Can't say we didn't try...

* written May 2015

Oh man, November 4th was a sad night.  For that was the night we first tried to take away binky.

Nolan was about to turn 2, and I had read that sometimes it's no big deal to take away a pacifier.  Like -- parents build it up like it's going to be World War 3, but when it happens, the kid does fine!  N was only using his for bed and nap time - and really only to fall asleep, not all night - so I thought, "Nolan's pretty chill about a lot of things.  Maybe this will be us!"  By the way, whoever wrote that has never been a toddler parent and was writing purely on hired obligation.

We had also read that it's sometimes effective to simply snip the end of the pacifier, rendering it ineffective for getting suction so the baby simply loses interest, letting the paci fall by the wayside.  Again -- this is bogus.  We didn't know that, but were we about to learn.

So, Mikel and I teamed up for the whole bedtime routine as is often the case.  Bath, lotion, teeth, jams, book.  Totally normal.  Then we lay him in his crib - "goodnight!  we love you!" - insert snipped binky and run out.  Then watch the monitor.

Nolan sits up.
Takes the paci out of his mouth.
Fingers it around a bit, trying to examine it in the dark.
Puts it back in.
Twists it in his mouth.
Pulls it out.

Sticks it in.

Pulls it out and tosses it aside.
Then starts patting and sweeping his crib with his little hands in search of a different paci.
Finding only the snipped one, he tried it a couple more times --- then MAYDAY.  

The saddest, most defeated little confused cry!

Not totally invested in this little experiment, we didn't push it.  I mean, the kid sleeps like 13 hours per night and takes a 2 hr nap, so this wasn't totally worth jeopardizing our whole livelihood over that exact night.

I ran upstairs with a new binky in hand, ready to hand it over and lull him to sleep.  I gave it to him, bid him goodnight again --- but when I left, he just sat in his bed and whimpered pitifully for 20 minutes.

Talk about tugging at heartstrings!  Rocked his little world.

Now, 6 months later, we still have the paci -- and actually, now he insists on having two!  Think he got wise?
But you know what else we have?  A majorly solid sleeper.  And some things aren't worth rocking the boat for........  We shall see. 

Nolan vs. Dad (i.e., cheap kisses)

*written May 2015

Our routine has long been to do a bunch of wrestling at night after bath time -- usually between Nolan and Mikel, with a little of Mom tossed in.  But these guys are the pro's.  I don't even remember when this started, but it largely continues to even today as I'm writing this post.

It's awesome to watch - and while Super Nanny probably wouldn't agree with the approach (allowing the most hyper time of day to be immediately before bedtime), it works for us -- and it's important for a boy to have this time with Dad.

This particular evening, I caught a whole bunch of it.  These will be fun to look back on!

Mikel's pretending to be asleep

N kisses him to wake him up

And SNAP!  Gotcha!

Wish you could have audio of the laughter!

over and over and over again :)  So sweet!

This is a seriously cheap way to get kisses.

Bored with the sweet approach...

HA!

Great dad and crazy boy.

{SMB} : 21 Day Fix: 1 Valley Mom's 2 Cents

My SMB contribution for November is about something I wasn't sure whether to write about publicly, but in the end, I'm glad I did.  In the name of authenticity and transparency, if nothing else --- but also for some of the "real life" conversations it allowed me to have with some of my continually emerging community here in Phoenix.  With other moms looking to make personal health a priority in the daily grind of life with little kids --= without going overboard into weirdo, crunchy territory.  Glad that I have some of my little journey - small as it may have been - documented to some degree.
http://www.scottsdalemomsblog.com/2014/11/21/21-day-fix-1-valley-moms-2-cents/

*************************************

We made it.
Our family survived our first, full Phoenix summer.
And, all I can say is — WOW.  That desert heat is no joke!

“It was so mild,” you tell me……  “We got off easy,” they say. All I know is that even with its ample sunshine, September 2014 will henceforth be remembered as a deep, dark, cranky time in my heart. THIS was yours truly.  (Click on that. Do it. You’ll thank me.)

My response to Scorcher Summer and Fake Fall was admittedly less than healthy, both mentally and physically. Prrrrreeeetty much every day during nap time (FINE…… also after the toddler’s bed time.), I transformed into a motionless blob that lay on the couch, savoring ice cream and watching TiVo, hoping against hope to maybe not sweat for 3 whole minutes.

The gym was overcrowded. The car: 140 degrees. The Great Outdoors? Uninhabitable. And, to my horror, my waistline was talking by October 1st. YIKES.

Insert: Beachbody’s 21 Day Fix.

First of all, know that I’m not a Beachbody affiliate or salesperson or coach or anything fancy. I’m just a normal mom who needed a fresh kick in her slowly expanding booty. I’ve always been active and enjoyed fitness, but this summer was a whole new beast in my world and as it turned out, Blue Bell had it out for me… The 21 Day Fix was just what I needed to slay the dragon and get back on track.

What is it?
60 bucks. 7 different workouts. Common sense healthy eating + foolproof portion control. Combined with a little renewed self control and a must-have iPhone app (“21 Day Fit Tracker”), and what can I say?  It worked for me.

The workouts:
* 30 minutes, start to finish, including warm-up and cool-down.
* The instructor, Autumn, ranks better than average for “degree of irritating,” as DVD instructors go.
* The moves are relatively basic and can be ramped up in difficulty or scaled back for beginners.
* 2 sets of hand weights (1 heavy, 1 light) and a yoga mat are all you need.
* Each move is executed for 60 seconds with a 20 second rest between sets. 1 minute is a long time for some of these moves, but it’s an at-your-own-pace-just-don’t-stop-moving approach.  No excuses!

(Anyone else’s weenie dog get in the way of their yoga sesh??)

The kitchen:This is where the rubber meets the road…. and also where, I believe, the biggest impact is made. Very few people can out-exercise a crummy diet, but even when it comes to healthy eating, it can be hard to know what to eat and how much. The 21 Day Fix takes out all of the guesswork. It targets our tendency toward what’s known as “healthy overeating” — or generally choosing the right foods, but unknowingly blowing it when it comes to portion sizes!

The kit comes with 1 color-coded container for each food class (protein, fruit, veggies, starches, healthy fats, etc), and the handbook tells you how many of each container you can consume in a day as well as a long list of approved foods per container. Your job? Pack your containers full and eat good food. Lots of it.

Then do yourself a favor and use the app I mentioned to track your containers, water intake and workout calendar. It’s portion control for dummies, which is exactly what I needed.

Let’s get real:
Week #1, I admit: I felt hungry. I think this was mostly ice cream withdrawals and not real deal hunger, but whatever. I was antsy to munch… Thanks to my hub and the S.O.S. text support of some kind friends, I stood strong and by week 2 this was largely improved. Thank goodness. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
 
But when the day came (and you knew it would come) that my cold-treat craving really kicked into overdrive, two things saved me. 1) frozen grapes and 2) these beauties. 60 calories of ice cold refreshment. BAM.

…And if we’re REALLY being real, I’ll tell you about the one. single. solitary. time. that I indulged in a leeeeeettle bit of ice cream these 3 weeks. It was date night. One of us drew a line in the sand; the other didn’t. But I’m not naming names.  (Mikel.)

In all seriousness:After a short 3 weeks, the end result was encouraging. While the number on the scale didn’t change drastically, my body changed. I gained muscle, lost inches and most importantly — I feel much better! At the risk of sounding like an infomercial: my clothes fit, I sleep better, and my energy level is improved. It’s nice knowing that the process can be repeated any time, and portion control is a life-long lesson I can carry forward.

At the end of the day, it’s a massive blessing to have a body that does pretty much anything you ask of it, and this feeling renewed my commitment to caring for mine. Taking stock of my health and sticking to my commitment means I have more energy to be the wife, mom and friend I want to be, and this season I’m giving thanks for that, above all!

*******

For those interested, below are a few of my very favorite 21 Fix meal ideas and the containers they count toward:

Post-workout recovery drink:
* Orgain protein powder (chocolate, from Costco). Beachbody would prefer if you’d drink their Shakeology, but I opted for this.
* My favorite is: 2 rounded scoops protein powder, a dash of cinnamon, 1tsp natural peanut butter, half a banana, 4 oz vanilla almond or soy milk, 8 oz cold water, ice chips // Blend together and enjoy!  (1 red, 0.5 purple, 0.5 yellow, 1 tsp)

Breakfast:
* 2 egg omelet with tomatoes, fresh spinach and salsa (1 red, 1 green)
* steel-cut oats with a small scoop of unsweetened applesauce + cinnamon, top with walnuts or pecans (1 yellow, 1 blue)

Lunch:* 1 slice whole wheat toast topped with mashed avocado, turkey, 1 over-medium egg and salsa + side of fruit (1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 red, 1 purple)
* fresh spinach and lettuce salad with all kinds of yummy stuff… I switch it up every day! (turkey, pulled chicken, salmon, tuna, roasted cauliflower, asparagus tips, shredded carrots, sweet peppers, sunflower seeds…….. the list goes on.) Top with oil and vinegar — or even a low-cal balsamic vinaigrette. (2-3 green, 1-2 orange, 1 red)

Snacks:* fat-free or 1% greek yogurt + drizzle of honey and grapes (sliced in half), topped with pecans or toasted almonds (1 red, 1 purple, 1 blue)
* fat-free cottage cheese + pumpkin pie spice and a sprinkle of Stevia (1 red)
* 1 tsp natural peanut butter + apple slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon (1 purple, 1 tsp)

Dinner:
* (for the time-crunched): rotisserie chicken, brown rice, roasted veggies of your choosing, fresh fruit (1 red, 1 yellow, 1-2 green, 1 purple)
* Grilled Salmon with lemon wedges (exactly as this recipe directs), couscous, 10 spears grilled asparagus, fresh fruit (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 purple)
* Turkey Patties (SO EASY. Combine 1lb ground turkey, 1 egg, a palmful of rolled oats or crushed whole wheat crackers, 2 Tbsp onion powder, 2 Tbsp garlic powder, salt and pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Form into 6 patties. Grill or pan fry until 165 degrees.) Serve over a bed of fresh spinach. Top with sauteed mushrooms OR salsa and sliced avocado. Baked sweet potato fries and fresh fruit. (1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow, 1 purple, 1 blue if avocado)
* Pulled chicken lettuce wraps (cook 2-4 chicken breasts in crock pot — LOW setting — all day with salt, pepper, onion and garlic. Shred chicken, allowing to re-absorb any juices. Roll in romaine lettuce leaves with hummus, plain Greek yogurt, snap peas, shredded carrots, sweet peppers and anything else you can think of to stuff in there) (1 red, 1 blue, 1-2 green)
If you’ve tried the 21 Day Fix or have questions or recipes, I would love to hear from you!  Comment or email.  I hope you’re encouraged and maybe even inspired. Good luck!

Nolan - October

*written May 2015

Oh my goodness, these photos are so old of my leeeeeettle beebee Nowen!  Had to include them though.  Worth the memories.

He went through a phase of ALWAYS wanting to wear his helmet all the time. I loved it --- except when he insisted I also wear my helmet at arbitrary times of the day.

Riding bareback?

I'm sorry but I love this photo!

...and this one.  Poor guy!

This was when I was in the middle of my 21 Day Fix.  Here Nolan is doing some yoga.

Not sure what you call this pose!

I got a hybrid bike from a really awesome store that refurbishes bikes for charity (called the Grey Matter Foundation).  Nolan loves his new seat - and we all loved taking advantage of the fall weather as it started (barely) to cool down

Our first Mom-and-Nolan hike of the season was a nice, short, flat one.  It was still warm, and we were both sweaty!

This vision showed up at our neighborhood park one day - inviting the kids to tour it and handing out Jr. Firefighter stickers.  Even a 22 month old knows this is super cool.

Sorry - more nudey pics.  I can't resist.
I found this sturdy slide for cheap at a garage sale, and we have gotten a ton of use out of it. Nolan likes to slide down on his belly - but if it's in the buff, he picks his hips way up high. HA!

AZ kids learn to play imaginatively with big rocks.  (This photo prompted Nikye and DJ to give Nolan a big dump truck for his birthday the next month!  Whew!)

Halloween!  It was 90 degrees, and poor Nolan's costume was all fleece.  We didn't make him wear the pants.

Cutest little elephant we ever saw.

 The Children's Museum remained a favorite destination through the summer and fake fall.

Buddy, we love you.  And I dare say, writing this 6 months late - I think I might love you more today than I even did then.  You are our treasure, and I can't believe I get to spend my days with you.

Napa Valley

*written May 2015

In October, Mikel and I were given the gift of taking a weekend in Napa all by ourselves.  He had a very short training course to attend on some new equipment his office is getting, and you know I wanted in on this trip. The wonderful, generous, overly thoughtful Gutierrez family swooped in and took Nolan for a couple of nights, allowing Mikel and me to engage unencumbered in all things Napa.  

Pre-to-leave day had us up at the crack of dawn, watching a work crew noisily remove some of our neighbors' trees.  I was not thrilled at this 6AM sight, but Nolan definitely was.

Then we went to Albertson's (his favorite place) to stock up on snacks for everyone.  He LOVES these car-style grocery carts. And writing this now, 7 months late on May 17th, I can't believe he wasn't even 2 years old yet!

Nolan headed to Krista's in time for bed that night. Then early the next morning, Mikel and I caught a flight to Sacramento, from where we drove to Napa.
Our hotel setting was lovely!

I loved these massive swans.  The photos don't do justice for how truly huge they were.

Mikel had to dash to an appointment right away, so I set off down this beautiful street to find lunch - and later made my own can't miss appointment: an hour massage.  The struggle was real.

Love these houses and all of the green.

Must be some drought!  We don't even see these notices in Phoenix.

Solo lunches are oft underrated!  And I enjoyed my first glass of Napa Valley wine.

Plus dessert: a cinnamon pear spice cake.  Very fallish.

My post-massage bliss / very sleepy state....

...which I had to pull together for dinner with some of Mikel's professional acquaintances.
Sent this pic to Krista to say "Look at this smile! I am loving you right now!"

She later sent these shots in reply.  They crack me up!  Albert and Krista proved they are very brave and took their crew + 23 mo old Nolan to a real, live restaurant Friday night where he apparently ate his weight in pizza.

 Such darling friends we have!

***

The next day, Saturday, Mikel and I hit up our first winery and tasting.  Knowing they had recently been to Napa, I texted my friend Esther (married to Phil, one of Mikel's to-be partners) to ask about must-see vineyards and other stops.  Turns out, they are members at Spring Mountain Vineyard, where she very GENEROUSLY booked (and bought!) us a tasting appointment.

First - a delicious breakfast.  We knew better than to venture into this day on an empty belly.

Waiting for our Uber driver.

Way way up on a remote hillside, we found it!  Even on a chilly and drizzly morning, it was one of the most beautiful settings I have ever seen.

Would you like to know my biggest tip for you fellow wine tasters?

Between tastes, consider turning around and walking a few steps every now and then as a means of testing your calibration.  

We stood unmoving at this bar for the whole experience - seemingly unaffected.  At the conclusion, I spun on my heels to head for the exit and whooooooooooa.  Things were not as they seemed!

ALSO THIS: Recognize that everyone you meet in Napa will freely admit they are in some varying state of alcoholism.  Everyone is cutting back, taking a break, dialing down or going dry.  

More beautiful sights of the vineyard.

Mikel's carrying our (very heavy) mementos.

As we left, this vibrant tree caught my eye.  As a Phoenix dweller, true fall foliage now has my heart.

The Uber was a great ride to the vineyard, but calling one back was not so simple given the location..  No problem!  Our sommelier informed us he was heading into town for lunch, and he would be happy to drop us off where we could more reliably catch a ride.

I think we were half way there when I realized he'd had as much to drink as we had.  Oh well, guess we didn't care. ha!

Buying a bunch of wine to take home is not so easy to lug around.

Happy to find some food at the Goose and Gander, where we had some happy hour appy's.

I would love to go back!

After lunch, we walked around St. Helena for a while.  Such a cute little town.

It kept raining off and on, so it was nice to have several shops to duck into.

Mikel of course found his happy place!

Big decisions...

We both got a couple candies and a hot chocolate.

Next up: Castello de Amorosa.  A huge, picturesque (albeit a bit touristy) castle and winery.

Who wears a white sweater, orders hot chocolate, then Uber rides to a bumpy off road vineyard?
This girl.

It was pouring again, so we waiting it out a little bit before making a mad dash up those steps to the entrance.

We took arrived just in time for a tour and tasting.

A lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.

And all of the rain awarded us a rainbow on our way back to the hotel!

Beautiful country.

*****

We had SUCH a wonderful time!  It was so refreshing, and I was definitely ready to be back with Nolan.

Krista sent me a few other photos of their weekend, which I wanted to include here.  He had the time of his little life ---- and slept for 2 days solid upon returning home.  ha!

 Bella is a very practiced big sister.

A caterpillar that fascinated Nolan, tho he refused to hold it. 

The Gutierrez had a Trunk or Treat at their church.  Can you believe these costumes?!  hysterical!

 Bella helped Nolan frost cookies.  Krista said he ate frosting and sprinkles, then went and sat in another chair in hopes of a second helping.

 Ellie! (Nolan calls her "Gooey")

 Jacob! (aka, "Dee-cup")

 Love these kids in combo.

Krista said, "Little buddy figured out how to help himself to the crackers."

*****

Krista, I know this was forever ago, but just writing about it I'm so appreciative of you.  You are wonderful and I hope you'll let me repay some day!

Was a wonderful weekend.