Mom Blog Work

Good Stuff - 6/29/11

Karissa — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:13:06 +0000

Alrighty...let's get our Good Stuff on:

Karissa's Good Stuff

Notarte-Liloc weekend!
Summer trip planning
Popsicles...so many popsicles
knocking out freelance work (and getting paid - yay!)
inspired

Megan's Good Stuff

Upcoming trip to Texas
Increased kiddo independence
Sunshine
Ernest!
Renewed running enthusiasm

Just a few more days until the three day weekend!

MBW Reviews the Boba carrier

Karissa — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:34 +0000

We have a joint review for you! Two weeks before our annual Disneyland trip we spotted the Boba carrier on Zulilly and managed to both score a new carrier for a decent price.

We had both had an eye on the Boba for awhile now but couldn't find a good reason to buy one full price. We were both hoping it would be a carrier for the kids who usually walk or stroll but need carrying every once in awhile.

Who we carried like pack mules all over the Happiest Place on Earth:

Rey, age 2, 29lbs
Brady, age 1, 28lbs
Margeaux, age 4, 32lbs

What we liked:
K: The fabric is sooo soft
K: Great for big kids - foot straps were perfect for Mo's long, lanky legs and the body is nice and tall and covers most of her back
K: Sleeping hood rolls up and stores smartly and easily.
M: Easy to schlep around. Could just throw it in the stroller.
M: Pretty comfortable.

What we didn't like:
K: No pocket! I'm so used to the handy pocket in the Ergo and I really missed it.
K: I just couldn't get a comfortable front carry with B at all which was dissapointing. The shoulder straps were constantly falling off for some reason if I wore him in front. Not a problem in back. He was sick this trip and I wanted him close and in the front so I opted for my trusty Ergo after the first day and honestly haven't gone back to the Boba again.
M: My boba's top front strap was sewn on backwards. So, it's sort of weird, but not a huge deal.
M: When I'm carrying Rey, the top strap gets really close to my neck, and it can't be pushed down anymore than it already is. I'm thinking I could probably adjust it somehow, but I haven't figured it out yet.

Final thoughts on the Boba:
K: My husband really likes it for carrying our long, lean 4yo. It's "their" carrier now and we keep it in the car all the time. It doesn't get a ton of use (she's pretty big now) but it's handy and works really well for the two of them.
K: Minus the missing pocket and my inability to get the straps right in a front carry it's like they took the Ergo and made it even better.
M: I don't have another carrier, and we're very much past the baby stage, so we won't be buying another one. I'm glad the Boba works pretty well with Rey. I even put him in it to carry him around the mall. It's convenient and fairly comfortable. It's nice that both my husband and I can use it.

Links We Love - August 6, 2010

Mrs...Alex's Mom?

Megan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:45:51 +0000

I can't believe the boys are old enough for this yet, but apparently we're in a new development phase, and it comes knocking at my door almost every day.

Neighborhood kids that I didn't even know existed have started showing up every day, knocking the door and asking the perennial question of the summer, "Can Alex come out to play?"

The first time this happened, I wasn't even sure what to say. Alex was looking up at me with those please-please-please-let-me-go eyes. So, off he went.

Here's the rub at the moment though. One of the kids came to the door yesterday, and I went to introduce myself, since, well, I've never met this kid before. As I started to talk, I realized…I have no idea how to introduce my self to this kid.

Options:

Mrs. Notarte? No….too…old?

Megan? No…too informal. Seems like I'm trying too hard to be their friend.

Miss Megan? Just weird. Sorry.

Alex's Mom? Possible…but I'm also Rey's Mom. So Alex and Rey's Mom?

To our close friends and family, I go by Auntie M or Aunt Megan. I teach my kids to call close friends and family Auntie or Uncle. That seems like a weird approach for neighborhood kids, though.

So, that day, I went with Megan. It is my name, after all. Oooh…maybe now's a good time to introduce a fun, quirky nickname? Maybe I should go by Princess Cupcake of the House of Notarte?

Hey, Peggy! No bunny!

Karissa — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:30:16 +0000

I'm watching them sleep. The are side by side, breathing like one but noisely with noses stuffy with late spring colds. I wrap B's blanket across both of them because it's gotten the tiniest bit chilly in the bedroom. The coziness is short-lived though because Mo rolls over, leaving B alone under his blanket, and, well, she farts really loudly.

Even in their sleep these kids crack me up. Today B was shouting at Mo "it's not funny, Ate!" except in his sweet baby talk it sounds just like, "no bunny, Ate!!". How do you not laugh when somebody is repeatedly shrieking "No Bunny!!!" at you so insistently? Poor boy. Even I couldn't suppress my giggles. "No bunny!!!"

The girl...She slays me on a regular basis with her questions about the world and how or why things work. She asks what words mean and comes up with creatively insane solutions to everyday scenarios. The other day she was quizzing me on who was whose mama as we settled down for bed. "Who is Grandma's mama?", etc. We get to my Grandpa's mom whose stepmom was named Peggy. "Piggy?! Her name is Piggy?" she whispered, shocked, not even laughing because she was so blown away. Then the giggles came and we laughed and laughed under the covers in the dark, trying not to wake B. Hysterical! We called each other Peggy for the next two days and giggled every time.

They crack me up. I love how their brains work. I need to write down more of these endearing snippets of them at these ages. (sign me up for Megan-Google's brilliant idea!) Corny, but it really is going by quickly. That's another topic though, Peggy.

Love, Mom

Megan — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:17:02 +0000

I'm just not a scrapbook-type person. The thought of making things on paper and putting together physical books makes me want to run away and hide (with my iPad, of course).

My aversion to all things scrappy means that my kids have no baby books to speak of. I have TONS of digital pictures (on a network drive) and even real, touchable prints (in a box, naturally). But, I always feel so guilty that I don't have any real mementos of their day to day lives, or the special things that happen.

I don't journal either. I have a hard time finding my voice in exercises like that. Do I write in first person, or third? Who am I talking to anyway? (And who the hell would read it? If the answer is no one, then why am I writing?)

Anyway, I was inspired by this Google ad on TV the other night. (Warning: unless you are made of stone, you will cry. Be prepared.)

It struck me as totally genius and I immediately set up a gmail account for Rey and Alex.

A few times a week, I send them an email. I get to write TO them, telling them about what cool thing they did that day, or what funny thing they said. I can email pictures to them from my phone; even video. I'm creating an archive of little digital notes to them. And I love doing it.

Here's a sample:

Hi Alex,

Today you rode your bike without training wheels for the first time! It was really so amazing. Your dad and I had been talking about how we were going to teach you how to ride sans training wheels, and honestly, we didn't even know how we were going to do it...

I know that by the time they are old enough to read these emails, Gmail will probably be old-school (their hotmail to our gmail?). But, it feels like I'm making them a keepsake that will grow over time, and is easy enough for me to keep up with. I can't wait until they are old enough to read it.

Also, since both boys are pre-readers, my first email to them was the very first time I closed something with "Love, Mom". *weep*

Good Stuff - 4/20-2011

Megan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:05:03 +0000

Are you like us, and wondering how the heck it's already the end of April?? Feeling a bit like I've missed the entire month!

We're now in the height of Spring, a time of change and renewal. Great time to take a moment and think about the things we're grateful for!

Megan's List

Sunny (if cold) days
Impromptu dinners at the park
Supportive/talented colleagues
Ernest (he will ALWAYS make this list)
Martha helping me get ready for family to visit

Karissa's List

Waking up to sunshine!
Brady and Mo pretend playing together
PJs
mid-week days off
breakfast sandwiches at home
family

Rosemary Peasant Bread - A New Favorite

Karissa — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:22:29 +0000

It's not Emergency Food (back to that soon) but I have a favorite bread recipe to share! I know I'm late to the bread making trend. The NY Times has been all over it for years: 2006, 2007, 2008. Bloggers have been perfecting and elaborating those recipes and documenting their loaves for ages. I'm a late bloomer, what can I say?

To be honest, it was the promise of being "just like Macaroni Grill's bread" that pushed me over the edge and had me making the Rosemary Peasant Bread from Make and Takes. I bought yeast and gave it a try a few weeks ago. This was my third weekend in a row kicking out perfectly plump, crusty, salty loaves of yummy bread!

Rosemary Peasant Bread Recipe

1 packet dry yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp)
2 c. warm water
1 T. sugar
2 tsp salt
4 c. flour
1-2 tsp. fresh Rosemary plus more for topping
Olive Oil, Corn meal, Melted butter and salt

Dissolve sugar and yeast in the warm water and then combine ingredients without kneading. Cover dough with damp cloth for 1 hour or until doubled. Divide in two (without kneading) and place on cooking sheet. Cover again for an hour. Brush with melted butter, salt and rosemary. Bake at 425for 10 then lower temp to 375 and bake another 15 min. See the Make and Takes blog for more detailed instructions and photos.

My husband is in love with it, my daughter only eats the salty crust and my son only eats the soft middle (they're so handy that way). I can be found dunking the delicious Macaroni Grill-like slices into olive oil as soon as it is cool enough to touch. Success!

Bruschetta a la Julie and Julia