Thank You, Lori!

Maiya loves her new hat!

Thoughts on Motherhood, Before & After

Before I became a mom, I thought: If I'm nice to my kids they will always be nice to others.
After: Oh man, he's figuring out how to be selfish all on his own.

Before: If I give my kids a variety of foods, they will not be picky eaters.
After: Really, Maiya? You won't keep one bite of cottage cheese in your mouth?

Before: How expensive can children be? I'm sure it's not too much.
After: What?! Diapers are more than the electric bill?

Before: I will be able to relate to most moms when I have kids of my own.
After: Wow, there are a lot if different ways to do this.

Before: I won't be one of those moms who goes out looking like a mess.
After: I have both indoor and outdoor sweatpants.

Before: I would never feed my children fast food.
After: Burger King has a veggie burger and apple slices, we're there.

Before: Drive thru's are for lazy people.
After: Yes, I'll drive 10 miles out of the way to go to a drive-thru bank. Even when gas was $4/gallon.

Before: I'll make everything from scratch so they can have the healthiest food available.
After: Hm, this prepackaged stuff looks pretty healthy.

Before: I won't be a nervous mom, I'm sure they'll be just fine.
After: Maiya has been sleeping a while, I better go make sure she's alright, and risk waking her.

Before: I won't be one of those moms who can't stop talking about her kids.
After: This blog, case in point.

What else? What did you think before you became a mom?

A donut plant is a good plant to grow.

Saturday morning was the typical drill at our house. Breakfast. Toys all over the living room. The Food Network on TV. Everybody in pajamas. The show we were watching reviewed a donut place in the city and the donut glazes were made from fresh in-season fruit and they homemade all of the jelly for the fillings. Dave asked if I wanted to go. I was practically in the car before he could get the words out. Not quite, because getting out the door with two kids takes an hour not a second, but in my mind I was halfway to Manhattan.

When Dave used to visit me in Delaware for the weekend, while we were dating, we would go to Dunkin Donuts in our pajamas. We were so cute back then. Anyway, this time, we all got dressed. Here's how it went (Jon & Kate style):

4 Shirts
4 Pants

8 Socks

6 shoes

2 diapers

4 coats

2 hats

So, we crossed the Hudson and got ino the city in record time. I said I wanted to sit down and have some coffee with my donut, but the crowd winding out the door of the place indicated there were no facilities to accomodate me. This was a gigantic kitchen with a counter.

So, the Family From The Suburbs parked the SUV, unfolded the bulky double stroller and waited in line for donuts among the sleek, kid-free citizens of SoHo. Maiya, in true form, began to scream just as we made it to the counter. Dave had to make the executive decisions on our donut selection as I fixed my coffee-to-go and ushered her our the door, away from The Stares.

We ate our donuts in the car. Not all of them. I will not disclose here how long it took us to consume 8 donuts because that's a family matter.

You might like the dessert Creme Brulee, but until you've sampled a donut of the same name from the Donut Plant (complete with the crispy top), you haven't enjoyed Creme Brulee to it's fullest potential. We also tried a pistachio donut, which was delightful, as the nuts were fresh roasted. Even the plain donut with chocolate frosting was divine. What I mean to say it, was completely worth the drive, the toll to leave New Jersey and the outrageous price ($19 for 8 donuts). If you're in the area, it's called Donut Plant on Grand Street.