Ella's Ink

Redefining Hot

Rippling biceps, a sense of humor, great style and knows how to work a sponge? Swoon.

Childhood is that wonderful time of life when all you need to do to lose weight is take a bath. ~Author Unknown

Surrogacy

Giving 110%. It's a fruitless chase that most parents willingly participate in and beat themselves up over. We scramble to provide the love, the string cheese, the band-aids, the undivided attention, the diaper changes and the nose wiping to anyone under the age of three in our household. On very few occasions, we get it right. And it's during these rare moments that the stars align, unicorns are no longer just in my head, the heavens shine down and damn we could possibly write a book about this parenting stuff because we are just that good. Peace and harmony abound. But more often than not, the balls are in the air, not just balls but flaming razor blades, and you are expected to juggle. And you scramble. Scramble your ass off as two little girls cry in concert both needing you RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT and you sit there trying to figure out how best to utilize just one set of arms. El and Viv, we're working on growing at least one other set of arms. Promise.
But as our new dance of parenthood evolves, I can't help but think back to Psych 101 (why do I always seem to go there?). I remember learning about Harry Harlow's experiment with the rhesus monkeys. You know, the one where the abandoned monkeys prefer a wire and terry cloth surrogate "mama" monkey versus a plate of food even when faced with starvation? And the whole thing got me thinking...if I can somehow get my hands on enough chicken wire perhaps I can create a pretty life-like replica of myself. Make that two and we might be well on our way of reaching that 110%.
Pictured above is Ella and Viv along with their surrogates. Please forgive the blur in Vivian's shot. Didn't want to interrupt their bonding.

How Was Your Day?

It's been two weeks since I was last alone. I've otherwise been tethered with child. Not that I don't love both girls to pieces...but had to laugh at this bumper sticker I stumbled across on my one hour of "me time" this evening. Which incidentally was spent buying envelopes for Vivian's birth announcement (I really know how to whoop it up).

On the Lam

Nothing but trouble when we are left unsupervised.
Kids were at home with Lolo and Lola as Jerry and I hurried off to Ukrainian Village for our 5:30 dinner reservations. We were there before the lunch crowd had a chance to pay their bill. Dessert was gelato at Black Dog. Jerry indulged in goat cheese-salted caramel and I downed a scoop of coconut thyme. We made it home by curfew, 8:30. Just in time to put a reluctant Ella back in bed. Fantastic evening overall.

Salt and Peppa

Surrendering to Pink

Foster Avenue Beach

Have All-Terrain-MacDaddy-Mega-Stroller will travel. Feel those biceps burn baby!

Satisfy that Viv-o Fix

You + Me

Ella,
Lately you've been hearing a lot of musn'ts, shouldn'ts and or-elses. You've been barraged with otherwises, carefuls and gentles. But today we sat in silence as I watched you watch the dolphins. It was a much needed moment free from distractions and redirections and I loved it...I love you.
Mom

Aimless Contemplations

Brief musings from the last few weeks:
1. Vivian, based on these early week observations, you remain calm, content and observant. You love to be held and will even let me sit still with you on occasion. I hurry to get "everything" done in the mornings so that I can enjoy a moment of afternoon "nothingness" with you. I live for the winks of time where all we can do is nothing together. I wish there was more time for nothing. You make me want to hit the pause button; something I didn't think I was capable of wanting.
2. Ella heartily embraces the role as big sister. She fetches bottles, blankets and burp cloths. She soothes tears by assailing her sister with sloppy kisses on the mouth (thank God we haven't entered flu season). She reassures her with gregarious chants of "Don't cry baby, I'm right here, o.k.?". She has even found new uses for the breast pump (picture to be posted soon). Way to go kiddo!
3. Biggest regret from the last few weeks: Trying on pre-baby jeans two weeks postpartum. It was a good day gone bad. I must have had some semblance of confidence in my body to even make the attempt. Ego was crushed within minutes. Convinced that Jerry must have tumble dried my jeans on high, high heat earlier that day. Mental note: Next attempt must not be so aggressive...is May, 2012 too premature? Need to go out and purchase more slouchy yoga pants as I already consigned all of my maternity wear.
4. Best high from the last few weeks: Running into Jerry's bike with the car...on purpose. Shazam. Technically, I just tapped it so it would fall over. Wrong, I know...but it felt so good. His transgression? Fell through on a promise to finish the dishes from the night before. Lesson learned.

Forest Avenue Farmers Admire Their Crop

Girls Rule...Boys Drool

I Swore We Wouldn't

I was supposed to be "laid back Mom" this time around. You know, the free-range parent that allows her child to play in the street and eat Captain Crunchberries? I wasn't going to sweat the small stuff. I guess that was all big talk because here I am examining Vivian's diapers like a scientist trying to decode the Dead Sea Scrolls. It's like I'm reading her tea leaves...is she enjoying good health? Will she find a good paying job? Meet Mr. Right? The only thing I've come up with so far is a potential dairy intolerance. And in this household, where our two major food groups are ice cream and cheese, the poor thing is bound to starve.

A Matter of Perspective

Last night was a good night. Three relatively "scheduled" wakings (1:00, 4:00 and 6 a.m.) and only one five alarm fire. Thanks Viv.