Giving thanks

For Thanksgiving we headed up to Kirkland (across the lake from Seattle to my sister's) where many families (Micheletti, Gray, and Gray in-laws x 2, Fox, Wallen, and Nordling,) found common place of giving thanks for family and good food and adequate shelter. It was amazing food cooked mostly by mom, who could quiet honestly be a professional chef and dessert by my sister's best friend, who is now her sister-in-law (thanks to some handy match making on her part). It was quiet comical at times as, we all never sat down to eat together since two babies and two preschoolers kept all parents and grandparents busy, but nevertheless enjoyed each other's company to the fullest. Peek the pics to follow for visual reference (sorry they are so pixelated---got them off an email).

dinner is served 

digesting the food

super glue and duck tape...a parent's best friend!

It seems the pile of toys in need of fixing gets really big on the fix-it shelf some days (depending on how many hours of intense play inside was warranted by really ugly weather outside)...and I started to think about the tools we use as parents to make sure our household keeps running smoothly and alleviates tears quickly...so here is the list I came up with:
duck tape
super glue
rope
hand soap
hand sanitizer
rubber bands
wrist restraints
tabaco sauce
band aids


Obviously some of these are a joke...but can you think of any others?

If you don't own these already then you need to go get some before the baby comes!

how many ways can you cut a pie

I say this a lot over the life time of this blog and hopefully it is a safe to say these things...and that it does not come off as complaining but rather reflection...with that being said....here it goes...

I have been feeling so overwhelmed in life lately...it has been a total RE-adjustment to the comfortable life that I had been accustome to, that is the one child life. Why did I ever think one child was difficult? Everyone warned us that it was more than double the work....so I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I am feeling squished out of the pie, or rather my slice of life has gotten smaller in the pie of life...I am asked to preform at top notch as boss, coworker, parent for two boys both with different needs, wife, friend, neighbor, sister, and daughter which does not leave much room for myself...

I am not going to lie that I feel a lot of mommy guilt* all the time about taking time for myself (since I am already out of the house 50+ hours a week)...I would love to fit yoga and running back into my life...but have yet to figure it out. I wish I could be more like my sister who just does it ---man she is good at fitting herself in (although I have noticed her nails and eyebrows are not perfectly shimmering all the time lately) to her weekly activities. I recently have been spending me time doing things like Dr's apts (another blog topic) and acupunture (see blog post the value in silence--coming soon) and therefore can't seem to find the time to do the other mentioned activities. And quiet honestly although I am able to fit time in to see girlfriends while lugging along baby, it is also difficult to fit in time with my hubby, just me and him.

I know that there has to be an adjustment period but it has been almost 7 months and I am still struggling with it. So to you parents out there, that have done this already...how do you fit you into the  pie of life?

*mommy guilt is guilt one feels when away from child no matter the circumstances.

the TV debate

No screen time before two is what most pediatricians and child advocates say....but times are a changing...and I wonder does this really mean NO screen time at all or just no TV? does this include face time on iPhones, Skype, Kindles, and iPads? Does a photo in an electronic format count as screen time? By 1.5 J could scroll on the mouse and pretend type on a keyboard, and by 2 he could operate an iPhone (my sister's of course as we can't afford one...yet). Recently he told a babysitter how to turn on the Xbox including the password (note to self to change that often) to get to Netflix to watch a movie. I guess what I am saying is that it is a different time with kids...they are growing up with technology as a the norm and in all forms impacting their lives on the daily.
Olde and I have opted to limit TV and movies for our kids, as we believe that some of these formats have suggestions of corruption that we can't control.  So far we have been lucky to be able to control this part of their lives...For example, when we were visiting my sister recently and had the public broadcasting channel on for some "appropriate" cartoons (this is a whole another blog topic for another day), and the adds came on J got upset and told me to put the movie back on...I had to explain to him about adds on TV. I couldn't help but feel proud of the fact that our 3 year old had never seen TV and therefore did not know about adds. And...while I am bragging about our parenting...you should also know that although our 3 year old has had a bean and cheese burrito and rice from taco hell, I mean taco bell (it was a screaming moment on the freeway of one too many hours driving---you know that kind if you area parent)---BUT has never set foot in any other fast food nastiness as of yet...Take that McDonald's!!!!
ok sorry for the ranting...back to the debate at hand...
I guess what I have decided is that technology changes so often that we have to adjust our parenting styles to what we feel is right instead of blanket statements of NO or YES on everything.
Here is our list for under the age of 2:

• Skype YES
• Iphone games NO
• Iphone Facetime YES
• Ipad NO
• Kindle NO
• Pictures in electronic format YES

So in other words media that allows for interacting is ok by us....it is the other brain numbing that we find not so good for baby's little brain. What are your thoughts?

Brotherly love...

Jasper has really turned into a great big brother! He is always playing with Aram by bringing him toys or even just giving him a smile here and there... He even helps change diapers and feed him.

Although sometimes I think Aram is a bit put off by the toy snatching or being knocked over by his big brother, I love watching them grow into the really great friends that I know they will be.

I like that when I ask J how he describes himself, his first thing he says is a big brother.

If I ask J to watch Aram for a second he instantly goes and gets his little bro a toy or makes silly faces at him to make him laugh.


I hope as a parent that I can continue to foster this love!

My three favorite pics of the last 6 months...

Here they are...

family portrait summer 2011

Jasper at the pumpkin patch 

Aram striking a pose

it's the little things...

I don't want to forget how he looks at me when he is nursing...to say I love you, mommy, for nourishing my body and soul.

I don't want to forget that he has been a squirmy nurser...always kicking his feet and moving his head around to see what is going on in the room.

I don't want to forget that when he is really enjoying nursing he rakes his little fingers on my skin, clothes, face...just feeling textures and enjoying being in my arms.

I don't want to forget how he reaches up to my lips for kisses on his hands as he nurses.

I don't want to forget how his eyes sparkle as I walk in to the room after a long day away at work.

I don't want to forget how he sleeps nuzzled into my neck at night...breathing in and out slowly and peacfully.

I don't want to forget his smile....so happy and content to just be Aram Adrian Micheletti, mommy's little boy.