You are my I Love You!

We received this book at my baby shower and I still can't read it without crying but, it is a beautiful poem. I thought I would share since our baby boy will be FIVE MONTHS OLD on Monday!

You are my I love you 

by Maryann K Cusimano 

I am your parent, you are my child

I am your quiet place, you are my wild

I am your calm face, you are my giggle

I am your wait, you are my wiggle

I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake

I am your favorite book, you are my new lines

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine

I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo

I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you

Mr. Bobbily Head

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Mr. Bobbily Head 

I love you 

how could any

baby be so good

and so alert

and so sensitive

and so beautiful

Mr. Bobbily Head 

Thank you so much 

for being born 

~Susan Polis Schutz

July 4, 1975 

We took our little one to a local park yesterday.   It was a lot of fun.   As you can see, we took lots of pictures.   The hubby found the above poem in a book called "Someone Else to Love."   It reminds us so much of our little guy, especially when he tries so hard to hold his head up on his own.   He enjoys his trips outdoors.   Hopefully the weather holds up and we can get in a few more adventures before summer's end.     

7 Quick Takes

-1-

Well, our little man is such a happy camper. He is thrilled with his house guest. He gets up every morning nice and early to get some play time in before Charlie's morning nap. I am amazed at how much Charlie seems to interact and play with his special guest.

-2-

Yesterday, the little guy and I went to Mommy & Me Yoga at one of the local libraries. (Yay for free activities!) The other mommies and I had a great time. Charlie enjoyed watching the other babies and even laughed a few times during the activities. It was nice to be out of the house for awhile. Two other moms invited us to join them for a music class on Monday so, we'll be heading back to the library again next week. It is nice to have some interaction with other parents.

-3-

Blogging has been put on the back burner this week since we have a house guest. I feel like it is more important to spend time with family. 

-4-

I miss blogging when I can't get to it each day. 

-5- 

Charlie has made himself a little schedule. (Clearly, he is my son.) Due to the festivities over the weekend, he got all messed up with his naps and such. At least he seems to be back in the swing of things now...a week later. 

-6-

I applied for a part time job this week shelving books at a local library. I haven't decided whether I hope I get it or not but, it would be good to have a little more income so things aren't so strapped. 

-7-

This week I am reading: 

How Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: And Other Adventures in Parenting (from Argentina to Tanzania and everywhere in between)

So far I'm about halfway through, I am finding it refreshing because I am someone who feels pressured to do "everything right", especially when it comes to Charlie. However, what I am quickly realizing is that, what is right when it comes to Charlie is what makes him happy and healthy. So what if he won't nap in a crib/pac n play/bassinet? If he naps on the couch/my bed/ in the Moby/ in my arms/ in the car/ in the stroller and he is happy, then I am doing a good job. 

Love one another

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

John 13:34

We are waiting for the arrival of Hurricane Irene. I believe we are as prepared as we can be. I only wish our landlady would take in all of her stuff that is on the outside of our property because I do not want it flying into our giant picture window. In the event that it does, we have moved most of our belongings away from the window and will continue to move things away as the day goes on. It looks like by the time Hurricane Irene gets here it will be a category 1 hurricane. The biggest issue is that they are unsure as to whether the center of the hurricane will be super close to us bringing high winds. So, we are here and we are hanging in there. 

NYC keeps saying to open your home to those that are evacuated from their home so that the shelters don't get overcrowded. We have posted on Facebook that we are not in an evacuation area so, family and friends on Long Island and Staten Island can come to stay with us. We have plenty of resources so, my hope is those relatives of mine that are "staying with their homes" would be willing to come here. At some point your life is more important than your property. 

The Nassau County Supervisor is calling for "Common sense from the Nassau County residents." Please leave when they tell you to. Gov. Christie told the NJ shore residents to "Get the h-e-double hockey sticks off the beach." Mayor Bloomberg has said, "If you don't evacuate you may die." Clearly the government employees are tense about what is happening. I would think that you should heed their warnings and do what you need to to comply with their directions. 

We are expecting the storm tonight between midnight and noon tomorrow. We are expecting flooding and high winds. Guess we won't be sleeping much tonight. 

Sun after Rain

On Sunday, we usually have dinner with my family on the island. The past few Sundays have been rainy, humid, and generally gross. Needless to say, yesterday, I was out in the garden picking a few more tomatoes and the new white cucumbers that are growing. We had planned on planting some beets and (something else I can't remember) but, I didn't think it would be a good idea with the crazy wind and thunder.

Rain is one of those things that we need. Puddles are fun to play in but, not to drive through. The birds enjoy swimming in them. Eventually puddles turn into flooding which causes damage to property. I cannot believe that rain washing away the dirt from beneath the enormous tree outside our apartment knocked the whole thing down.

During the fleeting moments of sunshine over the weekend, families riding bikes and taking walks were trying to find ways to circumvent the enormous tree that fell. Unfortunately, the tree is closing off our pass through to the lake. I'm sure at some point in the near future the quiet will disappear because the city will come to cut up the tree. But, I'm in no rush. I think it's neat to look at the huge roots . Perhaps, if they leave it there long enough it will start to grow again?

This morning after the hubby left for work. I went to our front picture window, opened the blinds, and then threw opened the windows. My breath was literally taken away by the cool breeze coming through the windows. Usually I open the windows, try forget about the head as I sip my first cup of coffee. My sole purpose is to think about what I can do to escape the heat. I'm am not sure what I am going to do today to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Today, the sky is perfectly blue. The wind chimes are singing. The breeze is blowing. It is a beautiful day!

Summer Vacation: Coffee, The Help, Moonlight

Summer vacation has been filled with traveling, family time, and work in preparation for next school year. One of the things that I enjoy most is my time in the morning to kickback and enjoy a cup of coffee in my blue chair looking out the window. I am fortunate to be able to stay home in the summers.

Yesterday, my mom and I went to see The Help. We both read the book. I happened to have a gift card so we were able to get the tickets for free (ish!). The movie was great. I found that I missed the detail that was in the book. Granted the book was almost four hundred pages and the movie was a few hours long. I felt that they neglected some of the more "difficult" scenes in the movie to make it more friendly to the masses that would be coming to see it. Definitely a movie worth seeing but, don't expect it do the story as much justice as the book.

Last night just before bed we could see a bright light shining through our wooden blinds. Now, since we live in NYC, we figured it was a street lamp or someone's flood light in their yard. Shockingly, it was neither or those. It was the Moon! We were so bold as to open the blinds for a while to enjoy the moonlight.  (I say bold because normally in NYC you keep your blinds closed at night for fear that someone will be looking in your window.) We all live so close together in our neighborhood!

Feeling safe

Feeling safe is a luxury that I have grown accustomed to. I can probably count on one hand the amount of times that I have felt unsafe in my home or at work. I have been very lucky to feel secure without much intervention besides locking the door/windows.

Our neighbors have gone away on an extended vacation. They left their son home but, apparently they felt the need to leave a mannequin in the window. This helps them feel safe. Personally, as long as things are locked (windows and doors) at night, I feel safe. Others buy security doors, security alarms, and keep things by the door to make them feel safe.

Another one of our neighbors has a yellow lab, that obviously helps them feel safe because the dog barks when the mail arrives (every morning, same mailman) and when random people walk by. Interestingly from the time we moved in the dog never barked at us. In fact, he greets me when I return home from work with a wagging tail asking to be played with.  As I type this, the mail has arrived. 


I often wonder how my students can function everyday because many of them live in areas where they say they feel unsafe. However, at this point in their lives, they have little control over their situations. The ir safety issues come from outside their homes. Gangs, street violence, robbery, extreme poverty. Obviously when they come to school and they enter a Christian environment where they feel safe and loved they experience a sense of freedom. (This often explains their childish behavior because they don't have to be afraid all of the time in school.)

Wouldn't it be nice if we all lived in a place where we could feel safe all of time?

Proverbs 23-27

With all vigilance guard your heart,

for in it are the sources of life.

^* Dishonest mouth put away from you, 

deceitful lips put far from you.

Let your eyes look straight ahead

and your gaze be focused forward.

Survey the path for your feet,

and all your ways will be sure.

Turn neither to right nor to left,

keep your foot far from evil.