9 Months Going On 15

When your 9 months old, its not hard to do something for the 1st time. Here's a list of several 1sts within the past week....

1. First road trip (4.5 hours Saturday and 4.5 hours Sunday) She was pretty darn good.


2. First trip to NY, NJ and Pennsylvania. For the Missouri folks reading this, did you realize we drove through 5 states in that 4.5 hours??? (She'd already been to Delaware and Maryland - of course.) I've been stuck on the road in KS and TX longer than that!


3. First real crawl. She has to be bribed with things she can't have. Crawl to a toy? No way! Crawl to a sharp object that I can poke my eye out with? YES!!!


4. First real banana, blueberry and tsaziki sauce. "What??!!", you say? It's what you do when you have a fidgety 9 month old and you're trying to finish your gyro.


5. First game of mini golf (and she won...don't let the guy with the golf club fool you!)
   
   


6. First pull to stand. This is a big one. What made it so cool is that my mom was there to see it!


7. First Martha Stewart sighting. We drove past her enormous property and think we saw her from the back on a golf cart. Not everyday you can say you've seen Martha Stewart's backside!


8. First 95 degree weather. Hotter than HEdoublehockeysticks


9. First ice cream. And first ice cream in her nose. =)
   
   

Happy 80th Birthday Aunt Pat!

This weekend my parents and sister came to town and we had a whirlwind trip up to Bedford, NY (home of Martha Stewart) to celebrate my great Aunt Pat's 80th birthday. She had yet to see Natalie and they took to each other right away!
Aunt Pat is my late grandmother's sister. She reminds me so much of my beloved grandmother and has many of the same mannerisms and hobbies my grandmother had. I miss my grandmother very much but am comforted to know that her spirit lives on!
Aunt Pat

Mom, Dad, Grandpa Frank, Aunt Kathi and Wendell

Natalie and cousin Nola

Hot New Ride...

Good ole garage sale find. I just can't get over how big she's getting. She's really close to crawling. I know I'm going to regret once she really starts, but right now I'm just so excited for her to be more mobile.

This Week In Pictures

But, Mom, I don't want my picture taken!!


I bought a Leap Frog Learning Table (at a yardsale of course) and I do believe it was the best $10 I've ever spent!


Happy Moments from Memorial Day!

Are You Feeling Crabby?

Thursday night we had our first crabs of the season - and, man, were they good! For those of you reading this from a location other than Maryland, you may not be familiar with what I mean when I say crabs. Like I was prior to MD, you may THINK I mean crab legs - the type you get at Red Lobster when you really splurge - the kind you dip in butter and crack with the frustrating metal cracker thing. But that's not at all what I'm talking about.

Allow me to introduce the blue crab.


Who looks like this once he's cooked:


I think one of the biggest adjustments I had to make when moving to MD was the eating of crabs and the shock of how barbaric the whole affair is to an outsider. Now, I accept the task of gutting and eating the suckers with glee, but I have to admit, it's still pretty gross when you really think about it. We use wooden mallets and knives and eat on butcher paper with big mugs of beer and ears of corn. Then we rip off the legs, break open the shells, remove lungs, intestines and "mustard" or fat and then pick the meat out. (some people eat the mustard by the way - ick) It all kind of takes you back to biology class. =)

I've included a set of instructions with pictures to give you a better idea.

*For the record... I DON'T eat the females. I stick with everyone else's notion that they taste different. Something about scraping out the eggs just icks me out every single time. Ewwww..

Back from the Dead... well, almost

So I've been quiet this week, I know, but I've been fighting for my life against the evil snot, fever and productive chest cough villian known as Sinus Infection. I'm still skeptical and think it could have just been a cold as Natalie brought it home with her last week and promptly shared it with both Kevin and me, but who knows? I've been dutifully taking my Amoxicillin and hoping for the best. It's been more than a week now and I'm starting to get impatient. Grrr...

Natalie actually is also on an antibiotic for a double ear infection. Funny though, if she was feeling much worse than me, you never would have known. It amazes me how resilient kids are. She was content to bounce, gurgle and roll around on the floor while I was only happy moaning my last dying wish for ice cream and hot soup from under the covers. Alas, though, my mother does not live with me and as helpful as Kevin was, he wasn't going to drive to the store for my every last whim (he did make me a grilled cheese panini with chicken noodle soup though). Luckily we're all feeling better than earlier this week - or else we'd definitely be calling in some reinforcements for baby duty this weekend.

As for this weekend, my plan is to sleep more than 7 hours a night, shop for some summer sandals, go to a Memorial Day feast with my husbands family, and just relax. Maybe I'll even finish a book. Ooooh...the possibilities are endless.

Some videos of Natterbug

Kevin here... Finally got my capture software set up on my laptop, since my old PC I used for editing bit the dust. Here are a few somewhat recent videos!

Natalie splish splashin' in the sink at bath-time!




Here's the little munchkin in the morning waking up. I love this moment, everyday. It makes the start of every day a bit better, just seeing this :)




Hope you enjoyed them!

Excuse me Ma'am, but you have shrubs on your face.

I got out of the house on Saturday and had some much overdue "me time". Kevin was gracious enough to watch Natalie for a good portion of the day while I went out to get a pedicure and squeeze in some retail therapy. Hmmm... although when you shop places like TJ Maxx, Filene's Basement and the clearance racks at the mall maybe its called "Discount Therapy".

Anyway - I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

My first stop was the nail salon to get my toes done. I hit up one of my favorite nail salons (the kind where you can get a pedicure and a manicure for $28 - you know the kind) and sat down to a relaxing 45 minutes of pampering. One of the first things out of the girl's mouth as she sloughs away the rough spots on my feet was "Do you want anything else done? Are you sure you dont want your eyebrows waxed?".

Umm... "no thanks".

Gee... I didnt think they look THAT bad. I don't exactly look like Sasquatch or anything. I decide to just let that one roll past me - this is my "me time" after all - better enjoy it! We chat on and she finishes painting my toes. As she was shaping my nails she starts in.. "Lauren, why don't you want get eyebrow's done?". Geez. Is it just the cultural divide or is this girl totally oblivious to the fact that you can't just offend people like that? I try to be polite again and she goes on and on about how my eyebrows are uneven and how they really need waxed. Argg!!! Either my friends have just been secretly relishing in my wretched and unsightly eyebrows for their own selfish motives or this girl seriously needed some extra cash. I mean, have you ever??? I wasnt quite sure how to react, but I knew I HAD to hold my tounge or I'd say something I'd regret later. Granted, there were a lot of reasons I didnt want to have my eyebrows waxed - namely because I cried last time someone did them because they took WAY too much off and I practically needed a pencil to draw them back in. But I didn't feel like discussing any of these reasons with someone who I shared a language barrier with. Feeling rather self-concious I left the salon for my shopping excursion. At least my nails looked good. *Sigh*

I had several items on my "list" for things I was looking for on Saturday: summer handbag, sandals, bermuda shorts, dressy tops and cute undergarmets - because after having a baby one MUST have cute and properly-fitting undergarmets. It had been a long time since I'd been shopping so this list was longer than my normal shopping list. You should have seen me on Saturday... literally STARVED for shopping time by MYSELF I RAN from store to store trying things on and hemming and hawing over prices.

Ultimately I came to a familiar realizaton - I'm cheap. I just can't spend $50 on summer sandals. I simply refuse to. It was so frustrating because I found shoes and sandals I liked but I couldn't rationalize spending the $$ that was required and Payless didn't have anything I liked. A bit defeated I trudged home with a few more undergarmets and a handbag. Hopefully Target will have some cute things this summer because I usually am fine with their prices and they're also a bit more kid friendly than the mall. Welcome to the new chapter in my life - the "I only shop at Target because I can buy clothes AND toothpaste in the same trip" chapter. At least I usually like their things.

I've Been a Readin'

Just finished my third book of 2008. Yes, folks... its true. I started to read.

*Much cheering*

I guess I figured it's high time I attempt to get back to my roots (my mother is a librarian) and focus on a little thing called literacy. Ok ok.. I've known how to read - its just that I didn't. Anyway, I'm mainly sticking with easy reads - "page turners" if you will. All of the stuff in the news recently about the polygamists in TX got me curious about how those folks do it. I just can't imagine sharing a husband and I thought it would be interesting to read up on why women wanted to do it and just HOW it worked. The book I just finished is called "Shattered Dreams - My Life as a Polygamist's Wife". Let me tell you it is SO good. I had no idea that many women were living in abject poverty to live "The Principle" (or polygamy). Irene Spencer's struggle to find love and fulfillment in her marriage, sanity as a mother of 13 and peace with God is really heartrending. I was constantly in awe of her resolve as I would have thrown in the towel far before she did. Definitely, definitely something you should read.



Oh, and because I didnt post them here, my first book of 2008 was "One for the Money", fiction by Janet Evanovich. Warning - a bit raw in parts, but I thought it was very good. A quick, appetite-whetting read. I'm getting ready to start the second one in the series, "Two for the Dough".

And then I read another novel called "P.S. I Love You" by Cecelia Ahern. So sad, but yet so good. The movie just came out in DVD I think but I heard they've changed it a bit - not sure.

Happy 8 Months

Happy 8 Months, Natalie!

I Have Not Forgotten You

My darling boy, I have not forgotten you. I have not forgotten what it was like to hold you, so small, in that hospital blanket. Your little hands, so tiny but perfectly formed. Your little body - unfairly robbed of wholeness - unable to contain you and all that you had to bring to this world.

I think about what our life would look like if you had stayed with us just three short years ago - Would I have taken that new job? Would your room be in what is now our office? Would you be potty trained yet? Would we be constantly telling you to wipe your feet, say 'please', stop running, not yell inside? Would you be a snuggler? I think about how you'd make your sister giggle. My heart aches to hold you again.

This day is your day. It's the day you were born into this world and the day we said goodbye to you. It's a day of mourning and of celebrating. Your brief existence here had more impact than some ever have in an entire lifetime. I consider myself lucky to be your mom.

Joseph Nathanial, we miss you.

I Heart Summertime

Last night Kevin and I made some yummy chicken enchiladas after the schnip (yes I'm referring to my daughter) went to bed. We had a good time and goofed off as we each took a part in the ordeal. Kevin chops, I shred the chicken and then glance frantically around the kitchen a the mess that we're making thinking of how I just cleaned this dang room not 24 hours ago and bark out orders to make sure he cleans up his mess, because I ALWAYS clean up mine (ok, he'd have some words to say about this one but I'm writing this post and he's not... hee hee hee).

I digress.

I eye up the avocados we bought a couple days ago for *gasp* $1.50 a piece and we muse about how we'd like to live in California for the cheap avocados - although Kevin is quite sure he could not handle the "left coast" (as he calls it). I ponder that it might be nice to buy fresh avocados for 30 cents a piece and super good mexican food, but we'd lose the savings by paying 1 Million for a house out there. Hmmm... Think I'll stay put.

So I pick the ripest of the two and mash it up with a fork being quite liberal with the salt and adding a touch of garlic powder. Next comes the grated onion and a generous pour of salsa. Stir and Voila! Summertime in a bowl! Kev and I both agree that this is much better if it "melds" in the fridge, but I never can wait for that to occur. So we open a bag of chips and dig in.

I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but alas its my friend Jill's recipe (from California). I'd had guacamole once prior to trying hers and I HATED it. It was in 3rd grade when we learned Spanish from a group of high schoolers who came to our school. They obviously had no idea what they were doing because I remember it as bland and boring. Come to think of it - a lot of food I ate growing up in the midwest was bland - not a lot of salt and/or heat. Anyway... I'm a changed woman. And guacamole = good = summertime.

Yum.

My computer is s...l...o...w

So I'm sitting here munching on some of these and wondering why my computer is

so

s.l.o.w...

Good grief. The cursor is even creeping along. Something must be wrong with this thing. Too bad its maxed out on 768 MB of RAM. Man... that used to be so good. Not no more!

I put Natalie in this tonight:

She paddled around the kitchen like a little pro. Once she got near the black bag in the picture here she reached up and grabbed it like she owned it. That got me thinking as to how much crap I've got at eye level for her once she starts getting mobile. That's going to be a whole new ballgame - one I dont think I'm ready for.

Daycare Nightmare #642

You find a pill on the floor of the infant room.

No joke.

My daughter was on a playmat exactly 2 feet from said pill. Where did it come from? Who knows? No one there knew - or was fessing up at least.

It's hard for me to know how upset to be. I've felt rather secure with Natalie where she's at and all adults in the room did seem very concerned. The director walked in right after I saw the pill and was noticably concerned. Hmm.. Was this "oh crap, a parent found this" concern? Or genuine concern for a pill on the floor? I'm leaning toward option B but you never can be TOO trusting.

Obviously the first question is "how did it get there?" But then the next question is, "what kind of pill was it?" I've never seen it before. It was a small white oval pill with the letters A B on it and a score mark for where you can split it in two. I looked it up online and Ritalin has an A B on it but it's round. Anyone know what this could have been?

So how much hell do I raise with the director when I go pick her up tomorrow? We've generally been pleased with the quality of care she receives there. But a pill on the floor of the infant room? That's no small offense in my mind. I shudder to think of what COULD have happened.

Hey Ma! Can I have the keys to your car?

Ok, so it's been a little bit since we've put up a picture of Nat.

Natalie's started sleeping on her stomach (yesterday). It's amazing but I already feel like she's grown up so much. Makes me a long a bit for the swaddling days - how fast they pass! I am starting to appreciate just how fast things will come with her. Yeah yeah, she may only be 7 months, but if I blink she'll be asking for the keys to my car - or worse yet - if she can go to a dance with a boy. I'll let Kevin handle that one (reference here).

Arrrrggg!!

I must never say "un-huh" to someone again when I dont really understand what they're saying in order to just be polite. Twice, within the past few days I've simply nodded and not quite realized what I was in for. Today I went to Subway for lunch and got my usual - a foot long turkey and ham (half for now.. half for tomorrows lunch). I get to the condiments and the lady puts on a measly amount of black olives. I politely ask if I have have a lot of black olives as I like them so much. She puts three more on there. Umm??? I ask for a few more. She says something unintelligble but sounds like "third time?" to me. I say "un huh". Well she proceeds to harumph her way onto putting a couple more olives on the sandwich for me, wrapping it up and declaring loudly to the cashier that this was a footlong turkey/ham with EXTRA ingredients. WHAT?!?! I told her that I've never been charged extra for that amount of olives before. She gives me some crap about how some people dont charge and her manager comes over and says something about "you know... when its a 5 dollar sub we have to charge for extra ingredients" (or something like that). And then he tells me that "it holds the line up" and walks away. She then spends a full 60 seconds looking for a way to charge me the extra 20 cents they say I owe. Nice. I should have asked if they charge extra for those people that want "the works" or a toasted sub (they dont). Because those things hold the line up. What if I was on my cellphone - do I automatically get charged 20 cents for holding up the line? The most frustrating thing was that I wanted to storm out of there and say I was never going to be back, but in all reality it's one of the only places close by that doesn't sell fried food, so alas, I'll probably be back. I HATE bad customer service. ARGGG!!!!!!

Forgive the fuzzy picture, but my el-crap-o phone camera doesn't do much better than this.

Here, Turkey Turkey Turkey!

Why you would want to sit motionless in the woods in the early hours of the morning, in 40 degree weather dressed in full camo with several other equally camoflaged guys WITH FIREARMS making squeaky noises with a spring-loaded box to lure extremely keen and cautious 20 lb birds out of their hiding places is BEYOND me. But, my husband is rather enjoying himself as I type doing just that.

This is the 2nd year in a row that he's done this and he's really hopeful that he'll score a turkey. He knows that the probability of that happening is pretty low though since turkeys are known for their sharp eyesight and ability to see about 270 degrees at one time (or something like that). I told him before he left that I didnt really want a turkey... am I a bad wife or what? But what am I going to do with a full bird? I have never made one for Thanksgiving and much prefer my turkey sliced from the deli counter of the grocery store. And something about the knowledge that my husband has plucked the thing himself just makes me want to gag. I guess I just like to be a little bit more removed from the whole butchering process. Dont get me wrong - I dont have a problem eating meat - its just that I dont want to have seen it alive. I'd rather just get it shrinkwrapped on the little styrofoam tray.

How do those farmer's wives do it?

TGIF

Our neighbor last night saw Natalie sitting on the grass in our front yard and commented on how cute she was - and how big she was getting. She then tells me that Natalie is much prettier than both me and kevin. Ermmm... Thanks?

All well, at least our progeny will go out there with an advantage over us in the world. Ha! Some people's compliments are just funny.

Things I'm planning for the weekend:
1. I'm hitting up a big kids clothing sale nearby (used/new stuff) Saturday am. Maybe I'll find some cute summer things for Nat. I'm SO excited that yardsale season is upon us. I'm a yard sale junkie - its true. I dont actually like to HAVE them - just shop them. =)

2. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. I've stopped losing weight about 2-3 lbs above my pre-prego weight and I REALLY want to be back.

3. Go to a friends daughter's dedication and party. There will probably be lots of good food at the party - she always has something yummy so please refer to #2.

4. Every weekend I say I want to scrapbook and then I dont. I find that I dont really have time while she's awake and in the evenings I want to hang out with Kevin. So, my dilemma ensues. Unfortunately, its a big ordeal to drag everything out in front of the tv and makes me panic stricken as it looks like a tornado just took over our family room. But in the name of getting things done I suppose its worth it.

5. Get together with some friends Saturday night. They just had their 3rd kid and the husband was offering to come over to OUR house if it would be easier for us. Ummm.. Their kids are 2, 4 and 0. I think they "win" on the "needing to have it at their house in the evening" competition. I laughed to myself as I wondered what his wife thought about that offer.... Ha!

6. I'm sure a nap is in there sometime too. We'll see....

Happy 7 Months...

What a beautiful day it was today! Natalie turned 7 mos old today and we went on a walk. The picture in the grass is just prior to that. She LOVES being outside.

Natalie's sitting up better and better now. She's still not sitting up from a lying down position on her own, but its not far off. She's rolling a lot and "walks" on her tipee toes when holding on to your fingers.
A couple weeks ago we decided to let the ax fall on her early morning feeding (330 or 430 am). It took a couple nights of crying it out for a half hour or so and was hard to do, but the result is a kid who sleeps from 7 pm to 730am straight! We're both scared that we're so spoiled and our next kid is going to be a hellion. =)
Here's a pic of Kev and Nat right before we put her down for the night. Not sure if you can tell from the pic but she's passed out. Can everyone say it with me... "Awwww".

Have you ever waited for something for so long and it seemed like it would never happen? We've been in a bit of a waiting game the past couple months and especially the past few weeks. There's something that we're BOTH really hoping will happen but it's just completely out of our control. It's definitely been a test on my patience and something that I've prayed a lot about. Let's just say patience is NOT one of my gifts.
I'll leave you with this last photo. Ok... I know every parent loves to style their kid's hair in the bath, but how can you resist?

Roll Call

Alright, we're curious... who's reading??? Post a comment if you do. I want to make sure its not just my mother reading along. =) Sheesh, if that's the case, I'll just send you an email, Ma!