Home Improvement

This is how Jamie spent his weekend.

That's right. He spent the entire two days ripping up carpet in our bedroom. We knew there was hardwood flooring underneath so we decided to go for a change.

It's a work in progress, but I think I'm really going to like it. Which is a good thing considering how hard he worked.

Snowy Saturday

We were supposed to get 4-6 inches. We were supposed to be snowed in for days. We rushed the grocery stores. We stocked up on bread, milk and eggs. In the end, we had a little over an inch. That's okay though. It was more than enough for a fun Saturday.

It rained for most of the morning, but finally changed back to snow mid-afternoon. That was the signal the girls had been waiting on. They jumped into their snow boots and hit the back yard. It was cold and wet, but they had a great time. We built a snowman (I use the term "snowman" loosely) and threw some snowballs. I had to drag Ainsley in by her snow hat. She was perfectly content to play around all afternoon. We thawed out with some pancakes and scrambled eggs for dinner. It has been a perfect Saturday!

Kitty Fairy

You've heard of the Tooth Fairy, but what about Kitty Fairy? Nope, betcha never heard of her. Something tells me that you will be able to figure out we don't have cable at our house. Who needs cable when you can entertain yourself by dressing up the cat?

What Kind of Dinosaur Are You?

Ainsley's class is studying dinosaurs. Songs, books, color sheets and a discussion of dinosaur bones at museums have all been included. She's dying to see some real bones at a museum. I need to do a search and find the one closest to our house.

Here is Ainsley's "dino name." I'm not sure if this creature comes from the Mesozoic or the Cretaceous. She failed to mention that.

Feed me!

No, your Internet is not broken. I've just gotten a few days behind on blogging. You know the whole "we've been sick, my mom had surgery, I hit a bird with my car, work is insane" song and dance. Today is the first day in a long time where I felt like I actually had a grip on my life. I'm sure it will be short-lived.

Allie had more cereal tonight. She is becoming a little more independent and is grabbing at the spoon.

She's doing very well with it! Yummy!

Lego Land

One day after being hit by a stomach bug the Lamar clan encountered something just as serious: cabin fever. It rained all day. We did four loads of laundry and about four sink loads of dishes. Around 4 p.m. the natives started getting restless. "You're a liar!" "No, I'm not!" Yes you are!" "No, I'm not." The kids weren't very well-behaved either.

I went into the playroom for my secret weapon. One I had been saving for just such an occasion. A few months ago, Gran and Pop brought an old bucket full of Jamie's childhood Legos. With the onslaught of holiday gifts, I decided to reserve them for a rainy day. Today was obviously that day. You should've seen their faces when I poured the blocks onto the carpet. They declared it the best thing ever and way better than Barbies. Jamie joined them and they made marvelous creations together.

Thank you bucketful of Legos. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I only have eyes for you

It's not hard to see why I have a love affair with Allie. Her smile can light up a dark day and make the stress of work melt away.

We can't imagine our family without her. She fills in gaps we didn't even know we had.

We love you Allie and we're so glad you're here.

Sick Day Saturday

We've had a rough day. The stomach bug hit our house this morning. Jamie and Anastasia have been in their beds all day. Ainsley, Allie and I are downstairs. Ainsley has literally been watching movies since 8 a.m. Fortunately the virus didn't hit me as hard as Anastasia and Jamie (knock on wood). I'm planning a shower and a dinner of saltines and gatorade. It's been a long day, but the situation in Haiti is helping me keep things in perspective. Here's to a better day tomorrow.

Stars in my Eyes

I am not a coffee drinker and most likely never will be. I do, however, love the smell of coffee. When my boss fires up the coffee pot in the mornings I just love the way our office smells. A few years ago someone gave me a Starbucks gift card for Christmas. I opened it and thought "Well crap, I hate coffee." Since then I have seen the error of my ways and have come to be a huge Starbucks fan. From their decadent (and bad for my thighs) pastries to my favorite drink, the Caramel Apple Spice, I am hooked. We've had quite a bit of cold weather this January so I've been grateful for the Starbucks gift card mom and dad gave me for Christmas.

One day recently I stopped in on my way to work. Fortunately, I have to pass a Starbucks to get to my office. I always park and go in because my pet peeve is an idling vehicle. I know how much those few minutes of idle time can hurt our environment so I rarely use drive-thrus any more. Plus, by going in I get to speak face-to-face with some of the nicest folks around. I just like the way that over-priced coffee chain makes me feel. Could I make my own cup of cider in the microwave at work? Sure I could, but it wouldn't be nearly as exciting. It's so warm and cozy inside and it's a nice way to start my day. Who cares if there are 30 new e-mails in my inbox all demanding some little piece of me? Who cares if it's 16 degrees outside? Give me my spiced cider topped with whipped cream and caramel and send me on my way. I'm going to make my gift card for yummy goodness in a cup last as long as I possibly can. Spring is a long way off.

It's a jungle out there

It's been a long week. We're tired, we're a little under the weather and we're ready for the weekend. Tonight's Family Movie Night feature film is The Jungle Book. I've got the popcorn popped and the PJs on. I love starting my weekend with the "bare necessities."

So much for secrets

The girls got a calendar for Christmas. It took me 18 days into the new year before I got it hung up in their room. We took a marker and wrote in all our special days. The next big day for us is Ainsley's birthday. I wrote it in big blue ink on the calendar. Tonight, I discovered this.....

The crayon is Anastasia's handiwork. The drawing is a present and the word says "pig." To the uneducated, it means nothing. Here's what that little drawing means. Ainsley is getting a pig for her birthday. It's a stuffed pig that she saw in Target back in November. She hasn't forgotten and will be so excited about it. Anastasia knows Ainsley is getting the pig and the secret was just killing her. It's a good thing Ainsley can't read because as soon as the calendar flips to February, she's going to see her sister's artwork. I think I'm going to take a crayon and add "b" so it reads BIG. Then I can tell her it's a BIG present.

One Crazy Cat

I've long harped on the insanity that is our cat Helen. We got her from the shelter two years ago. The girls took to her immediately and her to them. She sleeps in their beds, chases the streamers on their ballet tutus and waits desperately under their kitchen chairs for bits of food she knows will eventually fall. I like to gripe about all the bad things she does. This is what she thinks of me:




Yup, that's our Helen. Full of mischief and love for our crazy family of five. She may puke on the carpet and hide under the bed when I try to put her in her place for the day while we're away, but our house just wouldn't be home without her. Just don't tell Jamie because he'd never let me live it down.

Commute Conversations

Each afternoon I dart out of my office at 4:30 p.m. (Okay, okay...somedays it's 4:28.) It has nothing to do with wanting to escape from work and everything to do with wanting to be back with the girls. Ainsley and Allie are the first stop since they are so close to my office. I gather all their belongings, speak briefly with their teachers and then we're on our way. What follows is the best 30 minutes of my day.

Ainsley is a non-stop talking machine from the minute she runs into my arms. I get a William Faulkner-esque "stream-of-consciousness" monologue of Ainsley's entire day. From what they ate, to who shoved who on the playground, it's all there in one big mixed-up jumble. Time is of no consequence to Ainsley and thus her stories are told out of order. Yesterday's conversation revolved around the eating habits of dinosaurs and other animals. It included roundabout stops about museums and our cat Helen. These conversations are often punctuated with exclmations like "WOW! Mom, look at all those birds!" One day soon I'm going to get a tape recorder and capture her bubbly conversation. It's just so darn cute! She doesn't like that Allie is unable to give us the full report on her day, so she relies on me to read the note from Allie's teachers. If the rest of us are chiming in, Ainsley figures Allie should have a voice as well.

Once Anastasia gets picked up, Ainsley's conversation takes a back seat. Although Anastasia is sitting in the back back seat so her proximity to me makes talking difficult. Sometimes it's like playing Telephone. Ainsley is more than happy to defer and give her sister the time to talk. Usually she's the one to say to her sister, "So, how was your day?" We talk like crazy until we get home. Then the conversation tapers off for a while as we all go about our different afternoon activities. We gather back at the dinner table and add in Jamie for additional reports on how the day went.

I hope we never stop talking. It really is the best part about my day and something I look forward to all day long. Here's a picture of my commuting conversationalists from last night.

Running amuck

To be a runner, one must be flexible. Not the "turn-yourself-into-a-pretzel" kind of flexibility, although that certainly helps. No, to be a runner is to be able to change direction and keep going even if everything isn't going as planned. To keep going despite rain (or snow or sleet or 98% humidity or whatever) and busy schedules and minor inconveniences. Yesterday I set out for a four-mile training run. It was much warmer than it had been in a long time and I thanked the running gods for providing me a day so warm I could wear shorts.

I was running on the greenway, which I will point out is much less green these days. My first mile was a good one as I found my pace and stride. I clocked a 9:08 for the first mile. Not bad, but I knew I could do better. I was just about to head up the hill at the close of mile two when there he was: a GIANT German shepherd with no owner. I stopped (and stopped my watch as well) to see if perhaps his owner just hadn't come around the bend yet. After a few moments it became obvious this dog was alone. I cursed the running gods who had so courteously given me a warm day to run, only to have it taken away with a huge, mean, ogre of a dog. I will readily admit I am afraid of dogs. I always have been. This one was huge and easily weighed as much as I do. The problem was, he stood between me and my house. I considered my options and then turned around.

I wasn't sure exactly how to get my mileage up to four miles, but figured getting back to the house was the more important thing. I ran through a very wet hay field and got up on a different road that would, in a roundabout way, lead me home. I ran along a road with far too much traffic for my taste and then through the parking lot of a shopping center. I was downwind of a fast-food joint and they must have been cooking fries. It smelled amazing. I got back into our neighborhood and managed to get home without meeting any more wolves....I mean, dogs.

I don't think I got to exactly four miles, but I rounded up in my training log. I figure the mental aptitude it took for me to revise my run and all the extra hill work is bound to count for something.

Good Taste

This weekend Allie got her first taste of rice cereal. It was, as these early feedings always are, more trial and error than eating. She did really well though and towards the end of the feeding would squeal at me if I didn't put it in her mouth fast enough. We aren't doing the cereal every day just yet. We're taking our time and going at Allie's speed. Although it seems like she's ready for more. She'll be downing french fries off her sisters' plates in no time!

Side note: She slept all night last night! It was wonderful, amazing, brilliant and I hope she does it again very soon.

An Impromptu Staycation

Who says you have to travel far from home to have fun on a dreary winter Saturday? Nana and Granddad were hanging out in Pigeon Forge for Wilderness Wildlife Week so we decided to take a trip up to see them. It was completely unplanned and a lot of fun. We arrived in time to eat a picnic lunch in their hotel room and then it was off to the pool. The place was deserted so we had the whole pool all to ourselves. We had SUCH a wonderful time swimming and relaxing. The girls swam like little fish the entire time. Allie napped on a lounge chair with Nana. After Granddad returned from his hike we all went out to dinner. What a perfect spontaneous Saturday!

Help for Haiti

Haiti has always been on my radar. I knew from a very early age that my parents had traveled there for mission work in the late 1970's. They spoke of its poverty and the friendliness of its people. Now Haiti is on the world's radar. Perhaps the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere was rocked by an earthquake earlier in the week and is now facing a crisis most Americans cannot begin to comprehend. No hospitals to treat the wounded and dying, no fresh water and no food.



I urge everyone, especially my United Methodist friends and family to support relief work in Haiti. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has more information on their website. If the site is slow to load, keep checking back. I know they are being inundated with people from all over the world desperate to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. You can make a donation on the site and designate all of the funds to be used specifically for earthquake relief in Haiti.

Allie's Four Month Check-Up

I'm learning that nothing is ever easy. We were all up on time this morning which seemed to be a good start. Jamie and the girls scooted out the door just before 7:30 a.m. as I sat down to a bowl of oatmeal. As soon as my butt hit the chair Allie pooped. I threw my oatmeal in the microwave and shut the door so it wouldn't be disturbed by the cat. I scooped Allie up and went to her room for a diaper change. The poop had leaked all the way down her leg to her sock. Her onesie, pants and socks were coated in it.

See? Ugh, it was nasty! I looked down to discover it was also all over my (dry clean only) skirt that had just returned from the cleaners last week. I got her dressed and put her in the middle of the floor because now that she can roll I can't trust her on any elevated surface. I ran to my closet and managed to find something else to wear that was ironed and appropriate for work. I SO wanted to throw on a pair of jeans, but I resisted. I picked Allie back up, started a load of laundry with the poopy clothes and then inhaled my breakfast. My windshield was covered in ice but I was running late to the doctor so I had to make do. I wanted to pull an Ace Ventura and drive with my head out the driver side window, but it was too cold for that.

Her doctor visit went well. She's a healthy gal! 13 pounds 4.6 ounces and 23 1/2 inches long. The doctor wrote in her little Medical Record the following: "Growing well. Suby logby. Lovkes grant." I'm not so sure what that last part means. For the life of me I cannot decipher the doc's handwriting. Maybe a forensics expert could help me sort it all out.

Regardless of the deficient writing on her record, he declared her perfect. She got three shots and one oral vaccine. She cried a lot when the nurse stuck her, but she stopped as soon as I picked her up. She is just amazing. I'm feeling very blessed for having such a healthy child. It is certainly not something I take for granted. I think we'll start her on cereal this weekend. I know some people frown on starting this early, but I don't really care! ; ) We'll just take it one day at a time and see how she does.

The wrath of Rocky Top

Like most East Tennesseans I found my Tuesday night interrupted by the news of Coach Lane Kiffin's departure. I didn't read about it on ESPN or see the story break on TV. I actually learned of the Big Orange Break-Up on Facebook. It exploded a few minutes after 8 in a flurry of status updates and links to the story on various sites. I continue to be amazed by the power of social media and last night was no exception. Even fans who don't consider themselves die-hard Volunteers had something to say on the events unfolding on campus. As the night wore on students set fire to mattresses and Kiffin shirts and tried to block his exit from the sports complex. I think their anger reflects not a lost football coach, but rather the loss of hope he was able to instill in Vol fans in his short tenure here.

This morning is quiet as the dust has settled and students on campus will head out for their classes for the first time this semester. Only The Rock shows evidence of last night's betrayal by Coach Kiffin. I would share it here, but this is a family blog! Big Orange fans will have something to talk about for a while but will need to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and pack Neyland stadium this fall as only Tennessee can do. We'll also need to show our support for the boys in our beloved Orange and White as they are the true losers in all of this.

Are we there yet?

I am one of those sick and twisted individuals who looks forward to vacation all year long. I like to plan them months in advance. Partly because I love the whole planning process: reservations, hotels, meals, routes, etc. and partly because I think it's fun to have a carrot. That lovely little nugget out there in front of you to help plow through the fields of everyday life. This year's carrot is taking the shape of a trip to the Sunshine State in May. We could take a vacation anywhere of course, but this year our niece Isabelle will celebrate her first birthday at the end of May and that's one party the Lamar clan doesn't plan to miss. Fortunately for us, little Miss Isabelle lives smack in the middle of Florida. I'm so thankful my brother in-law and sister-in-law didn't decide to settle in Nebraska. It's a lovely state and all that corn is quite picturesque, but much less exciting to visit.

Thanks to the generosity of some friends we are getting to stay in one of the newest Disney luxury hotels. We typically stay with our family, but now that there are five of us and three of them, their house just can't hold us all for an extended period of time. This is the view from our hotel at Disney.


Photo courtesy: Matt Ribble

Seriously! We will be so close to the Magic Kingdom that we can walk to the gates. The girls are already planning the rides they want to ride and the swimsuits they will wear at the hotel pool and waterslide. After a few days in Orlando, we're heading to the coast for some time at the beach. We're staying at a quaint little Florida hotel that I once stayed in as a kid. We can't wait. Those sun-filled days may be four months away, but they are helping this frozen family get through the dark days of winter.

Just another manic Monday

After last week's rough start I was determined to get this week off to a better beginning. I spent most of Sunday evening preparing everything I would need for today which includes a breastpump, lunches, clothes for the following day and just about everything else you can think of. Getting out of the house proved to be an excellent adventure. It was 16 degrees this morning so our walkway and driveway were solid sheets of ice. Anastasia brought her flashlight and guided us down the path in the pre-dawn darkness. She graciously helped her sister (who just HAD to wear her patent leather shoes today) over the ice and into the car. After a trip back into the house to fetch my pump, we were on our way.

Anastasia's school was closed again today but I wasn't up for taking advantage of our daycare's kindness so she came with me to the office. I packed her a bag of entertainment that included but was not limited to: DVDs, Crayons, Paper, Books and Coloring Books. She is such a great kid that having her at my office is a non-issue. She ran our morning staff meeting and then retired to my office to watch a DVD during our larger meeting at 9:30. Dad called mid-morning and surprised us by taking us out to lunch. It was a nice treat on a Monday afternoon. We finished up at the office and went to pick up Ainsley and Allie. I managed to get everything done at home and have everything ready for tomorrow. As of right now Anastasia has school, but we'll see how that goes. I'm thinking there will be a delay. All in all it was a great Monday. I think I'm getting the hang of this schedule now. I know we'll have good days and bad days, but we'll find our groove eventually.

4 Months Old

Allie is four months old today. She's getting to be such a big girl. She can roll from belly to back and is trying so hard to roll the other way. She started daycare recently and took to it like a champ. She eats well for her teachers and naps well too. She still loves her Precious Planet play mat and can now grab at all they toys. That grabbing means she can also pull hair as Anastasia and I have learned. She adores her big sisters, especially Anastasia who can make her laugh like no one else. She can make spit bubbles and loves to coo. Her hair is still pretty crazy as you can tell from the picture above. She's getting up about once at night, sometimes two depending on how her day went. We're so in love with our beautiful baby girl. She will go to the pediatrician for her check-up on Wednesday. (Mommy promises not to lock her in the car this time while we're there.) She's growing and changing so much. Her sisters can't wait for her to grow up so she can do lots of "big girl" things with them. They are already planning the fun things she will do on vacation when we go to Florida in May. She's currently gnawing her hand off so I suppose she's ready to eat. Happy four months Allie! We can't wait for the next four!

Freezing in Florida?

My brother -in-law sent me a text message earlier that made me very glad I'm not running one of the Disney races this weekend. He said the weather is miserable. Freezing temps and wintry precipitation have made the weekend interesting for many runners who have apparently never run in cold weather. One of the Orlando TV stations chronicled the plight of the Disney runners at this morning's half marathon. Last year when I ran the marathon on January 11 we started the race in the 50's and by the end we were in the 70's. Tomorrow the high is 49. Brrrr! I guess I need to put in my order now for good weather at next year's race.

Scenes from a Snow Day

Today was an icy, snowy day that found the kids and I stuck at home. I was able to get some work done, get in a run, do some laundry and play a lot of Crazy 8s. To my surprise the kids didn't want to go out and play. They informed me it was just too cold to be out. Here are some scenes from our unexpected Friday at home.

365 Days to go

The countdown has begun. 365 days until my goofiest running adventure yet. Next January 8, I will run the Disney half marathon followed by the full marathon on January 9. For those slow with a calculator that's 39.3 miles in two days. Registration opens on Monday so I've got to go ahead and register as the race fills up each and every year. The race is called the "Goofy" for obvious reasons. It's insane, it's stupid and I can't wait. The logistics of these two races will be a bit of a bear, but I'll sort it all out later. The important thing is that I'm making the commitment to Go Goofy.

Snow day?

Today was one of those lovely East Tennessee days where snow was predicted but was much less than it was hyped to be. You could feel the excitement in the air and see the aisles of the grocery store packed with panicked neighbors stocking up on the token milk and bread items.

I obessively checked radar and the school closing list all morning. By 11:30 a.m. we still hadn't seen a single flake. I said a prayer for the teachers at Anastasia's school and hoped the kids weren't too crazy. I remember what a potential snow day did to my peers and I as a child. Schoolwork was next to impossible. I was sitting in my Rotary meeting when I noticed a text message from my boss saying that our school system was releasing the kids at 1:30 p.m. despite any actual snow. I know that the school leaders are between a rock and a hard place when it comes to these decisions and I do not envy their position. Jamie was able to retrieve Anastasia early so we were in good shape.

Around 3 it really started to snow and the roads started turning white. By the time the girls and I got home a little after 4, our street was covered. They've already called off school for tomorrow. I'm assuming no school Monday either as the temperature isn't going to get above 30 until Monday afternoon. We're unsure of the work situation for Jamie and I tomorrow so we're taking a wait and see approach.

Here's our street at 4. It's even more white now. (Note to my Yankee friends: Please feel free to insert maniacal laughter at the thought of this little snow shutting down an entire 20-county area.)

On a side note....one year ago this is the sight that greeted me on the afternoon of January 7.

That's right-one year ago today we found out that we were expecting Allie. It came as quite a surprise and came just four days before the marathon I had trained so hard for. I can't believe it's been a year since that little window said "Pregnant." Where does the time go?

Running Backwards

2009 brought me to the finish line of a second marathon, but since I found out I was pregnant just four days before that race it's pretty much the most running I did all year. I have an online running log that I use to keep track of my runs. I added it all up and I ran 197.4 miles in 2009. Not too bad considering I spent nine months of the year pregnant.

This year I'm shooting for more miles and more races. I'm aiming for two half marathons including one at Chickamauga (that's the picture above) in November. Hopefully I can stay injury-free because I have miles to go before I sleep.

Day Two (Alternately Titled "They're going to take away my mom of the year award")

I was much more rested at the start of day two than day one. Turns out that whole sleep thing can make you feel like a new person. We got everyone to work and school (no delay!) on time. Around 10 I finished a meeting only to discover two messages from daycare. Allie had a rash and they wanted me to come look at it. I popped over there (any excuse to see my girl during the day) to check it out. She was sleeping in her crib when I arrived and the rash concerned me much less than her terrible cough. Her whole face turned red while she was hacking. I rocked her for a bit and called the pediatrician. I went back to the office and got some work done in case the docotor wanted to see us right away. Unfortunately they couldn't see us until 5.

I say this over and over because it's true, but we are very blessed to have a wonderful support system. Friends, family, co-workers, fellow moms on message boards that I've known for going on 7 years now...they all support us and are helping us get through this transition one day at a time. Today's Gold Star of Support goes to Sarah for coming over to watch Anastasia and Ainsley this afternoon so I could scoot Allie off to the doctor. She gets up at like 3 a.m. for work and yet is willing to drop everything and come help us out on a frigid afternoon. She deserves more than a gold star-she deserves chocolate, wine and a trip to somewhere far warmer than here.

With the girls squared away Allie and I set out for the doctor. That's when the day took a turn I hadn't expected. I locked my sweet, adorable baby girl in the car. That's right. I locked Allie in the car. Fortunately she was wearing a hat and was covered by a big fluffy blanket. I alerted Jamie to the problem while saying some words that I am pretty sure would make a sailor blush with shame. He called AAA (my AAA card was obviously locked in the car with my purse) and wouldn't you know that having an infant locked in a car puts you at the top of their list. AAA is now my hero. I then had to call the doctor's office and explain that I'm the biggest loser on the planet and wouldn't be making it on time to our appointment. The nurse was wonderful and assured me they would see Allie as soon as we sprung her from her frosty prison.

The AAA dispatcher called me and said that she had someone on their way. As I hung up with the dispatcher the lock guy called and verified my exact location. He pulled up in a beat-up Honda with a AAA magnet on the front. At this point I was frozen solid and didn't really care if he was actually a AAA contractor or not. At this point I didn't care if he used a sledgehammer. I just wanted Allie out of the car. She smiled at me a few times and then promptly fell asleep through the rest of the drama. He was a large dude with a huge tattoo of some Chinese word on the side of his neck. I've decided it translates to: "I just saved your kid's butt and I'm awesome." He assured me tons of parents do this. I found little comfort in those words.

I was so rattled I took the elevator to the doctor's office. The ELEVATOR. Those who know me that taking an elevator up one flight of stairs is a deadly sin right up there with gluttony, lust and sloth. We saw our favorite doctor who reassured me that "these things happen" and Allie was no worse for the wear. He listened to her lungs and thought RSV, but the test was negative. It's just a nasty respiratory infection and the rash is some kind of viral thing. Anyway, we made it through the rest of the night without any other incidents.

It's been a rough day. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have my wits about me. I'm off to bed to try and get some rest.

Day One

Today was the start of our new routine. My initial thought about the whole thing as I sit here feeding Allie at 7:30 p.m. is "How in the heck am I gonna do this every day?" Seriously, I've been up since six and I hardly got any sleep last night. Allie's cough is brutal and while the pediatrician assures me it's just a cold, that isn't making it go away any faster.

The morning was a breeze. I got everyone dropped off and even had time to grab a spiced cider at Starbucks before clocking in a whopping seven minutes early. Work was great. I jumped back in like I had never been gone. Pumping went well. Allie did great at daycare. I called twice to check on her.

Around 3, I started sagging. I got a terrible headache that is lingering into the evening. When I went to get Allie she was asleep in a bouncer, covered by her big, soft blanket. Honestly I didn't know it was her at first. She looked so tiny. I woke her up so we could go. She didn't even smile at me, which really upset me. I got Anastasia and Ainsley bundled up and we headed out into the snow. The evening has gone by in a blur of dinner, bathtime, and washing bottles and pump parts. I'm feeding Allie but then I've got to get everything ready for tomorrow. I hope things will get easier as we find our routine, but I'm not sure. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to get all this done and still do the things we enjoy as a family. I'm grumpy and tired and I know tonight will not bring any more rest than last night. There's a chance Anastasia's school will start two hours late tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about that now. We'll xross that bridge when we get there.

Opa!

I've been wanting to try this Greek yogurt for some time. It's supposed to be really creamy and better for you than regular yogurt. My latest issue of Runner's World had an article on which health foods you should splurge on and Greek yogurt was on their list. I finally found it over the weekend and bought some. It is SO tasty. It's much creamier than regular yogurt and doesn't have that icky super-sweet flavor that regular yogurt has. I'm hooked. There is a container of it going with me to work this morning. It's my first real day back at work after maternity leave so I need all the extra help I can get!

Making good (food) on a resolution

In 2010 I have decided to try at least one new recipe every month. The new year is only three days old but I decided to jump in with both feet. Back in October Mom and I were watching the Food Network and saw Giada prepare a quick and easy Spicy Tomato Soup. I'm not really that adventurous when it comes to cooking so I had been putting off preparing this new dish.

Tonight I bit the bullet (or soup ladle as it were) and made the soup. I tweaked it slightly, taking into account our family's tastes and it turned out beautifully. Not as beautiful as Giada's but certainly as tasty. It's very easy to make and was ready in under 30 minutes. I served it with a fresh loaf of Italian multi-grain bread. Even the girls liked it! No mealtime battles tonight, just a good family meal.

Fortunately we made enough to have a serving each for tomorrow's lunch!

Allie's New Trick

Allie apparently decided the new year was a time to try new things. I put her on her belly for tummy time this afternoon and she rolled right over onto her back. I flipped her back to her belly and she rolled over again. She repeated the feat about 15 times as her sisters cheered her on. She's getting to be such a big girl. It must have worn her out though because she's been sleeping for about 2 hours!

Happy New Year!

We've had a great day bringing in 2010. The girls slept in this morning which was a first. I think they're still tired from all our holiday travels. I managed to squeeze in a quick run before Nana, Granddad, Anna and Chris arrived. Basically today has been full of games and food. All of our activities have been encompassed in those two spheres. We're looking forward to the next 12 months and all the adventures our family will have. I have a list of goals for the new year but I haven't had a chance to get them down on paper. Hopefully I can carve out some time for that tomorrow. I love the fresh start a new year brings. So much opportunity!