Chocolate: the world's most acceptable addiction. Dark chocolate is great for your cardiovascular health. One of the latest studies found that eating 3.5 ounces a day lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension. So it's a bonus that it does your romantic heart good.
Compliment your chocolate fix with a glass of wine. Don't worry, a little bit won't hurt your running--if you're smart about it. Find out how in What Are You Drinking.
Runner's World.com
Tuesday, 14 February 2006
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Last night Daddy and I celebrated by going to Brasserie St. Georges, quite a swanky place and it was fun to dress up. Nonna babysat and the boys were greata! Today I found some chocolate from my secret admirer. Hold on while I grab some! Just came back from a run. Very mild here. Didn't go running in Turkey. It's the first break I have had from running since June when I took three weeks off after Peauteau was born. Have a great day!
Monday, 13 February 2006
Sunday, 12 February 2006
Last night we returned from an excellent holiday in Turkey. Nonna and I got last-miinute tickets from Tui Travel and flew down there with the kids while Daddy worked in Dubai/Saudi Arabia. We were able to enjoy the children very much without worrying about market/cooking/cleaning and also had lots of fun at a snake park, Phaselis (Ancient Roman ruins, incredible) and the "hamman". Have you ever had a Turkish bath? I had always thought that it was just a steam room. But it is an entire experience which includes being scrubbed/washed/massaged and then it starts all over again. Nonna treated me to a 1 1/2 hour treatment and I thought I had gone to Turkish heaven! If only I could have one treatment like that a week! I will go back to Turkey just for that alone.
We had some awesome rain/thunder/lightening storms and power failures in the hotel and at other times, we had sunshine and enjoyed a warm breeze by the ocean. We drank in the sea air as much as we could. Our hotel was surrounded by mountains and we could see the snow. We took the bus here and there on our adventures and experienced some of the local comings and goings.
The Turks in the hotel really love children and made a fuss over ours everyday and helped us with the stroller when there wasn't a ramp. Frunty made friends with the animateur, Becko, who in turn called him "Sharky" because Frunty wore a shark shirt.
We had some awesome rain/thunder/lightening storms and power failures in the hotel and at other times, we had sunshine and enjoyed a warm breeze by the ocean. We drank in the sea air as much as we could. Our hotel was surrounded by mountains and we could see the snow. We took the bus here and there on our adventures and experienced some of the local comings and goings.
The Turks in the hotel really love children and made a fuss over ours everyday and helped us with the stroller when there wasn't a ramp. Frunty made friends with the animateur, Becko, who in turn called him "Sharky" because Frunty wore a shark shirt.
Monday, 30 January 2006
Frunty and Peauteau enjoyed a bath tonight...Daddy is in Milano/Torino. I looked at these two little guys, splashing away, laughing, sharing toys...I am still in awe that they are mine. Then they ate dinner and went off to bed without almost no complaints. I think they know that they have to help me even more when Da da is away. Before bed, Frunty told me that I have to like pink because I am a girl. I really laughed. Where did he get an idea like that? I asked him and he said, "I think you told me that. I heard you say that yesterday." Well, I definitely don't remember ever saying that but it was just too cute for words.
We enjoyed a nice visit with Daddy's sister who visited us for the weekend. We went to the city of Spa and Daddy babysat while Z.E and I soaked in the hot springs, enjoyed the saunas and hamman. I liked when a worker, looking a lot like a maori, came into the sauna and poured water on the rocks. There was an orange scent that followed which was very relaxing. My whole body felt relaxed afterwards even though I was quite tired. The night before, we enjoyed a 4 course, gourmet meal at the hotel by the hot springs. It was delicious and we took a picture of the bottle of red wine so we would remember the name to purchase it again. It was excellent. And the dessert was exquisite...a chocolate brownie-type cake on the outside but when you cut into it, warm, melted chocolate oozed out. What a wonderful weekend and with snow all around, we got a little taste of winter too.
We enjoyed a nice visit with Daddy's sister who visited us for the weekend. We went to the city of Spa and Daddy babysat while Z.E and I soaked in the hot springs, enjoyed the saunas and hamman. I liked when a worker, looking a lot like a maori, came into the sauna and poured water on the rocks. There was an orange scent that followed which was very relaxing. My whole body felt relaxed afterwards even though I was quite tired. The night before, we enjoyed a 4 course, gourmet meal at the hotel by the hot springs. It was delicious and we took a picture of the bottle of red wine so we would remember the name to purchase it again. It was excellent. And the dessert was exquisite...a chocolate brownie-type cake on the outside but when you cut into it, warm, melted chocolate oozed out. What a wonderful weekend and with snow all around, we got a little taste of winter too.
Wednesday, 18 January 2006
A major shift is occuring in our daily family life. With Daddy always at home, I could easily take Peauteau to bed for naptime or bedtime and stay with him as long as it would take for him to settle down and fall asleep. I knew that Mr. Two Legs was safe with his Dad. This week though has been quite challenging as Daddy has been out of the house first thing in the morning and hasn't returned til very very late at night. I no longer can stay with Peauteau while he falls asleep because Mr. Two Legs might get into trouble. The risk is way too high. Yesterday our friend was here when I took Peauteau down for his nap. Luckily because Mr. Two Legs went and got a pair of scissors. Not his usual little ones but the big, kitchen pair. As my friend was here, there was no problem. She helped him with the scissors. But had she not been here, there may have been an accident.
Until this week, there have always been two adults tending to these two children. I am soooooooooooooooo lucky to have had seven months of this...but now, to keep them safe, I have to make some changes and it is not easy. And I cannot go back. Even though Daddy will be home next week as usual, I must continue the new regime since in Feb., he will go to Dubai for a week and I must remain consistent.
So...Peauteau has to get used to falling asleep on his own after a good feed. I go in every 5 minutes to give him comfort and positive reinforcement but basically, in a nutshell...HE HATES IT! Last night, alone with both boys, I ran up and down the stairs comforting them both while the other started back crying again. (each boy in a different room since their crying would wake the other up again!) Needless to say...I am a bit frazzled but hey, I enjoyed almost seven months of a kind of closeness that I will always treasure with these boys. With Mr. Two Legs, I obviously enjoyed 3.5 years of it and with Peauteau only nearly 7 months but guess what, safety does have to come first in this case. Mr. Two Legs could get into anything...it's just too dangerous.
So it has been a very challenging week, to say the least because not only am I all of a sudden alone with both boys after 7 glorious months of non-stop support, but I am also trying to teach them how to fall asleep on their own. What a challenging week. And it isn't over yet! They are just such cutie pies and during the day, are sweeter than ever...which makes it harder to see them upset at naptime/night time. But again, I can't be cuddling up to Peauteau all afternoon while Mr. Two Legs tries to make an omelette on the stove. Oh my goodness...now that it is in writing, I see how crazily dangerous it could become if I don't take the tough approach.
And since I go in every 5-10 minutes to cheer them on, telling them what a great job they are doing, making sure they haven't fallen out, I don't think they are being completely traumatized, hopefully. I mean, cold turkey is not my style personally. I prefer to ease them into this gently. Since our home is rather small, I do have the liberty of doing that as I can easily hear what's going on...but I will not take anymore risks like the scissors. And that is that.
If anyone has been through this, please email me with encouraging stories! Thanks!
Until this week, there have always been two adults tending to these two children. I am soooooooooooooooo lucky to have had seven months of this...but now, to keep them safe, I have to make some changes and it is not easy. And I cannot go back. Even though Daddy will be home next week as usual, I must continue the new regime since in Feb., he will go to Dubai for a week and I must remain consistent.
So...Peauteau has to get used to falling asleep on his own after a good feed. I go in every 5 minutes to give him comfort and positive reinforcement but basically, in a nutshell...HE HATES IT! Last night, alone with both boys, I ran up and down the stairs comforting them both while the other started back crying again. (each boy in a different room since their crying would wake the other up again!) Needless to say...I am a bit frazzled but hey, I enjoyed almost seven months of a kind of closeness that I will always treasure with these boys. With Mr. Two Legs, I obviously enjoyed 3.5 years of it and with Peauteau only nearly 7 months but guess what, safety does have to come first in this case. Mr. Two Legs could get into anything...it's just too dangerous.
So it has been a very challenging week, to say the least because not only am I all of a sudden alone with both boys after 7 glorious months of non-stop support, but I am also trying to teach them how to fall asleep on their own. What a challenging week. And it isn't over yet! They are just such cutie pies and during the day, are sweeter than ever...which makes it harder to see them upset at naptime/night time. But again, I can't be cuddling up to Peauteau all afternoon while Mr. Two Legs tries to make an omelette on the stove. Oh my goodness...now that it is in writing, I see how crazily dangerous it could become if I don't take the tough approach.
And since I go in every 5-10 minutes to cheer them on, telling them what a great job they are doing, making sure they haven't fallen out, I don't think they are being completely traumatized, hopefully. I mean, cold turkey is not my style personally. I prefer to ease them into this gently. Since our home is rather small, I do have the liberty of doing that as I can easily hear what's going on...but I will not take anymore risks like the scissors. And that is that.
If anyone has been through this, please email me with encouraging stories! Thanks!
Monday, 16 January 2006
We really enjoyed the twins' birthday party yesterday. H did an amazing job with crafts, games, a clown "spectacle" and then fruits and sandwiches followed by chips and cake. Loot bags, individual cakes and balloons to go. Very impressive. She even had time to scoot off and express milk during the clown show! Peauteau loved the clown show. Frunty said his favourite part was receiving the balloons but he seemed to enjoy all of it especially the face painting, which I almost forgot to mention. He wore his spider man shoes and shirt and had his face painted red with a web and a little spider with silver sparkles. What fun! Peauteau dressed as a teddy bear. We took tons of pictures so we could give them to the girls as an extra present but our main gift, from the boys, was a goat. See www.oxfam.com We hope they like it as well as two home made cards with pictures of the boys on it. They will be moving back to the UK in August but that's Brussels for you! The motto for Brussels is "the heart of Europe". It should also be "Enjoy the moment!" Well, that should be the motto for anywhere, I guess. Anyway, we had a lot of fun. Daddy took us and then met us on our walk home. During the party he did chores and also took off in his car to scout out our next adventure! Now that Peauteau is used to the stroller, perhaps he'll tolerate time in the car?!
Today the Js are coming over to make a thank you lunch since we hosted J, from China, and found her a new home. I wonder what they will make?! Frunty wants to make dumplings again but I think they have something else in mind!
Today the Js are coming over to make a thank you lunch since we hosted J, from China, and found her a new home. I wonder what they will make?! Frunty wants to make dumplings again but I think they have something else in mind!
