Mommy and Me - Mount Diablo

We took a day trip to Mount Diablo the other day.  I managed to get in one picture with Audrey.  Annie was busy hanging with Aunt Becky while we climbed on the rocks.

More Mount Diablo photos can be seen over on my flickr page. --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/biochemtine/sets/72157629941179562/


For more Mommy and Me Monday Photos, go check out Krystyn's page.



Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Mommy and Me

Mommy and Me on a Tuesday ... cause I forgot yesterday.

On Mother's Day, we went up North where Josh's band had a gig and we ate dinner, then walked around downtown.  This was a cool little structure that on the sidewalk.

Audrey, with most of the structure in view.

Before church started, my girls were hanging with me in the choir.  During a down moment, I snapped a picture of the three of us.  They LOVE seeing themselves in the front-facing camera.  Best way to get the little one to smile.

Me and my girls on Sunday morning

Go visit Krystyn for more MOmmy and Me Monday photos.

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Mom Purse

I was going through the contents of my purse the other day and pulled out the old stand-bys such as my phone, sunglasses, wallet, pen, keys, etc.  Then came out the church dolls, the calculator, floss, lotion, kid's book, Kindle, and other assorted items.  Josh said, after my complaining that I can't find anything because of all the stuff in there, "Well, you have a mom purse."


yeah, that's true.  My purse is a catch-all.  Sippy cups, toys, books, scraps of paper, trash, it all gets piled into my purse.  But I also carry things for the girls.  Entertainment  when we're in a waiting room or driving.  Things to make them feel better when sad.  It's the bag of tricks.  It's my job to have at my disposal anything the girls might need at any moment and my purse is my magical bag to make it happen.  It's where the trash gets put when there is no trash can.  It is a catch-all.


I was reflecting on my "mom purse" this morning.  My girls have me and my mom purse when they need it.  And I have God and His Word.  When I'm sad, happy, hurt, angry ... God's Word has something in it to help me through my trial.  It has words of encouragement.  Words of affirmation.  And words of admonishment when I need it (which is far more often than I care to admit).  I can't imagine what God's purse looks like.  How big it must be to provide all His children when the band-aids and tissues, books and coloring sheets, toys and trinkets.  Where he stores our candy wrappers and emotional garbage. 


Some days my mom purse is inadequate.  I don't have tissues when Audrey has a runny nose.  Or I run out of band-aids when she has an owie.  But God's purse always is fully stocked with all the love, encouragement, joy, affirmation, hugs, and kisses.  He is always ready for whatever we need.  We just need to ask Him.

Another edition of ...

Through the eyes of a toddler.


Today we bring photos from the zoo, the commute to daycare, and other randomness.

Daddy asleep on the couch, covered in clothes.

Mommy and Annie

Mommy looking through my "telescope" at me with my binoculars

Me looking at mommy through my telescope

Elephant at the zoo

Zebras

Camel

Tiger

Video: my morning drive to daycare

Addendum to the "list"

An addendum to yesterday's list of Annie's words.

• cheese
• car (said this for the first time yesterday)
• me - as in, "who's there?" "ME!"

Annie - 17 months

Thinking about Annie's development, it's been awhile since I've posted anything.

Words that she can say on her own, not mimicking.

• hi
• bye
• mom
• baby
• please
• thank you
• dada
• ni-ni
• uh oh

Signs that she can do, usually on her own:

• milk
• more
• poop
• teeth
• book
• all done

I think it's time to teach a new sign or two.  I am thinking about adding in dog and bath.

she's getting over being sick.  Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, which attacked her mouth.  Lots of sores on her gums, mostly in the pockets where the new teeth are growing in.  She has been very cranky and needy the last 10 days.  It's been a very trying experience.  She's at about 80% now.  Fever is gone.  She's eating better, but still relying on breastmilk a lot.  Sleeping is poor.

• She scribbles really well.  
• Loves to do anything her big sister is doing, including stealing her toys.
• She's climbing up onto couches, beds, anything that's in her reach.
• She can and loves to buckle typical safety buckles (like in high-chairs, shopping carts, etc)
• She loves to dance to music, especially the theme song to Big Bang Theory.
• She can move the buckets of blocks around the living room.  And she excels at dumping them out.  She can also put two blocks together.
• She has started to try to put socks on.  She found the box of unmatched socks, pulled it down from the shelf, and one by one tried to put each one on.
• She likes to brush her teeth, but refuses our help.
• Her favorite food is probably macaroni and cheese.
• Her favorite game is peek-a-boo.
• Her favorite toy is anything Audrey is using
• She's wearing 18-24 month clothes, size 4 shoes.
• She uses a spoon and fork pretty well and prefers those over her fingers.  And she refuses help.

Ice Cream - and other photos

We had some seriously hot days last weekend.  The kids all enjoyed being able to play outside, especially when they got ice cream later.


Annie batted her little eyelashes and said "please" oh so sweetly that she even got her own ice cream sandwich.  To say she enjoyed it would be an understatement.

She sure was thirsty .. and her water cup just wouldn't do.  Had to have Aunt Becky's.

Bye Mom!

Playing after church

She's such a little ham!

Zoo

Josh had band practice at our house the other day, so the girls and I needed to go find something to do for 4 hours.  I have a love/hate relationship with his band practices at our house.  On one hand, I have to get the girls out at naptime and go do something which requires planning and I'm not so great at that.  But on the other hand, it forces us to get out of the house and go do something.  Spend quality time together.  No TV.  No computers. Just us girls, hanging out.


This week we decided to head over to the zoo.  It was a gorgeous spring day and it's been a few months since we'd been to the zoo.  The girls were older and Annie would have a greater appreciation of the animals.


Audrey was very excited to see the elephants.  I think the elephants are a great animal for little kids because they're so big you can't miss them.  And she doesn't have to be held up to see over the railing.  The giraffes are the same way.  But the lions and tigers are always hiding and sleeping, and the enclosure is designed in such a way that she can't see most of it.


Audrey also had her own camera with her and she took some pictures too.


(I apologize ahead of time ... this is a photo heavy post - enjoy)

Fun Facts About Me

I just read a really fun blog over on babble, and I was inspired to do one of my own. 

According to google, I have a number of followers and I'm not sure you all know who I am.  So here are some fun facts about me.

• I'm a math and science geek.  To the core.  I love doing simple algebra or balancing chemical equations.  It passes the time, requires just the right amount of thinking, and keeps me out of trouble

• I drink my coffee black.  Cream and sugar are gross.  Although I love a good latte.

• I want to open a bakery.  I love baking.  But I don't do cakes.  I'm not a decorator, I'm a baker.  I do a mean pastry.  

• I love organizing.  Not cleaning.  Organizing.  Taking all the junk that gets thrown in a closet and making it pretty and easy to find.  However, my house lacks organization.  It's a cop out, but it's a lack of money.  To do what I want to do will require more money than we have.  So I do what I can.  I also have 2 teenagers and 2 toddlers who don't know how to put things away properly, so I've given up organizing.  When the house belongs to just me and my husband it will be organized.  And it will be awesome!

• In addition to math and science, I'm also a gigantic band geek.  Marched the tuba and everything.  I catch myself rolling my feet as I walk down hallways.  I miss it.  I would totally give trombone lessons if I had time.

• I am a horribly slow reader.  And my comprehension is ridiculously low.  I can't read anything too deep or I get lost and give up.  Really bad for my self esteem.  So I read fluff.  And I enjoy it.  If I need something more intellectual I read a scientific something or another.

• Poor grammar and spelling and using words that don't exist are huge pet peeves of mine.  I may not be a good reader, but I am good at grammar.  And if I know orientate, literately, and irregardless aren't words, then someone who writes for a living should too.  I also am a killer speller.  Not sure why I can spell and know all the grammar rules but am a horrid reader.  Maybe I'm too busy checking grammar to comprehend what it is I'm reading.

• I love Christmas.  Growing up we never "did" Santa.  Just wasn't important to my mom or dad, so it wasn't passed on.  And honestly, it's not important to me either.  But my husband loves it, so I play along.  

• I have curly hair.  At least I used to.  Then I got pregnant.  And it went bye-bye.  I miss it.  I keep trying to encourage the curls to come out.  But they are reluctant.  And I'm sad.  It's been almost four years since I had my pretty, bouncy curls.

• I'm a runner.  I hate running.  But I'm a runner.  I'm not a great runner.  But I run.  I'm training for a half marathon.  Only 19 days left.  EEEK!!!!!

Half Marathon Training

As of today, my half Marathon is a little over a month away. 39 days.


I'm really getting into the mindset of it. Thinking about running for 2+ hours. Thinking about water and energy. And sleep. Clothing. Bandaids for my foot where the shoes rub. I'm well into my training plan. I've done an official 5k and have extrapolated what my time will be based on my 5k time.


And most importantly music. I struggle running without music. I love music. It gives me a good tempo. Gives me the oomph to keep going. And slower songs force me to slow down so I don't burn out.


Normally when I run I just hit play on the playlist comprised of upbeat artists and albums. But not a whole lot of houht has gone into it. I want a really good playlist for my half. So when I hear a song during my runs that really gets me moving, I remember it and add it to my playlist later. When I hear one on the radio, I buy it.


I have a playlist of about 10 songs now. I figure I need 35 songs. I plan on ending with Boomin', by Toby Mac. And I want NY2LA by Push Play on my playlist. I'm normally not a fan of rap or hip hop, but these songs have killer energy and beat that will really help push me.


I also plan to include segments of Crowder's latest (and sadly last) album Requiem. This album has been my primary running music for about 2 months now.  I'm including some other Crowder, at least one or two Lincoln Brewster, probably Gateway Music's The Lord Reigns.  I'm not necessarily limiting myself to Christian music, this is just what I have right now that really gets me moving.  I was thinking maybe a few songs from Linkin' Park's Minutes to Midnight album would be good too.  Those are super high energy.


What do you like on your running playlists?