Unpacking with a baby: how hard is it?

Thankfully, my new Ergo is here. My old one broke at the grocery store the week before our move. Since the manufacturer is in Hawaii, the fastest they could replace it was in 2 days. Then they screwed up and delayed shipping the replacement due to a new employee's error, so I didn't actually get it until Thursday (the moving process started on Friday). So it was really rough for me to get anything done without the ability to strap my baby on my back!

Today I have to:
do laundry
vacuum
sweep up dust bunnies
organize/unpack more kitchen stuff
do some "make ahead and freeze it" cooking
clean bathrooms
finish washing diapers
drive up by the old house to complete a product testing survey and get $100
make baby peaches
do dishes
trim the dogs' nails
dust living room

Boy, I'd better get my rear in gear and get off the computer! :) Here's to a great Monday for everyone!

The move? She is complete.

I am never doing this ish again. That king sized pillowtop mattress that I was longing for? I hate it now. Carrying it (it has no handles) down a flight of stairs, into a truck, out of the truck, up the stairs, around the turn in the stairs, and into the bedroom was a PITA.

All our stuff is here except Tyson the Dyson (yes, I named my beloved vacuum). He's at the old place so I can give it one final once over and then we're done. Our garage is full of boxes (what's the point of having a garage if you can't park in it?) and that blows but we're done. Our stuff is here. Now, to unpack...

Love Thursday

I will be honest. It would be easier for me to come up with a list of things I abhor right now, but it's Love Thursday, not Bitch and Moan Friday so I am going to try to look on the bright side of life.

Today I love:

My fantabulous husband. He is really awesome. This week he's let me just pack boxes and he has done all the lifting and hauling for me to spare my back and knees. He is an amazing Daddy and is so devoted to his family. He also puts up with my crap when I am very crabby and tired (which has been all week) and had fish for breakfast the other day because that's what I wanted. And even though he sometimes mocks my tree hugging hippie crap, he has been fully on board with my recent changes involving abolishing paper towels for actual wash rags to be laundered and reused and switching out every light bulb in the new house from incandescent to CFL's. The CFL thing goes against his frugal nature, as spending $5 for a light bulb makes him cringe. (Yes, I have explained to him how it works out better on energy and lasts longer so it's less expensive in the long run. $80 at Home Depot for 15 light bulbs was still a hard pill for him to swallow). But he does it because it makes me happy. He will do almost anything to make me happy, I am a very lucky girl.

My BED. While in transition, if we crashed out at the new house we've been sleeping on air mattresses. I will be all too happy to get our real bed moved over and spend that glorious first night snuggled up on my 1200 thread count Egyptian Cotton sheets that are on my super cushy pillowtop king sized bed. This will be better than air mattresses, by far and I'm REALLY looking forward to it.

Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffees. In the land of caffeinated beverages, this has become a fast favorite. It's icy, cold, comes in many different flavors. Make mine a large, half chocolate coffee, half caramel coffee, skim milk and 3 Splendas. YUM! This is seriously better than Fourbucks any day, and is on special through the end of April for $1.69 for a large. So it's less than four bucks for TWO, instead of $4 for ONE. Actually, with tax 2 of them are $3.43 where I live. Is it sad that I already have my change counted out for later?

My friends. Coupon Chris is dying of the Black Plague, but yet still she insists on being called upon for moving help. Now THAT'S a devoted friend. :) However, I insist that she keeps the Black Plague to her damn self and not get me of compromised diabetes-related immune system sick, or my baby for that matter. But she's an awesome friend that I've known for over half my life. Friends like that are treasures.

Hey, look! Now I'm in a better mood after finding some things to love this Thursday. Who'da thunk it? :D

What is Cornhole?

So I popped in online really quick tonight to read email. We may have found a new milk donor mama in DeKalb, home of Coupon Chris, about 20 minutes away. Very exciting stuff as our main donor mama just hasn't been able to keep up with the Moose's consumption and I am loathe to supplement with formula.

Anyway, you know how Google puts those ads up on the right side of their pages? Well I was viewing an ad for Vera Bradley's Purseapalooza Outlet Sale next month (this may or may not require a road trip, I'm considering it) and to the right I see an ad for "cornholeoutlet.com". Now I have to look. I mean, wouldn't you? Back in the day, I watched hours of Beavis and Butthead with my then and now bestest friend ever Crystal, and her then boyfriend now husband of eleven years, Joey. So I see "Cornhole Outlet" and all I can think is "I am the Great Cornholio! I need TP for my bunghole!" I was hoping that my idea of "cornhole" and Cornhole Outlet's idea of "cornhole" was VERY different.

After reviewing Cornhole Outlet's offerings, it appears to be some kind of bean bag toss game referred to as "Cornhole". However, please read the following excerpt from their "What is Cornhole" page and try not to laugh:

"WHAT IS CORNHOLE? Although it has been called many things ... for those who have grown up with the game, and avid newcomers alike, the game is passionately referred to as Cornhole. The origins of Cornhole are largely unknown. Some historians claim that the game was born in 14th century Germany and reinvented somewhere in the Cincinnati Tri-state area perhaps as long as 100 years ago. Although Cornhole enthusiasts can be heard to argue a number of theories, often based upon which side of the Ohio River they call home, one thing all can agree on is that the game is great fun for all ages and can be played anywhere! ... The game is generally played tournament style with an individual or team being named the cornhole champion at the end of the tournament. " (Yes, an individual or TEAM is crowned Cornhole Champion. I am dying laughing too.)

We're laughing so hard we're crying. Maybe we're just overtired and punchy, but this is HY-STERICAL to us! The best part of cornholeoutlet.com is their tagline: "don't plan a party without yours!"

Hubster just hooked up the stereo and surround sound in the new house, and he's testing it out. As if on cue, the song "Da Butt", just came on. OMGROTFLMAO!

Moving am t3h su><0r

We're mid move from old apartment to new house, and I'm taking a 10 minute break to chillax. This sucks. It's really hard to move with a baby. Jackson was AWESOME yesterday, which is really something for a baby who is teething. He was very mellow and easy going, which was great because if he was all high maintenance I may have lost it. We took the pups to the new house yesterday, and they LOVE it. They don't know how to walk on the wood floors & keep wiping out, it's really kind of funny. They love their new yard and only misbehaved once when they made a break for it out the front door and down the road. I caught up with them, but I was pretty freaked out because we live pretty close to a main road and they don't have a sense of which way home is in the new house. Around midnight, we all collapsed, exhausted, into our makeshift family bed made up of air mattresses crammed together in the master bedroom. Halfway through the night, Bella decided she wanted to snuggle in with us too, so she crammed her flabby labby self in there too. Katie, ever the good girl, snoozed at the foot of the bed right by baby. She sticks to her baby like glue! :)

My kitchen is almost packed with the exception of 1 cupboard. We're making progress. I'm kind of glad we have a whole week to do it but I'm really hoping we don't need a whole week! My friend Christy is watching Jackson for us today so we have several hours of baby-free moving time which is a HUGE help.

Okay, my break time is up. Time to get myself covered in newsprint ink again wrapping glasses and plates.

We have already determined that next time we move, we're hiring people. This iz t3h su><0r!

Happy Love Thursday!

Whew! Where has this week gone? Here we are again on another Love Thursday.

Today I love:

The good folks at Sutherland Products, makers of the best laundry detergent ever, Charlie's Soap. I use it to wash all my laundry, but I started buying it to wash my cloth diapers. It rinses completely clean with no residue and gets out every stain I've ever thrown at it! I nearly ran out and placed a frantic order Saturday morning. Then my internet connection failed and I wasn't sure if my order went through or not. So I called their 800 # and explained my conundrum. They said they'd check and call me back. In a few minutes, I got a call back from Charlie himself. How's that for service?

My puppies. They are both so gentle and sweet with the baby! Jackson has really taken a liking to Katie, he will sit and stroke her fur for a long time. The Girls, as we call the dogs, are completely smitten with their baby and are always looking out for him. It's so precious!

My new house! We're starting the move this weekend. I am completely unprepared and we're not anywhere close to being done packing. But I can't wait for my new, bigger kitchen and my yard to play with the pups in, and the awesome neighborhood with lots of parks and tons of great shopping nearby.

It's Time to Play the Same Game!

Jackson's favorite TV show, Miffy, has been canceled. :( Are you familiar with the white claymation bunny? After a few episodes of Miffy, me and Hubby have Miffy's smack stuck in our heads.

Last night, Jackson woke up every 2 hours to eat for about 1/2 an hour. Then he'd fall back to sleep and I'd fall back to sleep from being 100% awake, so that took me about another half hour to fall asleep, then in an hour he was up again. So you can imagine my exhaustion this morning!

Hubby worked from home so he did a diaper change for me. I laid on the bed, exhausted while Daddy did diaper duty. He started singing to Jackson, "It's time to play the Same Game!" a la Miffy.

Hubby: "Mommy wants to have the same number hours of sleep as Daddy has! How many hours of sleep does Mommy have?"

Me: (moaning) "2".

Hubby: "How many hours of sleep does Daddy have?"

Me: (bitching) "7".

Hubby: "Do Mommy and Daddy have the same number hours of sleep?"

Me: (becoming infuriated) "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Let Me Clear My Throat

"Some of y'all might be with this, and some of y'all won't
But listen, let me clear my throat
Oh, have mercy babe, Ha!
I hope ya don't mind, let me clear my throat"

Or if you need a more complete refresher of this old skool classic:



Jackson has experienced the advent of Juice. He's had both organic, pasteurized apple and white grape juice, each diluted 50/50 with distilled water. He's in love with his sippy cup!

Thing is, he's quite the crafty one. He's figured out that all he has to do to get juice is act parched. So now I have a six and a half month old constantly clearing his throat, acting thirsty. He's quite the actor, this child. I think I hear him coughing...gotta run! :)

The doggies love Baby Food Sundays

Today I made barley cereal, asparagus and more sweet potatoes. Bella and Katie enjoyed the asparagus ends and potato skins. I still have beets, pears and apples to do - bummer there isn't much for dogs to eat from those!

Craptastic Friday!

If I do Love Thursdays, can I do Hate Fridays? It's my blog, so I say yes.

Today I hate:

1. Teething! This sucks.
2. Not sleeping! Related to the teething. Crabby Baby + Tired Mommy = A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day!
3. Moving! This also sucks.
4. Packing! Related to the moving. Such a pain in the tushus.
5. Laundry! I need to just send this out to get done. I am so OVER doing laundry right now.
6. Jerkhead drivers! This assclown in the Whole Foods parking lot today nearly got cut, he pissed me off so bad. Have I mentioned that I get testy when I'm overtired?
7. Dishes! I have a sinkful of dirty dishes, and I haven't slept in 3 days. Sleep or clean, sleep or clean?
8. Laundry! Did I say laundry yet? If I did, I'm sorry. I really need sleep, the memory is failing me. Laundry sucks. The actual washing and drying isn't that bad, it's the whole folding and putting away that eludes me currently. My attention is constantly diverted, usually by any of the aforementioned things that suck ass.

Screw you, Craptastic Friday that I had! I am glad you're over! *flips this bad day the bird and goes to bed*

Happy Love Thursday!

Yep, boys and girls it's that time again! I missed Love Thursday last week. I have no idea what I was doing but here are some good guesses:

Packing
Cleaning
Packing
Finding boxes
Packing
Packing
Packing

OK, enough of my bellyaching! Today I love:

• The new formulation of Revlon's Colorstay lipsticks. Fantabulous! They go on really creamy and wear really well. They don't feel like clay on your lips - WOOT!
• Sleep and caffeine. Right now, Jackson is teething his top two front teeth, so we're not getting much sleep. But I love/miss sleep. In the meantime, my hot and heavy, torrid affair with coffee rages on. Mr. Coffee is always there for me when I need him, gotta love that.
• My newish bag. It's a "Vera" by Vera Bradley. My hunt for the perfect diaper bag ended in this little lovely. It's a decent sized tote with pockets all around the interior. Plenty of room for all of Jack's needs and my necessities too. It's "Petal Pink", I am loving the combo of pink and green for Spring. I love this bag more than a girl should love a bag - more than a girl like me should ever love a quilted bag. The pockets are perfection. It's such a "Muffy, will you be joining us in The Hamptons for the weekend, Dahlink?" bag. I care not!

What the hell is this crazy weather?

Last night it was so windy out, it sounded like a wolf was constantly howling outside the bedroom window. It kept waking both Jackson and I up.

This morning there is SNOW on the ground! FREAKING SNOW! Lord, have mercy...

The baby bottom pic

We had to take an official nakey baby photo. I love his smile! You can almost see his toofers on the bottom too.

Photoshop: look what it can do for you!

Before:



After:

My favorite season is Spring

Every time I am ever asked what my favorite season is, Winter or Summer, I always say Spring. Spring is my favorite season, I say, because everything gets a fresh start. The cold of Winter melts away and life rises again where once there was nothing but ice.

Last night, we attended one of our church's Easter services. Pastor Hybels (uh oh, now everybody knows I go to disco church!) brought a fantastic sermon about the true meaning of Easter.

Rebirth.

Freedom.

Boundless love.

Forgiveness.

A new life.

I was struck in the heart like never before. Have you ever sat in a several thousand seat auditorium and felt you were being personally addressed? It's somewhat unsettling.

To illustrate his point, Pastor had several doors assembled beside him, each one representing something different. One door represented the new identity we are offered through Christ. One represented freedom from our sinful burdens. One represented peace and eternal security of the soul after a Christian's death. And one represented the radical love and boundless forgiveness that has been bestowed upon us, for us to bestow upon others. After the sermon, Pastor Hybels invited us to approach the stage, and physically walk through the door we needed to. To find what we needed to, to grow how we needed to.

And I knew what I needed.

I don't forgive people. In the past, I have told myself that it was my freedom to cut people out of my life or hold a grudge. I haven't talked to my mother for the better part of five years. I have my reasons, and if I told you, you would probably tell me my decision is justified. You all read about my hurt after feeling betrayed by my friend who was consumed by her own issues. I don't forgive people, that's just how I roll.

But here's the thing I figured out last night. Instead of feeling free after cutting those people out of my life, my decision was nothing more than a burden. I've had a lot of hurt in my past and in an effort to protect my heart from more pain, I've done a really good job at isolating my heart. I'm not free. I'm not liberated. I'm burdened and bitter and angry. And for what? The choices that were supposed to give me peace only gave me grief.

The door that represented love and forgiveness looked like the Amish school in Pennsylvania. The one a shooter entered in September of 2006, and brutally murdered several little girls. The parents of those girls started a fund for the widow of the shooter and her kids. They attended the funeral of the murderer of their daughters, exhibiting amazing forgiveness.

At the end of the service, I still wasn't sold on actually approaching the stage to walk through a door frame. I mean, I could make the same decision in my heart right there in my seat and it would still be the same decision. We rose to gather Jackson from the nursery. Tim headed towards the exit, and I hesitated. Reading my cue and the tears in my eyes, my husband took my hand and led me towards the doors. We're approaching the doors and I'm thinking to myself, "Do I really want to do this? If I do this, I have to forgive EVERYBODY. Can I do that?"

And God said, "Can you not? Haven't you carried this burden long enough? Please, let me take that for you. It's too heavy, and you don't need to live like this anymore. Taking care of you is what I came here for."

We get closer to the door, and my heart is pounding. If I do this, things have to change. I have to change. It is going to be HARD. If I don't do this, I will forever regret it.

I pass through the door.

There was no magic in the door. There was no epiphany in the door. But walking through the door was symbolic just the same. I went through the door, there was no turning back.

After some text messaging with extended family last night, I cleared my throat.

My palms were sweaty, my heart raced.

I dialed.

It rang.

"Hello?" answered a vaguely familiar voice on the other end of the line.

I said, "Hi, Mom. Happy Easter."

There were tears and pleas for forgiveness. We both promised we'd try. There was a new beginning, a fresh start. New life emerged where before there was only ice.

I really do love Spring.

The Brown Blog

When I started this blog, I swore I would blog about everything regarding the baby, except I wouldn't blog about poo. Nobody cares about baby poo except the parents and the pediatrician. But yesterday's was one worth noting.

****WARNING: POO TALK IMMINENT*****

TURN BACK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.
OR YOUR PEE, EITHER WAY.

It has been dubbed Gigantor The Turdslide. Moms are familiar with the up-the-back baby poo. This was up the back, up the front, down the legs, on the socks...there was literally poo EVERYWHERE. It was as if I told Jackson to bring on the poo, and he BROUGHT ON THE POO. The disturbing thing is, I didn't even know it had occurred because breastmilk poo isn't stinky. It smells kind of like mild yogurt to me. So I didn't know it was there until I picked him up. For his part, Jackson was happier than a pig in...well, you know. His new favorite trick is rolling back and forth and playing with his feet during diaper changes. I didn't need a diaper changing pad yesterday, I needed a diaper changing TARP.

This was far worse than Tuesday morning, when we awoke to learn that Jackson's diaper had failed somehow (I suspect user error as Daddy put it on him) and leaked all over the damn place. Poor baby was covered in pee, his entire onesie and sleeper were soaked with urine from his neck to his toes. I undressed him and gave him a nice sponge bath to clean him up. I turned my back for a millisecond to get a fresh diaper. As I turned back, I found Pee Pee Boy playing fireman. Pissed all over his damn self again. I popped Pee Pee Boy in his mesh sling and we showered off.

Nobody warned me of these dangers of baby care!

Feline loss

I miss my cats. After two trips to the ER and one very close call last night as we dropped them off at their new home, I am convinced we did the right thing for them and for Jack but I am still heartbroken. Jackson has allergy-induced asthma reactions to cat dander. It has to be genetic, both Tim and I were mildly allergic to the cats also but we can take Zyrtec, Jackson can't. Tim's dad is also severely allergic to both cats and dogs.

Romeo and Juliet have a new brother too, and a 2 year old boy who will love them and pet them. Their new mom and dad are none other than Coupon Chris and her dear Hubby Justin. I think if I had to give them to anybody I didn't know, I'd be up all night worrying about them. But since I know they have a loving, safe home with really great people, it takes a little bit of the sting out of my loss.

I love those kitties. Those cats have been by my side through so much. Romeo was with me when my boyfriend of two years cheated on me, got the other girl pregnant and then decided he had to "do the right thing" and marry the other girl. Um, "the right thing" would have been to not stick your peen in her, dumbass. Both Romeo and Juliet snuggled by my side and purred to me while I cried myself to sleep after leaving my first husband. I also left his lying, cheating, gambling and scheming so in the end it wasn't all bad. But at them moment when I was in the thick of it, it was awful. Mo and Julie were there for me when I couldn't take any more of my second husband's verbal abuse, and I had to lock myself in a bathroom to slump down into a corner and cry. They licked my tears away with their sandpapery tongues. I came home to them exuberant when I met Hubby. I came home to them exhausted and frustrated from work more times than I can count, and there is no better balm for the soul than a soothing chorus of purring cats on your lap with silky coats to stroke as you while away the evening after a bad day with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of chardonnay in the other. Together we weathered three marriages, two divorces, 9 moves, more bad dates than I can count, 4 jobs and lots of both really great and really bad days. They're my companions, my babies. They were so good to me.

I think that's why it breaks my heart so. They were always good to me. And even though I know that finding them a new home is the best thing for them, I can't help but feel guilty, as if I have betrayed their trust. They were always there for me and now I'm not there for them. I hope they understand that I did what I did in order to give them the best life they can possibly have. The only alternative would be to keep them quarantined in a separate room with little or no human contact so as to reduce the risk of spreading cat dander around the house. It would have been a horrible life for them, they're people cats. They're affectionate and cuddly and sweet and need to be petted, a lot. I can't give them what they need, what they deserve.

Rehoming them was the most impossible choice I have ever had to make. I don't believe that pets are disposable, and I feel horrible for choosing to find another home for my cats. But my baby has to come first. As much as I hate to admit it, the human baby pulls rank over the pet babies. I'm so down about this. There's a cat-shaped hole in my heart, and I don't think it will ever go away. It isn't the same coming home without a little furbaby meowing at your feet and circling your ankles. I will miss Mo & Julie dearly. They were the best cats ever.

Fergie is to the Black Eyed Peas as Yoko Ono is to the Beatles.

That being said, I am loving the hell out of Alanis Morissette's parody video of "My Humps".

You don't want no drama. No no drama, no no drama. *snort laugh*

Phat mad props to Coupon Chris for tipping me off to this web gem.

Moose Stats

Oh, I forgot to post last week in all the hullaballoo of packing...

Mister Moose, 6 months:
22 lbs.
28 inches
17.5 inch gourd
95th percentile overall

He's trading in some milk for solids, and LOVES eating so far. He's had:

rice cereal
bananas
avocado
apples
pears
carrots
sweet potatoes
homemade whole milk yogurt

I made pears and papaya for him over the weekend and I have 2 acorn squash to bake, puree and freeze. I make the majority of his food at home from fresh, organic produce and grains. I still buy some jarred food for on the road, it's just easier to grab and go. I am finding it's really fulfilling to see him enjoy food I made for him. Cooking for a baby is rather easy, you just bake or steam everything and then puree it in a blender. I freeze the pureed food into ice cube trays then once frozen I pop them out into freezer bags or containers for storage. This is probably nutritionally superior to jarred foods, and even if it isn't it's still fresher. Food that expires in 2 years isn't quite the kind of fresh I want to give my kid. If you're interested in reading more about this, I recommend Ruth Yaron's book, Super Baby Food.

I killed my old blender last week making some baby food. I went out and bought a new one, which quickly overheated and died too! I was very pouty and sad, and hubby held me close and said, "It's okay Honey. We'll get you the professional one." To which I said, "It's $800." And he said "OK".

LOVE him.

Inferior Desecrating

One of the fun things of moving into new digs is decorating the new rooms I will have!

I think for the kitchen/dining room which kind of flow together, I am going to go with a tropical/beach theme. White, Ivory, Khaki and Spring Green with maybe some tropical plants and bamboo accents. I'll have Timmy print out some large sized prints of our wedding and honeymoon on the white sandy beaches of St. Thomas to add a little personal flair. It is one of our happiest memories of our life together, so I'd like to incorporate that into our everyday.

For Jackson's room, we are doing a Lodge/Wilderness theme with lots of Moose. I have several stuffed moose toys and found this darling bedroom set that looks like it's made of Lincoln Logs (remember those?). SO cute. It will be Moose-tastic! It's so adorable. I was inspired by Coupon Chris, who found a stuffed moose toy and got it for Jackson. Then one day I was in Harry & David and saw their stuffed moose and thought..."Hey, I can do a whole bedroom in this!!!" So, Moose Room it will be!




I will keep the kids'/guests full bath upstairs in duckies. I love the duckies, so does Jack. Plus I have all the decorative accessories to go with the theme. Soap dish, duckie towels, all that. So we're sticking with duckies for the upstairs bath.

We're also keeping the master bed/master bath decor, which is burgundy and gold. It will be dated in a few years and I'm already growing sick of it but I figure I should hang on to it, let babies completely destroy it and by the time we're done sharing sleep with our kidlets, I can redecorate.

I have yet to choose a color scheme or theme for the guest room/computer room. Suggestions are welcome, as I am largely undecided!

P.S. It's 11:00 AM and I am still working on my cup of coffee from 8:00 AM. And yes, it is still warm. Not hot, but still warm. Love these cups!

The Grown Up Sippy Cup

This may come as a shock to my nearest and dearest friends who read my blog, but I have given in to a full-fledged coffee addiction. Yup. Motherhood has turned me to the dark side.

When embarking on my new caffeine-fueled adventure, I did some online research as to what coffee maker would produce the most flavorful, least bitter coffee. I ended up selecting a Bodum Chambord French Press. I especially like the simplicity of this little gadget. I also like that I can use the hot water directly out of my water cooler's tap to make coffee. Very little wait time = GOOD.

I carefully selected some freshly roasted Kona beans and had them shipped to me. I was set!

Each morning, my little ritual is to go make my coffee, and while it's brewing I change and dress Jackson then I push the plunger and my morning cup is ready. Yay! But then baby cries, or the dogs need to go out, or the laundry needs to be folded, or the dishes need to be done and....2 hours later when I actually get to finish my cup, it's gone cold.

Now I like an iced latte as much as the next person, but this was a disheartening experience morning after morning. Until my friend Christy told me about the OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug. It's an insulated cup that has a little click-valve that when shut, is air and liquid tight! Now I have a set of green cups and I love them so much.

The OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug is available at Bed Bath & Beyond in a stainless steel finish, or order online for colors. Happy sipping!