6.27.2011

Here's what I know..

I know that I do not have that easy mac and cheese & chicken nuggets eater.

Olivia's top ten foods:
1. Strawberries
2. EGGS (that really should be #1)
3. Sliced mushrooms - Raw (No, I'm not kidding.)
4. Yogurt (in the form of regular,  gogurt, and frozen)
5. Rice (Yes, I mean plain jane brown/white rice. I've started mixing it up with fiesta sides aka spanish rice. Gourmet.)
6. Blueberries!
7. Salmon (LOVES it. This should be earlier on this list. Lets consider this list in no particular order.)
8. Bread (recently we have had much success with grilled cheese)
which brings me to ...
9. cheese
10. beans & corn - tied because I can't decide which she prefers more..

So if you are like me and have a silly toddler that you can't just pop something in the microwave for.. CHEERS!

5.07.2011

Inspiration.

I haven't posted in a while. Okay, a LONG while. My only excuse is that being a working mother is crazy. My schedule (weekly)... 40 hrs in the office, 2.5 hrs taking lunch in the office, 10 hrs in the car driving to & from work + making dinner + giving kisses, baths and as much attention possible in 3 short hours after work + some kind of exercise (pulling the wagon around the block counts) + showering + sleep (amount of sleep is negotiable).

All of this IS possible because my day starts at 4:30am (latest).. and I (try) to be asleep by 10pm. When I find myself utterly exhausted I remind myself that (a) I spend less time in the car with these hours & (more importantly, b) more time with my family.
      Inspiration to blog more often is coming. I promise... 

BTW Olivia is 2 next Friday! I'm flying from DC --> San Diego Thursday night (red eye) to make it home on time :)

1.22.2011

Bye Bye Binky

We (I should say Olivia but I really think this was a commitment made, or forced in her case, by both or us) have been binky FREE since December 31. And since Olivia doesn't even blink at the word binky anymore (a month ago if you even said binky she had to have it) I thought I would share the pros & cons of taking the plunge.

Before I do that, I will be honest and share that I LOVED the binky. Don't get me wrong she wasn't allowed to have it when she was playing, talking, watching t.v and rarely in the store. But for those car trips (you know the ones), bedtime and those rare in-store tantrums.. I'm sure all you binky mommies understand why this was as hard for me as it was her.

PROS:
1. Sleep. Olivia does not wake up looking for her binky anymore (you know when they realize at some point that it fell out of their mouth and they need MOM to come find it), with that no longer in her way she sleeps peacefully all night long.

2. The panic that sets in when you can't find one of the hundred (ok ten) binky's you own and you're out and your child is starting to have a melt down because they want it.. now.

**Note: if I'm starting to make it sound like Olivia was a monster without it I'm exaggerating. These moments were more me than her. The binky, I'm not afraid to admit it, was a comfort object for me.

3. The whining that began around 6:30pm because she knew bedtime was approaching and she wanted her binky.. gone.

4. No more binky's everywhere. Yes, I know you know what I'm talking about. There's one on your nightstand, bathroom, kitchen, crib, diaper bag.. 

CONS:

1. Sleep Train. Remember when you had to teach your baby to fall asleep on their own in their crib? It's not quite that hard but we are relearning how to fall asleep sans binky.

2. You have to survive that first week of running errands without it.

3. It's sad. Taking away something they love is sad and hard.

4. You have to be aware that they will compensate with something. Most likely a finger. So far we have managed to ward that off.

So if you're thinking about taking the plunge I hope it will be as easy, if not easier, for you!

1.14.2011

Talking!

I've been lagging.
We have been busy!

"that's an A!" (She finds it in the alphabet, we're working on B)
"that's the moon"
"what are you doing"
"I love you"
"Olivia"

And much more!

She tells me secrets, gives me hugs and rubs my shoulder when I rub her back. She makes me laugh all day long. I love her to pieces!

1.09.2011

Silent Prayer

The tragedy in Tucson yesterday hits close to home. 

God Bless the victims and all those effected.

As I watch the University of Arizona come together I am proud as ever to be a Wildcat.

Bear Down.