Multi-tasking Mama

Ah, multitasking. It seems when you have children, hormones release the gift of multitasking into your body. Or maybe it comes wit the baby weight? Either way, we moms multitask with the best of them.

A few months ago I saw Michelle Williams on Jimmy Fallon talking about how she eats breakfast in the shower to save time. Everyone in the audience laughed and I thought it was a genius idea. You do what you have to do to get by. If that means feeding the baby with your chin while you eat your oatmeal, than so be it. Mama's got to eat. So, what else do I multitask on?

Bath time: Two kids in one bath. Alex goes in gets settled and then Lilly climbs in after. We always keep our fingers crossed that Alex will not choose this bath to pee on his sister but, let's face it,  it rarely works out that way. I know I won't be able to get away with this for very long but man is it a time saver. Let them play for a bit. Scrub him down and then go get him in his jammies while she plays. Everyone gets a little private bath time and mommy gets it all done before 7pm (bearly, but still)

Gardening...kind of: We have a very private yard. Lots of trees and shrubs that hide us from the neighbors. I was watering the plants and it was very hot. Lilly (age 3) decided to play in the mud. Well, guess who got hosed down with the azaleas? Grabbed a dry beach towel and in she went. No harm done and a sparkling clean kid to boot.

Dishing it out: I run the dishwasher in the morning before we leave for work/daycare/preschool. When I come home it is done and I take the clean dishes out and put them right on the table. Forks, knives and cups too. Sure, this probably means I am using the same 3 dishes every meal, even though I have a set of 12, but it works for me so I do it.

Brusha, Brusha: While Lilly brushes her teeth I brush her hair. It's nice to have the distraction because man does that kid hate having her hair brushed.

What do you multitask on? Folding laundry while cooking dinner? Changing diapers while painting your house? Do you eat breakfast in the shower?

MaxxSilly Loves: NYC Taught Me & In Color Order

I realized it has been awhile since I shared some Blog Love.

Here are two blogs I am loving right now…

NYC Taught Me
Have you guys read Sharon’s blog? She moved from San Francisco to NYC with her husband, daughter and twin boys. I can only imagine the differences. As someone who lived in NYC for many years, her writing and stories make me realize how much I miss the great things the city has to offer. She is also open and honest about looking for a job as someone who jumped into motherhood right out of college. You can’t help but root for her.

In Color Order
If I ever have time to sit and sew, I know I would still never be able to make something as beautiful as the quilts made by Jeni. Her creations are gorgeous and she makes quilting sound super easy. Plus she has a cute bunny and sells vintage sheets on Etsy (like me!).

Great job Jeni and Sharon! Keep up the good work.

Photos courtesy of NYC Taught Me and In Color Order

Everyone Knows Best

There seems to be a light at the end of this sickness tunnel. Or at least I hope.

We returned from Florida with two sickies - me and Alex. Saturday, about two hours after we returned home Alex and I were off to the emergency room because of the 103.5 fever. My poor baby just wanted to sleep and snuggle, not an bad thing, but when the fever, nasty cough and sniffles accompany it, I can think of a better way to spend a Saturday night. I was told "he has a virus". When I am in distraught mother mode and I am told there is nothing they can do for my baby I want to lash out at doctors and shout, "If I wanted a useless diagnosis from someone in a white coat I would have had the lady at the Clinique counter look at him." But, I bit my tongue, smiled politely and sung to my little boy all the way home. The week has been rough and the "virus" hit me as well. I'm home sick today - banished from work because of my cooties.

On the topic of motherhood and babies - like that non-existent segway? Yeah, it's the codeine. Do you find that as a mother everyone seems to know what's best for your child? I'll share an example with the class. My son still drinks from a bottle. I have tried many sippy cups and he has not taken to any. He has been teething non-stop since he was 6 months old - seriously - he only has 2 left to come in - crazy vampire kid. I always assumed, and how dare I, that it is more important for my child to drink than what they drink out of. Well, I finally found a cup that works. It is one he can hold that starts with a bottle nipple and can be switched to a sippy cup nipple when he is ready. I tried to start with the sippy nipple but he just chewed it and refused to drink. I switched back and what a happy boy!

I brought the new cup to daycare today and was informed that the food care program does not like kids his age drinking from bottle nipples. That doctors say that a sippy cup at his age is best. See, I missed the part where both the food program and doctors carried my son for nine months. The part where they stayed in the emergency room with him. The part where they were up soothing him while he was teething. Oh, and of course, the part where they were cut open, looked into his eyes and vowed with every power they had to protect and love him everyday of his life.

So, how did I respond? I smiled politely - my go to action when I receive unsolicited advice - and said, "If the food program or doctors have a problem with it they can contact me directly. Until then, this is his cup and he will drink from it."

Perhaps it is my sensitivity, but the whole conversation seems judgemental in a way. If your son does not drink from a sippy cup he will become a serial killer. When did it become okay to tell everyone else what they are doing right and wrong? Is it generational? The power of the internet? Shear stupidity? I would love to hear your thoughts...

...and those of the lady at the Clinique counter.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hello little loves. Are you having a wonderful V Day? Oh, I hope so.

I am visiting family in Florida with the little monkeys and Mr. MaxxSilly. We are having a wonderful time. Today we headed to the beach and enjoyed some fun in the very, very cold water. Yup - we're from out of town.

Our plane trip was great. When we landed the woman in front turned around and said, "You have the most well behaved children...and adorable too." I was so happy I could cry. Another gentleman told Lilly she deserved a gold star for her good behavior. There is no greater compliment a parent could want. Flying is already a pain in the tush. Throw in two kids up since 4:30AM, one who is teething and needs to stay on your lap and a full airplane - not anyone's ideal traveling plan. I can't complain - they really did do great.

I won't be checking in much this week but here are some fun travel things to hold you over until I get back...

Jordan's tips for traveling with young kids.

We visited the Palm Beach Zoo the other day and it was a blast...and very cold (We wore our Boston coats!)

Thank you Leap Frog for creating the Leap Pad - the best thing to keep a kid occupied on a plane. Lilly's favorite games? Pet Pals 2 and Mr. Pencil.

Lilly has her own camera for the trip. It is great and virtually indestructible.

Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with tons of love and sunshine!

Feel the Love - Favorite Valentines

Hey, it's almost Valentine's day. What! What!

Did you get you're someone special a gift yet? We will be away for the holiday of love. Me and Mr. MaxxSilly will probably head out for a nice dinner. Mmmmm hot food....

These days my favorite Valentine gifts are from my kids. Anything that comes home from daycare with hearts on it brings a tear to my eye. Although, my husband has given me some wonderful gifts during our marriage. One of my faves was a balloon. Yes. A simple balloon. We were visiting my folks in Florida and he went fishing or something with my dad. When they returned he got out of the car with a giant balloon that said "Yo Te Quiero Mucho". I'm pretty sure that means "I love french fries" and it was awesome and totally unexpected. Want to hear the sappy part? I still have the balloon. Yup - dork, party of one.

Another great one was when I was in college. My roommate Nikki and I were on a serious Simpsons kick and one of our favorites was when Lisa gave Ralph a Valentine and he proceeded to become mildly obsessed with her. Ralph Wigum is the best. Anyway that Valentine's day my awesome roomie gave me a box of chocolates with "I Choo-choo-choose you" on the cover. I haven't the foggiest idea where she found it but it was priceless.



Do you have a favorite Valentine?

Phoning It In

I'm sad about the Patriot loss and the fact that when I am 53, I will not look like Madonna.
Bummers all around.

Yeah, I'm phoning it in today.

Image from nickmom

Football Weekend!

Alex has lots of Patriots themed clothing.
Here he is last year in one of his bagillion outfits.

Big weekend coming up at our house. Our beloved Patriots are in the Super Bowl! This means a) Lots of red, white and blue clothing will need to be washed, b) there will be a significant increase in yelling (for the team) and c) I will be watching Downton Abbey.

I kid. I'll be watching the game with Mr. MaxxSilly, but in truth I do only watch the commercials, you know like guys read Playboy for the articles.  I will ask lots of dumb questions like, "Why are their pants so tight?", "Why is that salesman from Foot Locker on the field?" and "Why would Madonna not sing La Isla Bonita, it seems so appropriate for half time?" Mr. MaxxSilly will shake his head and I will return to playing on Pinterest.



Yeah, he had Patriot's bibs also.
At this age he understood football more than I ever will.

So - to start your football weekend here are some fun football related things from around the web.

GO PATS!

Need some recipe ideas? Here are 25 of them and those football strawberries look delish.

I always feel bad when the loss falls on one player of the team. I love this letter that a 7 year old wrote to his favorite San Francisco player.

"Tebowing" is a new trend but I think it is really Rodin that started it.

If you crochet here is an adorable hat to make while you watch the game.

Football Pizza. Yum.

I'm loving these vintage football posters.

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Nightmare of Forever 21



Love this top.

When I want to be depressed I go to Forever 21. Actually - I don't "go" there as much as I am pulled in by the thumping bass and bright colors and patterns of all their clothes.

I actually like some of their stuff. It is kind of like Zooey Deschanel's wardrobe on New Girl but more flammable. Seriously. How cute are her outfits?


Adrorable

But I digress. I really like some of Forever 21's clothes - especially the price tags. I call it disposable fashion. If you get one season out of it be happy. What depresses me, is that none of their stuff fits! Now - I am sure that in reading my blog you assumed I was 6'10" size 4 and have always been that size - even while pregnant. Yeah....ummm. you're wrong. I'm an "average woman". Sure, it wouldn't kill me to put down this Dove bar and type with two hands but I'm not going to do it. Oh, and I'm not going on a 12 week detox a 'la Gwyneth. That's just stupid.

I am a single digit size and I fit into clothes...just not the outfits made for poles. Oh, and I have come to except this. I can't shop at Forever 21 for clothing but I got some really cute accessories.

Stepping off my soap box now...and going to eat some Doritos

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Parent

When I became a mom I thought I knew what to expect. The late nights. The increased use of the word "poop". But as with everything, there is always something new to learn and things you wish you knew ahead of time. Here are the five things I wish I knew before I had kids.

If they have it, you will get it.

Much like Field of Dreams "If you build it they will come" there is a saying as a mother, "If they have it, you will get it." Unfortunately the it is not a young Kevin Costner or the relaxing tone of James Earl Jones voice. It is indeed any virus, cold, thing involving boogers you can think of. I always say I never got sick before I had kids. This is probably because of the large amount of alcohol that was often in my system, but let me tell you I get everything now. As soon as I see dripping out of someones nose I run for a hasmat suit and bathe in anti-bacterial lotion. It doesn't matter. NASA could not stop those germs. They get through everything.

It took four hours to get her dressed. She played for ten minutes.

No sense of time.

Kids don't understand traffic or that the school buses are back on the roads. They don't care that it snowed 500 inches and you still have to drive them to preschool and get to a meeting. Maybe it's better this way. Perhaps the world would be better if we all paid less attention to the time.

Selective Hearing

I have learned to love the sound of my own voice. If only because I repeat the same things over and over. Put on your shoes please. Put on your shoes please. Put on your....well I think you get it. But if I shouted who wants chocolate ice cream on top of french toast with ketchup..man would they come running. 



Bedtime safari

Imagination

Sometimes I just listen to my daughter's conversations. She has lots of friends. Of course we can't see any of them. Just this morning I overheard her in the bathroom - now keep in mind she is speaking all of these lines.

"Lilly, what are you doing?"

"Oh. Hi Thomas. I'm going potty."

"Why are you doing that?"

"Because I am a big kid and I don't wear diapers anymore. You don't wear diapers because you are a train. Let's go play in my room now."

...end scene. Yes, we have a whole cast of characters in our house. Some are not even human but they are endlessly entertaining.

Poor Backyardignas book. You never stood a chance.

Chew Toys

Everything. I mean everything goes in their mouths when they are younger. Alex was chewing on the sofa the other day. THE SOFA! Should I put him in a crate? Lilly and now Alex's crib is covered in teeth marks. Seriously. It looks like a family of beavers was living in it. Oh, and yes, I had all the protective plastic thingys on the crib but my little beaver children got them off. Nothing is safe. Furniture. Toys. Books. Other humans. Thankfully it stops when teething is over but then they start talking and they don't stop. At this point you are tempted to put something in their mouth for 5 minutes of silence.

Superkids. Also known as perfect to me!

The best part of all this, and the things I did not expect is that I would not change a thing. I would take throwing up, screaming, being late, worrying that my child is seeing dead people and live with no furniture to have these two little monkeys in my life. It's perfection.