How are you all doing with your resolutions? Still at it? Don't care as much anymore? Big plans for 2010? Don't worry, I'm not judging if that's the case.
How am I doing with my goals? Well, pretty ok, actually.
1.) Budget. The emergency fund is taking shape. We have had one major and several minor unbudgeted expenses, but that's what it's there for, right? Mark seems pretty confident that we are on track to meet our goal by the end of the year, despite the recent turn of events. Keep praying. :)
2.) Weight Loss. The prednisone (and I'll be honest -- baby) weight is starting to come off!! I have lost just over 10 lbs this month. Not a lot on my frame, but nothing to shake a stick at either. There is no way I will be continuing this progress, though. I will hang onto my healthy diet and stay active as long as possible, though, and only good things can come of it. Bonus - I have not had even one bit of fast food this month. Yay me.
3.) I have been a better wife (ahem) in some aspects. Some might say too good. (Me, for instance.) But not Mark. I think he will affirm this is one good thing you can't get too much of! The challenge is still going, and it's not too late to join!
The most important thing is that I am still totally hive-free. Which makes 2009 already seven times better than 2008. I'm anxious, nervous and excited to see if 2009 will continue to play out as well as it has so far.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
18 Month Update
It's been a while since I've done an update on Nathan, and since he's 18 months today, I thought now would be a good time.
Walking Boy - After taking his first steps in mid-December, Nathan spent about a month only walking when we explicitly asked him to. (Nathan, stand up. Take some steps.) And that only worked sometimes. But a couple of weeks ago (has it only been a couple of weeks? wow it's been crazy around here) he started walking to actually get somewhere. And now there's no stopping him.
Handsome Boy - I like this picture because it captures him so well. His natural smile (open-mouthed, of course... for two earlier versions click here and here), and you can actually tell he's taking a step. I'm glad that his 18-month portrait captures him so well as he is... now. Plus, again with the cute. :)
Talking Boy - I think I mentioned a few month ago that we have long stopped counting words Nathan knows. When people ask me this question, they are met with a blank stare. It's probably a hundred or more. It's way too many to keep track of, that's for sure. Of all the words he knows, his favorites are what's that? (yes, still), applesauce, outside, big truck, help please, Bowdy (Bowden) and Sy-eeee (Simon). Before you start thinking what great parents we are to have taught Nathan good manners, you should know that he says help please for almost everything (which is not helpful, we usually need to ask "help with what?" to get more clarification on what he wants), and says "thank you" only rarely. And only when prompted. We're working on it.
Playful Boy - Nathan's favorite toys right now are his blocks, his fish book, his instruments (still loves noise), and recently he has formed an odd attachment to the stuffed hippo his Uncle Sean got him for Christmas. I say odd not because there's anything wrong with the hippo, but because as of yet Nathan has not been terribly attached to any comfort object. He has been known on occasion to ask for his stuffed cow at bedtime, and we can tell it's the most-loved of all his animals, since it's missing a nostril. (That's true toy love, people.) But even that pales in comparison to his recent fascination with the hippo. We'll see how it plays out.
Growing Boy - He weighs 26 lbs (53rd percentile) and is 33.5 inches tall (82nd percentile). Which is a far cry from losing weight, and falling off the charts like he was this time last year. He's bounced back like it's no one's business. Amazing. And now that we're on this side of the situation, his growth chart is almost humorous. Almost.
Plus, he's about to be in size 4 diapers. Some kids never get out of 4's before they're potty-trained. Also, the child on the size 4 packaging is a kid, not a baby. When I look at Nathan, I can hardly believe it's time for the diapers that the kid on that packaging wears. Sure sign of growing up.
Nursing Boy - yes, I am still breastfeeding Nathan. I was talking to a friend a week or so ago, and made mention of the nursing, and she was really surprised to hear that. She jokingly called me a closet nurser. Now, I have jokingly said that, too - Nathan doesn't want it every day, and when he does, it's almost always right after he wakes up -- so we're at home. Which means it's just me and him. Which is private by default, not by intention. Her comment bothered me not because she was surprised I was still nursing, but because she thought I was trying to hide it. As if it was something to be ashamed of. As if I were going out of my way to avoid the judgement of other people. Me. Yeah.... not so much. I'm not trying to flaunt it or make a big deal about it (it's not a big deal), but I am certainly not trying to hide it either! So let the record show that I am still nursing Nathan, and my current plan is to continue to do so until he is ready to completely wean. (In my mind, the weaning has already begun, since the nursing sessions are so infrequent at this point.) And that it's still good for him. And that I have no shame in it. And that I reserve the right to revise the plan without notice, of course. :)
Hungry Boy - While I wish he would eat a bigger variety of food, Nathan actually does ok. He likes applesauce best (he'll eat it on anything), and he also likes baked beans, mandarin oranges, sunflower seed butter (we use it instead of pb since we can't send nut products with him to church), french toast, and pasta. Or anything Daddy has on his plate. Or anything we tell him is applesauce. [Side note - Mark feels bad lying to him, so he tells Nathan the food is like applesauce. "Sure, this is like applesauce, it's chicken but it fits on the spoon like applesauce," and other such nonsense. But as long as Nathan hears the word applesauce a couple of times, he's pretty likely to eat it. I just lie. Don't judge me, you've lied to your kid about trivial stuff too.] Nathan has also started feeding himself with a spoon. So cute. And oh-so messy. We got him some curvy spoons to help get the food into his mouth, but they're only made for righties. And he usually prefers to hold the spoon in his left hand. Though I'm not sure if that's because Mark taught him how using his right hand, facing Nathan, so he just learned in his left, or if it's because he's actually a lefty. Time will tell.
Walking Boy - After taking his first steps in mid-December, Nathan spent about a month only walking when we explicitly asked him to. (Nathan, stand up. Take some steps.) And that only worked sometimes. But a couple of weeks ago (has it only been a couple of weeks? wow it's been crazy around here) he started walking to actually get somewhere. And now there's no stopping him.
Handsome Boy - I like this picture because it captures him so well. His natural smile (open-mouthed, of course... for two earlier versions click here and here), and you can actually tell he's taking a step. I'm glad that his 18-month portrait captures him so well as he is... now. Plus, again with the cute. :)
Talking Boy - I think I mentioned a few month ago that we have long stopped counting words Nathan knows. When people ask me this question, they are met with a blank stare. It's probably a hundred or more. It's way too many to keep track of, that's for sure. Of all the words he knows, his favorites are what's that? (yes, still), applesauce, outside, big truck, help please, Bowdy (Bowden) and Sy-eeee (Simon). Before you start thinking what great parents we are to have taught Nathan good manners, you should know that he says help please for almost everything (which is not helpful, we usually need to ask "help with what?" to get more clarification on what he wants), and says "thank you" only rarely. And only when prompted. We're working on it.
Playful Boy - Nathan's favorite toys right now are his blocks, his fish book, his instruments (still loves noise), and recently he has formed an odd attachment to the stuffed hippo his Uncle Sean got him for Christmas. I say odd not because there's anything wrong with the hippo, but because as of yet Nathan has not been terribly attached to any comfort object. He has been known on occasion to ask for his stuffed cow at bedtime, and we can tell it's the most-loved of all his animals, since it's missing a nostril. (That's true toy love, people.) But even that pales in comparison to his recent fascination with the hippo. We'll see how it plays out.
Growing Boy - He weighs 26 lbs (53rd percentile) and is 33.5 inches tall (82nd percentile). Which is a far cry from losing weight, and falling off the charts like he was this time last year. He's bounced back like it's no one's business. Amazing. And now that we're on this side of the situation, his growth chart is almost humorous. Almost.
Plus, he's about to be in size 4 diapers. Some kids never get out of 4's before they're potty-trained. Also, the child on the size 4 packaging is a kid, not a baby. When I look at Nathan, I can hardly believe it's time for the diapers that the kid on that packaging wears. Sure sign of growing up.Nursing Boy - yes, I am still breastfeeding Nathan. I was talking to a friend a week or so ago, and made mention of the nursing, and she was really surprised to hear that. She jokingly called me a closet nurser. Now, I have jokingly said that, too - Nathan doesn't want it every day, and when he does, it's almost always right after he wakes up -- so we're at home. Which means it's just me and him. Which is private by default, not by intention. Her comment bothered me not because she was surprised I was still nursing, but because she thought I was trying to hide it. As if it was something to be ashamed of. As if I were going out of my way to avoid the judgement of other people. Me. Yeah.... not so much. I'm not trying to flaunt it or make a big deal about it (it's not a big deal), but I am certainly not trying to hide it either! So let the record show that I am still nursing Nathan, and my current plan is to continue to do so until he is ready to completely wean. (In my mind, the weaning has already begun, since the nursing sessions are so infrequent at this point.) And that it's still good for him. And that I have no shame in it. And that I reserve the right to revise the plan without notice, of course. :)
Hungry Boy - While I wish he would eat a bigger variety of food, Nathan actually does ok. He likes applesauce best (he'll eat it on anything), and he also likes baked beans, mandarin oranges, sunflower seed butter (we use it instead of pb since we can't send nut products with him to church), french toast, and pasta. Or anything Daddy has on his plate. Or anything we tell him is applesauce. [Side note - Mark feels bad lying to him, so he tells Nathan the food is like applesauce. "Sure, this is like applesauce, it's chicken but it fits on the spoon like applesauce," and other such nonsense. But as long as Nathan hears the word applesauce a couple of times, he's pretty likely to eat it. I just lie. Don't judge me, you've lied to your kid about trivial stuff too.] Nathan has also started feeding himself with a spoon. So cute. And oh-so messy. We got him some curvy spoons to help get the food into his mouth, but they're only made for righties. And he usually prefers to hold the spoon in his left hand. Though I'm not sure if that's because Mark taught him how using his right hand, facing Nathan, so he just learned in his left, or if it's because he's actually a lefty. Time will tell.
Loving Boy - The best thing (to me) that Nathan has picked up on recently is hugging and kissing. I've mentioned before that he's not much of a snuggler, so when he actually wants to hug, Mark and I know to freeze and let it happen. Now he also thinks it's great fun to kiss me. He has no idea what it means, and I know that, but I still love it and it makes me absolutely giddy with happy-mommy endorphins.
So, Nathan... don't listen to Daddy, this is your half birthday! It's worth celebrating because you're our big boy, growing up so fast, and we love you more every day!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Twilight
I finally joined 2008 this week and read Twilight, the first in Stephenie Meyer's vampire series. Did I like it? Well, it's not that simple...
Here's what I liked:
- Bella, the main character, and Edward, her vampire boyfriend are generally kind to each other. Edward is chivalrous and respectful, for the most part, towards Bella.
- The book plays up restraint as being just as attractive as giving into temptation. Not sure how long this will last in the series. But in this volume, at least, the sexual tension is well-written, and that's enough.
- There is a focus on personal choice to determine the type of character someone has, not just circumstance. Bella respects Edward for what he has chosen to be, not what he was "born" into.
- Bella is productive at home, smart in school, and never "plays the dumb card" to get attention.
Here's what I didn't like:
- The story was just so much of the same thing. Girl meets boy. Girl thinks boy's a vampire. Girl pursues relationship despite vampireness. Nary a subplot. Is anyone really this one-dimensional?
- Edward is a little too perfect, to the point that he's not believable or attractive. He's smart, he's gorgeous, he knows every word to every song on the radio, he's fast, he's strong, he's a brilliant pianist, he's an excellent driver (there's an air of magic even when he's speeding), he's protective, he's a good kisser, he's loyal, and on and on and on. I mean, give me a break. I know we all strive to be great partners, but no one is this good at it. Come on.
- Bella's dad seems totally clueless. Who would let their daughter out to play baseball with her boyfriend in the woods in the middle of the night? Who would let their daughter drive hours away by herself to a huge city she's unfamiliar with? I think he loves her, but he needs to get a clue. He's a cop, for pete's sake. Pay attention!
I got to the last page of the book, rolled my eyes a little, and put it on the nightstand. And then woke up this morning wondering what happens next.
So there's that - I got drawn in, even though I didn't love it. I'm with Kelley -- this was good, but not sure what all the hype is about.
I'll probably watch the movie, though. :)
Here's what I liked:
- Bella, the main character, and Edward, her vampire boyfriend are generally kind to each other. Edward is chivalrous and respectful, for the most part, towards Bella.
- The book plays up restraint as being just as attractive as giving into temptation. Not sure how long this will last in the series. But in this volume, at least, the sexual tension is well-written, and that's enough.
- There is a focus on personal choice to determine the type of character someone has, not just circumstance. Bella respects Edward for what he has chosen to be, not what he was "born" into.
- Bella is productive at home, smart in school, and never "plays the dumb card" to get attention.
Here's what I didn't like:
- The story was just so much of the same thing. Girl meets boy. Girl thinks boy's a vampire. Girl pursues relationship despite vampireness. Nary a subplot. Is anyone really this one-dimensional?
- Edward is a little too perfect, to the point that he's not believable or attractive. He's smart, he's gorgeous, he knows every word to every song on the radio, he's fast, he's strong, he's a brilliant pianist, he's an excellent driver (there's an air of magic even when he's speeding), he's protective, he's a good kisser, he's loyal, and on and on and on. I mean, give me a break. I know we all strive to be great partners, but no one is this good at it. Come on.
- Bella's dad seems totally clueless. Who would let their daughter out to play baseball with her boyfriend in the woods in the middle of the night? Who would let their daughter drive hours away by herself to a huge city she's unfamiliar with? I think he loves her, but he needs to get a clue. He's a cop, for pete's sake. Pay attention!
I got to the last page of the book, rolled my eyes a little, and put it on the nightstand. And then woke up this morning wondering what happens next.
So there's that - I got drawn in, even though I didn't love it. I'm with Kelley -- this was good, but not sure what all the hype is about.
I'll probably watch the movie, though. :)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
PSA
I'm not sure if you saw the news earlier in the week, but President Obama has been sworn into office.
Which means he officially won the election in November.
Which means the campaign is over.
Which means you can take the Obamamama sticker off your car now.
Thank you, that is all.
Which means he officially won the election in November.
Which means the campaign is over.
Which means you can take the Obamamama sticker off your car now.
Thank you, that is all.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Nathan's First Snow
Besides today being important politically, with the inauguration of our first African-American (I can say that because he is actually African-American) President.... rah rah obama yes we can yada yada yay whatevs... it was important in our house also because Nathan had his first snow!!
Yes, that's right. He's 18 months old and has never seen snow until today. (It's North Carolina. Today we have half a foot of snow, Thursday it's supposed to be 60 again.) Remember last weekend when I said that winter is a total bummer, even snow? Yeah... that was before I realized how cute Nathan would look in the snow.
Seriously, it does not get much cuter than this. Sure, I'm biased... but I am also right.
It was pretty deep, at least by our standards. I like how small Nathan looks in the picture below, with all the snow and trees around him. And you can tell he is more than knee-deep in it. (Don't worry, like good Carolinian redneck parents, we wrapped his new shoes in plastic walmart sacks before we took him outside. Classy, huh?)
Nathan looked at Mark like he was crazy when Mark even hinted that it might be fun to touch the snow.
Yes, that's right. He's 18 months old and has never seen snow until today. (It's North Carolina. Today we have half a foot of snow, Thursday it's supposed to be 60 again.) Remember last weekend when I said that winter is a total bummer, even snow? Yeah... that was before I realized how cute Nathan would look in the snow.
Seriously, it does not get much cuter than this. Sure, I'm biased... but I am also right.
It was pretty deep, at least by our standards. I like how small Nathan looks in the picture below, with all the snow and trees around him. And you can tell he is more than knee-deep in it. (Don't worry, like good Carolinian redneck parents, we wrapped his new shoes in plastic walmart sacks before we took him outside. Classy, huh?)
Nathan looked at Mark like he was crazy when Mark even hinted that it might be fun to touch the snow.
He had a few moments of bright-eyed wonder...
...before, like a true southerner, he decided that enough was enough.
(That last picture also gives a clear shot of his sack-feet, since I know you were desperate for another reason to make fun of us. Don't feel bad, we can take it. I mean, did you see how cute our kid is? Totally worth the mocking on the sack-feet.)
For more pictures of our snowy inauguration day, click on our wintry little house, below.
by mgoetts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Helping Mommy
One of Nathan's favorite things to do recently (well, since he started walking more regularly) is help me sweep. Which, as you can see by the state of our kitchen floor, needs to be done more often than I actually do it.
It's not so helpful when he conks himself in the head (which happens regularly). Mark got some pictures tonight before the tears ensued. Not from the head-conking but from mommy taking the broom away. Who knew a kid would be so heartbroken to not have to (get to) sweep?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
One Decent Thing About Cold Weather: Foot Muff
So.... I don't love winter. I should just say that up front. I really don't like being cold. Winter is dreary, it's dark, it just... blah. I am grateful to live in North Carolina where winters are mild and usually less than two months long. [Insert reader jealousy here.]
And actually, I don't even really like snow. Some of you will question my sanity in not appreciating a warm cup of cocoa, sitting curled up under a blanket with a picturesque view of our snowy street. Well, I can't appreciate it. Because I probably have to go out in it. And it will be wet. And gray. And all the stores and businesses will be closed. If they're open, they won't have bread or milk (which is what I would be there for, because like a true Carolinian I freak out at the hint of snow and feel the need to stock the pantry). And the whole snow day will be way more headache than fun. (There are no snow days when you work from home, by the way, especially when your company's headquarters is like ten states away.)
It's been colder around here yesterday and today than it has been in years. Someone said decades, but I don't know if I believe that and I don't feel like doing the research. Our high yesterday was 28. Stop laughing, Minnesota, that's cold for us and we generally don't own good winter coats or remember to wear them.
So anyway this week has been hard for me. Hard to get motivated to be outside and exercise, hard for me to get out from under my blanket on the couch, you know. But there has been a silver lining:
I am loving Nathan's new foot muff. I didn't even know what it was (well, what it was called anyway) until a short while ago, when I started coveting my neighbor's newborn version (with sleeves)... it's like a sturdy zip-up blanket for a kid in a stroller. You know, you see them in big cities when those trendy moms take their kids on the subway. Basically like a regular muff, but for legs and feet instead of hands.
Want one? It's by Valco Baby, and it's too expensive to buy full-price. Email the nice people at Shnoop.com (where I got mind) and they'll tell you when they expect to have them in stock again for cheap.
And actually, I don't even really like snow. Some of you will question my sanity in not appreciating a warm cup of cocoa, sitting curled up under a blanket with a picturesque view of our snowy street. Well, I can't appreciate it. Because I probably have to go out in it. And it will be wet. And gray. And all the stores and businesses will be closed. If they're open, they won't have bread or milk (which is what I would be there for, because like a true Carolinian I freak out at the hint of snow and feel the need to stock the pantry). And the whole snow day will be way more headache than fun. (There are no snow days when you work from home, by the way, especially when your company's headquarters is like ten states away.)
It's been colder around here yesterday and today than it has been in years. Someone said decades, but I don't know if I believe that and I don't feel like doing the research. Our high yesterday was 28. Stop laughing, Minnesota, that's cold for us and we generally don't own good winter coats or remember to wear them.
So anyway this week has been hard for me. Hard to get motivated to be outside and exercise, hard for me to get out from under my blanket on the couch, you know. But there has been a silver lining:
I am loving Nathan's new foot muff. I didn't even know what it was (well, what it was called anyway) until a short while ago, when I started coveting my neighbor's newborn version (with sleeves)... it's like a sturdy zip-up blanket for a kid in a stroller. You know, you see them in big cities when those trendy moms take their kids on the subway. Basically like a regular muff, but for legs and feet instead of hands.
Threads easily into my stroller!
So when I found this one online, I jumped on it. It's awesome. It connects easily into the stroller, either snapping onto the frame, or threading through a lap or shoulder belt. It's tall enough for even a toddler. And it doubles as a sleeping bag. (Or so they say... I can't really see how that would manifest, though.) First, it's really well made. And who doesn't love seeing a precious baby all bundled up in cute wintry gear? (This picture proves my point.)
The best part about the new foot muff? I got it -- with a diaper bag that I don't really need but whatever it came as a package -- for less than $17, including shipping.
So anyway I am loving it. And Nathan is, too, even though this picture doesn't so much show his wintry snuggly joy. It's there, I promise.
Want one? It's by Valco Baby, and it's too expensive to buy full-price. Email the nice people at Shnoop.com (where I got mind) and they'll tell you when they expect to have them in stock again for cheap.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Another Puppy Post
My dogs are pretty crafty. The proof, in pictures....
Bowden, occupying the newly-sheet-covered bed in my study as Mark intended:
This is what Simon thinks of the new system:
Bowden's sneaky idea (immediately after I scolded Simon and shooed him away for not honoring the new system):
Epilogue: This is how determined Simon is to sleep on the bed in my study, sheet or no sheet:
(In case you're curious... that stuff is all my mom's. She came for two nights. She didn't even sleep in here. Saying she doesn't travel light would be the understatement of 2k9-so-far.)
(In case you're curious... that stuff is all my mom's. She came for two nights. She didn't even sleep in here. Saying she doesn't travel light would be the understatement of 2k9-so-far.)Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Steven Mauney is Why I Love Facebook
I'm not a Facebook addict like some of you. (Yes, Kristy, I am so talking to you.) But I do like it, and I am glad I signed up, after months of wondering if I was too old. It satisfies an itch to know what's going on with old friends, it's a fun way to see pictures and messages from current friends, and aside from the plethora of "yes we can" buttons [sigh] it's a great place to kill twenty minutes online when you have read everything in your Google reader. Twice.
Once in a while, Facebook will connect me with someone from my past who really gets me excited. Makes me wonder how we ever grew apart in the first place. (What did people do before the internet, honestly?) Steven Mauney is one of those people. He found me on Facebook last weekend and I spent hours reading his family's blog, exchanging comments with his wife online, and remembering all the reasons I ever liked and respected him.
He's a brilliant musician, he loves God, he has one of the best laughs you will ever hear, he is a great conversationalist (I would know, we spent lots of time carpooling to rehearsals together), and now he's apparently a top-notch husband and daddy as well. I actually remember the early days of Steven dating his now-wife, Betsy. I remember him telling me how awesome it was to date your best friend. Now, I know a lot of high-schoolers say stuff like that, but for Steven it was true... and I knew that because I was going through the same thing at the time.
So Mauney family, this one's for you. God works in crazy ways, huh? Three cheers for the people you may know finder! Anyone else have fun reunions of real friends thanks to Facebook?
Once in a while, Facebook will connect me with someone from my past who really gets me excited. Makes me wonder how we ever grew apart in the first place. (What did people do before the internet, honestly?) Steven Mauney is one of those people. He found me on Facebook last weekend and I spent hours reading his family's blog, exchanging comments with his wife online, and remembering all the reasons I ever liked and respected him.
He's a brilliant musician, he loves God, he has one of the best laughs you will ever hear, he is a great conversationalist (I would know, we spent lots of time carpooling to rehearsals together), and now he's apparently a top-notch husband and daddy as well. I actually remember the early days of Steven dating his now-wife, Betsy. I remember him telling me how awesome it was to date your best friend. Now, I know a lot of high-schoolers say stuff like that, but for Steven it was true... and I knew that because I was going through the same thing at the time.
So Mauney family, this one's for you. God works in crazy ways, huh? Three cheers for the people you may know finder! Anyone else have fun reunions of real friends thanks to Facebook?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Reason #1087 Why I Need a Daughter
I should prefare this whole post by saying the following:
I am not pregant.
I do not want to become pregnant.
I am not (even a little bit) ready for another child.
Disclaimer aside, sometimes I want a daughter so badly that it causes me physical pain. This is how I know that my family is not yet complete. Maybe someday I will have the same feelings about another little boy, but for right now Nathan completely satisfies the mommy-and-son desires in me. But the mommy-and-daughter itch? Not so much satisfied.
There's a sense of 'otherness' between a mom and son, I think... I know Nathan loves me, and I know I love him, but at the end of the day he will have more in common with Mark than with me. He will look up to Mark more than he does me. He will confide in Mark in ways he might not be comfortable sharing with me. All that's fine - it's how it's supposed to be, and I don't resent it. But it does make me long for the 'sameness' I might experience with a daughter.
I know that all mother-daughter relationships are not great, but for right now I need to believe that mine would be. All cute clothes and dresses and swimsuits and sandals aside (why are there always more girl clothes than boy clothes in baby sections, anyway?), moms and daughters share a bond that a son or dad could never understand. My mom knows how I felt walking down the aisle to marry Mark. My mom knows how I felt when I freaked out the first time I had to use a tampon (at a swim meet, for the record). My mom knows how I felt when I got discouraged by the lack of jeans that fit me well enough to make me feel confident. My mom knows how I felt pushing my child out, and how I felt watching him nurse for the first time. She understands my inner mama-bear when someone tries to cross my kid. I will support and love all my children, how ever many God plans for our family to have. But a daughter would bring a special bond, I think.
So you understand when I look at this picture of Jenny and Katie, and it pains me a little. It's beautiful, because they are both beautiful. But it makes me so jealous.
Anyway I went to write a 'happy birthday Jenny' post, and somehow I went on and on about mommies and daughters. So the short version is: Happy birthday Jenny! Your first birthday as a mom! (Kind of makes you re-think what birthdays are about, huh?) We love you and your little family!
I am not pregant.
I do not want to become pregnant.
I am not (even a little bit) ready for another child.
Disclaimer aside, sometimes I want a daughter so badly that it causes me physical pain. This is how I know that my family is not yet complete. Maybe someday I will have the same feelings about another little boy, but for right now Nathan completely satisfies the mommy-and-son desires in me. But the mommy-and-daughter itch? Not so much satisfied.
There's a sense of 'otherness' between a mom and son, I think... I know Nathan loves me, and I know I love him, but at the end of the day he will have more in common with Mark than with me. He will look up to Mark more than he does me. He will confide in Mark in ways he might not be comfortable sharing with me. All that's fine - it's how it's supposed to be, and I don't resent it. But it does make me long for the 'sameness' I might experience with a daughter.
I know that all mother-daughter relationships are not great, but for right now I need to believe that mine would be. All cute clothes and dresses and swimsuits and sandals aside (why are there always more girl clothes than boy clothes in baby sections, anyway?), moms and daughters share a bond that a son or dad could never understand. My mom knows how I felt walking down the aisle to marry Mark. My mom knows how I felt when I freaked out the first time I had to use a tampon (at a swim meet, for the record). My mom knows how I felt when I got discouraged by the lack of jeans that fit me well enough to make me feel confident. My mom knows how I felt pushing my child out, and how I felt watching him nurse for the first time. She understands my inner mama-bear when someone tries to cross my kid. I will support and love all my children, how ever many God plans for our family to have. But a daughter would bring a special bond, I think.
So you understand when I look at this picture of Jenny and Katie, and it pains me a little. It's beautiful, because they are both beautiful. But it makes me so jealous.
Anyway I went to write a 'happy birthday Jenny' post, and somehow I went on and on about mommies and daughters. So the short version is: Happy birthday Jenny! Your first birthday as a mom! (Kind of makes you re-think what birthdays are about, huh?) We love you and your little family!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cutest. Feet. Ever.
I know some moms like to gush about their children's feet. I can't say I blame them. I mean, little baby toes, little chubby ankles, the lovely scent of toe jam.... (oh, not your kid? must just be Nathan then.... super). Anyway.
Today I join the ranks of those mothers. But as you can see, it's not Nathan's (cute manly-stinky) feet up for adoration. It's my little Simon's precious feet. Curled up on the couch. All tangled in a knot. Twitching slightly as he dreamed about running through a field, or racing up and down our staircase, or scratching where his stuff used to be, or whatever it is dogs dream about.
Today I join the ranks of those mothers. But as you can see, it's not Nathan's (cute manly-stinky) feet up for adoration. It's my little Simon's precious feet. Curled up on the couch. All tangled in a knot. Twitching slightly as he dreamed about running through a field, or racing up and down our staircase, or scratching where his stuff used to be, or whatever it is dogs dream about.
I can't stop grinning when I look at this. Such a good pup.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Family Day
You know how sometimes you just have one of those days where nothing special happens, but that nothingness makes it special anyway?
I just had a great day with my hubby and babies.
When we got up this morning we loaded up all three creatures and went to Lake Johnson, which is part of Raleigh's great parks & rec system. I've been going there a lot to walk with friends, since the course is paved, but still long and hilly enough that I feel like it's actually exercise. Anyway, it was great to be outside. It's been kind of gross here (rainy and cold) and today was much better.
Bowden and Simon loved the park, but Nathan was fussy for almost half the walk while Mark and I tried to figure out what the problem was... you'd think neither of us had never been around a newborn; when Nathan couldn't tell us what was wrong in English, we were beside ourselves with confusion.
Oh, how quickly we forget! How easy it becomes to rely on words! :) But I guess we had lost sight of how chilly it was at the beginning of our walk and that Nathan hadn't warmed up at all since then like we had (since we were moving, pushing a stroller up hills and everything). Finally -- and this was a guess -- I took off my jacket (the new green one!) and wrapped him in it in his stroller (of course we hadn't brought a legitimate coat for him) and he was delightful for the rest of the walk. And so cute too!
Then after naptime (everyone but me), we went to Pullen Pool (another great offering by Raleigh parks & rec) for a swim. It's indoors, obviously, and they have a warm pool in addition to the cooler big lap pool, which is usually used for therapy, classes, etc. But today it was full of families with toddlers, like us. It had been a while since Nathan last went swimming, and he loved it. (We're totally forgiven for forgetting his coat on our walk.) So much splashing, and squealing laughter, and shouts of kick kick kick kick! Is there anything better as a parent than to see your child's face shining with pure, undiluted joy? I don't think so.
Hope your Saturday was filled with simple pleasures as well.
I just had a great day with my hubby and babies.
When we got up this morning we loaded up all three creatures and went to Lake Johnson, which is part of Raleigh's great parks & rec system. I've been going there a lot to walk with friends, since the course is paved, but still long and hilly enough that I feel like it's actually exercise. Anyway, it was great to be outside. It's been kind of gross here (rainy and cold) and today was much better.
Bowden and Simon loved the park, but Nathan was fussy for almost half the walk while Mark and I tried to figure out what the problem was... you'd think neither of us had never been around a newborn; when Nathan couldn't tell us what was wrong in English, we were beside ourselves with confusion.
Oh, how quickly we forget! How easy it becomes to rely on words! :) But I guess we had lost sight of how chilly it was at the beginning of our walk and that Nathan hadn't warmed up at all since then like we had (since we were moving, pushing a stroller up hills and everything). Finally -- and this was a guess -- I took off my jacket (the new green one!) and wrapped him in it in his stroller (of course we hadn't brought a legitimate coat for him) and he was delightful for the rest of the walk. And so cute too!
Then after naptime (everyone but me), we went to Pullen Pool (another great offering by Raleigh parks & rec) for a swim. It's indoors, obviously, and they have a warm pool in addition to the cooler big lap pool, which is usually used for therapy, classes, etc. But today it was full of families with toddlers, like us. It had been a while since Nathan last went swimming, and he loved it. (We're totally forgiven for forgetting his coat on our walk.) So much splashing, and squealing laughter, and shouts of kick kick kick kick! Is there anything better as a parent than to see your child's face shining with pure, undiluted joy? I don't think so.
Hope your Saturday was filled with simple pleasures as well.
Friday, January 2, 2009
First Big Boy Shoes
Since you remember every nitty-gritty detail I post here on this blog, especially regarding Nathan and his clothing, I'm sure you have not forgotten that my mom generously gifted Nathan with his first pair of real shoes for Christmas. (For a non-walker, we stuck with barefoot most of the time, and soft-soled booties like these when it's cold. Don't take my advice on that though, since he is a very late walker.) So I picked some shoes, had them shipped to mom's house to wrap and give to Nathan last week, and all went as planned.
Except that nothing ever goes as planned. I thought the stroller hunt put me through the wringer, but it pales in comparison to the hunt for Nathan's first big-boy shoes.
So the shoes we ordered from Bobux are super cute, and super well-made. But they were way too big, and I also ordered a harder sole than I intended (he's only just started walking after all, so he needed something extremely flexible). Anyway the Christmas shoes have been put on a shelf for when Nathan's foot is big enough and his walk is steady enough to wear them, hopefully this summer.
Back to square one.
After lots (and lots and lots) of online research, and a mini-road-trip to Cary (where I never fail to get lost, seriously what's with that town?), I had pretty much decided on the shoes I wanted for him. But I wanted to make a quick trip to Stride Rite to see if they had anything comparable, for cheaper. (How sad it is that Stride Rite could ever be a cheaper alternative to anything? Alas, it is true.) And the people there convinced me that the super-soft sole I had been looking for was the wrong shoe type and that he needed a bigger size after all. Whaaaat?
Back to square one. Again.
Well, square two, actually. In tears in the parking lot on the way back to the car, I realized that I had the Christmas shoes at home which might be the right size. But after putting them on, my original gut reaction was affirmed -- too big, and way too hard. And I did have a good second choice to fall back on, at Stride Rite.
[I should say here that by this point, Mark was ready to strangle me and every pair of toddler shoes in the Triangle. I don't know how not to stress about stuff like this. It's a lot of money, especially for kiddie shoes, but I really wanted to be sure I chose something that would encourage his walking and movement. Lord knows the child does not need any more reasons to not move around; he's behind enough already. Comfy, supportive, transition shoes were worth the investment, in my opinion (oh yeah - and his doctor's too). Anyway while Mark appreciates my efforts to be a good steward of our resources, he does not appreciate drama. Especially baby shoe drama.]
My wonderful friend Lois sent me to her favorite shoe store for a second opinion. The people there were great, agreed with the smaller size, but didn't have a great selection of flexible transition shoes.
So I decided on the cute, versatile, flexible, appropriately-fitting shoes from Stride Rite. Amazing, huh?
But before I could purchase them (stop groaning), I needed to make sure I was getting the best price on them. Shoebuy.com had a great sale yesterday for 20% any pair of shoes, but of course the ONE size they didn't have in this shoe is the size I needed. (And I was not compromising on size, after all this.)
So I officially decided that no discounts were worth any more of my time and energy (Mark concurred, wholeheartedly) and called Stride Rite to make sure they had the size I needed in stock, and headed to the mall.
But they didn't actually have them in stock. Of course. Fortunately they were able to get them from the Greensboro store, ship them to my house for free, and they should be here on Monday.
And then Nathan can wear his first pair of big-boy shoes! If this wasn't an event in my mind a month ago, it is now!
Except that nothing ever goes as planned. I thought the stroller hunt put me through the wringer, but it pales in comparison to the hunt for Nathan's first big-boy shoes.
So the shoes we ordered from Bobux are super cute, and super well-made. But they were way too big, and I also ordered a harder sole than I intended (he's only just started walking after all, so he needed something extremely flexible). Anyway the Christmas shoes have been put on a shelf for when Nathan's foot is big enough and his walk is steady enough to wear them, hopefully this summer.
Back to square one.
After lots (and lots and lots) of online research, and a mini-road-trip to Cary (where I never fail to get lost, seriously what's with that town?), I had pretty much decided on the shoes I wanted for him. But I wanted to make a quick trip to Stride Rite to see if they had anything comparable, for cheaper. (How sad it is that Stride Rite could ever be a cheaper alternative to anything? Alas, it is true.) And the people there convinced me that the super-soft sole I had been looking for was the wrong shoe type and that he needed a bigger size after all. Whaaaat?
Back to square one. Again.
Well, square two, actually. In tears in the parking lot on the way back to the car, I realized that I had the Christmas shoes at home which might be the right size. But after putting them on, my original gut reaction was affirmed -- too big, and way too hard. And I did have a good second choice to fall back on, at Stride Rite.
[I should say here that by this point, Mark was ready to strangle me and every pair of toddler shoes in the Triangle. I don't know how not to stress about stuff like this. It's a lot of money, especially for kiddie shoes, but I really wanted to be sure I chose something that would encourage his walking and movement. Lord knows the child does not need any more reasons to not move around; he's behind enough already. Comfy, supportive, transition shoes were worth the investment, in my opinion (oh yeah - and his doctor's too). Anyway while Mark appreciates my efforts to be a good steward of our resources, he does not appreciate drama. Especially baby shoe drama.]
My wonderful friend Lois sent me to her favorite shoe store for a second opinion. The people there were great, agreed with the smaller size, but didn't have a great selection of flexible transition shoes.
So I decided on the cute, versatile, flexible, appropriately-fitting shoes from Stride Rite. Amazing, huh?
But before I could purchase them (stop groaning), I needed to make sure I was getting the best price on them. Shoebuy.com had a great sale yesterday for 20% any pair of shoes, but of course the ONE size they didn't have in this shoe is the size I needed. (And I was not compromising on size, after all this.)
So I officially decided that no discounts were worth any more of my time and energy (Mark concurred, wholeheartedly) and called Stride Rite to make sure they had the size I needed in stock, and headed to the mall.
But they didn't actually have them in stock. Of course. Fortunately they were able to get them from the Greensboro store, ship them to my house for free, and they should be here on Monday.
And then Nathan can wear his first pair of big-boy shoes! If this wasn't an event in my mind a month ago, it is now!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Not Resolutions, but Goals
Last year I made five reckless resolutions. Some of them went better than others. None of them went well.
This time around, I am approaching the new year with a little more caution. Making goals instead of resolutions. And putting plans into place to make them happen. So, here goes.
1.) I will help my family create an actual emergency fund. Mark and I are those typical young professionals. We make decent salaries to support our family, we own our home, we save for college and other long-term goals, we pay down debt, we max our retirement funds since we have been told since second grade that we're not getting any social security money, BUT we are terrible about short-term savings. Sure, we can set money aside for a fun vacation, or an unexpected minor repair here and there. But this fall, after an expensiver-than-anticipated trip to NYC, a procedure for Simon involving general anesthetic, and a broken furnace, we went through that short-term savings pretty fast. So in 2009, we will be setting aside $1000 every month, to begin establishing a more legitimate emergency fund. As you can imagine, coming up with an "extra" grand a month has taken some pretty incredible budget-adjusting. (Mark did all the work figuring it out, in case you're curious.) Bear with us as we embark on the year of no frivolity.
[Ed. note 1/5: I hope to use some of the great tools that Almost Frugal is giving away to help meet this goal! If you're interested in winning a subscription to Pear Budget, Green Candy, or other great budgeting and saving tools, go here to enter the giveaway.]
2.) I will lose the baby weight and prednisone weight. Can I just tell you how depressed I was in October when I went to the doctor and hopped on the scale, and I was 20 pounds heavier than my last weigh-in with them, on July 23, 2007? That's right: 20 pounds heavier than three days before Nathan was born. Ouch. So not only have I not lost the pregnancy weight, I apparently haven't lost the weight of pushing out a baby itself and the huge sac of fluid he lived in for nine months (and four days, lest you forgot), and gained some on top of that. (I'm mostly blaming the prednisone, see below Year of the Hive, since I need to pass the buck right now. And to be fair, on that fateful day in October I was still very much recovering from an episode of angioedema, so I was very swollen.) I have already started a new diet and exercise plan, with the help of my doctor (and feedback from my mom), and I will keep you posted. Assuming I succeed. One concrete part of this goal is no fast food for a month. (On February 1, though, I am totally rewarding myself with a Big Mac.) I have also registered for four (four!) triathlon and aquathlon races for 2009. Nothing like an event on the horizon to keep me motivated. Maybe this year Mark and I will get through all the events without falling off our bikes. What do you think?
3.) I will be a better wife, at least in some aspects. I am embarking on my bloggity friend Jill's challenge. I won't go into graphic detail here. If you're interested, follow that link. (Mark -- you're definitely interested. Follow that link.) She did it in the fall of 2007, and she's promised to rebirth it for the new year. Stay tuned.
4.) I will make my blog's homepage more user-friendly. This is already partially done. For those of you who read this on the blogger site, I hope the new text colors make it easier to read (if not, let me know and I will try something else). For those of you who read this in your feed burner, I have shrunk the upload size of my pics to make the page load faster. For those of you (ahem... Ashley) who have to check back to the site every day to see about updates, you now have the option to subscribe by email. Or, just sign up for a feed burner and read that way. (My Google Reader has made my blogging life so much more easy and fun and fast.) Either one of those latter two options will make for a black-and-white version that's more printer-friendly (dad).
Here's to goals, and working on them!
This time around, I am approaching the new year with a little more caution. Making goals instead of resolutions. And putting plans into place to make them happen. So, here goes.
1.) I will help my family create an actual emergency fund. Mark and I are those typical young professionals. We make decent salaries to support our family, we own our home, we save for college and other long-term goals, we pay down debt, we max our retirement funds since we have been told since second grade that we're not getting any social security money, BUT we are terrible about short-term savings. Sure, we can set money aside for a fun vacation, or an unexpected minor repair here and there. But this fall, after an expensiver-than-anticipated trip to NYC, a procedure for Simon involving general anesthetic, and a broken furnace, we went through that short-term savings pretty fast. So in 2009, we will be setting aside $1000 every month, to begin establishing a more legitimate emergency fund. As you can imagine, coming up with an "extra" grand a month has taken some pretty incredible budget-adjusting. (Mark did all the work figuring it out, in case you're curious.) Bear with us as we embark on the year of no frivolity.
[Ed. note 1/5: I hope to use some of the great tools that Almost Frugal is giving away to help meet this goal! If you're interested in winning a subscription to Pear Budget, Green Candy, or other great budgeting and saving tools, go here to enter the giveaway.]
2.) I will lose the baby weight and prednisone weight. Can I just tell you how depressed I was in October when I went to the doctor and hopped on the scale, and I was 20 pounds heavier than my last weigh-in with them, on July 23, 2007? That's right: 20 pounds heavier than three days before Nathan was born. Ouch. So not only have I not lost the pregnancy weight, I apparently haven't lost the weight of pushing out a baby itself and the huge sac of fluid he lived in for nine months (and four days, lest you forgot), and gained some on top of that. (I'm mostly blaming the prednisone, see below Year of the Hive, since I need to pass the buck right now. And to be fair, on that fateful day in October I was still very much recovering from an episode of angioedema, so I was very swollen.) I have already started a new diet and exercise plan, with the help of my doctor (and feedback from my mom), and I will keep you posted. Assuming I succeed. One concrete part of this goal is no fast food for a month. (On February 1, though, I am totally rewarding myself with a Big Mac.) I have also registered for four (four!) triathlon and aquathlon races for 2009. Nothing like an event on the horizon to keep me motivated. Maybe this year Mark and I will get through all the events without falling off our bikes. What do you think?
3.) I will be a better wife, at least in some aspects. I am embarking on my bloggity friend Jill's challenge. I won't go into graphic detail here. If you're interested, follow that link. (Mark -- you're definitely interested. Follow that link.) She did it in the fall of 2007, and she's promised to rebirth it for the new year. Stay tuned.
4.) I will make my blog's homepage more user-friendly. This is already partially done. For those of you who read this on the blogger site, I hope the new text colors make it easier to read (if not, let me know and I will try something else). For those of you who read this in your feed burner, I have shrunk the upload size of my pics to make the page load faster. For those of you (ahem... Ashley) who have to check back to the site every day to see about updates, you now have the option to subscribe by email. Or, just sign up for a feed burner and read that way. (My Google Reader has made my blogging life so much more easy and fun and fast.) Either one of those latter two options will make for a black-and-white version that's more printer-friendly (dad).
Here's to goals, and working on them!
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