It's Official - I'm Bringing Minivan Mom Sexy Back!

I can't even remember why I resisted for so long!  It took three entire weekends of car shopping, but Papi finally convinced me that we would be more comfortable in a minivan and it made the most economical sense too.  We are now the owners of a Nissan Quest and I am fully CONVERTED!  :-) I love all the bells and whistles.  I love seeing my boys so cozy.  I love that we had seven people super comfortable in the car this weekend.  Most of all, I love that I am bring minivan mom sexy back! 

Altruistic?

I've re-read my intro blog and realize that it may sound a little like I am portraying myself as Mother Theresa.  Am I completely altruistic or selfless?  Definitely not.  Papi, Inc. would testify to that under oath with no hesitation at all. LOL!  But I meant it when I said my boys are everything to me.  I try to do everything in my power to make sure my boys are happy and healthy.  I would put my life on the line for my kids without hesitation.  I think most people would.  Before I go to sleep I kiss my boys.  As soon as I wake up, I kiss my boys.  Stinky breath and all!  But I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit how much I love ME time.  In fact, I covet this time!  I love to sit down for a mani/pedi.  I actually don't mind my long commute to work because I get to read without interruption.  I REALLY love when the house is quiet late at night so that I can get down to some serious Tivo business!  Criminal Minds, anyone?  Love love love that show!  I also watch a few teen dramas on the WB.  There's no shame in my tube watching game.  :-)  But when I sit down to think about and plan my life I try to make sure that everything circles back to my family.  This is my attempt to stay grounded and focused on what is most important.  Like everyone else, I get caught up in trivial matters - but I do my best to realize that I'm focusing on nonsense and move on to more important things. 

Introduction

Hello everyone.

My name is Heather and I'm a proud mother of two boys - ages 1 and 5. I'm also a wife, daughter, sister, niece, etc. I'm also a NYC lawyer. I invested three long years of my life, unmentionable amounts of money (via loans) and gallons of sweat and tears (mostly tears) to have the title of attorney or counsel or esquire or - to sound very old English - barrister and solicitor. The day I graduated from law school and earned the privilege to add that ESQ to my email signature was the greatest day of my life. Until a few months later when I walked out of the Jacob Javitz Center after completing the 2-day bar exam. Until a few months later when my name was on the NYLJ list of folks who passed the exam. Until the day I got married. Until the day I had my first child. Until the day we became a family of four. I'm blessed to have had so many "best days of my life" but I'm relieved that they started to have more meaning.

After law school, I settled into the busy life of a lawyer, but I was never fully content. I was always looking for my niche. Over the past few years, I've found it! I'm most comfortable being Mom, Esq. I'm always a Mom first. Although, being a lawyer is not necessarily last. Just next. I don't get so stressed out about what the next steps in my career should be because I'm simply happy to be gainfully employed and able to provide for my family. Talk about stripping down to the basics! Sometimes life really is that simple.

I've been an avid reader of blogs for years. My favorite topics are parenting, the latest happenings in the legal profession and, to be 100% honest, celebrity gossip. After all, we all need entertainment. :-) I've finally decided to jump into the blog pool myself. I plan to use this blog as a way to share stories about my hectic life being Mom, Esq. with friends, family and, hopefully, other busy Moms... or Dads.

Speaking of Dads... my hubby is a wonderfully supportive man. Of course, he drives me insane most days and we are the queen and king of banter --but I am extremely fortunate to have a life partner who makes our children a priority, loves us without question and struggles with the work-life balance himself. If I am Mom, Esq., then he should rightfully be Dad, Inc. - or more appropriately, Papi, Inc. We share duties, burdens and, more than anything else, we share the joy of parenting. If I drop the kids off in the morning, Papi picks them up in the evening. He does dishes and I sweep. Papi is the boys' bathtime buddy and I'm the good night reader. We are certainly committed to each other but the loves of our lives, our greatest accomplishments and our shared passion has to be our sons, Lucas and Noah.

Lucas is 5 years old, extremely smart, quite reserved but still very comical and more fun to hang out with than most adults. And boy is he handsome! Definitely going to be the cause of many heartaches in the future! He loves basketball, Mario vs Sonic, Eric Carle books, and cuddling with his mama. Lucas has also developed into a extremely affectionate and protective big brother. Noah recently turned 1 and he is my little nugget. He is a whole lot of love in a little package. Or not so little package. Noah weighed in at 30 lbs at his last doctor's visit. That's 30 lbs of smiles, sticky hands, crazy curls and what's sure to be an adventurous spirit!

Noah's first year has been vastly different than Lucas' first year. We played nursery rhymes and classical music in the car for Lucas. Noah, however, kicks his little legs along to the beat of the Black Eyed Peas because big bro is currently obsessed with the song Boom Boom Pow. Every one of Lucas' bottles were sterilized and were only filled with breast milk, formula or water. When I'm not looking, Lucas is giving Noah sips from a grimy juice box. Lucas ate organic baby food and, although Noah eats very healthily, his brother also sneaks him McDonald's fries and chicken nuggets. Lucas didn't really watch TV until he after he turned 2. Noah's favorite "toy" is the TV remote control. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel that we are treating Noah any better or worse. Its just different. We have evolved into a family of four and there's never a dull moment.

I know its cliche, but these boys are EVERYTHING to me! If I want to lose weight and work out more, yes its so that I'm a healthier and happier person, but it circles back to my desire to be a better mother. If I want to take time for a date night with Papi, yes its so that we remember why we love each other and how much fun we have in each others company, but it circles back to our desire to be better parents who set an example of love and respect. If I want to plan a career move, yes its driven by my desire to succeed and feel accomplished, but it circles back to providing for my kids and being someone they will look up to later in life. You know how they say, everything is better in the Bahamas. Well for me, everything is better with my boys. Perhaps everything would be ideal with me and my boys in the Bahamas - LOL! All I'm trying to say is that my kids allow me to put all my goals and desires into perspective.

I couldn't be a working mom without my amazing support system. My family is incredible - especially my own mother! They all work but they also make my boys a priority in their lives. If my kids are sick or have a performance or class trip they are willing to take a day off so that Papi and I don't have to. And, yes, we have an incredible babysitter. She makes it all work. I cannot even count the ways she has helped us. She also eases the working mom guilt because I have no doubt that my kids are well cared for when I'm not with them. I know they are safe. I know they are eating healthy. I know Lucas' homework is a priority. I know they are both given lots of love and affection. I also know she isn't a push over! We couldn't ask for anything more.

For now I'm probably only writing to family and friends but I hope to eventually expand my reading audience to other busy moms (or dads) or other lawyers like me struggling to find the perfect work-life balance.

Until next time....

Mom, Esq.