Snuggle

This was the advice I received from a good friend who recently went back to work after maternity leave, "Snuggle."

I am taking that advice to heart:

This is my last week of maternity leave. I find it ironic that my return to work coincides with Paul Tudor Jones' recent comments about mothers in the work place. 

Note: Jones later back pedaled and said he was referring to macro traders, not all mothers in general. This guy just doesn't get it.

Since this is my blog, consider that I am already on my soap box, hence, I found Jones' remarks incredibly offensive for many reasons:

1. The assumption that mothers are the only ones who care about their children. All the fathers I know care just as much about their children as mothers.

2. Jones' ignorance toward breast feeding. In his statements, Jones says it is the "most beautiful experience," and alludes to this connection as the very reason that mothers return to work in a state of ineptitude. Paul, I have news for you-breast feeding is a lot of work, strange and slightly uncomfortable. Candidly, by the 2nd week I found it a bit boring, and started checking and responding to work emails (no offense, Mackenzie).

3. The assumption that work life and home life cannot coexist. There is no way to leave your home life at home, and your work life at work. And that is not a bad thing. My family is everything to me, and makes up who I am. My work means an awfully lot to me, and makes up who I am. I am passionate about both. I cannot and will not turn off those aspects of myself. What I will strive to do is be PRESENT for both my family and my work-mentally, physically and emotionally. I accept that no perfect balance exists, and all that I can do is give my best effort. 

Take that, Paul Tudor Jones. Yes...I know he will never read this, but I feel better!

Emily Day (as told by Mackenzie)

Did you know that my Mom has an entire day to celebrate her birth? And did you know it's called Emily Day? If you didn't know that....well, I'm surprised that she has yet to bring it to your attention.

This year for Emily Day, we celebrated by taking my first trip! I went on a plane and met my GG and Papa, and Lala and Baba in Myrtle Beach. Here are some highlights:

Me planning how I am going to ring in Emily Day until 4 am...hey, she said that she likes to enjoy it alllll day:

Getting weighed at baggage check (don't worry...Mom and Dad let me sit in their laps on the plane):

Chilling in the cabana (did I mention this family really knows how to celebrate?):

Taking my seat at the family dinner: 

Getting into the tropical spirit:

Discovering that, although GG is cool, not all Moms still make milk:

And my favorite--3 generations of fantastic Cozart/Shute women:

Driving Miss Mackenzie

It's hard being this cool.

Sunday Funday

Thanks to Josh, I had a wonderful 1st Mother's Day. We went to breakfast, went for a walk, and took it easy all day. Mackenzie did her part by napping long enough for Josh and me to watch a movie. I am proud to be her Mother!

Sunday was also Mackenzie's 2 Month Birthday. She is smiling more (you still have to work for it), grasping colorful objects, obsessed with taking in her surroundings and full of chatter. She and I have wonderful discussions during the day--mainly about what's going on in the news....with a sprinkling of celebrity gossip.

(Thank you Josh for the fall over action sequence photos. Thank you Animal for cushioning Mackenzie's fall)

Baby Big Pants

If you follow Josh on Facebook, you may have noticed that he refers to Mackenzie as "Big Pants." This is meant both figuratively and literally. Figuratively because-for the time being-Mackenzie wears the pants in our family. Literally because were using cloth diapers, which, due to their bulk and diaper cover, made Mackenzie's lower half look....well...Big.

Notice that I said we 'were' using cloth diapers. Sadly, today I officially gave up my effort to reduce Mackenzie's carbon footprint (I actually wanted to cancel two weeks ago, but couldn't bring myself to do it during Earth Week). In theory, cloth diapers seemed so smart, easy and cute (I really got into those diaper covers). Plus, my mom used them with me, and I turned out pretty good. Oh, I should totally point out that we used a cloth diaper service...IE, a wonderful company picked up our dirty diapers and provided us with clean ones. No way in hell I'd clean our own.

Everyone was on board with this plan....except for Mackenzie. We really should've asked her first. The wonderful thing about Mackenzie is that she is tuned into everything. Sounds, smells, sights and other sensations. The not so wonderful thing about Mackenzie is that she is tuned into everything. So, when she had a wet cloth diaper she made sure to let you know. After weeks of changing up to 20 diapers a day, I gave into a few things:

1. Mackenzie will leave a carbon footprint. Hopefully it's not as big as the generation's before hers.
2. I will gladly pay more money for disposable diapers and whatever it is that wicks away moisture.
3. I need to keep some things simple when it comes to parenting. Really? 20 diapers a day?
4. We still recycle, use 'free' dishwashing soap and carpool to work. You're welcome, Earth.

Good Food, Good Drinks, Good Baby

It's taken me a while to write this because I seriously had a hard time picking out photos.....

Ben and Lizzie came to visit us a couple of weeks ago (that's Lala and Baba to Mackenzie), and we had a wonderful time eating, drinking fancy drinks and lounging with Mackenzie. Major credit to Ben and Lizzie for "going with the flow," as life with a newborn can be unpredictable.

Some highlights of their visit:

Fantastic food: Cuban, Argentinian and Americana Soul Food. Mackenzie's restaurant manners are getting a jump start!

Lizzie and Ben's 1st Blowout: This happened while we were eating out (thankfully it was close to our home and we could make a quick exit). Blowouts are always a mixture of horror and humor. Horror as to what can come out of something so small, and humor because Mackenzie still looks adorable regardless. When we got home Ben and Lizzie asked,"OK, how do we do this." Gotta love 'em for using the pronoun 'we.'

Baby Talk: I heard my brother used the term "fartsky wartsky" when he was playing with Mackenzie. I've never heard him add '-sky' onto any word. Being an uncle will do that to you.

(Bottom photos taken by Lizzie)

Anniversary Love

Love this man!