(This is one of my favorite girls' brands...colorful, flowery prints in all cotton, but purchased new it costs a fortune. That's why I love consignment!)
Also, more pics added to the Bass Gang shutterfly site (see link at left).
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Lulu girls
Just got a new outfit for E in the mail today (bought through the MDC trading post). C immediately had to put on her matching dress...so we took a few pics of the Baby Lulu models...
(This is one of my favorite girls' brands...colorful, flowery prints in all cotton, but purchased new it costs a fortune. That's why I love consignment!)
Also, more pics added to the Bass Gang shutterfly site (see link at left).
(This is one of my favorite girls' brands...colorful, flowery prints in all cotton, but purchased new it costs a fortune. That's why I love consignment!)
Also, more pics added to the Bass Gang shutterfly site (see link at left).
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Preschool!
I found a great program today for C! She's starting on Thursday, and will attend twice a week (Tues, Thurs). The curriculum is more our style than most - very hands-on, child-centered, free-play style. No workbooks and drills! I have to admit my favorite part though is the playground! It's kind of like a yuppified Tim's (for you IC readers). They call it an "adventure playground," and there's no park-like climbing structure. Rather, there are huge sand pits, places to drive trikes and pedal cars, a garden, buried tires for climbing, and more! I love it! More importantly, C can't wait to start :) E is on the waiting list...sadly there are no open spots right now for her age. The school also offers a summer session, in which both girls will be enrolled. Yippee :)
Off to get my eyes checked so I can get new glasses - I lost my sunglass clips (the only ones I have), and I'm dying in this sunshine!!
Off to get my eyes checked so I can get new glasses - I lost my sunglass clips (the only ones I have), and I'm dying in this sunshine!!
Friday, February 23, 2007
A new obsession...
Oh no, now I've done it. I went to a cloth diaper/baby carrier swap this morning and came away with carrier-envy. I knew there was a fair variety of baby carriers out there, but these women today simply blew me away with what they had! Aside from some of the standard wraps and mei tais, slings and pouches were some other asian carriers (podegi, ombu) and some variations on the above. The one that I am simply drooling over and will dream about tonight was a mei tai made from a didymos wrap - or maybe it was from a Storch? Either way, made from an organic woven fabric wrap that's supposedly the "cadillac" of wraps.
It's called an Octi Mei Tai, and has wrap-like straps to better distribute the weight. She doesn't have a website, though they're obviously out there...a quick google pulled up a few for sale on various boards. To make your own, see FrankenKozy. I guess Octi isn't the first to do this...but they were simply to die for!! The Octi also had a soft head cover with cord and clips. It just hung down when not in use, and clipped up high when needed...
*sigh*
While there, I may have picked up a few more diapers...four NB fuzzi bunz (only $3.50 ea!), two Little Beetle fitteds and a contour with elasticized legs.
My newborn stash (not including my dozens of Mother-ease one-size fitteds, and missing another red wool cover and a few misc. others that I've loaned out):
That includes, from left to right and clockwise, a dozen Snug-to-fit one-size fitteds, eleven size 0 Kissaluvs, three dozen Chinese prefolds, two Little Beetle fitteds, two Kushies AIOs, a Bumkins AIO, a bunch of misc. covers, four fuzzi bunz, and my wool. Wool includes yellow cashmere Grateful Buns pull-on, blues Grateful Buns pull-on, red Bizzy B Hive snap, purple-y embroidered Bizzy B Hive snap, and an Aristocrats pull-on.
Think I should have enough? (lol)
My current carrier inventory includes a Moby wrap, a Maya sling (#65), a friend-made sling, a Solarveil sling, and a friend-made gauzy wrap. I know I want to add a mei tai or two to the collection, as I don't actually find slings all that comfortable!
.
It's called an Octi Mei Tai, and has wrap-like straps to better distribute the weight. She doesn't have a website, though they're obviously out there...a quick google pulled up a few for sale on various boards. To make your own, see FrankenKozy. I guess Octi isn't the first to do this...but they were simply to die for!! The Octi also had a soft head cover with cord and clips. It just hung down when not in use, and clipped up high when needed...
*sigh*
While there, I may have picked up a few more diapers...four NB fuzzi bunz (only $3.50 ea!), two Little Beetle fitteds and a contour with elasticized legs.
My newborn stash (not including my dozens of Mother-ease one-size fitteds, and missing another red wool cover and a few misc. others that I've loaned out):
That includes, from left to right and clockwise, a dozen Snug-to-fit one-size fitteds, eleven size 0 Kissaluvs, three dozen Chinese prefolds, two Little Beetle fitteds, two Kushies AIOs, a Bumkins AIO, a bunch of misc. covers, four fuzzi bunz, and my wool. Wool includes yellow cashmere Grateful Buns pull-on, blues Grateful Buns pull-on, red Bizzy B Hive snap, purple-y embroidered Bizzy B Hive snap, and an Aristocrats pull-on.
Think I should have enough? (lol)
My current carrier inventory includes a Moby wrap, a Maya sling (#65), a friend-made sling, a Solarveil sling, and a friend-made gauzy wrap. I know I want to add a mei tai or two to the collection, as I don't actually find slings all that comfortable!
.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Happy birthday to me...
Come on you brave folk...take a guess! How many years young could I possibly be?
Speaking of birthdays, in a moment of pure boredom, I added "tickers" to the bottom of the page, counting down to each of our b-days and to the impending birth of the new addition. Of course, since we all know all babies come exactly 40 weeks after your LMP, the baby ticker is a completely accurate and trustworthy measure of the baby's arrival (lol).
Off to a fancy birthday dinner...at souper!salad!
(Yeah, we're cheap...but I get a free meal for my bday and the girls eat free - that's a six dollar meal for a family of four. And with all-you-can-eat salad and soup, it's hard to beat!)
Pic of my birthday bracelet coming later...
Speaking of birthdays, in a moment of pure boredom, I added "tickers" to the bottom of the page, counting down to each of our b-days and to the impending birth of the new addition. Of course, since we all know all babies come exactly 40 weeks after your LMP, the baby ticker is a completely accurate and trustworthy measure of the baby's arrival (lol).
Off to a fancy birthday dinner...at souper!salad!
(Yeah, we're cheap...but I get a free meal for my bday and the girls eat free - that's a six dollar meal for a family of four. And with all-you-can-eat salad and soup, it's hard to beat!)
Pic of my birthday bracelet coming later...
Monday, February 19, 2007
Picky eaters? My bragging post.
You know, I hear so often about kids who "won't eat anything but french fries," or "only eat spaghetti."
My girls tonight at dinner both ate:
Alaskan sockeye salmon grilled with garlic, fennel pollen and lemon juice
Quinoa with mixed veggies (corn, carrots, green beans)
Salad (spinach and lettuce, carrots, cukes and sunflower seeds)
Non-homogenized milk
And not only did they both eat it, they both ate LOTS of it! E must have eaten a good 5-6 oz of salmon and double portions of quinoa; C had about 3 oz of fish, triple servings of quinoa, and triple servings of salad! It just makes my heart sing...oh, I guess after the last post, I should qualify this bragging with one thing: there was no bribing involved! Well, actually I guess I had to tell C at one point to stop taking more salad until she finished her fish...
My girls tonight at dinner both ate:
Alaskan sockeye salmon grilled with garlic, fennel pollen and lemon juice
Quinoa with mixed veggies (corn, carrots, green beans)
Salad (spinach and lettuce, carrots, cukes and sunflower seeds)
Non-homogenized milk
And not only did they both eat it, they both ate LOTS of it! E must have eaten a good 5-6 oz of salmon and double portions of quinoa; C had about 3 oz of fish, triple servings of quinoa, and triple servings of salad! It just makes my heart sing...oh, I guess after the last post, I should qualify this bragging with one thing: there was no bribing involved! Well, actually I guess I had to tell C at one point to stop taking more salad until she finished her fish...
The wall and the chocolate.
I realize it's been a week since I posted...but truth is, there's just not much to report. Last week we had swim lessons, playdates, and a trip to the zoo. We visited Gma S, who has been released from rehab and is settling into the new place by Auntie B. Carrot-top and her sister fed horses (incident-free!) and wore themselves out running freely around the Circle C.
We (that's the royal we of course...) did install a wall in our living room:
Just trying to maximize square footage - this was a big wide-open space. We're hoping creating a corner and nook will help us better utilize our space :)
In other exciting news, this week we're going to divide up the girls and give them each their own rooms. They've been sleeping together, but our "divide-and-conquer" trial of the last few nights is resulting in better sleep for all of us. So separation it is.
Oh, so do I admit my latest naughty-mommy move? Maybe it's not just the division of their beds that's helping...Last week I was finally too fed up with nightly visits from both girls. Somewhere around midnight they were both coming into our bed and spending the rest of the night suction-cupped to me. Never mind it's a king-size bed and daddy is there too. Nope, they were both ON ME all night. With my growing belly, this made movement at night rather difficult, and I was not getting enough sleep.
In desperation, one night I told them if they stayed in their own beds all night, I would give a chocolate in the morning...well, lo and behold, I woke up in the morning BY MYSELF. In fact, I've woken up all but one night now BY MYSELF. I'm in sleep heaven...and the girls are getting lots of chocolate!
We (that's the royal we of course...) did install a wall in our living room:
Just trying to maximize square footage - this was a big wide-open space. We're hoping creating a corner and nook will help us better utilize our space :)
In other exciting news, this week we're going to divide up the girls and give them each their own rooms. They've been sleeping together, but our "divide-and-conquer" trial of the last few nights is resulting in better sleep for all of us. So separation it is.
Oh, so do I admit my latest naughty-mommy move? Maybe it's not just the division of their beds that's helping...Last week I was finally too fed up with nightly visits from both girls. Somewhere around midnight they were both coming into our bed and spending the rest of the night suction-cupped to me. Never mind it's a king-size bed and daddy is there too. Nope, they were both ON ME all night. With my growing belly, this made movement at night rather difficult, and I was not getting enough sleep.
In desperation, one night I told them if they stayed in their own beds all night, I would give a chocolate in the morning...well, lo and behold, I woke up in the morning BY MYSELF. In fact, I've woken up all but one night now BY MYSELF. I'm in sleep heaven...and the girls are getting lots of chocolate!
Monday, February 12, 2007
By request: mixed baked beans with maple
I love this recipe! It is from the AMA Family Health Cookbook:
2 slices (1 oz) turkey bacon, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 cup broth or water
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup chili sauce or ketchup
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp liquid hot pepper sauce
1 can black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1 can red kidney beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1 can white beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1. Preheat oven to 325
2. In a large, preferably nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, cook the turky bacon over medium heat until lightly browned (about 8 minutes). Add onion and cook, stirrieing occasionally, until softened (about 5 minutes). Add garlic, mustard, and thyme, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the broth, maple syrup, chili sauce, vinegar, and Worcestershire. Bring to a boil, cook for 1 minute, and stir in hot pepper sauce.
3. Put the beans into a 2-to3- quart casserole dish, pour the sauce over them, and stir gently to combine. Cover and backe in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Uncover and check the sauce. If it is too liquid, continue to bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes longer until the sauce becomes reduced and thickened.
(Can be prepared 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.)
**I always had to cook for a while longer uncovered or it was too soupy...and it's just as good with regular bacon - but then it's not exactly "family health" anymore :)
2 slices (1 oz) turkey bacon, coarsely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 cup broth or water
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup chili sauce or ketchup
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp liquid hot pepper sauce
1 can black beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1 can red kidney beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1 can white beans (or 1 1/2 cups cooked)
1. Preheat oven to 325
2. In a large, preferably nonstick skillet or Dutch oven, cook the turky bacon over medium heat until lightly browned (about 8 minutes). Add onion and cook, stirrieing occasionally, until softened (about 5 minutes). Add garlic, mustard, and thyme, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the broth, maple syrup, chili sauce, vinegar, and Worcestershire. Bring to a boil, cook for 1 minute, and stir in hot pepper sauce.
3. Put the beans into a 2-to3- quart casserole dish, pour the sauce over them, and stir gently to combine. Cover and backe in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Uncover and check the sauce. If it is too liquid, continue to bake, uncovered, for about 10 minutes longer until the sauce becomes reduced and thickened.
(Can be prepared 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Reheat before serving.)
**I always had to cook for a while longer uncovered or it was too soupy...and it's just as good with regular bacon - but then it's not exactly "family health" anymore :)
Carrot-top becomes carrot-finger
Our favorite little red-head (okay, strawberry-blonde anymore) seems to have grown carrot fingers. At least that's what Tessa thought yesterday. In simple words, C got her finger munched on by a horse! It's the ring finger on her left hand, and it's going to be okay.
She was feeding carrots to the horse, actually using fine flat-hand form, when the piece she was giving Tessa fell on the ground. She leaned down, picked it up and started to give it back to the horse, but forgot to flatten back out her finger...and munch. We rushed to her an urgent care clinic, but by the time we walked in the door and were horrified by the place, we decided there was nothing they could do that we couldn't, so we took her home. Ice, a popcicle and a movie later, she was in fine spirits again. It's pretty bruised, and missing skin on the top and bottom, but she's moving it fine and not really complaining about it. Tough kid.
As a side note, Tessa has an interesting story. Auntie B rescued her from a Premarin farm...Premarin being the hormone replacement drug made from Pregnant Mare's Urine.
So Auntie B actually owns not only Tessa (who is also pregnant and due somewhere around the same time as I am), but three of her offspring!
Horses and Bass girls...maybe not such a good combo this spring!!
She was feeding carrots to the horse, actually using fine flat-hand form, when the piece she was giving Tessa fell on the ground. She leaned down, picked it up and started to give it back to the horse, but forgot to flatten back out her finger...and munch. We rushed to her an urgent care clinic, but by the time we walked in the door and were horrified by the place, we decided there was nothing they could do that we couldn't, so we took her home. Ice, a popcicle and a movie later, she was in fine spirits again. It's pretty bruised, and missing skin on the top and bottom, but she's moving it fine and not really complaining about it. Tough kid.
As a side note, Tessa has an interesting story. Auntie B rescued her from a Premarin farm...Premarin being the hormone replacement drug made from Pregnant Mare's Urine.
From the manufacturer:
"Premarin®... contains a mixture of conjugated estrogens obtained exclusively from natural sources, occurring as the sodium salts of 2 water-soluble estrogen sulfates blended to represent the average composition of material derived from pregnant mares' urine."
"Premarin®... contains a mixture of conjugated estrogens obtained exclusively from natural sources, occurring as the sodium salts of 2 water-soluble estrogen sulfates blended to represent the average composition of material derived from pregnant mares' urine."
So Auntie B actually owns not only Tessa (who is also pregnant and due somewhere around the same time as I am), but three of her offspring!
Horses and Bass girls...maybe not such a good combo this spring!!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Help! Soup emergency!
I just know one of you has the perfect soup recipe that you'd like to share...see, the deal is: I suggested a soup-and-clothes swap for my mom's group...but I don't have any good recipes! I need something that is cheap to make, error-proof (my kitchen skills are questionable), and would keep well (i.e. freeze). We're having it Monday, and doing a potluck with the exchange. I need to make enough to share on Monday and package up a few extra containers to swap. Please, please help :) Either post in the comments section, or just email me. Thanks!
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Heat Wave!
Just for all of you living in more norther climates...it's 80 degrees here today!
...and no, it's not really warm enough in the pool for this - they're just crazy!
...and no, it's not really warm enough in the pool for this - they're just crazy!
**Happy birthday to g-ma PJ today!**
Monday, February 5, 2007
Ramblings and updates
Activities of the last week:
Story time at the library
Dinosaur museum
Park (bike riding)
Hit golf balls with grandpa at the range
Visit grandma in hospital
Swim lessons
Play at aunt B's ranch
and...
Overnight with aunt B! And poor auntie B was up until midnight with two little girls who wouldn't go to sleep (and up again at 6:00 to get ready for work)! They had a ball, helping feed the horses, playing with the dogs, riding on Xena (the warrior 4-wheeler), eating out at the restaurant (ice cream!), and jumping on the bed...
Meanwhile, the parentals units attended a musical - the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It was quite humorous, included a fair amount of improv, local detail and audience participation - in the form of four audience members being included in the first part of the musical! Very different and unexpected musical...
In other news...I'm trying to find the perfect Montessori preschool program in which to enroll the girls a couple days a week...wait, did I say perfect? I'll take anything with openings now! We are fortunate to live in an area with at least FIVE Montessori preschools within a 10-minute driving range. Some don't offer part-time options though, and I do not want a five-day preschool. I think two or three days maximum would be great for all of us. Since C will attend a Montessori kindergarten in the fall, looking specifically at the Montessori preschools makes the most sense. Let's just hope we can get in to one of them. Bonus: we get into the one offering Spanish.
That's the news from our corner of the world. Weather's been lovely (70s), baby 3 is making my belly big (pics soon), and we're hopeful that with the beginning of spring will come a sale on the old house...
Keep in touch, friends and family!
Story time at the library
Dinosaur museum
Park (bike riding)
Hit golf balls with grandpa at the range
Visit grandma in hospital
Swim lessons
Play at aunt B's ranch
and...
Overnight with aunt B! And poor auntie B was up until midnight with two little girls who wouldn't go to sleep (and up again at 6:00 to get ready for work)! They had a ball, helping feed the horses, playing with the dogs, riding on Xena (the warrior 4-wheeler), eating out at the restaurant (ice cream!), and jumping on the bed...
Meanwhile, the parentals units attended a musical - the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It was quite humorous, included a fair amount of improv, local detail and audience participation - in the form of four audience members being included in the first part of the musical! Very different and unexpected musical...
In other news...I'm trying to find the perfect Montessori preschool program in which to enroll the girls a couple days a week...wait, did I say perfect? I'll take anything with openings now! We are fortunate to live in an area with at least FIVE Montessori preschools within a 10-minute driving range. Some don't offer part-time options though, and I do not want a five-day preschool. I think two or three days maximum would be great for all of us. Since C will attend a Montessori kindergarten in the fall, looking specifically at the Montessori preschools makes the most sense. Let's just hope we can get in to one of them. Bonus: we get into the one offering Spanish.
That's the news from our corner of the world. Weather's been lovely (70s), baby 3 is making my belly big (pics soon), and we're hopeful that with the beginning of spring will come a sale on the old house...
Keep in touch, friends and family!
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