So I knew that having a baby was going to be a "learn as you go" kind of experience. There are some general things you can learn from family, friends and media (books, mags, internet). But there are things that you have to figure out that work best for your baby, and your family. I knew this...
And I even knew how complicated baby stuff was - so many choices of bottles and diapers and formula. Just an overwhelming supply of options for products for babies. This I have seen while shopping for friends - and even in registering for our baby.
Still, this week I was baffled not once, but THREE times, by baby products. And I dare say that this will not be the last time. Why do they try to make it confusing as possible? I'm already confused as it is. I don't need help in that area. Nor do I need to try to figure out something else - I have the enigma of a baby in my life now. Mystery enough!
My first mystery of the week was in the land of bottles: We decided to go with the Avent bottles. The baby seemed to take to those the best. And I liked the size and how they felt. So we needed a couple more of the golden-ish durable BPA free bottles that we were using. And when I opened the newly purchased pack, they were totally different. Cloudy and squishy and even had an extra piece. Hmmm... I tried to go on their website and see if they would describe or explain what the difference was and why there were two types of the same "kind" of bottle. Was one of them wrong? Not much information. I don't know why it bugged me so much, but it did. I just wanted an answer... an explanation. I finally got a "sort-of" answer from a user review on the Target website. Apparently when Avent went BPA free, they started with those golden bottles. The way to cap the bottle - twist close with the dome cap on (who knew?) - was confusing and/or people weren't doing that, and the bottles were leaking. So they came up with the other bottles - the cloudy ones that have the extra piece. Guess that extra piece helps the bottle not leak when you twist it on really tight. I kept the "different" bottles - to try them out. I didn't want to miss out in case they were way better. But they are just different and don't match the other ones we have. This will not bother me... this will not bother me...
Then came the diapers: We are using Pampers - and still using size 1. We have gotten several huge boxes of diapers from toysrus & buybuybaby. And then some smaller packs (thinking she was going to move up to size 2 any day...didn't happen yet) - bought at several different stores, including Publix and Target. And EVERY time we get diapers - Pampers every time - they are different. Some have a "wet" line - and then another pack have a line, but the line is a little different. Then there are the dry max ones, then there are ones without it. I thought that if we were in the same brand of diapers, that they would be more consistent than this. Confusing! Daniel says - a diaper is a diaper - it does what it's supposed to do. And really I can't see a difference in performance from any of them. The "wet" line is nice, but why do they all look different.
And then the gas drops: I had no idea that the "dye-free/non-staining" drops wouldn't just be the ONLY product they would sell. Why, oh why, would a product made for babies be made with a staining color added to it. I ended up buying hot pink gas drops the other day. I didn't even think to look for "dye-free." They know where the product is going - in the baby's mouth, which is opening all the time and spitting stuff out. So now I know - dye free!
I am learning that baby products are sometimes made to confuse you. Labels must be read. And even if it's something that you've already bought and it LOOKS like the same thing, it probably isn't.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Making on...Monday: Pizza
I love pizza. We have been doing some frozen varieties recently, for easy mealtimes. We like the CPK ones and the Publix supreme is pretty yummy too. I do love to cook, though, and I'm easing myself back into the swing of things. I am using some "helpers" though. Yeah, one of them WAS Hamburger Helper, but that's more of a treat for Daniel.
So a pizza made at home - I have tried the Pillsbury pizza dough in the past. Too much dough. But now they have a "thin crust" variety. Very nice - it comes out just the right thickness!
I folded the edges around to form a little crust. Then dusted it with garlic powder - garlic on EVERYTHING around here! Then pre-baked for a 5 minutes. Using Tyson "Grilled & Ready" frozen chicken breasts, which cooked fast and great in the microwave - highly recommended - I chopped up the chicken and some onion. Then mixed those two with some wing sauce. When the dough came out, I put down some cheese & then the wing sauce chicken mixture. Another 10 minutes in the oven. Yummy pizza! And pretty fast too! This will be a regular in our house!
So a pizza made at home - I have tried the Pillsbury pizza dough in the past. Too much dough. But now they have a "thin crust" variety. Very nice - it comes out just the right thickness!
I folded the edges around to form a little crust. Then dusted it with garlic powder - garlic on EVERYTHING around here! Then pre-baked for a 5 minutes. Using Tyson "Grilled & Ready" frozen chicken breasts, which cooked fast and great in the microwave - highly recommended - I chopped up the chicken and some onion. Then mixed those two with some wing sauce. When the dough came out, I put down some cheese & then the wing sauce chicken mixture. Another 10 minutes in the oven. Yummy pizza! And pretty fast too! This will be a regular in our house!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Blessing & Gratitude
Well, to start this series of gratefulness, I do have to start with the BIG ONE! Having one of our two adoption come to completion is such a blessing and a wonderful miracle of God. Seeing His hand on this journey that we have been on leading us to this wonderful time is so amazing. There were, of course, the rough spots. Really rough sometimes. But it got us to where we are... where I am now. I knew in my heart that I would look back when we got our baby and say, "of course, this is the right time" - but so many times I thought THEN was the right time. Oh how I was wrong. I am so glad that God in His grace and faithfulness has led us to this time. And that the journey can only be explained by pointing to Him. This was God's amazing plan for us, not our own. And for that, I am so grateful.
Other things that are are my mind:
• I am grateful for the weekends with the baby & Daniel. It is so fun to just hang out and be a family!
• Sitting on the screen porch, after the rain - the three of us... reading & talking & cooing (well the smallest of us) - oh, actually the four of us - Molly the dog too!!
• Riding my bike Saturday morning, with the cool morning breeze blowing and the morning sun peeking around the trees.
Other things that are are my mind:
• I am grateful for the weekends with the baby & Daniel. It is so fun to just hang out and be a family!
• Sitting on the screen porch, after the rain - the three of us... reading & talking & cooing (well the smallest of us) - oh, actually the four of us - Molly the dog too!!
• Riding my bike Saturday morning, with the cool morning breeze blowing and the morning sun peeking around the trees.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Systematic Saturday: everyday organizing
A general overview of my organizing and housekeeping ways. I LOVE to organize. I like rearranging to mix things up and to find better ways to store and access my things. My goal is that everything has a place. So that it is easy to find - when it gets put up. Which around here happens most of the time. Both me and my husband are on the neat side. I do have my messy moments - and my messy spots. Only a few areas of organized chaos. But those places are on the list to get the one-two organizing punch.
I also love making lists. I'm not really good at remembering things - anything. Names, needs at the store, what I was going to do next, what I just did an hour ago. And now, in the wonderful age of technology - iPhones and computers - I have completely abandoned the handwritten list. I have Excel spreadsheets for long term things. (I LOVE excel) And am now using Google docs - great program. Easily accessible, used and shared! I have a great app on my phone for day to day things - aptly called errands. And the grocery list is probably the geekiest of all lists. It's a sorted, printed out spreadsheet list. It's nerdy, but awesome. Take my word for it. I can't go to the grocery store without it. Well, I can, but I come home with about $100 more than I planned in my head.
And even with the new baby - with all the stuff that seems to come in the house along with the baby - we have been able to integrate her things into our home. We have little caddies for blankets and toys in the den. Then the big toy box in her room. We have a great bottle cleaning system that actually Daniel came up with on day two of having baby home! I had her stuff organized in her room - drawers and closet - before we brought her home. That was important to me mentally - so that I felt a little more prepared - a little more like me - when we came home a family of three. There has been several rearranging times since then, but I'm always on the lookout for the BETTER way to organize things!
I also love making lists. I'm not really good at remembering things - anything. Names, needs at the store, what I was going to do next, what I just did an hour ago. And now, in the wonderful age of technology - iPhones and computers - I have completely abandoned the handwritten list. I have Excel spreadsheets for long term things. (I LOVE excel) And am now using Google docs - great program. Easily accessible, used and shared! I have a great app on my phone for day to day things - aptly called errands. And the grocery list is probably the geekiest of all lists. It's a sorted, printed out spreadsheet list. It's nerdy, but awesome. Take my word for it. I can't go to the grocery store without it. Well, I can, but I come home with about $100 more than I planned in my head.
And even with the new baby - with all the stuff that seems to come in the house along with the baby - we have been able to integrate her things into our home. We have little caddies for blankets and toys in the den. Then the big toy box in her room. We have a great bottle cleaning system that actually Daniel came up with on day two of having baby home! I had her stuff organized in her room - drawers and closet - before we brought her home. That was important to me mentally - so that I felt a little more prepared - a little more like me - when we came home a family of three. There has been several rearranging times since then, but I'm always on the lookout for the BETTER way to organize things!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Feats & Fails Friday
Feats:
• I got baby to sleep in her pack & play for the first time - for the easy to sleep morning nap. There is no way that I'm trying it for the afternoon "nap of surprises" yet. So this morning she kind of looked around and talked to herself a little more than usual as she went to sleep. But then a good two-hour nap followed. Success!
• Getting into a good routine and feeling more comfortable being a first-time mommy. This is a tough full time job, one I was looking forward to for so long, but a little different than I expected. Not really sure how to express the difference, it's just a feeling. LOTS of feelings - quite the ever-changing roller coaster. So feeling more like a mommy - and feeling GOOD about it. A great success!
Fails:
• Tried to use my new Mei Tai carrier out in the "real world" - on a short, errand-running trip to Target. I got through the parking lot and picked up 2 of 5 items on the list. Meltdown. So I had to carry her, the carrier, my phone & wallet, and purchases and made my way out as fast as possible. FAIL. This time....
• In the past 24 hours, I have spilled something on my shirt - TWICE. Neither of them baby related. The first time it was cherry - well, juice - I was eating a cherry and the juice squirted out onto my shirt. How many cherries have I had in my life - especially in the past several years. Thousands. This was the first time that weirdness happened. The second was coffee. Down the shirt - not the first time for that. Not the last.
• I got baby to sleep in her pack & play for the first time - for the easy to sleep morning nap. There is no way that I'm trying it for the afternoon "nap of surprises" yet. So this morning she kind of looked around and talked to herself a little more than usual as she went to sleep. But then a good two-hour nap followed. Success!
• Getting into a good routine and feeling more comfortable being a first-time mommy. This is a tough full time job, one I was looking forward to for so long, but a little different than I expected. Not really sure how to express the difference, it's just a feeling. LOTS of feelings - quite the ever-changing roller coaster. So feeling more like a mommy - and feeling GOOD about it. A great success!
Fails:
• Tried to use my new Mei Tai carrier out in the "real world" - on a short, errand-running trip to Target. I got through the parking lot and picked up 2 of 5 items on the list. Meltdown. So I had to carry her, the carrier, my phone & wallet, and purchases and made my way out as fast as possible. FAIL. This time....
• In the past 24 hours, I have spilled something on my shirt - TWICE. Neither of them baby related. The first time it was cherry - well, juice - I was eating a cherry and the juice squirted out onto my shirt. How many cherries have I had in my life - especially in the past several years. Thousands. This was the first time that weirdness happened. The second was coffee. Down the shirt - not the first time for that. Not the last.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday Three
1) Coupons. I'm trying. I've now got a collection from a month's worth of papers. It makes sites like couponmom.com easier to use - having a stockpile. And my favorite phrase to say: I got this on sale....and I had a coupon!
2) I had TWO bagels for lunch (blueberry, plain, from Publix, not heated). A bowl of cereal for breakfast, one after lunch, and one after dinner. And dinner was Hamburger Helper. Craving carbs and college food today, I guess.
3) My birdy friend from last year (that I named Winston), got too big for the little corner under by covered porch - but this year we had a new, smaller, browner birdy friend. This year's friend started visiting us before we went on our trip to AZ. I named this one Henry. And this week, he brought a friend, Henrietta! The first night they were in that corner, it looked like ONE bird. And the picture that I took scared one of them away. I felt so bad. But now, they have been snuggling in that corner all week. Happy birdy friends!
2) I had TWO bagels for lunch (blueberry, plain, from Publix, not heated). A bowl of cereal for breakfast, one after lunch, and one after dinner. And dinner was Hamburger Helper. Craving carbs and college food today, I guess.
3) My birdy friend from last year (that I named Winston), got too big for the little corner under by covered porch - but this year we had a new, smaller, browner birdy friend. This year's friend started visiting us before we went on our trip to AZ. I named this one Henry. And this week, he brought a friend, Henrietta! The first night they were in that corner, it looked like ONE bird. And the picture that I took scared one of them away. I felt so bad. But now, they have been snuggling in that corner all week. Happy birdy friends!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Wednesday Wares
Avia Avi-motion shoes: For a while, I have been seeing those "shape-up" shoes, in sneaker and flip flop form. Not really interesting to me. Until now. With the baby, the only exercise that I have been getting - and probably will get - consistently will be walking. So I was curious about those shoes that add a little bit to the walking. I went to a shoe store where they have all the boxes out - so that I could try on a few pairs to see if I would like them and if they would be something I'd be interesting in. I tried on the Sketchers. Ugh! I did not like them at all. And a good thing, too. At $100 minimum, that is WAY more than I wanted to spend. Tried on a few more - and found the Avia ones were the cutest (and not SO obviously shape-up shoes) and the most comfortable - and the cheapest! But I didn't get them there.... I went online later that day and got them for $30 cheaper at Amazon! Yea shoes! They arrived this week - and even just wearing them around the house - I feel the burn!
Mei Tai baby carrier: I really do like the idea of a baby carrier. I have a very nice "hiking" carrier, given to me as a gift, that I think will be better suited for when baby is a little bigger and maybe can face out in it. But for now, she is still on the small side and that carrier just overwhelms her. I was tossing around the idea of a sling of some sort, but I just didn't think that baby would like the positioning. Several internet searches later, I stumbled upon the Mei Tai carrier. Just enough tying and wrapping, but not too much. Some of the "non-clippy" carriers were just too complicated. This one was very easy for me to follow how it ties and wraps around. So I ordered one last week - yep Amazon again - and it got here this week too!! It only took me 2 tries to get it tied comfortably for me AND baby! I think it's going to take a few times for her to get comfortable with it, but I think that she's really going to enjoy this baby-wearing. She loves being close and being held. And I like having her close too!
Mei Tai baby carrier: I really do like the idea of a baby carrier. I have a very nice "hiking" carrier, given to me as a gift, that I think will be better suited for when baby is a little bigger and maybe can face out in it. But for now, she is still on the small side and that carrier just overwhelms her. I was tossing around the idea of a sling of some sort, but I just didn't think that baby would like the positioning. Several internet searches later, I stumbled upon the Mei Tai carrier. Just enough tying and wrapping, but not too much. Some of the "non-clippy" carriers were just too complicated. This one was very easy for me to follow how it ties and wraps around. So I ordered one last week - yep Amazon again - and it got here this week too!! It only took me 2 tries to get it tied comfortably for me AND baby! I think it's going to take a few times for her to get comfortable with it, but I think that she's really going to enjoy this baby-wearing. She loves being close and being held. And I like having her close too!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday Classified Ads
Unused: Hair Dryer. Hasn't been used in almost a year. And definitely not used in the past two month! So as I was walking in the mall - with my stroller & baby and wavy hair - by the kiosk girl that asked if I use a straightening iron, I just looked at her and said, Um...no. Then she asked if I used a curling iron. No, again. I just looked at her and said - I'm kind of wash and go these days. Over the past year my once board straight hair has gotten wavier and wavier. So now instead of blow drying, I am now scrunching and air drying. A few years ago, I never thought my hair would do this. Why the wave? No idea. My hair just changed. But having a baby with this new air-drying hair is so nice!
Relocated: Chair. There WAS a chair in baby's room. But it was not ever used for sitting with or rocking the baby (not a rocker and too low to get up out of, even without a baby). The corner needed something, so that chair just got stuck there in the Four-Day nursery prep. Now there is a toy box there! Much better use of space. And it is also a bench. And impromptu seating too!
Have: One Pack & Play. Going to be used this week sometime for naps. Sometime... So that it will be ready for use when overnight travel begins this fall. We will see how that goes!
Relocated: Chair. There WAS a chair in baby's room. But it was not ever used for sitting with or rocking the baby (not a rocker and too low to get up out of, even without a baby). The corner needed something, so that chair just got stuck there in the Four-Day nursery prep. Now there is a toy box there! Much better use of space. And it is also a bench. And impromptu seating too!
Have: One Pack & Play. Going to be used this week sometime for naps. Sometime... So that it will be ready for use when overnight travel begins this fall. We will see how that goes!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
A Big Month!
June was a big month for me (and for us as a family!) I did Vacation Bible School. Went to my brother-in-law's wedding
Then our great trip to Arizona, including Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Sedona. I thought that was crazy enough. But after we got home on Monday night... That Wednesday, at 7:30, I got a phone call that changed our lives forever!! Such great news!
We have been waiting and praying for a family - for children - for so long. After several years of doctors, grief and no family, we decided to pursue the route of adoption. And since then we had two adoptions ongoing. One in China and one in the States. I do have a blog that tells more about these journeys - and have kept my two blogs separate for several reasons, the main being for emotional reasons. If you would like to read more about our journey, here is a link to my adoption blog:
carrie-shelterfromthestorm.blogspot.com
We have adopted our little girl from the states. We didn't know when she was coming, and when we found out, we had FOUR days to get everything ready. We found out Wednesday - and were getting her on Monday. The room has been painted for a while. We knew that this day was coming ONE day. But when it did come, it came FAST! But we got everything prepared before that Monday - clothes in the drawers, crib, mattress, swing, baby tub, towels, diapers and wipes. Mainly thanks to all of our great friends and family! So exactly a week after we got home from our Southwest vacation, we brought home our baby girl!
And now that our family of two is now a family of three..
Life has changed - SO MUCH! I know, understatement. This is what we've been waiting for, what I've been longing for! And me being a mommy is finally here and bringing me such joy. I did quit my job - I was only working part time, and I thought that it would be a fairly easy transition to not working at all. I do miss those days at work - seeing people and talking to adults - having a sense of accomplishment. So my plan - not that I've been the best blogger, well, ever - is to blog more often. To have a conversation outlet, a "me-time task" for the day sort of to look forward to. My goal is every day, or close to it. But I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen...knowing my track record and my excitement in the house these days. But here's for trying!
Then our great trip to Arizona, including Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and Sedona. I thought that was crazy enough. But after we got home on Monday night... That Wednesday, at 7:30, I got a phone call that changed our lives forever!! Such great news!
We have been waiting and praying for a family - for children - for so long. After several years of doctors, grief and no family, we decided to pursue the route of adoption. And since then we had two adoptions ongoing. One in China and one in the States. I do have a blog that tells more about these journeys - and have kept my two blogs separate for several reasons, the main being for emotional reasons. If you would like to read more about our journey, here is a link to my adoption blog:
carrie-shelterfromthestorm.blogspot.com
We have adopted our little girl from the states. We didn't know when she was coming, and when we found out, we had FOUR days to get everything ready. We found out Wednesday - and were getting her on Monday. The room has been painted for a while. We knew that this day was coming ONE day. But when it did come, it came FAST! But we got everything prepared before that Monday - clothes in the drawers, crib, mattress, swing, baby tub, towels, diapers and wipes. Mainly thanks to all of our great friends and family! So exactly a week after we got home from our Southwest vacation, we brought home our baby girl!
And now that our family of two is now a family of three..
Life has changed - SO MUCH! I know, understatement. This is what we've been waiting for, what I've been longing for! And me being a mommy is finally here and bringing me such joy. I did quit my job - I was only working part time, and I thought that it would be a fairly easy transition to not working at all. I do miss those days at work - seeing people and talking to adults - having a sense of accomplishment. So my plan - not that I've been the best blogger, well, ever - is to blog more often. To have a conversation outlet, a "me-time task" for the day sort of to look forward to. My goal is every day, or close to it. But I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen...knowing my track record and my excitement in the house these days. But here's for trying!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Summer Trip - Part 3
After spending time at the Grand Canyon, we stayed the night in Flagstaff so that we could get an early start to drive down through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona, Arizona. The day was beautiful and sunny and the canyon was so pretty. I, of course, didn't do the driving. I did the looking! It was interesting to see as we emerged from the canyon and saw the rocks getting redder! Sedona was close!
We took a Pink Jeep Tour - it was amazing! We rode up and down some pretty steep rocks - and got to go out on Submarine Rock - something we wouldn't have been able to see if we had just driven around town. The views were amazing! As was the wind on top of the red rocks! The heat, though, wasn't so bad. It was about 20 degrees cooler in Sedona than Vegas - or Phoenix. Our next stop...
Phoenix was HOT. And we were exhausted by that point in the trip. We did some driving around to see the city a little. We did go fairly early in the morning to Desert Botanical Gardens. It was amazing to see such different vegetation and critters! We got to get up close to some cacti - and even got to see a prairie dog running around (bottom left).
Then we headed home. It was really cool to see the beautiful sunset as we were driving home from the airport. Beauty in my hometown too!
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