Meet the Sullivans

Weekend Wrap Up (Part 2) | Gorilla BBQ + the Beach

2013-05-21T14:50:00.001-07:00

Who has two part weekend wraps ups? The first one was getting too ling and I thought I would lose people's interest before I got to what I consider to be the most fun part.

On the weekend we usually have one day for "fun" and the other for "work". On our fun day we like to go on little day trips, check out parks in our area or do something adventurous. This Monday we decided to forgo our tradition of only having one fun day and head out to try a famed BBQ place in our area, Gorilla Barbeque. Keith has been wanting to check in out ever since he heard it was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

Our plan was to get to Gorilla Barbeque early, since we've heard there are usually lines of people before it even opens, and then take our food to the beach. Our plan worked out exactly as planned and it was so much fun!

The restaurant is inside an old railroad car, although it just looks like a trailer in a trailer park. Word is it's called Gorilla Barbeque because the owner (a man who is very large in stature) grew up being nicknamed "gorilla" by his dad.

We definitely ate way too much. We each ordered the two meat meals, when we really could have just shared one, which we'll do next time. I had the pulled pork + ribs, and coleslaw + mac 'n cheese as my sides. Each meal (hate that word, meal) also come with beans on rice and corn bread. The ribs were really really good. The pork was fine, but more so just a vehicle for the BBQ sauce, which was perfectly vinegary. The mac n' cheese was the bomb--Keith thinks they might sprinkle it with crushed Goldfish crackers before baking it. We'll definitely be back sometime soon!

We couldn't have BBQ on the beach on such a beautiful day without a cold beer to share. We picked up a bottle on Maverick's Amber Ale made by our favorite local brewery. It was a combination made in Heaven.

You know what else is Heavenly? This sweet boy! Doesn't he look like a little surfer beach boy model?

Enjoying some beans + pulled pork from our BBQ.

He loved his first trip to the beach!

Build 'Em Up: Being Confident in Motherhood

2013-05-21T06:34:00.002-07:00

This post is a part of the Build 'Em Up series being hosted by Erin (from Blue-Eyed Bride), Kelly (from Kelly’s Korner), Jennifer (from Life in the Green House) and Courtney (from Lil Light O’ Mine). Each week the ladies invite other women to share their story on a certain topic. The point is for us to share our story, but also to encourage others through our own experiences. I read these women's blogs daily and I have really been enjoying every topic in this series.

This is the first time I'm particiapting in this link up only because I've felt a little shy about voicing my thoughts like this.

This week's topic is Being Confident in Motherhood, even though we all "mother" differently.

Confidence in motherhood is having peace with your decisions, big and small.

I think I've talked about this before, but I'd like to shed light on it again. When we first had Owen I had some serious bouts of mommy-anxiety. I worried so much about being able to live up to being the kind of mother I'd always dreamed of being, and what other people would think if they witnessed me not being the perfect mother I thought I'd be. I thought having confidence in being a mom would come easily to me, but it took time.

There is so much expectation and judgement in motheirng. We judge oursleves, which is the biggest issue, but we're also judged by our closest friends and people we don't even know for our parenting styles. Formula or breastfeeding. Staying at home or returning to work. Cry it out or rock them to sleep. These are just some of the many issues we deal with in just the first few months of a child's life, and this list just grows larger as the sweet child does.

It was difficult in the beginning to not let comments or my own anxieties get the best of me. I was a brand new mom. Every day was a scary and new adventure. I probably looked like a deer in the headlights most of the time back in those days. We had no clue what we were doing (that might be a bit of an exaggeration), so when someone suggested we were doing it the wrong way it really affected us.

Whenever someone (often an stranger) would offer me advice, the question would always beg; who was I to say that I really knew best? That is what I would think every time someone would offer me their best advice, etc. But the honest answer to that statement is that I DID know best, and I still do, because I am his mother, and my decisions are made from the heart. To me it is as simple as that.

This deep seeded confidence takes time. It takes some failures, some falling flat on your face and some trial and error--but mainly it just takes time to learn that it is okay to make the choices you think are best, even if others don't agree.

I don't want to say reject what everyone else says or does, because you always know best, because that is not the case. I have learned so much of what I know about mothering from my own mom, watching other moms in my family, seeing friends become moms and most importantly, being a mom with other women by my side. When I'm unsure of what to do the advice and experience of the moms around me is invaluably --but the decision is always mine (and Keith's, of course).

Weekend Wrap Up + Lots of Pictures (Part 1)

2013-05-20T19:27:00.001-07:00

I hope you're ready for a total picture overload, because you are about to get one in a major way--and food, lots and lots of food. I don't know what was up with us this weekend, but we were eating all sorts of great things, but most of them were things made by other people, so I can't really share any recipes or take any credit.

Keith was off from work Saturday, so we took advantage of the beautiful morning and walked to the Farmer's Market near our house. It's an easy 20 minute walk each way. We shared a breakfast sandwich and chocolate croissant for breakfast and each got coffees. Owen loved eating the croissant too!

We picked up Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Teriyaki Chicken to have for lunch later too. I wish these were easy for me to make at home, because they seem pretty healthy!

In the afternoon my mom and sister came over to visit and while they were here I put together a dessert for later that night. I made a few of these Miniature S'more Pies and made one large one too. I'll share the recipe later next week or maybe this week. My biggest lesson learned was to NOT make the larger one again. It was like a pie full of marshmallow goo, which tastes great, but makes for terrible presentation!

In the evening we met friends at our favorite pizza place that is close to our house. We were a huge group at 14 people, but it is so much fun! We all came back here and hung out, ate dessert and watched the kiddos play.

Sunday Keith watched Owen while I went up to San Francisco with our friend Amanda and her family. Amanda and her sister were being Confirmed at Saint Mary's Cathedral, and Amanda asked me to be her sponsor. I am so honored to have been there to support her!

It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to give her, and I was so happy when I stumbled on this book at Barnes and Noble earlier in the week. It's a daily devotional and I'm thinking I want to get one for myself too. I hope she'll find reassurance of her baptismal promises, hope and comfort in each daily passage she reads.

After the Confirmation Mass Amanda's parents took us all out to lunch at the Cliff House. can you even believe the view from our table? Breathtaking, right?

I had the Artichoke Ravioli, and it was delicious!

While I was gone Keith kept Owen busy with chores around the house. No, seriously. They emptied the dishwasher, folded laundry, washed the car, swept the back yard and watered out front. Impressive!

When I returned home we headed back out, this time in the opposite direction, for our friend Noah's 2nd birthday party! We had a great time and Owen loved getting to see some of his friends!

Okay, no judgement here please, but Sunday night we flipped Owen's car seat! He is beyond thrilled and so content sitting this way. He just kicks back watches the cars and has little chats with us. He is obviously a big guy, so I can guarantee you this was a smart decision. His legs were getting so cramped and I felt that even with air conditioning he was uncomfortable like that on really hot days. Our pediatrician gave us the OK as long as he met the requirements of our car seat to be front facing, which he does. I think this will make a world of difference when we take long trips in the car.

I just decided this is going to be a two part weekend wrap up, because this is just getting way too long! I'll share our fun little trip to the beach with you tomorrow!

Good night!

Edible Fingerpaint Fun!

2013-05-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

Today I want to share with you a really fun little activity to do with your toddler! I'm always on the hunt for new + fun things to do with Owen that can keep us inside--these are especially helpful in cold weather or when we're sick.

I found this idea on Pinterest a while ago, so I really can't take any credit for how much of a great idea it is.

Supplies / Ingredients

Vanilla yogurt
Duncan Hines Flavor Creations in various colors / flavors
clean containers with lids

Step One: Buy a few colorful packets of Duncan Hines Frosting Creations. Be careful which flavors you chose though, I picked a mint flavor for the green and it was gross. It is inevitable that your child will try to eat some of the "paint".

Step Two: Divide yogurt into a few bowls and mix in the packets of powder. Mix it really well so there are no clumps. Remember to write the expiration date for the yogurt on your containers, as this is also now the expiration date for your "paint".

Step Three: Place your sweet baby in a highchair with a bib and rolled up sleeves, because things could get messy. Now might be a good time to take out the splat mat, and don't forget the camera!

Step Four: Dole out some fun! And by that I mean spoon some "paint" onto the try in front of your child and let them go to town mixing the colors. You could just let them play, but also take the opportunity to use this as a teaching moment.

Talk about the colors in front of them and show them what happens when they're mixed together. Obviously Owen is too young to grasp the concepts of mixing primary colors, but it is never too early to start laying the foundations for early learning!

Some other fun resources for toddler activities:

Play Create Explore
30 Summer Activities for Kids from Lil Luna
Tot School
Summer Play Date Ideas from Dear Owen

[RECIPE] Mexican Inspired Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

2013-05-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

My favorite place to find dinner inspiration is (and no, surprisingly it is not Pinterest) Instagram. I don't know what it is about Instagram, but people (including myself) love to post pictures of their meals on there. I've found some great answers to the the age old question: "what am I going to make for dinner" on Instagram.

One of my favorite people to look for great (and usually pretty healthy) ideas is Natasha of Schue Love. She is where I got the recent idea to make a Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potato. It was a suuuper quick dinner to throw together--all I had to do was some quick prep and pop the potatoes in the microwave for 8 minutes. We all enjoyed it and it was pretty healthy too!

Mexican Inspired Loaded Baked Sweet Potatoes

4 sweet potatoes, washed and scrubbed
1 avocado, diced
1 cup corn kernels
1 cup plain non-fat greek yogurt
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Small container of pico de gallo

1. Place your sweet potatoes on a large microwave-safe plate. Poke holes in each potato using a fork. Microwave on your microwave's potato setting for about 8 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.

2. While your potatoes cook and then cool you can prep the toppings. Mix a few tablespoons or so of taco seasoning (to taste) into your Greek yogurt. This will give the whole dish a great Mexican flavor.

3. Cut a cross in the top of your sweet potatoes and squeeze them just a bit to open them up enough to pile on some of your tasty toppings. Top with whatever you prepped, and enjoy!

Have a happy weekend, friends!

Yellow Friday is Here! + an Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

2013-05-17T07:05:00.001-07:00

Because I know we all love a great deal and great products I wanted to make sure to share with you fabulous shopping event that's going on! Courtney and Julie aka The Chirping Moms are the two sweet, blogging mommas bringing us all of these wonderful vendors and some really great discounts! Please take a minute to stop by these shops and see some of the great products and items they have to offer!

SHOP YELLOW FRIDAY at The Chirping Moms!

Yellow Friday, Spring Fling edition, has FINALLY arrived!
All shop deals are revealed below. In the next few hours, keep an eye on the blog for follow-up posts with more information about each shop and details on their deal. All deals will run through Sunday at midnight. There are LOTS of great deals at fantastic stores. If you have any questions, feel free to email the chirpingmoms@gmail.com. We are so excited to bring this fun shopping extravaganza to you!
EVERY shop is using the same code: yellowfriday
Anne Riggs Designs: Spend $50 in shop and get a free set of 25 makeup/facial pads AND mesh laundry bag, value $16 The BBQ Pantry: 20% off Baxter & Beatrice: 25% off The Beaufort Bonnet Company: 15% off Carly Megan: 25% off Dolphin Organics: 25% off sunscreen and aloe based lotion The Idea Box: 25% off The Little Crane: 10% off London Times: 30% off Love Bubs: 20% off Messy Kids Designs: Buy One Shirt, Get Another One 50% off Mis-Tee-V-US: 25% off Miss Monogram: 15% off and Free Bow when you spend over $100 Missy Madewell: 25% off Olivia and Owen: 20% off Posh Princess Bowtique: 20% off The Recycled Bin: "Spend More, Save More" deal...see detailed post for more info! Refined Inspirations: 20% off Ruffles and Twirls: 20% off Sila Boutique: 15% off Simply (Darr)ling: 20% off Smock Your Tot Website or Etsy Shop or Facebook: 20% off Snapping Turtle Kids: 30% off Starlight Woods: 15% off Owl Be Sweatin: 15% off Wild Sprout Design: 20% off
Again, EVERY shop's coupon code: yellowfriday.
Thank you for shopping with The Chirping Moms!
Earn entries in the giveaway below by shopping or sharing these deals on social media! You could win a $25 Amazon.com gift card! a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Year in My Life gift + Discount Code!

2013-05-16T06:49:00.001-07:00

Father's Day is just over a month away! Have you thought about all of the wonderful father's in your life yet? This will be Keith's second Father's Day and I really think he's earned something thoughtful and special. He is an amazing dad!

So, when Minted contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of their Father's Day gifts I jumped at the chance to get my hands on one of their custom art prints. Minted is one of my all time favorite brands for all paper product needs. In my opinion, custom / personalized gift are always the best gifts, and Minted makes such high quality paper products, so I knew this was a great offer.

Minted's Art Prints are printed on museum-quality cotton rag archival paper with archival pigment ink. The result is a stunning, museum quality print with rich and vibrant colors.

The process of creating my print was a cinch. I created a folder on my desktop for all of the pictures I wanted to include and then simply uploaded them to their site, and dragged and dropped them into the place I wanted them. I decided to go with the A Year in My Life print in 11x14 for Keith. There are a variety of sizes and designs available. You could make the print HUGE and have it be the focal point of your room, or have it be smaller and include it in a gallery wall or on someone's desk at work.

I think it's important to note that while all of my photos are of different photo quality (pixel, etc.), they all look equally beautiful in this print. Several of the photos were taken by our photographer during our family photos last Fall and others were taken by me with my Canon dSLR and they all blend nicely together into one piece of art work thanks to Minted's high quality printing and paper.

I love the layout I chose for Keith's gift and there are so many more to chose from. Minted will also frame your print for a great price if you chose to go that route! I thought that with Owen being just about 16-months old, this would be a sweet time to include some pictures of Keith and O together.

Don't you think it looks nice on our dresser? I think that when Keith opens his gift I'll suggest it go here! And if you're interested in some of the other neat gifts Minted has for Father's Day, some of my personal favorites are:

Around the World Travel Journal
Trianulation Personal Stationary
I Love San Francisco Art Print

AND the sweet folks at Minted have kindly offer to give Meet the Sullivans readers 10% off plus free ground shipping on all Father’s day gifts! The code is MTHDAD10. The discount is good for two weeks from today and remember to leave time for shipping!

All wrapped and ready to go! Now I just need to make sure Keith doesn't read this post before Father's Day...

Happy Shopping, friends!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review, although I did receive the art print for free in exchange for sharing my review with you. This is my honest opinion of the Minted company and their products.

Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-14T10:43:00.003-07:00

We had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend here in California. The weather was sunny and pretty warm for this time of year and we were lucky enough to spend some time outside!

Friday night Keith's sister came over with her family and they hung out and watched Owen while we went to see Iron Man 3. If you're a fan of the movies, you'll like this one too. Robert Downey Jr. is as funny as ever! Can you believe Keith and I haven't been to a movie together since we saw The Hobbit LAST YEAR, in December, but still. If you know us you know we love the movies and nearly six months in a long time to go without going together (did you follow that?). It was a nice start to a great weekend!

Saturday Keith worked and Owen and I went to lunch with my mom and sister to celebrate Mother's Day. We ate burger's and fries and took a nice walk. We stopped at a park for Owen to play for a bit, but things got crazy when he threw himself on the ground and tried to swim in the tanbark. It was a dusty, dirty mess. When Keith got home I went for a pedicure (ahhhh) and then we had a mellow evening at home.

Sunday morning Keith let me "sleep in" while he took Owen downstairs to play. I am incapable of sleeping in. I always want to do it, but whenever I have the chance I just can't make it happen. I start thinking about what they're doing downstairs and I just can't turn my mind off.

Our gift to Keith's mom. She loves dogs and he garden, so a terrier shaped topiary was a cute gift.

Keith took Owen out to get some Starbucks and bagel sandwiches for us for breakfast and we opened cards and presents. It was a lovely morning. We got ready in a flash and took off for San Francisco to spend the day up there. We managed to knock quite a few things off our Family Fun Day to do list!

Owen fell asleep on our way up, so we waited in the car a bit for him to wake up. It was super super foggy and cool, but in typical San Francisco fashion it quickly burnt off. We started out doing a little shopping at Sports Basement (we love browsing in that place) and then walked over to Crissy Field to let Owen get his wiggles out.

Then we wandered over to the Palace of Fine Arts. It is so gorgeous over there. We witnessed a proposal, saw people taking family photos and wedding photos--it is picturesque and really makes for a great backdrop, don't you think?

The Wanderlust Festival was going on on the Little Marina Green. Owen was very intrigued by the cool music and the balloons!

We ate lunch at Tarantion's on Fisherman's Warf (complete with complimentary champagne for all the moms!) and then had coffees and a sundae at Ghirardelli Square. It was a fantastic afternoon!

Unfortunately, not soon after we made it home we discovered Owen had a low grade fever. Poo little guy was burning up and really really sleepy. We spent the rest of the night cuddling and just trying to make sure he was comfortable.

Look at those pink cheeks! I think the popsicle helped cool him down a bit, or at least cheered him up. He is doing much better today, but Monday was a rough day. We're spending the day laying low, reading books and taking naps. Here's to hoping he's back to 100% tomorrow!

Taco Bar Fiesta!

2013-05-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

Oops, I forgot to share pictures from our Fiesta! last week.

We had so much fun, ate way too much food and probably had too many Coronaritas. It was the perfect party!

Coronaritas recipe.

How to make Watermelon Aqua Fresca.

Individual 7-Layer Dips.

For dinner we set out a "make your own taco" bar. We had raw tortillas for people to heat on the griddle before making their taco. If you've never tried a tortilla freshly cooked you are MISSING OUT!

Fiesta Like There's No Manana free printable.

This was the cutest thing I've ever seen. Our friend's daughter is the sweetest little girl in the whole world. She just loves Owen to pieces (and he secretly loves her too!) and she was feeding him ice cream. He was in Heaven! I think he is officially obsessed with her now. She's got that whole "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" thing down!

There is almost nothing more enjoyable than planning a fun party and actually having it be so much fun!

Blog Sale [Dresses]

2013-05-10T07:43:00.002-07:00

I was going through my closet the other day and realized I have some pretty cute dresses, but that I never wear them. Some just don't fit me right anymore (that whole thing about pregnancy changing your body's shape, etc is so right on) and some others I just don't have use for anymore.

SOLD
~~Francesca's Designs~~

~~$15 (paid around $30)~~

~~-Medium-~~

~~pink and orange chevron stripe shift dress~~

~~worn once~~

Banana Republic

$20

Petite size 4

brown 100% silk dress with ruffle collar worn once for a wedding. dry cleaned.

White House Black Market

$20

white strapless dress with sweetheart neckline. pretty stretchy. Size 4 runs kind of large. Worn once for my bachelorette weekend. In great condition and dry cleaned.

SOLD
~~Francesca's Designs~~

~~$15 (paid around $30)~~
~~Size M~~
~~Worn once.~~

J Crew
$15
Strapless pink Size 2 dress
100% worn once

Email me at colleenpsullivan@gmail.com with your paypal email if you want to any of these dresses. Shipping included in price!

Thursday Brain Dump + Blog Sale?

2013-05-09T06:36:00.003-07:00

Good Morning, friends! I'm so happy it's Thursday. Owen has had a cough and cold all week, so we haven't made it to a single story time or lesson this week. He seems to feel fine, but I don't want to be that mom who brings the sick kid around all the healthy ones. On the upside, he has been sleeping great, probably because he's sick--poor little dude.

I have a few dresses that I no longer wear, but they're so cute and barely worn, so I was wondering if you would like to see them before I donate them. I'm just getting rid of them because they no longer fit me or just never fit me right, but if they're your size / cut / style I'm sure they'd look great on you though! I'll officially post them tomorrow, with details / asking price / etc, if anyone is interested!

Keith and I going to see Iron Man 3 this weekend! I don't remember the last movie we saw together in the theater. I know the last movie I saw in a theater was Les Mis way back in December. I've loved all of the previous Iron Man movies, Robert Downey Jr. is just so funny as Tony Stark. Yay for Date Night!

Speaking of movies, The Great Gatsby is coming out soon. How good does that movie look? Some friends and I are going to re-read Gatsby together. We all read it in high school, but I could not tell you much about it. I'm pretty sure I bought the Cliff's Notes for that one. Shame, shame.

I took Owen for his second ever haircut on Tuesday and he was SO GOOD for the hairstylist. The first time we went he sat in Keith's lap, but this time he got to sit all on his own in the booster seat (like a Big Boy). He sat still the entire time. I am so impressed with his patience and great behavior, but I think we owe a little credit to Toy Story that was playing in front of him the entire time.

I'm putting together a little color themed box of goodies for my mom inspired by this adorable "box of sunshine" created by Rachel of Pomp and Circumstance. Because it's Mother's Day I'm going to keep everything pink. I realize this no longer makes it a "box of sunshine", but I liked the idea of giving a color themed gift. I'll show you what's inside next week after she gets to open it!

Last Saturday Owen and I attended my friend and former co-teaching partner, Cynthia's Stella and Dot trunk show. Cynthia is my go-to person for Stella and Dot jewelry! It was so nice to see Cynthia and her daughters again and to get to see all the beautiful jewelry. It took me a little while to decide on which piece to chose, but I finally decided on the Christina Link bracelet. Can you believe it already arrived? Quick service!

And because I couldn't not share this silliness with you:

Hang in there, it's almost the weekend!

How We Survived Owen's First Swim Lesson

2013-05-08T12:13:00.001-07:00

I took Owen for his first official swim lesson at our gym last Friday. I was pretty sure he was going to love being in the water during our class. He loves to take baths, play in his kiddie pool, dunk his face in his water table and he did fine last year when we took him for his first swim.

After reading another blogger's tips for taking your toddler for their first swim lesson [I can't remember who wrote the post I'm referring to, so if it was you please remind me, because I'd like to link to your fantastic post] I decided to take him for a trial run. UPDATE: You can find the post written by Shana of sHe that I am referring to here!

So, on the Wednesday before his first lesson Owen and I went for a quick swim. We started out in the indoor pool where his lessons would take place, but Owen didn't feel comfortable in there. Maybe it was because it was just us and a private swim lesson in the entire pool at the time or that it was just so big and deep.

We ended up going outside to the kiddie pool to see if he liked that pool better--and did he ever!! As soon as we stepped foot in the kiddie pool he was smiling from ear to ear. I could tell he really loved the feeling of weightlessness the water gave him. He would dunk himself and then I'd pull him back up for air and he would just laugh.

Our experience on Wednesday made me feel good and sure that our swim lessons would go well. Owen was confident and comfortable in the water, but most of all he was happy, which is most important. I'm glad we did a test run.

If you're wondering about Owen's interesting looking hat it is a Kidzlidz UV Hat by Sun Protection Zone. It provides 100 SPF protection, has a drape to protect ears and neck, a brim to shade the face / eyes, and fits children from infant to 6 years. I bought ours at Costco in March. They do a "road show", so you can check their website to see when they'll be in your area.

Owen did amazingly well in our class on Friday. We did a lot of fun little activities and Owen smiled through the entire class, even when we dunked them (yep, on the first class). I would have thought Owen would have freaked out after being dunked under the water, but he was fine. Most of the other babies in the class cried--poor little sweeties.

He thought it was so funny when we tried to blow bubbles underwater and he loved jumping off the ledge into the pool and into my arms. His favorite part had to be at the end of the class when the teacher brought out a platform for the children to stand on. Owen could have stayed there all day. At one point he started dancing! That's how I knew he was having a good time!

I'm so glad we did our "test run" because it also allowed me the chance to see how the whole showering / changing / etc. would go since I am doing it all on my own. Other mommy friends have suggested to me that I should just take us both straight home after class and not attempt the shower. I always feel like I need to shower after being in the pool. Having the chlorine on my skin makes me feel sick. And I like to believe that I can handle anything when it comes to caring for Owen.

Anyway, it wasn't easy, but it was doable. It does help that my gym has an awesome Family Changing Room with personal little rooms with their own shower, hooks to hang your bags and a bench. I was worried about the whole showering / changing thing if I was going to have to do it in the regular locker room. It was so nice to not have to wrangle my child while we were both tired, dripping wet and in the nude in front of other people! So thankful for the privacy!

There is a shower curtain separating your changing area from your shower stall too, which keeps your little munchkin from drenching all your dry stuff, iPhone, wallet, etc.

He was so exhausted after our class, but happy. We made a quick stop at Costco on our way home for a few party essentials. Owen started to fall asleep sitting up in the cart, so I pulled him out and let him fall asleep on my shoulder.

I'm so proud of our little man!

In hindsight here are my tips for taking your little one to swim lessons on your own:

Come prepared, but don't bring too much. I brought easy to put on, comfortable clothes for each of us. I wore the same dress and flip flops home as I did when I took him there. This cut down on the amount of things I needed to keep track of.

And on that note, bring your stroller. After I got Owen showered and dressed it was nice to have a place to strap him into while I finished getting dressed and packed up. And he was pretty tired so it was nice for him to have a place to sit back, relax and drink his bottle.

Have a snack and milk for your child for after the class. Owen was exhausted and famished after all the excitement and exercise. I know I'm usually hungry for a snack and a drink after that much fun. A little something for you is nice too!

Do you have any helpful tips for swim class? I've only done this once, so I'm no expert, so I'd love to hear any tips I'm missing !

Our Favorite Jammies | Trendy Tot Tuesday

2013-05-07T06:18:00.001-07:00

Is there anything in this world sweeter than a toddler fresh out of the bath in a soft pair of pajamas?

I think not!

Case in point:

Side note: Look at how he's folding his hands in his lap! Such a little Man!

I am addicted to buying pajamas for our boy. I would have a new pair for him every night of the week if it were up to me. Although I love to find him new cute jammies, not all pajamas are created equal in my opinion. They don't all live up to my standards. I want them to be soft, not overly pricey, easy to get on / off and have ridiculously cute designs on them.

Owen's Zoo Stretchies are from The Children's Place

It has been well over a year since I've began buying pajamas for my sweet boy and I think I've finally come to know what works for us, the quality we expect and who makes the cutest stuff!

Target is an obvious choice, right? What isn't great and awesome that is sold at Target? The pajamas sold there are in the right price range {around $15 for the set shown above). We like the Just One You line, but not the Circo brand as much, because they just aren't as soft.

Old Navy & Gap have pretty similarly styled jammies, but the Gap ones are considerably more expensive. They're both pretty great quality and have adorable designs. I try to only buy the ones from Gap if there is a great discount since they are usually in the $25+ range.

The Children's Place is by far my very favorite place to stock up on pajama-jammy-jams for O. They meet all my criteria: soft and comfy, a good price, adorable designs. I love that the designs aren't cheesy (no monkeys on the butt, no "mommy loves me") too. Also, the footless ones are my fave. So cute!

I mean, how can you not love a baby in cozy jammies playing with his little toes?

I'm linking this post up for Trendy Tot Tuesday with Kelly, Lindsay and Megan. Be sure to stop by one of their blogs and check out all of the other adorably trendy tots!

Breastfeeding | Our Story

2013-05-05T21:44:00.002-07:00

Last week I guest blogged over on Julie's blog, The Girl in the Red Shoes and shared my breastfeeding story. I wanted to make sure I shared it here too in case anyone missed it.

There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to breastfeed our baby. My mom nursed my sister and I for the first 9 months of our lives (she only stopped because she stopped producing milk), and most every woman I know has done the same for their children. Besides the health benefits for mom and baby, it seemed to be the familiar thing to me. And to be honest, breastfeeding (because it was easy for us) was the easy way to go. I know all the bottle cleaning, sterilizing, drying, etc. would have stressed me out. Plus, I liked knowing that no matter where we went or for how long, I would always have enough milk for Owen.

Owen (8 months) and Mommy September 2012

My breastfeeding journey began in a pre-natal breast feeding workshop provided for a small fee at our hospital. While I don't think any class, book or video can fully prepare you for what you're about to embark on as a new parent, it does help to be as prepared as you can be. In the workshop we learned a few "secrets to success" like how to get a proper latch, nursing positions, etc. Of all the pre-natal course we took, I felt this course was the most beneficial.

After a long and exhausting labor (you can read Owen's birth story here) we ended up needing to deliver Owen through c-section, which delayed my milk supply initially. Like many babies Owen lost weight in the hospital, so they sent us home with formula to supplement my milk supply. It's hard to start a new journey already feeling like you're "failing", but I tried to not take it personally.

When I was looking back through my pictures to find photos for this post I was a little sad that I didn't have more pictures of Owen and I breastfeeding, because those we just the sweetest most special times in my memory. Sadly I don't have those pictures because it was obviously a private time. I remember the lactation consultant in the hospital telling to take some pictures because I would want to look back on them and that those were her favorite photos of her own and her children are grown.

We took Owen home 4 days after he was born. Everything was going pretty well until about 20 minutes after we had him home. I was nursing Owen on the couch in our living room and after he finished nursing I began to burp him just like I always did, but this time when he burped he spit up blood. We had only left the hospital an hour ago and our baby is spitting up blood. You can only imagine the panic we all felt. It was Sunday afternoon, so it took about a half an hour to get a doctor on the phone, but when we did we were relieved to hear that because the blood was bright red it was not blood coming from him. The doctor believed it to be blood from me when he was nursing--likely from a cracked nipple. He never spit up blood again and our doctor ruled out any other issues the next morning. Thank the Lord.

Milk Drunk - 10 days old

I was surprised by how painful the first week was. The pain was literally toe curling. I was not at all ready for how tender and raw I would be after Owen first began nursing. The lactation consultant gave me Soothies Gel Pads in the hospital and they saved me from any extended pain. We bought more as soon as we got home too. I wore them 24/7 in the first weeks. They would be a great gift for a nursing mother.

In the first year of his life Owen was up all hours of the night. I can count on one hand the number of times he slept through the night that year. The easiest and quickest way to get him back to sleep was for me to nurse him. When we "woke up" in the morning (I put those quotes there, because really? We were up all night long) I would nurse him first thing after changing his diaper. After that I would nurse every 3 hours or whenever he got cranky or needed a nap. We made the hugest mistake in always letting him nurse to sleep. He associated sleep with milk and sucking, and this made it impossible for him to fall back asleep on his own in the middle of the night.

The bond Owen and I created during our time nursing was the most rewarding aspect for me. We spent many a midnight hour cuddled up in bed or in the glider together, and while I missed the amount of sleep I was used to, the comfort that I provided for him in his new environment was invaluable. And despite being a winter baby, when illnesses are plentiful, Owen didn't have a single illness for the first eleven months of his life. I believe 100% that this was because he was breastfed.

I have to admit, I was surprised how easy it was for Owen and I, and that I was able to exclusively breastfeed him for almost a full year. I was prepared to not be able to. I had quite a few people prepare me for the worst, either through warning me or through their own experiences. I know women who's milk dried up, who gave up, who couldn't continue, who's baby didn't latch, etc. etc. I feel really lucky that we didn't have many challenges in this department--although we had more than our fair share of sleep related challenges!

Asleep on his mommy after nursing--per the usual.

It wasn't all cake though. I had my own issues with breastfeeding too...

Because I stay home with Owen I didn't need to pump much. I only pumped milk for him in the beginning for when I would be away from him, but trying to make sure I pumped enough milk for him and keeping my supply on track was stressful. I wanted to make sure I could breastfeed him for as long as possible and didn't want to look back and think that the times we had left him to go on dates (and the subsequent missed feedings) were the cause of my milk cutting back.

He was easy to nurse, he was a barracuda style feeder, according to my first year survival manual: What to Expect the First Year. He would even take a bottle, be it formula or breast milk, so at about 8 months we started giving him formula if I would be away from him. I felt some mommy guilt leaving him and having him drink formula. In hindsight, I shouldn't have felt so bad about that. There is nothing wrong with formula if it's what needs to be given.

My little cherub at 15-months! 72% in weight + 80% in height. MILK does a body GOOD!

Sometimes I worried if Owen was getting enough milk. This could have been because that was always the first thing people asked me if he was crying "Is he hungry?" or "Is he getting enough milk?". Honestly, I have probably asked other moms the same question, but it's kind of demeaning. It makes you doubt your ability to gauge your child's hunger and produce milk for him. But all things aside, I did worry because when you're breastfeeding it is hard to know how much your child is getting.

As time went on Owen and I became pros at nursing together. I could read his signs and knew what to do, and how and when to do it. I could literally do it with my eyes closed--as I often did in the middle of the night.

Our little family together at Owen's first birthday.

A few words of advice:

-Buy yourself some Soothies Gel Pads and store them in your refrigerator for when you come home from the hospital. You will be really sore and these will provide your poor nipples with some much needed relief!

-It's okay to be afraid. Everything is so new for both of you--this is a time of major adjustment for your new little family. It will take time to feel like you're back to ~~normal~~ your new normal.

-Remember that you know what is best for your child, after all, you are his/her mommy!

-Take pictures, videos, journal and enjoy every moment. It goes so very quickly and even though you're so tired you will look back on those memories with such joy!

Owen's Fifteen Month Favorite Things

2013-05-03T06:18:00.003-07:00

I think it's important to keep tabs on what the littles like. I love hearing about what other toddlers (I wish I could still call him a baby, but he is so not a baby anymore) are into because it gives me ideas for what Owen might like next. And it will be useful for us to be able to look back and see what was useful to us in certain months when we have baby #2 (not yet, folks)!

We've had this Lightning McQueen Push Toy for a few months now and it has continued to be one of Owen's favorite toys. It is one of the few toys that has grown with his interests. In the beginning he used it to help him get around before he could walk independently and now he actually rides on it and keeps his Little People Wheelies in it.

Owen's Bema (Keith's mom) gave him the Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship for his birthday. He thrives outdoors and this is the perfect little activity table to keep him busy while I sweep up the leaves and clean up after the dog. He especially enjoys sliding the pirate down the slide and says "wheeeee" while he does it.

We are in love with our Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Grub Scouts Sprinkler. Are you starting to get that this boy loves to play outside? We plug it into the hose in the front yard and O splishes and splashes until the sun goes down.

What boy doesn't love Legos? I think it's engrained in their DNA to find fun in building things with Legos, and then smashing it all down of course. We have lots of fun each day building with our Lego Duplo sets. We have the LEGO DUPLO My First Garden and the LEGO DUPLO Toddler Starter Building Set.

You're going to think this is so funny, but Owen loves to play "clean-up". I guess he's seen us sweeping the backyard, vacuuming the house, etc. and now he wants in on the "fun". He has a broom that we primarily play with outside when we're cleaning up the backyard. He'll even go find it if I ask him where his broom is!

Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies are such a fun toy to collect! They're only $3.99 each, so it's easy to snatch the up when we're out and it doesn't hurt our bank account too much! We have so many, I'm afraid to count them. Owen's favorite is Rex from Toy Story.

Of course no list of Owen's favorite things would be complete without his favorite book! Little Blue Truck Leads the Way is a book a I recommend for any little boy (or even little girl). The pictures are beautiful, the rhyme is fun and the message is good.

Melissa & Doug Animal Magnets Owen inevitably ends up in the kitchen with me many times a day and this magnets help distract him. We play with them a lot and use them to help Owen identify the different sounds the animals make. And it really helps that they're big, so they're aren't a choking hazard.

What toddler doesn't like music and dancing? They are one of Owen's favorite things for sure! And of course I love seeing my boy smile so big as he drops it like it's hot! Then I saw on Erin's blog that she has this fun guitar (the B. Woofer Hound Dog Guitar by B. Fun) for sweet Lex --and thought it would be perfect for Owen too! We immediately picked one up at Target.

And finally, the pièce de résistance, the toy Owen's Favorite Things list would not be complete without, the Little Tikes Anchors Away Water Play Table! Our outside loving, water playing, dirty little monkey is in heaven when he's splashing around with his table. It was a fantastic first birthday gift, as it supplies us all with lots of fun and entertainment!

There you have it! Owen's favorite toys will likely stay the same in the next month or two, possibly adding or removing a few things from the list, but I think his interest in playing outside, reading book and playing with cars will stay the same!

What is your little one into? What are your favorite toys to give as gifts?

Thoughts for Thursday

2013-05-02T10:34:00.003-07:00

Has anyone out there tried eMeals? You sign up online for like around $21 for three months and they give you full meal plans including a shopping list. You pick the store you most like to shop at and then they'll give you meals + a list to make the most of your budget. It sounds like fun to try out, but I'm a little choosey when it comes to our dinners. And what if I want to make something different (like some awesome recipe I've seen on Pinterest) on a certain night? Won't that mess up the whole sticking to their plan thing? Let me know your experiences if you've ever tried it.

Owen starts swim lessons tomorrow so we went for a "dry" (or should I say wet run, haha) run yesterday. He liked the feeling of being weightless in the water when he walked and would go "whooooa, whooooa"! I can see a lot of time will be spent in the kiddie pool this summer! He loved being outside in the kiddie pool but was a little scared of the big indoor pool. He was exhausted afterward.

Shows. What shows are you watching right now? I can't believe they're all winding down for the summer. Right now Keith and I watch Modern Family, The Office, Mad Men and Saturday Night Live. We each watch a whole handful of other shows on our own too. I just started watching a bit of Girls. I like the show, and you can call me a prude for saying this, but could definitely do without the vulgar stuff and the sexually explicit stuff. Also, Arrested Development is coming back for a season! Anyone but us watch that show?

California has adopted a plastic bag ban and it just became effective in San Mateo County, where we live. I'm all for the ban if it will help the environment, but I'm not too happy with having to pay for a bag if I forget to bring my own. Some places (ahem Toys R Us ahem) are charging .25 cents for a paper bag. That's robbery! Sometimes I'll even remember to bring my bags into the store but then forget to give them to the check out person and I won't realize it until I go to grab my things and by then it's too late. #firstworldproblems

I had a gel manicure (Shellac "Tropix") almost 3 weeks ago and it's holding up really well. Even with all the cleaning and cooking I do. The only thing keeping it from looking really good still is the growth in my nails. Seriously wish I could have a gel manicure all the time!

Now I'm off to read some blogs, check emails, make my Fiesta Party shopping list, write my to do list, revamp my Home Management Notebook and fold some laundry. Thrilling morning nap time, huh? That's all for now!

Guess Where I Am Today!

2013-05-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

I'm guest blogging today over on The Girl in the Red Shoes for part Julie's The Breastfeeding Diaries series! Julie has been hosting different moms each week to share their journey with breastfeeding thier little ones. If you haven't already been reading Julie's blog you'll definitely want to check it out!

I'm sharing my experience with breastfeeding Owen, what we struggled with, what was easy and why I decided to do it in the first place. Please swing by and check it out!

Slow-Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos

2013-04-30T06:02:00.002-07:00

Happy Tuesday, Friends! Here is a favorite slow cooker recipe of mine that is perfect for Cinco de Mayo or an easy dinner on any night of the week! I'm a huge fan of using my slow cooker whenever possible. [You can see the rest of my slow cooker recipes here in my Recipe Index] I love being able to throw dinner together early in the day and not worry about it until it's time to eat. AND this leave plenty of time for reading books and playing with trains!

for a printer-friendly version click here.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts (about four breasts)
1 12oz jar salsa verde
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
6 small flour tortillas
toppings: avocado, guacamole, tomatoes, salsa, cheese, cilantro, black beans, etc.

Begin by placing your frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Top with the entire jar of salsa, red onion and crushed garlic.

Side note: I always use frozen chicken breasts when making something in the slow cooker than I want to shred. I read somewhere that it shreds easier if you cook from frozen--but I think that only applies to slow cooking, and not regular cooking.

Put the lid on your slow cooker and set it on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4. I recommend cooking it on LOW, as it always seems to turn out more moist when done this way. Now go enjoy the rest of your day and don't worry about dinner until dinnertime!

About 30 minutes before it's time to serve remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place in a large bowl. Use two forks to shred the chicken and then put it back in the slow cooker for 20 minutes on HIGH so it soaks up all the extra salsa and juices. I added a few teaspoons of Chia Seeds this time to too help with the extra liquid and to give it an extra healthy "kick".

While the chicken gets it's last 20 minutes of slow cooking you can prep the rest of your ingredients. Heat the tortillas in a pan over medium heat with no cooking oil or spray to make them warm and crispy.

Once the 20 minutes is up top the tortilla with chicken and any toppings you desire!

Another little side note / tip: I like to use 0% Plain Greek-style yogurt mixed with a bit of taco seasoning instead of sour cream. Don't get me wrong, I looove sour cream, but this is the guilt-free way of still enjoying!

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe as much as we do and that you'll add it to your arsenal of easy dinners!

Come back tomorrow to see what I'll be guest blogging about over at Girl in the Red Shoes!

Weekly Bites + Our Fiesta Party Inspiration

2013-04-29T08:28:00.001-07:00

Good Monday Morning to you all! We've had a great weekend full of friends and family, and now we're looking forward to a mellow Monday. We're hanging out at home today catching up on laundry, getting out workouts in, enjoying a visit from my Grandpa and hangin' with our little cutie.

I wanted to share a few of the dinners I made for us last week. I was quite impressed with all three of them--all include fresh ingredients and were easy to prepare.

Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos

What I love about this easy dinner is that I usually have all of the ingredients for it on hand, so if I think to make it earlier in the day it is a real life saver when I don't know what to make. And of course, Mexican food is ~~our~~ my favorite kind of food, so it is always a crowd pleaser!

I'll be sharing this go to recipe tomorrow on the blog, so stay tuned!

Mediterranean Quinoa with Barbeque Chicken

This is a SkinnyTaste recipe I pinned recently and also my first experience with quinoa. All was a success and we really liked the quinoa. I'm planning another quinoa recipe for this week too.

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken with stir-fry veggies

Another great slow cooker recipe to add to my arsenal. This was a great alternative to ordering out Chinese food, which is so greasy and fattening. I served it with stir-fry veggies (the kind they sell at Trader Joe's that you just open up and dump in a pan) and on top of a bed of Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic.

Now, onto our plans for our Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!

Like I said at the beginning of this post, Mexican food is my favorite kind of food, so I love celebrating Cinco de Mayo! We're just having a few other families over next Saturday night for a little taco night, but of course I have to take the opportunity to jazz it up a bit. We love to entertain!

We're going keep the food simple with individual seven-layer dips, chips and mango salsa and a Make Your Own Taco bar. And of course the drinks are just as important. I'll be mixing up Water Mellon Agua Fresca and Blue Moon Beergaritas.

I've been given an adorable party package from Minted, which will (fingers crossed!!!) make it here in time for the part. I already own the blow glass margarita glasses, and plan to purchase a few more fun things to make the party complete!

Will you be celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Have you tried any new recipe lately that you've liked? Clue me in in the comments below so I can give them a try too! Happy Monday, friends!

Five Things for Friday

2013-04-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here are five things I'm thinking about today...

Owen's love of reading. The number one way to distract him from something and keep him happy when he's cranky is to read to him. He is always game for some reading time. You say the word "book" and it gets his attention and many times a day he brings me a book to read to him. He'll cry if I don't sit down to read right away. I love what this says about him as a learner. I'm not saying this makes him a genius in the making (but maybe it does!), because I know lots of toddlers love books, but it shows he's curious and an early love of books can equal a life long interest in reading. It also makes me feel like I'm really doing something right with this mothering gig.

Blog posts that spoke to me this week. I felt like these bloggers knew exactly what I've been thinking about lately. Loves of Life On Becoming a Gym Junkie, Running from the Law Score Keeping and A Wedding Story So We Started Juicing, Power of Moms Joy or Just Wait? Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers Living Within Your Means. I wish I kept score less, spent less, got started juicing and went to the gym more. Some things to work on for next week.

Cash envelopes and keeping our budget in check. Speaking of living within one's means...Who likes that word, budget? Not me. Never have, never will. To me it's synonymous with deprivation. We're trying to be better about our spending and saving habits. It just doesn't come easy, so we've made a plan. We're doing a Cash Envelope method to control our extra spending each week. This will likely be easier for Keith than it will for me since I'm out and about most days, so my opportunity for spending is greater. And I do most of our shopping (gifts, random home necessities, stamps, etc.). But really though I'm excited about being more mindful. I often overspend on things that are totally not a "need" (ahem, Target, ahem).

The weekend. We've got a good one ahead of us! Owen and I are headed to visit friends today who are visiting from NY. The drive to see them is about 45 minutes from us each way, so wish me luck that O is a happy traveler this morning / afternoon. Tomorrow we're celebrating our niece and nephew's birthdays and spending time with family that will be staying with us. Nothing is on the agenda for Sunday or Monday but I'm sure we'll fill it with something fun and exciting!

Next week. I'll be guest blogging over at Girl in the Red Shoes, sharing my inspiration for a Cinco De Mayo fiesta we're going to throw, sharing another great slow-cooker recipe and then there's real life too! Owen's first swim lesson is next Friday!

Have a happy weekend, friends!

Gifts for YOUR Mom + an Exclusive Discount from Minted

2013-04-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

I was not compensated for this post, but I have used affiliate links for the products featured here today.

Like I pointed out earlier in the week, Mother's Day is right around the corner, and I know we're all dying to shower our lovely mother's with love (and gifts!)! Hang in there through the end of the post to get your discount code!

I don't know about you, but I always think a personalized gift shows so much thought and effort. And there's just something so important about paper goods imprinted with one's own name.

As always, Minted has some fabulous gifts just right for the season. I've got my eye on a few things for my own mom for this Mother's Day!

The Heritage Tree Custom Art Print

In my opinion a family tree is a must on any gallery wall. This print would be beautiful framed in one of Minted's custom frames.

Four Generations Custom Art Print

I am in love with this print. The photos in it will be your own photos of four generations of your family. What an amazingly personal gift!

Bubble Apothecary Jars

Apothecary jars a great piece for entertaining and decorating because they are so versatile. I own one similar to this one and I style it differently for each holiday--shiny ornaments at Christmas, delicate eggs during Easter and filled with candy for on ANY occasion!

The Perfectionist Journals

Journals like this are perfect for keeping track of your gift log, to do lists or favorite bible verses. You can add a custom interior to include photos and a detailed message too. And Each journal comes with your choice of 40 lined, unlined or graph paper interior pages.

I've been a huge fan of Minted ever since we ordered our wedding save-the-date cards from them back in 2009!

AND as a treat for all of YOU Minted has offered to give Meet the Sullivans readers a special 10% off discount on all of their Mother's Day gifts + free shipping! Just ENTER: MTS10SHIP at checkout. The code is valid 4/26-5/8 and will only be valid for Mother’s day gifts that we are offering!

Happy shopping, friends!

A Day in the Life

2013-04-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

It has been nearly 9 months since my last day in the life style post. I know this isn't very interesting to most of you, unless you're like me and love seeing how other people spend their days. I'd like to do one every so often so that someday I can look back and see what our days were like at any given age, 'cause I know me and I'll love being able to do that.

So here is what yesterday, Wednesday April 24th 2013, looked like for us.

6:00am We hear Owen on the monitor. He's fussing a little, which means he's waking up. Keith skipped his workout this morning, so he goes to get Owen and I head downstairs to get a baba and coffees for us. The three of us lay in bed together drinking our morning beverages and watching Barney. I also check Instagram, Twitter and Feedly on my phone.

6:30am We play "parachute" with the duvet with Owen. He loves burrowing down under the blankets.

7:00am I make the bed, straighten up our rooms and get dressed for the gym while Keith plays with Owen.

7:30am Keith goes to shower and get ready for work while I take Owen downstairs for breakfast. The housekeepers are coming this afternoon, while Owen eats breakfast (a green smoothie and apple cinnamon puffs and a few yogurt melts) I run around putting things back in their place so they can clean.

8:00am We play out in the backyard for a little while and half-watch a cartoon while also playing with cars and trains.

8:30am We say bye to Keith and head out the door for the gym. I drop Owen off at the childcare and he cries as I leave him. That will never get easier for me. I hate leaving him when he's upset.

I do a quick workout on the Arch Trainer and some body weight exercises and stretch. I watched Kelly & Michael while I did cardio and it really made the time go by quickly. They're so funny and I think they have great chemistry. Kelly is in such great shape (although maybe too thin?)--she's an inspiration.

9:45am I go to pick Owen up and see he is outside in the play area eating a graham cracker snack with the rest of the kids. He looks like he's having a ball, so my guilt from earlier melts away.

10:00am Owen falls asleep in the car on the way home, so I (successfully!!!) transfer him to his crib. While he sleeps I empty + load the dishwasher, prep dinner in the slow cooker, shower and answer emails.

10:50am Owen wakes up from his nap, it was pretty short at only 40 minutes. We read a books in his room for about a half hour before we head downstairs.

11:30am I prepare our lunch while Owen plays on his own for a bit. I also take advantage of the lovely natural light in the kitchen and spend a minute photographing the quinoa I made the night before.

12pm I had leftovers for lunch and Owen had a cheese quesadilla + avocado + apple. He really only ate the quesadilla and a tiny bit of apple. At least I tried, right? After lunch we play and read more books and I get us packed up to leave the house.

1:00pm The housekeepers arrive right as we are leaving for the bank and our Gymboree class. Perfect timing! This means I won't have to avoid coming home for too long.

1:30pm We have a blast at Gymboree--we haven't been in a few weeks. It's so nice to see our teacher and some of our friends. Owen is in his element here. There are safe structures to climb, music, other babies and fun galore! I'm reminded why we fork over $70 each month.

2:30pm We leave Gymboree and head to Old Navy. I need to find a bathing suit that's appropriate for our swim class (read: not a bikini) that we'll be starting next week. I have no luck finding something I like, so we stop by Barnes & Noble to play with the train table.

3:30pm Owen would have stayed there all day. He was just quietly playing, and so happy, but I had to tear him away since it was past nap time, which resulted in a meltdown. I'm the meanest mommy ever, apparently.

4:00pm We arrive home and see my sister-in-law Kelly and niece Natalie have stopped by! We hang with them for a while playing and catching up. We always enjoy their company and it was really nice to see them.

5:00pm It looks like Owen won't be going down for an afternoon nap after all, so I do my best to keep him entertained until Keith gets home. In between laying in the kitchen floor coloring in a giant coloring book, playing with magnets, going "beep, beeeeep" with cars and reading some more books I prep the toppings for our taco dinner.

6:00pm Keith gets home from work and whisks Owen upstairs with him while he changes. I get dinner on the table and we eat.

6:30pm After dinner Owen and Keith read some more while I clean up.

7:00pm Since Owen skipped his second nap he is so so ready to go to bed early. We bring him up, change his diaper, put him in jammies and a sleep sack and Keith rocks him while he drinks his final baba for the night.

He fell asleep really quickly, so Keith and I have the night to ourselves. I blog, catch up on reading blogs and check my emails. Keith watches basketball and plays some video games. We love vegging out after a long day!

10:00pm I got sucked into the movie Keith turned on (Zombieland) even though I've seen it many times. We head up to bed way past my bed time. Good night!

Mother's Day is Right Around the Corner...

2013-04-23T21:27:00.003-07:00

So I thought I would give just a little reminder to the men in my life! Just a few little hints as to what might make the middle of the night bottles, piles of laundry and dirty dishes a little more enjoyable for Mommy. Hint, hint, hint.

clockwise

[Superfood Kitchen cookbook by Julie Morris]

I just saw someone on Instagram posting about this cookbook and it really caught my interest. From the amazon description: "entirely composed of plant-based, nutrient-dense, and whole foods that energize, nourish, and taste delicious. Each recipe artfully combines natural ingredients that deliver amazing amounts of antioxidants, essential fatty acids (like omega-3), minerals, vitamins, and more."

[Gold Pearl Monogram Bracelet from Crystal Faye]

It's just so very pretty! I don't think I own a single thing with my married monogram besides the thank you notes I used after our wedding. My monogram is cSp just in case anyone is wondering.

[Homegrown Monogram Mug from Anthropologie]

My favorite time of day is when Owen wakes up in the morning and we have baba's and coffee in bed together while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. A pretty new mug really does make the coffee taste better--that is a scientific fact.

[Kate Spade Le Pavillion Laptop Sleeve]

Can you believe I don't have a sleeve for my MacBook Pro? It's only a wee bit older than Owen yet I haven't even thought to buy it some protection. Honestly, we'd just be protecting our investment, right?

[Philosophy 'Amazing Grace' Fine Perfume]

My signature perfume that I've been wearing for as long as I can remember. I love it, and my current bottle is almost dry.

Obviously it would be nice to have any of these things, but what I really want for Mother's Day is to spend the afternoon playing somewhere, preferably outside, with these two stud muffins.

After all, I wouldn't be a mommy if it weren't for them!

Lions and Tigers and Bears

2013-04-23T10:31:00.001-07:00

...oh my!

Yesterday we took Owen on his first trip to the San Francisco Zoo. We had all a blast, and I have to say this was the most fun I've ever had at a zoo.

Owen napped on the 30 minute ride from home to the zoo. I think he was pleasantly surprised to wake up somewhere so fun and interesting!

It had been years since either Keith or I had been to the San Francisco.The last time I went was a few years ago when I was working at St. Pius and Keith couldn't remember the last time he went. We had fun reminiscing about all of our memories of going as kids. Anyone remember the elephant keys? The elephant exhibit? Those awful animal-shaped plastic containers of "juice", which was likely some version of Kool-Aid?

Our first stop was the giraffe / zebra sanctuary. It's amazing to see the giant, tall as a house so close up. I wonder if this guy reminded Owen of his Sophie?

After that we booked it across the zoo to see the Grizzly Bears for their 11:30 feeding. It was so crowded outside their "Grizzly Gulch" that we didn't really get to see them eating. Maybe a good thing though, right? Might have been traumatic. Anyway, we were able to watch them run around (they were really active after eating and with all the attention) and one ran right up to the window where we were watching. It stood there on all fours before standing all the way up on its hind legs.

Owen would have gladly crawled right into the polar bears den. I'm sure he thought he was a big cuddle lab like the one he has at home!

The seal's pool was being refilled with water and the seals were having a ball sliding around their habitat as though it were a water park.

Owen was going "Weeeee! Weeeee!" as we watched them slip and slide!

I wish we would have prioritized riding the train during our visit, because I know Owen would have loved it. He waved so excitedly to all the passengers as it zoomed past us. We'll make sure to ride it next time!

The gorillas are so cute and their habitat is really green and pretty! We saw the silver back gorilla rush another gorilla as it was trying to eat some celery the zoo keeper was tossing in. We all jumped back a bit. He was really really aggressive.

On a semi-unrelated note, I've been having so much fun with my camera and getting used to shooting in manual mode. I'm finally figuring out the whole f-stop / shutter speed thing--although don't ask me to explain in any technical terms. My explanation would likely include terms like "thingy" and "the button near the thingy".

The little man would prefer to push the stroller rather than ride in it. This is how we spent much of the day walking around.

There is a beautiful grass field full of yellow flowers (daisies?) that we loved playing on. Toward the end of the day we just let Owen lead the way. He was getting fussy and didn't want to be carried or redirected at all, so we just followed him--and this is where he wanted to be.

Spinning in circles and saying "Whoooa! Whoooa! Whoooa!" is one of his favorite things to do. It's even funnier when Daddy does it too!

Stopping to smell the flowers. I'm glad he pauses to enjoy the little things!

You'd think Owen was hired for the day as part of the Zoo's Welcoming Committee because he took it upon himself to greet many other zoo goers. He walked over to the man in the top picture, who was watching his daughter play, sat down and started to "chat". He high fived the older men as they walked past and then started following them as they walked in the opposite direction. I can foresee I am going to have a lot of stranger danger talks with my young man.

Owen's reaction to the baby elephant sculpture was too cute. I think he though it was alive! He was putting his hand around the trunk trying to get it to walk with him and then he just stood there staring at it. Eventually he gave up and moved on.

By the time we made it to the Children's Zoo area Owen was spent. It was a lot of walking for him--which he loved!--and he was just saying "Baa, baa, baa", which means he wants his bottle of milk. He surrendered to being put in the stroller and just mellowed out while we walked back to the car.

This was one our most fun family outings! Now that Owen is steady enough to walk on his own for periods of time he has so much fun exploring. The zoo is generally a safe place for him to look around and explore so long as one of us is on his tail at all times. He's also able to appreciate what is going on around him and is intrigued by all of the animals.

Our tickets were half price because we have a CuriOdyssey membership. The food / drinks aren't too over priced, but there is really only one place to eat. I think next time we'll pick up sandwiches on our way. The train and some other rides like the carousel are a few extra dollars if you want to ride them.

I think you can tell from this full on Closed Eye Belly Laugh that Owen had a blast! Pretty soon he'll be begging to go everyday!

Owen is 15 Months!

2013-04-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Owen,
This week you turned fifteen months old! You sure are looking and acting like a Big Boy these days. We are having so much fun together playing outside and reading books that our days go by in the blink of an eye! You sure are fun!

Stats - 24 lbs 4 oz (72nd percentile) and 32 inches tall (80th percentile). You are currently wearing a size 6 1/2 shoe. All proof you're not only acting like a Big Boy, but you're looking like one too!

Health - Happy to report you've had no colds, etc this month! Your pediatrician is very happy with your growth and says you're in excellent health!

Sleep - You're still doing pretty well with your sleep, although you're not sleeping through the night as much as you were last month, you go back to sleep easily when you do wake up.

Naps have become a bit of an issue. If you go down too late for your morning nap it is not likely that you'll take an afternoon nap. You seem to do okay without taking the afternoon nap on the days when you skip it, so as long as you're happy then I'm happy. I just wish that if you really were going to drop a nap that it would be the morning one. I'd love for us to be able to get out of the house early to get errands done, etc. and then head home in time for you to have your lunch and then go down for an afternoon nap (one of those glorious 3 hour ones other mommies speak of).

I read that if I try to keep you from taking your morning nap later and later (maybe by 30minutes a day) it will eventually become your afternoon nap and will force you to drop your morning one. While this seems like a great idea, I don't want to force you into only taking one nap.

I really can't complain too much though, because you surprised me with a 2 1/2 hour nap yesterday from 12:30-3pm!

Verbal - You are saying LOTS of words with meaning these days! "Baba" for bottle "Beeeeep Beeeeep" when you're playing with your cars (and sometimes your trains), "neigh" for a hose, "moo" for a cow and SO many more.

Also, when asked to identify your eyes, nose, ears, belly button or feet you point to the correct body part, and sometimes you'll identify it on me or daddy instead. You also like to point to almost any animal with four legs and call it a "dog". You like to find a nose and eyes on just about anything.

Food - Your appetite when it comes to solids has been a point of concern for me in the last week. You are a picky eater, there is no denying that, but in last week you've been eating like a bird. You've even refused your favorites (tortillas and cheese). The doctor said to keep offering the fruits and veggies and that eventually you'll probably decide on some that you like. He isn't too concerned though, since you're growing so strong and so big!

Monkey, I am so happy to spend all day home with you--I wouldn't trade our one-on-one time for anything in the world. You are so sweet, passionate and friendly. You are the most important thing in the world to me! You are our biggest blessing!

xoxo,

Mommy