While we try to teach our children all about life,
our children teach us what life is all about.
Angela Schwindt
December 23, 2011
December 21, 2011
All Better Now
Well, we survived our first sickness. It started with a cold Justin brought home from the station, which Mateo caught and developed into bronchiolitis. He was on an antibiotic and steroid for a week and then a nebulizer machine with albuterol to help him breathe easier (he loved that, let me tell you </sarcasm>). Thankfully, I never got sick, but watching Mateo wheeze and choke back mucus and then vomit up buckets of the stuff was heartbreaking. I wish I had gotten sick and all these awesome immunities in my breast milk I keep hearing about had protected him. I know as his mom I can't protect him from everything, and I realize that breast milk is not some amazing cure-all...but I wish I could have kept him well a little longer. There are some other breastfed babies in town who have also been sick recently, so it's not just us, but I also know that at least one of those babies recently had their first round of vaccines....as did Mateo. This is a controversial subject, I realize, and I did read Dr. Sears' The Vaccine Book so I feel like I am partly informed, but I can't help but feel that his immune system being compromised from the vaccines contributed to his getting sick. We forewent the polio and Hep B vaccines because the risk of catching polio in this country is almost nil and Hep B can wait til he's much older. I would have liked to have spaced out the other vaccines but unfortunately our insurance won't cover visits for vaccines that aren't done at well visits. Now I'm just wondering if even the vaccines we did do were necessary...
I go back and forth over this in my head...if he caught something I could have vaccinated him for, I would be devastated. But watching him get sick and knowing what is being injected into his body "in case" he gets sick is not easy, either (especially when he's essentially strapped to my body 24/7, and not in daycare or around lots of other babies). I've also read too many accounts of children who have seriously become sick, if not died, from the effects of vaccines (I know most of those cases are largely scientifically unproven but I think it's hard to really argue with commonsense...or cause and effect). Not to mention the moral ramifications of what you could potentially spread, or the ethics of putting one's health on the line for "the greater good." In trying to look further into this issue I've started reading Adventures in Babywearing, an awesome blog by a natural mama who is also a Christian (I wish the two went hand-in-hand more often!). I'm also trying to get my hands on a copy of The Greater Good without actually buying it...although I might resort to that. Another moral dilemma!
When I was pregnant I was caught up in being pregnant, eating right, learning all about birth, breastfeeding and preparing for baby. I thought I was prepared - turns out I was prepared to take care of a newborn, and that's it. I never made the mental leap forward to preparing for everything else - toddlerhood, potty training, schooling, etc. Even more immediate concerns like how and where we would sleep, vaccination, and babywearing were all sort of "last minute" questions we've answered "on the job." But I guess that's how it's done, being a parent - taking it one day at a time, one challenge at a time. No one might choose to have kids, otherwise - too overwhelming.
When I think of how unprepared I am for so many things regarding Mateo I feel a bit guilty...but then I look at his sweet face, see how he smiles whenever he catches sight of me, feel him nuzzle and root in the night, and I know I have nothing to feel guilty for (yet!). We're doing the best we can, and we're being thoughtful about those choices we have to make as they come on the horizon. Most importantly, we're trying to remember to dwell in love...it does cover a multitude of sins, after all, right? And really, it's not a hard thing to remember with a 12 week old.
Oh yeah, we're all better over here. Just in time to head home to VA for the holidays!
I go back and forth over this in my head...if he caught something I could have vaccinated him for, I would be devastated. But watching him get sick and knowing what is being injected into his body "in case" he gets sick is not easy, either (especially when he's essentially strapped to my body 24/7, and not in daycare or around lots of other babies). I've also read too many accounts of children who have seriously become sick, if not died, from the effects of vaccines (I know most of those cases are largely scientifically unproven but I think it's hard to really argue with commonsense...or cause and effect). Not to mention the moral ramifications of what you could potentially spread, or the ethics of putting one's health on the line for "the greater good." In trying to look further into this issue I've started reading Adventures in Babywearing, an awesome blog by a natural mama who is also a Christian (I wish the two went hand-in-hand more often!). I'm also trying to get my hands on a copy of The Greater Good without actually buying it...although I might resort to that. Another moral dilemma!
When I was pregnant I was caught up in being pregnant, eating right, learning all about birth, breastfeeding and preparing for baby. I thought I was prepared - turns out I was prepared to take care of a newborn, and that's it. I never made the mental leap forward to preparing for everything else - toddlerhood, potty training, schooling, etc. Even more immediate concerns like how and where we would sleep, vaccination, and babywearing were all sort of "last minute" questions we've answered "on the job." But I guess that's how it's done, being a parent - taking it one day at a time, one challenge at a time. No one might choose to have kids, otherwise - too overwhelming.
When I think of how unprepared I am for so many things regarding Mateo I feel a bit guilty...but then I look at his sweet face, see how he smiles whenever he catches sight of me, feel him nuzzle and root in the night, and I know I have nothing to feel guilty for (yet!). We're doing the best we can, and we're being thoughtful about those choices we have to make as they come on the horizon. Most importantly, we're trying to remember to dwell in love...it does cover a multitude of sins, after all, right? And really, it's not a hard thing to remember with a 12 week old.
Oh yeah, we're all better over here. Just in time to head home to VA for the holidays!
November 23, 2011
Life As We Know It
Another week has passed....we've been busy meal planning, attending La Leche League meetings, trying to keep things in order, researching cloth diapers (will the research ever end?), preparing for Christmas and generally taking care of business. I've always done a bit of casual meal planning (like, in my head), but I've really tried to commit to sitting down and planning out the week's meals. Last week was the first time I followed through on this and was SO glad I did. I felt like I wasn't wondering every day at 4 pm what we were going to have for dinner and by planning ahead our meals were much more balanced and nutritious. Planning in general seems to be much more important now that I have a little human attached to me 24/7.
This essay was posted on our LLL Facebook group and I'm pretty much in love with it - it speaks to my feelings and philosophy on nursing and cosleeping. I know I'm new to all this so I don't pretend to speak with any real authority or much experience, we're just taking it one day at a time over here - but these practices and ideas speak to the natural mother in me so clearly. I think it was in our Bradley Birthing Method class that I was told to follow my instincts and not get caught up in people's advice or what our culture dictates is normal and expected of babies and parents, and ever since I've been reminding myself of that: listen to your instincts. I know cosleeping doesn't work for everyone but I honestly don't know how I'd get any decent sleep without it. We're also smart about it - on a futon mattress (i.e. very firm), Mateo between me and wall, not Justin and I. And from day one I felt something switch in me - some animal instinct that knows where Mateo is, how he's sleeping, how I'm sleeping in relation to him. It's amazing, like my body was designed to protect him for this period of our lives. And I know that not everyone is able to stop and nurse every hour, but it's what makes us happy and I'm very fortunate that I'm able to be home with him- it's definitely worth any financial sacrifice. Sure, it drags out our outings sometimes, having to stop and nurse him in a store or before we go in somewhere - but that's life with an infant in general, isn't it? When you eliminate the worry or concern over following some sort of "schedule," be it a nursing schedule or growth chart (although I AM a believer in nighttime being for sleeping - midnight play parties are not my thing) and stop thinking about what people are going to think about you nursing on a bench in the shoe department at Walmart....and instead just allow your baby to grow and do what comes natural to you, it's AMAZING how much stress you can eliminate from your life.
A LLL leader at a recent meeting said that nothing in her life, not her career, not college, gave her as much self-confidence and courage as having children and standing firm in the decisions she made on their behalf. I immediately knew what she was talking about, for that is how I feel about Mateo. When I was pregnant I worked hard to make sure I was eating well, especially as a pescetarian, preparing for the birth mentally and emotionally, learning as much as I could through our childbirth class and natural childbirth books. With his birth I was unafraid (uh, for the majority, there was that hell called TRANSITION when I think even the bravest among us are afraid - except for perhaps my mother, who merely said she knew she was in transition with my sister when she was mad that dad was doing dishes and not supporting her - THAT was your transition, Mom?), even though I was in labor for three days, because I knew he was doing well, and I was ok, and I had learned enough to know that sometimes nature doesn't follow the schedule we'd like it to. I think in a lot of ways his birth prepared me for these years that follow. Working so hard to bring him into the world in the most natural, peaceful way possible, in the comfort and privacy of our home, has given me confidence in my ability to work hard to raise him in the most natural, peaceful and intentional way possible - even if that means listening more to my instincts and doing my own research rather than following well-meaning advice or mainstream magazine articles (I'm looking at you, American Baby). I know I'm new at all this, so hopefully this doesn't come off as preachy. I'm just saying that this is what works for US - every baby and family is different. I simply want to look back and read this and remember that at 2 months in we were happy and confident.
In other news, Mateo has begun squealing whenever he's happy/excited/worked up. I'm sure at some point this will be irritating but right now it's adorable.
A look back at the past week:
This essay was posted on our LLL Facebook group and I'm pretty much in love with it - it speaks to my feelings and philosophy on nursing and cosleeping. I know I'm new to all this so I don't pretend to speak with any real authority or much experience, we're just taking it one day at a time over here - but these practices and ideas speak to the natural mother in me so clearly. I think it was in our Bradley Birthing Method class that I was told to follow my instincts and not get caught up in people's advice or what our culture dictates is normal and expected of babies and parents, and ever since I've been reminding myself of that: listen to your instincts. I know cosleeping doesn't work for everyone but I honestly don't know how I'd get any decent sleep without it. We're also smart about it - on a futon mattress (i.e. very firm), Mateo between me and wall, not Justin and I. And from day one I felt something switch in me - some animal instinct that knows where Mateo is, how he's sleeping, how I'm sleeping in relation to him. It's amazing, like my body was designed to protect him for this period of our lives. And I know that not everyone is able to stop and nurse every hour, but it's what makes us happy and I'm very fortunate that I'm able to be home with him- it's definitely worth any financial sacrifice. Sure, it drags out our outings sometimes, having to stop and nurse him in a store or before we go in somewhere - but that's life with an infant in general, isn't it? When you eliminate the worry or concern over following some sort of "schedule," be it a nursing schedule or growth chart (although I AM a believer in nighttime being for sleeping - midnight play parties are not my thing) and stop thinking about what people are going to think about you nursing on a bench in the shoe department at Walmart....and instead just allow your baby to grow and do what comes natural to you, it's AMAZING how much stress you can eliminate from your life.
A LLL leader at a recent meeting said that nothing in her life, not her career, not college, gave her as much self-confidence and courage as having children and standing firm in the decisions she made on their behalf. I immediately knew what she was talking about, for that is how I feel about Mateo. When I was pregnant I worked hard to make sure I was eating well, especially as a pescetarian, preparing for the birth mentally and emotionally, learning as much as I could through our childbirth class and natural childbirth books. With his birth I was unafraid (uh, for the majority, there was that hell called TRANSITION when I think even the bravest among us are afraid - except for perhaps my mother, who merely said she knew she was in transition with my sister when she was mad that dad was doing dishes and not supporting her - THAT was your transition, Mom?), even though I was in labor for three days, because I knew he was doing well, and I was ok, and I had learned enough to know that sometimes nature doesn't follow the schedule we'd like it to. I think in a lot of ways his birth prepared me for these years that follow. Working so hard to bring him into the world in the most natural, peaceful way possible, in the comfort and privacy of our home, has given me confidence in my ability to work hard to raise him in the most natural, peaceful and intentional way possible - even if that means listening more to my instincts and doing my own research rather than following well-meaning advice or mainstream magazine articles (I'm looking at you, American Baby). I know I'm new at all this, so hopefully this doesn't come off as preachy. I'm just saying that this is what works for US - every baby and family is different. I simply want to look back and read this and remember that at 2 months in we were happy and confident.
In other news, Mateo has begun squealing whenever he's happy/excited/worked up. I'm sure at some point this will be irritating but right now it's adorable.
A look back at the past week:
Monday, 11/14/11:
 |
| "It's midnight! Feed me!" |
Tuesday, 11/15/11:
 |
| Checkout Mateo's nifty headphones...hearing test done, 100% in both ears! |
 |
| "I have been crying for half an hour and am exhausted. Guess I'll just stare into space for awhile." |
Wednesday, 11/16/11:
 |
| "Once again Mom neglected to take a photo of me during the day so all you get is this bedtime photo. Enjoy." |
Thursday, 11/17/11:
 |
| Hello, beautful |
Saturday, 11/19/11:
 |
| "I am really mad I am in this stupid car seat and I am going to let you know it in just a second, just you wait." |
 |
| Justin and Mateo were there first but Silas clearly wanted in on the bonding action. |
Sunday, 11/20/11:
 |
| I love these eyebrows |
Monday, 11/21/11:
 |
| Sleepy face |
Tuesday, 11/22/11:
 |
| Another, "Oops, it's the end of the day and I haven't taken a picture of Teo" photo |
I have so many pictures on the computer that I should probably delete, but I just can't bring myself to. These pictures would probably look identical to most people but in each one I see the millions of slight variations in expression Mateo makes each day. I love him and his faces.
November 13, 2011
Hope Never Dies
As part of Veteran's Day weekend the Miami Dolphins gave free tickets to today's game against the Redskins to all members of the military and their families! The Redskins hardly ever play the Dolphins and are NEVER shown on TV around here (due to their terrible record and Florida having three NFL teams competing for airtime). Not even today's game was aired on our local stations...so what luck that we could go for free! As much as I was hoping the Skins would win Mateo's first football game, they did not disappoint in being disappointing, as always. Still, we had fun. Mateo was an angel. My biggest challenge, some days, is keeping him stimulated and entertained between feedings and naps. A pro football game is nothing but stimulating and entertaining so my job was easy! Almost too stimulating...I get total ADD and have to remind myself to watch the GAME, not the jumbotron (isn't that what it's called?), crazy fans, mascot, shiny things, etc., etc. It's like they almost don't want you to pay attention to how badly the game is being played. *Sigh.* At least the Miami fans were grateful for their win....
Here's Mateo, learning one of life's most fundamental lessons...the Redskins may always disappoint, but, as I told the guy behind us, "they're our team!"
Here's Mateo, learning one of life's most fundamental lessons...the Redskins may always disappoint, but, as I told the guy behind us, "they're our team!"
November 12, 2011
Attached
Yikes, weepy alert: Dear Moms
Sometimes I feel like I've spent my whole life trying (and usually failing) to keep from collapsing into tears at any hint of an semi-emotional situation/event/book/movie/fill in the blank. I'm beginning to realize this battle is just going to get more difficult now that I'm a mother...and it's not going to get any easier as the years go by. Just the thought of all the crying I'm going to do in my life is exhausting. *Sigh.*
Sometimes I feel like I've spent my whole life trying (and usually failing) to keep from collapsing into tears at any hint of an semi-emotional situation/event/book/movie/fill in the blank. I'm beginning to realize this battle is just going to get more difficult now that I'm a mother...and it's not going to get any easier as the years go by. Just the thought of all the crying I'm going to do in my life is exhausting. *Sigh.*
November 11, 2011
A Week of Teo
Saturday, 11/5/11:
 |
| *Update: No, she is not nursing Mateo* |
Sunday, 11/6/11:
Monday, 11/7/11:
(Tuesday we were too sad about Aunt Elizabeth leaving to take any pictures. :( )
Wednesday, 11/9/11:
Thursday, 11/10/11:
Friday, 11/11/11:
In the Moment
One thing I'm realizing is a big challenge and yet so, so important is learning to live in the moment. I realized today that there are moments when Mateo has been fussing for a while and the sink is full of dishes and we're running out of clean burp cloths and I'm wondering what in the world I'm going to eat for _____ because I haven't been able to put Mateo down long enough to make anything that I'm thinking more about the tasks I have to do or phone calls I have to make than I am about comforting him or simply being with him in his discomfort/sleepiness (longestsentenceever). When he finally is down for a nap and I'm running around trying to complete the checklist I've written in my head while he was fussing, it's not long before a part of me is wishing he were awake and happy so we can smile and babytalk and gaze into each other's eyes. I've read that this book addresses this very delimma (among other things), the challenge to live in the moment and enjoy each simple task for all that it's worth, and not be running ahead in our minds....must read it very soon.
November 5, 2011
November 3, 2011
Sleepytime
Today was the first day I really felt like I had a good night's sleep. I probably slept no more than 5 or 6 hours, but compared to the 4 I have been getting those extra hours really helped. It also helped that Mateo seems to be getting more comfortable with nursing while we're lying down. What a difference that makes...rather than waking up, taking him out of his vibrating bouncer (yes, my son sleeps in the bouncer at night...big deal), sitting up uncomfortably in bed with the Boppy and dozing while he nurses, then trying to convince him to sleep on the firm bed or back in the bouncer, we simply lay back down and sleep/nurse the rest of the night without having to fully awaken. This was what I imagined cosleeping would be like...hooray.
Here we are making use of the crib:
Here we are making use of the crib:
November 2, 2011
Trying Not to Blink
I am trying not to blink. I can't believe my baby will be 6 weeks old in a few days...where has it gone? I know I'm going to be saying this again in 2 weeks...2 months...2 years....such a cliche. In an effort not to miss a thing I'm going to be daily attempting to document Mateo's sweet face through my terrible photography. I thought today would be a good day to start, seeing as it is the very first day Mateo and I have been all alone since his birth. I managed to get...a few things done. I've learned that any time he's sleeping (not in my arms) I need to do two things: go to the bathroom and refill my water bottle. Because before I know it he's up again, refusing to be put down, or I'm nursing and dying for water. The house is...lonely without visitors and Justin, but I try to focus on making Mateo smile, sleeping, and attempting to do things on my list like take a shower and cook food. I worry Mateo misses all the activity so I talk to him, read aloud, put Justin on speakerphone when he calls...I think he's going to be a very social baby. Which means I may be forced to be more social in turn...
On Monday I was a bad mommy and didn't do anything to mark Mateo's first Halloween. I half looked around for a costume but they were all too big on him...so I dressed him in an orange onesie and called it a day. I insisted Justin stopped at CVS so I could run in to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters, but Justin said he'd do it...10 minutes later he came out with 5 bags of candy. Um, what? I was going to buy one bag of Kit-Kats and call it day. I don't know what came over him, especially since he insisted we weren't going to get any trick-or-treaters. Which he was right, we didn't. So sad...someday we will live somewhere trick-or-treaters go. Someday. Now we have 5 bags worth of candy sitting in a ziploc bag on the top shelf of the pantry where I keep hoping I'll forget about it. This is not good news for my get back into shape plan. Today I was going to start Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred but instead I ate more candy than I wish to admit. I realize this might be bad news for Mateo, so I'm hoping I'll have some self-control for his sake. The kid already took coffee away from me, I can sacrifice sugar, too. Yes, I can.
This will never be a photography blog. There will be lots of blurry faces, shiny faces, shadows and colors far from their true hues. I have no talent for taking pictures and am usually the girl saying, "Man, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that!" But I can't let these precious days go by without having something to remember them by. And I know that at least Mom will appreciate my efforts :).
Mateo started to really smile a lot this past weekend...true smiles and grins that display his adorable dimple and make every tired moment worth it. I've had a hard time capturing his smiles but these pictures hint at the real thing...
I'm only posting one picture per day to the blog, if there's a flickr link below the picture follow it to see more...
On Monday I was a bad mommy and didn't do anything to mark Mateo's first Halloween. I half looked around for a costume but they were all too big on him...so I dressed him in an orange onesie and called it a day. I insisted Justin stopped at CVS so I could run in to buy candy for the trick-or-treaters, but Justin said he'd do it...10 minutes later he came out with 5 bags of candy. Um, what? I was going to buy one bag of Kit-Kats and call it day. I don't know what came over him, especially since he insisted we weren't going to get any trick-or-treaters. Which he was right, we didn't. So sad...someday we will live somewhere trick-or-treaters go. Someday. Now we have 5 bags worth of candy sitting in a ziploc bag on the top shelf of the pantry where I keep hoping I'll forget about it. This is not good news for my get back into shape plan. Today I was going to start Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred but instead I ate more candy than I wish to admit. I realize this might be bad news for Mateo, so I'm hoping I'll have some self-control for his sake. The kid already took coffee away from me, I can sacrifice sugar, too. Yes, I can.
This will never be a photography blog. There will be lots of blurry faces, shiny faces, shadows and colors far from their true hues. I have no talent for taking pictures and am usually the girl saying, "Man, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of that!" But I can't let these precious days go by without having something to remember them by. And I know that at least Mom will appreciate my efforts :).
Mateo started to really smile a lot this past weekend...true smiles and grins that display his adorable dimple and make every tired moment worth it. I've had a hard time capturing his smiles but these pictures hint at the real thing...
I'm only posting one picture per day to the blog, if there's a flickr link below the picture follow it to see more...
September 1, 2011
36 Weeks
As of today we are 36 weeks along! This means that even if I go into labor tomorrow we will (hopefully) be able to have the baby at home, as planned. The midwife and doula came yesterday for our home visit which made this whole thing really...real. As if the pressure on my pelvis or the fact that baby has been head down for the past month doesn't make it real enough. We took a tour of the apartment, discussed supplies, back up plan if for some reason the midwife doesn't make it in time (highly unlikely), birth tub, food, exercises, breastfeeding, and tons and tons of information overload concerning the birth and first few days afterward. I'm so thankful Justin has been able to be at all of the midwife appointments because his mind is like a steel trap when it comes to remembering her advice and instructions whereas mine is...uh, not so present all the time. It's all a blur of information about contractions and stages and relaxation techniques and lists. I feel confident that we've prepared enough that it's all absorbed somewhere in my psyche and beyond that I have the support of people I love and trust and who will be there to support me when the time comes. Baby is measuring right on schedule, great heartrate, my blood pressure is low (has been throughout the pregnancy...I thank my mama's genes and my lack of stress for that), tons of amniotic fluid...everything is good!
The nursery/guest room is rapidly evolving and I promise pictures as soon as I finish redoing the dresser/changing table. I've washed baby clothes up to size 3-6 months; I think all we may need are a couple of newborn outfits...he's not measuring particularly big so hopefully they won't go to waste. The crib now has a mattress with freshly washed mattress cover and sheet, all covered with plush blankets to protect the sheet from Silas hair.
Tangent: That cat sheds so much. It gets EVERYWHERE and is making me seriously considering investing in a Furminator. I've always wanted one because I thought Lucy would enjoy it, but now I want one so I can attempt to get some control over Silas's shedding. To look at Silas and Lucy you would never think the little short haired cat (we think he's always going to be small) would have more of a shedding problem than the big long haired fuzz ball, but there you have it. Any Lucy hair that doesn't end up on her brush can be found in big, easily vacuumed clumps on the bedroom floors each morning after a night of Kitty Death Matches, whereas Silas' finds its way into every nook, shelf, shirt, nasal cavity...ick. Just one more way in which she is my perfect child and he is the bane of my existence.
Fabric for a crib skirt has been ordered and I think all we're really missing is a changing pad and a couple of other baby/nursing accessories I'm not really worrying about...it's not like the store won't be there after the baby is born. It's exciting watching it all come together, knowing it means he'll be here soon.
I think we've (finally) found a church....Treasure Coast PCA in Stuart. Despite our theological differences it just felt like...home, right away, the same feeling I had at Grace Harbor. It's a small congregation with lots of young couples and young families that meets in a pretty informal building, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, the music was great, lots of outreach opportunities, small groups emphasis, etc. We went out to lunch afterwards with a few people and I instantly felt such...relief. It's not perfect, I think the Presbyterian doctrine (which they don't hide or try to gloss over, which I appreciate) will keep us from ever becoming members, but we've been clear with them about what we believe, and they've been the same with us and I think...it would be a shame to sacrifice the fellowship, worship and outreach opportunities for a few doctrinal differences that can only serve to help us grow in our faith and challenge what we believe. Especially since we'll only be here a couple of years. When we told the pastor that we come from a Wesleyan background and had concerns over our theological differences with the Presbyterian church he asked if we were familiar with George Whitefield, a Calvinist contemporary of John Wesley. The pastor told us how after Whitefield and Wesley had separated due to doctrinal differences someone asked him if he expected to see John Wesley in heaven. He replied, "No," and continued, "John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him." That was a sweet way of putting us at ease, as well as reminding us that these differences don't really matter in the end, as long as our faith is true and sincere.
Stay tuned, pictures to come.
The nursery/guest room is rapidly evolving and I promise pictures as soon as I finish redoing the dresser/changing table. I've washed baby clothes up to size 3-6 months; I think all we may need are a couple of newborn outfits...he's not measuring particularly big so hopefully they won't go to waste. The crib now has a mattress with freshly washed mattress cover and sheet, all covered with plush blankets to protect the sheet from Silas hair.
Tangent: That cat sheds so much. It gets EVERYWHERE and is making me seriously considering investing in a Furminator. I've always wanted one because I thought Lucy would enjoy it, but now I want one so I can attempt to get some control over Silas's shedding. To look at Silas and Lucy you would never think the little short haired cat (we think he's always going to be small) would have more of a shedding problem than the big long haired fuzz ball, but there you have it. Any Lucy hair that doesn't end up on her brush can be found in big, easily vacuumed clumps on the bedroom floors each morning after a night of Kitty Death Matches, whereas Silas' finds its way into every nook, shelf, shirt, nasal cavity...ick. Just one more way in which she is my perfect child and he is the bane of my existence.
Fabric for a crib skirt has been ordered and I think all we're really missing is a changing pad and a couple of other baby/nursing accessories I'm not really worrying about...it's not like the store won't be there after the baby is born. It's exciting watching it all come together, knowing it means he'll be here soon.
I think we've (finally) found a church....Treasure Coast PCA in Stuart. Despite our theological differences it just felt like...home, right away, the same feeling I had at Grace Harbor. It's a small congregation with lots of young couples and young families that meets in a pretty informal building, everyone was super friendly and welcoming, the music was great, lots of outreach opportunities, small groups emphasis, etc. We went out to lunch afterwards with a few people and I instantly felt such...relief. It's not perfect, I think the Presbyterian doctrine (which they don't hide or try to gloss over, which I appreciate) will keep us from ever becoming members, but we've been clear with them about what we believe, and they've been the same with us and I think...it would be a shame to sacrifice the fellowship, worship and outreach opportunities for a few doctrinal differences that can only serve to help us grow in our faith and challenge what we believe. Especially since we'll only be here a couple of years. When we told the pastor that we come from a Wesleyan background and had concerns over our theological differences with the Presbyterian church he asked if we were familiar with George Whitefield, a Calvinist contemporary of John Wesley. The pastor told us how after Whitefield and Wesley had separated due to doctrinal differences someone asked him if he expected to see John Wesley in heaven. He replied, "No," and continued, "John Wesley will be so close to the Throne of Glory, and I will be so far away, I will hardly get a glimpse of him." That was a sweet way of putting us at ease, as well as reminding us that these differences don't really matter in the end, as long as our faith is true and sincere.
Stay tuned, pictures to come.
July 30, 2011
Progress Report
The nursery is painted! The crib is put together! The rickety old black bookcase is now a nice jade green! This was the week for projects, and they continue on. There are pictures to be hung, thrift stores and fabric stores to be scavenged (for frames, fabric for curtains, etc), crib mattresses to be bought, and so it continues.
Project evidence:
Testing the grays....
Two coats of primer and two coats of paint later....a nice soothing, light gray.
The crib! Note the cats' stuffed bunny underneath...
Battered black bookcase becomes...
Pretty green bookcase!
Ugly $2.50 Goodwill elephant....
Nice new elephant:
Check out the Baby Bjorn we picked up at Boomerang Children's Consignment for $30! J is all ready to wear baby around :).
Other than projects I've been barrelling through John Steinbeck's East of Eden, which J has had on his nightstand for approximately eight months with the intention of reading. He says that if he can "get through that, I can get through anything." Sort of like a confidence boosting read. To me that's like saying, "Oh, I'm just going to run this marathon and then I'll train for the 10k." So I moved the book to my side of the bed and have had trouble putting it down ever since. I read it aloud to baby when J's not home, I'd cried by page 32, I constantly rave about it to J (who then told me he was taking it back - I figure my finishing it first is the best way to motivate him to read it). I love Michael Crichton, but reading two M.C. books in a row and then switching to Steinbeck was a huge reminder of how powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful great literature can be...a healthy dose is needed every now and then.
Project evidence:
Testing the grays....
Two coats of primer and two coats of paint later....a nice soothing, light gray.
The crib! Note the cats' stuffed bunny underneath...
Battered black bookcase becomes...
Pretty green bookcase!
Ugly $2.50 Goodwill elephant....
Nice new elephant:
Check out the Baby Bjorn we picked up at Boomerang Children's Consignment for $30! J is all ready to wear baby around :).
Other than projects I've been barrelling through John Steinbeck's East of Eden, which J has had on his nightstand for approximately eight months with the intention of reading. He says that if he can "get through that, I can get through anything." Sort of like a confidence boosting read. To me that's like saying, "Oh, I'm just going to run this marathon and then I'll train for the 10k." So I moved the book to my side of the bed and have had trouble putting it down ever since. I read it aloud to baby when J's not home, I'd cried by page 32, I constantly rave about it to J (who then told me he was taking it back - I figure my finishing it first is the best way to motivate him to read it). I love Michael Crichton, but reading two M.C. books in a row and then switching to Steinbeck was a huge reminder of how powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful great literature can be...a healthy dose is needed every now and then.
July 17, 2011
Weekend Update
So the nursery still looks like this:
Because I was a bit busy looking at/floating in this all weekend:
And watching these dive for fish:
It's a hard life here in Florida.
July 15, 2011
29 Weeks
I'm going to try and post more often; I know how frustrating it is when blogs aren't frequently updated. I will not make any promises though, because more frustrating than infrequent posting is promises that aren't kept. So I'll try.
In my defense, I was in Pompano off and on for a week with my wonderful Virginia and North Carolina family (and Miami and Naples family!) and then J was home and I really try to limit how much time I spend on the computer when he's here.
Today I (finally) finished priming the nursery/guest room in the hopes that this weekend we can (finally) get it painted and start arranging things (namely, put the crib together - exciting!). J made a little bit of progress organizing his boxes of misc. stuff, but as you will see in this picture there is still some work to be done there. Progress is being made, though, I promise! Get ready for picture overload:
View of nursery from the closets:
Nursery from the doorway:
Nursery from the corner (hi, Lucy!):
Today (Thursday) also marks my 29th week of pregnancy. Because we are the worstprospective parents photojournalists ever this pregnancy has been woefully undocumented...but I'm hoping to change that now. It's never too late to start, right? Plus, I know when you have babies you're supposed to take tons of pictures of them so I need to get in the habit of seeing the world through that little black device. I truly believe that some people are born to document our lives through pictures and that some of us can forget that cameras exist, even when they're hanging from our wrist. Or maybe I've just been lucky enough to be related to/friends with the first kind of people so I've just gotten away with being photo lazy. That's probably it. Anyway, I give you 29 weeks:
In my defense, I was in Pompano off and on for a week with my wonderful Virginia and North Carolina family (and Miami and Naples family!) and then J was home and I really try to limit how much time I spend on the computer when he's here.
Today I (finally) finished priming the nursery/guest room in the hopes that this weekend we can (finally) get it painted and start arranging things (namely, put the crib together - exciting!). J made a little bit of progress organizing his boxes of misc. stuff, but as you will see in this picture there is still some work to be done there. Progress is being made, though, I promise! Get ready for picture overload:
View of nursery from the closets:
Nursery from the doorway:
Today (Thursday) also marks my 29th week of pregnancy. Because we are the worst
Yes, I am huge. Yesterday I was writing a note and the baby actually kicked so hard he messed up my writing! Because of course the belly is now a tray table. Yikes.
June 29, 2011
Old Cake
Today I ate the last piece of our wedding cake. When J and I cut into the top layer of our cake last week, which had been sitting frozen for the past year in my in-law's freezer and then hauled through three airports and two flights from Virginia, we were hesitant, to say the least. J even said, "I don't think this is supposed to be good. I think you just sort of suffer through a bit and then toss it." Two pieces of cake (for him) later, we were singing the praises of the ladies who worked so hard to create a carrot cake that tastes like it was made yesterday...over a year ago. It even lasted a week in the fridge! I can honestly say that I did not eat the whole thing - the cake consuming was split pretty much 50/50, no small feat for my husband who said the other day, "Is this brown rice? You eat rice with potatoes??" :). Yes, J. Welcome to my world of carbs.
Thanks again to everyone who worked so hard to make our wedding amazing. It occurred to me today that even the baby got to have some of the wedding cake, in utero though it may be. Nifty.
Thanks again to everyone who worked so hard to make our wedding amazing. It occurred to me today that even the baby got to have some of the wedding cake, in utero though it may be. Nifty.
June 28, 2011
I love lists
Favorite things...
J being home. Even the kitties seem happier when he's here.
Afternoon thunderstorms. South Florida has been in an extreme drought since long before we moved here but the past few days have seen good, drenching rains. For the first time the pond in our community has water! The cranes, egrets and cormorants are out as soon as the rains stop, happily picking their way along the edges of the waterways*. I'm just waiting for the day it gets all Discovery Channel off my back patio and one of these poor birds gets snapped by an alligator in the canal...it's coming, mark my words. Yikes.
(*Thanks, Mom, without you I wouldn't know the difference between a crane and egret, much less that there are such things as cormorants.)
Taking care of business. It feels good to put your affairs in order, yes? Even if it means saying bye bye to the monies. Such is life.
Our midwife. She is one of the most peaceful persons I've ever met...there's no other way to describe her.
Baby is due on Rosh Hashana! How appropriate considering we're naming him Judah Adlai Mateo Abraham Harper Kahlil. At least half of those names are Hebrew in origin.
Mangoes. Strawberries. Spinach. Butternut squash. Yum. Yesterday, as I was cooking dinner, I was hit with the worst hunger pains. It was so crazy. One second it was, "La dee da, cooking dinner," the next my body was like, "FOOD FEED FOOD TO ME NOOOWWW." After I was all, "What the...what is this feeling...what...oh my GOD!" I literally grabbed for the nearest foodstuff that wasn't boiling or didn't involve peeling...thank God for saltine crackers. I nearly died, people.
The Perfect Pregnancy Workout DVD. I fell off this wagon for a good, oh, two months, but we are back on it! And feeling better and stronger than ever.
Pinterest, my ongoing obsession. If you're a member, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, please join so I can follow you and together we can pin to our hearts' content. Amen.
J being home. Even the kitties seem happier when he's here.
Afternoon thunderstorms. South Florida has been in an extreme drought since long before we moved here but the past few days have seen good, drenching rains. For the first time the pond in our community has water! The cranes, egrets and cormorants are out as soon as the rains stop, happily picking their way along the edges of the waterways*. I'm just waiting for the day it gets all Discovery Channel off my back patio and one of these poor birds gets snapped by an alligator in the canal...it's coming, mark my words. Yikes.
(*Thanks, Mom, without you I wouldn't know the difference between a crane and egret, much less that there are such things as cormorants.)
Taking care of business. It feels good to put your affairs in order, yes? Even if it means saying bye bye to the monies. Such is life.
Our midwife. She is one of the most peaceful persons I've ever met...there's no other way to describe her.
Baby is due on Rosh Hashana! How appropriate considering we're naming him Judah Adlai Mateo Abraham Harper Kahlil. At least half of those names are Hebrew in origin.
Mangoes. Strawberries. Spinach. Butternut squash. Yum. Yesterday, as I was cooking dinner, I was hit with the worst hunger pains. It was so crazy. One second it was, "La dee da, cooking dinner," the next my body was like, "FOOD FEED FOOD TO ME NOOOWWW." After I was all, "What the...what is this feeling...what...oh my GOD!" I literally grabbed for the nearest foodstuff that wasn't boiling or didn't involve peeling...thank God for saltine crackers. I nearly died, people.
The Perfect Pregnancy Workout DVD. I fell off this wagon for a good, oh, two months, but we are back on it! And feeling better and stronger than ever.
Pinterest, my ongoing obsession. If you're a member, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't, please join so I can follow you and together we can pin to our hearts' content. Amen.
June 26, 2011
My first post would be about my cat
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, | |
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. | |
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; | |
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed... When I was little one of my favorite books was Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses, sweet, imaginative poems for children. It didn't hurt that my copy was beautifully illustrated...I can still see those soft, pastel images in my mind. Anyway, this poem, "My Shadow," was one of my favorites and has popped into my mind at least once a day over the past week as I've discovered that I do indeed have a little shadow...one evil kitty named Silas:  (No red eye removal needed...that's just his true nature showing) I spend a great deal of time at home. Mostly because I don't have a job (soul-searching continues), it's a billion degrees and humid here in Florida, and well, I love our home and have a list of projects I'm working on to get it ready for baby/make it ours. You would think the cats would get bored with me but it seems Silas has made it his mission to be at my side at all hours of the day. This is sweet, most of the time, but often leads to mischief and mayhem when I'm doing things I'd rather he not be around for. These include: sweeping (piles of dirt! Fun!), using the bathroom (fascinating, apparently, invasion of privacy, definitely), watering houseplants (we're already down one potted bamboo - it tasted too good and was too much fun to knock over onto the ceramic tile and shatter into a billion pieces), and eating (cat has NO table manners...what's mine is his, so he thinks). Justin asked me the other day if I talk to the baby when he's not around. I said, "Well, I yell at Silas." Uh. Not good. All this baby hears half the week is me yelling at the cat? So in an effort to be kinder to the cat, and therefore the baby, I've been trying to speak more words of affirmation...ok, so I'm just talking to the cat, but...I think it's working. I feel like as a whole we (Silas, Lucy, baby and me) are happier and less destruction is being wrought on the house. Of course, I haven't replaced the bamboo plant. When it comes to this bad kitty, live plants seem to be the ultimate test of good behavior. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)