Are you ready to play???

Guess who loves green apples?



Guess who loves sitting in her toy basket?



Guess who loves ketchup?



Guess who is most likely to climb Mount Everest before she learns to walk?



This one's a two-fer.

Guess who loves Mr. Bunny and brushing her teeth?



Life over the last week has consisted of work, the gym, trying out the childcare facilities at the gym so I no longer have an excuse not to go when Doug isn't at home or I just don't feel like going, hoping Sydney doesn't get kicked out of childcare at the gym for trying to steal this one girl's mac and cheese, although the rules and postings on the door clearly state there is no food allowed so is it really Sydney's fault if she's being taunted with her favorite food? I mean, we were always told if you're going to eat in class, bring enough to share right? Oh, and then there's following Sydney around to make sure she doesn't eat dog food or climb on anything to get to everything she's not supposed to have, and having friends over for jambalaya on Mardi Gras, and giving baby M her bottle so her mom and dad could have a few minutes to enjoy said jambalaya, and dishes, lots and lots of dishes, like record-breaking amounts of dishwashing seem to have taken place in my house. Maybe takeout and paper plates are in order for the rest of the week. It's only fair, right?

To Do List followup and random Sydney cuteness

In case you missed it, I posted a weekend to do list on Friday. Here's the final tally of what I accomplished:

1. Take Sydney to park weather permitting – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be weather permitting because we REALLY need a day spent outdoors. Or an afternoon. Or even an hour.

We didn't make it to the park, but did manage to take a nice leisurely stroll around the neighborhood on Saturday, or was it Sunday? I can't remember which. We even walked by the farm at the end of our street to look at all the horses.

2. Google recipes for Valentine’s dinner (Giada’s ravioli with balsamic brown butter or pork tenderloin and risotto) and shop for ingredients.

I made both. For two separate meals, obviously. As hungry as I get sometimes, even that is too much food for one sitting. Both were delish!

3. GYM!!!

Yes! I managed to drag myself out of bed twice this weekend and go to the gym first thing. By the way, I am a testament to sufferers of mommy amnesia everywhere that I can't remember if it was Saturday and Sunday, or Sunday and Monday that I went! Frustrating.

4. Laundry – organize laundry room, go through clothes for donating.

Does sorting and tossing about 10 loads worth down the stairs for hubby to do count? Because he totally rocked the laundry this weekend. For that I am eternally thankful! And a little teapot (just seeing if you're paying attention honey) :) And for what it's worth, I do have a giant bag of shoes ready to be donated.

5. Clean the floors upstairs. I am way more excited than I should be about using my new shark steam mop. Does that make me crazy?

Let me just say that I ADORE my steam mop. If you don't already have one, get one. Now. You won't regret it. This thing blows the swiffer out of the water and you don't have to worry about getting the cleaner all over your wall and cabinets if the mop gets too close because all it requires is funneling some water into the reservoir (though I did carry around a spray bottle of Murphy's to hit the floor with first).

6. Print new pictures of Sydney for Grandma and Grandpa. I don’t think my mom is going to ask nicely for much longer!

FAIL! Sorry Momma. I promise to be a good daughter and send some soon.

7. GYM!!!

See number 3 above. Go me!

And now for your viewing pleasure, cute Sydney pictures!

Here she is coming after mommy and her camera. You can see the determination in her beautiful blue eyes.



At any given point in time, this table can be found anywhere in the house her little heart desires to push it. Well, except maybe the stairs. Here it is posing in front of my kitchen cabinets, which are in dire need of a face lift!



Our little cowgirl rocking her Atlanta Braves onesie...sorry for the blur, but can you see how pretty my floors are now? :)



Awww she's giving her horsey a hug.



I can't believe she's 13 months old now!!! I think I've been in denial that she is growing up so fast. Right until I looked at this picture. I mean, really looked at it. Next thing you know she'll be begging us to take the training wheels off her tricycle and asking to borrow the keys to the car and I just can't bring myself to think that far ahead!!!



I can no longer deny that she is growing up. But to me, she will always be my sweet baby girl.



Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom and cry.

Weekend To Do List

1. Take Sydney to park weather permitting – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be weather permitting because we REALLY need a day spent outdoors. Or an afternoon. Or even an hour.

2. Google recipes for Valentine’s dinner (Giada’s ravioli with balsamic brown butter or pork tenderloin and risotto) and shop for ingredients.

3. GYM!!!

4. Laundry – organize laundry room, go through clothes for donating.

5. Clean the floors upstairs. I am way more excited than I should be about using my new shark steam mop. Does that make me crazy?

6. Print new pictures of Sydney for Grandma and Grandpa. I don’t think my mom is going to ask nicely for much longer!

7. GYM!!!

Want to take a stab at how many items get crossed off this list? I'm going to be optimistic and say all of them. Check back Monday to find out!

Baby M

What a day yesterday was! My friend Sarah gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl and E became a big brother. Granted he’s only 2 and probably doesn’t fully comprehend what it means, but when I picked him up from daycare and told him where his mommy and daddy were, he was excited. It was so sweet. Or maybe he was excited about the Valentine chocolates his daycare girlfriend gave him. I mean, they were Dora chocolates after all. One can never tell about these things.

Later yesterday evening I brought E to the hospital to see his mom, dad, and Gigi, and to meet his new sister. The baby was in the nursery since my friend was still in her L&D room, so I didn’t get to see the look on E’s face when he met his new baby sister for the first time. As much as I was looking forward to meeting baby M last night, I’m a little glad she was in the nursery when we got there. I would have felt like I was infringing on a private moment when she met her big brother, a moment meant to be shared with family only.

We are supposed to go visit tonight after work. I can hardly wait to meet baby M. I’m sure to catch the fever once I hold her. Consider yourself warned Doug!

Sydney 0, ChefBoyardee 1 and other food battles waged in our house aka forks and spoons are for decorative purposes only

The title of the post and the pictures following pretty much speak for themselves. Enjoy :)





















Is it any wonder the dogs circle her chair while we're at the table??? And in case you weren't aware, here's what an angry teething baby looks like :)

M is for...

Becky over at StinkyLemsky was nice enough to assign me a letter. M to be exact. Why would she assign me a letter you ask? Because it’s a game and I like games and now I have to list ten things that I love that start with the letter M. M is a good letter. Perhaps one of my favorites. Here are 10 things I love that start with the letter M:

1. M&M’s – I could provide 10 reasons why I love M&M's alone. What’s that? You want me to list them? Well ok, since you asked nicely. One, Peanut. Two, Plain. Three, Dark Chocolate. Four, Premium Triple Chocolate. Five, Premium Mocha. Six, the color palette available when you buy them from the bins at candy stores. A whole bag of teal green or pink? Score! Seven, the ‘twofer’, you know, when you get conjoined M&M's? Mostly found in the peanut variety? Eight, M&M minis, which are great for ice cream, baking, and cupcakes! Nine, they melt in your mouth, not in your hands. Ten, the M&M's themselves are just so cute. Kudos to the marketing team at M&M/Mars. I mean, who doesn’t love Green in her sassy white gogo boots? Kellogg’s could take a few lessons from them.

Now if you’ll excuse me for a minute, I have to run downstairs to the lounge and fork out a whole dollar for the deliciousness that is a bag of peanut m&ms.

2. Mac and cheese – I have been and still am on a quest for the perfect homemade mac and cheese. So far, this recipe from A Chow Life is taking the prize, with a slight adaption. I use sharp yellow cheddar in addition to the white cheddar called for and I stir the cheese into the milk sauce before pouring it over the pasta. And of course I top it with even more cheese. Super yum!

FYI – all mac and cheese recipes are welcome here!

3. Mochas – Skim. No whip. Yum.

4. Mom – I love everything about my mom. I love the way she is always encouraging, positive, loving, caring, and even the fact that she calls me all the way from Mississippi to let me know what the weather is like in Maryland because I might not be able to open the door and see for myself. It’s good to be loved :)

5. Manolos – not that I can afford a pair of the most fabulous shoes ever or wear them comfortably now that I am a mommy, but they are beautiful, beautiful shoes that I long to wear on my enormously wide post-baby feet. Thoughts of these shoes help me forget that we have six more weeks of winter.

6. My Cousin Vinny – this is one of those movies that no matter how many times I’ve seen it, I cannot bring myself to change the channel if I see it on tv. I also feel this way about Legally Blonde and Bring It On. I have no shame.

7. Massages – who doesn’t love a great massage?

8. Marc Jacobs and his divine handbags – also something I can’t afford, but a handbag always fits!

9. Margaritas – Frozen strawberry goodness!

10. Melrose Place – I wonder if the rumors are true about bringing it back a la 90210. I hope the rumors are true about bringing it back a la 90210.

BONUS LOVES: Mississippi. Magnolias. Mardi Gras. Music. Now I’m super homesick. My remedy for missing yet another Mardi Gras, making my own king cake and homemade jambalaya!

If you want to play along, leave me a comment and your email so I can assign you your very own letter. Fun, no?

Wellness and ice and other useless facts

Over a week later and we are all back among the living, even though Sydney relapsed on Monday and daycare called asking us to come get her. It's times like that when I really hate my job and the fact that I couldn't get home to my daughter for at least 2 and a half hours. The first bus out in the afternoon was just over an hour away, then another hour and twenty minute ride home and a cab ride would have ranged in the 3-digit realm, or at least I am assuming it would have but I can't be sure, and if I had taken metro, well, it's still 20 miles from my house and I'd have to take another expensive cab ride and it would have saved NO time. Fortunately, Doug was able to leave work and pick her up about an hour later. And he is twice the distance from home that I am. How much sense does that make? But he drives because there is no other commuting option for him. So it worked out.

Anyway, I am back in the office where it's pretty quiet. Something about ice and such has everyone home. I thought we'd at least have a delayed opening since the majority of the schools are closed and more, but no, the powers that be decided that people in DC should all venture downtown before anyone has bothered to de-ice the sidewalk and the roads are still in sad shape. I walked most of the way from the bus stop to my building (almost 2 blocks) in the street because I didn't have skates to use on the sidewalk. Not that it would have mattered if I did because I don't know how to ice skate. Oh well. I am here. I am cold. I am going to peek outside and see if the ice has melted so I can go to Starbucks and hopefully gain consciousness before lunch. Mmmmm ham sandwich.

And because I feel like I have been whiny lately, here's a cheery end to today's post, 5 things about me you may or may not have known.

1. I'm a closet NSync fan and am hoping for a reunion. It's too bad Sydney's not older because then I'd have an excuse to see them in concert should that glorious day ever come!

2. I don't like the hair on my toes so I shave it. Yes, I did just go there. You can stop laughing and judging now :) I'm just keeping it real y'all!

3. I hope the writers of Gossip Girl (tv, not book) decide to give Chuck his monkey because that could only make him more awesome! I'm Chuck Bass. Hot!



4. I would be willing to lead a campaign against mayonnaise as a condiment. Team Mustard!

5. I am shamelessly addicted to the girls over at gfy. I have to be careful that I am not ingesting any beverage when I read their posts because it's likely to come out of my nose!

There you have it. Five useless facts about yours truly. Please feel free to share your own in the comments.