Thursday, January 28, 2010

Home



We are home. I love coming home after being away. I love breathing in the familiar smell of my house as I walk through the door. It's the only time I'm ever aware that my house has it's own distinct smell.

Chloe's first flying experience went very well. She was happy sitting in our laps and looking around and eventually fell asleep.



We lucked out and had room to spread out on 3 out of 4 flights so I was easily able to breastfeed when I needed to.

Poppy kept herself busy looking out the window and watching her DVD player and slept a little.



We had a wonderful visit with my brother and his family. We timed it just right and were also able to see my dad and step-mom.





And the weather, the glorious warm(er) weather. It was a shock to us all to come back to such frigid temps! We're already planning our next cold weather escape.

In other news, I'm finally meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow.


bob-harber-jillian-michaels.jpg


I want to look like this:


valerie_bertinelli_losing_it.jpg



I figure if she can do it at her age, I have no excuse.

Wish me luck- I will need it!




Friday, January 22, 2010

Still Here



Hello- it's been awhile! We are all alive and well, I've just been lazy about blogging lately. I've even gotten behind on my daily reads which rarely happens. Let's see...what have we been up to?

Poppy started ballet lessons. I've been looking forward to putting her in ballet lessons since she was born (really before). Ballet and ice skating. She wants nothing to do with ice skating, but so far she seems very excited about ballet. She is the smallest, shortest one in her class. You can barely see her holding the teacher's right hand:



After I took this picture I had to go inside the studio and sit with her because, as usual, it took her some time to warm up to the idea. She eventually had fun and inquires about her next class every day. I will keep working on the ice skating- maybe next year!

Poppy has been home sick with a cough and fever for the past three days:



Poor thing. She's feeling better today. She might have even been okay at school today, but it's such a hard call to make at 7am. Yesterday we were on the way to school in the morning and she had a little coughing spell so I decided to turn around and keep her home. She was a good sport about it- she loves school and I could tell she was disappointed. She'll be very excited to see all of her friends next week.

Little Miss Chloe is finally eating. She has been for about a month or so. We're still waiting for teeth. She is starting to feel heavier in my arms (she's 15 pounds). Until now she's always seemed like such a little pip-squeak, but she feels much more substantial now. Especially in her carseat/carrier. She's reached the point of being heavy. After this trip out of town, we're giving her carseat to a friend. Chloe will start using Poppy's and we will get Poppy a new high back booster.

She is also on the verge of crawling. She gets around, but she can only go backward and I often find her in spots like this:




Cue R.E.M.:

It's the end of the world as we know it...

And we feel fine:)

We are taking our first flight as a family of four tomorrow. We're going to see my brother and his family in North Carolina. He's home from Afghanistan for R&R. Poppy is looking forward to playing with her cousins and it will be nice to experience some milder temperatures, if only for a few days. I'll be back next week:)




Friday, January 8, 2010

Lots of Rambling


Chris is in New Orleans having a guys' weekend with a college buddy. He deserves it. I hope he makes it a regular thing. Not because we don't miss him when he's gone (believe me- WE DO) but because I think it's good for him. And then mommy can have her turn when the baby is weaned:)

Last night we made snow ice cream. Poppy enjoyed mixing it all by herself. I need to stop being so concerned about her making a mess and let her do more. I'm getting better. I let her pour her own cereal in the morning and she "helps" me with the milk. At her preschool the kids pour their own milk from a little pitcher. I like that. Maybe I'll fill a little cream container and let her use that at home. I love the whole Montessori philosophy and I could stand to implement it more in our daily routine.

Tonight we're having a pizza party. I'm making this dough (without the thyme and pepper flakes) and I'll let Poppy top her own little pizza. I'm guessing she'll go with extra cheese only. I think I might stop by Whole Foods for some veggie pepperoni. They do actually have some good substitutes for pepperoni. Bacon? Not so much.

I told her she could sleep with me tonight. She asks if she can sleep with us EVERY night so I think when daddy's away it won't hurt. I told her she could have a snack in bed, too. I can see the smile on her face now. I wish she were able to watch a movie. It would be fun but she's not quite there yet- she loses interest after about five minutes. She'll probably end up watching Mister Rogers while I "do some work" (read blogs, facebook, check e-mail, edit photos) on the computer.

Saturday we have a music class in the afternoon which is perfect because that is the hardest time of the day for me. It will give us a reason to get dressed and out of the house. And then Daddy comes home Sunday!

I forgot to mention that later today I'm going to a gym to get a family membership. I guess it's sort of a New Year's resolution (even though I don't really believe in those- any day is a good day to resolve to change something) but more than anything the timing is simply a result of finally getting around to it after the busy holidays/school break. Plus, we're planning to have Poppy take swimming lessons there and they start Monday.

This is my new screen saver:




I'm having a very challenging time with her right now so I try to soak in this picture when I can. I forget that she's only three. I get caught up in the whole "big girl" thing but really she's just a baby. I need to remember that.


You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.
-Franklin P. Jones

Ain't that the truth.

A characteristic of the normal child is that he doesn't act that way very often.
-Author Unknown

Phewww. I think she's normal.

The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child.
-Joe Houldsworth

And patience. I would steal some of that if I could find some:)



Monday, January 4, 2010

Enjoying



-being home again after a road trip to Kentucky to visit my in-laws (loved seeing you if you're reading!)

-my new 2010 calendar. I can't do any sort of electronic calendar. I like to have something in which to write and hold in my hands. I buy the same one every year and it's filled with lovely quotes like the one above.

-our fireplace

-washing and organizing lots of new clothing for the girls

-playing with my news camera lens

-these last few days at home with Poppy and Chloe before Poppy returns to preschool

-the fact that Poppy returns to preschool this week


I hope you're enjoying, too:)