This blog was a great way for me to chronicle our foray into parenthood, capture sweet and funny moments with Madeleine and stay connected with family and friends. But I've not really been "into" it for awhile now. I'm noticing something of a trend with blogs...I still love to read them but virtually none of the ones I originally started reading are still on my must-read list. Ours has really never been a must-read but I find that even the must-post feeling has gone away.
So with that, thanks for reading and catch you on FB or whatever the next social media trend turns out to be!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
George, George, George of the Jungle
Madeleine's preschool curriculum uses a theme each month. It's been a fun and memorable way of teaching a number of subjects to preschoolers so a big plus in my book.
March was a dual-themed month - the jungle/rainforest and the desert. Madeleine's awesome lead teacher, Miss Clara, planned a Rainforest Showcase for the parents. They performed three songs (wrapping up the showcase with the title song), named the four layers of the rainforest (which I did not know), and walked us around the room to see all of their artwork. AMAZING and creative art projects, by the way. Anyway, here are a few photos from the Showcase. 
If I may make a plug for a kids magazine we love, Your Big Backyard is such a fun monthly treat for us. Fortuitously, the February edition was about Toucan's which is M's classroom name. They performed one of the songs from the magazine, I See A Toucan (to the tune of You Are My Sunshine), during their Showcase.
The Big One
Or the big 1 as the case may be. This is only about six weeks so late so I seem to be improving on my recent blog backlog. Yes, sir, Max turned one on Valentine's Day. 
Brett's sister and her family and my parents came to celebrate with us and our dear friends, the H family, also joined the party. It was fantastic. We had a taco buffet and my SIL made the most amazing Spanish rice. Recipe and photos to come at a later date.
Brett's sister and her family and my parents came to celebrate with us and our dear friends, the H family, also joined the party. It was fantastic. We had a taco buffet and my SIL made the most amazing Spanish rice. Recipe and photos to come at a later date. Time seemed to move so slowly when Madeleine was a baby but I feel like Max's first year has flown by. Maybe it's because you know the second time around how quickly they change or maybe it's because we had a major move, two major job changes, and major childcare adjustments. Most likely all of the above.
He's walking, running, and 100% boy. Actually more like 90% boy and 10% mountain goat. The kid LOVES to climb.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Shirred what?
My mom graciously watched our kiddos while Brett and I spent a couple of days in St. Louis. We stayed at the most amazing B&B - seriously the best we've ever had the good fortune to visit! - the Fleur-de-Lys Mansion.
Our first breakfast was a yogurt and fresh fruit parfait followed by parmesan herbed eggs with artisan wheat bread and fresh grapefruit. I had never had a baked egg or shirred egg before but I am a convert! They were kind enough to share the recipe so I thought I'd share with you (sorry, no picture) though I've modified to one egg as opposed to two. Sadly the waistline needs to be at least somewhat considered when not on vacation.
Parmesan Herb Baked Eggs
butter
1 t cream
Large or XL egg
fresh chives or freeze dried chives
salt and pepper
3 oz grated parmesan cheese
Preheat broiler. Butter a ramekin and add cream. Pop in oven for 3 minutes until cream is bubbling and starting to brown. Take out of oven and crack egg into ramekin. Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, and chives. Cover with parmesan cheese and place back in oven for 5 minutes or until white has set.
Note: I do not like runny yolks (like gag when I see them) so I like the white and the yolk to set.
You are going to LOVE these!
Pictures from the last few weeks coming soon.
Our first breakfast was a yogurt and fresh fruit parfait followed by parmesan herbed eggs with artisan wheat bread and fresh grapefruit. I had never had a baked egg or shirred egg before but I am a convert! They were kind enough to share the recipe so I thought I'd share with you (sorry, no picture) though I've modified to one egg as opposed to two. Sadly the waistline needs to be at least somewhat considered when not on vacation.
Parmesan Herb Baked Eggs
butter
1 t cream
Large or XL egg
fresh chives or freeze dried chives
salt and pepper
3 oz grated parmesan cheese
Preheat broiler. Butter a ramekin and add cream. Pop in oven for 3 minutes until cream is bubbling and starting to brown. Take out of oven and crack egg into ramekin. Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, and chives. Cover with parmesan cheese and place back in oven for 5 minutes or until white has set.
Note: I do not like runny yolks (like gag when I see them) so I like the white and the yolk to set.
You are going to LOVE these!
Pictures from the last few weeks coming soon.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
On Breastfeeding
This isn't dinner conversation.
I just really need to get this out on paper (on the screen?).
What is it with the mommy bashing? Mothers must take the prize for the most judgmental group of people on the planet. What do we judge one another about?
Epidural or no epidural.
Breastfeeding or formula.
Stay-at-home or work outside the home.
Daycare or nanny.
Private school or public.
The list is virtually never ending.
And I, likely not the only one, am frankly tired of it.
I felt like the judgment started while I was pregnant. Do you abstain from all caffeine? How much tuna or swordfish do you eat per week? Have you given up soft, unpasteurized cheeses???
Then it was whether or not I was one for surprises or not. I am not one for surprises and I had nursery decor to plan, people.
The labor and delivery portion was (and continues to be) also an opportunity for competition. I will never win one of these competitions because both of my children were born within four hours of arrival at the hospital with very little drama.
Breastfeeding...now there's my favorite.
I had a breast reduction after graduate school and as a result was unable to breastfeed.
I was devastated.
I spent the first four weeks of Madeleine's life alternating between attempting to breastfeed her and pumping. And crying through pretty much both.
After week one, we were told we had to start supplementing with formula because she had lost too much weight and wasn't "thriving" due to lack of nutrition.
I cried.
Four weeks in to all of this, the sweet lactation consultant (with tears in her eyes, I might add) told me that we sometimes have to recognize that it isn't going to work and mourn what we had anticipated/expected. She shared the story of her special needs child and the process she went through mourning her ideals of a "normal" childhood.
When I think back to that time, I get a little sad but I mostly get angry.
At some point, the literature promoting the benefits of breastfeeding turned into nipple propaganda. I was devastated because I just knew Madeleine would be overweight and sick all the time. Worst of all? She'd never have a chance of getting into an Ivy League school - ack!
The reality is that Madeleine is an incredibly bright, healthy, good natured little girl. She had never experienced an ear infection until she was around 14 months old and didn't have another until she was almost 3 years old.
I'm all for breastfeeding but sometimes...it Just. Doesn't. Work.
There are an awful lot of ways we mother our children and this one aspect isn't going to make or break your child's future. We all have our hot button issues. I didn't breastfeed but buy largely organic and/or local produce, make our meals from scratch, and don't allow juice. One of my friends breastfed her kids for the first year but lets them eat pop tarts and drink sodas.
Which kid(s) are better off?
Who knows.
Here's my personal view on motherhood: Have grace with yourself and show grace to others.
What hot button issues get under your skin?
I just really need to get this out on paper (on the screen?).
What is it with the mommy bashing? Mothers must take the prize for the most judgmental group of people on the planet. What do we judge one another about?
Epidural or no epidural.
Breastfeeding or formula.
Stay-at-home or work outside the home.
Daycare or nanny.
Private school or public.
The list is virtually never ending.
And I, likely not the only one, am frankly tired of it.
I felt like the judgment started while I was pregnant. Do you abstain from all caffeine? How much tuna or swordfish do you eat per week? Have you given up soft, unpasteurized cheeses???
Then it was whether or not I was one for surprises or not. I am not one for surprises and I had nursery decor to plan, people.
The labor and delivery portion was (and continues to be) also an opportunity for competition. I will never win one of these competitions because both of my children were born within four hours of arrival at the hospital with very little drama.
Breastfeeding...now there's my favorite.
I had a breast reduction after graduate school and as a result was unable to breastfeed.
I was devastated.
I spent the first four weeks of Madeleine's life alternating between attempting to breastfeed her and pumping. And crying through pretty much both.
After week one, we were told we had to start supplementing with formula because she had lost too much weight and wasn't "thriving" due to lack of nutrition.
I cried.
Four weeks in to all of this, the sweet lactation consultant (with tears in her eyes, I might add) told me that we sometimes have to recognize that it isn't going to work and mourn what we had anticipated/expected. She shared the story of her special needs child and the process she went through mourning her ideals of a "normal" childhood.
When I think back to that time, I get a little sad but I mostly get angry.
At some point, the literature promoting the benefits of breastfeeding turned into nipple propaganda. I was devastated because I just knew Madeleine would be overweight and sick all the time. Worst of all? She'd never have a chance of getting into an Ivy League school - ack!
The reality is that Madeleine is an incredibly bright, healthy, good natured little girl. She had never experienced an ear infection until she was around 14 months old and didn't have another until she was almost 3 years old.
I'm all for breastfeeding but sometimes...it Just. Doesn't. Work.
There are an awful lot of ways we mother our children and this one aspect isn't going to make or break your child's future. We all have our hot button issues. I didn't breastfeed but buy largely organic and/or local produce, make our meals from scratch, and don't allow juice. One of my friends breastfed her kids for the first year but lets them eat pop tarts and drink sodas.
Which kid(s) are better off?
Who knows.
Here's my personal view on motherhood: Have grace with yourself and show grace to others.
What hot button issues get under your skin?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
m-a-x
Do you remember the line from "You've Got Mail" when the little boy says, "I can spell fox. F-O-X."? Thankfully for Max, he should have a much easier time learning to spell his name than poor Madeleine.
Even I'm getting tired of writing out the N-I-N-E letters for her to endlessly trace.
Anyway, I was inspired a few months ago to paint three canvases to spell Max's name in the nursery. Those of you who know me well, know that I appreciate and expect brutal honesty.
I am waiving that expectation for this post.
If you, like my husband, think these look like my three year old painted them, please keep your comments to yourself. Better yet, lie.
Even the snail variety are hard to hold.
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