New York, New Mama

New York, New Mama

Back to work and back on the road again.  How did that blissful 12 weeks of maternity leave fly by so quickly?  The long days of feeding, snuggling, changing diapers, cruising the neighborhood, running errands, giving thousands of kisses and going on lunch dates with friends came to a screeching halt yesterday.  I completely underestimated how hard it would be to drop off my sweet 12-week-old baby.  The other babies seemed so big next to him and he seemed too tiny to spend his days without his mom.  His teachers seem wonderful, but that didn’t help the huge lump in my throat and knot in my stomach as I waved goodbye and quickly left the building, fumbling through my overstuffed diaper bag to find my sunglasses to hide my tears.  Loading the empty carseat back into my car caused my heart to shatter.  I had a nice little cry on the way to work, aka back home.  I think in the long run working from home will be an easier way to be a working mom, but yesterday it seemed so strange being “home” without Charles.  I would have welcomed the opportunity to go into an office where I’d be surrounded by co-workers and quickly distracted by office chatter and back-to-back meetings.

For us, there was never any question on if I’d return to work (especially since I just started a new job 7+ months pregnant!).  In the long run, I do think it’s the best decision for our marriage & family, but that certainly doesn’t make it any easier to leave this guy.

                                              

I remember a co-worker from my days at McKinney once saying, “I feel like I’m getting a “C” at home and at work.  I’m not able to give either 100% like I’ve always done.”  I’ll never stop trying to do my best work on both fronts, but I am going to give myself some grace to ease back in and figure out our new normal.  I’ve quickly learned “babies don’t keep.”  This time is too precious & fleeting to miss out on, so I’m going to have to be smarter than ever in prioritizing trips away from home.  I have lots of fabulous working mom role models in my life, starting with my own mom.  I can do this. I can do this.

This morning as my alarm went off at 4:45 a.m. my first thought was I secretly hoped Charles would stir.  Sure enough, a little after 5 a.m. I heard him fussing a bit.  I’ve never been so happy to see him hungry before daylight!  Josh went in and scooped him up and brought him back to our bed to give him a bottle.  I was so happy to be able to give him a few kisses before racing to the airport.  And so happy for such a wonderful husband whom I know is going to take excellent care of our baby while I’m away.

Be kind to me, New York.

XO,

Whit

Patience

Hello!  I'm officially now into week 41 and still pregnant.  I've been a pretty happy-go-lucky pregnant lady, but my patience is running out.  I've tried a lot of the old wives tales and nothing has worked.  I have literally walked miles and miles every single day, eaten pineapple to the point it burned my tastebuds off, tried spicy Mexican, spicy Thai, spicy Chinese (all only induced serious heartburn), consumed many glasses of raspberry tea, eggplant parmesan, wheeled mulch all over our yard 9 months pregnant, had my membranes stripped twice, you name it!  I think I'm drawing the line at Castor Oil, that freaks me out a bit.  If you have any new ideas, feel free to send them my way. 

The dreary weather on a Monday only increased my funk, I said a prayer for patience and decided to make myself some chocolate chip pancakes for dinner and serve it up on my fine china.  This may have been my first craving -- better late than never.  Considering Josh doesn't like breakfast at breakfast time, this was dinner for 1 (well 1.5!).  Sorry, babe.  

I am trying to be very, very thankful that the ultrasound today showed a healthy baby boy.  He will be here soon and I know he will be worth the wait.

XO,
Whit

One month from today...

McKinney, my home for the last 5 years, will be in the premiere episode of a new reality show, The Pitch.

Tune in April 30 9 p.m. EST on AMC.

Go watch preview here.

XO,

Whit

PS- This won't be my big break -- may only catch a glimpse of me walking by.

Blog Book Love

My very favorite blogger has written a book.  If you've met me in the real world, chances are good you've heard me talk about my love for NieNie.  I saw her family on the Today Show in August of 2008, right after she and her handsome Mr. Nielson were in a terrible plane crash (she was burned over 80% of her body).  I followed along daily with her family's postings during her long road to recovery (many nights Josh would wonder why I was crying on the couch!) and then rejoiced when she was finally well enough to continue telling her story.  I guarantee you too will be smitten.  For 3.5 years I've smiled, laughed, cried and loved her and her darling family (4 kids and her miracle, "little peanut," due any day).  In fact, I even sport my "For the love of Nie" t-shirt on my "bad days" to keep things in perspective (dork, I know!).

Stephanie is incredible and so inspiring.      

Can't wait to read her book on our upcoming va-cay.  Pick it up in bookstores nationwide April 3.

Here was the spread in People last week!

    

XO,

Whit

Jumped the gun!

On my earlier post today and apparently the internet doesn't believe in deleting (good lesson / reminder!).

We still have a few more weeks of details to work out, but hopefully one way or another we will be in a new house by fall. One year after this journey began... We are blessed and will remain patient.

Stay tuned for updates soon.

XO,
Whit

Home Office Quest Begins

I made a very bittersweet decision and gave my notice a few weeks ago.  Luckily for me (and hopefully McKinney) we decided I'd stay on almost 5 more weeks.  Now I'm down to only two more weeks at McKinney before I begin my next chapter.  More to come on that later....but I will be working from home, when I'm not on the road.  Exciting and scary!!!  Like I said, more to come on regarding details and reflections, but in the meantime, let's focus on something exciting...I get to dream about fun items for a home office.

Remember, we are still in limbo-mode on our home search.  Fingers crossed!  In the meantime I'll have to carve out a corner of our guest room.

The first item I need is a desk!

Perhaps something fun with lots of color to cheer me up when I'm all by my lonesome?

via 1st Dibs

turquoise bamboo french writing desk

via Pinterest

turquoise secretary desk

Or maybe something with some fancier gold hardware that could easily find a place in a formal living room or hallway one day?

French Writing Desk  via Dovecote Decor

blakc ad gold desk

another French writing desk via Dovecote Decor

mahogany and gold desk

What if I paint an item like this an unexpected color (a steal from Craig's list!)?  Or leave as is and get a fun & more modern chair and lamp?

Decisions, decisions.

Here are some other stunning offices.  The trouble is trying to think both short-term (crammed in guest room corner) and long-term (hopefully a full room dedicated to Office Otto).

via Decorpad - Kelly Wearstler Office

via Decorpad - Kimberly Ayres

painted light blue desk, blue and gold desk, teal grasscloth walls

via Lonny Mag / Decorpad

Lonny Mag office

via Decorpad

frensh gray distressed desk

Josh just came down and glanced over my shoulder and said, "Honey, that's not a work desk, that is a vanity thing."   What does he know? :)

via Decorpad / House Beautiful

House Beautiful home office and desk

via Decorpad - Molly Sims home office

via Decorpad

Besides the turquoise lacquered desks at the beginning of the post, I also keep going back to white lacquered desk -- crisp and clean.

via Decorpad

And one of my all time favorites -- interior designer Mary McDonald's office.  It's combining a lot of my favorite elements -- white lacquered desk, symmetrical lamps, collage wall, turquoise, pair of velvet chairs.

I know, I know...a lot of these ideas may not be practical for actually working (and when would it actually be these clean and "styled??"), but a girl can dream, right?

Going to Studio123's sale tomorrow in hopes of finding some goodies 50% off!

If I don't find anything, I'll be working like this--

Who can have a bad day with an assistant like Olive?

Have a great weekend!

XO,

Whit

Worth crying on a plane

I might be one of the last people in America, but I finished this book today on a plane en route to Columbus for work.  I'd been meaning to read it for months, but figured the storyline was another Marley & Me or A Dog's Purpose, both of those are sweet stories, but for me neither hold a candle to this completely delightful and inspirational novel.

 I cried to the point my pillow was wet the last few nights.  Then today I braved it and decided to finish it on the plane -- the lady beside me told me I was crazy for reading that book while traveling.  She too had read and become completely entranced and emotionally attached to this wonderful book.  If you don't want to cry in public, stick to reading it at home...but no matter what...please read it.

XO,

Whit

Ivory Inspiration



I love this bedroom.  This is my latest inspiration for my den drapes-- a bit softer and more traditional than the ones I mocked up here, don't you think?  Even if I decide to leave off the cornice, I think ivory silk with double trim is the way to go.

Here is the trim I found to tie in my couch and chair -- only $6 / yd at Mill Outlet! I'll double it up to make it a little thicker (it's about one inch wide).

I don't usually talk much about my day job on my blog -- but I was very touched by the 9/11 tribute spots tonight.  In my opinion they were beautiful and well done.  Tricky to make sure they come across as genuine and not capitalizing on the tragedy, but they nailed it (State Farm, Verizon and Budweiser).  I can't believe it's been 10 years since that terrible, terrible day.  Thinking of eveyone who lost family and friends.  So blessed we live in this wonderful country.

State Farm's 9.11 Tribute

XO,

Whit

Pity Party... HUSH

How is it only Tuesday?

I've had a little bit of a dark cloud over me the past week.  Work and life in general have been very busy.  After a VERY long day, this happened...

I'm not going to lie -- seeing this bowl shatter on our kitchen floor opened the floodgates.  Stupid, I know, but this was such a generous and sweet gift from Bailey and I just love my wedding china.  (Bay- if you are reading this, I need your help finding a replacement).  AND, like I said, people, this was just the last straw to do me in after a long day.

Then I tried to think back to the last time I cried, I'm really not a crier.  Well, it was Sunday in church -- and maybe it was more tearing up than actually full on crying.  It was during the last sermon of a four part series about companionship.  It got me thinking of how incredibly blessed I am and have been during my life with many companions -- family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.  The lesson was called "Hush" and the minister eloquently described various stories about someone going through something so devastating in life (losing a child, living with a debilitating disease, divorce) that there are no words that will satisfy or be enough to lessen the heartache.  Her stories painted vivid and familiar pictures.  I thought about a few friends who are going through tough times and how I've struggled with finding the right words...knowing that nothing I can possibly say will lessen the pain they are feeling.  The minister reminded us that in times like these it's presence that matters, not words.  Presence + Prayer is the best gift you can offer your companion.  You don't need audible words.

Thinking back to the sermon...I picked up the pieces of the china and told myself to HUSH.  I'm not going through anything terrible, I'm just busy...and busy isn't bad, it's good.  Sure, I missed a going away party tonight because of work, but that's nothing in the scheme of things.  I'm so incredibly blessed and so incredibly happy. 

The first blog I started reading was about a woman, "NieNie," in her mid-twenties who was burned on 80% of her body when she and her husband were in a plane crash.  They were both in drug-induced comas as their bodies healed and their family and friends prayed, prayed, prayed.  She looked like a totally different person that her kids didn't recognize and was in excruciating pain.  My family and friends had to hear daily updates (that I got via her sisters updating her beloved blog, until she was strong enough to tell her own story again). She became a "friend" that I wanted to check on.  Little did she know, but I was her companion.  On days when work seems too stressful or I'm feeling "off" I wear a little NieNie t-shirt I bought to support her.  Sometimes I need a physical reminder that whatever stress I'll endure that day is nothing compared to what NieNie has gone through over the last 4 years.  I guess life really is all about keeping things in perspective.

I can't wear my adored NieNie t-shirt tomorrow since I head to Columbus for work, but I'm keeping these P words top-of-mind:
presence

prayer

perspective

positive

XO,

Whit