French Market

Every Saturday, we begin our day by heading over to the French Market in downtown Wheaton.  Our routine is pretty much always the same.  We walk ever-so-slowly by the train tracks, hoping that a choo-choo will come by before we enter the market.  This almost always happens, so we enter the market on a happy note.  We walk down the first aisle.  Lately, and I think this is pregnancy talking, I always comment on how amazing the grilling smells.  Keep in mind-- it's probably around 9 am.  Our first stop is always I Have a Bean.  I love this place, not only because they make a mean blended mocha.  First, the people are wonderful.  Debbie always greets us with a smile and allows us to take two little sample cups for the girls.  Second, here's a link to their "about us" page.  You'll see that there's little not to like.  Third, I'm not a pure coffee person, but Mike is, and he's a big fan of their coffee.  It's good stuff!  You should get some.  Right now. :)


To continue our tour of the market, we admire the produce and flowers, but we (I) always have to make a stop at the Great Harvest stand.  Their pumpkin chocolate chip bread is to die for, and what's even better?  They make a gluten-free version!  I'm proud to say that we're readily recognized there, and when I stroll up, they know precisely what Noelle and I require to truly call it a Saturday.  (P.S. The loaf is lucky if it lasts 24 hours.)

Then we head to Hahn's for a pretzel loaf for Riley (and Mike, if she's willing to share) and perhaps a scone. 

Then, to the fountain!

It's pretty easy to see why we love Saturdays.

That's my girl

I'll actually write later, but I had to quickly post this picture of Riley.  I think it perfectly exemplifies my little lady.  Just a little backstory... Mike told me that today was my day to do with what I pleased (amazing, no?), so I used part of the day to do something that I love doing but that I haven't done in quite some time: sew!  That explains the dress she has on.  The only other thing you need to know is that as soon as I brought the dress upstairs, Riley-girl screamed, "Put it on!!!" 

 That's my girl-- demanding her "pretty dress," so she could be appropriately clothed to play with her cars and trucks. :)

Comic Relief

I don't know where Riley gets some of these things, but I clearly need to start keeping a list of Riley quotables.  Be ready for more posts like this.  These are, pretty much, only from the last three days!  The girl cracks me up!

"Hey, Mom!  Guess who really likes elephants... Riley does!"

(While I'm in the bathroom) "Are you going, Mom?  Good job!!  I'll give you some privacy.  Don't worry; I'm not looking."

"Oh!  I think that was the baby!  I think he's talking to me.  He says... he wants to go to Target!  Or to the zoo!"

(For no apparent reason) "Well, that is really disappointing."

(While playing in the kitchen with one of her trucks) "Knufflebunny is nowhere to be found, Mr. Grey.  We're going to Jerusalem!  There's a big tower.  Now Mr. Grey is parked at Jerusalem.  I'm having a dance party!"

(When going to get Noelle after she wakes up) "Hi, cute peanut!  Hi!  Want to get up?"

"It's okay, Noelle.  Don't freak out.  It's just me!  Remember?"

At least we're rash-free

The morning started off like a typical morning.  I got a shower, the girls got baths, we played with the dollhouse and vroomed our cars around a little.  Then Riley and Noelle went into Riley's room, and I was politely asked to escort myself out ("Please leave, Mom.").  This, too, is pretty typical, and there's really not too much trouble the girls can get into in Riley's room, so I usually just sit on the couch, and occasionally call out, "What are you guys doing in there?"  And, of course, when too much uncanny silence has elapsed, I open the door. 

Today, Riley kept up a frolicking prattle to Noelle.  I heard things like, "Good job walking, Noelle!" and "It's okay, Noelle!"  I wondered what was okay, so I opened the door to see this:

"Oh, no no no nononononono..." was all I could manage to get out.  Then, as any good mother would, I grabbed my phone to snap a picture. 

It's important for you to know that, although Riley was-- for the most part-- Desitin-free, this was most definitely a team effort.  The diaper rash cream had been up on the changing table/dresser, where Noelle can't reach it.  However, her older sister has been growing like crazy and can easily reach to the back. 

All I have to say about it is this: those girls are lucky they're so darn cute, because Desitin is NO FUN to get off.

Blackberry Farm

We finished off the day like this:

In case you can't tell, those are my girls, playing in a fire pit.  Now, if  you're not very well-acquainted with me (or if I've somehow miraculously managed to keep some of my idiosyncrasies hidden from you), you don't know that I have a few minor OCD tendencies.  Let me illustrate with an example from yesterday. 

Mike and I took the girls to Rice Pool.  If you're in Wheaton, and you've never done Rice Pool, it really is great.  We splashed and played and "swam."  One of the features at the pool is this pretty amazing waterfall area with a "cave" behind it.  Riley really liked walking behind the water fall, but she only wanted to do it if accompanied by someone.  Mike was walking Noelle around, so the duty fell to me.  I truly love my daughter, and I think this is a great example of that.  I can hardly deal with walking on damp surfaces when I'm barefoot, even if that damp surface is in my bathroom.  When the damp surface is in a somewhat enclosed space where thousands of people have trod, I seriously consider amputating my entire legs.  I really can't describe the feeling that creeps up from my feet when I'm in a damp floor situation, but it makes me want to hurl, scream and take off my top two layers of skin with steel wool.  It's a creepy-crawly, unnerving feeling.  There you have it. 

Back to the fire pit.  I wouldn't say I'm a crazy germophobe, but I do start to get a similar creepy-crawly feeling after going grocery shopping or walking through sand in sandals.  But motherhood has been a great crash course in chilling out.  And that's why I feel fine patting myself on the back for allowing my girls to fling ash, dead grass and who-knows-what-else all over themselves.  Do they give awards out for overcoming oneself? 

We also had loads of other fun at the Farm.  It's a perfect place for my horse- and transportation-loving girls.  They have everything we need: a carousel, a train, and even pony rides.  Both girls rode the ponies, but, sadly, I couldn't snap pictures because I had to make sure Noelle didn't topple off of Frosty.

I did, however, get plenty of shots of the carousel and train.  I think you can tell how the girls felt about both.

 *Look at that; Mike liked it, too. :)

But we also got to eat ice cream, BEFORE DINNER...

...ride on Daddy's shoulders...

... play baggo...

... take strolls...

...and just ham around. 

Overall, a very fun Investortools picnic. :)

The Great Experiment... Verdict

Are you ready for it??  After a little bit of a false start, I gently tiptoed up to Riley's room at 12:30, opened the door and... BOTH girls were sleeping!  They were SLEEPING!!  I could hardly believe it.  But I still didn't get my hopes up too high.  However, I didn't hear the first stirring until about 2:14.  That means that the girls took nearly a 2-hour nap when they were together for the first time.  So here goes nothing-- they're sleeping in the same room tonight.  Let's hope this is just as successful!

The Great Experiment

The girls are now in bed, and I'm making myself some lunch, typing, and straining to hear any fleck of sound that can reach my ears.  This is because today is the first day that I'm attempting the two-girls-one-room nap situation.  I told both of them it was nappies time, and I emphasized to Riley that it wasn't time to talk but to sleep.  It's now been about 20 minutes, and I haven't heard a peep!

However, I did quietly turn the handle and peek in at the 14-minute mark.  At first, I thought Riley was asleep, but then she lit up with a big smile.  I then looked over to see Noelle, standing in her crib, bearing an even bigger and goofier smile. 

So I guess that they've done what I asked, so far.  We'll see if any sleep will be had.  At least I'll get a few chuckles...

... though you may want to ask me if I'm still laughing if they still won't actually go to sleep in the same room after Baby Brother comes. :)

Million Dollar Baby

Don't be confused; Million Dollar Baby is an awesome nursery furniture company.  My brother started working for them a little while ago, and just recently, he contacted me, asking if we would need another crib for Little Man.  Since Noelle isn't going to see a toddler bed any time soon, we did.  And here's one of the amazing things about this company: they like to help families.  So here's what we got.  Clearly, we haven't decorated around them pieces yet, but you can see how cool they are. 

 We actually decided that it was much easier for us to set up the new crib for Noelle, in Riley's room.  And I LOVE how the white pops against the purple-y, chocolate-y wall.  My friend, Erin, gave me the wooden flowers, and I thought they looked pretty darn cute on the legs of the crib.  Now we just need something on the wall...

As an added bonus, we got a navy changing table.  I'm drooling over this.  I love the rich navy, and it's going to be amazing when we paint the nursery a silver-gray color.  Sure, right now, it's sitting in our living room, but sometimes we just have to wait.

 

Oh, and as an added bonus-- the boxes these things come in are super-fun toys! :)

P.S. If you like a little modern flair to your design, check out MDB's family, babyletto.  Love them, too!

Here's to New Addictions

Earlier on in this pregnancy, Little Man was giving me some serious problems.  Among them, migraines.  I ended up going on a narcotic for the really bad ones, but Doc also recommended caffeine.  The only problem with that is that the kind of coffee I drink has about 8 ingredients, is blended and costs around $4 a pop.  In other words, my Starbucks addiction is not very economical, even with a gold card.

But a few days ago, Michael sent me a link to squawkfox.com that had a recipe for a homemade frap.  Yesterday, I made my first attempt, and today, as I type this, I have my second frap, which squawkfox estimates comes in at a not-so-hefty $.32!  And I am totally content.  I really can't tell the difference.  So here's the recipe.  I halved it, threw everything in my Magic Bullet, and voila! 

1 cup double-strength coffee or 3/4 cup espresso, cold
3/4 cup milk, whatever kind you want
3 Tbsp sugar (or to taste)
2 cups ice
pinch xanthan gum

I guess the "trick" is the xanthan gum, which keeps it from separating.  I actually had this on hand because it's a staple in gluten-free baking, but it's not super-cheap.  I'm thinking you'll survive without it.  However, if you DO use it, here's a very important tip: DO NOT USE MORE THAN A PINCH!  I put in-- I don't know-- 1/8-1/4 of a tsp-- the first time, and the drink turned to goop.  Xanthan gum is a thickener.  When I dumped out my texturely inadequate first attempt, it just thwapped into the sink and stayed there.  Gross. 

But my second and third attempts... caffeinated heaven!

Humility

Yesterday, the girls and I were playing with their new awesome dollhouse when Riley poked my thigh and exclaimed, "Hey, Mom!  You're squishy!  Why you so squishy?" 

How's a girl supposed to respond to that?  Thus followed a too-long-for-comfort, convoluted conversation in which I said things like, "...because Mommy doesn't really exercise anymore... because then I'm more comfy for you to sit on... because Mommy's too busy watching TWO LITTLE GIRLS!" 

Oh, children, thank you for keeping me realistic and humble. :)

"Aunty" K and "Uncle" J

We had two dear friends, Joshua and Katherine, come to visit us this past weekend.  We cherish any and all time we have with them, as do the girls, as you'll see shortly.  We had a short but sweet time with them, strolling around downtown Naperville, playing hide-and-seek (thank you for hiding and being attacked by Kona, K!), doll housing, feeding ducks and grilling out.  I only really got pictures from the Naperville duck experience, but they alone are so sweet.

 This is right after a junior high kid walked by and loudly commented, "Look at that!  It CLEARLY says, 'DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE.' Interesting, HUH??"  Trust me, kid; I know.  I'm a rule-follower, too.  See how far I've come?

 I asked Riley to hold Daddy's hand.  I love that they ended up shaking hands.  Ha!

 I did snap a picture of this, but it also made my heart race.  Whew.

Joshua and Katherine, please come back soon!!