All the Single Mamas

You may or may not have read the article in Sunday's Omaha World-Herald "Working moms on the night shift" in which I may or may not have thrown Rob under the bus. I did ask him first if I could respond to the reporter's query and if you read the article, you probably noticed the disclaimer I made about him being a good husband and partner (credit my media training on key messages to that making it to print).

While it is majorly a little annoying that Rob sleeps like he's dead while I rush to Faith's bedside at night as though I'm being timed, the bottom line is he's still there. This is not a "hooray Rob for playing dead in bed" post, but a shout out to all the single mamas "you rock, you roll and you deserve a day off ladies" post. I got a glimpse of this world during basketball season and it made me mean and resentful. It was plain hard if not impossible to do Faith's morning routine all by myself while trying to get ready for work and be on time. If Rob had morning practice and an evening game, night duties fell to me too, which consisted of feeding, bathing, entertaining and rocking to sleep. It would be 8 o'clock before I changed out of my work clothes and got something to eat. There was no time to study, to workout, to read for enjoyment...OK, to watch the 5 episodes of Ellen I DVRed. I. was. exhausted. and just wanted to go to bed. I don't want this to be a pity party for me or anyone who does this on a regular basis, but instead a "hells yeah, you go girlfriend" thing for anyone who was a single mama, is a single mama or might be a single mama if you throw Mr. Husband in front of any more Greyhounds. 
Just substitute the word "mamas" for "ladies" and it works. Trust me.

In closing, I better state why Rob is a good husband and partner. Exhibits A-E.

Grilled salmon, loaded sweet potato and green beans with parm

Homemade loose meat sandwiches and sweet potato fries...took a bite before a picture

Pesto pasta with breaded chicken and Cabernet Sauvignon -fancy name for wine

Breakfast tacos with blah, blah, blah and MIMOSAS  in our wedding toast glasses

Chicken enchilada casserole with black tortilla chips and a quality brew
He's cute and smart too, but the best compliment I can give him is to tell you that he makes me laugh (whether he's trying to or not I don't know sometimes).

When we first got our iPhones, we decided to try the facetime feature just as we were sitting on our respective couches in the living room. This mug came up on my phone


I answered it, connected to facetime and there was my husband, sitting 5 feet away from me, waving his hand and using his best Japanese accent to say "Hi, from Tokyo!"

Cracked me up. Love that man. Night shift or not.

Faith at 9 months

24 things, chapter 3. You can find Chapters 1 and 2, here and here.

1) Food Fetishes: Though you only weigh 16 pounds and a few ounces, you are a fan of food. Your favorites are my "homemade" apricots and pears and your least favorites are avocados and blueberries (I really do try not to laugh when you made a face that looks similar to mine after a shot of whiskey).

2) Toofs: FINALLY, you have two bottom chompers. They arrived a week or so ago and you love biting everything, including your Dad. You like to show them off when you make this face.



3) Sleep Status: You always been a bait baby in this department, and with daylight savings we confused you into sleeping an extra hour til 6:30 though I'm sure you'll get us back in the fall. I still wake up several times a night to your every cry and coo and you can read all about that in an article in this Sunday's Omaha World-Herald featuring Yours Truly and Mr. Yours Truly.

4) Giggly girl: Things that make you laugh include airplane rides on my legs, "ouch," Howie running around in circles, the bunny hop, the ole standard peekaboo, fake falls, juggling, my beautiful singing voice, other people laughing (you like to be in on the joke), sneezing and other randoms we have yet to discover.

5) Go-to transportation method: army crawl. I feel like we should pay you an allowance for keeping the floors so shiny, but you'd probably blow it all on Gerber Puffs.

7) Words of choice: Overall, you're a chatterbox McGee, but dada, baba, and mama are your faves...but only mama when you're crying or mad. Um, P.S. - Dad didn't give birth to you or pump your meals for 6 months straight, so let's work on this.

8) Latest accomplishment: feeding yourself. You can shove those puffs in your face faster than Howie takes off with a pacifier. Amazing, really.

9) Locks of love: Yours are curly Qs and I hope they stay that way.

10) Favorite toy: Toys? Who needs toys when there are DVD towers to knock over, remotes to reprogram, and Howie bones to taste? (I'm not proud of that last one, OK).

11) Uniquely you: Daddy calls it the "tadpole dance" but you do this thing when you're on your tummy that's a cross between Jillian Michaels' "supermans" and the worm...usually with your tongue out. I promise not to show it to your prom date.

12) Not sure what socks ever did to you but from the way you despise them, I'm willing to bet it was unforgivable. Hopefully shoes can make it up to you cause Auntie Rach got ya some cute TOMS.


13) There are no words for this, though we did feel a little bad about laughing.

14) Your grandma writes the best notes when she babysits you. An excerpt from one: "One lady said, 'she looks like the Gerber baby,' another said, 'cutest baby ever,' and another, 'what a cute little boy.'" Two out of three ain't bad Faith.

15) Unfortunately you've learned to cry when you don't get your way...did your dad teach you that?

16) Water baby: If I was still a lifeguard I would blow my whistle at you in the bathtub for splashing. You thoroughly enjoy smacking the water even if it gets in your eyes. I bought you some little swimmers for our first swim lessons soon. Dad will be doing the dunking.

17) Holding your own: Why would you hold your own bottle when someone else will do it for ya? Well played, baby. Well played.

18) I know you're not supposed to watch TV, but Little Einsteins were invented so parents could eat. You and your dad get the same transfixed look when cartoons are on.

19) Since you're an only child, it's hard to compare you to anyone but you but you are a thinker and an observer and I'm thinking I like these traits. You cousin Cam is a go-er. The little woman never stops, and for that her mom and dad deserve medals.



20) I couldn't be happier that winter is coming to a close. You've had a cough for what seems like an eternity but antibiotics, an elevated mattress, a humidifier, saline drops and a bulb syringe, steam showers and TLC in general seems to have cured you.

21) 3 more months! I already have your first birthday outfit picked out. And the planning has commenced. I'm thinking of ordering either your invitations or thank you's from Erin Human who does kick a$$ illustrations (I never gave up typing swear words for Lent).

22) You and your dad are partners in crime. Sometimes when I'm getting ready in the morning I listen in on your conversations from upstairs and smile. Daddy overreacts to your diapers and you just laugh at him. He is so proud of his baby girl.



23) Our nighttime routine includes dinner at 6, a much-needed bath afterward, a 6 ounce bottle, maybe a book if you're up for it and rock a bye baby to sleep or almost sleep. It's an exhausting two hour song and dance, but I feel like Superwoman when you shut your eyes for the day. Your happy demeanor tells me I'm doing something right as a mom. It's my first time ya know.

24) I didn't think you could get any more beautiful than you were at 8 months...


but you proved me wrong at your 9 months pictures (my e-mail is nicolelindquist@yahoo.com and the password for the pics is "faithiscute") Faith, you look soooo mature and serious, but there are a couple of ornery ones too, which I like the most. You're an amazing little person Faith Janna and I love ya to the moon and back!

Love, Mom

Luck of the Irish

Things I don't recommend doing at the same time:

being a mom of a teething, mobile 8-month-old
taking a challenging grad school class that requires a mini thesis
working full-time
training for a Dam race (it never gets old)

WHILE

trying to be a nice person
giving up swearing for Lent (since my resolution didn't go so well, I've renewed my efforts. For those of you keeping track, at $1 per cuss, I already owe the church 30 bones).
promising to blog on a regular basis
maintaining a clean house

Seriously, it's bad. Thanks to Rob, at least there aren't dirty dishes in the sink, but the laundry situation is double O-C (out of control for all you peeps not in the loop) but I'm sure you could gather that yourself from this photo:


just keepin' it real yo
I told the clothes to "say laundromat" when I took this but they didn't even force a smirk.

Despite all my stress, I still feel


because at the end of the day, even if my homework isn't done, my house is a mess and I inevitably owe St. Pat's 50% percent of my paycheck, I still got this good looking familia...


and let's not forget Howard O'ruff McDog...

in case you can't tell, his hat says "I'm a wee bit Irish"
Erin Go Bragh!

The highest compliment

Rob and I attended church in Missouri Valley this past Saturday where we made our vows to each other that fateful June day in 2007. Love that beautiful church!

St. Pat's
RIP Grandma Willie...we miss you :)
beautiful stained glass windows...i'm sorry for taking away my husband's man card for this picture.
 
Father Berner usually speeds through the service but he wasn't giving the homily that day, the deacon was instead. His message started off about self-esteem. We all seek it in different forms, whether it be through our accomplishments or because of our attributes. His eventually got to the point which was this: the highest compliment one can receive in life isn't world's richest man:

BFF

Superbowl champion:

stud muffin alert.
 or world's cutest baby (to which I may or may not have scoffed ;)


...but the highest compliment one can receive in life is to be called a son or daughter of God.

Because when you're a son or daughter of God, it's a level playing field. No one person is better than the other. We're all loved the same, whether black or white, rich or poor, of differing abilities or typically developing, you get the point. So consider this your compliment of the day. You, my friend, are a child of God and because of that, you are loved by Him as much as one can be loved.

The Lindquist family is on the run...

No, we are not on the lam. (Wouldn't want to face the wrath of granny Janny if we were ever caught). Rob and I are training for Dam to Dam. Why did we pick this 20k race? Well, for me it's solely so I can say upon crossing the finish line, "I'm so glad that dam race is over." That and the thought of having to finish the Lincoln half marathon inside Memorial Stadium makes this Iowa State fan nauseous. Nonetheless we recently bought new running shoes to motivate our training.

My selection: The women's Nike Free. Size: 8.5. Actual retail price: $84.99 bones. I heart them as for the first time in my life I feel fast. Notice I said "feel."
Mom's training regimen: the reliable Hal Higdon half-marathon training. I'm being ambitious and doing the Intermediate version this time.
Rob's selection: The men's Nike LunarGlide 2. Size: (Is this like sharing a woman's bra size? Maybe I shouldn't). Actual retail price: $94.99 bones. He also hearts his shoes as they have the Nikeplus feature with his iPod nano. Men and technology.


Dad's training regimen:

Beginners' Half-Marathon Training Schedule

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
1 Rest 2 mi Rest 2.5 mi Rest 3 mi 2 mi EZ
2 Rest 2 miles Rest 3 mi CT or Rest 4 mi 2.5 mi EZ
3 Rest 2.5 mi CT 3 mi Rest 5 mi 2 mi EZ
4 Rest 3 mi CT 4 mi Rest 6 mi 3 mi EZ
5 Rest 3 mi CT 3 mi Rest 7 mi 3 mi EZ
6 Rest 4 mi CT 4 mi Rest 8 mi 3 mi EZ
7 Rest 4 mi Rest 4 mi CT 9 mi 3 mi EZ
8 Rest 4 mi CT 3 mi Rest 10 mi 3 mi EZ
9 Rest 5 mi CT 4 mi Rest 11 mi Rest
10 3 mi EZ 4 mi Rest 3 mi CT 12 mi 3 mi EZ
11 Rest CT Rest 3 mi CT 5 mi 2.5 mi EZ
12 Rest 2 mi 20 minutes Rest 20 minutes Race Day! Rest 
 
Oh, and Faith has a plan too:
 


  Faith's training regimen: sleep, teethe, poop, eat apricots, army crawl, look cute, laugh at life, scream when mom takes my toy away, suck on pacy, grab my brother's tail, nap, repeat.