Be careful what you wish for 'cause you just might get it...

{things on thursday}

...There is, officially, less then one week left of summer vacation. PJ goes back to school September 4th and with each night I tuck him into bed we get one night closer. Despite the weather, we have been trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible, with play dates, trips to the beach and lake, bowling with Bubbie and Zaydie and visits to a farm for a drizzly-but-fun morning with friends from Autism Friends NJ. I'm hoping that the weather will allow us a trip or two to the pool, but even without it, we are trying to hold on to every last second of our summer, strange as it's been.

...I have gone back to work. I got a position with South Jersey Mom Magazine as an ad sales associate, and will also be doing some writing for the magazine. It's part time, and I can work from home, so while sales is something new for me, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, particularly while my future with Pete is in such a precarious place. I am enjoying the chance to speak with adults in a work setting, and I am loving the chance to create events and marketing ideas. It's a bit of a challenge to work while PJ is awake, but thankfully, I don't mind staying up late!

...We are on Night 3 of PJ being completely pacifier-free. I know, I know. A Goddamn Nearly-Four-Year-Old shouldn't have had a paci that long, anyway. And we're going to pay for it plenty when the time comes to correct his very cute, but wicked , overbite. It just wasn't a battle I was ready to fight until now. It's Parenting Fail #34,294,901, but it's being rectified now. For the third night in a row. Booyah.

Trying out the phones in the Family Center! 
...Today was PJ's last session of speech therapy at CHOP for the year. He and his hardworking therapist "Miss Reeta" (Miss Ranita) have spent much of this year working on building vocabulary, letter sounds, and building his receptive and expressive language skills. He had a final eval today and has come so, so far. Right now, one of the biggest things standing in his way is his inability to attend to a task (stay in his seat, focus, not start talking about Thomas when he should be labeling animals or something). Hopefully, when we revisit his IEP in a few weeks we can set some concrete goals and make a plan to help him reach them. Because seriously? Dude is smart. Truth.

...Pete and I. Eh. I 'm not sure what to say in terms of a status update. We've been separated nearly three months, and while we are both working hard to try and make some repairs to our marriage, I can't say that I know for sure what the resolution will be. Last week, we spent some time alone for the first time since we decided to separate. It was just dinner, but it was a start. It was strained, and my nerves were right at the surface. The longer our separation goes on, the farther I feel from my marriage and so much of my life. But I don't know how to stand down and take a step towards a resolution, one way or another. It's something I am trying to work on, with our therapist and within my own reflections and self-examination. But I am not giving up, even though it would be so much easier then all of this work. I think it's worth it.

...And the thing that's helping me get through this very, very strange summer (aside from PJ, my amazing sister, and all of my friends who love and support us so much and all the time)? Honey Boo Boo. Believe it. While not at all a fan of Toddlers and Tiaras, I have grown to love this sweet little redneck family. They are not, uh, super classy, but they love each other and do their best to work as a family at being happy. It makes me laugh until I cry every single time and it's almost as good as therapy because, really? How can be in a bad mood after watching Mama June let loose at her bachelorette party?? Horrified? A little, but not in a bad mood!!

...Last, a few weeks ago an impromptu picnic on the banks of the Delaware River speared some of the most lovely moments we have spent in a while. Friends gathered on blankets on a muggy, late summer night to eat, talk, and watch our children play. It was an absolutely beautiful evening, so good for my soul. You hardly had to take the time to focus your camera; you simply needed to point it at all of the lovely and remember to press the shutter:

No filter used, it was really this beautiful. 







3 comments

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

That last photo, I LOVE IT.

Congrats on your new gig. Best of luck at South Jersey Mom mag!

Brie Latini said...

Thanks, Steph! It's all kind of a new look for me, but I am excited!

I know, right??? My little reader! He loves books and insisted on taking one that day!

Gwen said...

Yay for your new job! I'm just now starting to work from home too, and I'm so excited about it.

Love those pictures - I really need to use something other than my iPhone.