In a Hurry

My baby girl is in a hurry to grow up.  She is 16 months going on 16 years.

Evidence:
#1.  Eileen has expressed an interest in potty training.  She asks to go potty and tells us when she needs a change.  She likes to practice.  I'm not ready.

some light reading

practicing the wipe

#2  She put herself in time out today.  We use a bottom step as time out.  Eileen walked over, sat down, and announced she was in "time-ow."

Linus decided he should join her.

#3  Likes to snuggle up and role play "nigh nigh" in the toddler bed (she still sleeps in the crib).

#4 Texting

#5 Carries a purse

I don't understand the rush. She is still the sweetest thing who loves to nuzzle at regular intervals.  As I rocked and sang with her before bed in the rocking chair--she insisted on "pum pum" (little drummer boy)--I was reminded of an old poem,

"The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

Canadian Holiday

This weekend we took a Canadian holiday courtesy of Groupon.  I have been wanting to take Linus to the Vancouver Aquarium for a long time, but a trip to Canada always seemed like it necessitated more than one day.  I ignore most of my Groupon/Living Social emails, but occasionally check out the "getaways."  When I saw a suite in downtown Vancouver BC advertised for only $150, I knew I had to act.  That's right, a suite.  That means a separate bedroom with a door.  That means not going to bed at 6:45 pm because that's when Eileen goes to bed and staying up to watch a movie.

We were on the road by 8 am Saturday morning.  Since check-in wasn't until afternoon, our first stop was Granville Island.  The main attraction was the Kids Market--a large warehouse with multiple high end toy stores, high quality clothing and shoe stores.  It also had a two story tunnel play area.  It was over-stimulating to say the least.  We made it out of there with new crocs for the kids, a knight costume for Linus, and something I swore I would never buy my daughter--a purse with keys, lipstick, compact, debit card, and hot pink cell phone.  Needless to say, Eileen LOVES it.  Granville Island has a large public market with buskers as well as lots of small shops and restaurants.  There is also a duck pond, free water park (open during summer months) and playground. 

Braving the playground merry go round with the big kids.

Linus' first magician

I have to give props to Delta Suites.  They greeted us with fresh cookies and swag bags for the kids.  Staying in a hotel was Linus' favorite part of the trip.  Our hotel was near Gastown so we had a little time to play tourist.

Vera's Burger Shack was a bit of a disappointment, but Eileen loved the chipotle mayo. 

Sunday was all about the Vancouver Aquarium.  With two toddlers who both were lacking in the sleep department, we didn't have time to enjoy all of Stanley Park.  If you have never been to the Vancouver Aquarium, GO.  It puts the Seattle Aquarium to shame.  It is worth the hassle of going to a foreign country.

Entranced by the dolphin show.

I wish we had had more time.  We headed back to Seattle after the aquarium.  I wish we could have spent some time in Bellingham.  It felt wrong to not eat at some of my fave Bellingham restaurants. 

I'll be honest.  I think the kids had more fun than the parents.  At times, it was a little reminiscent of our trip to Hawaii last summer, ie. Linus was very difficult.  He is driving me crazy!!! Linus is managing to challenge my resolve to avoid corporal punishment.  I love that child dearly, but Lord is he hard to deal with at times. The owner of his preschool mentioned his mischievous personality when saying they would miss him.  Not sure how to interpret that.  I hope this weekend isn't a foreshadowing of our upcoming summer trip to San Diego.  I hear four years old is easier.  Fingers crossed.

Say hay Sahalee (Photography)!

I like many things: coffee, mani-pedis, baked goods, and reading to name a few.  I also like free things, supporting friends, and cute pics of my family.  This weekend I was able to enjoy the last three.  My friend, Ray, is one of Seattle's finest by day, but also a budding freelance photographer.  While scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I saw he was offering free photo sessions in order to expand his portfolio.  Naturally, being the good friend that I am, I volunteered my family.

Ray came over Saturday morning.  I originally envisioned capturing my family at Gasworks.  The reality of snow, rain, and pelting winds resulted in staying in the house.  Being three, Linus is not known for his enthusiasm over having his picture taken nor being extremely cooperative.  I sold the whole thing by telling him a REAL police officer was coming to our house and that we would bake a St. Patrick's Day cake afterwards.

Being a mom provides me with a constant reality check.  Three-years-olds throw lots of tantrums, one-year-olds don't like staying in one place, and it is impossible to get everyone looking into the camera at the same time. I knew this going into the morning and hoped for the best.

Our kids love to be upside down.

Did I mention that Linus became extremely uncooperative or that I picked up my flailing child and escorted him to his room for a talk?  After much "discussion," it was agreed that he would let us finish taking pictures if we did a separate photoshoot with him as Darth Vader.  Another reality check moment.

I love this picture.

He was so much happier in costume.

It was great to see Ray and we love our pictures.  Maybe we didn't get that perfect family shot, but whatever.  We got pictures that captured who are kids really are--ones who don't sit still or look in the camera, but are sweet, silly, and love costumes.  Thanks Sahalee Photography!

I was skeptical, but It Works!

I don't know any woman who is 100% happy with their body.  My body and I have been through a lot together.  Puberty, weight gain and loss, pregnancy, breastfeeding...  It's all taken a toll.  As I have said before, if I had known that having babies was the secret to losing weight, I would have done it a long time ago.  I am relatively happy with the current state of my body, but there is always room for improvement.

Despite weighing significantly less than in high school, I don't have a flat stomach.  I have stretch mark scars from a heavier time in my life.  I have other lighter stretch marks and loose skin from having babies.  While I'm not exactly channeling Kate Gosselin post-sextuplets but pre-plastic surgery, I am self-conscious.  I can't reconcile the cost of plastic surgery.

Not too long ago, a girl I went to grade school/high school with posted on Facebook about an amazing body wrap.  She was becoming a vendor for it, and hosting wrap parties.  As my blog title suggests, I was skeptical.  However, the opportunity to potentially improve my big problem area at a low cost proved too tempting.  I ordered a body wrap kit from It Works!

After watching a You Tube instructional video, the whole thing was pretty straight forward.  I measured before, applied this piece of material that had a special lotion on it, wrapped some saran wrap around myself, and then went about my morning for the next 45 minutes.  You're supposed to drink water, but I find coffee more appetizing in the morning.  After 45 minutes, I had lost a total of 3.5 inches! No joke.  Who knows what would have happened if I drank water.

I remained skeptical.  I waited two weeks to re-measure.  Despite no change in weight, the inches stayed off more or less.  I did another wrap, and lost an inch.  While the inches are great, what I have been struck by is how much tighter all that loose skin is and how faded my worst stretch marks are (someone actually asked very concerned one time what had happened to me when they saw these particular stretch marks pre-wrap).

Last night I hung out with some other lady friends, drinking wine.  As soon as I walked in the door, a friend asked if I had lost weight because in her words, I looked so "tight."  Her comments confirmed that maybe these body wraps really do work.

I am not being paid for this endorsement.  I just wanted to share.  I think the body wraps would be really good for things like fitting into a wedding dress or getting rid of back fat when fitting into a bridesmaid dress.  Supposedly, the wrap can be used all over your body--arms, legs, chin...  If you're intrigued, here's the link: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/p/it-works.html.

Here's to body confidence!

From the Mouths of Babes in February

Dave: Why do you have a worried look on your face?
Linus: Maybe that's how God made me.  God said, "Mommy, Daddy, you are going to have a baby named Linus and he is going to have a worried look on his face."


Linus:  But that doesn't make any sense!  (Linus' response to anything he doesn't want to do)


Linus:  Mommy, did you know that Darth Vader has a sister named Ella Vader?
Me:  Did Daddy tell you that?
Linus: Yes.

Two toddlers, one mama, and the dentist

Today I woke up stressed.  Not only did I need to get the crock-pot going in preparation for hosting my book club tonight, but an appointment made six months ago on the calendar had finally arrived.  It didn't seem like a big deal at the time to schedule both kids for the dentist.   Of course, back then Linus didn't only nap intermittently and Eileen couldn't even crawl.

I was nervous when we got to the dentist.  Eileen was quiet, serious, and attached--not the qualities I look for when I know I will be laying her down in a stranger's lap and letting them inspect her teeth.  I envisioned Linus crying because he didn't want to stop playing, crawling wildly over things, pulling/pushing Eileen, maybe even biting, needing lots of management.  I was certain Eileen would cry and I would find myself holding her down while she glared back at me in betrayal.  By the end, I would need a stiff drink and a nap.

Instead, Linus hopped up on the chair and immediately opened his mouth.  He didn't even flinch when they cleaned his teeth.  When the hygienist was done, he went over to the toy area and played quietly while waiting for his turn with the dentist.  Eileen was quiet.  There were some questioning looks, but no tears, no flailing.  She patiently let both the hygienist and dentist look at her teeth.  The whole thing was almost surreal. And in case you were wondering, my kids both had perfect check-ups and didn't inherit my small mouth so they both have lots of room for their teeth.

I took the kids out to lunch as a treat.  Linus' choice: Burgermaster.  He recently learned that Burgermaster puts candy (smarties) in the kids meal.  He's sold.

I can't recommend Greenlake Kids Dentistry enough.

Eileen was a big fan of her new big girl toothbrush and wouldn't put it down.  She's also a big fan of hats.

Tennis Anyone?

Waaaay back in September Linus used to tell me he was going to get me a tennis racket for my birthday.  He made good on his promise and gifted me with a tennis racket and balls for my birthday in October.  Linus also picked up a racket for himself.    In order to keep everyone safe, the tennis rackets were moved to our garage and have sat there for several months now.

We finally brought the tennis rackets out of storage.   Linus and Dave broke them in last week while I was in Nebraska.  Dave put it in Linus' head today that even though it was only in the upper 30s, it would be really fun to go play tennis with Mommy.  These days Linus' memory is like a steel trap and once he hears something, he doesn't let it go.  So with the sun shining and the wind blowing, we all headed to Greenlake to play a little tennis after nap.

I don't know how to play tennis.  I am really awful at Wii tennis.  Luckily, this doesn't matter to a three year old.  Eileen was just excited to be outside.

Did I mention that Eileen finally started walking this past week?

Ready for action

There was some serious action on the court.  Andy Roddick look out!

We had a great time.  Linus did manage to score on me.  The brutally cold wind drove us back indoors after only a short while. I will be demanding a re-match as soon as it warms up a little bit.