A strong foundation

My mother-in-law has a crazy amount of energy. If you know her, you're shaking your head yes right now.

After a successful career in the fashion industry, she took her passion for health and well-being and became certified in Pilates and Gyrotonics training and I'm not even sure what else. She has energy beyond belief, plans fun outings for us (like traipsing around New York's Nolita neighborhood going from art gallery to art gallery) and serves up Ellen-tinis poolside in the summertime.

She taught me a basic tenet of Pilates - the foot is the foundation to a healthy body.  Extend out your toes, expand your feet and walk. Try it now. I'll wait.

Don't you feel so much more in control when you're actively thinking about your foundation? Doesn't it make you feel stronger? More in control?

I thought about this tenet a few days ago and I have been practicing it as I start my re-entry back into my working gal life.

I stood firmly on my two feet as I mingled at the Development Leadership Consortium's 15th reunion last week. At first, I wasn't sure I was ready to go, but I needed to do it for myself. This group has been the cornerstone of my professional life as a fundraiser and the founder is a dear mentor of mine (and so many others). My DLC colleagues are my friends as well, and I had a wonderful time reconnecting with them.  (Being in a room of fundraisers is hilarious - it's our job to know people's business, so the banter was lively.) Our founder gave a brief talk, encouraging us with a simple message: To leave the world a better place than we found it. How lucky I am to hear these words, be surrounded by these kind people, as I begin the journey back from maternity leave to working full-time at my nonprofit.

I stood firmly on my two feet as I ventured downtown into Chicago's Loop by myself with my two little ones to visit my office Friday. Warm co-workers welcomed us, cooed over Jossie and exclaimed how big Jack was. At one point, my daughter was hungry, and I nursed her in my own office, while checking a lone voicemail on my work phone and watching Jack bop around me. I am so thankful for a family-friendly workplace.

I stood firmly on my two feet as I attended a yoga class and bridal brunch for a relatively new - but dear - friend to Jeremy and me today. She is getting married in a few weeks, and I was honored to spend time with her and her friends (funny aside: As I was prepping for yoga, I told Jossie that maybe I would find a Mommy and me yoga class for the two of us. A little voice piped up beside me, "And big brother too!"). I spent a total of five hours away from the house for this outing - the most I've been away from Jossie since we brought her home. I survived, and, quite honestly, it felt really good to do something for myself.

Feet firmly planted, I think I'm ready for my next chapter...working-outside-of-the-home mom of two. Who's in for happy hour?

My prince...most days

Jack's been acting very three lately (yes, I'm making it an adjective) so when he asked Maria if he could buy flowers for Mommy, I just had to record the sweet moment:

Unpacking

My dining room has been turned upside-down since January. While I'm a very neat and organized person normally, my dirty little secret is if I let things go, they go downhill fast.

I've finally caught up on some paperwork, dealing with hospital bills and getting our income tax documents in order. Once I got that important stuff out of the way, I could concentrate on the other messy piles. This morning, I pulled one backpack out I had at the hospital. I just knew there was something in there about Jossie's birth certificate that I should address.

From the backpack, I took out a February Martha Stewart Living magazine, a rumbled bag of chocolate toffee from my friend Marisa, the book I was reading and a hospital notepad. These items had sat by my hospital bedside for two weeks. I had looked at them as I was hooked up for non-stress tests to monitor Jossie's in-utero heartbeat. I had looked at them in the early-morning haze after Jossie's birth. I had looked at them as I packed my bags on the day I was released from the hospital and wondering where I was going to summon the strength to leave without my baby.

 I looked at them today and couldn't control my tears. Luckily, Jack and Maria were steps away, and they gave me hugs and support. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and Jossie is fast asleep in her crib, growing  and growing.

I'm not perfectly healed yet, and I know I will have moments like these as the feelings I've packed away come back in little waves. Thank goodness for the coming of spring, Passover and Easter for a sense of renewal. Thank goodness for friends and family. Thank goodness for good health and growing children.