big couple of days ahead!

I'm looking forward to the next couple of days. Tonight I have the first lecture of my second class (not looking so forward to that), but I do have both syllabus (es/i) and the courses look challenging but not too overwhelming! Tomorrow night we are going to the Ambroses for dinner. I love having dinner with them, its always entertaining and very fun. Friday and Saturday we are relaxing and hanging out at home (one of my new favorite past times). Netflix is sending Halloween by the weekend (hopefully) so perhaps we'll get a mini date night to enjoy that. Sunday afternoon we are headed to Cirucci's for a superbowl party. Not super excited about the superbowl, but VERY excited about superbowl food and of course time with Cirucci. Monday night is bookclub and I'm really looking forward to it. It seems like this month will have the highest attendance in a really long time, plus the book really lends itself well to conversation....
That's all for now. Headed to Harford County for some meetings with the boss!

I've been tagged

Thanks for tagging me Brooke ;) Let's see if I can come up with ten things about myself!

Rules: Someone writes a blog with ten weird/random facts about him/herself. Then, at the end of the blog, he/she tags ten people by listing their names. These people then need to write their own blogs with ten facts about themselves and these rules are stated clearly. It is also required that you leave a comment on the new tag-ees pages, telling them they have been tagged and that they should read your blog.

10 things about me...

1. I am addicted to caffine. I can't get through a day without drinking at least a cup of coffee and eating a piece of chocolate.

2. I love having twin girls! Although Carl and I thought we wanted boys, I love that girls rule our house. I love watching them learn, grow and experience new things. I love playing with dolls and taking them to O's games. I look forward to all the fun experiences to come...

3. I have resigned myself to taking my meds regularly....the arthritis has gotten much worse pretty quickly. I am starting to get a little scared.

4. I'm thinking about taking "gasp" three classes this summer. I want to finish this masters ASAP. It will all depend on passing comps this spring.

5. I am terrible at getting out of bed in the morning, regardless of what time I went to bed the night before. This is why Carl and I now work out together after the girls go to bed instead of in the morning.

6. I have a slight obsession with Matthew McConaghey and Christian Bale....

7. I am sensitive. I don't want to be. Little things upset me and bigger tend to bother me and make me anxious.

8. I'm proud of my marriage. Carl and I have worked through a number of rough situations since we have been together, and we're more in love than ever.

9. I love my friends and my friendships are very important to me. I am a strong believer in the notion that friends are an extension of family. I strive to be the best friend I can to those who are important to me.

10. I love being a working mom. I really do feel like I get the best of both worlds. My girls are very important to me, but so is my career. I spend a lot of time and energy making sure that I do the work thing, the mom thing, the wife thing and the social thing well.

Hmmmm...I'm not sure I know 10 people with blogs! I guess I tag: Cirucci, Wen, JD Walo and Making Waffles. I will have to think of others!

slowing life down....

This weekend, while in the dining room picking up pieces of half eaten hotdog dropped by my toddlers on Friday night, my eyes were drawn to the top of my buffet and the wooden bowl filled with pinecones. I set those pinecones out in early September, when the weather outside was still as it was in mid July, but Cirucci and I were anxiously awaiting the fall chill. We were ready for pumpkins and apples, but the weather had different ideas. We made fall inspired meals and dreamed of the days when the leaves would fall from the trees...but still it was 85 degrees outside.

Now it is February and I'm wondering, like I do every year, where the fall went. I love fall, or maybe at least the ideas of fall. I love going outside in a long sleeve tee shirt and a vest. I love to sleep with my windows open at night, the crisp chilly air blowing my curtains. I love pumpkin pie, baked apples and pumpkin pie. It feels like I may have missed fall this year (so did the weather in Maryland). As the winter continues on, I will try not to rush it. I will try to slow life down, enjoying the days as they come. Before I know it, it will be springtime and a whole new list of my idealist favorites!

i heart netflix

In light of our "new year analyzing where our money is going so we can spend and save more effectively" plan, Carl and I realized that Comcast is offering this cable, internet, and phone deal (one year only of course) for $99.00 per month plus tax. Since Verizon has not expanded its new Fios into our area, we have to stay with "sucky to deal with" Comcast. We found that by subscribing to this plan and cutting out our verizon phone and internet, we would save $50 per month (woohoo) plus we would have a faster internet connection and we would be able to use our wireless router (all positive things!!!!). The only bummer...no HBO or DVR. Since Carl and I are not huge tv watchers, we figured the savings would be worth it, especially since recently it seems as though things are quite tight. The loss of our HBO had us wondering, how would we catch up on the movies we missed in theaters? After much research, we decided to try out Netflix (the fact that they had a free trial period helped their cause). Two weeks into our subscription, I'm loving it! We never have to remember to take things back (relatively crucial since I seem to struggle right now with getting my library books back on time, and the library only charges $ .45 a day) and I can manage it online (again great since I'm on my managing life online kick). I am looking forward to my next movie, Ratatouille scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

In other news: the Orioles are starting to concern me. I know that they've been talking about trading Roberts and Bedard, but I'm getting more and more concerned that they might actually do it. Sure the O's are trying to "rebuild" their team, but getting rid of two of the stronger players on the team (especially when one is a pitcher) doesn't seem like the best plan. Perhaps a better trade earlier in the season could have made a difference, but both Roberts and Bedard are relatively young and already good...why get rid of them? I guess we'll have to wait and see. Regardless, I've picked out the perfect shirt for the '08 season...it just has the Oriole bird on it. I was thinking about a Markakis shirt to add to my Gibbons and Roberts collection...but I figure the oriole bird is a better bet. He can't do steroids and won't be traded :)

Restaurant Rave!

Saturday night date night...the irish restaurant in harborplace was delish! Carl and I split a salad with chicken as an appetizer (the salad was big enough to eat as an entree and had a whole chicken breast sliced on top!). For dinner Carl ordered a corned beef sandwich with swiss and VERY spicy mustard. I had gaelic steak....yum-o! Carl drank two Irish beers (he was so psyched since Cliff had recommended them) and I had a girly cocktail. It was so much fun to be out, just the two of us! After dinner we walked around the inner harbor and stopped at Johnny Rocket's to share an ice cream sunday.

The stores in Harborplace have started to put out their O's gear...I'm looking forward to Opening Day!

PS

Good luck to my bestest Wen and Greg closing on their very first home this afternoon! I hope after all the last minute drama, the closing and move go well. Love you!

TGIF

I am so glad I left work early yesterday afternoon to spend it with the girls (and to hook up our wireless router, woohoo!). Laney, Alie and I spent a good 45 minutes to an hour outside throwing snowballs and sledding down a hill at the park by our home. It was so much fun and the girls loved the sledding! I took lots of pics, and when I figure out how to get my new camera hooked up to my computer, I will share some.

I am really excited for the weekend. Tonight the Ambrose clan is coming over for dinner. We have an oven stuffer roaster that is a definite. I'm thinking maybe some rice pilaf and veggies for sides...but we'll see. Saturday night Carl and I are going on a "romantic" dinner out. For my birthday, my mother in law gave me a gift certificate to eat at an Irish restaurant at the Inner Harbor. I'm looking forward to having some true "alone" time with the hubby and dressing up (even if the attire is casual).

Then, on Sunday morning we are headed (with the girlies) to Auntie Cirucci's for brunch. We are responsible for bringing the orange juice :) Bri's friend Big will be in town, and I'm looking forward to hanging out with him, and to playing a little Wii with Cirucci!

Finally, the best part of the weekend: we have Monday off!!!! Unfortunately it will be my last holiday for a while, but I'm really looking forward to it :) Our house is in desperate need of a good clean (haha I feel like I always say that), but we will have the extra day to do it!

snow follow up

Yay! I got my snow :) I spent my afternoon (since I left work early) playing in the snow and sledding with the girls. We had a blast and I'm back in my "winter" place...at least for the next month and a half or so.

Snow?!?!

I have been anxiously awaiting snow. I am definitely ok with the time between Christmas and spring, I just want it to be "winter". I love that time around Carl's birthday and Valentines Day and the constant anticipation of snow. Last weeks temps in the 70s gave me just a little bit of spring fever and today, I NEED it to snow. I need snow to help me get back into my coffee drinking, snuggled up on a big chair under a blanket reading, comfort food eating self for the remainder of these winter months. I need this time before I become my lemonade drinking, outdoors breakfast and dinner eating, backyard gardening self.

Forecast for this afternoon into tonight: snow mixed with sleet and rain, perfect for a late opening tomorrow!

I told the girls it was going to snow this morning....so now it really needs to!

the mom debate

I read an article today in the Washington Post about "young" moms. The article noted that only 31% of women with 4 year degrees have children during their 20s, and only 13% of men. Of course, this was the topic of my lunch conversation with Brian. In many of the articles that I read about young motherhood, young parents are complaining about the a social rift separating them from their childless or unmarried friends. Carl and I have never felt this way...and I don't imagine that we will. Brian suggested that its all in the way that you define yourself. Of course being a great mom is first on my list of priorities, but I don't define myself by my motherhood, just like I don't define myself by my job or even the degree that I've earned. Many of my friends have been along for the ride for quite some time, helping me transition from my boy-crazy teen years to my more "mature" ways. Why shouldn't they be there for the transition into motherhood, acting as voices of reason from the outside world during those first sleepless nights? Although generally we are one of the first of our small group to take these life-steps, our friends are right there next to us, supporting and applauding all the way, just as we will be for them!
I'm interested how life will change for us when the girls go to first grade. When the girls make friends in a school-setting we will have to interact with older parents. What will we think of them? What will they think of us? Will there be the generational divide that the article describes? By this time next year I will be in my last class for my masters program (provided there are no setbacks), I wonder if that will put me in a whole other range of stats.

Hey at least we're moving in a different direction from the working vs. stay at home debates!

Be respectful!

There is a girl at work who annoys me in many many ways. She's always looking for attention and oftentimes acts in a very unprofessional manner. She also always has such negative comments about children. Last semester at TU CARES she was talking about how she couldn't stand little kids (she went to a 3 year's old bday party) and that she would be waiting a long time to have them. ok, great, that's her personal opinion, except she didn't stop there. She went on to say that anyone having kids at a young age was crazy, etc, etc. Awesome, thanks for sharing! We won't talk about my opinions of her social excursions.

Last week we had a shower for Brigid in marketing who is expecting her first baby at the end of this month. It was such a nice shower...not very many people attended, but everyone was able to sit around the table, enjoy lunch and have a nice conversation. Brigid was so suprised and excited! Anyway, the same work girl shows up after the shower has ended and says that she brought a gift and just wants to grab something to eat before she goes back downstairs. Fine. As she's gathering food she's remarking to another co-worker in her department about how she doesn't like kids. She's telling a story about being in a restaurant last week where there was a baby crying, letting the co-worker know that she told her dinner companion that the parents needed to "shut that baby up". All I could think to myself was how incredibly inappropriate it was to a. show up late and b. talk at a BABY shower about how she can't stand babies.

My reason for sharing this is first to vent. This co-worker constantly talks about her committment to diversity and complains about comments that others have made that she feels are offensive. Family status, in my opinion is a diversity issue. It bothers me that she is so insensitive. HA! I am getting so sensative in my old age ;)

the joys of toddler beds

The transition to toddler beds, which took place just before Christmas, has not gone as smoothly as we might have hoped. In fact, its not really going smootly at all. The ablity to get out of bed and play with someone is too tempting for the girls. They have made poop art with dirty diapers from the trashcan, so the trashcan now lives in the hall. They have climbed up the bookshelf to get items from the tall chest. The bookshelf and all of the books now live in the hall. They have strewn clothes from the hamper all around the room. They have pulled out an entire box of wipes, throwing them all around the room. They have pulled the mattresses off their beds and made a giant trampoline in the middle of the floor. they have taken off all of their clothes and run around naked. They have hidden under the bed. They have hidden in the closet.

I am determined. We are going to get this naptime in the toddler bed down!

being a "middle-classer"

Today (instead of doing work) Brian and I were discussing what it meant to be middle class and how that definition has changed from the past. Actually, I'm not quite sure we really decided on what exactly "middle class" is today. Our conversation stemmed from the price of a home, specifically a single family home. In the past, a middle class family could afford a modest single family home (oftentimes with only one working parent). Now, it seems it is a struggle to own a home in general.

This is something that I often think about when drifting to sleep. How is it that Carl and I, with college degrees, and full time jobs sometimes struggle to make ends meet? Sure, my admissions salary isn't that great, but Carl has had two excellent positions helping our family income. Sometimes I'm frustrated that I feel anxious about being able to afford a home in an area with better public schools, an area where we essentially have no choice but to buy a single family home. Will we make it before the girls hit kindergarten?

The conversation really made me think about one of my new year resolutions: to enjoy what we have. Carl and I have a beautiful home in a wonderful neighborhood. Maybe we can't go on vacations to exotic locations or afford season tickets to baseball games, but we own a home. This year, I look forward to taking more walks, spending more time enjoying the backyard, running through the sprinkler with the girls, enjoying the community playground, and sitting on our front porch playing cards in the evening. We picked a home we knew would love, and this year, I want to enjoy every second of it!

Registry Stalker

I am a registry stalker. I am obsessed with looking at what people want (well, what people I know want). When I learn that people I know are getting married or are having a baby, I begin to check for registries. I'm not quite sure how or why I have this obsession, I guess I like to look at other people's stuff. I am perfectly content with my stuff, its not a competition. Maybe I'm interested in learning more about their taste, or imagining what their home will look like with their new stuff. I loved stalking my own registries. Maybe since I'm finished with the registry warrenting events in my life, I am excited for others. Who knows? So to my friends: Beware. If you are preggo or engaged, I will surely be stalking your gifts!

Stiffler's mom

My question: does Stiffler's mom make a full-time living from acting? She shows up everywhere! Friends, Sex in the City, American Pie, Legally Blonde, .... In Hollywood, can one survive making short appearances in movies and tv shows, or do you need another job. If so, what is Stiffler's moms full-time job?

Just a thought.

Finally...

So Dr. Gertler finally called back yesterday evening around 6:15ish to let me know that some protein that indicates inflamation was much higher than it has been in the past, potentially indicating a rough patch ahead. Not a huge deal compared to what I had been imagining in my head all day. Rough patches I think I can deal with. He did say that we may need to have further discussion about how to "medicate". I'm not ready for that discussion again, so I'm putting it off until I am.

In other news, the girls had their 2 year check-up the other day. All went well and Dr. Lake is pleased with everything. He attributes their weight (or lack there of) to their "active 2 year lifestyle". He is suprised at how well their speech is coming along, especially for multiples. They are completely caught up!

I'm leaving work early today to rest. I didn't sleep very well last night at all, I was actually awoke for the day at 2am..never good. I am thinking again about looking at other job possibilities. Sometimes I just get fed up with my salary (or lack there of). I wish there was something I could do about it short of looking for something else. We'll see if I actually go through with it this time.

still waiting

It is now 4:13 and i'm still waiting. I have left two messages, one at 8:53 am and another later in the afternoon, maybe around 1:30ish. Grrr...I want them to call back!

waiting on the doctor

I HATE waiting for doctors to call back. Last week I went to see Dr. Gertler, rheumatologist extrodinaire and had the usual ton of bloodwork done. With Dr. Gertler, no news is good news. Unfortunately, this morning I checked my messages and there was Dr. Gertler, wanting to "discuss test results". Of course I called back as soon as the office opened this morning, and they put me through to his nurse, who of course was not there so I left a voicemail. Now, I'm sitting here stewing over what he needs to discuss...hopefully nothing too serious. Don't nurses know that people are anxious when the dr calls, and they want to hear back ASAP?!

Eeek!

JCrew

Just one more thought for today....

About 20 minutes ago I received an email from JCrew: "upto 50% in our new winter sale". Score! Of course (eventhough Carl and I are on the new super strict money-saving budget) I must check this sale out (I mean I am a girl and I am in reality "saving" money if I get things on sale...more for less right?).

Anyway, the point of my story: nothing is actually a sale price. Sure, it may be 50% off of the jcrew original price, but sweaters are still $50 or $60, t-shirts are on sale for $12. I didn't buy anything; there was nothing that I could justify "absolutely needing".

When did life (and my favorite clothing store) get so expensive?

Christmas break

Ahh...Christmas break is over and I am back at work. I need a break from my break. I was soo looking forward to spending some time with my girlies, but as it turns out, EVERYONE was sick. It all started with me on the Friday before christmas, I was feeling dizzy and a bit queezy...which now I think was the beginnings of the stomach bug. Next came Laney, with her projectile puking on Sunday night/Monday. Then came Alie with her version of the bug. Then came the gooky coughing, requiring a trip to the pedi and some antibiotics. The girls were grumpy, clingly and mopey all break and really weren't able to enjoy christmas at all....

However, there were some positive things that occured over break. Carl and I organized our house. We went through almost all of the rooms and took out the stuff that didn't belong and put it in the correct spot. Our bedroom took almost 3 hours alone! We were in such a rush when we moved in, things ended up in strange spots (tools in our bedroom for example). We ended up throwing a lot of things away as well...of course the trashman isn't coming this week. We are really enjoying our nice, clean organized way of living...not having to hop and leap to get to the washing machine, knowing exactly where the things we need are, etc. I am also really excited that we can really use and enjoy the man-room now.

Secondly, I watched the entire last season of Sex in the City (not that I hadn't seen it before). I LOVE that show. I love the characters, they are so smart, funny, independent, and believable. There are pieces of each person that I find interesting and strangely enough, inspiring.

Finally, as for new years resolutions: I plan to be more organized and schedule oriented. I figure this resolution will help out in a number of areas of my life, both professional and personal. I also plan to watch less tv (not that I watch a ton to begin with). It always seems like when I am feeling lazy, I turn to the tv and watch trash, resulting in a huge waste of time. Carl and I have decided to cut some frivolous things out so that we can spend more quality time together as a family and couple and so that we can become more financially fit.

Happy New Year!