Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Because this blog doesn't have to be all baby, all the time. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Our new Keurig Coffee Maker & Gloria Jean's Hazelnut K Cups
Life-changing.

2. Adele's song, "Someone Like You." Can't. Stop. Listening. To. It. I'm sure by this time Mark's sitting around wondering which ex-boyfriend I still have undying feelings for. But it's not even the lyrics, well, it is, they're beautiful; but between her throaty voice, the piano, her hair... I think I have a girly crush. Just watch and listen and enjoy.

 
3.  Mac lipstick in "Craving." The perfect summer pink. I have a feeling this one's going to be rocked throughout fall as well, not even close to being ready to turn it in just yet. 

4. The Anthony's on Dr. Phil. This case fascinates me... and the rest of America. I've always been a fan of Dr. Phil. I think a lot of weeks he speaks the only truth and makes the only sense on all of television. And it's damn refreshing. To summarize his two-part interview with Casey Anthony's parents, Cindy continues to be in some serious denial, enabling her daughter by making excuses and lying on her behalf. Like mother/like daughter. True to form, Dr. Phil was having none of it. George actually has some interesting insight into his family/this case and offered the only believable explanation I've heard thus far for what might have happened to little Caylee three years ago. And that is, Casey, wanting to go out and have fun (read: hot body contests at Florida clubs), sedated Caylee with chloroform, but accidently gave her too much, leading to her death, which she then tried to cover up. It was the first time anyone had ever heard this, even Cindy. I'm not saying that's what happened, I just found it an interesting explanation and found it telling that Cindy did not look pleased when her husband offered it. 

Dr. Phil didn't even mess with Casey herself. He doesn't tolerate liars.


5. Magnum bars. Guilty, nasty, dirty pleasure. Yes, they have a basic, vanilla ice-cream/chocolate coating but which ones am I addicted to? The double carmel ones, natch. At one point I was enjoying one of these with a glass of chardonnay every night. I've cut down, way down, but some days, after an inordinate amount of spit up, blowouts, outfit changes (for the baby and me), I just deserve it, ya know? I tell myself it's okay because of the extra 500 calories I burn a day by breastfeeding.
6. Tricked out oatmeal. It's oatmeal with yogurt, sliced peaches, apricots, apples, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and granola sprinkled on the top. I used to hate oatmeal, the consistency freaked me out. But when I heard it increases a woman's milk production when breastfeeding I made this recipe up to make it more tolerable. Instead I found it delicious and now enjoy it every morning. With my Hazelnut K Cup coffee. You can also make this with Greek yogurt instead of oatmeal.
Yes, I took a picture of my oatmeal one morning.
7. My "New Mom's Group." Have you ever checked out Meetup.com? There are groups for everything you can think of. Even drinking groups that do pub crawls together. I wasn't sure about joining a mom's group. Honestly, it sounded kinda lame. But when I decided to become a stay-at-home mom, I knew I'd need to meet some other women and their babies for Ava and I to spend our days with. It's an eclectic crowd, but I really enjoy these women and our beach walks, play dates, and trips to Farmer's Market together. Mark can't quite wrap his head around what a bunch of "strangers" have to talk about on an hour-long walk together, but we all have one thing in common and it's pretty all-encompassing right about now. You get one guess... Right. 
Lilia & Ava "playing" at Farmer's Market
8. Speaking of Farmer's Market. All summer long it's where I've met my friends (the neighbor girls and the kids walk there and our husbands meet us after work), eaten Hawaiian BBQ, and bought the ingredients for my tricked out oatmeal.


9. Baby Legs. I can't get enough. Ava can thank me (kill me) later. 


10. These people. Not just right now, but forever.


*Ok, so the last few were baby related. It's kinda where I'm at right now ; )

3 Month Stats

Ava's pretty much an adult now. Just kidding, but everyone from my mom to the old woman in the grocery store sure weren't joking when they said, "enjoy her now, because they grow up so fast." We're talking warp speed here. It's so bittersweet to watch her master new skills. The feelings run the gamut of exhilaration, pride, and a twinge of sadness that my baby's growing up; all rolled up in one moment. Here are the highlights of what she's been up to this month. 

Ava, at 3 months you...
  • Wear size 2 diapers
  • Wear 3 month and some 3-6 month sized clothes
  • Sleep without a swaddle
  • Roll over! Both ways! First you mastered back-to-front, and then front-to-back. Now you flip flop back and forth like it ain't no thing. You never stay where we put you, you've always been quite the active baby, but geeze! Check it out: 
  • Army crawl. As soon as we put you down on your play mat on your back you immediately roll over to your front and get your legs up to your chest and then do huge scoots. You "crawl" off your play mat entirely right after we put you down. We find you in the oddest places. The days of laying you there and leaving to go do something are officially over. It looks like we're going to have to baby-proof a little earlier than expected.
  • Crack up laughing! Check it out: 
  • Earned your wings! Your first trip on an airplane was to Grandma & Grandpa Russell's lake house in Montana. You did great and got lots of compliments on well-behaved you were. Thank you for being such a good girl for mom & dad! You're quite the traveler and we're actually excited to take you more places now!
  • Have met all of your great-grandparents & uncles! You thought your Great-Grandma Mary Kay was just hilarious, you'd crack up so easily when she played with you. You're Great-Grandpa "Minor Bob" called you "Doll Baby" the whole time and promised not to sell you the gypsies... no matter how much they offered for you. You cuddled up with Great- Grandma Helen on the back porch and you and Uncle Jim were best buddies. He even helped teach you to roll... by demonstrating.
Here you are with her Great Grandma & Grandpa Russell & Great Grandma Helen. 
And here you are with your Uncle Jim
More Uncle Jim Time
No words...
  • Drive boats!
 
  • Are quite the boating water baby. You fit into this family just perfectly.
  • Love your Jumperoo!