christmas 2008

My goodness it’s been a busy year!
We…

Started a blog: http://schleiferkin.blogspot.com/
Went to a family reunion
Bought a house and sold a house
Threw all our stuff away and bought it all over again
Traded one career for a family
Enrolled in school to trade another
Drove across the Northern United States
Went to Wall Drugs and The Corn Palace
Moved 3000 miles away from our favorite coast
Visited with a million friends and relatives
Bought a doggie treadmill and taught the doggies to use it
Hosted 3 sets of houseguests
Entertained lots in our new home
Gained 40 pounds, HAD A BABY, lost 20 pounds
Went from being DINKS to having the bank account SINK

And argued only once* (…about continuing to drive to find a buffet restaurant…Dave was hungry and wanted Arby’s… I started to cry)

*unless you count the 3 (?) times that I had crying fits due to the pregnancy that seemed bizarre and out of context and were mostly due to the fact that I couldn’t do many of the activities of daily living (ADLs) that I am accustomed to doing normally because of my tree trunk ankles and all the hormones raging through my body and the massive amounts of blood loss. I take no responsibility for these events, they were more like emotional outbursts than actual arguments because there was no subject matter and I was the only one ‘emoting.’ Dave was rather bewildered more than anything. We seem to have made it out of the woods and everything is OK now. Except that I still can’t fit into any of my clothes from before Isaac and I refuse to buy new ‘fat’ clothes, so I always look appropriate for shopping at Wal-Mart now, which is good because I do that a lot in this phase of my life, so, I still do WANT to cry about that. But I don’t. TMI. OK, I’ll stop now. Sadly, the garage is still a mess.

snuffles's first meal and mommy musings

So--yeah, last Friday, Isaac started eating rice cereal. EVERYONE and THEIR MOTHER, and their mother's mother, TOLD US THAT GIVING ISAAC rice cereal would help him sleep. WRONG-O!

WRONG-O!!!!

Oh, how I wish it were true. Yeah. It's not. (Incidentally, Isaac loves to eat and he also loved his new cereal. It's already time to add another kind of grain to his repetoire.)

I shouldn't be surprised. Dave doesn't really sleep more than 6 hours in a night. In our case, Snuffles sleeps for MAYBE 4 hours at a time.

Again, I go back to the days before I had a baby. I was like "what's the BIG WHOOP?...babies sleep so much, I'm sure I'll be fine. Why does everyone talk about sleep deprivation? Must be human nature to have to complain about something." Oh, how naieve I was.

Yes, the baby does sleep alot, in small increments--between 20 minutes and 4 hours at a time. Grown ups need CONSOLIDATED sleep--and me in particular--needs like 8 hours of CONSOLIDATED, uninterrupted sleep. Good luck with that.

And, yes, baby eats a lot. So between feedings (20 - 45 minutes) every 4 hours, his intermittent sleeping and everything else that has to happen around here--the result is NO SLEEP FOR MOMMY.

And--now--I'm experiencing soft muscle tissue generalized pain that comes along with not sleeping. Quasi-fibromyalgia like symptoms. Yes. It's no fun! It wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that I have actual responsibilities.

It feels like climbing Mt. Everest. Lots of gravity. Not much oxygen--and no energy!

TOOO bad too--because our life is really wonderful. And the irony is I'm soooo happy. I just wish I felt up to the task---reliably.

OK--enough, already.

Love you. Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

vaccines and shots...oh my!

Snuffles had his 4 month appointment this morning (Happy Birthday Baby!) He weighed 16 pounds and 15 ounces, putting him again in the 90th percentile. That means, of 100 babies his age, Isaac is heavier than 90 of them. Same with his height. That's up from the 75th percentile when he was 2 months old. His head circumference was in the 65th percentile.

Before you go thinking he must be a PIN HEAD, remember, babies naturally have large heads proportionately compared to adults. So--Isaac actually looks like a tiny grown-up person. OK?!!

He was such a trooper, he hardly cried at all during his shots.

We got sleep tips from Dr. Michele who said Isaac is capable of sleeping he just doesn't know how to soothe himself yet, because the moment he makes the tiniest noise, I'm right there with a pacifier or bottle. So--this holiday break, when Dave is off from school and work, we will have the torchurous 4 night stint of letting Isaac cry it out while standing along side his crib reassuring him--so he can learn to self-soothe. Wish us luck!

And we got the go-ahead for solid foods because of his size and vigorously healthy eating habits. (he takes after mommy in this regard--and mommy {along with her pregnancy-induced pannus [PiP]} is becoming a "big, beautiful, woman" if you know what I mean).

Seriously, she is still 30 POUNDS heavier than before she got pregnant, and NONE of her clothes (or shoes) fit, and she's still wearing MATERNITY clothes. Things seem to have redistributed themselves in a BAD WAY. 9 months on, 9 months off--whatever! This is not fun. And--it delays child #2!

Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

t-minus 3 days and counting

Snuffles getting ready for an early ride to the train station after staying up ALL NIGHT with mommy.

I MISS DAVE!!! He is either working, sleeping, or studying. Even when he is here, he's not really here. Note to self...now I know I can manage the household singlehandedly...with no sleep...even holiday dinners for EIGHT...but still. It's so not as much fun WITHOUT DAVE :(!!!

So--this Thursday, when Dave gets done with his first semester, we will be celebrating for a month of no school! :)

In other news, Dave said this morning that he's ready to have child number 2! Happy.

Talk to you soon. Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

holiday milk

Did you know SuperTarget doesn't sell Eggnog? They only sell holiday milk. I'm not sure what holiday milk is, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to find out. Dave is upset because I keep calling his Eggnog holiday milk.

We put up our Christmas decorations today. In addition to everyone here having a FAKE TREE, I realized the custom is to have a tree in every window (!!!) or to put a wreath on every window outside of your house. Kooky considering how windy it is here all the time. Gusty, gusty--and dry and sunny. It never rains. Whatever!

Dave only has ONE MORE FINAL for this semester--and then HE'S DONE!!! Last week's final went 'pretty good' (which actually means it was 'super easy'--Dave is a master of understatment). Unfortunately, we don't find out his real scores until the end of the month.

Snuffles is wearing clothes sized for a 9-month old. Here are some fun pictures of the him:

memories

of sleep, mostly. That's all I can think about and compute lately.

We resolved our emergency plumbing situation. One of the pipes under a faucet had a crack in it and so, water leaked all over our living room. But, in customary M/I Homes style--they are already fixing it! It is phenomenal. They are wonderful home builders.

So--in other news--Dave's first really really big law school exam is TOMORROW! He says he is ready. Go Dave!

And--in yet other news, Isaac received one of many bedtime baths again last night, and he seems to scream a little less each time. See:










Cookie Monster is Isaac's friend.

Today after our 3 mile doggie walk, we are making delicious Chicken Enchiladas with Tomatillo sauce and fresh homemade salsa and guacamole. Oh--and delicious MARGARITAS! We wish you were here.

Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

the goose is getting fat

So--we did not serve Turducken at our house for Thanksgiving, and I hope you didn't either--it's much too disturbing. If you want Turkey, Duck and Chicken all at the same time (I don't know why you would), could you just serve them individually without stuffing them inside one another?

We DID, however, have lots of fun, lots of food, and now--lots of leftovers. I took pictures, but they're on an old fashioned camera where you have to develop the photos, and that's much too complicated at this point, so check back later for photos of Mary Lee, Wally and Becca Walawender and her SO, Kristin. Kristin made SUCH delicious pies. She is a very talented girl. And Becca is H*I*L*A*R*I*O*U*S. Overall, it was one of the most, if not the most enjoyable Thanksgiving I've ever had.

I really appreciated them all coming over. It was a big boost for my mom to be able to visit. She thought for years that she would never get to see Mary Lee in person again. They both have health considerations that make travel difficult. So--THANK YOU Mary Lee!

OMG, it's HAILING right now at our house. Weird, because there is never ANY precipitation here at all. Just strong winds. Not so fun on garbage day. IYGMD.

So--there ya go. Adam spent a lot of time with us over the weekend, and he was a tremendous boost to mommy because he could take care of baby and give mommy a happy break. We ate delicious Papusas with some sort of cabbage contraptions, and Dave studied 99.9999% of the time, because his tests are Friday and next week.

Happy pictures of Snuffles:

turducken?

So what's up with everyone's fascination with stuffing animals inside one another? I guess it's like deep frying your turkey was a few years back...

I am busily preparing for Thanksgiving.

Mulled cider is simmering on the stove...

There's a warm fire roaring in the fireplace...

The house is clean and straightened...

Delicious food is cooking in the oven.

And Dave will be home for 4 days HAPPY! (though, he's still studying intently so, he's HERE, but not really HERE if you know what I'm saying)...

We're having roasted root vegetable soup, turkey, stuffing--French-Canadian style, mashed Yukon Golds, haricots verts (a Martha recipe), delicious vege dishes that the guests are bringing, and pie of course.

Everytime I go to the store, everyone fawns all over Isaac and I realize how deeply satisfying it feels to have all the important things in life. My sweet family :) And for that, I am very, very THANKFUL.

I absolutely cannot wait until Christmas. It will be Isaac's first Christmas :) Dave and I are getting the tree this Friday.

Our FiOS has the best music stations--I started listening to the Christmas songs already. We can pipe the music throughout our house and it's so pleasant here...

We wish YOU were coming. And we're eagerly looking forward to visits this January from Aunts Mary and Chris, and over the holidays from our first friend in Seattle--Mr. Ben Willett.

We plan to take lots of pictures tomorrow--Dave is the family photographer and technical expert. I need to be able to refer back to them when life gets to be too much--which, I'm sure it will :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Miss you. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

the transformation of snuffles

Well, as many of you predicted, the babymoon is over! Snuffles has become a fussy fussy baby who cries a lot during the day and there's little I can do to comfort him. I feel so sad for him, he seems like he's so uncomfortable. I'm sure it's digestive distress and I wonder why they don't make baby medications to help with it.

If it goes on much longer, I'll look into switching formulas and talking to the doctor. :( Poor baby :(

He just gets cuter and cuter though. Even when he's screaming I just want to hug and squeeze him all the time.

We've compromised on the sleeping situation. Dave does the feedings after work and before midnight. I go to bed as soon as we get back from picking him up from the subway at night (like 9:00 pm) and I am lucky when I only have to get up at 2 am and 4 am for feedings. At 4, I cave and bring Isaac into bed with us, making extra sure he has plenty of breathing room. It seems to be working out.

The dogs are a different story! Lately Daisy has gotten very active at night. Last night I didn't sleep at all because of her barking, scratching and whimpering. I couldn't even keep everything quiet so Dave could sleep. It was a bad deal.

In Dave news, his good grades continue. Unlike other law schools, Dave has had assignments that do count toward his final grade. He keeps getting As. I am so proud of him. It really is remarkable. I certainly could not do what he's doing.

My Sally Homemaker routines have slid a bit with the changes in Lumbley's sleep and temprament. Dave is lucky to get a banana and a breakfast bar in the morning. And forget about lunch most days. Dinner is a sometimes event. We always seem to have something I've prepared, but the inspiration is lacking. There are papers on the table, so we're eating at the couch in front of the TV. Most times it's a one-dish meal, with no extras. And, it's shifts. Mom at 6:00, Dave after he gets home and me, randomly.

And my house--I am lucky if one area of one room is clean at a time at my previous standards. It's demoralizing.

Sleep deprivation is serious business. Lumbley just settled down, so I'm going to go snooze. More soon!

ok--I get it now

I am beginning to understand the stereotypical mixed feelings about parenthood that people experience :( I am still super excited about him and I think he's the greatest thing ever AND simultaneously, I'm like "ooooh...this is what people are talking about."

As much as I love my pumpkin---my little sweet pea won't sleep for the long stretches he's supposed to--according to the pediatric experts who write books.

We made the transition from the 24 hour marsupial (me) to using the crib at night around October 10th after stern warnings about SIDS from our Pediatrician. This meant that instead of getting quasi-half-awake sleep for a normal length of time, I started to get a pattern of sleep for an hour, feed/change/burp the baby for 2 hours, repeat all night. And I really felt the difference. I began to get really, really, really tired.

The books say if you focus on how the baby sleeps and setting up good habits, rather than focusing on how he eats, you will have a much more rested FAMILY. Also, many people seem to think that 3 month old babies should be able to sleep for 6-9 hour stretches and at 3 months, it's starting to be time to skip the nighttime feedings.

So, when I tried following that advice, the pattern was sleep for 50 minutes, give the baby the pacifier and help him get back to sleep for 10 minutes, repeat---EVERY HOUR---ALL NIGHT. Then, at 4 am, out of desperation, bring the baby into bed for trhe quasi-half-awake dangerous SIDS co-sleeping deal.

Fag-get-aba-it. We're back to feeding ever 3 hours--round the clock--with crib. And I want to cry.

I just remember my friend Ashley forewarning me about this. The sadness and desperation in her voice when she said she felt like she would never be rested ever again was palpable. And scary. I thought I'd get through it just fine, because of the previous jobs I've had which required all nighters on occasion---many, consecutive occasions at times.

Oh, how wrong I was. There is a difference between having a job--when you have to do the occasional or often all-nighter--and the constantcy and new lifestyle, permanent responsibility of being a parent. It's an entirely different deal. I don't mind the lack of sleep, I mind the feeling of disorganization and just how much harder everything is when you're tired and you get interrupted every time you are trying to do something!!!

I'm still very committed to Dave sleeping like a normal person. We have to have that for him to be able to handle his load. He is awesome. He does so much house-related and child-care stuff on nights and weekends. If I had his schedule, I would collapse when I didn't have to be 'on.' He does 14 - 16 hour days every day.

HOWEVER, this is all about to change. I am about to experience some personhood and temporary reprieve from full-time parenting/caregiving. Today, I:

--Got a baby jogger (happy!), now I can take dogs on serious walks (jogs?) with Isaac. No guilt about not walking the dogs anymore--and I can begin to chip away at my extra baby weight!!

--Found a caregiver for my mom so Dave and I can travel out of town to visit his parents

--Hired our neighbor for 'supervised' babysitting--she can come over while I'm home and I can get some stuff done.

Solving problems is a wonderful thing :) No sense becoming grouchy-pants :)

And, yeah, it took 3 months, but I finally understand. This is what people were talking about.

lunch with the deputy director

In the continuing unfoldment of my relations with mysterious and long-lost family members, today Isaac and I had lunch [delicious! here: http://www.tonicrestaurant.com/fb] with a cousin I haven't seen in over 30 years!

Ms. Becca Walawender and her significant other, Kristin. Becca's mom and my mom are cousins. And the closest thing either of them has to being sisters. My mom LOVES Mary Lee (Becca's mom) so much and it's kinda crazy that Becca and I didn't get to spend more time together as kids. (Refer to my earlier post about my Jerry Springer/Dr. Phil-esque childhood for context here) In a family of mostly BOYS, the four of us are the only girls!

Anywho---Becca and Kristin are super fun! And super interesting. Kristin just returned from Africa on a business trip--economic development work for regional farmers. And Becca just got promoted to Deputy Director of something important with the federal government.

I could've sat with them all day long and chatted the day away. After 6 months of not much socializing with ANY girlie peers--they were both a breath of fresh air. The exact infusion of wit, irony and irreverence that's loads of fun and rare to find.

They've both lived in San Fran and they understand the TOUGH transition from West Coast RELAXED and HAPPY culture and BREATHTAKING beauty to the East Coast opposite. If they can do it, so can I.

[Perhaps they will join us for Thanksgiving and regale us with their adventures in Africa. With Adam there, the conversation will be lively for sure!]

Dave studied while we had lunch and then we met up with him afterwards at the GW Law School. I got to see his classrooms, the library, and the campus. All very impressive. He was so proud and I enjoyed watching him point out all the sites to Isaac.

We all finished the day with a trip to Wegman's. Becca and Kristin went to the Fairfax one (I think) and we went to the Gainesville one. If you can't have Thriftway and Larry's, Wegman's will do. It was a good day.

We miss you. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

army, navy, air force, marines

hi again!

I wrote a while back about the different demographic mix here in Northern Virginia---about my mix of fear and fascination with all of the military and law enforcement professionals living nearby--specifically in my neighborhood. And my sadness about the Pit Bulls--living next door. I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together for us. I was curious and interested--but very unsure--because of the dogs.

Well, call it the gift of gab from having kissed The Blarney Stone in 1997, I've gotten to know the neighbors, and the dogs, and they are all actually quite nice. Every single person around us is either a police officer, a Marine, an FBI investigator or CIA. Oh, except one--he works for the NRA. Quite a different bunch than I've been exposed to in my sheltered life.

Needless to say, their perspective on life and the world is quite different than my own. But I'm always curious and interested in people, and asking them about their lives and work is one sure way to get people to open up and get to know them.

They've got some fascinating stories about their work, their time overseas, and their professions. They make great neighbors--very responsible. Like they cut their grass and fertilize on time for example. Stuff that's hard for us with our current load.

And--SURPRISE--their dogs are better behaved than mine!! I guess it's not that surprising. I'm somewhat of a cream puff on the inside and I think my dogs can sense that. Mine are obedient, but all bets are off if they go into their 'instinctual (un)happy place.' The Marines definitely have their Pit Bulls well under control. I'm not sure I'm 100% comfortable with the situation, but the irony is not lost on me for sure.

Even more IRONIC is that Daisy--our black lab---LOVES, loves, loves to play with them. She's about their same size, and she's naturally very submissive, so there are no conflicts. And I didn't know this before I had a lab, but they are very 'pack' oriented--as opposed to 'people' oriented like all my previous dogs. I haven't known really how to 'connect' with Daisy in the past, other than to give her food and treats which she loves. But she LOOOOOVES other dogs and she especially loves the Pits. And they appear to love her. They just all roll around together and could enjoy their doggie time all day long if they could.

So--we hang out together as much as possible with everyone's schedules. All the dogs get really tired when they play together, much more so than even a long walk. And, who doesn't love a tired doggie! A tired doggie is a happy doggie. So--I put my fears aside and let her play with her friends Max, Rocky and Rambo. Rocky is her BFF.

So--it's unfortunate that there are those people in our society that do not have positive motivations, good character and self-control and subsequently military and police force are necessary to keep the peace. Though, it is the reality we live in. I have no interest in doing that kind of work myself, but I sure am glad there are people out there who want to do it.

And, I have to say, I'm kinda glad they are my neighbors. Not only because they're easygoing and nice people, but it's definitely a very safe neighborhood!

And--oh, I guess now I'll be surrounded! Dave's dad and brother-in-law are in the military, Dave's going to be a lawyer and there is just law enforcement all around us. It's like living in a fortress!

More soon! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

domestic bliss and tranquility

true love x 2!

In addition to making a DAMN FINE BANANA CAKE, because she knew it was my favorite, and she wanted to make my birthday really special, which she did, and it was :)---- my M-I-L, Carolyn is the ultimate domestic doyenne.

Being at her house is so RELAXING, first and foremost because of the pleasant company, but also because it's just very CLEAN and very comfortable. It's outfitted with the all thoughtful small details that make guests feel immediately at ease, and find everything they need is already provided. And the smell of delicious food cooking (always) adds to the feeling of HOME at her house.

You already know from reading previous posts, that her home it also an atmosphere of warmth, caring, support, and unconditional love. So--it is even more enjoyable because of her domestic skills. She doesn't just go out of her way for MY birthday, every person she loves recieves her loving attention during their uniquely important moments.

It is on her skillful creation of HOME, in every meaning of the word, that I base my aspirations. Not only for the comfort of my husband, because he's accustomed to such a high standard of care and creature comforts, because his MOM and DAD did such a good job, but also for the health and comfort of Isaac. :) I am so fortunate to get to be a stay-at-home mom to him. We wanted him to have the same nurturing home environment that Dave grew up with.

Maintaining this environment of delicious home cooked meals, uber-cleanliness, uplifting and inspiring beauty, and loving attentiveness, is a huge priority for me, not only for Isaac's well-being, but for Dave's as well. It's my way of saying THANK YOU while his responsibility load is so large--with law school and working full-time--very difficult and challenging. Thank you Dave, for all your hard work. My mom and I appreciate being the beneficiaries.

Consequently, my home is SO CLEAN right now. There is nothing that feels better or more luxurious--than a clean, well-appointed, beautiful home. For the first time since we moved in, the clutter is cleared, and I was able to clean really deeply--everywhere. We're talking cleaning the floors on hands and knees and dusting the blinds---clean. Prior to this we just had parts clean and parts dirty.

I've always been good at keeping the homemade meals coming and the freezer full. Dave absolutely LOVES food, and he is quite an talented gourmet cook, so his expectations for good FLAVOR are high. I love food too--though, I enjoy very low-brow comfort food as much as the dramatic, flaming Steak Au Poive or the exotic Thai dishes Dave makes. Mostly I love cooking for how much it intensifies the feeling of home--- filling the house with such enticing smells wafting through the air.

Some things I learned recently:
--Used dryer sheets take away soap residue on glass shower doors. Sparkling!
--Baby wipes make excellent dust cloths on non-wood surfaces.















tummy time is happy time--especially on our new play yard from grama!


Everyone knows how good it feels when your house is CLEAN. When my house is this clean, I always want to invite everyone over to enjoy it. Previously, that has meant FRIENDS while we lived in Seattle. We will certainly miss our huge blow-out parties as well as intimate gatherings with our good friends. :(

Now it means FAMILY too since most everyone lives near here. And in our short time here we've hosted family events and houseguests a number of times already!

I love that our home is becoming a HUB of hosting and entertaining in our extended network of friends and family. And I absolutely love providing such a nurturing, relaxing, nourishing and beautiful space for everyone who spends time here. (pictures as soon as I hang the art and the curtains :) )

Our next big gathering is THANKSGIVING. I hope all of our invited guests can make it. Believe me, the food will be delicious. And, oh, how I wish you could join us!

Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

I need my Helena Williams.

HELENA WILLIAMS---I miss you!


"...Won't you be, won't you be, please won't you be, my neighbor?" -- Fred Rodgers, The Mister Rodgers Show, 1976

"...There she is...Miss America," Lyrics by Wayne Bernie, 1963

OMG I miss you Helena! And I miss our time as neighbors :) We were SUCH GOOD partners.

For several YEARS...
We ran 4 - 12 miles a DAY-- three to five times a week!
We lifted weights for the same.
We did fun things like the Vancouver BC Half Marathon.
We hosted fun parties and served yummy food.
We ran The Ives Home Owners Association--very successfully :) with programs that are in operation today STILL.
We (OK--YOU) created Noche de Arte---aka Stich & Bitch.

What a WHOLESOME, FULL, HEALTHFUL lifestyle that was.

We said we would keep up the regimens--POST babies, and DURING parenting.

I need you. I need to still do all those things--and this Home Owners Association is four times the size. And the extra baby weight is not budging. I can do it by myself, it's just not as fun. I'm feeling the LOSS. Still. After all this time.

In short, you ROCK.

This is my tribute to YOU! For all to see.

And if anyone would like to volunteer to be my LOCAL neighbor | running partner | VP | girlie friend, please let me know. [And Paige Kromer--make no mistake, you are a wonderful next-door neighbor too, you just said you prefer tennis.]


:(

if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

Clap, clap!

These days I am singing all of those happy childhood songs---On Top of Old Smokey, Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da, On the Good Ship Lollipop. Good thing our internet connection is back up. I can refresh my memory on ALL THE VERSES, not just the reprieves.

Isaac sure does seem like a happy baby. He wakes up everyday with a huge smile on his face. And, aside from slurping down a good 12 ounces--a lot for an almost 3 month old, he pretty much just coos, and kicks, and smiles with his sparkling charm--all the time. He's such an easy baby. I just want to cuddle with him constantly--which is good--I am still a marsupial.

Sometimes our house is a little bit messy (a lot?! YES--OK) but Dave even says--Isaac time is prime time. Good thing even the experts say you can't spoil a baby younger than 6 months.

I want to have 16 more--tomorrow. But everyone agrees--this would be a BAD idea. So--I have comprimised--lose my weight, focus on my health--AND THEN TRY again. We'll definitely be having a second (and a third if I get my way :) as soon as possible.

So--a long time ago I decided that I would THRIVE. I would figure out everything I wanted and needed to thrive, and I would learn how my significant others would define thriving, and I would work to create those things for everyone in my household. At the time, right after I decided, it seemed that my life went to shambles. Lots of stuff needed to change. I only had success in PARTS of my life--like my career. Old things that were not giving me happiness gave way to new things that were much better suited to me, and my life became really fun.

I am happy to report a deep satisfaction with all parts of my life these days. You might think it would be the opposite in our current circumstances. Dave doing 16 hour days, me being a 'single-mom' in essence...yes, there is a lot to do. But today for example is a perfect day. Dave supervised Isaac's nap while I took the dogs on a long walk. The leaves are changing, the sun was shining, and the forests surrounding our house are absolutely gorgeous. We saw turkey tracks, and deer tracks and the dogs ran and ran in the open fields.

Everyone had delicious food that I had cooked earlier in the week--strata for breakfast, shepard's pie for lunch. And, with our new nifty FiOS entertainment system, I've been able to fire-up my mom's favorite shows on her TV. It's a perfect, relaxing, fall Saturday afternoon.

I think THRIVING and deep satisfaction in life has a lot to do with one's energy level matching one's responsibilities and goals. For me, it's having the power to create the emotional and home environment and experiences for the enjoyment of the important people in my life. Myself included. Lately, these things are all matching up.

Striving is still part of my physiology. It's fun to build on successes and increase self-esteem. Though, it feels a lot nicer on top of a solid emotional foundation and strong, functioning household. I think Dave would agree. It's his raison d'etre for going to school.

It feels really good to be me--both on the inside--and the outside--darn near all the time. I know Dave feels the same way. And it makes our beautiful home and time with our loved ones that much more meaningful and precious. I didn't know it was possible to experience such wholeness. :)

Those years back, I had only IMAGINED, it might be possible to THRIVE. Thank goodness for my imagination. And now, the reality is even better!

I'm thankful we waited until now for Isaac. He gets to benefit from this ebullient, strong time in our lives.

More soon. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

it's a family affair

Yesterday it seems like I spent the whole day watching TV. Not really. Just Law & Order--twice. I like that show because it's always a different story. I guess that's what happens when you live without TV for two months!

Today we already received 5 telemarketing calls. How do they know our number already!! SHEESH!

Isaac appears to be able to sit up on his own when his in a partially reclined position!! WEIRD. And--at 2.75 months old, he's already wearing clothes for 6 month old babies. So far, his favorite song is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. (pronounced / ˌsuːpɚˌkælɪˌfrædʒəlˌɪstɪkˌɛkspiːˌælɪˈdoʊʃəs/)

Today I realized, I haven't said alot about Dave's family--the Schleifers---on my blog before. They are so lovely, it could be that I take them for granted and assume you all know all about them. But yeah, they are truly wonderful. How often does one feel that way about their spouse's family?!! How lucky am I?

I am mostly impressed by how close knit they are. They are all very supportive of one another--through thick and thin. And despite a large geographic dispersity, they really pull together. They span the globe from Germany to Hawaii and still remain close. They are positive people. Consequently they all seem well-adjusted, happy and excited to spend time with one another. For the most part--I suppose. Impressive!

They instantly warmly accepted me--which I appreciated very much. I felt included. Both at a large family reunion when I first met Dave and also one-on-one. How nice is that?!! In fact, I think Dave's parents talked about how much they wanted more grandchildren the first time I met them. So--I assumed that they liked me!

Dave's mom and dad are darn near IDEAL parents. Involved--just enough. Supportive--all the time. They seem to be able to gracefully walk the line between offering important opinions and giving us enough space to make our own decisions. They enjoy one another's foibles--as well as mine and Dave's. I enjoy them very much. How often do people feel easygoing and friendly with their in-laws? Believe me, I realize how lucky I am!

Dave's mom is the one-and-only VIP who I absolutely wanted by my side during Isaac's labor and delivery. She's very calming and reassuring. She has much to teach about being an excellent mother and caregiver. She is one of the strong spokes of the wheel, creating a hub, and keeping up communications with just about everyone--while making awesome pies and homemade food all at the same time. You didn't think June Cleaver actually existed. But yes, she is my mother-in-law. :)

And there isn't anyone else I would want to teach Isaac about being a husband, father and a gentleman than Dave and his own dad. They have a strong family culture of health, strength and compassion and responsibility--both financially and emotionally. It's rare to find such a wonderful combination--with lots of warm humor and levity thrown in. I feel so fortunate to have them in our lives.

I am totally impressed with how devoted Dave's parents are to their grandchildren. When we've attended the annual Outer Banks beach vacations they are both TIRELESS and endlessly patient in entertaining and teaching the kids. It PUTS ME TO SHAME because I tire quickly and head for the loungechairs.

I don't have direct experience with being a sister---but I get to be one now--with my favorite sister-in-law---Stephanie. So organized. So in control. So skilled at being a MOM! Soon she and her posse are moving to Roanoke. And she just had a baby in December--so Isaac has a built-in buddy to hang out with. Her microcosm of the family is equally awesome. The kids are creative and exhuberant--and beautiful. She and Joe run a smooth, loving household.

And--there is a gaggle in San Francisco too! Dave and I got to stay with them a couple of years back. Such high acheivers. Also happy and thriving. Except for Ace, their black lab, who has eaten their windows. He just doesn't realize he's not supposed to do that. But he's super adorable.

Isaac will definitely be the beneficiary of their family culture of love, closeness and wholesomeness. Obviously, I have already been. Once again, I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I can't wait to host family events and holidays at our house!

Still unearthing us, and still being a half-asleep zombie...miss you...love you...email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

we enter the 21st century

Hi again!

Miracles do happen! There was a free computer at the library available today AND we are supposed to get our phone/cable/internet/security system up and running this Wednesday. Can you believe that after eight weeks in the stone ages we might actually join the 21st century?

Last weekend, I had my 100th birthday. Everyone else thought I only turned 39, but that is because I colored my hair to cover the gray. Dave's parents and my uncle Adam (mom's brother) came to celebrate. Once we pushed the unpacked boxes into the other room, we had a great time. Adam dazzled us with stories of his travels and his poignant political insights.

My mom jokes that it was more like Snuffles's birthday because everyone lavishes him with lots of new fun things and lots of loving attention. Mommy says she wouln't have it any other way.

Seriously, I have been overcome with gratitude for all of the generous gifts, support and outpouring of love for Snuffles. My only wish is that we could spend time with each of you in person.

K. Gotta go! Snuffles is freaking out and we're at the library. Ciao.

happy photo of Snuffles!

Hi everyone!! I have 2 minutes before I have to go get Dave at the train station, and still no INTERNET service, no PHONE service and NO CABLE TV!! So--updating the blog (and doing many many things) has been a REAL challenge. Dave takes the computer to study all the time, and when I try the library computers there are just job-seekers and students HOGGING them all the beeping time. (No, I'm NOT frustrated or anything!!) I could go on and on about the logistical difficulties, but how boring, yes?

SNUFFLES is wonderful. Motherhood is wonderful. I disagree with everyone who says it's hard or who doesn't like the menial-ness of laundry, diapers, baby barf, and formula stains. It's all wonderful. But then, Snuffles is an easy baby. Dave is callling him THOR so he doesn't develop a complex from being called Snuffles all day.

He's gained a LOT of weight. He's 14 pounds now. Gained SIX pounds in two months. That's a lot when you only weigh 14 pounds. Close to doubled his weight in two months. Hungry Hungry Hippos.

In other news, I have to give my DAD a big SHOUT OUT. Thank you Dad for financing a wonderful teacher and babysitter to come stay with me for a week: My Aunt Mary. It was a wonderful lesson in expert mothering techniques, including: how to get baby to sleep when he's alone, how to bathe him best and how to keep all the balls up in the air at the same time-without imploding.

Oh--and I was able to get us a LOT more moved-in. So--what WONDERFUL HELP. I sincerely appreciate it. My Dad has been working steadily behind the scenes this whole time to ease everything for Dave and I--and it's the kind of family support that is irreplaceable and priceless. So--thank you. Family support is a wonderful thing.

So--thank you also goes to my Uncle Bob for coming out earlier this summer to help with my mom's move. Both Mary and Bob have taken their time to come help me at my Dad's request. And, I couldn't be more THANKFUL for the strong support. It's all new to me, Ms. Only-Child-like, do-everything-yourself-type person. I'm not used to all the attention, and I don't quite know how to handle it. But it is SINCERELY appreciated.

My mom has enjoyed all the companionship as well. Her health is not great, and I know she'd LOVE to participate more than she can. But the McCarthy's have been a breath of fresh air for us all.

So--incidentally, Dave got selected as Employee of the Month for September, complete with a picture in the company newsletter. And, he also seems to be getting an A (we don't know for sure because they only actually grade at the end of the semester--and there's grading on a curve) But, even without the curve, he'd be getting an A-. So--I'm proud of him---extremely proud of him! And--yes...

WE ARE BOTH EXHAUSTED. All the time.
LOVE YOU, miss you...and talk soon!

xoxoxo. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

it's like Communist Russia

Hi! We still have no internet, phone or cable after a month of calling Comcast regularly. I don't know if it's a bad work ethic, computer problems on their end or WHAT--but it's not fun! All of my neighbors experience the same thing. Both with Verizon and Comcast. It's such a surprise to me. I expected DC to be worldly and sophisticated. It's DOWN and OUT. Everyone is like "manana." I guess this is what people were talking about with Southern efficiency and Northern charm. No fun!!

In baby news--we are eating and eating. As they say on Southpark, "Chewy, chewy, chomp, chomp." And yes, I am less of a woman and morally questionable---I am feeding Isaac mostly formula because there just is no milk in the dairy. He gets like 1% people milk--and 99% formula because apparently I'm one of the 5% of humanity that just does not produce. Or, all the complications I had post-pardum interfered with my ability to establish production. Dunno. How sad! And how valiently we tried. At least the lactation consultant said I did everything possible. Still. :(

Nevertheless, we weigh like 12 pounds already. We're wearing clothes for people who are 3 months old and eating 6 - 8 ounces of formula at each feeding. Oh yeah. Ooow wee!

Isaac is still very calm and sweet. He is on a good schedule for food and I'm evaluating my choice to continue to be a marsupial. Dave wants his wife back and I want to SLEEP deeply at least sometimes. The experts have diametrically opposed viewpoints on everything--and each say their way leads to the most emotionally healthy well-adjusted child. What's a girl to do?

So--it's now the end of September. Our new life and routines are in full force. We now know if we're going to make it through the next 4 years with our assumptions. Can we handle everything we set out for ourselves?!! Answer: YES. Resoundingly.
Being a new mom is NOT hard for me. At all. And working + school is totally manageable for Dave. Big sigh of relief there.

The hard parts right now are just THE MESS of the new house move in--which--will get better--and SURPRISE: caretaking. For those of you who've ever had the experience--you know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't--be glad. I hope you never do! That's about all I'll say about that.

Pictures are hard--I'm technologically challenged and everything is everywhere--including the special cords and such.

WE TOTALLY MISS all of our friends who--mostly--have babies and children--and it's lonely here :( We're very-much looking forward to a visit from Isaac's Aunt Mary coming very soon!

MISS YOU! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

we are alive, just super pre-occupied!

Hi!

OK--I can't believe it's been 100 years since my last post. So much has happened. We MOVED! Our new house is very nice--though, at the moment, every square inch is covered with boxes, packing material, dead bugs, and dog hair. So--it doesn't FEEL that nice right now. It is very nice. Probably nicer than any place Dave or I have ever lived.

And--we have the ever-present technology challenges. That's what happens when I'm in charge of the technology. Consequently, I'm sitting at Caribou Coffee blogging to you and we haven't had a phone, tv or internet service in I don't know how many days.
It should be resolved soon.

In doggie news, Merlin is on doggie Prozac. He BIT a couple neighbors, and family members, so, now we're on special doggie training and doggie psyche meds to see if we can turn the situation around.

In David news, he is apparently excelling in school and work. I guess participating in the discussions is a large part of your grade--and people can be very intimidated by the Socratic format of the classes. Dave has been doing very well in that department--and those of you who know Dave--know that he hates to speak words out loud--so this is a big deal for him. He is a happy camper. (A happy camper who has to eat TAKE OUT at every meal at this point--I digress.)

In Isaac news, by day 18, he had gained one pound, 7 ounces, which, I guess is a lot. He should have only gained 13 ounces. So--he's doing good. He has lots of nicknames now---Munchie, Snuffles, Lumbley. Mostly he goes by Snuffles--because he makes Snuffel-ly noises. It's very cute.

He continues to be a dreamy, calm, sweet child. I lucked out! We'll see what happens when he starts to walk and talk.

In Grama news, Grama is frustrated by the lack of TV and phone and the MESS, as we all are. She helps a lot with feeding and holding the baby. Which, is what happens 99% of the time. Daisy ate some of her favorite shoes (oops!), so it's just run of the mill family life.

As for ME--I finally feel like a human being. YAY! Complete with driving, sitting down, sleeping on my back, walking with normal ankles and getting to have MARGARITAS. Which, I still need to do.

That's our life in a nutshell. More photos as we restore our technology. :)

Kisses!

at this point, it's just comical.

The good news:
Either--I've accepted the pain as my new NORMAL...
or
I'm in less pain...
or
I just really needed to VENT!

I am feeling better--physically. Things are becoming easier. I feel more like a human being.

And---generally I'm finding the responsibility of motherhood to be quite pleasant and managable. I am biased, but Isaac is the most pleasant, easy-going child I've come across in a long time. He's pretty straightforward in terms of his needs. And, it's pretty easy to 'read' him.

And---I guess my life experiences thusfar have been WAY MORE CHALLENGING than this is, (so far), and I'm kinda like--what's the beef? What's so hard about this? Maybe being 38 and having had my whirly bit around the world and such--I'm ready for the 'sacrifices' which actually seem like FUN to me.

So--AT THIS POINT my health is COMICAL. There are new levels today of HORROR and vile-ness. I will not disgust you with details. Can you guess what the doctor says? Yes, that's right, it's NORMAL. And there is a NEW 4" tear inside the nether regions that are my insides. Wonderful.

The lactation lady said I AM DOING EVERYTHING A PERSON COULD POSSIBLY DO TO BE ABLE TO BREASTFEED. When do you ever get validation like that?! She said my milk has not come in yet. Whatever. Yesterday I was quite MOPEY at the news. Today, I am Zen. It is what it is. I guess my new health symptoms remind me, this is not an ordinary situation, and perhaps it's better to focus on getting well--instead of demanding things be a certain way.

Always good advice. I miss you, thanks for your emails :)

only tears and swear words

...and NO MILK. OK--like a half ounce each time I pump--which feels like all the $^%&*#--ing time.

I guess pain interferes with milk production.

Oh--and NO SLEEP. Not because BABY won't sleep. HE DOES. For FIVE HOUR STRETCHES. Because mommy sweats like a prize-winning HOG at the North Carolina State Fair. Yeah. Every hour, like clock-work. Did you know, night sweats feel like a FREIGHT TRAIN roaring through your body? It's very disorienting---especially if you WERE asleep.

So--yeah. We are going on 14 days of continuous, intense, acute pain like I have never known. All apparently very NORMAL.

&*()$# THAT!

Seriously, I boast about completing sprint-distance triathons, and running half-marathons--nary shedding ONE tear, EVER, mind you. And come on--LABOR was EASY (ok, manageable...) for me. WHAT THE $#%^&?

Those of you who know me well, know that I don't swear a lot. But--this is like nothing I've ever experienced, and it feels UNENDING. So--I feel justified. I didn't prepare for this!

Isaac is an angel baby. Yes, like, feed him, burp him, change him and he sleeps for 3 hours during the day and 4 - 5 at night. Take him anywhere, and he is pleasant and chipper if he is awake, and generally--he isn't. THANK GOD.

We all think he's advanced. He holds up his head, he rolls over, and he will stick out his tongue if you stick yours out. He's gained what feels like a whole pound since last Tuesday. (This could all be random...?)

MAN--It's a GOOD THING. Otherwise, I would go completely wacko.

Oh---and THANK GOD for my mom--who can hold him, feed him, burp him, and just be there so I can take a shower and go to the (OK--TMI)

Oh--did I mention, I cook, I clean, and I walk dogs and run the house as if none of this is going on? So--everyone is fine---EXCEPT ME. :( :( :(.

Whining, and crying--why didn't anyone else tell me about this? Is it because no one else I know experienced any of it? Can I just check myself back in to the post-partum wing...!? Please?

$%^&*() :(. Ciao for now.

enquiring minds want to know :)

Hi everyone!

So many of you have emailed me! THANK YOU-- I love getting your emails :)

You're probably SAD that I didn't respond yet!!! I am sorry!

I have a TRIFECTA of PAIN that is kicking my BUTT and I have never experienced anything like it:

a cracked / badly bruised tailbone
plus
a hematoma (huge blood blister resting on top of it to the left)
plus
swollen ankles--which those of you who've had these lovely things KNOW
that they're not just ugly and embarrassing, you actually have to shlep
you're tree trunk legs around and IT HURTS like the dickens.

Oh, and let's not forget your run-of-the-mill ORDINARY childbirth damage, which I sustained plenty of, you know what I'm talking about.

Basically, the COMBINATION means that, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible to be comfortable on any surface what-so-ever---AND---it's also extremely difficult to stand and walk around. GREAT! The doctor said today I will be laid up for 8 - 10 weeks like this. Good times.

So--I am a suffering patient. All my extra moments go to showering because it's the only type of renewal and rest I can get these days.

Plus---access to the internet at home has become a nighttime thing only. Dave takes the computer to work now.

In happier news, Lumbley has gained weight and surpassed his birthweight already! He was due to weigh in today around 8 lbs, and he was 8 lbs. 4 oz. What a cutie patootie! The Pediatrician gave us a gold star. :)

He is the most well-behaved, self-soothing infant I've come across, and he is so downy soft and sweet-natured. He seems to be a happy baby.

I don't know how Dave is doing because we never see eachother. Seriously! We knew it would be like this--it's TEMPORARY!!

So--I miss you, love you all, and sincerely appreciate your emails. AND I am so distracted with pain, hopped up on meds and just trying to get through the day these days with doggies, a disabled mom, and the baby and keeping Dave fed.

I PROMISE to respond soon!! xoxoxooxoxoxox.

just for mommies...

OK everyone, let's face it: girls want to KNOW the real deal about what went down. And, guys, well, let's just say, it is not their most comfortable topic of conversation. So--read at your own risk...

At 1:00 am on Sunday, I started feeling a lot of sensations. I had no idea what labor was supposed to feel like--except the word 'contraction' seemed to mean a squeezing feeling. I felt like someone was blowing air inside me-lots of pressure. I'd heard of Braxton-Hicks (false labor) and my mind was thinking "I WILL be pregnant forever." So--naturally, I blew it off as not something I needed to deal with in the middle of the night.

By 4:00 am, I thought, "Hmmm. Maybe I should at least let Dave know what's going on." I did. We decided to continue to sleep as there was no set pattern.

By 7:00 am, I was tracking the timing. The menstrual 'cramps' I thought I was having were between 3-5 minutes. The 'contractions'--aka a squeezing feeling only happened twice in that timeframe. I still thought it was BH.

By 10:00 am, we dropped off our doggies and went to the hospital. The nurses immediately stuck us in a labor and delivery room, and I was still like "is this really time?" despite the fact that I had been admitted and all hooked up to the monitors.

As you know, I was trying to do a HypnoBirth. This plan quickly went out the window, when I attempted to listen to my tapes at this point and the sensations were entirely too sensational.

The nurses checked me, I was 5 centimeters. I could handle the pain, but I was a little on edge. One of the nurses suggested I have something to just dull the pain--like a margarita. I love margaritas, so I said yes! This was an IV margarita. I started talking about cartoons, and Dave said he was freaked out.

Oh, and for whatever reason, I normally talk very softly, but I could barely anunciate anything this whole time. I was like a whispering whisp, and I'm sure Dave was completly annoyed. He seemed to understand my whispers though.

At 8 centimeters, the doctors said there was lots of meconium in the amniotic fluid. They requested I do an Epidural, so they could control when the baby took his first breath. I said, of course!

We had called Dave's parents right at 10 when we were admitted, and this was sometime around 3:45 pm. They were still on the road! I was on the phone with my mom as often as I could be given my loopy status mentally--just giving her the play-by-play.

At 9 and a half centimeters, I started pushing, and minutes later, Isaac was here!
I said "is he out yet?" because I didn't really feel any pain! Short and Sweet! Dave's parents arrived minutes later--despite really wanting to be a part of the day.
None of us expected things to run so smoothly. Especially me, because I was convince I would be pregnant forever.

OK--but, before you HATE me---listen up! I had emesis of about 4 gallons (don't ask what emesis is) around 4:30 pm. And, by 8:00 pm, I was hemorraging with many ladies arms up my who-ha with no pain medication. No fun. Pushing here, pressing there, trying to get out all the clots and stop the blood. Then again, around 11 pm or so, same fun times. This time they said I had a hematoma (blood blister) under my uterus on my left side. Ouchie!

Recovering has been lots of crying jags from pain, and lots of comments like "I broke my geneckteckessoink (pronounced ga-ZING-ga-de-DOINK)"--as in..."That conundrum invokes shpilkes in my geneckteckessoink"...exactly. My back is so weird, I can't sit down like a normal person. My ankles are still like trunks, and I lounge like Jabba the Hut. Depressing when you have actual responsibility.

OH--AND--not to mention, I'm the only woman who at 7 days past--has NO MILK supply. I have perfectly formed, fem-bot--style idyllic nipple delivery mechanisms, and I've been Pumping-in-Style religiously with my Medela equipment every 3 hours. And--yes, a quarter of an ounce TOTAL each time. Breast surgery to remove cysts and possibly "Hypo-plastic Breast Syndrome" (not enough milk ducting by nature) gives me a 50% chance of normal production AFTER 6 weeks of religious pumping.

Dave's mom was a lifesaver last week. And my mom is helping with tons of holding, burping, feeding and comforting. I could not have asked for better help or a nicer baby. Isaac slept for 5 hours last night. He just eats, sleeps, burps and ya know. If he cries, it's for like a minute. I know. You hate me. Just remember, it's "the HONEYMOON period." OK?

We miss you. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

announcing...

Isaac Nathaniel Schleifer
born
August 10, 2008 at 4:10 pm
8 pounds, 2 ounces,
21 inches tall
sweeter than sugar!



Groggy Mommy :(











Sleepy Daddy :(








4:15 pm Sunday, August 10


A day in the life of Isaac...









Wake up, it's time to eat!


I am the luckiest girl in the world--as I have said before. So far, this is my experience of motherhood--tranquil, calm, tender, and sweet. I know, this is the HONEYMOON PERIOD. Things change. But this rocks!

still not time :(

And, I'm bigger and bigger every day. All we have is 2 cms and NO OTHER SIGNALS.

Many of you have come forward to share your stories and empathize with the Heffalump-ness I'm feeling. I am extremely grateful to you for reaching out and comforting me with your stories. I guess everything that's going on is NORMAL and most of you have shared the experience. THANK YOU!

So--OK already. LET'S GET THIS #$%^&* SHOW ON THE ROAD. Is is possible to compel your offspring, as their parent, to make the move? I wish. All I know is I've been having some seriously persuasive conversations with Isaac Nathaniel.

My dear and wonderfully supportive MiL, Carolyn, said today that babies that are past due (technically we're not until Sunday) look more like BABIES and are generally pudgier and therefore cuter than babies born earlier. So--that's a benefit.

I have my good days and bad days. Today is a good day. There is an end in sight. I think if things don't move on their own, we will have serious chats with the doctor about an induction sometime next weekend--Friday, Saturday or Sunday. He said he'd want that anyway. Dave starts school on Monday! And my dear uncle Adam is also travelling on business that week too. So--we've got to get things MOVING!

One tremendously wonderful thing is that Dave said we should just have TAKE OUT from now on (Thank you God). One sad thing is that our doggie care standards have virtually gone out the window. Though, God makes things like TREADMILLS. Which, are wonderful for large doggies living in 1000 sq. ft. apartments.

One not-so-much thing is that THERE IS SO MUCH STILL TO DO to set up things for our house closing, and getting us settled in to the area. One would think I'd have it all wrapped up at this point. No.

Boring, I know. I'm bored. B*O*R*E*D. My big activities are laying on the couch with my feet elevated to avoid deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Oh, and groaning.

We miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

motherlode of photos--no--it's not time

Hi!
OK--finally! I have pictures! Dave's parents gave him a video camera for his birthday--so soon we will have videos of the baby and the dogs (on the treadmill!). More on that all soon.

So--the photos! Dave looks so handsome and professional on a regular workday.


Me as a HUGE HEFFALUMP. No words about my ankles, sciatica, or the pulling sensations of my large lump. These are not Fergie's lady lumps.





Our front facade...






Interior Pictures...we're almost done!