Mini Weekend Recap: Post-Wine Style

OK, so I'm going to be honest that I'm writing this at 10:51 pm on a Monday night after having split a bottle of wine with my bad influence Sherry. Who I invited over on a whim at about 2 pm this afternoon. I like to plan head apparently

So, lets be honest I'm definition tipsy and this should be a good post and if nothing else very stream of consciousness.

1) Mary Margaret is like, THHHHHIS close to crawling. She can get places, but has really no idea what her knees do. She grips with her finger tips and her sweet little toe-tips but if you put her on her knees she's useless.

2) MM has become a great substitute for a Swiffer. She wallows on her belly for at least an hour and can pick up massive amounts of dog hair when I get lazy and dont can't sweep in time.

3) She got her first taste of ocean water at the beach this weekend. I sat her down in front of me and let the tide come in and get her. She only cried the first three times. She also ate sand by the handful.

4) I actually got to take a nap when MM was awake this weekend. I was asleep for a whole 10 minutes before I heard the sweet jingles of her gentle rattle slamming on the hardwoods downstairs in the beach house. I have two sets of grandparents to thank for this brief nap, and subsequent run, and further margarita s) that followed it.

5) I will admit that today at work I had three cups of coffee, and a diet mountain dew. That's it. No Water. The entire time I was justifying it with this article and the fact that I didn't drink much caffeine over the weekend.

6) I made it through the weekend with a slight burn on my chest from a forgotten-about v-neck I was wearing during the coffee cruise compliments of my father-in-law's boat.

Ok. Now it's 11:09 PM and I'm getting up at 5:15 6:00 AM to make the 45 minute commute to Durham again tomorrow.  Wish me luck.

Running behind again

People, I'm trying here is the first part

Here is the second chapter in my road back to exercise.
Check it out HERE!

Fit for Expecting, Chapter 1

The first of my four part experience with returning to exercise, mothering a young child, working full-time, commuting, and the like is posted (well it was on Monday and I'm just lazy getting it on here).

Enjoy and look for part 2 (like, next Monday maybe)

This is the Link Right Here!!

6 Quick Takes Sunday, I'll never get this right....

I am alive, for the most part.

It has been a crazy couple of weeks here around the McCants house.

I can't really remember where I left off last (I know I could go back and read my last post, but I really don't like to re-read things I write... especially essays... hence the many grammatical and spelling errors)

So... let me see....

1) Charlie had a graduation shindig that I didn't get any pictures at ... Mary Margaret was her typical amazing self and I nursed her to sleep in the middle of the party, and she slept in my ARMS for close to 30 minutes. Can we say heaven? I never get that anymore.

2) Charlie started working on a new project called The Wayfaring with a new and quickly-becoming-close-friend Win Bassett. I'll let you check it out as to get a feel about the content. With confidence I can say they are doing good work and getting some due cred for it.

3) I've started working out again...Booo... YAY.... I can't decide really.

I have been working with Jenn over at Fit for Expecting
*read: this is not one of those "announcements" of any kind. She does post-partem fitness too*

She has been giving me workouts, tips and check-ins in exchange for me writing a few little ditties about my experience and how freaking hard it is to get a workout in while commuting, working full time, nursing, being a kick ass mom, etc.

The first one should be coming out sometime this week or so, keep an eye out and I'll post the link if you care so much as to read it.

4) On a similar and equally as sweaty note, I did my first walk/run jaunt with both children (skin and fur) on Saturday morn. I had done 2 days of 10 minute elliptical workouts this past week, so I was obviously prepared for running long distances with two non-speaking creatures. We did all live and there was only one instance of a leash getting caught on a wheel.

Always the lady with the crossed ankles

5) I successfully made these amazing scones for the second time (first time was Mother's Day and it was a failure) with the love and support of my dear friend Meredith. It was my biggest accomplishment of the week.

6) Charlie had originally told me I was getting tickets to The National for Mother's Day. But after a heart to heart (really?) we decided it was best to go see The Black Keys instead. I'm pumped although the location could be improved, it will still be a good summer concert, I'm sure of it.

7) Mary Margaret's favorite 3 and 4 year old adopted sisters have moved to South Bend for their dad to go to the majestic Notre Dame for his PhD. We had our last day with them two weeks ago and I think MM's expression says it all.

there were a few others were the little one on the left was lovingly choking MM. Good Times

Ok... That was a nice little run down.

Ohh, on a not-even-as-relevant note, our cable is done. We have been "borrowing" it through our internet connection, but I believe they have uncovered our game and we now can only watch the following:

- the WB
- Telemundo
- Scrambled Bravo (which I'm not above struggling through)
- Some non-CMT country music station



It should be understood you'll be seeing more of me around these parts.

In case you needed a play-by-play

It happened people. Some big thangs happened this past weekend.

Charlie made some big moves finally graduating from Duke Divinity (thank goodness),

first in line outta there

and it was Mother's Day, my first... but we'll say second because she was still in my tummy for the first one.

The events of this weekend took A. Lot. Out of me. I by lunch time on Sunday I was pooped and ready for a serious nap.

Saturday morning during first nap (we're down to 2 now, so the preciousness of these is SOOOO much more obvious) I went for my monthly re-attempt at being a runner again. Conclusion was that I am just as slug/ogre like as last month. How did I run like 8 miles a day when I was younger??

Then my parents came into town for some old fashioned canoodle with the gradbaby time. That did give me time to pretend I was going to paint my toenails when in reality I just took a nap. Then things really kicked into second gear when our baby-on-the-way friends Tanner and Hannah came over for baby wrangling practice while Charlie did a little thing called GRADUATE FROM DUKE.

We fought the rain and wind over to Durham (that was my 6th trip there this week, save me) a hour before the Baccalaureate to find that there were less that zero seats still available in the whole of Duke Chapel.

at least the heads in front of me where nice. The room was blah

By some twist of fate there were two seats and a chair that some fool had left so we gobbled them up real quick-like. We happened to have more than 3 people in our party, and half of them watched in the airy and comfortable television room where there was a great view and you could talk as loud as you wanted.

After the scholar was done with his scholarly things and hand shakings we rush rush rushed back to the homestead to relieve the saints that watched Mary Margaret and demand they stay for snacks and booze.

Then we all went to bed (Gran and I got to do some mommy-daughter snuggling because Grandpa George forgot the blow up mattress and got the twin bed, which means the scholar got the couch with a large side of Beast Dog) only to have MM wake up ohhhhhhhh 6 times between 4 am and 7 am, for which I then fed her and brought her down to the well slept Scholar who took her to get vitals for the breakfast dish I demanded.

Ohh we got new floors too

Ohh it doesn't end there.

We had Mother's Day brunch at my house too, which meant I made these scones that did NOT look anything remotely like scones (imagine once was warm raspberry dough squares). Gran and Charlie jumped into action an made a quiche and cut some fruit up as I was powering down as hostess with the leastess.

Once MM was down for an amazingly long second nap Charlie and I took naps, to which I never slept.

But, after all that mess and rush and fuss. MM and I played in bed, did some retail therapy, and then came home to take fun pictures such as those below.

Happy Mother's Day all

Oh, I do have a blog. Right

Whoa, I am alive.

It's been way way too long, I get it people. Life has been beyond crazy and also, I was really lazy about blogging. It happens.

 This is a hat for a toddler, always thinking ahead mom

Here is a little run-down of what's been going on

* Mary Margaret turned 6 months old and coincidentally is in the process of sprouting two choppers on the bottom.

* Charlie finished Duke Divinity school and (as of yesterday) made straight A's... Show off

* We have been behaving like we don't have a kid. I went out innocently enough with a girlfriend which we then discarded our plans and then ended up acting like a college kid again (read: was over served at a few establishments). Paid quite dearly for it the entire next day.

* The next weekend we attended a raging good wedding with large amounts of open bar-ness. I then proceeded to float through Mass with a squirmy babe and was reminded why I never drink like that anymore. Also, Thanks David and Kimberlie it was awesome!

* MM has not learned how to crawl yet, thank The Lord. Nor can she rollover completely (she can only get back to front) but she can go in very fast circles which has me worried about the future speed she's going to clip when she gets firmly on all fours.

Wook, I can shop

The real message of this post is not intended to brag, although I am really freaking proud of myself. But more for information because I didn't know it was an option.

I am the proud donator of breast milk. I have been working hard to get a solid "stash" up in the rare case anything happens to my abundance. But then we ran into the little freezer we have being so full we couldn't get groceries into it. I knew I didn't want to give it to a formal milk blank because they make mothers spend obscene amounts for the pasteurization and other testing on the milk. I knew I had a good healthy supply (I didn't give anything to anyone from my debaucherus night fore mentioned) and that if I could share and people would take my milk on the trust that I take care if myself then they are more than welcome to it.

I found a Facebook group called "Human milk 4 Human babies NC" and another mom from a doula friend I knew. One was an adopted family that needed a little more to feed their 10 month old adopted son. The other is a woman (who also is a doula) needed it for her 6 week old daughter. I was able to give 80 ounces to the first and 120-ish to the second. I've checked in with the second and her little girl loves the milk and her stomach is reacting well to it.

I have a journal that I write to MM in periodically and I told her about it today. I hope when she reads it she will have her heart warmed by our efforts as much as I am knowing I can help other little babies get the goodness of breast milk.

And the hippiness continues!!!

This is MM's Great Grandfather CB's first time holding her!!

Outdoor Giggles and Poppin' tags

This work week consisted of crazy weather, loads of stand still traffic, and a lack of hearing JT's song Suit and Tie.

It ended with a sweet child o' mine coming to the office, cupcakes and ice cream, and a very very very good friend coming over for grocery shopping, shrimp fajita, the "big tub" of Guac, the "big bottle" of white wine, and Ted Talks.  Ahh life is so good.

Also important to note, Mary Margaret for the last two weekends has slept until 7 am. That is 12 hours, bam. I love her so much.

Saturday morning we went to downtown Raleigh for the ALS walk.

We had great weather and a great time, and can say that we contributed to the largest group of strollers at the walk. We had about 32 adults, 7 "older" kids and 9 babies and has a group raised $8,135 for Sophie's mom who was diagnosed with ALS recently. 

Post walk we wanted to be those "cool downtown parents" who take their kids to bars and drink micro brews beside guys that look like Anthony Bourdain. We then canceled out the coolness by wearing matching t-shirts and tennis shoes.

We love our "taggie" pup

I also nursed Mary Margaret in the middle of the walk, not actually walking, and at the cool downtown bar, on the sidewalk both times without an "utter cover". Charlie was slightly concerned about the second, but then I gave him the stink eye and he got over it.

I should note that I made a serious first-time-mommy-i-don't-know-what-i'm-doing move today. I hadn't gotten our Ivory Princess a hat for this spring, nor did I have the foresight for sunscreen for anyone.  Yes, you guessed it, MM may have her first slight sunburn.

No need to send mommy guilt my way, it was delivered first class this afternoon around 4 PM.

Final note, our AC, as always, is on the fritz and Charlie made the executive decision to open all the windows in the house with the pollen shower that rained down on Raleigh. Hence, it brought out the crazo mommy with large large amounts of cleaning, vacuuming, mopping, wiping, worry, and wine drinking.

Ok, I think that is a fair recount.