Random Explosion of Thoughts

Genius? Nah.

2012-02-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

I cannot tell you how many times I interact with Little Man and think, "wow, he's a genius!" Case in point: The other day he was telling me about being an astronaut and how there is no gravity in his rocketship. Wha? Ok, I know he doesn't know what gravity is so conceptually, it falls a little short but he knows that gravity is something and there isn't any in space! Hello, genius much? Don't worry folks, I'm quickly crash-landed back to earth and reminded he isn't a genius when the very next day he stands, literally, 4 inches from his potty seat & proceeds to pee his pants and pee all over the floor - all the while calling upstairs to me (where I'm changing Urban Cowbaby's diaper) "Mama, I'm peeing my pants!" (SIGH)

Speaking of Urban Cowbaby, she's officially crawling now and seems to have simultaneously taught herself to cruise furniture, too. Eep! She's not just mobile, she's horizontally & laterally mobile! Double trouble! Add to that her super-adventerous, exploratory nature (so unlike Little Man was) and we have a lot of head bumps, chewed paper, illegal toy chewing, etc. Good thing she's so damned cute and is fairly easy-going because it lessens the stress of managing her mobility while also managing Little Man's play.

She also learned to do all of the following within 1week: crawl, cruise, wave, clap, and blow raspberries. Whew. She should be exhausted but her 2 newest teeth have kept her (and us) up at nights and she seems to scoff at the idea of naps unless we work really hard at it. We, as parents, wholly believe in and selfishly appreciate naps, though, so we really do work hard to get her to regularly nap. On good days, I can even get her nap at the same time as Little Man which allows me a bit of time to clean or do laundry or read or whatever.

Urban Cowboy has begun training for his next major running endeavor. He's going to run an Ultra-Marathon in September. What is that, you ask? He's going to run for 24 hours (straight) and the idea is to run the most possible miles in that amount of time. Yes, I did marry a crazy man.

Breastfeeding

2012-02-13T09:09:00.002-05:00

Breastfeeding Myths - DeBunked (again!)

http://blog.nurturedchild.ca/index.php/2011/01/30/the-truth-behind-common-breastfeeding-myths/

Should there be a 4th R?

2012-01-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

I just read a blog post on Seventh Generation's website in which is was proposed that there should be a 4th R in the REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE campaign. The proposed 4th R would be REPAIR. I have to say, I completely agree with this. Recently, our washer & dyer both went caput on us (in the same week, in fact) and between the 2 appliances it only cost us approximately $75 to REPAIR versus buying new. Now, the cost was kept down soely because Urban Cowboy did the work himself, thanks to the internet and other DIYers sharing their knowledge. If he had not repaired them himself or if we had not been willing to pay a repair person to do it, it would have resulted in 2 perfectly good appliances in a landfill. How sad. In fact, I even get shoes repaired when the wear out. Now, in all honesty, I do have to confess that I get shoes repaired more because I like those specific pairs more than because it helps the earth to do so ... but, still. Anyway, I just thought I would spread the whole idea of the need for a 4th R out there - we can all think about it and decide or act accordingly.

The Baby Jesus Theme

2012-01-24T18:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday evening I was playing with the Little Man and we were playing with one of his wooden puzzles. He hands me a puzzle piece which happens to be a Duck in a Bathtub and says, "here, Mama, hold Baby Jesus". Ok, a little weird (I know) but I just go with it. A few moments go by and Little Man takes the Duck in a Bathtub (aka Baby Jesus) back and says, "Baby Jesus is in the manger Mama" and he proceeds to place the puzzle piece in its correct home. At this point, I decide to join in this themed play and pick up a Puppy Catching a Frisbee puzzle piece and I ask, "Little Man, is this one of the Wise Men visiting Baby Jesus?" Little Man responds with, "No, Mama, that's a dog." Well, of course it is ... silly me. LOL

Etc.

2012-01-17T15:41:00.000-05:00

- I got a Kindle for Christmas ( thank you, Urban Cowboy) and I really like it. I've noticed 2 things about it 1) when I type I get very frustrated and until recently didn't know why...it's because the "typepad" (it's not a touch screen) is in A-Z order vs. like a traditional keyboard. Duh - took me a month to figure that out. 2) I love, love, love having a dictionary at my fingertips!

- I can't figure out why the religious background/standing of our potential presidential candidates matters. I mean, seriously, if we elect a Mormon does that mean we'll all be sujected to "Mormon-ism". No and, frankly, people are dumb. I mean, isn't there a lot more important news to report on than this? And, while I'm on the topic of politics, again, I have to point out that there is a lot of important stuff going on in the world and I cannot, cannot, cannot figure out why the potential presidential candidates still qualify the abortion issue as important in the "big, national picture." Just leave it alone already.

- My conversation with my boss went as well as expected. We have agreed to only go up and be positive from here on out. No, I have not told her my intentions for the end of the school year - I think I need to sit on it a bit longer to a) repair/rebuild our relationship for a positive parting and b) improve my chances for staying on in some type of reduced-hours, specialized capacity.

- Urban Cowbaby is the queen of the army crawl and she's ridiculously fast! One second she's on the carpet, the next she's trying to eat the heating vent. LOL It's tough to keep up, honestly. Little Man is doing a great job potty training! We're very proud of him.

- I thought I accepted the imperfections of the one pair of pj pants I made for Little Man but, alas, it is not true. Two nights ago I ripped the waistband apart and plan to repair over the weekend. I will get this right.

- Sirius Radio is rocking my world again. I found a new channel, LaughUSA, that entertains me on the way home from work. Sometimes I'm laughing so hard that I'm sure people driving by me think I'm a lunatic.

Follow-Up to "Not the First, Not the Last"

2012-01-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 17 I posted about being punished for certain life choices we all make. In my case, I was specifically upset that I am being punished at work for choosing to be part-time instead of full-time so I can be at home with our kids more. Well, a few weeks ago, I was pursuing an opportunity completely unrelated to my current position but, unfortunately (and shortsightedly), within my employment community and with very poor timing (oops). Let's just say that it was a complete disaster and my boss rang me through the wringer for it. Let's also say that she's been harboring negative feelings toward me from the very beginning of our relationship and all due to the same issues: She claims I don't trust her and by not sharing all of my information/aspirations with her I consequently disrepect her. She also claims that while she's addressed this issue with me twice previously (although, not so candidly as in this most recent incident) I continue to disrespect her by not trusting her and she finds it insulting. (SIGH) So, the question is where the hell do I go from here? Her expectation is that I respond to her in some way as I was quite silent during our meeting when she laid this all out for me. Also, in that meeting she told me she can't tell if I just say things to "appease" her and if not, why I continue to do the same things to "hurt" her. I'm struggling with how to respond to all that, especially with so much time passed between the incident and now. I'm also struggling with how I can move forward and positively repair/rebuild the relationship considering I will very much need her and a good reference from her if I choose to move out of my current position. One thing I have decided is that I am not going to outline my logic to her. I have done that previously and it's clearly not accepted as reasonable. Additionally, I'm not going to tell her that I think the words "trust" and "management" don't belong in the same sentence with one another. Finally, I'm not going to tell her that this most recent incident stems from me exploring options which may change her team structure and my work structure. So, what's left? I think I will take L's advice and simply tell her that I am sorry for appearing to be disingenuous and that my intent has never been driven by malice - I did not intentionally disrespect her and am sorry that she thinks I have ... I'm still struggling with the exact wording. But outside of those two brief points, I do not think it is wise to say anything more on the matter because, based on what she's already shared with me regarding her feelings/perecptions toward me, if I say more she won't believe I am being sincere and that I'm simply attempting to say things for the sake of saying them. All of this does not make the idea of coming to work very appealing and I am sad for that.

Sewing - Pajama Pants

2011-12-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

I recently sewed 2 pair of pajama pants for Little Man. I used fabric I had just lying around the house and both pairs are perfectly gender neutral so Urban Cowbaby can wear them too. 1 pair came out a bit wonky because, despite the fact I ripped out the elastic twice, the elastic seemed to be measured incorrectly both times. The result is they are a bit big around the waist and we have to pull them up a lot. But they're pajama pants so he only has them on for a bit before he goes to bed and they don't seem to bother him when he's sleeping.

Also, very high on my list of sewing to-dos is to make Little Man 2 pajama shirts using old t-shirts. I'm going to ask Little Man's Opa if he has any t-shirts he's willing to donate to the cause. All of Urban Cowboy's shirts are too small as you need an XL size shirt. I'm also going to solicit donations of old ribbed tanks from a few friends - I just recently cleaned out my collection or I would use one of mine.

Anyway, remember when I made the sweater pillow? Well, I was left with the sleeves of the sweater and I still haven't thrown them out or repurposed them. Currently, I'm torn between two options: 1) make them into another pair of pajama pants for Little Man. I found a few tutorials that make it seem simple/easy but I'm a bit lost on one crucial step so hesitating or 2) make them into 2 rice heat bags with lavendar scent. The lavendar is from my garden that I brought in and dryed. So, I guess I'll keep you updated.

Maybe someday I'll even post a pic of Little Man modeling the pj pants. Hahaha

Little Man's Conversation

2011-12-21T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Little Man is an awesome conversationalist! He loves to give us moment-by-moment commentary of what's going on around us. He loves to tell us about all of his imaginings like climbing onto fire trucks with elephants and with monkeys on the ceilings. Lately, he's been into pretending he's the UPS man and likes to load his truck (our stairs) with packages (various household items and toys) for delivery. He's an excellent delivery person and even accepts returns. ;-)

I want to share his 2 best Quotes of 2011:

1. We bring Urban Cowbaby home from the hospital and Little Man checks her out and then says, "She's nice, put her in the closet."

2. We are at a family Christmas party where Santa makes an annual appearance and Little Man has not been a fan of Santa since birth. Little Man is crying and very upset and keeps repeating, "Santa, Go Away! ... Leave Presents (sob, sniffle, cling) Go away, Santa. ... Leave Presents."

New recipes...

2011-12-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

Recently I've been having good luck in the kitchen (when I have time) and have created some pretty yummy meals. If you're interested, below is a casserole recipe I came up with and a emulsion I created:
FALL CASSEROLE
1 lbs of ground turkey
1 small onion
1 handful of steamed brussel sprouts, chopped.
Nutmeg & Ginger to taste
1/2 roasted butternut squash
2 tbsp butter
6 boiled potatoes (for mashing)
1/2 cup (approx) goat's milk
black pepper
Brown the ground turkey with onions, chopped brussel sprouts, nutmeg & ginger (to taste). Layer on bottom of 8x8 or 8x10 baking dish. Whip roasted butternut squash with butter. Spread on top of turkey layer in baking dish. Mash potatoes with goat's milk and black pepper - spread on top of butternut squash. Bake in oven @ 350* for about 35 minutes. Top will be slightly crispy. Serve hot & enjoy!

EMULSION
1/2 or 3/4 cup red wine (not high quality, 3 day old wine leftover from weekend will work perfectly!), 3-4 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp minced garlic, 1/2 tbsp of worchestshire sauce. Whisk together (repeatedly) and pour over meat - I used this on some fantastic Berkshire pork loin chops. Mmmmmmm! Don't use this on poultry or fish - it needs a stronger tasting meat to its own against the flavors of the wine and worchestshire sauce. (Beef or Pork, my recommendation) When I used this, I cooked the pork chops @ 375* for 35-40 minutes and also chopped an onion into wedges to be baked with the chops. It was a big hit in our house, even Little Man enjoyed it!

A few things to consider:

2011-12-05T13:56:00.002-05:00

ABOUT CHRISTMAS...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-12-04/christmas-jesus-holiday-secular/51642322/1?loc=interstitialskip

ABOUT MEN & WOMEN:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yashar-hedayat/a-message-to-women-from-a_1_b_958859.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Not the first and not the last

2011-11-17T16:54:00.000-05:00

Today I experienced one of several occasions in which I was confronted with being less certain of specific life choices I've made ... I spend an entire meeting with my boss silently screaming, "FUCK YOU, LIFE CHOICES! FUCK YOU!". The frustration stems from the fact that this time my choices to a) be a mother and b) be a professional and c) be a part-time professional have roadblocked my immediate chances to meet a very specific and very desirable professional goal. It is what it is and I'm not going to regret it but, for this moment, I am going to have a moment of self-pity and direct my anger at society for even forcing me to choose in the first place. So, yeah, "Fuck You, Life Choices."

Pacifier Check-In

2011-10-11T21:45:00.000-04:00

Note: Urban Cowbaby is no longer a baby so his new blog name is Little Man and his baby sister is now going to be referred to as Urban Cowbaby.

We accidentally broke Little Man's pacifer habit. He was only using it for naps and nighttime and we had intentions of pulling the plug by Christmas. Being the responsible parents that we are we somehow managed to forget to pack his pacifier when we went on vacation to FL for a week. Oops. Turns out our initial panic was completely unfounded because Little Man only asked for it 2 or 3 times before he was completely over it. Bye-bye pacifier! Next up? Diapers.

At the same time we broke one pacifier habit, we started another. Urban Cowbaby did not take a pacifier until she was 3mo and even now she's very picky about when she'll accept it. With this kid, we're reserving it for sleep time only and car time. Unfortunately, Urban Cowbaby did not like the car much before our trip but after 22 hours in the car she absolutely HATES it. Now that we're home, every time we get her in her carseat she has a fit and cries and cries and cries. It's awful. Little Man hated the car for awhile, too, and I hope she grows out of this sooner than later because the crying makes for stressful driving!

My Favorite Things

2011-08-26T14:13:00.000-04:00

A few things I'm totally loving right now:
- My daughter's smiles
- My son nursing his stuffed animals and saying, "Oh, UCB2, UCB2 Hungry"
- My daughter's cuddles and look of contentment after eating
- My son giving me giant hugs and kisses for no apparent reason and at random moments
- My husband with UCB2, they're in love with each other and I'm more in love with him as a result
- My mom and mother-in-law's help
- My daughter lets us sleep through the night consistently (knock on wood this continues)
- My son's random conversational tidbits and his play-by-play of the action of his various environments
- My overall feelings of well-being and happiness
Yep, just a few things I'm totally loving right now.

The VBAC That Wasn't

2011-07-09T09:09:00.000-04:00

Many of you know that going into this birthing experience I was completely committed to having a successful VBAC. I prepared for a VBAC through research, praying a lot, connecting with a local ICAN group, re-reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth about 1000 times, having many positive conversations with my midwife regarding my chances of success (95% prior to the actual birth), hired a doula, and by working through some of my residual emotional issues that were leftover from my first birth experience (very unplanned c-section). All in all, I would say I was 100% confident that I was going to be a successful VBAC mama and that I would have a lovely recovery in which it would be little to no trouble to get into a routine with Urban Cowbaby and UCB2. Well, it didn't work out quite the way I planned or wanted it to. I am not a successful VBAC mama. And, you know what, it's ok. Really, I am ok with UCB2's birth experience. I did everything I could have to be successful but my body just did not cooperate and, truthfully, there's nothing I can do about that. What's more? I feel extremely fortunate to be living in 2011 because if I had been laboring with UCB2 in 1771, my daughter and I would surely have died as they did not have the medical means or knowledge to recognize the need for a c-section or to preform one. In 2011, I am happy knowing that my daughter is healthy and with us and that my son is not motherless and that my husband still has a living wife. I know that sounds dramatic but it's the truth. And, honestly, I'm really proud of myself for laboring so long at home (read details below) and walking into the hospital at 10cm dilated, fully effaced. My midwife used the following words to describe me: tenacious, committed, spirited, strong. Did I have a VBAC? No. Am I a birth failure? No. Am I happy with the ultimate outcome of healthy baby, healthy mom? Absolutely.

If you're interested in the details, keep reading. If not, stop now. UCB2 was born 8 days past her official due date and, I'm not going to lie, I was getting nervous about how big she must have been getting in those last weeks of pregnancy. I was hoping for an average 7lbs baby. Hahaha - life is funny, eh? Anyway, on Sunday, June 19, I went to church in the morning because I decided that maybe I needed to actually visit God's sanctioned house to get things going vs. just chatting it up with Him. While in church, I did begin experiencing contractions which was good sign for me. Over the course of the day, I kept experiencing contractions but nothing regular and not too frequent. I decided I was likely to have UCB2 in the next couple of days. I said to myself, "maybe she really does want to be a Cancer instead of a Gemini". By Sunday evening, however, things were picking up and I was experiencing contractions very regularly - every 20 min to 15 min - but they weren't anything to write home about. I could talk through them and they were only mildly distracting. Then, around 9, they stopped. I told myself that was a good practice round. Little did I know that by midnight I was going to be re-introduced to them and that they were going to rock my world. LOL So, beginning around 12am, my contractions came back and they were not ignorable, they were very uncomfortable, and I did need to work through each one. They were also very consistently 15 min apart, then 10, then 5, etc. I slept between contractions as much as possible and tried to wake Urban Cowboy as little as possible so he would be well-rested for the big show. By 5:30am, I was getting very concerned regarding how far along we were because I wasn't able to rest during any of the contractions, they were very close together and extremely intense, and I could not be still during them - I had to constantly be moving, walking, etc., to work through them. By 6:30a I decided it was time to call the doula and ask her to come over because everything was getting really intense and I wanted her help to focus. I was also concerned about Urban Cowbaby and when we should take him to Grandma & Opa's house. She got to our house, looked at me and immediately told Urban Cowboy he needed to take Urban Cowbaby to Grandma's because it was going to be time very soon. I continued to labor for a few more hours and by 9:00a, our doula strongly suggested we begin to head to the hospital. Thank goodness she was there because she handled the phone calls to the midwife and to the hospital and coordinated us all getting in the car. By this time, I was telling her and Urban Cowboy that I was feeling the need to push and they were, of course, encouraging me to wait and keep breathing through the contractions as best as possible. We got to the hospital in record time, my water broke as we were walking through the parking lot to the doors, (Urban Cowboy was driving very, very fast - but safely!) and the nursing staff was still prepping our room when we got to maternity! Once we were in the hospital they immediately checked me and pronounced me at 10cm, fully effaced, and ready to push. And push I did. For 3 long hours I pushed. I discovered several things in that time: 1) I'm a good pusher, 2) I have a reservoir of strength in myself that I could have never guessed I have, and 3) my body has no intention of delivering a baby vaginally. UCB2 was posterior and not descending so after about 2.5 hours my midwife recommended a c-section. We begged for more time and my doula helped Urban Cowboy and I try different positions to try and get UCB2 to turn into the right position. Nothing worked - Urban Cowboy was so amazing as a coach, though! I was getting frustrated and exhausted and, really, just wanted my midwife to be able to reach up inside me and pull the baby out! I guess it doesn't work that way, though, so that's how we ended up with a 2nd c-section birth because despite all our effort it was time to "call it" and make the decision to move in an alternate direction from the original plan To the OR we went and UCB2 was born at 12:25pm.

And that, folks, is the story of the VBAC that wasn't.

That's So Rude

2011-06-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

Look, people, I wasn't going to post about this but, honestly, it's been eating me up and I just have to get it off of my chest. It is unbelievable the level of rudeness people allow themselves when interacting with an obviously pregnant woman. Would you approach an obese individual and make a comment to them about their size? Would you ask someone with Lupus if they were missing a mirror when doing their make-up that morning? NO. Yet, over the weekend, as I was literally within 48 hours of my official due date, I was approached by two separate strangers and one family member, hours and days apart, who felt it necessary to 1) comment on my size as a pregnant woman - all going so far as to ask me if I am expecting twins and 2) to follow up their initial rudeness with additional comments about how they were not that big as pregnant women or how big the baby must be in there, etc. Now, I don't look like I am only 20 weeks pregnant and I know this. I look exactly like a woman looks when she's about ready to give birth any day. I am uncomfortable, I am tired, I am impatient and I have no tolerance for this type of abuse from people. The first individual simply got a sarcastic "thank you for pointing it (my hugeness) out" from me with a tight smile. The second lady got a "that's not a nice thing to say to an pregnant woman" reply. The third person got a glare and I completely ignored them and walked away to avoid saying something I might regret later. Really, though, what I wanted to do was punch all those people in the face. So, as you run into random (or not) pregnant women throughout your life, please be mindful of how they might be feeling insecure or unhappy or uncomfortable in their very obviously pregnant bodies and do not, I repeat, DO NOT make them feel worse by saying rude and insensitive things to them.

Urban Cowbaby ... 2 days from 2 years

2011-06-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

In 2 days, Urban Cowbaby will be 2 years old. It's hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by and how much he has changed since that first day when we held him in our arms and looked into his eyes. Our little man is the most amazingly smart, sweet, enjoyable person I know. I know you think I think he's perfect and, truly, he's perfectly him and that's what I love the most.
What should you know about Urban Cowbaby at 2? You should know:
- He's wickedly smart. The other day he was talking to me about a topic in a book we had from the library about 2 months ago! You only have to talk about something once for him to remember it and use it in context later. He is very motivated and dedicated to figuring out how things work - he can spend a long time on one activity or examining one thing while he works it out in his little head. His command of language is astounding and I love how he is interested in everything around him! His memory is so sharp it's slightly disconcernting at times - I'm not looking forward to teenage arguments with him if his memory stays this good. Heehee
- He's so healthy! The doctor is really pleased with his weight/height ratio and pleased with his diet and eating habits. He's only had 2 colds and 1 bout of tummy flu in his little life and has never been on antibiotics or any type of prescription medication.
- He laughs and laughs and laughs ... deep belly laughs and little giggles ... when something really amuses him. But, know this, you have to work to amuse him. He doesn't just give away his laughs.
- He's still cautious in personality and mistrustful of people and environments he doesn't know well.
- He loves books and loves to read them with you. He loves anything with wheels but, right now, he's particularly enamoured with construction-related vehicles.
- He has curly hair! It took 24 months but the curls finally started showing up! Right on schedule, too, according to my mom who tells me that's about when my curls began to appear.
- He still gets a little sad when the babysitter walks in the door and mama or daddy walks out. He loves his mama and daddy best of anyone else in the whole wide world and gives us the sweetest hugs and kisses everyday.
Somedays, I wonder how my heart can hold so much love for him. It's impossible to count how many times I have looked over at him, or been in a hug with him, or watched him playing and wonder to myself how it's possible for my heart to not burst from the immensity of the love I feel for him!
Happy Birthday, Urban Cowbaby!

Sticking to it...

2011-06-02T10:43:00.001-04:00

Parenting seems to be an ever evolving process and everyone chooses different methods, often directed by the babies being parented. Here is a short list of a few things that worked really, really well for us last time (both physically and emotionally) that I don't plan to change for this UCB2:
1- Breastfeeding. It worked for us. Once Urban Cowbaby & I got the hang of things it not only worked but we both loved it. I nursed Urban Cowbaby for 18 months and would like to be able to nurse UCB2 at least that long, too.
2- Co-Sleeping. It started as a survival method and morphed into a true pleasure. I loved having Urban Cowbaby so close to me all the time, especially when I returned to work. I loved how easy it made nighttime nursing sessions. I especially loved waking up in the morning and seeing my sweet little boy's face before seeing anyone or anything else. (Sorry Urban Cowboy, our son has trumped you there!)
3- Cloth diapering. It is so easy. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love our cloth diapering habits and primary system (Kissaluvs with Thirsties covers). I could go on and on and on about my perceived benefits of cloth diapering and about saving the world through cloth diapering but I said this would be short so just know this: our family loves it.
4- Pacifers. Look, I don't love them. I'm not looking forward to the weaning process. But, in all honesty, considering who my kid was and his needs, they helped us. And, as my mother-in-law points out, no college or job application is going to inquire how long someone had a pacifer before they gave it up. That said, if UCB2 gives us signs that he/she needs that comfort, I'm not going to deny them.
5- Baby Wearing. Life is "easy" if you're wearing your kid and have your hands "free" to do stuff. Additionally, the closeness you and your child feel when he/she is being worn is amazing! They are always close to you, are comforted by the sound of your heartbeat and the smell of your skin. Plus, wearing your baby makes certain things like grocery shopping or festivals/fairs so much easier. We have 2 styles - a sling/pouch and a mei tai.
Many of you may disagree with our style or just recognize that it doesn't work for you and your family. That's cool, I'm not asking you to adopt any of our parenting practices or choices. I just like to share what works for us.
P.S. I have approximately one week to go before UCB2 arrives ...

2nd Time Pregnancy Surprises - Part 2

2011-05-26T09:44:00.000-04:00

1. The word "exhaustion" doesn't even begin to cover how I tired I feel on a now daily basis. Yet, caffeine is my enemy because if I consume whatever my body deems as too much, I am unable to rest and recover some energy for the next day. (sigh)

2. It is impossible, in my opinion, for my skin to stretch any further across my abdomen - if it does manage to somehow stretch more, it will surely just rip apart and I will need surgery to repair. As is, my abdomen is so stretched at this point that I will need to work more hours to pay for the cosmetic surgery I will need to be presentable to myself post-baby.

3. I felt connected to Urban Cowbaby in-utero but I feel 10x's more connected to this one. Possibly this is because I've been there/done that so I have a better sense of realistic expectations?
4. People care as much about this baby & pregnancy as they did Urban Cowbaby. I figured since it was the 2nd one, and so close to the first, that people would be less interested or excited. Not true.
5. I desperately want to keep up with the house chores by tiredness prevents me and the end result is stress. I hate looking around the house thinking, "I need to do that, I need to do this, How did this get like that?", etc. It's stressful and disheartening.
6. Urban Cowbaby is excited about the baby and has a good grasp on the fact a baby is coming to live with us soon! I am surprised by this because I thought he might end up being a bit oblivious and not comprehend too much regarding why mama's body is changing or why the house was being changed. Of course, we've worked hard to inform him and have had the help of some FABULOUS books from the library. All thanks to the advice of my very wise and kind sister-in-law.

Shameless

2011-05-23T08:56:00.000-04:00

I was driving home from my parents yesterday afternoon and spotted a lawn filled with Little Tikes toys - they were placed out by the road as if they were garbage. I drove by and thought, "wow, I wonder if they're selling those toys?' and I drove a bit more and told myself I'd be a fool if I didn't go back and check it out to see the prices. I turn around and park at the end of the driveway and realize these toys are being GIVEN AWAY. Yes, people, they were FREE to anyone who wanted them! Yea! Now, it was clear they've been stored in a barn for quite some time and they desperately needed a bath but each item on that lawn was in excellent condition, nothing broken, no cracks, not even a hole in a wheel or anything! I spent 15 minutes trying mulitple configurations to get both the shopping cart (above pic) and the car (below pic) into my car but despite the large cargo area I couldn't swing it because I had the jogging stroller with me. Arghh! I decided to take the shopping cart as it is what would fit and call my parents and beg a favor to have them come get the car. This was a bit risky, I might add, because I was already a good 15 min. away from my parents and it was quite possible they couldn't get there in time if someone else came by with the same thoughts as me! Luckily, my mom did get there in time and now Urban Cowbaby is going to be ECSTATIC when he realizes he's the proud, new owner of his very own car! He was playing on one of these things on Saturday and was completely obsessed! He's going to love having one at our house! Already, he's in love with his little shopping cart and spent yesterday afternoon pushing around a spare newspaper and his water cup! Too cute! Ah, yes, I am a shameless garbage picker but it was so worth it to get good quality toys, in good condition, for FREE! 3 cheers for continued use of a perfectly good item vs. clogging a landfill!

PS - I hope some other lucky person/family scored on the art table and picnic table that were also being given away and were in excellent condition!

Some Do's & Don'ts

2011-05-12T12:07:00.000-04:00

DO - Wear sunscreen! It's that time of year, people! I even keep a little tube in my desk drawer for when my co-workers and I eat lunch outside. (Apply at least a 1/2 hour before going out for maximum effectiveness!)

DON'T - Give stranger kids toys in the store! This happened to me the other day and I was PISSED. Some random old-ish lady just came right up to Urban Cowbaby and handed him a teddy bear and then made some stupid comment like, "oh, sorry, mama - now you'll have to buy it for him." Um, no you stupid you-know-what, now YOU have to buy it for him. In the end it worked out and Urban Cowbaby was pleased as punch to have me trade him a pack of pipe cleaners for the teddy bear but, still, what the hell!? and why would that woman do that!?

DO - Look forward to all the fun things to do in the summer! Here's my short list: being outside, going to Blossom, Wade Oval Wednesdays, the zoo, swimming, grilling, gardening, patio/porch dining, driving with the sunroof open, popsicles multiple times a day, fires in the evenings ... oh - I said short list, huh?

DON'T - Tell your midwife how displeased you are with your pregnancy weight gain...she will just laugh at you. Maybe that's just my midwife, though? hahaha Also, don't hesitate to question why your health care provider wants you to do something or put you on a medication. It's your body/health, it's your job to ask.

DO - Appreciate all the many positive people and things you have in your life. Take a moment every day to say "thank you" and really mean it.

DON'T - Cry in a job interview. It's not professional and you'll be perceived as a nut job. This actually happened at my job! We were interviewing a candidate and she started the answer with "I'm totally prepared and comfortable to answer this question..." and then she dissolved into tears! Instead of excusing herself for a moment, she just attempted to answer the question through her crying! It was ludicrous! The worst part, in my opinion, is that I was the one that asked the question that triggered the tears!

DO - Give your kid(s) 1000+ kisses and hugs a day (as long as they'll let you!) because it's good for their soul and yours!

Fun with Fabric!

2011-04-28T13:54:00.000-04:00

A picture of Bohdan's curtain fabric for his big boy room...

1/2 the lining fabric is cut already, plan to cut out the remaining lining fabric panels tonight or tomorrow. My goal, overall, is to try and have the curtains completed by next weekend ... we'll see - it's a lofty goal.

Leave Ohio? Where to go?

2011-04-25T12:05:00.001-04:00

So, let me just say that I pretty much despise the direction the current state government is going and I was (insert sarcasm) oh-so-pleased when I saw Ohio's latest news ($1.4 billion to new business incentives) made the front page of USA Today (online).

Ok, I get the need to generate excitement and incentives for new businesses to want to be in Ohio. I get the need to pump up the state economy and population. What I don't get is how Kasich and his cronies (the entire state government legislature!) can justify the cutting financial support to community pillars and growth centers known as SCHOOLS, EDUCATION EFFORTS & RELATED INSTITUTIONS LIKE LIBRARIES to generate the funds needed for these business incentives. If we have under or uneducated people residing in Ohio, how will they run successful business ventures? AND, if there are fewer Ohio natives to run those businesses that means there are fewer employable Ohio natives to hire if outside businesses move into Ohio. Seems like a lose-lose to me. There is no justification for the rerouting of our state funds directly from education to new business.

Additionally, the United States(generally speaking) continues to be eager to give up precious farm land for industrial sites and office buildings. Why? Are Americans really ready and willing to import the majority of their food from other countries/continents and are we ready and willing to pay the price tag of said imported foods? Is there no movement to groom future farmers to feed our growing population? Is there no desire to care about where our food comes from but plenty of energy to complain when it's a) ridiculously expensive and b) has quality or contamination issues? Will I become a farmer in my second career? If I wanted to, could I even find decent land in my home state to do so? Will our children even know that food comes from plants in the ground and that agriculture used to be a driving force of the U.S. economy? Ohio is one of many states so eager to just give up our available farmland.

Shalalala - Live for Today

2011-04-21T11:12:00.000-04:00

WHAT ARE YOU LOVING TODAY?
Today I love:
- my hair! During pregnancy my hair actually looks good more than it looks bad which is a total switch from when I'm not pregnant. I'll be a tiny bit sad when it starts going back to its normal non-pregnant state.
- Sirius radio! Totally transforms my driving experience! It's part educational RE: who sang what & when and it's part thrilling to be able to choose the genre I want to listen to in that moment. Rarely in the old car did I crank it up - but in this car I crank it up all the time! I'll be sad if/when we don't have Sirius anymore.
- my new piece of furniture! I wish I had a pic to show you ... the link's been deactivated already ... I did modify it a bit though, to make it more open and it needed a really thorough bath and I need to buy new door hardware for it. Overall, I think it's going to work for us and I'm super-pleased!
- my husband! I've been slightly hormonal (read: psychotic) lately and he appears to still love me even after I've had a temper-tantrum over a random thing ... except, Urban Cowboy, if you're reading this, yesterday's tantrum wasn't hormones and it wasn't random, either! LOL
- blooming daffodils & hyacinths! Now, if only it could get warm enough for the other flowers to start their thing!
- texting! I didn't know what I was missing before!
- my garage sale pile! It's getting bigger and bigger and hopefully I won't have to bring any of it home with me. I need less stuff to manage, keep organized, or store.
- my sewing machine! Last weekend I sewed a new bathroom curtain while Urban Cowbay napped his afternoon nap. Soon, his big boy bedroom curtain fabric will be here and I'll be able to get started on that project.
- my awesome family and friends! 'nuf said and that love is all the time, you know.
WHAT ARE YOU LOVING TODAY?

Urban Cowbaby UPDATE

2011-04-12T11:42:00.002-04:00

The little man just turned 22 months and here's what he's been up to lately:
- in bath time he's recently begun to lay on his tummy and kick and play AND he also now enjoys laying back and dipping his hair in the water (previously these two actions made him very nervous - he's been a cautious little guy since birth!)
- he puts together 3 word sentences (and tries for bigger!) ... this weekend he pulled out, "where did it go?', "see you later", and "Happy Birthday Daddy".
- he is a bit of a tyrant when he doesn't get what he wants BUT we work really hard to keep the boundaries pretty clear so he seems to get over it relatively quickly
- he is always, always looking for trucks ... any kind of truck he can name, we have to constantly look for one when we're driving around (tow, fire, dump, garbage, transporter, tank, back loader, dirt mover, etc...)
- coming in from outside play is like fighting a battle in World War III!! He acts like we're trying to kill him just to come inside and eat lunch or have nap time!! I shouldn't laugh but it is so funny how upset he gets over this.
- in music class he is absolutely excelling and he is great at keeping the beat, singing along, requesting songs, and dancing the moves with us. It's insanely fun to participate in music class with him! I am so excited for when he'll be big enough for Dalcroze Eurhythmics classes!

2nd Time Pregnancy Surprises - Part 2

2011-04-12T11:33:00.001-04:00

With 9 weeks left, I give you an updated list of 2nd Time Pregnancy Surprises:
- That elusive surge of energy finally showed up ... about 1/3 of the way through my 3rd trimester. But nature is playing a cruel trick on me and a wall of tiredness comes crashing down on me about 8pm every night so the level of productivity/accomplishments is still relatively low
- My maternity wardrobe has expanded in this pregnancy due to having friends who had babies between Urban Cowbaby and now. My friends generosity has really saved me considering that I actually need more casual clothes with this pregnancy because I'm only working 3 days a week.
- I am wholly dissatisfied with how my body looks/feels with this pregnancy. With Urban Cowbaby I had moments of insecurity but, overall, felt empowered and beautiful in my pregnant body. With UCB2 I feel fat, sloppy, and lumpy.
- Mentally preparing for birth has been a bit more challenging than I had thought it would be pre-UCB2. Moving past some residue from the last birth experience has been difficult for me and feeling confident in my ability to be a successful VBAC mama has been a struggle. I think I'm there now, though I still have my moments of doubt. I want to have a VBAC ... I CAN have a VBAC. (I say that to myself a lot as a mini-pep talk!)
- Unlike when I was pregnant with Urban Cowbaby, I have no idea who my baby will be. Will UCB2 be a baby brother or a baby sister? I guess we'll find out soon enough!
- In terms of parenting fears, with UCB2 I'm not fearful at all! Urban Cowboy and I figure Urban Cowbaby was about as difficult as we could get (his little personality and colic issues!) and so UCB2 can bring it on - we've survived the worst and are ready to survive it again! LOL ... Of course I know Urban Cowbaby wasn't really the worst but, let's be honest folks, he was darned close! ... LOL
- I'm way more emotional with UCB2 than I was with Urban Cowbaby (and I was really emotional when I was pregnant with Urban Cowbaby!)! The smallest things can trigger me to cry - this morning, someone asked me what the age difference between the two would be and I got teary eyed over that! How ridiculous! Don't even ask how hard I cried watching Oprah the other day when she aired a cattle slaughterhouse segment! I had to turn off the tv AND I went through at least a 1/2 box of Kleenex! Not to mention every time we go to church and how weepy I am during the worship service! Whew, it's tiring.
So, right now that wraps it up in terms of ways I've been surprised with the 2nd Time pregnancy.

Sew Much To Do

2011-04-05T14:10:00.001-04:00

Yesterday evening I spent 1.25 hours repurposing an old sweater into a pillow. That's right, people, I spent valuable time making a sweater into a pillow for no real reason - ok, that's not true, I made it for several reasons: 1) I'm continuing to do little sewing projects to get myself uber-comfortable with my new sewing machine to build my confidence so I can move onto bigger, more important projects and 2) it was a sweater I am slightly sentimentally attached to and just couldn't pass it on and 3) it was a sweater from the early-90's and, therefore, did not really need to be recirculated into the general population considering how out of fashion it was. Think Dr. Huxtable meets Iraq War patriotism! LOL (see the picture? well, my sweater was very similar to the blanket shown) My goal is to do something worthwhile and productive every day until UCB2 is born. We kick-started it this weekend with making a TON of progress on transforming the guest room into Urban Cowbaby's Big Boy Room. Tonight? Maybe I'll begin on the dining room valance project that's been taunting me for months ...

Wii Recharge!

2011-03-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

So we bought this Wii remote charging station (or something very similar since I've no idea if this is the brand we got) over the weekend and it's so cool!! You just set your Wii remotes on this little pad and it blinks blue lights for a bit and voila! you have charged remotes! It's MAGIC! There's no docking, there's no plugging the remotes into anything, you just set it on the little pad and a bit later they're ready to use! Urban Cowboy says it's the future. I say, "welcome future, you're so cool!"

Truly Random & Misc.

2011-03-24T10:24:00.001-04:00

1st:
The 2nd round of pregnancy nesting has begun to rear its ugly head! Yesterday alone I decided it was time to get back into the swing of things and really utilize Urban Cowbaby's 2nd nap to get stuff done. I sewed 2 t-shirt bags and a cover for my sewing machine. I also reorganized my office supplies and was able to condense/clean out the bins a bit and now only have 1 bin & a few decorative baskets vs. 2 bins and the decorative baskets. While I was working on that I realized I could absolutely condense my stationary/papergoods into one box and so have that on the agenda for tomorrow's naps. And I did all this while also getting some laundry done. Go me!
2nd:
I've decided my job is like a boyfriend you're not sure you want to keep around ... you know what I'm talking about - some days/weeks it's all going along fine and you're, like, "oh, boyfriend/job, I love you and want to be with you" and then, bam!, other days/weeks something occurs to make you question everything about the relationship and where you see yourself and it in a year(+) but you're not quite ready to pull the trigger and say, "die, relationship, die!" so you stick around to wait for the next "nice" period while you wonder if it's meant to be or not. (SIGH)
3rd:
I recently discovered the reason why I did not like thigh-high pantyhose is because I've been wearing the wrong size! Apparently, and I guess this is likely to be obvious to everyone but me, if you have the right size on they're actually comfortable and even (dare I say it?) likeable! Now I know why L prefers them over regular 'hose. That said, this discovery was also accompanied by admitting defeat & acknowledging what I've known but fought since jr. high times ... I have fat thighs.
4th:
Urban Cowbaby had his first in-public temper tantrum. We're talking the works: crying, lying on the floor, refusing to move from the spot he was in, announcing to the world that he was "biting" which was followed by him biting himself and attempting to bite me. It was slightly stressful, I have to say. But, my mom was with us and she kind-of helped by allowing me to walk away while she stayed nearby. Once he realized I wasn't paying attention to his antics, he quit the tantrum and moved on to something else. I guess we're getting closer and closer to 2, right. LOL

Fabulous 2nd Hand Finds!

2011-03-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

We went to a flea market on Sunday morning (post-pancakes) with my parents and we found all sorts of cool stuff. We found 2 vintage (mid-60's), matching Easter baskets for Urban Cowbaby and UCB2 - only $5 total! Apparently, the grandma had been saving the baskets all these years with the intent the grandkids would take them but now the grandkids are grown and not interested. Their loss, my family's gain. A total bonus find was a toddler-sized table/chairs set in excellent condition - originally priced at $25 but I asked if she would take $20 for it and she said yes! I've been looking for a little table/chairs set for some time but kept finding either cheap/crap ones or super expensive ones. This set is perfect because it's sturdy, it's clean, and it came with both chairs (another problem I was having)! (see pic below...) What's more? Well, my mom was so excited we found it that she volunteered to buy it for us and so we got it as a gift (plus a few other toys to keep at her house)! I think the lady selling the table was happy it was going to another family because her young son was with her and he was clearly too old for it and both mom and son seemed a bit nostalgic over it. Cute, right. Then my mom surprised me with my old bath ducks that I used to absolutely love and couldn't take a bath without! She found them when cleaning out a closet and cleaned them up to pass on to Urban Cowbaby & UCB2. Love it! Ok, so I'm going a little crazy here with my list but I still have more to tell you about...I also bought some very classic and clearly vintage (late 50's - mid-70's) Golden Book's for our children's book collection. They were selling 6/$1 so I bought the 6 best condition books they had. Urban Cowbaby adores books! He is always asking to be read to and we're always trying to make sure there are a variety of books to read. It's nice to know the stuff we bought isn't going into a landfill and that we'll get a lot of good use out of each item. It's also nice to know we didn't have to spend a fortune to acquire any of the items we purchased. Truly, fabulous finds at the flea market this time! Yea!

Urban Cowbaby, with his new "camera" face, enjoying a raisin snack at his new table...

Our new table/chairs, vintage Easter baskets, and my old bath ducks...

My old bath ducks-there is actually a blue one, too, but Urban Cowbaby ran off with it...

Urban Cowbaby Loves Hockey

2011-03-07T16:20:00.001-05:00

In true fashion for a son of Urban Cowboy and being a member of Urban Cowboy's family, Urban Cowbaby already loves hockey. Sometimes he randomly will request to see hockey - he seems to have the expectation that whenever he wants to see something specific he can demand it of us through either the camera or tv. He's usually disappointed. LOL Anyhoo...

On Friday, we took him with us to the hockey game and he seemed to get a kick out of it. He particularly enjoyed Sully the Seagull (mascot) and the zamboni machines (he calls them ice trucks). On Saturday, he and I were chatting and this is a verbatim account of part of the conversation:
Urban Cowbaby: Hockey
Mama: Yes, we went to the hockey game yesterday.
Urban Cowbaby: Guys
Mama: Yes, we saw guys playing hockey, didn't we?
Urban Cowbaby: Boo-Boo
Mama: Yes, the players did get some boo-boos.
End Scene
LOL How hilarious is this? My kid equated the hockey players with getting injured!!
Not only is this really funny to me, it makes me realize how much he is capable of understanding and processing inside his head even if he can't fully articulate it yet.
Damn, we're in trouble when the sentences begin! Hahaha

L.L. Bean's Water Hog - PRODUCT RAVE

2011-03-03T12:49:00.001-05:00

About a month ago I purchased the Water Hog entryway mat from L.L. Bean. This is a product I had been watching for about 6 months to decide if I wanted to shell out $30 for a piece of rug for our back entry way...seems to me like $30 is a lot when, previously, I had been spending somewhere between $7 & $15 for rugs for the back door. I read almost every review available through the L.L. Bean's website and a few from some other websites and the basic consensus was this is the best entryway mat you could ever purchase. Finally, I decided to just do it. Did I get sucked in by the hype and was I ultimately disappointed? ABSOLUTELY NOT! This damn rug is the best $30 house purchase I have ever, ever made! It is worth every penny and, honestly, I would even consider paying more considering how happy I am with this product. What do I love about it? Everything ... but I'll share a few details with you: 1) it is a dirt magnet! Seriously, people, it traps dirt like nothing else I've ever seen, 2) it absorbs a tremendous amount of water and the "fabric" (is that what it is?) keeps dry on top so your feet don't get wet unless it's really, really soaked. Since we live in NEO, I value this attribute considering the amount of snow/slush that we track into our house on our boots!, 3) it cleans easily - a couple swipes of the vacuum and voila! it looks like new. According to the product description, you can also hose it off but the weather hasn't been nice enough for me to try that out yet. Overall, I wholly recommend this product to anyone looking for a workhorse entryway mat that can stand up to NEO winters. 2 thumbs up to L.L. Bean's Water Hog mat!

Lent Sacrifices

2011-03-01T15:31:00.000-05:00

It's almost that time of year ... Lent is rapidly approaching with Fat Tuesday on March 8. What will I give up for Lent this year? Last year, I didn't give up anything. I felt (wrongly so in Jesus' eyes, I imagine) that I had already given up so much at that point considering Urban Cowbaby's pre-1 year old personality, his sleeping issues, and my inability to consume dairy products as a result of Urban Cowbaby's dairy intolerance...now, looking back, it doesn't seem like I had given up so much after all. This year, I resolve to do better and make some sacrifices. Typically, I give up 1 external thing and 1 internal thing and I plan to do the same this year. I never reveal my internal thing but I'm happy to reveal my external sacrifice - if only I could decide what it is going to be.
The list of options include:
- Starbucks
- TV
- 30 min. a day designated for some type of exercise
I thought of a few others but they were lame so this is my official list to choose from. I think the exercise one would be the most difficult for me. I guess I'll let you know in about a week. :-)

2nd Time Pregnancy Surprises - Part 1

2011-02-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

A short list of the unexpected RE: 2nd time pregnancy:
- I forget I'm pregnant. I do this regularly. The first time I was pregnant, it was all I could think about 24/7 - I never didn't think about the fact that I was me but I was a pregnant me. This time, somedays the only reason I remember I'm pregnant is because the baby kicks me particularly hard or because I run into something due to the fact I didn't allow enough room for my ever-expanding tummy. It's a weird realization when you think to yourself, "oh yeah! I'm pregnant, duh!"
- I haven't yet gotten that famous 2nd trimester burst of energy back. The first time I was pregnant I was exhausted and sick for the 1st trimester and the 2nd trimester began and I became super-woman! I had boundless energy and motivation to do all sorts of things! This time, however, I'm still tired. Not AS tired as in the 1st trimester but, certainly, there's been no "burst" and my motivation post-Urban Cowbaby's bedtime is nil. It's kind-of depresing, actually.
- Nesting kicked in a lot earlier with this pregnancy than the first. Possibly this is because I am planning to move one child out of a bedroom into another to allow the new child to have the older child's bedroom? Possibly this is because I have periodic moments of freak-out where I panic over the fact that at this time next year I'll be juggling 2 little ones in & out of the car and managing 2 little one's stuff all over our house? Whatever the reason, I've been in full nesting mode since the sickness ended around 16 weeks. (SIGH) Now, where is that motivation to do more considering how quickly the time is passing us by?
- I belatedly made the realization that I was not in a regular work-out routine post Urban Cowbaby and, thus, not in a regular work-out routine for this pregnancy. (SIGH) This, I feel, is a huge downfall of mine considering how not being in shape will likely negatively affect me in the birthing room and how difficult it will befor me to get back in shape post UCB2.
- With Urban Cowbaby, once I hit the 2nd trimester I was hungry all the time. With UCB2, I'm hardly hungry at all and when I do eat I seem to only want small or regular amounts. In the end, this may be good for my overall weight gain (although, without working out it may be a wash) but it's still a bit weird to not be as hungry this time as last. Was it psychosymatic last time? Did I inadvertantly allow myself to buy into the "eating for two" mindset without even realizing it? Who knows?
- I'm relatively "Zen" with UCB2 vs. when I was carrying Urban Cowbaby. Less things worry me and I seem to have a "what will be, will be" type attitude. This is very NOT-ME pre-motherhood so it's a bit surprising that it's me now.
I'm sure the next 18 weeks will bring more surprises. Stay tuned...

MONSANTO SUCKS

2011-02-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

USDA deregulates the use of Genetically Engineered alfalfa ... this totally sucks for organic farmers everywhere! Check it out here.

Professional Oops

2011-02-01T18:09:00.001-05:00

People, if you're pregnant and you work, I advise you to tell them prior to your 21st week of pregnancy. The reasons why follow:
1) by 21 weeks you're likely obviously showing and they have to guess "is it a baby she's carrying or did she develop a tumor?"
2) you will be told they are now "behind" the information and planning for the future will be made more difficult by the lateness of the news sharing
3) you will be told it's not necessary to have all your "i's dotted and t's crossed" when sharing happy news with a family-friendly manager and that your manager is "hurt" that you didn't trust enough to believe she would be happy for you
4) potentially, your manager will not be the first to find out due to others in your department flat out asking if you're expecting and, at that point, what's the point in lying ... if you're manager is not the first to find out, she may likely be upset as mine is
In my defense, it was important to ME to have my "i's dotted and t's crossed" regarding my potential options as a part-time employee before I had any kind of coversation with my boss. Also, the last time I was pregnant I waited until I was 18 or 19 weeks pregnant before sharing so what's a few more weeks, really. And, finally, in my defense, I like my work/family balance and wanted to have my thoughts in order before sharing so that I could adequately convey my appreciation for my current professional identity. I guess there was really no way to win in this one, eh.

UB2 - debuting in June

2011-01-31T15:08:00.001-05:00

Some of you don't know that Urban Cowboy and I are expecting a second baby so...SURPRISE!

If you did know, you haven't seen the baby yet and so...TAH-DAH!

The 2nd picture is of the baby touching its head with its foot! This picture was taken just before I got a good, swift kick as the baby protested being poked and prodded.

Our official due date is June 12, 2011 and Urban Cowbaby's birthday is June 11, 2009.

Yes, Urban Cowboy and I are wholly aware that we're absoutely crazy!

Yet, millions of parents do it (and more!) everywhere, everyday, so we're confident we can handle it.

Tomorrow I will tell my boss about UB2. I'm sure she knows but I've not officially delivered the news and now, at 21 weeks, it seems a bit unavoidable due to my undeniable baby bump and need to transition into my maternity wardrobe. If you're wondering why I waited so long to tell, well, it's because I'm not really expecting her to be "over the moon" considering the impact it will have on our office and I'm going to request a non-medical leave of absence to extend my time home with baby and I'm not entirely sure how that's going to be received and processed.

If you had been wondering what's new with us, I guess this is the big recent thing. UB2 and the kitchen renovation but, really, the kitchen project is a whole other post and it's not nearly as exciting or fun as sharing news about a new baby.

Happy Monday!

The Whiteys Rule the Rightys?

2011-01-13T09:42:00.001-05:00

I wonder if there is a way for the population of the state to rally and demonstrate displeasure over today's Cleveland Plain Dealer Headline regarding our new Gov.'s Cabinet:

"Ohio Gov. John Kasich's 20 Cabinet appointments so far lack diversity"

According to the article his Cabinet composition is the first to not include any racial minorities since 1962. That's right, all the Gov.'s between 196? and 2009 have included African-American or Hispanic or Pacific Islander, etc., individuals but not this guy's. Apparently, John Kasich doesn't know any qualified or competent individiuals who aren't White. Interesting and sad.

Now, I'm going to tell you that I'm the first to admit that since the advent of Urban Cowbaby I've not been too "in the know" in political matters these days. I'm more "in the know" about nursing babies and wearing them and what a normal poop is. So, as a person not too "in the know" regarding politics I'm trying to not be all up on a soapbox here. That said, I do find it absolutely appalling that I live in a "progressive" country that is considered a "world super-power" and it's 2010 and in my home state the Gov. has not selected a single Cabinet member that is also a racial minority. What does this say about this man who is an elected official? And, as a population, if we don't speak out and voice our displeasure, what does it say about us and what we'll allow at this point in our state's history?

Graham Crackers RECIPE - Finally!

2011-01-11T17:40:00.000-05:00

So, in the fall...or was it summer...I posted about the Graham Crackers I made and how delicious they were and how much Urban Cowbaby enjoyed snacking on them...I promised the recipe and never remembered to post it! Oops! But, today I was craving them and now I have a fully functioning kitchen again so the itch to cook is very strong and I brought up the recipe for review...that's when I remembered I had forgotten to share it all those months ago! Here it is:

Whole Wheat Honey Graham Crackers

2 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

½ cup sugar

1 t. baking powder

½ t. baking soda

½ t. salt

¼ t. cinnamon

4 T. honey

¼ c. water

1 t. vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stove. Set aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon

4. Add the liquids: honey, water, vanilla and melted butter.

5. Stir well until a nice ball of dough is formed.

6. Cut two pieces of Parchment paper the size of the cookie sheet.

7. Lay one piece of parchment paper on the cookie sheet.

8. Place the ball of dough on the parchment paper.

9. Lay the other piece of parchment paper on top of the ball of dough. Squish dough down a little with your fist.

10. Use the rolling pin to roll the dough between the pieces of parchment paper. Roll until the dough covers the whole cookie sheet

11. Remove the top piece of parchment paper. Cut rolled dough into 2 inch squares, or cut shapes with cookie cutters, being sure to separate the shapes from the surrounding dough a little.

12. Bake in oven for 18 minutes.

13. Turn oven off, but leave crackers in the oven to get crisp.

14. Remove from oven after 30 minutes to one hour. Break graham crackers apart.

15. Store in a air tight container.

Baby Mamas Sling Video

2011-01-10T09:13:00.000-05:00

I love this video! It never fails to amuse me ... and amaze me considering their dancing around in very high heels while wearing their babies! So, instead of sharing with just a few as I have before, I'm sharing with everyone:

Baby Mamas Sling Video (YouTube)

Enjoy!

I think it's so sad ...

2011-01-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

"College Football Star's Shocking Decision"

And the shocking decision?? He's going to stay in school and finish his degree rather than go the NFL. Shouldn't the headline read something more like "College Football Star's SOUND Decision" or "College Football Star Chooses Long-Term Future over Short-Term Gain"? The article basically says money beats all and speculate that people will be upset and think he's crazy for choosing his education over the NFL.

Seriously, people, let's celebrate the fact that this guy wants to finish his education and have a degree earned from a very reputable school (Stanford) instead of potentially being irreversibly injured within 1 year of his NFL career and then having nothing but memories and potentially regrets...

I, for one, am very happy for this guy and think he made an EXCELLENT choice! Good job, Stanford Football Guy.

It's still wrong!

2010-12-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

I'm the Student Employee Manager in my office. Most days I really like the title and the general responsibilities - they're mostly a good group and make my job pretty easy. Plus, once I went to part-time from full-time I was relieved of the whole payroll duty which made me so happy. Now, I really do just manage people and only have minimal paperwork bullcrap to deal with. (To those of you who do payroll, boy am I glad I don't have your job!)
A few weeks ago, one of our student employees, I'll call her Sugarplum, asked if we could use her over the winter break and let us know she was available to work. We thought about this a lot and ended up moving some numbers around in the budget and decided to hire her for the break (typically, we do not have student help over breaks). I came up with a list of things for her to work on and everyone seemed happy. Well, today I'm decidedly NOT happy with Sugarplum. Now, I know I talk fast and I know that I sometimes assume people know what I'm talking about, BUT I've been working with Sugarplum for a few months now and I know that with her I have to a) slow down and b) explain things in detail. Today, I put her on a project that I had actually given her over a week's notice to prepare for and I explained to her what needed done, both verbally and in writing, and she did it wrong. Not once. Not twice. THREE TIMES, people! Add to that the fact on her last try, I gave her a definite window of time in which to complete it and she was totally disregarding (is this grammatically correct?) the deadline so I felt compelled to stand right next to Sugarplum's desk and pretend to talk with a co-worker so she would actually work on it! I mean, is that right? I had to stand 4 feet away for you to do the task I assigned, you couldn't just work on it without me standing there? REE-DICK-U-LESS! Then she turns in after that THIRD TIME and it's STILL WRONG! WTF???
The debate then centers around whether or not I spend time out of my day to re-do it and fix her mistakes or do I wait until Sugarplum comes in on Monday to point out where she went wrong and ask her to do it over again. A.Fourth.Time. Of course, because I work in an academic environment, the answer is I will gently and politely approach her on Monday and use this situation as a "teaching moment" to let her know that when a boss assigns you work, they do not accept nor tolerate it incorrect or incomplete. BUT in my head, I'll be screaming at her to not be so f'n lazy!! ARGHH!

18 months and the TOP TEN

2010-12-13T11:43:00.001-05:00

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Have you been wondering about Urban Cowbaby's latest accomplishments? No? Well, I'll tell you anyway...heehee Here's the top 10 of what he's been up to lately:

1) officially taught himself to climb up on couches/chairs - including dining room chairs - nothing is safe anymore! LOL

2) he pretends to feed his little stuffed/play friends and it's too cute

3) when he's playing with the little people house at the G'Rents he makes water noises while he pretends one of the people is taking a bath or washing their hands

4) he desperately wants to wash his hands like a big boy! It's time for a little stool in the bathroom.

5) he repeats (or tries) most everything we say! If we weren't already being careful, we certainly have to be careful now!

6) he is learning manners and signs please/thank you - right now, he largely has to be prompted but we're trying to steer him away from the "I want" "gimme, gimme" that he seemed to naturally start doing. He can't be as demanding as me, right! LOL

7) he almost hops (he thinks he's hopping but he's a fraction of second away from actually executing a proper hop)

8) he's started to throw temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way :-( Boo.

9) he is in a daddy phase and wants to be with him all the time - it's adorable! Plus, daddy makes him laugh the best and longest!

10) when we turn down a certain street that takes us to the closest set of G'Rents, he knows where we are/where we're headed and starts yelling Yea! and clapping and says, over and over, Opa! Opa! (German for Grandpa)

Wii, Wii, Wii - All the Way Home

2010-11-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

If you know us, you know we fall more in the "delayed gratification" crowd than we do the "instant gratification" crowd. And, if you know us, you know we rarely have the most recent and latest and greatest gadgets! So, just this week we finally caved and purchased a Wii. Now, this is not a new Wii - in fact, it's a (minimally) twice-before owned Wii so it's not as though we spent 3 hours in the freezing cold waiting in line outside some big box store on Black Friday dying in anticipation of this purchase. The catalyst for our Wii purchase was simply being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right person.
And, I just have to tell you, it's money well spent!!! I think we've already got our money's worth out of it just by laughing our heads off with our family and friends over Thanksgiving weekend! Not to mention, we can stream Netflix movies through our Wii and that is practically a stand alone reason for us to love it and be so happy with our purchase.
I have to tell you my favorite thing about our Wii experience, thus far: I love that it was previously owned by our friends and we get to hang out (in Wii land) with our friends whenever we want. It's hilarious to be bowling and see our friends playing on the next lane or to see Urban Cowboy's dad watching a ping-pong match. Hilarious, I tell you! Oh, and I also love that I beat Urban Cowboy in Wii Golf a few times - the glory was short lived because now he kicks my butt but it's nice to know that I did beat him a few times! LOL
Yes, people, that is the most exciting thing going on in our lives right now. Ok, well the most exciting that I'll share with you because I'm sure you don't want to be bored with details of the in-progress kitchen renovation project. Also, I realize it's been awhile (again) since I've written and that's because I don't want this to be all about the kid and, lately, it's been all about the kid on my end. ;-)
Later 'gators!

Brand Name Poop

2010-10-28T22:38:00.000-04:00

One truth and tired cliche about parenting is the fact that you will engage in an almost daily conversation with your partner and/or child's caregiver about your kid's poop. Daily poop conversations are both thrilling and intellectually stimulating. (insert sarcasm here) And the conversation goes something like this: Parent1 "Did the kid poop today?" Parent 2 "Yep and ... insert poop details here" Parent 1 "Really, was there a lot?" and it goes on and etc. Why the hell am I sharing this with you? Well, because I can't resist telling you a funny story about the kid and his poop today (a few posts ago I mentioned this blog was morphing into the Urban Cowbaby showcase, right?).
Somehow one of us (the parents) accidentally left a pack of mini-Butterfinger candy bars in a location (the kitchen table) where Urban Cowbaby could use the corner of the newspaper to pull the candy bars closer to himself and into his little baby hands. I was making his lunch and prior to realizing he had the Butterfingers he had been playing with an advert from the newspaper so the crinkling of paper wasn't something I was unprepared to hear. A few moments go by and I realize the crinkle of paper has ceased and Urban Cowbaby is standing still with his back to me. I leave his lunch preparations to check out what he's into and see he has chocolate all over his face and hands and has stuffed a candy bar, wrapper and all, into his mouth! Oh no! So, I quickly remove the Buttefingers from his reach and take away the wrapper but he absolutely will NOT let me take the actual candy bits out of his mouth (smart kid, really). Ok, at this point I think it's funny because it wasn't his fault the Butterfingers were left someplace he could potentially access them. Here's where the poop comes in ... I tell Urban Cowboy today about yesterday's Butterfinger incident and we laughed about it and moved on ... until Urban Cowboy changes Urban Cowbaby's diaper this evening where he discovered an intact, logo visible, piece of a Butterfinger wrapper! Bwahahahaha! So, it's a damn good thing I had told him about it and wasn't trying to keep the kid's candy consumption a secret because my kid pooped out a piece of incriminating evidence - literally! My kid pooped out Brand Name Poop! It's hilarious!

When You're Feeling Down

2010-10-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

Last week, Urban Cowboy and I had the unfortunate luck to each get sick with colds. Each time one of us would start to get better, the other would get worse and I think we were just passing it back and forth for a few days. I think we've almost kicked it, though, and if we could just convince Urban Cowbaby that sleeping through the night is a good thing, I think we could kick the colds right out of our house! The lack of sleep, however, is holding us back from getting healthy as quickly as we want. And, speaking of Urban Cowbaby and sleeping ... what's up with that?!?! Before we left for England the kid was sleeping through the night and we were all pretty happy. It was wonderful, actually, to sleep a straight 7-8 hours after 13 months of not doing so. But then we went to England and he decided he wanted to regress a bit while we were there but we, stupidly, were confident it was a just a symptom of being in a new place and time zone and he would go back to "normal" when we returned. Well, we've been back for a month now and we have not slept through the night once. Ugh. In fact, he's increased the the number of times he wakes up! We're very tired and very frustrated. However, every day Urban Cowbaby does something so ridiculously cute, funny, or smart that I can't help but forget about the sleeplessness until he wakes up at 1:00am and then I'm, like, oh yeah - this sucks. Example of how smart he is? We've been using a very unsophisticated method to keep him from going up the stairs to the 2nd floor and within the last 2 weeks he's demonstrated that he's been a) watching us and b) practicing because he can now maneuver our system out of his way to climb the stairs. Also, he's currently the proud owner of about 10 words: mama, ga-ga (Daddy), ga-ma (Grandma), moo, neigh, baa, up, hi, yea!, more, woof, and I think I'm missing a few - not to mention the signs he's still using/learning. Finally, the kid is just too damn cute. His kisses and hugs and cuddles are too adorable and the way he brings us books to read to him in our laps and his excitement at learning how to make funny little lizard noises are all too cute for me to really hold a grudge about the sleeplessness. I feel like such a cliche, honestly, because before he was born I thought it was all just a bunch of bs when moms would say their kid's cuteness outweighed their negative habits/actions but now I'm a mom and Urban Cowbaby's a walking/talking cutie and I find myself buying into the bs! Oh, how the mighty fall .... LOL So, anyway, if you've read this far - thanks for "listening" and if you could maybe just send a bit of positive sleep energy our way, we'd be very appreciative. Happy Monday.
** Note about the above pic: I was feeling sentimental and decided to post an old-school reminder of how it used to be ... this pic was a rare moment when he was a) sleeping and b) sleeping by himself - two things that didn't happen often or enough prior to his 1st birthday. SO, basically, a reminder that it could always be worse! LOL

Can I live by this?

2010-10-04T14:52:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite blogging mamas posted the following quote:
"use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
I find this quote to be tremendously profound. I like to believe, as do many people out there, I have the capability of simplifying my life and reducing the amount of stuff I have and consume which, therefore, will reduce the level of stress in my life by minimizing clutter and needless decision making. Yet, somehow, at least once a week I find myself looking around my house wondering a) why everything I own doesn't have a home and b) why I even continue to own specific items? It's difficult to not become attached to items or to rationally say "I am not likely to use this - I will not bring it in my house or keep it". Recently, I got a bug up my behind to clean out my cosmetics/lotions and I filled up 1/2 the bathroom trashcan with stuff...that's all it was, stuff that was taking up space in my bathroom cupboard. When I was done do you know what? I looked back into the cupboard and was completely dismayed by the amount of of stuff that remains! The worst part of this? When I was pregnant with Urban Cowbaby I got the same bug up my behind and did the same thing and somehow, 15 months later, I do the same thing all over again! Of course, in my defense, less stuff to choose from did result in less stuff in the trash. I recently participated in a garage sale. I made $17 and I didn't care because the friend who hosted the sale was very gracious and agreed to coordinate a charitable organization to pick up the stuff that didn't sell to be donated or sold to people who needed or wanted it. Yet, could I easily participate in another garage sale to get rid of more stuff? Sadly, yes.
So, I repeat the quote:
"use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
Maybe I won't make this my mantra but maybe I will make a more conscientious effort to apply this rule to my life and consumption habits. Maybe I'll even succeed and maybe, and this is a very big maybe, someday I'll look around my home and be happy that a) everything I own has a place and b) every item I own I own for a reason. Maybe ...

Doubting Thomas

2010-09-27T09:19:00.000-04:00

Sometimes ... No. Many times, I come to work and wonder how I made it here. I wonder how my mom worked full-time while I was an infant/toddler and wonder how my boss had 3 kids and is a professional powerhouse. A lot of days I don't know that I'm cut out for it. Seems to me that motherhood brings along with it a whole lot of self-doubt - I'm constantly doubting myself in areas I was previously confident in or, if not confident, I didn't give it much thought and just did or decided whatever.
Last night, Urban Cowbaby seemed to be having some tummy problems - I think his tummy was hurting him but we haven't taught him the sign for ouch yet (haven't had much need for it) so he couldn't tell us what was wrong. So, we were up with him more of the night than we were sleeping and it, of course, is tiring. Now, Urban Cowboy and I are no strangers to sleep deprivation since the advent of the little man - he didn't sleep through the night until after he was 1 year old - but, lately, we've been accoustomed to getting a good night's sleep and last night ended up being a bit rough on us. We weren't nice to each other, we were not being positive; we were being tired and cranky and wishing we were someplace else and that Urban Cowbaby wasn't crying and clearly uncomfortable.
And the tiredness and self-doubt make me question whether or not it's worth it to drag myself to work 3 days a week (I know, it's only 3 days!) because I am definitely not giving 100% to my job ... is that fair to my employer, my team, myself? What will I think of current self 60 years from now when I'm in my old age and reflecting on my life? Will I think I have made the right decisions?

SEXY ZUCCHINI

2010-08-31T16:20:00.001-04:00

The best STUFFED ZUCCHINI ever! This recipe ROCKED! We're talking GOURMET! Urban Cowbay was a fan! Enjoy!

* If you make it and enjoy it, post a comment to say so - together we'll start a Stuffed Zucchini movement!

The CSA Update and Misc. Domestic Goddess Observations

2010-08-26T13:31:00.000-04:00

CSA
You all know we joined a CSA this summer and you know from previous posts (and in-person conversations) that it's been a really fun, often challenging, culinary adventure. We have learned a lot about our tastes and have developed new loves for foods we didn't know it was possible to love (e.g. squash or yellow plums). If you are considering a CSA keep the following in mind: a) know you will waste some - I think it's inevitable - b) be committed to not wasting any at all and your waste will be minimized, c) know you will be forced to break out of your eating comfort zone and be positively open-minded about trying new foods or new ways to eat foods, d) share! - we have been a bit guilty of not doing this enough, e) learn to preserve "leftover" produce for fall/winter use - this also helps minimize the waste!
DOMESTIC GODDESS
Two nights ago I made banana bread completely from scratch for the first time. I always mean to do this but we never seem to have enough "bad" bananas in the house and most banana bread recipes call for about 5 over-ripe bananas and bananas don't last long enough in our house for me to amass that many! So, we had bananas at a work event and they didn't get eaten so I brought them home ... in fact, I only had 3 but a co-worker suggested I make up the difference with apple sauce. Well, we haven't eaten any of it yet, but I have to say, it smells and looks just like everyone else's banana bread. I'm hopeful it's yummy too! Then, the next day, I also made a peach cobbler from scratch. Apparently, I'm the only person in the world who a) doesn't know how to peel a peach, and b) doesn't own any bisquick. I used Paula Deen's recipe since I was sans bisquik and I think it turned out ok. It was seriously labor intensive, though! Prepping the peaches was its own job and then I also didn't have any self-rising cake flour so I had to create the equivalent substitute. Whew. Hopefully, the recipient enjoyed the end result because I made it as a thank you "present:". One another thing to note regarding both the banana bread and peach cobbler, they're both really, really fattening! These were not caloric lightweights, let me tell you. I think I'll reserve both recipes for special occasions when we want to splurge a bit.

So much to say...so little time...this is all about the kid

2010-08-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

What's new with you? Not much here - all of our energy is pretty much focused on Urban Cowbaby and his AMAZING accomplishments. He learns new things and demonstrates new skills on a daily basis! And (drum roll, please) he's a GENIUS! Here is a short list of Urban Cowbaby's latest progress (top 10):
1- he now has 14 teeth; #s 13 & 14 just appeared within the last week or so
2- his signing vocabulary is pretty good and he knows the following signs: all done, more, eat, bath, flower, shoes, outside, hat, time (we don't know what he thinks it means, though!), our homemade version of "God Bless You" (for when you sneeze), and I'm sure more signs will come along in their own time
3- he puts himself to sleep like a champ! after a year of sleep-deprivation misery he finally does 2 awesome things: a) he lets us know when he wants to go to bed (most nights) and b) he doesn't need us to fall asleep, he waves bye-bye and we leave the room and he lays down and goes to sleep. It's practically a miracle! Ok, not really, our doctor told us all along that we would see this at about 1 year and that's exactly when it started.

4- he understands everything we say, even our "how to achieve world piece" discussions! Did I mention GENIUS?

5- he loves to dance and, what's more, the other day when we were riding in the car he was singing along to a violin concerto!!! I couldn't even make that up, people!

6- in case you didn't already know, he's walking, running, climbing machine! It's a busy day every day as we try to keep up with him

7- in keeping with his GENIUS status, he knows "how to use" a key to unlock a door!

8- he still doesn't like green beans - I wonder if this is genetic because his C-town G'Ma doesn't like them either! :-)

9- he's afraid of anything that is furry and has 4 legs...yes, this includes squirrels

10- in the swimming pool, he loves to kick his legs like he's really swimming and he has no fear of putting his face down in the water!

Negligent

2010-06-28T09:53:00.000-04:00

Whew. I've seriously been MIA from the digital world these days. Me and Urban Cowbaby have been enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer and being on the computer hasn't been much of a priority. Consequently, my weekly CSA updates have not occurred. So, here are the highlights:

- we like collard & mustard greens with bacon and onions
- we can't eat as many green onions as they give us
- free-range, pastured raised brown eggs do taste better than grocery store eggs
- I like cherries but not enough to eat 4lbs in 2 weeks (we gave some away to our parents)
- we like kale but think it's only because we cooked it in a way to detract from the actual flavor of the kale (LOL)
- local cheese is yummy cheese
- beer can chicken is interesting and kind-of fun to cook
Basically, our CSA subscription has been totally awesome! We are really enjoying the huge variety of foods we receive and enjoying trying new recipes. I will say that we do have to work hard to eat it all in a timely fashion because we're only 2.5 people and our freezer does have a few items we had to freeze to not waste.

In other news, Urban Cowbaby turned 1 year old. The party was great - we had so much help from our dear friends and family to help us make it a success. As always, everyone's generous spirits blew us away! Urban Cowbaby received a mountain of fabulous and fun gifts! What are some of Urban Cowbaby's recent talents? Well, he's a walker (started about a week before his birthday), he's eating all sorts of new foods like cheese and lime popsicles (healthy version,of course), he is getting very independent and even pushes us away sometimes so he can do thing on his own, he can show you where his head and ears are and where your nose is, and he's progressively sleeping in longer stretches at night which is really helping his parents out!
That's it for now - I'm out until the next time I have a spare 15 minutes and use it to spend time on the computer.

Our 1st CSA inventory

2010-06-01T09:54:00.000-04:00

Hello. As promised, I'm going to update you with our CSA contents. We picked up our first box this weekend - well, honestly, my best friend picked it up for us because we were out of town - and we're amazed at how much stuff we got. We got:
lettuce (it's purpleish-reddish), spinach (a ton!), radishes, 1 dozen brown eggs, 4 sausages, 4 sausage buns, cilantro, 1/2 gallon of milk (not homongenized - it's yummy!), 1/4 lbs of local blue cheese (it's extremely mild), 1 dozen pink lady apples.
Yesterday, we made our dinner and we used the following: spinach/lettuce/cheese/radishes for a salad and Urban Cowbaby had homemade apple sauce for breaskfast this morning.
No pictures - maybe next week when we pick it up ourselves. :-)

Today

2010-05-06T11:56:00.000-04:00

A perfect way to wake up...

Me: Opens Eyes and Looks At Son
Son: Opens Eyes and Looks At Me
Son: Smiles and Reaches Out to be Cuddled
Me: Heart Melted and Soul Uplifted

Mother's Day is Every Day.

Fresh Fork Market - our newest culinary adventure!

2010-04-27T16:39:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about Fresh Fork Market? No? Well they operate a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program where you can join and receive weekly boxes of local produce and food products. Here is the sample box for Week 1 of last year's season:

- 1 bunch organic green leaf lettuce

- 1 bunch organic red leaf lettuce

- 1 loaf multi-grain organic bread

- 1 8 oz chunk of grass-fed havarti cheese (I wonder if cheese likes to eat grass? hahaha)

- 1 half gallon organic milk

- 2 oz chocolate mint (this screams out - new recipe to try, new recipe to try!)

- 8 oz spinach (gallon bag)

- 8 oz pea shoots (gallon bag)
- 1 dozen free range, organic eggs

Can we say yummy?!

I'm ridiculously excited about this! My friends in England have been members of a CSA for years (or they were, I'm not sure if they still are) and one of the mom's in my bf group is a member of a different local CSA. I think, if I can manage it, I will copy what Valley Girl did last year (look up eating locally on her blog to link with her weekly series) and I will post a weekly update about the contents of our box. I will include if we tried anything new or if anything was especially good. Maybe, if you're lucky, I'll even share a recipe or two? We are a tad bit nervous about the CSA membership, though, because it will definitely force us to really try new foods (or re-try old foods we currently think we don't like) and will definitely force us to not be very wasteful with our food. Sometimes, in our house, fresh produce doesn't completely consumed. :-( Also, it will definitely change the way we shop and will lessen our trips to both the West Side Market and the regular grocery. Weekly (hopefully) CSA-related posts will begin appearing soon!

** And, to add to my excitment, Urban Cowboy and I just bought our composter this past weekend so as soon as it's assembled, we'll be a composting family!!

ACK!

2010-04-15T10:53:00.001-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100415/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_atlantic_ocean_junk

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

2010-04-13T16:25:00.001-04:00

A bit of this ... I do love living in a town that's actually nationally renowned for it's excellent healthcare. I've recently been experiencing some problems with nursing Urban Cowbaby due to his 8 teeth and, luckily, we live in a town where one of only 8 or 10 M.Ds (nationally) with a specialization in lactation practice. I saw the doc yesterday and she made my life so much better in only 45 minutes! And, I was also feeling very grateful that I have health insurance because, if I didn't have health insurance, there's no way I could afford to see her! (that's just a sidebar 'cause healthcare and insurance is on everyone's minds these days due to the gov't).
A bit of that ... Lately, Melt, a local restraunt, has been getting a lot of attention due to the fact they're opening an East Side location in a few weeks and the result of this attention is my sudden desire to eat there. We've eaten at the West Side location so it's not as though I'm a total newbie to the menu but the menu focuses almost exclusively on "gourmet" or "non-traditional" grilled cheese sandwiches so since I'm back on the dairy train (moderately) I'm itching for a gluttonous grilled cheese experience! :-)
A bit of this ... In the next few months I'm going to become a runner's widow again. I'm totally cool with this because 1) Urban Cowboy is a much, much happier person when he's able to be in a regular workout regimen, 2) we're planning on buying a jogging stroller ASAP and if Urban Cowbaby goes with Urban Cowboy on his runs - well, let's just say I'm excited at the prospect of a 1/2 hour or hour by myself! Maybe I'll even workout during that time? Or clean? Or watch One Tree Hill? Or ... oh, the possibilities are endless! Urban Cowboy is going to be training for The People's Marathon which is in Washington D.C on October 31.
A bit of that ... (totally random, here) I am really upset with Target and the inconsistency with which they execute their "bring your own bags, receive a $.05 discount off your bill" policy. In fact, I've become so upset that, twice now, I have taken my receipt to the service desk and demanded they refund my $.05 because I brought my own bag and the cashier told me the particular bag I was using did not qualify. Um, hell no. The policy does not state that a specific type of bag has to be used, it simply states that I qualify for the discount if I bring my own bag. So, now, every time they give me a hard time over it, I'm going to give them a hard time. I know it seems ridiculous to do this over $.05 but it's not just about the money to me, I bring my own bag because I feel it's the right thing to do as a responsible consumer AND I just happen to also want to benefit from receiving a discount if it's being offered.

Uncle Jack - A great man

2010-04-10T11:00:00.001-04:00

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
SPEIDEL JOHN "JACK" M. SPEIDEL, age 90. Beloved husband of Shirley; loving father of Howard (Judy), John (Amy) and Barb (Jeff) Nagle; dear grandfather of Beth, Nate, Ron, Connie, Ben, Josh and Brad; great-grandfather of Benjamin, Michael, Shon, Shayla and Lincoln. Survived by his sister, Madeline.
My Great-Uncle Jack passed away on Thursday. We're all so sad. He and my Aunt Shirley had been married for 63 years. 63 years! Can you even imagine being married to someone that long? It's amazing and so admirable. Aunt Shirley will be very lonely without him. Also, my Uncle Jack was an Army Chaplain in WWII - he was a pacifist but still felt compelled to serve his country during the War. He was a quiet man and he was so smart and caring and spiritual. Truly, he was one of the greatest men I have been privileged to know.

My Gram is now the only remaining sibling out of 9 children. I hope she's not too terribly lonely without my Uncle Jack. They were only 1 year apart in age and, so, were very good friends.

(SIGH)

Goodbye, Uncle Jack, we miss you already. :-(

www.spokeo.com - AN ALERT

2010-04-08T09:31:00.000-04:00

A friend alerted me to this website. Her husband works for a local police department.

If you value your privacy and haven't done a "virtual audit" on yourself in awhile, I highly suggest you visit the site to discover if your name/information is listed.

Here is an official email from a police officer regarding this site:

You may want to check to see whether or not you appear on this public website. If you are on this website-- it may list your address, home phone number and even a Google map picture of your home, plus information about your wife, kids etc. See the email below for instructions on how to remove your name. The web site is www.spokeo.com.

Go to the site and enter your name. If your information is on there and you want it removed, go to the bottom of the home page and click on privacy. Follow the instructions to remove your information. It is supposed to take about 24 hours to remove your info.

Patrick J. ODonnell
Sr. Law Enforcement Liaison
Central California

A funny quote...

2010-04-05T15:34:00.002-04:00

"Having a baby is like having a really bad roommate. Like Janis Joplin with a hangover and PMS."
-Anne Lamott

* this quote is especially funny if you've ever read any of Anne Lamott's books

Cheers & Jeers

2010-03-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

Cheers: to my good friends in the UK who just welcomed their newest family member, Rozalynd, to the world! She's beautiful.

Jeers: to Urban Cowbaby's continued refusual to sleep at night ... last night we woke up every 1/2 hour ... the night before that? well, he let us sleep for about 1.5 hours at a time ... ugh

Cheers: to grandparents who are so willing to help us out when our schedules create childcare problems! This cheers is especially meaningful considering the grandparents are not greeted by a happy, smiling, snuggly Urban Cowbaby but, rather, a traumatized "you're not my mommy/daddy/nanny!" Urban Cowbaby.

Jeers: to inconsiderate drivers on rainy mornings

Cheers: new tv show I like to watch ... Parenthood on NBC

Jeers: new tv show I like to watch ... on at 10pm which feels like it's really late at night in our house (LOL)

Cheers: to the crocus blooming all over our neighborhood - yea, Spring! I'm so over winter.

Jeers: to my mom's employer for being jerks and moving the administrative headquarters to a different state

Cheers: to family and friends - without them, our lives would be so sad and dismal

9 months out

2010-03-11T12:15:00.000-05:00

Whoa! Today Urban Cowbaby has been outside of me for as long as he was inside me! What's new in the life of our little 9 month old man? An update:
- this kid's been crawling for ages now and it didn't take him long to begin pulling himself up on anything and everything he could ... in the last 2 weeks, though, he's begun to perfect his cruising abilities and even stands for seconds at a time not holding on to anything at all. He's a nano-second away from walking, folks! (eek!)
- he is now the proud owner of 4 teeth and almost 5 with one so close we can see it under the skin ... his second round of teething was much easier on all of us than the first round was and thank goodness for that!
- he regularly yells "mama" when he wants my attention ... I used to think it was a fluke, a random stringing of sounds together but now I'm pretty convinced he's begun to attach meaning to it. Of course, I can't claim the meaning is always me but sometimes it definitely is. Urban Cowboy is engaged in "dada" combat but as of yet no "shots have been fired". (heehee)
- he likes to poo by himself, away from everyone else. I only mention this because it's really funny. He started doing this last week ... if you're playing and he has to poo, he will crawl away from you (and stay away - very unusal for this guy) until he's done with his business. We wonder if this is a good sign toward eventual potty training?
- he's outgrowing his clothes so quickly ... he solidly stayed in the 6 months size for so long that I'm surprised by how quickly he's growing out of his 9 months size clothing.
- he waves on command ... in fact, the other day I was on the phone with my mom and I asked him to say hello to grandma, I was trying to encourage him to talk a little so she could hear him, and he promptly waved to her! Too funny.
- he rolled a ball (really, it was an egg) back to Urban Cowboy ... seriously, people, Urban Cowboy was rolling the ball/egg back and forth to Urban Cowbaby and then, suddenly, Urban Cowbaby very deliberately rolled it back to Urban Cowboy. (he does this but, interestingly, doesn't officially clap his hands yet - LOL)
- he gives kisses to me and his favorite toys on command ... but no kisses yet for Urban Cowboy - I blame the facial hair.
- he eats like a champ ... he loves all the orange vegetables and he hasn't refused a fruit yet! He's not so sure about the green veggies but seems to like spinach right now and we also started giving him yogurt which he is always excited about.
- his hair is still blonde and getting so, so long ... his eyes are a beautiful, heart-melting shade of blue (dark blue outer-rims with medium blue centers flecked with dark blue all throughout) ... his dimples become more prominent with each passing week ... I know I'm biased but I have to say he's just breathtakingly handsome!
- his best feature at 9 months? Mama and Daddy are still his most favorite people in the whole wide world and he'd rather be with us than anyone else! I cherish this because while I recognize it makes life difficult for us sometimes (and life difficult for others when they're watching him) I know that sooner than later the day will come when he would rather hang out with his friends or girlfriend or even trees before he will want to hang out with us. If I cherish his exclusivity with us now, I can remember that once upon a time all he wanted was me and that will make me feel better about the world and his growing up. (SIGH)
So, if you've made it this far - you know that a) Urban Cowbaby is growing up fast (too fast), b) Urban Cowbaby is the most handsome and smartest and most perfect baby ever and c) Urban Cowgirl is a total sap and a sucker for sentimentality, even after just 9 mere months of motherhood.
* I wish I had a recent (9 month) picture uploaded ... you'll just have to wait until I do! *

Read this if you're a chick ...

2010-02-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

http://babyrabies.com/2010/02/22/is-this-age-related-or-are-clothes-actually-terrible-right-now/

This woman has summarized exactly how I've been feeling about clothes since I've had Urban Cowbaby. Every time I go to the store I go with the intention to like what I see but leave disappointed. Specifically, I've been terribly disappointed in my favorite stores (Ann Taylor(Loft), NY&Co.).

I don't really remember who Kelly Kowpowski is, but I do know I don't want to look like her.

Of course, I've largely gone shopping by myself (and the little man) these days - maybe that's part of the problem. I need the strength of several other women to help ferret out the cute clothes.

On T.V.

2010-02-09T14:10:00.000-05:00

My boss was on the local news last night. Here's a link to her segment:

http://www.wkyc.com/news/education/education_article.aspx?storyid=130423&catid=35

This segment serves as great PR for our school and, specifically, for our department (especially among the "higher ups").

WSJ Article = interesting

2010-02-04T13:51:00.000-05:00

The Great American Soap Overdose

Too Much Detergent Makes Our Clothes Dingy and Our Machines Smell. Can New Products Break Our Sudsy Habit?

Urban Cowgirl says: The Wall Street Journal is telling people we (consumers) use too much laundry detergent per load. I'm not surprised - Hints from Heloise has said the same thing for years. Even before I switched to Crunchy Clean I was only using about 1/2 the manufacturers recommended amount in each load.

Another Manic Monday?

2010-02-01T14:15:00.000-05:00

Typically, I'm not a "Monday sucks" kind-of girl. It is what it is. It's another day with another to-do list and set of obligations of places to be. For me, Mondays equal my first day of the work week. Well, we had a roller-coaster weekend (lots of ups & downs) and I wasn't wholly prepared for this morning and, consequently, was quite stressed by the time I got to work. Then, I got to work and my stress was increased by the bureaucratic/administrative crap that our new director seems to enjoy continuing to pile on us. I guess I feel like it's more work for me because, truly, I'm doing my old full-time job in new part-time hours and really do not have the time. Yes, I'm avoiding work as we speak thus wasting what little time I do have - clearly, my work ethic needs adjusted with the adjustment to part-time hours!

Anyway, the point of all this is that from 7:00am I was was stressed and then, by 12:00pm I was released from my stress for a solid 45 minutes. The source of my release? A live concert given by the Biava Quartet. I don't think it's possible to remain stressed in the presence of such a vibrant and talented quartet of string musicians. Three of the musicians in the Biava Quartet are CIM graduates and were studying at CIM when I worked there. It was truly a pleasure to see them perform again (this is the first I've seen them perform in 6 years ... I'm so old now!) and it is clear they continue to be dedicated and passionate about their craft. So, now I'm not as stressed and I owe it all to thought and emotion provoking music played live by a group of amazing young musicians. Thanks, Biava Quartet!

The Babycenter weekly update ...

2010-01-25T16:32:00.000-05:00

from: Babycenter - your 7 month old's development - I have to share this and include my own commentary(in italics) ...

"If you have yet to hire a babysitter or spend much time away from your baby, you're not alone. That said, there are good reasons to get away from your baby every once in a while — if not for your sake, then for his. Short separations help him adjust to other people and become more socialized — and may even help "inoculate" him against full-blown separation anxiety before it hits."
-- LOL "inoculate him" Boy, do we wish that was the case. Our little man has been experiencing extreme (literally, this is our doctor's word) separation anxiety since I returned to work in October. His separation anxiety began and continues despite the fact we have exposed him to lots of people (we don't live in a 3 person bubble) since his birth and we did practice short separations prior to my return to work. His separation anxiety has caused innumerable problems and has been the source of considerable stress for us because it's 100% of the time when Urban Cowbaby is not with me or Urban Cowboy. It's been such a difficult struggle to know what the "right" thing to do is regarding his care, our family life, and our professional careers.

also from: Babycenter - your 7 month old's development - again with my commentary (in italics):

The beginnings of separation anxiety

If your baby is like most at this age, he's showing signs of separation anxiety. Far from being a cause for concern, stranger anxiety is a sign of your baby's growing understanding of the world around him.
-- Our doctor has used the phrase "cognitively advanced" to describe Urban Cowbaby's early awareness of strangers and his separation anxiety. Apparently, he's "too aware" or, in the words of the article, maybe he's too understanding of his world (which is Urban Cowboy and myself, essentially). It's nice, I guess, that the doctor is "impressed" (also his words) with our son's cognitive development but it's also frustrating because of the complications his extreme separation anxiety continues to cause.

Earlier, when you left the room, your baby was hardly phased. Now he knows that you're gone — and he's able to picture you and miss you — and may begin to cry as soon as you're out of his sight.
-- Urban Cowbaby has been "phased" when we leave the room for what seems like his entire life (only 7 months, but still...). Urban Cowboy and I have been practicing leaving the room and returning games with him for some time now. When it's just us at home, and when Urban Cowbaby is not tired, all goes well and he (mostly) happily continues his play. When another person, even someone he's been exposed to regularly since birth, is added to the mix he becomes extremely anxious and upset when we leave the room; however, if Urban Cowboy remains in the room with Urban Cowbaby he generally does not get anxious or upset.

Your baby's reluctance to be separated from you may delight you or just plain frustrate you at times. If you head out to do an errand and your baby's staying home, shower him with loads of hugs and kisses before you head out the door and tell him you'll be back shortly. He won't understand that you'll be returning in an hour, but the love and affection might comfort him and tide him over until he sees you again.
-- I try not to be too frustrated by Urban Cowbaby's separation anxiety because I'm fully aware that when he is 15 years old I am going to be the last person he wants to hang out with. I try to appreciate the fact that right now I am one of his favorite things in life and without me he is sad and lonely (LOL). Yet, considering his unwillingness to even hang out with his grandparents sans parents, it's sometimes exceedingly difficult to not be frustrated. Combine that with my continued desire to maintain a professional presence and the result is one very complex and stressful situation. If is he "cognitively advanced" as our doctor suggests, why does he not understand that we will not leave him with someone else forever (he's stuck with us for life, you know) and that we will not leave him with someone we don't feel is unqualified to properly care for him?

Also, try to have a ritual of leaving that he can rely on each time you go and leave him with someone he's familiar with. That way, if he can't have Mom or Dad, at least he'll feel happy with his temporary caretaker.
--So, in conclusion, the latest Babycenter update on our son's development is extremely timely considering today was the first day with the new(est) childcare provider. All I ask is that people continue to pray and have faith that this is a) the right person - the person Urban Cowbaby feels safe with and can form an attachment to and b) the best solution for our little family's sanity and well-being (mentally/emotionally/physically).

What's New?

2010-01-19T15:25:00.000-05:00

A list of Urban Cowbaby's recent accomplishments:

- gives kisses
   (in reciprocation only, though, and you have to make the "mmmwah!" noise - haha)
- waves bye-bye
   (mostly to himself as he has not yet figured out how to turn his hand around - heehee)
- crawls
   (but not too far and he hasn't figured out crawling is a means to an end - thank goodness!)
- rolls from point a to point b
   (mostly this is done to get to anything paper or to get to tv remotes or cell phones - Urban Cowboy does
   not condone babies eating either remotes or cell phones)
- babbles all the time and sometimes says things like "mama" and "yaya" but not necessarily like he means it
- eating solids ... his favorites so far: prunes (yes, it's true) and carrots
- tolerates car rides and actually now falls asleep in the car a lot of times
- squawking with displeasure when we take something he wants (but shouldn't have) away

A list of Urban Cowbaby's continued accomplishments (or somethings - not all can be classified as accomplisments, per se. LOL):

- babysitter killing (it's, like, his favorite sport)
- extreme separation anxiety (this kid seems to refuse to believe that parents do, indeed, come back)
- showing off his adorable dimples and 2 bottom teeth when he smiles at us
- not sleeping through the night (much to the detriment of the well-being of Urban Cowboy)
- cuddling with me
- giggling at the craziest things (like when I make buzzing noises or when Urban Cowboy carries him
  over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes!)

Moo

2010-01-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows I like cows. Not only do I think they're adorable and I love to pet and cuddle them (my experience is largely with dairy cattle so I'm not sure I like to pet and cuddle beef cattle) I also like to consume them. I like steak and roast beef and prime rib, etc. I really, really like milk. Mmmm...milk - so yummy and refreshing. Lately, I've been missing milk and today, for some reason, I'm particularly sad that I can only have little bits of dairy intake at a time and not every day. I miss my glass of milk with dinner and I miss pizza. A lot. Urban Cowbaby doesn't like me to eat too much dairy so I have been cheeseless (mostly), ice creamless (completely), sour creamless (completely), and even egg nogless (unless you count my soy nog indulgence) since he was about 7 weeks old. And yesterday he turned 7 months old. Maybe that's not too long to some but to a true all-things-dairy lover, it seems like forever. Here's to looking forward and hoping that when Urban Cowbaby turns 1 he and I will both be able to drink milk and eat cheese and yogurt!

A recent discovery and a confession of delusion

2009-12-14T13:27:00.000-05:00

The Discovery:
Cooking with real buttermilk (if a recipe calls for it) is so.much.better. than cooking with homemade buttermilk (1 c. milk + 1 tbsp of vinegar + 10 min sitting time). Just FYI.

The Confession of Delusion:
Over the weekend I learned I have been delusional in my expectations of who I am capable of being in this post-baby life. I am finding it impossible (so far) to be as successful juggling all of my various roles without hurting or sacrficing some other role.
This lesson leaves me wondering if this is a temporary change in my life (simultaneous with the infant stage) or is this something I can expect to subside as time goes on and as I become more comfortable in my post-baby life?

A snapshot in time

2009-12-10T16:57:00.000-05:00

What do I really love right now? I love, love, love when Urban Cowbaby turns his head, looks up at me with the most perfect and beautiful smile and seems to say, "Thanks, Mom, that was good!".

The weekend is coming...

2009-12-03T10:35:00.000-05:00

It's the holiday season and, boy, are we busy. I think every weekend day has something major planned from now untill after the New Year. Eegats. Ok, a few of the planned activities are devised by me so I can't be too upset but that doesn't make us any less busy. Let's look at this weekend:
Friday - Burning River Brass concert ... I've ALWAYS wanted to see them in concert and this year it's going to happen! I'm so excited!
Saturday - Urban Cowboy's work party ... I'm only going to dinner, Urban Cowboy will stay late and will likely come home in a fog of Christmas Ale happiness.
Sunday - kid party w/ Santa for Eastern Stars ... this is tradition and my mom really wants us to go, hopefully it will be fun and Urban Cowbaby won't freak out from the crowd and from Santa.

A question? As new parents, Urban Cowboy and I are struggling with how to effectively manage our time to get things done. Example: Christmas tree assembly/decoration. How do parents do it?

Mashed Poatoes

2009-11-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

So, for those of you who don't know ... I'm a breastfeeding mom. I'm telling you this because I have to give some background to provide clarification for the title of today's post. As a breastfeeding mom, I have to watch what I eat because Urban Cowbaby strongly dislikes certain foods I consume and which he then consumes second-hand through me. One of those foods is anything DAIRY. Yes, my dairy loving self ... my glass of milk with every meal, chocolate milk for snacks, sour cream and cheese loving, and ice cream enjoying self ... is restricted to minimal dairy consumption. Ideally, it should be zero consumption but, frankly, I find that to be completely impossible. I do, however, work to minimize my consumption; therefore, I wanted Urban Cowbaby to be a in a good mood for all the holiday festivities and family gatherings planned for the weekend so I went out of my way to avoid dairy. I didn't even have any pumpkin pie this year! I also only had the tiniest amount of "real" mashed potatoes on Turkey day. Let's just say that was a real bummer and I was really craving an adult sized portion of mashed potatoes - sometimes a girl needs to get her fix. Then, a lightbulb went off! Goat's milk! My dear friend had to avoid dairy for a while and she learned all the dairy alternative tricks and one of them is goat's milk. (She also recently turned me on to Almond Milk - so much better than soy!) She directed me to Dave's Supermarket where I purchased a can of goat's milk and went on my merry way to prepare dinner for some friends coming over on Friday evening. I used the goat's milk to make my mashed potatoes and the end result was Fab-U-Lous! Oh, so yummy! If you're looking for a bit of different flavor to your favorite mashed root vegetable, I wholly recommend goat's milk. That's it for today. That's my PSA for goat's milk consumption. You, too, will enjoy it if you try it.

It's been a LONG TIME!

2009-11-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

I had really good intentions of updating my blog at least monthly after the birth of Urban Cowbaby. In fact, I wanted to actually write a monthly update about all the wonderful (and not so wonderful) things I'm learning about motherhood and to keep people informed of Urban Cowbaby's accomplishments. They say good intentions pave the path to hell...No, I think that's a cliche for a different type of good intention. Anyway, here we are - one day away from Urban Cowbaby's 5 month birthday and I haven't updated my blog since he was just under 2 months old! The time really does fly by! My pre-mom naivety of how well I could manage my time stemmed from over-estimation of my own abilities and under-estimation of the demands of my child. So, without further ado, I present you with an abbreviated summary of the past 3 months within the format of BOOS and BRAVOS:

BRAVO: Urban Cowbaby rolled over very early (according to the baby books), broke 2 teeth very early (according to the baby books AND our peditrician), and is already sitting up on his own (if you put him into that position - LOL). * He also recently began to get up on his hands and knees! Uh-oh, we better start baby proofing! *

BOO: Urban Cowbaby has chewed up and spit out 2 different babysitters. He likes to make life complicated for his mama and daddy.

BRAVO: Breastfeeding really does help new moms lose weight - well, at least this new mom - it helps that I have a kid that likes to constantly be in motion (but not in a car) thus pumping up the calorie burn.

BOO: Urban Cowbaby qualifies as a "high-need" baby which translates to a fussy lil' mo fo. LOL But, somehow, even when he's at his worst I still love him more than I can ever express in words!

BRAVO: I love being back at work! It feels so good to exercise my brain in non-mommy fashion and my co-workers are so supportive and encouraging.

BOO: Post-partum hair loss has set in and my bathroom/house is constantly covered in long, curly brunette hair. Additionally, keeping the house clean/organized and looking after Urban Cowbaby is extremely challenging and I regularly fail to keep things up to my "usual" (Read: PRE-BABY) standards.

BRAVO: Urban Cowboy is the best father and husband EVER! He is 1010% involved in every aspect of Urban Cowbaby's life and it's amazing to see them interact. I'm a very lucky lady.

BOO: The kid does cause the parents to not like each other at times and sleep deprivation and stretched-to the-limits-nerves often lead to needless bad attitudes toward one another. :-(

BRAVO: Life is different these days but, overall, life is different in a good way.

PS I'm going to try to be more regular about the blog updates from now on.

7 weeks

2009-08-04T22:02:00.002-04:00

I've been absent from my blog for awhile ... I have a good excuse - he's about 13ish pounds and cries a lot. LOL
The past 7 weeks have absolutely flown by! It's hard to believe that our little man was just born in June. He's already so big and he's already so strong and smart! He can hold his head up so well and doesn't seem to mind his tummy time unless his little neck gets tired, he cries then. He also recently figured out how to make his hand go to his mouth. It's adorable and helpful because with this skill he's also learning to self-soothe. We have had some success with getting him to sleep in his own bed. Each night is a gamble regarding if he'll sleep by himself. The past few nights he hasn't. Of course, if I'm completely honest, some nights he probably would have slept by himself in his bed but I selfishly missed him and wanted him back in bed with us. I know, I know, I'm a sucker for a cute little cuddly bundle. He's also recently begun to watch everything we do. He's studying us. I love it! When I talk to him we make eye contact and it's so full of love - both directions! He smiles at us now, too. Everyone said the smiles would make "it" all worthwhile and I couldn't believe them when they told me....now I've had the pleasure of his smile directed at me and everyone was right - it does seem to make "it" all worthwhile. His eyes have changed from a violet blue to a beautiful deep denim blue. I stare into his eyes for whole quarter hours. He's also become less fussy. Maybe it's because I am now only consuming minimal dairy (so tough for a dairy-loving girl like myself!) or maybe it's because he's finally figured out how to sleep more during the day or maybe it's because he's realized he can't go back in and he has to accept his life outside the womb. Whatever it is, it's made our lives so much easier and more enjoyable. Urban Cowboy is the truly the world's best father and the world's best husband. He is so patient and loving and giving. Regardless of the difficulty, he manages to always be the best! I'm so blessed to have such an amzing life partner! Urban Cowbaby still has lots of hair. Sections of it have fallen out leaving him with random bald patches on the sides of his head. They're very funny looking but I think they make him even cuter. You can see where the new hair is growing in and it's growing in blonde. His left eye had a clogged tear duct but it seems to be getting better most days. He has a horse voice which breaks my heart because it makes his cries seem even more desperate! I wonder what kind of voice he will have as he continues to get older? Last week he started using his voice for more than crying - he now coos and ahs us. He also does a baby version of the dog howl - hilarious - and some of his coos and ahs are reserved just for me. I call them his lovenotes and I revel in them. Each day is a new adventure and a new game with new rules ... I'm learning that I can handle it. It's a good feeling. At the end of every day I thank God for his blessing of my perfect family and our good fortune.

Veronica Mars meet Urban Cowgirl

2009-06-27T00:59:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was Urban Cowbaby's 14th day as an outside baby. He's not an easy, happy baby and he eats alot. He had a wellness check to make sure he's properly gaining weight and the doc is very pleased he's now up to 9lbs 6oz. I'm pleased too - even though I'm often frustrated by how little time I have between each time he eats. I usually have about an hour or less. Being a food machine and/or pacifier is very draining. The good news is I'm finally able to watch Veronica Mars from the beginning of the series and so much more makes sense to me now. Unfortunately, I only have through June 29 to finish watching the first season because then they're replacing it with the second season. I guess it's a good thing the kid eats as much as he does.

The new addition

2009-06-19T14:50:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, Urban Cowbaby turned 1 week old. Already, the time is flying by so quickly and it's difficult to believe he has been an "outside" baby for 7 whole days! Right now, he's eating. In fact, when he's not sleeping he is pretty much always eating. I'm a little bit sad for Urban Cowboy because I was so excited to have Urban Cowbaby so Urban Cowboy and I could share him more equally. Regardless, Urban Cowboy is proving to be the best daddy in the world! He's truly amazing with the little one and together we're turning out to be a good team. It helps thst we're both head over heels in love wth our perfect little man.
If you're wondering how labor & delivery went ... let's just say it didn't work out the way I'd been envisioning it over the past 9 months and I'm not yet ready to talk about details. I'll only say this: in the end, all that matters is there is a healthy mom & a healthy baby.
We love to watch Urban Cowbaby. His face is so expressive and his eyes are so intelligent and alert. I love to watch him try to control his limbs and he likes to do this thing with his head/neck that makes him look like a turtle. He's adorable ... yes, I know I'm biased. LOL

A little note

2009-06-05T08:47:00.003-04:00

Dear Baby,

Your daddy and I are so excited to meet you and want to get to know you!
I think I may have mistakenly made too nice of a home for you in there because you are clearly very comfortable staying where you are. Unfortunately, your mama is not as comfortable as you are and would like for us to share space in a new way.
If you come out, your daddy and I promise to do whatever we can to make your world as comfortable for you on the outside as it was in.
Please come out to play...

Love,

Mama

PRAYERS NEEDED!

2009-06-03T10:09:00.001-04:00

Please pray for my friend's new daughter ...

she is only 5 days old and needs immediate heart surgery.

Please pray for my friend -

she needs strength, support, and lots of love

to be able to cope with her daughter's health complication.

Currently Loving

2009-06-03T09:58:00.003-04:00

I'm currently loving:
- time with Urban Cowboy (ok, so I guess this one will never get old)
- the amazing progress (near completion) of the screened in back porch
- sleep (it's getting more difficult these days, though)
- long showers (not my normal m.o. but I'm taking advantage while I can)
- cooking interruption free
- finishing work projects

What are you currently loving about your life?

My Awesome Friend!

2009-06-03T09:50:00.002-04:00

Check this out ... my friend knew I was looking for some reusable sandwich and snack bags like these but she also knew that I was not exactly excited about spending the money right now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they're not worth the price - I'm just cheap and have a lot of other, more pressing, expenses right now (ahem - baby stuff - ahem). So, yesterday guess what that awesome friend of mine did? She GAVE ME a set of reusable sandwich and snack bags that she had made! Who doesn't love getting random presents? She made herself a set, too, so we will match at lunch time now! LOL I'm so excited to use them! Even Urban Cowboy was impressed and I won't be surprised if they end up in his lunches, too. heehee Each day is a step closer to living more eco-friendly and it's even more rewarding when you're helped by your talented and caring friends!

This and That

2009-05-27T11:34:00.002-04:00

ENJOYING:
- just "us" time with Urban Cowboy
- seeing my plants growing
- the sunshine
- sleeping
- social time with family/friends and no added distractions

LOOKING FORWARD TO:
- meeting Urban Cowbaby
- sleeping on my stomach
- seeing Urban Cowboy in action as a daddy
- eating vegetables from our garden
- spending time with family/friends with an added distraction

WISHING FOR:
- a healthy Urban Cowbaby
- Steph to have an easy labor
- really big glass of a really good red wine & a Mike's Hard Lime
- successful breastfeeding
- Urban Cowbaby's "on-time" arrival

Question of the Day

2009-05-27T11:30:00.001-04:00

What would you do? The baby needs to come home in something. I'm pretty sure they will not let me leave the hospital with the baby dressed only in a diaper. ** We have 2 outfits picked out to bring the baby home in. ** One is a boy outfit and the other is a girl outfit. I am debating the logic of this now, though, because before the baby wears the outfit I want to wash it. If I wash both, I won't be able to return the outfit that doesn't apply. These are very, very gender specific-themed outfits. So, do I scrap the whole coming home in a gender-specific outfit plan or do I just wash both and suck up the financial loss?

13 days!

2009-05-22T09:05:00.002-04:00

Eegats! So I got an email update about my weekly pregnancy progress - yesterday I entered my 38th week of pregnancy and today I have 13 days until the official estimated due date. I guess I hadn't realized we were already in the "teens" for the baby countdown. Don't worry, there's no news to report. In fact, at our appointment this past Wednesday, our midwife is predicting we'll not go before the week of our due date and will likely go the week after. She has me scheduled for appointments through week 41 just in case the kid's not too eager to make his/her debut into the world. Some of the ladies at work are a bit disappointed by this news because they were hoping to win the Urban Cowbaby arrival pool - there's $32 in that pot!

So, in the next 13 days here's what I hope gets accomplished:
- back porch is officially, completely done being screened in and painted
- garden is officially, completely done being planted (including front flower beds which are challenging me this year because I can't decide what direction to take them in!)
- house is cleaned really, really well (it's not too bad now, there are just a few areas I really want to take time to work on so that it's less to worry about later!)
- baby laundry is done and organized
- nursery completed (need some wall art and a bit of rearranging once dresser & glider arrive)
- clothesline up in yard
I'm sure there are a million other things I could add to the list but I'm trying to keep it simple and I need to factor in time for resting. Let me tell you, I don't know how mom's of 1+ do it. They don't get even 1/4 of the chance to rest the way new moms do during pregnancy!

Missing KL0

2009-05-19T11:33:00.003-04:00

Oh my gosh! Last night I totally believed I lost one of our diapers! I kept going over our stash in my head and wondering where on earth the missing diaper could be! I kept thinking how much it cost and how upsetting it would be to be a diaper short. Luckily, a good night's sleep refreshed my brain and as soon as I woke up this morning I remembered where it is! Whew! Tonight it's going back in the basket it belongs in so I don't have to have another lost-diaper-anxiety moment.

In other news, the baby's room will officially have window treatments within the next 3 days. Pottery Barn is FINALLY (after, like, 2 months of back orders!) processing our curtain order. It's nice to continue to check of the "to-dos" from the list. The question is: will the curtain tie-backs get made before the kid arrives? Hopefully ... but I'm not making any promises.

AND, tonight Urban Cowboy is beginning to paint the back porch floor to get it ready for when his brother comes over to begin building the screens. This is a huge step and I'm so excited because I think this project will actually be done before Urban Cowbaby arrives and we'll have such a wonderful time hanging out on our screened in porch all summer! (For those of you who don't know: we're replacing the framing/screens on our back porch because what was previously there was not well-done and did not hold up for even one summer - now we're aiming for a more sturdy and permanent screen structure) (Oh, and just so you know - what was previously there was put up by the previous owners, not by us)

KL0s

2009-05-15T11:51:00.004-04:00

Currently, we have 20 Kissaluvs (size 0 - aka KL0s) fitted cloth diapers for Urban Cowbaby, 2 Thirsties covers (xs) and 2 Prowraps (nb). According to my extensive research on this topic we should be able to get away with only washing diapers every other day with this amount; however, newborns aren't exactly 100% predictable in the number of times they will wet/poo their diapers so we're aware there's a good chance we'll be doing a load of diaper laundry a day. Of course, we're also well aware that we may have to supplement our supply with either 1) additional KL0s which are a tiny bit expensive or 2) newborn chlorine-free disposable diapers - luckily we got some of those at one of the lovely baby showers hosted for us. Certainly, our hope is that we'll be able to exclusively cloth diaper but we're also trying to be realistic about how things might work out. Especially when I return to work because some child care providers will not cloth diaper at all. Additionally, we're not sure what direction we're going to go once Urban Cowbaby outgrows the KL0s which will be around 12 pounds. I am exploring other cloth diapering options including next stage fitteds/covers and all-in-ones. I know a lot of people really like their pocket cloth diapers but I'm not sure how I feel about the extra laundry step of always having to actually stuff the pockets. Ironically, I hate doing the laundry (particularly, putting it away) so this cloth diapering lifestyle is going to require adjustments on a lot of levels for us as a family! LOL I'm confident in the KL0s for the beginning stages, though, and am excited because 1) we will be minimizing our baby's exposure to yucky chemicals (some are linked with crazy cancers or future reproductive problems!) and 2) I will be helping the environment by reducing the amount of waste our family generates for the landfills and 3) we will be saving money - especially if we choose to have another child. I'm sure I'll keep you updated on how cloth diapering is working out for our family!

Yesterday...

2009-05-13T15:20:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was our 2nd Wedding Anniversary.

Two years ago our family and friends joined us to celebrate our love for one another and our pledge to love each other for a lifetime.

Two years ago I married the best man I know.

It's difficult to believe it's only been two years because, honestly, our time together has gone by so quickly and our love for one another has grown so much!

Our days together aren't always the easiest but they are always treasured.

Two years will lead us to 20 and then to 50 and we'll be as happily in love then as we are now.

Yesterday was our 2nd Wedding Anniversary.

It's almost time for Babypalooza!

2009-05-13T15:07:00.002-04:00

My good friend is less than a week away from her D(elivery)-Day (ok, so it's an estimate and the kid's gonna come whenever it wants) and she is eager to meet her little one! How exciting to think that soon she's going to be holding her newest family member in her arms and loving that little person more than she could ever imagine! I told her I can't wait to meet her little one because I feel as though I already know him/her because his/her mama and I have been able to experience so much of our pregnancy journeys together. Let's all keep them in our prayers as their big day approaches! We only want it to be a happy and joyous occasion!

If you want an status update for Urban Cowbaby, I can safely tell you that this little dude/dudette is not yet ready to come out. Yes, the kid has dropped way down low but other than that there are no signs to indicate any kind of progress toward a world debut. Plus, I'm only at the end of my 36th week so we've got a few more weeks to go before I really start getting impatient and before I start scrutinizing and analyzing every single baby movement or bodily change in the hopes of Urban Cowbaby joining us on the outside. Soon enough our little one will be out & about and ready to face the world with a beautiful, bright, brave face!

We did have one internal exam, so far, that revealed zero dilation. I'm not sure if we'll have any more internals because 1) they're optional until I officially begin labor and 2) I am concerned if I get regular progress reports that I will mentally get hung up on the numbers and the countdowns and all that. I'd like to be as relaxed as possible going into this whole labor/delivery experience. I've learned, through this pregnancy especially, that I definitely get hung up on numbers and certain numbers really bother me ... like the continually increasing numbers on the scale at the doctor's office!

Now it's time to finish up the last of the little projects we have planned to get done before Urban Cowbaby arrives and it's time to relax and enjoy spending time together as just a couple since sooner than later we're going to be transformed into a threesome.

I wasn't late!

2009-05-07T10:33:00.002-04:00

Last night I was talking to my mom about a common pregnancy wives tale: some people say that when your mom delivered you in respect to your due date is often a predictor of when you will deliver your baby. I told her how I was mentally prepared to go pretty late after Urban Cowbaby's due date because I was 12 days late based on what she's told me all my life. And she laughed. Apparently, my due date was determined by the doctor and she didn't argue but she knew he was wrong. It's complicated so I won't go into detail but, basically, my mom knows the exact date of my conception and, based strictly on that date, I was born exactly on time - like, on the day she knew was my real due date! (SIGH) So, now I am mentally preparing to deliver closer to my due date, just in case that old wives tale has some merit.

PS My office has an actual pool going for when Urban Cowbaby decides to enter the world! How hilarious is that?! It'll be fun to see who wins the pot. I did buy 2 squares so even I have a chance to win a little extra cash. LOL If you want in, let me know and I'll put you in touch with the organizer. LOL

Your weekend? My weekend...

2009-05-04T13:57:00.002-04:00

Our weekend was extremely busy but really productive and fun!

First, we went to see Chekov's The Seagull - which was beautifully performed. We ended the night at The Greenhouse Tavern (see previous post) & I stayed up until midnight! (exciting for someone who is 35.5 weeks pregnant!)

Second, Urban Cowboy rolled our lawn to begin the process (likely, multi-year) of getting the ground evened out. To do this, he first had to cut the grass and it looks fantastic!

Third, I planted my dahlias & donated decorative grass & sedum on Saturday morning. I'm eagerly anticipating the results of that labor.

* Yes, I'm fully aware of my domestic dorkiness. *

Fourth, we made some necessary returns for baby stuff - we only returned duplicates of stuff we received from both the lovely showers we were lucky enough to be recipients of!

Fifth, I had a lovely brunch with a few of my girlfriends. I really treasure the time we carve out for each other and have to chat & catch up!

Sixth, Urban Cowboy ran an AWESOME race this weekend! His goal this season was to run a 5k in 19:00 minutes or less and he ran his race in a 18:42! He rocks! I'm so proud of him because 1) he's worked very hard to achieve this goal and 2) it's really early in the season so he can only get faster from this point! He's amazing!

Seventh, we are now the happy owners of a cradle! I've been desperately seeking a cradle ever since we found out we're pregnant and it's been a lost cause. I had actually given up and begun searching for a bassinet, instead. Well, my step-mom remembered that I had been wanting a cradle and she found a nice one at a garage sale and snatched it up for us! I'm so excited! It was so nice of them to bring it up with them last night, too.

The Greenhouse Tavern - Part 2

2009-05-04T11:52:00.003-04:00

We went to The Greenhouse Tavern on Friday night. I previously posted about my desire to check this place out and all the reasons why I already loved it before we even set foot in the place...you can check that post out here.

Our visit Friday night did not disappoint! In fact, it exceeded expectations and we didn't even sample an entree. First, the space is amazing. It was awesome to see how they incorporated the upcycled materials they acquired. And, the way they have the dining separated into multi-level areas is very intriguing. Urban Cowboy and I want to return to sit in the various sections and enjoy the multiple views the place has to offer. Second, the service was great! For a place that has only been open for about a month, there were no real kinks that we noticed. The place was run like a well-oiled machine and I like that a lot. In fact, it was something I was worried about before we went. Because they're so new I really was expecting the service to be less than satisfactory. Third, and most importantly, the food was really good. We didn't have an entree because we initially went there with a just a snack in mind. Once we were there, though, and saw the menu, we ended up wanting to try a few different dishes. We left stuffed but our taste buds were wholly satisfied! Finally, I found an Ohio restaurant with California attitude and we felt like we were transported back to Napa Valley or San Fransisco! This place is a do-not-miss for anyone in Cleveland or anyone visiting Cleveland! I can't wait to go back! Hopefully, they won't mind Urban Cowbaby tagging along with us & hopefully Urban Cowbaby will be a good little person and not be too much trouble while we're there!

Sucky, sucky

2009-04-28T17:46:00.002-04:00

One Tree Hill has succeeded in getting worse with each episode this season! It's so disappointing! Last night was one of the worst episodes of this season which has been bad from the beginning. Word on the internet rumor street was OTH was not being renewed for next season but USA Today reported that they are renewed! The question now is: if they're renewed for next season, how much worse can they get? My bet is it can't get much worse then it is now and OTH will just fizzle out in the "this is crap tv" pile. In fact, OTH has already fizzled out in in the "this is crap tv" pile and I'm only finishing this season because I feel kind-of committed to seeing how they leave it at the season (possibly series) finale. I have no intention of continuing to watch this show and will content myself with watching the good seasons on DVD.

Water Dilemma

2009-04-20T16:51:00.002-04:00

I need to drink at least 64oz of water a day. This is not just because doctors everywhere recommend this, this is because if I don't I am very thirsty all the time. In fact, before I got pregnant I was averaging closer to 100+oz of water a day - especially in warmer weather. Now that I'm pregnant, though, it's been more and more difficult for me to reach my minimum 64oz. The 1st trimester resulted in a very strange (and sad) water aversion for me and then as the 2nd and 3rd trimesters have progressed my bladder size has steadily decreased. I am not sure if this can be substantiated medically but I am positive my bladder shrinks daily! So, even though I'm really thirsty and want to drink a lot of water I hesitate to because I am 33.5 weeks pregnant and the kid's head is resting directly on my bladder and it's getting smaller by the day and, honestly, I'm lazy and get tired of walking to the bathroom all the time! I know I need to walk and I can at least count bathroom trips as steps taken through the day but no one likes to spend that much time in the bathroom, especially one that's used by many co-workers and visitors to the building. It's gross. Plus, my pregnant self still isn't over the 1st trimester aversion to the horrible smell of the handsoap in the bathroom and I really like to avoid it when I can. In then end, I leave work really thirsty and I drink a ton of water when I get home which results in me getting up more times in the night which results in less sleep. It's a vicious cycle, people. And, what am I complaining about anyway? I've had a really easy pregnancy (minus the 1st 16 weeks) and soon I'm going to get no sleep anyway. I should just be happy with what I get, right? I should just be happy to be sleeping in increments longer than 1.5 hours and happy that I'm only waking up for a full bladder and not a crying, hungry child. (SIGH) Ok, so I'm done complaining now and I'm going to focus on being grateful for the easy life I currently live and which is soon to end.

Eco-Friendly Urban Cowboy

2009-04-15T18:18:00.002-04:00

Oooo! I'm so excited! Guess what Urban Cowboy did this weekend? Guess! Guess!

He took the old desktop computer to be recycled through a local community computer recycle program! YEA! That old beast is out of our house AND it's being properly broken down and disposed of! I'm ecstatic!

In all fairness, Urban Cowboy was a tiny bit sad he didn't get to reenact the computer bashing scene from that Office Space movie BUT I am so happy and proud of us (as a family) because we recycled instead of dumped in the landfill! Woot, woot!

What's next? A composter. That's right - we're greener by the day, kids. LOL

Cooking Oops & Cowardly Confession & a bit of baby

2009-04-13T09:36:00.004-04:00

I made a coconut cake this weekend. Usually, I make this particular cake from scratch because it's pretty easy and, minus the coconut, I typically have all the ingredients on hand so no need for an extra trip to the grocery. However, this weekend I was feeling a bit tired and a bit lazy and decided to use up the box of white cake mix I had stored away in the pantry. I got out my handy, dandy cookbook staple (Better Homes & Gardens) and proceeded to determine what I needed to convert my boring box mix into a fabulous coconut cake. I did not succeed in transforming the box mix, let me tell you. It came out flat and dense - more like a poundcake, and the flavor was barely there! I was so disappointed and couldn't figure out what went wrong. At church, I was mentioning this to some of our friends and complaining a bit and through the conversation it was realized that I am an idiot! No, seriously, I am! Apparently, coconut milk is not at all the same as creme de coconut!! I reallly thought they were the same thing and creme de coconut was just a fancy term for coconut milk! I was so wrong! Creme de coconut is actually more like a paste (think Cream of Celery soup)! And, that explains everything regarding my failed cake! People still ate it and pretended to enjoy it but I am bitter and disappointed that I messed it up so badly! Next time, I'll stick to making it from scratch 'cause I know all the ingredients for that recipe!

My cowardly confession: This winter one of my primary goals was to begin making bread...yes, from scratch. I have about 20 different recipes - all for "beginner" level - that I wanted to try out and I made zero. Every time I had the opportunity I would put a lot of thought into what I needed to do and I would really study the recipe and then I would become a little overwhelmed by the process and end up doing something else! How sad for us, right? So, maybe (a big maybe), I can manage to overcome my fear of making bread before Urban Cowbaby makes his/her arrival? Wish me luck...

Speaking of Urban Cowbaby - This kid has caused my abdomen to become HUGE! I look like I swallowed a basketball! And, sometimes when I'm in public I worry about people looking at me and seeing the strange (and sometimes creepy) movements in my abdomen. The kid is head down, according to our midwife, but likes to roll from side to side so I often get views of what I think is a little butt moving from left to right. And, the kid has also become quite adept at surprising me (usually in public and usually while I'm walking) with a good punch to the cervix which is really painful for a split second. Luckily for me, 'cause I know a few girls who's little ones liked to do this a lot (like, all the time and with vigor!), it has only happened a few times. Whew. (I'm knocking on wood as I type this - don't want to jinx myself) I'm also experiencing the appropriate number of practice contractions (aka Braxton-Hicks) each day. Sometimes they're a little "stronger" than others and I have to slow what I'm doing until they pass. But, really, most times I can recognize their presence without needing to slow down or decrease an activity. Certainly, Urban Cowboy and I are excited for the baby's arrival but we're also happy it's still 8 weeks away because we're trying to enjoy spending time together and trying to finish physically & mentally preparing (ourselves & the house & our lifestyle) before the baby is here.

That's NOT news, people

2009-04-08T17:59:00.000-04:00

Seriously, I know this is random, but is the nation so desperate and news hungry that the media deems it necessary for us to know what Michael Jordan or John Elway's sons are doing? Who the f cares about these old geezers kids? For that matter, who the f still cares about Michael Jordan or John Elway? Go away old people! You had your moment in the spotlight ... oh, and take your kids with you - they don't need to be in the spotlight any more than you do!

PS - UK friends, are you subjected to this kind of useless news there, too?

Nursery Progress Update

2009-03-31T18:16:00.003-04:00

I uploaded pics for your viewing enjoyment.

Here is a list of what's been done so far:

- room painted, including white stripes on opposite walls

- orange, felt polka dots glued to wall (we used wall paper paste!) (the felt is made from 100%
recylced materials!)
- floor scrubbed & throw rug is in place

- crib assembled
- bookshelf in room

Here's a list of what we still need to do:

- order/purchase crib mattress

- get dresser

- set up changing area

- obtain rocking chair or purchase glider (not sure which)

- hang a picture or two
- change ceiling fan (maybe!)

One Tree Hill - Final Five

2009-03-31T17:57:00.002-04:00

Rumor has it that One Tree Hill may not be renewed for its 7th season. Word-on-the-street is Chad Michael Murray is leaving and , honestly, I really can't see the show going on without Lucas Scott. Normally, you would think I would be upset at the idea of OTH not being renewed for another season but I'm going to surprise you and tell you that I'm not upset about it at all. This 6th season has been mediocre with some episodes being dead-on and true to OTH's roots while other episodes have been ridiculous or completely lame. Peyton getting pregnant and then experiencing a ton of problems with the pregnancy, combined with Brooke's "super-mommy" to a 15 year old status, have left me feeling empty. Nathan and Lucas have been about as boring as can be this season and how is it that Haley continues to dress more and more inappropriately as a high school teacher? She never even dressed inappropriately as a high school student! It's so out-of-character. So, basically, I feel like I'm getting over the whole OTH thing. I love watching the previous seasons and I definitely plan to own season 4 but I'm not too sure I need to own seasons 5-6 since I haven't enjoyed them too much. If it is put to bed now, it will be good timing because I feel they've lost direction and they've lost touch with who the characters really are and aspire to be.

They left pregnant and returned parents

2009-03-26T10:00:00.002-04:00

Our birthing class is officially over. I'm pretty bummed about this because I really liked the weekly meetings and the pseudo-support group created by 12 weeks of hanging out with people who are also expectant parents. That said, I'm also kind-of glad because we now have our Weds. nights back and that gives us a bit more breathing room in our already really busy schedule.

Last night, some former classmates of ours returned to share their birth story and it is a doozy! First, I have to preface this with the fact that these new parents practiced NFP for a long time before they TTC. And, they're accountants so they were pretty confident in their calculations regarding the due date but their midwife disagreed. Long story short, they believed they were due in mid-April while their midwife believed they were due mid-March. In the end, their baby girl came on March 5 ... 10 days before the midwife's prediction!
So, there they are believing the kid is going to arrive in mid-April and on March 5 her water breaks - movie style! I don't know if you know this, but most women don't actually experience a gush of water when their bag of waters breaks - in fact, most women have their bag broken by a medical professional or by the baby as the baby is pushed out. If a woman does experience water breaking on its own, it's usually only a trickle. This chic got the full-on movie style gush, though, and was at work! She was soaked to the knees and dripping amniotic fluid onto her cubicle floor! Eegats! She is also beginning to experience stronger contractions and calls her husband, her midwife, and our birthing class instructor. Her husband tried to "bargain" with her and asked if she could just make it through the rest of the work day! How funny is that!? In the end she went and picked him up from work (they carpool) and instead of going to the hospital, (they thought they had plenty of time) they go home to pack the bag, rest, eat, and labor at home as long as possible. Well, I guess that wasn't really too long because not long after they got home she began to feel as though she had to to push! Her husband was, like, no - don't push yet! And they decided to go to the hospital immediately. She rode in the backseat on all fours because that was the only position she felt comfortable in! By the time they got to the hospital she was sure she could feel the baby's head and her husband ran into the ER to get some staff to help. By the time the ER staff arrived at the car the baby's head was already half out! Basically, the wife birthed the kid on her own and the ER staff just needed to help her get the kid the rest of the way out! Wild, right! That kid is going to want to hear her birth story over and over because it's so exciting and not the norm! I mean, she was born in the back of a Corolla! LOL

Certainly, I do not expect Urban Cowbaby's birth story to be so exciting nor do I expect I'll be fortunate enough to go into labor and give birth 3 hours later! That little baby girl sure is cute, though, and it was awesome of them to come in and share their story and post-partum experiences with us.

Georgia doesn't recycle and a Florida farmer made me cry

2009-03-23T13:46:00.002-04:00

I got home yesterday evening after 7 days of traveling and I'm exhausted. I'm also extremely happy to be back home with Urban Cowboy! This trip was the longest we had been apart since the 1st month of our marriage. I missed him like crazy! I'm pretty sure he missed me a little, too. ;-)

The first part of my trip was work related and I was in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. I spent a lot of my time on a major college campus and the rest of my time at a hotel with a respectable name and close to a whole host of dining and shopping options. Ok, so you can't quote me on this because I didn't conduct any official research but I'm pretty sure Georgia does not recycle. My hotel did not recycle anything and when I inquired after the location of the hotel's recycle bin for my newspaper the desk staff looked at me like I had grown an extra head. In fact, they repeated my question back to me as though I had originally said it in a foreign language. Now, I know being from the North that I don't talk the same as a born & bred Southerner BUT I also know I was definitely speaking English. I figured I would recycle my newspaper at the workshop, located on a major college campus, but was disappointed to learn they don't provide any recycling receptacles, either. In fact, we ate several meals at this college, complete with bottled water and cans of pop (I didn't drink the pop, of course), and there were no measures taken to attempt to recycle the beverage containers or anything else. I was frustrated by this and I did manage to save a few plastic water bottles and all my newspapers to take with me to Florida to recycle them there. Florida recycles.

The second part of my trip was family related and I was in central Florida. We traveled to a wedding and it was in the middle-of-nowhere Florida. I mean, we have middle-of-nowhere Ohio and this part of Florida definitely rivaled our most middle-of-nowhere parts of Ohio! So, we drove forever to get to this wedding - and we drove through a lot of Florida farm country. Primarily, beef cattle and dairy farms. I have to tell you, I cried when we passed some of the dairy farms. It seems several farmers (I imagine this is a national practice) choose to cut the tails of their milkers - I researched why and the outdated reasoning (holds no scientific clout) is to prevent disease - so that all that is left is a stump of a tail. The practice is called "docking" - as in, the cows have docked tails. I cannot tell you how disgusted this makes me because it is so cruel to the cows! How would those farmers feel if the only appendage they had for swatting flies was removed? Those poor, poor cows are left defenseless against the thousands of voracious flies feeding on them! It's terrible. I can't even imagine how miserable it must be for those animals in the height of summer and, thus, the height of fly season! I despise those farmers.

Not worthy

2009-03-12T11:30:00.002-04:00

I am working late tonight so I was able to flex my time and come into work late this morning; consequently, I ate my bowl of cereal while watching the Today Show. They dedicated an entire segment, not a quick sound byte, to exploring the details of Bristol Palin's recent break-up from her baby's daddy. So, tell me, why is this news? Why does this information deserve an entire news segment? Why are we supposed to care? She's not even a celebrity! She's nothing and her existence has no more significance in our society than mine or yours does.
Ok, I'm over it now.