Bowlin Beige

A few weeks ago we jointly celebrated Mothers and Fathers Days by going out to dinner with some friends. Not just any dinner, but dinner at the Inn at Little Washington. This resturant (and the chef/ower) have consistently been named among the top 10 restaurants and chefs in the world. Eric and I have been a few times before but it was the first visit for our friends Jon and Brandi. The six-course meal is easily one of the best meals I've ever had. Each course better than the previous one. Just for fun I wanted to share what we ate - many of these dishes may not sound like something you would normally choose from a menu, but I can promise they were delicious!  They brought out a sampling of hors d'oeuvres from the kitchen - some new dishes they were trying. I don't remember what they all were, except that they were delicious! For our second course we had this amazing chilled peach soup with a touch of reisling. My dinner (see if you can find a theme here...) Third course ...

This morning I was getting dressed upstairs. I had just put Parker down for his morning nap. I hear clanging dishes in the kitchen, and then the freezer door slam shut. I start tip-toeing down the stairs and I hear the crinkling of a plastic bag. I know what she's doing - she has gotten a pancake out of the freezer. I sneak into the dining room, where she can't see me but I can see her. She is going through the bag of pancakes looking for the perfect one. The cabinet is open and she has a plate on the floor for her frozen pancake. She still doesn't know I'm watching her as she heads toward the microwave... At this point she runs over to the kitchen table and starts sliding a chair over to the counter. I come out of the dining room and she stops. Ainsley smiles at me with those angelic eyes and says "Mommy, can I have a pancake?"

Over the past few months I've tried to take a mental note of the wonderful experiences I've had during my maternity leave. Now that I'm back at work it makes me appreciate these moments even more. I am happy to be back in the office with my co-workers, but I do miss spending the day with my little chunky monkey and my snuggle bug. Ainsley is at the age where she learns new words every day and is constantly saying funny things. Here are a few of my favorite Ainsley quotes from the past few months. [In the first few weeks after Parker's arrival]: "Parker, go away!" "Mommy, put Parker down!" "Stop holding Parker" "Mommy, I want you to put Parker back in your belly." Thankfully that phase only lasted a little while. Now she sings lullabies to him when he cries in the car and says "Don't cry, Parker, we'll be home soon." If he cries at home she says "Mommy, my baby brother is hungry! You got to feed ...

Before we decided to have a second child I knew it would be extra work. But I never really believed those people who say that having a second child isn't double the work - it is quadruple the work. I consider myself a fairly efficient person. I would win medals if multi-tasking was an Olympic sport. But alas, all of my skills are useless in this new world of dual-child parenting. Since I will be working part time for the next few months, and will have both kids home with me two days a week, I finally broke down and bought a double stroller. Although Ainsley is mostly past the age of stroller-riding, it is an excellent way to confine her for a short period of time, especially when I am by myself. However, much like parenting two children, the double stroller weighs four times as much as a single stroller. I'm not sure how the mechanics of this formula work out, but I have added it to my list of unexplained parenting questions. The list also includes such pondering que...

It's hard to believe my little girls is now 3 years old. Where did the time go? This past weekend we celebrated with a fun birthday party (after a busy morning of soccer class and a dance recital)! We rented a moon bounce, easily one of our best ideas ever! The kids were entertained, the adults could visit, and all were exhausted by the end of the night. Ainsley had such a good time playing in the moon bounce and running around the yard with her friends. Now a little look down memory lane as we celebrate 3 years with a special little bug. Ainsley Mae Bowlin, born May 21, 2009. Trying cereal for the first time! 6 months old. First Christmas - 2009 Baptism and 1st Birthday - May 2010 Quite a sassy 16-month old! Halloween 2010 (her first time trick-or-treating!) Second Christmas 2010 in Tennessee 2nd Birthday Party - Enjoying some icing! Pawley's Island with family - Summer 2011 Just chillin' at the lake! September 2011 Ove...

Even though Parker's personality has not yet completely developed, it is quite clear that he takes after his daddy. Ainsley, even from an early age, was a very active child. Well, active is a nice way to put it. Hyperactive is more accurate. She never stops moving - always bouncing from one thing to the next (her sitter calls her Tigger). She is a little version of me, much like I am a version of my father. Parker, thankfully, appears to have taken after Eric - laid back, happy to relax, and LOVES to sleep. As much as I appreciate my daughter's limitless energy, I don't think I could keep up with two Tiggers! Parker, my handsome little man, is always ready to sleep. Much like his daddy, if Parker doesn't get enough sleep he is very grumpy. He'll put on a happy face and tolerate the day, but he is really just looking forward to his next nap. He's going to spend the next several years just trying to keep up with his big sister, but for now he's happy to sleep ...

Last night was the dress rehearsal for Ainsley's dance recital. I must admit that I was not very optimistic going in to it. Put a bunch of two year olds in big scratchy costumes and then throw them on a stage in front of an audience and bright lights? I was fully prepared to watch her stand on stage and pick her nose for 5 minutes. While we were waiting for them to come on stage I was talking with another mom about the ridiculousness of their costumes. Gloves? For two-year olds? Do you have any idea how long it takes to get gloves on those little fingers? The sequins lining the sleeves and neckline were the biggest problem - they scratched her skin and caused several screams and tears. We were supposed to put some make-up on them ("so they don't get washed out under those bright lights"). I was hesitant to say the least - she's two! I had visions in my head of those crazy beauty contest moms who put pounds of make-up on their babies. But I didn't want her to b...