feeling fall

i was making lunch for olive and she started climbing the counter so i told her not to, i wasn't mad just nicely asked her to stop. she looks at me and says "don't say fuck i don't want you to be mad." ummmm great. i don't say fuck that often (to her) but apparently i said it when i was mad at one time and she picked up on that. 

Back to normal typing, I had a baby in my hands. The kids are sorta asleep at the same time, super score. Otto kinda went in and out but that was fine. He is just so happy being held. I am so enjoying his good sleeping. Last night he went down a little after 9pm and was up at 4am to eat then went back down till after 8am. I looked back in my blog and Olive was pretty much the same at this age. Things changed when she started teething so we will see if that is the case for him but for now I'm enjoying a full nights sleep. 

After my hike last week I got pretty excited about starting to get my sweat on. We attempted a hike on saturday. Olive was not a fan and Blake had to hold her the entire time pretty much besides the short distance she walked when we showed her how awesome hitting the bushes with a stick can be. It wasn't a total fail as we got outside and it was a really pretty day. Today I attempted another fast walk around the park and that was really good. This time I got smart and Olive went in the stroller and I held Otto in the ergo. It was a bit sweaty and sticky but it felt good to work out. Otto was happy with my fast walking and Olive got to sit in the stroller and talk for over an hour straight. I swear she never stopped talking. We made a stop at the playground for her and everyone was happy. I also downloaded like 7 Jillian Michaels videos. Not sure how I will feel with those but I figure if I can get both kids to nap at the same time I might as well take an hour and work out. Workout videos make me feel like an 1980's housewife but it seems pretty practical since I can't jog with my Bugaboo stroller.

Its' weird that its only August, the air has this weird fall feeling and I think its throwing me off. I get way screwed up with changes in the season. Is that weird? I dunno probably but as much as I love fall I get a little sad for some reason. Probably as a kid as it was a sign school was starting and summer was over. I know I've talked about it before on this blog. I get in a mood or a funk. It fades of course but I just feel it. I think also having another baby I'm trying to feel comfortable in my own skin again, literally and mentally. Like on playdates or with friends I feel off and not like myself. I feel like I can't hold a conversation and my head is just clouded. Like anything it will go away but I've just noticed it a bit more these days as I've been out and about more and back into normal life. I think every few months I go through a lonely phase where I feel like I can't quite connect with anyone and after giving birth it just kinda intensifies that. I'm blaming you fall!!! 

Besides the feeling of fall screwing me up I'm actually excited for it. Olive starts school and I'm actually thinking of putting her for two full days instead of the half days. It's kinda a big deal so I'm tossing it around now. I've been looking up new activities for the fall and thinking of trying out soccer (again) and karate. I think I mostly just have to keep her busy since she has so much energy. I have given up on trying to tire out cause it doesn't work but I'd like the channel the energy to something positive. Poor Otto just gets to be dragged along from place to place for now. I will start him in swim at 6 months old like I did with Olive because I think that was a huge contributor to her loving swim and being so comfortable. 

Tonight one of my best friends gets in from new york to spend a few days so I am so excited. So putting these feelings of fall making me emo and trying to enjoy the last bits of summer! 

Pissed off hiking face. 

But excited she found a pine cone. 

Sword fight. 

Meltdown. 

Watching Jem for the first time. She liked it but it was way too adult so we will wait a few more years. 

Silly Bones. 

Bones the lover. 

Baby on the floor, Toddler in heels. 

No nap and going out to dinner. Yikes. 

Our walk this morning. Lots of Peacocks. 

Static hair on the slide. 

Sparkle. 

hike

I got my a-ok from the midwife to resume normal activities. Holy crap am I excited to work out. I've been trying to be creative and do things that are active and make the kids happy (mostly Olive as Otto doesn't have much care where he goes) I don't have a fancy running stroller but I'm thinking that might be a purchase I need to make. We have a bike stroller but its only one seat you have to be able to sit up in it which doesn't work for Otto yet. When I was pregnant I shopped around for a few but in the end just decided to wait to see what we would be doing but seems like it might be fun to have. 

Today we ventured out to attempt hiking. It was a mini hike, less than half a mile. It was pretty steep and the combination of carrying Otto in the ergo and a backpack I sweat a lot. We went on another small one around the same distance so I'm guessing we walked about a mile total. Obviously not the most epic workout but it was something. Olive did really good as long as we made a few snack and playground stops. My goal is to attempt a hike a week, especially while Otto is super content to sleep in the ergo. The weather has been strangely cool for summer here so its kinda the perfect time. 

I am so looking forward to this weekend. Finally maybe have a family dinner. Blake's new job is keeping him there pretty late. I'm happy he has work so I can't really complain (but I can ya know) My favorite thing is our family dinners no matter how crazy they are with a baby on my boob and a wild toddler I love them. I tried to push dinners to later but it was just too hard and Olive was getting into bed way too late. I'm finally figuring out how to cook with the two of them. Olive isn't really a problem as she entertains herself or she is allowed on the ipad but holding Otto is tricky. If he is sleepy I can bring a rocker in the kitchen but for the most part I'm cooking with him in the ergo. Not my favorite but it works. Still trying to figure it all out. 

These are Otto's suspenders but I don't think he will mind. 

This carousel was playing the music from Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Kinda awesome. 

Otto's first carousel and my weird face. 

Irvine is bizarre. 

We waited an hour in hopes of getting a ride on the balloon but the wind was too strong. 

We had to wake Olive up from her nap for soccer. Otto was thrilled. 

They got ribbons, they didn't care. 

Dinner. Ribs and Pasta salad.

Prince James

This weekend we took my soccer mom status to a whole new level and got a new car! I'm like the happiest person in the world. I can't imagine ever driving a little car again. We ended up with a Highlander and I love it. I have so much room! So ya it was a good weekend!

So a few weeks ago Blake went in Olive's room when she woke up. She asked Blake where Prince James was. Blake thought it was a toy so he looked around a bit. Olive started saying that Prince James was in her room last night so then he figured out she was talking about a dream. But this wasn't any dream, this shit was detailed! She told us this incredible story about her and Prince James (from Sophia the first) danced, played, etc. She told me what they were both wearing. The details were insane. She talked about this dream for almost a week afterward. We explained to her that it was just a  dream but I know that she thought it was real at first. Since then she told us she had another dream about him and they got married. She told us about her dress, etc. I hope that I can remind her of this when she is older and see if she remembers this dream. I can recall being a pretty little kid (probbaly more like 4-5) and remembering some of my dreams to this day. I'd say she has her first crush on Prince James!

In more Olive news she is pretty obsessed with penises and vaginas. I figure it's probably pretty common to have a lot of questions and observations at this age. We talk openly about everything and anything. I thought she was pretty clear on the who had what till Otto came into the picture. So now she is convinced that when she was a baby she had a penis. She told me so over and over this morning. The whole thing is just so damn funny and I guess these are the little moments in parenting where you get to laugh at the funny shit your kid is saying. I was with my friend the other day and she told me she starting writing down all the funny stuff her kid says and I think its genius so I started a little log in my phone. I might post them yearly or something on my blog but I thought it was a good idea and funny to look back at.

Today we had a play date with a friend at my house. It was the first time that Olive really used her words and didn't push or hit. I mean there were instances but they are two almost three year olds so you can only expect so much. She would tell him to stop if she was upset or a few times she would come over and tell me if he was upsetting her. I was so proud as we have talked over and over about how we treat our friends. I know it all depends on the situation, mood, person, how hungry they are, etc but I felt proud. Kids are so so unpredictable but I feel like I'm trying so hard with her to try and get her to be a nice kid on play dates so this felt good. Now we will see what happens tomorrow at soccer and if she will be a super jerk. Taking it day by day.

Just cause he's cute. 

UFC picnic on the floor. 

Haircuts. Attempting to grow her bangs out for now......

Beach babe. 

Smiles. 

Tongues. 

The beach was a bit bright. 

Olive and Zoe. 

She jumps off everything. 

Looks gross but this was one of my favorite meals I've made in a long time. Purple potato salad and quinoa chickpea burgers. 

Now that my body is back to normal we are starting to get a bit more active. Feels SOOOOOOO good! 

Getting creative cause she told me she was tired. Words I never thought I would hear her utter.  Not tired enough to nap just sit on her scooter. 

I didn't notice that I dressed them in the same exact colors till we started taking photos. 

His little face is just the best. 

Tummy time is very entertaining for him. 

Olive and Gabriel destroying her room. Olive has too much shit and when I have a free chance shit is getting purged. 

Wild beasts. 

They are cute when they are quiet and happily eating. 

I made ribs. The best ribs of my life. 

He is going to be so so big. 

Here are a few recipes from this week. I figure I will start posting them here if anyone is interested.....

Ribs-

http://food52.com/recipes/14031-ian-knauer-s-sticky-balsamic-ribs

I didn't use cayenne cause I hate spice but these were amazing and beyond easy to make. Olive downed them too so that was a good sign. I normally shy away from brown sugar in dinner food but the sweet with the salt and rosemary was unreal. 

Quinoa Burgers-

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/09/crispy-quinoa-sliders/

I replaced the carrots with green peppers cause it was what I had and added celery. I think any veggie would be yummy. We are on day three of eating these as the mix seems to stay good in the fridge for a few days. I put ours on parmesan sourdough bread and didn't use the mayo.