Par-tay!

Every year we have some family friends over to decorate cookies and enjoy some delicious food. This year we didn't get snowed out (like last year). I was very excited to see some friends and enjoy some tasty treats.
Brie & Date Crostini

Havarti & Roasted Red Pepper Crostini

The Main Event: Sugar Cookies!

Jack was VERY excited to decorate some cookies this year. About 80% of the decorations went right into his mouth, what can ya do?

Henry enjoyed some pita and some undecorated cookie.

We had a pretty big group of kids who all enjoyed some snacking and some decorating before they went to run around in the basement like crazy people. Hopefully they burned off enough energy so their parents aren't cursing my name tonight!

Cause and Effect

Mornings that look like this...

call for one (sometimes two) of these.

My mother was right

There. It's now in print. My mother was right. Admittedly she was right about quite a few things (so far) but today I was reminded of a conversation I had with her a few months ago where I told her there was no way I was going to use the pack n play after the newborn stage because we have limited room and I didn't see the point.

So, she was right. I need it. I'll get to that, but I also want to tell you about some new flour I'm Mc Lovin right now.

Trader Joes recently started carrying White Whole Wheat flour. Now, if you've ever used whole wheat instead of white you know that it requires careful planning not to end up with a brick of dough. So I've always had to strike a delicate balance between healthy recipe and tasty food. Finally there's a whole wheat that bakes like white. I made sugar cookies with this new flour and I'm so impressed, because it really delivered exactly like it claims!
I'm glad I had my kitchen helper with me, and his trusty mini-roller!

And now I'm going to tell you how my mom was right. Jack is too old for baby gates and he plays really independently so I don't want to have to stand around and watch the boys all the time but Henry is a quick little trouble-maker. And he's very rat-like in his affinity for gnawing on and playing with power chords. Well, sometimes I need to be in another room and I don't want to have to carry Henry with me or run the risk he's going to get into some actual trouble while I don't have my eyes on him. Voila! Pack n play!

He seems pleased with his little piece of real estate.

Santa

Jack wrote a letter to Santa and dropped it in the mail (so cute that mailbox that spits snow at you!).

Henry sat on Santa's lap. Jack was having no part of it and we didn't coerce him. He did talk to "Santa" on the metro last month. A large man with a bushy white beard sat next to him on the subway and he said "Look, Daddy, it's Santa." And my poor husband turned red and looked a little embarrassed and the man, thankfully, said "Yes, I am. I'm making my list and checking it twice. Have you been good this year?" To which Jack said "Yeah..."

He must get that all the time. Large man, white beard... I'm just sayin'.

GiGi snapped a good picture of us in Santa's village. (Note Santa at minimum safe distance.)

Then we rode the carousel.

And after that we went to lunch.

It's our third year doing this particular set of activities with my mom a week or two before Christmas. Clearly it has become a tradition.

Every Day

I wage my own little war against Henry. He loves to eat presents. More than anything. I would

really prefer him to leave them alone ('till Christmas morning). He doesn't discriminate when it comes to whose gift he's going to nom. This particular one is for Uncle Tom. Hopefully Uncle Tom won't mind the slobber.

Pool Party

Our neighbor Josephine turned 4 today and she had a pool party! We had a blast! So did Henry, who lounged poolside for a while before walking 1/2 way around the pool holding Daddy's hands.

Feeling twitchy?

Not me. Not so much anymore.

I wrote about what I supposed is diagnosed as Postpartum Anxiety. But really, giving it a name doesn't mean much to me, finding a solution- well that's money in the bank. So I'm about 4 weeks into Zoloft and I'm loving the changes.

Every winter of my adult life I've needed to use my asthma inhaler daily. Since starting Zoloft I've used it once. I cannot tell you how amazing that is to me.

Every time I was running late, or even on time but could be running late I would panic. Totally freak out, sometimes burst into tears and always drive like speed racer. The other day I met a friend at Ikea, I was 12 minutes late and I didn't really care. I mean I kinda was worried she'd be waiting for me (I still want to be considerate) but I just figured she'd assume I was running late and she'd understand. Frankly that logical thought process was something I had been without for YEARS and to be able to be on time or late to something without it being a disaster is pretty freakin awesome.

At the end of every day I used to replay all my failings as a parent that day. The time I yelled too much. The time I didn't interact enough. The time I didn't want to get up and crawl around under the table. Each excruciating moment I chose to be what I considered "a crappy parent" I forced myself to relive and feel the guilt. Whether I'm a "less crappy" parent or I perceive myself to be less crappy or I'm finally willing to give myself a break in the parenting department who knows. But all of that the guilt the feelings of falling short it's basically gone. I don't think I'm perfect or anything, I'm just less concerned about trying to be perfect and more focused on doing what I can as each moment requires.

I'm also less frustrated by other people; bad drivers don't get under my skin anymore. I'm not up in arms about things people say in real life, on the interwebs, on the news. People used to talk about letting things roll off their backs and, to be honest, I wanted to punch them in the face because I had no idea how anyone under any circumstances could just let something roll off their back. Now? I actually understand what they mean.

Each little change isn't earth shattering, but all the little changes together amount to a very happy Mommy. I'm sure the boys are grateful I decided to accept help.