Tales from the McWade: September 2007

9.28.2007

Such a Girly-Girl

Hannah is really starting to get into all things "girl" and we love it. She loves shoes and it shows...I wonder where on earth she could possibly get that...

Big News! We're having a baby boy in February. Our c-section is planned for February 13th. We are thrilled and Ryan is grinning from ear to ear. We are both thankful that the baby seems to be in great health and has all it's arms & legs. The second picture here is the clear indication of our little boy, though the technician can only give a 98% guarantee of the sex...we're not concerned. How exciting for these little boys to be part of our all-girl family for so many years! We are very excited too that Kristin's baby is a boy and have great hopes that these little cousins grow up close as they will only be about 6 weeks apart.

Tea Party anyone?

Hannah loves her tea set that she got from Lisa and Kylie. She's really started to role play and show imagination as she's serving her Ducky and Baby tea. She even asks if they want sugar.

9.19.2007

Our San Diego Trip

We spent 4 nights in the San Diego area -- a city called Oceanside about 35 mi north and right on the beach. The condo we stayed in was about a 60-second walk to the beach so we spent most of our time there. (This was our bedroom and living room/balcony view!)

It was a great and relaxing trip. Hannah really enjoyed it and would wake up every morning, look outside and say "See the ocean!?" She couldn't wait to get out there!
We also hung out at the pool, which Hannah loved! It was a little cold for the pool as the wind made for a chilly time. But once she was in, she didn't want out! Look at her face!

We even fit in a trip to the San Diego Zoo on our last day -- the morning of our flight out Tuesday!

There are far too many pics to post here, but I've loaded them into Shutterfly for you to view further.

Puyallup Fair

Here are some pics from the Puyallup Fair. Hannah loved the farm animals, and got to experience a couple rides. She went on the giant slide with Daddy but got about half down it and started to panic. She got pretty scared, but hopefully she'll be up for more rides next year.

That's Domestic Director...

Originally posted on my smidgegreener.blogspot, I needed a pep-talk. I have been recently applying for some part-time work and wonder why I didn't add this to my resume? I thought I would post here in case anyone else needed the same pat on the back. You mom's do good work!

As you may or may not be aware, I stay at home and care for my kids, the household and food. Along with those not-so-simple responsibilities, I also facilitate art projects, home-made cookies and accessibility to clean clothing -- to name ONLY a few.

I manage not only my time, but that of at least 2 others(sometimes 3...) and keep all schedules as insync as I know how. I coordinate meetings with grandparents and inlaws. Set-up play dates and social interactions for my kids. Fearing a 2pm meltdown, I consolidate outings and events into neat little chunks of time, taking into consideration naps, snacks and quiet time. I brainstorm new meal options to avoid the snack traps of goldfish crackers and string cheese as well as break through the tediousness of chicken for dinner, again. I ensure that little minds are being challenged and enlightened. I attempt to teach and try to slow down enough to play. So much more than changing diapers and running bubble baths!

Through the course of this often thankless and constantly demanding and needy position I hold, I find myself missing the work world, all shiny and sharp. Downtown traffic, high heels and always a few minutes late. Morning coffee, office meetings and real-world chit chat. I miss the competance I once possessed for jobs I excelled in. I miss the adult comraderie and conversations over current events, music and what's for lunch.It's always easy to see the grass as greener on the other side. And nothing quite says 'boring' like "stay-at-home mom". I shrink a little anytime someone asks me what I do. Answers like "mom" and "I'm not working" seem to immediately end the conversation. No one seems to find interest in a job such as this. Someone would much rather talk about driving a UPS truck than the ins and outs of raising children and managing a home.

A good friend of mine was speaking to me about the importance of having a title as she is embarking on the beginning of a family and no longer plans to work. She is embracing the notion that we aren't "just moms" and we don't "just stay home with our kids". I really like her way of thinking and it's been making me wonder about a title for myself. So no longer will I be a "stay-at-home mom", I will now be Domestic Director. Afterall, doesn't that much better sum up the myriad of roles we play? Though we may be at home, I would hardly call it 'just staying at home'.

So to all those moms out there looking to reclaim a little bit of their former 'working' self: grab a thesaurus and make a title.

Then own it.

Tales from the McWade

9.28.2007

Such a Girly-Girl

Meet Jack!

Tea Party anyone?

9.19.2007

Our San Diego Trip

Puyallup Fair

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That's Domestic Director...