As of October 15th, I am officially a freelance writer for Examiner.com as the Broomfield County Baby and Toddler Gear Examiner. No, I don't live in Broomfield County, but that's the best I could do.
So far, I've published 2 articles:
1) http://www.examiner.com/baby-toddler-gear-in-denver/sleep-sacks-and-swaddles-the-prevention-of-sids
2) http://www.examiner.com/baby-toddler-gear-in-denver/enjoy-denver-s-fall-weather-with-baby-and-bundle-me
I like it--it gives me something productive to do (and a sense of accomplishment) without taking up a lot of time. Plus, it's on a topic I know a bit about ;-)
The more traffic I get, the better so if you are interested in checking out my newest article, or have a friend with kids that could use the information, go here: http://www.examiner.com/toys-games-and-gear-in-denver.
Pretty soon, I am able to take on another topic, but until then I'm just going to focus on this.
Enjoy and thanks for your support!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
why cloth diapering is not working for me
It's amazing how my attitude on so many topics has shifted since I've had a kid--even since I was pregnant. For example, I always thought I'd get an epidural. No drugs during childbirth? Don't be crazy! But once I was pregnant my desire to do it drug-free grew stronger until I decided that was my preference unless it was a medical necessity to do otherwise. Thankfully, I got what I wanted and had a natural childbirth--and I'd do it again.
Which brings me to today's topic: cloth diapering. At some point during my pregnancy I decided that I wanted to try to cloth diapers. Part of it was environmental, part of it was financial. So after the initial newborn stage, we bought some cloth diapers and tried them out. We didn't like the actual diapers but didn't mind the cloth so we tried another brand. Worked like a charm...and for a while.
We've been CD-ing since Evan was about 4 or 5 months and he's almost 14 months so we've been at it for a while, but sometime last week-ish I decided I was done for a while. Why, you ask? My kid poops about 4-5 times a day. Yes, true story. I do feed him very healthy food but I guess I should lay off all the fiber, huh? Seriously, it's just too much poop to deal with each day. I feel somewhat guilty about the disposables but it's so nice to just take off the diaper and toss it...Maybe I'll get back to it soon, but for now I think I need a break!
Which brings me to today's topic: cloth diapering. At some point during my pregnancy I decided that I wanted to try to cloth diapers. Part of it was environmental, part of it was financial. So after the initial newborn stage, we bought some cloth diapers and tried them out. We didn't like the actual diapers but didn't mind the cloth so we tried another brand. Worked like a charm...and for a while.
We've been CD-ing since Evan was about 4 or 5 months and he's almost 14 months so we've been at it for a while, but sometime last week-ish I decided I was done for a while. Why, you ask? My kid poops about 4-5 times a day. Yes, true story. I do feed him very healthy food but I guess I should lay off all the fiber, huh? Seriously, it's just too much poop to deal with each day. I feel somewhat guilty about the disposables but it's so nice to just take off the diaper and toss it...Maybe I'll get back to it soon, but for now I think I need a break!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
the grass is always greener
When I used to think about being a stay at home mom, I thought I would slip right into that role like a glove. I always daydreamed about a time when I didn't have to work: my house would always be clean, laundry always done, errands always complete. I've been laid off now for 2 years, and am still having a hard time adjusting (see my post from Sept. 7th).
I think it goes without saying that I am thankful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Evan, and that most of the time I really enjoy the time I have to simply watch him play or read him a book. But I have to be honest--I don't think the full-time stay-at-home-mom gig is for me. I'm not saying I want to work 60 hours a week and be away from home all the time. I just need some time each day (or most days) do my own thing. And while I appreciate the times when Shawn encourages me to get away, I've realized I need something more consistent, or in bigger chunks of time. Honestly, a part-time gig would be perfect: I could have my own time but still have plenty of quality time with lil' man.
When I was first laid off, I struggled with the fact that when I woke up in the morning there was nothing to get ready for-my day was for me to do whatever I wanted but I didn't usually know what that was. It was a struggle. Then I got used to it, but I still feel like I am floating in an in-between. I spent so many years getting educated and working on my career that I actually miss work. I miss using my brain for grown-up stuff. And, like right now, I miss being able to work on something without someone whining in my ear or requiring so much attention that I can't focus--wait, I guess sometimes that happens in the working world...
I think the bottom line is that I need some balance. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week, it's all about Evan. And although work can be challenging and stressful, I wonder if it's just what I need to curb some of the frustration I feel about being home all the time. The other thing I think about is whether I will ever want to be a SAHM. We always talked about me staying home after #2, but it didn't really work out that way. Now I wonder, will it be different if I have 2 or more? Will work seem like a waste of time? I'm not sure but I think I'd like to find out. I've been at home full time, now I'd like to try having a life outside of my house.
There are some days that I envy Shawn's ability to go into his office and close the door to focus on work even though I know how stressful his job is and how tiring the travel can be. But I am 100% certain that he is envious of me some days since I get to hang out with Evan all day in my jammies and (attempt to) get stuff done around the house. I guess the grass is always greener...
I think it goes without saying that I am thankful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Evan, and that most of the time I really enjoy the time I have to simply watch him play or read him a book. But I have to be honest--I don't think the full-time stay-at-home-mom gig is for me. I'm not saying I want to work 60 hours a week and be away from home all the time. I just need some time each day (or most days) do my own thing. And while I appreciate the times when Shawn encourages me to get away, I've realized I need something more consistent, or in bigger chunks of time. Honestly, a part-time gig would be perfect: I could have my own time but still have plenty of quality time with lil' man.
When I was first laid off, I struggled with the fact that when I woke up in the morning there was nothing to get ready for-my day was for me to do whatever I wanted but I didn't usually know what that was. It was a struggle. Then I got used to it, but I still feel like I am floating in an in-between. I spent so many years getting educated and working on my career that I actually miss work. I miss using my brain for grown-up stuff. And, like right now, I miss being able to work on something without someone whining in my ear or requiring so much attention that I can't focus--wait, I guess sometimes that happens in the working world...
I think the bottom line is that I need some balance. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week, it's all about Evan. And although work can be challenging and stressful, I wonder if it's just what I need to curb some of the frustration I feel about being home all the time. The other thing I think about is whether I will ever want to be a SAHM. We always talked about me staying home after #2, but it didn't really work out that way. Now I wonder, will it be different if I have 2 or more? Will work seem like a waste of time? I'm not sure but I think I'd like to find out. I've been at home full time, now I'd like to try having a life outside of my house.
There are some days that I envy Shawn's ability to go into his office and close the door to focus on work even though I know how stressful his job is and how tiring the travel can be. But I am 100% certain that he is envious of me some days since I get to hang out with Evan all day in my jammies and (attempt to) get stuff done around the house. I guess the grass is always greener...
Sunday, September 19, 2010
rough week-part two
Remember when I said Thursday was better? That night it got kind of worrisome. And remember when I said I was 5 weeks pregnant? I woke up in the middle of the night with some major abdominal cramping. I was a little worried but thought maybe it was a result from the emotional couple of days I had. The cramping didn't come back that night or at all on Friday. I had a tiny bit of spotting but nothing major. I called my OB/GYN but she didn't seem concerned at all at this point. I should also mention that I have 2 large cysts on my right ovary, which she had found on 8-24, the same day I found out I was newly pregnant. Shawn had come home Friday night so I got some good hugs from him and told him what happened Thursday night. He still seemed optimistic and encouraged me to be the same, telling me that I had such a healthy first pregnancy and everything was going to be fine. I wanted to believe it so badly but I was feeling a bit nervous.
Saturday night, I went up to bed and suddenly had the pains again. I was writhing around in bed feeling awful. Shawn was trying to do some work in his office and came in to check on me--brought me some ginger ale/tums...I ended up vomiting, but that still didn't make me feel better. After an hour and a half, I finally felt better and was able to fall asleep.
Sunday morning, I was feeling better but my tummy still wasn't 100%. My appetite had been gone for the past couple of days and I was nauseous as well. I felt confident telling Shawn to head to his volleyball tournament since I was generally feeling fine. Around 1130 a.m. I started getting stuff together to take Evan to the park and have a picnic while Shawn finished up volleyball. And then it hit me. It was pain I have never felt before, and I delivered Evan naturally! I was doubled over, I couldn't move, could barely breathe. Nothing I did relieved the pain. I got dizzy, scared. Evan was due to wake up any minute and I couldn't move an inch, let alone go upstairs and pick him up. I picked up the phone and couldn't even text--I speed dialed Shawn and got his voice mail. I was fearing he was in the middle of a game, but I left a message anyway telling him to come home. Thankfully, he got the voicemail and headed straight home.
Evan was still in bed and by the time Shawn got home, the pain subsided enough for me to curl up on the couch. At that point, I had my dr paged and when she called I filled her in. She still didn't seem alarmed--she thought maybe my cyst burst or it was appendicitis. She said that if it was a miscarriage, the only reason to go to the hospital was for pain meds. She offered to see me the next day (Monday) in her office. I was not comfortable with her response but I decided to call the next day and try to get in to see her. I just wanted her to do an ultrasound and see if she could see anything--even if it was too early to see a heartbeat...
Well, I didn't have to wait. Sunday night I went up to bed and that searing pain from earlier in the day came back and I was in unbearable pain. This time, Shawn was right there to see me and immediately decided he was taking me to the ER. We woke up Evan and drove to the ER, me in major pain the entire way.
Based on the results of the blood tests and ultrasounds, the Dr informed me that he was certain I had an ectopic pregnancy and that it burst. He said I had to have surgery within the next few hours. I was suddenly scared and upset. I knew what that could mean--the embryo implanted in my fallopian tube and it burst so would I still be able to have children?? At 330 a.m., I went in for laparoscopic surgery. They removed 500cc of blood from my abdominal area (which is not bad), the remains of the embryo and my right fallopian tube. I was told I can still go on to have completely healthy pregnancies, and the fact that I already have a child helps my chances. My blood count is a bit low, so instead of 6 weeks, I have to wait 2-3 months before we can try to conceive again but I am ok with that. When I do, God willing, get pregnant again, I will be considered high risk which means they will monitor me much more closely in the beginning.
Earlier in the week I was wondering if everything was going to hit me but so far it hasn't.I think it's mostly because I am relieved that Shawn was home to make me go to the ER, that I was no longer in pain and that I was alive! When a tubal pregnancy bursts and there is internal bleeding it could be fatal. I was thankful I hadn't seen the heartbeat yet because I think I would have felt the loss of the pregnancy much more.
Although I can't help but feel a bit frustrated with my OB/GYN for dismissing, twice, my complaint of abdominal pain during early pregnancy. I can't decide if I am going to ditch her or not. I thought highly of her with my first pregnancy, but my first pregnancy was a breeze...The jury is still out on this...
I am still in disbelief that this happened, and still feel sadness when I think about it sometimes, but overall I am just feeling thankful that I am ok and that I can still have children. And as I sit here, resting and recovering nicely, I am still feeling extremely grateful for the amazing support system I have. They all said the right things and stepped up in the ways they needed to. It's because of them that I am not a complete wreck and for that I am eternally grateful!
Saturday night, I went up to bed and suddenly had the pains again. I was writhing around in bed feeling awful. Shawn was trying to do some work in his office and came in to check on me--brought me some ginger ale/tums...I ended up vomiting, but that still didn't make me feel better. After an hour and a half, I finally felt better and was able to fall asleep.
Sunday morning, I was feeling better but my tummy still wasn't 100%. My appetite had been gone for the past couple of days and I was nauseous as well. I felt confident telling Shawn to head to his volleyball tournament since I was generally feeling fine. Around 1130 a.m. I started getting stuff together to take Evan to the park and have a picnic while Shawn finished up volleyball. And then it hit me. It was pain I have never felt before, and I delivered Evan naturally! I was doubled over, I couldn't move, could barely breathe. Nothing I did relieved the pain. I got dizzy, scared. Evan was due to wake up any minute and I couldn't move an inch, let alone go upstairs and pick him up. I picked up the phone and couldn't even text--I speed dialed Shawn and got his voice mail. I was fearing he was in the middle of a game, but I left a message anyway telling him to come home. Thankfully, he got the voicemail and headed straight home.
Evan was still in bed and by the time Shawn got home, the pain subsided enough for me to curl up on the couch. At that point, I had my dr paged and when she called I filled her in. She still didn't seem alarmed--she thought maybe my cyst burst or it was appendicitis. She said that if it was a miscarriage, the only reason to go to the hospital was for pain meds. She offered to see me the next day (Monday) in her office. I was not comfortable with her response but I decided to call the next day and try to get in to see her. I just wanted her to do an ultrasound and see if she could see anything--even if it was too early to see a heartbeat...
Well, I didn't have to wait. Sunday night I went up to bed and that searing pain from earlier in the day came back and I was in unbearable pain. This time, Shawn was right there to see me and immediately decided he was taking me to the ER. We woke up Evan and drove to the ER, me in major pain the entire way.
Based on the results of the blood tests and ultrasounds, the Dr informed me that he was certain I had an ectopic pregnancy and that it burst. He said I had to have surgery within the next few hours. I was suddenly scared and upset. I knew what that could mean--the embryo implanted in my fallopian tube and it burst so would I still be able to have children?? At 330 a.m., I went in for laparoscopic surgery. They removed 500cc of blood from my abdominal area (which is not bad), the remains of the embryo and my right fallopian tube. I was told I can still go on to have completely healthy pregnancies, and the fact that I already have a child helps my chances. My blood count is a bit low, so instead of 6 weeks, I have to wait 2-3 months before we can try to conceive again but I am ok with that. When I do, God willing, get pregnant again, I will be considered high risk which means they will monitor me much more closely in the beginning.
Earlier in the week I was wondering if everything was going to hit me but so far it hasn't.I think it's mostly because I am relieved that Shawn was home to make me go to the ER, that I was no longer in pain and that I was alive! When a tubal pregnancy bursts and there is internal bleeding it could be fatal. I was thankful I hadn't seen the heartbeat yet because I think I would have felt the loss of the pregnancy much more.
Although I can't help but feel a bit frustrated with my OB/GYN for dismissing, twice, my complaint of abdominal pain during early pregnancy. I can't decide if I am going to ditch her or not. I thought highly of her with my first pregnancy, but my first pregnancy was a breeze...The jury is still out on this...
I am still in disbelief that this happened, and still feel sadness when I think about it sometimes, but overall I am just feeling thankful that I am ok and that I can still have children. And as I sit here, resting and recovering nicely, I am still feeling extremely grateful for the amazing support system I have. They all said the right things and stepped up in the ways they needed to. It's because of them that I am not a complete wreck and for that I am eternally grateful!
rough week-part one
I have to do this in 2 parts so it's not so long. There are 2 separate stories so I split them up for easier reading. It gets a little personal, but I am ready to share it so here it goes...
A little over a month ago I noticed my cat, Sophie, limping a bit. We found that it was her front paw/shoulder. We already had an appointment for her to get her teeth cleaned so the vet offered to check her out at the same time. Sophie ended up getting 4 teeth extracted (!), which is what happens when you neglect your pet's teeth for several years, but the vet didn't find anything at all wrong with her shoulder/paw/elbow. A week later, she was still limping pretty badly so I called the vet again and she offered to check her out again, this time resulting in a steroid shot since she still couldn't see/feel anything wrong. Over the weekend, she was getting progressively worse-sleeping more than usual and barely eating or drinking so another call to the vet. This time, she said I'd have to drop her off and they would do an xray and try to see what was happening. Later that day, she was still not doing well--they had to give her an IV because she was dehydrated and she was generally not well. The next day, the news was worse. They took her out to examine her and she collapsed so they had to put her on oxygen. The xray showed that her lungs were either full of fluid or something was wrong with them, possibly pneumonia or even a shattered diaphragm. It was hard for her to tell, but Sophie was in a dire situation. I guess when cats get to that point it's pretty bad. So she told me there was nothing else she could do, but recommended me to a critical care hospital for animals where they could do further diagnostics and see if they could help her. I was a wreck. I rescued her at 4 months old and have had her for 9 years--I was torn up. Long story short, I had a difficult decision to make and imagining her getting poked and prodded and put through more tests made me cry. I called Shawn since he was out of town and, although he was trying hard to find a silver lining, we both knew what had to be done given she was 10 years old and in a perilous situation. I gave the vet the word and on 9-8-10 at 445 p.m., my little kitty was put to sleep.
I am getting teary just recalling this. It was so difficult and even more difficult because I had to deal with this all alone--Shawn was in NYC for work. I was also hitting me hard because I was 5 weeks pregnant and very hormonal. I pretty much cried all afternoon/evening on Wednesday--I fell asleep with tissues in my hand. Thursday was better but still got teary when I would see the empty kitchen chair she liked to sleep on, or the couch cushion she was always curling up on. I was surprised at how much I felt the loss of her, how much it affected me. I felt like I had lost a family member, which, those of you with pets will attest, she was a family member. I know it was for the best, but I really miss her...
...and this was just the beginning of the worst week ever.
A little over a month ago I noticed my cat, Sophie, limping a bit. We found that it was her front paw/shoulder. We already had an appointment for her to get her teeth cleaned so the vet offered to check her out at the same time. Sophie ended up getting 4 teeth extracted (!), which is what happens when you neglect your pet's teeth for several years, but the vet didn't find anything at all wrong with her shoulder/paw/elbow. A week later, she was still limping pretty badly so I called the vet again and she offered to check her out again, this time resulting in a steroid shot since she still couldn't see/feel anything wrong. Over the weekend, she was getting progressively worse-sleeping more than usual and barely eating or drinking so another call to the vet. This time, she said I'd have to drop her off and they would do an xray and try to see what was happening. Later that day, she was still not doing well--they had to give her an IV because she was dehydrated and she was generally not well. The next day, the news was worse. They took her out to examine her and she collapsed so they had to put her on oxygen. The xray showed that her lungs were either full of fluid or something was wrong with them, possibly pneumonia or even a shattered diaphragm. It was hard for her to tell, but Sophie was in a dire situation. I guess when cats get to that point it's pretty bad. So she told me there was nothing else she could do, but recommended me to a critical care hospital for animals where they could do further diagnostics and see if they could help her. I was a wreck. I rescued her at 4 months old and have had her for 9 years--I was torn up. Long story short, I had a difficult decision to make and imagining her getting poked and prodded and put through more tests made me cry. I called Shawn since he was out of town and, although he was trying hard to find a silver lining, we both knew what had to be done given she was 10 years old and in a perilous situation. I gave the vet the word and on 9-8-10 at 445 p.m., my little kitty was put to sleep.
I am getting teary just recalling this. It was so difficult and even more difficult because I had to deal with this all alone--Shawn was in NYC for work. I was also hitting me hard because I was 5 weeks pregnant and very hormonal. I pretty much cried all afternoon/evening on Wednesday--I fell asleep with tissues in my hand. Thursday was better but still got teary when I would see the empty kitchen chair she liked to sleep on, or the couch cushion she was always curling up on. I was surprised at how much I felt the loss of her, how much it affected me. I felt like I had lost a family member, which, those of you with pets will attest, she was a family member. I know it was for the best, but I really miss her...
...and this was just the beginning of the worst week ever.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
maybe I'm not the version of superwoman I thought I was...
Last Thursday, Shawn and Evan took a trip into Chicago. No, nothing is wrong. I had a trip with Evan back in the spring and Shawn wanted to take him to Chicago to visit his grandma who is getting older and more frail. In an effort to save money and because we have 2 flights in 2 months for weddings, I stayed home and had a weekend to myself.
Oh the grand plans I had! I had a list of so many things I was going to accomplish since I was going to be alone in the house. Who did I think I was?? I definitely got a lot of my running around done, which was nice because trying to do all that with a toddler doesn't work. There are naps and meals and diaper changes, and let's not forget they don't like being stuck in a car seat all day. Not to mention the time added to the errands of taking kid out of car seat, into stroller, back into car seat for EVERY trip! A 4 1/2 hour leisurely shopping trip with a friend was exhausting but definitely nice since I didn't feel rushed or had a whiny kid to cut it short.
But who was I kidding? I may have been toddler-free but running around ALL day is not my idea of a good time--it is tiring!! I wanted to enjoy some down time too. I was watching River all day Friday so that limited my "freedom", leaving me with only Saturday and Sunday to myself. I was able to unwind at the end of the day with movies and chilling on the couch. I tried to sleep in but that didn't work so I was still up by 7, which is fine. All in all, I had a nice, productive weekend where I wasn't stuck to a schedule.
I learned a few things though:
Oh the grand plans I had! I had a list of so many things I was going to accomplish since I was going to be alone in the house. Who did I think I was?? I definitely got a lot of my running around done, which was nice because trying to do all that with a toddler doesn't work. There are naps and meals and diaper changes, and let's not forget they don't like being stuck in a car seat all day. Not to mention the time added to the errands of taking kid out of car seat, into stroller, back into car seat for EVERY trip! A 4 1/2 hour leisurely shopping trip with a friend was exhausting but definitely nice since I didn't feel rushed or had a whiny kid to cut it short.
But who was I kidding? I may have been toddler-free but running around ALL day is not my idea of a good time--it is tiring!! I wanted to enjoy some down time too. I was watching River all day Friday so that limited my "freedom", leaving me with only Saturday and Sunday to myself. I was able to unwind at the end of the day with movies and chilling on the couch. I tried to sleep in but that didn't work so I was still up by 7, which is fine. All in all, I had a nice, productive weekend where I wasn't stuck to a schedule.
I learned a few things though:
- Running around is definitely easier without Evan but doable if I need to run only a couple of errands.
- I CAN get housework done while he is napping but I have to be prepared to be interrupted and pick up where I left off later.
- Relax-on-the-couch or shopping time is definitely nicer when you don't have to watch a clock.
So I will stop complaining that I can't get projects done with Evan and admit that I just need to allot more time for them, and I will make sure to take Shawn up on the offer to watch him during his naps and on weekends so I can hit the gym and run errands.
So I can still be Superwoman, but I have to be the version of Superwoman where she has a kid.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
old wives' tales (OWT) vs new wives' tales (NWT)
I am starting to take issue with all these wives' tales. While I appreciate where the original thinking came from, I find that these 'tales' have gotten a bit ridiculous. Now, keep in mind that my family is foreign--meaning that we have all kinds of tales and home remedies. And, maybe, without realizing it I still follow or believe in many of these.
Here are a few that stick out in my mind and I have offered a NWT (new wives' tale):
1) OWT: Never wake a sleeping baby.Yes, if they are a newborn, maybe. I never had much reason to wake up Evan when he was a little baby. If he slept longer than 4 hours I would start to watch the clock since he was nursing and needed the nutrients. But as he got older it started becoming necessity sometimes. Like today--we were out and about and he fell asleep in the car about 5 minutes from home and 20 minutes from lunch. He was so pooped that I put him in his crib when we got home and let him sleep, but at 1240 I decided to wake him up--he didn't have his after nap bottle or any lunch. If I continued to let him sleep he would have missed milk and a meal and his entire schedule would have been so off it would have screwed up his afternoon nap. He is now playing quietly and will go down for his regularly scheduled nap in about 45 minutes.
NWT: It is bad for the baby to miss meals due to off-schedule naps.
2) Cutting a child's hair before the age of 1 is bad luck. I am lucky that I have a great mother in law that I love and respect, so for her I waited until Evan's first birthday to cut his hair. For most kids, this isn't an issue but my kid came out with a full head of hair and it only got longer as time went on. For many months I had to deal with Evan trying to blink hair out of his eyes or try, unsuccessfully, to swipe it out of them. I'm surprised he didn't end up cross-eyed. It started getting a little upsetting watching him be bothered with his long, wispy bangs. So, next kid will get a very small bang trim if needed and I will still give a ceremonious 1st birthday haircut.
NWT: If your child's hair is constantly in his or her eyes, it should be trimmed so as not to affect their vision.
3) Raising your arms above your head while you are pregnant can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around baby's neck. This one is just ridiculous anymore. I was at the grocery store and couldn't reach something on the top shelf--even if I weren't pregnant--so I asked an employee to help me out. As he was getting it for me, I hear "you shouldn't be reaching above your head anyway". "I'm sorry--you don't look at all like my doctor", is what I wish I would have said to her but I just ignored her. There are so many things wrong with this I don't know where to begin. Are you saying a pregnant woman can't wash her own hair? And, have the wonderful ladies that teach prenatal yoga been putting my baby at harm while I am selfishly trying to stay in good shape? Please, woman. Keep your completely ridiculous, and unsolicited, tales to yourself!
NWT: Participating in proper prenatal exercise on a regular basis is very good for both mom and baby, even if that requires your arms to raise above your head.
Sometimes I get sucked in to some superstitions because, like I said, I am still a bit superstitious about some things. But sometimes I will just have to follow my own intuition about what's best for me and my baby.
Here are a few that stick out in my mind and I have offered a NWT (new wives' tale):
1) OWT: Never wake a sleeping baby.Yes, if they are a newborn, maybe. I never had much reason to wake up Evan when he was a little baby. If he slept longer than 4 hours I would start to watch the clock since he was nursing and needed the nutrients. But as he got older it started becoming necessity sometimes. Like today--we were out and about and he fell asleep in the car about 5 minutes from home and 20 minutes from lunch. He was so pooped that I put him in his crib when we got home and let him sleep, but at 1240 I decided to wake him up--he didn't have his after nap bottle or any lunch. If I continued to let him sleep he would have missed milk and a meal and his entire schedule would have been so off it would have screwed up his afternoon nap. He is now playing quietly and will go down for his regularly scheduled nap in about 45 minutes.
NWT: It is bad for the baby to miss meals due to off-schedule naps.
2) Cutting a child's hair before the age of 1 is bad luck. I am lucky that I have a great mother in law that I love and respect, so for her I waited until Evan's first birthday to cut his hair. For most kids, this isn't an issue but my kid came out with a full head of hair and it only got longer as time went on. For many months I had to deal with Evan trying to blink hair out of his eyes or try, unsuccessfully, to swipe it out of them. I'm surprised he didn't end up cross-eyed. It started getting a little upsetting watching him be bothered with his long, wispy bangs. So, next kid will get a very small bang trim if needed and I will still give a ceremonious 1st birthday haircut.
NWT: If your child's hair is constantly in his or her eyes, it should be trimmed so as not to affect their vision.
3) Raising your arms above your head while you are pregnant can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around baby's neck. This one is just ridiculous anymore. I was at the grocery store and couldn't reach something on the top shelf--even if I weren't pregnant--so I asked an employee to help me out. As he was getting it for me, I hear "you shouldn't be reaching above your head anyway". "I'm sorry--you don't look at all like my doctor", is what I wish I would have said to her but I just ignored her. There are so many things wrong with this I don't know where to begin. Are you saying a pregnant woman can't wash her own hair? And, have the wonderful ladies that teach prenatal yoga been putting my baby at harm while I am selfishly trying to stay in good shape? Please, woman. Keep your completely ridiculous, and unsolicited, tales to yourself!
NWT: Participating in proper prenatal exercise on a regular basis is very good for both mom and baby, even if that requires your arms to raise above your head.
Sometimes I get sucked in to some superstitions because, like I said, I am still a bit superstitious about some things. But sometimes I will just have to follow my own intuition about what's best for me and my baby.
Friday, August 27, 2010
never thought I'd utter the words...
I love mornings. I know--it shocked me too! I used to hate mornings--ugh. Then I was forced to get up early once I had Evan...and over the past year, I have seen the beauty of the morning time. The weather is crisp, the mood is serene, and I have just started my day. Don't get me wrong, I still love my evening routine of catching up on shows and reading, and I still have mornings where it takes a while to get the blurry vision-sleep crust out of my eyes, but I have a new appreciation for the morning-time.
I think part of the reason is that I don't get woken up by an annoying alarm. And also that I get to wake up to a smiley baby--even if he is crying until I take him out of his crib.
It's also really nice to realize I have accomplished so many things before lunch (most days, some days I'm just not that motivated).
There is one thing that I don't think I will ever stop enjoying, and that's lazy mornings in bed with hubby and baby!
I think part of the reason is that I don't get woken up by an annoying alarm. And also that I get to wake up to a smiley baby--even if he is crying until I take him out of his crib.
It's also really nice to realize I have accomplished so many things before lunch (most days, some days I'm just not that motivated).
There is one thing that I don't think I will ever stop enjoying, and that's lazy mornings in bed with hubby and baby!
Monday, August 23, 2010
i am firing my housekeeper....wait--I don't have a housekeeper!
I'd love to say I was such a tidy person before I had a baby, but I have to admit that I collected my fair share of clutter around the house. In my defense, I was a tidier before baby but I don't think that counts...
I am not sure why, but I have such a hard time keeping the house as clean as I'd like (and Shawn will wholeheartedly agree!). I'm not sure if it's because it's the largest place I've ever lived (in comparison to the many apartments I've lived in before), or if it's something else. The truth is, a messy house stresses me out. No really, it does! I can't relax and I walk around feeling the stress of the mess (maybe that would have been a good title for this blog).
What I can't wrap my brain around is how I can feel overwhelmed by the state of the house, but don't get that bug to just clean it. In fact, I actually had a bit of an emotional moment last week about it. You know that feeling of just wanting to cry? Not like you are so upset you are crying, but that you are upset and you are looking forward to a good cry. That was me. I just had this general feeling of being stuck in the house because I don't like to disrupt Evan's schedule too much, and being stuck in a house that never seems to stay clean. I just got in a funk.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband that talks things through with me. He admit he is stressed by the state of the house--wait, I need to clarify something real quick: when I talk about 'state of the house', I don't mean gross/dirty. I just mean clutter and the need for a vacuum once-over kind of mess. OK, so back to my ramble..My general complaint was that I could vacuum, sweep, mop and do dishes and by the end of the day it looks like I've done none of those things. Not to mention I feel like I do dishes 100 times a day. I cannot wait for a dishwasher!! It gets disheartening. It's not like it's hard, but it's SO tedious. And then add the guilt of being a stay-at-home mom (that should be able to keep things clean) and let that build--voila! We have a little breakdown.
Now the comment about being stuck in the house is just 'feeling'. When I have things scheduled, I have no problem taking Evan along with me. But when I am at home, thinking about all the steps it takes to go on errands with him, I get overwhelmed and wait until he's napping and Shawn is home. The truth is, I know what I need to do, and how I can get it done. My problem is getting that motivation to actually do it.
And bless my friends who keep telling me that it's OK because I have a baby...I love you guys for it, but he's 1 now and the truth is, there is no reason I can't keep this house reasonably clean. Spotless? No way. But clean--yes. So in talking to Shawn, he felt I really needed to get yoga back into my life. He would work his schedule in any way he could so I could make it to yoga regularly. And then, he started doing a couple of things around the house--not like dishes, which he does at times already, but clean-out sort of stuff.
So, between the amazing effects of regular yoga, a little head start from Shawn, and the determination to get out of this clutter/homebody rut I'm in, the past couple of days have been off to a good start. And on that note, I need to go put away some laundry...
I am not sure why, but I have such a hard time keeping the house as clean as I'd like (and Shawn will wholeheartedly agree!). I'm not sure if it's because it's the largest place I've ever lived (in comparison to the many apartments I've lived in before), or if it's something else. The truth is, a messy house stresses me out. No really, it does! I can't relax and I walk around feeling the stress of the mess (maybe that would have been a good title for this blog).
What I can't wrap my brain around is how I can feel overwhelmed by the state of the house, but don't get that bug to just clean it. In fact, I actually had a bit of an emotional moment last week about it. You know that feeling of just wanting to cry? Not like you are so upset you are crying, but that you are upset and you are looking forward to a good cry. That was me. I just had this general feeling of being stuck in the house because I don't like to disrupt Evan's schedule too much, and being stuck in a house that never seems to stay clean. I just got in a funk.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband that talks things through with me. He admit he is stressed by the state of the house--wait, I need to clarify something real quick: when I talk about 'state of the house', I don't mean gross/dirty. I just mean clutter and the need for a vacuum once-over kind of mess. OK, so back to my ramble..My general complaint was that I could vacuum, sweep, mop and do dishes and by the end of the day it looks like I've done none of those things. Not to mention I feel like I do dishes 100 times a day. I cannot wait for a dishwasher!! It gets disheartening. It's not like it's hard, but it's SO tedious. And then add the guilt of being a stay-at-home mom (that should be able to keep things clean) and let that build--voila! We have a little breakdown.
Now the comment about being stuck in the house is just 'feeling'. When I have things scheduled, I have no problem taking Evan along with me. But when I am at home, thinking about all the steps it takes to go on errands with him, I get overwhelmed and wait until he's napping and Shawn is home. The truth is, I know what I need to do, and how I can get it done. My problem is getting that motivation to actually do it.
And bless my friends who keep telling me that it's OK because I have a baby...I love you guys for it, but he's 1 now and the truth is, there is no reason I can't keep this house reasonably clean. Spotless? No way. But clean--yes. So in talking to Shawn, he felt I really needed to get yoga back into my life. He would work his schedule in any way he could so I could make it to yoga regularly. And then, he started doing a couple of things around the house--not like dishes, which he does at times already, but clean-out sort of stuff.
So, between the amazing effects of regular yoga, a little head start from Shawn, and the determination to get out of this clutter/homebody rut I'm in, the past couple of days have been off to a good start. And on that note, I need to go put away some laundry...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
to eat? or not to eat? there is no question!
As we've journeyed down the road of milestones, we've had some good times and not so good times. But like with all things kids--it goes by quickly, good or bad...
When Evan was just a few days old, my doula came to check in on us and said something to me that has become my mantra as a mother. She said to try to enjoy all the moments, whether they were good or not, because they go by so quickly. "This, too, shall pass". And boy was she right! When Evan finally started sleeping through the night, we went through a phase where he decided to get up and cry at 4 or 5 in the morning. But it passed and we were back to sleeping 'well'. There was a time when he would just snuggle with us in the morning, but once he learned to crawl we couldn't keep him still. Every phase, good or bad, will pass quickly...
Which brings me to our current phase: eat? no thanks! We just started to transition him onto cow's and almond milk (both because almond milk doesn't contain enough of the fat that babies need), and I've been mixing formula into it as well. So I know he is still getting good nutrients. But, geez, this kid is just not interested. He will eat fruit all day, and drink anything I'm drinking, but forget everything else! I know, this is a phase and "this, too, shall pass". This is what I keep telling myself now - he will eventually eat and I will not be sent away for starving my child! I have proof that I try:
That's the remainder of: cheese and bread (usually a winner, but not today), strawberries (which did ok), and oatmeal with bananas and blackberries. Oh yeah, and OJ that was spilled everywhere. I am banking on the belief that when he's hungry, he'll eat, and in the meantime he'll be just fine...
I just let him play for about 10 minutes while I stocked up on some sanity (coffee). Then I took his clothes off and rinsed him off in the bathroom sink. It's bath day, but I'm thinking he'll get that before his afternoon nap...you know, after he makes a mess of himself at lunch. The one I doubt he'll eat.
When Evan was just a few days old, my doula came to check in on us and said something to me that has become my mantra as a mother. She said to try to enjoy all the moments, whether they were good or not, because they go by so quickly. "This, too, shall pass". And boy was she right! When Evan finally started sleeping through the night, we went through a phase where he decided to get up and cry at 4 or 5 in the morning. But it passed and we were back to sleeping 'well'. There was a time when he would just snuggle with us in the morning, but once he learned to crawl we couldn't keep him still. Every phase, good or bad, will pass quickly...
Which brings me to our current phase: eat? no thanks! We just started to transition him onto cow's and almond milk (both because almond milk doesn't contain enough of the fat that babies need), and I've been mixing formula into it as well. So I know he is still getting good nutrients. But, geez, this kid is just not interested. He will eat fruit all day, and drink anything I'm drinking, but forget everything else! I know, this is a phase and "this, too, shall pass". This is what I keep telling myself now - he will eventually eat and I will not be sent away for starving my child! I have proof that I try:
I just let him play for about 10 minutes while I stocked up on some sanity (coffee). Then I took his clothes off and rinsed him off in the bathroom sink. It's bath day, but I'm thinking he'll get that before his afternoon nap...you know, after he makes a mess of himself at lunch. The one I doubt he'll eat.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
evan turns 1!
It's been a whole year, can you believe it? Me neither! It has gone by so quickly, it's almost scary...
His 1st birthday fell on Friday the 13th. I know... We started the day with his very first haircut! He needed one months before but my MIL believes the old wives tale about how it's bad luck to cut a child's hair before the age of 1, and so we waited. I never heard of that before but once I did, I got a little superstitious about it...
Here he is before we started. Man, was he squirmy!! At least I got it out of his eyes and people will stop mistaking him for a girl. Didn't happen often, but with those eyelashes and curls, it's an honest mistake.
This is his deer-in-headlights pose. Andrea was in town so we took him to the children's museum. He had a blast playing! He looks like such a big boy now!!
Later that evening, we met up with Megan and Paul at Tamayo and celebrated his birthday with some drinks, apps and cupcakes. Yes, we took our 1 year old to happy hour for his birthday! He had a great time =)
Megan's birthday was the next day so we started her celebration early.
Andrea took Evan home and Shawn and I went out to a movie. Yes, we went to the movies, alone! It was nice.
Saturday, we got our act together and headed to Wash Park with all of our friends for some bbq and fun to celebrate both birthdays. All in all, a great day--weather was amazing and we had a spot right by the lake.
So now I officially have a toddler (which, I guess, is what they call babies over the age of 1). Eeek! It's been an amazing year and I am so blessed that I have been able to spend so much time with Evan, watching him grow and learn. It's those moments that you can't ever get back and I think I've done a great job of cherishing them. I've had my tough moments with motherhood (and will continue to do so), for various reasons, but I've realized over the past year that I love being a mother more than anything I've ever done. Having an amazing kid like Evan doesn't hurt either =)
His 1st birthday fell on Friday the 13th. I know... We started the day with his very first haircut! He needed one months before but my MIL believes the old wives tale about how it's bad luck to cut a child's hair before the age of 1, and so we waited. I never heard of that before but once I did, I got a little superstitious about it...
 |
| Before the haircut |
 |
| After the haircut |
Megan's birthday was the next day so we started her celebration early.
Andrea took Evan home and Shawn and I went out to a movie. Yes, we went to the movies, alone! It was nice.
Saturday, we got our act together and headed to Wash Park with all of our friends for some bbq and fun to celebrate both birthdays. All in all, a great day--weather was amazing and we had a spot right by the lake.
So now I officially have a toddler (which, I guess, is what they call babies over the age of 1). Eeek! It's been an amazing year and I am so blessed that I have been able to spend so much time with Evan, watching him grow and learn. It's those moments that you can't ever get back and I think I've done a great job of cherishing them. I've had my tough moments with motherhood (and will continue to do so), for various reasons, but I've realized over the past year that I love being a mother more than anything I've ever done. Having an amazing kid like Evan doesn't hurt either =)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
miles and miles of milestones.
July was a busy month for us. We had lots of family out for Evan's baptism which took place on 4th of July.
My parents, sister Angel, Uncle Joseph and Aunt Valerie took a 2 week road trip out here, stopping at Yellowstone, the Badlands and many other places along the way. My cousin Jake flew out for a long weekend as well. Shawn's parents and sisters did a road trip out here as well for a long weekend. Luckily, we worked it out so only my parents and sister stayed with us until the last few nights when my aunt, uncle and cousin joined us. Regardless, we always had a full house and I loved it! I loved having family there to sip on my morning coffee with =)
Anyhow, back to the baptism--Evan was super cute in the outfit Val got him. Here are a couple of pics with his Godparents and with us (wish I had my eyes open!)
Evan fell asleep at church, but definitely woke up when the priest poured the holy water over his head!
We then went to House Restaurant for a very yummy brunch. We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out, eating, and just enjoying being together!
The rest of July was recovering from the big family visit, tying up some loose ends with our home improvement projects and getting into new adventures.
We celebrated Shawn's birthday by doing a little camping and hiking at Rainbow Lakes. It was a great time, as always. Evan's 2nd trip and he did awesome--no rain this time!
Evan sprouted a few more teeth, bringing the grand total to 6!
I went to a Sublime concert at Red rocks, the Dirty Heads and Matisyahu opened for them. It was awesome!
And finally, I decided to start watching a little girl named River beginning in August. I saw the posting on the Highlands Mommies email (online community for my neighborhood) and decided to look into it. Turns out, she's 9 months old and on the same schedule as Evan. So we all met and decided it was a good fit. 2 days a week, so it's not a huge commitment, just a playmate for Evan and a little cash for me!
So much info--I swear I'll catch up so you don't always have so much to read!
My parents, sister Angel, Uncle Joseph and Aunt Valerie took a 2 week road trip out here, stopping at Yellowstone, the Badlands and many other places along the way. My cousin Jake flew out for a long weekend as well. Shawn's parents and sisters did a road trip out here as well for a long weekend. Luckily, we worked it out so only my parents and sister stayed with us until the last few nights when my aunt, uncle and cousin joined us. Regardless, we always had a full house and I loved it! I loved having family there to sip on my morning coffee with =)
Anyhow, back to the baptism--Evan was super cute in the outfit Val got him. Here are a couple of pics with his Godparents and with us (wish I had my eyes open!)
Evan fell asleep at church, but definitely woke up when the priest poured the holy water over his head!
We then went to House Restaurant for a very yummy brunch. We spent the rest of the weekend hanging out, eating, and just enjoying being together!
The rest of July was recovering from the big family visit, tying up some loose ends with our home improvement projects and getting into new adventures.
We celebrated Shawn's birthday by doing a little camping and hiking at Rainbow Lakes. It was a great time, as always. Evan's 2nd trip and he did awesome--no rain this time!
Evan sprouted a few more teeth, bringing the grand total to 6!
I went to a Sublime concert at Red rocks, the Dirty Heads and Matisyahu opened for them. It was awesome!
And finally, I decided to start watching a little girl named River beginning in August. I saw the posting on the Highlands Mommies email (online community for my neighborhood) and decided to look into it. Turns out, she's 9 months old and on the same schedule as Evan. So we all met and decided it was a good fit. 2 days a week, so it's not a huge commitment, just a playmate for Evan and a little cash for me!
So much info--I swear I'll catch up so you don't always have so much to read!
oh the manual labor!
Sorry again for the slacking, but I blame the lack of a laptop for this. It's a poor excuse, but it's all I've got.
So June was the month for major house improvements. And by that I mean, the whole DIY movement--which equals lots of physical labor! So, what did we do? We (and by WE I mean Shawn and our neighbor) got the fridge out of the dining room. In order to do that, Shawn had to put the fridge on a dolly and take it around the corner to the alley, through our yard, and through the sun room window (which had to be completely removed). The window was replaced and now the fridge lives in our sun room. Next to the washer/dryer, which we had to stack. I happened to be out of town when this took place, so when I asked how it looked, Shawn replied, "like a damn Samsung showroom" (you can deduce that all 3 appliances are by the same manufacturer and are of the same color). Made me chuckle!
We also tore up the entire front yard and redid it. I don't have a good 'before' picture but this will give an idea:
Notice the flagstone and the flower box. We tore it all up, put in a new walkway, new sod and got rid of the huge hump of grass by the curb. Here is what it looks like now (minus all the people):
It took a few weeks but it's done! Just need to plant a couple things and decide how we want to pretty-up the porch.
I also painted the dining room, finished decorating it, and got curtains for the living room.
What else did June hold for us? Evan took swim lessons at the local rec center. He loved them--sang songs, played in the water...good times!
This month also included my solo trip to Mexico for my friend Jess's wedding. It rained the entire weekend but my BFF Erin joined me and we had a great time! There were a couple people there that complained about anything and everything--it made me feel bad for Jess and Jared, but also for them. You are in Mexico, on vacation, all inclusive. Really, you're complaining?? It's not like you can do anything about the rain. Just make the most of it, sheesh!! They were kind of the talk of the weekend because no one could believe that they had so much to complain about while on vacation! I was kid-free with no responsibilities--I had NO complaints!
So that pretty much sums up June. All in all, a good month. But that was just gearing up for July...
So June was the month for major house improvements. And by that I mean, the whole DIY movement--which equals lots of physical labor! So, what did we do? We (and by WE I mean Shawn and our neighbor) got the fridge out of the dining room. In order to do that, Shawn had to put the fridge on a dolly and take it around the corner to the alley, through our yard, and through the sun room window (which had to be completely removed). The window was replaced and now the fridge lives in our sun room. Next to the washer/dryer, which we had to stack. I happened to be out of town when this took place, so when I asked how it looked, Shawn replied, "like a damn Samsung showroom" (you can deduce that all 3 appliances are by the same manufacturer and are of the same color). Made me chuckle!
We also tore up the entire front yard and redid it. I don't have a good 'before' picture but this will give an idea:
I also painted the dining room, finished decorating it, and got curtains for the living room.
What else did June hold for us? Evan took swim lessons at the local rec center. He loved them--sang songs, played in the water...good times!
This month also included my solo trip to Mexico for my friend Jess's wedding. It rained the entire weekend but my BFF Erin joined me and we had a great time! There were a couple people there that complained about anything and everything--it made me feel bad for Jess and Jared, but also for them. You are in Mexico, on vacation, all inclusive. Really, you're complaining?? It's not like you can do anything about the rain. Just make the most of it, sheesh!! They were kind of the talk of the weekend because no one could believe that they had so much to complain about while on vacation! I was kid-free with no responsibilities--I had NO complaints!
So that pretty much sums up June. All in all, a good month. But that was just gearing up for July...
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Evan's first camping trip June 11th, 2010
For Paul's birthday, Megan organized a camping trip. We did the same last year when I was 7 months pregnant! I had to do a lot of prep to make sure I had everything that Evan could possibly need--and then some! I hit a consignment shop for some thermals and a sleep sac for Evan and struck gold! I was not prepared to spend $100 on Patagonia gear for the baby, and luckily did not have to...$4 for the thermals, $4 for the fleece, $7 for the sleep sac. All gently used. I think I found a new favorite place to shop for him...but I digress...
We went to Chalk Lake, down near Buena Vista (pronounced Be-yuna Vista). It's a 2-3 hour drive. Leaving Friday morning was Jon, Matt, Paul & Megan, and us. Monica and Kieran, and Dinelle and Alex were due to arrive later that day. We secured a few campsites and set up camp. Once we got everything set up we decided to take a little family-friendly hike to the base of a little mountainside waterfall. We put Evan in a carrier that we borrowed from Paul & Megan and went. Evan loved being in the carrier and the dogs were loving off-leash time (there were 5 dogs between all of us!). Evan fell asleep on the way down and stayed asleep for a bit after we got back to camp, so we left him in the carrier on Shawn's back until he woke up.
We hung out and Evan did a great job just hanging out and observing this new scenery around him. He's such a laid back kid, so it made for a fun experience. We were ready to pack up and head home if things took a turn but we ended up staying the entire weekend despite the crazy weather we had.
Yes, for the first time in 3 years we had a soggy weekend of camping...and it happened on Evan's first trip! Luckily, we are easy-going and have friends who are too so we made the most of it and ended up having a blast!
Let me back up though--Friday was going great until later that night when it decided to start raining (luckily it was after dinner and s'more cupcakes I made for Paul's bday). We all called it a night and went to our tents. The wind, the rain, the thunder and lightning--wow! Luckily, it didn't wake up little one, but late that evening we see bright lights and then hear "Jonny Raz"! It's Alex and Dinelle who are trying to make sure they set up camp in the right spot--in the pouring rain!!! I felt so bad for them--I would have just slept in the damn car. Props to them for getting it set up in the dark, rainy, windy night! Once everything died down and we were sound asleep, Evan decided to wake up. It was about 330 a.m. He couldn't get himself back to sleep so we took him out of his pack and play and he ended up falling asleep on Shawn's chest. He slept that way until morning.
We all got up and had a quick nibble (pb&j's) for breakfast, then the group (minus Alex & Dinelle and Evan & I) headed to summit Mt. Antero--a 14,000 foot peak. It started to sprinkle and it was a few degrees chillier than Friday. Alex and Dinelle helped me clean up and then we went back to our tents to wait out the rain. At about 8 am I put Evan down for a nap and decided to join him because I really had nothing else to do...10 a.m. we wake up and it's still raining! So much for making a fire for breakfast and hanging out outside. I thought about what to do--we had already played in the tent for a while before nap and it was getting boring so I made a decision: I got Evan changed and got myself together and got in the car. I drove down to Alex and Dinelle's site and asked them if they were up for going into town for some brunch--Alex told me I read their minds, lol! We drove into town, had a yummy breakfast and relaxed. By the time we got back, the group was back. Turns out, there were blizzard conditions and they all had to turn back before they could summit.
By the way, it's still raining! We tough through it and make a fire and get out all the food...then we finally decide to get creative with some tarps and string and create a little shelter from the rain. Donned in ponchos, we are all buzzing around the campsite doing various things. There comes a point where we are all standing around the campfire, trying to stay warm and dry, deliberating whether we want to pack up in this mess or tough it out. Alex and Dinelle call it quits--it's her 2nd camping trip, EVER, so I'm sure she's thinking "screw this!". If we, the seasoned campers, were debating, I know she was like "I'm out of here!". As we're debating, Kieran comes back from a bar in town (watching some soccer) with a jug of beer called a "growler". We passed it around the campfire and I think it was then that we decided we were just going to tough it out. At one point, we all crowded into Paul and Megan's tent, passed around bottles of booze and snacks, laughed, and stayed dry and warm. The rain slowed down enough for us to get some dinner going and we ended up spending the rest of the evening hanging out in our ponchos, wet and giddy. All the while, Evan had his naps and we managed to keep him dry and warm the entire time.
We woke up Sunday to the sun peaking through and we were able to pack up camp in the warm sun! Overall, it was a very fun, wet weekend and Evan is truly an awesome kid to allow me to say all of that! I have to give a lot of credit to my friends for picking a family-friendly site and not once rolling an eye or sighing because of any crying or modifications we had to make for baby. Looks like we have more camping trips ahead of us this summer =)
Pics soon...in the meantime, check out my Flickr photostream...
We went to Chalk Lake, down near Buena Vista (pronounced Be-yuna Vista). It's a 2-3 hour drive. Leaving Friday morning was Jon, Matt, Paul & Megan, and us. Monica and Kieran, and Dinelle and Alex were due to arrive later that day. We secured a few campsites and set up camp. Once we got everything set up we decided to take a little family-friendly hike to the base of a little mountainside waterfall. We put Evan in a carrier that we borrowed from Paul & Megan and went. Evan loved being in the carrier and the dogs were loving off-leash time (there were 5 dogs between all of us!). Evan fell asleep on the way down and stayed asleep for a bit after we got back to camp, so we left him in the carrier on Shawn's back until he woke up.
We hung out and Evan did a great job just hanging out and observing this new scenery around him. He's such a laid back kid, so it made for a fun experience. We were ready to pack up and head home if things took a turn but we ended up staying the entire weekend despite the crazy weather we had.
Yes, for the first time in 3 years we had a soggy weekend of camping...and it happened on Evan's first trip! Luckily, we are easy-going and have friends who are too so we made the most of it and ended up having a blast!
Let me back up though--Friday was going great until later that night when it decided to start raining (luckily it was after dinner and s'more cupcakes I made for Paul's bday). We all called it a night and went to our tents. The wind, the rain, the thunder and lightning--wow! Luckily, it didn't wake up little one, but late that evening we see bright lights and then hear "Jonny Raz"! It's Alex and Dinelle who are trying to make sure they set up camp in the right spot--in the pouring rain!!! I felt so bad for them--I would have just slept in the damn car. Props to them for getting it set up in the dark, rainy, windy night! Once everything died down and we were sound asleep, Evan decided to wake up. It was about 330 a.m. He couldn't get himself back to sleep so we took him out of his pack and play and he ended up falling asleep on Shawn's chest. He slept that way until morning.
We all got up and had a quick nibble (pb&j's) for breakfast, then the group (minus Alex & Dinelle and Evan & I) headed to summit Mt. Antero--a 14,000 foot peak. It started to sprinkle and it was a few degrees chillier than Friday. Alex and Dinelle helped me clean up and then we went back to our tents to wait out the rain. At about 8 am I put Evan down for a nap and decided to join him because I really had nothing else to do...10 a.m. we wake up and it's still raining! So much for making a fire for breakfast and hanging out outside. I thought about what to do--we had already played in the tent for a while before nap and it was getting boring so I made a decision: I got Evan changed and got myself together and got in the car. I drove down to Alex and Dinelle's site and asked them if they were up for going into town for some brunch--Alex told me I read their minds, lol! We drove into town, had a yummy breakfast and relaxed. By the time we got back, the group was back. Turns out, there were blizzard conditions and they all had to turn back before they could summit.
By the way, it's still raining! We tough through it and make a fire and get out all the food...then we finally decide to get creative with some tarps and string and create a little shelter from the rain. Donned in ponchos, we are all buzzing around the campsite doing various things. There comes a point where we are all standing around the campfire, trying to stay warm and dry, deliberating whether we want to pack up in this mess or tough it out. Alex and Dinelle call it quits--it's her 2nd camping trip, EVER, so I'm sure she's thinking "screw this!". If we, the seasoned campers, were debating, I know she was like "I'm out of here!". As we're debating, Kieran comes back from a bar in town (watching some soccer) with a jug of beer called a "growler". We passed it around the campfire and I think it was then that we decided we were just going to tough it out. At one point, we all crowded into Paul and Megan's tent, passed around bottles of booze and snacks, laughed, and stayed dry and warm. The rain slowed down enough for us to get some dinner going and we ended up spending the rest of the evening hanging out in our ponchos, wet and giddy. All the while, Evan had his naps and we managed to keep him dry and warm the entire time.
We woke up Sunday to the sun peaking through and we were able to pack up camp in the warm sun! Overall, it was a very fun, wet weekend and Evan is truly an awesome kid to allow me to say all of that! I have to give a lot of credit to my friends for picking a family-friendly site and not once rolling an eye or sighing because of any crying or modifications we had to make for baby. Looks like we have more camping trips ahead of us this summer =)
Pics soon...in the meantime, check out my Flickr photostream...
the recap edition
So a couple of weeks turned into a month...
Let's do a quick recap before I resume regular blogging activities:
May 1st: Evan, Jackson and I joined Paul, Megan and Luna for the Furry Scurry--it's a 2 mile run/walk with your pets to raise money for the Dumb Friends League. It was a gorgeous day until that afternoon when I became deathly ill. Thank God Megan offered to take care of Evan for a while so I could sleep for a couple of hours (Shawn was out of town)--I had body aches, vomiting, and just felt ill. I managed to get us home and pretty much went to bed when I put Evan down at 7. Woke up the next day feeling somewhat better but couldn't really eat much for a couple of days. Turns out, Megan woke up very ill and by the end of the day, so was Paul. It was either a 24 hour bug or we all got food poisoning from the night before. Either way, it was a hellish 24 hours!
May 9th: My first Mother's Day. We had a very relaxed day but we spent it together it was really nice. =) Had brunch at Root Down--always yummy! We then proceeded to spend the entire day doing things together. Every day that goes by makes me love motherhood more and more. I admit, it was rough going at first, but part of that was due to my own internal struggles about being a stay-at-home-mom, not just mothering itself...I'm ready for more =)
May 13th: Evan and I flew into IL for the weekend. My friend Jess, whom I've known most of my life, asked me to be her Matron of Honor in her Mexico wedding and since her and Jared didn't want to do bachelor/bachelorette parties I decided to throw her a shower. Or the "anti-shower" since this is her 2nd marriage and she didn't want anything too "showery". The weekend was a success thanks to the help of her other bridesmaids. It was also nice to visit family--Evan got to spend some good time with his cousins =) He did great on the plane, even though he is so antsy!
May 21st: For our wedding, our good friends Jon and Angie got us a gift cert to Saratoga Springs Resort in Wyoming. Well, since we pretty much had Evan right away we couldn't use it so we called the resort and they extended the expiration date for us. We ended up going this weekend. Saratoga, WY has a population of 1759. We passed it because we blinked! The resort itself was very quaint--golf course, tennis court, brewery, restaurant, spa, and of course hot springs! I had never been to a hot spring so I was excited. We got massages, enjoyed the hot springs, watched our rented VHS (yes, VHS) of A League of their Own, and strolled into town for a meal or two. We had Evan with us and still were able to have a great, relaxing weekend =)
June 3: Shawn's sister, Andrea, flew in on Memorial Day to spend the week. It was great to have her around to play with Evan (and for me to have a grown up to hang out with). She's a great house guest--so laid back and she even cooked for us one night! Today we took Evan to the aquarium for the first time. He loved it--he was mesmerized by everything--it was great to watch him.
On June 11th we took Evan on his first camping trip but I'm going to do a separate post for that one--I'd like to add some more pizazz to my posts than I did here...
I will post pics for this post very soon (but you can get a sneak peek if you look at my Flickr photos)!
...and I'm spent!
Let's do a quick recap before I resume regular blogging activities:
May 1st: Evan, Jackson and I joined Paul, Megan and Luna for the Furry Scurry--it's a 2 mile run/walk with your pets to raise money for the Dumb Friends League. It was a gorgeous day until that afternoon when I became deathly ill. Thank God Megan offered to take care of Evan for a while so I could sleep for a couple of hours (Shawn was out of town)--I had body aches, vomiting, and just felt ill. I managed to get us home and pretty much went to bed when I put Evan down at 7. Woke up the next day feeling somewhat better but couldn't really eat much for a couple of days. Turns out, Megan woke up very ill and by the end of the day, so was Paul. It was either a 24 hour bug or we all got food poisoning from the night before. Either way, it was a hellish 24 hours!
May 9th: My first Mother's Day. We had a very relaxed day but we spent it together it was really nice. =) Had brunch at Root Down--always yummy! We then proceeded to spend the entire day doing things together. Every day that goes by makes me love motherhood more and more. I admit, it was rough going at first, but part of that was due to my own internal struggles about being a stay-at-home-mom, not just mothering itself...I'm ready for more =)
May 13th: Evan and I flew into IL for the weekend. My friend Jess, whom I've known most of my life, asked me to be her Matron of Honor in her Mexico wedding and since her and Jared didn't want to do bachelor/bachelorette parties I decided to throw her a shower. Or the "anti-shower" since this is her 2nd marriage and she didn't want anything too "showery". The weekend was a success thanks to the help of her other bridesmaids. It was also nice to visit family--Evan got to spend some good time with his cousins =) He did great on the plane, even though he is so antsy!
May 21st: For our wedding, our good friends Jon and Angie got us a gift cert to Saratoga Springs Resort in Wyoming. Well, since we pretty much had Evan right away we couldn't use it so we called the resort and they extended the expiration date for us. We ended up going this weekend. Saratoga, WY has a population of 1759. We passed it because we blinked! The resort itself was very quaint--golf course, tennis court, brewery, restaurant, spa, and of course hot springs! I had never been to a hot spring so I was excited. We got massages, enjoyed the hot springs, watched our rented VHS (yes, VHS) of A League of their Own, and strolled into town for a meal or two. We had Evan with us and still were able to have a great, relaxing weekend =)
June 3: Shawn's sister, Andrea, flew in on Memorial Day to spend the week. It was great to have her around to play with Evan (and for me to have a grown up to hang out with). She's a great house guest--so laid back and she even cooked for us one night! Today we took Evan to the aquarium for the first time. He loved it--he was mesmerized by everything--it was great to watch him.
On June 11th we took Evan on his first camping trip but I'm going to do a separate post for that one--I'd like to add some more pizazz to my posts than I did here...
I will post pics for this post very soon (but you can get a sneak peek if you look at my Flickr photos)!
...and I'm spent!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
So sorry...
Bad blogger! Bad! I know I have been MIA lately and I'm sorry. All is good though, no need to worry...
My laptop decided it didn't want to turn on again so Shawn got the server up and running for me. The problem is that it's not wireless so I have to go upstairs every time I want to get on the computer and that puts me too far away from baby to do it... I promise that I will make up for the past couple of weeks...
Stay tuned!
My laptop decided it didn't want to turn on again so Shawn got the server up and running for me. The problem is that it's not wireless so I have to go upstairs every time I want to get on the computer and that puts me too far away from baby to do it... I promise that I will make up for the past couple of weeks...
Stay tuned!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Fridge vs. Door: Part II
So, you remember my post about how we ordered this amazing fridge and couldn't fit it in either doorway to the kitchen? Well, Shawn did a little demo work and I went back to Best Buy and purchased the same fridge again. (Turns out, all French door refrigerators are about the same width so going smaller wouldn't have made a difference).
Alas, the doorbell rings and the fridge has arrived! I tell the guys to take the doors off and I hold my breath as they try to get it through the doorway. "It won't fit". What?? Turns out there are these 2 little things sticking out that connect to the freezer door that pulls out. They can't be removed so Shawn tries to bust off the wood in the doorway (hard to explain the set up, plus it's boring), but no luck. All we need is 1 more inch! So we tell the guys to leave the fridge. Shawn and I will do a little more demo and make it work!! We plan on redoing the kitchen anyway so we'll just bust off the door frame, get the fridge in there and fix it all up when we remodel. So yay, we have our fridge!!
What's that? Where is the fridge now, you ask?
The funny thing is, I'm not as worried about the fridge being in the dining room as I am not having the ice maker and water dispense hooked up. Haha! I know, I know...I've never had one and I have really looking forward to it.
So the dining room will continue to be covered in blocks of paint samples with a giant fridge in it for a bit longer...but you won't hear me complaining. Yet.
Alas, the doorbell rings and the fridge has arrived! I tell the guys to take the doors off and I hold my breath as they try to get it through the doorway. "It won't fit". What?? Turns out there are these 2 little things sticking out that connect to the freezer door that pulls out. They can't be removed so Shawn tries to bust off the wood in the doorway (hard to explain the set up, plus it's boring), but no luck. All we need is 1 more inch! So we tell the guys to leave the fridge. Shawn and I will do a little more demo and make it work!! We plan on redoing the kitchen anyway so we'll just bust off the door frame, get the fridge in there and fix it all up when we remodel. So yay, we have our fridge!!
What's that? Where is the fridge now, you ask?
Yep--in the dining room!! This is where it will live until Shawn is back from his work trips and has time to work on the doorway...
So the dining room will continue to be covered in blocks of paint samples with a giant fridge in it for a bit longer...but you won't hear me complaining. Yet.
Weekend in IL
Shawn asked me a while back what I thought about doing a long weekend in IL to visit family--of course I was all about it! Every time we are in town it's usually for some event and it's total chaos. There are million people to see and a million things going on. It's such a whirlwind. So this time it was for no other reason just to see some family and hope to catch up with a couple friends. Last Wednesday we hopped on a plane and headed to Chicago to visit family.Evan has flown twice before: once at 6 weeks old and once at 4 months old. I'll tell you, I prefer to travel with an infant! At 6 weeks all he did was sleep. At 4 months he was a busy body but he was fine. At 8 months, the kid could barely be contained. He squirmed like crazy! Mr. Busy Body. He didn't really fuss or anything--he was actually really good--just wore us out trying to keep him entertained.
We get to Chicago and head to Shawn's parents house where we stayed from Wednesday night through Saturday morning. It was a nice, relaxing visit and everyone got a good chance to spend quality time with little man.
Saturday we headed up to the city and visited a couple of our friends that just had a baby boy and a brand new condo--busy parents! Then we went to my aunt's house on the north side. My parents came up from Champaign and brought my sisters Jane and Angel and my niece Tiana. Lunch was a feast and everyone was ecstatic to see Evan.
After that we went to the Wacaster's for their annual crawfish boil. Shawn got a hold of them and tried to coordinate the boil with our visit and so we were finally able to make it ;-) I didn't eat as many as I did the first time we made it to the boil, but it was good! And it was good to see the crew. We stayed at Val's place and the next morning we went to O'Donovan's for brunch. I LOVE that place! A few people met us for brunch, including Erin and Laura. It was so good to see them!
Then off to the airport. We got home and headed over to Paul and Megan's to pick up Jackson and they had the most amazing spread waiting for us! It was all so fresh tasting and delicious! We hung out there way past Evan's bedtime and then finally made it home.
Overall it was a great weekend!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
I've been a busy girl
Sorry it's been a few days...I've been a busy girl!
Remember the new refrigerator incident? Well, we think we remedied that: Shawn spent Sunday tearing out the 6 feet of wainscoting and the chair rail that's in the kitchen entryway. We're hoping that will do the trick. It needs to do the trick because I went to Best Buy yesterday and re-purchased the fridge. Why not go smaller, you ask? Because then we couldn't get French doors and if we're going to spend the money, we want what we want. Plus, we plan to do a little reno in the back of the house next year and it won't be an issue--it fits in the kitchen now, just need to squeeze it through the doorway! Added bonus: the CO tax rebates started yesterday so we can get $100 back on that fridge!
I've also been gettin' crafty! I'm the matron of honor in my friend, Jess's wedding (in Mexico-woo hoo!) She and her fiancé don't want bachelor/bachelorette parties so I'm going to throw her a shower. This is her 2nd marriage so she doesn't want anything too "showery", which is fine with me. So I get online to find invites and all the beach themed ones are too cheesy. I did find one that I loved but it was a print-at-home, so I said "what the hell". I did make the inserts to my own wedding invites so I could handle this. I set out to Michaels and picked up a few things. Then I made a few more trips. Last night I started to put it all together and I am liking them so far: it's a 5x7 card (portrait) with a black palm tree printed on the left side. On a sheet of vellum, I've printed all the info in black and purple on the right side (her favorite color). I'm going to put the vellum on top of the card, wrap shimmery purple ribbon on the top and secure with a jeweled embellishment. I will post the finished product when I'm done. I have to assemble everything today and get them in the mail. I imagine this will take up the bulk of the day.
While I'm working on these invites, I have to do laundry and start packing--we are heading to Chicago to visit family this weekend. I can't wait see everyone! Plus I'll be getting out of this house for a weekend, Evan will get to spend time with our families, and I get a little mommy break! Don't worry--I'm just mostly excited to see everyone. I miss them a lot. I love it here but coming from a big, close family makes being away tough sometimes.
Okay--I'd love to write more, but I have lots to do!
Remember the new refrigerator incident? Well, we think we remedied that: Shawn spent Sunday tearing out the 6 feet of wainscoting and the chair rail that's in the kitchen entryway. We're hoping that will do the trick. It needs to do the trick because I went to Best Buy yesterday and re-purchased the fridge. Why not go smaller, you ask? Because then we couldn't get French doors and if we're going to spend the money, we want what we want. Plus, we plan to do a little reno in the back of the house next year and it won't be an issue--it fits in the kitchen now, just need to squeeze it through the doorway! Added bonus: the CO tax rebates started yesterday so we can get $100 back on that fridge!
I've also been gettin' crafty! I'm the matron of honor in my friend, Jess's wedding (in Mexico-woo hoo!) She and her fiancé don't want bachelor/bachelorette parties so I'm going to throw her a shower. This is her 2nd marriage so she doesn't want anything too "showery", which is fine with me. So I get online to find invites and all the beach themed ones are too cheesy. I did find one that I loved but it was a print-at-home, so I said "what the hell". I did make the inserts to my own wedding invites so I could handle this. I set out to Michaels and picked up a few things. Then I made a few more trips. Last night I started to put it all together and I am liking them so far: it's a 5x7 card (portrait) with a black palm tree printed on the left side. On a sheet of vellum, I've printed all the info in black and purple on the right side (her favorite color). I'm going to put the vellum on top of the card, wrap shimmery purple ribbon on the top and secure with a jeweled embellishment. I will post the finished product when I'm done. I have to assemble everything today and get them in the mail. I imagine this will take up the bulk of the day.
While I'm working on these invites, I have to do laundry and start packing--we are heading to Chicago to visit family this weekend. I can't wait see everyone! Plus I'll be getting out of this house for a weekend, Evan will get to spend time with our families, and I get a little mommy break! Don't worry--I'm just mostly excited to see everyone. I miss them a lot. I love it here but coming from a big, close family makes being away tough sometimes.
Okay--I'd love to write more, but I have lots to do!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
exercising, doing martial arts while pregnant - POW! Mixed Martial Arts
exercising while pregnant, doing martial arts while pregnant - POW! Mixed Martial Arts
The above link takes you to an article written by my martial arts instructor back in Chicago. It talks about continuing your exercise routine while pregnant (given you are low risk and doc says it's ok). I just read another article about how pregnant women are not active enough. It's hard for me to understand when people (low-risk, of course) use pregnancy as an excuse to eat junk and gain a ton of weight. I don't think it's healthy for the mom or the baby and I believe it makes pregnancy harder than it should be. Think about it: your body is about to go through the most strenuous, taxing, amazing thing a body can go through--why wouldn't you prepare yourself to be able to handle it? For those of you that know me, you know I was working out past my due date! I had an amazing pregnancy and a 4-hour delivery. I gained about 30 lbs. I owe it all to being active. I'm not saying it was easy--I am only human and regularly lack motivation, but I would tell myself "20 minutes and if you want to stop, stop." Shawn also helped keep me moving. He'd encourage me to just come to the gym and sit on the bike or stroll on the treadmill. It sounded so easy, I couldn't really say no. I found that most times I actually got a decent workout in. In my first trimester, a lot of times I just didn't have the energy to do much but at least I got those 20 minutes (and it actually made me feel better).
It was Kat (the author of this article) who showed me that being active while pregnant was OK. She has 3 kids (one just a couple weeks old, I think) and she looks phenomenal. I was still her student during her first pregnancy. She had a cute little baby bump while teaching us how to do a roundhouse-sidekick combo with a cross, hook! I always remembered that, so when I got pregnant I didn't think twice about keeping my body in motion.
I didn't do martial arts though--that was for no other reason than I just hadn't belonged to a school. My exercise consisted of: 3 mile daily walks (dog loved it!), lots of prenatal yoga (including yoga classes with weights), and a prenatal pilates DVD I'd throw in from time to time. I also went to the gym and rode the stationary bike, did some light weights and even a couple of the group classes (although I had a hard time always keeping up, so I stuck to the back of the class).
I think daily activity is so crucial and I try to make sure I do something every day--even if it's just a walk around the neighborhood. We might not think much of it now, but I know it made my pregnancy easier. And I just think about when I get much older, staying active and eating well might do the same for me then...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Daddy's little helper | Learning new things
Isn't this why we have kids--to eventually grow up to learn how to do chores, so they can one day take care of us when we are old? Well, in this household, it's never too early to start teaching them the way:
Although, he did a little more unfolding than folding, but he will learn in time. For now, he is just making sure that our laundry tastes clean...
Notice he is sitting up on his knees? This is a new milestone for him. He has been pulling himself onto everything and when he gets there, he will just chill. Can't quite get to standing every time but he's close. I love seeing him doing this--he makes me think of dog that sits up on its hind legs. It's just too cute!
I am at the stage where I am torn between being excited that he is learning all of these new moves, but getting nervous that once he's on two legs I'm going to have my hands quite full. He's a good baby--and as you can see, a very happy one. But let me tell you, if you haven't met him, his legs NEVER. STOP. MOVING. During diaper changes they are all over the place--I literally have to pin him down to get his diaper on. His legs are crawling before he even makes contact with the ground. And when you hold him, he is more squirmy than a new puppy! I pray that the next one is a bit more chill--for the sake of my sanity and any hope of wanting more children, haha! Although, with a face like that I don't know that I can be deterred...
Notice he is sitting up on his knees? This is a new milestone for him. He has been pulling himself onto everything and when he gets there, he will just chill. Can't quite get to standing every time but he's close. I love seeing him doing this--he makes me think of dog that sits up on its hind legs. It's just too cute!
I am at the stage where I am torn between being excited that he is learning all of these new moves, but getting nervous that once he's on two legs I'm going to have my hands quite full. He's a good baby--and as you can see, a very happy one. But let me tell you, if you haven't met him, his legs NEVER. STOP. MOVING. During diaper changes they are all over the place--I literally have to pin him down to get his diaper on. His legs are crawling before he even makes contact with the ground. And when you hold him, he is more squirmy than a new puppy! I pray that the next one is a bit more chill--for the sake of my sanity and any hope of wanting more children, haha! Although, with a face like that I don't know that I can be deterred...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
In the blink of an eye...
Evan never stops moving. His legs are always kicking, he always squirms when held, and he is all over the floor. So naturally, he has a set of feeding bowls that suction to his high chair tray--Mr. Grabby Hands is always reaching for something.
The other day, I heat up his yummy homemade food and transfer it into his spill "proof" bowl (ya'll see where I'm going with this...). I securely suction it to his tray--as far away from him as possible, so as to reduce temptation--and turn to grab his bib. By the time I turned back to him to put said bib on (like 1.5 seconds), this is what I see:
This may not look too bad to you, but this was before we even started eating, so he had the entire duration of the meal to spread that around the tray, his face, and his clothes! Once I saw this and realized that I couldn't really do much before he made a total mess, I just started cracking up! I called Shawn down to see--it was just too funny. I got him out of his clothes before we left the high chair and I just took him to the sink to rinse his hands and face.
That is one of the many things I quickly learned about being a parent: a sense of humor. If you don't have one, you will just be stressed out all the time. You have to learn to laugh at things beyond your control. The truth is, babies are meant to get messy. Clothes can be changed, messes cleaned--It's precious moments like this, though, that come and go in the blink of an eye.
The other day, I heat up his yummy homemade food and transfer it into his spill "proof" bowl (ya'll see where I'm going with this...). I securely suction it to his tray--as far away from him as possible, so as to reduce temptation--and turn to grab his bib. By the time I turned back to him to put said bib on (like 1.5 seconds), this is what I see:
That is one of the many things I quickly learned about being a parent: a sense of humor. If you don't have one, you will just be stressed out all the time. You have to learn to laugh at things beyond your control. The truth is, babies are meant to get messy. Clothes can be changed, messes cleaned--It's precious moments like this, though, that come and go in the blink of an eye.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Are you kidding me?
When we moved into this house, we could tell the previous owner did a lot of work to make it appealing to prospective buyers. As first-time home owners with a baby about to be born, we greatly appreciated it! We were fine with having to provide a washer/dryer because that allowed us to get the high-efficiency, large capacity set for all the baby clothes and blankets we knew we'd have to wash. The appliances were newer, but definitely the simple white models--especially the fridge.
It's about 16 cu. ft., no ice maker, top freezer style. It's nice, but clearly the most simple model the previous owner could find. Again, we appreciate the fridge being here. It works perfectly fine, until you put certain things on the top shelf...Frozen lettuce, anyone? At least our cottage cheese doesn't ever go bad because it's always half frozen! So we decided, let's get a new fridge. Bigger, better, and one that will match the look we are slowly working towards...
Saturday takes us to Best Buy. I had already done my research so we went with a beautiful Samsung French Door refrigerator (in stainless steel) with a built-in water/ice dispenser :) It's 26 cu. ft. and it's glorious. And it can be in my house by Monday! I am so excited--like a kid on Christmas morning!
Finally, Monday (today) arrives...between 8-10 a.m., I will have my little beauty! Ding dong--Best Buy delivery! They move the old fridge and get the new one ready. She is gleaming in the sunshine by the curb waiting to come home...but wait...we have a problem. We have 2 entrances into this house: the first entrance is plenty wide but the doorway is too narrow (by 1/2"). The second entrance is through the large back gate off the alley but our back door is too narrow.
WHAT????? How could this happen??? There was no way to get this fridge through either doorway, even if they took off the doors. UGH! So, they put the old fridge back in place and told us we could exchange our fridge for a smaller one. I almost cried. So instead I laughed, because what else could I do? This was ridiculous.
Now we have to go back to BB and get the smaller version (which is still larger than our current one) and I will have to be a good girl and wait for my new beautiful new fridge to arrive.
It's about 16 cu. ft., no ice maker, top freezer style. It's nice, but clearly the most simple model the previous owner could find. Again, we appreciate the fridge being here. It works perfectly fine, until you put certain things on the top shelf...Frozen lettuce, anyone? At least our cottage cheese doesn't ever go bad because it's always half frozen! So we decided, let's get a new fridge. Bigger, better, and one that will match the look we are slowly working towards...
Saturday takes us to Best Buy. I had already done my research so we went with a beautiful Samsung French Door refrigerator (in stainless steel) with a built-in water/ice dispenser :) It's 26 cu. ft. and it's glorious. And it can be in my house by Monday! I am so excited--like a kid on Christmas morning!
Finally, Monday (today) arrives...between 8-10 a.m., I will have my little beauty! Ding dong--Best Buy delivery! They move the old fridge and get the new one ready. She is gleaming in the sunshine by the curb waiting to come home...but wait...we have a problem. We have 2 entrances into this house: the first entrance is plenty wide but the doorway is too narrow (by 1/2"). The second entrance is through the large back gate off the alley but our back door is too narrow.
WHAT????? How could this happen??? There was no way to get this fridge through either doorway, even if they took off the doors. UGH! So, they put the old fridge back in place and told us we could exchange our fridge for a smaller one. I almost cried. So instead I laughed, because what else could I do? This was ridiculous.
Now we have to go back to BB and get the smaller version (which is still larger than our current one) and I will have to be a good girl and wait for my new beautiful new fridge to arrive.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
blah blah blah
Evan started babbling today!
I will admit, when I thought of a baby "babbling", I just imagined a baby making noises. He gets quite vocal--he is learning what his voice can do by yelling or making zerberts, but today he started sounding a bit different: it sounds like he is actually talking but not using English. It's hard to really describe, but imagine reading this sentence using gibberish words--that's kind of what he sounds like. It cracks me up but I sit there and listen as if I actually know what he's saying. I guess all that talking to myself that I do is paying off...for him anyway!
Rereading what I just wrote, I feel obligated to make the following statement:
Before I had a kid, I used to think that I would never be the kind of person who:
I will admit, when I thought of a baby "babbling", I just imagined a baby making noises. He gets quite vocal--he is learning what his voice can do by yelling or making zerberts, but today he started sounding a bit different: it sounds like he is actually talking but not using English. It's hard to really describe, but imagine reading this sentence using gibberish words--that's kind of what he sounds like. It cracks me up but I sit there and listen as if I actually know what he's saying. I guess all that talking to myself that I do is paying off...for him anyway!
Rereading what I just wrote, I feel obligated to make the following statement:
Before I had a kid, I used to think that I would never be the kind of person who:
- takes a million pictures of their kid and think they are all cute...
- ...then proceed to post all those pictures for others to see
- talk about their kid in every conversation--sometimes being the main topic
- sharing stories like the one I shared above thinking people will be as thrilled as I am
- barely flinches when touching baby poop (a main hazard of cloth diapering)
- dedicating a blog to document this kind of stuff
I guess now that I actually have a kid, I don't really care that I do the above-mentioned things. When I was 21 I never thought I'd ever be the kind of person to enjoy staying in on weekends, but life happens and we adjust (and I enjoy nights in!). I happen to truly love being a mother--a lot. I'd be lying if I said it was great 100% of the time--it's hard work and we all need a break sometimes--but I love it. And I don't care if I start a lot of conversations with stories of Evan. For the last 8 months (or more), he's been most of what has been going on in my life. (Although sometimes I still wish I could just pick up and go to happy hour or run out for a pedi). But mostly, I have fun with him. He's so happy and silly that talking about our day together keeps me in a good mood. When you really, truly want to be a parent, it's much easier to enjoy (or tolerate) what children bring...And call me crazy, but even after baby #1 I am ready for more! How many more? Only time will tell...We're taking it one kid at a time.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
I licked a little...
I'm not a good Catholic--I know that. But I try. I started off this Lenten season giving up a true love of mine: chocolate. As I was munching on a delicious lemon curd cupcake, Shawn--in not so many words--called me a wimp for giving up chocolate but not all sweets. He didn't understand where the true sacrifice was. Not wanting to pass up a good challenge, I agreed to give up all sweets and being a wonderful husband, he joined me. I was doing so well...until yesterday. Not even a week from Easter! In my <weak> defense, I was baking a birthday cake and the request was for "anything chocolate". Excuses.
So as I'm getting the ingredients measured out, my mind can't help but to wonder how much willpower I will have not to lick the bowl, taste the cake, or lick the icing...Then I think, how can I not? I need to quality test and make sure it doesn't taste like sludge-this is a new recipe I'm working with here...So I vow--one little taste and that. is. it. Well...let's just say, I'm not a good Catholic.
The temptation (supposed to be an "N" but the stupid thing won't orient correctly):
So as I'm getting the ingredients measured out, my mind can't help but to wonder how much willpower I will have not to lick the bowl, taste the cake, or lick the icing...Then I think, how can I not? I need to quality test and make sure it doesn't taste like sludge-this is a new recipe I'm working with here...So I vow--one little taste and that. is. it. Well...let's just say, I'm not a good Catholic.
The temptation (supposed to be an "N" but the stupid thing won't orient correctly):
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
I heart things!
I heart Spring! It's 80 degrees today. And totally sunny. It's not that we don't have great weather--yes, I know I live in Denver but the weather here really is great--it's just that I love wearing flip flops and going sans jacket. I raked little spot in the yard to rid of sticks and petrified dog poop, laid down a sheet, grabbed some toys and plopped a sunscreen-slathered boy on the sheet to soak up the sun. There is not much else cuter than a baby in a hat and onesie crawling around! See for yourself:
But wouldn't you know, I actually started getting really hot--that sun is warm! We are closer to it here than we were in IL...Now, the coolness of my old Victorian house feels good, not annoyingly chilly (like it did before we went outside).
Finally!
I haven't had a haircut since October. This is coming from the girl who gets a haircut every 2 months like clockwork! Needless to say, I was hating my hair and ready to <gasp> chop it off. Enter Julia-my hair savior!! I waited a month to get in with her but it was very worth the wait. Shapes Salon is the only salon in Denver where the stylists are certified in New York on cutting curly hair. It's called a Deva cut--they cut it dry then wash and dry it. I hated my curls until I found this place--no one knew how to cut it right. I feel like a whole new woman today =)
Monday, March 29, 2010
the art of distraction
Feeding Evan is truly a practice in the art of distraction: if he doesn't have a spoon to hold or Cheerios to try to grab, he gets antsy and frustrated. I sing him songs--"Dirty Banana", sung to the tune of MJ's "Dirty Diana". It's catchy, I know. And sorry for getting it stuck in your head.
Watching him eat Cheerios, though, is truly entertaining. I love to watch him chew!
Evan's dinner tonight was actually so good, I made it for Shawn and I--with a few modifications. Here is the recipe for the baby puree:
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1 chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
1 sweet potato or butternut squash, cubed
1 apple, cubed
Saute the onion in a bit of oil until it's soft. Add the chicken and cook about 3-4 minutes. Add the sweet potato and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the apple and simmer for about another 10 minutes. Puree to desired consistency.
For our meal, I added red pepper, potato and zucchini and left out the apple. I also substituted the unsalted broth with the salted broth. Throw in the seasoning of your choice--I used bay leaves and a touch of Worcestershire sauce. Obviously, I did not puree. I served it over rice. mmmm!
And I begin...
I am horrible at keeping a journal--I always feel like I have to start at the beginning. Hopefully I will have more success with this blog. I think my content is just going to be random thoughts from my day-to-day. Hopefully I can entertain you...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)