- the walk into work. I don't park in the parking garage at work anymore for many reasons. My new parking situation is a few blocks away and outdoors. Now that spring is mostly here, the walk in is nice, even in the rain. Makes me feel like part of the city. No idea why, but it just does.
- Muse. Their new album, you know, from last year, is so good in every way. Rock, sexy rock, classical, some song that sounds Jewish to me (clarinets make me think of Jewish songs, no idea why. I'm weird.).
- finally feeling like an adult. Job with challenges, rewards, co-workers I adore and respect and others who are meh. The fact that I have a kid is finally making me feel like I'm in my thirty's too.
- cooking from my pantry. Taking a coupon/stockpiling break and using up everything we have.
- the sun!
- movie night!
- homemade croissants. I've been making them almost every weekend. Not good for the gut and/or butt.
- Jules and his sweet "hi-ee!" and "bi-e-e-e-e-ke".
What are you loving lately?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
22 Months
Whoa kid, you're growing up way too fast! I went away for WGI again this year and when I got home, you looked so much like a bigger, little boy! You're tall with just a hint of baby fat, you run really fast from the living room to the kitchen and you spin in circles until you fall down laughing.
Daddy had to lower your bed to the last possible setting because you really want to climb out. We're not ready for that yet. So in you stay and we can sleep for another 20 minutes.
Throwing, hitting and screaming are a daily treat for us! We love it when you toss a car in our direction and throw a spoon at Scully and we especially love it when you slap our faces.
(Mad about something.)
Actually, we hate it, but we try really hard to be patient with you and your outbursts. You see us as both bad and good guys. Phew, because I didn't want to be seen as a mean mom!
You love to help me with chores. You like to stir whatever I'm cooking. You know where the garbage and recycling go. You know how to throw dirty clothes down the laundry chute. And you help me put clothes in the washer and dryer. I give you a high five when done and you immediately want a fist-bump too. Then you run to find Dad for a fist-bump.
Giving Lammie a kiss.
Your two babies, Lammie and Doggie.
You're getting a little more social. When someone says "Hi" you might say it back. When the boys are in the cul-de-sac playing, you'll yell at them, "HEY!" When Dad has to yell for Scully to come back, you chime in yelling for her too. But you're still shy in certain situations.
Here's to 22 months, Jules.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
What I Did This Weekend
My opinions - offended by what I say? Meh, move along then.
Instead of going over every show that was amazing (or not), I'm just going to give a rundown of the weekend. Isn't that what I do every year? I'm too lazy to look back. I've had little sleep and my brain is overwhelmed by all the groups that used versions of Radiohead's Creep and Metallica for strings, there were a lot. (I totally made that up. It's essentially a classical version of Nothing Else Matters. Classy.)
I was also overwhelmed at the number of Texas guards and even more impressed at how many made it to finals. I'm going to say at least 10 made finals. And we heard this all weekend:
The stars at night
Are big and bright
(clap, clap, clap, clap)
Deep in the heart of Texas!
Minnesota did well too. Irondale made finals in A Class with their sports-themed show and MBI (Minnesota Brass, Inc.) made finals in Open Class.
My top shows were (ha! So I am giving a run down, but it's a small list):
Black Watch - A sight to experience in person, really.
Trumbull HS - Tearjerker and beautiful. Wish I had seen it more than once.
Carmel HS - These girls are amazing. Connect the dots!
Delazure - One of the Creep shows...with Mime faces.
Beatrix - All the way from the Netherlands bringing the story of Anne Frank to the floor.
My most WOW and DID YOU SEE THAT!? List:
Zydeco
Braddock Independent
Vanguard
Fantasia
James Logan
And not for fun, but to show that I didn't like everything I saw there and I'm not afraid to admit it to the interwebs:
South Shore - I know it was a crowd favorite but I have no idea why it won.
Onyx - I get that you're World Class level, but please, don't make the show alienate the audience by your concept.
That's all I can remember or that stuck out to me as big-time hot dog guards*.
Thursday, I watched 9 1/2 hours of Winterguard at three different locations.
Friday, I watched 9 hours of Winterguard with A Class finals that night.
Saturday, I watched 10 hours of Winterguard with it being Finals for both Open and World Class groups.
That's a lot of guard in a short amount of time, but I loved it. Til next year...
*Hot dog guard is a group you don't like or want to see again and you get something to eat, like a hot dog.
Instead of going over every show that was amazing (or not), I'm just going to give a rundown of the weekend. Isn't that what I do every year? I'm too lazy to look back. I've had little sleep and my brain is overwhelmed by all the groups that used versions of Radiohead's Creep and Metallica for strings, there were a lot. (I totally made that up. It's essentially a classical version of Nothing Else Matters. Classy.)
I was also overwhelmed at the number of Texas guards and even more impressed at how many made it to finals. I'm going to say at least 10 made finals. And we heard this all weekend:
The stars at night
Are big and bright
(clap, clap, clap, clap)
Deep in the heart of Texas!
Minnesota did well too. Irondale made finals in A Class with their sports-themed show and MBI (Minnesota Brass, Inc.) made finals in Open Class.
My top shows were (ha! So I am giving a run down, but it's a small list):
Black Watch - A sight to experience in person, really.
Trumbull HS - Tearjerker and beautiful. Wish I had seen it more than once.
Carmel HS - These girls are amazing. Connect the dots!
Delazure - One of the Creep shows...with Mime faces.
Beatrix - All the way from the Netherlands bringing the story of Anne Frank to the floor.
My most WOW and DID YOU SEE THAT!? List:
Zydeco
Braddock Independent
Vanguard
Fantasia
James Logan
And not for fun, but to show that I didn't like everything I saw there and I'm not afraid to admit it to the interwebs:
South Shore - I know it was a crowd favorite but I have no idea why it won.
Onyx - I get that you're World Class level, but please, don't make the show alienate the audience by your concept.
That's all I can remember or that stuck out to me as big-time hot dog guards*.
Thursday, I watched 9 1/2 hours of Winterguard at three different locations.
Friday, I watched 9 hours of Winterguard with A Class finals that night.
Saturday, I watched 10 hours of Winterguard with it being Finals for both Open and World Class groups.
That's a lot of guard in a short amount of time, but I loved it. Til next year...
*Hot dog guard is a group you don't like or want to see again and you get something to eat, like a hot dog.
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Year+ in Cloth Diapers
*ETA - Check the comments for Justin's take on cloth diapers.
After my first post on how we were using cloth diapers, some things have changed and some stayed the same. So I thought I would do an update for those who are interested. If you're not interested, see you around!
Ok, so let me first start off by saying I still like cloth diapers but there are times when I use disposables. I have a big enough stash where I don't need disposables. But sometimes, I'm just too lazy to get them from the laundry room or get them washed in a timely manner. It happens and I don't beat myself over it.
These are BumGenius All-in-Ones. When I did the first diaper post, Jules was wearing the little yellow one (size small). He now wears the large. He was in the small from 1 month to about 4 or 5 months. Then he moved to the medium and wore those til almost 10 months. The large is still big on him and he could squeeze into the mediums but I was ready to streamline my stash.
So, what have I learned?
1. There was a time when we got a HORRIBLE ammonia smell. I thought it wouldn't happen, but it did. It took a while to really get them clean and figure out a washing routine that worked for me and the diapers. So until I did get them sorted out, I used disposables. (and that's ok!)
2. Our stash has changed. We mainly had AIO's (all-in-one's) and pockets (all BumGenius brand diapers.) We also had kissaluvs (fitted) but he grew out of them. Oh, how I can't wait to use those on a new baby. I LOVED them.
AIO's have a downside. Once used, that's it, time to wash. So if you want to do an entire AIO stash, you need a lot of them. After Jules outgrew the mediums, I moved onto a new diaper that just came out, the Grobaby hybrid diaper.
Grobaby (now, rebranded as GroVia) on the largest setting:
This has a snapable insert made from 100% organic cotton, a cover that is breathable (no PUL), adjustable, and aplix (velcro) that is very flexible.
I really like these inserts because gusset has elastic sewn in the insert, not just the cover. If you are sizing the cover down to small or medium the insert will fit as well. On the small setting, you do have to tuck the insert in since it'll pop up the top. But it's not a big deal.
Grobaby also has a disposable insert option. These biosoakers are flushable and have a sticky backing to hold it in place. However, I don't use it because it leaves a sticky residue. We took this system to London with us and had no issues at all. No leaks, no nothing. The inserts are very small and we carried enough for a week on our trip to London without taking up tons of space.
Biosoaker folded up (super thin) on the left, snapable insert on the right.
Disposable inserts also have elastic to help contain messes. To dispose of them, shake off any solids then tear the side, shake the interior contents in the toilet and toss the shell of the insert. Or you can throw the entire thing away.
I have more inserts than covers because we can reuse a cover a few times before washing. I do have two issues with this system:
1. The elastic on the covers are thick and leave marks on Jules' legs. But, elastic on cloth diapers are vital in my opinion. Without it, leaks can happen and you might as well use a disposable. 2. The rise is very short. So if you have a kid who's really tall in the torso, these might not work. But the Grovia version solved that with a higher rise.
Also, the inserts for Grovia will fit with the Grobaby covers. Grovia inserts are slightly different. They have a waterproof backing so you can use a cover even more often.
Up next, the Flip (from BumGenuis).
This is basically an adjustable cover with an adjustable insert. The insert is microfiber with suede cloth one one side (the side that should be placed next to baby's skin).
I really like this system because they are very trim. I wish I had more covers but I really don't need anymore diapers! The Flip cover works really well with prefolds and the best part are the snaps. Jules can't undo this diaper and the velcro doesn't snag on his jammies.
So those are the two new diapers that we've been using in addition to the BG's.
Now that Jules isn't nursing, washing diapers is a bit different. A friend of mine sent me her entire diaper stash along with a diaper sprayer. For the longest time, I told myself I didn't need a diaper sprayer. But after having so many issues with diapers not getting clean and winding up super stinky even after washing, I figured I'd try it.
It took all of five minutes to install and it makes a world of difference! Now, a soiled diaper is brought to the bathroom, we switch the water on, spray everything off, and drop the diaper in the hanging wetbag I had made from a seller on etsy.com.
On wash day, I grab the bag from his room and the hanging wetbag, take everything down stairs and toss it all into the washer. I do a presoak with a cup of vinegar, then a hot wash with soap (Dropps), and a double to triple warm water rinse.
Honestly, use whatever soap works for you. People have success using Tide, others stick to diaper safe detergent. Some say don't use vinegar, others say it's ok. I've been using vinegar for over a year and haven't had any issues. Like I said, use what works for you.
And just for fun, here are pictures of the diaper drawer:
At the top are the BumGenius 3.0 (one size pocket diaper). The row below that are my new hybrid diapers, Grobaby. To the left of the Grobaby are four extra inserts for Grobaby. And to the left of the dark blue diaper are Motherease one-size fitted diapers. I'll talk about those at another time.
The other side of the drawer:
Top right are the Motherease again and below are covers. In the container to the left, all my extra Grobaby/Via, Kissaluv and BG inserts. Inserts are good for nap time or if your kid is a heavy wetter.
So that's it. (phew!) A year+ - almost 2 years - in cloth diapers. I'm no expert, but if you have any questions, just ask.
After my first post on how we were using cloth diapers, some things have changed and some stayed the same. So I thought I would do an update for those who are interested. If you're not interested, see you around!
Ok, so let me first start off by saying I still like cloth diapers but there are times when I use disposables. I have a big enough stash where I don't need disposables. But sometimes, I'm just too lazy to get them from the laundry room or get them washed in a timely manner. It happens and I don't beat myself over it.
These are BumGenius All-in-Ones. When I did the first diaper post, Jules was wearing the little yellow one (size small). He now wears the large. He was in the small from 1 month to about 4 or 5 months. Then he moved to the medium and wore those til almost 10 months. The large is still big on him and he could squeeze into the mediums but I was ready to streamline my stash.
So, what have I learned?
1. There was a time when we got a HORRIBLE ammonia smell. I thought it wouldn't happen, but it did. It took a while to really get them clean and figure out a washing routine that worked for me and the diapers. So until I did get them sorted out, I used disposables. (and that's ok!)
2. Our stash has changed. We mainly had AIO's (all-in-one's) and pockets (all BumGenius brand diapers.) We also had kissaluvs (fitted) but he grew out of them. Oh, how I can't wait to use those on a new baby. I LOVED them.
AIO's have a downside. Once used, that's it, time to wash. So if you want to do an entire AIO stash, you need a lot of them. After Jules outgrew the mediums, I moved onto a new diaper that just came out, the Grobaby hybrid diaper.
Grobaby (now, rebranded as GroVia) on the largest setting:
This has a snapable insert made from 100% organic cotton, a cover that is breathable (no PUL), adjustable, and aplix (velcro) that is very flexible.
I really like these inserts because gusset has elastic sewn in the insert, not just the cover. If you are sizing the cover down to small or medium the insert will fit as well. On the small setting, you do have to tuck the insert in since it'll pop up the top. But it's not a big deal.
Grobaby also has a disposable insert option. These biosoakers are flushable and have a sticky backing to hold it in place. However, I don't use it because it leaves a sticky residue. We took this system to London with us and had no issues at all. No leaks, no nothing. The inserts are very small and we carried enough for a week on our trip to London without taking up tons of space.
Biosoaker folded up (super thin) on the left, snapable insert on the right.
Disposable inserts also have elastic to help contain messes. To dispose of them, shake off any solids then tear the side, shake the interior contents in the toilet and toss the shell of the insert. Or you can throw the entire thing away.
I have more inserts than covers because we can reuse a cover a few times before washing. I do have two issues with this system:
1. The elastic on the covers are thick and leave marks on Jules' legs. But, elastic on cloth diapers are vital in my opinion. Without it, leaks can happen and you might as well use a disposable. 2. The rise is very short. So if you have a kid who's really tall in the torso, these might not work. But the Grovia version solved that with a higher rise.
Also, the inserts for Grovia will fit with the Grobaby covers. Grovia inserts are slightly different. They have a waterproof backing so you can use a cover even more often.
Up next, the Flip (from BumGenuis).
This is basically an adjustable cover with an adjustable insert. The insert is microfiber with suede cloth one one side (the side that should be placed next to baby's skin).
I really like this system because they are very trim. I wish I had more covers but I really don't need anymore diapers! The Flip cover works really well with prefolds and the best part are the snaps. Jules can't undo this diaper and the velcro doesn't snag on his jammies.
So those are the two new diapers that we've been using in addition to the BG's.
Now that Jules isn't nursing, washing diapers is a bit different. A friend of mine sent me her entire diaper stash along with a diaper sprayer. For the longest time, I told myself I didn't need a diaper sprayer. But after having so many issues with diapers not getting clean and winding up super stinky even after washing, I figured I'd try it.
It took all of five minutes to install and it makes a world of difference! Now, a soiled diaper is brought to the bathroom, we switch the water on, spray everything off, and drop the diaper in the hanging wetbag I had made from a seller on etsy.com.
On wash day, I grab the bag from his room and the hanging wetbag, take everything down stairs and toss it all into the washer. I do a presoak with a cup of vinegar, then a hot wash with soap (Dropps), and a double to triple warm water rinse.
Honestly, use whatever soap works for you. People have success using Tide, others stick to diaper safe detergent. Some say don't use vinegar, others say it's ok. I've been using vinegar for over a year and haven't had any issues. Like I said, use what works for you.
And just for fun, here are pictures of the diaper drawer:
At the top are the BumGenius 3.0 (one size pocket diaper). The row below that are my new hybrid diapers, Grobaby. To the left of the Grobaby are four extra inserts for Grobaby. And to the left of the dark blue diaper are Motherease one-size fitted diapers. I'll talk about those at another time.
The other side of the drawer:
Top right are the Motherease again and below are covers. In the container to the left, all my extra Grobaby/Via, Kissaluv and BG inserts. Inserts are good for nap time or if your kid is a heavy wetter.
So that's it. (phew!) A year+ - almost 2 years - in cloth diapers. I'm no expert, but if you have any questions, just ask.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Croissant Challenge Part 2
Ha! Michelle and Todd were right, these are tough! And I'm insane now.
Let's do a recap:
Friday (I don't work on Friday's) I started around noon with the recipe. And I immediately had baking fail. Honestly, that doesn't happen to me but I totally blame the recipe. The ingredients were translated from grams into what we know as "traditional cooking measurements" and I should have been leery. The dough in the mixer was VERY dry even after incorporating the wet ingredients. So I let my mixer throw it around for a few minutes and then I called it good.
Mistake #1 (luckily, there were only a few.)
Silly me to think dough that was hardly mixed would rise. Oh, did I say I had to be somewhere at 6pm? Yes, I figured I could easily get to the part where it could rest overnight by the time I had to leave.
Mistake #2
The dough didn't rise after 3 hours (THREE HOURS!). So I said screw that recipe and did a quick search for "Julia Child Croissant Recipe" and found this one from Mamaliga. After reading through and drooling over the pictures, I realized I could salvage the dough.
I took it out of the bowl, kneaded it by hand, plopped it back in the bowl and set the oven to the "hold" temp (175 degrees) and placed the bowl on top of the stove. (read that Todd? On top, not in it ;) )
I WIN, it ROSE, but it was 6pm! So I shut off the oven and left it there to finish rising while I went out for some culture (and evening at the Orchestra). When I got home it tripled and I put it in the fridge to stop the yeast from covering my stove with dough.
Saturday: Let's just say I gave up on dough #1 and tossed it. While it started off promising (I let it get to room temp), the dough was just so dry. Rolling it was difficult and it was missing something.
So at 2pm on Saturday afternoon, I started over with the new recipe and already felt better about it. It mostly looked like her photos. I didn't expect it to be perfect but it was close!
Someone needs to tell me that I live in Minnesota and it's freaking freezing here. There's a good chance that's why my dough (for any recipe) takes forever to rise. Same case here. Not a big deal, just takes a long time.
I didn't follow her directions for the butter. I used recipe #1 for the butter directions and felt it worked just fine. All the turns worked nicely but by the last one, it was hard to roll out. Fourth turn and into the fridge overnight for my dough to rest.
Sunday: The dough was cold and while it was a little tough to roll out, it wasn't impossible. I really had to put some effort into it but I got it 20 inches long. I cut the dough the best I could and lol'd at myself because they were gonna be small. At this point though, I didn't care. I got 12 croissants just at the recipe said I'd get.
I let them rest for about 2 hours (where they puffed up), egg washed them, baked and got these beauties:
Not too shabby, eh?
Masterpiece? Ok, so two came out a little funky. They tasted fantastic though. They were very buttery and had lots of flaky layers. Justin loved them!
They were still hot and the middle kinda came out when I split it open. The inside is always my favorite :)
Ok, so after the challenges I had in the beginning, I would make them again. (Yes, I'm insane.) There really isn't a lot of hands-on action going on, it just takes A LOT of time. But why spend 3 days doing this? So when I do it again, I'll double the batch and freeze the dough for the future.
Worth the effort, meh, not sure. But I like challenges.
Let's do a recap:
Friday (I don't work on Friday's) I started around noon with the recipe. And I immediately had baking fail. Honestly, that doesn't happen to me but I totally blame the recipe. The ingredients were translated from grams into what we know as "traditional cooking measurements" and I should have been leery. The dough in the mixer was VERY dry even after incorporating the wet ingredients. So I let my mixer throw it around for a few minutes and then I called it good.
Mistake #1 (luckily, there were only a few.)
Silly me to think dough that was hardly mixed would rise. Oh, did I say I had to be somewhere at 6pm? Yes, I figured I could easily get to the part where it could rest overnight by the time I had to leave.
Mistake #2
The dough didn't rise after 3 hours (THREE HOURS!). So I said screw that recipe and did a quick search for "Julia Child Croissant Recipe" and found this one from Mamaliga. After reading through and drooling over the pictures, I realized I could salvage the dough.
I took it out of the bowl, kneaded it by hand, plopped it back in the bowl and set the oven to the "hold" temp (175 degrees) and placed the bowl on top of the stove. (read that Todd? On top, not in it ;) )
I WIN, it ROSE, but it was 6pm! So I shut off the oven and left it there to finish rising while I went out for some culture (and evening at the Orchestra). When I got home it tripled and I put it in the fridge to stop the yeast from covering my stove with dough.
Saturday: Let's just say I gave up on dough #1 and tossed it. While it started off promising (I let it get to room temp), the dough was just so dry. Rolling it was difficult and it was missing something.
So at 2pm on Saturday afternoon, I started over with the new recipe and already felt better about it. It mostly looked like her photos. I didn't expect it to be perfect but it was close!
Someone needs to tell me that I live in Minnesota and it's freaking freezing here. There's a good chance that's why my dough (for any recipe) takes forever to rise. Same case here. Not a big deal, just takes a long time.
I didn't follow her directions for the butter. I used recipe #1 for the butter directions and felt it worked just fine. All the turns worked nicely but by the last one, it was hard to roll out. Fourth turn and into the fridge overnight for my dough to rest.
Sunday: The dough was cold and while it was a little tough to roll out, it wasn't impossible. I really had to put some effort into it but I got it 20 inches long. I cut the dough the best I could and lol'd at myself because they were gonna be small. At this point though, I didn't care. I got 12 croissants just at the recipe said I'd get.
I let them rest for about 2 hours (where they puffed up), egg washed them, baked and got these beauties:
Not too shabby, eh?
Masterpiece? Ok, so two came out a little funky. They tasted fantastic though. They were very buttery and had lots of flaky layers. Justin loved them!
They were still hot and the middle kinda came out when I split it open. The inside is always my favorite :)
Ok, so after the challenges I had in the beginning, I would make them again. (Yes, I'm insane.) There really isn't a lot of hands-on action going on, it just takes A LOT of time. But why spend 3 days doing this? So when I do it again, I'll double the batch and freeze the dough for the future.
Worth the effort, meh, not sure. But I like challenges.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Croissant Challenge
I've been wanting to make homemade croissants for a long time. Justin's Grandma used to be a baker and is always bringing "Grandma Rolls" to family events. We love them! But, they are more American (very bready and dense, but really, really good) and I really want one from France :) So I've been looking at recipes for the French versions. All the recipes I've found, they are very labor intensive.
My friend Todd and his friend Michelle decided to tackle homemade croissants in a "he said" "she said" way. While their outcomes were mostly the same, the process was, well, a process.
But since they were both brave to try it, I figured, why not? So that's what I'm tackling today. They used this recipe (with photo goodness!) so I'm using it too.
So, I guess it's not really a challenge with anyone, but a challenge for myself. Anyone else care to join? I'll be back later!
My friend Todd and his friend Michelle decided to tackle homemade croissants in a "he said" "she said" way. While their outcomes were mostly the same, the process was, well, a process.
But since they were both brave to try it, I figured, why not? So that's what I'm tackling today. They used this recipe (with photo goodness!) so I'm using it too.
So, I guess it's not really a challenge with anyone, but a challenge for myself. Anyone else care to join? I'll be back later!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
21 Months
You surprised us with lots of words this month! I guess all we had to do was ask if you could say something. Because you can!
(us: Show us your teeth! you: TEEEEEETH!)
Done, eat, bee (ha!), bath, more, beer (sounds like he's from Boston), bike (more like biiiee but not to be confused with bye-bye), whoa, moon, and yum. Scully is just an Szzz sound with a giggle.
(Epic face)
You're really quick to learn new signs too. Home, leaf, strawberry, night-night, tree and the most adorable sign you do yet, baby. It's so sweet when you sign 'baby'. We'll go through a list of words and ask you the sign. You first make the sound, then the sign. You're a little sponge!
You have a fake laugh. HA HA HA AAHHHHH. You start laughing when other people are laughing. You totally get that from me.
You're a good singer. You know the theme to Thomas the Tank Engine and will sing it in your bed at night and whenever we ask. We never showed you how, but you somehow figured out that microphones are for singing. You love to dance when music is on and when we ask you to roll over, you do a few circles and then roll to the ground. We ask Scully to do it first, but you want to do it too. (You don't get a treat, though.)
Not many can say their kid wants to brush teeth, but you'll ask to brush as well as ask for medicine, both with made up signs (finger on the teeth for brush and finger in the mouth for meds - no idea how I figured that one out!).
We got your hair cut and now you look like a BIG little boy! It's almost too short! But you still look really cute.
Poor Szzzzz.
(us: Show us your teeth! you: TEEEEEETH!)
Done, eat, bee (ha!), bath, more, beer (sounds like he's from Boston), bike (more like biiiee but not to be confused with bye-bye), whoa, moon, and yum. Scully is just an Szzz sound with a giggle.
(Epic face)
You're really quick to learn new signs too. Home, leaf, strawberry, night-night, tree and the most adorable sign you do yet, baby. It's so sweet when you sign 'baby'. We'll go through a list of words and ask you the sign. You first make the sound, then the sign. You're a little sponge!
You have a fake laugh. HA HA HA AAHHHHH. You start laughing when other people are laughing. You totally get that from me.
You're a good singer. You know the theme to Thomas the Tank Engine and will sing it in your bed at night and whenever we ask. We never showed you how, but you somehow figured out that microphones are for singing. You love to dance when music is on and when we ask you to roll over, you do a few circles and then roll to the ground. We ask Scully to do it first, but you want to do it too. (You don't get a treat, though.)
Not many can say their kid wants to brush teeth, but you'll ask to brush as well as ask for medicine, both with made up signs (finger on the teeth for brush and finger in the mouth for meds - no idea how I figured that one out!).
We got your hair cut and now you look like a BIG little boy! It's almost too short! But you still look really cute.
Poor Szzzzz.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Help!
I don't fit in anywhere. Specifically, clothing sections in stores. I'm finding it more and more complicated to shop for myself because all the clothes in the "Juniors" section are a bit too "not work friendly" but clothes in "Women's" are a little to "frumpy mom". So where do I buy clothes?
When pregnant, you shop the maternity for the most part. Or just find something that you already own that will suffice until the little bundle is born and you're back in your favorite clothes.
I'm lost.
I'm at the in-between age of clothes. Too old for "Juniors" and too young for "Women's". Even Old Navy is beginning to bother me. In the past, I could easily hit Old Navy and find 10 things I wanted. Now, maybe just a pair of pants and a top.
I actually do a lot of online shopping for clothes. I can sort by the item I want (shirt, pants or jeans) as well as sort by size. It's the trying on part and feeling the fabric I miss out on.
So, am I the only one who feels stuck between "Juniors" and "Women's"? Got any great stores or suggestions? Because, I need some new clothes!
When pregnant, you shop the maternity for the most part. Or just find something that you already own that will suffice until the little bundle is born and you're back in your favorite clothes.
I'm lost.
I'm at the in-between age of clothes. Too old for "Juniors" and too young for "Women's". Even Old Navy is beginning to bother me. In the past, I could easily hit Old Navy and find 10 things I wanted. Now, maybe just a pair of pants and a top.
I actually do a lot of online shopping for clothes. I can sort by the item I want (shirt, pants or jeans) as well as sort by size. It's the trying on part and feeling the fabric I miss out on.
So, am I the only one who feels stuck between "Juniors" and "Women's"? Got any great stores or suggestions? Because, I need some new clothes!
Monday, February 28, 2011
And the winner is...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Motoring Away
Thanks to all who've entered the giveaway! I think spring is on everyone's mind, huh? Those of you who live in warmer climates, I'm totally jealous! We just got hit with another snowstorm and I ended up with a snow day at work. Almost three years I've worked there, I've never had a snow day. It was that bad!
We're still working on our basement. We're priming the walls today and hopefully get the electrician and contractor back to do the finishing work. Then we can move everything back and I can clean out the guest room. Once that room is done, we're moving to the bathroom. The only real difficult work will be tearing out the laminate floor and replacing it with tile. The rest is finishing work. Just trying to make our home nicer, one room and one project at a time.
If you're a shopper of Ikea, check out this great site, Ikea Hackers, for all hacked Ikea products. I love to see what people use to solve common problems. There are some really creative people out there!
We're still working on our basement. We're priming the walls today and hopefully get the electrician and contractor back to do the finishing work. Then we can move everything back and I can clean out the guest room. Once that room is done, we're moving to the bathroom. The only real difficult work will be tearing out the laminate floor and replacing it with tile. The rest is finishing work. Just trying to make our home nicer, one room and one project at a time.
If you're a shopper of Ikea, check out this great site, Ikea Hackers, for all hacked Ikea products. I love to see what people use to solve common problems. There are some really creative people out there!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Something Fun - A Giveaway!! (CLOSED)
All the snow is melting and it's still February! That can only mean I can see parts of my yard and its brown, water-soaked grass. Baby Jules loves to be outside even more now and that gets me thinking of him playing outside this summer.
He's well past the age of sitting under the tree on a blanket, crawling around, not wanting to touch the grass. He might not be old enough for swingsets yet, but he's old enough for something fun, just gotta figure out what.
And speaking of something fun...I've got a fun and easy way to win a$55$60 gift certificate from csnstores.com!
CSN Stores have over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be swingsets, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware! CSN Stores have given me a gift certificate worth$55 $60(!) for one of my readers! All you have to do is comment on what you can't wait to do when you can see your yard again.
Wanna earn extra entries? Sure you do!
1-extra entry for subscribing to my blog - leave a separate entry to say you subscribed (or if you already subscribe)
1-extra entry for blogging about this giveaway - leave a separate entry with your post link.
1-extra entry for tweeting: Enter to win $60 gift cert to @CSNstores via @jeeprsjessi's blog! http://xrl.in/78p5 Ends Mon, 2/28 - leave a separate entry when you have done this.
Now, the rules:
Contest ends February 28th, 5pm CST.
Must be a resident of the US or Canada (promotional codes cannot be used towards Canadian international fees)
18 years of age
Provide a valid email address so I can contact you if you win.
The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 24 hours to respond or I draw another name.
Gift card must be used by March 31st. (sorry such short notice)
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this giveaway from CSN Stores.
He's well past the age of sitting under the tree on a blanket, crawling around, not wanting to touch the grass. He might not be old enough for swingsets yet, but he's old enough for something fun, just gotta figure out what.
And speaking of something fun...I've got a fun and easy way to win a
CSN Stores have over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be swingsets, fitness equipment, or even cute cookware! CSN Stores have given me a gift certificate worth
Wanna earn extra entries? Sure you do!
1-extra entry for subscribing to my blog - leave a separate entry to say you subscribed (or if you already subscribe)
1-extra entry for blogging about this giveaway - leave a separate entry with your post link.
1-extra entry for tweeting: Enter to win $60 gift cert to @CSNstores via @jeeprsjessi's blog! http://xrl.in/78p5 Ends Mon, 2/28 - leave a separate entry when you have done this.
Now, the rules:
Contest ends February 28th, 5pm CST.
Must be a resident of the US or Canada (promotional codes cannot be used towards Canadian international fees)
18 years of age
Provide a valid email address so I can contact you if you win.
The winner will be chosen by Random.org and will have 24 hours to respond or I draw another name.
Gift card must be used by March 31st. (sorry such short notice)
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this giveaway from CSN Stores.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
This One Time...
I join my sister-in-law at her sons hockey game. Apparently, there's a parents league that plays after the kids are done. Her team annihilates the other team. The other team never gets any new players because, well, I don't know the reason. I can see it in their faces; the faces of defeat every week.
At the end of the game, they do a race from mid ice to see who can get to the end the fastest. My sister-in-law says I should do it. So I lace up my skates and hesitantly get on the ice. Oh man, it's slippery! I take my place next to her and the wall at the end of the line. The bell goes off and the line of parents scramble to gain traction on the ice to propel them forward. I do the same. Soon, the fastest emerge from the starting line and I'm just behind them. I start passing parents right and left and my speed picks up. I can't decide if I'm really slow and these parents are even slower or I'm somehow a natural when it come to speed skating.
I'm in second place, eying the first place mom who's looking behind her. I easily skate past her and make my way full speed to the finish line (the wall). Surprised at my out-of-no-where finish, the announcer asks what team I'm part of and I answered back, "No team."
My sister-in-law steps in and says "She's on our team!"
The losing team look at each other and start to cry. I feel bad for them and can see how much a skater like me could help. I'm uncomfortable with my unexpected fame so I walk away.
At the end of the game, they do a race from mid ice to see who can get to the end the fastest. My sister-in-law says I should do it. So I lace up my skates and hesitantly get on the ice. Oh man, it's slippery! I take my place next to her and the wall at the end of the line. The bell goes off and the line of parents scramble to gain traction on the ice to propel them forward. I do the same. Soon, the fastest emerge from the starting line and I'm just behind them. I start passing parents right and left and my speed picks up. I can't decide if I'm really slow and these parents are even slower or I'm somehow a natural when it come to speed skating.
I'm in second place, eying the first place mom who's looking behind her. I easily skate past her and make my way full speed to the finish line (the wall). Surprised at my out-of-no-where finish, the announcer asks what team I'm part of and I answered back, "No team."
My sister-in-law steps in and says "She's on our team!"
The losing team look at each other and start to cry. I feel bad for them and can see how much a skater like me could help. I'm uncomfortable with my unexpected fame so I walk away.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
20 Months
Only four short months until the big TWO. But you are still such a baby in my eyes. We still call you Baby Jules (as do other family members).
You still love your train set and will play in your room without problems. You realized I've been keeping toys from various holidays - that I haven't given to you yet - in your closet and you try to open the doors to get to them. Don't worry, you'll get them soon enough.
You added some new words this month! Hi, bye bye and night night. We've only been saying these to you for over a year :) To hear you say "hi" is really sweet. You'll come into the room or look for us and say "Hi-eee". It's really cute. You also added two new signs: bike and cheese. Bike was easy, it's like pedaling with your hands and we figured we'd teach you cheese, your favorite food. You picked it up within a day. You're getting good at doing two signs. You'll sign "more" and "train" and that means you want to watch "Thomas the Tank Engine". Or "more" and "milk". Guess we should teach you more signs!
You have nine teeth on top and six on bottom. Poor you, they come in two at a time. But I think you're set on teeth for a while. You still sleep 12 hours at night but your afternoon nap is about 2 hours. Dad isn't getting as much work done. But my day off helps him get caught up and you and I get to hang out all day.
On my day off, I take you to the Y with me. You cry when I drop you off to play, but the second they show you the train table, you're fine. You do the same thing when the Babysitter comes over. The second you see her, we see your anxiety level increase. You start to pout and cry. Here's to hoping you grow out of that!
You love to visit our neighbor, Donna. She's older and lives alone. Daddy tells me that you walk up to her door, pound on the glass and she opens it to let you in. Scully goes with you. She loves it when you visit her! She'll watch you while Daddy is working in the garage or needs to get something done. She's very, very nice and loves you like your other Grandmas.
Your hair was getting too long so I decided to cut it. Dad had to hold you and we gave you a tootsie roll to chew on. No dice. You didn't like me combing your hair, you didn't like the scissors, and you especially didn't like sitting still. But, I did manage to cut off the mullet even if it was a little uneven.
Happy 20 months, Baby Jules!
You still love your train set and will play in your room without problems. You realized I've been keeping toys from various holidays - that I haven't given to you yet - in your closet and you try to open the doors to get to them. Don't worry, you'll get them soon enough.
You added some new words this month! Hi, bye bye and night night. We've only been saying these to you for over a year :) To hear you say "hi" is really sweet. You'll come into the room or look for us and say "Hi-eee". It's really cute. You also added two new signs: bike and cheese. Bike was easy, it's like pedaling with your hands and we figured we'd teach you cheese, your favorite food. You picked it up within a day. You're getting good at doing two signs. You'll sign "more" and "train" and that means you want to watch "Thomas the Tank Engine". Or "more" and "milk". Guess we should teach you more signs!
You have nine teeth on top and six on bottom. Poor you, they come in two at a time. But I think you're set on teeth for a while. You still sleep 12 hours at night but your afternoon nap is about 2 hours. Dad isn't getting as much work done. But my day off helps him get caught up and you and I get to hang out all day.
On my day off, I take you to the Y with me. You cry when I drop you off to play, but the second they show you the train table, you're fine. You do the same thing when the Babysitter comes over. The second you see her, we see your anxiety level increase. You start to pout and cry. Here's to hoping you grow out of that!
You love to visit our neighbor, Donna. She's older and lives alone. Daddy tells me that you walk up to her door, pound on the glass and she opens it to let you in. Scully goes with you. She loves it when you visit her! She'll watch you while Daddy is working in the garage or needs to get something done. She's very, very nice and loves you like your other Grandmas.
Your hair was getting too long so I decided to cut it. Dad had to hold you and we gave you a tootsie roll to chew on. No dice. You didn't like me combing your hair, you didn't like the scissors, and you especially didn't like sitting still. But, I did manage to cut off the mullet even if it was a little uneven.
Happy 20 months, Baby Jules!
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
January Burns
Since moving to Minnesota, I knew that January would be a difficult month when it came to weather.
Actually, it's January through May with February or March being the really difficult months.
It's spring, and snow is still falling. That's hard to swallow when all your friends in ALL THE OTHER STATES are out having a good time in spring-like weather.
Can you tell Justin's bitterness has rubbed off?
It's been a really rough winter. So Justin took me to Kauai with another couple for my birthday. Hawaii in January. I didn't care if it was going to rain or be in the 70's. It wasn't snow and I didn't have to take a jacket.
Hawaii in January!
We were going to sail, kayak, surf, eat, drink and relax by the ocean. And we did and it was awesome!
But, there was a drawback. Our pasty white skin. It burned. We were diligent about using spf 50 and above. Our Indian friends didn't want to get "darker" (their words, not mine) either and were slathering spf 70. But us white folks burned areas of our body that we didn't expect. Legs, feet, hands, lips. And nothing would soothe the pain. Then I thought of this:
Back in Junior High School, 90210 was new and all the cool kids were watching it. I could NEVER get into it. The adult-like (fake) situations, the sex, a dj in a high school (pu-leeese!). I get they were trying to relate to people my age with issues of our generation but it was done in such a way that it made you feel shittier about yourself.
So I turned it off.
BUT! I did see an episode that officially gave me the green light to never watch the show again. The main, dark-haired chick (Brenda?) is out sunbathing before the big dance, naturally. But, oh noes! She got burned bigtime! WTH was she gonna do?
Don't worry, cool mom from the 90's used granny's sunburn aftercare, secret remedy and came to the rescue. Brenda came walking down the stairs in her poofy sleeved, black dress all ghost-like. Pasty skin restored back to normal.
YA RIGHT, 90210. Why do I get so angry about this story line?
So anyway, the sun is damaging and burns are painful. I could barely put socks on for my 9 hour flight home. Surprinsly, just my feet were affected and are now a beautiful tan color (3 weeks later).
I'm now the only Minnesotan with tan feet - that no one will ever see. Not til May, at least.
Hiding behind bikes. Even flip-flops hurt my feet. :(
Actually, it's January through May with February or March being the really difficult months.
It's spring, and snow is still falling. That's hard to swallow when all your friends in ALL THE OTHER STATES are out having a good time in spring-like weather.
Can you tell Justin's bitterness has rubbed off?
It's been a really rough winter. So Justin took me to Kauai with another couple for my birthday. Hawaii in January. I didn't care if it was going to rain or be in the 70's. It wasn't snow and I didn't have to take a jacket.
Hawaii in January!
We were going to sail, kayak, surf, eat, drink and relax by the ocean. And we did and it was awesome!
But, there was a drawback. Our pasty white skin. It burned. We were diligent about using spf 50 and above. Our Indian friends didn't want to get "darker" (their words, not mine) either and were slathering spf 70. But us white folks burned areas of our body that we didn't expect. Legs, feet, hands, lips. And nothing would soothe the pain. Then I thought of this:
Back in Junior High School, 90210 was new and all the cool kids were watching it. I could NEVER get into it. The adult-like (fake) situations, the sex, a dj in a high school (pu-leeese!). I get they were trying to relate to people my age with issues of our generation but it was done in such a way that it made you feel shittier about yourself.
So I turned it off.
BUT! I did see an episode that officially gave me the green light to never watch the show again. The main, dark-haired chick (Brenda?) is out sunbathing before the big dance, naturally. But, oh noes! She got burned bigtime! WTH was she gonna do?
Don't worry, cool mom from the 90's used granny's sunburn aftercare, secret remedy and came to the rescue. Brenda came walking down the stairs in her poofy sleeved, black dress all ghost-like. Pasty skin restored back to normal.
YA RIGHT, 90210. Why do I get so angry about this story line?
So anyway, the sun is damaging and burns are painful. I could barely put socks on for my 9 hour flight home. Surprinsly, just my feet were affected and are now a beautiful tan color (3 weeks later).
I'm now the only Minnesotan with tan feet - that no one will ever see. Not til May, at least.
Hiding behind bikes. Even flip-flops hurt my feet. :(
Sunday, January 23, 2011
19 Months
(Somewhat late, but we were in Kauai and I've been slow to get back into the groove of life.)
Your love for trains has grown since you got a Thomas the Train set at Christmas. We have it set up in your room where you spends about 30 minutes playing quietly. Then you come running out wanting us to stick the trains back together (magnets). You still love cars and trucks, but I think trains are your favorite. If you're sitting and you hear the Thomas theme, you come running in and immediately start dancing around the room
You now shake your head when we ask you anything.
"Do you want to take a bath?"
Shakes heads!
"But you LOVE baths!"
Shakes head faster!
I'm sure soon you'll learn what it means.
You recently became attached to Lamby. You stole it from your Grandmas house when you were about 8 months old. It was something we put in your bed for comfort but now, you LOVE Lamby. One of your new words this month was "Lammie" sometimes screaming for her. Poor thing needs a bath after being dragged around, kissed with peanut butter lips, and grabbed with really dirty hands.
Speaking of new words, umm, well, Lamby is the only new word. But you are able to tell us what you need or want without issues thanks to Sign Language. You can now sign "Train" and you do a hand-washing sign. After meals you rub your hands together, requesting a hand washing. So I take you to the bathroom and hold you next to the sink. You rub your hands together in the water then reach for the soap pump for extra cleanliness.
(What? Doesn't everyone have a slide in the middle of their living room?)
You're still about 25lbs but you can eat like a big boy! You tend to eat a very big breakfast and then less and less through out the day. When it comes to new foods, we do offer them to you, and unless we force some on your lips you won't try it. Of course, after you've tasted it, you usually like it. But we're entering the independent phase so we don't stress over it if you don't like something or are being stubborn about food.
Check out all those teeth! You're very good about letting me brush them.
It's hard to think you'll soon be turning 2. But it's fun to think of the new things you'll be doing in the next few months. More words? More cute personality coming out? Favorite things to do? I'm pretty sure the list is endless. 19-months baby Jules, it's going by too fast!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
In That I Have Nothing to Say
Really, nothing since December? Sad, but actually a lot has happened. Maybe it was the post-holiday blues or the amount of eating that has me now 10 lbs heavier (suuuuuucks), but I just didn't feel like anything was worth writing about.
Wait, now that I think about it. It's the month of January. Does it suck for you too? It's cold, days are short, the holiday's are over, blah blah blah January blows.
So anyway, Jules turned 19 months(!) and has a mouth full of teeth, we went to Kauai to escape the brutal cold of Minnesota (5 degrees today!), our basement project is almost done, and Scully is now considered a "senior" but don't tell her that.
I haven't done his 19 month post because I feel like I just did his 18 month. But that's me just being lazy and not posting anything else. Plus we were in Kauai when he aged another month.
Kauai! It was a birthday gift from Justin. Since moving to Mpls, I've requested a trip to Hawaii in January. In his old, crotchety state, he agreed and booked the trip. It was WARM and SUNNY (most of the time). We burned our legs and feet, hiked, kayaked, swam, boated, drove, sun bathed, surfed, ate, shopped. It was a much needed break.
Our basement remodel is going well and this phase is almost done. The old panel board and ceiling was ripped down and new drywall was installed. We also added lighting and wired it for internet and the projector. After the second coat of mud and ceiling work is done, we just have to paint and move everything back. It's chaos in the office and guest room, Justin can't wait for everything to be moved back and I'm excited for a "new" basement family room.
Scully is 7 years old and that puts her in the "senior" age group. If anything, she's middle-age. She still plays with toys, pretends to attack Jules, jumps all over the place, chases bunnies, and anything else a younger dog does. She's fearful of Jules and tries to stay away from him and his swing arm. But she's a good dog who still loves to cuddle.
Ok, time to get over this jet-lag. Til next time...
Wait, now that I think about it. It's the month of January. Does it suck for you too? It's cold, days are short, the holiday's are over, blah blah blah January blows.
So anyway, Jules turned 19 months(!) and has a mouth full of teeth, we went to Kauai to escape the brutal cold of Minnesota (5 degrees today!), our basement project is almost done, and Scully is now considered a "senior" but don't tell her that.
I haven't done his 19 month post because I feel like I just did his 18 month. But that's me just being lazy and not posting anything else. Plus we were in Kauai when he aged another month.
Kauai! It was a birthday gift from Justin. Since moving to Mpls, I've requested a trip to Hawaii in January. In his old, crotchety state, he agreed and booked the trip. It was WARM and SUNNY (most of the time). We burned our legs and feet, hiked, kayaked, swam, boated, drove, sun bathed, surfed, ate, shopped. It was a much needed break.
Our basement remodel is going well and this phase is almost done. The old panel board and ceiling was ripped down and new drywall was installed. We also added lighting and wired it for internet and the projector. After the second coat of mud and ceiling work is done, we just have to paint and move everything back. It's chaos in the office and guest room, Justin can't wait for everything to be moved back and I'm excited for a "new" basement family room.
Scully is 7 years old and that puts her in the "senior" age group. If anything, she's middle-age. She still plays with toys, pretends to attack Jules, jumps all over the place, chases bunnies, and anything else a younger dog does. She's fearful of Jules and tries to stay away from him and his swing arm. But she's a good dog who still loves to cuddle.
Ok, time to get over this jet-lag. Til next time...
Friday, December 31, 2010
2nd Christmas
This was such a different year compared to last year. Baby Jules was just a small 6-month-old who really didn't know what was going on. This year, while he still didn't know what was going on, he was into opening gifts.
Especially when it's a Thomas the Train set.
Poor kid, he had to wait until the next day for us to set it up.
Jules had a great Christmas. We hope you did too.
Especially when it's a Thomas the Train set.
Poor kid, he had to wait until the next day for us to set it up.
Jules had a great Christmas. We hope you did too.
Monday, December 20, 2010
18 Months
The reasons why I haven't done an 18-month post until now.
You are 23 pounds, petite, cautious, a singer, laugh at everything, love cars and trains, becoming a picky eater and can't sit still long enough for a photo with Scully.
We've been singing a few songs to you for what seems like forever and you now sing them with us. "This old man..." "Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques..." You love to dance to music from the television, radio or us singing. When the "Thomas the Train" theme comes on, you start to bounce and turn in circles. That's your white-boy dance.
You only say a few words: Mama, Dada, doggie, duck, nana (banana), baby and what sounds like "touchdown!" You sign: dada, doggie, bath, car, all done, milk, hat, shoes, more, eat, bird, airplane, books, bye-bye, stars, ball, and are perfecting: train, kitty. The doctor isn't worried about your speech at this age. Unless you were a girl, then she'd be a little concerned. Apparently girls talk.all.the.time!
We all survived the big storm to 2010. (Hard to tell, but that's me, it was zero and we got about 15 inches in addition to the 12 inches that was already in the yard.) The next day we made our way out to a birthday party where you were traumatized yet again by us when we put you in this:
We thought it'd blow your mind, but apparently not. You just wanted to push it, and not RIDE in it, mom!
You fist-bump, you throw your hands in the air when we say "Touchdown!" and you know "first down." Your daddy's little football watcher.
We read stories before bed and you love it. You sign "more" after 10 books. You never want me to stop reading. You still sleep 12 hours at night and have a 3 hour nap during the day.
Toddler moments are becoming a little bit more frequent. Throwing food on the floor, throwing toys at Scully, throwing yourself on the floor, I'm starting to see a pattern here. But really, you are a very good boy and tantrums happen only about 15% of the time.
We flew to Utah for Thanksgiving and you got to meet your Great-Great Grandma Dot. She thinks you're super cute. I loaded her cork board with your pictures.
We made the annual trip to cut down our Christmas tree. You love to be outside. I think it was only 12 degrees this day. It didn't phase you at all. You aren't interested in the tree or the ornaments this year. I bet next year you'll be interested in the stuff under the tree.
When asked, you know the sounds these animals make: dog, cat, cow, and bird. And you know what a car and train say. When I asked where your nose is, you scrunch it up and breath through it fast.
Each month gets better and better, baby Jules. Merry Christmas and happy 18-month!
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