The Senses

Once in awhile, I will see a person with a cane or a seeing-eye dog and wonder what life would be like if I couldn't see.  I try to imagine not being able to see colors, shapes, my daughters' eyes, my husband's smile, spring, fall... I could go on.

My cousin's daughter was born without the ability to hear.  She now has a cochlear implant and can hear, although it has still brought her challenges.  I wonder what it would be like to not hear my daughters say "mommy, I love you" or to hear my husband say "I love you" or to hear music or rain falling or all the other sounds that we chose to tune out everyday.

My great uncle Denny did not have his sense of smell or taste.  When I was little and spent time with him, I wondered what that would be like. 

Last November, we were flying back from Michigan.  I had a horrible sinus headache.  When we were on the plane, I started snacking on one of the cookie packets that Delta so generously hands out for free.  After a couple of bites, I realized I couldn't taste it.  I took a sip of my diet coke... nope, couldn't taste it.  I was a little concerned but was hopeful it would go away.  Bruno was more worried than me and once we got home had me try all kind of things to see if something would trigger it.  I tried hot sauce (I could taste the heat but not the flavor), gin (again, I could feel the heat but not the flavor), all kinds of strongly flavored foods. I couldn't taste any of it. I called the doctor and he said it was all related to my sinus headache and the pressure from the plane.  He said it should go away in a day or so.  And, gratefully, the next morning I could taste again.

It has happed two more times since November... all when I have had very bad sinus headaches.  It is a very odd sensation to not be able to taste anything. On the positive side, I'm sure it would make dieting much easier.  But every time this happens, I get a little worried thinking, "what if my sense of taste didn't return?"  I love to eat good food.  I love to look at good food.  I love to read about good food.  Bruno is a fantastic chef - I love to try his new creations.

What if I were to permanently lose my sense of taste?  I hope I never find out!

A Washington Evening

Last night was one of those evenings when I was in awe of some of the opportunities we are afforded because of where we live and where we work.  Bruno and I were invited to his boss' 70th birthday party.  I thought it would be a big cocktail party with 50 or 60 people at one of his friend's homes in DC.  Little did I know... As we were walking into the party, Bruno told me that there would likely only be 12-15 people, an intimate gathering. 

The party was hosted by a friend of his boss who lives in an absolutely gorgeous area of Washington, DC.  The street was lined with black sedans adorned with diplomatic license plates.  The houses were stunning, many with high iron gates and cameras.  We saw several flags representing different countries blowing in the wind outside of the ambassadors' homes. The azaleas were in full-bloom, along with the brightly-colored tulips and dainty flowering dogwoods.  You could hear birds gaily singing and chiping.  You certainly didn't feel like you were on a side street just off of Connecticut Avenue, in the heart of a bustling and noisy city. 

As I stood next to my husband, I felt so incredibly proud of him.  In 1994, one of his professors encouraged him to apply for an internship in Washington, DC.  He put off filling out the application but after continued encouragement from his professor, he decided to submit it.  And indeed, he was selected to receive an internship to work for a Member of Congress.  And now, 16 years later, he is the Congressman's chief of staff.  He worked very hard to get where he is; he spent years learning the complex legislative process, studying wide-ranging issues, and developing relationships and contacts.  His job is stressful and incredibly busy but he has accomplished his goal.  I greatly admire him for his dedication to his job and loyalty to his boss.  And I love you dearly, Bru!

We stood there last night, among his boss' closest friends and confidantes, some of them going back more than 50 years.  They toasted his boss with eloquent stories, recalled some of his boss' famous anecdotes, and expressed their deep and grateful adminiration for what his boss has accomplished in his lifetime of public service.

Sometimes, in this all-politics-all-the-time town, we find ourselves becoming cynical about the legislative process, about the highly partisan and angry politics. 

But once in a great while, there are events and meetings that we are privy to which remind us that there are people in this town who truly belive in the legislative process and who are truly passionate about their politics.  As I take part in these snapshots in time, I try as hard as I can to soak it in.  We are grateful for these opportunities and feel blessed that we can be a part of something so special which helps remind us why we do what we do.

Eighteen Months

We had Abigail's 18-month check-up this week.  She is doing great! She is 24.8 lbs (50th percentile) and 33 3/4 inches (90th percentile).  She is talking up a storm and just recently started putting two words together.  Over Easter weekend, she said "Easter Bunny" (sounded more like "isa bunny")and "movie star" (when she was wearing her rock-star sunglasses).  She will try to say any word we ask her to.  Grace now enjoys asking Abigail to say all kinds of words.  She also loves to say "Abby!"

She loves to point to her nose, eyes, ears, etc.  and make animal noises on demand.  I particularly like it when she says "mooooooo" for a cow! 

She is doing great with the fork and spoon and will even eat a bowl of cheerios with milk without making much of a mess.  She loves to color (for now, she is a lefty - Bruno is so proud).  And she loves to do whatever her sister is doing and particularly wants to have whatever her sister has.  I have bought matching dinner plates now so that we don't have arguments about who gets the Dora plate!

And she also loves to dance to music.  It is hilarious to watch!  Dance parties have become our new evening entertainment.

We are blessed with a very healthy and happy baby - I guess I will soon need to start calling her a toddler! 

Bruno's Parents Visit

Last weekend was very special - Bruno's parents came to visit us.  It was special because it had been six years since their last visit.  Six years ago they came to see Grace shortly after she was born and again for her baptism.  But that was the last time they were able to travel.  Bruno's grandma lived with his parents for the past twenty years and about six years ago, she started needing more and more care. 

And so for the past six years, Bruno's parents took care of Bruno's grandma (his mom's mom).  It was very tough work, required a tremendous amount of patience.  It was exhausting and stressful.  And then late last year, it just became too much for them to care for her and they placed her in a nursing home.  I know it was an extremely difficult decision for them. 

Bruno's parents are amazing people whom I admire so much.  They emigrated to New Bedford, MA from a gorgeous, tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean - Madeira, Portugal.  It may have been gorgeous but it was under a dictatorship in the 1970s and they decided they could make a better life for themselves and their family in the United States.  So they packed their suitcases and boarded a plane with their one-year old son, Bruno, and headed for New Bedford.  Bruno's dad, Mauricio, had a sister who had emigrated to New Bedford before him and was able to help them get settled. 

They knew very little English.  They had to get jobs and find a place to live.  They managed to juggle everything.  I can't imagine the struggles they faced those first few years - learning a new language, missing their family, meeting new friends, coping with lay-offs and raising their children.  Oh, and adjusting to the frigid New England winters!

They were blessed with a daughter, Maurilia, a few years after moving here.  They worked extemely hard, lived on tight budgets, and saved enough money to buy a wonderful home with a beautiful back yard.  They sent both of their children to college.  And now Maurilia and Bruno have successful careers and wonderful families of their own.  Manuela and Mauricio have three grandchildren - all girls.  Every day, they have the joy of watching Maurilia and Victor's little girl, Ava, who brings so much happiness to them.  And every day, they visit Bruno's grandma in the nursing home.  She is now 98 years old.

From the moment I met them, they have been so incredibly kind and welcoming to me.  They are some of the hardest working people I have ever met.  They are also some of the most generous and kind people I have ever met.  Our visits to their home are fun-filled and relaxing and his parents are such a help with the kids.  Bruno's mom makes amazing meals and I am fascinated by her ability to whip up several course meals in the blink of an eye.  They both love to be outside in the summer and have a gorgeous yard and garden to prove it.

They are amazing people and we love them so much!

Here are some pictures from our wonderful visit!

Great Falls, VA - hard to believe this is just about 15 miles from Washington, DC!

I love this picture of Manuela and Mauricio walking along looking so happy.

Working Moms

I go to an office every day and I guess that makes me a "working mom".  On the flip side, if you don't work in an office, you are categorized as a "stay-at-home" mom.  Aren't we all "working moms"?

Being a mom is hard work - whether you work outside the home or inside the home.  You are constantly giving of yourself to someone else.  I have little children and there are a lot of things that go with that territory - help eating meals, getting dressed, bathing, changing diapers, entertaining, and on and on... Older children and teenagers require a whole other set of skills - most of which I'm sure involve a great deal of patience. 

I have friends who "stay-at-home" and I know how hard they work.  How busy their days are.  How hard it is to get anything done when you have a little one (or more) wanting your attention all day.  I know that these moms never get a sick day.  They never get to be in their house by themselves.  They never get to run errands by themselves.  However, they get to do things like volunteer at their child's school. They can be home when their children get home from school and they can do their homework with them before 8:00 p.m. at night.  They can run errands and do laundry and make dinner all before 5:00 p.m. There is no question that they are working moms.

I have always thought it would be hard to be a "stay-at-home" mom.  Taking care of children is exhausting, emotionally and physically.  So after my maternity leave with Grace and Abigail, I returned to work - full-time.  At first, I returned to work because we needed the money.  Not to say we don't need the money now, but we could make ends meet if I stayed home.  I think of all the women who don't have the option and who have to go to work every day.  I am fortunate that I enjoy my job and I know that my children are in excellent care.  I do get sick days where I can stay home by myself and rest.  I do get to run errands by myself during my lunch hour.  I get to eat lunch out with my co-workers. 

But there are those days when I have a meeting I can't change and so I miss a school event for Grace.  And those days when Grace wants to be a "car-rider" and leave when school is over but instead she has to go to extended day.  I pick the kids up and get home around 5:30 and Bruno gets home about 6:30.  We have a busy hour having dinner, giving the kids baths, helping Grace with her homework (yes, she's in kindergarten and has homework every night - grrrrr..), and putting them to bed.  Then there is laundry to do, clean up the kitchen, clean up the toys and maybe catch a tv show.

I know there are women who think I am crazy to leave my children in the care of other people.  I know there are women who think my friends are crazy to stay at home all day.  And the sad part is that many times it's women who make these judgements on each other. 

We are all in the same boat - just different boats.  There are women on yachts, women on motor boats, women on row boats and women in rafts. 

Being a mom can be a challenging, thankless job.  But it is so wonderful to reap the benefits of all the love we give on a daily basis to our children.

We are all working moms.  And we wouldn't trade this job for anything in the world.

Easter Pictures and the White House Egg Roll

What a fantastic weekend! 

My mom and dad arrived on Friday and we had a great day with the girls. 

First order of business - painting those eggs!

Second order of business was the park!

Not many grandmas are willing to go down a two-story cork-screw slide - but this Jamma does!

Everyone having fun at the park!

I love how Grace is looking up at her poppy!

On Saturday we woke up very early to head down to the cherry blossoms in DC.

Doesn't get more gorgeous than this!

I love this picture of Grace in the falling cherry blossoms.

Grace looking so happy!

Back home to set the table for Saturday night dinner.

Grace made placemats for everyone.

White chocolate chip cupcakes for dessert.  (The recipe is my friend's so I can't share it... but it is delicious!)

My absolute favorite flowers - tulips! Thanks Norino!

Grace and her Jamma!

Now it's time to find those eggs on Easter Sunday!

Grace and Abby

Grace and Noni...

Lounging on Aunt Kerri and Uncle Mark's window sill.

Abby's lounging too...

And then the big day... the Easter Egg Roll at the White House

Grace is waiting in line - notice anything different from the previous pictures.... yes, another tooth lost!  And this one came out on Easter Sunday!

Grace and her dad had a great day together!