What is it about those Twilight books?

Yes I admit I have read them and I love them! Friday the new movie comes out. I am not going on Friday but maybe in a few weeks when it dies down a little bit. I was totally skeptical of the books and then I couldn't get enough. Well I feel a little better after reading the following article:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/16/older.twilight.fans/index.html
It isn't just me. Actually the more I talk about it the more I run into people around the same age that love the books as well. I was a little embarrassed but now I just don't care. I read those while I was pregnant and I loved them! It is just hard to get into new books now but I am sure I will find something. If you haven't read them go out there and read them!

Bribbing your child

I am sure most parents think that they aren't going to bribe their child and then there is lack of sleep, crying, screaming, whining, etc. and suddenly you are bribing your child with anything to get them to do something small that should be easy but isn't because sometimes a toddler just doesn't make sense. Last night Murdoch wasn't eating while we were having dinner and one of the Prius commercials came on. Murdoch loves commercials, especially the Prius ones and the local furniture company ones with stupid jingles. So last night I got him to eat a sandwich by replaying the Prius commercial over and over again. For each bite he got to watch the commercial again. At the time it was a little annoying but I have to say looking back at it, it is kind of funny that a commercial gets your kid to eat a sandwich. Ah the funny things that you can't predict will happen to you as a parent.

Swimming

One thing I really enjoy is working out. It is the one time of my day that is just for me. No kids asking for milk, food, read me a book, etc. And no one is showing up at my office to ask for something, calling me for something, or sending me an email asking me for something. When I was pregnant I got caught up in a boring workout routine which involved a lot of cardio and a lot of watching TV while I did it and not too much work on my part. I think I just did the same machine day in and day out. My body got used to it and it was easy and mindless for me to do.

Now post-baby and knowing that there aren't any more I have decided to re-dedicate myself to working out and really getting in shape. So today I went swimming for the first time in about 15 years. I swam for about 15 years or so before that. I swam about 36 laps and I was tired and it feels like I am going to be sore but it is a good feeling.

I have set a goal for myself - a sprint triathlon in the Spring. I don't really know how to ride a bike very well, I hate running, and I have never done an open water swim. So it is definitely going to be a challenge but having a goal I think will go a long way in getting me back at the gym on a regular basis and really working hard when I go. I will post little updates as I reach more and more goals throughout the process.

The new things they can do!

• Murdoch is now using every other foot to walk up the stairs instead of just the left or just the right
• Thayer loves staring in the mirror and 'chatting' and giggling while do that - Murdoch never really did that so it is so cute!
• The word 'Why' has made a strong appearance in Murdoch's vocabulary
• Murdoch gives you a play by play of everything going on around him and basically anything that pops into his head - it is pretty funny at times.

Nothing else going on here. Just getting used to being back at work and trying to get a routine down and then also trying to have a little downtime and me time.

Welcome Cooper!

One of my best friends had a baby boy on Friday - Cooper! Love the name. I went to visit them at the hospital yesterday and he is so cute and they look great - just a little tired as all new parents are. They started a blog to track the progress of the little guy.

I finally downloaded some pictures!

So these are at least a month old but they are still good.

Here is our Labor Day weekend in Maine.

Here are the pictures from Murdoch's birthday party.

Differences already

I know that my two kids will be/are different but I have to share a difference between the two that is just due to the fact that one is a boy and one is a girl. I went to Target the other day to get some new clothes and I bought Murdoch some new pants and I got some pants for Thayer. I was just searching for 3T and 9M. When I got home I started to take the tags and stickers off to get them ready for the wash and I noticed the funniest thing. Murdoch's pants had a label of 3T, Pants. Thayer's pants said 9M, Boot Cut Pants. Boot cut pants at 9M are you kidding me!? I was not expecting something like that so young. I am clearly not ready for a daughter! :)

First Day Back

Yesterday was my first day back at work. It was like I was starting a new job the night before. But once I arrived it was like I never left. Everyone stopped by to say hello, I visited with people, some projects had moved forward and some where in the same place as they were when I left. I hate getting up that early because it makes for a long day but the day went by quickly and I honestly really enjoyed myself. I got to talk to some adults, I went to the gym, and I felt completely overwhelmed and like there weren't enough hours in the day to get my work done so things are back to normal :) I picked Thayer up and they said that she was smiling and talking to herself in the mirror. I was a little sad to miss that but she was so happy and smiley when I picked her up that it didn't matter. I miss seeing Murdoch in the AM but I had a really nice evening with him. I have started to get caught up in what I am missing and what has already passed me by and I need to remember to enjoy what is going on right now because it will be gone before I know it. Happy Halloween!

Things to remember...

1. She now smiles
2. She loves to have Andy rub his head on her stomach
3. She lifts her legs up and falls to the side - the first step to rolling over!
4. The little lower lip comes out and then her whole face crumbles - I absolutely love it!
5. Huge eyes
6. She likes to look side to side
7. She likes to sleep with one arm in your armpit

Recipe - Tuna Salad

I made this last night for the first time and I love it! It is not your traditional tuna salad. It is still fast and I think way better. Great for a quick dinner on a week night.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tuna-salad-recipe/index.html

Emily's Visit

My sister headed out for a visit this past weekend and we had a great time. She spent a lot of time with Thayer relaxing and time with Murdoch running around. Just in case you don't think the second child gets a lot of pictures here is a link to way too many pictures of Thayer.

In one week...

I will be back to work. Or I should say I will be back at my office job because being at home with kids isn't exactly a vacation. Thayer is 13 weeks tomorrow so she will be about 14 weeks and just over 3 months. I went back to work when Murdoch was 10 weeks old and I couldn't wait to go back. That leave was much harder for me and I don't know exactly why. He was a good baby, he slept pretty well, I had an easy recovery, etc. I could wait to get back to work and talk to adults again. Now here I am 13 weeks away from work with one more to go and I don't have that same drive. I am not really sure why. One part of me really wants to go back and then there is the other part that doesn't. I have really enjoyed my leave this time though I am not sure why it is so different. Is Thayer easier, did I know what to expect so that made it easier, is it because I know the amount of crazy that is about to happen, is it that I am a little scared to go back to work after being out for some long, is it because I know this is my last maternity leave, is it because I thought I would get so much more done when I was on leave? I really don't know the answer - maybe it is a little bit of all of those and more. Either way next Thursday morning and day is going to be much different than this one. I am going to try and enjoy the last week at home instead of thinking about next week and how crazy things are going to be which would ruin my last week. If I had a week vacation normally I would be thrilled. But right now a week feels like just a blink of an eye and I will be back to the exhaustion and crazy that goes along with work. Here is to the longest week of my life!

Websites I want to remember

I saw these two websites in a magazine article and I want to make sure I remember them. These have coupons for green products and coupon codes good for discount or free shopping.

www.ecobunga.com

www.sustainlane.com

Recipe - Lasagna Rolls

I have started to look at some old recipes now that the weather is getting colder. I don't like the fact that the weather person said don't expect 60's any time soon. I am just not ready for that. But ready or not the cold is coming so I am looking for some comforting recipes. Here is one I really enjoy.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/lasagna-rolls-recipe/index.html

One question I have for you guys, which is better - organic frozen spinach from China or non-organic local frozen spinach? I know the organic is better but what about all of the pollution put into the air getting it here? Is local always better even if it isn't organic compared to organic from half way across the world?

Memories

I have been getting all of Murdoch's old clothes out to wash and either get ready for Thayer or give away to one of our friends. I have so many clothes and there really is no reason to keep them all. After I washed them and finally started to fold them a lot of memories came back to me that were associated to clothes that Murdoch wore and specific events. I remember a particular outfit that he wore during a family trip to Maine, his first Halloween costume, and several others. It was a little depressing and sad to know that my little guy has grown so much. On one hand I want to keep them but that isn't going to bring back my little guy it is just going to junk up my basement a little more and be one more box I need to move in a few years. I know this will happen over and over again - different things that the kids outgrow will hold specific memories for me and it will be a little depressing but there are more memories ahead so I am trying to focus on those.

Recipe - Stomboli

I made this on Saturday night. Two shortcuts - don't make the dough yourself - I buy it at Bertuccis and it works really well. Also you can make the pepper and onion piece ahead of time and just store that in the fridge for later in the day and then you just have to assemble. Great recipe to do with your kids and they will love it!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/stromboli-recipe/index.html

Here is to another good family meal!

Kid stats

Murdoch went in for his 2 year check-up and Thayer went in for her 2 month check-up last week. There were some tears after the vaccinations and Murdoch had his blood drawn but they are both very healthy.

Murdoch

• 38 Inches - 99th percentile
  

• 33.5 pounds - 94th percentile

Thayer

• 24.25 inches - 96th percentile
• 14 pounds, 1 ounce - 98th percentile

So grateful for healthy strong kids!

3 things I learned from my toddler this week....

1. After you eat half of your hot dog bun it becomes a flip phone and you can call everyone in your family.
2. You can have an entire conversation with a hammer that you find outside of school. And you then check for it every time you go to school and leave school for the rest of the week.
3. Don't eat a lollipop before or during your haircut because you end up with a beard made of hair from your head.

PS - He just went pee on the potty - I can't wait until that is no longer and exciting event!

Recipe - Heavenly Broiled Fish

I have been meaning to post recipes for quite awhile and I am finally getting around to it. I like to try new recipes and I think the question 'What should we have for dinner tonight?' to be a really annoying one. So I thought I would post some recipes that I like and I find pretty easy. This one is good for a weeknight and I think kids would like it as well. I got it from my Mom on my last try home. I hope you enjoy it.

Heavenly Broiled Fish

• 2 lb. skinned fish fillets (I used tilapia)
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c. softened butter
• 3 T. mayo
• 3 T. Chopped green onions
• 1/4 t. salt
• Dash of liquid hot pepper sauce

• Place the fish in a single layer on a well greased baking platter or dish.
• Brush with lemon juice.
• Combine the remaining ingredients.
• Broil fish about 4-6 inches from the heat for 4-6 minutes or until it flakes easily.
• Remove from heat and spread with cheese mixture.
• Broil for additional 2-3 minutes until lightly browned.
• Serve immediately.

Enjoy! I should be organized for some pictures on the next post.

Ask your mother...

One of my goals while being on maternity leave has been to get through my backlog of magazines which is probably around 18 months or so. I found the following articles in on of the magazines and I thought I would share it with you. I plan on sending these to my Mom. The title is '10 questions to ask your mother'. I thought it was a great idea. Here are the questions:

1. What's the one thing you would have done differently as a Mom? (Now that I am a Mom I am guessing that there is probably more than one :)
   
2. Why did you choose to be with my father?
3. In what ways do you think I'm like you? And not like you?
4. Which one of us kids did you like the best?
5. Is there anything you have always wanted to tell me but never have?
6. Do you think it's easier or harder to be a mother now than when you were raising our family?
7. Is there anything you regret not have asked your parents?
8. What's the best thing I can do for you right now?
9. Is there anything that you wish had been different between us - or that you would still like to change?
10. When did you realize you were no longer a child?

I thought it was a good article. Something good to ask your Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, or someone else that is special to you.

Hoping to be a better blogger in October!