Let’s hear it for the Dads!
28 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Too often, the Dad’s that are busting it to be an ACTIVE part of the nurturing and child-rearing don’t get all the praise they deserve. It’s sad that we take them for granted!
I know so many of my friends that are blessed with husbands that are ACTIVE in all parts of the parenting.
How awesome for those kids, their self-esteem’s, their sense of worth and value - everything will be so well grounded because they know how important they are to both of their parents.
To my husband, our daughters will understand love and acceptance so much more deeply because you demonstrate love and acceptance to them daily. Your gentleness and grace and PATIENCE challenges me!
To all the Daddy’s out there, especially the single ones, keep it up! Our children are better for all you do.
My Favorite Running Mommy Products!
21 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Here are the things that made training for a half-marathon with 2 kiddo’s in tow as easy as training can be!
1. Great shoes and socks. I was fitted for shoes over a year ago and I LOVE my shoes. Road Runner Sports is generally the cheapest out there! I love smart wool PhD Light running socks. Gotta love southern humidity. My feet are sweating by the first half mile, which could turn into blisters without the right socks.
2. BOB Duallie Revolution. BOB’s are the best out there. We tried others. No such luck. We bought this one on craigslist and LOVE it! Its not heavy (20 lbs or so). Each kiddo has their own visor. Yeah, less arguing. Cup pockets for each kiddo and storage all around.
3. Powerbar Gel – VANILLA flavor!! If you have to take nutrition mid-run, most of the gu’s out there are thick and lack the yum factor. Not this one. Its a dessert in a packet!
4. Camelbak with sleeve. If you are running in the South, in any month other than January, you are going to need water. That’s just the way it is. When the stroller wasn’t carrying my water, I was. This was my favorite way to do it. Some people do the belts. I just couldn’t have the water sloshing around my waist the whole time.
6. Nike + nano = music and encouragement + tracking my runs.
7. How to carry a cute, pink nano on my sweaty self and not ruin it – iFitness running belt - neoprene – sweat and water resistant. I ran with this for 13.1 miles in the rain. Nano is still happy. No chaffing. No bouncing. No moving!
8. Hair band that actually stays on my head the whole run and keeps my sweaty hair out of my eyes! THANKS nike!!
2 blonde girls, same parents, so different
21 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
In science, when you keep the variables the same, you get the same result. Same parent, both kids are sweet girls, so how are they so different?! And in truth, although the genetic background is constant, the variability caused during cell divisions would not be. But you get the point.
I guess I never realized how much I anticipated my kids to be similar. 2 Girls, born 18 months apart. How different could they be? TONS! And yet similar.
Sarah does not like cause and effect toys but can stack blocks 4-5 high and manipulate the shape sorter. Anna was the opposite at this age. Anna couldn’t get around well at this age and Sarah, well, just try to keep her still. Anna had about 20 words out at this point. Sarah, well, she doesn’t feel the need to talk. She just finds a way to get what she needs. As if words are not even necessary for her. She has evolved passed that. She can say about 10 words. Sarah is already interested and trying to potty train. Anna didn’t try until months passed Sarah’s current age. Sarah’s hair is tight ringlets, Anna has some loose curls. Sarah raises just one eyebrow when she is being mischievous. Anna can raise both, but not just one.
So that is a few ways the crazy girls are different. But they both love to read. They bring us books all the time. Sarah doesn’t always sit still for them, but, a lot of the times she does. They both love to Skype and to play dress up. They LOVE water and playing outside. They both love the swings. They both eat similar foods (score one for the parents) and they love their dog (who favors Sarah because Sarah drops more food).
It amazes me how 2 girls can be so different. I love it! Their differences will make our lives so rich!
More Anna-isms
21 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
We were driving home the other night and Anna had 2 very cool thoughts.
1. “Mommy, what bed does the sun sleep in?”
2. “Mommy, the moon is following us home!”
Trouble Eaters?
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Sometimes, my kids don’t want to hold still long enough to eat.
A few tricks we use:
1. The Squeeze-y fruit pouches (I have seen them everywhere). They can run around and eat fruit all at once!
2. Carnation instant breakfast – makes chocolate milk/liquid meal when kiddos won’t hold still.
3. Yogurt Smoothies – we sneak in veggies this way - carrots hide very nicely with lots of fruits.
4. Larabars! Sarah LOVES these!
When I grow up . . .
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
I asked Anna what she wanted to be when she grew up.
She told me, a chicken or a baby bird.
Interesting morning at my house!
Updates on Larimore Kiddos
18 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
Anna just had her 3rd Birthday and it was pretty amazing! She chose a Cinderella theme and dressed up as the Princess herself. Anna is working hard at gymnastics every Friday with Mom. In the fall, she will enter the preschool class all by herself. No Mommy with her! She can do a forward roll, walk on the balance beam, and kick her feet up on the wall to try a hand-stand. She is trying backwards rolls and flipping over the bars.
Sarah is 17 months old and full of energy. She barely holds still. She has the “anything you can do I can do” attitude when it comes to her sister. She will be starting Mommy and Me Gymnastics on Saturday’s in the fall. Her favorite books right now are Spot Books by Eric Hill.
Both the girls love to Skype, run around the house, blow bubbles in the bath tub, play with their kitchen, read books, and color, although Sarah does tend to eat the crayons.
Below are some pictures of the crazy girls!
