truant

I know I'm so behind, I dont even know where to start, but the truth is... I just havent been too motivated to post something new. Mr. F is traveling like crazy for his interviews and we're starting to get a clearer picture of where we might end up for residency, but wont know where officially until Jan. 15. We will be so happy when all of this traveling is over and we can actually spend some time together! For instance, Mr. F is enjoying Miami tonight and is staying pretty close to where we went on our Honeymoon. I wish so hard I could be there with him, we are dying to have a weekend away, just the two of us at a little b&b. Unfortunately, its not in the budget for the next 15 yrs, but at this point, we'd settle for a night on the couch. Hmmmph. Alright, enough bitching... I promise I'll be back with a little more spring in my step.

shameless plug

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This year we headed to Queens NY to visit with Mr. F's extended family (the same ones we saw for Easter back in the spring) and again had all the awesome Egyptian food you can imagine, I didn't even have room for a single piece of turkey! We traveled on Thursday morning and back on Friday afternoon and managed to avoid some of the horrid traffic. However, the best part of the entire weekend was finally getting some down time in our apartment together, alone. We've been traveling and apart for about 2 weeks and are getting ready to be apart for another week starting tomorrow so getting to our place and just relaxing with some hot tea and a movie was far and away the thing I was most thankful for this year.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and all of the leftovers (I cant even tell you how long we ate turducken last year), my friend Anne is starting culinary school in Jan. She's awesome, lots of fun, and in a scholarship competition. Check out her creative way to deal with Thanksgiving leftovers and then rate her video. The winner of the contest gets some scholarship money!

let him eat cake!

The video and pictures pretty much speak for themselves :)

a year ago tonight...

This has been the FASTEST year of my life and yet I can remember almost every little detail of what I was doing right now one year ago... waddling down the street to the hospital to get induced!

It was a pretty great day, I spent it writing a paper while sitting in Anthony's super comfy la-z-y boy chair, laptop propped on my belly and dealing with some mild contractions. Anthony got home from the hospital (from work, not cause he was a patient), he made me a delicious dinner and we grabbed our bags and looked at each other in giddy excitement as we left our apartment knowing the next time we'd be coming home with our beautiful baby.

Can you tell I've been reminiscing? One thing I dont miss?... being the size of a house :) If you're feeling like a stroll through memory lane, click here.

Tomorrow is the Little Man's birthday (and party), so stay tuned for pictures of Aidan covered in chocolate frosting!

An open letter to Miley Cyrus

Dear Miley Cyrus,

I HATE to admit it, but I broke down and bought your song Party in the USA on itunes. I am embarrassed, but its a damn good song to play when I'm the elliptical.

But that's where it ends. You are 16 yrs old and are totally inappropriate. You're "moving your hips like yeah" and you are too young to even be thinking about "yeah." I'm pretty sure Christmas just came early for some pedophiles. UGHHH. Thankfully I am a woman in my mid 20's and am quite confident you cant be a bad influence on me. I have a child. You figure it out. However, I am concerned for your legion of 9-15 yr old fans. If I had a daughter, you can damn well be sure she wouldnt be allowed to listen to your music or watch your videos. You are 16. Act like it.

Additionally, you "pulled up to the club in a taxi cab" and didnt "get the memo" that everyone there would be wearing stillettos?! Um, last I checked you are 16 and the drinking age is 21. Most clubs are 18 to party, 21 to drink. You fall into neither catagory. What on God's green earth are you doing going to a club?

Finally, I hope your parents find some glimmer of reality and figure out they are robbing you of a wholesome childhood. Girl, you only get those years once and the way you have been objectified leaves me concerned for your self esteem. What happens when you are the ripe old age of 23 and there is some younger tartlett teen star who has more sex appeal, as you are clearly washed up by this point. You know, gravity has a funny way of working too. Your boobs wont be so perky for ever. Just sayin... Your brain and your heart and your spirit are your true worth. Work on them.

So in conclusion, thank you for the annoyingly infectious song that helps me work off those baby pounds, but I wish you'd find whats left of your innocence and childhood and hold on tight. Your parents should be ashamed.

Sincerely,
A concerned mom in Philly.

Houston, we have lift off!

Ok, I've been delinquent and I know it. So to make up for it I've got lots of pictures!!

Two weeks ago our friends got married!! We had an awesome time and Victoria looked so beautiful!!



We also dressed Aidan up for Halloween as Superman. He looked adorable and I was pleased with a $4.99 costume from Ebay.



Yesterday Aidan also took his first steps!! Here is a video from today at the park. How did he learn so quickly?!

We had a great time at the park today:



Annnd, just because I can see the teenager in my 11 mo old:

Mama's Losin' It writers workshop

This week's prompt from Mama Kat seemed to be exactly what I've been thinking about lately: Describe how motherhood has changed you?

Um, first of all, how as motherhood not changed me?

Lets just start at the physical: my body is not the same, never will be again...
- my boobs arent where they use to be
- i have permanent dark circles under my eyes
- my hips are wider and my feet have grown
- i have a whole new definition of what 10 out of 10 pain is (thank you labor!)

Now the mental
- i had no idea how far i could push myself through the tired
- i had no idea how much of a mama tiger i could be to protect my kid
- i've never wanted to make the world a better place more than i do now

and the emotional
- i didnt know it was possible to love another human being so much
- i fall more in love with my husband every day
- i had no idea how draining being a mom is and simultaneously rewarding
- i've become more convinced than ever that i have to adopt, and know i'll
love that child as much as my biological children

and finally, the spiritual
- i've never had a stonger belief in God
- i've never prayed harder or been more thankful

Yep, being a mom has totally changed me, and even on my worst, most tired, two pot of coffee kind of days, I wouldnt want it any other way.