Lost in time

I feel like I'm stuck in a time warp. Or really a time bubble. Or maybe just put into the wrong time.  It is weird to be in the middle of this major change in our lives during the holiday season.  We ARE slowly making our way out of the rough few weeks at home. Adjusting to two kids. Everybody adjusting to each other. And adjusting to daily life - a normal routine.  But now I'm feeling like things are going to stay like they are now. Some good times. Some rough spots. But not being able to communicate with either of my girls. I'm in "no language" land. I'm just guessing all the time. What happened? What's wrong? What do you want?  It's getting so hard to have two people that I'm with pretty much with all the time and I'm unable to understand most of what they ask for or say. And if you throw the dog in there, that's three that I'm around that I can't really talk to.  But I know that the talking will come. One day. Maybe one day soon.  And then I'll never get them to STOP talking! 

Two Weeks Home

I can't believe that it was two weeks ago that we landed.  It seems like SO long ago.  But it also seems like we JUST got home.  Where did November go?  When we left, it was summer.  It was still hot - we were wearing shorts.  And when we got back, the airport had Christmas decorations up.  Lights all around town.  And it was COLD.  Crazy!  And now it's December...  

We are doing well at home.  We are finally settling in - somewhat.  We are learning more and more about H each day.  Her personality is coming out and her understanding of what we are saying & us understanding what she is wanting is increasing daily.  Communication is really the hardest part of what we are dealing with.  The words that she says in Chinese that we have translated (roughly!) are: "I want" "No" "Go potty" "What is that?"  These are all important and those are great to know...  But when she is wanting something - and can't express to us WHAT she wants, it's frustrating for all of us!  She is finally starting to ask AND point - which is good.  

She is definitely a three year old.  I thought that we would be dealing with a "sort of" two year old - that was three years old.  But she is totally and completely THREE.  And those of you who "know" how three year olds "work" --  It's a very difficult place to be - without having communication.  Three years old - the year of choices, control, and learning.  And we are doing this with a huge road block.  Although we are actually doing better than I think we could be.  

It has been interesting, exciting, VERY hard and exhausting to go instantly to 2 kids.  A one year old and a three year old.  They are both running around, both "talking" (as best as they can) and are both dealing with having a sibling for the first time.  It's hard when really neither of them can communicate that well with me.  But I think that they understand me - when they are listening (when they want to listen).  I don't know how it would be to start with two kids with one as a baby - but two that are very active is quite an undertaking.  Jumping right into three to start with a child is, well, an adventure!  

H is learning very well - and really wants to learn.  She is a very picky eater - either asking for something, then not wanting it - or wanting what I'm eating, or what I'm feeding J (even if what I have given her is something she loves).  She loves her bunny (and can say "bunny").  LOVES her shoes and wants to wear them all the time.  She really likes to have her hair down, after having the pigtails and braids all the time in China.  And she is a very very deep sleeper.  It takes a lot to wake her up, which we have to do every morning.  And she has a great little giggle!!  

She is doing much better in the car seat.  That trip home from the airport was just BAD.  We were all tired - and it was a totally new experience for her to be in a car seat restraint.  And we had it rear facing, which she did not like and really didn't work. And worse of all, the restraints were WAY too tight - and since it was dark and we were so tired, we couldn't figure out how to loosen it.  After we turned it front facing and fixed the straps, she was fine with it for the most part - as much as any kid, I guess.  

My little toddler - she is my happy, easy-going, adventurous, explorer!

And my little preschooler is my neat, cautious, silly knowledge-seeker! 

Travel... in less than two weeks

So in my preparing and planning, sometimes it feels so real that we are going to China.  And sometimes, I just can't wrap my head around it.  But in less than two weeks, we ARE boarding a plane and heading to China to meet and bring home our little girl.
The plane tickets with our names at the top - and her Chinese name on an e-ticket.  That was a moment of REAL.  Preparing the room - buying the bed, clothes (only a few), and little things - sometimes it feels like it's far off in the future.  Because it has been far off in the future for so long.  But now the "later" is NOW - it's REAL.  And it's getting more and more real every hour.

So what is our trip going to be like?  Right now we have a general itinerary - and we will get a more specific one before we leave.  

We are flying out to arrive in China on a Saturday night.  Then the next day, we go to Wal-Mart.  To get things for us, for her and for the orphanage.  Yes.  Wal-Mart.  We have a wonderful travel team and facilitator/translator that will be with us most of the time!  We will be met at the airport and she will tell us when and where and what to do!
Then, on Monday, we get our little girl!  We do not go to the orphanage to get her; she is brought to the provincial city where all of the legal stuff/paperwork is done.  When we first meet her, we have about 10 minutes to ask her nanny any questions that we have about her schedule and what we need to know to take care of her (again, our translator will be with us).  Then she is ours.  And with us for the rest of the trip.

After the "Gotcha" moment (our social worker has told us it's quite anti-climactic after everything that we have been through to get here), we go to Wal-Mart.  Again.  Here we will get some food & drinks and some clothes for her. And since she is older, she can pick out some of these things.  We are only taking a few items of clothing with us, because we only have an idea of how big (or actually small) she is.  So this is when we will get the things she needs.  Then the next few days have a little paperwork mixed in with some shopping and some sightseeing.  All with our little girl.  This will be a very important bonding time. Me and my little one!!  We have been told that mommy needs to hold and bond with her most importantly - since daddy will be going back to work.  This will give her security and affirm that we are her forever family.

We are going to take a trip to her orphanage - taking her with us.  This will be a very long day.  A very hard day.  We pray that she will understand that she is staying with us.  This can be very confusing to the child because this is where they just came from - so why are they going back.  But it is important for us, as her parents, to see where she lived, who cared for her, and where she was found, so that we can tell her when she is older.  So that we can have an answer for her questions.  This visit will probably be a two-day event for us, since the orphanage that we are going to is about 5 hours from where we will be staying.

We are staying in the same place for the two weeks we are in China, since our little girl's provincial city (where her orphanage is) is the same as the US Consulate city (Guangzhou).  Guangzhou is in southern China, so it will still be quite warm when we go - think Miami.  They have about the same weather.  But I really don't know what to expect.  As is true about everything with this trip.

The Preparing

Preparing for a new child.  Preparing for an overseas trip.  Preparing to take this child this trip!

There is so much to prepare and plan.  And if you know me, you know that I like to plan, make lists, organize, and be prepared.  But there is so much that is unknown.  For example, I don't even know what size clothes she wears.  So I am just having to guess the best I can with the information that I have.

So in preparing...  What have I been doing?  When we got our pre-approval, it still didn't really seem real. That we were GOING to China.  And I made some lists in my head about doing "this and that" when we got our LOA (Letter of Acceptance), kind of thinking in my head that it was farther out.  And then the LOA came.  Unexpectedly soon.  So then I made all my lists - started working on them.  Things that I wanted to do in the house, that had been waiting for "later" - and now later was upon us.  Things not even really related to kids at all.  And then there was all the kid stuff, prepare the room, think about getting stuff for an older child.  And we kind of got a slow start on these lists, thinking, well...we don't even have our travel approval.  And then all of the sudden...  We got our TA (Travel Approval) AND our travel dates.  Then things kicked into high gear.  We went and registered (a baby registry - another one that confused the sweet lady at the registration desk) - to make a working list of things that we need and want to get for her.  And a friend painted the previously dark green room a beautiful, soft PINK.  We started buying and ordering things that we needed.  And then there are all the little things.  There are more little things that are needed for a child - and for a long trip - than I thought there would be.  There is also the preparation for leaving our little one here with family.  She will not be making the trip with us.  It will very hard to leave her, but I think best for everyone in the end.  She will have lots of fun with her aunt!  So there is also the preparation for leaving her here.  My mind is mush and going a million miles an hour.  I'm just a contradiction!

We are slowing - and quickly - building a room for our little girl.  Thankfully our social worker handles all the paperwork and legal stuff.  All we had to do was get our visas and book our plane tickets.  Both which have been done - and even with those, our wonderful social worker told us when to do them!  And the travel team even books our hotels, transportation and activities.  All we have to do now is just get excited!

Somehow I'm successfully getting those projects done that I couldn't seem to get done at the beginning of the year. (Those that were my goals for this year...)  I've always been a "deadline" girl.  I work faster and more efficiently if I have a time frame.  I wish I could be more efficient when I have lots of time, but sadly I just don't.  The more time I have, the more time I waste.  That's probably why I haven't blogged in a while.  I think I have all this time, then I get distracted and well, the baby's up from her nap.  Less time - more blogging?

Most recently, we bought a minivan.  I never thought that I'd be a minivan owner.  Maybe one reason, because I really didn't think that I'd have two kids which I would need to put in a minivan.  I always wanted two kids, but with all of the heartache that we went through (early on) I never imagined that I'd have TWO blessings.  And another reason...  I loved my Jeep.  But there was no way that we could fit two kids in there.  We were barely fitting the one car seat.   And how I could drive something so big?  But now, only having it a few days - and even locking my keys in it the first morning (that's another story...) - I love driving it!  I can even say it's fun to drive!  And we have plenty of room now!

Adoption: LAST part of the China process!

We have waited a little over 3 years to get to this point.  It almost seems longer than that - in the waiting, the infertility, the sorrows and the joys!  Our log in date - when China put our information on their "list" - waiting an ever-increasing wait - was way back in the summer of 2008.  Little did we know, that our little girl was actually BORN at the end of that summer.  We just had to wait for her.

While we waited, the healthy referral for a China adoption went from 22 months (when we started) to 2 and a half years, to 3 years, to 4 & a half years.  Right now, it's at about 5 & a half years.  And that's not necessarily a bad thing.  The children are still being adopted - in European countries - and even within China.  The United States is one of the few countries that will adopt special needs and older children. So China focuses those children to the US.

While we waited, knowing that we were still called to an adoption in China, we had the opportunity and blessing to adopt domestically.  It's amazing how God worked the frustration, tears and heartbreak of waiting into building our family so perfectly.  TWO beautiful children will in our family by the end of November.  It's been amazing to see just how perfectly God has planned this for us.  For our family.

So we knew that we were still adopting from China.  We just didn't know how.  Our adoption agency has started working with a particular orphanage, including medical mission trips, to get some of the children there adopted.  Our social worker saw one of the little girls there and was led to send us the file.  Even though she was almost 3 years old.  And when we saw her picture - and read her file - we pretty much knew.  We said -YES - in July - and started on the paperwork.  And just a couple of weeks later we got our pre-approval.  Normally - or so I've heard and read - these next steps take about two to three months.  But we got our Letter of Acceptance in less than a month.  And then less than a month after that, we got our Travel Approval AND our travel DATES.  In a little over three month from when we first saw her picture, we are going to be traveling to get here!

We apparently like doing adoptions FAST.  We wait a long time, but then when it gets going...it goes FAST!  We are traveling the first two weeks of November to get our little girl!

China bound...

The past few months have been pretty crazy around here.  Chasing after a one year old - that got REALLY fast at crawling - and has just started to walk.  And preparing for a major change in our family.  

We are adopting a little girl from China.  She turned three in August, so our baby girl will be getting a BIG sister!  We are leaving in just over two weeks - November 4th.  And will return about 2 weeks later. This adoption - many years in process - is actually going very fast.  Much faster than I thought it would go.  I can't believe that by Thanksgiving we will be a family of FOUR.  

Over the next few days, I'm going to post more  - about the adoption prep work and how she came to us - about what we are doing now, in preparation - and what our trip and travels will be like.  I hope that reading this you will share in our excitement and being continually praying for us.  God is amazing and has done and will do amazing things.  We have seen it - and will continue to see it!!  

We are blessed!  

Tales for Tuesday: Who am I?

I was thinking the other day.  What are the words that define "me?"

A Mom.  Finally.  I never thought that time would come.
Organized.  Like Excel and label maker organized.
Silly.  I do enjoy laughing and just having fun!
A Worrier.  I used to be worse, much worse, than I am now.  I have mellowed in adult years.

I guess those are some of the things that make me - ME.

It's been my heart's desire to be a mom.  I have wanted it.  Longed for it.  Now, being in heart of it, it doesn't feel like I thought "Mommy" would feel.  It kind of feels normal.  It's weird that it really came naturally and pretty much instantaneously.  It pretty much had to - with those 4 days to prepare for all that comes with bringing home a baby.  But still I'm trying to figure out who I was, who I am and who I'm becoming.  It's not easy.  But I'm enjoying every minute!

Where has the blog gone?

So my goal at the beginning of the year of blogging everyday turned into blogging just on the weekdays.  And now has apparently turned into just blogging at the first of every month.  Once again, I miss my blog.  I miss the thought process and the writing.  I think that I need this outlet.  For some reason, my brain has just been going crazy - thinking, figuring things out.  Not that I had anything major really going on in there, it was just a little busy.  But now, I feel things are settling down - getting a rhythm and seeming not so chaotic.  In my brain.  And in the house.
Maybe I'm finally getting this motherhood thing down.  It's only taken, what... 14 months.  But I am getting more to a place of where I know who I want to be as a person, as a mother, as a wife.  And can actually see myself becoming that.  It was such a sudden change for me.  I didn't really have time to mull it over...  I wonder what kind of mother I will be?  How I would do it?  Even what I would want to do.  There were only 3 days - get crib, get car seat, get diapers, get BABY!  But now, seeing how I deal with major events, minor crises and just day to day chores and errands, I know more of who I want to be IN my day to day life.

Our Trip to Charleston

We took our summer trip this year to Charleston.  It was baby's first vacation.  Her first weeklong trip where there were sights to see!  This is the house (a little carriage house behind a larger residence) where we stayed.  It was in Historic Charleston - so close to all the things we wanted to see and do.  We got to walk everywhere - and baby got to ride in her new stroller! 

Baby did great!  She loved rolling around town, along the cobblestone and uneven sidewalks.  She loves the bumps!  She even did great napping and eating, pretty much staying on her schedule, which made the vacation much more enjoyable for all!  It was nice to have the house - with a kitchen for lunches and snacks - and doors for nap times!  And it was great to have a place to come back to during the middle of the day.  Charleston is HOT.  And while we were there, they had record heat. Even our rental owner said that it was extraordinarily hot. The heat index was unbelievable.  So having a place we could relax and hang out and cool off was a blessing!  

Whenever we go on vacation now, I love to see water.  I love the water!  Not necessarily the beach, but water.  And being on the coast in Charleston was beautiful.  In a different way than I have really seen and enjoyed before.  This is the Arther Ravenel Bridge.  We saw it from a distance - and even walked it for a little bit (on a pedestrian track that is on it).  But the breeze did not balance the heat. So we headed on to the beach.  It was baby's first time to the beach.  She was not impressed with the itchy, weird-feeling sand when she crawled on it.  She did NOT like the water when we dipped her feet in.  But she did enjoy watching the kids play on the shore. 

We did some walking around the Historic area - the old beautiful homes.  It's amazing that all these homes are still there, and taken such good care of.  What I noticed about Charleston is that they treasure the old.  In most places, new is better.  But in Charleston - older is better.  And if you are going to build something new, you have to make it look old.  It so good to see the preservation of beauty and history.  One thing I did notice that the houses are big - and tall - and the road are quite small.  Hard to take pictures, which results in weird angles of homes.  And these are people's houses.  Places that they just call home.  So I also wanted to respect that too.  How strange to have people reading the plaque on your house - about it's history - and then take a picture of your house.  Guess that comes with the historical territory.   

We passed this park everyday - heading to all the eating, shopping and sightseeing.  We walked by mainly in the mid-morning (heading back to the house) or in the evening (heading out to eat).  This picture does not capture the beauty of the setting sun - its colors and shadows that it was casting.  There was beauty in buildings and structures, beauty in nature - and beauty when they came together.  

Thursday Three.

1) Last night I had food poisoning, I'm pretty sure. It came on suddenly and then I was up most of the night with horrible stomach cramps. They have lessened immensely (I can actually stand upright now) but I'm still not 100%.

2) And I got some sad news this morning. One of my friends and one of the most amazing women I have ever known passed away early this morning. She had battled cancer for a while. And her hope and courage and faith - facing unbelievable odds - was something that I will always remember. And try to strive for. She lived life to the fullest. Everyday. Until she couldn't. And now she is at peace...at home...with the Lord.

3) Today has been a hard day. So I just spent the afternoon resting. Since I have a big week coming up next week.

Making on Monday

Over the holiday weekend I DID make some things.

I finally made a curtain for the back door - that has been on my to do list for quite a while. I had some leftover material from some other curtains that I had made. Some nice little hemming around. Stitching on some ribbon - and voila! A Roman shade!

I also made baby some cute little sandwiches - a jelly sandwich. A grilled cheese sandwich. Cubed up into little bits. And she loved them! She had jam hands!

Friday fun: Giggling

Today I had a very happy giggling baby! She thought the doggy was so funny. She was giggling & squealing with delight with each crawl, spin and scootch she made around the house. And she was super ticklish today - laughing and gurgling with joy!
I think she was having so much fun today, she really didn't want to go to sleep tonight. She wanted more giggles!

Thursday Three

1) Milk for the baby!  Day one.  I think she is confused about the temperature and taste.  I think she likes it, but she's still unsure.  Not that she liked the formula - she never liked it.  So bye bye formula.  And bye bye bottle!  She can drink out of a sippy cup.  Just when she wants to...

2) Another limb has fallen.  It's not near the size of the last partial tree that fell.  And I think that it's residual from the damage of a month ago.  But there is is.  Another limb on the ground.  What, four days without "tree" on the grass.  Guess our trees like to be more horizontal than vertical.  I don't like that. But it did fall on the grass, not the house.

3) New footy pajamas for the baby!  I finally found some that actually fit her.  Not too big around the middle, but long enough!  Go Kohl's!

Word for Wednesday: Spelling it right

Today, I was chatting with Daniel about a fender bender/traffic where we had both driven.  And I mentioned that there was an ambulance there when I had passed.  -- I didn't get why there was one there at all.  Everyone seemed fine, and there was little to no damage to the cars.  Maybe since there were 4 cars involved, it's protocol or something.

Well, anyway, there was an ambulance.  And I was typing that word.  And I misspelled it.  I put an "lence" instead of a "lance."  And that made me remember...

My fourth grade spelling bee.  The word AMBULANCE got me.  I "lenced" it then.  And I was out of the bee.  And ever since then, I've had problems with all my "lances" and "lences" - especially that one. Guess it's just a mental block of the trauma of misspelling that word in front of a crowd.  Well, traumatic for fourth grade.

Tales for Tuesday: Big Girl Now

Today we went to the doctor for baby's 1-year checkup.  And she is on her way to not being a "baby" anymore.  Guess I'll have to call her my little toddler!  Well, she's not toddling yet - but she is moving around and ready to get up and go any day now!  She will crawl, dance and loves to explore, getting into most anything.  Walking is sure to happen soon...
She is going to come off of the formula and will be drinking milk!  We have been working on the sippy cup for a while...it's going to be full time now!  Bring on the sippy!  And we are going to transitioning to more table foods.  Now, breads and grains, she has got that one down.  It's all the other stuff.  Not a fan of certain textures, so this new phase of eating will be an adventure!  She does love feeding herself - and holding the sippy cup.  I just know a few days ago, I heard her say "I do it."
She got a great report today.  Her growth curve is looking good - she is definitely on the small side, but is growing steadily.  She has also been chatting up a storm - saying Mama, Dada, and Bye-Bye (complete with wave).  And she seems to be talking to me about lots of things.  I just don't know what they are yet!

Saturday: Tree Cleanup

In the storms that passed through a few weeks ago, we had part of a tree (a big part) fall on the roof and in front of our house.  We were so protected and blessed that it didn't fall IN our house, just on.  We still have damage - soft spots in the roof where the wood has cracked under the weight.  And part of the house frame that has to be rebuilt.  And of course, re-roofing with new shingles.

So here is the offending tree.  It could not be saved.  And with the one huge part that was left of the tree, being located OVER the roof (which is mostly not seen in this pic), I was glad to see it go, for safety reasons.  I will miss the shade - it was a nice tree.  It just wasn't safe anymore...

The guys with their fleet of trucks, equipment and chain saws made quick work of the tree.  Someone in the bucket of the bucket truck made the large trunks bare, which were loaded into the chipper truck (the yellow and red equipment seen here).  

While that tree was being stripped, there was another guy working with a grapple truck picking up all the debris that the first team of tree guys had gotten off the roof.  Aha.  That's what a grapple truck is... 

Then the grapple truck came over to help with the tree removal.  It's "teeth" held the large trunk portions and set them down in the truck.  For a large tree removal project, they were pretty quiet.  No loud booms or anything.  Just about 3 chainsaws and the chipper noise.  This is the last of the limbs being removed to clear the way for the...

Stump Grinder!  I have never seen one of these in action.  Or at least this close up (through a window).  The grapple truck waits for the final portion of the project to be finished.  It is as big as it looks!  The stump grinder went back and forth pretty fast - pummeling the stump to a huge pile of shavings.  

Anyone need mulch?  

It was quite a sight to see this huge fleet of 4 vehicles coming to clean up our storm damage.  And they estimated that it was going to take 2 hours - and indeed they drove off after exactly that long!  Pretty fast... guess they are the professionals!  

Friday Fun

This afternoon, we got Julia in her swimsuit for the first time and headed out to try her new baby pool. And only one foot went in - and it came immediately out!! The pool was a no go. I'm not sure if she was just unsure of the situation or if the water was a little too cold. But she did NOT like it. She does enjoy her bath. Guess this was just weird.
So instead of playing in the pool, she had some fun in her swing. She loves that! And that put a big smile on her face!!

Thursday Three

It's been a weird week so far...

1) Today I went to the doctor about this weird rash/bumps that were spreading rapidly on my torso arms and legs. They looked like chicken pox, although I didn't think they were because of the lack of itching and having no fever. But you never know. They were freaking me out, and with having a baby in the house, I didn't want to take any risks. Apparently I had some kind of allergic reaction. Might have been stress. But whatever the cause, I got a steroid shot and a z-pack. The bumps are looking better, but I'm feeling like a steam roller knocked me down. Yea. Steroids.

2) On the way to the doctor, I got caught in traffic - there were several emergency vehicle blocking most of the roadway. They were actually blocking the larger parts of a power line that had fallen. So I got to drive over, actually ON a power line today. Totally weird.

3) And this week we finally got a roofer out to our house. Not an easy thing to find right now. The one that came this week was weird - and just didn't seem right, the way he tried to sell. So strike one on roofers. And the tree service guys quoted and soon will be removing the offending tree that is in pieces - and all that fell too.

Word for Wednesday: "Bye-Bye"

Baby now will say and wave bye bye. Well about 50% of the time. She does it sometimes when there is no "bye bye" happening. But it is very fun and sweet when she does it when daddy is leaving in the morning for work. Or when we are leaving friends. She smiles and waves her little hand (sometimes both hands) and says "bye-bye bye-bye"

Tales for Tuesday: Time

I can't believe it's been a week since my baby turned one. And I still really can't believe I HAVE a one year old. But looking at her now, seeing how much she's grown and comparing that to the pictures of her over the past year that rotate through on my new digital frame (that I got for mothers day) - she really has gotten bigger, older. And well, ONE.
Now that the celebrations of ONE are coming to an end, it's time to get geared up for summer! VBS is on the way - so I'm prepping for that. I'm doing the director of preschool again. It's crazy, but it's so much fun too! And baby will be coming with me this year. What a difference a year makes!
And I'm needing to plan for our summer trip! We are still going to go on our yearly vacation. And even go somewhere new for the both of us. Well, all THREE of us. We are forgoing a plane for the car. It'll be quite a driving day. And we know where we are going and where we are staying. Charleston - in a carriage house. But other than that, I've got nothing. Which is unusual for this time.
Time is moving fast. I think I need to stop a savor for a while.

Monday's Mmmmm...

There were a few goodies over the past week. Bsby's birthday cake was actually a pumpkin muffin - which she loves for breakfast - but I dressed it up with brown sugar cream cheese icing and of course a candle!! She had a blast eating it and polished the whole thing off.
[she normally has 1-2 mini muffins for breakfast - this was a "big sized" muffin! Yum yum!]

But after all the cute cupcakes, cookies & yummy dip from the party, we had crescent dogs for dinner last night. Hot dogs + crescent rolls + a little garlic for some kick! Yummy!

"So where have I been" Sunday

I was enjoying writing my blog on a mostly daily basis there for a while. It was getting the creative juices flowing. Then, well, I don't know what happened. I guess I just stopped writing. No pressing matters or trips or anything weird happening. Guess it was just one of those times in life where you have more things to do than time. And the blog... That was one of the things that got pushed aside for a while. But I'm missing it. Missing moment that I want to record. So I'm going to "cheat" - post date a few from these past few weeks. It's what I wanted to say, to ponder, to remember. So that's what I'm hoping to do to catch up a little. Then get back on track!

Mmmmm...for Monday

Tonight - sitting on the couch, having a big bowl of Frosted Rice Krispies and watching "How the states got their shape" on the History channel! Mmmm!!!

And mmm...muffins. I made another batch of pumpkin muffins for baby. They, of course, didn't turn out the same as the last batch. I had tweaked a recipe that I had found, but didn't make a note of what I did. So I guessed this time. I guessed mostly right - need less egg, more cinnamon. And tonight, I DID record my version of the recipe, and what I want to do differently!
But even though they were different, baby still snarfed it down. She loves muffins!

My first Mother's Day

Today was a day that has been a long time coming. My first mother's day! And it was a great day! It was low key, mainly a day at home. I got some great gifts from Daniel and from baby -a new Keurig coffee maker and a digital photo frame. Great gifts for mom! Caffeine and pictures! So sweet and thoughtful too!
Today was a special day. I heard mamama many times, got smiles and laughs from my wonderful, on-the-move baby! It was so specia just to watch her play, watch her smile at me, reach for me to pick her up and have her rest her head on my shoulder.
I felt so much love from my baby, husband and friends and family. And that was the best gift of all!

Tales for Tuesday: Starting and Finishing

So I really do want to get back into my everyday - or at least my Monday through Friday blogging.  I have been getting bogged down with the everyday stuff.  So I haven't made time to blog.  And also with the bogging down - I need to sit down, pause, think, clear my head and write for a little while.  I think that it will be good for me.  And my mind.

So my Goals for this year.  I'm not going to abandon them this year.  The "first quarter" of the year was Start It.  I wanted to start some of those things that I was just putting off for one reason or another.  And the "second quarter," which we are already into, is to Finish It.  That stuff that I started, I want it to actually get done!  I still have lots of work to do in the house.  That nagging stuff.  Like those paint cans.  Still sitting there waiting for me.
I HAVE done..
...some reading - finishing the books that I was in the middle of and even starting some other ones.  It's not where I really want it to be, but I'm working on it.  Running - I ran a 5K in March.  It was so much fun; I do look forward to running another one, soon... I am glad to be back out running.  I ran in high school and loved it.  It's a little harder now, being older and most times running with a stroller.  But it's still that hard work fun that I loved before!
And the corners of clutter in every room.  I've attacked several of them.  One being the baby's outgrown clothes.  I've made "three" piles.  Donate, give to my friend (which has actually already been given!) and save for me.  I'm still trying to figure out HOW I'm going to save them (i.e. quilt, frame, special box).  But it's a reasonable amount that can be stored until I figure it out.  I have gotten my guitar out, managed to tune it somewhat and play a few chords.  Boy, I don't remember much.  I would like to fix that!  So my goal for the next few months is to finish all this stuff that I started.  Or wanted to start.  And just get it done once and for all.  This is stuff that's just been put off and put off.  And the time is now.  I'm tired of looking at it, thinking about it.  And I'm about to have someone that's going to be into everything.  So everything needs to have a place - at least for my sanity - if at all possible.

Thursday Three: This week...

I really want to get back to blogging everyday.  But here is a catch up of the week:

1) Monday was "National something on a stick" day.  So I had one of those Jimmy D's pancake/sausage things.  And that's maple syrup on the side, not mustard...  I read on this site that these were pretty yummy.  And indeed it was!  Really good - easy to heat too!  

2) Just listened/watched an online interview and "mini concert" with Laura Story.  It was amazing!  Just what I needed to hear today!  

3) Went to my first very big "kid's consignment" sale today.  There was definitely more stuff there than I thought there would be.  I got a few things.  And a new little drum toy that baby LOVES already! 

Fun for Friday: CVSing

I started couponing recently.  Not like crazy, get 10 papers and use a huge binder couponing.  But if that's your thing, then that's cool.  I like the easier way of using this great website that lists the sales for the week and the corresponding coupons!  Thus the best savings for the week.  I have developed a modest "stockpile" - meaning...  a couple boxes of noodles, canned tomatoes, toothpaste.  Just a couple of shelves in an extra pantry too.  And stuff that we are actually going to use.

So my next step in saving money was to learn to "CVS" and then to learn to do it well.  And I think that I'm on the road to getting good at it.  Today I got all of this stuff and only spent $13 - including tax.  And notice the almost $10 of bucks for next time that I left with.



I had a few extra "bucks" I could have used, but I am saving them for next week.  I'm eyeing some meds and mascara that are going to be on sale next week.  Save, plan, spend!!!

Thursday Three: Long night, Long day

1. Last night was pretty rough.  Baby had a fever and was also missing mommy apparently.  So I was up with her, which is out of the norm.

2. So this morning was a two coffee morning.  And with the first cup of coffee, I took some Aleve.  I've never really done that before, taking meds with a hot beverage.  I've almost done it.  But this morning, I did it without realizing it.  Quite a surprise.  I definitely needed that second cup of coffee...

3. And today was my first day without my acid reflux medicine.  I have been taking for a long time now.  And recently with a change of insurance, the new carrier really just doesn't WANT to pay for it anymore.  I have been getting the runaround for the past 4 months.  They have been filling it, but have been making it increasingly harder for me to get it every time.  So I have run out again.  My prescription was supposed to be for 12 refills (a year's worth).  But I guess 4 refills was enough for them.  When I went to refill it, the computer information had apparently "reset" itself to say that I have ZERO refills.  I just don't want to fight it anymore.  So, I'm just going to see what happens without it.

Wednesday Wares: Stroller

So I went to the "mart" - I do not like going there.  But what I wanted to get... it was going to be the best place.  I got an umbrella stroller.  I wanted to have a little stroller in my arsenal for quick trips, or sharing vehicles - and to possibly take with us on our trip this summer.  And I found one.  One that I really liked (Winnie the Pooh).  And it was the right price.  But of course, there was only ONE left, and it was on the bottom of a big pile of pink princess ones.  Not that the pink ones were bad, just not for me...
So I dug it out, with one hand - baby was in the other arm.
And she really does like it!  I wheeled her around the house in it and she had a blast!

Tales for Tuesday: determination and perseverance

So I'm running in a 5K race this weekend.  I use the terms "run" and "race" very loosely.  I have wanted to get back into running.  I used to run in high school and college.  In high school, I ran cross country - and often ran 6-10 miles a day.  Boy, that sounds crazy!!  Now I'm just trying to run.  My goal is to run about 2 or 3.  And I'm at about 2 miles.  I hope.  Guess we will find out just how far I can run on Saturday!

With all this running, I am learning to appreciate two main lessons:  determination and perseverance.  Which are obviously being applied while I run, but I am needed to apply these principles in so many other areas of my life now.  I'm needing these skills in my life now, as a mom, more than when I didn't have a baby. Sometimes just getting up takes determination.  And I have to have perseverance in feeding the baby girl.  She is just not a great eater, so I have to keep trying - slogging through those yucky faces and refusals to try yet again.  That's sometimes harder than running up that last hill in those last few minutes of my morning run.  I'm going to hang onto and hone these skills.  Because I'm going to need them...

Making up for last week...on Monday: ABC's

A. Age: mid-thirties!!

B. Breakfast food: Love it!  Pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon (mostly turkey bacon) - but I usually just have a bowl of cereal! 

C. Chore you dislike: Probably dusting. I have to do it every week mainly for health reasons.  If I don't, it's even more of a pain when dusting the next week.  I don't do it good enough either.  And you can't really SEE a big difference - or smell one - when it's done.  

D. Dogs: Molly, a sweet weenie dog that has been so sweet to the baby.  Even sweeter than I thought she was going to be! 

E. Essential start to the day: Coffee, cereal, coffee.

F. Favorite color: Gray

G. Gold or silver: pretty much always silver

H. Height: 5'7 on a good day.

I. Instruments: 10 years of piano that I have pretty much forgotten, but not lost the appreciation for the playing or the music!  Also played guitar in high school.  Still have the guitar and I think I remember 3 chords.  I want to play again...soon.  And do Rock Band drums count?! 

J. Job title:  Stay at home mom.  Or that crazy lady with the baby. 

K. Kids:  One sweet baby girl - that actually turns ONE pretty soon. 

L. Live:  In the south - where it's already summer...  in March. 

M. Month:  November.  Just cool enough.  Just enough rain.  And football! 

N. Nicknames:  Um, not really. 

O. Overnight hospital stays:  A couple of minor surgeries, before EVERYTHING was outpatient.  

P. Pet peeves:  Cars not pulling over for emergency vehicles.  Words that people use in all seriousness that aren't real words but kind of sound like the words they are trying to say - that are accepted as correct.  [Read: things that Joey might have said on Friends]

Q. Quote from a movie:  I had to think about this for a while.  I like various types of movies, many of them not really quotable.  But my favorite "random quote" has to be from Blues Brothers: "This place has got everything" [when they are being chased by the police through a mall]
But my new favorite quote comes from a movie that I thought I wouldn't like.  With an actor that I usually can't watch.  Evan Almighty.  Morgan Freeman, playing God, says this: 
"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous?"
Pretty amazing thought from a movie.  

R. Righty or lefty: Right

S. Siblings: none.  

T. Time you wake up: When the baby wakes up.  Pretty much about 7 am everyday. 

U. Uniform:  Jeans, knit shirt of some type, usually some gray on.  Flip flops in the summer (or just when it's warm enough!)

V. Vegetables you don’t like:  Water chestnut.  Is it a nut?  Whatever it is, it's gross.  

W. What makes you run late:  Just being me?  Ha.  I'd like to say "the baby," but really, I'm just a late person.  I really don't want to be.  I try not to be. 

X. X-rays you’ve had:  Teeth (regular dentist checkup), Hand (see above, surgery - removal of needle)

Y. Yummy food you make:  I make pretty good baked goods, not pretty, but good! 


Z. Zoo animal favorites:  Sea Lions - how they jump and swim and lay in the sun!  So cute! 

Thursday Three: The squirrel adventure

1) Hear noise and see squirrel IN screen porch

2) Let squirrel out

3) Fix door

So here's the story of my little afternoon adventure.  I heard this noise on my screen porch - this weird thumping.  I didn't like the sound of it...so of course I went to investigate.  And as I looked out the window of the back door, this squirrel popped his head up over a chair.  So, I thought to myself - Uh squirrel on porch... now what?  And of course I grabbed the camera for a quick shot!  So here's the squirrel where I first saw him.  I didn't want to open the door to the porch from inside the house.  THAT could lead to something pretty bad.  Squirrel in porch, ok.  Squirrel in house, no thanks.  

So my plan was to go around to the back deck to the screen door.  I can reach the latch on this door from the outside.  I figured that out a few weeks ago, and that discovery came in handy today.  So I slowly walked over to the door.  I was trying not to scream or squeak or freak out.  The squirrel was doing no such thing.  He was running around like crazy, up on the window ledges and around the chair legs on the ground.  He wanted out of there pretty bad.  I was just hoping that he'd let me get out of the way first.  So I got the door unlatched and hooked it open (I have this other latch that will prop the door open - another very handy thing to have today).  So I opened the door as fast as I could, staying quiet (but jumpy inside) and then I ran to the opposite corner of the deck.  The squirrel - seeing the open door - sprinted for it.  It was so funny to see him just run right for the door and then down the stairs and then all the way to the farthest part of our back yard and up a tree.  Poor thing.  Guess he was ready to be as far away from the porch as he could be.  He didn't stop until he was in that tree - running full speed.  

So the squirrel gone, I wanted to see how he got in.  All the "openings" are screened closed.  But I saw that the screen on the bottom of the door had come out of the groove, and there was a little tear in a part of it.  So I immediately went and got the staple gun.  And sealed up that opening!  And I even got some tape to close up that little tear.  I don't want any more visitors!    

Wednesday Word: Technological Convenience

I was thinking about something today...  The convenience of being able to do things instantly that is causing me to slow down.  Interesting.  I guess it's just the nature of the beast - TV, internet, iPhone.  All the things that are modern conveniences are making my life, well, LESS convenient.  With a baby in the house, that is now more than just a cute little lump that just eats and sleeps, more of my time is being given (gladly) to her.  And I don't think that I'm going to be giving up TV or the internet completely any time soon - nor ever.  So I'm after a way to find how to use these modern technologies (and any new ones I get in the future...) to actually make things more efficient.  Maybe just one tab at a time... I tend to "snowball" and can get sucked in coming up with "new things" to look at.  Maybe moving things around in the house...  I think location of technology might be causing a problem too.  I'm going to figure out how to make it work for ME instead of the other way around.

Tales for Tuesday: Lent

I've never given something up for Lent.  But something has been on my mind to do - to try to change something - to make a new habit.  And this is a good time to focus on it...  

I want to work on communication.  I want to NOT say certain things - and TO say other things.  I want to work on thoughtful speech.  It's not really certain words that I'm not wanting to say.  It's just general content.  I want to pay more attention to what comes out.  This is going to take more than what I have in me.  Integral to this change - prayer, power and grace from God.  But this is something that I want.  That I need.  So I'm in.  

Making on...Monday: National Cereal Day

In honor of National Cereal Day:

I, of course, had cereal for breakfast.  It is a rare day that I don't.  But to "celebrate" I accidentally poured my cereal on my lap.  And not just a little.  But, don't cry over spilt milk?

Thursday Three: Triple threes...

Use for baby mittens by the baby: 

1) To chew on

2) Put on a stuffed animal to distract her during diaper changes

3) As puppets (they have cute little faces on them)

but not as mittens - when they are on her hands they come right off

Things that I never did everyday (but always really wanted to) but now having a baby I DO everyday:

1) Load (or unload) the dishwasher - never letting dishes sit on the counter - I run out of baby dishes quickly!

2) Make the bed - I just feel messy if it's not done now

3) Journaling - I have been off and on with journaling in my life, and for the past year I've been doing it everyday.  For things I want to remember.  For things I need to think through.  For things that I just need to get out of my head.  It's a wonderful pondering and cleansing exercise for my brain.  

Things that I am learning being a mommy:

1) Sometimes I don't need to "fix it" - it will just fix itself 

2) Phases - I recently read something about phases - That really everything is a phase, the bad stuff is a phase that you get through, and the good stuff is a phase also, that you need to cherish and enjoy!

3) Happiness is contagious.  If I'm happy and silly (most times) the baby is too! 

Wednesday Ware/Wow: Nutella

So I got some Nutella this week.  And I don't know why I have never had it before.  I have heard great (and yummy) things about it for so long, but had just never tried it.  And this week, I grabbed it.  And I am so glad that I did!  So far, I've had it on fruit - banana and Nutella YUM!!
To me it has a chocolaty, almost coffee flavor to it, that I really love.  And maybe several years ago, before my love of coffee really kicked in, I wouldn't have really liked it.  But now... it's going to be a staple in the house!!  And any "Nutella on" ideas are welcome and requested!!

Tales for Tuesday: The Solicitor

Today during naptime, the doorbell rang.  Unexpectedly.  I usually prepare for evasive doorbell action when the UPS man, etc comes down the street - ready to take the dog downstairs if she starts barking/we get a delivery.  I don't want her barking to disturb the baby sleeping.  But today, there was no warning.  Just a doorbell ringing and then the dog barking.
I don't like opening the door for people if I can't tell who they are - or what they represent.  A few months ago, I had a random doorbell ring and it was the meter reader.  I could see his uniform and well-marked truck in front of my house.  And I'm glad I got that one...we had a really bad leak that needed to be taken care of immediately!
But today, there was an unkempt lady with a messy clipboard on my front porch.  And I looked for a vehicle.  Nothing in my driveway or directly in front of my house.  There was an unmarked white van kind of down the street a little.  No way was I opening the door.  So I gathered up the dog and put her on the back porch to calm down a little.  But then the lady rang the doorbell again.  I was getting a little frustrated by then.  Because the second ring - she pushed twice.  Ring Ring.  Annoying.  Then a third time, she beat on the door and rang the doorbell.  The poor dog was barking like crazy - good for her.  She was alerting the neighbors about this crazy person!
Finally she gave up.  I went to another window to see where she was headed, and there was a cop car that had pulled up to the van.  Someone had called the cops on them.  The policeman talked to the guy that was driving the van for about 10 minutes (yeah, I kept an eye on the situation) and the lady I guess was "called" back to the van by the cop.  And then the van left (hopefully with a ticket or citation of some sort) while the police stayed for a minute after they drove off.
I have never been accosted like that by a solicitor...  Well, my door was accosted, not me.  And I have never gotten such instant gratification of justice.  I was disturbed - so was the dog - not so much the baby though, but she could have been.  And then just like that - law enforcement was there to run them off!!  Yea!!
It was a pretty exciting day on my street today!  

Making on...Monday: Sauteed Snack

Sauteed banana (in a small pat of unsalted butter) - made first for the baby, but she just thought it was "ok"
But I thought it was fantastic.  So much so that I made sauteed bananas with some blueberries for a snack for ME today!  Yummy!  It gives the bananas a sweet & savory flavor.  Very dessert-like, but without adding sugar.  And I used minimal butter too, just a sliver, not even a teaspoon!  Oh and I put a little spray of Rediwhip on the top of the fruit... so good!

Thursday Three: This week

1) The "My Panera" card - so fun!  You get a free treat for signing up.  And a treat for your birthday.  It's so fun!

2) Yogaglo.com  classes at HOME!

3) My Publix receipt from this week.  I think the best savings amount so far in my couponing...  

Wednesday Word: Mystery

And the definition of the word mystery this week is... baby!!

Every time I think I've figured something out, the baby changes the rules.  What worked yesterday, doesn't work today, but might work tomorrow.  That is the mystery that is a baby.  And I don't think that it's ever going to change.  I'm just going to be discovering page by page my little wonder - my little mystery.  When she can talk, there will be other things to wonder about, beside the basics of eating and sleeping.  The mystery will change, but continue!

Tales for Tuesday: Discipline

I have been thinking lately about what I want to do.  Running, reading, actually taking time to relax.  Hey, everything is starting with an "R" - I also want to do some picture projects and household projects.  It's not the desire to do these things - either the fun stuff or the work stuff.  It's the WANTING to want to do them.  And the other day (actually while running) I figured out what I need - what it is that I actually want.  Discipline.  The discipline to see something, to make a plan and to DO it.  That second step is where I get hung up.  I make the plans.  Have the ideas of what I want to do and how I want to do it.  But the doing... that somehow gets put off or shuffled around and partly done.  That is why this year's goals for me are hopefully going to instill some motivation - some action - some actual DOING in my life.  I don't know what I'm waiting for.  The perfect time?  Um, yeah, that will never come.  An opportunity.  Yeah, not going to come either.  I have to make the opportunity.  Make priorities and have the discipline to follow through and finish whatever it is that I do.

Making on...Monday: Birthday Cake

I am in the process of making a birthday cake for Daniel.  It's one of his favorites and so easy to make.  Yellow cake - with ice cream on the top! The cake is in the freezer and waiting for the ice cream layer.  And then a good freeze for a birthday surprise!

Thursday Three: Interesting Innnovations

(yeah, it's Saturday, but it's been a crazy week)

1) I have a dowel (thin wooden rod) in the baby's room to "fish" for pacis that have been thrown under the crib (which is flush to the floor in the front).  Not sure how she can get them in the dead center of the crib, but now I can just knock them out so that they are retrievable!

2) Lazy susan on the kitchen table - which holds all the feeding needs for the baby.  Bowls, spoons, cereal, napkins (for face wiping) and a sippy cup.  So no lugging all that stuff to the table eat feeding time.  It's just right there at a spinning arms length!

3) Not sure if this is really "innovating" but my bedside table that was in my room growing up, that has followed me into adulthood is now the "landing" table for the baby's diaper bag. I tried a hook in her room, but sometimes I need to get to it when SHE is in the room... napping.  Especially at this point in time when it is my purse also.  So it is nice for the bag to have its own spot where it lives, outside her room, easy to grab on the way out the door and accessible at all times of the day.  And it's not taking up an already purposed surface in our house.  And not on the floor where the dog would have a great time digging through it!

Wednesday Wares: Recumbent Bike

So we got a recumbent bike a couple of weeks ago.  And I put it mostly together and then Daniel helped when I got to the "two person" portion of assembly.  It's smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is good.  It fits perfectly in the space where we wanted it to go.  Loving the new workout option downstairs!

Tales for Tuesday: My coffee order...

I have a Keurig coffee maker that I really enjoy - it makes one cup at a time.  And I order my coffee via the internet.  I have been ordering for several years, and the coffee is delivered in about 2-3 days.  Recently my normal ordering site went up on prices.  So I found another great site, and ordered from them.  The first order that I got arrived super fast.  In 2-3 days, just like I was used to.  So to get even better prices at this new site, I joined their "club."  I usually don't do that kind of thing.  But I could control when, what and how much shipped.  So this was great!  But my first "club" order that I placed - on the 19th of January - was quite a fiasco.
It was not shipped FedEx as was my first order with them; it was shipped FedEx Smartpost.  This delivery system, while good in theory, is very slow in execution.  It transfers from FedEx delivery to your local post office.  I know that it is to save money.  But it sure does not save time...
After two weeks, and lots of tracking, the notification said that it was at the post office.  But a week passed, and it still wasn't delivered.  So Daniel called the post office, to maybe see if they could shed some light.  The lady was actually really helpful.  She said that they only had the billing information.  But the tracking info said that they HAD the box.  Huh.  Again, not so smart, the "Smartpost."
So I contacted the coffee customer service, saying "Hey I didn't get my order.  I think it is lost.  And please remove me from the club ordering."  And after 3 emails to 3 different, but very nice and helpful customer service reps, I got my order yesterday.  The REshipped order.  They had even offered to ship it via FedEx, with no additional charges to me!  I was pretty impressed with their customer service.  Especially since they had un-signed me up from the club FIRST.
I was glad to finally get my coffee order, a MONTH later.  But when it was delivered, the FedEx guy put it in front of my garage door.  He always delivers to the front porch.  I have no idea what he was doing with that box.  But if I hadn't gone for a run that morning and seen the box, I would have crushed it with my car when I backed out of the garage.
This order was just doomed from the beginning.  So much drama for a box of coffee...

Making on...Monday: One Big Kiss!

For Valentines, I usually make Daniel a big chocolate KISS!  Yum!

Thursday Three: Great Day!

1) Baby is NINE months today!  I can't believe how big she is!  What a joy to have her in our lives!

2) Recumbent bike!  Daniel and I got one - I guess sort of for our birthdays.  But really we just wanted to have an alternative to the very loud clicking and squeaking elliptical machine.  We are slowly building an exercise room downstairs!

3) Wonderful (mostly) surprise lunch with friends!  So fun!

Wednesday Word: Later...again

Later - it's been a "plan" of mine for so long.  But rarely does later come.  And while you are waiting for later, you lose much of NOW.  So later is leaving... NOW (not later).  I look forward to living in the now and doing what needs to be done.  That means making decisions about stuff - I've got lots to go through.  But the time is now!  I look forward to tackling all my "laters" very soon!

Tales for Tuesday: The spatula theory

Today I was making baby food and I was scraping out the pureed carrots out of the food processor bowl with a rubber spatula.  And I got most of it out, and just rinsed out the bowl.  This doesn't sound very earth-shattering.  But it was pretty big for me.  I didn't take the time to scrape every last drop of food out.  I just did it good enough.  And when putting each little dollop into the trays for feeding, I just plopped it in there, not even minding that I got some on the edges.  I didn't even clean it up.  I'm finally getting to the point that doing it "pretty good" is actually great.  Trying for everything to be perfect is just exhausting and it will NEVER be that way.
Having a baby in the house is teaching me this new lesson - one that I have needed for a while.  And it's great!  Doing things just fine is still good enough and saves so much time and stress!  Today I was watching a show with Peter Walsh - my favorite organizer - and he was talking to a client.  She was striving for perfection, but because she could never get it perfect, she just stopped trying.  And everything became LATER.  But later never came.  Hence the horrible cluttered mess.  He told her that if she was looking for perfection, she was never going to find happiness.  How true is that.  Perfection doesn't exist in this world.  But happiness - joy really we can find. Joy in the Lord.  Joy for the blessings that He has given us.  Joy for each day that comes.  This is where the happy is.
I do sometimes like things "just so" but that tendency is getting less and less.  More with age, more with joy in my life, more with being a mommy.  I am enjoying doing things well, but quickly and NOT perfect.
So many thoughts from that spatula.  A utensil made to get every little bit out of a bowl.  But it doesn't have to.  It can just be a utensil to get the majority - quickly and smoothly!

Making on... Monday: No more draft

Sunday, I made my annual Superbowl cake! 

And Monday, I made this draft blocker for our back door.  I had some leftover fabric from some curtains.  And a leftover pillow.  One that had been sort of destroyed by the dog, but the stuffing was still good!  So I made a tube and stuffed it.  Now we are much warmer in that corner of the den.  Especially baby, since that's where her exersaucer lives!

Thursday Three: Wondering...

1) I wonder if there was research done into the sound of the inclement weather siren, to elevate adrenaline.  Because today, even just with the first of the month testing of the siren, my heart was racing.  And I knew there wasn't any danger.  But it gets my "fight or flight" flighting.

2) Why are things easier but harder on the Mac?  Daniel says that they make things simple for the casual user, but in that simplicity, there are so many different files saved that it takes up the hard drive.  And if you want to move those files to an external drive, good luck finding them and then getting whatever program to work with the files not on the Mac.  (It won't)  So ease of use, just don't try to do it your way.

3) Where my coffee order is.  Two weeks ago it shipped from Atlanta.  And I haven't seen it.  And I wonder what customer service is going to do about it?  I've contacted them, but they don't seem really psyched about helping...yet.

Wednesday Wisdom: Thoreau

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. 
  - Henry David Thoreau

This is one of my favorite quotes.  And I was thinking about it this week...  

Peter Walsh, my favorite organizing expert, says that clutter is usually memory clutter or someday clutter.  These hold you in the past or pull you to the future.  But your life is what you are living RIGHT NOW.  So thinking about that, I read this quote again.  I do like the fact that this quote encourages to go after your dreams, instead of just sitting around waiting for something to happen.  But what struck me was that as you are going in the direction of you dreams, life IS happening.  Life is happening now, during the going...  

So I want to enjoy every minute of life - achieving the dreams that I have for life, and thoroughly enjoying the road to get there too! 

Tales for Tuesday: Running

So I finally got out on Monday morning with the running stroller.  Baby's first time - at least for more than 10 minutes - in the stroller.  I ran around our neighborhood.  I planned it that way - more likely for me to get up and go (if it didn't involve a car) and if there was a meltdown, it would be easier to get back home.  It was the perfect day for it too.  Not too hot or cold - and it had rained the night before, so the road was wet and everything still had that "just rained" smell which I love.  And between pushing the stroller and watching for traffic (of which there were 2 cars), the time went by so fast.  It was so fun - great weather, fun running, and the baby enjoyed it too!

Making on... Monday: Convection

Well, this weekend I made more baby food.  And while doing it, I made the biggest mess that I have since I started making the purees.  And it was a prune puree.  Quite the mess.
I made a pizza tonight with dough from Publix.  So fun to do that!  And I made it with the convection setting of my oven.  It had a great crust - soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside.  YUM!
My friend and I discovered that we have the same exact oven, as she was telling me about how she convects everything.  And I really had never used that setting - just because I was unsure how things would turn out.  But with the years of success that she has had with the setting - and oh, how easy it is - we are now convecting EVERYTHING!!  It really is easy - there is a button to convert.  All you do is punch in what type of cooking it is (baking, etc) then what the conventional temp and time are.  WHY was I not using this the whole time we have had this oven?  It cooks better and faster.  Who knew?  (guess my friend did, and glad that she shared with me!

Friday: Falling apart and back together

I'm not falling apart.  I was just having one of those days where everything seems to be breaking.  I got home from errands on Friday and the internet was out.  This happens once in a while, so it really wasn't shocking.  So I went to reboot the modem and restarted the computer.  The old "turn it off, turn it back on" fix it method.  Well, that didn't work.  So I checked the cable, since they are the same provider.  It was gone too - even the "small number" channels.  Again, not so surprising that our HD and digital channels disappear.  But for channel 20 to be gone.  That's weird.  I asked my neighbor if his internet, etc was out.  He said it was - and he was actually in the car on the way to search for some wi-fi.  He also said there was a wreck that took down some poles that knocked out power and other services.  Whoa!  So I was glad to have power at that point.
My plan had been to cue up this yoga website on the TV and do a yoga class.  But, alas, no internet.  And really, I wasn't sure what the TV was going to do either.  It was on the fritz, taking about 5-10 minutes to turn on, while buzzing and turning itself on and off.  As if to muster up the courage to turn on.  So I didn't have to really bother with it.  It was a little weird not having the internet.  It's amazing to realize how much I rely on it.  I did a few things on my phone.  But I took the opportunity during my "unplugged" afternoon to read a book.  I have all these distractions and other things that get in the way.  It was nice to have that cleared away for the afternoon, so I could curl up with some coffee and a book and just read during nap time!  I liked it so much, that I might do an "unplugged" afternoon once a week!

Oh, and the TV....
Daniel researched online about what the problem was and different ways to fix it/have it fixed.  So thinking about the pros and cons of having someone come and fix it, Daniel headed to Radio Shack and got the parts to fix it himself.  The internet and YouTube have so much information.  Our problem with the TV and how to fix it step by step.  So with soldering iron in hand, Daniel fixed the TV!!  Now it turns on - amazing - on the first try!  And no more buzzing noise.  So about 2 hours (including shopping, disassembling and soldering) and 20 bucks the TV is fixed!  WOW!!!

Thursday Three

1) I actually saw in person (as I was driving down the street) a guy get crushed by an ATV.  He was jumping up and down on it, while it was on a trailer and it flipped off, on top of him.  He got up, guess he was ok.  I never thought I'd see THAT in "real life."

2)  Despicable Me - super cute movie & really it!

3) Kettle corn popcorn.  Awesome snack! 

Wednesday Wares: Water Bobble!

I got a new water bottle - a Water Bobble - last week, of course at Target.  And I love it!  Because there is a filter inside, you can fill it up anywhere.  And the water tastes great!  It also stays closed really well and has a little cap, which makes it great for throwing in a purse or bag.  I love grabbing it on the way out the door.  It's great to have with me.  And has definitely increased my water intake.

Tales for Tuesday: Just a number

And the number that I'm thinking of... the size of clothing.  I learned at a pretty early age that the number inside the clothing really didn't matter that much.  That if you weren't a certain size, but you tried to squeeze into one that was way too small, that it really didn't look that great.  (One of my friends did this on a regular basis)  That sometimes going up a size sometimes makes you look better, even slimmer!  I know that size is just a number.  When it comes to me.

The baby is now 8 months old.  And she is wearing 9 months on the top and 6 months on the bottom.  There are some things that she can wear 6-12 months on both.  But I was thinking about it the other day...  She's small?  She's long?  She seems to be getting bigger, but then there she was one day last week wearing a 3-6 month outfit.  Huh.  It's crazy how the sizing is totally different between stores - much different than adult clothing.  And how different she is fitting in tops and bottoms.  On so many things, I have to put her in the bigger size for LENGTH.  Many of her shirts were becoming 3/4 length sleeves - and not supposed to be like that.  She's not getting "bigger" just longer!  Many people have remarked how she is getting SO BIG.  It's all arms and legs - they are everywhere!  And they are always moving!

Making on... Monday: Even more baby food

I'm finally getting faster at making baby food.  The peeling - mainly of pears and apples - still takes forever.  But I kind of know a little better about how long things are going to have to cook.  And how long to puree them.  And getting the little puree into the cubes - that's getting smoother too.  It was a big mess at first.  But I've got a technique now! 

Today I made a pumpkin/banana puree.  Well, it was a lot easier than some....  Open can of pumpkin - organic pumpkin, not pie filling :) -- then mash banana.  Then mash together.  It was a little more challenging than other stuff to get into the cubes.  It so wanted to stay on the spoon.  

The best part of this mix-up puree.  Baby LOVED it!  She was very excited to get something new, that wasn't green.  She seems to love orange!  

Thursday Three: Just for fun...

1) I used to be the crazy lady.  Now I'm the crazy lady with the baby.  At least I'm having a good time being crazy!

2) Breakfast for lunch.  Breakfast for dinner.  YUM!  Tuesday, I had breakfast 3 times - plus a bowl of cereal for a snack in the evening!  Waffles, eggs, bacon, cereal - and combinations therein!

3) My dishwasher's top rack has now been taken over by the baby - baby bowl and baby spoons!  Yea for solids!

Wednesday Words: Romans 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Tales for Tuesday: Beauty

Today was the Bible study kickoff for the new semester.  And we had a speaker who has a great clothing line:   Nations Outfitters.  The way this business came about and what it represents just really spoke to me.

Recently, I have been thinking about beauty - what it means, how the world defines it and how I think about it - or at least should think about it.  I've always heard, be beautiful on the inside!  Today, I heard a great thought to kind of expand that.  You can look good on the outside (e.g. with cute clothes) but it's what you DO in those clothes that really makes the difference, that is what really defines your beauty.

So many messages are being told to us by retailers these days - and most of them are just not healthy or "moral" or just plain icky.  One of my friends recently was extremely bothered by a Victoria's Secret window display.  And after reading her blog and letter to the company (way to go!) I really did take a step back and think about what she said.  The advertising, the quality, the fit have all gone downhill from when I first started shopping there.  How did I not notice this?  I had just been so trained to think that those items were the best out there, until someone else pointed out the truth.  There are better things out there - better quality, more modesty - and I will find them.  See ya Vickys!

With a daughter that is going to be looking to me to set an example of what beauty is, I want to be sure to set a good one.  We will not be shopping in stores with racy ads or trashy clothes.  I want us both to learn to have beauty coming from the inside - that the outside can be nice, but it isn't what matters.  True beauty is in the truth that we are made in God's image.  And living for Him is how we are beautiful.

Making on... Monday: Spreadsheet edition

I made something today that would probably fall into the nerdy category - more nerd, less on the creativity.  But still I am excited about it.  I made a grid sheet for making my grocery list.  I am now getting coupon listings from southern savers, meal lists from emealz, then also buying for breakfast, lunches, snacks and baby.  Too much going on to try to make a huge list.  Even with my formerly used spreadsheet, that listed all items and estimated prices and the aisle that they are on.
But I needed something more streamlined and straightforward - and LESS organized, in a way.  My new list has columns for each general category in the store - and rows for each meal, and other times of eating (i.e. snacks).  That way I'm not just throwing stuff in the cart, thinking we need snacks, then finding that I bought way too many.  I can see what I want to get and set limits.  And hopefully this will help with the grocery bill too!

Blessing & Gratitude

Happy smiles and giggles from baby girl! She can always make us laugh! 

And we enjoyed a nice walk outside as a family this afternoon.  Simple but so fun. 

Thursday Three: The "anti-me" mommy plan

So being a mom is kind of going against my natural inclination for things.  I am having to change my ways, just a little bit.  And for the better, I think.  It's definitely making life more interesting.  So here are the new rules:

1) Always expect the opposite that should, or that you think will happen
2) Don't plan or organize anything - or do plan then see rule #1
3) And finally, sit back and enjoy - Whatever happens will happen!

Wednesday Word: "Later"

Peter Walsh - a great organizer that has been on several shows, and now has his own "OWN" show - and has written several great books - says that there are two types of clutter.  Memory Clutter and "I might need this one day" Clutter.  And those two types of clutter keep you tied either to the past or to the future.  Not living in the right now.
I am a very organized person - but not necessarily a "neat" person.  I do have those corners of various rooms, the backs of closets, drawers and piles stashed in various places.  And those piles are pretty much all "memory" and "someday" clutter.  Just like Monica on Friends, I may appear to be super organized, but I have that "locked closet" of STUFF.
I just can't seem to get rid of stuff that reminds me of _____.  Or the stuff that I might need one day, because I did use it in the past, and I wouldn't want to spend the money to buy it again.  This is the reason for my goal for the new year - getting to THOSE corners.  I just feel like they are weighing me down.  And I've wanted to get to them for a while.  I just said that I would get to them LATER.
Later...
Such a bad word.  Because, later never comes.  There's always a reason.  I'll go through this... later.  I'll throw it away... later.  Well, later is NOW!  With the baby getting bigger every day, I want those corners GONE.  I want it to be neat. To only have the stuff that I need, that I love, that I use.  Watching Peter Walsh's new show has really got that "I have to throw stuff out right now" feeling churning in my brain.  But have I picked up the trash bag yet?
No,  I was thinking about doing it later....