The Written Word

Ever since Bobby was just a few weeks old, we've joked that he loves the "written word". He always seemed fascinated by print on shirts, or on pictures on the wall. He's also been very attentive and interested in reading books. We've joked that he's probably already reading, but since he can't talk yet, we just can't confirm it! HaHa.

There are a few books he enjoys in particular, and which we read every night. His favorite is "You are My I Love You". It has pretty illustrations of a baby bear and his parent going through a typical day, and very easy verse. In fact, when he acts up during diaper changes, if I start to recite the words from this book, he usually calms down and just seems so peaceful and serene. It's almost like hitting a "reset" button.

I LOVE to read, and have since I was a child first learning how (although I don't have as much time for it now)...and I hope to instill my love for books to Bobby.

Here is Bobby "reading" Pat the Bunny (see, he can even read upside down!)

However, here it looks more like he's practicing for checking out some future centerfolds:

Tubby Time!

Whether he needs it or not, Bobby has a bath every night. It's part of our nightly ritual, which includes a massage and some books... I'm afraid to deviate too much from this routine because he's been following this regime over a year now, and he's been sleeping through the night since he was 6 weeks old! If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

As soon as I say "It's Tubby Time!" he takes off for the bathroom and proceeds to yell "Duh, Duh, Duh" over the noise of the running water--and throws in all his rubber duckies. I'm glad i'm not the only one in the family that believes in the restorative nature of a warm bath...

Apples and Roses?

Today Rob and I are celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary. I have, for the past 3 years, tried to be creative in the gift-giving and follow the "traditional gift list". The first anniversary is paper, the second is cotton and the third is leather. Not too bad. I could work with these. However, the fourth is...ready for it? Fruit or flowers. What the hell?!? Rob doesn't eat any fruit--the closest he comes to ingesting fruit is drinking Sprite. We're also not into gardening or landscaping. In fact, if I let him, he'd completely eradicate all trees, shrubs, and other foliage from our yard. So, where does that leave me? Maybe I should just get him some vodka to go along with his Sprite...

Say I Do

My friend, Shannon, got engaged this past weekend. Although marriage had been discussed and she knew the ring was coming-someday-she was still caught off guard. Her fiance didn't plan an elaborate date or event in order to pop the question. He just picked up the ring, came home from work and asked her.

This made me think of my own engagement. Rob also didn't plan anything extravagant. That is not our style. He got the ring and a few hours later, it was on my finger like some sort of warped game of Hot Potato where Rob couldn't hold onto it any longer. Right there on the couch in my living room, he asked me to marry him to which I quickly and emphatically replied, "Are you kidding?"--not quite the response I think he was looking for, but I was caught off guard...and quickly added my enthusiastic, "Yes".

I think most people try for the uber-romantic sunset proposals on the beach--or some other equally sentimental and heartfelt approach to create a lasting memory. This just didn't suit me or Rob. I'm not a roses and poetry romantic type. If it's any indication of "our style", on our first date, Rob and I went to see the cinematic masterpiece, "Jackass".

That being said, although I'm not your typical romantic, weepy, girly type, surprisingly, I've become a collector of Precious Moments figurines. It started when I happened to spot this one in a card store, entitled "Say I Do":


This was made for me and Rob! (Although I didn't get flowers at the time).

Since this first one, I've gotten a "new mom" figurine--It is a mother looking into a bassinet at her new baby. Then for Bobby's baptism, his Godfather gave him one that looked like Bobby in the family christening gown. (I'm keeping it for him in my curio for "safekeeping"--it is more of a memento for me than it is for Bobby!)

The most recent addition to the collection was my first Mother's Day gift from Bobby. It is entitled, "I Love You This Much":

I guess since becoming a mother, I am slowly turning into a sentimental, sappy girly-type. I just like these figurines to commemorate milestones and events in the life I share with Rob and Bobby.

Now, if they only made a figure to remind me of the joy and excitement of picking out our wedding bands--Rob started to feel ill and had to go outside to vomit, leaving me to pay the bill...

The Big Sister...

Anyone who has known me at any point within the last 10 years probably realizes that my first baby was a sweet, loving, red-haired girl named Killarney. Even my parents accepted the fact that the first grandchild I gave them had 4 legs and a tongue that didn't stop licking! Once I became pregnant with Bobby, they dubbed Killarney, "The Big Sister".

I truly believe she could sense that I was "with child." When I walked her when I was pregnant, she seemed to slow down for me and didn't pull as much, and she would often sit next to me and put her head on my lap. She is the best daughter I could have ever asked for.

If you look around my house or my office, there's almost as many pictures of the pooch as there are of Bobby. In fact, I used to take her regularly for professional photos at the Picture People--I guess it was good practice for when I would take Bobby, although Killarney is easier to pose!

It's still hard to believe that she's 10 years old. She's slowing down and has more grey hair but every once in a while she'll spot a squirrel or rabbit on a walk, and that old spark is back in her eyes. She and Bobby are just starting to take notice of each other. There is also a bit of sibling rivalry going on for my attention. Killarney will "woof" at me to take her out, even when she doesn't need to go out. I think she just wants to get me alone with her and to leave the little rugrat behind.

I know she probably won't be around long enough for Bobby to have any real memories of her, but I still want them to be good friends. They've started to bond--Bobby will now walk over to her on his own and gently pet her. And of course, when prompted, he can imitate Killarney's panting or drinking of her water. Killarney, for her part, is as gentle as ever and lets Bobby tug and pull on her. Of course, she is protective of her own toys and doesn't want him playing with her stuff, and I have to keep Freny from her--just like a real brother and sister!

Gotta Support the Team

Bobby was very excited with the Boston Celtics crushing defeat of the L.A. Lakers last night!! He's been supporting his team throughout the playoffs...

My How You've Grown

Exactly one year ago, we took Bobby for his first trip to the beach; we relaxed as much as possible with a 2 week old, as I got the hang of breastfeeding. This is Bobby one year ago:

It is AMAZING how much a human grows in his first year of life! This was Bobby at the beach this week:

Is this even the same child????

On Tour

Rob and I are flying down with Bobby to Surfside Beach, SC today for a long weekend at the Beach. We're considering this the "practice run" for our vacation to the Irish Belle in July.

Someone with 2 small kids once told me that after you have children, there is no such thing as vacation; by the time you pack all the baby/child "essentials" it is just "taking the show on the road"...

Off the Table

As a Sirius subscriber, I love to listen to the Howard Stern show in the morning (of course, not until after I drop Bobby off at the sitter's) and my favorite "bits" are the news with Robin because I love to hear Howard's comments/insights on current events, weird news, politics etc. and I crack up when Howard breaks into a Ted Kennedy impersonation--"Errra..."

However, today Alanis Morrisette was performing and being interviewed. The discussion turned to her love life and the bad relationships she has gone through. I got an interesting bit of marital advice as I listened: (paraphrased as best I can remember)

Robin: Will Smith has said that the secret to a happy and lasting marriage is to "take divorce off the table."

Artie: That scares the sh*t out of me, because if divorce is off the table, then murder is on the table.

I just found this quite amusing--even the 2nd time I heard it on replay. I don't think I'll be listening for any further relationship insight from Howard and the gang...

"I Won't Back Down"

Last night, Rob and I attended the Tom Petty concert at the Post-Gazette Pavilion. It was a great night for an outdoor concert and we were really looking forward to it. One of the other lawyers at the firm, Mike, was also attending the concert although he had seats in a "box" with V.I.P. privileges. Between the opening act and Petty taking the stage, Rob and I wandered up to to say hi.

Mike told us that the box we were sitting in (next to his) only had 2 people in it and he suggested we just "hang out" there until the show started and we could probably get away with a free upgrade...this sounded like a great idea.

The lights dim, we stand to cheer, and the rush of the crowd starts up the aisle. Immediately 2 inebriated twenty-somethings oh so non-chalantly (can you hear the sarcasm) slide into the box area. Within seconds an usher appears and asks to see their wristbands indicating they belong in those seats. The girls slink away, leaving Rob and I there. The jig is up. The usher asks to see our tickets too, and we walk back to our seats.

I can't complain because our seats were pretty good--in the center, only about 15 rows back from the V.I.P. section. However, I'm sure the 5' woman stuck standing behind Rob (6'7"), unable to see any part of the stage or Tom Petty, wishes we would have been allowed to stay in the box.

I want to be like Linus

This is "Freny"- Bobby's lovey/security object, so named, by me, because although you can't see it in this picture, the dog's tongue is sticking out. Bobby has "ankyloglossia" , or tongue-tied. He eats well and will be able to talk fine, but as the doctor says, he may have some "social problems" from not being able to stick his tongue out.

He won't be very good at licking an ice cream cone, and it may interfere with kissing, but generally, it's not a huge problem. Unless of course, he likes ice cream and kissing, and really, who doesn't? In any event, we have consulted with an oral surgeon and somewhere down the road, Bobby will have a "Frenectomy" to correct the problem--hence, the incarnation of "Freny".

But that is not really the point of this post.

This simple blue and white dog has become Bobby's "go-to guy" for comfort. He can very often be seen with the dog hanging out of his mouth. He loves that tail! Thank goodness that this dog can be cleaned in the washing machine-We are now on a 2x per week schedule just trying to keep the thing semi-germ free.

It helps him soothe himself back to sleep, it is a great "wrestling" partner, and when he's tired, teething, or had a long day, it is a good friend to chew on. This makes me wonder: what would the world be like if we, as adults, could carry "loveys" around for comfort? Long day at work trying to meet a deadline? It's ok, i'll finish that brief while I chew on this stuffed animal. Have a disagreement with your boyfriend/husband?? Wrap yourself up in your little blankie.

Maybe Linus was onto something!

Rookie Posting

Welcome to the first posting of my first blog! As a young naieve college student, I thought my love for writing would lead me to write the next great American novel. Fast-forward 12 years, and honestly, who has the time? I work 2 full time jobs--lawyer by day, mother 24/7!

What can you expect from this blog? I guess think of Seinfeld...This is a blog about "nothing". Nothing but my thoughts, expressions and occasional rants/venting about family, friends, child-rearing and all the other day to day occurrences that are "life".

Why did I name my blog "The Snug"? If you read the description, I think it's quite fitting. First, i'm Irish--and proud of it.

Second, I thought back to my days attending Saint Mary's College, (the all-women's college "across the street from Notre Dame"--yes, that is really how we usually described it because it's a small school-- a hidden treasure-- in the shadow of the golden dome), and some of my fondest memories have nothing to do with classes, professors, football games or parties.

The unfaded memories are the times sitting in the dining hall or in a dorm room or out on the lawn "shooting the sh*t" as my roomie/bloodsister/friend Katie liked to say. What did we talk about?? I may not recall the specific conversations but I do remember the feeling of sisterhood and camraderie of discussing the issues that were important in our lives and to our developing female minds. (Thanks, Erin, for leading the way to SMC!!)

Lastly, the thought of a "virtual" drink room appealed to me--doesn't conversation usually flow more freely with a libation?