1. I'd promised myself I was going to start using more pictures on my blog. However, I don't understand the whole photo-sourcing things on blogs when I look at the Wiki sites where you can pull pictures. It doesn't work like MLA or Turabian, therefore I don't understand. My photography skills aren't good, but at least the images are all my own. However... I'm really bad about actually getting the pictures taken. You see the downward spiral, don't you?
2. The kids have been getting up early again. Just a few blessed weeks, they slept in until 7am or later. Now it's all early mornings. It's seriously cramping my style. But then, I can't complain when the early morning is filled with laughter and squeals as they play "Lion" with Daddy. (Basically, Lion consists of Nick roaring and chasing the kids, then suddenly running off to hide for them to come find him, where it starts all over again with the roaring.) Yesterday was a particularly happy morning as I made his sandwiches for work and they played for several minutes before he had to go out the door. I love this life as a family.
3. P90X really is kicking my butt. I've lost so much of what I gained last time. Let it be a lesson to me. Today is the first day I haven't woken in a great deal of muscle fatigue and pain, and that's because I could do very little yoga yesterday. My muscles just won't support me. 4am is kicking my butt, too. Nick has a vacation day today, so we're working out during naptime, and we slept in. Suddenly, 5am isn't such a bad time to get up. Unless, of course, your not-yet 2 year old is crying to get up....
4. Can I just say that it's been a rough week? I'm trying very hard not to complain or go on about the bad things, but to focus on the good things. Still, it needs to be said: it's been a very rough week. So much on the heart. One of the young men in our congregation is in ICU with a blood clot on his brain; please, please pray for him. My grandfather was in the emergency room, unresponsive, yesterday. He's ok now, but we are realizing more and more that his remaining time here on earth is coming short. Our congregation lost a very sweet lady this week. I think she was ready to go. From those closest to her (my parents are among those; my mom greatly misses her friend), she'd begun to take on that look, deep in her eyes, like she was really in another place, that her heart and mind were already in heaven. It made me think about the way we should really live. Shouldn't we all be so heaven-minded that our hearts are already there? Not so much, obviously, that we forget to live, as Paul admonished the Thessalonians. But how often, how many of us are still so focused on this earthly life that our coming after-life is a bit of a foreign concept? As rough as this week has been, I'm reminded that it's only temporary. The other side of the coin is apparent, too: as much as I sigh at night, grateful that the day is done, time is fleeting. There is so much kingdom work to be done. Am I about the Lord's business? Am I so heaven-minded that I see the gaps of the people who do not yet have one foot in the door, i.e. know their Lord?
5. After such a weighty question, I'd like to leave the Quick 5 on a high note. Isaiah 12 is such a beautiful chapter. If I were a painter, I'd want to paint something like that. If I were a singer, I'd want to sing an aria worthy of it. I'm just a humble "writer", and not even one good enough to truly pay it homage. It's like the first warm day of spring, after a cold and dry winter, that day when suddenly you feel like you've come alive again, just like the flowers and fields and trees. It's the refreshing shock of cool when you jump into a pool on a hot sunny day, or the soothing warmth of a hot chocolate, sprinkled with marshmallows, after a day in the cold and snow. It's like that. The passage gives us a picture of restoration, of a person and a people once estranged from God and brought close again. Once, they were under God's wrath, and now they are wrapped in His comfort and salvation. Instead of cursing, they sing praises to His name. This is the difference between holding onto our sin and surrendering to His good will. Isaiah wrote it to Israel, but it is true for anyone who would declare Him Lord. Please, take a moment to read it here and to meditate on the rich goodness that comes from the Almighty Lord God. May it fill your day with comfort and peace and the beauty of our LORD:
Isaiah 12, from the NASB:
Then you will say on that day,
"I will give thanks to You, O LORD:
For although You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away,
and You comfort me.
"Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and my son.
And He has become my salvation."
Therefore you will joyously draw water
From the springs of salvation.
And in that day you will say,
"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name.
Make known His deeds among the peoples;
Make them remember that His name is exalted."
Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellet things;
Let this be known throughout the earth.
Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Amen.
Showing posts with label Quick 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quick 5. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2013
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday Quick 5
1. You can tell school is out: there are kids all over the place. Yesterday, as I was driving to the grocery store, I had three different sets of kids fail to "stop and look both ways" as I was passing them. I'm glad I was looking! I also hope that school being out means more opportunity to spend more time with my teacher-friends. There are several I would love to see more of. While I'm not a big fan of the high temperatures, I think I can appreciate summer for the social time it can afford.
2. The garden is planted! Nick spent much of is time last weekend getting it finished. We need to go back to the farmer's market for a few more tomato plants and he doesn't yet have any lettuce planted, but otherwise, it's all in. We'll see what grows. I have several garden posts already planned but I need to figure out where the usb port on this computer is before I can upload the pictures I've taken. More on that to come.
3. It's been three days since my last Pepsi. If I make it through the afternoon, it will be four full days, 96 hours. This in itself is not a huge accomplishment, yet. Sadly, my longest stint without a soda is five days. Yes, once upon a time, I rarely ever drank a soda. Then, I took it up again when I found it constantly around at my parents' house. (Viscous cycle: Mom bought it because I drank it, and I drank it because she bought it!) But now, it's time to stop. I told Nick that I was giving up soda except when we have pizza. Now, I should clarify, and to him as well, that I only mean to have it when we order pizza, at a restaurant or for delivery. We have pizza quite often. I love pizza. This summer we are going to grill pizza and I'm hoping to convince him to skip the meat and load them up with a produce. On those occasions I'll stick to water or some drink where I can control the sugar content. Soda, from now on, is a special occasion.
4. A couple friends and I have signed up with a food co-op called Azure Standard. We'd read several times about this West Coast-based coop on several food blogs, especially those following the whole foods or traditional diet movements. While I am not certain we could ever make the leap to a strictly traditional model, such as in Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, I do appreciate some of the principles of a whole foods diet. Such as, make whatever you can from scratch and buying little to no-processed food. I read Mark Bittman's Food Matters a few years ago and am sold on the fact that processed foods are not that friendly to our health. I know I should pick up other tomes on the subject, such as Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, but I can't imaging that I'd make it through at this stage of life. Maybe when the kid's are a little bit older. Still, I read several blogs that embrace the whole foods or slow foods, or whatever you'd like to call it, philosophy. And they have lead us to Azure Standard. Mostly, I like the idea of getting food in bulk at a good price. Today we'll hopefully pick up our first order and learn about how this works.
5. I have found myself in a season where I am spiritually hungry. Maybe that's because it's a season of change: learning to be a family of four, being a mother of two, trying to become healthy, learning to be an "urban agrarian". Maybe it's just that it's past time for a spiritual growth spurt. I don't know. But I find myself gripped by a strong desire for a small women's accountability group: a place to be real, to be encouraged, and to make fast friends. Someplace where I am challenged and refreshed. I am not yet sure where to find this or how to get it, but I'm on the look-out. I have some hopes for a lead. Until then, I'll keep plugging away and keep praying that God will use what is in place in my life already.
Hope you're having a great Friday! It is chilly and rainy here. I desperately wish I was cooking down some banana butter or bubbling some marmalade on the stove. As I told a friend, today's the kind of day to have something sweet and sticky percolating on the stove. Alas, I didn't have the foresight. As much as I wanted a rainy day like this today, the forecast was sunny. So I made plans for the zoo instead of doing prep work for orange vanilla marmalade or going to the store for the bananas. However, my plans have also changed for tomorrow, so maybe I'll cut some citrus rind tonight and set it to soaking so I might can orange tangy goodness tomorrow. Happy Weekend!
2. The garden is planted! Nick spent much of is time last weekend getting it finished. We need to go back to the farmer's market for a few more tomato plants and he doesn't yet have any lettuce planted, but otherwise, it's all in. We'll see what grows. I have several garden posts already planned but I need to figure out where the usb port on this computer is before I can upload the pictures I've taken. More on that to come.
3. It's been three days since my last Pepsi. If I make it through the afternoon, it will be four full days, 96 hours. This in itself is not a huge accomplishment, yet. Sadly, my longest stint without a soda is five days. Yes, once upon a time, I rarely ever drank a soda. Then, I took it up again when I found it constantly around at my parents' house. (Viscous cycle: Mom bought it because I drank it, and I drank it because she bought it!) But now, it's time to stop. I told Nick that I was giving up soda except when we have pizza. Now, I should clarify, and to him as well, that I only mean to have it when we order pizza, at a restaurant or for delivery. We have pizza quite often. I love pizza. This summer we are going to grill pizza and I'm hoping to convince him to skip the meat and load them up with a produce. On those occasions I'll stick to water or some drink where I can control the sugar content. Soda, from now on, is a special occasion.
4. A couple friends and I have signed up with a food co-op called Azure Standard. We'd read several times about this West Coast-based coop on several food blogs, especially those following the whole foods or traditional diet movements. While I am not certain we could ever make the leap to a strictly traditional model, such as in Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, I do appreciate some of the principles of a whole foods diet. Such as, make whatever you can from scratch and buying little to no-processed food. I read Mark Bittman's Food Matters a few years ago and am sold on the fact that processed foods are not that friendly to our health. I know I should pick up other tomes on the subject, such as Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, but I can't imaging that I'd make it through at this stage of life. Maybe when the kid's are a little bit older. Still, I read several blogs that embrace the whole foods or slow foods, or whatever you'd like to call it, philosophy. And they have lead us to Azure Standard. Mostly, I like the idea of getting food in bulk at a good price. Today we'll hopefully pick up our first order and learn about how this works.
5. I have found myself in a season where I am spiritually hungry. Maybe that's because it's a season of change: learning to be a family of four, being a mother of two, trying to become healthy, learning to be an "urban agrarian". Maybe it's just that it's past time for a spiritual growth spurt. I don't know. But I find myself gripped by a strong desire for a small women's accountability group: a place to be real, to be encouraged, and to make fast friends. Someplace where I am challenged and refreshed. I am not yet sure where to find this or how to get it, but I'm on the look-out. I have some hopes for a lead. Until then, I'll keep plugging away and keep praying that God will use what is in place in my life already.
Hope you're having a great Friday! It is chilly and rainy here. I desperately wish I was cooking down some banana butter or bubbling some marmalade on the stove. As I told a friend, today's the kind of day to have something sweet and sticky percolating on the stove. Alas, I didn't have the foresight. As much as I wanted a rainy day like this today, the forecast was sunny. So I made plans for the zoo instead of doing prep work for orange vanilla marmalade or going to the store for the bananas. However, my plans have also changed for tomorrow, so maybe I'll cut some citrus rind tonight and set it to soaking so I might can orange tangy goodness tomorrow. Happy Weekend!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday Quick 5
Some good news, some not so good news.
1. Eliza and Simon both had check-ups with the doctor this week. I went in thinking that they were both going to have to have shots, but thankfully that wasn't the case! Eliza only had to have one shot (it's not unheard of for us to undergo four or five shots at one pop) and Simon doesn't actually begin his baby shots until next month. Whew! Both of them are growing very well. Eliza had lost some weight from her virus, but nothing to be concerned about. She's still mid-range for her age group on weight and height. Simon, too, is midrange for all of the above. I guess we've got two average kids.
2. Then again, maybe not. Simon can hold his head up for minutes at a time and he's begun cooing! Both a little ahead of schedule. He can also track with an object a little bit. The doctor was excited when he cooed for her and told me that they typically don't coo until at least two months (he's six weeks today). I confess: I was a proud mama! Eliza, too, showing signs of development. She can now string together two words, though most of the time it's "Oh no", etc. She now says, "I don't know", though it sounds more like, "Ah no no." She puts her hands up in the air and shakes her head when she says it and I just about swoon.
3. I had hoped to put up pictures of a planted garden by now, but it hasn't happened. I've told Nick that tomorrow we have to be planted. Otherwise, I doubt we'll have much success. We may not have much this year anyways. We shall have to see. Our plan is to take a trip to the Farmer's Market to look for some established plants and then plant tomorrow, rain permitting. I've been considering devoting a day each week to post about our garden, its progress and produce, and am already starting to plan some posts. But it won't happen if we don't actually get it planted!
4. A friend of mine who lives overseas is due to come home next month for a little while. I'm ridiculously excited, especially as she has promised to come visit me. She's a great organizer, and I'm not. But I've been inspired by some posts I've read in the blogosphere, and well.... I think I have a few projects for us to work on while she's here. I think it will be fun!
5. My grandfather has been in the hospital this week. We thought possibly his liver was beginning to fail. We began preparing for the worst, but the worst seems to be put on hold. Not pushed back, per se. They don't actually know what's going on. His billirubin (that toxin that causes jaundice) is very high. They did a scan and thought they saw "sludge" in his gallbladder. Only, he hasn't got one. It as removed a few years ago. So, it could simply be a blockage; it could be liver failure. It could be a fluke. We don't know, but the doctors are talking about discharging him. In one way, it's a relief: he's still with us. Yet it does make me think, we might go through this sort of thing a lot before he finally passes. It's going to happen one day, likely sooner rather than later. He's 91. But the thing that allows me to remain calm is knowing that he'll be "going Home" to be with the Lord Jesus. I don't think any of us want to say goodbye to him just yet, but it is a relief knowing that I can be confident in saying that he truly will be in a better place. After all, Heaven is going to be very cool.
That's my 5. How about yours? Anything happening in the lives of your family and loved ones?
1. Eliza and Simon both had check-ups with the doctor this week. I went in thinking that they were both going to have to have shots, but thankfully that wasn't the case! Eliza only had to have one shot (it's not unheard of for us to undergo four or five shots at one pop) and Simon doesn't actually begin his baby shots until next month. Whew! Both of them are growing very well. Eliza had lost some weight from her virus, but nothing to be concerned about. She's still mid-range for her age group on weight and height. Simon, too, is midrange for all of the above. I guess we've got two average kids.
2. Then again, maybe not. Simon can hold his head up for minutes at a time and he's begun cooing! Both a little ahead of schedule. He can also track with an object a little bit. The doctor was excited when he cooed for her and told me that they typically don't coo until at least two months (he's six weeks today). I confess: I was a proud mama! Eliza, too, showing signs of development. She can now string together two words, though most of the time it's "Oh no", etc. She now says, "I don't know", though it sounds more like, "Ah no no." She puts her hands up in the air and shakes her head when she says it and I just about swoon.
3. I had hoped to put up pictures of a planted garden by now, but it hasn't happened. I've told Nick that tomorrow we have to be planted. Otherwise, I doubt we'll have much success. We may not have much this year anyways. We shall have to see. Our plan is to take a trip to the Farmer's Market to look for some established plants and then plant tomorrow, rain permitting. I've been considering devoting a day each week to post about our garden, its progress and produce, and am already starting to plan some posts. But it won't happen if we don't actually get it planted!
4. A friend of mine who lives overseas is due to come home next month for a little while. I'm ridiculously excited, especially as she has promised to come visit me. She's a great organizer, and I'm not. But I've been inspired by some posts I've read in the blogosphere, and well.... I think I have a few projects for us to work on while she's here. I think it will be fun!
5. My grandfather has been in the hospital this week. We thought possibly his liver was beginning to fail. We began preparing for the worst, but the worst seems to be put on hold. Not pushed back, per se. They don't actually know what's going on. His billirubin (that toxin that causes jaundice) is very high. They did a scan and thought they saw "sludge" in his gallbladder. Only, he hasn't got one. It as removed a few years ago. So, it could simply be a blockage; it could be liver failure. It could be a fluke. We don't know, but the doctors are talking about discharging him. In one way, it's a relief: he's still with us. Yet it does make me think, we might go through this sort of thing a lot before he finally passes. It's going to happen one day, likely sooner rather than later. He's 91. But the thing that allows me to remain calm is knowing that he'll be "going Home" to be with the Lord Jesus. I don't think any of us want to say goodbye to him just yet, but it is a relief knowing that I can be confident in saying that he truly will be in a better place. After all, Heaven is going to be very cool.
That's my 5. How about yours? Anything happening in the lives of your family and loved ones?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Friday Quick 5
1. What a week! It's been a rough one. It started out rough and has only gone down from there. There were some stressors, some missing important documents that had me turning the house upside down in their search. However, that was only the beginning of the week, and the rest of it was draining and difficult. Much of this has been due to the fact that Eliza has had a combination of a virus that has given her high fevers, a sore throat, and aches and pains and irritable grumpiness as well as a rash on her poor little bottom. She's been a very uncomfortable girl. The virus basically has had to plague itself out, and we think she may finally have beaten it. Unfortunately, we are going to have to call the doctor again: we've medicated the rash and it looks much better, but there are some other things popping up that have us concerned. Poor kiddo. I'm sure she's as ready as I am for her to be healthy again!
2. We had a nice Mother's Day: I got to enjoy church, listening to two missionaries we support whom I know (or have known) personally, lunch with my sister and her family, and then my parents joined us for dinner. Nick grilled the whole thing and I simply did the accompaniments: steak, grilled corn on the cob, and seasoned potatoes roasted in a foil packet on the grill. We'll have to do that again. We also enjoyed watching the movie Red with my folks. You always know my dad's really into a movie when he has an outburst reaction. Case in point: there was a sudden appearance (someone jumping out with a weapon) and Dad yelped and jumped a little in his seat. You know he's into it when he does something like that.
3. Eliza and I got haircuts today. Sadly, she didn't enjoy hers as much as I enjoyed mine. In fact, she was so grumpy today that she cried through hers and barely let the stylist make sure her cut was straight. I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed mine and am loving the shorter 'do. I might try to finagle Eliza into taking a picture with me and we'll show off or cuts.
4. The computer in our bedroom, where I do most of my writing, reading, and definitely uploading my photos, has crashed. Nick is going to have to reload Windows and our Software onto it. Which has seriously messed with my attempts to get back to my Bible-reading blog. And also really messes with my ability to load photos onto this blog. Talk about frustrating. Hopefully it will be up soon. I have plans.
5. Planting starts in the garden tomorrow. I'm totally excited. I would post pictures of that, too, except, well.... See the above note.
Have a good weekend, folks! After my week, I'm hoping to have one, too.
2. We had a nice Mother's Day: I got to enjoy church, listening to two missionaries we support whom I know (or have known) personally, lunch with my sister and her family, and then my parents joined us for dinner. Nick grilled the whole thing and I simply did the accompaniments: steak, grilled corn on the cob, and seasoned potatoes roasted in a foil packet on the grill. We'll have to do that again. We also enjoyed watching the movie Red with my folks. You always know my dad's really into a movie when he has an outburst reaction. Case in point: there was a sudden appearance (someone jumping out with a weapon) and Dad yelped and jumped a little in his seat. You know he's into it when he does something like that.
3. Eliza and I got haircuts today. Sadly, she didn't enjoy hers as much as I enjoyed mine. In fact, she was so grumpy today that she cried through hers and barely let the stylist make sure her cut was straight. I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed mine and am loving the shorter 'do. I might try to finagle Eliza into taking a picture with me and we'll show off or cuts.
4. The computer in our bedroom, where I do most of my writing, reading, and definitely uploading my photos, has crashed. Nick is going to have to reload Windows and our Software onto it. Which has seriously messed with my attempts to get back to my Bible-reading blog. And also really messes with my ability to load photos onto this blog. Talk about frustrating. Hopefully it will be up soon. I have plans.
5. Planting starts in the garden tomorrow. I'm totally excited. I would post pictures of that, too, except, well.... See the above note.
Have a good weekend, folks! After my week, I'm hoping to have one, too.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Friday Quick 5
1. Have you noticed how beautiful the weather has become, nearly country wide? If you're in the Midwest, it's been gorgeous this week (especially after all the violent storms a little further East of where I am). I love these 60-70 degree days. That's perfection in my mind. I am shuddering at the thought of 90 degrees next week.
2. Eliza is growing. This may not sound too monumental, until you realize the milestone she's reached: she can now reach on top of the dining room table, the cold water tap on the bathroom sink, and a variety of other incredibly inconvenient places (my desk?). It's disconcerting to turn around and find her walking into the room holding something you were sure was well out of her reach. We now have to redefine "out of her reach". Similarly, Mr. Simon is growing, too. He has lost that newborn look and now looks like a baby. Didn't realize there was a difference? I didn't either, until I had children, but it is quite a difference! Newborns are small and their faces slightly squooshed, and their eyes seem to be more pupil than anything. Simon's face has filled out and firmed up and he looks much like I imagine he'll look like at six months or nine months. He changes so fast that every day he seems different.
3. This past week I tried my hand at making some homemade items as a condolence gift for my brother-in-law, who lost his grandfather. I made a "breakfast-in-a-basket" themed gift (though in reality it was breakfast-in-a-Walmart-bag. Yeah, I'm non-Martha Stewart like that). I made granola and a jar of pancake mix, but what I really enjoyed doing was making some homemade pancake syrups. I made a honey-orange syrup, a molasses-cinnamon syrup, and a buttered maple syrup. I tasted a little of the leftovers after I poured them into jars. Can I say, yummy? It got me to thinking: I'd love to do that kind of thing more often, offering a homemade gift to someone during a time of crisis or celebration. Don't get me wrong; it was a difficult day, juggling two babies, pots on the stoves, trays in the oven, making labels, getting lunch... I recognize what it will mean if I do it again (and again) and also what it will mean when I want to do some canning and preserving this summer/fall (some? I want to do a lot! I dream of shelves of glassy, suctioned-closed jars). But I enjoyed doing it for my sister-in-law and her husband, as I thought of them and their family during the entire day while they commiserated with family and friends over their loss. I may not be able to be a part of our prayer-shawl ministry, which does something similar, but maybe I could do this?
4. I've realized that homemaking has become a bit of an obsession for me (one that sadly does not work out in practicality right now), and that my blog has begun to overflow with it. I'm so looking forward to our garden producing anything and I dream of preserving and freezing and canning my rear off this summer. I'm reading lots about it and trying to learn what I can before I do so I have a better handle of what I do in fact need to do. But it's funny how this blog has strayed from what I originally started it for: a place to share thoughts. Or maybe, it's just that my thoughts have taken a very different turn than when I first started here. After all, I'm brewing on a post called "Postpartum Me", which I obviously never would have written before I married and had children. I have to ask myself, am I okay with this? With this new direction, or do I want to go back to my former roots? Were those even that good? Do I mind the fact that I'm mostly writing about my children, about my garden, about my housekeeping (yikes), or do I really want to dwell on some deeper things? Perhaps, both. Perhaps there's room for deeper self-reflection and contemplation as well as newsy/householdy things at the same time. It's something I'm mulling over.
5. It's Mother's Day this weekend! It has completely snuck up on me. I can't believe it's the second weekend of May already! (I can't believe Simon is four weeks old already, though!) There are lots of things that could be said about Mother's Day, and while I'd like to think there would be time for a post on that topic alone, I doubt I'll get the time to sit down and pound it out on Sunday, or this weekend at all. So, let me just say to any Mom reading this post, congrats friend on that status. It's a blessing as well as a challenge, isn't it? And I hope you have a wonderful day being blessed by your loved ones around you. And to my own Mom: you're wonderful, and I love you. Small words, but they really do mean so much. Anything else just falls short of how good you are. Happy Mother's Day, folks!
2. Eliza is growing. This may not sound too monumental, until you realize the milestone she's reached: she can now reach on top of the dining room table, the cold water tap on the bathroom sink, and a variety of other incredibly inconvenient places (my desk?). It's disconcerting to turn around and find her walking into the room holding something you were sure was well out of her reach. We now have to redefine "out of her reach". Similarly, Mr. Simon is growing, too. He has lost that newborn look and now looks like a baby. Didn't realize there was a difference? I didn't either, until I had children, but it is quite a difference! Newborns are small and their faces slightly squooshed, and their eyes seem to be more pupil than anything. Simon's face has filled out and firmed up and he looks much like I imagine he'll look like at six months or nine months. He changes so fast that every day he seems different.
3. This past week I tried my hand at making some homemade items as a condolence gift for my brother-in-law, who lost his grandfather. I made a "breakfast-in-a-basket" themed gift (though in reality it was breakfast-in-a-Walmart-bag. Yeah, I'm non-Martha Stewart like that). I made granola and a jar of pancake mix, but what I really enjoyed doing was making some homemade pancake syrups. I made a honey-orange syrup, a molasses-cinnamon syrup, and a buttered maple syrup. I tasted a little of the leftovers after I poured them into jars. Can I say, yummy? It got me to thinking: I'd love to do that kind of thing more often, offering a homemade gift to someone during a time of crisis or celebration. Don't get me wrong; it was a difficult day, juggling two babies, pots on the stoves, trays in the oven, making labels, getting lunch... I recognize what it will mean if I do it again (and again) and also what it will mean when I want to do some canning and preserving this summer/fall (some? I want to do a lot! I dream of shelves of glassy, suctioned-closed jars). But I enjoyed doing it for my sister-in-law and her husband, as I thought of them and their family during the entire day while they commiserated with family and friends over their loss. I may not be able to be a part of our prayer-shawl ministry, which does something similar, but maybe I could do this?
4. I've realized that homemaking has become a bit of an obsession for me (one that sadly does not work out in practicality right now), and that my blog has begun to overflow with it. I'm so looking forward to our garden producing anything and I dream of preserving and freezing and canning my rear off this summer. I'm reading lots about it and trying to learn what I can before I do so I have a better handle of what I do in fact need to do. But it's funny how this blog has strayed from what I originally started it for: a place to share thoughts. Or maybe, it's just that my thoughts have taken a very different turn than when I first started here. After all, I'm brewing on a post called "Postpartum Me", which I obviously never would have written before I married and had children. I have to ask myself, am I okay with this? With this new direction, or do I want to go back to my former roots? Were those even that good? Do I mind the fact that I'm mostly writing about my children, about my garden, about my housekeeping (yikes), or do I really want to dwell on some deeper things? Perhaps, both. Perhaps there's room for deeper self-reflection and contemplation as well as newsy/householdy things at the same time. It's something I'm mulling over.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday Quick 5, a day late
I didn't manage to sit down and do anything on the computer yesterday, so here it is while my kiddos nap (for however long that might last).
1. Obviously, I am still struggling to find some sort of routine, especially when it comes to things I want to do. Reading, writing, poking through blogs and cookbooks (and now gardening advice) have all taken a backseat. It's not that I don't have plenty of time on my bum: after all, I'm feeding an infant every few hours. It's just that I can't do some of it with just on hand, and often can't stay awake even if I can use just the one hand. (It's been more than once I've woken up to realize I'd fallen asleep, and Simon was done nursing, and Eliza had disappeared to some quiet spot in the apartment...) I know this is nothing unusual, that there will be an end to this time; after all, Simon isn't even a month old yet. But i wish I could be back to that routine. Which brings me to number two.
2. Of all the things that represented how our life ran before Simon arrived on the scene, I only miss two. One is the routine, or at leas the ability to accomplish things, usually during certain times. But the other, even more than that, is the one-on-one time I had with Eliza. I miss sitting on the floor and playing with her, see her big open-mouthed grin and hearing her laugh with delight. It was just the other day that that laugh came back; I hadn't realized how absent it had been and how much I had missed it until I heard it again. I hope it's a sign that she's adjusting. But I miss those times, and I forsake accomplishing what I can during Simon's naps just to sit with her again.
3. I am not excited about hot weather, but I'm enjoying the return of spring-like weather to the neighborhood. In fact, I'm excited about it. Because once Nick has the yard under control, I am going shopping at the farmer's market. And I'm going to force him to pull out the grill. And I'm going to mix up some dough. And we're going to grill some pizza! I've always wanted to try this. I have friends who rave about it. Now that the summer months are here, now that we have a grill and a backyard, I hope we'll be grilling a lot. I've already told Nick this.
4. I really hate using the keyboard in the living room. It takes twice as long to write anything here because this remote keyboard is pretty, well, crappy for this purpose. It either misses keystrokes or holds them, and I have to correct it. A typical line from this keyboard would look something like this: OF COUrse once i try to sw a typical lne the thing decides to cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooprate. Mostly.
5. Work is still being done to get the garden ready. Nick was working on building the raised beds today. I hope to post pictures when they're done and ready to plant. I'm looking forward to having it planted and to start watching things grow!
1. Obviously, I am still struggling to find some sort of routine, especially when it comes to things I want to do. Reading, writing, poking through blogs and cookbooks (and now gardening advice) have all taken a backseat. It's not that I don't have plenty of time on my bum: after all, I'm feeding an infant every few hours. It's just that I can't do some of it with just on hand, and often can't stay awake even if I can use just the one hand. (It's been more than once I've woken up to realize I'd fallen asleep, and Simon was done nursing, and Eliza had disappeared to some quiet spot in the apartment...) I know this is nothing unusual, that there will be an end to this time; after all, Simon isn't even a month old yet. But i wish I could be back to that routine. Which brings me to number two.
2. Of all the things that represented how our life ran before Simon arrived on the scene, I only miss two. One is the routine, or at leas the ability to accomplish things, usually during certain times. But the other, even more than that, is the one-on-one time I had with Eliza. I miss sitting on the floor and playing with her, see her big open-mouthed grin and hearing her laugh with delight. It was just the other day that that laugh came back; I hadn't realized how absent it had been and how much I had missed it until I heard it again. I hope it's a sign that she's adjusting. But I miss those times, and I forsake accomplishing what I can during Simon's naps just to sit with her again.
3. I am not excited about hot weather, but I'm enjoying the return of spring-like weather to the neighborhood. In fact, I'm excited about it. Because once Nick has the yard under control, I am going shopping at the farmer's market. And I'm going to force him to pull out the grill. And I'm going to mix up some dough. And we're going to grill some pizza! I've always wanted to try this. I have friends who rave about it. Now that the summer months are here, now that we have a grill and a backyard, I hope we'll be grilling a lot. I've already told Nick this.
4. I really hate using the keyboard in the living room. It takes twice as long to write anything here because this remote keyboard is pretty, well, crappy for this purpose. It either misses keystrokes or holds them, and I have to correct it. A typical line from this keyboard would look something like this: OF COUrse once i try to sw a typical lne the thing decides to cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooprate. Mostly.
5. Work is still being done to get the garden ready. Nick was working on building the raised beds today. I hope to post pictures when they're done and ready to plant. I'm looking forward to having it planted and to start watching things grow!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday Quick 5--Baby Edition
*Note: this Quick 5 was supposed to be posted last week, but I wasn't able to get it done until... now. I've gone through and tried to edit accordingly, but I may have missed something. The postpartum brain isn't functioning as I would like it to.
1. HE'S HERE!! Simon Earl Kemper made his arrival on the scene two Fridays ago. He's beautiful. He really is. He's got the cutest, funniest little face and we are in love. Well, Mommy and Daddy unequivocally are. Eliza has her doubts. Birth stats: born Friday, April 8th, 11:56 pm. Weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, and measured 21.25 inches long, though the doctor's office didn't agree at his check up a few days later. Go figure.
2. The postpartum period, I have to say, is definitely not my favorite time of life. Simon is, and Eliza was, the sweetest little thing to ever hold and it's so nice to when they cuddle on your chest. But I really hate the lack of sleep, the pain and discomfort residual from labor, the emotional roller coaster as your hormones fight to return to a normal stasis, and the mountain we like to call the "adjustment period". I never feel more at a loss than at this time of life. I am grateful for the way it makes me pray harder and love on my family harder, but really, I count down the days until it's done. I know someone will try to tell me to "enjoy this time, because it will soon be gone," and believe me, I am loving cuddling with my little man and my baby girl just as they are now. But that does not mean I will be grateful when he's a little older, a little heftier, and can go longer between feedings, especially at night.
3. Eliza is definitely going through the transition period. There are times she really likes this new little creature, and times she really wants him to leave. We've been home [two weeks] now and I can see the reality that he's not temporary beginning to hit her. She's more likely to act out and has thrown her first few real tantrums. She is much more possessive of a lap once she gains it. But at other times she likes to hand Brother his binky, give him kisses, and at times hold him on her lap. She loves it when she finds him laying in accessible places, and tries to sit as close to him as possible (which often translates to on him) so she can hold his hand, touch his feet, and pat his head. It's a constant effort to make sure I don't leave them unattended together in case she might hurt him accidentally.
4. Simon, though, is proving to be a baby who likes human contact. He does not like to be left to lay on his own to stare at something interesting for any length of time. He doesn't like to lay in his cradle. He'd rather be laying on the couch next to a warm leg or in bed at night with Mama and Daddy. (Neither Mama or Daddy are proponents of co-sleeping, but in the middle of a sleep-deprived night, they're willing to make exceptions). It's something we're going to have to work on with him, as we don't want him to expect to be held constantly. It makes getting anything around here done very, very hard. *Simon is currently learning to like his cradle now. He'll sleep in it all day without fuss. It's nighttime we're struggling with.
5. Which brings me to my last post. After months of whipping myself into shape and working hard to get this place looking good.... it takes just a few postpartum days for that to crash down around my head. The place is a disaster. Things are piled everywhere. The clean laundry is still in baskets. The bathroom could use a wipe-down, dishes are all over the kitchen, and the floor... I don't want to talk about it. I've discovered that having things picked up is very nice, having most surfaces clear is lovely, but the floor has got to be clean. Thank you to my loving husband, who really is the most amazing man ever, otherwise this place would be far, far worse than it is. Far, far worse. He did a great deal of picking up and cleaning during his week at home. And I love him for that. Now that he's at work... I miss him tremendously and wish I could have him back home again. Here's looking forward to retirement some day, right?
1. HE'S HERE!! Simon Earl Kemper made his arrival on the scene two Fridays ago. He's beautiful. He really is. He's got the cutest, funniest little face and we are in love. Well, Mommy and Daddy unequivocally are. Eliza has her doubts. Birth stats: born Friday, April 8th, 11:56 pm. Weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, and measured 21.25 inches long, though the doctor's office didn't agree at his check up a few days later. Go figure.
2. The postpartum period, I have to say, is definitely not my favorite time of life. Simon is, and Eliza was, the sweetest little thing to ever hold and it's so nice to when they cuddle on your chest. But I really hate the lack of sleep, the pain and discomfort residual from labor, the emotional roller coaster as your hormones fight to return to a normal stasis, and the mountain we like to call the "adjustment period". I never feel more at a loss than at this time of life. I am grateful for the way it makes me pray harder and love on my family harder, but really, I count down the days until it's done. I know someone will try to tell me to "enjoy this time, because it will soon be gone," and believe me, I am loving cuddling with my little man and my baby girl just as they are now. But that does not mean I will be grateful when he's a little older, a little heftier, and can go longer between feedings, especially at night.
3. Eliza is definitely going through the transition period. There are times she really likes this new little creature, and times she really wants him to leave. We've been home [two weeks] now and I can see the reality that he's not temporary beginning to hit her. She's more likely to act out and has thrown her first few real tantrums. She is much more possessive of a lap once she gains it. But at other times she likes to hand Brother his binky, give him kisses, and at times hold him on her lap. She loves it when she finds him laying in accessible places, and tries to sit as close to him as possible (which often translates to on him) so she can hold his hand, touch his feet, and pat his head. It's a constant effort to make sure I don't leave them unattended together in case she might hurt him accidentally.
4. Simon, though, is proving to be a baby who likes human contact. He does not like to be left to lay on his own to stare at something interesting for any length of time. He doesn't like to lay in his cradle. He'd rather be laying on the couch next to a warm leg or in bed at night with Mama and Daddy. (Neither Mama or Daddy are proponents of co-sleeping, but in the middle of a sleep-deprived night, they're willing to make exceptions). It's something we're going to have to work on with him, as we don't want him to expect to be held constantly. It makes getting anything around here done very, very hard. *Simon is currently learning to like his cradle now. He'll sleep in it all day without fuss. It's nighttime we're struggling with.
5. Which brings me to my last post. After months of whipping myself into shape and working hard to get this place looking good.... it takes just a few postpartum days for that to crash down around my head. The place is a disaster. Things are piled everywhere. The clean laundry is still in baskets. The bathroom could use a wipe-down, dishes are all over the kitchen, and the floor... I don't want to talk about it. I've discovered that having things picked up is very nice, having most surfaces clear is lovely, but the floor has got to be clean. Thank you to my loving husband, who really is the most amazing man ever, otherwise this place would be far, far worse than it is. Far, far worse. He did a great deal of picking up and cleaning during his week at home. And I love him for that. Now that he's at work... I miss him tremendously and wish I could have him back home again. Here's looking forward to retirement some day, right?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Friday Quick 5
1. We received some furniture to supplement the kids' room from my in-laws, Earl and Jan Kemper. I could not be more grateful for their generosity! Last night, Nick and I spent a few minutes rearranging the room to accommodate all of it. The room looks like a bit of a hallway, with the changing table and Eliza's crib on one side, and Simon's crib as well as two chests of drawers on the other. We also moved the bookcase containing her toys to stand by the window and make use of a wall plug-ins that Eliza's crib had previously covered. Eliza is a little unsettled by the changes. It's evident in a slight whiny quality to her voice when she goes in the room, and that she won't go down for a nap. She's very tired as she got up early this morning, a little disoriented. She's very content to snuggle with me and lay her head on my shoulder if I rock her. But she won't lay in her bed. It may be a few rough days of transition.
2. Tuesday night a couple friends came over to help me knock out the cleaning of my house. Tuesday night, my apartment was clean. Wednesday my apartment was clean. Yesterday, my apartment was clean. Today, it's a royal mess. The dinner dishes are not washed, the floors need vacuuming, again, and my living room is strewn with hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law, for which I am incredibly grateful. Not only does she have great taste, but Eliza is well-outfitted for the next stage. It really isn't much, when you consider it, but after having such an orderly home for just a few days, it feels like a disaster. I am going to attempt to get the dishes washed and the clothes sorted and ready to put away while Eliza naps, if she'll nap. I'm hoping she'll finally succumb, but at the moment, she sounds heartbroken. (This is a little hard on Mama, who's policy is to not go in unless I suspect harm or dirty diaper, and who usually only has to listen to her little girl play around before sleep rather than cry in despair!)
3. This weekend marks the first dry weekend in a few weeks! Nick has plans to be in the yard. It's a good thing the Farmer's Market hasn't started yet (at least that I'm aware), as I'd be tempted to haul him down to look at tomato plants, when he really needs to be out digging and tilling. It will be a busy day as it is, with my ladies' luncheon at church, and a family birthday in the evening. I'll use the morning, instead, to play with Eliza, clean, and watch the changes in the backyard. I would love to say I'll see raised beds by the end of the day, but more realistically I'm hoping at leas the trunks and brush will be cleared away and the ground broken up and getting ready.
4. April Fool's Day doesn't really get much attention in our house. Maybe that will change, if our children are ornery enough to enjoy the jokes. However, there have been two occasions on which I thought Facebook an excellent use of April Fool's. The first is actually today: I seriously considered posting that we were on our way to the hospital, suggesting delivery was imminent. I chose not to, because I know there are some watching for the news on there, and I don't really want to throw them into a tizzy. Somehow, it just didn't seem... kind. The other time was when I first began dating Nick. I, at least, had been told over and over and over again for some time how Nick and I should "get together" and what a great couple we'd be. I always downplayed the remarks, mostly because I wasn't completely sure of how he felt about me. I did consider, however, asking him to play an "April Fool's joke" by putting it out on Facebook that we were dating; I rejected the idea. I'm glad for it, as when we did begin seriously dating, we put the news out on Facebook to watch the reaction of the high schoolers. It was classic: we heard about it from most of them the very next day.
5. I am a BIG fan of Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Admittedly, I would watch just about anything with Bobby Flay on it. That's how I started watching America's Next Great Restaurant. But I enjoy watching the food on Throwdown, seeing the different twists put on the dishes, and hearing the comments about it. It's good friendly competition. This week, they featured fondue. I'd already been consider that I might like to get a fondue pot, or even a small crockpot. I love cheese. And warm, melty cheese seems like a great way to get some veggies in, don't you think? Well, after Throwdown, I was almost ready to throw out my menu plan for the night and figure out a way to have fondue without the appropriate equippage or ingredients. I resisted the urge, but now.... I'm thinking I gotta have fondue. We may be investing in something here quite soon.
Hope everyone is having a great Friday! I hope by the next time I post the Friday Quick 5 I will have a little man's picture to include! (But we shall see....)
2. Tuesday night a couple friends came over to help me knock out the cleaning of my house. Tuesday night, my apartment was clean. Wednesday my apartment was clean. Yesterday, my apartment was clean. Today, it's a royal mess. The dinner dishes are not washed, the floors need vacuuming, again, and my living room is strewn with hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law, for which I am incredibly grateful. Not only does she have great taste, but Eliza is well-outfitted for the next stage. It really isn't much, when you consider it, but after having such an orderly home for just a few days, it feels like a disaster. I am going to attempt to get the dishes washed and the clothes sorted and ready to put away while Eliza naps, if she'll nap. I'm hoping she'll finally succumb, but at the moment, she sounds heartbroken. (This is a little hard on Mama, who's policy is to not go in unless I suspect harm or dirty diaper, and who usually only has to listen to her little girl play around before sleep rather than cry in despair!)
3. This weekend marks the first dry weekend in a few weeks! Nick has plans to be in the yard. It's a good thing the Farmer's Market hasn't started yet (at least that I'm aware), as I'd be tempted to haul him down to look at tomato plants, when he really needs to be out digging and tilling. It will be a busy day as it is, with my ladies' luncheon at church, and a family birthday in the evening. I'll use the morning, instead, to play with Eliza, clean, and watch the changes in the backyard. I would love to say I'll see raised beds by the end of the day, but more realistically I'm hoping at leas the trunks and brush will be cleared away and the ground broken up and getting ready.
4. April Fool's Day doesn't really get much attention in our house. Maybe that will change, if our children are ornery enough to enjoy the jokes. However, there have been two occasions on which I thought Facebook an excellent use of April Fool's. The first is actually today: I seriously considered posting that we were on our way to the hospital, suggesting delivery was imminent. I chose not to, because I know there are some watching for the news on there, and I don't really want to throw them into a tizzy. Somehow, it just didn't seem... kind. The other time was when I first began dating Nick. I, at least, had been told over and over and over again for some time how Nick and I should "get together" and what a great couple we'd be. I always downplayed the remarks, mostly because I wasn't completely sure of how he felt about me. I did consider, however, asking him to play an "April Fool's joke" by putting it out on Facebook that we were dating; I rejected the idea. I'm glad for it, as when we did begin seriously dating, we put the news out on Facebook to watch the reaction of the high schoolers. It was classic: we heard about it from most of them the very next day.
5. I am a BIG fan of Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Admittedly, I would watch just about anything with Bobby Flay on it. That's how I started watching America's Next Great Restaurant. But I enjoy watching the food on Throwdown, seeing the different twists put on the dishes, and hearing the comments about it. It's good friendly competition. This week, they featured fondue. I'd already been consider that I might like to get a fondue pot, or even a small crockpot. I love cheese. And warm, melty cheese seems like a great way to get some veggies in, don't you think? Well, after Throwdown, I was almost ready to throw out my menu plan for the night and figure out a way to have fondue without the appropriate equippage or ingredients. I resisted the urge, but now.... I'm thinking I gotta have fondue. We may be investing in something here quite soon.
Hope everyone is having a great Friday! I hope by the next time I post the Friday Quick 5 I will have a little man's picture to include! (But we shall see....)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday Quick 5
1. What a busy week! I've been cleaning, getting together with people, cooking... I had hoped by this time this week I'd have the whole house really clean, but it isn't so. The bedrooms, bathroom, and entryway are all in good shape. The living is good, except for a Eliza's things scattered around. The dining room and kitchen... they need some work. I've been reflecting this week through all my efforts how housekeeping is not something particularly suited to my talents or interests. I hate to clean. I hate the fact that every time I clean, I know I'll just have to do it again, and soon. I hate that it's a never-ending round of chores where the pay-off is so limited and brief. Many of the other things I like to pursue (reading, writing, biking), I can see a payoff that lasts. Better and better health if I am consistent in biking, better and better writing if I am consistent to work at it, etc. Cleaning, I'm just fighting to keep the status quo. However, I know that cleaning is not just cleaning for cleaning's sake. Rather, I am trying to create a comfortable home environment for my family. That's worth fighting for. And while I may not be naturally talented at cleaning (I often miss the details that make a good job good), I can train myself to be decent. Maybe you can't make a great housekeeper out of a lousy one, but perhaps at least a competent one?
2. Today, I conducted a freezer-cooking day with a friend. We're both due to have babies next month, and so that our families will have quick and easy meals, we got together to put some stuff up for a future date. We marinated chicken, baked meatballs, made seasoning and dressing mixes, and prepared tomato sauce. This may not seem like a great deal on the surface, but with a few things that are best made at the last minute (like vegetables, pasta, and rice), what we cranked out today could make at least twelve different meals, easy-peasy. It was my first ever cooking day, but let me just say, I can see how it is much easier to do with a friend! And it was also easier because nothing we chose to put together required chopping, cutting, or peeling, or too many complicated steps. And now, I'm happy to say I have at least 15 go-to meals or meal preps ready for when Simon comes!
3. Speaking of Simon, we're down to two weeks. I've been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks and even some of the real thing, but nothing to alert the hospital over. I keep hoping... bu I know it's good to let the little guy hang out. Still, there are times I'm seriously tempted to coax the little guy out.
4. Eliza is becoming quite the crack-up. In fact, she's becoming quite the mimic. She has begun imitating a laugh/growl her cousin Faith does. She babbles/chatters in a certain way like another young girl we have regular play-dates with. She and her daddy have several little routines they do together. She's even begun imitating some of my pregnant habits in regards to my belly! These last ones seem almost unconscious, as she does them as she walks around. I enjoy watching her, because I'm never quite sure what she's going to do next. And sometimes, I think she enjoys it when she catches me watching her, because we grin at each other and then she laughs before moving on. She is just a joy in my life!
5. In our gardening preparations, Nick has actually gone through a few different variations of software to help him plan our garden, the spacing of the vegetables, and all of that. If it weren't for the fact that last Saturday and this Saturday have been doomed to be cold and rainy, I might be concerned for lack of a solid plan. But we are actually supposed to receive a freeze this weekend, and planting might not be wise anyhow. The weather and its timing really haven't allowed Nick to get out and work in the yard like he'd like to. I'm definitely not in a position to help. There are stumps to grind up and pull out, beds to raise and frame, bushes to whack, perennials to transplant, not to mention the planting. Our seeds haven't yet arrived. Our garden may be a little late this year, and we'll have to see what disastrous affects (or lack of) there might be. Still, I'm hoping for a good enough harvest to try some new recipes, expand our palates, and hopefully take a whack at canning and preserving and pickling. I've always wanted to try making pickles, at least. We'll see how things go.
2. Today, I conducted a freezer-cooking day with a friend. We're both due to have babies next month, and so that our families will have quick and easy meals, we got together to put some stuff up for a future date. We marinated chicken, baked meatballs, made seasoning and dressing mixes, and prepared tomato sauce. This may not seem like a great deal on the surface, but with a few things that are best made at the last minute (like vegetables, pasta, and rice), what we cranked out today could make at least twelve different meals, easy-peasy. It was my first ever cooking day, but let me just say, I can see how it is much easier to do with a friend! And it was also easier because nothing we chose to put together required chopping, cutting, or peeling, or too many complicated steps. And now, I'm happy to say I have at least 15 go-to meals or meal preps ready for when Simon comes!
3. Speaking of Simon, we're down to two weeks. I've been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks and even some of the real thing, but nothing to alert the hospital over. I keep hoping... bu I know it's good to let the little guy hang out. Still, there are times I'm seriously tempted to coax the little guy out.
4. Eliza is becoming quite the crack-up. In fact, she's becoming quite the mimic. She has begun imitating a laugh/growl her cousin Faith does. She babbles/chatters in a certain way like another young girl we have regular play-dates with. She and her daddy have several little routines they do together. She's even begun imitating some of my pregnant habits in regards to my belly! These last ones seem almost unconscious, as she does them as she walks around. I enjoy watching her, because I'm never quite sure what she's going to do next. And sometimes, I think she enjoys it when she catches me watching her, because we grin at each other and then she laughs before moving on. She is just a joy in my life!
5. In our gardening preparations, Nick has actually gone through a few different variations of software to help him plan our garden, the spacing of the vegetables, and all of that. If it weren't for the fact that last Saturday and this Saturday have been doomed to be cold and rainy, I might be concerned for lack of a solid plan. But we are actually supposed to receive a freeze this weekend, and planting might not be wise anyhow. The weather and its timing really haven't allowed Nick to get out and work in the yard like he'd like to. I'm definitely not in a position to help. There are stumps to grind up and pull out, beds to raise and frame, bushes to whack, perennials to transplant, not to mention the planting. Our seeds haven't yet arrived. Our garden may be a little late this year, and we'll have to see what disastrous affects (or lack of) there might be. Still, I'm hoping for a good enough harvest to try some new recipes, expand our palates, and hopefully take a whack at canning and preserving and pickling. I've always wanted to try making pickles, at least. We'll see how things go.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday Quick 5
The Quick 5 is LATE today. Let's just say, it's not been a day that has gone according to plan.
1. I am realizing how dependent I am on Eliza's naps to achieve true productivity, and it worries me. Case in point: today. Because she gets up so early in the mornings, we still haven't dropped the morning nap. A typical day includes a 1.5-2hr nap in the morning, and then a 1.5 hr nap later in the afternoon. This schedule makes up for the fact that she gets up much earlier than I would say her disposition would allow: she's never really happy in the mornings until after that first nap. However, the past week or so since daylight savings, that nap schedule has been in limbo. She's not getting up as early, but she's also not getting as much sleep. And today was the worse, with a single nap clocking in just shy of two hours. I had really been counting on naps today to work on my decluttering project. If I attempt anything like sorting papers, laundry, outgrown clothes while she is up, Eliza is sure to get into it. I make a big enough mess doing it as is, making piles to sort through things; I don't need her help! So I have to wait for her to nap so I can go to with gusto. Needless to say, I got very little done today (because yes, I do require a shower). If she doesn't nap well tomorrow, I might not make my deadline. So, what am I to do when I have two children, who do not nap on the same schedule? Thankfully, Simon will be immobile for a time! But he will still demand my attention. This is something that gives me apprehension.
2. Nick and I are enjoying watching Jeopardy! together currently. The current champion "Tom" is a bit of a wizard: just about every day it's almost impossible to catch him. We enjoy testing our own trivia skills (which are mad depending on the day), but it's been great fun watching Tom play. He's a man after Nick's own heart: he's not afraid to go for a true daily double by betting it all.
3. It's Spring Break next week and while many of my friends are off and more free for the week, suddenly I'm more busy! I am making plans, plans, plans to see people I normally don't get to see and do things that having people off work suddenly allow me to do. Like a cooking day with my friend Jaime. I am determined that I'll have at least a few things in the freezer for when Simon comes!
4. The decluttering thing... Yeah, it's more work than it should be. It just goes to show how far behind I am in the organization business. I first needed to go through our filing cabinet and clean it out: it had been in storage while we were living with my parents and was in desperate need of an overhaul. And then there's the beginning to go through the paper just to see what needs to be kept and what tossed. Next will be sorting to file.... I might not make the deadline tomorrow whether Eliza naps well or no. Because that's just the paper (which is all that Hot Spot was assigned for), but I also want to declutter all the... well, clutter from those pictures as well. I have a lot to do.
5. My body is really beginning to gear up for labor. At least that's the way it feels to me. Most evenings find me very uncomfortable from contractions and Braxton Hicks. I'm almost to the point where I want to say, "Just come out, already!" But the truth is... I'm not ready. Typical for a second or later child, I'm told. But I realized I still need to get preregistered at the hospital so paperwork is taken care of; I don't have any bags packed; I need to get this room decluttered and cleaned up so we have someplace to put his cradle.... I think you'll see what I'll be trying to accomplish next week and the week after (likely). If only I had that proverbial burst of energy before a birth. But it's failing to come.
So much household-y news for the Quick 5 this week! But that's the majority of what I've got on my plate. Before long it will be lots of news about babies and the like. Sigh. I'm told there are seasons in life, and this seems to be mine. But I'm longing for more time for reflection and thinking. Too bad I just don't function that well at 4:00 in the morning, or maybe I'd get up earlier so I would have the time to do it!
1. I am realizing how dependent I am on Eliza's naps to achieve true productivity, and it worries me. Case in point: today. Because she gets up so early in the mornings, we still haven't dropped the morning nap. A typical day includes a 1.5-2hr nap in the morning, and then a 1.5 hr nap later in the afternoon. This schedule makes up for the fact that she gets up much earlier than I would say her disposition would allow: she's never really happy in the mornings until after that first nap. However, the past week or so since daylight savings, that nap schedule has been in limbo. She's not getting up as early, but she's also not getting as much sleep. And today was the worse, with a single nap clocking in just shy of two hours. I had really been counting on naps today to work on my decluttering project. If I attempt anything like sorting papers, laundry, outgrown clothes while she is up, Eliza is sure to get into it. I make a big enough mess doing it as is, making piles to sort through things; I don't need her help! So I have to wait for her to nap so I can go to with gusto. Needless to say, I got very little done today (because yes, I do require a shower). If she doesn't nap well tomorrow, I might not make my deadline. So, what am I to do when I have two children, who do not nap on the same schedule? Thankfully, Simon will be immobile for a time! But he will still demand my attention. This is something that gives me apprehension.
2. Nick and I are enjoying watching Jeopardy! together currently. The current champion "Tom" is a bit of a wizard: just about every day it's almost impossible to catch him. We enjoy testing our own trivia skills (which are mad depending on the day), but it's been great fun watching Tom play. He's a man after Nick's own heart: he's not afraid to go for a true daily double by betting it all.
3. It's Spring Break next week and while many of my friends are off and more free for the week, suddenly I'm more busy! I am making plans, plans, plans to see people I normally don't get to see and do things that having people off work suddenly allow me to do. Like a cooking day with my friend Jaime. I am determined that I'll have at least a few things in the freezer for when Simon comes!
4. The decluttering thing... Yeah, it's more work than it should be. It just goes to show how far behind I am in the organization business. I first needed to go through our filing cabinet and clean it out: it had been in storage while we were living with my parents and was in desperate need of an overhaul. And then there's the beginning to go through the paper just to see what needs to be kept and what tossed. Next will be sorting to file.... I might not make the deadline tomorrow whether Eliza naps well or no. Because that's just the paper (which is all that Hot Spot was assigned for), but I also want to declutter all the... well, clutter from those pictures as well. I have a lot to do.
5. My body is really beginning to gear up for labor. At least that's the way it feels to me. Most evenings find me very uncomfortable from contractions and Braxton Hicks. I'm almost to the point where I want to say, "Just come out, already!" But the truth is... I'm not ready. Typical for a second or later child, I'm told. But I realized I still need to get preregistered at the hospital so paperwork is taken care of; I don't have any bags packed; I need to get this room decluttered and cleaned up so we have someplace to put his cradle.... I think you'll see what I'll be trying to accomplish next week and the week after (likely). If only I had that proverbial burst of energy before a birth. But it's failing to come.
So much household-y news for the Quick 5 this week! But that's the majority of what I've got on my plate. Before long it will be lots of news about babies and the like. Sigh. I'm told there are seasons in life, and this seems to be mine. But I'm longing for more time for reflection and thinking. Too bad I just don't function that well at 4:00 in the morning, or maybe I'd get up earlier so I would have the time to do it!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)