Yeah, we're those kind of suckers.

Sunday, 21 October 2007

Today I finally made good on one of the MIL's demands. On one of our more recent visits I asked if she was dropping hints by constantly giving me coupons for Penney's portrait studio. She said she wasn't hinting, she needed an 8x10 to match the one she had of Attila. First time I had any idea it was more than a general nicity to give me the coupons. I had thought that the nearly weekly digital photographs including monthly ones next the teddy bear they got her was enough, but she needed an 8x10. I admit, I sort of don't understand the facination with posed photography. Catching her being goofy is far more fun. (though I have yet to catch the true fun of her belly laugh)
So, we did it. I had intended to be frugal about the whole thing, but we turned out to be those suckers. Not the really big ones, but we definitely got into it. It helps that we have the super smiley kid. We've ordered enough to share with the relatives and decorate ours, and our parents, respective homes/work places.
Aside from learning that we are suckers for pictures of our kid, I learned that ajd is sucker for a girl in a dress. I still think they're impractical and that she'll have plenty of time to wear them when she doesn't have the urge to eat them, but he's all about the girly girl. (which makes me wonder sometimes how he married me, but thats another matter) He bought her three new dresses, one of which she is wearing in her pictures. (yes we bought it right before our appointment, and the pink tights to match) I have to admit, she was cute. And after all, we're those kind of suckers.

Hey, its another picture of a cute kid and some pumpkins

Monday, 15 October 2007

This is the only one that didn't look like "Uh... I was asleep... whats with the orange things as big as me?"

Squash!

The weekend turned out to not be quite the loss that I thought it would be. I managed to get some cleaning done (the Sprout's room no longer looks like a tornado hit it), and even better, I made baby food. I steamed a squash I bought a few weekends ago (love how they keep so well) and pureed it in the blender. (only had to add minimal water, and I used the steaming water so I didn't lose some of the nutrients) I then hijacked an ice cube tray to freeze most of it, the rest is in the fridge, and we'll try feeding it tonight. All in all, not a bad deal. Next I'm going to try apples.
The other part of the weekend, the family in Red Wing, turned out great as well. Great Aunt Suzie is as always a blast. There is something about her that changes the whole family dynamic, in a really fun way. Great Grandma kept her comments about how we're raising Sprout to herself (and seemed to stay sober), and Nana shocked us all with some of her comments. (I had the tassels thing explained to me on the ride home, sorry I missed it. I would have peed my pants) Makes me wish that she lived closer, though I'm sure she's glad that she's farther away.
We did manage to go get apples and a pumpkin, though not at an orchard proper. I have pictures I'll post to flickr later. I may need to try to do the pumpkin thing again, since Sprout had just woken up and seemed a bit confused by being plopped down with the big orange things.
The other success of the weekend, I put the Recipeeps to good use and made baked Ziti (except couldn't find Ziti and used Penne), and it was a huge hit. I've got leftover for lunch. Yum!

A bunch o' questions.

Friday, 12 October 2007

Has anyone done a farm share? I keep thinking that buying local is really a good idea, and its an easy way to do organic. Its obviously too late for this year, but it would allow planning for next year. However, there are still only two adults in our house, and it might be easier to try and split with someone near by or who works near one of us. (Pusher? AKJ?) There seem to be a number that deliver, which would take care of any concerns about having to drive to the country to get it.

Along the same lines, we were thinking about buying part of a cow. I've found a number that do around 30 pounds in the 5/lb range, but if someone was interested in splitting a quarter/half of a cow, then it would be less. Mmmm... Beef?

The sprout turns six months old today. Holy cow. (She's going to be a cow for Halloween) We tried solids a month or so ago when it looked like I would be going out of town. She got all gassy/fussy, and my trip was postponed, so we delayed. Lots of reasons to delay, very few to start early. Did anyone do baby led solids? It seems to be the hot thing to do in the wholistic family world. We are going to try solids again, this time a whole grain variety, but I was thinking we could see how she does with feeding herself some mashed banana or avocado (my first food). She tried to eat my oatmeal the other day, I think we're getting closer to ready. She also has been having fun with a spoon while I eat, keeps her from trying to to steal the pork chops.

We thought we would have a weekend off to work on stuff around the house, but we're off to Red Wing to see out of town family that came to visit. I get to try out my new nursing tops. (exposing skin in winter in MN bad) I'm sure I'll still get stuck in another room, but at least my tummy won't be cold. So my last question is this, why can't everyone get over it, they're just tits. Everyone's got them, some are just bigger than others. I wish I lived in Europe some times, they put them in the newspaper there. Since I started nursing, I have a hard time thinking about them as anything but someone's lunch. I totally see what other people can be nervous about, but why can't people just let it be. And what's with Bill Maher. He used to be so cool.

Baby Loves Disco

Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Since the Sprout is going to be six months old on Friday (When in the hell did that happen?), I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a Baby Loves Disco outing with all of the munchkins in October or November?

No, I don't need a break...

Wednesday, 3 October 2007

There seems to be a lot of attention and fussing about giving me a break lately. Most of it comes from people with "Grand" in their names. They seem to think that I need a break from dealing with the Sprout. None of them read this, but I would just like to say, I don't need one.
Maybe its because she's such an easy going kid, maybe its because she eats every hour and a half when I'm home at night, and sleeps most of that time anyways, or maybe its because I'm gone from the house, and her, almost 50 hours a week, but I don't need a freakin' break. Her dad doesn't need one either. When she's asleep, I'm not rushing out the door to socialize, I'm doing laundry/dishes/sleeping myself. If I'm going to socialize, its best if she can come with. The fact is, she's fun/funny/goofy/cute and I miss her when I don't spend time with her.
I realize that you want time with her too, and I'm sorry you don't get this since you stayed home or came from a generation of men who weren't as involved, but she's going to be six months old next week and I already am afraid that I'm missing too much. Sorry, but being my parent doesn't make your needs more important than mine when it comes to my kid. Maybe if we have another, maybe when she has temper tantrums, maybe when she figures out how to slam a door, then we'll talk. In the mean time, given the choice, I'd rather watch her discover her toes more than any of my old hobbies.
And while we're at it. I'm not you. I'm not going to parent like you, and while I turned out just fine, my doing it differently than you is not a critcism of you, its just my way of doing it and it does not need to be questioned.

Note: I've got family coming to town, and I needed to get it out of my system before they got here.

Apparently, I've been missing.

Monday, 1 October 2007

I figured I was just giving you a break from talking about the Sprout. I'm still here and doing well. Right now I'm enjoying laptops, wireless networks, and remote access. The Sprout has been running the course of a cold. Four or so weeks and counting. First it was snot out her nose, then it seemed to go away, and now the snot is being worked out via coughing. A nice nasty sounding cough. Makes her dad cringe, so we spent the 20 bucks again to have them tell us she's fine. I'm thinking of investing in a stethoscope so I can tell if what I'm hearing is in her chest or not.
So I brought her into work, to the Dr, and then home, because breast feeding and work don't always mix. At the Dr. we learned that she now weighs over 18 pounds, and is around 28.5 inches long. We'll get the official measurements next week at her 6 mo. appointment. In the mean time, I'm keeping up the doses of Baby Miracle Grow.
We should be out and about this weekend, at parties, etc. I have a babysitter (my mommy), which will be nice. Booze doesn't mix well with the chemicals, but I've recently discovered blood orange syrup, and it makes amazing Italian sodas. (old school coffee shop drink, ya know) I would bet it also mixes well with Vodka, so I'll bring it along.