wanna know what’s stressful?  writing down everything you do with your kiddo and for your kiddo for a 5 day period of time.

obviously it’s worth it – ABN and i are headed on a little vacay later this week and my parents are coming to town to take care of THE BUG.  this all came to be one late night in the middle of my weaning breakdown.  while EBN was sleeping peacefully after downing a full bottle of cow’s milk, i was weeping in a corner, pulling out my hair feeling like a sad sack – with deflated breasts.  i couldn’t imagine that i would ever feel whole again – unless, perhaps, i had a few days away.  so before the sun rose we booked a quick trip and i sent my parents an email letting them know they were on duty.

don’t get me wrong – i’m super excited.  i plan to sleep and drink and sleep and drink some more (and i’m also REALLY looking forward to going for a run…WTF, who am i?).  but, there is a LOT of planning that has gone into this trip.  my parents are the most competent grandparents i can imagine – they change diapers, they soothe, they get up early – my dad is promising to cook EBN homemade mac and cheese and steak…she’s going to have the time of her, very brief, life (although, now they do have to contend with the balloon).  but there are still a lot of details to share – where to find extra diapers, how to put these super complex bottles together, directions to swim class…you get the idea.

not only am i leaving the babe behind (oh god) but i’m also taking the time off work.  let me be clear – i’m leaving my work phone at home.  this is huge.  i know i don’t talk about my job on here often and i should because it’s fascinating but the long and the short of it is – i’m always on call.  and most of the time it’s fine.  but you know what’s going to be really nice?  not being on call

so for the next 48 hours my life is about lists – lists for my parents.  lists for my coworkers.  i am so thankful to these people for stepping in to let a red head breathe.  i am one lucky lady.

oh shit, i just remembered i have to leave instructions for how to use the new coffee maker…back to work!

the REAL NANI and i would often go to neimans for lunch, after getting blowouts from martin on friday afternoons.  nani would order the finger sandwich sampler and i would request a large bowl of the appetizer soup broth and extra cheese sticks please.

it seemed appropriate that EBN and i would go this past friday – the palo alto dining experience wasn’t quite up to beverly hills standards (nani never waited for a table) and while the popover was a hit the balloon was basically the best thing that has ever happened to THE BUG – and that is how memories are made

i think we’re going to make a mother-daughter neimans lunch an annual experience – seems like the perfect way to remember MY NANI.  in a few years maybe we’ll even get blowouts.  how young is too young?

MY NANI would be completely in love with EBN…i just know it.

today is my nani’s yartzeit.  she passed away, one year ago today, after a trip to san francisco to be part of EBN’s baby naming.  my feelings are still completely raw and utterly unresolved.  i miss her almost every moment of almost every day and i find myself constantly reaching for my phone – i want to update her about every little thing that EBN is up to and i want to hear her soft, slightly twangy voice so very badly.

instead of pointing to the latest people, places and things that i’m digging and dreaming of – i thought i’d share a few of THE REAL NANI’s favorites – these are truly drool worthy:

lipstick from NEIMANS – get to know the girls at the counter

satin pillow cases and silky pillows from LINENS ET AL – legend has it that some random (mythical?) cousin carried only her silky pillow when she came through ellis island – plus, they limit wrinkles

weekly hair appointments with MARTIN - what i wouldn’t give for just a little bang trim!

raspberries and celebrity sightings at  VICENTE FOODS – always support small business

GRAETERS ICE CREAM shipped directly to your door – the more chocolate chunks the better

CHOCOLATE COVERED CARAMEL LOLLIPOPS – ordered from a catalogue and stored in your nylons drawer

CHOPPED SALAD – best enjoyed in bed

shirts and sweaters from FACONNABLE

and with that, EBN and i are off to celebrate the REAL NANI – we’re going to neimans for a lunch of popovers and mini-soups with cheese sticks on the side.  i’ll be sure to park on the street – nani never liked parking structures.  and i might even buy a lipstick…in coral.

you guys – i think i might be a runner.  i know, i’m as shocked as anyone.  but i’ve been doing this whole couch to 5k for 7 weeks now and i’m starting to get into it.  this morning i even set my alarm (which except for the rare occasion when i have to catch an early morning flight – i haven’t done since before EBN was born) just to be sure i’d have time before our music class.  i got up at ten of 6, which sounds so much better than 5:50.  i had set my coffee to brew the night before so by the time i had my running clothes on, the coffee was ready and i sat and did an hour of work before the baby woke up (crazy).  it was sorta great.  EBN slept til almost 7 and by the time i was done giving her a bottle, ABN was up to take over and i was off.

most of my runs take place on the path along the beach, just a mile down the road from our house.  views like this make running a little more bearable:

for the first few weeks, this program had me alternating between running and walking – run for 3 minutes, walk for a minute and a half, run for 5 minutes, walk for 3 minutes – you get the idea.  when i was alternating (and able to catch my breath every few minutes), i would start at one end of the beach and head north towards the large hill.  because i was alternating, i never had to worry about if i would be able to run the entire hill because i knew that i would eventually be able to walk.  then the runs started getting longer.   for the last 2 weeks i reasoned that if the plan was dropping walking, i was dropping hills (it’s about give and take) and so instead i would run back and forth on the flat part of the path.  i felt pathetic but rationalized that i was still running and so it was all okay.  today i decided i was ready.  i started as far south as possible and ran for 25 minutes – up and over the hill:

and when i hit my half way mark, i had to turn around and run up and over again!  (just so you know – there’s a paved path that snakes the hill – i don’t run vertical…but it’s still a really big deal – seriously)

my alarm is already set for tomorrow (and my coffee is good to go too).  it seems like i should probably register for that 5k – and that seems like a great excuse to visit LULUMELON - mama’s gotta look good!