Day 658 | Making Sushi

Chase was out of school one day last week, and while he was out, his classmates made paper sushi (because they were reading this book about a cat who loves sushi). Chase's teachers were sweet enough to send him home with his own "fixings" so he wouldn't feel left out. As you can see, Chase and Robbe (that's his "say cheese" face, by the way), really enjoyed the craft. It's just too bad we couldn't eat them at the end!

Day 657 | Advice for Soon-to-be Moms

Throwback photo: this is me one month away from meeting Chase. Oh, if only I had this list to prepare me for what was to come...

Since my good friend announced her pregnancy, I decided it was time to round up some of the smartest moms I know (my friends) to instill some bits of knowledge to help all soon-to-be-moms ease into the transition of motherhood. I know I could have used this list! Bare in mind, these are just some friendly tips. Some you'll agree with, some you won't. And that's ok.

Oh, and sorry in advance for the length of this post. It turns out experienced moms have a lot to offer in terms of good advice. I'm not surprised.

On motherhood (simply stated):

• It is horribly cliched, but having children truly is both way more fun and way harder than I ever anticipated. 
• Being a mom is just so wonderful. Congratulations. Enjoy. It's better than people let on. :) 

On pregnancy:

• Enjoy the solo time with your partner. You won’t have solo one-on-one time for a long time so try to focus on that relationship while you have the time+energy to do so.
• Be present. Don’t keep waiting for the next milestone (exiting the first trimester! the first ultrasound! the gender reveal! the point of external viability!) or you’ll miss the whole miracle of what’s going on inside you.
• Drink oj before ultrasounds. It gives the wee one a bit of a sugar high and ensures that he/she is not sleeping while the tech is trying to get the right angles. *Warning: the baby might be a *bit* too active for some people’s preferences.
• Make Sara's oatmeal balls!!  **side note: I didn't write this one...however, I will say that these oatmeal balls did get me through my pregnancies, labors, and breastfeeding hunger attacks!
• Appreciate your sleep. It’s never going to be the same. The baby will eventually sleep through the night (I promise!) but your sleep patterns will probably be altered forever.

On accepting support:

• Protect time for yourself right now. It’s harder to make time for yourself after you’ve gotten in the routine of always being around. Come up with a game plan to protect what’s important to you.
• Plan for a support system. Baby rearing is hard. Find people (family, friends, babysitter, etc) that can give you a break.
• Think about the things that are important to you and do what you can to protect them. Make them non-negotiable, like you would some of the other things in your life related to the baby or life, even if other people may think they're not as important. You can only take excellent care of your child if you're taking excellent care of yourself (and sometimes that means putting your child first, and sometimes it doesn’t).
• Accept help as much as you can. People love to do it and the time away makes you a better parent in the long run. Missing your child is kind of fun sometimes.

On childbirth:

• Don’t fixate [too much] on the actual labor/delivery. Whatever is going to happen, will happen. You have no control over it and there’s no point dwelling on it.
• We are made/designed for labor, it is a natural thing so what happens is ok and normal.  Trust your delivery team.
• The idea of childbirth is scary but everyday you see women walking down the street that have done it. And are willing to do it again. And have done it again. And again. It can't be that bad if that many women are willing to do it, and actually do it again. They survived and you will too. 

On having a newborn: 

• Beware of excessive amounts of laundry. It’s amazing how many dirty clothes such a teeny person can create.
• If you turn out not to be one of those women who bounces back from childbirth immediately and is out and about and feeling spry within days, know that you are not alone.
• No one ever mentions that there is a 4th Trimester, but there is one.  Look it up. It is that first couple of months with the baby and adjusting to a new way. It may not be easy but you will figure it out.
• You will never spoil/train them to be dependent upon you by holding them a lot for the first couple months.  Enjoy it without regret.
• Swaddle, swaddle, swaddle: they are used to being snug so they like it. 
• You will probably be late for your first doctor appointment with the baby. It is shocking to learn how long it truly takes to get out the door. In a nutshell, try to make post-10am appointments.
• I used the Boppy pillow to sit on more than anything.  It helped with taking off that extra pressure after labor. 
• After the baby is born it is ok to not feel that overwhelming joy and love.  It took my husband and I a few days/week to really feel it.  That is totally normal.
• Once you deliver, your hormones drop/change so fast that you may start to shake and get really cold.  Again, totally normal. 
• Sleep when your baby sleeps. Everyone always says it, but I actually did that with my second baby and it really makes a difference. Total game changer. 
• When the baby won't stop crying and you are seconds away from pulling your hair out, it's ok to put the baby in the crib, walk away and take a deep breath. The baby is in a safe place and you can take a minute to regain some sanity before you dive back in.

On diapering:

• Disregard the weight ranges on disposable diapers and size up to prevent leaks!
• Find your diaper: in my head, I entertained notions of being a cloth diaper kind of gal. In reality, I tried every single brand of natural organic disposable and endured many many diapering disasters (oh, the poop....) before finally turning to good ol' Pampers -- and never had to worry about leakage again. Turns out diaper brand, just like everything else about parenting, is a very personal thing. 
• If you use a diaper pail, use the correct bags for them: the knock-off brands and "biodegradable" options smell more, even with the cover shut.

On childrearing:

• Everything is a phase. When you hit a rough patch, bare in mind that everything is a phase. Hold your ground, make sure expectations are clear, and wait it out. It’ll pass. Seriously.
• It's ABSOLUTELY ok to use your free time to leave the house a mess and watch TV instead for the hour your child is napping.
• Create clear + realistic expectations for your child and stick to it. Giving in and making exceptions only confuses them and allows them to think if they push you, you'll cave.
• Routine is huge! 
• Your relationship with your partner will change. That's ok! Let it morph. Relationships have different stages. 
• For labor and for motherhood, I found it extremely helpful (life-changing) to have a meditation practice. It can be 5 minutes/day of mindful breathing or whatever. There are tons of resources online, including many guided meditations. (This is one blog I really like.) 
• Sing! Singing is so good for you and for your baby. There's lots of research about it, and it just feels good! We made up songs about changing diapers, brushing teeth, and continue to dance together in the living room to our favorite CD's. Good stuff.
• There is a wide range of normal for everything: rashes, developmental milestones, sleeping, feeding etc. Even when it feels like you are the only one in that playgroup that doesn't have a baby that does x, you're not. And that rash? Probably normal.
• Take lots of pictures, you won't regret it.
• Go on walks. Fresh air is so rejuvenating.
• Shower and get dressed daily. You'll feel so much better.
• We all do that massive clean up the night before that playdate we scheduled last week, enlisting our husbands in a panic to help in our frenzy quick clean and promising up and down that it won't look like that again. Yesterday that place was a MESS!
• Take more videos, not just pictures.
• Visit consignment stores for adorable baby clothes for much less. Kids grow out of clothes so fast that these stores carry really nice things and you save money. Win-win.

On accepting advice (the perfect way to end a list of advice...):

• Listen to advice and try new things but remember that every kid is unique. What works for the baby down the street may not work for your baby. On the same token, sometimes all it takes is trying something different.
• You will get a lot of opinions about a lot of things. You need to do what works for you, not what works for other people. It’s impossible to remain totally unaffected by what other people think, but develop a list of people that you trust and go to them for advice.
• People will not always like what you decide to do as a parent, but it's your life, your kid, you make the rules and as long as your child is happy, healthy, and safe, who cares.
• Whatever you think is right, IS right.  Trust your gut.

**Special thanks to all my fabulous, supportive, super-smart friends that contributed to this thorough list. You guys are the best!

Day 656 | Standard Saturday

This morning started out pretty great. We had some yummy pancakes, then I walked in on Robbe snuggling Miga in our bed (see photo), then Chris impressed the boys with his T-Rex in a coffee cup (see photo), and then Chase and I went for a lovely winter-walk to run some birthday party errands (and found this awesome crown-see photo). Unfortunately, after that, the day took a rough shift: Robbe came down with his highest fever to date. Boo!

Poor little guy felt like dirt the whole afternoon. Thank goodness for tylenol, that's all I've got to say. 

Day 655 | Lunch Date

Are you jealous of my lunch dates? You should be!

Day 654 | Science Sessions

We participated in our second science [FaceTime] session with Uncle Matt this afternoon. We made ooblek out of cornstarch and water. It took Chase a bit of time to warm up to the idea of making a big mess and having dirty hands. Robbe never did, really.

Overall it was a big hit. Thanks, Uncle Matt, for taking the time to join us for the fun + educational activity.

Day 653 | Penguin Hat

Robbe has a new favorite accessory: this hand-me-down penguin hat from Mary Catherine. I'm not sure what it is, exactly, that drew him in but he's hooked. And, he's adorable. 

Day 652 | Rainy Day

But at least we were looking cute in our cheery rain boots. 

Day 651 | Toilet Paper Stamper

Need a quick and cute craft for the kiddos? Try this toilet paper roll stamper.

Just squeeze a roll into a heart shape and tape it to stay put. Then dip in paint and let your little one go wild (within reason). Two- and four-year-old approved!

Day 650 | Arugula Leek Pasta

This pasta is amazing. Every time I think to make it, I'm obsessed with it. Maybe if I post it here, it'll become a more permanent part of our meal rotation.

The Arugula Leek Pasta recipe. You won't be disappointed.

Day 649 | Uncle Dan: Take 2

This was just too cute of a photo not to post. Thanks, for a lovely visit, Uncle Dan!

Day 648 | Welcome, Uncle Dan!

My Uncle Dan is here for a quick stop over on his way to France tomorrow. We're so happy to have him here...and he's already a favorite of both boys.

We'd love a longer visit bit we'll take anything we can get. 

Day 647 | Sticker Addict

Another catch up post today. Hope you don't mind.

For the last week or so, Robbe has become obsessed with, um, more like addicted to, stickers. He's always expressed a certain level of enthusiasm surrounding stickers but it's really kicked up in the last week. I blame this sticker book from Aunt Kelli. It has 700+ stickers and sweet Robbe just can't get enough. It's the first thing he reaches for in the morning and the last thing we can put away at night. It's really helping him hone his fine motor skills as he peels and sticks all day long.

And, in case you're wondering, 700 is a lot of stickers. We're finding them everywhere. It's a good thing these stickers bring him so much joy. That makes cleaning up 100 stickers a day totally worth it.

Day 646 | Renwick Gallery

I haven't had a chance to tell you about the crazy impressive new museum we visited on my birthday: the Renwick Gallery. It's been closed for renovation for over two years and just reopened a few months ago. The large-scale installments are described perfectly by the name of the exhibition: WONDER. I haven't been this impressed by a museum in quite some time...maybe ever. 

Highly recommended!

Day 645 | Happy Birthdays

The birthday boy blowing out his candle.

Birthday season is in full swing around here. We had a pretty perfect day yesterday and, although Chris had to work a part day (thank you, Mother Nature, for an ice storm-related delay), we tried to squeeze in some special moments for him, too. There will also be more celebrating for him this weekend.

In the interest of getting sappy for just a moment, let me say that today's birthday boy makes me the happiest version of myself. I feel beyond lucky to have found him in a world full of people and am grateful everyday to call him my best friend. Happy birthday, Swan. 

Day 644 | The Year of More

Something about another trip around the sun that makes you reevaluate your life, you know? I’ve committed to a “year of more” for my 32nd year. More what, you might ask? Read on.

1. More appreciation: my goal is to be more appreciative of the little things in life that I take for granted: being healthy, baby giggles, warm hugs, etc.
2. More mindful: this time with my boys is so fleeting and yet it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. I feel a tide shift this year: the boys are in a better place, I’m in a better place. I’m going to try to live in the moment more and be consciously present.
3. More support: we haven’t made any decisions about a big move, yet, but the writing’s on the wall for there to be more help in my current situation in DC. Fingers crossed.
4. More sleep: do moms ever sleep normal again? I can’t really even blame the kids anymore…it’s just always something. Some how I’m going to get back on the sleep bandwagon again. This year is my year.
5. More flexible: I’ve been working on this one lately. And I’m making progress. No, seriously. We’ll see how much further I can go. 
6. More decisive: you would not describe me as a decisive person. Something to strive for...
7. More sympathetic: I didn’t really think my lack of sympathy was a terrible flaw, but now that I have two kiddos (who tend to get sick/hurt on a regular basis), I really need to up my game, here. Oh, and also for my poor husband’s sake.
8. More patient: see above. Two kids + no patience = :( . Two kids + patience = :)
9. More generous: I want to get better at helping people. Maybe that’s little things (helping watch a friend’s baby when they’re in a bind) or maybe it’s bigger (starting to volunteer), but either way, I need to start giving back more.
10. More vegetables: we can all be a bit more healthy in what we eat, right?
11. More me-time: this is probably the most elusive on the list. But it definitely needs to be here and needs to be addressed.

Day 643 | Happy Heart Day!

A little glimpse of what our Valentine's Day celebration looked like. Feeling lots of love today!

Day 642 | Date Night

Dinner and a movie. This is crazy. 

Babysitters are the best. 

Day 641 | Feeling Lucky

An impromptu dance party with the boys post-dinner. 

I don't know what, exactly, it was about today but I'm feeling incredibly lucky tonight.

Maybe it's that my whole house is clean without me cleaning it (part of my bday present from Chris was a housekeeper...best gift ever!). Maybe it's the super thoughtful and happy bouquet of tulips that arrived at my door today (thanks, mom and dad!). Maybe it's that it's been a shockingly pleasant streak with the boys lately. Maybe it's because we're one day into a luxurious four day weekend. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I actually am the luckiest girl ever. 

That's probably it. 

Day 640 | Me vs. Rx

For a long time, I've avoided taking medications. I've never been able to properly articulate why this is, but I think, at the root, I just want to give my body a chance to fight off whatever's going on before intervening. After all, that's kind of what it's designed to do (not for everything, though!).

After my experience with my pharmacy and getting a prescription filled this week, I realized that the other reason I prefer not to take medication is because the whole "filling a prescription process" is a joke. And not a funny one.

In order to get my prescription filled after my dermatology appointment last week (my body can't sufficiently handle my hormonal acne, it turns out), it took three visits to the pharmacy, two calls to the doctor's office, and several annoyances along the way. For starters, on my initial trip to the pharmacy, they informed me that the drug wasn't covered by my insurance and that it would cost $470. I'm sorry, what?!? No, I'm not paying $470 for an elective medication. Are you kidding me?

After far too much rigmarole, I received a call from the doctor's office that there was a coupon online for the medication. Yeah right, I'm sure this coupon will drop the price significantly enough to change my mind. Doubt it. I printed it out feeling very leery: the vocabulary was confusing and vague so I brought it in assuming the worst. About 15 minutes later I walked out with my prescription after paying...wait for it...$10.

[shaking my head + rolling my eyes]

You've got to be kidding me with this process, right? I printed out a public coupon and saved $460. There's something seriously wrong here.

Day 639 | Green Oatmeal: I can vouch

It's been almost 3.5 years and I've never actually eaten the green oatmeal that I serve the boys. I've tasted it several times (so I knew it wasn't terrible), but it's never been my breakfast.

Over the last month, I've given up cereal as my go-to breakfast option. It dawned on me that the boys are eating super healthy, nourishing breakfasts and I eat, basically, a bowl of sugar. Not anymore! I've been eating what the boys eat every morning. We've been a bit out of our green oatmeal routine lately (yogurt with berries and granola or apple/cinnamon/raisin oatmeal have been the top in the rotation) but today was my day to prove to myself that if the boys can eat, I can. And, guess what? I couldn't even tell it had kale in it. No seriously.

Today's version of green oatmeal:

• 1/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 frozen cube of kale
• scattering of raisins
• a dollop of applesauce (to add sweetness)
• Mix oatmeal, water, and raisins. Add kale cube. Microwave for 90 seconds. Stir in applesauce (this helps cool it down).

I promise you can do it! 

Day 638 | This Kid

Chase is about the cutest version of himself (ever!) right now. He's hysterical, and sweet, and adorable all at the same time.

Two of my current favorite sayings of his:

1. "You're my special girl." As in: he wants something from me. He'll say, "Mom, can you help me get dressed this morning because you're my special girl." How could anyone say no to that?


2. "I love you so much I believe in you." I mean, amazing, right? We've adopted this new phrase as a family mantra. It's just about perfect and it's all him.

Day 637 | Another Train Enthusiast

While we were waiting at the chiropractor yesterday (yep, the back pain has resurfaced...boo!), Robbe put together this whole train track by himself. It took a lot of hard work and concentration, but he did it! I was pretty impressed.

Day 636 | Winter Biking

After nap, Chase requested a bike riding outing. As kids from Wisconsin, Chris and I immediately said no...because it's early February. Definitely not prime bike riding weather.

And then, upon reflection, we realized that it was in the mid-forties outside. That's totally acceptable outdoor biking weather (even for me!). We all had a blast and Chase is getting really good at his balance bike (apparently buying it at age 2 was a little early). 

Maybe we're not ready to trade Washington, DC, winters for Wisconsin winters quite yet. 

Day 635 | Seriously Social

Oh, and Chase spent some time with this lion, too.

Today was a day. We managed to see three different sets of friends (four if you count the sweet friend who is part of our babysitting swap and stayed with our kiddos after bedtime) over the course of today. Whoa.

We met a new friend at the Building Museum for a play date. So fun meeting new people!

Another friend hosted us for [a delicious] dinner and lovely conversation. 

And yet another friend let us crash their house post-bedtime for a glass of wine and kid-free communicating...the night before their due date, no less!

We feel very social and very lucky for the people who have crossed paths with us in this city. 

Day 634 | Succulents

It's my latest attempt at nurturing a succulent garden (thanks for the early Valentine's gift, Chris!). And I think (I think!) I figured out the secret: don't water it. No, seriously. My recent success with my surviving succulents (only two, sniff, sniff), is that I completely ignore them. Think, water once every few months. Crazy, right?

I'll let you know if I can keep this beautiful collection alive this time around. I'm optimistic!

Day 633 | This is 9:30am?

Check out what my 9:30am looked like today!

My friend took Robbe for a few hours (as a new childcare swap we've started up) and I spent 2.5 hours working this morning (latte, plus music, plus candle, plus new succulent garden). Even better than that, because I worked in the morning, I had a luxuriously long and leisurely naptime to do whatever I wanted (that included working on Chase's class Valentines and Robbe's birthday invite).

Why didn't I set this up earlier?

Day 632 | Lunch Date

Robbe and I did something crazy today: we (just the two of us) had a lunch date.

I know, after swimming last week and now a spontaneous lunch date this week, we've really got to rein it in or, who knows what situation we'll find ourselves in next week. Stay tuned.

Day 631 | Happy Robbe

This is happiness: an almost-two-year-old watching toy truck videos (vetting potential birthday presents).

So sweet. 

Day 630 | 60 Degrees? Yes, Please!

Last week we had 22 inches of snow. Today, we played outside in 60 degrees. And we had the park all to ourselves. I'll take it.