Random Tuesday

Oh hello Tuesday! Guess it's been a week since we last met. Hmmm, I should probably be doing something more productive like paying bills, or ordering shoes for an upcoming event - hey! Maybe you can help!

Do you like Option A:

Or Option B
I'm totally stuck!

Does anyone else know when 3 year old's learn to plan ahead? For example, our daughter likes to take her naps on the couch and she let's us know by loudly voicing her opinion at nap time. But she loiters around and doesn't bother to actually like sleep. So mid-way through, she says that she would like to sleep in her bed which upon 2 occasions has led to her waking little brother by either climbing into his crib or throwing toys over the edge - that's right parents expecting #2, freeze stone cold in fear! It's a coming! Anyway, does she plan ahead to wake little brother by convincing us to let her sleep in her bed? Hmmmmm.

Speaking of little brother, he's loving Charlotte's birthday balloons and shows great form by wrapping his entire body around balloon.
And finally, I'd like to introduce a Facebook fan page for "Roger the Duck" created by a good friend of mine. Here is the description:

Roger the Duck

I'm a young Campbell Khaki duck, living in a neighborhood in the east end of the City of Pittsburgh. I share a coop with 3 chickens. My parents are really tall and lack feathers, but whatever - they're still pretty cool and they let me snuggle them and aren't too pissed when I poop on them. Hey, I have no sphincter muscle, what do you expect!

That's all I got. Have a great Tuesday!

Stupid lump

Disclaimer - sorry guys, it's a story about girly stuff.

Lumps in breasts frighten people. Probably because the world is decorated in pink every year with breast cancer awareness. Well they've done their job so well that every little lump gets ultimate care and attention. It kinda reminds me of being pregnant when any little ache or pain could constitute days of bed rest if the story were told to an especially conscience caring nurse or doctor. Every ultrasound was poured over by the doctor, oh is that a little mark I see on the babies tummy, hmmm gotta watch that. Make sure it doesn't get any bigger.

Lest you think I jest - I don't. I've just grown a little battle worn from the pressure to panic about every little thing that goes wrong in an aging/post pregnant body. Not that 35 is old by any modern scales but still it is an aging body.

So when a lump appeared 2 months ago, while I was still nursing I did what any practical person living in modern society would do - I went straight to my OB/GYN who confirmed, yes it is a lump. Go get an ultrasound. The radiologist confirmed, yes it is a lump. Go back and talk to your OB/GYN who said, hmmm let's refer you to a General Surgeon who can review the lump and make the next decision. The GS also agreed, yes that sure is a lump and my don't you look great for just having a baby 9 months ago (um thanks!). She told me to put hot compresses on it 3 times a day and take evening primrose vitamins to take down any potential swelling. She thought, it must be something to do with nursing.

So I stopped nursing (was winding down anyway) and took 3 weeks of doing the hot compresses once a day if I was lucky. Got busy with life, ignored the lump. But it wouldn't go away so on my last check up GS decided it should probably just come out. Okay fine I said. We scheduled the appointment, I made sure it was after Charlotte's birthday and the date was set for tomorrow. Then the surgery center called to say my insurance was charging a $500.00 deductible plus $100.00 office visit. Huh? For a little incision to remove a 2-3cm size lump? Yes, they confirmed, it is surgery after all.

So I stopped for a day, reconsidered the doctor's title - General Surgeon and decided to find a doctor who specialized in breasts. Told her my history of just recently finishing nursing and she said I should wait 6 months for my breasts to go back to normal. Wow, that simple? Just wait? Yes, let everything go back to normal and come in if it changes or gets any bigger.

But society tells me to panic and take action. No she tells me, be patient. Um okay, I guess I'll do that. But I'm really stressed from life and I've already scheduled the day off work so I think I'll just disappear for the day tomorrow and take a rest - at the beach or maybe the movies. Something quiet without people and babies demanding things of me. That sounds nice.

Charlotte turns 3

Happy Birthday Charlotte, you are 3 years old! Why don't you tell us about your fabulous year!!

JULY 2010
Baby brother Sam was born! This was the big event for July, we all sat around patiently waiting for him to make his debut. He finally arrived on July 29^th.

AUGUST 2010

We had three full weeks of Grandparent time. After they left I tried to help by bringing diapers when Sam cried and holding him but sometimes I got jealous and made a big mess while mom was busy with Sam.

SEPTEMBER 2010

We went to Chick Fil A and I scared the girls in the playroom by screaming BAHJAAAAAAH every time they entered the room, repeatedly. Mom sat with an infant grimacing over my social skills. Two weeks later, I did it again to the same two girls. Ha!

We celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day for the 3rd year straight! ARRRRRRR!!! Pirate Charlotte!

OCTOBER 2010
Time for a Wedding, I was the Flower Girl. Mom had to carry me down the aisle, too many people watching, it was kinda scary.


Pumpkin Patch (the beginning of my blankie obsession):


And Halloween, first night of trick or treating

NOVEMBER 2010
Blanket obsession grows stronger.
And for Thanksgiving we went to the beach (a family tradition - although covering face in Vaseline at the beginning of the day was new).


DECEMBER 2010
Time for Christmas which means matchy outfits for Christmas card, decorations, presents and lights!

JANUARY 2011
I covered myself bedroom in baby powder during a time out.

We also got a Mema visit in January, those are always FUN!!!

FEBRUARY 2011
Valentine's day - I love little brother! Mom used this for the V-day card.


MARCH 2011
This month involved an exciting 2 week trip to Texas to see grandparents and great grandparents while mom traveled around Asia. Fun!

APRIL 2011
Mom's favorite holiday, Easter! Time to buy cute bunny dresses. Dad got us both solid chocolate bunnies! It took an entire month to eat them!!

MAY 2011
Camping trip in the Florida Keys! It was so hot I asked for my house by 10am the first day!


It got better! We played in the ocean and saw lots of really cool stuff. And when we were in the ocean, a fish bit mama on the BUTT!

At the end of the month, on Memorial Day, parents decided to take us for our 1st canoe ride. Oh the horror!

JUNE 2011
Birthday month! First a visit with Grandma!!! She let me finish her pasta.

We played at the playground where I gave Sam a big hug!

And finally a birthday party! With kids! And presents! And CAKE!


Happy Birthday Charlotte, looking forward to another fun year!

Working Mommy Wednesday

Linking up with awesome mom blogger Julia at Work, Wife, Mom... Life for Working Mommy Wednesday. Today's discussions are:

#1. Being that is was Father's Day, what is your greatest memory about your Dad or about your husband when he became a Dad.

The greatest memory of my dad is when he would pick me up at the airport and drop me off. He always had this huge smile on his face like I was the most important person in the world. He'd give me a big hug that I thought would never end. I would then take him to the Starbucks counter and buy us all latte's because I was in college and worked at coffee shops so I knew alot about coffee and liked to treat my family. It was so much fun. These memories come back every time I fly home.

When my husband first became a dad, my greatest memory is watching this big 6'1" guy holding this tiny defiant little girl so carefully - even when she'd through the biggest fits!

#2. How will/do you teach your kids about being healthy?
We will teach by example. We provide healthy food options - fruits and veggies at every meal. We don't eat junk food so it's not available for the kids to eat and we work out every day so it's becoming part of their lives.

On weekends we try to plan outdoor events to keep them active. I think kids learn healthy living by watching their parents. I know growing up my parents didn't have very many junk food options in the house. We were allowed a bag of chips on Saturday with hamburgers but that was it! My mom made all baking items - cakes, pies, cookies, etc. so they didn't have any preservatives that you find in store bought stuff so now I hate store bought desserts! I think you are a product of what your parents put in front of you so I plan to do the same with my kids.

A good example is last night I made super muffins for my 10 month old. They have carrots, apples, raisins, oatmeal, wheat flour, flax seed flour and the basics for constructing a muffin. Lately he's decided he only wants to feed himself and has rejected all spoons! So we had to be creative because sometimes steaming food is boring for the baby. You should see him tear into these muffins! If you are interested the recipe can be found here.

Have a great Wednesday!

Random Tuesday

My typical morning - trying to blog while holding 3yr old daughter who's reading her birthday cards and while husband tells me all about his favorite Foster's advertisements. I try to tune everyone out but it's kinda hard.

Here's the best statement of the morning -

"If dad's were the main caretakers, they would have invented electronic signs hanging outside a baby's door that light up and announce major level's of biological waste"

Also overheard from the kids room -

"Boy, I'm gonna hog tie you"!

Have a great random Tuesday folks!

Random Tuesday

Today's random post is in honor of my daughters new favorite $2.00 baby - GREEN SQUISHY!


Thus far Green Squishy has been treated to a diaper change, bottle, tickled, slept with and taken for a dump truck ride.


Green Squishy also gets to watch morning TV with Charlotte.


And here is a photo Charlotte took of her new baby.


Do you know how much time is spent in toy companies brainstorming the next cool lovable toy kids will adore???? And my daughter falls in love with a $2.00 green squishy toy????

What cheap/free toy has your child fallen in love with?

I've been absent, because my mom was in town

Naturally evenings are spent away from the computer when company is visiting. We may not do much in the evenings, aside from dinner and getting the kids to bed but it's still nice to spend it quietly with family.

I do like to get mom to the beach at least once per visit. Here is my favorite photo (thanks to friend Carol who came along and took this photo):


And a bit later she helped scoop a cigarette butt from his mouth. Silly kid.


Charlotte played in the waves until she got covered.

Your best shot!

I never get tired of this photo, it's the best I've taken of Charlotte thus far.

Pompano Beach, FL 2009

Most Treasured Objects

Inspired by Grit's Day:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
What object you are most attached to and would not part from, ever. (Rule: cannot be human, sticking out from a human, or have life.)

iPhone: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Email, internet, news, facebook, twitter, nook, music, netflix movies, games like Tetris and Solitare. Even without an internet connection I can have fun.

coffee: Although i don't have a single favorite cup like Grit, I have a very large collection of jumbo coffee cups that I rotate through. Christmas cups, Halloween cups, etc. Come to think of it, I might like a new cup for next gift giving session.

sandals: Is it a South Florida thing? Ever since I moved here I want to wear them every single day. Closed in shoes make me want to hyper ventilate. I even wore them on long hikes with Grit and family even when closed in shoes would have been more sensible.

Now it's your turn. Tell me what you can't live without!

Alice's Bucket List: OH WOW

I'd like to share a blogger that I found today. She has so much joy, very inspiring young lady.

Alice's Bucket List: OH WOW: "OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW it's the middle of the night and we just hit £10,000 for CANCER RESEARCH by you sponsoring my little sister for her ru..."

Working Mommy Wednesday

Linking to awesome working mom blogger Julia @ Work, Wife, Mom, Life, this weeks prompt is: Top 5 goals for this summer.

1. Get kids outside every weekend and have fun! The month of May had a hot camping experience and hot canoe ride with miserable kids. There IS a way to have fun outside in South Florida. It just requires getting up extremely early, lots of water and back indoors by noon!!!

2. Home to visit family and host a picnic for friends and family.

3. Finish kids photo books. I'm so behind, Charlotte's almost 3 and her's is up to 6mo!

4. Give Charlotte a totally awesome 3 year old birthday party.

5. I'd like to refinish our master bathroom, if budget allows!