Word Press

Switching to Word Press and a new domain (again I know).

New domain is megsdigest.com.  It is a work in progress though, so bear with me.

New bloglovin page,  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Birthday Photos

 Leland had a wonderful 2nd birthday.  He got to see all his friends, play, eat chocolate and hot dogs, and read a new Elmo book, what more could he ask for?

 Birthday Ballons

 "Helping" in the kitchen

 Kid's table at the party, the only photo from the party

 Birthday bison

Packaging and wrapping are always better than the actual gift.  

P.S. Did anyone send Leland a wooden name puzzle?  No idea who this was sent from...

An interview with a 2 year old

A birthday interview with Leland.  Someone turned two on Friday, so I decided to capture some of the cuteness.
It is a bit long (almost 4 minutes) but I did cut out a lot.



His default answer is bison if you didn't pick that up.  I am hoping to make this a yearly tradition.

Happy Birthday Leland.

My issue with the park

The park and I have a love/hate relationship in my opinion.

It is great that Leland gets to be outside and I get a moment break of constantly entertaining him.

But there is sand involved and I really dislike sand.  Two things I dislike most about nature are sand and wind, which is why I don't care for the beach.

Back to the point, my real issue with the park are the parents.  I don't hover over Leland at the park.  If I am alone I read my book or if not I talk to a friend.

But every time I am at the park there are other moms that are constantly trying to figure out who Leland belongs to.  I know this because they say things out loud asking "Who's kid is this?", "Where is your mommy?", looking around for his parent when he runs past them, and I am just sitting on the bench enjoying myself staring them straight in the face.

I get it, they are just trying to make sure he has an adult with him, but they are so obnoxious about it.  Oh helicopter moms, you kill me.

This recent Huff Post article describes 10 parents you will meet at the park.  Helicopter mom is on the top of the list, another one I avoid is Superior mom and Competitive mom.  I am really bad about talking to parents at the park, because I don't want to find them anymore annoying that  I already do.

So I keep to my book and keep an eye on Leland.

Anyone else have an issue with the park?

Bike Riding and other memories

I love doing something that reminds me of old times.
For example, I have a very fond memory of riding my bike during college on summer nights.  The air is cool and feels great after a hot day, I have most likely had a couple of drinks but I am just happy. The wind hitting my face and the strain in my legs is one of the best feelings.

When the weather is right and I am on my bike, I remember those times and it makes me smile.  When it is a around 60 degrees and the sun is setting while I am riding my bike, my brain feels pure bliss.

There is are other memories that often come to my mind.
- Walking in cow field behind my house, and crossing or wading in the creek.
- Laying in the back of my dad's pickup on a cool summer night searching for a spot to watch the stars

I often think that the reason these particular memories stick with me, is they helped make me the person I am today.  A person that loves the environment and being outside.  I think these moments were the start of my environmentalism, I just didn't know it until I went to college and decided to join the environmental club.

I hope that I can provide the right environment for Leland to have fond memories of his childhood as well.  Memories that will make him realize what life is about or help him define himself later on.  I think we are already on the right path with limited screen time and being outside when the weather is nice.  But I guess we won't know until another 20 years.

Kitchen Musings

I love cooking.  I have really been getting into lately and it is really nice.  It has become a routine that after nap time when Jeff is home he occupies Leland and I make dinner and enjoy a glass of wine.  It is really a place where I can think and clear my head and just be.

Some photos from recent kitchen adventures.

 Buttermilk biscuits

 Pizza with pesto, roasted broccoli, goat cheese and romano cheese

What hides in the oven when it is not in use

The Meaning of Time

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Time has changed since becoming a parent.  I have a hard time understanding time in the constraints we put on it.  A year, a month, a week, a day.  It almost has no meaning.  I feel like 2013 just started, it probably doesn't help that January and February seem to have been misplaced in my brain.  I was having a conversation with someone yesterday and they said something about September and how long ago it was, I was very confused by this thinking that it was currently January.  Meaning September was only three months ago instead of seven.  Only several minutes later I realized it is April, whoa.

Thinking about this time last year (April 2012), it seems lifetimes ago.  At that point Leland wasn't  quite walking or talking and I was still in grad school.

I can't even comprehend that last sentence.

But thinking about my time in grad school itself is logical or placing time in Leland's developments is comprehendible.   The time Leland was a newborn or crawling or walking or talking.  That is much better for my momma brain.  But those stages of time seem very spread out and not following each other sequentially.

Is this just me?  Or do other people/parents have a hard time understand time with children?

Weekly Updates

Things that happened this week that don't deserve their own post and are too long to tweet:

1. Leland constantly wants to listen to music.  As soon as we wake up he goes to the computer and requests music and it isn't just any music, he wants the Sesame Street channel on Pandora.  Needless to say we have compromises on how long we listen to that channel before switching it to another.  Or else I may start pulling my hair out.

2. Leland now thinks it is hilarious to tell me "no, no" when I ask for a kiss or hug.  For other people, he will give them willingly, he will also tell other people he loves them.  Maybe he is around me too often or maybe the attitude just beginning (isn't it still to early for that?).

3.  I am planning on avoiding the car for a week in June, so I am trying to bike more this week and the next few weeks to get in shape.  In other news, I am really sore.

4. We are slowly working on getting our garden ready for seeding.  Thankfully we did a lot of work last fall so we have minimal work this spring.  In other news, I am really sore.

5. Leland now knows and understands the word wine.  So whenever I get myself a glass of wine he has to point it out and shout wine.  Proud parent right here.

Have a wonderful weekend.  We plan to go on a hike, visit a liquor outlet store and I personally plan to have some alone time.

Snack Attack

Leland has taken over the cat scratching post as his snack area.  Sesame Street characters often take over the space too.  He also likes to have multiple bowls for his snacks so they can be divided out before being eaten.  He must be like a cat- likes to play with his food before eating.   

Motherhood

I was never one of those people that always wanted to be a mother.  I never had dreams about it when I was younger.  In college there were times that I didn't think I would want children.  I had an aunt and uncle that never had kids and sometimes that life seemed like a good idea.  Needless to say I was still very self involved at the time, but I was 21.  The same aunt told me about a conversation we had when I was still in elementary school.  I asked her if she was going to have kids someday, and she said no.  The conversation turned and somehow I was telling her how I was not going to have kids.  So again, it was never a life long dream of mine as a child.

Then it turned into more of maybe I will have kids some day, we will see.  Jeff seemed okay going either way, which was nice, no pressure.  My only stipulation that if we do have kids I wanted to be done by the age of 30.  But then some time after we moved to Denver I got the urge. I wanted to have a kid.  It was all I could think about.  So away went the birth control and a couple months later we learned I was pregnant.

Now, I couldn't imagine it any other way.  It just feels right to be Leland's mom.  I feel like it was suppose to be my job all along I just didn't know.  I can't imagine going back to a regular job now because I feel this is where I am suppose to be, at home with Leland (especially while he is young).  I also know that our family isn't complete and I am not for sure when it will be, but hopefully in the (near) future we can expand the brood.

Bedtime Stylin'

Leland is a bit obsessed with his snow boots lately, or really all shoes.  He loves shoes that he can put on by himself, like his snow boots, my shoes, Jeff's shoes, etc.  Here are some photos of him showing off his skills.

Bubbles!

Leland is a bubble loving boy.  He has loved bath time bubbles for awhile now and asks for them every time he takes a bath or a shower.  He has now discovered outdoor bubbles.  It always surprises him when he blows and bubbles appear.  They are a big hit and a great after dinner activity.