So the "nesting instinct" is this supposed universal response to clean and prepare everything for the arrival of your unborn child. It's supposed to get more intense as the birth draws nearer.
Yeah, I get lazier as the birth draws nearer. I just sit here and think about how extremely difficult it would be to get up right now. To even lean forward. You're lucky I'm not on the couch with my feet on the coffee table. That is my preferred position for the 9th month and it was when I was pregnant with Olivia, too. Ok, so now that I take the time to look back (thank goodness for Blogger), I see that I did go a bit crazy with the laundry aspect of preparing for baby. But that's it. and since most of it has been used already and therefore is already washed, and the few boy clothes we have gotten have already been washed... there's nothing else to do but sit here and blog about how I don't nest.
Actually, though, besides the lack of nesting, I experience an additional decrease in the desire to do things I've normally been doing for months now. For example: it is my responsibility to clean up the dinner dishes. Josh cleans the spaghetti off of the floor, cabinets, high chair, and tray; and then I clean up the dishes. Well, I put away the leftovers... aaaaand sat down at the computer with the chair as reclined as it can get while still allowing me to reach the keyboard.
And cleaning the bathroom every week? It's every other week now. Even if we have company coming over. I'll take a square of toilet paper and get all the dust and towel-lint off the back of the toilet and the corners of the tub and call it a day. Of course, I was chastised by Josh when he caught me standing on the side of the tub cleaning the tiles one Saturday and was told to let him do that from now on (that was going to be a post in and of itself called "How to Get Your Husband to Clean the Bathroom for You" and was going to include the following steps: 1) Get pregnant, 2) Wait 9 months 3) Let him catch you standing in precarious positions on slippery surfaces with the dizzying smell of Lysol drifting out of the toilet bowl).
Okay, well... now that you know the truth about the ninth month, or mine anyway, I'm going to hoist myself up to take care of the dishes because even though the intrinsic reward of satisfaction in a job well done doesn't motivate me enough, the extrinsic punishment of all the bugs that will gather does.
Wednesday, February 28
Pick a Number Between 1 and 10
So I've broken down my last month of pregnancy with Olivia so that I can convince myself there will be some sort of predictability with this one.
At 36 weeks, I was 1 cm dilated.
At 37 weeks, I was 3 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and her head was at -1.
At 38 weeks, I was 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and we forgot the head-number-thingy.
At 39 weeks, I was 5-6 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and I went in the next day to be induced.
So here I am, 2 years later, at 37 weeks again. On Friday, I go to the doctor. Josh says I'll be 1 cm. I want to say I'll be 7, but I'm pretty sure I'll be setting myself up for disappointment, so I'm going to guess 3cm and play it safe. Anyone else want to play? Just pick a number between 1 and 10. The winner gets... dinner at our place the next time you come visit. :-P
At 36 weeks, I was 1 cm dilated.
At 37 weeks, I was 3 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and her head was at -1.
At 38 weeks, I was 5 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and we forgot the head-number-thingy.
At 39 weeks, I was 5-6 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and I went in the next day to be induced.
So here I am, 2 years later, at 37 weeks again. On Friday, I go to the doctor. Josh says I'll be 1 cm. I want to say I'll be 7, but I'm pretty sure I'll be setting myself up for disappointment, so I'm going to guess 3cm and play it safe. Anyone else want to play? Just pick a number between 1 and 10. The winner gets... dinner at our place the next time you come visit. :-P
Tuesday, February 27
Help with Leather Stains
So during Olivia's bath tonight, she successfully doused the Daddy's pants with buckets-full of water. After several minutes, he realized his black leather wallet was in the pocket which was most wet. So he responsibly took it out and wiped it dry on the belly of my shirt (that I was wearing). I now have black leather-stained streaks on my nice light pink shirt. Any advice on how to take those out? :-)
Wednesday, February 21
A Zapf Dozen
It's not a normal dozen. It's not a baker's dozen. It's a Zapf dozen. Yep. I made blueberry muffins from scratch. Followed the recipe religiously*. Whereas the recipe said the yield would be a full dozen (that's 12), mine was a Zapf dozen (10).
*Reading this online recipe, which differs slightly from the one in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I have in my cupboard, I wonder if the fact I didn't thaw the blueberries and that I used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose white had something to do with the 2 missing muffins?
*Reading this online recipe, which differs slightly from the one in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I have in my cupboard, I wonder if the fact I didn't thaw the blueberries and that I used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose white had something to do with the 2 missing muffins?
Tuesday, February 20
Shameless Promoting of Pampered Chef Products Under the Guise of a Really Good Recipe
I made this for dinner tonight - to the delight of ALL... well, Olivia was distracted all through dinner... found out later she had really needed a diaper change, so her opinion doesn't count. This was my first attempt at pasta where the sauce didn't come out of a jar - go me!
The Pampered Chef ®
Smoky Chicken Fettuccini
Recipe
6 slices bacon
1/2 cup diced onion
6 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated smoked Provolone cheese
8 ounces uncooked fettuccini noodles, broken in half
1 cup frozen peas
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1. Bring water to a boil in (8-qt.) Stockpot. Meanwhile, cut bacon into 1/2-inch pieces using Santoku Knife. Cook bacon in (12-in.) Skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from Skillet; drain on paper towels. Drain grease from Skillet (do not wipe out).
2. Dice onion using Chef’s Knife. Thinly slice garlic using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with thin slicing blade. Coarsely chop bell pepper using Food Chopper. Coarsely grate cheese using Deluxe Cheese Grater; set aside. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper to Skillet. Cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove Skillet from heat; set aside.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions (see Cook’s Tip). Add peas to Stockpot; carefully drain pasta and peas using Drainer. Add pasta and peas to Skillet. Add bacon, cheese, chicken, half and half, black pepper and salt; toss well to coat. Cook and stir over medium heat until sauce is slightly thickened and mixture is hot. Sprinkle with parsley; serve immediately.
Yield: 6 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 370, Total Fat 13 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 26 g, Sodium 380 mg, Fiber 3 g
Cook's Tip: A simple way to adjust the consistency of pasta sauce that is too thick is to remove about 1 cup of pasta cooking water using the Nylon Ladle before draining the pasta. Stir a small amount into the sauce as needed.
Smoked Provolone cheese is smoked over applewood for a full-bodied, smoky flavor. Plain Provolone cheese can be substituted for the smoked Provolone cheese, if desired.
© The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001
The Pampered Chef ®
Smoky Chicken Fettuccini
Recipe
6 slices bacon
1/2 cup diced onion
6 large cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated smoked Provolone cheese
8 ounces uncooked fettuccini noodles, broken in half
1 cup frozen peas
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 cup half and half
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1. Bring water to a boil in (8-qt.) Stockpot. Meanwhile, cut bacon into 1/2-inch pieces using Santoku Knife. Cook bacon in (12-in.) Skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from Skillet; drain on paper towels. Drain grease from Skillet (do not wipe out).
2. Dice onion using Chef’s Knife. Thinly slice garlic using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with thin slicing blade. Coarsely chop bell pepper using Food Chopper. Coarsely grate cheese using Deluxe Cheese Grater; set aside. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper to Skillet. Cook over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove Skillet from heat; set aside.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions (see Cook’s Tip). Add peas to Stockpot; carefully drain pasta and peas using Drainer. Add pasta and peas to Skillet. Add bacon, cheese, chicken, half and half, black pepper and salt; toss well to coat. Cook and stir over medium heat until sauce is slightly thickened and mixture is hot. Sprinkle with parsley; serve immediately.
Yield: 6 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 370, Total Fat 13 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 26 g, Sodium 380 mg, Fiber 3 g
Cook's Tip: A simple way to adjust the consistency of pasta sauce that is too thick is to remove about 1 cup of pasta cooking water using the Nylon Ladle before draining the pasta. Stir a small amount into the sauce as needed.
Smoked Provolone cheese is smoked over applewood for a full-bodied, smoky flavor. Plain Provolone cheese can be substituted for the smoked Provolone cheese, if desired.
© The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001
Friday, February 16
And the Award for Best V-Day Gift Goes to...
My very own Joshua Jeremy.
I HAVE to tell you what Josh did for ME for V-Day. :-) I have the best husband ever. He listens and cares and loves me SO MUCH!
Recently (for the past 6 months) I've been telling him my love language is gifts. Problem: We're broke. So I decided love notes count as gifts. So for this V-Day, Josh got me TEN presents! (HA! I win!) He typed up ten reasons why he loves me, cut them out, and taped them up all over the apartment.
*Sigh*
Now, whenever I look in the mirror, I'm reminded that he loves me because I'm intelligent. Whenever I look at our wedding picture, he tells me I'm beautiful. Whenever I'm cooking over the stove, I hear him say how grateful he is that I take care of him. When I'm doing dishes, I read about his appreciation for my hard work. When I glance at his many diplomas and awards, I see that he has recognized my encouragement and support. When I reminisce over our high school dance photos, he confides that I'm his best friend. When I put Olivia down in her crib, I am called a wonderful loving mother. When I open my Bible for devotions, I am admired for my love of God. When I walk into the living room, he calls me sensitive and caring. When I turn on the lamp (how clever is this?) he reveals his love for my bright, cheerful nature.
Those notes are still up. They will probably be up until we leave this apartment. Just like the "I Take Car" post-it from our last apartment. I feel neglectful that I hadn't posted about this until now, but I had to wait until a day when I hadn't already posted twice because I wanted to make sure you read it!
I HAVE to tell you what Josh did for ME for V-Day. :-) I have the best husband ever. He listens and cares and loves me SO MUCH!
Recently (for the past 6 months) I've been telling him my love language is gifts. Problem: We're broke. So I decided love notes count as gifts. So for this V-Day, Josh got me TEN presents! (HA! I win!) He typed up ten reasons why he loves me, cut them out, and taped them up all over the apartment.
*Sigh*
Now, whenever I look in the mirror, I'm reminded that he loves me because I'm intelligent. Whenever I look at our wedding picture, he tells me I'm beautiful. Whenever I'm cooking over the stove, I hear him say how grateful he is that I take care of him. When I'm doing dishes, I read about his appreciation for my hard work. When I glance at his many diplomas and awards, I see that he has recognized my encouragement and support. When I reminisce over our high school dance photos, he confides that I'm his best friend. When I put Olivia down in her crib, I am called a wonderful loving mother. When I open my Bible for devotions, I am admired for my love of God. When I walk into the living room, he calls me sensitive and caring. When I turn on the lamp (how clever is this?) he reveals his love for my bright, cheerful nature.
Those notes are still up. They will probably be up until we leave this apartment. Just like the "I Take Car" post-it from our last apartment. I feel neglectful that I hadn't posted about this until now, but I had to wait until a day when I hadn't already posted twice because I wanted to make sure you read it!
Suspicious Behavior
So I was checking my email/reading some blogs today and I noticed that Olivia was being very quiet. Too quiet. Hmmm... Is she dropping things in the toilet? Dragging our dirty laundry all over the apartment? Has she figured out a way to get the turtle out of his Rubbermaid home?
Nope, she was laying on the couch right behind me, totally engrossed in book. How adorable!
Nope, she was laying on the couch right behind me, totally engrossed in book. How adorable!
Thursday, February 15
My V-Day Dinner
So you know that our Valentine's Day started out with the wonderful opportunity to sleep in, followed by some delicious blueberry pancakes. Then we took Josh to school and Olivia and I had to hustle to get everything ready for when he came back home.
We headed to Kroger's and picked up two packages of cream cheese, one 8 oz container of sour cream, some bubbly grape juice, and laundry detergent. Sound like the ingredients to a very romantic evening, no? Hey, the laundry doesn't stop - not even for holidays. And the rest of the ingredients (sans fizzy drink) were for my first ever attempt at cheesecake! I had asked Josh what dessert he wanted for V-Day, expecting something like heart shaped cookies. But no, that's not the way guys think. My guy thinks of cheesecake. And the recipe I had found called for the cake to cool in the oven for 5 hours! And when I asked him which meal he would choose for his V-Day celebration, he choose Chicken and Sausage Paella (which takes 4 hours to cook, plus prep time!) And by the time we got home, it was noon! OH, and did I mention Olivia had a doctor's appointment at 1:00? But then I realized I had not received a reminder call, and that was strange. Since the weather had been rather blizzard-y, I thought maybe I had better call to make sure everything was still running on time over at the health clinic. The recorded voice informed me that there was too much snow to deal with sick people today and that I needed to reschedule.
Whew.
So I start on the cheesecake. The crust went rather well, just graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. I can do that. Olivia helped make the crumbs. But hers were the crumbs that fell on the floor as she ate the remaining crackers. She wasn't really much help, but she had fun. I started on the filling. That's when I realized something wasn't quite right. I was using my largest mixing bowl and it was filled to the brim with my cheese mixture. I'm not very good at measuring volumes in my head, but I did think to myself more than once, "I think this might be a bit much for a 9 inch pan." Sure enough, when I went to pour it in, I filled it up with half still left in the bowl. So I quickly made another crust and filled another 9 inch pan. Yep, that's right. for this family of three, I made TWO cheesecakes. And I put them in the oven and set the timer for an hour like the recipe instructed.
But then I got to thinking. Two pans... with half the mixture in each... wouldn't that require half the time? So I kept going back and checking the progress. I started noticing cracks in the edge of the cakes, so I opened the door, took a picture and sent it to my friend, Jes, whose mother is a renowned cheesecake expert (or so I hear ;-)) and she said, 1) Something's wrong if they're cracking but 2) they're not done yet and 3) you shouldn't be opening the oven door! Crap. Ugh. Whoops! So I kept watching (through the window) and when they started to turn a little more of a golden color (by that time, they had cracks that rivalled the Grand Canyon) I turned off the oven, opened the door, and let them cool for the suggested time of 5 hours.
I put Olivia down for her nap, only an hour and a half late, went back to the kitchen and was met with this:
What a mess! There was not a square foot left to make the Paella! The breakfast dishes were still sitting dirty on the stove and I had even expanded the mess to the dining room table! Oh, and yes, that's our washing machine drainage hose leading into our garbage disposal. Did I not mention I was doing laundry while making cheesecake? Such a multi-tasker. So I unloaded the dishwasher, loaded the dishwasher, ran the dishwasher, thanked the Lord I have a dishwasher, and then got started on the paella.
When that was all done, I dared another look at my cheesecake attempts. This is what I saw:
I have never seen the Cheesecake Factory ever serve anything remotely close to this monstrosity.
I had to pick Josh up from school right before dinner because the buses weren't running (Yep, but he still went to school - now that's dedication!). On the way home, I broached the subject of my gift to him. I told him I had made him something (I had not told him I was actually going to attempt cheesecake. This was to be my present and a complete surprise). I told him it was something I'd never made before. And that... it wasn't going to look right. And that he was supposed to just force a smile and tell me, "It looks great, honey" when he saw it. He laughed and agreed. We got home, he basically sprinted inside to the fridge, and fulfilled his oath (after a brief laugh) and told me my cheesecake looked wonderful. Sigh. Even sounds good when you *know* it's fake.
So this was our Valentine's dinner:
Main course: Chicken and Sausage Paella
Dessert: Salvaged Cheesecake
It really did taste like normal cheesecake (thank you, God!). And once it was cut up, you could hardly tell it used to look like this:
We headed to Kroger's and picked up two packages of cream cheese, one 8 oz container of sour cream, some bubbly grape juice, and laundry detergent. Sound like the ingredients to a very romantic evening, no? Hey, the laundry doesn't stop - not even for holidays. And the rest of the ingredients (sans fizzy drink) were for my first ever attempt at cheesecake! I had asked Josh what dessert he wanted for V-Day, expecting something like heart shaped cookies. But no, that's not the way guys think. My guy thinks of cheesecake. And the recipe I had found called for the cake to cool in the oven for 5 hours! And when I asked him which meal he would choose for his V-Day celebration, he choose Chicken and Sausage Paella (which takes 4 hours to cook, plus prep time!) And by the time we got home, it was noon! OH, and did I mention Olivia had a doctor's appointment at 1:00? But then I realized I had not received a reminder call, and that was strange. Since the weather had been rather blizzard-y, I thought maybe I had better call to make sure everything was still running on time over at the health clinic. The recorded voice informed me that there was too much snow to deal with sick people today and that I needed to reschedule.
Whew.
So I start on the cheesecake. The crust went rather well, just graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. I can do that. Olivia helped make the crumbs. But hers were the crumbs that fell on the floor as she ate the remaining crackers. She wasn't really much help, but she had fun. I started on the filling. That's when I realized something wasn't quite right. I was using my largest mixing bowl and it was filled to the brim with my cheese mixture. I'm not very good at measuring volumes in my head, but I did think to myself more than once, "I think this might be a bit much for a 9 inch pan." Sure enough, when I went to pour it in, I filled it up with half still left in the bowl. So I quickly made another crust and filled another 9 inch pan. Yep, that's right. for this family of three, I made TWO cheesecakes. And I put them in the oven and set the timer for an hour like the recipe instructed.
But then I got to thinking. Two pans... with half the mixture in each... wouldn't that require half the time? So I kept going back and checking the progress. I started noticing cracks in the edge of the cakes, so I opened the door, took a picture and sent it to my friend, Jes, whose mother is a renowned cheesecake expert (or so I hear ;-)) and she said, 1) Something's wrong if they're cracking but 2) they're not done yet and 3) you shouldn't be opening the oven door! Crap. Ugh. Whoops! So I kept watching (through the window) and when they started to turn a little more of a golden color (by that time, they had cracks that rivalled the Grand Canyon) I turned off the oven, opened the door, and let them cool for the suggested time of 5 hours.
I put Olivia down for her nap, only an hour and a half late, went back to the kitchen and was met with this:
What a mess! There was not a square foot left to make the Paella! The breakfast dishes were still sitting dirty on the stove and I had even expanded the mess to the dining room table! Oh, and yes, that's our washing machine drainage hose leading into our garbage disposal. Did I not mention I was doing laundry while making cheesecake? Such a multi-tasker. So I unloaded the dishwasher, loaded the dishwasher, ran the dishwasher, thanked the Lord I have a dishwasher, and then got started on the paella.
When that was all done, I dared another look at my cheesecake attempts. This is what I saw:
I have never seen the Cheesecake Factory ever serve anything remotely close to this monstrosity.
I had to pick Josh up from school right before dinner because the buses weren't running (Yep, but he still went to school - now that's dedication!). On the way home, I broached the subject of my gift to him. I told him I had made him something (I had not told him I was actually going to attempt cheesecake. This was to be my present and a complete surprise). I told him it was something I'd never made before. And that... it wasn't going to look right. And that he was supposed to just force a smile and tell me, "It looks great, honey" when he saw it. He laughed and agreed. We got home, he basically sprinted inside to the fridge, and fulfilled his oath (after a brief laugh) and told me my cheesecake looked wonderful. Sigh. Even sounds good when you *know* it's fake.
So this was our Valentine's dinner:
Main course: Chicken and Sausage Paella
Dessert: Salvaged Cheesecake
It really did taste like normal cheesecake (thank you, God!). And once it was cut up, you could hardly tell it used to look like this:
I'm Losing Her...
I'm losing my baby girl.
I always knew she was her Daddy's girl. They have a special bond I could never duplicate. She sees me all day; I'm old news. I'm big and immobile; the Daddy can get down on his hands and knees and play. I do most the disciplining since I'm with her most. All these things contribute to her preference for the Daddy over me. Except at night. She has always pushed the Daddy away and wanted me to put her to bed. This is partly why I never encouraged weaning. I always said I'd let her decide when she was ready to stop. I loved being the Chosen One for one small part of the day. Yet, in the back of my head, I knew this time was coming...
The past two nights, my baby girl has pushed me away and clung to the Daddy at bedtime. We've tried this before - thinking it would be good preparation for when the new baby boy comes. She has always gone willingly to the rocking chair with the Daddy, but then, upon discovering it wasn't playtime, would scream and cry for the Mommy. Which made my heart swell. The past two nights, she has not. My heart has deflated. She has successfully gone to sleep with the Daddy. I am no longer the Chosen One.
I always knew they grew up too fast, but this is ridiculous. She's not even two yet and I want my baby girl back.
I always knew she was her Daddy's girl. They have a special bond I could never duplicate. She sees me all day; I'm old news. I'm big and immobile; the Daddy can get down on his hands and knees and play. I do most the disciplining since I'm with her most. All these things contribute to her preference for the Daddy over me. Except at night. She has always pushed the Daddy away and wanted me to put her to bed. This is partly why I never encouraged weaning. I always said I'd let her decide when she was ready to stop. I loved being the Chosen One for one small part of the day. Yet, in the back of my head, I knew this time was coming...
The past two nights, my baby girl has pushed me away and clung to the Daddy at bedtime. We've tried this before - thinking it would be good preparation for when the new baby boy comes. She has always gone willingly to the rocking chair with the Daddy, but then, upon discovering it wasn't playtime, would scream and cry for the Mommy. Which made my heart swell. The past two nights, she has not. My heart has deflated. She has successfully gone to sleep with the Daddy. I am no longer the Chosen One.
I always knew they grew up too fast, but this is ridiculous. She's not even two yet and I want my baby girl back.
Wednesday, February 14
The Disgruntled Bundle
After the first snow storm, we had to wait a week or so until the weather finally warmed up (above 20 degrees) enough to see what Olivia thought of the snow. I already had a sneaking suspicion that she wouldn't like it. The first day it snowed, she would cry at the sight of it. Since then, Josh had taught her that it was called "snow" and that one should be excited, not afraid, about it. So she would point to it out the window and squeal. But if we got too close...
Well, we decided it was time to get close. After all, GMOM had bought her a lovely snow suit for Christmas, and Josh had talked me into buying an inflatable toddler sled that currently had only seen use zooming around on our carpet with all sorts of different stuffed animals and dolls in tow.
So we started the bundling process:
Olivia was okay with it at first. She likes getting dressed up. Plus, she had her juice sippy. That makes all things better.
By the time we got to this point, though, she had run out of juice and was getting rather hot. Please note the scarf - personally knitted just for Olivia by her Auntie Sassa. (I have gotten compliments on it whenever I go out, Sassa!) And also, note the Wal-Mart bags on her feet. Why buy boots until we know for sure she likes the snow, right?
Yeah, she didn't like the snow. She would just scream and cry in that sled while Josh pulled her along. So I came up with the brilliant idea of going to get the baby doll and taking the baby doll for a sled ride to show just how safe it was. As soon as I put the baby doll in the sled, though, Olivia rushed over and immediately rescued her. We tried putting Olivia back in the sled, and it worked this time, now that she had her baby doll to cling to. She still never once smiled. But she had stopped screaming.
Look, I'm having fun...
Josh is having fun...
Joel is having fun...
Olivia is crying.
So we go back inside. We take off all the many outer layers of warm, protective clothing...
And Olivia promptly climbs back onto the sled, without her dolly; and with a huge grin, demands that Josh take her for a ride around the safe confines of the apartment.
Well, we decided it was time to get close. After all, GMOM had bought her a lovely snow suit for Christmas, and Josh had talked me into buying an inflatable toddler sled that currently had only seen use zooming around on our carpet with all sorts of different stuffed animals and dolls in tow.
So we started the bundling process:
Olivia was okay with it at first. She likes getting dressed up. Plus, she had her juice sippy. That makes all things better.
By the time we got to this point, though, she had run out of juice and was getting rather hot. Please note the scarf - personally knitted just for Olivia by her Auntie Sassa. (I have gotten compliments on it whenever I go out, Sassa!) And also, note the Wal-Mart bags on her feet. Why buy boots until we know for sure she likes the snow, right?
Yeah, she didn't like the snow. She would just scream and cry in that sled while Josh pulled her along. So I came up with the brilliant idea of going to get the baby doll and taking the baby doll for a sled ride to show just how safe it was. As soon as I put the baby doll in the sled, though, Olivia rushed over and immediately rescued her. We tried putting Olivia back in the sled, and it worked this time, now that she had her baby doll to cling to. She still never once smiled. But she had stopped screaming.
Look, I'm having fun...
Josh is having fun...
Joel is having fun...
Olivia is crying.
So we go back inside. We take off all the many outer layers of warm, protective clothing...
And Olivia promptly climbs back onto the sled, without her dolly; and with a huge grin, demands that Josh take her for a ride around the safe confines of the apartment.
She's So Blue-Hoo-Hoo*
Due to the recent blizzard:
Josh didn't have to catch the 6:48 bus this morning and we were able to sleep in until *gasp* 8:30 because Olivia didn't get up until *gasp* 9:00!!
So what did we do with our free morning of no class? Josh made blueberry pancakes! And Olivia set the table:
Olivia loved the pancakes:
Ok, so she really just loved the blueberries:
But our free morning is over and Josh has finished digging our car out with the popcorn bowl, so it is time to take him to school (he can't get any studying done here; wonder why?), and then pick up the final ingredients to his v-day present. :-)
*That's from VeggieTales; for the uneducated among us.
Josh didn't have to catch the 6:48 bus this morning and we were able to sleep in until *gasp* 8:30 because Olivia didn't get up until *gasp* 9:00!!
So what did we do with our free morning of no class? Josh made blueberry pancakes! And Olivia set the table:
Olivia loved the pancakes:
Ok, so she really just loved the blueberries:
But our free morning is over and Josh has finished digging our car out with the popcorn bowl, so it is time to take him to school (he can't get any studying done here; wonder why?), and then pick up the final ingredients to his v-day present. :-)
*That's from VeggieTales; for the uneducated among us.
Saturday, February 10
Truffles!
I was going to save this for a Valentine's gift to Josh, but he got impatient and I had to make them early. :-) To be fair, Josh helped out a lot with the rolling and coating and general messiness of this project. Don't they look yummy? Yeah, they're gone now.
Olivia Learns Personal Hygiene
It is not uncommon anymore to find Olivia walking around with Q-tips sticking straight out of both her ears. I would have a cute picture of such, except I said to her, "Oh, baby, you only need one!"* And she promptly put them both (very used-looking) back in the bathroom drawer. I'll be ready with the camera next time...
*I know it's unwise to let toddlers walk around with things sticking out of her ears. I'm familiar with the nothing-bigger-than-your-elbow rule. I do tell her not to do this - it's just so cute and she also does manage to get quite a bit of wax out.
*I know it's unwise to let toddlers walk around with things sticking out of her ears. I'm familiar with the nothing-bigger-than-your-elbow rule. I do tell her not to do this - it's just so cute and she also does manage to get quite a bit of wax out.
Thursday, February 1
NOT What a Pregnant Mom Needs to Read...
So I was checking out the world news today and found something that made the prospect of childbirth scarier than it already is.
Check out this baby!
Check out this baby!
Monday, January 29
Saturday, January 27
To Register? And Vote!
What is acceptable in today's culture? Do I get a second baby shower? I don't need any big things. We have the crib, the pack n' play, the car seat, the stroller, the toys, the bouncer, etc. What we don't have are baby boy clothes. I've heard it's acceptable to have a second shower when you have a baby of a different gender, which is our case. Well, in all honesty, we had a good Christmas and Old Navy had a great after-Christmas sale. So our baby boy will definately be well-clothed for the first three months at least. So I guess what we'd need more than clothing is diapering necesities. I haven't spoke much of it since we started last January, but we use cloth diapers. It has saved us a ton of money, and it is so much better for the environment. But speaking of money, we started when Olivia was six months old - so we have nothing for newborns. Well, culturally acceptable or not, I registered at a few online cloth diapering stores for newborn supplies. And Ashley took the time to teach me how to add those links to my sidebar. So I thought I'd explain what they were and why they were there. If you find it culturally unacceptable, then ignore them. I promise I won't be offended and will love you anyways. Especially if you were one who gave us baby boy clothes at Christmas. :-)
And on a different note: Jeremy has FINALLY gotten the old voting website up and running. This baby boy needs a name, people - and he needs YOU to choose it for him because his mother can't make up her mind. Keep in mind these factors:
1) I like multi-syllable names - preferrablly three syllables, but I can live with two.
2) I like names that are not in the top 10.
3) I like names that are easily spelled. He's going to spend his entire life spelling out his last name - give him an easy first name!
And on a different note: Jeremy has FINALLY gotten the old voting website up and running. This baby boy needs a name, people - and he needs YOU to choose it for him because his mother can't make up her mind. Keep in mind these factors:
1) I like multi-syllable names - preferrablly three syllables, but I can live with two.
2) I like names that are not in the top 10.
3) I like names that are easily spelled. He's going to spend his entire life spelling out his last name - give him an easy first name!
Olivia Plays the Piano
| Olivia loved staying at Gammy and PopPop's house over Christmas break. One of the things she loved the most was the piano in the living room. She would climb up on the bench and just start playing... making sure to hit all the keys, of course. | |
Wednesday, January 24
Get to Know the Homemaker in Me!
Stolen from Onward and Upward
Aprons – Y/N? If Y, what does your favorite look like?
I have two - my Pampered Chef apron which is denim, and a white apron with my name painted on in big green letters with daisies decorating the letters. Larissa made if for me as a wedding present. By the way, Larissa, was that washable paint? I've never washed it for fear of ruining it, but it's getting kind of gross...
Baking – Favorite thing to bake
Cookies! Chocolate chip, peanut butter blossoms, buried cherries, sugar, ginger, snickerdoodles... is there a bad cookie?
Clothesline – Y/N?
We wouldn't have a yard to put it in. We have two drying racks that are constantly in use (we don't use the coin operated dryer to save a $1.25/day).
Donuts – Have you ever made them?
I'm sure any donut I attempted could never measure up to a melt-in-your-mouth-fresh-from-the-conveyor-belt Krispy Kreme, so why bother.
Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day
Sweep the kitchen floor - after every meal! Such is the life of the mother of a toddler.
Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
We barely have room for our appliances as is! But I would love one.
Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
Couldn't survive without it!
Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
The only one I have is Crystal's blog - Biblical Womanhood.
Ironing – Love it or hate it? Or hate it but love the results?
Since we line dry everything, I just give wrinkles clothes a really good shake and they usually dry so that we don't need the iron. I'm also not sure where the iron ended up with the last move...
Junk drawer – Y/N? Where is it?
We used to have one in the kitchen, but this apartment doesn't have enough drawers (only three!) So the contents of the junk drawer got put in a small tupperware bin and resides in the storage closet within easy grasp.
Kitchen – Color and decorating scheme
Color? Your typical apartment kitchen - cheap fake wood cabinets and cupboards with white walls and linoleum floor. Is there any other kind?
Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
The feeling of accomplishment when the day is done, the house is clean, and the people I love are well-fed and happy.
Mop – Y/N?
Once a week.
Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
I rarely wear them, but when I do I usually throw them in the washing machine
Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check?
I always look through the window first, but decide that doesn't give me a good enough view, so I open the door.
Pizza – What do you put on yours?
Meatlovers - I'm so healthy.
Quiet – What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
I'm an AIM addict. It's my social interaction time. When Olivia's awake, though, I only get one or two words typed before I'm pulled away. Naptime is usually spent entirely in front of the computer.
Recipe card box – Y/N? What does it look like?
One of those cheap >$1 plastic index card holders from Wal-Mart. But more often now, I use cookbooks and I have a menu that lists all my favorite meals and the pages where I can find them - sorted into meat categories (i.e. chicken, pork, beef, etc.).
Style of house – What style is your house?
Apartment on the second floor. We get the heat from the downstairs neighbors and the noise from the upstairs neighbors. It's a two bedroom recently equipped with a washer hookup ;-). It's 965 sq. ft. with one bathroom.
Tablecloths and napkins – Y/N?
I'd love cloth napkins! But right now we just have placemats.
Under the kitchen sink – Organized or toxic wasteland?
It's organized - except for the conch shell and random vase it's all cleaners.
Vacuum – How many times per week?
About 2 times, maybe more depending on how messy Olivia is.
Wash – How many loads of laundry do you do per week?
I do one per day, sometimes two. Rarely any on Sunday - It's the Sabboth! :-) (More like, the family's all here and I don't feel like doing it).
X’s – Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
I should more often - I'd get more done!
Yard – Y/N? Who does what?
No yard to speak of. We do have a balcony. We split the resonsibilities... we both do nothing.
Zzz’s – What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?
Either a load of diapers so they can hang dry and be ready for morning or the dishes if I've waited til the last minute (heaven forbid!)
I tag Jes! :-D
My Husband Loves Me (and This Apartment) So Much...
In an effort to persuade me not to move, Josh has illegally* installed our washing machine.
This is our dining room before the washer. It's a little messy because Olivia was awake, so my apologies. I have found it's impossible to keep the floor picked up until she is asleep Oh, and Josh left the milk out. The kitchen is to the left, I was taking the picture from the living room. Oh, there's Olivia's head! Can you find it?
This is the view from under the sink. The 1x4 board had to be attached to the back of the cupboard, and the metal tubing was all his work as well. (The board is there for the tubing to be attached to). He says this was the hardest part, purely because of the lack of elbow room while he had to manuever all this.
Here is the only damage he had to incur. He says it's fixable, but he most likely won't bother with it when we move out. I say, they should pay him for his efforts, and when we leave, they can up the rent, advertising their one and only apartment with a washer hook-up. Those are the hot and cold water pipes, by the way.
The hot and cold water pipes then run the length of the cupboards. He has since attached them more securely with brackets.
And this is our new laundry room/dining room/reptile room. It's a little bit of a tight squeeze for now, but we plan on eventually moving the reptile bit into Olivia's room, but that requires rearranging her furniture. For once, we're thankful we have such a tiny table! Oh, and I forgot to point out that there is a drainage hose going along the back of the counter (you can just barely see the beginning of it - it's black). At first, Josh had cut it so that it went to the first of the double sinks. But then, we found out that sink doesn't drain fast enough. I found this out one morning when Olivia was being particularly clingy and fussy. She would NOT let me leave her room. She would yell at me, pull me back in, and then shut the door. When I finally escaped, I went to the kitchen to check the new washing machine set-up and found a quarter of an inch of water covering everything; it had even gotten into the cupboards. So I cleaned it up, and when the washer drained again, I realized the problem, and had to hold the hose so that it would spray into the other sink, where the garbage disposal is. That sink drained much faster. Josh had to buy a 79 cent adapter to connect that hose to another hose to make it long enough to go to the other sink. He still hasn't trimmed it down, so it's about 2 feet too long and gets in the way a bit when I am rinsing off the dishes. But it drains! Whoo hoo! I have a washing machine again!
*We honestly believe we are actually not doing anything "illegal." We have read nowhere that tells us we can't install a washer. But we also didn't ask permission for fear of being told "no."
This is our dining room before the washer. It's a little messy because Olivia was awake, so my apologies. I have found it's impossible to keep the floor picked up until she is asleep Oh, and Josh left the milk out. The kitchen is to the left, I was taking the picture from the living room. Oh, there's Olivia's head! Can you find it?
This is the view from under the sink. The 1x4 board had to be attached to the back of the cupboard, and the metal tubing was all his work as well. (The board is there for the tubing to be attached to). He says this was the hardest part, purely because of the lack of elbow room while he had to manuever all this.
Here is the only damage he had to incur. He says it's fixable, but he most likely won't bother with it when we move out. I say, they should pay him for his efforts, and when we leave, they can up the rent, advertising their one and only apartment with a washer hook-up. Those are the hot and cold water pipes, by the way.
The hot and cold water pipes then run the length of the cupboards. He has since attached them more securely with brackets.
And this is our new laundry room/dining room/reptile room. It's a little bit of a tight squeeze for now, but we plan on eventually moving the reptile bit into Olivia's room, but that requires rearranging her furniture. For once, we're thankful we have such a tiny table! Oh, and I forgot to point out that there is a drainage hose going along the back of the counter (you can just barely see the beginning of it - it's black). At first, Josh had cut it so that it went to the first of the double sinks. But then, we found out that sink doesn't drain fast enough. I found this out one morning when Olivia was being particularly clingy and fussy. She would NOT let me leave her room. She would yell at me, pull me back in, and then shut the door. When I finally escaped, I went to the kitchen to check the new washing machine set-up and found a quarter of an inch of water covering everything; it had even gotten into the cupboards. So I cleaned it up, and when the washer drained again, I realized the problem, and had to hold the hose so that it would spray into the other sink, where the garbage disposal is. That sink drained much faster. Josh had to buy a 79 cent adapter to connect that hose to another hose to make it long enough to go to the other sink. He still hasn't trimmed it down, so it's about 2 feet too long and gets in the way a bit when I am rinsing off the dishes. But it drains! Whoo hoo! I have a washing machine again!So it looks like we will not be moving to a townhouse. But I've come to the realization that I really do like our one floor apartment. I just wish it were on the bottom floor and that no one lived above us. But I like that I always know what Olivia is up to, and I'm always just a split second away. I like that I don't have to go up and down stairs to go to the bathroom or put things away. And now our apartment is cheaper, since we don't have to pay $40 in quarters each month for laundry. Although, we'll see how much the water bill goes up next month.
*We honestly believe we are actually not doing anything "illegal." We have read nowhere that tells us we can't install a washer. But we also didn't ask permission for fear of being told "no."
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