a little bit crazy

2011-02-21T15:17:00.000-05:00

Every so often we try to get away for at least 24 hours. Generally, we don't go too far away, just somewhere that is not our own house. Our first choice is always a bed & breakfast since we love beautiful architecture and also enjoy someone else providing our food!

I discovered The Leonard At Logan in my search for Grand Rapids bed & breakfast options. After looking at a few of the rooms, I knew this was the place for us. They have very reasonable prices and each of the rooms seemed to have some cool, quirky features like a ribcage shower plus beautiful views and grand rooms.

After deciding that I would reserve a room at the L@L, I noticed that they were running an ebay auction that boasted a fantastic rate for a room plus a massage at their in-house spa. Excitedly I bid and happily won, not only grabbing a sweet deal, but snagging a massage as well. Due to our own scheduling conflicts, I haven't been able to book the massage for myself yet, but I can't wait to head back to the spa!

We reserved a room this past weekend as a late Valentine's getaway and it was wonderful. A great chance for us to leave the kiddos and just be ourselves plus a fantastic place to hole up during a crazy Michigan snowstorm.

It is always so interesting to chat with the owners of a bed & breakfast and find out a bit more history of the home. The Leonard at Logan also often hosts parties or weddings and is owned jointly by guys that not only love restoring old homes but who seem to really love the homes as well and it shows in the workmanship of this place. After enjoying their excellent hospitality and spending time reading in their spacious living room before the huge fireplace, we wanted to move in indefinitely!

If you are ever looking for a great place to stay in Grand Rapids, I highly-- two-thumbs-up --recommend The Leonard at Logan!

On a Lovely Monday Afternoon...

2011-02-07T14:49:00.000-05:00

What I should be doing...

What I am doing instead...

Ten

2011-02-04T22:42:00.000-05:00

Hey there, handsome! You are showing yourself to be a smart little cookie. While you are babbling endlessly and saying Dada to your favorite man, you also got the hang of signing very quickly. You can say, "all done," "more," "milk," and the ever classic baby, "bye-bye." It seems like you have grasped the communication concept much more quickly than your big sis did. We're also adding in, "kitty," and, "cup," each of which you have done at least once. Later we'll work on all the manner words like, "please," and "thank you," but right now it is so helpful to be able to know when you are finished or want more of something. You pick up the words so fast, it's fun to see you understand and respond.

Playing with some of the pretty, pretty hair bows. I'm sorry son, you just don't look like a girl at all, but I needed a baby model. You are such a little stud and happy as can be. Unless of course, you are hungry. You have been eating everything in sight and with nary a dislike. Drinking out of your cup of juice or water and cramming in fistfuls of cracker or bread or fruit, you sit in your chair cheerfully for every meal.

We've decided you are going to be the science geek, because you are endlessly fascinated with how things work. You watch everyone intently and are curious about everything. It doesn't seem likely yet that you will be the athletic type though. For as capable as your legs are of jumping and pushing, you aren't going anywhere. Standing, flipping, rolling and scooting backwards are your modus operandi, but you don't get far. I keep trying to get you to be up on your knees or to take steps around the coffee table, but you are content to play right where you are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. There's nothing more handy than being able to plunk a baby down in a pile of toys and know that he can't get to far away. The day is quickly approaching where your legs will get in on the action.

You love playing with paper, magazines and coupons especially. Most of the time, however, you just end up eating it all and I have to fish wads of paper out of your mouth. We generally can keep the tiny toys away from you and sister is pretty vigilant about her miniscule animals. You will play with any box or bowl of toys or kitchen implements. The less toy-like an item, the more likely it is that you will love it.

And then there is Bear. You love Bear so much! Whenever we bring him out and show him to you, you just get the biggest grins and then grab him and shove him right into your mouth. I'm thinking we're going to have to find a second Bear if he is going to be your favorite. In general, you are just a snuggly little dude. You love all of your stuffed animals and will hold onto them so tightly when you go to bed for naps or bedtime.

My favorite time of day is your bedtime bottle. You can totally hold your bottle and feed yourself now, but I really don't want to let you. You'll only be taking a bottle for a couple more months and I am not anxious to give up our snuggle time. I love those ten minutes or so where I can just bury my face into your head and kiss your little nose as much as I want. You are so soft and squishy and I know you will soon need to crawl away and explore away from Mama. But I will always be here ready for more snuggles and hugs. You are a darling little fella and I couldn't love you more.

She's Three With No Mimi

2011-01-22T14:38:00.001-05:00

Three-year-olds don't use mimis. At least that was the information that we had been feeding to our three-year-old for the week leading up to her birthday party. She seemed to be pretty good with that theory. Repeating it after us and appearing to be excited about turning three and getting rid of the pacifier. The three-year-old pacifier, mind you. Gross.

Of course, the actual execution wasn't nearly as simple as all that, nor did we expect it to be. The first night there were a great deal of tears, hugs and a good amount of bribery as well. It probably didn't help that she didn't get a nap that day. The second day, nap-time was difficult, but not impossible and bed-time, while not a speedy process, held fewer sobs. Tonight, she got out of bed approximately a hundred times, but at least there was no crying. We went with the cold turkey, bribery tactic; trading a new toy for the old binky. It wasn't pretty, but it worked for us. And while it has really taken about a week to be finally ok with going to bed without arguing and fussing and cajoling, we finally got rid of the pacifier.

But this is about celebration. And although we are trying to celebrate the end of a beautiful relationship (that first night sounded like her first heartbreak) we had more fun with the party. Papa picked up the beautiful flowers for our princess and we decked the place out with pretty birthday banners.

I can hardly believe I really have a three-year old. Everyone always says how quickly the time flies, and it is so stinking true. While there are always plenty of times that she drives me crazy, I love this adorable little sprite so much. She has a lot of passion and energy and brings so much joy to our days.

Like a normal preschooler, she can be excessively shy or silly and outgoing. She gives the very best hugs ever, wrapping her tiny arms tight around your neck like she never wants to let go. Her vocabulary is getting larger by the day even though we can't always understand what she is actually saying. She loves books and usually "reads" a couple after she goes to bed and when I go in to give her one last covering up before I go to bed, she is often still holding a book. When I ask her what she is thankful for at night she always says, "Mama, Daddy, Baby Emmett, Ana, Papa, kitty, books, Mama, Daddy, Randi." A few get repeated several times.

She loves purple right now and had to have the purple frosting on her cupcake. Every day we put her hair up in ponys and the little perfect curls make me smile every time. Her favorite game is "see-see." Yeah, that's also one of her words for many things. It could mean cookie, candy cane, or in the instance of her favorite game, Chase. It is too bad we don't have a house with a circular run like many floor plans because we get dizzy going around the dining room table too many times. We'll add in running around the baby, the coffee table, or some other object lying on the floor. She could go for an hour.

She can play quite well by herself, but she also has times when she absolutely needs someone to play with her. Right. Now. Her Great-Poppy gave her the old play kitchen that has been in the family for forever and it is safely tucked into her closet with all the china dishes and tea sets. Some of her favorite toys are the tiniest ones. We have to remember to keep them up and off the floor so baby brother doesn't eat them, but she is enamored with tiny-ness. Her special prize for going to bed the first night without the pacifier was a little Strawberry Shortcake market set. The smallest bottles of strawberry juice, (literally 1/2 inch) a single slice of tiny cake on a plate and she carefully puts each of them on the little market shelves.

Her favorite mac and cheese--even though it looked a little different than the last time she had some and she had to actually be talked into eating the first bite--with lots of hidden veggies. We have recently had a break-through with getting her to eat more balanced meals. I picked up a couple separated tray-like plates in the Target and if I put something different into each section, she will at least eat a bite from all of them.

Happy three, my little lady. I love you more than I ever thought I could.

8 or 9

2011-01-06T21:21:00.000-05:00

Somehow the months keep rushing past us. I keep taking fewer and fewer photos, but loving more and more moments with my little guy. I just can't get enough of you. You giggle at the slightest provocation and are ticklish in almost every spot. Finally, with two little teeth, you give the best big grins. Even with the paci in, your whole face lights up when you see your Mama coming.

You are eating lots of solid foods. At least two square meals a day, if not three. You've got that pincer-grasp down pat and love your peas, bananas, pears, bread crumbs or anything else you can cram in that baby face of yours. You're messy as can be and happy as a clam with your mouth full. Every time I give you a bottle, I spend most of the time kissing your little head and face. I simply can't help it, you are so yummy.

Last month, we dedicated you to the Lord. It is an important reminder that you are not really just my baby, but you are His. I just get to borrow you and snuggle you for a bit! I'm trying to enjoy every minute of it. We don't know what your life will bring, or who you will end up becoming, but we know it will be great. We want only the very best for you and pray that you will choose to give Him your life as well.

You loved your first thanksgiving and happily ate potatoes and peas and rolls. Whenever there are lots of people about, you are highly entertained and happy. You just can't take naps in nursery anymore because there is too much to watch, too much going on. The nursery workers all say that you are the happiest baby in the room, even when it is hours past your nap time. If they only knew you four months ago!

8 months

This year was a crazy Christmas, but fortunately, you were little enough to just go with the flow and not notice the stress and busyness. You napped practically anywhere we laid you down, and loved anyone who came to watch you. You were so sweet and handsome posing for your Christmas pictures. Sissy isn't always a fan of the camera anymore, but you still love it. And you love her. You love watching her dance and laugh whenever she laughs.

One of your favorite places is the grocery store. So long as I have something for you to nibble on while we shop, you are content to ride in the seat of the cart as long as I want to browse. There is so much for you to see! And of course, you always flirt with whoever is behind us in line. You smile your huge smiles and tip your head all the way to the side to make anyone else smile right back.

A favorite thing that you do is pat. Pat, pat, pat. Whenever you are being held, you pat. If you are sitting in your high chair, you pat the chair. Not always with the same hand, and not all the time, but it is so sweet and cute. You say, "mama," and, "dada," but we're not at all sure you're referring to us. But we pretend all the same and keep reminding you who is who and what your name is too.

You love animals. You don't mind one bit if a huge dog licks all over your face and you get so excited when the kitty walks through the room. She's not at all sure she's so excited about you yet. Just wait until you really get moving, then we'll see how she feels!

There seems to be a great deal more grunting with you than there ever was with your sister. You will not only chatter endlessly and gurgle at everyone, but you grunt all the time. Just for the sake of making noise, I think. Probably just because you are a boy, and that's just a boy noise. Daddy is waiting until you can make airplane noises and pretend laser sounds and guitar riffs. I think he wants to have an excuse to make those noises himself.

You have spent a lot of time on your belly lately. No crawling as of yet. But lots of flipping over. Every time I change you or lay you down, you flip immediately. And for some reason, you seem to think that you can't flip back when you're perfectly capable. But alas, you often wake yourself up from a nap or nighttime to find yourself on your belly and very upset. Silly baby, just roll over! I'm afraid of losing you once you do learn to crawl though. You're very curious and I believe you will disappear easily. These are the good ol' days when I can just plop you in the middle of a pile of toys and know that you won't go anywhere. You might get yourself stuck on your belly or decide you need something new to play with, but you won't get lost.

You and your sissy can sit and watch tv so happily. The past couple weeks you both got in way more tv babysitting than usual, but you aren't any the worse for the wear. Plus, who can argue with the snuggle time? You both play so well together in the tubby and she sometimes shares her toys with you. She doesn't always take them away at least.

Little man, you are a joy in our lives and we treasure each day with you. Just when I think you can't get any sweeter, you absolutely do. May we have a million kisses and a million more days.

Tribute/Eulogy

2011-01-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

I want to tell you a story. It’s not a bedtime story and it’s not a fairy tale, but it does have a happy ending.

There once was a little girl with one green eye and one brown, and she knew that this made her very special. She was always on the go, full of life and fun and joy. This little girl was also a big sister; a job that she took quite seriously. She loved to look after her sisters and her brother, even mother them. They were a good bit younger than she was, but they often turned to her for advice and she loved caring for them, inspiring their imaginations, and teaching them all the good things of life that she had already learned. Her little siblings always wanted to spend time with her, to play and even go to movies with her. She would write and direct little shows for them to act in and entertain the whole family. The little girl kindly listened to her siblings, nurturing them and enjoying her role as big sissy, even including them in her activities when she was a teen. They were so fortunate to have the richness of her protection and love throughout their childhood.

Family was very important to this little girl. She loved their holiday traveling and was raised with a great interest and appreciation for her family’s long heritage and history. Every year she looked forward to when they could go to the cottage on the lake in the summer and she would swim like a fish in the warm shallow water and lay for hours reading in the sun on the dock.

Our little girl also loved animals. When she was a bit bigger, she got her very own horse, which she believed was considerably better than a car. The horse’s name was Buck and every day she rode him like the wind through the fields and pastures, her long brown hair blowing behind her and her cares blowing away down the green hills. She loved to take her siblings with her to the barn to see her horse, often trying to get them to ride with her and letting them know he was fun and safe even when he seemed so large and scary.

One ordinary day, this girl was enjoying a regular afternoon at home. There weren’t many channels on tv back then and the one that just so happened to be on was a showing of a Billy Graham Crusade. She chose to leave it on that station and it didn’t take long for the girl to understand that Mr. Graham was talking to her when he spoke of how everyone needs to know Jesus. From that extraordinary moment on, this girl’s life would be different. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she also knew that since she had given her life to Him she would be in His hands no matter what.

As she grew, her heart grew as well and she took in more loves. Every little girl dreams of a beautiful wedding and hers was no exception. Early in the fall with her family surrounding her she started her grown-up life. She then wanted nothing more than to have babies and a home of her own. This girl could never say, “no” to any challenge and with her new husband helped to build two houses and always kept her home cozy and filled with good, nourishing foods. She raised sheep and chickens and goats and enjoyed growing many of her own herbs and vegetables. She loved living among the trees with flowers and greenery all around her. She loved reading and writing and she loved the television. She definitely shared an appreciation for story with her children. Mysteries and crime dramas were some of her favorites and she could watch Anne of Green Gables a million times. She loved old photos of family and what many would probably call old junk and she was always on the hunt for a great deal at a garage sale. She was crafty and she decorated her home, baked and canned and gardened with love for her family as well as others. She would never hesitate to give the gift of her time or her friendship to anyone who needed it. Her many friends cherished her and knew she was a true friend.

Daily she tried to instill godly values and truth in her children. She loved them desperately and always wanted the very best for them. Often she prayed for them and even prayed for the hearts of the people they would later love and marry. Children brought her so much joy and she was one of those who could make any baby or child smile.

She loved with her actions. Not only would she give of her time or effort but she was also a hugger and a kisser. She loved with her words. She spoke encouragement and cards were regularly sent to many for birthdays and just because she wanted others to know she was thinking of them. When her children were away from home she would send letters and care packages aplenty. She loved with her gifts. If you complimented her on something of hers, it was possible that she would hand it to you outright with no question.

Of her many gifts, this girl had the gift of hospitality. All were welcome in her home and at her table. When her children were in school, she worked diligently to provide the ability to send them to a Christian school. To help with their tuition, she even became the school librarian. With her great love of books and ability to do well with anything she tried, she was the best librarian they had ever had. The students all knew that they could crash the serenity of her small haven of books and she would listen and let them just be the kids they were. Silence was never a prerequisite in her room and one often could hear her huge, infectious laugh ring over the rest of them.

The girl never hid her faith in Jesus. She studied the Scriptures regularly and gained an invaluable knowledge of the Word. Whatever she did, she did to praise her Lord. She sang with her whole heart and she strove to honor Him with her choices.

Of course, like everyone else, she wasn’t perfect nor did she always make the right choices. She had plenty of passion and fire and boy, did she have a temper! One would have thought she was in target practice, because when she got riled up she had quite an arm! But in spite of the occasional temper, she was never too proud to apologize. She always took the time to set relationships right.

Unfortunately, our girl’s body betrayed her. When she found herself getting frequently dizzy and her hands and feet became continually tingly, she knew something was wrong. But, like I said before, our girl had a hard time saying, “no.” She wasn’t about to let this get her without going down fighting. This girl tried every therapy, attempted every possible clinical trial and made every effort for healing.

It was a long, hard battle. Even unto the very end she fought her body. Yet it simply wasn’t a fight she would win. Her body got more unfaithful and continually weaker. Her grandma had always told her to slow down and now, all of a sudden, she didn’t have a choice in the matter. When it eventually became impossible to walk and she needed much more care than her family was capable of providing, she made the choice to move to a full-time care home. For too many years, she was merely able to emotionally trudge through each day, initially responding in great anger at the frustration of being unable to do anything for herself or the injustice she likely felt at life. Her mind didn’t even treat her fairly. She lost many of her memories and her ability to distinguish those she loved. Slowly, she accepted her life. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t nice, but she kept her eyes on Jesus and she kept His Words before her on her walls. Even in the anger and even when she would lash out at anyone near her, she knew she wasn’t alone; she wasn’t in this by herself.

Many prayed for her regularly, visited her weekly, sent her cards and gifts and flowers consistently. Our girl was loved by those who served her, and she was served by those who loved her.

Though she never really was, “our” girl, was she? When she was young, she committed her entire life to her Savior, Jesus. She wasn’t her own; she didn’t belong to her family or her friends or anyone else. She was His. She is His. He has had her in His hand her entire life here. We live in an endlessly broken world. Death and destruction and pain are all around us. We surely cannot understand the whys or the whens, but we do know this; He is Truth and He is Life. He always gives Life and restoration. It is not a trifle to say that she is with her Savior. She is whole, she is well, she is alive. Death was conquered so many centuries ago for each of us. Her life still speaks of His life. Her love spoke of His love.

She loved each of us. In different ways and for different seasons, but she loved us truly and fully. She loved us with His love. We will miss this girl; miss her desperately. We’ll miss who she was and what she brought to our lives. We’ll miss who she inspired us to become. But she is where she wants to be, where she always desired to be. She is where we want her to be. Her death wasn’t easy, she fought for her last breath, but it was good. It is a cliché to hear that someone is in a better place, but God has promised it and His promises never fail. Not one time.

I told you I would tell you a story with a happy ending, but that isn’t completely true. You see, I don’t really know the ending to the story. C.S. Lewis put it best at the end of the Chronicles of Narnia, a series she had read several times. Let me read you the final passage. The characters have just realized that Aslan’s country is the real Narnia, and they were merely in the old Narnia—a shadow of what was to come.

“It is as hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia as it would be to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps you will get some idea of it if you think like this. You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among mountains. And in the wall of that room opposite to the window there may have been a looking-glass. And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of that sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass. And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones: yet at the same time they were somehow completely different -- deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story: a story you have never heard but very much want to know.

     The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can't describe it any better than that: if ever you get there you will know what I mean.
     It was the Unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He stamped his right fore-hoof on the ground, and then he cried:
     "I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that is sometimes looked a little like this. Come further up, come further in!"
"The semester is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."
The things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

I love you, Mom. Can't wait to see you again and have a real talk and lots of laughs.

Six Months or Seven

2010-11-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

Hey there, handsome. Your smile and laughter is decidedly infectious, little man. You are ticklish in so many places and I love to find every one and listen to your silly giggles. Every time you see me after you wake up in the morning or from a nap, you never fail to give me one of you big gummy grins.

We have gotten to go on so many fun outings lately. The annual apple picking where we (not you) get to eat apples and donuts and drink cider. You were along to provide amusement and cuteness in your little apple hat. You did well. I have gotten more compliments on your cute apple hat than anything else!

You even got to be an apple for Halloween when we went to The Zoo Goes Boo. Whenever you are in the stroller, no matter what we are doing, you are so content. We were even out a bit past your dinner and still did just dandy! So, while your sister got all the goods you were happy to sit by and watch the costumes stroll past. You just love to watch the people and the world going by.

Thank goodness. Finally. Finally, you are regularly sleeping THROUGH the night. Not for just 5 or 6 hours either--I'm sorry, but I can't call that sleeping through the night--but for a pretty solid 12. Yes, it took several nights of our having to actually just turn off them monitor, but it was for your own good, my sweet. And while I had to turn off my mommy guilt when you were screaming bloody murder, you are always so happy when you wake up in the morning! Now, you may fuss a bit in the evening while you're still trying to really settle into sleep, but all in all, good sleep is being had by all. I can turn the monitor back on knowing that when you do wake up, you really need me. Or at least, that you really need a pacifier.

Your sister never fails to bring a smile to your face. And while she doesn't always obey when she is told to do something (or not do something) if I say I need her help changing a poopy diaper, she will come running! She'll grab your little hands to make sure they don't get all messy and then make sure I have wipes when I need them. When you guys are in the back seat she'll sit and say, "baby....baby.....baaaybeeee" until you turn and look at her and she can make you laugh. You are both starting to really enjoy each other and sort of even play together. I hope that the two of you will be able to be great friends.

Six Months

At six months or so, your baby should do such and such. There are endless lists of what you could be/might be doing every week but it's funny, because while it seems as though you is developing so quickly and changing daily before my very eyes, there aren't really a whole lot of milestones that you have gone through this month. You can definitely sit up well, though we are sure to keep the pillow behind you since your baby noggin tends to pull you over.

At seven months you are even more sturdy. You have a little rotation that you go through after every meal. A little time on your back--to prevent puking, mostly--then a little time sitting up with some toys and finally a stint in the bouncy saucer. That toy has been around the block a few times but you are really putting some miles into it! You love all the noise that it makes when you jump up and down. Yep, you're a boy.

That brings me to hollering. One might not think so with this innocent little face, but month seven seems to have brought about a good deal of hollering. You're not mad or upset, you just need to exercise the vocal chords or something. We're still banking on a punk rock band. You do love to listen to music, your daddy's in particular.

Solid meals are now taken twice daily and if you don't get a mouthful of something yummy and mushy, you will let us know it! The baby puff snacks are a lifesaver to be sure. So far the only food you have made a nasty face at was one of the trials at baby food testing. Yeah, I don't like many of those either kid, but you have to work for your supper!

According to your 7 month check-up, you are just 50% for height and 15% for weight. It seems as though you are eating twice your weight in food, but apparently, you're just a little bug. We'll just have to check in with you again when you're a teenager and taller than your daddy. That'll show 'em.

Em, you bring us so much joy and I look forward to each new day when you wake me up with your gummy smiles and baby coos. I could just eat you up and can't stop kissing you whenever I am holding you. My yummy, sweet baby boy.

Five Months

2010-09-13T13:22:00.000-04:00

This has been rather a back-and-forth month for you, little fella. While you continue to be a sweet little punkin, you also have had your moments of screaming-angry-baby. Your sleep schedule especially has me scratching my head at its inconsistency. Most nights you will wake up at least once, but sometimes many times more. Often you still want to eat twice in the night. You don't seem to understand that you are not a newborn anymore and you should be sleeping longer. Then you will surprise me with a ten-hour stretch and I will be the one who wakes up first!

The frustrating part of it is, I just can't let you cry it out. I don't think that works for you. Sometimes you will only wail for a few minutes, but if it goes longer than five it will go for an hour. You just can't settle down once you've gotten wound up. It worked great for your sister and she never cried longer than 20 minutes or so, but you, dear sir, can scream until dawn. And that is the worst of it. You can Scream. The angels have to cover their ears when you get angry. I'm pretty sure that if there is a baby language, you are using four-letter words.

You do so love your big sissy. When she starts dancing around and playing, you just love to watch the action. The feeling is generally mutual. She loves to give you the sweetest hugs and kisses and helps to find your paci or hold your hands during a diaper change. I'll be sure to remind you both of this information when you're fighting teens.

You have the biggest blue eyes and sweetest little baby face. Though it is true that you look remarkably like your sister, you are still all boy and very much just yourself. You love going for walks and are usually content to sit in your stroller and just watch the world go by. Even when we are parked for an extended time, you love to just chill.

You are so close to sitting well on your own. Last week you got to be a part of a diaper photo shoot and were doing great sitting up like a big boy, but toppled over pretty quickly anyway. That noggin of yours is just so heavy! You love moving through your different play areas. Time on the floor mat, in the saucer standing up, sitting with the pillow behind you and as always, swinging in your swing. When you are being held, you love to hold hands and are very touchy feel-y, cuddling into a soft blanket or your little frog.

I have found the best way to make you giggle is loud, nuzzly cheek kisses and belly-rib tickles -- you just love it! You have a pretty loud chuckle and the sweetest gummy laughs. Randi can make you laugh with several of her silly noises. For some reason, ssssss, makes you break into laughter every time!

Since you were having such a hard time sleeping well through the night, I decided to start you on solids a little early. Your doctor said that generally it is best to wait until babies are six months since they are seeing overweight babies more frequently but that she wasn't worried about that being an issue with you. Your dad and I make skinny babies, what can we say?! Anyway, you weren't sure what you thought about that first bowl of rice cereal. I cooked up a yummy pot of jasmine rice and pureed it with baby milk to make it nice and thin. Surprisingly, you gobbled up a generous helping, though much of it ended up on your face. You have also tried some peach-oatmeal-apple goodness and I have mixed some sweet potatoes into your rice cereal a few times as well. However, I have not really made it a nightly habit to always be sure you get a "real" meal since it hasn't seemed to help you sleep longer.

I really don't know what your deal is with sleeping, kiddo. Almost every evening, you wake up about an hour after going to bed and are only soothed by eating again. I can't seem to feed you enough! This month I even got on a prescription to make more milk for you, which worked great while I was taking it, but as soon as it was done, I stopped making enough. You are just a hungry little dude! So, we have introduced bottles at almost every feeding, plus a few extras at night.

The funny thing is, at your most recent doctor's appointment, she said you were only at 10% for weight. That was only shortly after I had started bottling you, so it will be interesting to see if you are huge by your next visit. You got a big ol' shot while we were there too, but let out nary a peep. Brave little guy.

Let's see, what else about this month? Just the usual, I guess. Cute baby smiles, a moderate amount of pooping, a still excessive amount of screaming, fun rides in the stroller, good times with baby toys and lots of hugs and kisses. I just can't stop kissing you whenever I have you in my arms. You are just so darn yummy, my little son.

Our lives are fuller (and yes, louder) because of you and we can't wait to see where you will take us next!

Little Spurt

2010-08-27T10:36:00.000-04:00

My little man has been going through some kind of crazy growth spurt. Not only is he waking up frequently again, but he seems to need to eat all evening long again. So, it seemed as though it were time to introduce the "solid" food. I cooked up some rice and pureed it with milk for him and he seemed to be a big fan. He's still learning the technique of swallowing, but has got the baby bird mouth trick down pat. He's had his rice cereal as well as some oatmeal-fruit puree and last night even tried a bit of avocado. It took a bit more tongue work, but he gobbled a good bit up.

Now, let's just get him back to better sleeping again. Sheesh, Mama is tired.

Dreaming of Flying

2010-08-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

Things I Love Thursday: Baby Books

2010-08-12T14:26:00.001-04:00

I am not a scrapbooker. I don't like the little knicky-knacks or the fancy clippings or the matchy matchy. Maybe I just don't have the creative brain power for it. Let me apologize to those of you who are die hard fans, but my preferred method of photo storage is a blurb photo book. I put together a fabulous book for Randall's first year and have the next book progressing for maybe a 2nd through 5th compilation.

I love, love, love photos. I love flipping back through them a hundred times and remembering just how I felt, just what I thought and just where I was when I first took the picture.

The irony of it is, I really love baby books and they are pretty much the original scrapbook, are they not? I loved working on Randi's book and I am continuing to add in her birthdays and first times.

What I need to admit here is not that I am a half-scrap-booker, but that I have been a bit of an overachiever.

I have most of Emmett's book done as well. Now, I realize that he hasn't had a whole lot of firsts yet, but that's what is so great about the books I have. There are a bunch of pages to put their "history." After I had Randi, I picked hers up at Babies R Us partially because of the cute footprint option and partially because I just loved that you could take the pages out and either rearrange some, or even discard some if you weren't going to use them. There is a page for their family trees, info about their parents and then all of their firsts and such. There are also a few pages with pockets to put the id bracelets, doctor's notes or other memorabilia. I'm going to have to get some tiny envelopes to stick in there when it comes time for the first hair cut. The last page in each of their books is a letter from Mama to them. I haven't written Em's yet, but for me this is a great spot to write my prayer for their lives.

I actually really love all the spots to put those knick-knacks. When Em reaches some sort of milestone, I have been writing it on my calendar to input later. Because, while I am currently ahead with this whole memory-keeping thing, I know it won't last. There are enough other projects screaming at me around the house at the moment that I'll be lucky to get one or two of them done.

Have you filled out your kids' baby books? What kind did you use and why did you (or didn't you) like them?

Remembering Again

2010-08-11T14:42:00.000-04:00

I've been married four times. For nine years.

Four times I've had the question, "Do you take this man?" asked of me. It was simple and classic, it was beautiful and fancy, it was quick and functional, and it was casual and friendly.

My family is all in another state, and my mother wasn't able to travel, especially not for a whole weekend. I wanted her to be at my wedding. But I also wanted to have a big fancy wedding and invite all my friends locally. And I couldn't do both. Could I? And if I did, would I remember to do everything I was supposed to do?

Two wedding dresses & two veils. One my mother's, one my own.

Twice standing at an altar reciting vows and receiving rings. Three pastors, two ceremonies, two rituals.

Twice we sat at a table with three friends and repeated a quick set of the same.

Twice we had huge meals with many family members and tons of friends to help us celebrate.

Once we had a normal meal with a few friends who joked and smirked and winked.

Three times we cut the cake.

Only once did I smear it.

Once we jammed and danced all night long.

Once we forgot our marriage license. And once we filled it out incorrectly. Twice we had one notarized.

But now it will be nine times that we have celebrated our marriage. Nine years that have passed since we laughed over forgetting so many things. Nine years since we first were man and wife. Nine years since we were second man and wife. There are still a few more months until our third and fourth 9th anniversaries.

Am I wiser, truer, braver? Have I grown stronger, tougher, more faithful? Am I cuter, sweeter, more giving? I hope so.

He's more honest, more willing, more open. He became more handsome, more serving, more thoughtful. He does more than I ask, gives more than I deserve, provides all I need.

I never have more fun with anyone. I always trust his judgement. He never treats me badly. He always puts me first. We never doubt the future. We always embrace the present.

I love you, my sweet. My George, my pooh bear, my snookie-wookums. My tall, handsome hero. My rock star. I adore you, I treasure you, I respect you, I believe in you, I love you.

Nine more years will pass us by too quickly. Sometimes I wish we could stay in today forever.

Month Four

2010-08-05T15:16:00.000-04:00

Hey there little fella! You have absolutely turned the corner this month. You happily tolerate the car seat, even when we're just out and about. I can't tell you how much easier this is on your Mama. You love your play mat and your little toys. You love standing up and stretching your little leg muscles, all the while wobbling about on unsteady tree-trunk legs.

You are still swaddled for your nap and for nighttime. Though right now, you are being too sweet. You woke up half way through your nap and every time I try to put your paci back in to help you fall back to sleep, you just grin happily at me. "Nah, Mama, I wanna play!" I know better though, and back to sleep you will go. You regularly will sleep a good 2 to 3 hour nap in the afternoon, sometimes with a wake up in the middle and sometimes straight through. You don't really have a long nap in the morning, just one or two cat naps.

You've started going to bed around 7:30 or 8 at night the past couple weeks. I generally feed you again about 11 or 12 before I go to bed and you'll sleep until about 6:30 or 7:30, wake up for a snack and get up for the day at 8 or 9. I'm hoping your four month sleep regression was the rough patch we had last week when Grammy and Papa were here. That or they were sneaking you candy so they could snuggle you in the middle of the night. Hard to say for sure. You are awfully snuggly.

Some days you are just too yummy and I could literally gobble you right up. Your pinch-able cheeks and your little ears that stick right out--sorry about that kid, that's my fault--are just too delicious. You love to giggle when I kiss those cheeks. Or when I smile at you, or raspberry your belly, or tickle your little pits. You are such a happy man. Life is good for you.

What is it for babies that throws the switch from horribly colicky to happy and sweet? Is it just getting used to the outside world? Is it getting that digestive system properly figured out? Whatever it is, I'm glad that you've crossed over from the dark side.

You're still on the twice-a-week-or-so pooping schedule. Some days it will be a couple times that day and then you could go a whole week with just wet ones.

I finally got all of your clothing organized and sorted into bins. You were lovingly blessed with a ton of great hand-me-downs from a friend with every size imaginable and I don't think I'll have to buy you anything new until next summer! Of course, I'm probably going to make you a few more Baby Tie Shirts. Is there anything cuter on a little boy than a teeny tie? I think not.

You, my sweet, yummy, happy, chubby little man are fantastic. I can't get enough of your smiles and giggles and coos and goofy little noises. You have been so healthy, growing so chunky and just generally being the best little baby every. May you have a sweet and lovable spirit all your life! I love you, my little munchkin. Here's to your first month on the new couch!

Things I Love Thursday: New Furniture!

2010-08-05T13:48:00.001-04:00

I have strongly disliked my couch for a long time now. (I would say "hate", but a friend recently informed me that would mean I want the couch to be dead and it seems a bit dramatic for an inanimate object) The couch and love seat were the first pieces of furniture my husband and I bought for our first apartment. They weren't unattractive or horribly uncomfortable, but they weren't really "me," either. Most of my furniture is dark wood and if not antique, at the least, it is early to mid-1900s. The couch, on the other hand, was a very basic plaid and I was forced to coordinate everything else around it.

Suffice it to say, I have been keeping my eyes open for something new and different for a while. At the same time, I haven't been too hopeful because we haven't really had the money for a fancy new couch either.

Enter the highway fix. Yes, for most of the spring and summer we have been lamenting the aggravation of extra drive time while the highway has been closed. It has been quite the irritation, having added a good bit of time for us to go practically anywhere. Because of this, we have often driven through downtown. In itself, this isn't a bad thing as we love downtown and seeing the shops and people about. It can just become tedious when we know it could be so much shorter of a drive.

Last Thursday was such a day. After a morning food testing with my girlie, we were ushered off the highway at an earlier exit close than usual and directed through downtown. Therefore, I drove through one of my favorite areas and past the antique shops.

When I saw it I practically slammed on the brakes. Quickly turning around and snagging a perfect parking spot, I jumped out and examined the goods. "The perfect couch" was in immaculate condition and listed at a very reasonable price. I snapped a picture with my cell and immediately sent it off to my hubby.

Unfortunately, I got a "no" in return. Ok, not exactly a no, more like a, "if you can sell enough stuff to buy it, then fine."

That sounds like a challenge to me!

Friday I was in the area again for a brunch meeting and thought I would stop by to see if the couch was still there and if they would go down on their price. I got a double yes on that. Perfect, I'll take it!

The previous week we had been given a bedroom set for our son which included a solid wood twin bed, mattress, large hutch desk and two locker-type dressers. Him still being an infant, the only thing I could currently use in his room was the lockers. The desk could be put in the spare room but the bed would need to be sold as I didn't even have anywhere to store it!

When I got home on Friday, I went crazy on Craigslist. I also announced that we would be having a garage sale the next day.

As of today, I have sold $32 more than I purchased the couch for and folks are still calling me on a few of my items.

It's perfect and it makes me smile this week. I love it.

When did I lose a syllable?

2010-07-31T14:40:00.000-04:00

With my little man's next monthly update approaching, I thought it might be appropriate to tout the girlie a bit.

I am officially "Mom." A few times I have asked her what happened to the rest of my name. She seems to think that is pretty funny. Every so often out of the blue she will say, "Hi, Mom," and give me a hug. Love it.

She loves the little toys -- Polly Pocket, Petshopt and the like. Then I brought up one of my old My Child dolls (anyone else have one of these? I loved mine!) and she loves to dress it and change it and she calls it her own "Baby Emmett," putting it to bed in her doll bed and sleeping with it as well.

Her preschool teacher says that she seems to be catching on verbally pretty well. She's not necessarily behind with her words, but she doesn't have the best annunciation either. However, the things she says somedays just crack me up.

She still regularly takes a 2 to 3 hour nap. Most days I can coordinate the little man's nap to hers and it is a wonderful thing.

She can be super clingy and needy or she can be fiercely independent, playing by herself for hours. The girl has her mood swings to be sure!

With every day she seems to be growing older. Her hair is getting longer and her little body keeps getting bigger. With, "Mama"being outgrown, I fear she'll be heading off to college next week. Sigh.

Fairy Tea Party

2010-07-23T17:25:00.001-04:00

Last week we had the privilege of attending a lovely little tea party hosted by the local garden society. In the Sunday paper (which we have gotten into reading more and more of lately--I think we're getting old) I noticed a fun article about several gatherings they were sponsoring to encourage little people to enjoy and get excited about gardening.

I am a huge proponent of backyard garden. Hee-youge. Unfortunately, this year my garden is barely able to be called by that name. It resembles more of a backyard jungle, and not even a fun jungle that you'd want to explore, more of a scary jungle that might grab you by the leg and suck you down into its weedy depths. If there are any vegetables to speak of this year, it will be a veritable miracle.

At any rate, I love gardening and want to teach my kiddos about the joys and benefits of tilling the earth, (Next year though, kay?) so my ears perked up at this fun tea party opportunity. Besides, my girlie and I love getting all dressed up. "Balls to the wall pretty," as one of my favorite comediennes would say.

Now, I'm not likely going to be making us identical outfits anytime soon, but I did go with similar garb for the two of us. It was just too fun. Is she not adorable as she's holding out her little skirt!?

The tea party was a great success. They had tables set out with fancy china and lemonade and beautiful cookies, some that even had lavender in them, a recipe I am dying to test out. There was a story time with a book about butterflies and a craft area where the kids could make little fairy gardens of their own with sticks, leaves and dried flowers. The woman who was hosting the party had an absolutely beautiful garden of her own, with paths, fountains, benches and immaculate landscaping. We had a fun time searching for little fairies hidden in the plants and paths, smelling all of the different flowers, and discovering what veggies were growing.

If I ever get my garden to a stage where it is acceptable for viewing from outsiders, I am definitely hosting a mini version of this with friends. It was such a lovely afternoon with my favorite girl and what a great way to teach kids to love gardening!

Month Three

2010-07-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

Sweet Emmett, you did just what I expected you to do. This past month with you has had a few lows to be sure, but it has had a lot more highs than your first two months. You can be happy in more places than before. When you are unhappy, you are still not quiet about it by any means, but it is much less frequent than previously.

You took your first long car ride to New York this month. Frankly, you screamed most of the way through Canada. Mama and Daddy bought ear plugs for the ride home. Of course, you behaved a bit better that way too. Still plenty of screaming, but I found a few more tricks to keep you happier and at least mollified.

You got to meet some great-grandparents, and many aunts and uncles as well. You also slept your very longest--8 1/2 hours! Unfortunately, Mama didn't sleep any of that time since I had a horrible migraine due to climbing back and forth from the front to the back seat of the car what with all that screaming. You also tend to be a noisy sleeper and were sleeping in the same room with us so I kept thinking you were waking up every few minutes.

Some days you will take fabulous three hour naps by yourself (amazingly at the same time as big sissy!) and other days I need to snuggle nap with you to get an hour or two. But really, who can complain about a baby snuggle nap!? Take today for example. You took half a nap in your swing, woke up wailing, didn't even want to eat and then happily snuggle napped while I tried to peck on the computer.

Darn it, little man, you have become the sweetest little thing ever. Lots and lots of beautiful, gummy smiles and you'll be happy lying on your mat or looking up at the fan or the windows. Then there is tummy time. I've never heard of a baby who actually liked tummy time, but I can plop you on your belly for ten minutes or more and you are perfectly content the whole time!

You love bath time and even got your first sink bath last week. The only part you don't like is the cold breeze when you get out! You're so sweet and chubby I could just gobble you up.

I just can't stop kissing your yummy little head. Every time I hold you close you get piles of smooches. Isn't that what babies are for anyway? Everyone wants to get a piece of you. Especially now that you're less likely to scream at them when they are holding you. Granted, I am still pretty much the only one who can calm you when you do get riled up. It's just that magical Mama's touch. If I hold you just right, get your paci in just perfectly and whack you solidly on your back all is well in your world. Works every time.

The car seat continues to be your arch-nemesis. Though you seem to be getting a little bit more tolerant, but just a bit. With a few hanging toys and a mirror to look in, you can actually tolerate a short car ride. Unlike your sister, however, if you fall asleep in the seat, you won't stay asleep once it stops moving. It's a bummer really, because that was one of our favorite tricks with her. I guess I can't really complain since you take such great naps in your swing.

Here's to an even better month ahead, my little punk. Longer sleeps, since your usual time is still only about 6 hours and even more happy times. Maybe you'll even learn how to keep your paci in or effectively suck your thumb. Kisses and snuggles.

Backyard Berries

2010-07-04T16:25:00.000-04:00

Berries from the backyard...

Purple stained fingernails...

Fresh homemade blackberry ice cream with more blackberries and backyard mint sprigs...

Blackberry jam...

More backyard berries...

Fresh berry pies!

Pretty impressive for one little bush, I'll say. Now we're just picking the last few and popping them in right away!

Little Old Lady

2010-06-20T21:48:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry, but when did my toddler turn eighty-five?

Little Old Lady from Ada Bible Discovery Village on Vimeo.

Would You Like Some Random With That?

2010-06-19T15:05:00.001-04:00

A. There is nothing more horrible to hear than a child who is seriously terrified. A couple nights ago after the kids were in bed, Andy and I were down in the studio chatting about this and that. All of a sudden we could hear feet running across the floor above us. Generally, when the girl gets up in the evening she is timid and knows she should be in bed, so running feet were very abnormal. We bolted for the stairs and then I heard it. The screaming. I have never heard her scream like that. I don't know how long she had been awake but when we didn't come get her and she couldn't find us, she was terrified.

The poor thing was sobbing and gasping for breath and while I snuggled and reassured her over and over it took a good long while before she was calm again and ready to go back to bed. Next time we're not going anywhere without the monitor. Can I just accept my bad parent award now?

B. The boy loves his tummy time. This is probably the biggest difference between him and his big sis. He'll lay on his mat looking up for a good 5 minutes or more. Look at that smirk! He has become so sweet and smily. The car seat is still his arch-nemesis, but he is getting a little better. Hopefully, next week's 8 hour road trip will not cause anyone's ears to bleed.

C. This morning we went out for hubby's birthday/father's day breakfast at our new favorite local joint. I think once our bikes are tuned up and the kids' trailer hitched on, we'll be able to ride there easily! This was one of those great places where you don't have to eat lunch later you get so much food. I think I might have a pancake for a late snack, actually.

D. Hubby got older last night. We had a great time at the annual bbq in the park last night. Good food (ok, so the bacon wrapped shrimp got a little charred, but still tasted great!), great friends and some ladder ball.

And then the sky turned ominous. Those with smart phones quickly looked at weather.com and scanned for the doppler to see how much time we had to pack up. What did we use to do without technology? Get rained on?!

Luckily, the house was clean and the kids ended up having a blast running around and playing in the playroom. Chaos reigned.

What did you do this week?

Berries

2010-06-14T23:51:00.000-04:00

Today was Randi's first time going berry picking with me. In spite of the heat and humidity, she did so well holding her own little basket and picking a few berries. Now I have to hull all those bright, juicy morsels and make some pies and jams!

The Same? Or Different?

2010-06-12T14:12:00.000-04:00

Month Two + 7

2010-06-10T23:43:00.000-04:00

It's a sorry state of affairs when I am more than a week overdue in posting the monthly baby news. Fortunately for us, much has changed in so short a time. While it is true that when you are upset about something you still don't tell us quietly, you scream much less now. People say that time will pass and you'll forget about the times when it was hard, but as of right now I still remember and I'm thankful the time has passed. And yet, it's sad to think that your first month and a half or so was fraught with so much frustration, but there it is.

Your daddy and I have said that now that you're not yelling at us as often, we need to take every moment to just look at you and enjoy your cuteness. You love to smile and you can make the funniest little baby noises. Some days we just crack up at the strange sounds coming from the backseat.

The carseat is probably the bane of your existence, you just hate it so much. Sometimes I can get you to fall asleep during a drive but then I have to keep you moving after we stop or you will wake right up and are not happy to be alone in there. I wonder if maybe you just need physical contact all the time. Not that I mind. You're darn cute and super snuggly.

It's funny how the little things seem so amazing the first kid around and then when the second child does something you think, "Oh, finally you got around to doing something!" I guess we just don't have the time to stare at you quite as much or watch for the new things. Luckily, I didn't miss your first roll from back to belly. Way to go, kiddo! Frankly, you don't really spend much time on the floor to get a whole lot of exercise so it's amazing you've gotten that far.

This month you met a whole bunch of Daddy's family. They oohed and aahed over you and fussed over who would get to hold you. Most of the time you just yelled at whoever had you so that solved that.

You're taking a bottle better now and some nights still need a little snack in between regular feedings. I think you're going to be a chunky little boy!

The past few nights you've slept for about 6 1/2 hours straight. In your own big boy crib! You're finally getting good at going right back to sleep after eating and giving Mama a few more hours before you decide it's time to be up. Generally I try to thwart your efforts and bring you up to bed to snuggle for another hour or so. Mama needs her sleep, kiddo. I also need my baby snuggles, so what can I say?

One of the biggest changes this month was that you stopped pooping on a regular basis. Now, at first I thought this was strange, but upon consulting the internet, discovered that it is fairly common. Kid, you are saving Mama tons of laundry. Two poops a week? Perfect.

Your sister has discovered the fun of making you smile. She sneezes at you and not only do you smile, she cracks up into giggles. Hopefully, you two will get along well and be good friends. She loves to check up on you and always helps get things I need for you or to put your paci in. Though admittedly, she tends to cram the thing in your mouth, but we're working on the gentleness.

You are growing quickly, little man. Into bigger clothes and deeper into our hearts. Here's praying for another better month! Less screaming and more sleeping. Less paci-spitting and more smiles. Less grouching and more of my sweet happy boy. Of course, we only have three weeks left of this month, so we'll see how it goes!

Help for Lazy Feeding

2010-05-24T15:08:00.000-04:00

When it comes to feeding healthful food to my family, I try to do what is best for them as we all do. Hiding greens and flaxseed in smoothies, sweet potatoes in eggs or mac & cheese and fresh organic produce as often as possible.

Randall will eat anything dairy, oatmeal and as many bowls of cereal as we let her. She also likes almost any kind of fruit and gets plenty of apples, bananas, grapes and berries.

The problem is, it seems as though I have gotten lazy in what I give her. I want to get her to eat more veggies, but haven't found a good way to get her to try more than one little pea. There has to be plenty more things that she is willing to eat or that we could at least get her to try, but I feel like I have run out of ideas.

Here are the most common meals she eats:

Mac & cheese, (an obvious favorite!) oatmeal, cereal, eggs, grilled cheese & soup, bread/meat/cheese, (not in a sandwich, but separately) smoothies and lots of fruits.

Due to the logistics of life, we don't often eat dinner together as a family, but usually have breakfast and lunch together.

What do you feed your kids? Or, if your kids are older, what did you used to feed your toddlers? What tricks do you employ to get more veggies into your children?

As it is, I need to start making weekly dinner menus and I'd love to make similar menus for my kiddo.

Give me all your best advice!

First Lesson

2010-05-22T15:47:00.000-04:00

Randi's Violin from Ada Bible Discovery Village on Vimeo.

My Girl

2010-05-19T15:45:00.001-04:00

This post is not about Macauly Culkin. Though that movie definitely made me cry. No, today I need to think about my sweet daughter. Most of my day is usually taken up with the boy nowadays and while I try as often as possible to snatch moments with Randall, his needs often come first. What with the screaming and all. (Make. It. Stop!)

She's nearly 2.5 and full of so much life. Since the weather has been nice, every day she will ask if she can go, "oow-sigh?!" We are fortunate enough to live within walking distance of five different playgrounds as well as a beautiful walking path, so while we don't have much of a back yard to speak of, there is always something to do and somewhere to go in the great outdoors.

I noticed last week while walking the big hill behind the zoo (KILLER hill) that there is a great little stream that we may have to investigate together soon. Growing up, I spent hours every day in our many acres of woods and creeks and I can't wait to teach her how to hunt for crayfish and build little dams. I wish we had our own land that I could let her out on by herself, but that just isn't to be for us.

We just got a little sandbox so that when she is in our yard, she has something to do. It's the greatest little sand/water table and she has had a blast making all kinds of mushy messes out there. She scoops, pushes and drives her little car over the ramps. Here she is saying, "No cheese!" by which she means, "no more stinking pictures, Mama!"

This year she got to ride on a bunch of the rides at the annual carnival down the street. Every day we would watch as they set up more of the rides and games until finally Friday we got to ride a few. She wasn't tall enough for many, but loved the ones she could. It's funny because sometimes she is so very brave and other times, she is super shy and won't try anything.

Like her gymnastics class. Here she is posing in her little leggings ready for class. For the past six weeks, every Monday morning she would go with her Daddy to a parks and rec sponsored Tiny Tots gymnastics time. Some days he said she wouldn't do any of the little tricks they were learning and other days she would do them all and some she would do over and over. When she got home I always asked her what new tricks she learned, like the spider or the donkey or her pizza stretches. After she would show one, she would always say, "ta dah!" which generally sounded more like just, "dah!" but was darn cute nonetheless.

She will spend quite a bit of time happily playing with her little people or kitchen or legos. Or a porcelain frog. For some reason, she just attaches herself to something different each week and takes it with her wherever she goes. One day it was a little gnome. Then a few days later she will hardly look at that object.

I know she has way more toys than any kid needs but she is generally pretty good about picking up when told to and making good use of everything. Every day we read piles of books and I'll admit to sending her to her father when I'm tired of reading the same one again. "Here, have someone else read this to you now..."

Daily she is adding new words to her vocabulary and extending her sentences into something we can (usually) understand. She is still taking fantastic naps, often three hours or more and sometimes even lays herself down for said nap. We can always tell when she is tired or hungry because the whining becomes a bit more excessive. The girl definitely acts like a true two-year-old!

Her pony tails kill me. She is so great about letting me put her hair up to keep it out of her face and I just love the cuteness of the little fountain-like stubs. Currently, since we have been playing memory-matching-type games all of her clothes have to match in some way. There are days when I have to stretch a bit to get her into something I think is cute. "See, they both have stripes! They match!"

She loves to put her arms around you and give hugs, often patting you on the back as she does so and then leaning in for a kiss. This kid is the most affectionate girl around and I love it. Whenever her baby brother is crying she'll go hug and kiss him first and then look for his paci to try to rectify the situation. Every night before bed we'll read books and pray and then give kisses to everyone. Including whatever toy she is sleeping with that night. So often I feel bad that her brother is screaming while I'm tucking her in, but she rolls with it and seems to just be used to it now. "No worries mama, just kiss this here lego man, please." Many nights we have to remind her that she has to actually stay in her bed. I'll be downstairs and hear a mysterious noise to find her sitting at the top of the steps playing with something. She hates her door shut (even though she has a night light) but unfortunately for her, when she doesn't stay in bed, that is the consequence.

Recently, I did her first mani-pedi and she just loved it. Her nails are just perfect and so easy to paint. I got some insta-dry polish so she only has to hold still for a couple minutes before she can run off again and she does great. She's so very proud of her pretty pink nails and, "puh-puh" toes. Especially when she is wearing her little flip-flops and can show them off.

Randall loves her little brother and while there are times when his crying definitely seems to set off her whining and she hates to wait for me to finish feeding him before I can help her with something, she is fantastic with him. Though lately she has been trying to pick him up on her own, she's usually good about knowing that that is one of Mama's jobs and not hers.

She tells the cat all day long that, "kitty no outside"; she loves to listen for things like the busses, birds, dogs or the church bells; she knows that it is her job to throw away the dirty diapers and holds her nose the whole way to the trash can; she tells me every day when she gets up from her nap that she is dry, even on the rare occasions that she is not; she would eat oatmeal or cereal for every meal and loves her fruits but I can't get her to eat any veggies without trickery; she loves to smell flowers, hates bugs and her favorite toys are her dollies. In short, she is 100% girl. My girl.

Mother May I?

2010-05-13T11:36:00.000-04:00

I cannot thank you all enough for the encouraging and commiserating from the last post. Some days I feel like I am absolutely drowning and the screaming definitely doesn't help that. What does help is knowing that you are not the only one feeling like that.

And while I feel like I am bumbling along at mothering lately, this weekend my husband did a fantastic job of making me feel like the best mom in the world.

Friday night he took Randall out to the store to pick out some presents and when they came home and I asked what she bought me she told me it was orange and said it was a, "bah." For her, this could mean box or ball or bell or even sheep for that matter. Articulation is not her strong suit at the moment.

Saturday was a dreary day, as it has been for a while now, and we all stayed inside for the day. Andy decided it would be a good day to give me the gifts that he and my girlie had picked out.

So, up in our attic loft we sat with our coffee and our babies and he gave me flowers and a few fun games. We love playing card and board games and it is a tradition to get new ones as gifts. Now, while I loved the new games and flowers are always fabulous, I will admit to thinking that it was a little lame as far as mother's day gifts go. But I determined not to tell him and to be happy with what I got.

After the Saturday evening service, (during which it was lovely to be able to drop both of my kids off in childcare!) and after the girl had gone to bed, I was packing up her bag for the next morning so she could go with daddy to church while I went to another location. (Some days church work is logistically complicated in my family.) I was going to pack her mini dvd player so that while he was in rehearsal she would be busy and not running amuck.

In the closet where I keep said dvd player there was a box in the way. Confusion was the first thing that set in. I often use old appliance boxes to store toys or what-have-you but this was a box for a coffee maker that we didn't own. Maybe his parents had brought it sometime? And then all of a sudden it clicked. I had stumbled upon my real mother's day gift. I hurried up to the attic and peered around looking for the coffee maker, finally finding it hidden in the back of our closet.

I went down to the studio where Andy was working.

"I have bad news."

"What?!"

"I was just packing up Randi's bag for tomorrow...and I went in to get her dvd player."

"Ok..."

"Yeah. The dvd player."

"Yeah..."

"The dvd player that is in the closet in her playroom?"

"Oh. Crap."

I'm not sure how he forgot that that is where we keep the dvd player, but he needs to work on finding a better hiding place. He had wanted me to be surprised by waking to the smell of fresh coffee since he couldn't do breakfast in bed on a Sunday morning. Bummed as he was that I ruined the surprised (how do I always ruin the surprise!?) he still had specialty coffee and dark chocolates up his sleeve as one last gift. I was well spoiled.

The Messiness of Life

2010-05-11T19:28:00.000-04:00

Have you ever felt like you just stink at life? Not that you aren't good at one thing or another, but that you simply aren't good at living life.

That's how I've felt lately. As though I can't do any aspect of life well. There is obviously the basic added complication of a second child and I won't say, "I didn't know it would be this hard," because I did. I even expected this kid to be more difficult than the last and he's lived up to that well!

But along with that I feel like I am just stumbling by day after day. Cleaning, washing, feeding, burping, changing, sleeping, rewind and repeat. All that without even adding in the forgetfulness. The balls being dropped. I'm pretty sure I have let down everyone I have come into contact with. I'm convinced that I have neglected more things than I can even count. And then as soon as I feel like I've got one thing under control, I find another that I have failed miserably at.

It's not like I'm not happy. I adore my husband and my children and life is basically pretty good. I'm just not holding up my end of the bargain. I'm a mediocre parent, wife, friend, coworker.

Maybe it's just that I want too much. We all want to be good at what we do, but I feel like I don't have the mental capacity or energy to even begin to strive towards that. So instead I just blunder through my days. Blah, blah, blah.

How do I ever catch up? Where do I start? Has anyone else ever felt this way? I want to think it's just a phase, but I've kind of felt like I've been in this phase for a while now, not just since the new baby, that's just exacerbated the whole thing.

Ugh. Maybe it's just the rainy, dreary day. Maybe I just need to be ok saying, "I'm sorry," more often. It's just getting old.

Comparisons

2010-05-04T17:48:00.000-04:00

Month One

2010-05-02T16:28:00.000-04:00

Just like your sister before you, I can hardly believe a month has gone by already! It seems like it has been much longer and much shorter all at once. We knew our lives would change drastically and boy were we right! How does one get two children ready and out the door to arrive somewhere on time, or at least less than half an hour late?

I'm so glad you brought the spring with you, my little man. This time around, your big sis would not allow us to stay indoors longer than five minutes and we have already gone for lots of walks. In the wrap or in the stroller, you have loved going outside almost everyday. Granted, you are asleep most of the time, but it has been great to get out often. This spring has been so beautiful and we are trying to enjoy every moment. I always get lots of funny looks from people when they see me wearing your wrap but when they notice a teeny baby inside, it always elicits an, "awww." You love to be all snug and close to mama and I love wearing you around.

So far you have proven to be as good of a sleeper as your sis. Most nights, while not actually going to bed until around midnight, you will sleep for a good five hours straight. My fingers are crossed that you will start upping that number soon. It's lovely to sleep right next to you and be able to get you up whenever you need it, but it would also be nice for you to be in your own little room and bed. After your nighttime feeding, you tend to sleep best if snuggled in by me. Daddy gets up with your sis and you and I get to sleep in until about 9. I look forward to sleeping through the night but will miss our cuddle time. You tend to sleep best when moving--the car, the swing, or being held and bounced. We rely on your "snooze button" bassinet vibrator to help you when we want to sleep just 15 minutes more.

Your first couple of baths you loved, but the last one you screamed through. Have I mentioned that you are a screamer? Scream. Er. As in, bloody murder, ear piercing, glass breaking, make me want to tear my hair out, screamer. You like to be bounced or jiggled or rocked and the paci must be just right and you must have a full belly and a clean diaper or the screaming will commence. We're pretty sure once the colicky season is over you are going to prove to be the sweetest, happiest boy in the world, but in the meanwhile Mama needs to buy some earplugs!

Golly, you're the cutest little man there ever was. Unfortunately for you, you just broke out with a lovely case of baby zits. But you make the greatest grouchy man faces and you can pucker those lips like nobody's business. The pouty face and quivery chin kill me every time and you are so handsome in your blue camo diapers!

You are a much better eater than your sister was. Most of the time, anyway. Some nights it seems as though you've forgotten how to get what you want but you do love to eat. Most nights, we need to give you a little extra bottle to hold you over.

Little Em, I can't wait to see who you become. You are already getting so chunky and have been kissable from your very first moment. You sweetly grab onto fingers so tightly and when you are awake your big blue eyes take in everything around you.

Here's to all the firsts ahead of us! With hopefully less screaming...

Week One

2010-04-11T15:34:00.000-04:00

Oh my little man. How you have already wormed your way into my heart. There's something easier about falling in love with the second baby. I know how much fun you are going to be and how we will know quickly that we could never have lived without you.

There's always something to be said for a full night's sleep, but in the meanwhile I am at least thankful that you are a good eater. You've got that one up on your sister. We are trying to settle into a rhythm of eating and playing and sleeping and frankly, you're doing quite well. You love to watch your sister prance around the room and already love looking at the fishies on your swing. I'm impressed with how alert you seem to be during your awake times.

So far you have been pretty content so long as your belly is full. You are great at all the typical baby things like poo-ing and wobbly-ing and generally being darn cute.

I can't believe you were once in my belly. It's fantastic to have you out in the world and while I am anxious to have my body be back to some semblance of normal, it's just so amazing that in a way, we 'made' you.

It seems as though spring sprang while we were in the hospital. Our view out the window was beautiful but didn't show how green the trees and grass were becoming. Easter Sunday I discovered that not only did I have my new baby boy to be thankful for, but the hope of spring had arrived. On our way to your doctor's appointment this week, I pointed out the green trees and leaves to your sister and she promptly turned to you and proceeded to tell you all about it as well. She loves you so much and wants every day to be with you and help take care of you. You get so many hugs and gentle kisses it make me melt. Now, the being quiet, she's not so good at. Luckily, you are great at sleeping through any noises!

We had our first test run in the wrap that I made for you. (a "faux-by" as one friend would call it) You loved being all close and snuggly and it was so good to get out of the house for a nice long walk in the sunshine.

You have been well-loved already. I am so thankful for all the people who have sent you gifts and brought us food and generally just cared for us. You will grow up in a beautiful community with so many dear friends.

Happy one week, my little stud.

Today

2010-04-02T02:24:00.000-04:00

Today this sweet little thing will become a big sister. I read her a bedtime story before tucking her in and leaving for the hospital and got all teary-eyed and weepy. She has no idea how much her little life is going to change and no longer will she be an only child. My precious girlie, you will be a great big sis and I can't wait to introduce you to your baby brother!

On the First Day of Spring

2010-03-20T09:42:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I went shopping without a jacket and today I will wear a scarf and coat to go out in the snow. Such is life in Michigan. We are going to the farm to get our milk this morning and then probably head back into cleaning/organizing/hibernation zone. The attic is done with only little touch-ups needed. I want it to be perfect before I do a little video...

In the meanwhile, enjoy this video. It makes me laugh so much.

Free Stuff with Coupons to Giveaway!

2010-03-15T21:38:00.000-04:00

Today's freebie was an extra good one in my book. Generally, the samples I get in the mail are single-use sizes, which I am fine with--there is nothing better for travel than the small packets--but today was a surprise.

Pantene sent me a whole bottle of their new shampoo! I don't need it just yet, but when I run out of my current supply, I look forward to trying something new.

If you're interested in giving it a try yourself, let me know and I will send you a coupon. In the package I received, there were also three $2 coupons--a pretty good value! First three to ask will get them in the mail this week. Happy Shampooing!

Photo Shoot

2010-03-12T13:43:00.001-05:00

We had the privilege a couple months ago to do a photo shoot with a good friend. Randall had never had professional shots taken and we also wanted to get some good family pics in before the arrival of #2.

Laurie did an absolutely amazing job and I completely teared up when I was looking through all the gorgeous shots she took. I'll try to post a few here and there for your viewing pleasure.

Seriously, give her a call for your next photo session!

Because Everyone Deserves Free Coffee

2010-03-09T10:23:00.002-05:00

I love signing up for free stuff. At least once a week, something arrives in the mail that I did not pay for. And I'm not talking about junk mail, though I get some of that too.

A couple weeks ago, I was grocery shopping and the lady in front of me had a fantastic square freezer bag. It stood up on its own, held a large amount of groceries and kept them cold in the process. Perfect! I have a few from Aldi that are quite large as well, but are beginning to fall apart as I have had them for several years.

It was literally the next day that I received the perfect freezer bag in the mail. I sign up for so many samples and free things that I just don't remember what I'm getting half of the time. This was a Baskin Robbins sponsored bag and exactly what I needed.

If you don't already follow Free Stuff Times, you should. There are daily free things to sign up for and samples to receive. I have a junk email that I never check that I use to sign up for these things.

Today, go get yourself a sample of coffee!

Snow Day

2010-02-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

It's a well-known unwritten rule that after playing outside in the snow, making a snow man and shoveling, a daddy and his girl have to have some cocoa.

Is there anything cuter than these two? I mean, really.

Reusing

2010-02-22T19:18:00.001-05:00

I love to find new ways to use something. This weekend, we moved the girlie into a twin bed. The crib is shortly going to be used for a new resident so we figured it would be best to have her happily settled into a new bed so as to hopefully minimize any angst regarding said resident.

The mattress is an extra-long so I had to order a waterproof pad but didn't remember to order a bedskirt. So I tried my hand at remaking the crib skirt into a twin skirt. A little cutting and stitching later and there it is!

Matching little polka dots to the sheets as well.

Then I was looking at the little bit of fabric left over. (I didn't feel the need to go ALL the way around the bed, two sides seemed sufficient..) The easiest thing to do was sew a little ribbon along the top and make a twirly wrap-around skirt for the girlie. She seems to like it and hopefully it will fit easily for quite some time!

Here's the dilemma I am currently in. I want to make a headboard (something like this) for her bed as it feels as though it is missing something. Should I use the same fabric as her curtains or find something to go along with the polka dot theme? I already have more of the curtain fabric and it is a nice, heavy material, but I don't know if it would be too much of the same in the room. Opinions?

Fresh

2010-02-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

It may be freezing and gray out today, but it smelled like spring to me when I walked outside this morning. Every year we all wait anxiously for it. While it may be at least another month before any buds arrive, it's the smell that gives me hope.

After at least three years, my blog has finally been freshened up a bit. Thanks to Abi, it looks new. She designed three different headers for me so I'll be able to keep it a little fresher around here and hopefully keep from being so stale. It doesn't smell different, but spring is still on its way.

Sad Little Sickie

2010-02-20T21:13:00.000-05:00

There isn't anything harder for a parent than when your kid is sick or hurt. Last night while out with some friends we got the call from the sitter than the babe had gotten sick. Poor little bug and I spent the day today snuggled on the couch and watching some tv. She hardly ate anything all day, which isn't surprising but didn't have any trouble keeping down what she did eat.

I have to be honest though. I am such a paranoid when it comes to other people being barfy. Not only did I not sleep all night last night, listening for her to wake up or for Andy to be sick too, but I get myself all worried and worked up. Isn't a mom supposed to be able to take care of her sick kid? When she spit up a bit after we got home last night, I handled it just fine and then helped her get cleaned up and everything, but I just freak out in the meanwhile.

She went to bed early tonight and hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight as well. Every little noise on the monitor gives me the chills. I might have to take a unisom to get to sleep.

I Heart Dairy

2010-01-30T13:06:00.001-05:00

A couple weekends ago I took a class at our milk farm on how to make your own diary products. The past couple weeks we have had extra milk from friends who were out of town, so I have been skimming and using up our cream like crazy.

We have already used up the first tub of butter and today I made those three little baby jars more. So far, I have been using a quart of cream for each time I make it and that is just enough. The easiest method is to just throw it into a food processor until it magically turns into butter. However, mine is much too small and also does not have an "on" button, but only a "pulse" button. Therefore, I have had to use my blender and have to do it in two steps, with a break in the middle to cool it all down in the fridge. For now it is working fine.

After making butter, there is a good two cups of buttermilk left over that I have used for banana bread and then pancakes this morning. Mmmm. I have two more cups ready for the next baking job.

Yesterday, I made up some yogurt and let it sit overnight with the yogurt cultures as they...cultured? Then today I threw in some strawberries so we have yummy strawberry yogurt!

And last, I made a big tub of sour cream that Andy used today on his burritos for lunch. I was hoping it would thicken a little more, but I think our kitchen is too cold for it to set up properly. It is pretty close, but next time I think I will leave it out in a warmer room.

Tomorrow, the plan is to make cream cheese and some peppermint ice cream. I wish I could make block cheeses, but I don't have all the equipment necessary to really do that well. For now, I will content myself with all the goodies that I can make and enjoy the fabulous milk we have been drinking!

Apparently, I have been feeling super domestic-y lately. Maybe it's the nesting phase, huh? I can't decorate or organize the nursery yet so I'm taking my time in the kitchen instead!

Attic Part 2

2010-01-29T17:13:00.003-05:00

It's kind of long and not really all that exciting, but this is a little video of the attic with its new walls!

Attic Part 1 from Ada Bible Discovery Village on Vimeo.

The Magnificent Mudder will start on Monday. Along with many days of dusting. I think I am going to have to hire a cleaner when he's all done...

Day 1

2010-01-25T17:47:00.008-05:00

Some before and afters from the first day of drywall.

Here is the main area coming up the stairs.

Walls in the same direction.

Looking at the dormer and my dressing area.

You can't see the dressing area here, just the dormer. This will be the sitting area and have a window seat as well.

This is looking into the bedroom area. Note the fab new skylights as well.

Walls! Real walls! They should be done hanging by tomorrow. Then Andy gets to take the scraps and put them up in one of the extra closets that we weren't going to drywall, but then decided we would. The joy of many closets!

The mudder comes next Monday and hopefully painting will begin the following week.

It's Almost Time

2010-01-24T19:04:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow morning the dry-wallers are coming. Few things have had me more excited lately.

So, here it is tonight.

The drywall is stacked, the walls are leveled, floors have been swept, the electrical is finished and the insulation is all hung.

The room is about to take shape.

While the hubby was finishing up all the last minute details so it is ready for the guys tomorrow, I was busy making banana bread with homemade buttermilk and carrot/cranberry cookies with homemade butter and sweetened with honey. So good. And a nice reward for a hardworking hubby.

I have a Two-Year-Old?

2010-01-14T13:02:00.007-05:00

Where has the time gone? It's one of those silly old cliches that everyone tells you, but you don't realize until all of a sudden you have a two-year-old. She's past being just a toddler and she's really a little kid.

For her birthday dinner we had a french toast brinner and it was a success for all. Though she only wore the birthday hat long enough for me to take a picture, she was very proud of it being her day. This girl loves to pose for pictures. In fact, she will bring the camera over to me so I can snap a shot and then she can look at it. We might be cultivating a diva here.

She loves to make silly faces and has started laughing at her own "jokes" though we don't get them yet. Randi is still hard to understand though she does seem to be getting a few more words. The kid knows her alphabet but is not articulate in the least. I'm not sure when I should be concerned about her verbal skills. As of yet, I know she's a smart cookie, but it would be nice for us to be able to comprehend what she wants.

She got her first Lego set from a friend this year and it has seriously been her most favorite toy ever. The first night she played for over an hour and a half by herself and then woke up the next morning and played some more. She brings the little people with her in the car and loves it when I "remodel" the house so it is new all the time.

Frankly, her father and I get plenty of fun out of the building and can't wait until she graduates to the big kid legos so we can play too!

We also made the switch into the toddler bed. Randi is so very proud that she can climb into her bed for bedtime and naps and snuggles up right away with her blanket and pillow. I bought a little travel pillow that I made a pink striped cover for so she would have a kid-sized pillow. She often brings it with her when she comes to snuggle in bed with us. The funniest part of our morning is when we hear a knock on her bedroom door. Instead of calling out to us that she is up, she gets out of bed and walks to her door and knocks. Waits. Knocks again until we come get her. Even if all she wants is her paci and to go back to sleep. Cracks me up every time.

Of course, the biggest achievement since reaching age two has been potty training. I took this week off from working (still working at home, of course) and we have spent a lot of time in the bathroom. It's amazing how exciting it is when your child finally gets the hang of the potty. Corny though it may be, I'll admit that I teared up the first time she did it on her own.

I just got a package of cloth pull-ups in the mail today. They look like her big girl panties, but have more absorbency and will hopefully work great for travel and night-time. She stayed dry for her nap yesterday but still wears plastic over her panties just in case.

People, I know I have raved about them before, but Blueberry Diapers comes through for me every time. I got these training pants at a great clearance price and they arrived literally two days later with regular shipping. As usual, I am wondering why they don't make grown up panties this comfy. I mean, really. My tush would love something this soft!

Way Behind

2010-01-11T11:31:00.003-05:00

So, Christmas.

This year we thoroughly enjoyed a quiet Christmas. While Andy had 5 services at church for Christmas Eve, we attended one and then spent the rest of the evening with friends. The week had been busy beforehand with regular work to be done and late night rehearsals for the Christmas eve services. Therefore, Friday morning found us all in our jammies and sleeping in late. Randi has discovered the joy of snuggling in Mama & Daddy's bed for a little while when they aren't ready to get up yet.

We made the choice to stay in jammies for the entire day and after breakfast we started in on our stocking gifts. Not knowing what an almost two-year-old would think of opening presents, we found that she had to spend a good amount of time playing with whatever she opened. So we opened a couple little things, watched a Muppet Christmas movie and then opened a couple more. The presents under the tree weren't even touched until after her afternoon nap!

Baby Girl's favorite gift of the day was her new kitty pjs. A friend picked out the cutest pair of "old man" pjs with little pockets. As soon as Randi pulled them out of the box, she held them up to herself and asked that we put them on her. Then she ran to the mirror to check herself out. What a little goof. She also proceeded to spend most of the day playing with the cat toys instead of the new books or any of her little toys. Sigh.

I'm sure next year with a three-year-old and a baby will be plenty more insanity so it was nice this year to have some quiet and enjoy just the three of us.

Raw Milk

2009-12-16T19:26:00.002-05:00

Ok, I know that some of you are going to think I'm crazy for this, but a few months ago, we started drinking raw milk. That's right, not pasteurization, no homogenization, but instead straight from cow to refrigerator.

Some friends from our small group had been talking about it, (funny, they talked us into raw milk but never mentioned the fact that they sell Amway...ha!) and how much they and their son have loved it. With a little research as well as picking up our friends' share for them one week, we were convinced. It didn't hurt that the farm is only ten minutes away and right behind our regular grocery store.

We love it. Love the taste, love the good nutrients and healthy bacteria it provides, love the freshness and local consuming of it. We especially love just going to the farm, seeing "our" cow along with the ducks and the pigs and the chickens. They also have fresh breads and meats and cheeses and eggs that we can pick up right there.

Personally, I have experienced one of the most amazing health benefits of this milk. Now, a few times a year I catch myself a cold. They are always the same. Sneezing, sore throat & runny nose for a few days and then progressing to a hacking cough for a week or more. I've mentioned before how great Zicam is. If you haven't tried it, take the chewable tablets or mouth spray right at the start of your cold (during the sore throat part--first day) and your cold will be noticeably shorter.

My friends, I think I found the natural version.

Since I am currently gestating, the only medicine I have been taking is the occasional Tylenol for a headache. I've had two colds this fall. Neither of them lasted longer than two or three days and neither of them made it past the sneezing and (very slight) sore throat. Milder than any cold I've ever had and never have I succeeded in avoiding the coughing stage.

I think it's time for some more hot cocoa with milk...

Feeling Crafty. Part 2.

2009-12-11T13:37:00.002-05:00

At the moment I am working on completing my boy diaper stock. (In case I didn't mention it, I seem to be having a boy!) I finished the first of the "monkey buns" fabric and have another in that material to do today as well as a cool black & gray stripe.

They are so soft and fabulous, I can't wait to use them! I want to be sure I have at least 12 various dipes to start with as those silly newborns go through diapers fast.

It's hard to say if they will be small enough for my itty bitty dude or not, but they will work for some stage at least and then I plan to make bigger ones later. I also have no problem putting my child in pink diapers if need be. Little guy will be likely to play kitchen and dolls with his big sis anyway.

The best part is that Andy has PJ pants in this fabric.

Last night I whipped up some quick curtains for the play room. They aren't finished, but I have had the fabric for several months now so I wanted to get them at least started. The next step is purchasing some simple white felt for a thick, protective layer on the back. Especially in the winter, anything to keep out the cold is helpful. Our windows are newer but I can still feel the cold on

them. After the felt, I'm going to add some dark blue ribbon ties to snug them up in the middle so I can still look out when I want to.

And yes, that is indeed Dick & Jane fabric. I'm kind of in love with it. It perfectly complements the light yellow walls (that my favorite craigslist friend helped me paint!) as well as the dark blue carpet and green & white box storage. Plus, it's darn cute.

With all of this I'm trying to clear my list of projects after several new items as well as many fix-its and repairs and etc. Darning socks and sweaters, tightening buttonholes and replacing buttons, replacing broken zippers and repairing towel bibs.

I do so love my towel bibs. Over the past few months I have made several bibs of old towels trimmed with bias tape or ribbon and they are the best if I may say so myself. They always seem to work better at both preventing and cleaning up meal messes than any of our store-bought bibs.

The very last thing on my current list is another work project. I need to build and cover a little bench seat for our preschool wing at church. Sadly, this has been on my list for many, many months. Yeesh. This is partly because I need my handy man to cut the wood for me before I shape the foam and staple on the fabric. Come ON, handy man, get to it! It's not like you have a huge list of things to do anywhere else in the house or anything.

Feeling Crafty. Part 1.

2009-12-10T13:09:00.007-05:00

I don't know if it's the fact that we've been happily cooped up for several days of serious snow weather lately or what, but I have been getting my craft on.

Last week I sewed up a whole pile of new costumes for church. While we didn't end up using all of them for the children's event, we definitely needed new ones and it was fun playing with the different

fabrics and textures and getting a little creative.

I'd show a picture of us in some of the costumes, but apparently we were overcome with the holy spirit at the time...or else it was just a weird trick of the lighting because all that could be seen in the photo was a huge beam of light where we were standing. Hmm.

This weekend I worked on a little snowflake project. You need a box of Borax, some heavy thread or yarn, a good-sized pitcher and some pipe cleaner.

The measurements were 3 tablespoons of Borax to one cup of boiling water, but you could probably get away with a little less. I ended up making one large flake and one little one.

After twisting the pipe cleaners into your desired flaky shape and tying on the string, hang it from a pencil or stick of some sort into the water. Be careful not to let it touch any of the sides or it will get stuck! This is an overnight project, so just pop it in the liquid and leave it for a while.

The next morning (or evening, whenever you remember to pull it out...) you will have frosty snowflakes! The still seem to be a bit flexible but very icy. I just need to pick up some suction cups so I can hang it from my kitchen window.

This is an easy and fun project for the kids as well. Little to no mess and quick for short attention spans!

First Snow

2009-12-04T18:01:00.005-05:00

Today was the first big snowfall (heck, first snowfall at all!) of the year. We figured the kiddo probably doesn't remember snow from last year and her grandparents had just bought her new snow pants and boots. Therefore, out she went with her new warm gear and her daddy in his flannel jeans.

Every time he would shovel some of the sidewalk she would scoot her little feet behind on the cleared area. She was enthralled with the cold, white flakes on her mittens and tried valiantly to make snowballs but mostly ended up with white pancakes.

The best part of the morning was the little snow person they made. She loved this little guy and even tried to kiss it (from a good foot away). She poked each of his eyes, patted his hair and helped stick in his little carrot nose.

I have a feeling she could have stayed out much longer, but she started refusing to wear her mittens and her little fingers were getting mighty cold.

Luckily for her, her mama made some cocoa and gave her a cookie to warm back up. Mmm. Remember how great it used to be to play in the snow and then come in to cocoa and cookies? Maybe that's one of the best parts of kids. We get to relive our favorite things from childhood with them!

Now we just need to get a sled so we can pull her around the neighborhood and over to the park.

Make or Buy

2009-11-19T14:04:00.004-05:00

What is your plan this year? Do you already have your Christmas list filled, wrapped and tucked away or are you still planning on picking up a bunch of gifts next Friday?

Generally I am a big fan of the black Friday sales and love the lure and thrill of the hunt. Not to mention, good sales help the economy, right?

This year, due to the new roof and new attic, we won't be buying each other or anyone else anything. That doesn't mean I won't be giving presents!! No indeed. I'm looking forward to Make Something Day. Though it might take more like a month and not just a day.

Both plans are equally good and fun! What's yours this year?

Another Great Deal

2009-11-15T20:30:00.003-05:00

Since I'm on a kick of telling you lovely interweb folks about great deals, I thought I should let you know that tomorrow is the last day to get restaurant.com gift certificates for 80% off.

Have you bought GCs from them before? There are restaurants available practically everywhere and the deal is impossible to beat. I just spent $4 for $50 worth of restaurant coupons. Seriously. For some of my favorite places in town. It's really the only way we can afford to eat out. We will generally have about a $30 bill and spend about $10 overall with the tip.

Anyway, check it out. Just enter the code ENTREE at checkout. You have up to a year to use the gift certificate. Plus, these are great to give as gifts or use when you're traveling. You can select any zip code and find a great place to eat out anywhere.

20 Weeks

2009-11-15T13:57:00.006-05:00

Um, apparently this means I'm half-way there? That seems like a rather frightful thought. Not only is there currently nowhere for this child to sleep, but the to-do list to prepare for it is horribly long.

We'd ideally like to have the insulation and drywall hung in the attic before the first snowfall. Then it will be a matter of finances in getting it mudded and then the room carpeted before said child makes their appearance.

Unfortunately, I can't begin to prepare a nursery until the attic is finished as everything that is generally stored in the attic is currently stored in the to-be-nursery room. There would probably be enough room to stow a bassinet, but not to walk around it or actually get to it and therefore not very useful.

Anxiously I await the ultrasound to find out if there will be a need to buy blue and green clothing or start sorting out the tubs of pinks. Only a week and a half before we hopefully get an answer. Though I am not too worried if my child is shy. I have easily met my deductible for the year so if more ultrasounds are needed, I can get them scheduled! It's more just the wondering to know.

As any expectant parent will say, I'll be happy with whatever gender pops out, but my symptoms have been almost entirely identical to my first pregnancy. Thus leading me to believe that there is a girl type baby swimming around in my belly. As active as the first too. I guess we'll just wait and see.

These pics were both taken last night. I have been horribly remiss in getting good belly shots done this time around, so we're are attempting to remedy that. Am feeling rather huge lately, but the scale says I've only gained 6 pounds so far so I guess it's not too bad. Hating the reflux, and eating lots of Tums. Lovely.

Get Them Before They're Gone!

2009-11-14T15:20:00.005-05:00

I have been keeping my eyes out for the semi-annual sale of cloth diapers. Twice a year or so, I get an email saying that they are having a big close out at one of my favorite sites for dipes. Every order has been fabulous with them and I have been very happy with the quality of everything I have purchased there.

Click for the list of what is still available in the outlet store. Everything is half off and the discounted price will show up in your cart before you check out. I stocked up on smalls so come March/April my new baby's buns will be well covered! Though, often newborns can be smaller than the smalls so it might be more like May before the buns are covered with cloth.

If you currently use cloth, you already know what a great deal this is and will hurry over. If you haven't tried cloth, this is a great time to give them a chance. Your baby's bootie will thank you! (as will your budget-most people say they save over a thousand bucks)

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about cloth diapering as I've been at it for (gasp) almost two years now and I also have lots of resources to share to any future converts!

Kitty Kats

2009-11-09T10:49:00.006-05:00

I don't like the scary goulish part of halloween. It always creeps me out to walk into the hastily set-up, dirty with last year's costumes, filled with hooker outfits, noisy as I go past the mummies with blinking red eyes temporary Halloween stores. Yet, every year I find myself there in the store looking for, what? Inspiration?

Regardless, I love having halloween parties. They are my favorite parties to throw. I love hanging silly things from the ceilings, cooking "scary" foods ("hand" meatloaf, radioactive hummus, brussels sprouts, etc), dressing up and eating candy with friends. Especially friends who go all out with their costumes. Even better than that, now that I have a kiddo, I get to dress HER up. And darn it, kids are so cute in their little costumes!

The week before Halloween it was cold and rainy and yet we still trudged across the park to hit "The Zoo Goes Boo." Luckily, there was one candy spot where they were handing out full sized candy bars and the Hershey bar mysteriously went right into Mama's pocket. Here you see my little white kitten with her kitty basket trying to decide how much she really wanted to be out treating.

The day of Halloween, I didn't have to work, so as it was cold and rainy yet

again, we decided to brave the mall and do our treating inside. Later I found out that one of our local colleges do great dorm treating so we will have to be sure to go there next year.

Yes, I realize that this is two weeks past due, but darn it, interweb, didn't you want to see this cute little pink & white kitten?

I Love My Hair

2009-11-05T12:53:00.004-05:00

In general, I have pretty thin hair. My fabulous stylist says I have plenty of hair but that the strands are thin. I guess that makes me feel a little better. Most of the time I have to wash my hair every day if I want to look presentable.

Most of the time I don't really mind too much how presentable I am. Frankly, if I'm staying home with the kiddo all day I am perfectly ok with the Mommytail.

However. Right now I have pregnant hair. It took a couple months to kick in, but once it did, it became glorious. Maybe not to you, maybe not for anyone else to notice, but to me--glorious. I don't have to wash it for at least three days and it can still look fresh and silky yet grease-free.

Some days I go curly and use my diffuser, other days I take a little more time and flat iron it. The times I straighten it I know will last the longest. Somehow, I don't even get bedhead!

In my google reader, I subscribe to several Freebies blogs. Last week I got a free sample in the mail for Pureology's Super Smooth Smoothing Elixir. I have always loved this brand for shampoos & conditioners, but haven't had a chance to try any other products before.

Am. In. Love. First of all, i didn't just get a little bitty one-time-use packet, I got a full-sized bottle! Secondly, while I only used a little bit, this stuff seriously made my hair much smoother. I used no other products after showering and I could tell a big difference when flat ironing. Frankly, it took less time to straighten than usual as well. Big win there!

I know my hair is only going to be this great for the next six months or so, but I'm loving every last moment that I have until I start balding again. At least I'll still probably have some elixir left to at least help with the styling process.

Drip Drop

2009-10-30T11:02:00.004-04:00

There's something so innately soothing about rain. The drip, drip, drip, pitter, patter, pit. Makes you just want to curl up with some hot cider and a good book. Even a big storm, when it ferociously whips against your windows with gale forces bringing down the last vestiges of leaves, can somehow be calming.

Except when it is drip, drip, dripping inside your house at 3 am. That is a whole lot less soothing.

Last night we were awakened by my fussy child who's paci had fallen out. (Yeah, I know, she should give up the paci, but that's the last thing I want to deal with right now.) I stumbled to the crib, cram the bink in and stumble back to bed.

Except I noticed a steady stream of drips onto the hall floor. This is made even worse by the fact that there should not ever be water coming down from above there. After stumbling up to the attic, we (mostly Andy, I can't actually see at night, am blind as a bat) discovered some serious holes in the roof tarps. Like, not-joking-around-about-rain-coming-in kind of holes. Added to which was the serious wind and excessive pouring down buckets of rain.

The good news, which was reported to me after said husband climbed back into bed, is that the skylight already installed was dry as a bone. Phew.

During breaks in the drips today he is going to try to get as much put up as possible. Only, of the special order windows for the other holes, we're still missing one. Sigh.

We would try to do this during the rainiest time of the year so far, wouldn't we?

Disorganized, Disconnected, Disturbing

2009-10-28T22:38:00.005-04:00

Lately it has felt like practically everything in my life is out of my control. Good work is getting done on the house, but like all old homes, every step of the way seems much more difficult and more time consuming and more messy than it needs to be and somehow escalates so that I am completely overwhelmed. Of course, with all home improvements, the period before the home is improved often finds the home vastly unimproved.

I feel as though I can't but make wrong choices and life is more complicated at every turn. Everything seems like it is just harder than it needs to be. Not that I'm complaining that life should be all peaches and roses, but lately I just can't seem to handle it all. Financially, emotionally, spiritually, I am disconnected and frustrated. Drained.

Fortunately, today was a good day. Hubby made a fantastic breakfast for us all this morning, the sun actually was shining and it was quite warm. Warm enough to go for a walk to the park and see the lake monster. Plus, I captured some fabulous pics of my kiddo. Crazy little munchkin makes me laugh all day. Here you see the most common phrase of hers, "Come on." She doesn't prefer to play alone lately, always wanting Mama or Dada to be at least near her if not playing with her. She gestures her little hand to you and you can't help but take it and follow wherever she leads.

What I'm Living with and What I'm Missing

2009-10-19T17:17:00.004-04:00

I'll let you guess which is which.

Things I Really Love

2009-10-15T21:26:00.004-04:00

I’ve wanted a kitchen corner nook table since we bought this house. It just seemed as though it would be the perfect fit and save space as well. For years, we have kept our eyes open for one and even found a great one at a local wood store, but it was a bit more than we could pay so we kept looking.

A few weeks ago in a sales flyer I saw the perfect table and bench set for my kitchen corner and it was at the perfect price.

It was flat packed and needing to be built, which is something I actually love doing. With the help of a friend, I got the table I always wanted.

You’ll never guess where I got it. No really, you won’t.

I totally have the biggest crust on Aldi. I've always been a fan, really. But seriously, this thing is fabulous. Storage in the benches for my napkins and such. Plus, every time I go, I treat myself to a bouquet of flowers that are not only inexpensive, but they also tend to last about two weeks.

Aldi, people. Aldi.

Fall-ish

2009-09-30T21:20:00.002-04:00

We hit the apple orchard today. And by hit, I mean we knocked it out of the park in picking crazy tasty apples. The trees were heavy laden, some apples even touching the ground. Bright, juicy, red apples beckoned us to take a bite before putting them into our bags. My mouth is watering now just thinking of how fabulous they were.

Sunday will be the big sauce-ing day and I can't wait to smell up the entire house with apple-y goodness. The leaves haven't all turned yet, but with the a stop at the orchard and the cooler air (and a need to have the heating guy come fix our heater) it definitely feels like it is fall.

I'm stocking up on my fall decor and ready to put out my pumpkins. The halloween party is approaching and I can't wait for pumpkin pies and cookies and spiced cider. Not to mention a good excuse to eat more candy.

Progress

2009-09-21T23:00:00.002-04:00

The kitchen got a facelift today.

Everything got moved into the newly finished basement Studio today.

The playroom started taking shape today.

The best part is, we got to sleep in and then have a leisurely family breakfast of omelets & cinnamon rolls together.

Mondays are the greatest.

Cutie Stinkin' Patootie

2009-09-17T10:24:00.006-04:00

These days, my child cracks me up more and more. Sure, she's throwing more tantrums and obeying less, but the cute things she is doing are trying desperately to outweigh that.

We've been trying to get it on video for a while, but she and her daddy play a game with their pianos where they both play at the same time and then she puts her hands up in the air.....and they have to stop. Then start. Then stop. And on and on. It's pretty cute and it's so funny to watch her make up games.

The other day I heard a noise out of the corner of my ear (don't you hear that way?) and knew it was my child getting on her daddy's laptop when she shouldn't be. I immediately go over and use my serious mom voice to tell her in no uncertain terms that she should not be doing what she was doing. Andy walks into the room and she turns to him and flashes a huge silly grin, as if to say, "Yo Dad, I'm totally in trouble." Unfortunately, I completely lost it. It was too darn cute and I had to walk away doubled over laughing. Discipline fail.

Today she spent at least 10 minutes moving the cat's food from one dish to another. Quietly picking up dropped pieces and putting them back into the bowl. The cat just sat and stared, not sure how to intervene without losing fur. Fortunately, she has become a very patient kitty.

Some days I feel as though I will

never get her to eat anything but cereal and then she goes and surprises me by happily eating a meal with us of salmon, rice and peas. I content myself with knowing that if few veggies get in, she will always drink a smoothie with all kinds of fruit and hidden vegetables. Nutrition by trickery, that's my motto.

And those faces. I love the raised eyebrows and the grouchy face and the eyes squinched tight. Oh, but the best new game that we play is sleepy time. Yesterday after her nap we were playing in her room with various toys when she pulls a pillow off the rocker and lays it on the floor. Then she pushes me down, brings me a blankie and some stuffed friends, has me turn on the fan, kisses me (with the best kissy noises), says "nigh, nigh" and proceeds to walk out of the room, closing the door behind her. She was a little bothered that she couldn't turn off the light, but it all worked out ok. Gee, if my own kid makes me take a nap, I'm doing great.

On Lots of Stuff and Also a Few Things...

2009-09-13T16:52:00.004-04:00

I keep thinking that life is going to slow down. Until I realize that it really isn't. That I need to take the quiet times and hold on to them, to savor them while they last.

This summer has been a whirlwind of travel and home improvements and gardening (at which I was sadly very unsuccessful this year) and canning (at which I was surprising adept) and work. Somehow I always assume that work will be a little quieter and a little easier in the summer but it never really is. There is always chaos and planning and extra work that wasn't originally planned.

I will admit to being rather proud of my canning this year. It is something my mother always did a lot of and I never learned how to do, something I will always regret. Instead, I bought the bible of canning: Ball's.

I've been able to use this guide for every recipe I have needed and it hasn't failed me yet. There were a few terms I had to look up, but other than that, I'm a huge fan of this handy dandy guidebook.

This year I put away strawberry & strawberry rubharb jam, peach jam, peaches, pickles, tomato sauce & tomato soup, diced tomatoes and today I am working on grape juice and grape jelly. I would like to do pears, pear jam and also applesauce. Now that I feel as though I have the hang of it, I'm on a roll!

However, at the same time, I'm completely exhausted. I'm 11 weeks preggo (most of you were aware of this little tidbit via Facebook, that purveyor of all things) and this little critter is sucking all of my energy. Some days I feel as though getting up off of the couch is asking too much of me and other days I can accomplish a few things. It seems as though I can get the most done in the evenings, but I also feel the most nauseated them. Frankly, I just can't win. My house is generally a mess and there is always a pile of laundry somewhere that needs to be put away. The worst part is that there is no good tv on right now to keep my lazy self occupied!

Home improvements haven't been at all helped my my lack of motivation. I was able to prime the basement (with low-odor paint) but that was probably three weeks ago now. Theoretically, I will be energized enough to do that tonight, but I can't promise anything. We really want to have the studio finished and everything moved down there this month so that I can paint and curtain the new playroom and get these blasted toys out of my dining room. That is going to be a fun and creative project that I am really looking forward to as well.

On top of all that, I originally wanted to be able to move into our attic master suite by snowfall but now I'm just hoping for it to be insulated and dry-walled by them. Since there is virtually no insulation up there, that is pretty much a requirement here in good ol' Michigan. The rest won't be as difficult. (again, theoretically)

Regardless, by April (or maybe late March?) this house needs to be ship shape. Because by then, I'm going to be running after a two year old and keeping an infant alive at the same time. Yikes. (ok, I know many of you have way more than two children, but it still seems like quite a challenge to me)

I am tired (of being tired and also) of feeling so very disorganized and cluttered. Of feeling like it isn't just my stuff that is everywhere, but it's also my brain and my life. Did I mention how horribly my garden grew this year? That crazy jungle needs to be cleaned out and mulched over. Next year is there is going to be a very minimal amount of growing done. We'll call it a year to let the ground rest, how about that?I need to sell a ton of things and de-clutter. There are multitudinous sewing and/or crafting projects that need to be done. Basically, there is an endless list that I feel is hovering over me.

I'm just so blasted TIRED.

An Interlude

2009-09-07T00:37:00.003-04:00

What I Don't Teach

2009-08-21T23:03:00.003-04:00

You don't have to teach a toddler how to throw a fit. You don't have to teach her how to scream at you.

I never taught my daughter that she should throw her food or her dishes on the floor. Nor have I taught her to ignore my requests.

However, I apparently don't have to teach her how to clean up after herself either. A couple days ago she spilled some milk out of her sippy. When she noticed the dribble on the floor, she ran to the kitchen, pulled a towel out of the towel drawer and came back to wipe it up.

I'm not sure if this is really my kid after all.

Stay Tuned

2009-08-07T20:57:00.003-04:00

I like things. No, really, I do. Stuff is good. Granted, I am trying to weed out unnecessary junk and sell it all on craigslist, but I tend to find myself spending a lot of time screen shopping. Quite often, I will even pick things out, have a full shopping cart and then just close the window. Please tell me I'm not the only one that does this?

Anyway, I was approached by csn mattress to check out their products and get something in return. Geez, who's eyes wouldn't be perked by that? (I would have said ears, but since it was an email, eyes made more sense...)

At any rate, I got to screen shop for a bit and then even pick something out for free! I am going to try out some of their linens so I'll keep you posted on how the products turn out.

Pretend Money

2009-08-07T20:39:00.003-04:00

I discovered tonight that I think cash is pretend.

It's only the money that I put on my debit card that is real. The money in my checking account is what I have to budget from, subtract from and monitor. The green stuff in my wallet is more like a coupon.

At least that was the realization I came to this evening.

It all began as an innocent shopping excursion to CVS. My coupons were stacked on top of great sales and deals and more coupons. I saved at least twenty-three dollars with coupons.

Then I handed over my cash. When I saw the final total I thought, "Sweet! All this for only twelve bucks!"

Apparently, the twenty was just another coupon.

Mom Advice

2009-08-03T11:43:00.002-04:00

Hey there Moms. I need some advice. I am thinking that it is time to actively start potty-training my little munchkin and wondered what your best resources, tips and tricks were/are.

She seems to always tell me when she has just gone in her diaper and asks for a clean one and she's often dry after a nap or long stretches of time. She has a little pink potty and likes sitting on it, but doesn't seem to understand how to go. I don't expect to be able to do it in a day and am fully ready to spend some time and effort on it. I am also fully ready to be done with diapers!

Ok. Hit me with your best shot.

Kashi, How I Love Thee

2009-07-30T21:37:00.004-04:00

Kashi, if you'd like to send my child some samples of your fabulous products, we would be more than happy to help her eat them.

She has recently discovered the joy of a bowl of milk and cereal. She's her Daddy's girl.

I Love Vinegar

2009-07-16T12:00:00.004-04:00

As I have said before, it is berry season. Blackberries grow abundantly in my little backyard and they are sweeter than anything I have ever bought from a store. Just a couple more weeks and we will be able to go blueberry picking.

Baby girl could eat her weight in berries, but the big problem is the juice. And the subsequent stains on all of baby girl's shirts. Or pants. Or socks. Yeah, this kid is a little messy. Takes right after her mama.

While many of her outfits are play clothes that she can get dirty in, I still want to be able to get the stains out, but the berry stains were baffling me. You all have probably already figured this out, but I just solved the berry situation.

Put a pile (not too huge, just enough to cover the stain) of baking soda on the berry mark then douse it thoroughly with vinegar. I generally try to make it bubble up at least twice. Leave it for about 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water and wash in a cold load. If it doesn't come out, try another dose. I find once usually does the trick, but twice will definitely fix it.

Plus, if it is on white cloth, you can also leave it in the sun to bleach out. Another benefit of line drying.

This Thursday, I love vinegar & baking soda solutions! What do you love today?

Strawberry Summer

2009-07-10T21:53:00.002-04:00

There's nothing better in the summer than fresh strawberry shortcake. It tastes even sweeter when your baby girl helps you make the biscuits. She poured the flour, baking powder and salt then helped me roll out the dough and cut it into little heart shapes.

It was so tasty.

So tasty, in fact, that I might have to eat more tomorrow and the day after and the day after that.

2009-07-08T09:24:00.005-04:00

My kid drives me crazy sometimes. We all know the unnecessary whining, the spontaneous tantrum on the floor, the kicking and twisting while trying to change an excessively messy diaper, or the refusal to eat anything but a stick of cheese and a pickle.

Then there are the sweet times. She runs over to give me a pucker kiss when I ask for one. A great song comes on and she dances in a circle holding hands with her baby doll. The times when a new word comes out unexpectedly and used correctly. Like elbow. Who knew elbow would sound so cute? And truthfully, she points more at her wrist, but it's close.

But sometimes I am just baffled by this little girlie. I've come to the conclusion that she actually likes napping. If it's just the right time (and I do have to time it perfectly) all I have to do is suggest that it might be nap time and she stands up from playing, waves goodbye to everything (every. thing.) in the room and heads off upstairs. We collect a blanket and a stuffed friend and I plunk her down in the crib and that is that. I think this could be one of my favorite attributes of hers. It's so sweet.

And yeah, it's also great for getting things done or reading a book.

Because I Miss My Baby Girl

2009-07-02T10:24:00.006-04:00

Mama said I could have just ONE cookie.

Hi there. I'm cute. And sweet. And full of smiles. And my mama misses me. Sigh.

Also, randomly and because I loved this picture, I had great flowers this spring. My peonies bloomed so big and bright and beautiful. They were so big I brought in several vases full and still had to send bouquets home with friends!

The summer daisies and echinacea and black-eyed-susans are about to bloom as well. But I'm confuse

d by two mum plants. Blossomed already!? Usually my mums don't pop until September at the earliest. Crazy.

Aaaand one more sweet baby face. With some type of food on it. The girl likes to eat, what can I say.

Love you, baby girl. Can't wait to be able to hug you again.

Things I Love Thursday - Drugs, Music, Men

2009-07-02T10:01:00.005-04:00

Surgery went well yesterday. I overheard the nurses talking about me while I was recovering and they said it was the usual and I was very healthy and should recover well. All in all, I was only at the hospital for a little over six hours.

I definitely loved the morphine the most. Not to mention a friend loaded up my ipod with Morphine tunes which were absolutely perfect for recovery. Relaxing, chill and ironic. I also love being on staff with a bunch of great guys who give me great tunes. They are always up on the good stuff.

I'm down to a lower dose of vicodin. Now, I love me pain meds as much as the next girl, but I hate, hate, hate the dizzy feeling. So I'm on a bunch of ibuprofen with a vicodin kicker.

God knew what He was doing when He invented drugs. All power to those of you who went without them in labor, but me likee the epidural. My belly is sore and "pinchy" feeling and yet I feel good otherwise. Thank you, prescription AND over the counter pain-killers. Thank you.

Also, my husband came out of CVS last night with a bag of dark chocolate Ghirardelli squares. He said that was written on my prescription as well. I love that man.

Two More Days

2009-06-29T10:57:00.004-04:00

It always seems that everyone is looking forward to something. Vacation, a visit from a friend, getting married, having a baby, starting a new job, quitting a job, when the economy turns around, etc.

I have two days left during which I will still have all of my internal organs. This Wednesday, I'm going in to get rid of a faulty gallbladder.

Personally, while I'm not nervous about it yet, I am really looking forward to not feeling sick anymore. My fingers are crossed and I am praying that this will fix the problem. They haven't given me a time yet, but if you can pray on Wednesday that it's quick and I recover relatively easily, I would greatly appreciate it!

Besides, who needs a silly gallbladder anyway?

Little Things

2009-06-25T11:40:00.002-04:00

Some days I feel like the to-do list grows while I'm not looking and even when I can check most things off, there is a whole other list somewhere that I wasn't paying attention to. Anyone else, or is it just me?

Anyway, the past few days have felt like that. I have bills to pay and laundry to do. Dishes to wash. But then I discover a mouse (in a house with a cat, no less!) has been living in one of my cupboards so there are things to be thrown away and everything on those shelves must be washed. Ick. So this means three or four loads of dishes along with regular dishes and things all over my counters in the meanwhile.

I'm not the most tidy of people, but I hate a cluttered countertop. It seemed as though every time I would get one part finished, something else would come up. Like eating. And feeding my family. Sheesh.

Then there is the garden which is getting choked out by weeds. But the sun is so blazing hot I can hardly fathom going out there for longer than it takes to water the plants. At least when I'm watering, I can spritz myself a little bit.

Yesterday I was able to get a couple little sewing projects done. Hemmed some pants for a friend, made a tiny diaper for my girlie's baby doll and then shortened a pair of pants so I could have cute, knee-length shorts. I have been ogling this length of short until I realized I had an extra pair of brown pants that would be perfect.

This morning I got the bills paid and the checkbook balanced. No more shopping until next week. Thankfully, we are pretty well stocked up and can root in the freezer for several days. Baby girl just needs milk.

Now I'd better head down to wash the diapers and get started on some more dishes. And probably a pot of coffee while I'm at it.

What's your to-do list for today?

Oreos

2009-06-14T12:48:00.000-04:00

Oreo from Anne on Vimeo.

Gender Neutral

2009-06-13T09:45:00.006-04:00

Cars are a big favorite right now. I picked up a bag of five little cars at a garage sale last week for .50 and she has been playing with them every day since.

(Also, while I'm on the topic, can I just reiterate how much I love garage sales? Because I really do. We got new-in-the-box Pottery Barn curtain rods that we needed for the attic, two lattices for my plants for $2, a fabulous backyard playset (like this, but different), a baby doll stroller and swing, ($1 each!) books and a bunch of clothing for winter and for Randi's soon-to-be-seen cousin. Whew. The only bummer is that there is nothing I need to get at sales for the rest of the summer. Not that that will keep me from stopping. Who knows what gems are to be found!)

Fortunately, while baby girl loves playing with her trucks, she also likes rooting through mama's purse and toting around her baby doll. The new doll stroller was a smash hit, to the point that when she has friends over she will not share this toy. Any other toy can be shared with no problem, but she will literally shove a kid out of her way to get the stroller back. We're working on that...

Here's to a Lifetime

2009-06-03T10:50:00.004-04:00

This is seriously one of the best things that I have seen in a long time. It's a few minutes long, but well worth the watch. I literally teared up from how fabulous it was. I love that there are groups out there doing this kind of thing.

Best Surprise Ever

I think this is going to keep me smiling for the rest of the day.

Project Central

2009-06-02T23:13:00.006-04:00

It has been busy around here. Since we decided last week that it would be in everyone's best interests to stay home from travel this week, we have been getting some work done around the house. Not too much, mind you it's still our vacation, but some.

In an older home, there are always weird quirks that one must accommodate. Old, questionable wiring shouldn't be one of those things. Therefore, my handy dandy man redid all of the electrical for the first floor in preparation for finishing the rest of the basement. I can now plug in a three-pronged plug without having to use one of those annoying adapters. I can't tell you how irritating that has been and how thankful I am now that there is no fear of blowing the house up. At least not from the first floor electrical.

Frankly, this is going to be a very long process. The Studio is moving to the basement once it is finished. The Playroom (currently the living room, dining room, porch and kitchen) will be the former studio once it is painted and storage installed. Our Bedroom will move up into the Master Suite of the attic once that is re-insulated, drywalled, painted, built-in cabinets installed, closets walled in and carpet laid. The current sewing room will move one room over to where our bedroom is now and that room will become the next Nursery. (No. I am not announcing anything. Do you see how long that list is? Do you also see how this is the last item on the list? Yeah, no announcements anytime soon, believe me.)

But I'm so excited about this process. While I, as much as anyone, hate the mess and the chaos and the expense and the fatigue and the stress that a huge (HUGE) home project creates, I look forward to how much more practical the set up will be and how much more organized it will be as well. We're taking it relatively slow and easy as our budget and time allows. We've been saving for a while and scrimping the extra bits that come along to make this thing happen.

It will be so nice to be able to shut all the dang toys away in one room. Right now the Farm and the Zoo and the Circus train are taking up residence in the play Kitchen right next to two wheeled wagons full of blocks and stuffed animals.

At any rate, now that the electrical is done, the next steps are the walls of the basement. He is already kicking it into gear. Here you see the before shot. Pretty much just some blue walls and a lot of mess. Basements are like that.

And here you will see some framing. Along with a bit more mess. I'm told it will only get worse before it gets any better. This week we buy some insulated, sound-reducing doors. We'll see how much of that noise we can contain down there.

My main job is pretty much just occupying the kiddo whilst the sawing and drilling and hammering go on. And a bit of gardening on the side. Ok, a lot of gardening. The weather has been perfect for it. Not too hot, not too cold. Goldilocks weather. Here's hoping my tummy stays in decent enough shape to finish what I have to do.

What have you been up to lately?

More Waiting

2009-05-29T14:27:00.003-04:00

Many thanks to all of you who I know were thinking and praying for me this past Tuesday. It meant so much to know you were behind me and I had no anxiety going into the test.

Plus, I was highly impressed with the hospital that I went to as they were extremely busy, it being the day after a holiday. However, rather than being called like a number from the door across the waiting room, the ultrasound tech walked all the way over to me, right up to my chair and asked if I was her next patient. Impressive.

I'm sure they have a clothing identification system entered by the registration person,

but it was very friendly and very professional. I was impressed to say the least of being set at ease.

She took a half hour and carefully got all the pictures of my abdomen that she needed and said they would call after the radiologist had read the report and given it to my doctor. Hopefully by Friday or Monday, she said. Argh. We had been planning on going to New York this coming week and I would have liked to know something before we left.

Fortunately, I got a call Wednesday (another yucky-feeling day) from the nurse at my regular office that the radiologist had seen a polyp on my gallbladder. Also that they would be referring me to a gastro-intestinal specialist and would call me soon with an appointment. Yesterday they called to offer July 1st. I immediately said that that wouldn't work as I was having problems right NOW and need to see someone sooner! She was going to try another office and I haven't heard yet what the plan is. Sigh.

From a bit of online research, I discovered that this seems to mean that it will be pretty likely that they will take my lovely little gb out. It's outpatient surgery and I'll need to be careful about what I eat afterwards to digest more easily. I'm ok with this. I'm ready for it to get taken care of NOW. It's just irritating to feel sick after every single meal.

In the meanwhile, here's a cute picture of my kid in her jammies and jellies. It makes me feel better.

Tall-ish

2009-05-25T11:58:00.003-04:00

This is baby bug's favorite stance. It's partly a "pick-me-up-now," partly "look-how-big-I-am!" This little stinker keeps growing.

Blood work confirms that there is definitely no baby swimming in my belly, but I'm going in Tuesday for an ultrasound of the rest of my guts. I'm ready to not be sick anymore. There was more nastiness last week and it seriously wipes me out for several days. It's especially frustrating as I feel like I have the summer itch to get things done around here.

So, if you think about it tomorrow, please pray that they will find something usefully and fixable round about 10 am. Thanks.

OK, So Maybe a Little Spoiled

2009-05-13T20:33:00.005-04:00

Garage sale season is upon us. Not only am I a pro at sale-ing, but it is simply one of my favorite summertime activities. I save my singles and change for weeks and get my best bargain-hunting, price-haggling game ready.

I keep my eyes open for books I'm missing in a series or a favorite author. In past years, I've found the exact ceiling fan I had wanted from the local home store. I can spot a good sale from the street and conversely try to avoid the sparse ones with a slow drive-by.

This Friday baby girl and I are heading out with a friend to take advantage of a few prime neighborhood sales.

In chatting with a coworker last week, I discovered that she was participating in one of these upcoming sales. She mentioned she was getting rid of her kids' old play kitchen.

My ears immediately perked up as my kiddo has loved playing with kitchens when she's been around them. Without hesitation, I told her we would buy it and pick it up before her sale so it would already be out of the way. Andy stopped by and got it tonight on his way home from work. Randall's face when she saw this thing come through the door was ecstatic. Here, she's making her motion for "love" after I asked her if she loved her new kitchen. She hugged her arms to herself and rocked back and forth like she would if she were holding her baby doll.

Kiddo almost forgot to eat dinner she had so much fun with her new toy.

Truly

2009-05-12T20:18:00.004-04:00

We spent at least half an hour this evening sitting and lying on the floor laughing at our daughter. She ran in circles around me, crawled over my legs, performed her first somersault and fell down frequently. She pulled out my phone and proceeded to talk in "phone voice" to someone on the other end. She carried around a little basket and laughed uproariously as she swung it to and fro. She scrambled about on the living room rug in just a diaper while we filled in her squeaks and squawks with ridiculous commentary. She ran away with some toy and then ran back to give her daddy a kiss. Without prompting. She gave some solid high-five slaps. She giggled away as we tried to tickle her belly.

The joys of parenting.

The Essence of Random

2009-05-11T10:41:00.004-04:00

Last week we went on the Mayor's Bike ride around the park. Randall got a brand new bike helmet and climbed immediately into her little bike trailer. She settled in comfortably, holding onto the straps and eating from her bag of snacks. After riding only two miles, she was ready for dinner and my legs were burning. It's definitely the beginning of the season. I have got to get myself in shape.

She is her mama's daughter and loves to play in the dirt. I give her a tub of dirt and a little shovel and she's happy to dig and carry rocks around the yard while I hang clothes on the line or pull weeds in attempts to get the garden ready.

My clothes line has been wearing out and I decided to replace the braided rope with plastic for hopefully better longevity. The best part about getting new line hung is that Andy did it in such a way that I now have four rows instead of just two. I can potentially get several loads of laundry hung as opposed to a single one. Plus, I have a drying rack that I put out for small things like towels and bibs. There always seem to be a lot of those in the wash.

I've been sick a lot lately. Nauseated so often a day that I would swear I'm pregnant, except that I'm not. There are no flu symptoms except that I've been exceedingly sick two times in as many weeks. I'm pretty sure I've lost a couple pounds in the process. Something has got to be wrong with me. If it were the flu, the rest of my family would have caught it as well. Ugh.

This week I have plenty of work to do, gardening to get done and bike rides to go on. Hopefully I can hold onto my lunch in the meanwhile.

Problem Solver

2009-04-29T10:40:00.002-04:00

My child, like many of her age, often doesn't want to eat. Or at least, she doesn't want to eat happily. And of course, she doesn't want to eat what I prepare her. Not to mention, she doesn't want to eat the other 16 things I subsequently offer.

She is recently enamored with her tongue. Sticking it out, moving it around, grabbing it (and thusly grabbing our tongues) have become favorite past times of our little munchkin. Therefore, it is all the more important that I convince her to actually keep her food in her mouth and get it down to her tummy. Otherwise, we all know what kind of mess will ensue. (a big one, in case you weren't sure)

Fortunately, I have found a solution. That works for my kid. That works right now. (see, we all know that every kid is totally and completely different and that nothing that works now will work again later. silly babies.)

Toys. Duh, right? Give a kid toys and they will be happy. I hand over a couple small cups with lids or random kitchen utensil and she will put the lids on and take them off and swish things around while I surreptitiously cram everything I can into her little mouth. If she looks up and see that I am indeed feeding her, I hurriedly spoon in one of her favorites like applesauce or hummus.

"See? I've been giving you that the whole time. Mmm. Now go back to playing."

Then, while she is preoccupied, in go the veggies and beans and such. It's magic, I tell you.

At least for this week.

Comparisons

2009-04-15T10:56:00.004-04:00

I Almost Made It

2009-04-13T20:21:00.004-04:00

It seemed as though this was a meaningful piece of my life. Have you ever played "Two Truths and a Lie?"

I used to use, "I've never broken a bone in my body," as one of my truths. Unfortunately, this now has to count as a lie.

Exactly one month ago, I broke my ring toe. (On my hand, that's my ring finger. Seemed to make sense as a ring toe too.) I'm not exactly positive how I broke it. As I was coming downstairs that morning, the baby gate was up at the bottom of the steps. Hubby and baby girl had been up for a little bit having breakfast and reading books. I think I was trying to step over the gate, but what really happened was I kicked the post at the end of the banister and then fell over onto the baby gate. It was splendid. And a little bit bloody.

The photo actually portrays my bruised-ness over a day later and the purple hue had already begun to fade quite a bit. The original shade of violet was almost immediate and darker than any bruise I had ever seen on my body. (And believe me, I am very GOOD at getting bruised.)

I was fairly certain that due to the bruising and hurty nature of my toe, that it was broken. But when, only a few days later the purple had faded almost completely, I wasn't quite sure any more. When I bruise, it usually lasts for quite a while So long, that not only can I not remember how I got it, but I forgot that the bruise was even there until my child pointed it out to me. (She likes to point things out that perhaps I had previously missed.)

It's been a month now, and the little bitty toe is still sore. It bends, sure, but it doesn't feel quite up to 100% just yet. I can still do plenty of jumping around on it, as my job requires, but it is still healing.

Tomorrow, I am 30. And I have broken a bone. I sure feel old.

At Least It's Been Less than A Month

2009-04-12T20:56:00.001-04:00

I keep having tons of things to write about, but once blogging gets puts off the first time, it gets easier and easier to put it off again.

All that means is that it's time to write a catch-up post...

Baby girl has been a sweet little peach lately. She definitely has her grouchy times (and is currently trying to switch to only one nap which can be interesting to say the least) but she is generally a very happy, joyful child. She loves to hug and snuggle and give little bitty puckered kisses.

While watching her the other night at one of the mall play-places, we realized she is very independent and brave. Not the least afraid to try any of the climbing toys or scared of the bigger kids, she played for almost an hour exploring everything. I honestly got teared up watching her and how gorgeous she is and how much I love her. My heart was mush. Mush, I tell you.

She loves her stuffed friends. Every day when she gets up in the morning or from a nap she will choose two furry friends from her stash in the crib. Most of the time it will be two different guys every sleep. Cracks me up. She loves to hug them and rock them and carry them around. So far, however, it has been nice not to have her addicted to one. I can give her anyone to cuddle and

she'll be happy. We'll see if that sticks or not.

Shoes are a current obsession. In the tub, she'll put little cups on her feet and when she finds a shoe around the house, she'll try her best to put it on. She hasn't quite figured it out though. Quite frequently, she will put my shoes on my feet. That one can actually do pretty well. Sometimes she even gets the right foot!

My current favorite cute thing that she does is, "I don't know." We'll ask her where someone or something is and she puts her little hands up in confusion. It cracks me right up and we do it over and over just to watch the cuteness.

Once in a while, we give her free reign and let her run nekkid around the house. The hooded towel is here just for ghostly humor and modesty. But seriously, people, is there anything funnier than a nekkid baby running around the house? I submit that there is not.

And finally, amazingly she has had two Easters. It doesn't seem that it could be possible, but at the same time, it feels like she's been with us forever. She has loved playing with the plastic eggs all week. Taking

them out of the little bunny basket, pulling them apart, throwing them across the room. This girl has quite an arm. I think maybe she'll play softball. At the very least, she'll raise chickens.

Permanence

2009-04-11T16:37:00.003-04:00

A month or so ago I got a new tat. I had been waiting until I was done nursing and shortly after we quit, I made the appointment. My first tattoo was definitely a college I-just-want-a-tattoo decision, while this one was very thought-out and well considered. I knew I wanted a wedding band tat, for several reasons.

First of all, I don't wear my wedding ring most of the time when at home. I don't like getting lotion or dirt or dishwater into my ring so I keep it in a safe place the majority of the time. Secondly, I love the idea of a permanent wedding ring. Frankly, we have enough marriages under our belt for some serious longevity, but I like the physical symbolism.

The text is in Hebrew and is a reference from the Song of Solomon. I wanted a few more characters, but discovered that due to the size and nature of tattoos, they wouldn't fit how I preferred. The common translation is, "I am my lover's," but the more accurate translation of the phrase is, "I am for my lover." The portion I have is, "for my lover," which I think works just as well.

My wedding ring covers it so when I'm out and about, it's just a regular ring, but the symbolism and explanation is underneath. I like it.

A Little Light

2009-03-23T10:40:00.003-04:00

The household has been infested for several days now. It strikes suddenly and with no warning. I was the first casualty, Andy followed three days later and then poor baby girl got her portion as well.

We're resting, drinking orange juice and just generally snuggling the day away while all three of us cough, sniffle and wheeze. At least the sun is shining.

A Quick Peek

2009-03-10T20:21:00.002-04:00

I'm trying valiantly to get a handle on all of the video I have stored up of my kiddo. If you thought the walking was cute, just take a gander at this mini.

Quick Peek from Anne on Vimeo.

If you're a grandparent or great aunt, you'll want to watch the whole 2 1/2 minutes as well.

Long Peek from Anne on Vimeo.

And just because it's sweet to see teeny babies talking...I guess I'm reminiscing. In no time, she'll be heading off to school.

Storytime from Anne on Vimeo.

Since Last Tuesday

2009-03-09T23:52:00.001-04:00

Walking from Anne on Vimeo.

Five Seasons

2009-03-07T11:15:00.003-05:00

Some people say that in Michigan we really only have two seasons, Winter and Construction. As true as this oft may be, I want to put a name in the suggestion box for a fifth registered season. I call it Waiting. Another working title could be Almost There.

Spring always comes eventually. It's just that during the Waiting season, Winter tends to come and go. Spring seems to ebb and flow around here. One day we're teased and tempted by high temps and actual, bright Spring sunshine, and the next Winter snatches it all away and throws cold and snow back in our faces.

I'm looking forward to 'soon' being 'now'.

For Several Minutes At Least

2009-02-25T18:53:00.005-05:00

As any mom will tell you, when there is something great that keeps your kid occupied for a good stretch of time, you will do anything to obtain that thing. Fortunately for us, lately these things have been good old household objects.

Exhibit A: The Water Bottle

Ideally for baby girl, the bottle would be full of water that she could drink, choke on, drink some more and then dump all over herself. We do however, usually try to refrain from giving her a full bottle. Luckily, the empty bottle brings a great deal of entertainment.

Exhibit B: The Laundry Basket

Now I will admit here the truth that I myself often put the baby in the basket to transport laundry where it needs to go. A girl only has so many arms. Plus, darn it, it's just cute to see babies in baskets.

Exhibit C: The Blush Brush

We have a cupboard on either side of our bed in which I keep lotion, cough drops, nail stuff, hair clips and other miscellaneous odds and ends. What could be more fun for a baby than rifling through such a cupboard? Thankfully, she doesn't know what everything on those shelves is used for.

Exhibit D: The Water Bottle

Have I mentioned how much fun this bottle was? Because really, she was busy playing with it for quite some time. As you can see here, she loves her bottle.

Exhibit E: The TP

Everyone knows the all-time best baby toy is a roll of toilet paper. It's not necessarily the easiest to clean up, but if it lets me go to the bathroom in peace, it's ok with me.

What are/were your kids favorite household toys?

2009-02-23T11:01:00.005-05:00

Some decisions are harder to make than others.

It's generally pretty easy to choose what to wear in the morning. Is it warm? Wear flip-flops. Is it cold? Put on a sweater.

It's not a hard choice to pick between a vanilla latte and plain black coffee, for me, that's a simple decision. I'll choose the latte any day.

When I get the chance to buy a new book, it might take a little longer to peruse the aisles and find a way to pick between the good old classic or the newly acclaimed title.

Then there are the decisions about how to raise your kid. Choosing what is the healthiest to feed them, how to train and discipline, which toys are or are not safe, where to send them to daycare/preschool/school etc and so forth.

This week offers us another chance to make a decision. It should probably be put in the medium-decision folder. It will definitely impact your life, but it doesn't compare to the which college to go to or who to marry folder.

This week marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Tomorrow we will be heading to IHOP for free pancakes and enjoy a dinner (or brinner?) of stuffing our faces with syrup and starch. Wednesday we will be heading down the block to Sacred Heart to participate in an Ash Wednesday service.

This year I am finding it difficult to decide what to give up for Lent knowing that whatever I take out should be replaced with time spent with God. I need to start a spring cleanse as winter eating has definitely caught up with me. Frankly, I just need to be spending more time with God. There will probably be some tv cut out as well as some computer time.

I've still got two days to decide specifically.

What are you giving up for Lent this year?

I Guess It's Tuesday

2009-02-17T10:37:00.002-05:00

Apparently, I totally jinxed myself by saying my kid was a good sleeper. Isn't that just how it always goes?

With only one nap under her belt yesterday, I expected a great night but she woke up twice and then got up at 6:45. Now, some of you may have early risers and are used to this kind of activity, but my girl is an 8:00 getter-upper. Anything before that is unholy in my opinion.

Let's hope she naps well at daycare today.

In other news, my latest post is live at 5 Minutes for Going Green. My hands are itching to get into the dirt.

Sweet Sleep

2009-02-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

We seem to have hit a beautiful milestone that I didn't think would ever arrive.

At five weeks old, my precious bundle of joy began sleeping long stretches at night with no interruptions. Almost every night would find her sleeping a little bit longer at a go and her Mama and Daddy rejoiced with their amazingly gifted child.

We were prepared for a downturn in the sleeping to come around month four, which is truly did. In reading different parenting sites and advice blogs I heard about the Wonder Weeks. According to this research, there are 8 key times in your baby's development when their sleep patterns (and practically everything else they do) are affected by what is currently developing in their brains. Week 16 is one of the main spurts. Basically, their brain is on overdrive and their bodies can't quite keep up! Sometimes it causes extra sleep and other times it keeps them awake at all hours.

Randall recovered a few weeks later and started sleeping heartily again. Until the six month stint hit along with her deciding to push out a bunch of teeth. From six months until very recently, baby girl had a rough time sleeping. As all parents know from the start, sleep is a precious commodity to be treasured at every turn. We had some nights where she would wake every 5-10 minutes for up to two hours and other nights it was once an hour all night long. She always went to bed very easily but fussing would ensue at any time.

There were colds and changes in her schedule, travel and lots of teething. We did a bit of cry-it-out, a bit of rock-it-out and a bit of please-God-make-her-sleep. I think we had resigned ourselves to the fact that we would never get a full night's sleep again.

However, something must have finally clicked in her head. My girl is healthy, happy and once again sleeping like a champ for 12 hours straight, in spite of another tooth popping out at the moment. Her Mama and Daddy are so proud, knowing that we can really take none of the credit. (also knowing that it could change at a moment's notice.)

Darn it, this kid is the best.

Happy Hearts

2009-02-14T21:01:00.003-05:00

Today was a busy day running around. There was a haircut to be had for the hubby (at which point he remembered that he had left his dress shirt for work at home and we had to stop at Target for a replacement) a free lunch from Moe's to be picked up, then off to work for the afternoon and evening.

Baby girl loves going to church. There are tons of new fun toys to explore and she spent at least twenty minutes or more climbing into and around the infant bouncers and the exer-saucers. She was exploring her roots.

Fortunately, she went down easily for a nap so I was able to prep for work. Since I planned to teach tonight, I had to learn my story and check the props as well as get my regular stuff set up and ready to go for my own volunteers.

There were quite a few missing pieces this evening, but there were also a great group of people who were willing to just pitch in and fill empty spots wherever they were needed. I can never get enough of that kind of amazing attitude!

After a long night and a great service, we tiredly headed home to prepare dinner and put the babe to bed. She soaks in the people and attention from everyone around but crashes soon after getting home. What a nice surprise to find valentine's in the mail from The Grandparents.

It's time for that chicken pot pie I just took out of the oven and a little bit of tv recorded from last night before we crash into bed ourselves ready to go to work again tomorrow morning. Weekends are long, but they are good.

Happy Hearts Day to you!