Some of the best things for baby

Here are some of my favorites:

Sophie the Giraffe-- a great teething toy

Fisher Price Stacking Cups -- you really can't imagine all the different ways to use these. But your child will show you.

Boppy -- I know, no big surprise. But it has been essential for this breastfeeding mom. I think I am on Boppy #3 or 4 (RIP to the previous Boppys that didn't survive stomach bugs)

Kiddopotamus Bib -- no velcro closure so they can't pull off. Pocket stays open. Easy to wash. Love it.

springtime fun

Spring is here! Our weekend is booked! No, we are not going out of town. And no, we are not having a party. We are going strawberry picking and planting our garden!

Last year at this time, we went strawberry picking at a local farm that grows organic strawberries. I remember I was very pregnant, so bending down to gather berries was not exactly easy. I carried the bucket and pointed out the good ones most of the time. This year Molly will be able to join us. I am looking forward to it. As well as I looking forward to homemade strawberry jam and strawberry pie.

Also, if we get everything in order, (Which is spreading the compost, getting edging done, and buying our seeds and plants) we will be planting our veggie garden. This is Take 2. Last year was our first year and it did pretty well. We have learned that there are some things we are not going to grow again. For example, pumpkins. They take over the whole garden! We have also learned that we don't need quite as many tomato plants! And we will try some new things this year, like potatoes. Again, since last year I was either pregnant or with newborn, I wasn't able to get out in the yard much. I hope to get able to get in the dirt a bit more this year.

Keep posted for the garden update!

my latest excuse

Ok, so to not be consumed by work, I turned to a little distraction called ancestry.com. Oops. Major time sucker! But, wholly interesting. The problem is that you keep having more ancestors! And that means more clicking, and more clicking, and more time!

So anyway, I am finding it very fascinating to find where all the different lines of the family lead. But, I do have to get on to other activities as well!

work wisdom nuggets

So I haven't been writing quite as much recently. Why? Well, everytime I sit down to the blog, unfortunately the topic that is often at the forefront of my thoughts is work. And I make a policy of not talking about work on the blog. Which is a really good thing. Trust me.

I will however say a few things that I have learned that I think are good nuggets of wisdom:

1. Never make the mistake of relating self worth to your job. It is important to know your own strengths, skills and value for yourself. If you know that, you will never depend on someone else's praise to lift you up, or to be taken down by other's misaligned values.

2. Success is not just a word to be used in the workplace. It applies to all areas of your life. To me success is defined on how well I do all my roles...mom, wife, employee.... not just one of them.

3. You can't change other people. You can only change how you respond.

4. Not everything that happens to you is deserved, whether it be good or bad. Life does not work on a simple or straightfoward rewards and punishment system.

bathroom makeover

My friend Elizabeth, over at her blog Southern Comfort , has lovingly put together a beautiful plan for my making over my hideous 80's bathroom. Take a look and see what you think!

http://elizabeth-southerncomfort.blogspot.com/2010/04/teresas-new-guest-bath-design.html

Chef Nate

The kids preschool has a great chef....

Here is an article:

Pre K goes Gourmet

netflix and hulu

We have rejoined Netflix because now you can stream to a Mac and to your tv via the Wii. I have already watched Food Inc, Walmart: The High Price of Low Cost, and am actually in the middle of Julie and Julia right now. Emmett has also already enjoyed two Muppet movies.

In addition, I have recently discovered hulu.com where I can watch tv episodes that I missed. I no longer miss my DVR! I can catch up on Lost or Flashforward from the comfort of my own laptop. Yea!

random questions

Is bad for wishing that "what goes around comes around" will come around sooner than later for certain people, even if if the "that", that is coming around, is not good?

Do things happen for a reason?

How many acorns do you think fall from 200 year old oak tree? All I know is that it is ALOT.

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby?

Will the Lost season finale be a disappointment?

Why is chocolate so good? I mean it comes from just a bean after all.

Dirt therapy

New discovery: I like digging around in the dirt! Who knew?

I have never had a yard of my own til we bought this house a year and a half ago. And last year I really didn't get the opportunity to do much since I was either very pregnant or had a newborn. But this spring I am able to get there more. Molly really enjoys playing in the grass so I am able to do some stuff outside as well.

Sunday I weeded and got the leaves out of the shrubs. And it was fun! There is something very nice about seeing your yard get cleaned up a bit. Oh! And another first. I drove the riding lawn mower! That is actually kind of fun too. Minus the pollen.

I found it is very therapeutic to go take your aggravations out on dandilions, oak tree seedlings and wild onions.

Snootchy

"Mommy, you are very snootchy. I like being snootched up with you."

Yes, we use some made up words, and Emmett has adopted some of them. I really like the fact that he can be so affectionate. I will miss that as he gets older, because I know he won't be so forthright with his affection. Some other heartwarmers from him:

"You are the bestest mommy ever."

"I love you, I love you, I love you a whole lot" which he sang in his own made up tune.

He is so affected by other people's feelings, which I am glad for. When he saw a cartoon character get hurt, he started crying. When Molly gets fussy, he says "Its ok Molly, Mommy and Emmett are here." When his cousin was sad about a broken toy, he said "I know you are sad, but it will be ok."

I hope his empathy is something he doesn't lose.

Dreams of staying at home

Oh to be a stay at home mom. I wish I could be. Or do I? Is it all that I imagine it would be? Or would it come with it's own set of cons? I have to think, though, that the cons of staying at home have to be not as bad as the cons of being a working mom. Anyone have any input on that?

I do wish I had the opportunity to find out. Ok, sure, lack of adult interaction... but isn't that what playdates, and girls night out are for? And feeling lack of professional worth... but couldn't I volunteer or do a side business? It just seems to be that the downsides of being a SAHM are fixable, but the downsides of working... not so much.

Love for someone to change my mind on that. Can't help but feeling today that SAHM is a luxury. And I can't afford it.

Alright, here I am!

It has been a busy, but good last several days with family and the Easter bunny visiting. Emmett had a lot of fun visiting with his cousin, dying easter eggs, and visiting with his Yaya and Grandpa Al and Caitlin.

Emmett's favorite color is blue. So much so that he insisted on dying every egg blue. He didn't even try any other color!

Molly loves to be outside. She was happy as a clam just playing in the grass.

Molly is starting to take a few steps. It won't be long before we are chasing after her!

eggs

We are moving to London!

Seth got a great job opportunity and we decided to go! I know! Can you believe it? How exciting!

Oh, and by the way, happy april fools day! :)