mom-mode post #135 - on having to change my diet

If you know me, you know how I'm not necessarily known for my healthy eating choices. I try to watch my portions, but other than that, it's pretty much a free-for-all fest.
I'm also a closet picky eater. When I'm out at a friend's house or traveling, I'll eat anything (dog, liver, cow's stomach), but at home, if you really inspect my diet, there are only a few handful of items I eat everyday. In fact, I could go days without eating a proper meal. Just snacking on the same favorite snacks.

Lately O has been a on this kick of trying anything we eat. He looks at you with sad puppy eyes, points to whatever you are eating and mumbles a slew of unintelligible words that probably translate into: 'can I please have a bite? Pleeeeeeeeeeeasssse??'

If we're at home, I can offer him some other healthier snack option. But when you are at a picnic with friends, he gets to eat a treat or two:

Mama and son who share a love of chocolate together, stick together?

Needless to say, this mama needs to start making some healthier choices if she wants to instill lifelong healthy eating habits in her precious offspring.

mom-mode post #135 - on little boys at the park

Yesterday the sun finally came out. So we packed up our stuff ( well I packed up our stuff) and rushed to the park. It was such a relief to be out near a little bit of nature and water and not feel like the city is closing in on us. Some days I swear it feels like it is.

First we stopped for lunch, mommy had to have her diet coke. She let me hold the can, but wouldn't let me take a sip!

Then I decided it was time to explore. Mommy didn't like me getting to close to the water. I fought her big time. But she won.

Then I played on the playground. I love the playground. I love to follow the big kids around and scream real loud in excitement. I'm not a huge fan of the swings, but I love to climb up the stairs to go down the slides.

All in all, it was a nice break from the crazy busy and rainy days we've had. We'll certainly have to do it again!

mom-mode post #134 - on mr.ben and mr.jerry

Yesterday I unassumingly walked into my local grocery store looking for a Magnum bar. If you've never had one. These ice cream candy bars on a stick are the perfect companion for the first real spring day of the year.

But I digress. I'm not here to talk about magnum bars today. Immediately I spot it from the corner of my eye, a light purple freezer with the words 'Ben & Jerry' painted on it. Having lived here a while, I knew not to let my heart believe that just because there's a freezer does it mean that there's ice cream. But living overseas you also learn to check every square inch of your grocery store, because you never know what hidden treasures you may uncover.

I pushed the stroller a little faster, walked/ran to said purple freezer and much to my disappointment there was ice cream in there alright, but none we could call worthy of mr.ben and jerry. Then just as I'm about to close the freezer door, I see it. Two little pints of 'chunky monkey' goodness. Still a bit incredulous, I only bought one pint. Afraid that it might not taste quite right.

But when I got home after a delicious pizza dinner to celebrate the husband's fourth place in his first photo competition, I placed two perfectly smooth scoops in a bowl and tasted the best ice cream I've had in quite a while.

I'll probably gain a pound or two from eating it all. Because I am certainly not sharing it with anyone!

mom-mode post #133- on a little boy that climbs

Exhibit A:

                                                                          Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

And if I followed him around with a camera, not enough flashdrives in the world could hold all the picture of him trying to climb up some kind of something. But look at that face though and those chubby legs! I just could eat him up!

mom-mode post #132 - on chasing after a toddler

Thirteen months old. That's how old he was when life as we knew it was about to change forever.

He had taken a few tentative steps before. Holding our hands for support, reverting back to his fast crawl. But that Sunday he finally built up enough strength and courage to just take off walking. It was so sweet, he would get into position, arms side-to-side to give him balance, belly stuck out front, legs open wide.

It's interesting to see this aspect of his little personality. Of how he timidly tries first, gets extremely frustrated but once he masters it, there's no stopping him. (I don't know where he gets this from, I'm not like this at all... Even though the husband tells me otherwise)

It was no different with walking. Now his walk is quickly becoming a run. And this mommy is quickly becoming exhausted.

It's different than the 'newborn phase' exhausted, when all you need and want is a solid night of sleep. Being the mom of an energetic boy is more like doing a Jillian Michaels DVD all day long, no breaks. Well, except maybe for nap breaks. But even that these days has been elusive (more on this on another post).

He starts off early morning and doesn't stop unless he absolutely has too. Or unless I make him stop to eat or take a nap. Or sleep.

And although I often go tired and hungry ( not much time to sit down for a meal), there's nothing I'd rather do, than to watch O discover the world, on his own terms.

It's a whole new world, this toddler world,  a whole new world. Now I better go grab a bite to eat before O wakes up again, ready to conquer it.

mom-mode post #130 - on being back

Hey there friends,
I guess my hiatus didn't last nearly as long as I expected.
More often than not, I found myself writing blog posts in my mind.
Expressing myself through writing can be so therapeutic, I thoroughly missed putting down my thoughts and feelings into words.
And to add to that, Turkey has seemingly lifted the ban against Blogger, which made me even more tempted to come back.
Plus my mom-in-law asked me not to stop writing.
So, I'm back!
I don't know how often I'll post, But I'm back.

And so is this little face: