Lakeside Knitter

18 Months

2010-08-04T15:46:00.000-04:00

Cuddling her baby

18 Months has been a really great month for Charlotte. She is an amazing girl, full of happiness and so intelligent. As her vocabulary grows exponentially, I can see a great reduction in the number of tantrums. She can communicate so much more to me, but also understands me so much better. I also have enjoyed learning some new techniques from "The Happiest Toddler on the Block." Speaking "Toddler-ese" has been so helpful in helping her know that I understand her frustrations.
In the last month we also made some big changes in our morning routine to get Brian more involved in the start of her day. It was a rough transition, but after a week she adjusted nicely. Now it is not unusual for her to choose Brian to put her to bed or to see her dragging him by one finger to her toy room for stories or Play-Doh. This is such a relief to me because I am now in my third trimester and was getting very concerned about how to balance a newborn with a dependent toddler.
One month has also made a great difference in her eating habits. We no longer give her a second meal if she refuses the first as I figured she was old enough to now understand the consequences. She is still picky in comparison to her boy cousins, but eats with much less argument and eats from her high chair (whereas often she would cry for my lap). What a big girl!

Loves to play dress-up with my jewelry

Charlotte's favorite things:
Play Doh (aka "playooo"), Swings at the park ("whee"), peek-a-boo ("I tee you!!"), graham crackers, bubbles in her bath, Elmo, her stuffed kitty and puppy, Super Why, playing dress up with my necklaces ("pretties"), books and more books (right now Runaway Bunny and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish). She has started to pick out colors and knows most animal noises. She points to my belly and says "baby," but was also reported to have done the same to her overweight daycare teacher. I'm glad I wasn't there for that!

Playing at Fennville Children's Museum

Amos and Charlotte playing with baby Sol's toys

Camping

2010-08-04T13:15:00.001-04:00

Charlotte took her first camping trip with us Thursday - Sunday in Silver Lake, MI. Not only did we go camping, but we stayed in a tent. We learned quickly the first night that Charlotte was far too excited about the tent to go to sleep on her own. After 1 1/2 hours of attempting "night night," we resorted to driving her in the car. That worked like a charm, night after night. However, expecting her to sleep through the night was impossible. She was either rolling off her mattress, thrashing on ours, or calling out for Elmo. Despite that, my favorite part of the day was waking up to her shining face in mine shouting "Hi Momma!" Then she would tickle Daddy's toes until he woke up too.
This was such a short trip that we had to pack it with activities. We played at the campground pool, Lake Michigan beach, putt putt golfing, children's museum in Ludington, shopping in Pentwater and more. I loved the children's museum in Ludington and fully intend to plan our next trip in that town as it is so much more family friendly than Silver Lake. I also fell in love with their local children's boutique, the Purple Monkey.
Despite the fact that this trip was hard work with little time for relaxation, I am very happy that we pushed ourselves to go. Camping played a role in most of my valuable childhood memories and I want the same memories with my children. Not to mention that Michigan is so beautiful, it's a shame to not explore this entire Adventureland!

Silver Lake State Park Beach

Mom, my hands are dirty!

Beautiful Day at Lake Michigan

Is that a baby bump or a beached whale? :)

Cosmic Candy in Pentwater - Charlotte LOVED the gummy fishes

Ludington Children's Museum - My Picasso

Daddy made the best bubbles!

"Home Sweet Home"

Our one and only family photo from the trip.

C, C and more C!

2010-07-12T21:14:00.000-04:00

Brian's new iPhone has an excellent video camera. So now we get video whenever and wherever! We can't get enough of Charlotte's antics. She turned 18 months today and continues to show us signs of what an intelligent and indepent lady she will be. What a cutie!

My shopping diva.

Charlotte is trying to take care of her baby, but she just can't help but dance!

Working on motorboat at MVP pool

My homemade Oreos

2010-07-12T20:58:00.000-04:00

I finally got around to downloading some pictures and realized I never got to share my Oreo cookie success story. Over a year ago Brian came across this recipe on SmittenKitchen.com. After Brian made me an ice cream cake for Mother's Day, I had to follow suit.
Although it was a two day process, it was well worth it. I highly recommend the recipe. The cookies are a nice understated chocolate with a perfect sugary filling. They stayed fresh for at least a week. I will make these over and over again.

2010-07-12T19:52:00.000-04:00

After 4 years in this house, Brian and I finally came to terms with the fact that we will never invest the time, sweat and creativity into doing our own landscaping. Fortunately, I have an HJWL friend who's husband owns Bosch's Landscaping. So I felt very comfortable going to them for an honest estimate (and also wanted to show them appreciation for their many donations to HJWL). Today, the work was completed and we LOVE it! It looks clean, sharp, and most of all, low maintenance. It also helps a bunch with curbside appeal.

Before: Notice the overgrown rose bush, sunk in rock border and (since we didn't take care of it this summer) an abundance of weeds.

After: The two heights are now one smooth grade. There are rhododendrons at the picture left, wintergem boxwood to the right, and scattered dianthus carnations which should eventually make a nice groundcover. The tracklighting was kept but nicely placed and we now have a nice rounded border. I don't think the picture does it justice really.

Side garden before:

Side garden now: Stella d'oro daylilies (yellow), "Regal Splendor" Hostas, and Pardon Me daylilies (red).

Close up of garden right:

Now:

Thank you for a professional and affordable job Bosch's!

Roseola

2010-06-30T11:53:00.000-04:00

After 5 days of fever and irritability, but no other symptoms, Charlotte's body finally gave another sign to allow a diagnosis. Her fever improved yesterday and as I bathed her, I noticed a characteristic rash had appeared. We took her to the doctor anyway as it was too late to cancel her follow up appointment, where she confirmed that the illness was roseola. (not Charlotte's actual skin pictured below)

Mayo Clinic's website described Charlotte as though she was the textbook case:

Fever. Roseola typically starts with a sudden, high fever — often greater than 103 F (39.4 C). Some children may also have a slightly sore throat, runny nose or cough along with or preceding the fever. Your child may also develop swollen lymph nodes in his or her neck along with the fever. The fever lasts for three to five days.
Rash. Once the fever subsides, a rash typically appears — but not always. The rash consists of many small pink spots or patches. These spots are generally flat, but some may be raised. There may be a white ring around some of the spots. The rash usually starts on the chest, back and abdomen and then spreads to the neck and arms. It may or may not reach the legs and face. The rash, which isn't itchy or uncomfortable, can last from several hours to several days before fading.

Other signs and symptoms of roseola may include:

Fatigue
Irritability in infants and children
Mild diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Swollen eyelids

So, one common childhood viral illness down, so many to go!! Thank goodness we don't have to worry about chickenpox.

2010-06-23T13:56:00.000-04:00

I have 19 weeks left in this pregnancy, give or take a few weeks (take a couple I hope) and need to get into gear with knitting something for this baby boy. Charlotte was blessed with quite a few baby blankets at the showers and I don't want Patrick to feel left out. I found this free pattern on Ravelry today, "Little Johnny's Patchwork Blankie" (courtesy of Trudy Barrett).

I think it's going to be a bit high maintenance in color work, but I'm going to challenge myself to move beyond the simple garter and stockinette stitch. As soon as Charlotte wakes up from her nap, I think we'll head downtown to Lizzie Ann's and pick out the yarn :) I have a gift certificate that I've been itching to spend.

Baby Boy

2010-06-17T20:53:00.000-04:00

This morning Brian and I had our dreams confirmed, our next baby will be a baby boy. I had a mother's intuition I was having a boy, I suppose because my heart felt a little different when I saw baby boys in public. Also, even early on, these belly kicks have some real strength behind them!
I am so excited, yet frightened at the same time. Having a girl seemed so natural, since I'm a girl (obviously) but also grew up with only sisters. I understand dance shoes, make-up, and boy drama. I imagine Brian must've had the same apprehension for Charlotte's birth as I have for Patrick's, coming from a 3 boy family.
Despite my anxieties, I am ready for this. I can't wait to see the world through a little boy's eyes - to learn to appreciate frogs, worms, and running just about everywhere. I can't wait to love him and to know that I am the first woman he will ever love. I hope that he will be fun-loving, adventurous and hopefully have a little less flair for the dramatics then his older sister. But like his sister, I hope he loves to cuddle, hug me tight, and give Eskimo kisses.
I would love to post some pictures of his beautiful profile from the ultrasound pictures, but I only have a video and printed photos. Trust me though, it's just about the sweetest profile you will ever see on a grainy ultrasound picture!
And to all of you friends and family with little boys (that's just about everyone) - time to start sorting through your clothes for hand-me-downs :)

Look Grandma!

2010-06-17T20:36:00.000-04:00

Sunday night Charlotte had her first taste of Polish food. Now I won't deny it was only Mrs. T's, but pierogi nonetheless. It took her a minute to think about it and then she realized that cheese and potatoes are about as yummy as it gets.

Wednesday outings...

2010-06-17T20:32:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was one of my perfect mothering days. Ones of those days where everything goes as I planned. I never expect that anymore, because it didn't take long as a parent to learn that almost nothing ever goes as planned.

Charlotte started the day with a visit to the library. The children's floor has a great fish and turtle tank. She likes to put her face up to the tank and just repeat "fishy, fishy, fishy." But unlike Bert & Ernie, one hasn't jumped into her hand in response.

Next we made our first visit to the Critter Barn, a casual sort of petting zoo. She was very excited, at least until she realized the animals were real. I suppose she is really just used to the picture books and didn't know these things could move and make noise. She had the chance to pet baby chicks, ducklings, bunnies and cats galore. Instead, she preferred to keep the animals just out of her personal space and hold on to me for security. Next time she might be a bit more adventurous.

I had to laugh when this cow mooed so loudly that Charlotte just about jumped out of my arms. He seemed to have something important to tell her.

A few errands rounded out the morning before C blessed me with a 3 hour nap. I even had time to kick back and do some casual reading. I figure I better live that up before this next baby comes and quickly erases my free time.

Later in the afternoon I huffed and puffed until Charlotte's new inflatable princess pool was blown up. Grandma B was so kind to buy it for her and C just couldn't wait for me to fill it up. She eagerly stripped down to her birthday suit and jumped in. Luckily it wasn't big enough for the two of us.

17 Months

2010-06-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

Charlotte reached 17 months this weekend. And sadly, while speaking to a neighbor who inquired how old Maggie is, I realized she turned 3 last Sunday without any celebration from us. Poor puppy.

We had one of my very favorite weekends, a weekend focused on relaxing and having fun with Charlotte. It was another one of those weekends that reminds me of why I love living in Holland. We started Saturday morning with a bike trip to the farmer's market for fresh strawberries, veggies, and my favorite eggs. Charlotte danced to the banjo player and laughed so hard while riding on her daddy's shoulders. Next we stopped at the park where we met a neighbor who is due with her 3rd child two days before us. Charlotte had fun climbing up the tunnel slide and shouting from the inside to hear her loud echo.

In the afternoon Brian and C swam at MVP pool while I took Maggie out to pass out flyers for a summer block party. I am organizing this with one of our neighbors and cross my fingers that some people attend. After 4 years, it is time to get to know our neighbors a little better. I would love for Charlotte to have playmates close by and someone to gossip with on a quiet afternoon.

To end Saturday, we tried out a local babysitter. She was a big hit with Charlotte and somehow, she managed to put her to sleep without her pacifier! I'll have to ask her how. Charlotte took to her right away, showing her each and every one of her stuffed animals. Brian and I took the opportunity for a date night to get some pizza at a local favorite in Saugatuck and people watch during the Waterfront Film Festival.

Sunday started nicely with church and a short, cool, visit to the beach. I tried to stay warm in a beach towel while Charlotte and Brian played in the sand and dipped their toes in the 62 degree water.

2010-06-09T10:43:00.000-04:00

We have had a busy morning already, grocery shopping, Father's Day shopping and a visit to the Farmer's Market. Good thing for pesticide free options, because this girl couldn't way to get home to dig into the beautiful juicy strawberries. And good thing for Oxi-Clean, because her shirt is now proof of their juiciness.

The cheesiest grin.

Disappearing Act

2010-06-07T21:46:00.000-04:00

Horizontal stripes are an amazing optical illusion. 19 weeks now! I walked into a room today and a patient said - "You look good, you got your flat belly back." I said "Are you kidding me?! Look at this from the side."

Now you see it.

Now you don't.

BTW - Charlotte "had" to get in the picture. She will never take a back seat to this baby.

Memorial Weekend Picture-rama

2010-06-02T20:18:00.000-04:00

We had a very busy weekend, traveling across the state and back again. I don't deny it was hectic and Charlotte's fussiness from being off schedule had me a little hair-brained, but I do appreciate the fact that we are so close with our families and value the time we share.

Charlotte breaking in the bed at our hotel.

Time for a snack break! Charlotte enjoyed visiting with the Hoving children (Thomas was absent from the photo - poor guy was a bit under the weather.)

Snuggling with Solomon.

Cousins Charlotte and Amos having a blastie.

The whole family - Kevin included. It was quite funny, right before the photo Charlotte decided she wanted Aunt Meagan to hold her. That was the first time she had reached out to her all day. I guess Charlotte wants Meagan to look like her mommy in my mother's Christmas newsletter this year.

Sporting her swimwear.

Splashing around with Daddy. Charlotte loved the water, especially when Brian threw her up in the air. She would laugh hysterically, pausing only in her laughter to do the sign language for "more."

Skills!

2010-06-02T20:03:00.000-04:00

I swear this girl is learning something new every day. Last Thursday Charlotte astounded me and Brian when she repeated "magnet." The whole "ga" sound in the middle made her sound so intelligent :)
Over the weekend, while visiting Chris's family, she mastered holding onto a swing. It brought a few tears to my eyes to see her looking so big sitting all by herself. Of course she still needs a push.

She loves to push her own stroller. She even pushes the grocery cart around the store for me. It keeps her out of trouble. Who cares if she knocks over a display item or two.

She can follow a lot of commands now. Today she even laid herself down for a diaper change. I dreamt she was potty-training last night.
And finally, self-feeding is something she's been working on for several months. But she's starting to understand the spoon works better when she doesn't flip it over. What a happy girl.

2010-05-26T19:59:00.000-04:00

Brian and I are taking Friday off so that we can get an early start out to Bay City to visit my family. Charlotte will still go to daycare for the morning so that we can have a "date morning" before the weekend madness begins. I am SO looking forward to having a date morning!! We're going to the Windmill to have hash brown omelettes for breakfast, test driving mini-vans, and maybe we'll hit a garage sale or two. Can't do that on a Friday night. Boo yeah.

A camping we will go

2010-05-16T11:21:00.000-04:00

Brian and I have our fingers crossed that Charlotte will love camping as much as we do. He doesn't have many vacation days to spare, but we plan to take at least a long weekend to go camping this summer. We have outgrown our "4 person" tent. I say "4" because it's really enough for 2, so we upgraded to this bad boy...a Coleman 8-10 person. Imagine, being able to stand upright when you pull your pants on instead of wriggling around on the ground. Two things I worry about most: 1) Being able to fold this bear back up to the size of it's bag. 2) Fitting all of the gear in our car now that we can't fold the back seat down.
I'm looking forward to C's first tent camping experience.

2010-05-15T16:05:00.001-04:00

We're having so much fun with Charlotte's animal noises. We have no idea why she clucks her tongue for a bird, but she does that to Squishy all the time.

2010-05-08T22:17:00.000-04:00

This weekend is the perfect time for me to reflect on my experience as a mother. In thinking back, the memories that stick with me the most are the ones that have brought tears to my eyes, as it takes a lot to make this stone-cold woman cry.
I remember tears when I first met Charlotte and told her "Happy Birthday." More when I looked down on her sleeping in her crib on her first night at home, I told Brian "If we can never have another, we will be okay now." I remember crying with relief when I could lay my head down for a much needed nap and exhaustion while rocking her in her carseat and waiting for Brian to come home so we could go for a "night out" at Russ'. Tears of love for both my daughter and Brian come when I see her nestle in with a tight hug and Brian hug her back as though he has never been so deeply in love. Now when I cry a lot of times it is with Charlotte, because it gets harder and harder to know how to fix her tears. A hug and sway are so often powerless now, only time seems to heal the wounds of a toddler tantrum.
I imagine this is only the start of a lifetime of happy, sad and frustrated tears to come. I have a lot to look forward to and am so lucky to be a mother. Happy Mother's Day to all of the blessed mothers out there that I share this privilege with.

Life's lessons

2010-05-06T19:46:00.000-04:00

Of course my job forces me to know a lot about medicine, but I generally find I'm a jack of all trades, master of none, being in primary care. Many times it takes experiencing something yourself to be forced to learn a bit more. This month I am getting familiar with basal cell skin cancer.
About two years ago, while pregnant with Charlotte, I noticed an interesting red blotch as it stretched more and more over my growing belly. My doctor at the time told me not to worry about it. It never disappeared really. At a general glance, you would think it was an irritated spot, no bigger than a pencil eraser....I would think it was ring worm or eczema if it hadn't been there for so long. About one month ago, there were a few pinpoint dots of blood coming from it while toweling off after a shower. I hit my boss up for a free biopsy, which I finally got around to another month later. I told him, "Please don't laugh at me for being a hypochondriac, but I swear this is basal cell." Lo and behold, I was right.
Basal cell carcinoma, BCC, is cancer, yes, but only invasive to local tissues, rarely metastatic. It can be quite destructive when found in its typical location, the face. Risk for basal cell is increased with sun exposure. It is the most common form of skin cancer and approximately 30% of Caucasions will develop BCC. I was just surprised to develop it at such a "young" age.
I met with the surgeon yesterday and will be postponing surgery until after the baby comes so that my scar will not be grotesquely deformed. The most common surgery today is Mohs, a microscopically performed surgery. The doctor takes repeat biopsies over the course of one day until they are able to microscopically confirm that the cancer has been removed in all directions. Only at that time will they close the wound. This surgery is most popular as the cure rate is >98%. Because BCC is slow-growing, it is safe for me to delay the surgery.
This cancer will really be more of an inconvenience than a threat. I will now need yearly skin evaluations and an extra helping of my spf 30. Really, for the fear of melanoma, I haven't laid out in the sun for years.
Remember when checking your skin to not only look for the dark and changing lesions, but watch out for any persistent, pearly reddened areas that may bleed or become raised. We're not as young as we like to think we are anymore.

Finally!

2010-05-01T20:37:00.000-04:00

Finally I am posting about knitting :0 Charlotte likes it too.

This week I finished a project that I started for Charlotte on our Hawaii trip. This is the baby sweater from Knitty Summer 2008. I used less than 2 balls of Shelridge Farm wool that I picked up at the Fiber Festival in Allegan at least two summers ago (Yeah for finally using up some stash yarn!). This is a beautiful and soft DK weight wool from Canada.
I debated putting on buttons instead of the little ties in front, but in the end I didn't feel like putting the thought into modifying the pattern. It's probably for the best because once I double knotted those ties - there was no way Charlotte was busting her way out of that sweater.

I think this was a wonderfully easy pattern to read and follow. The false picot edging on the sleeve and waistlines is impressive and the detail around the shoulders was a classy touch.

2010-04-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

We had a great weekend meeting my new nephew. We decided to leave Friday night, as Brian says that I don't "handle it well" when Charlotte gets crabby in the car during a daytime drive. So, sippy in hand and good book in her lap, Charlotte was happy and so was I.

Saturday morning we were itching for little Solomon to wake up. Brian entertained Amos and Charlotte with a little story time. Amos loved Brian - he would always look for him when he left the room. And boy is he smart! He just turned 2, but can say the alphabet, count to 15 and speaks in 4-5 word sentences.

Finally little Solomon decided to join the party. Like any newborn, he was very well behaved. He quietly let us cuddle him and only gave a peep during a diaper change. Chris kept him well-fed, and that was probably most of the reason for his contentment. With her second child she definitely seems more relaxed. She's getting so good at this, maybe she can talk Ben into a third :)

The kids enjoyed a little outdoor play in between rain showers. We also had a little cake/candle celebration for Amos' birthday. We had to let him blow it out three times.

I always wish they lived closer because we have such a nice time getting together and the kids grow so fast. Thanks for the hospitality Chris!

Tulip Time

2010-04-24T16:09:00.000-04:00

Tulips are in full bloom in Holland. Tulip Festival runs May 1-8th, so their arrival is a bit premature. We can thank our wonderfully warm Spring weather for that. So, get to Holland while the getting is good.
Last fall I planted an assortment of tulips along our pathway. It was such a pleasant surprise to see each different color pop up. Charlotte loves to punch them and walk over them, but those buggers are resilient.

Stay posted for some family Dutch costume pics as soon as we get the chance to head downtown and make fools of ourselves.

Baby on Board!

2010-04-21T12:42:00.000-04:00

For those who haven't seen me lately, I'm looking a little different these days. And no, it isn't because I ate 5 cupcakes in one day! Baby Burch #2 is on its way, expected arrival November 2nd. But, with my history, could be more like Thanksgiving (haha).

I feel great, albeit tired. We had our 12 week check up this morning with all good news. The heart rate was moving right along at 160 bpm.
Charlotte will be 22 months when the baby is born. She is so gentle with babies and puppies, I can't wait to see what a great big sister she will be. Brian and I are putting it out there that we completely believe this is a boy. So much so that Brian always forgets and tells Charlotte about her "little brother." We won't really know the sex of the baby until the ultrasound in 2 months.
Another exciting factor is that I share this pregnancy with so many friends and family! Brian's cousin's wife Ally, my cousins Lacey and Matt's wife Majda, friends Montelle Curtis, Jessie Hessler, Angie Derby, Julie Hoving, Katie Yates and two neighbors on my block. At least four of these gals are due within the same week as us, Ally is due the same day. (There is another Junior League friend who I'm not naming because I don't think she's "gone public" yet.) This baby will have all of the playmates it ever needs!
Please keep us in your prayers that the pregnancy continues to go this well. We can't wait for another blessing to join our family.

2010-04-11T19:00:00.000-04:00

Some birthdays are meant for big parties and spoils, but the in-between years are some of the birthdays I like the best. They are simple and you don't have to feel fussed over. They are the years when you have enough time to sit back, relax, and reflect on all of the goodness that surrounds you. I loved my birthday today.
I woke up to my 1 year old at 7 am crying for a snuggle and the smell of homemade french toast. Charlotte and I got to enjoy listening to Brian sing at church today. Brian and I made our very first batch of homemade ice cream together. I already got to lick the "beater" after I turned off the machine and know that this is going to be the best ice cream I've ever had. (I'm sure I'll say that for every batch.) Since the sun graced us with warmth, we took Charlotte and Maggie to a local trail for a nice long walk. Now, with a belly stuffed with Brian's roasted turkey, I get to sit back and blog while listening to Charlotte giggle with her daddy in the next room.

I know it all sounds rather mushy, but I'm feeling a bit sentimental today. I'm a lucky girl to be blessed with so much at 31.

Riley Trails

Big Smile!

Check out my stick!

Love this girl so much!

2010-04-07T08:06:00.003-04:00

Here is my favorite video of the week - Charlotte playing with a musical card. Stay til the end to see her signature dance moves.

14 Months

2010-04-01T20:57:00.000-04:00

I've come to think of this blog as Charlotte's most detailed baby book. So please excuse my developmental posts, but I think Charlotte will love to read these back some day.

My princess is 14 months old now and is living up to her nickname. She is particular and knows what she likes. At about 5:30 am each morning she bolts away for her bottle and then snuggles off to sleep for another hour or two. She has gotten so good at soothing herself to sleep now. I can give her a snuggle and then lie her down for a nap or bed and find her shortly off to sleep. Of course, she insists on sneaking through as many books as possible before bedtime. She loves the peek-a-book books and Little Einstein.
Her favorite words are still "ball" and "baby." She insists on seeing the baby on the side of her Yo-Baby container while she enjoys her yogurt. Her new tricks are saying "woof woof" and "moo". She's also doing sign language for "all done." She loves doing finger play for "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and plays along with "Head and Shoulders."
She is such a great walker, much to my dismay, because she moves so fast! It took some getting used to letting her walk on the pavement. I hovered over her and held onto her hood because she wouldn't let me hold her hand. Now she likes to run down the driveway to the road. Stopping her turns into a major tantrum, but she's learning.
She is so friendly. She waves "hi" and "bye" to all. She cries when we leave daycare. I know that she has so much fun there and even moreso now that she is in the toddler room doing so many activities.
Food, of course, is still a struggle. But tofu is working nicely as an additive to anything and everything, so I feel better about her protein intake. This weekend she discovered Ritz crackers and fruit snacks. She loves to exclaim "mama" as she asks for more.
Lastly, speaking of "more" - watch her sign "more" for tickling. What a smartie.

My Picky Eater

2010-03-23T20:42:00.000-04:00

For those out there who have ever thought a baby or child with a picky appetite is that way because of their parents, you better stop right there! Charlotte is one of the pickiest eaters and I swear I have done nothing wrong!! It absolutely drives me crazy as I try to give her a balanced diet, yet she eats only a small list of foods, and sometimes will even refuse these. I pull my hair out at meals while trying to keep a calm and pleasant demeanor for her sake. Foods she likes: waffles, mac n' cheese, grilled cheese, cheesy rice, Cream of Wheat, boxed cereal, applesauce, canned carrots, yogurt, and almost any Gerber snack (yogurt melts, puffs, wheels, crunchies). She'll occasionally eat string cheese and oranges. I've tried so many other things, and a lot of kid classics. Epic failure. Without even giving most foods a chance, she will tighten her lips, arch her back, fling back her head and push the food away with both hands. What a pistol!
I worry most about her protein intake. This is such an important nutrient for her development. For fear of lack of nutrition, she gets toddler formula when she wakes up and again before bed. I try to mixed canned chicken into a few of her foods and I have been meaning to try tofu. Peanut butter has not gone over well.

Are there any mothers out there who have had picky eaters and can give me some advice? (Mom - I know Meagan wasn't always a good eater.) I'm looking for advice on how to disguise foods or hide nutritious things in other foods. Please help me feed this baby and regain my sanity!

Food, Inc.

2010-03-21T13:59:00.000-04:00

We rented Food, Inc. last night. This is a very thoughtful documentary that reminded Brian and I why free range poultry and grass fed beef are really worth their extra expense. A mother spoke of losing her 2 year old son to e.coli from hamburger. The recall on the hamburger wasn't announced until two weeks after her son died. Of course, Charlotte doesn't eat much more than mac n' cheese and cereal these days, but someday she'll love being an omnivore just as much as her parents.
Portions of the documentary picture how the cattle and chickens are contained in tight and dirty living quarters. I really didn't feel so bad for the chickens. I guess I feel their brains are so small and they are only alive for about 30 days. Is that bad? I felt worse for the chicken farmers who take on about $500,000 in debt to own these large chicken houses and follow the standards of companies like Tyson and Purdue...but they only make $18,000 on average/year. The farmers have so many health hazards from being around these antibiotic fed chickens that they tend to become allergic to most antibiotics themselves. They also spoke about how the meat packing companies ship in immigrant farmers, mistreat them, and then allow them to get arrested with no defense.
Brian and I have already looked into the pricing for organic and high quality beef, chicken and pork. In a quick internet search, we found several local farms Liberty Family Farm, Pelican Ranch and Crestwood Farms. They have beef for as little as $3/pound. I'm going to make some freezer space and make a trip out as soon as we can. I'm ready to speak out as a consumer by putting my money into something I can support.

I am now initiated into Holland

2010-03-09T20:51:00.001-05:00

Today was the annual sale of Dutch costumes put on by the Holland Newcomer's Association. There are a variety of new and used costumes to pick from. I arrived at 5 pm on the dot, but was shocked to see a line around the building! It was like a true initiation ceremony to have to wait in that line for an hour and then rush in and clamor for the last costume in your size. Fortunately, I've done enough Black Friday shopping to know my way around a sale crowd.

I chose the Volendam style because this is what Charlotte has. Charlotte was laughing hysterically when I put it on and tried to steal my hat. Brian has one too...not a dress. Now who doesn't want to move to Holland when you see this cuteness?

And when Charlotte outgrows her current costume, I would love to see her in the adorable Isle of Marken costume seen here.

2010-03-07T20:21:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we took advantage of the sun and went to visit the butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens. We met up with Carl, Jessie and their adorable son, Aaron. He is so great with babies and spent a lot of time chasing Charlotte around for me.

We couldn't help but dress Charlotte up in this butterfly costume in the children's garden. I think she was a butterfly in a prior life.

Here is Aaron spotting a few butterflies drinking their nectar. We were excited to find a lot of blue morphos. Usually they are few and far between, but they really steal the show.

For being so young, I really think Charlotte understood what was going on. She watched the butterflies fly around and reached towards them on the flowers.

I highly recommend anyone with kids make it to FMG for the butterflies this spring.

Hawaii!

2010-03-06T19:38:00.004-05:00

Our Hawaii trip was quite the whirlwind tour. We left by 6 am on Thursday morning and arrived to our hotel around 7:30 pm. We spent all 5 nights on the big island in Kona. Despite my knitting projects, books and movies on my iTouch, the long flight was very trying. The hillbilly family eating beef jerky in the next row didn't help matters much. BUT, I did get to fly on a jet with two aisles, that was a first for me.
We stayed in a private bungalow at our B&B, Honu Kai. The entire place was beautiful. We got to eat a delicious breakfast on the lanai each morning and learn from the other travelers. Geckos feasted on jam along the porch rail and birds flocked for seed on the feeder. The owners, Wendi and Dave, went out of their way to make us comfortable and provide us with supplies each day. She even loaned me her socks and tennis shoes for hiking and horsebacking riding. I couldn't believe my big ole' feet fit in the tennis shoes of a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. The B&B was the best part of our trip.
We joined up with Dave and Julie the next day for horseback riding in Waipio Valley. The drive down into the valley was almost life threatening, but the views from the bottom were some of the prettiest I have ever seen. Our horses all treated us well. It was Julie's first time on a horse. I think she was pleasantly surprised.
The next day was "Tsunami Saturday." David and Julie were evacuated from their beach front hotel, so we decided to stay on high ground for the day and explore the National Park at the volcano. We found some great hikes along the steam vents with beautiful views of the caldera. There was even a winery at the top of the volcano. We stayed until night to see the lava glow from a far. I've seen tour books where they could walk right up to the lava. Unfortunately, we're at the mercy of nature. We were lucky to see the lava at all.
I haven't said much about the tsunami because there isn't much to say. As you know, it failed to happen, which was a blessing for the Hawaiians. We watched it from a hilltop and basically noticed the bay grow more shallow and then fill back up again. Brian did take advantage of the media blitz, though, and managed to score a live interview on Fox News.
The rest of the trip was spent snorkeling, exploring beaches, and eating lots of fantastic food (Oh, and drinking great Kona coffee).
Although we had a relaxing and memorable trip, I couldn't wait to get home and have Charlotte back in my arms. It really puts meaning into the phrase "Home Sweet Home" when you have someone to come home for. Big thanks to her grandparents for taking such great care of her.
You can find my favorite pictures on this Flickr Slideshow.

13 Months

2010-02-20T11:17:00.002-05:00

I am going to overwhelm you with videos because I finally found time to upload a few. Charlotte is 13 months now and learning new things every week. Last weekend she got very good at standing all on her own, then come Monday night, she was walking like a champ! I went to pick her up from daycare and she walked across the long room to me. I was so proud of her. By last night she was doing laps around the house.
I showed her this video on the camera. She was too funny because she nodded like "Yeah, I know I'm awesome." Then when the video was done, she clapped for herself. She's so much like her daddy.

Also, last night, she surprised me by showing me that she's picked up some baby sign language. I signed "more" to her once, and the next thing I knew she was using it. This morning she did it with no instigation from me. That brain is like a sponge.

And now for some overwhelming cuteness.

Her new words this week (as far as I can understand) are apple and bunny. Some of her favorite things to do, listen to her Winnie the Pooh birthday card, play in Maggie's water dish, hand feed Maggie food, and climb the stairs. Her absolute favorite food right now is a grilled cheese sandwich.

This week we leave for Hawaii. I am so excited to relax and explore, but have a nervous spot in my heart to be away from Charlotte. Luckily she has two sets of grandparents who are more than happy to help and to get some bonding time in. I'm sure the vacation will fly by, as most do. Another thing I remind myself is how nurturing our marriage is the best thing for Charlotte because it is important for her to have parents who are happy and in love. So palm trees and mai tai's - here I come!

Fix, Freeze, Feast

2010-02-14T09:43:00.004-05:00

Two weeks ago, I joined forces with Jessie and Montelle for an afternoon of freezer meal preparation. We've done this once before, so this time we had a little experience to work off of. We did our best to prep sauces and chop vegetables at home. This time we prepared several recipes out of Jessie's new book, "Fix, Freeze, Feast." What a fantastic book! These recipes are designed to make bulk quantities and, of course, freeze well. They even give recommendations on what size foil pans to buy. However, many recipes are designed to drop into freezer bags. The beginning of the book focuses on tips for saving money with warehouse shopping.
We prepared veggie lasagna, chicken parmiagna, cheesy chilada bake, broccoli chicken bake, and more. The recipes were uncomplicated and inexpensive. Brian and I have eaten a few already and found that there was enough for leftovers.
I haven't ordered my copy of the book yet, but plan to. These days, I don't see the value in spending a lot of time preparing a meal. However, if I could spend just a little more time and end up with one dish to eat then and 2-3 to store in the freezer, I think I'd be the happiest mom on the block.

2010-02-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

I will find time to post a blog. I will find time to post a blog. I'll just keep telling myself that.

2010-02-03T20:16:00.003-05:00

Today was a big day for a mommy. For months I've been complaining about Charlotte's, for lack of better terms, dietary habits. I longingly watched babies younger than her munching on finger foods while Brian and I struggled to get our baby to eat much more than pureed fruits. And not just any pureed fruits, only store bought baby food because something about my puree skills were not to her liking. She gagged on just about all other foods or else wouldn't even let the food near her lips. I complained to anyone who would listen.
Well, I have to think these ear-tubes have helped her turn over a new leaf. She's now refusing baby foods. Today she was loving her soggy Cheerios in milk for breakfast. At snack time she wolfed down chunks of orange and then said "String cheese? I want that in my mouth!" For dinner, sliced carrots, mashed potato, yogurt, and wait for it...shredded chicken. Damn near brought tears to my eyes. My big girl.

How Depressing...

2010-01-29T20:55:00.002-05:00

I happened to catch this story on ABC news today. I was pretty sad about it until I realized that's still in the area of 36,000 eggs. I guess the news story wouldn't have been so impressive had they told me that. Now back to eating Cheeze-Its for dinner.

2010-01-28T19:27:00.005-05:00

A couple of my friends and I scheduled a day of preparing meals to freeze and store for an upcoming Saturday. We did this back in the fall and had so much fun with it. We made stuffed pasta shells, soup, chicken pot pies, chicken enchiladas and lots more. We can't wait to do this again, this time armed with new and improved recipes. Well, it seems we're not the only ones doing this in February. One of my favorite blogs, Money Saving Mom is rallying the troops.
Since we lost our Super Suppers and Main Dish Kitchen in Holland, I have struggled to find the time and creativity to have a cooking marathon. However, if you get together with friends, you can each bring enough ingredients to make your dish multiple times, saving money and creative brain cells. But unlike Super Suppers, we get stuck with the dirty dishes.
Does anyone have any favorite freeze ahead recipes? I know my SIL, Jacqueline, just had a cooking marathon so perhaps she has a favorite Italian recipe to share. I'd love to hear all of your tips!

2010-01-24T20:49:00.004-05:00

As many of you know due to the wonderful world of Facebook, Charlotte had tubes put in her ears last Friday. For those with medical curiousity - I'll explain the situation.
The ear is as structured below. When an ear infection develops, it is a result of fluid backing into the open space in the middle ear. Fluid typically comes from an upper respiratory infection (aka "cold") or allergies. The warmth in the ear creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. In children, the eustachian tube is almost horizontal, making it difficult for the fluid to drain down into the throat. Ear infections can have serous fluid - a yellow, sticky fluid, or purulent fluid - cloudy/pussy.

Here is a good example of what a provider sees when they look into the ear. On the left you see a normal ear drum. The right is an infected ear with purulent fluid. You can see that the ear drum is bulging, red and pus behind. If you had this, you'd pop Motrin like candy and be up all night complaining of throbbing pain. This is what poor Charlotte had to deal with for two months on end.

So why tubes? Well, if you look back at the first picture you'll see the eustachian tube. If this becomes congested, there is no avenue for the pus to drain. So you can hit the patient with antibiotic after antibiotic and get nowhere. High dose steroids could treat the inflammation, but you have a lot more risks with that. Tubes allow the fluid to drain through the drum and ear canal instead. The tubes are inserted through a small incision. Eventually the body will "spit" the tubes out as the cells on the ear drum regenerate. The hope is that the artificial tubes stay in place long enough for the child to develop better draining eustachian tubes.

Charlotte has a pair of white tubes now. She still seems to be in pain, but not nearly as bad as before. I just hope these are the only tubes she needs, because having to do this procedure multiple times can cause scarring to the ear drum which could eventually affect hearing to a degree. And you know, my future concert pianist needs her hearing ;)

I love my mop

2010-01-24T20:37:00.002-05:00

Brian bought me a Shark Steam Mop for Christmas. I'm having so much fun with it. He says I'm just like Stanley Spadowski from UHF.

There are several reasons why I'm infatuated with this appliance. It uses no chemicals, leaving no soap residue. Pure unadulterated heat and steam penetrate the dirt and residue on my floor. I like to imagine it's like running my floor through an autoclave. And that makes me feel much better with Charlotte crawling all over it. It's as fast to mop now as sweep, maybe even faster with very little equipment to mess with. So now I can mop once a week instead of once a month. The floor dries immediately. No more tip-toeing over the wet floors for a 1/2 hour after the chore. I freakin' love it.

Minor downsides are that the mop will not pick up debris or hair, so you really do have to sweep ahead of time. Also, it doesn't rotate or fit under low shelving, so for a perfectly clean floor, once in a while I'll have to get down on my knees with a we rag. I re-iterate, these are minor downsides.

2010-01-19T22:15:00.002-05:00

This week I'm in a hurry. Morning and night. Pack the baby bag. Pick up the dry cleaning. Call the vet. Call the doctor. Call daycare. Go to Junior League. Organize event for Junior League. Pay the bills. Balance the budget. Freak about how unbalanced the budget is. Clean out the left overs. Fold the laundry. Buy a greeting card. Get to the gym. Fix my Ebay mistake. Oh yeah, and work.
Nothing special - but this week I can't stop the to-do list from spinning through my mind like a roulette wheel. I know so many of you out there feel the same way. How do you unwind? I usually would say I knit, but doesn't seem I make the time for it. Really what I need is a good dose of perspective, so here it goes. I am lucky to have these responsibilities, it means I have a job, money to pay the bills, clothes to keep me warm, food to nourish me, a wonderful daughter and loving dog. It's not so bad after all, is it.
Alright, now I can go to bed with a quiet mind.

Happy Birthday!

2010-01-10T10:55:00.006-05:00

Today my baby girl turns one, and I thank the Lord for that. This day is a day of gratitude and reflection for me, not only to God, but to so many. I'm grateful for Brian for being a great father to Charlotte and for helping me bring her into this world. I'm grateful to her grandparents for supporting us in her care. And I thank Charlotte for being patient with us as we fumbled through our first-time parenting.
After one year I thought things would be a little different. I didn't realize I would still stop in her room at least once a night to check if she was breathing. I always thought I would be the coordinated easy going mom who takes everything in stride - instead I find myself still constantly worrying about working around Charlotte's so-called schedule. I imagined myself making all of these homemade organic baby foods, but instead we battle through meals until I settle for her eating a few Cheerios and banana bread.
But, I also could've never imagined how great things are. I didn't realize how much I could love just simply being together, like I'm falling in love all over again every day. It is awesome how we can just dance to music, spin in a chair or roll around on the floor and laugh hysterically. And not like she does anything unique to other babies, but when I first see her hands form the itsy-bitsy spider or rock her baby doll, I just can't believe how fast her little brain is learning. And she gives the best hugs in the whole world.
She's my precious baby girl, who's no longer a baby. Happy Birthday Charlotte.

One Year Old! *almost

2010-01-09T11:16:00.008-05:00

We started at ended the year with two very similar portrait sessions - Charlotte crying through most of it! But you'd never know by looking at these pictures. They turned out pretty well for as much coaxing and cheering that we had to do. And I don't know who ever came up with the concept of a "smash cake" for a 1 year old. This baby wanted nothing to do with it. I had to smear the cake on her hands and face. The only time she was interested in touching the cake was to dig out the Cheerios I hid in the frosting.
Please excuse all of the vignettes on these photos - I couldn't figure out how to turn the photos from the PortraitCD I got to take home (from Sears). Here's a sampling of some of the right-side-up pics.

She loved cocking her head to the side - her bashful look. And Linda- I had to think about you - I know how much you "love" the food on the face look.

Again with the cocked head - I can picture her senior portraits already.

My favorite - the Gerber Baby. Who needs hair?

I know it's sideways, but I still needed to share her diva meltdown.

2010-01-06T20:26:00.002-05:00

A few of my favorite pictures as of lately:

New Year's Eve dinner at Johnny Carino's. I love this new sweater that her Aunt Chris bought her - reminds me of the Gap Christmas commercial. And now it's stuck in your head.

This morning - she was supposed to be eating breakfast. Instead she was playing peekaboo with her bib.

2010-01-06T20:07:00.003-05:00

I have hesitated to post about our final bathroom remodel for a while because I am too nervous about criticisms. We spent a lot of hard earned money on this project and we're quite pleased...so here goes nothing.

We love our new dark wood vanity. We searched high and low for a vanity that was small enough to still allow an average size adult to make the pass through from the office door to the kitchen gracefully. Brian was nice enough to install an extra shelf inside to hold all of my crud. The sink top is a white ceramic and it came with a fun modern faucet. We purchased the medicine cabinet separately, but the woods, luckily, matched. I love this medicine cabinet as opposed to the traditional plain mirror because it seems very disguised.
Also, you can glimpse the tile here. We ordered white pinwheels with a blank area in the middle so that we could drop the grey color instead of the traditional black. Our contractor hated us for this detail, but Brian and I wouldn't agree on anything else.

The tub surround mimics my friend, Linda's, bathroom - subway tile with a dark grout. Our contractor came up with the idea of filling the storage closet with tile too. Too bad he also remembered to charge us for the extra labor. We also ordered custom glass doors for the closet and laundry chute to replace the prior wooden doors. Of course, we had to have one of those new shower curtain rods that curves outwards to help expand our small space.

Last, we picked up a great shelf for towels at the Restoration Hardware Outlet in Birch Run. We still have to install the towel rack below. The toilet was the only thing we saved from the old bathroom. One more great improvement not pictured is our fan-light combo. Since we stripped the bathroom down to the studs, we were able to install ducting for a fan. What a big difference that makes.

Now all we have left to do is a new curtain and save money for new doors. The jury is still out as to whether I am going to repaint (at least the door) trim chocolate brown. I really do like our orange paint, but I think I would appreciate it more if there wasn't such a stark difference between that and the white.

Stay-cation

2010-01-03T22:11:00.003-05:00

I'm just finishing up the kind of vacation that every working mom dreams of, the kind where you stay home and complete everything on your to-do list and a few extras. We (finally) baby proofed the house. I'm already thoroughly annoyed by the locks on the cabinets. And don't get me started on the gate at the stairway. Maggie (the dog) can no longer move about the house freely, so she'll stand at the gate and whine if we forget to bring her up with us at night. But, my baby will no longer risk falling down the stairway "keester over teacup." We even went as far as bolting the bookshelf to the wall. Beyond that, we've weatherproofed doors, shredded old documents, hung portraits, touched up wall paint, set up a new work out area, frozen meals for Charlotte...the list goes on and on.
So here is to starting 2010 in an organized fashion. I can't think of a better way to get a good night's sleep than that.

2009-12-30T21:07:00.005-05:00

Sunday morning we were greeted by loads of our wonderful lake effect snow. It was fresh and beautiful, so we bundled up in snow pants and took our Charlotte's new sleigh (gift from Grandma B). Maggie used up some of her energy leaping through the snow drifts, which really made Charlotte laugh.

We found a small hill in a playground and pushed Charlotte down. She didn't go much more than a foot at a time, but still seemed to get a kick out of it.

What a fun daddy

Of course, we had to take advantage of this virgin snow with some good old fashioned snow angels.

Eskimo kisses

After about 30 minutes of all of that, Charlotte was ready to move on to warmer things. I had a lot of fun and look forward to some real sledding at VanRaalte park when she gets older.

A new year and new beginnings

2009-12-30T20:27:00.012-05:00

In honor of the new year and my new netbook, I am going to give some energy back to blogging. I sit here typing as I listen to Brian disassemble the Christmas tree (I was helping up until he got to the lights, don't think I'm lazy). It makes me sad to take the tree down already as it really is just the start of the Christmas season in the liturgical sense. But leaving the tree up also stresses me with one more thing on the "to-do" list. Plus, I don't want to miss our chance for the curb-side tree pick up...a city living perk.
Christmas this year was joyful in so many different ways. It was so much fun to watch the focus shift to the grandchildren. Even if Charlotte had no clue what was going on other than a lot of noise and food, I like to think she was having the time of her life.
Here are a few of my favorite moments that I actually had the chance to photograph...there are a lot of them, but you've been "deprived" of my blog for a while so perhaps you won't mind.

We foolishly thought we could get Matthew and Charlotte to pose in their Christmas best.

I'm stunning in my stocking cap

She's ready for her old fashioned sleigh ride. Thanks Grammee!

Thanks for letting me ride your four wheeler Matthew!

Maggie was eyeing the pecan pie all day.

I've got this present thing down now.

Amos and Charlotte couldn't have been happier to be in the same p.j.s

Four generations of wonderful women

Grandma K - a wild woman!

Well, we forgot to get a family photo on Christmas day, but I'm still happy with this one. Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope you enjoyed your holiday as much as I did.

Hiatus

2009-10-28T19:59:00.002-04:00

I have decided to take a small break from blogging. I hope to be back in 2010. For now, I need to take one thing off of my "to do" list. I am sure many of you know how that feels.

Post Family Farm

2009-10-11T20:48:00.007-04:00

We have been so busy lately that I can't think straight most of the time, but we are having so much fun. Some day I'll post a few pictures from Carrie's baby shower, but for now, here are a few of my favorite pictures from our trip to the pumpkin farm yesterday. Holland Junior Welfare League families joined together at Post Family Farm for a hayride. We had fun weaving through the corn maze and picking our pumpkin out of the hundreds in the field.

Of course, we all know who my favorite pumpkin-head is. And yes, I knit the hat :)

How big is Charlotte?

Teaching her where Mommy's yarn comes from.

Now, I must go so I can eat a caramel apple!

That's my boy!

2009-10-05T21:22:00.001-04:00

Jacqueline actually showed me the link to this - she's a proud SIL.

2009-09-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

As of Wednesday, Charlotte has figured out how to truly crawl. Her dad and I are her biggest cheerleaders. I don't think she understands what we're so excited about.

Art Prize

2009-09-27T17:08:00.011-04:00

For those who live under a rock, perhaps you haven't heard about the $250,000 Art Prize in Grand Rapids, 9/23 - 10/10. I wanted to tour the various art works, but wasn't quite sure when I'd make it down town. Brian talked me into heading out there with him today since he needed to do some PR work. We raced out of the house by 9:30 to get there (and yes, when you have a baby, 9:30 is racing). I barely ate breakfast, which later came to be a colossal mistake.

While Brian worked, Charlotte and I strolled about town. We found this maze of recyclable plastics.

Aah, just like home. A beautiful portrait of a windmill made out of black dots.

We hung around waiting for this guy to jump off of his 75' foot easel, but apparently he "wasn't granted permission by the city." Also known as, "I chickened out."

Apparently the Lochness Monster wanted to check out the art too.

Charlotte and I held our very own tea party on this massive table and chairs.

Charlotte got to hang with Kaomi Getz, formerly of Michigan Radio. She thought Charlotte should be a model, but maybe she changed her mind after she saw her in this photo.

Then we waited amidst the crowds for the release of the 100,000 paper airplanes from 5 rooftops (done by the same artist who orchestrated the Pillow Fight and Zombie Walk). It was as though we were all watching a space ship land. The crowd was at a standstill. The airplane release was choreographed with an orchestra playing some Scandinavian song, apparently one of the artist's favorites. The planes were tossed out in clumps from large sheets. It was a nice effect, but many just fell quickly to the ground. If he could've figured out a way to slowly sprinkle them to the streets, I would've enjoyed it much more.

Once the demonstration ended, it was so difficult to get out of the pack. Then we failed over and over trying to find somewhere to eat. Anyone who knows me well enough knows I can get awfully irritable if I don't get to eat on schedule. Finally we just ended up getting in the car and trying to get out of dodge so that we could find food with less than a 30 minute wait. Amidst all of the shuffle, Charlotte lost one of her shoes. And I'm quite sure she didn't kick it off in a fit of joy.

All in all, I enjoyed the day, exhausting as it was. Lesson learned: If Brian ever tries to take me on a last minute day trip, pack a lot of snacks. He doesn't plan for such trivial things as eating.

2009-09-22T20:49:00.002-04:00

I don't want to make all the other mother's out there feel bad, but I just have to show you this evidence that Charlotte is already reading at 8 months old! Yes, see she can't talk yet so she wouldn't tell me what the paper said, but it seemed quite obvious that she comprehends the text. ;)

But seriously, Charlotte has learned some new tricks over the past few weeks. She's taken to moving all over her crib at night. Now I awaken to her cry at night because she's dorked herself into some position that she can't get out of. She usually has her legs stuck in the crib bars or lying on her stomach. My favorite was when I walked in to find her seated in the corner of the crib, crying, but still pretty much asleep. As if she was saying "Help mom, I have no idea how to sleep sitting up!" We need to drop the mattress down a notch before she learns how to pull up.

I am trying my best to catch a video of her dancing. She has the cutest wiggle/head bop that she'll do for just about anything, the radio, her toys, or an off pitch song that I sing. Too funny.

Our friend Linda

2009-09-20T20:55:00.003-04:00

Many of you know how much I adore Linda. I would go as far as saying I idolize her because she does everything that is cool in crafting, and on top of that, is just generally awesome to be around!
I miss working with her, but we try to make time to see each other throughout the year. So, when she invited Charlotte and I up to her cottage in Traverse City, I did all I could to rearrange my work schedule so we could go. We were there just over 24 hours, so time just flew by. My favorite parts of the trip were sitting, drinking tea and knitting while watching the bay Friday afternoon, enjoying cheese and wine at the mercardo, and watching Charlotte bond with Linda. Some day I am sure Charlotte will love her as much as I do.

View from the deck

I love applesauce

2009-09-20T20:01:00.003-04:00

Today was the perfect day to pick apples. After we finished our "chores" for the day, we headed to Crane's orchard in Fennville and picked 54 pounds of apples, including Gala, Honeycrisp and a new version of Golden Supreme called Blondey. The Blondeys were pretty well picked over, so I had to sit on Brian's shoulders to get to the top limbs. (I knew my middle school cheerleading experience would come in handy some day.) I've already peeled most of the Gala and have them softening on the stove top right now for applesauce.

Tricks

2009-09-15T06:17:00.002-04:00

Charlotte is officially 8 months old. She is starting to wave, dance, and loves a good game of Peekaboo. As far as that crawling thing, she is taking it nice and slow. She's cautious like her mom.

5 Years

2009-09-13T20:50:00.009-04:00

Brian and I decided to celebrate our 5 year anniversary by revisiting our favorite city, Kalamazoo. It's the city where we met each other, met our best friends, and eventually got married.

We started the night at the Chef's Table at Zazio's. We did this about 4 years ago and still remember the food so fondly that we just had to return. The night includes a 5 course Italian meal with wine pairings prepared right in front of you by chef John Koryki. He gives a nice lesson on travel in Italy as he prepares a meal focused on one region of the country. We went to Liguria for the night.

Our first course was focaccia with eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, and fresh vegetables. Next (my favorite) was halibut over summer squash "spaghetti" with basil oil. Then a potato filled ravioli with fresh pesto. Fourth - chicken with basil, fingerling potatoes, and an almond/pine nut sauce. Dessert was stuffed peach with amaretti and raisins, pistachio semifreddo and basil crema bruciata (like creme brulee). I will dream about this meal for years to come. I can't wait to go back - any friends want to go with us next time?!

The funniest (and most annoying) part of the evening was that there was another couple there celebrating their 49th anniversary. The wife had a few too many cocktails and had turned into a chatty cathy. She wouldn't stop pronouncing every thought to the chef. By the end of the 4th course she had disappeared to the restroom - good riddance.

We stayed the night in a beautiful suite at the Radisson - that way we could each enjoy our wine freely. Mom Burch took Charlotte for the night, so we were free to enjoy ourselves. The next morning we got up early to eat breakfast at Cosmo's. I had a fritatta with farm fresh veggies. So good! Anyone who went to WMU knows and loves their breakfast. We drove around campus, the ghetto, and down Fraternity Village Drive. Ah the memories. Our old house on Minor still looks great! (I know it's only been 5 years, but some of the houses around it really seem to be decaying.)

We ended our visit with mass at St. Tom's. Although the building has changed so much, there are still so many familiar faces. We loved the new structure. We couldn't resist taking a picture in front of the beautiful dove window.

2009-09-02T21:02:00.002-04:00

Too bad I'll be out of town. This sounds fun.

I can't be stopped

2009-09-02T20:17:00.004-04:00

Carter's had their warehouse sale last weekend, so I stocked up on 12-18 month clothes for next spring/summer. Best part of the whole deal was that the young lady at the register slid me an extra 20% off the whole lot. Brian had to roll his eyes when he saw how much I bought, but I just love playing dress up with Charlotte. So much better than a Barbie doll!

Also - I have about four coupons for $10 off $35 purchase, good this month - if anyone wants one I am happy to mail it to you.

Daddy gives the best baths!

2009-09-02T20:15:00.004-04:00

Charlotte loves baths, but even more when Daddy gives them because he always thinks of new games. Today the "nose sucker" became a squirt gun. (I've also caught him making nipples into squirt guns while doing dishes...such a boy."

I don't know why this video is so choppy, so I apologize for that. I also just noticed how large Brian's nostril is! My goodness.

2009-08-28T20:52:00.003-04:00

I just learned that Michael Buble has a new album coming out this October, "Crazy Love". His new single, "I Just Haven't Met You Yet" will be released this coming Monday. Can't wait! And I especially can't wait for this new album to bring him on tour again. He's just so dreamy. You're right Michael, you just haven't met me yet...except in my dreams. haha

The latest developments...

2009-08-26T20:25:00.004-04:00

Despite Charlotte's illness, she is still a happy baby. She has recently focused all of her energy on crawling. I seriously thought she would never crawl because when put in her tummy position, she tends to straighten her arms behind her and flail about like a fish. However, since sitting, she's discovered a new way to "assume the position." In this video she shows you the hardest part of crawling. One must remember to move their hands along so they don't face plant. Good thing the nose is mostly cartilage.

She loves her Johnny Jump Up too. She plunks out some tunes on her piano and dances along to the beat. Monday Brian came home to me and Charlotte jumping and dancing to Rihanna on the radio. Charlotte is kind and doesn't make fun of the way I dance.

Find your own chillin' spot

2009-08-20T20:16:00.002-04:00

If you have a library card in Michigan, you should take advantage of a special treat. Select libraries will offer you the opportunity to "check out" a one day pass to a Michigan State Park. Certain parks will also give you a hammock for the day. So, go ahead, take Twilight or The Time Traveler's Wife and kick back in the hammock while you revel in the $6 you saved. You deserve it.

hattip Frank

Really?

2009-08-19T10:14:00.002-04:00

I was counseling a patient on a low cholesterol diet yesterday. He was convinced he was doing everything right. I told him, "You need to limit red meat." He said "Oh, I never eat red meat. I like it well done."

Am I imagining it?

2009-08-13T21:59:00.003-04:00

I believe Charlotte may have babbled her first real word today. She turned 7 months yesterday, so I'm expecting big things from her now.
Is this really "dada" or is at "bla bla?" She has been a fan of the "b" sound lately, but I think I see the tip of the tongue touching the roof of her mouth. Kyle, perhaps you could consult Montelle for her expert opinion?

And does anyone have any idea what "executive sweet" is supposed to mean?

You knew him when...

2009-08-08T21:27:00.003-04:00

Brian might end up getting more than 15 minutes of fame. My charismatic husband charmed his way through an audition for a pilot episode of a movie review show with a Christian theme. One of his clients suggested that he audition, so we snapped a head shot in our back yard and he hunted down some of his old movie reviews from college. He felt uneasy after the first audition, but was thrilled to get called back with 10 others out of a group of 120. Within just a couple hours of the callback audition, he received word that he had the part. Go Brian! His co-host is Rachel Ruiz. We are nervous about how this new job could conflict with his primary employment if the pilot is taken up by any cable networks, but for now we're just taking it one step at a time.

Tiny Tadpole

2009-08-08T21:22:00.005-04:00

As an employee of Holland hospital, I was given a free week trial membership at MVP fitness club. We saved the membership for a nice warm weekend so we could enjoy the outdoor pool. Today was the perfect day to visit. The intermittent rain showers seemed to scare away the rest of town, because we had the place to ourselves. Charlotte loved to kick dolphin style and play peek-a-boo with Daddy as he ducked underwater. I can't wait to go back....but maybe one of these days I should actually go to exercise.

Don't worry - she didn't choke - just a little chlorine to rinse out her sinuses :)

2009-08-08T21:18:00.003-04:00

Dinner with Charlotte is really more of a game than a fine dining experience. I'm nervous to take her with us for dinner at Tabor Hill on Wednesday. We'll be meeting my sister's new boyfriend. She is currently in to painting herself and her chair with her food.

At least she's not throwing it.

2009-08-01T17:59:00.011-04:00

We took Charlotte's 6 month pictures today at Sears Portrait Studio. We have a stand alone Sears appliance center here in town. It was quite odd to walk past the t.v.'s and lawn mowers and into the portrait studio, but once there, we found it quite pleasant. Our photographer, Carmen, was great with Charlotte and patient with all of my demands. We had a lot of ideas that she really took time to incorporate. It wasn't at all like the wham, bam, thank you 'mam we got at JCPenney. And, just in case we weren't impressed enough by her, she tried to single handedly stop a burglar from making off with a Bravia t.v. We were looking over the order and she casually stated "Excuse me for a moment." She came back minutes later shaking, hyperventilating and crying. She noticed a suspicious man walking out with a t.v. When she tried to stop him, he almost ran over her with his mini van. Yikes!
We're very pleased with the pictures and were even more pleased that with our package, we received all of the photos on cd. Now we can get extra prints made at any commercial developer. Who wants a 5x7??

Here are a few of our favorites.

This one reminds me of the 1920s with her cloche hat.

My personal favorite, inspired by a photo of Martha and Alexis we saw at Martha Stewart's studio in April. I copied it right down to the pearl earrings.

2009-07-30T20:41:00.002-04:00

I asked Charlotte today to comment on her feelings about the current state of the economy in Michigan. This is what she told me.

Or maybe it was just her opinion about carrots for dinner.

2009-07-24T19:50:00.005-04:00

Charlotte has been challenging me this week, but not to say I adore her any less. She seems to come home from daycare so very tired, but also hungry...a bad mix. Then to top it off, she came down with a new cold this week. So now we have a tired, hungry, booger-nosed baby. Fantastic. Oh, and don't forgot I weaned her last week. Who could forget that?
Despite this perfect storm of unhappiness, I have survived the week and now we are packing for a weekend in Detroit. We will be attending Kim and Gary's son's baptism and meet up with Brian's brothers and wives as well. We are looking forward to a fun-filled weekend.

Some of my favorite pics as of lately.

Charlotte at her first "rock" concert at FMG.

I can do it all by myself!

Two Nappy Pappys

Milk Shake

2009-07-21T19:34:00.002-04:00

This isn't new, but it's new to me and it's been making me laugh all afternoon.

2009-07-19T19:46:00.002-04:00

Charlotte has grown so much in 6 months and has a few tricks she'd like to show you.

She is getting ever so good at sitting up on her own. However, I can't leave her side for long as she has been known to take a face plant every few minutes. That wipes the smile right off of her face.

Who needs a thumb? I've got my big toes.

She's now eating carrots, sweet potatoes and peas...although peas tend to make her gag. She is making several consonant sounds, b, g, m and y. No "mama" or "dada" yet. She is also making a good effort to hold her own bottle. Such an independent lady! Now if she would only change her own diaper.

2009-07-18T08:46:00.006-04:00

After the horrendous thunder storms we had in June, Brian and I made the decision to cut down our large 1/2 dead maple tree.

Brian has wanted to do this for a couple of years, but I always fought it since it is our one source of shade and I see this major expense as doing nothing to bring up the resale value of our house. "Charlotte will get a sunburn!" I said. "Let it fall on our house, then we can get a new kitchen!" But then I heard a story of a friend of a friend who's tree fell on her house, spearing her husband's side of the bed. The next week, we got some estimates.
The tree removal company underestimated the work ahead of them. They expected to spend 4 hours at our house, but spent a solid 11 and didn't even get to the stump removal in that time. Here is the slideshow of pictures from the day. Since then, the stump has been ground up (along with the power line to our garage :( ), so we have a lot of clean up work ahead of us. The tree ordeal was the excitement about the block that day. We should've charged the neighbors for babysitting services, because all the children did was sit at the windows and stare at the spidermen crawling through our tree limbs with chainsaws. Goodbye ole' tree. I won't miss you come this fall!

Back on the grid

2009-07-12T19:17:00.009-04:00

We just got back from a really nice 4 days in Traverse City. My family was camping at Leelanau Pines in Cedar, MI. With Charlotte's addition to the family this year, we knew it would be difficult to do our traditional tent camping for the summer, so we let my parents do the hard work of setting up camp and stayed with them for a few days. The National Cherry Festival was in T.C. for the past week, so we took advantage of several festival activities. Brian ran the 5K race with Meagan and my parents (Meagan beat him - but don't tell him I told you so). We visited many a winery and came home with almost 1 1/2 cases. My absolute favorite wine was the ice wine at Brys Estate on Mission Peninsula. The wine tasting comes with a small slice of cheese cake. Together, they are breathtakingly delicious - the wine becomes like a caramel syrup after tasting the cream cheese. I will remember that taste for a long time. Alas, it will only be a memory because the ice wine goes for $70 per bottle!

Charlotte did just fine with camping, albeit "fake" camping since we were in a travel trailer. She did manage to wake up a few times each night, but she was always easy to quiet. I can't wait to take her on more trips as she grows older and more interested.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the weekend.

"Double fisted"

America's High Five

Outside Old Peninsula Cellars

Our little sailor in "Fishtown"

She was dressed in cherries from head to toe - and snuggled in her Aunt Meagan's arms

The whole crew

And lastly - I have to say happy 6 month 1/2 birthday to my little Charlotte. Look at her - she is getting "SO BIG!"

2009-07-08T15:41:00.004-04:00

Today was one of those simply nice days. Charlotte and I enjoyed the morning together and then did our grocery shopping. She slept nicely through the store, and when she did awaken, she just smiled and kicked her feet out for me to kiss. Elderly shoppers stopped in the aisles to give her a "hello" and smile. We came home for lunch. More carrots ended up on the bib then in her mouth. Then we took Maggie out for her long Wednesday walk. The sun was out and the temperature was ever so comfortable. We stopped at a nearby diner so I could pick up an iced hazelnut latte. Two little boys entertained Maggie while she was tied to the dog post outside. A man stopped on his walk to ask us if we were going hunting. (Oldest beagle joke in the book.) Now Charlotte is taking her last afternoon nap in her crib, Maggie is barking in her sleep on the couch, and I am catching up on some odds and ends. I thank God for how lucky I am to get to have days like these.

I never got around to posting any pictures from the holiday, but here is my absolute favorite picture. Aunt Julie took this one.

2009-07-01T15:16:00.002-04:00

I am in love with this commercial. Brian hates my cyborg impression.

I think I can see the resemblance

2009-07-01T15:08:00.004-04:00

and apparently I didn't have hair either!

2009-06-27T18:24:00.002-04:00

Pulled an insect out of a patient's ear this morning. That's not even what she came in for. It might have been in there since last fall. I think it was a sandfly. Gave me the heebies and the jeebies.

Weekend in review

2009-06-22T21:42:00.007-04:00

As many know, our basement was flooded in the crazy storms this weekend. Brian's weak attempt at playing weather man gives an accurate summary:

As we prepared for sleep at midnight, we heard a car driving through the lake typically known as our street. My heart sank when I looked out the window, knowing that our basement must be in trouble. It sort of made it funny that I had scolded Brian for not mopping up a small puddle he had found in the basement earlier that evening. All four rooms of our daylight basement were covered in about 2" of water at that time. The water had backed up through our grey water drainage in the floor, and did the same to all of our neighbors. We waded through and picked everything up and out of the water of value (mattresses, children's toys, dresser, tools, camping equipment, chest freezer, etc.) By the grace of God, we weren't electrocuted. Overnight, the water level increased to about 4". Saturday AM, in true day after Thanksgiving style, Brian busted down the door to Menard's and bought the last of the shop vacs with a water pump. We spent the day sucking up water, moving all of our stuff out to the garage, and drying out boxes and carpet. It was no fun, but now we've redesigned our set-up to make our next flood much easier to clean up.

These pics don't really do it justice - just looks like a mess!

I was too cheap to throw out all of our moving boxes - so they got to sunbathe until they dried out.

We really were quite lucky compared to other horror stories I heard - tree limbs crashing through ceilings and spearing a bed, 5' of water in the basement, and sewage backing up in a basement and ruining wedding photos. I'm counting my blessings, and planning on getting an estimate to cut our dying tree down before it not only damages our house, but hurts one of us.

Sunday we enjoyed Brian's first Father's Day up at the cottage. Charlotte got to swim in Whitefish Lake and play in her own personal pool. Quite a spoiled baby!

Charlotte and Grandpa

She's almost sitting up!

2009-06-19T21:45:00.001-04:00

We're not making much progress on "ma ma." If only my name was "Aah."

Ask and ye shall receive

2009-06-18T19:52:00.008-04:00

My SIL, Jacqueline, asked where is her weekly dose of Charlotte photos. Yes, I am a bit of a slacker on my blog lately. Perhaps because, as many have, I have become addicted to Facebook. I hope it's just a phase.

Last weekend we finally made it out to Lisle, IL to check out Carrie and Matt's house (which they moved in last September). Better late than never. They have a great thing going for them in Lisle. Their house is elegant, roomy, and didn't require any fixing up. I'm so jealous! And - most importantly - plenty of room for a family :)

While there, we visited the Morton Arboretum. Even if it was raining/misting, we just sucked it up and sat on towels to enjoy our little picnic. By the time we left, the sun was shining, giving us more time to check out their maze and children's garden.

Charlotte loves the new Pepsi Throwback. Mmm, real sugar.

I'm so big!

Last visit to Camp KickAss. "I want to go to there."

The Nursed-Baby Diet

2009-06-11T20:58:00.003-04:00

Many would think that the reason why a woman can lose weight so easily while nursing is due to the extra calorie expenditure. Over the last 5 months, I've realized that there is so much more to the algorithm.

* When the baby ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Which means all of her meals are a priority over mine and I'm on call 24/7.

* When the baby is content by herself, I feel I must use that valued time for such items as showering, paying bills, laundry, sweeping, watering the vegetable garden, facebook, organizing coupons....you get the idea. It seems that everything else is so much more important than feeding myself.

* Grocery shopping trips must be short and sweet so that I don't come face to face with a hungry baby and am still in the dairy aisle. (One might realize the humor in that, but I would beg to differ.) So, faster shopping means I skipped the cookie aisle.

* Meals are small and simple since meal prep is an afterthought. So, no three course meals or dessert to fatten up on. In fact, I would go for PB&J sandwiches most nights if this didn't disappoint my husband.

* And once the day is through, baby is nursed for that last "top off" of the night, and off to dreamland, there is no energy left to fix a late night snack. Forget having your husband wait on you when you're pregnant, this is when you need it most!

Of course - weight loss doesn't equal muscle tone. But I'll take it one baby step at a time :)

Writer's Block

2009-06-09T20:29:00.006-04:00

I haven't felt creative for blogging lately and have been a bit absorbed in Facebook (now that I've finally given into the peer pressure). So what do mommies do when they have writer's block? Why, write about their kids of course!

Charlotte is almost 5 months now. It took her about 4 weeks, but she has finally grasped the concept of eating cereal. Now that she understands how good her belly feels with cereal, she loves to finish the whole bowl. And I love it because she now (sometimes) goes to bed for Daddy and doesn't want that last bedtime snack. I know I'll miss those last little cuddles someday, but for now I'm grateful for a little time to myself.

She continue to grow more playful and talkative. She is learning to hold objects, trade them hand to hand, suck on her thumb (and toes!). She will look to you when you call to her and is always willing to give a smile.

Here is one of her new garage sale finds - very cool toy.

As you can see, she is our constant source of entertainment. Can anyone place Brian's quote?

Tis' the season

2009-06-06T08:47:00.002-04:00

Forget the Christmas bargains, the time to get great deals is summer garage sales! Unfortunately I am working this morning, and this is the day that the upper class neighborhoods are selling their "junk" (my treasures). But we did sneak into a "preview" sale last night and found many toys for Charlotte.
At one stop we managed to get 5 great light up/noise making/balls through tubes toys and a foam bumper for the coffee table for a grand price of $5. Even if Charlotte is still entertained by her current toys, I'm bored by them, so I'm glad to have more stuff to play with. A friend of mine is a garage sale guru/addict and taught me toys and baby clothes are the best deal at sales. I hesitate to buy too many clothes right now as it is already hard to rotate her through all of the outfits she currently owns. But I'm willing to shop for my friends if they give me the thumbs-up on used clothing.

Happy Birthday Maggie!

2009-06-04T20:11:00.005-04:00

Maggie turns 2 today. Supposedly she is still supposed to be a naughty and hyper puppy at this age, demonstrating her teenage rebellion. Quite the contrary. Maggie is a calm and dear puppy. She has been an angel since Charlotte came home. She has been more subdued, sleeps a lot, but is always eager for a walk. I would love to say she doesn't destroy things anymore, but to prove me wrong, she ate my sunglasses yesterday. (In her defense, I did leave them on the floor.) I still see the puppy in her once in a while, like after her bath when she runs laps around the house at top speed (baths are like crack to her) or when she spots a squirrel. And she hasn't met a pile of cat poop that she wouldn't like to roll in. But her good qualities overshadow her bad any day. Isn't that how everyone feels about their "children?"
Someday I would like to bring home another puppy playmate for Maggie, but we're going to need a fenced in backyard before I do that. For now she's my one and only furry friend. Happy Birthday pups.

(Maggie when we first got her - I'll never stop loving those floppy ears.)

Inside Joke

2009-06-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

San Diego

2009-05-31T20:20:00.007-04:00

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the week. I wasn't around for most of the photo opportunities, but I still found a few that make me smile.

Charlotte was the first to try out our king size bed - she said it was heavenly.

She and Daddy went to the Cubs-Padres game. She was mad that the Cubbies were losing.

San Diego Zoo was a must-see. We got up close and personal with the pandas...and elephants...and giraffes...and polar bears.

Although the weather was chill, the pool was heated. Charlotte is quite a little tadpole.

Weekend chores

2009-05-31T08:54:00.003-04:00

We're glad to be back in the comfort of our home and enjoying this beautiful weather, which oddly, is warmer than it was in California! Meagan is in town this week for a wedding and finally got to meet Charlotte. Charlotte seems to like her and probably wonders who this strange lady is who looks so much like her mommy. I just realized I didn't get any pics of the two of them, which upsets me. I'll have to try harder next time...when we get a next time.

I am trying to get my garden in order. We tore out a bunch of irises yesterday because flowering weeds had invaded all of the free space creating a jungle in the garden. Now I'm trying to think of something large to plant in the big void. I already have daisies. I'm contemplating some daylilies, although they aren't my favorite since the flowers decay so quickly. Anyone have a suggestion for a favorite perennial?

Otherwise, I'm working in urgent care this morning. I'm crossing my fingers for an easy day so I can get out of here and back to work in the yard.

It's a good thing...

2009-05-27T16:57:00.002-04:00

That breast milk is so good for babies because it is the only thing keeping me from tearing out my hair as I sit in a public restroom stall and pump numerous times this week. Forget labor, this takes away your dignity

2009-05-26T08:37:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day. I am learning so much at the conference. I went to a 4 1/2 hour training session on joint sessions - I'm ready to go back and stick some needles in some knees and shoulders!! Anyone want to be my first subject?

Brian and Charlotte are staying busy. He took her to the Cubs game Sunday. She wasn't such a fan of all that noise during her naptime. Yesterday they went exploring in Old Town and took a tour at the aircraft carrier. Then we all went swimming in the pool together when they returned. She is hilarious in the water - she kicks like a little baby frog. I wasn't brave enough to let her go under for fear of her inhaling all of that nasty chlorinated water.

Well - back to the conference for more!

Day 1

2009-05-23T22:15:00.004-04:00

We're safe and sound on San Diego, just feeling a little jet-lagged. Charlotte was an angel on all 3 flights- slept and played. No poop or tears! Brian is taking her to the Cubs game tomorrow while I practice joint injections. Yeah for both of us!

Time's UP

2009-05-22T22:03:00.002-04:00

Our May budget contest comes to an end as Brian and I prepare our bags for our San Diego trip. Hopefully some of you played along in spirit. I think we did well, although I know we could have done better. It's hard to really stick to your guns when you know you have some wiggle room.

Here is our tally:
Restaurant: $66
Entertainment: $72 (not quite sure what we spent that on!)
Groceries: $231
Angie allowance (aka blow fund): $100
Brian allowance: $100
Hair Salon: $37 (for Brian)
House: $100 (gardening supplies and layaway payments on patio furniture)
Misc: $45
TOTAL: $751

Of course I'm not counting utilities/bills or fuel, just the things that we have more control over. I'm proud of us - this is about half what we spent last month on the same items. So Mom, how do we measure up?

My civic duty

2009-05-21T12:41:00.002-04:00

When I returned to work after 8 weeks maternity leave, I received a notice that I had been drawn for jury duty selection. What this meant is that I had to reserve two mornings, one month apart, to go in and be processed for possible jury duty. They try to make it as inconvenient as possible by telling you to call the night before to see if you still have to report the next morning. So, I have to go to the trouble of blocking my patient schedule, which is not only problematic for the patients, but loses money for my office. But then I call, and they tell me I don't have to report. Last night, however, they made it even worse by telling me that I didn't need to report in the morning, but I should call at 10:30 am to see if I should report in the afternoon. Huh? What? That was never part of the bargain! And WTF - why can't you just tell me now if I have to be there in the afternoon? Why don't you know?!
Thankfully, they didn't need me (for the third time), so I'm at work and preparing for my afternoon of patients. I entirely agree that I have a civic duty to serve on a jury if need be, but why can't they get a better system?

Bubbles!

2009-05-20T17:22:00.001-04:00

I'm 4 months old now, and although I'm not so great at eating from a spoon, I rock at making bubbles!

2009-05-20T12:47:00.002-04:00

Brian has fallen in love with a nest of baby bunnies he found in our lawn while mowing. Luckily we have a reel mower, or a few baby bunnies would already be hamburger meat. He watches over them each night as mom shows up to nurse them. Then when mom runs away, he takes care to make sure they are placed delicately back in their nest. (Of course he wears gloves, so as not to give them human stink.)
I'm not that in to the bunnies. I suppose I have my own baby "bunny" I have to nurse and nest. Plus Maggie drives me completely bonkers as she barks and howls all hours of the evening trying to get out and harass/play with them. And then today as I planted my vegetable garden I realized what the biggest threat to those bunnies is...me, when they start chomping on my lettuce!

Charlotte's Baptism Photos

2009-05-19T10:04:00.002-04:00

See all of Matt's great work here. Thank you so much Matt!!

2009-05-16T21:08:00.002-04:00

Dave and Mark are visiting this weekend. They are so much fun. Charlotte is thoroughly enjoying them. Best quotes of the weekend so far.

Mark: "So, have you ever gotten drunk, pumped your milk, drank the milk and got even more drunk?"

Dave: "Your P and V make a great B."

Aah, never a boring moment with these guys.

2009-05-14T22:44:00.001-04:00

I had a cup of coffee far too late this evening, but Grey's is almost over and I'm so glad I didn't miss it! So good!!!!