MAW-GRET

When Booker really wants to get my attention, he tries using my first name...

Today, he wanted to let me know that he was done with his nap and there was a mess of cars in his room.  I wanted to let him know that he hadn't slept long enough, so I ignored him. 

Sleep Deprived and Loving It

Last night, I went to bed at 9:00. This morning, Clark was kind enough to let me sleep in until 6:45. 

When did my life, or rather my sleeping habits (because they such a vital part of my life), change so drastically? 

Oh yes... when these guys came along.

Worth it?

I'm still deciding...

Brighten My Life

This Thursday, Teichert will be four weeks old- which means that for one whole month, my toilets were not cleaned. Don't get me wrong, I've kept the house pretty tidy but I HATE cleaning bathrooms. So to reward myself for having survived the first month of being a mother to both Booker and Ike, I hired a cleaner. 

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a bit of a neat freak. I have a VERY low tolerance for mess (just ask any of my college roommates), which I attribute to having had live-in maids my whole childhood. So last week I called Brighten Your Life Cleaners and arranged to have them come brighten my life and my house. For days, I looked forward to this appointment with both excitement and nervous guilt. What if they don't clean they way I like things cleaned? What if they judge me by the state of my toilet bowls? I almost cancelled several times feeling too guilty, too extravagant, too lazy. But I'm so glad I didn't! 

I have a feeling Clark is going to come home and won't even notice a difference, but I certainly do. No more mold in the shower, dust on the ceiling fans or toddler sized footprints on the wall. Its heavenly. Forget flowers or chocolates. Husbands, just arrange to have the house cleaned every once in while and you'll have a happy and more relaxed partner. 

Its too bad my mother's guilt would never allow me to enjoy a service like this one. For now, I'll have to settle for being my own Night Nanny and just indulge by getting a cleaner every once in awhile. 

Pomegranates and Pumpkin- Two Recipes

We went pomegranate picking this evening and called it FHE- that counts right? Now I've got a bunch of pomegranates sitting in my fridge, so I thought I'd share a Weight Watchers friendly recipe for a refreshing apple pomegranate salad:

2 Apples

1 Pomegranate

1/2 container of cool whip

Mix it all up and divide into 5 servings- 2 points per servings. Its quite yummy- kinda sweet and nutty at the same time. 

I need to find more ways to eat these pomegranates. Let me know if you have any tasty recipes that call for pomegranate. There's a Arab mezza dish that involves walnuts and pomegranates... I can't quite remember what its called, maybe mahamara (I'm sure my dad knows or perhaps Petra has eaten it recently). IT IS TO DIE FOR! In fact, I will die of jealously if my mom and dad are able to enjoy this dish over in Cairo. Sigh. I'm totally crazing some delicious Arab food right now. 

Here's another WW friendly recipe that I made tonight- Pumpkin muffins. 

1 box of cake mix (chocolate or spice)

1 small can of pumpkin

1/2 cup of water

Mix ingredients together and bake according to the box. Makes about 24 muffins at 2 points per muffin. Clark even liked these. I'd say pumpkin deserts are my absolute favorite sweets in the whole world, so these muffins kinda fill that void in my life right now. Yum. But not quite as Yum as a good, soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookie (like the ones Jannalee made once).

Wow, its a little ridiculous how often I think about food. 

Weight Watchers

Its day one of being back on the Weight Watchers wagon and I'm excited for a couple of reasons. Things have changed a lot since I first did WW over six years ago thanks to... BLOGS! 

Weight Watchers has always been notoriously secretive when it comes to their point system, recipes, etc. But now, thanks to the awesome old interweb, that information is much more readily available. I still believe in subscribing to and paying money to WW Online (mostly so I can hold myself accountable to something even if its just my wallet), but now I can check out blogs like this one for yummy recipes and good grocery store finds like the 1 point alternative bagel that has 8 grams of fiber (thank you, Callie, for pointing those out to me). 

Anyways, if you're aware of any cool WW related sites or have any good recipes, please share them. I'm willing to try anything- like brownies made with black beans (not so good, in case you were wondering) and cupcakes made with a can of diet soda (much more yummy). 

Next step in my weight loss plan: convincing LA Fitness that Teichert is 3 months old so I can get back to exercising. 

Ready for his close-up

I had a little photo session with Teichert today and here are the results. I only post the link because I have a feeling my mom and dad wouldn't mind seeing more pictures of their grandson. 

Some Funny Blogs

Sometimes I can't find the time to take a real shower, and yet somehow I manage to waste time looking at silly blogs like this one and this (hopefully fake) one. Clark also brought home some work for me to do, so between cake wrecks and very technical drawings (like this totally awesome one) there are just so many ways for me to ignore my children! 

Pack Rats

We have a pack rat problem in our garage.

Not this problem...

This one.

Thank you Grandma & Marie!

My mother-in-law just left to go back to Mesa after staying with us for a week and the house feels so empty without her. I've had just about the most relaxing and comfortable week ever thanks to her. I haven't slept this much or eaten so well in ages! She was such an unimposing and easy house guest, which was exactly what I needed. I would take a nap and baked goods would magically appear in my kitchen- it was so awesome. 

But the best part about having Elaine around is how much Booker loved her! Everyday they would have "Cuzzi Time" and hang out in the jacuzzi for hours, throwing balls, learning how to jump from the edge and spotting lizards in the backyard. Booker pretty much knows how to swim now. 

She made this beautiful Noah's Ark quilt for Teichert. Booker loves to point out all the animals on it and I'm sure one day Teichert will do the same. Thank you so much, Elaine, for all your help and the wonderful company you provided!

I also want to thank my sister Marie for coming and hanging out with us. She definitely kept me happy and sane while I was waiting for Teichert to arrive. 

Marie made this cute (and wonderfully soft) blankie for Teichert. Its especially cool because it looks like a heap of lettuce when its all folded up. Love it. Thanks Marie!!!

And the winners are...

My Aunt Diane correctly guessed the birth date of August 28th and my Aunt Marie was closest to the weight with a guess of 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Come on down to Tucson and have dinner with us!