Ok in OK!

So, I haven't mentioned anything here about it, but we just got official word that N. got a job at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa! Oklahoma. We didn't mention this to anyone since we thought his chances of getting the job were nil. He had two interviews last month, but it was still a long shot since we're not Evangelicals...and I'm Jewish. And the baby is Jewish too.

But the powers that be decided it was OK for us to go to OK so okay!

It's really weird. I started this blog almost a year ago because N. got the job in New Hampshire. Now it's going to be about moving to Oklahoma, which is going to be so different than New Hampshire. It's like Brooklyn is to New Hampshire what Mars is to Oklahoma.

As a liberal New York agnostic Jew, I'm nervous about the politic climate and all those bible beaters, but it's a really good opportunity for N. He's going to be the photography department since they don't have one yet. They don't even have a dark room! Unfortunately, he's going to have to take a sizable pay cut, but they're optimistic that it should only be for a few years.

One positive thing about the move is just how interesting this blog is going to get. I know it's been kind of tedious and dull with post after post on winter sucking, the baby not napping, and me not having any friends. Moving to Tulsa is going to be this blog's savior, people. I know it.

N. Wants Y'all To Know

1.) Although this blog might make you think otherwise, he's NOT a sicky in NH
2.) He got up at 6:30 last night and although he did not ingest the pasta with the MEAT sauce, he was able to eat some plain pasta
3.) He really is trying to help the economy with all his big box store buys
4.)His wife is very foxy and she does such a good job cleaning the kitchen that it makes him feel just a little bit bad that he cuts so many corners

Also,
The Bean wants you to know that she HATES cauliflower no matter how many different ways her mama tries to sneak it in her.

Oh No! Not Again....

This was all set to be a different, upbeat post, but N came home with a stomach ache. Again. I don't think I can take it. Is that wrong? Both he and the Bean are in bed right now and it's just 6:00. 6:00 is the Bean's normal bedtime, but she just can't stay up for more than three hours without becoming a total crazy nut. Since her nap ended a little before 2:00, she was a loco by 4:30 and totally bonkers at 5:35 when I plopped her down.

And to think we thought she might make till 7:00 when DLS happened. Ha, ha.

N's normal bedtime is between 9:30-11:00. 6:00 is highly unusual. And we were gonna have spaghetti with MEAT sauce for dinner and then I was going to embarrass myself on the Wii fit, which Nick somehow picked up while shopping for screws and diapers. Hmmmm.... That boy can be dangerous when sent out to the box stores. I guess it's good for the economy, right?

More later?

Ummmm.....

I don't know what to write about here. I'm kind over my funk over being friendless. At least for today I feel like this is just a time in my life; before I know it we'll all be really busy all the time. Plus, when I am busy I also feel bad about sacrificing the bebe's naps. Sooooo.....

I'm also happy because our babysitter came twice this week, which was wonderful. On Monday I went to Borders to work in the Seattle's Best coffee shop there and you know what? I got so much done! Know why?

No wifi.

I mean you can pay $6.00, but I didn't and wow.

Oh, I might be getting a job in the fall. Just teaching one class a week for the Fall semester at N's school. I'm kind of nervous about it because it feels like it's been forever since I taught, but I think it would be good for me to do something other than Bean-Care all day. We're hoping my schedule and N's schedule will work out so that he can be home with her while I work.

So that's something.

The Bean is having some rough days. She's teething and eating up a storm and also in the mommy-stage, which is not fun. She used to be real chill for others, but these days she's an inconsolable wreck. She took a three-hour nap this afternoon and while she was the cheeriest I've seen her in days when she emerged from it, she was yawning an hour later. What is up?

I've been craving a cheeseburger for three days now. N. was nice enough to stop by the grocery and pick up a chicken and 4! sides, but I wish I were eating here for dinner.

Give me some post topics, people. This is sad.

Even In Australia

Did you know that those people up in KV have an awesome collection of children's books. While there last week, I read for maybe the 10,000 time Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. You know it, don't you? It's so good; the sheer frustration Alexander feels along with Ray Cruz's illustrations really captures the essence of a kid's bad day.

Yesterday, I had my very own even in Australia day. It wasn't terrible, horrible, but it just felt like one of those days when I think why do I live in New Hampshire and when is it going to get better?

The Bean was okay--a little fussy and not so nappy, but there have been worse days on that front. The sun actually came out in the afternoon and we ended up taking 2 walks. But I need a friend. I need a friend who's more like me than the people I've met here so far. I need a friend who needs a friend. And who lives close by so I can still get the Bean to have proper naps in her crib. Right next door would be great. Mostly just someone who I can just call up and say, I'm going stir crazy, wanna meet on the green? Or wanna come over for coffee. I do at least one thing with other moms most days during the week, so maybe it's better for both me and The Bean to have some days when nothing happens, but still those are the days I just long to be back in Brooklyn. And I fantasize as I push a crying Bean back home from the green about what I would be doing in Brooklyn now. Maybe I would be walking in Prospect Park with Beth and her newish son The Frog. Maybe I would be at the amazing playground a block away from our old apartment with Melissa who has a 1 year old and lives down the street. Maybe my brother would have brought Cuban sandwiches over for lunch.

But then I stop this fantasy and try to be realistic. Even in Brooklyn, the Bean would still needs naps and her naps and The Frog's naps might not gel some days. And Melissa's kid could be sick. Also: my brother hasn't set foot in Brooklyn since '99.

I remind myself to be grateful that N. has a job. That we're not in Texas. That I have met some people who I do like and that we've only been here about seven months. Don't they say it takes a year? But man the long days can be so long. And lonely.

The Next Time You Decide To Have Fish For Dinner You Should Probably Have A Plan

N. and I are sitting here waiting for our dinner (cod fillets) to bake even though normally at 7:30, we've already scarfed our meals and are moving on to bourbon and the goodness of syndication that is "227" and "The Golden Girls." It's my fault that we won't be eating till 8:00 although I would like it to be known that I take 98.9% responsibility for feeding our family o' three these days. N. was supposed to be responsible for Wednesday dinners, but that went the way of him cleaning the bathroom on Saturdays. Without being reminded.

Oops. This hunger is making me bitchy. To counter those mean, hungry thoughts here are two nice things about N:
1. He's really good at putting together The Bean's Bum Genius diapers (without being reminded!) and
2. He's being really forgiving about the fact that I bought fish for dinner, left it in the fridge, went to the gym, and came back expecting somehow dinner would be served.

Okay, we had the dinner. And N. informed me that it was cooked just fine, but he just doesn't like cod.

I told him that his comment was so getting blogged and he requested that I also mention that he really enjoyed the lentil chili I made yesterday and he doesn't even like lentils.

Hmpf.

And Then You Realize That You're One of Those People Who Never Updates Their Blog Any More

But we've been away, kiddies. Got a touch of the cabin fever so The Bean and I spontaneously headed down to NYC for a few days. We got to swing in baby swings for the first time in Central Park no less and momma got to go shopping and out to dinner, practice yoga, see a movie and take long walks and all kinds of fabo things. Most importantly there was a lot of chillaxing with the grandrents and Unkie who even changed a diaper! It was nice to get out NH and see black people in addition to all our Upper West Side activities. N met us there on the weekend and then we came up to the country to the in-laws where we are now. So yes, this is a lame post, but at least I'm posting unlike some people.

This week (and next and next) we're attempting to sleep train The Bean. She's 7 months and eating three meals a day and while they may not be square (orange color food only!) she's getting enough in the belly to sleep through the night. At least we think so. For the last two nights when she wakes up at 2, N goes in and comforts her and gives her water in the hopes that she'll go back to sleep till 6 AM...6:30...7!!. For the past two nights I've nursed her at 2:30 and 3:30, but doesn't everything take time?

This week I realized with the help of my styling brother and mama that I've been dressing like a pregnant pilgrim for the last year and half. When Ms. Bean was in utero it was more forgivable, but no longer. Good by nursing bras! Hello my old friend under wire! Good by ill fitting pants and loose top! I can't tell you how happy I am to be packing up all my old clothes and either donating them to the local second hand store or putting them up in our storage space otherwise known as the death trap that is our attic. While N and I will be psyched to give the Bean a sibling to boss around in the future, I don't know what scares me more: the thought of going through labor again or having to wear awful clothing for another year +. Maybe the latter, since as far as I know, there's no epidural for depressing, pilgrim inspired, post-pregnancy New-England winter fashion.

213.057949 DAYS and Counting!

Dear Bean,
Whooo hooooo! Today you are 7 months old! You're SITTING like a pro right now on your play gym, sucking and screaming at your little blue monkey. Being ever so talented you're able to hold the monkey in your mouth hands-free. You're CRAWLING TOO and EATING two meals a day although most of the time it seems to end up all of you, your highchair, and bib. For your 7-month dinner you had mixed veggies, sweet potatoes, avocado, and apple sauce for desert. You love apple sauce but maybe not as much as you love pear sauce and peaches.

7-month olds do not get shots, so no grape Tylenol this week. You will have to get the other half of the flu shot, but that's not for 2 weeks.

It's amazing to me how much of a person you're becoming each day. I feel lucky that I get to witness this journey with you. Even if you did poop all over me in the middle of a diaper change at 3:00 AM the other night:)

Go, Bean, go! You rock on with your awesome, growing self.

Love,
Your Brooklyn Mama

Notes on Yoga

Today I realized that I've been doing yoga pretty regularly for ten years. You'd think that I'd be pretty decent at it, right? I should clarify and say that I realized that it's been a decade of Down Dogs in the GERIATRIC yoga class I went to at the gym this morning. I know I can go for the hyperbole here, but I'm really not kidding about this. And even though I did not have to do the seated positions in a chair or check my oxygen tank at the door, I wasn't even the best person in the class. You'd think being forty to fifty years younger than the other yogis might have give me an advantage but again you'd be wrong.

It's all about flexibility, which I just don't have. I'm the least flexible person I know although my PARENTS might be close in the running, which might explain things.

I know everyone says that they're not flexible, but I once had a yoga instructor ask me if there was a STEEL ROD in my spine. I bet no one has asked you if there's a piece of steel where your spine should be.

My favorite yoga teacher used to say I had PHENOMENALLY tight hamstrings. The way she said it, I actually felt proud unlike the steel rod comment, which made me depressed for weeks. The only positive thing about that comment is that I've been able to describe just how inflexible I am.

What's weird is that if I did anything else (at least once a week) for ten years, I'd probably be much better at it today than I was in 1999. Tennis, baking bread, chopping word, salsa dancing...really is there anything other than yoga that I would just be at a complete PLATEAU for a decade?

On a positive note I really like yoga even though I'm so sucky at it so I guess I'll be in it for another ten years. The Bean must have her daddy's genes because she has a kickass Down Dog and she can put both feet in her mouth at the same time. Then again, her dad is so flexible he makes GUMBY look stiff.

Namaste, y'all , namaste!

You Have To Be Kidding....

So if I said I was going to have a little me time for the first time in oh, I don't know, like two weeks, and about ten minutes before I left the house, N's back went out, you so wouldn't believe me, right? Cuz N's back doesn't go out. It's my back that goes out, but apparently The Gods wanted to give N. a sample of bad backiness. Thanks.

And uh, we're gonna get a foot of snow tonight.

More positively, The Bean went swimming for the first time today. She rocked the pool. And she rocked the house cuz she's CRAWLING.

Help!!!!!!