. My husband has no idea what he said or how it affected me. 

Before we had the little man I used to have a very different idea of what romance and love was. I used to crave flowers and nice evenings out. I was constantly seeking passion and excitement. I thought that is what true love was. Now I see it is something so much deeper. It's about commitment and loyalty. It's about knowing what the other needs, even at 3am. 

Don't get me wrong though, flowers are still nice (ahem).

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff?

Easier said than done, right? This is pretty much the case for me. I am a worrier. An obsessive, can't sleep, ALL thoughts consumed worrier. It doesn't matter if the issue is big or small (or even really really small). No matter, I will worry. Along with the worry, I also have a lot of guilt. Guilt about my worrying. I feel guilty that there are people who have life so much harder, so many more things to worry about and I feel that it is wrong for me to worry about such little things, like it makes me a bad person. Then I begin to worry about my guilt. As you can see this is a vicious cycle. I just wish I could have a crystal ball and see how things are going to turn out, then I wouldn't have to worry so much. Clearly, this is not going to happen and short of meds (I know it's not that bad) I'm not quite sure what to do. 

Take today as an example. Today the little man and I had aquarium class. Something that should be really fun, and it was. The problem? I spent most of the night, and a good part of this morning worrying about the fact that the class was dead smack in the middle of the little man's morning nap. I kept thinking, what if he melts down? What if it screws up his whole day? What is going to happen to his afternoon nap? I began to obsess. You know what? We went, he was great, we got home at noon and slept an hour and was ready to go back down exactly on time at 3pm. So all that worrying was for absolutely nothing and I'm left feeling like an ass. Why did I spend so much time worrying when I could have just rolled with it. Who am I to make such trivial things so important? What about those who have real problems? I feel like me being so consumed with my own life is somehow putting my problems on the same scale as theirs, even if I don't even know them.

It's not just the small stuff. Ever since I have been married I constantly worry that something is going to happen to my spouse. Now that we have the little man the same goes for him. I lay in bed at night and I have to count how many people I know with husbands who are still alive. How many married parents I know who haven't lost a child. Usually this gets me through. Then I hear of a tragedy of someone I know, or I watch a fictional TV show where something disastrous happens and for me it is just proof that bad things happen out of nowhere. Life sometimes just sucks. It doesn't help that we are now applying for life insurance and it just makes it all the more real.

There is just so much to worry about; life, death, will I ever get pregnant again, will that baby be healthy, money, the economy, the war, global warming, the finishing on my dream home, poverty around the world, AIDS, is my little man happy and healthy, am I a good mom, am I a good wife, am I a good friend? There is just so much unknown. So much we can never know the answer to until it is too late. 

So what am I left with? Lots of worry and lots of guilt. I told you, it's a vicious cycle. I know there isn't anything that can be done and worry is really just a mind over matter thing. I know all these things in my head, the old "don't sweat the small stuff." As I said sometimes this is easier said than done, at least for me.

And The Winner Is.........

I have been literally jumping out of my skin to announce to you the winner of TrenchGate 2008. The votes were close (55% to 45%) and even as I was handing over my MasterCard I was having my doubts. Did I make the right choice? I wasn't sure. Wasn't sure until picked up my amazing new trench. Did I say amazing? Without further ado the winner is.......drum roll please.

The *IvyBridge*

Like any good story there is, however, a twist. My initial problem with the IvyBridge was that the length seemed a bit to overpowering. I was concerned about wearing the trench with kneee high boots (my favorite.) It all seemed to be a bit too much. That was until the fabulous Lori at the Newbury Burberry explained to me that there was such a thing as (free) custom tailoring. Within minutes I was pinned and tucked and I had the makings of an amazing piece that I know I will be wearing well into the next decade.

I made the following alterations. I had 2 inches taken off the length so the trench hits right above my knee (super cute with skinny jeans.) I went for my exact size rather than going for a size up which they recommend. This made the jacket look much more tailored. I still wanted to wear sweaters under it (this is New England) so I had the buttons moved about an inch over which gave me more room. What this also gave me is perfection. 

I picked up my new baby on Friday and I almost didn't want to open it. The packaging was so pretty that I had to share some pics with you.

HELLO LOVER!  (This was my first wear. Not the best look. I soon found the Trench looks more tailored if fully buttoned. Buy hey, you get the idea.)

Here is how I spent the weekend with my new favorite item.

Friday: I paired the trench with black zippered leggings, my Qi cashmere sweater, and Tory Burch Flats for lunch in the North End.

Friday Night: Trench, J Brand skinny jeans, black sheer ruffled blouse, black patent leather Marc Jacobs round toe platforms for a night of bar hopping with friends. Clink followed by the Mandarin Oriental, followed by Saint (don't ask).

Saturday: Trip to Whole Foods with the fam. Trench, black juicy sweatpants, white hoodie, white Converse.

Sunday: Pilates. Trench with lulu yoga pants and top.

Sunday Night: Wore trench to bed, paired with flannel Pj's. HAHA just kidding. Didn't quite go that far. Almost, but not quite!

As you can see I am one very satisfied customer!!!!

Really???? I'm shocked!

I love celebrity gossip as much as the next girl. If I am truly honest I probably enjoy it much much more (much much much much more). My first morning clicks on my beloved Mac are always to TMZ and Perez Hilton (in that order) add in Grande Soy Latte and you have an amazing start to any day. What I don't enjoy is being bombarded with the not so shocking, "shocking" celebrity stories parading as news.

This is what I'm talking about:

1. Jennifer Aniston confirmed to Oprah that she is dating John Mayer. Really? This is news? Haven't we seen like 1,000 pictures of them holding hands, kissing in hot tubs, and leaving every restaurant on the face of the planet over the past few months? Why does Jen's confirmation make this such a big freaking deal??
   
2. Speaking of Jen. An article surfaced in this month's Vogue where Jen tells the mag that it was "uncool" of Angelina Jolie to talk about the fact that she and Brad fell in love while Brad was still married. While I would use a much stronger word than "uncool," why is this news? Of course it's uncool! She did steal the girl's husband for Christ sake. Are we supposed to be surprised by this???
3. Lindsay Lohan has confirmed that she is bisexual and in love a girl. Again, I'm shocked! The fact that you have been living with and making out with SamRo all over LA actually tipped me off a few months ago. But really, thanks for the confirmation.

What happened to the days of breaking news stories. Things like secret weddings, secret babies, surprise break ups. How about a good celebrity feud? I long for the days of the Paris and Nicole smack down of 2006. 

Maybe nothing has changed. Maybe I have to face up to the fact that I am the one who is actually changing. Maybe this whole turning 30 thing is making me a grown up in more ways than one. Could this be why I now find myself watching the news versus Entertainment Tonight? What's next? Am I soon going to be canceling my UsWeekly subscription and ordering the Economist? Given the state of the Economy that might not be such a bad idea.

Oh dear god. It really is happening, isn't it?

Why I Blog.

Yummy mummy has hit the big time! Yesterday there was an enormous spike in my generally steady reader numbers. After a little digging on my analytics and some IP following I learned that I did not become famous overnight (a girl can dream can't she?) but rather my blog has been discovered by my friends from my former work life, this is to be expected when you write about your former fabulous boss. I have never hid the fact that I write this blog, and I am very proud of what I send out daily into the blogosphere. That being said I would like to welcome all my readers, new and old. 

Having the knowledge that everyone from every facet of my life is now in tune with what I am writing has made me consider why I write this blog. I feel as though I am sometimes forced to defend why I share my personal life with the entire world to some of my friends and family members (you know who you are). The truth is that I love writing and I love the blogging community that I feel as though I am now becoming a part of. Beyond that there are a number of other reasons why I write. Here are just a few.

1. Being a stay at home mom is really hard. Ask anyone, it's a very lonely, thankless job without a lot of adult communication (if any!) Writing this blog and being able to connect with people all over the world at any given time really makes me feel like I am still part of the human race. For those of you without kids this may be hard to understand. To put it in perspective think about the times that you are home sick and you have a ton of time on your hands and you have something that you want to talk about, but you can't. Why? Because EVERYONE is working! They don't have time to hear about the ins and outs of your day, and the fact is that to them it's probably a bit boring. That is pretty much my life every day. Wile I wouldn't trade it for the world, I definitely felt very isolated at times. The blog changed that for me. Being able to talk about whatever it is that you want, any time you want is amazingly freeing. For those of you who know me, I am a bit of a talker so this is priceless!
2. I need a creative outlet. Most of the time I feel like I have mommy brain. For those of you who don't know, mommy brain is where you can think of nothing else but your child. Writing for me is like working. It allows me to think. While a good portion of the time I end up writing about my little man, at least here it is done by choice. 
3. Grammar and Spelling don't count. I love to write. A writer I am not. I'm sure those of you who are avid readers of my blog have noticed this. One of my favorite parts of writing this blog is that grammar and spelling don't seem to count for much. While I'm sure people notice my flubs, it seems that ideas are what keep you all coming back, and for that I thank you for not being too hard on YM.
4. My little man is a sleeper. BELIEVE ME I am not complaining about this. The little man takes 2, two hour naps a day. The only catch? I have to be completely silent. No footsteps, no knocking around, no phone conversations. Nothing. Other than the computer my only other option is to watch an insane amount of TV. Since I limit myself to 6 TiVo'd shows a week, this is my pick. 
5. The new world of mommyhood that I have become immersed in is fascinating! What used to be so foreign to me is now part of my daily existence. I love sharing my stories, and in return hearing everyone else's. This is not limited to those with kids. I love hearing from my bloggers single, married, with and without kids, and even a few of you guys who read and comment on my blog! 
6. It is fun. If you can't make fun of yourself than you open yourself up to everyone else making fun of you.

The bottom line is that I am almost thirty years old. I feel as though I have spent a good part of the last 25 years trying to fit in or please those around me; something we all do. Since having my little man I have learned what it feels like to have unconditional love and acceptance even if it comes from someone who is of little words. That motivates me to try to keep that feeling in all parts of my life and in all my relationships and daily interactions. This blog allows me to express who I am, and what I feel without seeking approval or reaction. For that reason alone I will keep writing, and I hope those of you out there will keep reading!

If I See One More Load of Laundry I May Die!

Day 2 of what will soon be known as the stomach flu tsunami of 2008. The little man and I are feeling much better and I think we are slowly making a turn back to normalcy. What is not normal? The massive amount of laundry that has piled up from the last two days (yes, only two days!) I just finished load eight and I think I am getting carpal tunnel from all the folding. Luckily, I have uncovered one benefit to having a sick baby; two now that I think about it. The first is the massive amount of snuggles that I have been on the receiving end of. Seriously, my little man has never been cuddlier, and after our 30 minute session this morning I almost died and went to mommy heaven. The second is the sleep. My little man can't seem to get enough of it, which has given me plenty of time to try to recover myself and, of course, do more laundry.....

Now I Know Why Some People Don't Have Kids.

Last night I attended my first blogger event (which I will discuss in detail tomorrow) and I was having a wonderful time when all of a sudden I began to feel violently ill. Like the day after New Year's Eve ill. At that very moment I my phone began to vibrate and my poor husband said, "oh my god, the little man is sick, there is vomit and shit everywhere." You guessed it. We both had the stomach flu and spent most of the night and a good part of today taking turns getting sick. Blessedly my husband was able to come home early from work, because I have now learned the hard way that there is nothing worse than taking care of a sick child when you are sick yourself. 

At this point I can hardly sit and just typing hurts. I am hoping we are going to be to be back in better shape tomorrow. For now we are all going to bed. At 7pm. Yes, there is a God.