October 2011 NaBloPoMo is officially over! Jury's still out whether I'll do November. I did sign up for it even though I'm feeling a little burned out. I do like being back in the blogging groove. I wish you could get a free pass every week or two and still be eligible for prizes, but I don't make the rules. I suppose I'll decide tomorrow.
I'm playing fantasy football this year with the worst team I've ever had (my first pick was Jamaal Charles), paying less attention than ever before, and my record is the best it's ever been at this point in the season. (Not that that's saying much.) Go figure.
Oh, I can't forget ... happy Halloween! Claire was a butterfly (modified tonight to be Super Butterfly) and Evan was a pirate. I have a few pictures but haven't gotten them off my camera yet.
After Evan got his hands on some sugar this weekend at an early round of trick-or-treating, Matt and I witnessed a true sugar high. For the first hour of his afternoon "nap" we heard nothing but gleeful squealing followed by loud bumps followed by more of the same. He was repeatedly leaping from one side of his crib to the other, and he couldn't have been happier about it. Sweet boy. Can you believe he'll be 1 on Saturday?
How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December's here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn!
How did it get so late so soon?
- Dr. Seuss
Showing posts with label october nablopomo 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label october nablopomo 2011. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Chips and steps
Another night, another batch of homemade potato chips. They are just fantastic. The simple recipe:
Ingredients
Russet potatoes (3 large ones yield more than enough for Matt and me)
Cooking oil (we used vegetable oil last night, canola oil tonight; prefer canola)
Salt and pepper
DirectionsHeat canola oil to 350 degrees in electric skillet. Wash and scrub potatoes. Do not peel. Slice (we like a variety of thicker and thinner chips). Lightly salt and pepper. Fry in skillet for about 5 minutes, flipping once. Spread on paper towels. Lightly salt and pepper again. Devour.
I'm going to keep eating these, but I'll stop talking about them now.
A round of applause for Evan, who started walking this week. He still prefers crawling, but his balance, speed and confidence are improving every day. Bring it on! More independence for the kids = more independence for me! I do not, not, not want to wish these days away, but it's hard not to look forward to each milestone when I know it keeps getting more and more fun.
Ingredients
Russet potatoes (3 large ones yield more than enough for Matt and me)
Cooking oil (we used vegetable oil last night, canola oil tonight; prefer canola)
Salt and pepper
DirectionsHeat canola oil to 350 degrees in electric skillet. Wash and scrub potatoes. Do not peel. Slice (we like a variety of thicker and thinner chips). Lightly salt and pepper. Fry in skillet for about 5 minutes, flipping once. Spread on paper towels. Lightly salt and pepper again. Devour.
I'm going to keep eating these, but I'll stop talking about them now.
A round of applause for Evan, who started walking this week. He still prefers crawling, but his balance, speed and confidence are improving every day. Bring it on! More independence for the kids = more independence for me! I do not, not, not want to wish these days away, but it's hard not to look forward to each milestone when I know it keeps getting more and more fun.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Two firsts
I'll be darned if I'm going to ruin NaBloPoMo now. I have to type fast to beat midnight.
Today I called Poison Control for the first time. After my shower, I walked into our bedroom to find Claire sitting in the desk chair holding an empty tube of toothpaste and looking guilty. Yes, she ate it, and you should have smelled her breath -- breathtakingly minty.
Thankfully, it was just a sample size that Matt had gotten at the dentist a few days ago, but the tube said to call Poison Control or seek medical attention if a child younger than 6 swallowed more than the amount used for brushing. I have never heard of anyone dying of toothpaste consumption but I also didn't feel like I could in good conscience ignore the tube's clear instructions. So I called and they said there wasn't nearly enough fluoride in the amount she ate to be dangerous, and they didn't treat me like an idiot for asking, which was a nice bonus.
The only bad part is that after our conversation I had to give them Claire's name, my name and our phone number. So now I'm probably in some database of negligent parents. Seriously, why did they want that info? I need to Google that -- but not tonight.
I'll mention another quick first from today, since I still have four minutes to spare. Matt and I made homemade potato chips and WOW. I can't even imagine why we haven't been doing this for years. So easy and so delicious. I only wish we'd had more than three potatoes that needed to be used. Try it, you'll like it.
Today I called Poison Control for the first time. After my shower, I walked into our bedroom to find Claire sitting in the desk chair holding an empty tube of toothpaste and looking guilty. Yes, she ate it, and you should have smelled her breath -- breathtakingly minty.
Thankfully, it was just a sample size that Matt had gotten at the dentist a few days ago, but the tube said to call Poison Control or seek medical attention if a child younger than 6 swallowed more than the amount used for brushing. I have never heard of anyone dying of toothpaste consumption but I also didn't feel like I could in good conscience ignore the tube's clear instructions. So I called and they said there wasn't nearly enough fluoride in the amount she ate to be dangerous, and they didn't treat me like an idiot for asking, which was a nice bonus.
The only bad part is that after our conversation I had to give them Claire's name, my name and our phone number. So now I'm probably in some database of negligent parents. Seriously, why did they want that info? I need to Google that -- but not tonight.
I'll mention another quick first from today, since I still have four minutes to spare. Matt and I made homemade potato chips and WOW. I can't even imagine why we haven't been doing this for years. So easy and so delicious. I only wish we'd had more than three potatoes that needed to be used. Try it, you'll like it.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
If Corduroy were a dresser
Ever since Matt's mom showed me how easy, inexpensive and fun it is to transform furniture with paint, I've been constantly on the lookout for future projects. I don't think there's a room in our house that doesn't feature some piece I found at a yard sale, thrift store, Freecycle, the dump, or that was handed down from family. And you should see our garage -- it's full of discarded furniture patiently awaiting new life.However, at some point even I have to concede that a person only needs so many tables, dressers, chairs, bookshelves and mirrors (a particular weakness). So today I would like to share the love and let you know that a diamond-in-the-rough dresser is available at the Coalition on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southern Pines.
For the bargain price of $15 (!!!) this can be yours:
It's big -- wider than it looks in the picture -- and solid. The wood is definitely worn but easily covered by paint. I saw only one somewhat significant flaw: A piece of one of the drawers is broken off. This is cosmetic only and wouldn't affect functionality but if you did want to fix it I'm not sure how easy it would be.
Slap on some paint, replace the handles, maybe work on that drawer and you have a gorgeous, sturdy dresser at a nothing-to-lose price, plus a good story for every person who compliments it for years to come. Somebody, hurry to claim this -- and by all means, if you do, let me know!
P.S. Shout-out to Matt's dad, who babysat for us tonight while we went to dinner and then Bible study. We had a great time, Ron had a great time and I know the kids did too. Not to mention we didn't have to pay a babysitter. Let's see, I think that would be a win-win-win-win situation. Thank you, Ron!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A gem of a gym
Working out while watching bad 4 o'clock TV is not the only reason I love my gym membership.
Once a week I use it for a "swim date" with Claire -- Evan stays in the nursery while we play in the indoor pool. It's really fun one-on-one time and we both look forward to it every week.
Several months ago when I had a sinus infection that knocked me flat, I dropped the kids off in the gym nursery and read books and magazines while dangling my feet in the hot tub and pool.
At least once I used the gym solely to take a shower with the kids nowhere in sight. Literally, I left them in the nursery and headed straight to the locker room for a long hot shower. I shaved my legs -- even above the knees (luxury). I skipped the two-in-one for separate shampoo and conditioner (luxury). I blowdried my hair, applied my makeup and got dressed in peace (luxury, luxury, luxury).
Occasionally I also use the gym for doing work. This afternoon I had some late editing come in and I wanted to knock it out before tomorrow so my morning's free for some running around that will be 100 times easier if I can do it while the kids are at school. I traded the treadmill for my laptop and got it done. I even brought as-yet-unfinished "Jane Eyre" along, but that turned out to be overly optimistic. What did people do before free WiFi?
Once a week I use it for a "swim date" with Claire -- Evan stays in the nursery while we play in the indoor pool. It's really fun one-on-one time and we both look forward to it every week.
Several months ago when I had a sinus infection that knocked me flat, I dropped the kids off in the gym nursery and read books and magazines while dangling my feet in the hot tub and pool.
At least once I used the gym solely to take a shower with the kids nowhere in sight. Literally, I left them in the nursery and headed straight to the locker room for a long hot shower. I shaved my legs -- even above the knees (luxury). I skipped the two-in-one for separate shampoo and conditioner (luxury). I blowdried my hair, applied my makeup and got dressed in peace (luxury, luxury, luxury).
Occasionally I also use the gym for doing work. This afternoon I had some late editing come in and I wanted to knock it out before tomorrow so my morning's free for some running around that will be 100 times easier if I can do it while the kids are at school. I traded the treadmill for my laptop and got it done. I even brought as-yet-unfinished "Jane Eyre" along, but that turned out to be overly optimistic. What did people do before free WiFi?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Buying for a baby
Next up, from Ally: "I'd enjoy reading advice you have re: how to prepare for your first newborn, e.g. what you should really buy (and shouldn't), etc."
What you should and shouldn't buy for a newborn is an interesting topic because it differs so much from person to person. I did so much product research before Claire was born -- studied "Consumer Reports' Best Baby Products," analyzed friends' baby registries, and asked a million questions of more experienced moms. I had fun with it, but in retrospect I think it was fairly useless. Babies are so individual, and what works for one won't necessarily work for another one. As such, "must buy" lists are almost entirely subjective.
My friend Sonya wrote just such a post recently: "Top 10 Baby Gifts." We have pretty similar parenting philosophies, but there was not a lot of overlap between which products she considers essential and which ones I do. Not only that, but I could create entirely different lists for Claire and Evan, who were very different babies.
I think that's enough disclaimers. Here are some of my thoughts on baby products.
In general: - Borrow or buy used whenever you can. There's no point buying a shiny new bouncer; you might have a baby like Evan who hates it. Even if you have a baby like Claire who loves it, it won't be shiny and new for long, so why pay more?
- Buy gender-neutral products! Unless you're sure you'd be OK with your son sitting in a pink high chair (or you're willing to potentially buy two of everything). It can be surprisingly difficult to find gender-neutral options, but the effort will pay off when you have a second kid and it's the opposite sex of your first.
Recommended: - Pack-and-plays, or "play yards," are essential for traveling with kids -- even if that just means going to a friend's house during naptime. Buy the cheapest, lightest one that you can. We have two of them: an expensive Chicco with lots of bells and whistles, and a cheaper Graco. Anytime we need only one, we use the Graco. It's lighter to carry, easier to set up and just as comfy for a sleeping baby.
- We used the Bumbo baby seat all the time, especially for Claire. Around the 4- to 6-month mark, babies love to sit up and look around, but they can't quite do it by themselves and bouncers are too reclined to help. The Bumbo helps them sit upright and happily check out the scene.
- We love the Sony Baby Call monitor. It has great battery life, great range and lots of channels to minimize interference. Best of all, it has a voice-activation feature so you hear silence (not static) when all's quiet in the baby's room.
- We never used any kind of swaddling blankets with Claire, but I don't know what we would have done without the Swaddle Me blanket for Evan. It is a lifesaver for babies who like to flail their arms and get themselves worked up when they're supposed to be falling asleep.
- I probably would have found it impossible to justify buying the pricey Medela Pump in Style breast pump, but I was lucky enough to borrow one for both kids (borrowing these is not officially recommended). In retrospect I think it would have been worth the splurge. It worked very well -- fast and efficient -- and except for the fact that it sometimes spoke to me I had no complaints.
- If you're going to use disposable diapers even occasionally, you're probably going to want something more than a regular trash can for dirty diapers. We have a Diaper Dekor (the smaller size, because we use cloth diapers about half the time) and have been really happy with it. It keeps odors at bay, it's simple to empty, and buying bag refills is easy.
- It seems like most babies love either their bouncer (Claire) or their swing (Evan). With Claire, we could have skipped the swing altogether. But I think most people would find a bouncer to be useful for the first few months, if only for keeping an eye on your baby while you shower. They're light and portable; when Claire was very young we sometimes even used it as a traveling bed. She also sometimes napped in it outdoors when she was still a newborn, and we used a handy-dandy netted bouncer cover to keep bugs off of her (it was summertime).
- When we were shopping for high chairs the Fisher-Price Space Saver high chair seemed like the obvious choice. We now have two of them and we still don't understand why they aren't more common. They attach onto a dining chair instead of replacing one (which means you don't have a displaced chair to store) and otherwise work just like any other high chair. I think they transition to a booster seat for toddlers, but Claire went straight to a regular chair from hers. Whatever high chair you go with, don't spend much money on it. They. Get. Gross.
- We didn't use a noise machine with Claire, although she did have an air filter in her room that served that purpose if I knew the house was going to be noisy while she was sleeping. We also never used a noise machine with Evan -- until we moved to this house. Which I love, but the walls are thin, the floors creak and Claire's room is directly beneath Evan's. It only took a couple of days before I realized noise machines were not going to be optional here. After some online research I bought two Marpac Sleepmate 580As and they are fantastic. They provide plain old white noise, not lullabies or heartbeats or anything else that noise machines are prone to provide. They run on household electricity, not batteries., and they're small, lightweight and portable. They don't block all noise, but they take the edge off without being obnoxiously loud. Love these.
Overrated: - My Brest Friend and other nursing pillows. The sweet friend who sent me a Brest Friend included a note saying she wouldn't have survived without hers. I found it to be bulky and not needed.
- Baby Bjorn and similar carriers. I thought I would love the Bjorn, and I did use it sometimes for Claire, but overall I thought it was more trouble than it was worth for quick errands. However, these are easy to find used, so I definitely recommend giving them a shot.
- Baby-wipe warmers, baby-food makers, pacifier sanitizers, etc. If it seems over-the-top, it probably is.
- Most store-bought toys, at least in the first year of life (and, I would argue, beyond). This is so cliche, but it's true: Babies are very happy exploring your kitchen cabinets, dumping rocks from one measuring cup to another, playing with anything that rolls or bounces, examining the dust on your floor, etc. You don't need many toys with batteries. Of course, I am in favor of accumulating as many books as you can get your hands on. :)
- Most baby-proofing items. We do have outlet protectors in most of our outlets and a baby gate a few steps up on the stairs (so Evan can practice climbing without risking serious injury). We have never babyproofed door knobs, cabinets, etc. (Really dangerous stuff we put far out of reach; undangerous but gross stuff, like toilets and trash, or things we don't want ruined, like unread magazines and laptops, we teach the kids not to play with. They have fairly free reign over most of the rest of the house.)
I know this is not nearly comprehensive. What products am I leaving out? How different are my "must haves" from yours?
What you should and shouldn't buy for a newborn is an interesting topic because it differs so much from person to person. I did so much product research before Claire was born -- studied "Consumer Reports' Best Baby Products," analyzed friends' baby registries, and asked a million questions of more experienced moms. I had fun with it, but in retrospect I think it was fairly useless. Babies are so individual, and what works for one won't necessarily work for another one. As such, "must buy" lists are almost entirely subjective.
My friend Sonya wrote just such a post recently: "Top 10 Baby Gifts." We have pretty similar parenting philosophies, but there was not a lot of overlap between which products she considers essential and which ones I do. Not only that, but I could create entirely different lists for Claire and Evan, who were very different babies.
I think that's enough disclaimers. Here are some of my thoughts on baby products.
In general: - Borrow or buy used whenever you can. There's no point buying a shiny new bouncer; you might have a baby like Evan who hates it. Even if you have a baby like Claire who loves it, it won't be shiny and new for long, so why pay more?
- Buy gender-neutral products! Unless you're sure you'd be OK with your son sitting in a pink high chair (or you're willing to potentially buy two of everything). It can be surprisingly difficult to find gender-neutral options, but the effort will pay off when you have a second kid and it's the opposite sex of your first.
Recommended: - Pack-and-plays, or "play yards," are essential for traveling with kids -- even if that just means going to a friend's house during naptime. Buy the cheapest, lightest one that you can. We have two of them: an expensive Chicco with lots of bells and whistles, and a cheaper Graco. Anytime we need only one, we use the Graco. It's lighter to carry, easier to set up and just as comfy for a sleeping baby.
- We used the Bumbo baby seat all the time, especially for Claire. Around the 4- to 6-month mark, babies love to sit up and look around, but they can't quite do it by themselves and bouncers are too reclined to help. The Bumbo helps them sit upright and happily check out the scene.
- We love the Sony Baby Call monitor. It has great battery life, great range and lots of channels to minimize interference. Best of all, it has a voice-activation feature so you hear silence (not static) when all's quiet in the baby's room.
- We never used any kind of swaddling blankets with Claire, but I don't know what we would have done without the Swaddle Me blanket for Evan. It is a lifesaver for babies who like to flail their arms and get themselves worked up when they're supposed to be falling asleep.
- I probably would have found it impossible to justify buying the pricey Medela Pump in Style breast pump, but I was lucky enough to borrow one for both kids (borrowing these is not officially recommended). In retrospect I think it would have been worth the splurge. It worked very well -- fast and efficient -- and except for the fact that it sometimes spoke to me I had no complaints.
- If you're going to use disposable diapers even occasionally, you're probably going to want something more than a regular trash can for dirty diapers. We have a Diaper Dekor (the smaller size, because we use cloth diapers about half the time) and have been really happy with it. It keeps odors at bay, it's simple to empty, and buying bag refills is easy.
- It seems like most babies love either their bouncer (Claire) or their swing (Evan). With Claire, we could have skipped the swing altogether. But I think most people would find a bouncer to be useful for the first few months, if only for keeping an eye on your baby while you shower. They're light and portable; when Claire was very young we sometimes even used it as a traveling bed. She also sometimes napped in it outdoors when she was still a newborn, and we used a handy-dandy netted bouncer cover to keep bugs off of her (it was summertime).
- When we were shopping for high chairs the Fisher-Price Space Saver high chair seemed like the obvious choice. We now have two of them and we still don't understand why they aren't more common. They attach onto a dining chair instead of replacing one (which means you don't have a displaced chair to store) and otherwise work just like any other high chair. I think they transition to a booster seat for toddlers, but Claire went straight to a regular chair from hers. Whatever high chair you go with, don't spend much money on it. They. Get. Gross.
- We didn't use a noise machine with Claire, although she did have an air filter in her room that served that purpose if I knew the house was going to be noisy while she was sleeping. We also never used a noise machine with Evan -- until we moved to this house. Which I love, but the walls are thin, the floors creak and Claire's room is directly beneath Evan's. It only took a couple of days before I realized noise machines were not going to be optional here. After some online research I bought two Marpac Sleepmate 580As and they are fantastic. They provide plain old white noise, not lullabies or heartbeats or anything else that noise machines are prone to provide. They run on household electricity, not batteries., and they're small, lightweight and portable. They don't block all noise, but they take the edge off without being obnoxiously loud. Love these.
Overrated: - My Brest Friend and other nursing pillows. The sweet friend who sent me a Brest Friend included a note saying she wouldn't have survived without hers. I found it to be bulky and not needed.
- Baby Bjorn and similar carriers. I thought I would love the Bjorn, and I did use it sometimes for Claire, but overall I thought it was more trouble than it was worth for quick errands. However, these are easy to find used, so I definitely recommend giving them a shot.
- Baby-wipe warmers, baby-food makers, pacifier sanitizers, etc. If it seems over-the-top, it probably is.
- Most store-bought toys, at least in the first year of life (and, I would argue, beyond). This is so cliche, but it's true: Babies are very happy exploring your kitchen cabinets, dumping rocks from one measuring cup to another, playing with anything that rolls or bounces, examining the dust on your floor, etc. You don't need many toys with batteries. Of course, I am in favor of accumulating as many books as you can get your hands on. :)
- Most baby-proofing items. We do have outlet protectors in most of our outlets and a baby gate a few steps up on the stairs (so Evan can practice climbing without risking serious injury). We have never babyproofed door knobs, cabinets, etc. (Really dangerous stuff we put far out of reach; undangerous but gross stuff, like toilets and trash, or things we don't want ruined, like unread magazines and laptops, we teach the kids not to play with. They have fairly free reign over most of the rest of the house.)
I know this is not nearly comprehensive. What products am I leaving out? How different are my "must haves" from yours?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Green grass
Thanks for the post prompts. Keep them coming! Who knows -- maybe I'll be so inspired that I'll sign on for November's NaBloPoMo. Although this daily blogging deal definitely is a contributor to my overtired state.
OK, here we go. From Kate: "You've never told us why you named your blog 'Green Grass.'"
On one level it's pretty superficial. I like green grass and the things I associate with it: open spaces, the outdoors, summertime, the smell of a freshly mowed lawn, etc. I also like alliteration.
On a (slightly) deeper level, "Green Grass" refers to my belief that the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence. That's the perspective from which I try to view life and by which I try to live it. Since this blog is about my life, it seemed an appropriate title.
That's not to say that my day-to-day life is one big happy dance. And I reserve the right to blog about first-world problems, since that's the only kind I have. But in the big picture I have so much to be thankful for I could never enumerate it.
OK, here we go. From Kate: "You've never told us why you named your blog 'Green Grass.'"
On one level it's pretty superficial. I like green grass and the things I associate with it: open spaces, the outdoors, summertime, the smell of a freshly mowed lawn, etc. I also like alliteration.
On a (slightly) deeper level, "Green Grass" refers to my belief that the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence. That's the perspective from which I try to view life and by which I try to live it. Since this blog is about my life, it seemed an appropriate title.
That's not to say that my day-to-day life is one big happy dance. And I reserve the right to blog about first-world problems, since that's the only kind I have. But in the big picture I have so much to be thankful for I could never enumerate it.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Night owls
I don't know why Matt and I are so hardheaded about staying up late night after night when we know the consequence at 7 a.m. is going to be eyeballs that feel like they're on fire. Somehow, by the time a responsible bedtime rolls around, we always seem to be immersed in something more interesting than sleep. Tonight it's football, "Jane Eyre" and, apparently, obligatory blogging. A few 9 p.m. bedtimes would make a big difference. Maybe tomorrow night.
If you have suggestions for blog topics, or burning questions you want me to address, please leave me a comment. Writing is the easy part; coming up with something to write about is what I'm too tired for on nights like this. Help a sister out!
If you have suggestions for blog topics, or burning questions you want me to address, please leave me a comment. Writing is the easy part; coming up with something to write about is what I'm too tired for on nights like this. Help a sister out!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Unmarketable skills
Unfortunately, I'm bad at estimating how quickly I can load two kids plus myself and all of our accoutrement into the car, so this skill does not help me be punctual.
I'm also good at the baby-shower game where you roll out a paper streamer to estimate the size of the baby bump. I have won quite a few party favors this way.
When we were in high school, Matt was shocked and amazed that I could identify the flavor of individual Skittles as I ate them, blindfolded, one by one. (He didn't believe me until I was thus tested.) He thought they all tasted the same, a la M&M's. Turns out his sense of taste isn't that great. Lucky me (he eats anything I cook)!
What useless skills do you possess?
Friday, October 21, 2011
Overnighter
Thanks to the spontaneous generosity of Mom and Dad, who kept Claire and Evan last night and today, and Kara, who let us stay in her awesome apartment last night, Matt and I enjoyed something of an overnight excursion in lieu of what would have been just a long day of driving and meetings.
Highlights:
- The free dresser, vanity and matching stool we claimed from a front yard somewhere close to Albemarle
- Kara's illustrated guide to getting into her apartment
- Discovering McDonald's mochas
Low points:
- Waking up at 6:30 a.m. unassisted by kids or an alarm clock
- An icebreaker involving an incomplete puzzle
- Accidentally following Matt into the men's rest room at McDonald's
Highlights:
- The free dresser, vanity and matching stool we claimed from a front yard somewhere close to Albemarle
- Kara's illustrated guide to getting into her apartment
- Discovering McDonald's mochas
Low points:
- Waking up at 6:30 a.m. unassisted by kids or an alarm clock
- An icebreaker involving an incomplete puzzle
- Accidentally following Matt into the men's rest room at McDonald's
Thursday, October 20, 2011
He's here!
Caleb Reece Kirby was born last night at 11:01. He was a super-healthy 6 pounds 15 ounces and 20 inches long, even at four weeks before his official due date. We're planning to meet him in just an hour or so! Congratulations, Kirbys!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
No more bed rest!
I was right to do all that editing last night! Our newest nephew should be born by the time most of you read this! When you read this please say a prayer for Carrie and Jacob and the new baby (and Riley, while you're at it). Little guy, we can't wait to meet you!
That's all for tonight. I am ready for some sleep.
However! Jacob and Carrie, if you happen to be reading this in between contractions -- which I know you're not, but just in case -- you better call us when he's here no matter what time it is!
That's all for tonight. I am ready for some sleep.
However! Jacob and Carrie, if you happen to be reading this in between contractions -- which I know you're not, but just in case -- you better call us when he's here no matter what time it is!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Cutting it close
Matt and I had just finished dinner tonight when a big batch of editing came in. Individual articles trickle in all month long, but twice a month -- once for each magazine I edit -- I do a final proofing of the whole issue before it goes to press. I usually know when to expect them, but often they're a day or two or three late, which can be a little tricky to plan around, but no big deal.
Technically I have 24 hours to finish the batch that came in this evening (and part of the point of preschool is that I can work those three mornings instead of late at night). BUT I think and hope we will have a brand-new nephew any day now and I don't want to be scrambling to meet a deadline when I should be holding a squishy squirmy baby boy! Every morning that we wake up and didn't get a middle-of-the-night call from Carrie and Jacob, I'm surprised. It can't be much longer.
Matt made a big pot of coffee for us to share, put in a movie I didn't want to watch and settled in beside me on the couch. I love him.
Technically I have 24 hours to finish the batch that came in this evening (and part of the point of preschool is that I can work those three mornings instead of late at night). BUT I think and hope we will have a brand-new nephew any day now and I don't want to be scrambling to meet a deadline when I should be holding a squishy squirmy baby boy! Every morning that we wake up and didn't get a middle-of-the-night call from Carrie and Jacob, I'm surprised. It can't be much longer.
Matt made a big pot of coffee for us to share, put in a movie I didn't want to watch and settled in beside me on the couch. I love him.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Classics
I finally made some progress on "Jane Eyre" (for book club) during naptime today and so far I'm not overly impressed. I will finish it, and I'm hopeful it will improve -- after all, most classics are classics for a reason.
There are plenty of exceptions, of course. I consider "Moby Dick" one of the worst books I've ever tried to read. Maybe it's just way, way over my head, but I couldn't even make it through the movie. At book club last month Heather hilariously described attending a college theater production of it. Can you even imagine? (She walked out.)
As much as I loved "Pride and Prejudice" when I finally read it last year, I'm thinking I should read "Sense and Sensibility." On maybe our first official date, Matt and I saw that movie. We talked through the whole thing and I've always thought it was because the movie was just that bad. In retrospect, maybe the company was just that good.
Besides, when is a movie ever as good as the book? I'm sure there are some examples, but right now I can't think of any. Nominations?
Interesting. I just reread a blog post I wrote when I was less than halfway through "Pride and Prejudice," and my take on it at that point was "I don't think I missed much" (not reading it in high school). So maybe "Jane Eyre" will win me over yet.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
People I love
We had a fantastic time with our college friends last night. I have got to figure out a way to refer to this group. Years ago they were simply "Matt's guys," but now all of those guys have wives who have become dear friends as well, not to mention 13 kids (and counting) among the bunch of us. "Matt's guys" doesn't cover it anymore.
We started off outside in the afternoon and the weather was so perfect that we never moved inside, just popped in as needed for food and drinks and bathroom breaks. The fenced-in portion of our back yard was perfect for the group; we spread out blankets for the smaller kids and let the big kids run themselves ragged, while the adults talked over and around them.
You know I love it when friends don't rush off, and this group never does; we talked and the kids played until the sky was full of stars and kids were crashing left and right and we had to call it a night.
I am so thankful for lifetime friends like these. I love you all!
We started off outside in the afternoon and the weather was so perfect that we never moved inside, just popped in as needed for food and drinks and bathroom breaks. The fenced-in portion of our back yard was perfect for the group; we spread out blankets for the smaller kids and let the big kids run themselves ragged, while the adults talked over and around them.
You know I love it when friends don't rush off, and this group never does; we talked and the kids played until the sky was full of stars and kids were crashing left and right and we had to call it a night.
I am so thankful for lifetime friends like these. I love you all!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Oops
One week, three unpleasant surprises:
1. A $150 water bill. That's about four times our average monthly water bill, so clearly something's wrong. Two of our toilets have a tendency to run, but we're aware of that and try to stay on top of them, although I'm sure there are times we miss. Could that possibly explain a $150 water bill? Matt and the water company have checked the meter and there doesn't appear to be a leak. And nothing about our usage habits has changed. Any suggestions?
2. My life insurance policy expired -- two months ago. Thankfully, I did not die in that time. Apparently I forgot to call and give the company our new address when we moved, so I never got the renewal notice and bill. But yesterday an expiration notice did get forwarded to us and I was able to reinstate the policy without extra fees or hassle.
3. We have been drinking decaf coffee all week! I never would have known the difference except Matt happened to read the label. This was an unpleasant discovery because now that I know, I have a mental block against feeling rejuvenated by it. The good news is that except for a cup of half-caf at small group and a sweet tea one day for lunch, I have been caffeine-free this week. That's nice, but I did make a special trip out this morning to stock up on the "real" kind.
1. A $150 water bill. That's about four times our average monthly water bill, so clearly something's wrong. Two of our toilets have a tendency to run, but we're aware of that and try to stay on top of them, although I'm sure there are times we miss. Could that possibly explain a $150 water bill? Matt and the water company have checked the meter and there doesn't appear to be a leak. And nothing about our usage habits has changed. Any suggestions?
2. My life insurance policy expired -- two months ago. Thankfully, I did not die in that time. Apparently I forgot to call and give the company our new address when we moved, so I never got the renewal notice and bill. But yesterday an expiration notice did get forwarded to us and I was able to reinstate the policy without extra fees or hassle.
3. We have been drinking decaf coffee all week! I never would have known the difference except Matt happened to read the label. This was an unpleasant discovery because now that I know, I have a mental block against feeling rejuvenated by it. The good news is that except for a cup of half-caf at small group and a sweet tea one day for lunch, I have been caffeine-free this week. That's nice, but I did make a special trip out this morning to stock up on the "real" kind.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Don't bother reading this
Today's definitely a day that would be blogless except for NaBloPoMo. I am choosing homemade pizza and calzones with Matt and Rex Goliath over more computer time. The good news is, this should be October's most pitiful blog offering. It's all uphill from here! (Or is it downhill? That phrase has always confused me. I could make an argument for either.) In any case -- I'll try harder tomorrow. Hope you're enjoying your Thursday night too!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Where there's a will ...
This is about the fifth time I've started a sentence on this stupid blank screen. I can think of lots of topics for a post, but they're either good for about one sentence ("Claire's decided to be a butterfly for Halloween." "What's up with the Fort Bragg bombing this week?") or half-baked. And I'm all out of pictures so I can't cop out with a photo blog.
This morning I finished the article I mentioned on Monday about this impressively dedicated and accomplished triathlete, Siphiwe Baleka, who happens to be a professional truck driver. He gained 20 pounds in his first month on the road (in 2008) from sitting all day, snacking on junk food and indulging at all-you-can eat buffets. Then he decided there was no excuse for not finding at least 15 minutes a day to work out.
He started compiling CrossFit-type exercises that required no equipment or setup and worked multiple muscle groups, and then he started doing them one after another, 15 minutes a day, wherever he could find the time -- on the fuel island while pumping gas, in the picnic area of a rest stop, in his sleeper berth. As he got in better shape he got more motivated and started carving out even more time for exercise. He bought a bike and started riding from his truck to state parks, where he would swim in lakes or run on trails and then ride back to his truck.
One day he realized he had gotten really fit. A former world-class swimmer (at Yale -- how he went from Yale to driving a truck is a whole 'nother story), he decided to enter a swim meet, at which he qualified for U.S. Masters nationals. He won two events at nationals and continued to step up his training. Then he decided to start doing triathlons. He rocks them too and is now training for Ironman South Africa next April.
He is on the road about 320 days per year. In a typical week, he bikes about 110 miles, runs about 24 miles and swims about five miles -- and drives about 3,000 miles. That's pretty crazy and, I thought, pretty inspirational. Kind of makes my excuses look lame.
This morning I finished the article I mentioned on Monday about this impressively dedicated and accomplished triathlete, Siphiwe Baleka, who happens to be a professional truck driver. He gained 20 pounds in his first month on the road (in 2008) from sitting all day, snacking on junk food and indulging at all-you-can eat buffets. Then he decided there was no excuse for not finding at least 15 minutes a day to work out.
He started compiling CrossFit-type exercises that required no equipment or setup and worked multiple muscle groups, and then he started doing them one after another, 15 minutes a day, wherever he could find the time -- on the fuel island while pumping gas, in the picnic area of a rest stop, in his sleeper berth. As he got in better shape he got more motivated and started carving out even more time for exercise. He bought a bike and started riding from his truck to state parks, where he would swim in lakes or run on trails and then ride back to his truck.
One day he realized he had gotten really fit. A former world-class swimmer (at Yale -- how he went from Yale to driving a truck is a whole 'nother story), he decided to enter a swim meet, at which he qualified for U.S. Masters nationals. He won two events at nationals and continued to step up his training. Then he decided to start doing triathlons. He rocks them too and is now training for Ironman South Africa next April.
He is on the road about 320 days per year. In a typical week, he bikes about 110 miles, runs about 24 miles and swims about five miles -- and drives about 3,000 miles. That's pretty crazy and, I thought, pretty inspirational. Kind of makes my excuses look lame.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Coke-less
I think enough time has passed that I can safely announce I've given up soft drinks. Probably not forever, because I'm not always great with commitments unless I believe they really matter, but I have not had a soft drink in about a month and so far I'm feeling good about it.
I'm kind of in crisis about the way I eat and feed my family in general, actually, thanks to watching too many documentaries (particularly "Food Inc.") and writing too many nutrition-oriented articles. I plan to write about all this in more depth at some point but right now I'm trying to sift through all the information out there and figure out what's factual, what's propaganda, and what it all might mean for our family.
That's not a post for tonight, though. It feels like Thursday already, and if not for NaBloPoMo I would be headed for bed right now.
My decision to eliminate soft drinks required no research. I've always drunk way too much Coke despite knowing how bad it is for me. One day about a month ago I just decided that was dumb. I now drink even more coffee in the morning, maybe sweet tea or orange juice at lunch, and lots of water throughout the day. I love love LOVE Coke, but it has no redeeming qualities. The truth hurts.
I'm kind of in crisis about the way I eat and feed my family in general, actually, thanks to watching too many documentaries (particularly "Food Inc.") and writing too many nutrition-oriented articles. I plan to write about all this in more depth at some point but right now I'm trying to sift through all the information out there and figure out what's factual, what's propaganda, and what it all might mean for our family.
That's not a post for tonight, though. It feels like Thursday already, and if not for NaBloPoMo I would be headed for bed right now.
My decision to eliminate soft drinks required no research. I've always drunk way too much Coke despite knowing how bad it is for me. One day about a month ago I just decided that was dumb. I now drink even more coffee in the morning, maybe sweet tea or orange juice at lunch, and lots of water throughout the day. I love love LOVE Coke, but it has no redeeming qualities. The truth hurts.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Rethinking
I am in major procrastination mode. I have an article due at the end of this week. Once I get started it will be fine, but I have a hard time starting. I planned to sit down and knock out a chunk of it this afternoon while Mom and Dad had the kids, but instead Matt and I went to Aberdeen and spent two hours overanalyzing and second-guessing the layout of our new house.
We pored over those plans for two months, but once we saw the living room framed, we agreed it needed to be totally changed. The good news is that the new layout means the only spot for a TV is over the fireplace -- good because that means a new, smaller flat-screen TV.
Neither of us loves the idea of a TV hanging from the wall, but it really is the most unobtrusive option with the revised layout. We should be able to recess the TV into the wall and build some sort of cabinet that we can close over it when it's not in use. And we can hide the components behind cabinets in a nook between the living room, dining room and kitchen that will also house either built-in bookshelves or a dry bar.
I could make this a much longer post -- I am so excited about our new house, lot, neighborhood and next-door neighbors -- but I seriously need to get cracking on this article.
We pored over those plans for two months, but once we saw the living room framed, we agreed it needed to be totally changed. The good news is that the new layout means the only spot for a TV is over the fireplace -- good because that means a new, smaller flat-screen TV.
Neither of us loves the idea of a TV hanging from the wall, but it really is the most unobtrusive option with the revised layout. We should be able to recess the TV into the wall and build some sort of cabinet that we can close over it when it's not in use. And we can hide the components behind cabinets in a nook between the living room, dining room and kitchen that will also house either built-in bookshelves or a dry bar.
I could make this a much longer post -- I am so excited about our new house, lot, neighborhood and next-door neighbors -- but I seriously need to get cracking on this article.
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