18 months

Leland had his 18 month check up today.

My Pediatrician adores him.  Like really.  He held him, gave him smooches on his cheeks and even felt really guilty about the one little shot he got today.

One thing he said that stuck out to me was this: "Boy that Leland has some spirit...and I bet he's got a temper too!"

I agreed.  I told him I can already see that he will be our non-conforming, creative & possibly musical child.  He wanted to know more about Joel as a child.  So, I told him about how he was 2nd of 4 boys...crazy talented in all things art/music...but also with a very spirited sort of 'wild' streak about him.  An inner rebel that I am seeing identically in our son.

I am finding with Leland that I when I get frustrated...or have trouble finding out what he needs that I have to think back to Joel.  Joel is 100% introvert.  He needs the silence of a space to recharge.  On many busy weeks (such as the one currently ending) he needs to have time with his electric guitar...amp turned up very high...and to get out some rage.

I am finding Leland is no different.  When he gets fussy...or irritable, I stick him in front of our piano and problems seem to go away.

The older you get, sweet Leland, the more you remind me of your Daddy.  That is a really wonderful thing.

 

lifestyle changes

After a full 30 days of a vegan lifestyle - I can truly say a remarkable change is noticed.

a full 5lbs is gone
energy level is amazingly high
I am finding I am even able to get up in the morning without feeling zapped of my energy
Coincidently, I find myself wanting to rest at a more decent hour.

Am I finally an adult now?

I am also trying to continue in my training towards the 10K in 2 wks.  I can run 4 miles (it's hard but I can do it)  A few weeks back, however, I went for a run outdoors, didn't stretch thoroughly, ran a bit too fast and pulled my hip flexor.  It was such a bizarre sensation.  It felt like my hip/groin area was numb and when I stopped to stretch, the pain really set in.

It hasn't been the same since.  I took a 2 week hiatus off running and tried again last night.  I did just shy of 3 miles and it felt great.  I am super sore this morning but I am confident I can do this race and then try and do some strength-training afterward to help those muscles really heal. 

Amazing how you feel about yourself when your body, your diet & your work are all given your 'best' - there is something amazingly rewarding about knowing you couldn't have possibly done any better and you are just simply proud of yourself. 

A quote I heard yesterday from a dear long lost buddy....was this: Some people try too hard. Some people don't try hard enough. My goal is to do neither.

It's a freeing concept to live life, putting your all into what matters, without trying so hard & perhaps caring SO much about what people think. Instead...what do YOU think about you?

154 Days

Until we board our flight to Dublin.

We are in the meantime enjoying all the daydreaming...the laughter over things we want to do & try there....the foods we keep hearing about there...the authors we're finding out were born there....

Dreaming is so fun when you dream with one you love-especially when those dreams also eventually come true.

Today....I day dreamed....about the clothing I want to wear while I'm in Ireland.  Aren't these fun?  Thanks ModCloth for helping me kill off a half hour of this gorgeous day looking at clothing....

imagining a night out with my love...dinner & dancing...not sure who I'd dance with as we all know it won't be Joel!  ;-)

ah. this one is just so fun and playful....perhaps for our castle tour and on the day we feed seals!

oh and I think this one is PERECT for the day we clear out the camera and visit historical churches getting photo after photo....

can't go to Ireland without green shoes, right?

leland

This child.....my 1-year old.
He makes us laugh.SO.HARD.

I have a feeling he always will.

On Easter Sunday, he was no different.  His shirt would not stay tucked.  His tie would not stay put.  His hair would not stay combed.  He is wild. In ever way.

Joel and I appreciate this about Leland - his wildness.  He has a swagger already at only 18 mos.

This picture (taken at our family gathering by my cousin) tells it all.

While Aunts & Uncles waved him down with easter goodies.....he refused each one...grabbed one that was NOT his and proceeded to sneak off to a room by himself and check it out.  This is the shot that was captured.

Do you see the rebel trapped inside his little peanut baby body?

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I love Easter....obviously because of its rich & redemptive meaning....but also the fun with the kids...the cute way we dress...and the hunt for easter baskets!  Hope yours was great - ours was a BLAST! 

baskets for my boys

Jude 'really' needed a good set of chattering wind-up teeth

Leland's sweet basket with a toy airplane...turtle and lots of light-up wands

On our way to church with my cutie pie guys

Words cannot describe the love I have for this tender boy

and THIS guy - totally hilarious and ALL personality!

See what I mean?

vegan day 25

So, this little road to vegan living has bee far less bumpy than I thought.

There are options left and right.
There are ways to create texture in food that is delicious and 'buttery-tasting' without utilizing the norm.
Sometimes it's nice to see how you can do what you love...just using different ingredients.

I am enjoying a few basic things about this new way of life:

1-I lost 4lbs
2-I am in love with artichokes in a deep way
3-Dark chocolate makes problems go away
4-I may as well as start my own Aladdin's franchise
5-I like tricking my family with vegan meals and then telling them it's vegan once they have eaten it.

It's like having an identical twin and switching places.  kind of.

Thanks for all the sweet support....blog suggestions...book-borrowing...it means SO much.

For now, I leave you with vegan eye candy....courtesy of sweet potato soul.  oh how I love you!

coconut cake - yes please!

raw lentil hummus....let me go grab some pita bread and some netflix

chocolate banana brownies - my 'one time a month' NECESSITY!

Brussel sprout salad.  Truth be told: Joel LOVES brussel sprouts so this one will work!

saturday sounds

5 year old tromps down the stairs with a bucket of legos

the legos fall 

the 5 year old giggles and emits an 'oops!'

the husband and I laugh quietly while still snug as bugs 

a little 1 year old sings in his bed

mumbling sounds from 'gaaaa' to 'laaaaa' to 'mamamamamama'

the coffee machine's gentle sound of milk-frothing creates anticipation of morning

the smell of cinnamon invites us to make breakfast

breakfast is made

1 year old has pulled out all unnecessary cooking tools for necessary play

boys giggle

husband devours

i listen

boys head down to the basement for wrestling time

i clean up

i listen

to the sounds of laughter

sounds of boys who missed their dad all week

and have him to themselves all weekend long.

best sound ever. 

 happy saturday loves!

image courtesy of Dan O'Keefe

vegan banana bread

So, there are a million banana bread recipes out there - but tough to find one that sound like it will actually be delish.

This is it.  Look no further.

No eggs.  Just use oil instead of butter.  It's perfect.

Try it out!

3 Bananas, mashed
1/4 Cup vegetable oil
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Soft Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Mash the bananas well and combine them with the butter and the sugars to cream.
Add the salt, baking powder and baking soda to combine.
Stir in each of the flours, mixing until just moistened.
Bake in a slightly greased and flour dusted loaf pan for 35-40 minutes of until a cake tester comes out clean.
Let rest for a few minutes before removing from the pan to cool on a wire rack.

'that' box

You know that box...

The one you put clothing into that is for when you drop that last 10lbs...or that one when you drop the last 20lbs.

Well, I have 2 boxes.

1 is full of jeans/trousers that are pre-Jude.  Dating back to 2004.  When I was at my skinniest. 
Then there is box #2.  It was full of jeans/trousers from just before Leland.  (2nd most skinniest)

I am proud to say box #2 is moving from box to drawer immediately.

I am also excited that box #1 will be taking it's place in the not-so-distant future.

Excited that I'm really doing this...really feeling good...really making a change.  How many times I have been left with nothing but disappointment.  Not anymore. 

reflections of a new vegan

So, I am really doing this.

This whole vegan thing I set out to do - it's NOT that hard.

I mean, the cheese part, major.  BUT. otherwise.

I'm enjoying veggies in a new way - rekindled my love with oatmeal for breakfast - and am having an affair I can barely speak about with marcona almonds with dried rosemary. 

PLUS - my body is SO much healthier.  Like in lots of ways.

I'm doing this & my family & friends are being so very supportive.  A friend told me yesterday....'If only we would realize how many ailments we can cure in the body by simply eating different food." 

Check out all these vegan meals I am finding.  SO SO YUM! 

Non-dairy Pasta Alfredo

Vegan apple cake

Vegan smores

Vegan Eggplant Lasagna

Beautiful vegan pancakes

Plum Kuchen

well, it's april 1st...

You know what that means?  Mother's Day is NEXT month - yayyy....

I'm kind of loving a good Mother's Day - you get the cutest little hand drawn pictures while the hubby fusses over you. 

Want to know my wish list?

First on the list - The Flavour Thesaurus -a culinary-lover's guide to flavour combos - yeah, that belongs in my kitchen or even on my lap with a soy latte right about now.

Secondly, I am really getting into Zumba.  LIKE...really getting into it.  I even googled how to become an instructor one day - THAT is how much I love it.  (I don't really want to teach it, just love how exercise can be THAT much fun)

So...this is my 2nd Mom's day gift wish.  ;-) 

Happy April All!