our journey into parenthood & beyond...

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

thankful for tuesday

Today I am thankful for:

1. The birth of my mom- today is her birthday! Happy Birthday Mom!
2. Getting to hold a newborn on Sunday
3. Getting to hold another newborn on Monday.
4. Surviving my first kettle bell class (another post will be up about that once I can move my arms again).
5. Knowing there is a fun weekend planned at the end of this week.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

park

Since the weather didn't quite work out this weekend for Animal Land, we took Liam to the park. Not the same excitement, but at his age being able to run free and climb on everything is pretty exciting. We even got to walk down to a dock on the Hudson and watch the waves pass by.We ended our outing with an ice cream cone...again we learned that Liam would rather just have an empty cone than the ice cream.

Friday, June 24, 2011

flash friday

Where did Liam go? Oh right, he likes to get under the bed when Olive is hiding under there...she can't catch a break. She is under there, just look for her gray beard.

what is in Liam's mouth...oh right, anything he can stuff into it these days.

And let me tell you one more thing...


Ready to conquer the day!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

thankful for tues.

Today I am thankful for:

1.strawberries from the farmer's market.
2.  hugs.
3. a  nice, long bike ride to get my day started.
4. a nice, long family walk to end my day.
5. the hydrogen peroxide that my father-in-law bought when Liam was little for future knee scrapes (came in handy today). 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

new toy

Liam & Mo.

happy father's day

Happy Father's Day to my foundation and the best dad a little boy could ever ask for...


Breakfast at the Four Corners Luncheonette


And to my own dad... who is not only the best dad a girl could ask for, but one of the (three) best grandfathers Liam could ask for...
Father's Day 2011


Saturday, June 18, 2011

troy and co.

We hit up the Troy Farmer's Market today. We brought home the most delicious strawberries I have ate in the past decade. delicious.  We also went to the River Street Fest. It was a beautiful day to be strolling around River St.  We ended our afternoon with tattoos...




We tried out Dinosaur BBQ (DBBQ) for lunch. Liam was over tired, hot and hungry...sounds like the perfect recipe for an atomic meltdown.  Let me just start off my review of DBBQ with this statement: I don't care if the hostess is a major in childhood development. I know my kid...actually I know my kid better than any text book info you have read. So when I say, please no crayons, please respect that and don't try to get into a conversation about childhood development and what you think is best for MY kid.  Mmmmkay, thx. Don't piss off the mama.  So after that nonsense, we were given temporary tattoos. I have a new appreciation for temp. tatts. This silly little dinosaur kept Liam from having a meltdown while we waited for our food. He was so excited about it that it encouraged me to put one on. Well Liam trying to put it on my arm and saying "elp eww?" (translation: help you) helped. As expected, the food was great. I was limited as to what I could eat since I have been without beef or pork...I will say the mac and cheese is pretty fantastic. Liam chowed down and remained meltdown free. Other than the childhood development major, it was a nice experience for us. And did I mention that the mac and cheese was amazing?

Friday, June 17, 2011

flash friday

here is a sneak peek from our world this week...

another venture into gardening

the black thumb has not attacked...yet

quick sprint & the front of the house that we are trying to improve

so big, so much fun

a new favorite even though his face is covered in crap.  I usually catch that.


another new favorite...strawberries & cream

Liam takes dipping very seriously

and then not so serious

we may have gotten a little silly

"hi!"

Thursday, June 16, 2011

rough day

I was looking forward to today..it was weigh in day. Each week I have been weighing myself and have been slowly losing pounds. Slower than I would like, but it still is a loss and I will take it. So today I felt good about weighing in. The past week I have been really dedicated to either running or biking every morning, watching what I eat (trying to stay under 1200 calories) and just feeling good. Then I learned I gained weight this week. UGH. Okay, let me say it is only 1 pound. But still 1 lb! I was so disappointed in myself and mad. There may or may not have been a dramatic moment this morning during breakfast...but I was upset and just felt that I have tried so hard just to gain weight! So once I came back to reality, I realized that it really wasn't the end of the world. The really nice thing about having a somewhat long commute to work in the morning is that it gave me some time to think and process this pound.

So this afternoon I signed up for a kettle bell class. A friend shared some information with me about a class and  I found an interesting blog that made me even more interested in the whole kettle bell experience. I always want to say cattle bell, but I think that is just my negative self image talking. I know I will never feel secure wearing a bikini...heck I never felt secure wearing a bikini when I was 16 and thin and in shape. And I don't want to wear a bikini or have a six pack.  I do have hopes of getting into that smaller size of jeans or tightening some areas (bingo wings) or maybe even getting the strength to feel more confident with myself and pushing my self beyond my limits. So I think that I will take some before and after photos to see if it really does make a difference.

So after feeling like crap all day and I went to say good bye to the administrative assistants. There are two in my office and they are the complete opposite of each other...but they get along so well and make me laugh because they are so brutally honest with each other. Anyhow...the one says to me "you are looking thinner in the middle". Okay not the nicest compliment, but I took it. And it made me feel a bit better. Whether she was just being nice, or maybe it was my outfit today, I appreciated it. I am not sure she realized how much better that made my day.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

thankful for tuesday

Today I am thankful for:
1. a good dinner with a good friend.
2. motivation.
3. baby talk.
4. someone taking a tinkle on his potty.

Monday, June 13, 2011

guess what...

we bought this weekend. A pony? No. A new car? No. Another dog? No. Okay, okay, I know the suspense is killing you...






We bought:

A commode for Liam!  
 So here it is. The start of a journey that I am so looking forward to. Lets just say that my wallet is also looking forward to the end of this journey. Diapers are expensive and frankly I think the next time around I may look into cloth diapers (this is probably news for the Mr.). Anyhow here is how we ended up with this bad boy.

Andrew and I have slowly been introducing Liam to the toilet. We encourage him to explore it (there are limits) and to get use to the sounds it makes and what it is used for. So maybe about a month ago Liam pointed to his butt and said "poop". And of course there was a nice present waiting inside his diaper for me. Then he started to show an interest in sitting on the toilet. So before his baths we would let him sit on the toilet. Nothing ever happened on the toilet. Often he would spray down the bathroom once he was off the toilet. Okay so on Friday, I am in the bathroom getting ready and he comes running in full steam and is doing everything and anything to get his diaper off. So off goes the diaper and I put him on the toilet. Nothing, but it was exciting for Andrew and I . Do I think this kid is ready to be potty trained- probably not. Do I think he is associating pooping and the toilet- maybe.  Do I think this was a coincidence- sure.

So off to the land of researching a potty for Liam. First let me just say that Kohler should just produce a toilet for kids- something that resembles a real life toilet. So there are probably hundreds thousands of potty seats. Holy Potty Seats.  I am not sure what goes on in your house, but I know in my house my toilet does not sing to me, dance, cheer, ring bells or have the name "Princess" all over it.  To each their own. I wanted something basic, easy to clean, easy to use, nothing that had a padded seat that played music when you sit on it and something that looked somewhat like a toilet. Sounds easy, right?

So I found something that not only was simple, easy to clean, no music or padded seat AND got great reviews (esp. for boys because of the splash guard). Nothing has happened in it, yet. So I expect something to happen in it- not right now. Liam loves to sit on it. I think because two of his favorite things are involved...being naked and reading books.  He actually started to cry when it was time to get off the potty (four books later) and time to get dressed. And if Elmo somehow gets involved, this kid is going to be a happy pooper.

So here we go on this journey into underoos, pull ups and lots of poopy pants. I think our wallets will feel relief,  but becoming potty trained is going to give Liam such a sense of independence and pride. I can't wait for the first time something does happen in his potty. I know what my reaction will be, I wonder what his will be.

guess who

Sunday, June 12, 2011

2nd year

I started Liam's 2nd year book today. He is napping, Andrew is doing something technical, it is raining out and Olive is asleep at my feet. Good time to take advantage of this quiet time.

I think I gave myself about a month to create Liam's 1st year book. I recall rushing the book and being mad that I waited until the last minute to sort through probably a thousand photos to put in (what was suppose to be a 20 page book) a 95 page book.  I have a little less than six months to get this one done. I hope that is enough time this year...but  there are about a bazillion photos to sort through and there are still six months to go.

Friday, June 10, 2011

flash friday

It's Jell-O Time!


Watch out Naked Chef...

Very, very


Excited for Jell-O!




Time to taste it

a few tries later it finally landed in his mouth

nom, nom, nom

The azaleas

the rhododendron

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

thankful for tuesday

Today I am thankful for:
1. securing daycare for Liam & getting a start date for him.
2. having a job that I enjoy.
3. the individual who made the luscious blueberry tart and shared it with those in the office.
4. my husband and my son.

hoffman's

Sunday funday we ventured to Hoffman's Play Land. A first for Liam and myself. Andrew went a number of times during his childhood and remembers it being a lot bigger back then. A lot of things are a lot bigger when you are a kid.  This place was nice, but doesn't begin to compare to Sylvan Beach. Nothing can come near the excitement of Laffland.
Hoffman's was a fun time and Liam really enjoyed himself. I am sure we will be going back soon.



Wondering,  "what the heck is this place?"

Pointing out the next ride he wants to go on...

Cruisin

First Trip to Hoffman's 6.5.11

He didn't enjoy this ride as much as the carousel at the museum.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

flash friday

Or not.  I was a day behind all week. Having Monday off was nice, but it completely messed me up. So hence, flash Friday is getting done today.  But then I realized the camera's battery was dead. I do have one photo to share, however I must say the following:
1. No, that is not a tablecloth
2. The outfit really looked cute, on the hanger, in the store....I blame it on the lighting in the store.

And...he is off!