Dear Graeme//Week 23

Dear Lovie:

Oh my! How I could stare at those eyes all day.

So the big deal around here this week was peas. You tried them, it wasn't pretty. I thought it was going ok. You usually make a funny face with the first bite of food, no matter what it is, so I thought you were cool with the peas. Your faces kept getting more intense and then (poor thing) you gagged and then threw up the peas.

You are in good company though. There is long history with peas and boys in my family. It started with your Uncle Bob when he was a baby, he could NOT stand peas. I believe his initial response was an ewwww face, not unlike yours and possibly some gagging.

It followed him all growing up too. Our Uncle Tommy played a trick on him one year during Christmas, he had this HUGE gift under the tree for your Uncle Bob. Your Nana said that when he saw that box under the tree he was so excited that his eyes were as round as saucers. The excitement grew and grew, and on Christmas Eve he finally got to open the box only to find a CAN OF PEAS! Of course he actually had a really fun gift put aside for him, but the look he must have had on his sweet face. Nana has a picture somewhere, we must find it.

Nana also swears that if she ever needed to get your Uncle Bob's attention, she would shout PEAS and he would automatically gag out loud. Poor kid, huh?

We are so grateful for your love, joy, light and laughter you bring to our lives sweet boy.

Big Love,
Mama

It All Started with a Perrier

I am someone who is REALLY into sparkling water. Like the title of this post says...it all started with a Perrier. Up until about 4 years ago I was a die hard diet soda addict. Like 6 cans a day, yes 6. I started out with diet coke in high school and became quickly hooked. I mean really, 0 calories and I preferred it to the sugary regular sodas. As a chronic dieter in high school and college (that could be a whole series of posts), I was all about quantity so the sky was the limit! Until I gave it up I really didn't think caffeine affected me, because I would drink it until right before I went to bed. Although I love the smell of coffee, I have never been a fan of drinking it, so I justified that diet soda was my coffee.

I think around age 30 I discovered Diet Dr. Pepper, affectionately known by many as DDP, even my doctor said in his friendly tone, you should really cut back on the DDPs. Have you ever tried it? It is SO good, it's like there is crack in it.

Enough about my crack soda, about two years before I quit drinking soda I was offered a Perrier (with Lemon - very important) at a salon while getting my haircut. It was so refreshing and I remember thinking, I could totally be into this. It's the carbonation that I love. But I went back to my old ways despite attempts to quit or cut back on the diet soda.

Fast forward....about four years ago I was aware that there was one soda left in the box. I decided then and there it would be my last. When I was ready, I was READY. I am not in any way saying that it wasn't hard and that I didn't miss it. There were a lot of head aches and cravings. I happened to remember that Perrier from the salon and started drinking those. It was crazy expensive, but I didn't care because my health was worth it.

I have since found alternatives to Perrier, I really love Trader Joes Lemon and Orange sparkling water flavors and Whole Foods has some great choices too. Try the Strawberry and the Citrus Blend.

I am so blessed that whenever I go to a lot of my friends homes, they always have sparkling water for me. I even packed several bottles to take to the hospital when I was pregnant.

For the record, I have nothing against drinking diet soda. I do think those artificial sweeteners are BAD news, but diet soda was the only thing I was drinking. Sometimes even after I run I would pop open a can. I cringe when I think about that. Yikes. 

Cheers to healthier addictions!

Dear Graeme// Week 22

Dear sweet Graeme:

It is hard to believe that you are nearly 6 months old. Hello Mr. Personality. The big deal around here has been solid foods. Your first solid food was avocado. You seemed to go back and forth between liking it and making goofy faces of dislike. However, when we introduced sweet potatoes, you are BOSS of the spoon, making it clear you are a huge fan. I feel like we have some of our best conversations during your meals. Really though, it's me making fart noises and you giggling.

You are definitely exploring your surroundings by way of putting anything and everything into your mouth. Your favorite things to put in your mouth right now are your feet, best toys ever. You communicate excitement through the cutest pterodactyl noises. And always the loudest when we are at restaurants, which lucky for us most people around us find it just as adorable as we do.

This past Saturday after our run on the greenway we met up with our running friends at Panera, you were adored by several "Grampa-ish" men and were held by our dear friends John and Duncan. It is completely heartwarming to see you interact with them and that you have those Grandpa figures in your life. We would give anything for you to be able to meet your Grandads, but we believe they are connected to you in some way, some how.

My love for you expands everyday - I cannot imagine my life without you, I am so grateful that you chose us as parents.

Big Love to you always,
Mama