The Gruffalo

Yes, his name is The Gruffalo and he's freaking EPIC.

This is by far the best plush toy of awesome that Reef has.

I'm a toy snob.

Ok, not really but if I could I would buy all hand carved toys and offbeat plush animals for Reef.

With that said, let's get back to THE GRUFFALO. He's pretty much the coolest thing ever. He has a green wart on his nose and purple spikes on his back...not to mention those big orange eyes. I love him...I mean REEF loves him and I love that he loves him...wow that's a mouth full.

Gruffalo comes from HULLABALU (you can also find them on Facebook ). Although Hullabalu did not craft The Gruffalo they sell him & others like him and you guys.....I wanted to order every single thing they have. No Joke. Their stuffed animals are cute and quirky and not a gazillion dollars...I'm sorry but I hate buying really expensive plush toys especially when most of them out there..well...just aren't as awesome as (say it in superhero intro voice) THE GRUFFALO! 

Reef looks so serious in the photos but it's because he sat there and talked to The Gruffalo for 20 minutes..HE SAT AND CHATTED FOR 20 MINUTES. Yep, I'm sold....I need about a million more of these if it keeps my kid in one spot for longer than 10 seconds.

I highly suggest checking Hullabalu out and going bananas when you see they're cute stuffed animals.

XO

J

Hulking Out

sometimes you just have to hulk out. Reef has decided that this is what he does for everything.

He's mad- hulk out. He's happy- hulk out. He wants to make you laugh- hulk out.

It's awesome.

Xo
J

Quality Dad Time

I've been working a lot. More than I signed up for. BUT it is a good thing considering Zach is back in school and only working two days a week. 

Just so we're clear, being poor college students was so much cooler when we didn't have a baby- now it's just a little bit pathetic.

Anyways, like I said, I've been working a lot which means Zach has been getting quality Reefy time. Before he went back to college Zach was working ALL THE TIME. If he wasn't at the scuba shop fixing and selling gear he was in the pool or at the scuba lake teaching classes. Before that he was an army medic and worked way too much in Hawaii. He's finally getting to chill out with our son. AND HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS ITS SO CUTE.

They spent Sunday playing around, shopping at target (Zach got reef one of those ball mower toy things that makes a POP noise every time you push it...reefs completely obsessed with it), leaving me love notes on my car while I was working, and watching Gabba in bed.

Zach is so good with Reef and Reef is more and more into Zach which lightens my load (and if you've read anything about Reef being high needs you know I need a break). Last night Zach bounced Reef while he cried and cried and cried... not to say he doesn't help me but Reef is usually very clear about who he wants at night but Zach stuck with it and got him to calm down...I almost died from ooey gooey wifey-mom love.

This whole family thing, it makes my heart all fluttery.

Xo,

J

Every boy needs a dog.

Seriously. They really, really do.

Yes, my life would be easier on the daily without our hyperactive boxer mix but ummm.... he's awesome.

Diesel is one of the best dogs I've ever had. He's so full of love. That's all he wants. Everyone and every other animal on the planet to love him and play with him all day long. This is why my in-laws' boxers can't stand Diesel. He becomes too much in a matter of minutes. An older dog can only take so much playful ruckus for so long.

BUT Reef thinks he is the most hilarious dog ever.

Reef and Diesel, Diesel and Reef. Best friends forever.

Xo
J

The Park: saving my sanity

So, I finally have a toddler that wants to walk everywhere by himself. Yep. He made this decision in the middle of Trader Joe's on a Saturday (boy was he pissed when I wouldn't let him run around the gazillion shoppers).

My saving grace is the park. Oh, yours too?? Good to know.

We have a small park in our neighborhood and this one photoed below is about ten minutes away. The last week we've taken Reef to the park everyday. He loves it. We love it. AND it helps get all of his crazy new found energy out! The kids a maniac but what toddler isn't?!

The weather has also started to cool down so its not a death wish being at the park... 103* doesn't really make a slide comfortable on the butt.

Are you a park addict??? 

Because I totally am.

Xo,

J

If you resent it, change it.

Mrs. Sears may be the best friend I have.

Yes, this is Dr. Sears' wife and I love her.

No, I don't know her but she makes sense. Perfect, non-judgemental, "mom sense".

The most simply profound thing I've ever read is "If you resent it, change it." I read this somewhere in The Fusy Baby Book by Dr Sears and his lovely wife Martha.

Guys, I resent it.  A lot of it.

Work, momlife, wifelife, being exhausted all the time. Yep, I'm a bucket of whiny resentment and that does no one any good.

So. I'm changing it.

And here's how.

A 21 Day Challenge (because I'm SO good at sticking with something).

21 Days of:

Meditation
Yoga
Veganism
Going to bed before 10pm
No negative speak (aka no bitching)
Being Thankful
Living through Love
No alcohol (not even my beloved wine)


Yep, this is how I'm going to change the things I resent. Will I stick to it? I can only hope. But, my son and husband deserve a happy mommy/wife, a rested mommy/wife, a healthy mommy/wife, and a loving positive mommy/wife.

Here's to change!

Xo
J

ps because these two are worth EVERYTHING to me.

Sick boys.

I'd like to pat myself on the back...I know, that's obnoxious. BUT not only have I been working non stop to revamp the swim team program for the said nonprofit I work for, doing admin work in the wee hours for my mom's team, and, you know, doing the whole mama/wifey/daughter in law thing...I've managed to finish all admin work for these jobs while my Reef and Husband have been sick. PHEW. Done and Done.

Anywho, are you like me and you feel like I'm clearly a momfail since my son has a cold...A COOOLD. The last time I took him to the Doctor for a cold she was really gracious and made me feel way better then she needed to (love her!). So, for now, we are doing aromatherapy galore, taking homeopathic cold tabs, and advil. Voila.

Poor hubs, seriously...I think this is the first time he's been sick when I really just had barely any time or energy to make him feel better. I did try to stay quiet and play outside with Reef so he could sleep off whatever nasty bug is in him. Sigh, can't win them all right? RIGHT?! (wrong, I'm obviously supposed to be able to do everything just like superwifemom).

Anyone have any tried and true cold busters??? I would LOVE to know your secret! Anything to get these guys back to 110%

Xo
J