Dailymile

I have been a gym member for the past (almost) two years. If you have children, it is not that easy. The first couple of times, when I brought Coqui to the child care over there, he was not so happy. But after a while, he figured I'll come back and he can run around in their play thing over there. So it worked great for me to go two to three times a week. Yeah for me... back then....

Now that I have two children and one VERY clingy one - oh well, I do this child exchange with my neighbor. She has my kids for my gym day for about an hour and a half. And in return I take her child for about two and a half hours a different day. I kind of feel when I take hers for a little longer, it's more just, as my two ones are much more work for her....

So I only get to work out once a week..... bummer! My husband didn't want me to run in our neighborhood, but today, he finally gave in and let me do it. It is easy to run on the treadmill - at least for me. I can see how fast I get how far and I like it that way. Running outside where you don't know anything but that it is way too hot, it's a whole different world. But I want to do more than just once a week and I also want to run - sometime in my life - at least a 5K. If I ever can do more than that, great, but so far, my goal is a 5K, for some charity to support something that I am interested in - like some cancer walk or run.

It was hot out there today, because I ran right before 8pm. But it felt good. I was sweating like crazy, but a good sweat!!! I am happy.....

Sign Language

Over the past couple of years I have heard over and over how beneficial it is to teach sign language to your baby so it can communicate before being able to speak. So far I had split opinions about it. Like aren't you holding them back from actual speaking? Or then like it might be worth a try....

So when Peanut came along and I found the sign language book at my neighbor's house, I thought to myself that it might be worth trying - I mean after all what could I loose, right? I only know a few signs, like 'more' and 'up' and 'done'....

After using it for the past five months or so, today, Peanut signed 'more' for the very first time! I am so amazed that it actually really works! Of course, she signs 'more' because food is her favorite entertainment of the day (and probably at night if I would let her!?). I am glad that I did it and this encourages me to learn more for myself and then teach her some more, too.

My little escape artist

The other day I was busy with something, either the dishes in the kitchen or the bathroom. I am not so sure anymore. BUT I was busy and the kids were downstairs with me - or so I thought. When I was done with what I was doing, it was so quiet and there was a far voice from my daughter making noise that almost sounded like calling me....
Mmmh, where could she be?
Well, I didn't have to look too far - she was on the top of the stairs looking down and what sounded like: 'Mami, I am here, upstairs, I did it all by myself, and I know that I cannot climb down yet, and I don't know how to close the gate either.'
Okay, little girl, I need to keep a closer eye on you!!!

Dinner - Accomplished!

Remember my post about my struggles with dinner? Well, I don't want to shout out to soon, but I think I have overcome it, somewhat.....

So what have I changed since? Peanut is still taking her three naps, one of them after lunch. So I make Coqui take his quiet time at the same time. After that, we go downstairs together, he usually wants to watch some TV, and I 'do' dinner. That meaning, I prepare as much as I can, ready to cook or so. So if I have potatoes, I peel them, put them in the water, ready to be cooked. If I have meat or fish to prepare, I do that, marinate and such, and put it out to be cooked or grilled. If there is a salad, I make it so it is done. Today, we have leftover burgers that I turned into noodles with meat sauce. So it is already ready! And we have 9 am!!! Yeah. I am so proud of myself....
Of course, this might not work each and every single day - but mostly it seems it does. Woo hoo.

So thank God, I finally found a way to serve my husband and children and stay sane at the same time! Amen.

No Beach

We can not go to the beach!

On Saturday, we went to the Bat Mitzvah. It was beautiful and of course I cried. Seeing how a little girl grows into a woman is fantastic. I met her when she was three years old, younger than my big boy now. In three weeks, she will be thirteen. Wow. It was a beautiful service and she did a very good job. (For those of you who don't know, when you become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, YOU, as young boy or girl, have to do the majority of the service!) The party was great, even though we left a little earlier - it is just not the right thing for my super little kids.

But the girl that came from Europe brought the chicken pox. So she could not attend the service or the party. Yesterday, we were suppose to go to the beach houses with the family but now we can't. I figure she came all the way from overseas and she should be able to enjoy at least some of the celebrations. So we stay here at Mema's house and enjoy the pool.

I am going to keep it short for today - it is hot and we want to jump into above-mentioned pool! Yeah.