Ava: “I am going to start a new morning routine. I’m going to get up when you and Dad get up. I’m going to get dressed really fast. Then, I’m going to work out for a bit, have some breakfast and then read the paper. Maybe have a cup of decaf coffee. We do have decaf, right?”
9 Feb
Girls’ Night In
About once a month (or, occasionally, a bit more frequently…), a group of my girlfriends hold a “Girls’ Night Out.” Last week, I hosted a Valentine’s Day-themed “Girls’ Night In.” About 25 women came together for conversation, cake-tinis, cupcakes and other sweets, and I was left feeling pretty darn fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing people.
Here are a few photos (and recipes) from the night.
Glasses awaiting pink cake-tinis…
Dawn and Terri:
Chocolate covered pretzels with candy sprinkles, and a few other treats:
Red wine lollipops:
Jen, Elspeth, Monica, Erin, Tami and Jill:
Carly and Molly:
Made especially for Monica–Dark chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel filling and topped with fleur de sel:
Jill, Sarah and Jen:
Mini almond frangipane pies:
Michelle, Jill, Tami, Jen and Erin:
7 Feb
On new labels
Bryan made mention of “his son” last night, and I noted we’d have all kinds of new phrases to throw around after this baby’s born. I told him that I still remembered how remarkable it was the first time I said, “I’m Ava’s mom,” as I walked into the NICU the day after she was born.
Bryan responded, “I remember the first time I said that as well.”
For a moment, I thought he meant the first time he said, “I’m Ava’s dad,” but then I recalled this conversation from last week, held shortly after Bryan dropped Ava off at a classmate’s birthday party:
Bec: “How did the drop off go? Did you meet Sophie’s mom?”
Bry: “Yeah. I introduced myself as ‘Ava’s mom.'”
Bec (laughing hysterically): “What!? Did you correct yourself?”
Bry: “No…”
31 Jan
A new category
While I haven’t gone back to check, I imagine there are at least a few pregnancy posts about the other two. So, to keep things a bit more even for Baby Number Three, I thought I’d provide a quick update.
The big news will really come later this week following the sonogram in which we hope to determine the baby’s sex. Both Ava and Olivia are pulling for another girl, or alternatively, an OLDER brother capable of completing chores on their behalf. I am positive this baby is a boy, just as I thought twice before…
We didn’t find out in advance with the girls, mostly because I was unabashed in my desire for a girl the first time around, and even more so the second—I so desperately wanted Ava to have a sister. I think I was afraid I’d be disappointed to discover otherwise in those cases. This time, I can honestly say that it doesn’t much matter to me. I’d love to have three little girls. On the other hand, if this indeed a boy, at least Ava will have a few months to master the intricacies of time travel.
I will say that of the three, this has been—by far—the easiest pregnancy. I have no symptoms aside from a rapidly-changing profile and a new penchant for afternoon naps and smoked oysters. This quite the change from the last pregnancy, and as such, I joke that this one is already my favorite. I’ve felt slight movement since about 13.5 weeks, but with much more consistency and force in the last few weeks. I’m at 18 weeks right now. Ava told me this morning I have 155 days to go.
More later this week!
30 Jan
Overheard: In which the children are honest to a fault, and their mother is not portrayed in a particularly favorable light
Ava: “Mom, your dinners always look good, but they don’t always taste good.”
—
Ava: “The reason we do what you say is because we’re scared of you.
Liv: “Yeah, you’re scary!”
24 Jan
Overheard: So close!
Olivia: Hey Mom, I know all the continents, Mom. London, New York City, um….KANSAS, Wisconsin….JULY, annnnnd syrup.
23 Jan
Beauties and the Beast
I took Princess Tiana and Snow White to see Beauty and the Beast on Sunday. While I’m not a fan of this 3-D business, it was great to see this movie again. Both girls were spellbound the entire film.
20 Jan
“I can’t even carpe fifteen minutes in a row, so a whole diem is out of the question.”
My friend Lori shared this brilliant parenting article by Glennon Melton—it’s the perfect answer to the common refrain of “Enjoy every minute of this, it goes by so quickly.” Turns out, my (silent) response of “THANK GOD” is not entirely inappropriate.
A few excerpts:
“Every time I’m out with my kids — this seems to happen: An older woman stops us, puts her hand over her heart and says something like, ‘Oh, Enjoy every moment. This time goes by so fast.’ Everywhere I go, someone is telling me to seize the moment, raise my awareness, be happy, enjoy every second, etc, etc, etc.
I know that this message is right and good. But, I have finally allowed myself to admit that it just doesn’t work for me. It bugs me. This CARPE DIEM message makes me paranoid and panicky. Especially during this phase of my life – while I’m raising young kids. Being told, in a million different ways to CARPE DIEM makes me worry that if I’m not in a constant state of intense gratitude and ecstasy, I’m doing something wrong. …
Last week, a woman approached me in the Target line and said the following: ‘Sugar, I hope you are enjoying this. I loved every single second of parenting my two girls. Every single moment. These days go by so fast.’
At that particular moment, Amma had arranged one of the new bras I was buying on top of her sweater and was sucking a lollipop that she must have found on the ground. She also had three shop-lifted clip-on neon feathers stuck in her hair. She looked exactly like a contestant from Toddlers and Tiaras. I couldn’t find Chase anywhere, and Tish was grabbing the pen on the credit card swiper thing WHILE the woman in front of me was trying to use it. And so I just looked at the woman, smiled and said, ‘Thank you. Yes. Me too. I am enjoying every single moment. Especially this one. Yes. Thank you.'”
In addition to making me feel less guilty about liking my children most while they’re asleep, the article provides a rather hilarious look at why it’s okay to not love every minute. And that, perhaps, makes it easier to truly appreciate the minutes that really matter.
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