busy, busy!

I can't believe how busy I've been these past two weeks. Every year when school starts it seems to consume every part of my life for the first few weeks. I'm ready to get into a routine with the kids and get settled down. I saw the movie Julie and Julia last night with my mom. Such a good movie!! Just makes me want to whip up something fabulous for dinner. I guess that's all I have time for now. . .the bed is calling my name. . .

Girl Talk

Had the pleasure of spending the weekend in Baltimore at my soon to be sister in law's for her bachelorette party. Her sister threw it for her and hired a personal chef to make dinner for us girls on Jane's roof deck. It was a beautiful night with the Baltimore skyline in the background. We enjoyed good wine, sangria, and a FIVE course dinner! Being the foodie that I am I was so looking forward to it! The first course was heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a vinaigrette. The second course was seared scallops on a beet risotto with some Parmesan-Reggiano cheese on top. Third course was pan seared salmon with a spicy peach salsa and a green salad. Fourth course was a crusty french bread topped with brie and ox tail (which tastes a lot like roast beef) with some gravy drizzled over it all. Finally the fifth course was dessert which was a mini german chocolate cake and vanilla creme brulee. DELICIOUS! It was served at such a relaxed pace, too. We started eating at 6:30 and finished the last course around 9. What a perfect way to spend an evening. The rest of the night was spent enjoying wine and girl talk. It's amazing what time with girlfriends will do for your mood and spirit! I came home today feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated. Good thing since I start work tomorrow!

separation anxiety

I can't believe that a week from today I'm back to work. What has happened to this summer?!? I'm really dreading leaving my baby everyday. It seems like each day there is something new to watch and I feel so sad to miss our days together. I love our leisurely mornings, our grocery shopping trips, cooking dinner, and anticipating daddy coming home from work. I wish I didn't have to return to work but it's that or live off water and sunshine, not to mention I do love my job. To bad you can't be a part time teacher! Tonight when I put her to bed I held her a few extra minutes and just wished she could always be just like this. . .so adorable and smelling of powder and baby shampoo all snuggly in her cute footie pajamas. I know there are so many more fun stages coming. . .don't get me wrong I'm really looking forward to tea parties and mother-daughter pedicures. . .but I love this baby stage. She's really smiling a lot here lately and is fascinated by the mirror on her swing. She'll stare at it for a half hour just making faces at herself (Andy says she's like her mother and easily entertained :-) It seems like it all passes so quickly I wish I could slow things down. I know I'll turn around and she'll be walking and talking and I'll wonder what happened to my baby. So for now I'm determined to soak up every bit of her baby-ness. . .and take lots of pictures!