I was going to write a post today.  Really, I was.  But you all know how it goes.  The day gets way from you.

Anyways, I wanted to thank everyone so much for their feedback on my swimming post.  I’ll be stopping by the Y tomorrow to fill out the withdrawal form, and we’ll just stick with open family swim for now.  I feel really good about that decision, and it was great to have you guys out there, validating me.

In the meantime, don’t forget about Thursday Theater!  This week’s optional theme is: SONG.  Interpret however you want.  But be prepared to put your speakers on mute, as my entry may very well involve a few verses of “Wheels on the Bus.”  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Welcome to the first installment of Thursday Theater, my new video feature.  I started this because I want to practice using my video camera and editing the videos that I take.  I’m far from a pro, but I thought we could use this opportunity to try new things and encourage each other to build our skills.  Please, play along!  Mr. Linky is below for your linking enjoyment.

Each week, I will try to introduce a loose “theme,” which is totally optional.  This week: play!  Show us something related to playing, whether yourself, your kids, your dog, or whatever.  Interpret as you will.

I’d also like to ask a question each week and get everyone’s feedback in the comments section.  This week’s question:

Where do you host your video files for posting on your blog? Do you upload directly to your blog service (Blogger, WordPress, etc.)?  Do you use a file hosting service like YouTube or Vimeo? What do you like or dislike about the way you currently do things?

My answer: I have used YouTube, mostly because it’s the first thing you think of.  But today I’m giving Vimeo a try.  So far, video quality is nicer than YouTube, and it feels like there’s less of a mob mentality over there.  Heck, I even started a group for this here feature, so if you’re on Vimeo, please feel free to join.

And, finally, my video for today!  In the name of “playing,” this is my kids’ new favorite pastime: play-doh.  They very much like to roll it, and squish it (and narrate doing so).  And just for fun, the end of the video includes a little wiggle-dance from Daniel.  Enjoy!

Squish and Roll from Goddess in Progress on Vimeo.

Dear Winter:

Bite Me.

And, it continues. Rebecca was kind enough to wait until Daddy got home last night before she did her own interpretation of Exorcist baby.  Blessedly no repeats of the upchucking yet, but she’s a touch on the pale side, is occasionally sporting a blue hue to her lips, and let’s just say the diapers have been special.  Yes, I’m pushing fluids and feeding her things like rice, applesauce, and bananas.  Fingers crossed that this passes quickly and (ha! yeah, right!) stays away from her brother and the rest of us.

In the meantime, one more reminder to get your video clips ready for tomorrow’s inaugural Thursday Theater!  It doesn’t have to be award-worthy, it doesn’t have to be perfect.  It doesn’t have to be more than 30 seconds long.  But it’s my new weekly feature, in the hopes of encouraging each other to get better at documenting things in sound and motion, not just fixed pixels.

See you tomorrow!  I’m off to wash more laundry.  This load has such as special aroma, I only wish I could share it with you.  Seriously, come on over.  Help?

Just a reminder to anyone who wants to play along with the inaugural Thursday Theater (thanks, Nancy!) this week, fire up those video cameras and catch your kids, cats, or anyone else having a good time.  This week’s “theme,” if you need one, is “play.”  As Elmo would say… “how do you play?”

[Seriously, what is it with the universal toddler appeal of Elmo?]

Now, I must go clean my living room, because Early Intervention is coming in the morning to do an eval with Daniel.  Nothing major, I just want someone to check on his incessant drool and weird chewing habits.  I’ll update on that tomorrow.  I just figure maybe I shouldn’t have three bottles of wine sitting in the middle of the living room when they show up.  In the meantime, go take some cute video and get ready to play along on Thursday!

Alright.  Happy Thursday just was not working out the way I had hoped.  Made more sense in my head than really seemed to resonate, so I’m not going to keep it up.  (Though I still wish all of you in the blogosphere a very Happy Thursday!)

But I like the idea of hosting some kind of weekly feature, and was trying to think what I really want to see or work on.  And it hit me: video.  I really want to get more into the habit of using my video camera, both as a skill-building exercise and as a way to actually document my kids and how fast they’re changing.

So, starting next week, I want to do a weekly video post, and I would love to have people play along on their own blogs.  Sometimes I might add a topic or challenge for people, but most often it will be kind of free-form.  Just a good excuse to document our kids and our lives in motion and sound!  As you may have noticed, I started this week with a little pirate action.  Next week, I’ll add Mr. Linky and you can all join in!

The clips don’t have to be long or fancy.  It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you use, whether it’s the one built into your digital still camera, or some high-end thing to make the rest of us look bad.  (If you are in the market, I’ve heard good things about the Flip, and Amazon is having a bit of a deal on accessories this week.)

The place where I’m really stuck is a name for this thing!  So if you have any clever ideas for a name for the new feature, please leave them in the comments!  And get those cameras warmed up for next week…

The first in what I suspect will be an occasional series / theme over the next 6-12 months.

Let me make it clear right off the bat: I am not pregnant. I am not trying to get pregnant. Measures are taken to ensure that I do not become pregnant. But, good lord, it feels like everyone else is.

Several friends, at least six people from my mom/baby classes, people all over the blogosphere.  These things come in waves, of course.  There was the summer of a thousand weddings, and a few years later it was one baby shower after another.  Now, of course, my kids are (very nearly) 18 months old.  This, clearly, is another one of those waves. Everyone, it sometimes seems, is pregnant with the second kid.

Obviously not really the case with my twin mom friends who have similar-aged kids to mine.  I think those who have twins first tend to wait longer to have additional kids, if at all.  But still… it’s out there. [Like turning 40!]

And herein lies my current internal debate: more kids, or stop here?  With all of the pregnancy around me, it’s hard not to be bit by the bug.  And really, I am lucky and totally hit the jackpot.  M and I more or less agreed that two kids was a good number, and we got the boy/girl split in one fell swoop.  M is more than happy to tell friends, family, and passers-by on the street that we’re All. Done.  Me? I’ve always claimed that I was not committing to the decision, one way or another.

If I do decide that I want more kids (and can convince M), I like the idea of there being roughly three years between the older kids and any new addition(s).  Counting backwards, that tells me I’d like to try and make up my mind in the next six months, around the time my kids turn two.

So, I’ll be turning to you, interwebs, for some help working through my thoughts.  I’ll definitely post again with more specific concerns, but I just want to start by hearing people’s overall opinions and experiences on having additional kid(s) after multiples, and on larger families in general.  For those who, like me, had the two-fer right from the very beginning… have you decided to stop there?  Have you decided to keep going?  Why?  People without multiples, how did you decide on your family size, or are you still in the throes?

I’d love to hear your initial thoughts in the comments, or feel free to write a blog post on the subject and just leave the link.

And seriously, before any of my friends and family get all worked up into a tizzy, this is nothing more than an internal debate right now.  I truly don’t know which side I’m going to end up on.  But it’s certainly something that’s on my mind, and I’d really like to have honest feedback.

Alright, y’all.  It’s that time.  It’s De-Lurking Week, according to some in the blogosphere, and I’m all over it.

That means you, college friend who clicked through Facebook.  And you, people who keep visiting from France (and Luxembourg and Texas).  Comments are what keep bloggers going, so make it a point in the next couple of days to leave a little note with every blog you read, so they know you’re out there.  Seriously, it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

In exchange, I promise to post a comment on every new blog post I read today.  That includes all the ones in my Google reader, and everyone else who leaves their blog address here in the comments.  Last year, I managed 28 comments on De-lurker day.  Can we hit 30 this year??

I feel like I’ve done a lot of cooking in the last two days.  Maybe it’s because I’ve barely cooked a thing in the last month while I was at my parents’ house.  Maybe it’s because I’m trying to get back on the WW wagon.  Maybe I just missed being productive.  But anyways, it reminded me of a question on my Q & A post from MereCat:

Here’s my burning question.. what do you feed your kids? Food is such a pain at our house, I’m always looking for ideas. And it’s different with twins, don’tchaknow.

Well, I feel like I’m in a bit of a rut, always making the same few things.  But then, I realized, other people are in different ruts!  So maybe we can all share our current toddler food ruts and switch things up a little. So here, in no particular order, are my go-to meals for the kids:

• Grilled cheese – This is pretty much the first thing I make when I can’t think of anything to make. I like a mix of American and Mozzarella.
• Pasta – Preferrably something filled like tortellini or ravioli, usually with jarred pasta sauce or pesto. Not to be attempted with light-colored clothing.
• Roasted chicken – An easy go-to for parents and kids alike.  I get the big package of bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, and roast a whole bunch of them at once and keep them in the fridge.  Cut ‘em up for a casserole, shred for tacos or burritos, or just cut some up for a sandwich.  Rub some olive oil and season with salt and pepper, cook in a 375° oven for about 45 min.  Let them cool, then store them (intact) in the fridge.  Cut or shred as needed.  For the kids, I’ll cut up chunks, toss them in a touch of barbeque sauce, and heat in the microwave with shredded cheese.  We call it “Chicken à la Mommy.”
• Turkey Chili – I make this recipe all the time for me and M, and the kids also love it.  Especially with some cheese. And cornbread.
• Hot Dogs – Second only to grilled cheese on my “aw, hell, I don’t know what to make” list.  I prefer Hebrew National (since they don’t have Vienna Beef in Boston).  And yes, I put both ketchup and mustard on it.  M makes fun of me every time.
• Fried Rice – Just made a big batch this afternoon.  Rice, frozen mixed veggies, eggs, and tofu with a little sauce.  Try to get in as many food groups as possible.  Medium-grain brown rice makes it a little healthier and stickier (easier for little hands to pick up, and doesn’t dry out as quickly in the fridge).
• Bell & Evans Chicken Nuggets – A little pricey and I can only get it at Whole Foods, but it’s awfully tasty.  Especially with some barbeque sauce for dipping.

Other than that, I do try to give the kids leftovers of whatever M and I had.  Do they love all of this stuff?  Hey, they’re toddlers.  Sometimes Rebecca will eat a big bowl of chili and still want some of her brother’s.  Sometimes she’ll look offended if I try to give it to her.  You just never know.

I’m trying not to get into the habit of preparing multiple things for each meal.  I’ll put a few different things on their plate, like a bowl of chili plus some cut-up fruit and some veggies.  But if they decide they don’t want chili, I’m not going to go make a grilled cheese.  And some days they eat very little.  Some days Rebecca will finish it all and Daniel will have none, and vice versa.  They won’t starve.

So, everyone, what’s your food rut?  What are your go-to easy toddler meals?  Maybe we can all swap ruts for a while, and it’ll feel new… right?

So, my real-life buddy Nancy over at the Zimmer Zoo tagged me twice recently!  Better get cracking…

Meme #1

Rules: Answer each question with one-word answers, then pass along to seven others whose blog you love.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Where is your significant other? Work
3. Your hair color? Blonde
4. Your mother? Illinois
5. Your father? Washington
6. Your favorite thing? Food!
7. Your dream last night? Odd
8. Your dream/goal? Home
9. The room you’re in? Den
10. Your hobby? Quilting
11. Your fear? Accident
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Chicago
13. Where were you last night? Couch
14. What you’re not? Apolitical
15. One of your wish list items? Kitchen
16. Where you grew up? Illinois
17. The last thing you did? Naptime
18. What are you wearing? Sparkles
19. Your TV? Off
20. Your pet? Schnauzer
21. Your computer? iMac
22. Your mood? Neutral
23. Missing someone? Mom
24. Your car? Van
25. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
26. Favorite store? Williams-Sonoma
27. Your summer? Short!
28. Love someone? Absolutely
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Morning
31. Last time you cried? Weeks

And, well… I love all of you.  So please consider yourself tagged.

Meme #2: Playing Tag with Memory Loss

The instructions are these:

* Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.

* Pray that you remember the details.

* Tag 5 others.

Alright, well… I use iPhoto, which organizes all of my photos into “Events.”  So I’m going to go with the sixth “Event” instead of folder.  I’m sure you all won’t mind.  Luckily, it’s not a bad picture!

This is me and my younger brother, May 2003.  I went out west to see him graduate from college (University of Colorado-Boulder).  Despite it being May, it was awful out.  Freezing rain and snow for the outdoor graduation.  Oh well…

Man.  He looks so much younger, as do I.  (I’m not even going to get into how much thinner I look.)  We didn’t get along for many years, but he really grew up in the last several years, and is now Mr. Professional and doing great (and married and all of that).  And me, well… I’ve had a few things cause me to age a year or two since then.

I’m tagging people I know (or at least have met) in real life for this one:

Beverly

What a Card

Mommy, Esq.

Twinfatuation

Mostly Madeline

We finally got a DVR box from our cable company shortly before the Olympics started.  And no, I’m not quite as lame as that sounds.  We had a TiVo several years ago, which a friend had gotten us as a wedding present.  And we used it, and we loved it.  But then, the day I left work on maternity leave, our TV bit the dust. So we got a fancy-schmancy new HDTV.  Which meant we needed a new HD cable box.  Which turned out to mean that the TiVo was no longer compatible.  For a year, we did without and *gasp* had to watch commercials.  I know, it was terrible.  Dark ages.  Plagues and stuff.

But Olympic swimming at 11:00pm was enough to finally make me get off my butt and get the DVR box from the cable company.  This also means, much to my delight, that I can actually record and watch real shows this fall!  While I feel like I watch a fair amount of TV, there actually aren’t a ton of network series that I make it a point to see.  In fact, there’s more “reality” TV on my list than I would like.  But I do draw the line, no crap like Big Brother or Survivor.  Never watched an episode of either show, and I don’t intend to start.  And I just can’t get into American Idol or Grey’s Anatomy.

That said, since everyone else on the internets has jumped on this bandwagon and I’m nothing if not a lemming, here’s the series my handy-dandy DVR will be recording this fall.  (And how excited am I that it will record two at once?!)

Heroes (Which hopefully will suck less than last year.)
Dancing with the Stars (I’m hooked, but I’m psyched to be able to fast-forward through the annoying results shows.)
30 Rock (Shame on me for missing the first two seasons.)
Jon and Kate Plus 8 (Such an odd addition to the list of questions that everyone asks a mom of twins: “do you watch that show with the sextuplets?”  Yes, yes I do.)
What Not to Wear (Would someone please nominate me? It’s getting desperate…)
Mad Men (Heard it’s great, haven’t watched it yet – intimidated because I don’t know the characters and it’s the 2nd season.)
Project Runway (Love it, despite the fact that I am the antithesis of fashionable.  Top Chef will also be on the list when it returns.)

Any other suggestions? Especially sitcoms that I can just jump into and don’t have to watch old seasons to understand all the back story?  I only have basic cable, so I can’t jump on any of the HBO or Showtime series.