We interrupt this blogcast...

We interrupt this kid-centered blog for some great news on the parent front.  Both parents have lost significant weight since our recent Boston trip.  Once we got back home, we both made significant changes to our diet.  We both added more vegan meals to our daily diet and have stopped buying animal products (for our consumption, the kids still eat them).

While Dad is against putting a 'label' on himself and still considers himself an omnivore, his animal consumption has dropped dramatically.  His other great change is as simple as it is difficult to do, and I am so proud of him and his success.  His secret....  He eats less.  Period.

Dad has lost 9.5 pounds and is excited to keep going.

For me, since I have tried to make most of my meals vegan, I found that I 'felt' much better when I stopped eating meat.  I ended up 'ok' without cheese, but it made it difficult to enjoy some meals with my family.  So instead, I just pick and choose the dairy I will eat, and limit the amounts.  Hubbers understands and always tells me how much cheese is in something.  I've just decided to personally stop eating land animals.

I've lost 5 pounds since our Boston trip and felt 'room' in my jeans yesterday in my legs.  Huh, never felt that before, and I've had these jeans before I had ANY babies!  Yay!

Hip Hip hooray for the parents!

Valentine's Day

Yeah, I don't celebrate it.  We don't exchange gifts or cards on most holiday's.

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity, to well, you know, talk about the people I love.

My husband is a wonderful partner. 

He is kind, loving, supportive, funny and a great father.  Thank you babe, for all that you do for this family.

Jeanne is a bouncing, curious, stubborn, giggling little girl.  I love to steal away moments with her to read her a book or do a puzzle with her.  I miss our time alone together, and I think we both appreciate the limited alone time we do get.  She loves to give hugs and I love to get them.

Loki's personality has been emerging so much lately.  He has been playing more with his sister, and loves to mimic you.  Listening to him giggle makes all of us smile.  He has shown us his first sign this week, the sign for "Daddy".  He uses and understands  the word "Mama" and "Daddy" correctly, and he has made his own sign up for "More", despite us all showing him over and over again.  He prefers to bang his tray one handed.  He also thinks this is hilarious. 


I am very grateful to have found such a loving man and to have such a wonderful family.

He, whom shall not be named

My husband is an amazing man.  He is honest, generous, giving and thoughtful.  I try my best to cook food dinners and breakfast during the week so the whole family can have nutritious yummy meals and so that hubbers doesn't have to worry about cooking when he gets home from work.  This, the whole me cooking aspect, took many years and many failed meals, but I am 'able' to feed my family.  I have no delusions I will ever be on par with my husband or my Aunts Laurie and Eileen.  True chefs they are.

Currently, my husband is the sole worker in the family, and his job requires a lot of traveling.  A lot.  He is away about 45% of the month of February.  This bothered me so much that the kids and I will be joining him on his last trip in February, so we can at least see him at night and breakfast.

When my husband is home, he will do the dishes, fold the laundry, and cook amazing meals for hours on end, especially if he knows he is leaving soon.  He'll also do these sorts of things if I am sick.  Which I am right now, sick that is.

I have a very bad sore throat and a slight fever.  I went to bed last night at 8:30pm, and although Loki woke 6 times, we stayed in bed until 6:00 am, so I think that's good for my body.  Yesterday though, my dear husband got up with Loki at 5:00 am and began making him steel cut oatmeal.  The remainder of the day was filled with cooking.  Omelets, guacamole, homemade pizza, sausage, macaroni and cheese, turkey burgers, grilled portabella mushroom burgers.  You know, the works. 

My dear husband is leaving this Tuesday evening, and will be home Thursday evening.  Even though I am sick, I know I will have plenty to feed my children and myself.

I adore my husband, and I am so thankful for all that he does for his family.  We will miss him.

The people in my life who make me sane.

 I have the best Mom in the WORLD. Knowing I had a truly horrible day yesterday, she came over with ice cream. Although, I didn't eat any, since I had already finished half a pan of brownies, but there is always tonight. 

 

THEN, she came over at 6:30 this morning so I could do dishes, laundry and YOGA without having to watch the kids. Breakfast was enjoyed by the whole family by 7:30. Ah.

 

It goes without saying, that my everyday is made easier by my amazing, supportive husband.  I am a very lucky woman to be so loved.  We miss you babe!

Lest they think I am unappreciative.

I never had a chance to post about our Christmas dinner.  My mother made a whole turkey, brussel sprouts, stuffing, sweet potato rolls, rice, had wonderful wine and to die for ice cream.  She did this knowing it was just hubbers and I thought would be eating, (Jeanne had rice and a little turkey, although surprisingly Loki ate a ton of turkey and rolls).  It was so nice to have a wonderful, healthy homemade meal with the family.  Thank you so very much for going to all that trouble for us mom!  We love you!  The turkey was fantastic, so much better than my Thanksgiving one.

Dear husband.

I never really post about what you do for us and how great a father you are.  Please don't think I don't appreciate all that you give us.  As a simple example of your supreme awesomeness, just last night, Loki was having a like of trouble settling back to sleep.  I woke with him at 1:57am, and no amount of rocking, rubbing his back or nursing was soothing him. He kept jamming his finger into his mouth, his new second tooth is really bothering him.  Each time I could get him to calm down, he wold cry out again.  After an hour, my dear husband offered to hold Loki.  He sat in the rocker, spoke quietly and soothingly to his son, I wrapped them in a blanket and dove for the bed.  Loki quieted in his daddy's warm arms.  Over 90 minutes later I told Daddy he could put Loki down now.  I didn't expect him to hold him for that long.  But true to form, as soon as Daddy moved, Loki woke.

He said sleepily "Now lets see how long it takes for the other little monster to come in here."

I said nothing and started nursing a seemingly wide awake Loki at 4:41am.

At 4:48 Jeanne walked in the room "Daddy I want some milk."

I kid you not.  We were all quite, no one made a noise to wake her.  It's like she just knew.  Thankfully, the whole family went back to sleep, eventually, and did no until 7:20am.

Mom, Hubbers, I love you both, thank you for everything you do for this family.