w.w.j.d.

Raiding the Pirate's Booty

2012-02-12T20:38:00.000-05:00

camping in the living room on Sunday

Jill has preferred less clothing lately!

Percy the train & static electricity!

the first true cheesy smile

I loved the pigtails!!

Jill and I bought Pirate's Booty this weekend. No more, says Tony. "That stuff is like crack to her!" Ok, yes, she likes it a lot and shovels it down in handfuls.

Sunday was frrrrrrreezing but we got outside for a few minutes to run around. I am looking forward to temps in the high 40s this week!

Tony and I took advantage of the free babysitter (my Mom) Sunday night and went out for an early Valentine's Day dinner to the Fox and Hound. Yes, I had my favorite sangria. Two glasses. We shared scallops wrapped in bacon, pizza and chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream. It was delicious and very nice to get out, just the two of us!

Friday Night Slumber Party

2012-02-10T20:30:00.000-05:00

My old high school friend, Sarah, and her beloved bulldog, George, spent the night on Friday. Sarah was so good with Jill, probably from all of her experience with her cutie nieces. We stayed up talking way too late and drank too many beers while laughing at old Arrested Development episodes playing in the background. Here are some pictures from Saturday.

52 pounds of pure love

Jill and George were buddies.

not impressed when they left

Saturday afternoon crafts before Dad came home from his trip to Oregon

Play-Doh bracelets!

movie time with Jill, Horsey, Big Baby, Bear, Doggie, Glow Worm, Bob and Doggie (the spotted one)

Oh My God She's Painting Her Legs

2012-02-09T10:30:00.001-05:00

When's Dad's away, Jill will play...

and take advantage of her lenient Mom.

The Super Bowl ... Before the Sadness Set In

2012-02-05T20:18:00.000-05:00

tailgating

pre-game wagon ride

sporting the Pats blanket

TOUCHDOWN!

The game was fun ... for awhile ... before the depression set in.

Wear Red Day

2012-02-03T20:14:00.000-05:00

Jill

joining in the fight against heart disease

Not a Decaffeinated Type of Day

2012-02-02T16:29:00.000-05:00

You know the days when you wake up and feel like you should just stay in bed? Like you don't really feel quite on your A game. Well, I should've pulled the covers up around chin this morning and stayed put. But instead I dragged my ass out of bed a little after 5. Tony left for work early and wasn't home for Jill's grumpy wake-up. She was a handful. All she wanted was her Dad, the one thing I couldn't give her to make her happy. We left the house about 15 minutes later than usual. As we passed Dunkin' Donuts I noticed the lack of a line in the drive thru. I should stop, I thought. No pods left in the house and it's been a rough morning. Oh I haven't mentioned I was up half the night coughing and transferred my sorry self to the couch at 2 a.m. I drove by Dunk's. Man, I knew I should have stopped.

Jill seemed indifferent at drop-off. I was grateful that 4 other kids were already sitting down at the table and eating their strawberries, Cheerios and waffles. This served as a good distraction to unpack Jill's food and get her settled. Off to the T. Delays. Lovely. The awesome MBTA's switching problems at Porter Square had messed up the red line commute and my morning. A coffee would have made this commute a touch less awful, if I had the elbow room to drink it. I felt like a pissed off sardine. Arrive at work almost 40 minutes later than the norm. Get coffee. 2 cups. Get through the inbox and start in on a project. It was 9:30 and I was finally hitting a groove. Until 10, that is, when Miss Cindy called and said they thought Jill had the beginnings of pink eye. Well that was a productive day at work! Back to the T. I walked into the toddler room to find her upset and crying. Cindy said she was very clingy all morning. So we went to the doctor for 11:45 and sure enough, Jill has conjunctivitis. You can barely tell so hopefully we caught it early enough for the medicine to kick in and for Jill to feel better for the weekend! She's asleep on the bed next to me now. Lots of rest; lots of fluids; and lots of Mom cuddle time today and tomorrow. Doctor's orders.

Dessert

2012-02-01T20:52:00.000-05:00

Would anyone like some chocolate pudding?

Bed Head

2012-02-01T20:11:00.000-05:00

Our Snowy Excursion

2012-01-31T14:52:00.001-05:00

Sunday at Sugarbush: instead of "Cheese!" say "NO KIDS!"

Tim & Hesper

me & Tone (I actually got some lip for my Sox hat. Forgot that VT is half Boston, half NY fans so had to put my hand over the B while picking up our lift tickets. Seriously, she made me cover it.)

the crew - this is before my epic wipeout. You'll notice Tim gave me his helmet to wear for the afternoon.

After lunch, we took the long and scary lift to Mt. Ellen. What a view!

kinda steep! That's Tim & Hesper way down there on the lift in front of us.

smiling with head protection

top of the mountain

Tony's best extreme-ness

Tim being extreme!

Clay Brook

very much slopeside

view from the living room

driving home

Skiing and time in the lodge was followed by checking into our slopeside condo at Clay Brook. Oh the life of the rich ... I could get used to this! We went out for dinner then rushed back to enjoy the outdoor heated pool and hot tub before closing time. Oh my aching muscles! It was so nice to relax in the hot tub with a drink and watch the snow fall. I knew Jill was well cared for at Nana's house and I knew this time apart would be beneficial to all three of us. It was an awesome weekend!

Time with the Musantes

2012-01-31T14:32:00.000-05:00

We left the house at 7 p.m. on Friday. Traffic north of the city was thick and slow going and the weather deteriorated once we crossed into the northern part of Vermont. We arrived around 11 p.m. and Jill, as expected, woke up to spend time with Nana, Auntie Kathleen, Webster and all of the stuffed animals. She didn't go to sleep until after 2 a.m. and that was only because Nana was kind (and wise) enough to take her into bed. It was a sleepover at Nana's, for about 4 hours anyway.

coloring with Popa on Saturday

playing with Dad

watching Thomas with Kathleen, one of the only people she lets put her hair in a ponytail (I am not one of them.)

Tony and I left early Sunday morning for a day of skiing at Sugarbush. I'm so glad Nana took pictures of their day together!

reading in the living room

breakfast treats

Jill was well-behaved for her Sunday night sleepover with Nana and Auntie. She painted with Popa on Sunday and learned to hold Kathleen's field hockey stick. Jill was asleep by a reasonable time and didn't wake up at all, not even once. I was so relieved to hear that!

A huge THANK YOU to Nana and Kathleen for watching Jill overnight. Tony and I had a great time skiing and hanging out with Tim and Hesper. It was a nice break from parenthood but I couldn't wait to see Jill Monday morning!

Freeze Tag Caution

2012-01-31T14:19:00.002-05:00

Well Jill's 2 and she doesn't exercise caution. She's fearless like other 2-year-olds.

Friday at school while playing freeze tag, Jill stopped short, swung around and face-planted into a doll bed. Her face was a little beat up but she didn't seem to mind after the fact. Until she looked in the mirror.

coloring at Nana's house on Saturday (click to enlarge to see Friday's damage)

Brady, Welker and Belichick

2012-01-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

AKA: Faith, Jackson and Jill

Sunday afternoon we drove over to Mandy's house in Raynham to watch the Patriots vs. the Ravens.

Jill and Faith in the downstairs playroom

Faith and Jackson were so good with Jill. They played really well together and had so much fun!

The game was stressful but you wouldn't know it by looking at Faith. Just chillin', and then there's my kid with no socks ... she totally stole Jackson's seat when he stood up to get some chips! Sneaky kid!

TOUCHDOWN!

On to the Super Bowl!!

She Swims Like a Fish

2012-01-21T19:07:00.000-05:00

We left the house for awhile Saturday afternoon to let the bedroom paint dry. We've wanted to take Jill to Family Swim for a month or so and we finally timed it right! She dunked her head underwater and kicked like a champ!

And then she was exhausted!

Home Improvements

2012-01-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

more specifically bedroom improvements, like getting rid of the huge armoire and replacing with this open shelving set-up

On Saturday, Jill helped scrape and wash walls. She also soaked the floor.

It snowed all day. Inside, we painted the bedroom. The facing wall will be this bright blue as well and the longer side walls will be an off-white, more specifically "On the Rocks." I love paint names, and I love this design idea I stole from Pinterest.

Culinary Conquests

2012-01-20T19:02:00.000-05:00

creamy carrot soup during the week (recipe from Hungry Girl)

CREAMY CARROT SOUP

You will need:
4 cups chopped carrots
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium potato (about 7 oz.), peeled and cubed
2 cups fat-free chicken broth
1/4 tsp. salt, or more to taste
1/4 tsp. black pepper, or more to taste (I like less, much less.)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup Unsweetened Original Almond Breeze

Directions:
Bring a large nonstick pot to medium-high heat on the stove. Add carrots, onion, and potato. Cook and stir until tender, about 10 minutes.

Add broth and seasonings and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until veggies are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Carefully transfer contents of the pot to a blender. Add Almond Breeze and puree until smooth. (Or if you're like me and can't find all of your blender parts, you can use other mixing aids like a Bullet and blend in shifts!)

If needed, return soup to the pot and bring to desired temperature on the stove.

PER SERVING (1/4th of recipe, about 1 1/4 cups): 125 calories, 1.25g fat, 582mg sodium, 26.5g carbs, 5.5g fiber, 8g sugars, 4g protein -- PointsPlus® value 3*. Makes 4 servings.

Friday night pizza special

Socks and Tights

2012-01-20T12:37:00.000-05:00

How do you convince a 2-year-old that you don't need to wear socks with tights? It's a strange concept, isn't it? Like wait a minute, you've been teaching me to put my socks on first for months and now I don't have to wear them??

Lice Alert

2012-01-19T14:56:00.001-05:00

I opened up my hotmail inbox to find a lice alert letter from day care. I'm completely grossed out.

Jill runs away from me when I'm trying to brush her hair, nevermind pick lice out, so I really hope one of those buggers didn't make the leap over to her cute little head.

I will be busy doing laundry tonight and running every piece of fabric from her cubby through the wash on HOT.

EWWWW my skin is crawling!

Puddle Splasher

2012-01-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the real story isn't written on day care's daily report. OK, so Jill ate "some" of her lunch yesterday. She napped 12-1 and pooped 3 times. She did the 3 minute egg dance (whatever that is) and "used a lot of words." But the funny part about Jill's day was that she spent most of it barefoot. As told by Miss Paige, Jill found every single puddle during their walk. Her shoes and socks were hung to dry and she seemed very pleased with that result!

A Belichick Enforcer

2012-01-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

This is what Jilly Bean wore to school today:

She'll be wearing it again tomorrow night, just like her buddy, Cadence!

Goodnight Jill

2012-01-12T21:08:00.003-05:00

Goodnight to the old lady who was whispering "hush."

Barbie Battles Cancer: Helping Children Cope

2012-01-12T16:43:00.002-05:00

A bald Barbie? Why not? What a great idea to help children with cancer.

Read article here.

Although ... I have to be honest with you. A slightly sarcastic thought came to mind as I read the title. It dates back to my Barbie-loving days when my younger brother decided to cut all of their hair off. (He also chopped off several limbs and boobs, but that's a whole other issue.)

But that's besides the point. Have a read and let me know what you think! Comment below.

A Well-Behaved Surprise

2012-01-12T13:55:00.001-05:00

A funeral home is a strange place for a 2-year-old. But this modified mansion was different. It had a bathroom/sitting area upstairs with a thick mustard-colored rug. It was perfect for kids and their coloring books and older kids with their Mythology flashcards. So that's where we spent the majority of our time last night at Justine's sister's wake. I paid my respects and cried when Justine and I hugged. Tony brought Jill in to meet Justine. Her face, as well as her Mom's, lit up when they saw Jilly for the first time. It was comforting in such a sad situation. Upstairs, Jill was shy at first but warmed up to the other kids and Julie, Justine's wife, quickly. She didn't talk very much but when she did everyone listened. Isn't it funny how all the adults in a room can fixate on one baby or toddler? They fascinate us!

From there we went to the 99 in Milford for dinner. I'll admit I was nervous. Our last restaurant outing was a disaster. Jill wanted nothing to do with her seat, food or crayons. So when we pulled into the parking lot, Tony and I were on the same wavelength: tell our server we may need to-go containers, and fast!

But Jilly surprised us both. She was so well-behaved. She ordered pasta and thanked our server Lizza. She flashed smiles at neighboring couples, two of which commented on how pretty she was. She devoured her plate of rigatoni that looked like it was portioned for a 5- or 6-year-old. She danced to music in the outdoor waiting area as we walked back to the truck. She was holding Tony's hand and he looked slightly embarrassed. ha!

And then yes, we were those parents we always comment about. Jill was fussy on the way home. She'd had a full day at school and then we stuffed her in the car seat for an hour and 15 minutes. Of course she was pissed. I would be too. So Tony logged into Netflix on his phone and passed it to Jill. Toy Story 3 and not another peep.

Tell Me What You Want

2012-01-11T13:57:00.003-05:00

It seems that all of the sudden Jill is putting her jacket on by herself, singing (sort of) her ABCs and counting to 10 (most of the time). She tells me what she wants and quite clearly tells me what she doesn't want. She knows parts of her favorite books by heart. She says some of the key words just before or as I say them. She tells Tony, Rachael and me that she loves us.

Yesterday at drop off - as told by Tony - Jill was a showboat. They arrived a little bit late so other kids were playing and running around the room. Instead of joining them, Jill quickly and quietly pulled out a chair and sat to eat her bowl of green grapes, looking quite pleased with herself all the while.

First Snow

2012-01-10T09:59:00.001-05:00

Rachael was thrilled this morning and Jill just looked ... well ... confused. She stood at the front door in awe for several minutes before heading to the truck. I think she's going to have a lot of fun this winter when she figures it all out! Jill & Tony - shoveling buddies!

An Abnormal Weekend

2012-01-09T21:18:00.002-05:00

Some pictures from the weekend:

new towel from Nana

Tony and I had were invited to the Bruins/Canucks Saturday afternoon "rematch."

We met Heidi and Kyle at Hurricane's before the game. The drinking continued at the Garden. It was too convenient. Our section had a server!

As you can see, I was excited about this.
Also very happy about our club section seats!

We had a center ice view of the fights, and there were plenty.

We had a view of the attractive Senator Scott Brown.

The game was such a cool experience, we almost didn't notice the Bruins lost 4-3.
Almost.

After the game, we headed to Clarke's where we met up with Brian Gallagher and Corey I-Don't-Know-His-Last-Name but he went to Westfield, Ethan, Jenna and Tim and Ali and Mark.

It was so much fun to see everyone! From there we headed to the Seaport, where Kyle lives. We checked out his apartment and roofdeck. The water views are amazing and it's the perfect spot to listen to a summertime concert at the Pavilion. On to Legal Test Kitchen for dinner.

Then to Whiskey Priest to meet up with Ela and Heidi's other friends. A familiar face - my cousin Hilary! It was very nice to run into her! Our night ended there where we decided to call it quits around 11:30. Out for 12 hours straight - not bad!

Meanwhile, my cutie pie had a sleepover at Granna's house. We brought her there Saturday morning and she had no problem saying bye to us. She knew she'd be spoiled by Granna for the day. They also visited Gi-Gi Furze in Dighton.

the studious one, looks just like Tony as a baby!

a ponytail. Can you stand it? She looked SO grown up!

Playful 'Sisters'

2012-01-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

Let your kid dress herself.

Give her stickers during playtime.

See what happens.

I Resolve

2012-01-03T09:09:00.005-05:00

Did you make New Year's resolutions? Did you already break them? Resolutions can be tough to keep. That's why they need to be realistic. I didn't sit down and intentionally make this list. Actually I didn't want a list of resolutions at all. But the more I thought about it during our morning commute, the more I realized I had already consciously started doing things a little bit differently this year.

1. To make my bed. Every day.

2. Reconnect with friends.

3. To help Jill continue to learn. To keep reading. To correct her pronunciation when she says “cah” and not “car.” We can at least attempt to raise a child without a horrendous Bahston accent.

4. To appreciate Tony. Every day. So what if he throws his dirty jeans inches from the hamper and can’t complete a home improvement project to save his life. He’s a wonderful husband, father and friend. Jill and I are very lucky.

5. This is gross but to wash my hands. Every time. You can judge but I know at least some of you don’t do a full soaping every single time you go to the bathroom.

6. To feel confident in a bathing suit. This has never been the case. Maybe when I was 10 before I got my period. I’m not going to worry about the scale anymore. Lose weight, put it back on, gain muscle, however it may work itself out. I’m going to add more lifting to my workouts and throw in some different types of cardio. Maybe even feel sexy in a bathing suit. Maybe.

7. To take my vacation time. All of it.

8. For God’s sake, it’s about time I learned how to manually operate my fancy shmancy camera.

9. I’m 31 and 32 is peaking around the corner. I should take a multi vitamin. Every day.

10. Ease up. It’s ok to leave the dishes for tomorrow and to skip the gym. It happens. Life happens.

Family, friends, fitnesss, career: what are aiming to accomplish this year? What's your focus for 2012? Post a comment to share!

Happy New Year, my friends!

Having Fun in 2012

2012-01-02T13:57:00.001-05:00

Play-Doh pancakes? Don't mind if I do!

Today is the New Year holiday. Everyone I know has the day off from work, except Tony. Jill and I drove back to Patriot Place this morning (we were there on Saturday) and met my Mom at Bass Pro Shop.

Jill was honestly not impressed in the beginning. I couldn't even get her to crack a smile at the fish tank. But then, when she saw my Mom her attitude completely changed. She couldn't stop smiling. She took my Mom by the hand to show her the turtles. She put bright yellow sunglasses on upside down, walked into the cave and tried to scare the bear. "Roarrrrrrrrrrrr!!" She ran in and out of tents and found the tree house for the first time. How had we missed this? She sat in all three chairs before settling on the middle one. My Mom and I were not allowed inside.

spaghettttttttiiiiii

In Comes a New Year

2012-01-01T13:45:00.003-05:00

New Years Day 2012

Visiting the Duvals is always a good time! The girls get along well and it's so much fun to watch them have fun!

Here they are a year ago.

New Years Day 2011

Feeney Visits

2011-12-31T13:42:00.000-05:00

Feeney is in town from Phoenix this week. We walked around Patriot Place Saturday morning before dropping him off at the Mansfield train station to head south.

Jill was reallllly excited to see the commuter rail train up close.

"Bye, Mike!"

Snip, Snip

2011-12-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

It's only fair to post my Parent of the Year moments after sharing Tony's in Broken Plastic = Broken Dreams. After the hectic yet fun weekend of family, friends and house guests, Jill decided to get up at 3:30 Monday. Too much excitement? I think so. She would not go back to her bed. We were too exhausted to make her. I caught myself pushing Jilly's hair out of her eyes. Constantly. The holiday and time off lasted through the day while Jill kept pulling elastics, barrettes and headbands off her head, sometimes violently. Fast forward a few alcoholic beverages later, and suddenly Mom had garnered the confidence to cut Jilly's hair. Just a few snips across the front. Not exactly the first haircut story I had in mind. Maybe we will count the "first" with an all-over snip, snip at the salon!

Some Christmas Excitement

2011-12-28T09:45:00.002-05:00

strawberry treats from Shelley, my talented co-worker. Which one would you eat first? I picked coconut!

cheering for the Patriots and blowing bubbles with Heidi on Christmas Eve afternoon. EVERYthing was sticky!

excited for guests Christmas Eve at my Mom's house - running and yelling to prove it!

Gram Furze and my cousin, Danny

Gram may be getting up there in age but she's not afraid to get right down on the floor and play with Jill.

opening gifts

Christmas Day in Quincy with the Musantes

a rein'beer' craft project, also Uncle Chris's gift - idea straight from pinterest

wearing her new bathing suit; she didn't want to take it off!

opening gifts with Nana

a wooden train set??!

a carriage for Big Baby? (let me tell you, she whips this stroller around the house!)

helping Nana

new outfit in 3T - a little baggy but not for long

the Musante ladies

Getting Into the Christmas Spirit

2011-12-21T22:01:00.004-05:00

Disclaimer: Our neighbor Stella gave this Santa top to Jill last year. She seems to like it! She picked it up this morning to wear on top of her jammies to her holiday party at school. (It was a combo pj/Christmas deal.)

I photoshopped a pimple off her cheek. You can judge; that's fine.

Jill came home with this frame wrapped in candy cane paper with a tag,
"To Mommy & Daddy"

So sweet!

The Reason Behind 'Terrible Two' Behavior

2011-12-20T08:38:00.003-05:00

I've mentioned in the past - at least I think I have - that I enjoy receiving weekly newsletters from Isis Parenting. I found a portion of this week's update to be very interesting, informative, even comforting. Take a look at the reason behind "terrible two" behavior:

Emotional growth and brain hemisphere

You may have heard of someone who was described as being "right-brained" or "left-brained" at one time or another. It's true that the different sides of the brain control different functions that make up the emotional and behavioral things we do. It's also true that in toddlers, the left and right brains grow at different rates at different times, almost in an alternating pattern. Since the right side of the brain controls a great deal of emotion and emotional growth, don't be surprised if your toddler is sometimes a model of good behavior and happiness and sometimes a "terrible two." As the sides of her brain alternate in their development, her behavior and emotions will follow.

¿Como Se Dice 'ABCs' en Español?

2011-12-20T08:24:00.000-05:00

The look on Jill's face this morning was priceless. She must've hit the English-Spanish switch because she looked very perplexed when her activity table started the ABC song in Spanish. It was the, "Hey! I thought I was getting the hang of this song. What the hell is this?" look.

Just before we left for school, Jill discovered a new magic game. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her pink fleece and waited for us to ask her where her hands went. Out flies her hands with a huge smile on her face. Repeat 12 times.

Nine Years and Counting

2011-12-19T21:08:00.001-05:00

Thirteen days from now we will welcome a new year. We'll enter 2012. Although our wedding anniversary isn't until June - another six months away - I'm thinking of it as a year-long event. It's 10 years. It's a big deal.

And while something tin is the traditional gift by year, I'm thinking of something warmer, sunnier, sandy-er. I'm thinking of a trip to somewhere tropical.

Now taking destination recommendations and donations. Will accept PayPal.

Daily Reports

2011-12-19T20:56:00.001-05:00

A collection of recent reports from day care.

Things I Did Well Today:

helping with younger friends
sponge painted
yoga (downdog, butterfly, cat pose)

Things I'm Still Working On:

keeping feet on floor
using my listening ears and gentle hands
throwing lunch on floor

Saturday Night at the Aquarium

2011-12-19T08:47:00.004-05:00

Reserved for the Genzyme Children's Holiday Party

Words and pictures can't begin to describe the fun we had Saturday night at the New England Aquarium. Jill wanted to stop at each window as we made our way up the ramp by the four-story ocean tank. She squealed, pointed and yelled, "MORE FISHIES!" She loved the penguins, the turtles, the fish, everything. She bravely touched a ray at the Shark & Ray Touch Tank. The look on her face reminded me of why I became a parent.

Watch a video of the touch tank here on YouTube. (We didn't see any of the larger sharks while we were there.)

The Lip

2011-12-19T08:45:00.002-05:00

Put that lip away or Santa's birds will come sit on it!

Yes, back in the day when there was no Elf on the Shelf, my Mom invented "Santa's birds." They looked in every window and somehow always showed up when my brother and I weren't getting along.

Two Year Check-Up

2011-12-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

Jill's two year check-up was last Thursday. Poor thing had to get a shot and have blood work. It was miserable! The stickers and pink bandage made it more bearable though, I would say. Jill also received extra hugs and attention from Miss Cindy at drop-off.

The stats: We are holding steady in the 94th percentile for height and 40th for weight. She hasn't gained much since the last visit; she's just stretching out!

Message from Santa to Jill

2011-12-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

Nana sent this video last week. It's personalized for Jill and obviously direct from Santa.

Mom's message to Jill: Santa visits good little girls and boys who go to bed before 8:30 pushing 9 p.m. Get your act together, kid!

Sleepovers and Ugly Sweater Parties

2011-12-12T20:52:00.001-05:00

Jill's first sleepover Saturday night at Uncle Scott & Aunt Jess's house. As you can see, she was happy to spend time with her cousin, Guy!

Jill: I'll help you with tummy time. See, it's not that bad!

soooooo ready to crawl!

My Mom's a Saint. She stayed at the house while Jess, Scott and I went to Tyla's Ugly Sweater Party. Sorry, Mom, your scrubs aren't really ugly!

Jess is crafty. She broke out the hot glue gun for these bad boys!

me & Ty

This is what I came home to. A sweet angel asleep on a "big girl" mattress.

Sunday morning: Everyone's still asleep. Let's color!

Visit With Gram

2011-12-12T20:46:00.002-05:00

opening her birthday present at Gram's house in Portsmouth on Saturday morning

No decadent muffin for you? How about vanilla ice cream at 10:30 in the morning? It's Gi-Gi C.'s house. Anything goes.

Rustle of Spring? Sure, no problem.

loving the piano

and the stuffed animal dog too; it's battery operated and breathes. a little creepy if you ask me!

everything in Gram's house was an adventure, or accident waiting to happen, for Jilly

Jill inherited Gram's musical genes, for sure! I wonder if she will speak French too...

The Polar Express

2011-12-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday night, dressed in her PJs and ready to head to the YMCA.

at the craft table making ornaments before the movie started

my artsy fartsy offspring finger painting last Monday during our day off together

Birthday Week

2011-12-09T15:55:00.001-05:00

It's your birthday week, Jill. An appropriate time to take a look back to the day you were born. Or the day after, I can't remember...it's all a blur.

So peaceful, so perfect

All of the sudden you were a year old.

And then (POOF!) you were two.

Wow, that was fast!

Every Toddler for Herself

2011-12-09T09:55:00.001-05:00

So this is how snacktime's going to roll.

Jill's daily horoscope: Effective allies can sometimes be difficult to find; so when dealing with matters of extreme importance, it might be best to rely on your own assets.

It's Good To Be Queen

2011-12-08T21:37:00.000-05:00

Or so says the bottle cap of my Magic Hat #9. Yes, I'm drinking a beer right now that I really don't need to consume. However, Jill's recent bedtime antics are driving me to drink. Not really, but it sure tastes delicious. Jill has been fighting bedtime like never before. She grabs for the wall outside her bedroom door and screams like she is witnessing a CSI scene. It's just your crib, for crying out loud. Now go to sleep!

It's a Toss Up

2011-12-08T09:04:00.002-05:00

I came across this picture on facebook last night and I really liked it. And so I share... Hope you enjoy it too!

"when faced with two choices, simply toss a coin. it works not because it settles the question for you, but because in that brief moment when the coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you are hoping for."

A Special Day

2011-12-08T08:57:00.005-05:00

Not that Jill lacks attention in her life, but the amount of attention this kid received on Tuesday was impressive. Cards, phone calls and nearly 60 comments and "likes" on facebook. Who knew this kid had so many fans? Thank you to everyone. You made her birthday a very special day!

She knew it, too. Jill interjected during the Happy Birthday song at dinner time to replace "Jill" with "me!" "Happy Birthday to," we sang, "me!" Jill yelled. Tony and I looked at each other, raised our eyebrows and laughed.

Jill's cupcake from school - Tony thought the candles looked like fingers.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sweetie

2011-12-06T09:08:00.001-05:00

Since it's your special day, I won't be mad at you for peeing on the couch this morning. Really. I hope you enjoy your munchkins at school and the sugar high that will subsequently follow. Run around like a maniac today, Jill. Make those teachers earn that tuition fee. Sleep hard at nap time. Wear your "I'm 2" shirt with pride and soak up all of that (extra) attention. Today is your day, cutie pie!

Of course you share it with Josh too - Happy Birthday, Pavao!

Calling Dadda

2011-12-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

This may remind you of Julian "Frankenstein" in Big Daddy but Jill picked her bathing suit top out of her drawer today and I let her wear it. Not in public. In December. She seemed to enjoy herself and even put in a call to Dadda.

The Enchanted Village

2011-12-05T20:58:00.003-05:00

What's this all about, Mom? BTW, I'm not staying in this seat for long.

Aunt Jess, Granna & Jill waiting in line. This place must be a zoo on the weekends!

Jill in her new birthday outfit from Aunt Kathleen. It garnered many compliments!

Scenes from inside the Village

déjà vu for my Mom who would take my brother and I to see the display at Jordan Marsh in Downtown Crossing years ago

Guy (7 mths), Jess & Jill (2 yrs)

sitting around the family room - the sets, antique clothing and animation were impressive!

twirling around in the snowfall - Jill's favorite part along with the music at the exit. She stopped there to dance, clap, yell and squeal.

Mom & Guy

Jill was very excited to see Guy stand.

Jess & Guy

The indoor Enchanted Village display at Jordan's in Avon is obviously a different set-up than years ago in Downtown Crossing. My Mom and brother both remember our visits to The Enchanted Village. I was apparently 5 the first year we went. Back in the day, my brother was a sensitive kid. My Mom would route us down specific streets to avoid the homeless folks sitting on heating grates. Scott would cry and beg my Mom to help them. A sharp difference from his views these days, ie. "get a job."

Anyways, today was a vacation day. It was meant as an early birthday celebration with Jill. We met my Mom, Jess and Guy at Jordan's Furniture in Avon to check out the holiday display. Jill's favorite part was definitely the fake snow falling from ceiling. She actually looked angry each time the snow stopped. Our trip to The Enchanted Village was certainly the highlight of the day as Jill skipped her nap and fought bedtime until 8:15. I don't know where she gets all of her energy from!

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

I'd love to say we four-wheeled deep into the woods or trekked through a field in snowshoes to cut our Christmas tree today but the truth is we picked one out while we were at Lowe's on the way to the boatyard. Nothing fancy. Tony covered the boat this afternoon while Jill and I chased each other in circles around our boat on the neighbor's, sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and stomped on mussel shells. She looked thoroughly confused when Tony carried the tree into the house but she was very pleased when she woke up from her nap and we plugged the white lights in together. Not too interested in hanging ornaments though, maybe next year!

watching Dad prep the sailboat

my Martha Stewart crafty try at a nautical wreath

our tree - tall and thin, just like Tony and Jill

goofing around

Two Things

2011-12-02T13:10:00.008-05:00

A faithful reader sent me the link to an interesting article about Multitasking Moms yesterday. Funny and ironic indeed since it was the topic of discussion in our house last night. The balancing act of two fulltime working parents and how it sometimes, well doesn't work.

It was midway through the week and the toilet paper and whole milk were running dangerously low. Two things you do not want to run out of in the Musante household. How can we be down to one extra roll? I tortured myself over the lack of preparation. Bad Mommy!

Busy work schedules for both of us on Tuesday and Wednesday translated into a lack of gym time for me. In comes Bitch Mom. Sorry, but I need to get my run in. Casually I suggested to my dear husband last night that a few times a week he could bathe Jill while I got in some elliptical time. What's he doing during tubby time, you ask? Watching TV. It's his equivalent to my destressing time on the elliptical. No, I'm serious. He actually said this.

And so today I decided that irregular lunchtime runs weren't going to cut it anymore. I'm signing the family up at the Y and getting my butt out of bed a little bit earlier (it's dark anyway so what's the difference?) to get to the gym for its 5 a.m. opening. And that's that.

Four paragraphs later, item #2.

I frequent bebehblog attack of the ginger babies. It's a witty and funny blog that led me to Baby Rabies. No surprise here, I was intrigued by the abnormal-almost-disturbing title and selected it from Suzanne's Blogroll list. This is what I found:

Elf on a Bender from the Baby Rabies blog

5 Highly Inappropriate & Traumatizing Elf On The Shelf Ideas

Tell me this isn't the funniest thing you've seen all week. I was laughing out loud and I'm not the type to lol solo. For years I actually believed that "Santa's birds" were watching my brother and I through the windows. They flew back to the North Pole and reported to Santa whether we were being good or beating the crap out of each other. And then comes the Elf on the Shelf. What a marketing scam! I think I'll buy one this weekend. Hmmmm places the elf can spy from: sitting on the lid of the potty, clinging for dear life from the recycle bin. We - meaning Tony and I - could have a lot of fun with this before Jill is old enough to actually appreciate that creepy elf!

An added note: "Two Things" is blog post #300 so thanks for still reading!

Let Me Show You Around

2011-11-30T21:50:00.000-05:00

The report from school today: Jill has taken the "new girl" under her wing. The toddler/baby blonde cutie is transitioning into the toddler room and apparently Jill's been showing her around. She's a natural tour guide! haha

Super Mom

2011-11-30T21:44:00.003-05:00

This isn't Facebook; it's a personal blog, Jill's blog but obviously mine as well. Since I try to keep the "Mombook" at a minimum, I'll go ahead and brag right here.

I called Tony from a work dinner at Mamma Maria's last night and could hear Jill in the background. She apparently didn't have any pants on and hadn't in hours. Propped on top of the kitchen counter, she was shoving leftover pasta into her mouth. I could picture it. Dinner ran late and I stopped at the recently-back-from-Toronto Mark and Ali's apartment around the corner and didn't get home until close to 10. The porch light was on but I wished the rest of the house had been dark. What a mess that kid can make! Books, hair clips, combs, shoes, a juice cup, a random pink plastic spoon. You name it and it was on the floor. Dirty dishes, dirty laundry. Nothing had been done. It was Dad's night! Now don't get me wrong; Tony is an amazing husband and father. He just can't do household stuff some nights while hanging solo with Jill. In his defense, the alarm was set for 3:30 for an early departure to New York.

In contrast, Jill helped stack her books tonight. We ate dinner (with veggies) at the table. Two loads of laundry were cleaned as were a load of dishes. And Jill's lunch is ready to go for the morning. Supppppper Mommmm!

However .... said Super Mom has fallen into a bad habit. I'm so happy when Jill says "please" and "thank you" now that I've been giving her whatever she wants! Tony is much better at the discipline than I am. Something to work on!

All the Flannel and Fly Fishing You Can Handle

2011-11-30T21:24:00.002-05:00

The parking lot at Bass Pro Shop was packed Sunday morning when we pulled in at 9:59, one minute before the 10 a.m. opening. We were on our way home from my Mom's when we decided to stop to check out the wall size fish tank, trout pond and wide variety of stuffed dead animals. And a lot of plain flannel. No picture with Santa though. No background check, no seat on big man's lap. Sorry, Dad's rules!

Repeat After Me

2011-11-27T05:59:00.001-05:00

'N O M O R E L A T E N A P S'

Jill crashed on my Mom's couch yesterday around 3 p.m., 2-3 hours later than usual. Two hours later, she woke up completely grumpy. The sky was dark and Jill was out of sorts. Her mood brightened after Tony and Rachael arrived but bedtime was pushed back a good hour. Then this morning came far too early. 4 a.m. Yes, you read that correctly. Jill came back to our bed but was clearly not going back to sleep after 40 minutes or so. We let Tony sleep and headed downstairs for some toast and a dry diaper. Do you know what's on TV before 5 on a Sunday? Cooking, travel, infomercials and one crappy cartoon. Now at 6 a.m., Jill just fell asleep on the couch. I already had coffee (why did I do that??) so I'll be catching up even more on some favorite blogs, the news and maybe some early Cyber Monday Christmas shopping!

A White Thanksgiving in VT

2011-11-26T20:58:00.001-05:00

More details and Turkey Trot pictures to come - Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Have You Lost Your Marbles?!

2011-11-26T20:55:00.000-05:00

Granna, have you lost your marbles?

Maybe it's because I threw them all over the floor.

Turquiose, light blue and clear - they were so much fun to play with!

Look at me! I made the marbles disappear!

Big smiles before I made the glass vase disappear too. My parents were both coming toward me but they were too late .... SMASH!

Cousins

2011-11-26T17:14:00.000-05:00

We visited Aunt Jess and baby Guy Saturday morning. He has grown SO much!

Jill played with ALL of his toys, walkers, jumpers, etc.

time for a walk

7 months

picnic!

Old McDonald

2011-11-26T16:52:00.001-05:00

Jill wanted to get into her crib to sing and dance while I put away her laundry one day last week.

EE-I-EE-I-O

OOOO

Smiles on the Homefront and an 'Only in Massachusetts' Road Sign

2011-11-26T16:47:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted in awhile so it's time to play a little catch up. Many pics to come! Here are some from last week:

Mom and her favorite little girl

I love this pic. I want to pinch those cheeks!

Tuesday on the way home from work - an actual road sign in Boston

Jill and her "Chella," that's what she's been calling the dog lately

Customer Appreciation Day / Animal Shelter Fundraiser event was held last Saturday at Ventura Grain in Taunton. Jill really enjoyed watching the "store" bunnies, checking out the kitties looking for new homes, petting Franklin, and of course visiting Jess and Becky.

Mel and Cole met us at Ventura Grain and we bravely went to lunch at Chili's.

Jill had a lot of fun and was completely exhausted for the ride home!

Jill and I went to the YMCA on Sunday for a trial run in the playroom. She enjoyed herself for about 20 minutes and then cried for the next 20. :( Hopefully she will get used to this new addition to our routine once we start going more often. Our membership starts next week!

It's Been a Crazy Day and It's Only 8:30 a.m.

2011-11-16T08:57:00.002-05:00

Look at that smile! And the hair reminds me of my Dad when he needed a haircut to trim his "wings."

Jill on the way to school this morning

What a commute after drop-off and on the way into the city

A car fire closed the Expressway. We almost snuck by before the fire trucks arrived.
Traffic was backed up for miles but it wasn't so bad for us.
Extra time talking in the truck was like a mid-week date!

Squashing the Winter Blues

2011-11-15T09:25:00.005-05:00

No New Englander in their right mind looks forward to winter. Unless they're big into skiing or snowmobiling. My paternal grandfather fought in WWII on skiis in the 10th Mountain Division. My Dad was born snapped into bindings. Me? I can figure skate. I don't ski. I look forward to making it down the beginner slope to warm up in the lodge by the fireplace.

So why do we live here? Why suffer through the winter months when we could move somewhere warmer? It’s an annual topic of discussion in our house.

Most people have goals to work toward. Come November, we look forward to activities and special events. We work toward them in a sense. After apple picking comes:

a trip to The Enchanted Village with Jill and my Mom (this will be a vacation day because there is no way we are going on a Saturday or Sunday)
visits with the Musantes, Cannings and extended families and friends
the Turkey Trot 5K with Andrea and Kathleen before stuffing our bellies with delicious Thanksgiving food
Jill's 2nd birthday!
the Genzyme Children’s Christmas Party at the New England Aquarium
Christmas cookie baking at Gram Furze's
and of course, watching Jill open her Christmas gifts

Forget about the seasonal depression - It's going to be a fun winter!

Some recent pics:

Dr. Paulmann and the Westfield Communication Club visit Genzyme on Veteran's Day

sitting on the kitchen counter makes everything better

so do Mom's heels

A Fun Weekend Filled with Family and Crafts

2011-11-07T11:52:00.001-05:00

I love Vermont, especially Nana's sunroom

and the rocking chair from Nona

and the soft carpet and loads of toys, blocks and Legos!

Saturday was filled with arts and crafts. It started with painting with my Nana.

We played with Play-doh. Auntie Kathleen made a pizza!

and colorful pipe cleaners too!

Apparently I looked like my Dad when he was little. He wore big glasses.

Time for some fresh (and chillllly!) air on the neighbors' playground - the slide was fassst!

winding down with "The Little Engine That Could"

Sunday morning I helped move furniture. I jumped on the mattress! Man, it was fun!

I colored with Auntie Kathleen's markers from when she was little.

Yup, that's me. "J - I - L - L"

Jasper, Lucy and Webster are all warming up to me.

Happy Birthday to my Nana!

Papa pushed me around the house with the moving gear.

I couldn't get enough!

Jump, dance, twirl and yell - making sure the bed frame was sturdy and ready to go!

More Pudding, Please!

2011-11-06T21:04:00.002-05:00

Jill is 23 months old today.

That means she'll be 2 soon .... when did that happen?

As you can see, she is a big fan of chocolate pudding. Is there any left in there??

maybe if I go at it with my hands

one last lick!

"all done"

next up: vanilla pudding aka French Vanilla yogurt.
hehe evil parents wanting their kid to eat healthy!

The Clingy Phase Struggle

2011-11-04T11:10:00.001-04:00

OK, this may be insensitive but isn’t it comforting to hear that other parents struggle too sometimes? It makes you feel like you’re not alone, or not an awful and clueless parent. Sometimes the stories make friends laugh, even if the incident “strangled your nerves” (inside joke with my Mom and Scott) or made you want to strangle your kid.

Jill’s been tough this week. Clingy, whiney and avoiding bedtime at all costs. All of the sudden bedtime is pushing 9pm. Hey, that’s my bedtime! We can’t wait for the time change this weekend to adjust her sleeping schedule by an hour. Cannot wait.

Jill’s clinginess translates into PICK ME UP, HOLD ME, RUB MY BACK, LOVE ME! I was relieved this week to hear that I wasn’t the only Mom who has hugged her toddler while sitting on the toilet. Nobody wants to listen to a crying kid while they’re going to the bathroom! That’s all for now.

Toddlers' Drug of Choice

2011-11-03T09:49:00.000-04:00

We could hear the screaming from a room away. "That's our kid," I said to Tony at yesterday's pick-up. Jill had stuck her fingers inside the door while one of the teachers was closing it. She was very upset - as was the teacher - and the other kids reacted.

So what got them to quiet down and all sit around the table almost immediately? APPLE JUICE in a small Sesame Street-themed box picturing Big Bird. "It's like liquid crack," Tony whispered.

My Fairy Princess

2011-10-31T09:51:00.048-04:00

I'd waited a few months to get an appointment. The day had come: Halloween. Matt and Laurel's wedding anniversary. Alyson from work's birthday. My dig-the-cyst-out-of-my-back D day. Appointment at 12:50 and they asked me to arrive 30 minutes early. There was an emergency the surgeon must attend to after my appointment. I hoped he would take his time with my delicate back. The topical lidocaine with epinephrine ("epi" as my Mom and other medical types abbreviate) injections were no joke. I've made it through child birth and I still thought this hurt like an S.O.B.

Next step: Pop out the cyst, right? Wrong. It was much bigger than expected. He dug. It ruptured. I took pictures with my phone. I'm still debating whether to post them. One made my sister-in-law gag. So the procedure was more painful than I expected and I was in much rougher shape that afternoon and evening, Halloween of course.

Jill had slept in until 8:15 (she has NEVER slept that late for us) for my Mom Monday morning so her nap came an hour or so later than usual. I tried the Super Mom act to bring her into day care for the costume parade and party but her nap timing screwed everything up. Oh well, I thought. My Mom and I sat and had coffee and talked about how awful my procedure felt. We went to school later that afternoon but had missed all signs of any partying.

Tyden, the Michigan football player, stole Jill's wand almost immediately.

I don't think she noticed right away.

a belly laugh!

still a little out of it from the late nap

a pic with Mom in the hallway on our way home

to rest up, eat dinner and get dressed again!

not impressed

first stop was across the street at the Lyons'

second stop was Stella's

third stop was Mary Lou and Kenny's and fourth stop was the Boussy's

Jill and 4-month-old Lexi (Tom's granddaughter)

We made one more stop, met Dad walking around the corner and called it quits!

Jill has never tried candy (maybe she has at school?) but she grabbed for a Snickers as soon as we were in the house. A Mounds mini bar for me and a ..... a strawberry cereal bar for Jill?? Tony pretended he had a bigger and better candy bar in the kitchen and he came back with a breakfast bar. She ate it like it was coated in chocolate and rolled in coconut! Good thinking, Tony!

The Storm's Aftermath

2011-10-30T13:09:00.001-04:00

Parts of Massachusetts were hit hard last weekend with snow, rain and wind. Power remains out and tree limbs are still being cleaned up in many areas. Thankfully, in Quincy we only had rain and wind, which made for an exciting trip to .... Hull!

Jill is like Rachael. They both seem to enjoy the colder weather.

Yes, the owl hat still fits...

intense waves for Nantasket Beach

warming up in the truck

Books and Finger Paints

2011-10-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

Take a look at that goofy smile. It's contagious! You can't help but smile back.

Today's weather was awful. Tonight is much worse. But we got out early to get some errands done and had time for a stop at the playground. Jill seemed to be very interested in books today, even more so than usual. Hey, it's a good cold weather day activity.

As is painting...

To the other parents out there: Isn't it funny how clutter can be put away; the house can be clean; and it takes about 45 seconds for your toddler to destroy the place?

We had a lot of fun today. I'm glad Jill was in such a good mood. It made the best out of the mostly-indoor day!

Arts & Crafts

2011-10-28T13:33:00.003-04:00

An early pick-up from day care crossed my mind. The sun is shining. We could hit up the playground. Yes, it's cold but at least it's not raining and/or snowing like predicted for the weekend.

I contemplated a pick-up around 4:30, early but not too early, and then I threw that idea out the window. Jill doesn't want to leave school early. If I arrive before 5, I should plan on playing or reading the oversized There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Thursday afternoon's early pick-up was fun so I decided to arrive around 4:30. We didn't leave until after 5.

Some other pictures from this week:

Jill painted after school on Wednesday.

Her favorite word lately, "NO!" She did not want to wear a shirt to school on Friday, the coldest day yet.

Miss Cindy took this picture of Jill painting her pumpkin from Aunt Andrea on Thursday. Miss Cindy, Kathleen, Paige and Mary all laughed at how serious and meticulous Jill was with her painting.

Other favorites from the past week or so include Toy Story 3 (Thomas the Train has fallen into second), her Cat in the Hat book from Kristen and Joe and her Train to Timbuctoo classic from Nana.

How Easily I Forget

2011-10-28T11:11:00.001-04:00

How could I forget about these pictures on my phone? A couple weekends ago Tony had a work event Saturday morning and Jill and I were on a mission to get the Mom mobile inspected. The sticker was already late (Tony informed me it's a 3 pt violation on insurance even though his sticker is always at least 2 mths late). So Jill and I dropped off the car and continued on a walk down the street to Hannaford's.

It wasn't particularly sunny that morning but whatever, she likes to wear her sunglasses some days! When we got to the store, I let Jill climb into the car cart. You know the ones I'm talking about. Tony says they're gross and germ-infested but really, can it be much worse than day care??

Yes, the glasses stayed on. And surprisingly, Jill stayed in the cart. She seemed to really enjoy making some tight turns and driving around the older early Saturday morning crowd.

Carving Pumpkins and Harrassing the Seals

2011-10-26T20:46:00.001-04:00

I realize it's Wednesday and I'm just now posting pics from the weekend but you have to picture our life this week. Jill's been fighting some kind of illness. She's been a complete grump and a beast to get to bed. And by the time she's asleep, we're either on our way too, glued to the couch to watch an episode of Mad Men or reading in bed. It's been that kind of week.

The weekend was much nicer as we welcomed two special guests: Nana and Auntie Andrea, pizza pie maker extraordinaire and pumpkin farmer!

we carved pumpkins and baked salted pumpkin seeds, yum!

Jill got a hold of Nana's camera

admiring her perfect little pumpkin from Auntie Andrea's garden

a pizza making pro, no joke

Nana spent the night and we headed into the city Sunday morning. Here's Tony and Jill walking through the Holocaust Memorial. Jill was very interested in the homeless man wrapped in a blanket on the way to Quincy Market. I think she wanted to peak under and play peek-a-boo!

Quincy Market with Nana

checking out the seals outside the aquarium - easily the highlight of our day!

Jill LOVED the seals!

She laughed out loud when they floated by.

She dropped to the ground to get a better view.

yelling in excitement!!

Where did the seal go?!

We checked out the playground at Columbus Park in the North End. It was a fun time until I wacked my head on a metal bar and Jill slipped and split her lip. I'm not lying. We were both in tears and blood was dripping from Jill's mouth. It was a mess!

Later Sunday afternoon Jill tried on her Halloween costume. I'll keep that a surprise for Monday night's post! It's almost time to trick-or-treat!

Tweet, Tweet!

2011-10-21T20:49:00.005-04:00

Status updates from 5am-5pm. A tweet here and a tweet there but no worrying about the 140 character count.

4:59am Man, it’s early. I really need to get my ass out of bed and get on the elliptical.

5:30am There, that feels better. I love getting a little sweaty in the morning.

6:15am Wow, Jill’s still sleeping. Must need her rest to fight that nasty cough she had last night.

7:40am Am I really just getting out the door? Jill was difficult this morning. Had no interest in getting a diaper change, brushing her teeth, washing her face or getting dressed for school.

8am Very successful drop-off. Lots of kids were already there (usually we’re early and there’s maybe one other kid sitting at the table enjoying some Cheerios of Kix). Jill ran over to Miss Megan and asked for the bubble lawn mower. Peace, Mom!

8:15am Arrive at boat yard. Is that man on the dock really drinking a beer??

8:30am Successful pulling the boat out for the season. Tony sailed into the boat yard, manueured around several boats and helped as our sailboat was loaded onto a trailer to be stored for the winter. I’m jealous: He saw a seal while he was out sailing! Wish I was with him!

9:20am On the way to work and the Neposet Bridge is closed to one lane. ONE lane. God this is annoying. Still heavy on the Expressway. Sometimes rush hour seems like every hour!

10am Arrive at work and I’m not sure which floor to take the elevator to… 5 or 6? The morning consisted of my move to 6 to be near my new team. Also been responding to Congrats emails on my new position (announcement went out yesterday afternoon). Very nice to get such thoughtful notes!

11:49am Starving!

11:52am So excited that the microwave on my new floor has a seconds function!

12:08pm work or unpack?

12:20pm hot chocolate after lunch – it’s become an addiction

1:00pm enter meeting with Sanofi digital guru from Paris office and his very French agency counterparts

1:15pm try chocolate from Paris: a light pink chocolate shaped like a Pringle sprinkled with strawberry Nerds and vanilla jimmies. That’s what it looked like; it tasted like heaven.

1:21pm These French folk are difficult to understand. I wonder if they think the same about me. Does the Boston accent make it worse?

2:26pm Looking forward to tomorrow. Nana and Auntie Andrea are visiting and the weather’s supposed to be quite nice and fall-like.

2:27pm Can I leave work yet? Can’t wait to pick Jill up from day care!

2:59pm Email from Heidi: what are your plans for the weekend? That’s a good question…

3:07pm Need to check Facebook. Neeeeeed to…

3:28pm thankful the chocolate chip cookies from our earlier meeting were gone when I walked by the conference room for that exact purpose, to grab a cookie. Eating red grapes at my desk.

3:38pm Really can’t wait to pick up Jill!

3:58pm cleaning out my new cube … filed papers from Q2 07 – recycle bin!

4:14pm invoices from Q3 05 – bye, bye!

4:21pm ready to head home and enjoy the evening with Tony, Jill and Rachael. Shutting down!

4:48pm Love the carpool lane! On our way to get muffinhead.

*READY FOR THE WEEKEND*

A Multi-Purpose Wax

2011-10-18T20:29:00.003-04:00

Nurses give away the Lansinoh brand of Lanolin to new nursing Moms at Brigham & Women's. They're well aware of the possible aches and pains ahead. Lanolin, aka wool wax, is used to soothe sore nipples. No delicate way around it. Today I discovered another use: to heal messy, chapped lips. Per my Mom Janet, I bought a cube at CVS this afternoon. I forgot how goey it is! If you ever decide to use this trick, it only takes a very very small amount. Gross but it seems like it's working!

Mr. Mom

2011-10-18T16:20:00.002-04:00

Monday starred Tony as Mr. Mom. When asked what he’s going to do when Jill poops, Tony replies that my Mom’s pressure washer is still at the house. Oh man. Should I stay home, I ponder. No, Tony can handle this one. Besides it’s the first day of my new job and I really should be in the office, at least for most of the day.

As I discovered Sunday evening, Tony is not a big fan of the playground, abbreviated “pg” when discussed in front of Jill (like “w” stands for walk in front of Rachael). I’m sure it’s because a play session typically lasts an hour and involves interaction with other parents and even worse, their kids. He’d rather drop me off and take Jill to his work for a couple hours. From what I gathered, she was fairly well-behaved and somewhat quiet. Jill’s morning consisted of drawing on sales brochures and accounting paperwork, decorating Jenn’s desk with sticky notes and rearranging magnets on someone’s whiteboard. Less acrobatic than the “pg” but still stimulating and a lot of fun!

Despite Tony’s best efforts to engage Jill and feed crackers to her in the backseat, she crashed and slept in her carseat like she did on Saturday and Sunday. Shorter naps earlier in the day then no real nap. No nap on the weekend = mess of a house and mess of a Jill come 5 p.m. Thankfully Jill was more cheerful and less grumpy on Monday. I could hear her in the background each time Tony and I talked. She chatted away, laughed and climbed on Tony’s back. Tony laughed too. He might have actually enjoyed himself on Monday, although I don’t expect him to volunteer again next week. My Mom is visiting her sister in California so we are sharing the Jill Monday coverage responsibilities for two weeks.

In the darkness of the early morning hours, Monday began with a test run to the local YMCA. My sales pitch to Tony on the family membership (it’s expensive) was that we needed activities to do with Jill throughout the winter months. The playground in February won’t work. Family swim works. So we toured the facility this weekend and LOVED it! Free babysitting while you workout! Are you kidding me? Why are we just discovering this now? Jill walked into the playroom and didn’t look back. We finished the tour sans Jill but I’m sure she would have been equally as impressed by the pool area. There are two pools with a ton of options for family swim, lap swim, lessons, swim team, you name it. Monday morning wasn’t as exciting for me, just 20 minutes running intervals on the treadmill. Five minutes to drive there, five minutes home and I was showered before Jill even woke up. I could do this more often. In fact, I think I will!

TUESDAY: Eggs, anyone? As the usual breakfast chef, I realized how empty the cereal and bread shelves were. Oh man, no English muffins either. What are Jill and Tony going to eat? The last few mornings I’d made a bigger batch of steel cut oats (dipping into the pantry now) and drizzled honey on top. Jill shoveled it down. This morning we scrambled eggs. With Jill’s track record of Tony-like food preferences, it was sure to be a hit. NOPE, not at all! She took one whiff and turned her nose up with a disgusted look on her face. This got a good laugh out of Tony. Waffles it is!

Tuesday’s commute included a drive by Occupy Boston, the local version of Occupy Wall Street, set up across the street from South Station. Some in our household perhaps refer to it as “Camp Entitlement.” I was honestly impressed by the number of tents and the area the demonstration covered. My friend Jocelyn follows bebehblog and sends me links every now and then. This writer and stay at home Mom is a riot! She addressed the OWS movement in today’s post called What’s In a Choice? It discusses the choices Moms may or may not have to either work or stay home to raise their children. This shouldn’t be the case, but it all comes down to money, doesn’t it? Money for your mortgage, health insurance, food, child care and bills. So going strictly by the numbers, you could stay home if you made more than your child care costs, right? Yes and no. Work provides an adult environment. Day care offers hours filled with interaction with other children for your toddler. Work provides health insurance, something not all spouses can get, at least at a reasonable price. Suzanne presents this thought in her post: What would you do if you won the lottery? Would you stay home?

Sunday in Webster

2011-10-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

Tim plays with Cadence & Jill

Jill really enjoys playing with Cadence's fun toys!

Tim rests 2.5-week-old Addison on Cadence and Jill

Jill: What are we supposed to do with her??

Cadence: Dad?

Stomping on every last bubble

Nothing is getting past these two

face plant

bubbles are so much fun!

Hey Jill, this isn't football!

School Pictures

2011-10-12T08:59:00.000-04:00

I can't even stand it. She is a ham in front of the camera!

Here are the proofs we got back from day care yesterday. I love them, even with the cheesy fall background! (These are pictures of the proofs so they are a little discolored, etc.)

Columbus Day Weekend

2011-10-10T20:49:00.000-04:00

feeding the meter in Newport after a nice lunch on the water - Jill played with "Margo" and lunch was a success!

walking to see the Barbozas

I'll take it from here! (notice how red Jill's face was from playing during lunch)

sizing up 2-mth-old Cole

hugs for Brian

peek-a-boo for Granna

chillin' with Mom

Jill likes to mimic when I put my glasses on top of my head.

...and then we switched

Monday was a day off for me, but not Tony. We went to the playground in the morning (more on this to come, probably Tuesday night so check back!) and the beach in the afternoon. It was sunny, warm and such a treat for October!

Rachael came to the beach too. We even let her off the leash so she could sprint across the beach. She came right back to us, surprisingly.

This water's not cold, not cold at all!

What a weekend!

22 Months

2011-10-06T20:56:00.003-04:00

Happy 22-month birthday to my baby Jill. I'm sorry I put you in the tub with your diaper on tonight. Your face was priceless like, "ummm Mom, what the heck??" It's been a long week at both of our jobs (good & bad) and we're looking forward to the holiday weekend and the unseasonably warm weather.

new mittens from Nana

Today was Literacy/pajama day at school. Llama Llama Red Pajama was read in schools across the country. Jill didn't like it, according to Miss Kathleen. What she did like was playing in the yard when we got home!

A Lazy Saturday Afternoon

2011-10-03T20:30:00.000-04:00

Showing off for Nana on Saturday. Jill loved her new zebra pajamas!

October is Here!

2011-10-02T22:23:00.000-04:00

My Mom put my hair in pigtails this weekend.

I kept them in long enough for Nana (my special weekend visitor) to take a few pictures. Then I ripped them out!

We spent Saturday in the car but it was o.k. because it was all of us: my Nana, Dad and Mom. Down to Falmouth we went to pick up my Dad's suit jacket. He forgot it there last weekend at Mark & Ali's wedding. My Mom and Dad had a really good time and came home with the wrong jacket. My Dad's jacket is now missing a button. I got hungry and cranky on the way back so my Dad pulled into the 99 in Plymouth. My parents ordered me a grilled cheese but I ate Nana's shrimp instead. I made Nana laugh on the way home when I pointed out the truck on the highway. "FRUCK!," I yelled. Nana laughed so hard she almost cried.

Sunday morning we went to the playground by Wollaston Beach.

My parents thought I would burn some energy.

I have A LOT of energy!

I am nonstop. I enjoyed walking along the beach with my Dad while Nana took my picture.

Nana took pictures all weekend. Thank goodness because my Mom didn't. I love my Nana!

I walked along the seawall with my Dad. Didn't catch the seagull but I tried!

We met my Mom and went back to the playground. I did a few stretching moves with her. She ran to the playground from the house. Crazy lady.

More energy ... back on the swing! so much fun!

Sunday afternoon I helped my Dad mow the lawn.

We raked leaves.

We hung out with Rachael.

Rachael is my best friend. I love her!

Early Riser

2011-09-29T15:31:00.002-04:00

The work day is coming to a close. The hustle, bustle and craziness of the last 8 hours is calming down and I’m ready to go out for drinks at Remy’s in the Seaport with Kristen, Jocelyn, Ali and Heidi. I’m reallllly looking forward to the girl time. It’s different than hanging out with Jill. My girlfriends form full sentences and they don’t poop their pants.

Besides, Jill and I were able to hang for an extra two hours this morning since she decided to get up at 4 – yes 4 – a.m. She cried then yelled then squirmed under our covers post-transfer. She tooted. Wait, she didn’t smirk or laugh like she usually does. Must be a bellyache. I held her in bed. We cuddled on the couch. We watched the early early morning news and ate breakfast at 4:30. No wonder Jill was falling asleep at 6:45 and I was starving at 10. Early mornings … they can be brutal, somewhat tolerable or even fun. This morning I enjoyed the extra time with Jill. Flipped on the coffee maker and kept the lights low in the living room. The rain fell and we were in no rush to start our day. It was kind of nice.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2011-09-27T14:02:00.002-04:00

This morning Jill and I were cuddling on the couch when Jill pointed out that it was time to get in shape. Tony was getting control of the "dish situation" in the kitchen and I was waiting to swap Jill duty to head upstairs and iron my shirt for an important day at work.

My Mom pointed out that Jill's been clingy lately too. You don't want to pick her up all the time but then you do. At some point she won't want to cuddle anymore, right? And so we snuggle on the couch - Jill in her pajamas and me in my sports bra and gym shorts - when Jill pokes my tummy roll (I was sitting in my defense) and says, "BUBBLE." Awesome.

Mr. & Mrs. Fernandes

2011-09-27T06:08:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Mark & Ali who were married in Falmouth on Saturday. Thank you to my Mom who watched Jill all afternoon and overnight so that Tony and I could attend their wedding toddler-free and stay overnight. It was a treat! Cheers to this wonderful couple!

Thomas the Train Reaction

2011-09-26T20:37:00.000-04:00

Who's that puffing down the tracks?

(who could it be??)

It's Thomas!

God, that's exciting!

I have to celebrate every single time I watch!

Toy Story 3

2011-09-23T11:10:00.000-04:00

Toy Story 3. The day care scene when the kids come in from the playground. You know the one I'm talking about. This scene is so ridiculously funny to us now that we have a toddler in daycare. Have a look and a good laugh!

At the Playground

2011-09-20T20:52:00.006-04:00

Prior to April of 2009 (you do the math), Tony and I used to venture into different parts of the city and check out new restaurants and bars. Times have certainly changed and now I find myself scouring the area for adventurous yet safe playgrounds!

Sunday afternoon by Wollaston Beach

Monday morning at Collins Rest-A-While Park

at home

Tuesday afternoon by the Atherton School

Jill REALLY enjoys splashing in puddles!
She soaks her shoes and a good portion of her pants too.

Her excitement toward puddles, pool water, the ocean and rain remind me of this quote:

A Saturday Morning at Smolak Farms

2011-09-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

first cider donut and it was delicious!

loved running around on the playground with Heidi and Mom

wagon parking

hayride through the orchards

Jill, Denny and Molly (Denny is a stud)

apple picking was a success!

checking out the pumpkin patch

Weekend Fun

2011-09-10T15:12:00.006-04:00

Saturday morning we took a walk to Edgewater Beach.

Jill sported her new jean jacket from Granna.

Saturday afternoon while Tony and Heidi were out on the boat, we checked out a new (to us) playground across the street from the boat ramp.

Jill LOVED it!

She climbed inside this school bus and pretended to drive.

She went down this slide all by herself!

After that we walked over to Louis Crossing for an early dinner with Tony and Heidi. Tony, Jill and I have eaten there before but apparently we should have ordered the pizza because it was delicious! For pizza in the Hough's Neck hood, the Musante household will not order from Harry's (still love your soft serve vanilla!) or Time Out any longer. It's Louis' from now on! Anyways, Heidi chased Jill around the restaurant for a bit. Thank God there were only three white-haired locals at the bar. Jill managed herself fairly well throughout the meal; I was impressed. Heidi got a kick out of bathtime. Jill enjoyed listening to herself scream, kick the bath water and generally show off in front of Heidi.

Sunday morning came much too early and Jill and I started the day cuddling on the couch with Thomas the Train. We got grocery shopping out of the way early too, and Jill rode in the toddler cart for the first time. This wasn't the cart/car combo but the cart with the red seat and straps on either side. Jill tried both sides of course like the view may be different from the left than from where she started on the right. Sunday afternoon we drove down to my Mom's and then to Mandy's house about 10 minutes away. Faith, Jackson and Jill played very well together.

I really wanted to visit with Mandy more but I enjoyed watching Jill play and interact so much that I just sat on the floor to take it all in and yelled to Mandy in the kitchen while she made dinner.

Sunday was of course the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks. What a strange feeling. My Mom, Tony and I watched the TV special for a bit then we all headed to bed early. So sad that it's been 10 years. It was also my sister-in-law's birthday - Happy Birthday, Jess - and the day that Tony and I started dating in 1999. Woooooo it's been awhile!

Now I don't remember my dreams often but Sunday night's slumber included a vivid visit from my Dad. He was playing with Jill. He hadn't met her in previous dreams so this one was different. It was special and bittersweet. He'd be so proud of his Jill, and he was!

The Rubber Ducky Regatta

2011-09-10T15:11:00.001-04:00

Saturday, 11 a.m., at the bridge at Rockland and Spring. Wouldn't miss it!

Anne Mahoney for Mayor asking for your support

got a seat with a view, Mom!

Here they come!

Sadly Duck #71 did not win

But we still had lots of fun!

Read the Directions

2011-09-10T15:07:00.001-04:00

BIG FUN! The Little Swimmers packaging declares. Just Add Water and Sun! What about when you add poop? Ahh huh, not so much fun anymore, is it? If you are lucky enough to witness your friends' older children in Little Swimmers disposable swimpants before it's your angel's turn, well then I am envious. You'll know ahead of time, like Mel and Brian learned last weekend, that these swimpants tear off from the sides.

You could also get out the magnifying glass and read the small print directions on the back that these pull-ups have "tear away sides for easy removal." PLEASE, please tear these swim undies from each side, even if you don't detect the smell of the Phantom Poop. If only I knew this before last weekend, Heidi's beach towel could have been spared. Sorry, Heidi, but your yellow and white striped towel got tossed in the trash. I will read the directions from now on, promise!

New Interests, Passtimes

2011-09-08T14:36:00.001-04:00

At 21 months, Jill has taken an interest in blowing bubbles in her milk and tub water, trying on Mom's underwear, stealing everyone's shoes and jumping with two feet from any object she can climb (I might have to thank Cadence for that one!).

The Best Part of My Day

2011-09-08T11:36:00.000-04:00

No, it's not taking public transportation, but close. My favorite part of every workday is picking Jill up from school. She gets so excited every time she turns and sees my smiling face. Yesterday I was able to pick her up a little early. Well we ended up leaving around the usual time because Jill wanted to parade me around to her friends (she held my hand and marched from room to room) and show me all of her favorite toys.

When we arrived home, Jill sat in the front seat while I packed up everything in the back. She jumped from driver side to passenger side and back, leaping to the opposite side of whichever door I came to so we could head inside. This is a new game, apparently! When I turned on the car this morning, the left turning signal was blinking, the hazards were on, the radio was blasting and the cruise control was set!

The Unofficial End of Summer

2011-09-05T20:45:00.004-04:00

As the unofficial end of summer neared, Tony's bargaining skills kicked into high gear. He (easily) convinced me to take a vacation day Friday and go sailing. The camera battery was dead at the time so we didn't get any pictures, but we did get some great shots of the rest of the weekend, even if some were with our phones!

FRIDAY

We took Rachael for a long overdue appointment at the vet.

SATURDAY

The Duvals came over to play!

SUNDAY

Jill holding artwork bag: "Can we paint?"

What was I supposed to say??

Mom: "Of course we can paint!"

Sunday afternoon we went to Granna's friend's pool

Jill loves it there! She was jumping off the diving board (with Tony's help)! NO FEAR

Mel, Brian and Cole met us at the pool for a swim then came back to my Mom's for dinner. Jill enjoyed reading to Mel and 1-mth-old Cole.

She enjoyed being tickled by Brian too!

MONDAY

spaghetti at 10:30 a.m.? That's how my Dad rolls.

TWO Vera Bradley bags?? OK, I won't be cranky anymore!

watching Dad head out to the sailboat to fix the hatch post-Irene.

throwing rocks into the water and walking in up to her chest for the second time this weekend!

Royality

2011-09-02T08:54:00.002-04:00

Now I'm not calling Tony a princess here, but I guess you could say that's part of the story.

It started with Jill at day care pick-up yesterday. I was about 20 minutes later than usual (thank you, MBTA) and I walked in to find Jill in Darlene's arms. Darlene is the director and she's always been very special to Jill. Darlene leaves work at 5. She stayed an extra 20 minutes to hold Jill, visit the different classrooms and comfort her until I got there. Apparently Jill is used to her pick-up right around 5 p.m. and didn't appreciate seeing some of her buddies' parents show up first. She was being a princess for sure.

Today is Tony's last Friday off for the summer. I took a vacation day from work so that we could enjoy the day out on the water. After drop off, Tony decided to make French toast. "Is that rude?," he asked me, knowing full well it would blow the Weight Watchers point tracking for the day. "Oh no, I much prefer my low sugar oatmeal and orange, thank you..." Tony proceeded to heat the syrup. Ummm excuse me but didn't you call me a "princess" in the past when I warmed up the syrup? Yes, you definitely did.

Sorry but I grew up a princess. My Dad heated the syrup AND sprinkled powdered sugar on top of my French toast. I'm pretty sure Jill will get the royal treatment too!

An A+ Morning

2011-09-01T13:48:00.003-04:00

Tony and I watched Jill from afar this morning. She was sitting in a regular chair shoveling Life cereal into her mouth. Then she picked up bowl – milk remaining – and tipped it back to finish. Just like her Mumma. Oh no! Jill saw me drink from the bowl awhile back and now she’s imitating me. I’ve been careful not to do that in a long time (I may sneak around the corner) but little brains do not forget. They do what their parents do.

We watched as Jill ate her cereal without missing much from her month. She wasn’t in her high chair. She wasn’t in her booster seat. She sat in the regular wooden chair and she looked like a little person. We were both thinking the same thing: When did she get so big? When did she grow up?

Jill’s successful (meaning more food in her mouth than on the floor or in Rachael’s stomach) breakfast followed an eventful pit stop at the potty. Her diaper was all but dry and Tony said she made a conscious effort to go to the bathroom. I asked what that meant and he said it was a particular face she makes. Then I asked why he didn’t yell for me to come up. He didn’t want to ruin her concentration!

The morning was capped when Jill brushed her teeth without complaint AND pulled her skirt on for school. Yes, it was on backwards but we left it that way. She seemed so proud, but maybe that was because of Mom’s overzealous cheering.

The Brains at Work

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Monday morning we commuted from my Mom's house. Rachael went to work with Tony. His colleagues say our dog works in finance because she's always nervous and stressed out. Here she is with her buddy, Pierre. Apparently they ordered pizza for lunch ...