My Princess Posse

When I was pregnant with Ben, a friend suggested we plan a trip after he was born for just hubby and me. Something we'd look forward to and also to kind of force us to get away. At the time we decided on Hood to Coast. I liked it because while achieving the above, it also gave me a something to get back in shape for.

It proved to be one of our favorite trips in recent memory, so when I was pregnant with Juliet I decided to do something similar. A friend at work mentioned the Princess Half Marathon and it seemed perfect. Perhaps a bit aggressive just 16 weeks after Jules was born, but most likely attainable.

So off we went, my sis and @foodmomiac, to tackle the Princess Half. While none of us felt particularly well trained, we went at it will full enthusiasm, including tutus (courtesy of Tutus for Tanner - from Catherine who I've yet to meet but can't wait for NO where I will!)

Inspite of a 4AM DEPARTURE from the hotel (ACK!) we had the best day ever! I can't remember the last time I ran with friends, women, with no music, 13 miles, and felt fantastic.

Seriously, as a runner this is the nirvana that we're constantly seeking but rarely find.

And speaking of nirvana, while I missed those little faces dearly, it was so nice to get away and just be myself for a couple days. No kids to feed, or diaper, or entertain. It's a luxury I rarely offer myself, and never for more than an hour or two, and it proved to be a wonderful treat.

By the end, I couldn't wait another minute to see them again. And I can't even explain the look of relief, gratitude, excitement and enthusiasm that greeted me immediately upon walking in the door tonight; everyone from hubby, to Stella, to Paula and the kids...making all the work I do at home seem much more appreciated than any ordinary Monday.

Juliet slept through the night last night!!

Of course I did the obligatory spring from bed in a panic at 5:30AM fearing the worst but she was just fine :)

Hopefully a sign of great things to come...

4 Months Young

Juliet is four months old today. Where does the time go?

Took a couple pics of the kids today for the first time in way too long.

Life has been busy. Am I a broken record? But when you stop and take it all in, it doesn't get much better than this.

The kids are great, funnier and more full of energy every day. Juliet has taken up sing/screaming, much like Ben, in her crib in the morning. She's proving to be a big talker, just like her mom.

Ben adores her (as long as she isn't gumming a toy he hasn't paid attention to in 18 months, in which case his interest is immediately renewed when she has it).

The cabin fever is palpable, but we were able to get outside a bit this weekend which was glorious. We took a couple big walks with Juliet cashing out while Ben pointed 'this way,' and 'that way' navigating our course all around the neighborhood.

Tonight I formalized Ben's position as my sous chef, setting him up with a chair counterside to assist me in making spaghetti sauce and noodles. Which he then cheerfully ate for his dinner. Brilliant.

It's the end of February ... we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. With a trip to FL in March, I know we'll make it to spring.

What are you doing to pass the time at your house these days?

Happy Birthday Baba!

One of my all time favorite pics - Happy Birthday Baba! Can't wait to celebrate with you in a couple weeks in sunny Florida.

xo

Happy Birthday Hubby

To my gorgeous hubby, wonderful father and love of my life - happy birthday to you. Thank you for all the smiles you bring to our lives. XO

Baba's Visit

Much delayed, but here are a few pics from Baba's visit. As I looked through them today, I realized she was here three weeks ago and that was literally the last time the kids were outside. Sigh. Winter.

But today it is sunny and a balmy 35 degrees! As soon as everyone wakes up from their naps we're going on a big walk to soak in some Vitamin D and fresh air.

Check out Ben's awesome pancake from Baba - she rocks!

And Ben totally get's Skype now so we talk to my parents once a week, and now hubby too since he's been traveling so much. It is awesome, and a great way to keep everyone close even when they are far away.

Happy weekend!

Goldie Locks

Glimpses of my sweet girl's personality are starting to shine through, and she's proving to be a stubborn, high maintenance little lady.

Ironically she went straight from reluctance to drink a bottle to preferring them over eating from me. It's less work. I'll call it efficiency versus laziness :) But she takes things a step further by requiring the milk to be warmed to the perfect temperature.

And just like Goldie Locks, if it's a bit too cool, she refuses to eat until I've reheated the bottle.

I can't make this stuff up. It's happened two feedings in a row.

She flat out refuses, cries and spits the milk out. Warm up the bottle, and down the hatch the ounces go.

It would be funny if I weren't pumping before every feeding to give her this delicious, fresh milk!

Ok, it's still funny. Look at that face. She is seriously the sweetest thing breathing in this house. But I can't even imagine where we're headed if she's this finicky with her bottles. God help us :)

Drowning

So I've been snowed in, figuratively and literally. I feel like everyone is looking at me with disappointed, sad eyes wanting more from me and there just isn't time...

Ok, Stella is the only one giving me actual sad eyes but between a ton of work (hopefully just a confluence of events that I've told myself will be resolved by March 1st), all this freaking snow, hubby traveling the last 2 weeks, all this freaking snow (which incidentally means I can't get out of my garage, every day is a guess as to whether Paula in her little Toyota will be able to find her way here), computer issues at home and at work, a root canal, and now sick kids, I can not seem to get ahead of the game.

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, we're actually getting along pretty well, all things considered, but blog updates aren't even on the radar right now.

I have pics from Baba's trip two weeks ago and stories of white whale's with aunt Carrie but they are still days away at best.

I'll repeat my matra for this week...doing the best I can, and SORRY!

Snowpocolypse, Blizzaster, Snowmagedon

Finder? Ugh, meant fonder on previous post obviously...

So the Blizzard of 2011 delivered. I was begging for it as weatherman were hyping this storm all week, assuming it was just another media blitz.

It wasn't.

And as the wind howled on Tuesday night, I cheered; while also charging my eletronics and bracing for the worst.

It was really hard to tell if it was amassing into anything because there was so much wind. Even when we woke to snow piled high on the front door it was tough to tell.

But when I went to brush off our steps (we have no shovel, hubby usually brooms as it comes down??) and it was up to my knees, my waist, oh my!

Hubby was stuck in LA and Paula was stranded at home so it was a snow day for all...PJ party for Ben. We had a great day, and I managed to squeeze in a good amount of work too.

It wasn't till the kiddies went to bed bed and I ventured into the alley that I really understood the full weight of the storm. Pics from the alley -- before Stella and I ran back and forth over and over in snow deep enough to swallow her up.

Amazing. And fun to see how everyone bands together. My neighbors stopped by on their way to the grocery (on foot) to see if we needed anything. People, armed with shovels, helping others dug out their cars.

Today, another neighbor snow blowed (?) the ENTIRE alley. A miracle really given we may have been stuck in our respective garages until March otherwise.

Even sidewalk edicate is decidedly nicer when there is only room for one person to pass. Everyone smiles and nods and makes room for strangers. Small town niceities come out in everyone.

What wonderful acts did you see during the snow storm?

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Finder?

My lack of posts is simply reflective of trying to find time being back to work...compounded by the fact that since returning I've been out for a root canal, traveled to NYC, lost my computer for a day due to technical issues and now Blizzard 2011!

Never fear, I have thoughts to post, pics from a great weekend with my mom and more to come soon, promise!