Thursday, April 28, 2005
Another memo from Sheira
Here is the good news-- I can write this from my office SO....That way I can update you all on our exciting life (YEAH RIGHT) What has been going on for the Nowack/ Director-Nowack clan?
Passover has been GREAT can't get enough of this Matzah crap!! UGH-- okok so I have had a pancake and a bagel-- GULP am I going to hell? Oh well--- Brian is MUCH more serious then me about this so I am trying to be a good wife but as many of you may know about me listening to others directions is well......Not my strong suit. My line to Brian is that I always listen but I am not so great at the OBEYING part...hehehe
Maddie and I had a great afternoon yesterday we read a bunch of books and played climb Mommy mountain...How can such simple and fun things make life so worth living?
Aside from that we are all getting ready for the summer ahead..As most of you know I run a sleep away camp for children with ADD/ADHD and Aspergers SO...It is getting close to my favorite time of the year :-) I can't wait to share Maddie with all the campers and staff..It is going to be AWESOME!!!!
Otherwise nothing new for me-- I am going to try to write in this blog thing every few days that way I will have a record of what went on when in the beginning of Maddie's little life...Smiles- Sheira
Passover has been GREAT can't get enough of this Matzah crap!! UGH-- okok so I have had a pancake and a bagel-- GULP am I going to hell? Oh well--- Brian is MUCH more serious then me about this so I am trying to be a good wife but as many of you may know about me listening to others directions is well......Not my strong suit. My line to Brian is that I always listen but I am not so great at the OBEYING part...hehehe
Maddie and I had a great afternoon yesterday we read a bunch of books and played climb Mommy mountain...How can such simple and fun things make life so worth living?
Aside from that we are all getting ready for the summer ahead..As most of you know I run a sleep away camp for children with ADD/ADHD and Aspergers SO...It is getting close to my favorite time of the year :-) I can't wait to share Maddie with all the campers and staff..It is going to be AWESOME!!!!
Otherwise nothing new for me-- I am going to try to write in this blog thing every few days that way I will have a record of what went on when in the beginning of Maddie's little life...Smiles- Sheira
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Maddie and Great-Grandpa...is this not the funniest!
Sheira's two cents
OK--
must admit I feel very techno-cool being able to say our family has a blog....Just the word confuses me....And as Brian is keeping all of you posted on our little life I am cleaning up the house, changing diapers, writing thank yours, ok ok enough ...To be honest Brian really does a lot if not most of the work around here-- how did I get so lucky?
Well, having passed Maddie's first birthday I must say that I am now the mother of a toddler and well I feel like it went REALLY fast...Obviously the 12 months went into 3 but even those 31/2 months have FLOWN....SO STRANGE....Your entire life is now owned by a small child who gets annoyed everytime you wipe her nose ( like this is something I WANT to do....) Even through all the adoption process, the trip, the poop, the vomit,,still got to be honest being a wife and mother is TOTALLY my calling...I love my job but this family thing..The MOST incredible experience EVER and once you are part of a family you are NEVER not part of one again.....Well here are a few of my favorite photos of our family-- smiles and much love for today- Sheira
must admit I feel very techno-cool being able to say our family has a blog....Just the word confuses me....And as Brian is keeping all of you posted on our little life I am cleaning up the house, changing diapers, writing thank yours, ok ok enough ...To be honest Brian really does a lot if not most of the work around here-- how did I get so lucky?
Well, having passed Maddie's first birthday I must say that I am now the mother of a toddler and well I feel like it went REALLY fast...Obviously the 12 months went into 3 but even those 31/2 months have FLOWN....SO STRANGE....Your entire life is now owned by a small child who gets annoyed everytime you wipe her nose ( like this is something I WANT to do....) Even through all the adoption process, the trip, the poop, the vomit,,still got to be honest being a wife and mother is TOTALLY my calling...I love my job but this family thing..The MOST incredible experience EVER and once you are part of a family you are NEVER not part of one again.....Well here are a few of my favorite photos of our family-- smiles and much love for today- Sheira
Monday, April 25, 2005
Maddie's first Passover
Maddie seemed to enjoy her first Passover at both sides of the family. The first night was spent with Sheira's family where she had another fun time with her cousin Haley. If Saturday was any indication, we need to teach Maddie how to play nicely with others and that other kids don't mind having a hair clip in their hair.
Almost every time we put a clip in Maddie's hair it manages to find its way to the lost pile. Now we don't know how it disappears but she seems to lose one a day. When she saw Haley with her clip she figured Haley didn't need it. So Maddie reached for Haley's clip, grabbed it, and pulled it clean out. Haley didn't seem to notice but the parents in the room tried encouraging Maddie to 'play nicely' with Haley. Didn't work as well as we would like but they appear to get long well, as well as a 1 year old and an 8 month old can.
For the second night of Passover we went to my parents house. We were pleasantly surprised to see Uncle Herbie there. Although this service went on a lot longer than we had hoped, Maddie pulled through ok. We entertained her with the finger-puppets of the 10 plagues. She seemed most fond of locusts and frogs.
By 6:50pm the 3 of us were exhausted and one of us became a little cranky. Take a guess who? So on that note we took off for home. Not so bad for a first major Jewish holiday for her - and us.
Almost every time we put a clip in Maddie's hair it manages to find its way to the lost pile. Now we don't know how it disappears but she seems to lose one a day. When she saw Haley with her clip she figured Haley didn't need it. So Maddie reached for Haley's clip, grabbed it, and pulled it clean out. Haley didn't seem to notice but the parents in the room tried encouraging Maddie to 'play nicely' with Haley. Didn't work as well as we would like but they appear to get long well, as well as a 1 year old and an 8 month old can.
For the second night of Passover we went to my parents house. We were pleasantly surprised to see Uncle Herbie there. Although this service went on a lot longer than we had hoped, Maddie pulled through ok. We entertained her with the finger-puppets of the 10 plagues. She seemed most fond of locusts and frogs.
By 6:50pm the 3 of us were exhausted and one of us became a little cranky. Take a guess who? So on that note we took off for home. Not so bad for a first major Jewish holiday for her - and us.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
This is why I don't have any hair
We had a little get together for Maddie's birthday yesterday. It was awesome to see everyone and even more exciting to have people who haven't met Maddie to finally meet her. One of the, if not THE highlights was reuniting Brooke and Maddie for the first time since we left China.
For those who didn't know, Brooke was Maddie's 'roommate' in the orphange in China. Sheira and I traveled with Brooke's parents Joe and Tammy. They really made the trip fun and entertaining. We wouldn't have imagined going through the experience with anyone else.
Anyway...with all these people who have yet to meet Maddie we wanted to make sure that she got to spend time with them, to see them, be held by them, etc. What I hear is that my parents constantly asking to hold her and wonder when it will be their turn to hold her. I think what I can't understand is...why didn't they understand that this party wasn't about THEM spending time with Maddie but Maddie getting to meet many other people? In the nicest way I can say this (sometimes that is my problem...always trying to say 'the right thing' or 'the nice thing') is do they know that it's not always about them?
Please...tell me someone else understand this before I totally lose my cool with them and my mind because of them.
For those who didn't know, Brooke was Maddie's 'roommate' in the orphange in China. Sheira and I traveled with Brooke's parents Joe and Tammy. They really made the trip fun and entertaining. We wouldn't have imagined going through the experience with anyone else.
Anyway...with all these people who have yet to meet Maddie we wanted to make sure that she got to spend time with them, to see them, be held by them, etc. What I hear is that my parents constantly asking to hold her and wonder when it will be their turn to hold her. I think what I can't understand is...why didn't they understand that this party wasn't about THEM spending time with Maddie but Maddie getting to meet many other people? In the nicest way I can say this (sometimes that is my problem...always trying to say 'the right thing' or 'the nice thing') is do they know that it's not always about them?
Please...tell me someone else understand this before I totally lose my cool with them and my mind because of them.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Sports wish list...
Just a stupid post, I know.
Can the Mets make it to the post season once again?
Can the Nets squeek in to the playoffs?
Can the NY Giants, who are getting a new stadium, get a new coach while they're at it?
Can the Mets make it to the post season once again?
Can the Nets squeek in to the playoffs?
Can the NY Giants, who are getting a new stadium, get a new coach while they're at it?
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Picture People
We figured with birthdays and mother's/father's days coming up it would be a great idea to get some pictures of the three of us together and Maddie by herself at The Picture People. 99% of the time Maddie is pretty easy going and goes along with the flow of whatever it is we do. She was pretty good until we actually had to sit down and begin taking pictures.
Maddie was facinated with the camera and whatever was going on behind it. It probably wasn't the best choice of the photographer to put an infant in an area where she can see all the people pass by. Maddie kept crawling out of the picture area to go see what was going on.
When it was time for her solo shots it took quite the effort to even get her to look at the camera and not scratch the background. After 2 or 3 poses Maddie 'hit the wall' and we were done. She became very tired and hungry and cranky. Not a good combo. We got our time card to return and walked around the mall. After our hour waiting time we went back to view the results. We were not so impressed with most of the pictures. It was unfortunate but we did manage to get 1 or 2 decent shots. I don't know if we'll be going back to that location (the one at Willowbrook Mall) as the photographer wasn't what we would have liked.
I'm sure we'll get a few more shots with another location. We also have an appointment with JC Penny's photo place on Sunday with Grandma Marlene so we'll see how they come out.
Maddie was facinated with the camera and whatever was going on behind it. It probably wasn't the best choice of the photographer to put an infant in an area where she can see all the people pass by. Maddie kept crawling out of the picture area to go see what was going on.
When it was time for her solo shots it took quite the effort to even get her to look at the camera and not scratch the background. After 2 or 3 poses Maddie 'hit the wall' and we were done. She became very tired and hungry and cranky. Not a good combo. We got our time card to return and walked around the mall. After our hour waiting time we went back to view the results. We were not so impressed with most of the pictures. It was unfortunate but we did manage to get 1 or 2 decent shots. I don't know if we'll be going back to that location (the one at Willowbrook Mall) as the photographer wasn't what we would have liked.
I'm sure we'll get a few more shots with another location. We also have an appointment with JC Penny's photo place on Sunday with Grandma Marlene so we'll see how they come out.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
So this is what a 'date night' was like
After careful deliberation Sheira and I decided we were going to go out for dinner sans Maddie. Since January 3, 2005 we have spent almost every minute with her. Mind you we do love going everywhere with Maddie. We have gone out to dinner (nowhere fancy), to the mall, to the store, around town etc. with no problems whatsoever. Sheira and I really love having Maddie with us so choosing to go anywhere without her was a little bit of a tough decision.
We chose to go to one of our favorite restaurants called "Mariques" in Mendham, NJ. We went there during our dating days, loved it, and unfortunately haven't been back since. With my parents serving as babysitters we hit the road. I can honestly say that we did not feel guilty leaving Maddie behind and enjoying a nice night out. No worries about what Maddie would fling from the table, no odors from the diaper necessitating a jaunt to the restroom that may not have a changing table, no cranky cries and tears, and no shlepping all our baby supplies to keep her occupied.
It was a pleasurable dining experience and Marique's did not disappoint.
Sheira finally chose to view the blog this morning and commented how much better it looks than the previous one. And wouldn't you know it...she wants to make some postings too. So be on the lookout for postings from her.
Question for the parents out there: Did you ever feel guilty leaving your kid behind while you and the spouse went out? Were you ever nervous about leaving him/her with someone else? (like I was - just a little bit - with my parents)
We chose to go to one of our favorite restaurants called "Mariques" in Mendham, NJ. We went there during our dating days, loved it, and unfortunately haven't been back since. With my parents serving as babysitters we hit the road. I can honestly say that we did not feel guilty leaving Maddie behind and enjoying a nice night out. No worries about what Maddie would fling from the table, no odors from the diaper necessitating a jaunt to the restroom that may not have a changing table, no cranky cries and tears, and no shlepping all our baby supplies to keep her occupied.
It was a pleasurable dining experience and Marique's did not disappoint.
Sheira finally chose to view the blog this morning and commented how much better it looks than the previous one. And wouldn't you know it...she wants to make some postings too. So be on the lookout for postings from her.
Question for the parents out there: Did you ever feel guilty leaving your kid behind while you and the spouse went out? Were you ever nervous about leaving him/her with someone else? (like I was - just a little bit - with my parents)
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Where to go what to do
As I restart the whole blog idea I have had thoughts about what to 'say' on here. So I asked Sheira if and how much she would like to contribute here. It wasn't much of a surprise to me when she said, "Bri..it's your thing, you do whatever you want with it. It's all you."
So as much as Maddie is a part of our life, and what a wonderful part that is, I figured I would make this a little forum for not only sharing stories & pictures of Maddie but a place to ramble about anything that comes to mind whether it be the news, work, babbling, etc.
I hope that you read this and make any kind of comment you want. I'm always up for a little blogging commentary.
So as much as Maddie is a part of our life, and what a wonderful part that is, I figured I would make this a little forum for not only sharing stories & pictures of Maddie but a place to ramble about anything that comes to mind whether it be the news, work, babbling, etc.
I hope that you read this and make any kind of comment you want. I'm always up for a little blogging commentary.
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