Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Baby Lulu
Since I shared Super N's pic earlier this morning and mentioned my affinity for Baby Lulu dresses I thought I'd go ahead and share what I ebayed yesterday for her.With Super N starting preschool in the Fall I wanted to get her a few new to us (but used from ebay) dresses. Plus the details on these dresses are just adorable it was really difficult to turn them down and seriously they both were less than $11 each and then a little for shipping.
The flower on the second dress is another little felted wool flower, so cute. Personal pics like the 2 above never do BL dresses justice so I expect these to be pretty darn cute when they're actually on her little frame. Perhaps when they come in we'll have to do another Wardrobe Wednesday featuring Super N in her new Baby Lulu's. She loves dresses I'm thinking we won't have any complaints from her end.
Wardrobe Wednesday
My sweet gal Super N. She's sportin her Baby Lulu dress. I adore these flower print little dresses on her! I usually can get them really inexpensively on ebay, around $10. It's difficult to see but it has a little felt flower on the right side of the dress.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Life As A Momma When You Don't Feel So Well
So I have not been feeling real well the last almost year. It is probably a combination of things. Perhaps having 3 babes in 3 years, being postpartum, overweight and lacking consistent sleep. Or maybe it is the addition of the house stuff thrown in there. I don't know. But what I do know is that I have been to 2 different doctors in the last 2 months and they have both been very quick to write me up a prescription for an antidepressant and shove it in my face, okay there was no shovin involved.How come it is so easy to handout a scrip for a drug? I asked both of the doc's a lot of questions about the meds they were prescribing and they assured me there would be no problems. But with each med I went home and googled them and found out that there are a lot of unknowns about each one in terms of how they affect a specific person. The side effects are all over the place and the withdrawal from both of the meds require tapering off, which frightens me. One of the drugs withdrawal was being compared to withdrawaling from cocaine...eek!
Now what?!I really wish docs would have more accountability-not sure how that would work but that is my wish. Why so quick to prescribe meds? I guess I was hoping for more of a holistic approach. I have heard more and more stories in the news and such over the last few years about how doctors are over prescribing meds to patients. Why?Today I did a few searches online for holistic doctors in my area but I was overwhelmed by all of the information that I ran across. Are there certain "things" I should keep in mind while looking for one, other than my insurance needs to cover it?
As of right now I am not taking a med for depression but instead I am trying to change my diet. I am pretty much weaning myself off of anything that is processed and seeing if I feel any different. I am also going to tackle the YMCA again. I know a couple of years ago I was training for a Triathlon thus exercising 5 to 6 days a week. I felt really good. Although I don't want to go at that pace again, with 3 babes in tow, I would like to go at least 3 times a week.
How difficult it is to be a mom on so many levels. We truly must spin an assortment of plates at one time.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Rain Barrels
I just wrote a post on Rain Barrels on the other blog. I linked to a few sites including a YouTube video on how to make your own for a fraction of the cost. Check it out if this is up your alley. We are in the process of making 3 and each one has cost us a total of $15 each.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Hair OF The Blog 2009 Final Results
So remember this?
And this?
Well I WON! Thanks to all who voted for me! What a fun and humorous event to participate in! Thanks Rachel for the chance. And thanks to all the ladies who gave me a run for the money with their odd assortment of hairy parts-seriously did you check out Harry the actual armpit guy?! (Not sure if that was truly his name but I thought "Harry" was appropriate.)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Potty Training My Gal
I filled out the Preschool applications last week. W who attends 2 day preschool now will attend 3 day preschool next year. Super N will start 2 day a week preschool, she's very excited that W's school will be her school too.
In order for the kids to actually be able to attend preschool they must be potty trained. Last year I wasn't sure if W would go to school or not because a month before school started he was still in dipes. But lo and behold I and the huz kept working with him and 1 week before school started he succeeded!
In thinking about potty training Super N, I'd like to start a little sooner. Are there things I could be doing now? Yes I could read a book and I have, a few actually. But I'd rather hear what has worked with others as you have worked with your daughters on potty training them. I've heard that potty training boys and girls are a bit different so I need some help mommas! Any suggestions, strategies, military like schematics? I'm all ears!
In order for the kids to actually be able to attend preschool they must be potty trained. Last year I wasn't sure if W would go to school or not because a month before school started he was still in dipes. But lo and behold I and the huz kept working with him and 1 week before school started he succeeded!
In thinking about potty training Super N, I'd like to start a little sooner. Are there things I could be doing now? Yes I could read a book and I have, a few actually. But I'd rather hear what has worked with others as you have worked with your daughters on potty training them. I've heard that potty training boys and girls are a bit different so I need some help mommas! Any suggestions, strategies, military like schematics? I'm all ears!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Yo What?
W informed me today that the dude in orange that carries the boombox on Yo Gabba Gabba was daddy. Clearly he must know something I don't
Wardrobe Wednesday
I thought I'd participate in Wardrobe Wednesday. Wardrobe Wednesday is was created by Heathen Family Revival and you can check it by clicking the Wardrobe Wednesday picture at the right to find out what it's all about and perhaps you'd like to participate too.
For my first Wardrobe Wednesday I thought I'd share what I plan to wear on my upcoming trip to Chicago with my husband. Our 10th anniversary is on March 6th so we are catching a flight to Chicago and going to Moto. I of course want to buy a new fun outfit to go to the city in and also because when we come home the next day we're going out that night to another fancy restaurant here in Columbus. So yes I'm going to wear this outfit 2 nights in a row, yeah that's how I roll.
Okay here it is
Although it would have been fun to wear a dress, I opted out and chose a wide leg black trouser instead. And I plan to pair it with this cute little sleeveless tunic and these mustard yellow kicks. I know they look a wee bit orange but they're not. I'm so happy to have found an outfit! Now I'm starting to get a little bit more excited!
**I went ahead and decided to get a cardigan per fellow blogger friend Aliceson's suggestion-since afterall we'll be in Chicago right by water. The second cardigan picture shows the back of the cardigan. I just wanted to share the details cause I think it's lovely. I'll buy it in the ivory though.
For my first Wardrobe Wednesday I thought I'd share what I plan to wear on my upcoming trip to Chicago with my husband. Our 10th anniversary is on March 6th so we are catching a flight to Chicago and going to Moto. I of course want to buy a new fun outfit to go to the city in and also because when we come home the next day we're going out that night to another fancy restaurant here in Columbus. So yes I'm going to wear this outfit 2 nights in a row, yeah that's how I roll.
Okay here it is
Although it would have been fun to wear a dress, I opted out and chose a wide leg black trouser instead. And I plan to pair it with this cute little sleeveless tunic and these mustard yellow kicks. I know they look a wee bit orange but they're not. I'm so happy to have found an outfit! Now I'm starting to get a little bit more excited!
**I went ahead and decided to get a cardigan per fellow blogger friend Aliceson's suggestion-since afterall we'll be in Chicago right by water. The second cardigan picture shows the back of the cardigan. I just wanted to share the details cause I think it's lovely. I'll buy it in the ivory though.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Ever Wonder Why A Man Would Become An OB/GYN?: Guest Post
A question that has come up consistently amongst my friends since I started having children is "Why do dudes become vag doctors?" Now I'm sure that statement is probably offensive to perhaps the male docs who are OB/GYN's but sorry that's what we wonder and generally how we've wondered it! (I must mention also that some guy friends have also wondered it too!)
We never could understand. We'd brainstorm through reasons and would always come back to the same question, never settled, never quite understanding. But then a friend joined a playgroup I'm in and her hubby at the time happened to be in a residency program to become an OB/GYN. And I thought I will one day ask her the question. So I did it, last week! And I asked her if she would mind to answer that question that's been running amuck in my (and others) heads. She graciously obliged!
And so here is a guest post from my newly relocated, wife of an OB/GYN and momma to a little 2.5 year babe, friend!
Why Do Men Become OB/GYNs?
When the question of why a man would become an OB/GYN came up recently, I was asked me to write a post about it. I’m qualified to try to answer it because I’m not only curious about it myself, but I’m also married to one—a man who happens to be an OB/GYN, that is. After I was sent an e-mail posing the question, I pondered it a bit, and then, I turned to my husband to get his reaction. Immediately, he felt it was a sexist question to ask. It is probably as relevant today to wonder about such a thing as it would be to ask why women would become race car drivers. I leave it to someone else, though, to go up to Danica Patrick and get her thoughts on that matter. As for the subject of male OB/GYNs, I can see his point, but I can also see it from the perspective of the women who wonder about it. I grew up with a male doctor as my primary care physician. When I was a teenager and still growing into my body, I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable during my first pap exam while this man, who I trusted completely, rooted around in my nether regions. Really, though, what woman isn’t uncomfortable with a metal speculum pushed up inside her while she silently wonders what the doctor behind the sheet is looking at “down there”? But, I digress.
To know why a man would become an OB/GYN, I should probably start with my husband and his career. Every doctor has a reason for pursuing his/her chosen field, and those reasons vary widely. I can only speak on what I know of my husband, but I think many other OB/GYNs, whether male or female, can relate to at least one of his experiences. I have known him for over twelve years, and we have been married for seven of those twelve. We met in undergrad, and I remember that he thought about becoming a family doctor or a general practitioner. However, when he started rotating through the various departments in medical school, he discovered that he enjoyed both obstetrics and surgery. He got excited at the wonder and joy of birth, but he also liked the complexity and challenges of every surgery during which he assisted. Then, he found out that a residency in obstetrics and gynecology would only take four more years of training, and the field itself had the added bonus of being part general practice and part surgery. He applied for six different residency programs in three states and was matched with his second choice. When he finished his residency, he not only had a thorough knowledge of the field, but he also came out of it with a large group of friends and colleagues on whom he could rely later, most of whom are female, I might add.
Besides being the best of both worlds for my husband, obstetrics and gynecology has many other positive aspects. For one, he spends more of his time dealing with patients at the beginning of their lives than with those who are nearing the end. What is more joyous than watching a beautiful baby come into this world? That’s probably why such television programs as “A Baby Story” on TLC are so popular. Also, he enjoys being given a challenge or a good problem to solve. He doesn’t get bored with treating the same illnesses day after day. Instead, every surgery, every delivery, and every infection keeps him on his toes depending on its complications and complexities, and no two days at work are the same for him. He is also very active at work and spends little time sitting around waiting for something to happen, except on those days when a particular patient’s labor or delivery is taking more time than expected. Probably the best and most important part of his job is he gets to save lives when he performs surgeries, monitors fetal development, prescribes medications, or decides the best course of action for a particular medical situation.
There is a question within the question I’m trying to answer, though. Most women probably want to know if all the exposure to vaginas and breasts is distracting or a turn on, especially if the OB/GYN is straight and/or married. Hopefully, if the OB/GYN is a professional—and in my experience, most of them are—then, it is all just part of the job. I think most physicians, no matter what their field, believe in the idea that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, whether they are hearts, livers, or vaginas. Also, one of their main job requirements is to diagnose medical problems. Honestly, does it sound sexy to have to look at and touch body parts covered in sores, warts, abscesses, or something else equally or more disgusting every single day? There is always an exception to every rule, but any doctor going into a field because he/she has some sort of perverted fetish related to it probably wouldn’t last very long due to malpractice and/or the possible impending sexual harassment lawsuits. My husband spent twelve years in undergrad, medical school, and residency. During that time, he learned to become a professional and objective clinician. In order to be a successful doctor, he must look at everything from a purely clinical and scientific viewpoint. Physicians learn to become desensitized to such things from the very beginning, when they spend their time in anatomy classes recognizing body organs and tissue in dissected human corpses. I don’t think there is anything sexy about that. For those women who wonder about being married to an OB/GYN: I can say that it is probably like being married to an engineer or an artist or a computer technician or a man employed in any other profession. My husband’s professional and personal lives are completely separate, the exception being when I was pregnant. Even then, he made certain my own OB/GYN took care of me, while he watched from the side lines as the expectant father. He did do the very first ultrasound in which we saw our baby’s heartbeat at only five weeks of development. It was one of the most poignant and wonderful experiences of my life and one of the true advantages of being married to him.
When it’s really important, though, does a doctor’s gender really matter, as long as he/she is competent and proactive when it comes to a patient’s healthcare? Will it really make a difference when a woman is in her 36th hour of painful labor and really just wants that baby out? Or, when the baby’s heartbeat suddenly drops and a C-section is the only recourse? Should it really matter? Besides, the question is almost becoming a moot point because there are now many more females going into the field than there are males. We witnessed this firsthand, both during my husband’s residency and also within his current practice, where the ratio of female physicians to male physicians is exactly equal, or 4 to 3, if you count the nurse practitioner. So, the next time you see your doctor, you might think about asking him/her why he/she decided to go into obstetrics and gynecology. The answer just might surprise you.
Amanda C. is a thirty-something mother of a 2 ½ year old son and married to wonderful man, who just happens to be an OB/GYN. She occasionally writes about life as a stay-at-home-mom, a doctor’s wife, and an utter geek on her blog http://www.marriedtothemd.blogspot.com/.
We never could understand. We'd brainstorm through reasons and would always come back to the same question, never settled, never quite understanding. But then a friend joined a playgroup I'm in and her hubby at the time happened to be in a residency program to become an OB/GYN. And I thought I will one day ask her the question. So I did it, last week! And I asked her if she would mind to answer that question that's been running amuck in my (and others) heads. She graciously obliged!
And so here is a guest post from my newly relocated, wife of an OB/GYN and momma to a little 2.5 year babe, friend!
Why Do Men Become OB/GYNs?
When the question of why a man would become an OB/GYN came up recently, I was asked me to write a post about it. I’m qualified to try to answer it because I’m not only curious about it myself, but I’m also married to one—a man who happens to be an OB/GYN, that is. After I was sent an e-mail posing the question, I pondered it a bit, and then, I turned to my husband to get his reaction. Immediately, he felt it was a sexist question to ask. It is probably as relevant today to wonder about such a thing as it would be to ask why women would become race car drivers. I leave it to someone else, though, to go up to Danica Patrick and get her thoughts on that matter. As for the subject of male OB/GYNs, I can see his point, but I can also see it from the perspective of the women who wonder about it. I grew up with a male doctor as my primary care physician. When I was a teenager and still growing into my body, I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable during my first pap exam while this man, who I trusted completely, rooted around in my nether regions. Really, though, what woman isn’t uncomfortable with a metal speculum pushed up inside her while she silently wonders what the doctor behind the sheet is looking at “down there”? But, I digress.
To know why a man would become an OB/GYN, I should probably start with my husband and his career. Every doctor has a reason for pursuing his/her chosen field, and those reasons vary widely. I can only speak on what I know of my husband, but I think many other OB/GYNs, whether male or female, can relate to at least one of his experiences. I have known him for over twelve years, and we have been married for seven of those twelve. We met in undergrad, and I remember that he thought about becoming a family doctor or a general practitioner. However, when he started rotating through the various departments in medical school, he discovered that he enjoyed both obstetrics and surgery. He got excited at the wonder and joy of birth, but he also liked the complexity and challenges of every surgery during which he assisted. Then, he found out that a residency in obstetrics and gynecology would only take four more years of training, and the field itself had the added bonus of being part general practice and part surgery. He applied for six different residency programs in three states and was matched with his second choice. When he finished his residency, he not only had a thorough knowledge of the field, but he also came out of it with a large group of friends and colleagues on whom he could rely later, most of whom are female, I might add.
Besides being the best of both worlds for my husband, obstetrics and gynecology has many other positive aspects. For one, he spends more of his time dealing with patients at the beginning of their lives than with those who are nearing the end. What is more joyous than watching a beautiful baby come into this world? That’s probably why such television programs as “A Baby Story” on TLC are so popular. Also, he enjoys being given a challenge or a good problem to solve. He doesn’t get bored with treating the same illnesses day after day. Instead, every surgery, every delivery, and every infection keeps him on his toes depending on its complications and complexities, and no two days at work are the same for him. He is also very active at work and spends little time sitting around waiting for something to happen, except on those days when a particular patient’s labor or delivery is taking more time than expected. Probably the best and most important part of his job is he gets to save lives when he performs surgeries, monitors fetal development, prescribes medications, or decides the best course of action for a particular medical situation.
There is a question within the question I’m trying to answer, though. Most women probably want to know if all the exposure to vaginas and breasts is distracting or a turn on, especially if the OB/GYN is straight and/or married. Hopefully, if the OB/GYN is a professional—and in my experience, most of them are—then, it is all just part of the job. I think most physicians, no matter what their field, believe in the idea that if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, whether they are hearts, livers, or vaginas. Also, one of their main job requirements is to diagnose medical problems. Honestly, does it sound sexy to have to look at and touch body parts covered in sores, warts, abscesses, or something else equally or more disgusting every single day? There is always an exception to every rule, but any doctor going into a field because he/she has some sort of perverted fetish related to it probably wouldn’t last very long due to malpractice and/or the possible impending sexual harassment lawsuits. My husband spent twelve years in undergrad, medical school, and residency. During that time, he learned to become a professional and objective clinician. In order to be a successful doctor, he must look at everything from a purely clinical and scientific viewpoint. Physicians learn to become desensitized to such things from the very beginning, when they spend their time in anatomy classes recognizing body organs and tissue in dissected human corpses. I don’t think there is anything sexy about that. For those women who wonder about being married to an OB/GYN: I can say that it is probably like being married to an engineer or an artist or a computer technician or a man employed in any other profession. My husband’s professional and personal lives are completely separate, the exception being when I was pregnant. Even then, he made certain my own OB/GYN took care of me, while he watched from the side lines as the expectant father. He did do the very first ultrasound in which we saw our baby’s heartbeat at only five weeks of development. It was one of the most poignant and wonderful experiences of my life and one of the true advantages of being married to him.
When it’s really important, though, does a doctor’s gender really matter, as long as he/she is competent and proactive when it comes to a patient’s healthcare? Will it really make a difference when a woman is in her 36th hour of painful labor and really just wants that baby out? Or, when the baby’s heartbeat suddenly drops and a C-section is the only recourse? Should it really matter? Besides, the question is almost becoming a moot point because there are now many more females going into the field than there are males. We witnessed this firsthand, both during my husband’s residency and also within his current practice, where the ratio of female physicians to male physicians is exactly equal, or 4 to 3, if you count the nurse practitioner. So, the next time you see your doctor, you might think about asking him/her why he/she decided to go into obstetrics and gynecology. The answer just might surprise you.
Amanda C. is a thirty-something mother of a 2 ½ year old son and married to wonderful man, who just happens to be an OB/GYN. She occasionally writes about life as a stay-at-home-mom, a doctor’s wife, and an utter geek on her blog http://www.marriedtothemd.blogspot.com/.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Monday: Chorizo Taquitos, refried beans & cornTuesday: Bourbon Chix w/ Steamed Broccoli drizzled in olive oil and salt & pepper
Wedsnesday: Porkchops Yum Yum w/ Quinoa and Parmesan Peas
Thursday: Ground Turkey Stroganoff and Wilted Spinach Salad
Friday: Homemade Deep Dish Pizza (maybe with a salad)
Saturday: Brkfst: Smoothies- Lunch: Pancakes & bacon-Dinner: Chicken Gyros & Baba Ghanoush w/ Pita
Sunday: Brkfst: Smoothies-Lunch: Sour Cream & Cardamom waffles w/ strawberries-Dinner: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta w/ Sliced Tomatoes & sauteed zucchini
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Day
My hubby, red wine, good bread, cheese, olive oil and Tuna Tar Tar Tacos-yum! Oh yes a lovely rose!
Thanks Honey! Happy Valentines Day!
(I have food in my mouth I don't usually look this constipated!)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Baby J and His Nubbins
Baby J has teeth! He has 2 of them, crazy! He just went and turned 10 months and now he's got teeth, my babe is getting bigger! The reality of this set in when I saw a friend I haven't seen in a few months. Her babe, who just turned 1, is now walking and the last time I saw him he was less toddler like and on all fours! Boy oh boy life really does move fast, our babes are getting bigger! Excuse me I need to get a tissue.
Final Week of Hair of The Blog
Head over to A Reservation For Six and vote for these furry babies!! Yes I have no shame I want to win, so vote for me please!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Preschool V Day Party
W had a V Day party at school today. He was so excited after I picked him up that he actually wanted to share one of his lollipops with Super N. The said lollipop was shaped like a heart and stuffed into a cute little Barbie Princess card. He of course had his little fingers locked around the cool Transformers hologram card that his bud Isaac gave him.
The little man will be turning 4 at the end of March, crazy! We just moved Baby J out of the dining room and into W's room last night. We're hoping W's mature age will keep him from taking out his baby brother. Fortunately Baby J is loud and scares the crap out of the other babes so W will have to be clever in his attempts at homicide if he's to outskill the wee one. Also, our bedroom door is literally 4.5 feet away from Baby J so we can move it quick if needed.
Life is settling down a little thankfully. And the sun being out is wonderful. I cannot wait until spring.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
A Creative Soul
My Little StormtrooperYou must headover to Flickr and check out Mari Kasurinen's modded My Little Ponies. They're awesome!
Gardening Update
When I was in high school I attended a career center for Fine Arts. I would go half day to my regular high school and then I would be bussed to my other school where I would spend a half of a day painting, drawing or creating sculptures out of wood, metal, whatever. The intention of the career center was to get us ready for college so the assumption was I'd go to art school when high school was over. Come time for college, I enrolled and got into the Cleveland Art Institute but I panicked and decided at the last minute to go to college for Business instead-I dropped out after one semester.
You see I'm the kind of person that needs to create functional art. Fine arts, well at least the kind I was doing, isn't often functional. Gardening to me is functional art and oh how I love it. I love that I can feed my family with what I've worked to create. I love mulling over the seed catalogs that come in early winter to see what I'm going to plant the following spring. I get so excited drawing plans for my garden out on paper. I love it so much that I've decided to go ahead and create another blog documenting my gardening endeavors as well as gardening with my kids. It doesn't stop there. I'm also going to document my experience this year with a vegetable and fruit CSA as well as document my experience as I learn to can and dehydrate my bounty.
This blog will still exist but I will also have the other blog that focuses entirely on aspects of gardening. Click here if you'd like to take a peek.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Hair of The Blog Week 3
I have no words other than my eyebrows have eyebrows. I need to find a ball cap, this is ambarrasing...hahaha.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
On The Housing Front
Back in August we decided to put our house on the market. Little did we know that it actually wouldn't be put on the market until November. We emptied the Odyssey of all it's seats sans the two front ones and shuttled loads and loads and loads of extra crap from our 1250 square foot house to not 1 but 2 storage sheds. We painted two & a half rooms and many, many, yards of trim. We paid a lot of money to have our cedar shingles and our porch scraped, sealed and painted. We had a set of wood steps and two hand railings built and we (I) drove to Ikea, met a very large truck in Cincinnatti and then drove that big guy back with all of our kitchen cupboards and countertops. It was a fight to keep going in the whole (stupid) process. Then when we finally put our house on the market we were fortunate to only have to do 5 house showings and be on the market for 5 weeks before we went into contract. But then our realtor made a royal mistake and lost our contract thus causing us to lose the contract on the house that we had moved into already in our minds. This was so devastating to us. It's a challenge enough to find time and energy day to day to paint large portions of your house or to remodel your kitchen. But to do it with an infant, a toddler and a preschooler-nutso!
Where we stand today on the housing front is that we are no longer on the market. In the last month the dishwasher broke and our ice maker on our refrigerator broke. Our storm door was ripped from it's hinges during one of the windier days of the new year. The kitchen plumbing had a major leak which has probably resulted in a warped cabinet, I refuse to look. The hot water pipe that leads to our bathroom burst, sending water shooting behind our wall in the kitchen and in our basement. As a result of the bursting pipe, two kitchen cabinets were damaged and will need to be replaced. Also, we had to have part of the bathroom floor ripped up and part of the wall in the laundry room opened to reroute new pipes to the bathroom. And yesterday Super N and W found my bottle of black nail polish and dumped it all over the off white carpet in her bedroom, it's unsalvageable. We are a little bit overwhelmed by all these items and honestly the cost it has and will incur. We decided that it was too much on us emotionally, physically and financially to stay on the market right now.
Our plan for the next five years is to try to stay in our current home. We've decided to try to wait out the slump in the housing market, continue to pay down the balance on our current home and save as much money as we can. We've also decided to purge our house of many unnecessary items. We have a plan in mind to create more of a playroom for the kids and to create more hobby space for the huz and I-of course these things will be done on the cheap. Currently Baby J sleeps in a Pack and Play in the dining room at night. When he outgrows the pack and play we figured we would purchase a bunk bed and then he'd share that with W in his room. If we decided to have another child in the next 5 years they would probably sleep in our room for a while (like Baby J did) and then sleep in a pack and play in the dining room.
Although I am still grieving over the house I thought was ours (it is currently in contract by the way) I am becoming more and more okay with staying in our current home. Some things truly are not worth the chaos they bring. And in 5 years the kids will be older, a little less dependent and hopefully we won't have to worry so much about the financial aspect of selling.
Where we stand today on the housing front is that we are no longer on the market. In the last month the dishwasher broke and our ice maker on our refrigerator broke. Our storm door was ripped from it's hinges during one of the windier days of the new year. The kitchen plumbing had a major leak which has probably resulted in a warped cabinet, I refuse to look. The hot water pipe that leads to our bathroom burst, sending water shooting behind our wall in the kitchen and in our basement. As a result of the bursting pipe, two kitchen cabinets were damaged and will need to be replaced. Also, we had to have part of the bathroom floor ripped up and part of the wall in the laundry room opened to reroute new pipes to the bathroom. And yesterday Super N and W found my bottle of black nail polish and dumped it all over the off white carpet in her bedroom, it's unsalvageable. We are a little bit overwhelmed by all these items and honestly the cost it has and will incur. We decided that it was too much on us emotionally, physically and financially to stay on the market right now.
Our plan for the next five years is to try to stay in our current home. We've decided to try to wait out the slump in the housing market, continue to pay down the balance on our current home and save as much money as we can. We've also decided to purge our house of many unnecessary items. We have a plan in mind to create more of a playroom for the kids and to create more hobby space for the huz and I-of course these things will be done on the cheap. Currently Baby J sleeps in a Pack and Play in the dining room at night. When he outgrows the pack and play we figured we would purchase a bunk bed and then he'd share that with W in his room. If we decided to have another child in the next 5 years they would probably sleep in our room for a while (like Baby J did) and then sleep in a pack and play in the dining room.
Although I am still grieving over the house I thought was ours (it is currently in contract by the way) I am becoming more and more okay with staying in our current home. Some things truly are not worth the chaos they bring. And in 5 years the kids will be older, a little less dependent and hopefully we won't have to worry so much about the financial aspect of selling.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Okay here I go again pretending I'm all organized. But I am a determined kind of gal! And this sort of list thang here I'm participating in kind of helps me remember to get dinner on the table and it helps me think ahead...well at least a bit. At any rate what's on the menu plan in the Monty household this week, your guess is as good as mine considering I'm not even sure what I have in my freezer! But regardless I'm gonna get something down on paper er. computer.
Monday: Chix and broccoli (prepared someway somehow, preferably cooked.)
Made this: http://www.recipezaar.com/Stir-Fried-Chicken-and-Noodles-52230
Tuesday: Ground Turkey.....ah yes meatloaf! DING DING DING. & sauteed zucchini w/ mashed Potatoes Actually what we ate...I had a hankering for Chipotle so we ate that.
Wednesday: I know I've got Rice (arborio)...dried morels...Risotto w/ dried Morels
Thursday: Tortillas, black beans, some cheese, salsa....ahh Enchilada something w/ sauteed bell peppers.
Friday: Lasagna (I think I can pull it off. I believe I have canned tom's and sauce, Ground Turkey...no cheese.) I'll run to the store and get some...hopefully otherwise it might just be pasta with sauce and ground turkey!
Saturday: Frozen Di Giornos
Sunday: I got beans and things to make broth out of ...I'll pull something together for Soup!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Uh Oh!
The old woman who lived in a shoe just showed up at my door with a semi-automatic hand gun demanding I pay my $70 library fine! Super N kicked her in the shins. But she didn't drop her gun, I quickly apologized and told her I'll drop off my delinquent books tomorrow and pay my fine. Damn library personnel.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Hair of The Blog week 2
Okay I'll be straight with you guys and tell you that it feels very strange to be posting pictures of my naked legs on this blog. That was never my intention but this whole Hair of The Blog thing is so much fun and my new found blogger friend Rachel is such a hoot and has been another light in my life this last month that I could in no way not enter her contest. However I can tell you I will not be winning any competition with those legs above! There are no hairs on those suckers!
But after chatting with Rachel she told me I could enter my eybrows too! Woohoo...I think. Yeah okay it's kind of ambarrasing but at least when my playgroup mommies see my unwaxed brows they won't think I'm not aware of what's going on above my eyes.. I know ladies okay...I know! :)
Okay so here you go. I know the pictures are blurry but it doesn't matter! The furriness still shows through! I had these babies waxed last week-seriously! I need to scrounge up my 7th grade photos, the days where I allowed caterpillars to take up residence above my eyes. How can one part of your body be so furry and yet another part not so much?
Fabric Tease
Look at my new fabric I just ordered from Sew Mama Sew I had to share b/c well isn't it just lovely! Since we're going to stay in our home a little while longer, oh yes I'll have to update you on that topic here in a few days. I decided to go ahead and make some new curtains & cover some chairs with some kick ass fabric! Check out that website if you sew or know a sewer and want to get them some fab fabric as a gift. I dig graphic prints with color, obviously, but they have a wide selection of modern prints-check it out!
Look at the cute little coffee cups and silverware! That fabric is for a set of cafe curtains for my kitchen. I'm thinking of seriously painting my kitchen walls above the beadboard that turquoise blue-I just love it and it will compliment the yellow tones in the cupboards! Now if I can just coax my huz to do it for me hah! The blue fabric with the orange print, so cute! Well that fabric is to cover 6 chairs (seats) my mom is giving me to go with my dining room table, we broke the other chairs over the last 8 or so years. And the top fabric will be turned into curtains for the dining room windows. I'm bringing spring in this home early baby!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Guest Post: Everybooty Poops
Do I use cloth diapers or do I use disposable diapers? That question is on the minds of a lot more momma's these days. And it's a personal decision that only you can decide for your babe. And from my own experience I know it can be overwhelming to sort through all the information on the pros and cons of cloth diapers.
My friend and fellow blogger Heather over at BoLOGna Samwiches is going to share her experience with deciding to cloth diaper. She has scoured the hills of....no I'm just kidding no hill scouring yet but she has scoured the streets of Columbus looking for cloth dipes (more on that later.)
Everybooty Poops cloth diapering has come a loooong way baby. There is way more detailed information about the cloth experience than I could ever conceivably squeeze into this one post, but I'll do my bestest to break it down for you...
Why would you?
As to the ongoing debate over which has more environmental impact: landfill waste vs. water usage, I choose to side with the landfill camp. For me, knowing that my kid's dirty diaper bomb will outlive my kid's kid is scary. Not to mention, by choosing cloth it's one less petroleum product i'm using. And not buying a product that was trucked a million miles to me, saves a little on gas too.
You'll save money (assuming you don't fall prey to the lure of high end boutique cloth diapers-good luck with that!)
And if you take care of your diapers, you can use them for multiple kids, potentially saving oodles of cash. Presumably it costs between $2K and $3K to diaper a kid till age three in disposables. You'll really be saving, considering you can get a pretty righteous cloth stash for around $300-500.
Lastly, squishy cloth butts are so freaking cute! See!
I built my stash mostly through diaperswappers and craigslist at considerable savings since they were mostly used (read more at my blog regarding the time i replied to a "free" posting on craigslist-gag.) I bought a lot initially but after trial/error I've resold what didn't work for me and I estimate my current stash at around $380 give or take. A lot of money up front, but well worth the investment for our one income, blue collar family. And when I'm done, I can even resell it-can't say that about disposables!! I'm glad I chose to go cloth and hopefully someone somewhere found this post useful and is busy researching their own cloth journey.
My friend and fellow blogger Heather over at BoLOGna Samwiches is going to share her experience with deciding to cloth diaper. She has scoured the hills of....no I'm just kidding no hill scouring yet but she has scoured the streets of Columbus looking for cloth dipes (more on that later.)
Everybooty Poops cloth diapering has come a loooong way baby. There is way more detailed information about the cloth experience than I could ever conceivably squeeze into this one post, but I'll do my bestest to break it down for you...
Why would you?
As to the ongoing debate over which has more environmental impact: landfill waste vs. water usage, I choose to side with the landfill camp. For me, knowing that my kid's dirty diaper bomb will outlive my kid's kid is scary. Not to mention, by choosing cloth it's one less petroleum product i'm using. And not buying a product that was trucked a million miles to me, saves a little on gas too.
You'll save money (assuming you don't fall prey to the lure of high end boutique cloth diapers-good luck with that!)
And if you take care of your diapers, you can use them for multiple kids, potentially saving oodles of cash. Presumably it costs between $2K and $3K to diaper a kid till age three in disposables. You'll really be saving, considering you can get a pretty righteous cloth stash for around $300-500.
Lastly, squishy cloth butts are so freaking cute! See!
How hard is it?
I did tons of online research before jumping into the world of cloth. Lots of mom bloggers swore it was just as easy as disposables, not a lot of work etc. ummmm, yeah right. First off, just the trial and error of figuring out what works for you takes some time (maybe it won't be the same for you, but part of my "fun" is trying new fluff!) So once you go through finding what you like and building your supply, you're now left with taking care of it. not to dissuade any potential cloth'ers, but storing the dirties, washing/drying and stain removal are more work than just tossing it in the trash. absolutely doable but it will take more steps; mostly just more loads of laundry, something you're doing already!
What kind do i get?
In order of complexity or simplicity depending on perspective: pockets, all in one's/two's, fitteds, contours, tie-nappies, prefolds, preflats and flats. fabrics can be bleached or unbleached cottons, bamboo terry (french and loop) bamboo velour, bamboo fleece, or hemp. covers can be wool, fleece, polyurethane laminate a.k.a. PUL and you can get just about any non synthetic material in an organic version. there are probably a few i'm missing-there are tons of types! For more detailed info just do a little research.
What else do i need?
Snappis or pins if you're using diapers without snaps or velcro closures (unless you plan to just lay a prefold in a cover.) A bigger diaper bag because cloth butts are BIG. Wet bags for storing the dirties-unlike how your mom probably did, you don't soak diapers in pails anymore. They are stored in PUL lined bags and tossed in the wash on wash day. Cloth wipes (or not.) Safe diaper creams because some fabric types left coated by diaper creams lose absorbency. Safe laundry detergents, important if you use wicking pocket styles or have a sensitive skinned babe-worth reading up on. Stash storage, diaper scrapers or sprayers for when they start solids; it's no less messy than cleaning it off your babes behiney.
Where do i shop for all this stuff?
WAHM's on etsy or hyena cart are a great place. Used (yes you can-i have-you "strip" them-google that too) on Diaperswappers.com or craigslist. you can buy new pretty much anywhere-TONS online or avoid shipping (which can get pricey) and go local. My two favorites in Columbus are The Parent Shoppe selling their own Clover designs and Sprout Soup.
How do i choose from all that's out there?
Test drive by using sample packs, diaper services, or borrow from friends! also, read great reviews at places like diaperpin.com. If you end up not liking a certain style, no worries, some mama out there somewhere is going to buy it off of you. I promise! Just don't try and sell to me, I'm officially 'on the wagon!' at least until the season changes...then maybe...
So what do i use and why?
A little bit of everything. mostly prefolds made of bamboo terry-Panda Tushies shout out! that I love love love. Far superior soaking abilities than my unbleached indian prefolds. And unlike hemp, which also absorbs more than cotton, bamboo doesn't retain odors, is naturally antimicrobial and is great for the environment in many ways (go google it yourself.) I'm not even going to attempt to explain all the different folds you can do-diaper origami! But two of my favorites are called the "diva" and the "ooey" and i prefer snappis. I also have a few fitteds and a hybrid prefitted. prefitteds are prefolds that have been converted to a fitted minus any closures, thus requiring a snappi or pins. These are great for making changes more quickly and the bonus of leg elastic holds messes in better. I even have a tie nappy though its not very absorbent so doesn't get used much. My cover of choice is wool. I have a few in the short soaker style; they work great under clothes or 'as is' in warmer weather. I have a couple of longies or pants style, one that I 'upcycled' from an old wool sweater. I also have some fleece covers that are just pants I bought on clearance at old navy. Fleece is a lot like wool in terms of breatheabilty, just slightly less absorbent. I have pockets (which is how I started my cloth journey) that I use for outings and times when baby is really fussy or I'm in a hurry or feeling lazy etc. Most have velcro closure and a few with snaps. So far I don't have a preference there, but some folks do (velcro can scratch chubby baby muffin tops.) I own two big wet bags that I alternate as I do laundry (which i usually do every other day) and two small wet bags for short outings. I have three snappis and a bottle of wool wash. I use additive free sun detergent that's only $3 a bottle at Big Lots. I use a regular old drying rack for sunning out stains-sun will bleach anything! And I use california baby diaper cream whenever a rash happens. My only complaint is that my stash is oddly stored on the back of my couch due to space constraints and one very naughty diaper eatin' dog. Here it is in all its fluffy glory!
I built my stash mostly through diaperswappers and craigslist at considerable savings since they were mostly used (read more at my blog regarding the time i replied to a "free" posting on craigslist-gag.) I bought a lot initially but after trial/error I've resold what didn't work for me and I estimate my current stash at around $380 give or take. A lot of money up front, but well worth the investment for our one income, blue collar family. And when I'm done, I can even resell it-can't say that about disposables!! I'm glad I chose to go cloth and hopefully someone somewhere found this post useful and is busy researching their own cloth journey.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Rest? Slow Down? You Speaky eng gish?
I've been thinking...
I think I need to slow down. I feel like life is passing me by. My kids growth is passing me by. Enjoyment of both of these things is nonexistent for me. Sure I see my kids daily and I appreciate their changes and new words and new milestones but I feel like I'm not able to stop and relax, rest, take it all in. I feel like I honestly go from one thing to another, moving, moving, moving all-the-time. I don't know why. Perhaps my personality, perhaps anxiousness, perhaps a need for somethig else, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. When it comes down to it it doesn't matter why- I just need to stop. I feel so disconnected.
Maybe as you read this you're thinking I'm full of crap and a pathetic mother. And maybe you're right but that's beside the point. I realize I am not great at this whole mom and wife thang but I want to do better, I want to be better at this.
I understand sometimes there are deeper issues that prevent us from doing or being what we want. For instance depression. Huge, HUGE struggle of mine. Sickness, ahhh the cooped up winters, gotta love em! And also other things like grief, marital issues, relational issues and the list goes on.
But for me even amidst my struggles I realize that a lot of it comes down to making choices and sticking to them. Of course I will fail at times. I will get sick or become down at times and not be able to complete all the tasks or desires I have in mind for a day or a week, but I need to get back on track. I now realize for the sake of my family, my babies, my husband.
Also, I forget this truly isn't a burden even though I often think of it as that. But instead something I wanted, something I do absolutely love and enjoy. I adore watching my kids faces as they're engaged in a story that I'm reading to them. Or watching their intense expressions as they're creating with their play doh. Or watching them giggle at something their sibling is doing to make them laugh. I truly adore it and forget how grateful I really am for this. Sure it is hard, but my ungrateful perspective and constant discontentment definitely make an already difficult task of raising babes so excruciatingly more difficult. Much much harder than it need be.
Although I don't believe that making lists or schedules will solve my struggles I do however feel that they will help me with my perspective and help me with keeping my desire at the forefront of my mind. And what is my desire again? To truly love my kids by investing in time, energy and affection with them. This will come in the form of getting on the floor and playing with them daily, reading to them daily, romping on the floor with them daily and engaging with them in conversation (which includes teaching them counting, colors, shapes, whatever they need to learn.) Also other ways I will practically love them is I'm going to try to get a handle on the laundry, keep the kitchen in order and consciously try to engage my honey in conversation in the evenings to keep up our relationship.
I would really love it if you guys could fill me in on how you manage to keep your desire to be a good momma bear at the forefront of your brain? Maybe it's natural for you- that's your default. Or maybe you're like me and struggle with it. But please share! I believe our greatest resource as moms is eachother. And I'm desperate to learn how others are succeeding at this task or if you're like me and have hit a wall and need to shift your perspective back to the job at hand, please feel free to share that as well.
I think I need to slow down. I feel like life is passing me by. My kids growth is passing me by. Enjoyment of both of these things is nonexistent for me. Sure I see my kids daily and I appreciate their changes and new words and new milestones but I feel like I'm not able to stop and relax, rest, take it all in. I feel like I honestly go from one thing to another, moving, moving, moving all-the-time. I don't know why. Perhaps my personality, perhaps anxiousness, perhaps a need for somethig else, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. When it comes down to it it doesn't matter why- I just need to stop. I feel so disconnected.
Maybe as you read this you're thinking I'm full of crap and a pathetic mother. And maybe you're right but that's beside the point. I realize I am not great at this whole mom and wife thang but I want to do better, I want to be better at this.
I understand sometimes there are deeper issues that prevent us from doing or being what we want. For instance depression. Huge, HUGE struggle of mine. Sickness, ahhh the cooped up winters, gotta love em! And also other things like grief, marital issues, relational issues and the list goes on.
But for me even amidst my struggles I realize that a lot of it comes down to making choices and sticking to them. Of course I will fail at times. I will get sick or become down at times and not be able to complete all the tasks or desires I have in mind for a day or a week, but I need to get back on track. I now realize for the sake of my family, my babies, my husband.
Also, I forget this truly isn't a burden even though I often think of it as that. But instead something I wanted, something I do absolutely love and enjoy. I adore watching my kids faces as they're engaged in a story that I'm reading to them. Or watching their intense expressions as they're creating with their play doh. Or watching them giggle at something their sibling is doing to make them laugh. I truly adore it and forget how grateful I really am for this. Sure it is hard, but my ungrateful perspective and constant discontentment definitely make an already difficult task of raising babes so excruciatingly more difficult. Much much harder than it need be.
Although I don't believe that making lists or schedules will solve my struggles I do however feel that they will help me with my perspective and help me with keeping my desire at the forefront of my mind. And what is my desire again? To truly love my kids by investing in time, energy and affection with them. This will come in the form of getting on the floor and playing with them daily, reading to them daily, romping on the floor with them daily and engaging with them in conversation (which includes teaching them counting, colors, shapes, whatever they need to learn.) Also other ways I will practically love them is I'm going to try to get a handle on the laundry, keep the kitchen in order and consciously try to engage my honey in conversation in the evenings to keep up our relationship.
I would really love it if you guys could fill me in on how you manage to keep your desire to be a good momma bear at the forefront of your brain? Maybe it's natural for you- that's your default. Or maybe you're like me and struggle with it. But please share! I believe our greatest resource as moms is eachother. And I'm desperate to learn how others are succeeding at this task or if you're like me and have hit a wall and need to shift your perspective back to the job at hand, please feel free to share that as well.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Typology Test
My friend Liz over at Breathe It All In, posted a link to the Jung Typology Test. I took the test and came out and ENFP (Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving). I read all the descriptions of the type and it honestly describes me pretty accurately. I find these kinds of tests fascinating! You should check out her blog for the link if you'd like to take the test.
Maybe the information below will allow my friends to understand me a little better, who knows!
Maybe the information below will allow my friends to understand me a little better, who knows!
"ENFPs are friendly folks. Most are really enjoyable people. Some of the most soft-hearted people are ENFPs.
ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Sometimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped. One study has shown that ENFPs are significantly overrepresented in psychodrama. Most have a natural propensity for role-playing and acting.
ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Sometimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped. One study has shown that ENFPs are significantly overrepresented in psychodrama. Most have a natural propensity for role-playing and acting.
ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends. This penchant may be why many are attracted to journalism. I kid one of my ENFP friends that if I want the sixth fleet to know something, I'll just tell him.
ENFPs are global learners. Close enough is satisfactory to the ENFP, which may unnerve more precise thinking types, especially with such things as piano practice ("three quarter notes or four ... what's the difference?") Amazingly, some ENFPs are adept at exacting disciplines such as mathematics.
Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. ENFPs are energized by being around people. Some have real difficulty being alone , especially on a regular basis.
One ENFP colleague, a social worker, had such tremendous interpersonal skills that she put her interviewers at ease during her own job interview. She had the ability to make strangers feel like old friends.
ENFPs sometimes can be blindsided by their secondary Feeling function. Hasty decisions based on deeply felt values may boil over with unpredictable results. More than one ENFP has abruptly quit a job in such a moment.
ENFPs are global learners. Close enough is satisfactory to the ENFP, which may unnerve more precise thinking types, especially with such things as piano practice ("three quarter notes or four ... what's the difference?") Amazingly, some ENFPs are adept at exacting disciplines such as mathematics.
Friends are what life is about to ENFPs, moreso even than the other NFs. They hold up their end of the relationship, sometimes being victimized by less caring individuals. ENFPs are energized by being around people. Some have real difficulty being alone , especially on a regular basis.
One ENFP colleague, a social worker, had such tremendous interpersonal skills that she put her interviewers at ease during her own job interview. She had the ability to make strangers feel like old friends.
ENFPs sometimes can be blindsided by their secondary Feeling function. Hasty decisions based on deeply felt values may boil over with unpredictable results. More than one ENFP has abruptly quit a job in such a moment.
Hair of The Blog 2009
My new blogger friend Rachel over at Reservation For Six has put together the first ever Hair of the Blog!
The deal is I must post a freshly shaven bodypart, I chose my legs below the knee, and I can't shave them after today. This contest will go from 1/24-2/13 and each week I'll post an updated pic of my legs so you can see the progress of my hair growth.
So what's the purpose of this contest? Well to win a prize of course! And you know cause I'm kind of twisted and strange and this kind of contest is right up my alley!
The deal is I must post a freshly shaven bodypart, I chose my legs below the knee, and I can't shave them after today. This contest will go from 1/24-2/13 and each week I'll post an updated pic of my legs so you can see the progress of my hair growth.
So what's the purpose of this contest? Well to win a prize of course! And you know cause I'm kind of twisted and strange and this kind of contest is right up my alley!
I will say this...I don't think I'm going to win. I may get some serious furry eyebrows if they're left to their own devices but my legs get a little bit of hair and it's in patches. I get this from my mom who has literally no hair on her legs or on her arms, I'm not kidding.
But at any rate follow me...er my legs on this journey and we'll see where it takes us.
freshly shaven legs week 1
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