Skinny Bitch

If you haven't read the best seller Skinny Bitch yet, I highly recommend it. It has changed my life. Honestly! It opened my eyes to the truth about the foods I consume ~ as well as the wild, innapropriate, deceitful government "regulations" which one might assume were implemented to keep us healthy. Not so. Alas, I have not gone vegan...I have not yet sworn off all meat products (however, the chapter on meat did make me ridiculously sick). I HAVE given up splenda (despite the occassional diet soda) and switched to sugar in the raw. I've also begun weaning the family from dairy and introduced healthier alternatives like almond milk, rice milk, and soy products. I also cooked lentils for the first time this week (gotta eat those legumes & beans!). I've been trying to drink less coffee and more herbal tea ~ started that back in January. I love tea...but I also love my coffee. Overall, the changes are small and easy. And everyone in my family is accepting of the change ~ in fact, they're embracing it! Dean never liked dairy; and I successfully gave it up for 6 months while nursing him. I'm confident I can do it again. I will admit I haven't fully subscribed to the change: I'm still eating cheese (will I ever stop??), the boys are still eating yogurt, and all my carbs are not yet good carbs. But change has to start somewhere. So, I've started. As I always say: I'm a work in progress. Stay tuned. I'd love to be a Skinny Bitch one day too...minus the bitch ;)

Yo

My dear friend Lotus pointed out that it has been a LONG time since I last posted. I'm just not posting as much as I used to...or as much as I'd like. That being said, don't my facebook status update count as mini blog entries? Surely if you are my friend on facebook you've thought to yourself (perhaps more than once), "Wow, Kristen is on facebook a lot!" Hmmm...an observation I've made for myself too. With updates such as "Kristen is so grateful for all the friends who came out last night!" or "Kristen enjoyed a lovely 5 hours with Kathy & Kyle (& Dean) while Alex & Drew played by themselves!!" who needs blogs?!?

Alas, I am here to post. Or to apologize for not posting. Dean is awake babbling in his room...and I'm cooking a new recipe which beckons from the kitchen..so I'm not able to really post (what else is new?!?). I do promise to visit again soon - and share more about Chris 35th bday party - my successful SURPRISE for him - and the kids, my latest baking accomplishments, the new moms groups, and all the other wonderful happenings here in Rhode Island.

Here's a recent photo to hold you over!! xoxo

DEAN!

It's been a while since my last Dean update; and there's quite a bit to report! First of all, it's no surprise that Dean, the second (ie. neglected, ignored, deprived) child, was a bit late to walk...and now a bit late to talk. Not "late" by any doctor's standards, but late by mine. He didn't start walking on his own til about 15 months, although he cruised along furniture for quite a while. I think it was the chaos of Drew that kept him holding onto the furniture. Drew runs around like a tornado and Dean was surely aware that he'd be knocked down. So, he waited until he was sure he could handle the speedy toddler. It's a well-known fact that "late" walkers are usually "late" talkers so I wasn't surprised when at 18 months Dean didn't have the lengthy list of spoken words that Drew had at that time. (Poor, poor second child!) However, at the old age of 19 months Dean's vocabulary is advancing and I'm proud to give the following report...

Dean's Words: Mama, Mama-mama, Dada, Drew, up, all-done, more (while signing please), tickle-tickle, that (while pointing), cheese (when taking his picture...won't say it for the food which he loves!)

Dean's Signs: hi, bye, blowing kisses, all done, please

Dean's Animal Sounds: cow, dog, horse, elephant, monkey, cat, dinosaurs, lions, owl

Dean's Favorite Songs: Wheels on the Bus, ABC, Twinkle-Twinkle, Laurie's Got a Pig on Her Head, If You're Happy and You Know It, Dina Blow Your Horn, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

Dean's Favorite Activities: playing trucks & cars (and he makes a mean engine sound), trains, sweeping...he's so helpful!, shape sorting, reading books, playing with animals, ambulences, fire engines, police cars (loves to make siren noises too), painting, making music - piano, drum, maracas, climbing, sliding, ball popper, tj bearytales, dancing, any toy that makes music, EATING!

He's really a little toddler now and so much fun! He's relaxed, easy-going, silly, loves to play, hates TV, wants to know more, and loves his family. He definitely lets us know when he's not happy about something, but most of the time he's happy to go with the flow. Most of all, he can usually be found wearing a smile and showing affection. He's a real lover...