WORKING MOMMY

I survived my first 2 days back to work. I missed my family BADLY and couldn't wait to rush home to see my babies. I'm in a new, less stressful office... So, the transition back to work has been easier.

I'm a Menu Plan Monday slacker... again. Can you blame me though?! This is my first week back to work in 10 weeks! I have some adjusting to do!

This is a short post, as I have quite a bit to do tonight.

- Jessica

OBSESSIONS

Actually, more like addictions...

Magazines and Coffee. I can't live without either. 

I think HockeyStud is annoyed by my magazine habit... He finds stacks of them all over the house. I love them all... RedBook, Family Circle, Shape, Fitness, Women's Health, Parents, Food Network, Real Simple, Rachael Ray, Women's Day... I could continue. In fact, I have an open Parents magazine sitting next to me right now. 


I can't go a day without Kawfee... That's how my hubs says it with his Jersey accent. He and I both love coffee. He likes his black with a little vanilla flavor, and I like mine light and sweet with no flavoring. If I don't have at least one cup in the morning, by about 11:00, I'm feeling it. Headache and all. Mmmm... coffee... 

 - Jessica

FUNNY THINGS

I got a love note this morning...

Translation:  Good morning Mommy I love you in the whole world and I love Daddy, Parker, and I love myself. 

I cherish little things and moments like this. She wrote this for me while I was getting ready this morning and she was sitting in Daddy's sink in the bathroom. I asked her to read it to me, and the translation above is exactly what she said. 



This is a plastic spider that she likes to put on us (head, leg, arm) to scare us. 

She's afraid of any kind of real bug. When she finds a bug she tells Daddy to eat it. She really thinks Daddy eats bugs.



Toddler + permanent marker = 

She decided to decorate Daddy's computer keyboard.



My SON has a pink princess chair in his room that never leaves...

This chair is used by MonkeyGirl to stand on and watch me change diapers. She's very curious. And has to know "He pooped or peed?" If he pooped, she says "Ewww, I schmell it." By the way, as a courtesy I cleaned up the pee on the wall before I took this picture.



And then there's this... It's a little absurd and maybe a little wrong, but it's oh so funny that I had to tell about it...

Since I ALWAYS have an audience when using the bathroom, there's no hiding these...
She says they are feathers. She proceeded to tell Daddy, her grandparents and I'm sure her friends and teachers at school that Mommy has feathers in her wee wee... Wonderful...

- Jessica

NO MENU MONDAY on TUESDAY

I have no menu this week. It's my last week of maternity leave and I am going to try to enjoy it to the fullest. This means we are doing whatever for dinner this week. I can't believe I go back to work on Monday, and I really can't believe how fast these 10 weeks have gone by. Didn't I just give birth to this little man 3 days ago?! In a way I'm kind of looking forward to getting back into the work routine thing, BUT if I had it my way I would NOT be returning. I have to be to work by 8:00am. When I had one kid I would wake up at 6:30 to get myself and her ready to be out the door by 7:30. Now, since I will have to get 2 kids ready, I need to wake up at... Uggghh... 5:30 and be out the door by 7:00 to drop LittleMonster off at Grandma's and MonkeyGirl at school. Gotta leave some time for any mishaps along the way... ya know, the screaming tantrum'ing toddler who won't brush her teeth or has to change 5 times before she has the "right" outfit. 


I'm SO not looking forward to that first day I have to leave him... WAAAAAH!

- Jessica

OH BEAUTIFUL DAY

Florida fall weather is here! It's a gorgeous 72 degree day here in Southwest Florida. LittleMonster is basking in the sunshine seeping through the open windows. He's lovin' it. A walk around the neighborhood, or wherever, is definitely a must today... it's too nice out to pass up. This is my favorite time of year. Picking out Halloween costumes for the littles, painting pumpkins, the beautiful weather, open windows... ahhh... Heaven. 

Every Friday is show and tell at MonkeyGirl's school. They were asked to bring a teddy bear today. Since the weather is so perfect, they're going to have a Teddy Bear Picnic outside and then a Teddy Bear Dance. Too precious. 

Off to enjoy this magnificent day!

- Jessica

NEW TOY and ORGANIZING

My in-laws got us an early Christmas gift... a fancy schmancy DYSON!! This one...

It's insanely amazing... as soon as we got it, I opened it, put it together and went to town. Man, this thing sucks! And it leaves beautiful vacuum marks, which I love! HockeyStud was very excited too. As soon as he got home from work, he had to gave it a try. Our carpet is VERY clean now. We are some vacuuming fools! 



I want my pantry to look like this...

And my laundry room to look like this...

And my closet... I could do some damage in here...

And my playroom... If I had a playroom...

Oh, I could go on and on...   

I definitely have gotten more organized since LittleMonster arrived. Especially with the laundry situation. We have a lot of laundry. Period. I used to do laundry maybe once a week... Now, I have no choice but to do it at least every other day.

My next organizing project: Toys. Lots of toys. I need to tackle this house of toys and baby things. Badly. In fact, as I sit here in my living room, I see... a coloring book, a teddy bear sitting next to me on the couch, an easel, a ladybug beanbag chair, a broken ukulele, a baby swing, a boppy, a couple burp cloths, 2 pieces of plastic bread... I'm embarrassed to continue. My house is definitely lived in, and we have fun. I will get there... eventually. 

- Jessica

MENU PLAN MONDAY... ERR WEDNESDAY... IN THE SICK HOUSE

I had every intention of doing a Menu Plan Monday post... on Monday. Then, the little man got sick and my attention went on him, obviously. He has this nasty wicked cough which is his only symptom. Went to the Dr. today and they just called it a "virus" for now. First big sister was sick, then Daddy, and now the baby... if one is sick it's guaranteed the rest will get it as well. As for now, I'm not sick... But, I. Am. Tired. Between the cool mist humidifier humming in my ear all night, LittleMonster coughing so hard he gasps for air which scares me, MonkeyGirl hacking up a lung, and HockeyStud coughing and moaning... Yea, you get it. 

Now on to Menu Plan Monday Wednesday...

Monday - I can't even remember if I ate.

Tuesday - The in-laws came over to cook for us... Phew!

Wednesday - Roast pork with black beans and brown rice. 

Thursday - Whole wheat english muffin pizza with mini turkey pepporoni

Friday - Soy chicken wings, brown rice, squash

Saturday - Possible date night?! If not, it'll be mini meatloaves with mashed potatoes and green beans

Sunday - Chicken stir fry with noodles



P.S. I need one of these...

- Jessica

OUR FAMILY'S NEW ADDICTION

We recently purchased a Playstation Move, which is like the Nintendo Wii except better, in my opinion. You just hook it up to your Playstation 3, and off you go! It comes with a camera, 1 controller and 1 game which has several games on it. These are the controllers...

I am a pro at Bocce Ball...

 

HockeyStud is a pro at archery...

And we got MonkeyGirl the coolest game called EyePet...

Since there's a camera, it really looks like there's a monkey running around your living room on the screen. It's too cute!

There are new ones coming out called SingStar Dance and Dance Dance Revolution and I SO cannot wait to make a fool of myself! 

- Jessica

SOMEBODY FEED THAT CHILD!

My poor child never gets fed, so he had to suck on his arm because he was SO hungry... the end result...

This silly boy gave himself 2 hickeys!! I ultimately ended up feeding the poor kid... 

Because he does get fed... ALL the time (one of his many nicknames is Milk Monster) he's getting chubby little rolls on his thighs. I love those little chunkies.  HockeyStud says he has hockey thighs already and has told him he is going to be skating before he learns how to walk. We better start saving now for future dentist bills...

Have a beautimous weekend!

- Jessica