Weekend Wear

I've always hated shorts.  Unless I was going for a run or at the gym I wouldn't be caught dead in them.  I prefer wearing skirts or dresses on hot summer days, but they're not a very practical choice now when I'm out running errands with Kate.  Call me crazy, but I'm not exactly interested in giving the guy next to me a free show as I bend over to strap Kate into her carseat, or her stroller, or to pick up the 374 things she chucks from the shopping cart. 

So now here I am...reluctantly embracing shorts and not a gym in sight.

Tank top:  Old Navy
Shorts:  The Limited
Sandals:  Old Navy
Head wrap:  Target
Sunglasses:  Old Navy

Mom in Motion

I logged my first running miles of the year in March, and they felt incredible--so smooth and fluid that it was almost as if my feet forgot they'd rarely hit the pavement over the past year. 

I’ve missed this. 

That’s the thought I had as my legs settled into a steady rhythm and my lungs sucked in more fresh air in thirty minutes than they had in the previous three months combined.

The thing I love about running is the opportunity to think without that distracting urge to multitask.  I run and I think--that’s it.

During this particular run I couldn’t help but reflect back on my path to motherhood.  I remember the miles I logged thinking of nothing but my hope for getting pregnant, as if thought and sheer willpower alone might make it happen.  I remember the thrill of running for the first time with the awareness that I was no longer running alone--I was carrying my child with me.  I think of the miles I spent wondering if my baby would be a boy or a girl, followed by the overwhelming joy I felt once I knew I was a mother running with my daughter.  I recall the more serious times--hours and miles spent mentally preparing myself for the challenge that is parenthood, and private promises made to Kate about the type of mother I would try to be.  I remember the mornings I forced myself out of bed solely to continue providing Kate the health benefits I knew she received from our runs as I begrudgingly tugged my tech shirt over my bulging belly and stopped just short of asking G to tie my sneakers.  I ran, and thought of nothing but my child, until my third trimester of pregnancy.

And then I stopped running…but continued thinking of nothing but my child.

I thought I would slide right back into running after Kate was born and I recovered from my c-section, but I found it incredibly difficult.  She was too little for a jogging stroller and I couldn’t bear to be apart from her for any reason or for any length of time. 

The precedent was set.

My first year of parenting was a full-on immersion into motherhood.  I lived it, breathed it, and drank it all in.  I found it ridiculously easy and gratifying to put Kate first and everything else a distant second.   I wouldn’t say I lost myself in being a mom, but I certainly flirted with the idea.  If “Focus Exclusively on Kate” was a foreign country, I was gearing up to apply for a permanent visa.

Now that Kate is a little older (and a lot more independent) I realize that not only does she need me less, but it’s better for her if I give her some space.  I want to be a good mom, which sometimes means getting out of the way.  I need to give her a chance to explore on her own.  Be curious.  Learn. 

If my first year of parenting was a motherhood immersion, my hope is that my second year will be a year of learning balance.  Allowing myself, for starters, to lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement again...even if it means walking out the door amidst sounds of laughter and playing coming from Kate and G in the living room.  

It's okay.  

It's good for me.  

It's good for them.  

Trying to find that balance between wife, mother, and self is maybe the most challenging task I'll face in life.  How am I going to do this?  Is it even possible?  I honestly don't know, but as I lace up my running shoes I take comfort in the fact that I've got five miles of thinking in front of me.  Hopefully I figure it out.

To My Husband on Father’s Day

When I was pregnant with Kate my friend Beth made the following observation: “They say women become mothers the moment they find out they’re pregnant, but men don’t become fathers until they hold their child. That’s not the case with Greg, though. That man became a father the moment you peed on the stick!”

She was right. You’ve been an incredible father from the very start—reading the baby books, attending birthing classes and appointments, playing Miley Cyrus songs to my belly, getting me french fries when my hunger turned into a "code red" situation…the list goes on. You were so attentive and so eager for Kate’s arrival that I used to joke, “Somebody give that man a baby!!”

I’ll never forget the moment she arrived. We were staring at each other the first time we heard her, and your eyes went wide. I watched as your heart doubled in size that very moment and all that extra space filled up with the kind of love that only a father can have. It was an incredible moment--the moment our daughter was born and you became a father who finally had a baby to hold.

You fell so easily into your role as Kate's Daddy--changing her diapers, giving her baths, picking out mismatched outfits and trying hard to give the "I Love Mommy" ones almost as much action as the "I Love Daddy" ones.   Before she could even hold her head up you already had little games you'd play with her and things you tried to teach her.  Now that she's older, I watch in amazement as the two of you have such perfect and precious daddy-daughter moments: 

She tackles you, and the two of you roll around the floor in fits of laughter. 
Playing peek-a-boo with your baseball cap. 
Your endless patience as you read every single book she brings you before scooting up onto your lap. 
Teaching her how to "give me five!" and throw a ball...and my least personal favorite: saying "Ahhh!" after she takes a swig of milk from her sippy cup. 

I told Kate when she was born that I picked the very best Daddy I could find for her, and you prove me right every single day.  Happy Father’s Day to the most wonderful father a mother could ever hope for for her child.

Love, D

What Happens In Mexico...

...apparently really does stay in Mexico, considering our trip was five months ago and I still haven't shared pictures from it yet!

Back in January, G and I took our first vacation together since becoming parents, leaving Kate at home with Grandma Pam.  We spent five days in Cancun with our friends Todd & Robyn, and had a great time...although I'll admit I was missing Kate pretty badly after the first two days.  Thank goodness we were at an adults-only resort!  It would have been so hard to see other children and not have Kate there with us.  I think we'll either bring her with us on future trips or stick to shorter vacations for awhile.

Luckily the four of us were still able to have tons of fun between my tearful phone calls home, as you can see from these pictures!  I should add, it was so hot and humid there that applying makeup or doing my hair was pointless. You've been warned.

Me & G:

Our friends Todd & Robyn:

The beachfront of our resort:

More beach. See the white canopies? Those are outdoor beds right on the beach--I was obsessed with them.

The buildings on the resort all had thatched roofs which were really neat. This was the main outdoor bar which also had swings around the bar (see the ropes hanging down?) for additional seating.

Me on one of the bar swings:

There was a tequila bar on the resort, which we gladly made the most of.  When they offered us sombreros, I couldn't resist. I'm a sucker for a sombrero!

G had to pose with this guy whose nickname was "Speedy Gonzales."

Note G's hand in this pic.  The man cannot hold his liquor.

One of the swim-up pool bars (a.k.a.: our home away from home).

That's my husband with the big coconuts. Oh yeah...and our drinks.

Yummy!

A group picture where 3 out of 4 of us are fairly sober; not too bad.

As you can see, we spent most of the trip drinking.  Typical Wisconsinites!

Blueberry Protein Pancakes

Kate and I spent our "Momday" morning stockpiling our freezer with buttermilk pancakes (my favorite) and blueberry protein pancakes (her favorite).  I got this blueberry protein pancake recipe from my friend Jill who came across it in the September 2010 issue of Health magazine, and while it sounded very strange on paper, I decided to give it a try because I'm always looking for ways to sneak protein into Kate's diet.  These are now one of her favorite breakfast foods--she can't get enough of them!

Ingredients
1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 c. cottage cheese
2 large eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. blueberries (frish or frozen, thawed)

Directions
In a blender or food processor, combine oats, cottage cheese, eggs, and vanilla.  Blend or pulse until smooth.  Gently stir in thawed blueberries.  Coat skillet or griddle with cooking spray, and spoon about 3 tablespoons of batter per pancake onto your cooking surface.  Cook about 5 minutes per side, or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.  Carefully turn pancakes over; cook for 3-5 minutes more, or until golden. 

My Notes
You should know right up front that these "pancakes" do not have the look or fluffy consistency of regular pancakes--they are much more dense.  This is also why you want to keep them on the smaller side (about 3" in diameter).  Also, don't freak out if your batter turns purple once you add the blueberries; it's no big deal.  Your pancakes may have a bit of a blue-ish/purple-ish hue even after they're cooked, but that's also normal.  This recipe freezes really well.  I make several batches at a time, cool them, and then seal them in freezer bags and pop them in the freezer.  Lastly, these pancakes have enough flavor that they don't need any topping, but if your little one insists on a topping, consider trying plain or vanilla yogurt instead of syrup.   

Enjoy!

Kate: 15 Months

Kate: 15 Months...and always on the go!

If you didn’t already know this, my first name is Dusty.

This is a little fact that Kate has discovered at 15 months old, and she has decided she prefers addressing me as “Dusty” instead of “Mama.” 

*sigh*

It begins.

What’s really begun this month is bigger than Kate’s realization that her mom goes by more names than just “Mama” (for the record, I also answer to “Sweetie,” “Honey,” “D,” “Hooker,” and “Queen D of the G&D Universe”)—she is realizing and understanding everything and COMPLETELY BLOWING OUR MINDS.  G and I say things like, “Let’s go upstairs” and she’ll turn around and head for the stairs.  Or, “Let’s take off your shoes” and she stops in her tracks, sits down, and starts taking off her shoes.  While undressing her I take her arms out of her sleeves and ask, “Can you show Mommy how you take off your shirt?” and she pulls it over her head and flings it to the ground*. 

Like I said—mind-blowing! 

I’m now to the point where I’m testing her, trying to catch her up on something.  The other day I thought of something she’s never done, and I’ve never said, talked about, or asked her to do: “Kate, can you show Mommy how you open the closet door?”  She stared at me for about 2 second with this, “Really?  This is the best you can come up with??” look, and then walked over to the closet door (there were 3 doors in the room), stood on her tip-toes, grabbed the lever, pulled it down, opened the door, and then turned around and smugly looked at me like, “What else you got, Hooker?”

Uh…guess it’s time to safety-proof those doors.

Other mind-blowing 15 months antics include Kate’s memorization of her books.  She is beginning to say the words before we even turn the page!  One of her books has a page that reads, “What’s that?” and just before we flip to it Kate exclaims, “Whassat?!” 

She is such a little bookworm, and has also figured out that G can’t say no to her when she brings him a book to read.  She’ll bring him a book, curl up onto his lap, and when he’s finished reading she marches right over to her bookshelf, grabs another one, and the process begins again.  Sometimes they go through all the books on the shelf in one sitting.  Not only does Daddy have endless patience, but he also does the different voices—he’s the best!  Here's a video of her bringing a book to G, and then trying to decide if she wants to hang out for storytime or not, little stinker:



Kate has expanded her book love at bedtime and she now brings a book into her crib with her when she lays down.  G and I love watching her on the video monitor flipping through pages and pretending to read to herself before she dozes off.  So cute!

Kate was really fighting her diaper changes this month—refusing to lie down or stay still for them—so I taped some magazine pictures of babies’ faces underneath the shelf that’s above her changing table so she can see them when she’s lying down, and that did the trick!  She loves looking at “her babies” and waving to them, saying hi.  Before we even begin diaper changes I’ll say, “Kate, let’s go see what your babies are doing!” and she’s so excited to check them out.  We even play peek-a-boo with them, which is one her FAVORITE things to do right now.  Peek-a-boo gets big laughs every time! 

*She gets that from me…but enough about my freshman year of college.

Things Loved in May

Before we jump into my things loved in May, let me start by sharing my very favorite, best-ever thing loved so far in June—all of my pictures have been recovered! WOO-HOO!! Instead of continuing to wallow in my wine, I will now pour a celebratory glass and toast the computer gods for a job well-done. Such. A. Relief!

Okay, moving on to Things Loved in May…

1. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

If you’ve never checked out anything from one of my “Things Loved” lists before, this is the one I most strongly want you to consider.  I blogged about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution TV series last spring when it first aired because I found it to be incredibly eye-opening. The show is about Jamie Oliver, a chef from the UK, and his mission to get unhealthy, unrecognizable processed foods out of America’s schools (and homes, and drive-thrus…) and replaced with healthy meals cooked from fresh ingredients.

Now that its second season has begun, I look back over this past year and realize how instrumental this show has been in shaping the way my family eats. It shined a bright enough light on what goes into popular processed foods that I could no longer ignore the facts, and I could not in good conscience begin feeding this kind of food to my child who would soon be adding solid foods to her diet.

That was a year ago, and today I’m proud to say that my family has almost eliminated processed foods from our diets. I can tell you every ingredient that goes into the meals I prepare for my family and where it came from. It’s been a significant change in my lifestyle, but physically I feel incredible, and emotionally I have a lot of pride in what is put on my daughter’s plate.

The changes I’ve made for my family may sound drastic, but there are simple steps that anyone can take to improve the quality your nutrition…starting with watching this show, and believing that you and your family deserve better. The show airs Friday nights on ABC. You can also view episodes online, and become part of the "food revolution" at ABC.com.

2. Pizzeria Pizza Crusts

In line with eliminating proceed foods from our diet, I’ve been wanting to replace the “just add water” pizza crust mix I buy for Kate's veggie pizza to a crust with ingredients that I recognize and can pronounce…but I wasn’t quite sold on the idea of making it myself from scratch. 

Did you know you can bring home handmade pizza dough from your local pizzeria? 

I was so excited to find this out!

I can get a ball of fresh pizza dough, made from all natural ingredients, from one of my favorite local pizza places (The Roman Candle for all my locals) starting at $0.75—that’s even less than I was paying for my processed pizza crusts from the grocery store!   

I love discovering shortcuts like this that can save me time and money. 

3.  Yurbuds

My friend Todd told me about Yurbuds after I complained incessantly about mentioned how much I hate my iPhone earbuds because they frequently fall out when I'm running.  Yurbuds are a flexible, silicone attachment you place over your regular earbuds, and they fit comfortably and securely in your ears using patented "ear-lock" technology.  These little silicone suckers are expensive though, so I don't recommend them lightly!  However, if you're constantly frustrated with your earbuds falling out (like I was) you'll find they're worth the money.  I see Amazon.com sells them for $30/pair, but I got mine for $20 at Fleet Feet Sports.   

4.  Aveda Phomollient

This is one of my favorite hair products, and I'm surprised I haven't blogged about it yet!  Aveda Phomollient is a lightweight styling foam (think mousse, but even lighter) made from honey, burdock and marshmallow root, that creates weightless volume for fine and medium hair.  I love that I can work this product through my fine hair to get some body and texture, yet still easily run my fingers through without them getting stuck or sticky.

5.  CK Fanya wedges

 
My go-to shoes for this spring and summer are my new Calvin Klein Fanya wedges in my favorite whiskey color.  They're 3½” high with a sassy little zipper up the back and a stylish cage wrap around the ankle.  They're gorgeous, and if you see me this summer chances are these will be on my feet.  Just try not to drool on my toes, mmkay?