Birdie-Girl

Since my favorite thing under the sun to blog about is my dearest children--let me tell you about a conversation we had last night. It started because I heard Ava whimpering in her room, and went to check out what was up. When I entered the room, she appeared afraid of something. Up to now she has expressed very few fears for a child of three, so I was really wondering what was up. I sat Ava down in my lap and began to rock her, like we used to do every night when she was even littler than she is now. She immediately said, "mama, I don't want anyone to take me away". I knew instantly that Ava was referring to a conversation we had earlier in the day, when she became separated from me at JC Penney's. After not being able to find Ava for approximately one minute, I took the time to tell her that "strangers can take you away from mommy if you get lost from her". It was one of those precious moments in parenting when you are hell bent on getting a message across, but realize you have only succeeded in planting a tremendous dose of fear in your dear babe. Of course our little talk was weighing on her mind. I told Ava that no one is going to take her away. She said, "but mama, what if a stranger comes in my room?" I assured her this would not happen, because her daddy wouldn't allow it. She said, "but momma, what if daddy is not at home?" I assured my dearie that I can keep her safe as well. She then very seriously stated, "and no more Scooby-Doo, mama, you should never have put that on, it really scared me!". She then shed a few more tears before saying, "and no more of that Gardenfield either, mom, he scares me too!" She then paused thoughtfully with the most serious of looks on her face and said, "and one more thing, mama! I do really need a horn for my bike. I really do". Isn't she a doll?

What Has the Fast Food World Come To??

Are you kidding me, peeps? This new little gem from KFC higlights all that is wrong with American fast food cuisine. The K.F.C. website says this about its menu's newest item, "this one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce". No matter how good it tastes--it contains half the recommended daily allowance of fat and almost three quarters the recommended daily allowance of sodium for an adult! This isn't something we should run out and buy, this is an atrocity of a monstrosity! This is puke city U.S.A! Somewhere in the world people are laughing at us. Again.

I Kicked Off my Spring Break With WHICH MOVIE?!?!

Dear friends,
Are you looking for a great flick that recently came out on DVD? Are you looking for action, drama, and a fan of watching things get blown to smithereens? Although my husband typically enjoys movies of this sort, he is notoriously bad at choosing ones that can actually be considered decent movies (he once chose that TERRIBLE Godzilla remake). I joke with him about it a lot, but he doesn't consider it as funny as I do. Last night we viewed "Law Abiding Citizen". When I saw that Gerard Butler stars, I thought "what the hey do I have to lose here?" Well friends, brain cells and dignity. This movie's plot drags, is 100% implausible, and is so full of cliches for this genre that I laughed often.

Here's a 'lil synopsis:
We are sucked in emotionally at the beginning of the movie when Gerard Butler's wife is killed and child kidnapped. An up and coming hot shot lawyer (Jamie Foxx) with a very high conviction rate (that he doesn't want to threaten), urges Mr. Butler to take accept a deal, putting the main bad guy out on the street much faster than Mr. Butler is comfy with. Our dear protagonist/antagonist (I think they are going for both here) then goes apeshit and starts killing innocent people associated with the case because he feels that the system has so tragically failed him. Hot shot lawyer is at the center of all of this. Here's the moronic part: we don't learn anything about Mr. Butler that makes us identify with him or even care what he is up to. We don't feel anything for Jamie Foxx's character either, by the way.

Here are the most moronic aspects of this movie:

1. Mr. Butler has people killed and kills people on the outside *while* he is in prison. Of course, the prison he is housed in is dark, wet, and his isolation cell is in the basement. Other inmates throw paper and bang cups on their cell bars. My husband assures me that prisons do not look like this today.

2. In another scene, hot shot lawyer (Jamie Foxx) hops into a helicopter with the warden and a police officer. And this is supposed to take place in Philly?

3. In two other scenes, cars are blown up with hot shot lawyer's confidantes inside. He of course runs towards the flames, and displays grief by going to his knees and asking God "WHY?!??!?!"

4. There's a token torture scene. Why? I dunno, it doesn't work for me.

5. There is an entire background plot about how hot shot lawyer isn't home for his daughter and never attends her cello performances. The viewing audience is intensely pleased (or covering their head with the popcorn bowl), when at the very end of the movie, hot shot lawyer is beaming and clapping in the audience at his daughter's grand cello recital.

And I thought the plot for Dexter was contrived? I will definitely put Dexter back at the top of my Netflix queue.

One Step in Front of the Other

Jeepers Creepers (as Ava would say!)-- I sure have been busy! I am really working to re-find myself, reinvent myself, have more time to myself, and keep my neuroplasticity up. (If you don't know what neuroplasticity is, check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity). If nothing else, maybe I am staving off Alzheimer's!

So here's what I've been up to!

• I am running again, and I am loving it. I really admire running because it taxes the body so, is a tremendously cerebral exercise, and gives you a sense of one-ness with other runners. (I am always pondering the existential, believe me, peeps). On the down side, I have been suffering from severe shin splints, or medial tibial stress as the brainy types call it. It started as mild, but I kept running and it became something so excruciatingly painful that I could barely walk. I half scooted down the Y steps the last time I ran and wondered if my legs were about to birth a ten pound baby. I wailed in the car on the way home, and it was entirely reminiscent of my wails during childbirthing. A little PTSD I did experience after that episode. Nonetheless, I have now educated myself about the treatment, cause, and preventative measures for avoiding recurrence of said shin splints. I can't wait to get back to running, but I am afraid of the leg labor pains. I am humbled. Soooooo, I tackled and conquered 45 minutes on the elliptical, but felt like a weanie or a sellout. As a side note, I got these cool new running shoes!!
• Not so un-related to working out-- I have been tweaking my diet in attempts to lose weight. I have never been a "big eater" per se, but I definitely enjoy food and good beer. I have been cutting calories, drinking more water, and really watching portions. I have 3 weddings to prepare for this summer, mind you. Not to mention I am competing in a Biggest Loser competition. No, I will not stand on a pedestal and remove my clothing and wear nothing but a sports bra and lycra shorts, but I will tell you I have lost about 8 pounds. It is VERY hard for me to lose weight, and it takes time. I have been losing about 1 lb a week. Sounds lame, but I will take it anyway it comes off!
• As I mentioned previously-- I bought a great camera! I am really enjoying learning about the camera, and then trying out new things I have learned. I am also trying to teach myself the basics of Photoshop. My biggest desire is to take better pictures of my kids, and I think I am already getting somewhere on this goal.
• I have been enjoying the heck out of my Kindle. I love it more than I ever thought possible. I am reading fiction at least 5 days out of 7. Reading fiction 5 days out of 7 = happy Mindi.
• Finally, I am spending precious spare time reflecting on the importance of my children and my husband in my life. When Ava goes up to bed, she hollers at least two times that she has to go potty (even though she has already gone). She always manages to tinkle just a tiny bit. I am always a little annoyed when I trudge upstairs, just having started the dishes or perusing the internet for that great yellow leather bag that alludes me. Anywho, when she runs to the potty, she always does this little skip with a smile on her face. It reminds me that life isn't all that serious, that there's fun in mundane moments, and most of all, it reminds me that she's one of two sunshines of my life. I continue to thwart all of Alex's plans to grow up, since he is invariably my last baby. I know that Jeremy is a little down about being laid off, and I want to spend more time helping him feel appreciated for all he does to contribute to his household and nurture us.
  

Good Night, blog. Here are a few pics with my new camera!

Why Republicans should support health care reform - chicagotribune.com

Why Republicans should support health care reform - chicagotribune.com

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Two Little Turkeys

I am a Rebel!!

I got my new camera today--a Canon Rebel XS! I can't wait to get started shooting photos of all that inspires me!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Oh my the little miss has been saying some funny and so very endearing things.
On the funny side--today I spelled the word "sexy" for Jer after looking at a picture. I asked him, 'do you think this picture looks a little too s-e-x-y?" Ava thought I was talking to her and replied, "how would I know, I don't know that word". On the endearing side, she later told me that I am the very best, and she loves me the most. She then jumped into my lap and wrapped her pretty little arms around me. She's the best snuggler ever. As you can see from the pic, she has started taking a tumbling class. I think she enjoys dressing up more than she enjoys rolling around on mats. She does give a lot of hugs and kisses to her fellow tumblers.

My little pork chop continues to be as active as her. He throws a ball like a pro, and loves to jump and dance. He has a weakness for his binky, his sippy of milk, stickers, bracelets, and Dora cartoons. He uses a lot of nonsensical terms interchangeably (beeeaaarrr!), but we always manage to know just what he wants. I'm sad that he is growing up so quickly. Don't you love his new little big man hair cut?

Merry Christmas!

Some Sixth Sense Shenanigans

While brushing her teeth, Ava started talking about someone named "Nicholas". She doesn't know a Nicholas, that I am aware of. When I asked her where she met him, she said, "in the castle, mom". She then went on to tell me that Nicholas likes her, and that he is her cutie. She described playing with him, but said that "some people don't like him". When I pressed her further, she said, "he's far away, mom". She then said, "mom, what do you do when people don't like you?", and "mom, some people don't like me". I was already creeped out big time by her talk of Nicholas (whom she later called Nicky), but then felt a pinch of a different kind of pain when she talked about not liking people/people not liking her. It was that odd parental moment where you want to say something that will stick with them and form their psyche in a productive and meaningful way, but where you (I) end up feeling stuck, start mumbling, and don't know quite what to say. I ended up saying, "it's not nice not to like people". I am not satisfied with this response, but at 3, maybe this situation does warrant a simplified response? I put Ava to bed feeling a little like I did when I watched the movie Sixth Sense and that creepy girl said "I see dead people". While I am constantly amazed by the depth of Ava's imaginative little mind, and I know it's completely normal to have pretend friends, I nevertheless just checked to see that the doors are locked and have all the lights on.

A Dad Poop and Some Baby Poops

Today I helped wipe Ava after a number two. She looked down into the toilet bowl after going, and said, "look, mom, it's a dad poop and two baby poops!" I agreed that it appeared as if there was a big poop and two little ones in the potty. She then said, "wait, mom--more poop is coming". Indeed, one more baby poop joined the others. She then said, "those poops are swimming away, but one poop is waiting for my pee. See, mom, pee is poop's best friend. Here comes the pee!"

It's never dull around here.

Psychology and the Mother Today

Do you know what intermittent reinforcement is? As a psych major in undergrad and a clinical psychology student for graduate school, I know just what it is.

Intermittent reinforcement is when a behavior is reinforced only some of the time. A great example of intermittent reinforcement (variable ratio, at that), is a slot machine, which randomly gives a reward, on no set schedule (now if you think slot machines are rigged...but that's a whole different subject entirely). Scientists have found that behaviors rewarded intermittently are actually harder to extinguish than those given continuously. That is, if you give a rat a pellet of food randomly and intermittently for performing a behavior, the behavior is strengthened *more* than if you give the rat a pellet every time they perform said behavior. It's a really cool phenomenon. I am reflecting on this phenomenon more than I would like to now that I am a parent.

Here's why--- my little Alley throws tremendous earth shaking fits when he wants to watch Diego or Yo Gabba Gabba videos. I mean, he screams, beats his head, cries, and tries to destroy things. I do my best to ignore the behavior. I also repeatedly tell hubby "no more TV every single day!, this kid is addicted!" Here's my quandry---by only letting Alley watch TV periodically (and not continuously) am I actually reinforcing the negative behavior (the tantrums?).
Something for you to think about.

Crap.

WikEd reinforces (pun intended) my very contention:

The interesting thing that Skinner [one of the fathers of behavioral psychology] discovered about intermittent reinforcement and maybe one of Skinner's most important discoveries was that behavior that is reinforced intermittently is much more difficult to extinguish than behavior that is reinforced continuously. "This is why many of our student's undesirable behaviors are so difficult to stop. We might be able to resist a child's nagging most of the time, but if we yield every once in a while, the child will persist with it." (Crain, 187) Therefore, when we begin to teach a desired behavior it is best to begin with continuous reinforcement, but if you wish to make a desired behavior last it is best to switch to an intermittent schedule of reinforcement.

Double crap.

What's On Your Mind, AlleyBoy?

I realize my blog has become a baby book of sorts. Hopefully you aren't too bored with the details of what is going on with my babies.

Words Uttered Frequently by Alley Boy (also known as: I am not one of those moms who hear a tiny utterance of a word one time and think that my child said "submarine").

mama
da-da
kitty
gog gog (dog)
icky
seesee (sissy)
shoes
kitty
uh-oh
choo-choo
ba ba (sippy or binky)
cheese (when having picture taken)
mmmm good (when eating something he likes)
ball

In the past few weeks he can also show us where his hair, nose, and ears are.

She's an artist!

Check out this fantabulous piece of artwork Ava made for me! It looks *just* like me! Well, it looks just like me if you think that I look like bag of potatoes on stilts, a toad wearing flippers, or a groundhog with oven mitts on his hands.

The important thing to keep in mind here is this--take a look at her use of shading, of depth, and mastery of the impressionist artistic style. I am so impressed!!!

Birdie & the Ax's Wordle

New Hats

I am obsessed with these new hats from Totzhatz on Etsy!!

Happy Halloween!

Lovely Love My Family

Are you ready to dance?

Little Miss Independence & Little Mister Bigshot

Dear Blog,
My three year old is growing into an independent, intelligent, helpful, loving, and fun little lady! I thought I would tell you what she has been up to. Ava is obsessed with Disney princesses, particularly Ariel. She recently asked if she could be Ariel and Alex could be Flounder for Halloween. She loves to help mom cook in the kitchen. She puts away her shoes and coat when we get home. She even picks up her toys after being asked five times! Ava loves to emulate her mommy: "I want a pony tail just like you mommy!", and "I look like a princess, just like you, mommy!". She is only occasionally pinching and poking her brother, and loves to sing and dance. She's a little social butterfly, and always looking for approval. She had her first dentist appointment today, and took "opening her mouth really wide" very seriously. I must admit that she is a little anal retentive. Since I posses this quality in abundance, I love to see this. Her stool must be facing the correct direction and aligned in the middle of the bathroom sink when she is brushing her teeth. Her socks must be perfectly arranged in her shoes. She must have a napkin with dinner and the opportunity to choose the songs we sing on the ride home from school. Speaking of school--she LOVES it with all her little heart! She loves every aspect of it--the chance to play with babies and do crafts all day, the chance to do just what the teacher asks, and the opportunity to beam proudly when she talks about the other kids in her class. My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That shiny brown hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?

Dear Blog,
My own year old is growing into an active, affectionate, fiesty, and smart little boy! I thought I would tell you what he has been up to. Alex is obsessed with books. He loves to look through the pages and point to the characters. He has a particular affinity to Elmo, and stands 2 inches from the TV whenever Elmo is on. Dearest Alex is guided by the natural rhythms of his body's eating and sleeping habits: eat much food frequently, and sleep heavily. My little bubby continues to grow and grow and grow and looks like the average 2 year old! I have never seen a child with more energy, who runs faster, or plays harder. Alley lives for FREEDOM and darts away at the fastest pace his body will carry him, often making this odd noise that's a mix between a laugh and a gasp for more air. He loves to be flipped in the air, turned upside down, and danced with. His truest passion is for relaxation time, when he is allowed to sit in his crib with this binky and rub his silky lovie and blankie all over himself. When this happens (at bedtime or perhaps to corral him for a few minutes after bathtime), Alex completely unwinds, reclines, and goes into full relaxation mode. As for school, he wants none of it---not enough room to run! My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That blonde hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?

Baby Cheesycakies!

I made these mini -cheesecakes for my sister's engagement party. They turned out so great that I decided to post the recipes here so I don't lose track of them.

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups

Adapted from iheartfood4thought/Kraft Food & Family. Pictures from iheartfood4thought.

Makes about 14 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

12 Oreo cookies, finely crushed
4oz white chocolate, divided
2-8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12+ tbsp strawberry or raspberry preserves

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F. Line cupcake pan with liners

Press about 1tsbp of crushed cookie into bottom of each cupcake liner. Melt 3oz white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 15-30 sec intervals. Be careful not to burn chocolate. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with a flat beater, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, until blended. Fill cupcake liners almost to the top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until almost set. Cool 5 minutes. Spread about 1+ tbsp preserves on top of each cupcake. Melt remaining chocolate and drizzle over cheesecake. Refrigerate for about 4 hours or overnight.

NOTES: I put the remaining melted white chocolate in a ziplock bag and snipped off a little corner to drizzle. Easy cleanup! Also, I prefer to use a homemade graham cracker crust (crushed graham crackers, butter, and sugar) for the crust. Also...a shot glass works great for smooshing down your crust!

Double Chocolate Cheesecake Bites

Adapted from Betty Crocker.com

9	creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies or 18 vanilla wafer cookies
2	packages (8 ounces each) plus 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1	cup granulated sugar
1/4	cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2	teaspoons vanilla
3	eggs 4 squares of white chocolate 2 Hershey's candy bars

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	Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 18 medium muffin cups, 2 1/2x1 1/4 inches, with paper baking cups. Split sandwich cookies in half. Place one cookie half, middle side up, in each cup.
	In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and the cocoa until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Divide evenly among cups (cups will be almost full).
	Bake cheesecakes 20 to 25 minutes or until centers are firm. Cool 15 minutes (cheesecake centers will sink while cooling). Refrigerate in muffin cups at least 1 hour; cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour longer before serving. To decorate: Melt white chocolate and hershey bar on 50% in microwave. Stir and put in ziploc bag. Snip small corner and pipe center of cheesecake with melted chocolate. Top with chocolate sprinkles.

NOTES: It's important to decorate centers because they will fall after baking. You can either remove the muffin cups after refrigeration over night or leave them on the cheesecakes.

Enjoy!