No, No, Don’t Take It Away!

This is one of my all-time favorite lines from The Office. We quote it a lot. Pam jokingly says it to Michael, who is awkwardly shaking his rump and leaving the room. I think this is also the episode where he wears women’s dress pants, which seem to accentuate his behind.

The title of this post also reflects how I feel about the culmination of 9 seasons of The Office. Please don’t go. It’s been the only TV show that I’ve watched in total, and almost entirely season by season, instead of binge-watching on Netflix. Jim and Pam’s romance seemed to coincide with my own marriage in some ways. (Pretty sure I cried when they got hitched in Niagara and had baby CeCe.) I laughed at the ridiculousness of Dwight and the practical jokes between him and Jim. I felt tortured by Andy and his growing pains. And I often wanted to shake Michael for being so obnoxious and selfish.

I feel like I grew up, from a college girl to an adult, alongside Angela, Oscar, and Kevin. And I struggle with change. So, even though the last season has had its ups and downs, I’m sad to say goodbye.

Without spoiling anything, I think the last episode ended well–it made me feel good about where I am leaving the characters. As I am writing, there are many moments that are coming to mind as my favorites over the years. Like when Michael follows the faulty GPS and drives his car into the lake–just to prove that technology stinks. Or when Pam accidentally nurses the wrong baby in the hospital. And when Darryl teaches Michael fake gangster communication–Fluffy Fingers and tickling. Or when Michael hits Meredith with his car. And when Jim dresses up like Dwight in all brown and acts like they switched bodies. Ahh, I could go on.

It’s the end of an era. What will you miss about The Office?

Image via showbiz411.com

Campbell Turns One

Campbell turns one today, May 15! I’m tempted to say that her birth feels like yesterday because the memories of that day are so vivid. I remember my water breaking at 2 a.m. The hubs packing, checking, and re-packing the hospital bag. Snuggling with Finn while I finished up last-minute work emails from bed. The drive to the hospital and ride up in the elevator. The pain…and then the relief of the epidural. Hanging with our sweet family members who arrived throughout the day. Pushing–then having to stop–then pushing again. And then the silent (and scary) emergence of our sweet baby. Her screams after a minute. Our family rushing in to hold her. And then, after they left, the question of “what next?” I’ve maintained that that  first night was more traumatic than the birth– the hubs understandably had drifted off, and I was alone, exhausted, and overwhelmed by this new life. I was so afraid I’d drop her, but she wouldn’t settle in the bassinet. But morning came, and slowly we were able to relax as we learned-by-doing to be parents, and it got better.

While I’d love to write that this year has been the happiest (and quickest) year of my life, in reality, it’s been a long year full of change and challenges. The adjustment to motherhood has involved a steeper learning curve than I expected. Some days were marked by snuggles and fun, while I felt inexplicably disconnected and sad at many points. And, contrary to what I perceived as others’ experiences, my life and calling were not magically fulfilled by being a mama. And yet. And yet, Campbell is the most profound gift I’ve ever received. She has opened my heart to more joy than I thought was possible. And, I believe, caring for her will always be my life’s most important and meaningful work.

I can’t believe we are on the brink of toddlerhood. Now that Campbell is walking, she seems more like a little girl than a baby. And I guess she is. Thanks for letting me share some reflections in this space. If you’re interested, here are some pictures from her birth, newborn days, and, most recently, her birthday party.

\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico City

Last weekend, Paul and I took a quick jaunt down to Mexico City.  Just a quick flight from Houston, the D.F. is a gritty, sprawling metropolis with pockets of leafy neighborhood goodness, soaring historic monuments and countless galleries and museums celebrating contemporary and not-so-contemporary art. I’ve shared some photos below. Have any of you ever been to Mexico City? I would recommend it for an off-the-beaten-path weekend away!

Coming in October….

Baby Seifert!

We are so excited. I’ve been scrutinizing the ultrasound to guess the gender–I’m dying to know so I can start spoiling him/her and telling Campbell about her cousin-to-be….

PS– My post about being pregnant.

Rachel Held Evans

We don’t write much about faith on Idaclare–I think because SB and I tend to be more private about such a personal aspect of life. But, recently I’ve been taken with author Rachel Held Evans and her books The Year of Biblical Womanhood and Evolving in Monkeytown. I can identify with aspects of her faith journey and how she has allowed herself and her faith to change and grow over time. Plus–she’s hilarious.

Whatever your faith background, I think you might find her books and blog thought-provoking. Here’s a snippet from Evolving in Monkeytown…

“I used to think that the measure of true faith is certainty. Doubt, ambiguity, nuance, uncertainty–these represented a lack of conviction, a dangerous weakness in the armor of the Christian soldier who should ‘always be ready with an answer.’ ….If I’ve learned anything over the past five years, it’s that doubt is the mechanism by which faith evolves. It helps us cast off false fundamentals so that we can recover what has been lost or embrace what is new. It is a refining fire, a hot flame that keeps our faith alive and moving and bubbling about, where certainty would only freeze it on the spot.”

Happy Friday, folks.

Book Report: The Year of Magical Thinking

Author: Joan Didion

How I Came to Pick Up this Book: I’ve wanted to pick it up every since my dad recommended it a few years back when I was looking to read a memoir.

Basic Scenario: Didion recounts her process through grief during the year that follows her husband’s unexpected death by heart attack.

First Sentences:

“Life changes fast.

Life changes in the instant

You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.

The question of self-pity.

Those were the first words I wrote after it happened.”

Strengths: I was drawn in and fascinated by being privy to Didion’s thoughts and emotions. I found myself identifying with her feelings, even though I have never experienced this kind of loss.

Weaknesses: The style is stream-of-consciousness, which can get laborious at times. It’s not a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. But I found it peaceful and interesting in its own right.

Image via npr.org

Breathe

What a week it’s been. Our hearts go out to Boston residents and families affected by the tragedies at the marathon and in Texas. And, also, to those who are sick, weary, grieving, or alone. Let’s take a deep breath…

We have had Grandnanny (the inspiration for Idaclare) in our midst this week–Campbell and I have been so happy to see her each day. Wishing you a peaceful weekend….

Book Report: Gone Girl

I finished this book about a month ago and almost forgot to write about it because it read so quickly! The story lures you in and makes it so difficult to put down. Have you read it? What did you think?

Author: Gillian Flynn

How I Came to Pick Up This Book: It was at the top of a lot of bestseller lists, including my favorite–NPR. I avoided reading it for some time because I was worried it would scare me if I read it at night (embarrassing, I know). Luckily, that was not the case at all.

Basic Scenario: A young woman goes missing and her husband wades into the process of trying to find her. What’s particularly intriguing is the style of narration–the story alternates between narrators, and it is unclear who is a reliable storyteller and who is not.

First sentences:

“When I think of my wife, I always think of her head. The shape of it, to begin with. The very first time I saw her, it was the back of the head I saw, and there was something lovely about it, the angles of it. Like a shiny, hard corn kernel or a riverbed fossil. She had what the Victorians would call a finely shaped head.You could imagine the skull quite easily.

I’d know her head anywhere.”

Strengths: Mainly, the suspense. Flynn kept me wondering what would happen next and surprised me with several plot twists. Also, the the narrators’ voices are incredibly authentic. Finally, the author manages to engage the reader in a semi-constant analysis of the main characters’ marriage.

Weaknesses: For the most part, I found the characters un-relatable. Also, I had very mixed feelings about the ending.

Image via goodreads.com.

Essentials for Baby

When it came to registering for baby Campbell last spring, I relied heavily on recommendations from friends and bloggers. I tried desperately to keep it simple. I obsessed over getting the my wish list just right–not too much stuff to crowd us (packing a new baby, two adults, and a needy dog into a small one-bedroom apartment will do that to a girl), but enough to be perfectly prepared. Those efforts were, of course, in vain (perfection? really?) and partially bi-products of my crazy emotions in mid-late pregnancy. But I did get some things right. Since other posts were helpful for me, I thought I’d post my thoughts on this topic as well.

Jenny Lind crib. Simple, functional, and very reasonably priced, this crib has exceeded my expectations. I just love it.

Moses basket. We used ours in lieu of a bassinet for the first two months. I really liked being able to tote baby C around in it when she was tiny. It now serves as cute storage for her stuffed animals and toys.

Halo sleepsack. This was a lifesaver for those early months (and very late nights/early mornings) when swaddling and re-swaddling is a way of life. Velcro feels like a miracle at 3 a.m.

Moby wrap. I knew I wanted this in slate, and I loved it for the first few months. I’ve grown out of it by this point, but some moms have succeeded in making it work through the first year.

“>

Ergo carrier. We started with the Baby Bjorn (which the hubs still swears by), but it very quickly started to hurt my back as the baby gained weight. The Ergo shifts a lot of weight from the back to the hips. Baby faces in, which I prefer. And it doubles as a backpack, which is great for hiking.

“>

baby swing. Borrow this if you can, but this gadget was so essential for us. When Campbell was young and wanted to be held or be in constant motion, the swing enabled me to eat breakfast, clean a little, and have generally maintain some sanity.

“>

the Bob SE stroller . This was a purchase for the sake of my mental and physical health. i knew I wanted to be able to keep up my running with a baby, and the Bob enabled me to do that. I am so happy that we splurged on this.

UppaBaby umbrella stroller. When Campbell turned 10 months last month, we were doing lots of traveling via plane. This umbrella stroller has been a lifesaver in the airport. Though I used the carrier in the airport when she was smaller, I knew she’d be happier for longer periods in a stroller, sitting on her own. I did lots of research before buying, and I’m so happy we went with this one. It’s lightweight, sturdy, and folds very easily.

“>

newborn white onesies. I did not realize that some babies wear newborn clothing (as opposed to 0-3 month clothing) for a few weeks to a month! Campbell was born weighing seven pounds, and she wore plain white onesies for at least the first month of her life. They were adorable and simple.

“>

Oxyclean spray. A natural segue from the previous item. Newborn poo-poo (as we call it) is rampant and stains. Oxyclean (I’m sure it has crazy chemicals) has saved this baby’s clothes many-a-time.

baby gowns from Gap. These are cute and easy to put on and take off. They last for a while (Campbell is still in her 3-6 month sized gowns). Also, 3 a.m. diaper changes.

Medela Pump-In-Style breast pump. I tried to save some money and buy another brand, and that just didn’t work out. This pump has truly enabled me to breastfeed long past I ever thought I’d be able to.

Lean In: Have you read it?

Sheryl Sandberg and her new book Lean In have sparked quite the conversation! Just google the book title and you’ll come up with all sorts of negative criticism as well as positive reviews. Have you read it? What are your thoughts? My initial response based on some press reactions was negative–seemed like she might be putting even more pressure on women to be everything to everyone. BUT–  then I listened to Diane Rehm’s excellent interview with her while I was running yesterday. It was inspiring and made me want to read the book.

PS: A review of a book on a similar topic from last year!

Image via npr.org