Too Old for This?

A few weeks ago it was all about celebrating the pre-teen/tween days with our boys from Boston, NKOTB. Lastnight I went back to the era of my late-teens/early 20's to see the Bouncing Souls, a punk rock band from Jersey. Many many memories have been made listening to those guys and going to their shows back in the day. It was time to make some more memories... as old people.

Tony and I and our buddies Nick and Paul headed into town to grab a bite and catch the show for some nostalgic punk rock action. It was a weeknight, so we were livin' it up like the young people do!

When we got to the door of the Middle East and noticed what time the Souls were going on, we shuddered in our cardigans. 10:50? PM?? Oh dear god. That's, like, 3 whole hours after I usually change into my old lady nightgown. Breathe. Everything will be fine. I survived months of newborn wakings, I can get through one early morning after a late night.

We planned to grab a slice and a cheap beer at the Hi-Fi, a hole in the wall pizza place across the street. But as we walked in we were hit with the memory that the Hi-Fi is really only good for apres-show slices. Sober, you kinda have to choke it down. Blech. So we ventured down to the Asgard irish pub for good beer and decent sandwiches. Much better choice, senior citizens.

When we finally headed into the show we found the ultimate Souls fan, Dink.



Can't see the Souls without Dink. We chatted for a while, drinking our tallboy PBRs, and she made the time fly by. Before I knew it, the band was going on. I made it! I can't believe it! And I only yawned a half a dozen times or so!

The Souls were... amazing. I was jumping up and down like a lunatic. They're just fun and chill and not so serious.

Whooa-oh-oh! Great show. Great times.

It was worth it, but I'm feeling it today. It'll be a while before I go out on a weeknight again. Kids don't care if you're out late. I swear, they'll wake you up at 5am just to spite that crap.

For good measure, here's Des 'helping' with the laundry:

He keeps me young.

The Perfect Day

At least it was perfect in my mind. And it was Father's Day. So I hope Tony enjoyed it too.

I let Tony sleep in yesterday, which means he woke up a little past 8am. I was.. ahem... not feeling well, due to a little too much fun at our friend's wedding the night before (Congrats Sarah and Adam! Such a blast). So I threw on Buzz and Woody and let the kid veg in front of the tube as I rested my eyes on the couch. Why yes, I am a fabulous mom, thank you.

It was a beautiful lazy family morning. We spent a few hours recovering, munching on breakfast, and getting ready for the day.

We had lunch at our favorite Mexican place. Des was a funny little angel, a bit of a change from recent antics in restaurants. Mad props to my boy for that.



And I enjoyed a little hair of the dog. It did the trick.



That afternoon we went for a long walk, as the weather was amazing, and we stopped for ice cream. Des enjoyed his first bites of a chocolate cone and kept coming back for more. So okay everybody, he is officially Tony's son now. I know you were all worried.



Later we filled up the kiddie pool and laughed as Des climbed in and out and splashed all around, giddy with excitement. I'd post pics but they're mostly nudes. And that would be creepy. What, the kid enjoys the fresh air on his nethers. Again.. his father's son.

Later after Des went to bed Tony took a bike ride down to the baseball field and caught up with old friends. I enjoyed some alone time with laundry and the Real Housewives.

We both fell asleep early with the windows open and a kitty purring at our feet.

We haven't had a day like that in a while. It was much needed.

Happy Father's Day, my love. You are the most incredible father I could have ever hoped our son would have.

Check out my Father's Day piece on the Patch. It was a fun one to write.

Fingernails

Desmond does not have a lovie. Or a blankie or a binkie or whatever you call it. He has his thumb and... us. He's a snuggler in a major way. Every morning he'll cuddle in our bed with us for a half hour or an hour, as we're all still groggy and hesitant to wake up. During the day he'll often climb up on our laps for a snuggle break. And at night before bed it's snuggle-palooza.

It's not overly frequent or clingy, although he has his days. It's mostly just every once in a while. And when he's done, he's on his way getting into everything and tearing the house apart.

Instead of a blanket or teddy bear, as he snuggles he'll rub our fingernails. His left thumb in his mouth and his right hand stroking the nail bed of one of our fingers. He shares this habit with others, grandparents, aunts, uncles, his day care provider. He's an equal opportunity fingernail-rubber. It sounds weird, I know.

But no. Here's what's weird...

One of my most vivid memories of Desmond's birth was when they put him on my chest right after he came out. (Of course that would be vivid, right?) I looked him all over, beside myself with joy, completely fascinated that I grew this perfect person inside of me and now he was on the outside. But mostly I stared at his fingernails. For some reason I was fixated on them, like tunnel vision amidst all the chaos and excitement. At that moment, his fingernails were the most flawless, sublime thing about him. They meant he was okay, healthy, HERE in the flesh. And I rubbed them. Gently between my thumb and index finger, I squeezed each tiny pink nail one at a time. Unbelievably small, but so so strong.

Every time he climbs up on my lap, every time, I think about those moments right after he was born. Even as he continues to grow at such a feverish pace I feel like I can't keep up, every day he brings me back to that time when he was so tiny I could hold all of him in my arms.



He'll have his thumb in his mouth and if sometimes I'm not fast enough to provide a hand, he'll whine, reaching for it. And when he finally finds my hand, my finger, my nail, he rubs softly. As if reminding me that he's still my baby boy.


Always.

NKOTBSB

I'm not sure whose idea it was so many months ago. But someone in my crazy family decided we should all go see New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys when they come to Fenway Park. It would be a belated 30th birthday celebration for my sister Janet! And baby Guppy would also get to enjoy the sweet sweet sounds of Step By Step.


Oooh baybeh!



We somehow managed to get 12 tickets together, thanks to my savvy husband. The seats were great, the company was ideal, and the show was a blast!







The ages of our group ranged from 11 to 64 and everything in between. We still all had an amazing time. We're good like that.





I thought the New Kids were going to look all old and depressing. But they didn't! They were fit and fresh and on-key. They took off their shirts a lot, so we got a good look.




Nick was Hangin' Tough. The beer helped.


Bill was a trooper too.





And then it started raining. Many buckets. But it couldn't dampen our spirits!





My sister Maureen said that watching me and Janet sing and dance to the New Kids was like a flashback to 20 years ago. There were many flashbacks happening that night.



It was such a fun night, a great way to start the summer.

Many of these pics were stolen from my cousin Breanne, our gracious host for the weekend. Thanks Bre!

The Prodigal Blogger

Obviously I haven't been very inspired to write lately. Blogging is a little like working out. Once you start slacking, it's easy to fall into a rut of excuses.

Have you seen this commercial?

"My mom called."
"Oh, that's a day right there."

Something pretty much exactly like that. Except I like when my mom calls. You get the idea.

But if you get into the habit of doing it a few times a week, it's a rewarding and fulfilling part of life. And then you stand up straighter, you sleep better, you feel a little more confident and assured in yourself.

I haven't been working out lately either. So the blog and my belly are a bit of a flabby, neglected mess.

For what it's worth, many other aspects of life lately are simply splendid. Perhaps I should share them! On this here BLOG, the sole purpose of which is to share the splendid (and sometimes not-so-splendid) aspects of life!

Here are just a couple...

Splendid:
Bra fittings. I got my first one in 5+ years the other day. I spent a pretty penny on 4 new bras in a completely different size than I was wearing (thank you pregnancy and nursing and drastic fluctuations in weight), but it was very well worth it. In the few days after I started wearing the new bras I was told by multiple people that I looked thinner. My sister said it looked like my boobs got smaller. This is a good thing. Smaller = perkier. Ladies, if you haven't had a fitting in a while, go get one. Especially if you've recently had a baby. It will change your life.

Sorry, no pics. Keep dreaming.

Not-so-splendid:
Tony's play-off beard. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the reasons behind it. Truly. But once the 'stache started growing over his top lip I got a little skeeved. And since then every once in a while I'll look at my husband and have to do a double take. Who is this man?


We're getting dangerously close to SF Giant's relief pitcher Brian Wilson territory:

Yeesh. Not much longer. Game 4 of the NHL finals is tonight. And on that note... Off to not work out.

More updates to come on showers, weddings, and the insane way my baby is growing like a weed and walking his way through my heart.

Happy Anniversary (a day late)

Four years of married life. It's strange how something can feel like forever and yet at the same time like it's only been the blink of an eye.



I never thought I'd get married. I knew I'd find The One some day, but I assumed we'd be perfectly fine living Oprah-style, as partners in life without formal vows or the law getting involved. And we did that for a while. 7 years of playing house before we finally gave in to what our guts were telling us all along.

Each year that passes I grow more confident and content in our decision. It's not something that we needed, it's something that we wanted. Our wedding day was a time to show our family and friends that we choose each other. Every day in our marriage that's what we are doing... making the choice of us. As individuals and together, we are better for it.



It's an easy choice to make. Because my husband is the biz-omb. And he'd probably say the same about me. Maybe not that exact word. But something comparable. I strive to be like him and to be the best person for him.

Tony is level-headed, reasonable, take charge, funny, outgoing, kind. I am more the artsy type... impulsive, introverted, easily overwhelmed, nurturing, too smart for my own good. Somehow we level each other out. It just works. We are a match. Also, additionally, and furthermore... that boy still gives me butterflies. :smile:

And now we have this:



Can it get any better? We have a lifetime of adventures to find out.

Happy anniversary, my love.

Wedding photos by Jenny Frazier.