I started this blog in March 2017, my birth month and also the month I found out I was expecting. So much has changed since then both in our lives as a whole and in my blogging experience. I’ve had blogs for longer in duration, yet this is the most consistent blog I’ve had, and even though the other were related to the part-time wedding business I then owned, most likely has many more photos.
Matt and I have officially been parents for three months as of tomorrow. A lot of ideas we’ve had, things that have worked for the most part or perhaps almost worked, come from a sense of trying to use whatever tools we have at hand even if we have to use extra imagination to make them work. I think of this as MacGuyvering Parenthood as we try out these ideas. We definitely had to think on our feet when we brought William to his very first Pleasanton Holiday Parade. We had a stuffed diaper bag, we had a stroller, we had everything but a changing table, ooops. Luckily, we did have his blanket for a soft surface, so we were able to do a quick and painless diaper check and change for him.
Originally, Matt and I had planned for me to potentially take all of the Paid Family Leave (PFL) that California allowed for bonding which would allow me to return to work on January 29th. To do this, I’d started interviewing for several positions to find the right one for when I was ready to return. This included interviewing at a company I’d worked at several years ago for over three years (leaving when the company I had been contracting through had lost their contract), and an innovative start up. All my interviews went well, and after considering all offers, I chose the one at the start up. This meant I had to return to work earlier than anticipated, on January 2nd.
For many years Matt has been passionate about cooking. He’s a great cook and has made dishes for friends and family from the cookbooks of those chefs including Thomas Keller. Years ago I’d tried to get reservations to Keller’s most famous and upscale restaurant, The French Laundry, for our anniversary, but it proved impossible. I promised him that someday we would go.
Continue reading “Matt’s 40th Birthday Dinner at The French Laundry “
Since Matt hit the milestone birthday of 40 this year, he was given two special celebrations. The first was yesterday, his actual birthday, which was spent with some friends and family members at the restaurant Nola, where we had spent Steve’s 40th birthday weeks before.
Matt’s workplace had a potluck yesterday to which employees could invite members of their immediate family. William and I were instructed to dress festive, so I was delighted that William still fit in his newborn Santa outfit. He unfortunately has outgrown his matching Santa hat.
I’ve been working with some of my best recruiters to help find a job for when William is a few months old. While I’d originally been told that one particular job would be doing an initial phone screen or screen via WebEx, I received a call on Monday that they wanted to see me for a first round interview on Tuesday. So, for the first time in many months, I was scheduled to wear interview clothes. This was also the first time in months that I’d be wearing a non teething necklace as William tends to pull necklaces especially when I’m nursing him.
My father was the first big sports fan in my life. He loved all sports especially hockey as he lived one town over from the home of the Hartford Whalers. The team was not a good one, I remember them losing home more games we attended than they won and they never won the Stanley Cup, yet he was a loyal fan. His devotion sparked an annual tradition for Matt and I of seeing the San Jose Sharks play the team the Whalers became, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Back when I was pregnant I participated in the first part of a Stanford study of stress hormone, cortisol, and baby development. Tonight William was brought in for the second part which involved me answering questions about the remainder of pregnancy and William’s childhood so far. For this phase he was also to undergo an MRI.
In addition to the Thanksgiving meal, Candy and William enjoyed lots of bonding moments during his visit. Candy has always been a huge fan of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year we did not watch it on the day, instead watching a prerecorded version on the next day. Candy made sure to go right up to the screen with William to show him Santa Claus.
Over 40 First Time Mom 