Another blog (The Traditional Progessive)

I try not to get too political on my life blog, not because my life isn't affected by politics (as all of our lives of course are), but because I have strong opinions about them (like most things) and it's polarizing and I know most people don't read my blog to read about that. If you are interested in what I think about politics and culture and society, you can tune in here to read The Traditional Progressive. I'm not sure how frequently I'll post there, but I figured having a place devoted to this would give me a parking lot for these thoughts. 

Thanks for reading.

In the Houzz

It seems like I've been reading about lots of people who are getting their homes on Houzz lately.  Latest up, my old roomie Insiya (she, Shelby and I were a trio in Chicago a dozen yrs ago after we met at our first post-college job) and her husband Eoin.  Their quaint ocean retreat on Vancouver Island has amazing views and they've done it up in Scandinavian style (w/other international touches from her native India and their many other travels). The story...

Contemporary Bedroom by Vancouver Photographer Megan Buchanan

Other by Vancouver Photographer Megan Buchanan

Contemporary Exterior by Vancouver Photographer Megan Buchanan

Contemporary Bedroom by Vancouver Photographer Megan Buchanan

We travelled out to their beach wedding in nearby Tofino six years ago this September and had brunch at their place the next day.  Enjoying the view from the terrace...

They've done more/changed some decor since then, as they had a son two years ago and have made it their part time home (you can rent it out here), as they travel most of the year to fun places like Bali for their yoga business and now spend winters in Venice Beach.

15 months old

Well it's finally Spring (in theory anyway) and that means the kids are now 15 months old. Sigh. 

Mari took her first steps alone on 3/15 (@ 3:15, crazy huh?) while my mom and sister were visiting, after cruising for months.  So with that much practice she is now pretty much unstoppable.  Alistair is doing a much better job of pulling up, standing, and stepping out when we walk with him.  He's getting stronger and is continuing to make progress for being our very little (turned huge) breech boy.

I finally got the kids into weekend swimming lessons and am so excited for them to start next month.  We'll also likely be doing music classes too (A LOVES music!) as we're transitioning to one nap a day and the mornings are long without something to do.  On a totally random note, we had our first "code brown" yesterday, but I missed it! I was out and needless to say their daddy was less than thrilled. Miss Mari made a mess at the beginning just before A got in and so he had to take her out and clean everything and start again. Is it bad that I wish I could have seen all of that?! :)

We went to their pediatrician today (love our Saturdays in the city) and their well visit was uneventful. They are getting better with their shots and are growing like weeds. Both are over the 90th %iles in height now (which I guess confirms what that jerk in jr. high said, that I am in fact good breeding material for basketball players ;) ), with healthy sized heads (in the 80th %iles) and weights on the same curve as before (30th %iles).

Alistair
15 months: 21 lbs. 12 ozs., 32.75", head: 48.5 cm.
12 months: 20 lbs. 10 ozs., 31"
Nine months: 19 lbs. 5 ozs., 29 1/2", head: 46.1 cm.
Six months: 16 lbs. 15.5 ozs, 27 3/4", head: 44.7 cm.
Four months: 14 lbs., 25", head: 42.2 cm.
Two months: 10 lbs. 2 ozs., 22 1/2", head: 39.5 cm
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 9 ozs.
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 15 ozs. (he surpasses her for the 1st time)
One week: 5 lbs. 6 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 2 ozs.
Birth @ 36w4d (breech/IUGR?): 5 lbs. 7 ozs. (5%), 18.25" (10%)

Marielle
15 months: 20 lbs. 1 oz., 32", head: 49 cm.
12 months: 18 lbs. 8 ozs., 29 1/2"
Nine months: 16 lbs. 11 ozs., 28", head: 44.9 cm.
Six months: 14 lbs. 10 ozs.,26 1/4", head: 43 cm.
Four months: 12 lbs. 7 ozs., 24 1/2", head: 41.2 cm.
Two months: 9 lbs. 9 ozs., 21 3/4", head: 38.7 cm.
Three weeks: 6 lbs. 7 ozs. (finally surpasses BW)
Two weeks: 5 lbs. 12 ozs.
One week: 5 lbs. 7 ozs.
Four days/hospital release: 5 lbs. 3 ozs. (unexplained 14% weight loss, day one)
Birth @ 36w4d: 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19" (25%)

I love finding them sitting like this (like they are going sledding or something) in her room and they just sit and "read".  She's gotten another haircut already, she needs cuts more often than I do. :) )

It finally snowed (and melted again and they protest mittens...)

We survived the first trip to the dentist, thanks in part to their great aquarium...

I serendipitously discovered their love for our big front window/doors when we had our Christmas tree up, and since I got rid of the ficus tree that was usually there (since we were engaged), they now have their play area in the living room.  Boy do they love to watch the school kids and dogs come and go.  Neighborhood (toddler) watch on duty...

Happy kids...

 

Blogging and living

I was humbled to see that I already have some blog followers over on Bloglovin, which is where I guess I'm headed now that the brilliants at Google have decided to shut down Reader. 

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. We have lots going on, and I'm just not making time to write, though I try to follow along with all of you. 

Latest news over here is as the kids continue to thrive, I'm thinking of going back to work and getting a nanny and resuming the somewhat adult life that I always planned.  So if you have any words of wisdom on that front, I'd love to hear your experience.  I used to be a nanny (college summers/live-in/Hyannisport), which I could write a whole book about, though I don't think that makes it much easier to hire one to be honest.

Anyway, thanks for following along my (not so great lately) blog...  Reader will be gone come July.

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Planner seeking planner

I'm a planner AND a planner person. And if you are too, you likely already have a planner (or two) for this year. It is already/only late February, so they are clearing them out. If you need a change, I can attest to two that are great.

Last year, I had one from Erin Condren, which of course I couldn't resist because it had my signature HDT quote on the cover... (now 40% off, when purchased with gift labels, using code "COMBO2013")

This year, I opted for a Lilly (Pulitzer)... In "Skip on it" and "You gotta regatta". They are now only $8-$12 (in three sizes), no code needed, and ship free through Th 2/26.   Enjoy!

14 months old

The kids turned 14 months old yesterday.  The months are really flying now.  The saying that the days are slow, but the years are fast is dead on.  One day I will wake up and they will be all grown up.

His sweet smiles just melt my heart.  And with his daddy's coloring, he can pull off wearing any color, especially bright ones, with ease.  It's funny, he's the super mellow one now.  Someone told me that they'd switch personalities at some point, but I didn't believe them or think it was possible.

This little girl is fun, but so mischievous, can you see that look on her face?  We're in big trouble.  That's from her dad (that and the curly hair). 

Did I ever mention that he waited until long after we were married to tell me that he'd been a really naughty kid?   Thanks hon.  He was a good student, but apparently going to a Catholic school for 15 years brings out the bad or something.  He said he and his co-conspirators friends had a policy that as long as their antics weren't illegal and didn't involve girls, they were golden.  He also somehow thought that telling me that he'd been his high school's prom king was somehow going to make up for this revelation.  (This is especially ironic because I didn't even go to mine.  I turned down the friend who asked me to go with him (how terrible is that?) and babysat for my math teacher instead.  But don't worry about the kid, he went with another friend, married a lovely girl he met at Cornell, and now is a rising star at Google.)

I had a great trip to NY last weekend.  I went on the cheap (FF miles and stayed in my sister Jen and her boyfriend's extra bedroom in Brooklyn) and also got to visit my friend (and old Chicago roomie) Shelby and her little Beto there too.  He's almost two and such a cutie pie.  I hadn't seen them since we went to NYC & the Hamptons 18 months ago, when things were going downhill with the twins, and he was just a little bug.  It is always so good to see her, she reminded me I don't need to be a mommy martyr and am allowed to go back to work.  And thankfully she has an awesome job, because her husband just lost his.

We went downtown and walked around too, but it was so cold (we saw Silver Linings Playbook, which I recommend and the season finale to Downton, which I'm not sure if I do...).  I'm so ready for spring (please let us have one this year?!)  I'm already thinking about the weather warming up and getting ready to order our new patio furniture.  Home Depot is doing a fun thing this year where you can mix and match/customize your sets.  I think we are getting the Fall River one, since it is just what I was looking for (metal w/cushions, six chairs, and no glass top).

Oh, and I finally found a preschool for emerging two year olds for the fall.  I am so excited! :)

Life happenings

I finally went to a twin mom's group last night (yes, the kids are nearly 14 months old). It was okay, thankfully my expectations weren't that high. They are having a big sale in a few weeks, so much of the talk was about that. It's like dating never ends... It isn't difficult meeting people, it is just difficult meeting like-minded people who don't make you feel like either you or they are crazy. Sigh...

The kids are still on two daily naps, which really limits our ability to do activities, as they always and everywhere seem to be scheduled during their prime sleeping hours (not something I'm willing to sacrifice) but I'm working on getting us to classes and the library now that they are bigger and will likely be dropping one before long. We are so excited for pool season to start, I so hope they like to go. While we have one in our neighborhood, I've been doing recon and will be taking them to a few of the many nearby with more and earlier morning hours, toddler pools, and splashgrounds. I can not wait.

I'm busily planning a million things: my impromptu (and as yet unplanned) trip to see my best sister (and another of my best friends) in NYC this weekend, multiple grandparent visits, a trip to the sugar bush and Easter stuff, and hopefully a getaway for the four of us to somewhere warmer before Spring. I could seriously use a few more active hours every day, I really need to find sitters that I love so that I can get more done. In my free time. I used to think that moms who stayed home AND had help were lazy or something, but now I realize that it is very difficult to do everything by yourself while caring for two small children.

This winter has been a joke, yet again, and while I hate to complain when so many people have way too much snow and cold for their liking, that is after all one of the things that makes Chicago Chicago, having seasons that is. We've gotten just a few inches of snow all winter, like last year, which now is gone from the warmth and rain. No snowmen or sleigh for us... :(  I may just send the feet for the wagon back to LLB.

The kids teethe like crazy, I can hardly keep track. He's got one molar now and more of them on the way. We are going to the dentist for the first time in a few weeks, which should be interesting.

Happy Mardi Gras! :)