Hello from the eastern end of Long Island.  This morning Darren and I packed up the Jeep and off we went on our first family vacation with David.  We are so excited to take a week to do what Darren and I never do – relax!  We decided six weeks ago that it was time to disconnect and recharge our batteries.  So off I went to find us a place to do just that.  After days of research we picked a house in the Westhampton area that is near the beach and has a pool.  It should give us just what we are looking for – serenity.

Today was our first day but since we had a late arrival we didn’t have much opportunity to take advantage of the amazing weather.  We arrived late afternoon and took a stroll around Southhampton til it was check-in time for our house.  We browsed in the windows of the high-end shops, checked out the fancy cars lining the streets and stopped for a sweet treat. Our plan for the next seven days is to swim, eat good food, read and most importantly, have uber quality time as a family.  The weather forecast seems promising so hopefully we will all come back with a ’sunkissed’ look.

Today Mommy took me to the doctor for my 9 month check up.  When we walked in I thought the place looked familiar and I sat on the floor playing with toys while we waited for my name to be called.  Once in the room, I was really excited because it was time to find out how much weight I gained and how much I grew.  First up was my height and I grew two and a half inches since my last visit.  At 28 1/2 inches long I am still in the 50th percentile but growing nicely.  Next up was a trip to the scale.  I liked this part because I had things to touch but the nurse didn’t let me.  She gave me a paper measuring tape to play with and I was in heavan.  According to the scale, I gained only two pounds since my last visit so at 18 pounds even that put me in the 10-25th percentile.  So much for all my good eating habits.  Next the doctor walked in and it was all down hill from there.  I remembered my last visit and the shots that followed so immediately out came my lip and then the tears.  I didn’t like last visit and I didn’t want another repeat of those needles.  The doctor examined me from head to toe and I cried and pouted the entire time.  Mommy took it in stride and managed to ask all her questions and listen to the doctor as he answered them.   The doctor says my upper body is very strong but my lower body is lagging behind just a bit in strength development.  What does that mean, really?  Not much…other than I won’t be crawling just yet and probably will be on the later side when it comes to walking.  That’s okay… Mommy walked at 15 months and although I have Daddy’s looks I seem to be taking after my mom as she long and lean and a late walker too.  I still don’t have any teeth and all I do is play with table food, crackers or other treats that are put in front of me.  Don’t fret, I’ll get around to liking real food eventually.  The doctor did give me free reign to eat pretty much whatever I want including ice cream and cookies which my grandparents are thrilled about.  I don’t think I’m quite there yet but eventually I will enjoy those indulgences along with all the healthy food mommy will be serving me.  My next visit is after my first birthday and my intuition tells me it will be a doozy!

Driving across country is one of our goals for a summer vacation in a few years.  Darren and I are no strangers to road trips especially since we drove over 1,500 miles on our honeymoon.  We love to explore national parks and all the hidden treasures tucked away on the journey from city to city; especially good places for homemade pie!  Right now the Pine Country Restaurant in Williams, AZ tops our list.  Given our ambitions, it is no surprise that when the Today Show “took a vacation” this week sharing many great destinations across the U.S., the segment on Road Trip Tips really interested me.  Anne Curry interviewed an editor from Travel & Leisure who provided great destinations and some very good tips for trekking around the country.  Click on this link to see some great ideas for summer travel.

Our master plan is to rent an RV someday and hit the open road.  We want to see the country and sample some great cuisine along the way.  We will check out delicious down home cooking and bbq while we take in the mountains and the prairies.  We look forward to sharing great memories with David and showing him the world first hand.  Now he just needs to get a little older before we put our master plan into action.

After the mega-drama that ensued between Jason, Melissa, and Molly on The Bachelor, I swore that I would not be suckered into another season of manipulation by ABC.  And I almost made it.  That is until a few weeks ago when Darren was traveling and the baby was asleep.  Against my better judgement I tuned in and it was all downhill from there.  I liked Jillian from last season so I was curious to see the guys she had narrowed the group down to and who might potentially capture her heart.  Having not watched much of the drama amongst the men unfold I didn’t find myself particularly ‘rooting’ for one guy over the other.  By the time the finale came around I didn’t really think any of the guys were going to be picked.  I thought bringing back Reid was a ploy for ratings and I just didn’t find him all that believable on the After The Final Rose Ceremony.  I think he was over her and everything that went down during the finale but the producers wanted him to play it up for the sake of ratings.  In my opinion, his body language didn’t show a guy who was still madly in love and saddended by the loss of his true love.  I’m definitely going against the grain with that thought though.  I didn’t exactly think Ed was a fabulous choice either but then again having only watched a few episodes I didn’t have a complete picture of who he is.   Jillian & Ed did seem genuinely happy so hopefully they will follow in the footsteps of Trista & Ryan and actually make it down the aisle.  We shall see….

Nominations are now being taken for the next Bachelor.  I am thinking about submitting my brother in-laws name.  He’d make a phenomenal bachelor!!!!!

Grandpa George will be turning 85 on Tuesday so Saturday the Hermans and the Sterns celebrated this fabulous milestone with a family gathering.  The soiree was held at the lake house and what a perfect backdrop for celebrating.  Judy and Bob as always were amazing hosts putting out a huge spread for lunch and dinner for all to enjoy.  The weather was perfect and the water was delightful.  Bob took many of the ‘city’ folk that joined us out for a ride on the lake showing them the sites while the rest of us kicked back on lounge chairs and the hammock soaking up the sun and enjoying some family time.  Grandpa was only expecting the immediate family so needless to say he was surprised to see some of the extended family who came as well.  The kids had a great time running around, playing in the water and taking rides on the tube.  David was too young to partake in those activities but he got lots of love and attention from everyone while he played on the grass and took a quick dip in the water.  A good time was definitely had by all!

As many of you know, I launched my own resume writing and editing business from home this year.  As a stay at home mom, I was looking to keep my hands in the professional world and utilize the skill set that I built over the years while working in Human Resources.  In the early spring, I quietly launched ResumeGal and over the last several months I have been building my client base thanks to family, friends and some online advertising.  This morning ResumeGal was linked to as part of a feature article entitled Top 100 Tips, Tools & Resources to Reinvent Your Career.  Click on #4 – Update your resume.  The article is great so I highly recommend reading it in its entirety but if you only have a few minutes, below are the top 10 tips:

Tips

These tips caution you to network, organize your job search, and set up a game plan before quitting your current job.

1. Evaluate your financial status: Find out if you’re in the position to go back to school, work part-time, or take a lesser paying job for the sake of starting over, or, if you need to save up a little first.
2. Consider moving: If the industry you want to break into isn’t strong in your part of the country, consider relocating to a location that has a healthier economy or more opportunities.
3. Focus on your transferrable skills: Just because you don’t have the exact job description of the new career you want, doesn’t mean you aren’t qualified.
4. Update your resume: Keep your resume continually updated and in perfect shape in case a sudden networking opportunity or interview comes along.
5. Talk to your supervisor: Sometimes, reinventing your career just means going after a promotion or switching departments within the company you’re already with.
6. Pursue what inspires you: Instead of switching to a job that you’re pretty sure will burn you out in a few years, pursue a cause that makes you passionate and inspires you to make a difference.
7. Apply the SWOT analysis method: Analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and development, and the potential threats that might stand in your way.
8. Network before you quit: At the very least, have a game plan and a list of valuable contacts before you quit your old job.
9. Look for stepping-stone jobs: The Path 101 Career Guidance blog encourages job seekers to look for jobs that help them transition from one career to a totally different industry.
10. Talk to another professional in the field you want to enter: Don’t make any snap judgments on an industry by what you’ve read or seen on TV. Talk to someone who’s worked in that field for many years to get a realistic impressio

Recently a friend asked me about the pro’s and con’s of the City Mini stroller vs. the Maclaren Techno XLR stroller so I thought I would share my thoughts with everyone since we own both.  If you are in the market for a stroller, I hope this is helpful.

City Mini:

• Pro’s
  • Incredibly lightweight – less than 17lbs
  • Super easy to open and close; you can do it with one hand
  • Easy to buckle the baby in and you can do it quickly
  • Extremely easy to maneuver especially over curbs and through doorways
  • Single front wheel makes for simple turns and for those that like to jog, the front wheel locks for a smooth run
  • Great coverage for keeping your little one out of the sun.  Peep windows on the hood allow you to check on your baby while you walk/jog
  • One handle bar so you can put the Skip Hop diaper bag on it and push with one hand
  • Excellent for multi-terrain usage
  • Not overly expensive – $229 range
• Con’s
  • All of the accessories are sold separately; belly bar, parent pack, cup holder, feeding tray
  • The basket on the bottom is small and there is no back mesh pocket
  • Not as luxurious or probably as comfortable a seat as some of the others since there is not much padding but our little one’s don’t know any different anyway

Maclaren XLR:

• Pro:
  • Extremely well made, sturdy and durable
  • Much more luxurious seat and probably more comfortable
  • Two handles – can hang packages from them but be careful they aren’t too heavy and tip the stroller
  • Baskets are much roomier and you can fit more
• Con:
  • Heavier and bulkier than the City Mini
  • Not as easy to open and close but still doable in a flash
  • Lock on the harness is really tight and sometimes tough to undo in a rush
  • Maneuverability around corners or making turns is not very smooth
  • Coverage from the sun is fair at best
  • More expensive – about $350

My personal preference happens to be the City Mini on most occassions especially when we are in NYC.  Darren calls it the ‘Porche’ of strollers and I have to agree.

Yesterday, Aunt Judy & Uncle Bob graciously invited us with several of our friends for a small gathering at their summer house on Greenwood Lake.  We were so thrilled and appreciative that they opened up their home for us that we packed up virtually everything in our house except the kitchen sink and brought it with us.  I definitely took some ribbing for everything came along with us especially the extra rolls of toilet paper.  I am sure we will be hearing about that for years to come.

The day was a lot of fun and despite the weather being cloudy and cooler than expected the kids didn’t seem to mind at all.  In fact, they were in and out of the kiddie pool and wearing their bathing suits for most of the afternoon.  The girls took turns playing ‘captain’ on the pontun boat and really had a blast.  If only the sun shined for us we could have taken them out for a ride on the lake.  David loved being showered with attention by all the young ladies in attendance and was treated like a king for the entire day.  We all had a great time and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon away from it all.  We were incredibly lucky that the rain held off til we literally put the last few things in our trunks and were ready to say goodbye.  Thanks Judy & Bob for an amazing afternoon!

I can’t believe that it was eight months ago today that I came into this world.  Mommy can’t believe it either.  The time is going by very quickly.  I must say that being eight months old is fabulous.  I can pretty much sit up all by myself and play with my toys for periods of time.  I love taking things out of boxes and putting everything and anything in my mouth including the remote for the TV.  I am still teething away but not a single tooth yet.  Mom was a late teether so I must be just like her.  Eventually they will all start to pop out and then I’ll have a mouth full of teeth.  I am a really good eater and think baby food is far better than formula lately.  I enjoy just about everything with squash, carrots, green beans, mango, and bananas topping my list of favorites.  I can’t wait til I can eat table food because all I do is stare and mommy and daddy when they eat.  What is on their plate looks quite interesting. Also, my grandma’s can’t wait to give me a cookie and ice cream so I’m looking forward to that too.

Since the summer has finally descended upon us, I am hitting the pool just about every day.  Not to worry, mommy covers me in sunscreen and I’m always wearing a hat so I don’t get too much sun or a sunburn.  After couple of times of getting used to the water, I am loving the pool.  Grandma Bobbie is teaching me to swim and I’m having a great time splashing away.  Later this summer Mom and Dad are taking me on my first vacation to the Hamptons and I’m so excited since I will have my first beach experience.  I’m piqued with curiosity about the feel of the sand and the ocean.  I’ll try not to take home too much of the beach with me when we leave but somehow I think that is inevitable.

I’m still not mobile yet which is a blessing for Mom and Dad.  I can sit outside all day and play, play, play but I can’t go anywhere.  Just wait.  Once the holidays are upon us I have a feeling they will be chasing me around the house.  Daddy says he wants to exercise more, well I promise to give him quite the workout later this year.

It’s been a fabulous year so far and I am so excited for what lies ahead.  More music class, my first gymboree class later this fall and all sorts of other wonderful experiences.  It’s been a blast to date and I can’t wait for more!