Valuable lessons 101

1. RUN THE DISHWASHER DAILY. I have always thought that my frugal hand washing skills saves on water consumption. But, it doesn't. Google told me so. Look it up. Don't you believe everything Google says? Running my dishwasher daily keeps my kitchen clean. Which, keeps my man happy. Which, keeps me happy. Happy happy Brink Haus.

(thanks Samantha for that little life changing suggestion)

2. DON'T GO CLOTHES SHOPPING WITH A TODDLER. Or, when you must don't bother to try on clothes. If you leave him in the cart as you shop, he will writhe and contort his body around and reach the rack behind him and pull all the clothes off the hanger. Or, start screaming! If you bring the cart into the room, he might reach the door handle and open it up as you are trying on a bathing suit and 3 target employees see you in your underwear. OR....if you take him out of the cart (because you want to stop the screaming) he might just escape under the door and run away. More embarrassing underwear sightings. So, instead...simply pick your favorites, buy them all, bring 'em home and put on a sexy bra and do a fashion show for your husband. He'll love it and he'll let you keep them! Win!

3. ASSUME YOU WILL BE OUT LATER AND LONGER THAN YOU ANTICIPATE. Bring lots and lots of food and water for your growing munchkin's-bottomless-pit-belly. If you don't you WILL regret it. Avoid the screams. Avoid frantic stops to scary gas stations. Bring food. Lots.

4. ASSUME THE MENAGERIE OF CHEERIOS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR ARE INDEED WET AND WILL FEEL GROSS IF YOU STEP ON THEM WITH BARE FEET. Clean up food particles promptly.

Do you have any good ideas/tips/lessons learned to share? I am sure there are a few moms with multiples that have some goodies!

xo, Y

favorite photos of late

we snuggle, every morning. it's tradition.

breakfast sweetness

baby model much?

At the park, spinning his favorite toy

just call me dirt boy

three 'snaggle' tooth grin.

bebe booty. can't get enough.

He's a classic boy: loves to be naked, and knows it's funny. He runs around laughing hysterically, wagging his little peepee

Le pout. So endearing.

Spring walk with Dad

Get away from the street Rue.

'Impressed with birthday balloons!

Unimpressed with mom's baby sitting strategy while shoveling: bundle him up so tight he can't move.

Playing with his John Deer tracker while naked. Like I said....classic BOY.

Bathtime

Swinging! Shrieks! Silly!

'weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!'

Stairmaster

up

Things are UP.

Feeling up.

Looking up.

Shaping up.

It's amazing how some sunshine, the arrival of Spring and a glorious weekend with my main squeeze erased the memories of a rotten week.

Baby is happy again, and I am feeling 1000x better. Correct me if I'm wrong, but 5 days stuck in a house with a whiny sick baby will drive anyone to the edge!? I just wanted to thank you friends for all your sweet comments, encouragement and love. You are the best!

xo, Y

confessions of a new mom with a toddler

Day 5 of being stuck at home.

Rue woke up monday with a snotty faucet nose and since then has been snotty and whiny-Mc-whinerton -sir-whines-a-lot.

I haven't wanted to go anywhere, because who likes to shop & go to Starbucks with a whiny baby? And who likes to take their sick baby to a playdate? Not me. I had been so strong all week, until last night:

When I had crushed my millionth cheerios, when I had found him sucking on a Method floor cleaner bottle [the lid was closed...whew.] when I had refolded the laundry 3 times because he loves to take things out of the basket, when he refused the food he normally loves, when I had listened to whining for 35 hours, when I had picked up poop with my bare hands thinking it was black beans from lunch [which, in theory it was] when the poop had trickled down his leg and up his back, when he peed on the floor waiting for me to slam dunk his poopy butt into the tub, when i found him turning on the gas burners, when he took all of his bottles/feeding paraphernalia out of his drawer and when he had taken all the books off the bookshelf for the 3rd time in one day. Thats when I lost it.

'I CAN'T FRIGGIN TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!! I'M DONE!'

Thankfully meltdown city was perfectly timed to Chris getting home. He arrived to a roaring wife, over cooked dinner, and a surprisingly happy son. Isn't that the irony, when your husband gets home your kids are on their best behavior and all of your desperate texts to your husband make you look like a crazy person?

In bed that night he asked me if I was ok. Fitting question, as I was crying.

No. I'm not ok. I'm feeling very trapped by the responsibility of a child. Of being a stay at home mom. Some days I just don't want to do it. Sometimes other moms and blogs who's lives look neat and organized and who have shiny happy kids that seem perfect and here I am wanting to run away. Yes, I'll have a side of guilt trip please, thank you. I'm struggling with the fact that my son is growing up and as much as I love it, I can't stop it. But I want to! Most of the time I want to savor every moment...but weeks like this make me say get me the hell out of 2011 and give me an 8 year old please! SURE...we had some sugar sweet melty heart moments when he would walk up to me and sit on my lap and lean back and look up at me and touch my face. And then sir whines a lot would think of something he didn't have and wanted and would start the whiny whines again. Old people say 'Enjoy every moment! Before you know they will be going to college!

I'm finding it difficult to balance the 'savoring' moments and the 'check please' moments.

Looking for perspective. If you have some please leave it after the beep...

{beeeeeep}

high/low

Rough week.

On the way to NJ for work training, Chris's Saab died.

He was towed to a little shop and the mechanic confirmed. Engine death.

And sadly it's not worth fixing.

So, we find ourselves sharing [closes eyes and shudders] one car.

That will last only so long; until:

A. I tire of driving to Chris & from work, aka getting out of sweats before noon.

B. Chris tires of the downgrade from his Sexy Saab Turbo to my Dented 97 Honda Civic aka 'Phoebe'.

Commence car dreaming...now. The Honda Pilot is nice. Acura MDX, nicer. We are a growing family here people, SUV's are where it's at!

A dead car was the low of the week. But!!! There is a high! I think Ruehl may be over his lactose sensitivity! [and the crowd erupts in exuberant joy and the angels sing the hallelujah chorus] The last few weeks I have been giving him dairy and I haven't noticed any changes in his demeanor or in his diaper. When I gave him dairy two months ago he cried all day and night and his diapers looked like pea soup. Bad, bad, bad reactions to dairy. I guess his little gut couldn't handle it. Our Pediatrician told me he would probably outgrow the sensitivity around a year and I am so relieved to say I think he has!

That is reason enough for me to say my glass is half full, one car or not.

xo,

Y

featherweight

I blame Pennsylvania's soil; it's very fertile.

And apparently so, because all my best friends are pregnant! They are making the huge transition into new territory, another division completely. 1 to 2 kids = The Heavyweights.

As much as I hate to admit it, I am feeling a little left in the dust. I'm still a Lightweight. Is that strange? Is it immature to feel that way?

I should clarify that I am thrilled for them. I am. 100%. And I am not jealous in the slightest.

I am also not ready for number 2.

So what's my deal??? Is it that I want to relate to my peers?

This is what it is: Now that Rue is the most sweet, joyful, fun & full of life boy and not the crazy cryfest cranky mc crankster clawing miserable baby my overwhelming drive to NOT get pregnant must've gone down the drain with the rest of the bathwater. I had the devil's advocate on my shoulder saying 'how could you even consider another baby? Do you remember the last year? You bawled your eyes out for 3 months straight, and then you still weren't truly happy until month 7....' But now I have a baby-loving cherub on my other shoulder and the Jekyll-Hyde duo are duking.it.out.

I want another baby when the timing is right. So I'm praying. God knows my heart and where I am at. He knows what's good for me. I want to be content in all circumstances, like Paul in Philippians 4:11. '...for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.' It's very possible that I have some weight to gain emotionally, so that in the future I can weigh in with the other heavy weights, physically. Like that metaphor? Yes, I do too.

Love, the featherweight mama

2.10.11

This is my little man the day after his first birthday party.

After a crazy night of partying he was ready for some hydration.

Gotta kick that hangover somehow.

Forcing some smiles with Great Grandma-D.

Then he shared his breakfast with Grandma. Gave the term 'finger food' a whole new meaning.

After some serious playtime, this happened shortly after.

It was a sweet morning, and a great way to start his first year.

Baby trashes bar in Las Palmas

Sometimes, you just gotta laugh.

found via Erin

One year & 9 days ago...

We had our first family photo shoot.

Our baby was freshly out of the oven and a tender 9 days old.

He had never left the house. {love homebirth!}

'Brink Party of 3'

xo,

Y

My Bestie's Etsy!

My beautiful best friend Kate has {finally!} opened her new Etsy shop, Modern Verite.

It is full of beautiful hand made necklaces. [I am ordering my favorite asap!]

Go buy something pretty!

xo,

Y

I knead a man

My fiesty 83 year old Bulgarian Grandma is an amazing cook. 83 years is a long time to perfect the skillz. She's the kind of cook who can take some beans, carrots, a few onions, garlic and with a swirl of her magic finger, the most humble ingredients turn into something that will melt your face off. I know from experience; I am still scraping my face off the dining room floor from last night's meal.

She was here this week for Rue's birthday and today she showed me how to make bread. She has shown me before but this time I was the one making; she was supervising and inserting her very poignant comments. Of course no one could do it perfectly [like her] but I kept making away regardless. She kept interrupting my knead to show me the 'Korekt' way of doing it. Try to imagine her strong accent. 'Lesss feeengers, moorrRe hend'

[which interprets: 'stop kneading like a fool woman-child! Must I do everything for you?]

Well G-ma, if you don't try, you can't learn. And learnt I did, and HOT DAYUM, the bread 'twas DIVINE. It rose like a champ and baked perfectly. My house smelled like an old world whole in the wall bakery. [ok, that's a bit over the top...but you can smell it can't you!?]

Would you like the recipe?

Goes a little something like this:

Yana: Gma, how much flour?

Gma: [shrugs shoulder and tosses hands in air flippantly] half bag.

Y: Half bag?? Okay.

G: Add the YEASTER with Varm vater, nacht too hot

Y: How much water?

Gma: ah leetle.

Gma: now add more vater.

Y: How much?

Gma: [same shrug, then grabs a tupperware container and fills it up half way with the perfect temperature water] Deese much Vater.

Y: HOW THE HECK CAN I MAKE THIS AGAIN? DON'T YOU KNOW I CAN'T SHARE QUANTITIES SUCH AS 'deese much vater' ON MY BLOG??

Gma: now you Meexe it. Slooowly, slooowly, Geeentle. Then you take-it out and Kneeeeed. One hundred times.

[as I mentioned before I didn't knead it right, she intervened, and then I got it. Or at least she pretended I did.

Gma: then, you let him rize.

Gma: then, you bacon him.

Gma: then, you let him rest.

Gma: then, you eeeat him!

Ladies and gentlemen, I let him rize, bacon, rest and then I ate him. The most beautiful bread-man I ever made. And most likely never to be repeated again.

1 year old!

You aren't just 12 months, you are ONE.WHOLE.YEAR.OLD!

It makes me smile...and apparently makes me cry too. As I was checking out at the grocery store I told the cashier 'I am buying all this food for my sons first birthday!' and then totally.started.bawling.

I know being your mother makes me partial to liking you, but I think you are pretty dang remarkable.

You wake up with craaay-craaay morning hair. You must take after your dad in that department because my hair looks perfect every morning [at least that's what your daddy tells me]

You can walk now...just this week! But it's not a normal front walk - it's sideways like a crab! 'Walk like an Egyptian' is your new theme song :)

You say 'mama' now...just this week too!

You share your food with me [which as times is really gross because you like to put things in your mouth then share with me]

I can see your little sponge brain soaking everything up.

You and I roll your favorite ball back and forth...it's a game. It's crazy to me that we can play games!

You absolutely LOVE peek-a-boo and when we play you belly laugh. It's my favorite.

You have totally rocked our world this year little man. Daddy and I are better humans, and a little more grown up too. Today we will give you lots of gifts, but you are our greatest gift -

The one and only Ruehl Grayson.

I love you.

xo, Mama!

ps...does this mean I have to say my baby is a 'toddler'?

remembering: Birth Photos

One year ago today I was swimming around in my birth pool, waiting for my little prince to arrive... Le birth pics

remembering: Labor Day

The first [lucid] thought I had this morning:

'oh my gosh, its my Labor Day anniversary!'

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a normal monday and I was visiting my midwife for a checkup at 41 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I was certainly ready to get the party started and my [sweet amazing wonderful angel] midwife Sara agreed when she saw my blood pressure spike. With a little gentle encouragement, labor began at 5 pm and carried through the night until 3 pm the following day.

continue reading the store here...

Not all grey...

I don't know if it's teething, his new found mobility, or his growing independence, but suddenly my boy has no desire to sleep. His two naps are a measly 45 minutes, nighttime wake ups are happening again and my mommy love/patience/grace tank is getting low low low.

My fb status from this morning:

A morning with my girls and coffee saved Rue's cute lil' neck from strangulation. He knew it too, because just today he said 'mama'. Cheeky monkey already knows how to butter me up.

And I mean strangulation in the most humorous, sarcastic way possible. You gotta laugh right? I'm just being honest here friends...some mommy days you realize there must've been fine print that you didn't read when you signed up for this kid business.

There were some great moments today, so I must give credit where credit is due.

My day was not all grey! [see Chris, your girl can be an optimist!] The sun was shining and the sky was blue. I had coffee with mahh best girlfrenz at a kid friendly coffee shop. All the kiddos played like champs. Rue said 'mamamamamama'!! Which was heaven to my ears. And.......he took a LOT of steps! I think by his first birthday we will have a full blown walker.

Another day bites the dust. Thankfully, there is always tomorrow.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow.

xo.

party planning preparations

My son turns 1 in a week!

Party planning and preparations are in full swing.

The theme (why not have a theme?) is Robots and all space related manner.

So I've been cutting up cardboard boxes & painting up the wazoo.

Robots and spacecrafts and rockets oh my! So fun!

Here's a sneak peek at the props for the photo booth.

Rue had to get in on the action!

There definitely will be a reflective & sappy 'my-baby-turned-one!' post soon, but I can't stop this run-away train just yet! There are stars & galaxies to be cut, pom-poms to be made, menu's to be planned, and cakes to be bought. I think all of the 'stuff' I am doing is helping distract me from the bittersweetness of saying goodbye to the baby and hello to the toddler. Mama's just not ready yet. Maybe some libations will help. [I can serve Mojitos at a kid birthday, right?]

Not quite used to life flying by me like this.

xo.

new baby [in the oven]

No no, I haven't gotten to my #5 resolution yet, but I do have a new baby in the kitchen.

Kitchen gadgets [especially pretty ones that I've been drooling over for ages] totally get me all geeky an' stuff.

I'm swelling with pride:

She is currently simmering a chicken dish that I made up. If it tastes as divine as it smells I will share the recipe. Yum!!

Circus of Love

My super talented friend/brother-from-another-mother Benjamin Dunn is an amazing musician and he recently released his latest album. Along with my husband our closest friends, I had the privilege to participate in his first official music video. It was so fun! You can see me standing behind the drummer. Chris described me as 'as the girl doing high-claps'.

Also, his website and his album is available for sale on iTunes.

cheers!

Y.

11 months (10 days late)

11 months?

how did that happen??

well my little man all I have to say is: leaps and bounds.

you're growing up in leaps and bounds.

you and I have conversations now.

I ask you 'how did you sleep baby' and you reply 'addsubbbs bueejah mmrrm leedibuh rroooo rrooo.'

which I interpret 'I slept beautifully mama love rue rue'

we have conversations like that all the time, and I look forward to the day that I can actually understand you.

on your 11th monthiversay you were very sick and threw up on me and then you made it all better by taking your first three steps. It was miraculously fun to watch. You haven't tried it again though, so I am enjoying the last few weeks of you crawling, ever.

just this weekend you became a sweet little snuggle bug. I will rephrase and say you've always been sweet, but you have never been a snuggle bug. Out of the blue you crawled up to me and nuzzled your head in my neck. And then later that day you crawled up to me and put your head on my knees. And you haven't stopped the spontaneous snuggling & nuzzling. I am SO happy about it too. Another new development is whenever you see a blanket you will dive headfirst onto it, lay flat and wiggle around like a fish, all while smiling and giggling/squealing/shrieking with delight. So I purposely leave your soft blankets around the house, cause it's just so.darn.cute.

you make me very proud. I love getting to know the little amazing person that you are.

happy 11 months of life!

xo, Mama

red peckers & roller coasters

{tired arms from waving a white flag}

The Brink Haus has seen some high high's and some looow lowwwww's today.

It all started with a frantic cry from his room at 12:30 last night.

As usual I reached into the crib to find his pacifier and re-plug, but what I found instead was a warm puddle of vomit. I turn on the light and see Rue crying and rubbing his eyes/heads/face with little vomit hands. 'Chris [I know you have to get up at 6 to shovel your car and give a presentation to the owner of your company on your new design and you need your brain working tomorrow, but I need you to come here and] help!'

So we get him cleaned up, new bedding, and he's sleeping again within minutes. I figure [hope really] that his tummy must've been upset and it's nothing to worry about. I doze off to sleep.

Around 1:30 I hear him cry again. More vomit. At that point I realized it is something more serious and probably is that strange vomit/viral bug that has been traveling around all the church kids. [MOMS OUT THERE- If your kid is sick puhlease, DON'T bring them to play-dates!] I laid awake for another hour or two racked with anxiety. Of course there was nothing more that I could do at that point, but I'm his mother....it's my job to worry.

This morning he woke up an hour later than usual, we snuggled in bed and everything seemed hunky dory. Until, you guessed it, more vomit. I called our pediatrician and he confirmed based on symptoms that it is a viral 24-48 bug going around. With some extra TLC the afternoon seemed to have finally turned around. He was happy and eating and talking away. Then out of the blue came the screaming. The frantic screaming. The being cut with ten thousand little daggers screaming. I couldn't figure it out! I took him upstairs to change his diaper and what do I find? A huge crap and terrible diaper rash, with the worst of it on le Pecker. Thanks to my 3-day long STUPID HEAD COLD, I couldn't smell his overly full diaper! mom fail.

Uggghhhhhhhhhhhh. Rue, if you read this someday, I am SO SORRY. [I only have the best intentions when it comes to your pecker. And I don't mean that in an awkward way. I'm gonna stop typing my thoughts now.] So, I'm feeling like I earned a crappy mom award.

I can't breathe, my kid has a red pecker, and it's only wednesday.