You can't do that in Texas!

Beautiful day to play in the snow!

We went up to the high school today in search of hills to sled down. No hills, but we found lots of drifts to plow down. Fred was a bit grumpy to begin with, but sledding is the perfect remedy.





Some family fun fotos






Like always, M tried to eat the snow.


M goes solo


Basic math:
Sledding = Happy Toddler = Great nap

Even S'ang wanted on in the action.





If I had this much fun, I cannot wait to go inner tubing on the golf course! Bigger hills!

Old Year's Conclusion

Ei, you challenged me yet again.

I remember the first time I heard the phrase, "turning over a new leaf." I was in fourth grade, I believe. We were rehearsing for a school play. One of the songs was about being on "easy street" was a myth and something about starting anew.
I am reminded that every day is a fresh start each time I see fallen leaves.


But what is the purpose of turning over a new leaf when the leaf falls from the same tree? It is not about renewal, like sheets of snow falling covering the old dirty snow. Underneath all that fresh snow, the past remains.



A tree can be shaped; its branches can be trimmed. Branches continue to grow to make new leaves. What branches grew for me for 2007? What branches can I trim?

This year's biggest lesson comes from The Four Agreements. Don't take anything personally. My mother used to tell me over and over again that I was in charge of my emotions. I used to think she said this to blame me because my feelings were hurt. My reality is not theirs.

Pooh and Noella lit my path to my home birth. Let things flow, remember to breathe, it's okay to lose control sometimes. Noella still reminds me just take life in. I don't find it ironic at all that she died on the Ides of March.

When Noella died, I kept reflecting on a particular night. I had a guy over. Noella came into my room crying. I held her as she cried while the guy sulked and eventually rolled over and went to sleep. I am glad that I chose Noella over him. I try to be a good friend to all my friends. Do you know the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch? There is song with the lyrics "I gave a piece to.." I feel like that sometimes. I will happily give pieces to my friends, but I cannot give away everything. I have to watch who I give to because one day, someone will take off and run.

Fred is my rock. He pushes me to the limits I didn't know I have and holds onto me when I need him most.

I learned to trust. I don't have always have to be strong. It's okay to surrender to life.


I am a mother. I may not be the mother I want to be. I lose my temper, I yell and I have hit in anger. I am ashamed to admit it, but I always let M know that I make mistakes too. Mommies and daddies have to say their are sorry too. I have swallowed my words. M has had more than enough popsicles, cupcakes and TV. Every day, I try to do better than the day before. Parenting a strong-willed toddler is like endurance training. Hell, parenting any child is like endurance training. At the end of the day, my children know that I love them. It is a promise I made to myself after I had M. My children will always know I love them.


I am still a messy person. I tried flylady. The only thing I learned from her is to make my bed, swish the loo, wipe down the sink and put on something nice in the morning. Despite that, I don't do that every day. I don't know if it's laziness or apathy. Maybe a little of both. Before I became a mother of two, M and I used to do all these neat little projects. Now she is lucky if she gets to paint or color. I am constantly collecting art supplies with the intentions of doing fun and creative pieces with her.

I am still superstitious. Have you ever seen A Very Long Engagement? I play that game as well: "If the bird lands on the tree that means I'll get my wish." I eat my fortune cookie before reading my fortune. I knock on wood, throw salt over my shoulder, try not to jinx myself by speaking too soon, look for symbolism in the mundane, and wish on falling stars.

Things a Toddler Say

While getting M for bed.
M: I need jamas on me.
Me: Put Jamas on?
M: [mishearing] No I'm not a banana. I'm drunk.

Toddler's Thoughts on Thanksgiving

"Tomorrow is Thanksgiving," I say to my daughter.
"I get forturkey!" Forturkey is how she pronounces Tofurkey. Most veg*ns will know this product. For you omnivores it is a frozen blob of tofu that is enhanced so that veg*ns aren't left out on the gluttony. Fred loves it. I am not a huge fan. My favorite part of it is pulling apart the wish bone. What can I say, I'm superstitious.
M starts rattling off more dishes, that she heard Nana tell her. Yesterday she and M had an hour long conversation about what food there will be for "Fanksgiving." "Thanksgiving is not all about food, we talk about the things we are grateful for."
"Grateful?"
"Yes. Grateful. Like when you are thankful." I try to think of an example at the top of my head. "I am thankful for mommy and daddy," is my quickest and non material example. I do add toy because at the moment she is not thankful for mommy because I just denied her a nursing session.
"I am thankful for milk!" Way to go on hinting, M. "I am thankful for chips, and dips..."
"Thanksgiving is also about spending time with friend and family. We get to see Nana tomorrow." I name Nana's grandchildren.
"I'm thankful to eat chips with E_!" Just as I am typing this out, I realize that M has managed to explain Thanksgiving in one sentence.

The Rainbow Connection

And my favorite one other than Kermit's version


And a bonus:

What is S'ang up to?

He also took a tiny step from the neighbor's magazine rack to the chair yesterday! I have to remember to put that in the baby book. :)
I"m one proud mama!

Yes, that's lipstick

"Mommy, I threw up again."


I wonder why.

You narrate

Don't forget to include the part where M finds a "walking stick" (more like a wand) for Fred.










I'll tell you the end. We make a mad dash to the car with a cold, wet and sad M in Daddy's arms.

We found one cache that day. All was not lost. to include the walking stick M found for Fred.

Good to know

These berries are slightly toxic, but apparently not so much so as the ones in Europe.

How do I know?

Guess who decided to sample the berries?

This hungry monkey did.
So I call poison control and because neither my neighbor nor I can identify it, we have to go the nursery to make 100% sure what it is. After a trip to the nursery, I know now that American cranberries are bitter, wild grapes are not red, birds will pick off the edible berries, but I still do not know what these berries are. The man at the nursery is not comfortable enough to give us a solid yes or no whether or not these mysterious berries are poison.

Our next venture is to the oh so fun ER. After several hours, we find that these berries are called bittersweet berries. I would provide a link, but I can't find it myself. If we were in Europe, she could have been sick. She will be okay, just may have some nausea and diarrhea.

I hope that M has learned a valuable lesson today: Do NOT eat food you find off the street!

My little boy is growing up

I was planning to wait six months to feed S'ang. WHO now recommends starting solids at six months. I feel that he is ready. He has been grabbing at our food for a while now. At first I attributed it to him just learning and discovering. At the table he watches us eat like a hawk. I have been giving him a spoon to play with while we all sit at the dinner table. He has been practicing eating like us. Lately, he has been getting pissed. I think he was suspecting that we weren't giving him the real deal.

I have been contemplating giving him solids for a couple weeks now. I went back and forth. I decided to go with my gut. I know my son best. He has been doing everything else earlier, why shouldn't he be ready for some chow? He is showing all the signs of being ready. No tongue thrust, sitting unsupported, and grabbing for our food. Not to mention one day I saw him grab some paper from the floor, put it in his mouth and actually try to chew. Diaper evidence proves that he swallowed.

Yesterday, we bought some ripe organic bananas. I smashed the bananas into a fine mush using some breastmilk to thin it.

M really wanted feed him so we let her feed him his first bite. He took it like a champ! No spitting it out.
Okay so its me feeding him this bite, but M got to feed him his first bite. Actually, I can see my hand on top of hers. So I admit we gave S'ang's first bite together.

He grabbed the spoon and sucked on it so I decided to let him self feed. He didn't get grasp the concept of dipping the spoon in the bowl. Instead he tried to suck the food from the bowl. So we dipped the spoon for him and handed him the spoon. He liked that! What he didn't like was when we would take away his spoon...until we gave it back to him with banana on it. He never complained before when we took away his spoon.


This evening was the test to see if S'ang was indeed ready for solids.

Just random pictures from today since we have some juice in the batteries now!

Okay...stolen post

from Nannyogg but what direction is the dancer spinning?
I say clockwise. I only made her spin once the other way around, but I had to tilt the computer and look at it with my right eye. It was for a split second, but she did spin the other way!

Under the Sea!!!!

You Are a Mermaid

You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

On the move!

More videos of my baby boy scooting. You can actually see him move towards his goal now.

Shhh...don't tell Daddy, it was a My Little Pony. I can't put him down unattended now. I will find him under the couch or stuck in a littler corner. Poor little guy.
And look at this little guy laughing. He is so easily amused

Want to hear M and me sing a duet?

Mixed bag

Not much to post. Here is what we had for dinner tonight:

It was my first attempt of making it. Luckily for me, Fred hasn't had many steamed buns so he thought it was excellent. I was a bit disappointed in the flavor. I wanted it to be sweeter.
Do you want to see a video of my baby? Too bad.

I tried to catch him scooting, but my camera is dying.
Here is another one,still didn't catch him, but he sure is cute isn't he?

First Fall Cache

Our first fall in New England, so excited! To celebrate the changing of the seasons, we did a quick cache. We were planning on leaving the SBTB behind, so we took pictures of SB so that other cachers could enjoy his trip.



Hike with us...
Ducks will be flying south to warmer weathers soon.

A well traveled path.

Look, it's officially fall!

I tried to capture some of the rapidly falling leaves, but slinging a baby, walking and a dog and shooting pictures proves to be quite a task. Besides, the camera was dying and I wanted to save it for the finale.

Alas, we find the cache!


I think Sponge Bob needs to go on a diet!

We couldn't leave him behind so we left a bracelet. Wonder who will pick it up?

Niko had fun. We let him off the leash for a bit and watched as he ran in circles. We were actually trying to teach him the command "come." So much for that. At least he does come (towards you then runs past you). I hope he learns soon!
Niko is looking much better then when he first came home to us.