Ms. Independent

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Sprout has a new skill. Unassisted sitting. I think she's been ready for almost the last week, I was just too chicken to do it. Today I came home and found out that ajd had sat her down on the stack of blankets in her room (where she plays on her tummy, etc) and she had been fine, even rolled over onto her tummy. Still needs a soft insurance policy underneath for me to be OK with it, but as we learned, even falling over backwards in the yard doesn't phase her.

Here is the evidence.

Power to the People C'mon

Monday, 29 October 2007

Ok, time to put those reps to good use:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=summary&bill=h110-2236

MN has some protections, but not the encouragement of the all important tax breaks. I can say from personal experience that a supportive workplace that has multiple mother's rooms (with fridges and sinks), access to a hospital grade pump, and covers breastpumps (thats new this year) has made breastfeeding a very easy choice for me. My only complaint is that knowing about the resources is like being a special club, and most managers/HR isn't even aware they exist.

So, put democracy to work for you, and ask that they move the bill along.

Stats

Friday, 26 October 2007

So, we finally had our 6 months appointment today. The Dr. I had finally decided on after all wasn't available for weeks since she's on vacation, and then rounding. Bah! Bonus though, the physician's assistant was available, and since I've had good luck with those who don't have an MD after their name, we went for it. She was great, she was good with Sprout (though still not as good as the Ped we had to give up). Everything looks good, she's still um... big. (19 pounds, 3 ounces, 28 3/4", which puts her in the 97th % + again) Though she does have fluid in the ear that wasn't infected two weeks ago. Man I hate the pietri dish that is daycare some days. (ajd is on his second round of steroids to clear up asthma related issues since Sprout was born)

To celebrate being a BABY (not just a baby), we went for walk with the Boof!. Bundled the Sprout up all Clara like in her stroller and enjoyed that the leaves are peaking in our neighborhood. What a fun way to spend the day off.

Oh, and I was inspired by AKJ and got some Christmas shopping done. Figured I should take advantage of the fact that I can shop for her while she's with me this year. I'm nowhere near Syl on the whole card thing though.

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.