Culinary Creations by Cous - Recipe

Marcus has always loved to cook but his launch into daddy-hood uped the anti.  I am happy to have scrambled eggs or cereal for dinner so me taking over the kitchen was just not an option for him.

Marcus is one of the best cooks I know (don't tell him I said that).  He will take something simple and make it beautiful.  As I'm slathering on the old stand bys of  ketchup and mustard to my hotdog and eating it standing up, Marcus is layering in avacado and aged cheddar before sitting down with a glass of wine.

In the cooking world, Marcus is the ying to my yang and I could learn a lot! So this page is now dedicated to the "Culinary Creations by Cous" if anyone is interested in some yummy ideas to mix up your daily spread.

mmm sticky ice cream in Paris..

Feast in Sorrento

Annual Wine tasting trip, Niagara (ok well maybe not anual anymore!)

Unexpected Wine tasting in Napa

Feast in Florence

Gormet Burgers and Wine - Quebec City

Mexican style pulled pork

Tuna steaks and wasabi

Between dirty diapers and snotty noses, I will get him to resight his favorties to me to get this portion of our blog going.  Ideas inspired from his mothers kitchen, worldly travels and a little imagination, trust me you will not be disapointed!

1 month into the eye of the storm

and he sleeps.....

Baby in one arm so this will be brief but bold. :)

Alex....
Has a cold
eats every 1.5hrs
Will only sleep ON ME
is gaining weight
smiled today
hates the soother
not a fan of the bottle
cries more than hayden did
is a gentle soul
Looks like a biafore

Hayden...
Has a cold
likes to wrestle
likes to protest
needs constant stimulation
starting to talk and really communicate
likes to run
climbs the stairs
enjoys his books
eats like a pig
likes to dance
sleeps 11 hrs

Joanna...
Has a cold
doesnt know what day it is


Marcus...
No cold..
Also not sure what day it is.

Lui...
No cold..
Knows hes not the baby anymore and has joined forces with Hayden (go figure - after
ignoring him for a year).

I heard a line yesterday which made me smile. In the midst of the chaos you have to exercise the utmost patience and understanding. "Children make you a better you".

these crack me up

check out my new hair cut!

My boys

Lots of poopie bums to change!!!

Going on week three and we're learning probably one of many grooves. I'm still enjoying that calm before the storm!

I have but one question though... why does Alex have a better tan than I do?

vini vidi vici

Sept 8th, 2009.... didn't we just do this?

At 3:06am little Alex, Alexander, Alejandro (depending on your mood) came into this world, sorry sauntered into this world like he was making a cool calm and collected entrance to a party.

When the Dr. said to me in a tone similar to asking a stranger for directions "do you want to push now or later" you know you're going to have an easy delivery.

However, let's rewind five hrs....

4:30pm walking down the boardwalk "Marcus I'm having falsies again"

7:00pm "Marcus I'm having falsies that are not consistent and seem stronger"

10:00pm "Marcus I think I'm having a contraction, let's call my mom

10:45pm : "Marcus driver FASTER"

11:00pm: "Where is my Epidural"

12:00am: (head spinning like the little girl in the exorcist"

1:00am: "I love drugs"

2:30am "Joanna we have to break your water, it will be a few hrs to go from here"

2:50am (20 min later) "Do you want to push now or later"

3:00am (Push)

3:06am (I sit up and ask) "can you see him?" and out he came.

Once again ladies.... drugs is all I have to say. Another enjoyable delivery even easier than the first go around.

Day one I sit here enjoying a plate of pasta as the prince sleeps. The king Hayden is also in bed and doesn't seem to have a thought either way about his new little brother. Suddenly he looks like a giant to me!

I'll check back soon with I'm sure a very different kind of post. We all know what happens to these perfect little creatures come oh let's say... six weeks from now!

Today I'll enjoy the calm before the storm.

Thank you Marcus for another little gift.

An evening with Trifle

There really is no point for this entry. This whole event made me laugh and is just so typical of a couple that's expecting. She eats more than usual and he capitalizes on 9 months of not hearing her wine about he guilt because the importance of feeding the craving is stronger than surrendering to the guilt.

Here is my story....

Trifle...oh trifle. I begin the process of putting out dessert one evening. Scoop for cous, scoop for me, scoop for cous, scoop for me, lick my hand...mmmm scoop for cous, mouthful for me, scoop for me. So Marcus see this and its scoop for cous, mouthful for cous, lick my hand scoop for me.

At this point the bowls are almost full and marcus looks at me and says "do it" so we cut the entire trifle in half (yes half each) and we eat the whole thing in one sitting. To add insult to injury, before we sit we fight over who's going to lick the bowl clean because we are gross, shameless gluttons.

The end.

The baby is due Sept 8th

The David was also unveiled for the first time in Florence on Sept 8th.
See the parallel between the works of art?

Just saying.

Does this disturb anyone else?

So I'm sitting in the Dr.s office the other day for my weekly check up. I get to chatting with the nurse who tells me about her son in med school. Digging deeper into the conversation I learn that he's studding overseas and of course this tweaks my curiosity as to why he decided to study outside of Canada. Her response? "The admission standards are not as strict". Long drawn out pause and hopefully a convincing poker face. Should the standards for admission not be equal across the board? Does this sit funny with anyone else? How do we know if our Dr. was the A+ graduate or the C- guy? I don't want the C- guy messing around with my charts. I need to find out where my Dr. went to school STAT!
(3.5 weeks from giving birth and just a liiiiiiittle nervous, can ya tell?)

The zoo and some cute pics

Our first visit to the zoo...
A bit of a gong show but some fun moments. (Teething won over the day!)
ahhhhhhhhh.

Marcus stands the same way! LOL So dainty



Baby on the move!

8 month Craving gone wrong

So all I want are sour patch kids. craving, dying for them and cant get my mind off of them

So dig into my wallet, count my change and i have exactly $1 in change to get my sour patch... yesssss

So I go to the machine and see there are no sour patch kids but there are mike and ikes, that will do.

I punch in the code and down drops a Turkish delight. Ahhhh i put in the wrong code! Not a kit kat or crispy crunch but a TURKISH DELIGHT.

So I'm standing there almost about to cry (thats right, cry) because now im out my last $1 on me and no mike and ikes. Then i scan the room and notice a change bowl for coffee so i run over, throw the Turkish delight in the change bowl and grab $1.

I go back to the vending machine, grab my mike and ikes and shovel them in like I haven't eaten in days.

Now I sit here feeling unsatisfied because at the end of the day all I wanted was sour patch and now I can't stop thinking about the turkish delight in the kitchen that I don't even like.

the end

Professional Decision Maker

I've decided that I want to hire a professional decision maker. I'm tired of making any decisions for me, Hayden, our family, etc and wondering if I made the right choice. I think I would like to put the responsibility of wondering and researching on someone elses shoulders. How nice would that be? You would never ho and hum between vitamin brands, job opportunities, what to wear in the morning, what to eat etc etc etc.
Love it! I wonder if I can find one on craigslist.

Walking Baby!

Ok... I only was able to catch the last few steps on tape but at least it's something!

He was so proud of himself, cheering and waving his arms.  He could hardly believe he was doing it as well,  walking slowing and looking down at his feet.  Must be so exciting to learn something new every day.

Little Old Ladies

I just have to say that I love little old ladies. More importantly... Little Old ladies with accents. It doesn't matter what kind of accent, but an accent none the less. Reason being? They are the only people that a) can predict just by looking at me that I'm having a boy and b) are actually thrilled when they find out how close in age the two boys will be. "Oh how wonderful sweetheart" was the line I received this morning. "I see you are having another boy" As I carried Hayden into day care I was stopped on the street by these two little ladies walking arm in arm, probably just going for a morning stroll.
There is a wisdom about these little old ladies (with accents) and why wouldn't there be? Years of experience hidden behind those eyes.

A few simple and kind comments from a stranger can do wonders! Maybe I'll take the day off of work and track those two ladies down. I'm sure they have a thing or two they could teach me and god knows I'm willing to learn!

Random Deep thought

OK,
I have come to the conclusion that our soul purpose of parenting (besides food, shelter and love) is to stop our children from making a series of stupid decisions in life which could lead to them hurting themselves in the end.

For example:
Putting your finger in a light socket... stupid decision
Eating dog poop... stupid decision
Setting your hair on fire... stupid decision
Marrying a hooker... stupid decision.

I guess it becomes tricky as the babies grow and options become more complicated. My question being... how long is it acceptable for me to assume I know what's best?

Until I die? That's what I thought!

These words sum it up!

To both of my babies...

May the good lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when youre far from home

And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As youd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart youll always stay
Forever young.

May good fortune be with you

May your guiding light be strong
Build a stairway to heaven
With a prince or a vagabond

And may you never love in vain
And in my heart you will remain
Forever young.

And when you finally fly away
Ill be hoping that I served you well
For all the wisdom of a lifetime
No one can ever tell

But whatever road you choose
Im right behind you, win or lose
Forever young.

Cottage fun and Happy Birthday!!!!

The last few weeks have been busy.  A visit at the cottage, boat rides and Go Diego Go birthday extravaganzas! 

Happy Birthday little one... the pictures say everything. We love you xo...

Venting

I'm just venting today because I'm sure everyone around me is sick of listening to me complain.
I'm just so bothered by Hayden and his anxiety when it comes to being separated from me!
On the one hand, I'm so happy him and I have such a strong bond but on the other hand it's heartbreaking to live through.

Now, what 8 weeks back to work and he still cries EVERY morning. Every morning I drive to work feeling terrible and occasionally have a cry myself and then left to think about it all day.

This past weekend we visited Oma and Nono and Hayden thought I was going to leave him there and flipped out! I then tried putting him down for a nap and he screamed in a way that I have never heard before.

What do I do? No, seriously! What do I do? I have to work but this is ridiculous.

Now, on the up side I'm told he does settle down once I'm gone and has a good day (well that's when he's not catching yet another cold from some dirty child spreading germs all over him). ahem... can you tell I have issues????

AND... with all this being said, he is starting to become... how should I put this... "bitchy!". Can a mom say that about her child? Well I just did. I'm seven months pregnant and I just did. Love him but he had developed this attitude and voice in the last month and seems to protest whenever he can. Don't get me going on that chapter bc those who follow this will find me very scary.

Is this normal? Am I normal?

On the flip side of news, he no longer yells at me for putting him to bed. That phase came and went after a few weeks thank god.

Whoever said this mom thing was easy?

Ladies, the first 11 months were a picnic compared to this new challenge. However, he is 1 and I am 32..

I will win this battle!!!

Eventful week!

Well first I have start this blog off by saying "Happy 1st birthday Hayden!"  So hard to believe my little guy already turned one last Saturday.  Really, where did the year go?  Just looking back on some of my entries this last year, I had to laugh.  In such a short time he's changed so much, and I'm sure Marcus and I have changed as well. 

 Some good days some hard days.....  Small things make me laugh, like thinking back to that feeling after a long day at home with Hayden let's say a day with a tummy ache.  You sit and wait and wait for your husband to get home so you can hand the baby over so you can take a shower for the day (at 6:00pm).  My girlfriend summed it up when she said to me that mowing the lawn some days is a party, we'll take any break offered.

But then you have those other moments which come more and more frequent like right now. As I type Hayden crawls over to me in the midst of his play to give me a hug.  

12 months together and I wouldn't change any of it.

This last weekend was busy! We moved Friday morning from a house built for two into a home built for a family... thank the lord! Just a few streets away which is great because we really love the area and have made a ton of friends. 

We dropped Hayden off and Oma and Nonos place so could move, unpack, set up his bed fast! Sadly I did not get to wake him up myself on his first birthday but Oma and Nono sang him happy birthday.  

The next morning we picked him up and I figured out pretty quickly after being told he had a rough night that he had his first ear infection.  Thanks to some homeopathic ear infection remedies we were able to sooth him and hold him over until Monday when we could see our dr.

A sick guy for a few days but he was well looked after between Marcus myself and nana.

Now here we are a week later all settled in and ready for some "down time" (whatever that is) before #2 (who still doesn't have a name) comes along!

Months of preparation of selling, buying and moving into a new home are now over!!!!