Monday, March 16, 2009
Outside My Window…
it is sunny, & warm again! Last week we had a cold snap in the 40s and I was a little bitter that my favorite weather month had started out too warm (high 80s for a week) and then too cold (in the 40s the next week). I guess I sound a bit like Goldilocks, don’t I? I think this week will be quite pleasant, though, with the forecast sunny most days and 75-80 all week. The perfect weather for eating out on the patio (too bad I don’t have one . . . yet!).
I am thinking…
about the last year and what a blur it is. A year ago this month, Livy had just turned two, Molly was seven months old, and I was starting my second trimester with Violet. Then we caught a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad flu bug and I never really recovered . . . well maybe not never, but it was a long, long time. Stay tuned for the rest of the story in a separate blog post!
I am thankful for…
good health, the ability to exercise & the abundance of healthy food at my disposal.
We are learning…
So much for Violet sleeping through the night! Let’s just say we’ve hit a bump in that road, but on a positive note, she IS learning to scoot & crawl! Last night she took two “steps” forward (on hands & knees) to get to a book. Seems she is most motivated by paper & books, not so much toys. Grandma Andrews says JR was the same way and loved newspaper, especially. We’ll have to see what we can do there, we don’t get the paper! As a comparison, the older girls didn’t crawl until the more typical age of 9 months, so Violet crawling at 6 months is quite the accomplishment!
Molly‘s language development is really blossoming. She’s stringing three words into sentences quite easily these days. Here is what we hear most often:
“I did it!”
“Give it back!”
“I want milk (or more or apple or whatever is the object of her desire).”
“Baby night night (referring either to Violet or her baby dolls).”
She is also known to shout one word commands like “Out!”; “Eat!”; and “Mine!”
Olivia continues to amaze me with her understanding of the world and interest in all things grown-up. She is really in to painting & coloring lately and has started actually drawing faces (this is the first that her artwork is not just scribbles!). And she has started finding “O for Olivia” everywhere – on signs, in menus, and in her books!
From the kitchen…
Our fancy roasted chicken turned out yummy, but we think our rotisserie chickens off the grill are probably comparable. This week I put a lot of regular favorites on the meal calendar – grilled chicken breasts, teriyaki sirloin kabobs, hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, & grilled pork steaks. We’ll probably go to the parish fish fry this Friday night because a lot of friends will be there (though JR will likely eat a PB&J before we go as he doesn’t eat fish!). And since we haven’t had one in awhile, a roast for Sunday dinner. 
Oh, and I got a Cooking Light 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook from Amazon and plan to use it primarily for healthy lunches for the girls & I.
I am wearing…
a blue t-shirt, khaki shorts & flip flops.
I am creating…
labels for Violet’s announcements. We had a hiccup in the design as Costco changed the dimensions of their announcement card so it had to be laid out again and that was delayed due to JR’s race. At any rate, we are moving full speed ahead for mailing soon!! And finally, I will be able to talk about something else in this space!
I am (still) going…
to focus on the 5 basic things I must do to be a healthy person in order that I might serve my family better – pray, shower, eat, exercise, & sleep.
I am really focusing on exercise the last couple weeks since starting a training program through NI’s gym. You’ll be pleased to know that daily exercise has required daily showering as well! I meet for a group session with a personal trainer on Wednesday afternoons and will be getting up early to workout on Mondays & Fridays and then add something during Livy’s preschool on Tuesdays & Thursdays. It has been quite a hurdle to get in five opportunities for exercise each week! But everyone keeps telling me that once it is part of your routine it will be so much easier!
I am reading…
still trying to get through the Montessori book. For a lighter read, I picked up Amazing Grace for Mothers the other night when I couldn’t get to sleep. It’s similar to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Unfortunately, the little story I read was about a mother who lost a child to SIDS at four months. Needless to say, it didn’t help me fall asleep!!!!
I am hoping…
the dermatologist we see tomorrow will have a quick, easy fix for Olivia’s rash that just won’t go away!
I am hearing…
the Olivia show. After painting a few pictures, Liv is watching a TV treat while the babies take a nap! It’s not the best show on TV, but Livy really gets a kick out of the fact that the star is “Olivia!” The theme song is really cute, too! Of course, she chose “Olivia paints” from the episodes we have on the DVR. We’re planning to cancel the cable this month – I’ll really miss the DVR 
but we expect to be watching less TV and that is a good thing.
but we expect to be watching less TV and that is a good thing.Around the house…
stuff is everywhere! We had a full & fun weekend and that leaves a lot of clean up this morning. Saturday we put a good faith effort into finishing the clean up of the office to decorate Violet’s room. We made a lot of progress, but didn’t quite get to the painting. Sunday we went to Macy’s after Mass and took advantage of all the girls falling asleep in the van for me to do some shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding. When the girls woke up we grabbed some lunch and then headed back to Macy’s for Easter dresses for the girls & some casual clothes for me!
One of my favorite things…
out-of-town visitors. For various reasons, no one is planning to visit us this year. After a record number of visitors last year it is a bummer to not have that to look forward to this year. It is especially sweet to have family come visit because when we are home for the holidays it is really hard (okay impossible) to get enough quality time in with everyone we want to. When they come to us we can devote all our time & attention to spending quality time together!
After a record number of visitors last year it is a bummer to not have that to look forward to this year. It is especially sweet to have family come visit because when we are home for the holidays it is really hard (okay impossible) to get enough quality time in with everyone we want to. When they come to us we can devote all our time & attention to spending quality time together!A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
This is Spring Break week so Livy is off from preschool. We have nothing planned today. Tomorrow I’ll take Liv (and the babies will come along) to the dermatologist and try to do something festive for St. Patrick’s Day (including lounging & napping with our new St. Patrick’s Day pillowcases from Grandma Andrews – thank you!). Wednesday I meet with my trainer, and Thursday I have my rosary group (Madonninas Mothers). Friday we are supposed to host the bilingual playgroup. I’m thinking we might try to meet at a park, weather permitting. Friday night is a send off at the parish fish fry for our friend who is entering a contemplative order of sisters. Saturday our friends are keeping the big girls while JR, Violet & I got to a wedding (the daughter of a friend of JR’s from work). I’m looking forward to a nice evening out in the country (the wedding & reception will be on the family’s acreage).
Here is a picture thought I am sharing…
The Perfect Pair
Violet Frances at 6 months
Max Benedict (our godson) at 6 months (he’s one week older than Violet and probably a head taller!)
Be sure to visit Peggy for links to more daybooks.
Nice daybook! I know I almost always say that but I mean it! I enjoy reading what you have written. The part about Violet being drawn to books and paper and then Grandma Andrews’ comment made me laugh. I remember JR showing up for homeroom (just occured to me that we were in the same homeroom) saying that he had read his book on the way to school…WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. Like father, like daughter!
Thank you, Aubrey – and I enjoy yours, too!!
Seriously, sometimes I wonder how he lived long enough to meet me! I like to think I have provided a voice of reason when it comes to “dilemmas” like whether or not to read while driving!
Oh! How exciting to see a picture of Max on your page!
Your godson and my goddaughter have such beautiful blue eyes… 
‘Tis true, ’tis true!!