Twenty Weeks In

Some days, it's all just a bit too much:

my nerve endings, a bit too raw and the

future, a bit too bleak. Luckily, it's 

just some days but honestly, why can't 

everyday bring porridge that is just about right?

Girls Day In

Little Eliza Skye has been keeping me company

today while I try to get this house back in order;

it's covered in dust from the front stoop and stairs

demolition/reconstruction, plus the laundry was 

piled up so high that Angelica Pinkerton got lost 

in it for a few hours.  So instead of joining my 

lunch group for the $10 salad and gourmet pizza

special at Bin 14, I chose to enjoy the world from

within and slung open the rear screen door to let 

the cool breeze blow while I make an attempt at

domesticity.  So far, so good - the bed's been

stripped and washed and re-made, which is a 

Herculean task in and of itself.  

While I cleaned, Eliza chilled in her Mamaroo

 and played with her Taggie ball.  Content, we both 

went about our business until I heard the bells of her 

ball signify its fall to the floor and lo and behold,

she was fast asleep and has been for the past two hours.

Naps are a rare thing for Miss E these days

but I don't ever complain since she sleeps

13 hour nights away in the fashion of her father.

Also, I usually have her on the go during the day,

lunching with the girls, picnicking by the pier,

and even listening to violin strings, as she did

yesterday at the 5th Street Philharmonic concert

hosted by our amazing friend Valerie, whose

own momma was the one delighting the wee

babes during her all request concert.

Some days, however, I feel it's best for E

spend the day at home, the place she knows 

best and where she feels most safe and secure.

I admit that now and again, a tinge of guilt

flares from making her adjust to my lifestyle

instead of me adjusting to hers so when it does,

we spend our version of a girls day out, in.

Before I go stuff pillows into cases, I want to 

share a few things with you that are on my 

mind today and I think I'll do it in list form:

A random email from my best bloggy friend 

in Alaska that put a huge smile on my face.

Kristin Hannah's latest, Night Road, that

I've been listening to while strolling with E.

An accepted offer on my house in PA that is so

 far below what I paid for it over a decade ago

that it pains me almost to the point of tears.

A second offer from the buyer who first insulted 

Matty and me (by offering $100,000 less than

what we paid and $69,000 below asking) 

that we have countered with a final offer -

take it, or leave it because we don't need to move.

An additional six months of maternity leave

that my husband has so graciously afforded me

because he can't imagine leaving E with anyone else.

Sunshine.  Glorious sunshine.

Mother's Day

Eliza Skye and her momma,
Mother's Day 2011


Mother's Day is a very strange holiday.

 No matter how hard everyone tries to make

the day all about you, the reality is this: your 

job as a mom does not allow for any breaks.

Not a second passes that the mind is not spinning

with thoughts of bottles (or breasts), bowel movements,

burps, drooly McDrools, or the three dividing

times of your baby's day: play, nap, and bed.

Matty was particularly generous for my first

Mother's Day; so much so that as he handed 

me the gift, he turned to Eliza and said, "Get 

ready for your mom to yell at us, Eliza", 

which I did but only briefly because although 

I don't believe in extravagance while

I'm not working, I do truly believe that I was 

not meant to be part of the working class and

will therefore enjoy the gift as though I am not.

I believe Father's Day may be my holiday 

of choice.  It is not in my nature to sit back

 and allow others to do for me; on Father's 

Day, I can embrace my Type A personality 

and relish in my comfort zone (i.e. I'll treat my 

husband like a king by doing everything myself 

 while claiming that I'm doing so because it's

 Father's Day and not because I'm a total 

control freak which, admittedly, I am).

Happy Mother's Day to all. 

A special shout out to my new friends 

and their baby boys and girls; I love ya.

To those of you with more than one child or a 

child and a dog, I salute you.  For those of you with 

multiple children AND a dog, I bow to you. For those 

of you who have a child or a dog or children and a dog AND

work too, well, I can't even begin to express how in awe of

you I am because let's face it: with one child and a cat, it's a full day.

Once I go back to work... well, let's hope there's Wi-Fi in the asylum. 

What's Up?

It's been an interesting few weeks,

that's for sure. My daughter stayed out 

past curfew at an Irish pub and I extended 

my maternity leave until February 2012,

survived a solo journey home to help 

out around the house while my mom

recovered from surgery resulting from 

Diverticulitis, had a bunch of girls and babies

over for a Royal Wedding Re-cap brunch,

drafted a floor plan that would turn a corner

of our living room into a proper nursery for

Eliza (one with heavily insulated walls

and a door!), and read a few books in between.

Oh, and my baby girl is now sleeping in the

crib unswaddled, like a big girl, and to reward

me for her hands free nights' sleep, she rolled

over today from back to tummy and then

straight up into Cobra position.

Atta girl, Cheeks!

Also, congratulations to my darling friend 

Abbie and her husband Jamie on the birth

of unnamed Baby Girl Holyer! I'm so 

excited that Abs and I both have little 

bambinas and that Lindsay's little one

 will make it three baby girls in August!

What else will summer have to offer?

You Can Do This

Knowing that your best friend -

the one you met when the two of

you were the age that her daughter is now -

has made it through not one, not two,

but three infancies alive (and now has three

happy, healthy, loving school age

children and an intact marriage, sense

of humor, and good hair to boot)

makes the prognosis of getting

through one (and possibly still having

some skin left on your fingers)

a heck of a lot more optimistic.

The Wall

China and Berlin did it.

And so did Mexico City, 

Quebec, and Bruges.

Perhaps it's time 

that the LaPointe's

build a wall, too.

I'm getting

tired of life with

baby in a 1 bedroom,

so perhaps we'll 

turn it into two.

Or, someone could just buy this place:

79monroestreet.blogspot.com

How does your garden grow?

After spending last summer working on an organic farm in Nova Scotia, one of my former students is now helping families live more sustainable lifestyles here in New Jersey by acquainting them with organic backyard farming/gardening.

Gabby specializes in introducing families to simple practices that can produce life changing results.  She and her team of like minded helpers will come to your home and completely transform your space into an organic garden that suits your needs, one that will afford you and your family fresh vegetables this summer and a healthy lifestyle moving forward.

Do you have a private backyard or shared common space?  Lack a yard but have a balcony?  Have no true outdoor space except a tiny spot that doubles as a fire escape?  Live in a 5th floor walk up with literally no outdoor space but have a sunny spot by a window? Have no space at all, but your neighbor does and might be willing to share?  

No worries- Gabby is experienced on all accounts and will build raised beds to your specifications, fill your window boxes with kitchen herb gardens, organize a container garden for those who lack soil, or help you bring the outdoors indoors if necessary!
After a free phone or email consultation, she and her team will arrive at your door with all tools, supplies and seedlings needed to transform your space.  

I've taught literally thousands of students and Gabby is, by far, the most passionate, dedicated and authentic girl I know.  She is so devoted to helping make the world a better place, one garden at a time, that she has deferred her acceptance to a prestigious college in order to follow her dream of making a modest living by helping others live sustainable lives.  

She is a very honest girl who is not out to get rich but who does need to make money since she is no longer supported by her parents.  In addition to a minimal delivery fee to cover gas and tolls and an agreed upon installation fee, you'll receive a bill itemizing the cost of materials and plantings.

If interested, you can contact me, Ali, at ali.k.lapointe@gmail.com for her contact information - call me old fashioned, but as her former teacher (who has her best interest in mind), I'm not comfortable posting her contact information in a public forum.