A Good Day

Today was one of those days that bursts at the seams. It was good and happy and exhausting and normal and chock full of everything that makes us us right now.

My alarm went off at 6:30. I spent nearly 2 minutes trying to make it stop because I'd fallen asleep around 2:00 (fucking insomnia) and Landon had woken us up with a stomachache at 2:15. At 6:50 I forced myself out and for the first time in weeks, showered, blow-dried, AND straightened my hair before work - something so rare all three kids commented on it. It was going to be a big day. 

Landon had his 9 year check-up, so I took Cora to school (today she presented herself by jumping with both feet into the doorway, puffing her chest, and waiting for the delighted call of "Cora! You're here!" She is such a ball of joy I can barely stand it sometimes.) and James took the big kids to the pediatrician. This week is Tara Camp, when our amazing nanny from the school year makes our lives a thousand times easier by just coming to our house and watching the big kids without us taking them anywhere, so she met him at the pediatrician's to take the big kids home after his appointment so James could zip off to his first lesson at 9:30. James called me with the appointment download: Landon is tall (78% height), thin (60% weight), and super healthy.

I got to work a little after 8 to read a stack of documents I needed reviewed before an in-person meeting with counsel at 3:00. The Chair of the SEC was visiting our office and we had an office-wide meeting and Q&A with her at 10:00. I arrived right on time to find standing room only and stood and listened to the 60 minutes of questions in my heels. It was a great Q&A- the Chair is very good and very direct, but ow that was a lot of pressure on my feet. After the meeting I grabbed a pizza lunch with coworkers (have you put ricotta on pizza? you should; also goat cheese, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomato, kalamata olives, and spinach; the ricotta is the best part though).

At 1:30 I was to present to our Chair two cases I'm working on. I'd spent some time with my case file and had written out a few bullet points but didn't want to over-prepare; I like making presentations and was excited to get to sit down with the head of our agency. It went well. She was engaged and asked lots of questions and I walked out proud of our work, our office, and our Chair. A lot of my work is reading filings and contracts and just trying to stay afloat amongst the deluge of paper. It's a great day when you can spend a little time above all that and talk about the big picture and maybe even feel good about the one you're trying to draw.

In between lunch and my presentation, my fellow barre teacher texted to see if I had time to finally get my head shot for the new yoga studio website. I told her I had 10 minutes at 2:00 between my presentation and counsel meeting if she could maybe meet me downtown and she did! The one day I don't wear my hair in a big wet bun on my head and its memorialized forever(ish) on film by the lovely Amy. It was a million degrees and I wished I'd had my makeup bag with me for some touch-ups, but here's what we got! I never, ever like pictures of me, but I didn't flinch at this one. Amy is very talented.

And then I rushed back inside to prep for my counsel meeting that ended up starting early because their plane from NYC ahead of schedule. The meeting was good and productive. I wrapped up a few other quick projects and issues, reviewing a confidentiality agreement for an upcoming presentation and reviewing a list of search terms for a doc production. A few more emails went out and I was packing up to go. At 4:30 I was desperately trying to remember which floor I'd parked on in the garage after lunch (I always remember my morning spot, but never ever my afternoon one; I have walked miles in that garage) while riding the elevator from 19 to the lobby. I found my car on my first try, and drove home blasting "Vice" by Miranda Lambert (it's so good!), super excited about walking in the door to all three kids who would already be there!! I love Tara Camp. (She always gets Cora super early from daycare because she loves her and she can.)

I was greeted with screams and vigorous hugs. Cora rested her cheek on my shoulder and just let me holder her for many minutes, softly repeating "mama. my mama" over and over. I chatted with Tara, relieved my now swollen feet from my shoes, and started on dinner- pesto gnocchi with mozzarella and tomato. Super fast, easy, and delicious. The kids ate with me and then I checked in with James, now on hour 9 of roasting at the pool. Tonight was the swim team awards ceremony so we were going to bring his dinner to him and meet him at the pool. I changed out of my wool lined and very fitted Ann Taylor sheath ($35 on clearance a few weeks ago!) and into Lulu running shorts and a tank I can sweat in. The kids got on swim suits, we packed up James's dinner, and we were out the door for the next chapter of our day.

The swim team party was great. The big kids swam, and we managed to convince Cora she didn't want to (so mean, but James couldn't bear getting back in and I accidentally totally on purpose didn't bring a suit) by distracting her with a cupcake. Landon and Claire got their medals and ribbons from the Regionals meet last weekend. Both made it to state and we're so proud of them even if we're not driving to McAllen to prove it. James got a lot of medals too and his swimmers did lots of cheering when his name was called. Cora tolerated the whole thing with the cheerful patience that has been her trademark all summer.

Maybe we'll all be on the team next year.

There was a movie planned for after the awards, but we made the kids leave because we're mean and also huge fans of their 8:00 bedtime. We were still late, but everyone was in bed by 8:45. There was teeth brushing and hair combing and reminders to go put your clothes in the hamper. Claire got her hug and kiss on the lips and double verification that the closet door was shut all the way. Cora got her hug-kiss-high five and her sheet-blanket-knit blanket layers duly settled upon her little body curled up on her side, snuggling her pink blankie. The girls yelled "haveagoodsleeptoo!" in unison as they do every night when I close the door. Landon was tucked in bed in his room, light out already, waiting for his hug and kiss on the forehead. I poured my nightly glass of wine and took it to meet James on the couch where he was already settled in with his laptop. "Peaky Blinders?" he asked hopefully. And Season 2, Episode 2 was begun.

14 hours. Early alarms, a healthy pediatric checkup; childcare arrangements; work presentations; barre website photography; and a meeting. Dinner, cleaning the kitchen, discussing the day, heading to the pool. Swim team event, happy reunion with James, and tucking in bed. A really good, really full, I love this life kind of day. I want to remember it. And it's only Monday. There's so much more the week can bring.