Annie's scooter. She enjoys getting rides from Mom around the garage.
Anne and Mikey by the fire pit. We were checking out the deck progress.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Post 5: Misc. Pictures
Sleepy pals, Mikey and Charlie.
Annie's scooter. She enjoys getting rides from Mom around the garage.
Annie's scooter. She enjoys getting rides from Mom around the garage.
Our Deck!
Sam and his friend Karl (a carpenter) built us a small deck off the back of our garage. We were fortunate enough to get 90% of the wood from friends of ours. They formerly had an above-ground pool with a custom deck; when their kids went off to college they got rid of the pool and told us to help ourselves to the lumber. Here's how the project progressed:
0.5. Sam digs holes for cement supports and cuts our phone line. Project delayed while we wait for it to be repaired...
1. Sam and Karl lay the supports. Sam said "Don't take a picture of me from behind" but he wouldn't stop and turn around! So this is what you get.
2. Decking down. Annie checked it out while I took the picture. The men made the box-step for the short side of the deck.
3. Making a level line to attach the spindles.
4. Sam and Karl celebrate the completed project! All told it took about 2 weeks to finish, but it looks great. We already had a party on it!
Here's the "Before" shot. The house looks dirty, but really that is where we tried to pressure-wash last summer. Instead of cleaning the dirt off, the paint just washed right away! Apparently the house had one coat of cheap-o white paint on it when we got it. No matter; it's all better now :) That pile of lumber magically turned itself into a deck!
0.5. Sam digs holes for cement supports and cuts our phone line. Project delayed while we wait for it to be repaired...
1. Sam and Karl lay the supports. Sam said "Don't take a picture of me from behind" but he wouldn't stop and turn around! So this is what you get.
2. Decking down. Annie checked it out while I took the picture. The men made the box-step for the short side of the deck.
3. Making a level line to attach the spindles.
4. Sam and Karl celebrate the completed project! All told it took about 2 weeks to finish, but it looks great. We already had a party on it!
Here's the "Before" shot. The house looks dirty, but really that is where we tried to pressure-wash last summer. Instead of cleaning the dirt off, the paint just washed right away! Apparently the house had one coat of cheap-o white paint on it when we got it. No matter; it's all better now :) That pile of lumber magically turned itself into a deck!
Post 3
Two cool things I've learned about rice cereal this week:
1. To get an older baby to eat rice cereal, you can mix the dry cereal with just a little bit of water to make a thick paste. Then roll the cereal/paste into little balls and offer them to baby as finger food. Annie has loved this so far. I always mix some cinnamon into her cereal to give it a little flavor and she pops them in her mouth. It helps to roll the balls in a bit of dry cereal to keep them from sticking together. A bit labor-intensive, I know, but it keeps her eating the cereal and getting enough iron in her diet.
2. Most babies love bananas. However, when it comes time for finger food, banana pieces are too slippery for babies to pick up. Enter rice cereal. Cut up the bananas into bite-size pieces and put them in a plastic sandwich bag. Pour in a bit of dry cereal, blow some air in the bag (a la Shake and Bake) and shake. The cereal coats the bananas, eliminating sticky/slipperiness and morphing the fruit into a baby-friendly snack. Delicious!
I know this isn't really about my child, but these are two things I've never read in any parenting book (of which I have read many). The website http://www.parenthacks.com is a great place to share ideas and tips with other parents. That's where I found these two gems, and I expect to find many more in the future.
1. To get an older baby to eat rice cereal, you can mix the dry cereal with just a little bit of water to make a thick paste. Then roll the cereal/paste into little balls and offer them to baby as finger food. Annie has loved this so far. I always mix some cinnamon into her cereal to give it a little flavor and she pops them in her mouth. It helps to roll the balls in a bit of dry cereal to keep them from sticking together. A bit labor-intensive, I know, but it keeps her eating the cereal and getting enough iron in her diet.
2. Most babies love bananas. However, when it comes time for finger food, banana pieces are too slippery for babies to pick up. Enter rice cereal. Cut up the bananas into bite-size pieces and put them in a plastic sandwich bag. Pour in a bit of dry cereal, blow some air in the bag (a la Shake and Bake) and shake. The cereal coats the bananas, eliminating sticky/slipperiness and morphing the fruit into a baby-friendly snack. Delicious!
I know this isn't really about my child, but these are two things I've never read in any parenting book (of which I have read many). The website http://www.parenthacks.com is a great place to share ideas and tips with other parents. That's where I found these two gems, and I expect to find many more in the future.
Post 1
We have a lot to catch up on around here, so this is the first of many posts to come in the next few days. Here's Anne coloring her first picture with markers.
Don't give markers to babies.
Trust me.
She did a nice job of coloring a notecard and composed a note for Uncle Will, who leaves for college tomorrow.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Bad Mommy!
So, I have 2 stories to tell about my poor parenting skills. Just take them as proof that no parent is perfect and that I am not trying to pretend otherwise.
First, I warmed some mac and cheese for Anne the other night. She was fussing in her chair and I wanted her to zip it, so I put her food down before it was cool enough. She picked up a cheesy shell and it burned her hand. She let out a howl I've never heard before! She kept her hand closed around it, and held it up at me as if to say "Mom, this is hot! Why did you give me this?!?" There were tears for both of us as I held a cold washcloth on her hand. She's fine; no damage done, except to our psyches.
Second, I had to take Anne to the emergency room because I thought she might have eaten a thumbtack-like object. I had a small container of special pins that are supposed to hold fabric on furniture. They have a large plastic head and then a corkscrew of metal that you twist into the couch to hold the slipcover on. I was using them while Anne was playing on the floor. I needed to leave the room for a moment, so I put the little box out of her reach. Or so I thought. I forget sometimes that we have our own Nastia Liukin who can bend and reach in superhuman ways. Somehow she was able to reach this little box, because when I came back in the room they were spilled all over. I had no idea how many were in there, so I didn't know if she had maybe swallowed one. It isn't like her to immediately stuff a foreign object in her mouth; she likes to ponder them with her eyes first before tasting. Regardless, I didn't know what had happened, and I didn't want that tiny metal twist working its way through her digestive tract, so off to Urgent Care we went. Anne was happy the whole time, even as we stripped her down and X-rayed her abdomen. (I got to wear the sexy lead vest!) She charmed the nurses with her smiles and chatting, and both doctors on call that night confirmed there was nothing weird in her belly. We went home reassured that all was well.
So as you can see, we are not textbook-perfect parents. No one is. However, I do promise not to feed my baby scalding food or sharp objects anytime soon.
Here are some pictures of her cuteness, which will help you forget my poor parenting and remember how adorable my kid is.
When we took these pictures, she was so happy to get to stand on the couch. It was such a thrill!
First, I warmed some mac and cheese for Anne the other night. She was fussing in her chair and I wanted her to zip it, so I put her food down before it was cool enough. She picked up a cheesy shell and it burned her hand. She let out a howl I've never heard before! She kept her hand closed around it, and held it up at me as if to say "Mom, this is hot! Why did you give me this?!?" There were tears for both of us as I held a cold washcloth on her hand. She's fine; no damage done, except to our psyches.
Second, I had to take Anne to the emergency room because I thought she might have eaten a thumbtack-like object. I had a small container of special pins that are supposed to hold fabric on furniture. They have a large plastic head and then a corkscrew of metal that you twist into the couch to hold the slipcover on. I was using them while Anne was playing on the floor. I needed to leave the room for a moment, so I put the little box out of her reach. Or so I thought. I forget sometimes that we have our own Nastia Liukin who can bend and reach in superhuman ways. Somehow she was able to reach this little box, because when I came back in the room they were spilled all over. I had no idea how many were in there, so I didn't know if she had maybe swallowed one. It isn't like her to immediately stuff a foreign object in her mouth; she likes to ponder them with her eyes first before tasting. Regardless, I didn't know what had happened, and I didn't want that tiny metal twist working its way through her digestive tract, so off to Urgent Care we went. Anne was happy the whole time, even as we stripped her down and X-rayed her abdomen. (I got to wear the sexy lead vest!) She charmed the nurses with her smiles and chatting, and both doctors on call that night confirmed there was nothing weird in her belly. We went home reassured that all was well.
So as you can see, we are not textbook-perfect parents. No one is. However, I do promise not to feed my baby scalding food or sharp objects anytime soon.
Here are some pictures of her cuteness, which will help you forget my poor parenting and remember how adorable my kid is.
When we took these pictures, she was so happy to get to stand on the couch. It was such a thrill!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Quick Update
Annie's waking as I type this, but here's the rundown from her "9 month" appointment today. She's really 10 and 1/2 months, but it's okay. She weighs 19 lbs, 12 oz and is 29 and 1/2 inches long. Her height is about 85th percentile, weight is 50th, but her head size is literally off the chart! That monster brain of hers takes up a lot of space. Dr. S. said she is happy and healthy and we should "keep up the good work." I love when he says that; nice to get a little credit for taking care of her (though I will post later a story of how I did NOT take good care of her!)
Picture for fun:
Annie wearing an early birthday present from neighbor/boyfriend Landon. Princess jammies!
Picture for fun:
Annie wearing an early birthday present from neighbor/boyfriend Landon. Princess jammies!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Pink Overalls
Before Anne was born I hit a lot of garage sales looking for baby clothes. One day I happened upon a pair of pink corduroy overalls. When I showed them to my mom, she exclaimed, "You had a pair just like these!" Yesterday the weather was cool, so I put Anne in her overalls and then went hunting for a photo of me in mine. Lo and behold, there I was in my scrapbook, in my pink overalls, at 10 months old! You can see below what I looked like and what Annie looks like now. Similarity?
Corrie, October 1984
Anne, August 2008
Sorry babe, if this genetic pattern continues you are going to have bad hair for a couple of years...
Corrie, October 1984
Anne, August 2008
Sorry babe, if this genetic pattern continues you are going to have bad hair for a couple of years...Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Things I'm Loving Right Now
1. Old Dutch Multigrain Tortilla Chips. These things are amazing! Slightly more healthful than regular tortilla chips, one serving has about a quarter of the fiber you need in one day. Plus, not being name-brand Tostitos, they are pretty cheap, too.
2. Dollar Tree. Okay, I know the dollar store has a certain stigma around it, but you should give it a try. Oma, Anne, and I went the other day just to look around and I score a couple good deals. Annie got new tights for the winter; 3 pairs for a dollar. If you have a daughter, you know how often tights are worn, so this is an especially good deal. I also got 20 Swiffer-but-not-"Swiffer" cloths for $1. Twenty! That's 5 cents a piece. I use my Swiffer once a week in the bedrooms to get dust and dog hair off our wood floors. I can sweep for an entire year for only $2.60. That's amazing, considering real Swiffer cloths are 12 for $4 at Target/Menards.
3. My DISHWASHER! Hallelujah, my life just got easier. Samuel, love of my life, retrieved and installed a dishwasher we bought from Craig's List. Grandpa Steve helped as well. If you have not perused Craig's List lately, you should try. http://www.craigslist.org It's kind of like garage sale-ing, but you can search for exactly what you want. So we got a dishwasher that works perfectly fine for $10. One family wants a stainless steel model instead of a white one, and we reap the benefits. Even with the electrical and plumbing supplies, we came out just under $100. Of course, we lost precious cabinet and drawer space in our already snug kitchen, but the sanity and arguments saved will be worth it. Here are the before, during, and after pictures. There's still a bit of cosmetic work to do, but it washes dishes just fine.
I must say, I really enjoy seeing a completed project. The dishwasher was always a "someday" thing for us, but now it is really here.
Okay, enough waxing poetic about an appliance. I'll just go sit by it and stroke it lovingly...
2. Dollar Tree. Okay, I know the dollar store has a certain stigma around it, but you should give it a try. Oma, Anne, and I went the other day just to look around and I score a couple good deals. Annie got new tights for the winter; 3 pairs for a dollar. If you have a daughter, you know how often tights are worn, so this is an especially good deal. I also got 20 Swiffer-but-not-"Swiffer" cloths for $1. Twenty! That's 5 cents a piece. I use my Swiffer once a week in the bedrooms to get dust and dog hair off our wood floors. I can sweep for an entire year for only $2.60. That's amazing, considering real Swiffer cloths are 12 for $4 at Target/Menards.
3. My DISHWASHER! Hallelujah, my life just got easier. Samuel, love of my life, retrieved and installed a dishwasher we bought from Craig's List. Grandpa Steve helped as well. If you have not perused Craig's List lately, you should try. http://www.craigslist.org It's kind of like garage sale-ing, but you can search for exactly what you want. So we got a dishwasher that works perfectly fine for $10. One family wants a stainless steel model instead of a white one, and we reap the benefits. Even with the electrical and plumbing supplies, we came out just under $100. Of course, we lost precious cabinet and drawer space in our already snug kitchen, but the sanity and arguments saved will be worth it. Here are the before, during, and after pictures. There's still a bit of cosmetic work to do, but it washes dishes just fine.
I must say, I really enjoy seeing a completed project. The dishwasher was always a "someday" thing for us, but now it is really here. Okay, enough waxing poetic about an appliance. I'll just go sit by it and stroke it lovingly...
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Behold Charlie!
The following is a real text message conversation:
Sam: Do you want a kitten?
Corrie: Sure.
Sam: Really?
Corrie: Surprise me.
And thus, Charlie was added to our family. Sam got him from a client while he was working. He is 7 weeks old and cute as a button! I know we don't really need more chaos around here, but there's not much we can do about it now. Lesson learned: be careful what you text.
Sam: Do you want a kitten?
Corrie: Sure.
Sam: Really?
Corrie: Surprise me.
And thus, Charlie was added to our family. Sam got him from a client while he was working. He is 7 weeks old and cute as a button! I know we don't really need more chaos around here, but there's not much we can do about it now. Lesson learned: be careful what you text.
Monday, August 4, 2008
One more photo
I've seen a lot of babies eat in my day, and no one opens their mouth wider than Anne. Apparently she needs a large target to get those morsels in! Click to make the picture big and see for yourself.
Such a big girl
You may have noticed that Anne's 9 month "birthday" went unnoticed. I figured we'd wait to share things after she went to the doctor and was weighed and measured, but now she's not going to see the doc until August 22. She'll be 10 and a half months old by then :) Oh well. So Anne will be 10 months old tomorrow and she seems really big right now! Every night she turns sideways in her crib so that she's laying the "short way" and her legs get all tangled in the slats. Girl, you are too tall for that! She's eating all kinds of table food and I swear she said "Daddy" the other day. No crawling yet, though! Lots of whining/screaming when she can't reach what she wants...
Here's Anne chowing down on mac and cheese, sitting at the table. Her chin is practically in her plate.
Mikey waits for something to get dropped...
Here's Anne chowing down on mac and cheese, sitting at the table. Her chin is practically in her plate.
Mikey waits for something to get dropped...
Anne in a pile of toys, happy as can be (she can reach everything!)
"Mmmmm, I love my blankie!"
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