Parenthood

A while ago I mentioned in passing that AE and I like to start our days with a fruit and yogurt smoothie. Well, I still get a few emails a month asking me for the recipe. So, I thought I’d share it here. While we eat this for breakfast, I have one friend who shares a smoothie with her son each afternoon. Any time of day, this is a big hit. And I promise your kids, or green-leery grown-ups, won’t even detect their presence. The Cast of Characters (for two servings) ½ cup…Read more

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by Soule Mama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.Read more

I've been talking quite a bit about the role of intuition in parenting. But, while we were on vacation, I realized that it's important to acknowledge an evil intuition wanna-be, a poser - impulse... Restaurant high chairs have never been a happy place for AE. But, in her ever-growing need for independence, she now downright refuses to sit in them. Before we even left for vacation, I started to talk to her about mealtime. "We're going to be eating in restaurants for most of our meals. Do you know what that means? AE…Read more

One of the gifts we got when AE was born was an adorable dress.  It came from a shop in the quaint little village where Derek and I got married. Tucked inside the box was the business card of a photographer with a studio in that town. AE was only a few days old when I contacted Lisa rather spontaneously. We bought a package of four sessions and booked our first appointment. (I knew we were in good hands when the preparation instructions she sent said that she would take breaks for the…Read more

{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by Soule Mama. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. I'm approaching {this moment} a little differently this week. My family had to say goodbye to my mom’s sweet golden retriever, Nora, yesterday. She was the sweetest girl. Miss N was a wonderful companion for my mom, a friendly therapy dog at the retirement community where she worked, and a true buddy to both the human and furry members of my family. AE asks for Nora many times every day. I made this…Read more