tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515Wed, 16 May 2012 15:24:36 +0000babyproofingpicturesillnesscommuteultrasoundtime changeworking momtwinskittytable foodsummerchair photoscurrent eventsTravelexpensesgrandparentsfertilityfamilyvideonewbornangerin-lawscelebrationbathtimeseparate identitiesscheduleOhioChristmasgrossnessholidayfailure to thrivemilestonesnaplanguagenannyPennyIn-houseswimfemuracid refluxstory of uschurchanniversaryanticsco-parentingFinancesscampregnancyCrazy IdeashospitalHusbandrandomnessbaby nursetechnologyteethcry it outsolidsorganizationweight lossJosephinebirthmarriageexcursionwinterphotosfeedinggestational diabetessleepproduct endorsementboy stuffwaterLessonclothingdoctor visitblog tagchorestriplettoys/giftsspica casttoddlerdifferencesfriendsCar ShoppingsharingbaptismmentoringbirthdayvacationNedBig Firmpeanut galleryactivitiesweekendcothestelevisionallergiesfather/sonbreastfeedingfooddisciplineeatingplayhousepotty trainingearly interventionWife, Mother...Lawyerhttp://www.mommyesq.com/noreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)Blogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-6042505618377740654Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:44:00 +00002011-12-28T10:45:55.886-05:00toys/giftsChristmasI love how generous everyone was with the kids at Christmas but we have too.much.stuff. So much that my Christmas gift was these awesome bookcases (two of them) put together and anchored to the wall by Husband and his dad. They were completely filled with books (on shelves), crafts (in cabinets) and dress up clothes (drawers) BEFORE Christmas. The kids opened everything at once but there were http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/12/christmas-is-for-giving-and-figuring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-5362709537385860Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:02:00 +00002011-11-27T20:15:20.562-05:00PennyThis little girl likes to groove. She's always been this way - just a little smaller.http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/11/grooving-and-growing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-8252067483458443530Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:14:00 +00002011-11-01T10:43:00.330-04:00When pre-schoolers are awful it feels like your world is crashing down. But those moments of exhaustion are merely physical - no real emotional needs are being unmet as of yet. Strangers are indulgent about tantrums because of their cuteness. We have a parenting groove down - we feel like we understand pre-schoolers. Their needs are simple: Love, food, sleep, arts and crafts, books and some http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/11/small-kids-small-problems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-4740474604754369335Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:44:00 +00002011-10-14T09:42:26.497-04:00Big FirmIn-houseTwo weeks at my new in-house position at Specialty Retailer and I am sad to say that I miss the billable hour. What!!, you all gasp in horror. How is this possible? Big Firm lawyers do nothing but bitch about their billable hours. Here are reasons why Big Firm lawyers should appreciate the billable hour: 1. Self-Worth. Can you measure how valuable your time is? I remember thinking that it was http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/10/missing-billable-hour.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-4085791665888839408Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +00002011-09-14T20:07:06.947-04:00Big FirmFall is a great time of year to make changes, to wake us up from those lazy, hazy days of summer.Mommy, Esq. is making a change this Fall. I am leaving my Big Firm. I can't believe I wrote those words but it's official. I gave my notice and I'm moving in-house to a retail company at the end of the month. There are lots of pros and cons which I want to detail for my readers (do I still have any?) http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/09/ch-ch-changes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-8247166606190407955Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:42:00 +00002011-07-01T11:55:44.095-04:00HusbandtoddlermarriageI am a nagger. I'm a typical woman who just does whatever is on her list because it is easier to get it over with right away and Husband is a typical man who waits until it absolutely has to get done. It used to drive me really crazy but now I just do the things that I consider priorities (signing kids up for activities, keeping the "family" calendar, etc.) and let Husband get to items when he http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/07/relinquishing-my-role.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-1733098142744124463Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:50:00 +00002011-06-22T14:05:57.284-04:00working momA friend of mine wrote an essay that was published in the book Torn. I bought the book and buzzed through it. Many different moms contributed but the vast majority were women of educational privileges (read: ivy league college graduates) and who were either stay-at-home moms or moms who worked but didn't really have to. That is a very sweeping generalization but not inaccurate. I'm sure from the http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/06/torn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-2609443213441794761Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:33:00 +00002011-06-21T11:40:15.990-04:00teethtoddlerIf anyone watched Veronica Mars, no I don't mean that "Trip to the Dentist". There is so much I could blog about - Josephine's first birthday, our trip to Ohio to see Husband's family*, the hell of making a true potty training push (since my whole "philosophy" went nowhere) that actually turned out to be not so bad but instead I decided to play the "Proud Mama" card and present you with:Ned and http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/06/trip-to-dentist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-1734620871943334968Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:11:00 +00002011-06-13T13:19:51.590-04:00weekendI nicely let Husband sleep in on Saturday morning. My reward was kids up (all of them) at 6:30 am. I brought Josephine downstairs, Penny trailing after. I was mixing her a bottle (already down to just a small AM bottle for her!), thinking about getting some coffee going when I heard a little almost 3 year old boy whining (loudly), "Mommy, carry me; carry me; carry me downstairs!".I shifted http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/06/mommy-esq-watch-your-language.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-842663827101736249Thu, 05 May 2011 17:44:00 +00002011-05-05T14:35:12.531-04:00Big FirmI have a work retreat coming up in a couple of weeks. Two nights in a hotel, dinner and drinks, jeans during the day. Sounds awesome, right? Except the whole - still having to work for my clients while there part. Last year I squeezed in 1/2 day at the retreat and spent the rest working.In any event, as part of our package of information we are required to submit "an interesting fact about you http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/05/debting-to-know-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-589794396916191065Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:35:00 +00002011-04-05T11:06:49.227-04:00disciplinetoddlerCorporate lawyers often play the same negotiating game. We send out a first draft of a contract or the first set of comments on a contract that has every little bell and whistle you can imagine. Then, when the deal heats up we give in on the small stuff and focus on the big items that truly matter to our clients. From time to time you'll run into a lawyer (especially those who work for lending http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/04/death-by-thousand-papercuts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-1201293339393415732Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:16:00 +00002011-03-30T14:20:03.287-04:00PennynannyPenny has started embracing being a girl. She wants to match all the time - pants/shirt/socks must be the same color. Exhibit A: Penny prefers playing with dolls over trains and cars and talks about wearing "plastic" (ie, elastics) in her hair. She puts on pretend ballerina skirts and twirls around the room. My plan was just to treat Ned and Penny the same and let the chips fall on the http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/03/cruise-ship-barbie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-677262229162999321Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:18:00 +00002011-03-15T13:38:35.201-04:00differencesI've been back at work for over two months and obviously have not blogged during that time. I spend "quality time" with the kids in the morning until Nanny April arrives at 8:15 am. Then I get dressed and spend an eternity in traffic to drive 12 miles (!) to get to work around 9:30, sometimes 10:00 am. If Husband isn't traveling he puts the kids to bed (gets home around 6 pm) and otherwise I try http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/03/work-break-over-back-to-blogging.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-3779424685387784220Sun, 06 Feb 2011 20:34:00 +00002011-02-06T15:53:42.126-05:00spica castNedNed has some oft-repeated phrases relating to his broken femur. "I'm fine!"; "No more broken femur."; "I'm walking!" which have now been joined by "I'm running!" He's not actually running yet but he is walking quickly and even "spinning" in circles. He can't yet walk up or down the stairs but when I take him out of his crib or highchair he will start walking instead of sitting down first. In all http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/02/post-spica-cast-update-45-weeks-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-4295310628237314229Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:37:00 +00002011-01-29T19:46:29.996-05:00HusbandwinterweekendHusband here...Just wanted to share that today I did something with my father in law (or as you all know him, Bumpa) that I never thought I'd do with any man. Or with a woman or even by myself, now that I think about it that way.I rebuilt a carburetor!I always thought that was just something they did on old TV shows, but once we got some expert advice from a friend of his, it was actually prettyhttp://www.mommyesq.com/2011/01/man-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Husband)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-6811764905655397248Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:45:00 +00002011-01-28T10:50:32.049-05:00table foodJosephineI'm not sure why we feel like better parents when our kids eat well. Maybe in our case it is Penny's failure to thrive or finding foods that are clean enough and yet tempting to a boy in a spica cast. Ned and Penny often refuse to eat at all and Penny hasn't had a vegetable in about 1.5 years (I wish I was kidding). When Ned is upset he flips his plate over and pushes over his beverage. The http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/01/eat-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-3358420277252948957Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:17:00 +00002011-01-17T21:30:55.487-05:00spica castfemurNedHusband here...Since Wife is falling down on the blogging job, I thought I'd give everyone a quick update on Ned's progress since getting the cast off.The first couple of days, he pretty much refused to move his legs. Pretty much par for the course, from what we've read. But a little upsetting nonetheless.By the first weekend (3-4 days after getting the cast off), he was sitting up well.After ahttp://www.mommyesq.com/2011/01/post-spica-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Husband)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-5716521137304835352Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:56:00 +00002011-01-13T10:25:15.133-05:00winterOnly two and a half weeks left before I go back to work and I finally found my groove. I've found patience I was afraid was gone - doling out timeouts without stress and not overly worrying about the kids and their development. I am surprisingly calm when Husband's travel plans change a million times - yes, going to France on Thursday, no, make that to Spain on Friday, wait, Delaware on Monday, http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/01/snow-day-zen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-4330182873501254329Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:30:00 +00002011-01-10T07:34:54.300-05:00spica castNedNed's spica cast was removed last Wednesday and it was every bit as painful as I had feared. There was lots of screaming during the sawing and when the x-ray was taken. He was calmed down by watching Thomas on a DVD Player.He is not walking or even really moving around yet but I'm sure that will come with time. Now we are starting to get back into the groove of our lives again. All three http://www.mommyesq.com/2011/01/cast-is-past.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-4067805348509524025Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:52:00 +00002010-12-23T09:58:46.138-05:00ChristmasThere was the Christmas that I knew I was going to marry Husband.There was the Christmas that I did marry him.There was the first Christmas for these guys.There was the Christmas that Penny learned to walk. I can't wait to see what this Christmas brings. http://www.mommyesq.com/2010/12/ghosts-of-christmas-past.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-2960579323284080439Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:25:00 +00002010-12-20T07:05:14.923-05:00HusbandvacationweekendHusband invested some time and money researching rechargeable batteries when the twins were born. We actually got double A rechargeable batteries that fit into size C or D casings that we also purchased - perfect for swings and later for 3+ age toys. In the last couple of months I noticed that I couldn't get the batteries to recharge. We had to throw some out. That is pretty much how I felt too. http://www.mommyesq.com/2010/12/recharging-rechargeable-batteries.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-2778665535518172417Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:30:00 +00002010-12-14T21:30:19.124-05:00spica castfemurNedAre you wondering how the Esqs are doing in spica cast world? We are two weeks into Ned's convalescence and are starting to get a handle on things. The first week was mostly about pain management and logistical challenges but we started coming out of our shell during Week 2 (including a trip to see Santa). First let Ned explain what he did to himself in this short video: I didn't teach him to sayhttp://www.mommyesq.com/2010/12/spica-casts-lessons-learned-so-far.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-2444739896289634535Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:16:00 +00002010-12-10T14:24:41.914-05:00ChristmasWe took Ned on his first outing since he was put in the spica cast. To visit Santa. Yes, I am crazy but since I'm on leave we were able to go on a quiet Thursday morning around 10 am and there was no line. And the Santa was nice and looked very authentic. I will post our final picture closer to Christmas but here is an adorable one that happened after the "professional" photo shoot. We let http://www.mommyesq.com/2010/12/show-me-mommy-trip-to-santa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-6145524522415444263Mon, 06 Dec 2010 02:10:00 +00002010-12-05T21:17:31.896-05:00PennyPenny is a fiercely stubborn child. If Ned says "No" Penny reflexively says "Yes". "Stop" "Go". "Mommy does it" "Daddy does it". You get the picture. But unlike Ned she doesn't get upset when she is contradicting Ned - she just keeps going at it while he gets riled up. She likes to lead you around the house by the hand so you will interact with her. Penny vastly prefers to play with you but http://www.mommyesq.com/2010/12/oldest-girl-strongest-willed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064272931299679515.post-7023017776440006997Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:49:00 +00002010-11-30T08:23:36.466-05:00femurNedhospitalI should mention that despite my complaints about a helicopter being a total waste of healthcare dollars it was a totally cool ride. As we took off I realized a bunch of people had been watching us from the ground - wonder what they were thinking. The launch site was right next the a big lake in town so it was beautiful. Ned was very quite so I took the opportunity to enjoy the views since I http://www.mommyesq.com/2010/11/slightly-star-struck-in-er.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mommy, Esq.)4