BIG HEADED KIDS! SO WHAT?

Well I'm a little late, but here is the update on baby Noa's 5 month check up.  Here are the percentiles:

weight - 13.9 lbs - 25%
length - 25 inches - 50%
head - here's the doosy - 43.4 - 90%

Of course, her big head is to hold all those amazing brains she has.  Just like her brother.  Our kids have big heads; fact.  The good news is, the Dr. said she is well beyond her age in milestone wise, which we already knew.  She is rolling all over the place (that started at 10 weeks), loves tummy time, is trying to figure out how to crawl, and is starting to be interested in big kid food.  She loves to watch her brothers, and I can tell you already that she will be Branson's biggest cheerleader, especially when it comes to mischief.  Too cute, really.  The Dr. also noticed that Noa is very attached.  To me. Like extremely.  The girl will not let me out of her sight.  The only person that she might let console her is Ryan.  But if it's after 6 pm and she can't see me?  FORGET ABOUT IT.  My poor babysitter doesn't know what to do, she's never met a baby she can't soothe.  It's kinda cute and endearing, really, but it makes getting anything done impossible. 

Branson is doing great.  He is so smart.  Knows all his letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and has started saying amazing things like, "don't yell at me!" and "I don't want to go home, never ever ever EVER!!!!".  Pretty cool, huh?  Really though, he is the light of my life.  the boy is just a roller coaster of emotions for both him and me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  He is cautious but daring, smart and witty, sweet and mischievous all at once.  The best part is that a few weeks ago he decided that people food is kinda cool.  Like taco's, enchilada's, salads, steak.  Thank GAWD we aren't limited to corn dogs and chicken nuggets anymore. 

Keenan is almost done with school, and it will be a bitter sweet summer.  He has decided to go back to St. Louis next year for school.  We were so happy to have him here, and he knows the door is always open for him to return.  We are all going to miss him, but I have to say it will be so nice not to nag him about chores and homework anymore!  We will get to have him and spoil him for vacations now, which is always a good time :)

Ryan is running his second 50 mile race this weekend.  He's just crazy.  And we love him.  He is in killer shape, and is such an inspiration to me!  I've hired a trainer to try and catch up with him.  Wish me luck!

SPRING IS HERE!

And spring time is here!  What a beautiful day.  This whole last week has been amazing.  The kids are happier, mom and dad are happier.  So much joy!  And my yard is just GORGEOUS right now!
 

So much to report on, I'll try to keep to short points.

*Ryan ran his 50 mile race on Easter weekend.  He KILLED it. 


*We spent easter with his family in Sacramento for breakfast, then headed home for a quiet afternoon.  Everyone was pooped out!


*We celebrated easter at our house the weekend after, when Keenan was home.  It was a lovely brunch.  Genoa slept the entire time :)



* Genoa is teething.  What happened to my happy girl???? (she's 4 months now!)


*Our photographer made a website for Genoa.  It's amazing.
http://www.genoawinterpeel.jessilemayphotography.com/

*Branson started Gymboree and LOVES it.  He has been so happy lately.  Fewer tempertantrums and lots of love.

*Keenan has decided to move back to St. Louis next year :( we will miss him, but will be excited to have him here on holidays and vacations! 


*My very best friend Chrissy is now Dr. Lamun!  Congrats on finishing dental school!  We can't wait to see you in a few weeks.

MY FAVORITE SALAD

Spring and summer (really anytime of the year) have me craving a big healthy salad.  It's so easy to take whatever you have in your cubbards and fridge and throw it all together with greens and dressing.  I have a few staples I add to mine every time, like beets, hearts of palm, celery and tomatos.  But I also love to throw in leftover rice, roasted/steamed veggies, hummus or bbq'd meat.  Use your imagination!  I think the key to the whole thing is to find your favorite lite dressing.  For me it's a toss up between Newman's Own Light Semsame Ginger, or Braggs Organic Ginger and Sesame. 

"LOOK, MOMMA!"

I had my first poop insident as a mom last week.  I laid my sweet little innocent boy down for a nap in just his t-shirt, socks and diaper.  We had been playing hard and he was hot so i thought it would help him sleep better.  2 hours later, I hear him in his room talking to himself as I was nursing Noa.  Usually this just means he is taking his time waking up, maybe reading a book or playing with a toy in his room.  For some odd reason, even though he is in a big boy bed now, he still won't come out of his room when he wakes up with out me going in to get him.  Anyhow.  I finished nursing the baby and go in to get him.  Half way down the hall I smell what must have been the biggest poopy diaper EVER.  I walk in the room, take one look and a boy, a bed, and everything on the bed covered in s-h-you know what.  He says, ever so cutely really, "Look Momma!  Poop EVERYWHERE!".  Yes, yes it was.  I think I stood there for a full 30 seconds not knowing quite what to do.  Do I strip him first?  Do I strip the bed? Do I throw everything including him into the car wash down the street?  Finally my maternal instincts kicked in, I got Branson in the shower (where he screamed like I was torturing him.) with a lot of soap, got him out and dressed, and told him, "DO NOT COME IN THIS ROOM WHILE I CLEAN UP! POOP STAYS IN YOUR DIAPER OR IN THE BIG BOY POTTY!!!!!".  His reply was a sweet smile with, "momma clean up poop everywhere!".  Yes, yes I did.  I had to throw away his favorite turtle/star night light (thank God he found Genoa's ladybug one, or I would have had to go to the store after that), I Clorox wiped everything even if it was 10 feet away from the poop and had none on it, and then I started the 3 loads of laundry, which I had just done the day before.  All the while Branson was all smiles, as if he knew this was something I had to experience as a mom to a terrible 2-er.  Of course I was FUMING.  When my life saver (aka the babysitter) got here I think I said something to the effect of "me go gym" and I left.  30 minutes later and sweat pouring down my back, I got in my car and had a good chuckle about the situation.  Branson proceeded to tell EVERYONE what he did, and that now he knows poop stays in the diaper or big boy potty.  And everyone had a good laugh at my expense.  Including myself.  I'm pretty sure almost every kid does something like this.  Especially a 2 year old boy, who is really almost potty trained and really into anything and everything.  I'm just thankful he didn't eat it.  At least I don't think he did.

2 MONTHS

Yesterday my baby girl turned 2 months old!  We had a nice visit to the Dr.  Ok, it wasn't so nice because she was getting her shots, and it hurt my feelings a little more than it hurt hers.  She is 10 lbs 10 oz's, and 23 inches long!  Big girl!  Healthy though, of course.  Dr. Pat said I should obviously not worry about her reflux too much, since she is growing so well.  So she got her shots, and later that evening had a terrible reaction.  He leg was swollen, hot, red, and in pretty bad pain.  She would scream at the slightest movement or touch, and ran a fever of about 100 until 2 am.  We also took Branson with us because I was pretty sure he had a sinus/ear infections.  Which he does.  But he also "might have a foreign object in his ear".  WHAT???? "It kind of looks like a BB.  Perfectly spherical."  Holy SH*T!  Dear lord lets hope not!  So we go back to get that checked out in 2 weeks.  Yay.  Can't wait.


Here is Noa at 2 months old! Smiley Girl :)

ROYAL BREAKFAST

two blog posts in one day!  aren't you all so lucky :)

It's totally possible to eat like a Queen and still eat healthy.  Here is my example of a royal breakfast (dairy free, of course):

1 corn/flour tortilla
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 avocado, diced
1/4 cup diced veggies (today I used red & green bell pepper)
rice or soy "cheese"
Worcestershire (Does ANYONE know how to spell this???, lucky for me there is spell check)
tobasco
salsa
cooking spray
salt & pepper to taste

whisk egg, egg white, a dash or Worcestershire, tobasco, and veggies together in a bowl.  spray pan, and add contents.  Scramble until liked done-ness.

place tortilla on baking sheet, spread diced avocado on tortilla.  Top with scramble and "cheese".  Broil on hi until cheese is melted.  Remove, top with salt & Pepper and salsa.  Enjoy!

SUNDAY MORNING

It's Sunday morning and I'm up enjoying a cup of Chai tea and a little one on one time with Branson.  It's not really one on one of course, because Genoa (even though she is sleeping) grunts, fusses and works on moving that gas bubble every few minutes.  But, Branson and I have really been needing some serious mommy/son time.  I think this week I will do something special just with him.  Maybe the park, or the toy store.  I miss spending time with my little miracle. 

Speaking of which.  It's funny how your kids take on certain personality and traits.  For instance.  While I consider every child to be pure and innocent, Genoa really is the essence of that.  The only time you will hear her cry is if she is hungry or fighting sleep.  She really is my Angel.  Branson, on the other hand, has always been a mover/shaker/goer/doer.  And I can honestly say I know why they call it the "terrible twos".  This boy keeps me on my toes every second of everyday.  He can go from happiest child on the planet, batting those amazing long black eyelashes at you, to throwing his choo choo train right at you in two seconds flat.  Thank God he also is remorseful after he does something of the sort.  My point is, Genoa is my little Angel, and Branson is my little Miracle.  Not to be confused with each other. 

Today marks day 6 of no dairy for me.  I cut it out to see if it will help Genoa's reflux.  It is recommended that you go at least 2 weeks before seeing the full effect it can have.  I strongly believe I'm seeing a difference in her, but more amazingly, there is a HUGE difference in how I feel.  I have more energy (despite the lack of sound sleep I seem to not be getting these days), I feel light and able, and more clear minded.  Recent studies are saying that dairy is not quite the package we are led to believe it to be.  As someone who has suffered severe issues with kidney stones, I find it interesting that they are now showing a direct correlation between the two.  Our good friend Graham passed on some wonderful reading to me, where someone said something to the effect of, cows milk is made to have enough calcium and nutrients to make a calf grow from newborn size to a 300 lb cow in a year.  So why in the hell would we think we need that much calcium!  Whatever calcium our bodies do not need is passed through and made into terrible things like kidney stones.  I also had an instance where I had severe shoulder pain as a teenager in the middle of the night, went to ER, had an x-ray done, and it turns out I had calcium deposits in there.  So.  My body (and probably yours too) has an issue absorbing excess calcium.  To make a long story short, I'm loving being dairy free, and am blessed to have the support of my household (except Branson, he still gets yogurt and cheese if he wants it).  Being healthy is a way of life, and something you have to commit 100% to.  You can make small changes at a time, no need to do something drastic.  Work out for 20 minutes today.  IF you can do it again tomorrow go for it!  Don't eat meat today.  IF you have to have it, only have it a few times a week.  Brush your teeth twice a day floss every other day.  You get the picture.  We need to be pro active in our own well being.  And we as a whole, need to stop relying on the pharmaceutical company's to "help" us get better.  Do we really need a pill for everything?  I strongly believe that feeling pain and discomfort is our bodies way of keeping us in check, and more importantly reminding us that we are alive and should feel every real feeling out there, not mask it with a pill. (side note, I'm talking about minor things here; cold/flu/sore throats, not serious infections or diseases, I'm thankful every day for what modern day medicine can do to help ailing people). (another side note, did you know milk has a grotesque amount of PUSS in it?  Think of that next time you pour a glass).