The True Story of What Was

Snow!

jenngator222 — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:58:18 +0000

We had a big snow storm in late October, but since then we haven’t had much at all. It was a nice surprise to wake up to an inch or two of snow this morning, especially since we have a Floridian visiting us!

Filed under: Miss M.

Chaos, Wonder and the Spiritual Adventures of Parenting

jenngator222 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:19:57 +0000

While I wasn’t raised with religion as a weekly part of my life, I am grateful for the values that my parents brought me up with and I’m glad that I consider spirituality and connection to the earth and those around me as part of my life. Now, my own little family sometimes attends services at a Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse near our home. I jumped at the idea of an online book discussion of Chaos, Wonder and the Spiritual Adventures of Parenting advertised in their weekly email. I’m looking forward to digging in.

It’s just so fun watching M and my dad together. They are both doing such a great job! We’re still working on getting her to say Grandpa.

Filed under: Family, Miss M., Reading

Remember What’s Important

jenngator222 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:13:37 +0000

It amazes me how much I can get myself worked up about things so unimportant in life. Then there are moments like this (and I run and grab my camera) that help me remember what’s most important to me.

Filed under: Miss M.

Slippers

jenngator222 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:13:14 +0000

Saturday morning found me sick and anxious about teaching that afternoon. But seeing my daughter walking around in my slippers made everything better.

Filed under: Miss M.

Thank Goodness for Grandpa!

jenngator222 — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:18:55 +0000

What a crazy past couple of days! Thursday was our wedding anniversary (4 years) and I started to feel a bad cold coming on and my voice fading fast, Friday my dad arrived and my yoga weekend began, Saturday morning R left for Italy for over a week, Saturday I taught my first yoga class, and Sunday I had yoga training all day. Thank goodness for Grandpa Ron. He did a great job taking care of and keeping M entertained all weekend! I think he changed his first diapers in almost 32 years! He snapped this cute photo and sent it to me on Sunday. Notice how she has her hands in her “pockets” again.

Teaching my first yoga class was really interesting. I didn’t prepare as much as I had hoped to. I planned to cram right at the end, and then I got sick and lost my voice! I think being sick really gave me an excuse to stink, if I did, I could blame the sickness. Also, I told myself, I don’t really plan on teaching, so it doesn’t matter if I am any good this weekend. I think both those stories I told myself really kept me from being overly nervous or anxious. But as that room started to fill up (35 people I think!) I got more and more nervous. As my fellow teachers began our practice, my stomach turned more and more. And then it was my turn. I just got up there, and I just did it. I was comfortable, I was calm, and I really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to do it again.

Filed under: Family, Miss M., Yoga

Elmos

jenngator222 — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:20:03 +0000

It’s a wonder we make it anywhere on time when we have to gather up all of our friends before we get in the car. It’s hard to buckle her in with all these guys sitting in her lap. Elmo is probably her favorite and most said word. Better than “no” I guess. Other favorites are “hush” to Izzie (so glad it’s not “shutup” – score one for this mama) and “ouch” (so that she can get a kiss). My pride and joy.

Izzie usually gets a dog treat before we leave for school and work in the morning. Can you tell?

Filed under: Izzie, Miss M.

Such a Good Dog

jenngator222 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:24:46 +0000

Miss M is really starting to play with Izzie. And she’s finally saying Izzie again. It was her first word, but then she stopped saying it after a few weeks. Now she talks to Izzie all the time. She tells her to hush. She calls her to come eat her food. She rolls around on the floor with her. She throws her the dog toys. They fight over the dog toys. Miss M tells her she’s “Not Nice.“ It’s a regular sibling rivalry and oh so fun to observe.

Filed under: Izzie, Miss M.

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day

jenngator222 — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:02:58 +0000

Valentine’s Day Fail: M came home with Valentines from most of the other kids, and we sent none. I figured she was too young and upon asking the daycare it sounds like most of the kids who do the Valentines have older siblings, so I’m not a complete failure. I thought I wouldn’t care about that kind of stuff (I was even saying I didn’t care about 10 minutes before I picked her up), but it was super cute looking through all the little Valentine’s from her friends. My heart hurt a little, anticipating the day she’ll come home and say she didn’t get one from “so and so.” But I can’t be worrying about that kind of stuff already.
Here she is looking through her Valentines.

For dinner, R made us a heart shaped pizza :)

I’m a lucky girl!

Filed under: Miss M.

Cauliflower Potato Curry Stew and Reading

jenngator222 — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:03:52 +0000

Tried three new recipes in the last week from the online Whole Food Kitchen seminar. This one was from one of the contributors and I wouldn’t recommend it for a Sunday night at 7pm – lots of chopping and prepping (10 potatoes, a whole head of cauliflower!). R absolutely loved it. I liked it a lot, but was so exhausted from the weekend and all the prep that I think I didn’t really savor it. Looking forward to trying it again as leftovers. I have a feeling this is one of those things that gets better with age.

Snapped this picture of M on our (lack of) snow day on Saturday. Her love for books and the time she can spend looking through them gently makes me a proud mama. Don’t be fooled though – her favorite book, Pete the Cat – I Love My White Shoes, has plenty of pieces of tape holding it together.

Filed under: Cooking, Miss M., Reading

Pockets and Honey Miso Baked Tofu

jenngator222 — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:06:05 +0000

M finally found an outfit with perfect pockets!

This weekend I tried another recipe from Whole Food Kitchen and we’re excited to have a yummy new flavor for the tofu on our lunch salads (Honey Miso Baked Tofu).

Filed under: Cooking, Miss M.