Tag: postaday2011

baby girl’s new bestie

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This funny little thing is showing up all over our house these days.

No, we are not potty training.

Baby girl figured out how useful a stool is for a toddler and started using one at Meme and Topher’s house in Colorado.

When we got home she quickly learned how to pick up and carry this “potty stool” all over the house.

She brings it in the kitchen to stand next to me while I do dishes or make a meal.

She uses it to climb up on the big stools at the breakfast bar.

She uses it for things I didn’t know you would need to use a stool for…just because she can.

We also have one in the kids bathroom upstairs.

She carries that one all over, too.

It’s adorable…

When you’re not tripping over it in unexpected places.

home is…baby girl trying to be so big.

stop dreaming and start doing

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So, I thought some home improvement big box store used this phrase in a marketing campaign, but I can’t find it online. What I did find when I Googled the phrase was a lot of websites about how you should stop dreaming and start doing. And, a lot of the websites specifically talked about blogging.

I LOVE blogging. Since I started blogging in 2008 it has really been an outlet for me. The WordPress Post a Day 2011 Challenge has been a lot of fun and a good challenge! However, I find that I am writing a lot about what I am dreaming of doing. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in dreaming, but remember, I also believe in setting goals and the sense of accomplishment in achieving those goals by DOING!

I have a lot that I want to DO! I have a lot that I need to DO!

Here’s a little list:

  • Finish our photo album from 2010
  • Swap out the “cat closet” with the laundry room closet
  • Paint the kids bathroom white
  • Paint the master bedroom
  • Hang artwork in the little guys room
  • Finish hanging artwork in baby girls room
  • Family photo collage wall
  • Original artwork collage wall
  • Move dining room chandelier so it is centered over the table
  • Build platform for tree/playhouse and build playhouse
  • Do some landscaping (even if it is just planting some veggies, flowers, and hanging baskets)
  • Paint chalkboard for powder bathroom
  • Paint chalkboard for dining room
  • Paint (or buy) desktop for Ryan’s office
  • Hang awards and artwork in Ryan’s office

And, this is just what I can think of off the top of my head.

I still have lots more I want to write about on my blog, too. I want to write some stories about the past, keep a major focus on the present, and occasionally write about my dreams for the future.

But for now I want to start doing.

I will still have a blog post each day, but there may be fewer words. You may see a lot of pictures…about what I am doing.

And, about what WE are doing.

Don’t worry, the present will be my focus! If we have a super fun day and I take a lot of great photos, you will see them! If we actually finish a project and I think it is blog worthy, you will see it! When the little guy says something funny, cute or endearing you will read about it!

Let’s call it Post a Day 2011 Lite.

home is…doing.

get moving…

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…it’s Monday!

And, a happy Monday morning to all of you!

First of all, I want to thank you all for reading my little old blog! It is a pleasure to write it and chronicle this stage of my family’s life. I hope you are enjoying it as much as we are!

This morning I am going to be a little random, but we are eventually going to get moving!

Last night we had some fun snuggling before bed…

Baby girl is still sleeping…it’s 8:30 in the morning! I took her to Urgent Care yesterday because she has had a bad cough for a couple of weeks and I just wanted to get it checked out. Everything checked out clear and normal, so it’s just a darn cold. Last night was the first in about 4 nights that she did not cough her way through sleep. I think we all slept better last night. Well, except for the fact that the little guy visited and stayed in our bed for half of the night. He has woken up the last two nights and ended up in our bed due to scary noises and scary dreams.

Today we’re going to a swim lesson for the little guy. He took one session of swim lessons when he was about 6 months old and since then we haven’t been in the water much. We will have the outdoor pool to go to at our heath club this summer so we thought it would be a good idea to get the kids in swim lessons. We will also be visiting Ryan’s family in Rochester, NY this summer and his sister, who lives across the street from his parents (yes, like “Everybody Loves Raymond”), has a pool that I am sure we will spend some time in!

This morning I also made the reservation for our 4th Annual Playgroup Birthday Party! Since the kids (all of our oldest kids) turned 1 year old we have had a group birthday party for all of them. The first two years one of the families hosted it at their house (we hosted the 2nd Annual) and since then our group has grown so much due to new additions that we have done it at a local park. Everybody brings something to eat and drink, the kids play, and we do a gift exchange. It is so much fun! I am already hoping for perfect weather!

This week is going to be rainy! As the old adage goes…April showers bring May flowers! Or, if you live in the Pacific Northwest…November, December, January, February, March and April showers bring May flowers, and then more rain until our official start of Summer…the 4th of July!

home is…Monday mornings that are not rushed.

bitsa

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From Urban Dictionary:

“Back in the Saddle Again” – meaning back to work or whatever you are supposed to be doing. It indicates a state of readiness to get down to work after a break.

I was pretty much out of commission last week, but now I am ready to get bitsa. {this is my own use of the word in context}

home is…being ready to get bitsa.


{comfort food} garlic chicken soup

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So, now that I am beginning to feel like I am back in the land of the living I thought I would cook a batch of garlic chicken soup to really kick this walking pneumonia’s butt!

I researched recipes online and came across this one here:

DR. IRWIN ZIMENT’S PRESCRIPTION GARLIC CHICKEN SOUP FOR COLDS & COUGHS

28         ounces of chicken broth

1            bulb garlic (about 15 cloves)

5            sprigs parsley, minced

6            sprigs cilantro, minced

1            teaspoon lemon pepper

1            teaspoon minced mint leaves

1            teaspoon minced basil leaves

1            teaspoon curry powder

Peel the garlic cloves and place them with the other ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil and simmer 30 minutes. Inhale the fumes of the soup during preparation. Drink the soup, one cup at the beginning of each meal, until it’s finished. (The soup can be strained after simmering if one doesn’t care to eat the herbs.) Add chile pepper flakes or vegetables to taste.

I am not exactly sure who Irwin Ziment is, but I came across this book that he co-wrote about Herbal Medicine, too.

Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine

At any rate, I am going to alter the recipe a bit because I don’t have all the ingredients (specifically the fresh parsley, cilantro, mint and basil). I will use dried herbs, add some onion, celery and carrots, and double the amount of garlic.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

And, here are some fun facts about garlic found on the same website as the recipe:

• There is an ancient Telugu proverb that says: Garlic is as good as ten mothers. (Telugu is one of the languages of India.)

• A 17th century writer summed it up with this statement: “Our doctor is a clove of garlic.”

• In 1858, Louis Pasteur noted that bacteria died when they were doused with garlic.

• At the turn of the century, garlic was the drug of choice for tuberculosis.

• Albert Schweitzer used garlic to treat cholera and typhus.

• During World War II, British physicians treated battle wounds with garlic.

• Several studies say that garlic is packed with chemical compounds that can boost the immune system.

• Garlic is said to have a soothing effect on the respiratory system.

• The average clove contains five calories, vitamins B1, 2 and 3 and vitamin C, plus the minerals calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and germanium.

Last, but not least, I have a funny/interesting story to tell about garlic and a hotel room from my days in hospitality design…I’ll save that for another blog post someday.

home is…homemade garlic chicken soup to cure a cold (or walking pneumonia).

recovery

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Yesterday I received an e-mail from the doctor I saw at ZoomCare on Sunday.

Due to her follow up, she somewhat redeemed herself for her doctors note comment.

Here is part of the email I received (she tried calling, but couldn’t get through for some reason):

“…I am emailing you to see how you are doing, see if your ears and chest are starting to feel better, and how you are tolerating the medication. I hope you have had a chance to rest, although I realize that is difficult for a mom.  If your chest is not feeling better, we may want to order a chest X ray, especially if you have persistent fevers or your general health is not slowly improving. It often takes 7-14 days to recover from walking pneumonia…”

Pretty nice follow up from and “urgent care” clinic.

I am pleased.

home is…recovery.

that’s not fair!

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Normally, on a Monday, I would write a “get moving…it’s Monday!” post.

Today I don’t feel like getting moving.

I’m tired.

I’m sick.

I’m tired of being sick.

I’m sick of being tired.

I’m also frustrated and a little mad.

I worked outside of the home for many years before having kids. I also worked outside (and from) my home with the little guy for 6 months before I decided to become a full time stay-at-home-mom.

No job that I have ever had has been more demanding than the job I currently have. It is physically, mentally and emotionally draining at times.

Now, here is my reason for being frustrated and a little mad.

Yesterday when I was at the doctors she asked if I stay at home or work outside the home.

I told her I stay at home.

She said, “Oh good. If you had to go to work I would have written your employer a note. You need to rest for a good 2-3 days until the antibiotics really kick in.”

I said, “You could write my husband a note.”

She laughed.

I was joking, but also kind of serious.

How do I actually rest with a 1 year old and a 3 year old at home?!

My husband stepped in yesterday and took care of the kids all day so I could rest. That was one day of rest. The doctor said I need 2-3 days of rest.

This is what I would be able to do if I worked outside the home:

I would call in sick and, if needed, give my employer the note from the doctor. My kids would go to daycare or stay with a nanny (as they would usually do if I worked outside the home) and I would be able to rest.

My husband provides for our family. When he is not traveling or out seeing clients locally he is working from his home office. He helps out when I am sick when he can, but rarely can he take a full day to give me a full day of rest.

I guess what frustrates me the most is that the doctor actually thought I would be able to get some rest because I “stay at home”.

I’m really just complaining, aren’t I? I mean, stay-at-home-mom’s have always had to deal with this problem.

Well, like the little guy says a lot lately, “That’s not fair!”

home is…the fact that life is not always fair.

sick of being sick

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I haven’t been to the doctor in years.

I went to Urgent Care one time shortly after we moved to Oregon.

I had a cough for more than 3 weeks.

I had bronchitis.

I’ve had colds, but they would get better.

This one feels like it is getting worse.

I had hoped I would come home from Colorado and feel better.

I thought it might be allergies.

It’s not.

My ears hurt, I’m coughing more.

I am really weak and tired.

I made an appointment to go to Urgent Care.

I hate to go because they will probably tell me it is just a cold and that I need to drink fluids and rest.

Easier said than done when you are a stay-at-home mom.

The rest part, that is.

I’ll let you know what the diagnosis is…stay tuned.

{By the way, I was supposed to run in the Race for the Roses today and I am totally bummed that I missed it!}

home is…being sick enough to go to the doctor.

{colorado} day 7

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Friday morning Topher (my dad) stayed home to have a leisurely breakfast and spend time with the kids and me before he had to go down to Denver for work.

Topher took the kids outside to say good morning to the deer as the sun was rising.

We enjoyed breakfast together.

And did a little bumper throwing for the dogs.

Baby girl and Meme played upstairs while the little guy helped Topher get ready for work.

While baby girl took a nap the little guy made up games while playing outside on the decks.

And, we took a walk in the open space to look for treasures and pick up trash blown around by the wind.

We made it to the airport just fine on Friday afternoon. Meme helped us get all our “stuff” inside DIA, get checked in, and get to security. The little guy was very upset about saying goodbye to Meme. He was so brave getting through security and helped my take care of baby girl while I got all of out things together to get on the train and to Concourse A for our flight. {My mom told me she was watching through a window and wished she had her camera because it was so cute how he was taking care of his baby sister.}

The flight was rather uneventful. Baby girl cried a bit, the little guy asked “are we there yet?” multiple times, but they were very well behaved for the most part. I even figured out that the three of us CAN fit into an airplane lavatory! It is busy when you travel alone with two young kids. Definitely no time for reading magazines, sleeping, listening to music, or working on your computer.

We were the first ones onto the plane and the last ones off.

When we got off the jetway the kids were ready to RUN!

We finally made it to the security exit and they were holding hands when the little guy saw Poppa.

He yelled, “Poppa!” and was off running!

Baby girl figured out who he was and ran to him as well. I wish I had been behind him with a camera!

It felt good to be home.

The little guy was sitting in his cair in the playroom this morning after breakfast. He was quiet and I walked over to him.

He said, “I want to be at Meme and Tophers.”

I said, “It’s sad when we have to say goodbye to the people we love, isn’t it?”

We hugged and then talked about how we would see them again in July when they come to visit us. For today, July is not soon enough, but we will get back to life and July will be here before the little guy knows it.

Until then, we can look at the photos (all 600+ of them) and relive our wonder-filled adventure in Colorado!

home is…making memories.