Images...

Image: Michael Elliott / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ten years after 9/11 I still have a problem with images from that day. For some reason I can't look away when they come on TV - but looking at them brings back every emotion. Then, I was a single 20-something working hard and living in my first condo. I was in the process of breaking up with my college boyfriend (it's never that easy, right?) but somehow the events of the day brought us back together, at least for a few more days. I was terrified that a similar attack would be forthcoming, and had trouble sleeping for a few months.

Today, I'm, 30-something, happily married to an amazing man, still working hard, living in my first house and now I'm mom to a fantastic little boy. On this 10th anniversary of the attacks, it's bittersweet to look back at how many things have changed in my life for the better, but one thing remains the same - particularly in light of the news of more threats around the anniversary - I'm scared of another attack. Especially now as a mom. What if something happens and I'm away from my little boy and/or my husband? How will we find our way back together?

My reason for staying positive.

Sometimes when the images seep into my mind I get carried away in the fear, but today I've seen so many amazingly strong and positive people and families highlighted on TV or on the radio that I'm inspired. One woman on NPR today told the story of how she and her husband, a pilot on United flight 93, were just days away from celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. Before that fateful day, he had ordered a baby grand piano that played their wedding song as an anniversary gift. The story she tells about how the piano arrived, days after his death, and what it meant to her then and what it means now, is amazing. While it clearly wasn't easy at first, she gave a parting message of living every day like it's your last, as her brave husband did.

So, while I have an underlying fear that probably won't go away - and it will probably ebb and flow like it has over the past 10 years - I'm holding on to the positive images and trying to be strong, particularly for my little boy. The day will come when he's old enough to want to know about 9/11. It's crazy to think that he will never know life before. I'm not sure if that's better or worse. Either way, I'm going to work hard to teach him tolerance and provide the happiest life I can - no matter what happens around us.

Delicious Dish: $5 Dinners' Spicy Chorizo and Lentil Soup

So, I have the cooking bug again. Maybe it's because of listening to my friend Alexis talk about her latest deliveries from Door To Door Organics, or maybe it was attending her bridal shower and seeing all the fantastic kitchen accessories she got. Either way - I spent the weekend thinking of how to balance mom duties after work (it's really hard with only a few awake hours with Baby F after a long day...) and cooking, which really makes me happy and helps me feel like I have a really important role directing nutrition for our family!

Photo Credit: 5DollarDinners.com

I started following Erin Chase of $5 Dinners awhile ago but had never made one of her recipes - so I decided to give it a whirl last night, and I'm so glad I did! I selected Spicy Chorizo and Lentil Soup as my first foray, particularly because it's gluten free and I'm starting to toy with trying to get back on that diet to support my PCOS (that's a whole other blog post someday...)

The dinner was delicious and we have some good leftovers that I'm excited to break into tomorrow evening (tonight we enjoyed a chicken that I roasted last night while we ate dinner to get myself ahead, as a roast chicken takes too long to make on a normal work night!) Since chorizo isn't the healthiest of proteins, I made it a little more lean by rinsing the chorizo under super hot water in a colander after browning it - a tip I learned while researching heart healthy recipes after my father-in-law had a triple bypass a few years ago. That technique might have stripped some of the flavor, but we didn't notice a difference and still found the dish spicy and flavorful. I served it with a whole grain tortilla and a side of steamed asparagus. Delicious!

Poop

Image: Sura Nualpradid /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have seen more poop in the past few days than any one person should have to see in a lifetime. Poor Baby F has been on antibiotics for an ear infection and I was told the antibiotic could cause diarrhea - but I had no idea it could be like this. I can literally hear it from across the room, and it makes puddles in no time if you don't clean it up immediately. So gross...

Not helping the situation, Baby F also got a stomach virus this weekend which led to vomit and diarrhea from the hours of 10 p.m. to midnight. I remember when the weekends were so much more glamorous!

At least the past few days have taught me that I'm not phased by surprise poop or vomit - and I think I'm on my way to earning my Doctor Mom license.

Other important lessons learned:

• The advice of girlfriends who have been down the mom road before you is invaluable - and they're willing to take your calls or texts anytime!
• Sick babies want their moms. Sorry dads. Your help is invaluable to mom, but moms, get ready - if you have a sick baby you have a lot of cuddle time with a cranky baby on your hands!
• Slippery poop goes quickly up the back or up the front of a diaper. Be prepared for lots of diaper changes and loads of laundry.
• Babies don't really like the taste of Pedialyte... 
• After hours nurses are awesome.

It's only Monday and we're not quite out of the sickly woods - but here's hoping that by this time next week we're singing a happier song and dealing with less poo!

Doctor Mom

Image: Jeroen van Oostrom /
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I've always been in awe of parents who do an amazing job without a strong support network - but after the past 48 hours of dealing with pink eye (me), an ear infection (Baby F), a fever (also Baby F), and now a cold (me again!) I have no idea how people without a partner or other help get by. Thank goodness for my husband who took Baby Duty last night while I fell into a Nyquil-induced coma (which I'm on my way to again as soon as the drugs kick in!)

I stayed home with Baby F yesterday in accordance with the school policy of no fever within the past 24 hours and it was tough! I thought he would cuddle up and take a nap with his sick mommy and all he wanted to do was crawl around and get into trouble.

I have a number of friends whose partners work jobs that keep them away from home either for days at a time (pilots, professors at universities in different states, traveling salespeople, etc.) as well as friends whose partner's work requires they be away from home during prime times like bed time or early in the morning (namely police officers) and I want to tip my hat to those amazing parents who somehow juggle their kids' needs with their own, always putting the kids first.

I guess as a parent that's just what you do. Kids first. It's a lucky choice to have to make, but a tough one when you're sick!

DIY Bulletin Board

I am a co-room parent for Baby F's class and as such, I signed on to help update the classroom bulletin board. I have to admit, my first pass at jazzing up the board was pretty lame (just stapled some 8x10 print-outs to some scrapbook backing...) After his teacher told me she wanted to add some fabric, I went into full creative mode...

I did a quick Google search from my Droid while at JoAnn Fabric and quickly came across the idea of using felt on the board. Did you know that there is a such thing as eco-friendly felt? It's made in part from plastic bottles. Awesome. In addition to being eco-friendly, I thought I'd so something a little springy, so my mind went to flowers.

I tried my skill at hand-cut flowers, which quickly turned out to be a bad idea... So I did another handy Google search and came across this darling pattern for felt flowers.

It took me a few hours - but the outcome was awesome! I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Step one: cut petals

Step two: arrange petals

Step three: glue flowers

Step four: assemble flowers

And fast forward (aka: I forgot to take pictures of other steps...) final product including pipe cleaner stems and some cute felt leaves.

Can't wait to tackle a refresh of the board in a few months - and maybe repurpose this idea for a gift or two... I'm thinking something along the lines of an ocean/fish theme for the next class board. Suggestions?

There's a new man in my life...

There's a new man in my life, and his name is Bob. I've been lusting over a Bob Revolution stroller for a few months now. When I first had Baby F I was content with what I had: my basic stroller, a jogging stroller passed down to us by some amazing friends and a snap & go I found on Craig's List for $15 - perfect for travel! Recently, however, I found myself avoiding taking Baby F for a walk because walking on the old sidewalks of our neighborhood can be a jarring experience, to say the least. Walking on the newly paved street is an option, but I hate dodging cars and hoping someone doesn't pull out of a parking spot unexpectedly.

Enter Bob. Thanks to an amazing sale on the 2010 Bob models at REI, I finally decided to bite the bullet. Now - amazing sale still means spending a pretty penny, but in this case I can already say it was worth the money. We took Baby F for a walk this afternoon and didn't even think twice about hitting the street over the sidewalk! Thanks to Bob's revolving front wheel for maneuverability and the shock system which makes for a smooth ride, he wasn't jostled around at all. In fact, he fell fast asleep before we returned home and stayed sleeping for about 30 minutes once we came inside! The Bob handles like a dream and weighs next to nothing. It's easy to fold down and pops right back up with just one hand.

I am so excited for the days to grow longer and the weather to stay warm so that Baby F and I can hit the trails with our newfound friend Bob! I foresee lots of walks to the Zoo and the Museum this spring and summer, and I'm guessing that Daddy will love taking Baby F running with him a few times a week. So glad to have found our new love just in time for Valentine's Day!

I love a good deal...

I just received my first order from 6pm.com - two adorable pairs of Robeez shoes for Baby F (one pair pictured here...) I got both pairs for about half the cost of a full-price pair (usually around $30+)! I am new to 6pm.com, but if you know me you know that I LOVE a good deal, and 6pm.com has way more than just baby stuff. I am lusting over some boots as well as some really cute blouses that are amazing brands and great discounts. Perhaps there's an online shopping spree in my future?

Surprise - It's a Snow Day!

Since I had to withdraw my Mother of the Year application after last night's hot soup incident, I'm hopeful that I can earn back some points tomorrow with an unexpected snow day with Baby F! It's going to be a juggle - mom vs. employee - but I know we'll make it work. Stay tuned for updates!

Take That, Treadmill...

So Baby F is almost 8 months old and I'm just now getting back on the workout wagon. It's amazing what a little over a year off of truly working out and - oh yeah - HAVING A BABY will do to your body... But, I'm very excited to be back on the wagon and even more excited to have rejoined Qi, a great boutique-style gym in Denver owned by our good friends Chris & Corina. The atmosphere at Qi is just intense enough to inspire hard workouts, but spa-like enough that I feel like I'm treating myself to something special each time I walk through the door.

Many of you know that my company has been named among the "Best Places to Work" by the Denver Business Journal - but if you were wondering what makes it such a great place to work consider this: the new Active Lifestyle Allowance which is helping me to offset the costs of my Qi membership. Amazing benefit! I can't tell you how grateful I am for this support, and I echo what Ramonna said in her blog - I am proof that exercise makes me happier, healthier and more productive!

I look forward to fully maximizing this benefit through this year, and will fill you in on my workout adventures here as the year unfolds!

Da-da-da, Ma-ma-ma, Doy-doy-doy, and other Baby F-isms

Baby F is changing so much every day, and lately he's been talking up a storm! We had a play date today with some friends and were talking about what it takes to get a baby talking, and wouldn't you know I then came across this interesting article from Babble.com (aptly named for this topic... but a font of knowledge for many other parenting-related stuff!) about how to jump-start infant language.



Some of the highlights for me happily resonate with the Montessori approach, which fits in with what Baby F learns at school - yeah! I really like the point about letting the baby drive the conversation (we try very hard to encourage Baby F every time he engages with us, even though we have no idea what he's saying!) I also like the suggestion that babies learn by reading lips. This makes so much sense as Baby F gets really excited when you lean in to him and really annunciate. I guess we were doing something right and didn't even know it!

Current favorite words (at 7.5 months old) include Da-da-da (we try to associate this with Daddy or dog, depending on who's in the room) and Ma-ma-ma. I try to reply, "Yes, Finny?" when he says Ma-ma-ma and I'm around. Will be interesting to see if this approach works, and what his "real" first words will be!

From Russia With Love

Today was a very special day - I got to meet Laura and Greg Aden's little boy Jackson who they just adopted from Russia. What a darling, vibrant, happy and outgoing little boy! And did I mention ACTIVE? Oh boy... I need a nap thinking of how tired I'll be chasing Baby F around when he's Jackson's age!

I adore Laura for so many reasons (you should know that she hired me even though I spilled coffee all over her beautiful, winter-white outfit almost five years ago now...), but we became closer over the past few years sharing in the trials and tribulations of trying to grow our families - me struggling with infertility and her with the ups and downs of trying to adopt. What a blessing that today we're both fulfilled in having achieved our dreams of growing our families to include happy, healthy little boys! What a difference a year (or two) makes.

What strikes me the most on the battlegrounds of infertility and adoption is that sometimes the people who want babies the most - those who would really make the ultimate parents - are those who face the highest hurdles. Both infertility and adoption come at a high price (emotionally and monetarily), and some try and try at both avenues only to run into road blocks along the way. Not to mention the other side of the story - the sweet kids like Jackson who would love to join a loving home and have no understanding that there are loving parents out there, it's just not quite so easy to put two-and-two together.

My wish tonight is that all those out there struggling with whatever barriers exist between them and a loving family will have the strength and resources to overcome those barriers. No matter what their future family looks like, I can say from experience that in the end it's worth the struggle.

Cooking Makes Me Happy

I've always loved cooking, but now that I'm a mom and a wife I find real pleasure in being able to provide for my family by making great food. Maybe it's a little June Cleaver of me, but hey - it makes me happy...

Lately I've been on a real slow cooker kick, but this week I decided to go old school and make some quicker recipes. Thanks to my best friend Jody I was inspired to make chicken pot pie tonight and it was delicious! Basic recipe:

• Lay a pie crust into a pie pan
• Pick the meat from the bones of 1 roast chicken from the grocery
• Combine meat with 1 can cream of chicken (I used low fat/low sodium) and 1 can cream of potato
• Add veggies you'd like - I chose carrots, celery, onion and peas
• NOTE: I used all fresh veggies except the peas, which were frozen. I sauteed them slightly before mixing them in just to soften them a bit.
• Layer into a pie pan and top with pie crust
• Bake at 400 for about 30-45 minutes - until pie crust is browned and contents are bubbly

It was that easy, and totally delish. While the pot pie was baking, I also made Baby F some more apples and pears. The boy LOVES his fruit! I want to thank my dear friend Ashley for giving me two baby food books as gifts at my Book Club book baby shower. I love the books and find great joy in making Baby F's food from scratch. It tastes delicious and is very economical!

Okay, enough June Cleaver for tonight. Off to plan my next cooking adventure!

Bookworm In Training

I love the fact that when my husband reads to my son before bed he reads him the title, then the author, then launches into the story. Not sure why, but I think including the author adds a little something.

We love reading to Baby F and he really loves his books! My personal favorites are the Berenstain Bears books, but thanks to my amazing Book Club Girls who held a very meaningful book shower for me before Baby F was born, we have been introduced to a whole host of kid books that I wasn't familiar with before. Everyone was asked to bring their favorite childhood book (or books) to the shower and believe it or not, there wasn't a single duplicate! It tells me that we are all truly book lovers, even though "Book Club" is more often focused on drinking wine, eating cheese and talking about everything except the book.

I have referenced a particular research study a lot lately, so I wanted to note it here. The study shows that children raised in a home with a 500-book library achieve on average 6.6 more years of education. Amazing! We have a pretty healthy collection of books - and now we have even more reason to continue to expand our collection. Outside of the Berenstain Bears books, some personal favorites in my collection include classics The Great Gatsby and Lady Chatterly's Lover; beach favorites such as The Other Side of the Story and Watermelon by Marian Keyes; childhood staple The Little House on the Prairie series; and a favorite love story from my college years, Coming Home.

My husband has totally different taste in books, but together we're hopefully turning our little man into a bookworm all his own. Can't wait to see what his favorites end up being! I found some Bobbsey Twins books for him that were mine as a kid. I loved them... Wonder if they'll translate to today's kid when he's old enough to read them? What are some of your favorites?

I'm in the Navy!

I spent a blissful afternoon with my BFF Jody today celebrating our two birthdays (she on Nov. 20, me Dec. 4 - just two weeks apart!) We first stopped at Common Grounds for a delicious sandwich and some drinks, then on to the Oxford for mani/pedis. Believe it or not, this was Jody's first pedi and she loved it!

I saw an ad for something in a magazine recently where the girl had navy blue nail polish - so I decided to give it a try. OPI has this cool color called Russian Navy, and I love it! I got it on my toes and fingers and it looks really cool. Only problem is that it's not very forgiving, and I already have a nick on my finger nail that you simply cannot miss. Oh well - it's going to be fun while it lasts!

While the afternoon was lots of fun - nothing can beat the giant smile and jumping around "welcome home" that Baby F did when he saw me walk in the door! That kid is really cute... Wonderful birthday weekend all around!

Gaining Perspective On My Bir-s-day

Today was my birthday (or bir-s-day as my Hungarian grandmother says...) and it was a really nice day! Baby F "slept in" until about 7:30, then we all hung out in bed and opened cards and presents and played with the wrapping and envelopes (okay - that was just Baby F...) Once we finally got moving we had breakfast at Toast in Cherry Creek and then jetted off to Target to shop for holiday gifts for some children we "adopted" through the Denver Police Department.

We adopted three kids this year and it just breaks my heart to read their gift lists. While there are some fun gift requests (makeup for a 13-year-old girl, wrestling toys for an 11-year-old boy), there are also some that no kid I knew growing up would ask for, like a winter coat or shoes. Yes - we might have asked for a trendy coat (I remember the year I got my first jean jacket for Christmas - score!) or the latest style of shoes, but these kids are asking out of necessity, not to be trendy.

This year my entire perspective on the holidays has changed. Perhaps it's being a new mom, or maybe it's a part of becoming more socially aware, but it truly feels better to give to those in need and to simply enjoy being with the ones I love, celebrating all of the wonderful blessings we're so privileged to have. I hope the joy I get from giving to those in need passes along to Baby F.

A Day To Be Grateful

Today was a day full of things to be grateful for:

• This morning I dropped Baby F at school where he smiled like crazy at his teachers and friends when we arrived. For his love of school and all that he's learning, even at this early age, I am grateful.
• I also dropped two bags of baby clothes, some diapers Baby F outgrew and extra wipes at The Denver Rescue Mission. I simply cannot fathom what it would be like to be homeless or in need - particularly with an infant. For the fact that I have never had to contemplate this reality, but also for the fact that I can give and have been motivated to do so, I am grateful.
• I had an impromptu lunch date with my dear friend Carrie today. We met through work more than 10 years ago and we still work together today, although for a different employer than where we started out. For the fact that Carrie is in my life, and that we share so many wonderful friends and now years worth of memories, I am grateful.
• When I picked up Baby F he immediately smiled at me, and didn't stop smiling even when I dragged him to the grocery store instead of straight home. For his shining face and light in his eyes, I am grateful!

So many things to be grateful for this holiday season - I hope you are enjoying your blessings, too!

Cry Me a River...

So - this has been a rough week for Baby F. He had a fever the first part of the week which has finally gone away only to be replaced by a cough and serious stuffed nose (for Mommy, too, which is great.) To top it all off, we're still weaning - which is getting easier, by the way - and we have also started trying a bit of the "cry it out" method of getting him to go to sleep. I really didn't want to take this approach, but the doctor advised us that at 6 months old he really should be going into the crib awake, not nursed to sleep, as he would only continue to freak out when he wakes up at night because he doesn't know that the crib is a safe place to soothe himself to sleep.

It's amazing how many opinions there are on how to get your kid to sleep - and no preparation for how awful it is to survive the crying that comes with the path we've chosen. But, I'm happy to report that in about a week of working on this he went to bed with only about 5-10 minutes of crying tonight, much of which was actually babbling and wasn't a freaked out cry at all. Hoping he sleeps well tonight, and looking forward to getting to bed myself soon! Nighty night, blog world!

Bitten

I have been seriously bitten by the Holiday Bug! Not sure if it's being a new mom, having lots of family in town in a few weeks or what - but I am pretty excited about the holidays this year! We put up the tree yesterday, hubby has spent all day on a ladder getting the lights hung, Baby F and I picked up bags to fill with holiday goodies for friends, teachers, neighbors and the like, and we've been listening to Christmas tunes non-stop since yesterday. What a wonderful time of year - amplified by having a little one in the house. Can't wait 'til he's old enough to actually get it all!

With Sincere Thanks

It's Thanksgiving, and I truly feel like the list of things I have to be thankful for could go on forever. Not only is today Thanksgiving, but it's my little guy's 6-month birthday - which tops my list of things to be thankful for. Being a mom has proven to be among the greatest joys in life. I cannot believe that just one year ago today I was just at the start of my second trimester of pregnancy - and I believe wearing maternity pants for the first time (what a relief that was!) And one year before that, I was frustratedly trying to figure out why I wasn't getting pregnant and just getting really serious about fertility treatment after nearly a year of trying with no results. What a difference just a few short years makes - and amazing that they only seem "short" in retrospect!

Among the other things I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving: my loving and amazing husband, who is also a wonderful father; my supportive and giving family; lifelong friends; my rewarding job; a beautiful and warm home; delicious food on the table; and many, many more blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Letting go...

So tomorrow is Baby F's 6 month birthday - yeah! When he was born, I made 6 months my breastfeeding goal and I'm proud to say that while we have introduced solids and supplemented sometimes, he's been breastfed for the majority of his life which is amazing. What is surprising me now is how hard I'm finding it to let go... There are aspects I really loathe about breastfeeding (pumping - you know I'm talking to you!), but ending this ritual also means letting go of the closeness I have with him during each feeding and letting go of the fact that I've been his sole provider for more than a year. Maybe it's my Type A personality (okay - it's my Type A personality...), but I'm surprised it's this hard for me to let this chapter close and truly enjoy the freedom I'll gain with not being tied to the kid or the pump, and relish in making him delicious, nutritious, homemade baby food and getting to stay in bed when he wakes up needing a midnight snack (Daddy - your turn!)

Everyone says that time as a parent goes by so fast. I'm amazed at how true that statement is! Six months has flown by and I can only imagine that it gets faster from here. I am truly blessed to have a little one in my life!