People who don't Facebook blog

Ok, so I blog. I still hate Facebook. If you want to talk to me, call me. If you want me to see pics, email them to me. I write my blog to get my own thoughts out. Even after looking at fake boobs and crazy guy on Facebook doesn't make me want to go to Facebook.

The Mays are here; The Mays are here; The Mays are here!

Falcone Manor can only take visitors with the last name May, so make your reservations now. First Steve and now David and Claire. Dinner at Bish tonight....yummy. We'll see if the fake hair made the trip.

Last summer night

Tonight is the last summer night. Tomorrow will start fall, and while I actually love the fall, I know Old Man Winter is peering out from behind his curtains waiting to yell at some kids in the street. We've had a truly incredible summer. Portage in the Sportage was a once in a lifetime journey that carried us around Canada and the US to see our family and friends. We'll never forget this summer, and even though Navarre won't remember her first full summer and all of the cool places she went, we'll remind every chance we get. And then she'll be all, "Would you two quacks shut it. I get it, and why didn't you spell my name with an a?"

Although the summer is almost at an end, I've got a lot to look forward to. Steve's been here for a while with G, his trusty sidekick, and we even let both in the house:) It's been fun having him around; we miss him, and it's almost like he lives here again. Fingers crossed it will stay that way. I always think it's funny to see how our friends who don't have children interact with the baby, and I have to say that Steve's a natural. She loves him and greets him with open arms at the top of the stairs now.

The Atlantic Film Festival is really what brought Steve back for the extended visit, and it's been a great festival. I scored tickets to the premier of Growing Op with Rosanna Arquette and some TV people (CSI, 7th Heaven...) and the after party. And hold onto your hats...Jamie and Steve and I actually closed The Shoe Shop. This may be a regular occurrence for some, however, with a 13 month old it doesn't happen often for us. I had such a good time that I didn't care how tired I was at 6 am the next morning.

Adamm's film, That's My Time, premiered Wednesday to a sold out crowd. Another quality doc from Adamm that won Best Canadian Documentary at the Festival. It's awesome to know someone who is doing so well with something he actually loves. For the Canadian readers, the doc will air on CTV on Saturday, the 27th at 7 (7 in each time zone...not 7 EST).

Pic courtesy of SJM's blog.

It's Z in an endless alphabet loop

Insulin shots in G's belly, close calls with Navarre on the stairs, Feist sing-a-longs for the baby, freshly mowed grass, Salon des Refuses Atlantique, picking up poop and drinking beer.  I love when Uncle Steve visits.

The new normal

I've started back to work. I know...I also thought this day would never come. But, here it is. I really can't describe what I'm feeling about going back. Overwhelming I can't imagine how women leave their baby at 12 and sometimes 8 weeks old in the US to go back to work. I think of the stress that would have put on me and our family, and I just can't believe it. I now know the meaning of "you do what you have to do", and I know these women make it work. At 12 weeks I was suffering from sleep deprivation, a cranky/fussy baby, and hormonal swings that would scare everyone. I don't know how I would have gone back to work then.

Luckily, I didn't have to. I'm here in Canada, and I have fully enjoyed my 13 months off. I do enjoy some aspects of my job. I enjoy when I am challenged and faced with solving a client's problem when a new and creative solution is needed that the benefits and pension carriers think can't be done simply because it hasn't been done before. However, the analyst in me does a cost/benefit analysis (Shelly - quit laughing right now) and says, "is it worth not spending this time with my daughter?" Sometimes the answer is and will be yes and other times it will be no. I need to accept that.

On a positive, Navarre is so social and easy going right now that there was absolutely no problem with her going to the sitter's house. She even said we were lucky and she would take 20 babies like Navarre. I have to think that is partly due to luck and that Jamie and I have done a few things right in the short 22 months she's been breathing both in- and outside of me. So, props to us.

We're trying to get used to this new normal for our family. Up at 6 every morning; both of us trying to get ready for the day and getting her ready. Me dropping her off in the morning and Jamie picking her up. It's occurred to me that I have a tkd class tomorrow night at 6 and will not be home in between work and class. So, she will be asleep and I will not see her after about 8:30 tomorrow morning. I think I need my class for my own sanity though. Momma needs to practice her Jumping Reverse Spin Back Kick.

Unfortunately, the new normal in Baton Rouge has been hot, damaged, leaking houses and no gasoline to buy in the city, no place to go after 8 pm and no football on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. It's funny to think an image of a football stadium can bring about so much emotion, but this picture does it for me. I mean how can a place where there is NEVER chance of rain suffer from a hurricane? I don't know.