Helpful Information

Since we have moved, I've been compiling a list in my head of some things that every mom needs to know when she moves to a completely new city in a completely new state. It gets longer and longer! The further down the road we get, I realize, "OMG, I haven't been to the dentist in over a year!" Or, "I am out of prescription cat food and if I don't find a vet my cat will die!" Better yet, "My child hasn't pooped for a whole week, I need a pediatrician!!!"

I know that you ladies would be more than willing to offer up this information to any newcomer who asked you, but I was really wishing someone would just hand me a list when I moved here. It's been slow for me to find friends, women I truly think of as friends, whom I can trust. And so, I've done a lot of my own research in the form of "trial and error." I've had a pediatrician speak to me in condescending baby talk, I've picked up my dog from a groomer who was SMOKING INSIDE WITH MY DOG, been to very strange grocery stores, had a massage by someone with super long scratchy fingernails, and so this list goes on. Obviously, in this day in age, the internet could provide me with all of this information, but without someone's personal experience, you may as well not even look.

And so, not in any particular order...these are some things every mom needs to know when she moves to a new place:

1. Grocery stores: best meats and produce, is there an organic or more natural/local place, a store that has the best coupons, etc...I've found that there are typically 3 types of stores. I want to know them.

2. Pediatrician: Someone respectful who will take the time to know your child and care about his/her history and your concerns, in an office withOUT an hour wait.

3. ObGyn: Female please. Or at least a female in the office, clean, kind, warm, understanding

4. Where to get a good haircut

5. Where to get a good massage

6. Best authentic Mexican food

7. Pediatric Dentist (who doesn't scare the crap out of kids)

8. Preschools: Which are the best but not the most expensive - and I want to know this from someone who has BEEN THERE.

9. Babysitters

10. Kids Haircuts

11. Primary care doctor for mom and dad

12. Emergency Room locations

13. Library

14. Mechanic (oil change/fender bender/routine check ups)

15. Optometrist and Pediatric Optometrist

16. Veterinarian

17. Groomer (if not by vet)

18. Boarder (if not done by vet)

19. Parks with trails and playground equipment

20. Chinese Food (no dog, please)

21. Chiropractor

22. MOPS (a friendly one, please!)

23. A good women's Bible study group (because it may take quite a while to find a church)

24. Gym with childcare (and not teenagers watching MTV)

25. Once Upon A Child

26. McDonald's with a play place (if there is not a chic fil a nearby)

27. Where to get your driver's license renewed and your license plates changed (because here you have to go to 3 different places to do this. I have not done it yet!)

28. Mall (ok, ok. this one's for Luke and Mayah. I HATE the mall)


Can you think of any others?

Paging Dr. Ferber...

It's been crazy around here. (See my post from a few days ago:) None of us are really getting much quality sleep. Nearly 3 years ago I started the bad habit of bringing my baby daughter to bed with us because it was the only way any of us could get sleep and actually function the next day. We tried the Cry It Out method unsuccessfully over and over again. The fact was that I just couldn't stick to it. As soon as I would hear my little baby choke and throw up on her own tears and saliva I would crumble. So when I got pregnant with #2 I vowed things would be different. Well guess what? They aren't much different at all. We tried last night to let Drew cry it out at 8:00 pm, then at 10:00 pm, then at 3:00 am, and then again at 5:00 am. Now everyone in the house is exhausted. Sleeping schedules are a complete mess today. My daughter is living in Melt Down City. And I just cooked a nice meal for dinner. Where is my family?--asleep together on the sofa!!

Anyone have any advice? What worked for your family? I am dying to hear from someone...anyone!

Map Chest

I am going to attempt to make this map chest that I saw on the Nate Berkus Show. Most likely I won't get it finished. But I have a few maps I bought for a couple of bucks from Half Price Books, a big bottle of Mod Podge, and a chest that Jason built from a JcPenny kit when he was a kid. Wish me luck.

Great salmon recipe. And I don't even like salmon

I never really liked salmon until Jason made this meal for me. It is so good. My take is that it's all about the salmon fillets we buy at Sam's Club, and the fact that the hubs sprinkles them with brown sugar and a yummy salty seasoning. As well as cooking them just to the point where they are barely cooked on the inside. Over cooking salmon makes it taste pretty nasty.

Brown rice medley from Trader Joe's
Frozen salmon fillets in bag from Sam's Club
1 can of pineapple rings
Magic Salmon seasoning
Sauce: pineapple juice left from can, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar thickened with corn starch

Cook brown rice in rice maker.

Lay down 4 pineapple rings and sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar on top of the rings. Then lay each thawed salmon filet over 2 rings. Sprinkle salmon filets with Magic Salmon seasoning. Broil for 8-10 mins. (we do this in our toaster oven.)

Take reserve pineapple juice and put in sauce pan, then add soy sauce, brown sugar and rice wine vinegar. simmer. After cooked a bit, dissolve some corn starch in water and use to thicken the sauce. Serve it poured over salmon and brown rice.

Serve with a side of steamed broccoli and voila! (pictured with mixed veggies in butter herb sauce from Trader Joe's)

It's a great date night dinner that costs about $4-$5 per person.

My Obsession Right THIS Moment (at least until I get interrupted and/or sucked back into reality…)

Seriously.  Seriously?  Seriously!

Wouldn’t you LOVE to have a reason to wear these shoes today?

I guess I should be happy with the Anne Klein flats I’m wearing…it was a MOPS day today, ya know.

All right people, I'm losing it!

It's been a complete month of sickness in our house--literally from the last MOPS meeting the one today. And between the constant screaming of a 6 month old with a fever and new teeth cutting through, tons of dirty diapers, and my daugther yelling "runny nose!" every 3 seconds, I have lost it.  I can't remember the last time I showered, probably because I have no memory brain tissue left and because it happens so rarely. Don't get me wrong, I love my little "blessings" but sometimes I wonder, how did I get here?, and how do I get myself out?, and is every one else's house like this? Or it is just mine? Does any other 24/7 mom daydream about taking up their long lost career again? I could use a good, long BREAK! The problem is, I am such a control freak that when I do get a break, I constantly wonder what my husband is doing at home. Will the house be a mess when I return? (Sorry honey) Is my daughter banging at the door the whole time yelling "mommy! mommy?" So instead of actually leaving the house, I find myself completely sucked into The Bachelor and/or American Idol. When the shows I like to watch are on, no one can distract me. I am completely locked in. I think a bomb could explode in our house and there I would be, sitting on the edge of my couch, one hand in a box of Trader Joe's mini peanut butter cups (which by the way, are dangerously delicious) and the other clenched tightly around the remote.

So for today, I say screw the studies about stay at home moms using the TV as a babysitter. Mommy needs to let out some steam on this here blog. Here you are, now go watch some Cat In The Hat.

PS: Thanks for the Dove bar, Sarah. It was a nice change from my mini cups.

Where I Belong

I have had the wonderful gift of being a mom for 1,721 days (yes, I did the math). In those 1,721 days can you guess how many nights my husband and I have had to ourselves? 3. Yep, three. I, like any mom, covet those times when I can have some alone time with my husband. Living in a city where neither my husband or I have family around, makes it especially hard to find those precious times - just the two of us. I am SO thankful for selfless friends that have offered to keep my daughter so that my husband and I can have the time that we desperately need to stay connected. Because, let's face it, romance often gets put on the back burner when you become a parent.

This past Friday night, my hubby and I enjoyed our third night alone. We spent our time in Indianapolis eating at an elegant, romantic restaurant and going to a concert to see my all-time most favorite musician. I felt free! I felt like it was where I belonged - next to my handsome husband without a care in the world! It took me back to our days pre-child. It felt exciting! I was already trying to plan in my mind the next time he and I could get away and how it couldn't be soon enough!

After sleeping until 10:00 and stuffing ourselves with a delicious brunch, it was time for us to return to the "real world." Even though I didn't want our couple time to end, I was really excited to see my sweet girl. When we picked her up, placed her in her car seat and heard her utter the words, "Ahhh....back where I belong", I knew right at that moment that I was truly where I belonged.

Keep the faith,
JoAnna

Ten Things Learned From a Ten Day Trip.

1) Names of towns mean something…so never stop in a place called Hurricane Mills. It’s mid-Tennesse, but it was the closest I’ve ever been to being in a hurricane!

2) Don’t let a 4-year-old swim after the hotel’s nightly manager’s reception where he consumes way too much pretzels, tortilla chips and lemonade. If he jumps in numerous times and swallows water, it is bound to come up.

3)Angry Birds and Color Wonder markers and paper are a wonderful way to make sure that a 4 and 2 year old will sit through a 2.5 hour 90th birthday party at a restaurant.

4) Life goes way too fast. I’m pretty sure I’ll be 90 the next time I blink.

5) Wichita is spelled funny…. it is isn’t whitchita or witchita… I should know. I never googled it right.

5) If you are ever in the jungle exhibit at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita and a bird follows you along the path, it is not just being friendly. Protect your kids and don’t be afraid to kick it. I did.

6) With true friends, you can stop in for a visit and can pick up where you left off like you just saw them yesterday.

7) Seven days with no real schedule + 2-year-old+ moving dinosaur themed restaurant= horror for Mommy

8 ) In 1856, a steamboat full of items for general stores named the Arabia sunk on the Missouri River. The boat was buried under the ground for 130 years until a group of regular guys went on the ultimate treasure hunt. Fort-five feet below a farmer’s field, they unearthed the ship that held the largest collection of civil war era items. Basically a Walmart!! The museum was super cool! Read more about it at www.1856.com.

9)McDonald’s is a natural laxative.

10) Vacation is nice, but being in your own bed is PRICELESS!