My P.S.A.

People - when the light turns green and/or you are merging onto the freeway - please, please, please use the pedal on the RIGHT!

Especially when you are merging onto the freeway and I need to merge onto the exit ramp - you know, it's annoying to go from 70mph to about 15mph to wait for you to get that foot over to the right then I need to speed up again to get to the end of the exit ramp in less than 3 days!!!!!!! Sheesh.

Work with me people!! Drive like you are from New York (I can say that 'cause I am from New York) - be aggressive, okay, be assertive. But goodness, the pedal on the right is your friend!

Twin Update!

Logan and Seth had their 2nd year well-child check-up. Overall they are doing great!!! First, the stats:

Logan who still retains the nickname of "Sir Super-Chunk" weighed in at 28 pounds. He was 35 inches tall. That puts him in the 60%-tile for weight and the 70%-tile for height.


Seth who absoultely still retains the nickname of "Sir Stick-Boy" weighed in at a slight 25 pounds and was half an inch taller than Logan at 35.5 inches tall. That puts him in the 25%-tile for weight and the 75%-tile for height.


The pediatrician was not concerned at all. They are both (knock on wood) so healthy and happy. Blame it on genetics the doctor said. Logan will grow up to be the football player and Seth the long-distance runner. It's just the way they are. But it's so hard not to compare the two because they are twins and each is the other's built-in control. It's hard to get away from that comparison. They are both doing wonderfully though. Their speech is fantastic. They each have 3 and 4 word sentences and some 5-word sentences. They absolutely seem to understand EVERYTHING!!!!! It's scary. We have to be careful what we say because they also love to repeat things (use your imagination).


So, separately:


Logan - loves: his taggie blankie/lovey; attacking Foster; reading books; bathtime; undressing himself; falling asleep on the floor or the chair vs. his bed; food, food, food; being outside; playing ball; and running in circles.


Seth - loves: following Foster around; cuddling; sitting on the potty; eating chocolate; playing outside; drawing with crayons; reading books; and watching "Calliou".

They both seem to have some "twin-speak" going on, especially at night. They will talk to each other and laugh and we have no idea what they are saying. Too cute. They both are getting used to their new toddler beds. They will let us know when they need a diaper change and are using the potty every once in a while. They love to chase each other around and run up and down the hallway. They also love to give hugs and kisses and we love to receive them!


So there you have it, the Twin Update!

Fun Photos

All the news that's fit to print

So you ask, dear readers, what’s going on in the Stein-White household?? I’ll fill you in now. I feel like posting a newsy-news post.

Let’s see: Starting with last month – we took Foster to the San Diego County Fair and he loved, loved, loved it. I think he especially loved it since his best friend Connor also went. On July 4th, Laura and I celebrated our 7th anniversary. I/we decided that when I turn 40 (in 3 years) we will also be celebrating our 10th anniversary and should thus celebrate in grand style. I really want to go on an Olivia cruise. So that’s our plan. Of course we have 3 years to plan (and save the $$$) so hopefully we can make that dream come true. OH – and it will be sans kids – so therefore we’ll have to figure out who the lucky people are that get to watch them for the week . Yes, by then, Foster will be 8 and the twins will be 5 so hopefully they will be a bit more independent by then – hopefully!


Laura and I spent a wonderful evening in early July at the Indigo Girls concert with our IG buddies Anita and Chris. Great concert!


Foster has done amazingly well with his swim lessons. Wow, I can’t believe how great he’s doing. He takes semi-private lessons with Connor in Connor’s pool. Foster can now swim across the pool, dive to the bottom to retrieve objects, he can semi-dive in from the side, he can almost float, etc. The teacher is a former Murray Callan swim teacher so she really knows her stuff. I am still amazed at Foster’s transformation from fear of the water to a little fishy who loves it. Oh, and he hasn’t used any types of swim floatation devices, the teacher doesn’t believe in them and it worked out great! Foster is doing very well in his preschool. He starts Kindergarten on Tuesday September 5th. We have Kindergarten orientation on Friday September 1st where we’ll get to meet his teacher and see his room. Can’t wait! He’s totally looking forward to it.


Logan and Seth celebrated their 2nd birthday with a few close family and friends at our house. They seemed to enjoy the low-key celebration. Those two are doing well at their daycare (our neighbor) and are now the owners of big-boy beds – bye-bye cribs – they went to some lucky people who answered my posting on Craig’s List (love that site!). They were sold within 24 hours of posting.


We went to Laura’s company picnic and the kids had a great time! We also all attended our local gay pride festival. That was just too fun. The kids all seemed to enjoy just people-watching (me too) and in general just being outside and out-n-about. We recently spent the day at the beach – it was just beautiful. That was with our local Family Matters group.


This weekend we’re taking the kids to the Circus. I finally get to use the free tickets I rec’d for all 3 kids. I sent for them right after they were born. Ringling Bros. gives out free tickets to all kids if you send for them within a year of their birth. Well, I did and now we finally get to go. Foster can’t wait!


We are also getting ready for Bubbe’s visit. She arrives on Saturday August 26th and we already have a full calendar. Let’s see, we’re going to the horse-races – wish us luck!!! Then on Wednesday August 30th we’re taking all the kids to Disney’s California Adventure!!!! I’ve never been there so I’m totally looking forward to this. We picked a random Wednesday so hopefully the crowds will be at a minimum. The twins will be going too, so I hope that everyone has a good time. Then, there’s Foster’s Kindergarten Orientation that Friday. We already have all his school supplies so we’re good to go!


Foster turns 5 on September 2nd and his party is on the 3rd at the local YMCA. It will be a pool party since swimming is his new favorite activity. Pictures will definitely be posted!


In early September Laura and I have a wedding to attend – an “Adults Only” wedding. Whew! We get to enjoy ourselves at a fancy party and eat wonderful things. What could be better!!! Since Bubbe (my mom) will be out here in CA, we are doing our annual garage sale on September 16th. We need all the help we can get – that’s why we are doing it while she will still be here. We have so much crap to get rid of. No joke! And I still have to clean out my closets and drawers! Fun times ahead…


Then we’re planning on going to the huge Family Matters Annual BBQ on Sunday September 17th. Then Bubbe is going back to NY that evening.


Nobody ever said our life is boring, that’s for sure!


Hope you had fun catching up on our daily lives!!!

3 minus 2 equals...

...a great time for re-connecting with my oldest. Laura went to a movie at church this evening and I stayed home with the kidlets. I promised Foster we'd watch our own movie and make popcorn and hot chocolate. He was so excited he couldn't wait.

After bath, I put the twins down to bed - well, since they are now transitioning to their "big boy beds" it's more like put them in their room and pray they fall asleep eventually. Foster was being so good, really good.

He selected "Monsters Inc." for his movie. He helped with the popcorn (pushed the microwave buttons) and watched me make him hot chocolate.

We sat and cuddled on the couch and watched the movie (for the 100th time). He got his pillow from his room so he could lay on my lap. He isn't usually a cuddle-type kid unless he's sick so this was a real treat for me. I loved it!!! We ate the whole bag of popcorn. We watched the movie and laughed. I reminded him that we're soon going to California Adventure and they now have a "Monsters Inc." ride - he can't wait!!

It was a wonderful evening of no complaints, no whining, no crying, no back-talk, just fun with my boy. I felt he really needed some one-on-one time and he got it. He even told me how much he loved me and wanted lots of hugs and kisses, that just made it all worth it.

Love him!

Mothers...........................

I came across this in some stuff I had in a folder at work. So much of it is true, at least for me. I have to try to really remember what this is saying, especially when the kids are on my very last nerve.
I always love them but sometimes it's hard to like their actions. But after reading this (and I'm sure we've all seen this in print numerous times) I remember just how much I absolutely love and adore my children - forever and ever.
Anyway - here goes - to ALL of us!!

Mothers
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It’s okay honey, Mommy’s here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can’t be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up to work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their briefcases.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don’t.

This is for all the mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars.
And when their kids asked, "Did you see me Mom?", they could say, "Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world", and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just couldn’t find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again, "Just one more time".

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home – or even away at college – or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they’d be just FINE once they got there, only to get a call form the school nurse an hour later asking them to pick them up. Right away.

This is for all the mothers whose children have gone astray, who can’t find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of the recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TV’s in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?

The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation…and mature mothers learning to let go.

For working outside of the home mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and partnered mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us…

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mom…