Today I decided to use the massage gift card that my girlfriends bought me. Perhaps I should call it another push present?!

Last weekend I walked 5 blocks to have some lunch at Potbelly’s. When I got there I realized 5 blocks was the limit my body could handle.

This weekend I barely made it the two blocks to the Blueberry Moon Spa without stopping to bend over and rest. By the time I got there, I really needed a massage!

The scents that wafted over me when I entered reminded me of my days in Hong Kong. This spa is an Aveda spa and I was an Aveda junkie back then, in large part because of my gay best friend’s job as Managing Director of Ferragamo and other brands they owned including Aveda. Oh how I miss you Tom! I haven’t taken such good care of myself before or after we lived in the same town. He always knew what a girl needed.

“I must come back and buy some of these wonderful products that I’d forgotten all about!” I thought.

As usual, my uterus proceeded me. I am not able to go anywhere nowadays without hearing twin stories, asking when I’m due and getting guesses on the sex. And I love it. I’m really going to miss all the attention I’ve been getting lately! There is so much positive energy people throw your way when you are pregnant.

The massage, put on my a lady named Puji, was heavenly. It was done on a regular massage table but she strategically placed pillows all around for comfort. I tried my hardest to stay awake but her rhythmic motions lulled me into a coma like state. All too soon the hour was up.

I could have used her again after I walked to two blocks back home, but overall I was pleased that I managed to squeeze in another massage before these babies popped out. Who knows when I’ll have that kind of freedom again after they are here…

How many moms out there have had the same experience I’ve had with old Disney films? You remember them so fondly and want to share them with your kids. But when you sit down to watch the film as an adult, you can’t figure out why you liked it in the first place?

We bought Dumbo recently. And sat down to watch it as a family.

He can fly!

The story line was basically that if you are different, you will be punished. But after an alcohol induced hallucination where you wake up in a tree and realize you can fly, you can use your talents to become famous and get what you want.

Not sure what the lesson is here. Or even if they had one. It certainly isn’t like modern day animation, where the lesson is clear. Even the bad guys can turn good (Megamind, Despicable Me), or the importance of family (Incredibles, Lion King), or even loyalty (Toy Story).

I basically walked away thinking that when Jack sees us drink Champagne he probably thinks we become delusional, and that if your parents stand up for you they might get locked away.

Nikon D3100

I always said it was a stupid and unnecessary idea, the ‘push present’. The idea that your husband should buy you something just because you pushed a kid out. In the past, I always vetoed it. Newborns are expensive enough, and they are something you both decided on together. No one expects the stay at home mom to give her husband a present for supporting your growing family, do they?

But now that I’ve gotten my own push present, I take it all back! Yesterday Adam bought me a very expensive new camera that I have been eye balling for a long time. He called it a ‘push present’.

I didn’t protest. Thanks Adam!!!

This week I received parsnips, tomato puree, asparagus, yukon potatos, arugula, spinach & chives.

So, what to do with this assortment?

April 11th Fresh Picks

I had already bought a pound of grass fed ground beef which I was planning on making into bolognese sauce. So I used the tomato puree in that. Just saute finely chopped onion, carrot and celery (recipe suggests 2 tablespoons but I add much more and it tastes great) in olive oil for about 5 minutes until tender. Then add ground beef and some salt. Get some of the pinkness out, like about 3 or 4 minutes. Then add a cup of milk, simmer for 10 or 15 minutes. Then add a cup of white wine for another 10 or 15 minutes. Finally add two cans of diced tomatoes (I used the tomato puree and one can of diced tomatoes). Simmer at your lowest setting for 3 hours. Serve over whole wheat pasta and top with parmesan. Yummy!

The parsnips, yukon gold potatoes, and asparagus got put in with roast veggies. I like to clean out my fridge this way. Anything I have, zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, peppers can be added. Just toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast at 350 for an hour. I put it next to any meat. I decided to bake salmon in a little olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper this time. I still had extra parsnips but they last a long time in the fridge so I can use them again the next time I need a veggie clean out.

Spinach was paired with almonds, cranberries, and feta with a balsamic vinaigrette for a side salad.

Chives also got put in a salad. I love Jamie Oliver’s chopped salad. If you’ve been to my house a few times, chances are you’ve had it. Romaine, tomatoes, diced red pepper, diced red onion, feta, chives, basil, mint and parsley. I add chick peas from a can and sliced salami to make it a meal.

I didn’t think I could pass another salad off on Adam, so with the little bit of arugula I had, I made a little salad for myself for lunch. Used a recipe from Ina Garden with stuff I already had in my fridge – Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad.

Jack lost another tooth today. He already has his bottom two permanent teeth so I assumed the top two would go next. Oddly, it was the tooth next to the top front two.

He did it while biting into a strawberry. He bled and he cried. And once again, he was scared of the tooth fairy flying into his window. Last time we gave him a roll of coins to put in his piggy bank, but even the lure of money couldn’t abate his fears.

This time I decided to try an old trick that my father used to do to me. When the tooth fairy visited our house, it was never as simple as just waking up to money under your pillow.

Elaborate ruses were concocted. One time he wrapped all my money in a box, then a bigger box, then a bigger box and well, you get the idea. Often I would have to follow a trail of clues. Once he ended the search with my money in a jar at the bottom of the pool. I had to get my bathing suit on and jump in for it.

So last night, after he was safely tucked away in his bed, I decided to make my own treasure hunt for him. I photocopied a drawing of our upstairs floor plan and then used a red crayon to mark the different places he’d have to search for clues. For example, one led to the dining room table. The clue was taped under it.

Finally he found the money with the last clue. He loved it so much he wanted to put all the clues back so he could share them them with his friends!

Prices went up since the Tooth Fairy Visited Me!!!

Watching the Cows get Milked

Thursday was one of those days were I tried to do too much and as a result felt like a failure at everything.

I was planning on meeting my friends Hedy and Elissa at the Nature Museum. I knew that Jack had a school field trip planned that day at the farm. But in truth, I couldn’t help chaperone because I couldn’t walk the long walk, and with Ben it’s very hard to watch even one other kid, much less a group. I was worried I would be more trouble then help. So I decided not to go.

But in the morning, Jack asked if I was going. Then he asked Ben if he wanted to go. Ben said over and over again all morning, “Yeah! yeah! I want to go to the farm with Jack!”

What should I do? I didn’t want to disappoint Jack and Ben. But I wanted to meet my friends too!

I decided to go meet Hedy and Elissa first, then meet Jack later. But when I dropped Jack as school the teacher told me she didn’t know how long they would be there and if I was coming later, call first. As I was driving to the Museum, I drove past the class walking on the street. Ugh.

I called Hedy and rearranged, I’d go meet Jack first then meet Hedy and Elissa.

Luckily I found a great spot right outside the farm. Thank goodness I wouldn’t need to walk much. Sometimes when I stand the pressure on my bladder, legs and ligaments is so painful I want to double over in pain.

Hedy and Elissa came by the farm instead of the museum, much to my relief. Very nice of them to change their plans to accommodate me.

Ben jumped in their stroller and Jack ran off with his friends. I knew at this point the teacher had seen me and I was suppose to keep track of him myself. What to do? I was spread too thin.

Picnic Lunch at the Farm

Pretty soon it was lunch time. I set Jack up with lunch, then went back to the car to get mine and Ben’s lunch. I left Ben with other chaperones for just a minute, so I thought. There was a tow truck trying to hook itself to my brand new mini van! I got there just in time to move it to the nearest lot, all of a sudden $14 to park seemed cheap. But it was another walk, now I’ve left both my kids in someone else’s care. I’m sure at this point everyone is resenting me.

Finally Jack’s school decided to head to a near by park after lunch. I got Ben in the car and drove over. Of course, Ben fell asleep in the car. So again had to bother the other chaperones to contact Jack and tell him I couldn’t make it.

Normally when I have a day that doesn’t work out as great as it could have, I try to learn from it and move on. Be more decisive. Know your limits. But with the twins birth looming right around the corner it seems all my emotions and thoughts are magnified.

How will I do all the things I want to and add another two kids onto that?