Pittsburgh's Going to the SUPERBOWL!

WHEEEEEEE...

So this past Sunday we were sitting at home, watchin the game and just generally hangin out. We had been wearing our Steelers gear all day and got quite a few nice compliments ~ which i must say surprised me living so close to Bmore.

Anyhoo - the first tedious quarter was over (i mean really could it have been any more boring of a game after the Phili & Ariz?) ~we decided to head upstairs. Our neighbor to the north is quite the Steelers fanatic. Add that they have a new puppy and that pretty much just spells entertainment. G entertained herself most of the time by getting kisses from the puppy to throwing puppy toys and chasing them herself. During their down time ~ G took advantage of the best seat in the house. Mona took it in great stride because i think it meant she could hang on the couch.



When G wasn't stealing Mona's bed ~ she was playing in her crate. I mean a toy box that has a door so the balls can't get out??? What a dream!


So Aunt Jude ~ this ones for you. Your neice i mean. She won't eat meat and likes to sleep in dog beds. Heavan help me.

Adventures #2

So...uhh..not EVERY adventure has to be a GOOD one right?!?! I mean we DID ultimately have fun, but man alive.

But now i remember why we had fallen into the at home rut. Not every excursion is as easy as packing a few extra diapers, sunglasses and a good attitude.

FOR EXAMPLE:
etd: 2pm
its about 2:15 and Pete-a-lee gets a note to do something for work. NOW! (duuuude) So he does it and I whine to the world wide web of friends who will listen. Trying desperately not let my good mood falter: it's however unavoidable that as the minutes tick by, so does my patience.
3:15 - TIME TO GO
3:30 - officially on the road w/G in tow
4:00 - about 5 miles from house
4:45 - about 6 miles from house
6:00 - mama's getting REALLY PISSY
6:30 - We finally arrive at the aquarium
(note we were going to get there by 3:30 - 4ish, have a nice dinner & be at the aquarium by 6pm)
6:32 - run run run into the dolphin show: G enjoyed this part enough to make the whole trip worth it.
7:02 - down to the cafe for a lil snack before we all have melt downs (carrots & celery)
8:00 - ahhh a GREAT aquarium walk though. The night wasn't soo bad after all
8:03 - F*&$% we're lost
8:05 - ahh Johns Hopkins, how cool
8:07 - uhh VERY unsafe neighborhood
8:08 - G's first crack house raid
8:09 - I threaten Pete-a-lees life if he doesn't turn around RIGHT NOW
9:00 - back on the highway...which for those of you not familiar with DC - Baltimore, there's NOTHING to eat between the two and umm we're hungry
9:15 - G FINALLY stops screaming and falls asleep
10:00 - AHH SWEET JESUS - FOOD
11:00 - home. ohsweethomeiwillneverevereverleaveyouagain. I PROMISE.

But ~ like i said. We DID have a good time.
Here's G greting Daddy after he was 'stuck' up in the trees. (acutally an overlook in the jungle room) and then running down the ramp at full speed occassionally tellin us to 'comeon guys'.

Clockwise: Mum & G at the dolphin tank ~ an attempt at a family pic on the escalator ~ DINNER ~ new friends

Adventures In Mommy-ing

So while we were away on Christmas vacation, we felt the need for a mini vacation. (don't we all sometimes!) So we took the day and went up to the local ski resort. No we didn't ski, we just roamed around. It was a beautiful sunny day and I just wanted to get O-U-T. We had a BLAST! Daddy & Mommy had a few drinks and G even got a special treat (ohhh ice cubes!). We watched the skiiers and sat drenching ourselves in the sun till we got too chilly then made our way inside. We had a few more drinks ~ a snack (stupid stupid shrimp) and met some great people. Only in Pittsburgh can you find a random association with each person at the table your sitting with.

And so even though I don't normally do this sorta thing...here's my new years resolution:
1 Family 'Adventure' per month


Next Stop ~ Baltimore Acquarium. TONIGHT!!! (wheee)

One - Two ...

This morning G and I were playing in the bathroom after brushing our teeth. She had brought me a 'jingle bell' from a friend's x-mas project. We were rolling it back and forth and I'd count / she'd count 1, 2, 3 and roll. But then I noticed a distinct difference. G wasn't saying 3 so much as WHEEE.

So yes my little darling - let's start the day off fun, with games, and coffee for Mama. On the count of 3.

ONE ~ TWO ~ WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Cristmas Crafting

And here's what I did:




(and about 5 more aprons, but it was getting close to Santa time and I didn't get pics)

ERROR

So uh - the pics won't upload...GAH

HO HO HO

(and no, I'm not calling you names!)

WE'RE BAA-ACK! AAhhhh to be home again. Its fan-flippin-tastic. While spending almost 2 weeks with family is nice, i ain't gonna lie...it grates on you a bit. (sorry folks, but you know its true)

CliffNotes
CHRISTMAS - rocked.
no seriously, this was the beginning of FUN with kids. G actively enjoyed opening presents, and candy - oh lord does this child love candy. My sister is amazing and got G a BOX. Yup folks you know how everyone says 'the kid would be just as happy with a box to play in'...well Jude took it a step further and made lil G happier than any kid alive with just that. This box had tinsel, stickers, crayons & a peek-a-boo hole and a sidecar for her lil puppy. I was HUGE on the lets-not-be-wasteful on presents we don't have room for or need and I really couldn't have appreciated this anymore.


NEW YEARS - egh.
for the record ~ i've never been a big fan. I think any mom with kids under 5 will back me up when i say...a night of uninterrupted sleep is about as blissful as it can get. Trying to organize fun filled family activities for kids ranging in age from 1-16...is not. Soo umm...I napped and left Daddy with a list of ideas that he wonderfully executed. I did wake up around 11 (to be friendly) and play a few games & toast with grape juice. Then promptly went back to bed about 12:14. WHOO HOO.

KID TIME - solid GOOD.
We always have a few issues but thats to be expected when you only see your steps on a limited basis, but as they get older it gets SOO MUCH easier. G has permanent friends/babysitters ~ they can entertain themselves (for the most part) and as far as photography goes...what pre-teenage girl is going to turn down make up and a fancy camera?? Seriously - they woulda been happy with a 'shoot' every single day.


HOMEMADE PLEDGE - WHEEE
so this year I took the homemade pledge. I've been crafting for strangers for almost a year now and really enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them though the swap process. Then one day it struck me ~ why don't i spend the same amount of time, love & consideration on those that i really love and care about. It seemed ridiculous. My talents are rather limited and thus this year was deemed the 'Year of the Apron' ~ BUT i am proud of what I accomplished and feel that most people got it and were honored by the gift of thought. (no worries, there WILL be a post of it all so i can brag a lil bit more)

PETE-A-LEE!!!

I just finished (again) cleaning off the desk in G's room so i can have an official workspace. Its great being in here off the floor and having G play in her room and even color beside me. Used to being in the same room as Peter I often inclined to just randomly start talking to him as he's in the room. Clearly I don't get a response. Sooo i shout out "PETER" and there's a lil echo "PETE-A-LEE, COME HERE!"

Makes me giggle ever time.

Thankful

So of course we were away for awhile spending Thanksgiving with my fam & the kids. Each year just gets better and better. This year was no exception. New family, G's antics and a fantastic birthday celebration just to name a few. I'm slugging though the pictures (over 100 taken in raw format - AHH) and have TONS i can't wait to post, but this one struck me.

As a stepmom myself, friends with a newly single mom and fiance stepmom and have to say that above all ~ I am truely thankfull for THIS.


pictured would be from left to right (stepmom, dad, stepdaughter, half sister, half brother, stepdad, mom & uncle who pointed out just how lucky I am)

another lactivist...

So Peter and I have often thought that there was a difference among G and her daycare peers. Specifically i'm talking about head size.

When G was born her head was pretty normal size. In her following pediatrician appts it was clear that she was not following the normal head curve progression. There were a few days i was concerned ~ but after a few more appointments we were assured that her noggin was indeed growing, just on its own curve. Although we never stopped noticing just how LARGE some kids heads were growing. I had come to think it was the norm for babies to have ginormous noggins, but had to admit, i thought G's proportional body was far cuter. But i'm her mom ~ thats my job.

Yesterday I was talking with a fellow BF'ing mom who was complaining about how her pedi is giving her crap as well and mentioned her lil girls head size too. I told her our lil observation and was met with a loud "YESSSSSS ~ I TOTALLY AGREE".

Now while i have no idea if this is just the I-Hate-Formula-Companies in me talking or if there is real information to support my theory ~ i did come across this article. In China 2004 ~ some no-nutritional content formula got out and...

Up to 200 babies who were fed the formula developed what doctors called “big head disease,” causing the infants’ heads to grow abnormally large while their bodies wasted away. Some babies died within three days of being fed the formula, while others were hospitalized after parents discovered their children were sick.

Sooooo who's to say some ingredient in 'nutritional' formula isn't the same as what was in this not-so-nutritional one. I think i'm onto something.

Just please don't tell Similac where i live. I don't trust em. :)

November Craftin

November's Swap theme was 'Fall'. I had quite a time thinking about what i wanted to make. Though i'm a 'sewer' so is the mom i was tasked with so i thought it might be neat to step outside my comfort zone. She had created something so unique for me (remember the bag of knitted bags) that i wanted to do the same.

I searched and searched and practiced and practiced. Till i came up with THIS.

and hee hee - i even made one for myself :)

Then ~ on to the good stuff. We got such cool stuff. I got some slippers (whee) and earings that are SO LIGHT and adorable (can you tell i've worn em a few times). G got a ball cover that ROCKS. I love the idea of having a lightweight ball that we can just bounce bounce bounce everywhere. I definatly see this as a future gift if i think i'm up to the task. Then of course ~ her precious scarf...in the post below. Just a lil bummed its mini size ~ mama wants one too!

I think i might bow out for the December swap though. I'm trying to make this year's presents 80% homemade. I told someone this and she said "why bother ~ i just like to get something and be done with it" Exactly i thought...thats exactly what I don't want to do. I've spent a lot of time over the past year creating neat gifts for girls and children i hardly know and its been an amazing experience. Sure it takes a lot more effort ~ and sometimes doesn't cost any less than going to a store...and even if they don't like/need it ~ at least they know it came from my heart vs something I 'had to do'.

Closer to TWO

As of 6:06 this morning my BABY is closer to 2 years old now than she is one. Like one wasn't hard enough to swallow. but TWO.

Although the signs are there. She's a whole little kid now. I can't get over her joking. Sometimes i find myself confused because i think she can't acutally be making a funny ~ can she??

Last night for example i was getting a lil more than irratated with her lack of interest in going to bed. Of course it was our fault as we let her nap too long / too late, but whatever ~ i wanted to veg a lil before i went to sleep too. But SOMEONE wouldn't let me. Around 11 I raised my voice and said GIULIANE ~ HEAD DOWN. To which she scrunched up her lips, brought out that little pointy finger to her mouth and shhh'ed me. Yea - she shh'ed me. "Ohh your a little stinker" i said and rolled over to my side so i could silently giggle.

And just so you don't think she's only bugger to mum ~ a few weeks ago Peter had gotten on G's nerves. For what no one really remembers, but one thing is clear. When Peter repeatedly asked for kisses she said NO NO NO NONO, but when he'd grab her and kiss her and blow raspberries on her belly ~ even through the giggles she kept her lil lips tucked in her mouth so Daddy could not kiss her. Mommy fine ~ no problems. Daddy ~ lips zipped.

Even though she's a lil 'stinker' it just makes me more and more excited for the upcoming holidays.

TA DAAAAAAAAAA

www.jlaphotos.com

now i just need business cards and ummm more clients.

pimp me internet nation. pimp away!!!!

I love my beautiful ordinary life

So i was teasing myself this morning.

What happened to the cool me?!?! Oh yea, she's been replaced with a suburban mom. Damn I'm all but one step away from a mini-van and bad jeans.

As I was listening to napsters "top 10 easy listening" downloads (8 out of 10 of which are Michael Buble) I came to this realization. G's playing at my toes and I'm trying to work. It's all pretty NORMAL.

Then comes Wayne Bradey. YES - he has an album and its pretty great acutally. So with the new season and my new old&wise mentality we'll be updating the Alcantarians header and a new song is below.

but don't go crazy we're still anti meds / vax / cook from scratch / make cleaners / drink goats milk / have many homeopathic remedies / love our wood toys / waldorf dolls / etc etc

Flintstones -- Meet the Flintsones

I just realized that I never did post the whole family pictures from Halloween. We had SUCH a fun night trick or treating with our friends. I thought it was ridiculous to go t-n-t w/a 1year old, but when you have 2 glasses of wine and a 10year old ninja ~ anything seems to be ok. Then as if that weren't great enough...we got to party as ADULTS!!!!

Holy Guacamole

I'm 30!!!!!

What an amazing amazing birthday. I have the best life. That's really all there is to it. There was absolutely NOTHING that I truely wanted for my birthday. And I think that just might be the best gift of all!

Giving Thanks

So the past few days i've been obsessed with finishing our Halloween costumes. Straight Up Obsessed! Its been fun this year because i'm making all of them. And must say -- i'm pretty darn proud.

I've done a lot of sewing the past year (a la mom-ness I presume) and have gotten soo much better. And while i'm totally self taught and couldn't follow a real pattern to save my soul... I must give credit where credit is due.

My Grandma ALWAYS made sure we had a 'yarning' project at her house. Something to do while she watched her 'stories'. Silly stuff of course, but always something w/our hands and always something that made me feel grown up.

Then we alllllways had homemade costumes growing up. Granted my sister and I were a clown about 10 years in a row between the two of us, but my Mom made us costumes. And she rocked at it. As a mom now - nothing makes me more excited than seeing G in something i took the time to make her. When people say to me 'Why bother???"..."its SOO much work", etc, etc...I simply respond. My mom loved me enough to do it. So can I.

So I guess that's what all this silliness boils down to.

Love.

On this historic day

G went POO POO IN THE POTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The menu

So long gone are the days of
1/2 plate veggies ~ 1/4 protein : 1/4 starch

For those of you interested this is what a day SHOULD look like. Since our day starts and ends later than most 'normal workin' folks we've swapped out a snack b4 dinner for one after. But its all about blood sugar and intervals, so really no biggie.

Breakfast:9am
Dairy (1)
Fruit (1)
Protein (2)
Starch (2)

Snack:12pm
Veggie (1)
Protein (1)

Lunch:3pm
fat (2)
protein (4)
starch (2)
veggie (4)

Dinner:6pm
fat (1)
protein (4)
starch (1)
veggie (4)

Snack:9pm
Veggie (1)
Protein (1)

The (1)'s (2)'s, etc are exchanges -- not servings:
one protein exchange is approx 5g of protein
(1oz lean meat, 1/2c beans, 3/4c cottage cheese)
one starch exchange is approx 15g of carbs
(1 slice of bread, 1/2c starchy veg (corn-squash-peas), 1/3c beans
one veggie exchange is 1/2c cooked or 1c raw veggies or 1/2c veg juice
(check out how much PER DAY!)
one dairy exchange is 1c lowfat milk // 3/4c plain yogurt

Thats a whole lotta veggies cooked or not. Pesto's & shakes have been some suggestions not yet tried, but I'd love to know what some others do.