Mom's the Word!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Small Town Girl

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before... but I've lived within the same 30-mile span of California my entire life. From the age of 2 until I was about 9 years old, was spent inhabiting a grand total of 3 houses, and 1 apartment. All of which were located a scant mile or so apart.

Today, I live within a stone's throw of the park I used to play at all the time... and now my own child plays at the same. The obstetrician who helped birth my children into the world (well, one of them anyway, LOL!) also delivered my younger brother. Up until the last few months, the pediatrician we used was my own growing up.

It's both eerie, yet strangely comforting. I drove by my old elementary school, and past my Kindergarten classroom today. I drove by two of my old houses, one located down the cul-de-sac where I learned to ride a bike. I can recall the day we moved into that house. I was perhaps 7 years old then. Now that house looks a lot different, overgrown by ivy, and the years have not been kind. Now I've got my own kids sleeping in the backseat of the minivan while I take a trip down memory lane.

I've always kind of envied people who have lived all over the world. But in reality, I'm a homebody - happy with the memories, both good and bittersweet, that have been cultivated right here on this Peninsula. There really is no place like home.

Labels: childhood, Family, memories

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 4:07 PM 4 comments

Monday, May 19, 2008

Getting bigger!

Ashley & Mommy, originally uploaded by tjsmommabear.

Ashley turned 6 week old on Sunday! Time feels like it's moving way too fast. She is amazing, and sweet, and she's really beginning to "wake up" to the world.

I am sooo behind on picture editing... and printing. we still have NO pictures of Ashley printed out yet.... even though we bought frames weeks ago. I have been editing them on the laptop the last two evenings... so we can finally print them and get them out to family.

I am digging on Pioneer Woman's Actions for
Photoshop. It's making things as lot easier for me to do post-processing, since I only have 1 hand free most of the time!

Labels: ashley, Family, month 2

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 11:37 PM 2 comments

Monday, May 05, 2008

Done, like dinner...

Dinner.

Lately it's been a 4-letter-word around here... In light of the fact that I now have 2 kids... Holy crap!! I have 2 kids!! Also - the fact that one of them is a 4-week-old colicky mess in the evening....The name of the game is simplicity, shortcuts, and letting go. This means taking help from the store... and a more relaxed approach to things. No this isn't that "Semi-Homemade" crap.... it's real life. Anyone who knows me knows this: I love to cook! I KNOW how to cook, I just barely have the time right now. I still am using natural vs. additive-ridden, organic vs. pesticide-riddled, and I am just trying my best to keep things as balanced as I can.

Menu Monday week of May 5-9, 2008

Monday (Cinco de Mayo!)

Fish Soft Tacos (Tilapia) (Relish! Recipe)
Grilled on grill pan - Brush with Olive Oil, season with salt & pepper & grill. Squeeze lime juice on too & serve with Pepperjack Cheese
Guacamole (Trader Joes pre-made)
Chips
Refried Black Beans
Corn

Tuesday:

Thai Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Dipping Sauce (Relish! Recipe)
Sesame Sugar Snap Peas (Relish! Recipe)
Jasmine Rice (frozen, microwavable, from Trader Joes)

Wednesday:

Almond-Crusted Chicken (Relish! Recipe)
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Packaged from Trader Joes)
Broccoli

Thursday:

Pasta

Friday: Dinner out with Dad

Also, the added challenge of trying to be as dairy-free (for me) as reasonably possible... I had an iced Soy Vanilla Latte the other day @ Starbucks... it wasn't half bad. Vanilla Rice Dream on my Kashi this morning. But, I absolutely had Cheddar cheese on my BBQ Beef sandwich yesterday, without apologies.

So, the next few weeks will probably continue to be a little tough as I/we continue our adjustment. I realized yesterday that we're still trying to run on 1 kid time. Thinking it will still only take an hour to go to the grocery stores... when in reality, it now takes easily twice that... when you factor in the baby needing to be nursed, changed, etc. Getting 2 changed, clean, dressed, and out the door, into the car... We're figuring this out... cause we're adaptable like that!

Labels: baby daze, domestic goddess, Family, food, menu monday

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 9:28 AM 1 comments

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Spring is here... baby stays put for now...

My OB appointment today went well. BP was down a bit... 140/87 - and I had a Non-Stress Test... which was reactive. So, basically, everything is good... and I go back Monday. I'm thinking I will have to go 2-3 times a week now, just to make sure my blood pressure is behaving.

I do still think this baby will end up having a March birthday... but maybe I'm just being hopeful. I am ready to meet her, and not be pregnant any longer than absolutely necessary. It sounds like induction is off the table for now... so let's hope all these crazy BH contractions are doing something.... something besides annoying the crap out of me, and making it hard to sleep. I guess I'll be checked for progress on that Monday as well.

As for Travis... I think he's finally recovered from this last round of ickiness... and the bad attitude/whine-fest/emo-ness that came along with it. He's still not wanting to eat very much, at ALL... but I guess the kid won't starve... right?

So, barring anything unexpected... we should have a nice, mostly quiet weekend with family... Saturday, we're taking Travis to the city-wide Easter Egg Hunt, and probably heading over to some friends for an afternoon BBQ. Then, Sunday, we go to Jeff's Grandma's for Easter... with uncles, cousins, etc.

It should be nice... except for the faux-grief I'm going to get from Jeff's Uncle Steve for not bringing my carrot cake. Seriously... it's like crack - but I am NOT baking a cake right now. As good as EATING it sounds.... MAKING it is a pain-in-my-ass... and I already have one of those right now. Oh, and in my back, and legs, and cervix, and.... you know.... everywhere.

Labels: 37 weeks, Family, parenting, pregnancy, pregnant

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 5:46 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 03, 2008

New Year...

I like that, each year... after the hustle and bustle leading up to the holidays... there is a week or so of just being. After all the shopping, and baking, and wrapping, and rushing.... after the unwrapping, and giving, and getting, and returning...the stores have the wrapping paper, and ornaments marked down to super-cheap.

It's calming... the Christmas trees and lights are still up. The decorations on the city light posts haven't come down yet... And... just like that... it's done. And calm. And comforting.

I made a huge pot of soup on New Years Eve afternoon. And it was just like that.... soothing, calming, comforting. There's something about the process of making soup. It's a labor of love.... chopping, nurturing, seasoning, simmering, stirring... and then you have this delicious meal afterwards. It's so nice.... especially, since we live in this culture of NOW! PREPACKAGED! INSTANT! FAST! To actually do something simple like take the TIME to make soup. It's not hard... but it's a departure from the norm. It's actually, almost meditative. Then you can package it up and send it home with your friends and family.

This year, I don't have any fancy resolutions, Uberlists, or goals. It's simple for me this year. I just want to enjoy my family, be the best mother that I can be, simplify, and make soup more often. :)

Labels: Christmas with the Family, domestic goddess, Family, married life, to do in 2008

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 10:02 AM 1 comments

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Officially, a soccer mom....

Isn't it purdy? We bought it this afternoon! 2003, Honda Odyssey EX, with about 35k miles. Power doors, cruise control, everything we wanted... It rocks! :)

Labels: Family, married life, new car

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 8:16 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Happy Birthday to you, my sweet little man! I can't believe you've already been here with us for 3 years! We already could never imagine life without you! I can't wait to see you continue to grow, and learn. Travis, you continue to amaze us with your brightness and charm, each day! Your sweetness, and empathy toward others is truly remarkable, and I hope you keep that with you throughout your life.

I wish you all the continued happiness, and love that the world has yet in store for you, little man.

Love always,

Mommy

Labels: birthday, Family, holiday, pre-schooler, travis, year 3

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 6:04 PM 1 comments

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Back together again....

I'm far too tired to post a real update from the weekend.... but we had a great time eating, sleeping, just being together. You know, like enjoying a leisurely 2-hour-long dinner.... and a lazy Sunday, with no responsibility.

But, with all that - at times, we still missed Travis terribly. When I got up to pee in the middle of the night... he was not there in the bed next to us, sleeping peacefully. He wasn't there at breakfast, enjoying his pancakes, and complaining loudly about the 15-minute wait.

How funny, that once upon a time, and for many years - we were this young couple... selfish, carefree... and now we're suddenly parents. There is no magic switch you can shut off... now it's always there, no matter what. And, yes, we did miss our boy. The void was there, obviously, cause damn, was it entirely too quiet.

Labels: Family, NaBloPoMo, toddler, weekend

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 9:57 PM 2 comments

Monday, October 29, 2007

'Ehlo!

Damn, time for an update, I guess. I had my OB appointmet this morning. Everything looks good. My bp was 130/60. I was shocked. My low number has never been that low. 70, es, once. But 60?! The nurse found the hb the first place she put the doppler. I was damned impressed. :) I had my blood drawn for the AFP/Triple Screen. That HURT! She apologized, and thinks she hit a nerve in my arm. Yeowch! I'm sure I will have the bruises to show for it tomorrow.

I also called the 3-D place and made the appointment for our gender-determination u/s on December 1. That's going to be so cool! Plus, this time around, Jeff's mom, step-dad, and sister will be able to be there with us! :)

We went up there this weekend, and celebrated BIL's birthday. It was a lot of fun. Yesterday we went and did a little shopping. Their Old Navy has some Maternity stuff. I got a nice hooded sweater for $12 and a cami with a built-in bra for my yoga class.

Tonight we're going to get a Costco pizza and carve our pumpkins.

Tomorrow is Jeff & my 10 year wedding anniversary!! :) Holy crap! How did THAT happen so fast?!

We're going to have his Grandma watch Travis for a couple of hours (for the first time ever!) and go have a nice dinner out. AND this Saturday we're leaving him with Jeff's mom OVERNIGHT! (Another first!) We're going to stay in Napa, and go out to a nice dinner at the Culinary Institute. My MIL gave me a Gift cert. last Christmas for there, and we wanted to use it before baby #2 comes. I am a little nervous about the leaving him overnight, but he'll be great. He loves going to Grandma's! :)

Labels: 17 weeks, Family, Halloween, pregnant

posted by T.J.'s Mommy @ 6:07 PM 2 comments

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